NOVEMBER 2018

INSIDE THE ISSUE

opinion 4 4 opinion

feature 7

sports 15

a&e 12

the bull’s eye NEWS

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OPINION

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FEATURE

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NOVEMBER 14, 2018 VOLUME XXXVII, ISSUE III ONLINE AT DBBULLSEYE.COM

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

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SPORTS

TEDx Talks return vape clouds for second year spread at db This year's speeches in the school theater feature subjects such as gender, smoking, social media.

KRISTEN SANCHEZ asst. feature editor The Wellness Center’s TED-inspired talks are taking to the Diamond Bar High School stage once again after last year’s teacher attendees were in total agreement that the event should continue.

“I believe the event was so successful because the student speakers were so passionate about their topics and prepared so well,” Wellness Center coordinator Sandy Davis said via email.

Approximately 80 students auditioned and 18 were selected to express their personal message on mental wellness.

A few of the topics that will be

presented at the event include gender fluidity, gender equality, jealousy, biracial identity, social media and its effects on creativity, smoking/vaping and the stigmas of suicide.

“The topics are really organic for each person,” Instructional Dean Julie Galindo said. “We want the subject matter to be as personal as possible so that way the students’ excitement, knowledge and passion transcends into their speech.”

Though Davis ultimately had the final say in who is selected, Wellness Center advisers Daniel Roubian and Galindo expressed that their criteria for choosing speakers mainly depended on the student’s ability to speak publicly and express ideas clearly while giving an overall good and thoughtful narrative.

Much of their focus, however, was spent on making sure there would be a variety of subjects cov-

page 8

66%

of 10th graders

53%

preview ON P. 3

AMELIE LEE

The organization will provide scholarship opportunities for students starting in December.

College Board has announced that it will be awarding scholarships to students not for their SAT scores, but for their efforts in practicing for the SAT and completing the college planning process.

The nonprofit organization will establish a $25 million scholarship program called the College Board Opportunity Scholarships in December, starting with the class of 2020.

Over the next five years, students will be awarded around 4,000 scholarships annually.

According to College Board CEO David Coleman, the organization decided to launch the scholarship program to help guide students on the path to college, from taking the SAT to exploring and applying to universities.

The more effort students put in, the more opportunities they will have to earn a scholarship that ranges between $50 and $2,000.

scholarships ON P. 13

of 11th graders

of 12th graders

Percent of students who know someone who vapes regularly

of 9th graders

College AN EGG-CELLENT TEST Board to help students elizabeth peng asst. news editor

71%

79%

ANGELA YANG

From left, AP Physics students Ernesto Perez, Joshua Park, Royce Park and Colin Park test the ability of their contraptions to protect an egg held inside.

Brahmas introduced to new AP courses Human Geography, Computer Science classes added to curriculum. angela yang news editor Catering to both the tastes of humanities and STEM-inclined Brahmas, AP Human Geography and AP Computer Science Principles are two new additions to the Diamond Bar High School curriculum this year.

Five years after longtime U.S. history teacher Ty Watkins began advocating for the addition of APHG to the school’s curriculum, he is finally teaching the subject as

a first period-exclusive class.

“Today, it's so important to know about the Earth and know about migration and immigration,” Watkins said. “It's such a hot topic that we don't really teach it in our curriculums in any other class.”

During its 18 years of existence, APHG has typically been offered by schools as a course for freshmen.

Some schools, including DBHS, offer it as another AP elective, so freshmen cannot take the class.

“Originally what [the school] wanted to do was get it as an elective to start, and maybe in the next couple years [make it into] a course that will be offered as an AP class for freshmen,” Watkins said.

AP Classes ON P. 2

Learning beyond the classroom Pathways students take various educational trips around Southern Calif.

RENEE ELEFANTE asst. NEWS EDITOR For the past 21 years, Diamond Bar High School’s Pathways Communications Academy program has been taking their students on day-long educational trips around Southern California.

The program, which is one of 500 California Partnership Academies, offers college preparation courses for sophomores, juniors and seniors.

Pathways also provides smaller class sizes, leadership training and a mentoring program for its students.

The program creates family groups to give its 100 students many opportunities to intermingle

with each other.

“Pathways is exactly the same as normal school, you learn the same exact things,” senior Elyssa Rodriguez said. “The only difference is we get a tighter experience with the people around us and we get to go on field trips and have more real-word experiences compared to just your average class.”

The nine field trips these students take are the sophomore Retreat and junior Ropes Course in October, sophomore Whale Watching and senior Escape Room in November, All-Academy trip and Home Boy Industries in January, sophomore College Visit in March, junior Nixon Library trip in April and senior Retreat in May. During the one-day October retreat, sophomores head to the San Bernardino Mountains to play games and bond with one another.

Juniors who go on the ropes

pathways ON P. 3

Photo courtesy of MARIO ENRIQUEZ

Junior Ryan Mendoza poses for the camera as he gets ready to zipline on Pathways's Orange County Ropes Course trip in Anaheim on Oct. 18.

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NEWS

NOVEMBER 14, 2018

THE BULL'S EYE

Robotics wins Beach Blitz Team Sprocket achieves success amid technical difficulties in first match.

tion issues with our bot and its remote halfway through the competition, but for the most part we were able to kink those out,” Song said.

“Our greatest accomplishment was getting autonomous routine, the portion of the match where

VICTOriA Artale Asst. PHOTO editor Despite a rocky start, Team Sprocket came out of the annual Beach Blitz pre-season competition at Marina High School as quarter finalists with an 8-5 record. The team’s victorious first match set high standards for the rest of the year.

“We didn’t go into the competition super confident and thinking we were going to win or anything,” robotics senior co-captain Kenneth Song said. “It was more about the experience this time around, since so many of our members were new.”

While most robotics teams spend the week before competition testing the robot, Sprocket was still rushing to build theirs, causing mechanical problems later at last month’s competition. “[A] major thing was that, in our third match of quarter finals, one of our tubes detached from the compressed air that affected the movement of the robot,” junior cocaptain Jessica Yen said.

Without the compressed air, the arm of the robot went up but no longer had the ability to bring itself back down. Because of this, the raised arm was unable to move the objects needed to score points in the match.

“We did have some communica-

“We didn't go into the competition...thinking we were going to win or anything."

KENNETH SONG the robot moves without any human control during a match, much better than it was at the end of last competition season.”

Team Sprocket plans to prevent these accidents from happening again by creating a checklist of the robot’s different parts to prevent any mechanical difficulties before

VICTORIA ARTALE

Robotics senior co-captain Kenneth Song assigns jobs during a club meeting to prepare for the First Robotics Competition Orange County Regional on Feb. 27.

Amelie Lee, Amy Miyahara

News Editor Asst. News Editors

Angela Yang Renee Elefante, Elizabeth Peng

Opinion Editor Asst. Opinion Editors

Ted Yarmoski Grace Lee, Erin Li

Feature Editor Asst. Feature Editors

Cindy Liu Kristen Sanchez, Kate Zheng

A&E Editor Asst. A&E Editors

Amelie Lee Josh Kim, Maggie Liu

Sports Editor Asst. Sports Editors

Amy Miyahara Ryan Lam, Johnny Wang

Photo Editor Asst. Photo Editors

Amelie Lee Victoria Artale, Tiffany Lee, Samyuktha Vellaiyan

Business Managers Asst. Business Managers Web Editor Asst. Web Editors

Catherine Liu, Cindy Liu Maggie Liu, Nia Mitchell Ted Yarmoski Christina Liu, Samyuktha Vellaiyan

Staff Writers

WHITAKER FILLS SESSIONS VACANCY

Acting Attorney General Matthew Whitaker, appointed last Wednesday, is an active critic of Robert Mueller's investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 presidential election.

While Jeff Sessions recused himself from overseeing the investigation—a move often berated by President Donald Trump—Whitaker has said he has no plans to do the same.

CLOSING THE DOOR ON THE CARAVANS

A proclamation by President Donald Trump last week ensures that asylum-seekers at the U.S. border will not have their request heard if they do not cross through official crossing points. Targeted at the caravans currently headed toward the country through Mexico, Trump’s plans will deny the possibility of asylum for all migrants traveling illegally into the U.S, with an exception for unaccompanied minors.

MIDTERMS MARK A MILESTONE FOR AMERICA

the staff Editors-in-Chief

each future match. The team came up with the idea from other teams they spoke with during the competition. According to the captains, Sprocket’s newer members displayed impressive ability to adapt to the social part of the robotics community.

“I see a lot of potential in our new members, and I get really excited to see them learning and talking to other teams and exchanging numbers and creating friendships,” Yen said. “It not only shows that we are friendly, but it is an opportunity to learn from others.”

With building season approaching in a month, the team hopes to improve with every competition.

Scoring high at Beach Blitz has qualified the team for the Orange County Regionals at UC Irvine on Feb. 27.

“We are going to be on the grind, getting a lot more design and assembly practice in for our engineering members,” Yen said.

Emily Koh, Camille McCurry

Adviser

Doug List

This year’s U.S. midterms saw a significant number of political firsts: Jared Polis as the first openly gay man elected to Congress; Ilhan Omar and Rashida Tlaib as the first Muslim women; and Sharice Davids and Deb Haaland as the first Native American women. Several new representatives also made history as the first of a specific minority to be elected from their state.

Classes offer fresh perspectives ap classes FROM p. 1 The class focuses on human migration and current affairs. According to Watkins, students often rely on online resources for information. A typical period might include a short documentary on culture or migration and a case study on a specific country, followed by open discussion.

“Definitely I've learned to see the perspectives of asylum-seekers and those trying to make a new life in a new country,” senior Soraab Rupal said. “I'm the son of an immigrant so I already had some sort of knowledge about that, but these people have to completely start over everything—most of them leave all of their family behind.”

Junior Sabrina Peng, who is also in Watkins’ AP U.S. History class, said the most prominent difference between APHG and a history course is the former’s focus on the

present rather than the past.

“We talk about our own views on issues such as population growth or racism, or we even talked about the birthright [citizenship] that is currently being discussed about with Donald Trump,” Peng said.

Meanwhile, APCSP keeps students up to date on the workings of the internet, data analysis and cyber security. Taught by computer science teacher Victor Lu, the course goes further in depth than AP Computer Science A by studying the principles behind the act of programming.

“Some students think that computer science is only coding. While coding is a huge part of computer science, it's not the only thing,” Lu said. “I want to let students know that there's a lot more than just programming, and that's CSP.” After learning a few basic concepts during class, students implement them on the computer in ac-

cordance with a specific prompt.

They contextualize what they learn by looking at real-life situations as models of what they do on their computers.

“So far we have covered algorithms, boolean, functions… and creating applications,” junior Nathalie Fang said. “I [feel] like understanding how technology works is very important, especially since future jobs and even current jobs require some knowledge of computers.”

According to Lu, APCSP is more activity-driven compared to APCSA. He maintains a hands-on course of study in which students must cooperate and share ideas.

"It's driven by the computer but I lead them in with an idea of where to start thinking, and then the directions are multitudes," Lu said.

"We try to [have] the mindset that we're not just in our little programming bubble."

GETTING INTO CHARACTER

contact us 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: thebullseyebusiness@gmail.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.

ANGELA YANG

From left, juniors Ricky Kuo, Leo Lu wheel Christopher Lin, dressed as Professor X from the "X-Men" series, on Halloween.

THE BULL'S EYE

NOVEMBER 14, 2018

NEWS

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Familiar DB Burns takes on Activities While Van Horn is out on maternity leave, former MLB pitcher substitutes.

NIA MITCHELL Asst. BUSINESS MANAGER

Photo courtesy of JODI NGUYEN

FBLA students attended the Southern California Leadership Development Institute last month to educate new members.

FBLA gets down to business Members spend two days in Anaheim for an annual leadership conference.

JOSH KIM ASST. A&E EDITOR Diamond Bar High School’s Future Business Leaders of America club attended the annual Southern California Leadership Development Institute, giving newer members a taste of what FBLA is about.

The two-day, non-competitive event in Anaheim took place from Oct. 27-28 and included workshops addressing topics ranging from building leadership skills to marketing and branding.

According to junior Ryan Lou, the FBLA director of competitive events, the workshop that focused on branding used celebrities as examples.

“Let's say Mark Zuckerberg, he has a personal brand,” Lou said.

