December 2013

DIAMOND BAR HIGH SCHOOL

B U Z Z

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Reader discretion is advised

Splash of the Holidays

the

a&e 11

ARE THEY NOW TOO EXCESSIVE?

with mason jars

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VIOLENCE

DIY X-MAS GIFTS

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INSIDE THIS ISSUE

A Victory for Boys Soccer

STUDENT NEWSPAPER

The Bull’s Eye WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 11, 2013

Volume XXXII, Issue IV | ONLINE at dbbullseye.com | Published Monthly

Top Brahmas flaunt in their Big Man Suits After a series of competition rounds, senior Sachin Malik was named Big Man.

BY JOY CHOW NEWS EDITOR

EMILY HWANG

CHRISTMAS CORRUPTION - The rescue crew, including Gru’s three daughteres and the two minions, gasps in surprise at the various goods that Vector, played senior Emily Chang, stole from the different holidays throughout the year. Story about Children’s Theatre Play on page 2.

COMMON CORE: EVOLVING EDUCATION

Third in Series

New tests take over the usual multiple choice The Common Core system will also implement new standardized tests.

BY YUSHENG XIA ASST. EDITORIAL EDITOR

By next school year, wave farewell to the long-dreaded California State Tests and say hello to the Smarter Balanced Assessment Consortium.

Composed of formative, interim, and summative components, the test is designed to help students meet the criteria of the English and Mathematics Common Core State Standards. All high school students will take the tests in their junior year starting the spring of 2015.

“These tests will look completely

different. It’s a web based computer application, so the testing environments will completely change,” said Instructional Dean Julian Rodriguez.

The new standardized test is completed entirely on the computer and contains a variety of elements that go beyond the old system of multiple-choice tests. The questions will focus on critical thinking so that learned material can be applied to real life situations.

Unlike the CST’s No. 2 pencilrequired Scantron tests, Smarter Balanced will contain a greater variety of question types such as matching, fill-in tables, multiple choice, drag and drop, graphing, short response, and long essays.

The assessment will also lay emphasis on areas of critical thinking, problem solving, and communication skills.

The mathematics portion will consist of more interactive questions that require students to

graph out answers or drag values to the answer box. On the other hand, the English sections will require students to use specific evidence from given passages to answer corresponding questions.

“With the new Smarter Balanced Assessments, you’re going to have to use a lot more evidence cited from the passages themselves in order to answer the questions [given],” said Rodriguez.

The questions will also vary depending on how much students know. Difficulty levels of the following questions will change with each correct or wrong answer. As a result, students will take a more accurate assessment that is geared toward their skill level.

“This is an adaptive test. Your answers up to a certain point determine what types of questions you get asked next,” Rodriguez said.

Impressing the judges with his humor and charisma, senior Sachin Malik reigned supreme as the “Big Man” at DBHS, last Friday in the annual Big Man on Campus competition.

Event judges Catherine Real, Latitia Thomas, Matt Brummett, and Shari selected the best contestant based on four showcased categories: best formal attire, funniest joke, wittiest pick-up line, and the talent show. Though there were originally 10 total selected applicants as announced on the Stampede, three of the contestants had to drop out due to interfering events such as the Children’s Theatre Play.

The competition commenced with the boys in their best formal wear. As each senior was called forward to strike a pose in his clean cut suit and tie, USB officers briefly introduced each contestant’s unique qualities.

“There was a lot of time and effort put into the event. After selecting the seniors, there were multiple rehearsals and practices for the competition. We’re really thankful for all the support and we’re proud that this was a successful, last social event of the semester,” USB Commissioner of Social Activities junior Rochelle Sun explained.

After stepping forward with their best outfits, the seniors moved on to the joke round. The seven contestants, Bobby Meshesha, Elijah Ang, Jesse Chow, Kevin Li, Phillip Lee, Sachin Malik, and Shiv Jain

took turns presenting their most entertaining jokes. The many puns and knock-knocks jokes successfully stirred the crowd and judges to laughter.

Following the joke fiesta, all the boys competed for the best pick-up line. Some of the seniors swooned the female judges with their pickup lines, and one particular contestant, Malik, even made a reference to the Hunger Games with “Girl on Fire.” All of the pick-up lines, especially Meshesha’s “If nothing lasts for forever, can you be my nothing?” aroused “oohs” and “ahs” from the audience.

Finally, as the highlight of the lunch time activity, Big Man on Campus contest ended with the talent show. The various acts ranged from common talents like rapping and dancing to the rare gift of birdcalling. Meshesha, in particular, demonstrated his “bird-whisperer” side by whistling to the crowd and then receiving a phone call from Bluebird. Then, sweeping the crowd off its feet, Kevin Li and Sachin Malik stripped down to their leotard and tights to dance to their own rendition of Beyonce’s famous hit, “Single Ladies.”

“It was really fun. I’m glad I got the opportunity to compete with my friends,” Big Man on Campus champ Malik commented.

After all the intriguing performances, the seven males came together to dance to a remix of the songs: One Direction’s “What Makes You Beautiful,” Justin Timberlake’s “Sexy Back,” and Ke$ha’s “Die Young.” To wrap up the competition, USB gave all of the seniors sashes and tiaras before crowning Malik as DBHS’ “Big Man.” “It was really engaging to see each of the senior’s creativity and sense of humor. It was a very fun and entertaining event. The teamwork was great and the crowd was also very encouraging,” Principal Real said.

See TESTING| pg 2

Soccer Alumni Showdown Both boys and girls varsity teams played against Brahma alumni.

BY ANDREW CHOI SPORTS EDITOR

As a unique way to kick start its season, Diamond Bar High School’s soccer program held the annual Alumni Game on Nov. 26

for the girls and boys varsity team.

Although the games were exhibition matches, both teams competed as fiercely as if they were league matches.

The traditional Alumni Game started five years ago when head coach Kemp Wells began coaching the boys varsity team. The alumni team consisted of former Brahmas, like 2011 graduate Bianca Balassi, who have earned much acclaim during their high school careers.

The games against the alumni gave both the girls and boys athletes a great opportunity to improve team

chemistry.

“We are getting our kinks out since it is early in the season. We were able to gain key tips from the alumni team that will help us for the upcoming season,” Sabrina Corpus, senior captain of the girls varsity team, said.

After a few missed attempts at goal, the Lady Brahmas were able to score a point. However, the alumni team answered back with a goal of its own, and both teams

See SOCCER| pg 2

EMILY HWANG

TEENAGERS IN TIARAS - After Sachin Malik was crowned Big Man on Campus, the seven DBHS seniors posed for the camera in their sashes and tiaras.

2 NEWS

Wednesday, December 11, 2013

THE BULL’S EYE

TESTING from pg 1

READY FOR SMARTEST BALANCED ASSESSMENT?

Students will take a field test later in the spring to help schools improve.

Because the test uses computer adaptive technology, teachers, students, and parents can quickly receive the test scores. These results will be used to help teachers focus on specific areas in which students need improvement. The results also give students an idea of how ready they are for college and career success.

Many schools across America will indeed have to adapt to the technology requirements of Smarter Balanced. Because the assessment is taken on computers and tablets, districts are required to provide the appropriate devices for students. To assists schools in this transition, the Consortium has provided an alternative paper and pencil option for the first three years after 2015.

Diamond Bar High School is currently in the process of determining its readiness for Smarter Balanced. With an average of 800 students testing each year, the school needs to plan out the number of devices it needs, as well as internet security for the assessment, in order to prevent unnecessary problems from occurring.

“We’re in the processes of determining our readiness for it.

Nobody locally has given the test to the extent that we have to,” said Mr. Rodriguez.

In addition, a Smarter Balanced Field test will take place from March 18 to June 6 of this year.

Juniors, as well as a small group of sophomores and freshmen, will take a field test that closely resembles the actual Smarter Balanced test. Results from the field test will give schools an idea of what they need to improve on to better meet the Common Core standards.

After trying out these questions, check your answers below.

EMILY HWANG

A PLEADING SCENE - Agnes, played by junior Colleen Sam, holds on to Cinderella, played by Kimmy Rubinstein, preventing her from leaving the crew.

Advanced Drama put together a Christmas based play for local elementary schools.

BY EMILY LEUNG ASST. FEATURE EDITOR

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THE BULL’S EYE Diamond Bar High School Student Newspaper

STAFF Editors-in-Chief News Editors Editorial Editor Asst. Editorial Editors

Gloria Kim, Angie Zhang Joy Chow, Katlyn Lee Gloria Kim Hanna Kang, Yusheng Xia

Feature Editor Asst. Feature Editor

Angie Zhang Emily Leung

A&E Editor Asst. A&E Editor

Claire Huang Emily Wong

Feature Theme Editors Asst. Feature Theme Editor

Hanna Yi Emily Hwang

Sports Editors Photo Editor Asst. Photo Editor Business Manager Asst. Business Manager Web Editor Staff Writers Advisor

Saving Christmas for school kids

Andrew Choi, Joseph Park Xing Yen Quek Emily Hwang Katlyn Lee Emily Leung Hanna Yi Vrinda Chauhan, Gaby Dinh Doug List

CONTACT

Diamond Bar High School, Room 563 21400 Pathfinder Road Diamond Bar, CA 91765 Phone: (909) 594-1405 x33563 Email: eye.editors@gmail.com Business Inquiries: dbhs_business@yahoo.com

EDITORIAL POLICY The Bull’s Eye is a public forum that welcomes the views of our readers. Letters to the Editor and Op-Ed pieces will be accepted only if they are signed. The author, may, however, request anonymity. The staff reserves the right to edit letters without changing content. You may forward letters to Room 563, or submit them online at dbbullseye.com.

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SOCCER from pg 1

Both varsity teams look forward to their season after a successful one last year. headed into halftime with a 1-1 tie.

The second half was a deadlock between both the alumni team and the varsity team as both scored a goal ending the game at 2-2.

“We did alright. We have a few things we need to work on which is normal at this point since it is early in the preseason. I remember at least six or seven from the alumni team that I used to coach. It is great to see them out here compete against the girls,” head coach Matt Brummett said.

Prior to this year, the boys varsity team had won every alumni game, but the team was not able to keep its streak alive as the match ended with a 1-1 tie. Although the Brahmas had numerous scoring opportunities, they could not capitalize on them.

“Overall, we did pretty well, since we placed a new formation into the squad. Over time, we should be able to score in bunches,” Wells stated.

Both the soccer teams come into the new season with great expectations as both won the Hacienda

Every year when Christmas comes along, boys and girls around the world anticipate the arrival of their favorite jolly old man, Santa Claus. However, Diamond Bar High School’s Advanced Drama put a twist on the classic Christmas story by introducing a few new characters that children everywhere around the world have come to know and love.

From Dec. 4 to Dec. 6, Advanced Drama performed for various elementary schools in Diamond Bar. The play was centered on the main characters of “Despicable Me” with Vector, the villain in the movie, hopping around from holiday to holiday stealing everything from Thanksgiving meals to Valentine’s Day presents. Gru’s daughters, Margo, Edith and Agnes, and two minions use a time machine to transport themselves with the culprit to try and save everyone’s

holidays.

