highlights
February 5, 2016 Volume 89, Issue 9 Beverly Hills High School Beverly Hills, California beverlyhighlights.com
Teachers Union ratifies 2016-17 calendar Juliette Deutsch co ediitor-in-chief Sadie Hersh co editor-in-chief The Beverly Hills Education Association (BHEA) voted on Jan. 25 and decided to ratify the tentative agreement (TA) that will push the start and end dates ofthe next school year to a week later. School will begin on Aug. 15 (instead of Aug. 2) and end on June 1 (instead of May 25). The overall votes amongst the four lower schools, the high school and district office (a total of 226) came out to 167 (73.9 percent) in favor of the TA and 59 (26.1 percent) against it. Individually, Beverly had a total of 81 votes with 54 for the TA and 27 against it. “In order to make this calendar work, we could not put in three staff development days, which doesn’t affect the students, but it does affect the teachers. We expect to go back to three staff development days in the future,” High School Director/State Council Chris Bushee said. While there will be no change in a teacher’s current salaries,
the faculty paycheck cycle would change from 10 to 11 checks due to the amount of months worked. The TA also eliminates one staff development day, which now makes the work day count 185 days as opposed to 186 days. “Normally, a school calendar is negotiated and approved years in advance,” BHEA president Telly Tse said. “However, both community members and school staff expressed a desire to move the start and end of the 2016-17 calendar a week later.” W h a t does this mean for the students? The TA has established a total of 82 days in the first semester (compared to the originally proposed 87 days), and 98 days second semester
(instead of the current 93 days). Although there will be fewer days first semester, the semester will still end at winter break. Students would also lose one “day off” with the removal of a staff development day.
As of now, the dates that were decided upon will affect only the 2016-17 schedule, and will be revisited in the future to see if there will be a change to the 2017-18 schedule. The School Board proposed to pull the start date of school back a week after receiving unfavorable feedback from members of the Beverly Hills community. “There were a lot of negative sentiments from the community about starting [school] Aug. 2 and the Board decided to take action on it,” Student Board Member Shawn Ahdout
said. After reconfiguring these new dates, the Board took their proposal to the BHEA to negotiate how they would go about constructing the new salary schedules and school calendar. The BHEA Representative Council met in Jan. 14, where a motion to recommend the TA failed. This means the TA was brought to membership without the endorsement of the Representative Council. None the less, the it was ratified when it came to a vote. “The ratification of the tentative agreement is important because it shows the ability and willingness of educators and administrators in the district to work together towards a common purpose,” Tse said. The School Board has ratified the agreement and no further changes will be made to the final 2016-17 calendar. “We don’t expect any more changes to the 2016-17 calendar. We had a majority of our members approve it. The vote was 5-0 in favor of the new schedule,” Bushee said.
CAHSEE suspended for next three years Max Yera staff writer Due to new changes in academic standards, the California High School Exit Examination (CAHSEE) was effectively suspended by the Senate Education Committee as a high school requirement on Jan. 1. Senate Bill 172, introduced by the chair of the Senate Education Committee a year ago and signed by Governor Brown on Oct. 7, proposed the omission of the exam for the 2016-17, 201718 and 2018-19 school years. The bill also gives students the opportunity to receive a high school diploma if all other graduation requirements are met. “Now we have standardized school testing for the state of California which will give a more
complete look as to whether our students are competent in the areas of ELA and Math standards established by the State of California,” Superintendent Steve Kessler said. However, it is not likely that many Beverly students will rely on this change in order to graduate. “It is really a non issue at Beverly Hills High School since our students for the most part pass the CAHSEE early on in their high school career,” Principal Dave Jackson said. Many students who have already taken the exam also shared Jackson’s opinion that CAHSEE’s suspension is really a non-issue at Beverly. “I felt that the [CAHSEE] was pretty easy and was really unnec-
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essary for [the state] to give it to us,” junior Yasmine Jebeli said. Many freshmen and sophomores that have not taken the exam are relieved to hear that it will no longer be distributed. “I heard that [the CAHSEE] was difficult for some people, so now it’s a big relief that I don’t have to study it,” freshman Aaron Selikovitz said. The state of California will continue to administer the California Assessment of Student Performance and Progress, or CAASPP, which will consist of both online and paper-pencil assessments. These assessments will include various standardized tests in science that will be administered to sophomores and English-language arts and math tests to be administered to juniors.
