Volume 86 Issue 1

highlights

Beverly Hills, Calif.

Beverly Hills High School

Volume 86, Issue One · September 21, 2012

Prop. 30 to cut UC/CSU funding Mabel Kabani Opinion Editor

of that, Manaster said, has been spent on publicity, including building a website and hiring professionals to communicate with reporters.

“I don’t want to spend several hundred million dollars, or a hundred some-odd million dollars, fixing the school if we need to go find another piece of land,” Manaster said. “So, about $1 million of that has been the expertise involved in making sure that the site can be built on and that it’s safe now.

We’re that far away from knowing that. Three quarters of the campus is absolutely safe.”

The University of California and California State University systems may potentially be forced to undergo larger cuts in an attempt to cover a $15.7 billion gap in the state’s revenues, according to Governor Jerry Brown’s revised budget proposal for the upcoming year.

The new budget proposal, released May 14, directly reflected the change in the state’s economic climate. According to the California Department of Finance, the budget deficit has increased by $7 billion.

Though the higher education systems will be affected by the budget cuts, welfare and health programs are also on the chopping block.

However, decisions regarding these cuts will not be finalized until California residents vote either for or against Proposition 30, Sales and Income Tax Increase for 2012. If this proposition passes, the California sales tax will increase from 7.25 percent to 7.5 percent, a .25 percent raise. This proposition, which Brown advocates, will also create three new income brackets for taxpayers with incomes exceeding $250,000, $300,000 and $500,000; this would be effective for seven years. However, if these budget cuts take place, tuition prices for CSUs and UCs will spike and thousands of students will be affected.

“The rising costs of tuition have definitely affected the overall environment of UCSB,” Danielle Fogel, class of 2011 alumnus and sophomore at UCSB, said. “I knew a lot of people who dropped out after a quarter because they couldn’t afford the increase in tuition along with living expenses.”

Budget cuts will reduce the amount of students admitted into the UC and CSU college systems, according to UC Regents Board, but those who make the cut will also face challenges such as larger classroom sizes and a decreased number of courses.

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SASHA PARK

$250,000 to anti-Metro lobbyists

Budget money set aside to hire Washington D.C. lobbyists to oppose subway Danny Licht Culture Editor

The district has spent approximately $2 million on issues relating to the Metro’s Westside Subway Extension, which has been slated to tunnel beneath Beverly.

“A large portion of that — about $1 million — has been actually digging that trench that you saw last year, analyzing it and dealing with the accusation that the experts made,” Board of Education Vice President Jacob Manaster said of the trench on the front lawn last school year.

Experts hired by the Metro-

INSIDE Chef Smith serves the First Lady page 10

politan Transportation Authority (MTA) hypothesized that the campus was located above an active earthquake fault, a myth debunked by district-hired geologists’s analyses of the trench, which was paid for with Measure E funds.

Measure E was passed, in 2008, to update and rebuild schools, along with associated costs, such as ensuring earthquake safety.

This bond has paid for the approximately $2 million spent on subway-extension related costs — a fraction of the bond’s total $334 million loan. About $200,000

Wallis Annenberg Center previewed page 8 Girls’ volleyball battles Westlake page 12

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September 21, 2012 Highlights

School year begins with celebration

From left to right: Speaker Micah Jacobson motivates students to follow their passion. Faculty dance to Michael Jackson’s “Thriller” in a reenactment of Beverly during the 1980’s. ARMAN ZADEH

Brenda Mehdian Staff Writer The first back to school celebration kicked off the new school year. On Aug. 27, students spent the morning reviewing a PowerPoint presentation, listening to a guest speaker and watching a show put on by the staff. During the second half of the day, they briefly visited their classes.

The administration and staff wanted to find a way to hype up the students for the upcoming academic year.

“We wanted the opening day to be special and set the tone for a different kind of year. The goals were to get the students excited, let them know that we were celebrating their return and set clear expectations for all students,” Assistant Principal Amy Golden said.

Twenty to 35 staff members began planning the celebration in March.

Teachers selected which portion they wanted to help plan and met in groups to work on their assigned activities.

“I learned about the celebration in a conference a few years ago. I organized this day at a former school and liked the results. So I surveyed the staff and they

liked the idea and wanted to give it a try as well,” Golden said.

The assembly included a slideshow of the various clubs on campus and later, speaker Micah Jacobson delivered a speech discussing passion.

“I thought the speaker was very inspirational and really started the school year off well,” senior Megan Yee said.

“He was able to get the whole audience to interact and even laugh. He was one of the best speakers I have ever heard.”

To view the PowerPoint presentation, each grade level was separated by last name and placed in a classroom of peers.

The teachers discussed how to be a wellrounded student and passed out free T-shirts to help spread school spirit.

According to Golden, the PowerPoint’s purpose was to show students the scholarly aspect of school and to allow students to reflect on past school years and set new goals for this year.

“I found the power point presentation to be a little on the dry side. When I originally received the email from school about the celebration, I thought the day would entail more up-beat activities,” sophomore Daniella Nili said. “However,

as the presentation continued on, I became very interested in the things that it was saying. I found the presentation to be surprisingly informative and helpful.”

After the presentation, students saw another side of their teachers during a reenactment of Beverly through the years. The entire school gathered in the bleachers to view the festivisites.

Teachers dressed up in the clothing of each decade and danced to music that was popular at the time. Herbert Herbold narrated the event and told students facts about the school and America.

“It was like a Beverly version of the opening ceremony of the 2012 London Olympics. The whole show that was put on by the staff members was really interesting to watch,” senior Shawn Hakakian said.

After a morning of celebrating, students visited each of their scheduled classes for 10 minutes in order to meet their new teachers.

Golden believes that the school year has started off in a positive manner and hopes that the school spirit will foster in the students for the remainder of the year.

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Subway

continued from page 1 The final quarter, near the Heath Avenue entrance to the parking lots, is currently being excavated, causing a minor detour for student and faculty motorists.

Attorneys do much of the work to clear the campus, “so it looks like legal fees,” Manaster said. On “lawyers lawyering,” he continued, the Board has spent about half a million dollars.

However, Manaster pledges to end the spending.

“We need to start shutting this down,” the vice president said. “We are pretty much done.”

When Manaster becomes president of the board, he plans to strike a compromise with MTA. And when that happens, the Board maintains that MTA will recoup them for some of their expenses.

“The whole idea is to ask them, very politely, ‘Guys, we have differences of opinion, but...we’ve done our job by fighting what we’re supposed to fight, as a board, for safety, and we’d like you guys to pay for that,” Manaster said.

The Board has spoken with two people at MTA and is confident that it will be compensated.

“There is a very, very high likely that we will be made whole on all the legal fees. We’ll be made whole on the publicity,” Manaster said.

However, Manaster does not expect the district will be reimbursed on the trench itself, the most costly of the subway-related costs.

“We had to do that anyway, to prepare the site for construction. That had to be done for Measure E no matter what. It just was done to a degree that was much more expensive than we thought it was going to be,” he explained.

Part of the extensive costs is related to dispute among scientists.

“You know what happens when scientists fight, right? They just spend more money,” Manaster noted. “We’re done, we’re really done. I’m done.”

Metro was contacted but declined to comment on the issue as they do not comment on litigation.

Danny Licht

Key Dates September 21: Submissions for NAHS art gallery, “Dreams & Nightmares” due to Room 251.

September 22: PTSA is hosting a Practice SAT in the EDC from 9:00 am - 1:00 pm.

September 23: Five percent of the sales from the Beverly Hills Farmer’s Market will be donated to the BHHS ASB. September 25: Club signups will be taking place during lunch on the second floor patio.