Along the way, the “Despicable Me” crew meets quite a few recognizable characters such as Ariel, Buzz Lightyear, and Spongebob.

However, before the cast can transport themselves to another holiday, the children in the audience had to participate in silly activities such as tapping their cheeks like Agnes or jumping three times like a bunny.

Led by seniors Siham Ayoub, who played Margo, and Caitlin Chan, who played one of the two minions, Advanced Drama composed the play in a mere week. The following two weeks the members of the play spent rehearsing for opening day.

Costumes and props were all created by the Advanced Drama and Stagecraft students. In addition to the limited preparation time, junior Matthew Aquino, who played Gru, found that it was challenging putting together a successful play was putting together a 45-minute show that was both engaging and innovative for the elementary school students.

“My favorite part [about Children’s Theatre] is pleasing the kids and making them laugh. It feels good to give back to the community and show these kids a good time,” Aquino commented via Facebook.

ANDREW CHOI

THROWBACK SHOT - Senior Sabrina Corpus kicks the ball past an alumni at the varsity girls alumni game held on Nov. 26.

League and had great CIF playoff runs the previous year.

“I always expect our team to com-

pete whenever we are on the field,” Brummett said on his expectations for the season.

Just can’t get enough of us?

Check our website @ dbbullseye.com Feel free to leave a comment on the website or send a letter to the editor to eye.editors@gmail.com.

Wednesday, December 11, 2013

NEWS

THE BULL’S EYE

Students save lives, one pint of blood at a time

New aquatic center has grand opening today The ribbon cutting ceremony for the facility will include many special performances.

BY GABY DINH STAFF WRITER

XING YEN QUEK

THE RIGHT BLOOD TYPE - Senior Edison Lin takes time to donate blood during lunch at the Red Cross Blood Drive.

Despite initial obstacles, Red Cross Blood Drive ended with 87 collected pints.

BY EMILY WONG ASST. A&E EDITOR

Senior year to-do list: SATs? Check.

College applications?

Check. Save lives? Check.

Although Diamond Bar High School seniors were swamped with college applications, many of them still made time to give blood.

Through the DBHS American Red Cross organization and its recent blood drive, many seniors seized the opportunity to donate a pint of blood.

Each year, with the exception of last year due to the teacher union strike, Red Cross hosts one blood drive per semester. This past blood drive, hosted on Nov. 19 in the gymnasium, was the first of two this school year. Because anybody of age 17 or older was eligible to do-

nate blood, Red Cross club members searched campus high and low for donors, particularly seniors, who met the weight requirements for their heights and were willing to donate.

“I feel really happy that I’ve made such a difference in people’s lives.

Especially because today there are a lot of issues going on like the tornado and the Philippines stuff,” senior Elaine Kim said.

Initially, approximately 80 donors signed up, but by the end of the blood drive, a total of 112 people gave up a bit of their time and their blood. In the end, 87 pints of blood were collected, which will potentially save 261 lives.

“I’m excited that the students [had] the chance to donate blood and [for] the potential lives [we] can save,” Red Cross President junior Kelvin Pang stated.

Despite the success of the blood drive, the officers had to work together to overcome sudden obstacles when the distribution of parental consent forms was delayed.

Consequently, several of the officers had to leave their classes to send out the consent forms them-

selves.

Nevertheless, the officer board successfully jumped over this small hurdle, which did not affect the overall, positive outcome of the blood drive.

“We were a little unprepared,” Red Cross fundraising officer junior Crystal Xiao admitted, but she still “felt [that] the blood drive was very successful”.

To effectively host the blood drive, Red Cross members volunteered to work different shifts throughout the day, starting from 5 a.m. to 2 p.m. The club also provided cookies and juice to donors after they had donated blood.

Since the regional Red Cross representative will be giving a trophy to the school with more donors, at the next blood drive, the officers are hoping to exceed 150 donors to beat Walnut High School’s 130.

Next year’s blood drive is tentatively set for April 14.

“I think [the officers] did really well, especially since we have such a young officer group,” Red Cross club adviser Teresa Hebert proudly stated. “I’m really happy that the student body came out to donate.”

Brahmas compete in nationwide Math Madness Diamond Bar High School was able to tie for second place in the competition.

BY VRINDA CHAUHAN STAFF WRITER

It’s not March yet, but word is flying around about some sort of madness—Math Madness. In November, the Brahma Math Team competed in the Math Madness competition against 250 other schools across the nation.

Math Madness, inspired by college basketball’s March Madness Tournament, is a nationwide competition between teams of five or more high school students involved in math-related activities.

The 23 Diamond Bar High School students that participated signed up through Math Club or through DBHS Math Club advisor Howard Alcosser.

The top 64 performing teams from the general, or the League phase, continued to a bracket challenge, which consisted of five

rounds. Notably, the Brahma Varsity Math Team made it to the second bracket round. Afterwards, the remaining top 5 teams competed in Division I, the top 10 in Division II, top 15 in Division III, and so on until Division V. The Brahmas were ranked number one in Division II, before tying in their last match. In the end, they finished 30 seconds after their final opposing team.

“I’m really glad the math team had this opportunity to participate in [Math Madness] this year.

It was a fun experience and I look forward to it next year,” Alcosser commented.

The 30-minute weekly matches were held conveniently online, on the Interstellar web application, which allowed coaches to create virtual teams, then compete against the teams of other schools.

These competitions were carried out either by two contending parties establishing a set time, or by the coaches entering their teams into a regular cycle of contests organized by the program. Depending on the coaches’ decisions, both teams could compete at the same time, or each team could finish the question set and submit their scores at different times.

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Each match contained a set of 10 questions, which became increasingly difficult as the competition progressed. Though all members competed at the same time during the match, no collaboration among the teammates was allowed. The top 5 scores of the team members were averaged out to get a final score; if the teams happened to tie, as the Brahmas did, the fastest completing team would win.

Led by senior Corey Chen and junior Hall Chen, the Math Team prepared for the competition by taking numerous practice tests during lunchtime, either in the library, the actual competition site, or in Alcosser’s room. Alcosser, the club’s advisor and a DBHS Calculus teacher, helped guide the Brahmas through the preparation for the competition.

Sponsored by the American Mathematics Association, the goal of the tournament was to combine the esteem of athletic competitive achievement with the mental stimulation and excellence of academics.

“The whole math team just got closer because of it. We definitely appreciated Mr. Alcosser’s guidance,” senior Kimberly Wang said.

Diamond Bar High School will celebrate the long-awaited completion of its new aquatic center during a pool ribbon cutting ceremony after school today.

To celebrate the occasion, Principal Catherine Real and former principal Denis R. Paul will give speeches and dedications, then reveal the pool plaque and scoreboard. In addition, the school’s Marquis choir, DBHS marching band, and symphony orchestra will perform.

At one point, Dara Morgan, a former Brahma parent and the winner of an auction that determined the first person to be able to use the pool, will dive into the new waters.

Featuring a 12-lane pool, locker rooms, pool storage and equipment buildings, and stadium seat-

ing with shade structure, the new aquatic center bears the namesake of Paul, former principal of DBHS from 1998 to 2010.

Numerous staff members recall fond memories of Paul. “He was a very open and welcoming person,” English teacher Denise Mesdjian said.

To celebrate with the school, many residents of the Diamond Bar community have been invited to the event. Several distinguished guests, including Mayor Jack Tanaka, Superintendent Robert Taylor, Paul, along with board members and the district commissioner, will be present. The entire Brahma staff is invited to watch the ceremony.

“There are going to be many people, not just one, with their hands on the scissors to cut the ribbon,” Principal Real said. “It’s a symbolic first cut.”

Several DBHS students also directly contributed to the success of the event. Earlier in November, seniors Gloria Kim and Samantha Kim won the contest to create a design for a flyer advertising the ribbon cutting ceremony.

“It’s exciting,” Principal Real said. “The school has been waiting over 30 years for this.”

NEWSBITS PENNSYLVANIA With Christmas just around the corner, everyone is feeling the holiday spirit—well, everyone except a few in the city of brotherly love. Earlier this week, the Philadelphian citizens swarmed around to see a momentous Christmas Tree Lighting event held at Love Park. However, the temper displayed that night was far from lovely when two women began jostling each other to get a better view. The slight shove turned into an unbreakable fight involving five to six people, one of whom even held a baby.

Luckily, the fight was eventually broken up with no serious injuries or arrests, and the event was able to continue after things settled down.

GEORGIA Georgian Kaveh Kamooneh had a typical Saturday morning on Nov. 2 when he took his 11-year-old son to a morning tennis practice session. When his Nissan LEAF ran out of battery, Kamooneh plugged his hybrid car to a local power

outlet outside Chamblee Middle School. However, after charging his vehicle for about 20 minutes, the 50-year-old man saw a police officer inspecting his LEAF. On Nov. 13, Kamooneh was even more shocked when the police came to his door and handcuffed him for theft—of power worth roughly a nickel.

ENGLAND With Black Friday and Cyber Monday, there are often great deals for many consumers to enjoy, but sometimes the best deals may not be so great after all. That’s exactly what happened for Peter Clatworthy in UK, who grabbed a deal on Ebay and bought an Xbox One for $735. However, when the packaged arrived at his home, the contents in the box were far from what Clatworthy expected.

Instead of the video game console, he found only a photo of the highly coveted product.

To make matters worse, even the photo printed was not high quality and looked as if it was printed from an inkjet with failing cartridges.

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THE BULL’S EYE

Wednesday, December 11, 2013

Are You Down for Year-Round?

Attending a high school following a traditional system, DBHS students wonder whether a year-long schooling system is a better choice.

BY YUSHENG XIA ASST. EDITORIAL EDITOR

PRO|

Numerous studies have shown a steady decline in the American high school education for the categories of science, math, and reading in recent decades. The news of American students’ falling behind in global standards has led various groups from private organizations to lawmakers to debate on a solution throughout the years.

To really improve students’ education, however, it is high time for the topic of year-round schools to take center stage.

Before crying out in exasperation at the thought of staying in school all year long, students should realize that the overall number of attendance days does not change. Year-round schooling gives students the same 180 days of education rearranged into smaller chunks that last for the whole year.

The problem with the regular school schedule is that much of the information students learn is

BY EMILY WONG ASST. A&E EDITOR

CON|

Cartoon by GLORIA KIM

FOLLOW UPS SANDY HOOK REENACTMENT Australian resident Ryan Jake Lambourn recently created a computer game, “The Slaying of Sandy Hook Elementary,” based on the shooting that occurred last year. He claims that the game is a way to advocate gun control. Lambourn was also the creator of “VTech Rampage,” a reenactment of the Virginia Tech shooting in April 2007.

When you look out at the diligent students attending Diamond Bar High School, you will probably notice a consistent pattern in their appearance: the dazed, I’m-completely-burnedout look. To relieve students from the side effects of the rigors of school, the wonderful threemonth long respite we call summer break swoops in. Despite summer vacation’s great necessity for the health of students, however, several states have eradicated this rest period by establishing yearround schools.

Year-round schooling, as the name indicates, is a system in which school days are evenly spread out through the year.

