highlights
Beverly Hills, Calif.
Beverly Hills High School
We’re Testing You
Volume 85, Issue Fourteen · June 8, 2012
Mandatory drug testing for student athletes elicits mixed reactions from community Michelle Banayan Staff Writer On May 22, in a 4-1 vote, the Board of Education passed a policy requiring mandatory random drug and alcohol tests for high school athletes. The policy states that if students test positive for drug or alcohol use, their parents will be notified and the students will take a second test within 60 days. If students test positive a second time or refuse to retake the test, they will be suspended from their sport for one game, the school district will be notified and they will retake the test. This policy was considered because of the two arrests that occurred due to student possession of marijuana during various drug sweeps. “It is very important not to assume that we don’t have evidence of a problem,” Board of Education Vice President Jake Manaster, who suggested notifying only the parents of students who test positive after one test, said. “We’ve had a situation where somebody got into trouble, and a few weeks later got into trouble again even though action was being taken.” Members of the Board of Education initially wished to drug test all the high school students. However, according to the law, athletes are the only people who can be randomly tested for illegal substances. “My preference would have been to randomly test all students at the high school, but the U.S. Supreme Court and California Court of Appeals limit random drug testing to student athletes because of the inherent danger that exists in sports,” School Board President Dr. Brian Goldberg, who proposed the new policy, said. “Student athletes are no worse or better than any other student group when it comes to drug and alcohol abuse at Beverly.” The new rule has sparked debate across the community. A main concern is that the drug tests will not deter students from using illegal drugs. In a national study of eighth, tenth and twelfth grade students in 2003, Frank Butler’s article “Urine Trouble: Drug Testing of Students and Teachers in Public Schools” found “among male athletes, [the] use of illicit drugs showed no significant difference between schools with and without drug testing.” “I do not think this policy is going to be a strong enough deterrent against doing drugs. They should suspend a player on the first offense and kick him or her off the team on the second offense,” athletic trainer Coleen Paysinger said. “Missing a practice means being suspended from one game for most teams. Now, doing drugs is equivalent to missing practice.” In addition, many are curious as to how athletes will be suspended from one game or be punished if they are tested positive for the second time when their season is finished. “If the district is going to do something this major, they should do it right,” football and baseball coach Vonzie Paysinger said. The test will cost $55 per athlete and is completely paid for by the district. “Our school has so many teams and the cost spent on each athlete will not be worth it. I think that we should spend the money on other things like prom, new jerseys and better equipment,” junior athlete Sarah [continued on page 3]
SEE EDITORIAL ON PAGE 5
Inside this Issue... Page 2
Page 7
Pages 10-11
Model UN hosts its second annual intraschool conference.
Highlights provides fun summer project ideas.
Prom came and went and the Normans celebrated in style.
2 news
June 8, 2012 Highlights
Students, faculty donate their locks
Junior Shantel Hanookai sits as she receives a hair cut. OLIVER GALLOP
Mabel Kabani Staff Writer On Tuesday, May 29, the Beautiful Lengths Hair Donation Campaign took place on the front lawn. Representatives from Pantene came to Beverly to collect hair donations from students who were willing to donate eight inches of their hair to create wigs for those afflicted with cancer. Students felt proud and glad to donate their hair to a memorable cause. “They [representatives] just tied my hair, measured it, and cut it!” sophomore Talia Youabian said. “I miss my long hair, but I know it will grow out and I know I did it to make someone else happy!” Though donating hair to benefit others is a reward on its own, many students are looking to cut their lengthy tresses and embrace a fresh new look as summer approaches, and this opportunity allowed
them to do so. “I wanted a change and all my friends were really encouraging me to cut my hair. It was a spontaneous decision,” junior Allison Wolf said. “I feel like I did a really great thing, but it’s also a weird feeling knowing that my hair is short now!” Some students, however, had more personal reasons for donating their hair to the cause. Many did so in honor of relatives or acquaintances who previously had cancer. “I knew the cause was very important,” sophomore Jesse Edelman said. “And since both of my parents have cancer, I thought it was important that I contribute by donating my hair.” However, students were not the only ones donating their locks to those in need. Math teacher Elaina Riley and English teacher Barbara Bader also chopped off eight inches of hair to donate.
Beautiful Lengths is actually a program derived from the partnership between Pantene and the American Cancer Society, according to Pantene’s official website. Because real wigs tend to be expensive, this program gives women who have cancer a chance to feel more like themselves through low cost but high quality wigs. Pantene’s official site also mentions that since July 2006, Pantene has helped donate 18,000 wigs to women with cancer all over the country. Though this event was a great chance to help those in need and achieve a fresh new summer look, Pantene’s official website gives a step by step procedure on how to cut and donate one’s own hair. It supplies an address to send the hair, so though even if this event was one that some could not attend, donating one’s hair is something that could be done at any time.
Model UN hosts annual conference Dami Kim Social Media Director
The Model United Nations club hosted Beverly’s second annual Model UN conference on Saturday, May 26. According to club advisor Malia Frutschy, 80 students were divided into four committees to debate: the Israeli Palestinian conflict, nuclear proliferation in Iran, human trafficking in eastern Europe and nuclear proliferation in North Korea. The Model UN club members planned and prepared the event, providing the background research for each of the issues. President Donya Enayati served as the Secretary General of the conference. “Students [stepped] into the shoes of ambassadors from UN member states to debate current issues on the organization’s agenda,” Enayati said. “This worthwhile event gives students the opportunity to implement their leadership skills and knowledge of international relations in gaining a new perspective of global politics.” A typical day Model UN conference is divided into sections. There is a short opening ceremony for all delegates, who then split into their committees to start debate. There are two debate sessions with a break in between. The last session includes the resolution writing period in which the committee votes on proposed solutions to the issue at hand. Enayati emphasized that delegates must adhere to the policies and beliefs of their respective countries and not allow their personal viewpoints on their topics to influence their positions.
Model UN members participate in their annual conference at Beverly. COURTESY OF MALIA FRUTSCHY
Students received awards after lunch. Junior Elbert Kim won an Outstanding award for representing the Republic of Korea in the Nuclear Proliferation in Iran committee. Although it was his first time participating he felt prepared by the time he was supposed to deliver his opening statement, which states his country’s views and resolution ideas. “Attending those meetings during lunch right before the conference really helped me,” Kim said. Senior Madison Moore won the Best
Delegate award as a representative from Japan in his committee of Nuclear Proliferation in North Korea. Moore recommended for other students to participate in events they feel passionate about. “I would recommend this experience to any student who enjoys debate and has a love of politics, both domestic and international,” Moore said. Enayati encouraged students who enjoyed the conference to get more involved with the club the following school year.
