The Monarch: October 2013

INSIDE:

Opposing Viewpoints: Affirmative Action (see page 4)

Serving the Archbishop Mitty Community

Volume 23 Number 1

October 2013

Mitty’s Golden Anniversary 50 Years of Greatness, 50 Years of Pride

By Pei-Ling Lee & Sara Wiltberger News Editors t can be seen on the floor of the foyer, on the backdrop of the morning announcements, and even on banners lining Saratoga Ave.; the number 50 is everywhere—and for good reason, too. Founded in 1964, Archbishop Mitty High School celebrates its fiftieth anniversary this school year. Although all of us take pride in being a part of this prestigious school, how much do we really know about the history and legacy of Archbishop Mitty High?

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The History

onstruction on the first Archdiocesan high school in the Santa Clara Valley, Archbishop Mitty, named after the late Archbishop John Joseph Mitty, began in 1963. Classes were initially held in Queen of Apostles Elementary School in 1964, until the transition to the new buildings on campus was made in April of 1965. At the time, the school had an all male student body and was led by Marianist priests and brothers. In the fall of 1973, the first major change occurred when girls from Mother Butler Memorial High School and St. Lawrence Girls’ High School joined the Mitty community.

Throughout the years, Mitty has grown in every aspect.

Physically, the face of the campus has morphed completely.

What started out as more or less the main building plus the 100, 200 and 300 wings has expanded into the campus we know and love today. With the expansion of music and arts—from one band in 1990 to six bands today—came the Kinkade theater and then the Schott Music Center.

The MacLean Gym and renovated football field were constructed to accommodate our 65 athletic teams: twice as many teams as there were 20 years ago. New wings were added and redone—such as the addition of the 500 wing and the recent refurbishment of the 400 wing—to accommodate the growing student population.

What started as the traditional six-period high school schedule, later changed to the eight period block schedule we have today. This vital shift allowed students to pursue an array of passions within the school day such as science or music (or even both) while still maintaining a balanced schedule of college preparatory classes and religion.

Another significant alteration in the Mitty community occurred in 1990 with Mr. Timothy Brosnan’s new role as the first lay principal. Mr. Brosnan’s favorite change to Mitty since his employment is the addition of Monarch Madness and the resulting growth in school spirit.

The Monarch Madness we know and love originally started out as a simpler rally in the gym. However, today, months of practice and anticipation lead up to this extraordinary night demonstrating the extent of our spirit. The students, staff, and even parents take great pride in their school when they come together for some friendly competition on this night.

Mr. Brosnan remarks, “When people love their school, lots of good things can happen, from what goes on in the classroom to

Mitty’s past (circa 1980) is still a part of Mitty’s present. what goes on on the football field.” There’s pride in being a Monarch, and this attitude is reflected in everything we strive to achieve.

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The Future

he fifty-year milestone that Mitty has reached does not slow it down in the slightest. Indeed, the next fifty years will be even more legendary.

Jokingly, alumnus Coach Dave Brown says, “They are going to need a bigger gym to put all the athletic banners in.”

In all seriousness, Coach Brown is not too far from the truth.

Mitty strives for excellence in all aspects of its campus and people can surely expect several more championship banners over the next fifty years.

Another facet of Mitty’s future is its role as an archetype for technology-integrated education. In 2011, all students were issued iPads for use at school and at home. The idea for implementing the iPad program fit nicely with Mitty’s desire to be at the forefront of revolutionizing education.

According to Mr. Brosnan, “The reality is, we have people in our administration and faculty who had the idea for myMitty before there was an iPad. We knew that ubiquitous computing was on the horizon, but the device hadn’t been developed yet.”

As Mr. Brosnan asserts, Mitty’s existent myMitty website (a place where students can see class calendars, assignments, and much more) contributed to the smooth transition to iPads. The environment at Mitty reflects the thought that we are always enjoying the moment while also looking ahead. With an innovative faculty and staff leading the way, the possibilities for technology’s role in the classroom are endless. Undoubtedly, technology will continue to be a dominant aspect of Mitty’s growth in years to come.

Another inherent part of Mitty over these past fifty years is how close-knit and long lasting the community remains.

Former student, Coach Brown recalls, “My friends and all the lifelong memories Mitty provided me are my favorite [ones] from when I attended. The closest people in my life are my former classmates from Mitty.”

Coach Brown’s experience in forming his strongest bonds in Mitty is not unique to him. Countless alumni,

including, Mr. Steve Herrera, Ms. Justina Williams, Mr. Scott Williams, Ms. Antoinette Vu, Mr. Sean McClenahan, Mr. Tom Miller, Ms. Debra Cassara, Mr. Matt DePalma, Mr. Brian Eagleson, Ms. Leslie Guarascio, Mr. Matt Haniger, Ms. Janelle Kroenung, Mr. Andy Montoya, Ms. Tamara Monson, Ms. Jennifer Lesnick, and Ms. Kate Thomas have come back to join the Mitty community as teachers and administrators.

Throughout the years, Mitty has been able to grow without losing its family feel; however, this family diffused and expanded. “My favorite change is the diversity,” Ms. Anoinette Vu explains, “I really enjoy seeing and learning about all the different backgrounds and cultures that our student body represents. The class discussions become a lot more engaging and interesting because everyone has such different stories and experiences.”

Anniversaries are times during which people can reunite, reflect, and remember the wonderful and precious times they have spent together. Mitty’s fifty-year landmark is no different. The Mitty family is eternal, and this year is a reminder to cherish those memories and to thank those people who have impacted our lives and watched us grow.

The Celebration On September 14, Mitty had its 50th Anniversary Celebration that was open to the entire past and present Mitty community. The evening started off as we start all things at Mitty: with prayer. The Bishop of San Jose, Reverend Patrick McGrath, celebrated the community mass and captured the spirituality that has been a part of our school’s foundation throughout the years.

Mass concluded with Exodus’s own rendition of this years liturgical theme song “I Lived,” and as the sun set, Mitty’s football field exploded in light, revealing a carnival-like setting. Complete with food, prizes, face painting, a rock-climbing wall, and bounce houses, Mitty showed it really knew how to throw a party. In complete solidarity, a community of Mitty alumni, students, and teachers came together to celebrate the pride and legacy of Archbishop Mitty High School.

CONTENTS:

Opinions ...............................................4-6

FOCUS ......................... 10-11

Sports .................................................16-17

News .........................................................1-3

JUSTICE AWARENESS .... 7-9

Arts & Entertainment ......... 12-15

PHOTO ......................... 18-20

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October 2013 • News

Spring Break: Destination Turkey Mitty Introduces a New Immersion Trip

By Emilie Schott Staff Writer In Turkey East meets West and two continents intersect. Considered to be the cradle of ancient civilization and a home to many cultures and religions, this country is the site of Archbishop Mitty’s inaugural Turkish Immersion trip.

This spring, fourteen juniors and seniors will spend twelve days in Turkey interacting with Turkish high school and university students. They will explore the value of interfaith dialogue and gain an appreciation for the rich history, diverse culture, and religious devotion of the Turkish people.

Deacon Steve Herrera, a religious studies teacher, participated in a trip to Turkey in 2012 that was sponsored by the Pacifica Institute, a Muslim group that facilitates inter-religious trips. It was this excursion that led to the addition of the Turkish Immersion Trip at Mitty.

Deacon Herrera states, “It was the most incredible immersion experience I have ever had in my 25 years participating in these experiences.”

The “devotion and dedication of the Muslims in Turkey” moved Deacon Herrera, and he hopes that participating Mitty students will “learn the value of interfaith dialogue as a means of creating a more peaceful world.”

Students will work side by side with Turkish teenagers preparing care packages for Syrian refugees who have fled to Southern Turkey. They will also live in Turkish homes and school dormitories learning about Turkish life.

Deacon Herrera believes that the opportunity to

Photo Courtesy of Michael Nguyen

A mosque in Instanbul, Turkey. be immersed in the daily lives of the Turkish people will be “one of the highlights” of the trip.

Other highlights include touring historical, cultural, and religious sites. This includes the Hagia Sofia, a Christian church built in the Byzantine Empire, converted to a Muslim mosque during the Ottoman Empire, and transformed into a museum when Turkey became a modern, secular state.

Students will also visit the ancient city of Ephesus, one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World; the Blue Mosque, considered the most important mosque in Turkey; Cappadocia, a city that was established during the era of the Persian Empire; and Rumi’s Tomb, the shrine of a Sunni poet.

The addition of the Turkey Immersion trip will expose Mitty students to a unique cultural understanding. These inter-cultural, inter-faith connections will lay the groundwork for future relationships that have the potential to help all of us live in peaceful world of tolerance and understanding.

The Legacy Lives On

By Scott Raine-King Staff Writer Alumnus Aaron Gordon, unquestionably, made quite the impact on the sports program throughout his time attending Mitty.

Gordon helped AMHS get its first Men’s Basketball State Championship title his sophomore year, followed by a second State Championship title his junior year. Among his many notable honors was his being named the Mercury News Player of the Year for the third consecutive time.

With confidence and versatility on the court, heart-stopping dunks, and sheer dedication to working longer and harder to improve the game, Gordon embodied what it means to be a Monarch.

We should expect to see great things from him as he starts his freshman year with the University of Arizona Wildcats.

The Band That Marches

By Laura Galang Staff Writer Pep Band has added a new element to our spirited Mitty football games—marching. At the end of last year, the Pep Band performed on the track during halftime. This year, however, the band has elevated its game and is now marching on the field.

This aspect was added to inspire more enthusiasm as well as to allow the music students to have other opportunities to perform.

When asked about the updated Pep Band, Mr. Mason Kimont said, “So far, I’m loving the experience. The group is working hard during class and has memorized a lot of music to perform a full halftime show, which will be done at the night football game here at Mitty.” Next time you’re cheering on the Monarchs under the Friday night lights, stick around during half time to see them put the “pep” in Pep Band.

Football Under the Lights

By Sara Wiltberger, Pei-Ling Lee, “We want to play our best. Like our coach & Jenni Sherwood always says, ‘this will be the most important game News Editors because it is the next one,’” declares varsity player When it comes to Monarch spirit, one occasion junior David Power. that comes close to Monarch Madness is the Night After a few years of Night Football, the adFootball game. This event brings together the entire ministration realized that the intrinsic appeal of this Mitty community for a memorable game against lively event was an ideal opportunity to formally one of our arch-rivals. This year, on October 25, invite the alumni back to Mitty. This created the the Monarchs will oppose the St. Francis Lancers current Alumni Weekend which coincides with the on our home turf in a competition that will be sure Night Football game. Past Mitty students have the to spark excitement. chance to relive a glimmer of high school while What started out as an experiment, has devel- reconnecting with the community. oped into one of the most attended Monarch football As Associate Principal Mr. Keith Mathews games of the year. Previously, this annual home says, “For the alumni who are celebrating a reunion game was held year, the Night on a Saturday at Game serves as one o’clock in the kickoff of a the afternoon. It weekend with didn’t have the classmates—a bright lights, time for remibuzzing hype, niscing and or broadening telling those enthusiasm tall tales about Night Football crazy teachers, has today. hijinks between Mitty had classes, and that never before heartthrob who attempted to sat next to you bring in lights in English class. or additional Above all, it’s Photo Courtesy of ProImage bleachers to an opportunity The Monarchs take the field at last year’s Night Football game. host the thouto be reminded sands of fans that we are all a Night Football draws. However, in the 1990s the part of something larger than any of us and someannual afternoon game was replaced with Night thing important: the community that is Mitty.”

Football and was an instant hit. Because of the inThe impact of the Night Football game trancreasing number of students coming to support their scends the game itself. Features such as the home varsity football team, crowded student cheering sec- team bleachers that house new locker rooms and tions formed—which later developed into the PIT. the Caputo weight training facility arose from the As for the game itself, Mitty is transformed on influence of this game. Also, the track was unveiled the night of this home game. There’s a different en- during the Night Football game because the atmoergy around the campus the day of the game. There’s sphere of this occasion epitomizes the Mitty spirit. a buzz around the school: all of the students know This year, the annual Night Football game is that this game is personal. However, the players are sure to uphold the timeless tradition and spirit of preparing for it just as they would any other game. Archbishop Mitty High.

Photo Courtesy of Yearbook Staff

Mitty Math

By Ramya Balasingam Staff Writer As the students of Archbishop Mitty High School walk in the hallways, they might notice younger students in colorful red and blue uniforms hurrying to and from room 109. The presence of these middle-schoolers on campus is a result of the Mitty Math Program: a partnership between our school and Queen of Apostles.

It allows seventh and eighth graders from Queen of Apostles to take Algebra 1 Accelerated and Geometry Honors with the freshmen and sophomores of Mitty. Previously, this program was formerly available only to eighth graders. This year it has been expanded.

The younger students get the opportunity to accelerate their math education and gain an early exposure to high school life. The incorporation of the different grades also adds to the diversity of the Archbishop Mitty classroom and community.

Speak Up

By Madeleine Fernando Staff Writer Starting as a club two years ago, Mitty’s Speech and Debate team has grown rapidly to become an official Speech and Debate Program. This new program continues to allow students to compete at tournaments and showcase their abilities in various events from dramatic interpretations to Lincoln-Douglas debates.

