highlights
November 8, 2013 Volume 87, Issue Five Beverly Hills High School Beverly Hills, Calif. beverlyhighlights.com
Independent study offers alternatives Jackson Prince staff writer
AMIR MOVASSAGHI
Betrayed With a Hershey’s Kiss
On Halloween when students gathered on the patio to display their costumes, senior Ronan Massana arrived as Jesus.
Security issues debated Mabel Kabani editor-in-chief Recent national incidents of school-related shootings in the past year prompted discussion regarding increasing school security. Though some teachers, students and members of BHUSD are eager to re-evaluate and add to the current security measures, others are not prepared to sacrifice their freedom for security. “I don’t really know if I would be willing to give up the open campus of the school for extra security,” senior Alex Massachi said. “We live in a relatively safe and high-profile area so I’m not sure if more security is really needed.” English teacher Steven Rubenstein agrees with Massachi in that he is hesitant to give up the “open culture” of the school just so that people can feel more safe. “Of course there are always improvements the school can make in terms of security, but I don’t think overreacting [to recent shootings] and changing the culture of the school is the way to go,” Rubenstein said. “We fear things that we can’t always control; locking a few more doors won’t stop a shooter, but people worry about these dangers over those that we have some control over, such as pollution from toxic gas emissions.” A sophomore, who wishes to remain anonymous, however, believes that security should take
priority over the “aesthetic concepts of the school and the preferences of the staff and student body” because “they always want what is most convenient for them.” “At school I need to feel safe in order to learn, and that won’t be possible for me if I don’t have faith in the school’s security guards or other security systems that are supposed to prevent trespassers,” she said. “I saw a random stranger sitting on the second floor patio a couple weeks ago covered in black trash bags and I got truly scared. Why didn’t security come to escort him away sooner? Better yet, how is some-
“Locking a few more doors won’t stop a shooter,” Dr. Steven Rubenstein said. one like this allowed on campus? What if he was dangerous?” On Friday, Oct. 11, a student intruder wearing a mask, black clothing and trash bags stepped onto campus without being stopped by the security guards, according to an email sent out to faculty members the next day by House C Assistant Principal Toni Staser. The student was accompanied with an adult female who Continued on Page 3
Midyear, head coach steps down Audrey James-Anenih staff writer Marguerite Alberts graphics editor At the end of the 2012-2013 girls varsity volleyball season, Coach Jherra Rhicks resigned from her post. She was replaced by the boys varsity volleyball coach, Devon Wright. Three weeks ago, Wright resigned from his position and assistant varsity coach Marla Weiss has since taken over. With tournament wins achieved under Wright’s tutelage, the team seemed stable, but problems surfaced along the way. Varsity player junior Olivia Berris explains that arguments among team members may have led to Wright’s abrupt resignation. “It’s difficult to pinpoint an exact event or conversation that led him to resign, but it’s easy to say that disagreements within the team threatened to weaken us and was likely a contributing factor,” Berris said. With Wright no longer coaching, Weiss has since returned to coaching varsity volleyball as she previously has. “Coach Weiss is really amazing and she’s been able to adjust to fit her new title perfectly. She’s Continued on Page 11
news
culture
Senior Chris Johnson has released two of his own songs on Soundcloud: “Motive” and “The Start.” His musical inspirations for his songs include Drake, Kendrick Lamar, Pusha T and Rockie Fresh. page 4
Physics teacher Kevin Bowers was set on studying engineering before he switched to teaching. “I was a science kid growing up,” he said, “but I wasn’t really a science fair kid.” page 5
Johnson’s ‘Start’
Not every Norman finds their campus to be solely comprised of the land from the STC to the edge of Nickoll Field. Rather, some students find their version of the campus located just across the street from the tennis courts, on the second floor of the District building. Here, students who seek a different path to graduation can participate in the Independent Study program. Implemented in September of 2006, the Beverly Hills Unified School District’s Independent Study program has grown under the guidance of its life-long supervising teacher Sergio Mandiola. Now in his eighth year of managing the program (and his 15th year of teaching at the high school), Mandiola holds a graduate degree in history and bilingual studies (Spanish). On Oct. 31, Mandiola shared his experiences and insight regarding this program. Q: How did Independent Study begin? A: “I [started out the program] with one student, part time: Lily Jandrain. She and others (as expressed by their parents) felt for a variety of reasons that they couldn’t fit into the existing high school system, and the District agreed. But by the time we added the program’s fourth student, Logan Lerman, Independent Study became known as a place for students with passions and careers that demanded the flexibility of this program. In fact, later that year we added another student in the arts, Percy Miller [aka Lil’ Romeo].” Q. What is the need for Independent Study? A: “BHUSD believes Independent Study to be the best way for talented young people to be involved and engaged at Beverly Hills High School [while pursuing their careers and passions], rather than dropping out or finishing online. They will contribute greatly to the overall Norman population’s experience as well - as Cole Plante did [at Homecoming].” Continued on Page 3
spotlight
WHY IS THERE NO FAST FOOD IN THIS CITY? Braden Bochner staff writer Juliette Deutsch staff writer Beverly Hills is home to a dynamic culinary scene. The city has dozens of restaurants with cuisines ranging from Italian to Japanese to French. However, if one is in the mood for fast-food they will have to venture outside of Beverly Hills. The City of Beverly Hills has no specific law prohibiting the opening of fast food restaurants. However, there are codes of law which make it hard for restaurants like these to be successful. A major issue is restaurants’ drive-through services. “There is a requirement for any establishment, food or otherwise, which is requesting a drive through capability, [and] to apply for a CUP or conditional use permit,” Beverly Hills City Councilman Dr. Julian Gold said. “This permit defines the use of the drive through, hours of operation, restrictions on noise and number of cars.” Due to the difficulty of park-
“There are codes of law which make it hard for fast-food restaurants to be successful.” ing in Beverly Hills and the general traffic patterns of the city, one-way streets for example, a drive-thru fast food establishment would create more traffic and clog the already busy city streets. “While the Conditional Use Permit requirement may discourage some fast-food businesses from seeking to establish a traditional drive-through site layout in the city, it does not prohibit it. I would also add that high land costs and limited site availability and location may also have an impact on establishing the more traditional drive-through fast-food restaurants,” Senior planner at the Community Development Department of the Beverly Hills City Council, Ryan Golich, said. Continued on Page 8
comment
A Change in Direction
The Road Less Traveled 6 page
Web Editor-in-Chief Robert Katz says, “While it is true that few students in AP and honors classes may have reason to attend SMC, why should we condemn it?” page 9
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HIGHLIGHTS NEWS NOVEMBER 8, 2013
A WHOLE NEW WORLD WIDE WEB
With the number of social media outlets on the rise, students are becoming increasingly more active on the Internet. However, what students don’t always realize is that what they post on their online profiles can be seen by prospective colleges and employers, raising the awareness for proper behavior when on the world wide web.
