The Monarch: May 2017

INSIDE:

CLASS OF 2017 HIDDEN GEMS pp. 8-9 Serving the Archbishop Mitty Community

Volume 26 Number 4

May 2017

Campus Ministry

A Look at Its Past, Present, and Future

By Brian Chan Staff Writers Archbishop Mitty’s Campus Ministry Department offers students, faculty, and the wider Mitty community a center for a wide range of activities. Whether one is Catholic or simply dedicated to a life of service for others, these groups and programs, welcome all who are interested to pursue a deepening of their faith and a positive, justice-oriented life.

But although Campus Ministry has been an integral part of Mitty since its establishment, it continues to grow.

LIFE Corps Retreat 2016-17 “Each year, the Campus Ministry team asks themselves certain questions,” says Mr. Wesmiller, the Director of Campus Ministry. “How else can we serve this community?

What programs can we improve on, expand, or create in order to make student faith experiences more meaningful and real?”

In areas ranging from liturgies and retreats to immersions and youth groups, this year’s improvements have been significant, and their tangible effects have been felt throughout the entire Mitty community.

One example is illustrated by seniors Ana Gonzalvez and Anna Tseselsky who pioneered the first-ever student-led, school-wide donation drive. Promoting the Grateful Garment Project, the two utilized posters and Mitty Minutes to successfully rally students to donate clothing, supplies, and other resources to victims of sexual assault. Their corresponding information campaign also educated the community on how victims are often sent home without comfortable clothing or any of their personal belongings.

Several other programs also experienced incredible growth this year. Uplift, established midway through the previous school year, experienced its first full year of operation.

“This was the first year where Uplift was able to hit the ground running,” says Mr. Wesmiller. Founded

by Ms. Rose Lopez, Uplift is a group dedicated to those who have been impacted by cancer. The group provides monthly meetings for both teachers and students to support one another, meditate, walk together, and share resources regarding cancer. Members also attended their first retreat together this year.

On the Inside

“Though we might not be doctors who can cure cancer, all of us are able to spiritually and personally support each other,” says Uplift member Mr. Graham Oleson. “We build a community and provide a shoulder for Mitty students and families to lean on through all of their trials and tribulations, and this is especially important with the devastating impact cancer can have on people’s lives.”

This year, Mitty students also banded together to create a brand new program named STAND. In this program, participants seek to actively promote Catholic Social Teaching through a variety of activities such as holding prayer vigils, writing letters to U.S. Senators, making cards for refugees, and collaborating with other schools.

“We wrote over 100 letters to senators, specifically addressing the issue of refugee status, supporting CST, and saying this country should be a place where we welcome people.

The cards to the refugees was actually a student’s idea,” Mr. Wesmiller states. “We filled them with loving messages and through Catholic Charities had them delivered directly to students.”

But the work does not stop there: while Catholic Relief Services is the official arm of the Catholic Church that physically responds to international situations, Catholic Charities—and in this case, its Santa Clara division—helps those within the U.S., and this offered another opportunity for Mitty to positively impact its surrounding area. In a conjoined effort between Campus Ministry, Catholic Charities, and Mitty’s soccer team, an annual friendly match with both school players and refugee foster children has been organized.

Students journal on Quest “After delivering the letters, we asked if there was anything else we could do, and Catholic Charities suggested a soccer match that, it turns out, they had been thinking of for quite a long time,” says Mr. Wesmiller, “and the first one will be hosted right here at Mitty.”

In the future, Catholic Charities and Mitty’s Campus Ministry hope to include players from Catholic schools all

News...................................1-2 Science &Technology.............3 Opinion..............................4-5

over the South Bay. According to Mr. Wesmiller, “The hope of this event is to break down barriers between refugees and us, as well as show the Bay Area that we stand together as a community of humans. We are not divided as Americans and ‘the other’.”

The first annual Catholic Charities Refugee Foster Soccer Match, or One World Cup Soccer Match, will be hosted by Mitty, on the Father Jack Russi Field, on May 6 at 10:45 a.m.

Other highlights of the year include the development of

Quest shirts ready for distribution an Adult Theology Series, where sessions in October and February saw faculty giving parents, alumni, and friends of Mitty engaging lectures on various theological topics. This year was also the first year that Mitty was recognized as a CRS Platinum School, recognizing Mitty’s excellence in education, Rice Bowl collecting, and justice work.

Additionally, many memorable and powerful school assemblies this year stood out to Mr. Wesmiller: “The allschool assembly and ‘Prayer for Peace’ on September 9 was an incredibly powerful experience of coming together and being a symbol of community after a summer of violence. The Holy Week Liturgy, with the depiction of the stations of the cross, was also particularly remarkable this year—it featured examples of immigrant and refugee struggles around the world, and reminded us to align ourselves with those people who are often marginalized by society.”

All told, Campus Ministry has grown tremendously since its conception. The number of immersion trips has increased from four to thirteen, and senior LIFE team membership has expanded from as few as ten students to approximately two hundred today. Improvements such as these and the programs mentioned above showcase Campus Ministry’s continual growth, heralding only a brighter and even better future in the years ahead.

“We do pride ourselves in always growing and expanding to adapt to relevant justice issues at the time,” Mr. Wesmiller says. “We’d love to hear any input and great ideas on how Campus Ministry can improve, especially from our students. Our doors are always open.”

Arts & Entertainment...........6-7 Focus.....................................8-9 Justice Awareness...............10-11

Sports................................12-13 Photo.................................14-15 Art..........................................16

Page 2

News • May 2017

Sum mer Cou r ses

A Night to Remember

By Ali Bell Staff Writer As winter has melted into spring, the prom season has returned to Archbishop Mitty once more. Whether you’re frantically trying to find a dress or fretting over the logistics of the night, prom preparations can be an intimidating task for students and faculty alike.

ASB and Student Government work hard to ensure that the night of prom is a great experience for everyone involved. In addition to making reservations for the prom venues a year in advance, they coordinate with each prom’s supporting cast, including the photographer, the DJ, florists, and parent volunteers. Gov. is also in charge of taking suggestions from the student body and incorporating them into the dance.

On the day of prom itself, parent volunteers help set up the venue. This year, the junior prom took place at Villa Ragusa in Campbell on April 8. Based on La La

Land, the night was a jazz-filled celebration of everything the junior class has come to accomplish. The senior prom is themed Hollywood Walk of Fame and is taking place at the Fairmont Hotel in San Jose on May 13.

Each year, over 400 students attend each event. As the night of prom approaches, so, too, does one of the most exciting opportunities to celebrate what it is to be a member of your class. With all of the glamour and excitement of prom, each student has something in particular he or she is looking forward to.

Asked what he is most looking forward to about prom, Colin Hastings (’18) replied, “I am looking forward to going with a girl I really like.”

Rachael Tucker (’18) explained, “I am looking forward to the time spent with my friends,” and Cameron Lahitette (’18) exclaimed, “The food!”

Mr. Greg Walker, Director of Student Activities, said, “Just show up and have fun; don’t sweat the small stuff!”

By Kristine Chang Staff Writer “Experience the magic of Mitty this summer.” This mantra promises an experience at Archbishop Mitty’s Summer Program that will not be forgotten. With countless academic courses, performing arts experiences, sports camps, community service trips, and other opportunities, students of all ages can experience Mitty in all of its inspiring glory. Archbishop Mitty offers many different courses and camps from May to August.

For elementary school students, Mitty provides an array of girls and boys athletic camps: boys baseball, boys and girls basketball, girls field hockey, girls volleyball and co-educational recreational camps.

For rising 8th- and 9th-graders, Mitty also offers a pre-algebra course, athletic camps, and enrichment camps. The athletic camps include boys baseball, basketball, football, soccer, volleyball and water polo, and girls basketball, field hockey, soccer, softball, and volleyball. The enrichment camps include applied math, science and programming, literature, writing and language exploration, musical theatre, multimedia art studio, movie making, robotics, digital art and design, web design, introduction to Spanish, and a faith in action camp.

Faith in Action is a camp in which students deepen their relationship with God and put their faith in action with fun and engaging activities, including outreach projects to support local communities.

Queens of the Stage

By Kayla Riggs Staff Writer “Roy-als, Roy-als, Roy-als!” To Mitty students, this cheer is nothing out of the ordinary. Whether it be at the homecoming football game or a school assembly, this deafening chant has been shouted too many times to count—and it never gets old. Everyone in our AMHS community recognizes the Royals, our superb dance team, for its flawless performances both on and off campus. From the impeccable hip hop moves to the jazz performances, the Royals are known for being able to do it all. However, behind the scenes of this well-oiled machine, there is hard-work, dedication, and practice, practice, practice!

In her eighth year, Director of the Dance Program, Mrs. Anethra Rhodes has choreographed six school musicals, seven Black & Gold gala performances.

She explains that the “girls train for six hours a week at Mitty, in addition to dancing several more hours at their outside dance studios.”

Clearly, the Royals put an endless amount of time and effort into each dance. It’s not only these dancers,

This year, the musical theater course will culminate in a performance of Elf Jr. The course is available to rising 5th- to 9th-graders. Auditions will be held on June 15 and 16.

Finally, rising and present high school students can participate in several academic courses, such as the following: Algebra 1, Geometry, Algebra 2, Trigonometry, Biology, Chemistry, Contemporary Authors, and Spanish 2. Current students at Archbishop Mitty who are interested in taking summer school courses must receive approval from the department chair or associate principal.

Archbishop Mitty’s Summer School Program not only caters to students’ academic and athletic needs but also gives rising high school students an opportunity to get acquainted with the faculty and Mitty’s curriculum.

If you participate in a sports program, you have a perfect opportunity to prove yourself to the coaches at Mitty or to simply get familiarized with them and the way they coach.

