Nontraditional win at Sports-a-rama
The modern journal
Spring style G8-9
Innocence meets edginess with current trends
B1
C1
The junior class lands first place
Blog-writing is gaining popularity with students
The Granite Bay Gazette GRANITE BAY HIGH SCHOOL w 1 GRIZZLY WAY w GRANITE BAY, CA w 95746 w VOLUME 18 wISSUE 6 w FRIDAY, MARCH 7, 2014
Commentary
A dangerous flu season leads to concerns and questions about vaccines BY JENNA MCCARTHY
Flu mania
jmccarthy.gazette@gmail.com
On Tuesday, Jan. 21, Nancy Pinnella, a sales account manager at Sacramento’s News10, left work sick. On Jan. 25, she died of the H1N1 virus. According to the California Department of Public Health, 243 people have died from influenza in the state this season. More than 180 of these deaths were caused by H1N1, also called swine flu. Doctors and researchers are dividing the influenza virus into two subgroups: influenza A, which contains H1N1, and influenza B, a less-severe virus. According to Raquel Brekken, a physician at Kaiser Permanente, influenza A is much more prevalent. “Were seeing more of the influenza A,” Brekken said. “The (influenza) A is what’s causing the problem.” Brekken said this flu is circulating at high levels. For example, the Center for Disease Control reported that during one week in early February, 1,154 of 1,268 flu tests were The influenza indicative of InfluA is what’s enza A. She also said lack of causing the exposure has caused problem. low immunity to the virus. “People have little – Raquel Brekken, or no immunity to Kaiser Permanente H1N1,” Brekken said. physician Fortunately, there is a vaccination against the influenza A – however, Brekken listed several factors that might cause the vaccine to be ineffective. “Protection provided by the flu vaccine differs ,” Brekken said. “The response that our body has to the flu vaccine depends on our health in general. … It could’ve been that you were exposed to the flu before (being) vaccinated or you were exposed during the time it takes for the vaccination to provide adequate protection.” For some Granite Bay High School students, the flu shot has been an inadequate way to protect themselves from the virus. Sierra Putman, a senior at GBHS, was not allowed to get a flu shot.
alexa zogopoulos azogopoulos.gazette@gmail.com
Sex scandals: An American obsession
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hat makes up modern American culture? Is it the hamburger? Football? Keeping Up With the Kardashians? While all those items are key components to the stereotypical American lifestyle, I believe it’s time to address the elephant in the room, the concept that is so uniquely American, that we don’t even recognize it as being abnormal: our distrust for “adulterers.” In the past 50 years, the United States media has been rocked and wooed by sex scandals, particularly those involving politicians. Our interest in and disgust over these scandals has grown significantly since the 1990s, however. When Americans first learned about JFK’s affairs in the ’60s, they were shocked. Stories filled the papers, and we could never stop asking questions. But there was something different about that “scandal,” and the dozens of Presidential affairs that came before it, than those of former President Bill Clinton and former Congressman Anthony “Carlos Danger” Weiner. The difference is that we now perceive personal life activity to be representative of a person’s ability to lead. We will likely not elect someone with a public history of cheating on a partner, and for the Presidency, we are less likely to elect someone who’s been divorced (Ronald Reagan notwithstanding). Meanwhile, in other nations, while politicians are having just as much unmarital sex as in the U.S., there is almost no pressure on the individuals to resign. The media will address the issue, like with the President of France, but it will never get to a point where a politician is forced to resign. So, why is it that we care so much? Most will say it’s because if someone’s spouse can’t trust them, then neither can the entire nation. Promiscuity supposedly “says something” about one’s character in all other aspects of life. While this is a reasonable explanation, it falls apart when you consider how lackadaisical Americans were about sex scandals up until Clinton’s. We did not all collectively decide one day that we should have faith and trust in our leaders – in fact, trust in government was the biggest dilemma in the early days of our nation, while simultaneously we had a President, Thomas Jefferson, who raped his own slave. The true reason for our judgmental obsession with promiscuity is formed by our own lives. Before the 1960s, the nuclear family was the symbol of America. Then divorces began occurring much more frequently, and adultery was no longer accepted in a marriage. As Americans have watched their own families be torn apart, we’ve begun to long for that nuclear family. We need someone in office who exemplifies what we will never be – we want perfection and happiness. The only way for us to hold onto the glorious idea of marrying once and being happily in love forever with children, while divorce rates are rising, is to see it in our leaders. Because if they can’t perpetuate the “American dream,” then we might as well be hopeless for our own happiness. *** Alexa Zogopoulos, a senior, is a Gazette co-editor-in-chief.
Gazette photo illustration/CAITLYN HURLEY
See FLU, page A9
Deaths caused by two forms of influenza have been creating concerns in the Sacramento region
Untested and unprotected STD rate increases in both state and county among youth BY ALEXA ZOGOPOULOS
azogopoulos.gazette@gmail.com
According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, the average age that Americans first have sexual intercourse is 16. And while adolescents only account for about 20 percent of all sexually active Americans, they account for half of all sexually transmitted disease and infection cases annually. In Placer County, recorded cases of chlamydia increased 8 percent from 2011-2012, and gonorrhea
cases increased by a staggering 55 percent that same year. There is still much speculation about the reason for these increases, but nationwide studies suggest that American teenagers are less likely to get tested for STDs and STIs, and therefore are more likely to pass them on unknowingly. “I think what it really comes down to is education,” said Kathie Sinor, a Granite Bay High School health and safety teacher. “Our freshmen learn about the dangers of STDs, but I think that a lot of times they’re still uncomfortable
with it at that age,” Sinor said. “Then by the time they’re seniors and in some cases are having intercourse, they’ve forgotten exactly how high the risks are.” David Scates, an obstetrics and gynecology physician at Sutter, said that women under the age of 26 are recommended to be tested yearly for chlamydia in particular. Chlamydia, which is the most commonly reported STD in the United States and Placer County, often has no symptoms, which leads to it frequently going untreated. Many high school and college students fall into the pool of testing positive for chlamydia when they were not even suspicious of having the disease it at all.
“I got chlamydia and I found out a month after a pregnancy test at Planned Parenthood,” said a GBHS junior girl who asked to remain anonymous. “They sent a letter to my house and my parents opened it … it was totally shocking.” When discovered, many of the more common STDs like chlamydia and gonorrhea can be treated without much difficulty. “All bacterial STDs are treatable if detected,” Scates said. “But some are becoming drug resistant, viral STDs.” These diseases have mutated into being impervious to antibiotics and other medicines. “Herpes Simplex Virus (HSV) and Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) are not curable but can be managed,” Scates said.
BY THOMAS TAYLOR
ttaylor.gazette@gmail.com
Graduation is on every senior’s radar as the remainder of spring semester shortens and college admissions letters are in the mail. As the big day draws nearer, however, Granite Bay High School students are beginning to wonder about elements of the ceremony. Last year, questions were raised about how the graduation speaker was chosen. Three of the most popular teachers on the
GBHS campus – Karl Grubaugh, Jarrod Westberg and Brandon Dell’Orto – were removed from the graduation speaker ballot. Until last year, these three teachers had delivered every GBHS graduation speech except one. Dell’Orto has given the speech 12 times. These teachers teach classes for juniors and seniors and spend most of their time with upperclassmen – as a result, many of the favored freshman- and sophomore-year teachers get overlooked at graduation. “I know there’re a lot of people who would like to (give the graduation speech) and there’re a lot of people who would never want to do it in a million years,” said Dell’Orto, who teaches Advanced Placement U.S. History and International Baccalaureate History of the Americas. “It is different
Replacement for retiree will soon appear at GBHS
A3
Gazette illustration/THOMAS TAYLOR
Increase in gonorrhea rates in Placer County
Increase in syphilis rates in state of California
Class event becomes unintentionally exclusive BY COLLEEN VIVALDI
Hannah Davis The GBHS junior is co-planning the non-school sponsored junior “non-prom.”
cvivaldi.gazette@gmail.com
For the past three years, the junior prom debate at Granite Bay High School has played out in many different scenarios. Because the GBHS Student Government program no longer sponsors the event, individuals and groups of students have sought to independently host the classic and long-anticipated event. This year’s junior prom, commonly known as the “nonprom,” will take place on Sat., April 5 at the Blue Goose in Loomis. Hannah Davis, Lauren Jackson and their parents have collectively decided to take on the responsibility of the non-
See SPEAKERS, page A9
inside the Gazette news Substitutes fill in as nurses for GBHS
18%
Non-prom woes
Grad speaker controversy? Some GBHS seniors worry about having their votes count
See STD, page A7
55%
See NON-PROM, page A7
The ‘trippy sticks’ trend New, inconspicuous way of smoking pot is rising in popularity
A4
voices
True colors of pro sports culture
The negative publicity about potentially the first openly gay NFL player is hypocritical
A10
News
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Granite Bay Gazette
Friday w March 7, 2014
NAMES IN THE NEWS
New nurses fill in for December retiree
kristine khieu
kkhieu.gazette@gmail.com
Shave me baby, one more time
S
t. Baldrick’s happened during lunch today. All the money raised is going to an organization that promotes research for childhood cancer. Hopefully you came out to support Britney Spears. *** Granite Bay High School’s Emerald Brigade concert band hosted their annual Bandtastic event where local junior high school students are “strongly encouraged” to join. It was a night filled with wonder and excitement. Winter percussion performed a stellar show in their always stylish onesies and the concert band debuted the song they played at Carnegie Hall, “Word Salad.” All returning GBHS students had to sign up for classes for next year. HAH. You wish you were a senior! *** Zach Hall was the star of the show on Valentine’s Day for Senior Fifth Quarter. We got to see him act like a cheerleader and give pretend birth to a little baby boy. Thanks Zach and all the other hypnotized seniors for giving us a night that we will never, ever forget. *** Midterms are coming up on March 13 and 14. It’s time for freshmen to figure out how to give CPR to a baby. Hint: if it looks like you’re eating the baby, you’re doing it right. *** Even though Senior Ball is still about two months away, girls are already buying their dresses. Have you gotten a matching date yet? *** St. Patrick’s Day is on March 17. Make sure to wear green! If you don’t, someone might just find you, and they might kill ... I mean pinch you. *** Talent show rehearsals are on March 19 and the actual show is on March 21. Come out to support your classmates as they show off their “talents.” *** Many college acceptances come out in midMarch. Time to freak out, seniors? ***
Kristine Khieu, a senior, is a Gazette news editor.
CORRECTIONS Accuracy is perhaps the most important fundamental of good journalism. It's the policy of the Gazette to correct all factual errors that are brought to our attention. Email us 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
Substitute nurse Denise LaFazia, from Woodcreek High School, fills in at Granite Bay High School as they wait for a permanent school nurse.
Administrators, administrative assistants help sub-nurses until new hire begins work on campus BY SYDNEY KAHMANN
skahmann.gazette@gmail.com
In December, school nurse Linda Warfield retired after working at Granite Bay High School since the fall of 1996. Until a full-time nurse is hired, the nurses from four other Roseville Joint Union High School District schools – Woodcreek, Roseville, Oakmont and Antelope – are working at GBHS one day each week. On Wednesdays, when there is no substitute nurse, administrators take some of the roles of a nurse, with the administrative assistants near the attendance window taking care of smaller needs. “We go into mommy mode,” said Teri Keeney, athletics assistant. “We just care for the kids whenever they come in. Whatever their ailment is, we tend to it ... mommy nurse mode the best we can.” The administrative assistants help in ways like distributing Band-Aids, helping students with hangnails and applying ice,
outlined on the health forms, LaFazia said. One of these designated staff members is McNulty, who is frequently assigned on which, according to assistant principal Brian Wednesdays thanks to his EMT background. “I was an ocean lifeguard for more than McNulty, happens all the time. The four sub-nurses keep in contact with a few years,” McNulty said. “So we as each other throughout the school week, administrators fill in the gaps for the nurses giving a “little synopsis of what went on when they’re not here.” Although lacking in formal during the course of the nurse training, many GBHS day to do a little follow Whatever their staff members have basic up if there’s follow up skills. that needs to happen,” ailment is, we “I believe that everybody said Woodcreek nurse and tend to it ... mom- has to have their first aid the current Monday nurse, my nurse mode card, so to establish first aid Denise LaFazia. that’s not an issue,” McNulty The daily synopses the best we can. said, “It’s when the bigger and switching of nurses – Teri Keeney, GBHS things happen.” resemble the changing of When a nurse is absent athletics assistant nurse shifts in a hospital. and a larger health problem According to LaFazia, arises, a first aid-trained staff the ladies near the attenmember will likely be in the dance window know key students to look out for, and day-to-day things like prescription vicinity. “If, after that time, they need backup, we pill distribution is clearly outlined. will deal with it appropriately here as the “There are designated staff” who can emergency dictates or we will dial 911,” give students their prescription medication if there is no nurse on campus, as clearly McNulty said.
Gazette photo /EMILY WAGNER
The lack of a nurse was not for a lack of trying on the part of the administration. A new nurse was not found until recently because of a shortage resulting from the extensive training required from school nurses and because “schools aren’t the highest paying places,” for those from a very specialized healthcare field, according to McNulty. School nurses must be registered with the State of California and are required to complete additional training to earn a school nurse services credential. According to McNulty, a nurse for GBHS has been hired and will be working on campus soon. “To the best of my knowledge, not only is she hired, but we’re waiting for her to be cleared,” McNulty said. The new nurse is already a registered nurse, but with no school experience. This has contributed to the delay. “She’s also shadowing other school sites,” McNulty said. “She’s not from an educational background, yet even being a nurse she needed a specialized credential and needed to be trained up on what is expected from a school … nurse.”
Students run upcoming blood drive Substitute nurses and student government rush to recruit donors BY MARY-FRANCES HANSEN mfrances.gazette@gmail.com
Gazette photo /EMILY WAGNER
Nurses are in charge of making sure that potential donors meet weight and legal requirements.
Many schools in the area participate in Blood Drives to help fellow community members with operations or transfusions. The Granite Bay area alone needs more than 171 pints of blood per day for treatments, according to Cassidy Chiu, a senior at Granite Bay High School and head commissioner of the blood drive. GBHS puts on blood drives twice a year with the goal to get 200 participants to donate blood. The students in charge of this event try to make it one of the most memorable experiences possible. “My original idea was to bring a bunch of blankets for everyone because lots of people complain about how they get cold when they’re donating,” Chiu said. “I talked to … my Blood Source contact, and she said that we actually have to keep the donors at a certain temperature so they don’t feel faint and dizzy.” Since former GBHS nurse Linda Warfield retired in December, students and faculty are curious as to how the event will progress. “Student Government is pretty much
running (the blood drive) this year whereas Mrs. Warfield has always done it in the years past,” said Denise LaFazia, GBHS substitute nurse from Woodcreek High. Many students and faculty were concerned about not having a full-time nurse present on the day of the blood drive. Dayle Edgerton, a substitute nurse from Roseville and Adelante high schools, is going to take the place of Warfield on the day of the blood drive and make sure the students are eating and drinking before and after the process of giving blood. Even though Warfield will not be able to take part in the event, students are confident the blood drive will be a success with Edgerton. “It’s not really different because we are doing all the same stuff,” Chiu said. “It was mostly just different on my side for planning it.” For some, this might be the first time they are participating in a blood drive; however, for the nurses, this is just another blood drive. “At Woodcreek we have like four (blood drives) a year so I am … like the facilitator between student government and Blood Source,” LaFazia said.
Students looking forward to giving blood said they are excited about witnessing the event in action. “We (and the kids) have had great experiences with Blood Source, which will help them come back again and donate some more,” LaFazia said. On the day of the blood drive, the nurse will be checking if students ate the proper breakfast and are healthy enough to give blood. Students are required to weigh at least 110 pounds and be at least 16 years old, with parental permission for minors. “People need to eat a substantial breakfast,” Edgerton said. “They need a protein and a complex carbohydrate because it breaks down slowly and takes away blood sugar (which) makes people feel sleepy and dizzy … but GBHS has always been a high producer in terms of donations.” These nurses are thrilled to see students participating in such an event to help save someone’s life that they don’t even know. “I think it’s fabulous that they are able to donate and they want to be able to assist someone else for their treatment,” LaFazia said. “It’s actually a life-saving gift.”
