April 2018
Vol. IV
Issue 2
The Magnet
Cycling towards the start of a new journey It’s never too late to learn to ride a bike
Joselito’s is a low-key hub for Mexican comfort food Disney’s Aladdin enchants viewers Dazzling choreography and characters bring the classic movie to the stage
By Kasy Vasquez
Clark Calendar
Letter from the editors: Spring is finally here! The flowers are blooming, birds are singing, acceptance (or rejection) letters are rolling in for the seniors among us, and students everywhere are probably starting to brace for finals and AP testing. Fun! In the midst of all these looming piles of paperwork, don’t forget the true spirit of spring: being free. It is, after all, the main theme in most of those spring break movies. Maybe it’s finally time to learn to ride that bike (page 22). Or even learn a new dance (may we recommend thew ballet for Vivaldi’s “Spring”). We have two stories dedicated to
dance in this issue, from learning the art of dancing on pointe (page 20) to performing traditional Armenian dance. All that frolicking around might make you hungry. Not to worry, because we also review great food! Come swing by and take a look at some local Mexican joints. No matter where in Glendale you live, Joselito’s (page 10) or Tacos Villa Corona (page 11) have great food for you to host taco parties this season. Interested in musicals? It’s nearing the end of the musical season, so you might like to run down to the Pantages theater before March 31 to
see Disney’s Aladdin, an enchanting show filled with wonders and magic. (page 31) Any way you choose to experience spring, it’s so much more than just the home stretch for summer. We hope you make the most of the great weather, and remember to give yourself some “me” time too! Shaye Holladay McCarthy & Kasy Vasquez Editors, The Magnet
Cover photo of Allyson McCullagh (2017)
Features 4
Table Of Contents
Left-handed people struggle in a right-handed world Alexandra Der Boghosian
How Armenian cultural dancing helps the youth Ani Avakian
Happy Lunar New Year and to the Year of the Dog Bryan Han
In The Life 18
10 Lifestyle
Airsofting strikes hard and fast in Southern California Rafael Aroustamian
Atwater Village hole-in-the-wall comes out of hiding
The heart of a ballet dancer Shaye Holladay McCarthy
Sangam Sharma
Books survive in a community going paperless Ioana Ciuperca
Cycling towards the start of a new journey of discovery
Joselito’s is a low-key hub for Mexican comfort food
Lois Ramilo
Ani Sarkisyan
Opinion 26 Cashierless stores like Amazon Go do not threaten jobs Paniz Jazirian
President Trump exceeds expectations in his first year Michael Melkonian
What’s wrong with going to community college? Trisha Gomez
A&E 29
Feeling the LAUV in the air Lois Ramilo
‘The Cruel Prince’ is found to be cruelly lacking Ioana Ciuperca
Broadway show Aladdin is just as enchanting as the movie Lilit Krkasharian
The Magnet Magazine
Magazine Editors: Lilit Krkasharian Shaye Holladay McCarthy Michael Melkonian Kasy Vasquez Lois Ramilo Carlos Rodriguez Staff Writers: Ani Sarkisyan Rafael Aroustamian Sangam Sharma Ani Avakian Victoria Bochniak Photographers: Ioana Ciuperca Rafael Aroustamian Alexandra Der Boghosian Reed Maruyama Trisha Gomez Lois Ramilo Bryan Han Shaye Holladay McCarthy Photo Editors: Paniz Jazirian Urielle Corcuera
Trisha Gomez
Website Editors: Alexandra Der Boghosian Kasy Vasquez Business: Leslie Chung Reed Maryama Advisor: Chris Davis
The Magnet, an open forum, is published by the Clark Magnet High School Publications class (4747 New York Ave., La Crescenta, CA 91214, 818.248.8324), which is solely responsible for all copy, designs and ideas contained herein. The Magnet has the right to edit any letter for purposes of clarification, length and grammar. The expressed opinions are not that of Clark Magnet High School nor of the Administration. Layouts completed on-site. This magazine was printed by aPrintis Inc., 4695 Chabot Dr, Site 200 Pleasanton, CA.
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Features
Left-handed people struggle in a right-handed world
By Alexandra Der Boghosian
The forgotten history of left-handed people in a world dominated by right-handed people
The left-handed store in San Francisco is known world wide for their products that are essentials for many left-handed people.
By Alexandra Der Boghosian Although they make up 10 percent of the world’s population, left-handed people are unique. Sophomore Tina Geozalian, who is left handed, loves drawing and playing volleyball. “When drawing, the struggle of being lefthanded bothers me a lot, especially with lead and ink smearing on my hand and on the paper,” she said. “With volleyball, the main problem is that there aren’t a lot of people on the team that are lefties, so I can’t ask for help and I have to teach myself.” Many people, perhaps including
4 • The Magnet
noted lefties Angelina Jolie and Bill Gates, go through the same struggles that Geozalian goes through. However, lefthanded people are often forgotten. Righthanded scissors, knives and uncomfortable writing desks are some but not all the struggles that lefties go through. Spanish teacher Julie Ann Melville is a lefty who learned how to use both her left and right hands and feet while growing up. “Anything with my left hand I learned to do with my right hand,” she said. “With cutting paper or kicking a ball, I adapted with using my right hand and foot. A lot of creative students aren’t left handed, but I think that left-handed people think outside
the box and have better adaptive skills.” School desks present another challenge for lefties. According to Handedness Research Institution, many left-handed students struggle with writing while sitting at a right-handed table. Now some schools don’t have righthanded desks; they have both right and left-handed desks. When most schools only purchased right-handed desks, lefthanded students struggled more. Some students would turn the desk around in order to write, while others would just have to bend their arms and write messy. Melville said that when she was younger she would have to turn the desk around
in order to write comfortably. With the struggles left-handed people go through, unique tools are necessary. In San Francisco, there’s a store just for left-handed people. The Left Hand Store is located on Pier 39 and features items including a six piece left-handed kitchen set and lefthanded spiral notebooks. The store has a large supply of left-handed pens and they even have T-shirts. Prices for lefty items can be high, however, as a two-pack pen set, for example, is priced at $7.50. While lefties today have many tools, in the past, if someone was lefthanded, they would get slapped on the left hand to make them get used to using their right hand. According to Time Magazine , the word left comes from the original word “lyft,” which in different languages is defined as awkward, weird, incorrect and untrustworthy. Left-handed people were also called “sinister.” In many countries, left-handers face discrimination for writing with a different hand. According to the Smithsonian, in China and India less than 1 percent of their population is
made up of left-handed people. At Clark, many students and teachers question if the theory that lefthanded people are more creative than right-handed is true. Physics teacher Frank Dale, who is left-handed, said that the theory of left-handed people is not true, based upon his beliefs. “I want to believe that the theory is true, but I know it’s not,” he said. Researcher Stanley Coren conducted experiments on nearly 1,000 men and women by giving them two objects and asking them to come up with a way to combine the two objects together. Another experiment done by Coren, reported by Business Insider, was conducted with people who were given a set of words that they had to categorize. Results showed that left-handed men and women had more advanced thinking than righthanded people. Many people say that this is the reason left-handed people “think outside the box.” Since most people are not left-handed, left-handers had to think of solutions in order to write comfortably and not have smearing on their paper.
By Alexandra Der Boghosian
Features
The inside of the store has portraits of famous celebrities and historians who are left handed, including Alexander the Great, Justin Bieber and Benjamin Franklin.
In a right-handed world, lefties are known to be creative, and they go through struggles that few people ever experience. However, Melville says, “I believe that all people are creative, and different. One’s creativity is not based on the hand with which the person writes, it just matters how big your imagination is.”
Lefty’s San Francisco, CA Open every day except Christmas.