October 17: Special schedule for students taking PSAT/NMSQT. November 4: PTSA is hosting an SAT and ACT workshop in the EDC from 10:00 am - 1:00 pm.

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September 21, 2012 Highlights

Quick Reads Title I program helps students To support students academically, Beverly qualified for a federally funded program, Title I. Funding from this program helps students struggling in mathematics and/or English Language Arts (ELA). It can be applied to grade levels from kindergarten to 12th grade. Though some elementary and middle schools have had this program for the past three years, this is the first year in which the high school is particpating.

According to the ELA coordinator of Title I and English teacher, Barbara Bader, the school is fortunate to have qualified for the federal funding support.

Students qualify for help from the program based on test scores of the California Standardized Tests in ELA and mathematics.

Those who may qualify for the program must take another standardized test to determine their math and reading level. The program offers direct tutoring services in and out of class when the student becomes eligible and wishes to be helped.

Dina Yoseph, math coordinator for the program, feels optomisitic about the future of the program and what it can offer to students at on campus.

“I think it will give them full additional support and confidence,” Yoseph said.

According to Bader, the program’s benefits of giving individualized attention to students will support the entire student body.

“I will be able to give direct attention to struggling students while the classroom teacher will be able to direct his or her focus on the rest of the students in class,” Bader said.

Though this Title I program is still in the testing process, teachers involved hope to contribute a positive impact on campus.

Dami Kim

Changes made in math department Jessica Saadian Staff Writer With the start of the new school year, the math department has undergone changes this year, including fewer math sections and a Title I program.

Although the same math classes are being provided as last year, there are fewer classes of each course this year. Last year, there were 72 math classes, but now there are 68. Basic Geometry was not cut from the academic classes; however, teachers are encouraging their students to repeat Algebra I freshman year if they did not fully understand the concept in eighth grade.

“Students who take Basic Geometry can be bad on all ends because most of the students did not have the right foundation in Algebra I,” Math Department Chair Jane Wortman said. “We want to make sure they fully understand Algebra I because they will struggle when they go into Geometry and Algebra II. Students are afraid that if they will not take Basic Geometry in their first year of high school, then they will be behind.”

With the teacher contract stating an average of 29 students per class and a hard limit of 32 students by the school board, according to Wortman, there are larger class sizes this year. However, the assistant

Algebra support class and created a new course called the Title I program, also known as the push in program, in which Dina Yoseph assists students who are struggling in Algebra I. This year, five periods are being provided as opposed to two classes in Algebra support.

“Instead of taking two math courses a day, we decided to ask the students, who have a difficult time in class, to go to the push out program several times a week and obtain help from Ms. Yoseph,” Wortman said.

To be selected to the push out program, students would need to have a certain academic requirement.

Yoseph goes to the classrooms and aid students in Algebra. Even though students are chosen to go to the program, they are not mandatory to receive support, but it is for their benefit to be a part of the Title I program.

“As of right now, I am not going to any classrooms because we are still in process of selecting students,” Yoseph explained. “It’s definitely a different SASHA PARK approach as opposed to the Algebra principal of House A, Amy Golden, was support class because it is not a daily class unable to verify that information because and I’m not there teacher. Different things she could not access the student-to-teacher work for different people and hopefully we ratio from last year. will be able to assist all the students who “There is a possibility that smaller need help.” amount of classes can impact a student’s Eight sections of math have also been schedule because not many students might taken out this year. Michel Paul and Edna have signed up for that specific math class. Broukhim are teaching three classes as This year, there are only two classes in Math opposed to five classes last year. Dodds took Analysis Honors because about 50 people three shifts and Yoseph is not teaching any wanted that class. And if both those periods individual classes at all. will not work for a student, we will not open Despite the changes in the math another section just for one more person,” department, teachers feel that it will not Wortman said. affect most of the students and will be a In addition, the math department cut the successful year.

Students, staff prepare for WASC evaluation Marguerite Alberts Staff Writer Representatives from the Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC) will visit campus in March for its accreditation evaluation. To prepare for the visit, staff, teachers and students are currently compiling evidence and documentation to support the yearly report.

“We dedicate a lot of our time collecting data and evidence that supports our educational goals and initiatives [and] collaborating with one another,” physiology teacher Sue Yovetich said, whose group covers vision and purpose, governance, leadership and staff and resources.

The WASC accreditation process is cyclic, as each school is granted a specific evaluation term that repeats itself either every six years, every six years with a midterm review, every three years or every year.

Schools give a yearly report on their progress to WASC upon every evaluation.

There are two primary functions in the operation for WASC accreditation: one is to provide quality assurance. We have specific criteria that schools have to meet in order to be accredited. Second is whether or not a school is adding value to the experience of children and [finding if] they really engage in an improvement process,” Dave Brown, the head of WASC, states on acswasc.org.

Previously, the school has been granted a 6-year term. This means that Beverly consistently addressed all of the critical areas for improvement, progressed on putting the school-wide action plan into effect and improved the students’ learning results.

Six years ago, Beverly received the sixyear term with a one or two day visit in the interim. Seventy-five percent of schools get the same accreditation as Beverly, according to Service Learning teacher, Michelle Halimi, head of the WASC effort at Beverly.

Most schools have a coordinator for WASC, however in recent years, Beverly has not had one. This is Halimi’s first year as coordinator and she spends two periods of the school day working on WASC. “Most schools have a WASC coordinator all of the time. We haven’t had one in a few years, so I had to pick up a lot of the work that was missed,” Halimi said.

To involve students in the WASC effort, Loren Newman, ASB advisor, asked students from ASB and Service Learning to participate. Students such as senior Jason Friedman help the school prepare for its evaluation.

“I chose to take the opportunity because I love our school and I want to help it,” Friedman said.

After students were selected for the accreditation process, they met with staff in five groups to collect the data needed for evidence to show the WASC personnel that their reports are truthful. The school is presently in Chapter 4 of the WASC process, meaning that it must evaluate itself in a year-long process.

“Each focus group focuses on their particular category and they evaluate what’s going on in the school for their group,” Halimi said.

The goal is to receive the six-year accredidation that has been granted in the past.

How a school begins the WASC accreditation process 1

To begin the accreditation process, interested schools must first review the WASC Conditions of Eligibility and complete the Request for WASC Affiliation.

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A $150.00 fee is required and should accompany the completed Request for WASC Affiliation form.

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If it is decided that a certain school or program is eligible for an affiliation with WASC, an Initial Visit School Description will be sent for completion in correlation with a manual depending on school type.

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The executive director of WASC will then arrange two-member, one- or two-day visit to the school.

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After the visit, the visiting committee will make a report to show to the WASC Accrediting Commission for Schools. It will contain recommendations pertaining to the school’s improvement.

The school will then be notified of the Commission’s actions by the executive director.

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September 21, 2012 Highlights

Let’s be sweet, not sour Benjamin Hannani Spotlight Editor

SASHA PARK

Day one proves wasteful Robert Katz Assistant Web Editor “How was your first day at school?”

The school administration is determined to make the answer a positive one, as exemplified by its “BACK TO SCHOOL CELEBRATION” (sic) on Aug. 27. However, over the past weeks, I have heard more criticism than compliments regarding the event. This is a shame. The drive to get students involved in the high school community is noble and integral to the school’s health. Then why was that day so decidedly unspirited? Because it was totally unnecessary.

I believe that the day’s awkwardness was captured in the “teenagers wearing black Tshirts over their clothes while sitting at the football field in 80 degree weather for the better part of an hour” episode. The faculty’s earnest pleas to students to keep their “Norman Spirit” shirts on stemmed from a great idea (reminding us of our uniformity as Normans). But hey, it is always fun to watch teachers do silly things and maybe even consider Beverly’s place in pop culture and history. But were any of the witnesses prepared to confess any higher expectations for the school year because of the celebration?