Students participating in the Summer Program also have a chance to meet their possible classmates, all while getting accustomed to the welcoming spirit of Mitty.

Whether you are a rising 5th-grader or a junior here at Mitty, the Archbishop Mitty Summer Program is an opportunity to experience Mitty in a new way. You can visit the summer program page on mitty.com under Summer Programs to register or to find detailed explanations of each of the classes.

Volume 26 Number 4 Advisors Mr. Mick VanValkenburg & Mr. Craig Whitt

however, who work tirelessly to perfect their productions: Mrs. Rhodes sometimes has to spend weeks refining choreography for each dance. Still, according to several team members, such as senior Kerri Ma, being a Royal means having fun.

Ma states “Being a Royal has definitely impacted my experience here at Mitty in a positive way in that I have been able to grow closer to girls in different grades whom I may never have gotten the opportunity to know outside of the Royals.”

Being able to make new friends and spend time with one another is an experience that the Royals will carry with them throughout the rest of their lives. Ma explains that she will “always cherish the moments where my teammates and I would smile at one another mid-performance.”

Outside of school, the Royals have also been able to encounter valuable experiences. According to Mrs. Rhodes, they have gotten the opportunity to work with choreographer Rickey Tripp, who was in the Broadway production In the Heights, and is currently a cast member of Hamilton. The Royals have also been able to travel to Disneyland, and have “done master classes with So You Think You Can Dance’s Sonya Tayeh, and Oakland Ballet’s Omar Shabazz,” according to Mrs. Rhodes.

The Royals continue to perform award-winning dances, while genuinely enjoying the experience of being a Royal–they have a blast with one another while doing so. For example, Ma proclaimed that the group can “finish three party pizookies at BJ’s in under a minute.” These fun-loving girls are nothing short of extraordinary, and you’ll have a chance to show your support for them on May 11 at 7p.m. when the Spring Dance Recital is held in the Kinkade Theatre.

News Charlie Pyle, Ishan Shah, & Madelynne Zenk

Opinion Ana Gonzalez, Alisa Khieu, Anna Tseselesky, & Danning Yu

Justice Awareness Suzanne Golshanara, Michelle Mallari, & Raymond So

Focus Sanghavi Srinivasan, Kirthana Sarathy, & Quynh-Lam Tran

Science & Technology Justin Bui, Kaushal Partani, & Sachin Vallamkonda

Arts & Entertainment Giuliana Calia, Mary Celestin, Jose Lopez, & Alexis Rambac

Sports Alec Jo, Henry Phan, & Harika Veeramacheneni

Photo Sofia del Cano, Nina Myers, & Scotia Tobin

Art Ella Garfunkel & Nichole Wong

Archbishop Mitty High School 5000 Mitty Way, San Jose, CA 95129

Science & Tech Joshua Harmon Staff Writer It’s 4 a.m. on March 3, 2017, about 40 degrees outside, and Target opens at eight o’clock sharp. I call in beforehand to make sure they have some in stock as GameStop boasted only a single-digit number of units on launch day. With the most perfect scores of any game on the popular review site Metacritic, Zelda: Breath of the Wild, the console-handheld hybrid’s premier launch title, pushed me over the edge to consider getting the brand new Nintendo Switch.

The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild As a PC gamer , I was skeptical at first about the Switch’s graphical performance, but I quickly discovered that it was incredibly powerful.

Not only does the Switch have the best performance of any handheld gaming device, it can seamlessly transition from a handheld and a console within seconds of placing it in its dock. Playing Zelda on a gigantic TV and pulling it out of the dock to instantly continue right where I left off was pure magic. I was absolutely amazed.

The Nintendo Switch Nintendo’s sales figures reveal it isn’t just me who is amazed, but also over 1.5 million people who bought the system between the March 3 launch to March 14. With the intense demand, sales could be well over two million as Nintendo has doubled production of the Switch for its next fiscal year. With quite possibly the best video game title of all time along with massive initial success, the Switch will pull no doubt Nintendo out from its failure with the Wii U and skyrocket the company back into the public eye.

Ishan Shah Staff Editor What is an addiction? It is a condition in which we must receive a certain stimulus, or we risk the potential of withdrawal symptoms. As long as the stimulus elicits some type of pleasurable response that leads to craving, we can desire it—and become addicted.

Of course, this extends to technology, leading to a new mental disorder: Internet Addiction Disorder, which has even been included as a research topic in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5). The disorder lies in the reality that being on social media is a pleasurable experience—validating us and pleasing us— resulting in a flow of dopamine. Even receiving notifications elicits the same response.

Indeed, according to a Florida State University study, simply receiving notifications results in a dopamine surge that distracts us for up to fifteen minutes, lowering our ability to focus on any specific task as our minds automatically drift to wanting to check the notification.

While not necessarily an addiction quite yet for many people, the condition is representative of a larger problem. As it stands today, the average teenager checks Snapchat over 18 times a day and

Synopsis of Synopsys Yusra Arub Staff Writer Want to meet a scientist your age? Then visit the San Jose Convention Center, where Synopsys Silicon Valley Science Fair is held annually every March. This regional science fair for middle school and high school students is a competitive event for which participants prepare by spending months researching and designing a project. They present their ideas to doctors, professors, and even CEOs. All around you, passionate students delve deeper into complex issues and rattle off overwhelming scientific terms.

I know what you’re thinking: it’s a NerdFest?

Not really.

I have participated in Synopsys for three years so far, and each time it is just as —if not more—enjoyable, exciting, and inspiring. My first time participating was in eighth grade, where I invented my very own SmartBinder.

Attending a middle school that was not very technologically advanced, I wanted to find a way in which I could keep track of the assignments that would get piled up in my binder. With this goal in my mind, I bought a regular binder and attached

Bee Amazed!!

Zachary Koong Staff Writer You might think bees don’t possess cognition (the ability to acquire knowledge through thought, experience, and the senses).

They may seem like mostly a nuisance. However, recent studies of bees have shown otherwise.

Despite their poppy seed sized brains, bees are able to learn by watching others. Researchers were able to train bees to pull strings in order to receive a reward of nectar. Addtionally, other bees learned to do the same task by watching the trainer bee. And even if that bee died, knowledge still spread through the colony.

Social learning, as it is called, has so far only been witnessed in animals with big brains, such as primates. Bees are the first known insects with the ability to pass on information and traditions to each other through social learning.

spends roughly three hours a day on his or her cellphone—and this does not include other sources for the internet (laptops, tablets, etc.). That’s at least three hours a day where people are not interacting with anyone face-to-face, just using little glass and metal boxes to try to keep up with everybody’s lives on a superficial level instead of connecting with others in-person on a more significant level.

So if we want to avoid an addictive state in which we are constantly relying on our phones to tell us everything about the world, what are our choices? Is there anything we can do while remaining active on social media?

Cordoning off media, such as not checking Facebook after a certain time (maybe 10 p.m.), is an effective strategy. But that would require a degree of self-discipline that may be beyond possible to some people.

Another method is forcing onself into physical social interactions, ones where you can’t use your phone and instead have to interact with another person.

On the whole, however, like all addictions this will be a tough problem to crack. But, we must, lest we become a 1984-esque society addicted to retrieving superficial information from electronic devices.

In real life, bees use social learning by shaking their abdomens to signal where nectar is and how good it is. It may also be useful for maintaining order in the colony in a similar way humans teach their children social norms and rules.

According to Lars Chittka from London’s Queen Mary University as quoted in National Geographic, “there is more and more evidence, both from experiments on small-brained insects and computational neuroscience, that small circuits can deal with exceptionally complex challenges.”

According to National Geographic,, the authors of the study concluded that social learning may be more common in the animal kingdom than originally believed. With these recent experiments, scientists can use these findings to delve into how humans disseminate their culture across a population.

tabs in it with LED lights and buttons, each of which were connected to a Raspberry Pi microcontroller. This was attached to an LCD display.

Each time I received an assignment in school, I placed it in the respective tab, clicked the button, and a bright flashing light would turn on, indicating for me that the assignment needed to be completed. I could also access this information through an online database, where all my assignments and their completion status were automatically posted.

It was a long process of debugging code; ultimately, I designed at least 15 different databases and created two SmartBinders: one with an Arduino board and the other with the Raspberry Pi. However, the iteration process is what every scientist needs to go through to emerge with a tool that can truly help people.

My passion for using technology to help others has only grown since. Synopsys gives students a platform through which they can express their creativity with like-minded, driven individuals who are united by a common goal: to keep learning. A scientist’s journey never stops, and it’s never too late to start.

OPINIONS

Opposing Viewpoints: $TEM VERSUS LIBERAL ARTS A DIFFERENT SIDE TO STEM

By Supna Kapoor Staff Writer STEM (/stem/) noun 1. science, technology, engineering, and mathematics.

In the past couple of years, the phrase “STEM” has become ubiquitous in the realm of education. From talk of STEM majors, to the construction of new STEM buildings, there is a reason why this category of education has become “all the rage” among students, employers, and political figures. The initial fervor for an increased attention in STEM fields arose out of national competition—the United States began to endorse and even encourage education in STEM fields in order to maintain its status as an international superpower.

Beyond this bureaucratic obligation, though, STEM education, specifically STEM related majors in college, have increased tremendously, often at the expense of liberal arts programs.

When looked at from the perspective of job viability, individuals with STEM degrees earn higher annual salaries than those who major in the humanities. But beyond the practical aspect of higher pay, STEM majors are important because of their emphasis on progress. We live in a society that expects constant innovation and advancement. Indeed, individual human beings themselves demand this progression—our natural instinct is to always be better.

Now, some (including me at times) might see technology as the downfall of the human race, but technology is what keeps the human race going, and that is why it is imperative that students all over the world continue to pursue education in STEM fields.

