INSIDE
DECATHA GONE?
Shouldn’t a school with such a high academic reputation have a decathalon team?
ART OF GLORY
DECISION DILEMMA
College decisions are never easy to handle. But here are some tips to help you out!
PAGE5 EDITORIAL
PAGE8 FEATURE
The season of performing arts has arrived! Check out how our groups performed. FOUR ROUTES TO SUCCESS
DIAMOND BAR HIGH SCHOOL
PAGE10 A&E
PAGE 8-9
STUDENT NEWSPAPER
The Bull’s Eye WEDNESDAY, MARCH 27, 2013
French students get a taste of DB The foreign exchange program, started by Anthony Tietz, will continue this year.
Volume XXXI, Issue VI | ONLINE at dbbullseye.com | Published Monthly
Bands rock out DBHS in ‘Battle’ Tori and the Berbas claim the winning title after impressive performances. BY GLORIA KIM ASST. EDITORIAL EDITOR
BY HANNA KANG STAFF WRITER
Through a program sponsored by the French department, students from France will be coming to Diamond Bar High School to experience American culture. The French students, who are mostly sophomores, will arrive on April 9 and stay at the homes of their hosts for ten days. During their stay, the students, along with their teachers from France, will go on tours to museums and various other places such as Universal Studios and Venice Beach. On selected days, the French students will go with their host friends and experience a typical American school day on campus. Their hosts will provide housing and meals during their stay, and some are planning to take their French friends to Disneyland. “When they’re here, they’ll go out while we are in school on buses
See EXCHANGE| pg 3
To the crowd’s shouts of excitement, the band Tori and the Berbas played Grace Potter and the Nocturnal’s “Ooh La La,” earning it the champion title for the Battle of the Bands competition. The event, organized annually by USB, was held in the upper quad during lunch from Monday through Friday last week. Each day consisted of one to four performances in front of a panel of four to six judges: Dave Desmond, Lauren Osajima-Baird, Tony Tietz, Lorena Piña, Frank DeAnda, George Harderson. The nine participating bands performed various genres including metal, rock, R&B, and even a calculus song. Ranging from a single soloist to a six-man band, the contestants attracted crowds of spectators who gathered to watch. Each performance was judged from a score of one to five based on six categories: quality of music, vocals, originality, stage presence, audience reaction, and overall impression. The top scores determined which three teams would
COURTESY OF BRYANNA LIM
ROCK ON - The four members of Tori and the Berbas proudly stand with the trophy they won after performing “Ooh La La” at the upper quad during an intense week of Battle of the Bands, which was held during lunch. advance to the final round. “Today was amazing. But I have to give all the credit to the people in my band,” senior Tori Berba, lead singer of the winning band, stated. “Heart Breaker,” the first song performed on Thursday, was rehearsed only a day prior to its performance. Tori and the Berbas’ winning song, “Ooh La La,” was never practiced as a band, which testifies its outstanding talent.
Miss Diamond Bar crowned
“It feels awesome. We weren’t expecting [to win]. I’m glad that it turned out this way,” junior Steven Gomez, the band’s electric guitarist, stated. The Symptoms, an all-sophomore rock band that won last year’s championship, also made it to the final round this year. “[Battle of the Bands] was a fantastic experience and the band today was awesome,” sophomore Ram Martinez,
The Symptom’s lead singer, expressed. The band displayed great enthusiasm as well as passion that led them to its finalist. “It feels great to play for others. [Winning] doesn’t mean anything to us. We’ll just play for anybody, at whatever time they need us,” sophomore guitarist Jessie Medrano stated.
See SING| pg 2
EMILY HWANG
KINDER CARE - USB Commissioner Julia Kim interacts with a Quail Summit kindergarten student at the final event in the Golden Horseshoe.
XING YEN QUEK
THE DIAMOND COURT - Miss Diamond Bar Annemarie Branks (center), poses for the camera with the princesses.
The legacy of Miss DB was passed on to DBHS student, Annemarie Branks. BY ANGIE ZHANG FEATURE EDITOR
Selected as Miss Diamond Bar out of nine other contestants, senior Annemarie Branks was
crowned during the Diamond Bar Pageant on March 17 and now takes on her job as an ambassador for the city. “I was inspired by Alexander Miller, the Miss Diamond Bar of 2012, to participate in the pageant. I attended the event last year and thought that it was very neat,” Branks commented. The event was held in the DBHS Theater and participants were judged in a variety of categories, including swimsuit and evening gown, and were individually asked a final question re-
garding which platform they would support on stage to determine the winner. The runner ups who will become Brank’s court consists of 25-year-old Serena Avila-Mott, junior Melina Di Palma, junior Chika Udengwu, and senior Danielle Ritchie. There was also a variety of scholarships awarded to the participants. Miss MVP was awarded to Serena Avila-Mott, Miss Congeni-
See PAGEANT| pg 3
USB holds second Kindergarten Day The USB prepared a multitude of interactive activities for the children. BY EMILY HWANG STAFF WRITER
Kindergarten students from Quail Summit Elementary enjoyed a day full of fun events during Diamond Bar High School’s sec-
ond Kindergarten’s Day on March 11. USB greeted the kindergarteners who arrived at DBHS at 9 a.m. Throughout the day, students from the elementary school were given a tour around DBHS and participated different interactive activities. USB members set up the activities at the amphitheater, theater, USB room, and Golden Horseshoe and were assigned to work at the various stations.
See ELEMENTARY| pg 3
2 NEWS
Wednesday, March 27, 2013
THE BULL’S EYE
The Bull’s Eye creates a new website for easier accessibility Students now have access to the website that will be updated periodically.
ONTARGET
* Good Friday: March 29 * No School: March 29
* April Fool’s Day: April 1 * Spring Break: April 1-5 * Furlough Day: April 8
BY ROSE KIM WEB EDITOR
* Late Start: April 9 * IOC Meeting 4th Period: April 19
The era of technology is upon us and we at The Bull’s Eye have decided to embrace more of it. As such, The Bull’s Eye is now proud to announce its first ever website, which will allow us to bring the latest in both news and entertainment even closer and even faster to our valuable readers. If you are tired of flipping, and craving some clicking, visit us at http://www.dbbullseye.com. You will be greeted by our home page. Spread out in front of you on this home page will be an assortment of our top stories, further navigation options, and a sidebar with our more interactive features. One of these features is a poll for you to input your opinion. For those of you who feel that a mere option on a poll is simply not loud enough, Be Heard! With the new website comes an all-new feature where you can submit your own fully written opinion on the “Be Heard” page. You can find it by clicking the link “Be Heard” in the black bar at the very top of the site. Another web-exclusive feature is our Staff section. You can find the initial directory of our staff by clicking the link labeled “Staff” in the same black bar as the link to the “Be Heard” page. Click any of the names to browse all the stories written by that staff member. Things also get a little
* Top 10 Apps Due: April 9 * End of 12 Week Grading: April 12 * Star Testing: April 15-19 * Academic Week: April 22-26 * Renaissance Give Away: April 23 * Prom Fashion Show: May 3 COURTESY OF dbbullseye.com
EYEING THE NET - The website will feature all the sections of the paper and will include a section for reader submissions. more personal in a fun questionBull’s Eye issue by clicking the naire filled out by each staff mem“Print View” link in the black naviber to let our readers get to know gation bar underneath the banner. us a little more. These juicy details The Bull’s Eye newspaper is can be found at the right of each published every month. The Bull’s staff member’s page. Eye online has no such time conIn addition to polls and staff prostraints. Make sure you visit us files is the introduction of videos. every so often in order to keep From student-crafted ones to interyourself up to date with all the evnet sensations, check out the array er-expanding features available on of videos we will soon have, should the new website. you get tired of all the reading. You may even submit your own video to be displayed by sending us a link in the Be Heard page. Now, as you explore the website, you may feel a pang of sentimentality and your eyes start to miss the undeniably irreplaceable layout of our newspaper in print. The Bull’s Eye has you covered. You can see the print layout of every single
SING from pg 1
USB prepared the event by advertising in advance and setting up the stage. The competition was open to anyone who could sing and play instruments. The USB members prepared weeks in advance by sending
out applications and advertising the event. During the contest, USB set up the stage with sound systems, tables, balloons, and posters. “I was really happy with how the events turned out. Our goal is to change people’s high school experience. I really hope we accomplished that with the bands, especially with the band that won,” sophomore Rochelle Sun, Commissioner of Social Activities, said.
School introduces a new CPR and First Aid course this month
THE BULL’S EYE
Diamond Bar High School Student Newspaper
STAFF
Lea Chang, Justin Park
Editors-in-Chief
Holly Liu, Jennifer Wang Joy Chow, Katlyn Lee
News Editors Asst. News Editors
Colene Eng Gloria Kim
Editorial Editor Asst. Editorial Editor
Sarah Cho, Angie Zhang
Feature Editors
Austin Kong Claire Huang
A&E Editor Asst. A&E Editor
Vivian Tang, Hanna Yi
Feature Theme Editors
Winston Cho Andrew Choi, Joseph Park
Sports Editor Asst. Sports Editors
Xing Yen Quek
Photo Editor
Michelle Lee Katlyn Lee
Business Manager Asst. Business Manager
Rose Kim
Web Editor Staff Writers
Emily Hwang, Hanna Kang, Rose Kim
Advisor
Doug List
CONTACT
Diamond Bar High School, Room 250 21400 Pathfinder Road Diamond Bar, CA 91765 Phone: (909) 594-1405 x33250 Email: eye.editors@gmail.com Business Inquiries: dbhs_business@yahoo.com
EDITORIAL POLICY
The Bull’s Eye is a public forum that welcomes the views of our readers. Letters to the Editor and Op-Ed pieces will be accepted only if they are signed. The author, may, however, request anonymity. The staff reserves the right to edit letters without changing content. You may forward letters to Room 250, or submit them online at dbbullseye.com.
KATLYN LEE
SAVING LIVES - Juniors Minsong Hsu and Jessica Chang, both participants of the class, practice proper CPR chest compressions and rescue breaths on a dummy. CPR and First Aid class, students wanted to be CPR certified, and I Athletic trainer Chase learned basic CPR concepts and thought that knowing [CPR] will be Paulson taught the ways to identify an emergency situuseful if I were ever in a situation class proper techniques ation. Paulson demonstrated the that required [it],” said a class parchain of survival, a series of cruticipant Colleen Sam. to save lives. cial actions that can help a victim In order to pass the course, the survive from incidents such as carstudents had to demonstrate their diac arrest. knowledge by performing various BY KATLYN LEE Students then learned how to skills, such as chest compressions ASST. NEWS EDITOR actually perform CPR, practicing and rescue breaths. The particithe treatment on dummies with pants also took a written test to barrier masks and other essential earn the certification for the class. equipment. They then studied difDBHS athletic trainer Paulson Students and staff members of ferent ways to perform CPR and has been a certified CPR and First Diamond Bar High School are just learned various ways to respond to Aid instructor for two years and a few beats away from having the critical accidents. has been CPR certified for five. ability to save lives as they enroll in Once they had finished practic“I think this is a great opportuthe school’s first Cardiopulmonary ing the CPR skills, the students nity for students and staff to learn Resuscitation and First Aid course. moved on to study First Aid, in and be prepared for any situation, “The more people who are aware, which they learned how to approto save lives. My motto is, ‘Failing the better; it’s like having more priately treat injuries and attend to prepare is preparing to fail,’ so it eyes and ears around help you out to critical medical situations. Paris great that people are taking the when any situation comes up,” said ticipants of the class also became first step to be prepared,” Paulson DBHS’ athletic trainer Chase Paul- more aware of the possible emersaid. There will be another opporson, the instructor of the course. gency incidents that may occur if tunity to participate in the CPR The class, which was limited to 12 one has a medical condition, such class on April 20 from 10 a.m. to students and cost $40, was held on as diabetes. 12:30 p.m. Staff and students interMarch 9 and 16 in the Chuckwagon. “[The class] was definitely worth ested in the course can sign up by During the first portion of the taking. I took it because I’ve always contacting Paulson through email.