That is a question that should have been asked more often during the planning of the “celebration.” Was a funny video about school rules, a lecture about UC requirements, a motivational speaker, a free T-shirt, and an under-rehearsed history reenactment really worth the school’s time and the PTSA’s money? While speaker Micah Jacobson (who co-founded The Boomerang Project, producer of the Link Crew program) was

both side-splittingly funny and thoughtful, did his stand-up routine actually make any students think to themselves, “I should really join the K-Pop Club?” If it did, awesome, but somehow I doubt it was a common epiphany.

The more frightening consequence of the day, however, likely came in the form of the checks that the PTSA had to write to pay for its shenanigans. Jacobson, a professional speaker, likely did not walk into the auditorium and speak for about two hours hoping just for the sound of teenagers’ laughter as compensation. There were the more-than-2,000 T-shirts printed and given away to the student body and that, for many, will likely never be worn again. And, of course, there was the rental of a speaker for our tour through time on the football field. Now, with classes and programs at risk, Beverly must be cautious and watchful of its pockets instead of being so eager to inexplicably splurge on much less consequential things than education.

It is hard to deny that the “BACK TO SCHOOL CELEBRATION” came from a good place. I am ecstatic to see the school so ostensibly interested in fostering our enthusiasm. Unfortunately, in a state where every minute and dollar spent toward the school counts exponentially more each day, I cannot help seeing the fruition of the administration’s hopes as a bit of a wasted effort.

Beverly, you are looking at this all the wrong way; it is not spectacle that motivates us, it is opportunity. Save your effort and your budget and put them toward maintaining, developing and creating honors, AP, ROP and other extracurricular classes. If you build them, we will come.

openly scrutinize Officer Sweet? I am sure some of these high school teenagers/aspiring linguists blasting their DARE officer for getIt was just another day for me. I came home ting drunk would not like to be scrutinized after school on Sept. 5 and, as I always do on a Saturday night, lest they become the when I get home, I checked my e-mail and hypocrite.

Facebook. I do not remember how I felt when While I am glad that these young men and I checked my e-mail, but I remember being women comprehended their English teachin shock when I logged onto Facebook. My ers’ lessons on irony, I was distraught by their friends’ statuses all linked to articles report- ignorance. As human beings, we are prone to ing that Beverly Hills Police Department Of- making mistakes. Perhaps Officer Sweet was ficer Jeffrey Sweet had been booked on a DUI confronted with personal issues of his own charge at the Ventura County Jail. Authori- and exhibited questionable judgment in the ties say that Offiprocess. Or maybe cer Sweet showed just made a “While Officer Sweet’s trans- he “[symptoms] conbad decision. Resistent with being gression was blatant hypocrisy gardless, to furunder the influ- and a prime example of irony, ther smite Officer ence” after crashimage with there is no need for contempt- Sweet’s ing his pickup into contentious gossip ible gossip and statuses.” a Simi Valley home is wildly inapproand power pole. priate.

Sweet had been the School Resource Officer I was not amused by the incident and did at Horace Mann School, where many of my not use the situation to showcase my underpeers and I attended. He was a beacon of standing of irony. Instead, I was relieved to machismo, but also an endearing mentor. He hear that nobody was seriously injured or kept the school safe and instructed students killed, especially since Sweet’s vehicle landed on Drug Abuse Resistance Education (DARE). upside down and ruptured a gas service line.

During his instruction, he shared his feeling of Rather than draw attention to his work by disappointment he felt when arresting former broadcasting a Facebook status about the acDARE students for illicit conduct due to drugs cident, I am concerned about Officer Sweet’s and alcohol. When we completed the curricu- future and how he will move forward. lum and graduated, he made us promise to When I saw Officer Sweet’s mugshot, I was consume alcohol and drugs responsibly. disheartened and I am sure he felt the same Simply put, Officer Sweet was a role mod- way about letting down his DARE students. el. He conducted himself professionally and While Officer Sweet’s transgression was blahelped steer us in the right direction as we tant hypocrisy and a prime example of irony, matured. Sometimes he would even bring his there is no need for contemptible gossip and police car onto the playground during lunch statuses. If any of us students were in a preand let us sit inside and marvel at the vehicle. carious situation, Officer Sweet would supIf Officer Sweet was not in his office or in- port us; it would behoove us to do the same structing a DARE lesson, he could often be for him as he moves forward. found tossing a football around with students.

So when students gossiped about the irony of the accident that occurred to Sweet, the Ryan Feinberg and Julia Waldow same man who had made us pledge against Editors-in-Chief the vices of alcohol and drugs, I was saddened by the news and disappointed with my felMichelle Banayan News Editor low students. Obviously, Sweet made a poor choice, one that was contradictory to the valMabel Kabani Opinion Editor ues he taught. Unfortunately, Sweet’s transgression has caused many students to lose Candice Hannani Feature Editor faith in him and his teachings.

However, the snarky student statuses were Danny Licht Culture Editor equally dishonorable. Who were these teenagers to pose as witty experts on irony and Benjamin Hannani

The Staff

Spotlight Editor

Editorial School board spends on lobbyists Hey board members, enough with the subway.

We Beverly students have spectated the infamous subway battle, among the indecisive disagreements among presumptuous pseudo-geologist parents, the real geologists (that part is cool), Beverly Hills School Board of Education members, students, Beverly Hills residents, the list goes on.

The tumult received coverage from the renowned New York Times, and it seemed, at some point that the issue had cooled. Whether or not a resolution had been found was somewhat unclear, but at least the yelling softened.

But yet again, the issue has presented itself. Over the course of the disagreements, money has been spent on lobbyists to appeal to the federal government in prohibiting the

construction of the subway.

The amount paid has surged recently, though. The school board has paid lobbyists in Washington D.C. nearly $2 million to battle the building of the subway, although

School Board Vice President Jacob Manaster assures the Beverly Hills residents that the money can be swiftly recovered once the case is resolved. Even so, is this an issue worth spending time and energy on? No. Are

there not more pressing issues that should rightfully consume the time of the board members? The answer is yes. Yes there are.

The questions left unanswered are numerous. Aside from spending such a large, unnecessary sum of money, is opposing the subway really the answer? The parties involved in the subway issue agreed that geologists could serve as a neutral decider in determining the safety (or lack thereof) regarding the building of a subway. And to remind our city, after a year of digging the geologists determined it perfectly safe! But acting as a sore loser, our district refuses to accept the geologists’ (the previously agreed upon decider) stateAJ PARRY ment.

So, pouring money into opposing a project that will likely work to the benefit of our city is futile, even if the board is correct in our abilities to regain the money after the case is solved.

Arman Zadeh Sports Editor

Oliver Gallop Graphics Editor

Pasha Farmanara Chief Web Editor

Robert Katz Assistant Web Editor

Dami Kim Social Media Director

Sasha Park and AJ Parry Cartoonists

Marguerite Alberts, Celine Hakimianpour, Zoe Kenealy, Jessica Lu, Brenda Mehdian, Alex Menache, Jessica Saadian and Max Stahl Staff Writers

Gaby Herbst and Katie Murray Advisers

The mission of Highlights is to inform and entertain the community of Beverly Hills in an accurate, objective, timely and well-designed manner.

This newspaper is produced by the Advanced Journalism class of Beverly Hills High School, 241 Moreno Drive, Beverly Hills, CA 90212.