Schools in district increase internet speed to keep up with demands New fiber optic cables will mean even faster video streaming BY AKASH KHOSLA
akhosla.gazette@gmail.com
___Granite Bay High School has one of the fastest internet speed rankings in the local area. However, the school’s internet bandwidth has to be shared across the entire Roseville Joint Union High School District. “When the bulletin is aired, most teachers (watch it) at the same time which uses up more bandwidth,” said Bradley Chee, a junior at GBHS who has an interest in technology. “Adding onto the video streaming are … schools in the other districts which have their own usage of the speed as well.” Most public school districts in
California are equipped with fiber optic connections, the fastest cable of choice that is usually extended into corporate and urban areas. However, Granite Bay has less access to higher speed internet than Roseville and Folsom. Cable and broadband companies have not extended the fiber optic cables to more residents. “There is actually quite a bit of fiber lines already installed around Granite Bay,” said David Zech, a senior at GBHS who’s also interested in technology. “If you walk down Eureka road near Greyhawk, you’ll see boxes and markers that indicate fiber optic lines; however, the fiber optic lines only lead up to my neighborhood, (and the)
wires to each individual house are copper.” Generally, fiber optic connections are at least 10 times faster than the average high-speed broadband connection. The internet speeds are typically measured in megabits per second and even gigabits per second. Even though GBHS was already on fiber optics, the district demanded the increase in internet speed, according to Jared Amalong, the technology instructor at GBHS. According to web content delivery network Akamai Technology’s latest internet report, the average internet speed in the US is about 7.4Mbps. While that might suffice for most households, the school
district has to split 100Mbps across eight different schools that total several thousands of students. “There also are some other performance (factors) to consider,” Amalong said. “Wired and wireless connections and their abilities to provide connection at higher speeds come into consideration.” Currently, the school is wired with regular Category 5 Ethernet cables which limit the speed to around 100Mbps. However, the switch to a Category 5e or Category 6 cable might provide a tenfold increase in speed. “The performance has certainly increased, but you won’t see a noticeable increase in Speedtest. net tests,” Amalong said. Wave Broadband and Surewest, Granite Bay’s dominant internet service providers, offer fiber optic
connections for all schools in the RJUHSD, but few residents pay for access to fiber optic speeds. “Coincidentally, Wave (Broadband) made the decision to increase their internet speeds around the same time (GBHS) got their free boost,” Chee said. “This probably was because of the increasing demand in the area along with planning to future-proof the ease of transferring more data faster.” It is not clear whether or not Wave had the capacity to increase at previous times. “As far as I know, the sudden increase from 50Mbit from Wave Broadband to up to 110Mbit was because of upgrades to their routers to be more powerful and efficient,” Zech said, “which ultimately allowed for faster internet for their users.”
Friday, March 7, 2014
News A3
w The Granite Bay Gazette
Gazette photo /KRISTINE KHIEU
Gazette file photo /GRACE MOORE
The Granite Bay High School jazz band, shown at left playing at Bandtastic, accompanied many members of the Emerald Brigade at right, to Carnegie Hall in New York last week.
Concert band performed at Carnegie Hall, again GBHS students made Word Salad in New York BY ZACK ZOLMER
zzolmer.gazette@gmail.com
___For the first time since 2007 and the second time in Granite Bay High School’s history, the GBHS Emerald Brigade Concert Band performed at the legendary Carnegie Hall in New York City. Members of the band met briefly at 2 a.m. on the morning of March 1, and boarded their 6:15 a.m. flight en route to New York, with their instruments and equipment on board. They returned Wednesday. Lynn Lewis has been the band director since 2005 and directed the Brigade to both appearances at Carnegie Hall. “It has meant a great deal to be lucky enough to
work with such talented musicians and watch them (each) grow up for four years,” Lewis said. “It truly is a dream job for me.” Lewis and band members attribute their success to a shared work ethic, a positive attitude and rigorously practicing before school hours. Senior Alex Rocca, the band’s president, has worked alongside Lewis to instill a positive atmosphere throughout the Brigade’s members. “I run all of the band leadership meetings where we talk about how to improve band and make things run more smoothly,” Rocca said. “We work to create a positive environment and we’ve implemented programs like student of the week to make everyone feel included and to reward hard work.” That hard work has translated directly into impres-
sive results. Members of the band feel they earned the opportunity to play at the most famous concert hall because of their performances in this year’s competitions. In their AAAA division, Granite Bay’s Emerald Brigade finished first in the Oakmont Field Show’s gold division, first at the WBA Logan Show and fourth at the WBA Championships in Clovis. Upon learning at the beginning of the year that they would have the opportunity to perform at Carnegie, Emerald Brigade members quickly came to realize the tremendous opportunity, Katie Davidson, senior drum major for the Emerald Brigade, being one of them. Davidson, who has been playing the clarinet since the fifth grade, believes she will never forget playing at Carnegie. “It is a great honor to be able to participate in this music festival,” Davidson said. “I know that every one
of us will cherish this moment for the rest of our lives.” Adding to the band’s honors, the Emerald Brigade was also the only band out of seven that was selected to have a piece commissioned to play at Carnegie by the Boston Composers Coalition. Rocca described the piece as atonal (non-melodic), written in a more modern notation style. Members of the Brigade gave it the name, “Word Salad.” Everyone who went to Carnegie Hall this month claimed it to be an incredibly fulfilling and rewarding experience. “It means the world to the members of the band to have (had) the opportunity to go to Carnegie Hall because it’s the most famous stage in the world,” Rocca said. “Many members of the band are huge fans of classical music, and many of the best musicians of our time have played there, so it’s great to (have) played on the same stage that they did.”
New cyber locks introduced to many rooms Controversial system might not be the key BY MAGGIE BELL mbell.gazette@gmail.com
Gazette photo /GRACE MOORE
The new keyless keys are $100 each and must be charged and reprogrammed regularly.
__In an attempt to keep Granite Bay High School’s facilities more secure, cyber locks have been installed in several places on campus after weekend hangout spots on campus have become potential liability issues. These include the main gym, the 500 building and the Palmer Center. Cyber lock keys are unique to normal keys. They much harder to pick, it is nearly impossible to make copies of the keys. They also record who enters and exits through the door at specific times. Cyber lock keys have been used in the district for approximately seven years, but they are new to GBHS. “There became a need for it here at Granite
NEWS briefs
ASB UPDATE Talent show promises variety and celebrities The Gazette talked to freshman Natalie Hatch about the talent show, which will be in the theater on March 21 at 7 p.m.
Gazette: What made Student Government decide to put on a talent show this year? Hatch: I think we just had always thought about having one, but we never really had, so I think they just chose this as a good year to start. Gazette: What should we expect? Hatch: I think you should expect a lot of variety of different acts, there will be celebrity judges there, and just (expect) a really good show. Gazette: By celebrity do you mean local celebrity? Hatch: Yeah, kind of like a local celebrity. We have Miles
Q A
Two seniors win local automotive challenge
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Burris, who is a football player from the Raiders (and GBHS graduate), we have Christopher K who is from 107.9 The End (radio station), and we have a few people from Good Day Sacramento. Gazette: What will be the reward for the winning group?
Gazette photo /SYDNEY KAHMANN
ASB member Natalie Hatch
Hatch: There will be a cash plans for upcoming GBHS events. prize, we don’t know how much it will be yet, but it should be something similar to new ideas into it to try to make it the best that it can be and to Lip Sync. start out strong. We’re going to try to involve the audience in Gazette: What is Student a voting process and try to get Government going to be working on to make sure the them to interact through Twitter, stuff like that. event is a success? Hatch: We’re putting a lot of
Bay in our athletic facilities,” said assistant principal Dave Vujovich. “They are helpful because they leave an electronic trail of who and when the doors were unlocked by.” When asked if the locks would spread to the rest of the school, Vujovich said they would only be put into place where they are needed to protect from theft or vandalism. So far, the people affected most have been P.E. teachers- using the gym and other athletic facilities daily for their classes, all the P.E. teachers have had to make the switch to the new key. “Now that the school has been around a while, there are definitely some copied keys out there for our facilities, and we want to address this issue and protect them.” PE teacher Angela Pozzi said. “I like the new system for the most part. They are really beneficial in that
now we know our equipment is safe. “My only problem has been when the key runs out of batteries and I have to charge it,” Pozzi said. “It took a little getting used to, but now that I have gotten it down, it’s not bad.” Though the keys protect equipment at GBHS, they could potentially be hazardous. Since cyber locks are built to stay locked under the worst conditions, in the event of a fire, there is a potential for disaster, according to deputy Joe Herrick. In the event of an emergency, the locks could prevent firefighters from stopping fires in locked rooms or rescuing people from locked rooms. “The keys also have to be charged every so often, and reprogrammed by the key administer.” Herrick said. “Drawbacks are, the keys are expensive and they are around $100 each for each key and another $500 for each lock besides.”
–Compiled by Sydney Kahmann
Seniors Austin Williams and Trevor Befort beat out other teams from Union High School and Orestimba High School to win the Top Tech Challenge, which took place on Feb. 8 at the Sacramento Campus of the Universal Technical Institute. To win, competitors mastered skills of automotive technicians: vehicle parts, diagnostics, brakes and electrical systems. In addition to their Granite Bay High School courses, Williams and Befort study with the Woodcreek 49er Regional Occupational Program. ROP Automotive Services/Automotive technology is one of many ROP programs designed to instruct careerfocused high school students. Their reward was a $1,000 scholarship for the winners to UTI, which specializes in automotive instruction. Both seniors plan to take advantage of these scholarships after graduation from high school. The ROP program was also given a large tool box and tools worth $10,000. Their ROP curriculum includes practice on how to diagnose, maintain and repair domestic and foreign automobiles and their diesel and industrial training taught students how to diagnose and repair malfunctions in mechanical and electrical systems on diesel engines and heavy equipment. They have also learned how to repair and refinish collision-damaged vehicles. –Compiled by Grace Moore
Special to the Gazette/ UNIVERSAL TECHNICAL INSTITUTE
Seniors Trevor Befort and Austin Williams won 10,000 dollars worth of tools for the Woodcreek High ROP program.
News A4
Friday, March 7, 2014
Trippy sticks takeover
New smoking technology at Granite Bay High School allows students to smoke on campus discreetly.
Students find new way of consuming marijuana BY MAKENZIE BRITO
mbrito.gazette@gmail.com
Vaporizer pens, a new trend among smokers, vaporize the active ingredients in marijuana and make smoking as easy as pushing a button and inhaling. This newer method has enabled users to be much more discrete about their actions and smoke in unexpected places – like on high school campuses, including at Granite Bay High. “Trippy sticks” and other vaporizer pens are extremely easy to obtain, another factor that adds to their popularity. “I don’t think it has become more popular than other forms of smoking, but they are definitely increasing in popularity,” said a GBHS senior boy who asked to remain anonymous. Numerous students at GBHS have turned to vaporizers as their method of choice for smoking. “I have one and some of my friends have one,” the GBHS senior said. “I got it because of how easy it is to use, how fast it is, and of course how sly it is.” Without the smoke and smell factors, it is much easier for anyone using a vaporizer pen to quickly take a puff without being noticed. As a result, some students at GBHS have taken to smoking at school whenever the chances of being seen are low. “Whenever I’ve used it on campus, it’s been during a class period – typically just anywhere that no one will be able to see me,” said the GBHS senior, who explained he occasionally slips out of a classroom to imbibe, but has also smoked in class when it’s not obvious – during a
movie, for example. Smoking on campus risks numerous school-related as well as legal consequences. “It is a misdemeanor to have marijuana on campus, so that’s something you could be arrested for – and suspension is a factor as well,” said Joe Herrick, the GBHS school resource officer and a Placer County deputy sheriff. Although these consequences are known, as far as the perpetrators are concerned, the chances of getting caught are slim. “I would definitely argue that the school would never be able to catch me because of how discrete it is,” the senior said, “but because of the consequences, it’s something I have to be careful about.” Herrick agreed that vaporizers make smoking easier to hide, because they omit the acrid smell of marijuana smoke. And he said he is well aware of students occasionally doing this on campus, and he’s trying to take steps to keep it from happening. “I don’t think it happens a whole lot,” Herrick said. “But I do go around and check the bathrooms, and the campus monitors do this as well.” The senior GBHS boy agreed that consumption of marijuana by vaporizer is still fairly rare. “Smoking at school is definitely something that has occurred,” he said, “but I would say it’s not a (regular) occurrence.” In addition to the possible legal and school discipline consequences, there are also possible negative health effects.
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“Perception, mood, short- and longterm memory, coordination, problem solving and learning are all affected (by marijuana),” health and safety teacher Terry Stafford said. These effects can be quite significant, especially when a student is smoking during or between classes. “THC causes lack of focus and creates a tunnel vision where you aren’t fully aware of your surroundings,” Stafford said. “This can keep you from being present in your learning environment.” Cancer-causing carcinogens present in cigarettes are present in marijuana as well, although in much-smaller quantities. A form of marijuana that has grown in popularity since the emergence of vaporizer pens and “trippy sticks” is wax. Wax is a concentrated form of marijuana that contains 50 to 60 percent more THC than marijuana in plant form.
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“For the first time ever, because the levels of THC have risen so much in marijuana, it is now possible to become physically addicted to the drug,” Stafford said. “This wasn’t possible until about a year ago, so that’s huge.” Although higher levels of THC pose greater health concerns, students and smokers view this as simply a “better high.” But, Stafford said, it’s not that simple – which makes vaporizers a growing public-health risk. “As THC levels continue to rise,” Stafford said, “it poses a greater problem, so we really have to be careful.”
National Honor Society chapter opens at GBHS Organization enjoys a successful first year BY JENNA MCCARTHY
jmccarthy.gazette@gmail.com
Last fall, Granite Bay High School established its first National Honor Society chapter. NHS, a well-known historic organization with chapters across the nation, recognizes exceptional students in addition to undertaking projects to better campuses and communities. GBHS English teacher Bonnie Ireland founded the chapter last fall. “My goal in establishing a chapter here was to create an avenue through which staff could recognize the total student – recognize them for their concurrent successes in the areas of scholarship, leadership, service and character – and then challenge such students to become leaders through service,” Ireland said in an email. A large part of the NHS focus is on community and campus service projects. Ireland shared some of her
ideas and hopes for the chapter involvement in this way. “It is so easy for students, and humans, to get lost in the ‘must do’s’ of life or solely to focus on what will serve as stepping stones on their aimed pathways,” Ireland said. “I hope that NHS will not only reward those students who take the time to stop, observe the needs of those who surround them, and respond with time and care, but I too hope that NHS will create opportunities for such service for our student population as a whole.” As NHS moves into its second semester at GBHS, it’s beginning to make headway on several specific projects. GBHS junior and NHS president Sumana Kaluvai said fundraising is the current priority in order to make possible future events. “This school year, our main goal is to raise enough money for us to host (a movie night),” Kaluvai said. “After the movie night our profits will go toward expanding our school tutoring program in addition to our school culture and diversity program.” Kaluvai also described further fundraising plans for the organization.
“The main way we’re fundraising is hosting a SportsA-Rama snack-bar alongside a lot of restaurant fundraisers and raffles,” Kaluvai said. “We’re also having Day at the Bay fundraisers and selling flowers at dance shows.” Junior and NHS vice president Annina Hanlon described how the chapter plans to enhance the campus. “The project that we are working on right now … is raising money to fund a project to enhance school culture and to help fund programs such as peer tutoring,” Hanlon said. Although NHS is working to make an impact on school culture and unity, it’s still a relatively new and somewhat unknown club. Kaluvai said a primary objective is to alleviate this by promoting school-wide awareness. “I definitely want to see NHS expand by getting our name around campus,” Kaluvai said. “I want to ensure we present ourselves at as many events as possible. I want our name to be known.” In efforts to expand the organization, NHS recently held another round of applications and nearly doubled in size. Junior Sona Jeswani was recently selected to be a
part of the chapter. “I wanted to get involved in something bigger than myself and meet people who share common interests,” Jeswani said. “I like the fact that the selection process is holistic and evaluates every aspect of a person rather than just their grades.” Like Hanlon and Kaluvai, Jeswani also said she is excited about the upcoming projects. “I would like to see us … help out the school and make a difference in our community,” Jeswani said. “We have started community service projects and I think they are a great way for us to get involved…” Megan Miller, a sophomore, shares the enthusiasm about NHS. “It’s a great program to be in … (to) help improve the campus,” Miller said. Vice president Hanlon further emphasized the effect NHS could have on the campus. “(NHS) … is a club that has the potential to make a real difference on campus and in our community and that is something that I think is really important,” Hanlon said. “When you have a group of talented, hardworking, intelligent individuals come together such as in NHS, you can make a huge impact.”
