Falconer March 2014

Falconer

The Torrey Pines High School

www.tphsfalconer.com Thursday, March 27, 2014 Vol. 39, Issue 6, 36 pages

3710 Del Mar Heights Road, San Diego, CA 92130

SUMMA CEO CHANGE PROMPTS PROTEST

A LOOK INSIDE: entertainment

Students and parents have spoken up about former CEO Chris Hamilton’s exit from Summa Education. By Tasia Mochernak Former founding CEO and president of Summa Education Christopher Hamilton was replaced by Lori Todd as CEO on Feb. 28.

Since then, former and future Summa students and parents who oppose the decision have protested and petitioned for Hamilton’s return.

However, according to Todd, Hamilton’s return is “very unlikely.” Todd also said the Summa staff will not discuss internal personnel matters and the circumstances of Hamilton’s departure.

Hamilton said that he was “fired

by Summa’s relatively new — since November — investors and manager … and was not given a reason or explanation.”

According to Todd, she is “one of a group of three investors … that invested in the company [and] purchased the majority interest of the company in November from Hamilton.” The other investors are Sanford R. Climan of Entertainment Media Ventures and Matt Garrett of TGG Accounting. Todd said she was hired as chief

operating officer in the beginning of February.

“I was spending a fair amount of time [at Summa], learning, and then in March, we had the big change, and the investment group, my partners, asked if I would step in as CEO and keep Summa, Summa,” Todd said. “I’m an attorney by training, and I’ve got a big background in businesses and how they work, and so I agreed because I love Summa and the people there.”

Todd sent out an email on Mar. 1 notifying Summa families that Hamilton would no longer be employed by Summa.

Both former and current Summa students and their parents responded by forming or joining a Facebook group called “Bring Back Mr. Hamilton!” created by Naveen Krishnamurthi (‘11). The group now has 860 members. A petition going by the same name was created on Mar. 9 and has 198 signatures as of Mar. 25.

“We believe that [firing Hamilton] is actively harmful to the

interests of both Summa and its students,” Krishnamurthi posted in the group on Mar. 7. “Summa is more than just a business — it is a resource for the community that exists because of the support of its students and their families.”

Many other students have posted in the group about working with Hamilton, from help with college applications to SAT critical reading classes. Jack Conway, a past Summa student and freshman at Vassar College, participated in Hamilton’s SAT class in his junior year of high school, but he believes Hamilton did more than raise his SAT score 450 points.

“I was having a lot of financial trouble [when I applied to college], and [Hamilton] paid for my applications himself,” Conway said. “I have no

See A18 Lost in San Diego See A20 Falcon Eats

opinion

see summa, A3

Leaving out a segment of the population after they have paid their debts is unfair.

“

—Varun Bhave See A7, Felon voting rights

BIRD’S EYE

VIEW photo by alex mccracken/falconer

Frosh Kendra Checketts wins TP Idol competition

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By Jennifer Grundman staff writer

Kendra Checketts (9) won the annual ASB-sponsored TP Idol competition, which occurred at lunch in the quad from Mar. 1114.

Checketts said she was happily surprised when she won against nine other competitors.

“I really like singing, and I thought I could share my voice with other people,” Checketts said. “I thought it would be fun to do [TP Idol] and perform in front of everybody.”

According to history teacher Lars Trupe, who was one of

three judges this year, Checketts won because she “had the strongest voice, best command of [her] song, and was the most dynamic [singer].” These qualities made her the “clear winner.” The judging was based on participants’ syncopation, creativity, musicianship, showmanship and the audience’s reaction to the singers.

Trupe’s fellow judges included history teacher Chris Drake and Allison Aguirre (11), an ASB member who is in charge of organizing assemblies and TP Idol.

According to Aguirre, participation in TP Idol is open

see Tp idol, A6

opinion....................A7 feature..................A13 entertainment......A18 sports.....................A25 backpage............A32 focus........................B1

SAT test changes announced f

By Austin Zhang staff writer

A redesigned SAT test, to be administered first in spring 2016, was announced by the College Board on Mar. 5.

There will be three sections on the new test: evidence-based reading and writing, math and an optional essay. Scores will be reported out of 1600, with the reading/writing and math sections scored from 200-800, and the essay score reported separately. The 0.25 point deduction for incorrect answers will be removed. At some testing locations, the test will also be available on computers.

The reading and writing section will include vocabulary focused on “relevant words that students will use throughout their lives,” according to the College Board website. Questions will also test students’ ability to interpret evidence in nonfiction passages and graphics, especially problems based in science and social science. Each version of the test will also include an excerpt from

one of America’s founding documents, hoping to “inspire deep engagement with text that matters.”

In the math section, questions will focus on problem solving, data analysis and algebra, as well as multistep real-life applications in “career scenarios” and the construction of mathematical models, according to the College Board. For the essay, students will read a passage and explain how the author builds the argument. The prompt will be shared in advance and remain consistent, but the passage will be changed.

According to Karl Hagen, Chief Education Officer at Summa Education, a test prep and college application development center, one of the biggest criticisms of the SAT is that it is “too divorced from the ordinary high school curriculum,” and the redesigned test attempts to address that problem, but whether it does so successfully will not be determined until its release.

Full specifications of the exam as well as sample questions for each section will be available on Apr. 16.

A2 the falconer

Flight MH370

The “Lost”-esque disaster struck on Mar. 8 when a Malaysia Airlines jetliner vanished from radar screens on a flight from Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia to Beijing. The Falconer takes a look at what happened in the weeks following and the subsequent conspiracy theories.

239

captain’s hours of flying experience

countries aiding Malaysia in the search

passengers & crew

25 th

condolence payment offered to the family of each passenger by the airline

flig

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$5,000

march 27, 2014

h 37 0’s in tende d pa

18,365

news

last known location

what happened? theories behind the disappearance MECHANICAL failure

secret landing commandeering & hijacking

FBI

WHAT WE KNOW •Two passengers on the plane were traveling on stolen passports.

• The aircraft stayed aloft for at least four hours after its transponders went offline.

• Malaysian officials claim that data points to a crash in the southern Indian Ocean, but actual wreckage has not been found.

MIDAIR DISINTEGRATION

government secrets infographic by anna li/falconer

news

tphsfalconer.com

the falconer

A3

Jury reaches verdict in Summa v. Elite case, ruling Hamilton and associates guilty.

apr. 14, 2013 Investors take over the company

november 2013

the

evolution of

summa

feb. 28, 2014 Hamilton exits Summa

a timeline

infographic by katie mulkowsky/falconer photos by kevin tong and kenneth lin/falconer

and I have no problem with that, as long as [David] gets what I paid for. I had doubt that if you went to Summa for the recommendations from several people, and summer, your score would get better … they recommended this company because But to me, it is the college counseling and of Mr. Hamilton. Otherwise, I don’t know the financial aid work from Chris Hamilton this company. I know Mr. Hamilton.” that I find are his biggest assets that Sharon Lee Rhodes, San Diego nobody else in there can touch. I just fear Community College District Dean of for the future vision of this company if they Economic and Workforce Development and are going to put profit over students.” mother of four students who participated Many past and current Summa parents in various Summa programs and also have voiced their anger and concern consultations with Hamilton, contacted on both the “Bring Back Mr. Hamilton!” various media outlets to draw attention group and the official Summa Education to the issue. On Mar. 11, NBC San Diego Facebook group, which had 763 members producer and reporter Wendy Fry visited when the Falconer went to press. the Carmel Valley Summa location to In the Summa Eduation group, report on the situation, where some parents Hamilton commented “I was fired” on a were interviewed. In addition, Rhodes and post made by Summa Senior Educational The Bishop’s School senior Gabe Martinez, Director Adam Lowenstein explaining the and others, organized a protest outside situation; Hamilton’s comment received the Carmel Valley location of Summa on 100 likes before the post was deleted.

Mar. 15. Approximately 30 students and Additionally, a post made by Nik parents attended. Rhodes and her husband Sharma asked: “If the matters regarding ordered 500 T-shirts with stylized stencilMr. Hamilton’s leave are ‘personal matters,’ like portraits of Hamilton designed by past why did the CEO mention he was let go for Summa student Alex Tung, and distributed ‘business issues?’ We can understand that the shirts to all attendees. you are all still going to teach properly, but “If students see their own peers taking all we want is an explanation. After that, I initiative and taking time out of their promise, we won’t bug you.”

Saturdays to just stand around and Summa Chief Learning Officer Karl try to talk to new parents about maybe Hagen responded in reconsidering their multiple comments, decision, they’ll see that stating that Cal. Civ. [Hamilton’s departure] has I just fear for the future not only had an impact on Code § 47(c); Cal. Lab. Code §§ 1053, 1055 vision of this company current students, but even prevented him and other seniors who have already if they are going to gotten into college, like Summa staff members from discussing the prioritize profit over myself,” Martinez said. circumstances.

Hamilton’s attorney students. Gregory Olson was However, students and parents continued Jack Conway present at the protest and to post statements of student spoke to the students and personal experiences parents there. Olson said with Hamilton and that “step number one is their opinions on the actions of Summa to request a meeting with Summa to see personnel. if there’s a reasonable way that we could According to Peter Gulko, father of work this issue out.”

TPHS student David Gulko (10), he wanted “We want a solution here,” Olson said. to send his son to Summa “based on certain “We hope that Summa will work with us, premises,” one of which was Hamilton’s and we can bring a solution for everybody presence at Summa. who is involved.”

According to Olson, his firm was not “That was a main premise of me sending my son here,” Peter said. “I paid involved in the Summa v. Elite lawsuit in a lot of money — it’s a lot of money — 2013.

continued from A1

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“I think [my son] is a really strong Martinez, along with other students and parents, believe that though Summa student, [and he] probably doesn’t need the representatives said that there is no way prep,” Ai said. “I just want Mr. Hamilton to Hamilton will return, a drop in turnout for inspire [my son], but I think that without [Hamilton], I have no reason to come [to their program may make them reconsider.

“They conveniently announced his Summa].” termination a few days after most of the Nithin Krishnamurthi (10), Naveen’s deposits were in for the summer sessions, brother, is also distressed so if they see a drop in

by Hamilton’s departure, deposits — because they but for different reasons. have offered full refunds — “My objection to the Summa is not one whole scandal is that obviously they have to do something,” Martinez said. person, and it never will they are breaking up According to Todd, what I consider to be one be. [The students] can of the greatest test prep there have been four withdrawals related to [protest], but I don’t want and college counseling Hamilton’s departure since teams in existence,” to be a part of it. Nithin said. “Mr. Mar. 1. Todd said there were also about eight other Andrew Chung Hamilton is undeniably withdrawals “based on summa education a brilliant teacher, and normal scheduling issues while it’s fair to say that and one illness, [and] these the rest of the faculty is numbers are well within what is normal at brilliant, the energy that Mr. Hamilton this time of year.” brings to the company is unparalleled.”

Erika Pollner, mother of Canyon Crest Summa executive vice president Academy sophomore Tristan Pollner, Andrew Chung does not believe that the withdrew Tristan from Summa on Mar. 15. protest will have an effect on reversing “For me personally, it’s more about Summa’s decision. doing the right thing and not supporting a “Summa is not one person, and it never corporation [that] is doing the wrong thing will be,” Chung said. “I understand that by letting somebody go for this type of they have a hero in Hamilton, and I don’t reason and with this type of circumstance,” want to take anyone’s hero away, but at Erika said. “I just can’t support them with the same time, they can [protest], but I my money. It just is wrong.” don’t want to be a part of it.”

Another parent, Aviva Berlin, withdrew However, despite the actions taken by her daughter from her ACT tutoring at opponents of Hamilton’s termination from Summa and changed her SAT program. Summa, Todd said that Summa will not Berlin wrote in the “Bring Back Mr. consider reinstating Hamilton.

Hamilton!” group that “pulling [her] “We will not consider it,” Todd said. daughter out of Summa is the last thing “We appreciate their incredibly deep [she] would do of [her] own will.” commitment, attachment and affection “It is not a reflection on the great for Mr. Hamilton, and we think the world quality of the teaching my daughter of him as a counselor and a teacher and a has received there,” Berlin said. “I have mentor to kids with the ability to connect nothing but respect for the faculty. I, with kids. I would never say a bad word however, refuse to support the new owners about his skill in those areas, ever. I and administration, and find the fact that understand why they’re upset and I don’t they are hiding behind the faculty to be take it personally.” off-putting, to say the least. Do not direct Hamilton recently posted his new any ill will towards the teachers. Direct contact information on Facebook, and it toward the people who have taken over students are asking whether or not he will Summa and who are at the liberty to run it continue to offer college counseling services into the ground.” sans Summa. He has not responded to any Li Ai also withdrew her son, CCA requests regarding his continuation of student Michael Ai, from Summa. such services.

”

A4 the falconer

news

march 27, 2014

TPHS boys lacrosse holds fundraiser for cancer

”

photo by grace bruton/falconer

you raise me up: The crowd sings “Happy Birthday” to Jose Montaño Jr. at halftime on Mar. 7. The lacrosse game raised $600 for Jose’s Change for Change Campaign.

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Prior to the Mar. 7 game, the Falcons held a surprise birthday party for Jose at Ultrazone laser tag. When the family was called onto the field during halftime, Jose Montaño Senior said that he felt humbled and blessed to be part of this community.

“I am a firm believer of God, and I feel in my heart that the more of us who pray for my son and for all of the other kids with terminal illnesses, the louder we’re going to get,” Montaño said. “So, to me, being in the middle of the field, having my son called up, I was so honored and thankful. It’s so easy to start feeling sorry for yourself and the uncertainty of it, but you need to think about the positives and how inspiring life could be. I felt so warm in my heart seeing everybody standing and singing to my son.

It was incredible.”

Zissi looks forward to maintaining the team’s relationship with the Montaños in the coming years. The Falcons are slated to play JSerra Catholic High School on Mar. 28.

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According to Jose’s father, the foundation’s mission “is to give from the heart,” providing other hospitalized families with toys and care packages each month. They also work with an elementary and middle school in the South Bay, holding assemblies and awarding scholarships for students with perfect attendance.

“What’s so remarkable about Jose is that a lot of his friends in the hospitals see when we visit him, and I think Jose wanted to give every one of them what he could,” Zissi said. “He couldn’t give them a team like he has, but he spends all the money that goes to his foundation [on them].”

Hollen said that the Falcons strongly believe in helping the community, and Jose’s mission is part of their philosophy.

“It’s just as rewarding for us as it is for him, to see a kid in a condition where he needs help from others,” Hollen said.

“He took his wish from the Make-A-Wish Foundation to build a playground for his school. So we’ll do anything to help him.”

LEAP AHEAD

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like we had known them for a long time.”

Since then, the team has maintained focus editor and feature editor a strong relationship with Jose, “doing anything from helping him to hanging Boys lacrosse hosted a Taco Night out,” according to long-pole defenseman fundraiser for the Jose Montaño Foundation Peter Hollen (12). and the Friends of Jaclyn Foundation at its “I think it was intimidating [for Jose] at home opener against Cathedral Catholic first to have 40 high school kids with him,” High School on Mar. 7.

Hollen said. “It’s been really interesting to At the game’s halftime, the Falcons see how the relationship changed because honored the 13th birthday of Jose Montaño, it got so much more complicated as it a San Diego teen who was diagnosed with progressed.” malignant brain cancer in 2011. In 2012, Team members visit Jose during hospital a hospital social worker approached stays and chemotheraphy treatments, Montaño’s father, and regularly keep who is also named in touch with him Jose Montaño, and through Facebook introduced him to and text messages, As a family, we ourselves according to the Friends of Jaclyn, an organization which have learned from the team the elder Montaño. partners families a family, importance of being there, the we “Asourselves battling pediatric have importance of coming and visiting learned from the brain tumors with high school and people at the hospital. They say that team the importance college sports teams. of being there, the they are inspired by Jose and my importance of coming “It’s not really easy to get a match family, but we feel the same way as and visiting people because hospitals at the hospital,” far as being inspired by them. Montaño said. “They have so much red tape and [policies] Jose Montaño Sr. say that they are that make it very father inspired by Jose, but difficult,” head coach we feel the same way Jono Zissi said. “Once Friends of Jaclyn as far as being inspired by them.” makes the connection and the relationship Zissi described the interaction as a is established, it’s up to you what you want “reciprocal relationship that is mutually to make of it.” beneficial for both the Montaño family and The elder Montaño said that his family our team.” Offensive midfielder Brandon was honored by the opportunity to connect Trentalange (11) said that while Jose can with the Falcons during their season take from the team the values of teamwork in 2012, and that upon his first time and relationships, the players have also interacting with the team, he already felt learned from Jose’s perseverance. like “part of the family.”