By Alexandra Der Boghosian
Minimum hours 10 a.m. - 7 p.m. (415) 445-0141 www.leftyslefthanded.com
Many products that are sold in the store are can openers, candle lighters and peelers.
Spring 2018 • 5
Features
Traditional Armenian dancing cultivates cultural pride By Ani Avakian “Armenian cultural dance is important to our youth because it provides a deeper meaning to how life was in Armenian history through the movements and the emotion you put into your body language,” said dancer Emily Hovsepian. “It is important for young people to know about their culture and where they are from. Taking Armenian dance classes have encouraged me to be the best I can and learn more and more every week.” There are many different ways of expressing the history of one’s culture. Most may include stories or music. Armenian culture is often expressed through dance. Hoover High School senior Natali Aghakhanian has been taking Armenian dance classes for 12 years now. “Not only do I learn new choreography every week but also the dance class teaches me an important social lesson and gets me to be a part of the community,” Aghakhanian said. “It is essential to take these classes because it brings together the traditional Armenian dances that were still present since back then.” The twice-weekly class Aghakhanian and Hovsepian take consists of stretching to help the dancers provide their best dance moves. They have dances such as the Armenian traditional dance called the “Kochari,” which is one of the most popular types of Armenian dance. Kochari is danced in a group of men and women and is known for its tune played on the flutelike instrument called the zurna. At the end of class, the teacher, Anoush Markarian, leads the dancers through a series of stretches to relax. After the class is over, the dancers do a curtsy and a bow as a way to show respect to the 6 • The Magnet
instructor. Sera Shahgholian, a college student who majors in dance, has been dancing her entire life. “I believe Armenian culture and its dance is important because no matter what other dance I train in Armenian dance will always be in me. It never leaves,” Shahgholian said. “Once you are Armenian, you are always an Armenian no matter what you do with your life.” Markarian opened her studio 13 years ago after moving from Iran to America. She had been dancing for a long time and decided to pursue her dreams and open her studio in Glendale. Markarian said that she too was a professional dancer throughout her life and that Armenian dancing helps her gain more strength. “It’s not what motivates me to teach; it’s the fact that the students get to learn more about their culture,” Markarian said. She has learned so much about her culture, which has changed her life. Markarian also said that many people underestimate the difficulty of taking a cultural dance class. “It’s not about the moves and gestures I teach; it’s about the people and time spent together while creating the dance,” Markarian said. “The only way to educate our youth is to create bonds with the other students and faculty.” Armenian cultural dance has been going on for many years. The Armenian dance heritage has been one of the oldest, richest and most varied. Armenian dance has a wide variety of formations. The dances are often performed in an open circle, with the little fingers interlocked. Dances were usually accompanied by musical instruments. The most vital instrument was the davul or the tahul which is a large drum. But mostly Armenian culture was used to tell stories. Armenian dance is used for special occasions such as weddings, birthdays
and christenings to explain the cultural meaning behind each event. These occasions also inspired new songs and dances. Armenian dance studios can be found throughout the city, with over ten studios in Glendale and more than 22 in Los Angeles. Each studio provides a variety of dance styles, but they mostly focus on Armenian dance. Karin Adamian has been dancing at Anoush Dance Studio for eight years. “I feel motivated to take Armenian dance because from every class I go to I return with more knowledge about my Armenian culture that is not only reflected through my artistic expression but my character,” Adamian said. “Armenian cultural dance is important for our youth because it is responsible for assembling unity among young Armenians and teaching them the importance of preserving and showing appreciation for our language, culture and community.” Not only does dance teach beautiful moves and techniques, it also builds bonds with the students and instructors. When the dancers are on the stage they can look to their teachers for guidance and help throughout the dance. When watching this type of dance, the audience can learn something new about the culture just by watching the dancers. Alina Padilla has been dancing for 11 years, and she says her love for dance and the Armenian culture inspires her to take classes.“When I take the class, I feel like part of a community of people who are all dancing and being happy together,” Padilla said. “A strong bond between the dancers and a love for dance is created when taking the class. I think Armenian cultural dance is important to our youth because it helps keep alive the way Armenians have been celebrating for many years.”
By Ani Avakian
Features
Courtesy of Anoush Dance Studio
Anoush Dance Studio has been open for eighteen years and is located close to Kenneth Village.
By Emily Hovsepian
Courtesy of Anoush Dance Studio
A cultural Armenian dance revolving around a bride and groom.
The dances performed need to show emotion to capture the audience’s attention.
Ani Avakian puts in months of practice before perfroming a dance to the best of her ability.
Spring 2018 • 7
Features
Happy Lunar New Year and to the Year of the Dog!
Courtesy of vegaseddie on Flickr
Chinese New Year holds a traditionally important meaning for many Asian people in Southern California
A dragon dances down North Broadway in Chinatown to scare away mythical spirits.
By Bryan Han Traditions are passed down to preserve a strong cultural heritage. For many Southeast Asians — Vietnamese, Chinese, Indonesian, among others — that tradition is to celebrate Chinese New Years. Chinatown in Los Angeles becomes crowded with people of all ages. On North Broadway, an array of pedestrians stand hours on their feet for several hours, watching dragons dance and firecrackers crackle, all for one single purpose — to ensure a fortuitous year. Chinatown is a clear representation of Chinese New Year, becoming very lively before Feb. 16. Small shops and businesses sell bright yellow and red flowers and deliciable pastries with a gold character stamped on top of the 8 • The Magnet
food to present a Chinese New Year vibe. The streets before Chinese New Year become massively packed with customers panicking to decorate homes similar to the decorated shops. And a week later, those same customers attend the L.A. Chinatown Firecracker run with the roads paved in good luck and fortune after Chinese New Year, either to witness or participate in the run. The essentials to mimic these shops are red envelopes that have a gold character on it, to bring luck; sparkling flowers to bring out the life and attract spirits at home; and mandarin oranges for family reunions. All of these factors insinuate a lucky year. “Plain and simple, Chinese New Years is not one of those holidays you celebrate for celebratory purposes,” said Cal State University student Cindy Zhang who
celebrates by purchasing customary items at small Chinese businesses. “It is more like a deep religion that requires tons of preparations that determines the future for your next year.” As parents and grandparents buy decorations to attract lucky spirits, other preparatory items are brought home to bring good luck such as lai see— the dreaded red envelopes married couples give to children. Typically children are subjected to house duties. This means cleaning the house and cooking meals for family reunions. “Let me tell you, it is not as simple as it sounds,” said Mark Keppel High School sophomore Janice Nguyen. “Chinese New Year Eve becomes the most tiresome day as children are forced to sweep the dust, representing all the bad luck that has accumulated over the last year. But many Asian parents are highly precautious about these tasks and continue to force children, people like me, to sweep constantly. However, to me it is worth it for a lucky year.” The Lunar New Year is immersed in superstistions to ensure good fortune that lasts for the next 12 months until the new lunar cycle. This includes wearing tang zhuang or ao dai, a customary suit made from silk, typically wore only for this holiday. These items of clothing brighten up small businesses with their vibrant colors, bringing good fortune and joy. “Chinese New Year has permanently impacted my life,” said Mark Keppel High School sophomore Jasmine Nguyen. “My family prepares Chinese New Year by buying all the ingredients to make the perfect holiday — the flowers, red envelopes, crimson firecrackers, etc… I usually buy all the things I need
Courtesy of neeravbhatt on Flickr
Features
Each Chinese New Year corresponds with a different animal on the Chinese Zodiac.
