Sept 25

highlights

September 25, 2015 Volume 89, Issue 2 Beverly Hills High School Beverly Hills, California beverlyhighlights.com

A LOOK AT ImMIGRATION

Persian population sympathizes with Syrian refugee crisis Nirav Desai staff writer Four million, eighty six thousand, seven hundred and sixty people. That is the latest tally of registered refugees fleeing the Syrian Civil War, according to the United Nations Refugee Agency.

The number, which excludes the 428,735 Syrians officially seeking asylum in Europe and the thousands more who are living unregistered around the world, is merely the statistical residue of a growing humanitarian crisis that fills news airwaves. While students at Beverly may not be directly affected by the wave of humans currently flooding out of the Middle East, many Normans have already been touched by the immigrant experience. Thirty-six years later, the historic events of 1979 and the subsequent journey undertaken by the Persian community of Beverly Hills now shape the opinions of descendants amid a familiar time of strife.

The overthrow of Mohammad Reza Pahlavi, the last Shah of Iran, in January of 1979 spurred an exodus of 40,000 Persian Jews, with 30,000 settling in or around Beverly Hills, according to the Los Angeles Times.

Daniel Zadeh, now an AP Statistics teacher on the fourth floor of the science building, gradu-

ated from Beverly in 1990 when the foundations of neither the science building, nor the Persian community, had been fully formed.

“My family had assimilated well before the revolution, [so] Beverly Hills was not my family’s starting point. My father moved here in the late 1950s, married my mother in Iran, and brought her in 1965 [to pursue] freedom and opportunity, with very little coming from Iran. We moved to Pomona and later Studio City, [and] did not move to Beverly Hills until the mid 1980s. We wanted to live in Beverly Hills because of the low crime and true sense of community, but most of all because of the schools in BHUSD. [Immigration after 1979] brought not all, but a lot of Persians to Beverly Hills,” Zadeh said.

Despite possessing an ordinary source of roots for a child in this city, Zadeh faced extraordinary obstacles in his Beverly Hills upbringing.

“I was in a bad place when I moved to Beverly Hills. My father passed away at that time, I took a lot personally and I was coming from a private school in Beverly Hills where kids were expected to be nice no matter what. Most of my hardships did not align with my Persian peers. Language,

INSIDE

culture and food were all things that I was raised with, both Persian and American styles,” Zadeh said.

Seniors Aaron Shahmaram and Sean Taghdis are the products of four immigrants who fled Iran at very different times in its history.

“My dad came in 1978. He was worried he would get put into the military so he saw an opportunity in America and his parents sent him to it. My mom came in the late 1980s. [In Iran] she had no freedom, she was a minority. She had to wear a hijab, and she just wanted total freedom,” Shahmaram, the son of Jews, said.

After detours in Brooklyn and the San Fernando Valley, Shahmaram’s parents settled in Beverly Hills, where they would be able to thrive.

“Persians have been successful in West LA because we have good habits. We invest in real estate and we value education. We open up new places for business and entertainment, and new comedy clubs and hookah bars. We also have a lot of inheritance money,” Shahmaram said.

Zadeh, who personally experienced the development of Tehrangeles, as Google Maps calls it, agreed with Shahmaram’s analysis.

“Persians have good business sense and strong motivation, es-

NEWS

pecially the first generation Persians. When I went to Beverly we made up less than one-third of the school, yet we [had] over 60 percent of the top 20 percent of the GPA’s at BHHS,” Zadeh said.

Shahmaram, whose parents have experienced more subtle forms of xenophobia, is not phased when he encounters it firsthand.

“My mom’s accent, the first thing [people] go after is that it sounds really foreign because it’s Persian. She had a hard time getting a job, but my dad doesn’t take that stuff from anybody.

People say Persians are [jerks], or are annoying, but that kind of stuff doesn’t bother me as much.

Personally, I think if you’re judging based on ethnicity then you’re just a stupid person,” Shahmaram said.

Beverly’s first-generation Americans have opened their arms in order to include the Syrian refugees.

Alex Alcalde, a fellow senior whose father survived a leftwing dictatorship in Peru during its rise and whose mother fled the Soviet Union during its fall, shared Shahmaram’s disdain for anti-Persian slurs.

“My dad remembers the crazy communists on the streets of Peru chanting about a revolution.

This is a nation of immigrants

CULTURE

and the free. Whether the people who want to deny the Syrians like it or not, America is the world’s superpower and we are pretty much involved in everything,” Alcalde said.

Zadeh similarly drew a comparison with his own experience with immigration, saying, “Anyone who is willing to come here and make a start without being a burden on society will be an asset, [so] we need to start appreciating our differences rather than using them to divide us. I am disappointed [in] the fear of the unknown [of the Syrians]. Iran is not perfect, but most Iranians do not hate Americans. They love and respect us and our culture,” Zadeh said.

Shahmaram insists that allowing Syrians to safely immigrate should be a priority.

“It isn’t even an immigrant thing, it’s just the humane thing to do. Persians [in 1979] just wanted to live a good life, the Syrians just want to live. They have an immediate threat, so they should get priority, but we don’t need to take all of them,” Shahmaram said.

Taghdis concurred with Shahmaram’s humanitarian viewpoint, saying, “It’s wrong to deny them entry, we should let people be safe. In a way, we are responsible for what is going on in there.”

SPORTS

this issue

Going deep with Josh Haddad

@bhhighlights

@bhhighlights

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The feasts of fall

Page 6

Home: San Marino

Page 8

www.beverlyhighlights.com

HIGHLIGHTS NEWS September 25, 2015

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Tech class felt, but unseen in fall play Jason Harward staff writer Unseen. Unheard. While the audience faces forward and watches the action, techies are busy. They light the action, play music on cue and organize actors behind the stage before they enter. However, their cover of darkness can make people forget how much they truly do.

Annie Terry, head of Tech, knows how important her students are to the theater. Their constant work on set building and lighting is one of the many reasons that “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” has shone as brightly as it has.

