September 2016

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INSIDE THE ISSUE

opinion 5

a&e 11

ACAI BOWL SHOWDOWN

competitive hula

the bull’s eye NEWS

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OPINION

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FEATURE

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sports 16

SEPTEMBER 14, 2016 VOLUME XXXV, ISSUE I ONLINE AT DBBULLSEYE.COM

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

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SPORTS

Students lose choice of school districts

More than 3,400 students may be forced to return to the district they reside in by the next school year. angela yang asst. news editor

up as the new GLC for the class of 2017. As a result of this shift, former English teacher Lauren Osajima-Baird took over Duenas’ previous role as an intervention counselor.

With long time English teachers Deborah Clifford and Susan Klinger retiring and OsajimaBaird and Prenger moving positions on campus, several new faces in the English department have appeared.

Esther Cho, Alexis Feix, who also coaches girls tennis, Brianna Woods, former student teacher of Denise Mesdijan, and Cage Mor-

This may be the last school year that 25 percent of Diamond Bar High School undergraduates will be permitted to attend school in the Walnut Valley Unified School District.

After July 2017, all students living out-of-district will lose the right to receive an education at a school of their choice.

Senate Bill 1432, known as the District of Choice bill, has granted parents the freedom to select the most suitable educational setting for their children regardless of their place of residence for the last 22 years.

Forty-seven school districts in California, including WVUSD, declared themselves part of the DoC program so they could accept outof-district transfers without requiring permission from student’s home districts.

The bill expired in the California State Assembly Committee on Appropriations on Aug. 31 under chairmanship of Assemblywoman Lorena Gonzalez.

Gonzalez told ABC News that she believes the bill “exacerbates the unequal system of haves-andhave-nots in our public schools and that the most disadvantaged schools and the students they serve get left behind.”

Walnut Valley Unified School District, one of the most prominent District of Choice districts in California with over 3,400 students enrolled under the program, will be drastically affected by this sudden change.

According to Assistant Super-

STAFF ON P. 2

CHOICE ON P. 2

Hundreds of students and parents hold up signs to protest the end of the District of Choice program in California at a rally at Maple Hill Park on Aug. 27.

CALVIN RU

New staff, teachers join DBHS Administration changes among additions to front office as well as classrooms. emily kim sports editor The start of the new school year brought not only the class of 2020, but also several new administrative members and teachers.

The departure of both Principal Catherine Real, a year ago, and Vice Principal John Terry, this summer, prompted the arrival of

the new principal, Reuben Jones team. Previously a teacher of Pathand the return of former Instrucways English and English Lantional Dean David Hong as assisguage Development, she is now one tant principal. of the three instructional deans, “Being an assistant principal at along Gabriel Aguilar and MatDiamond Bar High School is very thew Brummett. different from Her primary being a dean,” role now in“I think that our staff Hong said. “I’ve cludes overseehas always been able to seen a lot of ing the curassistant prinriculum and respond well to change." cipals and my instruction in DAVID HONG only hope right the English, now is to step world languaginto this role es, and performand carry on with what Mr. Terry ing arts department. started and what he was doing.”

After former GLC Jack Galeener Whitney Prenger was another retired, former Intervention Counaddition to the administrative selor Stephanie Duenas stepped

Freshmen seek leadership posts Freshmen running for class officer positions spent last week campaigning for votes on campus.

SOPhia kim asst. sports editor Last week, 16 students in the class of 2020 campaigned for positions as class officers. With only five spots available, the freshmen were furiously competing against each other through flyers, posters and speeches. Results were expected to be announced today.

Among the sixteen candidates is Rachael Wang, who campaigned

Remember...

for the president seat by posting flyers and posters around school.

In addition, she made handheld signs, and asked her friends to carry them around school or stick them on their backpacks. Her sign said “Do-nut vote for anyone else but Rachael Wang.”

This is not Wang’s first time running for a leadership position. She was class president in the seventh grade and ASB vice president and Leo Club president in the eighth grade at Chaparral Middle School.

Wang stated that she believes a president should be kind, responsible and overall a role model to her class.

In addition, Benjamin Jones,

OFFICERS ON P. 2

CALVIN RU

Led by junior Rhiston Yu, 2,977 flags were displayed outside the DBHS front gates in remembrance of the 9/11 attacks.

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NEWS

SEPTEMBER 14, 2016

THE BULL'S EYE

Class of 2017 scores slip Last year’s SBAC test results for the Class of 2017 have been released. stuart kusdono asst. opinion editor

ERIC HONG

(From left, top row), Brianna Woods, Cage Morgan, Alexis Feix; in front, Tametha Fulcher, and Esther Cho are new faces on DBHS staff this year.

New additions to the Brahma family

STAFF FROM P. 1 gan were hired to fill the open positions in the English department.

“I’ve always heard great things about Diamond Bar High School and I know people who actually went here and graduated here. I’ve heard that the staff is really great and the school culture is amazing; everyone is so hardworking, friendly, and respectful,” Cho said.

In addition, English teacher and DBHS yearbook alumna Stacy Tenace has taken over Clifford’s previous role as yearbook advisor.

Several departments other than the English department have also gained new Brahma family members. Teachers An Tran, Luke Shubin, Linda Morales teach CTE Architecture Engineering, AP Computer Science and MOUS re-

spectively.

“It’s always hard when you lose a lot of experience. However, I think that our staff has always been able to respond well to change and step up and fill in those gaps that are created,” Hong said. “This is a good school with an outstanding staff and I think we’ll go on. We’ll be okay.”

Tametha Fulcher, who previously worked with Diamond Bar in the Special Education department, now holds a full time position in the department.

“Whenever someone retires or moves on, there’s always a loss to our school. Everyone here gives so much of themselves to this school.

I’m so excited about the team that we have,” Principal Jones said.

the staff Editors-in-Chief

Bernard Chen, Michelle Ki

News Editors Asst. News Editor

Brian Chang, Hannah Lee Angela Yang

Opinion Editor Asst. Opinion Editors

Eric Hong Stuart Kusdono, Noor Naji

Feature Editors Asst. Feature Editor

Diamond Bar High School’s Class of 2017 scored well above the state standards on the Smarter Balanced Assessment Consortium test but slightly lower than the DBHS Class of 2016.

While 77 percent of last year’s class passed the English and 72 percent passed the math section, only 69 percent of this year’s class passed the English section and 70 percent passed the math section, according to the California Assess-

ment of Student Performance and Progress.

This slight decrease in score is an anomaly from the overall improvement of scores in other high schools throughout California.

Last year’s test had a 44% pass rate in English and 37% pass rate in math overall, which increased to a 48 percent pass rate in English and 37 percent pass rate in math this year.

The SBAC test is a state standardized test revolving around Common Core principles designed to test a student’s readiness for college.

The test is split into two parts— an English literary section and a math section.

Unlike most standardized tests, the SBAC test is taken on a com-

puter and is not multiple-choice.

The English section includes a listening portion in which each student listens to a recording and then answers free-response questions based on the information that they heard.

The section also requires students to write a full-length essay.

The math section focuses mainly on word problems and functions, and like the English section, is composed of mainly free-response questions designed to test a student’s readiness for college courses.

According to smarterbalanced. org, the official site of the test, over 250 colleges and universities throughout 10 states are using the SBAC test as a measure of a student’s readiness.

Freshmen student leaders will be announced this week OFFICERS FROM P. 1 Jackson Lennon, Jennifer Nie and Rohun Sharma were running for the position.

“Freshmen are usually the shy people and I want to be the one more outgoing as an example,” Wang said.

Meanwhile, Aria Ting is running for secretary-treasurer with the slogan, “Hey! You look so nice today. Just vote for Aria Ting and stay cute.”

During her lunchtime speech, she started off by complimenting everyone, trying to engage with the students. This is Ting’s second attempt running for secretary, as she didn’t get elected when she ran for the same position in the seventh grade. She campaigned by taping flyers on her backpack, walking around school. Ting stated that if she is elected, she will attempt to make changes based on the feed-

back of the students. Her competition for the post are Stefan Chu and Ryan Lam. “I have a lot of experience [from ASB] and I learned a lot from that so I feel like I really need to join

“Freshmen are usually the shy people and I want to be the more outgoing example," RACHAEL WANG USB,” Ting said.

Running for historian, Gloria Choi put up flyers with the slogan, “If you want your freshmen year to glow, vote for Gloria.”

She posted flyers all over the school with one resembling a CocaCola ad that said “#shareyourvotes

with Gloria.”

Choi was previously ASB treasurer in Chaparral Middle School, but thought it would be a fun experience to be historian. She hopes to be involved with the school as much as possible and have her pictures bring freshmen closer together. In addition to Choi, Tom Murickan and Ashley Sim ran for historian.

“I would love to take pictures of the music department and other freshmen engaged with the school,” Choi said.

Among the four students running for social chairperson, Sean Chang decided to run After his teachers recommended he should be part of the student body ever since he was in elementary school.

Although Chang did not create a slogan like the other candidates, he put memes on his flyers to grab the attention of his classmates.

Michelle Ki, Catherine Zhang Amelie Lee Emily Jacobsson, Pauline Villegas Amy Miyahara

A&E Editors Asst. A&E Editor

Ryan Chae, Emily Kim Sophia Kim

Sports Editors Asst. Sports Editor

Eric Hong, Calvin Ru

Photo Editors

Emily Jacobsson Tess Guan

Business Manager Asst. Business Manager Web Editors

Bernard Chen, Tess Guan

Staff Writers

Ingrid Chan, Cindy Liu

Advisor

Doug List

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

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

CALVIN RU

Freshman candidate Jayden Park delivers a speech on Sept. 7 during his campaign for the position of Social Chairperson.

DB students may be forced out CHOICE FROM P. 1 intendent Michael R. Hodson, potential consequences of the situation include the loss of $28 million in revenue, the layoff of 136 fulltime teachers and closure of five schools.

There are 751 out-of-district students at DBHS, including seniors.

“Technically DoC is gone,” DBHS Principal Reuben Jones said. “There has to be new legislation that will be proposed with new legislators, so it’s a whole new process that will have to take place.”

A compromise bill was proposed

by Gonzalez to allow current District of Choice students to stay

until they graduate from their current school.

This legislation, known as Assembly Bill 1771, did not pass.

A new bill could be proposed when the legislature reconvenes in January.

A rally orchestrated by WVUSD parents took place on Aug. 24 to protest the removal of the District of Choice program.

Speakers included parents and students affected by the bill, as well as State Sen. Bob Huff, sponsor of the bill, and district Superintendent Robert Taylor.

A petition launched by parent

Nancy Kim has also gained a considerable amount of support, with over 5,200 online and written signatures accumulated.

“The political fight is just beginning,” Jones said. “Because if [Gonzalez] still feels that DoC is not good for equality, then that’s probably not going to change until more and more people get the word out that this is good for equality and it’s good for our kids and our programs.”

FOR MORE ON DISTRICT OF CHOICE, VISIT DBBULLSEYE.COM

NEWS

THE BULL'S EYE

SEPTEMBER 14, 2016

DBHS maintains high ranking

bursting walnut’s bubble

Newsweek ranks DBHS as the 19th best school in the state and 128th in the country. inrgid chan staff writer

DBHS varsity football players hurl water balloons at an anti-Walnut poster in the Upper Quad during lunch.