Send letters to the editor to beverlyhighlights@gmail.com.

Feedback is appreciated.

Spotlight 5 Potential rises in college tuition concern students September 21, 2012 Highlights

[continued from Page 1] “For the past three quarters, I haven’t been able to take all the classes I wanted to take because they fill up very quickly, even before my enrollment time,” Phil Cooper, 2011 Beverly alumnus and sophomore at UCLA, said. “Also class sizes are very big.

One time I came a little late to one of my classes and I actually had to sit on the floor in the aisle because there were no open seats.”

Though no specific policy changes regarding the UC school system have been made, a UC Regent Board meeting took

place Wednesday, Sept. 12 at which many plausible policy changes were discussed.

Controversial policy changes were discussed as well, such as the potential 10 percent increase in accepting out-of-state students since they have to pay an extra $23,000 in tuition each year. Though this seems like an easy way to gather more money, advocates against the policy change also argued that an increased preference toward out-of-state applicants would avert the UC system’s main goal, “to educate Californians.”

Another controversial suggestion discussed at the meeting included different tuition

prices per UC school. Varying tuition fees on a school-by-school basis could potentially destroy the united image of the UCs but also make pricing the tuition easier, according to the Regent Board. Other possible revenuegenerating alternatives mentioned by the Board included holding more classes on weekends and in the summer, boosting online courses for UC credit, leasing parking facilities to private operators and hiking parking fees, and hiring professors to focus on teaching rather than research.

The California State University system is also facing budget cuts. If the proposition

does not pass, an additional $200 million will be cut from the CSU system. Trustees recently already approved a five percent tuition increase for next year in November if voters reject Prop. 30. This will raise an estimated $58 million in revenue.

“Many CSU schools have students who pay-as-they-go to earn their degree,” Amrita Chawla, a 2011 Beverly alumnus and sophomore at Cal State Northridge, said. “If there are increased fees again, most kids will not be able to graduate either on time or at all if financially they cannot make payments.”

UC, CSU systems consistenly increase tuition Tui$on per semester excluding room and board $14,000 $12,000 $10,000 $8,000 $6,000

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$2,000

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If Proposition 30 fails in November, the UC and CSU systems will each lose 250 million dollars in funding. Therefore, tuition prices are on the rise, causing college-bound seniors to think twice about where they will apply. Because the results of Proposition 30 are not known yet, there are unanswered questions for seniors.

Some are considering applying to private schools in hopes receiving more financial aid. Others may want to apply out of the UC and CSU systems. However, though it is still unclear whether seniors should apply elsewhere or not, Counseling Department chair Celeste McDonald has some advice: “We encourage students to apply broadly and to colleges that are a best fit for them.

We also offer a financial aid workshop in November that should be very helpful to seniors and their families. Students, no matter what happens in November need to fill out the FAFSA in January.”

Michelle Banayan

Sources: University of California and California State University

Senior perspective on Prop . 30 budget cuts Ryan Feinberg Print Editor-in-Chief As senior year creeps on, I find the “college talks” become much more hypothetical and much more, “No, seriously. Could you imagine yourself there?”

I, along with others, have seen the University of California and the California State Universities as viable options for college. But, I have always leaned toward the UCs, probably because I grew up so close to UCLA. The school offers a relatively inexpensive in-state tuition and a world-renowned education.

But now I question that view. Rumors have led me to believe the systems’ piggy banks were dry, but rumors are rumors.

Passing Proposition 30, a much more tangible source of discontent, would cut $250 million from the UC system and the CSU system, each. Conversations with Beverly alumni who are students at the UC schools lead me to believe the systems need all the money they can get.

Aside from the fact that cutting education funding is utterly absurd, I must seriously weigh my options for college. Do I want to be at a school where getting desired classes is the most challenging part of the year? Where graduating on time is a toss-up? Where housing is not even guaranteed? Absolutely not.

While some future applicants are not

opposed to large classes, I look forward to having a college experience with smaller classes and more intimate relationships with my professors. Rather than being a face among a crowd in a UC lecture hall, I want to distinguish myself. For this reason, I am losing interest in going to state schools, no matter how wonderful the rankings are.

A cut to the public universities would likely lead to an increase in tuition, which further leads me to applying to a private school. If I were going to pay nearly the same tuition costs, potentially less if awarded scholarship money, and know I will sit in large classes, then why would I choose a public education?

Still, I am applying to UC schools, specifically UC Berkeley, UCLA, UCSD and UCSB. Why? Because although flaws are existent, the universities are respectable. Berkeley, one of the top research facilities in the world, offers opportunities to its students that other schools cannot. However, who is to say that Berkeley even wants me? State schools are more commonly accepting out-of-state applicants to gain more tuition money to compensate for the lack of state funding.

Whether or not Proposition 30 is going to pass is not in my foretelling, but one way or another, public education is going to suffer in a down economy, and frankly, I do not want to be a part of it.

Students fear more cuts

“If Prop 30 doesn’t pass, students’ education is going to get screwed up... and if they don’t get educated now it’s going to hinder them later on.”

“I think Prop 30 is a good idea because it would protect college prices for families whose children want to attend a UC or CSU school.”

- Evadoria Zheng (12)

- Gracelyn Koshy (12)

“I know that my friends are probably upset because college is expensive as it is and if the prices go higher that’s really going to suck for them.”

“Students can become influential people with a good education, so a lack of education resources affects who people can become in the future.”

- Cameron Paysinger (12)

- Leora Ghadoushi (11)

Are you concerned about the state’s possible educational cuts? Will the result of Proposition 30 influence your college plans? Highlights wants to hear from you! The QR code to the left will direct you to a poll where you can share your thoughts!

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Highlights

September 21, 2012

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GET INVOLVED IN THE NORMAN-NATION Counselors stress student involvement Michelle Banayan News Editor With the abundance of clubs and organizations available, there is an opportunity for all students to get involved on campus.

According to a study done by the National Federation of State High School Associations, “students who participate in activity programs tend to have higher grade-point averages, better attendance records, lower dropout rates and fewer discipline problems than students generally.”

Participating in a club or organization on campus has the ability to make students feel both connected to their school and happier, propelling them to be more motivated and successful in their academic lives,

Stay connected!

according to the head of the counseling department, Celeste McDonald.

Not only will getting involved benefit one during high school, but it will also serve as a distinguishing factor when applying to colleges.

“When students apply to college, they have the opportunity to explain how they are ‘compelling,’” McDonald said. “How they have challenged themselves to learn both in and out of the classroom.”

Students can sign up to join clubs of their choice during club sign-ups on Sept. 25 on the second floor patio.

Read on to find out ways that you can get involved, and be sure to scan the QR codes for more ways to get involved, in addition to advice from Mr. Involved himself.

Scan this QR code to read about activities such as ROP programs, Peer Counseling and Service Learning.

Scan this QR code to read advice on joining clubs, athletics and activities from Mr. Involved.

Beverly home to diverse student clubs Jessica Lu Staff Writer

Graphics by AJ PARRY, OLIVER GALLOP, PASHA FARMANARA

Athletes join teams, cooperate on field Marguerite Alberts Staff Writer

Students act, sing in theater program Julia Waldow Print editor-in-chief The Performing Arts Department provides students with acting, directing, staging and public speaking experience through classes including Introduction to Theater, Drama Lab, Theater Arts Workshop and Technical Theater.

“The performing arts program helped me become a lot more confident in myself, meet new people and learn so much about not only what it takes to be an actress, but also about who I am and how the world works,” senior Leah Weissbuch said.

Introduction to Theater, a class mostly comprised of freshmen, introduces students to improvisation, vocal training, movement, stage presence, beginning acting

and other topics, according to Performing Arts Department Head Herb Hall.