“Not only is he the founder of Facebook but he is a charitable person, giving to charities and such. They wanted to apply that to a small-

er, more local sample, so they taught us on how to identify your strengths and weaknesses and how to pitch your ‘brand’ to a potential employer.”

As FBLA members attended the different workshops, seniors President Karyn Real, Vice President Aishwarya Rane and Vice President of Competitive Events Kenneth Chen led multiple workshops.

“If they just want to build their business skills, it's a great introduction for them."

KARYN REAL The workshops focused on how to increase productivity as well as how to improve computer science and business skills.

“I think that it’s a great opportunity for a lot of people, even if they don’t want to continue on with FBLA,” Real said. “If they just want to build their business skills, it’s a great introduction for them.”

In addition to workshops on self-improvement, LDI brought in keynote speaker Jake Kefler who spoke on motivating others through sharing life lessons and personal experiences.

“Every year, I learn new things from the keynote speaker,” Real said. “[This year] he focused a lot on persistence and about reaching goals.”

On the second day, the attendees took tests on different FBLA subjects to gain a better understanding of what the real FBLA competitions will be like, as well as to get a chance to gauge their competency in those areas.

Overall, FBLA members said they took this opportunity to grow as a group, competitive-wise and relationship-wise.

“I thought it was really helpful and beneficial, especially now that I’m the president, not just a member,” Real said. “I focus a lot on my members and I think all of them had a great time. They all said they learned a lot. LDI and all the other FBLA conferences are where all of my most memorable experiences come from.”

In October, when the substitute hired to fill in for Activities Director Janna Van Horn left for another job, Diamond Bar High School turned to an alumnus to take over.

Mike Burns, who graduated in 1996, will be running the office and guiding USB until Van Horn, who has been on maternity leave throughout the school year and recently gave birth to her second daughter, returns for next semester.

Burns’ wife Sonja Burns is a GLC at DBHS and his sister Jennifer Burns teaches geometry and algebra 2.

Earlier in his life, Mike Burns spent time as a professional baseball player.

Burns played for a few major league baseball teams in the early 2000s.

In 2005, he pitched for the Houston Astros and then in 2006 split his year between the Cincinnati Reds and the Boston Red Sox. Burns ended his MLB baseball career in 2009 playing for Milwaukee Brewers.

He said that coming in mid-year as activities director took a bit of adjusting to do.

“I’ve been learning a lot and understanding the kids,” Burns said.

“Just watching and seeing how creative they are is a cool process to witness.”

In August, Pedro Paz was hired for the position, but after helping to organize Homecoming, left when he was offered a job position elsewhere.

“I started this position during the commissioner application process, so it’s a little stressful trying to get everything organized and set up, but our first round of interviews went really well... so it’s going to be a hard decision for the E-Board,” Burns said.

Burns said he is still adjusting to the job’s high demands and getting used to the new occupation.

He said it is different from anything he has done before.

“This is all so new to me, but it’s been very fun,” Burns said. “I went to Diamond Bar High School so I kind of understand how it works and how big USB is for the school.”

Although Burns does not have as much experience with planning events and other school activities, he has received support from the students in USB and the staff on campus.

Newly elected USB president junior Jonathan Song appreciates the work that Burns has done.

“Mr. Burns sacrifices a lot of his time by staying after school with us during poster paintings so that a lot of our events can be successful,” Song said.

Students take educational trips pathways FROM p. 1

KIM WINS 39TH, BLUE WAVE IN THE HOUSE

Kim narrowly defeats Cisneros in congressional race, and Democrats take a majority in the House.

FROM OIL PAINTING TO MAKING MUSIC VIDEOS A class of 1993 alumnus previously worked on the "Star Wars" prequels and is now directing music videos.

VOTING PROCESS NEEDS REFORM

A Bull's Eye staffer urges states to revise voting laws by making it easier for citizens to obtain photo identification.

FALL PLAY REVIEW: "SUITE SURRENDER"

A Bull's Eye staff member reviews this year's fall production of "Suite Surrender," a farce written

by Michael McKeever.

course trip play bonding games and tackle the course, which helps them take on their own fears.

Senior Linda Beltran, who accompanied the students this year to film the trip, recalls her experiences with the ropes course when she went last year.

“We got put into perspective on fear,” Beltran said. “You’re not necessarily afraid of the heights, you’re afraid of falling, you’re afraid of the pain that will happen when you hit the ground.”

Beltran said the ropes course was her favorite trip because it changed her perspective on life.

“Because I was so afraid of failing, I didn’t give myself the chance to win, and I didn’t give myself

the chance to actually accomplish something,” Beltran said. “That really led to a perspective…[that] you can’t take take the chance of wanting to win without the fear of losing.”

Until 2016, Pathways sophomores also had the opportunity to take a trip to Disneyland, where they learned about how Walt Disney overcame his struggles.

“It was just cool to actually hear from professionals that your leadership skills get you really far,” Rodriguez said. “You need to have a firm handshake, look someone in the eye and not feel awkward about it.”

One activity that Rodriguez recalls was the envelope activity during the Disney trip, where students wrote down what they wanted to

accomplish in the future.

She aspired to become a neonatal nurse, specializing in caring for newborn babies.

Beltran said she hoped to obtain a bachelor’s degree in filmmaking, as well as find internship and networking opportunities.

Rodriguez said she has enjoyed her Pathways experience.

“I’ve learned to use my extrovertedness for good, like in leadership skills,” Rodriguez said.

Beltran, meanwhile, said she has learned something from each Pathways trip and gained more confidence and life tips as a result.

“I definitely think that a lot of the kids that are in Pathways always find themselves and they always find that one thing that is lifechanging for them,” Beltran said.

Brahmas to present speeches on mental health after Thanksgiving preview FROM p. 1 ered.

“Watching [TEDx] talks last year was really inspiring,” said senior Tristen Baca, who will be speaking on her topic titled “Invalidation.”

“What motivated me to do a [TEDx] Talk was seeing my friend have the courage to present her truth and I want to do the same with a topic I am passionate about.”

The wellness-inspired Ted Talks are not affiliated with the TedxDiamondBar club on campus.

The Wellness Center’s event fo-

cuses on mental health and student speakers, whereas the student-led club holds an official TEDx license

“Seeing my friend have the courage to present her truth [motivated me]."

TRISTEN BACA to host an annual event off-campus that seeks out more community

speakers rather than all student participants.

The Wellness TEDx Talks will take place on Nov. 28 in the theater from periods 1 to 6.

Classes will attend on a firstcome-first-serve basis after teachers sign up on the Google Spreadsheet that will be released before Thanksgiving break.

The Wellness Center is also looking into organizing a night performance for the DBHS parents and students who were not able to attend the Talks held during that school day.

OPINION

OPINION: Affirmative action should be based on socioeconomic status.

he recent lawsuit accusing Harvard University of discriminating against Asian applicants has brought a controversial question back into the national spotlight: Is affirmative action a fair practice?

Affirmative action is a policy that allows universities to take into account racial diversity when accepting students. Its goal is to offer equal educational opportunities to underrepresented minorities.

Attending a school with a larger Asian-American population than most high schools in the nation can cause students to have a misguided understanding of the effects of affirmative action. Many students in Diamond Bar High School feel that affirmative action is unfair, because students with lower test scores or grades from other schools are chosen over themselves.

Diamond Bar students fail to take into account the resources they have in comparison to others—to most students across the globe, having access to computers and textbooks is a luxury, and SAT classes or tutoring sessions are unheard of. Grades and test scores are not a holistic representation of a stu-

dents’ abilities or how hard someone has worked. To say that a peer didn’t deserve to get into a school simply because they have comparatively lower stats, and was only accepted because of “affirmative action,” unfairly diminishes that person’s accomplishments.

Still, affirmative action is not without problems. Though it has a commendable goal of preventing continued injustice toward groups that been systematically denied opportunities throughout American history, there are issues with the technical execution of the system.

Affirmative action attempts to give an advantage to underprivileged groups, yet it puts economically challenged members of white or Asian communities at even more of a disadvantage. It also aids racial minorities from wealthier backgrounds who might not need an extra advantage.

Though affirmative action attempts to prevent education from only being available to the elite, simply looking at a student’s race is not enough to ensure that this happens. A system based on economic class rather than race ensures students from all incomes are represented on campuses and would

give all economically disadvantaged students a fairer assessment, regardless of their race.

Some might say that having a racially diverse campus is an important part of creating a college experience that enables students to explore new ideas, but this is bound to happen even if universities switch to economic affirmative action. Looking at U.S. poverty rates shows that giving an advantage to lower income applicants will actually open up more opportunities for underrepresented racial minorities.

A study of the University of Colorado, Boulder, found that underrepresented minorities were more likely to be admitted under class-based affirmative action than a race-based alternative.

The United States is a diverse nation, and being part of a student body that reflects this is essential to one’s college education. Reforming affirmative action to account for economic diversity would benefit all students by exposing them to people from a variety of backgrounds, without using race to make unfair assumptions about the struggles that they have faced.

From the Brahma Perspective

Affirmative action should be reformed, but it allows socioeconomic classes to [have equal opportunities].

YUWEN WANG (12)

Affirmative action should be modified so it’s based on how much your family earns instead of your skin color.

Affirmative action helps bring a balance to uneven racial equalities that have been built up in the past.

MONICA LU (12)

MICHAEL CHENG (11)

History of Affirmative Action Regents of UC v. Bakke: Ruled unfair if it leads to reverse discrimination.

Mar. 1961 John F. Kennedy introduces idea of affirmative action.

June 1978

Gratz v. Bollinger: Affirmative action is deemed constitutional.

Nov. 1997

Dec. 2000

Prop. 209: California bans all form of affirmative action.

Peering into narratives

Ted

EYE EDITORS OF THE

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NOVEMBER 14, 2018

THE BULL'S EYE

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A necessary proposition

ted yARmoski oPInion editor

f you get confused while reading this article, don’t worry; I was confused while writing it. Even to those who fully understand their core values and beliefs, the wording and ambiguity of the propositions this voting season made an educated vote extremely difficult for the average person. This inherent block to voting is a hindrance to democracy and requires drastic alteration to let more voices be heard.

I fully realized the problem while seeking some information about Prop. 12 during a discussion with my family. Doing a quick Google search, I was bombarded with paid advertisements endorsing either side of the issue with close to identical reasons: “Vote NO to prevent animal cruelty,” or “Vote YES to improve the lives of farm animals.”

Although it seems idiotic, I can imagine the thousands of people who do not know better than to simply vote based on the first result, giving their vote to the side that can afford the more prominent advertisement. After digging through several ads telling me who to vote for, I was finally able to access the description of the proposition itself.

I was discouraged after that poor experience, but decided to educate myself, starting with the proposition that I believed would be the easiest to understand: Prop. 7.

The official summary reads: “Gives Legislature ability to change daylight saving time period by two-thirds vote, if changes are consistent with federal law.”

If you’re like me, upon first read, you wouldn’t fully understand the wording of this proposition.

On the California voter guide, the pro argument said that ending our current daylight sav-

ings time period in California would stop causing harm to schoolchildren, while the other side said that the change would cause harm to schoolchildren.

While reading the guide, I had to keep doing double takes because of how unclear and confusing the descriptions were for this single voting item.

Delving deeper into the issue only furthered my confusion. The arguments for either side had points that sounded identical to the other. This became worse for more complicated pieces of legislation.

Keep in mind that I am not an expert on these topics, but the majority of the population aren’t experts either. Many people don’t have the time to perform in-depth research on each voting item until they fully understand what they are voting for. This easily leads people to vote in favor of something that they might actually be against and vice versa, which should not be acceptable in a country that claims to give citizens a choice.

One might believe that a piece of legislation is something they would stand by, but somewhere in the fine print is some kind of condition that is overlooked.

For example, Prop. 7 stated that even if it is passed, there needs to be additional approval by the federal government to make any changes. Supporters assume that federal approval would come easily, neglecting the less than stellar relationship California has with Washington D.C. Considering the many different issues that are voted on, there are layers and layers of additional complications and considerations that slip by and end up contradicting the actual opinions of voters.

Objective information should be clear, available and concise. Voters should not be misled merely by the wording of a proposition. More time should be spent polishing legal language to be easily digestible.

In American democracy, voting should be based on the choices of individuals, not on how much certain groups can spend to get their viewpoint ingrained in the minds of voters.

