June 2018

Falconer

The Torrey Pines High School

Friday, June 1, 2018

Vol. 43, Issue 8, 28 pages

www.tphsfalconer.com

New CVMS principal under fire

PHOTO BY ALEXEI SERGUIENKO/FALCONER

IN HOT WATER: Victoria Kim was under scrutiny due to her response

By Farhan Hossein and Kayhun Koh FEATURE EDITORS The recent SDUHSD appointment of Victoria Kim has come under attack by parent-run, local educational advocacy group, Let’s Speak Up, because of Kim’s part in the alleged mishandling of a report of sexual assault in 2016 at Palo Alto High School, where Kim is currently assistant principal and was at the time of the incident.

On Oct. 18, 2017, a report was published by outside law firm Cozen O’Connor, which the Palo Alto Unified School District engaged to compile the report on the PAHS and PAUSD handling of the allegations. Cozen O’Connor is an international, fullservice law firm. The report concluded that the PAHS and PAUSD response to the student allegation “did not comport with key aspects of the Title IX, state law, Board policy or the district’s administrative regulations.”

However, the report found that Kim, specifically, “immediately informed the

recently hired as to sexual assault

the new principal of Carmel Valley Middle School allegations at Palo Alto High School, where she

principal of the [student] report of a possible sexual assault on campus” and “repeatedly took the initiative to inquire whether she should offer the [student] or parent/guardian information” about the district’s Uniform Complaint Procedure, or UCP. According to the Cozen O’Connor report, when Kim inquired about informing the victim and the victim’s family of possible reporting avenues, district officials, including the district Title IX coordinator, and outside legal counsel, assured her a UCP or Title IX inquiry was not necessary, advice the report labeled a clear violation of Title IX reporting protocols.

The report found that Kim did not “maintain documentation as required

by Board policy” of her interviews with the victim and the victim’s parents, and that, while she frequently asked them for written statement of their allegations, failed to “ultimately obtain written statements from the parties.”

Title IX is legislation passed in 1972 to bar discrimination on the basis of sex in federally-funded educational

institutes and business contracts.

Among other things, it governs how schools should respond to sexual assault allegations by students.

SDUHSD superintendent Eric Dill said in an email to the Falconer that he is aware of the online allegations circulating against Kim in the community, and that the SDUHSD was satisfied that the report found that Kim “repeatedly took the initiative” to address the student allegation. Dill said the SDUHSD was aware of the PAUSD investigation when he and others in the district were conducting their “background check” of Kim. They reviewed the final reports of the investigation, by both Cozen O’Connor and the U.S. Department of Education Office for Civil Rights, which determined that “Kim took appropriate steps and that she repeatedly took the initiative to further the investigation,” according to Dill. He and district officials also spoke with many individuals who were “aware of or involved in the matter,” Dill said.

“A Night in Old Havana” Prom was hosted by ASB at Cape Rey Carlsbad on May 11 from 8-11 p.m.

“The venue was chosen because Havana is on the water,” ASB Publicity Commissioner Atarah Anbar (11) said.

“So we wanted to choose [a venue] that was on the water and [already fit the theme].”

Decorations were representative of Havana street art, according to ASB Junior Class President Ben Jackel (11).

“The barrels were big decorations for us. We had [the students in] art paint

them. They had a lot of cool street-arttype painting on them,” Jackel said.

“It just represented Cuba and Havana, really. And our centerpieces were brightly colored flowers.”

Prom was organized into two general areas: an inside ballroom with a dance floor and tables, and an outside area, decorated with string lights, and a “silent disco” and seating.

In silent disco, people could put on a pair of headphones that had a wireless connection to music that was controlled by a DJ. “My favorite part of Prom was definitely the silent disco,” Tess Alwan (11) said. “I had no idea that would be

BIRD’S EYE VIEW

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ASB hosts “A Night in Old Havana” Prom

By Dhathry Doppolapudi STAFF WRITER

(ABOVE). Kim has recently come is the current assistant principal.

so fun.”

Many students enjoyed everything about the outdoor area.

“I loved the outdoor patio and how it was decorated. The lights were super pretty, and it was a great space for everyone to socialize,” Alwan said.

“I think that area was the best part because we got to see everyone’s’ pretty dresses and spend time with each other.

I spent most of my time there and at the photo booth.”

The Cape Rey hotel catered for the event with food that included mini hamburgers, pizza, sugar cookies and brownies.

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“The food we chose wasn’t really related to the theme. We wanted to have food that everyone could enjoy, so it wasn’t that important that it fit the theme,” Jackel said.

“The mini corn dogs were amazing,” Anbar added.

ASB has been planning Prom for over a year.

“We started sophomore year right after Prom last year, so probably [in] April, and we were just looking for venues and stuff,” Jackel said. “I mean, [the planning] went all the way up until Prom this year.”

Jackel said planning Prom went very smoothly.

“Everyone did what they needed to,” Jackel said. “Fundraising is always hard, but I mean, it’s not an issue where we didn’t have enough money. It’s just some things if we had more money, we could have done better.”

In order to fundraise for Prom, ASB partnered with restaurants and food vendors like Krispy Kreme, Jersey Mike’s, Chipotle, Jamba Juice, Rubio’s and Porkyland, according to Jackel.

“The budget was about $45,000, which is $20,000 less than last year,” Jackel said.

ASB did promotions for Prom too.

“We even gave out Otter Pops at lunch to make sure people bought their Prom tickets,” Anbar said.

Around 660 students bought Prom tickets this year, compared to last year’s 700 tickets sold.

“Prom is entirely student-run,” ASB Director and Biology teacher Matthew Livingston said. “I just had a big supervisory role … helping a little bit with the budget, making recommendations here and there and then being around with the set-up and the clean-up and the take down.”

Overall, Prom seemed to be a success.

“I think it’s just fun,” Anbar said. “Like, towards the end of the year, getting to dance with your friends and just getting that school involvement outside of your original facilities.”

Many students seemed to agree.

“I wasn’t sure what to expect since it was my first Prom, but it definitely set the bar very high,” Alwan said. “The location and everything was so beautiful, I’m so glad I got to go and have this important high school experience.”

Livingston emphasized the importance and value of attending high school Prom. He said that when students who don’t attend look back, they will realize that they had countless nights to hang out with friends, but only one junior or senior Prom.

“You got one high school experience,” Livingston said. “Go for it. Don’t miss out.”

news

june 1, 2018

TPHS food truck to be replaced with kiosk

By Alexei Serguienko STAFF WRITER In the 2018-19 school year, two food kiosks will replace the daily food truck on campus, a joint decision between TPHS and the SDUHSD school board.

According to Principal Rob Coppo, a number of factors influenced the decision, including the safety of students on campus. Following the publication of the results of a campus safety study, TPHS is making an effort to reduce the number of vehicles on campus.

“We’re working very hard right now to eliminate all cars on campus ... because studies have shown [that] one of the biggest safety factors on a campus [is] cars and humans together,” Coppo said.

Another reason for the replacement of the food trucks is to create a more unified campus for students. One option that is currently being discussed by administrators is the relocation of the Nutrition Services building from its current location between the dance rooms and Ed Burke Field to a more centralized location in the main quad near the gym.

“We’re looking at moving Nutrition Services over to where the current Black Box Theater is in the next phase of construction, and then looking at creating more permanent structures on campus for food service so that it seems more cohesive,” Coppo said.

A third objective behind the introduction of the kiosks is to decrease the amount of time students spend waiting in line. To achieve this, Coppo wants to create an open-concept system where the selection of food is visible to everyone in line, with the hope that when students reach the front of the line, they can order quickly.

“The main idea is to make sure that we can get people in and out of there efficiently, so you’re not waiting in a long line, [and] especially not waiting to get up and then trying to figure out what [the truck has] for lunch,” Coppo said.

According to food truck and school bus driver Juvencio Rangel, the current process of ordering from the food truck is part of what makes it appealing to students. He says that having more options on campus, such as the food truck, is beneficial for the students, partly because of the large population

at the school. He also states that it is currently easy for students to order from the food truck, which speeds up the process of purchasing food, allowing

The main idea is to make sure that we can get people in and out of there efficiently so you’re not waiting in a long line ... to figure out what [the kiosk has] for lunch.

Rob Coppo PRINCIPAL

more students to be accessed in less time.

Next year, students will be able to purchase food from two new kiosks. One will take over the food truck’s current location by room 109; the other will be at the side of the B Building, near the outdoor pavilion. According to Coppo,

these will be the permanent locations for the kiosks.

The changes will not affect the TPHS Nutrition Services budget. But, some students, like Gabi Plewe (11), wish more money would be devoted to improving the quality of the food sold on campus.

“I think [the food truck] is fine, but some better food would be nice,” Plewe said.

However, Plewe does not think that the replacement of the food truck with kiosks will affect her.

“I don’t think [that the switch to kiosks] really influences me as long as it’s still selling food and everything,” Plewe said.

In addition to this, Justin Rico (12), who purchased lunch from the food truck during his freshman and sophomore years, would like to have seen a larger variety of food. Similarly to Plewe, he believes that the transition should not affect the ability of the students to get food, especially if the quality and variety of the food does not change.

“I don’t think [the change] will [affect students], it’ll just stay the same,” Rico said.

At this time, it is unknown whether or not the food trucks will continue to serve other district schools, or if additional SDUHSD campuses will also introduce kiosks.

PHOTO BY ALEXEI SERGUIENKO/FALCONER

MEALS ON WHEELS: A food truck driver of 30 years, Juvencio Rangel sits at the front of a truck during lunch (ABOVE). Rangel has become very wellknown among TPHS students, and this is his final year of service on campus.

Two TPHS students acheived National Champion status at the 2018 USA Ultimate Beach Championships in Virginia Beach.

Select TPHS ceramics students were chosen to have their work displayed in the Biennial Student Art Show at the Mingei International Museum in Balboa Park. The show will run May 19 to August 19 and features a variety of artwork from students from local San Diego schools.

Artists: Jade Babcock Chi (11) - Fish Cup Kalli Evans (11) - Bubble Vase Natalie Lauerman (12) - Bowl and Cup set INFOGRAPHIC BY BEA DE OLIVEIRA

Select students from the Advanced Topics class were chosen to have their designed math projects published on the Wolfram Demonstrations Project website. Projects are able to be accessed by students, educators, and other professionals around the world.

Russell Chiang (12) and Geffen Cooper (12) Stacy Hu (12) and Rachel Lian (12) Jodie Hoh (12) Farzaan Kaiyom (12) Reagan Kan (12) Sophia LeRose (12) Kiara McNulty (12) Kathy Wang (12) and Yerin You (12)

Ava Hanna (12) Lauren Hanna (12)

Two TPHS students’ creative writing essays won prizes in the Rancho Santa Fe Literary Society Student Essay Contest.

Eugene Park (12) Amanda Yen (11)

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SEXUAL ASSAULT CONTINUED FROM A1

“Multiple sources reported to us that Ms. Kim was the one person who took the right action throughout the situation,” Dill said in his email to the Falconer. “For these reasons, along with Ms. Kim’s strong track record involving equity, student achievement, guidance counseling, student safety, and wellness, I strongly believe Ms. Kim will be the outstanding principal at Carmel Valley Middle School our students and community deserve.”

Lea Wolf, co-founder of advocacy group Let’s Speak Up, whose children attend school in the SDUHSD, said Kim should have ignored illegal directives, given to her

by PAUSD, that informing the victim and her family of the Title IX complaint process was unnecessary.

“If you do not have the moral courage, as a leader, to affect kids, you shouldn’t be leading,” Wolf said. “You should give up your seat and quit. If you see a child is being sexually assaulted, just because someone tells you not to report it, you don’t stay there and not report it.”

According to the Cozen report, Kim and other PAHS administrators reported the incident to the Palo Alto Police Department and Santa Clara County Child Protective Services. School officials also contacted the “Complainant’s” (victim’s) family, conducted “an initial investigation” into the incident, imposed interim and ongoing remedial and supportive measures for the Complainant, and within several days of the report, “imposed protective measures and disciplinary action against the Respondent (accused), another PAHS student.” The school did not, however, provide the Complainant information about procedural options under the Uniform Complaint Procedures or written notice of the outcome of its investigation, “all of which are required under both Title IX … and the UCP.” Wolf’s post on the Let’s Speak Up blog also included a letter to Dill and the SDUHSD School Board Trustees from the father of a former PAHS student who alleges she was assaulted in 2015, while she still attended PAHS. Wolf became aware of Kim’s involvement in the PAUSD situation when she received that father’s email from another party. In his letter to Dill and the school board, the girl’s father expressed his dissatisfaction with the PAUSD handling of both his daughter’s allegations and those made in 2016. When Wolf saw the father’s email, she felt parents and students in the SDUHSD deserved to know “that this thing is going on.”

According to that father, he sent his email to Dill and the board to inform the district that “this is his experience with Mrs. Kim because it has not been publicized enough, and most people just don’t know a lot about it.” It is also his opinion that the Cozen report does not accurately characterize how Kim approached the 2016 case.

“In the report, [Kim] does not come off

news as responsible for many of the things she was actually responsible for,” the father, who asked that his identity be protected, said in an interview with the Falconer.

Current CVMS principal Dolnik does not think the Let’s Speak Up post reflects the consensus in Carmel Valley.

“Parents of students at Carmel Valley have not expressed concerns,” Dolnik said.

“They are actually disappointed that some people who are not in the Carmel Valley parent community are stirring up this whole public [issue that is] not really their feelings.”

