October 2016
Issue II Volume XLVII
el ESTOOUE Monta Vista High School
A recent incident of inappropriate chatting over Instagram served as a reminder to MVHS that words carry consequences. Read more on page 19.
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NEWS
How movies have made clowns scary
14
OPINION
Cyberbullying is cowardly
28
A&E
Why games are addicting
34
SPORTS
MV loses 13-year winning streak
NEWS
OPINION
BEYOND THE STATUS QUOTE
I PLEDGE...
10 12 How media has ruined clowns
TO THE FLAG The decision behind having a historical thought of the day
VOLUNTEERING FOR VOTES MVHS students that volunteer with Ro Khanna campaign
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UNDER WATER Analyzing the contaminants in tap water
OFF THE GRID Why students pretend to live in MVHS boundaries
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SPORTS
STUCK IN THE LOOP
Schools should not enforce patriotism on students
NO ONE’S LAUGHING
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When jokes go too far
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A&E
SAY IT TO MY FACE
14
The new cowardly form of bullying
NONE OF THE ABOVE
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Lack of third party popularity highlights flawed two part system
THE BLACK DOT
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Lack of third party popularity highlights flawed two part system
BLINDSIDED
28
The psychology behind game addiction
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IT’S A DATE October and November’s local events
TRICK OR TREAT The scares and sweets of Halloween
CAT’S OUT OF THE BAG Tiger daughter
Football team looks to future after Helmet Game loss
BOTH SIDES OF THE POOL
NERD POWER The growth of “nerd” culture
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27 30 32
Girls water polo varsity and JV teams share coach
MICHAEL MARTINEZ New assistant principal talks about his history with wrestling
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SPORTS FLASH The best of athletics through photos from this month
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IN THIS ISSUE SPECIAL REPORT
CORRECTIONS FROM THE LAST ISSUE
INSIDE THE CHAT
“A Classroom Divided” misaccurately stated there were no female physics teacher at MVHS, but there is one female physics teacher, Sushma Bana.
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The escalation of a conversation
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EL ESTOQUE / OCT. 2016
CRUCIAL CONFRONTATIONS Staff reflects on bullying
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“Humans of MV” incorrectly misspelled Kristy Maanavi’s last name as Maanvi.
“Celebrando la diversidad” incorrectly used the word “cholo”
LETTER FROM THE EDITORS... his is our routine for writing this letter: We meet up two weekends before the magazine comes out, discuss the center story of the magazine and try to find common ground between our experiences. But for this magazine, we hit a hitch. Our memories — or lack thereof — of bullying were far too different. After trying to force our stories together, we realized that bullying takes a different toll on every person. In the end, there’s a part of bullying that boils down to luck. Were you into the right music? Did you know what was in fashion? Were you neighbors with the popular kids? Or, were you the new kid in school? So, for the first time, we decided to split this letter, because bullying is far too personal. I WAS LUCKY. The last time I remember feeling completely victimized, targeted to the point of almost tears, was in my pre-school years: two girls framed me as the culprit of spilled milk (and it was my own cup of milk, too!). Of course, I’ve cried many times since pre-school, and have weathered a myriad of insults tossed my way since then. But I have always viewed myself as fortunate, for I largely remember an elementary, middle and high school experience without the twisted feelings of humiliation and inferiority that often accompany bullying. Perhaps, that’s only because I was — like a number of students here at MVHS — lucky: I had the privilege of being unaware. Some of us have the privilege of being oblivious to the tendrils of frustration and anger tangled in those around us, deep-rooted feelings that stem from jokes gone too far or words like salt on a wound. But just because we do not see bullying, does not mean its absence is universal. The first thing we can do for our community is recognize that.
I WASN’T LUCKY. Don’t pity me. I don’t deserve it. For every time I was bullied, I was the bully. For every time the popular girl in elementary school called me a “hobo,” I turned around and called my best friend “my servant.” Every time the “girly girl” group mocked my knotted hair, I teased a boy for crying after losing his position in handball. Yes, I was unlucky to be a tomboy and dislike pink. I was unlucky to not have committed the Hannah Montana theme song to memory. I was unlucky to face bullying. But luck played no part in my role as a bully. That was me. That was in my control. On page 20, reporters discussing a recent bullying incident at MVHS found it easy to find sources who were bullied; hard, however, to find the bullies. Because no one wants to accept that, let only admit to, being a bully. “Before you start pointing fingers,” musician Bob Marley said,“make sure your hands are clean.” I was a bully. But I believe anyone can rise above their faults. The first step: recognize them.
LETTER TO THE EDITORS I recognize and greatly appreciate your recent focus on gender and beauty in your September issue regarding the power of beauty. Although I do agree that the divide between males and females in regards to beauty is an important situation to discuss, throughout the article “Beauty matters, but for everyone,” EE consistently regards gender as a binary term, stating multiple times that beauty should include “both genders.” I understand that including nonbinary genders may create confusion for both staff and readers in this context (since the discussion focuses on male vs. female), but as a gender non-conforming person, the article feels exclusive, as nonbinary genders are overlooked with EE’s choice of words. A better way to phrase the notion in such a context would be to use “sex” instead of “gender,” as “sex” refers to what a person is assigned at birth. I implore EE to consider the recognition of various genders in diction, whether or not the subject matter pertains to nonbinary genders. -Senior Olive Wu
el ESTOQUE
21840 McClellan Road Cupertino, CA 95014 mv.el.estoque@gmail.com
Editors-in-Chief: Avni Prasad, Mingjie Zhong Managing Editors: Kalpana Gopalkrishnan, Trisha Kholiya, Aditya Pimplaskar, Hannan Waliullah Copy Editors: Bill Cheng, Karen Ma, Jessica Xing Webmaster: Sharjeel Rahman, Krishna Sunder Graphics Editor: Becca Zheng News Editors: Claire Cheng, Ilena Peng, Chetana Ramaiyer, Sepand Rouz, Nate Stevens Sports Editors: Amanda Chan, Om Khandekar, Aditya Krishnan, Akshara Majjiga Entertainment Editors: Ananya Bhat, Aanchal Garg, Dylan Tsai, Devika Watawe Opinion Editors: Brighton Balfrey, Vivian Chiang, Shriya Deshpande, Sara Entezar Special Report Editors: Elizabeth Han, Emma Lam, Daniel Lin, ZaZu Lippert, Priya Reddy Beats Editors: Jennie Chen, Andrea Schlitt Visuals Editors: Vijeet Chaugule, Roshan Fernandez, Bhargava Matta Business Editors: Tyler Lin Public Relations: Emma Lam, Tyler Lin Staff writers: Rana Aghababazadeh, Helen Chao, Ruth Feng, Gauri Kaushik, Stephanie Lam, Sannidhi Menon, Anthony Moll, Shayon Moradi, Katerina Pappas, Karen Sanchez, Mallika Singh, Anjini Venugopal, Albert Wang, Kingsley Wang, Jackie Way, Chelsea Wong, Michelle Wong, Himani Yalamaddi Adviser: Julia Satterthwaite Mission Statement El Estoque is an open forum created for and by students of Monta Vista High School. 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. The staff seeks to recognize individuals, events, and ideas and bring news to the MVHS community in a manner that is professional, unbiased, and thorough in order to effectively serve our readers. We strive to report accurately, and we 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 email or mail. They may be edited for length or accuracy. Letters cannot be returned and will be published at El Estoque’s discretion. We also reserve 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.
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TO THE FLAG
BY SANNIDHI MENON AND AVNI PRASAD
Students discuss historical thought of the day as a substitute for the Pledge of Allegiance
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EL ESTOQUE /OCT. 2016
n elementary school, U.S. History teacher Ben Recktenwald would never recite the whole Pledge of Allegiance. He would say, “one nation,” pause, then continue with “indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.” Recktenwald didn’t skip “under God” to make a statement, nor did he think it would become a topic of discussion. But years later, matters concerning the Pledge of Allegiance are at the forefront of national media. On Sept. 27, a local news outlet reported that an 8-year-old in Midland, Texas took a stand against police brutality by kneeling during the Pledge of Allegiance at school. He was sent home. “When it was first suggested, the Pledge of Allegiance originally was seen as a stupid idea because the United States doesn’t pledge to symbols and flags,” Recktenwald said. “We are a nation of laws, not some piece of cloth.” However, according to a San Francisco Chronicle article from 2013, laws in 45 states, not including California, require schools to pledge to, as Recktenwald would say, “some piece of cloth.” While a Supreme Court case ruled that students cannot be compelled to recite the Pledge of Allegiance, the encouraged patriotism in schools is still widely debated. “People always have wiggle room,” ASB secretary and senior Maddie Park said. “Government isn’t enforcing patriotism as in indoctrinating necessarily, but just trying to create a sense of community within the country. [But] if you look at it from far away a bunch of people reciting the pledge, it can look kind of robotic and like brainwashing of some sort so I can see why some people might feel uncomfortable saying it.” California is not one of the 45. Rather than encouraging the pledge of allegiance, California Education Code 52720 requires every public school to conduct “daily appropriate patriotic exercises” — the pledge is a viable option, but not the only one. MVHS opted out of participation in a daily Pledge of Allegiance, and instead has a historical thought of the day broadcast on the announcements. “I think it’s always important to look back at the significance of history,” Park said. “We’re part of history, so it’s also a reminder that it’s not just [MVHS] and it’s not just another day — that everyday matters in a historical sense and in the sense of what it is and what it will be.” Every Thursday, ASB social manager and senior Bhushan Balagar prepares to broadcast the daily announcements. It was only last year that he discovered the historical thought of the day was a replacement for the Pledge of
Allegiance. He prefers this substitute. day offers a lot more diversity. “It’s nice because you learn something “If you think about the things that every day, while gaining a sense of have happened to our country and the appreciation for our country,” Balagar things that our country has done there’s a said. “Whereas if sense of patriotism you do the Pledge in that which is a lot of Allegiance more varied than the everyday it gets Pledge of Allegiance,” repetitive and Park said. some people just Recktenwald start to not pay thinks neither the attention.” Pledge of Allegiance Every school nor the historical day, senior clerical thought of the day assistant Jennifer increases patriotism in Giarritta searches students. for a new historical “I find that a lot of thought of the kids in school ignore it day by referring anyway, just like when SENIOR MADDIE PARK to website Today people say the pledge in History. of allegiance,” Recktenwald said. “They “Since it is only my second year, I try to are just going through the motions.” come up with new ones [from year to year], After 49ers second string quarterback but I think I5may have repeated the Babe Ruth,” Colin Kaepernick knelt during the she said, laughing. “It was a Friday.” national anthem in protest against While she sees value in historical thought perceived social injustice in America, of the day, ultimately she thinks it falls short the question of patriotism rose to the compared to the Pledge of Allegiance. center of American discussion. “I think the Pledge of Allegiance is the Balagar has heard many differing best thing,” Giarritta said. “It’s patriotic, opinions about Kaepernick’s actions. and it brings our country together as While some claim that his decision was one. We are the United States. It’s our disrespectful to American soldiers, he has country. We should be proud of it.” also heard opinions from soldiers on the Recktenwald has a different take on it. news, who believe Kaepernick is merely While he does believe teaching patriotism in exercising the rights that they fight for. school is a good idea, “Personally, I he does not think think it’s fine that of students don’t it should be forced he’s expressing his consider historical rights that way,” on students. “I think the Balagar said. “And thought of the unconditional love day as a “patriotic he’s actually started for your country a movement that’s exercise”* is a stupid idea,” gaining attention, Recktenwald said. so at least it’s did not know the “The way I think of worked.” historical thought it, the way you learn Along with the religion in school, it support, Kaepernick’s of the day was is about educating decision was also a substitute for you about what the met with a lot of the Pledge of religion is like, how criticism. Recktenwald people are different believes a lot of it was Allegiance* and the same, unwarranted. *Out of a survey of 388 students whereas with patriotism “The whole idea that ‘if an you can’t force someone athlete expresses his opinion to love their country, but you can talk about all of a sudden, he is a jerk’ [is wrong],” ‘here’s all the positive aspects, and be aware Recktenwald said. “Two days before, he is of the negative aspects.’ And, brother, have the greatest thing ever, but as soon as he we got a lot of negative aspects.” opens his mouth, you don’t want to hear it. Park also likes having the historical There is a certain element of ‘I don’t care thought of the day over the pledge. She said who you are. I just want to see you play the the pledge would be difficult to do every day game.’ But, he is also a human being; he is an since it is “lengthy” and students may “just American, born and raised.” tune out,” while the historical thought of the Kaepernick has inspired many similar
We’re part of history, so it’s also a reminder that it’s not just Monta Vista and it’s not just another day — that every day matters in a historical sense.