Schedules may be divided into a cycle varying from six to nine weeks of school, with one to two week breaks. Though proponents may say attending school year round provides multiple

lost over the long summer break.

Teachers often have to review old material at the beginning of a new school year, spending valuable time that could instead be used to move kids forward.

Unlike regular schools, yearround schools allow kids to maintain their knowledge without the doubt of losing much of it over a long respite. Dividing the school schedule up with many short breaks can help relieve the long stressful task of high school cramming, as well as allow students of lower grade levels to focus on academics throughout the entire year.

With year-round schooling, school districts would have the option of following the 45/15 schedule, in which students attend 45 days of school and then take 15 days off. These frequent breaks allow students time to process the information learned and help them maintain a more balanced schedule.

The system of year-round schooling also gives schools the option of adopting a multi-track system. This would divide the total body of students into four groups,

or “tracks,” and have three of them active for a period of time while the fourth is on break. A multitrack system would allow schools to increase their normal student capacity by over 30 percent, which would greatly benefit cities with fast-growing populations. Class sizes could then be reduced, allowing individual students to receive more help from teachers than they would have in larger classroom settings.

Besides, the main reason the current school schedule was established in the first place was because children were needed at home during harvesting seasons in the summer. Times have changed immensely since then, and most American families live in urbanized areas instead of on farms.

Our country needs to realize that the world is ever changing, and education, the most important part of society, needs to evolve with it. By switching to year-round schooling, America would be solving many problems with its education system and bring upon a better, more efficient way of teaching its future generations.

advantages, such as preventing “summer learning loss,” there are even greater drawbacks to this educational system.

First, the cost to maintain a year-round school is hefty, almost 10 percent higher than that of the normal system. In Tempe, Arizona, a high school reported an increase of $157,000 in maintenance costs after it switched from traditional schooling to yearround schooling. In addition, an exorbitant amount of money may also be lost if students fail to abide by the scheduling. This occurred in San Diego, when 27 yearround elementary schools saw an increase in truancy between July and September, a period in which traditional schools have a long summer vacation, resulting in a loss of $1.4 million. All in all, many American schools already struggling financially will lack the additional funds necessary to maintain year-round classes.

Another hassle of year-round schooling is the option of a multitracking system, which is the separation of the student body into four divisions: three attend

school while one is on vacation.

Though this can increase student enrollment by 25 percent because one group can fill in the spot of the other on break, families with siblings on different rotations will struggle to find time to go on trips or spend time together.

Finally, the biggest argument against year-round schooling is that few schools have stuck with it.

In fact, since 1980, 95 percent of the schools that changed to year-round schooling ultimately returned to the traditional scheduling.

Although there is an inevitable academic forgetfulness in the first few weeks after summer vacation, students eventually accustom themselves to the new school year.

Some courses also assign summer homework to make the transition into classes easier.

Teenagers deserve a long break from our textbooks to devote time to interests outside of school. Even though the week-long winter and spring breaks provide a temporary relief, there is nothing quite as satisfying as leaving school in late May knowing we will not have to come back until August.

PG-13 Movies Giving Violence Too Big of a Shot Violence in PG-13 movies has been steadily increasing each year and could have many negative effects on America’s younger generation.

BY SASHA RIVERA CONTRIBUTING WRITER

I

magine you are going to see that new action movie with your kid brother or sister. The movie is rated PG-13, and you both are so excited to finally watch a film together. But as the movie gets going, you realize that it is filled with nothing but blood, guns, and explosions, and your little sibling looks a bit overwhelmed. The level of violence resembles that of the R-rated film your parents went to see. Is it really okay for your sibling to be watching this, even though it’s PG-13?

It turns out that recent PG-13 films actually contain more violence than R-rated movies. A 2013 news report in the journal of the American Academy of Pediatrics, which was in response to the Sandy Hook shooting, showed that the gunplay has tripled in the PG-13 rating since 1985, while violence in R-rated movies declined. According to the report’s co-author, “The MPAA website clearly says that R-

rated films contain more violence.

But PG-13 films now contain significantly more violence than R-rated films.” The Motion Picture Assn. of America, MPAA, did not comment on this, however.

Six health organizations, including American Medical Association, support the finding that being exposed to violent media increases aggression, especially in kids. This goes hand in hand with “the weapons effect,” or the well-researched theory that seeing weapons escalates hostile behavior. In movies, teens and children not only witness the weapons effect, but also see characters using the guns. The Pediatrics report said, “The presence of guns in films also provides youth with scripts on how to use guns. In addition, children no longer need to go to movie theaters to see films; they are readily available on the Internet or cable. Thus, children much younger than 13 years can easily view films that contain ample gun violence.”

In other words, these vicious films are actually teaching teens and kids how to use various weapons.

After all, not only has violence in

PG-13 movies risen in recent years, but so have school shootings.

Some may argue that violence has always been around in American movies and does not affect aggressive behavior in kids. According to k12academics.com, from the 1930s-1970s there were only 51 school-related shootings, most of which were between adults or were suicides. But, from the 1980s-2010s, during which the PG-13 rating was established and the Pediatrics study showed that violence was increasing, there were a whopping 120. This time, the majority of the shootings were by teens and kids 18 and under. Therefore, as the movies get more violent, so do the younger viewers.

On a more personal level, I think extremely violent films with a profuse amount of guns and explosions can scare and slightly traumatize younger audiences as well.

For instance, I was 11 years-old when I first saw “The Dark Knight” with my parents. If you have seen the movie, you know that gunplay and bombs are a significant part of the movie. I came out of the theater overwhelmed and wide-eyed at the

overflowing violence, even though it was a good movie. That night, I could still hear the explosions in my dreams, and it wasn’t a pleasant experience.

Overall, the MPAA should be more careful with rating PG-13 movies, especially since studies have shown that they contain more violence than R-rated films.

The amount of violence and gunplay can have a negative effect on youth by increasing aggression, a possible contributor to the increase in school shootings. So before you take a younger sibling to see a possibly-violent PG-13 movie, take a look at some of the movie reviews to make sure it isn’t overly intense.

Photo courtesy of http://www.examiner.com

Wednesday, December 11, 2013

Eye of the Editors TRASH ON CAMPUS |Diamond Bar students should make more of an effort to pick up their trash after lunch.

It’s quite undeniable. As Diamond Bar High School students, we are attending a top-notch school, one that ranks among the finest high schools in the nation. Academic excellence, artistic talents, riveting school spirit—you name it, DBHS has it all. Or so we were convinced.

Recently, a tragic flaw to our seemingly faultless reputation has surfaced, an issue that our school has unfortunately failed to address and resolve for years—the ever-present trash. Take a good look around at the end of lunch. The radiant campus of our distinguished school has quickly transformed into a large garbage dump. Who is to blame, you ask? You guessed it—the very students and our careless attitude toward preserving our campus.

Students have developed an intolerable habit of simply leaving lunch trays behind after they have finished eating, instead of disposing them in the trash cans that are placed throughout the campus.

You’ve probably witnessed this too: the countless incidents in which students would accidentally drop a food item, or shoot for and miss the trash can, then find it perfectly normal to leave the scene without feeling a tinge of guilt.

Whether it is out of laziness or because of some level of entitlement, the growing tendency to avoid properly disposing waste has become an all-too-frustrating issue for the handful of responsible students, many staff members, and most especially, our custodians.

Some students may argue that leaving trash around the campus is not a significant problem because there are janitors to clean up after them. This attitude is not only highly insolent, but also erroneous to a large degree. Our janitors often remain at school until late at night, making sure that every classroom is

properly maintained and that gates are locked by a certain time. When school clubs and organizations hold events and activities that cause a large mess, they have to spend additional hours cleaning up. With a large enough burden on their backs, custodians cannot, let alone be expected to, pick up after every irresponsible student at school.

This blatant trash problem has been so severe that some administrators have found it necessary to constantly badger students about their responsibilities. Principal Catherine Real made announcements over the intercom several times already in the past weeks before the lunch ended, instructing students to pick up their trash before they leave for class. Moreover, she notified many club advisors and staff members, requesting that clubs, sports, or other groups on campus volunteer to pick up trash toward the end of lunch.

Students must realize how shameful and embarrassing it is to have come to a state in which the principal has to personally inform the entire student body to clean up their trash. Picking up the lunch tray, walking but a few steps to the nearest trash can to dispose of one’s own trash is no difficult task. Furthermore, this task is not some unreasonable request. Students are simply being asked to hold themselves accountable and to stop relying on others to take the responsibility.

DBHS is a school of much dignity and excellence. We must show respect to the campus we represent.

This is our home. This is our pride.

So the next time you see a peer indifferently walking away without having disposed of his or her trash, don’t be afraid to give a quick reminder. With that one simple notice, you are inciting a positive change to end this preposterous madness.

EDITORIAL

THE BULL’S EYE

STUDENTS | Why do you think students fail to pick up their own trash at the end of lunch?

“Many students don’t really care whether or not they pick up their trash because I’m pretty sure they think that janitors are around to do that.”

—Jerry Li (11)

“Students don’t really care even if they don’t pick up their trash because the appearance of our school is already bad.”

—Michael Schneider (12)

“When the bell rings, the students panic because they have to get to class.

As a result, they hurry off without throwing away their trash.”

—Janica Erillo (11)

“I think the students don’t pick up their trash because they want to leave their responsiblity to others.”

—Eunice Chung (10)

“I think students leave trash behind because they’re not getting punishment, and because of that they don’t see a reason to throw it away.”

—Aditya Garg (9)

I think students don’t throw away trash because no one sets a good example.

If someone else [was] throwing away their trash, they would feel bad and throw away their trash too.

—Dorothy Lewes (10)

Eye of the Editors is an editorial piece of The Bull’s Eye. Statements and opinions expressed in the article herein are strictly those of the editors of The Bull’s Eye. The view of the editors does not necessarily reflect that of the entire staff.

B L A Z I N G T R A I L S O F S AT I R E

BY HANNA KANG ASST. EDITORIAL EDITOR

M

iley Cyrus sings, “Sometimes I fix things up and they fall apart again, nobody’s perfect, I know I mix things up but I always get it right in the end, you know I do.” Miley Cyrus knows.

So do the rest of us.

I absolutely love America, the land of the free. And I love it more when intelligent and compassionate people are placed as its leaders. This is why I cannot help but simply admire President Obama, who strives day and night to make the best possible living experience for American citizens.

The passage of the Affordable Care Act in 2010 was one of the fruits of his labor, which I am sure will be the most positively remembered component of his shining legacy.

Contrary to my ardent compliance to the president’s sentimental efforts for the prosperity of this country, however, millions of ridiculous skeptics insist that Obamacare is a turn for the worst. How shortsighted they are. Clearly, these people have never read or tried to understand the full 906-page Obamacare bill, which I

am certain the president has already read and mastered.

Mr. President has repeatedly assured the American citizens that his spectacular healthcare program would be a monumental success. We are already experiencing astounding progress through the rollout of the program; seconds after Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius set foot into a Miami medical center, the healthcare website crashed. Such occurrences only

5

and was happily going through the process when suddenly, the screen flashed with a message that read: “The system is down at the moment.

