highlights
October 11, 2013 Volume 87, Issue Three Beverly Hills High School Beverly Hills, Calif. beverlyhighlights.com
UCSD transfer ART SOCIETY program to end DEBUTS NEW in coming year ‘WHY’ GALLERY
AUDREY PARK
Cast and crew prepare for ‘39 STEPS,’ the fall play based on the Alfred Hitchcock film. Actors Alan Wheeler, Anthony Lofaso and Nicolette Shamsian (upper left) prepare their parts in the production; Brooke Teweles (top right) sorts through costumes; various crew members (lower left) prepare the set; and Wheeler and Lofaso (lower right) act in front of the crew. More on Page 8
Paysinger discussed at board meeting Mabel Kabani editor-in-chief The School Board meeting, which took place on Tuesday, Oct. 8 in the EDC, led by School Board President Jake Manaster, covered a range of topics such as the BHUSD middle school STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) program and the Bianca Foundation, an organization that stresses the importance of life skills classes in school curriculums; however, one of the major topics covered was Carter Paysinger’s Beverly Hills Sports Academy. The meeting started off with Jonathon Prince, former chairman of the BHEF (Beverly Hills Education Foundation) and Beverly alumnus, who spoke in support of Paysinger and his intentions when establishing the sports academy. “We are the silent majority, no longer willing to remain silent,” Prince said, referring to himself as well as 25 other individuals ranging from teachers and coaches to parents and students who “ceded” their allotted three minutes to Prince; this technically gave Prince a total of 75 minutes to speak, though he spoke for merely three. “Currently, Mr. Paysinger, as well as Mr. Newman and Mr.
Edelman, are caught in the middle of an examination that is taking away precious resources of money and time that our district can ill afford to give away,” Prince said. He continued on to say that
“We are the silent majority, no longer willing to remain silent,” Prince said. “Fenton was ‘appalled’ that the Board interfered with the legal situation.” the money and time being spent on this examination would be better spent on “building programs...and [help the school in] growing from good to great.” “We would like nothing more than for our principal to be given the opportunity to do what he does best: to lead the students, faculty, specialists, and staff at our beloved Beverly High,” Prince said. Steve Kessler, principal of Horace Mann, spoke on behalf of Paysinger as well, along with principal of El Rodeo David
Hoffman, and commented on the challenges of being a principal and on the “tough decisions” that must sometimes be taken regarding staff, students and programs. Manaster then read a letter written by parent Monique Gibbons who supports Paysinger and believes that he is a “living breathing example of integrity and excellence.” Judy Fenton, wife of former school board member and city council member Frank Fenton, though in support of Paysinger, spoke and scolded the School Board for allowing the story regarding the Sports Academy to become so public. Fenton was “appalled” that the Board interfered with the legal situation of the Sports Academy, for she believed that the aforementioned was explicitly the job of Superintendent Dr. Gary Woods, and believes that the situation with Paysinger should have been handled privately. In response to the meeting, Paysinger “appreciate[s] the support and the thoughtful comments that were made tonight,” for it “meant a lot to [him].” The next Board meeting will take place at 7 p.m. in the Salter Family Theatre on Oct 22.
Juliette Deutsch staff writer
Robert Katz web editor-in-chief
The University Of California Transfer Admission Guarantee Program, otherwise known as TAG, will terminate for all of the prospective University of California San Diego (UCSD) fall 2014 applicants who apply in the fall of 2014 from a California Community College. The TAG program was created and used by some of the University of California campuses to encourage transfer students to apply and enroll. Furthermore, TAG is offered to students enrolled in California community colleges who have successfully completed specific GPA and course requirements that guarantee them a place in seven of the schools in the UC system. “UC San Diego is committed to admitting well-prepared transfer students with a wide range of economic and cultural backgrounds from across California. The campus has one of the largest transfer student populations in the UC system and this year UC San Diego admitted 7,923 transfer students, which was the second highest amount of transfer admits in the UC Sys-
The National Art Honor Society (NAHS) is presenting its first gallery of the school year from Thursday, Oct. 3 until December. The gallery, titled, “Why?” features a collection of artwork answering the titular question with a breadth of styles. The topics confronted by the show, originally conceived to provoke some controversy, surprised its creators. For instance, the gallery was expected by some, such as NAHS officer Sasha Park, to focus on political themes. “[The works] illustrated things in [the artist’s] lives, generally, not
“The school is running out of space due to the heavy admission of transfer students.” tem,” UCSD communications officer Christine Clark said. UCSD wants to be able to house all of their students comfortably; however the school is running out of space due to the heavy admission of transfer students. “The campus is home to a transfer housing community which consists of 13 buildings, two of which are 15-story high rises. With freshman and sophomore students, transfer students have access to these housing facilities,” Clark said. ““Because UC San Diego was successful with providing transfer students the opportunity to Continued on Page 2
news
comment
sports
Shakespeare’s “Henry VIII,” advertised as “Enrique VIII,” was performed in Spanish by Rakatá, a Spanish theater company based in Madrid at the Broad Stage in Santa Monica on Friday, Sept. 27. page 2
“Although the university’s decision could be a shock to current students in California’s community colleges, the choice to phase out TAG is a logical approach to the school’s funding woes.” page 5
While superstitious actions may seem strange to outsiders, athletes at all levels — in high school as in major leagues — take their pre-game rituals seriously. Highlights explores. page 12
‘Enrique VIII’
On the Elimination of TAG
Athletes’ Rituals
ROBERT KATZ
politics,” Park said. “Sometimes there are pieces that really make you think, ‘Why?’” NAHS officer Sarah Peskin found that the one-word prompt, chosen by Graphic Design teacher Deb Joseph, was met with an unexpectedly upbeat response. “I was pleasantly surprised because I thought we were going to get a lot of dark images that were really dingy and gray,” Peskin said. “I’m glad to see there was a lot of color in all of the works. People were a lot more creative than I thought they would be with their artwork.” Peskin chose Eunjin Lee’s depiction of an origami figurine as one of the stand-out pieces, while Park noted that, “AJ Parry’s owl looks like it’s questioning things.” According to Peskin, the show, located across from the K.L. Peters Auditorium, has already received a very positive response. “What I’ve heard from people in NAHS and the Art Club is that it’s a really pretty exhibit this time, more so than the other ones [in the past],” Peskin said. “This one kind of stands out.” The following gallery, titled “What is Beauty?” will be presented this December, followed by February’s “Then and Now” senior show.
spotlight
Coffee Culture
page 6
2
HIGHLIGHTS NEWS OCTOBER 11, 2013
At ‘Enrique VIII,’ language barrier proves challenging Danny Licht editor-in-chief Shakespeare’s “Henry VIII,” advertised as “Enrique VIII,” was performed in Spanish by Rakatá, a Spanish theater company based in Madrid at the Broad Stage in Santa Monica on Friday, Sept. 27. English teacher Krisha Deaver took her freshman and senior classes to see it. To aid students’ comprehension of the play, Deaver’s classes studied the play before attending, and Rakatá’s performance included subtitles that described major plot points. However, senior Alex Massachi said the subtitles “helped minimally.” The language barrier proved challenging.
“It was just really hard to understand,” Massachi said, “but it was nice seeing the play acted out rather than reading it on paper.” Senior Daniel Kahn, who took AP Spanish during his junior year, agreed. “We knew generally what was happening, but they didn’t actually tell us what the lines were, so we didn’t know each and every detail going on,” Kahn said. “We understood it, but we also didn’t understand it.” However, forced to look beyond the dialogue for understanding, he observed body language. “It was a different perspective on the play, because the actors were showing us rather than tell-
ing us what happens,” Kahn said. “For the most part we couldn’t understand what they were saying, but we could see their actions and their emotions.” Freshman Timaj Kalifa, too, found something outside of words to understand. “Costumes can help distinguish characters from each other and show the characters’ style,” Kalifa said. “For example, Queen Catherine’s costumes were very extravagant and you could tell it was expensive because of the details and royal colors.” Some basic human themes, according to senior Haylee Hessell, remained clear. “Though in Spanish, the play
portrayed some universal themes that people of all nationalities can understand and relate to,” she said. Deaver got the idea to take her students to see a foreign play when she was in London this summer. At the Globe Theatre, she saw a South African theater company perform Shakespeare’s “Venus and Adonis” in various South African dialects, a performance that was as an extension of the 2012 World Shakespeare Festival. “That particular production used a lot of dance and music to tell the story,” Deaver said. “I was really intrigued at how theater can transcend language. I didn’t feel like there was a language barrier.
