highlights
December 11, 2015 Volume 89, Issue 7 Beverly Hills High School Beverly Hills, California beverlyhighlights.com
Beverly plans for modernization of school Keith Stone, staff writer Vivian Geilim, staff writer Dates involved with moving classrooms to make way for future construction have recently been finalized. Beverly has been in a constant state of flux since the beginning of the year. With the arseniccontaminated lacrosse field earlier on in August and various areas of the school scheduled for construction, a drastic plan of action was initiated and has been underway for months. Under the supervision of Principal Dave Jackson and Superintendent Steve Kessler, the arsenic remediation was completed and construction is solidly on the horizon for the rest of the school. “January 23 will be the first week we’re moving, and we’re going to move to classrooms that first week,” Jackson said. “We’re planning to move House B and House C and the attendance office, and then the second week,
which will be Jan. 30, we’ll start Kessler said. concrete, then they’ll start putmoving teachers. It will be over While students and parents ting in the cottages. The plan is, a four-week period or five-week have many differing views on the by the time you get back in Januperiod; we’ll move four, five or new learning setup, these “cot- ary, the cottages will all be there. six classrooms on a weekend.” Not only has construction been placed on a strict timetable years in advance, but the arsenic issue was taken care of, allowing construction to commence. “We actually had new dirt brought in and that all had to be under the watchful eye of this state agency [DTSC], and so basically what happened is, on one day, they took all the dirt out. On the next day, Construction workers continue to bulldoze and move dirt as work continues they brought all the on what was once the lacrosse field. Photo by: VIVIAN GEILIM. dirt in and then they ran sample testing all the way tages” are still the plan for class- They won’t be operational, but through this process. So we are rooms. at least they’ll have them plotted done and completed with that,” “Once they lay the asphalt or down there,” Jackson said.
Construction plans have remained relatively unchanged and Kessler remains satisfied with the current progress. “All our schools were built between 1900 and 1929. They do need to be modernized and I think the end product will be really terrific, but it will take a period of adjustment and I totally understand that adjustment,” Kessler said. As these necessary adjustments continue, the administration looks to students with an understanding and encouraging perspective. “I think for the most part when there is a change in almost anything there’s gonna be some opposition just because change is change and sometimes people don’t like change,” Kessler said. “What I’m hopeful is that the students as well as the community and everybody else will realize that this was done with safety in mind and really done for their benefit.”
News Analysis
Fire alarm undermines sense of danger Sydney Tran staff writer Max Yera staff writer Whether the fire alarm rings due to pulling, malfunctioning or testing, its effect has greatly changed over the last few years. Though there have been no emergency drills this year apart from the Great Shakeout, Principal Dave Jackson feels that students would be prepared in case of an emergency. “We’ve had the one big evacuation, where we sort of included everything. Students have told me that if we do too many fire drills, then they become really blasé, so I’m trying to listen to the kids,” Jackson said. However, “too many drills” appears to be the problem, as students often find that their immediate response is to assume that the alarm is not real. “If there was a real fire, I don’t
think anyone would notice. The alarm falsely goes off so often that no one takes it seriously anymore,” junior Bennett Gershwin said. “We don’t even get out of our seats.” Also, in a recent poll, 55.7 percent of students claimed that they do not feel prepared for the event that there may be a legitimate earthquake, fire or lockdown. This is not to say that such feelings of unreadiness is a problem regarding the lack of preparation taken by faculty and staff, but perhaps the opposite, as many students believe that the frequency of the alarm undermines any real sense of danger. “When I hear [the fire alarm], I assume that it’s a malfunction or a kid pulled it. My teachers usually roll their eyes and check their phones since I think administration sends a mass text to them about whether or not they
INSIDE
should actually evacuate,” said senior Emily Rishwain. Additionally, on Nov. 23, Science Department Chair Sue Yovetich discovered a piece of paper on fire in the stairwell and stamped it out before it was able to grow. Perhaps, rather ironically, in the case of this legitimate fire, the alarm did not ring. “[The alarm did not go off]. I called security and the office right away and said that we smelled smoke, but once I figured out what it was, I called them back and told them not to worry,” Yovetich said. Although the threat was minute, Yovetich was still concerned at the lack of reaction. “[The alarm rings] so often that it’s hard to tell when it’s actually
real,” Yovetich said. “We encourage students to always assume it’s real and to evacuate, but sometimes people are a little less ready to move out, and wait to
hearing the fire alarm ring. There is a variety of reasons as to why the alarm sounds, and preventative measures may be difficult to enforce. “We had a toaster oven or a microwave in one of the classrooms and one of the teachers burned toast by mistake and set off the smoke alarm. I’ve had a couple of kids pull fire alarms, and there was one that malfunctioned, and we couldn’t figure out why,...[And] when there’s a power failure we reset [the alarms] as a test, so that’s what’s been going on with the fire alarm,” Jackson said. The lack of care displayed when the fire alarm sounds should be addressed by both students and faculty. The fire alarm is a signal for ensuring students’ safety and needs to be respected as such.