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HISTORICAL THOUGHT 1892
FRANCIS BELLAMY WRITES PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCES *
1898
FIRST LAW REQUIRING PLEDGE RECITATION IN SCHOOLS**
1943
SUPREME COURT RULES STUDENTS ARE NOT REQUIRED TO SAY THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE***
1976
CALIFORNIA EDUCATION CODE 52720 REQUIRING PATRIOTIC ACTS, ENACTED†
2016
KAEPERNICK KNEELS DURING THE NATIONAL ANTHEM IN PROTEST††
†from California *from CNN **from Richard J. Ellis, PhD Legislative Information ††from SB Nation ***from FindLaw
protests throughout the country, including that of the 8-year-old who was sent home. “Some people [feel] that the pledge of allegiance is kind of false, that it’s not really a nation for equality and justice and all people,” Park said. “It’s a personal thing … [Some] think it ties too closely to religion.” In 1954, President Dwight D. Eisenhower encouraged Congress to add the phrase “under God” in the pledge to prove, as Recktenwald said, that Americans were not “ungodly Communists.” Years later, the phrase sticks. But in Recktenwald’s room, atop the intercom, hangs a poster of the Pledge of Allegiance without “under God.” Written below in small type: “The original pledge before it was corrupted in 1954.” N EWS
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VOLUNTEERING FOR VOTES Students participate in the community through Ro Khanna campaign BY CHETANA RAMAIYER
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AST FEBRUARY, FIVE HIGH SCHOOL and college students gathered around a table outside of Coffee Society. These students were part of the Ro Khanna campaign. This was their only meeting spot to work, other than in their regional field director, Garret Wessel’s car, of course. As the general election comes to an end with only 20 days left, more and more students are canvassing for Ro Khanna as one of the Democratic candidates representing California’s 17th Congressional District. Canvassing is a systematic way of directly contacting individuals in the community to advocate for political campaigns. Working for this campaign is much different than other volunteering opportunities. Junior Hasini Shyamsundar enjoys the dedication and hard work that this unique volunteer experience entails. “The difference between this and a lot of other volunteering opportunities is here you build the structure yourself,” Shyamsundar said. “Here, the more work you put in, the more you get out of it.” Shyamsundar got involved with the campaign after listening to Tarun Galagali from the 2014 Ro Khanna campaign speak. She went to a training session in Feb. 2016 and soon became passionate about the campaign. Shyamsundar invited some friends to join as well. Junior Anisha Kollareddy joined after Shyamsundar told her about the campaign because Kollareddy
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EL ESTOQUE / OCT. 2016
wanted something to be passionate about. people out there and you learn so “I would say that [you should join] if much about your community that you you’re interested in learning a bunch of never knew before,” Kollareddy said. skills like leadership, communication, A few months after the initial meetings in persuasive skills February, the campaign or if you just want got an office at the Oaks to be part of a Center in Cupertino. On the orange walls of different culture,” Kollareddy the office is a map of all the areas they have said. “It [is] my culture— canvassed, a countdown my escape of the days left, pictures of the team leaders from work.” At first, the and a huge poster with campaign was Ro Khanna’s motto, unofficial. They “Onward,” on it. would get into “We have had an SARATOGA HIGH SCHOOL extraordinary amount Wessel’s car, which was filled SENIOR DHRUVA SETLUR of students … from with pamphlets [MVHS], Cupertino, to hand out to the voters, and drive to from Fremont, Sunnyvale, [and] Homestead,” their different areas to canvas—their main Khanna said. “They’ve been helping knock form of campaigning, according to senior on doors, help get the message out.” at Saratoga High School, Dhruva Setlur, By knocking on doors and making the fellowship director of the campaign. phone calls, these students aren’t just “Our biggest thing here is knocking on earning volunteer hours, they’re attempting doors. Everyone does it. Even Ro knocks on to make change in their community. “I feel like I’ve actually made an doors,” Setlur said. “We wouldn’t be able to knock on so many doors without students.” impact because in the primary elections, Although she has been chased by dogs it came down to a couple hundred votes, and yelled at by people while canvassing, and that could’ve been another couple knocking on doors is actually Kollareddy’s shifts that I did,” Kollareddy said. “It’s favorite part of being on the campaign. empowering to know what you can do.” “There are so many different interesting
OUR BIGGEST THING HERE IS KNOCKING ON DOORS. EVERYONE DOES IT. EVEN RO KNOCKS ON DOORS
ILLUSTRATION | SARA ENTEZAR
UNDER WATER
P
Unearthing the unseen dangers in tap water
ESTICIDES. GMOS. NATURAL chromium-6 than what professionals ingredients. These are all controversial consider safe, despite the evidence that subjects regarding everyday foods, but these high levels can seriously harm people with awareness unevenly focused on issues and even cause cancer, after health officials in the food industry, the dangers of drinking proved this using rodents. Truong is disturbed by the absence of water are bubbling to the surface. Chromium-6 is a carcinogen found to practical management of chromium-6 in affect 218 million Americans in a study California’s tap water, something he expects released last year by the Environmental from the government. “The problem is, you can’t really control Protection Agnecy. One of the states hit the hardest: California. It has plagued California’s the dosage of [chemicals in tap water],” tap water since the 1950’s, when PG&E Truong said. “If you drink a lot of tap water, you’ll still get a lot of things that aren’t good accidentally for you.” dumped hundreds Junior Sina of gallons of Faridnia drinks from c h r o m i u m the tap often, and tainted water sees nothing wrong into the water with doing so, though supply of Hinkley, he filters the water Calif. The sheer with himself. He tries number of people to avoid unfiltered affected forces tap water as much awareness to an as he can, but he often overlooked understands it is not concern, tap always possible. water’s purity. JUNIOR DAVID TRUONG Faridnia’s reasons Junior David for drinking tap water are Truong is very self aware of the water he drinks. He tries simple: it’s virtually free. For many people, his best to avoid drinking tap water due to cost is the only factor they consider, since contaminants commonly found in it, though not everyone cares enough to pay for costly environmentally friendly water. Because of at times, it is unavoidable. “Tap water, since it comes from public this Truong believes that more should be sources, [has] tons of things in there, like done to keep tap water safe without having chlorine, which is not good for you,” Truong to compromise its accessibility to the public. Faridnia was unaware of the dangers of said. “If I had a choice to drink something safer, I would. But when you need water, you drinking tap water. He finds it unsettling that there is not more regulation of chromium-6. need water.” Of the many reasons Truong does not Knowing drinking tap is not as safe as he drink tap water, one of the biggest is the lack had previously thought, Faridnia plans to avoid drinking straight from the tap, but of effective laws ensuring it is safe. Currently, the only state to regulate the he still prefers filtering water over buying levels of chromium-6 in tap water is California, bottled water. Contrary to common belief, tap water which has a legal limit of 10 parts per billion, which according to the California Office of and bottled water go through a very similar
IF I HAD A CHOICE TO DRINK SOMETHING SAFER, I WOULD. BUT WHEN YOU NEED WATER, YOU NEED WATER
Environmental Health Hazard Assessment, is a restriction not nearly safe enough. That number is enormously larger than what scientists found to be the highest healthy concentration: 0.02 ppb. To put that in perspective, the law allows 500 times more
46%
filtering process, even though they can look different at times. According to the Santa Clara Valley Water District’s website, tap and bottled water is filtered with thick layers of sand and coal, up to 18 inches in depth, to remove microscopic particles. The only difference between tap water and bottled is the final step, secondary disenfection. This final cleaning process involves the use of chlorine to purify the water from lingering bacteria or viruses. However, it is these chemicals used to cleanse water that deters Truong from drinking tap water in the first place. “Certain things should be removed from tap water in general, like fluoride,” Truong said. “It’s basically a form of mass medication without the consent of the people.” Fluoride is one of the most common chemicals found in tap water, and a highly controversial one, as an excess of this chemical can cause health problems, such as dental fluorosis. Fluoride, despite its use in dental care, can actually be worse for your teeth, since too much can cause tooth decay. Kyle Jones, a biology teacher, says he is astounded that there is not more done to prevent the spread of harmful toxins to Americans, such as chromium-6 and other general contaminants. To avoid the potential dangers that come with drinking tap water, Jones filters his water before drinking it as an alternative to bottled water, though like many Americans, he lives in the city and does not have much of a choice. After hearing about chromium-6 and its subsequent backlash, he is more hesitant to drink tap water. While this outbreak has spurred an anger toward the Environmental Protection Agency, Jones wants to reassure people who now distrust the system it’s intended to keep them safe. “If it’s done right, there’s no reason not to trust tap water,” Jones said. “If this is something that can be fixed ... I’d go back to trusting it. But for now I want to keep filtering [my water].”