lurk around the house. Mandarin oranges (juzi) are placed into a pyramid shape, a popular tradition, to illustrate the peaks of high hopes and a symbol of good luck. Enormous rice cakes (nian gao) are purchased, with the fu sticker above the lotus leaves that cover the rice cake, to convey higher grades and larger opportunities simply because the name sounds like “higher year.” After constant decorative preparations, the celebration commences. The plain streets transform into blossoming red and gold theaters filled with linear lanterns and dancing dragons in celebration of foreshadowed fortunates. And as a result, colorful confetti drizzle from the smokey sky after the bursting, crimson firecrackers crackle on the paved streets and an incense scent overwhelms the crowds. After, the clashes of cymbals and thumps against the gigantic drum, people begin shouting over one another to convey their joyous feeling about the parading animals that waltz down the road. All of these actions happen in under five seconds to attract attention from the Taoist deity, who offers bravery and
loyalty, and eliminate evil spirits that may invade the ancient, crimson ceremony. “All of these preparations lead up to the most important event, where the holiday not only becomes a celebration for good luck, but a celebration of humanity, itself, where men, women, and children convene together as a family to serve a single purpose, to wish for a better today, tomorrow and year,” said UC freshman Irvine Grace Lee. Courtesy of wikimedia commons
in Chinatown to support the small businesses that close up just for this holiday.” “My favorite part about Chinese New Year is the exclusive firecrackers meant to scare away bad spirits,” said John Marshall High School junior Alyssa Jin. “Firecrackers come in all sizes— the little boxes that encourage young children to throw them on the floor to the big firecracker placed in a line on the street.” Because Chinese New Year is a time to illuminate homes with festive decorations that increase morale and blessings from deities, many people make their homes look like bright fireworks. Other traditional items are commonly seen not just homes, but in businesses and streets as well. These items include ubiquitous red lanterns or intricate red clippings, embroidered with the gold character fu, indicating wealth being poured down on residents and homes. Exotic flowers — from orchids to yellow peonies — bring forth attractive aromas that are believed to bring prosperity and good fortunes, removing evil spirits that
Ubiquitous red lanterns are hung throughout the streets to bring residents and customers good fortune.
Spring 2018 • 9
Lifestyle
The chicken tortilla soup topped with sour cream.
By Ani Sarkisyan From the outside, Joselito’s Mexican Restaurant in Montrose is a location that’s easy to miss because of its unnoticable appearance. Though it’s quiet-looking from the outside, inside the restaurant is completely the opposite. Greeted by a hostess, you see a room that resembles a restaurant from Mexico itself, filled with the aroma of authentic Mexican food and colorful decorations. Unlike may American restaurants, instead of starting off your meal with bread and butter, the friendly waiter brings over a bowl of red, green and yellow tortilla chips, along with green tomatillo salsa and red tomato salsa. Joeslito’s has a lengthy and thorough menu that includes classic items such as carnitas tostadas for $10.95 and chimichangas for $11.25. Though the menu items are written in Spanish, they are accompanied by a detailed description of each dish in 10 • The Magnet
English. Since I wasn’t feeling extremely hungry, I went with the “Sopa de pollo y tortilla,” or chicken tortilla soup, which cost $6.75. While I enjoyed the tortilla chips with my cousin and waited for our food, a group of three men in Mariachi costumes came to our table. They played guitars and sang Spanish songs until our meals came. We weren’t expecting their appearance, but the other customers didn’t seem surprised. Once they left, our food arrived. My chicken tortilla soup came in a blue bowl with a red plate and a paper doily in the center, keeping even their food presentation vibrant. The soup itself was a hearty portion, garnished with a dollop of sour cream, half an avocado, shredded cheddar cheese and cilantro. The chicken was moist and the tortillas didn’t get soggy like they do in other chicken tortilla soups. The only negative I found was that the soup wasn’t as hot as I am used to. Because of the cold sour cream, the soup began to lose its heat, but that didn’t take away from its amazing taste.
Joselito’s 2345 Honolulu Ave. Montrose, CA 91020 (818) 957-1901 Monday – Thurs. 11 a.m. – 10 p.m. Sat. 11 a.m. – 11 p.m. Sun. 10 a.m. – 10 p.m.
Along with their daily menu, they also offer 99-cent tacos on Mondays and a Sunday Champagne brunch from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. for $12.95. Overall, Joselito’s is a must-try place for those who want to step out of the typical restaurant experience yet still pay an affordable price.
Courtesy of Joselito’s
By Ani Sarkisyan
Joselito’s is a low-key hub for Mexican comfort food
The mural inside the restaurant is very traditional of other Mexican restaurants.
Lifestyle
By Sangam Sharma Squeezed between an alleyway and exotic bird shop, Tacos Villa Corona is not the type of place one would look twice at. Their colossal lunch burritos, however, are more than enough to make anybody do a double take. The tiny taco place surprises first-time customers with phenomenal flavors, leaving everyone coming back for more. Tacos Villa Corona is well known for a hole-in-the-wall. Located in Atwater Village, they’ve acquired a large fan base of local hipsters. Despite many oddities — doors are closed at 2 p.m., the menu is handwritten on boards, and they don’t have a website — they have managed to thrive. When I stopped by, all parking spaces near the taquería were taken, and a few people eagerly awaited their food around the storefront. Their menu is quite odd — the typical Mexican restaurant won’t serve potatoes in their burritos. I had never eaten a burrito with potatoes in it, so I decided to order a chicken and potato lunch burrito with spinach. However, upon ordering, I was informed that they ran out of both chicken and chorizo due to large demand of their famed chicken and potato burrito. So, I ordered the steak and potato burrito instead, prepared to be disappointed after hyping myself up for chicken. To my surprise, the steak and potato was pretty good. The meat had a lot of flavor from the seasonings they used, and the potatoes added an interesting texture which complemented the meat. Their homemade red sauce packed a punch; most sauces are disappointingly mild. Little pockets of melted cheese hid in every bite, turning the burrito into gooey perfection. Even the size of the burrito was perfect — the whole thing can be finished in one sitting without making eaters feel guilty and bloated. For $5, a burrito at Tacos Villa Corona is worth an excursion to Atwater Village
By Sangam Sharma
Local Atwater Village hole-inthe-wall comes out of hiding
Tacos Villa Corona closes before school ends.
and a battle for street parking. Anyone who enjoys Mexican cuisine should stop by, even if you’re not “the burrito type.” Their long lines, short hours and years in business are a testament to their success, and anyone who has tried their food will tell you that it is worth the hassle and will leave you craving it for days afterward. Squeezed between an alleyway and exotic bird shop, Tacos Villa Corona is not the type of place one would look twice at. Their colossal lunch burritos, however, are more than enough to make anybody do a double take. The tiny taco place surprises first-time customers with phenomenal flavors, leaving everyone coming back for more. Tacos Villa Corona is well known for a hole-in-the-wall. Located in Atwater Village, they’ve acquired a large fan base of local hipsters. Despite many oddities — doors are closed at 2 p.m., the menu is handwritten on boards, and they don’t have a website — they have managed to thrive. When I stopped by, all parking spaces near the taquería were taken, and a few people eagerly awaited their food around the storefront. Their menu is quite odd — the typical Mexican restaurant won’t serve potatoes in their burritos. I had never eaten a burrito with potatoes in it, so I decided to order a chicken and potato lunch burrito with spinach. However, upon ordering, I was informed that they ran out of both chicken and chorizo due
to large demand of their famed chicken and potato burrito. So, I ordered the steak and potato burrito instead, prepared to be disappointed after hyping myself up for chicken. To my surprise, the steak and potato was pretty good. The meat had a lot of flavor from the seasonings they used, and the potatoes added an interesting texture which complemented the meat. Their homemade red sauce packed a punch; most sauces are disappointingly mild. Little pockets of melted cheese hid in every bite, turning the burrito into gooey perfection. Even the size of the burrito was perfect — the whole thing can be finished in one sitting without making eaters feel guilty and bloated. For $5, a burrito at Tacos Villa Corona is worth an excursion to Atwater Village and a battle for street parking. Anyone who enjoys Mexican cuisine should stop by, even if you’re not “the burrito type.” Their long lines, short hours and years in business are a testament to their success, and anyone who has tried their food will tell you that it is worth the hassle and will leave you craving it for days afterward.
