highlights
May 6, 2016 Volume 89, Issue 14 Beverly Hills High School Beverly Hills, California beverlyhighlights.com
SMC transfer success rates underperform Eleanor Bogart-Stuart, staff writer Santa Monica College is a twoyear community college which not only provides education for a huge number of Beverly graduates each year, but serves as a platform from which many graduates transfer to other colleges. 161 of the 428 of last year’s graduating class currently attend SMC. However, data shows that Beverly students who attend SMC are not taking advantage of the opportunity to transfer. “We often hear that students want to go to SMC and then transfer to a four-year school, but only about half ever do, and it often takes those who do more than two years…which means there is no real savings. These students probably would have been better off going straight to a four-year school. We want our Beverly students to have the best opportunities,” chief academic officer Jennifer Tedford said. Thirty-one percent of Beverly
graduates who attend SMC transfer to a four-year college. Of those 31 percent, 39.9 percent transfer within two years, and 50.8 percent take more than two years. Thirty five to 40 percent transWithin 2 Between 2 fer within two years, and a little Years and 6+ Years over 60 percent transfer overall, but it can take these other students three to five years to do so. “If they don’t have the proper percent percent math and English placement, they won’t be able to transfer in two years. I think that a lot of Average income students don’t realize that. So 25-32 Year Olds if you’re not prepared for college level work, you’re not gonna transfer in two years,” college ad- Associate’s Degree visor Ah Young Chi said. Not only do around 20 perBachelor’s cent of Beverly students who go Degree to SMC not finish college in four years, but almost half of them High School never transfer at all. Only “Considering the fact that alAttending a four-year college most half of our students go straight to community college, actually has proven benefits. Not that is a high percentage who do only does graduating to a four not ever go to [four-year] col- year college save a large amount of tuition money, but it can actulege,” Tedford said.
SMC
success rates
35.2
50.8
$30k
$45k
$28k
PTSA Veronica Pahamova, staff writer
Eleanor Bogart-Stuart, staff writer
Behind numerous events is a team of hardworking PTSA (Parent Teacher Student Association) members, but many students do not truly know the real purpose and influence that this organization has. The organization is led by copresidents Jodi Galen and Marjaneh Manavi, both parents of of current students, who describe their group as engaging, enterprising and friendly. Personally, they pride themselves on being
a persuasive voice for their children, and a strong advocate for public education. “PTSA works directly with the BHHS administration and staff to support every department at BHHS,” Galen said. “Thanks to the generosity of so many, PTSA raises funds toward classroom needs, programs, technology and more.” The PTSA meetings that take place at the beginning of the school year all start with a vision. Then the discussion molds into a budget based on the needs of students, teachers, parents and the administration. With notes and documented observations from
INSIDE
previous years’ activities, the association then works to develop a calendar stock piled with events that will soon be waiting for the principal’s approval. This school year, the PTSA was able to plan and raise the funds necessary to purchase over 150 computers to be used by the students in their own classroom settings to practice and eventually take tests. Alongside of this achievement, the PTSA was also able to develop an Athletics Committee that organized and staffed concession stands during athletic events, allowing the gathered funds to be put toward much needed athletic equipment in the
NEWS
ally help earn money in the future. “If students can go to a straight four year school or specialty program, they have a better chance of a career that will earn them a solid income,” Tedford said. According to Chi, there are many Beverly students who don’t take seriously the requirements and recommended classes that prepare them for college and make them eligible for transferring. “Kids who are planning to go to SMC should take honors classes. They should take AP classes. They should take four years of math. They should take the classes that we recommend for their college prep. If they do that, then they will be ready to take the classes they need to transfer within two years,” Chi said. Data shows that Beverly students are not meeting all the requirements necessary to enter a UC, which could be a factor in the lack of transfers. According to Tedford, only approximately 62
future. “PTSA acts as a liaison to improve communication between parents and school staff, and provides valuable information to the parents,” Manavi said. “We provide an opportunity for parents to get involved at school and help improve the performance of our school and students.” In fact, any student, teacher or parent is free to join a PTSA committee and help the school since
percent of Beverly graduates in 2014 completed the A-G requirements necessary to enter a UC. This relatively low rate has been fairly constant since 1994. “Everyone I talk to who has this plan, they just kind of casually, nonchalantly go, ‘Oh, I’m gonna transfer,’ as if that transfer plan happens to everyone. But the numbers show that it doesn’t. If you’re not thoughtful about it, if you don’t plan for it, if you don’t know that it might take more than two years, then I think you’re wasting your time,” Chi said. Tedford and other Beverly staff are taking action to educate more students on their high school career and college trajectory to change statistics like these. “We are proposing to the Board on May 12 to adopt additional college counseling for students, which will help them prepare for college and career. Our students deserve the best, and we want them to have it,” Tedford said.
it is open to anyone who wants to be involved. Committees for staff appreciation, hospitality and parent education are open year round to be joined by the public. “PTSA is extremely important to Beverly Hills High School,” Galen said. We are a fundraising and volunteer organization that works hard to fulfill some of the financial gaps necessary to improve academic performance.”