“We work on the set, the lights, the sound, the costumes, the management. All of that gets worked on simultaneously,” Terry said.

One particular Techie who has stayed her share of long afternoons is Eliana Scheide, who designed the set for “A Midsummer Night’s

Dream”. building and executing her design “I have put in a great deal of work after school, working until about 4 to make sure that the play is up to or 5 every day,” said Terry. the high standards of the Technical With all of their work in the Theater class and the reputation “shadows,” as Terry puts it, the Teof Beverly shows. Coming in on chies may not get as much credit as weekends and staying late is part their work merits. of the job,” Scheide said.

“It can be hard. They live in the Scheide began the design of the shadows, they’re backstage. We set of “A Midsum“It can be hard. They live in the mer Night’s shadows, they’re backstage.”

Dream” last year, and the project was brought to life during always say that when you’re doing the first six weeks of school. Dur- your best work, people shouldn’t ing school, Techies worked long really know what you’ve done beafternoons building Scheide’s de- cause you should blend so seamsign. lessly into the play that they don’t “Since pretty much the first day even realize technical things are of school, we’ve started working happening. So, yes, there can be on the show. Our student design- the sense that they don’t get quite er has designed the set this year. as much recognition as the action, She started working on her design but that’s sort of their lot in life,” at the end of last year. And then Terry said. pretty much right way we started Even so, the Techies and ac-

tors are able to work together to create a flawless performance, and their teamwork was on display throughout “A Midsummer Night’s Dream”.

“I think that the actors are aware of how much work the Techies put in, and the Techies know that without actors you’re just looking at lifeless scenery, so I think that there’s a mutual respect,” Terry said.

In fact, during the show, the Techies do many things, including light and sound, completely independent of any adult supervision.

“When the show is running, I am doing nothing. The students run everything. The stage manager runs the show. So, even though there is a faculty member who is the director of the show, during the actual show he is doing nothing either,” Terry said.

Unseen, unheard. But felt indeed.

Alumni create, launch own business Veronica Pahomova staff writer Go College Prep is an organization meant to help high school and transfer students present their best selves to their dream schools. The organization was created by Beverly alumni Benjamin Hannani and Ramtin Mobasheri (class of ‘13) who had a vision of helping teens succeed in applying to colleges and universities.

“Ramtin and I both know firsthand how stressful and time consuming the admissions process can be, and we wished we could have an older student guide us,” Hannani said.

Recently going through the cur- important the admissions process rent admissions process them- is and we treat every student’s apselves, the two college students plication like it is our own.” feel they know what college adThe two friends have connecmission officers tions with atare currently tendees of 39 “As students ourselves, looking for. of the US News we know how important “We offer a and World Recomprehensive port’s top 100 the admissions process array of services colleges and at is and we treat every that address all all of the UC student’s application like elements of the schools besides it is our own.” admissions proMerced. cess and have a “[The conunique knowlnections] give edge to help students succeed at us special insight into many every step,” Hannani said. “As schools that other college counstudents ourselves, we know how selors and the Internet cannot

provide,” Hannani said.

Students who enroll in their “platinum package” also get the help of their “scholarship specialist” Jordan Elist, a current junior attending USC on a full scholarship. He helps suggest appropriate scholarships based on a student’s grades and interests.

“My high school counselor was fantastic, but even the best counselor has limited time to work with hundreds of students,” Hannani said. “The Go College Prep team is fully invested in the select few students we work with, allowing us to hone in on every element of the application process.”

Highlights Print Juliette Deutsch and Guy Ginsberg editors-in-chief

Vivian Geilim, Sophia Goldberg, Jason Harward, Veronica Pahovoma, Sydney Tran and Max Yera staff writers

Ben Shofet business manager Web Sadie Hersh and Marty Schnapp editors-in-chief

Eleanor Bogart-Stuart, Natasha Dardashti, Nirav Desai, Isaiah Freedman, Lauren Hannani, Jamie Kim, Evan Minniti and Keith Stone staff writers

Gaby Herbst adviser ­—

Our goal as a student-run publication is to provide reliable, accurate and fair content that informs and intrigues the Beverly Hills community by following the principles of ethical journalism and represents the student body. We will deliver a broad spectrum of coverage through a variety of mediums, including online and print.

Highlights is a forum for public expression that is produced by the Advanced Journalism class of Beverly Hills High School, 241 Moreno Drive, Beverly Hills, CA 90212.

Letters to the editor may be sent to beverlyhighlights@gmail.com.

Visit beverlyhighlights.com Follow @bhhighlights on Twitter and Instagram.

Highlights is sponsored by PTSA and BHEF.

Globetrotting diver explores Jellyfish Lake in Palau and the water is green. They feel like a bunch of marshmallows in the water, it’s crazy. There are also crocodiles in the lake but they don’t do anything to hurt you. The lake [itself] is toxic so I was only allowed to snorkel there, because if you scuba dive too deep it’s harmful.

The deepest I’ve gone is 80 feet with a tank.

Ben Shofet business manager Highlights: Can you tell me about where you grew up?

Joshua Haddad: I was born in California and then when I was around 10 months I moved to Normandy. It’s in the north of France and is mostly farmland.

After living there for a while I moved to Paris and then finally moved back to America and lived in Redondo Beach until I moved to Beverly Hills. I spent a lot of my childhood moving back and forth until I was about four. Then once my dad bought a house in Hawaii, I began just going back and forth from there.

Highlights: You mentioned having traveled to many places, so where exactly have you gone?

Haddad: I’ve traveled to Palau which is like Guam, it’s near Indonesia. It was a craziest thing I’ve ever done. I went there for a diving trip with my dad. I’ve also gone to France, Japan, China, Israel a few times, England, I stopped by Guam once and I used to go to Tennessee a lot.