Tacos Villa Corona 3185 Glendale Blvd. Los Angeles, CA 90039 Monday Closed Tues.–Fri. 8 a.m.–2 p.m.
Spring 2018 • 11
Student Work
Creative minds at work
Students cultivate art as a hobby outside of art class
Raemil Giron- Cool Bird
Khalia KruseeLeaver - Character Design 12 • The Magnet
Minnie Park- Kabuki
Morgan Andrews- Emulation Piece
Morgan Andrews- Untitled
Student Work
Jefferson Kamdon- Three Best Amigos Patrol
Tiana Hovsepians- Ballerina
Reed Maruyama- Face Collage
Urielle Corcuera- Mermaid Crown
Spring 2018 • 13
Student Work
Exploring concepts with new colors in art and design Students apply what they have learned to portray ideas
Yerine Kwon
Karolina Mangasarian 14 • The Magnet
Galeh Hambarsoumian
Amile Avetisyan
Jake Nalbandian
Student Work
Leslie Chung
Jaqueline Yi
Urielle Corcuera
Meline Sukiasyan
Manana Khashadoorian
Kryztyna Hernandez Spring 2018 • 15
Student Work
Reviving words from pencil dust
By Mark Chadwick
Choosing the correct lexicon to transmit a complete spectrum of colorful emotions
Him By Mary Vardanyan He sits at his desk Wondering when he’ll see me again He waits quietly Clicking away
He suggests me new things While I’m not there He looks at my pictures, He notices my new hair 16• The Magnet
Love so strong But what can I do
He knows where I live And my funny passwords too I try to talk to him But he stays quiet
Yet I can hear his soul He calls me through His one eye gazing at me While I sleep
The FBI agent watching me.
Student Work Red By Melody Nieves Red. This beautiful color has many meaning, but what does it mean to me?
By Morgan Andrews
Red represents anger. The anger that is bottled up inside of me, and makes me go blind. The anger that forces me to spit obscene words from the lips that try to keep my thoughts from escaping. Red.
The color of the liquid that flows throughout my entire body, then drips slowly when my paper skin has been pierced. The blood that makes me feel alive. The substance that represents essential life, and a substance that has “power”. But, where is my power? Is it hidden within the depths of my soul? Or is my body full of weakness? Red.
Passion, love, heartbreak. The red that forms in my cheeks when they rise to my eyes out of laughter, or when they became the ache in my chest from a heart being stepped on like a welcome mat. The red that fills the whites of my eyes and outlines my puffy eyelids. It’s the dry pain in my eyes after a night of crying myself to sleep. Red. All the types of red, what a color.
All art on these pages were submitted to us and cropped or edited to fit the format. Submissions for this year are closed.
By Pixabay
See Mr. Davis in room 1329 if you would like to see your work featured in the magazine
Spring 2018 • 17
In the Life
Airsofting strikes hard and fast in Southern California By Rafael Aroustamian
By Edgar Ghazaryan
My nerves were on high alert as I stepped out onto the Mojave Desert. Rocks and desert sand chipped my military boots. As I gripped my Sig Sauer 556 airsoft gun, I was afraid I might break it. Our squadron was dispatched to scout the area. Knowing we were in enemy territory, we decided to do a quick area sweep and get out of there. Seeing (and believing) that there were no enemy squadrons in the area, we radioed Mother Base and decided to leave the area. As soon as our squad leader radioed in, our comms jammed. Knowing that whenever comms go down unnaturally, and that it was probably the enemy team trying to disable our communications, we decided to take shelter in an abandoned cluster of buildings. Spotting an enemy convoy with two trucks, we quickly rushed ahead to plant some ATEE mines. A loud bang came from the underside of the two trucks
as the mines went off. Knowing that the enemy team would stop and investigate the area, we decided to ambush them. Creeping quietly behind a bush, I waited for my team’s signal… There it was. A single flare. Mission accomplished. Airsoft, known in other countries as Softair, was invented in Japan in the 1970s for the military and police to practice with their guns in a safer way. After that, the sport caught on quick. Although everyone in the public does not consider airsoft as a sport due to the fact that it is not in the Olympics, some people who play the sport consider it one. There are many game modes, but usually they last about three to four minutes. There is also Milsims, which is short for Military Simulations, and are based on simulations in the real world. They are known to last several days. Some people who try the sport find it to be addictive and fun. Michael Graveley, a 17-year-old airsoft player who has been playing airsoft for two
Trees and other natural features provide barriers for airsoft players.
18• The Magnet
By Edgar Ghazaryan
Airsofting is a fun, but controversial sport
Airsofting requires players to be very mobile and vigilant at all times.
years, said that he enjoys the sport for its uniqueness. “Also, like other sports, you lose weight as you play,” Graveley said. The thing about airsoft is that it is nothing like the other sports and it gives more freedom toward the player. Like all sports, safety is a number one priority. Whenever participants first step into an airsoft field, they are met with a barrage of safety requirements. First, they have to go through a chrono test where a gun is tested through a chronograph (a device that measures the gun’s feet per second). If a gun has too high fps, the participant cannot be allowed to play with that gun. Also, players are required to watch a safety instructional video if it’s their first time playing. All of these rules come into account whenever somebody is playing a game. If they break any of these rules, the severity or the situation can make that certain person be kicked off the field. Airsoft guns resemble real firearms, and some people have gotten into trouble playing airsoft outside the fields. That’s why airsoft is such a controversial sport.
By Edgar Ghazaryan
In the Life
Rafael Aroustamian takes aim behind some bushes to advance towards an objective. While airsofting can result in some injuries, players still find the sport exciting.
Some airsoft players like Jackson Perry, an airsoft player from Inglewood, said that airsoft guns are not the problem. “Whenever something bad happens that involves an airsoft gun, the gun is not the problem,” he said. “The person wielding the gun is the problem.” Although he was a particular that believed that banning guns would solve any problems, another airsofter named Harut Ghazaryan looked at it in a different view. “I feel that airsoft guns are a bit too realistic, and I can imagine what it must feel like for a policeman to see an underage person with an airsoft gun,” Ghazaryan said. “I believe in that the orange safety tip should never be removed.” The orange safety tip comes with nearly all guns sold in California. In an event where a police officer checks the gun, the tip will be orange, so they will know it’s an airsoft gun. Playing airsoft involves a learning curve. You get better at it with time. Unlike other sports, you don’t have mentors on the airsoft field. The
mentors on the airsoft field are former and current players. When I first started playing airsoft, a person who played before taught me tips and tricks. That’s why airsoft is based largely on teams. Airsoft fields are not that hard to come by. They are typically found branched together with paintball fields, since both are labeled as “military simulation sports.” Fields can range from small indoor fields to whole fields and valleys. Most of the fields are public, and all public fields around here are managed and owned by Southern California Airsoft Fields. If somebody breaks a rule on a SoCal field, the mark can follow them into other SoCal fields. Airsoft and paintball are two different military simulation sports. Airsoft was invented about ten years before paintball and focuses on military simulation, while paintball focuses on mostly having fun. Both guns shoot projectiles, and both hurt when they make contact with the skin. Airsoft guns shoot plastics pellets.
