ElEstoque, Volume 40, Issue 4, December 18 2009 by El Estoque

It’s a Wrap! The El Estoque gift guide • elestoque.org

online

School Loop should be an open forum • Page 7

Former students return to coach athletic teams • Page 15

Seniors launch a company to create customized sweaters • Page 22

opinion

sports

entertainment

elestoque

YO UR MO M'S Sometimes it’s about more A FO B!? Offensive or not?

than just words • Page 11

Volume XXXX • Issue 4 • Monta Vista High School • Cupertino, CA

Buzzworthy

The man of the copy room, Buzz Delaney, triumphs through cancer and life

December 18, 2008

by Serena Lee

n Portable 3, surrounded by buzzing and whirring copy machines, is a survivor. He is a survivor of the Vietnam War era, lung cancer, open heart surgery, a heart attack, and most importantly, a survivor of life. Buzz Delaney, who provides printing services for the district, has been diagnosed with lung cancer in his left lung. This is the second time he has been diagnosed with lung cancer. In 2000, he had lung cancer in his right lung that simply just involved surgery. The current cancer requires chemotherapy and radiation. “For a few minutes, of course, you feel sorry for yourself and then it’s just, well, what do we have to do to get rid of it?” Delaney said, after learning about his diagnosis. see BUZZ on page 3

Jeremy Lee and Daniel Stenzel | El Estoque Photo Illustration

Student strikes it rich with Internet profits

Changing minds

Passionate junior Hanson So devoted to entrepreneurship

Organization fights stereotypes

by Lauren Parcel

by Varshini Cherukupalli

unior Hanson So turned a spare $20 into over $50,000. He is no magician—he’s an entrepreneur. In the spring of his freshman year, So began the workings for his own business. His business runs on the premise of creating and buying Web sites, building them to make money, and then selling them. He started with $20 to buy his first Web site, and was able to sell it for $100, making a cool $80 in profit. After he earned that initial money, he used it to invest in other Web sites, starting the process all over again. The business

builds on itself. According to So, a lot of time and energy goes into building a successful Web site. “First, you need to find a good product or site. Then, you need to find a way to successfully market it and make money, and then, you must find a good buyer,” So said. “Marketing takes a lot of time.” So spends hours marketing his Web sites through sites such as Google, Myspace, Facebook, and Youtube. In addition, he hires web brokers and programmers to aid him in the process. Owning his own business is no

small ordeal for So. He spends around 2-3 hours a day working on his Web sites. Depending on the difficulty, he works for varying amounts of time on any given site. “After you put in the initial work, [the Web site] will grow by itself,” So said. Other than the effort he puts into actual work on the sites, So spends hours more creating business plans, networking, and making goals. So has already filled three notebooks full of notes and ideas to improve his business.

“Castilleja was an amazing place, but it wasn’t my ‘real world,’” Gunderson said. Gunderson’s children attended Lynbrook High School, and she felt more connected to this area. So, when she was offered a position here, she was excited to finally bring together the work she loved with the area she loved. Over the last eight years, Gunderson hasn’t noted any major changes in her job, other than an entirely new office staff. Gunderson loves it here, and believes that the school has become better and better with each year. see GUNDERSON on page 4

see CHANGE on page 4

see SO on page 6

‘Heart of MV’ leaves family Administrative assistant retires tomorrow by Lauren Parcel

Lauren Parcel | El Estoque

GUNDY Assistant to the Principal Sue Gunderson is retiring to travel the world with her husband.

candy dish: always stocked, always ready and waiting for a passerby. May it be an old friend or a fresh face, everyone is welcome at Sue Gunderson’s desk. In August of 2000, Gunderson stepped off an all-night flight from Hawaii, and into her new job as Assistant to the Principal here at MVHS. In the preceding eight years, Gunderson worked in a similar position at Castilleja High School in Palo Alto. While she loved the school, she was ready to try something new and didn’t enjoy the lengthy daily drive.

hange. It’s not only the main slogan of President-elect Barack Obama’s campaign, but also the name of a team that has arrived at MVHS. And this team is definitely following the mantra, “Yes we can!” Team Change is the name of a student group that will be forming to inspire social change and greater cooperation among students. A continuation of the Challenge Day experience, Team Change will be working to break down barriers and stereotypes between students. In addition, the team will be introducing peer counseling sessions as an option for students who seek help. At the first meeting on Nov. 19, Student Advocate Richard Prinz spoke for the group when he stated that he did not want Challenge Day to be a brief comeand-go experience. People came out of Challenge Day feeling very moved and motivated, and he wanted that feeling to carry on. Therefore, in order to include people that did not attend Challenge Day, Team Change will encompass anybody who desires to make a difference. Senior Harsha Gorti, a member of Team Change, wants it to be as member-based as possible so that it will appeal to more students. “We really want to see what the members think and find out what they want to do so we can be inclusive,” Gorti said. The meetings will include activities held at Challenge Day, like small group sessions for people to open up and share their emotions. A main focus will be to prepare the students for peer counseling. This will make it easier for the students to relate to their own peers rather than to an adult, however trained that adult may be. At the Nov. 19 meeting, Prinz gave a handout that listed the main aspects of peer counseling as well as the statement, “Feelings come from beliefs. No one makes us feel the way we do.”

elestoque

news

recount

in numbers

WINTER SHOW

Total number of performers in the show.

Number of different acts in the showcase.

newsflash

Price of a Winter Show ticket at the door.

Number of acts not affiliated with the Marquesas or MVHS Spirit.

Senior Clare So sang “The Christmas Song” and “Hero” with senior Toni Louie. CORRECTIONS

November Page 5: Michael Barat is a Staff Sergeant. Page 16: The corresponding picture is actually of girls cross country. Page 16: The picture of the Oct. 31 football game is of MVHS players being tackled. Page 16: Sylvia Li is a sophomore. Page 16: Field hockey’s game was on Nov. 6. Page 22: The auditorium is named Helene Madison Theater.

2008-2009 Editor in Chief Alice Lee

in brief

Seniors hit the spa to raise funds for class

Dean of Students Denae Moore discovered a new student fundraiser for spa services last year. In turn, Class of 2009 officers thought that it would be an ideal and affordable gift for the holiday season. Each card, worth $250-$350, may be used at 37 participating spas in California and can be purchased for $65. If 100 cards are bought before Dec. 21, an extra $500 will Spa oils and flowers be given to the class. Cards will be valid for 10 months and can be spent on four different spa services; each visit is worth one service. The closest spas are in San Jose and Mountain View. Cards may be ordered from flyers in the office or from the MVHS Class of 2009 page at spaforacause. org. For every card bought, the Class of 2009 will receive $15, which will go toward Senior Ball.

2011 brings experimental fundraiser

Junior Katherine Ong in her solo of “The Heart of The Matter” by India Arie.

December 18, 2008

The Class of 2011 will be hosting a discount card fundraiser where the cards sold will be similar to ASB gold discount cards, except that businesses featured will be different. Cards can be bought from class officers for approximately $10. The Class of 2011 hopes to raise $500 from this fundraiser, which will go towards their junior and senior prom and various class bonding activities.

Battle of the Bands set for February

In Sierra Leone, Africa there will shortly be an elementary school, built brick by brick, up from the ground, and paid for by the student population of MVHS. Free the Children is an organization dedicated to helping children around the world through education, and it will receive the profits from Battle of the Bands. With this annual concert, Community Leadership hopes to raise more money than last year’s total of $2,000. The tryouts for the bands and the emcee will Junior Sumukh be held on Dec. 5 and seven to Anand of Brown eight bands will be selected to Sound compete for the grand prize of $200. The concert will be held on Feb. 6 in the auditorium and the cost is $10.

Sleep Week postponed until January

Community Leadership’s health commission was planning to host sleep week the week before finals, but postoned it to around A.P. testing time. The week’s concept is inspired by students coming to school tired and having no way to relax. During this week, teachers would open their room for students to come in and have a quiet place to spend breaks. Pamphlets with information about sleep-related topics will be available to educate students about leading a healthy life. The week was postponed since health commission could not get enough teachers to volunteer their rooms for use for the number of students anticipated to participate at the time.

Relax week gets a new name and mission

Three years ago, when finals were in the second week of January, students would receive a “dead week” where teachers allowed them to relax. When finals were switched to before break, this week was named “relax week.” However this year, to change the focus, the week has been renamed Back in Action week. The purpose of the week is to make students look forward to school after break, not dread it. The Monday that students return from break, Jan. 5, will be Arts and Crafts Day. Tuesday will be Pamper Yourself Day, with manicures and massages. Wednesday will be Game Day with board games and hopscotch. Thursday will be Game Show Day with an obstacle course like a Japanese game show, and Jeopardy. Friday will be Carnival Day in the rally court and a surprise guest performer in an assembly during fourth period.

Variations hold Winter Concert with band

The romantic drama of Andrew Lloyd Webber’s celebrated musical, “The Phantom of the Opera,” will be coming soon to an auditorium near you in the music department’s annual holiday concert. Band and orchestra will play the background music, while the three choirs: Variations, A choir, Variations caroling at and B choir will sing the Valley Fair on Dec. 6 parts of the characters. “We’ve been working so hard on practicing our repertoire,” senior Michael Gu said. “People should look forward to hearing and seeing all of the choir groups together. It’s always a good experience.” The holiday concert will be held on Dec. 18, at 7:30 p.m. Admission is free.

Gov Team competes in district competition

On Dec. 9, Gov Team competed at the district competition and won second place. The competition consisted of a simulated congressional hearing where students are asked to give testimonies to Congress on their personal view of the Constitution. The class is broken into different units, which address various topics. Each of these units presented to the hearing for four minutes each and then answered questions asked by local politicians for six minutes. Gov Team will now vie for four available wild card positions available to all schools in California that did not qualify for the state competition from their district competition. The wild card will be given to the four highest scorers and will be announced on Dec. 17.

Winter Ball moved back to January

This year Winter Ball will be held after break. The change in date was mainly because renting out the Decathalon Club is less expensive after the holiday season. The dance is on Friday, Jan. 16 in the Decathalon Club from 7:30-11:30 p.m. This year’s theme is “Close to You” by The Carpenters.

feeding frenzy had struck. I’m not talking about dinnertime, no—though when the food arrives at 6 p.m. at each late night, the rush of journalists towards the food area can be compared to a frenzy of sorts. No, I’m talking about the addictive new Gmail game called “Snake,” a game in which players control a moving “snake”that tries to “eat” the green dots that pop onto the page, avoiding the red ones that appear. Tuesday late night found over half of a dozen El Estoque-ers playing Snake on their Gmail accounts. Senior Lauren Parcel even texted junior Samved Sangawesara her new high score during his A.P. US History study session, to his disappointment and the staff’s amusement. We got a lot done that night (I am being sarcastic here. Or am I?). I suppose an outsider might take a look at our staff and incredulously ask: How in the world do you manage to produce a 24 page newspaper and maintain an online website (elestoque.org) simueltaneously and on time? And to that I say: That’s the beauty of it. Much of the reason why our staff works so well together is because we

Winterball promotional snowflake

collaborate—even on the silly things. In fact, this unifying sense of collaboration transcended multiple levels this past issue, from Gmail’s Snake game to the page seven’s staff editorial. Traditionally, the Opinion section’s staff editorial has been written by only one person whose authorhood remains anonymous. In fact, though it bears the staff’s name, the majority has never seen the staff editorial before it prints for the past three issues. We changed that this issue. This time around, the entire staff was given an opportunity to collaborate on the formation and development of our staff editorial, an opinion piece on the changing role the word “FOB” plays in our community. Every single staff member was invited to a joint Google document to input their perspective on this topic. After all, collaboration is one of our strong points and this topic, as with all of our past staff editorials, is something that applies directly to most of our lives. Collaboration. It’s group of people’s ability to work together, whether it be making the Staff Editorial an actual Staff Editorial or playing a good game of Gmail’s latest Labs invention. A round of Snake, anyone?

outlook

editor’s letter

News Editors Lauren Parcel Samved Sangameswara Opinion Editors Bhargav Setlur Sharanya Shankar Centerspread Editors Sabrina Ghaus Sarah McKee Entertainment Editors Patty Chao Mansi Pathak Sports Editors Jonathan Chan Dipika Shrihari Layout and Design Editor Stefan Ball Business Editor Aileen Le Web Editor Natasha Desai Online News Editors Jackie Barr Kai Kang Online Sports Editors Tom Cheng Christian Fatoohi Online Entertainment Editor Varada Gavaskar Print Staff Writers Kunal Bhan Christine Chang Varshini Cherukupalli Allie Choy Sasha Degtyar Brittany Hopkins Jane Kim Kanwalroop Singh Tammy Su Vijeta Tandon Laura Wenus Derek Wong Kevin Wu Online Staff Writers Ingrid Chang Anthony Chen Jaime Chu Teressa Ju Deepa Kollipara Selene Rubino Shreya Shankar Natalie Wong Adviser Michelle Balmeo Disclaimer Opinions expressed in this publication are those of the journalism staff and not of Monta Vista High School or the Fremont Union High School District.

Collaboration: “Snake” and otherwise by Alice Lee

Managing Editors Jeremy Lee Serena Lee Daniel Stenzel

Credits Some images in this publication were taken from the royalty-free stock photography website sxc.hu Mission Statement

El Estoque is an open forum created for and by students of Monta Vista High School. The staff of El Estoque seeks to recognize individuals, events, and ideas and bring news to the Monta Vista community in a manner that is professional, unbiased, and thorough in order to effectively serve our readers. We strive to report accurately and will correct any significant error. If you believe such an error has been made, please contact us. Letters of any length should be submitted via e-mail or mail. They become the sole property of El Estoque and can be edited for length, clarity, or accuracy. Letters cannot be returned and will be published at El Estoque’s discretion. El Estoque also reserves the right to reject advertising due to space limitations or decision of the Editorial Board that content of the advertisement conflicts with the mission of the publication.

elestoque Small room grants wishes

news

December 18, 2008

Career center offers both college research and financial aid info by Sharanya Shankar and Tammy Su

CHRISTINECHANG

Boggling Broadcast

hile cleaning a friend’s garage in the middle of summer, senior Matisse Yoshihara didn’t have money or school on her mind. She was thus very surprised when her phone rang, with the person on the other end informing her that she’d won a $5,000 savings bond. “It was pretty out of the blue, and at first I thought that it was a scam,” Yoshihara said. Then, she remembered an essay she wrote last November for a contest organized by Junior Achievement of Southern California. Soon, the bond arrived in the mail. Yoshihara learned about this opportunity through a Schoolloop posting from the Career Center. Run by Mariam Taba, who has been at MVHS since January 2006, the Career Center is the hub of all college, financial aid, test prep, or career information on campus. It is open as a resource for students through the 10-month school year. Originally, the Career Center was expected to be simply a storage area for the college brochures and other documents that MVHS receives in the mail, Taba explains. But with her help, this single-roomed facility has evolved into an establishment that actively provides students with opportunities and information about post-MVHS topics. The contest Yoshihara won was just one of many of Taba’s own contributions. Using her own contacts, and connections she’s made through attending various college informational meetings for counselors, Taba sets up an average of 70 college visits every year. She also offers programs such as brown bag lunches, which address various guidance areas.