Highlights: What was the most

Jellyfish swim through the water of Jellyfish Lake in Palau. Photo by: JOSH HADAD memorable trip you’ve been on?

Haddad: The best trip ever was Palau, it was insane. I went scuba diving, freediving, it was crazy. I saw four manta rays and sharks when I would dive. The manta rays were an inch away from my head...There we also huge trigger fish that tried to bite a chunk out of my leg until my instructor

smacked it in the face and I was fine. It’s a huge, huge fish, it must have been the size of two basketballs. I also went in this one lake called Jellyfish Lake because there are literally millions of jellyfish in the lake. You can hold the jellyfish because they can’t sting your hand, only your really thin skin like your eyelids. There are orange and yellow jellyfish

fied when I was 12, so I’ve done it enough to know what I’m doing. I’m also planning to go to the Maldives after I go to Tahiti.

Highlights: Can you explain what diving is like for someone who has never been?

Haddad: It feels like you’re dreaming and it feels like you’re not actually there. It’s so blue it’s like you want to drink the water.

So you fall backwards into the water off the boat and it’s really cold so it wakes you up. It’s crazy when you look down. Everything has a blue tone to it down there...

It is so open but you feel like so enclosed. I just love it.

Highlights: Where are you planning to go next?

Hadad: I’m actually planning my next diving trip to go to Tahiti which is just south of Hawaii.

I want to go once I graduate with my dad and an instructor. And when I dive, I only like going with people who are certified,otherwise it’s dangerous for them and not as fun because you have to be more cautious with them. I was certi-

Photo by: JOSH HADAD

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HIGHLIGHTS OPINION September 25, 2015

Pop culture in the modern age: racist or not?

Sydney Tran staff writer

Veronica Pahomova staff writer

America has come a long way from its institutionalized racism through slavery and Jim Crow laws, but having a black president has not been a fix-all solution for racism in the United States. Despite increased acceptance, people of color and ethnic minorities face near-constant discrimination, rejection and erasure in pop culture.

Nicki Minaj recently called attention to this. Minaj’s “Anaconda”music video featured women, herself included, twerking. Twerking, a dance derived from and attributed to black culture was denied by many the title of “artform” until it grew in popularity among white people. Appreciation for a culturally black dance performed by non-black people shows that American culture is reluctant to recognize art when produced by black people, but embraces it when produced by white people.

Minaj saw this and felt that her video was not given the praise it deserved, taking to Twitter to address MTV’s negligence to nominate it for an award.

Though Minaj’s original complaint was directed toward MTV and its racist process of nominating artists, racism goes further than award nominations.

Minaj criticized “White media and their tactics” in the way that it portrayed the Twitter “argument” between herself and Swift that broke out over this issue. In many accounts, Minaj was portrayed as an angry black woman, while Swift was portrayed as an innocent white girl being attacked.

Rather than consider Minaj’s criticism of the music industry, the media invalidates her views by calling her “crazy”, “bitter” and making Swift out to be a hero.

Additionally, music festivals abound with white girls equipped with bindis, American Indian war bonnets and tattoos of dream catchers, perpetuate casual racism in pop culture, namely in fashion.

Though many argue that cultural appropriation displays appreciation of the cultures to which the pieces belong, bearing articles of clothing or symbols of a culture that does not directly apply to the wearer is offensive and unacceptable.

For example, in most, if not all, Native American tribes, the headdress is a symbol of honor, pride, respect. Each time anyone who is not culturally tied to it wears a war bonnet, the person disrespects the Native American people who hold a cultural or spiritual bond to the headdress.

Religious and cultural symbols should not be used for fashion. They should be left alone and allowed to maintain their sanctity, used only by people who truly understand, appreciate and created their meaning.

With today’s progressiveness, a newer, more subtle wave of racism is prevailing in society. Although this cultural racism does not resemble the violent, hateful racism of the past— which remains a problem—it is still damaging to minority cultures and needs to end.

Over the past several years, it seems that Americans have no shame in flaunting their freedom of speech and letting people know exactly what’s on their mind— and celebrities are certainly not excluded. Just like the pitiful trends of sagging and Crocs, the abolishment of racism is sadly still a work in progress. Some individuals, however, find a way to intertwine this struggle as an explanation for events that may as well have absolutely nothing to do with it.

Take one of the media’s black sex symbols, Nicki Minaj, as an example.

Minaj’s “Anaconda”, her infamous video that broke the internet, was not nominated for MTV’s Video Music Award of Video of the Year. After the music awards, she decided to use her first amendment and tweeted, “If I was a different ‘kind’ of artist, Anaconda would be nominated for best choreo and vid of the year as well.”

Nicki, sorry, but you didn’t get nominated; just face it. This had nothing to do with the color of her skin or intensity of curves. If that was the case, Beyonce, another curvy African-American sex icon, would definitely not have made the cut. You clearly had buns hun, the voters just didn’t want any.

Steering away from the music industry and into the fashion world, people of color and ethnic minorities also tend to unnecessarily claim racism. Most of the accusations, if anything, could be interpreted as cultural appropriation--which is in fact, not the same as racism.

Vanessa Hudgens was one of the many Coachella attendees that rocked Hindu bindis as a fashion accessory at the music festival. In the case of fashion, everything is personal opinion. Many Indians might find this former “High School Musical” star guilty of cultural appropriation, while others might not pay a second glance.

The real question is: why is wearing a bindi or a Native-American headpiece any more controversial than wearing a black crop top with white crosses? Forever 21 or H&M have never been famously criticized for selling this famous Christian symbol, perhaps because Christians are in fact not a minority? Are millions of teenage girls disrespecting the crucifixion of the “holy lord and savior” Jesus Christ? Whether they are or not is not a single person’s decision to make.

When googling racism, would it not belittle the seriousness and legitimacy of the word if one was to see images of blazing fires and sufferers in Ferguson right next to a picture of a blonde white girl wearing a cultural headpiece that covers more of her body than her actual clothing?