Wednesday, March 27, 2013
NEWSBITS w Girl Scout Cookies are definitely the guilty pleasures of many, but is it worth committing a crime for? Christopher Maurice Morton was charged for stealing $19,000 worth of cookies from a South Carolina Warehouse. His plan for the cookies still remains unclear but an estimate 352 cases of cookies were recovered behind an abandoned building. w Myron Robinson, a huge fan of Netflix, got a Netflix tattoo on his torso and posted a picture of it on Twitter. When a company representative saw it, Robinson was offered a free year of Netflix. According to the San Francisco Chronicle, a year’s worth of Netflix can cost up to roughly $96. w In Britain, Jonathan Gregory discovered that a dead bird was sewn into his bathroom slippers. While walking around in his bathroom slippers, Gregory felt something brush his foot. He thought it was a piece of plastic; however, a sharp beak popped up. He then cut through the slipper and found the beak attached to a head. When he brought it back to the Primark store from where he bought it, the store claimed that the product was sold a year ago and Gregory was given a fourpound refund, which is approximately $6 in U.S currency. w An 82-year-old woman was forced to get off a Florida train at Brickell Metrorail station for singing hymns. There is a station policy that passengers are not PAGEANT from pg 1
Aside from the court titles, runners-up received scholarship money. ality to junior Vivian Li, Best Smile to junior Bria Smith, and Miss Photogenic to Palma. To prepare for the pageant, contestants went through six weeks of training on interview skills, professional modeling sessions, makeup sessions, and fitness trainings. They also participated in a fashion show and a car wash fundraiser. Branks is currently a senior at
to sing or play instruments because it might disturb the other passengers and they might miss the train announcements. As a result, a security guard said that she was causing a disturbance, and harshly pulled her up from her seat. When he did, the woman fell down and suffered shoulder and hip fractures. The woman’s family hired an attorney and is exploring their options for the time being. w On March 7, 24-year-old intern Dianna Hanson was killed by a fully grown lion at a California wildlife sanctuary. Hanson, an intern at The Cat Haven, was reportedly talking on the phone when the 500-pound animal broke her neck. Investigators say that the lion’s gate was not properly closed, so the lion was able to escape. After the animal was put to death, the Sheriff’s deputies attended to Hanson, who died at the scene. w In Chicago, Anishi Spencer filed a complaint against McDonald’s. Spencer’s son picked up a used condom in the play area, ate it, and shortly after coughed up a piece of it. The suit stated that Jaquel has suffered severe and permanent injuries both physically and mentally and will continue to be in pain and discomfort for quite some time. The mother filed that McDonald’s neglected to keep the restaurant safe and clean. The incident is still in investigation but Spencer wants $50,000 as compensation. DBHS and the Varsity Captain of the school’s cross country team. She is in her second year of AP Studio Art and is planning on submitting her portfolio to College Board this May. Prior to participating in the DB Pageant, Branks took part in the student ambassador program People2People, travelling to Europe and Scotland when she was just twelve years old. “As Miss Diamond Bar, I hope to be more involved with the City of Diamond Bar and interact with the community more. I also hope to be helpful and fulfill my Miss Diamond Bar duties at all of the city’s events,” she stated.
NEWS
THE BULL’S EYE
3
DBHS Orchestra selected as top string section in the nation The DBHS student performers earned individual and group awards. BY JOY CHOW ASST. NEWS EDITOR
Earlier this month, Diamond Bar High School’s Symphony Orchestra placed second at the National Orchestra Cup in New York. Representing DBHS in a competition against ten of the best orchestras in the nation were 112 students from Symphony Orchestra and wind ensemble performing at Lincoln Center. “Because we knew ahead of time how talented the group was, we felt very relaxed and comfortable going into it. It was exciting too because we knew it’d be a special performance,” band and orchestra director Steve Acciani commented. The best 90 string players and 22 wind players performed numbers from “Swan Lake” by Tchaikovsky. Seniors Josh Chen, Johnny Wang, and junior Ashley Xie also had solos in the performance number. After the performance, DB was recognized as the top string section and senior Johnny Wang, first-chair violinist, won top soloist for high string. “I think the trip brought more unity to the group. All those rehearsals and practices really made us look out and be accountable for one another. Because everyone had to be in tip top shape for the performance, the violins were account-
EXCHANGE from pg 1
The exchange students will reside in the homes of their hosts during their ten day stay. to explore L.A. and other areas. Sometimes they’ll be here with us at school to see how different it is. I’m excited to learn more French culture and language through [the French students] and have fun,” sophomore host Nicole Yamashiro
Hoops for Hope
COURTESY OF ERICA CHAE
CLASSIC TROPHY - The orchestra’s president and section leaders stand proudly after placing second and being recognized as the top string section. able for the winds and the winds were accountable for the cellos and so on,” senior orchestra president Erica Chae commented. To prepare for the trip, students rehearsed every day during class as well as every Wednesday after school from 6 to 9 p.m. Professional musicians like Sey Ahn, a guest conductor from USC, worked with the students in preparation for the competition and was also the conductor for the performance at Lincoln Center. “By setting a goal to be one of the best in the nation, all the students were drawn together. Watching them be able to prepare and work with outside professionals — basically, take care of each other while planning and executing the trip made it feel like something really
special. Our goal was to make this trip the thing that students remember most about in high school and I think we accomplished that,” Acciani said. During the four days in New York, from Feb. 28 to March 3, the DBHS performers also had the opportunity to roam around and explore the new environment. Many visited the Central Park or watched Broadway shows such as “Phantom of the Opera.” Besides the rigorous practicing prior to the trip, students held outside concerts, gigs, and also found sponsors to raise funds so that every student could go. Through all of its fundraising and various donations, orchestra was able to raise $25,000 in order to partially fund the trip.
said. Since 2004, DBHS French instructor Anthony Tietz has been taking his French III students to a Catholic church in Los Angeles. This was the first step in introducing this unique exchange program to DBHS. “Four years ago, a teacher in France wanted her kids to experience living in America, and she asked the priest if he knew any high school teachers who could arrange such a thing. I was the only one he knew,” Tietz explained. The priest connected the teacher to Tietz, and the program started, with this year being the third annual event. Host students are also welcomed by their French friends to come to France and visit their homes during vacation. “I’m really excited because it’s so interesting to see the difference in our culture and to see how our culture just sinks into them when
they come here is amazing,” junior host Elizabeth Nakamura stated. The hosts and the native French students are already communicating via email, and some have shown improvement in their speaking. “I have got to say that I’m mostly looking forward to learning to be more French from Louise, and teaching her American ways. I also want to build a nice friendship. I hope she won’t be disappointed,” Yamashiro stated. Tietz is just as excited as the host students. “I think it’s the coolest thing ever because some people can’t afford it or just don’t have the time to visit France, but France is now coming to them. When somebody meets someone who speaks French, I never have to tell them why French is so important. It’s not just about tests and merely speaking the language. It’s about meeting new people. It’s real,” he commented.
ELEMENTARY from pg 1
The kindergarteners rotated around to specific locations on campus.
XING YEN QUEK
DRIBBLE TO DONATE - The DBHS’ Hoops for Hope club held a three versus three competiton, which took place on March 17, in order to raise money for charity. Club members who were interested paid a fee of $2 and nonmembers paid $3. Winners of the tournament received a prize.
The kindergarteners were separated into three groups and followed a schedule USB arranged. At the amphitheater, students were able to dance, hula hoop, play, and draw with chalk. In the theater, DBHS students presented a humorous skit which was about students in high school overcoming their failures. Also at the theater, the All Male Dance Crew, Dance Team, and drumline performed. During the performances, they allowed the elementary school students to dance and play along with them. In the USB room, the kids received balloons, took pictures with the Brahma mascot, painted a poster, and played with Play-Doh. “The best part of the day was just getting to talk to all of the kids
individually and watching USB interacting with the kids. I hope [the kindergarteners] learned all the different activities our school has to offer and the family atmosphere our school promotes,” Kali De Cambra, Commissioner of Special Projects, stated. Toward the end of the event, USB led the kindergarten students to the Golden Horseshoe for the last activity. Students drew a picture of the various activities they enjoyed throughout the day. At the end of the day, DBHS’ Assistant Principal John Terry gave a final speech, encouraging the young students to do their best in school, and everyone concluded the day with the Brahma spell out. “The whole event was worthwhile and I loved how the kids interacted with the high school students. I hope that high school is going to be a great experience for the [kindergarteners], and I wish that they will be eager to attend DBHS and do well,” Jasmine Thurston, mother of a Quail Summit Elementary student, said.
4 EDITORIAL
THE BULL’S EYE
Wednesday, March 27, 2013
TSA Loosens Tight Reins on Airplane Security Small knives and certain sports equipment will be permitted on flight to expedite security check. BY EMILY WONG CONTRIBUTING WRITER
PRO|The
Transportation Security Administration has recently approved a policy that will allow airplane passengers to carry onboard foldable knives and several sports equipment including baseball bats and a maximum of two golf clubs. Despite the fact that there has been much controversy surrounding this decision, which will take effect on April 25, their sensible decision will be more in line with international standards, increase convenience for passengers and workers and allow security checks to focus on detecting bombs and other weapons that impose greater danger. Those who deprecate the TSA’s pronouncement have argued that during the 9/11 attacks, terrorists used box cutters and small knives to hijack planes. In addition, airline workers have shown concern about unstable passengers with these items who could jeopardize the airplane’s safety. Although this may be true, these arguments are, in truth, illogical when certain key facts are taken into consideration. First, the ruling will ameliorate the security system as the airport security will be able to focus more on finding potentially threatening weapons. Airport security will be relieved from having to waste time confiscating sports equipment and small pocketknives, thereby giving security personnel ample opportunity to concentrate on detecting weapons such as explosive materials that can cause more damage. The dangers of a bomb heavily outweigh the dangers of a tiny penknife or a bat; thus, a greater number of people will be protected
from injury. Some fear that they are being put at risk from psychotic passengers who will now be able to carry certain items aboard. However, the flight attendants, the passengers’ first line of defense from attackers, go through security training. Moreover, stronger cockpit doors are a requirement for all U.S. commercial airlines and arming pilots and federal air marshals has been allowed to further ensure the safety of the passengers and aviation staff. The change in policy will also be more suitable for scrupulous travelers. Passengers can carry onboard prized possessions, such as expensive sports equipment and certain fragile objects, without having to worry about such items being damaged when thrown around in a storage unit. Furthermore, since 2005, potential weapons such as knitting needles, small scissors, screwdrivers, wrenches, and pliers less than seven inches long have been permitted as carry-on items, yet no accidents have been reported involving these items. This suggests that such excessive caution about the impending policy is unwarranted. If tiny pocketknives and toy bats are considered a danger onboard, wrenches, pliers, and pencils should also be banned from the TSA’s permitted items list; nevertheless, the past few years are evidence that these potential weapons have, in fact, never posed a threat. Rather than worrying about relatively harmless athletic equipment and pocketknives on a flight, security will be able to focus more on finding actual major threats such as firearms and bombs in order to avoid another major airplane accident. The new guideline is a commendable step that will be more convenient for passengers and ultimately lead to a more effective security check.