As the focus on science and mathematics has increased in popularity, often at the expense of the liberal arts, the “STEM major majority” has received occasional backlash and criticism for its potential creation of an uncultured and uncaring society. A false stereotype of cold objectiveness seems to surround STEM majors, but the truth of the matter is that STEM fields are not unfeeling and, in fact, lead us to connect with others.

People have often heard the cliche that science and math are universal languages—regardless of ethnicity, geography, or culture, they can be understood and spoken by all—and this idea stems from a very viable truth. Technology leads us to connect with people. It strengthens human relations, interactions, and connection.

What is more humane than the creation of a vaccine that could save the lives of millions suffering from malaria or than the creation of environmentally friendly sources of energy?

Consider the contribution of technology that simplifies excavations at archaeological dig sites, or of computer-graphic tools that take previously-impossible artistic visions and turn them into reality.

The key, then, to unlocking this beautiful world in which a STEM education can enhance a creative, human, innovative life is integration of STEM with the liberal arts.

There is a false dichotomy that exists between these two “schools of knowledge.” The world cannot have the humanities without STEM, or STEM without the humanities. They complement each other. Today we need an understanding of STEM because technology and science are in everything we do. So, when posed with the question of whether or not an education in the STEM fields or liberal arts will be most valuable, ask yourself “Why not both?”

LOOK TWICE AT THE LIBERAL ARTS

By Ana Gonzalvez Opinions Editor There’s a popular joke on the Internet about college majors. It goes: “The science major asks, ‘Why does it work?’ The engineering major asks, ‘How does it work?’ The liberal arts major asks ‘Do you want fries with that?’”

At this point, the uselessness of liberal arts degrees and the lucrative nature of science, technology, engineering, and math majors is almost memetic. High school students and undergraduates alike face incredible social, financial, and even political pressure to pursue STEM degrees—the eternal cash cow of market demand—and reject the impractical, elitist liberal arts. However, the choice between STEM and Liberal Arts is much more than what meets the eye.

For starters, the media coverage surrounding the high job demand in STEM fields is often vague and sensationalist. Though the broad term “STEM” is used, the actual categories seen as viable options are only computer science and engineering. There is no great clamor to increase funding for biology, nor wide-scale recruitment initiatives for agricultural science. This ambiguity has clouded popular journalism: in reality, according to a comprehensive study done by the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the demand for workers with a tech or engineering background is not universally high. Instead, it is widely varied across academic, government, and private sectors, with only certain career paths—mainly petroleum and software engineering—currently in high demand with equally high wages. In fact, many other STEM fields, like agricultural science and biology, experience the same demand fluctuation and salaries as—gasp!— humanities and social science disciplines.

Even if you were to pursue software or pepe troleum engineering for their potential financial rewards, there is still the possibility that choosing a highly specialized career solely for the financial stability it would provide you could leave you, well, unfulfilled. Should the stability ever decrease, you would lose the only aspect of the job for which you actually sought it out.

Furthermore, in regards to the money question, the news for liberal arts majors isn’t as drastic as you might assume: for example, data from 2011 shows that graduates with only a BA in philosophy have an average starting salary of $39,800. As it turns out, the study of the humanities and social sciences provides you with skills that employers and society as a whole still need. Thinking, reasoning, assessing arguments, understanding the context of human history that has led to modernity via the study of art, literature, politics, philosophy—these are all vital to interacting with the world in an informed and effective way.

The problem, then, is that most elite liberal arts programs can only be found at private institutions with tuition of upwards of $40,000 per year. But this issue reaches much further than just liberal arts students: as college tuition continues to rise, computer science and French literature majors alike are forced to weigh the possibility of lucrative employment against the cost of higher education. And therein lies the true “conflict” between STEM and liberal arts: the ever-present, looming fear of impending debt colors our choices, leading the desire of students to study meaningful, but less profitable, subjects to plummet.

So, to the prospective liberal arts major, you are not intrinsically doomed to a life of financial instability—and for that matter, neither are any of the STEM majors who pursue anything other than computer science or engineering. Your goals, your interests, and your skills are worth pursuing, and absolutely valuable to the greater society (even if you might have to flip burgers for a little while).

EMOJIS: A PHENOMENON OF MODERN COMMUNICATION

By Anna Krause Staff Writer “Teenagers these days… they just can’t look up from those phones!” It seems we’ve all heard some variation of this. Today’s society has become increasingly critical of what has been dubbed “a dependence on social media,” with many critics specifically linking the downfall of “civilized language” to the informality of text and online conversation.

However, more careful consideration reveals that social media usage has actually resulted in new phenomena of language, phenomena which we should celebrate as a product of the resourcefulness of youth, rather than the downfall of language.

The most notable of these is the role that “emojis,” small picture icons which are used alongside or in replacement of regular words, have taken on in modern communication.

Though the emojis themselves aren’t anything remarkable, their ingenuity lies in the way young people use them. A great deal of emotion is lost when communicating through various online platforms, as one loses the voice fluctuations and body language which provide us with necessary social cues in daily conversation. Thus, the use of emojis in modern communication is essentially the digitization of these cues: through the process of simple social learning, a process by which we adapt solely from our observations of one another, today’s youth have informally designated various emojis to express specific nuances in mood or tone, which add levels of depth to online conversations that cannot be found with any other method of communication–online or otherwise.

For example, the use of a “ ” emoji indicates laughter, and as such is often used in a humorous context. More interestingly, though, is that the emoji can also be used as a method of dissipating tension or awkwardness: it is sometimes inserted within an otherwise serious section of text as the author’s means of reminding the reader not to interpret anything stated too seriously. The closest equivalent we might have to this in a face-to-face conversation would be the forced chuckle that sometimes accompanies an uncomfortably serious statement.

Another instance of this evolution in language is the use of the “ ” emoji. Though the emoji has no literal translation, as it does not resemble any sort of humanoid expression or action, its use is generally a suggestion that the subject of the message is worthy of a great deal of praise.

However, the emoji is also an excellent example of the sarcastic aspect of online communication. Sarcasm is one of the more mature forms of humor, so the transition from the genuinely praiseful connotation of the emoji to one of satirical praise that developed as the emoji was overused suggests a positive shift in the maturity of the culture as a whole.

Ultimately, language has evolved since its creation, and will continue to evolve as long as it exists. Instead of condemning our teenagers for “wasting time” communicating with one another through platforms like social media, we should carefully study the incredible ways they change language through such platforms.

Opinions • May 2017

Page 5

SHATTERING SAFETY: JCC BOMB THREATS

By Anna Tseselsky Opinions Editor On March 9, the Los Gatos Jewish Community Center—the one I took my first swimming lessons at, the one my mother dragged me to every summer to attend day camp, the one that gave me my first job—received a bomb threat. All services the JCC provides to the greater Los Gatos Community were immediately suspended. After six tense hours, the building was finally cleared, guests quickly filed back in, and children returned to their play; things returned to a facade of normalcy. But that is exactly what’s so terrifying: this is our new normal. When I received the email alert notifying me of these events, I wasn’t shocked or surprised. After reading reports since January of bomb threats hitting over 100 JCC’s across America and the UK, I had come to expect my own community center would fall victim sooner or later.

While we now know that most of the bomb threats were sent in by a troubled Israeli teen, this discovery doesn’t negate that anti-semitism has become an ever-present and evergrowing issue. Since 2015, the Anti-Defamation League has noted a rise in anti-semitic attacks, ranging from swastika graffiti on college campuses and synagogues to cemetery desecrations to actual physical assaults of Jewish people.

While this trend has been developing well before our newest businessman-turneddemagogue-turned-president took office, the election of Trump has done nothing but exacerbate this situation. It’s been well documented that afterwards white supremacists felt affirmed in their biases and strengthened in their resolve; the emergence of America’s

own neo-nazi movement, the “alt-right,” only makes that terrifyingly obvious. A report published by the political news blog ThinkProgress found that immediately after the election, New York experienced the highest number of hate-crimes (291) with violence against Jews comprising the highest percentage, 26.8%, followed by anti-Black hate crimes at 22.9% and anti-Muslim violence at 11.8%. Now that Trump is in office, he has done little to address or even acknowledge these recent events. In order to quell the concerns of Jewish Americans, he has cited his Jewish son-in-law and grandchildren as evidence the he couldn’t possibly have a bigoted bone in his body while simultaneously shouting down an Orthodox Jewish reporter and appointing Steve Bannon as his Chief Strategist, a man who in his time as Chief Editor at Breitbart championed the news site as “the premier platform of the alt-right.” More recently, another Trump aide, Sebastian Gorka, was outed for having undeniable ties to anti-semitic Hungarian far-right groups.

These political developments, combined with the rise in attacks, have left many Jews unsure of their place in American society. While navigating a peculiar limbo between acceptance and otherness, Jewish Americans have long enjoyed relative safety and prosperity compared to their European brethren. Now, our prospects are not so clear. The rise of anti-semitism comes in the wake of a rise in violence against other marginalized groups (Islamophobic attacks have nearly tripled since last year). Simply put, it’s a scary time to be a minority in America. Now more than ever is the time to educate ourselves, raise awareness, publicly demonstrate, be civically engaged, and persist in our resistance. The future of Americans like me depends on it.

PLUS-SIZE PROBLEMS

A BEASTLY MISTAKE

By Lauren Dang Staff Writer The world of fashion has recently been applauded for its inclusion of plus-sized models and clothing. But what does it mean to be plus-sized? The average woman in America, according to the International Journal of Fashion Design, is a size 16, yet any size above an 8 is traditionally labelled as plus-sized or “larger than normal.” So why is the fashion industry still perpetuating size 2 as the norm? One plus-size model, Ashley Graham, has recently been in the limelight for paving the way for diversity. Graham, a size 14, has been featured on many covers such as Vogue, Sports Illustrated, and Elle, leading many to believe that the fashion industry has taken a huge leap forward for body diversity. However, this is far from reality.