“He’s been through 11 rounds of chemo, “Everybody was so nice and down-to- and I’ve never heard him complain,” longearth, coming to us with wide open arms,” stick defenseman Connor Lansdale (12) Montaño said. “It was really easy. At first said. “That really says a lot because he’s we were a little bit afraid, not knowing been through more than any of us.” how our kids were going to feel about it or The Falcons have also supported Jose’s if they were going to feel intimidated by all own cause, the Jose Montaño Foundation, of these big boys, but it was really cordial, raising $600 for his Change for Change really nice. We went to one game and it felt campaign at the opening game alone.

By Katie Mulkowsky & Emily Sun

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the falconer

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Common Core test may challenge TPHS Wi-Fi capability f

By Alice Qu staff writer

A Common Core field test will be administered to juniors on Apr. 22-25 in the media center, computer labs and on Chromebooks to pilot the test and assess TPHS’ bandwidth and administering capabilities, according to English department co-chair Bobby Caughey.

The field test is a pilot for the new online Common Core test that will replace the STAR test. According to the Common Core State Standards Initiative, Common Core is a set of college and career standards created by state governors and education chiefs for grades K-12.

According to Jennifer Kwon (11), teachers have attended district Common Core training, explained to students the changes that Common Core will bring, and reviewed practice problems in class.

The only subjects that will be tested are mathematics and English Language Arts.

“There are no social studies standards, and science has [its] own new standards that are coming out, which are called the Next Generation Standards, but those are not part of Common Core,” Caughey said.

Two consortia, Smarter Balanced and the Partnership for Assessment of Readiness for College and Careers, are working toward creating Common Core tests to be implemented in future years.

According to the PARCC, millions of students from third to 11th grade all over the country will also be tested.

“Because the ultimate goal is to have these tests done not just statewide, but nationwide, and because these tests are all online, they have to not only test the test itself, but also various infrastructures of districts and cities to see if they have the capacity to handle this many people online at one time,” Caughey said. “If the system doesn’t work, then the changes have to be initiated sooner rather than later.”

The PARCC and Smarter Balanced require that schools have secure browsers and Internet connection, and recommend 100 kbps per student bandwidth and 1 GB RAM for online assessments.

“Periods 3 and 5 will be the periods where, if [the Wi-Fi] is going to fail, it will fail,” Caughey said. “But we know that going in; we’ve done a lot of studies of numbers of students testing at once and where they will be testing, so we know where the pressure points are, and we’re hoping to get ahead of that, so the system doesn’t fail.”

Students frequently connect to the school Wi-Fi on personal devices to avoid data charges, but the slow Wi-Fi speed is a common complaint among students, even among those who use school devices.

Maura Friedlander (12), who depends on the Internet for Yearbook editorial duties, says that the school’s problematic Wi-Fi impacts her work efficiency.

“When I’m trying to check my email to get a document or any sort of information, it just wouldn’t work half the time, which is really frustrating,” Friedlander said. “A lot of the time on the school computers, the first time I click on it, it says, ‘Oh, could not connect,’ when there clearly is Internet.”

Kwon is “frustrated” by the slow connection when she uses the Internet on school computers and on her phone.

“I have higher standards [for Wi-Fi speed] because I came from Korea, where you can download a movie in two minutes,” Kwon said.

Internet connection is essential in high school, but it does not work most of the time at TPHS, according to Michelle Zhao (10).

“The Wi-Fi in [English teacher Heather] Lopez’s [room] is terrible, [history teacher Lars] Trupe’s is decent, AP Computer Science rooms are thankfully decent, chemistry is okay, Spanish is iffy and the media center sucks,” Zhao said.

The SDUHSD is currently upgrading the TPHS Wi-Fi; most of TPHS was built before the dawn of the Internet age, so its “super thick concrete walls” weaken Wi-Fi signals, according to Assistant Principal Rob Coppo.

“How to get enough devices in to boost the signal without having to then waste all of those devices when they start remodeling the school is the main challenge,” Coppo said.

The SDUHSD is aware of Internet connection problems and has been to TPHS repeatedly to test the Wi-Fi and the infrastructure and ensure that the system will work during the four-day Common Core test administration.

“I think it would be nice just to have the Internet be more consistent, so we don’t have all these constant little issues,” Friedlander said. “If we’re going to have

testing relying on the Internet, they definitely need to improve it somehow to make the testing smooth, consistent and reliable.”

According to Coppo, the school Wi-Fi has been stable when guests come on campus and when students are on their laptops and hand-held devices, but it slows down when students use laptops from mobile carts provided by the school. Though students debate that contention, the district technology team has surveyed WiFi hotspots, such as teacher’s rooms where mobile carts are frequently used, and are planning to boost connection signals with more broadband routers.

“We can throw money at it and throw more routers in and hope for the best, which is one option, but we have to be strategic about it, so we’re not just throwing money away,” Coppo said.

photo by grace bruton/falconer

technical difficulties: A students waits for the school netbooks to process her login. The lack of bandwidth at TPHS is an obstacle for the upcoming Common Core test.

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A6 the falconer TP IDOL continued from A1 to everyone, provided that participants agree to abide by guidelines about appropriateness.

ASB member Zoe Eprile (12) decided to participate for the second time in TP Idol, performing Miley Cyrus’ “We Can’t Stop” with sections of the lyrics altered to appeal to TPHS spirit. Although Eprile claims to have parodied Cyrus’ song to “make people laugh,” she also feels that Cyrus’ message about self-acceptance and confidence is relevant to TPHS students.

Eprile, who is hoping to sing at graduation this year, said the lyrics to her version of the song were “always in the back of [her] head” and that she came up with them when she saw connections between TPHS and Cyrus’ original lyrics. Checketts, who has been interested in singing since she was a child and who sings professionally at the House of Blues, said that she practiced for two hours a day and relied on feedback from friends and family to prepare for the competition.

Checketts performed in TPHS’ last musical, “The Light in the Piazza,” and wants to find other opportunities to sing at TPHS. She plans to audition for Jazz Band next year.

Trupe praised Checketts for her performance, but expressed disappointment with the faulty microphones and with a few singers who read lyrics off paper or their phones.

According to Aguirre and Eprile, there were also issues this year with signed-up students trying to back out of the competition on short notice.

Aguirre added that there were problems getting enough judges to volunteer, which is why she opted to be the third judge.

Krause said that ASB started advertising for TP Idol two weeks prior to it by putting up posters and announcing information about it over the morning announcements.

For winning TP Idol, Checketts will receive $100 out of the ASB fund and will participate in County Idol, a competition between winners of other schools’ singing contests. She will also perform during the extended lunch on Mar. 28.

news

march 27, 2014

Ron Gladnick announced as new TPHS football head coach

f

By Sarah Chan staff writer

On Mar. 17, Principal David Jaffe named Ron Gladnick TPHS head football coach after a one-month application process.

Gladnick comes to TPHS from Clairemont High School in San Diego, where he was head coach 2011-2014, leading the team to its first CIF playoff win in nearly a decade in 2013.

Prior to Clairemont, Gladnick coached for former TPHS head coach Scott Ashby in 2009 and 2010.

Football has not been a career-long pursuit for Gladnick. He spent the majority of his post-college years in business in San Diego, establishing aerospace company Dart and a manufacturing company named Apical Industries in 1995. However, coaching was an early love.

Gladnick played high school football and went on to play for Hillsdale College in Michian, where he was a team captain, MVP, and a First Team All-American. After graduating in 1982, he coached at Brecksville High School, where he led the team to an Ohio state championship title in 1983. He later returned to Hillsdale College and coached there from 1984-88, guiding the team to a National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics National Championship in 1985.

Gladnick returned to TPHS when he discovered a coaching position was available.

“I was so happy [when I was chosen for the position],” Gladnick said. “I’m 52 and I’ve accomplished a lot of things, but this is definitely in the top five things that have ever happened to me.”

The process began after Ashby spoke with his players and sent a letter to the “Torrey Pines Football Family,” announcing that he was stepping down as head coach.

“Coach Ashby, in the years he ran the program, did an outstanding job,” Jaffe said.

“I’m very proud of the work he did and I’ve only been here a year, but I got to see the success of his program through the players and the type of young men that they were.”

Jaffe began the search for a new head coach by asking “stakeholders,” including players, parents and coaches, to identify what they wanted in a head coach.

“People wanted to see someone who is passionate about the game, but also passionate about developing young men,” Jaffe said. “Someone who will take them as freshmen boys and see them walk away as men who are contributors to their school and their community.”

The position also required varsity, college or professional head coaching experience.

According to varsity football player Blake Arnold (10), the team wanted a coach who had experience in the TPHS football program and who would care about the athletes “not just as players, but almost as a son.”

Jaffe, athletic director Chas Doerrer and Assistant Principal Garry Thornton paper-screened 22 applications, ultimately choosing six to be interviewed. The first round of interviews was completed by the three administrators, TPHS Foundation executive director Bobbi Karlson, former TPHS Foundation president Brad Shoen, teacher and San Dieguito Faculty Association Building Representative Tim Staycer, track and field head coach Charlenne FalcisStevens, and former NFL player and TPHS alumnus John Lynch (‘89). The panel then recommended the top three candidates, who again interviewed with Jaffe, Doerrer and Thorton, before Jaffe conducted the final interviews for each candidate. “[A good program is not measured by] winning and losing, but how the players carry themselves,” Jaffe said. “If the players represent their school well and do good things in the community, they inspire other people.

But it can also go conversely: If you don’t have a good coach and you don’t set a good tempo, it can have a real negative impact.”

According to varsity football player

Christian Gange (11), the team had a very positive reaction to Gladnick’s introduction to the team.

“He seems like a coach who’s going to be very honest,” Gange said. “A coach that works us hard and expects perfection, but in the same way he’ll be right behind us and fight for us whenever needed.”

Gladnick follows in the footsteps of Ashby and Ed Burke, who coached at TPHS for 21 years before Ashby.

“Coach Gladnick gets his opportunity to write his own chapter in the Torrey Pines football legend,” Gange said. “He has the right to start off fresh.”

Gladnick plans to speak with TPHS coaches about encouraging football players to play other sports, and in turn encourage other athletes to play football, as he believes football is only one component of a player’s high school sports experience. In his meeting with the football team, he emphasized bringing back the “tradition” of the football program and his belief in “simple things.”

“We’re going to focus on capturing all the intangible things, including how disciplined we are, how hard we work and how passionate we are, [which are] things that you cannot measure with a tape or clock,” Gladnick said.

“It’s not about how fast you run or how high you jump, but how you conduct yourself and how your work ethic pervades everything you do.”

photo by alex mccracken/falconer

handoff: Ron Gladnick was announced as the new TPHS football head coach on Mar. 17.

Gladnick follows in the footsteps of previous coaches, including Ed Burke and Scott Ashby.

OPINION

Michael Sam’s coming out is a major milestone, A11

Waiting on the SCA 5 proposal was the right decision, A12

YES f

By Varun Bhave opinion editor

The felon disenfranchisement laws of many states, most of which originated during a time when restricting the political power of black voters was a greater priority than maintaining the moral fiber of the electorate, recently received a long-overdue public condemnation from Attorney General Eric Holder.

Felons should be allowed to vote immediately after release.

In general, regulating which eligible voters are allowed to cast ballots seems undemocratic.

It seems reasonable that felons must demonstrate themselves capable of good and ethical conduct before their suffrage is restored. However, no one would endorse similar restrictions based on “capability,” like preventing the uneducated from voting, even though such a policy would increase the reliability of our collective decision-making. The logical link between being unfit to choose leaders or public policies and being a felon is tenuous, but also indistinguishable from any other condition, like lack of schooling, that could decrease fitness as a member of the body politic. The response is that felons are responsible for their misdeeds, but the truth of that assertion is an open question. The determinists in criminal justice argue a number of socioeconomic and other circumstantial factors like past brain damage influence

States have a variety of policies regarding the voting rights of convicted felons. In a speech on Feb. 10, Attorney General Eric Holder called for states to allow all felons who are out of prison to vote. criminals, who thus cannot be held completely “culpable” for their crimes.

Stated another way, restricting felons’ voting rights suppresses the voice of a group with distinct interests: convicted felons. Being barred from voting after leaving jail for, depending on the state, several years or even life seems harsh, particularly when what counts as a felony can be so broad. Many felons are convicted of nonviolent offenses. In Florida, which has more than a million disenfranchised felons, felonious offenses include disobeying a police officer.

One could imagine many uniquely “criminal” interests, like more emphasis on rehabilitation or less harsh sentencing laws.

These concerns are important, particularly since it is commonly accepted in political capital theory that politicians have little incentive to appear “soft on crime.” No one wants to be haunted, like former presidential candidate Michael Dukakis, by another Willie Horton-esque political fiasco. This issue is exacerbated by the scope of the problem: Approximately 5.8 million citizens are barred from voting because of convictions for serious crimes, about 2.2 million of whom are black.

The degree to which minority interests are skewed by disenfranchisement is too high. The constitution of the felon pool is a result of which people are convicted of felonies.

However, while there will be exceptions, crimes can represent choices based on bad judgment or circumstances, particularly for criminals from poor or crimeridden neighborhoods with failing schools. Leaving out a segment of the population after they have repaid their debts is unfair.

We asked you...

When should convicted felons be allowed to vote?

53% said

after a given waiting period once released from prison

23% said

immediately after release from prison

15% said

during their prison terms

9% said never

Attorney General Eric Holder argues that felony disenfranchisement unfairly excludes African-Americans from the voting process, as one in 13 African-American adults nationwide is in prison, according to the advocacy group The Sentencing Project. However, his argument regarding the apparent “exclusion” of a racial group is irrelevant; the ethnicity of a felon does not matter. Felons have still committed crimes of their own volition.

Felony disenfranchisement is not to blame for the exclusion of African-Americans, but rather individuals of that ethnicity who choose to commit felonies, and the same would apply if a different racial group were being “excluded” in voting.

Furthermore, Holder’s proposal to allow felons to vote upon release is ludicrous; serving a prison sentence does not guarantee that a criminal has truly gained recognition of the law and societal virtues. Only after incarceration, parole and probation should felons’ voting rights be restored, as is currently the case in 20 states. This time period allows felons to prove that they are capable of respecting the U.S. government and its laws, and only then should they be allowed to participate in the voting process.

A felony is a serious crime punishable by death or over one year of imprisonment — it is not a petty crime or a misdemeanor to be overlooked, but a crime that indicates a severe disregard for this country’s civil, judicial and moral codes. Felons therefore relinquish all rights to influence the U.S. legal system until they have proven that they are capable of respecting this country’s laws, and should not be allowed to

NO f

art by carolyn chu/falcon artist

Should convicted felons be able to vote?

By Anna Lee copy editor

vote, especially while serving a prison sentence during which restriction of freedom is an important disciplinary component.

Felony disenfranchisement is a practice legitimized in the Constitution. The 14th Amendment states that states that deny male citizens over 21 the right to vote will lose electors for president and vice president, except when denial is for reasons of “participation in rebellion, or other crime.” The constitutionality of felony disenfranchisement is unquestionable, and it is an entirely legitimate practice with sound reasoning behind its creation: Felons disrespect the law and the government through their contemptible crimes, so why should they be allowed to help craft public policy? Voting is a right reserved for citizens who are trustworthy and responsible, which is why the United States has voting restrictions regarding age, citizenship and mental health.

Felons have proved themselves neither trustworthy nor responsible — in fact, they are generally the opposite. They have violated the law and committed a crime with loathsome disregard for this country’s values. Although felons should be able to regain their voting rights, it should only be after they sufficiently suffer the consequences of their actions.

A8 the falconer

opinion

STAFFEDITORIAL:

The Supreme Council of Crimea voted on Mar. 6 to formally become a federal subject of the Russian Federation after 60 years as a part of Ukraine. The decision was put to the Crimean people by referendum on Mar. 16, and passed with 96 percent of the vote, with a turnout of over 80 percent.

However, Ukraine has since declared the ballot unconstitutional, as have the United States and the European Union, claiming that the referendum was illegal since Russian troops were still deployed around the peninsula.

Native Russians compose 58 percent of Crimea’s population, and a majority consider Crimea to be an extension of Russia.

Given that a larger number of Crimean citizens do not identify as Ukrainians, having the opportunity to choose whether to become an independent republic or join Russia is justified, but the referendum was approached poorly by the Crimean Parliament, Ukrainian government and Russia.