“If there was a real fire, I don’t think anyone would notice” -junior Bennett Gershwin see if it’s a false alarm.” Yovetich’s assessment seems to ring true. The frequency of alarm ringing has created an apathetic atmosphere in regard to threats such as fires and lockdowns. This should not be the case considering the three large evacuations that occurred last year due to telephonic bomb threats. In the aforementioned poll, 61.4 percent of students responded that they felt no concern at all upon
OPINION SPORTS
NEWS
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New ROP programs
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Goodbye to the Black Mamba
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FEATURE: Soccer superstar shines
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HIGHLIGHTS NEWS DECEMBER 11, 2015
The man behind it all: Romeo Carey runs KBEV Ben Shofet business manager Actor. Mentor. Teacher. Producer. Traveler. Coach. These are just a few of the many titles that Film Production teacher Romeo Carey holds. Although Carey has been at Beverly for almost a decade, he is more than the average teacher. Highlights: Tell me about your upbringing. Carey: My early life was like living in the circus. What I mean by that is I lived a super colorful life compared to most people because my dad was in the business; he was like the pioneering filmmaker who made movies and was in moves. And so I got to be part of that. We had a studio on our property and when it was happening it was like being a part of a circus. I would also travel a lot. I was schooled in Germany as a kid; my dad loved
taking us to interesting destinations. So, we’d spend summers in different parts of the world. It was just a beautiful place to grow up. Highlights: Can you tell me about the origins of your soul patch? Carey: That one’s got a
good history. It was adopted by my father who did a groundbreaking film called “The World’s Greatest Sinner.” And at one point in his character arc, he dawns this triangle beard and it became like his trademark. He only wore it for the movie but I liked it. I never saw him wear it again, but I thought as soon as I could grow one I’d do it. But, you know, you never keep your hair the same, so w h y
Romeo Carey displays his infamous pose. Photo by: BEN SHOFET.
should you keep your facial hair the same? You should always change it up. So when I come back from winter break I won’t have one. I kinda like it because artistically it gives you symmetry. And as a living artist that just comes with the territory because you’re just producing art. You can’t be afraid to experiment.
Career Creators is a program that ROP Director Cindy Dubin initiated to connect prominent Beverly Hills business leaders with high school and middle school students and provide them with real-world experience. Dubin partnered with the Chamber of Commerce and Education Foundation in November to create 10 different industry groups of Beverly Hills leaders in those industries. Each group will have 10 to 12 professional members. “What we’re looking for is widespread, local support of our career education programs and clubs,” Dubin said. Sophomore Maya Luong has been involved in ROP over the past two years through both Robotics and Entrepreneurship and appreciates that the program has
given her the opportunity to have hands-on experience in business. “I get to develop real-life skills, such as leadership, teamwork and communication, that I would otherwise have a harder time picking up,” Luong said. On Wednesday, Dubin, Principal Dave Jackson, interested ROP students and two Chamber of Commerce employees hosted a meeting in the College Center with the automotive group. “Michael Bradford, the general manager of Audi Beverly Hills, contacted 10 or 12 leasing companies in Beverly Hills, and [we met with] four to six of them today to talk about forming the automotive industry group,” Dubin said. Career Creators is currently running workshops at Il Fornaio where high school culinary stu-
dents help the Il Fornaio chefs run a middle school workshop. “Having seen that, the owner of Ocean Prime would now like us to offer sushi-making workshops at his restaurant,” Dubin said. “It is really exciting.”