Although Dill has received “about three” emails from parents of CVMS students who were upset with Kim’s appointment, he is “comfortable with trusting the 2017 Cozen report” that “praises Kim for being the only one to take the right direction and take initiative.” Several people, including some of Kim’s PAHS coworkers, agree with the findings of the Cozen report, according to Dill.

“Mrs. Kim was our first choice because of her demonstrated commitment to education … and her experience in her many years as an assistant principal in the Bay Area,” Dill said.

SDUHSD Board of Trustees president, Beth Hergesheimer echoed Dill’s support of Kim, also citing the Cozen report in an emailed statement.

“Please be assured that our staff did due diligence before offering the position to Ms. Kim,” Hergesheimer’s email said.

“Ms. Kim was consistently acknowledged for handling the complaint quickly and appropriately. We have seen the final report, which has several finding noting her correct actions.”

Although the father who sent the email to Dill and the SDUHSD board concedes that Kim fulfilled her legal obligations as an assistant principal in the 2016 case, he said Kim could have done more than what was required of her to ensure his daughter’s safety and security. He said she was traumatized to the point of having suicidal thoughts after the incident.

“My daughter went and showed her the text messages [from her attacker], but still nothing happened,” the father said. My point is that Vicki Kim could have, on her own, offered the complaint process to the family, even though the Title IX officers told her she didn’t need to. There’s nothing stopping her from saying, ‘This is what’s right. This is what we should do,’ especially if you’re the assistant principal of a school.”

Amy Gibson, whose daughter currently attends CVMS is familiar with the 2017 Cozen report and is confident of Kim’s leadership ability.

“The CVMS parents I’ve spoken with are, above all, interested in Mrs. Kim’s qualifications and experience, and they have been supportive of her selection,” Gibson said. I am excited to welcome her into our school and think she will be a good fit.”

On March 8, 2017, the U.S. Department of Education Office for Civil Rights completed a four-year investigation into PAUSD due to “information received that

june 1, 2018

the district has not provided a prompt and equitable response to notice of peer sexual harassment, including harassment related to sexual assault.” The investigation addressed several allegations of sexual harassment and assault at the district’s two high schools, PAHS and Henry M. Gunn High School. The report found the PAUSD had several policies in violation of Title IX, including failing to require parents and students to submit written complaints.

The report did not name administrators and the roles they played. It included a resolution agreement in which PAUSD agreed to take actions and adopt policies in compliance with Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972.

Wolf, of Let’s Speak Up, has complaints about the SDUHSD beyond the hiring of Kim. She said the district is uncommunicative and has an “underground culture” with school officials trying to “cover up” instances of sexual harassment. She cites the story by the Voice of San Diego, an independent, nonprofit news organization, into a district investigation of a La Costa Canyon High school teacher’s “romantic relationship” with a student that “went nowhere.” Dill, however, told VOSD that the investigation came up short because both the student and the teacher denied being “engaged in any inappropriate and/or sexual conduct.”

Wolf said Let’s Speak Up will soon roll out a smartphone application that processes claims of sexual assault and provides victims with resources.

“Since I founded this company and I try to

understand how this district works, I have gotten very little response or cooperation from them, and that’s infuriating,” Wolf said. I sent eight different emails, and … when they finally get back to you, they just send you documents that don’t tell you how they really function … We want to empower kids to speak up and hold school officials responsible and accountable.”

For her part, Kim is looking forward to coming to CVMS. She responded to questions from the Falconer by email.

“Unfortunately, I cannot discuss the facts of any particular case because of student confidentiality laws. To be totally honest, with the inaccuracies and misleading statements that have been made about these cases, it might make my life easier if I could [italics hers] speak publicly about the details of the cases. However, my duty to keep student confidentiality restricts my ability to speak publicly about these cases,” Kim said. “I will say that PAUSD has faced and addressed challenges related to Title IX enforcement, and that we have all learned a lot about our processes and how we handle Title IX related issues.

Student safety continues to be of utmost importance to me. As an educator, I believe that every student has a right to feel safe at school; as a parent, I believe in the great responsibility that educators have when parents entrust their children to us. At all times, I work to create and maintain a safe learning environment for all students and I look forward to working with the staff and community at CVMS and SDUHSD on these efforts.”

TPHS’ food truck driver for 16 years, Juvencio Rangel is retiring, along with the food truck, completing his last year of food service this 2017-18 school year.

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TPHSSF hosts award ceremony for seniors

By Vlada Demenko STAFF WRITER

By Angela Liu NEWS EDITOR

TPHS’ newest campus supervisor Q: How long have you been working as campus supervisor?

A: I’ve been working as a campus supervisor for a little over five years, but started actually doing it privately for several celebrities that have houses in La Jolla and Del Mar.

Q: How were you hired to start working here at torrey pines?

A: It is pretty rigorous. You have to have your CPR and first aid training. And this doesn’t even get you an interview or anything, these are all things you have to do just to be eligible to apply for it.

And after that, you have to take a timed test and interview.

Q: What do you enjoy most about being a campus supervisor?

The TPHS Scholarship Fund held its 31st annual awards ceremony for outgoing seniors and awarded approximately $33,000 in academic, sports and art scholarships on May 15 at Solana Pacific Elementary School.

The event started at 6:30 p.m. with appetizers being served before the hourlong ceremony. This year, 51 students were given awards in the form of a scholarships, memorial awards or a business/community awards.

“I’m going to USC, so that’s kind of expensive,” Scott Chodorow Memorial Scholarship recipient Juliette Dicken (12) said. “The money that I got is probably going to end up going toward housing, books and all the extra expenses that are just adding onto the tuition.”

The awards ceremony is an event where, in addition to getting scholarships, students can celebrate their high school careers and get ready to begin their college journeys.

“I think it was just to commemorate all the students for what they’re doing and also be excited for their futures because all of the students talk about where they’re going and what they’re studying,” Hou I Wu Memorial Scholarship recipient Richard Li (12) said. “It’s a way to see what everyone’s career paths will be, to connect with the community and thank the sponsors who helped fund the scholarships.”

The TPHSSF offers several categories of scholarships, each ranging in the amount of money awarded. This included the Principal, Sterling Scholars, Falcon Science Stars, Falcon Music and Dance, Scholar Athletes, and Cardinal and Gold Service scholarships. Each scholarship ranges anywhere between $500 to $2,000, depending on the student’s skills and strengths found in the application and interview process in certain areas like science or the arts.

The scholarship categories were given to individuals that reflected specific skills. The Principal’s Scholarship was given to students who made significant contributions to campus life, while the Sterling Scholars Scholarship was given to those who excelled in all parts of

their application, mainly in academics and in extracurricular activities. The board decided who was a suitable recipient for each category based student applications, according to Li. “The application includes their

We wanted to give our kids the opportunity to become known ... we wanted to do what we could to help them, and we wanted to help students with financial needs.

Sandy Parish

tphssf founder activities, work experience and recommendations from teachers, and if they make the first cut they’re invited for an interview,” Scholarship Fund award presenter and board member Susan Pfleeger said. “All those things

are put together to decide who the most deserving students are.”

The ceremony included several memorial scholarships as well, such as one for Scott Chodorow, a teacher who passed away in 2014. “[Chodorow] was in charge of ASB, photography and was the cheer coach, and I’m on cheer so I grew up going to clinics and getting to know him,” Dicken said. “I’m part of the last class that will graduate this year that got to know him and work with him, so it means a lot because he was my coach and mentor.”

The TPHSSF was formerly called Dollars For Scholars, and was established to help the school’s reputation among East Coast colleges, according to TPHSSF founder Sandy Parish.

“We wanted to give our kids the opportunity to become known and try for some of those [East Coast] colleges instead of just staying in the local area,” Parish said. “We wanted to do what we could to help them, and we wanted to help students with financial needs.”

For the past 31 years, the Foundation has actively helped students pay off college expenses and rewarded the hard work of TPHS students. Foundation officials hope to support students for as long as they can and will do so “until we run out of money,” Pfleeger said.

photo by anna jeong/falconer

MONEY MONEY MONEY: The two recipients of the Falcon Science Starts award, Anvitha Soordelu (12) and Yunging Gao (12), stand next to TPHSSF board member Lynn Lauerman after receiving their scholarships at the ceremony (ABOVE).

A: The interaction with the people, because, I mean, there’s only a couple of us but there’s so many of you guys and each of you has a different story, a different background, got different issues, good and bad, going on.

CCA and TP seniors conduct joint prank

Q: What do you like to do in your free time?

It’s important for our class to bond together and have fun because school shouldn’t be all serious and stuff.

A: Two things, we have a high-end flower business, it’s a pop up. Also, I do this underground clothing thing.

I love fashion a lot so I’m into a lot of underground streetwear stuff like that from like Chicago and New York and planning to do pop-ups in San Diego.

Q: What is a fun fact about you?

A: I’ve worked with quite a few celebrities ... most of them I can’t name because I have a nondisclosure agreement. But ones we worked with that I could tell you. For example, we work with Tom Petty before he passed away, obviously.

Seth Rogen, the Hemsworths, which would be Chris Hemsworth, Liam and with Liam comes Miley Cyrus because they were engaged.

By Esther Choi STAFF WRITER Seniors from TPHS and Canyon Crest Academy switched first period classes on May 18 for the annual senior prank.

Safi Jafri (12) from CCA and Laura Walton (12), a TPHS student, were the main student organizers of the event, though seniors from both schools helped run the prank.

Students at TPHS were contacted about the senior prank through an Instagram account, while a Facebook group notified CCA students.

Anthony Lopez (12), a student from TPHS, discovered the prank through the Instagram account. The post had a link to a survey on which students could enter names and contact information and sign up to be a part of the prank.

“On the survey, it had this description of what we were going to do [for the prank],” Lopez said.

Although the prank was supposed to be secret, teachers at both schools were notified through email by the administration the day before the prank on May 17.

“We don’t know how [administrators] knew the exact date,” Jafri said. “It’s probably because they heard it from somewhere. No one ever knows how these things get to admin, but they did.”

However, complications arose at TPHS for the CCA students when they tried to go to TPHS classes. According to

Jafri, most students were barred from entering classrooms or sent out. One or two teachers allowed the “switched”

Elaine Cheng CCA STUDENT

students to stay.

“No matter what we could have done, there was no way to be able to predict [the teachers’ reactions],” Jafri said.

“Because a teacher may say one thing, but they may do the complete opposite.”

The seniors expected that teachers from TPHS would be more open to the senior prank than CCA teachers, due to what they perceived to be the different natures of the schools, but they were surprised.

“Nobody can be on a campus who hasn’t signed in, isn’t a visitor or isn’t a student here,” Principal Rob Coppo said.

Although students from TPHS were allowed in many CCA classrooms and interacted with the other students and

teachers, according to Walton, the CCA administration eventually sent students out of classrooms.

The prank exchange created opportunities for the students to work together and overcome rivalries, according to Jafri.

“You gain that trust, and you depend on that, but it was definitely difficult,” Jafri said. “The idea of you having no idea what the other school is actually doing [was difficult], because there’s no way to actually personally be there and get the consensus.”

The prank also unified the students from CCA and TPHS by showing that their perceptions of each other were exaggerated and often inaccurate, according to Jafri.

The prank, in addition to helping the bond between the schools, was also a way for seniors to interact with each other.

“It’s important for our class to bond together and have fun because school shouldn’t be all serious and stuff,” Elaine Cheng, a CCA senior, said. “Students should ... learn to live a little.”

The senior prank is important for the graduating class, according to Walton.

“I think it’s important to the kids in the grade just because every year the younger grades see the seniors doing it, and it makes them more excited,” Walton said.

Over 500 students from TPHS and CCA participated in the prank, according to Jafri.

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Some high schools allow teachers to employ policies that give students the opportunity to raise their grades in AP courses if they earn certain AP exam scores.

By Jeremy Chung SPORTS EDITOR

For many TPHS students, taking AP classes is nothing out of the ordinary.

In fact, some people may argue that taking AP classes is necessary during high school. Taking the classes can boost a student’s GPA beyond the unweighted maximum of a 4.0. After taking an AP course, students are expected to take an AP exam to show their proficiency in the subject and be scored on a scale of one to five, though only threes to fives are passing scores.

The exam is technically optional, but TPHS students who take an AP class usually take the test for the it. For TPHS students, the only motivation to pass the AP exams is to get college credit for the class. Other than getting college credit, the AP exam ordinarily is neither a benefit or a detriment to a student.

At various other schools including Westview High School and Rancho Bernardo High School, some teachers will change students’ grades in AP classes if they pass the exam with a score of four or five. Teachers at TPHS should adopt a similar policy to motivate students to pay more attention in class and try harder on the AP exam.

Some may argue that the AP exam is too pricey and is therefore unfair to those who cannot afford to take the test. However, there are ways to get fee reductions to help balance AP test costs for students from deserving families. Students with financial need can receive a fee reduction of $32 (to $62) from the College Board. The exam fee at TPHS for the 2017-18 year was $94 and it included a rebate to the school of $9 per exam to offset administration costs. When a student receives a fee reduction, the school forgoes the $9 rebate resulting in a net cost of $53 per exam for students who qualify. Besides, $93 is much less

than paying for a course in college.

According to a student from a school that implements this system, some classes have mock AP exams that can also improve the overall grade in the class based on the score that is received. If a student gets a four or above on the mock AP exam, he or she is able to boost his or her C in the class to a B. The mock AP exams that are provided at TPHS usually do not affect students’ overall grades in any way.