It was aggravating and

“

Crimea should do what it wants ... but if Ukraine doesn’t accept [the referendum], it wouldn’t be valid.

Joyce Li (9)

unnecessarily threatening for Russia to intervene militarily in Crimea, especially so soon after the collapse of the Ukrainian government.

The sudden aggression gave the impression that the Russian government was attempting to take advantage of Ukraine’s weakness rather than protect Russian natives in Ukraine and Crimea, as it claimed to be doing. Furthermore, Russian President Vladimir Putin claimed that the gunmen were local resistance forces, when evidence points to the fact that the men were indeed Russian soldiers without insignias. Since Mar. 1, Ukrainian journalists were prohibited from entering the Crimea, increasing the questionability of Russia’s intentions.

The referendum provided no choice to maintain the existing political status of Crimea, only to restore the 1992 Crimean constitution or join Russia as a federal subject, both of which would have resulted in de facto separation from Ukraine.

According to Ukrainian law,

march 27, 2014

crimean referendum

territorial changes can only be approved via a referendum that includes all citizens of Ukraine, rendering the referendum illegal

by Ukrainian law. The EU, G-7 and the U.N. Security Council have all said that they will not recognize the result of the referendum, citing a violation of international law. The EU has imposed sanctions, including asset freezes and travel bans, on 33 Russian and Ukrainian officials since Mar. 7, with threats of more to come, including against Russian e n e r g y exports.

However, since several of the officials have no property or family abroad, the travel sanctions are ineffective as the “consequences” that President Barack Obama intended them to be. However, denying service to cardholders of Bank Rossiya, the Russian bank on the blacklist, has affected common citizens

more than the officials. While the sanctions are a step in the right direction, they pose more a threat of harm than direct harm for the sanctioned officials.

Putin’s approval rating among the Russian people has since increased to 71.6 percent, the highest since 2012, suggesting that a major goal in pursuing the annexation was to bolster his popularity.

Such a

art by joshua send/falconer

student voices

“

Whatever Crimea thinks is best for them, they should do it ... if they feel better with Russia, they should go with Russia.

Francesca DeRosa (10)

What do you think of the recent Crimean referendum to join Russia or separate from Ukraine?

”

$60 million has been lost

by Russian companies per day after the Moscow stock market fell in the wake of the crisis.

80% of Russian gas exports to Europe travel through Ukraine.

”

There are people in Crimea who don’t want to be Russian [citizens] ... and for Putin to send in [troops] wasn’t smart.

[Annexing Crimea] violates international law ... Putin is going rogue [and] he should not have done what he did.

Kian Hozouri (11)

Antoni Lee (12)

Crisis in Ukraine By the Numbers

suspicious motivation, coupled with the fact that only authorized journalists were allowed to cover the elections, indicates that the referendum was not an accurate reflection of the opinion of Crimean citizens. In order to properly administer such a ballot, Russia should have withdrawn its forces, and the ballot should have involved all Ukrainian citizens w i t h o u t intrusion.

Russia

500,000 protestors flooded Kiev in December to demand the ouster of President Viktor Yanukovych.

60% of people in Crimea identify their native language as Russian.

Ukraine

Military Forces 845,000 armed troops

1,389 combat aircraft $40.7 billion defense budget 171 military vessels

129,950 armed troops 221 combat aircraft $1.4 billion defense budget 17 military vessels

infographic by grace bruton/falconer information courtesy of mother jones and washington post

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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Unsigned editorials represent the opinions of the newspaper staff, while opinion columns represent the writer’s perspective.

Advertisements do not necessarily represent the newspaper’s viewpoint. The Falconer, an open forum, welcomes signed letters on pertinent issues from the TPHS community, which may be submitted to room 102, via e-mail at falconer.ads@gmail.com or to Mia Smith’s mailbox in the administration building. Letters may be edited for length.

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opinion

tphsfalconer.com

the falconer

A9

New York state prison reforms a mixed bag

f

suicidal depression, lethargy, hallucinations and have difficulty adjusting to life after isolation. In an interview with NPR, a former solitary confinement inmate revealed that he had problems with socialization, insomnia and depression after he was released.

It is right to prohibit solitary confinement for inmates under 18, and, knowing the adverse effects, it is not just to continue solitary confinement for adults either, which has been known to last up to 10 years in extreme cases.

Solitary confinement violates the Eighth Amendment.

With its destructive effects, it clearly punishes inmates in a “cruel and unusual” manner, past a morally and constitutionally acceptable threshold.

While prisons should not be inhumane, creating an inviting environment is not appropriate e i t h e r .

Educating prisoners, especially at a college level, is h a r d l y punishment for a crime. While psychological help should be provided to prisoners, handing them a free college education compliments

of taxpayers is unfair to the thousands of families struggling to pay for their own children’s educations.

Despite the fact it can be perceived as torturous, solitary confinement is often used to protect prison guards and other inmates from a rogue prisoner.

Even when that threat comes from a minor, there must be protection for others. However, other, less damaging, methods of punishment can be put in place, like more prison guards, removal of privileges or less harsh segregation. Contributing to the deterioration of a human’s mental health is not the solution. However, even though education may reduce recidivism, it is too expensive and unfair to even

I have always prided myself on not caring about what others think of me, and that is probably the one thing that has stayed consistent throughout the last four years.

Almost everything else has changed, and now, as I am about to make the biggest change yet — graduation — I am truly appreciating how much I have grown. I will be the first to say that I am a dramatic and indecisive person, and I used to see those The Falconer entertainment editor things as barriers to my reaching full potential. However, I have reflects on the experiences and events my learned to appreciate everything that have prepared her for the future. about myself. My actions, my words and my decisions are just that: mine.

No one else will make the same choices as me and no one else should ever control the choices I make.

I cannot control that Harry Styles dated Taylor Swift, but I can control how long I study or do not study for my AP Economics test.

I decided this New Year’s that I am ready to change. I am ready to make the changes that I have always wanted to make.

Although I laugh at all the hype around the “new year, new me” phrase, I came up photo by argerey stapakis/freeflight with a motto for 2014: fabulous, yet badass. I say it everyday and anyone who talks to me knows about it. The best way I can explain what that phrase means to me is that I promised myself I will wake up early enough every

morning to pick out a good outfit. I completely realize how superficial and shallow that sounds, but I am hoping someone will connect with me about the feeling you get when you wear an outfit, and you just know that you have the right to feel confident. This confidence has always been something I have struggled with. I have learned that it does not come hand-inhand with not caring about what others think of you. It is more about how you think of yourself.

I have good feelings about 2014. I think it has positive things in store. I do not expect the year to go perfectly — after all, I am going to be a college freshman — but I am actually excited to face some unexpected and difficult challenges because it will be the first time I will be completely selfreliant. It will be the first time that I cannot ask my mom to fix something. I almost care about her opinion more than my own, and she knows it, so that is going to have to change pretty soon.

Within the last four months, I have had two opportunities to reflect on who I am and where I am going. The first time was during American New Year’s and the second was last week during the Iranian New Year. “Norooz” always falls on the first day of spring, and the 13-day celebration has consistently provided me with a new outlook on how I want to spend the remaining months of

By Caroline Rutten staff writer

On Feb. 19, New York correction officials agreed to drastic changes to the state’s solitary confinement system and are considering adding education for prisoners. Correction officials reached the agreement after a federal lawsuit was filed by three inmates represented by the New York Civil Liberties Union. The agreement bans solitary confinement, which refers to confinement of 2224 hours a day with little to no human contact, reduced natural light, and no access to reading material or media, as punishment for pregnant inmates and inmates under 18 and limits the amount of cell time for 16 and 17-year-old and mentally disabled inmates. In addition to the solitary confinement reforms, Gov. Andrew Cumono wants to bring back college education for prisoners in order to limit recidivism after prisoners are

freed.

With the new agreements restricting solitary confinement, New York’s penal system will be steps closer to ending a torturous, inhumane and detrimental method of punishing inmates.

However, giving prisoners a college-level education is more a reward than a punishment for their crimes.

Humans, both children and adults, are social creatures, needing interaction with others to maintain their well-being and sanity. In view of this, solitary confinement is rightfully outlawed for children. The limited amount of social interaction adolescents face in solitary confinement is harmful to their mental health.

According to a joint report from Human Rights Watch and the American Civil Liberties Union, such trauma is harmful to the developing brain. Consequently, it is likely that rehabilitation after time in solitary confinement will be more extensive.

The same adverse effects of solitary confinement can be expected in adults. According to The New York Times, there are 2,800 solitary confinements imposed annually nationwide, averaging five months and costing $168 million a year. Inmates in solitary confinement often suffer

PERSONAL PERSPECTIVE mahan chitgari

consider. According to The New York Times, it cost $167,731 to feed, house and guard each inmate in 2012. Adding the cost

My actions, my words and my decisions are just that: mine. No one else will make the same choices as me. the year.

I also feel like I cannot reflect on the last four years if I do not mention the elephant in the room. One Direction has been a very significant part of my high

of an education is illogical.

The New York solitary confinement agreement protects children and other inmates from a truly unethical system and is one step closer to abolishing solitary confinement all together.

Education for prisoners, however, should not be instituted because it undermines the purpose of punishment. With these changes, New York, following the lead of Mississippi, can be the model for modification in other s

art by carolyn chu/falcon artist

school experience, and for most of 10th grade and all of 11th, it was essentially the most important thing to me. I completely realize how juvenile it sounds to people when I tell them that I like — love — One Direction, but what people will never understand is the sense of security it gave me throughout high school. It was always there. Whether my friends were on vacation, I was mad at my parents or I just did not want to talk to anyone, I always knew that I could listen to a cheesy British boy band and everything would be OK, even if just for three

I have passed the point in my life where I need to rely on something or someone else to make me happy. minutes.

I never thought that I would be over One Direction and the entire “fangirl” lifestyle — and a lifestyle is exactly what it is — but, as clichéd as it sounds, I actually think I am growing out of it as I get older, and it has a lot to do with my newfound independence. I have passed the point in my life where I need to rely on something or someone else to make me happy because that will ultimately set me up for disappointment. I find it much more fulfilling to believe in myself and support the decisions that I think will eventually be the right ones for me.

I have dreams, goals, passions, and at the end of the day, I want to accomplish those things, just like everyone else. But until I accomplish everything I want, all I can ask of myself is to be fabulous, yet badass, and do what makes me happy. That is the most important thing I have learned in the last four years, a lesson I will take with me to college.

A10 the falconer

opinion

march 27, 2014

f

By Katie Mulkowsky focus editor

Although leading transgender legal scholar Dean Spade described lifting the U.S. ban on trans military service as a battle that the trans movement “did not choose” to fight last year, recent attacks on the policy affirm the issue’s relevance.

On Mar. 13 at San Francisco State University, a five-member panel led by a former U.S. surgeon general asserted that the outdated ban has no medical backing, according to NPR. The panel claims the ban itself is “an expensive, damaging and unfair barrier to health care access” for the approximately 15,450 transgender personnel currently in service and is calling on President Barack Obama to finally lift it.

The panel’s case has a lot of merit, especially considering that “scholars have yet to find government documents explaining the basis for the ban,” according to NPR. The restriction has been in place since the 1960s — a period in which it was still believed that those who identify with a gender other than their

Scotland

f

By Maya Rao staff writer

Glorified by films like “Braveheart,” the Scottish struggle for independence has captured hearts all over the world.

For over 800 years, Scotland maintained its position as an independent sovereign nation deflecting British brutality.

Despite their best efforts, Scotland could not win, and in the 1707 Acts of Union, it joined England, which already included Wales, to form the Kingdom of Great Britain. The formation of Great Britain was advantageous for both England and Scotland.

The Scots never lost their fighting spirit, and there have been many revivals and referendums that call for Scottish independence, including the current Scottish independence referendum of 2014. The referendum, which will be held Sept. 18, calls for the complete separation of Scotland from the rest of the United Kingdom. Although Scotland may desire independence, severing ties with England and the rest of the U.K. will only prove disastrous for Scotland.

Independence for Scotland is a pipe dream. José Manuel Barroso, president of the European Commission, said that it would be “difficult, if not

biological one suffer from a mental disorder. Given that a discernible basis for the policy was nonexistent from the start, it can easily be traced to antiquated prejudice and ignorance. Now that we know better, it is time for a change.

The panel did, after all, reject claims that providing hormone treatment or sex reassignment surgeries would be “too difficult, disruptive and expensive,” stressing that modern medical practices are consistent with the scope of health care services routinely provided to military personnel, according to NPR. Ideological grounds aside, if there are no logistical reasons to support the perpetuation of such blatant exclusion, the policy is utterly purposeless.

However, the panel’s ideological grounds are hardly negligible. In response to Dean Spade’s 2013 assertion that making military service the focus of transgender issues will halt other forms of social progress, Huffington Post writer Brynn Tannehill argued that “for many LGBT folks, the military is a pipeline out of poverty, violent homes, homelessness and hostile communities ... Working on equality issues in the military does not harm civilian movements for equality; it provides greater options for trans persons.”

Tannehill also identified sexual assault as a huge issue facing closeted trans individuals currently in service, along with

should impossible” to add Scotland as a member state of the European Union because many member states are hesitant to add newly independent countries that were formerly parts of member states, as with Kosovo, because some member states fear the succession of parts of their own states, as Spain does with the Catalonia region. The Scots base their bid for independence on the fact that 90 percent of Great Britain’s oil resides in Scotland. However, if the British Parliament decides to split the resources per capita, as has been proposed with the national debt, Scotland will have only 10 percent, hardly enough to support a nation, including its welfare system, which costs about $174 billion per year. Without the support of the Royal Mint, the Post Office and the Department for Work and Pensions, and with only 2 million taxpayers to cover the cost, it does not seem likely that Scotland would be able to survive as an independent nation.

Scotland’s calls for independence have not fallen on deaf ears. Following a 1997 referendum for independence, Great Britain provided Scotland a separate National Health Service, its own banking system and even a quasi-independent political system with a devolved Scottish Parliament.

Students who live in Scotland - and those from EU countries currently get free tuition, while those from England, Wales and Northern Ireland are charged fees of up to £9,000 a year.

Scottish independence might allow students from the rest of the U.K. to enjoy the same free

the fact that the current system provides them with no protection against it whatsoever. This is what is morally and ethically asinine, not trans individuals’ lifestyle choices.

According to NPR, Chelsea Manning, a U.S. Army private convicted of giving classified documents to WikiLeaks when she was known as Bradley Manning, presented evidence that stress over having to keep her gender identity secret contributed to an irrational belief that she could end the war in Iraq by leaking the information. Commission professor and former Army commander General Thomas Kolditz said that closeting such individuals therefore creates a security risk.

“If I were a commander, I certainly wouldn’t want people in my unit to be in a position to be blackmailed,” he said of the potential repurcussions.

The psychological impact current regulations have on already-serving trans individuals is thus one that absolutely cannot be discounted.

As far as prospective servicemen and women are concerned, lifting the ban would be a step in the right direction, eliminating one more federal law supporting the notion that members of the LGBTQ community are less-deserving of basic civil rights than their cisgender counterparts. If these people are willing to die for a country that oppresses them,

not

they should not have to do so in secret.

According to NPR, the White House referred the panel’s questions to Department of Defense spokesman Commander Nate Christensen, who said that “at this time, there are no plans to change the department’s policy and regulations.”

The debate is not yet old, but the law itself is — though many issues are facing Obama this year, this policy is one that needs to be addressed before it creates more problems.

Lifting the ban altogether makes the most sense, as the reasons for keeping it are based more on principles of the past than on tangible, present benefits. Since there is such a significant fraction of trans servicemen and women in the armed forces already, the only drastic change would be the social impact of a yearsoverdue repeal. With the 2011 termination of “don’t ask, don’t tell,” the open service of homosexual and bisexual individuals is no longer contested — and transgender peoples deserve a similar relief.

pursue

tuition at Scottish universities because under European law it is possible to discriminate between students from different parts of one state - but not between students from different parts of each state. The pro-unity Better Together campaign claims that approximately 90,000 Scottish students would be forced out of universities by U.K. students looking to escape fees.

Scottish independence does not seem to enjoy popularity in Great Britain. According to the Huffington Post U.K., only 38 percent of people surveyed throughout the U.K. support Scottish independence.

A study by polling firm YouGov showed that 53 percent of the Scottish p e o p l e wanted to remain part of the U.K. Despite b e i n g endorsed by highp r o f i l e celebrities such as Sean Connery and Alan Cumming, the proindependence Yes Scotland campaign seems to be losing to the Better Together campaign.