Students skeptical about detention’s effectiveness Students and staff discuss push to improve attendance, limit tardies BY JACQUELINE GORDON jgordon.gazette@gmail.com
“Dear Mr. Vernon: We accept the fact that we had to sacrifice a whole Saturday in detention for whatever it was we did wrong. What we did was wrong. But we think you’re crazy to make us write an essay telling you who we think we are.” *** And so begins one of the most celebrated chronicles of adolescence and teenage rebellion – the story of how a most unlikely group of acquaintances united under the cruel and unusual Saturday school, the brainchild of their tyrannical assistant principal. But while members of The Breakfast Club are the epitome of “raging against the machine,” detention at Granite Bay High School is not quite the grand affair. Prior to November, no detention policy existed at Granite Bay High. Offenses either resulted in warnings, parent calls,
work service or, in more serious cases, suspensions. Sybil Healy, GBHS assistant principal, spearheaded the enforcement of a detention policy. “We’d never had a detention policy,” Healy said. “There was only work service at this site. All the other schools in the district have detention or Saturday school except for Granite Bay.” The policy, Healy said, was primarily prompted by poor first-period attendance. “And it’s also for other minor infractions, too,” Healy said. “It could be dress code, it could be ... profanity directed at someone. Anything in that realm could be assigned detention.” The detention policy is plain and simple: “Detention is assigned Tuesday through Friday right now … from 2:45 to 3:45,” Healy Said. “You can’t be late. … You can do homework quietly but there’s no talking, there’s no eating and there’s no
sleeping. … You’re not excused from detention because of work-related issues or athletics, so you better show up.” The school has not yet given suspensions for missing assigned detentions, but that policy is being instated soon. “Eventually, we’ll probably just go to two days ... because right now we don’t have a lot of students going on Fridays because they’re missing, and those are kids that are getting ready to be suspended,” Healy said. One hundred students were assigned detention in the first round. Healy said the number of students in detention hasn’t changed as much as the students in detention. “We get different people now,” Healy said. “Typically (the number of students in detention) doesn’t necessarily decline. Students who are usually in detention have issues with grades, issues with behavior. They are the ones who get (detention) repeatedly, then we start suspending and having parent conferences and things like that.” Currently, the main reason for students being assigned detention is tardies, par-
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ticularly under senior conduct. “Next year we’re hopefully going to include student conduct, so it’s not just seniors, it’s all students.” Healy said. “So if you’re on student conduct and you have tardies etc. ... then (if you’re an athlete) you do not play that entire week, whether there’s a game or not or just practice, you’re excluded. It’s up to the principal then to allow you to participate in sports at Granite Bay or not, since you can’t seem to get to school on time.” All other schools in the region enforce some kind of detention policy. Roseville and Del Oro both enforce the stereotypical, Breakfast Club variety of detention, Saturday school. Rocklin and Oakmont, however, both have a policy similar to Granite Bay’s. “(It’s) just an hour of ‘You screwed up, now here it goes,’” said Jarrod Westberg, who supervises detention two days per week. Westberg said the detention policy is helping to cut down on the tardies. “We’ve never had this before. ... (but) I think it has (been effective) because I’ve had some students in here that ... I haven’t
Brandon Fasy Fasy is a repeat detention attender and sees the program as necessary
seen since,” Westberg said. “There are some I’ve seen consistently, but that’s to be expected from some students. ... A lot of students seem to have served their time and it won’t happen anymore.” Students, it seems, have not met the new policy with any particular contempt. “I got (detention) for missing a detention, which I initially got for being late,” senior Brandon Fasy said. “I think that a system that incorporates punishment for breaking the rules at schools is obviously necessary, and in some cases ideal. Regarding its effectiveness, I don’t know. I’m not sure how many people actually attend or if they are repeated offenders and whatnot, but I think it’s needed.”
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Right to bear arms on campus is complicated
Teachers, others wouldn’t approve of concealing weapons BY JACQUELINE GORDON jgordon.gazette@gmail.com
Placer County deputy sheriff Joe Herrick is the school resource officer on campus at Granite Bay High School and the only member of the staff who carries a gun. “I’m basically here for the safety and security of the students and staff,” Herrick said. “I follow up on any crimes that happen in and around campus or involves our students.” Herrick has been assigned to GBHS for eight years, but prior to that, he worked in a prison facility and drove a sheriff’s car. “There (are) different thoughts (on arming teachers and administrators),” Herrick said. “Here in the United States we have the Second Amendment that guarantees the right to bear arms. But you don’t have the right to bear arms on a campus. There are laws that say you can’t (have a gun) within a thousand feet of the school safety zone.” Law enforcement officers and people with special permits are exempt from this rule. “There are also people that have concealed weapons permits,” Herrick said. “Those permits are issued by the chief of police or the sheriff of the county that you’re living in.” While none of the teachers at GBHS possess one of these permits, there are other schools considering the option of arming more teachers.
“Some counties are stricter than others,” Herrick said. “Certain states are stricter than other states, this being one of the stricter states.” Some states even go as far as to allow any lawabiding citizen to carry a concealed guns. In Placer County, the requirement to gain a concealed weapons permit is proof of proficiency, and a qualifying test must be taken regularly. According to Herrick, teachers tend to meet the idea of being armed during class with a fair amount of discomfort. “The problem is that you have people go into education to teach people,” Herrick said. “They don’t want to be armed security guards.” Several ramifications come about from the suggestion of arming teachers. “One, how do you tell someone to teach and carry a gun at the same time?” Herrick said. For some teachers, being asked to carry a gun would be in conflict with their moral beliefs. “Some people are against guns at schools,” Herrick said. “Some people are against (all) guns.” And then there’s the issue of training teachers to be proficient with their guns. “I shoot my gun all the time because it’s required by the department,” Herrick said. “(So) how are people at the school (with almost no practice) going to be proficient?” Asking high school staff to carry guns not only presents the possibility of discomfort for the teachers, but it also introduces an expense for the district. “Are you going to pay (teachers) for that time to become proficient?” Herrick said. “I’m paid to go to the shooting range. (The district) gives me the bullets. Bullets are really expensive right now.” Teachers would also need to be trained in proper
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handling in both on and off campus capacity. “You have to secure your gun,” Herrick said, “ and … not just (at school, but also) … at home. You go home at the end of the day, you have family members, you have kids, you need to lock it up (and) you have to put it somewhere (where) people aren’t going to get ahold of it.” But despite the complications of the prospect of arming more teachers and administrators, having an officer with a gun on campus is proven to deter threats, according to the National Crime Prevention Council. “My personal opinion, not with the sheriff’s department, is (that) if you are a law-abiding citizen and you wanted to go that extra mile to get a concealed weapons permit and you qualify, well heck, you should be armed, because it is a deterrent and it is a right given to you by the constitution,” Herrick said. Since the recent bomb threats on campus, many teachers and administrators have taken action against the previously weak security protocols. “There are measures being put in place safetywise that we are trying to move toward,” said Jillyan McKinney, a history and social psychology teacher. “We’re trying to, as a staff, become more prepared to face those uncertainties.” McKinney, like many other teachers, is uncomfortable with the idea of arming more school staff. “I don’t know if that would create a sense of security,” McKinney said. “I think it would ultimately look more like a police state. That’s not something I would feel comfortable with.” Prior to coming to GBHS, McKinney was in a situation in which there was a gunman near her school. “There was a gunman floating through the neighborhood where the school was,” McKinney said. “It was the scariest situation I have been in so far as
a teacher because I felt completely helpless and I had no control over what was happening. I was also eight months pregnant. When it’s not just about you (but also) about another person, you become very aware of how much control you do not have.” After the incident, McKinney began heavily researching how to make her classroom as safe as possible were something like this to happen again. “Experts will say there’s the fight or flight (response),” McKinney said. “If they’re in your classroom, the … option is to engage the person and hope you can take them down. If they’re somewhere else, you might try to get away.” At the administrative level, assistant principal Sybil Healy is in charge of issues regarding student safety. She recently attended Homeland Security active shooter training. All GBHS staff also attended protocol training back in December. “My goal (was) to gather info on updating (the) GBHS crisis response plan,” Healy said in an email interview. “We have several gaps in how we conduct drills – fire, lockdown, evacuation, etc.” Healy said the school is implementing multiple new security measures to ensure campus safety. “One thing I and campus monitors are doing is monitoring/securing our front gates, (increasing) security for (people) checking in and out of school,” Healy said. Healy also conducted a threat assessment with an agency outside the school. “Safety maps have been updated, safety binders are in the process of being updated as well,” Healy said.“(Any) officers assigned to our site (are) armed. But we do not have permission or (the) required training to randomly arm staff. That in itself has dangerous implications.”
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STD: Gonorrhea, chlamydia among most easily-spread STDs for teens
Continued from page A1
Fortunately for the large number of Americans with chlamydia, that particular disease has yet to fall into the drug-resistant category. “Treatment for chlamydia is surprisingly easy,” said the senior GBHS girl. “You go in and it costs around $10, they give you one antibiotic pill that gets rid of the whole thing.” But with limited knowledge about the truth of STDs and their high rates of contraction, people often negatively stereotype those with them or who’ve had these diseases in the past. “Most people think that STDs are dirty and only by being overly promiscuous will you get them,” the senior girl said. “But you can contract an STD while using most forms of protection.” Sinor said she believes GBHS needs some other course for seniors that includes education on the ease
of contracting STDs, through all forms of sex. “What a lot of people don’t realize is that while rates of unprotected intercourse are decreasing, rates of unprotected anal and oral sex are increasing,” Sinor said. “It’s a cultural shift that I think started with the movie American Pie where this was all first glamorized but not done with protection.” Although most students are aware of the need to have protected intercourse, many do not consider the repercussions that can come from oral sex in particular. An anonymous senior boy who contracted herpes from oral sex said that he wished his partner was more open about their sexual history so he would’ve been more cautious. “I got tested because my mom made me,” the boy said. “I didn’t think I would show up positive for anything, but I ended up having herpes.” Although it was not a difficult recovery, the boy said he is now much more self-conscious and unwilling to tell
people about his contraction of a sexually transmitted disease for fear of being mocked or avoided. “I was lucky enough to have had not too difficult of treatment at all … but it’s still embarrassing,” he boy said. For the junior girl, her experience with having chlamydia is not one she wants to cover up. She said she thinks it’s very important for possible partners to be aware. “I’ve been fairly open about this,” the girl said. “None of my partners have been too worried about it since I’ve been cleared for over six months.” Luckily, the STDs with the highest rates of contraction, including gonorrhea, chlamydia and syphilis, can all be tested for at a physician’s office, local STD-testing clinics and Planned Parenthood for women. “Gonorrhea and chlamydia are easy to screen for, usually with urine tests,” Scates said. “Our recommendations are to screen for all STDs when (a) patient
has a new partner.” Prevention of STDs can be simple for the more common and less severe diseases and infections. However, the more serious and detrimental diseases are often not 100 percent preventable. “Condoms have proven effective if used correctly in preventing gonorrhea and chlamydia, (but) HPV can still be easily transmitted,” Scates said. “But there are four vaccines available for HPV.” The Center for Disease Control and Prevention reports that one in four sexually-active American teenagers have some STI or STD. With a 25 percent chance, Sinor said the only truly safe option, in her opinion, is abstinence. “If you ask me, those odds are too high,” Sinor said. “I wouldn’t risk it.”
NON-PROM: Less than half of juniors will be available to attend dance Continued from page A1
Junior Prom. “Last year, Jamie Higgins was in charge and I went to it and I had so much fun that I wanted our class to have one too,” Davis said. “My mom asked who was planning next year’s and nobody had said anything, so she said I could.” With much thought, the prompted theme for the prom is Footlooseinspired. “After seeing the new Footloose, I had wanted a dance to look like that ever since,” Davis said, “The event center is a big barn with twinkling light, wood floors … and the decorations (will be) really formal with flowers and mason jars.” Although many juniors are looking forward to the event, most of them will not be able to attend. The class of 2015 has 551 students in its class, and according to fire codes and the capacity guidelines for the Blue Goose, only 200 people are able to attend this event. There has much controversy over how every student in the class will be able to attend since a majority of the class will not be able to obtain tickets – presenting an exclusive atmosphere in some people’s eyes. “I personally think that more
than 200 people should be able to attend, given that our class is over 500 people,” junior Emily Torris said, “I think that some positives are that we will get to hang out with our friends, but for next year’s juniors, they should try to get a bigger venue for more people.” The 2014 prom venue and ticket volume is capped at 200 based on the number of students who attended the event in 2013. “We kind of went off last year’s number, (which) was only half their class, so we decided to base it off that,” Jackson said. On a positive note, many of students at GBHS are supportive of the dance’s theme. Junior Annie Wright is looking forward to the event in April and said the theme is very creative. “It’s another formal dance where the girls can get dressed up and wear a longer dress at another fun night like Winter Ball,” Wright said, “I really like the theme this year, and I am really looking forward to it if I get to go.” Ticket sales will be held directly after the GBHS school day ends at Ron Feist Park on March 5-8. “Ticket sales are first-come firstserved, and we only sell them for three days,” Jackson said.
Another apprehension among juniors recently has been having their dates be from other classes and/or from other schools. Junior Sabrina Keester plans on bringing her senior boyfriend as her date for the upcoming spring prom. “Since I am going with a senior, I think the limited ticket issue gets a little sensitive because I don’t want to take some other junior’s spot away from them,” Keester said. For students who have the desire to have dates from schools other than GBHS, there is certain protocol for allowing a ticket to be allotted. “Guest bids are allowed,” Davis said. “Students need to bring the other student’s ID card to verify
they are in high school. We hope that students will honestly only bring their boyfriend or girlfriend from another school and not just a friend (because) the spots are limited.” Beyond the scope of the theme, location and ticket sales, the fact that junior prom is titled “nonprom” and is not a school sponsored event, adds another factor to the prom experience. Student Government does not fund nor sponsor the event, so that is precisely why the affair is occurring off-campus and is being handled by Davis and Jackson. Student Government junior Emily Nagel said GBHS ceased putting on the event because of the loss of
funds that past junior classes experienced – hence the title, “non-prom.” “Student Government has chosen not to sponsor junior prom the past couple of years because we were losing money on kids not attending,” Nagel said. After the school cut ties with junior prom, the private prom idea came to life. “We just feel like kids want more freedom at a dance, and since we can’t really have the dance off campus for junior prom, unlike senior ball, we just found that it is better to let kids do what they want off campus and have our class save money,” Nagel said. With greater freedom, Jackson and Davis hope that the class saves
money and that students who attend will have a noteworthy time – even if the process of privately hosting the occasion varies from year to year. “We just picked something neutral that everybody would want to go to, and we did not want it to be too (much of a theme),” Jackson said. Personal time and investments have gone into prom as it does every year. “My family has already invested our money into the event center, photographer and decorations,” Davis said, “Basically, with each ticket, it refunds us for everything and all extra money will be put in a special account for senior events next year.”
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SPEAKERS: Senior class hopes to choose teachers for grad speeches Continued from page A1
speaking in front of a crowd of 2,000, not your class of 40.” Dell’Orto admits that writing these speeches is a lot of work. In recent years he has taken to not even writing the final draft down, simply rehearsing what he would like to say on his morning jogs. He said this type of speech-giving is more akin to how he delivers his lessons in class. As one of the favored three that have given speeches to many senior classes, Dell’Orto finds it difficult to say no to the seniors’ demands. “I’ve always been torn, I’m always honored, I always feel a little like, ‘Gosh, why didn’t I turn it down?’ but if I turn it down, why didn’t I turn it down for other
classes? … so it has that weirdness,” he said. Last year, however, the honor was not even available to the three teacher speakers still on campus. The three names were removed from the ballot without the input of the senior class. When seniors had a chance to vote for who they wanted to speak, things went sideways for seniors, said Dell’Orto. “It’s never stopped being an honor for me,” Dell’Orto said. “It is cool that the kids either respect you enough as a teacher or like what you were teaching or believe you have the ability to say something they want to hear right before they leave. … It has always been an honor … but I’ve said before, if I’m only winning by two votes, or five votes or 10 votes, then maybe offer it to the next person first.” Student ASB president CJ Stone is eager to move past
last year’s graduation speech problems. Stone said he is very interested in having his favorite teachers represented at graduation. “I see both sides of it because you want the teachers to speak, but looking at the teachers’ side, you have to write a 25-minute speech and that’s a long speech,” Stone said. “On top of that, a lot of teachers want to speak at graduation, but Westberg and Grubaugh have the most seniors in their classes.” Last year, the seniors felt they got “screwed,” Stone said. But he is hopeful that communication will be better with the class of 2014. “This year’s going to be a little different because normally the seniors have senior meetings due to STAR testing,” Stone said, “we have to actually come to school and talk about graduation and sober grad night and
things like that, mostly just fun stuff. In those meetings we will decide who gets to do grad speeches.” Senior class president Audrey Tate stands by Stone, saying that every event is unique for the class going through it, but it’s been seen before by the administration and staff. Just because they have seen 18 graduations and countless speeches does not mean it’s any less special for this year’s graduating class. “Every year we give our seniors the opportunity to have a say in who they want to speak at graduation,” Tate said. “Every student interacts with our staff members differently, and some connect with certain teachers more than others. … Whatever the votes turn out to be, I think on behalf of the senior class, it’s important to listen to those numbers despite the frequency of (some) staff speakers.”