Instead of throwing the word around recklessly, the accusers could focus on real issues and cases of racism and cultural appropriation. Maybe more people should read the LA Times and other reliable news sources as opposed to Perez Hilton and TMZ. Illustration by: Veronica Pahomova

Why you should wait before judging someone’s weight Sydney Tran staff writer It’s no secret that America—and most of Western culture for that matter—is weight-obsessed. With an obesity rate of 35.7 percent, according to the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, and approximately 30 million sufferers of eating disorders nationwide, according to the National Association of Anorexia Nervosa and Associated Disorders, perhaps it should be. However, the weight focus in America is not oriented around avoiding unhealthy tendencies of overeating and excessive dieting that may result in eating disorders, but is rather a paradox between “too fat” and “too

skinny”.

From Kate Moss’ notorious “Nothing tastes as good as skinny feels” quote to Shailene Woodley’s “self-conscious[ness] about being skinny”, individuals in the public eye, meant to be role models for young people, fall victim to a judgemental society and perpetuate unhealthy tendencies that manifest themselves in eating disorders—be it binge-eating disorder, anorexia nervosa or bulimia nervosa.

Nearly anyone who has had an experience with an eating disorder will say that, no matter how much weight they gain or lose, “It’s never enough.” In a society in which the “perfect” weight or measure-

ments is constantly strived for, some people don’t understand this concept; surely the ideal of perfection is enough? But “perfection” is constantly changing, evolving and varying from person to person.

Western culture is too fixated on appearance to strive toward what’s important: health. This is evident in the way that losing weight is generally considered to be good and gaining weight bad. This unquestioned rule is detrimental to anyone taking action toward living a healthy lifestyle, as fluctuations in weight inevitably accompany changes in dietary and physical habits.

Commenting on the weight of

others is in itself offensive. Some argue that they are concerned for the other’s health in an attempt to justify the outright disrespect of criticizing someone’s weight or appearance, but that argument is generally invalid. If one is truly concerned for another’s health, it would be better to not destroy their mental health and self-esteem in the process. Besides, many people can still be healthy with a BMI above or below what is considered to be “normal”. Numbers do not necessarily indicate health, as they do not account for what one puts into and does with his or her body.

America needs to accept that each person’s body is different.

Health is relative when it comes to weight or measurements. Everyone reacts differently to a healthy diet and exercise. Pressure placed on individuals to literally fit into specific sizes and damaging ideals damages the overall health of society.

The next time you notice that someone has lost weight, don’t comment on it. The next time you notice someone has gained weight, don’t comment on it. Don’t judge others based on how they look or what they weigh; people aren’t defined by their number on the scale.

Instead, step off of the scale, put down your measuring tape and focus on being happy and healthy.

Days off may or may not detract from learning Sophia Goldberg staff writer

Jason Harward staff writer

Hurriedly planning to set up mall days, trips to the beach, and hanging out with friends are the first things students do when they hear that they don’t have school on any given day. While these district-wide days off may give a student a break from school, these extra dates away from the classroom are pointless and interrupt the learning process.

Other than the national holidays that everyone gets off, there are multiple days that students enjoy off, including monthly early dismissals, staff development days and pupil free days.

There are two pupil free days set for middle school and high school, one following the end of the first semester, and one following the end of the second semester. These dates are factored into the winter and summer breaks and do not affect class time.

The total number of days off is spread out across the school year and is factored into the number of early dismissal days a year. The hours can be rearranged throughout the school year to decrease the amount of early dismissal days, creating regular, full days of school.

These additional regular days will be fewer in number than the early dismissal days, leading to less days in school.

If we remove the excessive holidays in the calendar such as the staff development days and pupil free days, we will shorten our school year by at least 10 days. We could have started school two weeks later this year by taking off these 10 days from the start of school.

These excessive holidays and days off from school are a waste and interruption to the learning process. By getting rid of these days and rearranging certain programs in the school, we can achieve a more condensed school year with a more continuous schedule for students to reach their greatest ability.

The classroom isn’t the only place we learn. Although school is a great place to become a socially and academically competent person, learning occurs wherever we are.

We are in school for half of the year. When we aren’t in school, we teach ourselves determination and hard work at our own pace. This simple fact, that our outside lives can teach us lifelong lessons, is just one of the reasons that days off help students.

The things we learn in school are important, and constant repetition is stressed to not forget the things we learn. Though things are forgotten during a three-day weekend, the recharge it gives us allows us to learn more the next year.

According to researchers at Georgia State University and Montana State University, fifthgraders who attended four-day school weeks saw significant improvement in the math section of the Colorado Student Assessment Program (CSAP) versus students who went to school five days a week (the fifth-graders who attended four-day school weeks had longer days to meet the federal minimum for school hours.)

While this data doesn’t prove that three day weekends help academic performance, it does support the idea that going to school for more days doesn’t ultimately make students learn more, and learning more is the reason we attend school.

The most important thing for learning is an engaged student. As the five day weeks pile up, students become disengaged, because they have only two days to recharge. learning, because facts just bounce off of a disinterested student.

To help our students learn, Beverly shouldn’t schedule more days, but rather more meaningful days.

To read the rest of these articles, please visit www.beverlyhighlights.com/opinioneditorial

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HIGHLIGHTS SPOTLIGHT SEPTEMBER 25, 2015

Out with the old in with the new

Changes in the SAT and ACT Q&A: Breakdown of the changes Sophia Goldberg staff writer Highlights: Can you give some basic information about the SAT? Ah-Young Chi: SAT is a standardized test used by many colleges and universities as one of many factors to determine admission to the school.

Highlights: What are the new changes being made to SAT? Chi: It’s a big overhaul and I probably can’t do justice to it.

Highlights: Where and when will these changes be implemented?

Chi: The first wave of changes you’ll see is on the new PSAT which all juniors and sophomores will take on Oct. 14. It is redesigned as well, and it will mirror the changes that’s done on the SAT. The SAT will debut the redesigned form in March 2015 wherever you take the test.

