INSIDE THE ISSUE
a&e 10
opinion 54 opinion
feature 6
the bull’s eye NEWS
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OPINION
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FEATURE
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sports 15
MAY 17, 2017 VOLUME XXXV, ISSUE IX ONLINE AT DBBULLSEYE.COM
ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT
Angela Yang ASST. News EDITOR CALVIN RU
From left to right, Monica Lin, Eden Chen, Justin Chuang, Derrick Li, Jay Zhang, Leslie Sim, Benjamin Chen, Sabrina Tseng, Rebecca Kimn and Janette Park are ten of the DBHS students who have been accepted into prestigious universities.
Graduating to top colleges Sophia Kim ASST. Web EDITOR After four years of high school accomplishments, a collection of
Diamond Bar High School seniors will be heading to prestigious colleges this fall. Among students who previously had announced school decisions, Morgan Pak will be attending Dartmouth, Derrick Li is headed to Stanford, Janette Park and Rebecca Kimn are headed to Cornell while Sabrina Tseng and Benjamin Chen have selected MIT as their
Scholarships open doors for seniors Two DBHS students received numerous awards for their constant participation on campus. Tess Guan Web Editor Fueled by passion for their extracurriculars, two Diamond Bar High School seniors are among those who received scholarship grants for their participation in various activities. Remaining close to home, Miranda Tejada will attend the University of La Verne under the Performance Scholarship she received in theater. The scholarship had six different divisions: art, communications, music, photography, speech and theater. Two participants from each division were awarded a scholarship and in total, there are twelve scholarship winners. An active member of the DBHS theater program, Tejada heard about the University of La Verne’s Performance Scholarship award from interns while working for Ophelia’s Jump, a theater group created by DBHS drama teacher Beatrice Casagran. After receiving information about the scholarship and attending several of the university’s productions, she decided to apply for the scholarship under the theater division. What caught her eye the most,
however, was the university’s small theater group. “They’re more connected together, they're more of a family than we are here at Diamond Bar,” Tejada said. The application process required applicants to submit a ten minute video of one of their drama performances. Tejada pulled clips from DBHS performances of “Into the Woods,” “Journey to the West” and “Les Miserables.” As a theater design major, she hopes to pursue her career further by helping out with various shows. “I want to do sound for shows, costume for shows, light for shows,” she said. “Maybe some acting here and there too. I just want to do theater.” La Verne, which was Tejada’s top choice, will grant her $25,000 each year and pay the full tuition for her final year. Attending University of Irvine in the fall, former Miss Diamond Bar Ashley Chen was awarded various grants: the Diamond Bar Woman’s Club Eileen Tillery Community Service Scholarship, Girls’ League Scholarship, Chen Pai-Lee Memorial Scholarship and California Asian Peace Officer Association Scholarship. The first scholarship she received was the Peace Officer award, which was originally intended for people looking in the law enforcement field. Although Chen was interested in hotel management, she applied nonetheless and received
SCHOLARSHIPS ON P. 2
SPORTS
DOC students to remain in WVUSD
The district and parents continue to push for the approval of two bills which would save DOC.
At least 11 DBHS students are headed to elite universities.
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college. Five more DB students will be spending the next four years at Ivy League schools. Jay Zhang, a valedictorian and National Merit finalist, will attend Yale with plans to double major in bio-medical engineering and linguistics.
TOP SCHOOLS ON P. 3
As the two bills aimed to save District of Choice wind their way through the Appropriations Committee, students currently enrolled under DOC can rest assured knowing they will stay in the district through the 2017-2018 school year regardless of whether the bills pass or not, according to a Walnut Valley Unified School District official. Currently, Sen. Josh Newman’s SB52 and Assemblymembers Patrick O’Donnell and Jacqui Irwin’s AB185 sit in the Suspense File, a holding place for bills that would have a financial impact on the state, waiting to be voted on by the Chairs of the Assembly and Senate
Appropriations Committees. “As of right now, WVUSD will continue to work with our lobbyist and prominent members of the State Assembly and Senate to get a Bill passed,” WVUSD Assistant Superintendent of Education Services Jeff Jordan said via email. “All current DOC students will attend WVUSD schools for 2017/2018.” Jordan stresses the need for parents and students to contact state legislators and voice their support for the bills. Strong support for the DOC program can help the bills exit the Suspense File and continue the process to approval. DOC advocator Teruni Evans has been one of the parents leading the effort to save the program. “We’ve been sending emails to Josh Newman to show support for his bill and for him,” Evans said. Besides Newman, parents have also been in contact with California State Assembly Speaker Anthony Rendon and State Sen. Kevin
DOC ON P. 2
LOOKING TOWARD THE FUTURE
AMELIE LEE
Eighth grade students from WVUSD middle schools visit campus to view a showcase of the school's various activities.
Work on campus set for 2018 Passed last November, bond measure will bring new facilities, upgrades to the school. Ingrid Chan ASST. Photo EDITOR Sometime next year, changes will be made across the Diamond Bar High School campus as a result of bond Measure WV. Currently, the district still needs to sell bonds and draw up construction plans before launching any reconstruction work, according to DBHS principal Reuben Jones.
The previous bond Measure O was struck down by district voters last year, only to be placed back on the ballot within months by the Walnut Valley Unified School District Board of Trustees under the new name Measure WV. Sixty-four percent of voters voted yes for Measure WV — a significantly higher amount than the required 55 percent. Thus, the district will be granted over $152 million to improve school facilities and security. A large portion of the funds, over $60 million, will be allotted to Diamond Bar High School. The main reason why so much money is designated to DBHS is because the school has had very
few renovations since its creation. Despite being built in 1982, DBHS’s campus has remained largely unchanged, and much of the equipment is outdated as well. Together, district Superintendent Robert Taylor and his team have committed to modernizing DBHS. According to the principal, the school intends to work on three big projects first: a new band building, science building and library. The band building will be situated on the black-top next to the tennis courts. Although there are currently some portables in the area, they
BOND ON P. 3
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NEWS
MAY 17, 2017
THE BULL'S EYE
DBHS photography teacher honored as top educator William Foley surprised by district's Teacher of the Year Award. Amy Miyahara ASST. A&E EDITOR Not everyone is able to turn their passion into a career, but Diamond Bar High School photography teacher William Foley shares his love for taking photos with his students daily. Foley was selected as the school’s Teacher of the Year last month. Foley received the Teacher of the Year honor on April 21, at a staff appreciation lunch hosted by the Magnificent Seven parent groups. The award was voted on by DBHS teachers. In addition to being named the school-wide Teacher of the Year, on May 2 Foley was named Walnut Valley Unified School District Teacher of the Year out of over 600 teachers in the district. District and school administrators surprised Foley during his second period class with the announcement. (His reaction was recorded and can be found on the DBHS website.) “It was probably one of the greatest honors of my life...I honestly didn’t see it coming, and I feel like [the staff] noticed what I was doing, and they cared enough to show that
by selecting me,” Foley said. “I just feel good about the fact that I had a lot of positive reinforcement from the people at the school.” Foley first developed an interest in photography when he was given a 35mm single-lens camera from his father as a senior at Indiana University, inspiring him to enroll in a photojournalism class. Foley received a degree from Indiana University as a physical education major but also obtained a supplementary credential in photography. He taught P.E. at three Catholic schools over 18 years, moving on to teaching P.E. and computer skills at all nine WVUSD elementary schools. He then taught photography at Ron Hockwalt Academies for five years before coming to DBHS, where he is currently in his seventh year of teaching. In addition to teaching, Foley
the staff Editors-in-Chief News Editors Asst. News Editors
Emily Jacobsson, Catherine Zhang Brian Chang, Hannah Lee Angela Yang, Cindy Liu
Opinion Editor Asst. Opinion Editor
Noor Naji Ted Yarmoski
Feature Editors Asst. Feature Editor
Emily Kim, Catherine Zhang Amelie Lee Emily Jacobsson, Pauline Villegas Amy Miyahara
A&E Editors Asst. A&E Editor Sports Editor Asst. Sports Editor
Ryan Chae Justin Prakaiphetkul
Photo Editor Asst. Photo Editors
Hannah Lee Ingrid Chan, Amelie Lee
Business Manager
Tess Guan Tess Guan Sophia Kim
Web Editor Asst. Web Editor Staff Writers
Catherine Liu, Christina Liu, Samyuktha Vellaiyan
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.
volunteers his time to take photos of athletic and other campus events. Foley first got involved with taking photos for the school when he ran into the editor of the weekly Diamond Bar newspaper at the district office and offered to take pictures of high school athletics for the paper. Although that position only lasted a year, he continued photographing school events. Now, Foley’s photos are posted on his website. From there, they are uploaded to the school website by DBHS technology coordinator Randy Thomas. Some of the photos are posted to DBHS’ Instagram, Twitter and Facebook accounts, as well as used in the Yearbook. “I do it because I love shooting, but it’s another way for me to connect with the kids here in school because they probably wouldn’t even know who I was, other than my own students,” Foley said. “I wanted to be involved somehow in the school other than just my classroom, but doing something that I love.” Foley plans on teaching for four more years, stating that he enjoys helping students better understand photography. “I have such a passion for photography, and I like sharing that with my students. I like teaching them how to become better photographers. It makes me feel like I made a little bit of a difference for them.”
NEWS IN THE
FRANCE The wave of populism sweeping the world crashed against French shores with the election of Emmanuel Macron. The 39-year-old investment banker was elected after far-right candidate Marine Le Pen conceded in the second round of voting. Macron’s election marks a stand against the populist move that flushed Britain out of the European Union and carried Donald Trump to the presidency in the U.S. Promising reform of the French political system, Macron campaigned for a “democratic revolution” and supports numerous leftist reforms. However, Macron and his party have encountered difficulties trying to find candidates to fill positions for Parliamentary elections next month.
CHINA/KOREA
The six-decade-long relationship between China and North Korea is “at a crossroads,” according to Jia Qingguo, dean of the Department of Diplomacy at China's Peking University. Through a broadcast on the state-run Korean Central News Agency, the North Korean govern-
ment accused China of violating its strategic interests and accused it of “insincerity and betrayal.” Chinese newspaper Global Times responded by implying that were such comments to continue, China could end its sale of oil to North Korea, effectively paralyzing the country. China has traditionally used North Korea as a buffer against American troops in South Korea, though North Korea is much more reliant on its communist neighbor.
UNITED STATES
In the midst of an investigation into alleged ties between the Russian government and the presidential election, FBI director James Comey was fired over concerns over his handling of Hillary Clinton’s lost emails investigation. With Comey’s dismissal came a torrent of Democratic and even some Republican calls for a private investigation into potential Russian links. Comey had led the FBI since September 2013 and reportedly first heard about his firing from the television, initially believing the message to be a joke. Andrew McCabe, deputy director of the FBI, will be leading the FBI until a replacement is selected and confirmed.
DOC bills stalled in Assembly DOC FROM P. 1 de Leon to support for DOC. They have attempted to contact Assemblywoman Lorena Gonzalez as well, “trying to ask her to understand [the parents’] point,” according to Evans, but have not managed to obtain a response. The original DOC bill died in Gonzalez’ Appropriations Committee while undergoing renewal last year, sparking the current fight to continue the program. The two new bills must also pass through the same committee. According to Evans, parents may organize a physical call to action
and take their protest up to Sacramento. Any plans to do so will be made known in a week.
“All current DOC students will attend WVUSD schools for 2017/2018." JEFF JORDAN Evans encourages all students who would like to show their support to send videos sharing their experiences on how DOC has af-
fected them or their peers to her email, terunievans@yahoo.com. These testimonials will be used in the effort to help persuade legislators to save the program. “The district continues to fight for DOC students and their families. We believe that a parent should have the right to determine where they want their child to be educated. Parents and students have been great writing letters to state legislators voicing their support for DOC. We are in this fight together,” Jordan said. “Now is the time to write, email, or fax state legislators, so they will support school choice.”