FLU: Unvaccinated people now highly susceptible to current influenza Continued from page A1
“My dad … is a chiropractor … and they learn that flu shots are detrimental to your body,” Putman said. “(He) doesn’t think they work.” Putman wasn’t vaccinated ... and she contracted the flu. “I was out for … two weeks,” she said. “It was not fun.” Like Putman, junior Amanda
Gordon also became severely ill. But in Gordon’s case, she had a flu shot before her illness. “I got a flu shot mid-January,” Gordon said. “I don’t know if it’s related to the flu shot. … I was sick for a week, but the doctor said it wasn’t the flu. Then I got … a bad cold and now I have a terrible cough.” Gordon explained that she’s not entirely convinced the flu shot is
effective. “My twin sister who I do everything with, and is exposed to all the same germs, did not get the flu shot and has been perfectly healthy this entire flu season,” Gordon said. Lori Goldman, mother of junior Kristen Goldman, was administered a flu shot because of her recent diagnosis of cancer. “I always try to get (a flu shot),” Goldman said. “But this year it was
more important because I wasn’t sure if I was going to have chemotherapy or radiation therapy, which would’ve weakened my immune system.” Unlike Putman and Gordon, however, Goldman’s flu shot was effective and protected her from influenza A. Dayle Edgerton, who works as a nurse at Granite Bay, Roseville and Adelante high schools, said she’s
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seen a large number of cases of influenza. “This time of year we tend to see a lot of kids (with the flu),” Edgerton said. “I think the problem this year is that it’s a combination of two things – a sore throat and headache with no temperature, or a stomach ache that comes on suddenly.” Edgerton said part of the prominence of influenza this year is how much it’s spreading between stu-
dents. She stressed the need for students to take precautions when they’re interacting with each other. “What really helps is to wash our hands and do not share saliva in any form – no food, no drinks, no cigarettes, no lipstick, no kissing – that’s it,” Edgerton said. “It’s hard for this age, because (at) this age, (it) tends to be a social norm to share things … and then it goes like wildfire.”
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GRANITE BAY HIGH SCHOOL 1 GRIZZLY WAY GRANITE BAY, CA 95746
Commentary
Editors-in-Chief: Caitlyn Hurley Sydney Kahmann Kiana Okhovat Alexa Zogopoulos News Editors: Kristine Khieu Grace Moore Voices Editors: Haley Byam Nicolas Ontiveros
Green Screen Editors: Austin Alcaine Tamren Johnk Colleen Vivaldi Brian Zhuang Sports Editors: Parker Burman Kevin Burns Zack Zolmer Social Media Editor: Kiana Okhovat Online Editors: Makenzie Brito Caitlyn Hurley Thomas Taylor Illustrators: Austin Alcaine Thomas Taylor Brian Zhuang Photographers: Luke Chirbas Grace Moore Staff Writers: Maggie Bell Steven Gerisch Brendan Gonzalez Jacqueline Gordon Mary-Frances Hansen Treasa Mairead Hayes Jenna McCarthy Katherine McGrail Caroline Palmer Emily Wagner Dante Weeks
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.
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Friday Night Rights
GAZETTE The Granite Bay
Lifestyle Editors: Meredith Dechert Akash Khosla Willow Wood
A Section
caitlyn hurley
churley.gazette@gmail.com
M
ichael Sam is a 6-foot-2-inch and 261-pound defensive end All American who was named the Southeastern Conference Defensive Play of the Year during his senior year in college. Sam is the seventh of eight children, and was the first person in his family to go to college. He studied at University of Missouri where he played football for the Tigers. On Feb. 9, Michael Sam announced during an interview on ESPN that he is openly gay. He originally came out to his teammates in early August, and he was openly accepted. His teammates heeded his request to discreetly regard his sexuality until he was completely comfortable to come out to the public. Sam is the third player in National Collegiate Athletic Association Division 1 to openly come out. He was predicted to be a promising pick in the National Football League draft on May 8, but according to a recent article in
Sports Illustrated, sexual assault. They are also many managers of OK with having players who NFL teams believe his scream the “N” word at condraft prospects will certs and who kill dogs and drop because of the then bury them in their yard. “recent revelation.” Any off-the-field problem If Sam were to be or crimes that are committed drafted, he would be by problematic players seem the first openly gay to be shrugged off by the player in the NFL. NFL, but having someone Sam was named the who is openly gay? No way. Weaknesses Strengths Position Name Southeastern ConferMichael Sam – maybe if ence Co-Defensive you serve a couple years in Do� fi�h��n� �B Mi�h��� Vi�� player of the year in prison you will be worthy to �B R�� L��i� A��es�e� f�� ��r��r� 2013, making him the be a first-round draft pick. best defensive player The NFL can forgive play�B O.J. S��ps�� A��e� r������ in the best conference ers who are accused of rape WR D�n�� St���w��� V��i��l�� m�n�l�u�h��� in college football. and murder, but it can’t seem It’s as though to forgive a player who is WR R���� Co���� Ra�is� sexual orientation has gay. �B L����n�� T��l�� Coc���� �n� r��� nothing to do with The management of the natural athleticism. NFL shouldn’t care about I��eg�� po�e�i�� � � ��e��� WR Pl��ic� B���es� It makes my heart Sam’s sexuality; they should �B Ad�� “Pa�-M��” J��e� A�s��lt� s������r� hurt to know that care if he can play, and that this amazing football man can play. One would DE Mi�h��� S�� G�� player could potenhope the league would look tially lose a chance past any so-called “distracto play professional tions” that his sexuality might football because of cause. his sexuality. Sam has I hope the NFL general proven himself to be managers realize how stupid a hardworking player they are being before the draft during his four years in May. A player who has a at Mizzou where he clean criminal record but is Gazette illustration/THOMAS TAYLOR had a large influence attracted to men shouldn’t having gay players on a professional in a majority of their victories. have his NFL career terminated before football team. But apparently that doesn’t matter to it begins. But professional football teams are the NFL. According to the same Sports *** more than OK with having players who Illustrated article, teams don’t want the Caitlyn Hurley, a senior, is a are convicted of DUI manslaughter, alleged controversy that comes with Gazette co-editor-in-chief. obstruction of justice, murder and
Mental health education is overlooked Suicide prevention is more important than Algebra
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ground. tressed, depressed but well Commentary These things exist, they are not fun and dressed. This is a slogan I they are not cool. I believe that if we were have seen on a shirt on camto educate students on mental health, this pus; trendy, maybe, but completely disgusting trendiness of mental disorders out of line. would end. I am not writing to bash on While I know that in a simple few words people’s personal fashion choices, I cannot change how the education system but I think that a simple article of works, there are people out there who are clothing like that can represent a trying to provide comprehensive education much larger problem. on mental health that is outside the classMental health education has never room. been a part of high school education, For instance, Kati Morton is a young with the exception of a psychology marriage and family therapist who posts course or possibly a small mention wwood.gazette@gmail.com videos every week with a new topic. of it in a health class. Some of these videos are centered on how to cope This used to lead to stigmas against people with with certain aspects or disorders, and others are just these disorders, and while that still occurs today, information on disorders in general. a much bigger problem seems to have arisen with This sort of education is phenomenal, because she young people. is trying to reach out to the public and show them that There seems to be a trendiness in being mentally these disorders are real and not a joke, and that they unstable, as if it’s some sort of fashion accessory you are not something to show off. get to put on in the morning. Morton is working to reverse the stigma of mental As if having depression or taking medication somedisorders as well as the trend of making light of these how makes you better, because it’s obviously a status disorders, and just with a few videos a week. symbol. While I know I might find myself in the minority, But there are people on this campus who do take being interested in these videos, but I believe this sort medication and who do go to therapy and who have been in a psychiatric ward, and those people will very of education is something that needs to be integrated rarely tell you how cool it is or how they love it when into our campus. Granite Bay High School has lost some students people see cuts on their body. to suicide and countless others have attempted or This isn’t just some passing phase, this is a stigma thought about it, but when the school is notified of reversed, and it all comes back to the same thing: this, they stand idly by. education. We don’t need just grief counseling for affected stuMaybe some students don’t understand what dedents – what we need is for people to understand why pression is,what it means to be truly anxious or what someone would be led to suicide and what is going it’s like to have a flashback so painful you fall to the
willow wood
on in that person’s mind and how someone can help if they exhibit any signs. And it’s not just a pamphlet to hand out, there needs to be discussion about this. Each year the number of teenagers with depression rises, and some blame misdiagnosis or how medication is just handed out to everyone who is “sad,” but that is just ignorance. That is what this lack of education breeds – pure ignorance for the severity and reality of mental health issues. And don’t mistake me, I do not just blame the people who don’t understand this, I blame the people who are responsible for educating these people. And what about those students who don’t know what they feel? Why are we not educating them on their resources? Young students who face their own mental health issues are being cast out into the cold, just because they don’t know what to do. How can a school take pride in itself when it’s not even offering the help that students in this day and age need? I know that health classes cover what they can, but it’s just not enough. And I don’t think I’m alone – people who have suffered through, are still suffering through or even those recovering from these issues do not make light of their situation. This is also not to say that people should be ashamed of their issues, but how dare we make light of someone’s trauma. The horrible thing is that it’s done unconsciously – these people may not even realize that what they’re saying is hurtful or harmful. That exactly is the reason we need education on mental health. *** Willow Wood, a senior, is a Gazette Lifestyle editor.
Schools provide little information on STDs
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he attitude that most students have when faced with the touchy subject of sexually transmitted diseases and infections is “it could never happen to me.” This mentality is exactly what has tricked students into thinking they don’t need to take extra precautions or learn about prevention, because they have a false sense of invincibility. Most high school health classes have added to rather than helped the problem by shaming the subject and only offering vague information. In popular media, STDs and STIs
EDITORIAL The voice of the Granite Bay Gazette are the punchlines to jokes, and in many cases, that’s the only form of exposure students have before they receive a diagnosis in the mail from Planned Parenthood. Once diagnosed, many struggle to find resources because of a lack of available information on the subject. Health books gloss over the subject, and many still offer outdated facts that could cause
more harm than good. Sexual education teachers are still legally allowed to teach celibacy as the primary form of “contraception,” and while that’s great in a perfect world, it’s not realistic or helpful. What high schools need is a section in health class dedicated to covering STDs and STIs in a comprehensive way – not simply listing off conditions or showing slideshows of genital warts in a “shock and awe” fashion. No, you’re not going to scare the chlamydia out of anyone, and how is it helpful to instill fear in students instead of teaching them
to be responsible and aware of the consequences of unsafe sex? Students wouldn’t have to be shocked and scared after accidentally contracting an STD if they knew how to take proper preventive measures. It seems like this would be common sense, but more and more high schoolers are being diagnosed, and we think it’s partly the fault of an educational system that worries more about political correctness than the students themselves. It’s 2014, so it’s probably time to stop treating “sex” like a fourletter-word.
Friday, March 7, 2014
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The Granite Bay Gazette
Voices A12
Heard on the BAY What is your favorite Winter Olympic Event? “I’d never seen curling before and I really liked it when I watched it.”
freshman
Emily Kasarjian “I like figure skating and ice dance just because it’s so fun to watch the routines and all the cool things they can do.”
sophomore
Taylor Walling Gazette illustration/BRIAN ZHUANG
“I really like bobsled because it’s a unique sport that not a lot of people appreciate.”
junior
Aditi Ganapathi “I like figure skating because I’ve been skating for ten years.”
senior
I
The education system must not focus on standardized testing
am not a number, so why am I being defined by one? In today’s education system, students are defined by a score – a set of digits, a mere number – that, in a way, decides their future. This phenomenon is the system of standardized testing. Standardized exams, such as the SAT, Common Core and Advanced Placement tests, give each student a score and essentially say, “There, that’s how smart you are.” In the realm of the SAT, your individual score is of utmost importance. I recently took the SAT for the first time and received a score of 1,950. When people asked my score and I answered them, I felt like I was personifying that number. It was like I, Jenna, was 1,950. That was me. Our education system places so much importance on standardized tests because we feel it adequately measures knowledge and intelligence. It’s like a strong force from up above that magically declares how intelligent we are.
Commentary
jenna mccarthy jmccarthy.gazette@gmail.com
But that’s false. People need to realize that standardized tests in no way measure intelligence. Someone is not “dumb” because they couldn’t get a good SAT score or pass an AP test. That’s simply the score they received. One mere test can’t, doesn’t and shouldn’t define them or their academic achievements. Standardized tests should be abolished.
They need to be gone. A much more adequate measurement of individual, school-wide, or even statewide intelligence, is the grade-point average. I have no problem with using GPA to gauge intellect and aptitude. See, students themselves possess the power to make their GPA something that reflects their true intelligence. Or, at the very least, something they’re satisfied with. They have all semester to work hard and improve their grade, in result, boosting their GPA. If a student wants the grade, they can obtain it. They simply need to work hard and be studious. Standardized testing, however, deprives students of this right. It defines them by one score from one test, where they have one chance to get it right. In addition, standardized testing assumes it can measure intelligence and aptitude by the simple act of testing. It completely ignores the fact that some students express their knowledge through art, music or other ways immeasurable by standardized testing.
Standardized testing completely alienates students who express their knowledge in a nontraditional way. Students like these might score very poorly on SAT or AP tests, and prospective colleges will assume they’re not intelligent, when, in reality, they just express their knowledge differently. Makers of standardized tests need to understand that students can’t be placed into a confining category. Not every student is the same. Not every student will excel. And despite this, we place a huge deal of importance on standardized testing. Students spend time and energy studying for standardized tests because they want to be proud when they’re defined by their score. We’ve created a society that’s absolutely terrified of being ashamed of their score because it’s become their identity. *** Jenna Mccarthy, a junior, is a staff writer.
Being alone can be satisfying
Juliette BurkeVierra Gazette photos/Jacqueline Gordon
The ski jumping because I think it’s terrifying. I just can’t even imagine flying through the air, let alone on skis and landing on snow and ice.
Intelligence is more than test scores
staff
Heidi McKeen Compiled by Jacqueline Gordon
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Why introversion should be embraced
things–depressed, or the sio, I’m not talkative. No, Commentary lent assassin. I’m confident I’m not involved in a lot of people have seen me and school events or extracurthought of both. ricular activities. No, I don’t feel at But the truth is I’m actuall comfortable talking to people I ally very happy with the life don’t know. I live. I’m content spending And no, I’m not unhappy with my the evening with my cat, and life. I enjoy getting more wrapped While you might spend your Friup in characters than sports day nights out with friends at parteams. And I’ve never killed ties, I spend my Friday nights in my anyone (yet). room watching my favorite shows Being less outgoing doesn’t or bundled up reading a good book. in any way equate to a less While you are going to the footjgordon.gazette@gmail.com satisfying life. Some people ball game, I’m sitting at home, still come alive when they are scratching my head and trying to surrounded by others, and figure out what a down is. And to be honest, sometimes I feel a little awkward there’s nothing wrong with that. But there’s also nothabout that. Sometimes, I wonder if maybe I’m weird ing wrong with coming alive while being engrossed in because I’m not outgoing or super comfortable around a book rather than a busy schedule. It’s a little sad to me how much I see parents pushing people I don’t know. Should I force myself to be friendlier around people? their children to be more outgoing. I understand that I know that I can be when I want to, so maybe I should they don’t want their kids to be lonely, but I think a lot of people value the development of good “social conform to fit society’s image of an ideal socialite. But when I take a step back, I realize that being that skills” over their kids’ personalities. I’m not in any way trying to degrade the importance way just isn’t part of who I am, and it’s a little bit irof developing good communication skills. They are ritating that being quiet and shy isn’t accepted. Introverted people tend to be labeled as one of two undoubtedly an imperative part of a successful life.
jacqueline gordon
However, I don’t believe that forcing children to be involved in clubs and activities just so that they learn to talk to people is necessarily the answer. A huge misconception about introverted people is that alone is equal to lonely. I won’t deny that sometimes I feel a little lonely and lost, but don’t we all on occasion, no matter how introverted or extroverted we are? When I explain to people that I want to go see a movie, for example, they can’t wrap their head around the idea that I’m perfectly fine with going by myself. I don’t need company to go see something like a movie. But it takes a lot of persuading to convince people that I don’t need anyone to go with me. I’m happy to be by myself. Often, I even prefer it. A lot of people just don’t seem to understand that. To my fellow introverts: you are not weird. There’s absolutely nothing wrong with being a little quieter and shyer than other people. Despite what others might think, you don’t have to change because you aren’t outgoing and you don’t have to fill your schedule to make yourself more friendly. There’s nothing wrong with you. Being quiet is ok, and you are just fine the way you are.