The U.S.’gas obsession

Sharanya Shankar | El Estoque

SCHEDULING ON Taba tidies up her desk space to prepare photocopies of college visit passes for the college representative who was visiting later that day. She also scheduled a future college visit. New this year is the school’s introduction to Naviance, a Web site that offers personality typing, college searches, and an online method of viewing and signing up for upcoming college visits. What strengthens all of these events, however, is not the sheer multitude of them, but instead the vast amount of knowledge that Taba herself has on her area of expertise. “I went to a couple brown bag lunches, and [I] do ask Mrs. Taba for help regarding various things, like which college guides to look at, summer programs, other lesser-known schools or educational alternative plans,” junior Crystal Yan said. “She really knows a lot about helping us find the best options.” And in fact, Taba extends her help to all students that have asked for it — regardless of grade level, interest, or future

goals. On her desk beside her computer sits a yellow notepad, on which Taba invites students to leave their name, email address, and interests. Whenever she comes across a new school, internship, or other opportunity, she goes through that list and sends emails to those that she thinks might appreciate the knowledge. There is, however, a common misconception that the Career Center is only useful for seniors applying to college. Taba insists that this is not the case. Making an appointment with Taba can help students of any grade struggling with researching on their own. In particular, students can gain perspective about previously unknown schools, which applies to just as much to juniors and underclassmen as it does to seniors. “UCs are quality, but aren’t

the right fit for everybody,” Taba said. “Most kids and parents know about 30 colleges. Look around here [in the Career Center]—how many [of these] have you actually heard of?” The Career Center is open every school day, and specific operating hours can be found posted on the door and posted on School Loop as well. Students are encouraged, whether it is to ask questions, or simply to check out the huge amounts of information—test prep books, possible internship opportunities, scholarship contests, or even job postings. “Sometimes, you know what you’re looking for, but you can’t seem to find it—maybe your search terms are wrong, or you’re not looking in the right place,” Taba said. “And I think that’s one place that I can help.”

BUZZ: Reflection on his life, achievements and future In his 64 years, Delaney is most proud of simply being a survivor. “I’m just very proud of it because there are a lot of folks who are not survivors, and I don’t mean it in a negative way,” Delaney said. “I think those people who are survivors are able to deal with life on a day-to-day basis.” Born in Palo Alto, Calif. and raised in the 1950’s, Delaney came from a dysfunctional family and lived through a difficult childhood. Because his father was a military man, he moved to six different states. He left home at 17, spending four years in the Navy, traveling all over the world. Going into Daniel Stenzel | El Estoque the military was one of the best HOME, SWEET HOME Copy technician Buzz Delaney things he had done for himself works with the printers (above) for school paper needs. but he didn’t see the positive benefits of discipline and selfcontinued from page 1 sufficiency until years later. “How do I kill it? I’ll get angry or pissed At 30, Delaney’s father died, just as he was or feel sorry for myself for a very little time starting to rebuild a father-son relationship. and let’s get on with it.” He never imagined ending his working He is, however, not scared of treatment. career in an environment around high school Is he scared to die? No. kids. As a single man for most of his life, kids “Right now, my biggest concern is weren’t a big part of his life. whatever it takes to kill this cancer. If it “I guess Buzz is a big part of why I love means I have to sit on my ass and sleep all MVHS,” senior Connie Ng said. “I’m pretty day, I will,” Delaney said, with a laugh. sure that if that moment we had at the Staff

Brunch didn’t happen, I may not even be Staff Relations commission lead. Relationships like that changes so many different aspects of life.” Life as a high school student for him was about figuring out what to do. When he was 17, he, along with two other guys, bought a 1949 Buick for $75. He has one message for all high school students: follow your passion and have the courage to go get it. “It sounds so cliché, but it’s so right on,” Delaney said. “You can be anything you want to be, you just have to have the confidence to go get it.” Delaney currently resides in a small cabin, half an hour from the beach, surrounded by redwood trees in the Santa Cruz Mountains. Buying that home was one of the best decisions he could have made. Over the years he has turned it into a comfortable little cottage. Inside is a big 52-inch LCD TV and books, which is entertainment Delaney uses to relax after chemotherapy. “I wasn’t always this [upbeat]. You know, I have every right at this point to be the grouchy old man, but I’m not interested in that,” Delaney said. “I enjoy life, I enjoy my child, I enjoy where I live. Of course things could be better, could be different. But I am not dissatisfied with who I am and what I am.”

n a recent conference trip to St. Louis, Mo., our journalism class spent a few late hours experiencing nightlife in Delmar Loop, a suburban district. But just as a pack of us were hurrying across a street, we stopped dead in our tracks, transfixed on something rather remarkable. Just ahead, an impressively low $1.78 gleamed from the yellow light-up panel of a Shell station price board. And being the devoted photojournalists we are, several of us pulled out our handy cameras in the middle of the road as frigid winds whipped our faces and glaring headlights blinded our eyes to capture this most breathtaking sight. Yes, it’s true. The cost of gas is dropping, and we Americans are going bananas about it. As prices free-falled to a three year low on Nov. 20, news headlines across the nation proclaimed the phenomenal occurrence. After suffering the summer trauma of $4-a-gallon prices, Americans were craving cheaper gas. But no one expected the national average to sink below $2 a gallon just last month. In most of our lives, places we go and things we do revolve around gas, it was no surprise that a wave of gratitude and relief swept through countless American households when gas prices went down. Only a few months ago, under the tension of overpriced gas, Americans drove 10.7 billion less miles than they did one year ago when the costs had been lower. As gallon rates began dropping drastically in recent weeks, the director of Oil Price Data Information Services went so far as to describe the longawaited sub-$2 as “crossing the threshold... an important psychological barrier.” In truth, gas has become quite the national obsession. We are not only obsessed with this fossil fuel itself, but also with its cost: how high it soars, how low it plunges. In fact, it seems the expense of gas is often allotted priority coverage in the media as Very Important News. Americans have become so heavily dependent on gas that it’s almost a drug. When there isn’t enough, we mope around, complaining about having to take “staycations” and cut back on empty errands. Through this web of gas-ly obsession, we’ve forgotten that some of the best things in life come without gas. We’ve forgotten that vacations can be just as rejuvenating without having to fly long distances and that while Hummers may give us pride, walking gives us good health. But as ridiculous as it may sound, MVHS sometimes has its own version of this gaslike frenzy as December rolls around. Call it a fad, obsession, or mania. Whatever it is, the holiday season morphs into a season of finals, and happy holidays turn into a time of happy studying. We end up donating more hours to textbooks than we do dollars to charity. Grades become our fuel, our gas, our complete obsession. And like those who forget about having fun when gas prices are high, we forget to relax and be a part of that Christmas cheer when finals draw near. So remember, while December is the month for desperate cramming, it’s also supposed to be a season of celebration and gift-giving. Just like expensive gas doesn’t have to mean a great loss of joy, neither do imperfect exam scores. Take some time off from the frantic hysteria that comes with finals to light some candles, appreciate some caroling, and above all, enjoy some life.

elestoque

news

December 18, 2008

GUNDERSON: Beloved principal’s assistant to retire at semester end relationships with many of the staff and students on campus. With regular “Monta Vista is truly a comprehensive traffic of visitors at her desk, Gunderson school,” Gunderson said. “My job is never, offers up more than just candy from her ever, ever dull.” ever present candy dish. She is known While Gunderson enjoys her job for always having an open ear as well as duties, her favorite part is interacting with an endearing humor. kids, which was her original intent for One particularly close student friend entering this type of career. Starting with to Gunderson is senior Irene Sheh. kindergarten, moving on to middle school, Sheh makes daily, if not more frequent followed by Castilleja and finally MVHS, visits to Gunderson’s desk, and has even Gunderson is graduating with the class of given her a nickname: “Gundy.” 2009—just a little on the early side. “One time I had a really bad day,” One thing Sheh said. that has always “ G u n d y been important o f f e r e d to Gunderson me tea, is her personal chocolate, “When I think about the relationships. and a heart of Monta Vista,” “When a new shoulder to staff member cry on.” social studies teacher Macomes, I try Sheh can’t ria Carter-Giannini said, “I really hard to imagine learn something think of Sue Gunderson.” what it will about them and be like when welcome them,” Gunderson is Gunderson said. gone. “It helps build the Monta Vista family.” “She is the person I aspire to be,” Gunderson had no trouble determining Sheh said. “She’s not judgmental, and what she will miss most when she leaves. she wants everybody to see the good “That’s easy,” she said. “Being around kids.” side of things. She wants to take care of As Principal April Scott’s assistant, everybody.” Gunderson has developed a friendly bond Another regular visitor and close pal with her. Having kids around the same age of Gunderson’s is social studies teacher as well as some mutual friends, the two Maria Carter-Giannini. She describes are able to share a lot. Scott appreciates Gunderson as a very giving person, and that she is able to work with Gunderson someone you can just laugh and have a professionally, but also on a personal level. good time with. “You can always find people to do the “Sue is so incredibly generous,” work,” Scott said, “but Sue has that extra Carter-Giannini said. “When I think passion.” about the heart of Monta Vista, I think Gunderson has also developed close of Sue Gunderson.” continued from page 1

Samved Sangameswara | El Estoque

BE THE CHANGE Senior Curtis Gatley introduces himself at a Team Change meeting on Dec. 9. Team Change was formed by Challenge Day alumni to carry on the day’s message.

CHANGE: Fostering new attitudes continued from page 1

Prinz and former peer counseling teachers will aid in training members, and practice on each other as well. A potential method is that members will be separated based on their “area of expertise” for counseling, such as academics or relationships. Students can then choose their peer counselor based on what kind of help they are needing. Students like sophomore Angeline Chen, of the Peer Support Focus Group, think that the new organization

will be extremely effective. “I feel that MVHS could always use some change because we can get closer [to being free of cliques and stereotyping] than we already are,” Chen said. Team Change members are also looking forward to helping other students at MVHS. Nevertheless, Gorti knows that Team Change will have to wait before seeing any major change. “Truth be told, I don’t expect huge changes in the atmosphere of the school right after we have a few meetings,” Gorti said. “The ideals we learned at

Challenge Day aren’t things that you can just do right away after learning them. They take time.” Even so, Gorti is confident that the organization will eventually make a big difference, especially after the Challenge Day in March. After more people experience Challenge Day, they might consider joining the organization to continue practicing its ideals. Right now, the team is being the vanguard in inspiring more social change in students. After all, as Gorti said, “We’re just paving the way for future [students].”

A long day’s work into a long drive home Three teachers cope with commutes to work that run over an hour long each day by Patty Chao

s the weather worsens, students and teachers alike must pay closer attention on the road, especially if they’re leaving at 5:30 a.m. For many teachers on campus, the commute to school takes more than several songs. Social studies teacher Robyn Brushett commutes from San Francisco. “The best part is seeing the sunrise,” Brushett said. “Not many people get to.” Before moving, social studies teacher Bonnie Belshe also lived in San Francisco. However, instead of the Honda Civic Brushett drives, Belshe drove a Ford Explorer, and she was spending up to $1,000 a month on gas. “I had to fill up almost everyday, depending on how far I let the arrow drop to ‘E’,” Belshe said. On her commutes, Belshe would listen to books on CDs and catch up with family. Eventually, she bought a hybrid car and opted for a home in Palo Alto. “It’s far enough that I don’t live here [in Cupertino] with

my students, but also close enough to work,” Belshe said. Another teacher who lives out by the shores is science teacher Lora Lerner. Instead of San Francisco , she lives in Santa Cruz and takes Highway 17 to work each morning. Lerner mostly listens to music on the way to work. “I have a routine where I listen to NPR every morning, but it actually goes out of range on a part of 17, and that’s when I pop in my iPod,” Lerner said. “In the afternoon, it’s also time for me to just hang out by myself a little bit.” While long commutes lend a certain leisure time, they also pose many dangers. Aside from physical fatigue, poor weather conditions also make driving harder. Brushett knocks on her classroom doorframe and says she has, thankfully, never been in an accident. For Lerner, she found her first year teaching ironic. “We discuss driving when drowsy, and I got scared when I learned how dangerous it could be,” Lerner said. Now, she’ takes precautions to make sure that, despite her long work hours, she’s in good condition to drive.

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Part of the reason Belshe moved was the physical tolls. “I was exhausted,” Belshe said. “After I moved to Palo Alto, I suddenly added an extra hour to my afternoon.” For Brushett, it’s mainly a matter of having her close friends nearby. No matter what the reason, some sacrifices must be made. Aside from the time commitments of living far away, teachers must also invest money as well. “It’s not ideal at all, but I’m living in a good situation and it works out well for me,” Lerner said. Despite their long drives now, teachers admit to their not-so-expert driving days. After describing a few accidents, Belshe quickly adds the disclaimer, “the majority of which were not my fault.” “Like all new drivers, I thought I was good,” Belshe said. “Looking back now, I would cringe.” However, all three teachers were affected by far commutes in a common way: weekend road-trips became less exciting. Brushett said, and the other two teachers agree, “I drive enough.”

December 18, 2008

elestoque

news

1 in 7 children between the ages of 10 and 18 will run away from their homes

“Get

out of my house.” by Christine Chang

Five words were all it took.

“Get out of my house.” And out the door he ran, through the dark of night, down streets, across parks, into friends’ homes. He spent the next several weeks sleeping on other people’s couches, Regnart Elementary’s roof, and anywhere else that offered him space. Some mornings he lay alone on park benches. But no one went looking for him. He was on his own. For most of the summer between freshman and sophomore year, junior Kevin Chen lived the life of a suburban nomad, spending his days in several homes around Cupertino. After clashing with his dad repeatedly since middle school, Chen was accustomed to petty disputes that eventually expanded into incessant arguing. But as tempers flared and tensions between father and son grew increasingly volatile that summer, he became exasperated with the situation. When he could stand it no longer, Chen took his father’s words literally and simply left the house. “He always thinks he’s like king, he’s always right, and [I] have to listen to everything he says,” Chen said. “But it’s not fair, because when [I] say my part of the case, he doesn’t listen.” And more often than not, that is precisely what drives kids out of their homes in a state of madness—parents who turn the other way when it comes to hearing what their kids have to say. Whether it is grades, friends, or just small things, Student Advocate Richard Prinz maintains that parent-child problems usually arise not from specific issues, but from detrimental or ineffective habits of communication.

feel like running away?