Rise in social media usage results in new user expectations Marguerite Alberts graphics editor
As the technological age further evolves, students are becoming surrounded by social media and its endless uses. However, just like with personal, face-to-face interaction, there are certain standards to which students’ behavior are held. Some students may not be aware that misusing social media may harm their academic lives and future careers. According to a U.S. News article published in October of 2011, colleges are increasingly judging students based on their Facebook profiles as well as their application profiles. Furthermore, Huffington Post confirmed that “more than ever, admission officers are checking up on applicants online,” in an article from May, 2013. Some students disagree with this approach, believing potential applicants should be judged solely on what is on their application, not on what they put on Facebook. Senior Natalie Friedman fears that what is put on social media may not be correctly understood by outsiders who don’t know her. “A picture or a status can be
interpreted in the wrong way,” Friedman said. Friedman gave the example of someone who sees red plastic cups in a photograph might automatically, and perhaps incorrectly, assume that there is an alcoholic beverage in the cup. In contrast, junior Mason Leib argues that social media sites are public domain and that colleges and jobs have as much right as the public to use them. “Colleges and employers are free to judge as long as they realize that social media reflects one’s social life and in no way reflects one’s professional life,” Leib said. Furthermore, senior Jake Peskin reminds students that they do have the ability to make their profiles private. “They [colleges/employers] should be able to go as far as your privacy settings let them,” Peskin said. “They should really be following privacy boundaries you set yourself.” In addition to being evaluated by future employers and college admissions counselors based on their online presence, students have the pressure of presenting a certain image to their peers. “I somewhat think that you
should be responsible for what you post on social media if you are in a leadership position at school because you are representing the school and you made the choice yourself to represent the school,” sophomore Olivia Ayl said. Similar to face-to-face interactions, a side effect of improper Internet usage is a cyber bullying. According to bullyingstatistics.org, over 50 percent of teenagers have been bullied online and equally as many have bullied others via cyber bullying. The disciplinary actions taken against bullying at Beverly ranges from detention to expulsion, the latter only occurring in extreme cases. Each case of bullying is taken independently from others. “If it impacts the school day for the student, then we handle it as though it is happening here on campus,” Assistant Principal Amy Golden said. “We meet with all students involved and try to mediate the situation.” A large part of Golden’s day revolves around dealing with tips about instances of cyber bullying that land in her inbox. “A lot of it comes in anonymously, but once it comes in front of us,
Tweets @TheronHerd11 Social media allows for communication between many people on a daily basis that was unprecedented before its introduction.
we have to deal with it,” Golden said. “Students don’t realize how much crosses our desks and that anything you put online, as private as you think you are, you aren’t that private.” Many students agree with Golden and actually believe that they need the help of the school to combat cyber bullying. “I think the administration should be there to support students in cases of cyber bullying if it is reported for the safety of the students because it can save the victims from being cyber bullied which is more important than the embarrassment of the student,” Friedman said. Furthermore, these incidences bring up the question of who should be held responsible for teaching students how to properly use social media and aren’t appropriate uses for it. Journalism adviser and Social Media Specialist Gaby Herbst argues that it has become the expectation of the community that, in addition to their normal curricula, teachers instruct students how social media is to be used. “I think parents expect schools to monitor and or enforce proper
use of social media,” Herbst said. “I think that any teacher that does use social media as part of their curriculum should teach it and he/she shouldn’t expect that their students know how to use it [social media] properly.” Golden adds that it is up to everybody in the community to establish what is considered the ‘correct’ use of social media. “It’s parents, it’s teachers, it’s administrators, it’s the community, it’s all of us,” Golden said. “It takes all of us being on the same team to make sure our students know what is appropriate.” On Tues. Nov. 19, the district is hosting a ‘Social Media Mania’ assembly at the high school that will address the use of social media and cyber bullying. Eighth graders from the middle schools and parents will be attending in addition to the high school students. Whether students are in a leadership position, worried about being accepted by a school or possible employer, or want to avoid being a bully, it is important that they be careful what they publish on the Internet, for it can never be unpublished and may backfire in the future.
Do students use social media properly? .08%
I don’t know 24%
No Yes
@AnnabelPersoneni9 Students have become obsessed with constantly using social media that they forgot how to communicate directly with their friends.
68%
262 students were surveyed
@JasmineHannani11 Social media can be helpful when it comes to school work. A lot of classes have Facebook groups which help students get their questions answered.
@JordanHopp9 Most times social media is used to just talk to friends or to see what people are doing, but other times it is used for wrong reasons like cyber bullying.
Use Social Media Responsibly -Don’t post inappropriate photos -Don’t make remarks that others may find hurtful or offensive -Remember that everything you post is permanent
@AmeliaWohl12 Teens use social media to post inappropriate pictures and use poor language, rather than to simply communicate. MARGUERITE ALBERTS, MICHELLE BANAYAN
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HIGHLIGHTS NEWS NOVEMBER 8, 2013
Robotics assigned new classroom, displays gallery Audrey Park staff writer After moving around from one classroom to another for the past few years, Robotics, also known as MorTorq, was recently assigned the Career Center as its permanent room. “[The classroom is] fantastic. Our whole team put in a lot of effort to clean up the area, and now we have this huge room to be our ‘home’,” junior Richa Vijayvergiya said. “I love the classroom, and I hope that it will give more opportunities for presenting our team to others, such as possible sponsors, parents and administration officials.” Junior Gabriella Shofet believes that having a permanent classroom is a great asset that will positively contribute to the growth of the team. “A classroom will improve our organization, production and effi-
ciency,” Shofet said. “These classrooms provide a defined space for different sub-sects of the team to meet and get work done.” The Robotics team took advantage of having a new room by holding an open house on Tuesday, Oct. 29. This event was designed to display all the awards and robots the team achieved while informing parents about future plans and events. Director Maria Santa Cruz was surprised by the amount of support Robotics received from parents and school administrators. Santa Cruz believes that the open house was a fantastic way to build relationships with and the parents and administrators. “A lot of students showed up; there was great synergy,” Santa Cruz said. “It was very energetic, and we were able to show the parents the mechanics and achievements of the program.”
Before competition season begins in January, the team is currently focusing on positively contributing to the community by participating in various community service activities. “Some of the community service projects MorTorq takes part in include helping with the AIDS and ALS walk and spending a night with the families and kids at the Ronald McDonald House,” Vijayvergiya said. “After season, which starts on Jan. 4, our team goes into full work mode where we have build a robot within a set time period, as well as make business plans and write essays to win awards.” In addition to community service activities, MorTorq strives to contribute to the improvement of the nation’s technological development by informing their peers of the STEM curriculum, the different areas of study in science and math. “One of our main focuses this
year is to increase STEM education,” Shofet said. “We aim to do so by sharing the values of science, technology, engineering and math with children of the upcoming generation.” Santa Cruz plans to “create and build capacity within the team.” Because there is a substantial amount of new team members, Santa Cruz wants the veteran members to teach and lead the new members through training. “I want to create sustainability in the program so that whoever who is leading the system can pass on their abilities and knowledge,” Santa Cruz said. “I want to create leadership skills within the team.” Vijayvergiya aims to “give it her best” while bonding with her teammates. She hopes to help increase awareness of the team by participating in all the upcoming events. “For the future, I hope Robotics gets more recognition from our
Mandiola: The man behind Independent Study Continued from Page One
How are classes structured? There are two kinds of classes. Individual appointments are treated like Socratic, graduate school seminars. Students are expected to finish their week of work and are tested on the material. Thirty to 40 percent of the hour is spent on teaching new material. These students are self-directed self-learners. The second class the students attend is called MST (Multiple Subject Tutorials). The tutorials provide students the opportunity to come in for additional help and work with their peers. It’s also an important social element for kids on the road, on shoots and on set. What are the basic academic subjects covered in class? We study all A-G subjects with the exception of Advanced Art and, currently, most AP classes. How many days a week does an Independent Study student attend class? Attendance is based on the amount of work produced, not on ‘seat time.’ Mandatory seat time is one hour per week. But the average kid does more than one hour per week. The workload consists of a tremendous amount of writing and the same curriculum that is chosen from a selection of Beverly Hills High School courses. What are the students gaining by participating in the class? They gain individual support from an experienced teacher for several hours a week. They network with other high-achievers. They get personalized instruction to their needs and to their aspirations and direction for maturity and competence. They have to not only do their own work, but keep records of it and thus we teach organizational structure and the importance of self-motivation and follow-through.