*** Jacqueline Gordon, a junior, is a staff writer.
Friday, March 7, 2013
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Voices A13
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Becoming a decision maker
Being indecisive can reveal a lot about our personalities Commentary
ecision making, to please everyone – my to say the least, reasoning is that if I is not my forte. don’t choose, no one can Ask me my opinion about get mad at me, but the anything – what I want reality is by not choosing for dinner, my favorite everyone gets frustrated food, what I want to do with me. this weekend – and you’ll For years, I did not have get an answer that’s a favorite color because really not an answer at I didn’t want to hurt the all. “Oh anything works rest of the colors’ feelfor me.” “I don’t care.” ings. I repeat: I did not “Whatever you want is want to hurt the feelings fine with me.” of colors. Basically: “I refuse to I’ve since grown out of ewagner.gazette@gmail.com make a decision because that, and can proudly say I lack the capability and that if you ask me what maturity necessary to make choices on my my favorite color is, I can answer you own, so pretty please can you choose for without even a moment’s hesitation. Sorry me?” all you other colors, blue’s my No. 1. I’ve always been content with letting But still, this inability to make decisions others make decisions for me. I’m not remains, sadly, an integral part of my sure whether it’s my fear of making the personality. It’s my hamartia, my Achilles wrong choice or just my inherent need heel, my fatal flaw.
emily wagner
Tentative, irresolute, wavering, faltering, inconclusive. Call it what you will – the point is I couldn’t even decide which synonym for indecisive I wanted to use. There’s just so much pressure in our society to get it right. And by “it” I mean “everything.” We have to have good grades and make responsible decisions and get into prestigious colleges and have important jobs and be a contributing part of society. There’s no room for mistakes. We’ve been told from a young age that it’s OKokay to mess up, that the only way to ever learn is to make mistakes. But at the same time, it seems to me that many people define us by our mistakes. There’s this general attitude of “OK, you messed up. Everybody makes mistakes – everybody has those days – but I mean did you really just mess that up that bad? Wow.” And then you become the person who messed up in their eyes forever. OK, maybe that’s a little extreme. We
all forgive and forget. People move on, and in general, a wrong choice you make in your life is probably not a big deal to most other people. However, a wrong choice I make is most definitely a big deal to me. And I’m hitting that point in my life where some colossal decisions are looming on the horizon. A blink of the eye and these monsters will be breathing down my neck. Colleges, majors, jobs, deciding what the heck I want to do with my life. The future is chock-full of decisions, and I’m terrified. To be honest, I have this urge to stick my fingers in my ears and sing “la, la, la” like a 5-year-old. There’s something to be said for the spontaneity of life if you don’t make decisions. You never know what life will throw at you, so why not throw life a curveball back and say, “Forget you, I don’t need to deal with my problems like a rational human being. I can be an ostrich and stick my head in the ground and pre-
tend that none of these problems exist.” And 100 percent of the time, the problems work out. Of course, that being said, they don’t necessarily work out in your favor. In fact, they rarely will. But that’s the risk you’ve got to be willing to take. Or – sigh – you can actually act like a responsible, mature human being, and make decisions. I still have a decision-making problem, but I’m working on it. The fact that I actually made the decision to write this piece on decisions is pretty amazing. I’m celebrating this little victory. Maybe soon I’ll be able to tell the waiter if I want parmesan cheese on my pasta or not. Messing up, being wrong, disagreeing with others, that’s all part of life. Sometimes mistakes can lead to opportunities that you would never have gotten otherwise. You never know until you decide. *** Emily Wagner, a junior, is a Gazette staff writer.
Comic Relief:
Del Oro student visits granite bay campus
Gazette illustration/THOMAS TAYLOR
The flaws with Common Core
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Why a future focus on non-fiction will inhibit literary education
ommon Core is said to be implementing a new ratio of nonfiction vs. fiction writing in our high school curriculum. Apparently we should be reading 70 percent nonfiction and 30 percent fiction in order to help develop a analytical and problem solving type of thinking. With this being said, to the underclassmen and the kids who haven’t even started high school yet, I’m sorry. I’m sorry you’ll be getting even less exposure to the classic pieces of fiction than I did, and I didn’t have too much to begin with. How many students at Granite Bay High School have read To Kill A Mocking Bird in any of their English classes? I wouldn’t hesitate to guess not a single class of students, if any classes. To Kill A Mocking Bird is the platform fiction novel, so why haven’t I read it in any of my four English classes throughout my high school career (three of which were honors or Advanced Placement classes).
Commentary
makenzie brito mbrito.gazette@gmail.com
Yes, my English teachers through the years have added a few classics to the class syllabus, like Of Mice and Men, The Secret Life of Bees and Macbeth. But there are still so many classic pieces of fictional literature that I haven’t had the chance to read and dissect in a classroom environment. Looking at how literarily deprived I am,
I can’t help but feel bad for those younger than me who will be living through this 70/30 balance and will be feeling an even greater void in their catalogs of knowledge. The Common Core argument is that providing a greater amount of nonfiction writing will develop analytical thinkers, problem solvers and help students form a way of thinking that will greater benefit them in college. Another popular argument is that we simply learn more from nonfiction than we do from fiction. False. I learned more about the French Revolution by reading A Tale of Two Cities than I learned through reading nonfiction packets and blurbs from my AP European History textbook. Regardless of what nonfiction piece you give me, I will never take from it what I learned from George Orwell’s 1984, a truly thought-provoking novel that has made me think deeper than any nonfiction work ever will. A nonfiction piece can’t teach me about
the horrors of war quite like All Quiet on the Western Front did. What is said and taught in pieces of classic fictional literature cannot be found in any other form of writing. Not only are fictional works more valuable, they’re much more enjoyable to read. I think part of the problem with our education system today is that we’re so fixated on producing the brightest, most educationally efficient kids we can. They make us attend school for the first 18 years of our lives, tell us we need above an 1,800 on the SAT, and need to obtain a certain number of credits – an educational path drawn out in our early lives to cram in as much information, in as many diverse topics as possible, making us the smartest, and highest test scoring students we can be. The problem is, where’s the fun in that? Shouldn’t we be able to find some enjoyment and satisfaction within our long educational career, other than getting a better test score than our friend? Reading fiction novels with a “classic”
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reputation is enjoyable. It allows you to empathize with characters that would not be present in a news article and can even engulf you so deeply into the story that you feel a personal connection with the character. It’s more interesting and entertaining than trying to survive a 15-page packet permeated with useless statistics and facts that I won’t remember after the next test. The 70 percent nonfiction and 30 percent fiction ratio, in the works to be implemented into the high school English curriculum, is shameful. With less exposure to the classics, we are allowing them to simply putter out, and not fostering a love for reading literature like we should be.
Nonfiction, with its endless amounts of straight information, is giving reading a bad name anyway. So, let’s stick to fiction. *** Makenzie Brito, a senior, is a Gazette online editor.
A14 Second Look
Second look
Friday, March 7, 2014
Awakening the barbarian
w The Granite Bay Gazette
Hypnotist enchants the audience at Senior 5th Quarter
wGazette photosw Grace Moore CJ Brown unconsciously dons a Viking helmet and is hypnotized to rampage on command at Senior 5th Quarter last Valentine’s Day, top. Haley Lederer listens to the hypnotist in concern after appearing to have forgotten her name, middle left. Zach Hall and every boy on stage undergo extreme trauma as they give birth to 20-pound Chihuahuas, above right. The entire group performs The Village People’s YMCA, bottom left. CJ Brown smiles as he sees the audience in itty bitty teeny weeny yellow polka dot bikinis, above. Courtney Nash hula dances on stage, left.
Lifestyle
Granite Bay Gazette
Friday w
Commentary
B Section
March 7, 2014
meredith dechert mderchert.gazette@gmail.com
We need to revamp U.S. culture
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was watching Olympic figureskating when a gem of a car commercial came on: A blonde, middle-aged white guy strides confidently around his big, decked-out house and pool. He brags that being a workaholic has allowed him to purchase all these glorious possessions surrounding him – including, of course, a brand new Cadillac. The ad asks us why Americans work so hard, points to Bill Gates and the Wright Brothers, and then provides the following answer: “You work hard, you create your own luck ... And all the stuff? That’s the upside to only taking two weeks off in August.” The man, played by Neal McDonough, mocks Europeans, who merely “work, stroll home, stop by the café” and take the whole month of August off. Dumb Europeans. Why would you want to sit in a café or on a beach or in the mountains when you can sit in your own, shiny car? The caricature of a shallow American seems like it has to be a joke, but Cadillac says it’s not. And it’s apparently convincing propaganda, eliciting “hell-yeahs” from some unfortunate Youtube users. And, although General Motors is alive today on the broken backs of the little people, what struck me most about the ad is how the exaggeration (only slight, compared to some Granite Bay dads) gets to the core of American culture – the championing of machismo, stuff, lightning-paced lifestyles and big hunks of metal. When my brother returned from Europe, one of the first things he noticed was how little time Americans spend in places like the coffee shops the commercial mentioned. I live by The Fountains of Roseville, and each time I visit, I hear at least two different foreign languages spoken among the shoppers. Coincidence? I don’t think so. Flytrap though it is, the Fountains has space to sit in the sun, drink coffee with friends and enjoy a day out. It’s like the developers tried to transplant a street from a European town to Roseville (and added a few butterfly benches and moose statues along the way). But Europeans aren’t the only Fountains fans – the center has become popular among local students and adults, too. Basically, it’s something like the kind of place every community needs if their members don’t want to resort to gathering at the SPL. Ford manipulated the blueprint of America – for its benefit, we drive everywhere – and Cadillac made itself into a hallmark of suburban “success.” What I’d like to do is tear down the country and make it a habitat more for people than for cars, but, alas, that’d be a big project. So, for the time being, let’s all please just resist any “hell-yeahs” we feel bubbling up in our throats. That’s the CEOs talking. For the love of god, if you ever get the chance, take August off. Go get some coffee. *** Meredith Dechert, a senior, is a Lifestyle co-editor.
Bloggers often write in environments where they can best come up with ideas; a coffee shop setting is usually a favorable location to write.
Student blogging: a productive interest
Young people are increasingly publishing thoughts and opinions on the web BY TREASA MAIREAD HAYES
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thayes.gazette@gmail.com
eenage blogs are on the rise, with local students expressing their thoughts, opinions and daily experiences via a unique, personalized URL. “(My blog) gives me the outlet to share what’s on my heart and the issues that are at hand,” said GBHS senior Lauren Crandall. “I just like writing things that connect people to people … and have them ask questions when they read it.” Crandall uses WordPress, a popular blogging platform, and said she posts regularly about topics such as her faith, love for adventure and appreciation for life with the URL compassionispower.wordpress.com. Building a readership is an enjoyable experience, Crandall said. “What’s cool about WordPress,” she said, “is that you
A casual day in ASB Student representatives manage the campus BY BRIAN ZHUANG
bzhuang.gazette@gmail.com
Many agree the Granite Bay High School student body is not to be reckoned with when it comes to academics, sports and school spirit, and behind much of the excitement is GBHS’s student government. While everyone sees the final product of the group’s work, not everyone always acknowledges the time and effort invested in these events. During the Student Government class, members plan and develop their events. Deadlines are decided upon according to which dates provide the least amount of stress for the most students. ASB commisioner Spencer Palmer plans many major events that GBHS usually does. Palmer, a senior, has been on the student government team for most of his high school career. He says that on a usual day, members work on their individual events as much as they can, hopefully furthering their event planning.
can go and read the stats of who sees your blog and how many people read your posts … The highest total views I’ve gotten in a day is 317.” Senior Calla Chamberlain created a blog on Blogger, another platform, to document her recovery from jaw surgery and allow friends and extended family to follow her URL luckofthejaw.blogspot.com. Chamberlain’s first post was published on Christmas of 2013 soon before her surgery, and she titled the blog’s homepage ‘Win, Lose, or Jaw.’ “I really had fun with it,” Chamberlain said, “because I tried to come up with clever titles that had to do with jaw puns. It’s fun to look back on and see my progression and the photos of my weeks of recovery.” 2014 GBHS grad and current University of California, Berkeley student Haley Massara, too, uses a blog to chronicle her progress with a medical issue – in her case, a rare stomach condition. Tamara Givens Givens, the ASB adviser, helps student representatives with events.
“Blogging about my illness has proven very cathartic for me,” Massara said. “It seems silly, but just knowing someone is out there reading my ramblings and maybe feeling a bit of empathy can really lift my spirits when I’m feeling sick.” Crandall, too, said she feels bloggers can personally benefit from posting about their thoughts and experiences. “Originally, I started my blog as kind of a diary for myself,” Crandall said. Crandall said she also hopes to become a better writer through blogging. But releasing personal thoughts and opinions into the ‘blogosphere’ can have its drawbacks, she says. “There’s just so much negativity on social media and on other people’s blogs,” Crandall said, “so I figured I might as well start writing on positive topics.” See BLOGS, page B4
Previewing the show GBHS is hosting first talent competition BY EMILY WAGNER
ewagner.gazette@gmail.com
“We all go and work on our specific jobs and get it done,” Palmer said. “We just keep working towards each actual event.” To plan events, the members usually complete project-planning guides for details and possibilities for a certain event. Many times they also have to think of themes and topics to possibly enhance it, which can also augment the time spent on each event. “This year, we’ve started doing a brainstorm of innovation ideas,” said Tamara Givens, the advisor. “We are trying to bring something new and innovative to every event and make it different than the previous year.” Every day in the beginning of the period, there is a meeting with the members to discuss and make sure that everyone is doing their jobs with their specific events. During the class, students are the ones who decide what events to do while Givens, does not make the final calls. It is all up to the student government team to determine what events are actually capable of being real events that could happen in the future. See GOVERNMENT, page B4
This spring, Granite Bay High School is holding a brand new event: the school Talent Show. While the fall is full of events like Lip Sync and Mr. Grizzly, the spring has fewer school activities. “We’re having a talent show because we wanted to do another event in the spring,” said Riley Carroll, a senior at GBHS and head commissioner of the talent show. “It’s something we’ve never tried before, and hopefully it’s going to be something we can do every year.” Like Lip Sync and Mr. Grizzly, the talent show offers the opportunity for students to show off their skills onstage. However, unlike the other two events, the Talent Show puts no restrictions on participants. “The great thing about this event is that it’s open to any type of act,” said Tamara Givens, the Student Government teacher at GBHS. “There are a lot of students with unique talents (who will) have the opportunity to show the school their skills.” Talents range from musical acts to synchronized rollerblading. Kristy Luong, a senior at GBHS, is looking forward to her chance to be in the spotlight. She will be singing and
accompanied by senior Aaron Samson on guitar. “I’ve never really been on a stage in front of people, so this is something new for me,” Luong said. “I think this will be really fun because I sing, but I’ve never been able to show it publically.” But Luong and Samson have some competition. GBHS juniors Garrett Walker and Nick Marcoccia will be doing a rollerblade duet. “It’s pretty much going to be like Blades of Glory,” Walker said, describing his unusual act. “People should come watch because it’s going to be really funny, a lot of fun, and they’re going to see some cool blading action.” Because of the wide variety of talents, judges will have to compare different acts. But according to Carroll, the plan is to break up scoring into categories, such as singing or dancing. Each category will have a winner, she says, and there will be one overall winner who will take first place. And there’s a cash prize. The amount of money to be awarded to the first, second and third place prizes is yet to be determined. However, according to Carroll, they will be comparable to the cash prizes at Lip Sync.
inside lifestyle Top Ten
B2
SAT Guide
B3
How to
B5
Random student
B5
TCID:BW
Gazette photo /GRACE MOORE
SAT vs. ACT Testers have different preferences for standardized exams.