We are experiencing technical difficulties and hope to have them resolved soon. Please try again later.”

And that is exactly what I did. I tried again later in the evening, and guess what? I was flashed with the same message again.

It seems to be that I was not the only one to have failed to sign up because of the technical difficulties.

Only six people had been successful on the first day of the launch, when thousands of other should have also been successful.

That’s when it hit me. It must have been those Republicans who somehow cracked the system and screwed around Cartoon by GLORIA KIM with it. I am sure serve to increase my respect for the Republicans, especially during times program. like this, have many hours to waste.

In fact, because of my absolute But what shines through in these respect for the healthcare plan, I dark hours is Obama’s mature and pulled five consecutive all-nighters prudent approach to the chaos. exploring healthcare.gov.

The He is not blaming the Republican result? I felt something spark inside Party at all, but is spending his time my heart, and tears started to productively to fix the problem, pour down my face. My little brain spending some hundreds of million could not grasp the magnitude of dollars. In fact, he has enlisted the compassion a single man had for help of QSSI, one of the producers of millions of people. this very failed website, to try to fix I made up my mind right there and the problem. Giving second chances then that I would be the first person are surely the way to succeed. to sign up. I applied for quality health We know you’ll pull through, coverage at my affordable price President Obama.

YUSHENG XIA

Cut the Cursing Teachers using profanity in the classroom is offensive and inappropriate.

BY JOSEPH PARK SPORTS EDITOR

T

he prevalence of profanity among high school students is not surprising at all.

We teenagers are exposed to the language at an early age, but of course, as we grow older, we naturally learn when and where to watch our mouths, a fine example being the classroom.

However, when the same teachers who instruct students not to curse use foul language themselves, it is a bit ironic, is it not? Not only is their use of curse words hypocritical, setting an improper example for students, but it also creates an uncomfortable environment for many. As the leading role model in the classroom, a teacher should be cautious of words slipping out of his or her mouth because it is only fair that the same rules that apply to students, apply to teachers.

Routine usage of profanity becomes sparsely evident in middle school, and more pervasive in high school, not only among students, but even among teachers in the classrooms. The underlying reason behind this is that teachers usually give up trying to preclude students’ habits of cursing, for it is nearly impossible to convince a rebellious group of teens into doing anything against their will.

Furthermore, because swear

words have become so hackneyed in this generation, teachers have found their own comfort zone using them in front of their students.

Some may argue that high school students are essentially adults, and therefore would not mind, and even find entertaining, the use of profanity in the classrooms. I do agree to an extent that high school students are nearly adults, but it is wrong for teachers to thus assume it is appropriate to indiscriminately curse in front of the class. Some students may silently be offended but unwilling to speak out against it, for the majority of the class is typically not disturbed by it.

In addition, immature students may find foul language humorous, then take the class, and everything that comes out of the teacher’s mouth, lightly. Though there is nothing wrong with adding some enjoyment to learning, there are times when students should be serious. Education is the foundation of a students’ future and putting that into danger by the use of profanity should not be allowed.

Yes, profanity serves some noble purposes at times, maybe to add a bit of emphasis or to silence a rowdy class; however, in most cases, these words do not belong in a classroom. The use of swear words test the overall credibility of the teacher’s leadership, thus it is essential for teachers to set a standard in speech for students to follow.

6 FEATURE

THE BULL’S EYE

Art Day in LA

Siblings on the Starboard

BY EMILY LEUNG ASST. FEATURE EDITOR

Learning how to sail a boat seems secondary when a person has not yet learned how to drive a car, but these twins are quite the exception.

Diamond Bar High School freshmen Nora and Adam Elsharhawy have been sailing since the age of nine. Their parents enjoyed sailing even before their children were born and passed on their love of the sport to the twins.

Nora and Adam began to learn how to sail from a summer program in Long Beach hosted by the Alamitos Bay Yacht Club. It was an extremely challenging sport to learn, and the summer camp had them practicing sailing every day. “You [have] to be able to strategize because when you’re racing against somebody [and] the wind comes, you have to find the right angle and go the correct way,” Adam stated. While learning, instructors would sail next to them in a motorboat and guide them on how to properly handle the boat.

The siblings enjoyed the sport so much that they continued to sail in

Wednesday, December 11, 2013

the winter.

They now sail at least once a week and have weekly practices with students from other high schools in Southern California on Fridays. Every one or two months the Southern California Regatta, a competition composed of a series of races, is held. Each race is scored individually, and the team with the lowest total time wins.

The Southern California Regatta is followed by a few smaller races leading up to the national competition.

Nora and Adam take sailing very seriously and clearly work hard to achieve their goals. Working together, they have placed third at the Southern California Regatta against 32 other teams when they were 13 and fifth against 29 other teams this past September. When it comes to operating as a team, they find it best to have Adam controlling the steering and Nora directing on the other sails.

The two freshmen are currently not sure if they want to start a sailing team at DBHS, but they do have friends from school who they enjoy sailing with. The twins look forward to the Rosebowl Regatta in January where they will have the opportunity to compete with their friends.

TAREK ELSHARHAWY

SETTING SAIL - Nora and Adam prepare for the Southern California Regatta.

BY JASMINE HSU CONTRIBUTING WRITER

More often than not, complaints about monotony in Diamond Bar can be heard throughout campus on a regular basis. Though it’s true that the nightlife here is next to non-existent, most of us do not seem to realize that one of the greatest cities in the world is a mere 40-minute drive away. It would be a shame to ignore such an opportunity to explore city life before heading off to college, especially because Los Angeles has so many unique experiences to offer.

For all the art-loving students out there, such as myself, the Getty Center is a definite must-see. This museum offers free admission and contains a wide variety of art, ranging from 500-year-old texts to modern day photography. Their L.A. location specializes in European pieces, including paintings, sculptures, illuminated manuscripts, and decorative arts. On top of all that, they also house a separate structure containing both American and European photographs. In my opinion, the jewel of the collection is unquestionably Vincent van Gogh’s Irises, displayed in plain view for all to see. Other featured masterpieces include “An Old Man in Military Costume” by Rembrandt and “Sunrise” by Monet.

In addition to classic exhibits, I found that the Getty also has a wide array of outdoor gardens sprinkled with beautiful fountains, sculptures, and plant life. Perhaps one of the most striking ponds in the L.A. area resides in these outdoor gardens; with an intricate hedge maze and small waterfall. There was also an outdoor café that provides a serene resting place to enjoy the reasonably priced food and exquisite scenery. A short walk to the edge of the gardens reveals a fantastic view of the entire city, as the museum is located on high ground.

From there, if a small meal is in order, Fritto Misto would be a great place to grab a bite. Located

DIY Christmas Gift

Photo courtesy of californiathroughmylens.com

PERFECT PLACE FOR PEACE - The elaborate hedge maze design of one of the Getty Center’s ponds provides visitors with a place to relax and enjoy nature. in Santa Monica a short distance away, this restaurant can only be described as a hole-in-the-wall establishment. Though it is not well-known and may cause directionally challenged people such as myself to have some trouble locating it, the restaurant’s friendly atmosphere and superb Italian food will not be a disappointment.

And if your passion for museums is still unsatisfied, then a trip to the Los Angeles County Museum of Art is highly recommended. The day slowly fading into the night will create the perfect lighting to take a picture with “Urban Lights,” the famous lamps structure featured in the movie “No Strings Attached.” Located right outside of the museum, the installment is free to approach and was an ideal attraction for me after my pockets were emptied by the expensive L.A. parking fees.

The simple fact that I was in L.A. called for a nice dinner, and the Greek restaurant Fig and Olive was the way to go. The entrees ranged from $20 to upper $30’s, and it is not uncommon to see well-dressed patrons. Though the meals were exquisite, the olive oil and bread served before the meal left the strongest impression on me. Like the exotic spices and herbs, the

olive oil is imported from places such as Villa Lucia or Spain and is what makes this restaurant so well-known.

The overall ambience is perfect for a fancy meal, as the lighting hovers in the perfect balance for candlelit conversations. The waiters and waitresses are beyond accommodating, and the valet parking is perfectly efficient. Despite the food’s obviously complicated preparation, your meal can be expected to arrive reasonably quickly.

The only drawback would be the close proximity of each table to another, resulting in a slightly louder atmosphere than desired. These factors, however, are not enough to detract from the overall impression Fig and Olive gives off, and I left the restaurant pleased with my experience.

To wrap up the day, a quick stroll through the Grove, an outdoor shopping plaza a short distance away, was a nice after-dinner activity. With its bright lights and calming fountain and bridge, the Grove makes for a fun trip even if you don’t go into any of the stores or restaurants. Merely being in the atmosphere will be the perfect ending to a perfect day. So, what are you waiting for?

Red Velvet Cupcakes in a Jar

For me, the sweetest day of the year is not Halloween, but Christmas, where peppermint flavored chocolates hit the shelves and gingerbread cookies that I shamelessly hoard are stocked up in my cupboard. Therefore, it would only make sense that my favorite gifts to create are edible, sweet ones. And because my wallet is crying from the high gas prices and college application fees, my only option is to deem that the best presents are from the heart, not from the bank! So if you’re on a budget like me, here is a tasty Mason jar related recipe that will make the hipster in your life squeal in delight.

For this delicious dessert, you will need: 2 Large Eggs 2/3 Cup Water 1/4 Cup Oil For the frosting: 4 Tbsp. Water 1/2 Stick softened butter For the decorations: Mason Jars(a dozen for $8.95 at target) Duncan Hines Red Velvet Decadent Cupcake Mix (With Cream Cheese Frosting) ($2.82) Sprinkles($2.75) 1. Follow the instructions on the back of the package to make the cupcakes.

2. Take your cupcakes out of the oven and allow them to cool.

3. Make the frosting according to the package instructions. When I made the frosting, the instructions confused me because it tells you to whip butter and then slowly pour in the mix.

Now, I don’t know about you, but I find mixing powder with barely any liquid to be pointless.

So, right after I beat the butter, I poured in the water and powder. My frosting came out great, but I added two extra tablespoons of water because it was just a bit too sweet. Now, you are ready to start assembling your jars!

4. You will want to use a sharp knife to cut your cupcakes horizontally since a butter knife will most likely make your cupcake crumble. Cut them into either 2 or 3 layers depending on how thick you want the layers to be.

5. Place one layer at the bottom of the jar, and pipe a layer of frosting on top of it.

6. Add the next cupcake layer and an additional layer of frosting. If the jar is not full by the time you finished one cupcake, feel free to add more layers from other cupcakes.

7. Finally, top off your last layer of frosting with some festive sprinkles. I used Cakemate’s Peppermint Sugar from Stater Bros.

8. Decorate your jar!

by Claire Huang, A&E Editor

up theJoy

Wednesday, December 11, 2013

by Joy Chow, News Editor

knee high socks On those “bad hair” or “too-tired-todo-my-hair” days, the solution to your troubles lies in a good ol’ beanie! Why not look adorable and keep your head warm at the same time? It’s a win-win situation, if you ask me! Trumping hats and hoodies, beanies are the way to go. An oversized loose blouse with a pair of slim-cut skinny jeans or high-waisted shorts, topped off with a simple beanie will keep you looking fresh and fashionable even on those lazy days.