BY CLAIRE HUANG ASST. A&E EDITOR
CON|Recently,
TSA reconsidered their 11-year ban on certain carry-on items, and has reached the conclusion to allow passengers to carry small knives as well as some sports equipment onboard. This policy, to be implemented on April 25, has resulted in uproar and protests from citizens across the nation because it not only puts the passengers’ safety at risk, but also displays insensitivity toward the families of the 9/11 victims. Advocates of this decision have claimed that with less focus on detecting “trivial” items such as pocketknives and batting equipment, TSA agents may now focus on finding hidden bombs and much larger threats. In addition, to the passengers’ benefit, they may also skip the tedious checking for such items at checkpoint. However, it is much more likely that the TSA’s plans will backfire by hindering the efficiency of the checkpoint process even more with agents having to measure each item to see if the knives of sporting equipment are of appropriate length to bring onboard. The TSA’s decision also comes with a large repercussion: the lessened sense of security that should rightfully be given to every citizen onboard. The TSA has ensured the public that there are regulations on what types of knives and sports equipment may be allowed, but regardless of the size of the blade or the length of the bat, both may be easily converted into lethal weapons. When it comes down to the item’s ability to harm a passenger or pilot, the measurements are not going to matter. In addition, with lack
of security or guards onboard, the crew members are vulnerable to an attack. The dismissal of such important regulations only serves to heighten the chance of potential attacks, injuries, and terrorist activities being carried out. The lift on the ban is also serious offense to those affected by the 9/11 attack. The small blades now allowed onboard can easily be used similarly to the box cutters the terrorists had used during 9/11 when they hijacked the plane during flight. Because of the possibility of another terrorist attack with small blades onboard, affected family members have felt betrayed and hurt. Sally Regenhard, the mother of a firefighter killed during the 9/11 attack, expressed her disgust and confusion while commenting on the absurdity of the TSA’s decision to allow blades on board but still restrict a cup of yogurt from passing through checkpoint. The initial implementation of the regulations after the 9/11 attack was a sign of promise that the TSA would do its best to prevent any kind of terrorist threats and protect the lives of innocent family members. With the new rule, however, the TSA has broken this promise to the brokenhearted and the fearful. The TSA’s distasteful choice will not only become a loophole for terrorists, but will also create emotional distress for relatives of 9/11 victims. The thorough process of examining each passenger’s carry-on and restricting the possession of certain items on board may be tedious, but may also be the very means to reduce the risk of another major catastrophe. If the goal is to ultimately quicken the checkpoint process, there are other alternatives besides allowing lethal weapons onboard. Safety should always come first and, in this case, before the convenience of saving time.
Finland’s Effective Formula
for First-Rate Education
Finland’s education methods have paved the way to its students’ success. U.S. should adopt these ideas to improve the nation’s lagging, academic performances. BY HOLLY LIU NEWS EDITOR
F
or several years now, Finland’s surprisingly laidback education system has been consistently ranked as one of the best in the world. To compete with countries similar to Finland, the United States has been trying to improve its educational system. But the U.S. ranked 17 in the Program for International Student Assessment whereas Finland, along with South Korea and Shanghai, was ranked in the top three. In an attempt to improve the education system, President Obama has decided to place more emphasis on test scores and teacher performance. Interestingly, these ideals are opposite those of Finnish education. To efficiently compete with the Finnish education system that is globally ranked number one by BBC News, the U.S. should adopt some of the key aspects that have earned Finland its position. A few years ago, as a means to improve education, Obama brought up the possibility of lengthening the school year to increase the amount of instructional time. However, in Finland, teachers usually spend only four hours in the classroom for actual instructional time as opposed to the minimum of five hours in America. Teachers in Finland spend about two hours on building the cirriculum and assessing student progress in the classes. Between 45-minute classes, children have a 15-minute recess, totaling to 75 minutes worth of recess a day; American students have about 27 minutes
of recess a day. In Finland, instead of placing the emphasis on instructional time, outdoor physical activity is prioritized. Allotting students free time during these extended periods of recess make school seem like less of a chore and allow students to concentrate during class time. Finland’s government funds a student’s entire education, starting from when he or she is six years old until graduation from college. This funding even includes free lunches for the students during the school
is an incentive for people who are committed to teaching to do well and ultimately become better teachers in the workforce. Since all teachers in Finland receive a higher education, it can be expected that the quality of their teaching will be more efficient than teaching in the U.S., which is not always backed up by a master’s degree. Requiring teachers to have a higher level of education might help improve the quality of education in the U.S. Education in the U.S. relies heavily on standardized test scores and separating students into different classes based on their abilities. However, in Finland, students are only required to take one standardized test at the age of 16. Teachers do not usually administer tests or homework to the students. Instead, teachers judge student performance based on hands-on projects and work that students complete in class. Furthermore, students also stay with the same teacher for several years, allowing the teacher to monitor their progress and get to know the students. This is much more effective than relying on test after test, because each student is different and demonstrates their skills differently. Allowing students to be judged by an actual human being, not an objective test, will be a more comprehensive and efficient way to determine a student’s potential. Though it will take time and effort, the U.S. should consider revising its education system. Instead of moving toward more stringent policies that rely heavily on testing and blaming teachers, the U.S. should consider some of the qualities of Finnish education system that has consistently placed it as one of the most efficacious schooling systems in the world.
Teachers in Finland judge student performance based on hands-on projects and work that students complete in class. day. Even so, Finland spends about $7,500 per student for an effective system that works, compared to the U.S., which spends about $8,700 per student. Instead of paying attention to how much money and time is spent on education, more consideration should be placed on the quality of the education. In Finland, teaching is a well-respected career that is considered to be on the same level as doctors and lawyers, making it a desirable career. Teachers are required to have a master’s degree, which is fully subsidized by the government. Only a mere 10 percent of applicants for a master’s degree in teaching are accepted, making teaching a very competitive job. This requirement
CARTOON BY GLORIA KIM
EDITORIAL
THE BULL’S EYE
Wednesday, March 27, 2013
Eye of the Editors
STUDENTS | Do you think that GLCs are fair when they assign students consequences for their offenses?
“I think on certain things they are fair and on others they are too extreme, like if someone has a cell phone then they should only get a detention, not a swap.”
“I think they are lenient to some people than with others. Not more severe, but more lenient.”
“I think GLCs are pretty fair in giving out consequences because they make a big deal of telling the rules in the beginning of the year, so the kids are just taking their chances.”
“I believe that GLCs are very fair with their consequences. They make the rules clear to everyone and even give warnings to students.”
—Rhett Mawhorter (11)
—Austin Kim (10)
—Katie Schreiner (9)
DBHS’s many bright minded students are sure to excel in the prominent competition if they choose to dedicate their time to it.
A
s one of the largest and most popular academic competitions in the United States, the Academic Decathlon has never failed to generate excitement among the participating students and their respective schools. The teams, comprised of nine members, have three students in each division based on grade point average: Honors (3.75-4.00), Scholastic (3.00-3.74), and Varsity (below 3.0). There are ten events, and team scores are the cumulative of all the team member’s points. The Decathlon is a perfect way to showcase a school’s strength in certain academic areas and to boost its reputation. In fact, each year, the winning team of Los Angeles County Academic is featured in the Los Angeles Times and is given prominent play on local TV. This year, Granada Hills Charter High School’s decathlon team won once again at the state competition, enabling them to further its twoyear consecutive win of the national Academic Decathlon that will be held in Minneapolis this April. All public and private high schools are eligible to compete, but Diamond Bar High School has not invested much of its time in such a pursuit. Ranked as the 19th best high school in California and 135th in the country by Newsweek, DBHS has a soaring chance of excelling in the event. We have competed before and done well in the past, providing the other participating
With so much power ranging from writing recommendation letters to creating class schedules, GLCs are easy targets for anything and everything that goes wrong around campus. One such criticism has been the “unequal” punishment that GLCs hand out to different students making the GLCs the target of much scrutiny at Diamond Bar High School. Every time a student is given a consequence by his GLC, the student proceeds to tell his friends what he did and what his punishment is. The next time a student is punished for a similar offense, he might discover that he was given a harsher punishment than the former student creating frustration and confusion. This proceeds to create a controversy on how the GLCs are “unfair” and “biased” toward particular students. However, the student’s judgment of the situation could not be more misguided. A GLC’s job is to push his student in the right direction so the student can achieve his full potential; it is also at the GLC’s discretion as to how hard he should push individual students. In life outside the bubble we know as DBHS, a repeat offender will undoubtedly be given a much harsher punishment than a person with no history of past crimes. Is it so unreasonable that our GLCs do the same? Is it so unreasonable that a student
“I think that some of the consequences that the GLCs give are not fit for the thing that has been done and I think tardy sweeps should be gotten rid of altogether.”
“I feel that they are inconsistent about their consequences and they do not inform students well on what certain consequences will occur when students misbehave.”