Great Britain has proven a mutually beneficial relationship for Scotland and England, with Scotland providing

art by megan lenehan/falcon artist

Transgender inclusion in US military overdue

independence

oil, and thereby money to create a stable economy, while England allows Scotland generous political freedoms. Scotland enjoys all the benefits of independence without having to deal with the issues that come with running a country single-handedly. It is time for Scotland to stop struggling and

acceptBritish rule and put down the sword. After all, William Wallace was hanged, drawn and quartered — it would be a great shame for Scotland to suffer the same consequences.

art by kelsey chen/falcon artist

opinion

tphsfalconer.com

the falconer

A11

Pussy Riot champions Russian human rights

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By Russell Reed staff writer

Two members of Russia’s notorious feminist punk group Pussy Riot, Nadezhda Tolokonnikova and Maria Alyokhina, were arrested and briefly detained on Feb. 25 after their release from prison in December. The pair spent nearly two years behind bars for “hooliganism and inciting religious hatred” after a 2012 performance in a Moscow church, during which they denounced Russian President Vladimir Putin. They were brought in with numerous other citizens during a series of protests for the Bolotnaya defendants, a case regarding charges of mass riot and violence against police in Bolotnaya Square. Pussy Riot’s protest methods have been questioned for their effectiveness and position on cultural issues, but they are justified given the current repressive conditions faced in Russian society.

Pussy Riot has gained international attention since its formation in 2011. Clad in brightly colored clothing and tattered balaclavas, the members have

participated in a series of risque protests, most notably performing the song “Mother of God, Drive Putin Away.” Their lyrics support feminism and LGBTQ rights, and express intense disapproval of Putin and his connections with the Russian Orthodox Church.

This was evidenced when five members of the group entered the Cathedral of Christ the Saviour in Moscow and performed what they call a “punk moleben,” or prayer of supplication, to protest Putin’s re-election. The lyrics “St. Maria, Virgin, drive away Putin” and “the ghost of freedom is in heaven/gay pride sent to Siberia in chains” filled the cathedral only for a moment before the group members were pulled outside by guards and arrested.

The alleged hooliganism has been misinterpreted by members of the Russian public, who criticize the group for its reckless actions against the Russian Orthodox Church. The disrespect seen by critics is misunderstood, but not unfamiliar for activists.

The most effective protests with the most shock value are radical in nature, and the group has brought international awareness to the situation in Russia through their exaggerated tactics.

Moreover, the group stresses that the protests were not aimed at the church, but rather toward Putin’s political reign over both church and state.

Music is a common form of protest in the United States, but Russia’s oppressive government

institutions have limited such expressions. Pussy Riot is among the first to represent a punk scene in Russia, allowing its voices to be heard through both lyrics and the innovative genre.

While the music has not been widely accepted, it has caught the attention of countless people both within the nation’s borders and worldwide.

Russian citizens are constitutionally guaranteed the right to peaceful assembly. What members of Pussy Riot have done in their performances has been strictly within their legal rights, creating an effective movement without violence. Even in the face of severe violence, the collective has stuck to a “brain over brawn” strategy, using clever lyrics and performances to battle against the government they seek to change. Peaceful protest is more effective than violence because operating within the law gives the band legal and moral legitimacy, as well as popularity on an international scale.

Pussy Riot is no stranger to trouble, pulling off guerrilla performances in public to post in official music videos on the Internet.

Their outlandish methods have been successful thus far; the arrests following the performance in the Cathedral of Christ the Saviour caused an international uproar so immense that the women were released from prison before the start of the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi, presumably in an

international public relations move by Putin. Furthermore, they were commended at the Amnesty International Human Rights Concert in February for their defense of human rights in Russia, and Tolokonnikova and Alyokhina were interviewed on the Colbert Report and numerous other media outlets.

Although the performances may be considered radical and distruptive to the public, the effect of their actions has been a muchneeded increase in international awareness regarding the unjust treatment of various groups in Putin’s administration. The end of the Olympics has not brought about an end to the excitement in Russia — the games have only shifted from a matter of friendly international competition, to a struggle for national justice, a competition between an overbearing government and the brave Russian citizens who are not afraid to risk their freedom to fix it. Pussy Riot has transcended the arts Russia has grown accustomed to, bringing a

new punk scene to the youth along with a message of hope and change. The documentary “Pussy Riot: A Punk Prayer,” which covers the trial over the cathedral performance, begins with a quotation from German playwright and poet Bertolt Brecht, a quotation which forms the mold from which Pussy Riot has been set: “Art is not a mirror to reflect the world, but a hammer to shape it with.”

art by megan lenehan/falcon artist

Time for NFL to completely accept gay players

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By Fernando Stepensky sports editor

University of Missouri linebacker Michael Sam announced in an interview with The New York Times on Feb. 9 that he is gay, making him one of the most talked-about players at the National Football League Scouting Combine. The spotlight continues to follow Sam in the lead-up to April’s NFL Draft, with conversations about Sam regularly veering away from his skills as a professional football playe and toward his sexual orientation and the effect it could have on the team that drafts him.

The NFL was bound to have its first openly gay player sometime soon, based on reports of players on the verge of publicly coming out and former players saying they had openly gay teammates who encountered no locker room problems. These factors have led many to believe the NFL is prepared to have a homosexual player. Sam, knowingly or not, put to the test the popular belief that the NFL was ready for a gay athlete, and, so far, the league has failed to show that it is accepting of a gay player.

Sam’s decision to come out to the media is one thing, but coming out before the NFL Draft is a

completely different ballgame.

If a player comes out once he is already on a team, it is much less risky because if the team then releases the player, it is clear the organization wanted nothing to do with the player due to his sexual orientation. However, since Sam is yet to be drafted, any team that passes up on him can point to a variety of reasons to cover up the inconvenient truth that the team just may not want a gay player on its roster.

Even though the NFL and its players have been generally positive in their public comments regarding Sam and any other gay football player who wants to play in the league, it is the things that are being said anonymously to news outlets and other inconsistencies that are proving that the NFL and its teams truly are not prepared.

In an article published by Sports Illustrated, eight NFL executives and coaches spoke anonymously about Sam’s decision to come out prior to the draft, with the executives and coaches projecting “a significant drop in Sam’s draft stock, a publicity circus and an NFL locker room culture not prepared to deal with an openly gay player.”

The most bothersome component of this ongoing story is not teams’ public openness to a gay player and their private homophobia, but rather the fact that the NFL is not taking precautions to guide its teams along this bridge while it is being built, instead expecting teams to know how to handle a situation that has not existed in the 94year history of the league. While

the NFL does have a rule in place that a team cannot base a personnel decision on a person’s sexuality, it is clear that has not stopped teams from shying away from Sam, who was once projected to go in the third or fourth round and is now being described as a seventh rounder or an undrafted prospect. While Sam did not impress with his Combine showing, it would be naïve to believe someone can go from a solid third rounder to possibly not even making it on the board due to a subpar Combine showing.

A perfect example of the NFL’s lack of initiative in protecting Sam and aiding him through this first-time situation is that the NFL is considering putting microphones on all players during games, and making a new rule that any microphone that picks up the word “nigger” results in a 15yard penalty. But why not expand this rule to penalize the use of the word “faggot” as well? A very large number of NFL players are black, but only one prospective player is openly gay. While both terms are atrocious, the word “faggot” is even more unacceptable in the NFL, since most of the instances when “nigger” is used are probably between two black players, in which case it is used without derogatory connotation, while “faggot” can only offend a gay player, Sam in particular.

The NFL should be

instituting rules like this, but it seems the league just talks about its openness and acceptance of a gay player rather than doing anything to ensure it is a nonissue.

The NFL and many others have been biting their nails waiting for a player to come out so that the league can prove it is capable of accepting an openly gay player.

Now that a high-level college prospect has come out two months before being drafted, we a r e seeing why players have been so reluctant to come out of the closet.

Sam

was supposed to open the floodgates and be the example of a homosexual athlete in a major United States sport being treated and looked at as an equal, but due to preconceptions and the NFL’s passivity in protecting Sam against discrimination, instead of being the held up as an example of a respected gay athlete regarded as an equal by team and teammmates, Sam instead may help the public understand why players do not come out until after they retire.

art by kelsey chen/falcon artist

A12 the falconer

opinion

march 27, 2014

Art vandalism ineffective as form of protest

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By Alex Jen news editor

When Miami artist Maximo Caminero very nonchalantly picked up one of Ai Weiwei’s “Colored Vases” in the Perez Art Museum Miami on Feb. 16 and dropped it, instantly shattering the estimated $1 million artwork, the art world reverberated in horror. But it was hardly the first time an artist’s work had been vandalized.

In 1974, Tony Shafrazi spraypainted over Picasso’s “Guernica” to protest the release of William Calley, a U.S. serviceman accused of war crimes in Vietnam. In 2012, Carmen Tisch drunkenly stumbled into the Clyfford Still Museum in Denver, punched a hole in Still’s painting “1957J No. 2 (PH-401),” slid her backside down the front of the work and urinated on herself.

All these works are provocative, and protestors are guaranteed freedom of expression, but destroying another person’s work is unacceptable and should not be tolerated under any circumstances.

The aforementioned artworks are all provocative enough to make

a point, with their meanings and subjects challenging what viewers expect to see in a work of art. For example, Ai’s vases are really Han dynasty vases glazed over with industrial paint to question the meaning of authenticity and value of an original artwork.

In an interview with the Miami New Times, Caminero claimed he destroyed Ai’s vase “for all the local artists in Miami that have never been shown in museums here.” While the intention of Caminero’s protest may have been legitimate, carrying it out as he did was not.

True, given the tendency of Ai to paint over ancient vases and destroy cultural objects, Caminero’s act seems to be justified; after all, is he not also protesting some form of cultural injustice, speaking out for the underrepresented local artists in Miami by destroying Ai’s vase?

The difference is that Ai owned the Han dynasty urns he destroyed, and chose to destroy them as an act of personal protest; he did not unlawfully vandalize another artist’s work.

By destroying a work that did not belong to him, Caminero essentially stifled the expression of another artist, vandalizing Ai’s attempt to raise awareness of cultural iconoclasm. In short, Caminero’s action, while perhaps intended to convey the opposite, was no different from PAMM ignoring the work of local artists.

Caminero destroyed Ai’s work and property and prevented his

work from being properly shown; this is the same as a restriction of a person’s freedom of expression.

“The argument does not support the act,” Ai said in an interview with The New York Times. “If he really had a point, he should choose another way, because this will bring him trouble to destroy property that does not belong to him.”

Protestors like Caminero should not have to resort to vandalism to make a point; in fact, as an artist, Caminero could have chosen to make a work protesting his own and his fellow artists’ underrepresentation in museums.

Creating original works with an original style and an original purpose is much more admirable than piggybacking on another artist’s work. In just one example out of many, New York graffiti artist Keith Haring was a visionary with his simple outlines of figures and frequently protested against apartheid in South Africa during the 1980s with posters depicting noosed silhouettes being forced to the ground.

Additionally, and somewhat ironically, in vandalizing the works of Ai and Picasso, Caminero and Shafrazi actually promote the art and artists they seek to destroy.

When Robert Rauschenberg asked William de Kooning for a drawing of his to erase in 1953, he was asking to change the perception of an individual

who had already achieved success. “Erased de Kooning Drawing” became a new work of art eschewing the old abstract expressionism.

The killing off of figureheads and tradition in art has always been necessary for artists to reinvent themselves and add to their roles in cultural expression.

Will we ever bring up Clyfford Still without mentioning the woman who tore his painting and proceeded to urinate on herself?

Probably not. The $10,000 worth of damage Tisch caused is inconsequential compared with her strange fame that broadens the fame of Still in today’s art scene.

On Mar. 18, an Italian student snapped the leg off of an early 19th century statue in Milan when he climbed on the sculpture and tried to take a picture of himself in its lap. News outlets all reported the incident within hours.

With today’s incredibly active social media, art destruction can only play a role in promoting the identity of an artist and his work.

In looking at Caminero’s art, which is at best derivative of Jean Dubuffet’s original approach, it is perhaps clear why Caminero chose to break Ai’s vase. He was being underrepresented, and destroying someone else’s art seemed to be the only way he would make it into museum history; his own pieces would not have.

art by megan lenehan/falcon artist

California’s SCA 5 proposal rightfully postponed

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By Emily Sun

feature editor

The California Assembly’s decision to postpone a vote on Senate Constitutional Amendment No. 5 indefinitely, at the request of its sponsor, Sen. Edward Hernandez, was the correct decision. Introduced in December 2012 and passed by the state Senate on Jan. 30, SCA 5, if approved by the Assembly, would have been open to California voters in the November 2014 statewide election. Its provision to re-employ preferential treatment, so-called affirmative action, in the application processes of public schools like the University of California and California State University systems would have only perpetuated discrimination and created a poorer learning environment for students.

If voted into law, SCA 5 would have repealed portions of Proposition 209, which was approved by voters in 1996 and stated that “[the] State shall not discriminate against, or grant preferential treatment to, any individual or group on the basis of race, sex, color, ethnicity, or national origin in the operation of public employment, public education, or public contracting.”

Advocates of SCA 5 claim

that the reinstitution of such preferential treatment in schools promotes diversity and equal opportunity. Hernandez said that SCA 5 is not “proposing quota systems or preferential treatment,” but “simply allows our public colleges to identify achievement gaps.” However, the reality is that any program that favors one demographic group is discriminatory at some level, especially when the basis for such bias is heavily influenced by stereotypes and preconceived notions.

The belief that increased diversity in schools provides a broadening experience, stimulates creativity and facilitates cooperation is not completely incorrect but is misleading when affirmative action causes disparity in the merit and potential between students helped by the program and those admitted without that help, generating an unbalanced campus culture where students may not relate well to one another. According to the San Diego U-T, the UC system’s current application process under Proposition 209 has actually seen a steady increase in minority populations.

The enrollment rate for white students decreased from 35.3 percent to 27.9 percent, while that for black students rose from 2.8 percent to 4.1 percent, that for Latino students rose from 12.1 percent to 26.8 percent and that for Asians doubled.

Furthermore, it is a disrespectful and inaccurate assumption that such

characteristics as the color of an applicant’s skin are indicative of his or her financial situation, and, by extension, his or her access to a quality education. If schools hope to address educational and financial disparities, they should look instead to factors such as applicants’ economic status or parents’ education as a more precise gauge of actual need. An otherwise qualified student who has not had full access to resources could therefore still have the chance to receive a valuable higher education. But a student more deserving of an acceptance will not be discriminated against because of preconceived notions; neither will an undeserving student

with plenty of opportunity have an upper hand because of the same reasons.

Another solution to the issue of unequal opportunity is to implement a program to better foster the education of students from an earlier age. Rather than attempting to compensate for college applicants’ previous lack of educational resources, time would be much better spent providing better education throughout elementary and secondary school, narrowing the achievement gap by the time students apply for college. By targeting the real heart of

educational and financial inequality, the state can more efficiently and justly resolve the problem of equal opportunity.

Although meant to champion the noble causes of equal opportunity and diversity, SCA 5 would not only fail to resolve the issues it claims to combat, but also violates the spirit of the 14th Amendment’s Equal Protection Clause and the Civil Rights Act, which says no person “shall, on the ground of race, color, or national origin, be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination under any program or activity.”

art by ellese nguyen/falcon artist

one plus one

Between lunchtime mobile uploads and weekend photo shoots for the perfect profile picture, the impact of Facebook is even more enduring than last week’s relationship status.

$585 million later, Google officially opened Google+ on September 20, 2011.

google+ accounts of teens use facebook

On Feb. 4, 2004, Mark Zuckerberg and his college roommates founded Facebook, a site they originally limited to the use of Harvard students. The platform is now open to anyone over the age of 13.

year of highest user count

mobile users average time users spend online each month

top five most followed users are age 13-17

britney spears

lady gaga

information courtesy of international business times, the london guardian and daily tech

YouTube is founded on Feb. 14.

During the Arab Spring, protestors upload footage of demonstrators and commentary.

Sociologist Philip N. Howard says organizing the political event involved using YouTube to tell the world.

larry page

snoop dogg

information courtesy of socially stacked

Cat videos, beauty tutorials and Cinnamon Challenge clips aside, YouTube has also been a hub of social movements and protests, giving a voice to almost every demographic since its creation in 2005.