‘Safety’ Continued from Page One sent out to faculty members the next day by House C Assistant Principal Toni Staser. The student was accompanied with an adult female who was videotaping the reactions of students. “[The intruder] came into our class while we were discussing ‘Inferno’ and I honestly thought it was the end,” senior Paloma Bloch recalled of the events that took place in her fourth period class. “I was shocked by how easy it was for this stranger to simply stroll into our classroom.” After a concerned teacher alerted security of the intrusion, the student was asked to remove his mask by security guards. However, he refused, according to Staser’s email, and was then promptly
arrested by the BHPD (Beverly Hills Police Department), along with his female companion. The student, a member of the Independent Studies program at Beverly, was suspended for five days and is now no longer allowed on the school campus without permission from either his Independent Studies teacher or the administration. “I was afraid of something like this happening,” the anonymous sophomore said. “Beverly alumni can easily saunter onto campus to visit old teachers, so of course its easy for others to enter campus as well. Security needs to concentrate on keeping strangers off campus rather than focusing on keeping students in during lunch hours.”
Are there any drawbacks from the program? Students lose a little bit in terms of resources – computers and other fancy ‘stuff’ that’s across the street. They lose the ‘goofiness’ as it’s a very demanding program. There’s no time to just ‘chill’ and enjoy the unstructured fun of high school. Do you feel that your students are prepared to move on to the next step (college/university) academically? Historically, we send a proportionally equal or greater number of students to 4-year colleges as the high school does, according to the Norman counseling department. Are there any notable Independent Studies’ graduates professionally successful in the fields of arts and athletics? Well, there’s Logan Lerman (‘Perks of Being a Wallflower’), who is becoming a movie-star. There’s Nate Weiss, who was accepted into Stanford but instead chose to pursue his career as an EDM deejay. We’ve had numerous actors, musicians and even professional athletes, like Caylin Hauptmann (current offensive tackle for the Seattle Seahawks, who had attended Florida International University), Michael Kerman (currently plays baseball at UCLA) and Mario Clemens, a golfer (last ranked No. 58 in Golfweek/Sagarin College Rankings) who graduated from SMU.
student body, because although it’s an awesome program, many people get intimidated by it,” Vijayvergiya said. “I really want Robotics to grow and spread its messages of science and technology; it’s such a great place to be.” Santa Cruz is currently focusing on the training and development of the structure of the classroom. She hopes to “take to the team to the next level” while creating stronger bonds within the team. “Around the first to second week of February,[the team is] going to have our first competition in Long Beach,” Santa Cruz said. “In order to escalate ourselves, we have to do well in the regionals. We’re shooting to compete in two regionals, and if permitted, compete on even a higher level.” Robotics meets during period 8 every day in the career center. Students can join by speaking to Santa Cruz.
Key Dates Veteran’s Day No school Nov. 11
Fall Play: “39 Steps” Nov. 13-16
------------------------------------------------------------------At this moment, there were several knocks at the door. It was time for one of the MSTs. In walked several Halloween-clad students with books, backpacks and assignments in hand. It seemed, in fact, just like another Beverly classroom.
Art teacher Michael Federman believes that the incident with the student intruder “speaks volumes about our school” and that “this isn’t the day and age to pull these kinds of pranks.” He believe the answer to the issues our school faces regarding security is to hire more security guards in order to create the perception that there is a “presence of a watchful eye over this school.” “With such a huge open campus that has so many levels of elevation, it can be hard to navigate,” Federman said. “We need more security, but of course with budget related issues, that isn’t always possible.” Though Federman believes there is a very prominent prob-
lem in the school’s security system, Staser believes that this school has “enough security.” “We have six security guards at BHHS who cover our 23 acre campus. They know the campus and our students and are proactive in alerting us to any situation they feel need attention regarding safety or security,” Staser said. Opinions related to security at the school differ widely; however, members of BHUSD have formed plans to increase security. The idea of building a kiosk on the front lawn, from which a security guard would stand watch and monitor the school, was presented last year and is still being considered, though, according to Staser, no formal plans have been set in place.
Cross-country CIF SS prelims Nov. 16
Thanksigiving holiday
Hanukkah begins Nov. 28-29
December SAT Dec. 7
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HIGHLIGHTS NEWS NOVEMBER 8, 2013
Inspired by late mother, Johnson raps to self-express Zoe Kenealy staff writer Before his mother passed away, senior Chris Johnson promised her that he would do great things with his life. On top of taking many AP classes and being the wide-receiver on the varsity football team, Johnson makes music for his peers and Soundcloud followers to listen to. For him, making rap music is another way that he can create an opportunity for great things to happen. Johnson has released two of his songs on Soundcloud: “Motive” and “The Start.” His musical inspirations for his songs include Drake, Kendrick Lamar, Pusha T and Rockie Fresh. However, John-
son’s first inspiration to express himself through art, specifically writing and music-making, was his mother. Johnson’s mother was a muralist, and the first to show him that he could convey his feelings into an artform. “My mother was an artist and she put it into my life that I could express myself through art; anything that comes from inside,” Johnson said. “If it weren’t for her, at least not at the you age that I was, I would probably not have been so open to getting my feelings out through writing.” Since he was a young child, Johnson enjoyed writing as a way to express himself freely and comfortably. He found pleasure
in reading poetry and became interested in the art behind it. When he started writing poetry himself, he gradually developed an interest in composing rap songs that would express his emotions at the time. “It’s more than simply throwing together words that rhyme; it’s more so feeling the lyrics and conveying deeper meanings through the songs themselves,” Johnson said. “Following along with that, I try to create song titles that portray an overall theme for the piece of music. Memories, desires and just pensive thoughts all lead to songs for me.” Students who have heard Johnson’s songs support his efforts in the field of music, and have asked
that he make more. It is Johnson’s distinctly dark voice that differentiates his music from all others. “Chris has a really deep voice and it sounds super good on his tracks. I remember in our English class sophomore year, Ms. Goler loved his voice so much that she would always ask him to read” senior Milan Walls-Smith said. “I listen to a lot of rap and the rap that he makes is actually up there with all my favorite rap artists’ music because it’s so different. You can’t really find it anywhere else” All artists have different methods for creating their music and Johnson’s is to keep an eye out for potential lyrics at all times. He has been writing his feelings down for
as long as he can remember, so at this point communicating his emotions onto paper comes naturally. According to Johnson, the turning of his ideas into lyrics relies on luck and random bursts of artistic vision. “I’m writing lyrics straight from the heart and recording whenever I have the chance,” Johnson said. What started out as a promise to his mother has grown into a way of life for Johnson as he continues to strive for great things from his education to his music career. As of right now, Johnson is working on a currently untitled song that speaks of his appetite for success, and the importance of matching perseverance with ambition.
Minnesingers to carol to fundraise for school trip Brenda Mehdian staff writer Madrigals will carol throughout the streets of Beverly Hills during the month of December in order to fundraise for their competition in Chicago with the Worldstrides Heritage Festival, during which they will compete against other high schools from around the world. “Caroling is a great tradition not only for Madrigals but also for music. This is a great way for us to fundraise and for our competition, the community to become familiar with Madrigals and reflects positively on the school in general,”
Madrigals adviser Ethan Smith said The caroling will take place at various spots on Rodeo Drive and Beverly Drive. Members of Madrigals will be split up into smaller groups in order to reach a larger audience in hopes of raising more money. “If we all are in one place, not only can it be overwhelming, but it is also not very efficient. When we split up, it is a manageable amount of people and we are also able to spread the holiday spirit to more people,” senior Anthony Lofaso said. Before being sung to, audience
members will make a donation to the cause, after which, they will be able to enjoy an array of songs. Some of these songs include “Go Tell it on a Mountain,” “Jingle Bells,” “We are One,” and “Joy to the World”. “My favorite song is definitely ‘Still, Still, Still’ because it is a song that Madrigals has been singing ever since it began caroling,” senior Shana Kheradyar said. “But the most challenging song would have to be ‘Claire de Lune in Blue’ because there are no words, it is just a bunch of sounds.” Madrigals has been using this method of fundraising since ex-ad-
viser Joel Pressman was the head of Madrigals. However, caroling is not the main source of fundraising for competitions. According to Kheradyar, the central way Madrigals attains the needed funds for these competitions is through their concerts. The students have also collaborated with Smith in order to put together other fundraisers throughout the year. Through their various forms of fundraising, Madrigals has been able to go to competitions in places such as New Zealand, Hawaii, China New York and more. “We are trying to do as many fundraisers as possible, even more
than last year. It has been very hard with all the changes but we have been able to pull through,” Kheradyar said. For this upcoming festival, Madrigals will also be holding a concert in December, performing at various churches and singing at American Girl Doll stores. The ideal amount of money to be raised has not been determined because this is based upon the number of Madrigals who are unable to pay the full amount for the trip. Madrigals hopes that their caroling will be able to stream in as much money as their last fundraiser, which brought in $2,500.