I didn’t feel like I was missing out because I didn’t know the South African dialects.” This positive experience inspired her to take her classes to see “Enrique VIII.” The Spanish production, however, turned out to be more difficult to understand. “This production didn’t use as much dance and as much music to tell the story, so it was definitely more challenging than the one I saw in London,” she said, “but nonetheless I think that we all took away some really positive ideas.” Deaver hopes to take her students to see Shakespeare’s “A Midsummer Night’s Dream,” in its original language, next semester.
Normans for Israel participate in online campaign The Normans for Israel club spent their first meeting of the year on Oct. 7 participating in the “I Heart Israel” campaign, which is managed by the international Israel advocacy organization, StandWithUs. The “I Heart Israel” campaign is a social media-based project designed to spread awareness about Israel. “Often, the media tends to portray Israel in a derogatory way and participating in this campaign is just a small way that we can help combat that negativity,” Normans for Israel Director of Events, Michelle Banayan, said. Banayan is also taking part as a StandWithUs MZ Teen Intern for the 20132014 school year. Banayan learned about the campaign during a conference she attended for her internship over the summer and suggested it to Normans for Israel President Daniella Hay as an activity the club could participate in.
“I thought it would be a really fun and interactive way to involve all of the kids in the club,” Hay said. “I want to raise awareness for the country and bring kids closer to Israel’s culture and its history. I want them to know what a great place it truly is.” As part of the campaign, members of the club had their photos taken. Then they wrote a statement about why they “heart” Israel, and both the photographs and statements are to be posted on the campaign’s Facebook page, IHeartIsrael.org. The meeting was able to attract a few newcomers to the club, including freshman Joey Abeles, who Normans for Israel president Daniella Hay photographs Treasurer Nicole Sayegh as part of their participation in the “I Heart Israel” campaign. Sayegh also wrote a statement with her photo on why she “hearts” Israel, talking about how she enjoys the culture of the country. MARGUERITE ALBERTS learned about the club through his sister, Vice was disappointed by the lack of there were more things we could where they intend to have a President Amanda Abeles. activities to participate in. do,” Joey Abeles said. interscholastic program with a Abeles was drawn to the club “They did not seem to have Both Hay and Amanda Abeles guest speaker. Members who because of the personal connec- planned additional activities were pleased with the turnout attend will participate in varition he has with Israel. While he during that meeting; it was and expect to have more new ous activites and receive comenjoyed meeting new people, he mainly the campaign and I wish members at their next event, munity service points.
Continued from Page One complete a four-year degree program we have seen a dramatic increase in California resident numbers over the last five years, which has exceeded the amount of state funding provided for the university`s capacity.” UC San Diego also wants to branch out and provide more spots for regular transfer students that are eligible. “The TAG program is being phased out because the university believes this will help ensure that UC San Diego is able to provide the opportunity for more transfer students to be eligible for the limited spots that are available by broadening our admissions pool to all transfer student applicants,” Clark said. “UC San Diego will continue to diligently work to recruit students from California community colleges.” In recent years, high school graduates attending local community colleges for one to two years can either transfer to one of the two UC schools that do
not have TAG admission (UCLA and UC Berkeley), or transfer to a UC school that accepts TAG, such as UCSD. In addition to students changing their college admission plan, the pool of applicants for regular admission without TAG to UCSD from a community college will become more selective now that TAG is being terminated. The discontinuation at UCSD of TAG does not only affect prospective students from high school, but also ones that are already enrolled in a community college. “Many of the people at Santa Monica College who I know are planning to transfer into UCSD next year,” alumnus and current Santa Monica College student Henry Arakelian said. “And since the TAG program will be ending in the near future, it will be a lot harder for those people to get into UCSD as a transfer student. Some of them are not even considering applying anymore and are focusing on getting into private universities
Marguerite Alberts graphics editor
instead becuase of the better chances.” Currently, six of the 10 other UC schools offer TAG and will continue to offer the program next year. These schools include: Santa Barbara, Irvine, Merced, Santa Cruz, Riverside and Davis. According to the Director of Admissions at the University of California Santa Barbara (UCSB) Lisa Przekop, UCSB does not plan to discontinue TAG in the near future. “Our faculty decide our admissions policies including the conditions within our TAG agreement,” Przekop said. “We do not anticipate any changes to the program and remain committed to California Community College transfer students.” UCSD will continue to diligently work to recruit students from California community colleges. Students who apply with TAG in November 2013 for admission to UC San Diego for the fall 2014 are still eligible for the program.
Upcoming Dates SAT and ACT Strategy Workshop Saturday, Oct. 12
PSAT Wednesday, Oct. 16
ALS Walk Sunday, Oct. 20 Cap and Gown Payment Deadline Friday, Nov. 1
Financial Aid Night Wednesday, Nov. 13
3
HIGHLIGHTS NEWS OCTOBER 11, 2013
BSU strives to introduce African Christian Club runs culture to students on campus annual prayer service Audrey Park staff writer The Black Student Union (BSU) is currently preparing an African dance performance for an assembly set to take place in February to correlate with Black History Month. The assembly is designed to help spread awareness of the African-American culture. BSU first started in the 1990s in an attempt to bring together the school’s six percent population of African-American students. As the years passed, the club deteriorated and eventually became void for a few years. However, five years ago club advisor Andre Law brought back the program. Law chose to incorporate dance into the assembly in order to attract the audience members’ attention and help them stay focused. “Basically [the assembly] is a way to connect with the students. We did it last year and the students were more engaged when there was dancing and singing going on,” Law said. “Therefore,
by doing more of a dance performance, I think it helps in engaging the kids more.” Law proposed the African dance when he first created the club in order to help Beverly become more aware about African culture and traditions. “[Law] wanted to get to be able to display the unique AfricanAmerican character and have it properly displayed for the students, giving them access to the culture,” BSU outside advisor Sista Jewel said. BSU club members are currently working with African Soul International to arrange a dance for the performance. The club worked with African Soul International last year as well, however this year, it intends to have the students be more active in organizing the assembly. “We’ll be in rehearsals and the [BSU members] will be a part of making the costumes, the accessories, learning the dance and [participating in] a nice drum ensemble as well,” Jewel said.
In addition to the dance performance, BSU will educate the audience on the history of the African-American culture. “We expect people to learn what the tradition is of African dances,” Law said. “The club is also going to give a background on the history of dance and culture and explain the different events that happened in Black History.” BSU Vice President Brandon Davis hopes that the assembly will teach the audience about the history of African culture, and that it also brings more recognition to the club on campus. “I am looking forward to having the people that attend learn more about Afro-American values and traditions and hopefully have our club grow in size,” Davis said. Law emphasizes that students do not have to be African-American to join, and encourages all students on campus to join this group to learn about African culture. BSU meets every other Tuesday in room 290.