Print Marty Schnapp and Sadie Hersh editors-in-chief
Jason Harward, Keith Stone, Max Yera, Sydney Tran, Vivian Geilim, Evan Minniti staff writers
Highlights: Who is Romeo Carey? Carey: I’m still discovering who Romeo Carey is. I haven’t discovered who Romey Carey is, and I don’t think I ever will discover who Romeo Carey is. But when I figure that out, I’ll let you know. The whole idea of life should be exploring who you are. I’d like to think that I’m learning more every day in terms of what life is really all about. To read the full article; visit beverlyhighlights. com.
ROP links students with business community Marty Schnapp co-editor-in-chief
Highlights
Career Creators programs will be available to students enrolled in each program’s respective ROP course. What Dubin is looking for, besides what ROP students do in their classrooms, is real-world experience.
Web Guy Ginsberg and Juliette Deutsch editors-in-chief
Eleanor Bogart-Stuart, Nirav Desai, Sophia Goldberg, Lauren Hannani, Veronica Pahomova, Jamie Kim, Isaiah Freedman, Natasha Dardashti staff writers
Ben Shofet business manager Jason Harward graphics editor Gaby Herbst adviser —
Our goal as a student-run publication is to provide reliable, accurate and fair content that informs and intrigues the Beverly Hills community by following the principles of ethical journalism and represents the student body. We will deliver a broad spectrum of coverage through a variety of mediums, including online and print. Highlights is a forum for public expression that is produced by the Advanced Journalism class of Beverly Hills High School, 241 Moreno Drive, Beverly Hills, CA 90212. Letters to the editor may be sent to beverlyhighlights@gmail.com. Visit beverlyhighlights.com. Follow @bhhighlights on Instagram and Twitter.
ROP and Beverly Hills automotive industry members meet to discuss the possibility of collaborating. Photo by: MARTY SCHNAPP.
Highlights is sponsored by PTSA and BHEF.
Talented junior finds solace in students’ success Sydney Tran staff writer Max Yera staff writer Though well-renowned among students for his academic prowess due to his involvement with Peer Tutoring, junior Yunchao Zhang is not the only person to benefit from his intelligence. Having been involved with the program since the beginning of his sophomore year, Zhang now finds himself the Student Director and Coordinator, a position that requires a great deal of dedication. “[As Student Director] I recruit and coordinate tutors, help schedule the meetings and overall be the student responsible for affairs that have to do with Peer Tutoring,” Zhang said. “I occasionally help field questions that any parents may have about the program.” The motivation behind obtaining this position exceeds a superficial desire for improving his status among his peers.
“I am involved with Peer Tutoring because it is a great way to help Beverly students. I know how frustrating it is to struggle with a class,” Zhang said. “Not only do I think Peer Tutoring is for a great cause, but I also support it wholeheartedly because it is a program fit for people of all academic skill levels, as you can come as a tutor or a tutee.” And yet Zhang finds that his tutee is not the only one that benefits academically. “The program has helped me academically. I often learn more myself through the process of tutoring others,” Zhang said. “Helping other students with subjects that I am normally comfortable with has allowed me to see those topics from a different perspective, and this usually gives me an increased understanding of the subject.” Such personal academic growth would not have been possible without support from the program’s director, Cindy Dubin.
“He is very involved on campus and so he is able to coordinate the student tutors well, knowing their various campus related obligations and other activities,” Dubin said. “He is also so capable of himself in terms of tutoring in many different academic d i s c i p l i n e s Yunchao Zhang helps freshman Noelle Trost review vocabulary words. Photo by: and levels, so SADIE HERSH. that is helptellect stands a greater gift: gratiSo, if you’re struggling in a ful in terms tude. class and are in need of academof his leader“The opportunity to help others ic aid, you too can benefit from ship of this program as well.” and learn things in the process Peer Tutoring every Monday and This praise is well-deserved, as is something for which I am very Wednesday in the College Center Zhang discovers that above his in- grateful,” Zhang said. during lunch.