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HIGHLIGHTS CUTLURE NOVEMBER 8, 2013
Students under pressure miss school days for tests Eunice Kim staff writer As finals approach, teachers begin to give more tests and quizzes to students on a daily basis. As more pressure is added onto students, more upperclassmen than underclassmen miss school due to test pressure. According to the student survey conducted by Highlights, 104 students out of a total 298 students surveyed said that they missed school on purpose. Out of those 104 students, 86 students were upperclassman. “Of course I [spotted people missing school purposely]. There are always people who try to skip class when they have a test on a subject they are not comfortable on,” senior Tristan Lucas said. Although the school has strict policies about absences, it is hard to identify whether or not absences are due to “excusable” reasons or because students have tests. Teachers and staff are not able to determine the reason for student absences are genuine or fake, just by looking at student’s excuse notes. However, some students stated that
they don’t abuse this method to earn better grades. “I have felt like I want to miss school because I wasn’t prepared for the test,” a student who wished to remain anonymous said. While students don’t regard this trend as “cheating,” they’ve shown clear distinction between excusable and inexcusable absences. “In my opinion, if students are absent on purpose in order to study for test they are going to take, they deserve the score they get [when they return]. However, if students start asking answers from others who took the test it should be considered as cheating,” sophomore Jane Hwang said. Although this method of gaining extra study time might sound tempting, many students showed disapprovement of this trend. “Students shouldn’t feel like they should miss school because of a test or quiz, because you are missing out on your class education,” a student who wished to remain anonymous said. “It ends up being worse in the end when you miss lessons rather
A total of 298 students were surveyed
How often do you miss school to purposely not take a test? than getting a bad grade on a test or quiz.” Teachers encourage their students to show up on the test days instead of faking illness. “I cannot prevent absences,” chemistry teacher Christopher
Bushee said. “However, I often find that students perform worse on makeup tests. I think it’s because their minds start to drift out of the flow of the material and I also think it’s hard to take tests in an alternate setting.”
Read the full article online by scanning this QR code.
Meet the Teachers
Kevin Bowers infuses physics with logic for problem-solving skills
DANI KLEMES
“My main goal is to teach logic, to teach how to use evidence and reason to solve a problem. If you understand logic, you can solve physics; you can solve law problems; you can solve health problems; you can solve anything. Not everybody’s going to be a physicist but a lot of the students are going to go on to other problem solving careers.” Dani Klemes web editor-in-chief Born in Portland, Ore., and spending the majority of his life in Mesa, Ariz., physics teacher Kevin Bowers has more than gravity keeping him grounded. From an early age, Bowers was exposed to logic and puzzles, so it is no surprise he chose to enter into a field relating to both math and science. “I was a science kid growing up, but I wasn’t really a science fair kid,” Bowers said. “I always liked physics, chemistry and a little bit of biology, and I was pretty good at math and logic problems. It ends up pretty appropriate that I teach physics today because it’s
all problem solving.” Bowers is not the first in his family to work in the field of education. “My dad is a second-grade teacher and my mom teaches preschool, and I recently found out that my 95-year-old grandfather was a teacher in the army,” Bowers said. Teaching was not always part of his plan. Bowers decided to take a gap year between high school and college in order to pursue engineering through hands-on experience and jobs. “In high school I got pretty good grades: I was on the honor roll; I was an AP kid. I didn’t really
want to go to college right away because I was a little burnt out,” Bowers said. “I was lucky, though, my uncle owned a microchip factory and I got to do a lot of research for universities and small companies.” During his time at the factory, Bowers worked in the semiconductor microchip field and, in 1999, he decided to quit to pursue a degree in engineering at the University of Arizona. As a college student, Bowers discovered that though he was talented in the subject, his passion no longer laid in engineering. “When I got down to school in Tucson, engineering wasn’t
my thing. I thought it was what I loved to do but I wasn’t enjoying it. I couldn’t imagine doing it for the rest of my life. I went to a couple of teaching workshops and eventually changed my major to Science Education,” Bowers said. By definition, physics is the natural science that deals with matter as it moves through space and time. In addition to highlighting the basic ideas of physics, Bowers approaches the complicated subject with logic and reason. “My main goal is to teach logic, to teach how to use evidence and reason to solve a problem. I’m trying to teach students the way the world works, how it is that things move and don’t move and interact with each other,” Bowers said. “If you understand logic, you can solve physics; you can solve law problems; you can solve health problems; you can solve anything. Not everybody’s going to be a physicist but a lot of the students are going to go on to other problem solving careers.” According to most students, this method does wonders in simplifying the age-old complications of physics. “I like how his class is so relaxed. It’s a better learning environment where people are comfortable to ask questions,” senior Alyssa Durling said. “He’s one of the most reasonable teachers I know. He’s there to help you.” Bowers not only employs the use of common sense in his lessons, but he bases his classes on firsthand experience and the principles of practice. “In some of our labs we try to discover the relationships between things rather than just being told what the relationship is,”
Bowers said. “I try to do a lot of trial and error where I let students make mistakes. We figure out why those mistakes were made and we learn from those mistakes. Sometimes I’ll give a problem to try out that we don’t really know how to do just to see what can we do with our knowledge already. We build from that.” Though his focus rests in physics, Bowers is well versed in a range of other topics including Beverly’s robotics program, where he essentially acts as the “coach of the build team.” “He’s very committed to the Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) education,” senior Jake Peskin said. “He’s also very insightful. He has something to say about every topic.” Many students agree that besides his impactful teaching skills and worldly opinions, Bowers possesses one of the “most quotable” senses of humor and a head of envy-inducing locks. “He’s my number-one Twitter topic,” senior Sam Schnapp said. “The B-Dawg is definitely my most handsome teacher. I wish my hair could be as glorious as his.” With such positive feedback from students, Bowers does not plan to stray far from his teaching position. “I think I’ll probably be in education the rest of my life. I could see myself at some point working for NASA or Jet Propulsion Lab doing some kind of education outreach,” Bowers said. “I might just keep teaching until I retire. It’s hard to say.” As for the near future, Bowers is currently cake-tasting and tablecloth-selecting for his wedding on Nov. 30.
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Marijuana Unrolled School policy in relation to marijuana Basal Ganglia: Controls unconscious muscle movements. THC’s effect hinders motor coordination.