In the 2007 presidential debates, people submit questions to candidates via YouTube video, which “put the power in the hands of the camera holder,” according to New York Times journalist Katharine Seelye.

david beckham

The It Gets Better Project is founded

by Dan Savage in response to the suicide of teenagers who were bullied because they are gay or perceived to be. Over 200 videos are uploaded to the channel in the first week.

Kony 2012, a short film produced by Invisible Children, receives over 99 million views and 1.3 million likes.

YouTube livestreams the 2012 Summer Olympics and the national party conventions from 8 major news organizations during the 2012 election.

H T R WO 1,000 S D R WO

Stanford Graduates Kevin Systrom and Mike Krieger founded Instagram in 2010 after spending time at Google and Meebo, respectively. Between 2012-13, their app experienced a 900% increase in users, from 10 million to 100 million. Instagram currently has 150 million users worldwide.

likes per second

YouTube teams up with The Onion for its annual April Fool’s joke.

likes per day

comments per second infographics by katie mulkowsky information courtesy of reuters and cnn

infographics by katie mulkowsky information courtesy of nitrogram, jennstrends and expanded ramblings

From Jaden Smith to Bill Gates, Twitter users exchange personal pictures, thoughts and ideas on the platform every day — all in 140 characters or less.

TPHS staff members turn to social media to reach students in a creative way.

ms. huston, math @mathissweet

ms. limerick, art @mslimerickart

administration @torreypineshs

falconer athletics @tphsports

information courtesy of beelove, statistic brain and expanded ramblings

female users

year of peak site popularity

Since March 2010, “visual discovery tool” and virtual inspiration board Pinterest has aided teen bloggers, seasoned web designers, cooks and fashionistas.

users worldwide

81 pins

477 pins

1,629 pins

3,646 pins

210 pins

infographics by katie mulkowsky information courtesy of pinterest, expanded ramblings and social fresh

FEATURE

Feature debunks the left and right brain dichotomy, A14

Entertainment looks into San Diego’s landmarks, A18

thinking, ‘Oh my gosh, you’re saying anybody with mental problems should be treated differently,’” Bhattacharjee said. “But if guns are available easily, we should make sure we can check who is the person who owns that gun.”

On Apr. 16, 2007, at Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, S i t t i n g senior Seung-Hui Cho shot and killed 32 people, wounded 17 people and committed at his desk, the only thing on suicide, an event labeled the Virginia Tech Massacre. Cho was diagnosed with severe San Diego State University Professor Subrata anxiety disorder and received therapy and special education support during middle Bhattacharjee’s mind was a graduate student’s thesis defense for school and high school. In 2005, Cho was declared mentally ill and was ordered to which he was already a few minutes late. Just as he was about to leave, he heard receive treatment by Virginia Special Justice Paul Barnett.

Former Virginia Tech student Heather Davis planned to be on campus to study a knock at the door. It was Aug. 15, 1996, the day that being late to that appointment before class, but had decided to stay home and work instead, a decision she says she is saved his life.

Earlier in the day, mechanical engineering graduate student Frederick Martin thankful she made. That morning, Davis had received an email alert about a campus Davidson had hidden a handgun and five magazines of ammunition in a first aid kit in shooting from the school and a phone call from a friend on campus telling her to stay the room where he was to defend his thesis. He resented his professors, believing that home because he was sure he was hearing gunshots on campus. Davis initially believed they were conspiring against him by giving him useless tasks, rejecting his thesis and that someone was simply making a statement on campus and did not worry much preventing him from finding a job. As the session began, Davidson took out the handgun about it.

“When I saw on the news that at least 20 were believed to be dead, my heart and opened fire. Assistant Professor Chen Liang and Associate Professors Constantinos Lyrintzis and Preston Lowrey were killed, and Davidson called 911 himself after the dropped,” Davis said. “I knew this was not just a political demonstration. I remember crashing onto the carpet in tears as ambulance sirens continued to blare by.” shooting. He was sentenced to three consecutive life sentences without parole.

As students, friends and family tried to contact each other, the number of calls “The emotion I felt was one of devastation,” Bhattacharjee said. “They were not just overloaded the cellular networks for at least an hour, according to Davis. my colleagues … so it was very hard to get over this.”

“Utter shock, dismay, confusion [and] anguish is the only way I can describe the way Bhattacharjee considered Lowrey his best friend, and he also was close friends with we felt,” Davis said. “Many of us found it too hard to go back right away. The paranoia Liang. Although the incident drastically impacted Bhattacharjee, he said SDSU was and fear of going to class was too much for some to bear.” not as affected in the long run. Requests for interviews with SDSU administrators were A “dear friend” of Davis’s was shot four times, but survived and now not returned. a c t i v e l y promotes stricter gun laws. As a result of the incident, campus “With passage of time, sort of nothing changed, and people kind security tightened, a text alert system was implemented, and of brushed it aside, tried to forget and move on,” Bhattacharjee said.

People can act out their students were given the option of taking the rest of the semester “But personally, I am very much affected in the sense that I lost off. According to Davis, students eventually recovered and the some of the best friends I had.” fantasy ... and it is so camaraderie on campus was “greater than ever.”

According to a Feb. 10 report jointly released by Mayors Against Just as Virginia Tech was majorly impacted by the shooting, the easy to create mayhem Illegal Guns and Moms Demand Action, two groups seeking to create recent Purdue University shooting and stabbing had a large impact new and stronger gun laws, there have been 44 school shootings in just by getting a gun and on the campus. On Jan. 21, Cody Cousins shot and stabbed Andrew the United States since the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting Boldt, and students attended a candlelight vigil held the next day. finding the target. in Newtown, Conn., in December 2012. There were 13 shootings in “At the candlelight vigil, it was like we all knew [the shooter’s the first six weeks of 2014 alone.

Subrata Bhattacharjee and the victim’s] spirits and intentions in a way,” TPHS alumna and “I think the real reason we see more of these incidents these days SDSU PROFESSOR Purdue student Sarah Gustafson (‘13) said. “You didn’t have to know … is because social media has [made it] so easy to become famous,” the people, [but] it still impacted us all as fellow [students].”

Bhattacharjee said. “Deranged minds would like to be famous.

Jaffe and Coppo’s suggestion of connecting students is not a bulletproof plan.

People can act out their fantasy more easily … and it is so easy to create mayhem by Although the Purdue students are a close-knit community, they were still taken by just getting a gun and finding the target.”

Assistant Principal Rob Coppo, who is in charge of safety at TPHS, also thinks of surprise by the shooting.

“Such a malicious event was never expected,” Gustafson said. “Despite our range school shootings in terms of “mayhem” and “chaos.” of individuals, we are a family. We felt violated in a way because this is home to us.”

“Ultimately, that’s what a school shooting is: creating chaos,” Coppo said. “Every Purdue students were notified about the shooting through texts and received school shooter is out there to create chaos because [his or her] mind is chaos.”

Principal David Jaffe and Coppo said that by creating an environment where the updates and warnings regularly. The campus also has “police and firefighters, security students and staff feel connected, tragedies like school shootings may be prevented. buttons every [couple] of feet, email notifications, online resources on the website and According to Jaffe, the TPHS administration tries to organize “very specific, intentional more,” according to Gustafson.

“We, overall, felt unsafe on campus for the day, but then realized our campus is the things” to connect the student body, like Challenge Days and the Peer Assistant safest one around,” Gustafson said. “[Police] responded within minutes of the shooting Listeners program.

“If you feel safe, you might not be having troubles, but if you know someone who and got to the scene immediately.”

However, at SDSU, Lyrintzis, Liang and Lowrey were trapped in a classroom is, you feel comfortable sharing,” Jaffe said. “That’s the best way to prevent [such with only one door leading to the hallway, unable to hide or escape. Consequently, incidents].”

TPHS also employs two different lockdown practices: when there is an active shooter Bhattacharjee developed a fear of lecturing in a classroom with just one door.

“I thought the best thing America could do is push to have a second door in every on campus, the school is under lockdown and operates under police direction, and when notified of a crime in the community, classrooms are locked down, but classes continue. classroom,” Bhattacharjee said. “I think that will save more lives because, yes, some “We have to decide who it is that we are looking for,” San Diego Police Officer Jordan people will die when the shooter starts, but at least some people can run out. But my Wells said. “[The community crime lockdown policy] also makes sure that if someone friends were trapped. They couldn’t run out.”

Sitting at his desk, Bhattacharjee reminisces on weekend parties with Lowrey and were to go on campus, they would have nowhere to hide, and that way, we don’t get the brief interactions with Davidson in the hallways. It has been over a decade since the school involved.”

The police department occasionally assesses school sites, making sure that they have tragedy at SDSU, but the feeling of pure shock from the incident still remains. A gun, a target and a few minutes meant the difference between life and death. information on where different things are located on campus in case of an emergency.

To prevent such incidents from happening, Wells emphasizes that TPHS students According to Jaffe, lockdown procedures have changed since the Sandy Hook should look to teachers for leadership and be able to react and adjust to any possible shooting, and Coppo attended a training session on procedural changes at the San scenario.

Diego County Office of Education. Unannounced drills were implemented at TPHS in No school community thinks it will be the scene of the next shooting, 2014 as better preparation for actual emergencies, as they instill a genuine sense of danger that announced drills lack. Coppo also said that they were instructed by police but preparation will pay off if calamity does strike.

By Anna Lee and never to try to negotiate with a shooter.

Alice Qu “[The police] were clear: Get out of the way. It’s that simple. Don’t be a hero, don’t stop and try to negotiate,” Coppo said. “You’re trying to have a rational conversation with a completely irrational person.”

Similarly, Bhattacharjee said that shooters are usually “slightly mentally disturbed.”

“If you talk about people with mental problems, saying NES maybe [gun sales] should check on that, EXAMI R E there’s the other side N O OL

”

N O I T A EDUC

LC F SCHO ECENT THE FA O S R RRO IN R THE HO HOOTINGS S ES. DECAD

U

E R I F NDER

art by emily sun/falconer

#PARAM: scaling - 1 march pixel ex28, 2014 march 27, 2014 panded to scaling pixels, scal def getNumOfOnes(row): ing must be perfect square counter = 0 def for x in row: collapseImage(image,scaling): if x == 1: if scaling**0.5 != counter += 1 int(scaling**0.5): return counter scaling = int(scaling**0.5) else: Onlookers touring the colorful Math Open House displays on March 31 might pause and examine the meticulous arithmetic and complex geometric diagrams of Brian Choi’s (12) scaling = def getCentroid(coords): project.

“I do follow the steps when I’m doing some problems,” Choi said. “In my mind, I’m xs = sum([i[0] forthe math i speaks. in Itcoords]) kind of using the language sounds really weird. When you’reint(scaling**0.5) solving math problems,you can use tons of ways to solve math problems. For my project for Math Open House … i you can y and z [methods] to solve the print "\tscaling: ", scali ys = sum([i[1] for inuse x,coords]) problem, which is where the creativity steps in.”

Choi’s ability to easily understand math is not shared by all. Often those height = len(image)/scalin return (float(xs)/ who can relate to mathematics are “left-brained,” whereas others who prefer subjects like art are “right-brained.” In a theory promoted by popular width = len(image[0])/scal len(coords),float(ys)/len(coords)) culture, the left and right brain divide categorizes higher-level thinking into two parts: The left is more analytic and verbal, while the right is more ing innovative and creative. However, scientific thinking has proved this idea more a myth than a theory.

According to a 2013 research study by the def getNumOfOnes(row): University of Utah, while some functions do tend to be centered in a result = [[0 for i in counter = side 0 of the brain, like language on the left and attention on the certain scanning showed that subjects did not demonstrate higher range(width)] for j in def rotate(pt,angle): #rotate point for x right, in brain row: connectivity in either single hemisphere. interview National Public Radio, neuroscientist if Inx an== 1: with in around origin, angle radians Kara D. Federmeier said the two separate hemispheres operate counter += 1 independently, but only to a certain extent. Their “independent return (pt[0]*cos(angle) - pttask, is eventually combined to execute a particular returnprocessing” counter like reading or listening.

[1]*sin(angle),pt[0]*sin(angle) + However, according to marriage and family therapist Fereshteh Mazdyasni, the brain is in fact composed of three functionally different parts layered from top to bottom: pt[1]*cos(angle)) the reptilian brain, limbic brain and neocortex. While the A14 the falconer falconer A14 the

feature feature

def rotate(pt,angle): #rotate point around origin, angle in radians return (pt[0]*cos(angle) - pt[1]*sin(ang le),pt[0]*sin(angle) + pt[1]*cos(angle)) #PARAM: scaling - 1 pixel expanded to scaling pixels, scaling must be perfect square def expandImage(binaryImg, scaling): if scaling**0.5 != int(scaling**0.5): scaling = int(scaling**0.5) else: scaling = int(scaling**0.5)

logic, ing analysis, height = len(binaryImg) width = len(binaryImg[0]) sequencing, result = [[0 for i in range(scaling*width)] for j in linear processing, range(scaling*height)] for j in range(0,height): mathematics, for i in range(0,width): language print "\tscaling: ", scal

height = len(binaryImg) width = len(binaryImg[0])

than the neocortex, or visa versa.”

Scientists are beginning to emphasize research on the use of all parts of the brain and their interaction.

While Choi fuels his methodical side by competing in International Genetically Engineered Machine, or IGEM, competitions and tutoring physics and calculus, he also performed in the TP Players musical “Light in the Piazza.”

“Sometimes I might be a crazy math person or physics guy, but sometimes I try to explore out of the boundaries and try something new, like theater,” Choi said. “ ... So I guess I’m somewhere in the middle.”

Choi’s experiences in the Black Box Theater taught him that the techniques used in the fine arts are not so different from those he applies to solving a geometric proof.

#PARAM: scaling - 1 pixel expanded to scaling

def getCentroid(coords): reptilian brain functions only for basic protection, the limbic xs = sum([i[0] intraits coords]) brain is responsible for for “rightibrain” like emotion and the neocortex for “left brain” traits like logic and language. ys = sum([i[1] for i in coords]) “The idea that everything logical happens on the left and emotional on the right is a [simplified] concept,” returneverything (float(xs)/len(coords),float(ys)/ Mazdyasni said. “[When monitoring brain activity, you] see len(coords)) that some people’s activity levels in their limbic are higher

pixels, scaling must be perfect square def expandImage(binaryImg, scaling): if scaling**0.5 !=scaling int(scaling**0.5): #PARAM: - 1 pixel expanded to scaling pixels, scaling must square scaling be= perfect int(scaling**0.5) def expandImage(binaryImg, scaling): else: if scaling**0.5 != int(scaling**0.5): scaling = int(scaling**0.5) scaling = int(scaling**0.5) print "\tscaling: else:", scaling height = len(binaryImg) scaling = int(scaling**0.5) print "\tscaling: ", scaling width = len(binaryImg[0])

Left Brain

tphsfalconer.com

feature

the falconer

niarB thgiR “You have to use geometry in acting because there is this thing called negative space, where there is nothing [on the stage],” Choi said. “So when actors move, they create a negative space because once it was filled, now it’s not filled. We can never stand in a linear fashion because it looks dumb, so we have to scatter around.”

By the same token, Haiwa Wu (11) considers art one of her greatest passions and hopes to pursue it as a career but said she does not place herself at the right-brained end of the spectrum, as she uses lots of organization and analysis in the creation of her pieces.

“I like thinking things through a lot,” Wu said. “I’m pretty deliberate when I’m drawing. It’s pretty exact. I don’t really do abstract things often. I guess some people do think that art is easy or something. [But] for myself, I put a lot of planning if I’m going to make something into a final piece. There are a lot of sketches that go through. I go into research … to supplement the piece.”

Despite the ostensible effortlessness of a piece, artists like Haiwa and Grace Wu (11) recognize the logic and organization behind them. “[Art] involves a nonlinear thinking process, but at the same time, you need to make sure what you’re doing makes sense,” Grace said. “Take Picasso — his faces are definitely creative and a new interpretation of a face, but at the same time, they still have the basic qualities of a face, with eyes and a nose. I’m sure there was a thinking process in the way he places everything. Maybe it wasn’t conscious, but the placement of the nose, the mouth and the eyes all had some sort of meaning and premeditation, and they all balance.”

While brain lateralization may not play a large role in shaping personality, clinical psychologist Stephen Scherer said that the physiological basis of character traits can be traced to genetic pre-programming, and environmental influences and learning experiences “can either accentuate or bring out characteristics … or suppress them entirely.”

“How neurons respond to chemicals and the structure of the neurons themselves will change every time you learn something,” Scherer said. “The actual structure of your brain will be influenced, altered and changed, based on your environmental history [and] the emotions you experience.”