This year, Speech and Debate classes have been integrated into Mitty’s curriculum under Ms. Karen Joshi. During class, students engage in various activities to strengthen their public speaking, creative writing, and critical thinking skills.

Ms. Joshi states, “My number one goal is that kids grow to become the best versions of themselves [and] come out more confident than they were when they came in.” The Speech and Debate program has sparked a new passion for public speaking in both new and returning members.

News • October 2013

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Spirit Week 2013-2014

Finding the Underdog in All of Us

By Ashley Do News Editor Here at Mitty, students take two things very seriously: Spirit Week and Monarch Madness. With the reveals of each class’ theme on October 23, Spirit Week has officially arrived. Five days of sheer excitement, intense competition, and bold outfits make this week of pride one of Mitty’s most renowned traditions.

Unlike Monarch Madness, Spirit Week stresses the importance of an overall theme for all classes that unifies the week and reminds students that although individual classes compete against each other, the entire student body stands together as one proud school in the end.

This year, the overarching theme is Underdogs. Each class has an individual theme that its artwork, costumes, dress up day, and stadium decorations all embody. The freshman theme is Madagascar, the sophomores are Rocky, the juniors have Lilo & Stitch, and the seniors are The Sandlot. Each story has a distinctive underdog who overcomes the odds and triumphs in the end.

In Madagascar, a group of zoo animals escape the Central Park Zoo in search of adventure only to mistakenly find themselves in the oasis of Madagascar. They are dismayed by their unknown surroundings and are wary of the possibility of returning home.

However, with the help of new friends, as well as the collaboration of old companions, these zoo animals are all able to thrive in the foreign environment.

The sophomore theme of Rocky chronicles the story of Rocky Balboa, a small-time boxer in Philadelphia who is chosen to be the new competitor in the heavyweight fight against undefeated champion Apollo Creed. In the fight between Rocky and Creed, Rocky surprises everyone with his jarring punches and his dogged refusal to be knocked out.

Although he might not win in the end, his ability to challenge Creed proves that even attempting to overcome the odds is more important than being the winner.

The Class of 2015’s interpretation of an underdog story is Lilo & Stitch. Stitch, or Experiment 626, escapes the Galactic Federation and finds himself on the Hawaiian island of Kauai. There are doubts to whether Stitch can live among humans due to his chaotic behavior; however, with Lilo’s help and the concept of “ohana,” Stitch becomes an important member of Lilo’s family.

Finally, the senior class’s theme is The Sandlot. The underdog in this story is Scotty, the new kid in the neighborhood. Similar to other classes’ themes, Scotty has a challenging goal in mind—he wants to join the local, sandlot baseball team without even knowing how to play. In his attempts to achieve this hope, Scotty develops a stronger relationship with his step-dad, becomes close friends with the other kids in the neighborhood, and discovers the true meaning of community.

Of course, revealing the themes to the classes is just step one in the whole process of Spirit Week. Each day during the week of November 4 has a different dress up day, lunch time activity, donated food item, and trivia question. Some days even have special activity times such as the PowderPuff football game on Wednesday and the Spirit Week Rally on Friday. Both activities feature the famous male cheerleaders who show off their school spirit by dancing and cheering in skirts. Spirit Week concludes with a football game against Bellarmine at San Jose City College on Friday night and the Homecoming Dance on Saturday night.

While each event pits the classes against each other, the ultimate purpose of Spirit Week is to encourage school unity. After all, being an underdog is the most classic theme and can be seen almost everywhere––the average student who earnestly studies and aces a difficult test, the soccer player who usually sits on the bench but ends up making the winning goal, or the understudy who finally gets his or her time to shine on stage. We have all been the underdog at some point in our lives, and thus, it is a fitting theme for Spirit Week this year.

Our Father: James Okafor

By Laura Cervantes & Veronica Marquez Staff Writers Hanging in Father James Okafor’s office—located in Campus ministry—is a poster that reads “Live, Laugh, Love.” Throughout his priesthood, these three words are ones that Father James has cherished. “I do my best to live fully always, to love always, and to be happy always,” he states, and he has embodied this principle throughout his most trying experiences.

In Anambra State, Nigeria, Father James was born into a family of four brothers, one sister, and loving parents.

There, he attended elementary school, but instead of enrolling in high school, he entered into the seminary for seventeen years. In 2002, Father James was ordained. He describes this experience as one of the most memorable moments in his life. In Nigeria, he studied and graduated with two Bachelor’s degrees and a Master’s degree. Despite his immense accomplishments, Father James did not feel satisfied.

Drawn by America’s opportunities for higher education, Father James moved to California in 2007. He studied at Santa Clara University where he received his Master’s of Catechesis. Currently, on Fridays, when he is not at Mitty, he is at the University of San Francisco studying to get his Doctorate in Catholic Education.

Apart from educational opportunities, Father James gravitated to the Bay Area for the Igbo Catholic community in Oakland, San Francisco, and San Jose. Igbo, the tribe that Father James belongs to, is one of over 250 Nigerian tribes. Although Father James left his home country, through the local Igbo Catholic community, he received not only a place to practice his faith as a priest, but also the support of people who share his culture. He is able to stay connected to his home country through this community.

Coming to America, Father James also learned that in order to succeed, he must accept the concept of “give and take.” He has had to make an effort to understand America, and by doing so, the people he encountered made an effort to understand him and the culture he brought with him.

Photo Courtesy of ProImage Father James has learned and grown as a priest, and his Nigerian culture has impacted him greatly. “I learned from my home the importance of relationships...of love and patience and tolerance and understanding,” he says. Family and community centric, his culture is the focus of his life wherever he is. Father James shares, “[In] any place I have found myself, I try to make a community [and] family out of that.” This skill has proven to be useful in different ministries he has been involved with as a priest for 11 years.

The other memorable moment of Father James’ life, apart from his ordination, has been his ten year anniversary as a priest. He says, “Being in the ministry for ten years and reaching out to different people at different places at different times, and the grace of God being with me, that also was a great moment in my life.”

According to Father James, Mitty students have been given the incredible opportunity to study at a prestigious school, “Every student here should try to make the best of this opportunity by living fully every day, being positive, opening themselves to the wisdom of God, and using the gifts that God has given them fully.”

When deciding to join the Mitty community, Father James believed that it would be a great place to experience what he had been studying and to acquaint himself with the young people of America. His goal has been to “bring the love of Christ to the students and to the faculty and staff.” So far, he has achieved this and more.

Volume 23 Number 1 Advisors Mr. Mick VanValkenburg & Mr. Craig Whitt News Ashley Do, Pei-Ling Lee, Jenni Sherwood, & Sara Wiltberger Opinion Jessica Dumov, Katherine Kirst, Kaitlin Miliken, & Sanika Puranik Justice Awareness Riya Dange, Carlisle Micallef, Manasi Patwa, & Leanna Syrimis Focus Meghana Killedar, Lina Lawani, Sanjana Sarathy, & Kerri Yen Arts & Entertainment Niki Griswold, Mitch Hanson, Jisoo Kim, & Shannon Lam Sports Arjun Balasingham, Varun Chhabra, Katie Erickson, & Pooja Patel Photo Emily Guzman, Amanda Le, Chloe Stevens, & Rachel Wakely Archbishop Mitty High School 5000 Mitty Way, San Jose, CA 95129 The Monarch is published for the students, faculty, and parents of Archbishop Mitty High School.

OPINION

DEFENDING DIVERSITY

By Sanika Puranik Opinions Editor Living in the 21st century, we like to think that we have distanced ourselves from the outdated, arguably backwards past. Policies and institutions once accepted now have no place in today’s modern and starkly different times—or so opponents of affirmative action insist, arguing that the socioeconomic differences affirmative action attempted to correct in the 1960s are no longer relevant.

But this is not the case.

Affirmative action is still an essential policy that enables more and more underrepresented minorities to gain opportunities and socioeconomic improvement.

Contrary to the belief that minorities suffer no significant disadvantage today, minority rates in unemployment, weekly income, health care, poverty, and homeownership are almost doubly worse than those of non-minority ethnic groups, according to a published report by the U.S. Department of Labor in 2010.

And as reported by Huffington Post Business in 2011, the wealth gap between minorities and specifically the white population has widened to its greatest level in a quarter century. On average, Caucasian

residents have 20 times the net worth of African Americans and 18 times that of Hispanics. Ultimately, slavery and the institutionalized racism of Jim Crow policies dug a bottomless pit from which minorities are still often struggling to escape. Realizing the faults of this framework, our society has steadily given minority groups a short ladder to help them climb out. Affirmative action is an extension of that ladder, a continuous attempt to equalize an unfair playing field.

Minority students on the whole are not positioned for success when you consider that the percentage of minority fourth-grade students who qualify for reduced-price lunch (67%) or free lunches (84%) programs. To be eligible for reduced price and free lunches a student must be from a household with an income at or below 185% of the poverty level or below 130% of the poverty level respectively, as reported by the US Department of Educational Statistics in 2010.

It should be apparent to even the most ardent dissenter of affirmative action that minorities are at a significant economic disadvantage in America still today. The goal of Affirmative Action is to ensure that the individual student is not penalized for

a lack of resources which often manifests itself in poorer schools, lower standardized testing scores, and reduced extra-curricular opportunities, factors central to the admissions process. Recognizing this, affirmative action provides minorities with admissions consideration given the disadvantages many have faced from no fault of their own.

While affirmative action is perceived as beneficial only for minorities and a source of frustration for competing non-minorities, the diversity the program brings to schools across America is, in fact, advantageous to all. One of the principle reasons for affirmative action in the university system is to make diversity the norm, allowing students of various ethnic backgrounds to interact and learn from one another.

Let’s imagine for one moment that affirmative action did not exist in today’s society and that college acceptance was solely based on prior academic success.

According to a report published in 2010 by the National Center for Education Statistics, as a general trend since 2005, Asian American and Caucasian students have consistently outperformed their Hispanic, African American, and Native American minority counterparts on standardized testing.

Considering this trend, one can conclude that the elimination of affirmative action in

the admission process would dramatically exclude minorities from universities. As a result, Asian and Caucasian students, who would now be homogeneously concentrated in these schools, would never experience the value of diversity, never encounter the exchange of ideas and perspectives that comes with a mix of different cultures, and would, in the end, be at a disadvantage when they enter the melting-pot society America has so proudly fostered.

One cannot expect to hear a full spectrum of thought and diversity of ideas if a significant portion of the American population is not present at the discussion table. Thus, affirmative action policies are favorable for not only minorities but nonminorities as well because of the variety viewpoints that they bring.

If minority students are given chances to attend colleges they otherwise would not via affirmative action, perhaps the painfully apparent socioeconomic gaps between ethnic groups will diminish.

Affirmative action acts as a catalyst, enabling minorities to begin reversing trends. I myself am not a minority student, yet I fully believe that affirmative action is an essential program in fully realizing America’s potential as an equal, diverse melting pot of success.

Opposing Viewpoints: Affirmative Action DENYING DREAMS

By Manasi Patwa and Riya Dange Justice Editors Picture this: you are a high school senior on admissions day. Your fingers tremble as you click the refresh button repeatedly.

Then, the message pops up: “Your application has been carefully reviewed by the Admissions Committee. We regret to inform you that we cannot offer you admission at this time.” The next morning, you discover that the girl with only a 3.6 GPA was admitted into the college of your dreams, while you, with your perfect 4.0, were shunted to the side. The reason? You belong to a “nonminority” ethnic group.

The roots of affirmative action in college began with attempts to reduce racial disparity in the school environment. Eventually, numerous colleges implemented pro-minority programs, in which either a number of seats would be left for racially disadvantaged groups, or the university would show preference for such groups during the admissions process. Long viewed as “compensation” for past discrimination, affirmative action has today become an unjust restriction on non-minority applicants.

The effects of affirmative action are both unjust and nonsensical. Today, studies show that affirmative action students often have fewer merits than non-affirmative action students, yet are still taking admission slots from their more accomplished peers.

Thanks to such policies, college admissions are no longer based only on merit or other factors within the students’ control. Rather, they are in part dependent on the ethnic group that a student was born into—a factor far beyond the control of even the most accomplished student.

The college admissions process is a rigorous and nerve-wracking one, to say the least. But statistics such as Harvard University’s 5.8% admissions rate for the class of 2017 are made still more daunting because affirmative action further reduces the number of seats available to non-minority applicants. Non-minorities discover that the playing field is truly not “leveled,” since those minority students gain an advantage in the admissions games. In fact, William Bowen, the former President of Princeton University, and his colleagues found in 2005 that being a minority applicant allows a

27.7% increase in admissions chances. Four years later, Princeton sociologists conducted a study of affirmative action and discovered that, at competitive schools, minorities receive an admission preference amounting to about 310 SAT points.

Despite minority applicants’ marked advantages in the admissions process, many face a major obstacle after admission: they are oftentimes unable to reap the same benefits from their college educations as their counterparts who were accepted based on merit alone.

