Dec 12 pdf by Highlights

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December 12, 2014 Volume 88, Issue 7 Beverly Hills High School Beverly Hills, Calif. beverlyhighlights.com

Put on a happy face Juliette Deutsch co-editor-in-chief Results of the most recent California Healthy Kids Survey sent out to last year’s freshmen and juniors compiled statistics regarding thoughts of suicide, drug use, bullying and alcohol consumption amongst current sophomores and seniors. Each student’s participation was voluntary, anonymous and confidential. Intervention counselor Ali Norman Franks stated in a panel with Highlights that the most shocking statistics were those found in the freshman category. Twenty percent of last year’s freshmen had answered “seriously considered suicide” and only 23 percent of juniors said that they felt “high academic motivation.” According to a study done by

Violence Prevention Center psychologists in 2013, 17.5 percent of all high school students on average have considered suicide and 10 percent have attempted suicide. In addition, 29 percent of Beverly freshman and 38 percent of juniors had considered “chronic sadness and hopelessness.” In a study by The National Institute for Mental Health (NIMH), suicide is the third leading cause of death among adolescents and teenagers. For every teen suicide death, experts estimate there are 10 other teen suicide attempts. According to the Centers for Disease Control, suicide is the third leading cause of death for youth between 10 and 24. Continued on page 6

OPINION

SPORTS

Photo by: SADIE HERSH

INSIDE

NEWS

this issue

DECA hosts networking night Page

@bhhighlights

/beverlyhighlights

Police brutality in Ferguson

Page 5

Marty’s McFives

Page 12

www.beverlyhighlights.com

A Thousand Words: Two Letters

HIGHLIGHTS NEWS DECEMBER 12, 2014

Highlights Juliette Deutsch and Jackson Prince editors-in-chief

Guy Ginsberg sports editor

Marty Schnapp news editor

Sadie Hersh photo editor

Ben Shofet

graphics editor

Karen Shilyan

business manager

Veronica Pahomova cartoonist

Eleanor Bogart -Stuart, Amanda Christovich, Sadie Hersh, Ben Shofet, Lolita Gorbacheva, Lucas Harward, Upasana Mannur, and Celine Rezvani, staff writers Gaby Herbst

adviser — The mission of Highlights is to deliver community-relevant news in a timely manner while adhering to professional ethics.

“Number 24 on the Student Responsibility Contract, which every student signed, states that students must refrain from entering parking lot from 8:15 through the end of lunchtime. We’re just enforcing it. Students are taking things from cars that they shouldn’t have or spending time in cars. It’s a safety concern. We’re trying to be proactive. And we know people are unhappy about it,” Assistant Principal Michelle Halimi-Dar said. Shortly after pink notices were placed on students’ car windshields, making them aware of the policy, several students made their disposition clear. Along with a public littering of the Lot B, this message was left behind. Photo by: JACKSON PRINCE

DECA hosts networking night

Celine Rezvani staff writer

DECA’s Networking Night is an opportunity for students in the Beverly Hills community that stems from DECA’s partnership with the Beverly Hills Chamber of Commerce and its Young Professionals Network. The mixer will bring local business professionals to the school cafeteria for an evening of socializing with Beverly students. DECA plans to host professionals from many fields, including, but not limited to: hospitality, real estate, finance, fashion, marketing, entertainment and law. DECA president senior Olivia Koshy anticipates that the event will allow students to make connections and create new opportunities. “We hope the night gives student attendees the chance to speak oneon-one with some of the most successful professionals in the area,” Koshy said. “Hopefully, they will gain more opportunities for internships and mentors in career fields of their choice.” DECA members have already started promoting the event, most recently at the Young Professional Network Mixer at Ocean Prime restaurant on Dec. 2. “Students had a chance to mix and mingle while promoting the student-run organization and the upcoming networking event,” Koshy said. The idea for a networking night arose when Koshy interned at the Chamber of Commerce over the summer and attended a variety of networking events. “I quickly realized the power these events had and wanted to bring this opportunity to more students,” Koshy said.

Koshy finds it essential for students to make connections with the closely-knit business community, as these connections may prove beneficial later on in students’ careers. “Making valuable connections now is an important tool that many students overlook, since it’s not brought to attention very often,” Koshy said. “The connections you’re making right now may be the reason you’ll have a job later on in life.” Networking Night will take place in the cafeteria on Jan. 21 from 5:00 to 6:30 p.m. Both members and non-members will have an opportunity to attend the event during student registration in January, but Koshy and DECA advisors Charlie Stansbury and Jarvis Turner recommend that interested students contact them as soon as possible in room 273.

DECA officers outisde of the Young Professionals Network mixer for young business professionals, where DECA promoted Networking Night on Jan. 21. Photo coutesy of: YOUNG PROFESSIONALS NETWORK

Highlights is a forum for student free 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 Twitter and Instagram. Highlights is sponsored by PTSA and BHEF.

HIGHLIGHTS NEWS DECEMEBER 12, 2014

Monumental social media movements of 2014 Juliette Deutsch co-editor-in-chief

For years social media platforms such as Twitter, Facebook and Instagram have played a significant role in spreading the messages of inspirational and political movements to people globally, starting with #OccupyWallStreet in 2011. In 2014, social media continued to raise awareness and spark debate over controversial issues. Inspired by Buzzfeed’s latest article “Top Five Social Media Movements of 2014”, Highlights decided to ask Beverly students their opinions about how social media platforms have made them aware of social and political issues. “I think that apathy to political and social issues among our

student body is very prevalent. Using these hashtags to spread awareness allowed a lot of students to find out what is happening and understand the injustices without having to leave the comfort of their twitter feeds. Social media, used effectively creates, awareness,” junior Sydney Tran said. While many of these movements grew on their own, some were ignited even further by high-profile supporters. Celebrities, CEOs, athletes and activists joined in with their own posts and hashtags, inspiring fans and followers to join

the cause.