Highlights: Why do you think these changes were made?

Chi: Well, depending on who you ask, you will get different answers. Did you know that the president of the College Board is one of the writers of the Common Core? You will see that the changes

to the SAT are very similar to Common Core. The College Board is aligning the SAT so that it assesses what students learn in the classroom- at least that’s their attempt.

engaging with.

Highlights: How will these changes affect the students?

Chi: Score will be out of 1600 instead of 2400 because the Writing section will be optional with the redesigned SAT. But remember, in the world of college admissions, you have to treat “optional” as “required” so be sure to sign up for the optional Writing section. As for study skills, much of the same study skills will be applicable. The key is to prep. I don’t mean you should go spend a lot of money on a private tutor. But, you need to find a way to prepare for the test.

Chi: It really shouldn’t affect the students too much. Students should continue to do well in classes and read a lot-that’s the best way to prepare for the SAT. Then when the time is right, students should do some type of SAT prep so that they get familiar and comfortable with the test.

Highlights: Which students will be affected by the new change?

Chi: The current juniors have the choice of taking the current SAT or the redesigned SAT. Colleges will accept both.

Highlights: Do you believe the changes were needed?

Chi: That’s a good question. Again, depending on who you ask, you will get different answers. I personally don’t believe that the changes were needed, but I’m glad that it is being redesigned to be more aligned with the Common Core because that’s what our students will be

The SAT over the years

Highlights: How will this change affect the scores and study skills for the SAT?

Highlights: How do you think the changes to the SAT will affect the college admissions process? For example, will the scores of the SAT have a greater, less, or equal effect on the admissions process?

Chi: Changes to the SAT will not affect the current admissions process. It will not become a greater or lesser part of the admissions process. At least for now. We haven’t seen the real thing yet so colleges do not know what to make of it. For now, they are going to accept it and treat it as what it is- the SAT. If they see something drastically different in the new SAT that they have to adjust their admissions

Analysis

Highlights: How do you think the student body will react to these changes?

Chi: I’m not really sure. I heard from some professionals that scores will be lower. If this is the case then students may panic or get nervous, and we may see students taking the test more than the usual amount in order to improve their scores. I think we need to not react to the changes, but instead, accept it and move on. It is what it is.

Highlights: How do you think the new SAT will affect students’ average scores on the SAT? Chi: I have heard from testing professionals that we will likely see a drop in the average score, because it’s going to be harder. We don’t really know what the scores are going to look like anyways, so I would side with those professionals and would expect to see a lower average. I wouldn’t let that be a huge concern for anyone, though.

66 respondents

Chi: Juniors should come to the SATACT Strategies Workshop exams.

1937: The College 1901: A team of US Board introduces Colleges develops the Achievement Tests, first standardized adnow called SAT missions test subject tests

1926: Students take the first multiple choice SAT

Juliette Deutsch co-editor-in-chief Sydney Tran staff writer

practices, then I’m sure we’ll hear of it, but that will not happen for a while. And no one has talked about this yet.

Highlights: Is there any other information you would like to add?

1939: The SAT introduces new machine score answer sheets

1941: SAT is normalized to make test scores as fair as possible

1965: The college board’s efforts in assuring that all students were being tested under equal conditions is considered a success

1958: Students see their SAT scores for the first time

1994: Calculators are allowed for the SAT

1969: The SAT begins delivering fee waivers

SAT improves, ACT makes useless changes

2005: Changes to the SAT reflect what students are learning in school

1995: The first SAT website launches

If you’re planning on applying to a four-year college, you’ve probably had to or are going to have to take the SAT or the ACT. Newer test takers are going to experience a very different test from those of the past.

The new SAT deviates from the elitism established by the 2400 score scale test. College Board is revisiting the test that was taken up until 2005, the 1600 score scale test. This test, previously accepted as a measure of intelligence by Mensa, measures the cognitive abilities of its takers rather than how many expensive study sessions you can afford. In fact, College Board says on its website that, with the new SAT, “Skills Aren’t Bought”.

Although this is a change for the better in that the scores sent to colleges are truly indicative of academic intelligence, this might not necessarily be beneficial to all applicants. Since 2005, College Board has faced scrutiny for the notion that people have been able to increase their scores by studying the test rather than the tested material.

Though the intent behind these changes is unknown, the alterations will vastly change the preparation process for the test.

Oftentimes, expensive workshops and tutors emphasize familiarity with test-taking methods and strategies and neglect the information being tested. The fact that this preparation has proven to be adequate in raising the scores of many students shows the flaws in the 2400 score scale test.

The ACT, is undergoing changes as well. These changes, however, do not mirror the extremity and purpose that the SAT changes display.

The useless changes that the ACT is undergoing benefit neither the test-takers nor the administration. The optional writing portion of the ACT has been transformed into a three part perspective persuasive essay where the student has to defend each argument presented. This additional component makes the essay more tedious and defeats the whole purpose for having a writing component.

Although the changes to the writing portion make for a stressful test, many students who opt to take the ACT writing in order to avoid taking SAT subject tests still value the convenience rendered by this tradeoff. Although they differ greatly in content, most colleges allow for them to substitute each other. The existence of one test that encompasses the requirements allows for students to pay high testing fees only once, rather than multiple times for each subject test.

These new changes are revolutionizing the college admissions process. More and more colleges and universities, including New York University, George Washington University and The New School, are adopting “Test Optional” or “Test Flexible” titles. This means that, at these schools, SAT and ACT scores are not required or can be substituted with other standardized test scores.

These changes raise another point of controversy regarding the fairness of this new process. With so many changes occurring at a definitive time, those who have recently applied or are currently applying to college will have a different application process from those applying next fall. Whether these changes make the process easier or harder is up to each student to decide, but the new system will affect each individual regardless.