Some TPHS students do take advantage of the practice exams to prepare themselves for their AP exams. However, TPHS students commonly disregard the practice exam because they know it doesn’t lower or raise their class grades.

Implementing a system allowing them to improve their overall grade through a practice exam could be a key motivating factor for students because there are no drawbacks on the practice AP exams. It simply allows students to either improve their overall grade or not affect it at all. This system could motivate students to try harder on the mock AP exams which will ultimately help them prepare for the actual AP exam.

On the actual AP exam, a student is allowed to boost his or her grade from a B to an A if their score is a four or higher. Some may argue that allowing this policy gives students a sense of security and will lead to them paying less attention in class. However, the AP test is meant to evaluate the proficiency of a student’s knowledge in the subject he or she is testing for.

Therefore, raising a grade because of a score of a four or higher on the real AP exam is justified because it obviously demonstrates that a student has mastered the skills taught in the class. Also, to earn the higher four or five on the exam, he or she must be focusing in class and participating in all the lectures and lessons, which would increase productivity in the class overall.

To motivate students to do better both in class and on the AP exam, TPHS should implement a similar system as other schools. There doesn’t seem to be any downside to this system and can only increase productivity in class.

The following question was posed in a survey of 360 TPHS students.

Should schools allow teachers to raise students’ grades in AP courses if they performed well on their AP tests?

A+

A+

A+

A+

A+

A+

68%

32%

YES

NO

said

said

Every year in May, students all over the nation take AP exams.

These exams test the overall skill and knowledge in a college-level course, and students receive a score from one to five, one to two being a fail and three to five being a pass.

AP scores generally are not factored into students’ grades and are used instead to grant students college credit. However, some schools have policies in which high AP test scores can positively affect a student’s grade in the AP class.

Policies vary according to subject and school, but, in general, a student can raise his or her class grade if he or she scores well on the AP test for that course. Some schools have a set rule, such as automatic As in the class in exchange for a 5 on the AP exam, while other policies only allow a letter change if the student scores a 4 or a 5 on the exam. In theory, the school would set these rules.

While this grading method seems, at first glance, to be beneficial to the schools who use it, the policy has significant drawbacks, such as the unfair competitive advantage it gives to students at those schools.

Students from schools with such a grading policy will have a greater advantage in grades and AP test scores than students from schools without that policy. While most students have to divide their time and attention between performing well in the AP class and getting a high score on the AP test, the students who can afford to concentrate most of their efforts on doing well on the AP exam can do so because it will bring their class grades up anyway.

These grading policies will also be unique to the schools that use them.

In other words, schools use different systems and have the ability to set the policies themselves; students in AP courses may receive credit for a high AP score depending on how hard the course usually is, which would be fair, while others may use a stricter system that does not take into account the class’ difficulty. In addition, if high schools are allowed to use different grading systems then the policy could be made to allow more students to pass their AP classes than before. Grade inflation would make those schools look better

By Esther Choi FEATURE EDITOR

in comparison to others and would increase their students’ chances in college admissions.

Furthermore, basing grades on AP exam scores is unfair to those who do not take the test or are not able to. Most AP tests are over $100, and, although some may argue that there is financial aid for those who cannot afford it, the price is still very high for most students, especially when taking multiple tests, and they may be discouraged. In addition, prep books are an unfair edge that financiallyadvantaged students have over others, and, unlike the availability of fee waivers for the AP test, there is no financial aid for study materials.

The passing scores for the AP exams are also different for each course. The actual number is not released until after the exams are over, but there is a large difference in passing scores between AP courses, according to statistics from the College Board.

If students take a course that statistically yields more fives on the exam than a course that gets fewer fives, then they are at a disadvantage because the curve will be higher and it will be harder for them to achieve a high score. Students will have a harder time changing their class grade and scoring a 5 in those courses if the grading policy is implemented.

Moreover, the CollegeBoard, a nongovernmental organization that profits off AP tests, is unfair to financially disadvantaged students with fewer opportunities to take the AP test. If the tests that the CollegeBoard scores affect grades, then more power is handed to a corporation that doesn’t have students in its best interest. The company would be able to use its control of AP test scores to sway the grades of students across the country.

opinion

tphsfalconer.com

the falconer

A7

Staff editorial: all-Day ABSENCES ON AP TEST DAYS SHOULD BE EXCUSED large portions of entire grades, students should be excused.

AP scores are reflective of the teachers and the school, so expecting students to do well requires the school to foster an environment that rewards hard work and allows for students to relax. TPHS’ culture of competition, cramming and academic excellence is magnified by AP tests, and allowing absences on testing days reduces pressure from teachers, parents and the college application process. TPHS has consistently scored far above the national average on AP tests, but performing well is exhausting for the student body. The last thing that should be on students’ minds while they are taking AP exams is the thought of returning to class. The TPHS administration should be accommodating and understanding enough to allow for students to not have to balance schoolwork and testing on the same day.

Before, parents were able to excuse an absence before or after an AP test. However, recent changes to the attendance policy require students who call in sick to provide a doctor’s note. While some students may be able and willing to visit the doctor and forge an illness for a note, it is not economically viable for low income students without health insurance to pay for a doctor’s visit just to receive an excused absence. Furthermore, traveling from the Del Mar Fairgrounds, where tests are conducted, back to school requires students to either have access to a car or parents willing to drive during the middle of the workday. While situated among upper middle class neighborhoods, TPHS has students of varying incomes, and not

all of them have the financial means to abide by the current attendance policy. Furthermore, students should not have to jump through these hoops to take the day off after testing. The inconvenient system of teachers advocating for students to falsely report illnesses and receive doctor’s notes propagates a culture of lying, where parents are expected to hijack the system for their children. Despite the number of parents and staff who may support absences on AP testing days, the punishment is only shouldered by students.

This leaves students confused by the contradictory messages they receive from teachers and the administration, and forces them to pick between two sides who are at odds with each other.

AP testing is an integral part of the high school experience for many students. It is an important marker for student performance and the effectiveness of teachers, and can help save students thousands of dollars by substituting AP credit for college courses. The TPHS administration should acknowledge the needs of the student body and excuse absences

Falconer The Torrey Pines High School

We, the Falconer staff, are dedicated to creating a monthly newspaper with the intent of encouraging independent thinking, expanding our knowledge of journalism, and providing the TPHS student body and community with a truthful, unbiased news source, in accordance with our First Amendment rights.

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The Falconer is the student newspaper of Torrey Pines High School. Its content, which is the responsibility of the Falconer staff, is not subject to administrative approval. Unsigned editorials represent the opinions of the staff, while opinion columns represent the writer’s perspective. Advertisements do not represent endorsements. The Falconer, an open forum, welcomes signed letters or guest editorials on pertinent issues from the TPHS community, which may be submitted to room 102, via email at falconer.ads@gmail.com or to Mia Smith’s mailbox in the administration building. Letters may be edited for length and clarity.

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for AP test takers, allowing for students to rest and, more importantly, study for their subsequent exams.

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Every May, the College Board administers five million AP exams, giving students a few hours to prove their mastery of a year’s worth of collegelevel curriculum. Despite the exhausting nature of the exams, TPHS’ attendance policy clearly dictates that students must attend class before and after the exams, providing no time for students to relax after the culmination of weeks of stressfully lugging prep books from class to class.

For students who fail to attend school before and after their exams, the punishment is simple: an unexcused absence. While massive absences can reduce state funding and delay coursework in non-AP classes, students should not be penalized for taking a much-needed break after AP testing.

Regardless of official attendance policy, the two weeks of AP testing are filled with absences, with some teachers even discouraging students from attending class, defying attendance policy.

Even if a few students do show up, the amount of absences prevents teachers from conducting lessons, as scheduling make-up work outside of class time is a hassle. Furthermore, teachers realize that students are often brain-dead following examinations, or would rather spend class time preparing for upcoming tests. Although some teachers respond to their students’ preferences by turning their period into a study hall, coming to class is still unnecessary. Students who take less popular AP exams or those that do not correspond to classes offered at TPHS have less of a reason to skip classes, but for classes like AP World History and AP Biology, which are taken by

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A8 the falconer

opinion

june 1, 2018

Twitter is Yeezy to use, but Kanye West is doing it wrong

By Bea de Oliveira NEWS EDITOR

In a day and age where the lines between fact and fiction are blurred by constant alerts coming through social media sites, the most accessible way to gather information is generally seen as the most accurate. This contact generally comes in the form of celebrities with millions of followers, who are neither well-informed or qualified to convey information to a base of similar size to those of CNN or the Washington Post. Often, the facts and opinions expressed by celebrities do impact our views of different subjects, especially politics.

Impacting the view of the public is not the job of the famous figures, and doing so is abusing their fan base and overall power. Celebrities should not have the ability to voice their political ideologies and ideas over social media platforms.

In the years leading up to the 2016 election, many celebrities began to take extreme political stances, rallying with various candidates, such as Hillary Clinton, and expressing their views. Such include Angelina Jolie, Oprah, Kerry Washington, Miley Cyrus, and in the past month, Kanye

West. To these stars, social media platforms like Twitter and Instagram are a conduit to push their opinions onto others, which often results in unnecessary conflict and, frankly, represents celebrities’ abuse of social media.

No star has used public platforms to convey stronger opinions than West. Beginning in early April, West began a great campaign over Twitter in which he conveyed his conservative viewpoints. A strong supporter of President Donald Trump, West began his internet rampage with a picture of his “Make America Great Again” hat, signed by Trump himself, with the caption “My MAGA hat is signed,” followed by as string of fire emojis. This incited a significant amount of discussion by his fans as well as attention from the media.

The controversial tweet, by West that caused, was only the first of many outrage on social media due to historical inaccuracies and racist comments.

With comments such as, “When you hear about slavery for 400 years, for 400 years, that sounds like a choice,” West has publicly expressed views that are not only radically conservative, but comparable to those of conspiracy theorists, white supremacists and fascists.

It is not his job, as a rapper and fashion designer, to sway public opinion on political issues, especially considering the falseness of some of the things he believes to be facts.

Comments that are offensive and extreme, no matter who is making them, are never justified, not even

by West’s delusional and borderline maniacal beliefs.

Arguably, social media sites always have been, and always will be, platforms of self-promotion by celebrities. West advocates for his popular and overly expensive Yeezy clothing and shoe line on social media platforms like Instagram and Twitter.

Yes, he is selling his products, and that is what he is supposed to do.

Customers hungrily search the web for new Yeezy products and items often sell for $300 or more, with much of his fan base coming from his presence on social media. However, while people will purchase what he asks them to and become convinced to waste money on his products, West is unable to sell his political opinions like merchandise.

Those who support West and his right to communicate his political opinions via social media state that he is human, and like all of us, specifically those who participate in rallies and post about our views, should have the opportunity to do so.

The answer is that his followers, unlike most internet “political experts” number in the millions. His words will touch an enormous number of people, reaching not only his followers, but others who read about his opinion on the news or see it

on their recommended feed.

His opinions have even begun to earn backlash from other celebrities as well, who have been calling for the old West to come back.

The most notable example has been Meek Mill, a rapper recently released from jail who posted an old picture of West with the caption “R.I.P. ‘Old Kanye’” across the top, and “We Miss You” across the bottom.

Standing with Mill include other icons such as John Legend, Ava DuVernay and Roxane Gay. Even those at the same social standing as West seem to understand his abuse of power, and stand against it. As celebrities and figures who have a broad range of influence among all races and demographies, they know not to try to deceive the public to sway their opinion.

No one signed up to read about his opinions on the political world.

His “follow” button was clicked so many times because people like his skills as a rapper and enjoy his music.

It is time for the job of reporting news and political opinion to go back to those who are qualified: the politicians and commentators.

If West would like to enter the political field, it might be time that he announce his new role to all of his fans and watch as his followers decrease significantly.

He should stick to what he does best, and that is rapping.

art by eve gross-sable/falcon artist

PERSONAL PERSPECTIVE ANVITHA SOORDELU

In eighth grade, I was trying to find a picture that depicted me in action for a Spanish class assignment, and in the middle of my complaints to my friend, she said, “Just turn in a picture of you dancing.”

“Um, no.”

“Why not? It’s not even that big of a deal.”

Now, I realize it wasn’t, but I had made such an effort for so long to separate my school community from my Indian community, making sure that the two separate worlds I existed in would never, ever meet each other.

My parents saw some of this, and they thought I was ashamed of my culture. I’m not.

Since I was six, I’ve been learning the classical Indian dance form of Bharatanatyam, and while I’ve performed across the venues I can find in my Indian community, I’ve ensured that only certain individuals within my school community know about my dancing.

In the beginning, I didn’t want to attract attention to myself. But, as I got older, I realized I shied away from being more open about my dance training because I didn’t want to deal with the reactions I always received.

“You do what?”

“Wait, that’s so cool!”

“Oh my god, that’s, like, so exotic!”

I suppose Bharatanatyam technically is exotic. It does “originate from a distant, foreign country.” But what I hate most about sharing my dancing is that people see me as more “exotic” than them. I’m already somewhat set apart by the comments I get on my naturally brown skin,

longer eyelashes and the different food I eat.

Why would I want to push myself further away when, like most children of immigrants, I’m already trying to maintain some semblance of balance between my cultures?

It’s not shame, and it never was shame.

It’s just that Indian culture is not defined by the stereotypical jumble of spices, unpronounceable names and thick accents.