Quick Reads Spring blood drive proves successful On Friday, June 1, the UCLA blood drive had a successful turnout as more students, faculty members and other members of the community donated their blood than in past semesters. According to ASB Head Row Treasurer junior Nathan Cohen, there were about 200 units of blood donated this year, which met ASB’s goal count. This was an improvement from last year, when the blood drive collected a total of 160 units of blood. “We were doing about 40 units an hour [this semester], which is a pretty good rate,” Cohen said. According to junior ASB representative Michael Yosef, there were less deferrals this year, meaning that less donors who arrived to donate blood were turned down. This semester’s blood drive was less problematic than in previous years. “There were only a couple people who fainted,” Cohen said. Senior Yeganeh Amini, a first-time blood donor, has reason to believe that donating is worth it. “I thought [donating blood] would be a great way to help people who need blood. There’s always a shortage of blood, so it’s always good to donate,” Amini said. For those students who felt discouraged to donate blood because of a fear of needles, pain or blood, Amini assures that the experience is a worry-free one. “I wasn’t sure if I would faint or feel weak afterward, but everything went well,” Amini said. “I would definitely donate again.” As well as having the opportunity to donate to a great cause, students who donated blood also received free AMC movie tickets. Sarit Kashanian
Students, faculty enjoy Wingshooters The second annual Hero Project was held in the auditorium on Tuesday, June 5. Nina Revoyr came to speak about her novel Wingshooters, which depicts the life of a young multiracial girl in a racist Wisconsin town. English teacher Julie Goler organized the event. She believed Revoyr would be a great speaker because she engages her audiences. “[Revoyr] is a super charismatic and inspiring person. She holds everyone’s attention and is an extraordinary speaker,” Goler said. At the assembly, Goler interviewed Revoyr about her inspiration and characters and then students were able to ask Revoyr questions they had about the book. At the end of the assembly, students had the opportunity to get their copy of Wingshooters signed by Revoyr. Students found the assembly very interesting and believed it was a great complement to the book. “It was interesting and I’m glad I came. It’s good that you can ask the author what they meant since [the book] can be confusing,” freshman Miguel Perez Garrido said. Attendees also gained a new appreciation and view of the book after the event. “I thought it was very interesting and gave me a new insight on the book and its author,” sophomore Deena Baum said. The assembly could not have been put together without the help of teacher Debra Joseph, Service Learning, PTSA and special education teachers. Next year’s book has not been announced yet, but during the assembly Goler mentioned choosing a different genre. Lilia Abecassis
June 8, 2012 Highlights
Quick Reads [continued from page 1] Patterson said. The drug tests that the students will undergo will be testing for alcohol and illegal drugs, but it will not detect performance-enhancing substances. “The tests should probably detect drugs such as steroids. Those are the ones that will get an athlete disqualified in competitions such as CIF,” Paysinger said. However, Dr. Goldberg emphasizes that the mission of these tests is not to target the athletes and specifically improve the athletic department, but to stop drug use throughout the school. “The goal and intent of the policy is not to ‘punish’ student athletes, but rather to prevent students from taking illegal drugs or abusing alcohol and for those who violate our policy to get the help they need,” he said. Despite those who are against the implementation of the rule, those in favor of it feel that it will greatly affect the students and their usage of illegal substances. “I think it is about time [that this policy was implemented] and I wish it would have happened sooner,” physical education teacher Heather Harrison said. “I think it is a bit too lenient; the first positive test should mean removal from the team. I believe in the zero-tolerance policy.” In addition to the administration, students agree that the idea of deterring drug use will be beneficial to the students, but the consequences of testing positive should be more extreme. “I think this is a good idea because people should not be doing drugs, but their should be a harsher punishment,” freshman athlete Buk Lau said. The new drug and alcohol policy will be enforced next fall.
news 3
Cabaret highlights French culture Madame Emmanuelle Rousseaux, who is a French instructor at all four Beverly Hills Unified School District middle schools, was also honored for her dedication and commitment to the students and the program. “This is my third consecutive time attending Cabaret, but only my first where I am performing,”said junior Cosimo Bocchi. “It is a good way of meeting people who speak French and a great opportunity to test your skills after another full year of class.” The admission was free, but food and drinks were sold during intermission as well as tickets for a raffle contest, which was drawn at the end of the event. Numerous performances were able to keep guests in their seats for several The audience looks on as Madrigals, led by choir director Joel Pressman, perform during Cabaret. VINCENT BROCK hours, starting at 6:00 p.m. same for the last 15 years,” Head of the and going past 8:00 p.m. Acts included Vincent Brock Foreign Language Dept. Corinne Carlson students reciting French poems and skits Photography Editor said. to the singing of French songs performed On Thursday, May 31, a collaboration After a silent auction and classical by the Madrigals. After an intermission of students, parents, teachers and board and jazz music on the patio, family and comprised of French cuisine and raffle members entered through the cafeteria friends found their seats, ready to see their tickets, awards were distributed to students doors to see patterns of blue, white and classmates and relatives perform in French. of all levels, but not all students won awards. red. The colors, along with multiple The event even welcomed guest of honor Despite stresses of dealing with budget performances including singing, dancing, Fabrice Maiolino, who has served as the cuts and new language classes such as and acting, represented the French Vice Consul of France in Los Angeles for Mandarin Chinese and Hebrew, Cabaret language and culture in order to raise the past several years and participated in a has consistently raised awareness about support and donations for the school’s 2010 G-8 meeting. the French program to capture the support French department. After a welcoming round of applause, he of the student body, as well as parents, Cabaret has not always been in the thanked the audience for promoting the teachers and the school board. Cabaret will cafeteria, but has “generally stayed the French culture and its significance. can-can its way back in 2013.
4 opinion
June 8, 2012 Highlights
Drug money The editorial board shuns the money wasted on drug tests We at this newspaper are ardent fans of the Board of Education for the sole reason that they provide us with an extraordinary amount of fodder for these editorial pages (see page 5 and lots of other issues). The board’s most recent controversial decision mandates random drug and alcohol testing for Beverly athletes, as a direct response to the arrest of two students in the drug dog sweeps. The board is concerned about a rampant drug problem at this school and athletes are the only student group that may be tested, per legal judgment. The intent of this policy is theoretically noble. Drugs and alcohol are injurious to health — and also illegal. Substances also detrimentally impact athletics. Smoking ravages lung capacity and a sports match is not the best time to sweat out the toxins that accompany alcohol. However, the district desperately needs to learn how to prioritize. We live in an era of budget cuts that have dramatically reshaped the district over the past few years. Each test will cost the district $55, ensuring a dramatic financial drain, given the high percentage of student participation in athletics.
The onus of paying for student activities has largely been placed on the unfailingly enthusiastic PTSA. While this organization is completely admirable, it should not have to bear the burden of funding actual curricular classes, like this newspaper. Thus, spending an enormous sum on addressing a problem evinced by the arrest of only .001 percent of the student body is vaguely ridiculous. If we were to cast cost aside, the policy itself is basically ineffectual. Parents are the only people notified the first time a student tests positive; this is a good way to protect students from dire consequences of a youthful mistake. However, some parents may fail to remediate the potential problem. It would make far more sense if coaches were notified, with the caveat that the student would not suffer punishment for the first instance. This would allow the athlete to receive support and guidance from a group of people that they desperately need to please, perhaps forcing them to shape up (no pun intended). So, while this policy has a good heart, we must remember that this is not the eighties at Beverly. We have more dire problems; isn’t this new millennium fantastic?
Per-shun
In Beverly Hills it’s not easy being Persian Arman Zadeh Staff Writer Behro, I have a story to tell you about stereotypes: they are everywhere. It is only a matter of time before a completely innocent ethnicity gets tagged with its own array of racial slurs, forever labeling any group of people as the same. As a Persian of Beverly Hills, I don’t get through one day without hearing a conversation about BMWs, being cheap or mofting. On top of all the already established stereotypes, “The Shahs of Sunset” comes along and adds to my self-hatred of my Persian race. When you think of a “typical” Persian, a few things come to mind. For a guy, you think of a hairy, heavily accented kid wearing nothing but Affliction clothing, a leather jacket, and intense amounts of Axe cologne, with a gold watch and BMW car keys hanging off their belts. As for “typical” girls, you naturally imagine
Tory Burch shoes, shirts, school bags and iPhone cases with a deep scent of Pink Sugar perfume. But I am here to speak for the us when I say we don’t deserve these tags. Each of us is unique, despite what our last names say, and just because one of “us” has ruined our name doesn’t mean all Persians are illiterate, careless people. You know who I’m talking about, that one person everyone knows for starting fights at parties and crashing everything from bar mitzvahs to kickbacks since he was in seventh grade. But that’s a different rant. I believe that if you are aware of the stereotypes, which almost all of us are, you should try your best to steer yourself away from them. Hey, flatter me. Unlike many obnoxious people, care about school for a day; think about how you treat others and how you want others to view you as a person. Let’s make being Persian something to be proud of.
