Granite Bay Gazette: October 2010

Find the best haunted houses this Halloween

LEAVING HIS MAR GBHS alumnus Bryant Hom makes an impact with art

B1

Friday, October 8, 2010

K

e

d i u g d e t n u Ha

Gazette G10-11

Cross country conquers

THE GRANITE BAY

Girls’ team earns national recognition

GRANITE BAY HIGH SCHOOL w 1 GRIZZLY WAY w GRANITE BAY, CA w 95746 w VOLUME 14 w ISSUE 2 Commentary

jessica reese

Decoding the Granite Bay dress code

BY JESSICA REESE

jreese.gazette@gmail.com

jreese.gazette@gmail.com

Don’t judge a book by its content

I

have been to wild ragers. I have had abusive boyfriends. I have been stalked, kidnapped and tortured.

Okay, maybe I haven’t. But they – the characters – have.

I am an avid reader of the young adult genre. That section with the colorful covers and pale vampires that many love, others scoff at and as of late, some attack.

On Sept. 18, Wesely Scroggins from Springfield, Mo. wrote an opinion in his local newspaper demeaning three of these books.

These books contain “adult content.” They’re not light and fluffy as one may suspect, but heavy, gritty and – in Scroggins’ opinion – filthy.

While I haven’t read all three of the books he attacked, I have read one: Twenty Boy Summer by Sarah Ockler.

When I read Ockler’s book two summers ago, I was shocked by its depth.

I may not have agreed with everything the main character did, but I saw its importance to the plot and to the character.

Without it, the book would not have been half as powerful.

Then last spring, I was able to meet Ockler while in New York and acquired an advanced copy of her upcoming novel, Fixing Delilah.

This book was even more powerful than her debut. Ockler’s books delve past all the pretenses and get into the angst and turmoil of being a teenager.

More importantly, they deal with death and what you’ll go through to find yourself.

It shocks and sickens me to hear someone calling Twenty Boy Summer “soft porn.” I don’t understand how someone can take such a beautifully deep piece of work and see only filth.

Actually, I can. Scroggins and others book banners see words like “sex” and “drugs,” and immediately disregard everything else.

These people fixate on the less-savory threads of the story and miss the big picture, because surely, the mere mention of drugs will send kids off into a destructive spiral.

Do they really think so little of us?

I am a clichéd student – I get straight As, I take AP courses and I love English and the newspaper.

I am also a proud reader of this supposed filth.

I read about wild parties and drinking and all unholy things, but that doesn’t mean I do any of it.

Books are meant to teach us and most importantly, better us.

I don’t feel the need to get wasted because I’ve seen someone I love ruin her life while inebriated. And I don’t need to do drugs because I know what it can do to you and your relationships.

I know all this because I read and because I learn from what I read.

This is the power of books.

Yet book banners don’t seem to understand that. Those evil words are just too powerful for teens’ eyes.

Personally, I hope teenagers as a whole are smarter than that. High school students are intelligent enough to know that what they read isn’t always truth, that what’s important is the truth beneath it, the lesson they take away from it.

Take away those books, and you take away those lessons.

I’d like to see what happens then, Mr. Scroggins. *** Jessica Reese, a junior, is the Gazette’s co-editor-in-chief.

C1

------ Drawing ------------the line

Gazette photos /MAGGIE LOUIS

The GBHS dress code states that shorts must be fingertip-length and tube tops – as well as back-less and halter tops – are prohibited.

Bullying at the bay Survey provides new statistics and uncovers old problems

BY ALISON SALE

asale.gazette@gmail.com

Granite Bay High School senior Laura Smith is a victim of bullying. She is one of the estimated 25 percent of students who are affected by bullying at some point during their school career, according to the National Association of School Psychologists.

“It doesn’t make sense why you would break someone down to the point of (causing them to) act violently or wanting to disappear altogether,” Smith said Smith admits that she has bullied others as a result of being bullied – See BULLYING, page A8

California prepares to vote on Prop. 19 Debating the legalization of cannabis

BY JUSTIN SHIIBA jshiiba.gazette@gmail.com

The Regulate, Control and Tax Cannabis Act, also known as Proposition 19, will be on the California state ballot this Nov 2.

The proposition would legalize

inside this issue

News

A2 – A9

Voices

A10 – A113

Second Look

A14

Features

B1 – B8

Sports

C1 – C8

Green Screen

G1 – G20

the recreational use of marijuana and allow local governments to tax and regulate the drug for revenue.

This grass-roots movement has generated overwhelming support over the past couple of years according to the latest Field Poll, See MARIJUANA, page A8

With only a few minutes before her next class, Granite Bay High School senior Emma Slattery walks into the office. All she needs is to grab a piece of paper and then she’s off to her next class.

As she grabs the paper and turns to head out, Debbie Nordman, the assistant principal’s secretary, stops her. Her shorts, she says, are considered in violation of the dress code.

Slattery looks at the clock; she only has a few minutes before she’s due in her next class: government. It’s the day of their first big test, one she’s been studying for for weeks.

When she tells this to Nordman, she is all but ignored.

After calling Slattery’s parents, giving her new shorts and instructing her on the protocol she must follow to get her shorts back, Slattery is allowed to leave, late to class and her government test. *** Like Slattery, many other GBHS students have recently been issued dress code violations, and they have grown increasingly frustrated with the limits set on their attire.

With a heat wave carrying warm weather into the fall, GBHS students can be seen sporting short-shorts, tube tops and other summer clothing.

The issue is that, while it still feels like summer outside, school is in session and the dress code is being enforced. Many of these items can be found on the list of clothing deemed inappropriate by the GBHS administration.

Found online and in the student handbook, the dress code cites “tube tops, halter-tops, back-less tops, scoop-neck tops, half shirts and muscle shirts” as attire that is “not appropriate” for school. Even so, many GBHS students still persist on wearing these items of clothing.

“Most girls (on campus) look like Bratz dolls,” GBHS English teacher David Tastor said.

See DRESS, page A8

Why they do the chew An investigation of GBHS students chewing on campus

BY PARKER EVANS

pevans.gazette@gmail.com

Granite Bay High School assistant principal Cathy Raycraft is adamant on the subject.

“It’s not allowed,” Raycraft said stiffly.

The signs are everywhere around the school.

They are shaped like a shield and have a picGazette photo /MAGGIE LOUIS ture of a smoking cigarette above a lot of bold Chewing tobacco on any school campus is illegal. face text that nobody ever reads.

Yet students can find their way around that Despite this law, chewing has been witnessed at GBHS. telltale waft of smoke.

“You dip at school and smoke cigarettes out Before he turned 18, he would have older friends buy of school,” said a GBHS senior who asked to remain it for him. Now he can legally walk into stores and anonymous. buy it himself.

“You can hide (chewing tobacco) but you can’t hide Although the senior dips semi-regularly at school, a cigarette.” he says he has never been caught.

The senior first tried chewing tobacco in eighth “I haven’t found anybody with it,” Raycraft said. grade. “A couple of my friends were doing it because “If we do find someone with a tobacco product, we their dads did it,” he said. take it away and (give it) directly to (school resource According to the senior’s estimate, about 40 GBHS officer and sheriff’s deputy Joe) Herrick.” students chew.

Although the senior isn’t a ballplayer, baseball and Today, he can walk across campus during school chewing tobacco have traditionally gone hand in hours with tobacco tucked in his lip without being hand. stopped or questioned by students or teachers.

“If you go back that long ago, chewing tobacco “I dip whenever I have money” the senior said.

See TOBACCO, page A8

Pool safety Tips on how to keep children safe around the water

A3

Homecoming Take a peek at the 2010 celebration

A14

A2 News

Friday, October 8, 2010

NAMES IN THE NEWS

adrienne blevins ablevins.gazette@gmail.com

w The Granite Bay Gazette

Weather still hot, safety still needed

Freshman takes home national spelling bee title On Aug. 14, GBHS freshman Anvita Mishra defeated her opponents at the South Asian Spelling Bee to become the winner. The finals were held in North Brunswick, N.J. and her winning word was naumkeg.

“They were difficult, random words,” said Mishra, regarding the other words in the competition. She studied just by flipping through a special dictionary.

Overall, Mishra described her experience as being fun and that she definitely enjoyed it. *** On Saturday, Sept. 18, the GBHS speech and debate team faced off against other schools at a tournament hosted by Ponderosa High School.

The team, which is coached by Rita Prichard, scored the most points and the most wins out of any of the other schools there. GBHS also had two people who placed first in two events each.

Senior Jessica Northam achieved first place in both original oratory and the Lincoln Douglas debates. Gary Nielsen, also a senior, placed first in Parliamentary Debate alongside senior Stacey Wong and Duo Interpretation with senior Kevin Hollingshead.

Other members who went undefeated include junior Nima Miraliakbar and senior Dalton King in LD debate, along with sophomore Hammad Bashir and junior Ishaan Gupta in Parliamentary.

In the novice category sophomores Jeff Williams, Ally McReynolds, and freshman Reed Klaeser also finished undefeated. *** The GBHS varsity girls’ water polo team placed third at the Sierra Shootout tournament held on Sept.

17- 18 at Sierra College.

The tournament was special for senior captain Alison Hamby.

Hamby was chosen to be a part of the All Tournament team, which is an imaginary team comprised of the best players from the 18 schools who were competing in the tournament.

All of the coaches came together in a meeting and decided who the best players were.

“My coach came up to me and she said it’s because of your defense” Hamby said. “I’m a set defender, and I guard one of the main players…because I did so good at that tournament, (the coaches) picked me for all tournament..”

CORRECTIONS wIn a September story (“Frontrunners in a ‘classy’ competition,” Page A2), the Gazette reported that some Granite Bay High School seniors have taken community college classes solely to improve their grade-point averages and their college admissions prospects.

GBHS senior Chelsea Schifferle was named as an example of a student who has taken a number of community college classes.

Later in the story, however, Schifferle said she took the college classes because she was interested in the subjects, not because she wanted to bump up her high school GPA. But because Schifferle’s quote came later in the story, some readers wrongly assumed she was being cited as an example of students who try to “pad their resumes” with community college classes.

The Gazette did not intend to give that impression, and we apologize to Schifferle and to our readers for having done so. *** Contact the Gazette at: gbgazette@yahoo.com Identification Statement Granite Bay Gazette Published eight times per academic year c/o Granite Bay High School 1 Grizzly Way Granite Bay, CA 95746 Subscriptions: $25 per year/ $15 per half year

Gazette photo /SOPHIA ZOGOPOULOS

Following the rules enforced by the life guards at public pools can keep young people of all ages safe during hot weather, and prevent injuries and possible death.

Recent drowning of a local child reminds the community of the importance of water safety

BY KEVIN NIELSEN

kjnielsen.gazette@gmail.com

O

ne of the greatest issues faced when the temperature rises is water safety.

Recently in Westlake Estates 2-year-old Isabelle Goforth was found in a neighbor’s pool and was pronounced dead at the hospital.

This incident demonstrates the need to keep everyone safe while swimming.

There are many guidelines that can be followed to keep children safe around water.

First, every person has a respon-

sibility to put a gate around their pool, even if the family doesn’t have a young child.

Goforth drowned in her neighbor’s pool, not even her own.

Along with a gate, parent supervision is also important for kids of all ages.

“Parents need to watch children, even children who can swim,” Golfland Sunsplash owner Fred Kenney said.

Even if you can swim, accidents happen while playing around. One major accident that happens to teenagers is underwater blackout.

Underwater blackout can happen

Parking pass, ticket fees go to school fund Economic crisis forces GBHS administrators to get creative

BY ALI VALIDRIGHI

avaldrighi.gazette@gmail.com

On June 7, the social science classrooms of Jason Rath and Dale Mortensen were burglarized. A total of $3,000- 4,000 worth of DVDs were stolen. Apprehending the culprit has been a daunting and time-consuming process. “The wheels of justice are slow,” Rath said. “It’s been three months and no one has been arrested. It’s very disheartening.” *** Despite Granite Bay High School’s reputation of being a safe community, crimes such as the classroom break-in in June have caused many difficulties.

According to assistant principal Dave Vujovich, car burglaries have also posed problems. Recently, three cars parked on the street were broken into.

These types of crimes can be extremely hard to pinpoint on a single perpetrator.

“If we had cameras, we could catch these guys,” Vujovich said.

The lack of security cameras has at GBHS been a point of contention for a while.

“People have wanted cameras at school for as long as (it has been possible) to have (them),” Vujovich said. “(Cameras) could deter crimes from happening because if people know they’re being watched, they’re (less likely) to steal.”

However, the district has been reluctant to allow schools to splurge money on cameras in the current economic situation. “(Buying cameras) could backfire because people (may be upset) that we’re asking for donations for football and drill

quite easily. It is caused by carbon dioxide building up and getting stuck in the lungs preventing the body from getting enough air.

The most common accident seen at public pools and backyard pools is the simple slip and fall accident.

It might not be as severe as other accidents, but it is easy to avoid simply by making sure that everyone is walking while next to the pool.

Slipping and falling can become a serious accident if it is a toddler and they fall into the pool.

Even though slipping and fallDave Vujovich GBHS assistant principal has a part in handling the money brought in through a new parking pass fee

“Students have to go and apply for an application to get a spot.”

To get a parking pass, students must provide proof of insurance, a driver’s license and current registration.

See MONEY, page A9

go through extensive training that teaches CPR along with other lifesaving skills.

“I had to go through a week of training,” GBHS senior and former lifeguard Mitchell Kobayashi said.

With this specialized training, lifeguards should be on duty at all times at public pools.

While attending public pools too, don’t distract on-duty lifeguards.

“Don’t be stupid and pretend like you’re drowning because it distracts the lifeguards and they are protecting other people and it puts other people in danger while distracting them,” GBHS junior Brady Nations said.

It is also important to listen to the on-duty lifeguard. They know See WORD, page A4

Seniors debate effectiveness of election outreach project Program meant to involve students in politics

ernment, not just see how it affects me,” Subramanian said.

Subramanian said it is a huge responsiOn Sept. 7, the Placer County Elections bility to vote, and citizens must be intelOffice came to speak to the Granite Bay ligent and aware of the effect of choosing High School government seniors in the a party. library. Packets were distributed and a “In (class,) you learn so much more member of each political party spoke about government practices, and how we about the issues their parties stand for. can influence (them), Subramanian said.

After hearing each lecture, the seniors “I registered as a Democrat, but after a registered to vote and participated in a few weeks of being in Westberg’s Admock vote. vanced Placement But a majority of Government class, the students were I’m kind of more not old enough of an independent I didn’t think the to register, so the now.” county holds each people who came GBHS senior registration packet Emma Slattery said and talked to us until the students something positive turn 18. When were very helpful, came out of the the time comes to because they were experience. vote, they are reg“You kind of kind of vague on istered and ready forget about votto go. what they believed, ing because we The intention of haven’t even voted the mock voting yet at this point of experience was to – Cayley McDowell, our lives,” Slatmake the students GBHS senior tery said. “This of GBHS “more just kind of recomfortable and minded us that it’s inspire students to out there, and it’s register to vote,” something that we according to the website of the have to look forPlacer County Elections Office of Jim ward to in the future.”

McCauley.

Although she said there were positive However, the process appeared to have aspects of the process, she doesn’t believe little to no effect on students at GBHS. the mock vote was necessary.

GBHS senior Cayley McDowell felt “(The mock) voting was not really that the process did not leave an impact. taken seriously because they weren’t real “I didn’t think the people who came and issues, so you’re not really voting for talked to us were very helpful, because anything you have strong opinions on,” they were kind of vague on what they Slattery said. believed,” McDowell said. “(Because of Although the students voted using real that,) I wasn’t able to pick a party – I just voting machines, the issues consisted of registered decline-to-state.” questions such as “Who would be the Michael McDonald, a professor of secretary of hip hop?” and “Who would government and politics at George Mason be the secretary of comedy?” Options for University, said in an article in the New York Times, that young voters have had answers consisted of pop culture figures, low participation votes since 1972. The such as Lady Gaga, Beyonce and Jay-Z. The overall process resulted in mixed voting trend fluctuates slightly based on reactions.

Although the vote seemed how interesting each election is. slightly pointless, it brought up the realGBHS senior Ashwin Subramanian said ity that students need to begin taking politics are something people need to be involved in for the sake of our country’s charge in politics, so in the future we can continue to prosper as a politically well being.

“I want to actually be a part of our gov- strong country.

BY ARI BLACK

team but then spending a large has to be used for safety and amount of money on school security type things.” safety,” Vujovich said.

The extra parking fee Once the financial crisis has caused relatively few subsides, and the school is complaints from the GBHS given clearance by the dis- community. trict, Vujovich said GBHS “I only received two phone is ready to initiate the new calls from irate parents (askcamera system. “We (al- ing) what we were going to ready) have a plan for what use the money for,” Vujovich (the camera system) will look said. “When (I told) them it like,” he said. was for safety and security To finance the camera sys- they (were surprised $20) was tem, along with other safety all we were charging. We’re and security measures, money pretty fortunate.” from parking tickets and Vujovich tries to assist parking passes is being put students that have difficulty into a recently created ASB paying the parking fees. “If account. someone has financial (probIn the past, the school hasn’t lems) and is on free and charged extra for parking reduced lunch, we try to do passes which meant there re- whatever we can,” Vujovich ally wasn’t any extra money. said.

“We used According to charge $5 to school rejust to pay source officer for the parkand deputy We want to ing sticksheriff Joe ers,” VujoHerrick, bebe specific vich said. ing able to and trans“ T h e r e ’s park in the never been parking lot parent about that big pot is a privilege what the of money.” reserved for (money is beLast year juniors and was the first seniors, no ing used for) time GBHS sophomores so it benefits instituted a allowed. parking fee “We have the school. of $20. The real limmoney from ited parkthis fee goes ing – only – Dave Vujovich, directly into 500 parking GBHS assistant the ASB acspots,” Herprincipal count where rick said. it can only be spent under the category of “safety and security.”

“We made the category broad so we could have some leniency in what we spent it for,” Vujovich said. “But we can’t use it to buy pencils or make football posters. It

ing normally just causes cuts and bruises, it can lead to much worse problems.

Other common accidents are diving accidents.

It is never a smart idea to dive into a shallow pool. Every year someone breaks their neck or gets seriously hurt due to the fact that they dive to far down or dive into a shallow pool.

Even though public pools and backyard pools differ in common accidents, following the rules would drastically help with water injuries.

“If everyone followed the rules no one would probably be hurt,” Kenney said.

As for public pools, make sure that a lifeguard is on duty.

Lifeguards are trained and always ready to assist anyone. They

aublack.gazette@gmail.com

Friday, October 8, 2010

News A3

w The Granite Bay Gazette

News Briefs

Gazette photo / SOPHIA ZOGOPOULOS

College events ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦

SAT I & II FALL Deadlines Test date Deadline Late 10-09-10 9-10-10 9-24-10 11-6-10 10-8-10 10-22-10 12-4-10 11-5-10 11-19-10 *Bold indicates GBHS as a test center.

Gazette photos /MAGGIE LOUIS

GBHS senior Melly Geary above, was crowned Homecoming Queen at half-time of the Homecoming football game on Friday, Oct. 1. GBHS senior and Homecoming King candidate Sam Freitas offers his applause. Right, the Grizzly mascot hypes up the crowd at the Homecoming rally.

State Farm hosts contest for best football footage Friday Night Feats, a nationwide competition sponsored by State Farm Insurance, is offering up to a $17,500 reward to schools for the submission of remarkable footage from football game moments. The contest will run through Novem-

ber 24th. To submit your videos for a chance to win money for GBHS, visit fridaynightfeats.com.

Fall Blood Drive The GBHS fall blood drive will be held on Oct. 28.

Sign-ups will be required for all those interested in participating. To donate, students must be 16 or older, and all minors must have parental consent. For more information, contact GBHS nurse Linda Warfield in the front office.

College and Career Center OCTOBER 9 SAT I & II Tests @ GBHS 13 PSAT Test at GBHS (no school) 20 Academy of Art University –10:00am 21 U.S. Navy NROTC – 10:00am 23 ACT @ Roseville High School and Whitney High School

Gale Application for iPhones The GBHS learning center database, Gale, is now available for free download on iPhones. The program is aligned with school curriculum and provides cited information not found on the internet that includes history, literature, science, social studies and reference material. The site is also accessible with a regular internet connection.

ACT FALL Deadlines Test date Deadline Late 10-23-10 9-17-10 10-1-10 12-11-10 11-5-10 11-19-10 *Bold indicates Roseville High School as a test center.

Students grant wishes, HOPE GABY financially supports youth philanthropy

BY SAMANTHA SPARGO sspargo.gazette@gmail.com

A local youth organization is improving the community one grant at a time.

The Grants Advisory Board for Youth is giving out grants to local programs to encourage youth philanthropy in the community. The grants are called Helping Other People Excel, or H.O.P.E. The GABY board’s grants are privately funded through the Place Community Foundation.

Granite Bay High School juniors Jake Keester and Kyle Pawlak, and GBHS seniors Stacey Wong and Matt Veneman, are on the board this year.

Keester heard about the board from his college counselor, who recommended it to him as a good way to earn community service hours.

Pawlak learned about the board last year from a GBHS bulletin, and his college counselor also suggested that he get involved.

“It gives students a chance to have an active voice in their community,” Future Stars college counselor Jilian Bar-or said. “It provides them with some real skills that they will experience in the workforce.”

The board is completely student-run, with minimal adult involvement.

Adviser Erin Stone first began working with the GABY board as an

adviser four years ago.

“I really feel like philanthropy is important,” Stone said. “I was always involved in lots of community service projects, activities and student government in high school and college.”

The teens have multiple jobs to complete at each monthly meeting.

First, they must review all of the grant applications they receive.

“After we’ve got our applicants then we divide up who is going to interview which applicants, and we do it in teams,” Pawlak said. “Once that’s done, individual teams bring back their decisions to the board.”

Then the board has to choose which applications will receive funds.

“It needs to be clear to the board that the (applicant’s actions will) be run by youth,” Pawlak said. “That is the whole point of the grant, to promote youth action in the community.”

Finally, they have to follow up to make sure that the grant is being used appropriately by the beneficiaries.

Last year, the Placer County branch of the board gave out three grants.

“It’s one basic grant, but there is a range of pricing you can get,” Pawlak said. “It ranges from $500 to $1,500 based on the need of the applicant.”

The first grant went to Rocklin High School to fund its Culture Day, which focused on Hawaiian culture education.

Another grant went to Chana High School, a continuation high school in Auburn, to supplement its after school program.

The third grant went again to Rocklin High to facilitate its “Friendship

Day.” In 2009, the entire GABY organization gave out 34 grants of $500 each to Sacramento area youth projects.

Any teenager14-17 can apply to be on the board, as long as they are ready to put in the effort it requires.

Participating in GABY has helped Keester and the other board members connect with their community. “(After serving on the board) I am more aware of my community and I feel more involved,” Keester said.

Bar-or also emphasizes the importance of seeing their philanthropy efforts pay off.

Their involvement in the board will not only help them right now, but also the members will benefit when they head to college and enter the workforce.

“This program helps (the board members) learn how to work with others and how to use critical thinking to make decisions that are real,” Stone said.

These skills will be vital for the jobs and classes teens will encounter once they leave the nest.

“Any opportunities you can get that are going to mirror the work that you’ll have to do in college or in the future in your career, the better,” Bar-or said.

The GABY board cannot make a difference without the support of the youth in the community.

“We are really open to new (project) ideas,” Stone said. “It doesn’t necessarily have to have been done before, (if) the project idea is well thought out we want to try and help make (the applicant’s) dream come true.”

ASB UPDATE The Gazette talks to Granite Bay High School senior class president Brie Shimada.

The Gazette: What events have you been involved in recently?

Shimada: We (have been) working on the senior class float, and it (was shown) at the bonfire rally.

I also just booked the hypnotist for Senior Fifth Quarter, and I’ve already started working on Senior Ball with Nancy Stuckey, who’s the head mom helping me out with that. I’ve been working on the Disneyland trip that I put together for seniors, which is separate from senior events.

Gazette photo /RACHaEL VASQUEZ

GBHS senior class president Brie Shimada talks about the senior Disneyland trip and Senior Ball.

Gazette: What was your reaction to the bullying assembly?

Shimada: I (am a teacher aid) for KC Wachs during fourth period, which is a class full of sophomores, and I’ve talked to a lot of other people around campus who thought the assembly actually was effective. When the slide came up with all the dates of school shootings, it made me and other people realize that stuff like this actually happens. I think that was just a real eye opener that it could actually happen at our school.

– Compiled by Katie Zingheim

How far

is too far?

Gazette photo /SOPHIA ZOGOPOULOS

GBHS students must receive permission from an administrator to go out to their cars during school hours. Their cars can be searched, however, because they are parked in the lot.

Students pay fee to park without easy access to cars

BY SOPHIA ZOGOPOULOS szogopoulos.gazette@gmail.com

Many students believe that because they have a parking permit, they should be allowed to go to their cars during school hours. However, a suspension may result because Granite Bay High School is a closed campus.

According to the GBHS handbook, all comprehensive high schools in the Roseville Joint Union High School District are closed campuses for safety reasons. This means students are not allowed to leave campus or go to their cars without a formal excuse from an assistant principal during school hours.

Although many of our parents were allowed to go off campus at their high schools, it has been realized that with having an open campus, the safety of the school is at risk.

“In about 2001, the closed campus got introduced in (the) Education Code, which goes through the state,” assistant principal Dave Vujovich said. “(The state) was asking schools to consider closing their campuses for safety.”

Students try to argue that an open campus would beneficial. They suggest that if GBHS had an open campus, in order to maintain safety, there could be required checks when re-entering the school.

GBHS junior Austin Vincenzini is one of the students who argues that an open campus would benefit not only students, but also the community.

“There are so many businesses around Granite Bay that would benefit from a student body like ours (going) to lunch there. Plus, the majority of the kids here are good so I don’t think students would be ditching class all the time,” Vincenzini said.

Even with the closed campus, students can be excused to go to their cars.

“All you do is come up to us and say you need to go to your car,” Vujovich said. “And if I don’t know you, I ask your name and then tell the front desk (that you need) to go to the parking lot.”

Even though the handbook states this process very clearly, many students want to quickly grab something from their car, and they don’t think breaking this rule is a big deal.

Before junior Hailey Israel discovered how easy the process was, she was continuously leaving her lunch in her car and was unable to get it.

“When you forget something in your car like your

lunch, you don’t want to go through a long process to get what you need,” Israel said. “(The administrators) should be worried about people driving out of the parking lot, not about what people bring in from their cars.”

Another concept that upsets students is that the parking lot is considered off campus, yet when drug searches occur the parking lot is considered to be on campus so cars can be searched.

“If the parking lot is off campus then the administration shouldn’t be able to search our cars,” senior Ryan Williams said. “But, if it’s on campus than we should be able to go to our cars, and go to lunch.

(Then) they can search our cars more often.”

Although the random searches are necessary for maintaining safety on our campus, many students feel that the searches could be inaccurate. Students may be unaware of an illegal substance in their car, and suffer the respective consequences.

Last year during a search, seniors Jessica and Alison Hamby received notes in their second period classes notifying them that their car was going to be searched.

“It was very scary. I kept on thinking what if they found something in my car and I didn’t even know it was there,” Jessica Hamby said.

Hamby supports the school’s car searches in order to keep the campus safe, but she does not support the parking lot limitations.

“If I can’t walk out to my car and get what I want, then there should be no searches anyway because students can’t get what they have in their car,” Hamby said.

Another heated topic among students is the $20 parking permit fee.

“We all pay the same price but some students get the front (parking) spots and the rest of us get the back (spots). Also, we should all be entitled to a spot since we pay, but we can never be guaranteed a spot,” Vincenzini said.

With these frustrations, many students wonder where the money goes and how it benefits our school.

“The money goes to an ASB account, which means that elected student officials during the 10 months of school have to sign off on any expenditures,” Vujovich said. “Recently we purchased radios to communicate with each other for safety. When the time is prudent, we would like to buy security cameras to oversee the parking lot and the school for student safety. However, right now having a large expenditure when there are budget cuts is not a good time.”

A4 News

Friday, October 8, 2010

w The Granite Bay Gazette

Homecoming festivities lead to spirited successes Week filled with exciting activities to raise school spirit and support for the football team

BY KEVIN NIELSEN knielsen.gazette@gmail.com

Homecoming week is one of the most anticipated weeks for Granite Bay High School students. The most exciting part of homecoming comes at the end of the week when all the spirited festivities reach their climax at the homecoming game.

“I look forward to the game and the halftime show” GBHS senior Kyle Chin said.

Before the game, students show their school spirit by dressing up and participating in Student Government-run games.

This year, homecoming week started off with Sports Day, moved to Tall Tee Day, then Reggae Day, then Frontier Land and finally, GBHS day.

“I like that we still do the dress-themes. It reminds everyone that it’s a special occasion,” GBHS senior Adam Godbey said.

Certain days are more enjoyed by the student body than others.

“I liked Tall Tee Day because it was really comfortable and I enjoy wearing tall tees,” GBHS sophomore Erica Peterson said.

Godbey said that he thought student participation was much greater this year than in previous years.

Along with dressing up, games like limbo and water balloon toss are another way to encourage school spirit. These games took place during lunch and were open to any students that desired to participate.

Homecoming activities were not limited to just the school day. On Thursday night, the Bonfire Rally took place at 7:30 p.m.

The rally aimed to increase student excitement for

the game, as well as to support the school’s clubs.

Clubs were able to make money by selling refreshments At the rally, students enjoyed music and hung out with their friends while warming themselves by the large bonfire.

Anticipation for the game was further increased by daily “spirit” bulletins. Students got to enjoy the saga of T-Loco trying retrieve his jersey. “(The bulletin helped wake) me up (in the morning) and told me what I needed to know for school” GBHS junior Samantha Hughes said.

The saga came to an end at the rally Friday, when students discovered that it was a Pirate that stole TLoco’s jersey. Luckily the Grizzly mascot was able to do a dance to get the jersey back.

To finish off the week, the GBHS football team y won 45-7 against the Pittsburg Pirates.

The Grizzlies played well both offensively and defensively. “(The teams strong point), I’d say, was our first defensive stop and our first offensive drive. We started out strong on both sides,” GBHS senior Drake Smalley said.

The half time show helped to further rally the crowd. Both the float winner and the homecoming queens and kings were announced.

The winner for this years’ float was the senior class of 2011, with the Land of Oz. The float was equipped with a revolving tornado and house, which set the float apart from the others.

“I thought it was amazing,” GBHS senior Rachel Kludjian said. “I especially liked the tornado and house that spun as well as all the character’s cos-

New transfer policy assists IB students IB students transfer to GBHS for more opportunities and better curriculum

of their choice during the transfer

BY SONIA IYER process. siyer.gazette@gmail.com When the district staff mem bers are organizing which interThe recent addition of the IB district transfers will go to which program to Granite Bay High of the IB schools in the Roseville School has shed light on the new Joint Union High School District, policies created for transfers.

GBHS or Oakmont High School, Any student who lives outside the most transfers are simply placed at district’s limits and attends GBHS the school with the most space for is considered a transfer student. enrollment. Siblings, however, auThe new transfer policy states that tomatically get a spot in the school every transfer student must par- that their older sibling attends. ticipate in the IB program.

“We never split up siblings,” Whether or not the transfer Colnar said. “They always get student wants to come to GBHS to go to the same school if they for the IB program, each student (want).” must take a minimum of three IB Other than classes in order the selection to remain at the process, howschool. ever, siblings Doing the IB According to don’t get any Program here is IB Coordinator priority over Sharry Colnar, other transfer definitely more however, many students. of the recent prestigious.

Where new transfers wantpolicies have ed to come to surfaced for –Ty Thompson, GBHS GBHS simply transfer stufor its challengjunior dents, probing curriculum. lems have risen For junior as well.

Ty ThompOne probson, joining the IB program was lem for students trying to get into his primary reason for coming to GBHS is that they must get perGBHS. mission from their original disAlthough he lives in the dis- trict to transfer out. This can be trict for Del Oro High School, he difficult. If the student’s reason transferred to GBHS in order to for requesting a transfer isn’t contake part in the challenging cur- sidered reasonable by the district riculum. staff, they can deny the student “I thought I’d go to GBHS permission. because it has harder classes,” However, if the district doesn’t Thompson said. “I feel like (the have a high school program that classes) will prepare me better for matches a program at GBHS, then college.” they must grant permission.

According to Thompson, the “If they don’t have IB, for exampreparation here is better because ple, then they can’t say that they of the number of advanced cours- won’t let you go,” Colnar said. es offered.

If the student seeks a specific type “Del Oro doesn’t have as many of course as well, such as a certain AP classes and they don’t have the foreign language, the district must IB program,” Thompson said. “So allow the student to transfer. doing (the program) here is defi“If a district doesn’t have Japanitely more prestigious.” nese, but a school in another disTwo of Thompson’s younger trict (offers the language), that brothers, who are also transfers to would be a valid reason for transGBHS, will participate in the IB ferring,” Colnar said. program in upcoming years.

According to Colnar, one reaWhile siblings of transfer stu- son that a district might not want dents also have to participate in to grant a student permission to the IB program in order to get into transfer is because of money. the district, they get priority over “When a student transfers out others in getting into the IB school of a district and into another, their

Ashby Vose Is an intradistrict transfer and particpates in the IB program.

Gazette photo /maggie louis

GBHS senior Shelbi Tooley, Dorothy, dumps “water” on the Wicked Witch of the West, Brieana Shimada as seniors celebrate their winning homecoming float. tumes and make up.”

Although there wasn’t the turn out that most people After the floats finished parading by, the freshman, hoped for, it was an improvement from years past. sophomore and junior royalty, along with the senior Peterson was pleased and said she had a great time. nominees, took their places on the stage.

However, many students think that a formal homeThe senior king and queen were announced differcoming dance would be more enjoyable. ently this year. Each nominee was given a box to “I probably would go to a formal dance, because open. The winner had a balloon in their box which the homecoming dance is something most schools would float out to signal their victory. look forward to,” Chin said.

The senior homecoming king and queen for the Overall, students enjoyed homecoming week. class of 2011 were Jimmy Jack and Melly Geary.

“Homecoming week this year was great!” Senior Student Government also brought back the homeGBHS Joe Wilkie said. “The spirit days were fun coming dance this year and worked hard to make it a and the bonfire rally was awesome.” success.