Student Opinions: “It was a waste of my time. I’m glad we’re not taking it anymore.” -junior Brandon Lee “It was a joke, everyone I know passed.” -senior Daniel Nourafshan “I think the CAHSEE was necessary. It’s imprtant that students prove their competence before graduating.” -junior Lana Schwartz
SPOTLIGHT OPINION SPORTS
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NEWS: Pressures on students
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OPINION: Valentines Day
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FEATURE: BevBall maintains supremacy
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HIGHLIGHTS NEWS FEBRUARY 5, 2016
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Wallis songwriting program comes to life Lauren Hannani staff writer Songwriting is not an elective offered here at Beverly, but it is a course found in the city at the Wallis Annenberg Theater. Out of the six people participating in the class, called “Songwriting for the Theater,” two of them are seniors. Tristan McIntyre and Rachel Gilbert took their artistic talent outside of Beverly to create their own storylines and songs. The class gives students the opportunity to collaborate with other kids to make their own original 10 minute musical which professional actors perform at the end of the course. “It’s fun and it’s just right because it’s not too big of a commitment, but I’m still able to explore something I can possibly be interested in,” McIntyre said. With the help of a lyricist, composer and bookwriter, the groups created a story that was unlike anything they have written before. “It’s overall really an exhilarating thing because I’ve been writing for so long, and I haven’t really
had the opportunity to express my writing in that sort of way,” Gilbert said. After writing drafts of scripts and songs, the two teams are almost finished with writing their
seen by others, it’s one of those experiences you probably won’t get again,” Gilbert said. Although this program is specifically for students interested in songwriting, another theme is es-
composers. The big theme of our course is collaboration. I’ve been impressed how our students have learned to work as a team and engage in the give and take needed in any collaborative enterprise,” Director of Education Mark Slavkin said. However, the class does not require any past experience with songwriting or music composition. “ I know nothing about composing music, yet I’m in the class and I’m writing a book about a 10 minute musical, and it’s one of the best classes I’ve taken,” Gilbert said. The performance will take place at the Wallis Annenberg Theater on Saturday, Feb. 13, at 4 p.m. Even though the musical will only Students in the songwriting class discuss ideas for their musical. Photo cour- be available to see for one day, tesy of: MARK SLAVKIN this musical is more than just a one night showing for the class. separate musicals that will come sential in order to put together the “When it’s all over, you get to see to life on stage soon. performance. your work finished and produced “It started from just an idea and “There are many programs for by the actors, and you get to see it then it blossomed into a musical. young people to perform musical on the stage and say ‘I did this,’” Just getting to put my ideas into theater, but very little chance to Gilbert said. “That’s something something that can actually be create new musicals as writers and you’ll never forget.”
Shake-speare it off BHMUN draws near Jamie Kim staff writer The English-Speaking Union (ESU) National Shakespeare Competition, in which high school students perform works of William Shakespeare, is returning to Beverly on today. Any student is welcome to participate, and the first round of the competition is to be held Tuesday, Feb. 9. To represent Beverly in the next round of the contest, a student must win first place in the school competition by delivering the best performance of a Shakespearean monologue. “I feel prepared for my audition because I have my monologue memorized, and I don’t usually get nervous until the last minute,” sophomore Julia Marshall said. This competition was held at Beverly in the past, but has not been active in the past few years. This year, English teacher Lynne Heneidi wanted to bring this contest back. “I wanted to restart doing these competitions because in my classes, we are reading ‘Macbeth’, and in all of other the English classes, they also read Shakespeare,” He-
neidi said. “We have so much talent at this school, and I think we have a great chance at winning the entire competition.” The winner of the smaller region branch, which is after the local high school branch, advances to compete in the greater Los Angeles area. The winner of that round goes on to compete in the Nationals Final in New York with an allexpenses-paid trip to New York. “I think I have as fair a shot at winning as everyone else. I wish the rest of the competitors luck, and I’m really excited to say that this contest was brought back to our school,” sophomore Solomon Margo said. Furthermore, the first place winner of the Nationals Final earns an all-expenses paid trip to study at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Arts in London in the summer. “[Winning the Nationals Finals] is a big thing to conceptualize, but my heart would definitely tell me to seize an amazing opportunity like studying theatre in London,” Margo said. “As of right now, I’m just happy to recite the work of the genius that Shakespeare is, no matter who I do it in front of.”
Jamie Kim staff writer In order to give other students a glimpse of what Model United Nations (MUN) is and to recruit more members, the BHHS MUN club will be hosting its sixth annual Beverly Hills MUN competition on Saturday, Feb. 20. All Beverly Hills High School students and some seventh and eighth graders from the four K-8 schools will be allowed to participate in this event which the current club members are preparing. Students can sign up at beverlyhillsmun.com with a $12 fee, but free with a BHHS ASB card, by today. “Our club members serve as committee chairs, and they’ve put together current background information packets. They are going to be running committee sessions,” MUN club adviser Malia Frutschy-Warner said. In each of these committee sessions, the students debate current international, political topics, such as the Syrian refugee crisis, Latin American drug warfare and the inhumane treatment of prisoners. “Within each committee, the students are representing their assigned countries’ points of view and trying to come up with diplomatic and creative solutions to
these problems,” Frutschy said. At the end of the day, the invited students earn the chance to win awards in their committees, based on the decisions made by each committee chair. “I hope that delegates will leave the conference feeling more confident about their public speaking and research skills,” club president Cathy Lee said. “I also hope they develop a further interest in world affairs and build friendships with delegates.” Furthermore, not only does the BHMUN conference teach students about Model United Nations, but it also teaches the current club members a different aspect of the conference. Now, they are looking for delegates to award points instead of looking to receive these points themselves. “I’m looking forward to hearing a number of new and creative ideas, many of which I won’t have thought of. I’ll still be a part of the discussion, just without much of the stress,” club secretary Jonathan Artal said. “I’m going to be chairing the Middle School Committee, so it’ll be interesting to see the incoming students who will shape the future of the club.” Although this is an annual event, there are room for adjustments to
Highlights Print Team Sadie Hersh and Juliette Deutsch editors-in-chief
Eleanor Bogart-Stuart, Natasha Dardashti, Lauren Hannani, Jamie Kim, Ben Shofet, Max Yera, Vivian Geilim and Keith Stone staff writers
Web Team Marty Schnapp and Guy Ginsberg editors-in-chief
Evan Minniti, Sophia Goldberg, Jason Harward, Veronica Pahovoma, Ben Shofet, Nirav Desai, Isaiah Freedman, and Sydney Tran staff writers
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 Twitter and Instagram. Highlights is sponsored by PTSA and BHEF.
make each year’s BHMUN conference better than the years prior. “This year, the secretariat has made plans to ensure that the conference runs smoothly and the chairs have put in much more effort in terms of research and structuring debate,” Lee said. “Overall, delegates should expect a conference with well-run committees discussing topics hotly debated by the international community today.”