FROM LEFT TO RIGHT: Sista Jewel, BSU Vice President Brandon Davis and President Synclaire Shannon meet in Charlie Stansbury’s classroom to discuss the logistics of the club’s upcoming assembly and possible future events. BRADEN BOCHNER
Audrey Park staff writer Meet at the Pole, an event organized by Christian Club, will take place on Friday, Oct. 11. Members of the club will gather around the flagpole at lunch and pray for those who have been affected by Natural Disasters in the 2013 year. The Meet at the Pole event was first created in the 1990s by teens in Texas who felt compelled to pray for their school. The event has since spread all over the U.S. and has become a national event for Christian clubs all over the country. “Every Sept. 12, teens around the US gather at their respective flag poles and pray for the needs of their school,” club president, senior Devin-Alexus Martin, said. “Here at Beverly, we decided that we didn’t want to just stick to one day, so we’ve decided to do this throughout the school year.” Martin believes that through prayer, the club can help those in need. The club members are firmly confident in “the power of prayer and are standing in faith that each prayer request will be answered.” “Because we [club members] are Christian, we strongly believe in the strong powers that come from prayer,” Martin said. “As teenagers, we know that sometimes things can be toughwhether one is dealing with school, friends or family. With that said, we really wanted to reach out to our fellow student body.” Vice President Alex Lew hopes that through this event the club will be able to reach out to the students of Beverly and “let them know that they are not alone in the struggles that they
are currently dealing with.” “We want to let the school know that we care for them and want to do what we can to help them,” Lew said. “We don’t want the students on campus to think that we are closing ourselves off from the everybody else. Rather we want them to know that we really are here for them.” The club hopes that through the upcoming Meet at the Pole event, they will be able to attract more students and increase the club’s membership to be a more prominent club where students feel comfortable to learn about Christianity. “Our goal is to help answer the questions that students who do not practice Christianity may have about God and the religion as a whole” Lew said. “And for the Christian students, we are working toward establishing a strong foundation from which Christians may build upon their faith and learn to serve others as leaders in their community.” Christian club advisor Keith Rust emphasizes that the group is “not a closed group, it is a group open to everyone.” “They [the club members] try to open it [the Christian Club] up to students through prayer, regardless of what religion they practice,” Rust said. “If students have certain issues or concerns that are causing some discomfort in their life, they could turn in a prayer request into the boxes that the Christian club has placed in my classroom.” The Christian Club is currently accepting prayer requests. Students can write down their request and turn them into the prayer box in Rust’s classroom, room 252.
Michelle Banayan
Do you feel well-prepared for the Oct. 16 PSAT? The PSAT is in the near future and the PTSA has been arranging periodic practice tests and workshops with various test preparation companies, such as Compass Prep, for students to attend. They have also covered the testing fees for all juniors, while sophomores who wish to take the test must register on their own. With all the additional tools supplied to the students to help in their preparation, Highlights asked them whether or not they feel adequately prepared for Wednesday’s exam.
I feel prepared for the PSAT because I prepare on my own time with a book from the College Board since I don’t have enough time to attend the practice workshops the school offers. Tristen Mcintyre, 10
As a junior preparing to take the actual SAT, I’ve been doing private tutoring outside versus using the tools the school has given us.
I’ve studied a lot in preparation for the actual SAT since I’m going to take it in November. But also, the vocabulary books we use during English class really help me prepare for that section of the exam.
While I haven’t used any of the resources the school has offered, I feel that my teachers have been really good on covering all the topics that will be on the PSAT. I feel encouraged by the fact that my teachers and classmates are all so supportive. Eric Fram, 11
Yoav Gelfer, 11
Erica Sabel, 11
4
HIGHLIGHTS COMMENT OCTOBER 11, 2013
THE FORUM
a debate within the Highlights staff
Letter to the Editor I was dismayed to read about the upperclassmen of Beverly High being denied the privilege of leaving campus during school hours. In the long run, I feel the denial of this is wrong and actually harmful. Students need to understand the responsibility of balancing studies and freedom. Many, if not most of the upperclassmen will be going on to some form of higher education where there will be plenty of time for studies and the freedom of offcampus life. Students must know that they can be trusted with social hours and studies. Believe me, they will be put to the test in their colleges and universities when it comes to freedom during study hours. They must learn to deal with both now. To do so later would only take away from their academic duties because they will be enjoying such freedom for the first time. When I was in high school, we upperclassmen were allowed to leave during school hours and that very freedom itself was an experience both socially and educationally. We turned out to be pretty good adults as a result. — George Vreeland Hill Beverly Hills
School attendance policy needs reform Jessica Lu spotlight editor When I was younger, catching a cold was a blessing. Getting the school day off meant unlimited soup, hours of cartoons and naps throughout the day. Now that I’m in high school, though, it seems that things have reversed, and now even if I’m sick, I force myself through classes. I do this because missing school is detrimental. A simple absence translates to a loss for the student, whether through missed assessments, handouts or information. Not to mention, making up work eats away the teacher and student’s time. Evidently, students have incentive enough not to miss class, and they know this. Yet, Beverly further restrains us with convoluted guidelines on what defines an absence as excused or unexcused. The notorious negative three percent for an unexcused absence sends shivers down the spine. While we are required by law to enroll in school, we shouldn’t be forced to be present every single day — but the Beverly attendance policy seems
intent on setting this restriction into stone. Having such a stringent procedure encourages dishonesty from both students and parents. Students develop no sense of guilt for lying to school authorities about “not feeling well” or going on a “college visit” in order to do what they want (in most cases, it’s to catch up on work or to go to Coachella). Oftentimes, this involves parents calling in, willingly making up a story on behalf of their child. Adults, too, feel that finding these loopholes is a necessary matter. This ultimately weakens the relationship between these families and the schools, a relationship vital to the success of the students. Families need to have faith in organizations in order to support them, and without this trust, their interest will turn to apathy. The system also favors the zealous — those who stop at nothing to clear an absence, even if they have broken the rules. The more timid may end up suffering the consequences, while their counterparts go scot-free. Rewarding those with louder voices and not
necessarily better reasons encourages further abuse. What’s also a bit striking are the types of excuses that are acceptable, further evidence that Beverly pokes into our rights to privacy. “Family emergency” is technically not an excuse, yet it could oftentimes be the truth. In fact, only in times of true need will the “good” students actually miss school. Again, we see the unfair distribution of punishment. I understand that the rule is partially in place to prevent students from ditching classes, and I agree this is important. But such a steep punishment is not, and should not be the solution. The school has the right idea of calling and letting parents know about absence, but this is where the limitations should stop. Parents, no longer choosing grades over integrity, will have incentive to speak with their children, instead of hurriedly making up an excuse to the office. By creating a stronger line of communication between school, student and parent, the already negative impact of absences can be alleviated.
How much freedom does the school allow us? Over the next several issues, members of the Highlights staff will contend with this question. As the discussion develops, different writers will bring up different aspects of the overarching question, elaborating upon and refuting arguments brought up in previous articles. Last issue, web editor-in-chief Robert Katz argued that campus security gives students a relatvely large degree of freedom. The debate continues with a critique of the school’s attendance policy by spotlight editor Jessica Lu.
This article is the third of the series. Next week, graphics editor Marguerite Alberts will continue the debate. If you feel you have something meaningful to contribute to the discussion, don’t hesitate to send a letter to beverlyhighlights@gmail.com
District not equipped for computerized testing Audrey James-Anenih staff writer The California Department of Education’s Standardized Testing and Reporting (STAR) program made a significant transition with its California Standards Test (CST) to be taken on a computer instead of with a Scantron and pencil, to meet the demands of the State of California’s Department of Education (CDE). May 13 to May 24 marked the pilot of online STAR testing for the sophomores. It seems obvious that that this method would likely promote higher test scores for California students if they were able to be tested in an environment that most teenagers of this day and age are extremely familiar with. But it is unrealistic to proceed with the CDE’s request to report on the academic achievements of California students via computers. Unless the district is able to provide Beverly with enough computers for students to test on with a schedule that efficiently gets students through testing, the concept is highly unrealistic. Last year, House B assistant principal Kelly Tabis foresaw only one problem: how to manage the flow of students through all four computer labs. She explained that it would all be a matter of scheduling once CST season comes around. Shortly after testing, Tabis gave her position on the new testing. “I think it’s good to test the stu-
dent in a way that they’re comfortable with. I feel like you guys are so savvy with technology, you use it everyday. I think it’s good. I think it matches with where you guys are used to functioning. You guys aren’t used to sitting down and handwriting an essay anymore; it’s just not your lives,” she said.