Receiving recognition for activities SCHOLARSHIPS FROM P. 1 the award. Her other scholarships were earned through her community service and volunteering. As Miss Diamond Bar 2016, she received awards for her volunteer service within the city. Furthermore, the Miss Diamond Bar organization also granted her the largest portion of her monetary scholarships. Her favorite scholarship award, however, is the Women’s Club Eileen Tillery scholarship. “I'm so honored to be awarded a scholarship in her memory because Eileen Tillery inspires me to be the person I strive to be everyday,” she said. “She's just a person I look up to dearly because of her extensive service towards the community and giving back and I hope to be like her someday.” The Chen Pai-Lee Memorial Scholarship was a grant given specifically to Taiwanese- American students who excelled in academics, community service and extracurricular activities. “I signed up for this scholarship
DBHS seniors Ashley Chen (left) and Miranda Tejada (right) will be attending their colleges next year with tuition grants from scholarships. because I’m heavily involved in my Taiwanese-American identity,” she said. “I had a lot of experience with the Taiwanese-American community, so the scholarship essay was easy to write.” In addition, Chen was also given the Ronald Reagan Student Leader Award in recognition of her involvement within Diamond Bar and the global community. “The biggest reason why I ap-
plied for these scholarships and was motivated to write so many essays was because of my mom,” Chen said. “She was basically my chauffeur and drove me everywhere. I’m so appreciative for her putting in so much time for me to be able to give back to the community.” The other winners of this year’s Girls’ League Scholarship were Stephanie Pan and Zaid Parekh.
THE BULL'S EYE
MAY 17, 2017
NEWS
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WV schools to implement longer vacations The district will implement extended Thanksgiving, Winter and Spring breaks next year. Brian Chang NEWS EDITOR Walnut Valley Unified School District students will have longer vacations to be thankful for next year. Approved this February, the 2017-2018 district calendar features an extended Thanksgiving, winter and spring break, with school ending a week later in the upcoming year. These changes follow continuous meetings between parents, dis-
trict officials, administrators and the Walnut Valley Educators’ Association. WVEA negotiator Salli Collins met with the rest of the calendar committee, whose members are chosen by the district, early this year and helped determine teacher responses to the proposed calendar revisions. “It was overwhelming. We did a survey on each of our campuses, and overwhelmingly [teachers] wanted the week off for Thanksgiving,” Collins said. “The parents, everybody agreed that we would have that week off, so it was a pretty overwhelming decision.” The school year will last through Memorial Day, ending on May 31. Thanksgiving and winter break will both be extended by two days, while spring break will last a day longer.
Erin Li (10)
Michael Sanchez (9)
Sonja Burns (GLC)
“I believe that it will be better because there will be a bigger time gap between AP testing and finals."
“Extended holidays are bad because the school year feels longer overall."
“I like the fact that we have the week off, it gives kids a break, teachers a break."
Brahmas find future among top colleges
AN ENCHANTING NIGHT
“I chose it mainly because I wanted to keep my music pursuit at a high level while still being able Zhang took 13 AP classes at to kind of expand my knowledge in DBHS. one of the top universities,” Chen “I wanted to go to an undergradsaid. uate-focused college and Yale defiChen said he hopes to be a connitely is that,” Zhang said. “Also, cert pianist but is also looking for a I wanted to go to a liberal arts colcareer in the creative field. lege as well.” During his time at DBHS, Chen Along with Zhang, Leslie Sim was deeply involved the symphony will also attend Yale. orchestra, acting as their pianist. Sim was actively involved in Monica Lin decided to attend TSA, Brahma Tech, Science Bowl University of Pennsylvania after and fencing. getting accepted “The good into the school’s thing about Yale Huntsman prois that you go in “I wanted to go to gram. undecided and an undergraduateThe program explore different focused college and will allow her to subjects until you Yale definitely is that." work toward two find one you realdegrees at the ly enjoy and then JAY ZHANG same time, one commit by the in International end of sophomore Studies and the other in Economyear,” Sim said. ics. Lin hopes to work in the social Justin Chuang will be heading and economic development netto Columbia University and will work of the United Nations. major in political science and busi“In high school, I tried to do the ness. things I really loved doing instead Also attending Columbia will be of getting lost in the whole I should Eden Chen, who will be participatget an officer position because it’ll ing in an exchange program with look good on my college app,” Lin the Juilliard School, a New York said. arts institute. Actively involved in Debate and Chen will mainly attend ColumMock Trial, Lin was also the vice bia University but will have weekly president for MUN and was inmusic lessons at the Juilliard at the volved in Interact Club and USB. same time. She was also accepted into Duke, He will also have the opportuniCornell, Johns Hopkins, UC Berkety to play with other Juilliard muley and UCLA. sicians and chamber groups.
TOP SCHOOLS FROM P. 1
INGRID CHAN
DBHS seniors Paul Bang, Rachel Peng and Tyler Yee dance at this year's prom at the California Science Center on May 13.
Construction to begin next year BOND FROM P. 1 will be removed to clear space for the new construction. The 500 building will be modified into a Science Technology Facility, while the 400 building will accommodate the new Library Media Center in addition to more classrooms. Roofing repair, technology upgrades, restroom renovations and the installation of additional security cameras will also be com-
pleted. While the 400 and 500 buildings are undergoing construction, displaced classes will be held in portables. They will be located on the grass by the softball and Junior Varsity baseball fields. “Moving the students and teachers to portable classrooms is going to be difficult. There will be a lot of changes made in a short time, but it will result in a better school environment overall,” Principal Reu-
ben Jones said. The selection of the Citizen’s Oversight Committee — responsible for overseeing the project and its progress — was coordinated by the superintendent and the district office. The committee was formed after an application process and numerous interviews. Though the district has to make progress on 15 campuses at the same time, DBHS will be one of the first they work on, according to Jones.
NEWSBITS Good luck comes to those who wait, as a Canadian man recently found out. The 68-year-old had stashed what amounts to over $75,000 in an old television and then forgotten about it. When the 30-year-old television was taken apart at a recycling center, the money was discovered, along with other documents that helped clue in NEVADA workers to the money’s rightful owner. show as a result of his newfound in July, touted as the first of its kind. fame and was offered a 55-inch The center plans to publish the television and a year’s supply of results of its research both in EngThere’s a new record for underwear, as long as anyone who lish and Japanese. the most retweets on a single retweeted his request for nuggets tweet, set by a man on a quest retweeted DeGeneres’ famous Os- INDIANA for nuggets. cars selfie. Carter Wilkerson jokingly Three strikes, you're out, with tweeted at fast food chain WenJAPAN a complementary ticket for your dy’s, asking how many retweets trouble. An Indianapolis man he would need for a year’s supA Japanese university plans to was ticketed for animal cruelty ply of free chicken nuggets. be the first to openly study the after striking a Canadian goose Wendy’s replied with 18 milstealthy art of ninjas. The assasthree times with a baseball bat. lion, which would require a sins clad in black have become The man, James Daniel, told WXHerculean feat, considering the increasingly common in the isIN-TV that he hit the bird to stop most retweets on a single post land country as officials have it from chasing his four-year-old was 3.4 million, a record set by employed them to promote tourson. Indiana' state law allows inEllen DeGeneres in 2014. ism as the 2020 Tokyo Olympic dividuals to protect themselves While Wilkerson was only Games are approaching. This from animals with reasonable able to reach 3.5 million, he prompted Mie University in cenforce. Daniel was scheduled to earned his reward from Wentral Japan to announce its crechallenge the ticket in court this dy’s. ation of a ninja research facility week. Wilkerson went on the Ellen
MORE ON
THE WEB: NEW CLASS OFFICERS
New student leadership was elected this month to take over for the 2017-2018 school year.
FERGUSON LEAVES CAMPUS
Athletic Director Kevin Ferguson will be starting his new position at Valencia High School next year.
PROM REVIEW
A DB junior attended the annual formal dance for the first time and reviews her experience.
VISIT DBBULLSEYE.COM
4
OPINION
MAY 17, 2017
THE BULL'S EYE
EYE EDITORS OF THE
ROUNDING GRADES: There should be a more consistent and uniform rounding system across all classes in order to ensure that DBHS students get an equal and fair chance for a higher grade.
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aiting for an update on the Grades app or Parent Portal is very stressful for Diamond Bar High School students, as a simple decimal difference can be a deal-breaker for the grade you want. With the different policies that DBHS teachers follow in rounding grades, there are two reactions a student experiences. Some fall into despair seeing the .5 at the end of their grade, knowing that their teacher would never round it, therefore dropping them down a whole letter grade.
While others rejoice in the fact that their teacher’s lenient rounding policy will guarantee them a higher letter grade. Teachers should stick to a specific grading scale to maintain a uniform grading policy to avoid both playing favorites and having to listen to students complaints. Sticking to a policy such as rounding up any grade that is .5 away from the next letter grade would create a set scale for all teachers to follow. A uniform rounding policy is needed in order to maintain an
even playing field and equal opportunity for all students. Some teachers argue that if a student worked hard in class all year, there should be no need to round a grade, as the grade supposedly reflects the student’s effort. However, even though a student may invest time and effort into a project or studying, it does not always pay off. This is why it isn’t always fair to round grades according to effort, as the work put in by the student may not reflect the end result. Playing favorites is also a cause
for concern with rounding policies. Some teachers round certain students because they are closer to them than other students. But rounding grades because of a teacher-student bond is clearly unfair. If one student has their grade rounded, other students who seek a bump in their grade should also be granted the same privilege. Any room for favoritism should be reduced as much as possible since it is unfair for certain students to have their grade improved over another.
An overarching rounding policy would reduce the number of students who come up to teachers daily about bumping up their grade and would also make it easier for teachers to fix grades when it comes time for report cards. With a fixed scale, teachers can provide a legitimate reason for not rounding a student’s grades and changes can be made quickly and efficiently. An even-handed rounding policy will not only benefit the students, but also help teachers with maintaining a more regulated gradebook.
From the Brahma Perspective...
Jaida Wilson (10)
“We work so hard for the grade, and it’s so close, so they might as well help us out a little bit… An 89.5 and 90 are practically the same, and they both take the same amount of work.”
Dustin Park (12)
“Grades are based off of merit, if you get an 89.9, that’s what you deserve because you earned that. You don’t deserve anything additional just because you’re at the borderline.”
LETTER TO THE EDITOR
Joseph Montoya (9)
“I [thought] rounding should be used at first, but now when I think about it, rounding is unfair because it puts students who work for higher grades at a disadvantage.”
History revised
T
o the editorial staff of the Bulls Eye; I am writing in response to the Eye of the Editor of April 26. In the editorial, the Bull’s Eye staff stated it is too easy to get into an AP class at DBHS. The editors cite a concern that the presence of lowability students in AP classes drags down the quality of the entire program. I would like to raise a few points to consider on this topic. DBHS is a world leader in AP participation. One major strength here is the large volume of AP classes available to students, and the high number of passing scores achieved each year. Over the past 10 years, Diamond Bar has followed recommendations from a variety of national organizations including the College Board, high school rating services such as US News and World Report and, most importantly, The Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC). All of these organizations understand that AP classes provide rigor and college preparation for students that they otherwise would not get. Statistics are clear that if a student completes an AP class in high school, they have a much greater chance of graduating from college. Diamond Bar takes pride in being a nationally ranked high school. That ranking is due in no small part to our increasing AP participation rate. The editorial used the word ability a number of times. However, AP courses and their exams are no longer dependent on a students’ “innate” ability. The editors demand the use of
amelie lee asst. feature editor application and entrance exams. Not only is there no hard science to support using these measures, but the presence of such artificial hurdles may have lasting negative effects on the academic outcomes of some students. In a 2006 report by The College Board, Rick DuFour, a well known educator, says, “It is a common misconception to think that ‘certain’ students cannot succeed in Advanced Placement courses because they are not gifted or highly academic. “The reality is I have seen the average student be successful in AP courses based on work ethic and interest in the course. We are operating in the wrong frame of mind if we create barriers for entry into these courses.” (The College Board, 2006, pg. 28)” “A rising tide lifts all boats.” A quality educational institution works to give every member the support necessary for success. The inclusivity of the AP program at Diamond Bar is a strength, not a weakness. It is the reason so many graduates from this school go on to experience lifelong academic and professional success. Chris Holmes DBHS biology teacher
LETTER TO THE EDITOR
Teresa Hebert (Science)
“Me and all the other chemistry teachers agree on a [nonrounding] policy and I think the best way to deal with rounding is to be consistent with the department.”