—James Freret (12)
schools with a fair bit of competition. Unfortunately, however, our school’s Academic Decathlon team has not been active in recent years due to various reasons. This has excluded many remarkable students on our campus from the opportunity to maximize their potential as well as to gain an extraordinary experience to compete with other bright individuals. The preparation for the Decathlon may be an extensive and tiring process because of the vast range of subjects it offers and the need to thoroughly know the material, but the rewards that the winning teams will reap are ones that are well worth the effort. Students have the chance to gain national recognition while the school betters its reputation. Even if the teams are not eligible to continue on to the state or national championships, the experience that the students will acquire will no doubt be invaluable to their future. All in all, the Academic Decathlon is a competition that DBHS students have a great chance of succeeding in. Our school is filled with exceptional students with brilliant minds who just need that opportunity to challenge their intellect. Teachers and friends should recommend talented students around them to join together and recreate the Academic Decathlon team. It will certainly broaden perspectives and open new doors of possibilities for students, even if they don’t necessarily make it to the championship. DBHS is already known for its impressive athletic and performing arts programs; it is now time that our academic talent is showcased as well.
who has been caught ditching a class with a history of similar offenses be given a S.W.A.P., yet a student who has been caught ditching for the first time be given a detention? If this is how punishment is given in the real world, this is how it should also be given at DBHS. Content of a student’s character similarly plays a significant role in how the GLCs dole out punishment to students. This is why the impression a student makes with their GLC is so important. GLCs have been known to be lenient toward certain students if they know that the students’ wrongdoing was a one-time occurrence. A history of upstanding behavior and good grades have also been known to be a student’s greatest voucher. Similarly, GLCs try to stay as consistent as possible when handing out referrals for tardy sweep and dress code. Most of the time when a student is given a referral for such an offense, it is by a GLC who is not his own. Therefore, they have to be impartial and cite you for the offense to be fair to other students. GLCs try their hardest to help their students. To blame them for seemingly “unequal” punishment is unfair. Most of the GLCs at DBHS are speaking from years of experience when they say that they have your best interest at heart.
Eye of the Editors is an editorial piece of The Bull’s Eye. Statements and opinions expressed in the article herein are strictly those of the editors of The Bull’s Eye. The view of the editors does not necessarily reflect that of the entire staff.
Blazing Trails of Satire
DBHS’ Academic Decath(no)lon
BY ANGIE ZHANG FEATURE EDITOR
STUDENT CONSEQUENCES | DBHS’s current punishment system reflects GLCs’ judicious discretion and does not deserve student complaints.
—Ruchi Dave (12)
—Sofia Figueroa (10)
5
BY HANNA KANG STAFF WRITER
W
ith the ongoing craze of gun control since the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting, schools all across America have been more cautious than ever to ensure a safe learning environment for students. A number of administrations have gone above and beyond to guarantee an unscathed campus. First, I would like to give a round of applause to my dearest Park Elementary School in Maryland. Oh, but before I start to lavish praise upon praise for its more than appropriate decision to suspend the seven-year-old Josh Welch for his unacceptable behavior, I am obliged to offer the school a word of consolation for the fear and commotion his fatal Pop-Tart gun must have inflicted upon the students and staff. I am especially inclined to apologize to his fellow classmates on behalf of Welch. How petrified they all must have been when Welch brandished his half-eaten breakfast shaped into a firearm. When I came across the article describing Welch’s lethal weapon and violent behavior, I was literally blown away by the principal’s totally reasonable decision to suspend the little, potential terror-
ist. Of course, Welch’s decision to craft his breakfast pastry into a defense weapon was not to be taken as a mere childhood imagination. It was rather a display of hazardous behavior, revealing his violent and distorted inner thoughts, and hinted at a concealed ferocity in his nature. It very much consoles me to think that America is blessed and still prospects hope, as this incident clearly proves such a protective and prudent school still exists. And so, I must now give the school my sincerest thanks in providing me with the invaluable information that I could success-
fully rob a bank with a rectangular, strawberry-filled snack. Brilliant. Since I have already mentioned one stellar example of sagacity ensuring a safe and healthy school environment in America, I am compelled to address another such occasion. Just this past January, a five year-old girl from Mount Car-
mel Area Elementary School in Pennsylvania was suspended after she made what the school deemed to be a terrorist threat. Her weapon of choice? A small, pink Hello Kitty automatic bubble blower. Although the kindergartener was without the harmful weapon at the time, it is undeniable that she had the intention to put her friend in harm’s way with a pink toy gun that spits out bubbles. Considering how dangerous and painful the soapy bubbles can be, and how very much this weapon, disguised by its seemingly innocent visage, resembles an actual automated firearm, I greatly appreciate the administration’s measures to suspend the little girl. It is only through such methods that schools will be able to maintain the well-being of their students. I am also pleased to hear that the school went one step further to kindly force the girl into an evaluation by a psychologist. How very comforting is it to know that we have such CARTOON BY GLORIA KIM schools to set a noble example for the rest of the nation’s districts to follow. And of course, now I can hardly wait to read more about other schools’ decisions to suspend dangerous juveniles and snicker at what the future might bring, whether it be muffin hand grenades or a plastic Winnie the Pooh M-16.
6 FEATURE
THE BULL’S EYE
How to: Deal with College decisions
by Justin Park
It’s the end of March, otherwise known as the most excruciating, adrenalinefueled, and gut-wrenching time of the year for all senior students of America. It is the time our twelve years of education culminate with a nicely sealed envelope in our mailboxes (or in this day and age, a digital letter uploaded on applicant portals). Sure, whether that envelope comes thick or thin, our lives will go on. We’ve heard enough from our parents, teachers, and counselors that we’ll enjoy our next four years wherever we end up, but that doesn’t change the fact that at many of the colleges we’ve applied to months ago, those single-paged rejection letters are queued to be sent to our home or email inbox in the next few days. And unfortunately, rejections can hurt. So in light of the admissions frenzy, here are some of great strategies that could help you cope with the anxiety of anticipation, and of course, the inevitable sadness that follows a rejection.
1. While waiting for your decision day, DON’T GO ON COLLEGE CONFIDENTIAL. College Confidential is not the most ideal forum to resort to venting your anxiety and frustration. College Confidential will be the go to place for many extremely qualified (and unbelievably so) candidates out there in the world who utilize the site to showcase all their magnificent accomplishments. People will be posting left and right about their admission decisions when you still curiously haven’t received yours yet. The site will only kill your confidence and diminish your hopes of getting into your dream college. You don’t need any of that.
2. Here’s another big “DO NOT.” Don’t post a countdown on your Facebook. Publicizing your anticipation inevitably builds others’ anticipation. When that countdown reaches 0 and the whole world knows you’ve received your long awaited decision to that college, people will talk about it, whether to you or between themselves. Needless to say, things can get quite awkward for you. 3. On the big day, make plans. It is never a good idea to spend the whole day curled up in your bed in a fetal position, madly clicking on that refresh button to see if the decisions have been uploaded. Make plans with a friend, preferably someone who isn’t waiting for a decision that day. Keep your mind occupied and distracted, and remind yourself that having fun is a freely given gift in life that doesn’t discriminate. Enjoy your company, who could congratulate you when you’re accepted, or console you when you’re not.
Wednesday, March 27, 2013
The Unsung Tale of I.B. students BY Hajra Bawany CONTRIBUTING WRITER
“What is IB?” I have heard this question more times than I can count. Generally, the expected answer is “IB is a program called International Baccalaureate which students like me take to improve the appearance of our college applications. There is a ton of work and tests because we are graded overall by someone in another part of the world.” However, IB is not just another program – well, not the way I see it. It is a community, a way of thinking, a widened perspective. Within IB, we are like a family. We know each others’ strengths and weaknesses and support each other. All of us have similar schedules and assessments, so we share a common hardship of stress and pressure. This added connection brings all of us closer together as a community within the school. Although commonality brings unity, each student is seen as a separate individual with unique talents de-
fining us. We have a poet, a football player, musicians, a dancer, swimmers, artists and much more amongst the forty of us, so there is room to be more than just a student in IB. As long as you are willing to put in the extra effort, IB is a rewarding experience. Beyond community, IB teaches you to truly appreciate knowledge because truth is not black and white. If it were, life would be boring because of the lack of individual perspectives. This idea of individualistic knowledge is present in all of our IB classes in different manners from the assessments to the way of teaching. In history, for instance, we analyze the perspectives from multiple textbooks, videos, and original documents. In short, IB is a different approach to teaching and learning that allows for greater freedom when it comes to thinking and presenting ideas because there is no right or wrong. Every perspective is significant in creating the big picture of the world and IB works toward getting these perspectives together to form a greater understanding.
OVERHEARD IN DB Every month, we will bring you some of the most ridiculous, hilarious, flat-out idiotic, and sometimes insightful things we hear around campus. So beware—we’ll be listening.
4. If you’re accepted, go celebrate. If you’re not, go to a theater and watch a movie. Ironically, a movie theater is one of the most ideal places you can enjoy your solitude. Once you’re inside, no eyes are on you since everyone is watching the movie. Take advantage of this and grab a flick of any genre. Use those two hours to sulk. Watching a movie while doing it will help you forget about it faster.
Student: I hate it when a shower only has 2 options: 3rd degree burns or skinny dipping in Antartica.
Student: Why is there an eject button on DVD players? I still have to get up and take the disc out. It’s like having a remote to open the fridge.
Spaghetti in Meatballs
by Lea Chang
As a frequenter of many different foodie blogs and recipe sites, I always wanted to try a recipe for spaghetti in meatballs. It’s cute and different from the everyday pasta dish, but is pretty time consuming and calls for a lot of patience.
Pasta
Pasta
• Put water in a pot and season with garlic salt, then boil. • Add pasta and cook until al dente (cooked completely, but still firm). • Drain pasta then cover with cold water to chill. • Drain again after 5 to 10 minutes. • Line a plate with parchment paper. • Make little balls by twirling pasta with a small fork. • Set aside each ball on the plate. • Freeze for 20 minutes (I prepared the pasta the night before and froze the balls overnight to save time the next morning).
• Take out frozen pasta balls and push mozzarella cheese into the centers of each one. • Put pasta balls back into freezer.
Meatballs
• Take out beef from refrigerator. • Take 2-3 tbsp of meat and flatten in palm. • Place pasta ball inside and fold meat around it, forming a ball. • Chill for about 30 minutes. • Preheat oven to 350 degrees • Line a tray with parchment paper and place meatballs on it. • Bake meatballs until brown.
Meatballs
• Put shredded Parmesan cheese into food processor and blend until very fine. • Set cheese aside in a separate bowl. • Tear your sourdough slices into smaller pieces and blend them as well. • Put bread crumbs into a bowl and mix with 1/3 cup milk, then set aside. • Whisk eggs in a small bowl and add minced garlic. • Put ground beef in a large bowl. • Rub Italian herbs and salt with your hands and sprinkle over beef • Sprinkle Parmesan cheese over beef. • Add the whisked egg and garlic. • Get rid of excess milk from bread crumbs and add to beef. • Mix ingredients together, first with a spoon then by hand. • Chill meat for 15 minutes to an hour.
*Some cheese might have seeped through, but there will still be plenty left inside. *You can open a meatball to check for how well done it is, but since it’s not solid beef all the way through, chances are it’ll be done by the time the outside is fairly brown.