A 2005 study by Heather Rose of the Public Policy Institute of California reported that, on average, “students admitted under affirmative action programs... earned grade point averages... 0.30 points lower than those of non-affirmative students.

The difference in graduation rates is larger, with 57% of affirmative action students graduating compared to 73% of their nonaffirmative action peers.” Due to the lowered eligibility criteria, affirmative action students often find it difficult to keep up with the coursework at a competitive school. As a result, they may find themselves unable to reap the full benefits of education in a highly selective university.

Another fundamental flaw of affirmative action is its inability to actually create

diversity in the college environment. According to The Wall Street Journal, in the 1970s, most African-Americans students chosen through affirmative action were in the bottom half of the socioeconomic percentile. However, twenty years later, that number had shrunk to 8%. It is obvious that affirmative action’s original intent—to close the gap between the historically privileged and the historically underrepresented—has morphed into offering seats to individuals simply because they check the “minority ethnicity” box on their applications.

If compensation for the underprivileged is truly necessary, it ought to be provided by taking into account the socioeconomic background of each applicant, not his or her race.

Thus, we as a society have accomplished nothing through the implementation of affirmative action—except a “swapping of prejudice,” so to speak. Not only does affirmative action confer a significant disadvantage onto non-minority applicants, but it is also ineffective in “leveling the playing field,” as it was intended to do.

It is high time for colleges across the United States to truly embrace the idea of equality. It is time for university admissions to give all students an equal chance to begin with, so that each and every individual can have a shot at the American Dream.

Opinions • October 2013

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BURNING MONEY

By Rachita Pandya Staff Writer Sunny skies stand behind the lines of charred pine trees along the route of Highway 120, as a result of the Yosemite Rim Fire. The Rim Fire has become the third largest blaze in California’s history, burning through more than 230 miles. And now, new wildfires are threatening ranges from San Francisco’s Sierra Nevada reservoir to the area around Mount Diablo.

In just a mere seven weeks, fighting these three fires, California blazed through more than 25% of its fire-fighting budget; the Rim Fire alone ate up 15% of the budget. These conflagrations pose major challenges to the Californian wildfire scene. Due to change in California’s rain pattern, the state has been receiving one-fifth of the rainfall that it did in past years. As a result, the once-manageable fires that are an inherent part of California’s environment are now becoming the new norm.

In November of 2010, lawmakers included the Forest Service’s fire-fighting budget as a part of State cuts. Such cuts are definitely not the right policy. Given our dry weather patterns and expanded length of the fire season our present fire-fighting budget will not suffice. California has to learn to expend its limited fire-fighting budget plan in a much more wise manner.

The Forest Service should begin taking steps by not attempting to quell every wildfire. They should monitor rather than immediately fight blazes that are not threatening to communities. In this way, California would have more

money available to fight immense fires like the Rim Fire.

Indeed, although wildfires are undoubtedly destructive, they also serve a key environmental role. Fires play a vital part in clearing out dead vegetation and thick growth, fertilizing the soil for plants to generate and creating new habitats for animals. By contrast, if we are too aggressive in suppressing fires, this will only allow the forests to grow denser, providing better fuel for future fires to become greater in intensity.

The state of California also must change some of its policies, especially those that have allowed so much construction and human traffic in close proximity to wild lands.

The constant human encroachment on these lands greatly increases the chances of blazes, with campfires that have not been put out or flammables left out by people in wild areas.

According to data collected by the Forest Service in 2010, 90% of the fires are caused by irresponsible human behavior.

Thus, it has come time for California to put a stake in the ground and drastically minimize human interaction with

PULLING THE TRIGGER

By Jordan Rehbock Staff Writer Over the past few years, mass shootings have left hundreds of civilians dead or wounded at the hands of various perpetrators.

The most recent tragedy occurred in Washington, D.C., where Aaron Alexis entered the Navy Sea Systems Command Headquarters with a shotgun purchased only two days prior and fired upon contractors and civilian employees. As a former member of the Navy, Alexis was found to have many grievances against the Navy as well as mental illness.

Whenever such a tragedy occurs, it’s necessary that we all work to stop a similar event from occurring again. No one would disagree with that, so then why haven’t things changed?

The debate over gun control legislation has been raging on in Congress for years now. Given the brutal shootings that we see in the news, something must be done. Yet, even with several mass shootings occurring over a short span time (at least nine in 2012), politicians have stood firm against limiting prohibiting the sale of firearms.

There are gun-owners in my family and I support the ownership of firearms.

However, I cannot morally bring myself to oppose all forms of gun control in light of recent events.

In the most recent instance, the shooter not only suffered from mental illness, but had been arrested three times since 2004. Furthermore, after filing a delusional police report in Rhode Island, Alexis had been prescribed antidepressants, which he was using at the time of the shooting. How, then, could a man like this get his hands on a

weapon no more than two days before taking the lives of twelve people? The store that sold him the shotgun did go through with its mandatory, computerized background check, yet none of these factors prevented him from the purchase, and he left the store carrying a shotgun and ammunition.

Opponents of gun control may wish to prevent the prohibition of specific firearms, but do they want to allow a man with multiple arrests and a mental disorder to walk out of a store with a weapon in hand?

Studies indicate that almost all gun dealers support comprehensive background checks according to the UC Davis Violence Prevention Research Program. Existing checks deny the sale of firearms to individuals who have a criminal history of armed robbery, assault with a deadly weapon, and battery in regards to domestic violence.

However, 91% of dealers support denying sales to individuals who suffer from serious mental illness with no history of violence or substance abuse.

If there is such widespread support for implementing legislation that will help save lives, then there is no excuse for Congress to keep “shooting down” new legislation for expanded background checks.

The worst action to take is no action. The Navy Yard Shooting was not the first of its kind by a long shot and certainly won’t be the last unless legislators realize that the right to life supersedes the right to buy a shotgun.

forested areas, so as to decrease chances of small bush-fires and save the budget for fighting bigger conflagrations.

Given the predictions of longer, more disastrous fire seasons to come, California’s current battle plan makes for an unsustainable equation. Californians know that fires are a part of the kinetic landscape and that they do not have the money to fight them all, and yet the state seems to treat every fire with equal attention and aggression. To top this off, California does not have firm rules against humans, the number one cause of fires, passing into wild areas. This current treatment of wildfires is only getting California closer to burning its already limited firefighting budget. Isn’t it time that the legislature take the necessary action to both save money and our natural landscapes?

YOU HAD ONE JOB

By Katherine Kirst Opinions Editor As of September 30, we had a government.

The sixteen days after that? A little less so.

A basic understanding of the American government is this: there are two houses of Congress—the Senate and the House of Representatives —who, in addition to passing or denying laws, must approve a budget drafted by the President. Because the budget is usually not agreed upon in the amount of time that it needs to be, Congress will pass a continuing resolution, which states that the government is to keep spending as it was under the old budget until a new one is decided upon. Basically, this is an excuse Congress can use to put off passing a budget (or, you know, doing their job) for a few more weeks and it’s the only thing needed to keep the government from shutting down.

So, why wasn’t a resolution passed on time?

The simple answer: Obamacare.

On March 23, 2010, President Obama signed into law the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act—known as “Obamacare”.

Amid much Republican uproar, the Supreme Court ruled the act constitutional last year. Any level-headed, conservative member of Congress would have realized that the dream of repealing Obamacare was not going to happen. Unfortunately, these are not reasonable people.

Knowing that the budget needed to be passed by the end of September, the House passed a continuing resolution, but added a section that would repeal Obamacare. Repeatedly asked to pass a resolution that didn’t contain this clause, House Republicans refused, leaving the Senate Democrats with a decision: repeal their own healthcare bill by passing this resolution, or continue to wait for a new one.

Long story short, the House refused to pass a clean resolution and allowed the government to shut down for over two weeks.

Since the last government shutdown occurred in 1995, allow me to explain the repercussions. Starting on October 1, 800,000 thousand federal employees were sent home; members of the US Armed Forces did not receive a pay check until after the shutdown ended; and, government programs such as the National Institute for Health and the supplemental nutrition program for women, infants and children were suspended.

Now, it’s one thing to debate the merits of a law, hold votes, and so on. However, it’s another matter entirely when a political party’s actions keep individuals from being able to receive a pay check, or even worse, when they prevent single mothers from purchasing food for their children. It’s like holding a gun to the head of the American people in a “give me what I want or the country gets it!” kind of way.

Government is made of both men and women who desire to administer a country the best way they believe is right. But – as has been the case in recent years – our government is now one that defines itself by political parties who wish to pursue their own agenda. A two-party system is not able to represent the objectives of our population, unless they are more regionalized and less focused on “the party line.” The hypocrisy that results from trying to force everyone and everything into either a blue or a red tube is inevitable and costly. Our attempts so far at changing this have focused on them—on legislators and senators, on public policy and elections. However, amidst this all, we tend to forget that our government is something that we collectively determine, and ultimately, control.

It’s time to put aside the political agendas and recognize the fact that the problems we face as a nation cannot be fixed solely by Republicans us—con or Democrats. It’s going to take all of us—conservative and liberal—to climb out of the hole we’ve dug for ourselves.

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October 2013 • Opinions

JUST SMILE AND WAVE DYING IN DEBT

ByJacob Isaacs and Kushal Singh Staff Writers Absurd and unreasonable. These words epitomize the high cost of the American health care system. In fact, the United States is the world’s forerunner of health care costs in numerous aspects — the average daily stay in an American hospital is $4,287 and a doctor’s visit averages $150. Such unreasonable prices boil down to one burning question: Why? In March of 2010, President Obama signed the highly publicized Affordable Care Act into law. Regardless of political perspective, the act, known colloquially as “Obamacare,” was seen as revolutionary. Three years later, discussions regarding health care are as popular as ever. Among the concerns surrounding the health care debate is its cost; according to a study by NBC News, the average annual family cost of health insurance is a whopping $16,000—a significant price even in the affluent Bay Area. This would not seem like a problem, as families traditionally can choose if they want insurance or not. However, the key provision of Obamacare requires all residents to have health insurance. Thus, those who may have gambled in the past on not having insurance must now bear the costs.

The true problem with health care in the United States is that services are not provided by the government, but coverage is still legislatively required. First and foremost, the exponential growth of the American population severely outpaces the supply of doctors. In America, there are 24 physicians per 10,000 people compared to the 70 to 10,000 ratio in Monaco and 49 to 10,000 ratio in Austria. Physicians exploit this low supply high demand economics in their favor by charging outrageous prices while compromising on service quality—wait times of 45 minutes to two hours are considered acceptable at countless medical facilities in the U.S. The vast majority of health care is provided by private companies, who often tack on obscene markups to their services. For example, hip replacement surgery in the U.S. costs about seven times as much as an identical procedure in Belgium, where health care is provided by the government.

An alternative untapped industry worth considering is America’s medical tourism. As opposed to overcharging local citizens for medical care, the United States should implement a higher cost structure for foreign tourists looking to avail its world-class medical facilities, a program which will pass on the revenue to the general population. For example, the medical tourism industry in Thailand, growing at a rate of over 16% per year, is expected to make more than 3 billion dollars by 2015. Thailand’s medical tourism flourishes due to its topnotch hospitals, experienced physicians, latest technology, and magnificent landmarks — all characteristics that America possesses in abundance yet doesn’t fully utilize.

Since American medicine (with the exception of Medicare and Medicaid) is a private business, these companies are now making money from virtually every person in the United States. Since demand is as high as it can be, health care’s costs can be increased—people will still need it, after all. We must completely reform our ideas of healthcare into a system in which the government provides its own widespread, affordable services to citizens.

By Harika Janjam Staff Writer On the evening of September 25, 2013, as the lights dimmed on the Miss America stage, Miss New York’s face dissolved into tears—attractively of course—as she was announced winner of the annual Miss America Beauty Pageant. Other than joining an exclusive list of strong, beautiful women, Nina Davuluri, is especially groundbreaking as the first Indian-American woman ever to win this title.

Soon after she received this accolade, social media exploded with commentary, much of it controversial.

Some complained that “Miss New York is an Indian. With all due respect, this is America.”

“How...does a foreigner win Miss America? She is an Arab! #idiots” was another such absurd comment.

The stream of abusive comments flooding from Twitter berated Davuluri, labeling her “Arab”, “terrorist” and “Miss Al Qaeda.”

Clearly some people have no better use of their time than to post about every second of their lives. But more disturbingly, there seems to be no filter, no line, no boundaries to what people say online. While I regret the abrasive nature of the comments, my main issue is not with these comments themselves, but rather the ignorance behind them. For one, calling a Hindu-identifying South Asian an Arab? Totally justified because we all look totally alike, don’t we? Cue the dramatic eye roll.

For the longest time, I was aware and affected by the stereotype that all Indians are academically focused and, frankly, the most nerdish of the nerds.

But this recent Nina Davuluri controversy has revealed that many multifarious stereotypes exist; for example, one trending topic on Twitter absurdly and irrationally connects Indians to the 9/11 terrorist attacks. In reality, Indians had no involvement whatsoever in these tragic events. The whole accusation suggests a complicated and unfortunate mindset that

makes absolutely no sense to me.