Drama Lab is an intermediate acting class that teaches students play and character analysis, acting techniques and directing skills.

Students do scene study and monologue preparation, as well.

Students who have worked on at least three crews can audition in June for the Theater Arts Workshop (TAW), which produces the fall play first semester and focuses on acting skills second semester.

With teacher approval, all students interested in set building, scene painting, lighting, sound, rigging, design and special effects can join the Technical Theater class.

Students can talk to their counselors about enrollment in one of the aforementioned classes.

Beverly athletics serve to connect students while providing exercise. There are three seasons in regards to sports: fall, winter and spring. The sports being played in the present fall season are volleyball, cross country, football, water polo and girls’ tennis. Tryout times are all located in the Daily Bulletin found on the school’s web-

site.

The tryouts for sports depend on the season in which they are played; teams for fall sports are established in the summer, winter teams are decided in September and spring sports have tryouts in October. Most athletic programs all have three teams: frosh/soph, junior varsity and varsity. Swimming, water polo, track, cross country and boys’ volleyball only have junior varsity and varsity teams. The tryout process varies

from sport to sport. Some sports have a three-day elimination process, while others are immediate.

All students are welcome to try out for any sport. However, before a student tries out, he or she must have his or her medical forms cleared and must be academically eligible with a cut off GPA of at least a 2.0. A student receives the same amount of credits for doing a sport as he or she would get for doing physical education.

Games and matches are both at

home and away. The number of games depends on the sport.

Jason Newman is the head of the boys’ sports department and Vonzie Paysinger is the head of the girls’ sports department.

“I think being a part of a team is the same as being in the working world,” girls’ basketball coach John Braddell said.

“A coach is the boss and teammates are like co-workers: everyone has to work with their co-workers and get along.”

The Black Student Union, or BSU, strives to spread information about African American history and to extinguish beliefs that African Americans should be treated differently than others.

Discussions held during meetings carry an emphasis on culture and modern issues.

Seniors Kayla Countryman, Kylie Colvin and Jeremiah Williams lead this year’s BSU. During meetings, BSU plans fundraisers in order to create awareness about the club and invest in future projects to promote its goals. Because BSU will not hold its Black History assembly this February, BSU’s main focus is to give back, especially to the black community. The club will also collaborate with other schools’ BSUs to share

ideas and plan events.

Countryman expressed that “BSU is important to the student community because as a minority, it is important for us to unite.”

All students are accepted into the club; Colvin adds, “We love people who are social and who are from all parts of the school.”

BSU meets every Tuesday at lunch in room 270.

The Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising (FIDM) Fashion Club teaches its members about fashion while retaining a hands-on approach by producing garments and accessories.

FIDM, a Los Angeles native fashion school, communicates with the club on a regular basis and assists with carrying out some of the club’s operations.

President Chanel Nami’s overall goal has been to “explore every as-

pect of fashion from designing to recent trends.” She states that the Fashion Club welcomes students that express an interest in fashion and want to learn more about it.

Often, meetings will consist of discussions about fashion trends and what it takes to be a designer.

Other gatherings consist of members constructing scarves, making jewelry and designing shorts.

Students who have participated not only get to vocalize their ideas, but are also given the option of being interactive by creating actual objects. Items made by the members will be available for purchase by the student body at Normapalooza and Movie Night.

Fashion Club meets every other Thursday at lunch in room 129.

Campaign for Real Beauty is a club dedicated to helping teens feel more confident about their

appearances.

President Genevieve Javidzad describes the overall goal as helping “girls at our school realize their true beauty and gain selfconfidence.” Along with Javidzad, other club members lead meetings discussing the media’s role in self-image.

Campaign for Real Beauty plans an occasional field trip during the weekend; last year, the club headed to the Annenberg Space for Photography’s exhibition “Beauty CULTure.” This year, the club has a few guest speakers in mind, including Nicole Clark, director of the movie “Cover Girl Culture.” The club will be present at Normapalooza and the Carnival to recruit members and spread its message.

Campaign for Real Beauty meets once to twice a month on Tuesdays at lunch in room S117.

Students write, direct in journalism programs Dami Kim Staff Writer Broadcast Journalism is an elective in which students write and report news stories on KBEV, one of the longest running high school television news programs in the country.

This program broadcasts both at school and throughout the Beverly Hills community on channel six.

Students produce segments such as anchor, entertainment, world news, field report, restaurant reviews, weather and technology updates. “[We] are a community of hard working reporters,” Chang said.

“If I could have three words to describe [Broadcast Journalism], I would say fun, but professional.”

Broadcast Journalism students compete for all positions, except anchors. According to Chang, any students interested in delivering news should register for the class.

Yearbook, a journalism elective, offers students the opportunity to be involved with almost every event at Beverly.

Yearbook Adviser Malia Frutschy hopes to gain support from the student body in order to produce the school’s yearbook.

“We don’t have any requirements for students to join yearbook, except that they have to be willing to write, take pictures and work hard,” Frutschy said. “With a room full of passionate, diligent students, we collect stories happening around

school for the entire year.”

Editor-in-chief Jessica Meshkani has been involved with the yearbook since her freshman year.

“I really enjoy jobs in which the responsibility and success are on my shoulders,” Meshkani said.

“The feeling that you get when you see the final product of the yearbook at the end of the year is unexplainable.”

Highlights, Beverly’s semimonthly school newspaper, is distributed in a print edition and online at beverlyhighlights.com.

Staff members investigate scoops and write stories about events happening at school and in Beverly Hills for the public to read.

Editor-in-chief Julia Waldow

feels fortunate to have been on Highlights for the past three years.

“I am proud to be part of a publication that has been around for 86 years,” Waldow said. “It has let me both pursue my passion for writing and help our staff give back to the community by delivering the best news possible.”

Students on staff learn the journalistic, business and graphics aspects of producing a newspaper.

“I never knew that Highlights would give me so many opportunities,” Graphics Editor Oliver Gallop said. “Not only can I do what I like to do, but [the class] has also helped me perfect my photography skills.”

Students can join Highlights after taking Beginning Journalism and completing an application process.

8 culture

September 21, 2012 Highlights

literacher Bill Hiatt, Carter Paysinger author recent, upcoming books

Jessica Lu Staff Writer English teacher Bill Hiatt’s fantasy novel “Living with Your Past Selves” became available for download on Amazon on Sunday, Sept. 8.

The book describes 12-year-old Taliesin Weaver, who suddenly remembers his past lives. When he learns he can retrieve information from his previous forms, Tal comes to terms with this anomaly. However, upon turning 16, an unknown enemy begins to harm Tal and those close to him for reasons he does not know. Tal must trust the right friends in order to find out who has been hurting him.

“One of the things that comes up repeatedly in the novel is the importance of teamwork,” Hiatt said. “When the main character is isolated, he’s not as successful; when other people have his back and he has theirs, on the other hand, things work much better.”

The book draws inspiration from Hiatt’s teaching experiences over his 33-year career as a high-school teacher.

“As a teacher I am trying to teach [my students], but I think good teachers also learn from their students as time goes on,” Hiatt explained. “The students have really made [the process] concrete for me.”

Hiatt pays tribute to his students in the dedication of the book, stating that, “None of the characters are literally based on one person; they’re based on bits and pieces from a lot of people over the years, and some of me.”

Despite previously being hindered by the workload of a teacher, Hiatt managed to finish the book during summer vacation. According to Hiatt, translating his thoughts to paper was not difficult when writing his new novel.

“The book kind of gushed out. I never had a problem with writer’s block. This summer I managed to squeeze enough time here and there to get the job done,” Hiatt said.