of students purposefully avoid drinking tap water
ILLUSTRATION | CHETANA RAMAIYER
BY NATE STEVENS
*from a survey of 388 students
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OFF THE GRID FUHSD staff and MVHS students explain the reasons and effects of falsifying residency BY MICHELLE WONG ADDITIONAL REPORTING BY SARA ENTEZAR AND ILENA PENG
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ll students are entitled to their education. The Constitution itself protects a child’s right to have equal access to it. But when it comes to where students get their education from, this is where problems begin to arise. Because of students having a strong desire for the best education they can attain, there have been cases where students or their parents have faked their residency to attend a certain school. According to manager of Enrollment and Residency for FUHSD Julie Darwish, there are several requirements for students to prove their residency. Each address is assigned to a school based on their area, regardless of the city boundaries. In order to prove the student lives within the boundaries, the parents or guardians of the student must fill out a Residency Declaration form, which states any previous locations of residency or other property they own. In addition, parents must provide ID, a vehicle registration, a property tax bill and a PG&E bill. Parents must go through this process twice: once when they enroll and again during their sophmore year. Dar wish said the reason why it is important to check for residency is because the school runs on local property taxes. FUHSD is a basic aid district, meaning the number of students who attend the school does not influence the amount of funding the school receives, a completely different setup than revenue limit districts. Revenue limit districts receive
money from the state for every student Darwish explained that even though the who attends their school. But if the number number of students she catches faking their of students increases at a FUHSD school residency doesn’t seem like a large amount, without proportional payment, resources in the long term, it accumulates to huge will simply savings. for be spread the school. out thinner T here amongst the are several students, exc ept ions which could to this comprom is e p o l i c y. quality of the Ac c o r d i ng education. In to Darwish, order to keep there are the resources s o m e concentrated students on the local who receive MANAGER OF ENROLLMENT residents s e n i o r AND RESIDENCY JULIE DARWISH who pay pr iv ilege. property taxes, This means the district if the tries to identify false residents to avoid thin student has a good behavioral and academic distribution of their resources. record during his or her first three years of “It’s our responsibility to the taxpayer, high school, he or she will be able to attend the local resident, we are diligent to make the school even if they move to a different sure that the students we serve truly live district. Students who are homeless are also here,” Darwish said. provided with free education, given that Yet Darwish said their status is verified by the district. In the the district is limited on case that the student’s parents are divorced resources to find those or separated and live in different districts, as illegally attending the long as the parents have shared custody, the schools. With only one student is allowed to decide which school investigator, she says it they want to attend. However, if one parent is impossible to track has full custody, the student must go to the the residency of over district of the parent with custody. 11,000 students. Calculus teacher Jon Stark has been “So we admit, teaching at Monta Vista long enough to we accept that fact witness the effects of the commencement of that we cannot catch the residency checks in 2005. Controversies everyone,” Darwish said. arose regarding students outside of the Last year, the district district boundaries attending FUHSD caught 350 students schools, eventually leading to a financial whose registered barrier as more and more students began addresses did not match to sneak into schools. In response, the the ones where they actually lived. Out of district and teachers union set up a contract those 350 students, 100 were disenrolled. which instituted a residency monitoring While this may seem like a small number, department. An office was set up in the
100 students were disenrolled out of the 350 students caught
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EL ESTOQUE /OCT. 2016
IT’S OUR RESPONSIBILITY TO THE TAXPAYER, THE LOCAL RESIDENT, WE ARE DILIGENT TO MAKE SURE THAT THE STUDENTS WE SERVE TRULY LIVE HERE
district office, with staff whose only purpose is to check for false residencies. Stark said that this establishment proved to be very effective, as there was a decrease of false residency issues in the school population after it was implemented. Once residency monitoring started, the staff began investigating the students’ addresses. Stark said that in some cases, the staff would find that students would be living on their own without adult or parental supervision, their guardians were either in a different town or in a completely different country. Students or their parents made arrangements to pay the owner of a home in exchange for the use of the house address. In other cases, people manipulated their electricity bill, such as by having a light bulb switch on and off within a certain period. “There were some places where people would set up an address, and that address, if you checked the school records, would be the home to about 40 or 50 teenagers,” Stark said. Darwish said these numbers were unlikely, but could be possible due to sharehouses hosted by caregivers. Caregivers are adults who are 18 years or older who are qualified to take care of minors. Each caregiver situation is examined to check for student welfare. As each caregiver only has to be as old as a college student, their motives could vary. Darwish said that there could be cases where a caregiver takes care of multiple students, which gives the appearance of many teenagers living in one house. While some may genuinely treat the minors well, others may only want to become caregivers to collect money. She has seen one situation where the child’s sister was taking care of him, their parents living overseas. With no one to supervise them, the student didn’t attend school as his parents thought he was doing. Because of these possibilities, all caregiver situations are looked into by the school district. Although there are fewer cases of faking residency, it is still an occurrence in the district. Students or their families have various reasons for engaging in this action. One student, who wished to remain anonymous, had falsified their residency for a month in order to attend a middle school. They said the decision was made by their parents, and that they had no say in the process. Their parents had chosen that particular school
over others because it was one of the highest ranked schools and it was highly recommended. Since they had a family friend who was currently attending the middle school, their transition was easier as well. They had only used this friend’s address for about a month before actually moving into the area and becoming residents who lived within the district’s boundaries. “I don’t know what the alternative option was,” the anonymous junior said. “It wasn’t really a choice on my part.” Another anonymous student was also pushed by their mother to attend a school that wasn’t in their district. Their mother thought that the academic rigor of MVHS was appealing to colleges, so she wanted to send her child there rather than Homestead HS. The student and her mother decided to rent a room as tenants in another person’s house to be within the district boundaries to attend Monta Vista, while keeping their property in Sunnyvale. While this is a legal action, the mother was still afraid that the district would find out, and told the student to keep the fact that they have two houses hidden. Although the student faces complic at ions because of this situation, they still appreciate being able to go to Monta Vista. “My mom pays $700 a month for me to come here and my dad is always complaining about how expensive it is, so I’d like to work
hard so that my parents’ money doesn’t go to waste,” the anonymous junior said. Stark has known some students in his class who forged their address and were forced out of the district once the policy was implemented. Although he felt sad that they had to leave, he believes that it is not right for a student to deprive others from resources just for the sake of coming to an FUHSD school. By pretending to live in the area in order to attend a school, the student is taking the services paid for by local taxpayers. As a large amount of money is put into the education of each student, Stark said it is only fair to use the money towards stuendts living in the local area who are legally attending the school. “If you don’t live here, you should support the district you’re in and make it better,” Stark said.
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CLOWNING AROUND
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Media warps funny clowns into symbols of terror
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chain of recent clown-mania isn’t a circus gone rogue — the depictions of the clowns have a noticeably more sinister tone to them. I never perceived clowns as scary when I was younger, perhaps because I never went to fairs or circuses, but as far as horror movies go, it is difficult to find someone who despises them as much as I do. Intentional As a little kid, I was terrified of all the jump scares, blood and gore, constantly typical things — the dark, needles, vegetables creeping suspense … I’d much rather get my and spiders. But it wasn’t until I was far adrenaline rush from something else, thank you very much. But as b e y o n d Halloween merchandise those “little slowly fills up the kid” years shelves of stores and spent with a students must decide nightlight that what to wear, keep I discovered in mind that in some a n o t h e r schools, the buzz over universal clown sightings means fear: clowns. that one costume might I’d always be off limits: the clown. w o n d e r e d JUNIOR ILENA PENG I’m not quite sure how a why anyone would clown with bushy rainbow hair, a pair of enormously oversized shoes, a squeaky want to dress as a clown anyways — just rubber nose and an unnaturally large smile the thought of trying to walk with those ginormous red clown feet terrifies me; could possibly scare anyone. But if you take a look at the descriptions I can hardly go a day without tripping of clowns in shows like the clown Twisty over my own feet as it is. From MVHS from the fourth season of American Horror to the San Jose East Side Union High Story, it’s clear that our books and movies School District to the New Haven are what turned funny clowns at town School District in Connecticut, carnivals into objects of terror. And starting school administrators have from clowns like those in Stephen King’s decreed clown costumes horror novel turned miniseries “It” in 1990 forbidden, at least for this about a child-killing demon disguised as year. So if you wanted to a clown, the clown craze has only grown, be a clown for Halloween, blame the clown stalkers even into reality. Starting in late Aug. in South Carolina, for stealing your look. However after the people have reported creepy clown sightings — and even though most clowns haven’t sun sets, we find that done any real harm, simply the idea of having horror films are the behind an axe-wielding, gun-brandishing ghostly main source clown creeping around past midnight is our fear of clowns. In an reason enough to be scared. Even though era before editing and special the clown sightings aren’t in every part of effects makeup allowed actors the country, creepy clowns have become to ooze fake blood from every a nationwide phenomenon due to books, crevice, all we could settle for movies and social media. And the fright was painting someone’s face has logically caused schools like ours to ban white and giving them a large red mouth that would make clown costumes. It’s precisely the stuff found in horror any smile seem sinister. Those clown sightings movies, and clown-related horror movies are nothing new, from King’s “It” to a more are merely people disguised recent movie released in the U.S. in June as whatever the media has 2016, creatively titled “Clown.” But the already dubbed scary. They RECOGNIZE TERROR AS THE FINEST emotion and so I will try to terrorize the reader. But if I find that I cannot terrify, I will try to horrify and if I find that I cannot horrify, I’ll go for the gross-out. I’m not proud.” -Stephen King
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BEYOND THE STATUS QUOTE
don’t have to be scary, or do something scary. It’s just simply much more convenient to become something that everyone already fears. Or maybe those sightings are just film promotion tactics, like the Green Bay Clown “Gags” in Wisconsin. Media representation really does play a greater part than we think. If the media makes something terrifying, people will jump on the bandwagon and take advantage of the fear that media has created. Honestly, if someone creates a wildly successful series of princess movies where the innocentlooking princess takes advantage of her sparkly appearance to deceive people and lure them into an empty abyss of endless homework, I’m sure we’d all be rethinking those childhood Disney movies. Then perhaps people would creep up the midnight streets of a small town dressed in a glittery pink dress, with a cursed star-tipped wand ready to attack you with unimaginable amounts of sparkles and sequins. But until then, I’d just stay away from the clown costumes this year.