In her most recent cover shoot with Vogue, Graham stands among six other models, all slender with Eurocentric feafea tures, while she has been noticeably photoshopped to look skinnier in the arms, torso, and legs. Although this seems pretty standard for a fashion magazine, this is appalling considering this edition has been labelled the diversity issue. Vogue’s use of Graham as a justification to label themselves as all-inclusive is not unique to their brand.

Many other magazines have featured Graham on the cover of a single issue, only to have no other plussize models seen throughout the hundreds of pages in their following issues. Graham has become a token for companies to use as evidence of their diversity when accused of being non-inclusive. Even worse, some readers firmly believe that Graham doesn’t even deserve to grace the covers of such widespread and prestigious magazines due to her size.

The reality is that being bigger or curvier is still labelled as unconventional and kept separate from mainstream media. Plus-size clothing is now more readily available at popular clothing stores such as Forever 21, but standard sizes are still segregated from the larger sizes.

The fashion industry and society are a long way from accepting different body types as normal and beautiful, and this trend will continue until actual diversity is incorporated into all types of media, from popular TV shows to high-fashion magazines.

By Alisa Khieu Opinions Editor Blockbuster smash Beauty and the Beast boasted the Disney canon’s first LGBT character. Played by Josh Gad in the new adaptation, LeFou— whose name translates to “the fool” and “the insane”— is openly gay. Director Bill Condon even declared, “the studio is sending out a message that [same-sex attraction] is normal and natural– and this is a message that will be heard in every country of the world, even countries where it’s still socially unacceptable or even illegal to be gay.” Quite the bold statement, one that sent the Internet into frenzy.

The proud announcement of Disney’s first gay character was supposed to be a progressive milestone. However, franchise fans may remember this character as the comic relief: as antagonist Gaston’s stupid sidekick, LeFou is the victim of the primary antagonist’s abuse for the audience’s amusement.

Knowing that homosexuality is still such a sensitive issue, Disney’s “representation” completely disappoints. Choosing a pathetic buffoon—one whose very name implies inferiority— to be Disney’s first canonical gay character is a slap in the face to the LGBT community. Rather than embracing positive representation, Disney has chosen to perpetuate the lowly gay stereotype in the media, laughing off this comical, incompetent homosexual.

So what happened after the internet controversy, after the widely anticipated movie’s release? Such a let-down. Critics and fans described the fleeting moments that pointed to LeFou’s gay sexuality as having such subtext and subtlety that if one blinked, one would miss them. With backlash from both the LGBT community and boycotting homophobes, director Condon defended the character, saying, “It’s all been overblown. Because it’s just this, it’s part of just what we had fun with.”

But there’s nothing funny about trivializing queer issues by hyping gay representation when it’s only a subtext joke. There’s nothing funny about the queer character tropes in mainstream media that vilify those of different sexuality and kill off gay characters, especially when there are still people today who live in fear of persecution.

Our own nation has proudly made much progress, but throwing a gay character such as LeFou into Beauty and the Beast was unbelievably inconsiderate— daresay, foolish. If any persecuted group is to be portrayed, a certain level of respect is necessary, and Disney disappointed too many by disregarding the seriousness of LGBT representation.

THE TROUBLE WITH TIPPING

By Tiina Otala Staff Writer A cookie at Aymar costs $2.25. For us students, that doesn’t amount to much, especially when compounded with the price for the rest of our lunch. However, for a tipped worker in the United States, that seemingly small expense for a single cookie could be unaffordable, as it is 12 cents over their minimum wage for an hour of work.

A bizarre disparity exists between the federal minimum wage for tipped workers, set at $2.13, and that for ordinary employees, which has been established at $7.25. The reduced income for tipped workers has been justified by the notion that money earned from tips will somehow neatly compensate for the difference. Yet, in reality, a reliance on tips to provide for the majority of one’s income only results in a life of uncertainty.

Tipping is inherently inconsistent, and the additional money an employee may earn one day can disappear the next. Moreover, tips are not necessarily indicative of qual-

ity service: consumers generally accept a 15-20% tip as the norm, or subconsciously choose an amount on the basis of attractiveness, race, or age. Thus, tips not only fail to yield a stable livelihood but also aren’t necessarily a reflection of the quality of work employees adhere to.

Though the law requires companies to compensate by paying the difference if the income from tips does not match the minimum wage, employers can often neglect to follow through: tipped

workers live under the poverty line at a rate 7.5% higher than non-tipped workers. Therefore, it can become ever the more possible for a tipped worker to legitimately collect a wage a bit over $2.13 if both the customer and the employer are not feeling particularly generous that hour.

The obvious solution would be to give all workers the same minimum wage regardless of whether or not they receive tips, as California has done. However, setting a universal minimum wage could hurt untipped workers in the service industry, such as cooks or dishwashers.

The real solution to the inequality is to end the practice of tipping altogether, as is the custom in countries like China, Brazil, and Denmark. Everyone would receive the same minimum wage without the complication of tips, and there would be no question as to who is earning too much or too little. The variability in the tipping system is detrimental enough to minimum wage workers that we cannot, and should not, accept it simply as “the way the cookie crumbles.”

Arts & Entertainment Chance The Rapper

by Rishi Nair and Helena Getalayew Staff Writers

Chancelor Johnathan Bennett, more commonly known as Chance the Rapper, is arguably the most influaential and revolutionary artist of the 21st century. At the Grammy awards last month, Chance was nominated for seven grammys, winning a total of three of them (Best New Artist, Rap Performance, and Rap Album). The interesting thing, though, is that the Grammys previously did not allow streaming-only artists like Chance to be nominated for awards.

On Kanye West’s track “Ultralight Beam,” Chance the Rapper said, “I hear you gotta sell it to snatch the Grammy,” referring to the rule that an artist needed to sell a certain number of songs in order to qualify for a Grammy nomination. Through this one bold line, Chance initiated the removal of this rule, therefore allowing himself and any other similar artists to have the opportunity to fulfill a well-deserved dream of winning a Grammy award. Because of him, money is no longer a deciding factor in an artist’s ability to be successful. Musicians who upload tracks to streaming-service applications now have the hope of sharing music with a larger audience and achieving their musical career goals.

As a beacon to all rising artists in the world, Chance has taught us that anyone can be a successful artist, and money does not need to be a deciding factor. Furthermore, even with the wealth he gains from his performances and merchandise, he still chooses to live in Chicago with his family. He has no desire to move into a mansion or away from his hometown. His loyalty and undying passion for his city and the people around him are remarkable. He never fails to appreci-

Vic Mensa

By Jose Lopez A&E Editor

Kids dying in the street. Drug peddlers on every street corner. Broken buildings and broken homes. Riots on the block. How do you cope? For some rappers, music is an escape, a way to get away from the horrors of life. But for Vic Mensa, rap throws him right into the middle of it.

Vic Mensa is no stranger to crime, protests, riots, gunshots, and drugs. Growing up in Southside Chicago, Vic spent his whole life seeing his people struggle, so when he started rapping, he didn’t forget. You probably won’t hear most of Vic’s new music on the radio because it’s unlike other music.

Nowadays, we just want to hear a nice beat and some catchy hooks. We all need songs to vibe with, but we can’t ignore the problems in this world. Vic wants us to stay awake and work for actual change. Songs like “16 Shots” bring attention to the shooting of young black men by police, a problem that we’ve seen for far too long. Music is a platform and, as an artist, Vic has the opportunity to influence people. He believes it is his responsibility to use his status and music to help the world and not just make a quick hit. Getting rich is hard, but changing the world is harder.

Some rappers may talk about change, but not act. That’s not Vic. You can see him on the front lines of protests. He has been there for the protest of Laquan McDonald’s shooting and he has been there at Standing Rock. Vic will die fighting for justice because he’s made it his mission to help make the world a better place. He is the true definition of a revolutionary, using his music and his presence to bring attention to issues and stir up some noise. Most rappers wouldn’t risk standing face to face with the police in a massive protest. For Vic, his safety is secondary to world justice.

While Vic isn’t the only rapper who talks about social issues and helps communities, he is one who actually centers his whole life on activism and fighting for and with his brothers and sisters. More rappers like Vic Mensa could help create a movement geared toward actual progression and not just being famous. Stand behind Vic and get ready for a revolution— in music and beyond.

ate all that his loved ones have done for him in order to get where he is now. Moreover, he remains honest about the struggles he went through in order to achieve what he has today. His work goes beyond just the music industry.

In his pubic life, Chance has addressed the long-standing problem of public school funding in Chicago. The school system was facing another budget cut that could possibly end the school year early and deprive students of the chance to further their education. Chance was educated in Chicago’s public school system, the third-largest public school system in the world, so he spoke on its behalf.

Chance met with Chicago’s mayor, Bruce Rauner, to discuss this looming issue and came out of the meeting clearly distraught and emotional. Asked about his talk with the mayor, Chance said that he found the mayor’s answers “vague” and he pleaded with reporters to conduct research on how Chicago’s system ended up in such a state. It may seem like Chicago is in a dark place, but there is a silver lining. According to Chance, though he is “frustrated and disappointed in the governor’s inaction, that will not stop me from continuing to do all I can to support Chicago’s most valuable resource: its children.”

To act as a catalyst for change, Chance made a spontaneous donation of one-million dollars to local public schools. Chance has received praise from another notable Chicago native, Michelle Obama, who called Chance “an example of the power of arts education.” Chance truly exemplifies the saying, “if you want something done right, you must do it yourself.” You can help contribute to his cause by going online to socialworkschi.org.