J
ust over 100 days into his presidency, Donald Trump has not only contributed several full hours of hard work to our government and drained the swamp of corrupt politicians, but he has also given desperate historians neverbefore considered insight into the events that helped sculpt our nation. In one informed and emotionally poignant statement, Trump dismissed the 19th Century conflicts of slavery and sectionalism as un-
necessary. “People don’t ask that question, but why was there the Civil War? Why could that one not have been worked out?” Trump said, immediately stimulating shock and intellectual discussion on a national level. Those once confident of the succession of several Southern states are now unsure about the previously stable history of our country. Historians and teachers around the world have been in a state of complete panic to accommodate the new information released. “We’ve already had to rewrite our textbooks a couple weeks ago after we were informed by the President and his press secretary Sean Spicer that Frederick Douglass was still alive,” said a local history teacher. “With Trump’s revolutionary new ideas about the Civil War, who knows what’s next in the cards for U.S. history!” Trump’s epiphany also brought
Dena Lordi (Math)
“If a student is close to the next letter grade should I give them that letter grade? The answer is no. That’s a last minute gift from a teacher and grades shouldn’t be gifts; they should be earned.”
SCHOLASTICALLY SATIRICAL to light a new perspective on the actual year of death of president Andrew Jackson. The slave owner, originally thought to have died in 1845, is now considered to have still been alive in 1861, and therefore able to prevent the Civil War. Stating that Jackson was “very angry about the Civil War,” Trump’s claim questioned whether the former president had died 16 years before the Civil War began. Historians around the globe are on the edge of their seats as to what ideas the President could contribute to the development of other major historical events. “Look at the Revolutionary War,” Trump was heard saying, “Why did the Democrats let that happen? Wouldn’t America be a better place if we didn’t have that war in our history?” At press time, Trump was seen considering expressing the idea that World War II could have been solved by Andrew Jackson as well.
Cartoon Courtesy of MEGAN LEE
THE BULL'S EYE
MAY 17, 2017
OPINION
Is hate speech free speech? Some college students across the Unites States have sparked debate about free speech on campuses. While some think that all speech is free, others think there are limits to what one can say.
PRO
hannah lee news editor
A
ll speech is indeed free speech. However, there is a time and place for everything, and free speech is no exception. While it is necessary for college students to be exposed to a range of different ideas and opinions to better understand themselves, it is essential to draw a line between hate speech and free speech. There is a thin line between expressing an opinion freely and offending, targeting or threatening a specific group of people based on their race, gender, sexual orientation, religion, disability or any other trait. Free speech is the right to express one’s opinions publicly, and deeply offensive speech does not fall under this category. Neo Nazis walking around in any public space preaching their ideas does not help “expand students’ horizons” or expose them to the “real world.” Universities have the right to limit radical or hateful speech; not putting a boundary on “free speech rights” allows for an environment where bigotry and discrimination are normalized. A study by Gallup, the Knight Foundation and the Newseum Institute found that 41 percent of African American students reported that they believed their college had “not gone far enough” to discourage hate speech. This shows that universities carry the responsibility to ensure all students’ comfort, not just those who want to speak
“freely.” University of California, Berkeley’s recent incident with alt-right conservatives Ann Coulter and Milo Yiannopoulos is a clear sign of free speech needing boundaries. Students there had already determined their definition of free speech, and when the boundaries were crossed, they took action that erupted into violence. Though the speakers themselves may not directly call for violence, the atmosphere of hostility and malice that they bring can transfer onto their audience and like UC Berkeley experienced in February. There is nothing wrong with voicing radical opinions. However, what is wrong is when those opinions lean toward bigotry and intolerance, which therefore, can make students, specifically minority students, feel uncomfortable in an environment supposedly safe and meant for all. When an opinion has no logical backing or substance and is purely discrimination, it needs to be recognized as just that, instead of simply passing it off as acceptable all in the name of “free speech.”
CON
amy miyahara asst. a&e editor
A
lthough most people generally support free speech, there is controversy over what exactly free speech means, and to what extent it should be granted. While some advocate limiting free expression on college campuses, this should not occur because students have a right to express themselves, no matter how unpopular their opinions might be. Recently, the cancellation of speeches by conservatives Ann Coulter and Milo Yiannopoulos at University of California, Berkeley received national attention. Both of their scheduled appearances
Photo Courtesy of DAVISVANGUARD.ORG
were cancelled due to violent protests by students. As a result, the Berkeley College Republicans student group filed a lawsuit against the university. While Coulter holds some objectionable ideals, UC Berkeley has the responsibility as a university to expose their students to controversial opinions and allow them to make judgements for themselves. It is definitely disgusting to see racism, sexism and religious intolerance, however, as long as no threats or harm is caused, the offenders have the right to say what they are saying. A student’s physical safety should be a major priority on campus, but radical opinions do not impact safety. Even if someone has hateful views, if they are expressed peacefully, there should be no limits on their right to speak. When faced with disagreeable opinions, students should learn to be open to discuss opinions different than their own. The truth of the matter is that, no matter what is said, there will always be someone who will consider it offensive. To protect everyone’s rights, there should be no consequences for those expressing their views. Attempting to protect college students from being offended only makes them less prepared to deal with the real world. College is a time for students to broaden their horizon, be exposed to new perspectives and learn how to navigate the real world. To deal with opposing views simply by creating a situation in which controversy is avoided causes an undesirable amount of closed-mindedness in students and defeats the point of a college education. The goal of a college campus should be to create an environment in which students feel safe to express their views and are open to others’ perspectives. While this may seem too idealistic, it is a reasonable and worthy goal for which to strive, but placing a limit on free speech would not be helpful in pursuing this goal.
Sweating summer’s end
Cartoon Courtesy of MEGAN LEE
5
The global silent majority
noor naji opinion editor
F
irst it was Brexit, then it was Trump, and then it was the rise of French right-wing candidate Marine Le Pen. The rise in populism internationally has shown the increasing divide between the disenfranchised “silent majority” and the so-called progressive mainstream. According to Dutch political scientist Cass Mudde, populists share three characteristics: antiestablishment, authoritarianism and nativism. What Trump and Brexit leader Nigel Farage have in common--their scapegoating and anti-Muslim, anti-immigrant rhetoric that appealed to the so-called “silent majority”--is the reason for their shocking popularity. This silent majority, angered with the establishment, has been waiting for a change in the political spectrum. As a research paper by the faculty of the Kennedy School at Harvard University suggested, the rise of populism can be explained by economic insecurity and a backlash against a progressive or liberal policies. According to the paper, this rising economic insecurity has “fueled popular resentment of the political classes,” which in turn made them “susceptible to the antiestablishment, nativist and xenophobic, scare-mongering exploited of populist movements.” The suppressed anger of these individuals leads to populist victory, which makes people around the world wonder how these figures rose in the first place. At the beginning, they rise as jokes, with everyone mocking them for even attempting to run for public office. Shortly afterwards, they become alternatives for the “swamp” or the traditional establishment. Then they surprisingly become officials, in some cases at the highest level, who aim to solve complex problems with childish and impractical solutions, like, for example, a wall. While their simplistic appeal would traditionally bring them to their downfall, it is in fact what helps them rise to the top. And while it is easy to condemn populists, it is utterly inattentive to deny the large amount of supporters they have rallied. After all, they would have no political power without support from their loyal followers. However, at some point, their supporters’ concerns must be addressed, and these simplistic solutions along with scapegoating will not suffice. With that said, it is possible for us to learn from the world’s mistakes. In their recent elections, the French overwhelming voted for centrist Emmanuel Macron against alt-right populist leader Marine Le Pen. After seeing the aftermath of movements in the UK and the U.S., they willingly chose to take a different path, therefore, giving the rest of the world the hope that citizens can learn from past or recent mistakes. Although populism and its negative effects on people continues to spread, it might have been necessary for our nation, and even the world, to see the growing divides between liberalism and nativist populism in order to face the problems we so often avoid.
FEATURE
Summer fun on a budget
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emily kim feature Editor
Want to get in your workout of the day while also exploring your city? Geocaching is described as “the world’s largest treasure hunt.” You can sign up online at geocaching.com for free to start searching for your own hidden treasures. The site uses your phone’s GPS to guide you to a hidden treasure with common household items of your choice.
For indecisive summer spenders, a “flip-a-coin” drive or walk is a way to have a fun day with a friend. At every intersection; someone flips a coin and if it lands on heads, you turn right and on tails you turn left or vice versa. The goal is to try and do something fun wherever you end up. Not only will you spend a full day out under the sun, but you might end up discovering something new about your same-old same-old city.
Going on a picnic is another way to make the most out of the sunny summer days. Fullerton Arboretum and Rancho Santa Ana Botanic Garden are two of the more fancy picnic spots, a combination of traditional park and botanical garden. However, you do not need to visit these locations to enjoy a picnic. Heading to your local park with a bag full of food is more fulfilling than spending your days inside away from the sun. Infographic by emily kim
Jack-of-all-trades ending DB stay
Justin PRAKAIPHETkul Asst. Sports Editor When Diamond Bar High School students enter through the main gate every morning, there is one person they are guaranteed to see day in and day out: Campus Security Officer Gary Warner. During school hours, students only see Warner as a guard patrolling the campus; however behind the security gear, there is much more than meets the eye. In his spare time, Warner enjoys backpacking, photography, flying planes and motorcycling. At the end of this school year, Warner will retire from the Diamond Bar High School security staff, which he joined in 2010. “I’ll miss the students and the people here, but it’s time,” Warner said. Prior to his time at DBHS, Warner started his own computer electronics business, Warner TV, in 1972. His company fixed electronic equipment, providing service for most of Southern California, along with many major manufacturers. However, Warner sold the company in 2002. Not only did Warner own a business, but he also worked in South Pasadena as a police officer for ten years and served for one year in the detective bureau in the burglary division. The security guard worked
as an officer and detective from 1981 to 1992, retiring to focus more on his electronic business. As a detective, Warner investigated burglary calls and followed up on home burglaries. While working as an officer, Warner recalled many incidents that still stick with him to this day, including the time his partner was shot, but survived. There have also been several instances where Warner thought he would have to use his gun. However, one of the most memorable moments occurred when the man he arrested for burglary returned after serving his term, thanking Warner.
Security guard Gary Warner has previously worked on the police force and as a detective. In his spare time, he hikes , bikes and flies planes.
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I Q U E H O BBI E
Brewing up the perfect cup
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Staff Spotlight
MAY 17, 2017
THE BULL'S EYE
Cindy Liu Asst. News Editor
“He went to prison for three and a half years and was released and he actually came back and thanked me.” Warner said. “He said ‘Thank you. It helped me out and set me on the right path.’” During his free time, Warner often hikes up in the San Gabriel Mountains on weekend trips along the Pacific Crest Trail with three other friends. Other mountains that Warner has climbed include the Eastern Sierra Mountains and Mt. Whitney. Warner took six days to climb Mt. Whitney, as he climbed the back side of the mountain, one of the harder routes according to Warner. “I [hiked often] up till two years ago, I had to have one of my knees replaced, so that kind of stopped for a while, but I still do it,” Warner said. While traveling around the country, Warner enjoys taking photos of various landscapes, in places such as the mountains or the desert. “I took photography in high school and have just kept up with it ever since,” Warner said. During the summer, Warner and the group that he has biked with for almost five decades partake in long distance motorcycle trips, riding for up to two or three thousand miles across the country at a time. Some of the places Warner has biked include the Rocky Mountains
SECURITY GUARD ON P. 12
Coffee. It’s an essential part of an average person’s day, whether that means ordering a Starbucks cappuccino in the morning or mixing a cup of instant coffee before leaving the house. For Diamond Bar High School senior Andrew Gao, however, coffee brewing is a passion where careful skills and experience combine together for his ultimate goal: to craft the perfect cup of coffee. “All the elements, all the techniques and detailed things you have to keep in mind and focus on when you’re making coffee; putting all that together and making that one perfect cup is what most baristas strive for,” Gao said. Last summer, while visiting China, his passion for coffee brewing started when he attended his aunt’s coffee class with his cousin, Jerry Ding. From there, Ding’s passion for coffee sparked Gao’s passion for coffee when he returned to the United States. Despite only recently looking into coffee more in depth last year, Gao isn’t a stranger to coffee. He grew up around his family business, Yun-Joy Coffee, a company that serves as vendors for coffee and tea houses. Also, Gao interned at his family’s company last summer in customer service. Gao’s club, Coffee Association of DBHS, offers free coffee classes to interested students. It had around 40 members at one point,
but currently isn’t active because it couldn’t afford the heavy expenses that came with buying espresso machines for members. When Gao couldn’t continue teaching people as part of his campus club, he looked into offering paid classes outside of school.