Entrepreneurship GBHS students start their own profiting business ventures.
B2
B3
Dating Apps Increasing rate of dating app usage in teens.
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See TALENT, page B4
Friday, March 7, 2014
B2 Lifestyle
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TOP 10 Strangest Nail Polish Names
Don’t Sweater It Essie
Topless & Barefoot Essie
Haute as Hello Essie
Iris I was Thinner OPI
And the take-down begins ...
Gazette illustration/AKASH KHOSLA
What’s with the Cattitude OPI Friar, Friar, Pants on Fire OPI
Fondola Gondola Essie
I’m Not Really a Waitress OPI
Using My Maiden Name Essie
Lemonade Stand by Your Man OPI –Compiled by Mary-Frances Hansen
College of the Month: University of California, Santa Barbara Compiled by Mary-Frances Hansen Who: 21,685 students Where: Santa Barbara, California Tuition: $13,671 Acceptance Rate: 46% U.S. News Ranking: #41 School Colors: Blue & Gold Mascot: Olé the Gaucho Gazette illustration/BRIAN ZHUANG Fun Facts: • Their mascot is a gaucho, the equivalent of a cowboy in many countries in South America. • UCSB has 5 Nobel Prize winners currently on its staff. •The school’s former campus is now the current campus of Santa Barbara City College.
Sports: • UCSB has 20 varsity sports, 18 of which play in the Big West Conference. • They have won 2 national championships, Men’s water polo in 1979 and Men’s soccer in 2006. • UCSB’s main rival is the Cal Poly Mustangs. Academics: • They are ranked as the 11th best public school in the nation. • The student-teacher ratio is 17:1. • UCSB’s average freshman retention is 91.3%
–Compiled by Brendan Gonzalez
Students unsure which test to take BY WILLOW WOOD
A
wwood.gazette@gmail.com
ll students who are looking to go off to a 4 year university post-graduation are bombarded with information and pamphlets on two tests: the SAT and the ACT. On the ACT, students test in each content area (English, math, reading and science) in one big chunk, with the optional writing test at the end. On the SAT, the content areas (critical reading, math and writing) are broken up into 10 sections, with the required essay at the beginning. Students do a little math, a little writing, a little critical reading, a little more math, etc. For some people this can keep them energized throughout the test. “I preferred the SAT better, because it had a slower pace, and the sections were smaller,” said Amir Karamlou, Granite Bay High School senior. The ACT is an achievement test, measuring what a student has learned in school. The SAT is more of an aptitude test, designed to predict an individual’s ability to learn certain skills. So this can lead to debate among students about which test will better represent them on their application. “I’d say that the ACT should be more highly valued, since it tests on things that we’ve been
learning in school,” senior Anna Lim said. The ACT and SAT also have different penalties for wrong answers. The ACT does not take off point for wrong answers, while the SAT with the exception of the grid-in questions, you lose ¼ of a point per wrong answer. “It is easier to get a better score on it (the ACT) to some degree because there are no points deducted for wrong answers,” Karamlou said. Willamette University in Salem, Oregon, is a smaller, private liberal arts university with only approximately 8,500 applicants per year. “I suspect Willamette has a more personalized and holistic admission process than a large public institution,” said Michael Beseda, who has been working in admissions at private universities for 34 years. While Willamette admissions states on their website that scores are a secondary factor after quality of achievement in academic subjects, they do not believe the scores value. “The SAT and ACT prove nothing about the student, they’re just scores, and we don’t weigh one more heavily than the other,” said Beseda. Smaller universities have the options to weigh students they way they want because they have far fewer applicants then a larger school. “Our admission process is aligned with our institutional mission and educational values,” Beseda said. University of Oregon, a larger school, where
Drama student takes home gold
155 GBHS students in the past 3 years have applied, has a different view of test scores. “For us, the test scores are just one way to get to know the student better. It gives a small snapshot of how much information they have retained in a particular subject area,” said Moriah Dunning, U of O admissions officer. In a survey done in 2007, 24 of the 50 states had more students take the ACT than the SAT. All of these states were in the Midwest and none of them were on either coast, and this trend has been noticed by universities. “As a west coast institution, we see more SAT scores - although the proportion of applicants submitting ACT scores is growing,” said Beseda “We (U of O) require test scores, whereas some smaller schools are starting the trend of not making them mandatory,” Dunning said. This is true, some schools are now starting to allow students, with test scores lower than the average, to submit a portfolio of work that can include an additional letter of recommendation and/or a sample of some of their high school work. For some students this might be a great program. While both of these test are standardized tests that can be submitted to universities, the opinion on them is individual to each student. “I hated both the ACT and SAT with a burning passion,” Lim said. “But I actually received a better score on the SAT than the ACT, so I’ve made my peace with the SAT.”
Erica Lucia wins Lenaea award
doing anything serious and dramatic,” she said. “The experience was amazing because of the emotional personal While many were home watching process and that I was able to grow as an actress.” the 2014 Super Bowl, sophomore Holmes also attended the Lenaea Erica Lucia, a member of the Granite Festival as a high school student. Bay High School drama class, was “It’s a fantastic environment,” competing for an acting award with Holmes said. “You get to see what over 200 other high school students. other high schools are doing (in The Feb. 2 competition was the Lenaea High School Theatre Festival, drama) … You just are very enlightened.” begun in 1955 by CaliIn order to narfornia State University, row down the Sacramento’s Departcompetition, Lucia ment of Theatre for the My experisaid the festival purpose of supporting ence would have judges split up the and encouraging students 200-plus people in not been the same interested in theatre, acLucia’s category if it weren’t for the cording to the festival’s into separate rooms website. people who have and gave the top All members of Prosupported and scorers from each fessional Drama and guided me with my section ‘gold Intermediate Theatre awards’. Goldmonologue. Arts classes at GBHS award-winners – Erica Lucia, spent roughly four weeks were then invited to rehearsing scenes, songs the contestant do a final perforand monologues to enter mance the next day into the Lanaea Festival before the closing and perform in front of ceremony. critics and audience members from Lucia said she was surprised and across the Placer County Area. excited when she found out she was Lucia was one of nine students to invited to perform in the last round. be chosen by GHBS theatre director “I was just leaving the soup kitchen Kyle Holmes to enter the competiwhen I got a call from Mr. Holmes,” tion. she said. I felt like I was in shock. My Lucia, who usually performs comemom said that my face went white dic pieces, said performing a dramatic and my hands started shaking, and the monologue about a teen with anorexia whole time I couldn’t believe it was was a transformative experience. happening.” Lucia and her mom rushed over to “This was my first time ever really BY CAROLINE PALMER cpalmer.gazette@gmail.com
Erica Lucia accepts her prestigious Gold Award at Lenaea Festival. the stages where the command performances were held. There, Lucia performed in front of over 600 people and the judges of the competition, all of whom must have a Bachelor of Arts or be a graduate student in theatre arts, a theatre acts educator or a professional actor. “She was able to make a very profound impact on the two auditors that were judging her,” Holmes said of Lucia’s performance. “One of the judges was crying at the end.” After Lucia performed her monologue at the closing ceremony, the judges granted her the highest award of all competitors in the monologue category . Holmes said Lucia’s win was a success not just for she as an individual but for the entire drama department. “For me, as a teacher, I’m incredibly proud of her,” Holmes said. “I think it’s very good for (the drama department) … For her peers to see her work so hard and then be recognized for it in such a fantastic way is really encouraging for everybody.” Senior Robert DeLeon Glover, a GBHS drama student who helped Lucia through the process of leaning her monologue, also said the students and instructors involved in the GBHS
Special to the Gazette/ERica lucia
theatre program were happy to hear of Lucia’s success. “We are really proud,” he said, “that someone could come from our theatre and perform in front of 600 people and get a gold award, and she did a fantastic job.” Lucia said the GBHS drama department contributed much to her success in the Lenaea Festival. “Tons of people helped me with this monologue, and it would not have been the same without them,” she said. “I feel like (the GBHS theatre) program is changing, and it’s growing and evolving … I feel like this is just one example of how hard we work.”
Friday, March 7, 2014
Lifestyle B3
The Granite Bay Gazette
Teenagers and their cars: A Story of True Love GBHS students admit their dependency on their vehicles
“My car is important to me,” Nasri said, “and I treat it as an extension of myself.” Nasri, who said he uses his car as much as he can, says he is grateful for having a car and being able to use it when he can. He and other seniors who passed their driver’s test right after their sixteenth birthday have grown so accustomed to life with a car that some say they couldn’t handle life without one.
BY KEVIN BURNS
A
kburns.gazette@gmail.com
t 16, many teenagers go through a kind of rite of passage from childhood to adulthood when they receive their driver’s license. Finally, they are free to do whatever they want at whatever time; they can stay out until one in the morning, race down the freeway, even take a road trip across country if parents allow. All of these opportunities are now theirs – that is, if they have a car. To some students at Granite Bay High School, a car simply represents a means of getting from point A to point B faster than riding a bike or walking. They see a car as just another form of transportation. But many upperclassmen with cars, including senior Blaise Nasri, remember the days of walking the two and half miles to the Granite Bay Chipotle as if they were the Dark Ages. “My car is a symbol of freedom,” senior Chase Cooper said. With all of the freedom to do about whatever they want, GBHS students see their cars as an important aspect of their growth as an adult.
“When I didn’t have a car, my mom would drive me to school, and I would have to walk home every day,” senior Ciara Helland said. “I had to get rides from everyone else if I wanted to go anywhere.” The inconvenience of relying on older friends and parents to go places motivates some GBHS students to get their license as soon as they can. “If I didn’t have my car, I would have to hire a chauffeur to drive me around everywhere,” Nasri said. Nasri said he might be a little extreme in his need for a car, but other seniors agree
with him – having a car is a luxury like none other. “I use my car every day, whether it is for going to school, running errands, or going to hang out with my friends,” Helland said. For students like Helland, whose daily routines depend on their car, getting a license as soon as possible is an important step in the process, but for teenagers nationwide, a license is not always a part of the process of growing up. In fact, according to a report by the AAA foundation for vehicle safety, only 44 percent of teens receive their license in the first legal year of age, and barely over half are licensed drivers by the time they are 18 years old. With the rising prices of gas and auto insurance and the increased amount of fatalities from reckless driving, teens are more likely to wait until they can afford a car to buy one. For the community around GBHS, cars are an investment worth investing in, says Cooper. “Owning a car is a must unless you have a horse you can ride around on,” he said. For Cooper and other GBHS drivers who have driven for so long, a life without a car means no freedom and no way to connect with the world in an easy way. “My car is extremely important to me,” Helland said. “I don’t know what I would do without it.”
Gazette illustration/AUSTIN ALCAINE
GBHS students reveal their entrepreneurial success
Small businesses on campus prove to be strong BY BRENDAN GONZALEZ bgonzalez.gazette@gmail.com
Many high school students who are able to land a job work for minimum wage under an employer. However, some teens have taken money-making into their own hands. One of these Granite Bay High School students, junior Brandon Kozlowski, is a freelance web designer, Internet marketer and the owner of a business that sells solar products. “I’ve always been interested in various ways to make money and become self-sufficient,” he said. Kozlowski’s said his interest in web design and marketing of his web design services stem from years of studying online technology on his own. The junior began his solar product business, Majestic Solar, when a professional solar goods supplier from Arizona contacted Kozlowski through a mutual friend. Kozlowski imports the solar products and then markets them to businesses and individuals to sell them for profit. “It sounded like a good opportunity to start a real-world business,” he said, “so I jumped on it.” Kozlowski said he hopes his businesses will continue to grow and that
he can make a positive difference for his customers. He also said he hopes his businesses can help him fulfill his life aspirations. “One of my dreams is to be able to make a living from home,” he said, “and not have to work at a typical day-job.” Senior Connor Ferguson, too, has initiated his own business endeavors. Ferguson has found profits by baking and selling his own protein cookies, which he calls “Fitmax” cookies. The cookie business began when Ferguson had to sell a product and try to make a profit as an assignment for his economics class at GBHS. “Once I started selling the cookies,” he said, “I realized that people actually like my product enough to take this thing so big.” Ferguson said he decided to continue to bake the cookies when he found they were popular. He started to sell them to athletes and other fitness-conscious people, he says. He has marketed his business mainly through word of mouth, supplemented by a Facebook page and fliers. “Word is actually quickly spreading of my product,” Ferguson said. “It is even spreading to downtown
Sacramento.” Ferguson said he wants to sell his product in bulk to big gyms such as 24 Hour Fitness and Family Fitness and hopes his product will eventually become an everyday item in large grocery stores. He says he is also working on another project but does not feel comfortable discussing it until it is successful, as he feels the idea has even more potential than “Fitmax”, he said. Those who have succeeded before him, Ferguson said, have been the source of his interest in self-made business. “My inspiration is other big entrepreneurs who have made it on their own,” Ferguson said. “Also, I just love coming up with new ideas and socializing with other businessmen, as that is a key to be successful.” Senior Johnny Mass is yet another GBHS student who has found his niche in the business world during high school. Mass created WeScooterTv, a Youtube channel and an online hub for reviews, tutorials and videos. WeScooterTv began with Mass’s passion for scootering and as his hobby for taking filming and editing video of scootering and posting the videos online.
The un-
Special to the Gazette/JOHNNY MASS
A sample of Mass’ work for Carbon Studios. A stand-still of a car and an action shot of dirt bike. Filming edits of scootering then led to Mass’s other endeavor, Carbon Studios, a film studio which photographs events and films commercials or action sports, Mass says. “Over the summer, I shot over 20 weddings,” he said. “That led to meeting the other partners with which I started Carbon Studios.” Mass said Carbon Studios is currently shooting video for Red Bull Energy Drinks and Ace of Spades, a Sacramento music and event venue. As for the future, Mass says he just hopes his company will take off. “The goal,” he said, “is to just keep growing.”
CollegeBoard SAT
Official SATpractice guide
Our Expert:
Test prep book:
If you really knew me,
you would know...
I recommend the Official SAT Blue Book; it has the best practice tests and gets to the point.
Studying advice: Take practice tests and study your vocab. Treat all the grammar error sections the same way because they have the same types of errors.
What not to do: Umair Khan is a junior at Granite Bay High School.
It is a waste of time to read the full passages in the reading section on the actual exam. Don’t go in without practice.
Corey Handa
I wear shorts to school every day … even during winter.
Sydney Carion
I’m training to be a tattoo artist ... I’ve been training for two years.
- Compiled by Akash Khosla
Your Names. Your Faces.
Arushi Krishnan
I like to rap to Chris Brown.
- Compiled by Meredith Dechert
The Gazette.
Lifestyle B4
facts
In Texas, it is legal to kill Bigfoot if you ever find it. In Victoria, Australia, only a licensed electrician is allowed to change a light bulb. Glaciers store 75 percent of the world’s fresh water. 70 percent of the oxygen we breathe is produced by the oceans. 1.3 million Earths could fit
club
Club Name: Pink Ladies President: Christina Sabin What is the purpose of your club? To spread awareness about breast cancer and other forms of cancer. What inspired you to start the club? It has been around for several years; I was passed the baton last year. My grandmother had breast cancer ... My mom was diagnosed January of last year with breast cancer. Her diagnosis pushed me
Friday, March 7, 2014
Random ... inside the sun, an average-sized star. During the Christmas season, almost 28 LEGO sets are sold every second. In France, it’s illegal to name a pig “Napoleon”. “Didaskaleinophobia” is the fear of going to school. Olympic Gold Medals are only 1.34 percent gold. China has treatment camps for Internet addicts. Source: allrandomfacts.com
- Compiled by Akash Khosla
to get more involved. What fundraisers do you have? We don’t do a lot of fundraisers, but we are presently doing Pennies for Patients. All the money donated goes to help kids and teens living with cancer through the Leukemia Lymphoma Society. What impact do you want your club to have on people? Just getting new people to club meetings helps the club reach more of the student body, because everyone has ideas that can help advance the club. - Compiled by Emily Wagner
GOVERNMENT: Group facilitates campus activities Continued from page B1
“Mrs. Givens usually walks around and makes sure that we’re doing what we need to do,” Palmer said. “If anything goes on, she’ll come in and help.” Givens advises on each matter, however the students mostly do the whole project. Givens says she feels proud of the class for all their hard work throughout the year to plan these events. “My students’ favorite part is seeing their friends post on social media about how awesome a certain event was,” Givens said. “That is probably one of the most rewarding parts as well as seeing them happy and proud.” Events vary on the time it takes to plan them out. Most of the major events, like the royalty aspect of Homecoming, could take up to two months to finish the whole process of establishing an event. However, some smaller events, like Back to School Night, would require only up to one month or less in advance for planning and finalizing. Also, each event requires a different amount of people tending to it. Inherently, the more major ones would have more people working as opposed
to the smaller events. Normal events would usually have either one or two people, while for big events, the max would be five to six people. The student government team constantly thinks about future events and currently; some are currently planning the Powderpuff event, to be held on Aug. 4. “I know how many hours it takes, I know the attitude that it takes, and I know the selflessness has to come to the forefront of their lives,” assistant principal Brian McNulty said. On the day of actual events, some members say they are stressed, but most say they are more excited. “It all comes down to how prepared we are and if we’ve done our jobs because if so, it isn’t that bad,” Palmer said. Student government has a major responsibility to stay on track with all the events and to not miss deadlines that could push back other events. Every day, people continually work to better their events as the year goes by, and hopefully students can recognize the hard work that is put into each event. “All the ideas are from my students: all the details, emcees, the music is all them,” Givens said. “Everything that you see out there is them.”
student
What was your best Halloween costume?