Vintage fashion is the new “in” this year! With that in mind, kneehigh socks have been spotted more and more lately. Whether fuzzy or laced, knee-high socks make a creative statement piece to any look.

Paired with a skirt or denim shorts, knee-high socks will add a 1800s vintage touch to your outfit.

mini bags

oversized coats

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Rack

FEATURE

THE BULL’S EYE

beanies

What better way to spice up your look than with edgy animalpatterned scarves? Especially with the cold Christmas weather, animal print scarves will not only keep your neck warm, but also add flair and pops of color to any plain outfit. For a balanced look, throw on an animal print scarf and a solid-colored t-shirt or chunky sweater to match a comfy pair of jeans and booties.

ho, ho, ho, where does my letter go?

BY VICTORIA LY CONTRIBUTING WRITER

Every Christmas season, little Suzy writes her wish list, and sends it to Santa Claus of the North Pole. This year, Suzy’s family is on a tight budget, so Suzy isn’t asking for toys.

Instead, she has asked Santa Claus for a pair of fuzzy gloves, hoping that they will keep her hands warm throughout the cold winter.

But who will answer little Suzy’s letter?

How will Suzy ever receive her Christmas gift? The answer to these questions lies in the hands of thousands of volunteers all over America, but the journey of the letter begins at the post office.

For more than a hundred years, the Postal Services have been receiving “Letters to Santa” from children across the nation. At the postal office, employees open and sort the letters to Santa. Little Suzy’s letter, along with others from needy children, is copied onto a separate paper while the original is stored in a secure place. The letters from needy children are then placed in a public “adoption” area ready to be opened. To ensure the child’s safety, the postal employees cover up the child’s address by blacking it out and request that individuals present a valid ID before taking a letter.

Around the Christmas season, people who would like to adopt a letter of a child in need, will ask Postal Service associates if they can

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During the winter season, it’s all about staying cozy, comfy, and chic at the same time. That’s why turning to oversized coats may just very well be the “next big thing.” Being covered with a warm layer will easily give off an aura of sophistication and class.

Pair the coat with a cute sweater, a shoulder purse, some jeggings, and a pair of combat boots, and you’re set for the day!

Animal Print

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do so. Volunteers can adopt up to ten “Letters to Santa” and respond to the children’s letters by purchasing the items on their Christmas wish lists.

Yet, these letters are not only answered by individuals: charitable organizations, churches and corporations have also lent a helping hand in response to “Letters to Santa,” making children’s holiday wishes come true everywhere.

In Manhattan, a special post office specializes in answering such letters, providing gifts and responding to kids since 1920. This service receives over two million letters each year.

However, these “Manhattan Santas” can’t fulfill all those requests, which is why there are 24 other post office locations in America that respond to children’s requests. Santa Claus, Indiana, for example, is a city that receives up to 30,000 letters a year from little boys and girls like Suzy asking Santa for special gifts.

Each year, millions of children across America write “Letters to Santa,” and to their utmost joy, have their wants answered. It isn’t only big corporations or charities that fulfill children’s holiday wishes; volunteers like you can also give a heartfelt gift to a child in need this Christmas season. In fact, the Diamond Bar post office offers a “Letters to Santa” program, so if you would like to adopt a letter, the post office on Diamond Bar Boulevard would be more than happy to send out your gifts.

Keep it simple. Keep it stylish. Keep it mini. The trendy mini-bags on most girls’ hit lists this season are the perfect accessories to finish off any outfit. It’s one of this year’s popular winter fads and they are popping up left and right in stores all over. Casual by day, and glammed up by night, the mini-bag can be your new, best accessory. By packing only your essentials, you’ll have what you need with the fashion and without the shoulder ache.

Overheard in DB Every month, we will bring you some of the most ridiculous, hilarious, flat-out idiotic, and sometimes insightful things we hear around campus. So beware—we’ll be listening.

“Do you know what calculus really means? It means you calculate less!”

“I’m on a seafood diet. Every time I sea food, I eat it.”

“What is a slogan that is common in our society today?”

“Never give up, never surrender.”

“I wonder how smart I’ll be now without my wisdom teeth.”

“I think my finger lost weight, my ring keeps falling off.”

“You know you go to Diamond Bar when you can’t decide which is more important: your physical health or your math test.”

“Quick, give me your number before I don’t want it no more.”

“Why did the scarecrow win the competition? It was outstanding in its field.”

The people of Jewish faith celebrate Hanukkah for 8 days to commemorate the victory against the Greek soldiers 2,200 years ago.

8 FEATURE THEME THE BULL’S EYE

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DESIGNED BY EMILY HWANG & HANNA YI

Wednesday, December 11, 2013

10 ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

THE BULL’S EYE

Charm

Wednesday, December 11, 2013

harlie Brown

BY EMILY WONG ASST. A&E EDITOR

XING YEN QUEK

SAY MY NAME - Senior dancers from Dance Team pose during their fierce performance of “Say My Name”.

Working the Floor

BY XING YEN QUEK PHOTO EDITOR

With suave male dancers dressed in suits and sassy girls in chic costumes, this year’s annual winter dance concert “Dancers At Work” showcased a variety of pieces.

All dances were student choreographed by Advanced and Intermediate Performance Ensemble, All-Male Dance Crew, and Taurian Co. Dance Team. The show also featured a wide range of dance styles, including ballet, hip hop, and jazz.

“Both nights came together very well. We had some technical difficulties Thursday that we were able to come back from,” Dance Director Janna Lindenberg said.

The entire dance company opened the concert with “Emotions,” choreographed by AllMale alumnus and 2013 graduate Derrick Sy. It was immediately followed by group dances choreographed by dancers from Advanced and Intermediate Performance Ensemble, All-Male, and Dance Team.

One performance by seniors Elijah Ang, Siham Ayoub, Alex DaSilva, Tiffany Ding, Taylor Raymundo, and Tiffany Wood to “Say My Name” showcased Ang’s attempts

XING YEN QUEK

DANCING AROUND THE WORLD- Seniors Jeremy Chan and Phillip Lee and junior Peter Kang find trouble in Paris with junior John Kim. to dance with each girl only to be rejected. DaSilva and fellow dance team members ended the first half of the concert with a Broadwaythemed piece “Thataway.”

After intermission, juniors Peter Kang, Austin Kim, John Kim, John Oh, and Kelvin Pang choreographed a playful compilation of theme songs from “Teen Titans”, “Teenage Mutants Ninja Turtle”, and “Power Rangers”. The highlight of the show was senior Jeremy Chan’s piece “Around the World in 80 Days” which was Chan, senior Phillip Lee, and junior Peter Kang’s reenactment of the movie as they lead the audience through their adventures. The only soloist was senior Tiffany Ding, who cho-

reographed and danced to “Call Me Old Fashioned.” Although she ran into some technical difficulties on the first day, Ding managed to gracefully finish her piece.

Following Ding’s solo was “Jungle Drum,” the traditional Tahitian dance performed by freshman Gizelle Adams and junior Megan Tse. Both nights ended with Advanced Performance Ensemble’s “Toxic,” choreographed by junior Mary Aguirre and sophomore Jason Lin. “All of the dancers did a fantastic job. There were even dancers that have never performed in one of our concerts before and ended up doing an outstanding job,” AllMale captain junior Peter Kang said.

As a child, I thought Christmas was a time of receiving a plethora of well-deserved gifts. Although we have been told since elementary school that Christmas is more of a time of giving than receiving, I, and I’m sure many others, only looked forward to unwrapping those gifts delivered by “Santa” under the Christmas tree. However, watching a certain television special put me in my place.

One of the most famous Christmas specials of all time, “A Charlie Brown Christmas” (1965) opens up with Charlie Brown confiding in Linus that he is depressed by the materialism associated with Christmas. Lucy eventually asks him to direct the school nativity play. However, Brown has trouble focusing on the true spirit of Christmas since the others want to commercialize it with dancing and music. He then tries to find a Christmas tree as a prop and settles for the smallest tree on the lot, which is symbolically the only real tree. Everyone laughs at his choice and Charlie Brown storms off. Realizing they were a little harsh, Linus and the others come back to decorate the tree and make it beau-

tiful. Charlie Brown returns and all of the characters embrace and sing “Hark! The Herald Angels Sing.”

I was more profoundly impacted by this short than I expected, and rightfully so. As adorable Linus (the ironically bright kid who sucks his thumb) taught Charlie Brown the true meaning of Christmas, which is that the holiday is about being with the ones you care about the most, he taught me too. That pathetic little tree was a humble reminder that Christmas is not about big gifts or lavish decorations but about surrounding yourself with love and camaraderie.

This 30-minute special, comprised of adorable, philosophical children, made me a little tearyeyed. Suddenly, the value of those presents under my Christmas tree diminished and my annual Christmas family dinner seemed much more important to me. This animation deserves an annual spot on the Christmas TV lineup. It is no wonder “A Charlie Brown Christmas” is a timeless short film. I hope it will continue to teach other children what it taught me: the true meaning of an overly-commercialized Christmas.

“At last, the season seemed 100 times brighter. And for Charlie Brown, it was truly the merriest Christmas ever.”

Just like Charlie Brown, I, too, have reached an epiphany.

Photo courtesy of blog.urbanbohemian.com

GETTING INTO THE HOLIDAY SPIRIT - “Peanuts” characters merrily sing “Hark! The Herald Angels Sing.”

STUDENT SPOTLIGHT:

Amber Farago

BY VRINDA CHAUHAN STAFF WRITER

Amber Farago was born for the mic. Fueled by ambition, drive, and talent, Farago is now only inches away from becoming a superstar.

From attending red carpets to recording demos for Carly Rae Jepsen, DBHS Senior Amber Farago, who goes by stage name Amber Marie, seems to be living the celebrity life. But her path to success didn’t fall into place overnight.

It took years of dedication, hard work, and resilience.

Farago’s performing career began at age five. She danced at Showbiz Performing Arts Academy studio for a few years, where she competed and performed at various places throughout Southern California including Knott’s Berry Farm and Disneyland. It was during this time that she discovered her passion for singing.

At Showbiz Performing Arts Academy, her instructor noticed that Farago had talent and potential as a singer—potential that even Farago herself then was unaware of. Though she had no prior experience in singing, her instructor sent

eight-year-old Farago on stage to sing a solo piece. With nothing but an eager crowd and a mic in front of her, Farago began to sing. Little did she know that this experience would change her life forever.

“That day, my entire family was shocked. Even I didn’t know I had that in me. When I came off stage, I had decided that this is what I wanted to do with my life… It’s crazy how far I’ve come in such a short time,” Farago recalled.

Farago then began to work with a private vocal coach to refine her voice. After switching between two vocal coaches, she finally decided to work with her current coach, Lydia Mouton, a former coach to Michael Jackson and current coach to Solange Knowles. A few years later, after countless rejections from different record labels, Farago was finally signed to Impact Entertainments Co. Her love for performing didn’t end there. She auditioned for many roles for Disney Channel, including the role of Baily Puckett from “The Suite Life on Deck.” Even though she made it to the top 10 candidates for the role, Farago realized that her passion was music, not acting, and decided to pursue wholeheartedly her passions first.