#BringBackOurGirls Close to 300 Nigerian schoolgirls were kidnapped by the Boko Haram terrorist group in April. The hashtag #BringBackOurGirls was created by a 35-year-old Nigerian attorney in Abuja. Overnight, the hashtag took over Twitter and Instagram full force.The hashtag was mentioned more than two million times on Twitter in the following weeks, including in tweets by Michelle Obama, Amy Poehler and Hillary Clinton. While 57 of the girls have escaped, 219 are stillheld in captivity and have not been rescued in the seven months since the hashtag spread world-wide. #YesAllWomen and #NoMore Before allegedly killing six people in May, 22-year-old Elliot Rodger posted a rant on YouTube in which he said he would “slaughter every spoiled, stuck-up blonde” in a sorority house because they had rejected him. Within hours, the video had made its way into the newsfeeds of millions of Facebook and Twitter accounts. As a result of Rodger’s disturbing video, the

Formal is coming Lucas Harward staff writer

Winter Formal is right around the corner, accompanied by a postfinals’ sigh of relief. Formal will be held at the Playhouse Nightclub in Hollywood on Dec. 18 from 7:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. ASB members, including ASB secretary Mazal Sarafian, are especially excited about the potential for this year’s venue. “A lot of the feedback we got after the last winter formal was that Club Confidential didn’t really feel like a formal venue. This year, the venue has much more space and has a more club-like feel to it, which is what we’re going for,” Sarafian said. ASB advisor Mark Mead pointed out the effort that went into finding a venue that is unprecedented in terms of size and quality. “[The kids] spent a lot of time looking at a lot of different places

and the place that they chose I believe has the kind of feel that they want, which is a club-type atmosphere with a lot of cool lights and a lot of seating,” Mead said. Unlike last year, food will not be catered by the venue, but by an outside vendor instead. “I am excited to be having different style food than last year. This year, we are having Lemonade cater sandwiches, mac and cheese, lemonade and more,” ASB treasurer Justin Friedman said. “I think this improved food selection will make formal even more enjoyable for everyone.” ASB responded to what the student body wanted for formal. “It’s what the students want, so we’re excited about that,” Mead said. Tickets cost $35 for ASB cardholders and $55 for those without ASB.

hashtag #YesAllWomen began trending on Twitter, as women across the world shared their experiences of sexual harassment, sexual assault and abuse. The #YesAllWomen movement was ignited even further when actress and activists Mariska Hargitay, Kelli Giddish and Sophia Bush created the #NoMore campaign to raise money and awareness for victims of rape, domestic violence and sexual assault. #IceBucketChallenge This summer, thousands of people dumped ice water on themselves, posted a video of it on social media and challenged their friends to do the same (or donate money to an ALS charity). The Ice Bucket Challenge had arguably the biggest monetary impact of any social media movement in 2014. By mid-August, the ALS Association had raised $15.6 million dollars from the social media campaign. Memorably, Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg participated and nominated Bill Gates in his video. #HeForShe

British actress Emma Watson gave a speech about women’s

rights at the United Nations Headquarters in early October. Watson flawlessly clarified the definition of feminism and encouraged men to stand up against gender inequality and be ‘feminists’. “Men, I would like to take the opportunity to extend your formal invitation,” Watson said. “Gender equality is your issue, too.” Since Watson’s address at the UN, her speech has been viewed more than six million times on YouTube and has brought action for change against gender inequality globally. #Ferguson When a white Missouri police officer, Darren Wilson, killed an unarmed black teenager in the St. Louis suburb of Ferguson, it instantaneously became one of the biggest social media stories of the year. The Aug. 9 shooting of Michael Brown sparked months of controversy across the U.S., fueling a debate about the issue of police brutality and racial profiling. Protesters used Twitter, Facebook and Instagram to spread the word about planned protest locations. Protests continued in Los Angeles, Boston and New York after the grand jury decided not to indict Wilson. came upon the verdict not

to indict Wilson.

#BlackLivesMatter During the summer, Staten Island NYPD officers Daniel Pantaleo and Justin Damico claimed that Eric Garner was selling cigarettes on a street corner outside the Bay Street subway station in Staten Island, New York. Officer Daniel Pantaleo put his arms around the much taller Garner’s neck, applying an apparent chokehold shown in a video recording. While lying facedown on the sidewalk surrounded by four officers, Garner is heard repeating “I can’t breathe.” The grand jury reached a verdict deciding not to indict Officers Damico and Pantaleo and has since caused an uprising of protests. Hundreds of New Yorkers laid across the main terminal of Grand Central Station with posters of the hashtag #BlackLivesMatter. The movement has since taken over social media and has sparked more awareness and discussion of the issues of race and police brutality. During one of the firsts protest for Eric Garner in Times Square, protesters splattered fake blood onto NYPD police commissioner William Bratton as he was in attendance at the protest.

HIGHLIGHTS CULTURE DECEMBER 12, 2014

Student crowned Miss California Junior Teen 2014 Celine Rezvani staff writer Since the age of 10, junior Ora Kohan has actively participated in the National American Miss, a pageant for teen girls that takes place across the country. During the summer, Kohan was named Miss California Junior Teen and ranked Top Five in the national competition. Contestants in the competition

are judged in three categories: interview, personal introduction and formal walk. According to Kohan, physical beauty is not a factor by which competitors are judged. Kohan expresses that unlike other pageants, the one in which she participates helps girls gain confidence and grace. “In interview, the judges ask you random questions that you don’t know, so you have to really think

Photo courtesy of: ORA KOHAN

on your feet,” she said. “And to be a good public speaker, you have to be really good with people so that you can communicate with the judges. They are looking for someone who has confidence and poise while they speak.” To prepare for competitions, Kohan had her mother conduct several mock interviews. For the formal walk, Kohan practiced walking in high heels. In this area of competition, contestants are judged on their ability to walk across the stage in a formal gown. “I would get a bunch of sample questions from online and have her [Kohan’s mother] sit down with me and practice,” Kohan said. “And I practiced in my heels as much as I could because I really didn’t want to fall on my face on stage.” Kohan’s favorite aspect of the competition was the personal introduction portion. “I always had personal introduction in the bag because I’ve never had a problem with public speaking,” she said. “It’s just all about memorization.” Winning the competition this year has been extremely meaningful to Kohan, especially when she looks back at all of the times she was unhappy with her score. “I kept trying year after year after year, and placing top 15 really sucked. I made so many friends there, and seeing them all place higher than me was really discouraging,” she said. “But for me

Kohan is crowned as Miss California Junior Teen 2014. Photo courtesy of: ORA KOHAN to keep going back and trying my hardest is what means a lot to me.” When Kohan felt the weight of the competition might be too much, her friends and family continuously supported her. “There were times when I thought, ‘Oh, this isn’t for me,’ and my friends and family were always there to remind me how far I’ve come,” Kohan said. “Without them I really don’t think I could’ve won my state title.” There are many misconceptions about pageants that Kohan thinks affect people’s perception of her passion. “The first misconception is that it’s all about beauty and all the

girls are stupid, which absolutely is not true,” Kohan said. “You can not be just beautiful and go to a beauty pageant and win. It’s really all about poise, confidence and how well you’re educated on the world around you.” Overall, Kohan feels the competition has sparked a positive growth in her character. “I feel like I have gained so much confidence from this system and I’ve learned not to give up,” she said. “Getting first place, that feeling of being successful and working hard to achieve my goals, was one of the best feelings of my life.”