I mean, yes, there are a lot of spices and the names are difficult if you don’t know how to say them and I suppose the accents can sometimes be hard to understand if your ear isn’t attuned to them. But Indian culture is so richly immersed in its history that it’s honestly impressive that 1.324 billion people keep up with those traditions. Indian culture is making handmade cloth in every color of the rainbow and turning it into draping saris bordered with gold. It’s knowing the sequence of food in a meal and knowing which desserts go with which festival. It’s understanding that the performing arts scene is enveloped in the combination of melody, rhythm, mythology, visual appeal, auditory appeal, poetry, prosody, artistry, onstage improvisation and so, so much more, and even though that seems like seven too many things, it’s, quite literally, brilliant.

Which, in my opinion, is why I get so angry, so defensive when people call my culture, or, to be honest, any unfamiliar culture, “stupid” or “a waste of time.” This is a culture that 17 percent of the world calls home, and this is a heritage with which I personally have struggled

photo courtesy of anvitha soordelu

The Falconer Editor-in-Chief Anvitha Soordelu (12) explores the pressures that led to her efforts to separate her Indian culture from her public life throughout her childhood.

to balance with in the American environment I have grown up in. And I have dedicated so much of my life to learning the dance and music of my ancestry; I have learned so many of my values and morals from it, and, yet, people will still comment to my face that it’s “stupid.”

At the risk of sounding condescending, though that is far from my intention, I would like to say I’m sorry. I’m sorry for those people who don’t understand the cultures they take such pride in degrading, and I’m sorry those people will never want to learn more about the world or the backgrounds of the people with whom they share a community.

But, this isn’t about other people and the uneducated misuse of cultures, this is about me. It’s about me and my gradual acceptance of the reactions I hate so much. It’s been a slow process, but I’m getting there.

My classical dance and music education has taken up such a large part of my life that I sometimes wonder what I would’ve ended up doing had I not always been running from rehearsal to rehearsal, spending late nights learning last-minute choreography and song changes, flying out to go on national and international tours with my teachers. I guess I might have done a more conventional sport, maybe joined choir or something. But, despite the number of times I’ve had to cancel on my friends or the number of times I’ve gotten up at three in the morning so I could do a little work for school because rehearsal ran just a little too late (again), I wouldn’t want to redo it all the “normal” way.

So, before I change my mind again, here’s the kind of picture I should’ve turned in four years ago. Welcome to the other side of my life.

opinion

tphsfalconer.com

the falconer A9

Korean peace would have more benefits than meet the eye

By Daniel Kim SPORTS EDITOR

North Korean Leader Kim Jong Un crossed over the border between North and South Korea to discuss peace with the South Korean president, Moon Jae In on April 27, the first time a North Korean leader ever crossed the border since the country split after the Korean War. After witnessing approaches by both countries for peace, the possibility of the country reuniting into one has greatly increased. In order to improve the overall economy and safety of inhabitants in several different countries, Korea should reunify.

In many ways 2018 has proven to be a year in which Korean unification is more probable than ever before.

When the 2018 Winter Olympic Games opened in Pyeongchang, Kim, along with many North Korean athletes, government officials and supporters, watched a women’s hockey game, featuring a team made up of both South Koreans and North Koreans. Despite their swift elimination, the unified team received a great amount of support from viewers throughout the world.

In addition to the Olympics, the Inter-Korean Summit allowed Kim to step over the Military Demarcation Line. Moon and Kim agreed to

treaties that would assist the denuclearization of both North and South Korea. According to the Unification Perception Survey, 53.8 percent of South Koreans believe reunification is necessary, and only 24.7 percent find it impossible to reunify Korea. In 2007, only 19.2 percent wanted to unify to end the war; however, in 2017, that number rose to 32.5 percent. Since 2018 has opened so many opportunities for Korean reunification, the momentum of positive relationships should continue and eventually lead to peace.

If reunification were to occur, Kim said his initial plan would be to rebuild North Korea’s economy and improve the international socialist economy. According to The New York Times, since Kim Jong Un succeeded his father Kim Jong Il, the estimated annual growth of North Korea has ranged from one to five percent. In a country like North Korea, where a massive 25 percent of the population is unemployed, Kim’s efforts to revive the nation’s economy seem to be making progress. A survey of 100 North Koreans in China by The Chosun Ilbo and the Center for Cultural Unification Studies found that 95 of those 100 citizens find reunification necessary, mainly for economic purposes. According to the Korean Institute for International Economic Policy, a unified Korea could create an $8.7 trillion economy by 2055, approximately 1.7 times the size of South Korea’s. If North Korea’s efforts to improve the economy and South Korea’s swift advancements merge, the overall economy of both countries, especially North Korea, will exhibit exponential

financial improvements.

Money and jobs are important, but the most significant reason for reunification is the safety of human beings throughout the world. During the meeting between President Moon and Leader Kim Jong Un, Kim boldly stated that he is willing to give up his nuclear arms if peace between the two countries is possible.

If both South and North Korea denuclearized, the tension between many countries that possess nuclear weapons will diminish. “As long as it’s peaceful, it’s independent [and] by the Korean people, China will support it,” Chinese Ambassador to Korea Cui Tiankai said. U.S. State Department Spokesperson Heather Nauert said, “The United States supports the p e a c e f u l reunification of the peninsula, but we do not seek to accelerate reunification.”

In addition to the obvious safety of Korean residents, the United States will be much safer, since North Korea stated in November, 2017, that the United States should be the only country to fear North Korean nuclear technology. However, if peace is a possible outcome, North Korea will denuclearize, decreasing the risk of the United States getting bombed.

Although the three previous attempts for reunification failed to succeed, both North and South Korea’s current needs for

reunification far exceed their needs before. Despite its seemingly meaningful agreements for peace, the treaty collapsed because of both leaders’ lack of genuine intention to follow the conditions. In the late 1980s, as the Cold War came to an end, inter-Korean reconciliation became a possibility thanks to the 1988 Summer Olympic Games in Seoul that spurred South Korea to pursue improved relations with communist countries. With the help of South Korea’s active diplomacy toward normalizing relations with communist countries, Pyongyang agreed to talks with Seoul. In 1991, North and South Koreans once again met to try for reunification and signed the Basic Agreement

art by amrita moturi/falcon artist

that defined their relationship not as two separate nations, but one going through a special interim. However, by the end of 1992, inter-Korean relations worsened as North Korea refused to allow the International Atomic Energy Agency to inspect their country. In 2000, North and South Korea held the first summit between the two Koreas. North Korea’s nuclear advancements and torpedo attack on a South Korean navy ship brought an end to the summit.

Despite three failed attempts to reunite North and South Korea, both countries have a much better reason to aim for unification. North Korea has a miniscule economy approximately 40 times smaller than South Korea’s and would gain lots from combining the two. South Korea would also gain economically by gaining access to North Korea’s rare earths, which are used in electronics. A 2012 estimate by a South Korean research institute values the North’s mineral wealth at $10 trillion, 20 times larger than that of the South.

Since the chances of Korea’s reunification have increased greatly in 2018, the two countries should work together to improve both the economy and civilian safety. Both the North and South Korea have made peaceful approaches to a possible end to the conflict; they should continue that work and bring an end to the tension between the two Koreas as did their leaders in April.

Change in the ways of the IAAF is long overdue

Recently, the International Association of Athletics Federations, the international governing body for track and field, road running, cross country running and race walking, introduced new eligibility regulations for the classification of some female athletes, which set off widespread reaction in the sport of athletics (defined above). Hyperandrogenism is a condition in which a female has disproportionate amounts of androgens, such as testosterone, in her body.

The rule currently only affects athletes who identify as female or intersex and have differences of sexual development, or DSD, which is classified, according to the Rady Children’s Hospital of San Diego, as “abnormalities of the genitalia and/or reproductive organs secondary to a chromosomal or hormonal disorder.”

In addition, the new rule states that those athletes must reduce their testosterone levels to less than five nanomoles per liter for at least six months prior to competition and then maintain that level for as long as they continue to be eligible to compete.

This was a bold move by the IAAF. And the wrong one. In this day and age, a regulation that so clearly humiliates women because

of a natural aspect of their bodies over which they have no control is appalling. The boldness comes in because a backlash to such a ruling was inevitable.

But, then again, the IAAF is no stranger to controversy. One infamous example regards South African runner Caster Semenya. At the 2009 World Championships in Athletics in Berlin, Semenya emerged as the winner of her 800m race, dominating the race and setting a new personal record. Immediately following this, people began to ask questions, on both the subjects of her gender and drug use. In an attempt to silence the controversy, the IAAF requested that Semenya take a sex verification test and effectively banned her from competing until the testing was complete.

As a result, in 2011, the IAAF introduced a policy that required all women with hyperandrogenism to have testosterone levels below those of men. In addition, it stated that if a woman’s testosterone level was greater than or equal to a man’s, then she must also have a resistance to the hormone so as not to gain any competitive advantage from it. Women were required to obey this rule until 2015, when the Court of Arbitration for Sport suspended the policy for two years, citing a lack of evidence from the IAAF that increased levels of testosterone truly affected women’s performance more than other factors, like genetics.

This illuminates an important point. When the IAAF introduces new regulations that affect women with hyperandrogenism, it undermines the significance of other aspects of those female athletes, like the amount of time they spend preparing to compete, for example. It also takes

away from their victories, as women who were once under the impression that they secured their achievements due to the amount of effort they put into becoming one of the best are now being told that the only reason they placed first was because of excessive amounts of testosterone in their bodies.

There’s also the aspect of fairness, as women who naturally have higher levels of testosterone are now subject to new rules that aim to lower these amounts. It is not fair to require them to alter the hormone levels in their bodies, and in turn, limiting their

opportunity to compete if they do not comply. On the other hand, if they do seek treatment or begin to consume the hormone supplement pill required to reduce their testosterone levels, they might be subject to an assortment of side effects that could reduce their athletic performance and affect their daily lives in other ways.

In addition, these jurisdictions will also undoubtedly have negative effects on young girls around the world, in terms of both athletics and gender identity. Regarding the former, when rules such as these are passed, girls with

art by sam mathe/falcon artist

By Alexei Serguienko ENTERTAINMENT EDITOR

hyperandrogenism are being told that they cannot compete in their natural state due to the “advantage” their condition gives them over other athletes. This could lead to a large impact on their overall development, both as people and as athletes.

Regarding the latter, those who are intersex but identify as females might now feel shame about their gender, due to the stigma this new rule attaches to those with DSD. But, this new regulation affects girls without hyperandrogenism as well. The IAAF needs to pause their shaming of women and think about the mindset stricter regulations such as these instill in young girls around the world who continue to read and hear about headlines on what other females cannot do as the result of new laws. Being an aspiring sprinter and finding out that some women are not allowed to compete as they are would definitely have an effect on their love for their sport.

Despite this, some critics say that a lack of rules regarding women with hyperandrogenism would give them an unfair advantage on the track. A study published in the British Journal of Sports Medicine found that women gained between a two to five percent advantage in certain events such as the 400m and the 800m. However, a difference that miniscule is insignificant overall, as an advantage of that size can be attributed to a number of other race-specific factors, such as wind or errors in timing.

With a new regulation affecting women with hyperandrogenism in track and field, the treatment of females is at yet another low. This cannot continue to merely be seen as just another IAAF controversy, it must be seen as the last straw before positive changes begin to be made.

A10 the falconer

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Reading whenever possible

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Taking walks and exploring the city

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$ 67%

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A12 the falconer

feature

june 1, 2018

As the popularity of vaping among teenagers increases across the country, the Falconer investigates why students continue to vape, despite the possible negative health impacts and the consequences they face if they are caught.

It’s nearly lunchtime when Jack Edwards* (10) Snapchats his friend to meet every time you smoke or vape.” in the bathroom, where they’ll spend the next ten minutes leaned up against While the vaping industry has challenged claims regarding the effects of the tile wall, blowing a billow into the air. Suddenly, campus supervisor Robert JUULs, according to The New York Times, one thing is for sure: “JUUL Labs McKeon, more commonly known as Bob, walks in, and Edwards quickly rushes said it agreed with the Food and Drug Administration ‘that illegal sales of our into a stall, dropping a small device resembling a flash drive into the urinal. product to minors is unacceptable.’”

Trembling, he is searched by McKeon, who finds nothing and sends him back to Despite the difficulty of purchasing the devices (the site uses age verification class. His friend isn’t as lucky. technology) directly from Juul’s website, retailers like eBay or Alibaba are reasons Nicknamed the “iPhone of e-cigarettes,” the tiny device is familiar to many why JUULs are still readily available to teenagers. Because of this, the FDA has TPHS students; it’s a JUUL. The product’s website, which advertises it as “The recently issued warning letters to 40 retailers of JUULs, prohibiting them from Smoking Alternative, unlike any E-Cigarette or Vape,” has made very clear that selling vaping devices to anyone under 21, according to The New York Times. it’s ostensibly intended for adults, with a pop-up asking for age verification. There Meanwhile, the FDA is investigating the health risks of vaping, and trying to are also many links to a page entirely devoted to “Youth Education, Awareness & figure out why JUULs are so popular among kids.