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HIGHLIGHTS OPINION DECEMBER 11, 2015
Out of the game, still in our hearts, Kobe lives too prevalent this season. With the Marty Schnapp co-editor-in-chief worst shooting percentage in the Max Yera staff writer league this season, far too many have been given the opportunity to It doesn’t take a professional criticize Bryant’s offensive perforsports analyst to understand that mance. Kobe Bryant overstayed his welWas it not Bryant’s offensive come in the NBA, but it takes a fool dominance that has characterized to underestimate his legacy. his play for the past decade and a Kobe haters like Kevin Pelton, an half? His 81-point performance is ESPN staff writer who argues that still cherished as one of, if not the Kobe is not a top-10 player of allmost, impressive performances in time, are wearing blinders. They NBA history. He also stands alone are too fixated on Bryant’s 2015in third place on the all-time lead2016 .306 field goal percentage ing scoring list, above Michael Jorto appreciate the 19 other seasons dan, his often presumed superior. during which he blessed Laker fans To look past Bryant’s decorated cawith his presence. Not to mention reer that spans longer than many his career-long field goal percentrookies have been alive is, simply age is .449--not too shabby. put, ignorant. It is ridiculous to use a player’s Of course, despite such achievestats from his 20th season to asments, there is some level of sess his overall ability and what his validity in regards to the disaplegacy will, or should, be. It’s even pointment this season. Bryant has more ridiculous when you considundoubtedly been the centerpiece er the multitude of achievements of the Lakers’ offense for the past that this player has accomplished decade and to see this fan-favorite in his previous 19 seasons: five consistently fail to make close to NBA championships, two Finals half of the shots he takes is, needMVP awards, an NBA Most Valuless to say, heartbreaking. able Player award and 17 All Star Through it all, we must not base appearances. Bryant’s legacy on his current Nevertheless, this is not to say performance, especially a season that Bryant is perfect and that where he finds himself with a worn such imperfection has not been all down 37-year-old body that has
undergone 22 injuries, the most recent of which was said to have ended his career. In the end, he’s still Kobe Bry-
ant, the “Black Mamba,” a phenom that has given his all to the game he loves and we must not dwell on his current struggles or even his
past accolades, but rather be grateful that we got to witness pure talent at its finest and we must be, as he puts it, “ready to let go.”
Cartoon by MARTY SCHNAPP
The Norman Nation’s Take on Kobe...
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I feel that Kobe was a great player but he has been struggling in recent times. He is this champion who honestly was falling apart.
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-sophomore Ethan Marx
Editorial
Recently, it seems as though everyday appalling travesties take place around the world. A little over a week ago, on Dec. 2, 14 people were massacred in San Bernardino by a radicalized couple. Three weeks before that, on Nov. 13, 130 people were brutally murdered in France by radicalized members of the Islamic State. Events like these have brought the ongoing Syrian refugee crisis, in which many Syrian, Iraqi and Afghani civilians are seeking asylum outside their war-torn countries, into the spotlight of the American media. The main issue at hand is whether or not President Barack Obama’s plan to resettle 10,000 Syrian refugees in the United States puts the American people in danger, as some of the refugees could potentially be radicalized Muslims who, disguised as refugees, would be given free access to bring terrorism to the United States. It is important to note that the United States has already resettled 1,500 Syrian refugees since 2011 (1,199 this year
alone). When considering a matter of life or death for 4.3 million Syrian refugees, the least we can do is try
It’s a big deal to me that’s he’s retiring... He’s an all time great and it’s sad to think the man you grew up watching is done.
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-senior Daniel Bina
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This is the end of the best basketball generation. Kobe will be remembered as the greatest Laker of all time.
where they stand within the crossfire of a civil war that has killed over 200,000 people since 2011. These are children who are not
It is estimated that between two and three million Syrian children are not attending school. These are people who, with lim-
attending school. According to humanitarian organizations UNICEF and World Vision, about half of these 4.3 million displaced people are children.
ited options, have been forced to settle in Turkey (estimated 1.9 million refugees), Iraq (estimated 250,000 refugees) and Lebanon (estimated 1.1 million refugees),
Cartoon by VERONICA PAHOMOVA to understand these people. These are people whose only fault is being in the wrong place at the wrong time.These are people who face constant danger in Syria,
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-junior Eli Aminpour
countries which lack the proper resources for them, where they face crowded and unsanitary conditions. These are people who are being called “another problem” by Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump. These are people who have been deemed “unwelcome” by 31 American state governors (the ultimate decision is the federal government’s to make). The problem with public figures like Trump and these state governors is that they are, in essence, blaming the hive for a bee sting. Instead of feeling empathetic for millions of innocent Syrian people, these public figures are allowing their fear of a few to influence the lives of many. They are people. Let’s treat them like it.