A special thank you to the PTSA
for their continued support throughout the year
Sincerely, The Highlights Staff
June 8, 2012 Highlights
opinion 5
What a year
The editorial board looks back on the year and grins Looking back on the school year of 20112012, we have deemed it the strangest of times. The Board of Education election, for one, had some exciting turns. There were threats, dropouts, a write-in, a strongly worded editorial, Beverly Hills Patch’s rise to prominence, and a community member’s descent to indecency. We, the editorial board, have found a sadistic trait we didn’t know we had. With all the problems inside the school, some of which we will soon mention, it was definitely funny to see the adults acting like, you know, freshmen. We also enjoyed, and continue to enjoy, the subpocalypse. We are aware of the potential risks, but we don’t appreciate the large sums of cash being wasted on fighting the improvement and extension of public transit. This makes us sad. We like public transit as well as large sums of money. Other things we didn’t enjoy this year included the great many alarms (we have purposely removed “fire” from the name). The boy cried wolf many times, so to speak, and eventually cried expulsion. After that, we haven’t had a problem with the beeps. Highlights won a prestigious award in Minneapolis in the fall. Our newspaper, according to the National Scholastic Press Association, is among the best (nine-to12-pagers) out of all the schools (that at-
tended) in the world. Moreover, we are finalists in the L.A. Press Club. And besides boasting, Highlights did a nice thing this year with its thinly veiled recruitment scheme in which it held a contest for local eighth-graders, who competed for a spot on this very opinion page. They wrote about diversity and uniforms and technology. We hope to see each of them in Beginning Journalism next year. Our winter break began on Christmas Eve’s eve, which bothered some. We, the editorial board, enjoy holiday cheer and were sad that we had only two days of it. This year we have flirted with the prospect of a functioning planetarium (though we cannot imagine that astrology.com is not good enough for our peers). This prospect appears to be too expensive to be useful, and science teachers have warned that astronomy is not as fun as AstroCamp night walks. Other potential renovations we have argued about include the rebuilding of our neighbor Roxbury Park. We enjoy Sundaymorning walks and Little League games and would like them to be a little nicer. We believe, however, that the Beverly Hills City Council has deemed this dream too expensive. That good money could, instead of being used to better public life, potentially be used to delay the extension of public transit.
In early March student-drivers rallied and honked and rebelled against the closed-gate policy. The administration was understandably upset. The rowdy students’ parking permits were confiscated and the bacchanalians were lectured before being re-bestowed the right to park. In May we got a brand-new bell schedule with unique weeks. We learned new lingo (B schedule, C schedule), the days of the week were jeopardized (Monday/Tuesday schedules on Friday), and bells rang earlier than usual. Maybe they got confused. We know we did. Confusion is something our school holds dear to its heart, with its hard-to-find policies, hard-to-reach planetariums and hard-to-bear clip-art propaganda. “Comedy equals tragedy plus time,” says writer and comedian Andy Borowitz. And what we have learned this year is that as long as the tragedy isn’t really a tragedy (e.g., subpocalypse) the equation is balanced with no time at all. Though on a serious note—something that is, in fact, a tragedy—we lost classmate Elena Natanzadeh this year. Here, unfortunately, the said equation will not work. She is greatly missed. Trials and tribulations have made this year a tragicomedy– what else could we write about?
Techno thank you Staff writer Bless Bai sacrificed social networking and bettered her life Bless Bai Staff Writer A few months ago I officially broke off my long-term relationship with social media after several attempts at making our relationship work. From deactivating my Facebook account to blacklisting sites like Tumblr, I meddled with various methods in hopes of maintaining a comfortable distance between social media and myself. Yet an unsatisfactory feeling had settled in my mind, and soon after, I, in a few dramatic mouse clicks, ended my affairs with Facebook, Twitter and Tumblr. I never looked back. People bombard me with questions regarding my absence in social media in an age where businesses, relationships and information thrive because of it. While there are undoubtedly an abundance of un-
precedented benefits that come with social media, they were not sufficient enough to outweigh my discontentment with it. I genuinely love reading stories and listening to people. Rather than catching up with the lives of those around me, though, a stream of indiscernible tweets and artistic shots of In-N-Out burgers were all I received from the promise of being more connected. Now, I have more time to talk to people one-on-one and initiate heartto-heart conversations. At least twice a week, I find myself calling or meeting up with friends I have not seen for a while and talking to them for hours. Clearly, going on Facebook and having less meaningful conversations is as unlikely as restraining from Facebook makes me more prone to have meaningful conversations. But, I have more time on my hands. Being free from the urge to publicly up-
date my whereabouts has proved to be tremendously fruitful as well. I now have more time to allocate in my day to things I enjoy doing, such as painting, finishing neglected novels and practicing violin. The hours add up and leave me with more time to dedicate to the children I teach at church or to the work I have on my plate. Like any person who questions a breakup, I occasionally fiddle with the temptation to use social media again. Thoughts of logging on to Twitter and Facebook whenever I am struck by an inspiring phrase within 140 characters or feel an urge to inspect the relationship statuses of cousins twice-removed are still traceable, but the temptation lingers less and less as time passes. I wish social media the best with the plethora of relationships he already has and reminisce on the memories we created. Then, I pick up my paintbrush.
The Staff Nathan Ong and Mallika Sen Editors-in-Chief
Candice Hannani News Editor
Danny Licht Opinion Editor
Benjamin Hannani Feature Editor
Julia Waldow Arts & Style Editor
Ryan Feinberg Spotlight Editor
Chanan Batra Sports Editor
Vincent Brock Photography Editor
Sayeh Mohammadi Business Manager
Oliver Gallop, Alex Menache, AJ Parry and Ginelle Wolfe Staff Photographers
Bless Bai, Sasha Park and AJ Parry Staff Cartoonists
Sour 16 Brenda Mehdian Staff Writer There must be a reason why being 16 is so “sweet,” but I don’t know it. Everyone believes that this is the age when almost everything turns around; you are two years away from adulthood and it seems as if the world is in the palm of your hand. Those six months of driving with your permit and having your parents yell at you for not making a complete stop are over.
Dami Kim Social Media Director
The cliché about the sweetest age isn’t true You can finally drive yourself to those legendary high school parties that you always see in movies. The ones where everyone is just crowded together, jumping in the air and having the time of their lives. Carefree seems to be what being 16 is all about; it seems like the best age, doesn’t it? If only all these things actually happened. For starters, many people got their permits late and have to wait until after they turned 16 to actually get their license. Also, many teens may not have a car, and there’s hardly
Lilia Abecassis Assistant to News Editor
any use for a license when there is no car for you to drive. Even if you are not taking any APs there is still an incredible amount of pressure on you to do well in school. Yes, there are those legendary parties; however, as word spreads, more people show up and by 11:30 p.m. the cops do too and the party that has been built up to be “the party of the year” gets shut down. These are just a few reasons why being sixteen isn’t all that it is cracked up to be. That conception that many thought it would be is, well, false.
Michelle Banayan, Celine Hakimianpour, Mabel Kabani, Sarit Kashanian, Zoe Kenealy, Hae Lee, Brenda Mehdian, AJ Parry, Shannon Toobi and Arman Zadeh Staff Writers
Gaby Herbst and Katie Murray Advisers
This newspaper is produced by the Advanced Journalism class of Beverly Hills High School 241 Moreno Drive, Beverly Hills, CA 90212. · The journalism program is sponsored by PTSA and BHEF. · Send letters to beverlyhighlights@gmail.com. · Ads are not endorsed by BHUSD.