Is it now time to switch roles?

Senate Bill 1422 would allow students to evaluate teachers

BY KYLE PAWLAK

kpawlak.gazette@gmail.com

Ty Thompson transfered to GBHS for its challenging curriculum.

money goes with them,” Colnar said.

Each district is given a certain amount of money by the state per student they enroll. In this area, each district is given at least $6,000 per student. When a student transfers out, the money is transferred to the other district as well.

At GBHS, some of the money raised by these inter-district transfers is used to fund the IB program.

“Students who transfer into GBHS allow the (IB) program to stay alive,” Colnar said.

Although the money supporting the IB program comes from the inter-district transfers, intra-district transfers must join the IB program as well in order to stay at GBHS. Senior Ashby Vose lives closer to Roseville High School than GBHS, but she chose to become an intra-district transfer to GBHS for its abundance of opportunities.

“I have a friend at Roseville High School who couldn’t take Honors Pre-Calculus because not enough students signed up for (the class),” Vose said. “Here, there’s (several) periods (each semester) for students to take it.”

In addition to class availability, Vose feels the dedication of the students and the extracurricular activities at GBHS are also compelling.

“Students get more involved in everything from club day to Homecoming floats,” Vose said.

“The overall outcome (of the activities) seems better.”

Overall, there are quite a few reasons that a student would want to transfer to GBHS, for both academics and extracurricular activities.

“Our band, speech and debate, and journalism programs are all fantastic and appeal to transfers,” Colnar said. “But the only invitation to GBHS for transfers is given

There are so many bills that go through the California state legislature that few people can keep track of them all. However, SB 1422 is one with implications that might attract the attentions of many students and teachers.

The bill in question was authored by Gloria Romero, a California State senator and Chair of the Senate Education Committee, and will create a system for students to rate their teachers.

Just like “The bill anything, some was brought to (Romero) by people would be (its) sponsors, honest, and some the California Association of people would Student Counuse it as a forum cil. (They) had multiple issues to get back at that they wanted people to be brought to fruition,” said Teala Schaff, -Tamara Givens, GBHS who works in Romero’s senate student office. “(Romero) told them to pick one...and that’s the one they chose.”

According to legisweb.com, this law would “authorize the student government of a school maintaining any of grades 9 to 12, inclusive, to establish a committee of pupils and teachers to develop a survey by which pupils may provide feedback to teachers.”

Responses by students would be completely confidential, giving them the freedom to express exactly how they feel, without worrying about offending a

teacher.

However, there are aspects of the bill that should alleviate teacher concerns. The bill also states that the results of the survey would be reported only to the teachers, and would not be part of teachers’ permanent records.

Teachers also have the choice of whether or not to administer the survey to their students.

This bill has been passed by majorities in both the Assembly and Senate and has been signed by the governor. It simply has not been implemented.

GBHS senior Bri Shimada is optimistic about the bill and thinks it could truly make a difference at GBHS. “I think that teachers could really benefit from it, because we have so many great teachers, (but) everyone can always use improvement,” Shimada said, “Our teachers would just keep getting better and better.”

“Students should have a say in (teachers) because they are the ones actually learning,” Shimada said, “Anything to make learning easier and better and to improve the system I support.”

Tamara Givens, the student government teacher at GBHS, had only recently heard of the Senate bill and was slightly skeptical.

“I find it odd that it is a Senate bill,” Givens said.

She said it seemed like the state senate would have more pressing matters to deal with.

One part of the bill that Givens found unusual was the fact that students’ names would be anonymous.

“I am going to pay more attention to someone who is willing to sign their name to something than someone who won’t even put their name behind it,” Givens said.

The possible problem that Givens saw with the bill was simple. “Just like anything, some people would be honest, and some people would use it as a forum to get back at people,” Givens said.

Overall, this Senate bill can have positive effects provided it is treated with the proper respect by both teachers and students. “(The information gathered) could be useful if kids were honest…and not using it as a way to bash people,” Givens said.

WATER: Accident causes concerns

Continued from Water, page A2

The rules and are only looking out for the well-being of everyone.

With a lake so close by and readily available, there are more problems that should be watched out for in this area.

Many boating and jet skiing accidents happen each year on Folsom Lake.

People don’t always wear their life jacket when they are required to. There are very few deaths when life jackets are utilized. Yet people consider it an inconvenience.

“I don’t like to wear life jackets because they are uncomfortable

The Gazette.

and hard to swim in,” GBHS According to the U.S. Coast senior Clarke Stevenson said.

Guard, alcohol has a worse effect Along in the body while with not on water then it wearing does on land.

Parents need to life jackets, The Coast drinking Guard also says watch their kids, and boatthat probably half even kids who ing is also of all boating accan swim. common. cidents are due to People alcohol consumpfigure that tion.

– Fred Kenney, owner of drinking ‘“If your child is Golfland Sunsplash and boatin the water you ing is less should be too,’” dangerous Nations said. than drink“That’s what the ing and back of our shirts driving, however, it is the op- say, and I think it’s good advice posite. for everyone.”

Your names.

Your faces.

Your newspaper.

Visit us at

granitebaygazette.com

Friday, October 8, 2010

News A5

w The Granite Bay Gazette

Local parents raise awareness on drug abuse Pathway to prevention seeks to prevent teenage drug abuse in the area

BY SAMANTHA SPARGO sspargo.gazette@gmail.com

It is no mystery that drug use occurs among the students of Granite Bay High School.

Most recreational drug use begins as a result of curiosity and peer pressure.

Eventually, this seemingly harmless experimentation can spiral downward into a full-blown addiction.

Five local mothers, a few whose children attended GBHS, know this cycle of teenage addiction all too well.

These mothers first came together as a support group while their children went through the rehabilitations and relapses of teenage addiction. They saw the growing problems addiction was causing in the community and so they decided to create Pathway to Prevention, an organization aimed at raising awareness and educating the community about teenage drug and alcohol addiction, and a documentary film on addiction.

Along with its many other endeavors, Pathway to Prevention hopes to raise funds for families that cannot afford rehabilitation for their addicted teen.

Today there is no such thing as an average drug addict.

“It is no longer the alcoholic living on the street, in the city,” said Kim Box, the Executive Director of Pathway to Prevention.

Box’s daughter was a straight A student midway through her senior year when she began hanging around with new friends and experimenting with drugs.

By the end of the year she had fallen into a heroin addiction and barely graduated.

“You don’t think it’s going to be your kid,” Box said.

Some parents who experimented with

drugs during their own teenage years, think of drug use as a normal part of teen life, and, having led successful lives, they don’t believe it has affected them. But the drugs of today are more dangerous than in the past because of their higher concentration of harmful, brain-altering chemicals.

“Even pot is a lot higher in THC content than it was when (parents) were younger,” Box said.

The problem with addiction is that it physically changes the brain of the user.

“Once your brain gets altered in addiction, it’s not you anymore,” Box said.

“Your brain actually thinks ‘I need drugs to survive.’”

Recently, an increasing number of teens have turned to prescription drugs to reach their high. Over-the-counter medications are often stronger than street drugs, and are more accessible too. This is making it easier for teens to slip over the line, where recreational partying becomes a fullfledged addiction.

“Placer County has a big problem,” Box said. “We have twice the number of kids abusing prescription drugs than the average for the state of California.”

Recently GBHS partnered with Pathway to Prevention to hold a drug drive, where the public turned in their unused prescription medications. The point of the drive was to raise awareness about the prevalence of prescription drug use among teens, and to take possession of unused drugs to keep them out of the hands of teenagers.

A GBHS senior has experienced addiction first hand.

“I’ve been doing drugs since 8th grade,” the senior said. “You name it, I’ve tried it.”

He decided that he needed to stop his drug use when his parents told them they

Gazette photo /MAGGIE LOUIS

Allison Sims (middle) and Angela Ecklos (right) donate their unused drugs as Sheriff Kevin Jackson empties the bottles no longer wanted him around his brothers and sisters.

He checked himself into Narcotics Anonymous and received comfort from the other people in his situation.

“I saw that people could be happy without partying all night long,” the senior said.

Today he is clean, but after his experience with addiction, he has some stern advice for fellow GBHS students.

Don’t even try it, from someone that’s done everything, it’s not worth it,” he

said.

For a GBHS student, with a drug addicted sibling who previously attended GBHS, her sibling’s addiction has not only taken a toll on him, but affected both she and her family immensely.

“It made me grow up (faster) and see the world a lot differently,” the GBHS student said. “I’m not really a teenager anymore.”

The GBHS student thinks of her sibling every time she hears about alcohol and drug use among her peers. It makes her sad

to hear these stories because she knows the horrible consequences that her peers do not realize are at stake.

“Their future can be ruined and they could destroy their family,” the GBHS student said.

Pathway to Prevention hopes to keep other GBHS students like this senior and the GBHS student’s sibling from heading down the path to addiction in the future.

“Wouldn’t it be nice if the peer pressure was not to do it?” Box said.

Twin Schools Road off limits, Feist Park is not Students are ticketed on Twin Schools Road

BY JON SETIAWAN

jsetiawan.gazette@gmail.com

Whether it’s the sophomores taking up spaces in the parking lot, or juniors and seniors not being able to find parking in the morning, it seems that every year GBHS appears to have issues with parking on campus.

The problem with parking is more with traffic and students who are not as willing to walk from the further end of the parking lot as the school has sold less parking passes than there are spots available.

However, GBHS senior Dhanya Mathew does not have any issues with parking.

“I don’t know if it’s crazy for other students or not, but it honestly doesn’t affect me,” Mathew said, who typically arrives at 7:25 a.m. for school.

Many other students, however, are affected by the traffic.

“The traffic after school is only an issue on Mondays when I need to get to work at exactly 3 o’clock. I leave the school as early as I can, but I can never get there on time,” GBHS senior Kelsey Bauer said. “I wish there was some way I could at least grab some food before work, but the traffic makes it impossible.”

For a few students who want to avoid the big parking lot traffic in the morning, they will either park or get dropped off in front of Feist Park behind the school.

However, there have been instances of students getting ticketed for parking on that street.

These tickets, however, are not coming from GBHS. “The tickets were coming from the county rather than our school issued tickets,” Assistant principal David Vujovich said.

The primary concern is the safety of the younger stu-

dents that attend elementary schools, Ridgeview and Oakmont, across the street.

“It’s a little bit ridiculous to be complaining about students parking at Feist. Just let kids who need to go to school park and do what they need to do,” Mathew said.

To deter people from parking in front of the street, signs have been put out in front of the park, and the gates that block the entrance to parking lot have been closed strategically.

“They had been Just let kids closing the gates until after GBHS park and do what starts school, but they need to do because it’s a one-way area, it was causing a lot – Dhanya Mathew of traffic,” VujoGBHS senior vich said.

However, for people with an off-period first, the situation is a little different.

If students have a first period open, and the gates are open, it’s a public park. They can legally park in the park parking lot.

During the 2009-10 school year, the Eureka School District gave their resource officer the jurisdiction to ticket cars parked in that area.

However, this school year is different.

According to Vujovich, this year, they do not have the jurisdiction to ticket cars parked in front of Feist.

But why were cars parking at Feist to begin with?

There’s the argument of the traffic issue in front of campus, along with other motives including a shorter walk for those who may have first off and can’t park

Gazette photo /michaela monaghan

A sign indicates that Parking along Twin Schools Road is strictly for Ridgeview and Oakhill’s Schools closer to school or do not get close parking opportunities or to avoid car searches.

“Students thought that they were being more private when we started bringing the drug dogs over, but (the school) still has jurisdiction over that area,” Vujovich said.

An anonymous GBHS senior student said, “I stopped

parking (at Feist Park) now that they started searching it.”

There might be traffic issue at GBHS, but the problem is definitely not because of a lack of parking.

“You can always find someplace to park on this campus,” Vujovich said, “You may have to walk a ways, but it’s still on campus.”

No child or every child left behind?

Bush’s no child left behind act may not be accomplishing its goal

BY MATHEW FUKUHARA

mfukuhara.gazette@gmail.com

Laws are written for a purpose whether they govern the nation as a whole or address individual issues of minorities, but sometimes the very laws that can help one group can limit another.

Granite Bay High School has been in what is commonly referred to as “program improvement” for the third year which has the district and therefore GBHS undergoing some unpopular training sessions.

“Program improvement” is implemented when a school is not performing at the requirements set by the state.

Under the No Child Left Behind Act passed by the U.S. congress in 2002, schools have to perform at standards set by individual states and make resources available to ensure students have the proper tools they need to be successful.

When schools are found not performing to the standards two years in a row, the following year they enter Year One of program improvement which requires that the school/district inform the parents that the school their child is attending is in the program.

Also, the parents have the right to transfer their child to any of the other schools in the district and the district has to cover the transportation fees.

Year Two and Three are similar in that the school has to provide “professional development and supple-

mental services.”

The only difference between Year Two and Three is that in Year Three the district has the option to replace school staff, extend the school day or year or reorganize the school internally.

By Year 4, the district has the option to reopen the school as a charter, replace all or most of the staff including the principal or implement a state takeover.

The law in its simplest translation is to ensure that all students have the resources to succeed. At a school like GBHS where students are performing at a proficient level, some teachers question why the school is in the program in the first place.

“We are in ‘program improvement’ because a subgroup (special education), as a district, hasn’t made their scores and so if it’s the district, it’s the high schools that are in program improvement even though, technically, it says (GBHS) has met all the criteria,” principal Mike McGuire said.

However, the educational subgroup known as special education isn’t entirely to blame for the implementation of the program.

The expectations on students continue to rise by 11 percent each year in compliance with NCLB. “It’s going to jump up to 66 percent next year and it’s harder to meet and then it’s going to jump to 77 percent and all kinds of groups will be falling off,” said McGuire.

The reality is by 2014 the NCLB student proficiency expectancy will have increased to 100 percent proficiency in math and English which has a number of teachers worried and frustrated.

Ramona Drury, who teaches honors English 11 and AP Language classes, attended the English trainings, but felt it did little to benefit her teaching.

“I walked away feeling like I had lost three days. It wasn’t really training. It was a presentation of materials,” Drury said. “I was forced to spend three classroom days examining materials I already knew would or wouldn’t fit in my curriculum.”

The math department is last to have to take the training.

Duane Blomquist, who teaches IB math and honors pre-calculus, has heard from the English department’s experience and wonders what the community thinks about the recent events.

“When you’re in the formal program improvement, they’re forcing you to go get better by going somewhere because it’s obviously not working at ‘your house,’” Blomquist said.

Jarrod Westberg, who teaches AP government, also sees reason for concern.

“It’s tried to norm education and it’s almost dumbed down where a lot of schools were because every child needs to be at the same level, so how do you ramp up without leaving the child behind?” Westberg said.

Read the Gazette, Granite Bay’s award winning newspaper

A6 News

Friday, October 8, 2010 w The Granite Bay Gazette

MARIJUANA: Federal and international laws complicate legalization in California Continued from page A1 with 49 percent of the public in favor of Prop. 19, and 42 percent against it.

The proposition has recently gained support from the state’s largest labor union, the Service Employees International Union.

Even so it fails to receive support from bigtime politicians such as Jerry Brown, Meg Whitman or Diane Feinstein.

If Prop. 19 does pass, California may be conflicting with federal government laws.

“The federal Controlled Substances Act makes it a felony to grow or sell cannabis.” Mark Kleiman, a UCLA public policy professor, said in the Los Angeles Times.

“California can repeal its own marijuana laws, leaving enforcement to the feds, but it can’t legalize a federal felony.”

According to the Controlled Substances Act of 1970, marijuana is a Schedule 1 drug which is considered just as lethal as cocaine and heroin.

“Any grower or seller paying California taxes on marijuana sales or filing pot-related California regulatory paperwork would be confessing, in writing, to multiple federal crimes,” Kleiman told the firms.

Granite Bay High School government teacher Jarrod Westberg also agrees that Proposition 19 is against the law.

“A proposition can be made whether it’s violating federal law or not,” Westberg said. “The state can say whatever it wants, but the federal government can come in at any time and regulate it.”

A similar situation can be seen with medical marijuana which is currently legal in California, requiring only a doctor’s permission to obtain a green card.

Even though it is legal, the federal government has frequently raided medical marijuana dispensaries and arrested distributors.

In August, 16 people in Oakland were arrested on felony charges for selling medical marijuana, causing more than 200

people to protest for Other RepublicansTotal: 31Total: 31 Democrats their release.

No opinion No opinion No opinion Under pressure 1% from the states, U.S. 1% 3% Attorney General Eric Holder has recently said that ending medical marijuana raids “is now American policy,” No but these raids may No foreshadow federal 30% No and state conflict if Yes Yes 39% Yes 37% marijuana is legal60% 62% ized.

67% The trade, distribution and production of marijuana also violates international Total: 31 Total: 98 Total: 85 law.

The Single ConGazette graphic/JUSTIN SHIIBA Gazette survey of 214 students in freshman, sophomore, junior and senior English classes. vention on Narcotic A survey of GBHS students’ opinions on Proposition 19 – the legalization of marijuana – showed most are in favor of its passing.

Drugs is an international treaty signed in have to be spent on drug prevention and ing and smoking) can harm the lives of oth- money on,” Chesebro said. “We should be 1961 that states the supply and production treatment – it does nothing for states’ or er people who have done nothing wrong.” focusing on drugs that create bigger probof narcotic drugs is illegal, with an excep- localities’ budget deficits.”

Dell’Orto realizes why we’ve illegalized lems such as cocaine and methamphettion for medical purpose.

Some people relate the legalization of marijuana for people who are underage, amine.”

Therefore, medical marijuana is allowed, marijuana to the prohibition on alcohol in but he questions the effectiveness of proBut others feel Prop. 19 could cause more but legalization for recreational use would the 1920s by the 18th amendment. hibition. problems with law enforcement. go against international law.

“I think there’s something to be said about “I believe there is hypocrisy in the law “I think crime would rise and they’d With the nation’s current economic slump with alcohol versus marijuana when it the forbidding of something and making it have to figure out how to monitor people and California’s budget deficit, many sup- comes to how the two are contrasted,” an alluring thing that all of a sudden will porters point to taxation of cannabis as the GBHS history teacher Brandon Dell’Orto snap and become something much more under the influence when driving,” the anonymous student said. “The (police) state’s solution. said. “I think with the statistics of how interesting,” Dell’Orto said. are always on duty enforcing the law, not “I think the prop should pass,” GBHS many people’s lives are ruined from drunk “When something’s legal it makes it less senior Tyler Chesebro said. “The state is driving and alcoholism, I cannot, from a fun to do it,” an anonymous GBHS stu- just marijuana, so it wouldn’t necessarily in huge debt and taxing (marijuana) could logical perspective, understand why we dent said. “When it’s illegal you want to free up police because they’d still have to bring in billions of dollars of revenue.” break the law. Even if it’s subconscious, monitor it.” have legalized one and not the other.”

However, no matter the arguments or the The State Board of Equalization is curOn the other hand, GBHS freshman Ka- you’re doing it because it’s something you result on Nov. 2, Proposition 19 has crerently estimating $1.4 billion of revenue a tie Mersereau thinks legalizing marijuana shouldn’t do.” ated a debate that would’ve seemed ridicuyear if marijuana is taxed with a rate of $50 would cause as much harm as drunk drivWith California’s prisons overflowing lous only a decade ago. per ounce. and Mexican drug cartels creating a black ers do, and believes government shouldn’t “What will happen if this does pass is market for marijuana, many believe Prop.

But according to Kleiman, Prop. 19 can- be dealing with this issue. there will be a lot of conflict between the not generate revenue for the state budget.

“It’s not the government’s job to say what 19 will solve these issues. state and federal government,” Westberg “I think (Prop.

19) will be great in terms “You can’t get revenue for something you should and shouldn’t do,” Mersereau that’s a federal felony,” Kleiman said in the said. “Government shouldn’t be there to of law enforcement issues because it’s such said, “and whatever happens will turn CalLA times interview. “All revenues would nitpick the little things in life when (drink- a benign drug that we spend way too much ifornia into a nationwide situation.”

Midterms heat up as election day approaches Races for governor and senate seats are close as California leans further right than normal

BY SHANNON CARROLL scarroll.gazette@gmail.com

As we head into the final stretches of the California elections, things seem to be heating up big-time. On Nov. 2, the state will have its mid-term elections and the races between the governor and U.S. senate candidates couldn’t be closer.

In a state that is very liberal, it is hard to understand why exactly the state is leaning as far to the right as it is.

Democrat Dianne Feinstein has been sitting in her U.S. Senate seat for 18 years, and junior senator Barbara Boxer – also a Democrat – has held her post for 17 years. The Democratic advantage over Republicans in party registration is 44.3 percent to 30.9 percent, with 20.2 percent declining to state.

But with elections coming up, California seems to be drifting further to the right than in years past.

“It’s a political reality that most often people will vote either for very exciting hope or very frustrated anger with the system,” said Granite Bay High School teacher Brandon Dell’Orto. “It’s so much easier to stand on the outside and huck rocks at a problem that you have no particular responsibility fixing.”

The race for governor is getting even closer as campaigns head into the last few months, and with no incumbent running, it is anybody’s race.

The Democratic candidate is former California governor and state Attorney General Jerry Brown, who, after serving in politics for most of his life, wants the governor’s seat back.

His main challenger for the seat is Republican candi-

date Meg Whitman, the former CEO of eBay. In a new survey conducted by the Public Policy Institute of California released Sept. 29, Whitman and Brown are in a dead heat for the governor’s seat, yet about 18 percent of voters are still undecided with about a month to go before the election.

However, this survey was completed before the first gubernatorial debate and allegations from power lawyer Gloria Allred – a strong Democrat – that Whitman knowingly hired an illegal immigrant to work as her housekeeper, an allegation Whitman has vehemently denied.

This election has also turned into one of the costliest, with Whitman spending $119 million as of the end of September (at least $71 million of that from her personal fortune) and no plans to stop spending anytime soon.

A lot of this money has gone to negative ad campaigns that have seemed to turn people off.

Whitman has gained narrow ground in Los Angeles, a place typically crucial for a Democratic victory, while Brown holds the other crucial location of San Francisco by a larger margin.

Whitman is also gaining ground with the typical Democratic constituents with a tie in the normally Democratic-leaning group of women, and Whitman is only slightly behind Brown in the Latino vote.

“I think we have an interesting choice this year,” Dell’Orto said. “Most years they’re just variations on the same flavor. “ Dell’Orto, a moderate Republican, also feels that this election is going to be a pretty close one, boiling down to class warfare with the majority of people voting along party lines.

“Jerry Brown has been in the government for 30 years whether more Democrats or Republicans come out but doesn’t know what it’s like to have a private sector to vote.” job,” GBHS freshman Katie Mersereau said. “Meg Boxer’s lead seems too narrow for a well-estabWhitman was part of eBay where she took a 15-person lished incumbent, a seat she’s held for longer than company and expand it to 15,000. She knows how to many students at GBHS have been alive. As a result, take a company and build it up.” the Republicans still feel like they California needs someone who have a shot at winning the senate can help get it out of its financial seat.

It’s a political difficulties. While the different Another election will take place candidates stand on opposite sides reality that most this November in the 111th House of regarding many issues, one thing often people Representatives. The incumbent is seems to be apparent: Republican Congressman Tom Mcwill vote either “We need change!” said GBHS Clintock, running against Democrat junior Hamza Abbasi. for very exciting Clint Curtis. McClintock appears to Another important race in Calibe a clear favorite. hope or very frusfornia is the race for the U.S. SenIn a race for the Eureka Union ate seat currently held by Barbara trated anger with School District Board, four candiBoxer. With Boxer trying to hold the system dates will run for three open seats, her seat for an 18th year, Republiwith the terms of Lori Dangberg, can candidate and former HewlettPackard CEO Carly Fiorina isn’t Debbie Holt and Jerri Davis expir– Brandon Dell’Orto, going down without putting up a ing.

GBHS history teacher fight.

While Davis is trying to hold on “Both sides seem to have really to her seat, new challengers are arskilled candidates who have some riving as well: John Brooding, a great ideas on improving Califortraining manager for the California nia,” Abbasi said.

Department of Child Support; Andy In a poll released on Sept. 24, Sheehy, a non-profit executive direcBoxer is leading Fiorina 47 percent to 41 percent. tor; Eric Teed-Bose, director of Development for SunAlthough Boxer still has a high unfavorable rating, Chase Holdings Inc.; and Jerri Davis, a self-employed it’s gone down from 52 percent to 48 percent, while Fiorina’s is starting to creep up, rising from 29 percent consultant to professional medical associations.

In the races for governor and senator, the two big to 38 percent since July. races that are threatening to shake California up, the However, Boxer shouldn’t be bringing her favorite perceived failures by many of the Democratic members chair back to her office quite yet. Voting will be close.

“I think it’s going to be people voting basically along of the Senate and House of Representatives, people the line unless some slick new campaign comes out,” may be more likely to vote for the other side.

“It’s like the Newtonian laws of the universe,” Dell’Orto said. “The fact that they’re both women is a nullifying factor, so it’s really just going to be about Dell’Orto said. “Every action has an equal reaction.”

Friday, October 8, 2010

w The Granite Bay Gazette

News A7

A8 News

Friday, October 8, 2010 w The Granite Bay Gazette

TOBACCO: Chewing acknowledged on campus and on the baseball diamond Continued from page A1 has been around for a lot longer than baseball,” said Pat Esposito, GBHS varsity baseball coach.

“It just became a part of the game,” Esposito said, “because the guys who (originally) played the game were doing that kind of thing.”

Esposito acknowledges that smokeless tobacco gets a different treatment than cigarettes.

“Cigarettes are socially unacceptable now. Smoke can be an invasion of someone’s privacy when they have to inhale,” Esposito said. “But if you’re sitting on the ground spitting in front of people, that’s not good or healthy.”

The role models aren’t exactly setting a great example.

Watching the San Francisco Giants game on TV, it’s common to see players lean over and spit something other than sunflower seeds.

At the highest level of Major League Baseball, chewing tobacco is permissible. In the minor leagues, where the players aren’t a part of the players union, the substance is banned.

State law prohibits use of tobacco in any form on campus, including the baseball diamond.

Esposito knows the rule about chewing tobacco. “It’s banned. It’s the same policy as cigarettes,” he said. “No one can do it. Period.”

According to a source on the GBHS varsity baseball team who asked to remain anonymous, that’s not the case.

The source estimates that four or five players chewed tobacco last year, with likely a couple more this year.

“Everybody knows it happens,” the player said. “It’s addicting. The pros do it. I guess they got (the idea that) it was a standard.”

But according to the player, who denied chewing himself, it isn’t limited to the players.

“I’ve seen coaches do it before, but they don’t advertise

it at all,” the player said. “They keep it hidden.”

Coach Esposito denied the claims.

“Obviously, that’s not true,” Esposito said. “That’s basically all I can tell you.”

Although Esposito said he doesn’t actively search for it, he remained adamant that no district policy was being broken.

The player doesn’t believe that parents or administrators have any idea about what really goes on at the diamond.

“It’s disgusting,” he added.

Raycraft certainly didn’t know.

“I was not aware that there was a problem with our kids (chewing tobacco),” she said. “If this is happening (on our baseball diamond), and the coach sees it, the coach needs to turn it in to us and we’ll take care of it.”

Chewing tobacco isn’t only limited to the diamond, however. It is legal in the NFL and NHL as well.

In April, a push made by Congress to ban smokeless tobacco from major league ballparks was resisted by the Major League Baseball Players Association.

“It’s associated with sports in general,” Esposito said. “It just happens to be that baseball is the sport in which it is brought to the forefront.”

In addition to school ramifications, there are also health concerns to worry about. Smokeless tobacco has been strongly linked to gum cancer among other diseases. “(Players and coaches) chewing says that it doesn’t really matter whether you chew or not,” the player said.

The senior who chews semi-regularly has seen the research. He’s heard the statistics. He’s seen the pictures of the diseased mouth.

Yet he’s not worried.

“You never know,” the senior said. “I could be the one that doesn’t get any of that.”

DRESS: Students question consistency in the dress code Continued from page A1

sistant principal Brian McNulty admitted that the uniforms are not considered dress The general consensus is that girls are the code.

“Truly, they’re (in violation of) dress code biggest offenders of the dress code.

“One out of 500 guys wear an inap- if you go by the letter of the law,” McNulty propriate T-shirt, whereas 300 out of five said. “But it’s a uniform, and it’s a uniform hundred girls are (dress code offenders),” that was accepted by the administration as well as the team itself.”

Tastor said.

McNulty also stressed that unlike the Like other male teachers on campus, Tastor admits to not feeling comfortable is- trends, the uniforms have not changed in suing dress code violations to his female six or seven years. “(The uniforms are) a part of the culture,” students. This is because in doing so, male teachers are acknowledging that the stu- McNulty said.

The biggest inconsistency, acknowledged dent is dressed inappropriately. This can bring about a slew of allegations concern- by both students and administrators, is the ing the appropriateness of male teachers enforcement of the dress code. With more giving dress code violations to female stu- than 2,000 students on campus, it’s difficult to enforce such a rule consistently. dents for immodest clothing.

“To be perfectly honest, no, it cannot be Furthermore, the few times Tastor has reported girls, they normally come back addressed consistently if there are so many people breaking it,” McNulty said. without having received any discipline.

Because of this, students feel that the en“As soon as they walk out they’ll hike up their shirt or pull down their skirt, and forcement of the dress code is unfair. Nelthey come back saying that the (assistant) son, like other students at GBHS, feels that if they cannot enforce it on principals didn’t see everyone, they should not any violation,” Tastor enforce it on anyone. said.

I don’t know “At the same time I (was For male teachgetting a dress code violaers, giving dress code how you tion), two other girls walked violations to male stuenforce (the in,” Slattery said. “One of dents is far easier. In them was wearing a skirt most cases, the student dress code) way shorter than my shorts in question is wearwithout and she didn’t get one.” ing an inappropriate “(The administration shirt which cannot be uniforms tries). I don’t know how tampered with to fit you enforce (the dress code the dress code. Fur– David Tastor, GBHS consistently) without unithermore, it has less forms,” Tastor said. potential to raise quesEnglish teacher With short-shorts and mini tions from the students skirts being in style, identiand parents. fying dress code is not the GBHS junior Mackonly difficulty. In order to enzie Williams was recently issued a violation for wearing a tube be successful, they wouldn’t just need to find all dress code violations on campus, top to school.

“It’s not like (I was) showing anything,” but also change the current fads.

“To try to nip (the fads) in the bud and Williams said. “I’m pretty sure there’s more high skirts and low-cut stuff than just bring it back to – if you will – school policy or the student handbook, it’s going to a strapless shirt.”

Even so, the rule against tube tops is be difficult,” McNulty said. “We’ve been clearly stated in the dress code and leaves addressing that little by little since the beginning of the school.” little wiggle room.

With fads constantly changing, it is comIn contrast, the most frequently seen dress offense – short skirt and dress length mon for discrepancies in the dress code to – is less clear to students. Some believe arise. This year, for example, one-shoulder that the line is where the fingers meet the tops have become a popular trend. Though palm, while others think it is at the third not mentioned by name in the dress code, both these shirts and off-the-shoulder knuckle of the finger.

According to the official dress code, tops are considered violations of the dress “shorts, skirts and dress must be at least code.

Nelson came across another gray area fingertip length when the arm is extended.” Such a rule seems absurd to some stu- while in the office this year.

While talking to Debbie Nordman, Neldents.

“I’m (five feet, 8 inches)”, and having son was informed that she once again was (my shorts) down to my fingertips is al- in violation of dress code. When she asked most down to my knee,” Slattery said. “I why, she was told that her shirt was a halter don’t think I’ll ever be wearing shorts that top. “(It was actually a tank top, but) she said long.”

The variance in arm length is one of that it had the implications of a halter top, GBHS students’ biggest issues with the so that’s why I had a dress code,” Nelson dress code. With everyone’s arms being said.

As with one-shoulder tops, this violation of a different length, it is difficult to comwas not directly mentioned in the dress pletely standardize the rule.

“They need to make it not so much where code but was still enforced. This is due to a the shorts go in relation to your fingertips, loophole in the dress code.

The dress code, on more than one occabut the inseam length,” Slattery said.

Another inconstancy, brought up by sion, states that clothing must be “in good Slattery, is the supposed hypocrisy of the repair,” “good taste” and should be selectcheerleaders’ uniforms. More importantly, ed using “common sense.”

Due to the vagueness of this wording, how the length of their skirts is shorter than these items of clothing can be classified as allowed by the dress code.

“If (the cheerleaders are) allowed to wear breaking dress code, though they are not their skirts, then people shouldn’t be al- listed in the official code.

McNulty said, “Common sense is what lowed to get (violations) for their shorts,” we try to (go by), to make sure that everySlattery said.

In response to these remarks, GBHS as- body is treated as fairly as possible.”

Gazette photo /MAGGIE LOUIS

Some source claim that about 40 GBHS students chew, many on campus during school hours.

BULLYING: Cyber-bullying a problem at GBHS, teachers and administrators join forces to combat Katrina Wachs Sanchez believes that because social networkWachs, a GBHS ing sites such as Facebook every force has an equal and opposite reaction.

English teacher, and MySpace are open to “It was an act of lashing out because (I was) angry and sad,” has made an the public, cyberbullySmith said. “ impact by dising can be more power“Personally I didn’t want them to suffer or anything, I just cussing bullying ful than one-on-one name wanted them to know what they had done. Sometimes that in her class. realization doesn’t hit them until it’s done to them, which I don’t calling or social exclusion, which are two other comwant to happen. It shouldn’t be a domino force, back and forth, mon forms of bullying at because that just leaves you both on the ground.”

GBHS. *** “If it’s Facebook, everyone sees (the comments,)” Sanchez said.

The issue of bullying – in the form of physical and verbal as- “When all of these other people are brought in, that can be resaults, social exclusion and assaults on social networking sites – ally detrimental and make the student feel really isolated and not know what to do.” is a rather new issue on Granite Bay High School’s radar.

The administration has investigated two major cases of cyThe results from a School Climate Survey, completed by 1,401 berbullying that involved several students, in which MySpace or GBHS students, were published in late August.

GBHS is indeed part of the national average in regards to bul- Facebook have been the key components.

“We tried to address at the class meetings in the beginning of the lying. In some cases, higher statistics were reported – 32 percent of students reported that they had seen or heard of another student year that we’re serious about respecting everyone here on cambeing verbally bullied and/or harassed, while 28 percent reported pus,” McGuire said. “We can discipline (students for incidents on MySpace or Facebook) because it creates a negative climate here social bullying and/or harassment.