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HIGHLIGHTS SPOTLIGHT DECEMBER 11, 2015
(In)Formal
ASB promotes Formal to raise attendance Sydney Tran staff writer Evan Minniti staff writer ASB is taking action in order to improve Formal in terms of turnout and promotion. ASB is attempting to enhance Formal by incorporating the student population’s feedback into the planning of the event. “I think that [the student population’s feedback] is very casual, like we hear feedback in the hallways from our peers, but there is no systematic way of getting feedback about Formal, so I think that integrating student feedback [into ASB planning] would be a great idea,” Head Row Vice President Debbie Lee said. However, Blood Drive and Service Learning Commissioner Justin Friedman finds that he hears a few opinions as to what students think about the event. “A couple of people have been asking
me what the food is going to be and I have been given some ideas,” Friedman said. “So it’s been generally good responses. A few teachers said that the food sounds good. Nothing specific, but I think everyone is excited.” The ideas that Friedman has been receiving from the students have been positive and encouraging. “I think we have generally positive feedback [from the student population]. I know I have always enjoyed going to Formal. It’s really a nice event where people can be comfortable from all different grades to come, so I would say we always get positive feedback,” Friedman explained. One piece of feedback that Lee received from the student body has effectively instigated change in the event. “[Getting better food] was a big concern of the students who had gone last year to Formal. We double checked the menu, made sure that it was affordable, and we also made sure that it was food
that the students would want to eat,” Lee said. “So we are having Formal at the Bugatta Supper Club on Melrose Boulevard. This is the first time we are working with this venue and we are really excited. We have lots of food like [Sprinkles Cupcakes] and brownies,” Lee said. In order to increase the popularity and turnout of the event, ASB has made an effort to publicize Formal on a greater scale. “We have definitely been trying to publicize it with posters and social media, and just getting the word out there,” Friedman said. However, attendance at Formal has been stifled due to another event that occurs on the same night: After Formal. “People honestly don’t even think about going to Formal when they hear about After Formal. It’s a tough situation because we want as big of a turnout as possible and we are trying to give the student body what they want, but the
culture has made it more about showing up and leaving than actually staying and enjoying the event,” ASB President Blake Ackerman said. Since Beverly doesn’t have a Homecoming dance, Formal is the only dance available to the entirety of the student body and is a way to close out the semester. ASB has made the opportunity available to students, so it’s up to the students to meet them halfway and participate. Ultimately, ASB hopes to provide students with a fun night. “It’s something we’ve come to accept. Every year, we try to put on the best Formal we can, and hopefully people will get to Formal, have a fun time and stay for as long as they can before they bus out of there,” Student Board Member Shawn Ahdout said. Winter Formal will take place on Dec. 17. Tickets are on sale for $35 with an ASB card and $55 without one at the student store.
< Messages (4) Norman Nation Formal??? Opinion
Not if ur gonna ask like that...
Sadie Hersh co-editor-in-chief Vivian Geilim staff writer Sydney Tran staff writer Formal: the alleged event that is meant to bring the student body together in a carefree night just after finals have ended. However, throughout the years, students have managed to devalue the whole idea behind this event. In recent years, the hype that accompanies Formal has seemingly faded away, whether it is because underclassmen do not feel welcomed or that people who attend the dance do not hold it in high regard. In a day and age where technology is ever present, it is much easier to text someone to ask them to Formal, rather than put together a creative idea to ask a prospective date. What some students don’t understand is that asking in such a tedious way with a text completely degrades the build up of what a high school Formal is really about. Formal doesn’t just mark the end of a semester and the freedom of finals commencing, it’s all about the paths of preparation diverged from the apprehension of the ask to the ‘formal’ attire that you choose. In-person conversations have become obsolete. What happened to the cliche asks
Wh at “ a re you r t hought s on Forma l?