Juniors seek to skip senior year, head to college Keith Stone staff writer Max Yera staff writer For some, senior year is filled with college essays, prom dress shopping and senioritis, but for juniors Lucy Gallop and Emily Khalili, senior year might not even happen. Both of these high-achieving students applied to the USC Resident Honors Program which, if selected, would require them to head off to college a year early and skip senior year in its entirety. For Gallop, this opportunity came into her life at the best possible time. “I got a letter from USC inviting me to apply in September and it just seemed like a perfect oppor-
tunity for me. I’m already in a lot stay at Beverly or go to USC,” Gal- to know my interests and myself as of senior classes so I feel like I’m lop said. an individual.” ready for college academically,” Gallop is hoping to use the platKhalili has strong bittersweet Gallop said. “I’ve been to the cam- form of this USC education to get feelings about possibly departing pus a few times and I’ve just been into the Viterbi School of Engi- Beverly and starting a new chapter getting more and more excitin her life. While the possied about this potential next bility of leaving for college “I’ll probably miss Beverly is exciting, Beverly still step in my life.” Even though she may not as much, if not more, than feels like her school with be attending Beverly next all of her friends. year, Gallop will still be able my own home.” “Beverly is like a second to visit some of her close home where all my friends friends due to USC’s proximare,” Khalili said. “I defiity. neering, while Khalili has a slightly nitely won’t miss waking up early, “USC is just a 20 minute drive different path in mind. having homework every day or away, so I know I’ll still see [my “If I end up going there, I hope having a test/quiz every day.” friends] regularly. Also, I have a lot to gain new experiences and have No matter its flaws, Beverly still of friends who will be going away a fun, full college experience,” has a very strong attachment to to college next year so I would be Khalili said. “Even if I don’t go, the Khalili and if she attends USC, she away from them regardless of if I application process helped me get will be sad to miss out on typical
high school senior events. “I’ll miss all the senior experiences like ditch day, senioritis and graduation. It makes me sad that I would miss graduation,” Khalili said. No matter what happens though, Gallop will embrace the outcome. “Whether I get into USC or not, I’ll make the most of wherever I end up next year. If it isn’t meant to be, it isn’t meant to be,” Gallop said. In the event she gets in, Khalili knows that she would never be able to simply move on and forget her high school. “I’ll probably miss Beverly as much, if not more, than my own home,” she said.
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HIGHLIGHTS SPOTLIGHT FEBRUARY 5, 2016
Under Pressure
College stress hits its boiling point Eleanor Bogart-Stuart staff writer Juliette Deutsch co-editor-in-chief In recent years, Beverly students have been feeling an ever-increasing pressure to perform well in high school in order to succeed in post-high school and college life. “I do feel pressure about getting into college. Obviously there’s pressure from both parents and teachers, who want me to do my best, but overall, I really want my hard work to pay off in the end. I want to get into a good school, or else the work wouldn’t have been worth it,” junior Jackie Hauser said. A large factor in these kinds of perceptions is the way that colleges treat possible applicants. “I think the colleges have the power to change the landscape and shame on them that they haven’t acted about changing it. Every college that comes in here to talk to students, when they talk about how you prepare for success they say to take the most rigorous curriculum offered at your school,” college counselor Ah Young Chi said. Even though some may deem this pressure as having a negative effect, stress actually benefits those whom it afflicts. According to a survey released by Achieve.Inc, 80 percent of students who faced high expectations in high school were well prepared for the high expectations in college. These high expectations are starting to be imposed on people as
young as 14. “I’ve already felt a lot of pressure about getting good grades and worrying about college. I already have to take rigorous courses and do a huge amount of work,” freshman Amanda Khodabash said. This kind of college competition and early preparation is a lot more prevalent when coming from as wealthy a neighborhood like Beverly Hills. Being from Beverly Hills, or any affluent neighborhood, actually creates a much mores stressful environment for students. According to The Atlantic writer Hanna Rosin, “...kids living in one of the wealthiest zip codes in the country are stressed and miserable.” Although being from Beverly Hills is expected to be purely beneficial, it can actually add to the pressure of being successful posthigh school. Thanks to educational advantages that can be bought with money, teenagers from generally well-to-do neighborhoods are expected to achieve and succeed more. This doesn’t mean that everyone can afford or live up to these standards. “Compared to some other kids at this school, I don’t have a ton of money to spend on stuff like extra tutors or help with school. I hear everyone talking about the math tutors or science tutors they have, which is something my family just can’t afford,” a senior who wished to remain anonymous said. With the pressure to succeed, students can’t help but let it influence their own
self-perceptions. “I think understanding that the college you go to does not define the rest of your life or worth or can go along way in living a balanced life. I am constantly asked, ‘How many APs should I take’ and that isn’t up to me. It’s about what you can handle,” Chi said. The media plays a major role when it comes to creating false schemas of how hard the college process is. As The Atlantic author Jacoba Urist said, “[the media] perpetuates the notion of maddening selectivity.” Even though the process is difficult, it’s not as difficult as the media makes it out to be. “When it comes to college you hear all over media that the school only allows 10 percent in, and you kind of have this ‘not everyone is going to get what they want’ mindset. It builds competition,” Chi said. In this college-focused culture, grades in high school are becoming much more important to students. Nowadays, missing a piece of homework or flunking a single test can result in the commonly heard “I’m not going to college!” scream. “I take tests really seriously. It’s kind of a make or break situation for me,” Hauser said. Some students have managed to
stay unaffected by this pressure. “I’m feeling college pressure to an extent. But I would also say that I feel comfortable that the cosmos will sort it out in such a way that I wind up where I belong,” junior Owen Lloyd said. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, in recent years there’s been a historical high of a 70.1 percent enrollment rate in college. However, increasing applications means decreasing rates of entry. “I get really stressed when it comes to getting into a good college. I mainly get pressured by my parents. I’m a senior,so I have to just be okay with what I’ve done up to this point,” senior Jake Wolken said. Despite going up against almost all the odds, Beverly students remain undeterred. “As a top tier student, which everyone considers myself to be, I feel a lot of pressure. But I know that I will live up to that pressure,” junior Joey Yaris said.