With the new method that the CDE is using to carry out these assessments also came a new breed of test questions. The new online testing is able to promote a logical and critical thinking connection while maintaining evaluation of the Common Core Standards. As of now, though, this concept seems like a generally effective ap-
proach for STAR. It is extremely underdeveloped and has yet to be refined to the point of efficient usage. There are several reasons why the application of this new method of online testing within Beverly is unrealistic. The most obvious reason is that the CDE is not providing school districts with the resources to conduct testing and
reporting on computers. Beverly is not sufficiently equipped to provide 1,450 students with laptops and computers. Unless the CDE is willing to provide California school districts with the necessary funds to oversee their prior requests, it is unrealistic to demand this alternative test.
AJ PARRY
5
HIGHLIGHTS COMMENT OCTOBER 11, 2013
American television industry equal to Britain’s Max Stahl comment editor American reverence of British culture has resurged. According to the Huffington Post, 23 million Americans, more than a third of the British population, watched the royal wedding. Shows like “Downton Abbey” and “Doctor Who” have brought still more Americans in touch with their real or imagined British roots. British television, in fact, has received a lot of attention of late in the U.S., to the extent that I have heard from friends, from the Internet and, most recently, from an article in the Beverly Hills Courier, that the U.K.’s television industry is inherently superior to America’s. Alas, it is not. Before I go any further, I must mention that I love British television. “Sherlock,” “Monty Python’s Flying Circus,” “The IT Crowd,” “Fawlty Towers” and “Spaced” all count among my favorite shows. But I also love American programs. Even in just the past 10 years,
Highlights Mabel Kabani and Danny Licht editors-in-chief
Michelle Banayan news editor
the American television industry has produced dozens of fantastic, well-written shows. For brevity’s sake, I’ll name only a dozen: “Arrested Development,” “Community,” “Breaking Bad,” “Louie,” “The Newsroom,” “Firefly,” “30 Rock,” “Veep,” “Portlandia,” “Wilfred,” “Chappelle’s Show,” “Futurama.” Of course, America has produced a number of terrible TV shows, as well. But so has Britain. “Triangle,” a famously bad soap opera, received scathing reviews from critics and became a common object of ridicule among the British public. “Minipops,” a kids’ show that featured little children singing contemporary chart toppers, communicated sexual themes to young British boys and girls. “The Naked Jungle,” considered by many the worst British television program ever, was a game show that featured nudist contestants. Who were very nude. And very uncensored. British television has had so many bad shows, in fact, that in 1992 the BBC dedicated a whole evening block to the worst of British programming, called “TV Hell.” To insinuate that British television is devoid of the absurdities that plague the American television industry is, itself, absurd. Many viewers complain that American TV is too vulgar. Per-
haps some shows are. But others, of course, aren’t. With the exception of “Chappelle’s Show,” none of the American programs listed above are vulgar for the sake of being vulgar. They approach obscene content, when necessary, with appropriate tact and subtlety. And they’re not the only ones. Let us not forget, also, that British shows are just as likely — if not more likely — to be vulgar. After all, censorship laws in the UK are much more lenient than they are in the US. Just look at “The Naked Jungle” (but for god’s sake, don’t look at it).
To insinuate that British television is devoid of the absurdities that plague the American television industry is, itself, absurd. In a similar vein, American television receives criticism for its sexual content. However, gauging an acceptable level of sexual content is a moral judgment and does not reflect the actual quality of the programming. Writers, directors and producers are empowered to determine what level of sexual content best fits their shows. If they believe
that their show works best at a certain level, they have every right to film that way, provided their channel permits them to. The debate over adaptations is an interesting one, because the U.S. has adapted so many British shows. While many, like “Skins” and “Spaced,” flopped in America, others have seen greater success. The American version of “The Office,” for example, has been considered at least as good as its British predecessor, and the American “House of Cards” is, on the whole, more compelling than the British “House of Cards,” which ran for three seasons in the 1990s. Britain, too, has adapted a good number of American shows. While most of these adaptations are game shows and reality shows (including a “Jersey Shore” adaptation called “Geordie Shore”), the U.K. has also aired its own versions of “Law and Order” and “That 70s Show,” neither of which lives up to the American originals. Perhaps the most valid criticism of American television in relation to British television is the abundance of commercials in the U.S. Unlike in America, where many of the best shows broadcast on for-profit channels like NBC, FX, AMC and HBO, many (but not all) of Britain’s best shows air on the BBC, which is pub-
licly funded. Like PBS, the BBC does not show commercials (or adverts, as they’re called in Britain), so advertisers cannot influence content on BBC programs. Furthermore, BBC shows air only six episodes per season. Broadcasting fewer episodes allows writers to flesh out their best ideas, rather than scraping together filler episodes, as is common in the U.S., where seasons can be longer than 20 episodes. In short, American television is more profit-driven than British television, and American networks’ scrambles to fill timeslots often clutters American programming with a greater number of bad shows than one would find in the U.K. The real difference between American and British television, then, is not the talent of the writers or producers or actors, but the structure of television programming. If, somehow, American TV could become less of a commercial industry, channels could stop pandering to the lowest common denominator and produce more shows of the quality many Americans observe in Britain’s programming. Since this is unlikely to ever happen, American viewers will have to be content with the dozens of fantastic American shows that do exist and the dozens that are still to come.
EDITORIAL
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
Braden Bochner, Juliette Deutsch, Audrey James-Anenih, Zoe Kenealy, Eunice Kim, Brenda Mehdian, Audrey Park and Jackson Prince staff writers
Sasha Park and AJ Parry
SASHA PARK
cartoonists
Gaby Herbst adviser — The mission of Highlights is to deliver school/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.
CORRECTION
In the Sept. 9 issue, on page 4, health teacher Heather Godin’s name was spelled incorrectly. Sorry!
Removal of TAG benefits UCSD, applicants With the elimination of the Transfer Admission Guarantee (TAG) program at University of California, San Diego (UCSD), community college students have been thrown a little bit of a curveball. UCSD’s TAG program, which required that California community college students earn enough credits and sustain a GPA of 3.5 or higher throughout their second school year, offered many students guaranteed acceptance to the respected university. However, transfer students applying after November will no longer be able to rely on TAG, and will have to contend with the rest of UCSD’s applicant pool. Although the university’s decision could prove a shock to current students in all 112 of California’s community colleges, the choice to phase out TAG is a logical approach to the school’s funding woes. According to UCSD
Marketing and Media Relations Assistant Manager Christine Clark, the increase in California residents attending the school has overstretched the available state funding. With a deficiency of state funding continually harrowing schools across the state, it is difficult to blame UCSD for choosing to no longer blindly accept students who have fulfilled basic criteria and to instead turn to a less California-centric transfer pool. Since out-of-state tuition is significantly higher than that of California residents, accepting more out-of-state students allows the school to enjoy a more sustainable revenue flow. In turn, UCSD is better able to continue meeting its standards for quality and remain as attractive as it is to applicants now. Community college transfer students are also no longer given
what amounts to special treatment. High school students, who must become academically and extracurricularly competitive with peers across the nation, may put in more work to become appealing to universities than would community college students who are guaranteed spots in those same universities. The TAG program does offer a great opportunity to students who could not succeed in the application process during their high school years, but pairing those students, who may have been rejected for a lack of attractiveness in the eyes of selective universities, with hard-working students who have recently graduated from high school, is unfair. The guarantee practically invites laziness on the part of students who don’t believe they will be accepted by UCs, as those students can simply spend a couple years
fulfilling the bare minimum (and likely exploring skills in their spare time) to be accepted. For schools with high acceptance rates, such as UC Merced (61 percent according to US News) or UC Santa Cruz (61 percent as well), the TAG program is much more appropriate, as it does not put as many students at a disadvantage as at the more selective UCs (notably, UCLA and UC Berkeley, with the lowest acceptance rates of the UCs, do not offer the TAG). However, as far as UCSD is concerned, with its 38 percent acceptance rate, TAG did not seem fitting of the school’s relative selectiveness. Though the university’s decision to leave TAG behind must be something of a nuisance for California’s community college students, it is difficult to imagine that the school has made the wrong choice.