I know what Formal is. Not a lot of freshmen are going because they said that mostly juniors and seniors are going because it’s for them and they don’t want the freshmen to come.
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-freshman Juliann Finkelstein
Details
It’s good to go. I think it’s nice to finish out the semester right after finals and to be able to take someone dancing and have some fun. - junior Joshua Fouladian
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that are in every single ‘80s cult classic? Films are still held to these standards, but we seem to have lost the element that holds ourselves to these measures. Now, it is as if students of our generation watch a classic movie and leave the romantic actions in the past rather than put them into context with the current times to keep the culture of the movies thriving. Asks on the second floor patio are not reserved for promposals, and yet it seems as if there are no more fun asks to Formal for hopeless romantics to enjoy. What about the positive aspects of technology? The current generation is tech savvy and can be considered social media professionals. While there are some Twitter and Instagram accounts devoted to cute asks to school functions, there are very few that are notable viral asks that circulated from Beverly. Current social media-crazed users value the power of mass sharing web content, whether it is a relationship status or a profile picture. These may be just be fleeting moments that appear on our time lines, but these passing moments can be searched years later for people to relive momentous times that occurred. This goes for the way people are asked to Formal as well. Instead of shooting
I think Formal is a really fun way to spend time with your friends, and you get to go to a really fun venue and just hang with our friends or date.
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-sophomore Esme Bernstein
out that “Formal?” text, think of a way to make the ask memorable. The four years of high school are not just intended to wedge students with four years of education; social cultivation can be instrumental to an individual’s academic achievement. As part of Beverly’s culture, winter Formal is an experience that transitions the environment of books and lectures to having its students indulge in moments that they’ll supposedly never forget. Perhaps the problem lies with the lack of enthusiasm about the event itself. Despite ASB’s encouragement of Winter Formal attendance with their banners in the hallways and email reminders, the night is overshadowed by excitement for another event. Over the years, After Formal has become the main focus of the night for many. Often, students cut their time at Formal short in order to leave enough time to get ready for After Formal. This focus on After Formal detracts from the planning and effort that ASB puts into Formal. Formal is the product of what students make of it. There is no live band or slow dancing, but rather there are loud amplifiers blasting DJ-manufactured beats that students have evolved to enjoy. It is this evolution that has has turned Formal into a nonchalant event.
Formal is a great way to end the semester with friends and relax after finals.
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-senior Jacob Hankin
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‘Tis the season for caroling Above all, my favorite song is the German Christmas carol ‘Still, Still, Still’ which is really tranquil and beautiful. It is also a tradition because the Madrigals have sung it every year for decades and when we perform it at the concert, all alumni are invited to come sing with us onstage.
-Emily Rishwain, 12
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I really enjoy ‘Parade of the Wooden Soldiers’. It has a really upbeat melody, and it’s a happy carol.
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-Julian Saadeh, 11
My favorite carol is ‘Caroling, Caroling’ because it’s a lot of fun and it’s upbeat and happy, just like the holidays.