CALVIN RU

Bravo braves Mt. Whitney DBHS science teacher took a short break from chemistry to scale the famous mountain. pauline villegas a&e editor DBHS Brahmas reached new heights at the beginning of the school year when chemistry teacher Jennifer Bravo hiked to the top of Mt. Whitney. Looking for a new challenge, Bravo decided to climb to the highest summit in the contiguous United States.

When a friend of Bravo’s asked her if she would be interested in climbing the 4,193 foot summit, she decided it was the perfect feat for her.

“I’m always looking for an unique challenge or opportunity,” Bravo said, “and this one had such beautiful sceneries.”

Bravo was exposed to hiking at an early age. While she was growing up she took frequent family camping trips to the High Sierras.

Nowadays, she enjoys taking her family hiking at places like Mammoth and Yosemite for some family bonding time.

In preparation for the challenge, her running group hiked smaller mountain ranges such as Mt. Baldy, Mt. San Jacinto, and San Bernardino Peak.

“Although they weren’t as tall, San Bernardino Peak was 17 miles.

3

Every year, Newsweek ranks the 500 best high schools in the United States, and it’s no surprise that the Brahmas have once again made the list. Ranking 128th in the nation and 19th in California, Diamond Bar High School continues to keep its place amongst the best public schools in the country.

Newsweek obtained records for over 15,000 schools in the nation and then narrowed the number down to 4,760 before ranking the top 500.

A college readiness index score is determined by six variables: staff and enrollment rates are both weighted at 10 percent, composite SAT/ACT scores and composite AP/IB/Dual Enrollment score at 17.5 percent each, high school graduation rates at 20 percent, and

college enrollment rates at 25 percent. Most of Newsweek’s analysis data originates from the federal database of the National Center of Education Statistics.

Based on the index score, Newsweek created a final list that considered only student performance and school resources.

Along with DBHS, other area schools were ranked, including Troy with a rank of 60th and Walnut High School with a placement of 455th.

The website only focuses on ranking public schools because they are “generally accessible to all students.”

Public and private schools typically operate differently, which necessitates different methodologies for ranking and assessment.

Newsweek then developed a second method of ranking schools, this time taking into account the student body’s family background and the average poverty levels of the school district in order to recognize schools that have produced outstanding results in comparison to their resources. Though DBHS placed well in the previous list, it did not rank on this list.

MORE ON

THE WEB:

Photo courtesy of JENNIFER BRAVO

Teacher Jennifer Bravo stands at the edge of a cliff on her climb to the peak.

So it was more about getting used to the time on your feet,” Bravo said. The overall hike at Mt. Whitney takes an average of seven hours to complete.

Despite the fact that she is already an avid runner and experienced marathoner, Bravo had to get used to the high altitude and build the endurance it took to reach the top. In addition, she also had to carry her own water, which reached a weight of up to four liters.

One of her friends had experience hiking Mt. Whitney, so she was able to help Bravo with her training and preparation.

They began the hike at 2:30 a.m., and the entire group was in awe of watching the sun rise over the mountains.

Although it was a life changing experience, Bravo missed the first four days of school to hike Mt.

Whitney. When you apply for a permit to hike the summit, your name goes through a lottery system that decides what date and time you are able to hike. Bravo was not in charge of the permit, so she had no control over the dates.

When she found out last spring, she immediately talked to the school’s administration about it.

“They were very supportive of my decision. I was really lucky in that aspect,” Bravo said. She was able to come in before the school year began to get her class set up and prepared for the substitutes.

Overall, Bravo believed the experience was remarkable and she would consider doing it again.

“I was really lucky that I had such great students and great substitutes that the school was able to provide. The year started off really smoothly,” Bravo said.

YOUNG VOICES TO INFLUENCE COMMUNITY Diamond Bar City Hall is currently accepting applications from residents 16 and older to be a part of the General Plan committee.

NOW SHOWING: KUBO AND THE TWO STRINGS

The extroardinary storyline and animation process of the 2016 movie Kubo and the Two Strings is not to be missed.

BRAHMAS KEEP 6-PEAT

The DBHS football team once again defeated the Walnut Mustangs at the Branding Iron game.

VISIT DBBULLSEYE.COM

DeCambra leads students south of border A group of DBHS students spent part of their summer visiting Central American countries. calvin ru photo editor For the past four years, Diamond Bar High School math teacher Shari DeCambra has taken students to various locations around the globe during the summer.

This past summer, DeCambra led 32 DBHS students to destinations throughout Central America.

They first flew to Nicaragua, where the students spent two days before they ventured to Costa Rica.

Both locations are known tourist destinations in Central America and are filled with scenery, such as Lake Managua and Costa Rica’s vast forests. The group hiked along Masaya Volcano and kayaked on Lake Arenal.

They also went to Guanacastle, a long stretch of beaches next to the Pacific Ocean, where they visited Rincón de la Vieja National Park and went on a snorkeling excursion in the sea.

“My favorite part was kayaking in Lake Arenal,” senior Ameer Alameddin said. “We were in the middle of the lake and all we could see was the rain falling around us. It was the most soothing experience I ever had.”

The trip included a horse drawn carriage around the towns, visits to various hot springs, and many scenic attractions, such as volcanoes and waterfalls. Along with the sight-seeing aspects of the trip, the group also volunteered at local schools.

“It’s called an educational tour, but we had a good time,” DeCambra said. “I really liked visiting the schools and volunteering and donating a ton of school supplies. We were just so busy and the activities, like hiking and zip lining, were so much fun.”

Previously, DeCambra limited these trips to her close students and colleagues.

This past summer, she opened up the trip to the school, allowing students Of all ages to participate in this adventure. She said that the experience was too invaluable to limit the opportunity from other prospective participants.

DeCambra has visited Italy, Belize, Greece, and Costa Rica in past trips with students. Other DBHS staff, such as French teacher Anthony Tietz and history teacher Emily Clark, will take students on trips like those of DeCambra’s excursions next summer as well.

Similarly, history teacher Ty Watkins will be taking a group of students to the 2017 Inauguration Ceremony at Washington D.C. from Jan. 19 to 22.

“I think everyone had a great time, we really liked our tour guide that was with us, the food was good, and everything was great. I plan on going to Spain next year with Mrs. Swetnam,” DeCambra said.

Photo courtesy of SHARI DECAMBRA

Led by DBHS math teacher Shari DeCambra, a group of students traveled to Nicaragua and Costa Rica to tour Central America and volunteer at schools.

4 OPINION

SEPTEMBER 14, 2016

THE BULL'S EYE

EYE EDITORS OF THE

OPINION: The student paper, including this section, brings to light the issues relevant to students, providing a forum for their perspectives.

A

merica was built upon freedoms: the freedoms of religion, speech, and the press. Newspapers have been in circulation for over 300 years, and editorial articles are a major part of any journalistic enterprise.

While news articles report the facts or describe events, editorials allow writers to express their opinions and share them with the public.

The whole of The Bull’s Eye is, essentially, a slice of reality among all the purple-gold hype.

For students, the Opinion section is a

forum in which students can discuss their opinions on a multitude of topics, from the condition of school bathrooms to the popularity of presidential candidates.

Our goal is simply to dedicate our writing and ourselves to the freedom of expression of student opinion.

The articles discuss the unsavory aspects of high school that students whisper about in the hallways, cutting through all of the fluff and prohigh school propaganda that thrives on every school campus.

Our goal isn’t to tear

down DBHS’ carefully crafted reputation, but rather to expose issues that students experience so that these problems can be solved.

The Eye of the Editors, usually accompanied by student quotes, represents the collective opinion of the editors, while opinions expressed in regular editorial articles are those of solely the writer. Additionally, each issue contains several editorial cartoons, each of which expresses a perspective through art and allows readers to interpret the

image as they wish.

However, the Opinion section isn’t only for the staffers. The Bull’s Eye encourages the entire student body to keep the discussion alive by sending in letters expressing different perspectives, some of which may also end up printed in the newspaper or on the paper’s website.

In a society in which teenagers’ opinions generally aren’t given much value, this is our way of being heard.

Opinion is the exception to the rule, the one section to which anybody can contribute— take advantage of it.

Be heard and share your opinion at dbbullseye.com

TWISTING THE TRUTH

Politicians have a bad reputation of playing loose with the facts. Whether or not the candidates this year fit that stereotype is anyone’s guess. stuart kusdono, noor naji asst. opinion editors

Hillary Clinton 1. Gay Marriage: Hillary Clinton has lied on multiple issues, but one she continues to deny is the issue of gay marriage. In 2002, during an MSNBC interview, Clinton was asked if gay marriage should be recognized in New York City. She responded with a firm and simple, “No.” Later in 2004 on the Senate floor, Clinton said that “marriage is a sacred bond between ‘man and woman.’” However in 2013, Clinton established her view as in favor of gay marriage. In another

interview later the next year with the National Public Radio, Clinton said that she was consistent on the issue and claimed to have had a “strong record” of supporting gay marriage.

2. “We now have more jobs in solar than we do in oil”: According to a study done by Politifact New Hampshire, oil companies produce 10 times more jobs than those in solar.

This claim is also supported by independent data from the federal government. And while the solar energy power industry might be growing faster with an increase of jobs at the moment, it still has yet to dominate the oil industry.

According to the Solar Foundation, the source that Clinton used in her claim, jobs created by the solar industry saw a dramatic increase with the hiring of 174,000 workers in the field. And the Bureau of Labor Statistics showed a decrease in gas and oil company’s jobs.

However, these statistics put together are misleading. The solar industry’s statistic includes the jobs of electricians, plumbers, and pipefitters, whereas the oil company statistic does not include many jobs such as manufacturers, researchers, or gas station workers.

3. E-Mails: The most infamous lie of them all. Clinton’ use of a private server to send work-related emails has resulted in her receiving a great amount of criticism from both political parties. However, what seems to be worst is not the fact that she did it, but her evolving and creative lies about the emails.

She said that what she did was in “accordance with the rules and the regulations.” However, the FBI and a federal judge said otherwise, saying that she “violated government policy.”

Donald Trump 1. Taxes: “America is one of the highest-taxed nations in the world.”

When it comes to corporate taxes, Donald Trump is not wrong.

America does indeed have the third highest corporate taxes, according to Politifact. However, Trump’s statement here is intentionally misleading in that it suggests America has one of the highest overall taxes, which is far from the truth.

Compared to other OECD countries, America’s overall income taxes across households of various incomes rank far from the top. More specifically, America ranks 38 out of 155 nations according to tradingeconomics. com. And when taking into account effective income tax rates (rates after deductions), this ranking falls even lower.

2. ISIS: “[Obama] is the founder of ISIS. I would say the cofounder would be crooked Hillary Clinton.”

This is yet more manipulative rhetoric from Trump to scapegoat the rise of Middle Eastern terrorism on Obama and Hillary Clinton. Trump falsely paints his opponents as villains--as terrorists, even--without any evidence to back up his serious allegations.

There is some arguable evidence that the Obama administration’s foreign policies indirectly created the vacuum through which ISIS was able to develop. However, when asked in an interview in Florida in August last month whether this was what he meant, Trump denied and flatly said that Obama founded ISIS, literally.