ILLUSTRATION | ILENA PENG N EWS
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When jokes go too far BY SARA ENTEZAR
2016 IS THE YEAR OF clowning, roasting shoes and trolling on the internet. Although done in good fun,
there are moments in which these crazes go beyond a simple laugh — so far as to justify public humiliation, harassment and even lead to injuries. But at what cost?
OPINION
NO ONE’S LAUGHING
“It’s just a joke...” Opinion
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SAY IT TO
MY FACE
ILLUSTRATION | AANCHAL GARG
Through the Internet bullying takes a new, cowardly and harmful form
I
T’S A TERM THAT’S ALL TOO familiar to students, teachers and parents alike. Its very presence threatens an individual’s psychological, emotional and physical state of being: bullying. According to The National Bullying Prevention Center, bullying is considered“a behavior that hurts, harms or humiliates a student, either physically or emotionally, and can happen while at school, in the community or online.” While the definition of bullying has remained essentially the same for decades, the ways in which people bully each other has drastically shifted. Bullying nowadays, especially at MVHS, doesn’t always occur in the form of a looming, muscular, foul-talking person with an angry face. It’s much worse than that. It comes in the form of a 5-inch. touch screen, with 101 keys and a charger. Cyberbullying. Here at MVHS, in the heart of the Silicon Valley, electronic devices are everywhere.
We can’t avoid the use of electronics, and we can’t avoid the possibility of being cyber bullied by someone. According to the Cyberbullying research center, approximately 18 percent of people said they were victims of cyberbullying as of May 2007. As of Feb. 2015, the percentage has rose to 24.6 percent. According to 384 students, 26 percent have said they were
engage with one another. That didn’t exist when I was in school and when I was a kid,” assistant principal Michael Hicks said. “It’s new for a lot of adults and staff members to try and support, manage and ensure the safety and comfort of students.” What is it about cyberbullying that makes it such a threatening force? According to Puresight.com, an online parental control website, cyberbullying is considered more harmful than face-to-face bullying. The speed, longevity and size of the audience seeing the hurtful content are all contributors OPINION OF THE EL ESTOQUE to what makes cyberbullying dangerous to the victim. With a click EDITORIAL BOARD of a button, a person’s humiliating victims of cyberbullying. The complicated experience can be shared with hundreds of situations in which cyberbullying can occur people, when it was only meant to be shown are something that sometimes confuses to one, or even none. parents and administration when they face The article ”Why do people cyberbully?” solutions to solving cyberbullying issues. from Delete Cyberbullying.com, points out “It’s interesting that [technology] has that having the ability to remain anonymous opened up different ways that students can while committing acts of hate is one factor
STAFF EDITORIAL
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EL ESTOQUE /OCT. 2016
that has led to the increase in cyber bullies. mean people have to live with the emotional Insulting a person indirectly takes less impact of bullies. courage than insulting “I’d rather that person face-tohelp students face, and makes the learn how to coconsequences for exist with these bullying a person online devices and seem minimal, or even these modes of non-existent. According com munic at ion to 163 students, 48 rather than percent said they didn’t neglec ting know the person who them at school, cyberbullied them. knowing that Perhaps it was in other parts posted as a joke. Maybe of [student’s] someone was dared lives, “ Hick said, to do it. Whatever “they’re going the reason was, it to have access wasn’t meant to be to [devices] or nice. Most of the time, continue to use embarrassing pictures them more and or posts are meant more as time ASSISTANT PRINCIPAL to intentionally harm marches on.” MICHAEL HICKS the victim. Removing When a person hurtful content cyberbullies, the becomes more difficult internet becomes or even impossile to do, and as a result, a medium for the person to vent their hatred the humiliating experience can never truly or frustration towards another person. The disappear. bullies want to feel superior and powerful, And just like the content, bullying so they turn to attacking their victims online won’t really disappear forever. “The Elon where the bullies can have control over Journal of Undergraduate Research in how much of the victim’s embarrassing Communications” cites the act of bullying information is made public. But when the as a way of expressing a survival instinct. bullies say things online instead of to a The journal claims that the competitive person, it’s a clear sign the bully is afraid of atmosphere created by a person’s desire to the consequences they might get if someone successfully survive has been around ever overheard or saw them doing so. since the beginning of the human race. But Perhaps bullies even hide behind the just because bullies won’t go away, doesn’t screen to hide their guilt. When bullies
I’D RATHER HELP STUDENTS LEARN HOW TO CO-EXIST WITH THESE DEVICES AND THESE MODES OF COMMUNICATION RATHER THAN NEGLECTING THEM WHILE AT SCHOOL
stay behind the computer screen, they are actually afraid to feel guilt and afraid to look at themselves through the eyes of the victim. The computer screen is a way for bullies to continue attacking their victim without having to face their inner conscience. And the incapability to not truly see the bullies that they are makes them weak. Because of these factors, the act of cyberbullying becomes even more harmful than being bullied physically. In the case of physical bullying, anyone can stand up to the bully, respond on the spot or even violently retaliate. In the case of cyberbullying, there is no opportunity to take the challenge head on — of course you could respond, but typing a response to your bully will never have the same effect of personally telling them off. This reason is the worst part about cyberbullying — that the bully is not under threat of retaliation, but the threat of the words typed at them. While ultimately there is no permanent solution to bullying as a whole, we can take steps to reduce the amount of the more harmful cyberbullying. While bullying anyone for any reason isn’t a favorable outcome, going up and saying it to their face is better than saying it online. It at least gives them the chance to retaliate however they see fit as opposed to being confined to 101 keys.
CYBERBULLYING
@ MVHS
26%
of students admit they’ve been
CYBERBULLIED *based on the response of 384 students
SCAN FOR MORE COVERAGE
of students
26%
CONFRONTED
the bully if they knew them *based on the response of 163 students
48%
of students didn’t know WHO *based on the response of 163 the cyberbully was students OPINION1 7 1 3
I PLEDGE ...
The Pledge of Allegiance may be a timeworn tradition, but it still is inconsiderate of American citizens By Helen Chao and Vivian Chiang
P
ERHAPS, IN AGES PAST, you actually enunciated the “A” in “America” as a kindergartner, rapt in attention and absorbed by the haze of red, white and blue, repeating “I pledge allegiance…” Yet as years pass and your patriotism subsides, allegiance to America becomes a monotonous routine that has almost no meaning. In many states, it is encouraged that public school
students recite the Pledge of Allegiance every day. According to government teacher Ben Recktenwald, the California Education Code 52720 states that every public secondary school must conduct daily appropriate patriotic exercises. The reciting of the Pledge of Allegiance fulfills this requirement. In accordance to that law,
ILLUSTRATION | PRIYA REDDY
SCAN FOR MORE COVERAGE
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MVHS opted for the “Historical Thought of the Day” announcements, which are heard daily during fifth period. Fortunately, for MVHS, pressure to pledge allegiance is not so prominent; instead, the sole source of stress is frantically finishing yesterday’s math homework to “In this day in history, Union Troops defeated at Chickamauga seek refuge …” The Pledge of Allegiance, in itself, isn’t exactly offensive. It speaks to typical universal values of “a nation indivisible with liberty” and “justice for all.” However, the phrase “one nation” unified “under God” is considered controversial because it violates the First Amendment’s oath to “make no law respecting the establishment of religion.” On May 9, 2014, an unidentified family of a student in Boston requested that the Supreme Judicial Court of Massachusetts take out the phrase “under God” from the Pledge of Allegiance. Ultimately, the court declined the request, because participation in the pledge is voluntary and mainly a patriotic exercise, rather than a religious one. While the family’s lawyers argued the phrase “under God” defies the First Amendment, the children of the family “did not receive negative treatment because they opt not to recite the words ‘under God,’” the decision countered. In 2015, in Carlisle, Pa., a Wilson Middle School student was refused treatment by the nurse for not standing during the Pledge of Allegiance. An atheist group later requested apologies from the school district. In 1994, the Supreme Court ruled that no child can be forced to recite the pledge, but this decision was obviously disregarded by the nurse. Of course, “under God,” or any specific phrase of the pledge, isn’t the tipping point. Through the constant repetition, younger children are brought up to believe in only one “American ideal” — unity under God, for example — and fail to utilize or recognize their First Amendment rights of free speech and
acceptance of all religions. In all seriousness, the flag, a star-stitched cloth or the reciting if America is the “land of the free,” why of a sentence evoke patriotism at all? When sophomore Sureena Hukko are we required to even listen to a single recited the pledge interpretation of in elementary the American school, she said, dream? Also, one “It never really meant anything must consider to me when I was if the pledge’s intended effect doing it. I just kind of did it because — patriotic the school unity— is even required me to.” acknowledged If “I pledge or apparent in elementary or Allegiance” is uttered high school dispa ssionately, students. without any Pat r iot ic u n d e r s t a n d i ng unison isn’t to of the patriotic be “tamed” or government teacher connotations or “monitored” ben recktenwald roots, there is no by rote memorization or recitation. Rather, a point for children to say it in the first place. “They are just going through the prominent, patriotic attitude should be Recktenwald said. “With voluntary. Anyone can recite “justice for all” motions,” or “pledge allegiance.” How they feel when patriotism, you can’t force someone to love they recite it is another matter entirely. Does their country, but you can talk about ‘here
you can’t force someone to love their country, but you can talk about ‘here ARE all the patriotic aspects, and be aware of the negative aspects.’
are all the patriotic aspects, and be aware of the negative aspects.’” The internet erupted into controversy after Colin Kaepernick, quarterback for the San Francisco 49ers, refused to stand during the National Anthem during a preseason game on Aug. 26. In an exclusive interview with NFL Media, he said, “I am not going to stand up to show pride in a flag for a country that oppresses black people and people of color.” There was a lot of backlash, and a high amount of anger and protest at his “disrespect.” The first settlers of America were impulsive immigrants who traveled here to follow their own emotional and diverse beliefs. To recite the same sentence every day can never instill the rawness of these American dreams — even if your hand is over your heart.