-Daniel Kohanbash, 10
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Madrigals relocate Winter Concert
“This particular concert is an alumni concert, so all of the past Madrigals and past Minnesingers and past Concert Choir are With the auditorium out of serinvited for this concert to sing onvice due to seismic concerns, the stage with us. [The seniors and the Madrigals held their Winter Choir alumni] are the ones who will have Concert at Temple Emanuel of the most sentimental adjustments Beverly Hills. to make.” Although singing in this new Since the auditorium will not be “sanctuary” will be a big shift ready for use in from the triedthe near future, and-true audithe singers and torium, Vocal Kikkawa want Music Teacher students, parStacey Kikents and faculty kawa is not to get used to worried in the this situation slightest about and show their her students’ support. performances. “We have to “Well, we already had our Sophomore Sydney Strickland and junior Emma start telling our community and dress rehearsal, Graber demonstrate their passion as they sing. our school that and the stu- Photo by: ANDREA DI BATTISTA. it’s okay to go to dents sounded things that are off-campus,” Kikgreat,” Kikkawa said. kawa said. “So, please don’t disThe change in location may be count what’s being offered just bean emotional challenge, as many cause it’s a couple of blocks away.” upperclassmen and alumni feel The Madrigals were very happy very connected to the auditorium with their venue . stage. “I felt like we were a great big “Well, I think the freshmen family. This concert was a true don’t really know, because they success and the turnout was amazhaven’t had a concert here. The ing. We truly did not expect it, and sophomores may be a little deit was a great surprise,” said sophtached from it, so it makes them omore Daniel Kohanbash. more flexible,” Kikkawa said. Jason Harward graphics editor Keith Stone staff writer
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Meet the Madrigals
HIGHLIGHTS CULTURE DECEMBER 11, 2015
Photos by Vivian Geilim Interviews by Jason Harward and Sydney Tran
Binge-watching guide: Winter break edition Sadie Hersh co-editor-in-chief Sydney Tran staff writer As we count down the days to the end of first semester, students are given two weeks to take a load off and not stress about school. What better way is there to relax than to stay in bed and binge watch entertaining television series? How to Get Away with Murder If you are into suspenseful mysteries, then “How to Get Away with Murder” is the perfect show for you. But don’t be fooled by the title; the show is not a step by step on how to get away with murder. The plot contains romance and law (along with the theme of murder). This relatively new show is approaching its second season, but only the first season is on Netflix. The other season can be found on Hulu. With each
episode spanning 44 minutes, thrilling court cases draw viewers in and make them feel like professional lawyers. After the pressures of first semester have passed, why not keep your brain stimulated with the mysteries and murders that Annalise Keating and her team solve? Friends “Friends” is timeless. With 10 seasons of humor, this show has become a part of American culture. The close-knit character dynamic pulls viewers in and creates a close relationship between them and the stars of the show. All of the 22-minute episodes are available on Netflix. The funny storylines make it easy to watch six episodes in one sitting until the Netflix notification appears asking if you are still watching. What better way to decompress after finals then to laugh?
Criminal Minds “Criminal Minds” is a show that revolves around a team of FBI profilers who analyze the behavior of serial killers. The story behind the cases the team works on is roughly based on real cases. This concept may seem a little unsettling to those who get over the fear of scary shows by telling themselves, “This is not real.” Even though there is an element of fear, there is also some humor to keep the viewers’ spirits up. The show still runs and is on its 11th season, airing on CBS. Netflix carries 10 of the 11 seasons, which is more than enough to watch over winter break, considering each episode is 42 minutes long.
Parks and Recreation If you’re looking for a way to relieve stress after finals, watch “Parks and Recreation.” This sitcom is easy-viewing but still elicits a lot of laughter and a lot
of thought. The clever comedy and satirical elements allow for analysis of social issues, such as gender roles while still guaranteeing a hilarious watch; after all, Amy Poehler plays the lead. Beware, however. The strong personalities make it difficult to keep from becoming attached, and viewers might find themselves shedding a tear on occasion, because they just can’t stop laughing. The first six of seven seasons of 21-minute episodes are on Netflix, and the final season is available on Amazon Video and Hulu.
Sherlock “Sherlock” retells classic tales of mystery and suspense in the present day and does so well. Each season is only three episodes long. However, each episode is about an hour and a half long and is carefully crafted to shine a modern light on the riddling plots of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s book series. The retelling remains very
similar to the books with tweaks that promote the show’s relatability to the era of its viewers. The cleverness and production of the show leave its viewers feeling satisfied, as if they themselves solved each case along with the characters. All three seasons are on Netflix and each is just as thrilling and intriguing as the one before it. Revenge “Revenge” explores its title theme, one of human nature’s most debated moral issues. This dark drama’s plot intensifies with each episode as its mysteries unravel and transform. “Revenge” delves into issues ranging from high society to justice, but remains easy to follow. The questions that arise from watching are steadily addressed as others are created, quenching the thirst for answers while maintaining an element of mystery. All four seasons are on Netflix, and each episode is 43 minutes long.