Although Choi prefers the subject of math over others like English and eventually wants to become an aerospace engineer, he finds acting “intellectually stimulating” and “his personality changes when [he is] acting.”

“When I’m doing math, I’m much more focused,” Choi said. “When I’m acting, I can be anyone I want to be, and I just lose it.”

Because the hemispheres of the brain are not independent of or dominant over each other, it follows that the projects showcased during Math Open House can be viewed not only as cool and calculative, but also imaginative and innovative.

By Sarah Brown and Emily Sun

creativity, imagination, holistic thinking, intuition, arts, rhythm, nonverbal, emotion, visualization

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footnotes. by jennifer grundman

feature

PEER ASSISTANT LISTENERS Read the personal stories of TPHS PALs.

As an almost 18-year-old, I am proud to say that my bedtime is the same now as it was when I was 5 years old: around 9 p.m.

I have given up my sophomoric practice of staying up late to finish homework or study, because really, is there anything so important that it requires me — or anybody — to be sleepdeprived? At this point in my high school career, is there any point in continuing to work as hard as I have? Any homework that I cannot finish in school is neglected at home. Yes, you can say I suffer from senioritis, but here is a secret: it is not a disease.

I wish I could say that the competitive environment we live in — which values hard work over play, perfection over mental health and “prestige” over happiness — only affected how late we go to bed. Despite my attempt at a cutesy beginning to this article, the stark, ugly truth of the college admissions process, cutthroat classmates, and their future professional counterparts, is that all of these things contribute to a horrible loneliness. We skirt this issue whenever we can, instead focusing on the physical effects of such an atmosphere: the lack of sleep, the aching back, the cramped hand, because we cannot bear to confront our own unhappiness, our nagging doubts about the worth of it all. Does it matter what college I go to, what grade I get, if in looking back I realize I spent a good portion of my time behind a closed door, hunched over a textbook, while my living, feeling family was just a flight of stairs down? Was it worth the paranoid, covert glances at my classmates’ papers, the wondering if I matched them and if I was good enough for a faceless organization and elite group of people?

In the past year and a half, two people I knew have died. One was a family member, another was a former friend who was shot in a freak accident. If death is good at anything, it’s forcing life into its proper perspective. And so, in my last year of high school, I’ve started accepting some of life’s inevitable pathos and eschewing those that insist life is a game of statistics and scores. I refuse to listen anymore, for fear that if I listen too hard, all I’ll hear is silence.

It may seem like this article took a dark turn for such a light topic as senioritis, but in my own case, this is inseparable. I have roughly 500 words to get this message across, so for the love of God, catch senioritis early.

To anyone this concerns, start noticing how beautiful all the things in life can be and don’t let someone force you to close your eyes to what you could be enjoying. Don’t ignore your loved ones; they’re infinitely more important than your work.

Know what you’re working for, and don’t spend a minute more hunched, dead-eyed, over a soulsucking textbook for no one’s real gratification. And if it’s 9 p.m., like it is right now, go to bed. It’s no laughing matter.

From breathing exercises to stressful lectures delivered by the one and only PALs teacher Don Hollins, the PALs class provided us with a way to connect to campus life as we fought to establish the reputation of PALs.

At first sight, with his rocker T-shirt and tree trunk arms, Hollins intimidated us without saying a word. But soon, we found he had a bigger heart than the rest of the faculty combined.

His attempt to please every PAL in the room was apparent when it took almost four hours to decide on PALs bonding night.

More concerned about our health than our GPAs, he showered us with health articles and took on the role of counselor, mentor, teacher and parent while scarfing down broccoli and tofu. We never want to let him down because we understand how much Hollins believes PALs can benefit the school, even with the skepticism surrounding PALs.

one in

march 27, 2014 We took on numerous timeconsuming projects, subsequently stressing ourselves out with the responsibilities that piled up.

From running around halls with gallons of paint to trying to fit a 10-by-10 foot stop sign through the media center doorway, we continued trying to impress TPHS students. In organizing Challenge Days, painting a mural and developing Be the Change Club, we worked countless hours, earning a brief shoutout from Hollins after each project was completed.

Despite knowing that the three of us always faced the battle to unlock the storage room, clean up late night paint spills and endure the wrath of stubborn

teachers, we voluntarily took on hopelessly extravagant projects.

We do so knowing that we always have two other people to listen to our ridiculous rants and offer comfort.

Sometimes finding ourselves close to frustrated tears due to criticism, we relied on crucial hallway talks and meditation tutorials offered by the loving Hollins, who always has our backs even when projects seem lost.

Although we face our share of bumps larger than those in the back parking lot, we hope that the meaningful projects will make a mark on campus as well as benefit the students.

By Isabella Gadinis, Mimi Najmabadi and Bailey Pope

2,770

Nik Keswani (10) In less than a year, Nik Keswani has used his comedic talent to become one of the most popular “Viners,” despite physical challenges.

six seconds of fame: Keswani’s 130 Vines have garnered 842,100 followers since he started making them over the summer while recuperating from surgery.

Nik Keswani’s (10) attitude toward Vine is similar to his approach to life in general: with an open mind, always ready to experiment and see what works. Last summer, Keswani downloaded the video-sharing app while recovering from surgery, thinking he would just “try it out.” Keswani, who was born with dwarfism, suffers from bone and other health problems related to his condition.

“I was just laying in bed all day — I couldn’t do anything,” Keswani said. “So I decided to download [Vine] because it was in the top charts. I just made videos for fun at first, to show more of my comedic side.”

An unexpected breakthrough occurred when one of Keswani’s videos, filled with “swearing that turned into a song,” went viral.

Gaining followers has since been, according to Keswani, “smooth sailing.”

Keswani currently has an astonishing 842,100 followers, and wants to reach the end of the “road to a million” soon. Although his followers have high expectations, Keswani embraces the pressure to produce new material.

“As you grow in followers, you’re expected to do better and better,” Keswani said. “Each week, I have to come with new stuff. There’s pressure, but you have to expect that. With great power comes great responsibility.”

Keswani has also cashed in on his large presence, having made about $4,000 through Vine.

Different companies hire Keswani to produce videos promoting their apps. Vine is not, however, just a moneymaking scheme for Keswani. The app has become the main outlet for his comedy, which

did Vines

it for provide a

photo by kenneth lin/falconer

the vine: Nik creative outlet for

used to spill over to places where it did not belong.

“I’d always be cracking jokes, sometimes at the wrong time,” Keswani said. “Vine is the right place to make people laugh. I’ve learned there’s a time to mess around and a time to focus. Vine is a place where I can put all my comedy that’s been bubbling inside of me.”

Keswani feels that his Vines appeal to people because of their spontaneity. He estimates only 20 percent are successful, but enjoys the process of trial and error. To preserve the “natural” feel of his videos, Keswani rarely plans gags in advance or edits Vines after they are filmed.

“Once you start thinking what you want to do, it’s not as good,” Keswani said. “When the time comes, I’ll just take out my phone.

It has to be natural. It has to click at one moment.”

Keswani believes his restricted mobility “doesn’t get in the way” of producing funny Vines, but “is good because I can make lots of jokes about being short.” And, though Vine clips are limited to six seconds, Keswani also views the time restriction as a creative opportunity.

“That little time brings out the best in you,” Keswani said. “You have this amount of time to put in this amount of content and show who you are.”

Keswani’s popular his comedic side.

Keswani collaborates on videos with other “Viners,” whose pages also display the videos, multiplying his exposure exponentially. Through Vine, Keswani has not only made new friends, but also shown what “a regular kid” can do with a simple talent.

“I went to a New York Vine meet-up once,” Keswani said. “All the Viners say they are going to be at one spot, and a lot of my fans came. I wouldn’t have known all these people, so I thought it was incredibly cool. I didn’t realize the power of one person to do all that.”

In two years, Keswani hopes to get into the University of California, Los Angeles, which has a renowned theater program.

Acting has always “been a dream” for Keswani, who has participated in plays in Chicago, where he used to live, and at the Jewish Community Center in San Diego.

Keswani believes that dwarfism has boosted his acting prospects, since he is typically assigned younger roles — which he can play better as an older, more experienced actor.

Whatever Keswani’s future holds, he has “come a long way” since his recovery from surgery began. For now, he is content to “wait it out” and see what comes his way, whether it is an acting opportunity or the perfect idea for his next Vine.

tphsfalconer.com

feature

the falconer

A17

According people grow up.” to the Regional Task Force on the Homeless Peter*, a homeless man originally from Santa in San Diego County, 8,879 individuals were homeless on the night of Jan. Barbara, lost his job, his wife and his home after he became addicted to drugs.

24, 2013, but residents of North County rarely witness such poverty. In fact, only 8.2 “It comes little by little,” Peter said. “It’s like watching grass grow. You can’t see it percent of the San Diego homeless population lives within the North County Coastal really grow, but come back in a week and it’s longer. Drugs start by making you feel good, area, including Solana Beach, Del Mar, Carmel Valley and Rancho Santa Fe. Nathan but then it takes away your dignity, your honesty.”

Lian (10), along with fellow members of Community Bible Church, have made efforts Drug addiction and alcoholism lead to various negative stereotypes regarding the to break down the barrier between the Carmel Valley community and the San Diego homeless population. Hana Chitgari (10) has seen that these generalizations, such as homeless population with a simple, monthly event called the Community Meal, held at laziness or mental illness, are often not true. Through volunteer work, she seeks to the Horizon Park Chapel in downtown San Diego. transcend misunderstanding between the homeless and other members of society.

“The last Thursday of every month … our pastors bring in [around 100 homeless people] One weekend a month, Chitgari participates in 1st Saturdays, an organization which from different shelters across San Diego,” Lian said. “We serve food, and on holidays, we meets in downtown San Diego to distribute clothing, food and “care packs” to homeless offer haircuts and showers. Two buses of homeless people come in every half hour. For the citizens. Chitgari leads the event through TPHS Interact Club, allowing other students to most part, they love having people to talk to and people that will be with them.” experience exposure to homelessness, as she believes it is easily forgotten in the Carmel Attending the event for the past year has exposed Lian to the class differences in the Valley area.

United States and made him reconsider the stereotypes regarding homeless people. “[Attending 1st Saturdays] has helped me see that, first of all, there is a serious issue “It is interesting to listen to their perspective,” Lian said. “People don’t take the time with homelessness only 10 minutes from where we live,” Chitgari said. “We assume that out of their lives to interact with homeless people and to really understand who they are. everyone is bad if they are homeless, but I do not think that is correct. They are normal They need certain things … but because people think they are uneducated and lower people doing normal things, and [people in the TPHS community] would be surprised at class, [they are unlikely] to ever come out of homelessness.” how positive and happy they are.”

Head cook at Horizon Park Chapel, Dede Murphy, said the monthly event is beneficial Brianna Audinet, a 17-year-old from Los Angeles, became homeless when she was 10 not only for the homeless, but also for the students who participate. and experienced the difficulties of homelessness firsthand. After her father was arrested “We teach the kids who participate what it is like to be on the other side,” Murphy and jailed, she lived in shelters with her mom and brother until she was 11. said. “[They] get to go home, have a bathroom, have a bed, but these people are lucky if “Deep down I was miserable. I was depressed, and I didn’t like my situation,” Audinet they get that in a day.” said. “I tried to make the best of it, but it becomes haunting and bothersome. I had that in After her father severed relations with her when she was 26, Artemis Arthur, a the back of my mind at school. I did my work, but I was not OK. Having to wake up every homeless mother attending Community Meal, became pregnant with her child on the day in that facility [and go to school] and see those crazy people every day, it was a pain.” streets and has faced the struggles of being a parent without a home.

According to Soltz, children who are homeless have difficulty “[My father] drove me here without telling me where we were performing academically and socially because of their situation. going and dropped me off with a suitcase and $20 and said ‘Good luck, “The bottom of Maslow’s hierarchy of needs is food, shelter and Homelessness is not clothing — the things we need to live,” Soltz said. “The children in our kid,’” Arthur said. “I am a perfectly fit parent, but once you become homeless, reality gets thrown upside down. [I am sure to] never a flag you carry on your program are right there, so for them to maintain good grades in school retract my love as a parent, which my parents did for me. [Having a and social relationships and grow in general is a struggle. [The shelter] back ... Once you become isn’t a permanent place where they know they feel safe and comfortable, child] motivates me all the time, every day.”

Arthur believes her son likes being “outside more than he does homeless, reality gets so there is a constant anxiety within many of our youth. It’s going to inside” and tries to “stay positive.” However, she does recognize the [them] from doing well in school and excellently in sports, [and] thrown upside down. prevent instability and danger a childhood on the streets could entail. prevent them from making friendships.”

“You should never have to experience this,” Arthur said. “There Audinet received help in school from School on Wheels, an organization Thomas* are a lot of horrors out here that people tell you about that are not TPHS ALUMNUS (‘12) dedicated to helping homeless children receive an education by providing true until you see [them].” tutors and safe study spaces The biggest challenges Arthur has faced have been those related to “I think education is essential,” Audinet said. “You should be educated life without a home, but the mental toll of homelessness has greatly affected her as well. about your rights and your living condition. I found out that no child should be subjected “[My biggest challenge has been] not having a home, not being able to get a job and to [a homeless type] of living. You should be educated … if you want to get a job, earn eating canned food,” Arthur said. “Even now, I try to keep myself from thinking too hard some money and provide for yourself and your family.” about it because it has been a year and I am still homeless. I do not think I have done TPHS alumnus Thomas* lived in a transitional living program for homeless teenagers anything specifically to be out here. You can look at it like punishment or preparation for after moving to National City from China before being adopted by a North County woman. something else.”

“Living as a homeless teenager definitely was not fun,” Thomas said. “I remember that While Arthur says she did not become homeless because of addiction, Elana Soltz, I would envy other students in my class for having materialistic things … I did not have program manager for the Cortez Hill Family Center, a branch of the YWCA, considers specific resources available to me such as SAT prep classes and other academic resources. “family violence, sexual abuse, severe drug and alcohol exposure and being raised in Being homeless was not something I would talk about. No one knew about my situation, very unhealthy environments” as causes of homelessness in San Diego. She did so I never bothered talking about it.” not include mental illness, and while it is generally identified as a main cause Despite the circumstances, Thomas was able to prosper academically and said that his for homelessness, the statistics disprove this assumption. According to the experience made him “a more well-rounded person.”

Washington Post, only 13 to 15 percent of homeless citizens are “Homelessness is not a flag you carry on your back,” Thomas said. “It’s something that mentally ill, though 30 to 40 percent of the chronically homeless have is a part of who you are … Everyone has their own problems at home, and being homeless m e n t a l illnesses. [is the problem] I had to struggle with. However, I am not ashamed of being homeless …

“I would say 95 percent [of homeless people] have experienced I look around my college campus now and realize that everyone might not have had to go s o m e sort of trauma in their lives,” Soltz said. “A through what I did, but I look at it as an advantage.” lot of times, people don’t recognize how Audinet now lives in a house in Lancaster, north of Los Angeles, with her mom and significantly brother, who both have stable jobs. She has tried to learn and grow as a person throughout trauma early in life can her experience with homelessness. affect how “I think everything was supposed to happen to me; had I not gone through this, I would not be a compassionate person and not understand what struggling is like. Having this experience [has] made me a better person … I can hope that as I progress into the future, I can become a better person knowing I’ve been through that, I’ve gone through that and I’ve learned from that.”

According to the United Way of San Diego County, San Diego ranks third in the United States in the size of its homeless population. While nearly 9,000 individuals are on the streets or in shelters each night, institutions such as YWCA, 1st Saturdays and Community Meal provide a safety net and hope for the future. *Name changed to protect identity

By Russell Reed and Caroline Rutten

”

art by cory lomberg/falconer

ENTERTAINMENT

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Balboa Park h ouses the Natio nal History Mu and Museum seum of Art, the old est museums in SD.

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*Information provided by TIME Magazine, sandiegohistory.org, balboapark.org, lajollabythesea.com, www.socalthemeparks.com, www.midway.org, zoo. sandiegozoo.org, http://www.seaportvillage.com www.torreypine.org

The Falconer satisfies its sweet tooth, A20

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A20 the falconer

No, this is not the same ice cream you had in Hawaii. And though it is located in a much less exotic setting — between two nondescript cafes in a commonplace plaza in Poway — Lappert’s Ice Cream and Gourmet Roasted Coffee still hides many uncommon surprises.

My party of three was immediately greeted by the cashier, who clarified that Lappert’s Ice Cream in San Diego is separate from Lappert’s in Hawaii, though it is owned by a descendant of the original founder.