Goldlink

By Marko Ristic Staff Writer

Goldlink, an underground rapper hailing from Washington D.C., has a unique sound that is a distinct blend of indie rap and heavy dance beats. His first studio album, At What Cost, dropped on March 24, and boasts prominent features from the likes of Wale and KAYTRANADA. Branching off in a different direction than his previous mixtape, After That We Didn’t Talk, this new album features a more aggressive and confident vibe.

Throughout this album, Goldlink uses his lyricism and advanced storytelling abilities to talk about the numerous facets of his life, whether it be about his romantic interest, gang violence, what it means to be a role model, or religion.

One of the most prominent tracks on the album, “Meditation,” talks about how Goldlink is pursuing a girl and is infatuated with her. Featuring Jazmine Sullivan and KAYTRANADA, the track has a dance hall vibe in which Goldlink busts out clever and witty verses while Sullivan handles the chorus and bridge, seamlessly transitioning the song from one part to the next.

One of the main appeals of Goldlink is that he is quite unlike anyone else in the rap game as of now. He categorizes his music as “future bounce,” a sub-genre that is his fusion of r&b, hip-hop, and house music. His music is a rarity in the sense that his songs boast the appeal of having groovy and rhythmic beats while not cutting corners on his lyrics. Every bar serves a distinct purpose, unlike some rappers who simply throw in repetitive and unoriginal lines just to fill up the song. With Goldlink, you can truly see the passion and effort he puts into every track, each song being distinct and shining a light upon where he is in his life.

Goldlink is a distinct new artist who boasts a diverse repertoire of songs. From the smooth and melodic track “Palm Trees,” to the harder hitting “Kokomoe Freestyle,” to tracks that just inspire an urge to dance such as “Fall in Love,” he has a song that can fit any mood you are in, making it easy to see why his fans love his music so much.

Ultimately, Goldlink takes an in-depth look at love, religion, and gang violence with electrifying beats and nuanced lyrics that will be sure to leave you wanting more.

A&E • May 2017

Monarch Critics

New Feminism

Feminism: a seemingly dirty word in the eyes of anti-pc culture. From attentionhungry figures like Milo Yiannopoulos to the blunt and perpetually angry voice of Tomi Lahren, the media is ripe with antifeminist sentiments.

So when actress and activist Emma Watson, posed semi-nude for a photo shoot with Vanity Fair, the internet was overrun with journalists and gossip columnists ready to cry “hypocrite!”

The press had a field day asking how E m m a Wa t s o n ’s scandalous shoot could be okay when so many feminists are quick to jump on other portrayals of disrobed women in the media. Why is it that Ms. Watson could appear halfnaked and receive applause when she herself has commented on the way other women, such as Beyonce, have used their sexuality? Just a few months prior, Watson told Wonderland magazine about Beyonce’s Lemonade: “The camera, it felt very male, such a male voyeuristic experience of her.”

Now that may seem pretty judgmental for someone who posed with no shirt on for this month’s VF. However, the quote that many of these naysayers are conveniently forgetting to include is Watson’s final

By Shelby Leone Staff Writer

remark in the same interview: “The fact that she wasn’t doing it for a label...I agree with making her sexuality empowering because it is her choice.” Watson followed up on this view while promoting her new film, Beauty and The Beast. In the video, Watson reaffirms her belief in feminism as a choice and cautions, “Feminism is not a stick with which to beat other women. It’s about freedom, it’s about liberation, it’s about equality.”

To put it simply: the bodies are not the problem. The problem most women find with advertising or music videos that contain scantily clad women in them, is that their purpose is to be a sexually pleasing object purely for the benefit of males.

Just think of the videos you have seen in which a rapper or singer is surrounded by the bodies of nameless, faceless women, only there to please him. This kind of imagery sends a damaging message: the message that it is okay to think of women in such a way. This is where the problem lies, not in the bodies themselves. It does not matter if Emma Watson pulled a full Kim Kardashian a-la-Break-The-Internet, as long as the photo shoot was her choice.

And besides, she freaking killed it.

The Internetainers

Set aside the rage over “young” channels, and you’ll find the YouTubers that are on the older side. While their age may be a turn-off, they have been with YouTube since its beginnings, and they continue to make quality and authentic content. I’m talking about the dynamic duo of Rhett McLaughlin and Link Neal.

Heading into their 40’s, Rhett and Link have racked up huge successes being “internetainers,” the name they dubbed themselves to describe their occupation as entertainers on the internet. The two friends first met in first-grade when they had to stay inside for recess because they had gotten in trouble for cussing.

On their desks, they scribbled pictures of animals which they later called “mythical creatures.” Fast forward several years, and the two worked in engineering before deciding to devote their lives to working on videos and comedy.

The two began posting content on their channel “Rhett and Link” and saw their subscribers and views grow with each comedy sketch and music video. They even began their own daily talk show, which still runs, called Good Mythical Morning—in refer-

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By Alexis Rambac A&E Editor

ence to how they first met in elementary school—on its own channel.

With the urge to give their audiences more content, they began a weekly podcast called “Ear Biscuits,” opened up their online store full of their stationery, clothing, and music, and started a third channel called “This Is Mythical.”

Recently, they worked with YouTube Red to create a series called “Buddy System,” and later this year, they hope to release their book This Is Mythical where they tell their stories as close childhood friends.

All in all, this dynamic duo doesn’t fail to present quality content to their audiences whether they’re millennials or not, and it doesn’t look like their own age or the new, millennial-driven world is going to change that.

So the next time you’re bored, looking for a new YouTube channel to watch, or are simply procrastinating on the studying you should get done before finals, check out the thousands of videos on any of the three channels that Rhett and Link have.

And, as they always say, “Be your mythical best!”

In a Nutshell

By Madeline Aguirre Staff Writer

By Kim Huang Staff Writer

By Yabsera Grum Staff Writer

By Caroline Dickens Staff Writer

The thriller Get Out, written and directed by Jordan Peele, has caught the attention of many film critics, notably earning a 99% rating on Rotten Tomatoes—and rightfully so. Not only does this film stay true to its genre of thriller, but it also expands itself into satire.

Get Out tackles and exposes the issue of modern-day racism while including moments of tension and suspense in the more intense scenes. From the protagonist’s car ride to his girlfriend’s parent’s home and throughout his time there, elements of a sinister nature slowly begin to be introduced as the film continually escalates to reveal the horrific truths of the family’s intentions.

The film truly is made to watch twice, as almost everything that is said or done is either correlated to scenes later in the movie or has a double meaning behind it.

From beginning to end, Get Out is a truly great film, revealing truths about the treatment AfricanAmericans continue to face today.

Transitioning from a satire-based show, The Colbert Report, Stephen Colbert had to adjust to his role as a talk-show host on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert. As a result, his segments were bland and awkward at times, and the show struggled to gain traction for a year. But all this changed amid the 2016 presidential campaign and election season. The Late Show effused ferocity and passion that the show had lacked before, captivating and informing viewers with its critical focus on presidential candidate Donald Trump.

While several other late-night show hosts also have delivered political commentary, Colbert has stood out among them because his segments are biting yet witty.

Eventually, he overtook Jimmy Fallon to become the highest-rated late night show for seven consecutive weeks as of early February. Whether you’re interested in political commentary or not, it’s worth checking out The Late Show for Colbert’s insightful wit and refreshing sincerity.

He does it again. On March 18, 2017, rapper Drake’s new playlist was finally released; at last his impatient fans were satisfied. More Life, inclusive of 22 original songs that give off Jamaican vibes, does not disappoint. Drake begins More Life by lamenting about earlier struggles and praising those who have supported him (such as in the track “Sacrifices”).

Although he has kept childhood friends close, he goes on to explain the issue of uncertainty and “fake” people in the industry, all while expressing a certain love he is trying to rekindle.

This can be seen on the popular “Madiba Riddim” where he exclaims, “I cannot tell who is my friend/ I need distance between me and them/Gonna have to teach me how to love you again/ God knows I’m trying for you.”

Through heartbreak, loss, and victory, Drake uses the transitions between each song to tell a captivating story about his experiences, using singable lyrics and heavy basslines to connect his audience to his music.

It’s pretty easy to say that high school can be extremely difficult for students— from friends to school to the social scene.

Imagine, on top of all of this strain, your girlfriend goes missing without any trace, and all eyes are on you.

In Last Seen Leaving by Caleb Roehrig, Flynn Doherty is the last person to see his girlfriend, January McConville, before she mysteriously disappears. Out of desperation, Flynn attempts to conduct his own investigation, but he runs into a few problems: January’s friends don’t think Flynn is the good guy he claims to be, and Flynn finds that January’s friends are not even her friends at all. How can Flynn figure out what happened to January?

This novel may be a work of fiction, but it describes actions so real and riveting that they are difficult to forget.

Last Seen Leaving delves into a world of mystery, confusion, and lies, while revealing the struggles of friendship and the hard truths of self discovery and self acceptance.

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By Elina Xie and Rachael Murdock Staff Writers With the new John A. and Susan Sobrato Science and Student Life Building on campus, STEM is a topic of heavy focus at Mitty. For some, however, a love for these subjects began much earlier than in high school. Senior Mary Celestin realized her passion for civil engineering during a Girl Scouts meeting in the fourth grade: “I totally fell in love with the idea. It seemed like a way of creating worlds and a reality.”

As her passion for engineering grew, she noticed one troubling aspect of STEM: fewer girls were signing up for challenging science and math courses. Determined to find a way to encourage more girls to pursue STEM, Mary decided to build a tensession STEM curriculum for 4th and 5th-grade girls. The curriculum includes lab activities and focuses on women in the field of science. This program is currently shared with six different schools within the diocese, and it has an internet database of twenty to thirty STEM activities and clubs within the Bay Area so that parents can also aid in fostering their child’s passion for the sciences.