Mabel Kabani editor-in-chief Brenda Mehdian staff writer Every year, students are given a handful of contracts which they and their parents must read, review and agree to with a signature. Within these contracts students are provided with a clear description of the school policy regarding drugs. In order to further implement the rules and regulations presented in the contracts, teachers are given time to go over the content at the start of each semester. In addition, teachers are expected to monitor students throughout the year to make sure that school policies are being followed. “Our teachers do a great job of monitoring discipline, as well as providing support and guidance to our students on a daily basis,” House C Assistant Principal Toni Staser said. According to the contract, students are required to refrain from illegal usage, possession and the sale or distribution of drugs or alcohol both on and off campus when taking part in school activities. By signing the contract, students are accepting that if they are found violating the rules, they will be suspended from school, the Beverly Hills Police Department will be notified, a parent conference will be arranged, all with the possibility of suspension or expulsion. “The school policy pertaining to drug or alcohol use is clear and also provides transparent information regarding consequences,” Staser said. Although the the students are exposed to these rules and potential punishments, there are always a “handful of situations in which students make poor choices,” according to Staser. Although the punishments or results vary per situation, according to Staser, the Beverly Hills Police Department is always contacted in every case involving all types of illegal substances. Earlier this school year, a student was arrested and suspended from school for allegedly being in possession of marijuana during school hours. “I’m glad that someone was finally arrested because this has been an issue for a while,” a senior who wishes to remain anonymous said. “Hopefully this arrest will scare other students into actually following school policy.” Though there is a universal punishment for possessing marijuana on campus, each case is dealt with separately when it comes to being under the influence of an illegal substance during school hours. “If a student were found ‘under the influence on campus’ from an illegal substance, that would also be taken into consideration when determining consequences as this has the potential to impact the safety of the student as well as the safety of others,” Staser said. Though all students have the responsibility to alert either faculty members or security if they are aware of either
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HIGHLIGHTS SPOTLIGHT NOVEMBER 8, 2013
Cerebellum: This part of the brain is less able to control coordination because THC impairs its capabilities.
History of marijuanarelated legislation Jessica Lu spotlight editor Juliette Deutsch staff writer
Oct. 2, 1937: the federal Marijuana Tax Stamp Act is passed. It is the first law criminalizing marijuana sale and possession in the United States. Later that day, Samuel Caldwell is arrested by the FBI for selling two joints. He is sentenced to four years in prison. The problem was that he did not buy the one dollar stamp required to buy and sell marijuana, as the Stamp Act required.
1969: In Leary v. United States, the Supreme Court rules the Marijuana Tax Act as unconstitutional because it violated the Fifth Amendment (privilege to not selfincriminate).
1970: Congress passes the Controlled Substances Act (CSA). The CSA established the National Commission on Marijuana and Drug Abuse to study marijuana abuse in the country.
1984-1986: The Comprehensive Crime Control Act of 1894 creates the Sentencing Commission, establishing mandatory sentencing guidelines. The Anti-Drug Abuse Act of 1986 creates 25-year imprisonment for repeated serious crimes. 1996: California voters pass Prop. 215 to legalize medical cannabis and the Oakland Cannabis Buyers’ Cooperative was created for distribution.
2001: The U.S. Supreme Court ruled in United States v. Oakland Cannabis Buyers’ Coop that federal laws do not have an exception for medical cannabis.
Nov. 6, 2012: Colorado and Washington are the first states to legalize the sale and possession of cannabis for recreational use. Adults 21 and older are allowed to possess up to an ounce. Marijuana is subject to regulation and taxes.
Hippocampus: THC binds with the cannabinoid receptors here and interferes with the recollection of recent events. alcohol or drugs being used on campus, according to administration, the Norman Aid Center is available for counseling in relation to drug and alcohol use. “The Norman Aid Center is very open to talking about anything and we won’t judge,” Intervention Counselor Alison Norman-Franks said. “Our staff is edu-
cated every year on how to deal with [situations regarding drugs].” She continued to say that the Norman Aid Center is always available to advise and listen to students and the sessions between a counselor and student are always confidential. However, if the student is “under the influence of some-
thing illegal,” the counselors are forced to breach their contract of confidentiality and alert the school administration because “in these types of situations the school is liable,” according to NormanFranks. “The Norman Aid Center is a great resource for students that are troubled
Wash ingto n
o
ad Color
with drugs and I definitely think it should be more utilized,” senior Daeun Lee said. More information on school policy in relation to illegal substances are available in the Student Handbook, which is given to every student at the start of each school year.
2013: Colorado rep. Jared Polis introduces the Ending Federal Marijuana Prohibition Act of 2013, decriminalizing marijuana on the federal level. California rep. Dana Rohrabacher introduces the Respect State Marijuana Laws.
Infographics by Jessica Lu. Sources include howstuffworks.com, drugfreeworld.org, blog.austindefense.com, www.perc.wa.gov, www.nysenate.gov
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HIGHLIGHTS CULTURE NOVEMBER 8, 2013
Beverly Hills not in the mood for fast food Continued from Page 1
T
he majority of the city’s commercial properties are found in what is known as the Business Triangle. The Business Triangle can be found within the borders of Santa Monica Boulevard, North Rexford and Wilshire Boulevard. Consequently, a fast-food restaurant with a drive-through would cause conflict in a business oriented area filled with pedestrians. Another restriction that the city imposes on restaurants is the ban of tall signage, which would make it difficult for a restaurant such as McDonald’s, known for its tall signature golden arches, to promote their business. While the city does not define “fast food,” certain chain-restaurants have been able to do better than others. “In fact, the city is currently home to a number of fast-foodtype restaurants such as Chipotle, Subway and Jersey Mike’s, and, in the near future, a Fat Burger is planned to open on South Santa Monica Boulevard,” Golich said. Changing fast food standards For years, many fast food restaurants have been under investigation regarding the production and quality of their products. In 2001, Eric Schlosser’s “Fast Food Nation: The Dark Side of the All-American Meal” exposed the fast-food industry. Schlosser investigated the way fast food chains manufacture their food, such as chemical flavoring, the raising and processing of cattle, as well as the dangers of eating such meat. Schlosser’s book brought the fast food industry’s flaws to the public’s attention. McDonald’s has always been subject to criticism and investigation. Just this past month, The American Journal of Medicine published an article titled “The Autopsy of Chicken Nuggets” that revealed the actual ingredients in a chicken nugget. The study compared two chicken nuggets from unidentified fast-food chains. In addition to chemical additives and preservatives, researchers discovered that the nuggets were composed of 50 percent or less chicken muscle tissue and the rest were made of blood vessels, pure fat, bones, nerves and cartilage. In addition to Schlosser’s book, McDonald’s was the subject of the 2004 documentary “Super Size Me”. Director Morgan Spurlock ate nothing but McDonald’s menu items over a 30-day period. Spurlock’s documentary gave viewers a look at the negative effects of fast food and the toll it can take on the body. Since then, fast food chains have revised their mission statements and have included the calories of
AUDREY PARK
each item on their menus. McDonald’s developed a low-calorie “Snack Wrap” and began to add more fruit and vegetable alternatives to their menus. Burger King introduced “Satisfries” which promises to deliver 40 percent less fat than regular fries. Newer chain restaurants like Chipotle pride themselves on the “integrity” of their food and are very transparent with the stages behind the production of their product. Chipotle is one of the many restaurants trying to reinvent America’s typical standards behind fast food. Chipotle’s “Food with Integrity” campaign allows consumers
to take a look at the way Chipotle manufactures their product, as well as the quality of their food. According to Chipotle, their campaign is a commitment to “changing traditional ‘fast food’ culture by serving customers the very best ingredients.” The company works with family owned and operated farms where animals are naturally raised without hormones and are vegetarian-fed. Students weigh in Typically when students go out to eat, their first concern is the price. Students like quality food at a relatively good price that is
not going to break their wallets. Therefore, places such as Chipotle, Subway and Jersey Mikes are favorites among Beverly students because of convenience, price and consistency. “I enjoy eating at Chipotle for a fast food option, because it is convenient and good. I know what I’m getting each time and it is inexpensive,” sophomore Sydney Tran said. “It would be nice to have other fast-food options in Beverly Hills though, so that when I am in a rush I can grab something else.” However, some do not agree that the city should have more fast food options to choose from. “I think that having places such
as McDonald’s and other fast food chains would definitely be disruptive for traffic purposes. Also, these places aren’t that healthy and it’s better to have other fast food options that are healthier and do not cause extra traffic,” senior Tori Hertz said. While restaurants like Chipotle and McDonald’s may both be considered fast food, there is a distinct difference between the food preparation at each establishment. Fast food is considered food that can be quickly and easily prepared; however, many chains are changing the model of fast food, by providing consumers with quality ingredients and reliable service.