“When teenagers fight with their parents, it’s usually practices that are at fault, rather than people—certain cultural upbringings,” Prinz said. He encourages families shattered by conflicts to resolve and rebuild relationships through counseling, since it is one of the most supportive means of teaching parents sensible ways to deal with disagreements. Counseling helps prevent fighting between parents and children from getting to a point where the student feels physically or emotionally abused in their own home. “I’ve often heard the saying that in America kids get grounded and sent to their room, while in Asia it’s just like, ‘get out of the house,’” Prinz said. “Although I don’t completely agree with that, I have to say, in some cultures it’s pretty interesting what’s okay to practice, what’s considered the norm.” Though other cultures may differ, American society has long been one to advocate liberal self-expression, and students know that. Since elementary school, many of students have been brought up with the concept that opinions do matter, that people should be open with our ideas, that freedom of speech is the law. So when those rights are violated, students often feel compelled to speak up. “Whatever the issue, it often seems to be a power struggle, a style of interacting that happens when someone doesn’t feel respected,” Prinz said. “Usually teens just want to be allowed to have a voice in their lives.” With Chen, respect and grades are some of the biggest factors that contribute to the

broken relationship between him and his father. When his dad insists that Chen give him more respect, Chen feels betrayed at his father’s hypocrisy when he doesn’t return the same respect. His parents declined to comment for this story. Thus, as the summer went on, Chen continued living outside his home. He made daytime calls to his older brother and arranged “dad’s not home” time slots during which Chen could steal inside and grab a change of clothes, then head back out. When Chen finally returned home after weeks of staying out, his father did not say a word. Since then, things have calmed down, but Chen and his father are still not on friendly terms. Even though he’s currently living at home, Chen acknowledges that it may be nearly impossible for them to reconcile. “We don’t fight that much anymore, but we don’t really talk unless we really need to,” Chen said. “The more we talk, the more we’re prone to another argument, so I’ve just given up on trying.”

Make responsible decisions, stay safe, and seek help before making a choice—contact the following people specializing in runaway-type situations. Talk to MVHS student advocate Richard Prinz in room D204. To report abuse or seek runaway-related emotional or legal advice, call the Child Protective Services at (800) 856-5553.

CHILD CRISIS HOTLINE

(415) 970-3800

elestoque

news

SO: Internet business makes thousands Junior Hanson So made over $50,000 in the last year. Here’s how he did it:

STEP 1 So creates or buys a new Web site STEP 4 So re-invests his profits in new Web sites, starting the process over again.

STEP 2 So brings traffic to the Web site through marketing. So’s Web site www.verabradleyauctions.com.

STEP 3 So sells the Web site for a profit.

“[Writing] helps me organize ideas and make them more concrete,” So said. As a member of the marketing club, DECA, So tries to use every opportunity he can to gather input and ideas. Club advisor and Business teacher Carl Shmidt contests that So is excellent in using the resources provided to him through DECA. “Hanson keeps contact with all the guest speakers, talking to them after presentations for hours,” Shmidt said. So hopes to learn from the guests to help his business. “I’m interested in what they

December of departing Junior Isrrael Mejia visits Mexico every winter

moneyflow

continued from page 1

December 18, 2008

know because if they were able to get to where they are, it must mean they know something valuable,” So said So’s interest in business goes far past making money. He is inspired and interested in entrepreneurship. He has even written a book about the success stories of 10 entrepreneures, which he hopes to publish someday. One great source of support for So in his business endeavors has been his family. “My mom gives me emotional support and encouragement,” So said. “She helps me to think critically and be careful.” So’s father, Haan, feels it is important to support his son. “He has an interest, and he

has to pursue that interest,” Haan So said. “We see that he enjoys what he is doing, and we must encourage him.” While So’s business is important, his parents say that school must stay his first priority. Since his freshman year, So has completed over 100 Web sites. Some of his most successful include www.verabradleyauctions.com, and www. easycashmethod.com. His most successful so far has been www. franceradio.net, which he sold for $20,000. Currently, So is working on two new Web sites, www.ucash. in and www.listen77.com. He plans to continue his business through college.

by Dipika Srihari

very Christmas morning, senior Isrrael Mejia, surrounded by presents, sits around the tree like many other students. However, while sharing stories and playing secret Santas, Mejia tries not to consider the thought that lingers at the back of his mind: returning home from Tequila, Mexico. Twice a year, summertime and holiday season, all five members of the Mejia family pack up their luggage and gifts and file into their spacious green Dodge truck for a twoday road trip to Tequila. Mejia feels, however, a month long vacation in the middle of every school year is anything but hasslefree. Making up finals is one of the hardest parts of the trip for Mejia. “I look forward to going to Tequila because I am going to be able to see my family again,” Mejia said. “But at the same time, I don’t [look forward to it] because it is just so much stress to miss school.” Even many of Mejia’s school friends see how much he loves Mexico. They describe him as very loyal and very helpful in Spanish. “Sometimes he says, ‘I wish I could live in Mexico,’” junior Chris Granera said. “You can tell by the way he talks that it’s more than a vacation to him because he has so much family and culture there.” Although Mejia sees Mexico as a second home, he was born and raised in America and has only lived in his motherland for a year or so.

Tequila is not only the place famous for its namesake drink, but to Mejia, it is also the homeland of his parents. Although Mejia is Mexican by blood, his American upbringing sets him apart from his friends and family in Mexico. “I was born in America, so everyone in Mexico views me as white. I’d like to think that I am more Mexican than I am white though,” Mejia said. “I know everyone in the town, it is not like I am going to some strange area where I am frowned upon for being white.” Regardless of how he is viewed in Mexico, Mejia feels the trip is worth it. Even his little sister Fatima says that if she had to choose between living in Mexico and America, she would definitely settle down in Mexico. “I get to play with my friends for hours,” Fatima said. “I love going to the beach with my cousins.” Mejia feels the same way as his sister does about settling down in Mexico when he is ready to retire. “My friends in Mexico are a really big deal because I am very close with them. I still keep in touch through email,” Mejia said. “Before I lived in Cupertino, I lived in Sacramento. That was okay because there was a lot more Mexican culture there. It gets lonely here because I live at the top of a [hill], and there’s no one there. “ Mejia says that his heart lies in Tequila, Mexico. “It is about family culture, heritage,” Mejia said.

opinion

First Amendment rights limited 7 • Basketball CCS selection flawed 8 • Students realize janitors’ responsibilities 9 •

If you laugh

at this conversation,

it’s ok.

Originally discriminatory term redefined by community this is part of a solution to discrimination against immigrants. MMIAF is a step toward accepting differences in culture. It’s futile to pretend that cultural differences — mymomisafob.com don’t exist. The fact of the matter is that people from different parts of the world are not always his is an excerpt from the recent internet sensation mymomisafob.com (MMIAF). The website was cre- going to be able to understand each other. Turning a blind ated by two Asian college students to share the “FOB- eye to these differences is just as bad as using them as a by” things their mothers said. Within months, the website vehicle for hate. MMIAF is on the took off, with people from all over the nation posting their right path. The web site takes these differences that we are all well aware parents’ comments that were lost in translation. FOB, or “fresh off the boat,” has intensely prejudiced of and uses them for humor. No one roots as a slur against recently-arrived immigrants. How- is being treated unfairly, and more ever MMIAF is a sign that the connotation is slowly chang- importantly, no one is being hurt. According to census data pubing. Discrimination of any form is unacceptable, however this website is not out to spread hatred. MMIAF was cre- lished by the San Jose Mercury News ated to acknowledge the “cute” comments that immigrant on Dec. 9, Cupertino is now the second city in the South parents sometimes make. To call someone a “FOB” is not Bay that has reached a point where the majority of the popneccesarily an insult. Many people now use the word with ulation is Asian. It is now one of the 18 cities with 20,000 or more people nationwide where Asians are more than no hateful intent, rather as a simple description. That is why MMIAF, and in essence the “movement” half of the population. With such a dense Asian populathat the web site represents, are so revolutionary. The idea tion in our community and school, the usage of “FOB” has of taking a term that was spawned out of hate and turn- become rather playful. It’s not uncommon to hear people ing it into one of appreciation is monumental. In a way, talk about their “FOBby” parents or say they took “FOBby

pictures” at Cupertino Square photo booths. We, as a community, gave this term a new definition and should take note of that. Our usage of “FOB” as well as MMIAF are a clear sign that this is no longer a strictly discrimanatory term. We have redefined the term, eliminating the negative connotaton, using it now as a term of endearment for our friends, loved ones, and ourselves. Of course, we have to be careful with our usage of the term “FOB.” Keep in mind that those who post on MMIAF hide behind the cloak of annonymity. Likewise, we must come to terms with the fact that we live in a community that is sheltered in many ways. The demographic of MVHS is not like that of the nation. “FOB” may be acceptable in our community, however it may be a long time before our definition makes its way to the rest of the world, so be aware of where and when you use the term. So, go ahead and call your parents “FOBby,” but be careful of the connotations the term may hold for others. Just as immigrants’ words sometimes get lost in translation when they come to America, yours may meet the same fate when you venture outside of our community.

Staff Editorial

Keeping church out of school Neutrality needed for individual expression by Alice Lee

n sunny Cupertino, where the trees still have their leaves in the middle of December, the true mark of the beginning of winter is characterized by the frenetic studying towards the end of the semester and merry exchange of presents between friends and teachers. Clubs begin their Winter Gram sales, selling cards and stuffed animals to well-wishing friends. Teachers distribute candy canes to stressed students for good luck before handing out their finals. And when the final bell rings on Dec. 19, students will head off to two weeks of “Mid Year Recess.” Here lie the district’s efforts toward political correctness: the district does not choose an “ambiguous” standpoint on its stance towards Christmas, a holiday rooted in the Christian religion. Rather, the school chooses a neutral one. It purposely chooses not to take a side, a choice in itself. Religion itself is not an uncontroversial topic: you saw what happened on the SchoolLoop forums last year. Holding in-depth conversations about each others’ religious beliefs is clearly a discussion to be had between close, trusting friends, not a topic left for an entire student body to pursue in everyday interaction. Things get ugly, and people’s feelings are hurt. Barbs are traded that aren’t even persona, but are taken personally. And here, at MVHS it’s relatively safe to say that come Dec. 25, the majority of the people at this school will celebrate Christmas in one way or another, whether or not they are religious. Yet it is precisely this widespread adoption of the holiday that renders it necessary for the school to hold a politically correct stance on naming the holiday break. I personally am not Christian, yet I have proudly decorated my house with lights, Christmas tree, and have begun my annual present shopping. Thus, Christmas has assimilated

into popular culture so much to the point that giving your friends a present or cards during the last week of school in December isn’t necessarily in “Christmas” spirit, it’s in the “holiday” spirit. Gift-giving is a part of American holiday culture—secret santa exchanges, holiday grams, etc. are as traditional to this nation as exchanging chocolate between lovers on Valentine’s Day. But it’s tricky. MVHS is an institution of education, and in order to ensure that all students are comfortable for this learning to actually occur on campus, the school cannot automatically side with the majority who celebrate Christmas, a holiday that still finds its roots in Christianity. Religion is a controversial topic, and even though any nonreligious families may celebrate the holiday, there are still some that don’t. The school doesn’t serve the interests of the majority; the school serves the interests of the entire student body. While excessive mention of the Christmas holidays may warrant discomfort for non-celebrating students, withholding mention of “Christmas” or “Santa Claus” does not harm those who do celebrate Christmas. The school isn’t forbidding mention of Christmasrelated terms in its choice not to officially use them. That’s the complete opposite of what MVHS wants to do— by choosing a neutral standpoint, the school encourages students to express them own beliefs and celebrations, but as individuals. If a student wishes to hand out Christmas presents to his or her friends, that person has all the right in the world to do so. At the same time, if a student wants to pass out Hannukah presents as well, they should feel the same amount of comfortability when doing so. Taking a neutral standpoint does not endorse a specific holiday and religion over another, and allows students to fully express their own unique perspectives and background.

Laura Wenus | El Estoque

Students’ First Amendment rights trampled School Loop discussions restricted to academia by Derek Wong

trend. Administration recommended against ponsor a villager in Vietnam! Don’t forget creating these non-school related subjects. The most recent of such occurrences beto pick up your eggshells! Attend the annual NAACP Leadership Conference! No gan on November 10, as the Class of 2011 beit’s not what you see when you accidentally gan a thread regarding class apparel designs. open up your e-mail’s Spam folder; it litters the The thread inevitably escalated into another firestorm of off-color comments brimming with side banners of the School Loop portal page. The brainchild of Mark Gross, School inappropriate content. Again, administration was required Loop was into step in and tended as a reinstate order, link between School Loop has adapted to fill handing out students, warnings and teachers, and in the void Facebook and Mysthreats of disparents, allowpace have left by providing a ciplinary acing academic information safe, localized discussion board. tion. However, there should to be accessed be a degree of with a click tolerance for of the mouse. With this blooming technology, a teacher can these conversations,so long as they are “safe post her most recently updated class grades, a for work”, without pornographic, violent, or student can ask for clarification on a chemis- profane material, there should be no reason to try assignment, discuss current events, or even restrict this freedom of expression. But these methods are, in essence, restricpromote fundraising using the School Loop bulletin board system. The versatility of School tions that inhibit a vital medium for social and Loop’s bulletin board has allowed it to become intellectual exchange of opinions. School Loop has become such a popular choice for discusan integral part of the MVHS student body. But apparently, this convenient tool has sions because people visit it on frequently for outlived its intended purpose to communicate grades and announcements, and has essentialand convey. As the number of inappropriate ly adapted to fill in the void where Facebook, posts have soared, administration has had to MySpace, and Blogspot have left in their wake take preventive measures. Seemingly random by providing an entirely safe, localized discusposts that sometimes originate from school- sion board with input from members that they oriented topics are all-too-often exploding into see on a daily basis. Students should be able to full-scale arguments, as last year’s School Loop communicate their respectful opinions regardfeuds on morality and religion, heated with ing school subjects or teachers without fear of offensive remarks, testified as the first of this punishment from administration.

elestoque

opinion

Letters to the editor Letters of any length should be submitted via e-mail or mail. They become the sole property of El Estoque and can be edited for length, clarity, or accuracy. Letters cannot be returned and will be published at El Estoque’s discretion.. Before the election, I was strongly against Proposition 8. I had buttons and even one of the signs that go in your front yard. After the election, I’ll admit I was disappointed that something I saw as so just and fair could be eliminated. But I’m not writing this to complain abut how Proposition 8 passed, I’m writing to tell people that I’m hopeful. Just through the mock election one can see how kids at school feel about this issue. And the fact that one day we will be able to vote tells me that this Proposition 8 can be reversed. Freshman Emma Courtright I found myself compelled to respond to Derek Wong’s column (Turkey Time, November issue). The lack of tolerance and understanding of vegetarianism is a disease, not vegetarianism, as Mr. Wong hypothesizes. Some may choose to abstain from eating meat for animal rights issues, while others may avoid it due to environmental issues such as global warming and pollution. If people are concerned about global warming, they should look to their dinner plate before forking over the money to get a hybrid vehicle. According to a study done by the University of Chicago, switching from a meat-eating diet to vegetarianism reduces one carbon footprint by 1.4 times the amount of switching from a Toyota