GBHS Principal Mike McGuire initiated a committee last year at school, you just happen to be using (the Internet) to create that comprised of administrators, teachers and parents to combat the negative climate.”

Many steps can be taken to prevent these instances in the first issue through education and prevention. The committee is titled Creating Unlimited Learning Through Unity, Respect and Equity place. GBHS English teacher Judi Daniels is one of the teachers on the C.U.L.T.U.R.E. committee because she felt strongly about (C.U.L.T.U.R.E.) “We’ve learned (from the school shooting at) Columbine High bullying for personal reasons.

“My niece…committed suicide a year ago as a result of cyberSchool that (the phrase) ‘sticks and stones will break my bones, but words will never hurt me’ is totally ineffective,” McGuire bullying, so this is a very personal situation,” Daniels said. “I desaid. “We’ve known that for a long, long time – what we still cided that I had to do something here (at GBHS) to work out my own issues. I did some research, found (out) about Point Break haven’t cracked is the code of silence.” and followed through with that.”

McGuire believes the “code of silence,” Point Break is a day-long workshop that breaks or reluctance to tell an administrator about down barriers and creates connections among stubullying, prevents GBHS from having the What we still dents through a variety of activities and discussions. best possible school climate. haven’t cracked Daniels worked with GBHS English teacher Katrina Smith agrees.

Wachs to bring it to GBHS last year. In order to sup“The administration can do a lot, but only is the code of port Point Break, Daniels started a club, Campus if they’re asked to intervene,” Smith said.

Connections, in which 60 students joined after Point According to the NASP, “bullying occurs silence.

Break to promote a more positive student campus when a student is repeatedly harmed, psyand fight bullying. chologically and/or physically, by another – Mike McGuire, “The (day after Point Break last year,) we had a student or group of students.” big breakfast over in the library, and I saw (students GBHS psychologist Angela Sanchez typiGBHS Principal approach other) kids that were such outcasts – the cally finds that bullies want to feel dominant kind who sit against the wall at lunch and no one and more powerful, so they select victims ever talks to them – and say ‘Hey man, come and that seem weak. She advises the “weak” students to stand up for themselves, or stand up to the bully with sit over here with us!’ It was a night-and-day difference,” Daniels a group of friends, because the bully will be the minority and said.

Campus Connections has already designated their officers and regret the action.

Sanchez thinks that if the victims of these situations actually began promoting and fundraising for two Point Break programs stood up and challenged these bullies, the social norm will gradu- this year. The next one will be Oct. 30, and the second program will be in the spring. ally change so that bullying is not acceptable.

Daniels is also teaming up with Wachs to teach a bullying unit in However, if the victim doesn’t have a support group, Sanchez their English classes, after Daniels realized the Expository Readstrongly suggests confiding in a supportive adult on campus.

“A lot of the students I’ve talked to don’t tell anyone. Then it ing and Writing course she is teaching includes a bullying unit.

“I am absolutely convinced that I have both bullies and victims builds, and builds and builds until they can’t handle it anymore,” Sanchez said. “If it’s to the point where (a victim is) getting emo- in (my) class – absolutely convinced,” Daniels said.

At the beginning of the unit, students were complaining that tional about it – it’s making them feel upset, sad and maybe they don’t want to go to school or social events anymore – that should the issue of bullying is blown out of proportion. Daniels assigned her students to interview an assistant principal from another high be the red flag (to seek an adult).”

Smith has additional advice: realize that the bully’s judgment school and to research bullying studies published in the last five is false because they don’t understand the victim’s past experi- years.

“We’ve pretty much as a whole come to the conclusion that it is ences.

“It’s not like they’re God and they’re telling you ‘You’re a hor- a serious problem,” Daniels said. “They were startled when they rible person’,” Smith said. “They’re not (God); they don’t know discovered in several different resources that 60 percent of bulanything (about you). So why should they be able to affect your lies will have criminal charges against them by the time they’re 24. Bullying behavior doesn’t go away when left (alone) – that’s life so badly?”

This is a concept GBHS senior Alyssa Anthony has dealt with huge.”

Daniels thinks that although her bullying unit might not have also. “(Bullying) definitely did affect me a lot when I was younger changed behavior, it certainly raised awareness – her students – it put me in tears,” Anthony said. “You have this alone feeling, recognized the extent of the problems that both victims and buland you feel like the world – not just that one person who is bul- lies have.

“Just from personal experience, the one thing that really helps lying you – is out to get you.”

Anthony suffered from a common form of bullying at GBHS: – that can totally make your day after everyone else has ruined it – is (just) one person coming up and asking if you’re alright cyberbullying.

“I (understand why) people get really depressed from (bullying) and giving you a hug,” Smith said. “Just give them a little bit of because…I’ve (had) dirty rumors posted on the internet about love, and it really makes the day worth it, even if (they) have to suffer. me, where the whole entire world can see,” Anthony said.

Continued from page A1

granitebaygazette.com

Friday, October 8, 2010

News A9

w The Granite Bay Gazette

MONEY: New ticket policy will possibly fund security cameras, resurfacing

Continued from page A2 Even with a pass, spots aren’t guaranteed and are claimed on a “first come first serve” basis.

Students are only allowed to park in legal areas. Red zones, staff and visitor spots are off limits. Failure to comply with these rules can result in ticketing.

Although most of the ASB revenue comes from parking passes, money from tickets is also stored under the ASB account.

Tickets can be issued for a variety of infractions. Vehicles without a properly displayed parking permit, parked in a no parking area, staff or visitor space or blocking a driveway are fined $35.

Parking in a handicap spot results in a $280 fee and parking in two spaces costs $40.

“We got the prices for these fines from county tickets,” Herrick said.

According to Vujovich, Herrick has al-

ready gone out three or four days this year to write tickets (This) was to set the tone after (giving) everyone the customary two to three weeks to get (parking passes),” Vujovich said.

Traditionally, Herrick will go out to write tickets when he receives complaints from students or parents about parking violations.

“A lot of what law enforcement does is responding to complaints,” Herrick said.

“If I have seniors or parents saying (there is) no where to park…I go out and write tickets.”

In the past, money from parking tickets has gone primarily to an outside collection agency in Santa Ana. “Santa Ana facilitated the tickets (by printing) them up and (giving) them to us,” Herrick said. “So they would get about half the money off the top.”

The rest of the money went to the county

so GBHS didn’t receive any of it.

“When we figured this out, (I realized) it wasn’t worth my time to write (parking tickets),” Herrick said. “It was costing us money.”

However, following the example of Colfax High School, GBHS began to enforce its own parking tickets and collect the money directly.

The ticket money going directly to the school hasn’t resulted in any increase in the number of parking tickets written.

“I was writing these tickets (when the school) wasn’t getting any money,” Herrick said. “I’d rather not have to write any tickets and have everybody be in compliance.”

Combined ticket and parking pass money has resulted in a $26,000 pot so far, according to Vujovich. Little money has been spent from the account.

“The first major expenditure was $1,000 to buy radio equipment,” he said. “We

want to hold (the money) so that if the day (comes when) we can get cameras, (we’re ready).”

The only other expenditure made with the money has been buying the parking tickets themselves.

“The tickets are actually made by Oakmont students,” Vujovich said. “(They cost) about two cents apiece so it’s really cheap.”

Other than security cameras, the money in the account is also being saved to help deal with parking lot maintenance.

“Last year it was mandated that we have the black top resurfaced…because of structural inconsistencies,” Vujovich said.

“If it gets worse, we might have to use the money to pay for fixing the parking lot.”

The money is protected under the ASB account to ensure it won’t be used for purposes other than safety and security. “If it’s not

under ASB it can be used for anything,” Vujovich said. “We want to be specific and transparent about what the (money is being used for) so it benefits the school.”

To spend money in the ASB account, the expenditure must be signed off by an administrator, an adviser and a student. “I usually sign as adviser and get someone else to sign as administrator so it gets a third set of eyes to look at it,” Vujovich said.

Some students feel the use of money for security cameras is unwarranted.

“I don’t really think our school needs (cameras) because we’re not really a troubled school,” GBHS senior Kristi Shinfuku said. “We have a couple of graffiti problems or pranks, but it’s not really (to the point) that we need cameras.”

However, bottom line is the money is being used to help improve safety at the school in the way administration thinks is best.

Voices

Granite Bay Gazette

A Section

Friday w October 8, 2010

The sanctity of marriage?

GAZETTE The Granite Bay

GRANITE BAY HIGH SCHOOL 1 GRIZZLY WAY GRANITE BAY, CA 95746

Editors-in-Chief: Parker Evans Jessica Reese Alison Sale Katie Zingheim News/Web Editors: Adrienne Blevens Matt Palkowski Alexandria Valdrighi Matt Veneman Voices Editors: Haley Massara Adam Tilford Features Editors: Katie Bostedt Shannon Carroll ShinEui Park Justin Shiiba Entertainment Editors: Jamie Cologna Brittany Hince Sonia Iyer Shannon Wagner Sports Editors: R. Slater McLaughlin Laura Preston Christine Zavesky Photo/Graphics Editor: Maggie Louis Illustrators: Justin Shiiba Alison Sale Adam Tilford Photographer: Franklin Zhuang Daniel Fleischman Staff Writers: Ari Black Allie Burger Mathew Fukuhara Kelsey Knorp Michaela Monaghan Kevin Nielsen Kyle Pawlak Jon Setiawan Stephanie Shaull Samantha Spargo Rachael Vasquez Franklin Zhuang Sophia Zogopoulos Adviser: Karl Grubaugh The Gazette is published eight times per academic year by students in the advanced journalism class at Granite Bay High School.

Content is determined by the staff and does not necessarily reflect the opinions or policies of Granite Bay High School’s faculty, administration, adviser or student body.

Students are protected in their exercise of press freedom by the First Amendment to the Constitution of the United States and California Education Code 48907.

Signed editorials and columns reflect the views of the writer.

Letters to the editor and guest commentaries are encouraged and must be signed, although anonymity can be granted on a case-by-case basis.

The editorial board reviews letters to the editor, advertising and guest commentaries and reserves the right to edit and refuse material. Reasons can include length, clarity, libel, obscenity, material disruption of the educational process at Granite Bay High School or violation of copyright laws.

Gazette illustration/JUSTIN SHIIBA

In a society that takes straight marriage for granted, gays are unfairly denied

F

or the past couple years, I have By definition, any man and woman Commentary heard the phrase “protecting the can get married. It doesn’t matter the sanctity of marriage” repeated length of their relationship, the quality over and over when the topic of sameof their love, the extent of their devosex marriage arises. But what does that tion toward one another; the only thing mean? Are marriages really sacred? Are that matters is if they’re a man and a marriages exclusively for heterosexual woman. couples? Has the institution of marriage The state does not ask for proof of really been a holy matrimony of love love or a record of time spent together; and happiness that lasts a lifetime? if it did base marriages on love, if it No. Not anymore. did base marriages on the quality of the Today, marriage is in no way the sarelationship, then half of all marriages jshiiba.gazette@gmail.com cred institution Proposition 8 supporters in the nation would never have been claim it to be. They picture it as a 1,000 year-old tradition granted a license. that would be forever changed if gays were allowed to How do you think that makes same-sex couples feel? marry. They say that gays would redefine the definition Some have spent their entire lives dedicated to each other, that marriage is between a man and a woman. love equaling any heterosexual marriage, yet they are not But is this what we’ve changed marriage into? A definiallowed to share the same equal right of marriage. tion? We’ve been focusing so much on the wording and How can Las Vegas drive-through weddings and Britney precision that we’ve lost sight of what it truly means to be Spears’s two-day-long marriage be valid, when same-sex married –love, commitment, and marital bliss. Those argu- marriage isn’t? ments aren’t present in the debate over gay marriage, but How can marriage be sacred when cable network shows are just as important as any definition. such as the Bachelor and The Rock of Love televise the en-

justin shiiba

Online bullying a very real problem

F

Identification Statement Granite Bay Gazette Published eight times per academic year c/o Granite Bay High School 1 Grizzly Way Granite Bay, CA 95746 Subscriptions: $25 per year/ $15 per half year

Harassment via Internet causes pain, depression, suicides

acebook, MySpace, Tumblr, Twitter – these are all common sites with the single purpose of social networking.

The popularity of these sites continues to climb. However, with the freedom to post whatever one pleases comes the risk of potentially hurting one’s peers.

Cyberbullying has become one of the easiest forms of teenage harassment.

The bullies who are uncomfortable with confrontation are given a new outlet, the Internet.

The Internet becomes a place where they don’t have to face their victim and don’t have to deal with the reaction.

Apps on both MySpace and Facebook make the bullying process even simpler.

Formspring make the consequences of bullying non-existent. With the option to remain anonymous, bullies are able to say whatever they choose without ever having to confess.

Remaining anonymous gives the bully the satisfaction of leaving their victim in the dark, wondering about who thinks such terrible things about them.

Others are less discreet about their harassment, choosing to post their words on Facebook walls, leave MySpace comments,

L Send Letters to the Editor to: gbgazette@yahoo.com

tire process of dating and “love” to millions of Americans?

These marriages are a joke, a stint that lasts for a couple months before the unbelievably surprising divorce.

According to www.divorcerate.org, 50 percent of all first marriages end in divorce. That’s how sacred this “holy institution” has become. Why are people fighting over gays damaging marriage when divorce – the legal act of ending a marriage – is the real fault?

Not too long ago divorces were considered sinful. The Bible explicitly states that “whoever divorces his wife, except for sexual immorality, and marries another, commits adultery.” (Matthew 19:9) Yet today, divorces are legal and incredibly commonplace.

Is divorce not detrimental to the sanctity of marriage, but same-sex marriage is?

My point is not to hate on those who are against samesex marriage, or vilify them for their blindness. My point is this: Marriage should not be focused on who is married, but on why they’re married. It does not matter if they’re straight or gay; it matters only that they love each other, the strength they hold within each other, and the happiness they receive from each other.

That is a sacred marriage.

Commentary

jamie cologna jcologna.gazette@gmail.com

tweet hateful things or even post YouTube videos containing obscene comments about their victim.

What these bullies seem to forget is that once something is published online, it is there forever.

Whenever someone logs onto the web, an Internet Protocol, or IP address is established. This IP address can be traced in all electronics including computers and cell phones.

Over the past few years cyberbullying has been frequently covered in the media.

Phoebe Price, Megan Meier, Alexsis Pilkington and Tyler Clementi are all teens

from across the country who have committed suicide after online harassment from classmates.

They were taunted on Facebook, MySpace and YouTube. Eventually it became too much to bear.

The fact that any student would be willing to inflict such pain on another is repugnant.

There is a lack of respect in teenagers.

Nobody should feel the authority to put someone else down and shred them of their confidence.

Not only does cyberbullying cause teens to suffer a constant feeling of sadness, it can also lead to serious depression, low self-esteem and suicide.

Cyberbullying isn’t something to be taken lightly; it is something that should be intolerable and unforgivable. Those who choose to cruelly harass others online should be punished.

Many people make mistakes when they are bullied online. They are unaware that there are steps that should be taken when they’re harassed.

Often, the immediate reaction is to be defensive and say something nasty and hurtful back, but they should try to refrain from doing so. By retaliating, the problem

will only increase.

After the initial shock wears off, the victim might feel embarrassed and want to delete the text, e-mail or comment, but they shouldn’t be embarrassed or keep it in. Countless teens are suffering from the same dilemma.

They should report what happened to an adult they trust and save all of the evidence. Save the e-mails, texts, videos, wall posts and anything else that confirm foul play.

With the evidence, victims should file a complaint to the social networking site or cell phone company.

Lastly, make sure to block the bully. On Facebook, block them. On MySpace, delete them. Victims need to cut off any connections with that person.

By reporting the transgression, the bullies might actually stop their endless taunting.

Granite Bay High School is a “bullyfree” environment, and has zero tolerance for online aggression, yet it continues to occur on a regular basis.

By stopping this inappropriate behavior in its tracks and reporting these incidents, we as a student body can end what has become such a frequent occurrence.

Dress code violations: an inconsistent truth

et’s not kid ourselves: we’ve all broken dress code at some point.

Whether those shorts were just half an inch too short, or that tank top’s armholes were just a bit too wide, we understand that Granite Bay’s dress code is far from a notolerance regime.

And while we at the Gazette appreciate the intentions of the dress code – to keep students free of distraction, and, when necessary, from breaking public nudity laws – we cannot help but question the consistency with which it is enforced.

We know it’s unrealistic to expect school officials to enforce the dress code on every student, every day. Granite Bay is a massive school. But, that begs the question – how does the administration decide who to punish, and who to let slide, for exactly the same infraction?

EDITORIAL The voice of the Granite Bay Gazette

It’s not an easy question to answer. For instance, a male staff member might not cite a female student for dress code, for fear of being labeled as a voyeur, but a woman wouldn’t be so hesitant.

On a similar note, would it be fair to cite a 5-foot-11 student for having a skirt be shorter than fingertip length, when a 5-foot-8 student would be allowed to wear exactly the same skirt?

Generally, we have seen the dress code

enforced on a case-by-case policy, and it does keep wardrobe malfunctions somewhat under control. Our school has not become a nudist colony, and GBHS students have the freedom to dress as they like, a luxury lost by students who attend schools with specific uniforms.

But we can’t help but notice a loophole.

Here’s an example: Female cheerleaders’ uniforms are not, strictly speaking, in accordance with school dress code. But, when required, cheerleaders wear their uniforms to school. These get a free pass on dress code, as they are a cheer requirement.

Why, then, would it be against the rules to wear a water polo uniform to school?

What’s to say a student couldn’t wear a bikini to school, if that student was taking the P.E. program’s swim unit?

Obviously those would be dress code

infractions. Why, then, do we draw the lines where we do?

Why bother with a dress code at all if the administration cannot enforce every rule?

It’s ludicrous holding everyone to the same set of rigid standards, but only actually following through and punishing a select few who ignore them.

If the administration does choose to apply only certain dress code restrictions at certain times, we as students have the right to know which rules we can be reprimanded for breaking.

But as there seems to be no predictable pattern to which violations are pursued, the Gazette advises students to err on the conservative side.

If we keep skirting the dress code (pun intended), we will, eventually, be unlucky enough to get caught.

Voices A11

Friday, October 8, 2010 w The Granite Bay Gazette

Living in GBHS’ artificial society

Commentary

Don’t hide what makes you unique for the sake of perfection

I

just despise Photoshop. One Commentary may argue that photography would not be the same without it, yet neither would society.

Thanks to the media becoming Photoshop-obsessed, our generation has become addicted to what the media produces. I enjoy reading my Teen Vogue or NYLON magazine, but I loathe looking at impossible-to-achieve images of models. Isn’t everyone aware that szogopoulos.gazette@gmail.com the models don’t really look like of beauty don’t apply to us. Howthat? These models are not real ever, we can slowly find ourselves people; they are computer-altered wondering if we should change our images, causing our society to hair color or invest in diet pills to uphold an impossible standard of solve our problems. beauty.

Just look at Heidi Montag, starlet It’s impossible in today’s society of MTV’s The Hills, who looks to not feel the need to achieve natural one day, and the next day perfection. We all experience this; looks like a Barbie gone horriwe crave to be someone else or possess a trait or quality we do not bly wrong, due to her ridiculous amount of plastic surgeries. have.

I’ve watched many undergo It kills me how many times a day changes – though not as drastic as I hear people say “I just want to Montag’s – due to their obsession be them” or “I with perfection. want to look If our society exactly like recognized what Kudos to those them.” What’s makes us who so terrible who have fought we are, we could about looking off the pressure slowly rebel like yourself? against its artifiIt’s no secret of these unrealciality. that corruption istic images and Instead of has occurred looking in the embraced themin our world. mirror and thinkHowever, what selves and their ing of what is isn’t acknowlwrong, think of appearance. edged is the what makes you corruption of unique and how ourselves. those assets can We unconsciously agree to albe your way to success.

Don’t low the media to tell us what is conform and cover up your flaws the right way to look and how, by – expose the truth and love what becoming someone completely makes you separate from everyone unreal, we can achieve perfection. else.

The media has planted these Kudos to those who have fought images of what is right and wrong off the pressure of these unrealistic in our minds. I believe this has an images and embraced themselves effect on making us feel insecure and their appearance. about ourselves. Every day I’m With the creation of photography sure a lot of us can catch ourselves alteration and the spread of mass looking at someone and wondering media came the crumbling of our what they were wearing or why individuality and what makes us they look like the way they do. who we are.

Many of us want to think of In the words of Salvador Dali, “Have no fear of perfection – ourselves as nonconformists by you’ll never reach it.” being unique, and these standards

sophia zogopoulos

Gazette illustration/KATIE ZINGHEIM and ADAM TILFORD

Philanthropy just for applications

Students playing the college game, not working for the greater good

W

e all play the game, whether we realize it or not. You want to get into a good college, but grades aren’t enough. Lots of high-level colleges also try to create a positive environment on campus by only accepting students with good morals who are involved in the community.

To do this, colleges look at community service and leadership roles, clubs and athletics. This seems like it would be an excellent system for divining who’s accepted and who’s not.

But this system has one major flaw: we know about the system. Our knowledge in and of itself destroys the intent of the system.

How many of us would give up our time to go help others if we would get nothing in return, which is what community service is all about? Not the people that do it only to look good for colleges.

How many of us take on the extra responsibilities of student leadership? How many would join dozens of clubs and be totally outgoing?

There are so many of us that look great on paper. We have community service, clubs, leadership, athletics, the grades, the works.

But the problem isn’t with this wonderful image, it’s with the motive behind their production. Because we

Commentary

kyle pawlak kpawlak.gazette@gmail.com

know that all these things will help us get into college, it disrupts the whole point of the system.

Our motives aren’t philanthropic, or we aren’t really natural leaders, or we aren’t that outgoing. We just are trying to build a portfolio of service and excellence that will buoy our application, even if it isn’t the real you, the real me, the real us.

Colleges are trying to figure out which students are the type they are looking for, but what are they really learning?

They are really learning one thing about us as indi-

viduals: how much we are willing to subvert ourselves to the system and do things we otherwise wouldn’t, to get to our colleges of choice.

It’s sad but true, and we learn about ourselves in the process. We learn that we are willing to fake it a little to get the results we want.

Many of us are under the impression that we are only doing this to get where we want to be, and then we won’t have to play the game anymore. We have a dream to do something, and we are willing to suffer to get there.

But when does the game end? For many of us, it never really does.

You get to college, great, but then you have to think about graduate school, then your first job, and eventually, saving for retirement. We never really stop to smell the roses.

You need to plan for the future, but you have to enjoy yourself too; the true key is to find a balance between the two, one that is right for you.

And hopefully, while playing the game, like me, you find that you have come to love the things you do, the sacrifices you make, and even if you have a goal set in your mind, getting there becomes fun too.

Gazette illustration/ADAM TILFORD

ali valdrighi avaldrighi.gazette@gmail.com

Cheating through life’s hard lessons

T

he competitive atmosphere of high school has grown so intense that students have been pushed to the edge of desperation, seeking any advantage they can to ensure their future. Often, this involves less than honest means.

Copies of old quizzes, secretly Googling information during tests or even elaborate schemes involving iPods, headphones and a replaying track of answers, have become almost commonplace.

The sudden upswing in cheating is explained by some as a surge of immorality in the younger generation and a rampant desire for success at any cost. Yet, might there be more to it than that?

The justifications for cheating surround us in a blanket of rationalizations, the temptations of celebrities, CEOs and politicians filling our heads with a buzzing loud enough to tune out the true implications of our actions.

Celebrities walk free from a DUI with nothing more than a slap on the wrist. Big time businessmen are allowed, and even encouraged by profit incentive, to lie and cheat others out of their money while they remain perfectly intact within their bubble of riches. With role models such as these, cheating has lost many of its negative connotations in our “survival of the fittest” world.

From the time we are young, we are ingrained with the importance of college, the necessity of higher education.

Failure is no longer simply synonymous with not getting an education but instead, with not getting into the best college, with not becoming valedictorian, with not acing every test. To succeed in life, you must be the best, using any means possible.

And how do you become the best?

Well, there are plenty answers for that.

If adults cheat with no repercussions, then why shouldn’t students?

Cheating has become so trivial in society that many no longer even see it as cheating. Glancing at the paper next to you, asking friends Certainly, for answers, is cheaters should nothing be punished, but more to what extent? than When society “using your reseems to consources,” done cheating, it right?

Every- can be hard say thing is no. fine until you get caught. Ironically, students are often held to higher standards than adults, and many suffer dire consequences for their lapse in judgment. Labeled a cheater, lowered grades, kept from the school of their choice – punishments are often harsh and can completely alter the student’s future.

Whether this is fair or not, I’m not entirely sure. Certainly, cheaters should be punished, but to what extent? When society seems to condone cheating, it can be hard say no. Is it right to have your whole future altered for following the trends? After all, human nature is conformity, a primal desire to be part of the group.

And yet, maybe being punished is the only way to shift society’s standards back to honesty. Even if the punishments seem harsh at the moment, sometimes that is what is needed to learn from mistakes. Isn’t it better to live life learning as you go instead of always cheating your way to the next step?

Maybe this is what society needs to create a new generation that doesn’t place so much emphasis on the destination of success but instead, on the path to reach it.

Whether or not the harshness of cheating punishments is truly fair in the context of our cheating-prone society is a question to be debated. But, the need for change in our society is apparent. Harsh punishments may be the only way to shift society back to a path of honesty.

A12 Voices

Friday, October 8, 2010

Sexism – the shame of society

HEARD on the

BAY

Offensive T-shirt symbolic of an unacceptable cultural trend Commentary

What do you think about the return of Homecoming Dance?

Zachary Low “I like it. I think it’s a good idea.”

S o p h o m o r e

hmassra.gazette@gmail.com

“M oney.

Clothes.

Ho’s.”

So read the shirt of a kid in my math class, seemingly oblivious to the air of trashiness and sexist piggery it gave him. He disappeared during the period – cited for dress code, I pray – but the casual way his shirt had used that word stuck with me. And it made me mad.

Pop culture – and, by association, teen culture – has begun a downward slide into sexual inequality, a theme more infectious than an anthraxcovered Beatles album. It’s beyond shameful.

In our music, particularly the charttoppers, that word which even now I loathe to reprint is thrown around like a term of endearment.

Our fashion has reached new lows (literal lows, though that’s a rant for another day).

Our movies and television shows objectify and demean women as much as they always have, and have you seen those cologne commercials? I haven’t seen that much beefcake against my will since I was dragged into seeing Eclipse.

Why, girls, do we let them get away with so much? Why was this boy allowed to mosey on into my math class, wearing a blatantly profane shirt, and not get so much as a finger wagged at him?

J u n i o r

Andrew Bone “Happy for it. I’m definitely going.”

S e n i o r

Kendall Modiste “Anytime we can have a positive activity that will be well-attended I am absolutely in favor of it.”

S t a f f

Brent Mattix Compiled by Kyle Pawlak

gilded statues of Lady Gaga and Alanis Morisette.

That would be, um, ridiculous. Forget I said that.

My point, though, is that I think the majority of boys have genuinely good intentions when dealing with the opposite sex. Despite your Dirty Ghetto Kids clothing and your disgusting rap lyrics, you don’t actually want to abuse and subvert girls. It’s all for the image.

I get that.

But supporting media that’s demeaning to women gives the impression that you’re demeaning to women, and I can tell you now, that won’t – or shouldn’t – make getting a prom date any easier.

Women, don’t let men walk all over

you or treat you like pop culture claims they should. You are beautiful, all of you, and you deserve to be treated with kindness, love and respect. Anyone, male or female, who can’t live up to that doesn’t deserve your time.

And men, there’s no need to enrage the women like me just for the sake of a sexist T-shirt. Why risk getting on a girl’s bad side? Avoid – or better yet, boycott – the aspects of our culture that insist women are tools, and encourage your friends to do the same.

We can only truly achieve social equality when everyone’s on board, and who will then lament the loss of sexism – all sexism – in our culture?

Just the sexists.

Sleepless nights, napless days

Katrina Reeves “I’m indifferent. It doesn’t really matter to me.”

Gazette photo illustration/MATT PALKOWSKI

F r e s h m a n

haley massara

That was, to me, the most disturbing thing about this little T-shirt tragedy – no one cared.

The ideal of a strong woman lately has taken on this paradoxical, Beyonce-esque form, of a woman so confident and secure she needs to constantly be admired by lots and lots and lots of men.

Why does our society tell us we need to be the object of men to matter? There is no reason to subject yourself to hypersexualization; we should expect more from the boys who are our supposed equals – if not in the world at large, than at least in our school.

They have no right to use slurs as compliments, and if you’re treated like an object by a boy, please, for me, for all womankind, do not stand for it.

Boys, there is no excuse, no matter how innocently-intentioned, to have such a filthy, despicable word printed on your shirt for the world to see.

And don’t you dare say I’m promoting censorship, because I’m not. I’m as big a fan of the F-bomb as the next stressed-out sophomore punk. But I don’t come to school with pants that have the F-word printed all over them.

I could, but I don’t.

There’s this little thing called appropriateness we all need to re-learn.

If you think women are nothing more than walking reproductive organs, that’s your opinion. Your opinion is stupid, but it’s your opinion, and I won’t say you can’t express yourself.

But I have a right to feel comfortable too, and if that means you can’t wear a shirt advertising that you approve of women being paid to be raped, then boo hoo. There is no shortage of Tshirts in the world.

Now, I think of myself as a feminist, but I’m not the kind of feminist who assumes all men are slime and that women should plot their enslavement so they may build a glorious monument to womanhood – five-story tall

T

A jam-packed schedule means no time for rest or relaxation

ime is a valuable thing.

For some reason it’s become comCommentary Unfortunately, it’s a pletely normal for a student in high very scarce commodity school to have six classes because in today’s fast-paced lifestyle. of blocked schedules, three to four Twenty-four hours in a day just hours of homework, sports practice isn’t enough anymore. So, as on weekdays and games on weeka senior in high school, I must ends, SAT prep courses, personal ask the question for the sake of statements to write, college applicaeveryone that suffers with me: tions to fill out and a job to pay for a Why is our time so meaningcar and/or senior trip. less in the eyes of those who So that would leave just enough control us? time for…

I didn’t realize when it hapNothing! atilford.gazette@gmail.com pened, because it came slowly Oh, but it’s all OK. I’ve been told and I was continually told it was just a part of life, many times that I’m just a kid, and I can handle it. but all of a sudden I didn’t have any free time.

Besides, everyone has had to deal with it; our parents Two weeks ago when I was running on about six completely understand what we’re going through… hours of sleep for three days straight, I was thinking Ha ha.

I could really use a two-hour nap.

It’s hard to stifle a sad laugh every time I hear that But I thought about it, and I realized I didn’t have argument. It’s incredibly clear that things are not two hours free for four days straight. what they used to be.

The level of competition in school is ridiculous, This is not right. especially here at Granite Bay. It was a Sunday night and I wouldn’t have free If you don’t take classes over summer school, take time until Thursday. six AP classes, and get an A in every single one, then I was depressed, to say the least.

At that point, I was wondering if I was the only one you’re not going to be anywhere near the top 10 in your class. in such a terrible position. So when I came to school The worst part is that the system isn’t going to the next day I asked around in all of my classes, and change anytime soon, because there are continually guess what? more and more kids willing to sacrifice all of their I’m not alone.

adam tilford

free time and their high school experience in order to get into a good college.

Admittedly, I come a little frighteningly close to that group, but at the risk of being hypocritical, I must say that I fight for my free time as much as I can.

Now let’s throw sports into the mix. Anyone who has played high school sports competitively knows that coaches expect full and absolute commitment, and they have no problem with a three-to-four-hour practice on a weekday.

Of course, we don’t need that free time – we’re just kids.

But I like my free time! And I want it back.

My only option seems like making my course load easier next semester, but I keep getting told by my counselor, my parents, my prospective colleges and my teachers that I can’t lighten my load – it would look like I’m coasting through my senior year.

I’m told I just have to deal with it for time being.

Now, I’m not sure if this is the case for a majority of high school students – in fact I’m quite sure it’s not – but nevertheless it is the predicament of far too many.

So all I’m asking for is a little less homework, a little less practice, a little less stress and a little more time.

Because I am quite tired of waiting four days to take a nap.

Thumbs Up

Thumbs Down

“I think it’s really good. It’s good for everyone.”

w The Granite Bay Gazette

Thumbs Up: Midterms are officially over. They end the week with two short school days, after-school lunches with friends and a welldeserved weekend.

Thumbs Down: They mark that only onefourth of the school year is complete. Sorry, seniors with Senioritis.

Thumbs Up: Halloween is on its way, one of the favorite holidays for teenagers, with candies, parties and costumes!

Thumbs Down: Why is Halloween on a Sunday night? A school night...

by Rachael Vasquez, a staff writer.

Gazette photos /maggie louis

Forum

Granite Bay Gazette

A Section

Friday w October 8, 2010

“Me and a friend are going to be… Tea Party people, and we’re going to go around carrying signs and we’re going to dress semiMidwestern.”

Brian Wood, senior “I’m planning on being a witch for Halloween.”

Brigid Lummis, sophomore

“I’m going to be Pauly D from Jersey Shore. I’m going to flip my hair up and wear a wifebeater.”

Dominic Trovato, junior

Forum is a section reserved specifically for the opinions of the Granite Bay community.

Students, alumni, parents and friends are welcome to submit work of any length. Stay posted for future topics. E-mail all submissions to gbgazette@yahoo.com

A14 Second Look

Second look

Friday, October 8, 2010

w The Granite Bay Gazette

Homecoming comes again Students spend countless hours in the annual float-building competition

wGazette photosw Maggie Louis

ď ˇJunior Jessica Douglass, far left, paints a part of the scene on the junior’s homecoming float. Senior Joe McIntosh, left, holds a 2-by-4 steady as Rita Webb successfully saws through the middle.

Senior Shelbi Tooley, above, focuses on fine detail while painting panels for the senior float.

On Homecoming night, below, the seniors wave to the crowd in celebration of their victory in the float-building competition.

Sophomore Jaci Willing, below left, attaches tissue paper to form words along the bottom of the sophomore float.