6
7
HIGHLIGHTS SPOTLIGHT October 11, 2013
Behind the Beans:
Coffee
Culture
Dami Kim culture editor Dani Klemes web editor-in-chief Eunice Kim staff wrtier Since its introduction to American culture in the 1700s, coffee has become a brewing ground for social forums, music discovery and relaxation. The simple “cup of joe” has transformed into kitschy vanilla macchiatos, decadent caramel Frappucino and pumpkin spice lattes, the favorite of the season. Though coffee may not be everyone’s cup of tea, its culture has evolved into a community that goes beyond the bean: a seemingly ubiquitous atmosphere drenched in live music, studious people and, not to mention, free Wifi.
The Origins The birth of coffee as a drink may have been a lucky coincidence. According to the National Coffee Association, legend narrates a story of Kaldi the Goatherd from the Ethiopian highlands, circa A.D. 800, discovering coffee. Kaldi, upon observing his goats’ odd behaviors after eating berries from a certain tree, noticed that his energetic goats refused to sleep at night. Amazed by the power of the red berries, Kaldi reported his findings to the abbot at a local monastery, who concocted a drink to test its wonders. The news of this energizing drink spread across monasteries in Africa and became popular among monks who were now able to stay up later at night, from drinking the “wine of Araby,” coffee’s former title. The stories of this phenomenon eventually reached the Arabian peninsula, where coffee
was first cultivated and traded. Soon after coffee was introduced to the Eastern trade markets, it began to appear not only in homes but also in numerous public coffee houses, called “qahveh khaneh.” Coffee businesses boomed with social activities including debates and conversation, and live musical performances. Similar to salons in France, coffee houses became an information center and were referred to as “Schools of the Wise,” where people discussed current news of the day and played intellectual games like chess. As European trading companies emerged in the coffee industry, coffee spread vastly around the world. In the mid-1600s, coffee finally landed in New Amsterdam, modern-day New York, with the British. Though tea culture was popular at the time, colonists began to prefer coffee in the late 1700s, during the Revolutionary War as a protest against British customs.
The Effects The goat’s response to eating coffee berries in Ethiopia depicts the effects of consuming coffee: a sudden surge of energy. According to the Food and Drug Administration, coffee’s main compound, caffeine, is known for its negative side effects, such as causing headaches, nervousness, dehydration, lack of sleep, increased heart rate, etc. Excessive intake of coffee can lead to other serious health problems, such as cardiovascular disease, increased levels of LDL (the “bad” cholesterol) and a decrease in metabolism, according to Linus Paul-
Hawaii is the only U.S. state that commercially grows coffee.
The average U.S. worker spends $1,092 on coffee each year. Coffee is the second most traded commodity in the world behind crude oil. Teddy Roosevelt consumed a gallon of coffee per day.
Coffee beans grow on trees that can be up to 30 feet tall.
ing Institute at Oregon State University. Though most people are aware of such effects, many choose to still drink coffee in high consumption for its effectiveness in staying energized. However, recent research studies have shown an increase in positive benefits of drinking coffee as well. According to Harvard Health Publications at Harvard Medical School, coffee is “a safe beverage” when taken in moderation- a few cups a day. Studies further indicate that coffee may reduce the risk for Type II Diabetes, developing gallstones, colon cancer, liver damage, Parkinson’s disease and improve cognitive functions and endurance level for physical activities. Conclusively, coffee seems to be a double-edged sword, with both pros and cons appearing in many studies. The effects of coffee can be poisonous or beneficial, according to Ph.D. nutritionist John Berardi’s article in Huffington Post. Based on a person’s metabolism and genetics, components in coffee can function differently. For example, having a fast metabolism of caffeine can significantly reduce the risk of heart disease, while having a slow metabolism can increase the risk of heart disease with additional coffee consumption.
The Evolution: Starbucks delivers According to News Watch’s “How Coffee Changed America,” more than half the Americans who drink coffee consume it daily. Coffee is of high demand in America: 3.1 cups of coffee are consumed every single day per person.
Dorothy Jones, a woman from Boston, became America’s first coffee trader in 1670. Soon, coffee houses provided a place where adults could converse. Starbucks CEO Howard Schultz observed the immense popularity of espresso bars in Italy and with that idea in mind created the brand of Starbucks in 1984. Starbucks, originally from Seattle, Wash., became so popular that a singular coffee house transformed into a coffee chain. There are currently 17,651 chains of Starbucks globally. News Watch stated that Americans spend about 45 hours up to one week annually to wait in line for coffee. This, and MyStarbucksIdea.com, inspired Starbucks to start delivering coffee. Customers simply download the Starbucks Moblie Pour app on their smartphones and after inputting their current location, can order coffee, and trained baristas on scooters will deliver orders. Starbucks is not the only place to deliver; many shops, including Caribou Coffee, deliver to offices or homes. The growing demand for coffee helped create a whole new aspect of coffee drinking. As technology grows, new ways to obtain coffee will begin to appear.
Investigation: Coffee culture at Beverly As coffee begins to appear in more accessible, convenient ways, the caffeinated beverage is rapidly gaining popularity among students and teachers. Whether an afternoon treat or a morning splurge, coffee has become, according to junior Allie Finer, a routine must. “I drink coffee every day,” Finer said.
“I think I have an addiction because I get headaches when I don’t have coffee.” While a vast majority of students, including Finer, enjoy coffee for its “simple” taste, others favor the power behind the caffeine. For senior Alex Lew, caffeine is a vital part of his morning. “I like the smooth, creamy flavor of coffee, but, really, I drink coffee because the caffeine wakes me up in the morning,” Lew said. Like students, many teachers agree that coffee has become an essential aspect of their lives. History teacher Joanie Garratt calls coffee her “habit” and Spanish teacher Joe Isaac is a fan of regular coffee because he doesn’t “have to get fancy with it.” According to sophomore Jenny Lu, Starbucks, Urth Caffé and Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf rank among her favorites, but other students value the culture behind independent coffee houses. “I think part of the coffee experience is walking into the coffee shop. If you don’t physically go to the store, then you’re missing out,” Lew said. “[At coffeehouses], you can meet interesting people, and plus there’s free Wifi.” The lack of students venturing out to java lounges is merely due to the high demand for fast service. Many students want their coffee as quickly as possible and don’t have the time to leisurely listen to live music or indulge in the serene coffeehouse atmosphere. “I’m more of a quick-coffee-break kind of person,” Finer said. Whether from an international chain or a classic coffee shop, coffee is seeping into the veins of students and teachers at an unbelievably fast pace.
Coffee beans are actually the pit of a red berry, which makes them a fruit.
The phrase “cup of joe” comes from World War II American servicemen, G.I. Joes, who were seen as big coffee drinkers. People in New York City drink almost 7 times more coffee than people in other U.S. cities do. The lethal dose of caffeine is roughly 100 cups of coffee.