This year I was Russell from Up. I wore a yellow polo and had the hat and the badges and everything. If you could be anyone for a day, who would you be? I would be Taylor Swift, because I have loved her since, like, fourth grade, and she is so sweet. What is your favorite vacation spot? Disneyland, because it is the happiest place on Earth. What’s your favorite movie? 50 First Dates, because it’s cute and always makes me laugh. If you were stranded on an island and could only have three things with you, what would they be? I would bring my phone, a friend and a refrigerator. Who is your role model? My role model is my mentor Katie Nolan because she’s always positive and reaches out to everyone. What’s your favorite thing about GBHS? My favorite thing about GBHS is all the opportunities you have to find out who you are. - Compiled by Jenna McCarthy
Gazette photo /Jenna McCarthy
KATIE CARSON, freshman
BLOGS: New medium encourages expression Continued from page B1
However, WordPress users may adjust their privacy settings and decide whether to share their thoughts with the world, their community or their closest friends, according to Crandall. Regardless of potential negative reactions to blogs, 2014 GBHS grad and current Sierra College student Grayson Walker uses his Tumblr, www.lifeasgrayson.tumblr.com, as a creative outlet by posting his photography, the photography of others and, sometimes, his own writing. “The purpose … is to show people the real side of me,” Walker said, “like what I truly love and what truly inspires me. I love the things I post on (my blog), even if others don’t.” Massara, too, uses a blog to post her original writing. Separate from her medical journal, Massara chose the URL www.graphwords.tumblr.com as the name of the virtual space where she is able to share her fiction. She guesses that those who read the blog, which she has begun
updating in recent weeks, are her family, friends and the occasional stranger. According to Massara, blogs can also provide an online circle of friends for those with some followers. “I’m not a very social person, but my online circle of friends has been invaluable to me,” Massara said. “One of them even made me a huge get-well card and delivered it in person. Many of them feel no less real to me than someone who lives next door.” With the seemingly increasing popularity and accessibility of blogging sites, due in part to their availability as smartphone apps, some teen bloggers think blogs are becoming a prominent method of expression for young people, especially regarding controversial or trending topics. “Right now in our generation, it’s not as much adults teaching adults or adults teaching kids any more but kids teaching kids,” Crandall said. “Through these blogs, it’s mainly, I think, high school and college students teaching others about their life and whatever is on their hearts.”
How to...
jump start a car
1. Make sure both cars are turned off. 2. Connect one end of the red (positive) jumper cable to the positive terminal on the stalled battery.
PREVIEW: Talented teens begin preparing to perform
3. Connect the other red (positive) cable clamp to the positive terminal of the good battery.
Raiders, Christopher K from the Wake Up Call 107.9, and a few anchors from Good Day Sacramento will all The most difficult part of planning be judging. this event it is that it has never been “We’re just having people in the done before, so student government is community that are well known to starting from scratch. judge our talent show,” Carroll said. To Carroll, this is both good and “I’m really excited – I bad. think that it will be not “We’re kind of just only something that making stuff up as people into to we go, which is fun We’ve never had draws the show, but also just because you can be one, so I think it’ll be makes it extra special.” as creative as you Like Lip Sync and want, but it’s a little fun to watch. Senior Fifth Quarter, bit difficult because there will be a live twityou don’t have direc– Riley Carroll, senior and ter stream feed going on tions,” Carroll said. head commissioner of the during the event. Extensive planThere will also be ning is going into to talent show non-judged acts that organizing the event. will take place while Carroll and her talent the judges are tallying show committee are planning auditions, rehearsals, decora- their scores. According to Carroll, this tions, donations, and the final event as will be a very fun performance that students should look forward to. well, which will take place on Friday, “Everyone should come out and see March 21. Another unique element of the talent the talent show,” Carroll said. “We’ve never had one, so I think it’ll be fun show is that there will be celebrity to watch and interesting to see how it judges. goes.” Miles Burris, who plays for the
4. Connect one end of the black (negative) jumper cable to the negative terminal of the good battery.
Continued from page B1
w The Granite Bay Gazette
5. Then connect the other black (negative) cable to a clean, unpainted metal surface under the disabled car’s hood. SomeGazette illustration/THOMAS TAYLOR
where on the engine block is a good place. Unless you want to see flying sparks and a possible explosion, do not connect the negative cable to the negative terminal of the dead battery. 6. Start the car that’s doing the jumping, and allow it to run for about 2 to 3 minutes before starting the dead car.
Your names.
7. Remove cables in reverse order.
Your faces.
8. Keep the jumped car running for at least 30 minutes to give the battery sufficient time to recharge itself. -Compiled by Willow Wood
The Gazette.
Friday, March 7, 2014
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Lifestyle
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Friday, March 7, 2014
Lifestyle B6
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Dating apps: the modern way of hooking up Young people use technology to find their matches with ease BY HALEY BYAM
hbyam.gazette@gmail.com
In a possible effort to continue stereotyping millennials as the laziest generation yet, there are now a large selection of dating websites targeted at people ages 18 to 25, and they’re rapidly growing in popularity. Sites like OkCupid, Grindr, Tinder and Hot or Not allow young people to meet potential soul mates without leaving the comfort of their couch. Unlike Match and eHarmony, users on these newer sites are, on average, young, which draws college-aged singles to the apps. Natalie Shaw, a student at the University of Toronto, said she had an overall positive experience on OkCupid, which she joined to meet new friends and possible romantic interests, she said. “I’m pretty shy,” Shaw said, “so it’s kind of hard for me to just ‘go out there’ and look for other lesbians … I met two girls through OkCupid that I’m now really good friends with and see regularly.” Choosing “girls who like girls” on the drop-
down search menu may bring more than just girls to members’ profiles, however. “I put that I liked girls on my profile,” said Nikki Chang, a senior at Granite Bay High School, “and a lot of creepy messages piled up about threesomes with couples. I just ignored most of those.” The popular documentary-turned-TV show Catfish has brought awareness to the topic of fake dating profiles. Affectionately dubbed a “catfish,” a person will create a false identity using social media to pursue deceptive online romances with their unsuspecting targets. “I met a girl (on MeetMe), and we ended up exchanging some photos,” Chang said. “She never asked for information or where exactly I lived, but we established that there was a time zone difference of about three hours. But, in one of the pictures she sent me, there was a clock in the background. It was only a one hour difference from my current time.” While Chang wasn’t sure if the girl she was messaging was a fake, she decided that if the girl was lying about something as simple as time zones, it was best to stop contact.
Match’s online safety page recommends that users should watch for potential red flags, including people who quickly ask to talk on an outside messaging service, talk about “destiny” or “fate” or vanish mysteriI put that I liked ously from the girls on my pro- site. “I use it for file, and a lot of fun, mostly,” creepy messages said Julia piled up about Bruecker, a junior at Elk threesomes with Grove High couples. School. “It’s – Nikki Chang, a senior been a lot of quirky and at GBHS random messages with the occasional aggressive or sexually inappropriate message. Overall, it’s been a great tool for meeting new people.” But others are more wary of the “strangerdanger” that comes with meeting potential
matches on the Internet. “I have met plenty of people online,” said Lindsay Johnston, a senior at Granite Bay High School, “but I would say ‘don’t do it’. People aren’t always how they portray themselves online, and it can just be scary.” Bryce Ross-Flannagan, however, is on the opposite side of the spectrum as Johnston. Ross-Flannagan has had many successful dates as a result of the app Grindr, a platform for gay, bisexual and bi-curious men. “I’d read an article about a guy who used (Grindr) to hook up with a guy at an amusement park,” Ross-Flannagan said, “and I thought it was so cool that there was an app for finding gay people, so I downloaded it.” Some maintain that, as long as users employ common sense and have reasonable expectations for their online dating experiences, it can be a fun, alternative way to form new relationships. “If you’re going to meet someone you met online,” Johnston said, “bring a friend, because that’s safer. Also, bring some pepper spray, if you have any. Just be careful.”
Gazette illustration/AKASH KHOSLA
Sports
Granite Bay Gazette
C1 Section
Friday w March 7, 2014
Commentary
zack zolmer zzolmer.gazette@gmail.com
Debunking NASCAR myths
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ASCAR gets a bad rap. The public’s perception of the sport is marred with stereotypes, featuring generally unathletic drivers that can only turn left, and racist, sexist, redneck fans who own more trucker hats than teeth. In truth, the National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing currently stands as both the largest U.S. spectator sport, and the fastest growing spectator sport in America. I inherited my love for the sport from my grandfather. Though my cousins and little brother didn’t seem to care for auto racing, along with my dad I was the one grandchild in the family that shared my grandpa’s lifelong interest, and over that we formed a special bond. So for Granite Bay sports fans, here’s to trying something new. Here’s to the sport of NASCAR, and here is why you should give it a go. Let’s just get this out of the way. To argue that all NASCAR consists of is cars going around in monotonous counterclockwise circles is to drastically oversimplify the sport, and therefore misrepresent it. The “left turn” argument is the one most often made against NASCAR, and arguments like it could easily be formed to dissuade fans from watching all other sporting events. In basketball, 10 guys jog to one end of the court then back to the other end, then back to the first end then back to the opposite end, repeating this cycle for 48 minutes. Baseball is just a guy swinging a bat at a ball, and on the off-chance the guy with the bat hits the ball he runs and turns left, then turns left, then turns left again (sounds familiar). These arguments can be made against every sport, and in every sport these arguments are unfounded. As for whether or not NASCAR qualifies as a sport, it being a sport or not being a sport shouldn’t factor into your decision to watch it. I mean, it is a sport. Each stock car’s cockpit maintains a temperature of roughly 120 degrees, drivers experience up to four G-forces each lap and at every contest’s conclusion, the drivers exit their cars approximately 10 lbs lighter than when they climbed in four hours earlier. But I digress, it’s irrelevant. Curling, for example, may or may not fit the American sporting mold, yet this past Sochi Olympics millions of viewers tuned in to NBC Sports to watch it primetime. So just because people here blindly dismiss NASCAR doesn’t mean you should too. As is the case with everything and everyone else’s passions in life, much more often exists than what initially what meets the eye. Roberta Smith, an art critic for the New York Times, perhaps put the misunderstandings of NASCAR best. “The obsessions of others are opaque to the unobsessed,” she said, “and thus (are) easy to mock. NASCAR, jazz, baseball, roses, poetry, quilts, fishing. If we’re lucky, we all have at least one.” *** Zack Zolmer, a senior, is a Sports editor
Gazette photo / LUKE CHIRBAS
The Granite Bay High School junior team rejoices following their unexpected victory. Since GBHS’s inception, the junior class has only won five times.
Junior class wins Sports-A-Rama championship; seniors claim silver Class of ’15 team views upset victory as feat of redemption BY STEVEN GERISCH sgerisch.gazette@gmail.com
Sports-A-Rama, one of the most exciting rallies of the year, couldn’t have scripted a more electric night. What the event lacked in attendance this year was made up for by great class spirit both on and off the battleground. As expected, the juniors came out strong as if they had a chip on their shoulder left over from last year. Natalie Barron, a member of the junior Sports-A-Rama team, believes they did. “Coming in 2nd last year definitely put extra pressure and expectations on us to do well this year,” Barron said, “which we turned into motivation”. Another member of the junior Sports-
A-Rama team, Lexi Geraghty, was not so quick to say that there was a definite cause for extra motivation . “No (there wasn’t a chip left on our shoulder),” Geraghty said. “It would’ve been great to get first, but beating the juniors was good enough last year.” As the night progressed, the juniors’ dominance seemed to cease as victories by the sophomore and senior classes began to pile up. “When we lost in the tank race, that was the first game we lost, so I was getting nervous” Geraghty said. However, the juniors at that point built a seemingly insurmountable lead by winning roughly five games in a row to lead off the festivities which, according to Barron, helped keep the crowd’s spirit up
for their side. However, by the time the dances rolled around for each gender, speculation began. Strong showings by the sophomores, juniors, and seniors in the girls’ dance only added to the drama that the boys’ dances created. The three aforementioned classes all put together strong showings, however the juniors dance may have been considered controversial to a few. Nevertheless, the juniors tied the seniors for first in the boys’ dance, despite the controversial performance with a spectacular performance by the seniors. Zach Hall, member of the senior Sports-A-Rama team felt that this event was really a turning point for the senior
Sports careers conclude
Armin Anderson Senior soccer player says he could use a break from playing sports.
End of senior year marks final playing days for many GBHS athletes BY PARKER BURMAN pburman.gazette@gmail.com
With many athletes’ seasons ending and many sports set to begin, a lot of seniors’ athletic careers are nearing their close. Whether they’re already done or are currently in their last season of athletics, Granite Bay High School students are forced to decide if it’s time to hang up their cleats and walk away from competitive sports. For many, this is an academic decision. High school sports can be very time consuming with practices that last many hours after school. In college this only gets more intense. “I decided I wanted to focus on school in college,” said senior varsity basketball player Mitch Riffice. Senior varsity swimmer Chase Cooper agreed with Riffice’s sentiment, stating
that his education was the most important thing to him heading forward. However, this is not the only reason that too hard,” Cooper said, “I might still do a athletes decide to quit while headed off to club sport.” college. After almost 10 years of playing basket“I guess I’m kinda ball, Riffice isn’t letting burned out,” senior his play falter during soccer player Armin his last year. Anderson said. “I just “I don’t think (the deneed a break.” cision) has affected my Although a seemingly performance this year hard decision, these at all.” Riffice said. athletes don’t have Anderson also didn’t regrets. let his final high school – Chase Cooper, “It wasn’t a difficult season change the way varsity swimmer decision,” Anderson he approached the game said, “I knew what it at all. meant.” “It didn’t affect me Cooper also said the in any way.” Anderson choice was said. pretty simple, with the options of club and intramural sports. See CAREER, page C5 “I thought about it a little, but it wasn’t
I’m excited and ready to go for my last year.
team due to the theatrics of the dance that energized the entire crowd, including other classes. After all of the festivities ended and the dust settled on the battle field, it was time for the final results. While there were many who felt the winner was clear cut, suspense still filled the gym. As the final results were tallied, the freshmen were the first eliminated from the trophy contention, finishing in fourth. The sophomores were next as they failed to follow up last year’s sophomore class surprise, finishing third overall in voting. With the gym deafly silent, awaiting the decision between the two powerhouses of the night, the juniors were awarded the
See Sports-A-Rama, page C5
Signing day a success
Eight more athletes sign letters of intent BY MAGGIE BELL mbell.gazette@gmail.com
Anyone that’s ever sets foot inside Granite Bay High School’s gym will know that the school has tremendously successful athletics. With the gym walls covered in banners from an array of different sports, it is no surprise that Granite Bay High School sends lots of athletes to go on and play at the collegiate level. This year at the signing day ceremony held in the College and Career Center on February 5th, GBHS had a total of eight students sign letters of intent See SIGNING, page C5
inside sports Athlete of the Month
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Grizz Quiz
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Rising Star
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Fan of the Month
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Fencing Students and locals find community in unorthodox sport.
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Spring Sports Update Baseball and other seasons progress.
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Locker Room Culture Students accepting of all sexualities.