Lifestyle

Granite Bay Gazette

Friday w October 8, 2010

Painting pathways

Commentary

shineui park spark.gazette@gmail.com

GBHS alumnus pursues a career in art after preparing at the Bay

Finding the simpler side of technology

I

n just a century, the current state of society has been transformed by technology. From telegraphs to telephones, technology caused our brains to morph into something that is strongly dependent on these gadgets.

Ever since I was born in South Korea, I have been exposed to technology. Even now, living in the suburbs of Granite Bay, I’m still using a computer, with my cell phone in hand and the television turned on.

Even though technology is engraved into my daily life, I’ve always thought people could live without it. It’s a necessity that’s not really necessary.

I personally love going camping.

Although the hustle-and-bustle of the technology filled city life is great, it blinds you from the natural perfections the earth offers us. Sleeping in the woods with no wi-fi and no cell phone service doesn’t disturb me much.

Well, that’s what I thought until now.

On one particular school day, I turned my cell phone on during lunch to talk to a friend and forgot to turn it off when I was done.

Since I’m overall an unlucky person, my cell phone went off in the middle of my physiology class.

With a pained look on my face, I handed it to my teacher, who said it would be sent to the office after school. This didn’t worry me. Since it was already third period, I would just pick up my cell phone after fourth.

I walked into the office right after school, expecting to receive it from the secretary and happily go home.

But apparently my cell phone had not yet been delivered to the office and I didn’t have time available to sit and wait. So I went home without it.

It was only for a day. I could be fine for one day without my cell phone, right?

Wrong.

I felt agitated and annoyed. Even though I have a Facebook to talk to friends and a television for entertainment, my cell phone was my calendar, alarm clock and clock.

The strange thing is, I didn’t have any events planned or to be reminded of, I could just walk into my brothers room and look at his clock and I never even wake up to my own alarms.

The following day, I retrieved my cell phone from the office. Hurriedly, I tried to turn it on. Great. It was dead. But having it in my pocket where it normally was still brought me comfort.

Looking back at what happened, I’m puzzled at my own dependency on my cell phone. I didn’t need it for anything that night, yet I was still pulling on my hair with the need for it back.

This disappoints me on many different levels. Maybe technology is not only engraved into my life, but into my mind.

After those rare opportunities to go camping, I realized that once I detect cell service, I start taking advantage of it as soon as possible.

Technology gradually develops in order to aid us with our everyday lives, but that apparently molded us into thinking we cannot survive without it.

Our lives shouldn’t be run by machinery that we run ourselves. We just need to live side-by-side with it.

But if this keeps up, it won’t be long until our brain is the computer itself. *** ShinEui Park, a junior, is the Gazette’s Lifestyle co-editor.

BY SHINEUI PARK

E

spark.gazette@gmail.com

ver since ‘10 Granite Bay High School alumnus Bryant Hom was a child, he found interest in art. What started out as doodles and simple drawings developed into a passion that would influence the rest of his life.

Hom’s older sister, Lauren, also had a big impact in his involvement with art. When she attended GBHS, she took advanced art and was a Teacher Intern for Brad Cordell, who is currently the basic art, Advanced Placement art history and ceramics teacher.

Wanting to follow a similar path of his sister’s, Hom first began basic art and went onto advanced art in sophomore year. In his junior year, he continued with art 3 then art 4, resulting in taking AP studio art when he became a senior.

Since Hom started taking art classes sophomore year, he was intimidated by the thought of being a couple semesters behind of art to the majority of the students taking AP studio art with him.

Eimi Tagore-Erwin, a ’10 graduate who now attends Cal Poly San Luis Obispo, was part of the AP studio art course along with Hom. “He was really good at his own style of art.

He’s one of the people that stuck all the way to AP and there are only a select few of us that actually did,” Tagore-Erwin said.

Hom received a five on the AP studio art test in which he had to display 24 artworks onto an online portfolio with an addition of physically submitting five more pieces to New York for additional review and grading.

“He has that real positive, outgoing leadership quality, so he really contributed to the class as far as motivating it and was inspiring to a lot of the other students,” Myron Stephens, who was Hom’s only art teacher throughout high school, said.

B2

Student spotlight

B2

Top ten

B4

Random student B5 Random facts

B5 TCID:BW

Not only was Hom concentrating on his art, he was part of the Emerald Brigade Marching and Concert Band, and ran varsity track and cross country for all four years of high school.

He was also involved in Student Government, in which he gained the position of freshmen class president and senior class vice president.

To Hom, GBHS’s art program drastically helped him with his art skills - especially Stephens.

“Mr. Stephens completely taught me everything I know about art to this day and provided knowledge and support,” Hom said. “I definitely would not be the same person if I had not taken his classes.”

Stephens has influenced Hom personally because of the level and dedication he puts into his students.

See HOM, page B6

Courtesy photo/BRYANT HOM Gazette photo/mAGGIE LOUIS

Awareness of sustainable seafood

Senior Katharine Leigh works toward protecting the stability of the oceans

BY KATIE ZINGHEIM kzingheim.gazette@gmail.com

M

any students have ideas and dreams about how they can make a difference. Granite Bay High School senior Katharine Leigh took her dreams and turned them into actions.

Leigh is the founder of a program called Green Catch: Sustaining Blue by Catching Green.

Green Catch is a lesson plan designed to educate middle school students about the importance of sustainable seafood – seafood that is caught in an environmentally and economically friendly way.

inside lifestyle

How to

B Section

Leigh started Green Catch to earn her Girl Scout Gold Award.

The inspiration for the project came to her from a lifetime of fascination with the ocean.

“I think I was born with a passion for the ocean, but by traveling to Monterey Bay Aquarium practically every year with my family, it kind of cultivated this passion into something even more,” Leigh said.

It was at the Monterey Bay Aquarium that Leigh learned about Seafood Watch, an organization that according to seafoodwatch.org “helps consumers and businesses make choices for healthy oceans.” The main goal of the sustainable seafood movement

is to protect the fishing industry by putting a stop to over fishing and environmentally damaging fishing practices. Nearly 75 percent of the world’s fisheries are already being fished at capacity.

In developing Green Catch, Leigh’s initial idea was to go after restaurants.

“I realized there was this huge gap in consumer knowledge when it comes to restaurants. In a grocery store seafood’s labeled, but at a restaurant there’s nothing about seafood origins, so you don’t really know what you’re eating,” Leigh said.

When she talked to the managers of several different area restaurants, Leigh said none of

Freethinkers and Atheists New Atheist club arises on the GBHS campus

ADHD Students diagnosed face a distracting lifestyle

B2

B4

them knew exactly where their seafood came from.

This lack of information makes it nearly impossible for consumers to make sustainable seafood choices unless they buy the fish themselves, and Leigh was determined to make a change.

“The best way to approach this, it seems, is to put something (into law) that would require restaurants to disclose where their seafood’s from.

But how do you even go about that?” Leigh said. “Then I realized, I could take on the sustainable movement and just educate people.”

Staff Kids Several members have children who attend GBHS

B8

Katherine Leigh GBHS senior started Green Catch for the sustainable seafood movement

Leigh decided to develop Green Catch to target middle school students, an age group she said she saw as intelligent and experienced enough to make their own decisions but not so old that they’ve already formed their decisions.

See SEAFOOD, page B6

B2 Lifestyle

Student Spotlight

GBHS junior class VP is optimistic this term Meghan Cole

Vice president of the junior class and co-captain of the dance and drill team Q: When did you join Student Government and why?

I joined student government at the end of last year. That’s when I applied for junior class vice president. I joined because I just really wanted to be more involved and actually be part of organizing activities.

Q: What are your duties as the junior class vice president?

Doing things such as attending float buildings with Wesley Finkemeier (the junior class president), encouraging juniors to participate in activities and promoting class spirit.

Q: Do you aspire to be the senior class president or vice president in the future?

Yes, I would love to! If I’m not able to, I’d still be part of student government. Maybe have a role with ASB but I would definitely be involved still.

Q: What other extracurricular activities do you participate in?

Other than being the junior class vice president, I’m the co-captain of our school’s dance and drill team. Outside of school, I like participating in charity work with my church such as going on mission trips.

Q: How do you keep up with your busy schedule?

I try to make sure things don’t overlap and I try finishing up my homework as fast as I can so I don’t stay up doing it. I talk to my coaches about when I can go to practices. It’s the matter of deciding what you need to do and what you want to do.

– Compiled by ShinEui Park

Atheists and New GBHS club brings attention to overlooked group

BY ADRIENNE BLEVINS

ablevins.gazette@gmail.com

Religion plays a large role in Granite Bay. There are many different churches that students belong to, creating a sense of community, and sponsoring fun and charitable events.

However, atheism tends to be underrepresented.

One group of kids decided they wanted to change this. Walking around on club day, which was held Sept. 10, many people noticed there was a new club: the atheists and free-thinkers club.

Standing on chairs, playing guitar and loudly advertising events such as atheist dodge ball, it was clear that the club founders no longer wanted to be quiet about atheism.

GBHS sophomore and club president Tommy Gabriel marked that as one of his goals for the club.

“People really don’t talk about atheism a lot. Nonsequitor types of people don’t like to address it and that’s what we’re trying to change,” Gabriel said.

How to:

Have a dance party

Friday, October 8, 2010 w The Granite Bay Gazette

Free-thinkers

He also wants to change the role atheists have very different ways of perceiving each other. at GBHS. “If they want to express themselves that’s “Its time for people who don’t have much of cool, I think it’s more of a ‘Lets go against the a say or don’t belong to the majority to kind of establishment’ thing though,” said Barton, who stand up and say we’re part of the community is Mormon. as much as anyone else,” Gabriel said.

GBHS senior Max Smith, who attends BaySome events the club has planned include side Church also shared his view of atheists. watching Jesus Camp, a documentary about “I see atheists as people that deserve love. kids who attend an evangelical Christian sumLots of it,” Smith said. “When people don’t mer camp, reading banned books and listening have faith in a creator that loves you for the to politically influenced music together. person that you are and nothing else, you are “We had close to 70 sign ups and I haven’t limitless to what damage you can bestow received any animosity from anyone,” Gabriel upon yourself and others.” said.

There are many preconceived notions of However, there were a few people who were what atheists think of religious people too. teasing the club when they had their booth set “I don’t think religion means you’re up for club day. narrow-minded, and I think that’s what “We had some hecklers who were poking fun (atheists) think religion means,” at atheism and atheists in general,” Gabriel said. Barton said. “Believing in God “(Since then) people have left us alone and are doesn’t mean you can’t freely letting us do our thing.” think.”

With Granite Bay being a predominately These notions aren’t conservative area, the majority of people tend necessarily true for to be religious. Many students also consider everyone though. themselves to be Christians.

Doyle disagreed Atheists are obviously in the minority and that atheists this can cause a lot of tension. think every reliGBHS Junior Shelby Stevenson said that she gious person is has seen it with her friends. narrow-minded.

“I’ve (heard) people who (say) ‘Christians “You can’t are stupid!’ And then people who (say) ‘atheists group them of are stupid!’” Stevenson said. course. Some Even though differences of opinion arise (religious) often, harsh discriminatory acts are rarely seen. people are really “I never really feel victimized,” GBHS open-minded. sophomore Julia Doyle said, who has been an Some people atheist her whole life. will try and con“I’ve heard of discussions but not of any vert you. There’s discrimination,” GBHS Senior Anne Barton both sides of said. the spectrum,” There seems to always be room for Doyle said. debate amongst students, especially since See ATHEISTS, religious and non-religious students have page B5

Canada geese migrate to GBHS

Gazette illustration/JUSTIN SHIIBA

Birds flock on school campus in the morning leaving unpleasant gifts

Gazette illustration/ALISON SALE and MATT PALKOWSKI

Many people complain of a lack of things to do in a quiet town such as Granite Bay. However, by following these steps, you and your friends are sure to avoid boredom and have a great time.

1. Make sure your parents are fine with you having a dance party. Of course it depends on your parent’s, but they will most likely want to know ahead of time. This is to avoid potential trouble later on.

2. Get a play list going on iTunes of a couple hours of your favorite dance tunes, or music you know will be enjoyed by your friends. Many popular songs can be added, but definitely add songs with a good beat to dance to.

After all, it is a dance party.

3. Clear out some space in your house to dance in. You’ll probably also want to clear out potential fragile objects nearby as some people really get into dancing…

4. Invite as many people as you want.

The more people, the more fun.

5. Turn down the house lights and get some disco lights going. You can get cheap disco lights at Party City or Spencer’s for under 30 bucks. A little lighting goes a long way.

6. Turn up the tunes, and have a good time.

– Jon Setiawan

BY MATT VENEMAN

mveneman.gazette@gmail.com

Canada Geese are a migratory bird species native to North America.

These birds associate in large flocks and stick together throughout the year.

One of these flocks however has recently invaded Granite Bay High School.

Most Canada Geese migrate during the year, but these geese native to Granite Bay have become residential: they are here to stay.

GBHS biology teacher Scott Braly explains that the growing geese population is nation wide and not just a local problem.

“Most waterfowl species are very faithful to their migration patterns but Canada Geese are sometimes very happy when they find a place that has everything they

Gazette illustration/JUSTIN SHIIBA

need: food, water and refuges,” Braly said.

These geese then decide to stay and become resident Canada geese, just like the ones we have here on campus.

As nearly everyone has noticed, the geese are a nuisance for the school because they leave their droppings everywhere. It is almost impossible to walk across the quad without stepping in geese droppings.

Braly explains that the geese problem is much different than the seagull problem.

“The reason the gulls are here is because people leave their trash out. If we improve our trash problem, which we are doing, then the gulls will go away,” Braly said.

The geese, however, are only here for the grass.

“In the evening there are 40 or 50 of them out in the quad grazing and eating grass,” Braly said.

“There’s nothing we can do short of harassing them and scaring them away.”

The California Department of Fish and Game has recently approved a

five day hunt for residential Canada Geese in the area from Oct. 2 - Oct. 6.

“Five days of hunting will help the problem and reduce the population a bit, but it’s not going to wipe them out,” Braly said.

This five day hunt should have affected the geese we see here on campus.

The geese are a annoyance to many students.

GBHS senior Jovita Engwer complains about the presence of the geese.

“I strongly dislike them and they gross me out,” Engwer said. “I even have to clean my shoes periodically because of the geese poop.”

Engwer, like many other students, hopes that we find a solution to the geese presence on campus.

The janitors at school have noticed the problem but don’t seem to think much of it.

“Sometimes I come outside with a dustpan and sweep (the poop), usually on Mondays after the weekend,” GBHS janitor Remy Hernandez said. “I think that students step on and it and then it just disappears.”

So the problem is worse to some than others. It doesn’t seem like geese will be leaving in the near future and GBHS students may have to get used to their new peers.

Students transfer to GBHS for programs offered IB program and family moving forces students to move

BY KATIE BOSTEDT

kbostedt.gazette@gmail.com

Most people attend all four years at the same school, but some transfer to other schools for different classes.

Transfer students usually come to Granite Bay High School to be a part of the IB Program.

“I’m taking the IB Program because I live in Folsom, and it’s recommended if you live out of the district,” GBHS junior Samira Meschi said.

Meschi would have attended Folsom High School if she wasn’t a part of the IB Program.

“The IB Program is tough and a lot of work but it’s worth it,” Meschi said.

GBHS counselor Tiffani Gieck agrees that the IB Program is a main reason students transfer to GBHS. “I would have to say that students pursue moving to our community attend GBHS for the many outstanding programs we offer,” Gieck said.

Students don’t always simply choose to attend Granite Bay; living arrangements send them here.

“The main reason (students transfer) would be due to family residence. They either move into or out of the area due to relocation of job or family commitment

issues,” Gieck said.

Other students come for different, less academic reasons.

GBHS senior Amanda Allison also lives in Folsom, but transferred to GBHS as a junior last year.

“I transferred because most of my good friends come here and actually (live) closer to Granite Bay,” Allison said.

Switching schools has made a big difference in Allison’s high school experience.

“Folsom High is a beautiful school, and it’s really big but everyone’s very cliquey and I didn’t really feel loved there,” Allison said.

Allison was thrilled when she first came Mitchell said. to GBHS. The switch hasn’t only effected her “What’s cool about Granite Bay is I education, but her social life. feel like everyone is friends,” she said.

“I am able to go out of my way to meet “At Granite Bay I feel people and be social really welcome.” because (after transferAlthough students ring) you don’t know tend to transfer to At Granite Bay I feel very many people,” Granite Bay for coursMitchell said. really welcome es offered here, some The differences of – Amanda Allison transfer elsewhere transferring schools because of classes could be hard to available elsewhere. adjust to, but Mitchell Katie Mitchell spent doesn’t mind. last year at GBHS before switching “There are definitely positives and schools. negatives, but overall it’s been a good ex“I transferred to Del Oro my junior for perience and a good challenge,” Mitchell the sports medicine class offered there,” said.

Friday, October 8, 2010

w The Granite Bay Gazette

Lifestyle B3

Students at GBHS suffer from intense migraines While not completely curable, taking preventative measures is key

BY STEPHANIE SHAULL sshaul.gazette@gmail.com

O

n average, 10 students a week visit the Granite Bay High School nurse because they are suffering from migraines, a chronic variety of headache that can cause severe pain for several hours or even days, and no one quite understands why. In the United States, about 300 million people are affected.

Migraines, which are very common in teens, can be disabling. These headaches are preceded by sensory warning signs (auras) or symptoms such as flashes of light, blind spots, nausea, vomiting, sensitivity, and tingling in limbs.

Many migraines can be so debilitating that all you can think about is finding a dark, quiet place to lie down.

There are four phases of a migraine, making it hard to set a definition of what each person experiences.

A study published by researchers from the University of Montreal and Oxford University in September by found that a mutation in a gene can cause migraines by making some pain nerves especially sensitive, and the hope is that the discovery could lead to new treatments. But the science about migraines is still in its very early stages.

In the meantime, sufferers search for a variety of causes, such as hormone imbalances, allergic reactions, lights that are too bright, stress, smoking and alcohol consumption and skipping meals.

Although there is no cure, medication and other treatments may alleviate symptoms for a while, reducing the frequency and severity.

According to new research presented at the annual American Society for Plastic Surgery conference, a person’s age and location of headaches might determine whether surgery may be an option. The surgery is a relatively new idea where nerves in the brow, temples, behind the eyes and back of the head.

“The best thing to do for a migraine is immediately take medication – either over-thecounter, such as Advil or Aleve, or stronger medication prescribed by the doctor. Resting in a dark room can be helpful,” said Linda Warfield, the GBHS nurse.

Some students also visit chiropractors in an attempt to reduce or alleviate the pain.

“It is a common thought that migraines are directly connected with blood flow to the brain,” said Jared Thomas, a chiropractor from Thomas Chiropractic. “Our philosophy looks to address the cause of the disease and not just the symptoms. Oftentimes, stimulating the nervous system will allow the body to identify the problem and heal itself.”

Rachel Lyon, a sophomore at GBHS, has had migraines since she was 11 years old. Lyon gets her migraines when she runs or tries to focus too hard.

Lyon, whose mom is a nurse, says her main way of ridding herself of headaches is by taking Advil and Tylenol.

Another GBHS sophomore, Megan Hansen, believes she gets migraines from the stress of

school and lack of sleep. She has been getting migraines since the fifth grade.

Although headaches can be unbearable for a while, they don’t necessarily have long-term effects on a person’s life.

“I do not think there are long-term learning effects,” said Warfield, the school nurse. “This can be a chronic health problem that does interfere with a person’s lifestyle. It is hard to plan for events if you are plagued with frequent, chronic migraines.”

With migraines, prevention is key and certain triggers should be avoided. Those who suffer from migraines should keep logs of changes in their everyday life that may lead to a migraine.

For example, a change in the weather, a certain food and changes in stress can all trigger migraine pain.

Migraine sufferers often hope for a magic cure. After all, some people have grown out of their migraines, one day just stopping mysteriously.

Percy Harvin, a wide receiver for the Minnesota Vikings, held out hope for migraine sufferers everywhere when he announced that he had found the solution to the headaches that kept him out of training camp this summer.

He said he had been diagnosed with a sleeping disorder, sleep apnea, and with treatment, his migraines had disappeared.

But not so fast. Harvin has continued to miss some practice time during the regular season, and one of the problems is—you guessed it— migraines.

Gazette photo /MAGIGIE LOUIS

Granite Bay High School nurse Linda Warfield is trying to help students cope with their headaches, on and off campus

Helicopter parents are hovering a little too close

Parents of Granite Bay High School students feel the need to constantly check in via text or phone

BY JON SETIWAN

T

jsetiwan.gazette@gmail.com

his year, while some students at Granite Bay High School are gaining new freedoms and trust from their parents, some parents are clamping down on their children, restricting what they can and can’t do.

This modern idea, where a parent pays extremely close attention to their child’s or children’s experiences and problems, especially at school, is referred to as “helicopter parenting.”

GBHS senior Sofia Mitjans says she has felt constricted by her parents since she was born.

Although Mitjans knows her parents just want to know where she is, she feels that her parents might be taking things to an extreme level.

“I have to call or text my mom right when I get to school so she knows I get there safe and sound,” Mitjans said. “Then, I have to call her when I get home from school.”

GBHS junior Alex Harris is another student who feels that her parents might be a little over-the-top. Harris’

parents are constantly checking in with her, wondering where she is.

“They call me all the time,” Harris said. “It gets kind of annoying.”

However annoying these constant checkups can be, they aren’t necessarily all bad. They can prove to be beneficial.

Even though the steady stream of phone calls and texts isn’t necessarily fun for students, it can have positive influences such as keeping them aware of their actions.

“I think they take it to the extreme sometimes,” Mitjans said, “but it keeps me out of trouble.”

Through technology, new options are being offered to parents who want other ways of always being able to locate their child.

AT&T users now have the option of using the controversial FamilyMap, where one can track a family member by their phone’s location.

FamilyMap has been around for almost two years now, and earlier this year an iPhone app has been made available for those who are willing to

pay a $9.99 parents to let them know per month where they are and how service. they are doing.

I have to call One of While many parents have or text my mom the primary always made sure they when I get to features of know what’s going on with FamilyMap their children, there are school so she includes a students who feel like there knows I got there setting where has been a sudden change in safe and sound a parent can the way their parents treat set up an them. automatic “[My parents] didn’t used – Sofia Mitjans, GBHS schedule to be like this,” GBHS senior check to junior Hank Montgomery get location said. “(My mom) got scared information from her friends telling for their her stories of kids getting children sent in trouble which made her to them via text message or e-mail. change.”

For example, if a parent wanted to The phenomena of “helicopter make sure their student went home parenting” can also be seen with right after school, they could run a GBHS alumni beginning to start check to make sure they are in fact at college. For many, this is the first home. time they are living away from their Despite being what some consider parents. an invasion of privacy, FamilyMap GBHS alum Rachel Seidman, a also removes the need for students sophomore at Cal Poly San Luis such as Harris to constantly call their Obispo has seen her fair share of

College of the Month: Northwestern University

Teacher

rinket

Who: 8,497 undergraduate students the Association of American Universities and Where: Suburban Evanston, Illinois, 10 miles has a high amount of research away from Chicago. wNo required core curriculum: Tuition and Fee Cost: $40,247 individual degree requirements Acceptance Rate: 27% are set by the faculty.

Athletics: The Northwestern wAcademic honor societies Wildcats on campus include Phi Beta wTeams compete in 19 intercolKappa, Eta Kappa Nu, Tau legiate sports in the NCAA’s Beta Pi, and Lambda Pi Eta. Division 1.

Fun Facts: wBetween 2005 and 2009, the wUrban legend is the library is women’s lacrosse team won five sinking into Lake Michigan. consecutive NCAA championWhen the engineering was ships first done, calculations weren’t Gazette illustration/ADAM TILFORD Mascot: Willie the Wildcat taken in about the weight of Academics:

the books. wNorthwestern’s schools of management Compiled by Shannon Carroll (business), engineering and communication are among the best in the nation. wOne of 61 institutions selected to be a part of

BY KEVIN NIELSEN

kjneilsen.gazette@gmail.com

Your Names Your Paper The Gazette

helicopter parents.

“People are definitely annoyed with clingy parents during freshman orientation,” Seidman said.

Freshman orientation tries to seamlessly integrate students into their new life, something they’re going to have to deal with without parental presence.

“At our orientation, parents are separated from their kids so (the students) can focus on their new life,” Seidman said. “People work for months to make orientation go well, and they don’t really want parents to interfere.”

Some schools even have different orientations for parents, such as San Francisco State University where GBHS alum Angela Tran attends.

Students are pushing for more freedom, especially those with a clean discipline record. They are arguing that there needs to be more trust, especially since there’s nothing to worry about if nothing bad has happened so far.

Montgomery shares this belief.

“Parents should trust their kids until they get in trouble,” he said.

If you have ever taken Mike Valentine’s AP European History class, then you have probably noticed a collection of gizmos and gadgets located around the room. Over the years, he has collected trinkets, many of which he has in his classroom.

“Everything represents a different era or year because students bring me new types of things,” Valentine said.

He enjoys implementing all of these knickknacks into his lessons. He uses some as helpful visuals and some as frightening weapons to teach the class.

Some of these are gifts from students, while others are things he finds himself.

One of the most well-known

Gazette photo /Daniel Fleischman

of these trinkets is a small hand-puppet dressed in a red shirt and black vest sitting on the overhead projector, staring at you.

That doll happens to be Machiavelli, a famous Italian philosopher during the Renaissance who’s most well-known writing, The Prince, is still influential today.

Machiavelli holds an important position in the class, seemingly holding court over the entire room.

“He’s just such an important person and we talk about him throughout the course of the year that it just makes sense to put him somewhere where everyone can see him,” Valentine said.

However important the doll is, Valentine said that many students are frightened by it.

“They don’t like the way it

stares at them,” Valentine said.

“They have trouble with the eyes.”

The eyes are half-lidded and large, the most prominent figure on Machiavelli’s small face.

“It’s intimidating,” said Granite Bay High School sophomore Hamesieh Sordoshiah.

Machiavelli has been with Valentine for a while, who received it as a gift from a past student a long time ago.

While he doesn’t know where the student got it, Valentine’s glad he has his Machiavelli doll as it’s one of his favorites.

So sophomores taking AP Euro this year, make sure you get a good look at the little puppet. And a warning to freshmen who plan on taking AP Euro, keep your eye out for Machiavelli. He will be watching you.

B4 Lifestyle

Friday, October 8, 2010

TOP TEN

w The Granite Bay Gazette

losing focus

REASONS TO LOVE AUTUMN

10

Hot drinks from Starbucks are now becoming practical

9

You get a random Wednesday off from school!

8

Daylight savings time means an extra hour of sleep

7

Football season is in full swing

6

Gazette photo /maggie louis

BY ARI BLACK

T

aublack.gazette@gmail.com

here’s always that student tapping their pen against the desk and causing some annoyance; his head rests on his hand, held up only by the encouragement that there’s only an hour left of school. He stares at the clock, watching the minute hand flow over the little lines as the seconds tick by.

The rhythm of his pen tapping annoys all around him, but remains an unavoidable habit: the result of his impatience.

His eyes see the words on the board, but his brain doesn’t process the ideas.

This individual’s brain is controlled

by Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder.

People with ADHD are fidgety and often times cannot stand still. Also, individuals tend to talk excessively and

interrupt others around them.

GBHS therapist Angela Sanchez explained more symptoms of the disorder.

“Common symptoms may be fidgeting with hands or feet, squirming in seat, getting out of their seat often when expected to be seated, and running about or climbing excessively in situations in which it is inappropriate,” Sanchez said.

Although you could never tell from the physical appearances of the individuals, students all over the campus of GBHS have been diagnosed with ADHD. GBHS junior Willow McConnen was diagnosed with ADHD in the summer of 2010.

“I had a really hard time focusing in class, and when it came to taking tests, I couldn’t concentrate even if I had studied for it a lot,” McConnen said.

McConnen’s grades began to drop as

her sophomore year progressed.

“When I entered high school, the work got harder and the classes got longer. My grades started dropping because I couldn’t focus as long.”

McConnen began feeling higher stress levels as her grades continued to get worse.

Once diagnosed with the disorder, medication can be prescribed to help with the symptoms of hyperactivity.

One of the most common medications prescribed for ADHD is a psycho stimulant drug called Methylphenidate, otherwise known as Ritalin.

Sanchez explains the negative side effects of taking these drugs.

“Students with ADHD are typically prescribed stimulant medications.

Stimulant medication help people with ADHD to regulate their behavior, increase attention and decrease impulsivity,” Sanchez said. “ADHD medica-

Food lovers rejoice!

Thanksgiving is almost here!

Senior trips

Celebrating in new places

Passions expressed through different outlets

BY STEPHANIE SHAULL

5

Apple Hill is ready for a visit

4

Fewer sightings of “indecent exposure” around campus

3

Your teachers aren’t as intimidating anymore

2

We are that much closer to seeing the summer sun again

H

sshaull.gazette@gmail.com

igh school is all about expressing creativity through doing what you love. Students show their passions in various ways.

Finding passions in high school helps students express their feelings and who they are. It can help relieve stress and can act as a self-therapy.

The Gazette looked into several students and their endeavors in expression on campus.

Melissa Miller GBHS junior Melissa Miller loves to dance. She has been dancing since she was 5 and joined a team in junior high.

“I love performing-it’s a way of getting out there and doing what I love,” Miller said.

Dance also provides Miller with an outlet for school life.

“It’s a fun way to get to know other girls on the team. It’s nice to have a break from homework and designated social time,” Miller said.

Andrew Streater Art is GBHS juniors’ Andrew Streater’s way expressing himself.

“You can use it as an escape and (a way) to express your feelings,” Streater said.

He has been involved with art since the summer before his freshmen year.

“I want to use it as a career because it would be something I like and am passionate about,” Streater said.

The

Jennifer Bonne Acting through the drama program at GBHS has been senior Jennifer Bonne’s way of showing her talent and imagination.

“It’s fun and you can be whoever you want to be as well as your character,” Bonne said.

Bonne has been involved in the drama program since freshmen year and has been in several productions including Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory.

Bonne plans to use drama as a career or at least a hobby in the future.

Laura Smith For four years, senior Laura Smith has actively participated in color guard.

Smith has not only had fun with this activity but also had learning experiences.

“I have been taught how to act and perform in ways I never thought I could,” Smith said.

Student expression can not only help students show their creative side, but help control stress as well.

“When I’m stressed I spin just to get any anxiety out,” Smith said.

Gianetta France Singing in and out of school settings has been Gianetta Frances’ form of expression.

France has been involved in choir programs since junior high.

“It is my own therapy. It is the thing that makes me happy. When I am upset I can start singing and forget what happened,” France said.

Gazette illustration/MATT PALKOWSKI

CollegeBoard SAT

un- Official SAT of the month tip(s)

BY ALISON SALE

asale.gazette@gmail.com

Compiled by Christine Zavesky

w loquacious – very talkative

w The vocabulary part of the critical reading section can be tough. To effectively study the definitions, make flash cards, associate images to words that will trigger your memory, or create mnemonics (i.e. Never Eat Soggy Waffles stands for North, East, South, West.) w effusive – overflowing, gushing with emotion

w pedantic – precise; concerned with formal rules Don’t

I’m loquacious. I just love to talk!

vote for Pedro! His speech was grammatically incorrect.

wMath: 360° total

° to tal

wThe SAT is 3 hours and 45 minutes. It has 10 sections: - One 25-minute essay - Two 25-minute and one 20-minute math sections (multiple choice and a few free response questions) - Two 25-minute and one 20-minute critical reading sections (what I call ‘fill-in-the-sentences’ and reading comprehension) - One 25-minute and one 10-minute

writing section (editing for grammatical and structural errors) - One 25-minute experimental section (a “wild card,” basically, that the test writers throw in there to test for future use)

height

180

1

You can start making your Christmas wish list

One day left until test day – time for cramming! Although it’s generally not a good idea, here are some last minute tips.

If you have an understanding of the recycled paper booklet they throw at you on test day, odds are that you will probably do better.

Area: 1/2bh

radius (r)

180° angle

diameter (2r) base

tions do not affect the overall health of an individual, but some common side effects may include depressed appetite, insomnia and irritability.”

Ritalin increases brain levels of the chemical Dopamine, which “affects brain processes that control movement, emotional response, and ability to experience pleasure and pain,” said a science research center at the University of Texas.

Even outside of school, the disorder affects elements of McConnen’s everyday life.

“It affects my driving. If I don’t take my pill before I drive, I miss almost every single stop sign,” McConnen said.

For another student on campus, ADHD has less of an impact on overall life.

GBHS junior Hunter Christian was diagnosed with ADHD in 8th grade.

See ADHD, page B5

Area: �r² Circumference: 2�r or �d Gazette illustration/ALISON SALE

BY MAT FUKUHARA

A

mfukuhara.gazette@gmail.com

t Granite Bay High School senior trips have become synonymous with senior year, and almost everyone wants to go to celebrate their graduation.

“All the years I had been teaching, my sons had been thinking about senior trips, and at that point, the only senior trips had been Cancun or Hawaii, both of which are ‘let’s go get really drunk and do stupid things.’ I figured that there were a lot better ways to celebrate,” GBHS math teacher and senior trip adviser Greg Holmes said.

These days senior trips mean such a great deal to up and coming graduates that some students sign up for the trip way in advance to ensure they have a spot.

“There used to be a meeting in September, but (this year) it was full before that, so I ended up having the meeting with a full group,” Holmes said. “The economy hasn’t affected the trip to Europe since I began the trip. The turnout has actually gone up over the years.”

The deciding factor dividing those who go and those who don’t isn’t the price necessarily, although the 21 day trip costs $3,800.

In some cases, students have athletic obligations.

GBHS Senior Austin Akre, who has the attention of college scouts says the 20 day trip won’t fit his schedule.

“I’m playing sports so I want a chance to excel at that rather than take time off,” Akre said.

Those who sign up but find they can’t go open up opportunities for students on the waiting list.

“Various things happen and some end up not being able to go, so some of (the ones who are on the waiting list) end up being able to get on,” Holmes said. “But it’s not that this is the only thing they can do.”

For those who aren’t able to go on the senior trip this year due to the limited number of spaces, there is another trip to Costa Rica which is advised by John Thomas, a GBHS science teacher who started the trip for GBHS last year.

The trip is sponsored by World Strides, an educational travel company that sponsors numerous trips around the world.

Through this company, students are taken care of from the time they leave until the time they come home.