You would think that America would be proud since it is being represented by a woman who represents the melting pot that is our American culture. And though Davuluri may not have fair skin, she “always viewed [herself] as first and foremost American.”

Asked to give her thoughts on all the criticism she is receiving, Davuluri simply and eloquently stated, “I have to rise above that.”

What is most noteworthy is that Davuluri is proud of the fact that she is able to represent her country (America, not India) in a unique way.

DEAR COMMON APP...

By Michele Garlit Staff Writer Do you hear that? That’s the sound of seniors across the world cringing at your name. That’s the fear of seniors as people tell them over and over and over again that this one application might be the most important document of their young lives.

The worst part, Common App, is that they’re right. You are, for most, a critical factor in a student’s collegiate future. Even the brightest students are inexplicably frightened by your “Activities” lists and unassuming essays.

Since when did your “simple” way to apply, become a monster that haunts the nightmares of high school students? How did you become the focal point of first semester seniors on weekends and holidays?

And your “simplicity,” Common App, has actually made it much harder for students to get into the college of their choice.

Since you, Common App, were created in 1975 with only fifteen colleges, more and

more colleges and universities have joined, making it significantly easier for students to apply to multiple colleges at once. Even though you were created with the best intentions, it is this ease of applying that has pushed the numbers of applicants sky high and acceptance rates lower and lower.

Since 1999, the percentage of students applying to more than six colleges has more than doubled, creating more competition between students for the limited amount of spaces open for incoming freshmen.

Since it is so easy to just click and add another university, colleges have been able to tighten the admission process and to become exceedingly selective.

In a simpler time, one only had to write an essay and apply to get in to the college of one’s choice. Now, colleges expect much more: attending their far from cheap summer programs, going to every single informational session, and visiting the campus no matter how far away.

Then, after spending thousands of dol-

lars on transportation and fees, students are required to explain their sincere love for the university through supplemental essays and interviews with alumni.

Of course, before your birth, Common App, admission was never certain, but it has gotten worse. As a Yale representative told me, “Every year we get thousands of applicants, with brilliant applications, who we just can’t let in because we simply don’t have the space for them... It really is sometimes ‘marginal things’ that determine how a student gets in.”

And how can colleges, like Yale or CalPoly, determine the difference between a student who just checked a box to add a school from a student who grew up wearing CalPoly sweaters or rooting for the Bulldogs? They can’t. So, childhood goals and ambitions can be dashed simply because another senior thought the college was a good “backup.”And all of that? That’s pretty much all your fault, Common App. Thanks for ruining our “best year.”

Justice Awareness Community Service Juhi Gor and Nivedita Ahlawat Staff Writers

Not sure where to volunteer this year to complete your community service requirement? Here are some places you can volunteer at to complete the twenty-hour requirement.

Resource Area For Teaching (RAFT) is a wonderful place to use crafting skills to make a difference in education. Each year, RAFT assembles and distributes over 50,000 handson math, science, and arts Activity Kits made from repurposed materials, keeping them out of landfills. Every day that the store is open, RAFT welcomes volunteers to help sort and process walk-in donations, price retail items, create Activity Kits, and more. To sign up for this volunteer service, go to www.raft.net/ volunteer-at-raft.

Family Supportive Housing, Inc. is a homeless shelter in San Jose. Volunteers participate in the Homework Enrichment Program by helping school children achieve academic and social success. If volunteers want to work with their friends, they can make and serve breakfast, lunch, or dinner––usually a three hour commitment. Or, they can sign up to become Weekend Activity Leaders and organize activities such as kite-making and arts and crafts. Visit http://familysupportivehousing. org/index.php/how-to-help/volunteer/.

Martha’s Kitchen is perfect for all aspiring chefs looking for a place to volunteer. In the soup kitchen, volunteers collect donated food, prepare it, and serve hot meals to the poor and hungry in San Jose. The program is always ready to accept volunteers to fulfill its mission to feed senior citizens, homeless individuals, and the economically disadvantaged.

Volunteer hours are 3:30-5:30 on Tuesdays and Wednesdays. Volunteers must be 16 years of age or older and need to sign the volunteer agreement form available on www.marthaskitchen.org/volunteer/.

Good Samaritan Hospital will be accepting applications for its Junior Auxiliary in a few weeks! The program asks students to volunteer for three hours a week for one year.

As volunteers at Good Samaritan, high school students assist patients, help nurses, transport lab specimens, and escort visitors throughout the hospital. The link for the volunteer application is http://goodsamsanjose.com/communityinfo/volunteer-activities.dot.

Introducing Cornerstone

Rasika Raghavan and Catherine Gong Staff Writer An exciting new addition to Campus Ministry this year, Cornerstone is a youth ministry group designed for freshmen, sophomores, and juniors. The vision for Cornerstone began to take shape when younger students expressed interest in founding a Campus Ministry program like the LIFE-Emmaus Team—but one designed primarily for underclassmen.

Cornerstone kicked off its biweekly meetings in late September. By combining faith elements such as Gospel readings and reflections with activities including lively games of Lifeboat. Cornerstone creates a retreat-like experience right here at school. Ms. Calaway, the Campus Ministry Immersion Coordinator, calls it “a mini retreat in the middle of the school week.”

One member of Cornerstone, junior Adam Crowell, explained that “the atmosphere is similar to that of a retreat where small groups get to know people better and actually open up.”

Thus far, with about 50 students having attended each of the past two sessions, the program seems to have attained great popularity. Director of Campus Ministry Mr. Wesmiller explains that Cornerstone is a great way to allow students from every grade to meet, discuss, and bond. During the after school sessions, LIFE-Emmaus members and the Campus Ministry staff address common issues of concern such as relieving stress, facing fears of failure, and handling peer pressure, along with fun energizers to keep the mood relaxed and upbeat.

Interested in joining this wonderful program? Simply drop in on any of the sessions, which take place every other Tuesday from 3-4:30 P.M. in the Chapel. As senior LIFE Team member Marian Wyman states, “If you want to participate but are already playing a sport or participating in another seasonal activity, you are still welcome! We understand that you may have other commitments, so come when you can!”

Contact twesmiller@mitty.com for more details!

Mitty Makes a Global Impact Horizons Broaden to the East

Amy Baylis Staff Writer

China: a bustling 21st century country outfitted with skyscrapers, movie stars, and fashion. Yet scratch the surface and a new world emerges, populated by migrant workers and gaunt children. The ECJ: China program seeks to bring hope and knowledge to many who are struggling, promoting peace and equality.

While in China, students teach English at schools, plant trees, and participate in land reclamation projects. ECJ China teacher, Ms. Walker, explains, “Our contributions help close the education gap between socially disadvantaged students.”

‘Students and teachers also immerse themselves in local culture. Roisín Slevin, a current senior, reflects on climbing the Great Wall of China: “I am so incredibly grateful for the opportunity to see even a small part of this breathtaking country.”

Overall, ECJ China promotes education and environmental awareness while also exposing students to a foreign land sprinkled with wonders that broaden horizons.

Service in the Land of the Sun

It is remarkable how very little we know about the world in our own backyard.

ECJ: California seeks to educate students about the injustice, poverty, and crime that exist in California, encouraging students to promote justice in their local communities.

Traveling to San Francisco, Salinas, and Los Angeles, students work with a variety of agencies, including Saint Anthony’s and Homeboy Industries, taking proactive steps to resolve present issues.

Matthew Del Rosario, a current senior, remembers this “eye opening experience that introduced him to the struggles of those in our community, and how they are good people with good hearts.”

This trip aims to reveal local struggles in hopes that students will gain an understanding of the world they live in and make advances to create a more just place for all.

It Takes a Village

Elephants, Spice and Everything Nice

ECJ: El Salvador students strive to promote equality among war refugees and experience the rich culture and history of this diverse nation.

At the onset of the trip, students live with Salvadoran families, forging personal bonds, such as by playing soccer with Salvadoran children. The second half of the trip involves traveling across the country, visiting some of the religious and historical monuments that have been studied in the course.

Mr. Howard, the program’s leader, reflects on the experience of “watching students come full circle, from guerrillas to democracy, and coming to appreciate how such injustice is slowly moving towards justice.”

Students were moved by their experiences as they grew close with their host families.

Amy Becker, a current senior, emphasized that she enjoyed “not just reading about the people in textbooks, but actually getting to connect with them on a personal level.”

The ECJ: India trip focuses on the poverty, gender roles and the varying religions within India.

Students visit slums, impoverished schools, and orphanages, giving them the opportunity to bring hope into the lives of even the poorest citizens.

With an emphasis on women and their role in Indian society, students travel to micro-financing agencies to speak with female employees.

In the words of Ms. Calaway, who will be leading the program this year, all of these experiences, “promote justice because they demand that students step out of their comfort zones so they can see how people in another part of the world live.”

Senior Mahir Khan appreciates how this trip provides students with the opportunity to “look at different issues in India, the Dahlis and the untouchables, experience how they live their lives, and ultimately to bring hope.”

ECJ: India strives to bring balance and equality, to answer the Gospel call to live in solidarity with the ‘least’ of society.

For more on this summer’s immersion trips, turn to the Focus section on pp. 10-11.

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October 2013 • Justice Awareness

Crossed Lines

Misogyny in Pop Culture

An AIDS research breakthrough was discovered at Oregon Health and Science University.

Researchers discovered a virus called CMV. CMV increases the strength of the immune system to combat the virus and then continues to kill AIDS cells. This outcome occurred in 50% of the test subjects. Further research is underway.

Same sex marriage was legalized in England and Wales.

By Niharika Bhat Staff Writer It’s everywhere. You catch snippets of it on the radio, in the background of a movie trailer, or pumping out of cars on your way to school. I caught myself humming tunelessly to it this summer, and then stopped when I realized I had no idea what any of the lyrics in the song were.

What am I talking about? “Blurred Lines,” the pop song by Robin Thicke.

Curious to know the lyrics to the song that was blasting on 99.7 every hour, I googled it––and was shocked. The lyrics, which I had mistakenly assumed to be similar to every other mainstream release, were anything but. Thicke’s words are horrifyingly graphic in their degradation of women, and several lines of the song––“I know you want it,” “Tried to domesticate you/ But you’re an animal,” “Do it like it hurt / What you don’t like work”––are blatantly misogynistic. Even the song’s title, “Blurred Lines,” insinuates the blurred lines of sexual consent––lines that should be clearly marked by a yes or no. I was offended by the lyrics, but, like many others, I initially dismissed it as just another catchy but sexist song floating around the musicsphere.

Then came the music video.

Three sharply dressed artists (Robin Thicke, Pharrell Williams, and T.I) are featured on a pale background, crooning into the ears of––you guessed it––three nearly naked women wearing nothing but flesh-colored thongs prancing around the men. All the while, Thicke and his companions stand smugly upright, flicking over an almost indiscernible stop sign on one model’s posterior.

In case his music video didn’t make his disregard for women blatant, Thicke released a statement that took a derisive stance on the concerns of women’s right activists. “People say, ‘Hey, do you think this is degrading to women?’ I’m like, ‘Of course it is,’” Thicke said in an interview with Gentlemen’s Quarterly Magazine (GQ).

To make one thing clear, the greatest message that Thicke’s song sends is this: the lines of sexual consent are blurred. This is the type of message that has been imbibed in many young Americans, and it contributes to why 97% of rapists never go to jail for their crimes. From a young age, we’ve been taught that consent can be distorted.

The truth is, it cannot. No does not mean yes—or maybe.

The definition of consent in dictionaries hasn’t changed, so why has it in pop culture?

Some cling to the belief that “True, the song has a bad message, but why is everyone getting so worked up about this? Don’t let the feminists turn this into another big issue.” Others even echo Thicke’s claim that the song is about sexual freedom.

Newsflash: it’s neither. In a movement called Project Unbreakable, rape victims share the words of their offenders. Unnervingly enough, almost all the quotations echo the lyrics in Thicke’s song. If there was ever a rape anthem, “Blurred Lines” could be it.

However, what’s most concerning about this song is not the lyrics, the title, the music video, or even the public statements that Thicke has made regarding it: It’s how the majority of the public has reacted to the song.

Many people look at all the points that critics have made and subvert the anger against misogyny into the idea that “all feminists are man-haters.”

For example, an unnamed commenter on a critique of “Blurred Lines” writes, “The idea that music videos contribute to rape culture is ridiculous to the point of hilarity. Men who rape do so because of their own internal insecurities and the culture around masculinity, and not because of their perception of women. And let’s be clear––a woman simply cannot contest that point.” He or she then goes on to say, “If you are truly outraged by these actions then stop being and accepting...women that deserve this!!!”

Until our mindset about the value of a woman and the definition of sexual consent changes, we can only expect sequels to chauvinistic songs like “Blurred Lines” that currently rule our music charts.

Map Corner Nivedita Ahlawat Staff Writer At the beginning of each school year, the Mitty Advocacy Project (MAP) selects four social justice issues on which to focus.

This year, the issues MAP students have chosen are juvenile sentencing and rehabilitation, homelessness, foster care, and education. Members will work to make changes in these areas of society in November, when twelve MAP students will travel to Washington D.C. to advocate for issues such as these and more at the Ignatian Family Teach-In for Justice Conference.