The trouble with cheating: It’s not worth it Max Yera staff writer Vivian Geiilim staff writer
Students surveyed:182
We are told, “It’ll all work itself out.” “It” being the education we receive, the college we attend, and eventually, the career we undertake. Yet how can we not be frustrated when we find that “it” is not going our way—or at least the way we want it to? When we don’t receive the “A” we had hoped for, the test score we wanted or the acceptance letter we had always dreamed of, how can we continue to tell ourselves that “It’ll work itself out”? How can we find ourselves without stress, without frustration, if what we work toward fails to meet our expectations? And in an environment of frustration, stress and confusion, many turn to what appears to be the easy answer: cheating. However, many fail to look beyond the traditional problems of cheating. Sure cheating is, as our teachers and administrators sternly remind us, unethical. Yet as our distinctions between right and wrong become more complex, this argument becomes less convincing. Thus, if we go beyond the basic question of ethi-
cality, we can find that though cheating may be enticing, it essentially defeats the very purpose of school and with it, why we even strive to achieve in our education. The reason for this is clear. Cheating, by its very nature, prevents one from naturally and effectively absorbing the information that is taught. And thus by losing the ability to retain, let alone
veyed each year report to have cheated in high school. And many students would argue that they would have good reason to, as the American Psychological Association’s Stress in America survey even found that American teenagers, not working adults, are the most stressed-out age group in the U.S.
their choosing. Yet if we take a step back from such a response and consider the logic behind it, we find that it makes little to no sense at all. If one’s motive behind cheating is to attend a university that provides its students with prestigious academics, yet a student is not interested in truly learning the information provided, then what’s the purpose of even attending? There is none. Even if students are forced to look to the future by parents and are pressured to look to selective universities as the next step in their education, they should still refrain from cheating. So, even if a test or quiz is a real struggle, and the teacher leaves the room, sealing you in with a bunch of other students and the temptation of turning your head and potentially raising your grade, don’t do it. Besides the obvious consequences of getting caught and the moral objections that our parents and teachers would raise, the benefit of slightly boosting a grade is not worth the mental anguish and the lack of confidence that would accompany it.
“Cheating, by its very nature, prevents one from naturally and effectively absorbing the information that is taught.” learn, any of the information presented, the very sole purpose of an education, of why we attend classes and even strive to do well, loses meaning. Yet students everywhere continue to cheat. A lot. The Educational Testing Service showed that today, between 75 and 98 percent of college students sur-
Nevertheless, as mentioned previously, the question remains: what’s the point of receiving a “good” grade if, in doing so, we learn nothing? The answer for many is quite clear in that good grades, regardless of whether one cheated to obtain them, ideally sets one up for a pathway to a university of
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HIGHLIGHTS CULTURE FEBRUARY 5, 2016
reviews for Best Picture nominations Brooklyn Juliette Deutsch co-editor-in-cheif
Bridge of Spies
America is a nation that was founded by immigrants. While our culture has morphed into something uniquely “American,” our roots are tied to all kinds of people from all kinds of places. The immigrant story is one that has been told time and time again; however, director John Crowley and screenwriter Nick Hornby’s adaptation of the novel “Brooklyn” brings a degree of personal connection for all audiences. Based on the novel by Colm Toibin, “Brooklyn” revolves around the journey of a young Irish girl in the 1950s, Ellis Lacey (Saoirse Ronan), from her small hometown in Ireland to New York City. Although life in New York is daunting at first, Lacey finds herself falling in love with an Italian man named Tony (Emory Cohen). However, two years into life in the city, Lacey returns home on vacation to Ireland and is reminded of her old romantic interest Jim Farrell (Domhall Gleeson). The rest of the film follows her choice between her new and old life and how she has evolved since the start of her journey. The film stands as a very tough competitor for Best Picture Unlike the other films nominated, “Brooklyn” is deserving of the Best Picture award due to its intimate view of the meaning of home, family and what it means to be someplace that is entirely unfamiliar.