Specifically, since most of the Costa Rica is Spanish speaking, normally those who go would need to speak a little Spanish, but World Strides has prepared for this.

“Our guides speak English and Spanish, so that takes care of the language barrier, but I remember when we went shopping you just had to know a little bit about counting in Spanish and please and thank you,” Thomas said.

The week long trip has a number of science oriented activities, but it’s not to say there isn’t enough fun.

“We will see an active volcano, catch live bats at night, visit a butterfly preserve where many of the butterflies migrate to North America, a half day river rafting trip and a zip-line,” Thomas said.

GBHS sophomore Francesca Rufo, who attended the trip last year said it was an unparalleled experience.

“Hawaii was the closest thing to it, but it was a lot more humid and (in Costa Rica) there’s a lot more animals and flowers that I’ve never seen before,” Rufo said.

She also said that she had taken opportunities that may have been available at home, but it wouldn’t compare.

“My dad asked me if I wanted to go rafting on the river See TRIPS, page B5

Friday, October 8, 2010

Lifestyle B5

w The Granite Bay Gazette

Random facts

Random club of the month

Random student of the month

A list of facts you will never need to know but always find interesting

One of 2,100 GBHS students is randomly selected every issue

Kevin Ledwith, junior

President, Micaela Saqui What’s the goal of the club?

The goal of the club is to fundraise for Agape Ministries in Cambodia and Courage to be You in Sacramento, and also to raise awareness for the cause.

Three Mile Island is only 2 ½ miles long.

There is more real lemon juice in Lemon Pledge furniture polish than in Country Time Lemonade.

Why are you passionate about preventing sex trafficking?

Being a teenage girl, my parents have always been super protective over me and when I heard there are girls my age and younger being kidnapped and forced to have sex, I was so surprised, (especially) to find out that Sacramento is one of the largest cities for this. I think it’s a really important cause to help these girls recover and get out of the situation they’re in.

Lima beans contain cyanide.

The first penny had the motto “Mind your own business.”

Before mercury, brandy was used to fill thermometers.

There are more French restaurants in New York than in Paris.

Pennsylvania is misspelled on the Liberty Bell.

On average, you’ll spend a year of your life looking for misplaced objects.

The dot over the letter “I” is called a tittle.

While chopping onions, hold a piece of bread between your lips to keep your eyes from watering.

It is against the law to put pretzels in bags in Philadelphia.

Gazette photo /daniel fleischman

Gazette: What is your favorite color and why?

I always liked green because trees are green.

The lifespan of a taste bud is ten days.

What show are you most looking forward to watching this fall?

Man vs. Wild because Bear Grills is pretty awesome.

The average person spends two years on the phone in his/her lifetime.

If you could have anyone over to your house for dinner, dead or alive, who would it be?

Why? Thomas Edison, because he made the light bulb.

Source: http://www.randomfacts.com.au/rf/random_ facts/random_trivia_facts.html http://www.snapple.com/retired-facts/

Compiled by Sonia Iyer

Christian was oblivious to the fact of his diagnosis.

“I didn’t think I had it. My grades never dropped, and I was never stressed.”

Sanchez said that often times, individuals don’t know they have it before they are diagnosed.

“To be diagnosed with ADHD, symptoms have to be present before the age of seven and in at least two environments, for example, home and school. ADHD is a neuro-developmental disorder,

there is.

Ninjas or pirates?

Ninjas because they’re sneaky.

If could travel anywhere in the world, where would you go?

Hawaii because the weather is awesome and I can surf there.

What’s your favorite dance move?

The sprinkler.

What is your favorite car?

A red Zonda. It’s a sports car.

Where do you want to go to college?

San Diego State.

What’s your favorite soccer team?

Chelsea Football Club. They’re the best team

What’s the best concert you’ve been to?

Megadeth!

Compiled by Allie Burger

ADHD: Disorder signs start as a child Continued from page B4

S.T.O.P. Sex Trafficking of People

meaning it is biological. Some students may wonder if they have ADHD before it is diagnosed.

However, generally ADHD is diagnosed when children are still in elementary school and many are unaware of what ADHD even is at that age.”

Christian feels that the impact is miniscule on his life.

“It just makes me crazier and more hyper,” Christian said. “I get hyper, hot and really annoying.”

Sanchez also gives tips on what to do when ADHD acts up.

“Taking a short break is a good strategy, getting up and stretching, getting a drink of water, taking a walk or doing something physical if possible.”

Although ADHD seems more and more common in the GBHS area, Sanchez reassures that only a small percentage actually has ADHD. “The prevalence has been estimated to be 3-7% in school aged children,” Sanchez said. “It is not something everyone has a little of.”

ATHEISTS: A mistaken minority Continued from page B2

As for how atheists are viewed, she said that they are seen as very cynical people.

“Some people are (cynical), but personally I don’t think that just because I don’t believe in god (means) I don’t have a purpose,” she said.

Doyle also said that she believes a lot of differing opinions regarding atheists stem from (lack of knowledge).

“If you say you’re an atheist, sometimes people

are like ‘Oh does that mean you worship the devil?’

People just don’t know…it’s kind of good to just have a general awareness (of other beliefs),” Doyle said.

Overall the sentiment surrounding the club is one of tolerance. Most people seem to think atheists are free to express themselves as they wish and to create their own type of community.

“It’s nice to have other people who agree with you when you’re the minority,” Doyle said.

What future fundraisers are you planning?

We are planning on doing some car washes and selling bracelets and shirts that are for Courage To Be You and Agape. We’re also going to be doing a ton of fundraisers through Nuyo and Freshberry and all those restaurants.

When do you meet?

We meet once a month on Wednesdays after school and sometimes more if we have an event.

How did you find out about sex trafficking?

One of my youth pastors went to Cambodia over the summer to fundraise for it and meet some of the girls who have been impacted by sex trafficking. When he came back he did a presentation to one of our small groups and I just remember thinking that it was crazy that this was happening.

Compiled by Katie Bostedt

your names. your faces. the gazette.

B6 Lifestyle

Friday, October 8, 2010

w The Granite Bay Gazette

HOM: Painting TOMS Continued from page B1

Hom never had the chance to have Cordell as his art teacher, but when he took the AP art history course, Hom witnessed Cordell’s passion for his students and art, which inspires Hom to become a teacher himself.

Because of Hom’s own passion for working with people and art, both of these teachers are figures of what Hom aspires to be.

His first art show was at the Heritage Footwear and Apparel boutique on Roseville Parkway near the Roseville Galleria.

From then on, his popularity as an artist increased.

Stephens said, “It wasn’t the inside of the class that separated him from so many of his peers. It was what he did outside of class for no other reason except to make art and the enjoyment of it.”

Hom was commissioned to paint two twelve-foot-tall murals in Downtown Sacramento and was also featured in an art gallery in Auburn where he sold more than fifteen hundred dollars worth of paintings.

Walls and canvas’ were not the only things Hom painted. He painted shoes TOMS shoes.

TOMS is a company where if you buy one pair of shoes, they send a pair to a child in need.

One of the main reasons these shoes rose in popularity and swept through GBHS is because of Hom’s customized design consisting of paint and spray-paint.

It all started with Hom trying to cover up the dirt from his first white pair of TOMS; they were immediately noticed by GBHS students.

Orders for custom painted TOMS by Hom rose in popularity, allowing him to paint and support this cause at the same time.

He has done many events with TOMS ranging from Granite Bay to Sacramento and in stores such as Nordstrom, Getta Clue, Madame Butterfly, Heritage Footwear and Apparel and American Rag. “The whole idea of giving back to others (“one for one”) will always have a positive impact on people. I am definitely going to apply for an internship at TOMS because I’ll be right in Los Angeles where they are based,” Hom said.

Recently, Hom’s customized shoes were presented at the actual TOMS headquarters which is located in Santa Monica. With that, he will soon be doing events for TOMS shoes in Santa Monica and Los Angeles.

During Hom’s senior year, he applied to colleges with one particularly in mind - University of California Los Angeles.

He was accepted into UCLA, which is located in one of the world’s most influential art cities, including renowned art galleries and museums.

Hom is currently majoring in fine arts with a concentration in studio art.

In the future, he plans to become an art professor/teacher at either a high school or collegiate level.

Now out of high school, Hom is exposed to many new and different levels of art, enabling him to further fuel his passion. “(I will be an) art teacher by day and full time starving artist by night,” Hom said. “I will always paint.”

Gazette illustration/ALISON SALE

SEAFOOD: Leigh teaches to bring change Continued from page B1 Once Green Catch had been conceptualized, the next step Leigh took was to contact various organizations for support and information.

The primary group she’s been working with is Monterey based Seafood Watch, who donated all their informational and statistical materials. They also proofread the worksheets and presentations Leigh put together for Green Catch and gave their approval to the program.

Green Catch provides videos, information sheets, and worksheets for teachers and volunteers to use to teach middle school classes about sustainable seafood. The information is meant to be taken home for the students to share with their parents and friends.

Leigh is also working with Blue Voice, Oceanic Preservation Society, and Fish Wise, an organization that works with businesses such as Safeway to help further the sustainable seafood community.

“One of the things I really wanted to focus on with my project was the economic and vocational impact of sustainable seafood and of the seafood industry,” Leigh said. “I really

wanted to hit that because it seemed after talking to some fishermen… they weren’t realizing that sustainable seafood is there to support them, not take away from them.”

Leigh said she wants to emphasize the impact the collapse of the seafood industry would have on the millions of people who rely on plentiful oceans for jobs and food – a very realistic prediction since scientists have estimated that more than 90 percent of the ocean’s large fish populations are gone.

“Sustainable seafood is more than just a few fish… seafood is global, the ocean connects all of us. If the seafood industry crashes, just imagine what could happen,” Leigh said.

Leigh has already taught Green Catch in Cavitt Junior High School and Olympus Junior High School.

She hopes the program spreads throughout California, the nation and eventually the world.

To spread her message, Leigh has created a website, greencatchglobal. org, and a Facebook page for Green Catch. She’s also been invited to do a guest blog on the Fish Wise website.

http://bryanthomart.yolasite.com/

“Green Catch is not just impacting schools… it should also spread throughout the California mind set so more people become aware. That can result in progress, people making sustainable choices, and people supporting restaurant accountability,” Leigh said.

Leigh said she hopes Green Catch will move people to get involved with the sustainable seafood movement by encouraging them to learn about sustainable seafood and tell others about the issue. GBHS seniors can even earn community service hours by volunteering to teach Green Catch in local junior highs.

“Every purchase, every decision you make impacts businesses, it’s all based on supply and demand,” Leigh said. “So as long as we put the demand on sustainable products… they’ll change.”

TRIPS: Teachers cannot advertise Continued from page B4

here, and that doesn’t seem as much fun as going there,” Rufo said.

Rufo is one of a small group of GBHS students that went on the trip last year, but Thomas hopes to expand on that number for this year’s trip.

“It would be nice if one trip kind of leads into another trip, but I think you have to get three or four trips going to before everyone starts to hear about Costa Rica,” Thomas said.

One issue facing the popularity of the trip is advertising. Many people have the misconception that the senior trips are sponsored by the school, but the truth is they aren’t even allowed to use school resources to advertise.

Although the school does allow advertisements of the trips in the classrooms of teacher advisers, the educational staff is not allowed to post flyers around campus or specifically on the morning bulletin, which would be the main source of

communication with the entire school body.

“Anything that’s off campus they don’t fund because it’s not a school function, so they’re not liable for anything that happens,” Holmes said.

The trip to Costa Rica costs $2,700 which Thomas says is cheaper than the year before.

“The trip this year is almost $300 cheaper than last year because the travel company is getting a cheaper rate,” Thomas said.

Both the senior Europe trip and Costa Rica are education based, but Thomas said the student’s impact may be more evident in Costa Rica.

“On the senior trip I think they had guides and they definitely got the history, but since Costa Rica is marketed as real ecotourism trip where you’re providing jobs for people to care for and understand their natural resources, I think that was a new twist to see ‘What I spent my money on is making a way of life for others’,” Thomas said.

Friday, October 8, 2010

w The Granite Bay Gazette

Lifestyle B7

Friday, October 8, 2010

B8 Lifestyle

Family

w The Granite Bay Gazette

TIES For several students at GBHS, the on-campus adult is also the parent

child of a staff member.

“The rest of the faculty know that I am a staff member’s daughter, and so I have to act lmost all students have accordingly…(and) be responlittle contact with teachsible,” Kati said. ers and other staff once GBHS junior Caleb Stordahl they go off campus. But some voiced similar feelings about students go home with those staff reactions since his father who work at Granite Bay High Paul Stordahl is a GBHS counSchool, because those students selor. call the staff members, mom or “All the teacher’s know…I am dad. his son…which (can be) a negaStaff members who have a tive thing,” Caleb said. child attending GBHS while Paul Stordahl’s other son, they are teaching here have GBHS senior Josh Stordahl, found that it changes the onalso feels the weight of being campus experience and affects known as a staff member’s son. their relationship with their “I have to be (very) respectful daughter or son. This also holds to teachers,” Josh said. true for their children.

Paul Stordahl, sees many The family combination of advantages to having his sons students and on-campus adults attend GBHS. include teachers Linda and “I love it. It’s great to be able Chet Dickson, their senior son, to spend some extra time with Chase, and freshman daughter, them, on campus and driving Christine. Another combinatime together,” said Paul Stortion is senior Davis Blomquist dahl. “Common experiences… and his father, teacher Duane are important for drawing Blomquist. Counselor Paul Stordahl has two sons at GBHS: people closer so you can look back and reminisce.” a senior, Josh, and a junior, Caleb agrees with his father’s Caleb. Senior Kati Fischer is positive assessment of their situthe daughter ation. of teacher “I love havSteve Fising my dad on cher. ...having a kid campus,” Caleb While said.

“Not only who struggled ... there are is he awesome, views on helped me see but I get special both sides of benefits like he there is often the spectrum can bring me on whether no magic coffee in the having a morning if I parent on formula have an early campus is practice, or if beneficial – Paul Stordahl, I need money or disadfrom him.”

GBHS counselor vantageous, However, GBHS Paul Stordahl senior Kati saw one downFischer side to having views being his children go to the same high a child of a staff member as a school he worked at. positive thing.

“If you had a child here “It’s a familiar face around who wasn’t doing well… if campus,” Kati said. “It’s cool they were having issues in the just to have your dad here, he’s classroom, behavior issues, etc. easily accessible.” and you’re dealing with staff Another advantage, accordmembers you know, that could ing to Fischer, was a chance to get to familiar with GBHS early be a little different than dealing with other people’s kids.” on.

Paul Stordahl also said, “When I was younger, he used “I think having a kid who to come and take me to…class struggled… elevated my level sometimes, so I already knew of empathy.

Trying strategies Granite Bay and a lot of the people here before I came,” Kati for struggling students helped me see there is often no magic said. formula.”

Fischer’s father, GBHS Both Steve Fischer and Paul teacher Steve Fischer, also saw Stordahl felt their was one more positive sides of having his benefit from having a child on daughter attend the same high campus: a chance to see the school at which he teaches.

“I’m a firm believer in raising other side of the staff-student relationship at GBHS. your own kids,” Steve Fischer “I get a student’s perspective said, “and the more contact or on what it’s like to be in someconnections we have with our body’s classroom and a more kids, the better.” intimate look at it than I would For the Fischers, school has from hearing from other stubecome a point of contact and dents who I don’t rub shoulders gives them something to talk with everyday,” Paul Stordahl about as they are both familiar said. with what’s happening onSteve Fischer agreed. “(Having campus.

Kati on campus) makes my de“There is always a great concision making, my discipline… nection with a shared environmore humane.” ment, but from different perThis goes the same for stuspectives,” Steve Fischer said. dents of staff members.

However, the Fischers also “It opens up my view to the see possible downsides to this stress of the job,” Caleb said. setup, specifically in the area of While having family on camgrading. pus can be difficult, the good “A lot of my friends have him aspects seem to outweigh the for classes and it’s weird if they bad. get a bad grade in the class,” “I’m able to get different Kati said. perspectives through her,” Steve Steve Fischer said he too Fischer said. “(It) makes me thought a bad grade in his class could cause students to automat- think about things in a different way.” ically dislike his daughter.

An additional sense of responsibility also comes with being a

BY KYLE PAWLAK

kpawlak.gazette@gmail.com

A

Gazette photo /MAGGIE LOUIS

wSenior Kati Fischer and her dad, GBHS photography teacher and soccer coach Steve Fischer, above, and counselor Paul Stordahl, below, and his sons Josh (a senior), left, and Caleb (a junior) share family relationships that overlap on campus.

I’m able to get different perspectives through (Kati).

It makes me think about things in a different way

The faculty... know(s) that I am a staff member’s daughter, and so I have to act accordingly... be responsible

– Steve Fischer, a GBHS teacher

– Kati Fischer, a GBHS senior

Sports

Granite Bay Gazette

C Section

Friday w October 8, 2010

Running into the national spotlight

Commentary

Senior Brooke Holt leads a dominating GBHS cross country trio, while senior Christine Zavesky and freshman Clare Carroll follow close behind during their Sierra Foothill League meet at Johnson Springview park.

laura preston lpreston.gazette@gmail.com

Being “correct” comes at a cost

A

fter the football game against Reed I was excited.

Honestly, I cared less about the result of the game and, while it was great that our boys pulled out the win, there was something much bigger in play that night.

Finally, for the first time in my four years at Granite Bay High School, there was a display of real school spirit.

They titled themselves “The Tribe” and, adorned in headdresses and body paint, the members filled the Grizzly Nation cheering section and rooted on our team.

This was not a school sponsored group or people who were bribed to make it seem as if GBHS had just an ounce of spirit. This was a group of real GBHS students who felt the need to cheer on their team.

The movement was created to make this a tradition and at every home game the tribe would once again band together to tailgate and, with their rally cries, spurn the football team towards victory.

But some people who can’t comprehend the beauty of high school spirit have made an effort to get rid of the tribe, just like Andrew Jackson did during his presidency.

Local Native Americans have decided to take offense from the innocent uprising of “The Tribe.”

Now I understand they were treated unfairly due to the greedy need for land expansion 140 years ago, but if Native Americans are in an uproar over a group of high school boys and girls who meant no malice of any sort, they have obviously been out of touch with the sporting world.

The Washington Redskins, Atlanta Braves, Florida State Seminoles, Cleveland Indians, and the Kansas City Chiefs, all teams known on a national level whose names are offensive to Native Americans, are left without controversy.

If they have such a problem with protecting their heritage and traditions so as to go against an innocent high school fan crowd why don’t they make a national movement against these teams to keep their name sacred?

Or even better, why don’t they throw up their arms in protest against Napa or Marysville or the other seven schools in the SacJoaquin Section who have direct references to Native Americans as their mascots.

This is ridiculous. People are being over politically correct and trying to take away from the innocence of high school sports.

The fact that the administration lets people who can’t swallow their pride and appreciate the beauty of “The Tribe” disband it, shows that they are going against their own school.

The whole point of “The Tribe” is to bring spirit to GBHS and get students involved in cheering for each other. For the administration to bring this down, they’re just showing that they don’t care about how spirited we really are or school unity.

We’re talking about a group of teenagers, not white supremacist Klu Klux Klan members. There is absolutely no harm in kids being kids and trying to cheer on their school.

So let them be, and let “The Tribe” live on, or else the next Trail of Tears might be marching through Granite Bay. *** Laura Preston, a senior, is a Gazette sports co-editor.

Gazette photo /SOPHIA ZOGOPOULOS

Dominant Lady Grizzlies have reloaded and are working their way to the top

BY R. SLATER MCLAUGHIN rmclaughlin.gazette@gmail.com

Granite Bay High School girls’ cross country team has established itself as a national power by taking the eighteenth spot in the PowerAde Fab 50 ESPN Rise rankings.

This jump from being unranked to where they currently stand is due in large part to a second place finish in the prestigious Stanford Cross Country Invitational.

The second place finish was behind Jesuit High School of Ore., who holds the seventh spot in the same ranking system.

“Before (the race) we wanted to do really well but we did not expect to get second (place) and beat all the really good California teams,” said GBHS senior Brooke Holt, who finished second out of 1036 varsity girls contestants in the tournament.

The team’s success is due to their incredible depth, which includes GBHS freshman Clare Carroll and GBHS senior Christine Zavesky, who placed sixth and twenty-fourth respectively.

“I think everyone is more motivated because we have so much more potential,” Holt said. “At practices everything has gotten faster and we have more purpose.”

Before Stanford Invitational, the Grizzly girls’ team swept the podium three times in a row – in the Del Oro Invitational, the first Sierra Foothill League meet and the Nevada Union invitational. Holt, Zavesky and Carroll filled the top three spots in all three of these meets.

Their in-meet achievements are due to hours of hard work and dedication and strict nutritional regiments. The hardest working girls run about 50 miles a week.

This work ethic is made much easier because of the tightknit characteristics of their team.

“During workouts we run in groups and during the races it is nice to have someone running next to you who’s on your team,” said GBHS sophomore Allison Daly, who also performed well in the Stanford Invitational.

With one of their biggest meets of the year behind them, the Grizzly girls are going to have to stay strong through league in hopes of reaching the section and eventually state meets. “(Its important that the girls are) staying injury free, not getting sick and taking each race as they come because every race is important,” assistant coach Carla Kehoe said.

One of the biggest difficulties that the team is going to face in the SFL this season is staying sharp despite the fact that they outclass many of their local rivals.

“There is always challenge in every race,” Kehoe said.

“Sometimes you have to make it your own challenge if the See XC, page C7

United through adversity

Ironmen football thrives on spirit and community support

BY LAURA PRESTON

lpreston.gazette@gmail.com

Gazette photo /LAURA PRESTON

Two Danville Ironmen anticipate the ball while the scoreboard reflects their dominance

DANVILLE, Penn. – Friday night football is almost synonymous with high school during the fall.

Boys around the country suit up to represent their school and try to pull out the win so on Monday when they show up to school they are the heroes, not zeros.

But in some towns, it is not just the players and coaches who are involved in the game, it’s the whole community.

They ride on the shoulders of the team and go out to watch every Friday night because football is something bigger than just a game, it’s a symbol of pride and support.

Danville, Penn. is an old iron town in the eastern part of the state with a population of about 5,000 and a land area of 1.6 square miles, less than a quarter of the

size of Granite Bay. It is here that school and community spirit run high, and when the Friday nights of fall come around, the talk of the town turns to the Danville High School Ironmen and the upcoming battle on the gridiron.

Jeff Furlong, the owner of Rita’s Italian Ice, a local business in Danville, has seen how much football means to Danville and the level of support the Ironmen receive.

“When I was in high school a lot of times you went to (the games) to socialize and I think it’s slowly getting away from that,” Furlong said. “The people in the community are realizing how good this team is going to be and more and more people are watching and want to know what’s going on within the game and the students are getting more involved.”

On game days, the feeling in town is

Thompson trio takes control

electric. Students and town members can be seen walking down the streets in their Ironmen T-shirts while local businesses flash signs saying “Go Ironmen,” further showing their support for the boys.

The athletic director at DHS, Ronald Kanaskie has been a part of the program for nine years and has a firsthand view of the level of spirit in the community.

“Danville High School spirit is always good, it seems to be a constant that runs through our community,” Kanaskie said.

“Kids take a lot of pride in their high school and their school district and they take pride in their sports as well.”

Town spirit has continued to grow over the past few years as the Ironmen have improved. After a 10-year hiatus, the Ironmen reached the playoffs in the 2009 season and much of their growing success is attributed to Coach Jim Keiser.

See DANVILLE, page C4

Three soccer playing brothers make an impact on the team

BY CHRISTINE ZAVESKY czavesky.gazette@gmail.com

In the fall of 2008, the Granite Bay High School boys’ soccer program had a new talent join their squad. Varsity coach Steve Fischer knew about the player and his family because he was familiar with the boy’s father, a notorious individual in the local soccer community and a participant in the 1984 Summer Olympics. The boy’s last name was Thompson, and GBHS has

gained a new Thompson brother each year of the past three years.

The Thompson brothers –junior Tyler, sophomore Tanner and freshman Tommy –are three key reasons for the national scale success the GBHS soccer team is experiencing this season.

Last fall, according to senior teammate Nico Mamone, the team had quite a few more difficulties attaining the elusive regional and national rankings. The team reached a high of eighth in the regional

rankings during the first week of polling by the National Soccer Coaches Association of America last Tyler Thompson Tanner Thompson Tommy Thompson season.

This year, the squad the team of last year and this year, however, debuted on top of their region and fifth is the addition of not one, but three Thompnationally, and are currently second and son brothers. Ty elected not to play last seventh in the regional and national rankseason as a sophomore, and Tanner was on ings, respectively.

One of the primary differences between See THOMPSON, page C5

inside sports

C2

Athlete of the Month

C3

Fan of the Month

C4

Rising Star

C5

Grizz Quiz

Boys’ Soccer The GBHS boys’ soccer team remains undefeated and is nationally ranked

Football Spirit Spirit has crept its way onto the GBHS campus, along with some controversy.

Recruiting GBHS athletes work to be recognized for collegiate athletics.

C2

C3

C7

C2 Sports

Friday, October 8, 2010

w The Granite Bay Gazette

Kicking their way to the top Undefeated boys’ soccer earns top ten national ranking

BY ADAM TILFORD

atilford.gazette@gmail.com

Nationally ranked, stacked with great players, undefeated 15 games into the season and set to continue doing nothing but winning—the Granite Bay High School soccer team is living up to its elite reputation.

This year, coach Steve Fischer recognizes the amount of talent on the team and has very high hopes for them. He believes it is the best team he’s ever had.

“We’re very talented, and our talent goes pretty deep,” Fischer said. “I can pretty much put anybody on the field and we’re still a pretty good team.”

All the players are able to work great together, and it’s this chemistry that contributes to the success of the team, according to players.

“We have such a great team, there’s so many good players,” Cody Giddings, GBHS junior and center forward, said.

“It’s definitely not one, two or even five or six players that dominate,” GBHS senior and outside midfielder Connor Puhala said. “Our whole team just works really well together and everyone has their own set of skills.”

Some players on the team have even committed to colleges, which is a testament to the team’s strength. Among those is senior Connor Hallisey, who has elected

to continue his collegiate career at the University of California at Berkeley.

The GBHS team is performing so well this year that they were ranked seventh in the nation among all high school teams in rankings published by ESPN Rise for the week of Sept 26th.

This title is something that the team is very proud of, and they feel it is welldeserved.

“We’re a great team and we show it with the results we’ve had so far,” Giddings said.

Ryan Marakas, GBHS senior and goalkeeper, points out that the team has no intentions of letting off the gas.

“We just need to keep playing hard to keep that ranking,” he said.

Although it is definitely an accomplishment, Fischer recognizes the flaws in a national ranking.

He questions how to compare teams that are on opposite ends of the country and have never played together, and the answer isn’t too complicated. “(Rankings are) based primarily on our reputation, and reputation is built year after year,” Fischer said.

Therefore, the top ten ranking of this year’s team is in part due to the success of teams from previous years at GBHS. There’s no denying the level of achievement for the GBHS soccer program. In the national rankings, there are only three

public schools in the top 50, with GBHS the top of those three.

“That’s saying a lot to get recognition against these schools that can recruit and have huge enrollments of four or five thousand (students),” Fischer said. “So it’s kind of nice to be recognized for what we do here.”

The only thing so far in the season that the team regrets is its 2-2 tie with Grant High School on Sept 22nd.

“I definitely think we should’ve won that one,” Puhala said. “We were definitely the better team.”

Early on in the game, GBHS gave up two goals, which gave Grant the opportunity to increase their defense and try to hold on to their lead.

“Once you go two goals up, all a team has to do is just put eight defenders behind the ball and it’s hard to score,” Giddings said.

Despite GBHS’ best efforts, they weren’t able to come back for the win, but managed to score two goals for a tie.

“Things just didn’t quite go well for us, but you’ve got to give Grant a lot of credit,” Fischer said. “We made some mistakes we don’t typically make, but that’s soccer.”

Despite the tie, the team’s attitude and confidence hasn’t changed.

“We’ve been playing really well, we know we’re a good team, we know we

Gazette photos /MAGGIE LOUIS

GBHS senior Kendall Modiste, top left, slides for the ball. Above, senior Lucas Schorer wins a challenge with a Grant player for a header. can produce results,” Puhala said. will do.

According to Giddings, there is no “We should end up doing well and finexcuse for anything but a win for the rest ishing strong,” he said. of the season.

Although there is no state or national And winning is going to be a necessity tournament after section playoffs, Coach for the team’s goals for the rest of the Fischer is confident in his team’s abilities season. compared to other teams in the nation, and First, they want to win a league title by rankings will help show that. beating all the schools in the Sierra Foot“If we stay clean the rest of the way, hill League, which includes local rivals we ought to be in the top ten national like Rocklin and Del Oro. rankings at the end of the season,” Fischer “Our intention is to win league so we said, “which is kind of a nice feather in get a nice seat in the playoffs,” Fischer our cap.” said. “If we have a nice seat we get homeNobody on the team thinks they aren’t field advantage, which is always a big top ten material. deal.”

“We can compete with any team in the Giddings insists the team is very canation,” Puhala said, “and I definitely feel pable, and said nothing but a section title like we’re a good fit to be in the top ten.”

Vuvuzela mania hits football, soccer field Horns show strong display of school spirit but make disruptive noise for other fans

BY FRANKLIN ZHUANG fzhuang.gazette@gmail.com

If you are in attendance at a Granite Bay High School football game, you may hear the reverberating sound of the vuvuzela.

The vuvuzela is an air horn that was popularized by the 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa. In its origin, this horn was meant to call members of South African tribes together.

While many people find the sound of the vuvuzela annoying, it is continually utilized at GBHS football and soccer games.

The soccer players say they do enjoy the vuvuzela.

“I like it because we’ve never had anything like this. It makes us more motivated and it shows that we’ve got fans behind us,” GBHS senior Bobby Stuckey said.

“It probably helps us a little bit because it lends a soccer atmosphere

Grizz Quiz

and it’s something different and something unusual,” GBHS varsity soccer coach Steve Fischer said.

Though the vuvuzelas have no harm in the game, many referees prefer not to have vuvuzelas.

“It bothers some refs and (some) refs have complained once or twice, but I don’t know why,” Fischer said.

Sometimes, even the other team is affected by the noises.

“When they’re going off all the time, it annoys the other team and sometimes (Fischer) tells the fans to stop,” Stuckey said.

When Stuckey is at football games, he said that the boisterous crowd is energized by the instrument.

“It makes us cheer more, because (the crowd is) cheering more,” GBHS senior cheerleader Shelby Rose said.

While fans recognize it pumps up the players, many other participants believe that it demoralizes the other

Tyler Jackson Boys’ Soccer

team.

“I think the other team is like ‘what are you guys doing, this isn’t soccer.’ But hey, it distracts them so it’s for the best for our team,” GBHS senior Ryan Ramirez said.

The noise is audible even on the field, amidst the tension of the game.

However the football players use the noise as a morale booster.

“I get energetic and ecstatic. It pumps my spirit up and I want to play football,” GBHS junior safety Alec Naki said.

Although vuvuzelas have been banned in popular venues such as Yankee Stadium and Wimbledon, the principals have allowed them at GBHS football games.

Bigger vuvuzelas can cause deafness, but so far, there haven’t been issues at GBHS. “You can use horns and (drums),” GBHS assistant principal Brian McNulty said. “It’s not over the top, it’s

Juliana Rowe Girls’ Water Polo

not harming the game whatsoever and it seems that people are enjoying themselves.”

McNulty explained that horns, man produced or artificial, are not allowed at basketball games or other indoor games because the gyms are smaller and the sound would echo.

Ramirez, a GBHS basketball player, agrees with McNulty.

“I wouldn’t want a vuvuzela at a basketball game because the gym is so small,” Ramirez said. “If I was about to shoot and one went off, my focus would not be on the hoop anymore, I might throw it out of bounds or hit a cheerleader.”

While these are not allowed at indoor games, the positive effects are appreciated in outdoor sports.

“We have wonderful fans,” McNulty said. “I’m looking forward to being able to see them out there, having a great time and promoting school spirit to the best of their ability.”

Andrew Wright Football

SPORTS BRIEFS Union Invitational, a 14th place finish in a competitive Stanford Invitational race, and a 22 second win at the Wildfire Invitational.

GBHS alum pays White House a visit

w2008 graduate and former GBHS water polo player Andrew Reego was honored at the White House this month

by President Barack Obama, who recognized NCAA champions of the fall of 2009 and spring of 2010.

GBHS football teams victorious in Homecoming games

Sophomore cross country star shows well at recent meets wSophomore Trent Brendel has been on a tear, racing to a victory at the first Sierra Foothill League meet, a runnerup finish at the Nevada

Nicolette Pinkney Girls’ Volleyball

wOn Friday, October 1st, the GBHS football teams won their respective games. The varsity squad defeated the Pittsburg Pirates 45-7. Junior varsity shut out the Pirates 28-0, while the freshman squad delivered in a 28-21 victory —By Mat Fukuhara, and from staff reports

Megan Barnett Cross Country

What was your favorite Halloween costume?

Blowup Ballerina

A dalmatian from the Disney movie

Firefighter

Thing One and Thing Two

A witch

What is your favorite restaurant?

Costa Vida

Cabos

Blue Nami

Olive Garden

Akebono

What do you like about your sport?

I like that it never stops.

I love how you are always The amount of physical moving and there is never contact a dull moment.

It is really fun hanging out with all my friends and new people, as well as playing my favorite sport.

I like that there are so many events to try.

If you could have any super power, what would it be?

I would have flying powers.

Ability to breathe under water

To fly

I would like to be able to fly.

I would have the power of water bending.

What is your favorite movie?

Inception

Pocahontas

Remember the Titans

Charlie St. Cloud

Resident Evil Compiled by Stephanie Shaull

Friday, October 8, 2010

w

The Granite Bay Gazette

Sports C3

Granite Bay fans victimized by tribal warfare Student spirit ‘Tribe’ disbanded due to unsympathetic administration

BY KELSEY KNORP

FAST FACTS

kknorp.gazette@gmail.com

It was just beginning to get dark.

Feather headdresses adorned every head.

Bodies were painted in all manner of patterns and colors, and deafening chants to the steady beat of drums could be heard for miles around.

Welcome to the first Granite Bay High School football game of the 2010 season.