2016: New changes in how the concepts are tested and the steps students will have to take to solve problems correctly

2009: Score Choice lets students choose what SAT scores to send to colleges Source: College Board

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HIGHLIGHTS CULTURE SEPTEMBER 25, 2015

Tasting the Feasts of Fall

Jon and Vinny’s LA girl pizza and Salmon and Albacore sushi from Blue Ribbon.

Photos by: JULIETTE DEUTSCH

Juliette Deutsch co-editor-in-chief

Jon and Vinny’s

Blue Ribbon Sushi

412 N Fairfax Ave, Los Angeles.

(323) 334-3369

189 The Grove Dr, Los Angeles.

(323) 352-9300

1143 Abbot Kinney Blvd. Los Angeles.

Jon Shook and Vinny Dotolo have finally completed their ode to Italian-American cuisine, and the results are pretty fantastic from the get-go. The pizzas, pastas, meatballs and salads are razor sharp in their execution, though it’s also a credit to high-quality ingredients. The interior compliments the menu, with a sleek minimalist ambiance. The LA lady pizza is a must try.

New York City transplant Blue Ribbon has finally opened a restaurant in Los Angeles, with a full line up of sushi and hot plates. The vibe is much larger and brighter than their original New York location, but the Bromberg brothers have imported much of the same approach to Japanese cooking. In addition to their sushi, the wasabi fried chicken is worth ordering.

Portland’s popular Blue Star Donuts is careening onto Abbot Kinney some time later this month with a slew of innovative flavors and high-quality ingredients. Opposed to a typical dough-based donutBlue Star crafts theirs with brioche dough. Popular flavors include chocolate ganache, buttermilk and vegan raspberry hibiscus.

#NYFW runways in review Juliette Deutsch co-editor-in-chief Sydney Tran staff writer New York Fashion Week saw many changes this year. First, we said goodbye to Lincoln Center and welcomed the Lower Manhattan as the host for this year. In addition, Simon Collins, the former dean of Parsons New School for Design, was the lead consultant in coordinating the shows this year, in partnership with Milk Studios.

Here is a recap of our favorite shows this year.

Givenchy The Sept. 11 event, curated by Givenchy creative director Ri-

cardo Tisci and designed by visual artist Marina Abramovic on Pier 26, acted as a tribute to the attacks on the World Trade Center in 2001 and featured the Freedom Tower in the back drop. The show was attended not only by A-list celebrities like Nicki Minaj, Julia Roberts, Kim Kardashian and Kanye West, but also roughly 2,000 members of the public including 800 fashion students. Opening looks presented a monotone color palette, one that felt effortless. It was as if Tisci reimaged the silhouettes of classic tuxedo-wear for the modern woman. Lace-trimmed slip dresses and camisoles were paired elegantly over easy-cut pants, while tuxedo

Blue Star Donuts

fritters.

jackets with tails made a headturning appearance. Men were dressed in tailored pants, structured blazers and embroidered sheer tops that showed the perfect hints of skin.

Diane von Furstenberg The reveal of this highly-anticipated collection was not disappointing. Diane von Furstenberg’s Spring 2016 collection, FORTUNA, perfectly embodies its romantic inspiration. Mused by a painting of the Roman goddess of luck Fortuna, von Furstenberg used pretty pinks, metallic golds and popping colors to bring this work to life in the form of fashion. Still holding true to her claim to fame, the wrap dress, which opened the show, DVF’s new collection brings

Taking over late night Max Yera staff writer In perhaps one of the best interviews since the dawn of late night television, Stephen Colbert managed to present his audience with a heart-felt look at our nation’s vice president, Joe Biden. On Sept. 10, Colbert dug into the heart of Biden and with sincerity and legitimate interest, managed to discuss the politician’s relationship with both his family and God. “I’d like to find out a little bit more about who Joe Biden is, we’ll be right back…” CBS’s Late Show host Stephen Colbert said.

This legitimate interest in finding out about a particular guest is not limited to Joe Biden. Colbert didn’t limit his interview with Tim Cook, Apple’s CEO, to merely discuss the latest Apple product, but rather discussed Cook’s sexuality and his responsibility to speak up for equality.

In an interview with George Clooney, Colbert discussed Clooney’s previous investments in aiding Darfur and his wife’s, a celebrated human rights lawyer, current danger in the Maldives. As with Biden and as with Cook, Colbert managed to dig deeper.

Now this is not to say that Colbert does not permit comedy to enter his show. His bits on Donald Trump are especially comedic and a new element to her existing styles, especially with the return of the Secret Agent bag. Pat McGrath’s youthful makeup, carefully applied to resemble the fluttering wings of a butterfly, accentuated the femininity of the collection. The collection revisits classic looks and transforms them with daring prints and bright colors, flawlessly expressing von Furstenberg’s motto for FORTUNA: “It’s all about individuality!”

These designers have taken the tenets of luxury, its fine fabrics, its impeccable craftsmanship, its sense of timeless elegance, and imbued it with a relaxed appeal and modern vocabulary.

notably “Colbert Report”-esque as he has used Jon Stewart’s and his own popular technique of satire.

His interviews can also be primarily comedic, particularly those with other comedians. For example, in his interview with Amy Schumer, the primary topic of discussion was her experience eating a cake owned by Jake Gyllenhaal.

Every weeknight at 11:35 p.m. on CBS, Colbert has dived deeper into his interviews than one may expect. Yet his method in doing so is rather simple. He asks questions. He waits. He listens. He doesn’t talk over his guest or exclaim how great of a person they are or how funny they are by allowing his forced laughter to consume the majority of his interview.

Colbert is something more. He’s a journalist; a comedic one yes, but nevertheless an intelligent, curious journalist.

Intelligence and genuine intrigue taking over late night? How about that.

Unlike many designers at fashion week, these designers don’t cling to trends. They have managed to give American fashion a place in the realm of innovation.