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Opinion
1 71 5
NONE OF THE ABOVE Lack of third party popularity highlights flawed two party system
BY STEPHANIE LAM, SHAYON MORADI AND ADITYA PIMPLASKAR
W
HEN POLLING VOTERS on their political leanings in the election, it seems appropriate to ask, “Are you a Republican or a Democrat? Trump or Clinton? Red or Blue?” Through these constant binary juxtapositions, we enforce a false dichotomy, where voters only see two potential outcomes. Although these two choices are dominating the political field, people oftentimes forget to mention the less popular option — third-party candidates. Third-party presidential candidates, like Libertarian nominee Gary Johnson and Green Party nominee Jill Stein, among others, are more than just extra names on a ballot. Americans only focus on the two major parties, Republican and Democratic, and oftentimes are distracted from seeing what third-party candidates have to offer. In the current race for the presidency, the country is faced with some very unpopular candidates: a Democrat who people fear is a liar and a Republican who is disrespectful towards women. According to ABC news and Washington Post Polls on Clinton and Trump’s Favorability, as of Aug. 28, 56 percent and 63 percent view Clinton and Trump, respectively, as unfavorable. With these two major party candidates polling at historic lows, one would expect voters to welcome third-party candidates with open arms — but this is not the case. The two third-party candidates, Johnson
ILLUSTRATION | SARA ENTEZAR
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EL ESTOQUE / OCT. 2016
and Stein, are polling at a measly seven 48 states out of 50 use the winner-takepercent and two percent, respectively, all method of counting the electoral votes. according to the National Review. The This means that the candidate who gets the reasons for why the American populace majority of vote in a particular state gets continually refuse to vote for third parties all the electors of that state. A Democrat is rooted in the basic way the U.S. electoral or Republican candidate, for example in system works. California, could get 51% of the votes but In the U.S., the president is not chosen by still get all the 53 electors California has. the popular vote, but rather through electoral This makes it extremely difficult for a thirdvotes, which are cast by an elector. Electors party candidate to get any electoral votes, are nominated by their respective political since they would have to get a majority in parties and specific states to are appointed get any electoral WITH THE MAJOR PARTY during the votes. CANDIDATES POLLING AT g e n e r a l T h e s e HISTORIC LOWS, ONE WOULD elec tion. problems would be W h e n minimized if there EXPECT VOTERS TO WELCOME someone weren’t a stigma THIRD-PARTY CANDIDATES votes, they behind voting are not really WITH OPEN ARMS. BUT THIS IS for third-party voting for a candidates. Many NOT THE CASE. par ticular voters believes candidate that a vote for directly; instead, they are voting for an any third-party candidate is a vote wasted, elector who will (hopefully) select their or a vote for the opposition. A third-party candidate of choice. candidate may represent someone’s views Only 27 of the 50 states have laws better, but the perception that this is a twoprohibiting electors from voting for a horse political race convinces Americans different candidate than the one favored in other parties have no chance at winning. their district, and even in these states the This leads to people not voting for who they laws are very loosely enforced. Although agree with more, but for the candidate that it is very rare for electors to not go with they deem to be the best of their “only” two the majority, it has happened before, most options. recently in the 2008 Minnesota general A potential way to fix this and give the election where one elector chose to abstain two major parties something to worry about from voting. is to adjust the political campaigning process, In turn, the electoral college impacts whether that entails altering the electoral third party voting because even if a third- system or giving third-party candidates more party candidate win the majority vote in a media attention. Third-party involvement particular state, the electors can still elect can be an important motivator of keeping the not to vote for that candidate. Since most, government in check, especially when voters if not all, the electors are chosen by the two are not content with the status quo. Voting major parties, they tend to third party can allow people to express be fiercely loyal to the their discontent and resolve gridlock in party, meaning that controversial issues like the appointment of they won’t likely a new Supreme Court justice or determining vote for a the future of the Affordable Care Act. Third third-par t y parties can get involved in politics in more candidate. ways than just nominated candidates, but The way with this anti-third party stigma in place, the the votes are chances of a third party American president cast in the are slim to none. first place is flawed.
THE BLACK DOT Why I lack school spirit
I
AM THE ONLY BLACK DOT in a sea of purple and gold. Everybody around me is wearing athletic gear, school shirts and face paint, not able to contain themselves. I’m in my black jeans, flannel shirt and Chelsea boots, unable to show a drop of excitement for the rally. No matter what color the tides are, I am that black dot — never once a part of this uniform ocean. This ocean of conformity, competitivity and selfish individualism is a wave I will not ride. It’s almost like indirect confrontation is part of our code of conduct and engraved into our minds the first day we arrive on campus. So for all the people who ask why I don’t have school spirit, here’s my answer. I don’t like facades and people who are too childish to talk things out, people who cannot directly address problems and instead choose to complain about people behind their backs. I don’t like their style — and not because they don’t wear Saint Laurent, but because they’re childish and would rather see me get crucified for disagreeing than have a conversation about the matter. Not to say this is true for all of the student body, just enough to make me not want to support our rallies. I don’t stand for many of the same values as a lot of the student body does. I can’t avoid conflict like they do, and if something truly bothers me, I’ll be confrontational. After three years here, I’ve had enough of the drama. So if these are the people participating in and promoting school spirit, wearing all the same shirts, then I don’t want to be part of this school. I want to be the black stain on the purple and gold emblem of your MVHS logo. I want to be the crack on your hardwood floors. I want to be anything but a Matador. I do, though, feel a deep connection with the school, which I cannot emphasize enough with words; I just do not mess with the
ILLUSTRATION | SARA ENTEZAR
mainstream student body. I cannot express how thankful I am to the wonderful teachers who have opened my mind and altered my way of approaching life, the students who truly care about my mental and physical well-being even if I don’t act appropriately at all times or the student advocates who instill in me a sense of hope and safety by letting me know there are always people here for me and that I won’t be a failure. I love our school, but I will never consider
BARKING UP THE RIGHT TREE SENIOR ALBERT WANG myself a Matador. I can see why our school is ranked so high. To me, the education here transcends grades and test scores, giving students new outlooks on life by connecting the curriculum to current events and personal issues. I came into high school
wanting so hard to conform and become popular amongst the mainstream student body, but it was just never meant to be. I came in as a square peg, but the hole was always round. No matter how hard I tried to smooth out the edges of my personality, I could never do it. I don’t want to fit in anymore because I see that I don’t have to. I am an individual and I only value reputation to people who truly value me. People like Ms. Nava, Ms. Gupta, Ms. Ju, Mr. Sturgill … the list goes on … are the people who I owe my current existence to. Even if they can’t make me popular, get me 400 likes on Instagram pictures or make more than three people wave to me when I walk down the halls, at least I’m able to feel indifferent to these superficial status symbols now. I am now an augmented peg, some weird shape weathered by those who rejected me and sculpted by those who enlightened and cared for me. I don’t want to fit in with the mainstream anymore, so I go against it by being the black drop in their purple rain.
OPINION
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WINTER 2016/ 2017 TEST PREPARATION + ACADEMIC TUTORING + COLLEGE CONSULTING
IMPORTANT DATES SAT Test Dates
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SAT WINTER BOOT CAMP
ACT WINTER BOOT CAMP
Elite’s SAT Winter Boot Camp is an intensive preparation course held over 8 days during the two-week winter break,followed by two weekend sessions in January leading up to the January 21 exam.
For students aiming for the February 11th ACT, Elite’s ACT Winter Boot Camp offers rigourous preparation for the exam.
Students take a full-length SAT practice test and then attend classes (Reading, Writing & Language, Math, and Essay) each day. An optional two-week extension is offered for students who want to prepare more thoroughly.
Program Dates
Each day, students take a full-length ACT practice test and then attend four classes (English with Writing, Math, Reading, and Science). An optional four-week extension is offered for students who want to prepare more thoroughly.
Program Dates
Dec 20, 22, 28, 39
8:30am–5:30pm
Dec 19, 21, 27, 29
8:30am–5:30pm
Dec 19, 21, 27, 29
1:00pm–5:30pm
Dec 20, 22, 28, 39
8:30am-12:30pm
January Extension Jan 7 & 14
Friday Testing Saturday Testing Saturday Class
January Extension 8:30am–5:30pm
3:00, 3:30, 4:00, 4:30pm 8:30am - 12:30pm 8:30am-1:00pm 1:00pm-5:30pm
1601 S. DeAna Blvd. Suite #210 CUPERTINO , CA 95014
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Jan 7, 14, 21, 28 & Feb 4 Friday Testing Saturday Testing Saturday Class
8:30am–5:30pm
3:00, 3:30, 4:00, 4:30pm 8:30am - 12:30pm 1:30pm-5:30pm
CRUCIAL CONFRON BULLYING THROUGH THE EYES OF TEACHERS
I
BY RANA AGHABABAZADEH AND KAREN SANCHEZ
t was the last straw. Industrial technology teacher Ted Shinta, a student at the time, was ready to face his challenger. Knowing he had the disadvantage of being smaller, he proceeded to the location where a fellow student had agreed to a duel after school. After a long period of name-calling, racial condemnation and periodic shoving, Shinta figured since teachers neglected to take action, it would be his responsibility to stand up for himself. It was time to stand up to his tormentor. After waiting, Shinta discovered that the bully never showed up. The following day at school, he called the bully “a chicken” in front of the class. Shinta had won — the bully would never try to threaten him or anyone else ever again.