In fact, one of Mary’s proudest moments was when a young girl came up to her after completing a unit building bridges and told her she would like to be an engineer. Mary could see that this was a pivotal moment for the girl and was reminded of when she discovered her own passion for engineering at the same age.

“It was incredible to me,” she reflects. “Seeing that I could impact someone like that was truly inspiring.” Mary’s experiences remind her of the positive effect her program is having on young girls’ lives.

With the help of various organizations such as GoldieBlox (a girl-centered engineering toy company), Mary continues to find ways to help girls discover a love for science and mathematics.

At St. Francis Cabrini, for instance, she is working to establish a STEM club that also helps students complete their required service hours after school.

From a passion which was ignited in fourth grade, Mary Celestin engages young girls’ curiosity and love for learning in order to ensure that women will become a larger part of STEM in the future.

Dear Unde rclassm

By Kristine Chan Staff Writer g

Jumping Hurdles

By Prerita Pandya and Malavika Ramarao Staff Writers

From a young age, senior Jessica Lee has been in love with horses and could be found constantly playing with these toy animals. So it was no surprise when Jessica soon started begging her parents for horseback-riding lessons.

Unfortunately, it would be years before she wore her parents down enough to let her start lessons in the sixth grade.

Once she finally got her wish, she spent all her free time—over ten hours each week—practicing with her horse and spending time with other riders, developing friendships and lifelong connections.

Some of her favorite memories from riding are during her competitions; when she successfully finishes the first round and advances to the next, she feels the stress and worry lift off her shoulders and excitement fill her. Perhaps her most touching memories are with her mom.

Jessica recalls, “My favorite memories are definitely the sum of all the sunrises and sunsets I witnessed with my mom.

She has supported my riding since I started by spending countless hours at the barn with me. Even though she works extremely long days and spends hours in the car, my mom supports me in riding from dawn until dusk.”

Jessica loves spending time with horses and developing friendships with her barn mates. Jessica’s horse, who she found in Calgary, is named Vicki but enters shows as Miss Montego.

Jessica says, “Vicki, like many other mares, can be opinionated.

She definitely is not afraid to tell me when I mess up. My trainer and I joke that she is the one training me. But, Vicki does her job well and takes care of me in dicey moments.”

Now, Jessica competes every month during show season at many locations such as Palm Springs, Pasó Robles, and even local shows at Woodside with her horse, and she has received multiple accolades. Jessica usually competes in an eight-fence cycle, judged by the effortlessness displayed in the jumps. Over the years, Jessica has not only won several championships in the 3’6 Junior Hunters category, but also was named the high point junior rider in a hunter Derby last year!

For Jessica, horse riding is a time to relax and wind down after a long day of school. But it also provides her an “adrenaline rush when [her] horse takes off from the perfect distance and jumps beautifully.” Her clear passion and dedication to her sport is shown not only in her success but in her love for her horse, her teammates, and the competition.

en,

As the sc with a sense hool year draws to a cl ose o of summer v f bittersweetness—equ , I’m sure we are all fi al parts joy lled acation and fo a quickly by.

As a senior, sense of nostalgia for r the beginning another yea this year’s en as I know I’ r go d fe ll who have an miss Mitty once I go to els especially momen ne tous, other year o college. But r some advic e from a se years of high school le for those of you nior’s persp ft, I’d like to helpful. ective that you hopefu give To the incom lly find ing fresh everyone at first, and you men: don’t panic. Mitty ’ll need time is intimidatin ment. Trust m to g (I definitely e, it’s okay to feel unco acclimate to a new env to ironmfortable an did). But ev d nervous at en with the important to no fi tr or trying ou y new things, whether velty of a new school, rst that’s going t for a sport it’s to s people and to get a bette team. These are ways a club meeting to meet diffe r sense of th To next y e sc rent able at Mitty ear’s sophomores: bran hool. ch out. You , more assure ’re that doesn’t d of your pla m ce within its more comfortreally a time ean you need to stay in community, th to b ploring new expand your horizons at niche. Sophomore yea ut by taking har activities. It r is ’s der learn how m uch you can also a year to find your li classes or expush yoursel mits; you sh set the pace ould f, and of the To next yea rest of your high schoo this self-awareness will r’s juniors l career. now, but w ith that priv : find a balance. You’r ilege comes e upperclassm Find leader ship roles w h en ithin the Mit ard work and responsi men and so bility. ty commun phomores. C it y to guide fr hallenge yo demanding es urself with extracurricu harder classe hlars, but don s and ’t go overbo ard. And, ev en with

the increasi ng workload , please don necessary st ’t procrastin andardized ate on takin te sts. Seriousl And finally, g the y. Don’t. to next year’ of people sa s se n io rs : don’t lose m y junior yea omentum. A r is the hard ence, senior est, but in m lot year is much y personal ex more deman stress of app p er iding because lying to coll ege. With th of the added that you star at b t your colleg eing said, I st e essays as rongly advis summer, as soon as poss e you are now ible—durin required. An tion process g the d even with happening, the college ap you should you have le plicafind time to ft in high sc sa vor hool. Try so wanted to d mething that the moments o and spend you’ve alw time with y end, high sc ays our friends hool goes b and family. y more quic year is your In the kly than you last chance think, and se to enjoy Mit nior ty as a studen t.

Good luck!

Kristine

Justice Awareness Justice Opinions

By Nichole Lim and Amelia Kinsella President Trump is proposing serious cuts to the EPA. He has proposed a 31% Staff Writers decrease in funding for the organization.

Caring for the earth remains one of our most worthy responsibilities as a nation, Trump’s philosophy of “America first” extends to the environment as he plans as well as one of our most neglected. The environmental movement has long relied on on abandoning any climate change policies that put our economy at risk. He aims to the crutch of saving the environment for “future generations,” but in today’s world, prioritize new jobs over the environmental health of the country—a decision that is the future for many is a luxury, and the state of the present is a much more compelling unsurprising given his past rhetoric concerning the environment. Reductions in nearly and urgent motive for environmental protection. On a global scale, we are poised at the every facet of the EPA, from enforcement of regulations to research to specific acts brink of a severe environmental crisis with America at the forefront, and the threat of and programs, will have drastically negative effects on the nation. Jonathan Samet, the a collapsing environment has made the path from today to tomorrow more and more former chair of the Clean Air Scientific Advisory Committee, expresses the concern uncertain for millions of Americans and billions of people around the world. Thus best: “I think a deep cut would be devastating to the nation’s capacity to do environnow more than ever, we owe it to current generations to continue to pursue targeted mental health and ecosystem research. Scientific evidence does not change when the action aimed at enriching the quality of our environment and our lives. administration changes.”

For almost fifty years, the United States Environmental Protection Agency, the One proposal would cut all funding for the EPA’s Clean Power Plan—a decision EPA, has undertaken this responsibility to protect the environment and human health that would lead to an increase in carbon emissions, disrupting the EPA’s goal of rethrough a combination of federal research, regulations, and environmental monitoring. ducing carbon pollution from power sources by 32%. This would ultimately cost the Most notably, the EPA’s Clean Power Plan, created under President Obama in 2014, country billions more in health care as carbon pollution kills thousands of Americans is dedicated to combatting climate change by regulating carbon pollution from power each year, while making thousands more seriously ill. plants and is projected to cut carbon levels down 32% by 2030. Additionally, other EPA Slashing the budget of regional projects like the Great Lakes Restoration Initiaprograms are responsible for the protection of tive is also on Trump’s agenda, another decision wetlands and freshwater sources, as well as the that could have severe consequences for the establishment of national standards and regulawell-being of the environment and the people. tions on auto emissions, pesticides, the quality Lake Erie provides drinking water for about of public drinking water, toxic substances, and 11 million people, but with the proposed cuts, much more. the EPA will be unable to protect the lake and Over the course of its history, the EPA has millions will suffer. made numerous contributions to the protection The irony is clear: with Trump’s proposals of the global environment, the goal of a sustainto cut the EPA in order to create new jobs, he able future, and the betterment of American is actually erasing some 3,200 already existing life. The success of its efforts is now seriously positions. endangered by President Trump’s newest enviThis web of dangerous consequences acronmental policies, policies that undermine the companying the budget plan is just the tip of the EPA’s mission by placing the short-term Amerimetaphorical iceberg which, unlike its physican economy before long-term environmental cal counterparts, will probably not be melting consequences. anytime soon.

Trump’s proposed budget cut would mean the lowest EPA funding in 40 years.

Caring for America

What Trump Has in Store for Healthcare

By Surabhi Bhupathi Staff Writer Healthcare has received a good deal of attention in the past few months. In truth, it all began in 2009, when Congress passed the Affordable Care Act. House Republicans would go on to vote more than fifty times to repeal the bill, and nineteen Republican states would later go on to refuse the government funds for healthcare expansion under Medicaid. This March, the “American Health Care Act of 2017” (known as “Trumpcare”), was introduced as a replacement for the American Care Act. The Affordable Care Act or “Obamacare” ensures that patients with preexisting health conditions cannot be charged more or refused insurance. It has insured twenty million more people and has increased access to primary care, surgical care, specialty or chronic care, and medicines. Fewer patients skip treatment due to costs.

Republicans want to change this program, but they risk sacrificing these benefits from Obamacare that their constituents want. Consequently, most attempts made by Congressional Republicans to repeal or replace the bill have failed—as of now. This has prompted many to take a closer look at what makes up America’s medical insurance policies—taxes, Medicaid, private insurance, and coverage provided by employers.

In the area of employer-sponsored coverage, the ACA ensured coverage for children up to the age of 26, primary care, mental health, pediatrics, as well as dental and vision plans. With the exception of contraception coverage, Republicans don’t want to remove any of these—rather they hope to ensure that ALL businesses will provide insurance, by giving tax credits to those that do provide medical insurance to their employees and tax penalties to those that don’t.