Ingredients:
-1 lb ground beef -5 oz shredded Parmesan cheese -2 eggs -1 cup bread crumbs from sourdough bread -1/3 cup whole milk -2 cloves garlic -1 tsp Italian herbs
-1 tsp salt -2 oz thin pasta (angel hair or capellini) -mozzarella cheese -garlic salt -tomato sauce
Tools:
-food processor -parchment paper
Wednesday, March 27, 2013
FEATURE
THE BULL’S EYE
Yojie Japanese Fondue Busy with
7
Business
BY ANGIE ZHANG FEATURE EDITOR
by Emily Leung
What first prompted me to dine at Yojie Japanese Fondue was news of its green tea fondue. Because of this, I had initially thought that the restaurant was one that served solely desserts, and was surprised to learn that it was in fact a hot pot style eatery. The restaurant itself is located in the Hmart plaza near Diamond Bar High School, just right next to Rite Aid. The interior decoration of the restaurant is very simple and modern, with a few pieces of abstract art hanging on one wall. The whole front of Yojie is glass, and although it made for a nice presentation, I was constantly blinded by the glare reflecting off the car parked in front of the store. The menu consists of different amounts and types of meat with a choice between shabu shabu (hot pot style) or sukiyaki, which is similar to the former but has a soup-like base. I ordered the shabu shabu with Angus beef and found the taste to be quite commonplace. The two sauces that came with the dish were the main sources of flavor and tasted like the typical hot pot flavorings; there was nothing that good or bad about them and I believe these two sauces can be found at almost every hot pot style restaurant. I have, however, heard from a friend that the sukiyaki was a very unique and delicious selection, and regret not sampling it. The only two aspects that I thought could have room for improvement were the service and the power of the stove used to heat the pot. My father and I waited
Joyce Yin Yin’s earrings are miniature handmade works of art.
around 35 minutes for the food to come and I found this a bit strange because most of the food given to the customers is served raw, and they must cook it themselves. I saw no reason for the delay, unless of course the meat was being treated or thawed in the back. The other aspect was the stovetop that provided the heat for the water. The liquid was very slow to boil and once it did, looked a bit weak. I can only conclude that this was a safety regulation that was placed to prevent injuries, especially since the restaurant targeted the younger generations. Despite this, I did not encounter any problems when cooking the meat. Next was the dish that I was especially looking forward to—des-
sert. Priced at $10, the green tea fondue was the highlight of my experience at Yojie. It came with a plethora of different fruits and pastries on a platter and the fondue itself was a particularly beautiful shade of green. However, after tasting the dessert, I found that it was rather more of a white chocolate flavor than green tea. Upon closer inspection, I noticed a fine green powder on the dipping ingredients and concluded that the fondue was basically made of melted white chocolate and the green (tea?) powder. Overall, eating at Yojie’s was a delightful experience and well worth the time. I would definitely go back to eat there again, most likely to taste the sukiyaki.
In this tech-savvy day and age, businesses don’t have to have a face to face interaction between the seller and consumer. They can be online, like what senior Joyce Yin did with her business, JanuaryPanda. Yin used Etsy, a popular website where people can sell and buy handmade goods ranging from jewelry to home décor, to launch her business. She officially “opened shop” on August 14, 2012 but had already started forming her business earlier that summer. She specializes in earrings but also sells necklaces, bracelets, and customized jewelry. Since she’s still in the beginning stages with her business, she is not too busy and only has to spend three to four hours a week working on her business related tasks. However, Yin states that her side job can get a little stressful when she has multiple tests to study for the next day. Finding clients can also be difficult, but she has learned to promote her business through Etsy boards. However, her business, which hasn’t even reached its one year anniversary, has been featured on a fashion segment for CBS and a fashion website called Category 5. Yin shares that her favorite part of running her own business is “knowing that I was able to start my own idea and actually make it come true where people are willing to pay money for what I make! I find it very refreshing to know that people out there truly love what I give them!” She also enjoys getting feedback on the items she makes and so far has received all positive responses. For instance, she happily recalls her favorite memory of receiving her first customer. It was an “aha!” moment for her because she found that her hard work had paid off. If orders continue to come in, Yin will be sure to keep on producing jewelry for her online consumers in college.
Drugstore make-up Best Foundation
by Sarah Cho
Debbie Pan
Neutrogena Healthy Skin Enhancer: Though technically not a foundation, it does offer some coverage. This foundation is extremely light weight, natural looking, and easy to blend—I often just blend this with my hands (clean hands of course). It’s a great everyday item, especially if you’re in a hurry. Covergirl Natureluxe Silk Foundation: While not as light as Neutrogena’s Healthy Skin Enhancer, it is far from feeling heavy on the skin. It blends smoothly and offers quite a bit of coverage—more than the Skin Enhancer does. The packaging is also quite sleek and easily portable.
Best Eyeliner
Physician’s Formula Gel Cream Liner: This is one of my favorite gel liners, even when compared to many high end brands. It is especially great if you’re looking for color—I adore the purple gel liner and I used to wear it all the time. The liner is definitely waterproof—I’ve worn it to the beach and even to the pool on occasion. Though not completely smudge proof, it really lasts throughout the day. Physician’s Formula Eyeliner: It is a great pencil liner for lining your waterline. The eyeliner is smooth, pigmented, and rich. The brightly colored liners are a little disappointing, but their range of neutral colors including more uncommon colors like champagne and taupe is definitely a plus. The black liner is the best by far. Maybelline Gel Liner: While I haven’t had the opportunity to try this myself yet, I plan on picking this up as soon as possible. A friend of mine swears by this and I’ve seen the proof of its lasting power myself. This liner lives up to its packaging claim and literally lasts 24 hours. Though probably not a good idea, it stays put even if you sleep with it on.
Best Lipstick
Revlon’s Lipsticks: Revlon has a couple of different lines of lipsticks. I have tried several of them and I have never been disappointed. They are long lasting, pigmented, and Revlon offers a multitude of beautiful shades. Unlike a lot of drugstore lipsticks, these are not drying and definitely not chalky. Revlon’s Lip Butters: If you’re not a fan of lipsticks, you might want to check out Revlon’s lip butters. They are a more moisturizing, less color intense alternative. They are unquestionably worth the couple dollars they cost. My favorite part is their delicious names. From Pink Truffle to Peach Parfait, their names are a huge draw and are positively appetizing.
Homecoming pictures are common among Pan’s work. The famous saying that many of you have heard, “A picture’s worth a thousand words,” is a lie. Truthfully, it should be, “A picture’s worth a thousand dollars.” Although a thousand may not be what this high school student makes just yet, senior Debbie Pan has high hopes. Pan’s photography business started when she took her friend’s formal pictures for Prom during the end of Pan’s junior year. When fellow students saw her pictures on various social media sites like Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram, they too wanted the fresh new format of pictures that she offered, which were very unique compared to normal studio photos. She later used those sites as a form of advertisement for her business. Pan first started out photographing and editing photo shoots for no charge, but soon realized that she could actually be making some profit out of something that she loved to do. She photographs for many school events, not only those of DBHS but also of other local schools. Most of her photo shoots involve ones related to school dances such as Homecoming, Sadies, and Prom. Her favorite part about her business is the gratification she gets from her clients’ positive reactions. In addition, she finds that her business allows her to become closer to fellow students during photo shoots. Staying away from plain and boring backgrounds, Pan often does her photo shoots at more unique places. Her favorite place for shoots at is Old Town Pasadena, which encompasses “vintage backdrops settings and city life.” Since she doesn’t have to work every week, Pan is able to juggle both school and work and usually sees to her business on the weekends. Photo shoots on average take her one to three hours and editing usually takes one to two hours. She plans on continuing her business if she chooses to attend a college close to home.
8
Wednesday, March 27, 2013
THE BULL’S EYE
FEATURE THEME
9
DESIGNED BY VIVIAN TANG & HANNA YI
10 ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT
Wednesday, March 27, 2013
THE BULL’S EYE
Performing Arts Recap BY XING YEN QUEK PHOTO EDITOR
Dance All Male: After a stunning victory at the United Spirit Association Regionals, All Male is still going strong and will be moving on to its biggest and most anticipated competition of the year at U.S.A. Nationals. The boys participated in five competitions so far, including the Cal Pac Championship, the Red Hot Dance Challenge, and U.S.A. Regionals. They have won first place for every event and were also awarded the Judges Award for Showmanship at the U.S.A. Regionals. On March 16, All Male once again showcased its remarkable talent and maintained its first place streak at the California Association of Dance/Drill Team Directors Championships. The boys hope to continue their undefeated record and bring home the first place prize at their next competition, the U.S.A. Nationals on Friday and Saturday. “We’ve been doing well, and we haven’t lost. I hope it stays that way,” said All Male senior captain Franklin Yu Dance Team: Four weeks into its competitive season, Dance Team has already successfully earned high ranking awards and beat its rival schools, including Walnut High School, in several competitions. Dance Team will also be joining All Male in the U.S.A. Nationals after scoring above 85
points and placing fourth and third for its large and medium dance respectively at the U.S.A. Regionals. In addition to qualifying for nationals, Dance Team also received the Judges Award for Showmanship. At the Cal Pac competition and the Red Hot Dance Challenge, Dance Team maintained its outstanding record by winning first place at both events. It also participated at the CADTD championship with All Male on March 16, finishing fifth in large dance and third in medium lyrical. The last competition remaining this season will be the U.S.A. Nationals. “Dance Team has had a great season so far. We get wonderful feedback from students and great support from our team during competitions. We are all hungry for the gold,” Dance Team senior captain Becky Hsu said.
Choir This year has also proven to be a successful year for choir as it hopes to continue its winning streak after winning its last two competitions in April. Marquis and Solitaire displayed outstanding performance at Brea Olinda High School by winning first place. Marquis also received accolades for Best Musicianship and the Student Panel Award. At Arcadia, Marquis came in close and tied for second place. Choir is now preparing rigorously for their toughest competitions at John Buroughs High School and SoCal Performance Show Choir. “We have less people to utilize than last year, but the talent we’ve seen this year has impressed me more than any other” said Cham-
ber President senior Sammie Cow
Band/Orchestra Symphony Orchestra recently represented Diamond Bar High School competing at the National Orchestra Competition in New York. It placed second and was awarded the Best String Section and Best Soloist. Since the start of their season, Wind Ensemble, Band, and Orchestra have participated in numerous festivals, including the one at Santiago High School last week. On Wednesday Symphonic Band displayed mediocre performance as it received a score of Excellent, the third highest scoring range out of four. String and Concert Orchestra had more successful results, concluding the day with a Superior. The next day, Wind Ensemble and Symphony Orchestra earned Unanimous Superior, the highest ranking. Concert Band, on the other hand, only scored an Excellent. Wind Ensemble, Band, and Orchestra are now anticipating a few more festivals and have high hopes in continuing their consistent high ranking record. “We have definitely developed a sense of pride and confidence in our playing after we got 2nd place from the National Competition in New York,” said Wind Ensemble and Symphony Orchestra member Felicia Lin.