“One of the highlights of this year was working on the new athletic concessions committee, raising funds to assist our athletic programs,’ Galen and Manavi said as they hold large boxes of goodies outside of a home game.
CULTURE SPOTLIGHT
this issue
Bottles for Bednets
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6 God: Views
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Inside KBEV
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HIGHLIGHTS NEWS MAY 6, 2016
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Bottles for Bed Nets upholds legacy Lauren Hannani staff writer From knocking door to door in hopes of collecting a few recycled bottles to attending conventions in Washington, D.C., the founders of the nonprofit organization Bottles for Bed Nets have come a long way these last four years. Two of the four presidents, seniors Madeleine Tirella and Tiffany Kim, are graduating, and while this dedicated group gets ready to go to college, they are looking for devoted leaders to take on the role of organizing future events. The main goal of Bottles for Bed Nets is to recycle enough bottles to be able to trade them in for money used to buy bed nets for Nothing But Nets, an organization from
the United Nations that sends bed nets to Africa and other places to support families and kids with malaria. After their friend became interested in this process, Tirella and Kim decided to help out in order to make a difference. “The reason [our friend] Mei Mei reached out to us is because we’re really close as friends, and so she reached out to us to get help, and we thought why not because it’s a great way to give back to the community and recycle and help kids in Africa,” Tirella said. Since then, the four close friends have organized bottle drives at Horace Mann and Hawthorne, spoken in front of hundreds of other people to advocate their cause and share their story, and held fundraisers all over Beverly Hills.
Presidents (from left to right) Isabella Barber, Tiffany Kim, Mei Mei Tercek and Madeleine Tirella hold certificates they earned in Washington, D.C . Photo courtesy of: MADDIE TIRELLA.
Eleanor Bogart-Stuart, Veronica Pahomova, Lauren Hannani, Isaiah Freedman, Evan Minniti staff writers
Vivian Geilim photo editor
Natasha Dardashti social media editor
Ben Shofet
business manager
Co-president Mei Mei Tercek demonstates how to recycle bottles at Hawthorne Middle School. Photo courtesy of: MADDIE TIRELLA. “I think it’s crazy, because for two years in a row, Nothing But Nets has invited us to their Champion Summit where all the grassroot supporters come and meet up in Washington, D.C. We have a convention to talk about malaria and we would go to [Congressional] offices and talk about getting their support,” Tirella said. “Looking back, I’ve loved those experiences and I’m going to miss going to Washington, D.C. We still hope to somehow be involved with the future Bottles for Bednets, but it’s just been a crazy ride.” With the help of many drives and fundraisers, they have raised over $4,000 for the organization. However, this is not the end of their successful legacy. “We’re looking for a group of friends like we were since it’s a lot of work for just one person, and we hope that they can create a future
club here at Beverly so we can still have support for getting involved,” Tirella said. “Overall, I think you just need to be a leader and be ready to take charge in your community, and not be afraid to ask people all around for help and getting involved.” If you are interested in becoming a leader with your friends for this organization, contact bottlesforbednets@gmail.com for more information. Also, you can donate money to their cause if you want to help purchase nets. “It’s just $10 for a bed net, and you can directly save people’s lives. It’s not like cancer where you give money and it’s just for research and you don’t know where your money is going,” Kim said. “With just a few dollars that you can donate, you could save an entire family from contracting malaria.”