Holiday covers top charts, modernize whole genre Jackson Prince co-editor-in-chief This holiday season, a plethora of fine music has been released for the public’s pleasure. Old artists and new have added to the playlist, making for a delightful-sounding December. While original songs are lacking in the category, wonderful cover songs have been released, modernizing the holiday spirit. Here are some of the season’s best songs. “Mary, Did You Know?” by Pentatonix Three years ago, this group took the stage of Sing-Off, blowing away judges and bringing prominence back to the fading a capella genre. Featured on their gold record “That’s Christmas To Me”,

this more-recent Christmas tune was twisted and turned by Pentatonix, as they tranformed into an ominous, intricate piece, carried by Kevin Olusola’s hard-hitting beatboxing and Avi Kaplan’s deep bass. The song isn’t from your grandmother’s iPod, as the group is clearly targeting the youth with eerie harmonies and dramatic use of silence. May I add, they did one hell of a job, as they made Christmas music really cool. And even a bit sexy.

classic adults-on-couch setup. I feel wrong just watching it. And they changed the lyrics! Ugh. Anyways, we all know that Menzel and Buble are gifted artists, and they do manage to save the integrity of the song with their well-chosen theatrics and flawless approach to each word. But, with all due respect, some holiday items have to keep to tradition, including “Baby It’s Cold Outside.” No more actual babies, please. Stick to the script, don’t fix what isn’t broken.

“Baby It’s Cold Outside” by Idina Menzel and Michael Buble I’m on the fence about this one. The music video is awkward: it features inappropriately-dressed children in a hotel instead of the

“Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas” by Sam Smith

They changed “drink” to “soda pop”. What has the world come to?

in Hollywood and wooed America with his live rendition of this holiday classic (originally introduced by Judy Garland), just before “In The Lonely Hour” was nominated for Best Album of the Year by the Grammy committee. It is the perfect Christmas song for the soul man, as Smith caresses each word, combining the beauty of the simple lyrics with his unearthly voice. If anyone can top Beyoncé this year, it’s Sam Smith. And “Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas” is proof of his incredible immeasurable talent. Keep eyes on him, or you’ll miss a revolution in our generation’s music.

“Let it Snow! Let it Snow! Let it Snow!” by Seth MacFarlane I love this guy. Seriously, what can’t he do? Besides being the brilliant mastermind behind “Family Guy” and “American Dad”, as well as the executive producer of the revival of Cosmos: A Spacetime Odyssey, MacFarlane sings. And the song is an absolute hit. It’s charming and cute, yet refined and bold, as the youthful nature of the instrumentation complements MacFarlane’s matured voice. It’s nice to know that swing isn’t dead; it is, in fact, in good hands.

Sam Smith doesn’t have the voice of an angel. He is an angel. The heartbroken singer stood on top of the Capitol Records building

No intruments? No problem for Pentatonix. Photo credits to: JIRO SCHNEIDER

HIGHLIGHTS OPINION DECEMBER 12, 2014

Alleged rapist Cosby given too much slack by society Eleanor Bogart-Stuart staff writer Back in the 1980s, comedian Bill Cosby was a living legend. His starring role as Cliff Huxtable on the series “The Cosby Show” turned him into an icon for the AfricanAmerican community, who had once held little to no representation in television. Three decades later, Cosby has returned to the public’s eye for another reason. You can still find him on television, but this time the only show he’ll be starring in for NBC is the nightly news. No longer a sweater wearing, pudding pop eating doctor, Cosby is now broadcast into America’s homes as an alleged sex offender. It started in 2002, when Andrea Constand, a director of operations for a college women’s basketball team, accused Cosby of sexual harassment. Next, in 2005, a California lawyer named Tamara Green, claimed he had been “… groping me and kissing me and touching me and handling me and … taking off my clothes” without her consent. Over the years, more and more women have come forward

with allegations of Cosby sexuallyl harassing them. So far, 20 women have declared being sexually harassed by the comedian. “There’s no such thing as Cliff Huxtable,” model and victim of Cosby’s actions Jewel Allison said to the New York Daily News. “There’s just a man named Bill Cosby. He’s a very sick sociopath.” No true consensus has been made about whether these allegations are true. However, it’s easy to assume that they are. According to the United States Justice Department, only 2 percent of rape accusations are false. If that logic was applied to Cosby’s situation, that would still leave 15 women raped and abused. Thankfully, some people are reacting to Cosby’s depravity. NBC

stopped development on Cosby’s upcoming comedy project, as well

Yeah, but you raped women, Bill Cosby. So, brings you down a couple notches.” What truly does not make any sense is the fact that people, smart people, still support Cosby in his enterprises. This is not showing support to an old comedian. They are condoning the actions of someone who has clearly harassed and violated a multitude of women. Cartoon by: BENNETT GERSHWIN Advocating for as pulling resomeone who runs of his show from the air. has committed these crimes is just “Bill Cosby has the smuggest old a display of ignorance and naivety. black man public persona that I Actress Whoopi Goldberg and hate,” comedian Hannibal Buress singer Jill Scott both came out in said in a standup segment that re- support and defense of the accused cently went viral. “Pull your pants Cosby. up, black people. I was on TV in It seems that we are giving him the ’80s. I can talk down to you special treatment because he is a because I had a successful sitcom. celebrity, which is one of the most

common and recurring flaws in current day culture. When Chris Brown abuses his girlfriend he can return next year with another lackluster pop song that will reach number one on the charts. Mark Wahlberg severely injured two Vietnamese men with a wooden stick, leaving one blind in one eye. Yet, next year, he has three movies coming out. Despite their volatile actions, these people remain as stars and as revered figures in society because many choose not to see the sides of people that are disturbing. It’s obvious that some cling to a fading vision of the once great Cosby, who used to represent the black population in the media when there were barely any doing so. And it’s true--despite his actions, his influence and importance are irrefutable. It’s time to fully acknowledge what he’s done and let him suffer the consequences. Our society can no longer view him as the character he played on a television show. Bill Cosby is a real person who must face real facts. Facts that we must face, too.