HIGHLIGHTS COMMENT NOVEMBER 8, 2013
9
THE FORUM
a debate within the Highlights staff How much freedom does the school allow us? Over the past four issues, members of the Highlights staff have contended with this question. As the discussion developed, different writers brought up different aspects of the overarching question, elaborating upon and refuting arguments brought up in previous articles. Last issue, Graphics Editor Marguerite Alberts promoted bonding among students. Now, Comment Editor Max Stahl concludes the debate.
This article is the fifth in the series. Next issue, a new question will be posed, and a new debate will begin. Of course, the current discussion doesn’t have to end with us. If you feel you have something meaningful to contribute, don’t hesitate to send a letter to beverlyhighlights@gmail.com
Picking apart freedom at Beverly Max Stahl comment editor How much freedom does the school allow us? As straightforward as the question may seem, there isn’t a simple answer. From the varied responses offered in the previous four issues, that much is evident. We’ll have to go a bit deeper. It is important, first, to define what “freedom” actually means in this context. Without a clear definition, it would be reasonable to extend the concept of freedom into the realm of economics: technically, our public education is free. Therefore, I’ll define freedom as the ability to act or make decisions without restraint from authority or other outside forces. To what extent, then, does the school curtail this freedom? Let’s look at the issue editor-inchief Mabel Kabani brought up in the first Forum article. Off-campus lunch seems to stand among the most-desired freedoms denied to Beverly students. While
it would be nice for students to stay at school for spirit events and other lunch activities, these diversions should not be a motivating factor in the prohibition of off-campus lunch. Provided students have met a certain academic and behavioral threshold (e.g., a minimum GPA and a satisfactory discipline record) and have waived the school’s legal responsibility for them, they should have the freedom to leave campus for lunch. School security adds another facet to the debate. As graphics editor Marguerite Alberts conjectured in the last issue, it is possible that security gives students too much leeway and hasn’t done enough to keep danger away from the school. Many will remember that when the district proposed to build a fence around the high school, students and parents protested, and the district relented. Certainly security at Beverly is not as strict as it is elsewhere. At select schools in the Los Angeles Unified School District, students
must pass through metal detectors when entering campus. The Beverly Hills community, however, is vastly different from those around many of the Los Angeles schools, so the high level of trust security leaves in Beverly students may be justifiable. There’s really no way of knowing. I do agree with spotlight editor Jessica Lu, though, in her critique of the school’s attendance policy. Losing 3 percent from a grade for an unexcused absence is as excessive as the excusedabsence policy is arbitrary. While the school should encourage students to attend classes, the consequences for not doing so are too harsh. The most oppressive aspect of the attendance policy, however, remains the .6 percent deducted from one’s grade for an unexcused tardy. Under this rule, walking into class half a minute or half an hour after the bell rings both damage one’s grade equally. As with absences, it is important that the school discourages tardies, but perhaps some leniency
would serve it better than its current system. Now that we’ve taken a look at some of the most prominent aspects of the freedom debate, a new question arises: How much freedom do students actually deserve? Like all humans, teenagers can’t be trusted to make certain decisions for themselves. While it is important for teenagers to exercise some measure of freedom and learn from their mistakes, an excess of freedom would be disastrous for them and for the school. Beverly’s administrators know this, and although in some cases the rules may seem too restrictive or too permissive, they strike a decent enough balance. Perhaps students could benefit from a little more freedom, but not enough to justify anger toward the administrators, or the school board, or anyone else making decisions that limit or extend our freedom. So to answer the original question, How much freedom does the school allow us? Enough.
Universities do not have universal appeal Robert Katz web editor-in-chief Despite the chaos and distress that surrounds the college application process, one prospect lends many students a focus for their efforts: a successful career. Thankfully, Beverly has increasingly pushed for students to attend universities, helping to sustain a college attendance rate of about 95.4 percent. Yet, there are alternative options for graduating students who seek careers but do not see a university experience as necessary. Beverly has developed a school culture that seems to condemn alternative educational choices. Perhaps most prominently, Santa Monica College, while dealing with both overpopulation and financial issues, is a highly viable choice for students who cannot attend an affordable university. However, it has taken on a reputation as a “dumpster” for students who will not be going on to college. Although in jest, a common student response to academic frustration is that they will “just go to SMC.” While it is true that few students in AP and honors classes may have reason to attend SMC, why should we condemn it? Financially, the famed community college is very easy on the wallet, with estimated annual expenses of $26,500, as opposed to $32,415 for California residents at UCLA, or $53,490 for non-residents at the University of Michigan. Vocational training is also an option for students who want to develop the skills they need for a specific field without spending time learning things such students view as unnecessary. Trade and technical
schools provide the education needed to go into specific fields, such as plumbing or nursing, usually without offering a liberal arts education. The Regional Occupation Program (ROP) that has gathered so much attention in recent years, bringing career-based specialization courses to high schools, simulates vocational schools by offering similar educational opportunities. Although, with recent state and county budgetary issues and this year’s removal of the ROP Counselor position, ROP will face some harrowing times in the next five years. To many, however, the benefits of attending a university are overwhelmingly worth the costs. There really is no avoiding the appeal. According to The Atlantic, this January’s unemployment rate for those with four-year university degrees was about 3.7 percent as opposed to 7 to 8.1 percent unemployment for those with a high-school education and some or no college. Thirtyseven percent of the workforce was composed of degree holders, and 55 percent of the workforce composed of the second group. As well, workers with less than a bachelor’s degree make a median annual earning of $37,950, as opposed to a median annual earning of $50,000 for those with a bachelor’s degree or higher. The push for more students to attend college is a welcome one. However, there is little use to reducing the appeal of educational options that may be better alternatives for some students. There is no one-size-fits-all pathway through life, nor is there one for education. We should encourage ourselves and each other to pursue not just education, but the education that is right for each of us.
How much do you think Beverly pressures students to attend college?
Do you think you would apply to college if Beverly did not encourage students to do so? Where do you think the greatest pressure to apply to college comes from?
(58%) (22%) (9%) (7%) (4%)
50 students participated in the survey.