They usually concentrate their power on one point, so they leave welts and and they sting on impact. They can also cause bleeding. Paintballs, however, are bigger and leave large bruises. They hurt immediately after impact. Both of these sports are known to cause controversy, due to the fact that the guns they use resemble real firearms. Paintball is a more known sport, but considered less safe due to the fact that it was invented later and there are fewer regulations. Nearby fields include Hollywood Paintball & Airsoft Park and Glaze Sports Paintball & Airsoft. Airsoft supply stores across Southern California supply local airsofters with gear. Some include Airsoft N More, Evike.com Superstore and Tac City Airsoft Fullerton. You can also buy airsoft guns from online stores, which include Evike.com and RedWolf Airsoft.com. But these online gun stores also have certain restrictions in how many and where they can send these products. Spring 2018 • 19
In the Life
The heart of a ballet dancer
By Reed Maruyama
Dancers put forth a lot of time and effort to dance on pointe
All the hard work of the dancers pays off once they finish performing and recieve the exalting applause of the crowd.
By Shaye Holladay McCarthy The energy in the pointe class felt completely different compared to other ballet classes I had been in before. The class held prior was loud, with a light and energetic vibe, but when it came to this pointe class the energy is more focused and intense. Using the barre as an aide, after so many years of classes, I was finally able to support my full weight on the tips of my toes on pointe at the barre. “To be a proficient dancer, it requires a tremendous amount of dedication,” said ballet and pointe teacher Katie Hurst of Garri Dance Studio in Burbank. “Lots of hard work, repetition, resilience and probably some blisters too.” A few years after dancing at the studio in my neighborhood, I started 20 • The Magnet
a new dance journey at Garri Dance Studio after being recommended to the studio by a friend. Voted “Best Dance Studio” for the last ten consecutive years, according to the Burbank Leader Reader’s Choice Poll, the studio has attracted students for various styles of dance ranging from creative and fun jazz, tap or hip-hop classes to elegant and disciplined ballet and pointe. “Dance has always been my passion and it’s a gift to share it with others,” Hurst said. There are various styles of dance that someone could learn, but some styles teach more than what you expect. “Ballet teaches grace, discipline, and lifelong lessons,” said Nancy SuzanneDavis, teacher at The Portland Ballet in Oregon. “I was born to teach, and I love passing on knowledge and seeing students improve and being part of
their development.” Davis said that the focus and concentration to be able to succeed needs to be in place, which is why ballet is so good. It trains the mind to focus and concentrate. Hurst teaches the Tuesday advanced ballet from 7:30-8:30 p.m. and pointe from 8:30-9 p.m. She also teaches a Wednesday class which goes over the same technique as the advanced Tuesday class, but has a different dance for the June recital. Cheyanne Jaquez has attended Garri Dance Studio for 11 years. “My favorite number that I have done would have to be ‘American Beauty,’” she said. “It was very different from the other recital dances that I had done in the past. ‘American Beauty’ had some contemporary aspects which was really cool, and we had a prop which I really liked.” Each year, Worship Walk Church
By Reed Maruyama
in Burbank hosts a winter show with dancers from the studio to celebrate the start of the holiday season and then a show at the end of the season in June at Burbank High School. Similarly, The Portland Ballet hosts a holiday production on Thanksgiving weekend and hosts concerts in the spring. In June, the career track dancers perform and display demonstrations to reach out to the community. The Tuesday class starts after pre-pointe at 7:30 p.m. At the start of the dance year, it’s mainly working technique and learning variations at the barre, before moving to work on turns, leaps and flexibility. During recital season, we stretch briefly to warm up before working on the dance. We run the dance marking the steps before performing as if it’s showtime. After running the dance full out, we are able to continue learning the number. The pointe class works along the same lines to continue to build strength in the dancers’ ankles with a warm up at the barre before going to work on the dance. “Usually a dancer has been taking ballet for several years before going on pointe,” Hurst said. “But it ultimately has more to do with their strength and technique rather than number of years.” After a dancer spends a certain amount of years building core and ankle strength their instructor makes the decision to see if they’re ready to advance to pointe. Dancing on pointe is when a dancer supports all their weight on the tips of their fully extended feet
Going up on pointe takes years of training and building up ankle strength.
By Reed Maruyama
In the Life
Making sure the pointe shoes’ ribbon is tied properly is important for ankle support
within pointe shoes. Pointe shoes supply a structure that works to distribute a dancer’s weight throughout the foot allowing them to support all their weight on a fully vertical foot. An issue that is seen among dancers is hyperextension or hypermobility. Hyperextension is when the joint extends beyond its natural range of motion, and hypermobility (double jointed) deals with unstable and flexible joints with low muscle tone. Both hyperextension and hypermobility create beautiful lines, but permanent damage could also be caused. Both Hurst and Davis agreed that it’s critical for dancers to take care of themselves when they’re injured because returning too soon could cause them to reinjure. “Dancers need to take care of their bodies and focus on injury prevention,” Hurst said. “If a dancer does get injured, it’s critical to rest, ice and allow it to heal so it doesn’t become a lifelong injury.” However, hyperextension injuries can be prevented by keeping your weight over the ball of their foot. I learned I had a hyperextended leg at my first dance school within a couple classes. Through seven years of dance, I’ve had a beautiful line with the potential drawback of permanent damage to my knee. On Feb. 6, I was injured after a jump because I hyperextended my knee and strained the tendon in the back of my leg. While dancers have the mindset
to not complain about pain, a knee injury is something to bring up as it could lead to the end of the line for a dancer. Hurst kept me off pointe that night to prevent further injury to the back of my knee. “I think Katie’s teaching is really good because she pushes us to our limits but is also very nice about it. She never yells which is great, but she still encourages us to try our best every time we go to class,” said Garri dancer Jan Karrell. “She’s also very caring. For example, when someone’s injured, she takes it easy on them and makes sure they don’t make the injury worse.” Every dancer has a different story for getting into the sport no matter what age they started. “I started dance for fun when I was four,” Davis said. “By the time I was six I started to look into dance as a job, but I was still unsure. I knew I wanted to be a professional dancer at 12, but this field has always been tough to get a job. The demand is greater than the supply.” Sometimes the drive to continue dancing will keep a student attending classes even if the dancer didn’t choose to start dancing. “My mom had me start dance when I was five and I grew into it starting pointe because I wanted to push myself and take ballet to another level since I’ve been doing it so long,” Karrell said. “I kept dancing because it’s fun, it makes me happy and it’s a good place to get away from everything.” Spring 2018 • 21
In the Life
Cycling towards the start of a new journey of discovery By Lois Ramilo
By Eunice Ramilo
It was pink and red. Red as the dying roses in Clark’s Rose Garden. I still remember the first bike I ever had. The bike was a baby pink, decorated in a Strawberry Shortcake motif, with the little TV character plastered all over the bike’s metal body. The tires were pearl white, with sparkling flares that sprouted out of the handlebars, and it beautifully gleamed as if it was a brilliant diamond. That bike was the quintessence of a child growing up, the holy grail of budding independence. Even though it was my sister’s, I frugulously made plans to learn how to ride the bike as I patiently waited for it to fall into my eager hands. Then one day, it disappeared…and, with it, my hopes of freedom were flushed down the drain. Growing up, I fervently believed I was the only speck of human existence who could not ride a bike. Everyone somehow managed to ride a bike besides me, but surprisingly, my estimations were farther than I thought. According to a poll conducted
by YouGov, an independent research company, six percent of adults never learned how to ride a bike. An astounding 51 percent of Americans have never even ridden a bike. For many, it may seem hopeless to ever master the American custom they never experienced in their juvenescence. “Knowing how to bike was like missing a quintessential childhood skill,” said Los Angeles native Helen Seto. “It has always been something I’ve wanted to learn, but never had the chance as a kid. My parents worked around the clock and didn’t have time nor the resources to teach me.” Both Seto and I joined with two other adults for a beginner bike class held by a local organization called Cyclists Inciting Change thru Live Exchange, or simply C.I.C.L.E. C.I.C.L.E is a nonprofit whose goal is to get people, both old and young, to ride bicycles. “Our whole mission is to get people on a bike and ride the bike,” said C.I.C.L.E’s executive director Vanessa Gray. “We don’t care what you wear or who you are; we just want people to learn how to ride a bike.”