Though the Grizzlies were taking the Reed Raiders by storm out on the field, the action in the stands was drawing the most attention at this Aug. 27 home game, which served as an introduction to the “Tribe,” a group of GBHS students who came together under a Native American theme to support their team.

Many of these students attended the tailgate preceding the game, where they painted their bodies and prepared props and chants that were sure to intimidate the opposing team.

Credit is given to GBHS senior Grant Dechert for inspiring this spirit phenomenon.

“Many moons ago, our chief, Grant ‘Brutus’ Dechert, sent us a smoke signal,” GBHS senior and tribe member Chris Denham said, “to notify us that we needed to prepare to go to battle (and defend) the pride of our team.”

Though the original “battle” may have been in defense of Grizzly pride, the tribe would soon come to realize they had to face an obstacle that has become quite common in the United States: the obstacle of political correctness.

“We have Native American students on campus,” GBHS English teacher Katrina Wachs said. “I just wonder if anyone has asked them how they feel about it.”

Wachs worries the portrayal of Native Americans through the wearing of

Sac-Joaquin Section Schools with Native American mascots (nine in total) wCalaveras High School: Redskin wVallejo High School: Apache wArmijo High School: Indians Source: CIF Sac-Joaquin Directory

headdresses and wild behavior has the connotation of savagery, and wonders about the possibility of Native American descendants taking offense to this.

“It’s kind of like kicking them when they’re down,” she said. “Like, we’ve Gazette photo /FRANKLIN ZHUANG killed (them), colonized (them) and now GBHS students gather after tailgating and show their spirit in the parking lot before the football game against Reed we’re going to dress up like (them) and High School. The controversy surrounding the Tribe is the now banned head dresses that many members are pictured wearing. act like savages?” support their desire to be the best spirit portray Native Americans in a negative that these team names breed insensitivity While Wachs realizes the act itself had squad in our area.” way,” Dechert said. towards and a misunderstanding of Native innocent intentions and encourages the Mattix feels confident that the tribe Though he has acquiesced to the wishes American people. idea of students coming together to show members will respect the guidelines the of the administration, Dechert feels his More local potential for such controspirit, she wants students to understand administration has placed on their showconstitutional rights have been violated. versy lies in the naming of teams such as the message they could inadvertently be ing spirit at the games.

“I am saddened that (Native Amerithe Napa High School Indians, as well as sending by participating in the tribe.

“The group was created with pure cans) of old cannot be celebrated by our eight other schools in the San Joaquin sec“I don’t want to be though of as Debbie imitations and costumes,” he said. “I tion alone with Native American-themed Downer,” Wachs said. “I just want people intentions,” he said. “(They) were very respectful to make some changes so as to didn’t realize this form of censorship was mascots. to think.” not offend others in the community.” legal in the United States of America.”

The other side of this ongoing arguAccording to GBHS assistant principal Tribe participants have been cooperaSimilar controversies date back to the ment insists the use of Native American Brent Mattix, the administration was also tive, but their disappointment is evident. mid-20th century, when team names such mascots and symbols promotes positive contacted by a couple of representatives “It’s disheartening,” Denham said. as the Braves and Redskins were protested awareness of the culture. of local Native American groups who “We’ll still cheer, but our morale has been by the National Congress of American “I picked Native Americans because were concerned about the actions they taken down a few notches.”

Indians. Teams such as the Stanford they had a respect for nature that no group witnessed at the game.

Members of the tribe also insist that Indians and Seattle University Chieftains of people in human history has matched,” “We passed this information on to the nothing derogatory was meant by their were both forced to change their mascots “Chief” Dechert said. “Our mascot being leaders of this spirit squad,” Mattix said portrayal of Native Americans. over the past 40 years. These incidents a part of nature, I felt it would be approin an e-mail. “We worked to brainstorm “My friends and I have never tried to are a result of the Native American feeling priate.” how the administration can continue to

Athletes and experts search for best recovery methods From Gatorade to bodily fluids, competitors are willing to drink whatever it takes to win

BY RACHAEL VASQUEZ rvasquez.gazette@gmail.com

Everyday, countless advertisements inform the public of new products and their supposed scientifically advance characteristics. The three most popular include Gatorade, Powerade and Endurox.

Through a three step fuel system, Gatorade’s G Series promises to help an athlete to fuel up and perform their best.

PowerAde provides a zero calorie sports drink as well as ION4, a hydrating beverage that replenishes four electrolytes lost during perspiration.

Protein power made by Endurox R4 helps reduce

both muscle and oxidative stress and rebuilds muscle proteins after exercising.

With so many beverage products available, picking the proper one after exercising can be difficult, and often crucial if the athlete is truly dedicated. Luckily, no choice is right or wrong, it’s about preference.

There are some drawbacks of an individual determining what works for them post-workout, especially when considering what to eat and drink.

“In the last 50 to 100 years we have seen a huge decline in the amount of vitamins and minerals that are in food and were seeing a lot of deficiency,” said Brent Crowl, product consultant at the West Ro-

seville Sunrise Natural food store. “However, your pre-workout meal and your post-workout meal are the most important meals of the day for athletes.”

According to Granite Bay High School nurse, Linda Warfield, any type of care is better than no care. Serious problems can arise from not properly tending to your body.

“Problems after exercise can range from muscle soreness, headaches, breathing difficulties, bone or joint injuries, dehydration, physical or mental exhaustion to physical collapse,” Warfield said.

Even GBHS cross country coach Angie Pozzi recognizes the importance of proper care after running and other physical activities.

“After working out, warming down clears out all the lactic acid and all the fluids that build up from the intense work out,” Pozzi said. “So if you cool down properly you recovery faster by the next day.”

Though many serious problems can rise after work-

ATHLETE OF THE MONTH

ing out, the simple action of rehydrating brings about great change.

“I always think that water is the best because it gets in your system fastest,” GBHS varsity football coach Michael Lynch said. “It’s natural and it has not sugars in it.”

Despite his personal preference, Lynch said he understands other’s opinions in the value of sports drinks, which contain carbohydrates and protein.

Football, a very physically demanding sport, requires a bit of everything.

However, the consumption of water and sports drinks may seem to be a more conventional recoveries compared to extremist who have been known to drink other fluids.

“I’ve never see anyone do it personally but I’ve heard of some mix martial art (fighters) and some boxers (that) actually drink See RECOVERY, page C7

MATT KASNER

BY FRANKLIN ZHUANG fzhuang.gazette@gmail.com

After a great start to his senior season, Granite Bay High School tight end Matt Kasner is planning to make a statement this year.

“When he steps on the field it’s like an earthquake,” GBHS junior and varsity quarterback Brendan Keeney said.

“He’s playing extremely physical. He’s pushing people around,” GBHS varsity football head coach Ernie Cooper said.

Even the biggest of players respect the effort Kasner puts in.

“It’s an honor, because he’s such an athlete. It’s just great to play with him,” GBHS junior and varsity lineman Gavin Andrews said.

But off the field, Kasner is one of the biggest leaders of the GBHS football team, he is known for his work in the weight room and many try to keep up with his tenacious work ethic.

“He’s a stud, is what he is,” Cooper said. “(Kasner has been) one of the hardest workers, if not the hardest worker in the last two off seasons.”

According to Cooper, during the offseason Kasner was one of the hardest workers, and his ethic in addition to his talent inspired his teammates.

Kasner’s passion for the game is renewed every Friday.

Before the team runs out onto the field, Kasner likes to let the drum cadences synchronize with his body’s rhythm.

“I just stand in front of the drums and just let the beat go.

Then you walk out (of the locker room) and when you run out onto the field, the crowd is screaming for you,” Kasner said.

Kasner’s pregame rituals have been effective, as he has Gazette photo /MAGGIE LOUIS caught four touchdowns in the first four games of the season. Matt Kasner hauls in a reception over a Bulldog “I do what I need to do. When they call my number I catch defensive back on Sep. 17 against Vacaville High School. for them. When I block, I block. I don’t really complain one way or another. I just go out there and do what needs to be focused on school. done for my team to win,” Kasner said.

“My education (comes first) and that’s how it should be for As much as the stats mean to him, Kasner would rather mea- a student athlete. Student comes before athlete,” Kasner said. sure his personal success with the team’s overall success.

“Obviously he’s a good student so he’s the whole package.

“It’s not my position to say how good I’ll do. I just want our (I’m) proud of him,” said Cooper. team to do well, and if that means I play well, then so be it” Kasner still has a whole season to make a lasting legacy on Kasner said. the history of Granite Bay football.

Kasner is looking to play football in college, but is really “He’s just born to play,” Andrews said.

The Gazette

C4 Sports

Friday, October 8, 2010

w The Granite Bay Gazette

High school competition brings intense rivalries Some GBHS teams have made enemies in their respective sports

BY MATT PALKOWSKI

mpalkowski.gazette@gmail.com

Throughout Granite Bay High School varsity sports, teams are filled with tenacious and competitive players. Because of this great drive to win, players are able to make themselves succeed by putting in the hours necessary to be successful.

Other than the pure enjoyment of playing well in a sport and defeating an opponent, team rivalries help teams stay motivated and improve the enjoyment of the game.

Of the many fall sports teams playing well this year, girls’ varsity water polo and girls’ varsity tennis both have had their share of rivalries.

GBHS girls varsity water polo coach Sara Nortan said, “We always have tough matches against Woodcreek and Del Oro. I would say that

Rio Americano is our team’s biggest rival. Last year, we lost to them in the section championships by two points. The first time we played against them, we lost 11-2 and we (most recently played them) and only lost 6-4.”

Even though the girls’ water polo is not consistently beating their rival Rio Americano as they would like, it has always been their goal to find the best team available to play and work hard to beat them.

Along with the excitement of playing your team sport’s rival comes the unsportsmanlike conduct while meeting the oppositions’ heated teammates.

“About a week before our team played (Woodcreek), I was at work with my sister when a couple of Woodcreek girls were talking a bunch of smack to our coach (saying) how (the GBHS) team was going to lose and (was) slow because they did not know we were on the Granite Bay team. We then beat the Woodcreek team 12-2,” GBHS senior and varsity water polo player Jessica Hamby said.

On the other hand, the GBHS varsity girls’ tennis team has had a memorable and long-lasting rivalry with the Del Oro team.

Over the years, players have complained about intentional cheating by call the balls out when they were actually on the line.

Because of this important match for the varsity girls’ tennis team, coach Polly Hunter gives the girls on her team a speech to help prepare them for the match and to explain what the purpose of them playing tennis is all about.

“Del Oro is our rivalry because they are the most competitive team against us. I tell them that this is the match they need to be most focused on and they need to leave all other distractions aside. I also told them to get a good night’s rest the night before, but more important than winning is having fun,” Hunter said.

Since the GBHS girls’ tennis team wanted to take the high road instead of stooping to a lower level, the girls on the team decided to come up with a witty and comical stunt to get into the heads of the Del Oro team.

“The plan was since a guy at GBHS had made a paper mache grizzly head, when we did our team cheer and finished, he jumped up and started growling and running at the Del Oro players,” said Coach Hunter.

These match-ups of rivaled teams allows players to feel the excitement of playing in important match-ups, but due to the total amount of unsportsmanlike conduct used in the match, it can damper the enjoyment of this experience.

DANVILLE: Community rallies around injured football player Continued from page C1 Keiser, who is in his second season as head coach, has been involved in the Danville football program for 12 years and sees a lot of potential for his team this year.

Not only is he looking for a winning record and a run at the state title but he also has noticed the camaraderie and passion among the boys.

“They’re more like a family than they are a football team. They really like each other,” said Keiser. “They care about each other, they have a lot of fun together and they’re just a great bunch of kids who love to have fun on Friday nights.”

Kanaskie, who has been around the high school program longer than Keiser, has also noticed a difference between this year’s team and those of previous years.

“This team has been together for a long, long, time, all the way from the midget T-Railer program, and they’ve all stuck together,” he said. “Now they seem to really be catalyzing and coming together as a group, and it’s a senior dominated team and I just think there’s a lot of chemistry there.”

But football is not the only thing that has brought the team and community together this season. Tragedy has also recently struck the Danville community.

On June 16, four boys– Alex Vitunac, David Vitunac, Ross Litz, and Kyle Gruss – were traveling home from a basketball game in Williamsport when it began to rain fairly hard. A woman who was driving in the opposite direction hydroplaned, lost control of her car and hit the car carrying the boys head on.

All four boys sustained injuries. However Litz, the driver, and Alex Vitunac, the front passenger, were both placed in intensive care upon arrival at Geisinger Medical Center in Danville.

Vitunac, who is a senior football and basketball player at DHS, sustained a severe brain injury and was not responding to anything or able to follow commands on arrival at the hospital.

Mary Anne Vitunac is the mother of both Alex and David and recalls what happened the night of the accident.

“David was the only one that remained conscious and called my husband,” she

said. “When I walked in the door for the evening my husband was on the phone right then with David and he was telling him what had happened and that Alex was not breathing and was unresponsive and my husband instructed him to do CPR.” To add to the already horrific circumstances of the accident, it took rescue crews more than an hour, and the Jaws of Life, to remove Vitunac from the car and take him to the emergency room, leaving him without critical treatment.

When Mary Anne Vitunac arrived at the hospital with her husband, they were placed in a separate room so as to be isolated from all of the commotion in the emergency room, but they were certainly not alone. Almost 100 friends and supporters filled the emergency room waiting to hear the prognosis of the injured boys.

Coach Keiser, who was not in the area when the accident occurred, was one of the many affected by what happened to the boys.

“I was devastated,” Keiser said. “Alex and I made this pact four years ago that hopefully sometime in his four years we would make it to the state finals and we would ride together on the bus down to Hershey. So when that happened to Alex, it was just devastating. But to see how hard he worked to get back to where he is right now is just fantastic.”

Vitunac was diagnosed with what is called a diffused axonal injury, meaning that his entire brain was affected by the accident. While doctors are unsure how his memory will recover, his cerebellum will be left with permanent damage.

Although Vitunac will be the one with the most lasting damage, he was not the only one affected by what happened.

Vitunac’s friend and football player Dylan Dailey was also impacted.

“It was devastating,” he said. “Everybody was down and we had a week to bring ourselves back together and start working for the season because we knew that Alex and Ross and them would never give up.”

The community also rallied around Vitunac and the rest of his family. Hundreds of people flooded the football stadium for a prayer vigil shortly after the accident.

Rita’s Italian Ice also held a fundraiser from which they donated almost $3,000

Three Ironmen, left, wait for the next play to begin. Alex Vitunac, below, walks onto the field after the game to congratulate his teammates on the win.

to the Vitunacs, and local football players and friends of Alex held a car wash which raised another $2,500 to help the family pay for all of the added expenses.

After his accident Vitunac was transferred to the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, where he remained in a coma for two weeks. He has no recollection of his time in the ICU or the first five weeks after his accident.

Once he arrived at CHOP, Vitunac was left with a very poor prognosis because his progress was almost nonexistent. But his mom remained optimistic.

“I (told) the doctors to stop talking to me,” she said. “I just decided that it was going to be what God said it was going to be and not what anybody else said.

They would say Alex would never do this, and Alex would never do that, and I just pretty much said that you are under no circumstances to tell him that he can’t do anything. It’s going to be what God says it’s going to be. This kid is a fighter and we don’t want anybody limiting him or limiting God and the ultimate outcome.”

Vitunac took part in rehabilitation activities for nine hours a day and had plenty of friends who came to visit and support him. According to his mother there were only four or five days where he did not have any visitors.

Dailey and other football players were among the visitors that went to Philadelphia to encourage Vitunac to keep working hard, and in turn Vitunac also encouraged the boys to continue to work hard at football.

“It was really nice to see him doing well again. When I saw him actually doing well it just lifted my spirits,” Dailey said.

“It was rough at first and we (got) used it

Fan of the month GRANT DECHERT

BY KELSEY KNORP

kknorp.gazette@gmail.com

After sustaining a traumatic head injury last football season, there may have been speculation that Granite Bay High School senior Grant Dechert would be absent from the GBHS football scene forever.

Though he may not be out on the field, he has been largely responsible for bringing fans together in an unprecedented uproar of spirit.

“I like to give my old teammates the props they deserve,” Dechert said.

Those who attended the first home football game of this 2010 season were guaranteed to witness the Native American-themed tribute to the Grizzlies as they faced off against Reed High School. Dechert, who was noted as the tribe’s leader by former fan of the month Chris Denham, inspired a large group of students to paint their bodies, wear feather headdresses, beat drums, and participate in chants, all to show support for their team.

“I have always been disgusted with how lame the student cheering section was,” Dechert said, “so I wanted to try and do something about it.”

Gazette photo /MAGGIE LOUIS Though the tribe has since been disbanded, for GBHS senior Grant Dechert was the founder questionable reasons, Dechert has not backed down in his campaign for a more spirited school. of the “Tribe,” a student cheering section He was spotted at the Sept. 17 football game side of the Prime Meridian.” against the Vacaville Bulldogs in full body paint, Dechert offers advice to other GBHS football wielding a staff and chanting as spiritedly as ever. fans, as well as the general student body in hopes Dechert also remains undiscouraged by the that more will join him in the rituals of body rather disappointing loss by the Grizzlies. painting and tailgating.

“I am never discouraged by the GBHS football “Get into all the games,” he advised. “Don’t be team,” he said. “They are the greatest athletes this a fair-weather fan.”

after awhile, when we knew Alex would be alright and we started coming back (to the field) and working for him. As he got better we got better.”

Keiser also noticed the change in work ethic in his boys.

“Alex’s quote to all the kids when they went down to visit him on his birthday down in Philadelphia was ‘Win State.’

So they really want that goal for Alex,” Keiser said. “Once they knew that (he) was out of the woods and he was going to be back, they turned it up again. They really started working hard.”

It took almost six weeks after the accident for Vitunac to be able to function independently, but once he woke up from his coma he began to give a 100 percent effort with his ultimate goal to be able to play football again.

While his neurologist advises strongly against Vitunac ever again playing a contact sport, the family refuses to allow anything to hold him back.

Vitunac returned home from CHOP on Aug. 25 to warm welcomes, and he also was happily welcomed back as a member of the Ironmen team. Although he cannot play, he has been incorporated into games in small but significant ways.

“The first game the cheerleaders were standing there and standing there and standing there (waiting for them to run out) so everybody was wondering where they were and then they could see that Alex was doing his best to run out and it was a little slow,” Mary Anne Vitunac said.

Each and every Friday night, these boys of fall run out on the grass gridiron with a crowd of support cheering behind them, backed by huge community support, and

Gazette photos/LAURA PRESTON

they remain an example of an element of small town sports that is scarcely found today.

“High school football is sort of the ageold sport that gets a lot of media attention and I think it generates a lot of pride, but I would say all of our sports programs do the same thing and bring everybody together,” Kanaskie said. “I think the orange and purple is something that people come together and rally around.”

Concussions cause concern Youth head injuries on the rise, experts raise concern for longterm well-being of athletes off of the field

BY KELSEY KNORP

kknorp.gazette@gmail.com

Those 50-year-old retired football players babbling incoherently on TV interviews didn’t become that way from recent strokes or other age-related conditions. No, this behavior is caused by an injury that seems harmless from the outside, but does unthinkable damage to the brain: a concussion.

Concussions do not only occur frequently in high school, college, and professional sports, but also in the youth sports leagues that parents sign their kids up for with enthusiasm and an idea of promoting athleticism.

Local youth coaches, such as Junior Grizzlies football coach Michael Kartz, are aware of the severity of the issue and are dedicated to preventing concussions in their players. “(It’s important to) follow the safety rules in the sport you are playing,” Kartz said. “Coaches teaching proper techniques helps.”

Kartz coaches the Junior Midgets division of Junior Grizzles, and his players are ages 10 to 13. He said in some cases, football head

injuries are so severe that it would be against the child’s best interest to continue playing.

“The ability (of a child) to continue playing would be dependent on a doctor’s diagnosis and the child’s parents,” Kartz said. “If either were to decide it was a bad idea to continue playing, (the child) would be prohibited from participating.”

Adolescent athletes ages 8-19 are estimated by the Pediatrics Journal to have 502,000 emergency room visits per year for sportsrelated concussions. Children ages 8-13 make up a shocking 35% of these ER visits.

Though football is responsible for most sports-related concussions, the rate of concussions in girls due to similar sports is higher than that of boys.

There has been a significant increase in the sustention of concussions by children in the past ten years, probably due to the research that now allows coaches and other sports officials to identify their player’s injury as a concussion. In 1999, according to the Pediatric Journal, a child would very likely

have been allowed back into the game they were playing a mere 15 minutes after hitting their head while playing.

Michelle Apperson, an assistant professor for the UC Davis department of neurology, is very familiar with these types of head injuries. “(A concussion) is caused by a bump or a blow to the head that changes the way the brain works,” Apperson said. “It can occur even if you haven’t been ‘knocked out’.”

Apperson emphasizes that youth are more susceptible to the effects of concussions because of their still-developing brains. According to Apperson, even if nothing serious occurs at the time of the injury, the brain swelling caused by the injury can lead to serious and deadly consequences in later life.

“The long term consequences for a child who sustains a concussion depend on the severity of the injury,” Apperson said. “Multiple, repeated concussions in children may lead to more long-term problems with memory and learning new information.”

GAZETTE SPORTS

Friday, October 8, 2010

w

The Granite Bay Gazette

Kate Hurley

BY KATIE ZINGHEIM

kzingheim.gazette@gmail.com

The Granite Bay High School freshmen girls’ volleyball team has started their season with a talented team and successful tournaments.

GBHS freshman Kate Hurley is one of the athletes bringing experience and passion to the Grizzly line up.

Hurley has been playing volleyball for five years.

She was encouraged to take up the sport by a friend’s mother who asked Hurley to join Nor-Cal Volleyball club.

Hurley’s height and commitment to the game led her to join the ultracompetitive Northern California Volleyball Club, where she has been playing for four years.

Over the summer, Hurley traveled to the Junior Olympics with the NCVC team, where they took tenth in the nation in their age group.

Even though she is still a member of the club, Hurley said she has been enjoying the new experience of being on the GBHS team.

“It’s great learning and getting to see everyone de-

velop, because it’s a bunch of girls who have never played before,” Hurley said.

Despite their novice, the freshman team has already won three tournaments. Hurley said she believes the team will do even better.

“I just want to have the best record possible, because we all try really hard and many of the girls have a lot of potential,” she said.

In addition to the freshman games, Hurley has been enjoying being a part of the GBHS volleyball community.

“I love staying at the varsity games and watching. It’s really good to know that one day I’ll be able to do that,” Hurley said. “(I love) the spirit of it, people always get so pumped up and it’s so intense.”

Hurley plans on continuing her five day a week training schedule in the hopes of continuing her success on the school and club teams.

In the future, Hurley wants to play volleyball for her dream school, the University of Texas.

Gazette photo /RACHAEL VASQUEZ

Sports C5

THOMPSON: Boys have potential for careers in college and beyond Continued from page C1 the junior varsity squad as a freshman.

The three brothers, although all very talented, have very different skill sets, according to Fischer.

“Ty brings leadership and rhythm to the game,” Fischer said. “He helps dictate the flow, the pace, the quickness and just the entire rhythm of the game.”

While Ty is the leader, Tanner is the explosive playmaker, usually found in the outside midfielder position.

“He has an incredible shot and gets himself into some good positions on the flanks,” Fischer said.

The youngest brother, Tommy, is one of the surprises on the team, where he is the second highest goal scorer on the team behind University of California at Berkeley recruit Connor Hallisey.

“He plays forward and is able to see the game and run patterns to get himself in a good shooting position,” Fischer said.

The brothers learned the game at a very young age and all three played club soccer for Placer United by the time they were ten. Their father, Gregg Thompson, was an integral part of their development by coaching his sons’ teams and playing two-ontwo scrimmages with them.

As the boys got older, their involvement in the soccer world grew. They participated in the Olympic Development Program,

which allowed them to gain notoriety through their outstanding play.

“All three of us made it (into the program) our first year, and Ty made the national team,” Tommy said. “Tanner and I made it to Boston and made the national pool, but not the national team.”

The opportunities in the program left Tommy with a fond memory thanks to a “wow” move made on another ODP player.

“The coaches picked the best players (at an ODP camp in Oregon) to play in an all star game,” he said. “I got to play in front of the entire camp with all the other players watching and I snaked a kid, (which) was really fun.”

Their success in soccer is not limited to just the United States, however. This past summer, Tanner and Tommy traveled to England and Scotland to get a taste of the international experience, which could prove advantageous if either decide to pursue an overseas professional career in the future.

For the moment, this experience has translated into an elevated level of play for the boys, thus raising it for the entire team as well.

In the near future, all three boys aspire to continue their soccer careers into the collegiate level. Ty has already verbally committed to UC Santa Barbara, and his brothers have both

expressed interest in joining him as a Gaucho when they graduate from GBHS. “(My goal is) to win a national championship with Santa Barbara. They’re a good team and they have won it before,” Ty said. “I think they have a good shot, and hopefully I can help them out.”

With the potential to have three Thompson brothers on the UCSB squad in the future, the boys seem poised to raise the level of play of the Gaucho program.

Although Ty does not envision a future for himself in soccer beyond college, Tanner and Tommy both have aspirations to play professionally. Fischer has no doubt that the boys can play at this level of play.

“All three of them have the ability and the skill level to play professionally,” Fischer said. “If they continue to develop, then they ought to be able to play in Europe. They definitely have the skill set to play there.”

The Thompson brothers are three talented players surrounded by many other top-notch athletes on the elite GBHS team, but their contributions do not go unnoticed.

“If you took all three of those boys out of (our team situation), we would be dramatically different,” Fischer said. “We’d still be extremely good—probably not ranked nearly as high, but the three of them contribute heavily to our team and that ranking.”

Share Curiosity.

Read Together.

w w w. r e a d . g o v

Replenish your thirst for the Gazette.

Read it.

13"

C6 Sports

Friday, October 8, 2010

w The Granite Bay Gazette

The to-do list in Beth Hoyme’s purse will never get done because a drunk driver convinced his friends he’d be fine.

Photo by Michael Mazzeo

21"

Friends Don’t Let Friends Drive Drunk.

NOTE TO PUB: DO NOT PRINT INFO BELOW, FOR ID ONLY. NO ALTERING OF AD COUNCIL PSAs. Drunk Driving Prevention - Newspaper - B&W - DDDDP-N-09094-A “Purse” 13 x 21 65 line screen film at Horan Imaging: (212) 689-8585 Ref#: 121922 v1

Friday, October 8, 2010

w The Granite Bay Gazette

Sports C7

Athletes work to compete at a collegiate level Seniors aspire to be recruited in their sports

BY FRANKLIN ZHUANG fzhuang.gazette@gmail.com

As another year of high school athletics initiates, many Granite Bay High School athletes are trying to capture the attention of college scouts.

Some athletes have already had talks with colleges, but getting the attention of scouts is a difficult feat.

Athletes have to get attention from club sports, showcases and occasionally, from high school sports.

Connor Hallisey, a GBHS senior and soccer player, first garnered attention with his California Development Academy team. “(Academy) is sponsored by US soccer. It’s meant to make our youth players better,” Hallisey said.

In soccer, playing for the Academy is an easy way to get seen.

“I would say the main way to get recruited is playing Academy because that’s what all the coaches are starting to recruit from now. Twice a year there are huge showcases and all of the coaches and teams go,” Hallisey said.

Nation Collegiate Athletic Association regulations for recruiting vary from sport to sport and division to division. For soccer, players are allowed to make phone calls once a week to college coaches, as well as off-campus contact after June 1st of their junior year. However, in senior year, players are limited to only three off-campus contacts.

Hallisey has completed the recruiting process and plans to play at University of California Berkeley.

GBHS senior Brooke Holt, a successful runner, also has been through the recruiting process. Holt had to put her name out there to attract interest from colleges.

“For most colleges I was interested in, I emailed them after big meets that I did well in. I would send them my best times and why I was interested in (their school),” Holt said. “I emailed Stanford before I went to their meet to get them prepared to recognize my name. After I did well, they emailed me after the meet.”

Holt has many offers, but is undecided on which school she will commit to.

Another athlete that has received attention is senior baseball player Nate Esposito. Baseball has the same regulations for recruiting as soccer and cross country.

Esposito worked to put himself in positions where he could be seen by scouts.

“You (have) to get yourself out there. You need to go to showcases (and) play in tournaments. High school baseball is definitely important, but club baseball is equally important,” Esposito said.

According to John MacLeane, a GBHS water polo coach, the process of getting his athletes noticed is much different as a coach.

“You have to contact the college coaches and be honest about (the athlete’s) abilities and what they can and can’t do. You tell them that he’s the best ever and he’s not, then they’re not going to trust you again and all my athletes down the road will suffer because of that,” MacLeane said.

Though communication with coaches is crucial, MacLeane admits that it is not always necessary.

“I’ll be honest with you, I have been out of the loop,” MacLeane said. “I’ve had kids get scholarships when I’ve never even talked to the coach.” “(Some) players are playing on junior national teams and coaches are going to these scrimmages and games and seeing them play and they’ve already identified that this is someone that they want on their team,” MacLeane said.

While other sports can require film of a player, MacLeane said that it is much less vital to their chances of being recruited. Film can also be misleading on a player’s ability.

“You can’t see that much in the water,” MacLeane said. “A guy can look outstanding against an inferior opponent. If I want to film one of my stars against the weakest team we play, he’s going to look like God.” In water polo, MacLeane said that scouts look for physical attributes a lot.

“They’re more interested in swim times, height, weight, that kind of stuff. They’re looking for those big, six foot six, 220 pounds athletes that can play college water polo,” MacLeane said.

And though the task may be daunting, the rewards of playing at a collegiate level are irreplaceable.

RECOVERY: Athletes go to extremes to rehydrate quickly and efficiently Continued from page C3 their own urine after they work out,” health and fitness professional Chris Johnson said.

While Johnson is more amused by extremists’ preferences, Crowl questions the actions of such athletes.

“I’ve seen some pretty crazy people on survival television programs drink their own urine when there are no other liquids around,” Crowl said.

“Things that are coming out of the body aren’t meant to (go) into the body.”

Drinking your own urine may be a survival tactic that should be reserved for life threatening situations but post-workout, any athlete can learn their hydration level through the characteristics of their urine.

“Dark colored, concentrated urine might mean you are dehydrated,”

Warfield said. “You also do not want to over hydrate – it is rare but drinking too much water can also create problems.”

Stepping onto the scale after working out may inform athletes of more than simply whether or not they are maintaining a healthy weight.

“Any weight lost is probably a fluid loss so you would want to try and drink enough to replenish those losses,” Warfield said. “A weight gain could mean you are drinking more than you would need.”

Advisors and professionals may dispute over their various preferences of beverages, food and supplements but the commonality is that protein is vital after any work out. Some may even suggest chocolate milk as a source.

Students have also discovered the importance of protein through their

Gazette photo /MAGGIE LOUIS

GBHS senior and soccer player Connor Hallisey races to the goal as a Grant High School player follows close in pursuit.

parents or through the advice of their athletic coaches.

“Before a game my mom will be like ‘you need to have protein’. (Later) my dad will give me protein bars and sometimes I’ll have a protein shake,” said GBHS senior and girls’ varsity water polo captain Jessica Hamby.

GBHS varsity football guard and senior Trevor Upton tends to follow the advice of coaches.

“I’ll take some type of protein drink like muscle milk,” Upton said. “Outside of football I usually stick with lifting (and) follow the basic (tenants) of football.”

Though many people differ in the types of care they take after working out, to Lynch, the proper care to take after any workout is simple, “Rest. Re-hydrate. Eat proper nutrition.”

XC: Elite level success presents college opportunities for two seniors Continued from page C1

competition is not there. That’s what these young ladies are really good at.”

The success of girls’ cross country is a product of team effort, but the entire team is anchored by seniors Holt and Zavesky, who are keen on continuing to run in college.

Zavesky has been recruited by many colleges including the University of Southern California, University of California Berkeley and University of California Davis.

Holt aspires to finish in the top five in California this season and continue her running career to the collegiate level.

Of the colleges that have contacted Holt, her top choices are Brigham Young University, Columbia University and Stanford University.

College recruiting is a distraction that only a handful of runners have to deal with, but the national ranking can affect the whole team in several different ways.

Hard hitting news, one story at a time.

THE GAZETTE

“The positive is that they are getting the recognition that they deserve because they’ve worked very hard,” Kehoe said. “The negative is when you’ve had a lot of publicity your expectations are higher and the pressure is increased, so you have to put it all in perspective and just keep running how you’ve always been running.”

National rankings and college futures aside, the entire team is focusing on the upcoming section and state meets, and these meets will be even more challenging due to the fact that the Grizzlies are competing in Division I compared to Division II last season.

“Division I is much more difficult, especially at the state wide level,” Holt said. “It won’t affect us early in the season but in the end it will be much more difficult.”

The confidence level is high for both the players and the coaches.

“There’s no doubt in my mind that they will get there,” Kehoe said. “But it’s a long season.”

Upcoming game of the month

BY SAMANTHA SPARGO sspargo.gazette@gmail.com

Friday October 22 is Senior Night for the Boys’ varsity soccer team. They will be playing Rocklin High School, a long time rival.

Last year, the Thunderbolts beat the Grizzlies 2-1 in the section final.

“It’s going to be a pretty good game,” Brady Nations, a junior on the varsity boys’ soccer team, said.

“They beat us at Rocklin last year, 2-1, so I think we are both going to come out heated.”

This year, the teams’ loss-less season puts them in a position to beat Roseville.

The GBHS team has scored 96 goals so far this season.

Only 7 goals have been scored against GBHS keepers Kevin Hollingshead, Ryan Marakas, and Austin Wade collectively.

GBHS’ leading goal scorer is Cody Giddings with 16 goals. Connor Hallisey has the most assists with 10, and also the most shots with 60.

Rocklin’s leading goal scorer is Sean Kinsella with 9 goals, and Walter Finney has the most assists with 3.

Rocklin’s team has scored 26, and has had 12 goals scored against them.

“They have good players and it should be a good game if we play to our potential,” senior varsity soccer player Brenden Pettingill said.

“They know we’re good. We know they’re pretty good, so we’re just going to have to play our best,” Nations said.

For the seniors of the GBHS team, some of whom began playing for the varsity team their freshman year, the game also represents a special night, Senior Night.

For senior Pettingill, the night will be bittersweet.

“I feel like it hits us when we get into the spring,” Pettingill said. “But now we’re proud that we’ve played for this team and the program for so long.”