Students lose sense of self-worth due to high stress Karen Shilyan staff writer In the Healthy Kids Survey sent out by the State of California, one in five freshmen said that they had contemplated suicide. The rise in mental health concerns can be attributed to this high-pressure community raising more importance and purpose in succeeding in school. While many students may find that school provides them with a sense of determination, others, who do not meet expectations or the demands, may feel that they are “missing something”; this acts as a detriment to their self-worth as students, as well as human beings. Students with more moderate goals and achievements end up feeling discouraged, isolated or hopeless in the midst of a culture that teaches them that succeeding in high school, grade-wise, is the only purpose to have. This troubling trend is a result of adults, who with the best of intentions, have undermined the normal pro-

cess of exploration, engagement and risk taking. Overprotective parents, teach-to-the-test schools, and a commercialized college admissions process have led to a youth that feels pressured to adopt unfulfilling and often narrowly defined goals without any regard to their own well-being. “I get up at six and get home at six. This causes me so much stress,” sophomore Samantha Kurtz said. Experts such as William Damon, professor at Stanford School of Education and psychologist, have studied teenagers and how their path of finding purpose is directly correlated to mental health. “The search for meaning and purpose is key to achieving the fortuitous ends envisioned by the positive psychology movement, such as authentic happiness, flow, and creativity,” Damon said in his book, The Path to Purpose. However, there is a way to remedy this trend and provide students with a different kind of purpose. Students can find purpose by chal-

lenging themselves with something they deem valuable. It’s time for society to reevaluate what we identify as a measure of success. A student’s GPA can no longer serve as the standard for a teenager’s self-worth. Senior Harlan Tat found his true

“GPA can no longer serve as the standard for a teenager’s self-worth.” purpose with marching band and playing snare drums. “Most of my effort goes towards the performing arts department because of the career path I want to choose,” Tat said. Schools sort students by age, subject areas, grades and learning abilities. Schools cannot inspire purpose because the main objec-

tive of several courses has become a memorizing game that students have little interest in applying beyond the walls of their classrooms. Furthermore, these set schedules designed in order to to cover the entire curriculum have displaced any desire to explore more complex topics. By doing so, education gives students only one purpose and passion. Their drive is to survive, not to succeed. In turn, students don’t feel that instant gratification that so many teenagers crave. Students feel no desire to come to school and do their best when they don’t feel triumphant doing so. Education can provide several students with a sense of purpose. However, many rigorous courses often place a higher demand on homework, or what others call “busy work.” By doing so, students feel inclined to lower the quality of their homework in order to get it done. By reducing the quality of their work to the minimum, students often complain about the inferior feeling of doing menial

work. There is a negative stress brought on by students who don’t find the meaning, or rather the gratification of doing their work. The mental health of teenagers across the nation deteriorates as they cannot find purpose in their day to day affairs. “To me, I feel like I’m going absolutely nowhere in life. The coursework I take at school doesn’t inspire me at all. Drumming is my actual passion, and the only class slighly related to that is band, ” Tat said. While students may not find their passions in school, it is important that they search elsewhere for purpose, whether it is in the form of community service, music or a sport. It’s important to push the students in regards to their own interests, rather than the whirring voices of the adults around them. By defining their own purpose, they experience a growth in their own positivity and creativity, which will then, hopefully, lead towards a shift in the mental health in teenagers.

HIGHLIGHTS SPOTLIGHT DECEMBER 12, 2014

MENTAL HEALTH AWARENESS Healthy Kids Survey shows concern Continued from page 1 It results in approximately 4600 lives lost each year. The top three methods used in suicides of young people include firearms (45 percent), suffocation (40 percent), and poisoning 8 percent. In 2012, the highest suicide rate, 19.88 percent was among people 45 to 59 years old. The second highest rate, 17 percent, occurred in those 75 years and older. Younger groups have had consistently lower suicide rates than middle-aged and older adults. In 2012, adolescents and young adults aged 15 to 24 had a suicide rate of 10.9 percent. For many years, the suicide rate has been about 4 times higher among men than among women. In 2012, men had a suicide rate of 20.3, and women had

a rate of 5.4. Of those who died by suicide in 2012, 78.3 percent were male and 21.7 percent were female. In 2012, Six U.S. states, all in the West, had age-adjusted suicide rates over 18%: Wyoming 29.8 percent, Alaska 23.0 percent, Montana 22.5 percent, New Mexico 21.3 percent, Utah 21.0 percent, Colorado 19.5 percent Idaho 19.1 percent, and Nevada 18.2 percent. The National Institute of Mental Health believes that as many as 25 suicides are attempted for each one that is completed. In a recent panel with Highlights, Franks and her team of peer counselors explained the signs of students who are planning to commit suicide and how they handle each case.

“Students who do not feel comfortable walking into Norman Aid can always come and sit with us in a private room. Every student’s situation is kept confidential until they start becoming a threat to themselves,” Franks said. However, Franks and peer counselors explain that suicide isn’t the only concern when it comes to students well being and mental health. According to the Healthy Kids Survey, 36 percent of current sophomores and 33 percent of current seniors said that they had experienced harassment or bullying. Franks clarified the misconceptions that students have in regards to bullying. “Bully-related suicide” can be connected to any type of bullying, including physical bullying, emotional bullying and cyberbullying.

“I think bullying in the mental health world is a really hot topic. The misconception can be that people label everything as bullying. Bullying is repetitive and ongoing,” Franks said. Franks extends the invitation to all students to come into NormanAid if they seek any type of counseling. “NormanAid is a place of non judgement and we are open to helping students with all types of problems,” Franks said. The NormanAid Center also offers a program called Normanonymous where students can submit their concerns through an anonymous link on the high school website. Students can also speak with peer counselors if they feel that they need further support.

Scenario One: The “Hold-It-In” Student

The implications of the Mental Health Survey Guy Ginsberg sports editor

Scenario Two: The “Tell-The-World” Student

Scenario Three: The Resourceful Student

Cartoon by: VERONICA PAHOMOVA

Every year, WestEd, a research, development and service agency conducts a mental health survey of 7th graders, 9th graders and 11th graders. The survey asks questions about school engagement, school safety, substance abuse, student’s mental health and physical health. The survey, taken last year, yielded some alarming results. For starters, only 23 percent of juniors said that they felt “high academic motivation” during school. Forty-eight percent of seventh graders had said they had “experience[d] any harassment or bullying” and 20 percent of freshmen had answered that they had “seriously considered suicide” within 12 months prior to taking the survey. The first question to ask after reading these results is, why? Why in the world are these numbers so shockingly terrible? Why aren’t kids showing academic motivation in school? Why are seventh graders being harassed so much? And most importantly, why is one in every five freshman seriously considering ending their life? Lets start from the top. In our school environment, academic motivation stems completely from the students themselves, and whether or not they are genuinely interested in their studies, or feel an urge to learn. Academic motivation comes from whether a student has a good relationship with a teacher, whether they show considerable interest in the subject or whether they have goals and aspirations which require them to both do well and care in school. So, let’s look at the numbers. Twenty-

three percent of juniors felt high academic motivation, 43 percent of juniors felt medium academic motivation and 35 percent of juniors felt low academic motivation. This 35 percent is upperclassmen, people who, after over a decade of sitting in classes, still haven’t gotten around to caring about where they are. These kids is 35 percent that just show up, sit through, and leave school aimlessly. These are also the kids that will probably (hopefully not), be doing the same thing throughout the rest of their lives. Now, this could be blamed on the school for not catering to the students’ needs as much, and not focusing enough on what motivates them to participate. This could also be based off parents not showing students the importance of active participation and motivation in class. It could be due to students simply not liking their teachers that one year, or hating the classes they chose, or the school environment around them. However, sometimes things don’t go a student’s way, and she/he just has to persevere and show enough academic integrity to stick it out. Now along with many students not showing much academic motivation, a shockingly large amount of seventh graders are being harassed. Forte-eight percent, to be exact. That’s almost half the seventh grade population, HALF.