Ben Shofet buisness manager “Bridge of Spies,” the Cold War thriller based on the novel by Giles Whittell, has received countless nominations for this years’ Academy Awards. From Best Picture to Best Supporting Actor, “Bridge of Spies” is sure to bring home numerous awards this season. Director Steven Spielberg’s interest and passion for the Cold War has come to life in his latest film. Spielberg managed to depict the prisoner exchange between Francis Gary Powers, a captured American pilot played by Austin Stowell, and Rudolf Abel, a detained KGB spy played by Mark Rylance, with utter brilliance. Although some parts of the movie are hyperbolized, Spielberg as a whole portrayed the nerve-wracking events with precision and some humor. The film itself is overall entertaining; however, for it to be awarded Best Picture is quite the stretch for it is going up against Alejandro González Iñárritu’s “The Revenant” and Adam McKay’s “The Big Short.” Nonetheless, “Bridge of Spies” is a must-see for history buffs and Cold War lovers alike; for it is not all that often that films pertaining to the Cold War are as elegant of Spielberg’s “Bridge of Spies.” The Martian Keith Stone staff writer
Mad Max: Fury Road Natasha Dardasti staff writer As a person who has never really heard or cared about “Mad Max” at all before this,themoviewasverywellmade.Fromdirectingtoacting,themovie received high marks across the board. Although “Mad Max” seemed geared more toward the male audience, it was not grossly cliche with gendered bait. The title “Mad Max” may suggest that Max himself was the main character, but in reality the movie was more centered on Imperator Furiosa, played by Charlize Theron. This character was the epitome of strength. She managed to survive being kidnapped by Imogen Joe’s forces as a child and helped the wives escape from the Citadel. Though it’s an action movie, there should have been more background information about the dystopian world of “Mad Max.” It was a really fascinating world, but the fact that the names of some wives were not even mentioned was disheartening. Some of the extraneous action scenes could have been cut in favor of explanations of the dystopian world. For example, it was left unknown why warboys spray a silver liquid onto their mouths before committing suicide. Many questions were left unanswered. Despite the criticism, overall, “Mad Max” was an engaging movie. The special effects were more than just on par.“Mad Max” was a progressive and well-directed movie, an indisputable contender for Best Picture.
It’s easy to understand why two hours of heavy breathing, intense close ups and existential monologues may not be everyone’s cup of tea. Space films like “Interstellar” or “Gravity” are shallow because they are composed of only these factors. It’s the sameness of these space movies and the novelty in this new breed of space film that makes “The Martian” award-worthy. Matt Damon’s character finds himself stranded on Mars when his crew presume him dead after a storm. But instead of entering the throes of depression like Sandra Bullock or Matthew McConaughey when alone in space, Damon’s story is one of humor and determination. “The Martian” achieves all that movies like “Interstellar” or “Gravity” do but with half of the exhausting struggle. Leonardo DiCaprio’s grunts in “The Revenant” and the heaviness of Tom, Hanks in “Bridge of Spies” pales in comparison to Matt Damon’s simple and heartfelt performance of biologist Mark Watney. “The Martian” is a tale of man versus nature, human versus space. It’s a survival story. Damon’s performance was light hearted but honest, and felt like a seemingly accurate portrayal of what would happen if a brilliant biologist got trapped on Mars. The film encompassed the creepy elements of any good space film with the feelgood satisfaction of a family-friendly movie. The performances of all the cast members were superb. But, more than anything, it inspired a kind of hope that none of the other Oscar nominees came close to summoning.
The Big Short
The Revenant
Keith Stone staff writer
Guy Ginsberg co-editor-in-cheif
‘The Big Short’ may be very highly rated and up for the Oscar for Best Picture, but it is an all around poor movie that shouldn’t have been nominated. While sitting in a relatively full theater and struggling to keep their eyes open, viewers who managed to tear their gazes from the screen (sarcasm), to look around, saw an ever-widening circle of snoring people. Despite paying more than 15 dollars and valiantly struggling to keep their eyes open, as the housing and stock markets dropped, so did viewers’ eyelids. This movie takes place before and during the financial crisis of 2008 and in all does a terrific job making the collapse of the housing market interesting and understandable. With brief cameos from random celebrities like Selena Gomez and Margot Robbie to explain complex financial concepts, viewers will briefly smile and maybe even chuckle. From then on, unless one considers run-of-the-mill profanity to be amusing, this movie is boring and lifeless. Even an all-star studded cast couldn’t save this movie. While Christian Bale did an incredible job playing the archetypal numbers guy who bangs on the drums and listens to heavy metal, and Steve Carell excellently portrays the outraged dogooder, Brad Pitt’s depiction of the jaded banker who is slightly crazy falls flat. Now, there are a few redeeming qualities. This movie sucks viewers in and makes them care about the four different groups of people: the quirky, numerical genius who lacks people skills and initially sees the tremendous opportunity; the young, up-and-coming financial managers from Colorado who want a seat at the Big Boy Table; a smarmy and slick dealmaker; and the constantly angry, stereotypical Wall Streeter who doesn’t hesitate to get physical in his quest for a cab. Even if banking and finance are far from a sexy topic, these well thought out characters will make this movie somewhat bearable. Somewhat. This movie may whip spectators into a rebellious frenzy and have them wanting to protest outside of the Goldman Sachs building, but it’ll also make them bitter that they spent 15 dollars and more than two hours on this disasterpiece.