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June 8, 2012 Highlights
Mathew Simon designs robots, runs business Julia Waldow Arts&Style Editor Junior Mathew Simon takes the phrase “build your future” seriously and literally. Ever since he first built and designed robots at Milken, Simon has shaped a successful path in engineering. After transferring to Beverly in 2010 specifically for its robotics program, Simon has continued to make successful advancements in mechatronics. “I’ve always liked a challenge, and robotics and engineering have given me the ability to solve problems in a creative and technical way,” Simon said. “Robotics became a passion of mine and something I want to spend the rest of my life doing.” After working as an apprentice for different robotics sub-teams at Milken, Simon spearheaded a variety of outside projects. He taught himself Computer Aided Design (CAD), a program that enables a builder to perfect a system before creating it, in seventh grade. “I knew that just learning through watching others would only take me so far,” Simon said. “I figured that the best way to expand my knowledge was to build something on my own.” Simon first designed a robot that would avoid obstacles and travel the most efficient path around a room. His passion for designing machines and doing CAD motivated him to found his own selfoperated engineering company, Mathew Simon Design, in 2009. “I had more hours in a day than I had homework to fill, and because I have an obsession with designing systems, creating a company seemed like a good
way to make money to buy tools,” Simon said. Simon’s company offers customers a variety of services such as CAD programming, d i m e n s i o n e d drawings, 3-D renderings, full designs, stress analyses, graphic design icons and presentations. To gain more customers, Simon registered his website domain, msedesign.net, in 2010. Although some of Simon’s customers are family members or friends, other customers contact Simon through grabcad.com, a site Junior Mathew Simon grinding a manipulator for the MorTorq robot. Photo courtesy of MATHEW SIMON where contractors such as Simon can get synchronized fan, a planter, an automated electrical engineering) in college at Cal work. Once he gets a job, Simon consults camera jig, jeopardy circuits, a sedan-sized Poly San Luis Obispo. his mentor, Paul Boschan, who works for catapult, a trebuchet and an animatronics “Ultimately, I want to leave the world Redman Equipment and Manufacturing. unit. In 2011, Simon designed and built a having innovated it in some way or Boschan helps Simon figure out the CAD station and a computer with a duel another,” Simon said. “My lifetime pursuit cheapest way to implement an idea and monitor and a 3D mouse. is to re-engineer robotics prosthetics.” pick out materials. Once Simon completes “A huge part of a lot of my designs is to Simon’s goals are becoming a reality a plan, his customers send Simon’s designs fuse function with form,” Simon said. “If as his work is nationally recognized for to a manufacturer. Simon typically gets something doesn’t look great, I will redo its merit. Last year was a particularly four or five jobs a year. He usually charges it or enhance it. Once I have a challenge notable year for Simon. In 2011, Simon $40 per hour for his services, but his rates and set myself to it, I can’t really stop was a finalist for the Autodesk Excellence vary based on a project’s complexity. He until I solve it in both an aesthetically and in Design CAD Award and the semifinalist uses this money to fund his other projects. functionally appealing manner.” for the Conrad Spirit of Innovation Award. Besides doing freelance CAD Simon plans to pursue mechatronic He currently serves as the Robotics designs, Simon has constructed a heat- engineering (a mixture of mechanical and Director of CAD and Design at Beverly.
Students find inspiration
Do you need a Spanish tutor?
Call Liora Pier (310)-384-3844
Senior Julian Jackson molds clay for his ceramics project. GINELLE WOLFE
Benjamin Hannani Feature Editor Students are rarely excited about final projects, but ceramics students may be an exception. Ceramics teacher Melody Bronder’s final project requires her students to identify an inspirational artist and create a piece modeled after the artist. The broad guidelines allowed room for creativity, but still ensured that the students conducted research and used their ceramics knowledge. “There are a lot of methods that Ms. Bronder taught us that we’re incorporating [into our projects]…like the slab method,” junior Parker Davis said. Students’ inspirations greatly varied. Senior Caio Carvalho, for example, looked to his cultural background for his piece, a model of the Amazon Rain Forest. Carvalho
was inspired by Brazilian artist Ratzu and reflected his Brazilian pride when asked to describe his piece. “I’m from Brazil [where] we have the greatest forest in the world, the Amazon, so I’m trying to [portray] that,” Carvalho said. By contrast, Davis was inspired by his love of sports, particularly baseball. Davis searched for an artist whose pieces matched his passion and found inspiration in the work of Norman Rockwell, a famous 20th century American painter and illustrator. For his final project, Davis decided to sculpt a miniature baseball stadium, a reflection of his fondness for the game. “It’s something that I’ve been assigning for the last couple years and students seem to like [the project],” Bronder said. “It lets the students use their skills and be creative at the same time.”
• 16 years of experience • teaching credential • hands-on training • low rates • close proximity to Beverly Hills High School • Years of experience with Beverly High: - Spanish courses - final exams - verb masteries
arts&style 7
June 8, 2012 Highlights
Design, doodle and dye with do-it-yourself activities Dip into new, popular dip dying trend Shannon Toobi Staff Writer Rather than using an abundance of coloring products or taking a trip to the salon, try dip dying, a new, fun and easy way to give hair tips a faded look. The ombre look, also done by dip dying, can be done easily and quickly at home, giving one
the freedom to be as fun and funky as he or she wants. Necessary products needed for dip dying include nonpermanent bleach, hair dye, aluminum foil and plastic gloves. Dip dying is a perfect and easy way to try something new with hair and add variety to one’s usual look, with the permission of one’s parents, of course.
To begin the dip dying process, wear plastic gloves and mix the bleach solution well (right). Then apply bleach to hair tips and cover the tips with aluminum foil. Girls with darker hair should prolong this process in order to bleach their hair lighter.
After checking the hair color repeatedly until satisfied, wash the hair and style it. Blow-dry natural curls, sport a braid or show off a ponytail (right).
Turn old jeans into summer cutoffs Alex Menache Staff Writer With summer approaching, fashionistas are frantically looking for that one perfect
pair of shorts that is in the right wash, fits well and is a comfortable length. Instead of leaving last year’s dusty jeans in the back of the closet, give them a fun and easy makeover.
Try on a pair of jeans and draw a line on them with a fabric pencil, Sharpie or light crayon so that it is clear where to start cutting. It is better to make shorts longer than shorter so they can be altered easily. Take off the jeans and cut on the line as straight as possible (above). Next, fold over the cut leg onto the other leg and cut accordingly. Throw the shorts in the wash to achieve a frayed, distressed look at the bottom.
Next, add lace to the shorts with storebought or old fabric that is not too delicate or fragile (above). Place lace on the front pockets, back pockets or around the waistband and draw around the area with a highlighter.
Cut around the line drawn and secure the lace onto the shorts with fabric glue (above).
Wait for them to air dry and do not put them in the dryer in order to maintain the frayed look (above). ALEX MENACHE
BLESS BAI
Create colorful twists with tie dye Shannon Toobi Staff Writer With so much leisure time during the summer, there are countless fun activities,
such as tie-dying, to do. All types of things ranging from t-shirts to leggings to even pillow cases can be tie-dyed. Tie-dying is simple and funmaking it easy to bring variety to any wardrobe. To tie-dye, use a plastic tablecloth, a large bowl of soapy water, paper towels, buckets, two or more colors of fabric dye, salt, rubber bands, sealable plastic bags and latex gloves. It is also helpful to wash the fabric being used prior to tie-dying. Soak the fabric in water and then tie the fabric with the rubber bands (left).
Next, prepare the dyes in each bucket and add one cup of salt in hot water to each dye bath. After this step, dip the fabric in the buckets and simply wring it out and place it in a sealable plastic bag. For the best results, it is advised to leave the fabric in the plastic bag overnight before washing and drying the fabric.
OLIVER GALLOP AJ PARRY JULIA WALDOW
The next day, use rubber gloves and rinse the shirt under warm water and then under cool water until the water runs clear. Then, remove the rubber bands from around the fabric. Lastly, hang up the shirt to dry or place it in the laundry dryer on the coolest setting.
Be creative with melted crayon art Alex Menache Staff Writer The arrival of a new season also brings forth the urge to try new DIY projects.
Melted crayon art matches the bold new style of summer by combining bright colors with a fresh, homemade style. As opposed to other art projects, crayon art is an easy, fast and fun activity to do.
To make crayon art, use crayons, a canvas, a glue gun and a blow dryer. Start by making a design with the crayons on the canvas. Create a colorful effect by lining up the crayons in rainbow order (left). Feel free to get creative and make a unique design.
Next, glue the crayons onto the canvas exactly as planned and make sure that all the crayons are facing down (left). Before blow-drying, place a trash bag under the piece because this process tends to get messy.
After putting the canvas upright, face the blow dryer downward toward the canvas (left) and set the blow dryer on the hottest setting for faster results. After the piece dries, find a place to hang it and enjoy a new, bright and stylish summer room. ALEX MENACHE, AJ PARRY
8
Highlights
centerfold
the definitive guide to being an appy student at beverly If you’re one of the four people that uses Google Reader, this app is right up your alley.