Senior Andrew Gao teaches lessons on how to create quality coffee. His coffee classes last from an hour to two hours. The first class begins with the history of coffee and eventually covers various coffee making techniques for different types of coffee in later lessons. Gao teaches the classes alongside his mother and aunt—both coffee experts themselves—at his house. “Every cup of coffee has a different taste. There’s a whole taste and aroma wheel that a cup of coffee can cover,” Gao said. As Gao prepares to move onto college, he looks forward to further developing his coffee brewing. He is developing a website to promote his coffee-making business.
Best of The Bull’s Eye 2016-2017
Students lose choice of district
HOMECOMING: Arabian night
Student feature: part time workers
WV Bond: School necessities
September
October
November
December
THE BULL'S EYE
MAY 17, 2017
FEATURE
7
Alternative to traditional drinks DETAILS
catherine zhang editor-in-chief Photos courtesy of JAMES ALVAREZ
Alumnus James Alvarez (right) and his brother Aaron run an Orange County webcomic called “The Obscure Gentlemen.”
ALUMNI
Drawn to comics
Ryan chae Sports Editor Filled with an overflowing knowledge of films, TV shows and comic books that goes back to his time at Diamond Bar High School, alumnus James Alvarez has put his pop culture interest to great use. With his younger brother, Alvarez has created “The Obscure Gentlemen,” a weekly Orange County-based webcomic filled with the brothers’ views on everyday life as well as pop culture. Although his younger brother is the main artist for most of the comics, Alvarez holds an equally vital role as he creates the dialogue and direction of the drawings. “Each week, I’m responsible for coming up with a script and writing all of the dialogue and plotting every scene to work with my brother Aaron’s art style. He then brings it to life with his amazing art skills.” Alvarez said. The Alvarez brothers began “The Obscure Gentlemen” 10 years ago when they first published their weekly comic, filled with references to pop culture and humor, online. The positive support from fans led the brothers to continue
publishing. With over 13,000 followers on Twitter, “The Obscure Gentlemen” has become a platform for Alvarez to spread awareness for honorable charities and causes such as March of Dimes, the Cure for Alzheimer’s Fund and the Trevor Project. In addition to spreading awareness, Alvarez hopes his comics can make people have fun and laugh. “We want to be a positive creative force and show people that they can also do something creative that leaves a mark on society. We just want people to smile and laugh and be inspired by the everyday randomness of life,” Alvarez said via email. Although Alvarez spends a lot of his time working on “The Obscure Gentlemen,” it is not his main job. Alvarez is a West Coast manager, who works with global corporations and files many reports. To handle working in such a serious job, Alvarez uses the webcomic as an outlet to vent and just have fun. Graduating from DBHS in 1996, Alvarez received a wakeup call from reality during his time on campus, as his experiences weren’t similar to that in the movies and shows that he grew up watching. “I realized that TV and film had
lied to me. You didn’t shower after PE, lockers were way smaller and detention lacked [“Breakfast Club” actor] Judd Nelson,” Alvarez said via email. Alvarez had a fulfilling high school career, joining an environmental club that raised money for wolves in Washington while also discovering his love for literature and writing. However, the most important experiences from Diamond Bar were the bonds and relationships he developed. “From metal heads, punks, vegans, straight edge hardcore kids, to your typical jocks, it was a diverse place,” Alvarez said. One of those friendships involved Joseph Van Fossen. With Van Fossen and a friend, Alvarez hosts “12 For a Penny,” a weekly podcast where the trio discusses music and its meanings. Discovering the reality of the world during his time at DBHS, Alvarez hopes that students can use their time in school to share their opinions. “Don’t be afraid to be creative. Take the leap in showing people that you have more to offer. High school is a place that forms you and gives you a glimpse of what you like. Turn that into something to share with the world.”
As seemingly healthy dessert fads, such as the acai bowl and frozen yogurt, have risen in popularity over the years, I grew curious about che, a Vietnamese dessert soup with various exotic fruits, beans and jellies as toppings. After viewing aesthetic images, displaying Bambu’s colorful array of healthy che drinks on food blogs and social media accounts, I decided to visit one of the chain’s locations to try out the drinks. Although I originally had high expectations of my beautiful-looking drink, I ultimately left feeling as if I had ingested a week’s worth of sugar from just one of Bambu’s drinks. However, the quality of the fresh ingredients and the wonderful pairing of toppings far outshine the overly sweetness of one of the drinks, and I anticipate returning to this store again in the future. Bambu offers a variety of coconut milk or coconut juice based drinks called che, with various combinations of traditionally Asian ingredients, such as mung bean, pandan jelly, tapioca, boba pearls, exotic fruits and taro. Providing the option for each customer to personalize their drink, the chain allows substitutions for toppings for no additional cost. Other than che, which the chain is renowned for, Bambu also serves coffees, milk teas and smoothies. Visiting the chain location in Rowland Heights with my sister, I was greeted with a friendly employee who recommended a couple of popular drinks. We opted for the Bambu Special for $5.75 and the
CUISINE: VIETNAMESE DESSERTS ADDRESS: 1606 Fullerton Rd, Rowland Heights, CA 91748 PHONE #: (626) 810-7778 PRICE RANGE: $4-$8 YELP RATING: Bambu Combo for $5. Within minutes, our drinks, which were made fresh to order, arrived. The urban shop was decorated simplistically with various professional pictures of the che drinks hung on the walls and lights dangling from the ceiling. On one side, the chain was embellished with bamboo shoots, emphasizing the chain’s Asian roots in its drinks or paying homage to its chain name. Although I visited on a Saturday afternoon, there were no other customers and plenty of tables available. The Bambu Special was a coconut juice-infused drink with the addition of fresh coconut, longan, pandan jelly and basil seeds. Although the drink wasn’t as pretty as some of the chain’s other creations, the employee mentioned that it was one of the store’s most popular drinks. The coconut juice tasted like coconut water, although the flavor was a bit sweeter. The ingredients in the drink combined perfectly as the textures of the rather bland, chewy pandan jelly and coconut complemented the soft, sweet basil seeds and longan
DESSERT ON P. 12
Brahmas marching to military school Angela yang asst. news editor It’s a rare accomplishment for even one student from a high school to be accepted into the most prestigious military academy in the world, but this year two Diamond Bar High School students will be setting off to their dream school together. Seniors Sebastian Houng and David Song set their sights set on West Point, the U.S. Military Academy, and have persevered to achieve that goal. Song first realized he wanted to join the military around sophomore year, but did not consider West Point as his primary choice for school until his junior year, as it was the only service academy which offered a business management major. “I knew I wanted to serve in the military, but I also wanted a college experience that was just different,” Song said via Instagram. “I definitely didn’t choose it because of its name and prestige. It definitely isn’t a bad thing but [...] I chose to go there to serve something bigger
than myself.” Similarly, Houng knew that he wanted to go into the military by the end of his freshman year. Instead of solely joining the military or attending to a regular college first, he decided to choose the option that combined the best of both options. “I went to [West Point] and saw a recruitment poster, it said ‘Much of the history we teach was made by the people we taught,’” Houng said. “That was the thing that got me wanting to go there.” Both DBHS students went through numerous struggles to get accepted, but they found their motivation to keep moving forward. West Point could drop applicants at any time, according to Song, and it was stressful to get all the requirements in on time. “I kept my eyes on the end goal and just kept pushing myself that way,” Houng said. Applicants have to meet strict requirements in order to be considered for the academy. Academically, the school requires copies of transcripts and test scores as well as a verified record of all activities, each of which
Photo courtesy of SEBASTIAN HOUNG
Seniors David Song (left) and Sebastian Houng were accepted into West Point, a U.S. military academy on the East Coast, and will begin there next year. add points to the applicant’s candidate score. Physically, the students are required to take the candidate fitness assessment, participating in various events such as push-ups, basketball throw and the mile run, which tested their strength and endurance. If an applicant fails even one event, they fail the entire assessment. Candidates also undergo an extensive medical screening process.
Numerous doctors meet with each applicant to examine their general health and note all past injuries sustained. “This was the hardest step for me because I sustained a lot of injuries from sports,” Song said. Applicants are also required to obtain three teacher recommendations as well as a nomination from a congressperson or a senator. Houng received his nomination from U.S. Rep. Norma Torres, while
Song was nominated by U.S. Rep. Ed Royce. According to Song, the process of getting a nomination is very competitive each year. He started with contacting the person in charge of nominations early and began making connections. “I [paid visits and] also hand delivered my packet with my transcript and essays in person so that they could put a face to the name,” Song said. “For interview section I just went in there relaxed. I knew that this is what I wanted and just tried my best to be confident but respectful.” Song’s primary career choice would be to branch into aviation. He plans to serve more than 20 years, although acknowledging that life may take him elsewhere. Meanwhile, Houng aspires to work as an Army intelligence officer after college. After retirement, he hopes to work in the CIA or the FBI. “There were definitely times where things got rocky and it was hard to keep pushing,” Song said. “But I just kept looking towards the light at the end of the tunnel.”
Best of The Bull’s Eye 2016-2017
Walnut vs DB: Blackout game
KPOP Takeover
Regular substitutes on campus
“In the Heights” at DB theatre
January
February
March
April
8 SENIORS
Bernard Chen
T
ruthfully, the entirety of my high school experience has never been something I would consider a highlight in my life. I spent my days in high school hoping to relive the naivety and freedom of my elementary school days. I like to say I was afflicted with senioritis as a sophomore. The novelty of high school had worn off by the time I was put through only one y e a r of Diamond Bar High School. I dreamt of the day I would be stepping foot off campus headed anywhere other than here. I’m not so sure if I feel the same way anymore. I would start off by telling my story of being an introvert in a world made for extroverts, but I’m sure you’ve heard it before—how high school helped me break out of my shell and step outside my comfort bubble… the whole spiel. But I do want to touch upon one of my regrets. I never truly understood the idea of regret until my last year in high school. I had always believed that we all make the best decision we can given our circumstances. If it turned out to be a bad one? Well, that’s too bad. If I decided to sacrifice a few homework points for an hour of games? That was the favorable choice in my mind back then and there’s nothing I can do to change it. I now realize however, that regret is much more than just making a wrong choice. It’s the feeling, sadness or disappointment over the loss of an opportunity. And I have given up many opportunities. The number one regret is not meeting enough people. Sure, I joined journalism, TSA, robotics and Leo Club. Sure, I sat next to people in AP
Bernard Chen was on staff for three years and
MAY 17, 2017
THE BULL'S EYE
Calculus BC, AP Chemistry and English. But that was all on paper for me. I remember spending my sophomore year on The Bull’s Eye as Assistant News Editor with my hood on and earphones in, trying to escape the world around me. In fact, I gave up trying to form new relationships first semester senior year because I figured I would forget these people once I left anyway. That’s the biggest opportunity I feel that I missed out on during my four years in a school filled with talented and unique individuals. So I’d like to thank those of you who did reach out past my comfort bubble and did get to know me: friends, Mr. List, acquaintances or whatever I may call you. Here’s to making memories and the many more memories to come.