The décor at Lappert’s is modern, with a cool sofa and a waterfall wall, and the upbeat music created an inviting atmosphere despite the lack of customers.

entertainment

I decided on one scoop of Kahlua Truffle, nonalcoholic Kahlua coffee ice cream with dark chocolate truffles, and one scoop of passion fruit ice cream in a homemade waffle cone.

The Kahlua coffee ice cream tasted similar to Mexican liquor made out of coffee beans, but its somewhat bitter flavor mixed well with the slightly frozen, yet chewy truffles. Quite the opposite of Kahlua Truffle, the passion fruit ice cream paid homage to Lappert’s Hawaiian origins with a tangy, fresh contrast to the bittersweet flavor of the other scoop.

We also ordered a small portion of Dole Whip and one scoop of mint chocolate chip ice cream with Godiva chocolate. For those who long to return to adventures at Disneyland or simply want to experience a taste of the tropics, an order of Dole Whip soft serve ice cream is a perfect start.

The tart pineapple flavor melted in my mouth with every spoonful I tried, and I ate nearly all of the serving without realizing that my spoon had reached my mouth so many times.

The mint chocolate chip ice cream provided a fresh, crisp taste complemented by the smooth chocolate chips — a pleasant interpretation of a classic flavor.

After enjoying the wide variety of ice cream at Lappert’s, it did not come as a surprise that many more customers began entering the shop. It seemed that many of the customers had already discovered the secrets of Lappert’s by ordering interesting concoctions of flavors.

Although Lappert’s is too distant to be regularly visited by most Carmel Valley residents, the ambience and exotic flavors make the trip almost as worthwhile as one to Disneyland.

By Tasia Mochernack

Tucked away on a street adjacent to Petco Park, CrunchTime is the perfect destination for casual outings in downtown San Diego.

As soon as I walked through CrunchTime’s cluttered entrance, two smiling servers greeted my friend and me with offers of free samples and enthusiastic inquiries about our day. The excellent service, coupled with affordable prices and generous portions, made my experience enjoyable despite the shop’s puzzling state of disorganization.

While CrunchTime’s website advertises a professional, franchiselike establishment, the shop itself is small and messy. A large mound of unidentifiable junk sits at the right of the store, creating a narrow pathway for customers to navigate throughout the store.

True to its name, CrunchTime offers a wide assortment of sprinkled, dipped and flavored waffle cones and bowls, as well as 17 different flavors of ice cream, select frozen yogurts, ice cream sandwiches, cookies, hotdogs and popcorn. However, the steady stream of customers filtering through the shop served as a clear indicator of the most popular item on the menu: ice cream.

Though CrunchTime provides a variety of relatively cheap ice cream in comparison to chain stores like Baskin Robbins, the taste and quality of the ice cream itself is nothing special. The ice cream was soft and sickeningly sweet and offered nothing better than the ice cream found at your average grocery store.

Two ample scoops of ice cream cost $4.99 and came in a light, buttery waffle cone that provided some relief from the ice cream’s overwhelming sweetness. The blueberry ice cream

march 27, 2014

tasted like a solid block of ultrasweet yogurt, while the coffee flavor lacked the inherent complexity of coffee’s rich and bitter flavor. An ice cream sandwich cost $6.75 and was highlighted by the homemade quality of two large cookies that came with the same sugar-laden ice cream.

The shop’s outside patio was characterized by much of the same disarray, as the tiny space was littered with chairs and tables packed too tightly together.

It is more likely CrunchTime’s steady stream of smiling customers had to do with the surrounding beauty of downtown San Diego, its wonderful customer service and reasonable prices than the ice cream itself.

By Michelle Hao

tphsfalconer.com

entertainment

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*Information provided by U-T San Diego and Comic Con

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art by sarah brown/falconer

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entertainment

march 27, 2014

‘Divergent’ strays far from fantastical

Based on the New York Times bestselling novel by Veronica Roth, “Divergent” is expected, seems misplaced as they rapidly jump from exposition to climax on the love all too reminiscent of the “The Hunger Games” series, with the plot line following plot line.

It is not just the romantic part of the movie that seems to take a sudden leap; the a similar, enclosed dystopian society separated into different sections. However, unlike the “Hunger Games,” “Divergent” fails to create any emotional connection or whole film feels choppy and rushed. Although the difficulty of making an entire book into a 2-hour movie usually serves as a good excuse for the fast pace compelling plot line, turning into a mere romance and actionof many films, after the success in converting the book “Catching adventure film enjoyable only to teenagers who are just looking for some special effects and, of course, the ceremonial “male lead Fire” to the movie, that reasoning seems invalid. Despite skipping Divergent many important plot points, “Divergent” still feels like a very pulling off his shirt” ritual. long movie. It seems important and essential story elements were “Divergent” is set in Chicago, where an unexplained war has Rated PG-13 sacrificed in favor of portions that would make fast-paced scenes caused citizens to withdraw into their city and protect themselves that would look cool in a movie. with enormous fences against an unidentified threat. The society The more important parts of the book, such as the development is split into five factions based on personality traits: Abnegation for the selfless, Erudite for the intelligent, Candor for the honest, of one of the antagonists, Peter Hayes (Miles Teller), are instead Amity for the kind and Dauntless for the brave. Beatrice “Tris” Prior (Shailene replaced by insignificant but visually appealing scenes; for example, a scene in which Woodley), born in Abnegation, goes through an aptitude test which is supposed to Tris traverses a zipline that extends all across the city is by no means necessary. determine her faction; however, she learns she is divergent, a “threat” to society that While this does not make for a good movie, plot-wise, some may feel that the special cannot be categorized into one personality trait, and must keep that secret hidden as effects, heavily utilized during the aptitude testing scenes, are the highlights of the she lives as a Dauntless, where she meets fellow divergent and love interest Tobias movie and balance out the other negative aspects. Even though the special effects are indeed extremely attention-grabbing, especially judging by the excited gasps from the “Four” Eaton (Theo James).

Woodley fits the job as a young, uncertain and yet excited girl who struggles audience, popular opinion would most likely say that James’ depiction of the attractive through the rigorous training required to be a Dauntless warrior. However, as the Four is truly the highlight of the movie.

Although the movie lacks moving or heart-wrenching scenes, as well as a solid, wellplot progresses, it is evident Woodley’s acting skills take a drop in the more emotional moments, turning what should have been heart-wrenching scenes into awkward developed plot line, which admittedly is not apparent in the book either, “Divergent” spurts of forced tears that are quickly forgotten. is undeniably a satisfying action movie for those still in the adolescent stages of their The movie also does a shabby job overall in the romantic development between Tris lives, who can relate to Tris’s struggle in finding her identity in the midst of societal and Four. While their chemistry is undeniable, the sudden makeout scene, although pressures.

art by sarah brown/falconer

*Information provided by “Divergent”

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SPORTS

Girls lacrosse loses a competitve game 9-10, A28

Baseball impresses with 8-2 win

The Falconer shadows Principal David Jaffe, A31

GAME TIME

By Fernando Stepensky

f

By Michelle Hao Staff Writer

Baseball (4-2) took down Valley Center High School (1-5) 8-2 at home, maintaining an early lead throughout.

The Falcons took advantage of Valley Center’s unsuccessful pitching and numerous passed balls to take extra bases and gain momentum that lasted throughout the game.

CJ Stubbs (12) got the Falcons on the board first with a sacrifice fly in which second baseman Tommy Baronner (12) tagged up from third to score.

“We played really well as a team,” Stubbs said. “We put up a lot of runs. The pitchers did well [and] stayed down, and got their primary hitters out.”

TPHS kept the lead by shutting out the Jaguars through the third inning, going up 2-0.

The Falcons maintained a strong defense and backed up pitcher Sandy Plashkes (11) by making routine plays.

“We’re pretty sound fundamentally, and we’ve had a pretty good year defensively,” TPHS head coach Kirk McCaskill said. “So offensively, we just need to stay gritty. The key is always playing good, fundamental baseball.”

The Falcons continued to widen the gap in the bottom of the fourth, when they went up 6-0.

“Their pitcher came in the game with a 9.33 ERA so we were looking to pull up a big number and luckily we did,” Stubbs said.

The Valley Center pitching quickly began to deteriorate, allowing TPHS to be aggressive on the base paths and move the runners home through steals on passed balls. A series of singles brought in a run, and a basesloaded double by Stubbs brought in two more runners to secure a

healthy Falcon lead. According to assistant varsity coach Matt Sheely, the double was the “turning point” of the game.

“We all knew it was going to be tough [because] Torrey Pines is always tough,” Valley Center head coach Ron Sisler said. “We almost got as many hits as they did, but you have to score runs.

You get a lot of guys on base, and that’s going to kill you.”

The Jaguars finally got on the board in the top of the fifth, bringing in two runs with a bases-loaded single. However, the short breakthrough proved to be the end of the Valley Center momentum for the game, and the Jaguars never posed a serious threat to the Falcons. Despite bringing in a relief pitcher in the fifth inning, Valley Center did not bring the necessary offense to make a comeback.

“We definitely played well today,” Baronner said. “Not as well as we should have, you know, we beat them by a good amount, but it should have been a 20-run game.”

The Falcons sealed their lead and the win with a final run, spurred by a double down the left field line by Baronner in the bottom of the sixth.

“This is a big game for us because we can take this game and really propel from here and use the momentum for the rest of the season,” Stubbs said.

Stubbs and Baronner led the team with two doubles, and Baronner also went 4 for 4, while Stubbs added the off-the-wall ball with bases loaded to his performance.

“The guys came in with a great approach today,” Sheely said. “It was great situational hitting, and it allowed us to score runs.”

The Falcons will play at El Camino High School in Oceanside today.

”

This is a big game for us because we can take this game and really propel from here and use the momentum for the rest of the season.

CJ Stubbs (1) catcher

photos by grace bruton/falconer

game face: Sandy Plashkes (11) releases a pitch (TOP).

First baseman Tommy Baronner (2) stretches to make a play (MIDDLE). Designated hitter Zach Bycott (8) connects (BOTTOM).

When March Madness, or any other sporting event rolls around, I never give much thought to the clutch players or clutch moments; my mental analysis of spectacular performance under daunting pressure doesn’t go beyond, “Man, that was clutch,” but after my first month on varsity tennis, I will always look at clutch players with the awe they deserve.

I was excited about making varsity and playing more skilled players, but I didn’t initially think about the added pressure or intensity. Practices definitely had a more rigourous and serious mentality than I had been accustomed to at the JV level, but going into my first match I was not any more nervous than usual.

My first match was in the first round of a doubles tournament, and after warming up with the opponents, my partner and I felt confident that we would win, but ended up losing 7-5, 4-6 and 1113 in the tiebreaker. Five match points, but we couldn’t execute.

The next round of the tournament was at La Jolla High School: different partner, similar story.

We were dominating, winning the first set 6-0, but the pressure caught up to us in the second set because we lost that set 6-7. We won the last set 6-0, escaping an inconceivable disappointment because we composed ourselves at the set break. In the finals of the tournament, the same scenario unfolded: Tough match, though winnable, but even when we were leading, closing the match proved difficult, and we lost 3-6 and 4-6.

What I had never truly wondered while watching close games was exactly what was going through those players’ heads, but now I understand.

Although high school tennis matches never draw in big crowds, pressure from teammates and coaches is still felt throughout.

The first match in the tournament had every member on both teams, players and coaches, as well as all parents watching because it was the last match of the day, and all those eyes watching were enough to shake me off my game.

I always ignore cheers directed at me despite my appreciation of them because I want to be completely in my own head and concerned with the task at hand, trying to play a consistent game without letting the pressure invade.

What I’ve noticed watching March Madness, however, is that players seem impervious to the pressure, but I know they can’t possibly be, so it has to be that they’ve learned to manage and channel the intensity into peak performance.

That ability is what separates the men from the boys, and what leads to one of the best months of the year, every year.

A26 the falconer

sports

march 27, 2014

Softball loses slugfest 11-12 to San Marcos

have had more hits and not that many errors in the field.”

Augur drew a walk in the The Lady Falcons (7-3) lost first inning and hit a triple in to the San Marcos High School the second inning, helping score Knights (4-6) on Mar. 25 at home, another run. “[Torrey Pines] is a strong 11-12.

TPHS got off to a strong start, hitting team, and it was a slugfest but despite their defensive efforts, for both teams,” San Marcos head the Knights scored runs in rapid coach Jan Wright said. “We were succession later in the game and fortunate to come out on top, and finally pulled ahead by one run to we had a great team effort with lots of hitting and good defense.” win the game.

Wong said that the “Both teams are a lot alike,” Lady Falcons Falcons head had been coach Jonathan Both teams are a lot alike; working on Moore said a trick play before the both teams can hit, both and were game.

“Both teams are fast, both teams actually able teams can hit, to successfully both teams play good defense, so they execute it and are fast, both are pretty well matched. score a run off teams play good defense, so Jonathan Moore the play in the they are pretty softball head coach game.

“We had well matched.” runners on The first run of the game came in the first second and third, and the runner inning by San Marcos, which was on second is supposed to fall later followed by TPHS team over when they are leading captain Emma Wong (12) hitting off the base,” Wong said. “The a bases-empty home run in her catcher threw it to second base first at bat of the game, tying it and we scored the runner from up. The Lady Falcons then had a third, because the catcher was surge of scoring, quickly pulling confused.”

However, San Marcos secured ahead in the second inning to the lead in the third inning with make the score 7-1.

Pitcher Monroe Peed (11) a succession of rapid-fire basesstruck four Knights out in the loaded singles, and in the third game, while Moore called for a and fourth innings alone, the total of 10 steals in the game, all Knights scored a total of 10 runs, up to 11-7. Unable to pull ahead of which were successful. “[The game] went pretty well, of the Knights, the Lady Falcons we stayed up pretty well, and [I managed to tie the score 11-11 liked] how we got up and started in the sixth inning off a single by scoring runs,” third baseman Kylie Robinson (12).

In the last inning, the Knights Stavi Augur (9) said. “But I could

f

By Hanrui Zhang staff writer

”

scored the last run of the game, and attempted a steal from third, however, the Lady Falcons caught the runner in a pickle, and Peed finally tagged the Knight’s player, preventing the Knights from scoring again.

In the sixth inning, the Lady Falcons scored their last run. The last play of the game had Falcon runners on second and third base, but with two outs in the inning Robinson struck out, and the Lady Falcons suffered the close loss.

Regardless of their defeat, Moore is still optimistic for the team’s record and future.

The Lady Falcons will play at Mater Dei Catholic High School in Orange County today at 3:30 p.m.

photos by tara manoogian/falconer

wind up: Monroe Peed (7) is in the middle of a big windup to hurl a fast softball at the plate (TOP). Mikaila Reyes (14) swings hard at a ball high in the strike zone (ABOVE).

Falcons lacrosse has its first fall of the season f

By Caroline Rutten staff writer

Boys lacrosse (5-1) picked up its first loss of the season after losing to Colorado Academy (6-0) 7-5 in a game that came down to the final minutes.

“We knew it was going to be a great test, and we jumped on them kind of early and were able to hold on,” Colorado Academy

head coach Randy Colley said.

The Falcons obtained the game’s first possession from the faceoff and controlled the ball for the first three minutes of the first quarter. When Colorado Academy took its first possession of the game, the Mustangs were called for a slash penalty and the Falcons were able take advantage of the possession when attackman Henry Hollen (11) scored the

game’s first goal.

Colorado Academy’s faceoff wings seized possession from the faceoff and opened several goalscoring opportunities in the first half.

“From the start, we didn’t play that great and after we lost the ball we just couldn’t stop them,” attackman Marc Lefferdink (10) said. “We tried to do too much.”

TPHS lost ground balls, could

photo by

not find the back of the net and was unable to force turnovers on the defensive end. Colorado Academy was able to jump ahead of the Falcons by four goals by the end of the first half.

“We usually play really well from behind, and it’s nothing to us,” long-pole defenseman Peter Hollen (12) said. “We’re going to come back. We just couldn’t do it this time because they had a

-----/falconer

photos by grace bruton/falconer

wind up: Henry Hollen (9) charges toward the crease in an attempt to score. The Falcons lost to Colorado Academy 5-7, in the final minutes.

better mental game.”

The second half opened with an immediate TPHS possession that ended quickly. The Falcons were unable to establish their offense throughout the third quarter and Colorado Academy attackmen widened the lead to 6-1 by wrapping around the crease and putting the ball past goalkeeper Bryce Cady (12) with 1:24 left in the quarter. Falcons’ Hollen was able to close out the quarter with a TPHS goal and 25 seconds left.