“The Revenant,” Alejandro G. Iñárritu’s gritty story of survival and revenge starring Leonardo DiCaprio, is of a breed unknown to the film industry. This breed is twisted and raw, yet masterfully calculated. This breed is one that takes no prisoners, and leaves audience members as ravaged and ripped as its own protagonist. Films were never meant to look like this, but as Iñárritu, DiCaprio and cinematographer Emmanuel Lubezki climb gracefully into the tower of greatness, there is nothing to do but stare and hope the tower goes forever. The film follows Hugh Glass, an 1800s American frontiersman, who, left for dead by his hunting team after a gruesome bear attack, must crawl (literally) his way toward the only thing left for him: vengence. As he seeks to gain revenge upon John Fitzgerald (Tom Hardy), Glass faces both physical and mental barriers, fighting rivers and cold until the bitter end. With few words, DiCaprio in his brilliance is able to convey complex emotion, emitting trapped thoughts and feelings through only his rough movements and slight grunts. Faced with the utmost complex enemy, death itself, DiCaprio is able to communicate in ways that imitate the work of great composers: Mozart, Chopin, Bach. Saying very much, with very little. Lubezki is no stranger to captivating camera work, coming off two straight Academy Award wins for Cinematography (“Gravity,” “Birdman”), with 2014’s “Birdman,” another Inarritu collaboration. With this film, he continues his reign as cinema champion, the apex of man’s ability with camera. Lighting in a forest setting is a daunting task for any filmmaker, but using only natural light throughout the film was basically mission impossible, with Inarritu playing full Ethan Hunt, and Lubezki his trusted sidekick. Not many things are left to be said of Iñárritu’s ability as a director. There are only a few men on earth who have accumulated such a mastery of this craft, and with “Revenant,” AGI (Alejandro González Iñárritu) seals himself in the history books next to the likes of Orson Welles and Stanley Kubrick as a true innovative mind, his work unparalleled on today’s screens. Led by a fantastic leading role and unmatched cinematic character, “The Revenant” is sure to take home Academy Awards for Best Actor (DiCaprio), Best Cinematography (Lubezki), and Best Picture (Iñárritu). Tom Hardy may just surprise us in the Best Supporting Actor category, too.
Room Evan Minniti staff writer Talk about a nightmare. “Room” follows a kidnapped young woman who gives birth to the son of her captor, whilst trapped inside a shed that he uses as a makeshift prison. Despite being impregnated by rape, the woman accepts the child as her own and raises him to the best of her abilities while at the same time thinking of a way to escape. The film is directed by the acclaimed Irish director Lenny Abrahamson, best known for his 2012 drama “What Richard Did” and the 2014 musical comedy-drama “Frank.” Brie Larson and Jacob Tremblay star as the mother and son respectively, and both are fantastic. It was a huge surprise to learn that Tremblay was not being nominated for Best Actor at the Academy Awards, the BAFTAs or the Golden Globes. Another surprise was that Abrahamson wasn’t nominated for Best Director at either the BAFTAs or the Golden Globes. Larson is being nominated at all of these awards shows for her performance. Abrahamson marvelously crafts the dichotomy between Tremblay’s childish innocence and enthusiasm for life with Larson’s often sad and broken nature. In addition, the subtle clues that Abrahamson leaves for the audience to decipher the passing of time and the growing maturity in Tremblay are quite effective. The other cast members include veteran actor Sean Bridgers as the kidnapper. Bridgers makes his character seem sad and lonely, and you can almost empathize with him, despite the fact that there is absolutely no way anyone could justify his terrible sexual, emotional and physical abuses of Larson’s character. The film has an admittedly slow pace, which may not connect with a lot of viewers; however interesting visuals, humanistic storytelling and fantastic performances win the day. This 117 minute film deserves a five out of five stars. Don’t miss this one.
HIGHLIGHTS OPINION FEBRUARY 5, 2015
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Valentine’s Day: Vivian Geilim staff writer Sadie Hersh co-editor-in-chief
Valentine’s Day:
Hate it
Keith Stone staff writer
As the month of February begins, the big, obnoxious Valentine’s Day decorations are put on display almost anywhere you go. From heart shaped boxes of chocolate to oversized stuffed animal bears, aisles in stores are oversaturated with gifts for a person to buy for his/her significant other. There are 365 days of the year, and on Feb. 14, people spend money on roses, chocolates and big stuffed bears for what? Some might fill their nights with the romantic candlelit dinners or boxes of chocolates, but at the end of the day, the candles burn out and the overly priced four-pieced box of chocolates from See’s Candy wasn’t the best purchase you’ve made all year. The history of this holiday has its roots planted in Ancient Rome. Saint Valentine was a Christian cleric who was sentenced to death after secretly illegally performing marriage ceremonies. Behind the pink, red and sweets, Valentine’s Day has a meaning to it. People forget to acknowledge that Saint Valentine lost his life for love and instead use this day to obnoxiously plaster their love all over social media sites. Labeling a day as “Valentine’s Day,” shouldn’t make a difference in the way you act with the people you love. There should be a consistent growth in love over the course of a relationship, not just a spike once a year, because that is what is socially understood. At this point, Valentine’s Day is this over-hyped atmosphere of hearts and flowers that people fall victim to when purchasing gifts for people they love. If Valentine’s Day is centered around couples, what about the single people that are subjected to this holiday? You flick on the radio and have to sit through traffic listening to 102.7’s Ryan’s Roses and have to order in pizza because, every restaurant in the city is booked unless you made a reservation a week in advance. Why do we think it is only acceptable to perform romantic gestures this one day a year? Yes, some couples might appreciate their better half all year long, but in terms of the supermarket decorations and loving commercials promoting jewelers, this is only an annual celebration. The holiday originated with a fight for love, but has fallen to a tacky excuse to flaunt one’s relationship and spend too much money on mediocre candies and stuffed animals.