3. 9/11: “I watched when the World Trade Center came tumbling down, and I watched in Jersey City, N.J., where thousands and thousands of people were cheering as that building was coming down. Thousands of people were cheering.”Perhaps one of the more infamous lies, Trump paints a terrible scene of people supporting terrorism. This serves to add to Trump’s rhetoric of instilling fear and hatred towards Arab Americans and Muslims, a rhetoric that invokes bigotry.

This particular claim had been debunked repeatedly by local police in the area at the time, and there were no validated sources that supported Trump’s claim of seeing thousands of people cheering.

Distortion in the election system

stuart kusdono asst. opinion editor

I

t is not an exaggeration to say that our presidential election is not a true election at all. Indeed, our self-proclaimed democracy isn’t really a democracy thanks to the existence of the Electoral College, a system not only ineffective but also detrimental to the presidential election as a whole.

The president, supposedly, is elected by the people rather than by representatives. Each vote, supposedly, should matter. Yet this is not the case.

For one, the Electoral College system grants a certain number of electoral votes to each state; however, the electoral votes that each state holds are not proportionate to the state’s population. Consequently, populations are underrepresented in some states and overrepresented in others.

For example, according to suburbanstats.org, California holds 55 electoral votes with a population of about 37 million, while Wyoming holds 3 electoral votes with a population of about 550,000. To put this into perspective, a Wyoming citizen’s vote holds three times the weight as that of a California citizen.

In addition, each state practices a winner-takes-all approach. It doesn’t matter if a candidate wins 90 percent of the state’s votes or 51 percent—the candidate takes all the electoral votes in the end. Because of this, California will reliably be a blue state and Texas will reliably be a red one, and so, a red voter in California won’t be of any significance as a blue voter would be in Texas.

As such, the presidential campaign is distorted significantly.

Presidential candidates largely ignore campaigning in states where the majority is red or blue, since campaigning in those states won’t change the outcome of a winnertakes-all result. Instead, candidates strategically focus their efforts on swing states, where the state could fall either red or blue overall. Thus, the presidential election is heavily reliant on a select few states.

One might argue that since there have only been four instances out of 57 in which the president won the electoral votes and not the popular vote, the Electoral College system is consistent with the popular vote. However, this does not take into account the fact that such elections were distorted in terms of representation and campaigning. The actual popular vote results may very well have been different under a true popular vote system.

In addition, four out of 57 elections is quite a large percentage, especially when considering that the presidential election is the nation’s most significant vote. A popular vote system, ultimately, will lessen the distortions of the current system and truly create a democratic system of the people, by the people, for the people.

OPINION

THE BULL'S EYE

SEPTEMBER 14, 2016

5

THE FACE OF TERRORISM Some news outlets in France are debating whether to publish photos of terrorists for fear of spreading pro-ISIS propaganda. angela yang asst. news editor

T

brian chang news editor

he media is responsible for delivering complete and truthful information to the world, and terrorism is a topic the general public deserves to be well-informed about.

However, some news networks in France are refusing to do their jobs by refraining from publishing the photos of ISIS assailants in a stand against terrorism.

It is not the obligation of journalists to withhold certain information because they’ve decided that doing so might give terrorist publicity that they seek. As journalists, these outlets need to realize that people have the right to be informed of the heinous events occurring in the world.

Photographs of a captive kneeling before his executioner, dead bodies in the aftermath of an attack or even just a terrorist’s face are not shown to the public by most news networks.

Exposing people to such sights, they say, is free advertisement for terrorist organizations searching for potential new recruits.

But if pictures of these terrorists and their actions should be hidden for fear of “glamorizing” their acts of terror, news networks might as well grant visual anonymity to rapists and murderers too.

Revealing the faces of these people and the results of their actions to the world will not glorify such people for their actions; rather, it will shame them by exposing the full extent of their horrific actions.

Seeing the faces of each terrorist is what makes each event unique to readers. Media censorship will desensitize terrorist events as normal, forgettable tragedies.

As a result, it will only breed ignorance as people start to forget the gruesome realities of how those deaths occur.

Every terrorist attack will seem the same, and the full impact of these events is lost without photographs.

Removing the images will only emotionally disconnect the readers to the story.

All of the victims of terrorism deserve justice. But how will that justice be delivered to them and their grieving families when the media is so adamant in not giving their attackers an identity?

It’s only right for the faces of those who have caused such trauma to these families to be known to the world.

People who see them, whether it be in photos or in person, should recognize them as the villains they are.

The images need to be out there for those who wish to be informed to the fullest extent.

My Muslim makeover

noor naji asst. opinion editor

“W

e wish you all an enjoyable flight,” says every flight attendant around the globe, and they mean every word of it, even if they kick me off the plane after they say it.

Lately, Muslims have been put under a microscope in airports due to security measures, and upset Muslims need to understand that airports have every right to do so.

Why do Muslims keep on nagging about their flight issues? It’s simple: if you don’t want to be kicked off a plane, just don’t be Muslim.

We, Muslims, are responsible for every shooting in America, every bombing in the world, global warming, the economy, and the horrible food served on the airplane.

So here is my advice for all of you Muslims traveling. If you’re on an airplane, just change the way you look.

You’re more of a threat because of your appearance, so change it. Dye your hair blonde, bleach your face, and wear a tank top and shorts. If you

usually don’t say that you hated ISIS to the person sitting next to you, mention it every time you open your mouth.

“Hello, my name is Mohammad and I don’t support ISIS.” Now that’s a passenger I wouldn’t be scared of. Let people know every time you speak that you love barbecue sauce, anything red, white and blue, and bacon.

And while you’re at it, change your name to something a little more American. If you’re Mohammed, go by Mo. If you’re Aisha, go by Amy. If you wear the head scarf, take it off, or make sure that it’s one of those U.S. flag hijabs to represent your assimilation and integration.

And if you’re like Faizah Shaheen reading a book about Syrian refugees, don’t do it. It’ll just scare everyone around you and plus, it’s the very definition of “suspicious activity.”

Oh, and don’t sweat like Faisal and Nazia Ali, who were sweating because they probably just ran from gate to gate to catch their plane. It just makes you look shady and might get you an exclusive interrogation.

And God forbid that you ever travel as a family. That’s as if you’re yelling, “Call the FBI right now, please!” There’s only a certain number of us people can handle.

In order to ensure that you will not face any of the above, you must follow my Muslim makeover. I can assure you 100 percent that you will never ever be kicked off of any plane again.

J

ournalists often claim that their duty is to report the truth and nothing less; however, when truth falls in the way of national security, the media has to realize that some information should be classified.

Following two terrorist attacks less than a month apart, French media outlets such as Le Monde, BFM-TV and La Croix have stopped releasing the names or pictures of terrorists in an attempt “to avoid possible posthumous glorification effects,” according to an editorial published by Le Monde.

Others, such as France Télévisions and Libérations, have refused to set a standardized policy either way and will continue to publish names and photos if they feel the occasion warrants it. Through the publication of the names of terrorists, newspapers grant these individuals undeserved fame and glory—which may, in turn, cause successive attacks. “[Terrorists] will say to their supporters, ‘Look how this guy who sacrificed himself to the cause has become a figure of hate, look how much they’re frightened of him’,” according to Charlie Beckett, founder of Polis, a forum for journalists worldwide.

“By publishing this story in a way that glorifies the terrorist, it helps [terrorists] recruit—and it might just trigger some other unbalanced lunatic to do something stupid.”

Terror groups use media to their advantage, spreading fear through online videos.

When Western media reports on and shares such videos, the organization’s influence is spread further, and through manipulative use of social media, information can be shared much more quickly. Additionally, such groups also take advantage of the fear caused by terror acts by claiming responsibility and threatening future attacks. News sites, which continue to publish photos of terrorists, aid these organizations in their campaign to spread fear to their enemies.

Any action that may prevent future terrorist attacks must be taken. The safety of a country’s citizens comes before the public’s right to know the portrait of a dead perpetrator of hate crimes. Media outlets play their own part in the propagation of fear associated with terrorism.

While condemning terrorist propaganda, popular news sources such as CNN and Fox ironically aid jihadists in the dissemination of radical beliefs through the media.

Like all other members of society, journalists have an obligation to promote and protect the security of their country, and it is time that they start doing so.

Though dead men don’t kill, their photographs may.

District of Choice: The Bill is Dead

Cartoon courtesy of MEGAN LEE

Senseless pain, senseless rioting

stuart kusdono asst. opinion editor

I

t is easy to vilify the police over an unjust action, to start a demonstration over a perceived act of police racism. And yes, these demonstrations can be effective, impactful even—if done right. Yet the public has been too sensitive, too reactive, over the recent police shootings.

Is this to say that police shootings are to be condoned? To be justified?

Far from it. Such shootings are illegal in almost all circumstances and may place the officer in a criminal investigation. In most scenarios, an officer shoots at a suspect who attempts to run away after being told to stop. It is absurd, however, that the punishment of

running away from a police should be death, intentional or not. In fact, it is debatable whether running way from the police should even be considered a crime.

In cases when an officer fires at an unarmed, fleeing person (especially one who is African American), public anger is reasonable and to be expected. However, there are many times when this anger goes out of proportion, where the public deliberately chooses to be angry for the sake of rioting.

For example, in cases where the fleeing man poses a threat to public safety, it is justifiable for the police to use deadly force against said man. Take the Milwaukee shooting of 23 year-old Sylville Smith, an armed man who refused to put down his gun as he attempted to run away instead. The public was quick to blame the police for another case of “racial inequities,” and hours after the shooting, protesters were already rioting on the streets.

Police cars and businesses were burned. A gas station was torched,

nearly harming three people who were present there. Multiple stores were looted. An Asian reporter, mistaken as white, was attacked.

And for what was this senseless anarchy? As Scott Erickson of the Daily Signal pointed out, there was no focus to the riots, no reason— just pure disregard for the law.

The public was too quick to act and judge, only hearing the news of an officer shooting an African American without knowing any context or information about the shooting itself.

And even if the public did have a legitimate reason (or debatable one at least) to riot—such as the case with the Ferguson shooting, where the shooting was largely unjustifiable—the amount of damage caused by the riots do not justify that reason. What the public doesn’t realize is that by going overboard and displaying senseless violence, communities are torn apart. Relations between the police officers and locals are shattered.

Ultimately, nothing progressive or beneficial is achieved.

6

FEATURE

Acai bowl showdown

SEPTEMBER 14, 2016

THE BULL'S EYE Curtis Chang

Owen Yee

Kelly Anderson

tess guan web editor

Health trends have come a long way—from baked kale chips to parsley and spinach green juice cleanses, and now, purple bowls of acai puree smoothies topped with fruit and honey. When blended and paired alongside other fruits and toppings, acai, a tropical berry high in antioxidants, becomes a treat both vibrant in color and high in nutrients.

Although The Poke Spot is generally known as a poke joint, it offers acai bowls as well. The shop allows you to build your own bowl, which includes two fruits and two toppings, for $7.95, then charges 50 cents for any additional toppings.

They have a rather limited selection: berries and bananas for fruits and generic breakfast and cereal toppings.

The serving portions are generous enough for a filling meal. However, most of the toppings, such as the almonds, are items you can find at home.