Bike students bike around the Eagle Rock Plaza parking lot after an hour of getting comfortable.
22 • The Magnet
By Eunice Ramilo
C.I.C.L.E. to biking enlightenment: one pedal at a time
Clark bike team has competed in the So Cal League competitions for more than 15 years.
And so I found myself here: In an empty parking lot down at Eagle Rock Plaza, underneath the hellish sun on Superbowl Sunday, learning how to ride a bike…as well as simultaneously planning my funeral procession. Once a month, Gray teaches both an introductory bike class for those who’ve never ridden a bike before, as well as a bike handling class to sharpen the new skills of beginning cyclists. So on an especially hazy Sunday morn, I came to class armed with nothing more than my helmet and a clinging fear that I might not make it to school the next day. The introductory class began with students getting comfortable with the bike. Taking baby steps, the class slowly progressed as students started to get comfortable with the bike little by little. Then, as our teacher Vanessa Gray challenged us to become more adventurous with our balance as well as decreasing my chances of survival, I soon found myself gliding around Eagle Rock Plaza’s second floor parking lot, having the time of my life. For my classmates and myself, riding a bike for the first time released this feeling of liberation
By Eunice Ramilo
Students in the C.I.C.L.E class first get to know their new bikes with Gray as the guide. Getting comfortable with their bikes is an imporant first step for the students to begin riding with confidence.
and independence; feelings we all had as kids. “My sister told me about C.I.C.L.E,” Seto said. “The biking class is wonderful and empowering for beginner riders. Vanessa builds confidence and is so encouraging. I became more comfortable on a bike after taking the classes, whereas before, I tried learning on my own and got easily discouraged.” As classes like the ones offered by C.I.C.L.E continue to grow, it stands as a living testament to the increasing number of people switching to the greener side of transportation. “You’re always gonna be able to ride a bike,” Gray said. “We have problems with smog, especially in this city. Biking just makes the street more welcoming and safer if more people get out of their cars, biking around.” Gray’s right. In the past decade,
there have been numerous laws and events added that support the cyclist movement, especially in the state of California. City plans like Metro’s Measure M plan expand the city’s biking infrastructure into the coming years. The plan pledges to construct new biking routes that can make traveling all the way to Long Beach by bike possible. Metro will also give an annual $2 million to the City of Glendale for improving sidewalks, streets and bike lanes. Meanwhile, many citywide events encourage people to ride their bikes. One such example is Ciclavia, one of the biggest bike festivals in which local streets are shut down so that hundreds of cyclists, scooterists and skateboarders can all enjoy moving around the streets without cars. It is a free events in which all Angelenos can come together to walk, bike, skate and have a blast out in
the open streets in cities all across Los Angeles County. There are even some good biking opportunities at Clark Magnet High School. After Clark’s opening in 1998, the Bike Club was soon founded by retired English teacher Carol Pettegrew. Clark’s bike team competes in mountain biking competitions in the So Cal League. “Everyone should totally learn how to ride a bike,” said Clark sophomore and Bike Club member Allyson McCullagh. McCullagh said that beginner cyclists who join Bike Club eventually become better and better. “It just looks hard, but once you actually practice it’s really fun,” McCullagh said. But for those looking for a fresh start to a new year, learning how to bike is one lesson worth biking about. “Just sign up for the class and see why biking is really fun,” Gray said. Spring 2018 • 23
In the Life
Books survive in a community in transition to paperless
Pasadena Central Library gets teens involved with a multimedia experience By Ioana Ciuperca The Roman Numerals MCMXXV greet visitors as the steps to Pasadena Central Library reach toward the golden arches of the building. Walking through them transports you to a Renaissancestyle courtyard, complementary to the wooden palace inside. An architectural contest was held to determine the structure of the building, and in 1925, as represented by the Roman Numerals, a design was selected and construction began. Two years later, it became the impressive, fourstory library that, along with the rest of the Civic Center, has won a place in the National Register of Historic Places. To many, this striking building has become a refuge for learning and silence. To me and the 75 other teen volunteers who dedicate their time there, it has become an outlet for giving back to the community. As I walk through the aisles, the colorful spines of novels grazing my shoulders, my steps disrupt the revered silence, then are softened by the carpeted floor of the Children’s Wing. Aptly known as the “Peter Pan Room,” there is a magical quality to the Children’s Wing, as if you’ve left the library, headed towards the second star to the right, and made it to Neverland. This is all represented by the colossal fireplace with carvings of Peter Pan characters on the mantel, as well as a pirate ship, presumably the Jolly Roger, on each side. The rest of the room is not as immense, the tables and chairs fit for little kids, coming up to half the size of normal seating provisions. Towards the right of the room is an information desk, the miniature version of the ones 24 • The Magnet
in the Main Hall, and placed there is a blue binder: the volunteers’ holy grail. In it is a calendar of volunteer-oriented events, plenty of sign in sheets, and most importantly, the volunteer badges. Each time I step into the library, I don the blue badge around my neck, proclaiming me a teen volunteer, and I head to work. “We had 72,934 people attend 3,100 library programs and events at 10 locations in 2017,” said Jane Gov, an employee at Pasadena Central Library for five years and head of the teen volunteers. Each month, she sends out an email on the many events hosted at the library, and the volunteers pick which events they would like to help with. For many, this monthly choice is easier than the choices they made in where to volunteer. “I didn’t know where to start looking for volunteer locations,” said sophomore Alaina Joby. “I’ve always liked to read and write, and volunteering at the library gets me two hours for each book I read. Volunteering helps me to do what I love.” My choice for the month of February was to volunteer at the monthly book sale hosted by the Friends of the Pasadena Public Library. The Friends program is a volunteer organization that raises money to support the library and the events held there. “We have members that donate yearly, a book sale the second Saturday of every month, and a book store,” said Mary Downey, Friends president for the past year and a half. During those book sales, the Friends cart in over 20 boxes full of used, donated books. They then have teen volunteers help with setup and cleanup. Although the book sales are always a success at Central Library — an array of empty boxes strewn across the
courtyard at the end of the day serve as proof — Downey can’t help but admit that the library has suffered over the years. “We know we are getting less books donated,” she said, “and I personally believe that Kindle has something to do with that.” The popularity of paperless
By Ioana Ciupercaew
In the Life
The front façade of the Pasadena Central Library. Designed in the 1920’s, the distinct gates welcome visitors to browse the books within.