Students will also have the opportunity to advocate for issues they are passionate about in March 2014, on Catholic Youth Advocacy Day (CYAN). MAP students will embark on a day trip to Sacramento and meet with legislators in the Capitol building.

Additionally, MAP will host its own second annual conference in February, offering workshops regarding effective presentation skills and informative sessions on issues such as human trafficking in the Bay Area.

Interested? Contact moderator Mr. Accorsi, at maccorsi@mitty.com or President, Sarah Stoch, at sarastoch14@mittymonarch.com.

An endangered sea turtle was released into wild after being rehabilitated at Long Beach Aquarium.

George Zimmerman was acquitted after killing a seventeen-year-old boy, Trayvon Martin.

His primary claim was that he had used self-defense.

In Santiago, Chile, the rape of a young girl, has sparked a heated debate over abortion. A survey found that 63% of Chileans believe in allowing abortion once the mother’s life is at risk. 64% feel abortion should be an option if the woman was impregnated from rape.

A Brazilian federal district will be banning toy guns to reduce violent crime.

Brazilian Protests Guilia Travostino Staff Writer Brazil erupted in protest after social politics were brought to a boil. The protests broke out over a price hike that may seem trivial to us—a thirty cenavo (fifteen cent) increase in bus fare to fund the construction of roads leading to the World Cup stadiums. (Brazil has been given the opportunity to host the Confederations Cup 2013, World Cup 2014, and the 2016 summer Olympics).

For the people of Brazil––especially the 21.4% that live below the national poverty line––fifteen cents is a discernible difference, as well as a symbolic one. And so, in early September, an angered under-class took to the streets, an action that grabbed headlines not only around Brazil, but the entire world.

These small-scale protests escalated substantially as the middle class joined the ranks of the rallying citizens.

Many in Brazil have come to the realization that the seven billion dollars being spent on the grand soccer stadiums could have been spent on healthcare and education—areas in dire need of improvement.

As if this is not enough, Brazil is also plagued by a network of corrupt politicians who pocket tax money, a huge wealth gap, a serious crime rate, and a disproportionately

high tax rate (27.5% on average) all of which added to the cause of protestors.

Brazilian journalist Paolo Sotero claims that “the bus-fare issue is an important one, but then I think the other grievances stem from the fact that in this country we have...an emerging middle class.” The “middle class” that Sotero refers to symbolizes the everyday person that wants to be educated, to be successful, and to have access to basic necessities.

How exactly did the protests arise so quickly? The simple answer is mass communication through social media (Brazilians have the second largest population of Facebook users).

And what did these protests actually accomplish? Brazilians clearly communicated to the government what they wanted—not only a fifteen cent decrease in bus fare––which they received rather quickly, but improvements in health care, politics, transportation, and education.

As a result of these protests, President Dilma Rousseff has ordered the hiring of over 10,000 public doctors, as well as beginning major educational reforms. Just like the sun rising over the beautiful beaches on Brazil’s coasts, new solutions are arising, giving Brazilians hope for a future offering more opportunity.

Justice Awareness • October 2013

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Compiled by Eliza Kolmanovsky Staff Writer North Korea had a military parade to celebrate the 60th anniversary of the Korean War truce. The parade appeared to feature many weapons that North Korea was not known to possess.

Iran elected its seventh president, Hassan Rouhani.

Rouhani described his desire to overcome the longstanding hatred between the U.S.A. and Iran.

Child Marriage Outrage A Question of Ethics and Tradition Margarita Zvereva Staff Writer

A Chinese activist went missing shortly after her arrest at the Beijing airport; she was going to attend a human rights training program.

Zimbabwe held an election on July 31 for a president. Robert Mugabe, at age 89, won 61% of the votes.

The Stepping Stones Triple P Project in Australia is a new program that assists the disabled and their families in adjusting to their situation.

Human rights icon Nelson Mandela’s health seems to be improving, since he has responded to treatment at his home.

New Pope Charts a New Path How Pope Francis Is Changing Tradition Sankar Srinivasan Staff Writer When Pope Benedict XVI resigned from his post, all eyes turned to the Vatican and the color of the smoke emanating from the Sistine Chapel. From the very moment the new pope was elected, the world could sense that there were major changes coming. The new pope refused to spend his days on his papal throne or even wear his special robes, instead opting to wear more traditional clothing. He consciously chose to ride the public bus rather than travel by the distinguished papal car car. Pope Francis appeared to be initiating a subtle break from the traditions of the Vatican V and Catholic Church.

To better understand Pope Francis’ T Francis’s current missions, one must look into his identity and roots. Born Argentina Jorge Mario Bergoglio in Buenos Aires, Argentina, was the son of Italian immigrants and spent much of his life in Argentina, graduating as a chemical technician and ultimately becoming ordained as a clergyman.

Throughout his life in Buenos Aires, Pope city’ Francis travelled through much of the city’s underground public transportation systems, and witnessed the poor quality of life there. He did not have the luxury of growing up with the privileges that the Vatican V would ensure any pope today today.

“My people are poor,” Pope Francis has often stated, “and I am one of them.”

The purpose of the Church, to him, is to empathize with all individuals––especially those marginalized by society society.

According to Pope Francis, the Church he was initiated into was “Vatican-centric,” catering only to its own temporal needs and forgetting the millions of global citizens who live under the poverty line. Pope Francis is trying to redefine the image of the Church as an institution that aligns with all.

Pope Francis even selected his name as part of his greater agenda. The pope took his name from the father of social service himself, Saint Francis of Assisi, a man who had deeply inspired him. This conscious choice asserts that the Church is an institution that must serve the people, not the other way around. In essence, Pope Francis saw himself not as a shepherd, as previous popes have, but as a caretaker for the diverse flock of the world . He continually shows through his community service that he does not embrace religion solely for its tradition. Instead of observing Holy Thursday by washing the feet of layman as his predecessors have done, he chose to wash the feet of youth inmates at a local youth penitentiary Pope Francis recently told a reporter that “God is universal, and we are Catholic in the sense of the way we worship him.” He is absolutely right. It does not matter what religion one comes from, so long as it leads one to the ultimate destination: service and love for our fellow men and women.

That is what our faith should really be about.

For several millennia, the controversy of child marriage in Yemen has led to conflict, especially with the need to uphold the cultures and religions of the Yemeni people.

Several pleas for help have been sent to the government in the past. These became impossible to ignore when a young eight-year old girl died after extreme bleeding from internal injuries, soon after her marriage to a forty-yearold man. Although several sources have denied such allegations, others have claimed that such occurrences are common and often overlooked. While most men would have been severely punished for such a crime, this man was not.

Several similar cases have involved children running away from home to escape marriage, sometimes threatening suicide.

Consider the case of Nada al-Ahdal, an 11-year old girl, who recently posted a video of herself discussing her parent’s attempts to force her into marriage. This constant pressure to satisfy not only her family, but also her tribe, caused her to run away and enter the custody of the Yemeni Women’s Union.

Urged by such situations, the European Union’s foreign policy chief, Baroness Catherine Ashton, has sent several pleas to Yemeni Prime Minister Mohammad Salem Basindwa to uphold the policies and obligations of the United Nations, of which Yemen is a member. Only recently has the Prime Minister’s aide reported that the government was dealing seriously and severely with this issue.

Despite the allegations, those closest to Nada have criticized her actions and her betrayal of traditional Yemeni customs.

Alaa al-Eryani, a feminist blogger, captures the sentiment in an interview with BBC News, “If you go to a small village, they would tell you that [a child] is crazy for running away from her parents, if you go to these villages, eight-year-olds are being married… Here in the city, where people are generally more educated and aware, they would tell you that it shouldn’t happen.”

Although such practices are considered taboo and anathema in our society, Yemeni villagers are adamant that they have the right to uphold their traditions without government interference.

This practice is not unique to Yemen. All over the world, women are robbed of their education, their rights, and their dignity in such ways. In fact, according to the International Center for Research on Women (ICRW), 100 million more girls will be subjected to child marriage within the next decade.

The same 2006 ICRW study found a marked connection between child marriage and the lack of educational opportunities for women. This link is manifested through the situation in Mozambique––an African nation that, like Yemen, adamantly promotes the tradition of child marriage. In Mozambique, the study found that “approximately 60% of girls with no education are married by 18, compared to 10% of girls with secondary schooling.”

In this manner, child marriage becomes one of the greatest obstacles to women’s education and empowerment. Though traditions are important to uphold, there is a fine line between allowing cultural freedom and infringing on innate human rights.

With the world’s eyes trained on Yemen, Yemeni government officials are pursuing a new proposition to set a minimum age law for marriage. Such reform would set Middle Eastern women on a path towards greater confidence, education, and––ultimately––independence.

Around the Wo Perhaps, as you are sitting in your world language class, you may hear words such as nǐ hǎo, bonjour, or hola. Perhaps, you may respond with words of your own and listen as each syllable rolls off your tongue. Maybe you happen to be learning about the origins of the Terracotta Army, the masterpieces in the Louvre, or the history of Machu Picchu. It is not often that we realize how fortunate we are to be learning such language and culture.

We are fortunate to live in a country that offers freedom of religion and countless other civil liberties that we each take for granted each day. We learn and study in a diverse community, a home, perhaps, that we call Archbishop Mitty. Perhaps all these thoughts run through your mind as you sit in class right now.

Maybe. Just Maybe.

Kenny Nguyen, Staff Writer

How many countries have you been to?

After asking students around Mitty...

Do you speak another language?

1 4 5+ 2 3

Compiled by Sydney Chiu Staff Writer

ry e t s y M e i k o Co By Sumeet Bansal

Staff Writer When the word fortune cookie is mentioned, what comes to mind? Chinese food is often a first. However, interestingly enough, fortune cookies are practically absent in China.

In fact, when Yao Ming played his first game in Miami and promoters distributed thousands of fortune cookies, Ming wasn’t offended at all; he believed that fortune cookies were an American invention, since he hadn’t even seen them before in his home country.

The fortune cookie actually originated in Oakland, California, and was based on the traditional Japanese cracker, the senbei.

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These fortune cookies were easily massproduced in Japanese-American factories, which would eventually become acquired by the Chinese-Americans when the factories were on the brink of bankruptcy due to racial tensions during World War II. The fortune cookie would ultimately become aligned with Chinese-American culture when Chinese vendors began distributing the easily mass produced cookies for dessert during World War II. Interestingly enough, when fortune cookies were introduced to China, the dessert quickly became unpopular due to it being “too American.”

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Arts & Entertainment

Fashion Week Fashion Here, Fashion There

By Kendall Perata and Niki Griswold Staff Writer and A&E Editor

New York With New York as the opener in the month of Fashion Weeks, expectations for the designs of the new season were high.

Fortunately, it did not disappoint, as designers such as Phillip Lim, Jason Wu, and Derek Lam featured lines perfectly encompassing the trends of the next season.

Derek Lam’s gingham patterns, bursts of color, and shapeless silhouettes perfectly depicted spring, while Jason Wu seemed to have the ’90s in mind. Wu’s structured jackets and purses provided the perfect contrast to his effortless suede and silk designs in white, beige, blush, and light green.

Phillip Lim’s earth inspiration was evident in the color palette of muted, natural tones and patterns reminiscent of minerals and crystals. All in all, New York set the bar high for the Fashion Weeks to come.

London

From New York, Fashion Week traveled across the pond to London where designers such as Burberry, Christopher Kane, and Erdem offered their take on spring/summer fashion.

Burberry’s collection was the epitome of an “English Rose,” as models strutted down the runway in the traditional Burberry greenhouse wearing form-fitting pencil skirts and dresses in a variety of light pastels, lace, and cashmere. Christopher Kane approached the florals typical of spring in an unconventional way, presenting dresses that contrasted prints with dark colors. Erdem abandoned spring’s conventional delicacy with his collection, which celebrated the yin and yang of a masculine/feminine blend.

The designs centered upon the masculine silhouettes of biker jackets and blazers, balanced by feminine lace and organza. London demonstrated that Spring/Summer 2014 fashion is about the fusion of the traditional and unconventional.

Milan

With Milan as one of the fashion capitals of the world, it’s no surprise that iconic names Dolce & Gabbana, Fendi, and Missoni showed their new collections here.

This season’s inspiration stemmed from Ancient Greece. D&G’s dresses and coats carried prints of ancient ruins, shoe heels resembled columns, colors ranged from bright red and gold to black, and each piece carried gilded coin accents, florals, or 3D motifs.

Fendi’s collection was comprised of lightweight, flowy, organza designs in a variety of bold colors, such as red, royal blue, and coral. The draped, carefree styles struck a fine balance with each style’s intricate details. Missoni departed from their conventional patterns and instead incorporated a seaside influence. The collection began by displaying ocean-like prints and colors before transitioning to fiery patterns and color palettes that displayed elemental inspiration.

Paris

Despite the incredible success of the three previous Fashion Weeks, Paris was the overwhelming highlight of this fashion season.