Love it
On Feb. 14 of every year, people across the globe reward their loved ones with sweet treats, teddy bears, special dinners and festivities that let their significant other know that they are loved. While this concept may be a bastardization of the initial Feast of Saint Valentine, which honors a Christian man who may have performed elicit weddings and tried to convert a Roman emperor to Catholicism, it is still an incredibly romantic day that should be enjoyed by all. While some people shower affection on others on the daily, other couples need a slight push and that push comes in the form of one affectionate day a year. In turn, this provides a huge boost to businesses. According to business2community.com, approximately 18.9 billion dollars were spent last Valentine’s Day on jewelry, apparel, specialty gifts, movies, restaurants, salons and spas. At the end of the day, this holiday can determine the course of a relationship. It is the ultimate test for a relationship and can sometimes determine whether a successful couple becomes engaged, or a dysfunctional couple breaks up. This day is able to weed out people who shouldn’t be together and bring together people who should be. Also, while some people might not enjoy this holiday because they’re single, watching other couples canoodling might just inspire a lonely person to make a connection with another that wouldn’t ordinarily happen. Valentine’s Day can inspire change in people’s lives. Every year, in the days leading up to the 14th and especially on actual Valentine’s Day, there is a feeling, an electric current running through most people as they recognize that they have a chance to gather up their courage and have a fun, affectionate night that they might remember for the rest of their lives. Some cynics may say that this is just another department store ploy to grab cash from people who just want to get an endearing gift for someone, and those people may be right. Americans do spend billions of dollars on jewelry, candy and flowers and the department stores do get their money, but that’s not the point. As long as people are coming together and enjoying each others’ company, nothing else really matters.
Mattel changes Barbie line, adapts body image Editorial Action figures of buff superheroes and Barbie dolls with unusually tiny waists send the wrong message to children about what people should actually look like. Starting from a young age, children are exposed to what society considers a “perfect body.” By exposing children to this image, society is implanting the idea that this is the way all people should look. After years of promoting an unattainable idea of perfection, Barbie has come out with a new line of dolls called “Fashionistas” to show children that there is no such thing as a “perfect body type.” These new dolls have a range of body types (from curvy to petite), seven different skin tones, 24 trendy hairstyles and 22 different eye colors. The new faces of Barbie give young children more choice to identify with their doll. This idea of different body types creates a new positive reinforcement compared to the original Barbie dolls that are depicted with blue eyes, blonde hair and skinny
bodies. The new dolls show young girls that there is no such thing as one-size-fits-all. These new dolls not only promote the idea of varying body types, but they are also shining light on the idea of diversity. Because these dolls now come in different skin tones, children will be introduced to an environment of acceptance instead of the quintessential tan Barbie. By playing with these dolls, self expression is also articulated to children. The Fashionista dolls are just that: fashionable. These dolls branch away from the stereotypi-
“The new dolls show young girls that there is no such thing as one-size-fits-all.” cal Malibu Barbie style and allow children to create an all new look that fits their personality. A real-life version of the 80s and 90s Barbie is what we see when we tune into the Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show, “like” Kendall Jenner’s Instagram pictures and shop at Brandy Melville (where “one
size fits most”). The impact of the original Barbie and Ken remains embedded in the minds of teenagers as they are surrounded by pictures of these leggy, thin women and toned, shirtless men on every social media site. If current teenagers had grown up with this new line of body positive Barbie dolls, it could have had an impact on how they look at themselves and others, and end the idea of body shaming in society. While Barbie dolls are primarily targeted toward young girls, maybe the Fashionista dolls will also shape how boys view women. These dolls would not only promote girls to view themselves more favorably, but would also enforce the idea of a variety of female body types to young boys. If the Fashionista dolls show positive results for young girls, maybe this could lead to a new line of Ken dolls in different shapes and sizes, as body image among men is a growing issue. With the new Fashionista Barbie dolls, we can stray away from this depiction of what is perceived to be “perfect” and pave a new, positive path for children to see themselves as their own kind of perfect.
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HIGHLIGHTS SPORTS FEBRUARY 5, 2016
BevBall defeats Hawthorne How to: for sixth win of season Super Bowl Party Jason Harward graphic editor When the Carolina Panthers and Denver Broncos square off in Super Bowl 50 on Sunday, Feb. 7, the entire country will be watching. Avoid an awkward gathering of those watching and those chatting. Remember the three F’s to help pull off an awesome Super Bowl gathering.
The varsity basketball team cheers co-captain Max Walder (#3) as his name is announced in the starting lineup. Photo by: VIVIAN GEILIM. Max Yera staff writer The Normans defeated the Hawthorne Cougars this past Wednesday, Feb. 4 in the Swim Gym to improve to a 6-1 record this league season. Prior to tipoff, the Normans held a ceremony to unveil a banner commemorating their 2015 CIF Championship, their first CIF win since 1969. The first quarter was a slow start for both teams offensively as strong defense led to turnovers and missed opportunities. “We didn’t play as well as we wanted to in the first half,” senior co-captain Max Walder said. Nevertheless, the quarter proved to be an impressive showing by role players off the bench, notably junior Sam Cohen, who had to replace Walder after he was injured in the lip. “I knew I had to step up,” Cohen said. “I’m always ready and I just tried to stay as aggressive as possible.” Cohen scored four points in the quarter, helping lead the Normans to a 13-6 lead by the quar-
ter’s end. In the opening of the second quarter the Cougars appeared to be on the brink of a comeback as they found themselves down by only five with a score of 15-10. However, a 3-pointer made by senior Matt Reskin would spark a run by the Normans where they would find themselves up 21-10, eventually finishing the quarter with a solid lead of 35-19. Yet the Normans were dissatisfied with both themselves and the score by the end of the half. “We started off very slow,” junior Grant Gaon said. “We needed to improve on defense and moving the ball.” The opening of the second half was a strong showing defensively for the Normans and this defense would translate into even better offense, notably again by many players off the bench. “The non starters and younger guys on the squad made the difference,” senior Mason Daniels , who finished the half with 11 points, said. “Their energy on both ends was key, and they made the game easy.”