Student loans have both pros and cons You’ve heard it a thousand times: higher education is an investment in your future. The time of year to accept admission offers has rolled by, and now most students must weigh the pros and cons of student loans that their schools and state offer. But before you begin your research on the ever-expanding, wonderful world of student loans, you have to be committed to the idea of investing in education. If you don’t have money to pay for the loan, how are you going
to fund it? So, before we get into more specifics, let’s assume that you agree with the concept with borrowing money and are able to do so. Student loans assign a monetary value to your education, and cannot be ignored. If your education is an investment, these loans will literally affect its value, and as it turns out, not all loans are good loans. We can break Stafford loans, the type of federal aid that you are most likely receiving, into two main categories: subsidized and unsubsidized. No matter what loan you take
Print Team Guy Ginsberg and Marty Schnapp editors-in-chief
News Analysis
Marty Schnapp co-editor-in-chief
Highlights
out, you’re going to start accumulating interest. But for the most part, subsidized loans are favorable to unsubsidized loans. “With subsidized loans, the government will actually pay that interest for you while you’re in school, so that when you graduate and you start paying back your loans, you’re not responsible for that extra charge that was put on your loan,” Dean of College Admissions Ah Young Chi said. While unsubsidized loans may pale in comparison to subsidized loans, they still have all the necessary components that you will
need in a student loan. “Unsubsidized loans are, I guess, the ‘bad’ loans,” Chi said. “But at the same time, they have major benefits over a parent-plus loan or a privately funded loan, where as soon as you take out the loan you have to start paying it back, and there’s no forgiveness and things like that.” While the nature of your loan is important, there are many more factors to take into account when you decide what financial offers to accept. Your education is an investment, so don’t let student loans tarnish its value.
Web Team Juliette Deutsch and Sadie Hersh editors-in-chief
Max Yera, Sydney Tran, Sophia Goldberg, Nirav Desai staff writers
Jamie Kim news editor
Keith Stone
opinion editor
Jason Harward graphics editor
Gaby Herbst adviser —
Our goal as a student-run publication is to provide reliable, accurate and fair content that informs and intrigues the Beverly Hills community by following the principles of ethical journalism and represents the student body. We will deliver a broad spectrum of coverage through a variety of mediums, including online and print. Highlights is a forum for public expression that is produced by the Advanced Journalism class of Beverly Hills High School, 241 Moreno Drive, Beverly Hills, CA 90212. Letters to the editor may be sent to beverlyhighlights@gmail.com. Visit beverlyhighlights.com Follow @bhhighlights on Twitter and Instagram. Highlights is sponsored by PTSA and BHEF.
A Thousand Words: Model shares best tips, tricks
America’s Next Top Model runner up Kiara Belen visits the College Center to share her modeling tips and teach students her best modeling poses on April 27. Photos by: SYDNEY TRAN.
HIGHLIGHTS ADS May 6, 2016
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HIGHLIGHTS SPOTLIGHT MAY 6, 2016
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Romeo Carey Talks Consciousness Guy Ginsberg, co-editor-in-chief
Just make sure it’s controversial. I don’t like anything that’s not controversial. Wanna know why? Because then, it’s not interesting, it’s just blasé. Highlights: What is your full title? Romeo Carey: First I’m a teacher, but I like to be regarded as a mentor. But my title is Media Director, I’m the Film and Television teacher. I’m also the AV guy. I also run Telecom.
“I’m the center. I’m just the central theme, and that will go on all day long as long as I’m around, wherever I’m at, in my studio. Why? It’s not the space, it’s whoever lives in the space. The space is just a space, this is my space. You’re in a vortex, and when you’re in a vortex, it’s time to live. You’re going to live in a place of consciousness.”
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iNSiDE KBEV
- Romeo Carey
Highlights: How long have you been teaching KBEV? Carey: I’m just finishing my 11th year. Highlights: What do you hope that students learn during their time with KBEV? Carey: Consciousness. If you don’t move out of being a subconscious individual just operating in the world of the subconscious like most people do, you never really enjoy the moment. And you’re not really living in the moment. You’re bound by your subconscious. But that’s a subtext to my primary focus, which is to really find in each individual that spark that they’re born with, to get them to recognize that spark, to get them to realize what an individual is, what contribution they have to give and that their creativity is limitless. It was there when they were born, it might have gone into hibernation, but I’m going to reignite it. Highlights: Why is KBEV important to you? Carey: To me, it’s important that we engage young minds in a way they aren’t engaged by any other class. In life you can’t be too squeamish or timid. You have to be willing to not go through life with your tail between your legs. Recognize what’s around you and recognize that even if you’re in an environment where you can’t flourish or it seems like it’s stimey, you can still make the most of it. I do that even here. Despite everything about this school, I
TriCaster revolutionizes KBEV newsroom Natasha Dardashti, staff writer
“I’m on a mission to inspire” make something out of it. Despite everything that’s wrong about it I’ll find out what’s right about it, because even though there’s plenty to say about a bureaucratic system, I’ll find that growing flower in the volcano. After a volcano has destroyed everything, there’s still beauty, you just have to find it, and expose it. Highlights: What do you wish you could get across to those who think KBEV is just another easy class to ditch? Carey: Nobody ditches this class. Some students come in, leave and come back. Those kids get marked absent. I’m not responsible for anybody who’s not in my class, it’s really simple. It’s part of hav-
ing a studio, it’s not a conventional classroom. I have a 5,000 square foot facility, and I give everyone independence. Students that are leaving my class are 18-years-old. They’re men and women, they’re not kids. These older students, who have been in this confinement and have been in this institution through a 13 year sentence, have come to the end of their sentence, and they’re starting to feel a little freedom. This is partly why people in the world smoke pot or drink alcohol, because of the cage that’s put on top of them. With that cage, they feel like they have no place else to go, so they “escape” the cage. There’s nothing wrong with escaping, but you should realize that it’s a detriment to your consciousness.