However, it’s not the statistic that’s shocking, but what it means. This means that there are almost as many bullies in middle school as there are bullied. This means that a large portion of 11, 12 and 13 year olds are actually harassing each other. This shows that there are definitely some problems in the middle school culture. Of course a few incidents of bullying are expected at any age, but the fact that it’s happening on such a large scale is ridiculous. With kids this young and impressionable, it’s imperative that parents, teachers and faculty show them at an early age what is right and what is wrong. This one falls mostly on the parents, who should have been planting it in their children’s heads from a young age that certain things are unacceptable. And now to the most disturbing and meaningful of all the statistics: one in five. One in five of last year’s fresh-

Why in the world are these numbers so shockingly terrible?

men had considered suicide. ONE IN FIVE. Suicide is no joke. Kids can show up to school unmotivated or push each other around, but once someone is seriously considering ending his/her own life, it’s too far. It is not just one or two cases either, not just a certain kid who was having a bad year. This is 20 percent of the class of 2017. These are our friends, sons, daughters and students. This one falls on our community as a whole. This statistic represents so much about our city, our schools and our relationships with one another. This statistic is what should empower our teachers and parents to get invested in their students’ and children’s lives. This statistic is what should convince friends to help each other, and savor every moment they have with each other. This statistic is what should prove that Beverly Hills isn’t a bubble, or a fairytale safe from all worry. This statistic is what should show us that we need to care. This statistic is what should make us do better.

HIGHLIGHTS OPINION DECEMBER 12 , 2014

One size fits most is not the case for everyone Sadie Hersh, photo editor It is a comforting cliche when someone tells you “people come in all different shapes and sizes.” If that is true, why does the fashion world create an image of what people “should” look like? High school is made up of many students wit different styles, personalities and body types. These different body types should be embraced by society instead of being rejected for not fitting a certain mold. A popular store, Brandy Melville, exhibits the message that women need to fit a certain mold. There are no sizes for their clothing, instead the label reads “one size fits most.” What about the people who are not in that pool of “most”? “Most” generally applies to tall, skinny girls, but not everyone is built that way. Long dresses cannot properly fit a shorter girl, and a tight skirt cannot fit larger girls. Brandy Melville is sending the wrong message to teenage girls who are in a phase of their life where they are vulnerable and feel a need to fit the image that the store illustrates. So why is their clothing seen all over our school? Students want to fit in with the latest trends that are circulating the hallways and

social media. On the store’s Instagram account, there are over 3,000 photos of tall, skinny and leggy models that show the most fashionable way to wear the apparel. With over 2.2 million followers, Brandy Melville’s viewership of their product is networked all around the world to millions of teenagers. Even if

someone favors the article of clothing that appears on their iPhone screen, there is a chance that it won’t look the same on them as it does on the model. Tall and skinny is not the norm, so for Brandy Melville to pretend this is the case is just absurd. They limit their market to a minority of people when they categorize their clothing with one size fits “most”. In the beginning of November, Victoria’s Secret released a campaign called “The Per-

fect Body” with 10 tall, skinny models in nothing but their bra and underwear. As already established, perfection does not mean tall and skinny. Aspects of beauty vary according to different people, so why do people label one of these aspects of beauty as “perfect?” This slogan received a lot of backlash from offended customers. These angered customers then took to twitter and used #IAmPerfect to show that there are many different versions of “perfect”. A petition encouraging Victoria’s Secret to rename the campaign garnered over 25,000 signatures. The company then decided to change the campaign to “A Body for Every Body.” Before Victoria’s Secret revised the slogan, an underwear company, Dear Kate, responded by posting a picture of 10 women of all shapes and sizes with the words “The Perfect Body” on its website. Attached to this photo was a response to Victoria’s Secret stating, “We show the multitude of shapes perfect bodies can take.” Dear Kate took a stance to speak up on behalf of a the majority of women in the country who may not have “the perfect body” according to the media. In doing so, they hope to break the current stereotype of what’s considered beautiful by the media. Society’s idea of perfection is discouraging to those who don’t fit that particular frame. High school students are at an influential

time in their lives and such a narrow-minded slogan can ruin their self esteem. These students, and all women, should welcome what makes them different and not feel like they need to fit an idea of what we are told is “perfect.” Most billboards featuring models have been Photoshopped in one way or another, which only proves that this “perfection” doesn’t really exist and is completely manufactured and manipulated. While it is not as commonly talked about, boys are also affected by body image issues. Male models are usually portrayed as tall, lean and muscular, which sends the same message to men that it does to women. Companies such as Abercrombie & Fitch, Calvin Klein, Dolce & Gabbana, Versace and other depict men with chiseled abs and toned muscles on slender frames not only to sell their products, but to show what the “perfect” man looks like. When walking past Abercrombie & Fitch, you can even see shirtless male models in the store’s entrance to attract attention. Men also fall victim to the idea of how they should look according to the media. Given that male anorexia has steadily been on the rise over the years, it now makes up over 20 percent of eating disorder cases. Where do we strike a balance between what it takes to market brands and products and what reality is? It has been said that “sex sells,” but we have crossed the line by almost shaming the public and consumers into making them feel bad about themselves if they don’t fit into a cookie cutter idea of “perfection.”