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%
of M did V st n he ’t se uden lp wh ek o ts en uts bu i llie de d
ILLUSTRATION I KAREN SANCHEZ
*FWrom a survey of 235 students
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EL ESTOQUE /OCT. 2016
During his time at Fremont HS, Shinta noticed that when people were bullied, they were often influenced to “fight back” due to peer pressure. “If you came home crying because someone was picking on you, the advice was ‘Well, don’t be a wimp,’” Shinta said. Rather than retaliating like most of his peers did, he took his father’s advice to resist bullies rather than confront them, as confrontation would feed into the bullies’ satisfaction. However, it can come to a point when enough is enough. Shinta believes confrontation is not the best way to respond to a bully, but when the threats become unbearable, people need to be able to stand up for themselves and put an end to conflict. For him, defending yourself is important for maintaining the level of respect you recieve from others. English teacher Jackie Corso has a slightly different opinion, one that was formed during her adulthood. She believes the most difficult, but more effective method of resolving conflicts is through direct communication. As a high school student, Corso
% 8 5 dents u t s V M of outside d n fi t ’ n did ective help eff
remembers having a complete opposite mindset. Never having realized that confrontation may have been the best way to deal with awkward and frustrating situations, she often resorted to the common act of talking behind people’s backs and avoiding her bullies. She admits it was challenging to control her emotional reactions as she hadn’t reached the proper level of maturity to trust that judgment. Even as an adult, she still finds herself constantly learning new ways to interact with people when facing a problem, specifically as a teacher. Since her first years of teaching at MVHS, she has learned to be more reasonable and upfront with her colleagues. “I didn’t know how to go about having discussions with people,” Corso said. “So even just comparing then to now, I feel like I’m far more direct.” Corso isn’t the only teacher whose thoughts have changed over time. English teacher Monica Jariwala has had her fair share of thought renovation as she’s worked closely with students on a day-to -day basis. She believes the best way to solve a problem is to talk through it, as opposed to ignoring it. To her, letting issues linger causes an accumulation of negative emotions— repressed anger, hate and hurt build up until they drive someone to take reckless actions. Thanks to her teaching position, which has exposed her to the teenage world, she discovered that often times, people are reluctant to address problems directly. “It’s harder to look someone in the eye and tell them,” Jariwala said. “It’s easier to text it or to post something because then you don’t see the person’s reaction.” Jariwala understands that confrontation is a difficult action to take,
*From a survey of 145 students
NTATIONS especially when it may not necessarily be emphasized as important. “I think a lot of times we grow up and we’re not taught that we are suposed to work things] out,” Jariwala said. “Perhaps it’s just that [students] never had to [deal with bullies] before.” Corso too understands difficult conversations about conflict can often leave someone open without protection. Talking through sensitive issues can cause feelings of anxiety and self-doubt. A lack of experience, paired with the vulnerability that comes hand in hand with direct communication, results in reluctance towards open communication. According to a study conducted by the Regional Education Laboratory in 2010, 64 percent of victims didn’t report their bullies. To these three teachers who have slightly different experiences and opinions about bullying, one thing is clear: When
a student feels they can no longer handle a situation, the victim should take action and notify an authoritative figure. Looking back at his time in high school, Shinta recognizes nowdays teachers and administration are more likley to intervene of their own accord with bullying situations such as his own. Society’s approach on bullying has significantly changed for the better since his time as a teenager. “If a real bullying thing is going on— if it’s a cyberbully or somebody saying something to you on campus—then a student doesn’t have to deal with that because you have the teachers and and staff to take care of that,” Shinta said. “Nobody should have to put up with that.”
IT’S HARDER TO LOOK SOMEONE IN THE EYE AND TELL THEM. IT’S EASIER TO TEXT IT OR TO POST SOMETHING BECAUSE THEN YOU WON’T SEE THE PERSON’S REACTION. English Teacher Monica Jariwala
LLUSTRATION | SARA ENTEZAR
SSPpEeCcI Ai aLl
25
BY DYLAN TSAI ILLUSTRATIONS BY ANANYA BHAT
Sure, I’m free that day… What do you want to do?
Whether it’s a regular hangout, a first date or something you wish was a date, you need something to do or somewhere to go. Maybe you can have fun studying? Grab a fancy meal at McDonalds? Go on a shopping spree at Vallco? Cupertino’s boundaries may be limited, but there’s more to this suburban city than stress and pearl milk tea. Take a break from flipping water bottles with your friends and try a Cupertino local special.
10 a.m. 3 p.m.
Oct. 22 Blackberry Farm
9 a.m. 6 p.m.
Harvest Festival Experience autumn spirit at the city of Cupertino’s annual Harvest Festival at Blackberry Farm. Throughout the day, Blackberry Farm will have food trucks, carnival games, animals, pumpkin patches and more.
7 p.m. 9:30 p.m.
Nov. 4* Auditorium
Mv Fall Play Drama’s fall performance will be “12 Angry Jurors,” which follows 12 jurors, each with their own motivations and prejudices, who must determine whether a man is guilty of the death of his own father. Drama students will be selling tickets. *The Fall Play will also be performed on Nov 5. from 2 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. and 7 p.m. to 9:30 p.m.
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EL ESTOQUE / OCT. 2016
Oct. 27
Cupertino Senior Center
4:30 p.m. 5:15 p.m.
7 p.m. 9:30 p.m.
Throughout the fall, Cupertino Library is hosting various local groups, including the Bo Ai Chorus, Hawaiian dancers and San Francisco Shakespeare. *The Fall Performing Arts Series will also have performances on on Oct. 30, Nov. 5, Nov. 12 and Nov. 19. Check out the SCCL Event Calendar for more information.
Nov. 9 Auditorium
Wind Ensemble Concert Check out Wind Ensemble’s first concert of the year. MVHS’s award-winning band group will be performing a few select songs.
Cupertino Community Hall
Fall Performing Arts Series
Hidden Treasures Sale The Cupertino Senior Center will be temporarily converted into a flea market; stop by to check out their novelty items, such as holiday gifts. Proceeds will contribute to fundraisers such as the Senior-At-Risk Emergency Fund and the Scholarship Fund.
Oct. 29*
7:35 a.m. 3 p.m.
Nov. 17 Main Gym
Challenge Day As the school year progresses, it’s easy to neglect mental health to try to maintain grades. Through just one day of activities and presentations, Challenge Day can widen your perspective about your own internal struggles as well as those in your community.
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STORY BY JESSICA XING ILLUSTRATIONS BY AANCHAL GARG
Media once classified as “nerdy” has taken off in popular culture
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HEN ENGLISH T E ACHER Jackie Corso was in high school, Star Wars was strictly a family thing — people at her school didn’t talk about it, as doing so would categorize them as “nerdy.” Yet today, it’s “cool to be a nerd.” Studios spend big money to revive old franchises; conventions like ComicCon have become a landmark in pop culture. Superheroes have escaped their niche market and exploded in mainstream media — it is truly a great time to be a nerd. With bigger and newer movies, the growth of nerd culture has allowed people with similar interests to connect. More specifically, streaming sites have allowed typically niche markets such as anime and comic books to become more accessible and gain a larger devoted following, changing certain negative perceptions these mediums used to have. THE OFFICIAL DEFINITION of nerd culture has been hard to pin down, because “nerd culture” can encompass such a wide variety of subjects. Junior Cathrine Ying believes “nerd culture” is synonymous with “fan culture.” “It’s not like you’re a nerd if you recommend a restaurant to someone,” Ying said. “A lot of times people escape through these magical universes. You consider yourself a nerd if you’re really passionate about something.” Now, with the general public embracing Star Wars references and culture, Corso attributes the growth of nerd culture with the rise of Silicon Valley.
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Nerd
N e r d y stories become more essential to mainstream entertainment, according to senior Nitin Ongole. Ongole enjoys some things that people would once classify as “nerdy,” like superhero movies. But, while he doesn’t feel pressured to take part in “nerd culture,” he feels that if a person does not watch certain TV shows or read certain books, they can feel a little disconnected from wider pop culture references. “I’ve never watched ‘Game of Thrones,’” he said. “All my friends talk about ‘Game of Thrones.’ If I’m ever on social media, and I see some reference to it, I wouldn’t be able to understand it.”
“It’s the rise of the tech world,” Corso said. “With Silicon Valley, nerds are seen as people with power and influence. [Studios] are beginning to understand the value of those stories.” A big part of “nerd culture” is the fanbase. Fans are often celebrated for their devotion; they create fanart for many shows they’ve liked and also enjoy cosplaying, or dressing up as many of their favorite characters. Ying has participated in many fanbases. They have seen the rapid growth nerd culture has experienced over the years, and attributes a large part of that growth to the Internet Age. “When I first went to a convention called Fanime, it was just people in the Bay Area who knew about it,” Ying said. “But this year, people from all over the West Coast came. It got bigger because people were sharing events from fanime and just — more and more things are spreading fast.”
WHILE CORSO IS excited about the integration of once “nerdy” stories into mainstream media, she can’t help but be a little cautious the potential damage sensationalism could do to the original franchise. Ying has seen how growing size has negatively impacted fanbases. “A problem with the large size of a fanbase is the sort of mob mentality it inspires,” Ying said. “It allows people anonymity to say hurtful slurs.” With the growth of social activism, Ying saw how certain fanbases would use their sheer size to bully people. For example, Ying remembers seeing how a large number of fans celebrated the suicide of a fanartist because they thought a lot of her actions were problematic. “The reason nerd culture is a thing is because we are connected as a community,” Ying said. “And being connected as a community means don’t be mean to people.”
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EAT, SLEEP, GAME
The psychology behind game addiction and how it affects the gaming world ILLUSTRATIONS AND STORY BY ANANYA BHAT
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UY, DEFEAT, WIN. BUY, DEFEAT, WIN. Buy, defeat, win. Over and over, you just keep repeating the same thing — buy, defeat, win. This is how games like Candy Crush, Clash of Clans and Angry Birds get you to spend hours and hours playing the game. Many mobile app companies have begun to incorporate similar patterns into their games. Psychological components made to get players addicted have changed the playing field of game design and dominated the face of trending entertainment.
THROUGH A GAME DESIGNER’S EYES
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VHS alumnus and current freshman at Laguna College of Art and Design Anthony Sun is an avid gamer and currently studying game design. He affirms many games have repetitive, addictive components that act as incentives to keep playing. A majority of these components are progression systems built into the game that motivate players to continually play the game so as to complete said systems. Though these components are a part of the game, to Sun, it’s the story to be told through the game that is most interesting. “Even in games that encourage repetition, [...] there’s still a story to be told and you’re telling that through the arc,” Sun said. “So it doesn’t matter if the game is story based or whatever because either way, it doesn’t matter. It’s still going to tell a story.” Still, Sun believes that it is important to include aspects of repetition as it’s one of the many essential parts to game
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design. “I want a game with good mechanics, good story – so it’s visually engaging as well as mechanically engaging,” Sun said. “I enjoy all aspects of it. I don’t think any of it is something you can neglect if you want a good game.” Together, the story and mechanics of a game work to make the perfect combination of addictive and engaging. According to Sun, without one or the other, the game wouldn’t be able to do well. “Would you rather have eyes or a mouth?” Sun asked. “Because I believe all that is important. If you lose one aspect of it, it kind of all goes to s---.”