Overall, the bowl has a very strong, iconic acai taste.

The flavors of the berry in the puree were strong enough that I could differentiate its taste from the raspberry and strawberry fruit options I chose.

However, the acai puree was a bit stiff, making it difficult to get a spoonful of both the mixture and toppings. The puree texture was similar to the buttery consistency of the ice cream sold at Creamistry.

“Walking around the school and getting to classes on time was a bit of a struggle at first.

I mapped out a schedule to have as much time as I can to walk around and still get to class on time.”

“The hardest part so far is organizing myself to fit all my classes, trying to decide what to keep, and what to put away until next year.”

“One of the stereotypes I heard was that if you are a tryhard freshman you’re going to be hated, especially if you act like a senior. So, I try to stay low and don’t go out of my comfort zone.”

freshmAN thoughts The Bull’s Eye asked a few DBHS freshmen about their early experiences of their first year at Diamond Bar High School.

Nina Wang

Akio Choudhry

Christopher Mucha

“I came from a ‘bad’ school so I thought the students were serious and couldn’t crack jokes since this school has a high ranking. But I realized that was wrong because I came here and met all these crazy, weird friends.”

“Getting lunch is really hard since there are so many more people compared to middle school, and it takes really long to get lunch.”

“I was scared of the way seniors treat freshmen. I heard from popular culture, like books, TV, music. There was this old Family Guy episode which played off that stereotype but my mindset changed.

People actually treat each other like human beings.”

The Poke Stop: 17468 Colima Rd, Rowland Heights, CA 91748

My next acai bowl awaited me in a modern juice shop, where I was hit with strong scents of wheatgrass and kale shots as I walked in. The juice joint gives you the options of either customizing a bowl or ordering a preset bowl. The predesigned bowls, such as the acai mango, pitaya, and acai peanut butter bowls, all cost $7.95 while all items used in a custom bowl cost a dollar each.

I would not suggest building your own bowl here, as most of the choices, such as hemp hearts and pea protein, may taste better in a smoothie. Moreover, choosing a preset bowl gives you more fruit options and flavor variety.

I ordered the pitaya bowl, which came with various fruits and coconut elements like coconut butter, coconut water, and coconut flakes. I had no idea what pitaya, another name for dragon fruit, or coconut butter, also known as coconut oil, were. I simply chose this bowl because of my love for coconut, which ultimately led to my disappointment.

My acai fruit bowl was extremely vibrant, having a hot pink color. Taste wise, however, it wasn’t as exciting. Unlike my bowl at The Poke Stop, my pitaya bowl was runnier; it had the consistency of a watered down smoothie.

In addition, the banana slices served on my bowl were warm, creating an unpleasant fusion of both warm and cold textures.

Nekter Juice Bar: Brea Union Plaza, 2435 E Imperial Hwy, Brea, CA 92821

Located in a popular shopping center in Walnut, Nature’s Juice receives most of its popularity for its juice cleanses. Unlike the other shops, this juice joint only offers preset bowls.

The prices of the acai bowls range from $6.50 to $8.25, varying depending on different health benefits and foods found in the bowls. I chose the nature bowl, which included almond milk blended with ingredients like kale, spinach, and bee pollen.

Overall, my acai bowl from Nature’s Juice looked the most appealing. Additionally, the toppings were laid out very nicely, covering the whole bowl evenly.

Taste wise, my acai nature bowl was rather mediocre.

If I have to be picky, however, I thought the banana taste overpowered the acai flavor just a little bit. In addition, I couldn’t really pick out the kale or spinach flavors in my bowl, although I’m not sure if I wanted to anyway.

The puree had a consistency between my other bowls. It was nearly as frozen and thick as my first bowl, but wasn’t as watery and warm like my second.

Nature’s Juice: The Village West, 505 N Grand Ave, Walnut, CA 91789

uNMASKING THE MASCOT cindy liu staff writer Diamond Bar High School’s yellow and purple mascot has long been a familiar sight at rallies and events, running and waving alongside the crowd amidst a wave of cheers. However, while the Brahma is easily recognizable around campus, not many know who the student behind the costume is.

Turns out, the student inside the Brahma is pretty well known himself: USB president David Song, who is serving his first year as the school mascot. The senior stepped up for the job when asked if he was interested.

“The duty of the mascot is to get the student section hyped and to do super outlandish and ridiculous things,” Song said. “[The mascot is] a tradition that we brought back.

It’s cool to be a part of that.”

Song spends from 10 minutes up to over an hour inside the suit, rallying student spirit and attending various community and school events.

Naturally, moving around wearing a full body suit on a hot day can quickly heat up inside.

The unbearable heat, difficulty to see through the head of the costume and the awkwardly sized costume are only some of the obstacles Song encounters when he’s wearing the suit.

“I remember I walked into a pole, but that’s about as extreme as it gets. It’s a pretty tame job,” Song explained. “Usually my friends will keep an eye on me.”

While Song is the main DBHS

ERIC HONG Senior DBHS USB President David Song poses in the Brahma mascot costume. This is his first year serving as the school mascot.

mascot, he occasionally switches Van Horn said. “It’s not just being a off with fellow USB senior Paul DBHS student; it’s being a Brahma Bang, who suited up as the mascot and being part of the Brahma famfor the recent Rodeo Roundup, and ily. I think when David steps into it, other USB members who are interhe completely epitomizes that.” ested.

For now, the mascots will be choFor some sen within USB, time in the but that might past years, the “It’s really hot, it’s re- change with inBrahma suit ally cramped, you can’t creased student was transsee correctly, but it’s a interest in serving ferred between unique experience,” in the role. Previthe custody of ously, there was pep and video DAVID SONG a mascot team production beand the tradition fore it was remight be revived turned to USB. if enough students are willing “[The suit’s] gotta get cleaned, to become mascots, according to you gotta store it, and you have to Song. get kids to wear it. Luckily, we have “It’s really hot, it’s cramped, you kids who are willing but it’s not an can’t see correctly, but it’s a unique easy job,” Activities Director Janna experience,” Song said.

FEATURE

THE BULL'S EYE

SEPTEMBER 14, 2016

7

TIME MANAGEMENT As school becomes increasingly demanding in terms of academic assignments, students are forced to follow a rigorous daily schedule, which leaves students feeling sleep deprived and stressed. This strict routine can be avoided if students adopt these following tips: Working on homework while lying in bed may worsen some students’ focus and alertness; instead, aim to regularly work in a quiet, secluded desk.

Complete assignments with the guidance of time management apps, such as Pomodoro inspired apps, which times the assignments you do and gives breaks after a certain block of time.

Moderate exercising between homework sessions promotes blood circulation and improves your focus.

Work on assignments on a rotation regardless of its completion since many students find concentrating for a few minutes at a time easier for each assignment than sitting through a long session.

Use your favorite tunes as a method of not only unwinding but also regulating how long you spend on assignments.

Organize your workspace to find supplies faster and to increase efficiency by focusing on the tasks you’re working on.

Avoid striving for perfection on every trivial assignment you do, as this will lead to the assignment dragging on.

Try to remain positive, as your mental state often reflects in the work you produce. Don’t stress over the trivial matters and enjoy your high school life while it lasts.

Infographic by Catherine Zhang

Brahma leads Maple Hill michelle ki editor-in-chief Becoming a teacher is the career path desired by many children, but rarely does one hear about someone dreaming to become a principal. Most students don’t even know what a principal does.

Kelly Morris, a 1994 Diamond Bar High School graduate, knows; she became the principal of Maple Hill Elementary School this year after teaching for 17 years. For many DBHS students, Morris was their third grade teacher.

In high school, Morris was involved in varsity basketball, varsity softball and Drama. She also served as the Girls League president and the athletics commissioner of USB. After receiving a full-ride basketball scholarship to Cal State Northridge, she played Division I basketball for a year before transferring to San Diego State, where she graduated with honors.

She moved onto Cal Poly Pomona for her teaching credential and Concordia University for her

Master’s and Administrative Credential.

Although a teacher and a principal may seem like two contrasting occupations, Morris begs to differ, as she uses the skills she obtained from her 17 years of teaching on a daily basis as a principal.

She states that being a principal is just like being a teacher, but on a larger platform, though she misses being able to connect with kids on a daily basis and getting to know them on a deeper level.

“...it’s the heart and spirit for people that brings you the most success in life.”

KELLY MORRIS As principal, Morris is not a fan of enforcing student discipline.

“Contrary to popular belief, principals do not like dealing with discipline issues. Remember that the next time you are sent to the principal’s office. Principals are people, too, so work with us, not

against us,” Morris said.

While attending DBHS, Morris was told by the teachers and staff that she could do anything she set her mind to. She said that she never felt any limitations, and in turn, she was uninhibited.

“DBHS invested in me the notion that there was a bigger world outside of myself, and this compelled me to think outside of myself and put forth the effort to make the world a better place,” Morris said.

“I feel this conviction, even today.”

Morris attributes her success to being a “people person.” She is a firm believer that whatever profession one may choose, being able to interact and connect with people is what leads to true success.

“You can have all of the knowledge in your head, but it’s the spirit for people that brings you the most success in life,” Morris said.

Morris plans to serve as principal of Maple Hill until the day she retires. Other principals have told her that she will one day want to pursue her doctorate, but for now, Morris enjoys concentrating all of her efforts on the teachers and students of Maple Hill.

Photo courtesy of KELLY MORRIS

DBHS alumnus Kelly Morris serves as the principal of Maple Hill Elementary School where she taught for 17 years.

Photo courtesy of MELISSAINK.COM

Club Corner

Poetry Club ingrid chan staff writer Calliope. In Greek mythology, she is the muse who inspires eloquence and epic poetry, and it is her name that the Diamond Bar High School poetry club has adopted as its official title.

The club, as the name suggests, is a congregation of students who are poetry fanatics, hoping to improve their skills in composing poetry.

The club holds weekly meetings at English teacher Julie Galindo’s room in which members take turns reciting poetry in addition to helping each other by exchanging opinions on their poems. They also share poems that they have stumbled across over the week and taken a liking to.

But Calliope doesn’t restrict itself to poetry alone. A poetry competition was held last year where they collaborated with an organization dedicated to informing people about Alzheimer’s.

“We partnered with the Alzheimer’s Association of America to raise awareness via a poetry contest with the theme ‘memory,’” senior Treasurer Jay Zhang said.

The club also publishes an

annual anthology a collection of its members’ poems. Students who are not apart of the club can also submit their own poems and have it included in the anthology.

Since the goal of the club is to help students develop their own style of writing, Calliope does not focus on any specific genre of poetry.

Although the club originally assigned a specific theme for each week, the tradition has long been removed. Now, students are free to write in whatever style they wish in order to better express themselves, with free-verse and prose being the most popular.

The club doesn’t have many members, with it fluctuating between five to twenty people throughout the year, but this has resulted in a tight knit group that holds meetings regularly.

“We’ve developed a sort of mutual understanding between regulars,” Vice President Adeline Lee said via Facebook.

Deborah Clifford, their previous advisor, no longer teaches at DBHS, so the club is now overseen

by Galindo.

“I agreed to being advisor because I think it’s a great place for students to come in to share ideas and to hear about other’s unique ideas through poetry,” Galindo said.