A TriCaster is a professional live production appliance used in newsrooms across the nation. And now, thanks to district funding, one can be found in KBEV’s newsroom. Last semester, KBEV gathered enough money to purchase the TriCaster, which instantly improved KBEV’s functionality. “We’re running off a tricaster program that allows us to basically do everything we did in the other studio all off of a box,” media director Romeo Carey said. “It’s computerized, so a quarter ton of equipment and a half a million dollars has been reduced into this hundred thousand dollar set up. It’s just amazing.” The performance of the TriCaster also makes broadcasting easier and improves quality. “With the tricaster, it’s easier to transition and it looks better on screen. It’s also HD quality, with the old setup it was in SD, so it looks a lot better. Instead of six or seven people working, we now have four or five,” senior producer Rachel Gilbert said. The TriCaster puts KBEV ahead
in competitions such as Skills USA. “The better schools [at Skills USA] have the same equipment. This now puts us on a level playing field, [even though] we usually win or come close to winning,” Carey said. Though the TriCaster puts KBEV ahead, at the same time it is still a challenge to learn how to use a completely different system. “After [students] are tricaster certified, they can go get a job in the in-
dustry because TriCaster is the number one used system everywhere,” Carey said. The use of the TriCaster comes with advancements both inside and outside the studio. “It’s much more efficient, but because this is the first year we have it, it’s harder for us to learn,” film producer Tal Shooshani said. “[In the end] it’s good, though, it’s opening up the studio to better and new things.”
A day in the life of a KBEV news anchor
Priscilla Hopper, guest writer
Every week during 6th period in room 278, the preparation for the Norman News takes place. As the Entertainment Anchor that means that I need to have my story turned in by Monday, edited by Tuesday, practiced and run through the entire show once on Wednesday, and I have to be dressed for production day on Thursday. Finally, I pitch the next week’s stories on Friday. KBEV has taught me how important deadlines are. It gives us the opportunity to have air time because we are broadcasted locally. The time spent in the class is valuable not only because of the experience, but because of the people I work with. In 6th period, there are two classes: the journalists and the tech crew. Journalism sometimes gets to do what tech does, like man the cameras and do the Teleprompter for the show, and tech gets to write stories and be on camera. It’s fun to learn what the other class does because we don’t do their work on a day-to-day basis. By doing this, we don’t only get journalism experience from KBEV, but we get to experience both sides. KBEV is known as a very laid back class, and that’s exactly what it is. We don’t have strict rules other than to get our stories in on time along with some B-Roll. Everyone has a job to do to prepare for our weekly live newscast. It’s busy and productive and just like a professional news station. We never sit and copy down notes and write essays like a normal classroom; it’s better than that because we have more freedom as journalists to pick out our own stories and hunt down new people to interview. Because KBEV is such a popular class, there are a lot of seniors and juniors that have been doing it for years. They really help out during the first few weeks and also become good friends throughout the year. The show is currently going through minor tweaks, like adding new segments, changing crew positions, and covering more important and spontaneous interviews which are mostly on the spot and really tests our abilities. On Thursdays we perform the 20 minute Norman News Show which is sometimes recorded, but recently we have been mainly doing our shows live. It’s a great experience for anyone interested in broadcast journalism or anyone who just has a general interest in TV. A big part of my learning about this industry was through KBEV. My sister is on KCAL9 CBS2 News and I have been following in her footsteps, while doing so I found a new love for journalism as a whole.