Camry to a hybrid car. A 2006 United Nations report summarized the damage caused by the meat industry by calling it “one of the top most significant contributors to the most serious environmental problems at every scale from local to global.” The report also said that the meat industry produces more greenhouse gases than all the SUVs, cars, trucks, planes and ships in the world combined. According to Environmental Defense, if every American skipped one meal of chicken per week and substituted vegetarian meals instead, the carbon dioxide savings would be the same as taking more than 500,000 cars off U.S. roads. Abstaining from meat for health reasons is nothing to sneeze at either. The American Dietetic Association states that vegetarians have “lower rates of death from heart disease, cholesterol levels, blood pressure, diabetes, prostate cancer and colon cancer.” According to the World Health Organization, up to 40 percent of all cancers are preventable and one-third of all cancer deaths in the US can be attributed to nutritional factors, according to the American Cancer Society. Also, let’s not forget food borne illnesses. Meat, fish and dairy products are loaded with bacteria, antibiotics, hormones and other toxins. According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, there are 75 million cases of food poisoning in the U.S. every year. The USDA reports that 70 percent of food poisoning is caused by contaminated animal flesh. This letter is not to tell people to stop eating meat. One of the great things about this country and this community is the freedom to live as we choose. If you want to keep eating meat, there are alternatives. Maybe tofurkey is better described as an engineering marvel than a food source. But to each their own. Now where is that tofu? Social Studies teacher Maria Carter-Giannini

CCS spot is earned, not granted Basketball needs a point system to determine CCS spots be selected, this current process unnecessarily complicates the procedure. It makes it difficult for teams to determine n order to determine the teams who play at the Cen- their current standing and chances of going to the playoffs tral Coast Section football playoffs, the teams’ record of because part of it is based on the league representatives’ wins, ties and losses is assessed. A win against a tougher debate session at the end of the season. Each basketball team also gets to design their own school is worth more points, while a victory over a lower division school is weighted less. In the end, the teams with playing schedule. A problem many see is stronger teams scheduling their games against weaker teams to add more the most points advance to compete at CCS. This procedure is very different for basketball. Instead wins to their record. A more direct system would clear up the ambiguity that surrounds of a point system, the league basketball’s regular season champion will automaticaland CCS tournament. ly go on to play in the CCS The coaches shouldn’t be The prestigious prizes tournament. The remaining in this world are respected spots, however, are not deallowed to choose who goes because of the difficulty intermined by a clear, objecto CCS. Let the teams devolved in its achievement. tive point system. cide for themselves. Athletic ability and coachLeague representatives ing play a significant part in meet and discuss the playoffs tournament in order to decide the remaining CCS teams. deciding the CCS seeding and bracket, but the discussions There, each representative is allowed to nominate any between league officals at the end of the season do so as team to advance to the championship games. Ultimately, well. Placing a greater emphasis on team achievements all the league representatives hold a vote to pick the teams and victories and less on the debates of league representatives would strengthen and add consistency to the CCS who are continuing on to the CCS tournament. Although it is not likely an unqualified team would basketball system.

by Jonathan Chan

Bull Spirit can’t hide that Matador pride Spirited squad injects shot of morale into athletic games by Stefan Ball

magine walking into a professional sports event surrounded by a sea of empty seats, a numbing silence, and a lack of foam fingers. Imagine watching your favorite team without shouting and with a straight face. Now imagine playing in one. You’re imagining boredom. You’re imagining a world without Bull Spirit. The reality is, fans make the game. Without fans, there wouldn’t be much point in sports at all. While at a much higher level than high school sports, professional teams rely on fans and — and fans’ wallets — to progress and be where they need to be. High school sports may not rely on money and fans for simple existence, but supporters certainly spice up the games by providing the buzz and anticipation that make a particular event worthwhile. Sports are a battle, and as with all battles, greater numbers always help. Bull Spirit makes our side stronger and more vocal. Bull Spirit, which is essentially a

dedicated cheer group, became a club this year in order to publicize its presence and raise more money. Their efforts to support all home games should be wholeheartedly appreciated. The teacher-student dodge-ball game was a prime example — passionate fans projected noise and visuals for a competitive yet fun atmosphere. Without a mass of students screaming our players’ nicknames and immersing themselves into the experience, the event wouldn’t have been as enjoyable for the more subdued spectators. As I sat in the stands, a group of friends around me scrambled to make a sign for Math Teacher Jon Stark a.k.a “The Wrench.” That enthusiasm was what makes sports what they are. Without as many passionate students, the stands certainly would’ve been half empty — not half full, and the games would have been completely stale. Bull Spirit was there, and while that atmosphere wasn’t entirely their doing, they try to take it wherever possible — not just the already popu-

lar events like football and basketball. In an attempt to spread the passion across the entire campus, Bull Spirit plans to attend all sports events, including slightly off-beat events like water polo, and very far removed events like chess. While many of the students who made that atmosphere what it was were not Bull Spirit members, the goal of Bull Spirit is to bring that atmosphere to as many home games as possible. Last year, Bull Spirit was composed of just the Leadership class and a few other students, but as a club it now has 133 members. It provides a system to create organized cheers for maximum impact. Our student athletes may not need our support, but it is necessary on an entirely different level. It makes our sporting events more enjoyable. By supporting our athletes, we are abiding by the golden rule: treat others how we would like to be treated. Bull Spirit may not change the entire high school sporting scene, but it is a step up the right bleachers.

December 18, 2008

Keep it neat Students must make community a priority by Alice Lee

elestoque

December 18, 2008

MVerbatim

opinion

DEREKWONG With finals closely approaching from Dec. 16 to Dec. 18, students are studying to either maintain or raise their grades in their classes. However, students have varied opinions on the importance and value of grades. El Estoque asked some students around campus on their views of grades.

Judgment

Day

Are grades an accurate measure of what you have learned throughout the year?

“ ” “

Getting good grades is about working hard and understanding how teachers grade your work. It’s important, since grades determine your life. — Divya Majji, senior

I don’t think they’re a good measure. If you try and study, you will do well. But if you want to actually learn, you can improve intelligence rather than getting good grades. — Falcon Wong, sophomore

Do you have to work hard to get good grades?

“ “

” ”

Work to your potential and you will get in where you can. —Divya Majji, senior

You just have to find your way, even a shortcut to getting good grades. It’s not even about trying. You need to find weak points in a teacher.

”

—Falcon Wong, sophomore

Should grades be based on effort?

“ “

Who is the better student: the person who worked harder or did better on the test? — Aysuhi Sammadar, senior

”

If you grade on effort, then it’s comparing a really smart student to a student who is not as smart but worked hard.

”

— Kevin Jiang, sophomore

Students realize importance of janitorial staff Waste Wars emphasize the necessity of keeping campus clean by Jane Kim

ted by a few. However, it will include of their job, and there is a distinct disrespect the reputation of MVHS students as a he trash loitered beside the trees, when that fact is used to justify littering. This whole, even for those who pick up after yet we walked on by. We might fraction of the student body doesn’t need to themselves. have wondered what had brought appreciate our clean campus and those who Nighttime custodian Tom Orsua exupon the sudden influx of littering. We allow us to have that everyday. However, it plained that his issue with littering isn’t might also have seen seen the same trash isn’t too much work to just throw away your disrespect but his spending less time in sitting in the same place as it had the day own garbage. These students may only make taking care of other parts of the school. before. Finally on announcements, we up a small part of the student body, but it is “If the students took the initiative were told what was going on: Campus still significant. to take that piece of paper and throw it According to senior and Campus ComCommission’s Waste Wars. away,” Orsua said, “we can spend more Waste Wars wasn’t as heavily ad- missioner Sangita Annamalai about half of time to take care of the vertised as other school school in other ways, like events. Other than the dealing with safety hazyellow poster hanging Cleaning is only one aspect of [the janiards.” on the A building wall, Most people do not Waste Wars for the most tors’] job, and there is a distinct disrespect usually recognize that part was kept under the when that fact is used to justify littering. custodians have other radar. The intention of parts of their job other doing this was to have than cleaning up once students be more aware the day is over. They of their surroundings, maintain the school, and create a nice while also showing students how dirty the students who participated in Waste Wars environment inside and outside of our school would be without the janitors. were unaware of the raffle for an iPod shufclassrooms for the students. Waste Wars should have motivated and fle. They just cleaned the campus because But there’s no one really to blame. increased appreciation for the environ- the school was dirty, while the other half was It certainly isn’t the majority of our ment. Waste Wars did impact the school interested in entering the raffle. Regardless school. The fault really falls on the ones in a positive manner, but it also brought of their intentions, it successfully aroused who throw their trash on the ground, to light the issue of students unwilling to awareness in students. instead of throwing their trash away. However, certain students remain nepick up after themselves. No one has the right to litter. InWhen junior and campus commis- glectful. These students don’t bother to pick stead of enabling careless habits. Throw sioner Annalissa Choy announced that up after themselves because they know the garbage in its designated place, not the the janitors hadn’t picked up the trash for custodians will get it. Contributing to a clean earth. Even if we have janitors that three days, a small fraction of MVHS stu- campus isn’t their responsibility or priority. are paid, it doesn’t give us the right to dents grumbled. Isn’t it their job to pick This mentality not only affects our school throw garbage wherever we please. So up trash? Students don’t need to walk visually, but also figuratively. It only takes we shouldn’t do so, especially since to the trash can when we have janitors, a few to litter and create a dirty impreswe’re too inactive to do what our parsion of MVHS; from there, an impression of right? No. ents have been teaching us to do since True, janitors are paid to clean the MVHS students follows. It isn’t the majority childhood, picking up after ourselves. school. But cleaning is only one aspect of students’ fault for a carelessness commit-

Christmas: not about religion

hristmas season is finally here. It only comes around once a year for a few weeks, but it’s certainly a time for me to celebrate. With school far from sight and locked safely away out of mind, I finally have all the time to hang out with friends and family, forget all my academic blunders, and sleep until the winter sun is in the middle of the sky. But for me, it’s all about the presents. Be it a new jacket from a sibling, the camera you’ve been wanting for ages, or a gallon of cologne from the bargain bin given by that one uncle who never bothered to remember your name, in my eyes, no gift is ever gone unappreciated. But it’s not just the carnal rush that floods my bloodstream and dilates my pupils when I rip apart the daintily wrapped box with my name on it that makes Christmas so pleasing to me, it’s also reciprocating the same kindness to another individual. Even with these enjoyable traits, Christmas is not seen by all as the joyous recognition of camaraderie and generosity, but rather as a manifestation of the despicable American materialist society. The Kumbaya-chanting choruses and austere conservatives alike assail Christmas for a variety of misplaced faults. From the left corner, torrid criticisms pinpoint the mismanaged money and time spent dancing around a plastic tree as mismanaged resources that should have been saved or spent doing more “constructive” things. More so, the Christian faithful on the right brand the modern celebration of Christmas as a heinous decline from the “original meaning of Christmas.” All the while, assorted organizations and sects call for the “political correctness” of Christmas, demanding menorahs to be put up next to Christmas trees, forbidding me from saying “Merry Christmas” to my customers at work as they leave the store, eventually leading to such monstrous salutations such as “Happy Chrismahannakwanza.” And I am sick of all of it. Why can’t I simply revel in Christmas cheer without these preposterous complications? Is it so hard for people to just celebrate their own traditions without trying to superimpose their beliefs upon mine? I’m not saying that everybody necessarily needs to celebrate the way I do, but rather people should stop trying to force others into customs that they have no interest in. Foremost, Christmas is undoubtedly a time for family merry-making, and giving out presents is quite an efficient way to do so. To all those idealists, you can give away your money to feed the hungry masses, or you can buy presents for me and help out the economy (so they don’t have to feed all of us when we’re out of money and jobs). Either way, you’re still making somebody happy. In reference to those pious pushers, as far as I can see Christmas is a national holiday and will remain so. The phrase “separation of church and state” seems fitting. Thus, Christmas is no longer a purely Christian holiday, so even if it was originally meant to revel the birth of Jesus, the holiday now has a different meaning. So stop being bitter and don’t bother trying to kick out Santa Claus and his toy sack from baby Jesus’ manger, he’s here to stay. And to all the non-Christmas revelers, stop damming up the Christmas cheer by being so sensitive. Instead, tell us to “have a Happy Kwanzaa or Hanukkah” when your turn comes around. So have a happy holiday and a damn fine Christmas while you’re at it.

elestoque

December 18, 2008

11acloserlook

INSIDE: Q&A with De Anza sociology professer Dr. Fred Marcus Proceed with caution. A look at which racial words are more offensive than others.

YOUR MOM'S A FOB!? Snippets from the site PRECLEANING CLEANING December 11, 2008 Me: What are you doing? Mom: Cleaning the house. Me: Isn’t Betsy coming tomorrow? (Our house cleaner) Mom: Yeah but we can’t have it messy! IN SEARCH OF A DENTAL HUSBAND December 12, 2008 The dentist is off for 2 weeks when you come back. So no appointment. You can clean your teeth in your school. Make an appointment in your dental school and you may meet a dental boy. Mom IN CASE YOU WERE GOING TO CALL November 28, 2008 I hope you didnot caught the cold. I finished the work and taking a nap now. Donot call me now, thanks. Mom

A new online sensation centers around a phrase many at MVHS are familiar with—fresh off the boat. by Allie Choy

t’s not everyday you find a website filled with photos of mothers eating popcorn with chopsticks, videos of dads rocking out to Guitar Hero, and stories of moms mistaking “adoption” for “abortion.” Mymomisafob.com features just that—and more. “My mom is a fob” is a website where people submit stories of their parents being a “FOB,” a phrase describing immigrants who haven’t assimilated to American culture. The site was launched by Chinese-American college students from Fremont, Calif., Teresa and Serena Wu, in October 2008. Though the two students knew many would think the website controversial and racy, they also knew the benefits would outweigh the disadvantages. Their reasoning turned out to be spot on: the website has garnered generally positive reviews and has gained about 1,000 faithful readers. The website has even been featured on prominent blogs, such as the blog of Margaret Cho, an Asian American comedian. “This website is very adorable and cute, and good for [pictures] of moms in plastic visors,” Cho writes on her blog. Others agree that the website is a fun way to document and showcase their parents’ “cute idiosyncrasies.” “I don’t think it’s very offensive. Being a FOB isn’t bad, it’s just something to laugh about,” freshman Jenny So said. The two friends came up with the daring idea after reading “Postcards from yo mamma” (postcardsfrommymomma.com). This website contains stories of mothers’ thoughts on life and love,

Being a FOB isn’t bad, it’s just something to laugh about,” freshman Jenny So said. started to publicize on Facebook, Twitter, and their own blogs. The website became an instant hit and the two business partners also started mydadisafob.com, a spin-off featuring FOBby fathers. Though the website has become such a hit, many did not embrace the concept of posting parents’ private emails and letters for the sake of humor. “Making fun of your parents is mean. Asian immigrants have trouble transitioning into American culture. We should just respect what they’ve done, ” senior Brian Ting said. On her blog, Teresa responded to the criticism the website received of being disrespectful or mean. “MMIAF is more about a community of understanding rather than an audacious move to ‘air our dirty laundry’ out in public. The laundry isn’t even dirty begin with,” Teresa said.

put up so many, but it’s still hit-or-miss—sometimes something I don’t love ends up getting great ratings, and vice versa. People tend to love photos and videos, so most of those go up. I tend to almost always post the really sweet and encouraging emails—those are the best!