8 FEATURE

SEPTEMBER 14, 2016

THE BULL'S EYE

Joseph Yun, Junior “I’m pretty tough since I don’t get scared often. People always relate me to a bear. I like it because bears are big, tough, scary, and cool. I don’t see how it’s cute but I think some girls see it as cute.”

Dean Dulnuan, FreshmAn “I think I’m different from other people, like my hair definitely makes me stand out.

I dye my hair every couple months. I’ve dyed it blue, red, green, purple, bleached, but my favorite color to dye it is blue.”

“I’m not like those other people who like to go out and hang out with other people, I like to be in my room, I like to read, I’m inside of my story.”

HUMANS OF DBHS

Grace Jean, Junior “My sister and I move around a lot. Everyone in high school has already found their group, so it’s hard to make friends. It’s frustrating to start all over again every time, but I like meeting new people. I think the people make up a place, so it’s interesting to see their values.

Scan the QR code to view more portraits on Students + Humans of DBHS Facebook page.

Noha Sheta, Sophomore

Khlaed Younes, Senior “I’m 6 foot 4, I get hit by ceiling fans a lot. I can’t jump. It’s hard to find pants sizes, because I’m very slender and have a feminine physique, so finding pants is very hard for me. It’s easy for people to spot me, and it’s 2 degrees colder up here.”

Connor Diamond, Sophomore “I can do the splits, I’m in wrestling, and I kind of did my own thing, and it only took a few days to get it”

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

THE BULL'S EYE

SEPTEMBER 14, 2016

9

And the nominees are...

UDIOS ABC ST

HBO NET WORK

S DIO STU FX

UN

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D IO

PRO

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ONS

The most intense night of television lies not in a show’s series finale or a season cliffhanger, but rather the Emmy Awards. With the returning winners mixed in with new standouts, it’s hard to tell who will take home an award on Sunday.

Pick up the remote and tune in on Sept. 18.

See the predictions by a&e editor Emily Jacobsson on pg. 12

ABC

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10 ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

THE BULL'S EYE

SEPTEMBER 14, 2016

Now Showing:

Tom Hanks’ is well-cast as the role of a heroic pilot faced with fame and criticism. His skilled acting job and an engaging plot make ‘Sully’ a soaring success.

Amy Miyahara Asst. A&E Editor I wasn’t expecting a film about a pilot to be so enjoyable, but “Sully” definitely exceeded my expectations. While it may not become a timeless classic, it is a solid film that should leave audiences satisfied.

The Clint Eastwood-directed film is based on the real events of Chelsey Sullenberger, a pilot who was forced to make an emergency water landing after his plane was hit by a flock of geese, which disabled both of the plane’s engines.

Sullenberger successfully landed the plane on the Hudson River in 2009, saving the lives of all 155 passengers.

The film takes off after Captain Chelsey “Sully” Sullenberger (Tom Hanks) has successfully landed the Airbus A320 on the

Hudson River. While the media NTSB, a wife (Laura Linney) back sion of folly. portrays him as a national hero, home awaiting his return, and Through flashbacks, the audireports from the National Transanxiety resulting from the crash ence sees the events of the crash portation Safety Board suggest and all of the newfound publicunfold, offering the viewpoint that one of the plane’s engines was ity. Alongside his First Officer Jefthat landing on the Hudson really still functioning, contrary to Sulferey Skiles, Sully works to justify was Sully’s only option. ly’s claim that both engines had that his landing was not a deciOverall, the film is engaging been disabled. and exciting.

Simulations The dialogue, also pointed to while a little the idea that a dull at times, successful recomes off as turn to the airvery realistic port would have and the visubeen possible. als and special The board queseffects do not tions whether disappoint.

I Sully was truly a found myself hero and whethemotionally er or not his invested in the emergency landtrials and tribing was actually ulations that necessary.

Sully faced Sully is faced throughout the Photo courtesy of WARNER BROTHERS film. with the criticism of the Tom Hanks and Aaron Eckhart play Captain Sullenberger and First Officer Skiles in ‘Sully.’

Tom Hanks

is one of the finest actors of the movie industry, and he certainly demonstrates his experience in “Sully.” While his performance probably won’t become as iconic as his roles in “Forrest Gump” or “Saving Private Ryan,” Hanks is completely convincing and compelling as Captain Sullenberger.

I did think that some aspects of the film were a little repetitive.

The scene of the plane landing on the Hudson was repeated one too many times. I also found the ending to be rather abrupt, with several plot conveniences thrown in for the sake of tying the film together.

Despite these flaws, “Sully” is an enjoyable movie that kept me entertained throughout. I would recommend the film to any movie-goers looking for an enjoyable way to spend their evening, if, of course, they don’t have a fear of flying.

Commercial Music Class Rocks on Hannah Lee News Editor

INGRID CHAN

DBHS teachers Stacy Tenace, Shari De Cambra, and Mary Gaxiola take line dancing classes to add variety to their workout routines.

Teachers line dance their way to the top

Ingrid Chan Staff Writer Advising the senior class during through its final year of high school isn’t the only thing Shari De Cambra, Stacy Tenace, and Mary Gaxiola do as a group.

The three senior advisors have always been close and frequently take part in a variety of different activities with each other. Recently, line dancing has surfaced as just one of their many common interests.

Line dancing has continued to remain popular and is normally danced to with Country and Western music, but can also incorporate other forms of music.

Line dancing involves people lining up in rows and following a choreographed pattern in synchronicity.

De Cambra was the first to notice the line dancing lessons and instantly took considerable interest in it.

“I was walking, saw the class, and thought that it looked like fun. So I signed up and told Mrs. Tenace about it. We then informed Mrs. Gaxiola about it and now all three of us line dance together,”

De Cambra said.

Every Thursday the three teachers have weekly line dancing lessons at the Chino Hills Community Center.

All three teachers have prior experience with dancing. Gaxiola and Tenace did both swing and line dancing in college, while De Cambra dabbled in a variety of dances including swing, line, and ballet.

“For me, it’s a good, fun way to get in a little bit of exercise,” Gaxiola said. “Even when I was in college, one of the biggest reasons why I enjoyed dancing was precisely because it was a way to get out there on the dance floor without feeling too pressured or intimidated by other people, especially since everyone is doing the same thing at the same time.”

The senior advisors are not planning on stopping their lessons any time soon and intend to keep taking line dancing classes together further into the future.

“The class just teaches different line dances. Every week we learn two to three new ones and then practice the old ones. It is a beginning line dancing class but most of the people in it are not beginners,” De Cambra said.

Exposing students to modern, mainstream music and pop classics, such as Beatles songs, the Commercial Music Program at Diamond Bar High School aims to guide students toward futures in the professional music industry.

The Commercial Music Program not only focuses on students becoming performers, but also covers the different aspects of the music industry such as recording, electronic music, engineering and business. In the class, students build their skills in singing, playing their instruments, and learning how to develop themselves as artists.

“When you go out into the world, you have every facet available to you. You can build a career even if your direct path isn’t in front of you; you can make your own path in various ways,” Daryl Hernandez, teacher of the program, said.

Because of the variety that the program offers, students who are interested in the different aspects of music, other than performance, are also able to take part in the

program, regardless of their skill level. The program is looking to add a fourth class period dedicated solely to music business and recording. It also recently had an investment approved by ROP for new recording equipment for the students.

The program was created when Hernandez had a live show for his previous program, House of Rock, which consisted of students from Chaparral and South Pointe Middle School. After the show, DBHS teacher Steve Acciani’s wife suggested that they should work with DBHS to develop a program within the school.

“Mr. Acciani was instrumental in getting me here and establishing me with ROP and helping me develop this program,” Hernandez said.

The group typically has three public performances per semester, each based on a single artist or band. Hernandez seeks artists that have a well-developed catalog and songs that the audience would recognize, in order to give them a point of reference of the students’ skills.

He also selects the program based on the artist’s musical

depth, allowing students to develop analysis and musical theory skills that can later be applied to original songwriting. The students are also given opportunities to perform songs that they are passionate about. The group’s next performance will be on Nov. 10, featuring the music of classicrock band Pink Floyd.

It’s pretty stressful at times because we have to get ready for performances and get everyone in sync, but when we pull it off right, it’s rewarding,” junior keys player Janet Maringka said.

Besides the many public shows that will be held at Diamond Bar throughout the school year, the Commercial Music program is planning to have an original song showcase at the Grammy Museum at Staples Center in May. The program is also looking to collaborate with the video production class to create music videos, which Hernandez hopes to use to get gigs at trade shows, including one of the largest, NAMM (National Association of Music Merchants).

“The end result is that they become original artists,” Hernandez said.

ERIC HONG

Juniors Jacob Corletto, Donovan Klein, Glen Arnade, and Cheyenne Fox rehearse their music during the commercial music class.

THE BULL'S EYE

SEPTEMBER 14, 2016

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

11

Brahmas say Aloha to Hawaiian Dancing Amelie Lee Asst. Feature Editor For a handful of students at Diamond Bar High School, a culturerich dance style from Hawaii is a major part of their everyday lives.

Hula dancing preserves the culture and history of Hawaii which is what has appealed to sophomore Carrie Lee, junior Renee Yam, junior Breana Tse, and sophomore Miranda Dypiangco since they were very young.

“The dances tell stories of the culture, mythology, and history of Hawaii,” Lee explained.

Each girl has their own experience with the dance, and has developed a strong bond with both the dance itself, and

TAKE TWO

the people they’ve danced with.

Being involved in hula for most of their lives, they have grown close to the people and environment.

“The people there are like family,” Lee said.

“Hawaiians believe in family unity.

Compared to if we went to a dance company for ballet or something, we’d be there for a class and that’s it, but here we get to learn about the culture -we aren’t just there to dance.”

The girls have been dancing hula for a variety of different reasons, and are not just there for the exercise.

“Hula is a way for me to express my emotions with the music and through the dancing,” Yam said, “It’s an emotional experience.”

All of the girls have been to hula

A Letter to the Film Industry

Photo courtesy of CARRIE LEE

Carrie Lee performs a traditional Hawaiian dance at George Na Ope in Sacramento.

Photo courtesy of MIRANDA DYPIANGCO

Miranda Dypiangco dances to Na U’i O Kaua’i when she was eleven at a hula festival.

A Feast OF NEW TELEVISON

Photo courtesy of FOX

Ginny Baker (Kylie Bunbury) throws her first pitch in a Major League game. task compared to what Tom will have to face in the future.

Timeless (Oct. 3) One of several time-travel themed shows premiering this season, “Timeless” is centered on the classic idea that changing the past will cause disastrous repercussions in the future. Lucy Preston (Abigail Spencer), a history professor, and Wyatt Logan (Matt Lanter), a soldier, are brought together by the government and given the task to go back in time and chase a criminal who intends to change the course of history.

Their first trip lands them in 1937, right before the Hindenburg disaster.

Bull (Sept. 20) We are led to believe that we have full reign over our thoughts, but Dr. Jason Bull (Michael Weatherly) proves otherwise. Jason uses his extensive knowledge in psychology to open a trial-consulting firm that manipulates juries in favor of his clients. Based on the early career of Phil McGraw, this show is the perfect combination of intellect and humor.

ing and I can understand the songs personally,” Yam said.