Many old, required books are available for free on iBooks.
Facebook, an upand-coming social media service, gives MySpace a run for its money.
Tumblr is a great blogging site, but it’s blocked on school computers. The app reconnects you with your Tumblog at school.
With Skype you can chat with your grandparents during class.
If you like music and clicking things, you’re going to love opening this app and then using it.
Sasha Park
Calling people on Phone is like a pricey trip to the ‘90s. You’re going to love it!
June 8, 2012
The Dictionary.com app defines words anywhere with an Internet connection.
apps and downs Danny Licht Opinion Editor Ever since the iPhone App Store was released, in 2008, I’ve been downloading applications to fill holes in my reality. Just last week I was sulking because I wanted an electric guitar. But guitars are expensive, and expensive costs money, so instead I headed to the App Store. I searched “electric guitar” with my wee thumbs. The free app (Electric Guitar! by On Beat Limited) had only three stars. The next two both cost a dollar, which is out of my budget. Instead, being clever and brilliant, I downloaded Pandora, “the free personalized radio that only plays music you’ll love,” its pompous description claims. It was right. I love it and I get to hear professional guitarists (i.e., ones who can play barre chords for a whole album without their hand hurting). They make me jealous and happy. A couple years ago I was feeling pensive and sad because I realized
that my life had zero zombies in it. I whipped out my iPad and found PopCap’s Plants vs. Zombies ($3; I had a gift card). This app includes, but is not limited to, zombies attacking a house and they can only be deterred by genetically modified plants that shoot stuff back. I felt worthy, though I wondered why I was unafraid of life-size zombies but am scared of spiders. Probably because spiders are more evil and more real. And, if I remember correctly, it was a few weeks ago and I was tweeting with my thumbs, and I realized that I wanted to send pictures of me looking terrifying to all of my contacts. But I wanted only to send the pictures; I didn’t want them to save them. So I whipped out my iPhone and downloaded SnapChat and sent two pictures of myself (one with a double chin and one with my horns exposed) to 24 people. Many of them haven’t responded yet. Speaking of fun things to do, I couldn’t dream of writing this purposeful column without the help of my trusty Mac application iA Writ-
er. It’s the most beautiful writing app in the world and I use it daily. But, you’re probably wondering, what do I do when I start an article on my computer but want to finish it on the go? And, more importantly, what does this have to do with iPhone apps? Well, inquisitive reader, the document magically saves without my doing anything via iCloud, which has apparently been following me for a while, and appears on iA Writer for iPhone ($0.99). But the app I use more than any other app is Instagram (free), the most glorious photo-sharing community. I take a photo, filter it to make it pretty, and send it off into the world that loves me (the virtual one). They like me, they really like me! And they click “follow” and they click “like” and they click “comment” and write nice things. I like nice things in real life, too, but not when people follow me. When they do that I use the app Phone by Apple and dial the police department. They’re my personal, genetically modified plants.
9
a writing app and the school’s app Ryan Feinberg Spotlight Editor For those who see Microsoft Word as a word processor that sits on a computer screen while the user is trying to multitask iChat conversations, JupiterGrades logins, iTunes playlists, and attempts to decipher Facebook privacy settings, iA Writer might be your best friend. iA Writer, named by Apple as one of the 2011 Mac Apps of the Year, is an austerely formatted word processor that could be described as computer Adderral. Firstly, iA Writer allows users to make the processor full screen, blocking out computer distractions and temptations. But the fun does not end here. iA Writer also has a “focus” feature, blurring all text minus the line of text being written.
As the app developers note, the app does not require a mouse: all formatting can be done using easily learned syntax. Because of this unique feature, neither settings nor preferences exist. The app also wirelessly updates documents written on iA Writer to all of the user’s devices. Purchasing the app should not financially cripple users; the iPhone and iPad app costs 99 cents and the Mac app costs $8.99. — The BHHS app (free), available on the iTunes Store for Apple products, has revolutionized the way students access Beverly’s bell schedule. The app has seven icons on its home screen: “School,” “Grades,” “News,” “Bells,” “Vacations,” “Library,” and “More.” The “School” icon forwards the
user to a direct “Call” button that calls Beverly’s main office, as well as a “Directions” button that access the devices map function, giving directions to the school. The “Grades” icon accesses JupiterGrades, the website Beverly teachers use to upload grades. The “News” icon informs the user on upcoming Beverly information. The “Bells” icon gives an easy-touse format to determine the bell schedule for a given day. The “Vacations” icon informs the user on days that school is not in session. The “Library” icon does not load. The “More” icon features subcategories of Enrichment, Homework, Newspaper, Map, Food, and Store. Most cool is what one sees after tapping the small “i” in the bottom right hand corner: a countdown until the last day of school.
If you have trouble with organization, Evernote is the perfect app for you! Evernote allows you to type and sync notes, photos and voice memos from your iPhone to the Web. Using the Evernote application, you can access your notes on your desktop when you get home. Notes can be searched and tagged, so finding specific notes is never difficult. There really is no better app to keep your class notes organized and with you at all times. (Free)
Devotees of Mr. Paul will be familiar with Wolfram Alpha, the computational knowledge search engine. The developers of the site have released an app, which can deal with queries in over 20 subjects. The app will analyze entered search terms for keywords and yield salient facts. It also supports math type, making it an essential tool for math homework. ($0.99-5)
If paying 70 dollars for a Texas Instruments graphing calculator is out of your budget, then Appcylon LLC’s Graphing Calculator for 99 cents is perfect for you. Along with an expanded scientific calculator, the app also allowed users the ability to graph multiple equations at once and email the results in a matter of seconds. If you are planning to take an advanced-calculus class in college, this app may not serve you well, but for the majority of high school students, Graphing Calculator is an affordable and handy solution. ($0.99)
This is the app for those of you who insist on writing your due essays (or newspaper articles) the period before. While Highlights does not necessarily condone this behavior, it acknowledges that this will save lives (and grades). Although its price is steep, Documents to Go allows users to view and edit Word and Excel documents– perfect for viewing files off your technology-incompetent teacher’s JupiterGrades page. This app also allows you to view files in other applications in the Microsoft Office Suite. A more expensive version gives you full editing capabilities and Dropbox compatibility.
Are you having trouble in your foreign language class? Does having to look up certain words in a translation dictionary get frustrating? If so, you may find Word Lens by Quest Visual to be the perfect solution. Word Lens uses text recognition to read words and signs and then its software translates the words into a new language of your choice. Translations are readily available within seconds. Possibly the most impressive aspect of the app is that it does not require an internet connection, so if your phone’s 3G is failing you, Word Lens will not. ($9.99 per language) Chanan Batra
Every student should attempt to appear knowledgeable about the news. Online news outlets are trendy (but don’t get at us, beverlyhighlights.com). The Huffington Post contains comprehensive news from all corners of the globe– in French, too! Something will invariable pique your interest; the app has sections for comedy and entertainment, in addition to politics and sports and local interest. The only downside is a wonky design, littered with glitches. However, the app is worth it– you’re not paying and Arianna Huffington is adorable. Mallika Sen
10 prom
June 8, 2012 Highlights
June 8, 2012 Highlights
prom 11 Prom Perspectives: Ladies and Gentlemen
Prom drama turns prom into “prama” Minutes, not hours, to prepare for prom Shannon Toobi Staff Writer Prom serves as a stressful subject for most girls as it grows closer, senior year. Stressing over whether or not you will get asked, make up, hair, a dress, boutonnière, etc. are the primary topics of conversation amongst girls even months before the event. Luckily, my prom date was the one of the greatest people I know and my make up and hair appointments were made in advance; however, my dress did not come as easily. After ordering two potential prom dresses online, I waited anxiously for their delivery. To say the least, it was a complete disaster. I could have sewed both dresses myself, and they would most likely have looked better than the dresses I received in the
mail. Thank goodness for my back up dress which I, in a panic, rushed to the tailor the Thursday before prom. So, girls, for future reference, do not count on online websites, ever. After all prom preparations were done, the excitement finally kicks in. Preprom felt somewhat surreal surrounded by parents, family and friends all so happy while I struggled to hold my smile for two hours of photographs. I was one of the few people who did enjoy prom, but the truth of the matter is that prom is simply what you make it. If one mopes around and complains simply because it’s a school event, he or she is only setting him or herself up to have an awful time. So, make the best of it, because realistically, you only have one senior prom.