Stuart Kusdono P
theend
As the Bull’s Eye seniors take their next steps after DBHS, they recount their memories they made over the past four years.
was previously Editor-in-Chief
Calvin Ru
G
raduation always seemed like a concept to me, something so distant in the future that it was inconsequential to me. And yet, why does it feel like I’ve lost four years of my life in a second. Let me rephrase that. I didn’t lose four years, I experienced them. I spent them with the greatest group of people that I could have ever hoped for. Freshman year was the buildup of excitement, the climb that would set the momentum for the rest of my high school career. What did I do during this fateful climb? Absolutely nothing. I was relaxed, uninvolved, simply torn in what I wanted to do in life. But I was surrounded by good company, Ms. Chen and the loving Chen group, who accepted me for my constant stream of stupidity. But despite my lack of involvement, the drop entering sophomore year would take me greatly by surprise. I was startled as the increased workload of volunteering for clubs, writing articles for the Bull’s Eye, and increasing homework swept me off my feet. Although overwhelmed at times, I only remember the sheer excitement of all my experiences. Truthfully, I don’t remember much about my junior year, like how I don’t remember the most exciting parts of a rollercoaster. The only things that come to mind are talks about buying Kidz Bop CDs with the amazing chem squad and my life
Calvin Ru was on staff for three years and was previously Photo Editor
changing Paris trip. Paris was truly another experience; simply being separated from my foolish high school self, I was able to escape in the country of beauty. Merci Bougie et moi vous aimons la famille de Paris. List of random trip things: Baguette, Velib, Roast, France, Dat Boi. And so came the end of the roller coaster. Besides college applications, senior year was a breeze. I must admit that I was scared of having Mrs. Hewit for two periods on the first day of senior year, but I’ve come to truly love her as a person and respect her as a teacher. It is an honor to graduate with Mrs. Hewit as part of the class of 2017. Finally, I want to give my thanks to three years of journalism. First, to all the graduates and underclassmen who have made these past three years in room 563 as a home within school. Second, to our wonderful advisor Mr. List and his shiny bald head, who I will truly miss. Thanks for a hell of a ride Diamond Bar High School. Maybe college will be an even better rollercoaster.
Michelle Ki
O
n May 26, 2014, I wrote on my “blog”: “The first time my article got on the paper, it was a very odd feeling. In the past, I don’t think I have ever accomplished something with solely my power besides academics. It gave me confidence to do many things other than my grades.” I was a freshman when I wrote this. And quite honestly, I was probably the most insecure, lost girl in all of DBHS. Whether it was feeling insecure about my grades, social standing, or physical looks, I felt as though this uncertainty would never escape my existence and therefore, I would never be able to truly love who I am and accept myself entirely. The journey to finding yourself and loving yourself is a process. You can’t force it nor can you fake it. While there is never going to be one single incident in life that makes one suddenly confident and accepting of themselves, there are a few factors. Journalism, to me, was the main one. I began to open my eyes to issues and problems that exist in our world today that were much larger than myself. Especially at Diamond Bar, nearly every student is so self-absorbed to the point where if something doesn’t benefit them or directly involve them in anyway, nobody cares about anything. It’s scary, sad and dangerous, all at the same time, but it’s the absolute truth. Now that my high school years are coming to an end, I can say that the greatest answer to this problem is simple: exposure. Journalism provided this for me in the greatest way possible. Interacting with strangers allowed me to truly indulge the fact that every single person has problems of their own and that as humans, we should all
emphatically care and listen. So soon enough the question went from “why should I care?” to “how could I not care?” With that being said, high school has been much more than just a route to higher education. It’s been a place for trial and error and for winning and losing; a time where I conquered through the most difficult year of my life. I accomplished so much more than I could have ever wanted for myself in these past four years, and not because of any extracurricular position or grade that I had earned, but because I came to realize the importance of compassion. To my mentor, Mr. List, I will always be grateful to have met you on the first day of high school. Thank you for guiding me these past four years. I love you!
Michelle Ki was on staff for three years and was previously Editor-in-Chief
essimism, it seems, is a vicious, worsening cycle. Lack of confidence leads to lack of motivation. Lack of motivation leads to self-pity. Self-pity leads to despise from others and from oneself. And of course, despise of oneself leads to even greater pessimism. All throughout my high school experience, I struggled against my lack of confidence. I fought desperately against it, but could not seem to succeed. Sadness was all too overwhelming. It’s a terrible emotion, but one that is most captivating and consuming. I lived to dwell in it. I chose to dwell in it. The worst part about pessimism, however, was not how I damaged myself, but how I damaged others. I took the endless support I received from family and friends for granted. Unsurprisingly, my first two years of high school were rough. I was stubbornly immature and too pessimistic to care about much. Those two years saw little change from the moody, annoying scrub I was in middle school. Then came junior year and my entering journalism. I formed closer bonds with classmates that year and experienced great maturation that year and improved confidence. It wasn’t until senior year hit that I experienced significant change, marked by my joining journalism. I was nervous, of course, joining the staff. I entered an outsider, noticing the already well-established and seemingly closed group of friends. I even regretted joining at first. Little would I realize how life-changing the class would be. I never was really involved in a club throughout high school. I never expe-
Eric Hong
D
ear freshman Eric, You were denied admittance to every college you applied to. Sorry, spoiler alert. Let me explain. I hope you, yet a full-honors student, are not so arrogant as to still believe that UC schools are beneath you, or this will be unbearable. In sophomore year, you will earn your first C, and that’s when everything will go downhill. I know that’s hard for you to hear, considering you still live and breathe As and Algebra II/Trig practice problems. But alas, you were not meant to be a valedictorian. One C turns into two, and they seemingly multiply from there. You really were not meant to be valedictorian. In fact, neither were you meant to be an honors student (not that you do well in regular classes either, by the way). For a while, it will perhaps seem like a tragedy. An academic hero felled by his own hubris, with miserable consequences. As your closest friends discuss the wonders and rigors of their AP English classes, you, then an English regular student, will begin to wonder if you really were worth less than they. Later, you will look at the culmination of your high school years and wonder if you’ve wasted your time. You had four years to make something of yourself and sculpt a glorious figure out of resumes and personal essays, but failed to make use of that time. The achievements of your peers will be a mountain before you, proving to you that all you have accomplished is fall far short indeed. You will be wrong. Call me crazy, naive or hopeless but it seems
9
Stuart Kusdono was on staff for one year and was previously Asst. Opinion Editor
rienced what it was like having a close group of classmates to just talk to or eat with. With the sheer amount of care and support I received from the class, I learned to see the positive side of life. And that’s the story of my life—or at least, 20 percent of it thus far. I am happy, proud, and fortunate beyond belief to have gone to Diamond Bar. I leave Diamond Bar extremely sad, but at the same time, happy for discovering my identity and developing the maturity I truly sought with the help of everyone around me. The school will leave lasting memories of the excitement I would feel when getting saved through a generous curve, of the disappointment I would feel when receiving no curve, of the countless bonds I’ve made, and of course, of Homecoming— and that’s all that matters in the end, really.
to me that high school was not m u c h about the grades and extracurricular successes. It sounds scandalous to propose such a thing. Especially in an environment like this, saying so would earn me some interesting labels. But we’re all just kids, and this isn’t college. What would you expect? It will become easier to come to terms with this once you find those few who, academically, seem miles ahead but were willing to share with you moments of unmitigated stupidity. Looking back, compared to the memories that I’ve made with those I’ve shared countless hours with, things like test scores seem to hold very little value. So what if you get a score of 1 on the AP Euro exam (spoiler alert)? I am still here as a senior, in one piece and I still have a future; and the same will be for you. High school is a time to mess up and learn. Your life is not over—far from it. A word of encouragement, Graduating Eric
Eric Hong was on staff for three years and was previously Opinion Editor
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ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT
MAY 17, 2017
THE BULL'S EYE
TAKE TWO
Marvel’s superhero sequel lives up to the humor of its predecessor. tones will enjoy the eye-catching graphics and visual effects of the movie. Space travel in the Marvel universe bears some similarity A refreshing respite from the to what one would expect from a generic superhero movie, “Guard“Star Wars” movie, with shots of ians of the Galaxy Vol. 2” brings lasers, jumps from one planet to back the corny humor and unthe next and dramatic spaceship conventional heroes that fans fell chases, complete with erratic in love with in the original. The steering from inexperience pilots movie’s perfect blend of absolute and rapid shooting of laser guns. ridiculousness and action-packed While presenting an entirely fighting lives up to every expecnew plot, the sequel still offers the tation of what Marvel’s favorite quirky humor of the first movie, alien space team can accomplish. keeping viewers at the edge of Having already saved their seat and laughing at every the galaxy a first time, other line. Throughout half-human, half-unthe movie, Marvel sets known-space-creature up the continuation of Peter Quill (Chris Pratt) the Infinity Stone plot, and his crew consisting but still manages to keep of green-skinned Gamora the beloved Guardians (Zoe Saldana), mutant of the Galaxy from fallDrax (Dave Bautista), ing into the cliche suspace raccoon Rocket perhero trope that fans (Bradley Cooper) and the have seen time and time baby tree Groot are now again. working on dealing with Hilarious and just the their complicated famiperfect amount of bilies and causing mayhem zarre, “Guardians of the across the multiverse. Galaxy Vol. 2” met every In the process of fendexpectation in achieving ing off unwanted space the unique humor that attacks, Quill meets his the franchise brings to long lost father, whose the Marvel universe, celestial powers and selfkeeping viewers excited lessness are just too good to see what comes next Photo courtesy of WALT DISNEY PICTURES to be true. Meanwhile, for this peculiar troop of Gamora is dealing with heroes. Marvel’s intergalactic heroes save the world a second time in “Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2.”
Amelie Lee Asst. FEature Editor
her envious and revenge-obsessed sister, Nebula (Karen Gillan), and her murderous tendencies. Villain-turned-friend Yondu (Michael Rooker) also plays a part in the crew, providing companionship to the argumentative Rocket. Together, the group is a mix of snarky comebacks, spontaneous violence and exasperation. The innocent Groot sharply contrasts the sadistic and often crude humor of the rest of the group, and he, along with the blunt Drax, provides steady comic relief throughout the movie.
Despite the fact that there are a large collection of unorthodox characters to keep track of, at no point did this make the film feel overwhelming or confusing, particularly in comparison to the messy jumble of heroes Marvel incorporated in “Captain America: Civil War”. While the strange features and overly flashy colors of the main characters may be off-putting to those unaccustomed to director James Gunn’s intergalactic world, those comfortable with space aliens and brightly hued skin
BRAHMAS Honored in Congressional ART competition Cindy Liu Asst. News Editor On the canvas, painted in soft strokes of acrylics, is a girl blowing a dandelion, her eyes closed. Flying from the dandelion is a flock of bird silhouettes carrying her wish into the brilliant horizon of a setting sun. This is sophomore Natalie Kim’s painting, “A Thousand Wishes to Reach Hope,” which won an honorable mention in the Congressional Art Competition and touched the hearts of hundreds across the internet with its message of hope. The competition, which was sponsored by the Congressional
Photo courtesy of ED ROYCE
Amanda Chang received the People’s Choice Award for her painting.