For these students, hula is more than just a form of dance or exercise.

The meaning behind hula and the connection between the dancer and the music is significant for those who take the time to learn about it.

“Hula has a deeper meaning, the songs that you dance to have more meaning compared to ballet or other types of dance,” Yam said.

As time has passed, the girls feel connected to not just the dance itself, but also the studio they go to, and the family they have made there.

“It’s a more personal experience,” Dypiangco said, “Hula is ingrained into us, and it’s a part of us now.”

Artwork in the Area Pauline Villegas A&E Editor

Emily Jacobsson A&E Editor Once again, we’re approaching that time of year when new television series compete for a place in both our DVRs and our hearts. It may be hard to say goodbye to the shows caught in the onslaught of cancellations this year (“Agent Carter,” “Limitless,” and “Teen Wolf”); however, a promising new lineup guarantees that you’ll find your new favorites.

Pitch (Sept. 22) Unless you’re passionate about a favorite team, baseball may not seem like an exciting sport.

“Pitch” sets out to change that with Ginny Baker (Kylie Bunbury), the first female to play in the major leagues.

Armed with a secret pitch and a lifelong dream, Ginny has to find a way to gain the acceptance of her male teammates while meeting the expectations of being the first female MLB player. When she can’t find the confidence and concentration needed to be on the pitcher’s mound, Ginny begins to reevaluate her life.

Designated Survivor (Sept.

21) When a bombing takes place on the night of the State of the Union address, the president and his cabinet members are killed. The only one left standing is the designated survivor, Secretary of House and Urban Development Tom Kirkman (Kiefer Sutherland). Having to suddenly run a country is hard enough, but Tom’s task becomes even more difficult when he finds that none of the other government officials are willing to support him. Adapting to a new position and situation proves to be an easy

competitions where they are able to show what they have learned, and compete to show their talents.

The studio Lee and Dypiangco dance at is called Halau Na Pua Lehua I Ka Ua Noe in Chino Hills, which offers multiple competitions throughout the year.

They placed first in some categories at the George Na’ope Hula Festival in Sacramento last year.

The group plans to go to another competition in Long Beach this year.

Yam and Tse attends Dellos Dance Studio, which brings their students to a competition in which there are freestyle type dances where the dancer does not know how the beats are going to be played.

“I really enjoy the choreographs that my teacher does.

For me, it has a deep mean-

Today, seeing a work of art doesn’t even require you to leave your bed. You can follow your favorite artists on social media without venturing out of the house.

But for those that enjoy seeing art in person, don’t think you need to drive to Los Angeles—look no further than these local art galleries and museums.

Unlike the more popular art museums, such as LACMA and the Broad, these museums can be found outside the overcrowded streets of Los Angeles.

Located in the Brea Civic and Cultural Center, City of Brea Art Gallery has been open since 1980.

Not only does the gallery have rotating art exhibits, but it also is home to lectures, live art demonstrations and workshops for all ages. These exhibits allow local artists to display their art for the community. There is a $2 entrance fee. The gallery is open Wednesday through Sunday and the calendar of their current events and exhibits is located on their website.

The Latino Art Museum, lo-

cated in the Pomona Art Colony, offers exhibitions and classes for all ages. They hold festivals celebrating Latin American art in the area. Different exhibits are on display each month and prices vary depending on the event. This museum is perfect for those who appreciate the cultural aspects of art.

Claremont Museum of Art holds a number of events yearly in which artists display their work for the community. Prices depend on the event you attend, but the museum does have a permanent collection that can be viewed for free year round.

If you are looking to get out of the area, look to Riverside Art Museum to provide unique, entertaining exhibits. The museum is home to four or five exhibits at a time ranging from young newcomers to experienced local artists. With themes such as “Self Help Graphics” and “Visual Voice,” there truly is something for everyone.

Riverside Art Museum even offers interactive art exhibits, such as “The Art of Flight,” where viewers can take part in a variety of activities having to do with the sculptures.

Claremont Art Museum

Claremont Art Museum displays a number of sculptures and paintings each week.

Dear Filmmakers, It’s a widely accepted notion that sequels and remakes are never better than the originals, yet so many studios continue to make them.

Time and time again, we witness film remakes and sequels intent on changing this trend that, fail miserably.

We aren’t saying that all films that fall into this category aren’t successful, because yes, there are the few movies that deviate from this trend (“Harry Potter,” “Star Wars,” and “Lord of the Rings”), and we understand that your main goal is to make money, but at what cost?

It would be more worthwhile to put the resources and energy used in making one of these films toward a new, creative project.

Looking back has never benefited anyone; the industry should be looking to move forward.

A good movie can be likened to catching lightning in a bottle- a rare occurrence. If a movie wasn’t successful in the first place, the chances are slim that it would gain popularity or critical acclaim with the second version or when remade with a completely different cast.

Often, sequels are essentially dragged out versions of the first film and no longer enjoyable. It becomes a type of semantic satiation, where the audience is watching the same characters act out a slightly different plot with little or no meaning.

In remakes and the majority of sequels, the plot, traditionally the most important aspect of a movie, becomes overshadowed by the star-studded cast.

In “Anchorman 2,” the most enjoyable moments were the cameos by celebrities like Liam Neeson and Kanye West. Aside from these small parts, the plot had no substance and was not as funny as the first.

This phenomenon can also be seen in “Zoolander 2.” It’s almost as if the success of a sequel is based on the amount of celebrities a studio can manage to sign up.

It’s not just comedies; action movies also live off of unentertaining remakes and sequels.

But if you’re intent on producing a sequel, take some tips from a great series like “Harry Potter.”

Every detail in the films is connected to something else, possibly in a later movie, as opposed to the messy, careless plots we often see in sequels.

What we want, like most moviegoers, is to be entertained by interesting, new plots with substance.

If this trend continues, we will be left with too many bland movies recycling plots over and over again. New creations that will not only entertain our generation, but generations to come. With the way Hollywood is heading, there will be no classics that our children can know and love. Instead, there will be an abundance of sequels.

We want a Hollywood that impresses the world with its originality and imagination, like it did once upon a time.

Best Wishes, Emily Jacobsson & Pauline Villegas

12 ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

THE BULL'S EYE

SEPTEMBER 14, 2016

‘GAME OF THRONES,’ ‘BLACK-ISH,’ MALEK AND DAVIS DESERVING OF EMMY AWARDS The predictions for the top categories in this Sunday’s Emmy Awards Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama If the word “newcomer” comes with any negative connotation, Rami Malek does away with it. In his first major role, as Elliot Anderson in “Mr. Robot,” Malek has become a quick favorite. Without Malek, “Mr. Robot” would not be the strong contender for Best Drama Series it currently is. He plays a shut off, cynical and socially-awkward computer hacker, yet somehow we can’t help but root for him.

The future is bright for Malek, who is widely considered this season’s breakout star. However, he isn’t without healthy competition.

Also nominated for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series are Kevin Spacey of “House of Cards” and Matthew Rhys of “The Americans,” two actors that have established themselves long before Malek.

Though talent should be enough for Malek, he may want to hope on beginner’s luck to secure his win.

Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama For Robin Wright, having been previously nominated in the same category three times, it seems hopeful that the fourth time’s a charm.

As First Lady Claire Underwood in “House of Cards,” Wright is

cunning and undeniably talented.

Regardless, last year’s winner, Viola Davis, will be hard to dethrone. Davis’s performance as Annalise Keating on “How to Get Away With Murder” was much stronger this season. Davis is one of the most impressive actresses currently working in television, proving her ability to deliver genuine, phenomenal performances. While all the nominees for Lead Actress in a Drama Series are more than capable of holding their own, I’m confident that Davis will walk away with her second consecutive Emmy.

Outstanding Drama Series Much like Davis, “Game of Thrones” is returning to reclaim the Emmy for Outstanding Drama Series. With 23 nominations this year, the series seems virtually unstoppable. While I do have high hopes and a strong liking for “Mr. Robot,” I am forced to recognize the brilliance of “Game of Thrones” and its ability to keep its audience satisfied and begging for more year after year.

The sign of a truly great TV series is its ability to bring people together. The fan culture that has arisen out of the “Game of Thrones” series is something that all the other nominees in this category can only hope to achieve.

Oustanding Comedy Series I still remember waiting in anticipation for “Black-ish” to premiere and the disappointment I felt when it fell short of my expectations. However, the show’s quality increased so much that I now feel that “Black-ish” holds the highest potential among other nominations and may be able to prevent “Veep” from a consecutive win.

Clever and comedic, “Black-ish” sought to tackle stereotypes and tell the stories of a community underrepresented on television, while keeping things relatively lighthearted. The genuine heart in this show is what makes me want to see them leave with an Emmy.

Outstanding Limited Series While all nominations in this category are worthy of praise, it comes down to the obvious struggle between “The People v. O.J. Simpson” and “Fargo.” Both entries are beautiful examples of period projects, but the relevance of “The People v. O.J. Simpson” and the attention it received earlier this year may be just enough to place it above “Fargo.” An outstanding cast, director and script all factor into why I think “The People” should win the Emmy for elegantly recreating a story that has fascinated the old and young alike.

ADVERTISE WITH THE BULL’S EYE 3,000 students are waiting to hear about your business!

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“Black-ish” recieved its first Emmy nomination for Outstanding Comedy Series after a successful two seasons on air.

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13

THE BULL'S EYE

COLLEGE COUNTDOWN

ALUMNI ADVICE

October 1 Filing period for FAFSA

and Cal Grant Verification

3 senior packet DUE

the mistake of trying to sound too smart, which came off as standoffish and awkward. Please, don’t do that. Admissions officers already know you’re smart—they have all your paperwork in front of them.

Instead, be genuine—be you. I know you’ve probably heard that a million times before, but that’s what works best.

Last, write about something simple. Someone will write about how his internship at Stanford reinforced his love for biology, and that’s great. Admissions officers want to know the real you, before all the titles and awards. As William Golding said, “The greatest ideas are the simplest.”

tudent blogs are a great resource that provides a personal account of a real student’s experience at the school.

Many college admissions offices run an undergraduate student blog to give their prospective students a more private glance at school life.

The best case scenario when

writing a supplement is to connect yourself to the school through a personal experience, but if that is not possible, the next best scenario is to utilize specific information that will allow the reader to visualize you as a fit at that school.

University websites can also be a great tool if you know how to utilize them properly. Merely searching up general facts on its “About Me” page is not enough.

You need to dig deep.

The first place to start looking is the admission counselor’s or academic counselor’s page for the major you are interested in.

I emailed the academic advi-

sor at USC’s Marshall School of Business, and she was incredibly helpful at answering my questions about clubs, majors and programs I might be interested in.

She even provided me with very specific information about business study abroad programs like Learning About International Commerce and Global Brigades that I was later able to work into my supplement.

Another great place to look on a school’s website is their catalogue of clubs. I contacted officers from potential business clubs that I was interested in. There I was able to ask major specific questions.

tart out small: It’s near-impossible to just sit down and crank out an essay; instead, think of possible topics and think about which could make the best essay before starting. Even vaguely outlining ideas you like or having your resume out to remind you of past experiences can help.