Nathan Ong Editor-in-Chief To all underclassmen: try not to waste too much time preparing for prom. It doesn’t have to be that stressful day that everyone thinks it is. Unlike most members of the opposite sex who spend the entire day getting their hair, nails, skin and makeup done, I spent my Saturday morning in my Highlights sweater and pajama pants watching straight-to-DVD movies on Netflix. However, things became hectic when I needed to check in to the hotel I was to stay at. I was unable to check in until after 3 p.m., and to make matters worse, my ride to the hotel needed to leave, so I was stranded in the middle of Hollywood. I bumped into a friend who was also checking in, who kindly offered to take me home. Everything seemed to be going smoothly until we got pulled over by a
bicycle cop for an excessively loud car exhaust. By the time that ordeal was over and I arrived at my house, it was 4:50 p.m. and my preprom began at 5 p.m. I still needed to shower, get dressed, and learn how to put my tie on. Luckily, I was able to get ready in ten minutes and was only a little late to pre-prom. I did not miss out on anything, and I did not feel underprepared for the event at all. In fact, as I posed for pictures with my beautiful date and conversed with close friends, the lack of time I spent getting ready did not even cross my mind. It’s true that prom is a formal event where dressing up and looking good is an important part of the experience. All I’m saying is that, ultimately, you forget about the time you spent getting ready, and remember the memories made at the event itself. In the end, it is important to remember prom as a day to celebrate the end of high school, and not as a day to stress too much over.
Clockwise from top (facing page): Pablo Sotelo, Zak Zukoski, Dakota Maysonet, Jordan Akouka, Eugene Ko, Michael Richman, Joshua Engledow, Steve Kearns, Neil Martin, John Hanson; Prom King Aaron Kerman and Prom Queen Sara Newman; Alexandra Marvizi, Sean Navi, Rachel Moreh; Anna Khananashvili, Lindsay Reisman, Carly Stone, Danielle Abramov, Jamie Marzouk, Hayley Chandler, Newman, Emma Gregory, Danielle Rose, Ginelle Wolfe, Sadie Katz, Sarah Pollock, Liz Brajevich, Anita Kritsos, Julia Petrus, Arezu Hashemi, Meghan McMurray, Rebecca Ghermezi, Sammy Galen, Jackie Kruglyakova, Daniela Schoenberg; Teeah Pandy and Chris Stephens; Emily Grubman and Keon Youssefzadeh; Jared Sleisenger, Brajevich, Jake Freud, Kritsos, Wolfe, Gabe Laemmle; Brian Song and Amanda Fogelman.
12 arts&style
June 8, 2012 Highlights
Photo classes reflect on new digital equipment Candice Hannani Arts&Style Editor Technology has placed its everexpanding touch on teacher Tim Briggs’s photography classes. The classes have received a new computer lab this past year, allowing both Briggs to advance the curriculum and students to take their photography knowledge into the digital world. Briggs says that upon noticing the absence of digital photography at Beverly, he made consistent efforts to incorporate digital elements into his classes. “When I first started working here [in 2006], the photography was all traditional. I started to lobby for [the digital equipment] right away,” Briggs stated. To Briggs’s delight, the PTSA listened to his suggestions and paid for new Apple computers for his classroom’s lab. Briggs claims that he chose the computers specifically because they were more user friendly with graphics software. Currently, students are focusing on using Photomatix Pro, a program that develops high dynamic range (HDR) photography, and Photoshop CS5. Students have found that switching to digital photography has been beneficial and has positively contributed to the learning environment.
“Having the proper equipment to practice digital photography has actually been really convenient in a sense that if you want to be a professional photographer, using a traditional darkroom just won’t cut it anymore,” sophomore Reina Hess said. “All the rage is in digital art now, so getting to practice our skills as part of a class is so helpful.” Currently, only the advanced classes use the digital materials and, according to Briggs, they spend an equal amount of time studying the traditional and digital aspects of photography. However, Briggs hopes to create a class that is solely based on learning how to take pictures digitally. He mentions that his favorite project involved using HDR, which combines several different exposures to create a picture that is clearer to see. Briggs claims that he has more projects in mind for next year, as well as ideas for improvement. “This was the trial year,” Briggs said. “Next year we will incorporate new projects using our brand-new high quality printers. We’re always looking for new software to discover, too.” Overall, Briggs and his students are satisfied with their recent transition. Briggs looks forward to another successful year with the digitalized materials.
Left column (top to bottom): Junior Rasha Alharthi’s photo depicts the joys of snowfalls. Junior Gefen Laredo snapped a shot of a scenic forest. Junior Shannon Shaby shows someone rafting on the open water. Right colum (top to bottom): Junior Nathan Cohen’s photo depicts the glory and glamour associated with The Grove. Senior Bardia Tehranifar’s photo shows a street sign at an unusual angle. Sophomore Allie Kahn snapped a shot of the beach. Photos courtesy of TIMOTHY BRIGGS
Intermediate dance class provides opportunities Shannon Toobi Staff Writer The intermediate dance class, which takes place seventh period daily, is a class for both advanced Dance Company students as well as intermediate dancers. The intermediate dance class acts as an “in-between” for students who are not quite at the Dance Company level but who are on the right track for Dance Company. Students who try out for Dance Company can be referred to join intermediate dance in the spring in order to better their talent to re-tryout for Dance Company the following year. “Intermediate dance helped me perfect the basic techniques of dance, whether they were ballet or jazz. My foundation was much stronger [with the class], which enabled me to grow as a dancer and finally make Dance Company,” junior Chanel Nami, who experienced two years of intermediate dance before making Dance Company this year, said. The intermediate dance class encompasses all types of dance ranging from contemporary and modern to hip-hop and ballet. Dancers practice routines and experience choreographing on their own. In addition, previous Dance Company alumni come in and teach choreography to intermediate dancers. Dance Company alumnus Julian Recio, for example, has been a guest hip-hop choreographer multiple times this year and last year. The class also offers Dance Company members the chance to relax in the offseason while still both expanding their dancing skills and practicing at an intermediate level. Rather than experi-
ence the rigor of the fall season needed to prepare for the big show in January, intermediate dancers help non-Dance Company members advance their dancing skills. “I think the intermediate dance class is a nice break from the intensity of Dance Company,” junior Talia Gergely shared. “We are actually taking a dance class and improving our technique, whereas during Dance Company, it is all about applying our technique to the dances we choreograph.” The techniques that Dance Company members gain help them the following fall semester when their skills are put to test while preparing for their performance. The class provides countless opportunities for both advanced dancers and not-so-advanced dancers to learn the skills and techniques necessary to be on Dance Company. Consequently, Dance Company Director Frances Goritsas makes promoting the immediate dance class a priority. “I would love to see more students enrolled,” Goritsas shared. “Also, I will be teaching a dance class this summer as part of the Athletic Summer Program at Beverly in July. It will be held from 3:455:30 Monday-Friday, July 2-20. This is a great way to be introduced to what is happening with dance at BHHS!” Dance Company fans should take action and try out instead of wishing they could move like the company dancers. Even if one is not Dance Company ready, intermediate dance is a perfect chance to learn what it takes to be on that stage and learn first-hand from the dancers who impress all each year at their big winter performance.