Another deadlock in Congress

J

Amy miyahara editor-in-chief

ust when we thought that gridlock in Congress could not get any worse, Americans must brace themselves for stalemate and political tribalism for the next two years.

While the Democrats took control of the House of Representatives, the Republicans extended their buffer in the Senate, resulting in a divided Congress. Unless both sides are willing to cross party lines and make compromises— which they have not demonstrated an ability to do in recent years— it will be difficult for Congress to pass significant legislation. In coming years, it will be all the more crucial for the us-versusthem mentality on both ends of the political spectrum to take a backseat in the interests of the nation.

The House now has the power to micro investigate all areas of the

Trump administration. However, this could potentially make matters worse on both sides. As ignorant as Trump is, it will be almost impossible for the Democrats to both impeach him and remove him from office, and any failed investigation could put the party under attack and make it even harder for them to win the presidency in two years.

The House should instead focus their energy on introducing productive legislation on issues such as health care and immigration reform. Though they will undoubtedly have difficulty getting bills passed, creating discussion on important issues will be a more efficient use of resources, and a much better look for the 2020 election than pushing a potentially fruitless investigation.

The election was, to an extent, a disappointing demonstration of the prevalence of a mindset that got President Trump elected two years ago. This was shown through the election of individuals like Ron DeSantis to Florida governor, who has been accused of racially charged comments, over his black opponent Andrew Gillum.

Many have speculated that the nation would see through the racism, sexism, dishonesty and irrationality that the president has

demonstrated and take to the polls to express their disgust. The significant portion of the population that failed to vote against his wishes shows that the mindset Trump has perpetuated is still very much alive.

Still, the election brought reason to celebrate. A record-breaking number of women have been elected to Congress, including our own district’s representative, Young Kim. While this is still a significant minority of the 535 total seats in Congress, these results demonstrate that there is hope that national politics is moving away from misogyny.

The election saw several other groundbreaking victories, including Ilhan Omar and Rashida Tlaib as the first Muslim women elected to Congress and Jared Polis as the first openly gay man elected governor of any state. These individuals should be commended, not just for their victories, but for the precedent that they have set for future elections to elect diverse leaders in larger numbers.

Ultimately, the election was neither a disaster nor a huge success for either party. What the Democrats do with their House majority has the potential to impact the nature of bipartisan politics for years to come.

THE BULL'S EYE

NOVEMBER 14, 2018

OPINION

5

MODERN LITERATURE Should Recent books be incorporated inTO the english curriculum? sites encourage laziness in the student, diminishing the teacher’s purpose of assigning the outdated novels in the first place.

If the school systems across America refresh their standards by adding modern novels, students may regain their lost fervor for reading. Implementing texts that reflect pertinent information relative to modern society can engage students to read, allowing them to find value in the author’s themes.

Alex Chun Novels released in the last few decades ofcontributing writer fer readers a chance to approach recent events with a different perspective, allowing a student High school English classes to express empathy. Take the novel “Salvage have filled their curricuthe Bones,” (2011) for instance. Author Jesmyn lums with texts containing Ward sets the story in 2005, during the cataoutdated diction, commonly drawing from strophic period of Hurricane Katrina. names such as Homer, Donne and Aristotle.

The story touches upon an African AmeriThis translates to teachers requiring rhetorican family preparing for the storm ahead, cal analysis from students who must spend offering modern insight into the devastating countless hours pondering the meanings of hurricane that hit the Gulf Coast region. Narcertain antiquated words. Pupils should not be ratives about modern cataobligated to read these obsostrophic disasters such as lete works.

“Educators who create the one above can appeal to While some adolescent the standards should a general audience. teenagers may enjoy readadd contemporary Novels based on these ing ancient text, superintenbooks that reflect topics would be appealing dents across America have to modern society to the to read for students, striking face the facts: the majority of repertoire.” them about the recent diffithe student population does culties embraced by minornot want to read antiquated ity communities. literature. Educators who create the standards Comparatively, a story about a tragic hero should add contemporary books that reflect and his conquest to find his homeland would modern society to the repertoire. diminish this effect, as a student and a epic Learning obsolete English forces the stuhero have little common ground. dent to dwell on interpretations of the past, Pupils should enjoy reading books that alwhich hinder rather than bolster the reading low them to have a better understanding about ability of some students. Subsequently, pupils the modern world, instead of painfully reading will begin to dread analyzing outmoded lanarchaic texts just to ace the next literary comguage for two to three hours every time they prehension test. are assigned pages to read.

In the words of the Irish poet Oscar Wilde; Once students develop a hatred for this un“If one cannot enjoy reading a book over and necessarily long and arduous reading, they over again, there is no use in reading it at all.” will inevitably be exposed to online sources, And most students certainly don’t want to read such as Sparknotes and Shmoop, that sum“The Odyssey” over again. marize entire novels and passages. These web-

PRO

Odds of acceptance

GRACE LEE ASST. OPINION editor

W

hen people complain that they haven’t started on their college applications and have eight applications to work on, I scoff at their lack of initiative and drive. It seems that I’m the only student in this school to realize that the more applications I send, the higher chance that I would be accepted—it’s all simple math.

According to the probability chapter in Algebra 2, the odds of an acceptance to a college rises with the number of applications filled out. To make it easier on myself, I searched up the top colleges of the nation and went down the list.

Since the rules of probability clearly indicate my likelihood of going to college, I suppose the seventeen volunteering hours I have and the essays that I hastily copied and pasted from one of my applications won’t matter; as long as I apply to more universities than I can count, I’ll be guaranteed to make it in.

Unfortunately, I have a myriad of applications to fill out and supplementary essays to write, but not enough time to research more schools, let alone copy and paste my template essays onto the application. My pocket is $2,000 lighter,

but it’s a sacrifice for the greater good.

I don’t really have a dream school or preference. I can’t categorize the schools that I applied for by location, ranking or social life because I’m too busy filling out applications to bother researching.

As long as I get into a school with an Ivy League title, I couldn’t care less.

Who cares if I get cold easily or the university doesn’t have the major that I’m interested in? Getting in is what matters most, not whether I’ll thrive at that particular university.

Perhaps my neutral stance on all colleges is a good thing. When I inevitably receive my acceptance letter from multiple schools, I won’t have a hard time choosing— I won’t lose sleep or agonize over my

It is true that Shakespeare is hard for the average teenager to digest, requiring careful reading and analysis to understand. However, these are skills that students must develop, and they cannot afford to miss out on reading classic works of literature — especially if it is replaced with writing that does not require such close attention.

For example, “All the Light We Cannot See” is a piece of literature set during World War II, Erin Miyahara but, being published in 2014, it does not provide contributing writer the kind of insight into the time period that an Modern literature is widely author from 50 or 60 years ago would bring. popular among high school The culture displayed in the story is attributed students due to its relatabilto the writer’s imagination, which does not proity, easily understood language and direct plot. vide a completely accurate representation. The With students bored by old-time classic novels, ideas and morals presented in the novel are not some are advocating to add modern literature ideas that come from the era; rather, they are such as “The Notebook” or “The Book Thief” present ones that may not actually have been to high school English curriculum. However, thought by people of that time. doing so would be detrimental to students and A major reason people want to add modern would cause them to falter literature to the English curin certain areas that classic riculum is that they are eas“People should not literature helps to enhance. ier to read and understand. study things because Most classics teach ethHowever, modern literature they are easy to ics and morals, while the should not be valued because understand, but to purpose of many modern of this. People should not strive towards their full works is to entertain rather study things because they potential.” than instruct. For instance, are easy to understand, but “Pride and Prejudice” teachto strive towards their full es the effect bias and the influence social stapotential. tus can have on judgment. While reading clasAnother aspect of modern literature is its sic literature, students are able to experience relatability; people can relate to the setting and stories of timeless truths and larger messages context of the story, since they are more familfrom someone living in a previous time period. iar with them. However, the ability to translate Certain authors are foundational to Westtime-honored concepts from one context to anern culture, having influenced all other works other is an important skill. While classics force of their genre, to the point where all students readers to do this, modern literature may not. should be familiar with their writings. For exClassic literature improves the reader’s ample, Shakespeare has written some of the knowledge and perspective, giving them critigreatest works of literature, focusing on such cal tools to help them understand the meanuniversal themes as love, virtue, greed and beings of complicated pieces of Writing. These trayal. Students who are denied the opportunecessary tools can lead to deeper thinking and nity to experience Shakespeare are denied the make them smarter, in not only literary comopportunity to expand their perspectives. prehension but in life.

CON

SANELY SATIRICAL future, unlike others who actually waste their time thinking about their future. Instead, I can close my eyes and randomly pick.

Some people might say that I’m holding other wait-listed students’ spots at schools that I don’t even want to attend.

In response, I say that they should have applied to more colleges. Who wouldn’t want to apply to schools just to see if they could get in? Besides, I’m helping out the schools by lowering their acceptance rates.

It takes a lot of sacrifice to pull off this feat. The long nights of changing the name of the college in my essays gets the best of me at times. However, when March rolls around, I’ll be reaping the benefits of the hard work I’ve invested into my foolproof strategy.

Cartoon courtesy of SARAH SEIF

Rhetoric leads to violence

O

Amelie lee editor-in-chief

nly days after white supremacists rallied in Charlottesville last year, President Donald Trump said he was certain there were “very fine people on both sides.” As politically motivated violence rises, Trump’s hesitance to condemn domestic terrorists and acknowledge his own damaging rhetoric will only cause further violence.

Last month, 14 pipe bombs were mailed to Democratic politicians by an obsessed Trump supporter and 11 people were shot and killed in a synagogue by an outspoken anti-semite.

Two weeks ago, a far-right self proclaimed “incel” shot two women in a yoga studio. These politically and racially charged incidents aren’t just unsolicited random acts of violence.

In 2017, a Trump supporter shot six people in an Islamic cultural center, a white nationalist stabbed two people on a train and an alt-right college student killed a black lieutenant for not stepping out of his way.

All of these violent instigators were active on discriminatory altright Facebook groups— the same groups that led to the Charlottesville rallies in August.

Despite the rise of right wing politically motivated attacks, the people in these groups aren’t the mainstream Republicans. They’re fringe radicalists who don’t represent the opinions of mainstream politicians,

and it’s unfair and inaccurate to collectivize Republicans and conservatives as violent or racist.

Even so, it must be acknowledged that it isn’t a coincidence that this violence happened during Trump’s presidency. Over the past decade, the Republican party has evolved from a party of social and fiscal conservatism to a party that defends white supremacy and accused pedophiles.

When Trump said illegal immigrants were rapists in 2015, casual racism and discrimination became part of right-wing rhetoric, adding white nationalists and alt-right groups to Republican votership.

Since then, Trump has refused to publicly rebuke these groups, sticking to vague remarks of “peace and unity.” He has never addressed the racism behind the violence, simply tweeting that he is “saddened by these events.” Not once has he said he doesn’t support the cause of the alt-right or Neo-Nazis, refusing to call them terrorists and possibly lose a fraction of red votes. He even said that he would not contact any of the Democratic politicians who received pipe bombs, somehow citing the media’s unfair coverage of Republicans as a reason why.

In today’s political climate, Trump and the Republican party’s lack of condemnation is akin to an endorsement. While those doing violence aren’t in the mainstream, they’re still feeding off damaging ideas that Trump reinforces— encouraged by his lack of public dismissal, causing a cycle of politically motivated violence.

Until Trump and the mainstream Republican party change their rhetoric by openly denouncing these groups and criticizing these actions, violence against left wing politicians and minority groups will continue.

FEATURE

THE BULL'S EYE

NOVEMBER 14, 2018

Student walks among elephants

Renee Elefante Asst. news EDITOR Few students get a taste of their dream job while in high school, much less the opportunity to gain that experience halfway around the world. So when Diamond Bar High School senior Ethan Kim learned about a two-week volunteer program at the Elephant Nature Park in Chiang Mai, Thailand, he jumped at the chance to hop on a plane and work with his favorite animal.

“To get an opportunity to interact with [elephants] was an opportunity I couldn’t miss,” said Kim, who said he hopes to become a veterinarian.

The park, located in the northern city of Chiang Mai, is a rescue and rehabilitation center that helps traumatized elephants from all over Thailand.

Kim helped rehabilitate elephants used as entertainment in

circuses and as timber transporters in the logging industry.