San Jose Mission alumnus Teresa Wu, co-creator of mymomisafob. com with Serena Wu, answers questions about the site. interviewed by Allie Choy How have your parents inspired you to create the site? Teresa: The very first few posts came straight from my inbox. In fact, our tag line, “Is funk means sexy?” is a classic from my very own mother. While my dad does send me the occasional gem, he’s not nearly as hilarious as my mother. However, readers clamored for a dad site, so we happily obliged. My parents don’t actually know about the sites—not because I think they’d care, but because I’m not ready for them to read my personal blog yet (which is linked)!

including funny and inspirational e-mails, as well as correspondence between mothers and their children. Within a week after starting an “Asian version” of PFYM on Tumblr, the social networking site had over 60,000 page views. After setting up a Wordpress-powered site, they

photo courtesy of Serena Wu

Serena Wu

photo courtesy of Teresa Wu

Teresa Wu

How do you choose which ones get put up? T: To be honest, I’m starting to get desensitized to FOBby humor! It’s getting hard for me to judge what’s funny and what’s not anymore. I have a pretty good idea of the kinds of posts people like after having

What has been the biggest surprise on your MMIAF journey so far? T: The biggest surprise is the overwhelming support we’ve received—and the amazing people we’re meeting because of it. We get emails and Facebook adds all the time from people who tell us how much they absolutely love our site.

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acloserlook

Crossing racial boundaries

Students reflect on the experience of living with a multiracial family speak basic Chinese with her mother and is able to converse with her grandparents on her mother’s side, though there is still a slight language barrier. Knight, on the other hand, is fluent in both Japanese and English and moved multiple times from Japan to the United States and back, before finally moving back to America. Born in Japan, Knight attended an international school for six years. For him, living in Japan with an American father and Japa-

where they eat a traditional American dinner and later at her mom’s parents’, where they have Chinese food. ost people fill in one bubble for She does not see any major differences ethnicity on standardized tests. between the way her family functions as Junior Grace Erhardt fills in two. opposed to families consisting of one ethErhardt is half Chinese and half Euronicity, though she does believe that there pean. Multiracial students such as Erhardt are some advantages to having a multiand senior Chris Knight, whose parents hail cultural family, such as a heightened culfrom Japan and America, make up a minortural awareness and more opportunities. ity of the U.S. — population with approxi“I sing in Crystal Choir, and it’s all mately 2.4 percent, or 6.8 million people, Asian,” Erhardt said. “I according to the wouldn’t have that op2000 census. The portunity if it weren’t year 2000 was the My mom grew up in a really strict household for my mom.” first year in which in Taiwan, and my dad was more free, I guess, When Erhardt comthe census allowed pares her relationship participants to mark so it’s like I get the best of both worlds,” with her parents to themselves as more junior Grace Erhardt said. those of her full Asian than one race. friends with their parDespite their mients, she finds that nority status, neither nese mother was never much of an issue. her parents have more balance in the way Erhardt nor Knight have ever experienced “Since we’ve moved around a lot, my they discipline her. According to her, her any sort of discrimination because of their parents have been in both cultures. They’re friends’ parents appear to be harder on their biracial status, and feel as though living in used to both,” Knight said. kids than hers. with a multiracial family is not much differErhardt attended Chinese school from “Sometimes, when my mom gets realent from any other. kindergarten until fourth grade, and is curly upset, my dad will come in and be like, “Sometimes people will say, ‘Oh, you’re rently taking Chinese 3, which supplements ‘Calm down!’” Erhardt said. “My mom grew half? That’s cool!’” Erhardt said. “I wouldn’t the basic Chinese that she already knows. up in a really strict household in Taiwan, and be offended if someone called me a FOB. I’d Her family also alternates between eating my dad was more free, I guess, so it’s like I get think okay, that’s weird, but it wouldn’t affect Chinese and American food, “depending the best of both worlds.” me.” on whoever is home.” Unlike most famiAny disadvantages? Erhardt pauses for a Erhardt has lived in the U.S. her entire life, lies, Erhardt’s family celebrates Thanksgivmoment, smiling. and, despite her mother’s Taiwanese heritage, ing twice—once at her dad’s parents’ house, “None.” has never been to Asia. She does, however,

by Sabrina Ghaus

304 students participated in an online survey based on the word “FOB.” Have you ever considered any of the below groups to be or to act like “FOB’s”?

How frequently do you hear “FOB” used? Once or twice a week 37%

Never 9%

1-3 times daily Once or twice a month 11% 43%

Parents 18% Other 10%

Friends 28%

Would you consider yourself a “FOB”?

Siblings 7% Classmates 37%

No 87%

Yes 13%

• In the Zone 16 • CCS playoffs 17 • Martial arts 17 • Sports stats 18 • Snow injuries 18 •

Be true to your school

Daniel Stenzel | El Estoque Photo Illustration

sports

memories

Former students return to their alma mater to coach and advise by Allie Choy

Jeff Mueller Class of 1973

Lori Graham Class of 1991

Calvin Wong Class of 1999

short rendezvous at the grocery store determined the course of dance teacher and former coach Lori Graham’s life for the next eleven years. In 1997, Graham, an MVHS alumnus, ran into her old high school assistant principal who told her dance classes were no longer held at MVHS. Though Graham didn’t know it yet, her decision to return to her old high school would lead the dance team to win three national and six state titles, and manage a successful dance program involving more than 200 students. This sense of dedication that has led the dance program to success can also be seen in other alumni who have come back to revamp MVHS sports programs. Among such alumni are boys basketball assistant coach and senior clerical assistant Calvin Wong and football coach and Jeff Mueller. This determination to lead the respective sports teams to success is fueled by a lifelong passion to their sports–a passion that has grown from mere involvement in school activities to a profession and living. An example of such commitment and love for her sport is Graham, who attended MVHS from 1987 to 1991, took three years of dance classes and was an involved member of the dance, cheer, and song teams. In 1999, Graham came back to bring

the classes back and serve as the Marquesas dance coach. Under her direction, the dance program has expanded to five classes, while the dance team has grown from a mere 10 students in 1997 to 27 members for the 2008-09 school year. The success of the annual dance showcases has also fueled interest in the dance program. Graham hopes to add one or two more classes and vary the levels for each class to accommodate the girls’ wide range of dance experience and technique. These plans may change depending on the varying skills of the students from year to year. “Every year I change my focus [of improvements to be made] and that keeps me on my toes, so to speak,” Graham said. Whatever that focus may be, Graham’s main goal is to allow her students to experience the joy of dancing. Wong also has such a desire to get students to embrace their sport, particularly basketball, and has dedicated his job to catering the students’ needs. The improvements Wong has made are more subtle, but make just as strong of an impact. Wong, who was a basketball statistician from 1996 to 1999, emphasized more on something as simple as the presence of more coaches on campus. “Before, it was difficult for the coaches to communicate well with the kids,” Wong said. “Having a coach on campus has helped [the coaches] un-

derstand the players so they can do a better job.” Another alumnus, Jeff Mueller, attended MVHS from 1969 to 1973 and was a catcher on the varsity baseball team and a quarterback on the varsity football team. He initially come back to MVHS to teach Business, but also started to coach football. Since coming back from a career in the business world, Mueller has noticed a need for constant improvement. Some of these improvements include rebuilding through a series of off-season weight training programs and conditioning programs, a successful freshman-sophomore football program, and stronger offense and special teams. Mueller also often encourages the players by discussing the importance football has played in the development of the school. “We are going in the right direction,” Mueller said. “The attitude is good, and the players and staff are working hard to ensure the football team is a sound representation of the community and the school.” Whether their goal is to better represent the school through football or to show students the joy of dancing, these alumni have made their mark on the course of their sports at MVHS. These are teachers who seek to cultivate interest in their sports, making improvements, coaching, and teaching for the rest of their lives.

Fencing’s use of agility, strategy is more than just sword play

Student and teacher fencers passionately pursue combat sports through off campus clubs by Brittany Hopkins

ophomore Daniel Ki thrusts his sword forward as his opponent blocks the attack. Ki advances again and this time is successful in stabbing his adversary. Though Ki now attends fencing practice twice a week, there was a time when he hardly knew that the sport existed. “I was signing up for classes and I saw ‘Intro to Fencing,’” Ki said. “I thought, ‘Whoa, swords,’ so I joined.” Math teacher Jon Stark was also captivated by the “cool” factor of fencing. He first began fencing at the University of New Mexico “I’ve watched a lot of swashbuckling movies where pirates were swinging their swords around and I though all of that looked really cool,” Stark said. “When I got to college I decided it was time to learn [to fence].” Described by Stark as a “simulation of combat,” fencing is a sport that requires strategy along with athletic ability. In order to win, one competitor must touch the other with his or her respective blade.

“Fencing has been called ‘physical chess,’” Ki said. “It requires thinking, strategy and on-the-spot decisions.” Though fencing may appear violent, participants wear protective gear and rarely get injured by the blade itself. “The intention is not to hurt your opponent,” Stark said. “You want to be able to fence against them next week.” Senior Vanessa Ing is currently suffering from a fencing related injury, but she believes that the injury could have occurred in any sport. Ing overextended her knee and has been unable to compete for the past year. She attends physical therapy and cannot wait to be able to fence again. “Fencing is a way of dueling except without blood,” Ing said. “You have to be delicate with the blade; almost like playing an instrument.” Stark is taking a voluntary break from fencing but says that he will return to it eventually. Fencing holds a special place in Stark’s heart as he met his wife through the sport. “It’s a fencing tradition to shake the hand of your opponent afterwards, but I was gracious enough to kiss it instead,” Stark said. “That made a nice impression.”

Brittany Hopkins | El Estoque

STRATEGY AND SKILL Sophomore Daniel Ki (left) strikes his opponent at the Stanford Arrillaga Family Sports Center on Wednesday, Nov. 19th. Though MVHS does not have a fencing team, students travel off campus to pursue the sport.

elestoque

sports

embaRrassing

MOMENTS

SEASON PREVIEWS

“During practice one day, I turned around to get the ball. I accidently touched some dog poop [that was on the ball]. Everybody laughed at me.” —junior Michelle Pao, varsity soccer

IN THE 1

December 18, 2008

ZONE 2

“When someone on the opposite team took a shot, I got a rebound, but I screwed up and took a shot on the opposite team’s basket.” —junior Jocelyn Ou, varsity girls basketball

“My friend freshman Savannah Day and I had pantsing wars all day. At a game that day, when the coach was talking to us during halftime, she came over and pulled my pants down in front of everyone.” —freshman Rannah Dabiri, junior varsity soccer

“It was near the end of a game and the coach told me to foul. So I was running and this really tall girl was there. I [accidentally] jumped on her and we fell to the ground.” —sophomore Crystal Hsu, junior varsity girls basketball

“Before practice, I wanted to jump over a rolled up mat, and I ended up falling on my face.” —sophomore John Reinhardt, wrestling

“It was during a game and I was ball pressuring a guy. I stole the ball from him and began dribbling away. There was no one around for a few feet. So I went for a layup and I hit the rim and the ball bounced off. Everyone was like,’oooh.’” —junior David Katz, varsity basketball

“I was at practice and I was running and I randomly fell flat on my face. After that everyone including the coach called me, ’twinkle toes.’” —junior Tsuk Haroush, varsity soccer

1 Varsity Boys Soccer Senior Erik Romelfanger head-butts a ball and watches it fly during a game against Lynbrook at LHS on Dec 10. by Sarah McKee

he first half of the varsity boys soccer pre-season game on Dec 10. against Lynbrook at LHS remained gridlocked with both teams unable to score. During the middle of the second half, the Vikings scored the first goal of the game, and followed soon after with another two. The Matadors finally found the back of the net during the last few minutes of the game. The goal was scored by senior David Kucera with an assist by senior Curtis Upton resulting in a final score of 3-1 in favor of Lynbrook. The coach feels, however, this is the strongest team they have ever had.

2 Varsity Girls Basketball Junior Kelli Sum runs the ball up the court at the MVHS Invitational on Dec 4. MVHS won 45-30.

3 JV Girls Soccer At the Dec 8. game against Prospect at MVHS, sophomore Chelse Tsai Simek attempts to steal the ball.

4 JV Boys Basketball Freshman Jason Huang drives the ball to the net, helping win their first game against Fremont 65-5.

5 Wrestling Junior Victor Kuo and sophomore Daniel Yusem practice a new move in preparation for tournaments.

by Sasha Degtyar

by Sarah McKee

by Sasha Degtyar

arsity girls basketball took second place at the MVHS Invitational Tournament Dec. 4 6. MVHS won its first two games and lost to Evergreen in their championship round, 50-51. “We did pretty well. It’s the first time in years that we’ve come this close to winning our own tournament,” co-captain and senior Nicki Yee said. The team’s success is due in part to the sharp defense and quick passing on court. “We’re trying to push the ball a lot,” coach Sara Borelli said. “We’re a fast-paced team, trying to get everyone playing time.”

fter their seventh game of the season, the junior varsity girls soccer team can be described in one word: undefeated. Following their Dec. 9 game against Valley Christian, the team has scored a total of 34 goals and has only allowed three. During the Dec. 8 game against Prospect at MVHS, freshman Anne Blake Burke scored two goals. Freshman Kaylene Reid Kearney and sophomore Samantha van den Berg have been leading in assists. “This year, every player is starting material,” coach Jon van den Berg said.

leven sophomores returned to the boys JV team, boosting the team’s experience. “We have more talent across the board, so we are [going to] be able to play more players,” coach Calvin Wong said. Returning players include sophomore Ryan Michelfelder, who was a particularly strong offensive player in the season’s first game on Nov. 25 against Fremont. MVHS won their first home game 65-54. “We’re preparing them [so] they can not be robotic in how they play, but really think and see the game,” Wong said.

ighteen athletes start the wrestling team this season. Of these eighteen, there are 15 underclassmen. Because there are only a few experienced members, the entire team practices together. They will work to prepare and strengthen the newcomers. Though the team has to forfeit several weight categories, captain senior Graham Patterson seems optimistic. “As far as [individual] tournaments, we do pretty well.” As a four-year veteran of the team, Patterson helps coach Nolan Verga “bring the new kids up to speed.”

WINTERSNAPSHOT Sophomore Melissa Wang is nicknamed Ferby because whenever she makes a basket for the junior varsity basketball team, she starts to scream like a Ferby.

Every time freshman Boson Wang displays fancy footwork on the field, his fellow junior varsity soccer teammates yell, “Oh no, Bobo!” or “Oh no, it’s Boson!”