Institute, received hundreds of entries from high school students across the nation. Winners of the contest had the opportunity to travel to Washington D.C. for the awards ceremony and will have their artwork on display at the U.S. Capitol for a year. Kim’s painting represented the hope she held onto when she went through difficult situations in life. “The dandelion represents ‘a wish,’ and the pigeons symbolize ‘messengers of heaven.’ I am blowing a wish to God, asking for help and for guidance,” she wrote in her personal statement. “Although in many moments in life I am scared and feel alone, I have a father I can rely on even in the scariest places or times. I call this my hope.” Kim isn’t a stranger to art competitions. Despite having never formally taken art lessons outside of school, she won second place in the annual Holocaust Art and Writing Contest in eighth grade. This year, her AP Studio Art teacher, Coleen Gee, encouraged her to enter the Congressional Art Competition. “I didn’t really expect much, but when I showed my art teacher she was like ‘I think you’re going to win’ [so] I was a little disappointed,” Kim said. Although Gee gave her two weeks in advance to work on her piece, she ended up having only two days to paint it. Her initial idea leaned toward a more patriotic style since it might hang in
Photo courtesy of ED ROYCE
Natalie Kim received an Honorable Mention in the Congressional Art Competition. the Capitol, but she later changed her idea to one more personally meaningful. With her artwork, she received personal recognition from U.S. Congressman Ed Royce, who told her that her piece was the staff favorite. Her work, posted on Royce’s Facebook page along with the submissions of other contestants, has gathered social media attention. As one of the top liked posts, her artwork was liked over a hundred times, just under Diamond Bar High School sophomore Amanda Chang’s work titled “American Lovato,” which won the Fan Fa-
vorite award for the most likes. “I just told a couple of people about it and I felt really touched when all of them told all their friends to like the picture. Because of them, that’s why I won,” Chang said. “It’s not the biggest award, but to me it meant a lot because I haven’t joined a competition in four years.” Kim said that she was pleased about the impact her painting had on her audience. “I’m really bad at publicly expressing myself, so I feel like art is the only way I can express something I’m going through,” Kim said.
The steep downfall of child stars Emily Jacobsson & Pauline villegas A&E Editors Lindsay Lohan and Amanda Bynes are just two high-profile examples of successful childhood stars whose lives turned completely upside down post-stardom. As more and more child stars are trying to survive in show business, it’s worth questioning the harmful nature of the industry on young, impressionable actors. Once a child decides to pursue a career in Hollywood, they are no longer in control. Managers, publicists and parents schedule and plan every aspect of these kids lives, leaving little time for basic childhood activities, such as sports and school dances. While these activities may seem trivial in comparison to a chance at fame, it will be these same activities that the child stars will miss the most when they are craving normality. It is hard for anyone to deal with money-hungry surroundings, but this is especially detrimental to young people who come to the realizatio n that everyone around them is just working for their own self-interest. This also puts a strenuous amount of pressure on the kid, because the work they do affects more than just their own salary. Aside from the financial pressure of show business, these kids must also deal with the mental health risks involved in becoming a celebrity. A life of stardom can be so easily romanticized. Flashing camera lights, hundreds of fans screaming your name, what young person wouldn’t dream of being famous? However, this high pressure lifestyle leads to young celebrities developing body-image issues and sometimes becoming addicted to alcohol and drugs. Eating disorders such as bulimia and anorexia are also common among child actors who are forced to always look their best. Growing up is already a difficult enough process, but having to do it in the public eye, subjected to criticism from complete strangers, is a completely new challenge. Expected to be role models, young actors have to navigate through their troubles with as few public mistakes as possible. Of course, however, there are exceptions to this general trend. Dylan and Cole Sprouse and Hilary Duff are two examples of child stars who managed their careers in healthy ways, and as adults have happily stepped out of the limelight. Unfortunately, not all child stars can let go for the thirst for attention as easily as they did. A toxic cycle begins in which they crave the attention they once received, and act out in order to obtain it. With the difficulties our society has attached to being a child celebrity, one might questions whether or not fame is truly worth it. However, for those who are determined to follow their passion into stardom, despite the obstacles, we should help make their already taxing journey a little easier by allowing them to grow up and act without the intense stress of the possible consequences they may face. After all, kids will be kids.
THE BULL'S EYE
MAY 17, 2017
ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT
The hottest summer films
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BAYWATCH May 25
As the weather heats up and the beaches become packed, head for the movie theaters to enjoy all that Hollywood has to offer this summer. Here are just a few of the movies making their way to a theater near you. Photo courtesy of PARAMOUNT PICTURES
BAYWATCH
Pauline Villegas A&E Editor
CARS 3
When Disney announced that they were working on “Cars 3,” there were mixed reviews from fans that wanted Disney to leave the franchise alone. However, no one can resist the magic of another Disney sequel. In his return to the big screen, experienced race car Lightning McQueen must go up against some younger, more technologically advanced rivals. In the third addition to the “Cars” franchise, McQueen must prove that he is still number one on the track.
Dunkirk
In this war movie centered around World War II’s Battle of Dunkirk, soldiers from all the Allied forces must come together to survive. “Dunkirk” sheds light on the untold story of the civilians that risked their lives to help rescue trapped soldiers. With a star-studded cast and the director of “The Dark Knight” trilogy, Christopher Nolan, “Dunkirk” is sure to stun the big screen with the retelling of one of the bloodiest battles in human history.
Remaking a television show into a movie is never easy in Hollywood, but director Seth Gordon is hoping to introduce “Baywatch” to a younger audience. The film adaptation of the long-running television series stars Dwayne Johnson as the head lifeguard of the Baywatch division. When a new recruit comes aboard (Zac Efron), they must learn how to work together to keep their beach safe from new threats.
CARS 3 June 16 Photo courtesy of PIXAR ANIMATION STUDIOS
SPIDER-MAN: HOMECOMING July 7
Spider-Man: Homecoming
The long awaited “Spider-Man: Homecoming” is the first SpiderMan film featuring a new Peter Parker, Tom Holland, who we recently saw in “Captain America: Civil War,” introducing the world to the new face of a classic hero. What sets this Spider-Man apart from all the others is that our hero is still in high school. Being a younger superhero comes with a whole new set of problems, including teen crushes and bullies. Tony Stark also makes an appearance as Parker’s mentor, leading him on the right path and teaching him how to handle fighting evil while still making it to first period on time.
Photo courtesy of COLUMBIA PICTURES
DUNKIRK JULY 21 Photo courtesy of WARNER BROS. PICTURES
Dance slants toward perfection amy Miyahara Asst. A&E Editor As one of the most consistently successful performing arts programs on campus, the Diamond Bar High School dance team finished out the school year strong with its final dance concert, titled “Slant,” last week. The show opened with a routine by this year’s Small Hip Hop all-female team entitled “Butterwire,” which allowed the audience to see a glimpse of the hard work that was put into the dance company during their competition season. One of the most memorable performances of the night was “Dunhuang Feitian,” a traditional Chinese dance performed by sophomore Isabel Li. The dance featured intricate ribbon work and an elaborate costume, making it an unforgettable number. A number of other soloists stole the show, including seniors Olivia Chen with “Imperfect,” Ryan Hazama with “Growth” and Kricko Halim with “Purpose.” All three of these students choreographed their routines. In addition, senior Gizelle Adams presented her solo, “Good Luck,”
with a fitting amount of sass and a strong stage presence. Another dancer that demonstrated a great command of the stage was senior Jonathan Estrada, with his beautiful solo entitled “Will I Know.” While the concert gave the members of the dance company a chance to impress the audience with their skills, it also gave the less experienced dancers the opportunity to showcase what they have learned throughout the year. “Working Day and Night” and “Footloose” were both fun ensemble pieces made up of beginning dance students. Corresponding to the recent Kpop craze that has swept the nation, the clear audience favorite of the night was “K-Pop Dream,” a routine incorporating choreography from BTS music videos. The routine was a fun and energetic take on the idea of one dreaming about becoming a K-pop star. One of the highlights of the night was getting a surprise performance, not listed on the program, by dance program director Kari Simonson-Borg. Following her performance, the concert ended fittingly with “Unsteady,” the award-winning competition routine of the All-Male hip-hop team during the 2016-2017 season.
AMELIE LEE
Beginning dance students performed a routine to “Working Day and Night.”
Tune In
HARRY STYLES PURSUES HIS OWN DIRECTION
In his highly anticipated solo alubm, Harry Styles discards his boyband image for a 1970’s rock sound. Emily Jacobsson Editor-in-chief The idea of Harry Styles becoming an individual artist was suggested from the moment he became famous as part of One Direction. With his much anticipated solo album, Styles has wiped the slate clean, and the old boy-band extraordinaire that was loved by nearly every teenage girl in 2010 is no more, replaced by a much more mature Styles with a revamped sound. And while this change has gained Styles both attention and praise, overall, this new album fell short of my expectations. The Styles of One Direction is completely unrecognizable with his new music, which borrows heavily from 1970’s soft rock. “Meet Me in the Hallway” is a faraway sounding song that gently begins the album with acoustic guitar picking and echoing background vocals. Continuing that lethargic, drowsy sound is “Sign of the Times,” previously released as a single. The content of the song is surprisingly heavy, as it is written from the perspective of a mother who is going to die after giving birth. As the track list goes on, the album transitions through many different sounds. With “Carolina”
Photo Courtesy of THE TODAY SHOW
Harry Styles performed his solo album for the first time live on “The Today Show.” and “Kiwi,” Styles fully indulges into the rock genre, making for two of the most enjoyable songs on the album. “Sweet Creature,” which was also released as a single, is a complete deviation from the rest of the album. Sounding like something produced by Ed Sheeran, the song is, as the title implies, sweet and cheerful. This song is also the closest Styles gets to anything that sounds remotely like a One Direction song. It seems that, out of all the different sounds the new album samples, Styles gravitates toward laid-back, instrumentally simple songs. The album ends with “From the Dining Table,” which shares many qualities with the
first track. While there is an almost touchingly beautiful quality to these songs, musically they are nothing special, and can easily fade out to become background music. After getting over initial shock and disappointment that Harry Styles was no longer going to be synonymous with the upbeat pop sound that I had come to love during the One Direction era, I was able to appreciate his brave artistic decisions in straying so far from mainstream music. And while there is no track on the new album that I can see myself adding to any of my playlists, I have to concede that Styles has created something smart, sensitive and distinctive.
12 BUSINESS
THE BULL'S EYE
A TASTE OF THE TROPICS DESSERT FROM P. 7 Although I expected the pandan jelly to have the soft, almost rubbery consistency of most jellies, I was pleasantly surprised by its rather boba like texture. For me, the jelly was the highlight of the drink, as it provided chewiness and a slight hint of sweetness. The chain boasts fresh fruit, and the coconut shreds definitely lived up to the hype, as it was so fresh that I found a piece of coconut skin still attached. The shreds eluded a coconut aftertaste, and its bland
taste provided a refreshing, sharp contrast to the sweet longan, which is comparable to lychee. In addition, we ordered one of the coconut milk based drinks, the Bambu combo, which included red bean, white bean, mung bean, taro, boba pearls, pandan jelly and colored jelly. I was particularly excited to try this drink since I especially enjoy coconut milk, boba pearls and jelly. The coconut milk base was richer and creamier than its juice equivalent in our other drink. Despite my initial thoughts of how the drink perfectly satis-
Photo courtesy of YELP
fied my sweet tooth, as I drank more of the creation, I realized how overly sweet it was. The combination of the toppings and the sweet coconut milk proved to be excessively sugary, as the pandan jelly was the sole non-sweet component. The red, white and mung bean toppings were extremely creamy and occupied essentially half of the drink, vastly overpowering the taste of the other ingredients. The blended beans gave the drink a more traditionally Vietnamese taste, but it also made the drink too heavy and rich. The boba pearls and jelly provided a contrasting chewy texture to the extremely mushy beans and taro. Overall, I was content with my drinks, although I would opt to reduce or substitute the beans in the Bambu Combo. With the overwhelming amount of beans in the combo, it was way too sweet; I definitely preferred the more refreshing take on che of the Bambu Special. Although the drinks were a bit pricey in comparison to other dessert shops, I see myself returning in the future with friends or after a heavy meal. All of the ingredients in the drinks I ordered were fresh and lived up to the hype of Bambu’s self proclaimed “unmatched che.”