“Some were mentally tortured when they were little because of the circus,” Kim said. “[Some] had their parents...killed in front of them [or] were chained to a pole or a tree with little movement for

"When I was working with those animals, time just flew [by]."

ETHAN KIM most of their lives. [One even] got shot in the eye with a slingshot.”

Kim was initially shocked at the large size of the elephants he worked with.

“I was...really scared of getting close to them,” Kim said. “But after a couple of days, I learned that they are very gentle creatures.”

Kim’s duties included entering the habitats to give vitamins to as

many as 15 elephants, preparing their food by cutting bunches of bananas off their branches with a machete and cleaning the wounds of elephants injured by landmines that were never retrieved after the Cambodian Civil War. “I just felt so sad of their past stories and [that] just made me want to help,” Kim said.

In addition to elephants, the nature park also shelters water buffaloes, horses, cows, dogs and cats.

Even after working with large animals, Kim found cats to be the most difficult challenge while he simultaneously battled his cat allergy and the side effects of drowsiness that his allergy medication caused.

At the Dog Rescue Clinic, Kim had lessons every morning and time to practice the new techniques in the afternoon.

He also helped administer vital fluids and exercise the dogs and cats. During the last two days at

6

Photo courtesy of DBHS.ORG­­

Ethan Kim feeds an elephant while volunteering for Thailand’s elephant park. the clinic, he was able to assist with surgery on some of the dogs, who were either paralyzed or had heart worms. “[This experience] made me

want to become a vet even more because when I was working with those animals, time just flew [by],” Kim said. “I wish I could have stayed there longer.”

Satisfying all the cravings KATE ZHENG Asst. FEATURE EDITOR

Photo courtesy of DBHS.ORG

Marisa Umeh (left) poses with Robin Roberts at the Good Morning America set.

Female heroes on film GRACE LEE Asst. OPINION EDITOR Armed with big dreams and a camera, Diamond Bar High School class of 2018 alumna Marisa Umeh travelled across the country to feature female trailblazers as a part of Disney’s “Dream Big, Princess” project.

The project gave Umeh and 20 other young female filmmakers the opportunity to direct short films on inspirational women in various industries.

The participants then attended a storytelling workshop in Washington D.C. in July, where Disney, Pixar and ESPN producers instructed them in film storytelling, such as utilizing music and framing a shot.

Among the women featured were actress Emily Blunt, Lucasfilm President Kathleen Kennedy and ESPN host Victoria Arlen.

Umeh interviewed “Good Morning America” co-anchor Robin Roberts for her film, utilizing the iPhone X and MacBook Pro provided by the program. After interviewing Roberts this summer on the set of “Good Morning America,” Umeh designed the concept and cinematography of her digital short, which can be found on Disney’s website.

“I gained a more [holistic] understanding of the hard work that goes on in front of and behind the camera,” Umeh said via Facebook.

“Every second counts in live television, and I was amazed how calculated everything was from the time Robin Roberts steps out of the elevator to head to [the] set to the me-

ticulous work in the control room.”

Disney pledged to support girls’ leadership and empowerment by donating $1 for every like or share of a video containing “#DreamBigPrincess” to Girl Up. The project reached its maximum goal of $1 million within a week.

Although she had been rejected from other summer programs she applied to, Umeh said she was ecstatic that she was accepted to the program to have the opportunity of a lifetime, as it validated her years of effort working on the Yearbook at DBHS and making films.

“After having this experience as a ‘Dream Big, Princess’ filmmaker, and witnessing first hand how powerful visuals can drive social change, I have considered being a social-impact based media consultant, a career at the intersection of visuals and human rights,” Umeh said.

Freshman Umeh attends UC Berkeley as a global studies and economics major and reports for CalTV, UC Berkeley’s student-run media group.

During her time at DBHS, Umeh was involved with Yearbook and created various documentary films about women’s issues, including “In and On,” which received an award at the Girls Impact the World Film Festival at Harvard in 2016.

“I am so thankful to have had this pivotal experience with [Dream Big, Princess] as I know it will tremendously shape my focus during next four years in university,” Umeh said. “Being both in front and behind the camera has made me realize how much I enjoy both aspects of the creative process.”

Cravings Food Village is a new Asian-centric food hall that opened its first location in Chino near the 99 Ranch Market in October. Cravings is split into two different sections, one for groceries and one for restaurants.

All the restaurants in the food village are chain stores that can be found in multiple other locations too. In the restaurant area, there are about eight different vendors, including a variety of ramen bars, ice cream shops and Asian fusion restaurants. Most of the restaurants had long lines, and the place was crowded with families and teenagers.

Soon, the strong aroma of fried foods was too much to handle and the delicious smell of fried chicken led me to a vendor named Wingman Kitchen. Its menu offered fried chicken integrated into different dishes.

I ordered the Corny Chick Waffle Fries for $7.50, which consisted of popcorn chicken on a base of waffle fries, topped with corn cheese and bacon.

The order took around 20 minutes to arrive and by the time my fries finally arrived, I was famished. I took a bite and immediately fell in love. The popcorn chicken was tender on the inside but had a crunchy exterior, and the salty flavor mixed well with the sweet corn

cheese. The waffle fries were also fried to the perfect crisp, and the crunch factor made the dish much more tasty.

After my fries, I decided it was time for a drink, so I ordered milk tea at Pinky’s Tea Bar. I settled on a matcha rose tea for $4.25, one of Pinky’s most famous drinks, and my order only took around two minutes to be prepared.

The presentation of the tea was very appealing, since it came in a pink and green ombre. After mixing my drink, I took a sip and was pleasantly surprised by the taste. I was expecting it to be overly sweet, but the sugary fragrant rose flavors balanced well with the bitter matcha, giving the drink a milder but more enjoyable taste.

I finished by visiting Cauldron Ice Cream, a shop I had been waiting a long time to try.

After seeing all the aesthetic posts of Cauldron’s treats on Instagram and Snapchat, my expectations for its ice cream had definitely risen.

I ordered a simple Matcha ice cream in an original Puffle cone for $6. This took around 10 minutes to arrive, but when it did, I was extremely excited to try it.

But after my first bite, I was a bit disappointed. For the high price of $6, the ice cream tasted mediocre and the waffle cone lacked any unique flavors. Overall, I was let down due to my high expectations of the store.

Before I left, I entered the gro-

Photo courtesy of YELP

Cauldron’s rose-shaped matcha ice cream topped with the original puffle.

cery section of the food village to see if the store offered any unique Asian snacks or foods. Despite all the hype Cravings was receiving online, I failed to find anything special in their grocery section.

I was expecting a few rare grocery items, but all the vegetables, fruits, and snacks they offered could be found in any other Asian supermarket, such as the nearby 99 Ranch Market.

However, many of the items were at a discounted price, and most snacks featured a buy one get one free deal.

My experience at the Cravings food hall was fairly positive, and I would return to order some food or drinks on the go. However, Cravings is definitely worth a visit due to the variety of restaurants.

KATE ZHENG

Cravings Food Village offers a variety of Asian groceries, snacks, condiments and stationary supplies inside its market.

1) Bring milk and heavy cream to light boil in saucepan over medium heat, stir occasionally. Lower heat once bubbles rise to the surface of pan.

Pumpkin chai Panna Cotta

After her first experience surfing in Maui, Lee decided to take lessons in California to improve her skills.

“One thing I realized about surfing is that it’s not an easy sport—it’s very fearful—so I’m still going through that phase where you just have go for it,” Lee said.

Although Lee started surfing about five years ago, she INGREDIENTS: didn’t have a consistent - 1 ¼ cups milk schedule she followed.

Lee said that she became - 1 cup heavy cream more involved with the - 2 ½ oz gelatin packet sport after joining Wa- ¼ cup cold water hine Kai, attending - 4 Chai tea bags the surf ses1 cup pumpkin purée sions that the club hosts.

Show your appreciation for your friends in the alternative version of the traditional Thanksgiving holiday with these two recipes.

INGREDIENTS: - 9 cups Chex cereal - 1 cup chocolate chips - ½ cup sweetened condensed milk - 1 tsp cinnamon - ⅛ tsp clove - ½ tsp allspice - ½ tsp vanilla extract - 1 cup powdered sugar - ½ cup cocoa powder

7

CHRISTINA LIU Asst. web editor

2) Sprinkle gelatin over cold water and let bloom Although some people are afraid to brave the towerfor at least 10 minutes. ing waves that California is famous for, Diamond Bar Put chai tea bags into High School civics and economics teacher Cathy Lee surfs into these currents head on. hot milk mixture and Having always loved the ocean, Lee decided to steep for 10 minutes, stir join an all-women’s surf club in Huntington Beach, occasionally.

Wahine Kai, and surfs every weekend.

3) “It’s just so exhilarating to catch that wave and you realize that you can do anything you Whisk in sugar, then put your mind to,” Lee said. “I just love that pumpkin puree. because I never thought that I would be able Strain resulting mixture into to do it[surf].” a pitcher or measuring cup Prior to surfing, Lee had boogie boarded through a sieve lined with paper and body surfed, but she wanted to explore more water activities. towels. Whisk in gelatin mixture.

4) Pour mixture into individual molds. Refrigerate until firm.

Remove by dipping the bottoms of each mold into hot water until loose.

FEATURE

THE BULL'S EYE

NOVEMBER 14, 2018

Photo courtesy of CATHY LEE

Cathy Lee and her friend charge into the California waves with their surboards.

Through the club, Lee said that she has made friends with fellow surfers.

“Surfing has taught me to really focus on discipline, conquer my fears and commorderie between other friends of mine that surf,” Lee said. “I always thought it was me that was fearful, but I just realized that with other friends you can tackle on your fears together.”

Before surfing, Lee practices popups, the technique of moving from the paddling position up to the surfing posture, which incorporate upper body strength and flexibility. Then, she slips on her wetsuit

and grabs her surfboard before heading strraight into the water.

“You have to be patient that you’re not going to be good just trying a few times,” Lee said. “You have to keep at it and you’ll get better and better and then your fears will become less and less.”

Lee wakes up around 5 a.m. to 7 a.m. to surf at least once every weekend and returns home around 10 a.m.

Lee said that her favorite spots to frequent are the beach at San Onofre in northern San Diego County and Blackies area in Newport Beach because of thier gentle waves.

“Seeing the beauty of the ocean, I keep being reminded that I’m so blessed to be living in California where the weather is fabulous and surfing doesn’t cost too much either,” Lee said. “You just need a board, and a wetsuit and a beach pass and then you’re there.”

Behind the cameras of cinematics Catherine Liu Business Manager

MUDDY BUDDIES

As the last scene of the movie comes to a close, and the lights slowly turn back on, students in the room discuss the quality of the filming, their likes and dislikes and those unexpect1) Measure 9 cups of Chex ed features and inside jokes found cereal into gallon freezer bag. on videos and DVDs, called “easter eggs.”

Combine chocolate chips and From watching movies to filming sweetened condensed milk videos, Diamond Bar High School’s in a bowl, then microwavefor Brahma Cinematics club provides stu15 seconds at a time until the dents with a glimpse into the film industry. chocolate is melted.

Brahma Cinematics guides members through creating short movies to be submitted to film festivals in Southern California.

2) Add spices and The club also provides club members with vanilla extract to chocolate cameras to make videos for the film festivals. and whisk to combine.

“It’s a good way to bring together all the film students because there is different film classes in different periods, but this is the chance for the different periods to come together,” Beltran 3) Pour melted mixture said. “Even students that aren’t in the film classes into bag with the are able to come in during lunch and talk with stuChex. Add powdered dents that are in the film classes, talk with the film sugar and cocoa teacher and then talk with the officers who are heavily powder. Zip the bag involved in film.”

Along with keeping members informed about film shut and shake. competition opportunities, Brahma Cinematics also runs the Doppelganger Film Festival.

The competition is opened to all DBHS students, who can 4) Add pretzels, enter their video creations into a variety of categories to be kettle corn, judged by a panel of previous film students and club adviser sprinkles, candy Mario Enriquez.

According to Beltran, the club also connects students to opcorn or other portunities, which allows students to get a sense of the film protreats. fession and help out on the set of productions.

Club members selected by the club adviser are given the chance to take on internships provided by the Covina Center for the PerBy CAmille MCuRRY, Staff Writer forming Arts.