As the third quarter progressed, the Normans would find their lead steadily increasing as they were up by 25 with a score of 54-29 going into the final quarter of play. The fourth and final quarter continued this dominance off the bench, and the Normans would see their lead increase to over 30 points. “The thing about this team is that we are so deep that people can come in for each other and produce on the court,” Cohen said. Such would ring true as the final score of 76-43 in favor of the Normans proved such depth in terms of offensive production. Overall, though acknowledging their impressive play in the second half, the Normans know they could and should be better. “We are capable of being way better than we are right now,” Gaon said. “Our potential is off the top and we have plenty of room to improve.” And as for the banners? “We want [another],” senior Dylan Rutigliano said. And you can guarantee that they won’t be satisfied until then.
Food: Having a wide variety of food will include everybody in the festivities- even if they couldn’t care less about the game. One of the most obvious ways to keep everybody in front of the game is by stuffing them with chips and dip. Though you may be tempted by their hilarious Super Bowl commercials, Doritos are not the way to go. Instead, pick a bland corn or tortilla chip and let the dip, such as salsa or guacamole, do the flavor work. Graphic by: At halftime, do MARTY SCHNAPP. a simple buffet so that your guests can enjoy the halftime entertainment that gives the Super Bowl much of its appeal. In the buffet, mix game day classics and new ideas. Pigs in a blanket, which consist of a mini hot dog wrapped in pastry dough, are a great finger food to keep everybody in front of the TV. Make sure your food enhances the game atmosphere, instead of detracting from it.
Football: In simplest terms, the gathering is centered around the game, and, of course, the other entertainment. However, unless you hail from the Carolinas or Colorado, you’ll likely have little riding on the game. Even though this may be the case, simple games, such as giving out prizes to the guest with the best score estimate, can make everybody watch and have fun doing it. On the flip side, make sure your party’s focus is the actual game. A Super Bowl party should always be showing the Super Bowl. (There’s not even an excuse to change it during the commercials, because they’re one of the best parts of the entire experience.) So yes, even if you haven’t watched a football game since last year’s Super Bowl, you can still enjoy the game while it plays. Family and Friends:
Disregard what I said above. While, in theory, the game is why you’re at a party, the people you’re with will make or break your experience. Someone could very easily watch the game at home alone and experience the game fully. With that said, the reason you’re at a party is to watch the game with others. (Or not watch, but you’ll definitely have partygoers who share your level of sentiment for the game of football.) All in all, just enjoy the game and the people you’re with, and nothing can make you regret taking part in the Super Bowl culture.
Senior reflects on water polo experience in pool Jamie Kim staff writer She looks at the goalie straight in the eye. With one hand, she tightly grips the ball, while with the other she maintains her balance in the water against her defender. Senior water polo player Ada Nadzakova often finds herself in this situation. As she was co-captain of the girls varsity volleyball team in the fall and is currently the co-captain of the girls varsity water polo team, Nadzakova is no stranger to sports and the physicality that comes with them. In fact, many of her family members had played water polo, which is how she was introduced to the sport. “My family has a history of playing water polo. My dad was never into the notion of me playing water polo, but it kind of worked out that way anyways because I love being in the water and swimming,” Nadzakova said.
Staying tough throughout the that needs to be changed,” Nadza- the years past. We’ve been watchthree years on the team has shaped kova said. ing videos as well, so we’re hoping who Nadzakova is today, both in Currently, the team sports a for better results,” she said. and out of the pool. league record of 0-5, but NadzakoAs she heads into the last few “I’ve become not only a reliable va believes that the team is much weeks of her final water polo seaplayer, but also a go-to player in more than just its scores. son at Beverly, Nadzakova exthe water and a reli“Based off the score, [this seapressed her hopes for able captain for the girls water polo to younger girls,” she continue to grow. said. “Honestly, I’ve “I hope to continue just gotten stronger, playing in college, faster and better at but I don’t know if I taking my shots and will yet. More than executing what is exanything I’m going pected of me.” to miss my girls on Throughout her the team. I hope that three years in the wathey really continue ter polo program, she to build the program has had three differin the coming years,” ent coaches. she said. “Every single year, Nadzakova (right) practices treading in the water before her Additionally, we have a different game against Torrance High School. “I’m just a girl who really Nadzakova’s co-capcoach. It’s extremely loves her sports,” she said. Photo by: JAMIE KIM. tain, senior Melissa frustrating because Roberts, reciprocated coaches have different coaching son] would seem awful, but I think the feelings of missing Ada. styles, different things they want it’s going pretty well. There’s been “As a player, Ada is strong. She to run. It’s a lack of consistency a lot more improvement than in can play multiple positions and
excel in each one. As a co-captain, she is great to bounce ideas off of and really connects with the team, making sure we all work together,” Roberts said. Water polo, as with other sports, has taught Nadzakova the lesson of persistence. “You have to keep working hard at whatever you’re doing. Practice more to get better,” she said. “On top of it all, you have to know how to deal with the people on your team, the people not on your team; you have to make sure that you address and respect everyone equally.” Nadzakova’s favorite aspects of the sport have been the intense games and her teammates. “I’ve got to say that I love how much I have to fight to get my position. Taking a shot is an amazing feeling. To top it all off, the girls on my team are amazing. They make it worthwhile to be there,” Nadzakova said.