The book, available for Kindle, sells for 99 cents. Upon learning of the book, students shared the Amazon link through social media.

Center will bring onstage arts to North Canon Drive

English teacher Bill Hiatt wrote a book about a teenager who suddenly remembers his former lives. It is available for download on the Amazon Kindle. JESSICA LU

“When I logged into Facebook, I saw several mentions of the book. I wasn’t the only one to ask him about it the next day; everyone is eager to read something written by Mr. Hiatt!” junior Mike Redston said.

“Living with Your Past Selves” is not the first piece of literature Hiatt has produced; in 1982 Hiatt published his first fantasy book. He noted that is unlikely that “Living with Your Past Selves” will be his final novel.

“This novel is set up so there certainly could be a sequel. It will be interesting to see how other people respond to it,” Hiatt said of his book. “Will I write again regardless? In some ways, probably, yes. I have other ideas...I imagine that...some of those will be converted to books. My numberone dream is teaching, and I got [to do] that, but I’ve always had a dream about writing.”

Alex Menache Staff Writer The Wallis Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts opens in the fall of 2013 to implement performing arts culture into the city of Beverly Hills.

The Center, which is located across from the Beverly Hills Public Library, consists of the historic Beverly Hills Post Office and the new state-of-the-art Goldsmith Theater, which seats 500 people. In addition,

Principal writes of years at Beverly Principal Carter Paysinger is writing a book about his childhood in Los Angeles and his experiences at Beverly, which include serving as the head football coach, an athletic director, an assistant principal and the first African-American principal.

Paysinger first attended Beverly as a student on a permit and “experienced two different worlds at the same time.”

“I had friends who lived here and my friends in my neighborhood back home,” Paysinger said. “There were different challenges, and navigating through both experiences was exciting, in hindsight.”

Paysinger meets once a week with his cowriter, “Glory Road” screenwriter Bettina Gilois, to discuss the book’s focus.

“A large part of my book is about my expethis new Annenberg Center will have three classrooms dedicated to theater school for children and young adults, as well as a gift shop, promenade terrace, sculpture garden and café.

One of the Center’s main architectural challenges was incorporating the historic post office with the modern theater in a way that meaningfully connects the two.

Architects on the project plan to achieve this combination of elements by referenc-

The Wallis Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts, on Canon Drive, is scheduled to open in fall 2013. IMAGE COURTESY OF ANNENBERG FOUNDATION

riences with my former students and the impact they’ve made on my life and I’ve made on their lives,” Paysinger said.

Howard Books, a division of Simon & Schuster, bought the book rights in June. The book’s tentative release is set for fall 2013.

Paysinger hopes that his book and its potential film adaptation will translate a powerful message to his audience.

“I want people to see that there are challenges and that you have to go with them,” Paysinger said. “You may have one goal that doesn’t work out, but the bottom line is to keep moving forward. I thought I’d be a Major League Baseball player, but I woke up one morning and here I am as principal of Beverly High.”

Julia Waldow ing the post office and human experiences in the architecture.

“It’s a poetic move for the site but a great way of talking to the community as a whole,” founder and design principal Zoltan E. Pali said in a video on www.annenbergbh.com, the project’s website. “It’s a project that architects live for.”

Another major goal of the architects is to measure up to the high expectations of Beverly Hills locals.

“Since we don’t have a lot of cultural places that offer services for teens, the Annenberg Center for Performing Arts will be a nice way to get in touch with the arts while staying close to home,” senior Cordelia Perez said.

According the Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts’s website, this once“sleepy” site will become a home for artists from not only Beverly Hills and Los Angeles, but also from around the world.

September 21, 2012 Highlights

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10 feature

September 21, 2012 Highlights

Student on ‘Bunheads’ Julia Waldow Print Editor-in-chief

After cooking for first lady Michelle Obama, Chef Darrel Smith took the opportunity to speak to Obama.

COURTESY OF DARRELL SMITH

Chef joins kitchen cabinet Pasha Farmanara Web Editor-in-chief Culinary Arts instructor Darrell Smith achieved his long time goal this summer when he cooked for First Lady Michelle Obama at a Women for Obama national campaign fundraiser luncheon.

“It has always been a goal [of mine] to reach a success where you can cook for one of the highest positions in the world: the first lady of the President of the United States. It was awesome to be able to achieve it,” Smith said.

When Smith learned of his renowned guest he felt, “nerves, nerves, nerves. A ball of nerves,” Smith said.

Although he was nervous, Smith found that cooking for Obama was not the only aspect Smith needed to worry about.

“A lot of things went through my head: What I’m going to cook, what I’m going to wear, is [Michelle Obama] allergic to anything, who is going to staff the event with me? It was for 350 people, so it wasn’t only for her. So I had to think about everything that comes along with catering for a party that large,” Smith said.

Even though Smith was cooking for the first lady, he did not feel that he cooked differently than he normally would.

“Anytime you cook for somebody you hold yourself to the same standards. Whether it be someone of high status or not, you want

everyone to have the same experience when you are cooking for them. It’s not different at all,” he said.

The meal started with two salads, a Caesar salad and an endive salad. The main course was a fresh herb seared chicken breast with an orange glaze marmalade, and the meal ended with a full dessert bar.

After the meal, Smith had the opportunity to meet the first lady and snap a picture with her.

“It was an honor to be in her presence.

She was very warm and very welcoming.

I didn’t feel intimidated at all by her, and it was just a wonderful once-in-a-lifetime event,” Smith said.

Smith took a year long break from the Culinary Arts class last year to work on Beverly Café, but he has come back to the program that he helped establish five years ago. He is excited to be back and thinks this year will stand out from past years.

“This is going to be a very exciting year full of great events and great food and a whole new student body who is excited to take this program,” Smith said.

Smith uses his encounter with Obama to get his students to be goal oriented and to inspire them to always do their best.

“I [want] students at Beverly to...know they can obtain any goal that they set their mind to. There is nothing in this world we cannot do or achieve,” Smith said. “If you believe it, then you can achieve it.”

Lights, dressing room trailers and camera operators greeted senior Ysabella Del Rosario last November as she stepped onto a television set that would be her home for days to come.

Although Del Rosario was excited about starting her career on “Bunheads,” ABC Family’s drama/comedy TV show about ballet dancing, one bonus of the job stood out to her the most: spending time with Sutton Foster, a two-time Tony Award winner and Broadway actress who plays the main character on the show.

“The fact that Sutton was breathing my air was amazing,” Del Rosario said. “She’s crazy talented. I admire her because she can sing and dance and act. The first time we filmed a scene with her, I was awestruck. I mean, she was standing right there!”

“Bunheads,” which was penned by “Gilmore Girls” creator Amy Sherman Palladino, is about an older Las Vegas showgirl (Foster) who restarts her dance career at her motherin-law’s (Kelly Bishop) ballet studio. The show is currently on a mid-season hiatus while waiting to film the next 10 episodes.

Del Rosario first heard about the show when her dance studio alumna’s father, a former director/producer of “Gilmore Girls,” asked Del Rosario’s teacher if any students would be interested in the job. After taking the offer, Del Rosario and about 15 dancers from her studio, including her sisters, sophomore Alexandra Del Rosario and freshman Elizabeth Del Rosario, have pirouetted across the set for the past several months.

“People think that acting is so easy, that actors don’t have to work hard, but this

experience opened my mind,” Del Rosario said. “Actors have to continuously retake a shot if it is not perfect. I loved getting to work with these amazing actors who are also great people. None of them were ever mean or snobby to us, and I thought it was really nice that they could open up to us.”