Sources include: Huffington Post, Buzz Feed and bestteneverything.com
8
HIGHLIGHTS CULTURE October 11, 2013
Fall play: 39 Steps Costume, technical crew explore new ideas for play Audrey Park staff writer As the school day comes to an end, all the halls of Beverly grow silent except for one: the performing arts hall, which is filled with the sounds of tools, sewing machines and laughter. The costume and technical crew is vigorously preparing to create costumes and props that will help deliver a successful play this fall. There are more aspects to the play than just the actors. The costume crew creates the costumes, hair and makeup, while the tech crew designs the set, light, sound and graphics of the play. “After reading the script several times, we [costume crew] have to research the time period, write a costume plot and come up with ideas of what each character will wear and when they’ll wear it,” Head Costume Designer Lauren Fonville said. “Then we pull all of the costume pieces we have in our stock that will work and assess what we need to buy, build or rent. There are many hours of shopping, building, altering, budgeting, organizing and cleaning.” Unlike last year, costume crew will be honing their skills by customizing clothing and accessories for actors. “We’re very lucky to have a good amount of
‘30s and ‘40s-era clothes in our stock. So we won’t have to rent as many costumes as we did with [last year’s musical] ‘The Secret Garden’,” Fonville said. “That’ll allow us to use more of our budget to build pieces specifically for the show like dresses, hats and skirts. I love making clothes and my crew is eager to improve their sewing skills.” Fonville hopes that the costume crew will be able to help enhance the performance through the costumes without overshadowing the acting. “My goal is always to present a show that’ll really wow the audience and look professional while making the costumes a part of the comedy,” Fonville said. “The show is big and broad, so I want the costumes to match that tone and be filled with fun visual surprises.” The costume crew is preparing to reach their goal by coming up with new ideas. “We’re getting very inventive and crafty. My crew is coming up with incredibly funny, original ideas. While the actors are improvising on stage,” Fonville said. “We’re improvising in the costume shop. It’s been a terrifically fun, collaborative process so far. My crew is so awesome and inspiring.” In contrast to previous years, the “39 Steps” requires a number of props.
“This year, the production calls for a lot of props and moving set pieces,” Tech Crew Designer Annie Terry said. “The play is slapstick and has a lot of comedy bits that require random items to be constructed.” Through the play, Terry hopes to teach the tech crew members, also called “techies,” the difficulties involved in a theatrical production and how to overcome them. “The goal for tech is to expose the techies to every aspect required behind the scenes in a theatrical production and to allow them to face diverse creative challenges as we put the plays on,” Terry said. “We work daily to reach this goal and always with a renewed deadline of opening night.” Tech Crew member Sydney Tran, a sophomore, believes that despite some challenges, the overall production is going well. “A few weeks ago, I had to climb down this really big ladder and was scared, but it was a lot of fun,” Tran said. “I’ve learned a lot of the tech side of a play.” Costume and Tech Crew have been meeting every day during period 8 to help contribute to the making of this production. They strive to create a performance filled with lively visuals that will entertain the audience.
Meet the Cast The numerous roles offered by the “39 Steps” allow students to take on more than one part. However, unlike other students, one of Brooke Teweles’ characters, the Book Lady, is a character she helped create. Tewles designed the character to be “really neurotic, shy, quirky and bookwormish.” Out of the the three roles she plays, Teweles enjoys playing the Book Lady the most because it is a role that is unique to Beverly’s rendition of the play.
Amanda Deutsch
Brooke Tewles
Katie Schindelheim
Junior Katie Schindelheim, who plays the German spy, Annabella Schmidt, admits that she is not “great at accents,” but, nonetheless, she strives to perfect the German accent for her performance. “I practice a lot in front of the mirror,” Schindelheim said. “After a while, I found myself thinking in a German accent. I’ll go to Starbucks and ‘senk you’ instead of thank you.” Although Annabelle Schmidt is the “complete opposite” of Schindelheim, she still has fun playing her and hopes to see a good reaction from the audience.
Junior Alan Wheeler plays three characters: Crofter, the Edinburgh Policeman and Mr. Memory. Out of the three, Wheeler most enjoys playing Mr. Memory, the “key to the entire problem of the play.” “I have the most fun playing Mr. Memory because he is the guy who knows everything in the world,” Wheeler said. “He knows all sorts of weird facts, and it’s fun to learn and say all those things off the top of my head.”
Allan Wheeler
Senior Shana Kheradyar is cast to play the Crofter and Mrs. McGarrigle. Kheradyar takes most pleasure in playing Mrs. McGarrigle because she is a “more animated character with different qualities.” “I’ve been looking online and watching how people played her part from other shows and putting my own spin on it while incorporating what Mr. Hall tells me.”
Senior Shanna Benji enjoys the excitement of the theater. Like her fellow cast mates, she plays more than one part in this production. Benji joins Deutsch as a hotel heavy, a group of spies, and her other role is a train passenger in a chaotic scene. “It’s an exciting part to play. As an actor, it’s enjoyable to play two different parts because I get to work on the background information and develop two different characters.”
Shana Kheradyar
Shanna Benji
Devin Martin
Senior Amanda Deutsch plays one of three actors who alternate playing the lead character Pamela and as a hotel heavy, which is a group of spies. “It’s interesting because both of the characters have very different personalities. It’s quite a challenge to go from one person to another,” Deutsch said. In order to portray her characters realistically, Deustch visualizes the era in which the play takes place. “Whenever I rehearse my lines, I also practice physical aspects of my characters.”
Senior Devin Martin plays a radio announcer, Mr. McGarrigle and Professor Jordan. Martin hopes to make it “as hard as possible” for the audience to identify him as the actor in all three roles. “I think it will be an artistic challenge for sure and I can’t wait for the final product,” Martin said. Martin emjoys playing the Nazi antagonist, Professor Jordan, the most because “he’s the craziest out of them.” Martin strives to portray the characters to the best of his ability while putting his own spin on them.
Yassi Noubahar
Junior Yassi Noubahar plays two characters, McQuarrie and Mrs. Higgins. Character studies are an important part of each actor’s preparation in the weeks of rehearsal leading up to opening night. Noubahar finds one particular technique most helpful. “Mr. Hall has us do the five questions: Who am I? Where am I? What do I want? What do I want my partner to do? What am I gonna do to get what I want?” Noubahar said. “If you do that for both of your characters, it becomes really clear what you have to do for both of them.” AUDREY PARK and BRADEN BOCHNER
9
HIGHLIGHTS CULTURE October 11, 2013
Marcus makes music for Dance Co. Zoe Kenealy staff writer Senior Tommy Marcus has long had a passion for music, whether it be playing the trombone for seven years running, or orchestrating the music of several dance numbers. It is this love for music that has given Marcus the opportunity to work with professionals in both the world of music and the world of dance, as well as the opportunity to make the two opening songs for this year’s Dance Company show. Marcus is working with his band of 12, collaborating with Dance Company instructor Dana Findley. The two songs that Marcus’ pieces will be based on are “Bad Romance” and “Edge of Glory”, both by Lady Gaga. “I was really excited to do this, since I realized this is a really cool new process I really enjoyed doing,” Marcus said. “I am now in the process of finishing the arrangement, which I am starting from scratch this time, no basis,
so it is very difficult.” Word has gotten out to some students of Marcus’ role in the Dance Company production. This factor alone has fed into the excitement of the upcoming show. “I am excited to see what it will be like to have one of the Normans work with the Dance Company instructor to make correlating tracks to the dances,” junior Amanda Christovich said. “I know that having a student compose music for the sole purpose of going with the numbers can only make the show all the more entertaining. I will definitely be wanting to go to the Dance Company show even more now.” Marcus’ desire to make music that could be put to dance came after seeing a Dance Company show for his first time. He soon after collaborated with Los Angeles based choreographer Mallory Russo for an independent show he put on in May. “Working with Tommy Marcus on his ‘Skyfall’ piece was an ab-
solute pleasure,” Russo said. “His determination to create a collaborative process between Dance Company and Jazz Band was so inspiring. I’m looking forward to collaborating with him again.” The show was not school-run, although it did include a handful of dancers from Dance Company. It played at numerous art festivals as well as the band’s and orchestra’s May instrumental concert. “The show I put on was an arrangement of the song ‘Skyfall’ by Adele,” Marcus said. “I bought an arrangement of ‘Skyfall’ online but rearranged part of it to be a duet between two soloists, Scott Senior on tenor sax, and me on trombone.” Marcus’ work with music has only begun, as he plans to stick with the field of music for years to come. He does not know whether he will be contacted for another Dance Company show, but he does know he will want to make music in the future that can, yet again, come alive with dance.