In Alexander Wang’s second collection for Balenciaga, Wang infused his own sporty style into the classic French brand, producing high-waisted shorts and skirts, cropped tank tops, peplums, and blazers, all done in subtle black and white florals with splashes of baby pink and sky blue.

Miu Miu was headed in the direction of an upper-class schoolgirl, as pleated skirts, flouncy dresses, blazers, long coats, brightly colored tights, and Mary Jane heels dominated the runway.

Industry icon Louis Vuitton’s show was the talk of the season. Dresses were paneled with sheer fabrics, detailed with feathered plumes, or ornamented with beads and crystals. These awe-inspiring collections contributed to making Paris the perfect end of an inspiring fashion season.

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cropped tops transparency white and other muted colors sporty effortless style ’90s inspiration

pastels florals edgy and rebellious ’90s style sheer fabric and iridescence

A&E Favorites

By Celina Leong and Elaine Xie Staff Writers

The lights illuminating Pier 94 flickered as a sound mimicking thunder blasted through the sound system.

Suddenly, all the lights turned on at once, revealing a runway. Everyone in the audience held their breath; Alexander Wang’s 2014 Spring and Summer runway show had begun.

Wang’s presentation was the essence of modern culture, and the entire collection screamed the rise of the young generation. Most of the skirts and shorts ended high above knee-level; the amount of midriff alarmed some. The color palette of the minimalistic collection consisted of baby blue, dark beige, white, gray gray, black, and a pastel pink.

Without a doubt, the most iconic look of the runway show would be the one modeled by Georgia May Jagger—a sheer, paneled crewneck, with the familiar “Parental Advisory: Explicit Content” logo printed on the front, reit reitWang’s affection erating W for modern culture.

Overall, the runway

show seemed to be Wang’s way of reconnecting to streetwear after he was named creative director of the prestigious Parisian fashion house, Balenciaga, in late 2012.

On the other side of the world in Milan, Donatella Versace promised and delivered a show that had fashion addicts talking for days.

On a lime green runway complete with the frame of a massive Medusa head, Versace embraced its rocker chic background. The beginning of the collection consisted of dark denim, chunky belts, and strong platform heels, which contrasted with the soft pastels and florals incorporated into the later looks.

From chains and leather shorts to light, colorful pieces, Versace established a balance between rock and femininity. She created a tough-girl vibe with a dash of glamour,, using perfectly chosen fabrics and cleverly placed cut-outs.

Altogether, the collection’s A-line midi skirts and elegant silhouettes increased its luxuriousness, bringing that “something special” the world expected from Milan.

florals sporty style cropped pants graphic prints and patterns light and flowy fabrics

asymmetrical hemlines metallics beading black and white

Lean Teen Design Machine

By Kristyna Otto Staff Writer

This year at New York Fashion Week, two designers of the new generation graced the fashion world with the debut of their lines.

After a shopping fiasco with her dad while attempting to find an appropriate homecoming dress, Sadie Robertson from A&E’s Duck Dynasty collaborated with well-known designer A&E’ Sherri Hill to create fashionable but modest prom dresses.

Sadie drew her inspiration from Carrie Underwood when designing her line “Sadie Robertson Live Original,” as she identifies with Ms. Underwood’ Underwood’s classy, country style.

Sadie’s role extended even further from designer to spokesmodel as she also made her runway debut during the “Sherri Hill Fashion Show Show,” modeling two of her own designs.

The display of talent continued as Jazmin Brown debuted her ready-towear fashion line “Deztani” (pronounced “destiny”) at Stitch Bar and Lounge in New York City.

A multitude of rising stars were in attendance to support the 15-year-old’ss self-designed line, featuring bright colors and bold patterns. This designer began modeling and competing in beauty pageants at the age of seven, and even yra Banks Show” in 2010 before realappeared on the “Tyra izing her true passion for designing.

Ms. Brown draws her inspiration from flipping through magazines and hopes to target women of all ages with her designs. This Fashion Week, Sadie Robertson and Jazmin Brown proved to the world of fashion that teens are just as capable at pursuing fashion careers as any adult.

Arts & Entertainment • October 2013

The Castro Theater: Taking a Step Back in Time

By Nicole Rejer Staff Writer If you’re anything like me, you know that the fall and winter seasons are a great time to wear sweaters and boots, sip pumpkin spice lattes, and of course, settle down in a cozy theatre and watch some good movies. However, how many times can you go to the same AMC 14 Theater and watch the same movie with the same actors? After a while, it gets pretty redundant. But, if you’re willing to take the drive, San Francisco’s Castro Theater definitely offers an experience that no other theater can, and everyone can find something to satisfy his or her movie-going pleasures.

The Castro Theater, one of San Francisco’s most famous landmarks, was built in 1922 on busy Castro Street. The interior of the theatre is luxurious and ornate, with Oriental, Spanish, and Italian influences, and it offers a movie-watching experience that your local AMC Theater just can’t provide. Seating over 1400 people, it is one of the few remaining “movie palaces” in the nation from the 1920s that is still in operation—truly a piece of living history.

Still, the thing that makes the Castro Theatre so great is not just the building itself, but the movies and entertainment it provides daily. The Castro Theater prides itself in showing the classic golden movies that everyone seems to forget about, but that can still be discovered or relived in the theater. The Godfather? Vertigo? Citizen Kane?

You can’t just see those movies on the silver screen in any old theater. At the Castro Theater, movies like those are an everyday occurrence, sure to please any movie buff looking for a good time.

Additionally the theater hosts special film festivals, like the LGBT, Asian, and Jewish Film Festivals, and shows musicals that you can sing along to. Just recently, the Castro Theater has shown The Changeling, The Shining, Monty Python and The Holy Grail, as well a double-bill of the current Drive and Only God Forgives (both with the ever-popular Ryan Gosling). As you can see, there’s something for everyone, making it almost impossible to be disappointed.

With comfy seats, delicious popcorn, a vibrant audience, and wonderful movies, the Castro Theatre wraps up everything San Francisco has to offer. Walking into the theater feels like taking a step back in time, and it offers an experience you can’t find anywhere else. So grab a couple of friends, drive to San Francisco, and jump into another world for a few hours! Keep the cinematic history alive! You won’t be disappointed.

Page 13

The film industry s Dumping Ground

By Anamaria Falcone Staff Writer Remember being at the mall towards the end of summer, looking at movie listings and scowling because there was basically nothing worth watching in theaters? It’s true that the month of August brought us box office hits such as We’re the Millers and Elysium, but look at what they had to “compete” with: Kick Ass 2 and Jobs, among others. Those two movies alone made $52 million combined, a little over a third of what We’re the Millers critimade. So why is it that August only brings us one or two criti cally acclaimed hit movies before summer comes to a close?

Let’s look back at some of the bigger movies that came out from the start May to the beginning of July: Man of Steel, Monsters University, Despicable Me 2—take a guess at what these movies made individually. If you guessed higher than $250 million for each, then you guessed correctly. Each of these movies made 33 times more than Paranoia (released August 16th), which made a measly $7.4 million, making it the lowest grossing film of the year. Although that number sounds like a lot to most of us, compare that to how much Iron Man 3, the highest grossing film of 2013, made: $409 million. That’s about 55 times more money than Paranoia’s cash intake. Ouch.

When movie producers know that their movie absolutely cannot compete against highly anticipated movies of the summer, they “dump” them at the end, where there’s going to be less competition. Movie release dates are strategically picked in order for films to make more than what they cost to produce; a movie, no matter how low grossing it may seem, is considered a success if it makes about as much as the production cost.

Luckily for us, the dumping period of the film industry has come to a close with the start of October, officially closing summer 2013 as horror movies aim to take the silver screen along with likely Oscar contenders. Obviously Gravity is going to make more than its budget of $80 million (it’s a movie with Sandra Bullock and George Clooney in space, are you really expecting anything less?), but will Carrie and Bad Grandpa be able to compete and make more than they cost to produce? We’ll just have to buy our tickets, grab our popcorn, and see what fall has to bring to the year 2013.

The Hero’s(Millionth)Journey

By Siddharth Kulkarni Staff Writer

Everyone loves that feeling of infinite possibilities as they stare up at the summer movie marquee, don’t they? There are so many different stories to choose from. But lately, watching blockbuster movies can often feel trite and formulaic. That’s not to say they’re boring or badly made. But drop in on the cinema’s biggest hits over the last couple of years, and you’re bound to notice plotlines recurring time and time again. Could it be that the influx of such “heroic” blockbusters just happens to be what viewers want?

No, it’s no coincidence; instead, it’s a formula based off two books about the art of storytelling: one old, one new. The first, Joseph Campbell’s The Hero with a Thousand Faces, was not meant to serve as a writing guide. Instead it explored the world’s most famous myths and fairy tales, and broke them down into 17 stages of a story. The book, however, became quite popular, and George Lucas used it to write the original Star Wars trilogy. Parallels to the book’s formula, commonly called “The Hero’s Journey,” can be found in other such “epic” movies.

The other book whose storytelling formula is infecting Hollywood is Save the Cat!, a 2005 screenwriting guide by guru Blake Snyder. Unlike previous screenwriting books, however, Snyder’s guide was extremely specific, with 15 “beats” that every blockbuster needed to be successful. While Snyder intended the “beats” to be guidelines, the storytelling model caught on like wildfire, especially among beginning screenwriters. And once you know the beats, you start seeing them popping up everywhere.

A commonly used one is “the dark night of the soul.” It occurs at the end of the midpoint, after a crushing defeat, and is now a staple of Hollywood. You see it everywhere: three-fourths of the way through the movie, all is lost, and the characters must reflect on their mistakes before the finale. In 2012’s Marvel’s The Avengers, the quiet conversation between Captain America and Iron Man after a fight certainly qualifies, as does Bruce Wayne reflecting on his past while imprisoned in 2012’s The Dark Knight Rises.

Despite these tropes prevalence, they show what modern audiences want: their own pocket epic, complete with sweeping characters and plots. There are only so many new stories the human race can tell. And it works, too. All of the movies named in this article are solid pieces of entertainment and sometimes even art. Let’s just hope that Hollywood doesn’t get too caught up in their reliance on these stories, or modern cinema soon will have its own “all is lost” moment.

New Girl, New Season

By Marian Wyman Staff Writer

New Girl’s much-anticipated third season began the way that many had been hoping, with Nick and Jess busting out of Cece’s failed wedding together, starting a relationship that’s proven to be the focus of new year.

After dating for only thirty minutes, they are instantly flung into a serious relationship, living together in a loft that’s now become more than just awkward. The dynamic of this motley crew (Nick, Jess, Schmidt, and Winston) has certainly changed, as Nick and Jess’ relationship makes Schmidt and Winston cling to each other to hold their ground.

The boys do, however, have their own set of relationship issues. Schmidt is secretly dating two women, Cece and Elizabeth—and doing a really bad job at it. And, although Winston tries to find a girlfriend, he fails and ends up with nothing left but a cat.

Certainly you could say that the return of New Girl keeps its humor and wild antics—no episode is lacking laughter, and the characters are all trying to navigate ridiculous situations.

Unfortunately, the season has a completely new feel in some ways. The current plot is almost solely based on relationships rather than the individual characters. A perfect example of this is the loss of the Nick who audiences had come to love, now replaced with this brand new Nick, Jess’s boyfriend. After officially dating Jess, Nick loses the dark, sarcastic humor that had won the hearts of many. He’s less of the mess we knew in previous seasons, and more of a happy-go-lucky boyfriend that will do anything to keep Jess by his side.

Even though their relationship was cute at first, it now seems doomed. Schmidt and Winston are hilariously bitter and alone, and they’re quite frankly tired of Nick and Jess’ romance. The friendship of the loft has been sacrificed for Nick and Jess, and many viewers are starting to wonder if it’s worth it. Schmidt even admits in Episode 3 that he’ll do anything he can to break up the happy couple.

So really, Season three will document the trials and triumphs of relationships: Nick and Jess’s, Schmidt’s, and yes, even Winston’s. It’s a new perspective, but still has the same great humor that will keep viewers watching.

Page 14

October 2013 • Arts & Entertainment

Fit for a (Lizard) King

UPCOMING EVENTS

Boo!

By Jisoo Kim A&E Editor Keep your eyes and ears peeled—the music of Lizard Kingdom may very well be slithering onto the radio waves before you know it. On October 20, this up-and-coming student band performed their biggest show to date, opening for two other bands at the Oakland Metro. Lizard Kingdom is surely making a dent in the local scene, despite the fact that its members go to different schools. A&E caught up with senior Ryan Waranauskas, who represents Mitty in the band alongside fellow senior Thomas Sherry.

JK: How did Lizard Kingdom get started?

RW: Thomas and I were previously playing in a pop band but weren’t enjoying ourselves as much as we would have liked. Then, we found Mikey Zamora, who was in the same boat as us and had similar musical goals too. We started playing shows as an instrumental group, and through that and a common management company, we came across our current vocalist.

JK: What makes the music of Lizard Kingdom different?

RW: We classify ourselves as “Experimental Post-hardcore.” This term is sort of uncommon in the genre world of music, but it could not explain us any better. With many technical parts and unique ways in which we use our instruments, we get the term experimental; with our aggressive breakdowns and vocals, we get the hardcore element.