BY EMILY HWANG STAFF WRITER
Mark your calendars! Diamond Bar High School’s Musical Theatre Class will be presenting its Spring Musical “Thoroughly Modern Millie,” which is based on a 1967 version of the movie of the same name. The main protagonist, Millie Dillmount, desires an adventure outside of Salina, Kansas and travels to New York City to fall in love. “Thoroughly Modern Millie” will be performed for five days on April 26, 27, May 2, 3, and 4 at 7 p.m. Two matinees will be performed on April 27 while regular showings will be held on the other days. The musical tells a story of how a young girl named Millie wants to get out of the mundane Kansas routine leaving with a mission—to get married to someone rich. Wanting to do what every “modern” woman does in New York, Millie attempts to marry her own boss. Not everything in her plan succeeds once she falls in love with a poor man, Jimmy Smith. As Millie meets new people and learns about living the urban life, the audience can understand what living in New York City in 1922 was like. Millie’s assertive and independent personality portrays an image
of how young people during the Rip-Roaring Twenties thought anything was possible and lived life to its fullest. “I’m so excited for this musical! It’s my first main role and I couldn’t have picked a better character to portray. Millie is basically who I want to be. But I’m nervous since I have so many lines and cues to memorize in such a short time,” senior Tori Berba said. Due to drama teacher Peter Bland’s absence, the musical theater class is rehearsing under two new directors, alumni Jacon and Jared Kaitz who graduated from DBHS in 2009. The group also has Patty Breitag helping them with their singing. “I really hope that this musical will come out great! I’m having a lot of fun directing and I’m looking forward to it!” Jacon Kaitz commented. Back in high school, drama majors Jacon and Jared were a part of DBHS’ drama class and are currently working as the Theater Managers. “I just hope to have a great show and that the audience will love the musical just as much as I do!” junior Rachel McCown. McCown plays, Ms. Dorothy, Millie’s friend in New York. Endless days of practices and memorizing should bring an entertaining night of singing, dancing, and laughter.
PHOTO COURTESY of STEVE ACCIANI
What Are You
THE VIOLA SECTION represent the Orchestra as they proudly hold up trophies.
Reading Now?
PLAY PREVIEW:
A “Modern” Musical
PHOTO COURTESY of CUONG NGUYEN
DANCE TEAM smiles for the camera at its recent competition.
Each issue, the Bull’s Eye’s Editor-in-Chief Lea Chang will review a book she is currently reading. It may be a recent novel or an old classic, but with every book, she will reveal her opinions as she reads. Next month, be ready for her concluding thoughts on the previous issue’s book and new reviews on the next book she decides to pick up! BY LEA CHANG EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
“Fight Club,” which I reviewed last issue, was a highly engrossing novel with a most fitting ending of unparalleled creepiness. Afterwards, I also watched the film adaptation starring Brad Pitt, Edward Norton, and Helena Bonham Carter. The thing about the movie was that virtually every line was taken straight out of the book, so it was as if
C h u c k Palahniuk had basically written the script. I know plenty of people who sing the movie’s praises to no end, but the real
genius at work here is Palahniuk. Both the novel itself and the film were excellent. The adaptation’s ending, however, had been altered perhaps because the ending that Palahniuk had written was a little too morbid and would only have appealed to a very select audience. I personally think that the movie ending was too happily ever after in comparison to the rest of the plot and that Palahniuk’s version was the more fitting. This month, I started reading Charles Bukowski’s “Ham on Rye,” an autobiography told through the writer’s alter ego. Bukowski, whose style is best described as “dirty realism,” was an American poet-novelist living in Los Angeles who focused on the underclass. I had mostly been interested in Bukowski’s poetry, especially his collection titled “Love is a Dog from Hell,” until now, but I decided to give his prose a chance too. My curiosity was well rewarded. Both “Love is a Dog from Hell” and “Ham on Rye” are rife with instances of crude humor and take painfully realistic points of view on life. Bukowski wastes no time in getting to the heart of the matter every time, telling his stories in a very no-non-
sense style. “Ham on Rye” is basically Bukowski using Henry Chinaski as a way to narrate his own coming of age, especially to highlight the difficulties of bullying and family problems that accompanied his childhood. Chronologically, it is the first of Bukowski’s autobiographical series. Since Bukowski grew up in the 1930’s and 40’s, Chinaski’s childhood also takes place during the Great Depression. However, “Ham on Rye” isn’t necessarily centered on the abysmal state of the economy, as so many books set in that time period often are. It is an extremely honest book about being the outsider as a child but still manages to be funny in all the darkest ways and like “Fight Club,”
Wednesday, March 27, 2013
While I didn’t see the movie in 3-D, I could can tell this was a made for 3-D movie. There are tons of sharp objects that abruptly fly out at you along with sequences involving water and fog you just I entered the theater expecting know were put in there so those the sort of family movie that is who shelled out the extra three just as or even more so enjoyable dollars and fifty cents can go “ooh” for an older audience—something and “ahh” while wearing their 3-D like Disney’s glasses. But, “Pirates of the in all honCaribbean” estly, the or “Alice in movie isn’t Wonderland.” worth an I expected extra three something of, dollars and at least, “Spy fifty cents Kids” caliber. and as a But everyresult, the thing, from the painfully obcomical imvious scenes possibilities to made for 3-D James Franco sequences and Mila Kutook away nis’ overacting from the screams a solid whole expekids’ movie—a rience. kids’ movie of While not the “Journey 2: the epic that The Mysterious I expected Island” variety. and not the Once I overblockbuster came my disits trailers ap p o i n t m e n t , made it out however, I to be, it is a found the movsolid kids’ PHOTO COURTESY of ew.com movie. And if ie to be mildly entertaining and THE WIZARD is shown in a different perspective in this family-friendly film. nothing else, a good movie the theater to watch with kids. The action seBut, even as a kids’ movie, it’s plays some pretty amazing trailers quences are as intense as they can not without its faults. The biggest to highly anticipated movies just be in a PG rated movie and the flaw, by far, is the CGI. The movie’s before the showing. But, to be fair dialogue was humorous. Franco’s use of green screen could have to the movie, I must admit I am defcharacter, while exceedingly ste- been a little (a lot) better. Some initely not the demographic they reotypical, was likeable in an anti- scenes actually made me cringe were targeting. I’m sure a younger hero sort of way. I especially loved and at times I felt physically sick viewer would have thought it to be its cast of strong female characters, and could only sit in my seat wona spectacular movie. I’m absoluteparticularly Kunis’ portrayal of dering where they found a green ly positive James Franco now has Theodora and Michelle William’s room big enough for Franco to run some very love-struck nine year Glinda. While the acting was ex- around in. olds as lifetime fans.
BY SARAH CHO FEATURE EDITOR
ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT
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aggerated and cheesy for 99.9% of the movie, it added to the Wizard of Oz charm we grew to love as children with the original. Really, the entire movie seems like a giant popup book, and I mean that in a good way. Its bright vibrant colors, magically enchanting settings, and unusual camerawork create this odd, yet likeable, experience.
BY CLAIRE HUANG ASST. A&E EDITOR
With society’s attachment to social media, it is impossible to not know what Instagram is. This convenient mobile application is widely used to share photos via social networking and due to its wide appeal, the application allows photos to reach a potential audience of over 10 million. However, what makes Instagram different from any other tool used to share pictures online is the promptness of an upload, taking merely a few seconds, as well as the vintage filters used to beautify any picture. By the simple process of selecting a filter and uploading a photo, the user is then able to share their “masterpiece” with the world, sprinkling hashtags in the comments if they want more publicity. Although Instagram has received countless compliments and seems like it is utilized by everyone who owns a smartphone, there are still those who feel that it undermines the beauty of true photography. The filters should not be the determining factor that make the picture unique and aesthetically appealing. A true photographer
would utilize lighting, framing, and angle in order to highlight the essence of the subject in a photograph. The filters in Instagram dominate and mask the creative perspective of the photographer, and instead, the viewers see the overwhelming blue blur of the filters or the Polaroid edges. With this, the value of true photography is lost. Still, the 10 million users of Instagram would beg to differ, being that Instagram plays a large part in the modern photography revolution of high-quality smartphone users. With easy access to a phone, users would then be able to easily capture any moment, allowing for spontaneity in photos. In addition, the especially alluring photo filters allow users to create an illusion of warm, faded vintage images or dark, contrasted photos that enhance the appeal of the photos even more by creating a nostalgic feel. Along with Facebook, Twitter, and Tumblr, Instagram has created a place for itself in the midst of our technologically advanced society. It’s free, simple, and easy to use. However, maybe the question isn’t really if Instagram is true art, but if anyother treasured longstanding traditions of photography will be engulfed by social media and spat back out as a smartphone application.
Kong’s Korner
A monthly review or rant on games, shows, movies, and other forms of entertainment
Greatest Show of All Time BY AUSTIN KONG A&E EDITOR
I am in my second semester of my senior year in high school. I have a lot free time on my hands, and naturally, I have look for things to do. I came across an article on imdb.com that listed some of the greatest TV shows of our era. The generic popular TV shows such as “FRIENDS,” “Big Bang Theory,” and “The Office” were all part of this list, but I came across
one show that caught my eye— “Band of Brothers.” “Band of Brothers” (2001) is an HBO miniseries that was produced by Steven Spielberg and Tom Hanks and it dramatizes the U.S. Army’s 101st Airborne Easy Company throughout World War II. The show was adapted from the war memoir written by Stephen A. Ambrose, who also helped produce the show as well. From the company’s first training days on Curahee Mountain to capturing Hitler’s Eagle’s Nest, Easy Company suffered one of the highest casualty numbers of a single company in
PHOTO COURTESY of coolchaser.com
PREPARING TO ATTACK these soldiers went to hell and back.
the war. Time and time again, Easy was called upon to hold the frontlines in countless battles such as the legendary Battle of the Bulge and the capture of Bastogne. For all the war junkies out there who love this particular genre, “Band of Brothers” will be the most exhilarating 705 minutes of your lives. For those who hate the WWII genre, I strongly urge you to give this show a chance. This is nothing like the “Rambo” movies where the gore and blood are exaggerated to a ridiculous extent. “Band of Brothers” focuses on every single aspect of WWII. Each episode highlights a different struggle or bond that the soldiers faced during the war such as the war’s psychological impact, the bond between each soldier, and the difficulties that come with leadership. “Band of Brothers” encompasses all of the war and does not leave a single issue hanging. The show’s style comes very close to Steven Spielberg’s film, “Saving Private Ryan.” In the same manner, Spielberg made sure that “Band of Brothers” captured the war for what it was. No sugar coating was allowed in the show. No
PHOTO COURTESY of readallaboutit.org
AN EPIC STORY telling the tale of a band of brothers. one character is magnified into a hero. Instead, the show focuses on the honor that comes with serving with your best friends and the undying wish to never disappoint them. There was one particular part in the show where a character named Popeye is shot by a Nazi machine gun. Instead of crying out in pain, he yells out, “I can’t believe I
[messed] up sir!.. I’m so sorry.” “Band of Brothers” is the greatest show that I have ever seen in my life. Tom Hanks and Steven Spielberg, two of the greatest storytellers of our time, made this show to honor these soldiers who fought for our country. They share the same inspiration and goal that make this show the masterpiece that it is.