KBEV FAST FACTS
There are 8 classes affiliated with KBEV. 4th and 5th period: Beginning KBEV. 6th period: Advanced News, also known as “Norman News.” “Norman News” interviews ASB members every week. Approximately 250 kids dispersed throughout the KBEV program. Most popular show: Austin Furhman’s show, where he interviews celebrities.
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HIGHLIGHTS CULTURE MAY 6, 2016
Watch out, sPOILERS ARE coMING Isaiah Freedman staff writer Vivian Geilim photo editor Evan Minniti staff writer After months of sitting on the devastating season five finale of “Game of Thrones,” creators David Benioff and D. B. Weiss started season six with a bang and left the audience thirsty for more in the first two episodes of the new season. In usual “Thrones” fashion, season six has stayed true to the dark lifestyle in the world of Westeros. Practically every protagonist has either died, witnessed death, faced death or has been resurrected from death. However, with the beginning of episode one, the audience can tell that season six will go down to be one of the more morose seasons “Game of Thrones” has in store. We begin the first episode the same way we left season five, with a depressing reminder that Jon Snow (Kit Harington) is in fact dead. Director Miguel Sapochnik achieves a very ominous and slow tracking shot of The Wall that leads to the stiff, stabbed and mauled body of helpless Snow. We get it, he’s dead. This rendered some serious emotional damage to half the
audience who most definitely sank into a dejected state of mind after only getting 30 seconds into the first episode, “The Red Woman”. Back in Meereen, the audience is brought back to life with the humorous tone Tyrion (Peter Dinklage) and Varys (Conleth Hill) bring to the show. The
lighthearted interactions between these two while in the midst of such dark predicaments, such as Meereen’s fleet being burned, makes for some of the best two-man dialogue in television. In the second episode, “Home”, Tyrion confronts Daenery’s dragons, locked away in the chambers. He risks death to let them free, calming both the ferocious creatures as well as his own terrified self with a touching childhood
Mowgli strikes back Evan Minniti staff writer In a lush, sprawling and green jungle, a little boy named Mowgli was raised by animals that had celebrity voices. Jon Favreau’s epic adaptation of Rudyard Kipling’s beloved novel, “The Jungle Book”, has some of the best CGI I have ever scene coupled with dazzling voice acting and a great story. Mowgli’s family is made of wolves, who live during a “water truce”, when no animals will fight because of the limited resources. They take Mowgli to a lake where many other animals are drinking. Despite the many mutterings of the other animals, Mowgli and the wolves drink water peacefully. Eventually, a disfigured tiger named Shere Khan, the movie’s antagonist, publicly threatens to kill Mowgli. A black panther named Bagheera takes Mowgli and sends him to a human village to be safe from Khan’s wrath. However, many misadventures ensue. “The Jungle Book” is a perfect combination of state-of-the-art special effects with emotionally moving storytelling. The animals and environments are almost entirely CGI, but you may not even realize it just from looking at the screen. Each image is crisp, and the animals really look like their real-life counterparts.
Another strength of the film is its excellent voice cast. Idris Elba, Ben Kingsley, Lupita N’yongo and Bill Murray, among others, give fantastic performances as various animals. Bill Murray, who plays a bear named Baloo, is particularly good. Baloo is funny and sad at the same time, cracking hilarious jokes left-and-right while also being a kind of sad loner who doesn’t really have any friends. Scarlett Johansson and Christ o p h e r Walken play supporting characters; the seductive snake Kaa and a Donald Trump like-orangutan named King Louie respectively. Both of them are very good but I wish they had more screen time. Neel Sethi, who plays Mowgli, is very good in his role, but there are times when he doesn’t seem quite sure of himself, something that plagues child actors. With that being said, Sethi will surely hone his skills as he gets older and gains more experience. At 105 minutes, “The Jungle Book” doesn’t feel too long, but even if it was, I’m not sure if I would mind. Its PG rating makes it very accessible for all audiences I give this beautiful CGI epic a full five stars.