Don’t work in groups: Personal statements are just that—personal. Talking to

friends and complaining about writer’s block in no way helps the writing process. Instead, find a coffee shop or lock yourself in your room and put some headphones in.

Read other people’s essays: Look up essays that people have written for top-notch schools, and think about what made them successful. Admissions officers receive thousands of applications, and the best ones are the ones that stand out.

List out all your essay questions: Lots of colleges have similar essay questions, and instead of writing two completely separate essays, you can save time by using the

same ideas and key phrases.

Keep away from your parents: If your parents are filling out your college applications for you, you’re probably not ready for college.

Essays are about you and your experiences, not your parents and their influence on you.

Relax: There are thousands of students applying for a limited number of spots, and chances are the phrasing of one sentence won’t affect your application. If you stress out too much, you’re just setting yourself up for a difficult road ahead. Have some candy, watch a YouTube video, or take a nap!

ltimately, writing a personal narrative requires a ton of brainstorming and introspection, so a large chunk of your essay-writing process should be spent on answering important questions in order to convey your ideas. For example, for your personal statement, you may ask yourself “How have I changed over the course of the last four years? What specifically propelled this change? How will this translate to my goals in college?”

These are basic questions that every application

should answer. Remember, this essay is about illustrating who you are, but also portraying yourself in the best light. It is integral that within your brainstorming phase, you find a good balance of the two.

Another important aspect of writing a good essay is answering the prompt completely. When I first began writing my essays, particularly my personal statement, I would often run with a narrative that excited me, only to realize that I was missing key components of the prompt. For this reason, it is important to outline the premise of the essay you plan to write. The essay should be

built on the prompt, not answer it along the way.

It is natural, and even advisable to write various essays that answer the same prompt. The point of this is to force you, as a writer, to be introspective and answer key questions thoroughly, and then decide which essay best represents your character.

Plus, essays can be used and reused for different colleges, especially for private colleges, so writing many essays can be beneficial.

If you are truly lacking inspiration, it is a good idea to look over essays what admitted students from previous years wrote.

H AN N A

KANG

trying to make awesome senior year memories, is a whole heck of a lot to deal with.

In all honesty, there isn’t much to tell about the actual college admissions process, other than to try your best, relax, and see what happens.

There aren’t any set guidelines or rules you must follow in order to overcome stiff competition and receive an acceptance letter from your dream school. However, there are some helpful tips you should keep in mind while writing your personal statement, which just might turn a “maybe” into an enthusiastic “yes.

When I was a senior working on my personal statement, I made

his time of the year is always one that is most stressful for high school seniors.

Failing and retaking the driver’s license exam, balancing difficult classes, writing personal statements and visiting college campuses, all while

november 1 PURDUE Early Decision

december 1 USC Merit scholarship

S

ADmission decisions begins

U

VRINDA

march 1 Notification of UC

CHAUHA

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Purdue Regular Decision 3 BU Regular Decision 15 USC Regular Decision

FRANCE

january 1 NYU Regular Decision

S

S WU

UWASH Regular Deadline 31 United states air force academy deadline

EMILY LE

30 Yale regular decision

UN G

NYU Early Decision BU Early Decision Yale early decision 30 UC deadline CAL STATE Deadline

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14 SPORTS

SEPTEMBER 14, 2016

THE BULL'S EYE

New year, new leadership

Three sports welcome new coaches to start off the school year.

CINDY LIU STAFF WRITER

CALVIN RU

Junior Aaron Velarde, who has been on the team since its start, looks to release the ball against a Los Amigos defender.

Hoping that third time’s the charm

BOYS WATER POLO The team brings back several experienced players as well as a

fresh approach to the pool, hoping to make CIF for the first time.

STUART KUSDONO ASST. OPINION EDITOR With its team chemistry much improved after two tough seasons, the Diamond Bar varsity boys water polo team has sets its goal to win a league championship and qualifying for CIF in its third year.

“Being a new program, there was a lack of understanding as to what it took to compete against established programs,” head coach Alexander Matal said. “However, a few of our athletes committed to an off-season training regime in a club environment and those athletes now have the basic skills and experience to compete at a higher level.”

Last season, the team fell short of qualifying for CIF, finishing with a record of 14-15. However, the team did see major improve-

ments from the previous season.

“When we first started, it was everyone’s first year and no one really knew what they were doing,” senior Mariani said, “But now we’re actively involved with club and go to practice at least once a week, which has helped greatly.”

The team practices for at least three hours a day in the pool, starting with conditioning, then individual drills and, finally, team drills and scrimmages. In addition, the team will be doing more tactical practices, now that the boys understand the basics.

Defense is the main focus for improvement. However, senior Sebastian Houng, the main goalie and key defensive asset of the team, is still recovering from his injury.

“I hope to heal fast so I can play for most of this season,” Houng said. “I’m working on improving my shot accuracy and blocking.”

Over half the players on the team this season are seniors including veterans Dario Mariani, Kris Chang and Diego Hammond.

In addition, there are five incoming varsity players. Hammond, one of the team’s greatest offensive threats, averaged 3.4 goals a game last season with above a 50 percent shot percentage. Mariani was integral to the team’s chemistry, dishing out 51 assists and averaging 1.5 goals a game.

In preparation, Mariani practiced during his trip to Croatia over the summer and Kris Chang practiced at a local water polo club.

Hammond also participated in the National Junior Olympics.

“A few of our athletes committed to an off-season training regime in a club environment and those athletes now have the basic skills and experience to compete at a higher level,” Matal said.

Diamond Bar High School’s varsity wrestling, volleyball and girls tennis will be kicking off the year with new coaches to lead them into competition.

The girls tennis team will be playing under the guidance of English teacher Alex Feix, who joined the staff this year. Feix replaced coach Tisa Shavers, who left due to an increasing amount of time she spent traveling and doing clinics with the U.S. Tennis Association.

“She didn’t feel like she was going to be able to give Diamond Bar her full attention, missing practices while she was practicing for USTA. She felt that it would be best if she…stepped away,” Athletic Director Kevin Ferguson said.

Ferguson discovered Feix’s tennis background during her interview for her teaching position.

She played varsity tennis at Ayala High School as a doubles player and continues to play as an adult.

Her father, Mike Feix, a tennis coach with over 15 years of experience, helped mentor her and will join her at DBHS as a new assistant JV coach for the girls tennis team.

“My dad was always a big supporter but he had high expectations of me,” Feix said. “This year I really want [the team] to work on getting in better shape, more conditioning, and that’s one thing we can do that’s totally separate from

wild races in September W

hile I was eating with a group of friends and energetically watching a crucial match between my injured New York Mets and the NL East leading Washington Nationals, one of my friends randomly exclaimed, “Honestly, how can you watch baseball? It’s so boring.”

My first reaction to this was a simple derogative reply of “You’re just boring.” But then the question stuck with me the rest of the night, and in that time, I began remembering what this month meant for the sport. It is the most exciting time of the season other than the postseason: September.

Now to most people, September is just the first month of fall and the month before Halloween. However, in baseball, it means that playoffs are just right around the corner, and the division and wildcard races are intensifying.

This season has been quite exhilarating already. We’ve got Boston Red Sox slugger David Ortiz in his final year, A-Rod being released by the Yankees, and emerging rookie talents like shortstop Trevor Story and catcher Gary

Sanchez. Yet, the main focus is primarily on the playoff teams.

By this time, all the pretenders have been weeded out of the playoff race and all the dominant super teams are set, but the teams in between, known as the wildcard teams, are still fighting to find their places.

Most notably, the AL Race has become a battle for not one team, not two teams, not three teams but between seven teams! That’s right, the Red Sox, the Baltimore Orioles, the Detroit Tigers, the Houston Astros, the New York Yankees, the Kansas City Royals, and the Seattle Mariners are all apart of this race. With the Mariners being the farthest behind by four games, fans are sure to be looking at the standings and score every night.

What’s even crazier is that most of these teams struggled immensely. The Royals struggled to find their footing after winning the World Series last year. The Yankees were adjusting to the loss of multiple players. The Astros have proved many doubters and me wrong as I believed that they could not catch up from their first half

struggles. Now here we are, with seven teams fighting for two spots.

The last week of September will be crucial to all of these teams.

Speaking of the wildcard races, the National League is also in a tight race, but the number of teams apart of it is smaller. Although they had a huge lead over the Los Angeles Dodgers in the NL West before the All-Star Break, the San Francisco Giants have faced their own share of problems as they now are behind the Dodgers in the division and only half a game up for a wildcard spot.

Right now, the Cardinals are behind the Mets by half a game for the second wildcard berth. Over the last decade, the Cardinals have been one of the most consistent teams in baseball and even with their struggles, they could do some damage. The Cardinals have been to the postseason in the last five years, making the World Series three times and winning one in 2011. With their given track record, the Cardinals could easily be a dangerous team in the playoffs.

However, my ailing Mets have recently reenergized themselves,

taking the wildcard spot from the Cardinals.

At the beginning of the season, the “Miracles” were picked as a top five team with its loaded pitching lineup of nearly five aces and a strong hitting squad. Now, only two of their starting pitchers remain and vital members in the hitting order such as “The Captain” David Wright and Lucas Duda are labeled out for the season. It doesn’t help that one of their most productive players Neil Walker is now out due to back surgery. Other members of the lineup such as superstar Yoenis Cespedes and ace Steven Matz have been going in and out of the DL. Yet here we are with a Mets team living off fumes and holding a playoff spot.

It’s races like these that make baseball not an old, boring sport but one of the most exciting and suspenseful. In basketball and football, you would only see one or two teams fighting for a playoff spot, but in baseball, it’s all fair game. Plus, the team that could barely make it there still has a chance to become this season’s World Series champions.

skills. If you put in the work, you’ll see the results.”

Ferguson looks forward to seeing her working with the team. He believes her personality will bring a fresh attitude to the team.

“She’s going to bring a lot of energy and enthusiasm. I think she’s going to have good rapport with the kids,” Ferguson said. “Her youthful energy will bring a new vibe to the program.”

For the wrestling team, coach Lawrence Liu will step up from his previous position as an assistant to join head coach Marcus Johnson as co-head coaches.

“The coaches are very hard on you and they might seem like they’re just out to get you but their intention is always to make you better as a wrestler and as a person,” sophomore wrestler Omar Naji said via Facebook. “They make you love the sport and even though the practices are hell, it’s always for the benefit of us.”

Over the summer, the coaches held summer practices twice a week, allowing the team to work on technique, practice various maneuvers, and hit the weight room in preparation for the start of their season.

“I would say most of the team consider the coaches more of a friend than a serious coach,” Naji said. “They would always crack jokes and call us nicknames. I never not had fun during an intense wrestling practice, and no matter how hard it gets, I think I’ll always stay because of that reason.”

Spanish teacher Katie Swetnam will be moving up as head coach for varsity volleyball after a year of coaching as an assistant.

“My career goals for my whole life was to become a Spanish teacher and head varsity volleyball coach at a high school so it’s surreal to have it happen only in my second year of teaching,” Swetnam said.

At DBHS, Swetnam played on the varsity volleyball team in her junior and senior years, where she gained experience playing all six positions.

She went on to receive a full Division I scholarship to play volleyball at the University of Maryland, Baltimore County.