Photo courtesy of LINDA BELTRAN

The Brahma Cinematics Club poses at the Covina Performing Arts center.

“We worked with ‘America’s Got Talent’ [and] the director from the show ‘Blackish.’ We’ve worked with big productions and we’ve gone and done internships for them,” Beltran said.

The internships take place weekly, every Friday and Saturday at the Covina Center, where some club members help out on set with video productions such as those organized by the New York Film Academy, a school that rents out the theater.

“What I value most about [Brahma Cinematics] is that it gives people the tools for what they need.

We are getting them out there, we are giving them exposure and we are giving them tips because we’ve worked with professionals,” Beltran said.

“It really gives them insight about the film industry.”

Photo courtesy of LINDA BELTRAN

Mathew Sharifi mans the stage lights at the Covina Perofrming Arts Center.

8

THE BULL'S EYE

NEWS

NOVEMBER 14, 2018

A GROWING STUDENT HABIT

depending on what’s in the product—nicotine and THC are prohibited under state education code regardless of age—as well as whether the student is a repeat offender. Punishments range from receiving an in-school suspension to a home suspension, according to Hong, along with parental notification.

“As classroom teachers, I think it’s really challenging because you want to give students opportunities to work independently on things,” Hong said.

Vape is not a predicament unique to DBHS. In 2015, the CDC reported that almost one in four teenagers vape, and, in 2018, FDA Commissioner Scott Gottlieb publicly called the situation an “epidemic” among American youth.

So what is it about these devices that hooks teenagers? Most e-cigarettes do contain nicotine, though not all. JUUL, a leading provider of e-cigarettes, uses nicotine Vaping has become as much a part of Diamond Bar High salts in its pods.

School culture as tough courseloads and college apps. But “[I enjoy] the feeling you get when you smoke,” one Brahma senior said. “The nicothe issue isn’t one that’s unique to DBHS— despite lower overall tine helps you to calm down and relax.” tobacco use, the number of high school students who vape has Some students say they simply find amusement in manipulating the vapor. increased in recent years. “[The fun of it is] having a lot of smoke coming out of your mouth and you could make shapes, like the circles and everything,” another senior said. uffs of flavored smoke permeate restroom stalls as a cluster of students stroll out, Others, however, rely on vape devices to help curb their cigarette addiction. One hall passes in hand, and head back to third period. A friend is spotted coughing into senior recounted first smoking hookah and cigarettes earlier in her high school career his elbow after taking too big a hit on his flash drive-shaped device. before introducing herself to vape toward the end of junior year.

Vape has settled into Diamond Bar High School campus culture “It certainly does help me overcome [nicotine] because… when you have almost as much as rigorous academics and college anxiety. Those a vape you wouldn’t really need cigarettes because it already has nicotine “These companies know... who haven’t done it probably know somebody who has. in it and you could [also transition to] those without nicotine in it,” she that if they can get you “I know that there are a lot of students who vape,” DBHS Assistant said. “I don’t vape a lot—probably three times a week—because I’ve been hooked on nicotine when Principal David Hong said. “It’s happening here in our bathrooms, it’s trying to stop.” you’re young, then you’ll happening in our classrooms, it’s happening out on campus during These students come closest to fulfilling the intended usage marketed give them money for the passing periods.” for by major vape companies: employing e-cigarettes as a safer alterrest of your life.”

Still, few Brahmas are ever caught in action. According to Hong, a native to the real thing. It provides the nicotine dosage without the fire alarm is occasionally triggered from e-cigarette vapor. But those tobacco, tar or other impurities.

DAVID HONG instances occurred more often when vaping was a fairly new develBut most high school age e-cigarette users are not looking toopment, and students of recent years have managed to refine their ward vape as a path to tobacco cessation, as according to a skills when it comes to concealing the activity.

2017 study by the CDC, about 50 percent more teenagers “I tried it a few times [at school] but I don’t see why there’s a need to do it at school,” vape than smoke. said one DBHS senior, who requested anonymity. “But my friends have a group and “These companies know... that if they can get you hooked on nicthere’s a certain time every day when they would get together to this place and then they otine when you’re young, then you’ll give them money for the would come back.” rest of your life,” Hong said. “They’re going after young people The extent of disciplinary consequences for those who are discovered vaping varies because you’re more likely to try this.”

In an anonymous poll of 676 Brahmas

62%

P

2011

High schoolers In the nation*

24.2 % 15.8 % 1.5 %

Percent of high school students reported using any tobacco product Percent of high school students reported using traditional Cigarettes Percent of high school students reported using e-Cigarettes

*according to the United states CenTER for disease control and prevention

2017

19.6 % 7.6 % 11.7 %

9

SaID that those found vaping should be punished

67%

SaID they know someone who vapes regularly

44% said no

Is vaping worse than smoking cigarettes?

13% said yes 43% said it’s the same Written by Angela Yang Design by Amelie Lee and Amy Miyahara

10 ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

NOVEMBER 14, 2018

THE BULL'S EYE

Celebrating Women in Rock Maggie Liu Asst. A&E Editor

TIFFANY LEE

Dance company members rehearing their dance number, “Zero to Hero.”

Dancing through the stages of life tiffany lee asst. photo editor

“Nostalgia,” choreographed by junior Jean Kal, and Debbie junior Yim and “Dream Heroes,“ choreographed by senior Julie Amadeo.

The Diamond Bar High School Voyaging beyond the wonders dance department will be focusing of childhood, the performances on the skills of student choreogra- become more mature with themes phers, working in various genres regarding love and goals for the and featuring students from all lev- future. Some dances from this els of dance, in the upcoming fall stage of life include “Childhood dance concert.

Dreams,” choreographed by seCoincidentally, students and nior Hersh Doshi and Cheung and dance director, Kari Simonson, had “Falling in Love,” choreographed a similar concept in mind when

by Emily Imamura. coming up with Near the end the overarching of the show, theme of this performers will “[They are] beautiful year’s fall consignify the end people that I want to cert. of life with their share with others,” “It was ironic pieces. One of KARI SIMONSON because I had the dances is “I the same idea Don’t Wanna Be [to] play around You Anymore,” with the different generations that choreographed by freshman Caitgo through life,” Simonson said. lyn Ho and Bianca Yen. Multiple styles of dance such Simonson said she wants the as hip hop and musical theater dance concert to be an opportunity will be showcased in the upcoming for students of all dance levels to concert. All male member Kellen showcase their hard work, talent Cheung is working on a hip hop and creativity. piece called “Departure.” “[They are] such beautiful peo“For the piece I choreographed, ple that I want to share with oththe style is more on the isolation ers,” Simonson said. side of hip hop,” junior Cheung The concert will be held tomorsaid. row and Friday at 7 p.m. at the The opening performances DBHS theater. Tickets are availshowcase the innocence and hapable on the DBHS website for $10 piness of childhood, including and are $12 at the door.

Commercial music will be celebrating the history and culture of rock music with their fall concert.

The Nov. 30 commercial music program concert, “Women in Rock,” highlights female talent throughout rock ‘n’ roll history.

Inspired by the eight female vocalists in the program, director Daryl Hernandez wanted to honor women in the music industry. “[I wanted] to give them material that would be more in their range and to highlight women’s contribution to rock ‘n’ roll,” Hernandez said.

Hernandez stated that women have contributed as much to the music industry as men have and he wanted his students to emulate that.

“Having a concert based on women in rock is great because it shows how women shaped the music industry,” senior drummer Ryan Shah said. “So many classics we hear today were created by women and it’s an amazing opportunity to be able to showcase their work.”

In a male dominated society, the upcoming concert reminds viewers of the importance of women in the music industry.

“It is absolutely important to

Photos by AMELIE LEE

Senior Jackson Otero practices his electic guitar for the concert. spread awareness about women in the music industry,” Shah said.

Showcasing female vocalists in the concert also allows the everyone in the program to concentrate on their individual sets. “[The female vocalists] can focus less on trying to learn songs that may not be in the range and more on their stage presence,” Hernandez said. “The band can [also] focus more on being a band.”

Senior Ryan Shah practicing on a drum set for the upcoming concert.

This concert not only features females in rock but also includes one of the biggest collection of musicians from commercial music.

“The program has grown and we have a lot of new students, so we are getting a lot of variety in the talent,” Hernandez said. “ I may have some first year students who have been playing their instruments… [or] students [who] go through the program to learn the ropes.”

The new students give the program more room to experiment with the styles of music.

“Having the variety of students gives me a lot of different ranges...I can cover a lot of different material,” Hernandez said.

There are students of all levels in every song on the setlist.

“The less experienced are able to learn from the more experienced [and]...those who are more experienced also learn when they teach the others,” Shah said.

Hits such as Joan Jett’s “I Hate Myself for Loving You,” Madonna’s “Into the Groove” and Janis Joplin’s “Me and Bobby McGee” will be featured.

“Women in Rock” will be held on Nov. 30 at the DBHS theater. Tickets are $5 for students and senior and $8 for adults.

A Wide Range of Musical Talent cindy liu feature editor Diamond Bar High School senior Kevin Kuo is a one-man orchestra.

Picking up everything from ancient Chinese strings to keyboards to winds, Kuo plays nine instruments: violin, piano, sheng (a traditional Chinese mouth organ), erhu (an ancient Chinese violin), flute, ukulele, oboe, guitar and cello.

Although he started playing his first instrument, the piano, when he was five years old, Kuo said he did not immediately fall in love with music. In elementary school, however, his speech problems drove him to find his passion.

“In fifth grade, I was stammering and I felt like I was good at nothing, so I was like ‘I need to find something I’m good at,’” Kuo said. “Since I’m not the most vocal person, and I don’t really like talking and express-

ing myself as much, music gives me a way to express myself.”

He delved deeper into music in middle school after joining the school orchestra and winning a violin in the seventh grade lottery.

At the time, he only played three instruments—the violin, cello and piano—but he was soon inspired to pursue playing more instruments.

“When I started playing my instruments again, people all complimented me on my playing,” Kuo said. “That’s what really made me appreciate music.”

During middle school, he picked up the guitar and ukulele after seeing his church friends play them. With his newly acquired skills, he performed for church meetings and conferences until his early years in high school.

Kuo joined the DBHS Symphony Orchestra in his fresh-

man year as a violin player. From there, he said he decided to take up the oboe and flute after hearing his peers play the instruments.

“Kevin is very talented, incredibly dedicated, very empathetic and understands everything around him incredibly well,” DBHS band director Steve Acciani said. “He’s obviously a very good player, but probably his best contribution is leadership. He’s the type of student who takes initiative and wants to step up and be in charge of things.”

Last year, Kuo acted upon his longtime desire to play traditional Chinese instruments like the erhu and sheng after coming across those instruments in his research for a culture presentation in his Chinese class.

“There were some instruments I had to really process and learn it step by step such as the sheng since its positions are like no other instruments I tried before,” Kuo said.

“But as long as you tinker with it enough times and play songs that you enjoy, you’ll be more comfortable with the instrument.”

Kuo also plays the oboe in his church’s chamber group and accompanies church singers on the piano.

While Kuo said he enjoys playing all his instruments, his violin holds a special place in his heart.

Photo courtesy of KEVIN KUO

Junior Kevin Kuo is self-taught on many instruments, including the violin.

Recently, he had the opportunity to perform in K-pop star Tiffany Young’s music video “Over My Skin” and a banquet at the opening of the Treasures of the Palace Museum for celebrities like “Wizards of Waverly Place” actor Daniel Samonas and “Desperate Housewives” actress Nicollette Sheridan.

His passion for music drove him to participate in organizations like the DBHS marching band, winter drumline and Hearts of Hope, where Kuo teaches music to special needs children and performs music

for senior citizens.

Since Kuo is mostly self-taught, having to devote hours learning off of his peers and online videos, it’s a challenge for him to juggle practicing and his schoolwork.

“It’s the passion that drives me to practice,” Kuo said. “A lot of people don’t want to practice because they usually grow tired of it, or they were forced into it. But personally for me, as long as I have joy playing this instrument, I will get all my stuff done and devote time for these instruments.”

THE BULL'S EYE

NOVEMBER 14, 2018

Now showing

arts & Eics

Let down by a hero Amelie Lee editor-in-chief

D

ear JK Rowling, For most of my life, you’ve been my hero. In fact, as a fantasy obsessed middle schooler, I worshipped you. Through your words, you created a gripping series that has touched lives of millions of children. “Harry Potter” taught me about equality— what it meant to be a Muggle-born wizard in a pureblood dominated society.