story. The scene was terrifying and moving at the same time and is a testament to Dinklage’s skills as an actor. T h e
notorious antagonist in the show, Ramsay Bolton (Iwan Rheon), formerly a bastard with the name Snow, seizes power with horrific violence. He murders his already extremely creepy father and feeds his step-mother and infant halfbrother to his hounds. He ends this sequence by chillingly declar-
ing himself “Lord Bolton.” But the most insane storyline has to be Melisandre’s (Carice Von Houten). At the end of episode one, we see she is beaten, distressed and in serious anguish. In-
stead of being the confident and gorgeous religious fanatic she has convinced the world she is, Melisandre reveals herself to be a sickly old lady, full of doubt and grief. This twist is so huge, the episode is named after her. This feeling of uncertainty and hopelessness is the backbone of the first two episodes. But in the waning seconds of episode two, after some spells were placed on him by the “Red Woman”, Jon is resurrected! “Thrones” constantly plays this game of giveand-take, providing the audience with horrific scenes, yet following those with glimpses of hope for
other characters’ storylines. While the first episode for the most part was fillled with doom and gloom, the second did provide more hope. Sansa (Sophie Turner) is going to be reunited with Jon! Arya is getting a second chance with Jaqen! Bran, the last living male heir to Winterfell, is back after a one season hiatus and being trained by the mysterious Bloodraven to potentially be the savior of a forthcoming war. Yet when hope seems to be on the horizon, “Thrones” can take that hope and crush it like the resurrected Mountain crushes his enemies. It can be heart-breaking to watch, but impossible to take your eyes off at the same time. The beautiful aspect about this show is that it has such a large quantity of storylines, but they are all so high quality. It’s truly praiseworthy work by the creators George R.R. Martin, David Benioff and D.B. Weiss. If these fantastic first two episodes have been the base of the pyramid, the tip must be fantastic. We are just lucky enough to be along for the ride! Drawing courtesy of Sfarrisyoung.
More of the Same with 'Views From the six' Guy Ginsberg staff writer Drake’s a really good rapper. His lyrical prowess and mellifluous flow make him easily one of the most likeable and impressive talents hovering amid the elite level of the rap game. So when he released “Views From The Six” on April 28, it was no surprise that the album would fall perfectly in line with the persona Aubrey Graham has created for himself. Good songs with relatable lyrics and a strong, yet kosher beat behind him. Can’t complain about that. If you’re looking for banger after banger, look away from “Views.” If you’re looking for political statements to rival those of Kendrick Lamar’s “Untitled Unmastered”, look away from “Views.” If you’re looking for egotistical genius that butts
up with Yeezy’s “TLOP,” look away from “Views.” However, if you just love hearing Drake be Drake, the same Drake we vibed with over “Take Care”, and were mesmerized after “Nothing Was The Same”, “Views” should be the only view in sight. The album has its upsides. “Child’s Play,” “U With Me” and “Still Here” join “One Dance” and “Hotline Bling” as definite crowd-pleasers. We even get some artistry and creativity beyond the beats with the transitions between songs, often smooth and seamless, featuring city murmurs and distant phone calls that remind us of “Take Care’s” dramaticism. The album’s only major drawback seems to come with the harsh yet apparent truth that
Drake hasn’t made the leap we’re all waiting for quite yet. The Toronto rapper still hasn’t ascended into a status that merits his “6 God” monicker. With “Views,” Drake isn’t saying the things that Lamar has been saying, or creating the way Kanye West has been creating. Drake is being Drake, nothing more, nothing less. And that can be taken as a either a positive or a negative. There’s not much else to it. “Views” is a good Drake album, because Drake is good, and always has been. However, in a year characterized by mindnumbingly exceptional drops from Lamar, West, Rihanna, Flatbush Zombies and Beyoncé, I don’t think “Views” earns a spot on the summer playlist after May.