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Wednesday, March 27, 2013
The Lady Brahmas take the game in extra innings
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SPORTS COLUMN
NBA Playoff Rat Race
SOFTBALL | Led by senior Dani Wilson and freshman Casey Tamanaha, the team was able to come up with the victory in a thriller that came down to nine innings. BY BROOKE MILLER CONTRIBUTING STAFF WRITER
Diamond Bar softball defeated Los Altos 6-5 in extra innings last week. This was the Brahmas’ second league win, extending the team’s league record to 2-0. Both teams displayed strong defensive abilities in the first three innings as neither could score early in the game. After three scoreless innings, the Conquerors put three runs up on the board in the top of the fourth. The Brahmas answered back in the bottom of the inning with two runs of their own. Junior Ariana Martinez hit a single to center field to bring home senior Dani Wilson. Another single to left field by junior Kailey Duran allowed for freshman Casey Tamanaha to score. The Conquerors scored another run in top of the fifth and seventh innings bringing the score to 5-2. The Brahmas went into the ninth trailing by three after keeping Los Altos scoreless in the eighth inning. After the first four at-bats, the bases were loaded with one out. Freshman Andrea Gonzalez hit a single to left field that drove in both freshman Summer Anderson and senior Breanna Gonzalez. A sacrifice fly by Tamanaha then scored the tying run. However, the Conquerors proceeded to get the last out which forced extra innings. The score remained 5-5 through the eighth inning but the ninth proved to be better for the Brahmas. Tamanaha hit a single getting her on base with two outs. She then advanced to second on a pass ball. Martinez then came up to bat and hit a long hard shot that hit the left field fence taking Tamanaha home and sealing the Brahma victory. “We just had that fight attitude until the end and the girls never gave up. The girls also showed great perseverance and patience at the plate,” Coach Roberta GarciaUyemura said. With no homeruns the Brahmas had to work together to score by getting on base and then depending on one of their teammates to hit them in. “We worked together as a team today, both at the plate and in the field,” Martinez
BY JOSEPH PARK ASST. SPORTS EDITOR
BEAT THE PASS - Sophomore Danielle Cornejo sprints to first base after hitting a ground ball.
“We just had that fight attitude until the end and the girls never gave up. ” —Coach Roberta Garcia-Uyemura commented. Many of the young freshman players came through during the
game with key hits and defensive plays. “We have three starting freshman that bring their trav-
ANDREW CHOI
el ball experience to the team,” Garci-Uyemura stated. Anderson made several game changing plays in center field. Tamanha was three for four at the plate, and all three of her hits helped advanced runners who would later score. The Lady Brahmas are currently undefeated and hope to defend their league title. After a strong season last year, the team is looking forward to proving themselves in CIF. “If they continue to work hard and have confidence in their abilities, I believe that the team can once again win league,” GarciaUyemura said.
MEET THE COACHES Name: Frank Alvarado Currently Coaching: Track and Field-Long Distance Coaching Since: 2012 Frank Alvarado is currently the coach of the Track and Field Long Distance. Before coming to Diamond Bar, Alvarado was an aircraft maintenance technician at the American Airlines. He recently retired and decided to coach at DB during his retirement years. Alvarado also coached cross country in the fall. Running inspired Alvarado to coach the sport he loved. He has high hopes for the DB’s track and field. “We are coming along nicely and making steady progress. We’re hoping for a great season.”
Name: Stephen Espinosa Currently Coaching: Track and Field- Jumps Coaching Since: 2011 Stephen Espinosa is in his second year of coaching with Diamond Bar’s Track and Field. After helping out with Mt. SAC in the Physics Department, Espinosa decided to coach in DB full time to help out his alma mater. He has coaching experience from AYSO. He is the oldest of his family and a graduate of Diamond Bar from 2007. He played in varsity track, soccer, and cross country in his DB years.”I feel much more connected to the school and it feels good to come back to the school that taught me so much.”
As the final quarter of the NBA regular season comes to an end, the playoff picture is slowly coming into focus. The eight playoff teams in the Eastern conference are practically decided but their rankings are expected to change daily as seeds two through seven are separated by less than a game. The Western Conference similarly remains a dogfight as several teams have identical records. Playoffs are where champions are crowned or just as easily dethroned, and all 16 teams are hungry for a chance to prove themselves. Starting from the top of the Western Conference, the San Antonio Spurs will remain as the one seed. Seeds three to five are locked in a tie as the Memphis Grizzlies, Los Angeles Clippers, and Denver Nuggets have very close records. The red hot Nuggets, riding a 13game winning streak, will eventually overtake the Grizzlies for the third seed while the Clippers fall to the five seed forcing them to play the first round of the playoffs on the road against Memphis. The Golden State Warriors will most likely drop to the seven seed, allowing James Harden to face the Oklahoma City Thunder in the first round. The Utah Jazz are attempting to sneak into the playoff picture and nudge the Lakers out, but this is not going to happen as the Jazz are in a major slump, losing seven out of its past ten games. Now let’s talk about the Lakers. Although the purple and gold have been scarred with early injuries and struggles, these scars are healing with the return of Kobe Bryant and Pau Gasol last week. The Lakers also had to deal with major drama such as coaching changes, trade rumors, and locker room disputes damaging the chemistry of the team. I am going to go out on a limb and predict that the eighth seeded Lakers will defeat the San Antonio Spurs in the first round and eventually get to the finals. As Kobe Bryant, Steve Nash, and Dwight Howard are starting to jell as a unit, the Lakers pose a serious threat to any team in the playoffs and it will meet the toughest team in the NBA, the Miami Heat, in the finals. The NBA might as well crown the Miami Heat the Eastern Conference champions as they will sweep every team in their conference besides the Indiana Pacers. Although it will be a tough and physical series, the Heat will go on and take the series in six games. The Miami Heat are on the verge of breaking the 1972 Lakers’ 33 game winning streak and will ride this momentum well into the playoffs. The reason why the finals match-up is not going to be a repeat of last year’s, when the Thunder faced the Heat, is that the Thunder will be unable to win a seven game series against the Spurs and Lakers without former sixth man of the year Harden. The true battle begins in the finals where the Lakers and the Heat will face off. It is going to be a long, extensive, head-to-head dog fight, but the Lakers will prevail and win in six games to add another banner alongside the 16 in Staples Center.
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The Brahmas clutch the victory to bounce back and defeat the Spartans BOYS TENNIS| Trailing after the second round, the Brahmas were able to come back and take the match thanks to a strong game by senior Justin Yang and junior Minsong Hsu, stretching their league record to 5-2. BY ANDREW CHOI ASST. SPORTS EDITOR
Trailing 5-7 after the second round, Diamond Bar boys’ tennis was able to come back in the final
round and tie the Villa Park Spartans 9-9, but the Brahmas were awarded the victory as they won 80 individual games compared to the Spartans’ 73. DB now has a 7-3 overall record and currently sits in second place in the Hacienda League with a 5-2 league record. “We beat a very good team and
this match is a confidence booster for us,” coach Dave Hamel said. The Brahmas started off the match sluggishly as all of the DB’s doubles team lost in the first round putting the Brahmas in a huge hole early in the match. However, the singles teams were able to win a couple of sets. Senior captain Jus-
tin Yang bageled his opponent and junior Abraham Sulistlo defeated his opponent 7-5. After the first round the Brahmas were losing 2-4. The Brahmas turned the game around in the second round as they went on to win three sets. The number one doubles team, consisting of juniors Minsong Hsu and Kenny Sakata, dominated its opponent winning 6-1. The singles team contributed winning sets as Yang once again defeated his opponent 6-1 with freshman Garret Musuda trouncing his opponent 6-0. “I did really well and the team did great t o d a y, ” Y a n g stated. However, DB was still losing 5-7. “We did pretty well in the second bec a u s e the visitor team usually d o m i nates the second round,” Hamels said. In the third round, DB needed to win at least four sets to win the match. Hsu and Sakata were then able to win another set defeating their opponent 6-1. “We did not do very well in the first round, but my partner and I were able to get it together and win
COMING FROM BEHIND - Junior James Phan takes it upon himself to complete the Brahma comeback.
Junior Dean Sakata a key part of the Brahma blowout
BOYS GOLF| A team effort dispatches the Bonita Bearcats to keep DB undefeated in league. BY WINSTON CHO SPORTS EDITOR Led by senior captain Jason Chen and junior Dean Sakata, Diamond Bar boys golf easily defeated the Bonita Bearcats last Thursday 178-219. This victory adds to the team’s overall record of 7-1 and keeps DB undefeated in league. Chen shot a 37 while Sakata shot “I didn’t feel too well with my swing but I managed to keep my mentality strong and emotions low. Overall I played okay shooting one over par. I was more happy with the scores my teammates put up and hopefully we can get better as we close in on CIF,” Chen stated. Last season, the varsity roster was comprised of many non-seniors with some of the most talented players being underclassmen. As such, the team has only improved since last season as the team’s strongest players have only gotten better since then with practice and experience in CIF. As the varsity squad has several talented players, Watkins rotates his roster to allow everyone to play.
DB did not play many of its best players against Bonita but still won by a sizeable margin indicating the large gap in skill level. The top 12 players for the Brahmas would easily be the best players for the majority of the teams in the league. “We played without a couple of our top six golfers, yet others players step up and play really well. It shows what an amazing golf program we have here at Diamond Bar,” coach Ty Watkins commented. DB has many significant tournaments coming up including the Champions Invitational in Indio. The top 25 teams in the Western United States will compete in the tournament. The Knabe Cup is also approaching, an event where the Brahmas suffered a disappointing defeat to the hands of Long Beach Wilson by only a couple of strokes last season. “This year we are looking for redemption,” Watkins said. With an 18-1 overall record and 12-0 league record last season, DB is on track to defend its league championship once again. Although the Brahmas have played well thus far, they are not looking past their current opponents to keep focused on winning league.
“It shows what an amazing golf program we have here at Diamond Bar.”
—Coach Ty Watkins
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the next two matches,” Hsu commented. Yang and the number two doubles team of junior James Phan and sophomore Russell Chen also won. With just one more set needed to seal the match, it all came down to Musuda. With both teams watching the final set of the match, he came up in the clutch, dominating his opponent 6-1, claiming the victory for the Brahmas. “We played to win and didn’t play not to lose,” Hamel stated. Losing in the second round of last year’s CIF, the Brahmas, equipped with many young players, are determined to go deep into the p l a y offs. The team got off to a r o c k y start losing twice to the Rowland R a i d ers but hopes to bounce back starting with this match. As one of the premier tennis teams in the league, the Brahmas needed this victory to booste their morale after coming up short against the Raiders twice this saeson. “We have been focusing on eliminating our unforced errors and everyone is taking charge and stepping up,” Hamel said.
“We beat a very good team and this match is a confidence booster for us.”