Top (left to right): Junior Adriana Buonocore, sophomore Ariella Maman, freshman Isabella Perez and junior Talia Gergely leap into action on the dance floor. Bottom (left to right): Perez, junior Alex Carlson, freshman Sydney Navid, Gergely, Buonocore and Maman stretch their back legs as part of a warm up routine. GINELLE WOLFE
June 8, 2012 Highlights
feature 13 AP students enjoy post-AP curriculum, projects
Senior Stephen Scheinberg waxes a layer of color for his final project for AP Art History. VINCENT BROCK
Celine Hakimianpour Staff Writer Now that AP testing is over and the stress of taking advanced classes no longer consumes students’ minds, many AP teachers have put together various activities to occupy students’ time as they approach the end of the school year. AP Biology teacher Marla Weiss plans
to put together a few labs in addition to having the students present a topic of their choice for the class. This biological topic must consist of a 20 minute PowerPoint presentation that specifies the content and importance of their topic. “The topics consist of a variety of items which range from genetically modified organisms to the science behind the
gooeyness of candy. This variety really gives us a chance to research something that we are really interested in,” sophomore Nicole Mehdian said. Weiss also says that this project is a great chance for students to ameliorate their grades. Since students’ grades, like in most AP classes, are primarily made up of assessments, this project is a way to boost borderline grades, according to Mehdian. Some classes, such as AP European History, have different methods of wrapping up the year. Students are expected to create a band with an album of 12 cover songs that reflect the centuries and eras they have studied throughout the year. Each student is required to put the lyrics of the song and a paragraph explaining how the lyrics relate the era in approximately 12 pages, along with extra features, such as concert posters and tour shirts. AP United States History has come up with a unique approach to making their end of the year learning enjoyable. Teacher Dan Moroaica plans to teach his students the history of pop culture, including “Star Wars,” The Beatles and video games. “It’s fun to take a break from the hard-core memorization of facts in APUSH...It truly keeps us more entertained and lets us relax
after the AP test and all the hard work we’ve put in all year,” junior Shawn Hakakian said. Moroaica confirms that there will still be assessments and worksheets about this Pop Culture unit. Moroaica also believes that this activity will help the students become more comfortable with social and critical thinking skills. AP Art and History has also come up with a way to make their end of the year experience that much more fun. Students in Keith Rust’s class are asked to get in touch with their love for art and put it into great use. “We were allowed to choose from two projects, either Batik, or designing your own model of your ideal museum,” sophomore Romy Bohbot said. “Everyone in the class except a few chose to do the Batik project. For the Batik project we were asked to pick a famous piece of art that we studied throughout the year and recreate it using a system of wax and dye.” After having tests almost every week, added Bohbot, this project gives students a chance to relax and show off their love for art. Although the stress of AP classes has calmed down to a minimum, students will still have to work hard to make or shape their grades for the end of the year.
Highlights’s recommendations for summer fun There are plenty of activities to engage in during summer. Highlights has profiled just a few enjoyable options for fun under the sun. Heal the Bay may be appealing for students who would like to participate in community service. For those students who would like to take a day trip, Paradise Cove is a convenient getaway. Students interested in traveling abroad may consider Putney, which offers programs in various countries. Hae Lee
Paradise Cove Living in the coastal side of California allows one to stay on budget while having fun in the sun. Paradise Cove is a private owned beach in Malibu, just a thirty-minute drive from Beverly Hills. It has its own café and cove. This place is also great at night as it accommodates jazz nights and high quality seafood, a perfect place for a date. “I went to Paradise Cove Beach Café with my boyfriend the other night. The great food, scenery, and walks on the beach made the date so special and romantic,” said senior Zoe Bar-Tal said. It is described as “paradise without the airfare” as the scenery is beautiful, attracting movies and television industry as well. In the past decade, The O.C., Indecent Proposal, Monster in Law, the Hummer and Chrysler commercial were filmed at Paradise Cove.
SASHA PARK
AJ PARRY
Heal the Bay The moment that we all have been waiting for is finally here. If one chooses to spend summer volunteering and building up a resume for college applications, Heal the Bay, an environmental non-profit organization offers a fun, volunteer program. It hosts events such as Coastal Cleanup Day and Adopt-aBeach that focus on Santa Monica Bay, including regions of Malibu and Palos Verdes. It allows people to help the environment directly by cleaning up the beach and watersheds. If one wishes to get paid this summer, Heal the Bay also hires full-time paid staff members as well as teen volunteers. The jobs include digital content manager, program coordinator, and special event coordinator. “I went to the Heal the Bay aquarium a few months ago with my family. There, I participated in the hands-in-the-water exploration and learned about the current environmental issues in our community,” senior Josephine Whittaker said. The aquarium holds about twelve different kinds of marine species such as tube worms, kelp crabs, brittle stars, and sea stars, attracting 85,000 visitors every year.
Putney
AJ PARRY
Attending a summer college program in a foreign country is also an option, but a quite pricey one. Pre-college and high school study abroad programs enrich the level of education, language study and recreational adventure and provide an opportunity to live and experience the culture of a foreign country. “Last summer I went to India on the Putney program. It was a really difficult but valuable experience because of the primitive conditions we were living in but I’m so glad I did it. The trip was not something I’d ever have the opportunity to do with my family,” senior Lucy Licht said. “I went to Australia, New Zealand and Fiji. It was really cool because I got to see a totally new part of the world from a different point of view. Visiting with peers, I learned how to cook and manage my budget. Putney really did offer a once in a life-time experience,” senior Nicollette Slotkin said. Putney Student Travel is a well-known summer community service and cultural exploration program for middle school and high school students that range from three to six weeks.
14 spotlight
June 8, 2012 Highlights
ASB Finances evaluated, rumors exposed, student funding desires assessed in polls
ASB cards raise revenues for athletics and officials Ginelle Wolfe Staff Writer
$103,000
Five ASB sources of revenue
$78,000
$22,000
$20,000 $12,000
Student Store apparel
Parking
Semi-formal/ Grad Night/ Prom
Cap and gown
Athletic income
BLESS BAI
ASB rumors assessed as fact or fiction Rumor 1
Rumor 2
FICTION
“People have told me that ASB uses the money selfishly to spend school money to buy themselves pizza and have parties during class.” -Shawn Hakakian, 11
FICTION
ASB’s trip to New Orleans is paid for completely by the students. All food, hotel and airfare are student-paid.
FICTION FICTION
FICTION
Rumor 3
“I’ve heard that both grad night and the prom are funded by ASB money and that they make a large sum of money from the events.” -Pasha Farmanara, 11
Rumor 4
“People have told me that there are many related students in ASB because it is easier for them to get in over people who don’t have relatives in the organization.” -Eli Sachs, 10
Although ASB does organize prom, they do not organize grad night. Prom is funded completely by ticket sales, but if enough tickets are not sold, ASB funds the difference. This year, ASB lost money on the event, contrary to rumors that they profit from the event.
FICTION FICTION
FACT FACT FACT
FACT
AJ PARRY
All food eaten in ASB is paid for by parents of students in the class, not by money attained through the sale of ASB cards.
FICTION FICTION
“I have heard that ASB uses its funds from the ASB cards to pay for their New Orleans trip in the spring; they don’t actually build houses they just have fun.” -Brian Song, 12
FICTION FICTION FICTION
Students around campus have been curious about how the Associated Student Body (ASB) spends the money in its account. Contrary to some beliefs, ASB does not make money off events such as formal and candy grams. In actuality, the money from these events ends up neutralized. The money spent on events mostly originates from the sale of ASB cards, which is ASB’s biggest fundraiser. ASB cards, which allow students to access discounts on spirit packs, athletic events and other school related activities, are on sale to students for $60 starting at the beginning of the school year. Most of the money that comes from ASB cards is used to pay for athletic officials and away games. Over the course of a year, Beverly spends a total of $35,000 on athletic officials, who require payment prior to the event. “We pay athletics about $45,000 of entry fees a year,” Patricia ‘Trish’ Garcia, ASB Financial Technician, said. “Any money that is left over goes into the ASB general funds which is used for mailing supplies such as stamps, check stock, poster supplies and a computer software.” The $2,000 computer software referred to balances ASB’s money and coordinates payments. Any money unspent goes toward funding events on campus, such as movie nights. “The cards are really up to the students and their participation because we use whatever profit it may be that we make on the cards for upcoming school events and also for the next year cards,” junior Nathan Cohen said. This year, ASB sold a total of 662 cards, totaling $45,000, “which isn’t too good,” Garcia said. In the past, ASB has made more money from the sale of ASB cards, meaning that ASB has to dip into their budget funds for later events. Because of the lack of cards sold, this year’s Beverly athletic teams had less access to transportation than they have had in the past. As a result, teams had to share buses. “Most people who buy ASB are paying for transportation too,” junior Nathan Cohen said. Athletes had mixed feelings about having to share busses with other teams. “I don’t think it was annoying at all,” senior Tiffany Moore said. “On the contrary, I think it was a great opportunity for everyone to get to know one another.” However, Moore did not feel as
enthusiastic regarding sacrificing time in order to save money. “Going earlier to games and having to stay late tended to be a drag sometimes,” Moore explained. ASB is not a profit-focused student council. “We don’t make money at events,” Cohen explained. “If we sell something, whether if be homecoming spirit packs or Color Wars shirts, we sell it for practically the same price because we’re not here to make a profit.” ASB’s main goal is to keep the students excited, increase school spirit, and enhance students’ overall high school experience. “ASB has no reason to be making money off students. We have no interest in making huge profits from events, but when we do, it’s great because we’re able to put more into the other events and activities for the students,” Cohen said.