Let’s all say it together: Black lives are important Veronica Pahomova, cartoonist Inequality seems to be something this nation can’t shake off. This long and desperate struggle that’s been going on for hundreds of years has always been lurking in the shadows since the dawn of time, and there have been many acts of racisms coming up here and there. However, within the year of 2014, the road for African-Americans to be seen and valued as human beings worthy of dignity and life has spiraled out of control. Ferguson was the straw broke the camel’s back, but the camel won’t go down without a fight. The Ferguson incident could be said to have opened the eyes of many Americans to the fact that racism, though not as bad as it has been throughout the past years before 2014, still exists. In Ferguson, Missouri, unarmed, 19-yearold Michael Brown was fatally shot by officer Darren Wilson, claiming that it was in self-defense and that Brown had reached for his weapon. However, many citizens of Missouri and across the nation thought otherwise, sparking controversy across the nation. With a decision of whether to indict Wilson

Cartoon by: VERONICA PAHOMOVA

with any of the five charges placed against him, including murder in the first degree and involuntary manslaughter, the 12 jurors eventually reached a verdict that stirred the nation. According to prosecuting attorney Robert P. McCulloch, the grand jury “determined that no probable cause exists to file any charge against Officer Wilson.” The aftermath of the court ruling can be summed up with the unsettling fact that many were outraged, as they should be. Nearly two dozen buildings in Ferguson went up in flames as storefront windows were smashed. The protesting riots were so chaotic that Missouri Governor Jay Nixon declared a state of emergency as well as imposed a curfew. Though a violent approach may not be the preferred answer, it is true that a few eggs must be broken to make an omelette. The citizens of Ferguson should not be criticised for their sudden outburst of protests. Their rights as human beings are being tampered with and that is not something anyone should be asked to sit down and tolerate. “Wilson told the grand jury that Brown had prevented him leaving the car by leaning against the door and then began hitting him inside the car. Wilson said he couldn’t reach his baton, that his pepper spray would have blinded him as well, and that he wasn’t carrying a Taser. Wilson drew his firearm but said that Brown managed to grab it,” Washington Post journalist Max Ehrenfreund wrote in

an article. Yes this might sound like a perfectly reasonable explanation, but there are definitely some things that pose a problem with Wilson’s story. For instance, if an officer is inside a police vehicle and doesn’t pose to be a threat, the last thing anyone would do is want to mess with him for no reason. Also, Wilson wasn’t sure if Brown was the thief or not when he first saw him, so Brown had no reason to start anything. Also, officers are trained to shoot if their lives are in danger. Brown was an unarmed man. And even if he did attempt to snatch the officer’s gun, a shot to the leg would’ve done the trick and saved a life. Maybe then Brown’s family wouldn’t have had to see his body vandalized by six bullets. Another occurrence of racism also happened this year on July 17, in Staten Island, New York. Eric Garner, a 43-year-old African American male who was a father of six children, was selling loose cigarettes on a corner, an illegal activity in the state of New York. Garner was then surrounded by four police officers and strangled to death in a chokehold by NYPD police officer Daniel Pantaleo while he he repeatedly wheezed the three words that have shook New York City, “I can’t breathe.” Though the very tactic he used was banned by the NYPD on Dec. 3, the grand jury decided to side with Pantaleo and not indict him on any charges. Understandably, citizens in New York City, California, Baltimore, Chicago, Atlanta and Washington, D.C. all arranged protests filled with hundreds of participants playing dead with signs surrounding their bodies, mimicking the visual of Garner’s body taken for security camera footage.

“It appears that the only threatening object Garner possessed was the color of his skin.”

The commanding officer of the NYPD took immediate action against the officers’ poor decision, placing them on desk duty, and stripping Pantaleo of his service gun and badge. It appears that the only threatening object Garner possessed was the color of his skin. Since the Garner verdict, all NYPD police officers within all five boroughs are required to wear body cameras in order to document the happenings of these scenarios. And yet, here’s another thing to add to the controversy of white supremacy. Social media website Tumblr brought attention to the painfully honest fact that the Ebola virus didn’t dominate the news until a white person in the U.S. was diagnosed with it. Us Americans had knowledge about this fatal virus for years and were well aware of the number of African deaths that resulted. At least 6,388 Africans have died from the outbreak, but before this year, the disease was only known to those who were interested in it. However, as soon as word spreads that it has killed a white victim in America, the tragedy dominated the media for weeks. And how could anyone forget the poor 12-year-old Tamir Rice? He was an African American boy living in Cleveland, Ohio who was claimed to have been holding a gun, but it turns out it was only a toy. In a matter of seconds, Rice was mercilessly shot and added to the list of unarmed black victims that fell under the cold hands of police brutality. All of these incidents are not anomalies, even though they appear to be a shock to those who have chosen to forget how powerful segregation is. Anomalies or not, nothing good came from these acts, and nothing good will ever come from any that will similarly occur in the future. Racism is everywhere, and even if one is not directly affected by it, it cannot be denied that it still exists and haunts the lives of millions across the United States and all around the world. To read the full article, visit www. beverlyhighlights.com

HIGHLIGHTS DECEMBER 12, 2014

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From football to soccer: soccer culture in America

HIGHLIGHTS SPORTS DECEMBER 12, 2014

MLS: developing soccer superpower Guy Ginsberg sports editor Football. Fútbol. Fußball. Soccer? The first three names are the most commonly known for “the beautiful game”, originating from England, Spain and Germany, respectively. Of course, these nations, along with most of Europe, Africa and South America, have been playing the game for centuries. Not only is it played, but the game of football has transformed itself from a game into a lifestyle. With the establishment of the World Cup in 1930, the game has become something of national pride, with nations from around the globe coming together in respect for the beautiful game. The last of these names, soccer, is predominantly used in America, and is one with much less historical value and importance, but that’s changing quickly. Soccer has been around in the States for quite a while, dating back as early as 1850, with a strong emergence in the 1970s, when the New York Cosmos of the North American Soccer League signed

Brazilian legend Pele in 1975. of the World Cup, that Americans since 1998, adding Chivas USA While Pele only stuck around for began to realize the sense of pride and Real Salt Lake, then again two three years, American soccer has and appreciation for the sport that years after that, expanding past remained long US borders after he. into CanWith socada, with cer growing Toronto ever so slightly FC. throughout the While the late 20th cenleague was tury, its catalyst expanding came with the its number founding of the of teams MLS (Major and atLeague Soccer) tendance, in 1993 and the the largUnited States est boost hosting of the for proWorld Cup in fessional 1994. While the American Cup gathered a Seattle Sounders fans, widely regarded as the most loyal in the MLS, gather men’s soclot of interna- at CenturyLink field before a game in 2009. Photo: ARTBROM/FLICKR cer came on tional attention and pride for American soccer, the league left a lasting effect. However, with just 10 teams in 1993, the MLS suffered from weak attendance early on and a general distaste for the sport by Americans. It wasn’t until 2002, when the USA men’s national team made it all the way to the Quarterfinals

other nations had felt for centuries. The 2002 World Cup marked a massive resurgence of popularity for the sport, with the emergence of American stars such as goalkeeper Tim Howard and forward Landon Donovan. Three years later, in 2005, the MLS expanded for the first time

International presence Guy Ginsberg sports editor

CONCACAF Gold Cup, the continental North American tournament, where the U.S had won in 2002, 2005 and 2007. The most recent USMNT showing came this summer, during the 2014 World Cup in Brazil. The team surprised the world by making it through their very difficult group into the knockout round, only to fall to Belgium in the first round. While the USMNT has had sporadic success throughout its history, the women’s team has been an international superpower for

years. Winning the World Cup twice, and the Olympic Games four times, the USWNT has earned themselves a rank of first in the world by FIFA’s Women World Rankings. Featuring stars such as Abby Wambach, Alex Morgan and Hope Solo, the Women’s National Team looks to be a world soccer powerhouse for years to come. Since soccer was established in America, the men’s and women’s national teams have utilized their growing fanbase and international presence to help change the country’s soccer culture.