Models walk the DVF runway. Photo by: JACK SIEBERT

Fall events Veronica Pahomova staff writer

Zombie Fashion Show and Create Art Exhibit, Saturday, Oct. 3 Looking for a freaky fabulous day? Watch about 50 special effect makeup designers transform models into grotesque members of the undead. And while observing the models of the morgue, all while observing the eerie art exhibits all around the facility. Not only is this a zombie fashion show and creature art exhibit, but it is also an all-you-can-eat pancake party sponsored by the Pancakes & Booze Art Show. Pancakes, zombies and art- what else can one need to fulfill an October day? Though usually at Lot 613 in Downtown LA, it can be found in various locations in Los Angeles, so keep your eyes out for any local Zombie Fashion Shows near you!

The Original Farmers Market Fall Festival, Saturday, Oct. 17-18 On the corner of 3rd and Fairfax lies a family-friendly festival. Take your girlfriend and win her a stuffed animal in one of the numerous carnival games. Pursue your inner animal enthusiast and pet a sheep or two while visiting the famous petting zoos. And one can do all of this and more while listening to the glorious sounds of the banjo bands, filling your ears with tunes from the south.

Come to thr event with your friends and family, and better yet, spread the fall joy and come in a costume! Join the fun with countless sweet treats provided by multiple candy stands and the Farmers Market and enjoy the incessant fall themed activities.

Hollywood Forever’s Day of the Dead, Saturday, Oct. 24.

The party filled with Latino pizazz at the Hollywood Forever Cemetery is what many claim to be the biggest Day of the Dead celebration in California. Find yourself encompassed by various delicious food trucks that will marvel your scenses and leave your tastebuds craving more. Bring your friends and family and partake in the ritualistic dance party filled with people dressed up in extravagant gowns. It’s even great for that little sibling- with many opportunities for hands on arts and crafts, your child will never get bored. This joyous adaption of the celebration is sure to be fun for all ethnicities and ages.

Photos by: GEORGE RUIZ, K. LACHSHAND and TOMACASTELAZO

HIGHLIGHTS ADS September 4, 2015

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HIGHLIGHTS SPORTS September 25, 2015

Discussion: Should band be considered a sport?

Eleanor Bogart-Stuart staff writer A rigorous and competitive high school marching band program is just like any regular sport. It involves daily physical activity and practice. When did society and schools alike shirk the idea that band is any less of a physical activity than a sport?

Practicing during school, after school and over weekends, band members are a tireless group of students who are perhaps more dedicated to their craft than the usual athlete. But, for some Ben Shofet business manager In the Oxford English dictionary, the definition of a sport is an “activity involving physical exertion and skill in which an individual or team competes against another or others for entertainment.” Therefor, the marching band is not a sport, because how can an activity that requires little to no physical exertion be considered one.

The most exhausting physical activity that the band will most likely partake in all year is having to walk one lap at most around the track. The amount of physical ac-

reason,most schools across the country don’t recognize band as a legitimate physical activity.

What makes football a sport?

Heavy physical strain. A player olding an object for a long period of time. Following a drawn out play or specific path that’s been created by their coach. What is the difference between football players and music makers? Surprisingly, there’s very little.

Subract the danger of bodies slamming into each other (although that does happen in a badly planned field show) and add the

focus it takes to watch a conductor while simultaneously playing a song well and walking straight, and you’ve got a marching band field show.

Just like “real” sports, members can continue being part of band in college. Not only that, members can compete in a prestigious marching band league. The incredibly competitive Drum Corps International (DCI) is an international league where bands consisting of only horns and percussion compete through intense field shows.

But it’s not only field shows.

Many marching bands participate in hours and hours of marching in parades where they march in one, monotonous straight line, holding an instrument at an odd angle that, for tuba and some drum players, could weigh from 30-45 pounds.

Much like other sports, band members must wear uniforms. If you haven’t marched in 90 degree Los Angeles weather in a thick, cotton marching band uniform, then you can’t possibly begin to know the true struggle that band members suffer through. Not only is the

material thick, but the matching plastic hat that goes with it manages to trap in any extra heat that might have otherwise escaped.

Unlike other sports, band requires physical strength plus additional knowledge of how to play an instrument. If anything, being a quality member of a marching band is harder than being a quality member of any soccer, baseball or volleyball team.

Give band and its members the respect they deserve. Acknowledge their struggle. Make band count as a sport.

tivity that the band will do in one practice does not compare to what the volleyball team would do in just 10 minutes of their practice.

Band is not a physically demanding activity, and that is one of the pillars of what makes a sport a sport. With the exception of those few who play instruments that are heavy, the rest of the band hold Aside from the lack of physical strain that band places on its members, the members of the marching band lack the talent that an athlete of any sport has. To call those trumpet players talentless would be false, however to call a

musician an athlete would be anything but correct. By that standard, the orchestra should be considered a sport as well, but that is simply not the case. The only thing that separates the orchestra from the marching band is the fact that the marching band has to play an instrument while standing up and the orchestra has to play their instruments while sitting down.

Not all members of the marching band even play instruments.

There are those few individuals in the band who are responsible for either standing on a ladder and waving their hands in the air or

marching in front of the band waving a decorated pole up and down.

Not to undermine the importance of these leadership roles in the marching band, but it seems that merely anyone can replace them with a few weeks of training.

One of things that classifies band as an activity and not as a sport is the absence of real competition.

The “competitions” that marching bands participate in can be seen as more of a musical production rather than sporting events. In a band performance the band will play a series of songs while they march around in their uniforms, while

in a sporting event the two opponents that face off against each other or participating in physically exhausting activities. This is more like a talent show than a sporting event; the judges base their scores off the band’s music and visuals.

The judges who score the competitions are essentially critiquing the band’s performance as if it were a musical.

The marching band fails to meet the critical marks of a sport. It would be absurd to classify an activity that requires its participants to hold and instrument and march in an orderly fashion as a sport.

Home: San Marino Max Yera staff writer The Normans’ varsity football team will play San Marino High School today. It will be the team’s second home game and what they hope will be their first home win this season.

