Review of “The Crucible” • elestoque.org
Teens in military display commendable courage • Page 7
opinion
online
Finding the right bra size not as difficult as perceived • Page 19
Injuries can’t keep athletes off the field • Page 15
sports
elestoque
entertainment Connected at the Core
What complete strangers have in common • Page 11
Volume XXXX • Issue 3 • Monta Vista High School • Cupertino, CA
November 12, 2008
Clean canvas
Lights. Missing in Cameras. Action. O
Collaborative art unites community by Allie Choy
Over $1600 in cameras stolen from ROP class by Sabrina Ghaus
R
OP Multimedia teacher Dale Barcellos shuffles through the 13 keys on his key ring before selecting a silver one to unlock a cabinet containing class equipment. He reaches •Cameras can be in and pulls out a set of headphones, anonymously returned then locks the cabinet once more, to the main office withcarefully tucking his key ring into his out penalty. pocket. Normal behavior? Not quite. Ever since the theft of three cam•Information regarderas from the equipment cabinet, two ing the theft can also be of which belong to the ROP Multimeconfidentially submitdia class and one to Histech, Barcellos ted to the main office. has begun keeping the usually unlocked cupboard closed during class. On Oct. 21, the cameras and a pair of headphones were stolen from the room, amounting to over $1,600 of stolen equipment, well into the felony category “It’s the first time in the three and a half years that I’ve been here that something like this has happened,” Barcellos said. “I got complacent, I guess.” see CAMERAS on page 4
Alice Lee | El Estoque
In the midst of controversy Rebel with a cause Proposition 8 approved by narrow margin by Dipika Shrihari
A
s several dozen church groups rallied on Oct. 24, senior Kristen Korz looked out the windows of Petsmart as the group advocating an end to any marriage possibilities for her future. “I remember what it was like clearly. I was working at Petsmart as the cash register and I could see out the window from where I was working,” Korz said. “I was supposed to be cheery for the customers, and yet right outside there was a whole bunch of people who don’t
Kai Kang | El Estoque
YES VOTE Supporters of Proposition 8 rallied on Stevens Creek Blvd. on Oct. 19.
want me to get married because I’m gay.” Although this is a very important issue for her, her experience during the rally was the first time she feared for her safety. “Cupertino and MVHS are like safety bubbles,” Korz said. “They are nothing like what the real world is like. I know that.” With the recent passing of Proposition 8, which “changes the California Constitution to eliminate the right of same-sex couples to marry in California,” many are burning with opinions. Peter Lui, parent of junior Samuel Lui, participated in the rally that Korz witnessed. He claims that Proposition 8 is in no way discriminating against gay people. He says that if anything, it preserves the definition of marriage between a man and a woman. “Being gay or lesbian is not a civil rights issue,” Peter said. “I am a Chinese-American and I was raised in this country. I encounter discrimination, so I know how it feels. I have no choice [because] I cannot change my skin [color], but I can change my sexual orientation. It’s not about civil rights.” Peter advocates for Proposition 8 because he is concerned about the values of the future population. see PROP on page 6
Beginning a journey of confidence by Kanwalroop Singh
T
he bounce house company probably never pictured English teacher Stacey Cler as part of their target audience. But when she was at a friend’s house for a summer barbecue, she climbed in anyway. At the age of 38, she jumped up and down like a kid, and she had no qualms about it. She was living life for the very first time. Cler lost 189 pounds because of a carrying the well-timed epiphany, sweat-draining workouts, and her personThis is the final part al trainer, Danny Page. She of a series of articles changed her diet and exercise discussing English routine every few months, teacher Stacey along with her mindset. Now Cler’s decision to she’s got half the size but twice lose weight, her the spirit. journey to become Cler began by losing fit, and the impact weight on her own. With outher lifestyle change ward humor and inner insehas had on her and curity, she endured the gym her students. everyday, the stares and malicious comments, the “walk of shame” from the pool to the locker room. And one day, when she entered her doctor’s office, she was hoping for encouragement, or even just apathy. But she was shot down. Cler’s doctor told her to seriously consider gastric bypass surgery. Cler was incredulous. Shock. Denial. Fury. And finally, she said the word that clamped a tight lid onto Pandora’s box of misguided advice. “No.”
weight
see JOURNEY on page 3
n a Saturday afternoon, several adults gathered around a small table at the Cupertino Community Hall for coloring time. Armed with markers and coloring pencils, they doodled to their hearts’ content. These meaningful pictures were not just childish drawings, but collaborative pieces of art that were part of an effort to unite the community. The hour-long drawing session was just one of many canvasdrawing gatherings organized by FBLA. For the 2008-09 school year, FBLA is asking members of the community to color and draw on blank canvases. Each canvas has a theme such as “What does ‘green’ mean to you?” or “What does ‘peace’ mean to you?” The purpose of the project is to allow members of the community to express their thoughts on the topic as art. This would allow participants to see the community’s diverse responses to universal questions. Senior Vanessa Ing came up with this project, “Cupertino Canvas,” during a Link activity last year. For the activity, freshmen were given the opportunity to draw or write over sheets of poster paper. They would answer questions about their favorite food or place through small sketches. The art produced captured the uniqueness of each member of the freshman class. They were to draw any place in the world they would most want to visit, and the resulting illustrations would be anything from New York’s Empire State Building to the Great Wall of China. The widely varied range of pictures highlighted the different interests and backgrounds of each freshman. “It occurred to me that as art is a very natural and enjoyable form of expression, it would be a great way to gather community opinions on issues by offering a blank canvas,” Ing said. The opinions gathered reflected the community’s thoughts on topics everyone could relate to. see FBLA on page 6
Allie Choy | El Estoque
COLLABORATE Freshmen Laura Liu and Peter Choi added illustrations to the FBLA posterboard on Oct. 4.