Security guard to retire SECURITY GUARD FROM P.6 New Mexico and Texas. Outside of biking and taking pictures, Warner also enjoys flying planes, ever since he received his piloting license in 1973. Whenever he has a chance to fly aircraft, Warner goes to a flying club to borrow a plane. “Recently, if I get two or three flights a year in now, that’s about it, as I have too many things going on,” Warner said. Warner will soon have more free time on his hand as he enters retirement at the conclusion of the school year. Warner stated that he plans
to do a lot more traveling throughout the country in retirement. During his time working at DBHS, Warner has created bonds with many people on campus. “The guys on the security staff here: Andy, Harrison and John, and Mr. Foley in photography and Mark Saunders. He used to be the sheriff’s deputy that came in here to pick up our reports and things, so I got to be good friends with him,” Warner said. “I get to meet a lot of people, the students, the parents, the staff.” Warner will be directing campus traffic for his final time next week. “My wife and I are going to do a lot of traveling. As soon
as I leave here, we’re headed to Mexico, then Ireland, and we may go to Europe,” Warner said. READ MORE ABOUT THE SECURITY GUARDS ON CAMPUS
dbbullseye.com/spotify
MAY17, 2017
MAY 17, 2017
THE BULL'S EYE
FEATURE
13
THE LAST SUMMER alumni advice
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Just RELAX! Yusheng xia berkeley
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! A
Three DBHS alumni share their advice for what you should be doing this summer to get ready for your first day of college
How do I prepare for college over summer?
what will i miss the most? family and friends
lilly ball uci
s boring as it may sound, it is extremely helpful to do some research and practical preparation during the summer before heading off to college. In the first week of school as a freshman, you’ll be bombarded with new opportunities, responsibilities and lifestyles. And sure, it’s an opportune time to adventure and explore, but it can quickly become overwhelming when students, while doing so, have to adjust to a new setting and culture. So, during the few months of free-
C
urrent seniors are you hyped? Well, you should be, because you are less than a month away from starting what should be the most amazing summer of your lives! If your heart rate isn’t shooting up in excitement at this realization, it might be because you are one of those high-achieving students that takes high school classes over the summer. Well newsflash, high school is over and...no more summer classes! Woohoo! “Alright you have a point, but I will probably have a lot of stupid summer homework that is going to eat up most
B
efore diving in once again into four years of academic trials and the shameful title of “freshman,” I took my last summer of true freedom as an opportunity to travel and then spend as much time as I could with my friends and parents before I had to move out of Diamond Bar. Now, almost one year after my high school graduation, I may live only an hour away from DBHS, but it has become harder to stay in contact with those I miss. I cannot emphasize enough how im-
of my time.” Wrong again! Aside from a little background research into what classes you plan on taking when college starts, summer homework should not exist. So what does that leave? A summer full of nothing but FUN! Listen up seniors, you worked long and hard the past four years to make it to where you are. Now, before stepping into the adult world, make sure that your last summer as a child is the most memorable summer you ever have! portant it is to cherish this time with your family and friends. Regardless if whether or not you go away for college, schedules are about to change, and your newfound freedom will pull you away from whatever is your current norm. Soon, you will be flooded with new classmates, experience and parties, so take the opportunity now to appreciate your friend before you find yourself two quarters into the school year, not having texted your BFF for multiple weeks.
dom and relaxation, get some of these adjustments out of the way. If you haven’t learned to do laundry or look after yourself, this summer is the perfect time to build those disciplines. Learn those secrets to budgeting and using credit cards. But once your undergraduate career kicks off, your summers will most likely be crowded with internships, work or other college programs. Therefore, take the next months to delve into activities, interest or longterm trips.
don’t forget!
]
Learn Basic life skills Katlyn Lee usc
$ Any additional fees To make a packing to secure your spot list with everything you on campus need
To submit paperwork and transcripts
To enjoy your last few days in high school!
14
SPORTS
SPORTS COLUMN
Putting down the clubs Justin Prakaiphetkul asst. sports editor
I
t’s always hard for all-time sports greats to decide when to hang their boots up. Just last year, Peyton Manning, Kobe Bryant and Tim Duncan, all legends at their respective craft, came to the difficult conclusion that they needed to retire. Some retire at the top of the world, like Manning, while others, like Bryant, retire at the bottom of the standings. With that said, it’s now time for Tiger Woods to follow suit. Now, you can say what you want to say about Woods as an individual, whose actions should not be dismissed, but you cannot deny his once stellar play in the art of golf. In his prime, Woods was among the most well-known athletes of his time, with his popularity rivaling and even surpassing the likes of Manning and Kobe. When he first burst onto the scene, Woods took the world by storm. Unlike the stereotypical middle-aged white golfer, Woods was a young African-American athlete who a younger audience was able to relate to, taking the popularity of golf to new heights. A trait of Woods’ that sticks out to me is his confidence, which was on par with the likes of Michael Jordan and Floyd Mayweather. Woods is second all time in PGA Tour wins with 79, second all time in majors wins with 14 and owns the lowest career scoring average in PGA Tour history. Woods is also an 11-time PGA Player of the Year, a nine-time Vardon Trophy winner and winner of 14 major golf championships, second only to Jack Nicklaus’ 18. At one point, it looked as though Woods would be golf’s undisputed greatest of all time. Yet, it seems like forever since Woods has been considered a legitimate threat in any competitive golfing event, as he is currently ranked No. 838 among golfers in the world. In fact, Woods recently announced that he would be missing the Masters for the third time in four years, due to a back issue. Then, a mere three weeks later, Woods underwent his fourth back surgery, termed an “anterior lumbar interbody fusion.” I don’t know about what you think, but that concoction of words does not sound like anything to kid about. Since 2008, Woods has undergone six surgeries to repair various back and knee issues, and this isn’t even mentioning all the Achilles tendon injuries Woods has suffered. With all the injuries, along with his steep decline in performance, I believe that the time has come for Woods to finally retire. It always hurts to see a legend slowly crawl his way to eventual retirement, as depicted before with Bryant in his last three seasons. It was definitely hard to watch Kobe as a shell of his former himself, but at least he was able to end his career with a spectacular last game. With Woods, at this point, it doesn’t seem likely that he will be able to have that last great send-off. Due to his meteoric rise to the top of American sports, when Woods underperforms, everybody takes notice. The longer he continues to play, the more he will diminish his legacy. I don’t want to remember Woods as an old man who refused to retire; I want to be able to look back at Woods as one of the greatest golfers that ever lived. And the only way for that to happen is if Woods puts down the clubs permanently.
MAY 17, 2017
THE BULL'S EYE
Scholarships pave way to college Eight Brahmas are among those continuing their athletic careers at the collegiate level. catherine liu staff writer With the price of college tuitions rising each year, it’s no surprise that students are looking for alternative ways to cover the costs. While many students take the academic route in securing scholarships to help cover the price of education, eight students at Diamond Bar High School have secured scholarships due to their success in athletics. Davion Bluitt, Andrew Ellis, Kathleen Gani, Jeff Lu, Elijah Mott, Gabriella Niko, Kayla Pak and Jane Park have all received scholarships to continue playing sports in college. Heading to N.A.I.A. Ottawa University, Davion Bluitt and Andrew Ellis plan to continue playing sports in college, with Bluitt competing in football and Ellis running
track. Meanwhile, Jeff Lu will pursue football at Stetson University. Elijah Mott will continue football at Minot State University, having only to pay for his first semester. At Diamond Bar, he made 27 tackles and forced two fumbles as defensive lineman but at MSU, he will play fullback. Mott is preparing for the new position by practicing his stance and footing. “I wanted to take the challenge because [there are] different areas, different people to meet and different things to do,” Mott said. Kayla Pak plans to head to the University of the Pacific to continue playing soccer while also pursuing her dream major as a pharmacist. According to Pak, while the school does not compete highest in the division with soccer, it is also one of the few colleges that offer the Accelerated Pharmacy Program. Choosing to have both soccer and her dream major, Kayla decided to go with UOP. “I played for so long and never got tired of the sport. I love the sport a lot,” Pak said. Leading the Brahmas in points,
INGRID CHAN
Four out of the eight Brahmas (left to right) that earned athletic scholarships are Kayla Pak, Davion Bluitt, Gabrielle Niko and Jane Park.
ERIC HONG
Senior Kayla Pak led the Lady Brahmas with nine goals through 21 games. Pak had nine goals, but going into UOP, she will change her position from a forward player to an outside defender for the team. UOP was also the choice for Kathleen Gani, as the athlete plans to pursue a major in either PreMed or Pre-Pharmacy. As captain of the swim team, she placed first in the girls 100 breaststroke and third in girls 200 IM Finals during the Palomares League finals. Gani has participated in two CIF State Finals and is participating in her third one this Friday. Meanwhile, Gabrielle Niko is heading to Sacramento State with plans to play in a sport that she has no experience in--rowing. She received the scholarship since she displayed good endurance and strength, while showing skill in her previous sport, swimming. According to Niko, the college covers her tuition, but the fund is an annual scholarship, meaning she would have to renew it the following year.
“I’m actually looking forward to being in a team because I’ve always been in a sport where I’m racing by myself [...] With rowing, it’s all about timing, consistency and matching with other rowers so I’m really excited to do that. I never really got to work together with other athletes, so this is a whole new experience for me,” Niko said. Jane Park plans to head to Holy Names University to continue golf. During her time at DBHS, she was selected as First Team All-League in her junior year and Second Team All League in her senior year. “In the beginning I hated the sport, but over time, I started enjoying the sport more and more and now I don’t want to leave,” Park said. She was scouted by HNU through an email and accepted since they will cover 85 percent of her tuition, resulting in $30,000 covered. “I’m excited for new challenges [...] I’m really excited for a new lifestyle,” Park said.
Brahmas compete for state bid SWIM Fourteen swimmers participated in the CIF Prelims at the Riverside Aquatics Complex last weekend. samyuktha vellaiyan staff writer The Diamond Bar High School swim team continues to conquer, placing first at league finals and diving into the CIF playoffs. In their final season meet against Claremont and Bonita, the boys dominated 132-38 and 114-55, respectively. The girls also won both their meets, 108-62 and 117-52.. On May 4, the Brahmas competed in league preliminaries and finals on campus with the boys winning the League Championship, while the Lady Brahmas placed third. “I was really happy with the results,” head coach Darlys Ankeny said. “I would say that we did a little bit better last year.” Junior captain Michael Lee placed first in the 200 freestyle and third in the 500 freestyle at the finals. “The relays were really great because it felt like the entire team was actually there cheering and the atmosphere just was amazing,” Lee said CIF qualifier sophomore Dylan Hou finished third in the 100 breaststroke and fourth in the 500 freestyle in the league finals. Hou
aspires to make top 16 at the CIF- leen Gani and junior Kelsey Lloyd SS. qualified for the 200 Individual “I felt pretty good about compet- Medley. Lloyd also qualified for ing in CIF after having competed in the 100 Breaststroke. Gani and juCIF last year,” Hou said. “My goal nior Kelly Cheng, qualified for the is to get faster 100 Fly. Cheng and to get more also made the “The relays were really points for the cut for the 200 team.” Free at CIF great because it felt like Last weekFinals. Gani, the entire team was end, the BrahLloyd, Cheng, actually there cheering.” mas competed and sophomore MICHAEL LEE in the CIF at Caitlyn Kanethe Riverside mitsu qualified Aquatics Comfor team relays. plex. The competition consists of For the boys, senior Prestin Li individuals, relays, both medley qualified for the 100 Breastroke and freestyle, for both genders. while juniors Michael Lee and DaAccording to Ankeny, Foothill and vid qualified for the 500 Free. Wang Tustin high schools are dropping also qualified for the 200 Individual down to Division II from Division I. Medley. After CIF prelims, senior KathAnkeny said she plans to find
more divers for next season. According to Ankeny, there were hardly any pool times available for the teams, due to time conflicts. “We barely had any pool time this season, and it was very hard to get time to practice that in the beginning of the season,we practiced only twice before the first meet,” Ankeny said. Not only do the coaches look forward to make improvements in the team, but so do the team’s captains. “This season I felt that our team was talented, but the issue was that the goals of each individual seemed to be slightly off what the team’s goal was,” Lee said. “First thing next season will be aligning those goals and making sure that we are all making an orchestrated effort in the same direction.”