—Coach Dave Hamels
Brahmas control the meet against West Covina Bulldogs
TRACK AND FIELD| With several talented athletes, both boys and girls start the season out strong, beating the West Covina Bulldogs . BY JOSEPH PARK ASST. SPORTS EDITOR Leading the entire meet, Diamond Bar Track and Field trampled the West Covina Bulldogs on March 14. The Brahmas took the victory 93-43, while the Lady Brahmas won 81-55. DB swept the Bulldogs in the 110 hurdles with sophomore Isaiah Austin, senior Nate Moody, and senior Jay Kim placing first, second, and third, respectively. The Bulldogs seemed to have no legs throughout the meet as senior Tyler Brown and Chris Knight, and sophomore Kenneth Thai swept West Covina 9-0. Led by seniors Sam Nogami and Sean Oh, DB also took the discus event, outscoring the Bulldogs 7-2. Thai similarly led DB past WC in the triple jump event, once again sweeping 9-0. The Brahmas did not show any mercy as they trampled WC in the majority of the events, finishing the meet with a total score of 93. Senior Kelly Kuo placed first and was the only Lady Brahma to place in the 1600 meter event. Senior Udodiri Okwandu then went on to dominate her competition in the 200 meter to increase the lead 51-26. Junior Kala Gaines was also the only Lady Brahma to place in the 110 hurdles taking first place. DB outshined the Bulldogs in the 800 meter event as senior Anabelle Cheng led the Brahmas to a 9-0 win. WC came close at times but could not top DB.
JOSEPH PARK
PRACTICE MAKES PERFECT - Sophomores Kenneth Thai and Daniel Yoo look to improve their time on the 100-meter sprint. DB has shown serious potential track season, we got a lot to prove as it looks to bounce back from a because we’re kind of the underfew disappointing seasons. dogs right now. There are some “Our team looked great for the tough opponents ahead but I have most part, we dominated in most a strong feeling we have a chance events and it was just a convincof beating them,” coach Marc Naing win for us. For the rest of the tividad stated.
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The Brahmas stay hot on their winning streak to get past the Wilson Wildcats BADMINTON | The number one doubles team of senior co-captains Samantha Li and Carissa Chung shines
leading the Brahmas to a 15-6 victory over the Wilson Wildcats. BY ANDREW CHOI ASST. SPORTS EDITOR
As the reigning champions of CIF, the Diamond Bar badminton team defeated its rival Wilson, taking the 15 out of the 21 games. DB started off slowly but was able to get a great performance from the whole team as it remains undefeated for the season. “It was a great win and a great learning experience for the players in such a hostile environment,” coach Kemp Wells said. The Brahmas started the match off on the right foot as two out of the three mixed double teams defeated all of their opponents. The number one mixed double team of senior co-captain Samantha Li and senior Franklin Yu defeated Wilson’s number one team in the first round 11-8 and 11-2. Freshman Krista Hsu and junior Curtis Li, who make up the number two mixed double team, dominated their first opponent 11-3 and 11-2 giving the Brahmas the early lead. All of DB’s girls doubles team won their matches in a quick and steady fashion. Both the number one girls doubles team of Samantha Li and senior co-captain Carissa Chung and the number two team consisting of juniors Jenny Quan and Francine Nguyen bageled their opponents. The boys teams, however, faced difficulties in defeating their opponents. The number one boys double team of Curtis Li and junior Adrian Sim started their first game down 7-11 after the first set, but was able to rally back with great defense and win the next two sets 11-4 and 113. In the second round, the team of Curtis Li and Sim dominated their opponent 11-0 and 11-4. “I did pretty well towards the end after having a shaky beginning,” Curtis Li said. The girls singles teams helped the Brahmas gain a strong lead. Hsu destroyed her competition al-
lowing only one point. in four sets. “It feels great bageling my competition,” Hsu commented. Freshman Kristine Martinez also defeated her first opponent 11-2 and 11-3 but lost the second round game in three sets. The boys singles team however, had some trouble as it could not win a set. However, DB finished the match, defeating the Wildcats 15-6. The Brahmas have a number of strong individual players in Samantha Li, Curtis Li, and Sim. However, DB’s strength lies in the team as a
whole as there is no one Brahma player who is considered the “weak
link.” The Brahmas come into every match as the team to beat and
“It was great learning experience for the players in such a hostile environment.” —Coach Kemp Wells
WITH A SOFT TOUCH - Freshman Jonah Perea attempts a drop shot to return the birdie short on the other side.
JUSTIN YANG ATHLETE OF THE MONTH Slicing his way to the top
BY GLORIA KIM ASST. EDITORIAL EDITOR
Whether dominating the courts or excelling in school, Justin Yang conquers every obstacle with the same determination he displays in his stellar tennis matches. Yang is the quintessence of a well-rounded student-athlete who proves that it is possible to carry the responsibility of being the captain of the tennis team while maintaining his academics. Having made the DBHS’ Varsity tennis team as a freshman, he continues to show outstanding performance as a Brahma senior. Ironically, Yang was not as passionate about tennis when he first started playing. He began taking lessons in sixth grade at his parents’ urging rather than his own desire as he preferred to play basketball. However, in the course of seven years, the arduous practices paid off as Yang can now confidently affirm his love for the sport, especially when he performs well
against competitive opponents. “My favorite part of playing tennis is just whacking the ball as hard as I can and watching it go in,” Yang stated. Yang is part of the DB boys’ tennis team that previously won the league champion title and has maintained a close to undefeated record. He confesses to the burden of leading such an exceptional team. “I constantly have to present myself as a good role model to my team while presenting proper leadership. I was also able to learn a lot from previous graduates who helped me improve my game and build me as a person,” Yang shared. In prior years, Yang had a difficult time balancing his hectic schedule. “I had it easy in freshman year and thought it would be the same in sophomore year, but it was difficult to manage my time with studying and playing sports. It was hard maintaining a good GPA when I took tennis even more seriously,” Yang revealed. “Fortunately, I was able to learn to manage my time with tennis and studying and get back on track.” Most of his afterschool activities
during his sophomore and junior year comprised of playing tennis and finishing homework. “On weekends I would go out, but on the weekdays it would be non-stop tennis,” Yang attested. But now in his second semester as a senior, Yang enjoys a much more relaxed life, anticipating his graduation and the start of a new chapter in his life. In addition to his tennis schedule, Yang also volunteers at the Evergreen Senior Center where he helps physically and mentally disabled senior citizens. He has been a part of the organization for four years and has taken a lot his experience there. One of his greatest accomplishments in tennis was when the men’s tennis coach from New York University, Horace Choy, considered Yang as a potential player and offered him a spot on his team. Although he is contemplating whether or not he will take the offer, Yang is looking forward to playing collegiate tennis. As an outstanding and passionate athlete, there is no doubt that Yang will find his way to success. in whatever he chooses to do in the future.
have to bring their strongest performance every game. With many of the team’s starters staying for another season, the Brahmas are determined to become CIF champions for the second consecutive time. “Having many players from last years’ team come back with, the team is just as strong as and maybe even better than last years,” Wells stated. As the season goes on, DB expects to dominate every opponent they have. “We want to destroy and win it all,” Chung said.
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Senior Zelph Walters pitches the Brahmas to victory over Los Altos
BASEBALL| In another blow-out victory, the Brahmas allowed only one run for the Los Altos Conquerors as DB scored nine runs thanks to a team effort, most notably an excellent pitching performance from senior Zelph Walters. BY JOSEPH PARK ASST. SPORTS EDITOR
It was another blow-out victory for Diamond Bar as the baseball team defeated the Los Altos Conquerors 9-1 last Wednesday afternoon. With exceptional pitching from senior Zelph Walters, DB limited Los Altos to just one run throughout the match. On the other hand, the Brahmas grabbed this victory with their bats. DB started off with great defense but remained scoreless throughout the first two innings, along with Los Altos. DB and Los Altos struggled early on with the latter scoring its first and only run in the third inning. In the bottom of the third, DB came back with four hits and a total of four runs. The third inning ended with the Brahmas up 4-1. Similarly, the fourth inning was much like the first and second as neither team was able to get a hit. Walters was heating up as he did not allow any hits in the fourth inning. Walters consistently displayed an outstanding pitching performance throughout the game.
“It was an overall team effort, and senior Zelph Walters on the mound did an excellent job,” coach Eric Shibley said. Walters struck out a remarkable number of ten batters. “Today I was just trying to throw strikes and keep the ball down and let my defense work for me. They did a great job behind me and we were able to come away with a win,” Walters commented. With just one hit in the fifth inning, DB managed to add a run to increase their lead to 5-1 heading into the sixth. The Conquerors did not score in the inning despite getting a hit. The sixth inning was the turning point of the game as the Brahmas decided to show their offensive repertoire. DB was unable to miss as it got five hits and four runs, advancing its lead to 9-1. The game was out of hand for the Conquerors as they were allowing hits left and right. The seventh inning concluded with no runs for either teams. Seniors Tommy Delgaldillo, Sean Patton, Marcus Bernardino each scored two runs. “We played pretty well, we had a lot of guys contribute. Overall, it was a good team effort and we were able to have couple of balls falling for hits. We just worked really well as team today,” Walters said.
“We played pretty well, we had a lot of guys contribute.”
—Senior Zelph Walters
FOUL BALL - Sophomore Jacob Cooke bats in the Brahma’s victory over Los Altos.
EMILY HWANG
DB aquatics overcome its problems to get the win SWIMMING | Diamond Bar defeats the Rowland Raiders 94-76 (boys) and 125-45 (girls) on their way to an undefeated season.
GLIDING THROUGH WATER - The Brahmas swim their way to victory to give the Rowland Raiders a devastating loss last Wednesday.
BY ANDREW CHOI ASST. SPORTS EDITOR
Continuing the long tradition of excellence, Diamond Bar swim defeated the Rowland Raiders last Wednesday. The boys team won with a controlling 94-76 lead while the girls team crushed its opponent 125-45. This victory keeps the Brahmas undefeated with a record of 3-0 and a league record of 1-0. “It
was a successful meet for us and great start to the season,” coach Patrick Murphy said. Freshman Margaret Wang led the Lady Brahmas in the 100-meter freestyle with a time of 1:02:96. Sophomore Ashley Ting and freshman Annie Liemsakul came in second and third place respectively, giving the Lady Brahmas the sweep. “This year’s team is much younger since it has six freshmen on each of the boys and girls team,” Murphy stated. “The freshmen learned very quickly to acclimate
to the competition and performed professionally.” Sophomore Phillip Lee took first place in the 100-meter butterfly with a strong time of 1:02:37. However, he was the only Brahma to place in this event. Junior co-captain Matthew Sia won the 100-meter backstroke and the relay team of Sia, juniors Spencer Sun, Greg White, and sophomore Greg Lee won the 200 medley event. DB had several issues with the equipment and facility for the meet as there were no diving blocks or
touch pads. However, the Brahmas were able to overcome the obstacles with great team chemistry and win the meet. “With the problems we had, we did better than we thought and it did not stop us from a victory,” senior co-captain butterfly swimmer Connie Tsai said. With only five seniors and the majority of the team consisting of many underclassmen, the difference between the grades could have made a situation that could have created issues with team chemistry. However, through bonding and
XING YEN QUEK
determination to win league, the team is closer than ever. “The upperclassmen and underclassmen created a coalesce agreement that helped our relay team give great handoffs,” Murphy commented. Prior to the season, both of the Brahmas’ teams had huge expectations to fulfill, but they are starting off the right foot. The girls team is expected to stay undefeated and win league champions for the second consecutive season while the boys team is determined to join the girls as league champions.