Basically, we took our influences, and combined the parts that we liked from each and applied them to our group.

JK: Explain your band name!

RW: The band name was hard to come up with. We were tired of typical names like “The _____s,” or just random words that sound cool together. We wanted something that resembled the music, but still wasn’t cliche. After that failed, we later chose this name simply because it was inside joke between us about when we all first met.

JK: What are some goals you have as musicians?

RW: This is incredibly ambitious, but we want to make this our careers. We want to take our music to other cities, which will happen next summer, when we go on our West Coast tour. In general, we hope to continue to challenge our own musical abilities. Each time we write more music, we always try to one-up each other. In the end, we all make each other better through this sort of healthy competition.

JK: Is it easy to make music and rehearse when your band members go to different schools?

RW: It’s surprisingly easy to practice and organize dates for shows. We all put our hearts into the project, and put aside other activities in order to keep this going. With us at three different schools, one of which is college, these arrangements take a bit of juggling but always seem to work out and keep us practicing multiple times per weekend.

JK: Talk about the preparation for the big show that happened on October 20.

RW: The 20th was a completely unique show for us. We opened for two touring bands: Blueshift, and The 4th and King. The Oakland Metro has space for roughly 500 people, and I knew this was going to be one of the largest crowds we had played for. But what truly made this show unique was our guest vocalist. He was unbelievably talented, and it was awesome to share the stage with him.

October 10/18: Paramore, Metric & Hellogoodbye at SAP Center 10/19-20: Treasure Island Music Festival on Treasure Island 10/22: Kanye West w/ Kendrick Lamar at SAP Center

10/23: Fall Concert at the Kinkade Theater at 7:30pm 10/25: The Naked and Famous at the Fox Theater 10/26-27: Bridge School Benefit Concert at Shoreline 10/29: Two Door Cinema Club at the Fox Theater

November 11/2:: Hoodie Allen at the Warfield 11/3:: Tori Kelly at the Great American Music Hall 11/10: Selena Gomez at the SAP Center 11/15: Toro y Moi at the Fox Theater

11/15: Fall Sketch Comedy Night at the Kinkade Theater from 7:30pm to 9pm ($5)

11/17: CHVRCHES at the Fox Theater 11/18: Drake with Miguel & Future @ Sleep Train Arena 11/18: Jessie Ware at the Fillmore

www.facebook.com/lizardkingdomsj Instagram and Twitter: @Lizard_Kingdom Email: Lizard.Kingdom@aol.com

By Jenny Barretto Staff Writer

Omigod you guys!

This Fall, Mitty’s performing arts department took a journey to Boston’s prestigious Harvard Law School with the exciting production of Legally Blonde.

Based off the popular movie, this 2007 Broadway musical follows Elle Woods as she travels to the East Coast in pursuit of her “true love” Warner. Her search for “true love” turns into a quest for self-discovery as Elle discovers that she can be more than just the stereotypical blonde.

Bringing this musical to life on the Kinkade stage was a rigorous endeavor. Not only does the plot of Legally Blonde take the audience to many different settings that required a large, complicated

set, but it also requires the talents of many great musicians and singers to perform its complex contemporary score. This show included a series of lengthy production numbers with rigorous dancing, so much so that Dennis O’Bannion, a native New Yorker and Broadway performer, was brought to Mitty as the choreographer for the production.

Working with the dancers on scenes like “What You Want” and “Positive,” DenDen nis’ presence brought a whole new level of professionalism to rehearsrehears als, giving many cast members the opportunity to work with an expert in the theater indusindus try for their first time.

Sophomore Alex Cortinas says, “I loved working with

Dennis; he told us some of his experience in show business, giving us advice on how to discover different opportunities to perform on a professional level.”

Apart from being an inspiration to the cast, O’Bannion also taught elaborate choreography, challenging the dancers to work hard to master these complex routines.

Working on Legally Blonde was a fulfilling experience for many performers, especially junior Maddie Ballard, who portrayed the iconic Elle Woods.

Maddie admits she has been in love with this musical since seeing its original production: “From that point on, anytime people would ask me what my dream role was, my obvious answer would be Elle Woods, but I was always scared to say it.”

Playing this part was a huge undertaking, but Maddie executed it with great style and grace. She admits that playing Elle gave her

a new sense of passion she didn’t know she had: “Elle Woods has been a guide in my life and having her with me has taught me setting ridiculous goals doesn’t have to be that ridiculous.”

This newfound passion was apparent in the quality of Maddie’s performance— she nailed it.

The combination of a talented cast, entertaining dance numbers, complex sets and a heartwarming story made Legally Blonde an instant success. Tickets were in high demand, with nearly all performances selling out.

The cast dedicated numerous hours rehearsing dance routines and musical numbers while perfecting their acting skills. This dedication helped the cast and production team bring to life a lively telling of this wonderwonder ful story.

Although Legally Blonde was a great under undertaking, the musicians, crew, and performers working on it came together and pulled it off, putting on many stupendous perforperfor mances that ended in uproarious applause.

Arts & Entertainment • October 2013

Page 15

Monarch Critics

Praise the Lorde

Pizza My McHart’s

By Emily Wetzel Staff Writer

By Elexis Breitbart Staff Writer

“This is the best crowd I’ve performed in front of, and I haven’t ever said that before,” Lorde assured the roaring, eclectic audience made up of the lucky hundreds who managed to snatch a ticket to her sold out show.

Regarded as one of the most highly anticipated shows this season, Lorde has been rising to popularity ever since the New Zealander’s single, “Royals,” topped the charts. Unlike the typical teenager, Ella YelichO’Connor, better known by her stage name, Lorde, spent Friday, September 27, 2013 performing at the Fillmore in San Francisco.

As Lorde is an emerging artist, fans still can see her in smaller venues like the Fillmore, where the connection with the crowd is unbeatable.

Beginning with the mesmerizing “Bravado” off of her EP, The Love Club, Lorde materialized already singing on a dimly lit stage. With all the focus on her captivating energy and stunning vocals, it was clear that she intended to situate the show around her music, not her image.

Her velvety voice exactly replicated her recorded soundtrack—a claim most big name artists can’t make, and her effortless

transition from a humble and thankful teen to a dominant and passionate artist was made all the more impressive considering her age—sixteen. Even in between songs, she remained in character, sultrily drinking water and staring deeply into the screaming crowd.

With her mane of brown curls and unique mannerisms, Lorde is far more than just a talented teen—she is definitely her own artist and an unbelievable performer. I am so thankful to have witnessed her perform live on her first tour in the United States. Her performance was powerful, refreshing, and exciting to witness, clearly indicating the bright future ahead of her.

When the fifty-minute show was over, I left feeling empowered by the impressive success of someone my age, and knowing that I would cherish this memory. I would strongly encourage all music lovers to go to the Fillmore for a concert.

It’s a unique and memorable venue. But more importantly, if you’re ever presented with the opportunity to see Lorde in concert, you’d be wise not to pass up an experience that is guaranteed to be ingrained in your memory forever.

J.T. McHart’s Pizza Restaurant is a quaint, delicious place to dine in Cupertino.

Filled with a cozy and pleasant ambiance, the workers and patrons create a warm atmosphere to accompany delectable food.

McHart’s is a family owned pizzeria, with recipes passed down through generations, and fresh new dough and salad dressings prepared daily.

The mission statement is, “Every little thing counts, and it’s these small perfections that make our pizza the best!” These words have rung true throughout my many years of eating at McHart’s—I have never been let down. In addition to various pizzas and calzones, they feature a top-notch salad bar filled with fresh ingredients and homemade dressings.

The McHart’s menu provides options to fit anyone’s palette: thick or thin crust, vegetarian, spicy sauce, and so much more.

These endless options satisfy a multitude of different customers.

But the appeal of McHart’s transcends its delicious menu. The variety of games such as chess and checkers that one can bring to the table while awaiting the arrival of his or her food is just one of many quirks that makes McHart’s unique. Additionally, there is a wall of photographs of the owner, Robert, with various patrons. If you are lucky, you too may be able to meet him while you are eating your meal.

Even though the restaurant is full of bubbly and efficient servers, Robert will still take the time to ensure that the food is satisfactory. He is amiable, and the cordial nature of the servers is another plus to the overall appeal of the restaurant.

The laid-back and casual atmosphere of the restaurant make it the perfect destination for a quick and delicious meal. In the end, the homey atmosphere, kind workers, and delicious food work together to create an incomparable restaurant for pizza, keeping patrons, including myself, coming back for years.

In a Nutshell

By Camille Contreras Staff Writer

By Milan Samuel Staff Writer

By Kasturi Kulkarni Staff Writer

By Winni Cherukuri Staff Writer

Runner Runner, starring Justin Timberlake and Ben Affleck, is not your run of the mill gambling movie. The film follows Timberlake’s character, Richie Furst, as he loses his tuition money and is nearly expelled from Princeton University for running his own online gambling site.

With nothing to lose, Furst sets out to find the man who cheated him, Ivan Block (Affleck), and gets into more trouble than if he had just cut his losses and walked away.

Block, a sneaky offshore entrepreneur, is the ultimate “bad guy” as he uses everyone around him to keep his throne and extreme riches in Costa Rica.

Like most, I assumed this movie was going to be a stereotypical story about a rich kid getting in over his head with gambling, but I was taken by surprise when I was thoroughly invested in the storyline and just enticed by the film in general.

I guarantee you won’t be running from the theaters when it ends.

Less than two years since the release of his Grammy Award-winning album Take Care, Drake proves he truly is the King of Hip-Hop and R&B with his versatile new album, Nothing Was the Same. It’s clear in that short amount of time, Drake has drifted from the vulnerability of Take Care and progressed to become a more self-aware, mature artist.

The album’s opener is a six-minute long track where he boasts, “Prince Akeem, they throw flowers at my feet!” Nothing is filled with other self-confident tracks, but also has songs for fans looking for a slow jam fix.

More than anything, Drake demonstrates his powerful lyricism, and his music gives listeners a true glimpse of the highs and lows that come with fame, making them feel as though they too were Canadian rappers missing their exes and family. If you’re looking for a quality album filled with bangers or ballads – all over fluid beats – check this one out.

Days Are Gone, the highly anticipated debut album of LA.-based group HAIM, is everything fans could have asked for and more. Rather than merely having a few standout songs, Days Are Gone’s 11 tracks deliver consistently.

The record kicks off with “Falling,” a pleasant mix of echoed shouting and fastpaced lyrics that roll off the tongue, while the title track “Days Are Gone” is all about leaving the past behind and having a free spirit. Pre-released singles “The Wire” and “Don’t Save Me” are dance tunes with catchy hooks, contrasting against the haunting and raw “My Song 5,” a personal favorite. The closing song “Running if You Call My Name” solidifies the selfempowerment sentiment of the album. The blend of the breathy, harmonious voices of sisters Este, Danielle, and Alana Haim results in an honest sound that breaks the boundaries of traditional genres, and transports the listener to the ’80s while feeling like a breath of fresh air.

It has been over a decade since Justin Timberlake first got his start as a musician, but based on his latest album, it is clear that Timberlake has only gotten better with time.

The 20/20 Experience: 2 of 2 emphasizes Timberlake’s ability to create upbeat and often provocative songs, while also incorporating Timberlake’s emotional side with a variety of post-breakup songs.

Timberlake’s lead single off the album, “Take Back the Night,” has a disco essence to it, reminiscent of Michael Jackson, which immediately makes everyone want to break out in dance. In comparison, his more soulful tracks, such as “Not a Bad Thing,” leave listeners feeling sentimental and eager for Timberlake to make more heartfelt music.

Since the release of The 20/20 Experience: 1 of 2, fans have been yearning for more, and with his new album, Timberlake surpasses all expectations and proves that he is still a dominating force in the music industry.

SPORTS

Football: Monarchs Dominate Despite Setbacks

By Amrith Mylvara and Siddhant Gannu can compete with the best of them. The Mitty defense held team is ready to achieve big things. Our first goal is to win the Staff Writers the high-octane Palo Alto offense, led by Stanford-commit WCAL championship, the next one is to win a CCS chamMonarch Football is off to a roaring start, undefeated quarterback Keller Chryst, to just two scores. pionship. We’ve played well through these first few games, thus far. With thrilling 28–14, 35–14, 34–14, 51–7, and 14–13 The defense has been highlighted by junior Tommy but we know that the WCAL is a different kind of monster. wins over the Los Gatos Wildcats, Leland Chargers, Palo Hudson, the aforementioned Ramirez—who leads the team We need to continue working hard and competing every day Alto Vikings, Archbishop Riordan Crusaders, at practice, and if we do these things and Valley Christian Warriors, respectively, I think we can be very successful.”

Archbishop Mitty has solidified itself as a The Monarchs are currently in serious contender this season and is ranked first place in the WCAL, but with 2nd by The San Jose Mercury News.