C8 Sports

Friday, October 8, 2010

w The Granite Bay Gazette

AT A GLANCE

Stats at a Glance Football Upcoming Games: w10/15 @ Woodcreek w10/22 vs. Del Oro w10/29 @ Rocklin w11/5 vs. Roseville Record as of 10/1/10: 3-2

Gazette photos /MAGGIE LOUIS

Lucas Schorer, above, protects the ball during a 2-2 tie against Grant on Sept.22, left, and then responds to a push, center, with a glare and a closed fist.

Girls’ Water Polo Upcoming Games: w10/12 @ Rocklin w10/14 vs. Woodcreek w10/19 vs. Nevada Union w10/21 @ Roseville Record as of 10/1/10: 3-1

Boys’ Water Polo Upcoming Games: w10/12 @ Rocklin w10/14 vs. Woodcreek w10/19 vs. Nevada Union w10/20 @ Jesuit Record as of 10/1/10: 5-1-1

Boys’ Soccer Upcoming Games: w10/8 vs. Roseville w10/13 vs. Nevada Union w10/15 vs. Woodcreek w10/20 @ Del Oro

Gazette photo /SOPHIA ZOGOPOULOS

Record as of 10/1/10: 16-0-1

Girls’ Volleyball Upcoming Games: w10/12 @ Rocklin w10/14 vs. Roseville w10/19 vs. Nevada Union w10/21 vs. Woodcreek Record as of 10/1/10: 12-7

Girls’ Tennis Upcoming Matches: w10/12 vs. Woodcreek w10/14 @ Del Oro w10/19 vs. Rocklin w10/21 @ Roseville

Gazette photo /MAGGIE LOUIS

Record as of 10/1/10: Undefeated

Cross Country Upcoming Meets: w10/16 Bella Vista Bronco @ Willow Hills w10/29 SFL Finals @ William Jessup

Girls’ Golf Upcoming Matches: w10/12 vs. Rocklin w10/14 @ Roseville

Trent Brendel leads a pack of Woodcreek runners, above, as teammate Sean Woulfe sticks close to the group during a recent Sierra Foothill League meet at Johnson Springview Park in Rocklin. Grant Dechert and other fans mob junior Cody Giddings, right, after he scored the game-tying goal in a non-league soccer match against Grant on Sept. 22. Senior Cory Brehm, bottom right, rushes against the Pittsburg defense during the Grizzlies’ 45-7 Homecoming victory Friday. Girls’ varsity water polo coach Sarah Kovach offers senior Emily Rogers and other Grizzly players strategic advice during a recent game. Senior Jerra Hagans, above left, scores one of her several goals during a Sept. 28 Sierra Foothill League game against Roseville.

Gazette photo /RACHAEL VASQUEZ

Gazette photo /MAGGIE LOUIS

Gazette photo /MAGGIE LOUIS

Halloween Edition

Say hello to haunted houses

Energy Drinks

Group Costume Guide

Facebook Followings

Page 6 & 7

Page 12 & 13

Page 14

The best and worst beverages to get you through the day

Coordinating Halloween with your friends

The influence of social network profiles

OBSIDIAN DAWN

Page 2

October 2010

Contents.

In this ISSUE...

Cover story: Regional haunted houses to check out if you are in the neighborhood Page

6–7

Energy drinks – the good, the bad and the caffeine-induced energy rushes

Page

12 – 13

Group Halloween costume guide for you and your friends

Page

14

Universities using Facebook during the admissions process

Page

17

Zombie invasion – teens make life more interesting by imitating the living dead Gazette illustrations /KATIE ZINGHEIM /MATT PALKOWSKI

October 2010

SUNDAY

MONDAY

TUESDAY

PSAT @ GB

17

21 Disney On Ice @ Arco Arena

25

31

WEDNESDAY THURSDAY

October

Columbus Day

halloween

Page 3

Calendar.

November

FRIDAY

SATURDAY

8

SAT @ GB

World Food Day

Justin Bieber @ Arco Arena Frankenstein

Day

6 4

A national epidemic: pop TV

6

Gazette illustrations/KATIE ZINGHEIM

Teenage drama series threaten to take over households nationwide Everyone has a TV. It has become a staple in the American household.

The typical American family includes: a mom, a dad, a son, a daughter, a dog named Murphy…and a TV. However, the TV shows being viewed by the typical American families are almost as (if not more) typical than the households themselves.

Jersey Shore, Pretty Little Liars, Gossip Girl, Vampire Diaries, etc. – the list goes on and on.

It’s just another pop culture phenomenon and I don’t have a problem with it; but I do have a suggestion: watch something else.

Try it, for just one day. I like my comedies and teen-drama series as much as the next guy (or girl), but I have found that it can be much more entertaining to just sit down, flip through some offbeat channels and maybe watch people climbing Mt. Everest for a bit.

Or, it’s possible that a Whale Wars marathon is on, and Pete is just about to board a Japanese whaling ship in order to arrest the captain for violating international whaling laws and destroying his ship.

Commentary

brittany hince bhince.gazette@gmail.com

The best shows to watch, by far, are infomercials.

I guarantee that after an hour or so of infomercial searching, you will discover a product you never knew existed. Nor will you ever know why exactly someone decided it should exist, but that’s half the fun.

Offbeat channel surfing is just a little something to break up the monotony of: he said, then she said, then they were like, and now she’s, but then he’s not, so she’s like, but I was like, so they broke up.

The creations of Direct TV, Comcast, and every other direct broadcast satellite service out there have expanded our televised universe tenfold. Viewers now days have potential access to thousands of channels.

Thousands. The majority of which you will never lay eyes on. But why should you, the modern channel surfer, bother with any channel that is outside of your previously recorded comfort zone?

1. Entertainment value – some shows are either so interesting or so obscure that they’ll have you hooked for hours.

2. Random trivia – impress (or annoy) your friends with random facts you learned on History Channel, Animal Planet or even the Science Channel (How It’s Made is a good one. Check it out.)

3. Product purchase potential – while watching a Snuggie or Shake Weight infomercial, you may be inspired to purchase one of your own.

So next time you plop down on your couch, grab your remote, flip a channel and break free of the pop TV epidemic.

Page 4

Weezer Hurley

BY PARKER EVANS

W

October 2010

Music.

pevans.gazette@gmail.com

eezer just doesn’t care anymore.

Before you criticize, even Weezer frontman Rivers Cuomo agrees.

Why else would the band, just a couple of weeks after releasing their new album, promote a tour in which they will play nothing but their first two albums, Weezer and Pinkerton?

Hurley is the power pop band’s first album released on Epitaph, and plenty of buzz has already been stirring around the album cover.

The smiling face on the cover is Jorge Garcia, the actor who played a character named Hurley on ABC’s hit TV show Lost. I have no idea why.

The first song on the record, “Memories,” begins pretentiously enough. It opens with about five seconds of an orchestra warming up before the guitar kicks in and Cuomo reminisces about urinating in cups at parties when “Audioslave was still the rage.”

In “Memories,” Weezer does its best Killers impression with synthy guitars on a track that is painfully and self-consciously radio-

friendly.

On the Blue Album, Weezer won all sorts of awards and praise for its music video for Buddy Holly in which Spike Jonze in a bit of green screen magic transposed the band into an episode of Happy Days.

The music video for “Memories” is a promo for VH1’s upcoming movie, Jackass 3D. It’s all rather disappointing.

The second track, “Ruling Me” has a bad90’s-radio vibe.

“Trainwrecks” summarizes the whole album, complete with inane lyrics and slacker vibe behind a driving beat.

The best song on Hurley is “Unspoken”.

Weezer tries to mix it up with nothing but acoustic guitar and woodwinds. It provides a nice getaway from the boring radio side of the album.

Best of all, towards the end of the track, Weezer drops the acoustic guitar and picks up his electric, dropping a refreshingly heavy riff.

It’s not often that the best song on the album is the hardest, and unfortunately there’s only about 30 seconds of head-banging.

Weezer decides to follow up “Unspo-

ken” with Cuomo’s idea of witty wordplay.

“Where’s My Sex” consists of Cuomo singing about the predicament he’s in because he can’t find his socks and he’s running late.

Only he replaces every instance of the word “socks” with “sex.” For example: “I can’t go out without my sex/It’s cold outside and my toes get wet”.

Musically, it’s one of the best songs on the album, but it’s impossible to listen to the song without picturing Cuomo singing it with a stupid smirk.

EPITAPH RECORDS “Smart Girls” has a drumbeat from a Katy Perry song and hypersexed lyrics to match. It Hurley by Weezer was is so obviously catered to get radio airplay that released on September 14. it feels awkward listening to it.

The closer, “Time Flies,” is Weezer’s only attempt to do anything completely different.

The guitar is traded for a mandolin, and the whole track is fuzzy and distorted, including the vocals. While it’s an honest attempt, it feels half-hearted and gimmicky; an afterSkip to: thought of a musically boring album.

Unspoken After public disputes with his fans and rejection from the critics, Weezer’s faux-slacker appearance has become a bit too real.

D+

Maroon 5 Hands All Over

BY ALISON SALE

T A&M RECORDS

Hands All Over by Maroon 5 was released on September 21.

A-

Skip to: How

asale.gazette@gmail.com

he modern-day Backstreet Boys are back – with a little more class, and a lot more talent than the boys from the millennium.

The sound of Maroon 5 that we all know and love from their debut album hit “She Will Be Loved” is evident throughout their new album, Hands All Over.

The opening song, “Misery,” captures the essence of the group: delicious vocal harmonies supported by the perfect balance of drum set and a driving bass line (comprised of piano and guitar.) The melody will stick in your brain, and the temptation to sing along will overcome you. This seems to be a trend in Maroon 5’s hits – I guess they’re just infectious (in an awesome non-swine flu way.)

The acoustic version of “Misery,” a bonus track on the album, takes a gentler approach: acoustic guitar, no driving drum set, and a soft string bass sound. Stick with the original ver-

The Script Science & Faith

T

BY SAMANTHA SPARGO sspargo.gazette@gmail.com

he Script’s sophomore album, Science & Faith, dabbles in a wide variety of genres ranging from soul, to hip hop, to classic rock.

The array of genres should command attention from listeners, and certain songs, like Science & Faith, do. But on average the album was nothing extraordinary.

Two of the three members of the Script began their careers as members of Irish boy bands during the 90’s. Fortunately, their sound has matured and become more soulful as their careers have progressed.

Although The Script hails from Dublin, Ireland, there is no discernable accent in lead singer Danny O’Donoghue’s voice.

The first song starts off with an electric gui-

sion – the acoustic version loses too much of the Maroon 5 magic.

The following tune, “Give a Little More,” is missing that warm, relaxed feeling. They experimented with funk – a darker (electronic) bass line follows the song as it meanders along, without any distinct melodies.

According to the sticker on the front cover, it is one of the four hits on the whole album (out of 12 tracks, with 5 additional bonus songs.) This one was more like a hit and miss.

Aside from the two other funk attempts, “Don’t Know Nothing” and “Get Back In My Life,” the album is a success.

“Never Gonna Leave This Bed” is another one of their self-proclaimed hits, and rightly so. Their strength – incredible, energized vocal melodies that steal the show – is perfectly manipulated to represent the calmer side of Maroon 5 Another track that really evokes emotions through intense vocal harmonies is “How.” The relaxed vocals and more abstract background support (via piano, drum set and a

tar solo, then transitions into O’Donoghue’s smooth rock vocals.

In general, the album had a very carefree and optimistic sound for the weight of the issues discussed in their lyrics.

The explicit second track “For the First Time” is a miss for the Script.

The wordiness of the lyrics makes the sound feel forced and awkward. The clunky lyrics coupled with O’Donoghue’s attempts to transition from rock to rap and back created an ill-fitting combination, and made the song feel disjointed and amateur.

The fourth track, “Science & Faith,” is by far the best song on the album. It makes use of the profound subjects and O’Donoghue’s vocals.

During the chorus of “You Won’t Feel a Thing,” O’Donoghue’s vocals resemble the emotional, classic rock aesthetic of Adam Lambert.

The melody that begins “Long Gone and

tad bit of guitar) builds up to a hair-raising, simply awesome vocal duet.

This track (surprisingly not one of their socalled “hits”) is definitely one of the hidden features of the album – it’s like finding money in the pocket of your old jeans, only it evokes more emotion than a wrinkled Washington.

The edgy, electronic sounds in “Hands All Over” provide a nice contrast to the soft vocal tracks. “Runaway” also breaks up the similarity with a combination of funk (this time it was successful) and their traditional Maroon 5 sound.

Maroon 5 collaborated with Lady Antebellum on another hit: “Out of Goodbyes.” The sounds of Lady Antebellum definitely cut through – this track has a gentle, borderlinecountry feel with a calm guitar background and male-female vocal harmonies.

Although their attempt at funk may have fizzled, it’s nice to know that raw vocal talent still exists when auto-tuning has claimed ownership over most pop hits.

Moved On” is catchy, but the reappearing Adam Lambert-esque, raspy vocals may turn some mainstream listeners off to the song.

The last few songs on the album carry the signature Script sound, but aside from that, were unremarkable.

The themes in the album revolve around economic and social distress, and finding meaning through it all.

These are very relatable themes in the current economic situation.

The trio most likely drew inspiration for this album from their childhood, growing up in the economic turbulence of 80’s Ireland.

Science & Faith was good, but not great.

The Script experimented with rap elements, instead of sticking to what they do well. The best songs on the album focused on the sound that made them famous with their previous hit “Breakeven.”

RCA RECORDS

Science & Faith by The Script was released on September 13.

A-

Skip to: Science & Faith

October 2010

Page 5

More Music.

Kickin’ back & relaxin’ mixtape

BY MICHAELA MONAGHAN mmonaghan.gazette@gmail.com

1. “Sea of Love,” by Cat Power Chan Marshall of Cat Power ingeniously uses minimal acoustic guitar and clear vocals to create the perfect song for drifting off into dream-filled sleep.

2. “Innocent Bones,” by Iron & Wine Singer-songwriter Samuel Beam of Iron & Wine creatively combines banjo, guitar and piano in this pretty and lyrical song from his third album, The Shepherd’s Dog. 3. “I’d Rather Be With You,” by Joshua Radin The romantic lyrics and slowly escalating beats combined with acoustic guitar will boost anyone’s mood, even after the worst day.

4. “Sweet Disposition,” by The Temper Trap Slightly more upbeat, this alternative Australian rock band’s hit was made famous by multiple media uses.

“Sweet Disposition” is featured in movie 500 Days of

Teacher Playlist

BY SOPHIA ZOGOPOULOS

1. “It’s My Life” by Bon Jovi It’s Bon Jovi – a timeless classic. 2. “Closing Time” by Semisonic I like the original better now. The video is

3. “Need You Now” by Lady

Antebellum This is probably the only country song

4. “I Like It” by Enrique Iglesias feat.

Pitbull It has a nice beat. 5. “Where You Are” I like.

by Josh Groban It’s always been a favorite, but

now I always think of my brother when I hear this song.

6. “Suburbia” by Pet Shop Boys This

song was big when I was in high school – back in

7. “Desert Rose” by Sting The remix is nice. I especially like the Arabic parts. 8. the day.

“Sexy Chick” by David Guetta feat. Akon It has a nice beat. It makes my speakers jump.

9. “In

My Car” by The Pack They play this song at every dance I chaperone and it just began to grow on me.

8. “The World Spins Madly On,” by The Weepies Whether I’m stressed about school, work, friends or family, this song never fails to calm me down. The acoustic guitar and relaxing voices of Deb Talan and Steve Tannen of the indie pop-folk band threaten to lull me to sleep.

9. “Hallelujah,” by Rufus Wainwright An old favorite – this song never fails to impress. This song has inspired dozens of covers, and it’s no wonder why. Its emotional piano and powerful lyrics can spur passion in any listener.

10. “Piazza, New York Catcher,” by Belle & Sebastian Belle & Sebastian’s seven members provide a unique baroque pop sound. The optimistic beat and creative use of only an acoustic guitar in “Piazza, New York Catcher” can always help me recharge after a long day.

Musician of the Month:

“You would think a person my age would have specific taste in music, but I like all kinds of Suchi music.

Krishnaraj Basically, I am a mutt.

These are my current favorites besides Bollywood music:”

really nice too.

Summer, TV shows Greek and One Tree Hill, and commercial use for Chrysler and Coca-Cola. The song’s pulsating beats and quick lyrics immediately calm and soothe even the most stressed.

5. “Whatever You Like,” by Anya Marina New artist Anya Marina refreshes T.I.’s hip-hop hit from 2008 by slowing it down and accompanying it with acoustic guitar and breathy vocals. This new twist on rap lyrics provides an unexpected freshness to the usual soulful lines preferred by indie singer-songwriters.

6. “Sam’s Town (acoustic version),” by The Killers The acoustic version from popular rock band The Killers has great piano and crystal clear vocals.

7. “The World at Large,” by Modest Mouse The mainstream, Oregon-based alternative rock band’s slow mix of repetitive vocals, electric guitar and creative lyrics are perfect for winding down after a long day.

10. “All My Life” by Jay Rock Nice lyrics

– reminds me of my ghetto days in Los Angeles.

Compiled by Jon Setiawan

E

szogopoulos.gazette@gmail.com

veryday we hear the stories of famous musicians struggling to be recognized as artists and how music impacted their lives. However, GBHS is unaware of its own student musician’s stories.

There are generally three skills that come to mind when one thinks of a musician: the ability to play guitar, sing, and write songs. For GBHS senior Kevin Kong, these three musical abilities apply.

Kong realized his passion for music and began playing the guitar his freshmen year. After mastering the guitar, Kong decided to add his voice to his music.

When hearing Kong’s music, one may guess that Kong has been playing guitar much longer than he actually has.

Ever since he began uploading videos onto his YouTube channel, Kong has become a trendy music topic at GBHS. “I definitely have tried to adopt John Mayer’s guitar style...but whether it’s evident in my playing is…unknown to me,” Kong said.

Kong’s cover of “I Don’t Trust Myself,” by John Mayer, is evidence of the style influence. The Mayer twang is reflected through his guitar playing and voice.

“To me, John Mayer is the epitome of this generation’s guitar players. Similar to Stevie Ray Vaughan or Eric Clapton, (John Mayer) plays with a lot of emotion which really draws me to his music,” Kong said.

Since Kevin Kong is in the IB program at GBHS, it makes it difficult for him to find time to perform.

Although Kong has not performed at many events, he was chosen to entertain the seniors on the first morning of school at Senior Sunrise.

“Someone in student government showed me (Kong’s) videos. When I watched them they took my breath away because of how talented he is,” GBHS senior class president Brie Shimada said.

Kevin’s music was perfect for the atmosphere and allowed the seniors to start off their last, first day of high school with each other on a high note.

“I wanted soothing music at Senior Sunrise, so I thought (Kong) would be a great choice for it,” Shimada said.

As of now, Kong is not planning on becoming the next John Mayer in the future.

“I plan on going into either the Pre-Med program or business…music is just a hobby,” Kong said.

Next time you’re on YouTube, go to Kevin’s channel (Kevintkong) to hear his incredible voice and calming music.

YOUTUBE

Gazette photo/SOPHIA ZOGOPOULOS

YOUTUBE

GBHS senior Kevin Kong has found local fame through YouTube

Page 6

October 2010

Energize.

Drink Away The Drowsiness...

Energy Drinks help students to stay up all night, prepare for tests and give a necessary energy boost...

BY SHANNON WAGNER

A

swagner.gazette@gmail.com

day in the life of a high school teenager is anything but a cakewalk. Waking up early for school, working throughout the day, followed by after-school sports, extra curriculars and other activities, homework, and the occasional late-night study session, all sustained by an average of less than seven hours of sleep per day, can leave a person

chman

l fleis

s /Danie

photo Gazette

feeling anything but energized.

With the heavy demands on young adults to perform at maximum potential without the support of enough REM sleep it is not difficult to imagine why the energy drink industry has skyrocketed in the past few years.

In 2009 alone, young adults spent over $2.2 billion on the purchase of energy drinks, and their use continues to rise.

So if you are looking for a way to keep yourself awake, check out some of these pick-me-ups to help you out.

If you are looking for something that gives you a substantial adrenaline rush for a couple of hours, a Rockstar would be a great consideration.

For the time while its effects on you are positive, a Rockstar can be your best friend when you need a late night study session or are trying to recover from one the next morning.

However, as the (effects) wear off a couple hours later, it takes a serious toll on your body. For me, I found that the aftermath of the drink left me worse off than I had been before it. It was more difficult to stay awake after crashing from a Rockstar than it was in the first place.

Calories (per 8 oz.): 110 Sugar: 62 grams Flavor Variations: Guava, Pomegranate, Punched Tropical, Punched Citrus Acai Berry, Roasted Mocha, Roasted Latte and Vanilla Light.

Caffeine success: Alert Overall: 7

Similar to the original with an added lemony twist, the Rockstar Punched Citrus takes the drink to the next level.

The flavor is much more satisfying than the plain Rockstar– the acai berry and citrus essences curbed the obviousness of the caffeine supplements apparent in the other drinks.

But aside from the difference in flavor, this Rockstar was essentially the same as the generic one.

Calories: 130 Sugar: 63 grams Caffeine success: Alert Overall: 8

Red Bulls are an all-around disappointment. Aside from tasting bitter, they have no positive impact on increasing energy– making the flavor even more revolting.

Given the choice of drinking a Red Bull or dealing with the monotony of a school day on three hours of sleep, I would pick the drudgery of being exhausted over having to drink another one.

I didn’t feel effected by the beverage; if anything it made me feel more tired after I drank it than I had felt before.

And unless I am mistaken, the point of an energy drink is to do the complete opposite, so I found that Red Bull was not an energy drink worth indulging in.

Calories: 110 Sugar: 27 grams Flavor Variations: Sugar free Caffeine success: No Effect Overall: 3

October 2010

Page 7

Energize.

And Prepare to Crash...

But they also cause some unwanted side effects when they wear off.

With artificial and chemical-tasting Monsters, the short lived energy boost is not worth the headaches and discomfort that follows.

The drink is sickly sweet and fake– making the consumer’s glucose levels to spike at a scary rate, and drop even lower just as quickly. This roller coaster ride of energy levels does a greater detriment than help; dealing with the rapid fluctuations isn’t worth the short amount of energized time for the drinker.

For lovers of Mountain Dew, Amp may satisfy your cravings for a soda-like beverage that also provides energy.

When up against other energy drinks, Amp tasted sweeter and more like a fountain drink than most others. It has the least obvious chemical aftertaste, and surprisingly has half the sugar content of Rockstars.

In regards to energy, Amp gives a quick boost but doesn’t last very long, resulting in a slow decent of attentiveness and the requiring of another to get back up.

Calories: 100 Sugar: 54 grams Flavor Variations: Khaos (orange) M-80 (yellow) Mixxd (purple) Assault (red) Caffeine success: No Effect Overall: 1

Calories: 110 Sugar: 31 grams Flavor Variations: Overdrive (cherry), Elevate (mixed berry), Traction (grape), and Relaunch (orange).

Caffeine success: Awake Overall: 9

To give consumers the energy effect, most companies ramp up the caffeine, guarana and other stimulants and try to cover up the harsh taste with sugars and flavors.

But Nos actually tastes good, and not just for an energy drink. Even if I wasn’t looking for a quick fix for motivation, I would still enjoy the sweet fruitiness of the drink.

It wasn’t too sweet, and the typical identifiable energy drink undertones weren’t noticeable.

And as far as energy goes, Nos gives me the best balance of alertness without making me feel too jittery or uncontrollably hyper.

The positive effects of Nos lasted for a long time in comparison to the others; I felt attentive for several hours and when my awake buzz eventually wore off, there wasn’t a monumental crash that made me regret drinking it earlier that morning.

ho

tte p

Gaze

an

chm

leis

iel f

an tos /D

Calories: 110 Sugar: 54 grams Flavor Variations: Grape, Fruit Punch Caffeine success: Very Alert

Overall: 10

Page 8

Costa Vida

BY KELSEY KNORP

kknorp.gazette@gmail.com

C

October 2010

Eat.

osta Vida. Translation: coast life. Though there is plenty of that south of the border, it isn’t typically the first phrase that comes to mind when thinking about Mexican cuisine. Then again, Costa Vida isn’t your typical Mexican restaurant.

Upon entering, the customer is greeted by brightly colored walls, photos that enhance the coastal theme, and an array of flat screen televisions featuring professional surfers performing amazing aquatic feats.

It took one glance at the menu for me to realize that, if I wanted the kind of food I could order at Chipotle, Rubio’s, or most other Mexican food chains, I was at the wrong restaurant.

Costa Vida puts an exotic twist on the classic Mexican favorites such as burritos, enchiladas, and quesadillas.

While these can be ordered with classic meats such as chicken, fajitagrilled steak, and shredded beef, the more adventurous will order one of the specialty meats. These include raspberry chipotle chicken, mango chicken, or - my personal favorite - the sweet pork.

Even salads are offered with exotic dressings such as spicy tomatillo ranch, cilantro vinageratte, and sweet & spicy mango dressing.

Even a simple quesadilla is turned

into a delectable culinary treat with Costa Vida’s hand-crafted, homemade tortillas. A tortilla is involved in every meal, and it is a vital as well as delicious part of Costa Vida dining.

I would recommend the enchiladas with mild sauce, sweet pork, and black beans on the side. Really, any dish ordered with sweet pork is guaranteed to delight your taste buds.

The service was quick and efficient, with no confusion or unnecessary delays. I had a pleasant conversation with an employee about an Enrique Iglesias song, and felt invigorated by her upbeat and friendly demeanor.

An added advantage to dining at this restaurant for Granite Bay High School students is the free dessert that is available to them if they use their Grizzly Gold Card.

Gazette photo /MICHAELA MONAGHAN

Costa Vida serves typical Mexican food with new, exciting flavors

Miabella Gelato

BY ALLIE BURGER

T

aburger.gazette@gmail.com

he Fountains has been publicized for opening up new restaurants recently, such as Dave & Busters and Sake House, but some of the pre-existing businesses are still going strong as well.

Miabella Gelato, open for almost two years now, is the only eatery I had never attended in The Fountains before testing it out a few days ago.

After passing it a few times over the past months, I noticed that it never seemed crowded, so I never bothered to chance a visit.

However, to my pleasant surprise, I now have a favorite desert location in the Fountains.

Walking through the plate-glass doors, the staff was eager to say hello and offer advice on what to order.

A long glass case housed an extensive assortment of sweet, frozen treats, while the walls above were covered with a list of specialty drinks made to order.

There is a wide variety of gelato selections offered at Miabella. From classics, such as lemon sorbet or chocolate, to new and innovative flavors, like Nutella or jasmine, this up-and-coming business has about twenty different options to choose from—all of which can be taste tested.

Gazette photo /MICHAELA MONAGHAN

Miabella Gelato offers all-natural gelato and other Italian treats.

In addition to traditional gelato, the Italian Gelateria serves semifreddos, biscotti, frappés and Italian soda. All Miabella products are made daily on site with all-natural ingredients.

Price-wise, gelato at Miabella is fairly reasonable. A small gelato, rich enough for the average person, is only around three dollars and is served with a delicious cookie.

Different from what I believed, customers rave about the consistent quality of both the service and flavor.

If you haven’t visited Miabella yet, it is definitely worth the more expensive price than places like Baskin Robbins and Big Spoon.

Dave & Buster’s

BY MATT VENEMAN

I

mveneman.gazette@gmail.com

f you’re looking for quality food at a reasonable price, all in a great family atmosphere, Dave and Buster’s is the place for you.

Dave and Buster’s is located right in the fountains off East Roseville Parkway.

I had heard that Dave and Buster’s was basically an adult version of Chuckie Cheese or John’s Incredible Pizza, but I found out that this is far from the truth.

As I walked in, I looked off to my left and saw a huge arcade filled with games.

There was an equal number of kids and adults in the arcade.

Now sure, it has more adults than say Chuckie Cheese, but it is much more geared towards families.

My party and I were instantly seated in a large booth of our choice. The walls of the booth were so big that we felt enclosed in our own world, separate from the chaos and noise of the arcade.

We were greeted by our very loud and bubbly waitress who then brought waters and took our orders.

As I awaited the arrival of my food, I found myself watching the multiple TVs throughout the restaurant. The TVs were broadcasting every sports game possible.

The layout of the restaurant was interesting; the arcade was located to the side, a bar was in the middle of the building, and then most of the seating was located on the opposite side of the arcade.

This separation between the noisy arcade and the quieter section of the restaurant created somewhat of a wall for those families who wanted a nice family dinner.

My attention was drawn back to the sports games - many of which were

ending - for our food was nowhere to be seen after nearly a half hour of waiting.

After a long and painful wait, our food finally arrived.

Although the wait was long, the food was delicious.

I ordered a cheeseburger topped with lettuce, tomato and onions and served with a side of French fries. I savored every last juicy bite.

We also had an order of fish and chips served with French fries as well. The fish was crispy on the outside and tender and delicious on the inside.

Our final entrée was a Philly cheese steak sandwich. The sandwich consisted of thin strips of steak on a warm roll topped with cheese.

I quickly devoured my delicious cheeseburger while my parents also enjoyed every bite of their meals.

Throughout the night, our waitress seemed to disappear for long periods of time even though she was needed.

But overall, the food outweighed Gazette photo /Michaela monaghan the poor service. I was happy Dave & Buster’s is a casual restauas I strolled through the fountains reflecting on a good night capped off rant that combines loads of entertainment with quality service. by a great meal.

October 2010

Page 9

Eat.

Bloom Coffee & Tea

BY MICHAELA MONAGHAN mmonaghan.gazette@gmail.com

I

’m not what one would call a morning person, and I know I’m not alone. I think we can all agree that GBHS would be a much happier place if everyone had a little caffeine before school.

Although it’s tempting to follow the crowd to Starbucks for a venti non-fat quad-shot iced latte with two pumps of vanilla and one pump of caramel, I decided to venture out to try something new: Bloom Coffee & Tea in Roseville.

Upon walking into Bloom, I immediately felt at ease due to the calming atmosphere.

The walls are a soothing gray-blue, accompanied by watercolor prints and wooden carvings. I found these cool tones to be a refreshing change from the warm, cozy environment that other coffee shops tend to shoot for.

After adjusting to the difference in environment from my usual coffee haunts, I glanced up at the menu, which propelled me into even further into culture shock.

While most coffee shops pride themselves on be-

ing “all about the customer” where everything can be customized from the temperature and fat content of the milk to the degree of sweetness in the tea, Bloom seems to pride itself on simple, uncomplicated drinks.

The menu had only 10 items - all simple one to two word names - a few of which I had never heard before, like “Toddy” and “Shakerato.” Each drink comes only in one size and the choice of two flavors, chocolate or vanilla.

I ordered Bloom’s specialty, the Shakerato, a shaken coffee. Although decent, I wasn’t blown away by it. I honestly didn’t think it was interesting or even mildly different from anything I’ve had at other coffee shops.

Another downside to my experience at Bloom was the attitude of the baristas. I didn’t find them very welcoming or warm, and I felt awkward asking questions about the menu.

Overall, I got the feeling that the employees thought they were cooler than other coffee shops because they’re more “indie.”

Although the soothing atmosphere and the “simplicity is the name of the game” approach were a

Recipe of the Month

BY ALLIE BURGER

aburger.gazette@gmail.com

W

ith Halloween around the corner, it is time to get ready for lots of holiday treats.

This delicious snack has a mix of sweet and salty flavors that can satisfy even the pickiest of eaters.

You only need a few ingredients: * 1/3 cup of popcorn kernels * 3 tablespoons of butter * 6 cups of mini marshmallows * ¼ cup of Reese’s Pieces * 6 fun size Snicker bars (each chopped into quarters)

Autumn Popcorn Treat throughout the popcorn.

Spread the popcorn flat on a baking pan sprayed with baking spray.

refreshing change, I didn’t prefer Bloom’s coffee or attitude over Starbucks or Peet’s Coffee.

Gazette photo /SOPHIA ZOGOPOULOS

Bloom Coffee & Tea has a soothing atmosphere and is strikingly different from most coffee shops, but doesn’t provide much beverage variety.

Drink of the Month Chocolate Marshmallow Milkshake

BY ALLIE BURGER

aburger.gazette@gmail.com

***

This treat is easy to make and it is perfect for satisfying your hunger and chocolate cravings. To make four servings of this chocolate decadence, you will need the following:

Finally, shower the Reese’s Pieces and Snicker’s bar pieces over the popcorn and let it sit for one hour.

Once cooled, it is ready to be eaten. Serve this to your friends and family at a Halloween party, or create individual bags and pass them out to trick-or-treaters.

* ½ cup of heavy cream * ¼ cup of marshmallow fluff

If you have health-conscious eaters, try replacing snickers bars with the low fat Three Musketeers Bars.

* 1 cup of milk (you decide what type) * ¼ cup of chocolate sauce

First, pop the popcorn kernels in a popcorn machine or on a stove.

* 3 cups of chocolate ice cream In a mixing bowl, whip the cream and marshmallow fluff until they create a consistency similar to whipped cream.

Place the popcorn in a large mixing bowl and set it aside.

Next, melt the butter on a stove above low heat and mix in the mini marshmallows.

Next, use a blender to blend the milk, chocolate sauce and ice cream until smooth.

Stir the marshmallows and butter constantly until they turn into a liquid substance.

Then, pour the melted marshmallows and butter over the popcorn and mix the liquid

A

lthough the weather is getting colder, it is still nice to have an icy treat now and then. With lots of rich, chocolate and marshmallow flavor, you only need a few sips of this milkshake to reach your sugar count for the day.

Gazette photo /ALLIE BURGER

Finally, layer the two mixtures in glasses and it is time to enjoy. Don’t drink it too quickly though, or you may get a brain freeze.

Gazette photo /ALLIE BURGER

If you would like to make this recipe just a little healthier, use non-fat milk and sugar-free ice cream. It will be better for you, and taste just as great.

Pages 10 and 11

Boo.

Local fright sites entertain this October

BY BRITTANY HINCE bhince.gazette@gmail.com

T

he month of October – a time when the idea of being chased through a poorly lit house by a half-dead man sounds far more appealing than it would in February, April or even July.

Haunted houses are parts of Halloween tradition, much like candy corn, trick-or-treating and jack-o-lanterns.

But unlike the triangular shape and the traditional orange, yellow and white of candy corn, haunted houses come in different forms and sizes.