HIGHLIGHTS OPINION MAY 6, 2016
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Popular music has no meaning compared to classics
PHOTO BY: VIVIAN GEILIM. Juniors Nikki Melamed, Brandon Lee and Yasmine Jebeli (left to right) demonstrate their pride of old rock music. Vivian Geilim photo editor Max Yera staff writer
Pop culture has (musically) gone down the toilet and fame and money seem to be the only things people in the music industry care about today. Once upon a time, music had meaning. The twentieth century saw an immense shift in the world. The television was invented, the Civil Rights Act of 1964 was signed and people raged against the war in Vietnam. Voices calling for peace, freedom, justice and equality rang through the streets of America while individuals rose as activistleader figureheads. But, behind the turmoil that sank in the streets of the nation during this time, came
an anthem that brought hope to many, and it wasn’t the “Pledge of Allegiance”. Bob Dylan incorporated politics, social science, and even philosophy into his work. The Beatles used pop ballads and Indian music with psychedelic and classical music. Lennon wrote peace anthems while Dylan sang about the evils of war. Later, punk rockers like Crass, Sex Pistols, and The Clash attacked the establishment, sexism, capitalism, and racism. Artists were once blacklisted, and even criticized by politicians or the media. And regardless of whether you hate the music, or disagree with the movements they helped stir, you can’t help but respect their dedication. They, unlike too many “artists” to-
day, stood for something. And now what? Are we to believe that the “hits” of Justin Bieber or One Direction that describe sexual attraction for an ambiguously described girl are meaningful? Where’s the passion for what’s wrong in the world and the belief that the musicians, the artists that represent the voice of a generation, can fix it? Or at the very least address it. And on that note (pun intended), few could argue that the problems, or at least the perceived wrongs in society, of previous generations are no longer prevalent today. Sure the Vietnam War is over and communism isn’t perceived as as prevalent or threatening as say the Cold War or prior. Yet what of racism or
sexism or xenophobia or any of the countless divisive issues that seem to be dividing our democracy today greater than ever. What of the impending threat of war with the Islamic world or the persistence of poverty in the once most prosperous country on earth. Where’s the desire to change, to push us forward as a human race? This is not to assert with definity that such divisive music no longer exists, but rather that the public is no longer exposed to it through common contemporary radio play. Nowadays you can’t listen to 102.7 FM without being explicitly expose to sex, drugs and/or a relationship gone south. In the week of May 14, 2016, “Panda” was ranked the number one played song on spo-
tify. “Panda” is presumed to be about the color of a car, specifically a 2016 BMW X6, “the panda is the black X6 and the white X6. The black X6 look like a Phantom, the white X6 look like a panda. I’m just putting it in a greater way of how I say and the way I live,” rapper Desiigner sang. As influential as that may be to some, it comes to justify that the content exploited to the public on the radio has regressed with meaning. This is also not to say nor do we believe that such music is poor. It is far too subjected to state that all music today is poor but rather that popular music today lacks to portray meaning and is thus, in our opinion worse than it once was.
Editorial The burden placed on many students after college graduation due to student loan debt has become a major issue in today’s society. In April 2015, Americans owed nearly $1.2 trillion in student loan debt, with federal interest rates falling between 4.29 and 6.84 percent, according to studentaid.ed.gov. In 2014, the federal government provided a whopping $62.1 billion to students in the form of loans. These numbers, which continuously grow year by year, are detrimental to fresh college graduates trying to begin their working lives. The effect of student loan debt on college graduates is obvious, but the effect it has on incoming freshmen’s mentality is also worrying. “I got into Boston University, and I learned that I wasn’t going to be receiving any aid. I had the option of taking out $100,000 in loans, but that seemed like a very rough path. Ultimately I decided to com-
mit to University of Miami, which offered me a scholarship,” senior James Marzouk said. Unlike most other types of debt, student loans are often accepted by borrowers so young that they haven’t even developed proven financial track records or significant credit histories. Lenders continue to collect and extend credit sometimes without even knowing their borrowers’ ability or willingness to pay. Debtors find themselves owing large sums of money, often due to their inability to assess their financial situations at a young age. Through a “Life Delayed” survey in January 2016, U.S News and World Report found that 49 percent of community college graduates had found it either “difficult or very difficult” to pay off student loans, with 48 percent of private school undergraduates and 40 percent of public school undergraduates re-
porting the same. These loans are posing a threat to close to half of undergraduates, which hinders their ability to make the life choices they want to make without being financially irresponsible, all because they wanted to further pursue their educational goals. Today, in a country where a college degree is becoming critical for economic success, it’s incredibly ironic that paying for that degree is one of the main reasons someone may be held back from achieving that success. This obvious student debt crisis has started to even catch the attention of presidential candidates as they attempt to find new ways to aid this fast growing dilemma and to make colleges affordable. “Student loans [are] one of the biggest problems we have right now in the country,” Democratic candidate Hillary Clinton said. Clinton believes the predicament of student debt
requires a “comprehensive, multifaceted approach,” that needs to cover with current student debt, elaborate with financial aid and fix the payment plan. There are some programs in place to assist struggling debtors, but they can only exist under very limited circumstances. For example, loan forgiveness programs are available to borrowers who have been on income-based repayment programs for 20 years, as well as graduates who have 10 full years of fulltime employment in a public service job. These assistance programs apply to such a small percentage of Americans that they do little justice in solving our student debt problem. We need to stop pushing this problem aside. Drastic modifications need to be rendered in order to fix this problem for the current and future generations. These ludicrous numbers are only growing;
the class of 2015 will graduate with $35,051 in student debt on average, according an analysis from Mark Kantrowitz, the publisher of Edvisors. com. Let’s move the burden of college debt off of the future generation. This problem is solvable, and if our future truly is at the forefront of our thinking, its one that must be addressed before that future becomes present.