Prevention” on the website, and on the product itself, the packaging reads: “the Named after a “jewel,” the JUUL is an easily concealable, “healthier” alternative for adult smokers,” which was added just last year. alternative to smoking. There are a wide variety of flavors, including mango and However, despite the company’s supposed objective to keep its product from cool cucumber, and only five ingredients as opposed to the 600 plus in cigarettes. falling into the hands of teenagers, the number of students around the country And it helps you fit in during parties or on social media, according to Edwards. that use the device has recently increased, according to the National Institute There even was a popular vine where people would go around at parties, holding on Drug Abuse’s 2017 Monitoring the Future, with TPHS not exempt from the out what appeared to be a JUUL, but was really just a USB drive. new fad. In fact, its use plagues so many schools that “JUULing” has become a “JUULing is a fun, relaxing thing to do every once in a while,” Edwards said. commonly-used verb. But it’s not just JUULs An even simpler explanation that are seen around campus; there are is that teenagers think they are multiple vape pen companies, and some other “Years and years ago, [we] believed that there was no harm invincible and that JUULing “is very popular devices include the Suorin and the because you are young,” in smoking cigarettes either, but over time, we have proven it thrilling PHIX. according to Edwards.

Edwards’ JUUL use is based on unconfirmed wrong. Your lungs aren’t designed to inhale smoke of any kind, "It’s bad because you keep on information about the risks to teenagers and a so you damage your lungs every time you smoke or vape.” wanting to do it, it’s addictive," general lack of research on the subject.

Sarah Chavez* (11) said. "But I just “Obviously I know [JUULing] has a like the feeling you get; that feeling harmful effect,” Edwards said. “I know that is pretty nice." ������� ��������� ���������� ���� ��� JUULs can be harmful, but they're far less What’s still unknown is the �������� ���� ����������� harmful than cigarettes. Right now we don't long-lasting consequences vaping know the full effects of vaping because there may bring. Though Edwards “will hasn't been enough long-term research so [there’s] nothing to worry about.” probably quit after high school or sometime during college,” Jonathan Winickoff, Principal Rob Coppo believes that this lack of research is why vaping is so a professor at Harvard Medical School, says that “the earlier these companies appealing to students. introduce the product to the developing brain, the better the chance they have a "There is no research for [JUULing] right now [on] its damaging effects, and lifelong user.” when that comes out, then what?” Coppo said. “Yeah, you know, they won't be so According to Richards, because younger kids are more susceptible to developing fun anymore.” an addiction, more action is needed.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says while vaping is less “Provide education,” Richards said. “Be active and involved in trying to stop harmful than smoking cigarettes for adults, they “are not safe for youth [and] people from starting to smoke [or vape].” young adults.” Even though they may be a hazard to teenagers, according to an Parents, peers and adults at school can have an impact on the choices teenagers analyst at Wells Fargo, the vaping industry will continue to boom, and is expected make to JUUL. to grow to $5.5 billion, with 60 percent of the market belonging to JUUL. “[My parents] kind of know [that I JUUL], but they don’t care,” Chavez said.

The history of JUULs goes back to 2015, when Pax Labs created an alternative On the other hand, Edwards’ parents are aware that he JUULs, “but just don’t to traditional cigarettes with hopes of allowing users to achieve an experience know how to approach” the topic with him, especially since it is illegal. similar to smoking without the negative health impacts. Instead of burning “I think personal rationale and just having a knowledge of drugs by yourself, tobacco like a traditional cigarette, e-cigarettes turn liquid nicotine into a vapor or learning from your parents what actually happens to people in the world on that you can inhale. drug addictions teaches you better than any assembly or school-sanctioned stuff,” According to The New Yorker, smoking is the number one cause of death in Edwards said. “Assemblies haven’t affected me at all.”

America, with over 40 million smokers and nearly 500,000 deaths annually. A TPHS has attempted to combat this epidemic through assemblies and recent study conducted by cancer researchers of Georgetown University Professor programs like Red Ribbon Week, the annual week-long event dedicated to raising of Oncology David Levy concluded that “6.6 million lives would be saved if we awareness of the adverse effects of alcohol and drugs. They also have the Start switched 10 percent of American smokers to e-cigarettes every year in the next Smart Class that all students are required to attend in order to receive a parking 10 years.” permit. Those programs are funded by Tobacco-Use Prevention Education That’s where the problem with e-cigarettes comes in: is offering a “better” Funding, which funds anti-tobacco education in schools with the proceeds of a 25 alternative to adult smokers worth the risk of creating a new generation of youth cent per pack cigarette surtax in California. addicted to e-cigarettes, even though the consequences are still unknown?

Despite those efforts, Chavez also finds Red Ribbon Week assemblies unhelpful.

According to Pam Richards**, a tobacco cessation specialist from the “They’re like crap because it’s just adults telling me to not do drugs,” Chavez American Lung Association, the tradeoff is not worth the risks it poses for future said. “Why would we listen to them? It’s so stupid. It’s just not impactful enough.” generations.

Part of the reason that vaping among teenagers has recently exploded is that “Years and years ago, [we] believed that there was no harm in smoking the devices are so easy to get. Even though they can’t purchase them directly cigarettes either, but over time, we have proven it wrong,” Richards said. “Your from JUUL’s website, there are other ways to access the JUULS and JUUL pods. lungs aren’t designed to inhale smoke of any kind, so you damage your lungs “Stores sell it illegally to minors,” Beatrice Carter* (11) said. “These stores

Pam Richards**

*Names changed to protect identities. **Last name changed on request.

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the two most popular being Alcohol and E-Cigarettes

could be shut down [because of it].”

Students can then Snapchat or text other friends that want to replenish their stock of JUUL pods.

“It’s easier to get stuff from people because instead of having to go up to them in person, you can just ask them over text or social media,” Chavez said.

Students can also get their hands on vaping gadgets, occasionally using outright illegal methods, like obtaining a fake ID, like Chavez. Other students use their older friends, such as seniors or siblings, especially with marijuana, which is now legal for purchase by those 21 and over. (As of April 26, 2018, those who wish to buy any tobacco products, including e-cigarettes, must be 18 years of age, according to the FDA).

Students also describe a feeling of camaraderie when JUULing during social events and parties.

“A lot of people think you’re a homie if you just hand them the JUUL so they can shack,” Chavez said. “You can meet people through that.”

However, of course, every action has a reaction, which, in this case, comes in the form of repercussions from the school. According to Coppo, for the first offense, students are sent to the READY program, which is the SDUHSD drug and alcohol prevention program. For the second offense, students face a suspension. Both of those can include other minor consequences, such as campus beautification duty or other forms of community service. In certain situations, if the school is sent photos and/or videos of students participating in drug use

outside of school (typically by parents), then an investigation begins. If the school has reasonable suspicion that a student has committed a crime, then a search of a student’s belongings by school personnel is permissible. In addition, if a student is on a team with a code of conduct, they can be removed from the team for violating the code.

But Coppo wants to target the problem before it becomes larger.

“I need parents to be active, engaged, working with their students, talking to their students about difficult topics because that will have a lot of influence on everything,” Coppo said.

Students need to be open and honest with their parents, not just about drug use, but also about their overall wellness, because according to Coppo, drug use is typically a symptom of something bigger. Research from the National Institute on Drug Abuse backs this claim, stating that drug abuse is a brain disease that occurs when the user is attempting to self-medicate because of another disorder.

“Usually there’s some other pressure going on with that student, and that’s why wellness is so important to us on our campus, because what I see far more than the drug issue are our wellness issues,” Coppo said.

After Edwards’ encounter with McKeon, he no longer wanted his JUUL, as it had been in a urinal. He decided to post on his Snapchat story, offering to sell the JUUL to the highest bidder. In the meantime, he waits for a friend to sell him a new one. Soon, he will be back in the bathroom, vaping again.

by Colette Chiang and Alexei Serguienko

INFOGRAPHIC BY COLETTE CHIANG/FALCONER

A14 the falconer

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Andrew Zhao (12), has developed a passion for piano, turning a childhood activity into a lifelong skill.

The things that come to mind when you hear the word “toy” are typically toy store staples, like Barbies, Nerf guns, Legos or stuffed animals. Andrew Zhao (12) might have had some of those classic toys, but the “toy” that really captured his attention as a child was an electric keyboard.

“My parents bought me this electronic keyboard and I spent a lot of my time as a kid playing on it. It was kind of like a toy for me,” Zhao said. “It had a lot of different features, like it could play songs and drum beats and things like that.”

The piano, which started as merely fun, became something Zhao would dedicate much more time to as he grew older.

“I started playing piano the week before I turned five … from five to eight I basically was learning the basics of music. When I was eight I switched to the teacher that I study with right now,” Zhao said. “That was when I started taking music more seriously and learning more advanced, classical pieces, and that’s how I had an even greater passion for classical music.”

In 2013, as Zhao’s life became increasingly centered around piano, he began studying at the Colburn Music Academy precollege program in Los Angeles, where he was immersed in an environment with musicians his age.

“It was a small but also vibrant environment for music, and I got to know people who played different instruments aside from piano and I got to collaborate with them and listen to them and learn from them,” Zhao said.

Zhao made the drive up to LA every Saturday through 2016, taking lessons and music theory and history classes, and also rehearsing with others in small groups.

“There would also be a concert about every month or every two weeks. There was just a lot going on and [my experience at Colburn] was a big thing that shaped me,” Zhao said.

He is entirely responsible for developing a practice regimen that accommodates his schoolwork.

“I practice two hours a day on weekdays, and then more on the weekends,” Zhao said. “During the summer I’m able to put in more consistent practice … probably three hours, and sometimes before competitions like it would go up to five.”

Even with such a schedule, Zhao says he “[doesn’t] practice all that much compared to really serious piano students [he] knows.”

While the time commitment can be difficult, Zhao says his dedication to piano continues to teach him discipline.

“Sometimes I might not want to practice and feel like I would rather be doing something else, like any of the distractions that we have on the internet,” Zhao said. “But when I actually get to [playing], there’s nothing else I would rather be doing; this is something that’s worthwhile and fulfilling.”

Now a senior with over a decade of experience, Zhao’s talent and dedication have won him a myriad awards. One of his first competitions was the San Diego Symphony Young Artists Competition, where, at 11 years old, he was crowned a winner and afforded the opportunity to perform in the Copley Symphony Hall with the San Diego Symphony.

“Not only was I playing with a really great professional orchestra, but there were a lot of people who came to that concert … a lot of friends and family who were being so supportive,” Zhao said. “That kind of gave me the enthusiasm for performance.”

Since that defining moment, Zhao has competed against pianists who live as close as the San Diego area and as far away as China and Russia. In multiple international contests, Zhao has earned top honors, including first place in the Yamaha United States — Arizona State University International Competition and second in the Virginia Waring International Piano Competition. He has also

performed solo in several venues, like New York City’s Carnegie Hall.

Zhao says that, while competing is an element of performing, he has an equally large duty to teach his craft.

“My role as a performer is also to preserve the beauty and the amazing things that music brings, so teaching is a way that I do that,” Zhao said.

When he founded the Southern California Piano Forum, Zhao made a way for young students to learn piano online.

He also teaches piano in the Carmel Valley Library on the weekends, helping others love music by exposing them to it at a young age. “[Music is] just one of those things that you can look forward to in your day to day life,” Zhao said. “You kind of associate things that you see or certain feelings or things that have happened to you with music.

It’s like the backdrop of things that happen, or almost like a soundtrack.”

With that passion, Zhao’s diligence continues into the future, which he hopes will lead to the chance to participate in the prestigious International Chopin Piano Competition in Warsaw, Poland.

“The Chopin Competition is definitely one of my aspirations, I feel like I want to

continue going in that direction, in terms of how seriously I take piano,” Zhao said.

It’s evident that, unlike a childhood toy, the piano isn’t something Zhao will be clearing out of the house before he leaves for college.

by Eve Gross-Sable

june 1, 2018

Say no to carbs and sugar, count your calories or maybe try a Mediterranean diet; fad diets have come and gone, each promising easy weight loss to what the World Health Organization labels the fattest nation by population. The newest fad diet here to quell your body image concerns and transform you into a photoshopped magazine model is here: the ketogenic diet.

Scoring a 92 out of 100 on Google Trends’ trend tracker, searches for ketogenic and other related terms have spiked this year. The ketogenic diet has boomed in popularity, finding itself in Buzzfeed Tasty videos and in new food trends, like putting butter or eggs in coffee.

When the human body derives most of its fuel from carbohydrates, it enters glycolysis, burning glucose for energy. The ketogenic diet is premised on the belief that the body is healthier in ketosis, meaning when it burns fat for energy instead.

To accomplish this, a ketogenic diet calls for reduced intake of carbohydrates in favor of healthy fats, like those found in nuts, eggs, avocados, coconuts and salmon.

When the body shifts to ketosis, it is able to tap into fat reserves, using the liver to convert fat cells into ketones. Relying on fat can fuel the body for longer and can allow for weight loss. However, nutritionists stress that the ketogenic diet does not always lead to weight loss, as the lack of carbohydrates, the body’s traditional fuel, leads to overeating.

During the first few weeks of the ketogenic diet, many suffer from a slew of symptoms labeled the “keto flu,” which is the body’s natural response to the diet. Symptoms include bad breath, headaches, nausea, fatigue and a drop in electrolyte levels. While a dramatic loss in weight does occur in the early stages of the diet, that is due to the loss of water weight. For every gram of carbohydrates in the body, the body stores an additional six grams of water. In the long run, for the ketogenic diet to be successful, the nutrients traditionally derived from carbohydrates have to be supplemented from other foods that are keto-friendly.