CAUGHT IN THE LOOP
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ompulsion loops are a chain of activities repeated to gain some sort of reward. In the actual game, this may be some sort of virtual reward, like gold coins. But inside the brain, this turns into neurochemical rewards, such as dopamine, a neurotransmitter that helps to control the brain’s pleasure and reward centers. The act of releasing dopamine after performing a specific action basically tells your brain, “Hey, this action made you feel good. You should repeat this action
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hile playing the game to win is incentive already, it’s when the game becomes just hard enough that we get really addicted. “It’s that tension of knowing you might get the treat, but not knowing exactly when that keeps you playing,” Transmedia game designer Andrea Phillips
again so.” Drug addictions are formed like this as well; drug intakes often increase levels of dopamine released, making the user feel pleasure, consequently driving them to take more drugs. And although it might feel scary to compare drug abuse to simple games on a phone, it’s scientifically undeniable that the two work on the same basis of repetition and reward. This is why these games can become so addictive, even to the point where it’s dangerous.
said in an interview with The Next Web. This provides the explanation for many games, such as Flappy Bird, but also for recent trends, like the “water bottle flipping” craze that has been taking over social media. Successfully flipping a water bottle may not reward you with gold coins, but the satisfaction of succeeding is enough to make you to want to try again. The prerequisites necessary for a flipped water bottle to land upright on a table makes the challenge just challenging enough for us to feel like we’ll get it the next time, or the next, or the next. We become gamblers, anxiously hoping that this will be our lucky time, this will be the time when we hit the lottery, the time when we flip the
THE GOLDILOCKS CHALLENGE A &AE& E
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“
One time I was in second grade [and] I was trick or treating. I went to a house and I opened the gate to get some candy and a spider jumped out. It was fake but it was automatic.
”
Keerthi Pushpraj, 10
“
When I was a child, I was trick-or-treating with my cousin and there was this statue in someone’s front porch and I thought it was like a scarecrow, like an inanimate object. But then it jumped up and scared me — and I was five at that time, so it was pretty intense. Tiffany Tsang, 12
“
T
”
Three years ago me and a couple friends were going trick-or-treating and we saw this house that had no lights on and we figured we’d try to ring the doorbell anyway. So we walked up to the door and the house basically looked like an abandoned house. It was really creepy. We rang the doorbell and we didn’t notice that there was a pet door that [animals] can go through,ut as soon as we rang the bell, a black cat just ran out of the door and it freaked us out. It was pretty scary.
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Suchith Ullagaddi, 11
“
There was this really creepy man who was trick-ortreating one time (he didn’t have a child either). He was just going around on our streets and he kept knocking on all of the doors and he was just walking back and forth and knocking on the doors. And one time, he just took the pot of candy from our house and ran away; we thought it was just some weird kid from around the neighborhood. But it was some really weird creepy man who was stealing people’s candy.
”
Ananya Srinivas, 10
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rom king-sized Hershey’s chocolate bars to bite-sized pieces of candy corn, Halloween is a holiday that never fails to fill candy bags with a variety of iconic favorites. But where did these candies come from? What is so special about their origins? Here are the stories behind some of Halloween’s most famous candy.
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ccording to The Classroom, Frank and Ethel Mars took three years to invent Snickers. The bar was originally made by pouring peanut butter nougat onto a large tray, layering caramel and peanuts on top and hand-slicing and dipping each bar into melted chocolate. The candy bar was named in honor of Ethel’s favorite racehorse, Snickers. Fun fact: The Snickers bar has always been associated with providing energy for athletes because of its high calorie count (215 calories per 1.56 oz bar). The idea of Snickers satisfying a person’s hunger is reflected in both the the 1980s slogan “Packed with peanuts, Snickers really satisfies” and the 2014 slogan “You’re not you when you’re hungry. Snickers satisfies.”
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S BY SHAR RAHMAN
SNICKERS
KIT KAT
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estlé Professional stated that “Rowntree’s Chocolate Crisp” was launched in London in Sept. 1935 and named after its confectioner Joseph Rowntree. After WWII, it became known as the Kit Kat, and a popular belief is that the Kit Kat Club, a famous English club in the 1920s with strong political and literary associations, had some influence on the name. Fun fact: There are many exotic flavors of Kit Kat, other than green tea, that exist around the world. In Japan, Nestlé has introduced over 200 different flavors—notable ones include cherry blossom, ginger ale, soy sauce, baked potato and sports drink.
CANDY CORN
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hese little yellow, orange and white candies, according to How Stuff Works, were first sold in the 1880s by George Renninge. Sugar, corn syrup, vanilla flavor and water were put into massive kettles. After being cooked and blended into a slurry, marshmallow and fondant were added to smooth and soften its texture. Fun fact: Candy corn was initially called “chicken feed,” and had no association with Halloween until after WWII. Love it or hate it, Halloween just isn’t the same without candy corn.
BUTTERFINGER
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ccording to Mental Floss, Otto Schnering invented the chocolate-covered candy bar with its flaky, peanut butter center. Before the Butterfinger received its iconic name, the Curtiss Candy company decided to hold a contest in 1923 for ideas from the public. Around the same time as the contest, the term “butterfinger” was used to describe players who were unable to keep a hold on the ball. A Chicago man, and a self-proclaimed klutz submitted the name, and the Butterfinger was born. Fun fact: Butterfinger commercials were the first time many people saw the characters that would soon become the Simpsons. Bart, Homer and the rest of the family starred in Butterfinger commercials a year before they debuted in their own show. A&e
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TIGER DAUGHTER?
A change of heart from an overcompetitve, grumpy sophomore
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T INFURIATES THE SENSIBLE ME, the alter ego who holds chopsticks properly (“I beseech you,” my mother will say, “stop fingering it like a pencil!”), to overhear a fellow student wail, “Dood, I didn’t even study for this test,” and gush days later, in all of a flutter, “Dood, I got an A on that test!” Good sir, that “A” is unsubstantial and superficial, unlike my untraditional chopstick-holding. I live in America, land of the free and “be yourself,” so I can strangle chopsticks anyway I desire. See? I have a legitimate reason for holding chopsticks differently. And you mosey along with an “A” on a test you didn’t study for. I studied for four hours, while I’m wallowing knee-deep in a “C-” pit. It baffles me. Enflamed by your success and in an effusion of envy, I’ll write 10 interpretations of Piggy’s spectacles, in preparation for next month’s in-class essay. I’m tramautizing incessantly swearing at me. Or is it the voice inside my head, bashful, because who myself, academically, to beat you. I’m absolutely outrageous, and one of despairs over an “A-?” Pathetic, try-hard me. “You try so hard. You try at everything.” those crazy MVHS kids. Concerned reader, the first step to Perhaps it’s my self-consciousness and purging my competitiveness is to, well, give over-interpretive nature, it’s as if “trying” up! Kudos to my Matador mother for still — in this school festering with geniuses — trying, albeit failing, to corner this raging suggests negative connotations and shoots a bull who sees the world in red-tinted glasses. condescending smirk your way. It’s as if whatever you’re doing, whatever Oh, you’re surprised? Were you under the impression that test you’re slaving over, is challenging for you—t hat’s I have a so-called the reason “tiger” mother? One you have to who voraciously try. Or as scrapbooks all the ads Mindy Kaling for PSAT and SAT prep phrases it, classes? Reproves you “That’s why for breathing, as it I’ve never disrupts the rhythm of SOPHOMORE HELEN CHAO under s to o d polynomial factoring? t h e My mother buys me milk tea and popcorn chicken after every compliment “effortless.” People love to say: math test and accepts my B-minuses in “She just walked into the party, charming stride. My father reminisces of his schoolboy people with her effortless beauty.” I don’t life fraught with Cs and Ds, as my three understand that at all. What’s so wrong with sisters proclaim, self-righteously, “Some effort, anyway? It means you care. What about the girl who “walked into the party, people don’t have to try. Deal with it.” Of course, I whip off my headphones and her determination to please apparent on her retort, “I know,” (I don’t) and continue to eager face?” Or, in Monta Vista lingo, “He walked marathon Khan Academy. In eighth grade, I wrenched open the car door after school, into math and got a 110 percent without sobbing fitfully and my mother demanded, trying.” What about me? Who swaggered into math, studied five days beforehand, “Who bullied you?” And I blubbered, tasting salty tears, “I-I-I and left, decjectedly, with a “B-”? I couldn’t bear the double-whammy: I had tried. I had got an A-minus on my science test.” Oh, I see that disgust, and I hear you failed. Intriguingly, the second statement
CAT’S OUT OF THE BAG
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overshadowed any “positivity” of the first. In a twisted way, my mind wished for a “stereotypical” tiger mother. If I had a “tiger” mother, I hypothesized, I’d be sailing through Chemistry and sleeping eight hours. Instead, I griped, I had been sentenced to a “normal” childhood! By golly, my childhood consisted of “fun in the sun” from morn’ to noon instead of prepping for next year’s math material. And now, sophomore year, I was paying the terrible price for a slacker childhood: I was trying in school. Never once did I consider the negatives of a tiger mother or father. Parents can helicocopter their living-at-home teenagers, subjecting them to ridiculous study schedules and determing their bedtimes. Yet with their teen’s first step onto a college campus, he or she is finally independent and at a complete loss, having been “babied” for 18 years. My delusion has dissipated, thankfully. Somewhere along the way, I realized my “trying” deserved an “A.” As long as I knew that, all was right in the world. It’s no use, I often reprimand myself. Ultimately, if the letter grade is ridiculously unreflective of the stress behind the scenes, well, that’s that. Even if I am “trained” enough to easily earn A’s, there’s no telling whether straight A’s would even meet tiger standards. So, I’m practically off the rails these days. Whatever with all the grades, considering skull tattoos. Yeah, you know me. I hold my chopsticks wrong. On purpose.