Each day of work, Del Rosario arrived on the Hollywood set around 8:30 a.m. and met her “school teacher,” a person hired to teach actors, for lessons. Afterwards, the dancers did test shots to adjust the lighting, rehearsed in front of the camera, went back to their schoolwork, got called in for shooting adjustments and shot a two hour scene. The whole process repeated again until all the scenes for that day were shot.

Del Rosario enjoyed both the pleasures and challenges that filming provided.

“High school and all of the work we have to do is so stressful that ‘Bunheads’ is a nice break,” Del Rosario said. “It was also nice to see how I could prioritize everything, with filming on top of my dance class on top of school and on top of SATs.” Despite her course load, Del Rosario commits ten hours to dancing on the weekdays and four and a half hours on the weekends at Marat Daukayev School of Ballet. In spite of her exposure to dance and the television industry, Del Rosario does not consider either activity as a career path.

“I loved my experience on ‘Bunheads,’ but I don’t think that acting is something for me,” she said. “I want to be a doctor and go into the medical field, but it is just nice to say that I used to be on a television show. Not everyone gets the chance to do that. I have learned to cherish everything that I have and not take anything for granted.”

Dancer Ysabella Del Rosario practices ballet with an instructor. Courtesy of YSABELLA DEL ROSARIO

Link Crew welcomes freshmen, new students Max Stahl Staff Writer Link Crew, a program in which juniors and seniors facilitate new students’ transition to Beverly, debuted on Aug. 21 during freshman orientation.

The Link Leaders, all upperclassmen, greeted the new students with applause, standing in two rows as the freshmen and new-to-district students walked between them. The Link Leaders then split the new students into groups of eight to 13 and gave them a tour of the school, after which they guided them in several games meant to symbolize various aspects of the high school experience.

“My Link Crew was awesome and super nice,” freshman Sabrina Simpson said.

“The Link Crew really helped welcome us freshmen into high school.”

The Link Crew groups, or “families,” will continue to meet for the rest of the year, holding football game tailgates, spelling bees and study sessions, among other activities.

On Aug. 20, the 70 Link Leaders prepared themselves for orientation from 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. with Link Crew advisers Loren Newman and Amy Golden, and Link Crew founder Micah Jacobson.

“I could already see an enthusiasm that was different than I have ever seen in my 20 years here at Beverly Hills High School,” Newman recalled.

In March, Newman and Golden attended a CADA (California Association of Directors of Activities) Conference and met with Jacobson. After securing principal Carter Paysinger’s permission, Newman, Golden and Jacobson brought

Link Crew to Beverly.

Newman is thrilled with the students’ performance so far.

“I’ve seen some camaraderie and enthusiasm that I have not seen before,” she said. “[Link Leaders] have gone above and beyond, texting their Link Crew group the first day of school, making sure they are okay, making sure they knew where their classrooms were, etc. And I think for the freshmen the group just made them feel welcome here at the high school.”

In addition to the short-term benefit of new students feeling more at ease, the advisers foresee various long-term effects that the program may yield. Newman predicts that Link Crew will produce “a really united school community,” and Golden expects a rise in academic achievement and attendance among freshmen and a decrease in bullying.

“I really think it is a culture changer,” Golden remarked.

But Link Crew means more to Golden than just that.

“It is literally why, as a professional, you get into this line of work – to see students take on this kind of program, make it their own and make such an impact on other students. It literally takes my breath away, so for me, it’s been a great experience,” she said.

Many different types of students have joined Link Crew: athletes, robotics members and students from ASB, SBAC and Service Learning. But a student does not have to be involved in any of these to join Link Crew; he or she simply has to have the desire to make a difference.

Applications will be open in the spring to juniors and seniors interested in joining Link Crew.

September 21, 2012 Highlights

sports 11

Football opens season with higher prospects Varsity Football 2012- 2013 Schedule September 21- @ San Marino Sept. 28- vs. South Pasadena October 5- vs. Inglewood October 12- vs. Santa Monica October 19- vs. Hawthorne October 26- @ Morningside November 2- @ Culver City Safety Ryan Rutigliano dives to retrieve a San Marcos fumble. ARMAN ZADEH

Arman Zadeh Sports Editor The Normans’ 2012 football team, although with a very different roster, has been performing statistically similarly to the 2011 team. Most recently, the Normans faced defeat at the hands of the Palos Verdes Peninsula Panthers, 35-7, on Sept. 14. The Normans hold a record of 1-2.

The Normans were limited to a single touchdown in the first quarter from linebacker Ole Woods. Kicker Bryan Shim converted on the single point after touchdown (PAT) kick.

During the game, Beverly suffered in rushing, where the team was out-rushed

286 yards to 90 yards. Running back Montay Monroe rushed a team high of 46 yards.

“Our lack of rushing was a key factor of our game play because once we get the rushing game going it opens up passing opportunities,” Monroe said. “The whole aspect of our game could have been better played and more organized.”

Beverly’s loss followed the previous week’s win on Sept. 7, against San Marcos, where the team ousted the Royals by a score of 33-12.

Beverly dominated from both ends of the field as the team posted a season high of 53 tackles as well as 182 yards received, passed by quarterbacks Chase Crossley, 95 yards, and Zack Bialobos, 87 yards.

Woods led the Normans defensively with nine tackles. Safety Austin Towns received 93 yards and had one touchdown.

Monroe had two touchdowns totaling 12 points along with touchdowns from wide receiver Sajun Bibbs, Woods and Towns, totaling 18 points. Kicker Harry Green converted on 3/3 PAT kicks.

The victory followed the team’s season opening loss against Santa Barbara where the Normans were defeated 35-6.

Linebacker Jared Forman scored the team’s single touchdown of the game in the fourth quarter, but the team did not convert on its PAT. Bialobos led with 59 passing yards.

Monroe rushed a season high of 116

yards.

Almost exactly a year ago, Beverly was in a similar position as it is this year, beginning with its game against Santa Barbra.

Last year, the team was also defeated by Santa Barbra in its first game, defeated San Marcos in its second game, and was beat by Peninsula in its third game.

In anticipation for Friday night’s showdown against San Marino, the team has picked up its fervor during practice and is taking advantage of a week free of games.

“In practice, we are picking up the intensity and being more aggressive and physical,” Monroe said.

The Normans next home game will be on Sept. 28, against South Pasadena.

Injury-ridden volleyball team struggles at home Arman Zadeh Sports Editor

Upcoming matches:

The girls’ varsity volleyball team heads into its fifth game of 17 for the season after four straight non-league games.

The team will match up against the Inglewood Sentinels on Sept. 27. The Normans currently hold a record of 1-3.

In their most recent match, the team was defeated by Torrance 3-0 on Sept.

13. The team played without outside hitter Daisy Abrams, due to illness, captain Allison Wolff and setter Evan Bennet.

Bennet suffered a wrist injury during the game and did not return. Wolff suffered a left shoulder injury in one of the team’s bouts against Westlake the week prior.

Defensive specialist Sarah Peskin believed the team lacked the energy it needed to compete with Torrance, and it reflected negatively in their performance.

“We weren’t that pumped and ready to win,” Peskin said.

The loss was the second loss in a row, following a loss against Westlake on Sept. 11. The team was defeated three matches to none.

Head Coach Jherra Ricks believed that players were not as aggressive as they

were in practice, and the loss of their captain late in the third match did not help their cause.

“I think our defense struggled quite a bit. We just need to get to a point where we have stronger court awareness,” Ricks said. “Losing our captain towards the end there really killed our momentum.”

In order to compensate for the team’s temporarily empty roster, members have stepped up the intensity during practices.