Out of the 40 students in ASB, 13 students have had an older sibling be a member of ASB. Still, whether or not legacy is taken into account when accepting students is undetermined.
June 8, 2012 Highlights
AJ PA RR Y
A portion of ASB money is allocated for athletic officials, athletic away games, and school activities, such as AcaDeca.
spotlight 15
Thirty percent of polled students listed academic technology as one of their three most desired campus ameliorations.
One hundred students were polled to determine where they believe money should be spent on campus.
Twenty-nine percent of polled students listed food vendors as one of their three most desired campus ameliorations.
Thirty-four percent of polled students listed robotics as one of their three most desired campus ameliorations.
June 8, 2012 sports 16 Highlights Rohani wins state, Simmons places seventh Nathan Ong Editor-in-Chief Junior Alex Rohani and senior Brianna Simmons ended the year exceptionally at CIF State Finals last Saturday and Sunday, June 1-2. Rohani, after qualifying as the top seed for the State Finals in the 400m race with a time of 47.53 seconds in the State Preliminaries, won the boys’ state championship, running the lap in 47.34 seconds, a state-leading time and a new Beverly record. “I couldn’t have won without Coach [Jeffrey] Fisher,” Rohani said. “He always motivated me to be the best even when my workouts weren’t great. He believed in my potential and it really lifted me to where I am today.” Rohani is the first state champion from Beverly since 1998, when Mike Ryan won the 400m. Rohani’s time is 32nd in the country, making him Beverly’s second AllAmerican in the last two years along with Sydney Gray. Rohani has dominated the boys’ track CIF circuit, winning every 400m race he has run in this season. He broke the previous 400m school record of 47.38, set by Ryan in 1998, during the CIF Southern Section Division 3 Finals on May 19, then proceeded to beat that record during Saturday’s State Finals race. The race was extremely close and competitive, and Rohani was ecstatic after winning the race. “I felt so happy because I didn’t know if I had won when I had crossed the line because it was such a close finish,” Rohani
said. “ It was the best feeling ever seeing my name on the board in first place.” Simmons also finished the season strongly, placing seventh overall in the girls’ 1600m. Simmons qualified for State Finals after running a 4:58.38 minute mile on May 25 at State Prelims, finishing fourth in her heat. At State Finals, Simmons ran the mile in 4:56, just off her personal best of 4:54, and placed seventh out of 12 finalists. While Simmons hoped to place better in the race, she was proud of her accomplishment. “Initially, I was disappointed because I wanted to do better, but reflecting on the race I was proud of myself for making it to where I am,” Simmons said. “I enjoyed the experience.” Simmons has now cemented herself into Beverly running history, earning AllCIF and All-State honors in both track and cross-country. She will be continuing her running career on a full scholarship at UC Riverside. Last season, Sydney Gray made it to the State Finals. Both Rohani and Simmons qualified for CIF Southern Section Finals, but were unable to advance in their respective events. This year, with more experience, both Rohani and Simmons moved past last year and established themselves among the best in the state. Throughout the season, Fisher’s goal was to advance as many people as possible to CIF and to ensure every member of the team trying his or her best when it counted. However, according to Fisher, the process was not easy. “We don’t go to practice every day
thinking about the end result,” Fisher said. “It was a struggle [for Rohani and Simmons] to get where they are, taking it one day at a time, one meet at a time, and taking the opportunity when it came.” For Rohani, the experience from winning state this year will help him in his quest to repeat next year. “I think I’ll be more relaxed next year and not as nervous because I’ll have been in the competitive environment of state competition,” Rohani said. “I’ll be able to control my nerves because of my experience this year.”
Fisher has guided members of the track team to the CIF State Meet in all three years he has been head coach of the program. This year was his most successful, as he coached four individuals and two relay squads to the CIF Southern Section Finals, in addition to the two state finalists.
Soccer fans show support for international teams
Freshman Eddie Ochoa with a FC Barcelona jersey. ARMAN ZADEH
Sophomore Jacob Price carries a Chelsea scarf. ARMAN ZADEH
Lilia Abecassis Staff Writer Even though it is the world’s most popular sport, soccer’s fans at Beverly are few and far between. But that does not lower the level of passion they have for their favorite teams. The teams students support vary, from Barcelona Futbol Club (FC) to Chelsea FC to Manchester United FC, but they all have one thing in common: they are not American. Junior Golan Khorshidi supports Manchester United, and like many other Beverly soccer fans, believes American soccer is not exactly worthy of his support. “The skill level is amateur, the fans seem to have little to no soccer IQ and the players just don’t seem to have the passion that the rest of the world shares for this sport,” Khorshidi said. Sophomore Jacob Price agrees with Khorshidi’s opinion of European soccer. “The level of play is much higher and the competitions are more exciting and dramatic,” Price said. Although many sports fans typically support a team that represents their hometown, Beverly soccer fans support teams because of their level of talent. Senior Tiffany Moore supports Barcelona because she shares a similar heritage with one of the team’s key players, Lionel Messi. “Messi is Argentinian like me and I’ve followed the team since I was a little girl,” Moore said. Price notes that supporting a team on a different continent can sometimes be tough because “you can’t feel the buzz around the [team’s] city.” Senior Nick Marmureanu said he can only support Arsenal FC by “watching the games and highlight shows on TV or reading articles.” Most of Beverly’s soccer fans are soccer players themselves. “I like to play soccer, so I like to watch good
soccer being played,” Marmureanu, who played on the varsity soccer team this past season, said. For Khorshidi, watching professional soccer helps him improve his own game. “My love of soccer has always been directly related to my love of watching professional soccer,” Khorshidi said. “Watching the pros inspires me while at the same time teaches me new skills to take me to the next level.” Freshman Eddie Ochoa said that watching professional soccer players doing what he loves helps him be a better player. “I play as a goalkeeper and I love seeing professionals blocking shots and being saviors of the game,” Ochoa said. “They inspire me to get better.” To Price, the players are role models whom he aspires to be like. “When I watched the professionals play when I was younger, I knew I wanted to be like them when I grew up,” Price said. “The professionals are still role models to me.” Beverly’s soccer fans believe that soccer is unlike any other sport because of its popularity around the globe, the diversity of its players and how passionate the sport can be. “Soccer is the universal sport around the world. It brings the world together especially when the World Cup happens,” Price said. Khorshidi noted the large spectrum of ethnic backgrounds and heights of professional soccer players, an aspect that has helped soccer become such a popular sport around the world. “To succeed in [soccer], your height can range from 5 feet 2 inches to 6 feet 3 inches, [your] skin color black or white, [your] background rich or poor, it doesn’t matter,” Khorshidi said. Despite having a much smaller fan base at Beverly, especially compared to basketball, soccer’s fans share a passion that certainly goes unparalleled.
Junior Josh Horowitz, who plays Premier Club Soccer, sports a Galaxy kit. OLIVER GALLOP
Senior Tiffany Moore supports FC Barcelona. GINELLE WOLFE