reading has taken its toll on the library; however, Downey said that she is optimistic that Central Library will not be replaced anytime soon. “There are other Friends groups at other libraries who only have book sales once or twice a year. We, on the other hand, have it once a month — that’s a big deal.” The obtrusiveness of technology may seem like a thorn at the library’s side. On the contrary, it has actually helped the library evolve and reach a broader audience — namely, teens. Pasadena Library is the owner of a teens’ blog, created for and by teens, myself being one of them. The blog encourages teens to read, presenting them with a platform to share their opinions about books, read recaps on the events hosted, and receive recommendations on what to read next. I volunteer as the copy editor for the blog. Every week I read through a book review and edit it for grammar or formatting errors. It’s my job to change the past tense words to present, italicize the book titles as well as make them bold, and add five spaces in front of paragraphs instead of hitting tab. This formatting is specific for Wordpress, on which I add a new post, copy and paste the review in the text box, hyperlink the book to the library’s catalog, and present the reader with more recommendations for books
reviewed similar to the current one. The review is then scheduled for Saturday 9 a.m., and the process is repeated the following week. The teen blog also presents teens with a chance to connect with others in their community. Many times, an author will read a review written on their novel and contact the teen who wrote it, expressing their gratitude for the review. Other times, teens get to hear from other teens the events hosted at the library, and choose to participate next time an event is held. It encourages teens to get involved and be present in the community, virtually and in real life. It is also acknowledged as a safe space for teens to be. “There is a big emphasis on mental health — which rises with each passing year,” Gov said. “Libraries are being recognized for their contributions to the community’s overall wellbeing.” This spans to the blog as well, which has posts on subjects such as emergency shelters, the Teen Line (which is a phone service connecting teens with other teens), and a workshop for Youth Mental First Aid. The library itself has also undergone many changes in order to incorporate technology. “Just like any other place of service — especially a service dependent on city and community resources, we
must stay relevant,” Gov said. “We recently replaced all our public access computers — newer, faster, larger models. We recently started offering youth and parents in the Children’s Room the service of borrowing Chromebooks. We are in the process of opening a new Innovation Lab giving our patrons access to new technologies like 3D printers and laser cutters as well as opening a new game room with access to video games and virtual reality. We even just launched a library app.” The library is now an all-inclusive experience, making it easier for teens, and the rest of its patrons, to be informed and able to participate themselves, cementing the library’s popularity as it incorporates what would have been its competitor — the Internet. “Electronics is part of society, and we will grow and embrace it, but it does not change our purpose,” Gov said. “The library’s still an information center, giving our patrons access to resources and opportunities to engage — whether that’s with an innovative idea or with other people, to discover new things, and to bring equity to our community.“ 25 • The Magnet
Opinion Cashierless stores like Amazon Go do not threaten jobs
The advent of stores such as Amazon Go make people fearful of losing their jobs
By Paniz Jazirian Amazon launched its first cashierless store Jan. 1, in Seattle. The Amazon Go store allows customers to grab their items and walk out, and the payments are made automatically to the customer’s Amazon account. There are hundreds of cameras scattered throughout the store that keep track of items that a person picks up. If a customer decides to put back an item, it will be automatically removed from their online Amazon shopping cart. The store updates a customer’s virtual shopping cart through computer vision, deep learning algorithms, and sensor fusion. Some say that cashierless stores will threaten the jobs of the 3.5 million employed cashiers in the U.S. While it is true that if all grocery stores become automated the job of cashiers will become obsolete, such a scenario is 26 • The Magnet
highly unlikely to occur. The transition process will be likely slow and give cashiers enough time to find an alternative job. Additionally, sales jobs are actually increasing in the U.S. despite the automation of low skill jobs and self checkout lines. Salespeople would still be needed to help customers find the products they are looking for and to promote new ones. Without the need for checkout lines, employees will have more time for face to face interaction on the store floors and it will also open up the possibility for more sales floor jobs. Stores that use cashiers will likely not adapt the same system as Amazon Go as it will require redesigning the store’s system and building in additional cameras which will be costly. Amazon indicated that it has no plans of integrating the same design into its Whole Foods stores. In addition, many
customers will prefer going to stores with actual cashiers since they find the digital systems difficult to navigate through. Cashierless stores including Amazon Go will not increase unemployment since new types of jobs will be created. Employees will be needed to help with technical problems, work as chefs and restock shelves. The type of labor employees typically do in a grocery store will simply change. The no-checkout technology’s benefits outweigh its cost. The nocheckout system is more efficient than a traditional grocery store as there is no need to wait in line and waste even more time through making payments and scanning items one by one. The cameras can sense whenever an item is picked up, so theft rates may be decreased as well. The security of Amazon Go has been put under question since a woman was able to accidently “steal” a cup of yogurt. The store didn’t charge her for the yogurt. According to Amazon, such occurrences are so rare and far in between that they do not plan on charging customers when it does happen. Self checkout lines have been implemented in stores as they shorten the time needed to check out items and pay. Self checkout lines did not exactly cause store employees to be fired, so there is no reason to worry that cashierless stores will if the same pattern follows. Cashierless stores will go a step further in making the process even quicker and more convenient. While cashierless stores will not replace traditional stores anytime soon, they are a useful option to have.
Opinion President Trump exceeds expectations in his first year By Michael Melkonian On Jan. 20, 2017, Donald Trump was sworn in as the 45th President of the United States of America. Predictions for this Trump presidency were grim by most of the political elite in Washington, with many predicting an economic depression and chaos in the world from Trump’s policies. After one year, the political elites couldn’t have been more wrong. In President Trump’s first year, the economy is booming under record levels. The stock market, which started at 20,000 at the start of the Trump presidency, has ballooned over 6,000 points since then and has broken record after record. Unemployment numbers have fallen to 4.1 percent, a number that has not been seen in 20 years. Unemployment in regards to minorities has also been way down, with statistics from the Bureau of Labor confirming that African-American unemployment has now dropped to the record low of 6.8 percent, a historic achievement. These economic changes have been mainly because of two factors. First, the
Donald Trump delivers his first SOTU speech.
President used his constitutional powers to rollback hundreds of Obama-era regulations that have been stagnating the American economy. Second, the GOP tax plan was passed by Congress, which easily made it the biggest tax reform law in a generation. The cuts to America’s corporation tax helped benefit American companies immensely, with many giving thousands of dollars to their workers in the form of bonuses, such as Charles Schwab giving over $1,000 to 9,000 nonexecutive employees. These incentives also motivated corporations to start moving back jobs and money to America, with the New York Times confirming that Apple will be moving back billions of dollars to the United States. In terms of America’s GDP for 2017 which will be released later this month, it is projected to crack the 3 percent growth barrier for the first time in 15 years. Economically, that will be the finishing touches to an almost perfect handling of the economy by President Trump. However, the president has had some lows in his domestic agenda, most notably his failure to end the Affordable Care Act and his poor handling of national crises such as the Las Vegas shooting, the Puerto Rico hurricane and the Charlottesville KKK protests. However, this is to be expected in a president who has never before held political office, and hopefully the president learns from his domestic mistakes this year. However, the president has had successes with his foreign policy agenda, through his experienced team of national security advisors — including people like General H.R. Mcmaster, James Mattis, John Kelly, and others — who have managed to completely crush
The President scored a huge legislative victory by helping pass the historic GOP tax bill.
ISIS in Iraq and have driven them to the brink in Syria. North Korea, America’s principal adversary at the moment, has been dealt crushing sanctions by the U.N. that were pushed heavily by President Trump and his U.N. ambassador Nikki Haley. The president also did not back down to North Korea, unlike some of his predecessors. His warnings of “fire and fury” if North Korea dared touched the United States have surely made an impact, as North Korean diplomats met for negotiations earlier this January with their South Korean counterparts. America is also now more respected in the world, with countries now knowing that they cannot conduct wishy-washy business with this president on things such as trade deals, as they have done with his predecessor. The president has broken every expectation in regards to his first year. The dire predictictions of the end of the free press and impeachment of the president have been proven as nothing more than fear mongering. If the president continues on this path and manages to pass a fair immigration bill over the next few months and continue the strong economy, there is no doubt he will be reelected in 2020. Spring 2018 • 27
Opinion What’s wrong with going to community college? By Trisha Gomez Because of the intense pressure put on students during high school, they are expected to have perfect grades and know what they want by the time college rolls around. Then, their families and even peers may pressure them into attending a four-year university. However, many can’t live up to these expectations. Some may still make it into their dream schools by chance, but many consider community college as an option – a choice that not only saves money, but can also keep one close to home while requiring fewer academic requirements. One of the biggest factors when choosing where to attend college is cost. Community college is known for its lower tuition. Tuition for universities can be costly. For example, the cost to attend a University of California campus averages to about $34,700 per year. This takes into account the attendance cost, books and supplies, health insurance/allowance, room and board and transportation fees. Attending a school like this can definitely add up, which is why community college is viable option. According U.S. News & World Report, the average tuition for attending a community college was $3,260 per year in 2013-14, which is a tenth of the price of a four-year university. Another factor that comes into play when choosing any college is location. Nowadays, the cost of living is high. Although living away from home can bring one new life experiences, this can be costly. Renting a place in California can cost up to $1,900 monthly according to USA Today (and that’s without paying for other necessities such as utilities and food). 28 • The Magnet
Students learn about Glendale Community College at a GUSD College Fair in 2013.