I saw myself in the characters of Harry, Ron and Hermione, the flawed but three-dimensional protagonists that taught me to stand up against injustice. Your hefty donations to charity and interview claims that Dumbledore was gay made me respect you even more.

For a while, we were happy. I reread Harry Potter once a year— even bought the $70 seven book set. I browsed Pottermore, took my Patronus quiz and found out what house I am (Hare and Hufflepuff!).

I even saw “Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them” in theatres opening weekend.

Then came “The Cursed Child.”

Not only was the plot confusing, the entire book felt like you were giving in to corporate greed— the inability of an author to pass up a chance to make money at the risk of tainting childhood memories. At the time, I let it go. One flop wasn’t going to stop me from being a fan of the woman who created Hedwig.

To my dismay, the release of “The Cursed Child” was quickly followed by your refusal to remove Johnny Depp from the Fantastic Beasts franchise, despite multiple accusations of domestic abuse against him. My opinion of you only further plummeted after you liked a transphobic tweet on Twitter, and even more so after you liked yet another transphobic tweet on Twitter.

It seems hard to believe that you’re the same person who made readers contemplate concepts of slavery through house-elves and the idea of inbreeding through pureblood wizard families. For a self-proclaimed activist who wrote a seven book fantasy series as an extended metaphor for inequality, you may have muddled your message for youth you influence.

Saying you “imagined a character being gay when you wrote him,” but never explicitly saying it in the books or movies isn’t exactly representation. Liking tweets that diminish transgender people and consequently telling your readers that equality is only relevant when talking about murder in the wizarding world isn’t exactly respectful. And keeping Johnny Depp— whose ex-wife filed for divorce with a black eye— in the next four “Fantastic Beasts” movies isn’t exactly OK either.

Your seemingly progressive stances on Twitter don’t make up for a lack of real support for minority groups and abuse survivors.

While Harry Potter will always be a fundamental part of my childhood, I’m disappointed that my childhood hero no longer represents the causes that she taught me about through the stories of Harry, Ron and Hermione.

Sincerely, A disappointed fan

Amelie Lee and Amy Miyahara write the Arts & Entertainment column on alternating issues.

Despite its cartoon Seuss-like feel, ‘The Grinch’ proved to be another lackluster remake.

Kristen sanchez asst. feature editor Once again, the film industry has decided to take Dr. Seuss’s classic Christmas tale under its wing and retell the heartwarming

story on the big screen.

However, in the modern era of pointless live movie remakes, “The Grinch” is predictably mediocre.

The plot stays true to the original picture book, with The Grinch (Benedict Cumberbatch) hating holiday spirit, accompanied by his

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT adorable canine sidekick Max and the entertaining Whos in Whoville.

Overall, this movie plays its cards very safe in comparison to the 2000 live action adaptation starring Jim Carrey, which contained significantly more crude humor that probably had Seuss rolling over in his grave.

This film is much more true to form, offering a much brighter and more vivid depiction of the Grinch and Whoville stories that we are accustomed to reading in the books.

The elements of animation and visuals in this movie are very Seuss-like, in the same familiar colorful cartoonish style.

While I enjoyed the family-friendly familiarity, I found myself struggling to stay awake for the first half hour of this movie, as it dragged on with slow scenes and lackluster humor.

While I might not be the movie’s intended target demographic, the movie’s claim to be “fun for everyone” didn’t exactly ring true for me.

Though very accurately depicting the cartoon Seussian universe, it is still very much an Illumination Entertainment production (“Minions”) with overused jokes and slapstick humor. There wasn’t one scene worthy of full-blown laughter.

Rather, the best parts of this movie were the smaller quirks, like the addition of the cuddly reindeer named Fred and the creative take on Cindy Lou’s character (Cameron Seely).

Staying true to Illumination Entertainment’s tendency to create endearing characters like those in

11

“Despicable Me” and “Sing,” these additions make the movie even more charming and likeable.

This film’s Grinch is much less of a truly evil villain, falling somewhere between the conniving Grinch of the 1966 traditionally animated Christmas special and the bombastic Jim Carrey version, portraying him much more as social outcast.

I wish the filmmakers had spent more time on this expansion of the Grinch’s character, as I felt this character development was rushed, with too much of the screen time spent on stale and aimless gags.

The movie could have been improved by focusing on the Grinch’s evolution while still executing the same amount of jokes and lightheartedness.

By far, the best addition to this movie is rapper Tyler the Creator and his renditions of the familiar Grinch theme songs for the movie soundtrack, including “You’re a Mean One, Mr. Grinch” and several revamped versions.

The song “I Am The Grinch” is my favorite as this modern alternative hip hop spin of makes for fun tracks that, unlike the movie itself, I plan to have on repeat the entire Christmas season.

Though beautifully animated with charming quirks, I wouldn’t recommend this movie to anyone under the age of 10, as nothing stuck out or was particularly memorable.

Revamping a classic is rarely worth the time, and even when attributed to the Dr. Seuss we know and love, it can be hard to live up to the original cartoon children’s book.

rise of Youtube TV Amy Miyahara Editor-in-Chief Though many turn to cable television or Netflix to catch the latest episodes of their favorite shows, YouTube has produced a number of original shows that are also becoming a staple in pop culture.

These shows are unusual in that individual creators have more liberty over what they produce, compared to most of the shows on mainstream television that are controlled by major networks and have limited creative liberty.

YouTube shows are also popular because they can be watched at no cost to viewers. Though YouTube Premium has emerged as a streaming service, it has annoyed many viewers who don’t want to pay $11.99 a month.

Many YouTubers have continued to produce shows on their channels for free in a variety of genres. Popular YouTube channels such as BuzzFeed, Pewdiepie and Anna Akana have created different shows, only increasing the channels’ popularity.

Some people turn to YouTube to get their daily dose of talk shows by watching clips of Ellen or Jimmy Kimmel, but YouTube also has a number of its own talk shows.

One such is “Good Mythical Morning,” a daily morning show created and hosted by Rhett McLaughlin and Link Neal. With over 14 million subscribers amassed over the show’s six years and fourteen seasons, the show has become a YouTube staple.

The shows covers its two hosts participating in a variety of activities, from trivia games on obscure topics to eating strange concoctions of food. One of their most well-known segments, “Will it,” involves the two making different food items out of products generally not meant to be paired, such as the boiled-frog flavored ice cream they tried in their “Will it Ice Cream?” episode.

YouTube also has its share of

drama and comedy shows, such as “Unfortunatly Ashly,” a BuzzFeedViolet series. The show centers around the adventures of Ashly (Ashly Perez) and her younger cousin Izzy (Arianna Lemus), as they deal with various awkward situations, many involving Ashly’s neighbor and crush Avery (Francesca Galassi). The show is extremely admirable for its humorous but relatable portrayal of daily life events.

Produced by Wong Fu Productions, “Yappie” is another YouTube show that has recently gained traction, particularly among the Asian-American community. The show follows Andrew (Philip Wang) and his attempt to break from his identity as a “yappie” (defined by the show as a “young Asian professional who acts like a yuppie”).

Though it only has one five-episode season, there is a possibility of more seasons in the future.

Though YouTube is unlikely to replace traditional television, the increasing number of shows that rival the quality of high-budget studio productions bodes well for the platform’s future.

Photo courtesy of GOOD MYTHICAL MORNING

Youtubers Rhett and Link have over 14 million subscribers.

Photo courtesy of NEWSDAY

“Origins,” Imagine Dragons’ fourth studio album was released on Nov. 9.

TUNE IN

Back to their origins

Amelie Lee Editor-in-Chief For the past decade, Imagine Dragons has held forth as a staple of the American rock industry, producing catchy go-to music for pop and alternative music fans alike. Only a year after their album “Evolve” was released in 2017, Imagine Dragons singer and songwriter Dan Reynolds has released “Origins,” an emotional album that brings fans back to the softer style the band embraced when they first started.

While the songs on “Evolve” could be categorized as rock, “Origins” takes a more alternative route, playing with a combination of different acoustic instruments and percussion while still staying true to the rock band’s catchy choruses.

While the album includes several lighter songs, some tracks on the album were as intense as their last album, with their two singles “Machine” and “Natural” embracing the louder rock side of the band that most people are familiar with.

Both songs are well produced and incredibly catchy, and the second song on the album, “Boomerang,” is another favorite of mine— its catchy verses and drum based screaming chorus immediately

drew me in.

As a long-time fan, my favorite songs on the album are the slower songs with melodic instrumentals and heavy beats—ones that are reminiscent of old favorites from “Night Visions” and “Smoke and Mirrors.” “West Coast,” with Reynolds’ crooning voice and acoustic guitar intro, immediately became an all-time favorite of mine. I also particularly enjoyed the band’s last single “Bad Liar,” which delved into emotional issues Reynolds has faced in the past year, with lyrics about his recent divorce and family among softer instrumentals.

Although I’ve thoroughly enjoyed the different genres that the band has explored over the years, I was completely thrown off by “Digital,” an electronic-based song that consisted of yelling and clapping under wailing guitar. Luckily, most of the album stayed in the alternative and rock realm, with songs like “Stuck,” “Cool Out” and “Real Life” maintaining a slower style with strong percussion accompaniment.

Despite seeing Reynolds perform live in July, I was newly reinvigorated with this newest album, excited to hear more from the band.

With “Origins,” Imagine Dragons continues to impress both longtime fans and more recent fans of their music.

12 ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

NOVEMBER 14, 2018

THE BULL'S EYE

THIS YEAR IN MARCHING BAND

PHOTOS COURTESY OF RACHEL KIM

Even after losing 100 seniors, The Thundering Herd has shattered expectations and risen to the challenge of performing well in competitions. victoria artale asst. photo editor Diamond Bar High School Thundering Herd still hasn’t missed a beat when facing some of the best marching bands in Southern California.

This last Saturday, they competed in the King Band Review where took sweepstakes— taking first place. Earlier in the season, the Thundering Herd showed the same consistency winning the Route 66, Los Angeles County Fair, Placentia Band Review, a competition they struggled with last year, as well as Loara Band and Color Guard Review.

“With the loss of 100 seniors we thought this was going to be a rebuilding year for us because the group is younger, but they worked very hard during the summer to improve from last year.

With that, we got ahead,” band director Steve Acciani said.

Thundering Herd practices Tuesday and Thursdays during the school year to maintain the progress they made over the summer.

“We’ve been pushing to be even greater than our previous year.

Our goal is to always build on where the program left off on the

previous year, and continue to get better,” sophomore Joshua Panduro said.

The group is focused on maintaining consistency, making sure that every part of the performance is at its best. Since the group is so young, they still have “good days and bad days,” but Acciani hopes to see the students strive for the best.

“All of them stand out to me, the great thing about marching band is it’s not about one person,” Acciani said. “Our competitions are won by two tenths of a point which means nobody stands out, we all work together.”

To achieve top scores, the band needs to be as synchronized as possible in multiple areas-- they must play, march and look the same, including wearing the same uniform and the boys not having their hair too long.

“One of our goals is to get as close as we can to perfection as possible,” Acciani said. “The group is so talented that we have a chance to be close to perfect as perfect gets. That means, one day they will be able play their instruments so good and their marching will improve so much that they can compete with anybody.”

The Thundering Herd will participate in their final competition, the Arcadia Band Review, this Saturday.

L.A. County Fair September 13 Duarte Review September 22

Loara Review October 27 Placentia Review October 13

Chino Review November 3

NOVEMBER 14, 2018

BUSINESS

THE BULL'S EYE

13

Grants for the prepared SCHOLARSHIPS FROM P. 1 To have the chance to win a scholarship, students must follow the six steps for college planning that College Board has laid out on its website before random selections are made.

The first step is for students to explore and build a list of colleges that they are interested in attending. By completing this, students are already eligible to earn a $500 scholarship. Next, if students practice for the SAT on Khan Academy, they can be

awarded $1,000.

Students then have the chance to earn a $2,000 scholarship if they show improvement in their SAT scores.

The fourth step is to strengthen their college list by ensuring that the colleges on their list are a combination of safety, fit and reach schools.