“We are all working really hard and improving a lot,” Peskin said. “Some losses could have been wins if we concentrated more and focused during the game. We will just keep working hard in practice and listening to our coach [until] we can live up to our expectations.”

Team chemistry has also played a role in Peskin’s optimism.

“The team’s chemistry has definitely aided us. Our coach is close to us and our team bonding and talks have really helped us improve,” Peskin said.

The team is now preparing to face Inglewood on Thursday, Sept. 27, in its first league match. The team hopes to recover from its current 1-3 record and conquer its first league match.

Captain Allison Wolff attempts a spike against Westlake. OLLIVER GALLOP

Varsity Boys’ Water Polo Varsity Girls’Volleyball 9/20-9/22- Malibu Tournament 9/27- vs. Inglewood 9/27- @Brentwood 10/3- @ Santa Monica 10/3- vs. El Segundo 10/4- @ Rio Honda Prep 10/9- vs. Torrance 10/5- @ Morningside 10/11- Santa Monica 10/11- @ Culver City 10/15- @ El Segundo 10/16- @ Inglewood

Varsity Girls’ Golf 9/25- vs. Palos Verdes 9/27- @ Palos Verdes 10/2- vs. Santa Monica 10/4- @ Santa Monica 10/9- vs. Torrance 10/11- @ Torrance

Varsity Girls’ Tennis 9/24- vs. Peninsula 9/27- vs. Inglewood 10/2- @ Santa Monica 10/4- vs. Culver City 10/9- @ Inglewood 10/11- vs. Santa Monica

12 sports

September 21, 2012 Highlights

Rohani chases college hopes, Olympic dreams

Rohani races past the finish line in the 2012 CIF State Finals. COURTESY OF ALEX ROHANI

Olliver Gallop Graphics Editor After a successful junior year track season replete with medals, awards and a school record, senior Alex Rohani continues to run at the top of his level.

Rohani was first introduced to track during his freshman year but could not devote all of his time to the sport because of his role on the basketball team. He stopped playing basketball after his freshman year to focus exclusively on running. For extra training, Rohani joined the cross-country team his sophomore year and has used his practice with long distance races to build his endurance and strong bases for track season.

“Running year round has really helped me drop my times. Because [I played] basketball freshman year, I didn’t have the extra months of training in the fall and winter that I have now,” Rohani said.

By spending a large amount of his time training, Rohani was able to gain the skills needed to flourish during the past track season. His most notable win came last season at the state finals in the 400-meter. Rohani’s time of 47.53 seconds not only crowned him the state champion but also set a school record for the distance.

“I feel very happy about last year because although I did not hit the time goal I was going for, 46 seconds, I won the state championship, which was my main goal for the season,” Rohani said.

Because of his success among California runners, Rohani chose to take his talent to Barcelona, Spain, to represent Iran in the World Junior Track and Field Championships. Since both of Rohani’s parents are of Iranian descent, he is able to race on either country’s behalf. Because track is less popular in Iran, Rohani had a better chance of qualifying for the team.

The meet is held every two years for teenagers 19 and under, which put Rohani at a disadvantage, as he is only 17. He was one of only four 17 year olds running the 400-meter, where 60 runners from around the world showed off their speeds around one lap of the track.

Rohani was eliminated in the preliminary round but will use his younger age to

his advantage in two years to qualify at the next championship in Eugene, Ore. “I will be going into the meet in two years with more experience and in better shape.

Hopefully [I will] make it to the finals and receive a medal,” Rohani said “Competing in an international meet of that caliber really opened up my eyes and made me determined and hungry to become on par with the best runners in the world.”

Even though Rohani did not get past the preliminary rounds in Barcelona, his sights for the upcoming season and confidence have not been affected. With nonstop conditioning until spring, Rohani will work hard to perfect his stride and gain strength.

“My goals this year are greater because I want to run a much faster time in all of my events, defend the State Championship in the 400-meter and medal in the 200-meter at the State Championship,” Rohani said.

Coach Jeffrey Fisher thinks very highly of Rohani and believes that Rohani will be capable of deciding his own future. “[Rohani] is talented, works hard, and makes ‘being the best’ a priority. [The future] looks great. He’s going to dictate where he ends up going,” Fisher said. “It’s all like a movie, this is not the end, it is to be continued. The sequel is coming soon.”

After high school, Rohani plans to run for a varsity college team and hopes to eventually achieve his goal of running in the Olympics. To become eligible, Rohani needs to run a 45.30 second 400-meter, a full two seconds faster than his school record time.

“I believe I can run in the 45 second range this year, but first I have to run in the 46s. I hope to hit the Olympic A standard [time] by [college] so I can participate in the Olympics,” Rohani said.

Rohani is being pursued by numerous Division I schools and is visiting Louisiana State University and the University of Michigan next month for visits.

Ricks brings new perspective to volleyball team Zoe Kenealy Staff Writer Coach Jherra Ricks is Beverly’s new, girls’ varsity volleyball coach. With Ricks stepping onto campus offering her former skills, love of the sport and determination to the team, girls’ volleyball is ready for their new season.

Ricks has been playing volleyball for 12 years and coached at the Culver Volleyball Club prior to coming to coach at Beverly.

Having decided to start coaching high school volleyball, Ricks chose the girls’ volleyball team at Beverly, because of its fine reputation.

“I heard a lot of great things about the program. I knew that they had quite a bit of talent over here. In my search for what high school program I wanted to be a part of, Beverly was at the top of the list,” Ricks said.

Ricks’ love of volleyball is what initially pushed her to coach, as it was a way to stay involved in the sport.

“Having been on successful teams, playing in college and playing for USA volleyball, you don’t want to give it up.

This is my way of being able to continue being around the sport. I give back to the sport by coaching,” Ricks explained.

According to Ricks, “preparation comes from hard work,” and that is why this season, the team will be practicing anywhere from five to six days a week.

Although the team will be faced this season with Ricks’ firm belief in tough daily practices, the girls endure them knowing that their efforts will soon pay

off when competing.

“Having Ricks as a coach can sometimes get difficult with the long practices, but I know that all our hard work actually does pay off,” varsity middle backer Alex Sams said. “I’m glad to see the team growing to be a lot stronger as a whole.”

Ricks expresses that the best aspect of coaching the varsity volleyball team at Beverly is the fact that every girl strives to better herself as a player and is determined to develop as the season progresses.

“Everyone has a positive attitude and wants to get better. Coach Ricks controls the team during their match against Westlake. OLIVER GALLOP Every coach knows that a coachable kid is the best type of tournament proving Ricks a fitting bond with his or her players plays just player, and every last girl on the team is coach, the girls feel that Ricks’ proven as vital a role in deciding whether or not coachable,” Ricks said. work ethic will ensure each individual the team as a whole will be successful in The girls have noticed a difference in girl’s improvement as a player. its season. their play as a team and appreciate the Coach Ricks believes that the team’s As Ricks works to build upon the bond improvements and efforts that Ricks has greatest strength is the fact that each that she herself has made with the girls, brought to every practice. team member gets along with one anoth- Ricks is equally determined to work to“She’s going beyond the limits to im- er and that there is also a strong bond ward a victorious season. prove the program and make us a more between the all the girls.

“She is new and trying to prove herself successful team. She brings 110% every Ricks believes it is as important to have as a coach but she has definitely been time she steps on the court,” defensive a strong connection on the court as it is doing a great job,” varsity opposite hitspecialist Sarah Peskin said. having one off the court. ter Liat Hackman said. “It’s going to be a With varsity volleyball’s most recent Coach Ricks also feels that a coach’s great season, I can already tell.”