While research on the ketogenic diet has yielded mixed results, studies conducted by Dr. Eric Westman at Duke University suggests that the ketogenic diet can reduce appetite and help curb the chances of heart disease.

Additionally, the ketogenic diet has been proven to reduce the symptoms for epilepsy, although researchers are still unsure as to why this occurs.

The ketogenic diet has also gained popularity among athletes, with many believing that it can help boost endurance and performance.

However, according to the health publication, Men’s Journal, the ketogenic diet is not beneficial for athletes, as carbohydrates are the optimal energy source for athletic performance.

While the ketogenic diet may have some benefits, its extreme limitations make it hard to follow.

Additionally, given the fact the carbohydrates are the cheapest source of sustenance, the diet may not be practical for many.

by Farhan Hossain

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Before I walked into the theater to watch “Solo: A Star Wars Story,” I was pretty sure that I was walking into a money pit — an unnecessary prequel that would substitute hype and the franchise’s recognition for plot. With all of the new Star Wars movies that have come out in the past few years, I was prepared for the worst, and to say that I was pleasantly surprised is an enormous understatement.

The title suggests that, “Solo: A Star Wars Story” follows the early life of Han Solo (Alden Ehrenreich), beginning on his home planet of Corellia, considered the dump of the galaxy. There, he is introduced to a precious metal, coaxium, that is illegally smuggled throughout the galaxy to be used as ship fuel. In its pure form, coaxium is highly explosive and dangerous to handle, making it the perfect weapon, but not the best to smuggle.

In Corellia, we are introduced to Solo’s first love, Kira (Emilia Clarke), from whom he is separated from while attempting to flee the planet. In a journey to return to Kira, Solo joins a gang attempting to smuggle coaxium, led by Tobias Beckett (Woody Harrelson). With the money he’ll make on the smuggling, Solo will be able to find his long-lost love. From here, the movie truly to takes off with many twists and turns, leaving the audience wanting more.

All in all, Ehrenreich does a great job portraying young Solo with the perfect amount of charisma, charm and wit, as when he meets and is able to tame Chewbacca (Joonas Suotamo), unveiling his ability to speak the Wookie language. As the movie progresses, his character is seen changing and developing from a street boy in Corellia to a top-tier, pilot as seen in the “Star Wars” Movies.

Many of the questions fans have been asking about Solo’s background were answered, like how he united with Chewbacca, his Wookie sidekick, and how he won the Millennium Falcon from the elusive gambler Lando Calrissian (Donald Glover). Most

“Deadpool” was a surprise hit that broke box office records and became the highestgrossing R-rated movie ever made. The expectations for “Deadpool 2” may have been high but the film more than surpasses those expectations, delivering a sequel that is both funnier and gorier than the first.

While the movie may be closely connected to the “X-Men” series with characters like Colossus (Stefan Kapičić) and Negasonic Teenage Warhead (Brianna Hildebrand), “Deadpool 2” is unmistakably Wade Wilson’s (Ryan Reynolds) movie. Wilson dominated every scene throughout the movie and even returning characters from the last film were pushed to the side.

Wilson’s tendency to call out other superhero movies and his unexpected allusions to other films and comics add an interesting texture to his character and the movie as a whole. Reynolds’ exceptional talents as a comedic actor truly shine in this movie with his character’s witty comments and sarcastic humor. There are also plenty of moments for laughter due to the amount of violence and gore that “Deadpool 2” shows.

The impulse to go bigger with a superhero movie was well contained, a refreshing break from the typical “save the world” plot in superhero movies. Instead, the easy-tofollow plot focuses on Wilson. The plot could actually be easily summarized in a handful of sentences.

During the first half of the movie, Wilson spends his time killing bad guys in various countries and even becomes an X-Men trainee. This hectic approach suits the maniacal nature of the main character and leads to a lot of laugh-out-loud moments. However, the chaotic plot makes the movie feel a little messy and unorganized, like a loosely connected string of episodes of a sitcom rather than a cohesive movie with a focused purpose.

While Wilson is killing criminals around the world, he manages to anger an enemy

exciting of all, we learn how Solo earned his last name, a fact I never thought about until I watched the film.

Donald Glover, who has made a name for himself as the singer and rapper Childish Gambino and as a comedian and comedic actor, played his first serious movie role exceptionally well. So well, that it wasn’t until I researched the cast that I figured out that it was actually him.

Calrissian adds an overall charm to the movie as the spoiled child of the crew. He and his ship are what allow Solo and his partners need to complete their final mission.

As a weaker member, Calrissian is used only for his resources, and in the end, gains nothing but injuries to both his body and his ego.

Overall, the movie provides the perfect balance of wit and action, with characters like Solo and Chewbacca constantly cracking jokes and exchanging snarky comments.

The fighting, although occasionally overdone, is executed very well. Like all “Star Wars” movies, the action and special effects do not disappoint. Generally, the computer generated characters are done very well and blend seamlessly with the human actors, although there are some scenes in which it is all too obvious that something is not right.

Unlike most action movies, the warring and fighting throughout the movie moves the plot forward rather than being gratuitous. But the lighting in the fight scenes should come with a warning. Director Ron Howard did not shy away from flashing lights and even the opening scene, in which Solo is attempting to jump-start a space car, hurt my eyes.

In the end, “Solo: A Star Wars Story” is a great movie for a night when you want to watch something that doesn’t tax your mind too much. It’s easy to digest, and even after almost falling asleep in the movie theater because I went to a late showing, I was able to recall almost everything that had happened onscreen.

With excellent acting, a considerable amount of wit, and some great charm, the movie will be sure not to disappoint even the most diehard “Star Wars” fan. With its own story and subplots, in addition to staying true to the nature of a classic “Star Wars” film, it is not a movie to miss.

by Beatriz de Oliveira

and embroil himself in a messy situation. Wilson ends up in a depressed state and in order for him to break out of it, he must learn what it feels like to be a part of a family. To do so, he must first rescue a teenage mutant Russell Collins (Julian Dennison) from a prison specifically designed for mutants. Wilson eventually creates his very own super-team called the X-Force. More than half of the team hilariously fails in its attempt to rescue Collins. Collins has a serious impact in the future so Cable (Josh Brolin), who is from the future, tries to take matters into his own hands and conflict between him and Wilson ensues.

The film feels small in the sense of its location. Most of the scenes seem to take place in only a couple of blocks in downtown Vancouver that become familiar throughout the movie. While the location of the scenes may become repetitive over time, the action certainly does not. “John Wick” co-director David Leitch ensures that each fight scene reflects the characteristics of every participant.

The highlight of Leitch’s work has to be Domino’s (Zazie Beetz) fight scenes. Domino is one of the members of X-Force, and her mutant power is supernatural good luck.

Wilson also jokes that good fortune is a very uncinematic ability, but Domino’s fight scenes are ironically some of the most vivid.

The quality of action throughout the movie is very high, and Domino’s fight scenes are particularly well-executed.

The discordant elements of “Deadpool 2” come together toward the end of the movie and eventually push toward something more similar to a traditional finale. Despite Wilson’s trademark mischievousness and irreverence, there is an unexpected warmth to the movie, which firmly establishes him as an affectionate and lovable superhero.

by Jeremy Chung

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falcon eats: 8Elements- Perfect Indian Cuisine Though I’m not an expert on authentic Indian cuisine, I’m still a huge fan, so I was quite excited to try out 8Elements in Mira Mesa.

Even past lunch hour, parking was a struggle, and the restaurant was pretty packed, which I took to be a good sign. While leading me to my seat, the waiter spoke very few words, and walked away without even handing me a menu, even though the restaurant advertised having both a buffet and a menu to order from. I had never been to an Indian buffet before, but figured it was a great way to try a little bit of everything.

The waiter returned shortly with a pitcher of water, but didn’t ask if I wanted any other drinks, even though there was a bar in the back. He also didn’t come back to my table to ask if I enjoyed the food or needed anything, which was disappointing, not to mention confusing for a customer new to the restaurant.

The setting was lively, with families helping themselves to plates and plates of food. My only complaint besides the customer service is that it was quite dark, with only small lights and a door at the very back of the restaurant.

I made my way over to the three large buffet stations,

which is where my adventurous side came out; I’m usually a picky eater who likes to know exactly what’s in my food before I put it in my mouth. However, with the exception of a few dishes, I didn’t know what most of the names meant, so I really had no idea what to expect.

First, I tried the Goat Dum Biryani, a flavorful rice dish with vegetables and delicious spices. The texture and taste was delicious, though the dish was spicier than it looked. I also tried Pulihora, another rice dish with lemon, which I found to be less flavorful, though I did enjoy the addition of tamarind, which tasted exactly like peanuts.

The next dish I tried was butter chicken. Covered in a thick, orange sauce, the chicken was very tender and had great flavors, though I wished it was served hotter.

I also helped myself to some paneer the creamy cheese leaving small hints of cilantro in my mouth, which I loved.

To my disappointment, they had run out of naan, so when I went back for my second plate, I snatched up a piece of the freshly stocked bread with high expectations. However, it was too chewy for my taste, and I found Pappadums, the light, crispy wafers that

annapurna Indian Cuisine Annapurna Indian Cuisine is located in the back corner of a large strip mall in Mira Mesa; it’s hardly an impressive scene. As someone who is quick to judge things based on appearance, I was nearly deterred.

But, the quality of the food was clearly unaffected by the restaurant’s generic facade and lack of decor.

There ended up being a 15-minute wait for just two people, and, while normally I would be annoyed at having my meal postponed, the lunch at Annapurna was a buffet, so the wait time for ordering and preparation was eliminated.

If, like me, you are scared of restaurant buffets, I urge you to put your fears of contamination aside.

A benefit of buffet-style service is that different Indian dishes have different flavors; some are a lot spicier than others. The $14.95 all-you-can-eat buffet allows you to take small portions of things to try and then go back for more of dishes that you like.

The only times I had eaten authentic Indian food before my visit to Annapurna were at friends’ houses, so I chose my food according to what I was comfortable eating given past experiences.

The first dish I tried was the biryani, which is generally comprised of rice, lots of spices, small chopped

vegetables and dried fruit. While vegetarian, it did have jackfruit in it, which is often used as a meat substitute.

I was pleasantly surprised by the taste of the jackfruit, given that the only time I’d ever even heard of the strange looking fruit was through watching Kris Jenner dissect it on “Keeping Up with the Kardashians”. The biryani was extremely spicy, and my only complaint was that the water was not cold enough to combat it.

The butter chicken was rich, probably too rich for my liking, and didn’t seem to taste like much. I did, however, find it tasty when combined with the naan, which was fluffy, warm and garlicky.

I returned to the buffet because I saw lots of people around the restaurant eating fire-red pieces of chicken.

Normally, I wouldn’t dare eat a straight-up piece of meat in a restaurant that I was hesitant to enter from the get-go, but it was cooked to perfection and had the flavor of fried chicken. Not overly greasy and incredibly crispy, this chicken was so delectable that I made my third trip to the buffet solely to get more. The “Chicken Lollipop” was definitely the highlight of my experience at Annapurna and an obvious favorite among others dining there.

The buffet was also stocked with samosas, pooris,

Virsa INdian Cuisine

If I were asked which exotic Indian foods I have tried, I would sheepishly mumble that my exposure to Indian food is sadly limited to Costco naan bread slathered with cream cheese, and Japanese instant curry. As a near-total stranger to Indian cuisine, I decided to enliven my bored taste buds at Virsa Indian Cuisine.

After perusing the menu, I settled upon a Traditional Chicken Curry ($14), Ras Malai/Indian cheesecake ($3.50) and original naan bread ($2.50).

Initially, I reasoned that I would get the spicy chicken curry out of the way before I became too hesitant to try it; if the curry proved too spicy, I figured I would quench the fire with a sweet slice of Indian cheesecake.

However, the hypothesis failed to meet the results.

The traditional chicken curry was far less spicy than I had expected, though the thick, red curry sauce did have a subtle peppery edge to it. But my dashed expectations didn’t necessarily hinder my enjoyment of the dish, which actually proved to be my favorite out of the three. In contrast to the incredibly soupy and savory curry sauce blanketing it, the white Jasmine rice

beneath provided a kind of chewy and crumbly texture and helped create a harmonious balance of different textures and interesting flavors, not to mention, the curry had a slightly minty and leafy aftertaste that helped make the sauce seem less overpowering.

However, the single aspect of the traditional Indian curry that surprised me the most was the way each steaming cube-shaped chicken bite melted in my mouth.

When I finished the curry, I sopped up the remaining sauce, still flavorful, with pieces of naan. Regarding the bread, I did not really have any thoughts other than that it was thin and crispy, and came in a much smaller portion than what I had hoped for.

If the serving size of the restaurant’s naan was small, the size of its Indian cheesecake, which looked nothing like the good ol’ New York variety, was tiny. I stared, perplexed, at two suspicious-looking lumps that were drowning in some white glop. After double-checking my order with the waiter, I was told that the strange edible in front of me was indeed cheesecake.

To my incredulity, the white glop turned out to be

melted in my mouth, to be the winners.

For dessert, I tried Rasmalai and salted yogurt rice, though I did not like either. The cheese-like texture of the Rasmalai was better than the salty rice with an overpowering yogurt flavor; these desserts are definitely an acquired taste.

Though the service was subpar, for $15.95 per person, I would definitely go back to 8Elements with a large appetite; the food was delicious and well worth the money.

by Colette Chiang

photo by anna jeong/falconer

chicken curry, yogurt and chutneys.