Senior Mitchell Yoshikawa is known by his friends and basketball teammates to have shoelace OCD. He is constantly trying his shoes and has a special procedure for

When Boston Celtics won a game after eating peanut butter and jelly sandwhiches, girls JV basketball player sophomore Faria Tahir followed their lead and ate one too.

Having two Cheryls on one team can be quite confusing. That’s why the girls varsity soccer team calls sophomore Cheryl Tom, TomTom, after her last name.

Last season, the wrestling team found now sophomore Adnan Hamwi’s journal in the wrestling room. As a result, their former coach forced him to read his poems aloud.

Sasha Degtyar, Sarah McKee, Dipika Shrihari, Daniel Stenzel | El Estoque

elestoque Martial arts: Not just for kicks December 18, 2008

sports

DIPIKASHRIHARI

Inside Out

Students practice martial arts for more than just the adrenaline rush by Vijeta Tandon

ith rigid arms and fixed eyes, taekwondo student sophomore Arjun Baokar slowly bent his knees and took a step to the left. Like a flash of lightning, he stood up straight while his arms extended outwards, slicing through the air. He then looked up. “See, notice how I moved down first and then up, like a sine wave,” Baokar explained. “My momentum helps add more power [to the motion].” Momentum, power, sine waves. A real life physics lab? Not so much. In reality, these concepts all happen to be fundamentals of taekwondo, a popular martial art form. Baokar explained that at first glance, the sole goal of martial arts may appear to be self-defense. Upon closer examination, however, he added that the importance of the mental concepts used in various subdivisions of the sport come to light. Whether it be taekwondo, karate, wushu, or any other type of martial art, mental focus and confidence are key aspects to success. In fact, many martial artists agree that these attributes are primarily what unify all of the various forms of martial arts, which generally tend to be very different in each of their approaches. Thus, it could easily be said that each martial art has a different philosophy about how to approach a situ-

Daniel Stenzel | El Estoque

FREE FALLING Sophomore Tomer Assaf performs a backflip in the rally court on Dec. 5. Martial artists enjoy the mental and physical challenges the sport provides. ation, and that confidence and focus are the building blocks of these diverse philosophies. For example, taekwondo teaches that if confronted by an opponent, students should be able to disable the opponent in a single move. Shotokan karate, on the other hand, teaches

students that they should only do what is necessary to defend themselves, then walk away from the situation. Either way, the mental aspect of self-defense cannot be overlooked. “[Learning martial arts] gives you self-confidence to know that you can defend

yourself if you need to,” shotokan student sophomore Anindya Basu said. For Basu, learning shotokan karate has helped him become more confident. He is no longer afraid to take a stand or voice his opinion on an issue. “Before fourth grade, [when I started learning shotokan karate], I was really quiet and shy,” Basu said. “[Shotokan karate] taught me how to be more comfortable with myself.” Equally important in any martial art is focus. “You really need a calm mindset because if your mind is clouded, then your forms will be too,” wushu student sophomore Alex Shung said. In wushu, which has more of a performance element to it, the way one looks while performing is extremely important. This shows whether the competitor is truly focused or not. Judges often take points off if a performer’s eyes are wandering,” Shung explained. Xtreme martial artist sophomore Tomer Assaf agreed. “If you’re not totally focused on what you’re going to do, then it [won’t work],” Assaf said. “Your mind has to be in it 100 percent.” Assaf also acknowledged that martial arts is about more than brute force, and the mental aspect is just as important as the physical. “[Martial Arts] reaches beyond just plain self-defense. It is really about who you are as a person.”

CCS playoff qualifications proven controversial Football and basketball’s CCS tournament policies frankly contrast by Samved Sangameswara

his past November, the varsity football team qualified for the Central Coast Section playoffs for the first time in eight years. The team qualified not because they got first place in their league, nor because of any sort of county standings; the Matadors were given the eighth seed in the large school division due to a very complex series of equations. CCS playoff qualification and seeding for football is determined by a system of “power points.” Each team is given a certain power point value, depending on the league they are in. For example, a victory against Los Gatos High School, which is in the A league, is worth more than a victory against Lynbrook. Likewise, the 48-0 defeat that MVHS suffered to Los Gatos High School on Nov. 7 did not carry as much weight as the the 13-9 loss to Homestead on Oct. 31 because Homestead and Lynbrook are considered. Athletic Director Brian Sullivan is a fan of this system, believing it to be the most accurate measure of a team’s quality. “[The CCS football system] is the closest to a fair assessment,” Sullivan said. The system for football, however, is alone amongst the other high school sports. CCS has different playoff qualifications for nearly every sport it governs. The reasoning is that not all sports can be judged equally, a qualification that not everyone agrees with. “I understand that every sport needs to be looked at differently,” Sullivan said,“but there needs to be some consistency.” According to Sullivan, the area that is most lacking in consistency is the determi-

sidebyside CCS Football Qualifications

CCS Basketball Qualifications

Be a league champion

Have the necessary number of power points

Have a league or non-league record of over .500 (more wins than losses)

Bracketing determined by ranking teams in order of power points

Bracketing determined during a meeting of league representatives

nation of playoff qualification and seeding for basketball. Unlike football, basketball has no point system set up to determine who gets into the playoffs. Instead, every league champion gets an automatic bid to CCS and the remaining spots as well as the seeding of the playoff tournament, are filled on an entirely subjective basis. At the end of the regular season, representatives from every league have a meeting to determine the bracket for the playoffs. Each league representative makes a case for the teams in their division, stating why that particular team deserves to be placed in the tournament. The final decision comes down to a vote from all league representatives. In theory, a winless team could make the playoffs purely because of receiving a majority vote. The lack of a defined path to the playoffs is a flaw many, including varsity boys basketball coach Matt Tait, see in the system. Tait, whose team has made it to the CCS playoffs for two consecutive years, is in favor of going to a more definite system, similar to football. “I think it would make things more clear

cut,” Tait said. Still, there are some who believe that there is some merit to the basketball method of selecting CCS playoff seeding. Tony Nunes, the CCS Santa Clara Valley League Commissioner, believes that due to the differences in scheduling between the sports, it’s neccesary to choose playoff seeding differently for each sport. “In basketball, you play a lot more games,” Nunes said. “You play against a wider variety of teams [than football], which is why the playoff determination needs to be looked at differently.” Between Tait and Sullivan however, as far as seeding for the MVHS team, there is a desire for a more accurate way of measuring a team’s success and granting them a place in the playoffs. Sullivan is wary of how political sports become when playoff berth is in the hands of a committee vote. He believes that the focus switches from a comparison of each team’s quality to more of a debate between league representatives. According to Sullivan, “It’s not what high school sports are about.”

Tapping into muscle power

ith my new guns, it is only natural that I receive green glances of envy from even the most muscular school jocks. I found my breakthrough upper body workout under the swealtering sunshine in the San Fransisco bay. Behind the quaint Mexican restaurant where my dad and I ate, glimmers of mustard yellow and flamingo pink caught my attention. Easily distracted, my dad and I headed toward these bright colors only to discover kayak rentals. My little sense of adventure perked up and I was determined to do some after-lunch kayaking. Kayaking was new to me, but I was confident that I could make full use of my two hour rental time. A half hour later, I found myself strapped into a life-vest and sitting in one of the blindingly yellow kayaks. Little did I know how much of a physical strain kayaking entailed. I skipped happily toward the kayak retail center and signed up to rent one for myself. Kayaking came easily to me. It was just a matter of not dropping my oar into the salty bay waters. As I left the pier, my sense of confidence heightened. Those Somalian pirates could learn a thing or two from me, I mused as I maneuvered to the right and left. About 10 minutes into my voyage through the bay, I turned another city corner and gasped as I saw the big ballpark. While I had seen the big bold “AT&T Park” sign while driving, I assumed that it was a fancy name for a boring office building. The view from the bay showed not only most of the insides of the home of the Giants, but instilled a sense of awe in me. I felt shivers trickle down my spine at the thought of being in the presence of some of the most respected athletes of our time. The empty ballpark seats called to me, and I wanted so badly to be on the stands witnessing sports history in the making. A canoist a few feet from me, apparently a regular to these waters, saw me gazing longingly and noted that one time, he almost caught a ball that was hit out of the park. Well rested, I continued onward through the various tunnels and bridges that surrounded me. As time passed, my arms slowly began to morph into rubber. With each stroke forward, my flimsy arms flapped backward. What little muscle I had was cloaked by the excessive amounts of fat that outlined my arms. I was stuck in the middle of the bay with no muscle power to carry me home. My face cringed when I remembered my attempt to work out last week. I regretted cheating on those pushups I faked. I decided to let the the waves do most of the work and hoped the would carry me safeley to the peir. Unfortunately, the waves were heading in the wrong direction, and I felt myself slipping farter and farther from the San Fransisco skyscrapers. As the rest of the group slipped away from me, I began to fear whether I would make it. Finally, I gathered up all the energy I possessed and rowed to shore. I would have wiped the sweat off my brow when I reached solid ground, but my arms were limp and refused to be bullied any more. So I went home and slept. I admit that my kayak workout did not transform me into an Arnold Schwarzengger, but as I looked into the mirror I could not help but be smug when I noticed that slight muscles had outlined my arms.

elestoque

18 Sliding down the slippery slopes sports

December 18, 2008

Two students share their experiences with injuries from skiing and snowboarding trips by Kunal Bhan

regular skier, senior Josh Taylor thought it would be interesting to take up snowboarding for a change. However, his first experience with snowboarding did not turn out to be as pleasant as he had hoped. “When I was snowboarding, I think I hit an edge,” Taylor said. “Though I don’t remember that much of it, I do remember me ending up backwards. I had fallen over and landed on my wrist. I didn’t know what had happened to my wrist, but I was in a lot of pain.” Taylor, unsuspecting of what his injury was, soon learned that he had broken his right wrist. Even after falling, he did not once think that he had broken his wrist. Taylor played it off, not worrying about it. “I had fallen down many times before, and I thought this fall was no different,” Taylor said. When Taylor went to the hospital to check out what had happened to his wrist, he was met with a surprising discovery, although it was not that as bad as it seemed. Recovery for Taylor lasted for only a month, but it entailed a frustrating one month of putting competitive swimming on a hiatus. “When I got back to swimming, I had slowed down a lot,” Taylor said. “It was awkward because my left arm was stronger than my right arm. But I was able to bounce back after some time.”

winter wounds

senior Josh Taylor Broken right wrist Fortunately, he is lefthanded so he could continue normally with school.

sophomore Tereza Guzman Dislocated shoulder Required surgery, missed school, had screws and a metal plate implanted, and carries a 6-inch scar.

n a typical snowboarding trip with friends, sophomore Tereza Guzman did not expect to leave the slopes on a ski patrol-drawn toboggan. “I went off of a jump too fast and fell on my left arm,” Guzman said. “I knew something was wrong.” Thinking she had dislocated her shoulder, she tried to move it back into place. However, her arm was bent in thewrong place and she had no control over it. At the ER, she learned that she had broken her humerus into two. “Two parts of the bone rubbed against one another, increasing the chances of not healing as well,” Guzman said. Then, her family and doctor decided that it was best to operate on the arm. After undergoing an operation where she got a metal plate and five screws drilled in her arm, Guzman began her rough journey to recovery. “I was on strong pain medication for a week and I couldn’t sleep or keep food down,” Guzman said. “I missed two weeks of school and was in a cast for a while. It took me half a year to gain full mobility of my left arm.” Even after the incident, Guzman still carries reminders of her injury, including a six-inch scar. “My left arm is still weaker than my right arm. If anything hits me where the plate is, it hurts a lot,” Guzman said. “Within a year or two, I have another surgery where they have to take out all of the hardware.”

Is aggression sparked in the heat of the game? Athletes exhibit nonaggressive behavior despite Penn State stats that prove otherwise by Sasha Degtyar

n incident at the football game against Cupertino High School saw one of the opposing team’s players become hostile and physically confront MVHS players on Nov. 14. This occurrence

may give credence to a study recently published by Penn State. According to online science magazine Science Daily, the study released earlier this year reports that male teenagers in a contact sport are more likely to be aggressive and violent. The study shows that “football players

and wrestlers face higher risks of getting tler Joe Malcolm said. Wrestling was the into a serious fight by over 40 percent.” individual counterpart to team football in It further speculates that athletes in “full- the study. Football coach Jeff Mueller also credits contact” sports such as these are encouraged to be aggressive on the field, and this school policies for the low number of violent incidents here. translates into violence off the field. “We do teach being aggressive, but we Senior Clerical Assistant Calvin Wong disagrees with the study, stating the inci- don’t teach being aggressive outside the field lines and there’s a big difference. You dent at the game was simply: “One of the players making a poor can be aggressive without being in a fight,” choice,” Wong said. “I think in the long Mueller said. Varsity football player junior Kalon run, he’ll probably learn from his choice Zandbergs also believes that this study and it’s not like the end of the world.” Wong believes that a student’s envi- does not apply to MVHS students. “There ronment has are people I more to do know who with their play footlevel of ag“A lot of it has to do with the ball, they gression than way the kids are brought up,” wouldn’t just the sport hurt anythey particicoach Jeff Mueller said. “A lot one. But it pate in. of our kids aren’t surrounded depends on “ T h e r e ’s where they just more to with this type of behavior.” come from,” do here and Z a n d b e rg s so you can really diversify,” Wong said. “It’s not like if said. “We’re more secluded from that agyou were in a small town where football gressive behavior.” There are more factors at play than just may be the only thing [to focus on].” By offering a wide array of activities for the type of sport being played. Like any athletes and spectators alike, MVHS may group of students, the football team is a mixture of different people. prevent more serious conflicts. “There are still kids on the football team “Males with all-football friends are expected to have a 45 percent probability of that are more aggressuve than other ones,” getting into a serious fight, more than 8 Zandbergs admits. “But there are also peopercentage points higher than similar indi- ple who wouldn’t hurt anyone.” “Sports can get intense, and the thing viduals with no football friends and almost 20 percentage points higher than males we have to remember is the players on the with all-tennis friends,” assistant professor field are still kids. So kids can take things of sociology in the Crime, Law, and Justice out of context,” Wong said. Mueller agrees that environment and program at Penn State, Derek Kreager conupbringing hold more influence on the cluded from the study. Kreager conducted the study by analyz- players than any other factors. “I think a lot of it has to do with the ing how factors such as self-esteem stimuway the kids are brought up,” Mueller said. late male violence. “Wrestling is more of an output for ag- “This type of [aggressive] behavior, a lot of gression you already have,” freshman wres- our kids aren’t surrounded with.”

entertainment 19 • Japanese teacher’s Olympic dreams 20 • Starbucks offers delicious holiday drinks 21 • Students unite over Java 22 •

Raising the fund factor by Dipika Shrihari and Varshini Cherukupalli

hy should we help people who are killing our soldiers? This is the sentiment, according to senior Mishika Vora, that led to the collapse of Operation Iraqi Children. Youth Commission’s goal to help impoverished kids in Iraq fell short due to this controversial and confusing cause. OIC was a fundraiser that occurred last year in which Youth Commission put boxes in classrooms for people to donate. Yet, no one pitched in. Through her years in high school, Vora has organized over five fundraisers and has raised over $4000. Vora has experienced many flops and triumphs, contributing to her knowledge of fundraising. In the case of OIC, Vora learned the importance of making the cause of your fundraiser unambiguous. “Last year, the public opinion was and still is in stark contrast [to OIC], so we got a lot of [negative] feedback from that,” senior Pooja Boinapalli, another OIC organizer, said. “If you do have a controversial cause, make sure the way you approach it is crystal clear.” Lessons like this helped make Vora successful in many of her other fundraisers. One such fundraiser was Battle of the Bands, a fundraiser to help build schools in developing countries, which raked in over $3,000. Whether it is a charity drive to help impoverished children in a distant country, a community-wide fundraiser to help pay for class formals, or simply a bake sale to raise money for a club, the following fundraising do’s and don’ts apply.