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HIGHLIGHTS SPORTS MAY 6, 2016
Volleyball falls against Culver in final game of the season Eleanor Bogart-Stuart staff writer
Boys varsity volleyball lost 2-3 in their last game of the season on May 3. The two teams were evenly matched going into the game, Culver with a .409 percent winning rate, Beverly with a .417 percent winning rate. “We were definitely the better team on the court, but we had some silly rotational errors that should’ve been fixed. All in all, we left it all on the court and I’m really proud of that,” captain Guy Ginsberg said. In the fourth game, the team had an 11-point comeback but still lost. Ginsberg, outside hitter Owen Lloyd and middle hitter Sean Mehrara were a formidable force, scoring the majority of points in the entire series. “The first game we had our difficulties because the rotation was screwed up, but we got it under control and only thinking happy thoughts and it’s going the way we planned,” middle hitter Elliot Labib said. Despite losing the last game, the members still consider their team as their family. “Volleyball has brought me into a family unit and regardless of where you come from, one sport can bring you together,” defensive specialist Danny Bina said. It’s not only a bitter-sweet moment because of the loss, but because many seniors will not be returning to the court next year “I consider my teammates as brothers so I’m gonna be missing my family, but I’ll be sure
to see them out of school. It’s unfortunate that I won’t have the opportunity to play with them next year,” Labib said. Boys varsity volley-
ball did not qualify for CIF. “Even though this year didn’t go according to plan, I honesty can’t wait to start next year’s season and get to CIF,” Labib said.
Outsider hitter Owen Lloyd spikes the ball down onto Culver City in the third game of the series. Photo by BEN SHOFET
Boys tennis holds title as champions Natasha Dardashti staff writer For four consecutive years, boys varsity tennis has been undefeated in league. The team’s accomplishments do not end there. Last year, tennis was promoted to Division I of CIF and is the only Division I team at Beverly. They have also held the number one spot in Division I for five weeks. Their most recent victory was against Culver City. “Year after year, we dominate because our singles and doubles just continue to shine,” senior Davis Freeman said. “Most of the other schools we play in league usually have one amazing singles player, but since all of us are very solid players, we have a strong team that can beat anyone no matter who they have.” JV player Jackson Stewart speculates reason for the varsity team’s winning streak is the strong incoming freshmen. Most newcomers have been playing tennis ever since they were eight to twelve years old. This is ultimately what leads to the team’s security. “Almost every player on the team has been playing tennis for many years before they got to high school,” Stewart said. “The problem with most sports is that they pick it up during their high school years.” Freeman believes one reason for their winning streak is a result of the coach’s work. “Our coach creates a lineup that is very hard to beat, and we work very hard every single practice. Each player is about the same or a little better level so we get a con-
sistent effort every time,” Freeman said. Practice for tennis is no more extensive than that of another sport. However, many will stay on the court longer than necessary to perfect skills and bond with the team. “Our normal practice is about two hours max, but some of the guys will stay and play for another hour [because] we just love being out on the court,” senior Adriano Saitta said. Eight boys competed in Ocean League Doubles yesterday. Results were not available in time for publication; however, they will be posted on beverlyhighlights.com. The next match coming up for the team are playoffs starting May 10. “Team playoffs start this coming Wednesday, and everyone feels very confident about it. Doubles are much harder but individuals are coming up and we are ready,” Stewart said. Nine key seniors will be graduating next year, but Saitta believes the team will be able to keep the winning streak alive. “I think it’s gonna be tougher next year for the team, but they will do well. We have nine seniors leaving the team this year so hopefully the team will get some good incoming freshmen,” Saitta said. Though tennis is an individual sport, Saitta believes that the bond between teammates is a big contributor to the team’s success. “[Teamwork] helps 100 percent. It makes us stronger, even though we play individual matches. The team spirit makes [playing] so unique. We play for our team, and it’s a new perspective on tennis.”
Division 1 bound Student Athletes Raehaan Poonja Amy Okada
G
GEORGE
TOW N
Track and Field
Amanda Block
UCL
Swimming
Solomon Nwankwo
N W O R B
Track and Field
A
Football