Due to the hectic schedules,

Farago’s life isn’t always glamorous. She has been in countless situations where she was forced to abandon school to report to the studio and is often not informed until the very last minute.

Her chaotic schedule often demands her to make her career her top priority.

“Sometimes my manager will tell me to meet him at the studio immediately. [Even if] I’m in the middle of something and I have plans, I have to drop all of that. It doesn’t SOFIA FARAGO really upset me RISING STAR Farago fi lms her fi rst music video, which premieres this Janurary. anymore, though, because when you look at the bigger picture, you have lease her new album and music and friendship. I know I’ve gone to know what your priorities are, video for her song “You’re My…” through a lot of tough times myand my number one priority right in January. This new album will self, so I want to let them know that now is definitely my career,” Farfeature all the songs Farago has co- they’re not alone,” Farago said. ago said. written over the past year.

For more information on Amber She is currently working with “I really want to inspire girls my Marie, go to: www.AmberMariImpact Entertainment Co. to reage or even younger about life, love eLive.com

Wednesday, December 11, 2013

BY HANNA KANG ASST. EDITORIAL EDITOR

Tick tock, tick tock. The monstrous clock strikes 12 and Katniss Everdeen, the girl on fire, is in danger. Real danger. It is only a matter of time until everyone and everything she has so dauntlessly fought for will take a turn for the worst.

Of course, I won’t give away the reason why I referred to a clock, for the meat and potatoes of the game scheme are not mine to tell. I encourage you to watch the film to find out for yourself.

“The Hunger Games: Catching Fire” makes a headlong dive into

the seething rebellion of the Districts that Katniss Everdeen (Jennifer Lawrence) unintentionally incited with her act of defiance at the 74th annual Hunger Games.

Katniss and her co-Hunger Games champion Peeta Mellark (Josh Hutcherson) have become celebrities as the star-crossed lovers from District 12, but the fight is far from over. To punish Katniss’ insubordination, President Snow (Donald Sutherland) announces the Quarter Quell, a fierce victor-to-victor faceoff in a much more brutally designed arena. What ensues is an intense sequence of events as Katniss comes to accept and realize her symbolic role as the mockingjay.

I absolutely admire J-Law. The depth of emotion she con-

Photo courtesy of hunger-games.net

GIRL ON FIRE - Caesar interviews Katniss in her voluminous wedding dress.

THE BULL’S EYE

veys through her eyes and body language is amazing. Her character once again blows the apple cleanly out of the pig’s mouth, amazing both the moviegoers and the residents of the 12 Districts.

The 23-year-old Oscar winner has clearly stepped up her game as an actress since becoming the archer heroine of the screen adaptation of Suzanne Collin’s bestselling “Hunger Games” trilogy.

In “Catching Fire,” Lawrence rediscovers Katniss Everdeen and allows her to break free from the constraints set by the novel. Katniss is undoubtedly an idolized figure, much more the leading symbol of a kindling rebellion, but that is not where the final knot is secured. Unlike those unreachable heroes of all-time favorites such as “The Lord of the Rings,” Lawrence remodels the prototype into an approachable figure by portraying Katniss as a rather reluctant celebrity who simply wants to survive and protect her family and friends.

Yet if there is one thing I hate about the whole series, however exhilarating the films may be, it is the brutality behind it all. Sure, I understand Collins wants to teach us something—the horrors that power, wealth, and mindless amusement can bring upon innocent teenagers. But really, the excessive death and destruction that is the unifying backdrop of these novels is quite unnecessary to convey a

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

11

Photo courtesy of entertainmentwise.com

NEVER ALONE - Standing with Effie Trinket, Peeta and Katniss give the threefingered salute for their home district. moral theme, whatever it may be.

Aside from such shortcomings, the film is worth the full 146 minutes of your time. New director Francis Lawrence does a remarkable job of presenting the “kids killing kids” concept in a far more mature manner than its prequel.

The director also manages to present the intense action sequences most skillfully, with none of that handheld camera shaking that director Gary Ross utilized in “The Hunger Games.”

In addition to the boost in the production, both returning and newly-joined stars step up their

game to create a viewing experience that is significantly better than the first. Elizabeth Banks is terrific as the eccentric Effie Trinket and Sutherland is better than ever as the evil President Snow.

Fresh recruits, Sam Claflin as District Four’s Finnick Odair and Jena Malone as District Seven’s Johanna Mason surpass all expectations.

Will Katniss Everdeen ever deliver herself and her allies from the unimaginable menaces of the arena? Tick tock, tick tock. The clock is ticking away, louder than ever, and you have yet to find out her fate.

Winter Winds Blows Away Audience

BY VRINDA CHAUHAN STAFF WRITER

Whoever wrote “Baby It’s Cold Outside,” must have had DBHS’s annual Winter Winds Concert in mind, because the warm and fuzzy feeling inside the theater last Friday made it more than a little difficult to leave.

The concert kicked off with a solo medley of songs ranging from sweet, classic Christmas jingles to jazzy, spicy holiday favorites. The stage was a wonderland of red, white, and green, with fairy lights blinking to truly create the ambiance of winter holidays.

After the medley, which ended with a dazzling solo of “Once Upon a December” by senior Diana Power, the choir group came together

VRIINDA CHAUHAN

FESTIVE JINGLE - Marquis members light up Christmas with their voices.

to sing “We Need a Little Christmas”/ “Let It Snow.” As the harmonious voices filled the air with syrupy-sweet holiday melodies, one could not have anticipated the red-hot, fun, and festive turn the event would take.

Marquis took a rural spin on the traditional Christmas with the “Home for Holidays Medley.” With junior Yasi Hekmat introducing the next theme with a zealous “howdy,” the singers came back onstage in white overalls and began to sing the next set of songs, which included “Raise a Ruckus” and “Country Christmas Tree.” Some songs, such as “Grandma Got Run Over by a Reindeer,” doubled as skits, and a few songs even sought audience participation by having the crowd clap with the beat.

“It was really entertaining and fun to watch. My favorite was definitely the country dancing part,” junior Sofia Minassian, an audience member, said.

The second half of the concert included more solo medleys, this time with more jazzy themed music. One particularly interesting song was “A Real Live Lady,” sung by junior Alex Silva, in which he asked for, well, a real live lady for Christmas. This piece was definitely a crowd pleaser, including numerous dancers with feather boas.

The last part of the concert included a medley of sacred carols, such as “Silent Night” and “The First Noel.” The concert was concluded with a brief 30-second recap of the entire concert.

“The kids put in a lot of hard work countless hours to make it work. I’m very proud of the way they worked together,” Patty Breitag, the choir teacher, stated.

BY CLAIRE HUANG A&E EDITOR

When I peruse the shelves at Barnes and Noble, I always find myself guilty of judging a book by its cover. When I see cheesy, romantic covers, I walk away, and when I am in the mood for mystery novels, I look for the darker, more serious covers. However, at first sight, I couldn’t figure out the contents of Mark Haddon’s “The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time.”

The bright orange cover and upside down cut out of a dog hinted that the novel would be comical; I was caught off guard when I actually opened the book and was taken on an emotional and touching journey of Christopher John Francis Boone and his honest attempt to uncover the murder mystery of a neighborhood dog.

The novel’s perspective is similar to that of “Flowers for Algernon.” Both novels have the narrator explaining the events of his life through a journal. However, “The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time” includes drawings and an adventurous personality that differentiate the novel from others. Within the first few pages of the book, I was introduced to Christopher, who seems to have Asperger’s Syndrome and is determined to solve a doggy homicide that occurred in his neighborhood.

At first, I found it strange that the first journal entry was num-

Meet the New Sherlock Holmes bered with “2” at first instead of “1,” but later, I discovered that Christopher prefers numbering his book with prime numbers.

This is merely one of the oddities that make the narrator so charming and unique. He is undeniably

smart and has certain preferences, such as a phobia of being touched, that are revealed throughout the novel. It is also shown that the novel is his attempt of writing a murder mystery novel because of his affinity for puzzles. He is incredibly intelligent, which is evi-

dent from his passion for reading novels and working on elaborate math problems.

Initially, the story is supposed to be about the dog’s murder, but it turns out that it is mostly about Christopher’s accidental journey of self-discovery. While he is on the hunt for justice, he uncovers secrets hidden by his father and eventually reveals the disrupted dynamic of his family. Throughout the novel, I slowly grew to love the father for his faults and his whole-hearted love for Christopher. I sympathized with the father as he tries his best to take care of Christopher and becomes well aware of Christopher’s unusual habits. I felt my heart melt every time the father constantly reassures Christopher that he loves him.

I found comedy, dramatic moments, and surprises that impelled me to finish the book in one sitting. However, I was disappointed with the ending and closed the book unsatisfied.

Yet, the little details and pictures throughout the story slightly made up for the lacking conclusion. Although Christopher is a child, I saw the honest ambition and humor in his attempts to write his mystery novel and enjoyed his journey. The characters were all very genuine and the prose effortlessly emulates the thoughts of a young boy. “The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time” is great for a light read or a smile of amusement from Christopher’s doodles.

12 FEATURE

THE BULL’S EYE

Wednesday, December 11 , 2013

A GLIMPSE OF THE

Brahma Life LUNCH TIME TRASH TROUBLE

De esp spit ite e th the e wiide desp sp pre read ad tra ash sh bin ns, a ser e ious us tra rash sh pro robl b em bl em pla lagues the campu pus s.

Read more about trash, pg. 5 Photos by YUSHENG XIA

Typhoon Yolanda hit the nation on Nov. 8.

HELP FOR THE PHILIPPINES

Memb Me mbers of the Kab abay ayan Cllub se ay ell $1 br brac acel ac elet el ets et s fo forr fu fund nds s du duri ring ng lunch.

Photo courtesy of DAILYMAIL.CO.UK

School works together to provide aid A devastating typhoon hit the Philippines on Nov. 8, killing at least 5,700 people and injuring more than 26,000.

In order to help provide relief funds to the survivors of Typhoon Yolanda, several clubs and organizations across Diamond Bar High School have joined forces to host various activities and fundraise at least $2,000 in relief.

Peer Counseling members, along with members of the Kababayan Club, have been selling wristbands for

$1 and collecting donations during lunch for the past several weeks. USB members also placed donation buckets in every classroom and offered a pizza party for the class who raised the most money by Dec. 6.

Peer Counseling hosted an awareness event during lunch on Nov. 25 to raise funds. This event featured special performances by the Dance Team, Song, Solitaire choir, and the school’s Drumline. The organization also sold raffle tickets nearby.

Song Tea So e m pe p rforrms at Pe Pee er Cou er ouns nsel elin ng’ g s ev e en e t on o Nov v. 25 5.

Photos by KATLYN LEE

Wednesday, December 11, 2013

THE BULL’S EYE

SPORTS

13

The Lady Brahmas’ backcourt of Wu and Wong led the way for Diamond Bar GIRLS BASKETBALL | Even without former star Yewande Alabi, Lady Brahmas finished the Wilson tournament with a record of 2-2.