INGRID CHAN
The boys team finished the season first in the Palomares League with an undefeated record while the girls finished third.
THE BULL'S EYE
MAY 17, 2017
SPORTS
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Undefeated on the links BOYS GOLF For the first time in nearly 20 years, the Brahmas take league with a perfect 12-0.
perienced players,” Lu said. Two of the team’s best matches were against Glendora. Against the Tartans, the Brahmas shot their best rounds to barely notch the win for the team. In addition, at home, the boys won 209-204 against Glendora. ted yarmoski While away at Glendora, Chiu shot asst. opinion editor his best round securing the victory by only four strokes and allowing Through hard work and skillful the team to maintain their winning play, the Diamond Bar High School streak. boys golf team managed to win evThe team captains emphasized ery league game for only the first the important role teamwork time in nearly 20 years, continuing played in earning the undefeated the team’s nine-season streak as league champions title. According league champions. to them, there were multiple times Throughout their 12-0 season, where top players shot poorly and the Brahmas, led by captains Samothers stepped up to balance out uel Cho and Thomas Lee, focused the score. on continuing the league title “Everyone on the team shot good streak and improving their coordior compensated for one another,” nation together, according to Cho. Cho said. “It was tough for all of us, “There were really close games, but we managed to pull through in but we pulled together as a team getting the undefeated title.” and managed to get things done,” On May 3, Cho, Lee, Thomas, Lu, Cho said. “It was a long, roller Chiu and Kyle Lam were selected coaster ride of pressure and intento participate in the first round of sity.” the CIF playoffs, The team’s with five out of new additions the six Diamond “Everyone on the team made their presBar players shot good or compenence known. Acmaking the 92 sated for one another.” cording to coach player cut and SAMUEL CHO Tony McCabe, moving on for freshmen Ethan the second day Thomas and of the tournaLeo Lu were two ment. of the top golfers in the league and Lu, Lee and Cho made the cut played like “seasoned veterans.” for CIF Divisional Individuals in Cho also recognized Lu, praising the second day of the tournament, his quick adaptation to the high while Chiu missed the cut by one school golf environment and comstroke. The Brahmas competed on petition. Cho, Lee, Lu and Chiu May 8 at the golf club in Rancho made First Team All League while California against over 120 other Thomas also made Second Team players who qualified at the indiAll League. vidual league finals. Lu shot 84, “Being on varsity as a freshman Cho shot 78 and Lee shot 76, missmeans that you’re expected to play ing the 75 stroke cut by one. as good as older players and not The Brahmas played on May 15 to be intimidated when playing in the CIF Team Divisional at Los against schools that have more exSerranos.
INGRID CHAN
Sophomore Angela Zhang (left) and junior Ambrose So (right) pair up against Gahr. The team won the match 18-3.
Team completes six-peat BADMINTON The Brahmas dominated the 2017 CIF Playoffs, winning the finals 18-3. emily kim feature editor Tied with the Villa Park High School team for the longest championship streak, the Diamond Bar High School badminton team earned its sixth CIF championship after beating Cerritos by more than 10 points in the final round. Since badminton is an individual sports, head coach Kemp Wells knew that the team would be taking home the win after the eleventh point was earned since the Brahmas would have the majority of the points. However, the Brahmas pushed themselves to take as many points as possible, winning 18-3. “Some of our players really do push themselves to win every single match. That’s the type of attitude that makes it such a wide margin all the time. Every player wants to win every match and they try whatever they can to do it,” Wells said. The rest of the playoffs ended in similar fashion. The Brahmas took the first round against Lakewood 20-1 and the second against Gahr 18-3. In the semifinals, the Brahmas
met their toughest opponents in the semifinals against Mira Costa, but the team came out on top 13-8. Of the team’s sixteen different starting lineups, not once has the team lost going undefeated in league for a third year in a row. The team holds an impressive overall record of 245 games won compared to the 31 it lost. With 10 out of 12 starters returning next year, Wells states that next year the team will have to “reload” the players rather than replace any of them due to the high level of skill that will be coming in. According to Wells, senior cocaptain Justin Lam and sophomore Daniel Huang stood out as two of the team’s best. The two played in men’s doubles and went 10-0 this season. On the men’s side, junior Joshua Lee went 17-5. On the women’s side, he mentioned sophomore Mirabelle Huang and junior co-captain Jasmine Huang as two of the strongest as both went undefeated in singles and as a pair for women’s doubles. For women’s singles, junior Amy Shao took the most wins, going 13-1. The top women’s doubles pair was senior Sabrina Chen and junior Crystal Wai going 12-2 this season. Lam and Mirabelle were the top mixed doubles pair this season, going 19-1. Jasmine and Daniel took the second mixed doubles spot go-
Brahmas reach quarterfinals BOYS TENNIS Winning the Palomares League with a 9-1 record, the team plays in the playoffs. ryan chae sports editor For the second straight season, the Diamond Bar High School tennis team has reached the third round of the CIF Playoffs. On Monday, the Brahmas faced Redlands in the CIF Quarterfinals. The team reached the third round after shutting out Simi Valley, 18-0 on May 10, and beating out West Torrance in a close 10-8 match on May 12. It was one of the boys’ closest games of the year. The score was 8-7 before the final sets for the doubles teams of sophomore Victor Chai and junior Michael Tran, junior Nicholas Wong and sophomore Royce Park, and senior Vinay Bhupathiraju and junior Eric Peng. “I’m very glad we made it through the round of 16. We fought really hard in a close match against a very tough team,” junior Nicholas Wong said. The boys entered the playoffs as Palomares League Co-Champions after posting a 9-1 record. The team’s only loss came against the
Claremont Wolfpack, 11-7, which ended a nine-game win streak. The Brahmas finished the regular season with a 13-5 victory over Bonita. During the season, Tran, originally a singles player, switched with freshman Akilan Arunachalam to pair up with his current partner, Chai. According to Wong, the decision was made due to Tran’s experience and aggressiveness as well as the need for more points in doubles. After the regular season, the team participated at league finals
on May 2 and 4. All three doubles teams were eliminated at quarterfinals for league doubles, while Arunachalam and freshman Aadarsh Belliganud were also eliminated. However, senior Neil Tengbumroong was able to win the entire bracket for singles. At the finals, Wong and Park were named the Palomares League Doubles MVP while Tengbumroong won Singles MVP. The three were voted by panel of all the head coaches in league. “I feel like [Park and I] worked hard for [MVP], and
it showed...I know there’s been a lot of mistakes and improvements. It feels cool to get affirmation from all the other coaches in the league,” Wong said. Surrounded by the grueling atmosphere of playoffs, the boys knew that the competition would get much tougher. “We need to stay away from being cocky because now that we’re in CIF, every team is a good team. We can’t let ourselves mess up. We have to minimize our mistakes,” Wong said.
ing 11-0. Despite the team losing a few seniors, Wells said he is sure the team will keep working hard as the team seeks its seventh straight title next school year . With several strong players moving up, he does not see a drop in the strength of the team. Wells said that he also wants to push for the substitution rule in order to get more players on the courts during any one game. If the substitution rule does pass, more than 20 players could compete in one game, giving more Brahmas time on the court. “There’s always a new goal. Obviously the first time we did it [compete in CIF Championships] it was to be the first Diamond Bar team to ever win it,” Wells said. “Next year the goal will be to be the undisputed longest streak. Plus, we’ll tie the longest streak of consecutive championship appearances since next year will be our ninth in a row.” Several Brahmas competed in the CIF Individuals on May 11 and 12. Lam and Mirabelle defended their mixed doubles championship and took home the first place medal after beating Mira Costa. Men’s doubles team Daniel and freshman Brandon Zhou took first place after defeating fellow Brahma’s junior Ambrose So and freshman Alvin So.
MORE ON THE WEB: Baseball
After a rough 1-14 season, the Brahmas look to next year with optimism and the return of a strong core.
Softball
Injuries throughout the season hindered the production of the girls, finishing the season 4-11.
Track and Field
After qualifying at League Finals, four athletes participated in CIF Preliminaries on May 13.
Athletic Director
Kevin Ferguson takes a job at Valencia High as coach Tony McCabe will be the Interim Athletic Director.
VISIT Photos by AMELIE LEE
Freshman Akilan Arunachalam and doubles team of sophomore Victor Chai and junior Michael Tran (from left) on the court.
DBBULLSEYE.COM
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SPORTS
MAY 17, 2017
THE BULL'S EYE
ATHLETES OF THE MONTHS SEPTEMBER
DECEMBER
DIEGO HAMMOND
DAVION BLUITT
KAREN BUSTILLO
JULIANA GAMBOA
WATER POLO
FOOTBALL
VOLLEYBALL
BASKETBALL
JANUARY
MARCH
ARPIL
MALIK COREY
MICHAEL CARDIEL
BECKY WINDER
NEIL TENGBUMROONG
BASKETBALL
WRESTLING
SOFTBALL
TENNIS
T F H O E E M T
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FEBRUARY
HIGHLIGHTS
th on
ATHL
NOVEMBER
OCTOBER
hleen ga
As she heads to another CIF competition, DB swim captain looks back at career. ryan chae sports editor At the age of twelve, Kathleen Gani faced a life-changing decision: quit and not worry about sports or continue swimming for Brea Aquatics. Nearly six years later, Gani is now a captain for the Diamond Bar High School swim team and on her way to the University of the Pacific on a full-ride scholarship. It seemed that from the day she was born, Gani was destined to swim, as her mother swam as a high school athlete and while she was pregnant with Gani. Due to her
mother’s insistence, Gani began swimming at seven, but it was not the most exciting times for Gani as she struggled early on. “I really hated it and I really wanted to quit it, but my mom asked me, ‘What else would you do?’ Because when I don’t have practice, I really don’t know what to do.,” Gani said. Over time, Gani began to enjoy swimming, pushing her to competitively swim for Brea Aquatics two years later. To this day, Gani still swims for the club team. Just a year later, Gani qualified for her first Junior Olympics, one of her fondest memories. However, Gani would face one of
YEARS PLAYED 10 YEARS ACHIEVEMENTs THREE-TIME SWIMMER AT CIF STATE to RANKING 33RD (in california) according cOLLEGE sWIMMING
her biggest obstacles in her career at age 12. Improving every year since joining, Gani hit a wall when she struggled to improve her event times. Gani even considered quitting due to the lack of progress she was making. “I felt good at practices, but at meets I wouldn’t perform. I felt like I wanted to just stop because it was a whole year of not performing well while all my friends were getting faster,” Gani said. But, with the support of her parents, Gani pushed through that year, and since then, she continues to shave more and more time off. In her freshman year, Gani joined the DBHS swim team with the hopes off facing tougher competition and representing her school. Also, Gani was now apart of the youngest class on campus. “I was scared and excited. I was an incoming freshman, and it was kind of intimidating. But I was also excited because it was different from club. I wanted break school records,” Gani said. Feelings of anxiety and fear were an afterthought as Gani made All League and competed at that year’s CIF-SS for the 200 IM and the 100 Fly. Freshman year was also important for Gani as it was the year that she learned to balance school and swim.
A year later, Gani would have her most memorable year as she became the first Brahma to perform at CIF State for the 100 Fly, finishing in the top 15. While sophomore year was filled with memories, junior year was her favorite and most crucial season due to college recruiters. In her third year on the team, Gani felt “in her prime,” as she competed in four events at CIF State: 100 Fly, 200 IM, 200 Free Relay, and 400 Free Relay. It was also at State that Gani met UOP’s swim coach and was later in-
vited to see the college’s team practice, leading to her decision to sign with them. As she prepares for her final CIF State on May 19, Gani hopes that she leaves a legacy as a swimmer who never gave up. She also hopes that every Brahma that comes after her has that same mentality. “I want swimmers to not give up on yourselves. I know it sounds super cliche, but really don’t give up even if you feel like a complete failure. Don’t give up and remember that school is important too.”
CALVIN RU
Senior Kathleen Gani was the first Brahma to compete at CIF State Finals.