The amount of people there for Mother’s Day, the day I chose to go, is a testament to the quality and deliciousness of the food, and the presence of so many families added to the atmosphere. Friendly service was also a plus.

After dining at Annapurna, I can say that my apprehension towards strip mall restaurants and buffets has dissipated, and I will most definitely be back. I didn’t see a single child eating straight off the buffet serving spoon.

by Eve Gross-Sable

photo by christy lam/falconer

yogurt, sprinkled with pistachio niblets, and the two round things were actually cheese curds.

Heading back to my car, I was still in shock about the “cheesecake” I had just eaten, and found the difference between Indian and American cooking to be fascinating. Although I was slightly disappointed about Virsa Indian Cuisine’s small serving size, I was still satisfied by the quality of their food and comfortably full.

by Kahyun Koh

photo by alexei serguienko/falconer

A18 the falconer Since first being discovered on Vine when he was 15 years old, Shawn Mendes, now 19, has become one of the world’s most successful pop stars, releasing his third selftitled album on May 25. While he does not completely abandon the soft teen pop that propelled him to stardom, Mendes makes a smooth transition to a mature, soulful sound. With help and influence from a number of wellknown artists, including John Mayer, Ed Sheeran, and Julia Michaels, Mendes takes on several genres on this new album that was, by his own admission, made to sound like what he enjoys listening to every day.

One of these genres is rock, which is evident on the opening track, “In My Blood.” The song starts out with what listeners have grown to expect from Mendes: soft vocals and guitar. But the track quickly builds, leading to the eruption of the chorus with heavy drums and Mendes belting out lyrics about his anxiety and persistence that keeps him from giving up. The song is unlike any other on the album, and, while strikingly heavy, the catchy melody and honest emotion Mendes conveys in his voice make it a strong opener for the album.

As one of the album’s major songwriters, Julia Michaels’ influence is evident in “Nervous” in the slightly cliched but catchy and confident lyrics. She is also featured on “Like To Be You”, and her voice pairs beautifully with Mendes’, making it one of the loveliest listens on the album. “Nervous” is also similar to “Lost in Japan,” a contemporary R&B track that showcases Mendes’ impressive falsetto.

The recurring topic Mendes sings of on the album is romantic relationships. “Where Were You In The Morning” and “Why” convey a mournful Mendes, with the former featuring a dominant guitar melody that KYLE released his third album “Light of Mine,” May 18. The album is comprised of 15 tracks, four of which had been previously released, a lot of odd vocals, and a range of mood in his instrumentals.

The first track of the album, is titled “Ups & Downs.”

The intro is a combination of a subtly played individual keys on an electric keyboard and KYLE’s voice Auto-Tuned into shrill oblivion as he hits high notes and monologues about how he hopes he will be happy in the future. After a confusing start, the song immediately jumps into KYLE’s raw vocals and a slow, strong bass. As the track continues, its instrumental is characterized by a jumble of watery noises and very high-pitched female vocals. At that point, the track sounds as if the background is consistently dipping in and out, while KYLE raps about how his life has a lot of “ups and downs.” Although this track can be viewed as an artistic style, it feels disconnected. Overall, the introduction is a weak start to the album and doesn’t exactly excite the listener for the rest of the tracks.

“Zoom” is the third track of the album and initially has a very calm aesthetic. In a matter of seconds, the instrumental transitions into a more bass-boosted and upbeat mood. Adding more energy compared to the disappointing intro of “Ups & Down.” Despite the better instrumentals, my main issue with this track is the vocals.

While KYLE delivers the message that he will stay true to himself. on lyrics like “And I zoom, right on past my problems /Henny in my hand, I ain’t got no time to solve ‘em,” his voice has no inflection and does not match the strong, upbeat instrumentals. Then when he starts singing, it takes away from the improved background. This track is more enjoyable than the intro but still not good, due to KYLE’s frankly bland.

“Tranquility Base Hotel & Casino,” released on May 11, is the Arctic Monkeys’ sixth studio album and their third top-10 “Billboard 200” debut. The indie-rock band uses instrumentation that presents the kind of mood typical of Arctic Monkeys — edgy, melancholic and cynical. The lyrics describe a hotel and casino on the moon in the future and problems in future celebrity culture and modern use of technology.

The album opens with “Star Treatment,” which sets the mood for the rest of the tracks with a spacey effect that is created with synthetic piano chords and raspy male vocals.

The song is made more jarring with background sounds like bells and woodblocks. About how stars are treated and changed by the media, the theme is shown through lyrics such as, “I’m a big name in deep space, ask your mates/But golden boy’s in bad shape.”

Another track on the album, “One Point Perspective” has a similar message. The song is about how people have big dreams in childhood but the dreams are interrupted by reality. Unlike the other tracks on the album, “One Point Perspective” has a cheerful and upbeat tone, which creates a sharp contrast to its depressing subject. The optimistic mood is built with a fast, repeating piano chord and electric guitar accompaniment.

“American Sports,” the third song of “Tranquility Base Hotel & Casino,” has a more despairing tone in comparison to the other tracks. The lyrics introduce the culture and political climate of the moon where the hotel is located, for the first time, and the song compares the lunar culture to today’s social environment.

“Four out of Five” further expands on the futuristic moon universe with lyrics, about lunar businesses like the “Starlight Express” and “Hokey Cokey.” The title track is

entertainment

PHOTO FROM ISLAND RECORDS

“SHAWN MENDES”

BY SHAWN MENDES RELEASED MAY 25

PHOTO FROM ATLANTIC RECORDS

“light of mine” by kyle RELEASED MAY 18

PHOTO FROM DOMINO RECORDING COMPANY

“tranquility base hotel & casino” by arctic monkeys released may 11

june 1, 2018 sounds distinctly like a John Mayer song and the latter being a more acoustic inquiry into why two lovers are not together, which many speculate is directed toward Mendes’ rumored ex-lover Camila Cabello.

On the other hand, some of the tracks are more optimistic about love, like “Fallin’ All In You.” But the catchiest songs on both the topic of relationships and the album as a whole are “Mutual” and “Particular Taste,” where groovy beats in the background make it easy for listeners to hum along to lyrics of Mendes’ desire for and intrigue over a potential lover.

Not all of the album’s songs focus on love, though. For example, “Queen” is a more forgettable mainstream pop song that describes Mendes’ annoyance with someone with a superiority complex, and “Youth,” a duet with Khalid stands out as one of the best tracks on the record.

Originally written in response to the Manchester bombing last year, “Youth” has since become a powerful anthem for students protesting gun violence.

The album closes with “When You’re Ready,” a soft and melodic guitar ballad in which Mendes sings quick, rhyming lyrics and vows to wait for his lover. The song — and the record consequently — end on an unfinished note as Mendes sings a higher note that strays from the song’s established melody at the last second, making the song more memorable and leaving listeners wanting more.

While featuring multiple collaborations, Mendes’ latest self-titled album is unmistakably his, as his already wellknown vocals and candid lyrics shine on each track. The record successfully rebrands Mendes as a serious artist who can take on a variety of genres, while also conveying his emotions through sincere lyrics in acoustic pop songs.

by Angela Liu My favorite song on the album has to be the sixth track “Babies,” featuring Alessia Cara. It starts off with a very hypnotic rhythm that matches KYLE’s voice.

Then, the beat picks up and becomes bass-heavy, all while maintaining the song’s flow. Once Cara’s vocals mix together with KYLE’s, it sounded very well produced and fit perfectly with the beat of the song. The track’s production and vocals are much better than album’s earlier songs. The voices that mirror the calm feeling of the background produce something that is more pop in nature, and is far superior to any of the rap songs on “Light of Mine”.

The second to last track, “Clouds,” has a calm ambiance and returns to KYLE’s rapping. Although the track is only a little over two minutes, it tells a vivid story for the artist as he accepts his grandfather’s passing and understands that he is stronger than he thinks of himself.

The soft instrumentals produces a strong, calming effect as KYLE restarts his monologue, which ends the album on a lighter note as he shows how life can get better over time. Or rather, he almost ends the album on a light note but has to first attach his single “iSpy” from 2016 at the end, for whatever reason.

The album is a classic case of being neither good nor bad; on most of the tracks he excels in specific aspects like instrumentals but lacks in others, like rapping. KYLE, being an accomplished rapper, had the public expecting something groundbreaking, and while this album may not have succeeded in that sense, I have no doubt that KYLE has the ability to create very beautiful, high quality songs.

Clearly he is a strong singer on softer tracks, and I hope to see him highlight that strength further in his career.

by Vlada Demenko named for the name NASA astronaut Neil Armstrong gave the spot on the moon while Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin were the first humans on the moon. Lines like “Come and stay with us, it’s such an easy flight” advertise the hotel.

“Tranquility Base Hotel & Casino” is all dissonant chords and ethereal vibes. The instrumentation creates an effect that makes the listener disassociate and feel out of touch with reality, which is an appropriate combination with the strange feature of the lunar hotel that the lyrics describe.

The sixth track in the album, “Batphone,” is about a phone company. In addition, the human dependence on technology is a main theme that’s discussed, with the narrator singing about “Panoramic windows looking out across your soul.” to represent reliance on technology The panoramic windows are computer screens and the line shows that in the future, technology is deeply rooted in daily life.

“The Ultracheese,” which is the last track in the album, deviates from the topic of the hotel on the moon, and talk about the gradual disconnection between the narrator and his friends. In the setting, which is in the future, the narrator has slowly lost contact with other people, which is discussed in lyrics such as, “Still got pictures of friends on the wall/I suppose we aren’t really friends anymore.”

The album, which tells a story about futuristic lunar business, is yet another classic of the Arctic Monkeys band, with dissonant instrumentation that creates spacey effects and a strange topic that hints at something darker in the future.

by Esther Choi

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CONCERTS

PHOTOS FROM POST MALONE, DUA LIPA AND LOGIC

INFOGRAPHIC BY DHATHRY DOPPALAPUDI

W The T Desp T they the l pastr A of ro Im Tart have B I felt the w

S P O RTS CORNER

By Jeremy Chung SPORTS EDITOR

By Dhathry Doppalapudi ENTERTAINMENT EDITOR Graham New (10) won first place in men’s shortboard and Liam Keeney (9) took fourth place in mens longboard at the Scholastic Surf Series State Championship on April 21-23.

The Scholastic Surf Series, the last competition of the high school surf season, was a 3-day competition between over 40 high schools. There were pretty good weather conditions all weekend, according to Bob Preske, TPHS Surf Team coach. A South Pacific Swell appeared on the first day of the competition, and when mixed with the already present west wind swell, it made for ideal surfing weather.

New moved to Mexico when he was nine years old, and that’s when he started surfing.

“I’ve been doing surf competitions for the past three years and this is actually the first big competition I’ve ever won so that was really cool,” New said.

Preske said New is one of the best shortboarders on the team. “[New] is a really great surfer and he comes out of nowhere and impresses people,” Preske said. “He just shreds.”

New said the competition was really tough, as his competition was really good.

He tried to ignore the pressure and just focused on performing his best at the competition, disregarding his opponent’s scores.

“At this point, I would say that we’re all at about the same level, so it just comes down a lot to luck and how you’re carrying yourself and what you’re thinking,” New said. “And if you have any doubts in your mind, they’re obviously going to affect you so you can’t really be thinking on the negative. You just gotta take it one heat at a time and see how it goes.”

According to Preske, New had a great contest.

“I saw some of [New’s] heats and he was just surfing really good that day,” said Preske. “When he got the individual state competition, that’s when he started shining and he just caught fire and went all the way. That’s pretty impressive.”

New scored very high. “My second wave, which was my best wave which was a 9.3 Keeney placed fourth in men’s longboard.

“In longboarding you’d ride a board that’s a 9’ or over. I was riding a 9 foot 3 inch and a 9 foot 6 inch, but for shortboarding you’d ride anywhere between like 5 feet

PHOTO COURTESY OF GRAHAM NEW

RIDE THE TIDE: Graham New (10) angles his board to ride the waves. (TOP). Liam Keeney (9) balances his weight on the board and prepares to showcase his moves. (BOTTOM). and 6 feet 5 inches,” Keeney said. “In short boarding, it’s more turn oriented and maneuver oriented … but in longboarding you noseride and you also turn, and it’s just different maneuvers.”

Keeney has experience with both, starting out with shortboarding and switching over to longboarding.

“I shortboarded for seven years until I picked up longboarding last year around this time,” Keeney said.

The Scholastic Surf Series competitions occur every month or so, according to

Keeney. “[The Scholastic Surf Series competitions] were really fun because they were individual, and you didn’t have to worry about like team standings or anything.

Keeney is satisfied with his performance at the state championship.

“By my standards [my performance that day was] pretty average,” Keeney said. “I mean, I could have done better. But I did pretty good. I did alright.”

TPHS placed 13th overall in coastal

Baseball has long been heralded as America’s favorite pastime. For the majority of the 20th century, at least in terms of the game’s popularity, baseball was indeed America’s primary sport. According to a poll by Gallup, an American research-based globalperformance management consulting company, only 9 percent of Americans claimed that baseball was their favorite sport to watch. This was the lowest percentage for the sport since Gallup first asked the question in 1937. Since 1972, football has dominated this poll as the favorite spectator sport. Since the steady decrease in viewer ratings may be due to the length of baseball games, MLB has proposed changes in the way games are run to increase viewership. However, they have to carry these proposals out as soon as possible in order to effectively and efficiently bring MLB back to its former popularity.