SALE FUNDRAISERS

ou hear about them on the announcements: irresistable packets of goodies to benefit a cause. They range from Christmas Grams to Arctic Buddy Grams, spreading good spirit around campus. Before MVHS gets swamped with winter grams, it’s time to find out which ones actually work.

DONATION FUNDRAISERS

onation, please? It’s true: many people have a hard time refusing this request. They can, however, choose how much they want to donate. What methods maximize the number written on the check?

EXPERT ADVICE

What do people really want? Are you trying to sell ice cream in the winter? Do people actually want coupon books? Think about what might appeal to students. Pumpkin grams on Halloween fit this idea perfectly.

EXPERT ADVICE senior Pooja Boinapalli

Send letters. Personalization always makes people feel good, and they will pay attention to your cause and donate.

1 2

vent fundraisers seem to rake in the most money. Octagon’s annual Cure Cancer Café has raised $70,000 over the course of eight years. Battle of the Bands raised $3,000. However, some restaurant events have flopped or made very little money. What makes an event fundraiser successful?

senior Mishika Vora

junior Shalini Pyapali Target the right age group. If you are selling pies, try standing in front of Trader Joe’s or a similar store, because students may not pay money for a pie, but adults may be interested.

EVENT FUNDRAISERS

Schedule the fundraiser on a day that many people can come to: the last day of finals, for example. In addition, choose a popular place where people would like to go.

Donations work better when they are for nonprofit organizations. Be passionate about the cause. Do you care about children in Africa? Show your enthusiasm when you’re selling yourself. People will be more moved and donate more.

Go social! People will come to fundraisers to spend time with their friends. Give them the opportunity to talk—and you might even get more interested people.

Feelin’ the beat: One class changes it up with musical talents

Communication is key for Jazz Band members as they practice and perform their songs by Sarah McKee

pontaneous things happen in Jazz Band. In the middle of a guitar solo, senior Michael DeBaets once started playing the background music from the game Tetris. Every Friday, the Jazz Band class takes the time to listen to and critique one of its combos. As the class listened to DeBaets and his combo, not everyone noticed the subtle musical reference, but those who did enjoyed a stifled laugh. The class itself is divided into four combos of six players. The students are organized by experience, and the combos are named after their allotted practice space. A few members of the most advanced combo, the Studio Combo, have been playing together for up to a year and a half. Breaking out in a different song during a solo, while the other members of the combo play a background rhythm, is normal. In some jazz pieces, there are parts written into the song where an instrument is given the chance to solo, or improvise, their own section of the song. The members of Jazz Band also talk about music as if it’s a part of the English language. There are “musical quotes” where musicians will insert a portion of a song into another during a solo. “Sometimes people quote other songs that we play,” Studio Combo member and senior Max Feit said. “Either you go with it, or you’ll laugh.” “Usually it’s a lot of laughing,” senior Dylan Davis, also a member of the Studio Combo, said. A certain type of communication is needed while the musicians play, too. “We don’t have a conductor, so we have to lead ourselves,” Davis said. During any song, the six members of the combo need

to keep track of the melody of the song, a steady beat, and who is going to solo next. It’s a lot to keep track of, and in the middle of a song, talking isn’t an option. “There’s a lot of eye contact,” Feit said. Combo members also pick up signals over time. Five of the six players have been in the same combo for a year and they can usually tell when another member is ready to solo. However, this isn’t always the case. It is hard for other members of the combo to tell when Feit, on the bass, and pianist junior Laxman Dhulipala are ready for their solos. “[Dhulipala] plays so fast and really intricately on a regular basis,” Davis said. “When he starts splaying solo parts we can’t tell.” Sometimes Dhulipala’s solo will even get cut off by another member because the music from the piano can be masked by the drums and guitar amps. “After a while, we’ve gotten used to it,” Davis said. “We recognize when we want to play.” The members of the combo know the styles the others like to play as well. It is common for guitarist senior Justin Chen to play ska—a mixture of rock, reggae, and jazz— during his solo. Being a member of Jazz Band also has its perks. The Studio Combo is given a lot of freedom in choosing their songs, and they are even paid to play at performances outside of school. They are usually asked to play at meetings for different types of organizations. In November, they played at a meeting for Optimist International, and on Dec. 19, they will play for the De Oro Club. However, there is one more undeniable benefit. “You can’t play guitar in any other class,” Chen said.

Sarah McKee | El Estoque

JAZZIN’ Practice Room combo members seniors Atish Agarwala, David Koski, Michael DeBaets, and sophomore Ryan Winston rehearse “The Duke” on Dec. 2.

December 18, 2008 elestoque 20 Holiday hymns from spirited singers entertainment

Unison among Variations carolers extends beyond a love for singing in fundraising concerts by Sharanya Shankar

he magnificent magenta color was omnipresent. The girls had their dresses draped around them to their ankles. The boys had their black suits along with shiny magenta vests. The scene was set and they had taken their places. Choir instructor Shari D’Epiro gave them all one glance. Though it wasn’t a smile, just a look of reassurance, they were set. And together, they began. Every year during this season, Variations sets out to do their annual caroling gigs. Since the very beginning of Variations, the choir group has been a part of this caroling tradition. Some shared favorites include: “Witness” and “Angels We Have Heard on High”. “[Caroling] brings about a warm holiday spirit that brings us together,” junior Catherine Shieh said. The class became closer to each other during the holiday season and the collective rehearsals held in class, and individual group rehearsals outside of class. The smaller groups: tenors, altos, and sopranos are like brothers and sisters to each other while the whole class is closer

Daniel Stenzel | El Estoque

IN HARMONY Senior Clare So performs her solo during the Quinlan Center Concert on Wednesday Dec. 10, backed by the choir that has formed close bonds over the course of their many rehearsals. more like one unit, one family. “Yes, the [entire] Variations class is really like one big family,” senior Wesley Cheung said. “Other than the retreats Mrs. D’Epiro has

planned for us, we occasionally email each other and plan [to meet] after a performance,” Their closeness with each other and bonds with the class evoke genuine emotion as they sing or

carol during their performances. “Choral music always has a way of getting to me. The way the harmonies blend make me…forget the troubles that I have. There are instances when I kind of tear up or just cry when a good choir sings something really well written, even if it’s in a different language,” senior John Chang said. The Variations are invited to most of the venues outside MVHS at which they perform. Companies, churches, malls, and even stores invite this prestigious group to sing. They perform in places such as Winchester homes, numerous companies, and their favorite Regnart Elementary, where an entire assembly is dedicated just to them. Their gigs at most locations get them donations of anywhere from $100 to $500. A large sum of this money goes towards funding sheet music, and other Variation concerts and activities. “We all need each other and have each other’s backs at all times,” senior Vivek Jha said. Being in a place where caroling isn’t popular, Variations takes this opportunity that they wouldn’t have had otherwise to participate in the longstanding caroling tradition.

Taking the leap: A linguist’s path from acrobatics to academics Relinquishing Olympic dreams led Japanese teacher Keiko Howard to her teaching career by Britty Hopkins

on’t follow your dreams and you might just end up happy. Though the previous statement may seem contradictory, it makes sense in the eyes of Japanese teacher Keiko Howard. Howard grew up in Japan, where all school-age children belonged to some kind of program. Her sister decided to begin gymnastics in high school and Howard soon followed. As soon as she entered middle school, Howard began practices with the school gymnastics team. “In Japan, I practiced almost 365 days a year for three hours after school,” Howard said. “It was very serious.” Deliberately or not, Howard has kept this part of her life pretty private. Throughout middle school and high school, Howard continued gymnastics. Many of her friends thought that she was going to compete in the Olympics, but that dream was never realized. “All I did was practice and practice,” Howard said. “I didn’t have a life.” To her friends’ surprise, Howard quit gymnastics after high school to pursue her other interests. She disliked the fact that the sport was so subjective. Unlike soccer or basketball, where a team receives a point if the ball makes it into the net, gymnasts are awarded points

based on the judges’ opinions. With her childhood dream gone, Howard decided that she wanted to become a stewardess and began taking English classes. Though she wanted to travel around the world, Howard was denied a position as a stewardess because of her petite stature. Her second dream was unattainable, but Howard continued to take English classes in order to get a credential in the language. She became a student-teacher during the credential process, but never thought it would amount to anything. “At first I didn’t want to be a teacher,” Howard said. “But after I stopped, I really missed the connection with the students.” Although teaching was not Howard’s first choice profession, her students are glad to have her as a teacher. “She makes sure that everybody is paying attention,” Japanese student and freshman Hubert Hong said. “She’s also pretty fair.” Junior Kaede Hamilton agrees. “I like that [Howard] explains concepts through funny songs and examples,” Hamilton said. “She always tries to help her students.” Howard came to the United States to teach and is content with the decision. She admits that she probably would not have made it to the Olympics even if she

Britty Hopkins | El Estoque

SEEING THE DEFINITION Japanese teacher Keiko Howard speaks to her Japanese 1 class on Dec. 5, and uses gestures to demonstrate the meaning of vocabulary words to her students. had continued with gymnastics. She tries to look at the positive side of her situation and gives advice to other students struggling with their identities. “It would be nice if everyone could be a doctor or the president, but sometimes it doesn’t work out like that,” Howard said. “That’s okay because there is always something that is meant to be. Everyone has their own path.”

elestoque A sniff and sip of balmy bliss December 18, 2008

Tall cups of scrumptious Starbucks coffee bring out the best of winter

My favorite is this really good Italian place in Los Gatos called Italian Delicatessen. They have really good sandwiches and your typical Italian stuff like gelato. It’s really crowded there sometimes, but you can sit outside. It’s more of a modern place. I like the avocado sandwich at Italian Delicatessen. It’s on Dutch crust with avocado, tomatoes, and sprouts. It’s crunchy! There’s nothing I dislike.

My favorite is Marie Callender’s! I love pie, oh my God. They have good meals too, but pie is the main thing. I usually take food too and bring it home. But pie’s the thing, it’s so damn good. I like the Kahlua cream cheese pie which has liquor inside of it, and chocolate satin. They’re both so good and really rich... It’s just like, yum. I don’t think that there’s a place I particularly dislike. Wherever I go, there’s something for me.

sophomore

Keaton Chiu

Mansi Pathak | El Estoque Photo Illustration

senior

Bon appetit! From Panera Bread to Marie Callender’s, we want to know all about the world of bakeries and cafes, according to...

STEFANBALL

BRIT WIT

Turning away from the norm Affirmative action?

I have heard there are people who lie on college apps. Seeking a sort of affirmative action, there is a student who claims to be supporting their family, yet regularly wears expensive clothing. So essentially, they are trying to attain what society sees as a “lower status” to get into college. I wonder how many lower-class, less fortunate students there are lying on college apps—do they try to sound like the overly well-educated when they have a wealth of lack of wealth, the grand privilege of near-homelessness and an empty fridge? Do they realize how lucky they are? The blatant liar walking among us may inevitably take a spot from a truly less-fortunate student somewhere else in the world. Karma will get them. With a bit of luck they’ll be feeding off the streets, and then, finally, they’ll get what they always wished they could be.

The skinny on skinny

Skinny jeans: yes, they could be girls’ and yes, they are sometimes expensive, but what makes them any more ridiculous than any other style? Of course, it is perfectly justifiable to walk crotch-in-hand with a flat-rimmed hat perched atop your head. It is also okay to wear t-shirts with half-naked ladies on them. All these things are okay. But jeans cut tighter, no, never. At least I can hold non-jeans objects or apparel with two hands and I don’t have to break my back bending down five miles to put my wallet in my back pocket (My wallet won’t fall out, either).

Bailout the patriotism

ingredients are balanced out, you know.” The next morning, I found myself in line for my next taste of the holidays, the Gingersnap Latte. The fact that the drink was topped with caramelized ginger pieces immediately put me on edge. I cautiously took the first sip and was overpowered by the flavor, best described as cookies and milk all in one. It did take a few sips to adjust to the taste,

Ayushi Agrawal

WE WANT TO KNOW

WHAT THE EXPERTS SAY.

overpowering. “[The Peppermint Mocha Twist] is my personal favorite,” Starbucks employee Melody Kim said. “It has a simple taste and the

freshman

tarbucks knows how to spread the holiday cheer. Walk into a shop, and instead of a regular ol’ coffee cafe, you might notice the red and green color scheme, the aromas of peppermint and gingerbread cookies, and the hint of jingle in their soundtrack. The time of year has come around when people are searching for a comfy haven away from the cold. Every year, I find myself searching for the perfect drink to define the holidays: warm and uncomplicated. This winter, I was on a mission to find that perfection. The Starbucks transformation is not only apparent in its appearance, but also in the menu. Baristas around the nation have created holiday drinks especially for this magical season. On Nov. 28, Starbucks began selling a Christmas Blend Coffee, which the Stevens Creek Blvd. Starbucks store manager described as a rich black coffee made from imported Indonesian beans with warm nutmeg and clove aromas. Call me sentimental, but there really is nothing like the perfect coffee to warm me down to the tips of my toes, so I began my adventure in the Starbucks on Stevens Creek Blvd. I looked at the holiday menu, which contained sketches of each holiday special. Overwhelmed by my options, but excited nonetheless, I looked to the manager’s choice for the day: Peppermint Mocha Twist, which according to the store manager is the most popular item on the menu. The drink arrived, brimming and piping hot, topped with a mountain of whipped cream and chocolate shavings. My biggest worry was that the peppermint would remind me of a dreaded visit to the dentist’s office, but, much to my surprise, I loved it! The drink was a satisfying blend between coffee, chocolate, and peppermint, and not too

and half way through the drink I had to stop for a breath of fresh air and maybe even some water. I’d consider this tall latte to be an entire meal, and its 300 calories is proof. “It’s definitely an acquired taste,” Kim said. “I’m not a big fan of the Gingersnap Latte, but I know some people who love it.” Two down, one to go: the Espresso Truffle. A pretty simple idea behind another delicious drink—European hot chocolate, coffee, and a dash of chocolate powder. The simplicity of this drink was refreshing after so many complex ingredients. The Espresso Truffle isn’t a must-have, though, since it is basically hot chocolate with a little coffee aftertaste. However, if you’re in the mood for a trouble-free drink and some energy, the Espresso Truffle would be the best option. “Not many people come in for the Espresso truffle. Either they don’t know what it is, or it’s just not as exciting as the other options,” the Stevens Creek Blvd. store manager said. My experiment was over and I sat down to contemplate which was to win my holiday favorite award. However, after much reminiscing, I realized the decision would be impossible. Each drink held its own holiday memory, whether it was a spring of peppermint or a freshly baked gingerbread cookie.