Obamacare greatly increased Medicaid coverage for those under the poverty line.

Republicans want to cut direct funding and instead send money to the states as a lump sum.

The ACA also insured contractors, freelancers, and others who would previously have had to rely on private insurance.

In order to keep the premiums stable, there is a need to draw in younger (and healthier)

people in order to offset the costs for the elderly and the sick. Hence, Healthcare.gov has to be more widely promoted because if younger, healthier people do not sign up there will be less money for those that are sick. And the program was promoted initially. But not anymore. Now, a new “continuous coverage” plan set in motion

by House Speaker Paul Ryan and Secretary of Human Services Tom Price threatens the viability of the health care system because barely anyone signed up.

In terms of who would pay for the proposed “Trumpcare,” those who are low-income and the elderly would likely pay the most. So would those who live in rural or “high cost states.” While those with preexisting conditions Paul Ryan holds a press conference on the ACA. would still be covered, they may be subject to more expensive plans. Federal subsidies may be able to help people buy insurance, but these will be based on age, not income.

The biggest issue, politically speaking, would be taxes. The ACA increased taxes on those with a higher income to fund the program, but Republicans want to overturn that.

With each side not willing to back down, this proves to be the biggest stalemate.

Most of the “pros” of the proposed “Trumpcare” are that they preserve Obamacare provisions. The drawbacks are alarming. It cuts out-of-pocket cost assistance and defunds Planned Parenthood. It caters more to those who make more, would cut taxes on those who make the most, and would cut back on provisions that benefit women, seniors, and low-income patients.

The President promised, “Insurance for Everybody.” But this promise was a hollow one. Estimates are that “Trumpcare” would take coverage from some 24 million Americans.

Justice Awareness • May 2017

South Korea’s Impeachment

By Jennifer Prince Staff Writer On December 9, 2016, President Park Geun-hye of South Korea was impeached and suspended from her presidency due to her involvement in a political scandal revolving around bribery and abuse of power. A unanimous vote from the Constitutional Court of Korea on March 10 officially impeached the president. As of now, Prime Minister Hwang Kyo-ahn acts as the interim president.

Closely tied with this scandal is Choi Soon-Sil, a lifelong friend of Park. Despite holding no government title, Choi worked closely with Park, apparently using her relationship with the President for personal gain.

Choi is accused of amassing $70 million in bribes from big businesses, promising government favors and protection in return for such money.

Out of this sum, $38 million has been Former South Korean President Park Geun-hye traced to the tech giant Samsung.

As of now, President Park, Choi, and a Samsung lead executive, Lee Jae-yong, have been arrested. Though Park Geun-hye has repeatedly apologized for the scandal, her denial of any legal wrongdoing has been a source of criticism. Politician Moon Jae In expresses the consensus best: “The least she can do as the ex-president who damaged national dignity is to admit her criminal acts, bow her head, and seek forgiveness.”

Since its creation in 1948, South Korea has gone through periods of democratic and autocratic rule, cycling between presidents and dictators. In fact, Park Geun-hye’s father Park Chung-hee seized military Citizens march in support of Park’s impeachment. power 1961 after being president for a time. With an upcoming election for a new president taking place on May 9, the country will continue to strive for a more stable democracy.

Trangender Identification

By Neharika Iyer Staff Writer The transgender rights movement, which seeks to eliminate discrimination and violence against transgender individuals for gender fluidity and fights for self-determined gender identification, is currently facing a delay in the resolution of basic rights in the federal government. The new administration raises concerns regarding the maintenance of current transgender rights and LGBTQ representation.

On February 22, 2017, President Trump revoked protections for transgender students that had been passed during the Obama administration. The former protections had allowed transgender students to use bathrooms that corresponded with their personal gender identity. In revoking these protections, Trump reversed the federal government’s position on transgender rights and overruled his education secretary—a major setback for transgender rights advocates.

Moreover, the reversal of this directive has negatively impacted transgender students across America. In March of 2017, the Supreme Court declared that it would not take a major case regarding transgender rights and refused to decide whether a transgender boy in Virginia would be allowed to use the boy’s bathroom in his high school, which means that there will be no resolution on the issue of transgender rights and gender fluidity during the coming session.

The government’s current standstill on the subject of transgender rights and identification means that transgender students will have to wait to find out if they will be given basic rights in America. The issue of transgender identification concerning public facilities and education remains undetermined at the federal level and will only prolong discrimination and injustice for transgender individuals. Looking outside the social construct of gender binary to gender fluidity and identity will allow society to resolve this issue once and for all.

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The Controversy around Wikileaks

By Joanne Park Staff Writer Imagine your deepest, darkest secrets being exposed to the entire world. Imagine the information that you never expected anyone to ever find out being put out in the open. For the CIA, Hillary Clinton, and a number of other groups withholding valuable information, however, they don’t need to imagine—thanks to the nonprofit organization Wikileaks, their worst nightmare has now become reality.

Launched in 2006, Wikileaks was created by programmer and journalist Julian Assange as an anonymous website used to host leaks of classified information and has created a database of over ten million documents during the span of about ten years.

According to the Wikileaks website, its goal is “to bring important news and information to the public... [and] to publish original source material alongside...news stories so readers and historians alike can see evidence of the truth.”

Though Wikileaks has received a number of awards and much praise for support-

ing freedom of the press, it has also been met with criticism for exposing classified information that could potentially harm national security.

Some of the most recent incidents include leaks from the Democratic National Committee and the CIA. Shortly before the election, Wikileaks released a series of emails focused on Hilllary Clinton, revealing previously hidden speeches that sparked controversy against the then candidate. And following this, Clinton saw her lead over Trump steadily decrease preceding Election day.

In addition, early this year, reports on CIA espionage orders were released online, leading to a new wave of criticism against Wikileaks for potentially endangering operations directed towards curbing terrorism.

Founder of the cybersecurity firm Rendition InfoSec Jake Williams notes that this release could be “devastating if the information had been used for a majority of CIA operations.”

National Security threat or not, Wikileaks is here and not appearing to stop anytime soon.

Clothing with a Cause

By Katherine Rejer Staff Writer It’s a Friday afternoon, and you are desperately desiring a shopping spree after that A-week. As you struggle to decide which pair of Air Jordans will look coolest or try on every crop-top at Forever 21, have you considered all those behind the scenes producing the items?

In our society, it can be challenging to avoid mass-produced commercial products that exploit workers in China and other countries, forcing them to labor in horrid conditions for extremely low pay. But there are alternatives.

Serengetee, a startup company, offers apparel and accessories that seek to promote sensitivity to artisans in third-world countries. In 2012, two college students inspired by their Semester at Sea study abroad program, Jeff Steitz and Ryan Westberg, sought to make positive change with a business based on fabrics from around the world. Jeff and Ryan began purchasing fabrics spun by artisans from over 25 countries, including Zimbabwe, Ghana, Guatemala, Australia, Russia, Portugal, and Brazil. Working from their dorm room, they fashioned these fabrics into pockets on shirts, sweaters, and many other accessories. Once the enterprise took off, production was moved to Los Angeles, where each product is handcrafted in a warehouse.

Since that beginning, the business has expanded to include a variety of styles and items such as pillows, backpacks, camera straps, hats, and bracelets. Additionally, each pocket gives back 10 percent of its profits to a variety of causes around the world, supporting micro-finance, health, education, animal rights, human trafficking, and poverty relief. For example, the Bamba Pocket from Guatemala is made by women artisans in Panajachel and supports Mayan Families, a nonprofit organization that helps impoverished families living by Lake Atitlan. From their website (serengetee.com), you can pick the pocket that appeals to you most, choosing from an assortment of designs, and later choosing a specific shirt style, size, and color.

As the founders of the startup have said, “we fully believe we can change A young girl from Guatemala benefits from Serengetee profits. lives.”

This sentiment is one that can be adopted by Mitty students, as we make the seemingly simple decision of choosing what to include in our wardrobes. Wearing a Serengetee encourages a global consciousness, providing an ideal opportunity for each person to do his or her part and “Wear the World,” the company’s motto and mission.

SPORTS

Lacrosse: Senior Leadership coordinator, but this year he has been given the opportunity to take the lead.

By Giuliano Orsi Being no stranger to the Monarch lacrosse program, he knows the strength of this Staff Writer Hopes ran high this season for the AMHS Mens Lacrosse Team. Each campaign has group. “Our two senior captains Keaton Collier and Andrew Wiltberger have been great meant a new challenge for the players, as they are constantly competing against some of influences on how to play lacrosse both offensively and defensively,” states Coach Stephens. the top talent in not just the state, but the nation. At press time, the team had a 7-11 over- “I’ve been lucky enough to have already played one varsity season with both of them and each year they have helped not only helped all record, with a WCAL record of 2-2. me improve but the entire team.”

Although the team may be sitting below According to senior Gabe Hyun, the the .500 mark, the guys know it isn’t a true future is bright, but the most important job testament to their skill. for the Monarchs is to keep improving.

“This year’s schedule has been the On the women’s side, the Monarchs toughest the program has ever seen in its finished third in the WCAL last spring. history,” says senior Jake Gieselman.

With a 6-6 record, the team has made a “Our record may not reflect the talent of solid showing. Returning varsity member our squad. We have had close games with and senior Sarah Hance says the aim is to some of the best teams in the area”. make this a season to remember.

This particular squad has the opporWith a new coaching staff in place, tunity to make some serious noise later in the team has given its all at every practice the season, as they are backed by a huge and every game. group of 22 seniors. After all, experience Senior Emily Bray has enjoyed her is always a key factor come playoff time. last season at Mitty. “This year, we had a One of those seniors, Nilan Empacked schedule of games, but most of all, manuel, says, “One of our biggest aspiraI could not wait to face off against close tions was to defeat defending champions opponent St. Francis.”