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HIGHLIGHTS COMMENT NOVEMBER 8, 2013
Is there any escape from Facebook? Danny Licht editor-in-chief It was a big day when I signed up for Facebook. I was in eighth grade and I was excited. It was a whole new world. What I didn’t know then, though, was that Facebook is a trap. And now I hate it. And I don’t know how to get out. When I first signed up, I looked for pages to like. I wanted everyone to know exactly how cool I was. I projected my identity onto the white-and-blue wonderland. I found friends who also liked The Killers. I shared photos. I said hi to my cousins in Palo Alto. I’d log on once a day, glance at the News Feed, check for messages, sign off. It was quick, and it was great. But now it’s something else
Highlights Mabel Kabani and Danny Licht editors-in-chief
entirely. I log on by reflex. It’s quicksand. I can log off, sure, but it’s no use. I’m too vulnerable to its attractions. I’ve developed a desire to refresh the page to check for something. I constantly feel there’s something I could be finding out, that I’m forgetting someone’s birthday or that I should be responding to a message. I scroll down and down, deeper and deeper into the rabbit hole. The problem, I think, is that it feels productive. After all, there’s always something new going on. With each refresh, I’m seeing something new. Someone else went somewhere else with someone else. Something else is hilarious on BuzzFeed. But these things are useless. They’re all missable. Facebook offers the pernicious sensation of doing
something when I haven’t actually done anything. What’s a boy to do? I’m a teenager with a desire to connect. If not online, then where am I going to talk to people? Outside? I end up infinitely scrolling, doing nothing, learning nothing. I can’t remember a single Facebook post I’ve seen in the last hour, and I’ve seen a lot. I could’ve been reading a book. I could’ve gone jogging. I could’ve gone to a friend’s house. But that’s all too much work, too much brain power. All Facebook wants is that I look at ads. It occupies me and requires nothing in return. It’s standby mode. It’s relaxing. But when I wake up from that reverie and wander over to Jupiter calendar, and I see that I still have to read “Hamlet” and
study Locke and find the derivative of inverse sine, I remember all those wasted hours. I wonder where the time has gone. I wonder why. I wonder if there’s anything I could have done. But I’ve asked these questions before. I know all the answers. I know that Facebook took it, and that I allowed it to — that I wanted it to — and that there’s nothing I can do to stop it. If I were to delete my account, I’d lose contact with most of my friends. And if I were to try to ignore it, I’d lose to my lack of self-discipline. The only escape is to leave my phone at home and go outside, where the only remnants of Facebook are faces, and the birds are chirping. The sun is setting. The leaves are brown. And I can’t help but think that it would make for a good post.
EDITORIAL
Maximizing the benefits of social media
Michelle Banayan news editor
Max Stahl
comment editor
Dami Kim
culture editor
Jessica Lu
spotlight editor
Arman Zadeh sports editor
Marguerite Alberts graphics editor
Robert Katz and Dani Klemes web editors-in-chief
Marguerite Alberts and Dami Kim social media directors
Braden Bochner, Juliette Deutsch, Audrey James-Anenih, Zoe Kenealy, Eunice Kim, Brenda Mehdian, Audrey Park and Jackson Prince
AJ PARRY
staff writers
Audrey Park, Sasha Park and AJ Parry cartoonists
Gaby Herbst adviser — The mission of Highlights is to deliver community-relevant news in a timely manner while adhering to professional ethics. Highlights is a forum for student 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 Like us on Facebook, and follow @bhhihighlights on Twitter and Instagram. Ads are not endorsed by BHUSD. Beverly Highlights is sponsored by PTSA and BHEF.
From paintings on carved ivory and doves carrying ancient script letters, to typing in morse code and dialing on cell phones, communication has evolved tremendously over the millennia. Through innovative technological advancements and increasing interaction among people in society, tools for communicating in the 21st century are now compacted into the tiny space of a microchip that link to a global playground called Internet. From this, social media rose as the main instrument of long-distance communication within the last decade. According to the definition by dictionary.com, social media refers to means of online communication shared by large groups of people that develop “social and professional contacts.” The easy accessibility of social media such as Twitter, Facebook, Vine, Instagram, attracts a larger population to generate new ideas publicly through a simple click
on their phones. The benefits of social media are evident in the heightened creativity among users, who perform short skits on Vine and post comedy series on Twitter. Social media is also one of the most effective marketing tools for businesses and organizations. News agencies such as CNN and the Los Angeles Times have reformed how they deliver breaking news by announcing it on Twitter first, which helps to inform a greater number of people faster. Overall, the use of social media seems to indicate profitable results — until, people start to misuse them. The common phrase “the Internet made me do it” is simply an excuse for people’s behavioral problems, specifically for frequent users like teenagers who focus more on the “social contacts” of social media than the “professional.” Students have become more prone to openly sharing their thoughts, which can
lead to insightful, thought-provoking discussions. But it oftentimes leads to public discouragement. Twitter, for example, has about a billion registered users, and around 270 million of those users actively use Twitter every month. According to Twitter’s blog, Twitter’s primary mobile users tend to be young adults (18-to-34-year-olds) and are 119 percent more likely to tweet at work or school. Students’ frequent tweets at Beverly confirm this trend among young users. Teens tend to tweet whenever something happens, whether it be about an assembly, a substitute, a particular class or even just the fact that they are at school studying. Unfortunately, this trend of consistent tweeting seems to lead to negative remarks and complaints about school, rather than encouraging words to others. Such tweets or Facebook posts are still protected under the First Amendment, freedom of speech.
We believe that the school should not try to censor usage of social media, as long as it does not lead to cyberbullying. However, students should be better informed of the consequences of inappropriately using social media which poorly reflect on one’s image. Even if students delete what has been posted on the Internet, the vast space of the web makes it almost impossible for the post to get completely erased. It may be possible that one’s regrettable tweet can appear in another’s retweet, thus starting a chain reaction. What is most dangerous about the misuse of social media is that it has a potential to hinder one’s future, especially in terms of obtaining jobs and other professional opportunities. Understanding the correct use of social media can help prevent teens from tweeting shameful posts and spoiling their professional reputation as students.
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HIGHLIGHTS SPORTS NOVEMBER 8, 2013
Games to
Watch
Norman football to close 2013 season vs. Culver in final game of season The troubled Normans squad will head into its final game of the season today, Friday, Nov. 8. The team will face Culver City at home in the seniors’ final football game of their high school careers, an event that is sure to be bittersweet. Senior wide receiver Eli Sachs tweeted his sentiments before the team’s 50-6 loss to Hawthorne on the road last week. “Remember ridin’ to Santa Barbara as a freshman for my first football game. Last football bus ride to a game ever right now. Slow down.” Heading into this game, the Normans hold a record of 0-9 overall and 0-4 in league. This places the Normans in last place in Ocean League behind Hawthorne, which holds a record of 1-3 in league.
Cross-country will return to Ocean League Finals After placing first at Mt. SAC in late October, the boys varsity team and the rest of the team took their talents to Cheviot Hills Park for Ocean League Finals. On Nov. 7, the team returned to the finals to try and follow up on last year’s impressive results. Last year’s boys varsity team had eight runners qualify for CIF playoffs, including alumni Alex Rohani who set a school record in the 400m race with 47.2 seconds and Chanan Batra who won both the 800m and 1600m race. Beverly’s girls varsity team won the league cup and had 15 runners qualify for CIF playoffs, notably alumna Sydney Segal who won the 800m, 1600m and 3200m races. Results of this years race were not available in time for the press.