“We got some momentum in the third quarter and unfortunately, it was just too little too late,” TPHS head coach Jono Zissi said.

“It’s really difficult to play when you’re down by four goals.”

TPHS mounted a late comeback by scoring three goals in the first half of the fourth quarter, and the Falcons were determined to tie the game up in the concluding minutes. However, TPHS turned the ball over to the Mustangs on the following faceoff, and were then unable to get any looks on goal in the final minutes of the game. Colorado Academy solidified its lead 7-5 with 1:33 left to play.

“Sometimes you’re playing hard and you make a comeback and you deserve it, but I just don’t think we deserved it tonight,” Zissi said. “We took a couple punches tonight and hopefully we can get back up and come out stronger and know that we have to show up if we want to win.”

The Falcons will play JSerra Catholic High School (6-0) at Orange County Powerhouse on Mar. 28 at 7 p.m.

tphsfalconer.com

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the falconer

A27

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A28 the falconer

sports

march 27, 2014

Girls lacrosse falls to Lake Oswego SPORTS SHORTS

Regardless, McKinnon The Lady Falcons were fought hard individually, but already at a disadvantage at the according to Doan, the plays were and Doan believed that beginning of the game, having not executed properly due to the communication errors, with the Girls lacrosse (2-3) lost a two injured starters, Camille loss of three main starters and especially defense, cost the team closely contested match 10-9 to Doan (12) and Nicole Morris (10), faults in communication.

“There were a lot of little valuable seconds.

Lake Oswego High School (2-0) of off the field. When McKinnon was pulled, TPHS head coach Kaitlin mistakes being made,” Doan “We should ... get Oregon on Mar. 24.

The non-CIF sanctioned game Swagart sarcastically called it said. “We just let those mistakes everybody on the same page and was close and hard-fought, with “just fitting,” since three players add up, and ... all of a sudden you make sure everybody knows their then sidelined. look at the scoreboard and [the [place] on the team,” McKinnon TPHS coming back from a three w e r e The game Lakers] are three points up.” said. p o i n t It was a disappointing loss for Unnerved by the loss of two deficit to We just let those was filled with fouls, eventually starters and McKinnon, the the Lady Falcons, but Swagart tie the first mistakes add up, and ... all amounting to 21 Falcons got only three of the 21 remains optimistic about their half, but penalties to TPHS faceoffs. season, saying she expects the ultimately of a sudden you look at the and a total of six “[If] you hand the ball to the team will go on to win many more failing to scoreboard and [the Lakers] yellow cards. One other team 18 times, you will not games. keep up are three points up. yellow card was win games,” Swagart said.

The Lady Falcons played the scoring issued to attacker Chaffin agreed, calling the loss Cathedral Catholic High School pace of the Camille Doan (12) Sammy Cirino (10) “aggravating” because TPHS had (2-0) on Mar. 26 after the Lakers. midfielder and the Falconer went to press. “the potential to win.”

T h e other first three minutes of the game were five to the Lakers, completely dominated by the who, after getting Lakers, who scored two goals in four, had to send a quick succession until attacker player off the field.

“The yellow Kacey McKinnon (12) scored the weren’t Falcons’ first goal four minutes cards dirty,” Swagart into the game.

The next seven minutes said. “It was a included two more goals by the tough game. The Lakers due to miscommunication sportsmanship was among the Falcons. However, fine.”

Lake Oswego McKinnon scored three more times, leading to a 6-6 tie at the head coach Lauren Anderson said that end of the first half.

Ten minutes into the second the level of talent half, with Lake Oswego leading on the TPHS team 8-7, McKinnon collided with a is more significant Lakers player and sprained her than the talent on the Lakers, noting ankle, ending her day. the Lady “When Kacey got hurt, that everybody ... fell apart and Falcons were “very photos by layla mazdyasni/falconer nobody stepped up to fill her good competition.” on point: Olivia Rockeman (4) catches the ball from a teammate to move the The Lady shoes,” goalie Natalie Chaffin Lady Falcons’ attack past midfield.

TPHS lost the squeaker with a final score of 10-9.

Falcons may have (12) said.

f

By Maya Rao staff writer

”

GOLF TPHS boys golf (9-0) took down previously unbeaten Poway High School 175-200 on Mar. 25, avenging two losses to the Titans last season and maintaining their perfect record. Five out of six TPHS players hit under par on the Stone Ridge Country Club course, a feat coach Chris Drake said was “unheard of.”

“We just played a little better as a team — we were a little more focused,” Drake said. “We had a chip on our shoulder, so I think everyone stepped up.”

Chase Cameron (11) said the Falcons used their knowledge of the course, which “allowed them to know what shots to go for,” to make the plays that eluded them in previous meetings. However, Cameron said the team expected to win since “last year was a fluke.”

“Everyone hit a lot of green,” and we putted well,” Cameron said. “We gave ourselves good looks at birdies and then took advantage of them.”

Although Kaiwen Liu (9) said he had to recover from a few “early mistakes,” both he and Drake believe that the team is playing some of their best golf.

The team played Great Oak High School at the Fairbanks Country Club on Mar. 26, after the Falconer went to press. Drake said the Wolfpack, the top squad in Temecula, would pose more of a challenge than Poway.

tphsfalconer.com

sports

the falconer

A29

f/stop

henry hollen varsity lacrosse mar. 15, 4:14 p.m.

camera: canon eos 7d lens: canon 70-200mm f/2.8L iso: 400 exp: 1/1600 seconds f/stop: f/4.0

photo by alex mccracken/falconer

A30 the falconer

sports

march 27, 2014

san dieguito union high school district independent study p.e. log Student name: Freddy Falcon

Inclusive dates: Jan. 29- Apr. 4

Activity: Tennis

Instructor: Garry Thornton

date

day of week

details of specific instructional time

time in

time out

hours location

According to requirements listed by the SDUSHD Calls to the district office for comment were not website, Independent Study Physical Education is only returned, despite several redirections to ISPE teachers open to students who have medical conditions, are taking and administrators throughout the district. a specialized elective that precludes taking a regularly ISPE students are also required to practice at least scheduled P.E. class, are participating in sports not offered seven hours every two weeks with a certified coach. Some by the district, have fulfilled their high school graduation ISPE participants like Taylor* see the requirement as too P.E. requirements or are “exceptionally gifted, state or little for ISPE to be taken seriously. regionally ranked athletes.” However, students that elect According to equestrian coach and parent Andrea Hill, to take ISPE because of the independent nature of their seven hours of practice and competition every week is sport do not always meet the above requirements. considered “very minimal.”

“The rigidity of [the ISPE regulations are] not as rigid “If it is just time in the saddle, I guess seven hours as the language may state and the application process is,” would be enough,” Hill said. “It just takes longer than that Assistant Principal Garry Thornton said. “We encourage to prepare the horse and take care of equipment.” kids to do ISPE if that’s what they want to do.”

However, Thornton said the “minimal” However, some students hours serve to financially equalize student take advantage of the lenient in ISPE. I feel like, without participation enforcement of the state or “If we put the hours way up, we’re saying [ISPE], it would be virtually you have to pay an exorbitant amount of money regional ranking regulation, and take ISPE as a free period. impossible for [Samantha] to participate in ISPE,” Thornton said. “Is that “I’m not really serious [about really fair to the student in a public school to keep her grades up and system? I don’t think that’s fair.” dance],” ISPE participant Janet* said. “[I take ISPE] just Certain student athletes like competitive excel in her sport. because I don’t want to take swimmer Lindsey Anderson (9) excel in their P.E., and I want more time to Andrea Hill sport because of the ISPE program. ispe participant’s parent do homework at home.”

“I couldn’t really imagine being able to do what Many students who do I do without ISPE,” Anderson said. “If I didn’t not meet any of the other prerequisites were not aware have ISPE, I wouldn’t have been able to put the time I did of the ranking requirement when registering for ISPE into swimming, and I probably wouldn’t have placed third and did not see district emphasis on checking whether in Junior Olympics.” or not student athletes were state or regionally ranked.

Equestrian Samantha Hill (12), who received a According to Thornton, the original intent of the program full horseback riding scholarship to the University of may have been altered by the lenient district enforcement. Tennessee at Martin and has been participating in the “No one ever told me [about the rule requiring students ISPE program since middle school, said the extra ISPE to be state or regionally ranked],” ISPE participant period allowed her to practice without taking time away Courtney Jackson (9) said. “[If administration enforced from homework. that rule], no one would be able to do ISPE because it’s “I feel like, without ISPE, it would be virtually hard to be ranked. ISPE is for people who don’t want to impossible for [Samantha] to keep her grades up, and take P.E. on campus and also really like their sport.” excel in her sport,” Andrea Hill said.

Lax regulations have caused misconceptions about the Whether their goals include simply improving at their purpose of ISPE among students, and some no longer see respective sports or gaining entry to the Junior Olympics, it as an aid for athletes working to achieve their goals.

ISPE allows students to maintain their love for sports According to Thornton, the ISPE program at TPHS is while also maintaining their GPAs. not limited to elite athletes, but available to any students

By Michelle Hao who have a “passion [at the level] they are competing.” *Name changed to protect identity

”

total hours the log is a verification of participation in the independent study physical education program. logs will be verified with your instructor via email. submit log sheets into blackboard.

Please note: Students dismissed from ISPE cannot reapply again while they are in the San Dieguito Union High School District.

SPORTS SHORTS TENNIS Boys varsity tennis defeated Westview High School 11-7 on Mar. 25 in TPHS’ fifth match of the season. Varsity head coach John DeLille was at an away game with the JV boys tennis team, so co-captains Sreeganesh Manoharan (10), Max Liu (11) and Charlie Pei (11) controlled the lineup that DeLille set up.

Manoharan said he “felt confident that [the team was] going to win,” and even though number one singles player and number four ranked player in the nation Jacob Brumm (9) had a hurt hip and usual number two doubles player Henry Ji (12) was playing an International Tennis Federation qualifying tournament, the singles players won six out of nine matches and doubles won five out of nine.

Number two singles player Pei swept the singles lineup, winning every match 6-0. Number one doubles players Manoharan and partner Timothy Sah (9) won their first match 6-1 and were then subbed out.

VOLLEYBALL Boys varsity volleyball (7-2) easily beat the Eastlake High School Titans (1-5) 3-1 on Mar. 25.

Co-captains Joey Jones (12) and Kannon Kyle (11) were both unsurprised by the outcome of the game, but disappointed in losing the third game 25-23.

“We got a little overconfident and stopped trying, and they got a little momentum and they won that game,” setter Jones said.

First-year coach Adam Zufinetti agreed that the team’s effort lagged during the third game.

“We ... beat them pretty easily in the first game, and the same in the second,” Zufinetti said. “They fought back and beat us ... in the third, and then we came back and beat them 25-15 in the end.”

Outside hitter Kyle is confident about the team’s prospects for the remainder of the season.

“I feel like we’re definitely one of the better teams in San Diego and that we should have a good chance at CIF,” Kyle said.

The Falcons played the Carlsbad High School Lancers on Mar. 27 after the Falconer went to press.

sports

tphsfalconer.com

the falconer

A31

FALCON TRIES: PRINCIPAL JAFFE

Falconer Public Relations Manager Katie Page experiences a day in the life of Principal David Jaffe.

As I sprinted across campus at break, ensuring no teenage to the administration building, shenanigans occurred. Jaffe, who which would be my home for the has incredible charisma, shook next seven hours, I was thankful hands with student after student that those hours would be spent as I stood beside him, deflecting entirely inside. Unknown to the confused and curious stares of me, however, Principal David my peers.

Jaffe does not enjoy being The unusual weather brought inside on rainy days like I do. I along its own spate of surprises. trudged into Jaffe’s office with After being notified of a tree falling a smile that I hoped masked my on a student’s car, we witnessed irritation and my complete lack of what could have been an even confidence in my ability to follow more unfortunate accident. The the daily routine of this dynamic eucalyptus tree by the outside authority figure. My assignment restrooms creaked, a warning was to shadow Jaffe for the siren to passing seniors, before day, something that sounded the largest branch collapsed onto daunting, exciting and everything the walkway. in between.

Jaffe coordinated with plant We cordially supervisor shook hands and Logan Helm I did my best to to block off the I had been following area, working mimic his mature, confident manner a wellJaffe nonstop as he did like and go-getter oiled machine. his best to ensure that Then, they attitude. I sat at the circular table on the school day carried on continued in the corner of with their day without a hitch. as if the event his office and went over the day’s Katie Page (11) was a minor schedule with student occurrence.

Jaffe’s secretary, The next Julie Rock.

It hour consisted consisted of events from three of Jaffe sifting through his temporary teacher evaluations copious emails until it was time to supervision of the girls CIF for lunch,which brought a whole basketball game, as well as new batch of unforeseen events. whatever surprises popped up First, I discovered the source of along the way — and there were Jaffe’s energy: 5-hour Energy plenty of surprises. and various Clif Bars. The highThe first two hours brought carb snacks allowed Jaffe to skip little excitement, as I sat in the lunch, giving him more time to conference room during the first walk around and get to know two teacher evaluations. However, students. We sprinted across once the first item on the checklist campus to the media center in the was completed, it was time for torrential rain, where we were Jaffe and me to monitor the halls greeted by two good Samaritans.

”

“In the front parking lot, a tan van had its back window completely smashed in,” one student said.

Puzzled, Jaffe thanked the boys, and we once again braved the rain as we made our way toward the lot in search of the damaged car. Sure enough, the van’s rear window was shattered.

At that moment, my perception of Jaffe’s job description was once again expanded; for the time being, he was a detective.

We circled the car, looking for evidence of criminal behavior or a projectile, but found nothing. I peered through the open window and discovered that no glass was in the car. I asked Jaffe to look inside as well, to make sure I had not missed anything. From the glass on the pavement alongside the car and up on the car’s roof, we concluded that the window was not intentionally broken.

It appeared that the wind had caught the previously propped open window and ripped it off its hinges.

Moments later, Jaffe was on the walkie-talkie with campus supervisor Richard Burton who took the student out of class and brought him down to assess the damage. We then hopped on Burton’s cart and sped back to Jaffe’s office.

As I looked at the windswept campus, I marveled at what a hectic and unexpected day it had been. I had been following Jaffe nonstop as he did his best to ensure that the school day carried on without a hitch, and I was thoroughly exhausted. I thought again about all of the little things

that Rock had done to make Jaffe’s day much less stressful. I thanked her and Jaffe, as he once again proved himself to be a truly dynamic principal.

“If you need to ask me more questions for the story, don’t be afraid to come in and ask them, I’m a lot more open than people think,” Jaffe said.

I thanked him again and walked toward my car, which was illuminated by a single ray of sunshine that peeked through the clouds. I had learned so much, and was thankful for my new knowledge. As I made my way to my vehicle, I could think of no better reflection of the day than that dazzling ray of sunshine.

photos by tara manoogian/falconer

laughy jaffe: Katie Page (11) shadows Principal David Jaffe as they start head out for campus supervision. The day included observing teacher evaluations, detective work and interaction with students.

THE FALCONER PRESENTS

BROUGHT TO YOU BY URBAN OUTFITTERS — YOUR DESTINATION FOR ALL NORMCORE ESSENTIALS. IRONIC NIKES? WE GOT ‘EM! SUBVERSIVE SOCKS WITH SANDALS? YOU BET! HIDE YOUR NORTH COUNTY PRIVILEGE AND DRESS LIKE A MIDDLE AMERICAN FOR TEN TIMES THE RETAIL PRICE!

THE LINEUP:

The Falconer puts together a more realistic lineup tailored for TPHS students.

OVERHEARD AT COACHELLA: “Are these shrooms locally sourced?”

“It spells ‘fearless’ in Chinese.

Yeah, it’s completely normal for henna “Don’t look now, but I think that’s Vanessa Hudgens.” to swell like that.”

“False alarm, just Wilmer Valderrama with dreads.”

“This is totally what Woodstock must have been like.

Wait, we have to sleep on the ground?!”

“I’m going for an impoverished Romanian gypsy/impoverished Cherokee Indian asthetic.”

“It took me four hours to glue fringe onto these hula hoops, but I think it was worth it!”

“Ugh, I’m fine, Mom, stop calling!”

“The idea is to wear the least amount of clothing possible to not be considered legally naked, you know?”

Words by Charu Sinha Art by Natalie Dunn This page is entirely fictional, although frighteningly realistic.