BLIND SIDED
After the Helmet game loss, the football team looks to emulate tradition in the future BY KALPANA GOPALKRISHNAN
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t’s common practice for the MVHS the rivalry again with Cupertino HS to football team not to talk on the bus ride make the Helmet Game a big deal again. He home after an away game loss. And so, wanted to add emotion back into the mix. after losing the Helmet game for the first Fifteen years later, that emotion and time in 13 years against Cupertino HS, camaraderie is still present. after the team almost came back from a “You’ve got to have the energy to fight 21-point deficit in the fourth quarter, after even harder next week,” senior Brian the tears when they came 7 points short, the Carroll said. “Not just for yourself, but for bus was silent. the guy next to you on the line.” It’s tradition for MVHS to fight for the Despite this season’s predicted losing helmet against Cupertino HS; it’s been record, senior captain Mihir Thakar is tradition since 1969, when MVHS was optimistic about the success of the team in founded. And for the last 13 years, it’s been future seasons. tradition for MVHS to win. “Coach [Adam Herald has] got a really That last tradition was broken. good direction,” Thakar said. “We’ve got Jeff Mueller, the previous varsity coach a lot of potential coming off from the next of the football team, played for MVHS in few years, with kids coming off from JV.” high school. The biggest game of his career When Herald arrived to coach the was in 1971 against Cupertino HS. Although varsity team this year after Mueller stepped the Helmet was not instituted until 1985, down, he noticed a significant difference the two schools were still natural rivals. At in the MVHS team and his hometown the game on the old team in Elk Grove, Cupertino HS field, near Sacramento. about 15,000 people Elk Grove was crowded four or five the kind of place rows deep around where elementary the stadium. schoolers aspired “It [had] to join the football rained all week team in high long,” Mueller school, where the said. “And there community made a was no astroturf, point to go to the everything was on game every Friday. grass. And it was And to Herald, just a quagmire. A what it comes down FOOTBALL COACH ADAM muddy quagmire. It to is buy-in. HERALD was ridiculous.” “Are you in The game ended here at lunchtime in a 7-7 tie, but MVHS avenged the draw by watching film? Are you working out winning the CCS championship the same seventh period with the strength coach?” year. Herald said. “That type of buy-in. ‘Cause “They had some things they wanted to there’s some kids who are not totally prove and we had some things we wanted committed to that, and that shows you’re to prove,” Mueller said. “And we put it all not totally committed as well.” down on the football field.” As Herald plans for next season, he Mueller played for a team that was one of hopes to implement a strict off-season the top five in the state, but when he came practice regimen focused on lifting and back to coach in 2001, the team ended its conditioning. Instead of 10 kids at training, he hopes to see the whole team; he already first season with a 1-9 record. has the current freshmen lifting with the “We had to go ahead and understand that strength coach during seventh period. playing football was an emotional game, not just a physical one,” Mueller said. Both Herald and Mueller planned to So Mueller introduced a weight training establish tradition at MVHS. But when tradition is broken, they know that certain program. And spring training. He emphasized
traditions can be overlooked. The Helmet Game, in spite of the 15,000 that watched in 1971 and the tears that fell from the football players’ cheeks in 2016, was one game in one season. “Football is like life,” Herald said. “There are ups and downs, and it’s about how you respond to them and stay positive.”
PHOTO | OM KHANDEKAR
FOOTBALL IS LIKE LIFE. THERE ARE UPS AND DOWNS, AND IT’S ABOUT HOW YOU RESPOND TO THEM AND STAY POSITIVE.
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PHOTO | OM KHANDEKAR
PHOTO | OM KHANDEKAR
PHOTO | ANTHONY MOLLR
(Above) MVHS suffered a rocky season, with its two wins occurring at home. One of those wins was a last-minute three-point victory against Evergreen HS on Sept. 2.
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BOTH SIDES OF THE POOL
Coach balances the responsibility of two teams at once STORY AND PHOTO ILLUSTRATION BY ruth feng and Himani yalamaddi T’S 3:45 P.M. AND NOBODY IS IN between the JV and varsity teams, who are the pool. Girls water polo practice has practicing on opposite sides of the pool. officially started at 3:30 p.m., but there’s Crouched down, she talks to the varsity a holdup. Several players line up to talk to team for a few minutes, explaining a drill. coach Gigi Swan about having to leave early She then walks over to the JV team and does for an upcoming tournament. After Swan the same. Swan is the only coach for the girls gets the girls into the pool to warm up, she water polo program. gets to work. She paces back It wasn’t supposed to be this way. Swan and forth on the went into the season expecting to coach only d e c k the JV team, leaving the varsity team in the hands of MVHS alumna Nikki Danese. But just before the season began, Danese told the team that she took a job offer in N.Y. and would have to leave immediately. Danese’s absence meant that the job of both the JV coach and the varsity coach would be pushed upon Swan, who has maintained both positions since. But coaching both teams comes at a price. She drives from her day job as a PE
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t e acher at Columbia Middle School in Sunnyvale to coach the MVHS girls after school. On game days, when the girls play well into the night, she gets home even later. “She needs someone who can support her and keep the load off of her shoulders,” varsity player and junior Olivia Lassa said. Though the players are very understanding of Swan’s busy schedule, they still find it hard to share the coach . “JV wants the coach the entire time and varsity wants the coach the entire time so it’s hard for [Swan] and us,” JV player and
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sophomore Ashna Maheshwary said. From the beginning of the season, JV has been undefeated, while varsity hasn’t been as successful. To help varsity out, Swan began spending more time with them, which she believes has affected the dynamic on the JV team. Leaving one side of the pool to give feedback to the other team gives some players a chance to be off-task, a problem that Swan has noticed. “It really comes down to the players to take initiative when I’m not next to them; that doesn’t mean they don’t do what they’re supposed to be doing,” Swan said. The two teams have different needs to be met by the coach, which makes the transition between JV and varsity difficult for Swan. While JV still needs to focus on learning the fundamentals of the game, varsity needs a more technical approach to their coaching. Still, junior and varsity player Neha Mylvaganan believes that having one coach has allowed the team to grow in ways that could not have happened otherwise. She finds that having one coach allows the players to form a deeper connection with Swan and between themselves. “Although it’s a lot more girls for [Swan] to coach, it’s also easier because she works with everyone equally so she gets to everyone also equally,” Mylvaganan said. “If you have one coach it kind of forces JV and varsity to be together and that’s good ... our water polo team, especially, is a social team, so we get to know each other a lot better.” Having one coach is admittedly tough for both teams, but they have each other to depend on. As for Swan, she said she plans on returning as a coach next year, hopefully with another coach by her side.
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MICHAEL MARTINEZ T
hirty years ago, Michael Martinez thought wrestling was his life. Instead, he sat down and talked about his change of pace from the wrestling mat to the front office as an assistant principal. BY OM KHANDEKAR EE: You used to wrestle in high school until you broke your neck sophomore year and ended your competitive wrestling career. How important was wrestling to you up until that point? MM: “So I would say judo, wrestling, all of that, was super important. In fact, I was hyper focused on going to the Olympics and being in the UFC and doing all that stuff, and when I got hurt it kind of rocked my world, right? So I wasn’t able to wrestle, I wasn’t able to do judo anymore and it actually got me engaged in school and got me focused on what I was going to be when I grow up. Before then I was really focused on being an athlete; I just needed to get the grades I needed in order to be on the team. That really kind of centered me and put me back in the real world. I really wouldn’t be here if I hadn’t gotten hurt. In a way, it’s one of the best things that’s ever happened to me in my life, which was breaking my neck and going through that surgery.” EE: By the time you came to MVHS, you already had ten years under your belt doing administrative work for FUHSD. Did you get involved with high school athletics during that time? MM: “No, all of my work was with special education. I always tried to get involved with wrestling. In fact, I know the coaches at Fremont and Cupertino really well, and we always joked around to get out there, but I’ve always wanted to [return]. I’ve always thought about it, but hopefully now, maybe I can get out and roll around a little bit.” EE: Since you’re moving houses right now and haven’t had a chance to get back into your practice with Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, have you noticed any side effects from a lack of working out? MM: “Yeah, my skinny jeans don’t fit quite as well as they used to a few weeks ago, and that’s a big problem. And also, when I was a young kid I had ADHD, and they
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never really medicated that. I have big time attention problems, and I’m really hyper, so sports were always my kind of ‘medicine’ for that. So since I haven’t worked out in a few months, my mood is definitely not as great, and I’m really anxious to get back on the mat.” EE: You’ve described yourself as the type of kid that keeps his hand down in class. Has wrestling helped overcome some of that timidness? MM: “I never wanted attention on me, I didn’t raise – I was kind of ‘the back of the room’ kind of kid; I didn’t want to get called on. In fact, I sat all day in class going ‘please don’t call on me. Please don’t call on me. Please don’t call on me.’ The mat was that place where I could kind of let that go. I was very confident on the mat; I was like Jekyll and Hyde – two different people. The person I was in class was very different from the confidence that I had on the mat wrestling; still, to this day I’m more at home when I’m on the mat doing jiu jitsu. It’s where I feel my most [comfortable]. Yeah, I’d say [wrestling] is definitely something that’s helped me create bonds with people.” EE: If you had a message for MVHS athletes what would it be? MM: “Take care of your body. Make sure that you rest, and that you take care of your injuries and don’t push through the pain. As athletes, we try to push through the pain just because we don’t want to miss the game or practice, but you have to understand that it’s ok to rest your body. It’s ok to take care o f yourself. That’s the most important thing. The other thing is to balance yourself out; make sure that you have enough time to study and do other things, so you’re taking care of your whole entire self.”
SPOrTS flash In a breakaway drive, senior Pranav Madanahalli winds up to take a shot in a game against Gunn HS that ended up in a 5-20 loss. MVHS boys varsity water polo is currently ranked sixth out of eight within the Santa Clara Valley De Anza league due to a string of losses in league games.
PHOTO | OM KHANDEKAR
PHOTO | OM KHANDEKAR
PHOTO | OM KHANDEKAR
Junior Owen Malone is taken down at the annual Helmet game. In what turned out to be an extremely emotional game, the final score was 20-28 against MVHS’ rival, Cupertino HS. This was the first time MVHS had lost the helmet to the CHS Pioneers since 2002.
Junior Carol Lei uses her racket to pick the ball up in a match against Homestead HS. The HHS coach cited league rules to order MVHS players who were not in uniform to forfeit. Most players were wearing outfits they felt were more appropriate for the weather. After a compromise, only two athletes were forced to forfeit, as MVHS lost 3-4. PHOTO | AKSHARA MAJJIGA
The MVHS girls varsity golf team has been incorporating more weight training into practice. Junior Christine Park prepares to putt the ball at a practice at the Blackberry Farm Golf Course.
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PHOTO | AMANDA CHAN
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