Safety schools are schools that a particular student is almost positive that they will be accepted at; fit schools are schools those most compatible with the student’s abilities; while reach schools are the

ambitious choices that students are not as confident about being admitted into.

In the fifth step, students can fill out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid—the government financial aid form—for the opportunity to win $1,000. Lastly, by completing their college applications, students have a chance to earn a $1,000 scholarship.

If students complete all of these steps, they are eligible to win a $40,000 scholarship. The scholarship winners will be chosen randomly in monthly drawings.

14

SPORTS

NOVEMBER 14, 2018

THE BULL'S EYE

CIF win sends ladies to State competition Photo courtesy of SVCNEWS.COM

For the second year in a row, the Dodgers lost in the World Series, this time to Boston, but won the 18th inning marathon.

Dodgers lose, but elate fans Those at DBHS give their perspective on the World Series games held at L.A. against the Red Sox. josh kim asst. Feature editor Making a second consecutive appearance in the World Series this year, the Los Angeles Dodgers faced off against the Boston Red Sox, losing 4 games to 1. Despite the loss, it gave several Diamond Bar High School students and faculty members the opportunity to attend a World Series game.

“I feel like they tried their hardest some games and others they didn’t. During the regular season they showed how much of a better team they became,” junior Ryan Yue said. “I’m sad because the Dodgers lost but happy for the Red Sox because they haven’t won in a long time.”

Of the five games played in the series, three in Los Angeles, the most memorable was Game 3.

Lasting 18 innings that spanned 7 hours and 20 minutes, the game now holds the record for the longest game in World Series history.

Junior Jonathan Delgado recalls the moment in the game when Max Muncy hit the game-winning home run to close out the game 3-2.

“As soon as it got to the ninth inning, everything went crazy. Nobody was sitting down. [By the 17th inning,] it was cold and everyone was bundled up in jackets, but no one left,” Delgado said.

Yue said that the most memorable moment he witnessed was Yasiel Puig’s home run in Game 4 of the series.

“When there were two guys on base and Yasiel Puig hit a home run, I was jumping up and down, screaming his name. The crowd was packed, with people chanting wildly for both teams,” Yue said.

In the fifth and final game, the Dodgers were not able to keep

with the Red Sox’s offense, getting blown out 5-1. Both teams were able to score in the first inning but after the Dodgers were not able to score.

Despite the loss, GLC Marc Natividad said that it was an enjoyable game to witness.

“When I went with two of my buddies to Game 5 and just being there at Dodger Stadium, watching the game from beginning to end, it was an awesome memory, one I will always have. It’s an exciting time to be a Dodger fan,” he said.

Even though the Dodgers did not win the World Series, for the second year in a row, DBHS fans enjoyed the excitement and the atmosphere of getting to be in the stadium during the games.

“Being there, it’s something else when you are at a playoff game, and your team is looking great and they win....you just can’t beat it,” Natividad said. “It’s electric, loud, everybody’s into it, everybody standing on their feet cheering, and it’s a pretty cool moment.”

GIRLS GOLF Division champs do well at CIF, qualifying them for the next level.

Bramhas a 14-stroke victory and their CIF title.

“Having the low score was pretty cool and I was very happy with the way I played,” Vongsaga said.

During CIF Finals, sophomore Emma Han and junior Angelica Kusnowo both shot a 76, which tiffany lee helped the team earn a spot for asst. photo EDITOR the state semifinals. They finished third out of 12 finalists with the The Diamond Bar girls golf score of 385, placing just a point beteam is finishing their CIF on par hind Mater Dei. and has high hopes of making it to The team secured a spot in the State finals.

Southern California ChampionThe Lady Brahmas won the CIF ship at Brookside Golf Course on Central Division Championship for Nov. 8. They placed third out of the sixth time in ten teams and seven years on earned a spot in "We played one of Oct. 29 at Los the state finals the best rounds as Serranos Golf for the first time Course in Chino in four years a team in school Hills. The team as a team. With history." shot a 3 over par the overall score TONY MCCABE 373 on the par of 395, they 74 course. They were only three placed first overall and qualified strokes behind Troy High School. for the CIF finals alongside Mater On the same day, Vongsaga, Dei and Santa Margarita. sophomores Alicia Kuo, Emma “On Monday we played one of Han and Chang, and juniors Esther the best rounds as a team in school Lee and Kusnowo played individuhistory. We were committed, toals. Vongsaga tied for 13th place gether and very well prepared,” with the score of 75 out of 122 indicoach Tony McCabe said. vidual players.

Senior Kailie Vongsaga shot the “We are very confident going into lowest score in the CIF Central the state semifinals at Brookside Division Championship and was Golf Course. It will be very tough awarded with a medal for her three but we have a good chance to go on under par 71. to state finals,” McCabe said.

Sophomore Michelle Chang shot They will be competing in the the winning putt that gave the state tournament today.

with RYAN LAM and JOHNNY WANG

Rams offense running like greats of past D

espite their first loss to the Saints two weeks ago, the Rams are still performing at a high level and has one of the best Rams lineups they’ve had since Kurt Warner and Marshall Faulk ruled the league. Currently dominating NFC West, the Rams’ lineup has everything they need to finish the season with a Super Bowl ring and many individual Pro-Bowl appearances.

In his third year in the NFL, quarterback Jared Goff commands the offense with veteran Todd Gurley in the backfield, one of the most efficient running backs in the league. Gurley has 12 rushing touchdowns and 4 receiving touchdowns — the most overall in the league—and 868 rushing yards in the first 9 games of the season.

As one of the best running backs in the league, he is able to ease the pressure on Goff due to his presence in the backfield and his ability to make the most out of every carry he gets.

With the passing prowess of Goff (second in passing yards), the Rams look to be a first seed NFC contender. Goff has plenty of passing options with the addition of Brandin Cooks, previously a Patriots receiver, who accumulated 1082 yards in his 2017 season with Tom Brady. Alongside Cooks is Robert Woods, a five-year veteran who played four seasons with the Buffalo Bills. He has already had 832 yards received, only 25 yards behind Cooks and averages 15.1 yards per catch. Both receivers contributed 3 touchdowns for the team. With these receivers, both whom are tremendous threats to any defense, any passing play that the Rams make will be deadly.

This team not only has an intimidating offense, but also have solid individuals on defense. With Aaron Donald and Ndamukong Suh on the line, opposing quarterbacks are already pressured with their 284 and 307 pound frames, regardless of whoever the opposing offensive blockers are. Donald has already recorded 23 tackles, more than 50 percent of those being sacks, and a forced fumble. Suh on the other hand has 20 tackles and 3.5 sacks.

Inside linebacker Cory Littleton is another notable player-- he has the fourth most combined tackles at 75, and 53 individual tackles. He is all over the opposing players on defense, with 8 passes deflected, along with an interception and a safety. The Rams’ corners and safeties are all young and growing, yet they have shown promise when defending against big names like Russell Wilson and covering fast veterans like Jared Cook.

John Johnson III has been performing exceptionally well despite it being his second season in the NFL. With 3 interceptions, 8 passes defended and 35 tackles, he is someone to watch out for, a star in the making.

Another key contributing factor to their strong performance in the season is the minimum risk the team takes regarding health issues. The team has stayed completely injury-free, allowing their superstar lineup to stay consistent and strong.

The Rams have the potential to be a long-time playoff contender and even make the Super Bowl this season. With all the superstars and rising stars they have, this Rams team is one of the Top 30 lineups in the history of football.

SAMYUKTHA VELLAIYAN

Senior Brandon Lin attempts to set the ball in the win against Roosevelt, advancing the boys to the quarterfinals of CIF.

Exploring uncharted waters

BOYS WATER POLO The Brahmas became league champions for the first time in DB history. emily koh staff writer Despite a disappointing loss against Kennedy High School to the CIF quarterfinals, Diamond Bar High School boys water polo team finished with an overall record of 20-8 and an undefeated league record of 6-0, the best league record in the history of DBHS water polo.

“Even though we did not win [outright], it was a successful season. The boys grew as a team and

made history for the program,” coach Gary Cheever said via email.

The league champions won their first CIF game against Roosevelt High School 13-9 and advanced to the quarterfinals, where they lost against Kennedy 8-7. The match was extremely close and came down to the final seconds.

“We barely subbed out because our synergy and skilled [players] were essential to our victory over Roosevelt. Overall we played well, it was just small mistakes on defense, and our offensive awareness that cost us games,” senior set guard Matthew Kim said.

The Brahmas faced several challenges throughout these games that kept them from bringing home the CIF title. The team only had

SAMYUKTHA VELLIAYAN

Senior Christian Cheung legs up against a Roosevelt defender in the 13-9 win.

one chance to practice in between the two games, they were unfamiliar with how the opposing teams played and were worn out during games due to their shortage of subs.

Standout players throughout the season included senior Raphael Mutuc, the star goalie of the team and senior Brandon Lin, who led the defensive line.

Even though their CIF run was short, the team gained valuable lessons which they can apply to next season. Using his experience from this season, Cheever plans to get his team to play more aggressively and gain more game practice during their offseason.

Overall, the team had a successful season despite the fact that many of their key players from last year graduated. The team has existed for five years and this year was the Brahma’s second time in the CIFs. The first time was in the third year and the team made it to the semifinals.

This year the Brahmas were able to defeat Bonita for the first time and go down in DBHS history as the first boys team to earn an undefeated league champion title.

“It doesn’t matter what your expectations are or how bleak a situation might seem, because hard work will always prevail,” Kim said.

THE BULL'S EYE

NOVEMBER 14, 2018

SPORTS

15

Former first round pick starts new chapter

DBHS alumni Gary Brown, who played with San Francisco, still works in baseball. ryan lam ASST. sportS Editor

After graduating from Diamond Bar High School in 2007, former MLB player Gary Brown managed to be part of a World Series team— not only making the playoffs in his only season of MLB but also winning the title.

“It was his God-given talent more than anything else, you knew that he was special… and he was just one of those guys that you knew was gonna be successful,” Brown’s former coach and current head softball coach Kurt Davies said.

Despite being drafted by the Oakland A’s after high school, the alumni decided to continue his baseball career and education at Cal State Fullerton, where he was ranked 10th in the nation and given All-Big West Conference honorable mentions. After playing for two seasons of college baseball, the outfielder was drafted by the San Francisco Giants in the first round of the 2010 draft.

“DBHS was an awesome environment to learn to balance sports and school. It was a time in my life that I will always remember and one that I am thankful for because it set the foundation for my collegiate and professional experiences,” Brown said via email.

The top prospect saw little playing time in his rookie season, only making an appearance for twelve

Photo Courtesy of BASEBALLESSENTIAL

In his best season in the PCL, alumni Gary Brown hit 10 home runs and stole 36 bases for Fresno. games. However, the next year, Brown found success while playing High-A ball with San Jose, earning California League Rookie of the Year honors with 14 home-runs, 53 stolen bases and a .336 batting average.

“I [think] anyone who accomplishes any of their goals in life believes they could do it. Sometimes you shoot for the stars and land on the moon and sometimes it’s the opposite, but it will never happen without a strong belief in yourself,” Brown said.

Two solid years playing AAA ball with Fresno in 2013 and 2014, earned Brown a call-up to the majors with the Giants in September 2015. In the playoffs that season, Brown had a pinch-hit appearance in the National League Division Series, which earned the Giants a trip to the World Series.

Photo courtesy of STLTODAY

Gary Brown, right, is congragulated by Joe Punik, after scoring in a game against the San Diego Padres in 2015.

There the Giants defeated Kansas City, 4 games to 3, for the team’s third championship in five years.

Although he logged a .429 batting average during his time with the Giants, Brown was released by the team in March of 2015.

He spent most of the 2015 season with the Angels’ AAA club in Salt Lake City and then signed with the Southern Maryland Blue Crabs in 2016. There, he found some stability and success in the independent Atlantic League, batting .298 before being hit with injuries. With two children on-the-way in addition to the chronic pain in his hips and back, Brown decided to retire from professional baseball last year.

“I’ve known Gary since we were

in elementary school, and he was always one of the fastest kids. He was very fast, made great contact, and could run any fly-ball down,” said David Lopez, a former teammate and a DBHS football/baseball assistant coach. “He definitely had some attributes that could take him a long way, if he trusted his process and stayed injury-free.”

Despite retiring from professional baseball at the age of 27, Brown is happy at where he is currently— working as a baseball operations intern for the Seattle Mariners.