St. Ignatius.”

When the teams did face off on April The rival Wildcats are consistently Photo courtesy of Keaton Collier 11, the Monarchs came away with a hardone of the top programs in the country.

Senior Keaton Collier (#24) has dominated opponents all year long. fought 15-9 victory, out-scoring St. Francis This year, the Monarchs fell to St. Ignatius 9-1 in the second half.

18-5 on April 6.

Mens and Womens Varsity Lacrosse have had memorable seasons, ones both teams For starters, the team has a new head coach to lead them to victory: collegiate coach Trevor Stephens. Last year, Coach Stephens was the first assistant coach and defensive hope will end in hard-earned success come playoff time.

Mens Volleyball: Serving up Wins

By Arjan Warya Staff Writer The Mitty Mens Volleyball team started strong this season. The Monarchs had impressive outings in their opening matches, winning four out of the seven league games played. The team, led by seniors Luke Byrnes and Jonny Vu and juniors Derek Jones and Nick Alftin, has come together to also put up outstanding performances in tournaments, such as the San Francisco Invitational held at Sacred Heart Cathedral.

Last season, the Monarchs had an impressive run in CCS, going all the way to the semifinals, which was the furthest the team had gotten in the playoffs since the NorCal title run Photo courtesy of Ashwin Ponukamti season in 2012.

This season, the team has similar Senior Ashwin Ponukumati looks aspirations, but they know that they for the kill. need to enjoy the game as well. Senior Jonny Vu reflects, “Our team goal has been and will always be to have fun and compete. While we love to win, there’s no better feeling than being able to utilize our passion and talent to create such a fun game.” True off-the-court chemistry contributes to the chemistry on the court. The team has grown closer over the years, as a majority of last year’s team has come back to work hard and compete for the WCAL title.

Junior Kien Vu shares that “There’s definitely room for improvement before CCS. While we are able to compete against most of this league, we struggle in the face of greater adversity. In a match against St. Francis, we should have capitalized on winning the first set and having that momentum. But we lost the match. And at a past tournament, we were without a number of starters due to either injury or because they had previous commitments. We did not see the results we were hoping for, but it was definitely a good opportunity for some of the other guys to get experience.”

Under the direction of Coach Will Yuen, who has been with the team for many years, the Monarchs have their eyes on the prize. Senior Charleston Granberry hopes that “this season brings success and a shot at the CCS crown.”

Track and Field: The Final Sprint

By Abby Mangilog Staff Writer There has been plenty of action and excitement in track and field this season.

There have been plenty of outstanding performances, as well.

On the women’s side, the varsity 4x100 meter relay team, consisting of seniors Te’Mesha Paxton, Mary Celestin, Mia Rendon, and junior Maya Shaw are on the prowl to clinch a WCAL and CCS title. Placing an impressive third in CCS and qualifying for state last spring, this 4x100 squad has been a force on the track. They can be seen sporting their fierce neon pink and green spikes, a fitting look for a group of athletes of such talent and speed.

According to 800-meter and 1600-mePhoto courtesy of Mitty Track and Field ter sophomore runner Dimitra Constantin, 4 x 100 relay team following a win “Being a track and field athlete takes a different kind of mental toughness. There is no bench. We have to keep going even though our entire body is burning and begging us to stop.” Especially in distance running, mental toughness may be just as important as physical ability.

The team is led by new head coach and Archbishop Mitty alumnus Mr. Cameron Vaca. He graduated Mitty in 2012 and was the CCS champion in the 300-meter hurdles. Coach Vaca’s success and experience as a former high school and collegiate athlete should mean the women’s team is in good hands.

For the men, senior Blake Rose is expected to be a dominant force in the 65-meter, 100-meter and 300-meter hurdles. Though Rose runs individual events, he still appreciates the team component of the sport: “Track is unique because even though there is a large individual component, you still have all the benefits of being on a team. Everyone practices together and motivates each other when competing.”

Like Rose, senior Yoshmar Pinal highly values this team aspect of track and field, saying, “There is no better feeling than celebrating success with those you worked with to get there.”

Cultivating a team culture is crucial in any sport, but it’s especially important when practice often consists of running in circles. Even though this may seem mundane, the real excitement occurs at invitationals. The team had a splendid showing at the recent Arcadia Invitational where it competed against some of the best track and field athletes.

Sports • May 2017

Page 13

Senior Aidan Goicovich has carried a heavy innings load for the Monarchs this year. He’ll be taking his talents to Cal Poly San Luis Obispo next year.

Photo courtesy of Francis Cebedo

Monarch to Mustang

By JP Caldwell Staff Writer The Archbishop Mitty Monarchs Baseball Team, although off to a rocky start record-wise, has shown much promise in its pitching and defense. One of the main pitchers, senior Aidan Goicovich, has shone this year. Along with his on the field accomplishments, he has achieved some pretty special personal goals as well.

On the field Aidan has a 4-2 record in seven starts for the Monarchs, including a complete game. He also has an ERA of just 2.14.

Off the field, this spring Aidan committed to California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo (aka Cal Poly SLO).

Asked what it meant to him, he said, “It was an honor to be able to put on the Cal Poly hat and officially become a part of the Mustang family. I’m glad my childhood dream finally came true.”

But being “good” at pitching is not

something that just comes to you one day. In fact, Aidan’s summer was full of practices, scrimmages, and workouts to get better and get noticed by colleges.

“I spent almost every day over the summer working to strengthen my arm and build my stamina so that when I went to play in front of coaches I was able to show off my stuff.”

And show off he did, as he impressed the coaching staff so much that they were willing to offer him a spot on the team next year.

Aidan is optimistic about his future as a Mustang: “I am thankful for the opportunity to play in such a talented program. I can’t wait to get on the field and see what college has to offer for me as a baseball player, as a person.”

So, as the season comes to a close, Aidan only has a few more starts as a Monarch before he moves on to Cal Poly in the fall.

He says his goal is to make the most of it.

Paulina Thurman: In Her Own Words My experience with Mitty swimming has shaped me to be a better person from the moment I stepped on the pool deck. As the years have gone by, and captains have graduated, and new swimmers have been brought on the team, I’ve recognize that it is now the upperclassmen’s duty to welcome new swimmers.

Being a captain, I have even more responsibility as I need to model the phrase “when the going gets tough, the tough get going” for my teammates. In addition to planning team-bonding events, buddy systems, and leading cheers, I have had to balance practice, with out-of-town meets, and stay on top of school swim obligations.

The team has taught me discipline and dedication. And those carry over into many other aspects of my life, as well, such as homework.

The team has made me stronger physically, mentally, and spiritually as I learn to recognize God’s presence in every new swimmer I meet. I am constantly in awe of the dynamic that Mitty sports teams create—rooted in God, interconnected in faith, and focused on love.

And although I know we are built on the victories and losses we endure, it’s those relationships we built with God and others that stay constant through all the high and lows.

I know my experience with Mitty swimming will carry me into college as I set foot on more uncharted territory, and it will be hard to let go of the people and places I now consider familiar. But I also know that the foundation I’ve formed with the students, staff, and with God is what really impacted me during my time at Mitty. When I start a new chapter in my life next year, they will all allow me to say “I lived.”

Golf: Succeeding at All Levels

By Alex Veroulis Staff Writer The Mitty Mens Golf program has had a successful year— the varsity and junior varsity teams have winning records, and each are in the top halves of their respective divisions. Playing at Cinnabar Hills, Presidio, TPC Harding Park, and Spring Valley, the varsity team at press time held a 10-3 record in league play, trailing behind Bellarmine and St. Francis. Also, at the Palm Springs Tournament held at Terra Lago, the varsity team finished with a cumulative score that placed them 7th place overall.

Throughout this year’s golf season, the Monarchs have won individual awards for their outstanding performances on the course and beyond, most notably, senior Matt Lloyd, freshman Brian Ma, and sophomore Daniel Kim. The team looks to overtake Bellarmine in the second half of the season, thus taking a large step toward capturing the WCAL league title. The young team shows potential to be one of the top teams in California in years to come. With many underclassmen

stepping up to the tee, Mens Golf will have an upswing in talent in the years to come.

Even though the varsity squad has shown the potential to take on the best of the best, the junior varsity team has also made vast strides in its division, having boasted a six-match winning streak, en route to a 10-4 record in league play. This team has been playing the majority of its matches at Los Lagos Golf Course; however, it has made a couple of select appearances at Fleming Golf Course at TPC Harding Park. Top performers on the team include sophomores Tyler Casaclang and Ethan Brown, among others, who have seen a great amount of success throughout the season.

However, even though the team won by one stroke in its final match against St. Francis, close losses against top rivals Bellarmine and St. Ignatius, teams which beat the Monarchs by a slim four strokes and three strokes, respectively, hurt its chances of winning the league title. Still, the team can be proud of its third place finish, the best in JV history.

Photo courtesy of Matt Lloyd

Purdue-bound Matt Lloyd has had another successful campaign.

Page 14

May 2017 • Photography

Paulina Thurmann

Kela Sowell

Scotia Tobin

Nina Myers

Photography • May 2017

Page 15

Charlotte Park

Vedya Konda

Julia Lohman

Thanks for a wonderful year.

Your editors,

Darren Scorsur

Strange impressions

THE ART PAGE r art u Yo getting s ep ke better

Tha nk s!

Jiwoo Song

Maria Nigos

Jacob Richman

Emily Ordoñez

End of Junior Year

Juniors, Get your senior-itis vaccine today

One Year Later . . .

Eh, I’ll be fine.

Maybe I did need that vaccine . . .

MAT H

F ENG LISH F ART F

Gillian Ortega