Ayzenberg competes nationally with TSM el, and meets about 10 times a week, or in Ayzenberg’s case, 11. “All we do is swim laps,” Senior Alexander Ayzenberg has 11 swim practices a week, Ayzenberg said. “We really fobut none of them are in the cus on reducing our lap times more than Swim-Gym. anything For the past else. When three years, it comes Ayzenberg down to has been success in swimming terms of with Team meets and Santa Moncompetiica (TSM), tions, the a non-profit times are organization Senior Alexander Ayzenberg ZOE KENEALY what really offering club swimming to “all ages and abili- matter.” The team is coached by the U.S. ties,” according to its website, National Junior Team Coach www.teamsantamonica.org. “I decided to join TSM be- Dave Kelsheimer. Ayzenberg cause I like to swim year round,” said that having Kelsheimer as Ayzenberg explained. “To re- a coach added a new element to main competitive, one season swimming for him. “Meeting the coach’s expectaisn’t enough.” Ayzenberg is part of TSM’s Na- tions bring me to a whole new tional group. The site describes level of swimming,” he said. “I swimmers in this group as “top truly feel I get better with every level.” The group competes at practice. He’s coached some of the Sectional and National lev- the best players in the nation for Jessica Lu spotlight editor
my age group, and he knows the team can always do better.” His teammates, which he said included four U.S. National swimmers, also contribute to what he likes about TSM. “I personally like club swimming because I am surrounded by athletes who care and dedicate so much time to the sport, just like I do,” Ayzenberg said. “We swim faster when we can feel each others’ motivation to perform well.” Ayzenberg’s goals include making the U.S. National team and earning a swimming scholarship for college. “I know I will continue to swim in college, and hopefully one day make the Olympics,” he said. “For the long course, I am about three seconds slower than most qualifying times, and so I hope within the next few years, I can get to that level.” Ayzenberg is currently ranked 15th in California for 100m butterfly, with a time of 51.08 seconds. He also swims the 200m
butterfly. Though he enjoys the benefits of being part of TSM, Ayzenberg also values his varsity swimming spot at Beverly. However, managing both swimming careers can be “a lot to handle” when practices coincide. “Athletes know that managing practice, meets and homework is difficult,” Ayzenberg said. “I don’t always manage to complete all my homework. But I find the experience very much worth it, because my results reflect my effort.” The boys swimming season does not start until spring, so Ayzenberg can focus completely on TSM at the moment. Currently, Ayzenberg is preparing for his next senior meet on Sunday, Nov. 10. These meets take about 150 swimmers who have qualified with a certain time, with no specific home or away team. Last year Ayzenberg finished fifth in the 100m fly, but hopes his improved time can move him up in awards.
Weiss returns as girls volleyball coach Continued from Page 1 been able to help us work on things we need to, in order to improve on the court,” Berris said. Even with a change in head coach mid-season, the girls found common ground on which to bond. “It was a difficult time for all of us, but it forced us to rely and trust each other and brought us closer as a team,” Shyra Costas, four year member of the volleyball program, said. Girls varsity volleyball closed the season without Wright, but Weiss kept the team’s bond intact during a stressful time. The team ended the season with a league record of 5-12. The team huddles together in the Swim-Gym during a timeout.
AMIR MOVASSAGHI
Fall sports teams cleaning out as Beverly prepares for winter After this week, Beverly teams will divide between those who successfully moved on to playoffs and those whose seasons ended early. Teams moving on to playoffs include girls volleyball, boys water polo and the cross-country team, who attended Ocean League Finals earlier this week. With the changing seasons, fans can look forward to the winter sports teams to take Nickol Field and the Swim-Gym once again. Boys and girls basketball and soccer, wrestling and swimming will all begin play within the next few months. Arman Zadeh
Senior Liat Hackman spikes the ball in a home game.
AMIR MOVASSAGHI
Junior Leer Goldschmit gets in formation before the team’s first set of the game.
AMIR MOVASSAGHI
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HIGHLIGHTS SPORTS NOVEMBER 8, 2013
Water polo steal victories from South Bay, targets CIF Jackson Prince staff writer With a 2-2 league record, the boys water polo team headed into their match against the El Segundo Eagles, a team they hadn’t beaten in two years. The pressure was mounting as the Normans understood the challenge of the task at hand. In addition, much like the team’s .500 record, the Swim-Gym pool water itself was stagnant due to a broken filter, leading to a change of venue. With all of these factors working against them, the Normans could have just given up. However, upon arriving at the El Segundo pool, the Normans were ready to fight. And fight they did. “Our team started off great in the first quarter,” senior driver David Kotlarenko said. “We were able to keep up the intensity throughout the whole game.” With this intensity, regulation time ended with a tie score, 8-8. The Eagles and Normans entered overtime and, after each team scored once more, the game was forced into sudden death: whichever team scored first would win the match. After a penalty gave the Normans the upper hand (a 6-on-5 scenario), junior attacker Justin Shegerian slammed in the winning goal, and the scoreboard read, “Eagles 9, Guest 10.” “It was the most intense game I had ever played,” Shegerian
said. “I had never seen our team so focused and passionate and I’m proud to say that I played a part in that experience.” In their next league contest, the Normans returned home to a clean pool and squeaked out another close victory, 6-5, against Torrance, improving their record to 4-2. Part of their improvement as a team came from a renewed emphasis on constant communication, as well as a stronger sense of camaraderie, according to junior center Michael Nassirzadeh. “I think that the chemistry and communication we’ve developed this year have led us to greater success in the pool,” Nassirzadeh said. Junior right-attacker Josh Louis saw improvement in ability and strategy as well. “We’ve gotten better as water polo players and as a team, especially on defense,” he said. The Normans, however, hit a snag at home on Nov. 4 as the team was defeated by Samo, 129, snapping Beverly’s five-game win streak. In order to make the playoffs, the Normans must place as one of the top-three teams in the Ocean league. The Normans, however, have set their goal a bit higher than third place. “We’re definitely going to CIF, but after losing to Samo we can’t place first,” Shegerian said. “However, I am confident that the team will come back stronger in tie for the playoffs.”
Beverly lost 12-9 to Samo
Junior Justin Shegerian clashes with Samo swimmers to gain possession of the ball.
Junior Blake Ackerman looks for an open teammate as Samo defenders close in on him.
Senior Justin Kim fakes out an opponent before passing to an open teammate.
Results of last five games 10/25 10/29 10/31 11/4 11/6 Shegerian signals to teammates in anticipation of the next
vs. El Segundo 10-9 @ Notre Dame 11-6 vs. Torrance 6-5 vs. Samo 12-9 vs. Culver City N/A
Win Loss Win Loss N/A
VIRGINIA CARMELITANO
Girls basketball team receiving team shoe for season Audrey Park staff writer Members of girls varsity basketball will receive team shoes in order to strengthen team unity for the upcoming season. The idea of having a team shoe was first introduced last year by the team members. The shoe, which was designed by Nike, will be orange and black to represent Beverly’s school spirit. “The purpose of the shoe is to make us look more connected as a team,” guard, senior Arianna Mazzarini said. “Having a team shoe is fun and it’s a great asset to
our team uniform.” Guard, sophomore Lauren Moghavem is confident that the shoe positively affects the mentality of the team by helping it look more professional unified. “I love having team shoes because it indicates that we are a team; we need to be able to be proud of it and represent it by wearing the same shoes and jersey,” Moghavem said. “Also, the colors and style of the shoe work really well with our school colors.” After discussing what unified sportswear to obtain, members of the team decided not only the
Senior Arianna Mazzarani speeds past Natasha Allen in practice.
item of clothing to buy, a shoe, but also a way to save money while doing so. “Girls varsity basketball all agreed on the shoe, which, number one, is always a tough choice,” Head Coach John Braddell said. “It’s also cheaper; we get a discount because we order more than 10 of them.” Braddell believes that having a team shoe promotes team unity. Because all team members have the same shoe, “nobody’s different than anyone else.” “Everyone has the same shoe, everybody’s pulling in the same direction, there’s not one person who has some crazy shoe,” Braddell said. Although the team lost many of its valuable members with last year’s seniors graduating, Braddell is certain that the team is moving in the right direction based on practice games. “I think the girls have improved from last year to this year,” AUDREY PARK
Braddell said. “Despite the fact that we lost a lot of talent from last year, the girls that are coming up this year have improved tremendously through hard work and practice.” For the upcoming season, Braddell isn’t primarily focused on pushing the team to win league or state. Instead, their main approach, according to Braddell, is to “play hard every day and see what happens.” “We play hard. We strive to play good defense and get up and down the floor quickly; it’s a fun type basketball,” Braddell said. “We try to limit our turnovers as much as possible; that’s what we preach.” Moghavem strives AUDREY PARK to use the lessons she Jessica Melamed sizes up her defender learned from prac- during a team scrimmage. tice to show her capability for being a “smart player first game of the season is planned to be a home game on Nov. 23 on and off the courts.” Official practice for the team will against Notre Dame Academy. begin on Saturday, Nov. 9. The