BY JAMES KIL CONTRIBUTING WRITER

During Thanksgiving break, the Diamond Bar girls basketball team competed in the annual Wilson Basketball Tournament. DB finished the tournament with an overall record of 2-2 by defeating El Monte and Maranatha, but was unable to place, losing two close games.

“We have a philosophy where every game is a championship game.” coach Tony McCabe said.

On the first day of the Wilson tournament, the Lady Brahmas started off well and led the whole game, but a fatal mistake resulted in a loss to the South Hills Huskies 43-42. With DB and SH tied with one second remaining, the Lady Brahmas gave up a foul, allowing a South Hills Husky player to shoot two free-throws. In the disappointing loss, senior guard Norah Wu stood out by leading the Lady Brahmas with 18 points.

The next day, the Lady Brahmas came out strong and defeated the Maranatha Minutemen 48-40.

Senior guard Natalie Wong, who had 13 points, made three threepointers and junior forward Molly McCabe made two three-pointers, helping the Brahmas improve their record to 1-1.

Although DB was down until the third quarter, the Lady Brahmas did not give up. Playing with all their energy, the Lady Brahmas made an enormous comeback and defeated the El Monte Lions 39-34. Freshman Lauren Del Campos made 11 out of 14 clutch free throws in the second half.

In the last game against the Ayala Bulldogs, the Lady Brahmas

fought hard, but could not quite finish as they lost 40-32. With 50 seconds left in the game, DB was down by three, but the Bulldogs hit a three-pointer. After missing their shot during the Brahmas’ possession, DB fouled an Ayala player and she made two clutch freethrows. Wu led the Lady Brahmas again with 16 points. Throughout the tournament, sophomore Destinee Garr led the team in rebounds “[The game] was actually closer than the score,” McCabe said.

Without Yewande Alabi, last year’s co-captain center who dominated the paint and set many school reboutnding records, the Lady Brahmas will have to de-

We have a philosophy where every game is a championship game Coach Tony McCabe pend on a team effort to match up against the top teams in the Hacienda League.

“We’re hoping to challenge for the league title,” McCabe said. The Lady Brahmas had an overall record of 15-13 with a 7-5 Hacienda League record last year. The 2013 team was stopped by the San Clemente Tritons losing 66-29 in the first round of the Southern CIF Division playoffs.

This week, the Lady Brahmas will participate in the annual Claremont Girls Tournament. Placing third last year, DB hopes to achieve more in this tournament and continue their momentum into the tournament and Hacienda League play.

XING YEN QUEK

GETTING READY - Seniors Natalie Wong (bottom left) and Soo Chi Bang(bottom right) and freshman Lauren Del Campos(top) get ready for the Claremont Tournament and for Hacienda League play.

Brahmas win a tough match

EMILY HWANG & JOSEPH PARK

FIGHTING THROUGH THE DEFENSE - Junior Nico di Donato and senior Rees Vollebregt sets up junior Guy Horcasitas to complete a hat trick.

BOYS SOCCER | In a tournament match against Long Beach Millikan, junior Guy Horcasitas led the way with three goals.

BY JOSEPH PARK SPORTS EDITOR

Competing in the Glendora Tournament on Friday, the Diamond Bar soccer team faced off against the Long Beach Millikan Rams.

The game went back and forth, but with the help of junior sensation Guy Horcasitas, the Brahmas managed to come out on top with the 3-2 victory.

“Our team played outstandingly, we just beat one of the best program in Southern California.

They’re loaded every year with talented players and we beat them,” coach Kemp Wells said.

This was a highly anticipated match, with both teams expected as favorites to go deep in the playoffs. Both teams were playing hard from the start, but with an excellent offensive possession, Horcasitas scored the first goal of the match. However, the tough offensive line of the Rams kept pounding the other end of the field.

Eventually, the Rams found a slip through the defense to tie the game at one apiece.

The Brahmas were relentless on the night of the game, never giving

up and trying their best to get past the durable defense of LBM. The

Our team played outstandingly, we just beat one of the best ...

Coach Kemp Wells ball rolled toward the right and, after a center kick to the middle, Horcasitas was at the right place at

the right time to score the second goal for DB, increasing the lead to 2-1.

However, with LBM being the resilient team that it is, the Rams came back with another goal to tie the game at two. After minutes of going back and forth, DB eventually found its golden opportunity.

Following a great pass down the right wing of the field, senior Joey Yim made a perfect cross right to Horcasitas. Horcasitas accepted the perfect pass and converted it nicely into the game-winning goal.

The Brahma’s defense did not allow any more goals for the rest of the match. The final whistle blew

and the crowd started to cheer, DB, the underdogs of the match, defeated the Rams 3-2. This was a great win for the Brahmas and a confidence booster for the rest of the season as they hope to go deep in the playoffs.

“I know they were banged up a little bit because they had a rough week but so did we so that’s equal,” Wells said. Winning league is our number one priority. Going a couple of runs in the playoffs will be a nice middle goal and I think if we play well we can go deeper. I think we have the talent to go deep in the playoffs, we will have to find out how deep we can go.”

14 SPORTS

Wednesday, December 11, 2013

THE BULL’S EYE

Diamond Bar places seventh at Tourney BOYS BASKETBALL |Senior Christian Manalo leads the Brahmas with 50 points and 12 steals throughout the tournament.

XING YEN QUEK & EMILY HWANG

PROGRESS WITH PRACTICE - The Brahmas like juniors Kenneth Thai (Right) and Collins Yeboah-Afari (Top left) and senior Daniel Thai (Bottom left), get ready for league play.

BY ANDREW CHOI SPORTS EDITOR

Winning a CIF game last year for the first time since 2005, the Diamond Bar boys basketball started its 2013-14 season by participating in the second annual Tip Off at the Empire tournament. Competing against elite teams like the Corona Centennial Huskies and Etiwanda Eagles, the Brahmas placed seventh and finished the tournament with a 1-3 record.

“As the tournament went on, we progressively got better in each game, which is all you can hope for early in the season,” coach Henry

Frierson said.

On the first day of the tournament, the Brahmas were matched up against the highly-talented Huskies. Corona Centennial is the 12th best team in the state and consists of superstar point guard Sedrick Barefield, who is one of the most renowned players in the nation and has received scholarship offers from Connecticut and Michigan State University. DB, outplayed from the start of the game, lost the match 84-40.

“We were a little shell shocked in the first. They were probably the fastest and strongest team we are going to face all year. We learned the hard way from it,” Frierson said.

This was not the first time the

Brahmas faced such tough competition. Early last season, DB competed against the Etiwanda Eagles, who later won the Southern Division CIF playoffs. The Eagles also

They were probably the fastest and strongest team we are going to face all year.

Coach Henry Frierson had a superstar of their own, USCbound Jordan McLaughlin, who is the 37th ranked player in the class of 2014.

After losing the second game of the tournament to the Central Fresno Grizzlies 69-41, the Brahmas could not keep up with the East Bakersfield Blades, losing 4941. Senior captain and point guard Christian “Money” Manalo lead the way with 18 points, 12 coming in the fourth quarter. Manalo finished the tournament with 50 points and 12 steals. Junior center Austin Kim also stepped up as he finished the game with six points with eight rebounds, six of them offensive.

On the last day of the tournament, the Brahmas defeated the Dorsey Dons 53-52 after making a 28-15 run in the second half to give DB seventh place in the tournament. Manalo finished the game

AARON OH ATHLETE OF THE MONTH Tackling down challenges one at a time.

BY EMILY WONG ASST. A&E EDITOR

With a plethora of extracurricular activities and a rigorous schedule, senior Aaron Oh seems to be a jack of all trades.

He began his remarkable journey in the summer before freshman year when he decided to lose weight and challenge himself. Now Oh is the captain of Diamond Bar’s varsity wrestling team.

“I have always heard that wrestling is the hardest sport on campus. I just wanted to have a challenge,” Oh said.

Competing in the 160-pound weight division, the captain has been on varsity since sophomore year, a feat that few have emulated.

In addition to this achievement, Oh qualified for CIF the past two years.

Though Oh has had many achievements, one of his most memorable ones is a home match

against Walnut last year. Oh had successfully pinned and defeated the captain of Walnut, an opponent he had previously lost to.

Outside of wrestling, Oh balances a hectic schedule filled with five AP classes. By the end of his senior

It’s not easy but for me, I use wrestling more as like an escape.

Aaron Oh year, Oh will have completed a total of 12 AP courses. In addition, he is involved in school clubs such as Class Committee, Habitat for Humanity, and the Kababayan Club.

Despite the heavy workload, Oh managed to maintain an impressive 4.0 GPA. “It’s not easy but for me, I use

wrestling more as like an escape, like a channel, like a way to relieve pressure from school,” the captain stated. “When school puts too much pressure on me, I use wrestling as a means to release all my stress so that’s why I’m able to work so well.”

The sport also requires discipline, which includes giving up social time and certain foods, even during the holidays such as Thanksgiving and Christmas, the prime time for wrestling season.

“Wrestling has definitely taught me a lot about sacrifice and selfcontrol,” the senior commented.

Oh’s goals for the near future is to lead the team to CIF and, hopefully, masters and state. His primary goal, however, is to be accepted to Stanford University, where he would like to major in Biology for pre-med.

“Collegiate wrestling is not my main focus, but I wouldn’t mind taking wrestling as a club sport or possibly a varsity sport in college,” Oh said.

with 14 points on four three-pointers, and junior guard Kenneth Thai scored ten points during the game.

Last season, the Brahmas made history by reaching the second round of the playoffs. Playing a hard fought game, DB could not match up against the El Toro Matadors’ size losing 66-50. After losing six seniors from the squad, the team is now looking to rebuild and compete fiercely in each and every game.

“League Championship, “Frierson said on what the team’s expectations are for the season. “I expect my team to play their best and hardest in each and every game this season. Whenever we step in a game or a tournament, we want to win.”

Wednesday, December 11, 2013

Lady Brahmas finish second to Torrey Pines

THE BULL’S EYE

SPORTS

Meme of the Month

matches, DB finishes second in CIF state.

Diamond Bar girls golf team followed suit from last season, finishing second in CIF for the second consecutive year. This season was another remarkable year in which DB added onto its excellent golfing legacy. Falling short behind Torrey Pines for the second time, the Lady Brahmas gained much experience and confidence heading into next season.

“We maxed out this season. Last year’s team was an unbelievable team, but we were about 20 strokes better than last year,” coach Tony McCabe said.

Losing to TP last year by 18 in the state finals, the Lady Brahmas were determined to take first this year. Although that did not quite happen, DB, yet again, proved that a high school in a suburban area can compete with the big boys.

The Lady Brahmas lost to TP by 32. “They got better. Our team this year, the scores that we posted, were the best scores in state history except for Torrey Pines,” McCabe said.

Now that first place was out of reach, it was a classic rivalry match between cross-town rivals, DB and Walnut, for the runner-up.

It was a close head-to-head match. After sophomore Josephine Chang shot a 75, she tied Walnut at 396. Now it was up to senior Lynn Lee who shot an 89 while Walnut shot a 90, ending the second place match as a victory for the Lady Brahmas.