This year, Swetnam implemented a new defensive system which worked out successfully with the team during practice. The team also added additional training in the weight room.

“We’ve been lifting to train so I hope that it translates well to our game and we’ll be able to jump higher and move faster from all that extra training,” Swetnam said.

MORE ON THE WEB: CROSS COUNTRY

The team prepares for the season with new additions to their daily regimen.

GIRLS GOLF

A team of underclassmen hopes to lead the way to another CIF playoff.

GIRLS TENNIS

New coach Alexis Feix brings experience and new strategies to renew team.

VISIT DBBULLSEYE.COM

Brahmas practice a different kind of art Students participate in martial arts from various backgrounds, including taekwondo and karate.

EMILY KIM SPORTS EDITOR Far from the more usual sports involving a ball or racket, several Brahmas compete with their fists and feet.

Senior Lyanne Chang and sophomore Aishwarya Rane both attend the local taekwondo dojang National Taekwondo Center in Diamond Bar. Rane first started when she was eight, after convincing her mother, who thought she was too young at the age of five, to participate in the Korean martial art.

Chang’s dad sparked her interest in the sport when she was nine while she was living in Hawaii. Although Rane immediately started in a more professional dojang, it was not until Chang moved to California that she started attending regular classes with an instructor.

Both are second degree black belts and have competed in numerous tournaments. Rane’s greatest achievement was when she competed in the 2014 National Championships and placed second in sparring. Chang also competed in the National Championships when she was 12 and was ranked seventh in her weight group at the time.

Rane and Chang both feel that staying committed to the sport is one of the most difficult parts about participating in taekwondo.

Chang also said that the weigh-ins are another difficult aspect of the competition process; losing weight in order to make the desired weight class and hoping they reach their

SPORTS

THE BULL'S EYE

SEPTEMBER 14, 2016

goal.

Taekwondo is not the only martial art being practiced on campus.

Junior Alec Jahanvash participates in sport martial arts, a type of martial arts that incorporates both routines and sparring as well as weapons.

Jahanvash took up the sport when he was 4 mainly because his father owns Red Dragon Karate in Diamond Bar. He is not only a student there but also an instructor, managing the classes Jahanvash also competes almost every month, competing in traditional, creative, and fighting or sparring. However, his main interests are learning more traditional styles of sports karate, learning new forms, and focusing on sparring.

“I think there is a lot more to it than just being a traditional sport.

There is a lot of tradition, respect, and values that go along with it. It almost has a familial effect to it,” Jahanvash said.

15

FALL PREVIEW FOOTBALL marcus hughes (3 YEARS) 0-5 IN LEAGUE 4-6 overall SIXTH IN LEAGUE LOST 25 SENIORS

water polo alexander matal ( 3 YEARS) 0-8 IN LEAGUE 14-15 overall SIXTH IN LEAGUE LOST two SENIORS

VOLLEYBALL KATIE SWETNAM ( 1 YEAR) 1-9 IN LEAGUE 7-19 OVERALL SIXTH IN LEAGUE LOST SEVEN SENIORS

Girls golf Tony mccabe ( 12 YEARS) 14-0 In league lost in CIF-SS First in league lost two seniors

Photo courtesy of JAYSON BLACK

Sophomore Aishwarya Rane started taekwondo when she was nine.

cross country

girls Tennis

Malinalli Cooke ( 1 YEAR) finished fifth in league returning seven boys and seven girls

alexis feix ( 1 YEAR) 1-9 IN LEAGUE 2-12 overall SIXTH IN LEAGUE

Swetnam steps up as new coach VOLLEYBALL After enduring a rigorous training program and a 9-3 record in Summer league, the Lady Brahmas are poised to improve from last season.

AMY MIYAHARA ASST. A&E EDITOR Despite having a frustrating season last year and facing several changes in coaching staff, the DBHS varsity volleyball team is confident and excited to power into this season.

Health and P.E. teacher Becky Bevans, who had previously coached volleyball from 2001 to 2012, returned as head coach last season, while new Spanish teacher Katie Swetnam served as the assistant coach. This year, Bevans has stepped aside for Swetnam, who played volleyball when she was a student at DBHS. She received a full athletic scholarship to play Division I volleyball at the University

of Baltimore.

“Because we have a great coach, we’re learning a lot, and we had the entire summer to gel and mesh well...I think we’re good with playing together and playing off each other’s strengths and weaknesses,” varsity captain Taylor Williams said via Facebook.

As the new head coach, Swetnam said that she isn’t planning on making dramatic changes, but rather wants to build from the work that was done last season.

Swetnam said that the girls’ friendship and good chemistry on and off the court has positively impacted their playing.

“This year, we’re really lucky because all of our girls are friends on and off the court, so they mesh really well on the court,” Swetnam

Coach Swetnam holds a team meeting with her girls discussing the game.

Senior Gabrielle Cortes sends the ball back over the net in a game against the Monrovia Wildcats. said. “They’re not afraid to give each other constructive feedback and help each other out on the court.”

The girls ended last season with a disappointing league record of 1-9. To improve this season, the Lady Brahmas started training early this summer, even working out on their own when no formal practices were scheduled. Their hard work paid off, as they finished their summer league games with a 9-3 record.

After a great summer, the team has continued its hard work into the school year. In addition to daily practices, the girls are in the weight

room multiple times a week. They have also done athletic conditioning, such as running on the track, to improve their speed and agility. Even through intense training, the girls make sure to enjoy themselves on the court.

“Although we are serious about training hard and staying focused, we also like to make sure we’re having fun. I love that the team is really good at that,” senior varsity captain Harman Dhillon said via Instagram.

The varsity team lost seven seniors after last season, but are still returning strong with 10 returning players and four first-year varsity

Photos by ERIC HONG

players. Of the ten, seven are seniors; team captains Camie Ahn, Alyssa Bloomfield, Dhillon, and Williams, as well as Karen Bustillo, Gabrielle Cortes, and Molly Hummel.

Currently the team has a 1-2 record. So far this season, the team has defeated rival Walnut in three straight sets during their match last Tuesday, 25-21, 25-22, 25-18.

They have lost to Monrovia in three sets, 25-17, 25-20, and 25-13. In their game last Thursday, they lost to Brea Olinda in four sets. They won the first set 25-10, but lost the following three sets, 25-13, 25-22, and 25-18.

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SEPTEMBER 14, 2016

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Brahmas start season with two big wins

ATHL

THE BULL'S EYE

O M HAM

2015-2016 WATER POLO SEASON STATS

Photos by ERIC HONG

Junior Shane Wells weaves through Walnut’s defense during the Branding Iron game that the Brahmas won 34-9.

RECEIVING YARDS LEADER

RUSHING YARDS LEADER

THROWING YARDS LEADER

SHANE WELLS

DAVION BLUITT

GRANT MESTAS

336 FOOTBALL The Brahmas

begin their season 2-1, recording wins against Walnut and Covina.

BERNARD CHEN EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

With a 2-1 preseason record, the Diamond Bar High School varsity football team is still working out the right formula to translate its success so far to league play. Starting off the season with a loss against Alta Loma but strong wins against Walnut and Covina, the Brahmas look to a tough league season ahead with a smaller but faster team.

284 After losing its leading rusher Dimaggio Rico and sack leader David Omana, both of whom graduated last year, the pressure is on seniors quarterback Grant Mestas and running back Davion Bluitt, who are both captains. Junior wide receiver Shane Wells has also stepped up as a replacement for last year’s seniors.

Head coach Marcus Hughes says that the offensive line takes a lot of time to gel as well.

“They struggle here and there, but we’re working on that. We’re getting better,” Hughes said.

In the Branding Iron against Walnut, the Brahmas beat the Mustangs for the sixth year in a row, finishing with a score of 34-9. The game end-

Senior Davion Bluitt attempts to rush through a Walnut defender.

654 ed with two touchdowns by Bluitt, and one each by juniors Kyle Rojas, Matthew Emanuele, and Wells.

At Covina, Diamond Bar earned their second victory, winning 27-7.

According to Hughes, though the team has more speed than last year, the Brahmas are not as big and lack the depth to replace injured players.

“We’re a smaller team. We have to make sure we’re not being up on each other too much. Really, it’s just taking the proper precautions to keep our kids safe and not being reckless on the field,” Hughes said.

Individually, on the defensive line, junior Matt Rodriguez and sophomores Jacob Gonzalez and Malik Scurlock have been playing well while senior returning starters Jaime House and Tyler Cooper hope to step up, according to Hughes.

Seniors Cody and Matt Breidinger have been improving defensively as well. Offensively, the team looks to Mestas, Wells, Bluitt, and senior Bryan Kwon.

Two additions have also been made to the offensive coaching staff, with coaches Phil Busch and Jeff Cameron. Busch brings 14 years of experience in coaching high school football, primarily at Ayala High School. Cameron, a DBHS alumnus, joins the coaching staff as the offensive coordinator.

Wells leads all receivers in receiving yards with 336 while Bluitt leads in rushing yards with 284. In his second year starting, Mestas leads in throwing yards with 654.

The team faces a tough season ahead with its opening league game against the Glendora Tartans, who took home the league championships last year. The Brahmas will be playing the Brea Olinda Wildcats this Friday.

POINTS ASSISTS GOALS STEALS

158 58 93 37

ANGELA YANG ASST. NEWS EDITOR Having spent the last nine years of his life dedicated to water polo, senior Diego Hammond is beginning his last season on the Diamond Bar High School team this year. He was selected as captain his junior year and led the team through the 2015 season.

Hammond has been on the team since the water polo program was launched at DBHS, already having six years under his belt from participation in club teams prior to starting high school. His father and brother both played the sport, leading Hammond to follow in their footsteps and pursue it as well. But even with water polo in his blood, it’s not the only motivation that has kept him playing throughout the years.

“I love the intensity of water polo because there is so much that happens underneath the water that gets your adrenaline going, which adds a whole new element to the sport that I believe is unique to just water polo,” Hammond said.

The athlete has competed in the annual USA Water Polo National Junior Olympics seven times.

“People think that water polo is based off of size,” Hammond said. “But I want to show that size doesn’t matter when you’re playing a sport [and that] as long as you work really hard and try your best, you could be the best.”

However, many people don’t see

or think about what happens under the water.

“People kick you in every part of your body. There’s lots of getting kneed usually in the tailbone. People grab your suit. They also grab your cap and drown you,” Hammond said. “Since the referees can’t see any of this, the players don’t get kicked out of the game.”

Hammond is used to the minor scratches on his body from all the grabbing, but the worst of his injuries have been a black eye and a nosebleed.

As with most team sports, motivation to improve can often come from other players. Hammond names junior Aaron Velarde and current senior water polo captains Dario Mariani and Kris Chang as teammates who inspire him to play better.

“They’re the hardest working on the team,” Hammond said. “[So] as they get better, it makes me want to become a better player too.”

The athlete is not currently aiming for a specific college. According to Hammond, any college which he deems suitable and offers his major is a possibility.

The water polo program at DBHS was first introduced two years ago and is beginning its third season this year.

“I think [being on the team has] helped me to be more of a leader because they’re a very young team,” Hammond said. “I have to try to help them as much as I can because I’ve had more experience with water polo.”

CALVIN RU

Senior Diego Hammond has nine years of experience in the sport.