Throughout the history of U.S Soccer, the U.S Men’s National Team (USMNT) has had its bright spots. In the very first World Cup in 1930, the team showed incredible promise, placing third. Then, 20 years later, came the “Miracle on Grass”, a 1-0 win against England in the 1950 World Cup, a game widely considered the greatest upset victory in the history of international soccer. However, despite early success, the 1950s through 80’s were a miserably quiet period for the U.S Men’s National Team. This unsuccessful period showed the need for U.S soccer to establish a more stable foundation and fan base heading into the 21st century. The tide was turning as the United States was announced the host of the 1994 World Cup, where the team made it past the group stage into the knockout round for the first time since that incredible showing in the 1930 World Cup. While the team’s performance in the World Cup was slowly improving, the real success came in The U.S National Team starting eleven pose for a team photo before a match in the 2000s through the Cleveland’s FirstEnergy Stadium in 2013. Photo by: ERIK DROST/FLICKR

the back of British superstar David Beckham, who joined the LA Galaxy in 2007 under the Designated Player Rule. A household name all around the globe, Beckham gathered massive attention for the league, increasing American approval for the game, as well as attendance. The league has continued to

expand since then through teams such as Seattle Sounders FC, the Vancouver Whitecaps, the Philadelphia Union, Portland Timbers FC and, most recently, New York City FC and Orlando City Soccer Club (both to begin playing in 2015). While the MLS continues to expand, so does American appreciation and approval of the once ridiculed game. More and more, soccer is entering the lives and homes of families who once deemed it a foolish sport that was only played “over there” (Europe, everywhere else, etc.). More and more people are encouraging their kids to play soccer over American football, and would rather watch the MLS instead of the MLB. While soccer may not be the biggest sport in the U.S. (third largest today, behind basketball and baseball), it is more and more rapidly becoming an American athletic superpower. Finally, Americans are joining the rest of the world to enjoy “the beautiful game”, whether it be called football, fútbol, fußall or soccer.

FIFA is king Guy Ginsberg sports editor While the terms used to name the game of soccer differ from country to country, one thing about the game is universal: ‘FIFA’. However, I’m not talking about the largest soccer organization in the world, no, not that FIFA. I’m talking about the video game. Originally released in 1993, the game, created by EA Sports, has since become the largest and best selling sports video game in the world, selling over 100 million copies worldwide. In fact, FIFA is also the second most popular sports video game series in the US, only behind EA’s “Madden NFL” series. The game features real player likenesses, club teams, international teams and its most popular feature, a game mode called “Ultimate Team”, which allows players to develop their own soccer club. So what makes ‘FIFA’ so great? With every new release, the gameplay doesn’t really change, has many of the same features, and the graphics stay fairly similar. But it isn’t the gameplay that attracts players, it’s the fact that it

allows any two people around the world to connect with each other through the game. ‘FIFA’ opens up the game of soccer to basically anybody who wants to play, regardless of previous soccer experience. Take our school for example. Students all across campus play the game, regardless of personality, age or sport preference. They brag about their Ultimate Team players, argue about who could beat the other in a match, and come together in light of the game. “My personal experience with ‘FIFA’ would be just a nice, enjoyable way to fill my weekends. It also gives a nice sense of competitiveness. I’ve also built some great friendships off the basis of ‘FIFA’,” junior Gonzalo Sanchez said. “FIFA” also allows people, especially in the United States, to get a little taste of a sport they may not have known much about at all. Many even said that their appreciation for the video game would cause them to take up the sport themselves. Junior Niki Kretschmann said, “I like [‘FIFA’] a lot, I would start playing soccer because of it.”

“I’ve also built some great friendships off the basis of FIFA.”

ShoFive: Ben’s fantasy picks Ben Shofet graphics editor The first of many, Ben’s ShoFive will be your weekly guide on how to prosper in your ESPN fantasy basketball league. With the week coming to an end, it is critical that you get the best out of all of your players, and I will be providing you with new and insightful information on how to manage your team. Here are five players to take note of in the early stages of the Fantasy season. Exceptional Performers SF: Gordon Hayward, Utah Jazz Hayward has produced solid stats throughout the season, meeting his expectations. However, in the next two games, you can rely on Hayward to exceed those expectations. Hayward has a meeting with the Miami Heat coming up, and Luol Deng’s recent hand injury is limiting his playing time, leaving Danny Granger, someone who is as good as a defender as Michael Jordan is a gambler, to try to stop Hayward. Hayward will surely rise above his season averages to produce at least 22 points and three steals against the Heat. PG: Deron Williams, Brooklyn Nets Williams has had a quite inconsistent start to the season. In the past week, he’s scored 13.5 PPG and averaged just short of 5.0 APG, which is much fewer than his season average of 17.3 PPG and 6.2 APG. One day he’s only one assist away from a double-double, and the next he is barely able to get two

of them. Despite the frustration, Williams has two games remaining this week, and is sure to perform at a very high level given his lack of competition. Wednesday, Williams will be playing the 76ers, a team which wouldn’t know defense if it hit them in the jaw. And on Saturday, he will be up against the Charlotte Hornets, a team which has only won a third of their games. In the next two contests, Williams will exceed his season averages providing at least 19 points and eight assists.

matchup, Ross will score at least 17 points as well as grab a few boards. C: Gorgui Dieng, Minnesota Timberwolves Dieng is someone who should’ve been picked up weeks ago, yet is owned in only 34 percent of ESPN fantasy leagues. With starting center Nikola Pekovic out, Dieng has seen an increase in points and rebounds, averaging 11.3 PPG along with 8.3 RPG. Since Pekovic hasn’t even been cleared to practice yet, Dieng’s numbers will only rise from here. This Friday, Dieng will be playing OKC; although the matchup with Serge Ibaka looks intimidating, Dieng will absolutely continue to produce solid numbers. Trading Block

Prepare for a year of Bensketball. Off the Waivers SF: Terrence Ross, Toronto Raptors Toronto Raptors starter DeMar DeRozan is out, leaving an open spot on the Raptors starting five. Ross snatched the opportunity. Owned in less than half of all fantasy leagues, Ross is a great pickup for anyone who has had a key player injured. Although Ross has had a slow start adapting to his large amount of playing time, he will show his true colors in his upcoming games. Ross will go up against a terrible defender, Rodney Stuckey, of the Indiana Pacers. In this

PG: Reggie Jackson, Oklahoma City Thunder When Russell Westbrook and Kevin Durant were injured early on in the season, Jackson was a fantasy monster, averaging 18.9 PPG, 6.7 APG and 5.0 RPG. And ever since the return of both Durant and Westbrook, Jackson’s fantasy stock has dropped exponentially. This past Sunday, Jackson was able to come up with only four points and two assists. This can only mean one thing: Jackson’s stats will continue to drop. So while his season averages are fairly acceptable, Jackson should be traded immediately in all fantasy leagues for a guard who can consistently produce the same numbers Jackson has in the few weeks he was a starter, or dropped to the waiver wire.