WCAL teams making up five of the Fueled by the versatile triple-option top six (including the top four overall) offense, Mitty football has been able to teams in the Mercury News Rankings, thoroughly dominate opponents. The passMitty will have to prove its mettle. If ing attack is deadly, as is the running game. the Monarchs are going to have a good Senior quarterback Trenton Scharchance at success, they have to keep renberg sums up the Monarchs’ mindset: improving and playing Mitty-brand “Nobody is worried about getting touches as football. long as we are putting up points and having The Monarchs should have a success. There are no egos in the group and successful season and be strong conthat’s part of the reason we’ve been successtenders for both the WCAL league title ful. We’ve got more than a handful of guys and CCS championship. However, the who, along with the offensive line, can take team has had to band together and over a game.” progress without a key leader, Kyle In the backfield, senior running backs Evans, who is out for the remainder Kyle Evans and Chandler Ramirez, along of the season. with junior Dakari Monroe, have been Evans played the first three weeks fundamental components of the Monarch of the season with tape on his injured offense. Against Palo Alto, the team produced hands, exhibiting the toughness and Photo courtesy of Mr. Luie Lopez an incredible 477 rushing yards, with junior Defensive Lineman Chris Freed (#50) stops a Los Gatos running back in a 28-14 victory. courage of a true Monarch, but he was quarterback Brett Foley accumulating 142 recently diagnosed with fractures in of them, while running for 2 touchdowns in the process. Ev- in sacks and broke Mitty’s single game record for sacks with each of his hands. Though a major setback and devastating ans and Ramirez both had monster games as well with 138 five against Riordan—and senior Drew Mount, who has loss, the Monarchs are not looking at it that way. The team is and 102 yards on the ground, respectively. In the very next consistently shown a penchant for coming up with timely rallying around Evans and has dedicated their season to him, game, Scharrenberg came back from an ankle injury with interceptions. vowing to keep winning and keep the Monarch spirit alive in four touchdown passes—a Monarch record—in an absolute The Monarchs have their sights set high this season, but his absence. #DoItFor5 has become the team mantra and may rout of Riordan. it will undoubtedly take work to get there. So far the season very well provide the spark needed to propel the Monarchs Defensively, Mitty has consistently shown that they has been promising, and as Monroe explains, “I feel like this to great new heights this season.

Women’s Water Polo

Stakes High as Team Aims for Title

By Brian Consiglio and Samantha Baker Staff Writers They say change is good, and change is abundant with this year’s Women’s Varsity Water Polo Team. The Monarchs look to improve upon an impressive 2012 campaign, which culminated in a semifinal appearance in the CCS D1 playoffs. While the team lost some key graduating senior players, it is far from feeble. With new head coach Kenneth Delp taking over for Mr. Aaron Waldrip and a large group of returning talent, both the present and future are boding well for the Monarchs.

Off to a solid start this year, the Monarchs edged out St. Ignatius in a 6-5 thriller, in the WCAL opener. Junior goalie Maura Cantoni was named Player of the Game, as she recorded an incredible 22 saves, four of which came on the man-down (when Mitty has one less field player due to a penalty). Thrilled with the results of this match, the girls entered the league season determined to make their mark.

Demonstrating continued success, the team demolished Presentation on Oct. 2, in a 13–4 blowout victory featuring hat tricks (three goals) from players Sabrina Sherrin and Susan Cantoni. In addition to these remarkable feats, player of the game Luey Maclean set the tone with a dominant all-around performance involving two goals, four assists, and four steals. This match unveiled what a large talent base the team has.

In regards to these accomplishments, junior Abbie McGarvey explains, “The keys to our team’s success this season are definitely cooperation, focus and hard work.

We have to learn to mesh well as a team while maintaining focus at practice, rather than getting distracted.” The fluidity of this team is second nature, since they consider each other dear friends as well as trusted teammates. These girls are each other’s biggest supporters both in and out of the pool. “Our team is unique in that we are really close and really good friends. We can talk to each other about anything,” junior Susan Cantoni reflects.

Although the road to success is not easy, as seen in the disappointing 5–11 loss against Sacred Heart Prep on October 9, the Monarchs are optimistic about the remainder of the season.

With a 2–2 league record (7–5 overall) at press time, victory is still within reach. But the stakes are high, and the Monarchs will need to put all their effort into the upcoming games if they hope to be contenders for the WCAL title.

On October 30, the team faces off against Valley Christian in what is sure Photo courtesy of the Yearbook Staff to be an exciting senior day match-up.

Junior Susan Cantoni takes command.

Volleyball Victory in Vegas

By Ashley Rogers-Garcia and Prahlad Anand Staff Writers After a stunning season last year, in which they captured the CIF State Division II Champions, the Women’s Varsity Volleyball Team is once again off to a great start, with an astounding 22-3 overall record. At one point, ranked as high as 2nd in the state and 10th in the nation, they began their season with a third place finish at the Spikefest Tournament at Independence High, with victories against Mountain View, Bishop O’Dawd, and Presentation.

They recently dominated the Durango Classic in Las Vegas, one of the most prestigious tournaments of the season, with an impressive fourth place. Led by co-captains Clare Powers and Kelsey Crawford, the team crushed Clovis, Pleasant Grove of Utah, and Photo courtesy of Katie Ericksen Dana Hills with 2-1, 2-0, and 2-1 victories, respecMonarchs huddle. tively, showing just how talented the Monarchs are.

Reflecting on these victories, Powers–a four-year Varsity veteran–remarked, “We have a very strong squad, and depth in every position. We matched up well against all the other teams and competed very strongly.”

After their return to the Bay Area, the Monarchs continued to fight strong, winning their first league match against St. Ignatius with a final score of 3–1, and dominating the court with 2–0 sweeps against Bishop O’Dowd, Redwood, and Los Gatos. They maintained this momentum, with a spectacular 3–0 victory over Presentation on October 11. Most recently, however, the Monarchs suffered a close 2-3 loss to rival Valley Christian (ranked #1 in the league).

After the team’s phenomenal victories and minor setbacks, Powers is optimistic: “Coming back from a State championship it can be somewhat difficult to start from ground zero again, but I think the team is doing an amazing job at getting better every day.” The Monarchs’ performance thus far bodes well for the rest of the season as they vie to defend their state title.

Upcoming Events Tennis v. SFHS 10/24

Field Hockey v. Alumni 10/25

10/26

10/28

Volleyball v. NDB (Sr. Day) 10/30

11/1

11/4

Cross Country CCS

Tennis WCAL

Men’s Wopo WCAL 11/5

11/6

11/8

11/16

Sports • October 2013

Page 17

Field Hockey

Senior Briana Sooy controls the ball.

Photo courtesy of Mr. Luie Lopez

Shooting for New Heights

By Mabinty Kanu and Jorge Rodriguez Staff Writers Ever persistent, the AMHS Field Hockey team has emerged strongly once again for the 2013 season. With three consecutive shutouts against Leland (October 11), Davis (October 12), and Saint Francis (October 16), the Monarchs have established themselves as the team to beat.

The second official preseason game against the Saratoga Falcons was a defining moment in developing the team’s camaraderie. A successful 4-0 shutout under the lights proved this game to be a pivotal moment in their season thus far.

Defender Briana Sooy—who had three assists that night— reflects, “In the previous game [on September 18] against St. Ignatius, we struggled to come together as a team and the coaches were disappointed in our performance. The Saratoga game is when everything really came together and everyone played their part.”

The competition is fierce for the Monarchs, who strive to top past achievements, and add yet another banner to the collection in the Fien Gym.

Many of these veteran varsity players have played together for several years, so they know what it takes to claim the league title once again. Observing the similarities and differences between the ‘fit’ of this year’s team compared to last year’s, Junior Katie Toy notes, “We have a certain chemistry unlike any other team’s that will carry us far throughout the season, and hopefully, the postseason.”

Their chemistry seemed to make the difference on October 16: in a close 1–0 victory, they triumphed against arch-rival Saint Francis, defending their league position in the most significant match yet. With a stunning 10–0–1 overall record and 6–0–1 league record, there is no doubt that their efforts this season will be rewarded.

Come out and cheer on your Monarchs at their upcoming games against the alumni on October 26 and Live Oak for the second time on November 1 (Senior Day), as they continue on the path to win the CCS title!

Cross Country Super Stars Underclassmen Help Lead the Way

By Katie Ericksen and Arjun Balasingam Sports Editors

Freshman Eric Coyle (left)

Sophomore Julia Lemak (right)

“Running with the team is more enjoyable because when you are with your team you can share the experience of a good race or challenging workout, often making it more fun and memorable.”

“To motivate myself, I imagine my competitors and what they are doing at the time, or I think about the next race I want to do well in and use it as motivation. I also try to think positively about how much I’ve done, as opposed to how much I have left to do.”

Highlight: Placing first out of 206 runners in the Chieftain Classic, with a 5:40 mile.

Highlight: Placing first out of 89 runners in the Chieftain Classic, with a 6:17 mile.

Photos courtesy of Mr. Dennis Coyle and Mrs. Nicki Limoges

Men’s Water Polo

Kyle Phalen: “I like playing a team sport

like water polo because it takes EVERYONE’s best effort to get shots on goal. You need everyone doing their job both offensively and defensively for four quarters.”

Photo courtesy of Mr. Luie Lopez

Women’s Golf

Maddie Kim: “I think the most important characteristic in a golfer is concentration.

Every hole is a new challenge and new situation where you must make the right decisions.”

Photo courtesy of Mr. Luie Lopez

Tennis: Doubles Slam

By Sanjay Raman and Justine Marlin Staff Writers The Mitty Women’s Tennis Team has gotten off to a hot start this year, with great results in Fresno at the prestigious California High School Tennis Classic over Labor Day. Facing some of the top teams in California, the Monarchs proved their excellence by grinding their way to a 5th place finish in the tournament of over 100 teams. While singles normally draws most of the attention in tennis, the doubles team of senior Milan Samuel and freshman Naomi Pieczulewski has managed to turn some heads this season with their stellar play. According to Milan, the key to success in doubles matches is chemistry.

She contends, “It doesn’t matter if two players are extremely skilled, if they have no chemistry they’re probably not going to win the match. It’s as simple as that.” The duo has been playing tennis together for about nine weeks, and Naomi observes that they “get better as [they] work together more.” Their chemistry was apparent in the match against rival St. Francis, when they were down 1-3 in the first set, but pulled together to take it 6-3. They went on to win the match with an impressive 6-3, 6-1 straight set victory.

However, at the match against Valley Christian on October 10, things were looking grim for the dynamic duo in the final set. They were up 5-1, and had won their previous set, but their teamwork was faltering, allowing Valley to come back to 5-4. After exchanging some motivational words during the changeover, they started the next game with renewed fervor. In the final point, Valley hit a fierce shot at the net. Milan lunged for a volley but could not reach it. Luckily, Naomi had her back, and returned the shot with a killer crosscourt backhand, winning the game, set, and match.

With only a few weeks left in the season, it seems that Milan and Naomi—along with their talented teammates—may be able to pace the Monarchs to yet another WCAL title. Having lost only one league match (to St. Ignatius on October 13), the defining match of the season will be on October 29, when the Monarchs take on St. Ignatius once again, this time on their home court.

Either way, the team’s 13-2 (8-1 League Play) record has already distinguished them as a major threat in both WCAL Photo courtesy of Mr. Luie Lopez and CCS, and the remainder of the season is sure to yield some Senior Milan Samuel has her eyes on the ball. incredible tennis.

Page 18

October 2013 • Photography

Lea Kreck

Elena Gonzalez

Michael Gasparovic Denise Oceguera

Dillan Patel

Monarch Photography

Photography • October 2013

Sharvil Gupta Class of 2014

How did you become interested in photography?

I’ve been interested in photography since I first learned to use a camera. Most kids love to permanently capture things they see and like. I used to love getting funky angles, trying to imitate photography I saw.

What inspires you to take photos?

The beautiful sights always all around us inspire me. I often take pictures of things that wouldn’t normally be considered photogenic like doorknobs, chairs and windows. Anything captured with an open mind can be beautiful.

Page 19

What do you plan to do with your photography in the future?

I plan on continuing to take photos to capture moments and memories of mine. Photos, to me, are first and foremost always memories. I try to capture exactly how I feel at that moment in the photo. Sometimes this requires editing to create the mood through different levels of contrast, brightness, and saturation. It’s always nice to look back on an old photo of mine and remember the day that I took it.

Interviewed by Julia Borello

muse|myooz| The source of inspiration for a creative artist

Katarina Pance

Page 20

Eegee Dela Rosa

Photography • October 2013

Carlisle Micallef

Megan Baggett

Arturo Hernandez

Beyond the Lens

Behind the Photography

Carlisle Micallef

The pictures directly above and at right were taken while I was on a sixweek immersion in Yunnan, China. While there, I participated in home-stays throughout the province. One of the stays being with the Naxi people. This trip was life changing. Through the unique life and culture of the Naxi, I was able to experience happiness and peace with my environment and myself. By the end of the stay, I felt a part of their community as they allowed me to participate in activities such as making and wearing their traditional clothing, singing, and hair braiding. The lessons I learned and the happiness I experienced are tattooed on my heart today. Each experience with my family and other villagers was a simple joy that reminded me to connect genuinely with myself and those around me.

Carlisle Micaleff, Justice Awareness Editor