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Freshman shines on varsity soccer have a lot of club players, so they are a solid team,” Elitzur said. “I mean, it was pretty cool, though, especially because we were playing against a really good team. It was my first game and I was nervous, so it was probably the perfect way to settle me into the game. After I scored my goal and we calmed down and eased into the
“It wasa great game…We played really well. Brentwood even thought we were good Dani Elitzur is leading what her and those girls were really big. friend Julia Yaris described as “an But we all came together as unusual life.” Elitzur’s father is a one and we played a very good middle school science teacher at El first game,” Stein explained. Rodeo and Elitzur, who is only 15, Elitzur enjoys the comradeis one of the few freshmen players ship and teamwork of playon Beverly’s varsity soccer team. ing on the varsity team. Elitzur said that she believes “I want to that the fact contribute. that she is I want to be a freshman useful. I don’t on a varsity want to not team with do anything. mostly upThat would be perclassmen sad!” Elitzur is unusual. said, laughing. She sighed, “And I had to “I guess it’s prove myself unusual. It’s because I am fun, it’s difthe youngest ferent. It’s person on the nice to be team. [I love] with all the the comradeolder uppership of it, the classmen and competition, to get to have working with friends that the team, honare in differestly just the ent grades teamwork.” or who are Dribbling the ball up the sideline, freshman Dani Elitzur prepares to pass Elitzur’s playing with to sophomore forward Lauren Aviram as the rest of the team cheers her on contributions the higher level from afar. Photo by: VIVIAN GEILIM to the the team [sports teams].” appear to be On Nov. 23, Elitzur played her first game game it was good, it became fun.” continuing, as with a recent game The Normans, with a little against Firebaugh High School. with the varsity team against “[Nov. 30], we played against Brentwood’s varsity soccer team. help from Elitzur, ended up winHowever, despite her initial un- ning the game 2-0. Fellow var- Firebaugh High School, a school in easiness, she scored Beverly’s sity teammate, Sophomore Lau- Lynwood. I scored the first goal of first goal from 40 yards away. ren Stein said that Brentwood’s the game, which was pretty excit“[Brentwood’s varsity team] team was impressed by Beverly. ing. And after a while we won, 5-0.” Evan Minniti staff writer
HIGHLIGHTS SPORTS DECEMBER 11, 2015
Basketball falls apart in tournament loss Jason Harward graphics editor Varsity basketball plunged into the losing bracket at the Beverly Hills Invitational Basketball Tournament after a disappointing defeat at the hands of Taft High School, with a final score of 48-39. Beverly was leading 26-14 at the end of the first half, but fell apart during the second half. “We did a good job playing together as a team. We came out strong and played well in the first half, but need to work on putting together four great quarters,” point guard Eric Ross said. In their first game of the tournament against Hamilton on Monday, Dec.10, Beverly was almost flawless defensively, and their 18-point victory seemed to be the beginning of a deep tourney run. “Defense. Our energy and defensive pressure caused them to go scoreless in the third quarter and they only scored eight points in the entire second half,” forward Max Walder said. In the first half of their second game against Taft High School, Beverly continued their defensive success and even got their offense moving early on in the game, jumping out to a 26-14 lead of the first half. “First half we played really well, offensively we moved the ball and executed our offense and got all the shots we wanted,” point guard
Denzel Holt said, “Defensively we were communicating and playing with lots of energy which resulted in getting consecutive stops and holding them to 14 points.” However, the second half was the polar opposite. Taft almost evened the score in the third, and pulled ahead to win 48-39. “Second half we didn’t play too well and I take the blame for that because I let things get out of control and as the point guard the floor general, I can’t allow that to happen,” Holt said. The disappointing defeat was full of lessons, including ball movement, rebounding and finishing out games. “I think we need to improve more on defense, because there’s no way teams should get rebounds over us because of how long and athletic we are,” Holt said. “Also offensively we need to all be more unselfish and trust in the offense because, as you see when we run it, good things happen. Once we come together and play together for the whole 32 minutes of the game, it will be hard to stop us.” Many team members, though disappointed with the hard loss, know that there are many games left to be played, and many things to improve. “I think we’re gonna gel together and be good at the end. We still have some time,” shooting guard Grant Gaon said.