Marty’s McFive: five fantasy football picks for the playoffs Marty Schnapp news editor

The playoffs are finally here. Can you believe it’s already Week 15? For those of us who drafted Adrian Peterson, this 14-week stretch was probably a long trail of agony. For those of us who lucked out with Le’Veon Bell, this has likely been the journey of a lifetime. I think it’s fair to say that we’ve been through a lot this year. We’ve been amazed by Antonio, we’ve been blown away by Brady, we’ve been overwhelmed by Odell and most notably, we’ve been disappointed by Toby Gerhart. For all of you who weren’t fortunate enough to make the playoff cut, I suggest you engage in your consolation game. Put something on the line for this seemingly pointless week. That way, you can avoid a somber Sunday morning

of regretting your poor draft decisions in hindsight. If you’re not down to get competitive, turn on the Bengals vs. Browns game and watch Johnny Manziel shape his future. And root for Andy Dalton on the other side of the ball, while you’re at it. He needs the positive encouragement after putting on a 2.0 percent passer rating performance last time these two teams faced off. However, for those of you still in the race, here are a few players that I advise you to start or sit for Week 15, followed by a bold prediction. You’re in for a week of tubs of ice cream and tears if you make the mistake of not starting these studs: RB: LeGarrette Blount, New England Patriots (vs. MIA) Sure, it’s been a while since New England found a consistent running back, and there’s no guarantee that Blount will show up in his full form. But hey, this is a playoff week matchup, consistency doesn’t matter anymore. What matters is explosiveness, an art that Mr. Blount has mastered.

We witnessed LeGarrette burst through defenders and into the endzone twice during his first game with the Patriots in Week 12. The Patriots will look to focus on their run game as they figure out a way to squeeze by a dangerously hot Miami Dolphins shut-down secondary. Prediction: 23 carries, 93 yards rushing, two touchdowns. WR: Kenny Stills, New Orleans Saints (@ CHI) This New Orleans speedster turned on the jets a few weeks ago, and despite a bumpy Week 14, I see him going full throttle Monday night against the Bears. Stills is the kind of guy that Drew Brees can count on to make a move downfield and haul in an 80-yard bomb. According to Yahoo, the Bears secondary is currently letting up the most points to opposing passers. Do the Bears even have a secondary? Who knows! Start Stills! Prediction: Six receptions, 102 yards receiving, one touchdown.

HIGHLIGHTS SPORTS DECEMBER 12, 2014

Girls JV soccer falls 3-0 to Palos Verdes Veronica Pahomova cartoonist The girls JV soccer team met face to face with Palos Verdes during an away game on Wednesday, Dec. 10. They played on a new field, and experienced a loss of 0-3. According to center-midfielder Maytal Sarafian, their team played well, but Palos Verdes outplayed them. “The other team was very strong,” Sarafian said, “and since they were used to their field (real grass and muddy), they had a big advantage.” Sarafian feels that the overall score of the game was also related to the fact that the Lady Normans were trying out a new formation that seemed to be a challenge at first. “I’m going to keep using [the new formation]. New formations take time for the girls to understand and execute. It takes time. Some of the girls already got it. We’re gonna keep doing it until we get it,” coach Rinaldi Djafar said. Djafar also understands that, regardless of the score, the game was an important checkpoint for his team. “[Palos Verdes] is top of the bracket right now. Besides the score I’m kind of glad we played them so we could learn from them. I hope the girls can learn from that

game. The score doesn’t mean anything,” Djafar said. If she had the opportunity, Sarafian would play differently. “I was center-midfield, meaning

“I hope the girls learned from that game. The score doesn’t mean anything.”

Are you in the mood to settle for mediocrity? These players are for you! WR: Mike Wallace, Miami Dolphins (@NE) The fantasy curse of Mike Wallace is as follows: If you start him, he will catch two receptions for under 40 yards; if you sit him, he will catch five receptions for 87 yards and a touchdown. I importune you to choose the latter. Sit Mike Wallace and watch him meet his expectations. It’s a lot more fun than starting him and watching him tear your football dreams apart. My second reason for advising you to sit Mike Wallace is Jarvis Landry. Jarvis Landry is an ex-LSU receiver, and we now know what those guys are capable of. I firmly believe that Landry is the future of the Miami Dolphins’ receiving core, which puts Wallace in the background. Mike is an excellent route runner. He will always be there to grab a couple medium passes, and the occasional touchdown. He is not, however, the playmaker that he once was. Bench him if you can. Prediction: Three receptions, 59 yards receiving. RB: Rashad Jennings, New York Giants (vs. WAS) Do you remember the last time Rashad faced off against the Redskins? He was held to 55 yards on

I am responsible for covering on defense and helping create goalscoring opportunities,” Sarafian said. “If I got to play that game again, I would play more defensively so I could help cover with the rest of our back line.” Though they did not win, Sarafian saw two stand-out players during the game. “Cady Hakim, our left midfielder, and Sydney Karmes-Wainer, our right defender, played extremely well. They hustled to every ball and pushed their hardest for the whole game,” Sarafian said.

13 carries. After the Giants gained a sizable lead, they took Jennings out for a rookie, Andre Williams. I believe that the Giants will stay true to their Week Four pass-heavy gameplan. And during Week Four when they did go for the run, Williams proved to be more effective against the Redskins’ defensive line. Jennings tends to have his best games when he is forced the ball upwards of 30 times in a game, which is not a likely scenario this week. Prediction: 19 carries, 74 yards rushing Bold Prediction: The Eagles will hold Cowboy’s running back DeMarco Murray under 70 rushing yards, and without a touchdown. Don’t get me wrong-I know that DeMarco is one of the league’s most effective rushers. But after watching Philadelphia’s defensive line go to work against Marshawn Lynch on Sunday, I’m not sure that DeMarco will have the game that his owners expect. ]But I don’t see him making too much of an impact off of passing plays either. Now, the bold part really comes into play when I say that he won’t grab a touchdown. But I stand by my prediction. That Eagles defensive line will slow him down. Prediction: 18 carries, 61 yards rushing, 3 receptions, 21 yards receiving.