This is can serve as one of the pros for other students may not be ready to leave the area in which they grew up and want to be close to family. Because community colleges are local, the room and board fee is eliminated from tuition. If a student were to live at home, it would be fewer expenses to pay for. In addition, admission requirements are also something that should be taken into account. For many universities, there are loads of courses that need to be completed during high school. Not only that, but SAT and ACT scores are required for some schools, which can be expensive. For example, the University of California’s A-G requirements are popular among California students. This serves as a guideline for the courses students need to take throughout high school. Plus, it’s required to report either
an SAT or ACT score. In turn, many students will spend years fulfilling these requirements instead of taking classes that truly attract their interests. With many creative restrictions, a person can be thrown off when choosing a major because they don’t know what they truly enjoy. On the other hand, all one needs to attend community college is a high school diploma. With this, it makes taking the classes one wants in high school the priority. Attending community college is not all bad. Community college is just a way to save some money while getting the education one needs to follow one’s aspirations. Whatever the next step may be for high school seniors, community college or a university, neither should be looked down upon.
Arts & Entertainment Feeling the LAUV in the air
LAUV’s hit Single “I Like Me Better” continues to peak on the charts with catchy beats and electric sound
By Lois Ramilo There’s something special about LAUV. The LA singer and producer continues to attract a devoted fan base ever since he dropped his hit single “I Like Me Better” back in December. It was his first song to come out since going on hiatus after releasing his 2015 EP Lost in the Light. “I Like Me Better” has received over 100 million streams on Spotify along with 130 million ondemand streams in the US alone. LAUV has always been well known for his chill beat style, unique vocals and addictive electronic sound, and “I Like Me Better” never falls short of that. The relaxed, LA vibe along with catchy hook perfectly blend together to produce an addictive earworm that’s impossible to stop. “I Like Me Better”
also provides a wavy bounce in the chorus that brings the listener to a whole new world. It feels as if song is communicating directly to the listener like a conversation, a personal talk with LAUV himself. The song itself tells of a simply love story — a person who believes that they’ve fallen in love, a message that remains a rarity in the modern charts. These days, breakup songs and anti-pop songs have the been ruling the charts, as the changing music tastes reflect the mixed feelings of millennials and Gen Z’ers. Recent technology such as iPhones make people more privatized and antisocial, which is why hip-hop became the most popular genre in the US this year. Hip-hop’s top MC’s often rattle on about themselves and what they have, but instead of following in their
footsteps, LAUV decides to go the other way. “I Like Me Better” is the antidote to the negativity expressed in both the changing music world and society. LAUV’s ultimate message continues to resonate in the charts: in the end, people will always “better be when” they’re with those they love.
Spring 2018 • 29
Arts & Entertainment
By Ioana Ciuperca
‘The Cruel Prince’ is cruelly lacking in sophisticated plot
The Cruel Prince is Holly Black’s fortieth novel.
By Ioana Ciuperca The Cruel Prince is a dark, twisting fantasy in which human Jude Duarte has to navigate the bloodthirsty land of the Fae, after her parents were brutally executed and she is taken to live with their Fae murderer. There, she is mistreated by the Fea who think her lesser, weak and unworthy. Despite this, she trains to rise in rank and become a highly-valued knight of the court, hoping to integrate herself into her Fae surroundings. Written by The Spiderwick Chronicles co-creator Holly Black, The Cruel Prince incorporates elements from those bestselling novels, the most prominent being the familiar Fae setting. Black masterfully details the vivid and treacherous surroundings from court politics to enchanted dancing and drug-infused apples. She brilliantly juxtaposes the beautiful facade of the
30 • The Magnet
land and the creatures who inhabit it with the cruel and feral actions that take place. More than this, Black masterfully plays with the fact that the Fae cannot lie, yet makes deceit their primary language by intricately twisting their words and composing cunning riddles. On the other hand, what is painfully lacking in this story is any character development or real focus on the characters. Black has created a stunning world yet has placed bland, unremarkable characters into it. They pale in comparison to their surroundings, which results in a desaturation of much of the splendor of the setting. More specifically, Jude’s personality is never fully described, making her struggles feel unimportant and uninteresting. Not just that, but the lack of description makes her unrelatable to the reader, who is unable to form any emotional ties to her or the situation she is in. Her hopes, thoughts and feelings are hidden by Black’s skimming over certain key scenes that would develop her as a character, and instead Black chooses to excruciatingly detail every word of Jude’s petty verbal squabbles
with the titular antagonist Prince Cardan. These immature tête-à-têtes make not only the characters but the novel as a whole feel childish. This coupled with the fact that the first three fourths of the book have no discernable plot or direction made me struggle through it. However, near the closing pages, the novel slowly morphs from a tale of one girl’s cringy disputes with her classmate into a high-stakes story of political maneuverings and thrilling action. The characters don’t necessarily lose their exasperating qualities, but they are given a respite by a plot that would be able to save the story were it not crammed into the final 100 pages of the novel. The Cruel Prince is an underdeveloped novel with a focus on aspects that do not capture the reader’s attention. But, this slow build into the action does set the stage for the continuation of what is expected to be a trilogy. Although it took a long while to get into the thick of things, I can’t deny that I am intrigued by what is to come.
Arts & Entertainment
Broadway show Aladdin is just as enchanting as the movie The Broadway show Aladdin, now playing at the Pantages theatre through March 31, is just as enchanting and magical as the 1992 Disney animated movie. The actors and actresses all embody the story’s characters extremely well. Abu, Aladdin’s pet monkey and one of the most beloved characters in the animated film, is unfortunately cut from this stage production and replaced with three of Aladdin’s human pals who are not part of the movie. However, the producers get creative with Jafar’s pet parrot, Iago, and include him as a human who acts and speaks in exactly the same manner as the parrot from the movie. Although the musical is based on the Disney movie Aladdin, it does not strictly mirror the movie storyline, and there are a few interesting twists. The show is more like a comedy; jokes and silly moments are thrown into the story, with the genie being a much more comedic, funny and spirited character than in the movie. There is also a more modern aspect to the musical with a bit of feminist commentary included. When the sultan confronts Princess Jasmine and expresses his frustration over her not choosing a suitor to marry, Princess Jasmine loudly exclaims that she should be able to rule the kingdom without a man by her side. All of the character’s costumes are beautiful, extravagant and simply breathtaking. The rich people’s elegant, fanciful clothing do not stop sparkling under the light, while the ordinary people’s festive, colorful clothing helps create a sense of culture in the fictional city of Agrabah. The sets and backgrounds of the scenes are as magnificent as the costumes and wonderfully capture the beauty of the city, the palace and the glittering Cave of Wonders. The props are stunning as well,
especially the magic carpet that really does seem like magic on stage. The carpet flies across the stage for a few minutes with Princess Jasmine and Aladdin sitting on it, and even when the stage is brightly lit, no strings or machinery operating the carpet are visible to the audience. The scenes involving the carpet are perfectly orchestrated and truly bring the idea of magic to life. The entire performance is marvelous and could not be designed any better. The Broadway musical of Aladdin serves
as an excellent way for teenagers and young adults to reconnect with their past and relive a favorite childhood movie. Although everyone over a certain age knows that magic is not real, this well-organized production, especially the mystery of the magic carpet, puts a hint of doubt in the audience’s mind and leaves them to wonder whether magic is, indeed, real.
Courtesy of Pantages
By Lilit Krkasharian
Promotional poster for Aladdin on Broadway.
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