However, what remains more important than the size of the house itself is the intensity of scare factors within the house.

The general assumption associated with residential haunted houses is that they are more cute than scary.

And let’s be honest – the plastic spider hanging from the ceiling of a friend’s garage doesn’t necessarily lead to a huge adrenaline rush.

However, GBHS junior Sydney Lorek and her family manage to up the ante with their local haunted house in Hidden Lakes Estates.

According to Lorek, it’s anything but cute.

“We usually get over a thousand people (each) year,” Lorek said.

“We have our family and friends come out to help...we get really into it.”

The Loreks normally divide up their entire house into various, themed rooms. This year, the spooky attractions will stretch throughout the entire backyard, the garage and into the front yard.

Lorek disclosed a few of the rooms’ recurring themes over past years. These include a mirror room, a Chuckie room, a snake room, a blood room and an exorcist room.

“The blood room is disgusting because you can feel the blood on you,” Lorek said. “(But) the hit two years ago was the exorcist room. We had a machine that made (the girl’s) head spin all the way around. My uncle was the priest throwing holy water at her,” Lorek said. “And we (have) a few really cool things this year that I’m not allowed to release.”

The Lorek haunted house goes above and beyond the average, local scare-fair in more areas

than one.

It’s a haunted house with a cause –the spooky spectacle also doubles as a fundraiser.

“You have to bring a can to donate to get in… there’s normally a table outside.” Lorek said. “A truck comes (a few days later) and we load it all in.”

If the local option doesn’t suit your style, the biggest, local haunted house in the regional area is known as The Callson Manor.

GBHS senior Jillian Hobbs was recruited to participate in the Callson Manor production in October 2008 and 2009, and she plans to return this coming Halloween season. “(My dance studio) was invited to dance and perform thriller (at the Callson Manor),” Hobbs said.

“We learned the dance in rehearsal and we (were) put into makeup. They put us in fake blood and (gave us) costumes…once we were done performing we got to go in the actual haunted houses and scare people.”

By partaking in the creation of the spooky atmosphere, Hobbs witnessed various reactions to the cast’s scare-efforts.

“Originally I thought people wanted to be scared, but some of (the people) took it as a joke,” Hobbs said. “It just seems like a fun place for people to hang out…but when I went in…I trampled the person I was with on accident (because) I was so scared.”

For those of you who still aren’t satisfied, Fright Fest at Six Flags Discovery Kingdom is just an hour away.

Fright Fest is essentially a Halloween take-over of the familiar theme park in Vallejo, California.

“I went (to Fright Fest) with my sister for her birthday around Halloween,” sophomore Madi Layo said.

“All throughout the park there are people dressed up who chase you around. In the actual Fright Fest haunted house, a bunch of people pop out around corners and scare you. I kind of closed my eyes the whole time.”

No matter what haunted house you choose this Halloween season, enter at your own risk.

Gazette illustrations /ALISON SALE

October 2010

Page 12

October 2010

Costumes.

group Costume Guide

How to coordinate outfits with your friends this Halloween

BY MICHAELA MONAGHAN mmonaghan.gazette@gmail.com

We can all recall those cherished Halloween memories; the days when we were still terrified of ghosts and all of our energy went towards scouring the neighborhood for the best candy.

We can still remember some of our favorite Halloween costumes from childhood, whether we were princesses or pirates, mermaids or mummies.

These days, however, we may not always have time to put together that perfectly crafted costume that we spent weeks planning. Between school, jobs, sports and friends, there isn’t exactly time to spare for a costume that we know will be worn for a few short hours and then haphazardly shoved into the back of our closet.

Instead, we probably just pop into the local costume store to buy a prepackaged and mass produced costume, or at the very least, a pair of ears.

Dressing up with a group of friends somehow brings back that childhood spirit of camaraderie and excitement.

GBHS Senior Kendall Roth partook in a group costume as a freshman.

“We all decided we were going to be different Barbies. It was fun because everyone thought as a group and we all matched, but at the same time we were all a little bit different.”

Halloween isn’t just about the candy, the decorations or even the costumes. It’s about recapturing those feelings of wonder and possibility, which sometimes elude us as we grow up and become entangled in the rigors of grades, jobs and college applications. It’s about being with friends and losing yourself in that same magic that used to enchant you as a child; allowing you to be anything you desired, whether you dreamed of being a witch, a clown, an alien or an astronaut. Because after all, no matter how old we may get, everyone still likes to play dress-up.

Alice in Wonderland

The recent release of Toy Story 3 has caused those childhood memories of days filled with princesses, superheroes and teddy bears to come flooding back. When nostalgia sets in, you can relive the past by dressing up as one of Andy’s treasured toys.

For Woody, the stubborn yet lovable main character, wear a yellow plaid shirt, jeans, cowboy boots and a cowboy hat. If possible, try to find an animal print vest and a star-shaped badge.

Woody’s friend and sidekick, Buzz Lightyear, will require a little more creativity. For wings, use cardboard painted with the trademark purple and green, bordered with red and white stripes.

Use a white t-shirt and paint to create the front of Buzz’s space suit. To finish the costume, wear white pants and shoes, along with a purple beanie.

For a larger group, other members can dress up as other characters from the Toy Story crew: Little Bo Peep, Mr. Potato Head, Rex, Jessie, Hamm the Piggy Bank, Troll, Slinky Dog, a soldier or an alien.

Gazette illustrations/ALISON SALE

The enchanting madness of Lewis Carroll’s Alice in Wonderland makes for a perfect group costume. Not only is there an abundance of eccentric and recognizable characters (Alice, the Red Queen, the Mad Hatter, and the Cheshire Cat) but the creativity and absolute lunacy of the whole movie allows for some extremely interesting ensembles.

For Alice, the innocent and naïve main character, wear a blue dress and a white apron. Complete the costume with a large black bow and black shoes.

The Mad Hatter, one of the more intriguing characters from the movie, is a little more complicated to put together. His eclectic and unexplained style can be difficult to replicate.

First, you will need a large black hat, tied with a bow or scarf, and with a slip of paper attached, reading “In this style 10/6.” Next, you will need a large bowtie in the craziest colors and patterns possible accompanied by short, black pants and mismatched socks.

For the evil and conniving Red Queen, wear a red dress and crown. Also, try to find a red wig if possible. Blue eyeshadow and red lipstick will complete the outfit.

Other members of your posse can dress up as the Cheshire Cat, the White Rabbit, flowers, cards, the White Queen or Tweedle Dee and Tweedle Dum.

October 2010

More Costumes.

Page 13

Gleeks everywhere are obsessed with the TV show’s inspiring and hilarious story about outcasts and social rejection.

No one instills pain in the members of William McKinley High School’s Glee Club like the cheerleading squad, otherwise known as the Cheerios.

To dress up as the cruel, vindictive and witty ringleader of the Cheerios, Sue Sylvester, wear a tracksuit, tennis shoes, and a whistle.

The Cheerio squad is composed of Sue’s devoted and often mindless followers. For a Cheerio costume, you will need a red pleated skirt or red track pants. Also, wear a red t-shirt or tank top decorated with the WMHS logo. For girls, be sure hair is in a tight ponytail. Red and white pompoms will complete the ensemble.

JE

RS

EY

SHORE Gazette illustrations/ALISON SALE

Although we may not be able to look exactly like Snooki, JWoww, or the Situation, we can still dress up as our favorite fist-pumpers this Halloween with Glowing orange skin, washboard abs and gravity-defying hair.

For girls looking to reproduce that infamous Jersey style, you only need a little hairspray and some cheetah print.

Start by wearing anything Ed Hardy or covered in sequins. Next, use a bump-it and a teasing comb to perfectly replicate Snooki’s trademark hair. Finally, apply eyeliner and add large hoop earrings.

If you’re one of the boys who dreams of being part of the Jersey Shore crew, you will need a tight t-shirt and ripped jeans. Also, wear a large cross necklace.

For a finishing touch, create the signature “blowout” by using a hairdryer and copious amounts of gel to spike your hair.

To completely commit to your Jersey Shore character, make sure you are up to date on Jersey slang, such as guido, guidette, juicehead, grenade and GTL, also known as “gym, tan, laundry.”

Page 14

Network.

October 2010

Resume Wall

Info

Photos

Write something...

Share

Attach:

Filters

tions about (students) that aren’t true,” Hamby said.

Some students, however, do not believe that the increase in social networking should force our generation to have different standards than those before us. ver the last five years, the addiction to social “Ten years ago, good kids who still partied in high networking has drastically increased. school managed to do well and (go to college),” Users consistently post new information on GBHS senior Allison Garvey said. “But if colleges various websites, most recently Facebook. see partying today on Facebook, a (student) may not While Facebook “stalking” has become an accepted be accepted to college. The only difference is that normalcy in teenage society, students often forget that there was no Facebook to regulate the partying kids there are many sources that can have access to posts – ten years ago and now there is. not just friends.

Moreover, Garvey doesn’t agree with the idea that Currently, the new Facebook “stalking” craze is pictures reveal personality better than the application. hitting colleges, and may affect Granite Bay High “I do not think that a few picSchool’s senior class. tures sum up a person’s character,” In addition to reviewing a Garvey said. submitted application, letters of (Students) need According to a 2009 Kaplan study, recommendation and supplemento be careful of what 13 percent of colleges in the United tal documents, many colleges are States already have guidelines using Facebook as a way to obtain they post and the regarding Facebook in their admisa better sense of a student’s overall language that they sions process, while 21 percent character. are currently creating guidelines.

Typically, the information that use online.

In addition, 50 percent of business students post on their Facebook schools, 48 percent of law schools profiles is representative of the im– Cindi Underwood and 31 percent of medical schools age that they are willing to concurrently have Facebook guidelines vey to their peers. So, by adding GBHS College and set in place as well.

Facebook viewings to their process Career Advisor Because the chance that colleges of assessment, colleges can gain are viewing a students’ Facebook a better sense of how a student is profile has risen, students need to perceived by their peers and how a be careful of what they put on their student acts in society – which can Facebook now more than ever. reveal more than what’s seen on paper.

“Students need to represent themselves in terms of GBHS students have mixed reactions about this how they want to present themselves. They need to be recent addition to the admissions process. careful of what they post and the language that they “I think it is fair because, if (your) Facebook is open use online,” GBHS College and Career adviser Cindi to everybody, then colleges should be able to look at Underwood said. it,” GBHS senior Allison Hamby said. “Most people Many colleges are beginning to look at Facebook, that get upset are the people that are (afraid of not whether students believe that it is fair or not, and do getting) admitted to a college because of something not let students know whether or not their Facebook on their Facebook. But what do they have on their will be viewed.

Facebook that is so bad?”

So, with college application deadlines coming up, Hamby feels that taking and posting bad pictures students need to make sure that their Facebook repreallows the audience to rightfully draw conclusions based on the content. sents only what they want their dream schools to see “Bad images could cause people to make assumpin them.

Gazette illustration/ALISON SALE

BY ALLIE BURGER

O View Photos of Applicant (20) Send Applicant a Message Poke Applicant Subscribe via SMS

Information Birthday: July 16, 1993

Mutual friends 8 friends in common

Joe Schmoe

Cindy Smith

See All

Tom T. Turner

Friends 184 friends

Leanne Brown

Peter Thomas

See All

GBHS Class of 2011

aburger.gazette@gmail.com

October 2010

Page 15

Enjoy.

Blast from the Past:

Lip Smackers Lip Balm

BY RACHAEL VASQUEZ rvasquez.gazette@gmail.com

White Skirt at H&M --- $24.50

Black Skirt at Urban Outfitters---$38

Skirts

On the Bay

I

n 1973, the Bonne Bell cosmetic company launched a product that became one of the biggest phenomenons for preteen girls: Lip Smackers.

In schools everywhere, girls would apply, collect and show off the flavors that they were lucky enough to have.

Lip Smackers clearly captures the attention of the demanding consumers.

The life of preteen girls changed.

No matter what the age, no girl could leave their house without their favorite flavored Lip Smacker in hand.

The Lip Smacker Original Eight Piece Party Pack included strawberry, vanilla, mango, wild raspberry, watermelon, tropical punch, cotton candy and kiwi. Other sweet treats and fruity flavors followed.

Even though the more conventional flavors were abundant, many girls chose to go outside the box and experiment with less familiar tastes.

Beverage companies such as Dr. Pepper, 7-Up, Crush, A&W and KOOL-AID included their flavors to the compact lip balms.

Skittles, Starburst and M&M’s

were among the common candy flavors.

Though most flavors sounded tasty, new and unusual flavors continued to surface.

Cookies, Jelly Donut, Strawberry Cheesecake, Marshmallow and Espresso flavored lip balm can all be found among the Lip Smackers.

The sizes made the popularity grow any further.

Preteen girls could carry the smaller size in their pockets, while the larger size could be worn around their neck as an accessory.

Not only were their a variety of flavors and sizes, but also in types.

Lip Smackers are sold in the forms of lip gloss, a squeezable tube or in the classic compact container.

The popularity of Lip Smackers was extreme. The flavors began to impact preteens lives.

Before a first date, it was believed that girls had to pick the appropriate

Gazette ph

oto /Rac

hael Vasquez

flavored lip balm in order to ensure maximum results and better memories of their first kiss.

Many of us can even remember those few obscure individuals who admired the tasty flavors too much and chose to eat large sections of the lip balm.

Others cherished Lip Smackers in a more conventional way; opting to collect the numerous flavors as they would any other collectable.

The best way to reconnect with this blast from the past is to go out and indulge in endless flavored lip balms.

Artist of the Month: Elyse Fulcher

BY ARI BLACK

Belt at Charlotte Russe---$9.50

BY JON SETIAWAN

jsetiawan.gazette@gmail.com

Floral Skirt at Forever 21---$13.80

Compiled by Ari Black Gazette photos /Ari Black

N

ablack.gazette@gmail.com

othing great in the world has ever been accomplished without passion.

For Granite Bay High School senior, Elyse Fulcher, art is and always has been her passion.

“I’ve been doing art since the time I could pick up a crayon,” Fulcher said.

Over time crayons evolved into brushes and her favorite medium, acrylic paint. Now she is in the AP art class at GBHS. “I used to draw bunnies and kittens,” Fulcher said, “now because of Stephens I have a new artistic perspective on the human experience.”

Although Fulcher was interested in art from the beginning, it was never prevalent in her home.

“My parents never drew anything for me,” Fulcher said, “So it inspired me to do it on my own.”

Fulcher finds her inspiration from the masters.

“I really like Chet Zar, Chris Mars, Eric Fortune and Stella Im Hultberg,” Fulcher said. “They are kind of dark and morbid, but really passionate which is

Gazette photo /MICHAELA MONAGHAN

Elyse Fulcher is now in AP Studio Art. what I tend to paint.”

Of the paintings Fulcher has created, her favorite is of her best friend, Kailey Rappaport.

“I like it a lot because it reminds me of her, and of my original concept for the work,” Fulcher said.

Elyse looks forward to a successful art career “I want to paint for the rest of my life,”

Fulcher said. “It allows me to connect with people in a deeper nonverbal way.”

Fulcher knows that she wouldn’t be the artist she is without all that she has learned from Stephens.

“Stephens has really created me, I honestly would not be the artist I am without him,” Fulcher said. “I cant imagine not having his guidance.”

Page 16

October 2010

Enjoy.

Random Car:

Devin Benner’s 2006 Toyota Tacoma

iPhone App of the month:

Charadium by Ngmoco

BY MATHEW FUKUHARA mfukuhara.gazette@gmail.com

T Gazette photo /Franklin Zhuang

Devin Benner with his 2006 Toyota Tacoma that he received for his birthday.

BY FRANKLIN ZHUANG fzhuang.gazette@gmail.com

When did you get your truck?

I got it for my sixteenth birthday.

What is the least favorite part of your truck?

I don’t like how low it is to the

ground. If I could change anything It would be that but it’s really expensive.

What have you done to your truck?

What is the most amount of people I put a new deck in, a ten inch sub woofer and new rims. I tinted all you have fit in your truck? the windows and blacked out the

Five, or as many seat belts there are headlights. I also added a Jordan in my truck. logo to the back.

What is your favorite part about your truck?

I’d probably say the rims, the black rims on the black truck.

What is the fastest you have driven in your truck?

I don’t know. I’m usually pretty good about speed though.

he 30 second count down begins.

Figure out how the weird looking, dotted triangle, sitting on top of a banana is related to a sun in the sky.

After a few seconds someone takes a stab at figuring out the mysterious scene. The game stalls for a few more seconds, followed by an electrical surge that hits the brain, the picture represents “summer.”

Charades has died down over the years as technology has increased. However, this month it has entered the 21century.

“Charadium” created by ngmoco has been created with the mind of players as the center of the game and creativity the link between success and failure.

When the application first launches, Charadium asks for an account name.

Users who have played other games by this company will already have a name and password for their existing

profile.

For those who are new, choose the best name you can think of and get started.

The object is still the same, figure out how to best describe the word or phrase. It is still timed, but now no one actually has to act out ridiculous or seemingly impossible objects.

Instead, it’s all about hand-eye coordination, imagination, and how cleverly descriptive the small screen space can get.

In some cases, pictures and words can get confusing because the limited amount of space prevents the artist from completing the picture.

This isn’t the case in regular charades. It’s NGMOCO funny to see the screen go completely blank because the artist noticed this problem and now has to find a new way to portray the same message.

Also, choose the words needing to be described wisely because there are times when words like “basin,” “camcorder” and even “blue” end a perfect game.

Charadium is a fun and simplistic game that most people will enjoy playing.

Video of the Month: Jake and Amir: Monopoly

BY KEVIN NIELSEN

knielsen.gazette@gmail.com

C

ollege Humor does it again with a series called Jake and Amir.

Throughout the entire series of shows, Amir annoys Jake.

Amir’s only goal is to be Jake’s friend, but Jake can’t stand Amir because of his stupidity.

In Jake and Amir: Monopoly, Jake is playing a game with three people, including Amir.

In this video Amir is attempting to play monopoly, but is applying some of his own rules and messing up the game.

Starting out, Amir can’t even remember what piece he chose to be.

Along with this, he refuses to play the game the right way.

He draws a card and says it’s an instant win card, but Jake takes it and says that it is actually a go straight to jail.

It is at this point that the viewers see the true nature of Amir.

Amir asks what he did to deserve going to jail. Jake then tells him, “Well you’re eating my hotel right now for starters.”

Amir then spits out Jake’s hotel and says that he doesn’t want to go to jail.

Fortunately, Amir rolls doubles and gets out of jail. Then he spits out another pair of dice and yells “Snake eyes!”

After playing a while, Amir decides he wants to build a house on chance.

Jake tells him he can’t own chance, but instead of Amir comprehending what he said, Amir just says: “That’s beautiful.”

At the very end of the video Amir lands on boardwalk and owes Jeff 200 dollars.

Amir starts to hand out the money but then just hits the board and throws the pieces all around.

It is hard to relate to the people playing monopoly with Amir, because of how ridiculous Amir acts, but that’s what makes this video so great.

People do accidentally knock over game boards and mess it up completely, but it is usually not totally on purpose.

YOUTUBE

This video should make everyone appreciate the fact that people like Amir aren’t very common, but the fact that Amir is so ignorant makes it that much better.

So take a look at CollegeHumor’s video, Jake and Amir: Monopoly, because it is a hilarious video. Also take a look at some of their other videos, but make sure you have a lot of time because it becomes addicting.

October 2010

Page 17

Horror.

Zombie Trend For some young people, life is more engaging when they pretend to be members of the living dead

Zombie proms are just one manifestation of the zombie survival craze that hmassara.gazette@gmail.com has been pervading the horror subculgruesome pandemic sweeps the ture, and popular culture as a whole.

2002’s hit, 28 Days Later, which reworld. Many are infected, and imagined zombies as quickly-moving, walk the earth as hideous, disfigured cannibals, attacking loved ones disease-carrying creatures, and the release of horror comedies like Shaun of and further spreading the plague. the Dead and Zombieland, a fear – and After that, they go to dances.

Amber Bianchi, Davis resident and adoration – of the undead has come Zombie Queen hopeful, attended the back to life.

Sacramento Horror and Sci-fi ConvenVideo games, such as the multi tion’s annual Zombie Ball, in fullplayer zombie survival game franchise blown zombie makeup and a formal Left 4 Dead, have brought new levels dress. of realism and depth to zombies, in “I love zombies so much,” Bianchi addition to their well-documented said. “I went to my boyfriend’s high presence in comic books, novels, and school prom when he was a senior, and most other Internet-accessible forms of this is more fun.” media.

Some zombie enthusiasts go so far as developing escape and survival plans. But Granite Bay High School senior, Harry Josephson who is the president of the Zombie Survival Club, thinks it’s just for fun.

“Zombies are really simple and easy to explain,” Josephson said.

“They’re just people who are hungry for (human) flesh.”

The appeal of zombie-related horror films and games stems from their lack of a detailed explanation, Josephson added. “(A zombie film is) not like (a) monster movie; you don’t have to go into an epic one-hour thing explaining what the monster is, because you know it’s a zombie,” Josephson said.

Gazette photo /Haley massara Mike HampAmber Bianchi and friends attended a recent Zomton, Sacramento bie Prom in Sacramento. resident, is the

BY HALEY MASSARA

A

Gazette photo /Haley massara

Zombie Proms, like the one held at the Horror and Sci-fi Convention, are a small contributor to the zombie survival phenomenon. creator of Hot Zombie Chicks, a comic The pro-undead sentiment seen in pop culture recently shows no signs of book series. He also does zombie caridying off, Hampton said. catures on commission, most recently “It’s about the way people react to at the Sacramento Horror and Sci-fi the world being no more. The conforConvention. mity and the infrastructure of society “Most of the time, (my clients) laugh, and they love it and (say) ‘oh, is gone, and it’s all about bare necesit’s awesome,’ Hapton said. “Then sities,” Hampton said. “That’s more they’ll go show their friends and faminteresting to me than the zombies ily.” themselves.”

For those not satisfied by merely a Bianchi also cited the zombies’ portrait of themselves as a zombie, lotimelessness. cal organization Trash Film Orgy puts “I think everybody wants to find on a yearly Zombie Walk, in which a way to cure death, and to keep on participants storm the streets of Midliving.” Bianchi said. “Even (if) it’s a town Sacramento in zombie costume horrible, contaminated, let’s-eat-everyand make-up. body-and-destroy-the-world (exisAccording to Wikipedia and Christi Savage, TFO’s zombie walks, now a national phenomenon, originated in Sacramento, with the first documented walk occurring in 2001.

“We said, ‘oh, if we do a zombie parade, then we’ll make a spectacle and everyone will know about us.’”

Savage said. “So we went bowling with zombies, we did the zombie parade, and then everyone else (started) doing zombie walks.”

July’s zombie walk had around 1000 undead in attendance.

Despite recent problems with crime and police presence at Second Saturday, a monthly art walk and traditional location of the zombie walk, Savage said police have been cooperative.

“We’d walk down K street, and one of the years, the cop cars were Gazette photo /Haley massara driving around, (yelling) ‘Brains!’ The Zombie Trend shows no signs over their loudspeakers, which was of dying off. hilarious,” Savage said.

Page 18

Rated: R By: Shannon Carroll scarroll.gazette@gmail.com

the town: A-

e’s baaacck. Ben Affleck started his movie career so well, acting in Good Will Hunting and sharing the Academy Award with Matt Damon for best screenplay. But then he wandered off for a while, apparently preoccupied with his stardom and with big paydays, and he wound up in a series of flops. Who can forget Gigli? Or even forgive it?

But then he showed a glimmer of hope, with an incredible directorial debut in Gone Baby Gone in 2007. And, now, with The Town, he truly seems back.

I’ve never been a huge fan of Affleck’s, but, here I am, admiring the script for The Town (written partly

by Affleck), enjoying the magnetic lead character (played by Affleck) and marveling at the amazing direction (from, you guessed it, Affleck).

Based on Chuck Hogan’s award-winning novel Prince of Thieves, the plot focuses on a thick-asthieves town in Boston, Charleston, where criminal activities run rampant and are passed on through family generations.

Affleck, who grew up in Boston, nails the authenticity of both the town’s appearance and those who live there, just as he did in Gone Baby Gone.

The whole cast turns in blistering performances, with the authentically portrayed characters, but the real star is Jeremy Renner, who plays trigger-happy Jem Coughlin, the best friend of Affleck’s character.

Jem has no qualms about killing someone– He is so consistent that he almost seems logical as he threatens to kill his best friend and fires AK47s at dozens of police officers.

As the director, Affleck handles the quick cuts of the action scenes expertly. He also keeps the movie in a somber tone, making the only bright colors in the movie come from a community garden where solace can be found.

The only problem with the movie that is the romantic story line doesn’t totally work. The relationship between Doug (Ben Affleck) and Claire (Rebecca Hall) never develops enough to make Doug’s attempt to leave his life of crime believable.

Although some may find the ethics of the movie troubling, I enjoyed the grey area between good and bad. Neither side was afraid to risk it all to accomplish what they set out to do. Doug’s crew isn’t afraid to kill or steal when necessary, and the FBI isn’t above doing whatever it takes to get their man.

All in all, this movie is a Hollywood gem that rivets the audience. The magnificent performances by the cast, combined with the skill of the crew, make this a film to remember.

R

TOUCHSTONE PICTURES

T

WARNER BROS. PICTURES

eunions with archenemies are never easy, as illustrated in the movie You Again.

Marni, played by Kristin Bell, has found out that her brother is engaged – little does she know that the women he is marrying, (Odette Yustman,) happens to be the very girl who made her high school experience a living hell.

Marni is funny and lively right off the bat.

She tries to appear happy about her brother’s engagement, when really all she wants is revenge against his fiancé. But since it was obvious to the audience that her happiness was an act, it spiced up the scenes with comedy.

The initial reunion of the two was predictable; Joanna slyly pretends not to remember Marni, which infuriates her and sparks further inspiration for attempting revenge.

What’s even more predictable is that Marni’s mom and Joanna’s aunt are long-lost rivals as well.

The obviousness of these rivalry situations lessened the effect they could have had. After seeing previews that outlined the most comedic parts of the movie, I wasn’t as surprised as I could have been because I knew what was going to happen.

The old rivalries quickly gain intensity and before the wedding bells had even chimed, I was laughing almost every second at the abundance of awkward situations and witty comments.

The chemistry between both sets of feuding actresses is great, they humorously bickered constantly, going back and forth like sisters.

However, Joanna’s character could have benefited if it had been played by someone else. The actress was overly fake, almost like she had appeared on Disney Channel one too many times.

The resolution is a little obscure. And although the wedding isn’t picture perfect due to unexpected circumstances, the characters attempt to make the best of it.

But You Again will keep you laughing and waiting for more.

Even though it was predictable, I was still satisfied with the movie at the end.

he Legend of the Guardians: The Owls of Ga’Hoole, directed by Zach Snyder, who also directed the thriller 300, totally blew my expectations out of the water.

The story line to this movie is based on the first three books in the fifteen book series Guardians of Ga’Hoole written by Kathryn Lasky.

When relaxing on a Friday night and looking for a great light-hearted and action-packed film, the first thing that comes to mind definitely is not a movie about owl guardians and warriors protecting the vast land of owl descendants.

However, imagining this plot line, I began to grow increasingly intrigued and curious to see how this could unfold.

The very first aspect of the film which stands out immediately among viewers is the amazing attention to detail with the owls’ feathers while gliding over the vast lands of Ga’Hoole.

Unlike any animated film I have ever seen before, while the owls were flying in the movie, you could see the membranous feathers on their wings and backs swaying and glistening to the beat of each flap. This special effects masterpiece is definitely going to push the envelope for future fully computer-generated films.

One of this movie’s greatest attributes is its simple yet in-depth plot. Unlike the Harry Potter or Lord of the Rings movies where, if you had not read the book, you would be pretty lost in the movies, The Legend of the Guardians: The Owls of Ga’Hoole clearly states the reasoning for each predicament in the plot.

In the movie, the main conflict consisted of barn owl Kludd envying his brother Soren, who, in the eyes of everyone else, was better than Kludd at everything. His anger built, until one night he intentionally nudged his brother off of a branch, which caused a series of events to unfold, and the brothers ended up being kidnapped.

An evil group of owls, who called themselves the “pure ones,” were kidnapping other owls to make slaves and warriors out of them.

In order to rescue the innocent owls held captive by the “pure ones,” Soren journeys to find the mythical guardians of Ga’Hoole and makes many friends along the way.

The Legend of the Guardians: The Owls of Ga’Hoole was an entertaining surprise.

Rated: PG

Rated: PG

By: Stephanie Shaull sshaull.gazette@gmail.com

By: Matthew Palkowski mpalkowski.gazette@gmail.com

legend of the guardians: A

WARNER BROS. PICTURES

you again: B

H

October 2010

Film.

October 2010

D

Page 19

Film.

COLUMBIA Pictures

I

20th century fox

E

UNIVERSAL

Rated: PG-13

Rated: PG-13

Rated: PG-13

By: R. Slater McLaughlin rmclaughlin.gazette@gmail.com

By: Shannon Wagner swagner.gazette@gmail.com

By: Adam Tilford atilford.gazette@gmail.com

devil: C+

levators are small, cramped, slow, sometimes awkward and always annoying. But unless someone has a very bad case of claustrophobia, they are not scary.

I guess M. Night Shyamalan thought differently when he came up with the idea for the movie Devil.

Directed by John Dowdle, this supposed horror/ thriller movie is definitely not Shyamalan’s best.

It’s probably unfair to compare it to some of his masterpieces like Signs and The Sixth Sense because he did not direct nor write the screenplay, he just came up with the story idea.

Still, when a movie ad says, “From the mind of M. Night Shyamalan,” I expect something better.

The storyline isn’t terrible– five people in an elevator, and one of them is a killer. As one by one they die off, the number of possible identities of the killer decreases, but the conflict between those left alive intensifies.

A security guard watching the whole situation is reminded of a story he was told as a child about the devil, and how he comes into the world to take the lives of those who have sinned.

This storyline sets up for some pretty good character development, which I would say is one of the best aspects of the movie.

The background stories of each of the characters in the elevator are revealed in creative ways, and they aren’t entirely predictable. And since the characters are always a significant part of any film, I almost ended up liking this movie.

Almost.

But the one huge problem I couldn’t accept was the fact that it was a scary movie that wasn’t scary.

The setting really holds back the potential for frightening moments in this movie, and it ends up disappointing anyone looking for a good scare.

Pretty much the only tactic used to instill fear is to have the lights in the elevator start flickering and go out, which is when you hear a lot of random noises and the lights come back on with someone dead.

If it sounds scary, it’s only because your imagination did a much better job than this movie did.

The one and only scene that was actually scary is the climax/twist/revelation, which seemed pretty good, considering the overall movie.

But despite the somewhat chilling climax and decent character development, Devil is not worth the 80 minutes of life you’ll never get back.

wall street: money never sleeps: B

never thought that I would ever be able to accept Shia LaBeouf as anything other than his Even Stevens typecast character role. But throughout Oliver Stone’s sequel to the 1987 classic Wall Street, I found that LaBeouf surprisingly let go of most of his goofy acting stereotype to take on the role of a sophisticated stock broker in New York City.

Surrounding the economic uncertainty following the market crash of 2008, Wall Street: Money Never Sleeps starts up 23 years after the end of its prequel. Fast forwarding through the imprisonment of the infamous Gordon Gekko – played by the legendary actor Michael Douglas who received an Academy Award for his best acting role in the original Wall Street – the movie opens with Gordon’s daughter, Winnie (Carey Mulligan), and her boyfriend (LaBeouf).

Douglas’ performance was spectacular– and he portrayed the new levels of his character’s development with efficiency and graceful ease. The cast, however talented, was outshone; but not necessarily in a bad way. With a character like Gordon Gekko, being outperformed simply would not do.

However there were too many conflicting plot lines that complicated the story.

The audience has enough to think about while attempting to follow the career advancements of Jake– he started out as a stock broker, then transitions to being a partner in a billion-dollar company, all while working towards getting funding for a green energy project he believes will be tremendously successful.

But alongside this, viewers also have to process the broken father-daughter relationship between Gordon and Winnie, comprehend the complexities of the 2008 housing market crash, follow the advancements and setbacks of Jake and Winnie’s relationship, and acknowledge the multiple instances where corrupt, unethical businessmen take advantage of the ignorant and inexperienced.

It’s just a little too much to ingest in two hours and five minutes.

the social network: B+

avid Fincher’s The Social Network is a tale of glamour, greed and drama based on the story of Mark Zuckerberg, the founder of Facebook – which some of you may have heard of.

Mark is portrayed strongly by Jesse Eisenberg (Zombieland) and Eisenberg’s part is supported perfectly by Andrew Garflied as Marks’s roommate and Facebook co-founder Eduardo Saverin.

The film smoothly transitions the viewer from the early days when Facebook was a small, college-exclusive social network to the multibillion dollar fixture we know it as today.

The character development of Mark moves just as the growth of Facebook, as he faces both personal and legal tension stemming from the rampant success of his website and his transition from his Harvard days to a high-profile west coast lifestyle including the polarizing character of Napster founder Sean Parker (Justin Timberlake).

Jesse Eisenberg does a stellar job bringing Mark to life as a brilliant yet snide personality whose character commands the audience’s attention, but doesn’t expect their empathy.

The Social Network also finds strength in the fluid and precise pacing that takes the story back and forth between the legal battles Mark faces and flashbacks to the events that they stem from.

These transitions keep the tension fresh and exciting while avoiding any confusion for the viewer.

However, the show stealing performance is the tension-filled relationship between Mark and Eduardo.

While The Social Network used an unrealistic amount of partying, drugs and sex to fill in the gaps and stay entertaining for the viewer, the film still managed to successfully tell the story of Mark’s rise to become the worlds youngest billionaire – albeit with quite a bit of exaggeration and creative license.

Despite the fact that The Social Network is much more conventional than David Fincher’s previous works (Fight Club, Se7en, The Curious Case of Benjamin Button) it still succeeds as an immensely entertaining two hour trek through the life of one of the most interesting and influential human beings of our generation.

Page 20

October 2010

Movies.

warner bros. pictures

The Town

A-

warner bros, pictures

Touchstone PICTURES

You Again

B

Legend of the Guardians

In Theat ers

B+

The Social Network

COLUMBIA PICTURES

B

Wall Street

Money Never Sleeps

20th CENTURY FOX

C+

A

Devil

Universal