Last year’s team was an unbelievable team, but we were about 20 strokes better than last year.

Coach Tony McCabe It has been such a tradition in Diamond Bar for golf that it has been common to place in CIF state.

“It was an unbelievable match for us. The girls were so excited. We worked so hard and we overcame.

All our players were awesome,” McCabe said.

NFl

The Kansas City Chiefs face struggles against elite teams.

COACH PROFILE Name: Albert Lim Currently Coaching: Wrestling and Football Coaching Since: 2010 Albert Lim, the weight training teacher, started coaching at Diamond Bar three years ago. He graduated from DB in 1996.

He was on the school’s wrestling team and a part of the 1995 CIF championship football team. Lim was in the military from years 1997-2001 and was promoted to platoon sergeant where he would become squad leader. He graduated from USC and earned his Masters in Social Work. Additionally, Lim is also a certified personal trainer. As a part of the school’s wrestling and football coaching staff, Lim is the strength and conditioning coach. “I try to use my knowledge to help these kids,” Lim said.

Bittersweet ending for the Brahmas in CIF playoffs FOOTBALL | Diamond Bar football team’s historical 2013 season ended with a devastating loss against the number one seeded La Serna Lancers 51-7.

BY ANDREW CHOI SPORTS EDITOR

The Diamond Bar football team’s 2013 season comes to an end. After an exciting win over the reigning CIF champs Downey Vikings 6329, the Brahmas could not keep up with the La Serna Lancers losing 51-7. It was a rollercoaster year

for the Brahmas as they finish the season with an overall record of 7-5 and a Hacienda League record of 3-3. It is a vast improvement from last year’s overall record of 4-6.

Before the match, the Brahmas came into the game with their heads up high. Winning their first CIF game in over a decade, DB had all the momentum it needed against Lancers. However that was not enough, as the Lancers scored early and fast. In their first posses-

SPORTS COLUMN

Exceeding Expectations

BY ANDREW CHOI SPORTS EDITOR

GIRLS GOLF | After many hours of practices and

BY JOSEPH PARK SPORTS EDITOR

15

sion of the game , Lancers quickly ran the ball up the sidelines to the endzone, scoring the first points of the game. LS would not stop their offensive power as they lead 31-0 by halftime.

The Brahmas’ offense would show some firepower as they scored on their first possession of the second half. Junior co-captain and quarterback Tyler Peterson threw a slant pass to junior wide receiver Cordell Broadus for an

easy score. However, those are the only points for the Brahmas as they outmatched and lost 51-7.

Peterson finished the season with 1969 passing yards and a total of 25 touchdowns. Heavily recruited by colleges, Broadus had 60 receptions for 685 yards with eight touchdowns. The 6’2 athlete is currently ranked as the number two receiver in California and the sixth receiver in the nation.

The Brahmas’ season was something that the school will not forget. It featured a brawl that led to many suspensions handed out by CIF, a forfeit to the Rowland Raiders, and a three peat of the Branding Iron game. Senior co-captain running back Tyler Brown had a monster season with 1096 rushing yards and 21 touchdowns.

With the season coming to a close, the Brahmas are looking forward the 2014 season. DB will have junior wide receiver and defensive back Kanya Bell back after suffering an ACL injury early in the season. Bell finished the 2012 season with 45 passes for 755 yards and eight touchdowns. Peterson will have many offensive weapons next year with Bell, Broadus, and junior wide receiver Austin Cox. Throughout the season, the Brahmas did not play with junior football star Antonio Hull. With the West Covina transfer now eligible to play the next full season, the Brahmas are something everyone should keep an eye on for the 2014 season.

For many years, the Diamond Bar football team has been overlooked due to the fact that the program only had two winning seasons since 2003. However, the 2013 season was the start of a new trend for the Brahmas.

The football team finished the season with an overall record of 7-5 and reached the quarterfinals of the CIF playoffs for the first time in more than a decade. Many consider that the Brahmas have reached their maximum potential and will not go further in the playoffs next year. However, with the talent it will possesses even after the loss of senior running Tyler Brown to graduation, I think the 2014 team will not only reach the semi-finals of CIF, but will also become one of the top football programs in Southern California.

Over the past decade, the football team was not able to reach its expectations. Even when it was considered a below-average team, the DB program has sent numerous former Brahmas to the collegiate level to play football and even the NFL, for instance Ryan Wendell of the New England Patriots and most recently class of 2012 George Katrib of the USC Trojans. Let’s not forget, many of the coaches on staff also played in the collegiate staff.

In the next season, the DB program will undoubtedly send a few more players to play in the collegiate level and continue the rich tradition of being a Brahma.

The 2014 football team will be one of the best squads DB will have ever produced. With the mastermind of head coach Ryan Maine calling the plays, the Brahmas will be an unstoppable force on offense.

With starting quarterback Tyler Peterson back at the helm of the offense for his third consecutive year, the game will run smoothly for DB. In 2013, the underrated quarterback threw for 1969 yards with 18 touchdowns and also ran for seven touchdowns.

Peterson will have plenty of help with wide receivers Cordell Broadus and Kanya Bell coming back.

Broadus and Bell have consistently produced numbers, and this is why both are heavily recruited by collegiate teams. As the number one receiver in 2013, Broadus has caught 60 receptions for 685 yards with eight touchdowns. With his 6’2 frame and a long wingspan, Broadus caused confusions among the defense and used this advantage while playing.

Bell, however, will be back after recovering from a torn ACL injury which he suffered early in the season. In 2012, Bell caught 45 passes for 755 yards and eight touchdowns.

With Broadus and Bell at both ends of the field, the offense will cause havoc for every defense it faces.

With the core of the defensive team coming back, opposing teams will be intimidated from the start of the game. With safeties Antonio Hull and Isaiah Thompson and cornerback Cameron Hayes defending the passing game, many opponents will hesitate to throw a pass against the coverage. Hull has been one of the elite athletes of the Hacienda League, gaining interest from local colleges, while Thompson has the quickness to pick off any pass and return it for the pick six.

I have no doubt the 2014 football team will reach the semifinals of the CIF playoffs. People may call this prediction crazy and even call me a fool. However, when the team fulfills its full potential, all the talk about Diamond Bar being an average program will be gone.

16 SPORTS

THE BULL’S EYE

Wednesday, December 11, 2013

SPORTS Defense dominates the Tartans GIRLS SOCCER | The Lady Brahmas’ stellar defense leads them to a 2-1 victory against the Glendora.

BY KATLYN LEE NEWS EDITOR

Last Wednesday, Diamond Bar High School’s girls soccer team started the season with a 2-1 win over the Glendora Tartans. The Lady Brahmas were able to gain the lead in the first half and maintain it throughout the match. The highlight of the night was the DB’s defense.

“As a whole, defensively, I was really impressed by the way we played tonight. We started with a freshman in the back tonight, and she played really well for us, and we had a player who played defense for the first time, and she was amazing. I’ll give a lot of credit to our defense, our mid-fielders, and our forwards; they all played really well,” Coach Matt Brummett said.

To give the team a strong start, DB sophomore forward Hayley Everhart scored the first goal near the start of the game, gaining a lead of 1-0.

Although the defense was spectacular throughout the match, the Lady Brahmas allowed only one goal to slide, tying the game at one a piece. After this goal, the Lady Brahmas were determined to not let another goal pass by.

After the score by the Tartans, the Lady Brahmas were able to gain back the lead with another goal. With the offense flowing, getting the first goal was not a problem. With a killer’s mentality, DB went on a roll, scoring another goal before the half ended. The ball fumbled into the net in DB’s favor after a dangerous scramble around the goal. Senior forward Megan Olson deserved credit for the goal,

although an accidental one. Soon after the Brahmas received another chance to score with a penalty kick, but missed the shot.

“For our first game, I was really impressed. Coming into the season, knowing that we had good players, but not knowing as far as team goes, I was really impressed with our team tonight. It’s our first game, so we have a lot of things we can do better, but I’m satisfied with our first game,” Brummett said.

During the second half of the game, DB missed some scoring op-

It’s our first game, so we have a lot of things we can do better...

Coach Matt Brummett portunities, but was able to maintain a great defense throughout.

The Tartans played aggressively in the second half, making multiple attempts to score. However, they were no match against the Lady Brahmas, who upheld the lead until the end of the game.

“Consistency is always a really big deal to me. There’s no such thing as consistency after the first game; but if we can build upon this performance and consistently win, then I’ll be satisfied,” Brummett stated on his outlook of the season.

The Lady Brahmas won first place in the San Dimas Tournament by having a record of 3-0-1. DB shut out every opponent it faced.

Junior Helena Kisor took home MVP in the tournament while six other Lady Brahmas earnned All Tournament Team Honors.

XING YEN QUEK

DRIBBLING LIKE MESSI- Junior Helena Kisor gets around her opponent for a shot at goal.

Four Brahmas place in Top Eight WRESTLING | Competing with 31 other teams, seniors Aaron Oh, Joseph Rodriguez, Jeremy Foo, and junior Donny Palmer place in the top eight at Carter High School.

BY ANGIE ZHANG EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

Competing at two different tournaments on the same day, Diamond Bar’s varsity wrestling team exhibited a versatility rarely seen in high school.

Part of the varsity team competed at the Carter High School individual tournaments this past Saturday, with four wrestlers placing in the top eight amongst other wrestlers from 32 different schools.

Senior captain Jeremy Foo placed 4th at 145, pinning his opponent from Oak Hills in a mere 12 seconds and two others from Etiwanda and Laguna Hills in 52 and 53 seconds, respectively. “My coaches told me to stay focused and

ANGIE ZHANG

PIN TO WIN - Sophomore Blake Goodman prepares to pin his opponen to win the match. just work my moves,” Foo said.

Senior captain Aaron Oh was pitted against the same wrestler from Beaumont twice in two days and placed 5th at 170. “Both times,

I got him on his back with the same move. There was a little pressure because I felt that I had to prove myself as captain. The team needs a little work, but overall we’re do-

ing well,” Oh said.

Senior Joseph Rodriguez and junior Donny Palmer both placed 7th in their respective weight categories, 120 and 128. Palmer went

undefeated the first day of the matches. “I was a bit hesitant in the match with [a wrestler] from Laguna Hills since I wasn’t aware that they were a good school, but I was able to pull through on top,” Palmer said.

The rest of the varsity team competed at a team tournament at Glendora against schools from Azusa, Charter Oaks, Gladstone, Glendora, and West Covina. “Our varsity went 2-3 and placed 4th out of 6 schools. We were wrestling without two weight classes. It was a really good opportunity to get all of our wrestlers in the tournament,” wrestling coach Scott Usher stated.

Notable wrestlers who competed at Glendora included juniors Derrick Moss and Yong Choi, and sophomores Leighlan Corpus and Blake Goodman. Matches featuring Moss and Goodman were always fastpaced, with Moss immediately moving to pin his opponent and Goodman quickly escaping holds on his nimble feet. Corpus, unfortunately, sustained a head injury early in the tournament, but continued to give his all.

“Our coaches really get [us into} a determined mindset, they give good life advice too—it’s important to get back up when you’re knocked down,” Corpus said.