Film club anticipates creation of noir for Film Festival
Eunice Kim staff writer Film club is creating a movie as part of this year’s project. Students recently decided that the genre of their movie will be a noir, a black and white detective film. Although the club is still finalizing the details of the plot, it will most likely be about a high school boy who falls in love. Members will decide the crew members for the play after they strengthen the plot of the story. “We really just have been discussing plot and assigning crew,” co-president sophomore Sydney Tran said. Isaac Spector, a president of the film club, will bring cameras. Tristan McIntyre, treasurer of film club, will be in charge of special effects
through use of a green screen. Other members are discussing which equipment to bring besides the cameras. The movie will be presented at the Film Festival, which is in February, in the Salter Family Theater. Film club advisor Pete Van Rossum believes that the film club is well organized and will be successful.
Curious to see what they will do next? Scan the code above to find out.
Meet the Teachers
JC Marquez connects classic literature with students
ROBERT KATZ
“When I read a book, I have to be that character because if I can get the kid that’s more than likely on their iPod or phone texting to even stop for a minute and follow along, then I’m doing my job.” Robert Katz web editor-in-chief A scan of room 263 tells a lot about JC Marquez. Though the walls of the new English teacher’s classroom are mostly barren from only a couple months in the classroom, bits of his life sit among the standard educational equipment: figures from series such as “Adventure Time” and “Pokemon” dot the cabinets and shelves, a Hylian shield of “The Legend of Zelda” fame shines proudly above Marquez’s desk, a poster hangs on a classroom door, exclaiming “Be a Super Hero! Read!” among the scowling champions. The scowls are the one contradiction to Marquez’s personality.
Though his employment at Beverly is the latest in a winding series of jobs that began when he was forced to end his five-year stay at the Long Beach Unified School District, Marquez is no worse for wear. He speaks with all the passion and hope of someone just beginning a journey they are happy to make. However, Marquez’s journey really had unconventional origins. In 2006, Marquez began podcasting with three friends for the Nintendo fan community NSider2, which eventually ran for 52 episodes. “From there, we got a following, which was weird; there were people downloading and listen-
ing to our show,” Marquez said. “We got contacted from a number of other groups in Los Angeles who said, ‘Hey, we’re doing video game stuff too, we’d love to work together.’ I thought, ‘Oh, wow.’ I had no idea [we would make connections].” Meanwhile, Marquez taught in Long Beach, where financial concerns constantly jeopardized his position. “2006 is when I got my first job,” Marquez said. “That’s when the budget was slashed across the state. I was able to maintain my position in Long Beach for a while, but in 2011 I couldn’t avoid [being cut] and [the district] begrudgingly had to let me go.”
Marquez moved on to positions in marketing, most notably at Nintendo (fruit of his connections made by podcasting) as a marketer for their 3DS handheld console. After a few months with the Japanese video game giant, Marquez was offered a teaching job with benefits and returned to education. “[Leaving Nintendo] was very hard,” Marquez said. “The 12 year-old version of me was like, ‘Dude, I’m working at Nintendo! I’m a Nintendo employee!’ I’m still on good terms with them. I love that company.” Along with his temporary teaching positions at Los Alamitos High School and in the Los Angeles Unified School District, Marquez began freelance writing for the online news site Geekscape, which noticed him during his podcast’s run. “I don’t get paid a salary, but we get invited to play games early and we sometimes get to see shows and movies months in advance,” Marquez said before leaving to receive his press pass for Indiecade, the Los Angeles independent games festival. “I think that in itself is worth it. It’s just fun, because you get to meet and hang out with so many incredible talented and artistic people. Then I get to teach.” Marquez’s career in teaching found its roots in his fascination with characters in fiction. “I always loved stories,” Marquez said. “I liked storytellers a lot. I could watch Twilight Zone... monster stuff...I loved Star Wars and Star Trek. And I loved how [the writers] could make me care about these characters. There’s
something about how the writers make these characters tangible and real. I wanted to study that and [I thought about] how I could create people who could be alive years after I’m gone.” The desire to help teenagers relate to literature in the same way that he did molded Marquez’s educational philosophy and teaching style. “I learned everything I could and eventually it lead down a career where I could teach [this technique]. I could talk about how all of the old literature … connects still today. I try to twist it in a way where I can produce ‘Hamlet’ and make it apply to a group of seniors. That’s the challenge and I love it.” To involve students in his curriculum and bring the texts to life, Marquez implemented his passion for voice acting characters. “I realized that having a voiced character makes [the character] more interesting,” Marquez said. “When I read a book, I have to be that character because if I can get the kid that’s more than likely on their iPod or phone texting to even stop for a minute and follow along, then I’m doing my job.” Although Marquez is not sure of whether or not he will continue teaching in the 2014-2015 school year, he is resolved not to let his optimism fail. “I’m just approaching it as, ‘I’m in Beverly Hills High.’ It’s a good opportunity for me to get out of my area and do my best here. I gotta live now, because there’s a group of seniors and sophomores who need a teacher who’s gonna make this class interesting,” he said.
10
HIGHLIGHTS ADS OCTOBER 11, 2013
11
HIGHLIGHTS SPORTS OCTOBER 11, 2013
Games to
Watch
Football to begin league play with matchup vs. Inglewood Coming off of a 41-7 loss against South Pasadena High School, the Normans will begin league-play this week against the Inglewood Sentinels. The Normans, who went 0-5 in their preseason, look to improve upon weaknesses recognized in the pre-league matchups. “We are focusing on being physical, chewing time on the clock and getting the ball in the hands of our playmakers,” quarterback Zack Bialobos said. Last year, the Normans fell to the Sentinels by a score of 41-7. The game will be played at the home field of the 2-3 Sentinels this Friday, Oct. 11.
Cross-country will participate in final cluster meet of season
Cross-country participates in South Bay Cup Audrey Park staff writer Cross-country overshadowed one its long-time league rivals, Culver City in the South Bay Cup on Tuesday, Oct. 2, at Columbia Park, Torrance. The South Bay Cup is a meet among all the high schools from the South Bay. The meet this year was shortened from 3.1 miles to 2.6 miles due to construction at the site. Head coach Dwayne Washington believes that the the team had an overall good performance filled with “breakthrough performances” at the meet. Some of the few performances that stood out to Washington were from senior Aaron Wolfe, senior Aaron Karlin and junior Will Ezzard. Senior Aaron Karlin, who placed 18th in the varsity category, is confident that the meet was one of the best races crosscountry has had so far this season. “[The race exhibited] some of the best performances of our team,” Karlin said. “For me personally, this was probably one of the best races I’ve had; I was
The cross-country team will compete in the Ocean League Cluster Meet on Thursday, Oct. 17. This will be the second and final cluster meet the team will participate tis year, and will be held at Cheviot Hills Park. The Normans will run against other inter-league schools, including Santa Monica, Culver City and Hawthorne, on a three-mile course which is contained within the park. In the first Cluster Meet, which occurred on Sept. 26, Santa Monica placed first in each category, ranging from varsity, JV and freshman. Beverly placed second overall in boys junior varsity, boys freshman and girls JV, as well as third overall in girls varsity. The Normans will look to improve upon their first Cluster Meet and alter Santa Monica’s impressive statline.