“Baseball is a beautiful sport because each season is a marathon, not a sprint, similar to everyone’s life. You have spurts of success and moments of failure. Each season

brought different challenges in baseball and in life,” Brown said.

“I began playing the game as a kid and ended my career as a husband and father. My journey has taught resilience and what’s important in life and there is nothing I would go back and change because my journey has gotten me to where I am today.”

Brown also gives advice to the student-athletes that aspire to play professionally.

“Be where your feet are. Keep dreaming and setting goals but accomplish goals every day where your feet are. It can be daunting looking too far ahead, enjoy being young and an amateur at your craft,” he said.

Young roster’s season ends in CIF first round GIRLS TENNIS Lady Brahmas form closer bonds, improving their overall team chemistry.

Photo courtesy of MATTHEW CHEN

From left to right, juniors Lukas Amare, George Rosales and senior Thomas Ear contributed to the boys’ second place.

Brahmas compete in CIF meet CROSS COUNTRY The runners have had their best season since 2005.

Catherine liu business manager Diamond Bar High School cross country lost over the weekend in the CIF semi-finals, the first time in 13 years that the team had competed in the playoffs.

“Obviously we were in a ridiculously stacked league last year so our chances of getting out of league were slim to none, so having the opportunity to compete against teams more our level has been a good moral booster,” head coach Malinalli Cooke said.

In the competition, held at the Riverside Cross Country Course, the girls placed 16 out of 19 while the boys placed 17 out of 21. Junior Lukas Amare and sophomore Keili Ishitani placed first for the team, with Amare receiving 30 points and Ishitani getting 71 points.

“Although we are not moving on, I am proud of how well every-

one has performed throughout the season,” senior captain Frederick Yang said.

At the league finals at Bonelli Park, the girls took first place and the boys second. Leading the girls were Ishitani and sophomore Allison Ear, taking fifth and sixth place, while Amare and senior Thomas Ear took first and third, respectively.

“A lot of us we were a bit sad that we didn’t hit the time that we wanted at league finals, but we [were] still really excited to go to CIFs,”

Yang said.

The girls earned an overall score of 47 points, two points ahead of Chaffey High School, while the boys were behind Ontario High School by 24 points, with 57 points at league finals.

In the league standings, girls tied for first with Chaffey, while boys placed second. Amare was given the title of Mt. Baldy’s League MVP, and Thomas Ear, Allison Ear and junior George Rosales and sophomore Cameron Tsao earned Top 10 in the league.

Photo courtesy of MATTHEW CHEN

The varsity girls placed first at Bonelli Park in the Mt. Baldy league finals.

emphasized conditioning.

“With our coach, there we used to do more conditioning and more running, but without her we got a lot more playtime and that both good and bad because without her I think that our stamina kind Samyuktha vellaiyan of decreased but with her I think asst. photo editor we were all just exhausted,” Chen said.

After placing second in the Mt. Despite Felix’s temporary leave, Baldy League, the Diamond Bar the team successfully managed to High School girls tennis team gradually strengthen their team earned a CIF playoff spot, but lost bonding throughout the season. in the first round, ending the sea“Our team work has been reson with an overall record of 11-5. ally great even without our head The girls competed against Sancoach.” Zhu said. “Like every sintiago High School in Corona in the gle match before we start we cheer first round of Division II CIF but and we’re always loud or always try lost to the Sharks 15-3. to be louder than the other team.”

In the Mt. Baldy League, the The athletes have also worked girls placed second, ending the seatogether on predicting each other’s son with a league record of 8-2. moves for doubles and their oppo“Even though we lost, I think we nent’s moves for singles. all had a great time,” senior Jac“We all improved a lot on our queline Chen said. “We were just connection with our partner in all encouraging doubles and each other and reading the opevery single ponent’s next "We all improved a teammate came move, like we lot on our connection up to the every would know with our partner in person and enwhere she doubles..." couraged them would hit the JACQUELINE CHEN and cheered ball next and them on.” move to that Of the playplace before she ers who played at league, doubles even knew it.” Chen said. partners juniors Kelly Tsao and With only three seniors on varElizabeth Peng and sophomore Lesity, Chen, Delano and Megan via Zhu and Chen will move on to Young, the girls have adjusted to CIF Individuals. Singles player sesucceeding after their departure. nior Ellie Delano will also compete.

“I think we really helped letThe girls have managed to pull ting the rest of the team handling through this season successfulthings like picking up balls or even ly with the absence of their head getting the water so they know coach Alexis Feix. what to do when we’re gone,” Chen However, the Lady Brahmas said. “But with just three seniors felt like their endurance suffered leaving I think we will still have a slightly in her absence, as Feix had really strong team next year.”

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SPORTS

NOVEMBER 14, 2018

THE BULL'S EYE

Singlets in Sin City: DB wrestlers compete Several students travel with their coach to participate in the Las Vegas Freakshow. johnny wang asst. sports EDITOR

VICTORIA ARTALE

The team ends the last game of the season in celebration, winning against Montclair, 63-30, and finishing third in league.

Season falls short of CIF FOOTBALL The boys will focus on building muscle in the off-season. ryan lam asst. sports editor

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"These guys bought into everything we did and I couldn’t have been more proud of them," JEFF REITZ Lack of strength on the offensive and defensive lines was a common issue that the Brahmas faced. Because of this, the team encountered losses that ended in high margins, such as the loss against Don Lugo and the 70-34 loss to Chaffey.

However, Reitz is currently ad-

dressing the problem by implementing more weight training into the teams’ practice.

“We got pushed around in the offensive and defensive line, so that’s my job to get us bigger and stronger in the off-season, ” Reitz said.

“Getting [the players] big is what I’ve done at every school I coached at, and by the second or third year we’ll be one of the strongest teams on the field, if not next year.”

Regardless of the team’s weaknesses, they turned around the losing culture of its winless 2017 season, improving to a 4-6 overall record this year. The offensive team averaged 391 yards per game, allowing them to score 21 more touchdowns compared to last season’s count of 26.

According to Reitz, 9 to 13 starters will be returning next year, adding offensive and defensive consistency to the roster.

“I knew from the outset that these guys were good enough, and it’s hard to turn a culture around in one year, but these guys bought into everything we did and I couldn’t have been more proud of them,” Reitz said.

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Despite the Diamond Bar High School football team not making the CIF playoffs, head coach Jeff Reitz is proud of his teams’ performance and work ethic this season.

“These guys had moments during the year that unbelievably blew me away. One day I said we gotta do extra running because we needed some more conditioning... and they [team] ran like there was no tomorrow,” Reitz said. “Not one guy complained, nobody yelled at each other, and they all encouraged each other and ran their butts off. It was one of the proudest days I’ve ever had coaching.”

The Brahmas ended their season 3-2, losing to Don Lugo 62-7 but coming back and winning their last game against Montclair 63-30, putting them at third place in the Mt.

Baldy League and in the running for CIF playoffs.

But, the CIF committee did not award the Brahmas a wild-card spot in the tournament, which disappointed Reitz.

“The CIF [committee] picked other teams that we know we would’ve competed well against, so that’s disappointing,” Reitz said. “We lost three games by thirteen points, 2720, 48-47, and 35-31… and we easily could’ve won any of those games if not all three of them.”

Several students from Diamond Bar High School visited Las Vegas last month, but it wasn’t to gamble or waste time in the preseason.

They were there to participate in Freakshow, a amateur wrestling tournament.

The annual event, held October 21-22, is hosted by National United Wrestling Association for Youth at the Westgate Resort & Casino, attracting up to 3,500 young wrestlers each year.

Wrestlers are put into teams of five, but those who don’t compete under a team name are considered independent. The champions of each division and weight class are awarded with a medallion and a Freakshow champions Singlet.

Diamond Bar wrestling coach Andre Bonafe said he wanted his wrestlers to experience a new level of competition against athletes from around the country. “[The tournament] serves as a reality check of where they are in their current ability whether they are more ahead of where they think they are or behind,” he said via text.

Senior Conner Diamond, juniors Ryan Kim, Vivek Khandari and Dylan Wong and freshman Ryan Wong all participated, each competing in a different weight class.

Most of the boys wrestled at the varsity level, but Diamond competed at the elite level against some of the best wrestlers in the country.

Ryan Wong had to start at the 15

and under level, competing against freshman and seasoned middle school athletes.

Dylan Wong was undefeated on his first day in the varsity division, finishing his first three matches with a pin. On the second day, he lost to Utah’s state champion but won his two other matches. This placed him in the Top 32 for wrestlers in the 132-pound weight class.

“It showed me that even though people may seem intimidating I should still wrestle just as aggressively as I do during practice because in the end my competitors are also kids who feel just as anxious as me before a match,” said Wong.

In the elite division, Diamond wrestled against San Diego’s CIF section champion and came out victorious. However, his toughest match was against the national wrestling runner up and a returning Freakshow champion. Diamond finished the tournament 1-2 at the 126 weight class for the elite division.

Ryan Wong wrestled at the 15 and Under division in two tough matchups. His first match was against the Idaho state champion, who pinned Wong when he was trailing by 15 points. His second match was against a ranked Greco-Roman wrestler, who pinned him with a one point difference in their scores.

The other two Brahmas both lost both of their matches.

Bonafe hopes to continue to bring wrestlers to Las Vegas every year, both for the competition and to create a bond between himself and his wrestlers.

“It’s the small things I can do as a coach that will build my relationship with my athletes,” Bonafe said. “Through that alone it will create the type of environment for success and make them enjoy the sport and want to succeed.”

t u ael m

After four years on the water polo team, Mutuc has earned the title of Most Defensive Player. camille mccurry staff writer Though he was originally unsure which sport to take on, senior Raphael Mutuc has found a passion for water polo, having competed for four years at Diamond Bar High School and in the Junior Olympics for the past two years.

Mutuc first decided to join the team so that he could participate in the same sport as his friends, but grew to love the sport for himself as he continued playing.

“It feels good to play in a team, as a team; just getting to know

everyone. In my four years here, I’ve stuck around the same... teammates and they’ve become more than just teammates to me now,” Mutuc said.

Before becoming the goalie, he said he spent a rocky freshman year as a field player. After realizing his talents were not suited to being an offensive player, Mutuc had to find a new position.

Alexander Matal, the water polo coach at the time, advised him to try being a goalie. This led him to become the goalie for both frosh-soph and junior varsity teams his sophomore year, eventually advancing to varsity goalie his junior

SAMYUKTHA VELLAIYAN

Raphael Mutuc has earned the titles Most Valuable Player and Defensive Player of the Year while playing for varsity. and senior years.

“Raphael has an incredible work ethic. It is best demonstrated by his actions after the coaching staff approached him about switching from a field player to a goalie at the end of his freshman season to potentially earn the starting varsity position his junior year. He accepted the challenge and went to work,” Matal said in an email.

His success as a goalie led him to earn the titles of MVP as a sophomore on frosh-soph, and Most Defensive Player during his junior year on the varsity team.

To support his team and augment his skill as a goalie, Mutuc also practices outside of school. He plays water polo with Chino Hills Area Water Polo Aquatics, better known as CHAWP Aquatics.

With CHAWP, Mutuc plays in

many tournaments on the local, regional and national levels. Most notably, he participated in the Junior Olympics as a part of the boys 16 and under team in both 2017 and 2018.

In his first year, he played with CHAWP’s Blue team and won second place in invationals. This past summer, he moved up to CHAWP’s White team and placed 16th in championships.

Even though these games are the hardest he competes in, Mutuc said that he also enjoys them the most, as the games are usually closer and more intense.

“Two years ago, the varsity goalies, both of them, were leaving to college and last year’s seniors didn’t have a goalie. So, my coach pulled me outside and told me, ‘Hey, they’re gonna depend on

you,’ and I felt like I needed to get better,” he said. “That’s why I did CHAWP that whole year, trying to get better for the seniors.”

After high school, Mutuc said he plans to continue playing water polo at the collegiate level.

Although Mutuc is unsure which college he will attend, he has received offers from Division II school McKendree University in Illinois and Division III school Washington and Jefferson College in Pennsylvania. “[Mutuc] possesses great leadership skills – he leads by example, holds himself and his teammates accountable. He attends all practices, his effort is consistent day in and day out. He pushes his teammates to work hard every day. In games, he is the backbone of the defense,” Matal said.