Young Americans, ranging from ages 12 and up, are not getting into baseball as much as they used to. According to the 2015 ESPN Sports Poll’s annual survey of young Americans’ 30 favorite sports figures, none of the 30 athletes on the list were baseball players.

ESPN’s Baseball Almanac also shows that the median viewer age in 2004 was 46 and increased to 53 in 2014.

The average Major League baseball game lasts for about three hours and five minutes. So far, MLB has made changes to limit the number of mound visits a manager or pitching coach can make to six per team in a nineinning game. They have also shortened between-inning breaks to help speed up the game. A timer will count down between innings from 2:05 for breaks in locally televised games, from 2:25 for games in nationally televised games and from 2:55 for tiebreakers and postseason games. The timing clock has also been applied to pitching changes and pick off moves. Essentially, the pitchers cannot take forever to throw the ball, which will speed up the progress of the game. Commercial breaks have also been reduced by 20 seconds to keep the game shorter.

So far, MLB has made many proposals to improve viewership even further. In a previous team owners’ meeting, a meeting in which owners of baseball teams come together to discuss league business, owners proposed to shorten games from nine to seven innings. They’ve also proposed limiting the number of pitchers per game to increase runs. If there are fewer pitchers allowed in a game, the pitchers will not be able to switch out frequently and will eventually tire. This will make the pitchers more susceptible to giving up more runs and will make the game more dynamic to watch.

In order for MLB to effectively improve its viewership, it has to follow through with these proposals as soon as possible. The popularity of baseball will only continue to decline as other sports like football and basketball gain more popularity. By shortening game time and making the game more interesting to watch, people will be more attracted to the sport.

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DAY IN THE

LIFE

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2018 CIF Boys’ Tennis Individuals winner and future Point Loma Nazarene University player Nik Speshilov (12) attributes his victories to his work ethic and his parents.

“Pressure is a privilege” is a quote from former women’s number one tennis player Billie Jean King, and it’s a quote that Nik Speshilov (12) thinks about when he gets nervous before a match.

After moving from Russia in elementary school, Speshilov’s parents gave him a choice: to either swim or play tennis. On his walk home from school, Speshilov would pass by tennis courts, and watching players on the other side of the black fence piqued his interest in the sport.

“Thankfully, I chose tennis,” Speshilov said.

Speshilov transferred to TPHS from Rancho Bernardo High School in his junior year, a transition that was assisted by being on the TPHS boys tennis team. “[Tennis is] fun and you can connect to people easier, build strong relationships for the future,” Speshilov said.

Earlier this year, he fractured his foot, leading him to worry that his injury would not heal before the season began.

“It was very stressful because I was not at the level that I wanted to be at,” Speshilov said. “I would get pretty angry that I was unable to play my best but eventually it all came back to me just a few months later.”

Despite his injury, Speshilov attributes his work ethic and drive to his ability to recover.

“It’s mentally tough,” Speshilov said. “Knowing that college is around the corner, I needed to keep training hard.”

While he enjoys tennis, Speshilov plays the sport under pressure.

“[After] all the years that I have put into playing tennis, I feel that if I don’t win that it’s my fault,” Speshilov said.

“I need to be on point every day.”

Speshilov feels that he owes it not only to himself but to his team to perform well.

“I’ve been at Torrey Pines for two years, and I really like the team,” Speshilov said. “There is a certain responsibility that comes with being a senior because people look up to you, and I try to be the best example that I can be.”

Speshilov saw his efforts pay off when he won the 2018 Boys’ Tennis CIF Individuals.

“It was an amazing feeling. It was my goal for the last four years of high school tennis,” Speshilov said.

As he approaches graduation and the opportunity to play collegiate tennis for Point Loma Nazarene, Speshilov is thankful for the choice his parents gave him when they moved from Russia.

“They didn’t know a lot of English. It was tough,” Speshilov said. “They made me work hard so I tried my best to impress them.”

Playing tennis requires a great deal of effort from Speshilov, but its an opportunity his parents never had, and one only afforded to him due to their hard work. The way Speshilov sees it, his pressure is a privilege.

by Farhan Hossain

Nik Speshilov (12) PHOTO BY DAVID VAPNEK/FALCONER

Boys’ Lacrosse comes back in the second half to win CIFs

By Daniel Kim SPORTS EDITOR Boys Lacrosse (18-1) took on the Coronado Islanders (17-5) at San Marcos High School and came up with a 7-5 win on May 19, claiming the CIF Championship title.

In the first quarter, the Falcons won the face off, but the Islanders steadily deflected every shot and scored early in the first quarter. After scoring a goal, the Islanders gained momentum and played aggressively, causing TP to get flustered and allow another goal in the first quarter.

Trailing 2-0, the Falcons attempted several aggressive shots but could not score, and the first quarter ended 2-0 for the Islanders.

“The initial struggle began with a few mental mistakes. The pressure of the game felt very great and added stress to the game,” Bradley Lienhart (11) said.

The second quarter started with a face off won by Coronado. The Falcons continued to play aggressively on offense but failed to break Coronado’s defense early in the second quarter. Marco Napolitano (11) was stopped with a one-minute penalty for slashing in the second quarter, which Coronado took as an opportunity to score a third goal. With only three minutes left in the half, Dewey Egan (9) attempted to run in and score, but his shot was deflected.

Egan immediately recovered the ball and immediately shot again for the first TPHS score of the game.

“After we scored the first goal I think there was sort of a sigh of relief and it really helped us settle down our nerves.

After we scored we knew we could do it.”

Alex Pistorius (11) said.

Before the first half came to a close, Coronado was charged with two one-

minute slashing penalties, and the Falcons capitalized as Blake Erlbeck (10) scored with only 17 seconds remaining in the half, thanks to a defensive play by Evan Egan (12).

“They did a good job because we like to play really fast and up and down,” Head Coach Jono Zissi said. “They did a good job with their game plan of slowing us down and playing a slow game. We beat them by ten goals in the season, and they made some really nice adjustments this game, so credits to them. Their goalie was phenomenal throughout, giving our offense some difficulty.”

Down 3-2, the Falcons maintained their momentum in the third quarter.

After winning the face off, Pistorius scored two minutes into the second half, tying the game at 3-3. Halfway through the quarter, the Falcons were charged with a two-minute foul for a defenseless body check, but they were able to shut out the Islanders with a sturdy defense. After one goal each by both Coronado and TPHS (made by Lienhart), the game was tied 4-4.

With less than a minute remaining in the third quarter, the Falcons made a strong defensive play and gained control of the ball, allowing Pistorius to score another goal and give TPHS their first lead of the game.

The Falcons were ahead to start the fourth quarter. Early in, Coronado tied up the game 5-5 with another goal. With only five minutes remaining, Shayne Grant (12) ran toward the goal and gave the team a 6-5 lead. Knowing that defense would secure the win, the Falcons invested all their strength into securing the goal.

Thirty seconds before the end, Coronado left its goal unattended, allowing Erlbeck to score one final time, securing the CIF Championship victory.

PHOTOS BY CHRISTY LAM/FALCONER

MOMENTUM HAS SHIFTED: Porter Hollen (11) shakes off his defender with a swift turn to the left (TOP). Spencer Grant (12) plays tough defense on his opponent, making sure they are unable to get an open shot at the goal (ABOVE).

?

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drumroll, please!

2018 tphs freddie awards nominations Annual Falcons Athletic Awards Ceremony

TPHS Most Promising JV/Freshman Team

TPHS Coach of the Year

Most Inspirational TPHS Team Performance

TPHS Female Athlete of the Year

TPHS Girls Team of the Year

TPHS Male Athlete of the Year

TPHS Boys Team of the Year

Falcon Faithful Award - Most Devoted Fan

TPHS Rookie of the Year

TPHS Sportsmanship - Falcon Pride Award

INFOGRAPHIC BY DANIEL KIM/FALCONER

PHOTO BY DAVID VAPNEK/FALCONER

tphsfalconer.com

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f/stop

mac bingham varsity baseball may 25 3:35:57

camera: nikon d610 lens: nikon 80-200m f/2.8 iso: 100 exp: 1/2500 seconds f/stop: f/2.8 by david vapnek

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Four years of high school have come and gone, and your time on this Earth has reached its end. Haha! Just kidding! Enjoy four more years of stress, studying, sleep deprivation, emotional breakdowns, screaming “I just can’t cope with this anymore,” and, for the first time, student debt!

It is easy to know when Sumin is working her new job at Pokewan, as she is always quick to change the music from Meghan Trainor (ugh) to either Shawn Mendes or, better yet, BROCKHAMPTON (sigh). On Yelp, customers always seem to mention how a certain Asian cashier is working on AP art history homework instead of swiping their credit cards.

A supposedly notorious serial killer, Anvitha has not yet been caught for her murders due to her unnervingly close relationship with a police officer she once interviewed. She has kept him on the line for so long due to the skills she has obtained while watching “Catfish” on MTV. She’s ready to send out some poisoned strawberries to her least favorite Falconer staffers.

After realizing that making background noises for aspiring TPHS Soundcloud rappers is not an actual career, Sammy accepted his offer from Tulane University, majoring in International Relations and Economics (or whatever, no one actually listened when he announced it). But until school starts in September, Sammy will spend his time hotboxing the Audi his parents so gracefully leased for him.

After graduating three years early because she was able to do work during her free period, Ellie finds herself back at TPHS to hunt a certain science teacher.

“My eco columns were great,” Ellie told our reporters with a snarl. “I’m getting my revenge.”

With her BFF Anvitha, Ellie knows she’ll get away with any crime.

Estelle partnered with Ivanka Trump to create a new fashion line, but when she discovered the “super soft, luxury material” was made of horsehair, she flipped a horse onto Ivanka.

“Haha, Ivanka!” Estelle said. “I stole your beauty empire first, and I’ll steal Jared next!”

Investigative journalists from the acclaimed TP Current found out that Michael actually failed to make the tennis team, meaning he has to stay back as a fifth year senior to get his P.E. credit. He is now hiding under the alias Nichael Mirula. “If Falconer finds out I’m still here, they’ll force me to be in charge of Sports again. I couldn’t stand to be on a staff ran by the son of my evil math teacher!”

Annie can often be found on her computer, using K-pop as an excuse to procrastinate on the mountain of stories she had been assigned a year ago. She slurps her instant ramen, careful not to spill it on her precious laptop, the invaluable device she obsessively watches Tasty videos on. But, even though she has professed her love for these videos many times, ramen will forever remain #1 in her heart.

After her impulsive decision on enrolling in Beginning Journalism during her freshman year and joining the Falconer, she immediately made her mark on staff in the best way possible: by bringing her dog to class. Both her and Ivan will be missed once she goes to her liberal arts college, where she can psychoanalyze The Bee Movie.

“Graham? Graham who?” asks Graham’s college professors after his continued absence from his classes. Graham chuckles.

“Sometimes I just don’t want to go to my classes and then I end up not going. I missed like three tests. I spend my time away from school praying to the Lord Jesus Christ. Lunch 12:15.”

A diligent captain of his rec league basketball team, Luke likes to spend his time fueling his elusive and secretive love affair with the Falconer’s resident horse girl.

Despite his time-consuming lifestyle, Luke still finds the time to splurge while online shopping for expensive clothes and shoes.

TPHS will always be in his heart though, and on his license plate frame.

Ha-young? More like how-old. Hayoung has spent so much money on her beauty care regimen that she can’t afford college anymore and goes bankrupt. At least she still looks like a teen, and that’s still a cheaper option than going through with the plastic surgery all her favorite K-drama stars go through. For now, all Hayoung cares about is being the more famous member of the Hayoung/Jocelyn duo.

Beware of speaking about anything promiscuous while around Jocelyn, as she has known to be eager to mention any experience she has had with anything she deems “illegal,” which more likely than not in violation of the law. However, she has yet to experience a wild UCLA party, where the mathletes have been known to get wild!

After finally watching every single rugby highlight video on YouTube, Anton finally remembered his position as photo editor, and asked the staff photographers if they remembered to take pictures for the issue. They replied that they hadn’t because no one has reminded them, and began to ran away, leaving Anton to hobble behind them with his seemingly-permanently broken leg.

Finally waking up from his daily nap at 5:30 p.m. in the bed of his truck, Travis realized that he had fallen asleep while loading his dirt bike. It then dawned on him that he was late for a sick dirt biking session with the boys. However, at that point, he decided to go back to sleep, hoping that he could just sleep through the embarrassment.

After accepting her offer to play lacrosse at the University of Chicago, Lauren has had a lot of free time on her hands, leading her to begin placing more importance on her Instagram account (and her accompanying VSCO feed). One recent internal debate she has faced is whether to caption her pictures from graduation with “best years with the best friends!!” or a combination of roses and heart emojis.

Who’s a good boy? Your are! Woof! Woof! Woof! Bark! Please don’t leave us.

Dr. Seuss properties TM & © Dr. Seuss Enterprises, L.P. All Rights Reserved.

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California State University, San Marcos Dylan Beach Bryan Cruz Flavio De Luna

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Alyssa Romine Jake Smith

University of California, Irvine Kristina McKee

University of California, Los Angeles José Becerra Yechan Choi Bryan Cruz Thomas Freedman Aditya Guru Rohith Kodukula Michael Nirula

*transfer to University of San Diego after two years **transfer to San Diego State University ***transfer to San Diego State University after two years ****transfer to University of California, Santa Barbara after two years

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