Juhee Dalal

by Mansi Pathak

entertainment

My favorite is Panera. It’s better than other places because there’s just a lot of flavor. I really love the atmosphere; it’s quiet and comfortable. I like the mushroom mozzarella sandwich. It’s cheesy, rich, and always warm. I don’t like Le Boulanger because their food portions are just too big and I can’t finish them. The food is just not that good either; it’s kind of like Panera’s food, but not as yummy.

In the next few sentences, bailouts and economics are not going to be discussed in relation to the American auto industry. Rather, common knowledge and simple ethics will be. Because, while our school is packed with young people, we have a 1970s outlook on our home-grown cars, and not in the rose-tinted retro sort of way. The reality is, GM and Ford are catching up. Quality and dynamics of our great American wheels are certainly on the way to matching all other corners of the world. The only thing preventing their growth is the American consumer, our ignorance, and our halo-ing of the foreign automobile. What the average person is not seeing— the future models, and the reconstruction— is positive. The autos rolling out of our domestic factories are not junk for your apple-pie-baking grandma anymore. All GM and Ford need is our faith in this great country and the courtesy of keeping an open mind. Hopefully when this is read, I’ll have a license in my pocket as I sit behind the wheel of my quintessentially American Jeep. And I’ll be proud.

Dressing up, acceptance down

I want a gray peacoat that costs a considerable amount of money that would make a Gentlemen’s Quarterly editor perfectly happy. This desire to look dashing, however, would lead to assumptions that I had an affinity for my own gender. In high school there is no hope. Outside of high school and into the real world, looking marginally dressed up is perfectly acceptable, let alone perfectly attractive to the opposite gender. Being mocked for wearing nice clothes is not only frustratingly limiting and blood-boilingly unacceptable, but unrealistic and ignorant. Yet here I am, hesitant to wear a simple scarf tomorrow because the accepted high school norm is so far from true normality.

December 18, 2008 elestoque 22 greenINK: Getting rid of winter chills entertainment

Seniors Brian Miller and Susan Oldfield design sweatshirts with a creative, edgy look by Jeremy Lee

t all started with a dinosaur hoodie. Last year, senior Brian Miller decided he wanted to present his girlfriend with a customized hoodie. He envisioned a light brown hoodie, modified by adding dinosaur eyes to the top of the hood. Enlisting the help of fellow senior Susan Oldfield, they created the dinosaur hoodie—and then decided to do more. What started off as a casual gift for Miller’s girlfriend turned into a fledgling customized-clothing company for the two seniors. “This is just something that kind of came together,” Oldfield said. Deciding on the name of the company was an easy matter. The pair shares a common love of all things green—Miller can often be seen around campus with a bright green backpack, and Oldfield has green colored hair. “We were like, ‘Well, whatever we call it, it has to incorporate the color green,’” Oldfield said. The company, greenINK, is a culmination of their personalities and their love for creativity. As the company is still in its early stages, they are working out the business aspects of greenINK. Currently without official tax status, the company remains only a side project for the duo. “It’s kind of like ‘green incorporated,’ which you aren’t actually allowed to do unless you are an official company, [so we called it] green ink with a ‘k’,” Miller said. “We thought we were clever when we came up with it,” Oldfield added. In addition to the dinosaur hoodie, Oldfield and Miller created hoodies for themselves, bringing the total number of their creations to four. Oldfield’s hoodie, a “cute” monster design, features sewn-on mini ears and eyes on the hood, and orange felt

patches at the elbows. Miller’s hoodie features a gigantic greenINK logo. By wearing their own creations around campus, the seniors have drawn great interest in this form of free advertising. “I saw Susan Oldfield’s jacket with the little animal thing and I thought it was cute,” Attendance Technician Monique Orozco, who is interested in purchasing a customized-sweater for her son, said. Sewing skills, necessary for the intricate modifications on the sweaters, have come naturally for Oldfield, but for Miller, it has been more of a challenge. Oldfield has been sewing since middle school, taking sewing classes in school and outside of school. Learning and mastering the techniques of creating pillow cases, dolls, teddy bears, and other products, she soon realized that she was no longer confined by set designs. “I hit that point some time in middle school and went crazy, and started designing my own stuff and making my own dolls,” Oldfield said. “I spend a ridiculous amount of my time making things. It’s not all sewing. I do a bunch of different crafts.” Miller and Oldfield have explored their creativity in creating sweater designs for greenINK. Including niche designs such as ninja sweaters and pirate sweaters, the two have also embarked on more complex designs. One of their creations is a design that Oldfield affectionately calls “the goth bunny design.” “It’s a black bunny with green ears and crazy swirly eyes and removable hearts,” she said. “Removable hearts are adorable.” The two have pursued unconventional channels in order to market their designs. On Facebook, many of their friends have joined a special greenINK group, a launching pad and discussion site for their company that also serves as a general information

Jeremy Lee | El Estoque

COZY AND TRENDY Seniors Brian Miller and Susan Oldfield show off their fashionable sweatshirts. The two are co-founders of greenINK, a business that designs customized sweatshirts with neat designs like unicorns, ninjas, bunnies, and emo details. site for their designs. Listed in the group are 35 photos of their designs, a selection of the various offerings that are provided. The company also provides the option for customers to submit their own designs for fruition in the form of a customized sweater. To run the business, Miller and Oldfield mostly rely on the Facebook page and Excel spreadsheets to organize themselves. Miller and Oldfield are currently working on launching their own web site, so that customers can contact them from there. The company’s focus on customized designs adds a particularly unique aspect to

greenINK designs, Oldfield maintains. “There is an element to which people definitely feel that when they order this, they are getting something very personal and something very individual that they’ll never see anywhere else,” she said. As such, people who have expressed interest in greenINK designs, such as senior Jeanette Deutsch, who would like a puppy sweater and a unicorn sweater, enjoy the inspiration that the greenINK sweaters can provide. “It makes me feel like a kid again,” Deutsch said.

Java Club: A lot more than just your ordinary cup of coffee Small club with little notoriety but lots of ambition explores new code-inspired possibilities by Bhargav Setlur

ECA. FBLA. Oh, and Interact, Red Cross, and Octagon. Out of over 2,600 students, many join one or more of these big-name clubs for a few simple reasons: get volunteer hours, put on resume, and get into college. There’s nothing wrong with this goal-oriented approach. But out of the 58 clubs that MVHS has to offer, one

Natalie Wong | El Estoque

CODE CHECK Senior Tim Wheeler glances at the projector screen to verify his lines of Java code. As a Java Club member, Wheeler hopes to show others the full potential of Java programming.

club isn’t about padding college applications, or racking up volunteer hours, or anything else that college-minded students normally focus on. If the word “class” brings to mind a room full of students, you’re most likely not one of the guys in Java Club. In a school where people join clubs for motives other than a pure love for service, members of the Java Club are refreshingly different. Instead of a desire for volunteer hours or another initial or two on their transcript, Java Club members are united by one common trait: a love for the Java programming language. The club, which meets during lunch on Thursdays in the Linux lab, aims to provide an environment where people of all skill levels can come and learn something new about the world’s most popular programming language. Senior Greg Klein, a programmer and computer enthusiast who took over the club in his sophomore year, abides by one important principle: “We’re all about taking Java further than the classroom,” Klein said. During each lunch meeting, a new concept about Java is presented, and members get a chance to try and put it to use in a program or project. All of the programs done in the club go a little bit farther than what is taught at school. “We take Java from the classes, and apply it to the real world,” junior Madhav Srinivasan, the club’s treasurer, said. “We try to take it beyond.” There’s no better example of this philosophy than the

Robocode competition, which Java Club participated in at the beginning of the school year. “We all had identical robots, and we basically wrote Java programs to control them,” Srinivasan said. “And then, we made them fight.” When the digital fog of war cleared, there was one victor: club member senior Tim Wheeler. Like others, Wheeler was initially attracted to the club by an interest in Java. “Learning Java teaches you how to break problems down, and to look at things more analytically,” Wheeler said. Srinivasan agreed. “Sometimes when I play games online, I find myself thinking about the code behind the games, and what I’d have to do to program something like that.” The club members’ enthusiasm for Java is certainly unique. They’re the only known high school Java Club in the Bay Area, and this leads to special opportunities. Sun Microsystems, the company where Java was first developed, has even gone out of its way to help the club. “They designed a Tech Camp especially for us, and we got to take a tour of the company,” Klein said. “We get to do some awesome things in this club.” Activities such as the Robocode Competition and trips to the Sun Microsystems campus are all intended to achieve one ultimate goal: to show how important Java is to our modern lifestyle, from the corporate world to the Internet. “Java isn’t just people sitting in a classroom writing code,” Srinivasan said. “It’s huge.”

entertainment elestoque 23 She took my pen away that fair maid December 18, 2008

Writer expresses her view through poetry, blogging, fan fiction, and creative short stories by Serena Lee

Patty Chao | El Estoque Photo Illustration

POSTED THOUGHTS Junior Kavita Singh regularly posts on her blog, titled “Video Games and Chick Flicks,” at kovidog.blogspot.com.

hat happens when someone calls you a tomboy? For junior Kavita Singh, she blogs. In response, Singh writes on her blog: “Ever heard of ‘What Not to Wear’? Yes, I did watch that just under an hour ago. Yes, I like sappy romance and the occasional trip to the mall. Yes, pink is in fact one of my favorite colors. No, I rather despise make-up, and haven’t really gone beyond Lip Smackers. No, and no, I actually do like black.” Point taken, Singh is not a tomboy and everyone has shades of gray. Singh’s writing comes alive on her blog from poems like “she stole my pen” to the growing distance in a once-close friendship. She never liked school until high school, but her passion for writing came from watching a lot of television and her friends—who also write a lot and blog. When she is elated, depressed, or has read an email or article that provokes a strong opinion, Singh writes her response on her blog. Nighttime and afterschool are the time periods in which Singh writes in her room, in front of her laptop. Singh is a member of the writing club, started by senior Neta Assaf, and part of the Onnaryte Google Group, a group started by Singh’s friends who take part in bi-weekly writing challenges with a certain theme. All literary works posted are read and edited by friends. Of all the writing styles, Singh prefers free-form. She has dabbled in fan fiction, short stories, and poetry. She writes fan fiction in a notebook so she can sketch out scenery or her plot. Mostly she writes about human nature and the feelings that are evoked from it. Currently she has been writing politi-

cally. In her most recent blog post, Dec. 3, she wrote about how people define a Republican or Democrat. “I think it’s important that people know what’s going on [with politics],” Singh said. “It’s not like this person says this and I’ll believe it. I think a lot of people need to be more informed. Everyone relies on one or two sources and they don’t have the whole unbiased side.” Junior Jessica Yu has been reading Singh’s work for a year on the Onnaryte Google group and on Singh’s Facebook notes. She is often captivated and absorbed by Singh’s creative writing. Much of Singh’s poetry is captured in the eloquently mysterious style she uses. “[Her writing] doesn’t seem quite real or fake and a lot of it plays on emotions and the mind to supply the magic for it,” Yu said. “It has the kind of depth to it where you try and figure out what the character in the story feels and you share those feelings with him or her.” When Singh looks back to her previous writing styles, she has discovered that her old pieces were whiny or at times they truly captured her thought process. But over time, her writing has improved and she is now able to clearly state her point. Practice, according to Singh, is key to getting better. Junior Raj Sivakumar has been reading her blog for a while. “She has a knack for noticing random things that others don’t,” Sivakumar said. “Not to mention a typically unique take on things that make a person think in a different perspective.” For Singh, her writing is just a way for her to express herself. “Writing just makes me feel better,” Singh said. “It’s a comfort thing.”

the lookbook Western Front Top: Levi’s Blanket: Ikea Shoes: Shiekh

Clad in Plaid Graphic cap: Hat World Shirt: Fox Racing

Home on the Range

freshman AUSTIN BURROW

Necklace: Claire’s Dress: Vintage Leggings: Wet Seal Ring: Disneyland

junior STEVEN JI

junior REBECCA YIN

urban frontier

Forget the technology age! It’s all about stepping into the Wild West and exploring your inner cowboy. Step it up with plaids and playful boots to complete your urban look. Western expansion isn’t over yet!

The Ranger Scarf: Metropark Jacket: Zumiez

freshman DIANA DINETS Patty Chao, Jeremy Lee, and Serena Lee | El Estoque

encore

THE SPIRIT OF GIVING Community Leadership’s Giving Tree was located in the library for two weeks, during which students were encouraged to purchase presents for underprivileged children.

GIFT WISH Freshman Sara Yang carefully decorates her Secret Santa present for another member of the ASB Leadership class. Numerous clubs and classes on campus have opted to do a similar gift exchange program, as 86 percent of 184 surveyed students and staff stated that they purchased gifts for friends and classmates.

‘tis the

season

Story & design by Alice Lee | Photography by Daniel Stenzel

here are three. One in her parents’ residence in St. Louis, Mo., another in her condominium in Palo Alto, Calif., and the final in her brother and sister-inlaw’s house. Setting up, watering, and decorating simply one Christmas tree is all the 73 percent of a group of 184 surveyed students and staff do to celebrate the holiday, but for social studies teacher Bonnie Belshe, three is just the number. Belshe is one of the 30 percent of those surveyed who consider themselves “holiday crazy.” What this entails depends simply on the person’s view of holiday spirit. From baking hundreds of cookies for friends, visiting relatives in other countries to setting up a Giving Tree in the library for students to donate gifts to underprivileged children, students and staff celebrate the holiday season in a multitude of ways. This year Belshe put up her first tree at her parents’ house the day after Thanksgiving. “Christmas is the day after Thanksgiving until the second of January,” Belshe said.

SANTA’S HELPER Junior Sahiba Johar wraps social studies teacher Bonnie Belshe’s Christmas presents for her friends and family on Dec. 12. Johar is a TA for Belshe’s fourth period history class.

CAROLS AND JOY Junior Catherine Shieh and senior Wesley Cheung sing with Variations on Dec.10 as a part of the Quinlan Center’s Winter Performance. According to a survey of 184 students and staff, 25 percent enjoy caroling in the holiday season.

SECRETS DO MAKE FRIENDS Freshman Sara Yang purchased candy as an anonymous present for her ASB Leadership Secret Santa. The price limit for gifts was $20-$25. 69 percent of those surveyed spend $1-$149 on holiday presents.