The Normans lost their most recent game 48-0 on Sep. 11 to North Torrance in what was a clear blow out.

“We played hard, but we had a rough start and were a little unsettled, but when we relaxed we started playing much better,” senior wide receiver and cornerback PJ Goolsby said.

Now the Normans must play San Marino, a varsity football team that is 4-0 this season compared to Beverly’s 0-3.

“We’ve played [San Marino] for five years and it hasn’t been done well,” Head Coach Charlie Stansbury said.

One possible reason for San Marino’s success, particularly against Beverly, is their offensive ability.

“Their quarterback is probably one of the more efficient quarterbacks in southern California, numbers wise, because he doesn’t throw a lot of incomplete passes and he throws everything on time,” Stansbury said.

However, this year, it may just be the perfect matchup for a team like Beverly. Players and coaches seem to agree that Beverly’s defense has notably improved and is one of the stronger aspects of the team.

“One of the things we’ll challenge San Marino with is our pass rush and our linebackers’ ability to blitz and get through [the opposing offensive line],” Stansbury said.

One such linebacker that will be

Photo by: GUY GINSBERG

blitzing often is senior Dylan Rutigliano, who quickly agreed with his coach’s comments.

“A great defense and a lot of heart [will win us the game],” Rutigliano said.

Beverly’s football team can also look forward to the return of senior running backs Joe Kolko and Rashad Ysaguirre.

“We’re going to have success running the ball this week because this is the first week we have our offensive line and both of our senior running backs fully healthy, and the run game will open up the passing game too,” senior quarterback Jake Wolken said.

Will this rushing attack on both sides of the ball lead Beverly to its first victory of the season? Come tonight at 7:00 pm to find out.

R-U-N, what does that spell?

Vivian Geilim staff writer Whether it’s running suicides on the field, monsters through the bleachers or the infamous mile around the track, running has become an essential manifestation of authority that has taken a large toll on many sports.

As with all things, a middle ground is necessary for progress.

When an extreme position is taken, with either running too much or too little, the benefits are nonexistent and result only in negativity.

The Cheer team started off their first month of cheer without a coach. This led to the position as “coach” to be bestowed upon the two senior captains last minute, for the first four weeks of cheer.

“There was a lot more responsibility put on my shoulders since our coach quit on the first day of school, so for the first month it was a lot tougher on the captains than last year when we had a coach,” one of the captains said. “I’ve had to do a lot of the things a coach would’ve done, and there was a lot of hardship in the sense that the captains basically had to be coaches for the first month.”

Being a coach comes with immense responsibility and smarts that teenagers have yet to learn.

Dealing with different levels of maturity from freshmen to seniors takes experience and knowledge.

Abruptly taking the role as coaches seems to be too much to carry for the two girls, especially with their senior year ahead of them. The two captains’ obvious dedication didn’t seem to cut it for the squad.

“Because the stress was getting to [us] we would sit there and cry at night because of girls rolling their eyes and laughing to our faces, and we got some mean texts, too,” one of the captains said.

In order to gain their respect, the two captains made a running system to try to discipline their team.

“Some [teammates] still decided to not do what they were supposed

to, so we made a system where if you did something wrong we would silently write your name down and then add check marks for each time you did something wrong again, and then at the end of practice you would have to run laps if you got many marks,” one of the captains said.

Students participate in sports because they enjoy them. In no way should team members feel subordinated to one another and that seems to be the message that is sent when captains mandate their team to do one or two laps as a means of punishment. People learn new things every day. Yet, high schoolers are disciplined by teachers until they graduate and are disciplined by their parents until they move out.

“Honestly, [running] didn’t help us because that just made the freshman feel like ‘Oh the seniors are controlling us and making us run, why are our peers making us run?’ So, I don’t think it helped,” a cheerleader who wished to remain anonymous said.

Frankly, there doesn’t seem to be a purpose for running a lap around the football field. Merely breaking a sweat, the students are not disciplined. Running a disciplinary lap with your team or teammates is bottomline ironic.

Instead of working up your lactic acid, it can be seen as a moment to socialize and catch up with teammates and friends. Running is a very mild form of discipline and completely useless to contributing to the team.

“To punish them with things that we need to do anyways, like running or strength with push ups, it would be kind of counterintuitive to the whole thing,” assistant varsity football coach Steve Geanakos said. “I don’t want to punish a kid by giving them more homework in the classroom. I would hope that they would like the work we’re doing in class so I might punish them by taking away the fun activities.”

Unlike the majority of Beverly sports, basketball also mandates running as a punishment. “[I use running as a punishment] if they’re not doing what they’re suppose to be doing,” P.E and girls basketball head coach John Braddell said. “I don’t like to do it but sometimes it gets the message across more than just talking, so we’ll do line touches sometimes in practice, especially if we’re upstairs, mainly.”

However, volleyball, football and tennis appear to only use running as a combination with drills and conditioning.

“Once season starts we kinda go more into our volleyball routine and we don’t spend a whole lot of time conditioning out on the track or in the weight room,” volleyball coach Tanner Siegal said.

As a conclusion, forcing girls to run obviously didn’t work out for cheer. The captains lacked understanding that running did not help as a form of discipline simply because the captains lacked the disciplanry understanding that a coach would (simply due to age and experience). Their team, however, didn’t even realize the commitment and love their captains had for the squad and the sport.

“That’s all we wanted was for them to just listen and give us respect. Because we weren’t getting that, and I felt like if they had to run laps for misbehaving, then maybe it would make them want to sit there and learn and behave,” a captain said. “We didn’t have a coach, so we had to step up and become coaches even though we didn’t necessarily want to.”

All in all, the two captains realized that running didn’t help at all. When you force someone to do something, they have a tendency to start to dislike it. Finding the balanced middle ground is often a difficult field to find, especially at a young age with the stress and weight on your shoulders.