Girls tennis to host Ocean League arch rival The girls varsity tennis team takes on league rival Samo on Oct. 15. The team has always had a hectic history with its Ocean League arch enemy. “It’s always been a rollercoaster,” senior captain Miriam Binman said. “We hope to improve on our determination and ability to play at a higher level against them.” In its recently completed pre-season, the team went 2-2 against Corona del Mar, Peninsula, Mira Costa and Marborough. The team looks to capitalize on mistakes of games past and continue to improve through practice. “We keep improving our skills and our ability to compete. Every practice we get better and have a lot of fun at the same time,” Binman said. The team previously faced league opponent Inglewood on Oct. 10, but results were not available in time for the press.
able to reGirls JV Boys JV ally compete Nastazia Moshirfatemi Boys Varsity well.” Alexander Ghavani- 68th -32nd Through Aaron Wolfe- 9th Aaron Karlin- 18th the meet, Boys Freshman Will Ezzard- 22th K a r l i n Girls Freshman Noah Lee- 9th Bardia Soltani- 48th learned that Jane Ha- 20th place Brady Zhou- 42nd Michael Redstonhe “needs Liandra DanenbergJonathon Cohan53rd to come out Helm23rd place 44th Sean McAlisterfaster.” KarJillian Dveirin28th Spencer Edelman54th lin hopes 52nd that by the end of the season, he’ll “feel like he’s had results from the game to create said. “I would like to get a better time, I’m not used to racing some really good races.” a game plan for the season. The Sophomore Nastazia results helped Washington de- under time, so I have to push Moshirfatemi considered the termine which areas of the sport harder.” Moshirfatemi intends to use meet to be “fairly easy” because the team needs to improve on. the meet as a learning experiof its flat course and shortened “A few members of the varsity ence to improve her abilities. length. Because the team often boys team made great strides She hopes to make it to CIF this practices on hilly courses, run- that show they are on track to year. ning on a flat course came easy be very competitive this sea“My goal for cross country to them. son and a number freshman are is to make it to CIF, although “Although the course was showing increasing promise,” this is highly unlikely, I rerepetitive, I can say that the Washington said. “The results ally want to see how far I could South Bay Cup has been one of from this meet will help the push myself,” Moshirfatemi my favorite courses so far into coaching staff determine the said. “I’m going to prepare by the season,” Moshirfatemi said. plan of attack for the remainder exercising and eating healthy. I “My most memorable moment of the season.” plan to keep a positive attitude from the meet was seeing all my Senior Gianmarco Denis bethroughout the season.” teammates cheering me on. I lieves that although the team The cross country team will was so delighted that it helped did well as a school, “there’s participate next in the North encourage me to push harder.” always room for improvement.” Torrance Dual Meet at Rancho Washington plans to use the “We could do better,” Denis Park on Friday Oct. 11.
(Left) Freshmen Sung Min Park, Zachary Steinberg and Brandon Lee compete at Torrance in the South Bay Cup. (Right) The freshman team prepares at the starting line at Torrance. PHOTO COURTESY OF SIMON LANGER
It’s not too late to order your YEARBOOK Head to
www.jostensyearbooks.com Books are currently $110 Total savings: $40
12
HIGHLIGHTS SPORTS OCTOBER 11, 2013
From soccer to tennis, superstition consumes athletes KEON
Backed by science, rituals permeate every part of a players’ game
YOUSSEFZADEH
Keon Youssefzadeh is the varsity water polo’s team hole set. Youssefzadeh raises his and the crew’s spirit every year by growing out his team- famous facial hair. The whiskers, which usually take him a few months to fully develop, are Youssefzadeh’s choice approach to raising school-wide interest in the team. “I do it for fun mostly. I start letting it grow before season starts and grow it out for a few months at a time, just to see what happens. I always get questions as to why I do it,” Youssefzadeh said. “I just reply, ‘Because men should have beards, like vikings and pirates.’”
Jackson Prince staff writer
RAEHAAN POONJA Sophomore Raehann Poonja employ a ritual commonplacein the world of sports. Poonja, a wide receiver for this year’s varsity football team, begins each game by repeating one word. Speed. “Before I step onto the field, I repeat the word ‘speed’ three times to pump myself up. I’ve never gone a game without doing this ritual,” Poonja said.
HANS TERCEK Water polo goalie Hans Tercek prepares before each game by blasting his favorite music on the sidelines. Tercek primarily listens to alternative hip hop band Death Grips when planning to enter a big game. “I love to listen to music like Death Grips because it is really loud and aggressive,” Tercek said. “It gets my heart pounding, my blood boiling, and my head in the zone. When I listen to this kind of music it really puts me in the mindset needed to pummel my opponents.”
LAUREN KURTZ Junior soccer player Lauren Kurtz has developed a ritual unique to her. Before every match, Kurtz pours water on her soccer cleats for good luck, a habit unlike any other.
Arman Zadeh and Jackson Prince
Tennis star Serena Williams would wear the same pair of socks for the entirety of a tournament. Veteran baseball player Jason Giambi would don a gold thong for a portion of the 2008 season. Hoopster Jason Terry of the Boston Celtics would sleep in the shorts of the opposing team the night before a game. In what world are such odd behaviors not only accepted, but commonplace? Imagine the surgeon repairing a torn aorta wearing a gold thong or the lawyer wearing the same boxer shorts as the opposing counsel during a murder trial. Yet, in professional sports, such superstitious routines are followed by many successful athletes, as they believe the behavior is somehow linked to their success. While the actions may seem strange from an outside perspective, athletes at all levels take their pre-game rituals very seriously, even those at the high school level. An article written for Reuters in 2012 cited a study proving that certain athlete’s behaviors, such as a pre-game ritual, do in fact influence their performance in a game. “A study by psychologists at the University of Cologne in Germany found in two experiments that superstition triumphed in both cases,” the article expains. “In one experiment, participants were given either a lucky golf ball or an ordinary one before being asked to sink a putt. Those with a so-called lucky ball were more successful.” Sophomore football player Raehaan Poonja prefers a verbal routine from which he never wavers. “Before I step onto the field, I repeat the word ‘speed’ three times to pump myself up. I’ve never gone a game without doing this ritual,” Poonja said. For sophomore baseball player Jacob Hankin, the superstition is not a game day ritual, but a behavior the night before a game. Hankin acknowledges a certain reliance on the supernatural. “I lay out my uniform in the same way each night before a game. If I’m doing something on game days and I’m playing well, why test the fates? It’s all superstitious and I’d never risk
it,” Hankin said. Junior soccer player Lauren Kurtz created her own, more unorthodox rituals, which she performs prior to each of her games. “Before my games, I pour water all over my cleats just before warming up”, Kurtz said. Sometimes, an athlete’s routines are hard to hide from the public eye. This summer, most of the Boston Red Sox players didn’t shave their facial hair during a hot streak, leading to autumn beards worthy of the hunters on “Duck Dynasty.” With their bushy faces, the Sox showed solidarity, as well as further separated themselves from the Yankees, their cleancut division rivals. What might be seen as foolish superstition by some has led to the crowning of the Red Sox as American League East Champions. Another boycotter against the razor was senior water polo player Keon Youssefzadeh, who describes his luscious facial hair as an essential element of his success in the pool. “[The beard/moustache combination] motivated me to continue playing well after I had a great game. I kept it because it was fun to maintain and, as it grew, it also inspired me to grow as a player,” Youssefzadeh said. It should be noted that Youssefzadeh has since gone clean-shaven. For many, the superstition is an almost religious devotion to a pre-game ritual, as it is for junior water athlete Justin Shegerian. “I listen to my ‘Pump Up’ playlist on the bus before each game. When we park, I perform my signature handshake with [fellow teammate] Michael Nassirzadeh, followed by 11 pushups. It helps me focus and approach each game with the same mentality,” Shegerian said. Freshman runner Lia Helm competes in all of her races while wearing her “lucky smileyface ring,” junior runner Dominic Perlman blasts Drake’s new album “Nothing Was The Same” prior to his races, senior volleyball player Liat Hackmann has worn the same headband since her first varsity game and freshman tennis player Jack Harris spends nights before his matches in his family home’s guest room. Rituals of Norman athletes might not be as extreme as those of some professionals, like Moises Alou, whose routine included urinating on his hands in the belief that it would toughen them up. But regardless of the behavior, many athletes on all levels credit their success to the repetition of such superstitions actions. If the actions, themselves, have no direct effect on the game, the fact that the players believe in them is essential. Either way, pre-game rituals help focus, motivate, stabilize and pump-up the players who perform them.