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C2 Sports
Friday, March 7, 2014
Local fencers partake in unique sporting event
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Fencing provides community and fun for athletes BY KRISTINE KHIEU
kkhieu.gazette@gmail.com
To many, fencing appears to be a sport of the medieval times, only seen occasionally during the Olympics. However, according to a few students at Granite Bay High School, fencing is an integral part of their lives. Vishal Sethi, a GBHS freshman, took up fencing when he saw an ad in the newspaper for a local fencing club. His parents wanted him to get involved with an extra-curricular activity, and Sethi saw this opportunity as his ticket out. That was three years ago. Over that time, Sethi developed a genuine interest in the sport, and practices nearly five times a week. “I didn’t think they had competitive fencing, much less fencing in general,” Sethi said. “But I tried it out and just continued from there. It’s good exercise and keeps you busy. The drive to get to a national ranking has kept me going.” With rigorous practice, Sethi has come close to that goal. His achievements include receiving eighth place at a national qualifier tournament last year and ranking 50th out of 500 at the national level. Sethi attributes much of his success to his two coaches, Mihaly Csikany and Kristiyan Hristov from the Hristov-Csikany Fencing Club. They are known for coming from a long history of fencing, winning 1st place at multiple world events. But, they are even more notorious for their firm coaching style. “One of my coaches is Russian and the other is Bulgarian, so they’re really tough (and) very strict,” Sethi said. “They yell a lot … but after a while you get used to it. They just do it out of their want for you to succeed.” For the future, Sethi hopes to improve and get
on the national circuit. Although he hasn’t won a 1st place medal at nationals yet, he has already established himself as someone who shouldn’t be underestimated. According to him, people first took notice to him after his first competition. “On my first tournament, I bought a hot dog and ketchup fell into my electric fencing jacket,” Sethi said. “Everyone thought it was blood and I just went with it. To this day, everyone still thinks that.” Ashley Alunan is another GBHS student that has been involved with fencing for years. “I started when I was in fifth grade when my sister’s best friend wanted to try fencing,” Alunan said. “We all tried it out and I ended up loving it.” Since fencing is an uncommon sport, Alunan was curious and wanted to figure out how it worked. According to her, fencing is all about strategy and analyzing your opponent. She compared it to chess, saying that it gives her the opportunity to think one step ahead of her opponents. Alunan has been fencing since she was nine years old, and has gone on to compete at nationals twice, picking up a bronze medal along the way. Like Sethi, she also praises her club, the Sacramento Fencing Club, for helping her with these major accomplishments. The SFC is known to be very competitive and prestigious. For instance, Alunan’s coach, Ted Smith, coached James Williams to the Olympics. Williams won a silver medal at the 2008 Beijing Olympics with the U.S. fencing team and often visits the SFC, where Alunan met him one day at a fencing summer camp. “We would all line up and (Williams) would fence all of us,” Alunan said. “He’s such a genius at fencing so he would always beat us but it was always so fun (and) he’s just a genuinely nice person.” Williams is a local fencer out of Sacramento, who got his start like Sethi and Alunan. He was introduced
Special to the Gazette/ALAN ALUNAN
Ashley Alunan poses in her fencing gear at the 2011 fencing nationals. She has been fencing since 5th grade with the Sacramento fencing club and has made the trip to nationals twice. to it at a young age, and just fell in love with it. “I wanted to be Bruce Lee as a kid. I was in Kung Fu classes with my friend and he told me he was also trying fencing,” Williams said. “I went with him once and liked it. By the time I was 12, I was obsessed.” The SFC was one of his starting clubs, and according to him, it helped him to not only develop sound fundamentals, but also to improve his
interpersonal skills through the diverse group of people who fence there. Williams has helped excite and motivate many local fencers, and he encourages everyone to just give it a try. Sethi and Alunan agree that it’s a great opportunity to have fun. “You can start (fencing recreationally) whenever you want to just play with friends,” Sethi said. “It’s a lot of work, but it’s worth it.”
Junior soccer player looks toward future successes Sydney Talmi anticipates future achievement with the girls’ varsity team in its upcoming season BY STEVEN GERISCH
sgerisch.gazette@gmail.com
Gazette photo /KAT MCgrail
Junior Sydney Talmi laces up her cleats before practice. The girls’ soccer season started in March against Bella Vista High School. Talmi hopes to lead the defense en route to playoffs.
YOUR NAMES YOUR FACES THE GAZETTE
With this time of year being the awkward phase of transitioning from winter sports to spring sports brings many athletes to their preseason and preparation for battle in the Sierra Foothills League. However, for some, the competition never stops, as they play club sports almost year-round. It consumes their life as they strive for becoming an NCAA division one athlete. One of these people is Sydney Talmi, a junior on the GBHS girls’ varsity soccer team. For Talmi, soccer is life. “I practice about ten and a half hours a week including weekends” Talmi said. However, for serious athletes, one cannot exclusively play for their high school in today’s highly competitive world of soccer. In order to garner extra attention from prospective colleges, Talmi plays Olympic Development Program, National Premier League and Placer United soccer in her spare time. For Talmi, soccer takes up roughly almost every day of her year. Talmi is very excited for the prospects of the Grizzlies’ upcoming season. She believes that they have the potential to be successful this year.
The prospect of being able to work with new players excites her, and Talmi said that her teammates will be able to step right in and contribute immediately alongside her and other stalwarts on the team. Talmi says that she doesn’t have any personal goals for the season, but has a team goal of bringing home another section title for the Grizzlies this year. Talmi realizes that this feat will not be easy, but she is willing to take on the work that comes with attempting to win the banner. Recently, several fellow Grizzlies have turned in verbal commitments to fulfil their dream of playing collegiate soccer. Talmi is attempting to fulfill her lifelong goal as well and is very much on the road to doing so. Talmi also noted that she is attending a tournament next month in North Carolina for a showcase that many east coast schools will be attending in order to further he involvement in the recruiting process. Not many athletes possess the talent that Talmi has along with the work ethic possessed to commit almost their entire year to further her life goal of playing soccer as an NCAA athlete. “As of right now I do not have any formal offers, but I am talking to multiple schools,” Talmi said.
Friday, March 7, 2014
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Sports C3
Spring teams hoping to exceed previous high expectations Baseball, other spring sports making a push for section titles BY BRENDAN GOZALEZ bgonzalez.gazette@gmail.com
The Grizzlies varsity baseball team is coming off a solid regular season, going 17-9 (11-4 in league), however, most of the returning players are disappointed after being ousted in the first round of playoffs by Jesuit. “We felt like we were a better team than how we finished the season last year,” senior Mitch Hart said. Hart, along with many other athletes on the team, saw their efforts unacceptably fall short. “I’m definitely disappointed in how last season ended, considering the caliber of talent we had,” senior Devin Lehman said. This year the Grizzlies return a handful of key players, including four players who have already committed to play at Division I schools. Hart (University of Southern California), senior Connor Briare (Loyola Marymount University), and seniors Vinny Esposito and Lehman (Sacramento
State University) have already signed their letters of intent. Other seniors on the team have garnered interest from recruits as well. “This year, as a senior dominated team, we are determined to win a section title and be the best,” Lehman said. To prepare for the title chase, the team has been doing a variety of offseason workouts. “As a team, we have been putting in a lot of work on the field, as well as in the weight room,” Hart said. “We’ve been practicing hard in athletic PE,” Lehman said. “The intra-squad games have helped simulate what the season will be like.” As for the rest of the season, it’s pretty much section-title-or-bust for the Grizzlies. “We really feel like we have a great shot at winning a section championship and anything short of that will definitely be a disappointment,” Hart said. “The ultimate goal,” Lehman said, “is to end the season with rings on our fingers.”
Gazette photo /emily wagner
Seniors Connor Ingersol and Zack Hall and junior Ryan Ingersol discuss their strategy for the season as they warm up before a practice.
Boys’ Lacrosse After losing in the first round of playoffs to Davis, the Grizzlies varsity lacrosse team is working for a better result this year. “This year, we have implemented a new offense, and we have been doing a preseason conditioning program,” senior Austin Allegra said. “We also recently played in a local tournament which we placed first in.” Girls’ Lacrosse The Grizzlies girls’ lacrosse team was another GBHS team to suffer a disappointing loss in the first round of playoffs last season. This year, with many returning players, they are hoping for better results. “We have had a club team starting in August, so most of us have been practicing and playing together for a while,” junior Emily Torris said. “I think we can win league and make a nice run in playoffs.”
Boys’ Golf Last year, the Grizzlies varsity golf team lost by one stroke in the Masters Tournament, which disappointed many of the golfers after winning the Division I State Championship the year before. “We have been playing almost every day for the past few weeks to get ready for the season,” senior Zack Kwan said. “Our goal is to get back to the state tournament, and ultimately win a 2nd state title.”
Gazette photo /emily wagner
The varsity catchers help each other as they get ready for their season. make another deep playoff run. “A lot of us have been playing together in the offseason, as well as doing conditioning and lifting weights,” senior Brandt Misik said. “The goal is to win sections and then a round in NorCals.”
Girls’ Soccer The girls’ soccer team Boys’ Volleyball has had continued sucThe boys’ varcess, reaching the section sity volleyball team is quarterfinals the last 2 This year, as a working hard for the years, after winning the upcoming season, after senior dominated section the year before. losing in the semifinals Led by the core of senior team, we are of the NorCal tournacaptains Makenzie Brito ment last season. determined to and Sara Wagner and “The majority of our important contributors win a section title players play yearDestiny Butcher, and be the best. senior round volleyball, and and sophomores Maggie we have been playing Bell and Savanna Thomptogether in athletic son, the team hopes to – Devin Lehman, PE,” senior Brandon continue this success. senior baseball Freitas said. “With the “We have been doing a talent we have, our player lot of skill work, as well goal is to win the Noras working on team chemCal Championship.” istry and getting comfortable with each other,” Boy’s Tennis Butcher said. “Ultimately, After making it to the goal is sections, but the section finals last season, the Grizwe want to end the season knowing we zlies tennis team has been working hard to gave it our all.”
Softball After a disappointing season in which they missed the playoffs last year, the Grizzlies softball team returns many key players that will help them to a better season. “Since majority of the team is returning players from last year, we are working on improving things that were unsuccessful for us last year,” senior Marciela Garza said. “This year, we want to finish the season with a winning record and make it to playoffs.” Swimming The GBHS swim team is looking to win their 18th straight SFL title this year. “Most of us have gotten into shape by swimming, lifting weights, eating healthy, and getting sufficient sleep,” senior Chase Cooper said. “We feel we can win a section title this year.” Track and Field The Grizzlies track and field team returns many talented athletes hoping to make it to the section meets. “I have been working out doing plyometric to increase my vertical,” senior long jumper Liang said. “My goal is to go past sections and possibly beat the GBHS long jump record.”
Grizz Quiz Compiled by Brian Zhuang
Jordan Holt Girls’ Soccer
Matt Giles Boys’ Swim
Sam Neptune Track and Field
Matt Steindorf
Molly Graves
Baseball
Track and Field
What is your favorite Girl Scout cookie?
Samoas
Thin Mint
Samoas
Peanut Butter Patties
Samoas
What is your least favorite color?
Orange
Orange
Purple
Orange
Navy Blue
What is your favorite TV show?
Castle
The Office (before Michael left)
Workaholics
NCIS
Spongebob
What’s your favorite animated character?
Olaf from Frozen
Tarzan
Daffy Duck
Donald Duck
Ariel
What’s your favorite restaurant in Granite Bay?
Mikunis
P.F. Chang’s
Mongolian BBQ
Five Guys Burgers and Fries
Fat’s
Your Names. Your Faces. The Gazette.
Friday, March 7, 2013
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Sports C4
Gay football player inspiring GBHS with his courage Students react to the news of Michael Sam BYNICOLAS ONTIVEROS nontiveros.gazette@gmail.com
As a former defensive end for the Missouri Tigers and future National Football League prospect, Michael Sam is a role model for GBHS football players. “I have become a Missouri fan because he plays my position,” said Grant Teunissen, a varsity football player. “I would design my play off of his game.” However, recently Michael Sam astonished the nation by announcing his homosexuality, making him the first openly gay athlete to declare for the NFL draft. “I was shocked,” Teunissen said. “He is not someone you would think would be gay.” During the past year, Sam led the Southeastern Conference, arguably the toughest division in collegiate football, in sacks and also received the SEC defensive player of the year award. Because of Sam’s skills on the
field, GBHS athletes have begun to look past his sexuality. Drew Toso, a varsity football and volleyball player, does not see Sam’s sexuality as a hindrance to his future in the NFL. “I think he’s an incredible athlete and that he deserves a fair shot in the (NFL),” Toso said. “Talent is talent, regardless of sexuality.” Many of the Granite Bay athletes have been supportive of Sam’s announcement and any other gay athlete’s. “I know this story has definitely caused talk around campus,” Toso said. “Most are accepting of him.” Most athletes have been in agreement that his sexuality should change scouts’ opinions. “I’ve talked to a couple of the guys on the (football) team,” Teunissen said. “There is a positive response because … his sexual preference has nothing to do with his play on the field.” Ultimately, the Michael Sam
story has caused many players to reflect on locker room culture at GBHS, especially with regards to accepting athletes with varied sexual orientations. According to a 2011 report by the Gay, Lesbian & Straight Education Network, 27.8% of LGBT student athletes surveyed reported being harassed or assaulted. Additionally, some LGBT students noted that schools would discourage or prevent the LGBT students from participating in athletics. Varsity soccer and basketball player Zachary Boyle believes Granite Bay athletics does not create this type of environment. “I really do feel that our community is accepting of anyone, gay or not gay,” Boyle said. “This community does not have hazing from what I know of.” “At Granite Bay, we definitely have one of the most accepting programs in all of sports,” Toso
Gazette photo /Luke chirbas
Having no enemies in the locker room is key to a successful team, which GBHS athletes know said. “Everyone finds somewhere to surround themselves with the people they feel comfortable with. Nonetheless, Teunissen thinks there still would be a response from the community if a GBHS athlete did come out as being gay. “It could work in (GBHS) athletics, but I’m worried about the athletes,” Teunissen said. “We are high school students who can say too much (at the wrong time).” Parental response is another factor that could affect gay student athletes. “Dealing with parents could be a (potential hassle),” Teunissen said. “Many parents could be upset with
a gay athlete on a team.” AP Psychology teacher Natalie Elkin notes how perception of a gay athlete can affect on-field performance. “The in-group vs. out-group aspect changes,” Elkin said. “The team is part of the in-group, but the label of sexual orientation can make the (gay athlete) feel as part of the out-group.” Also, football has many stereotypes that can change locker room behavior. “Football has a culture of intense masculinity,” Elkin said. “Gender typing creates an inherent expectation of heterosexuality.”
“Sexuality shines a light on other behavior based on (heterosexual) assumptions,” Elkin said. Sam’s sexuality can also be a mechanism to analyze cultural expectations. “Homophobia is embedded in the fabric of our culture,” Elkin said. “We are slowly growing more tolerant.” Athletes such as Teunissen can still look up to Sam as a brave person, both on and off the field. “My respect for him has gone up,” Teunissen said. “He had the courage to do that in a world where there is slow progress for gay rights.”
Freshman standout moves to highest level to add depth With push for playoffs, ninth-grader Isaiah Lewis joins boys’ varsity basketball team BY BRENDAN GONZALEZ bgonzalez.gazette@gmail.com
Most Granite Bay High School students would be able to recognize freshman Isaiah Lewis as “the guy with the huge afro,” but he has stood out in more ways than simply his looks. Recently, Lewis has been called up to the varsity Grizzlies basketball team. Each year, many varsity sports teams bring up younger players from the junior varsity team around playoff time to provide depth in case of injury. Lewis, however, has been able to come in and provide more than that for the Grizzlies. Lewis, after starting on the freshman basketball, was brought up straight to varsity, skipping the junior varsity
level, shortly before playoffs started. “It’s pretty rare that freshman get pulled up to varsity, so we didn’t really know what to expect,” senior Zach Boyle said. “But he’s done a nice job coming in and pushing all of us guards in practice.” Lewis’ teammates have praised his effort since he arrived at the varsity level. “Isaiah does well pushing the ball up the floor and is a good on-ball defender,” junior Colin McHale said. “He’s definitely been able to help us simulate what guards of our opponents will be like when we are preparing for a game.” Lewis has even been able to play key minutes for the Grizzlies, which is almost unprecedented for younger players who are pulled up for playoffs. “When I first got pulled up, I pictured myself stealing the ball from Noah Black-
well (a Woodcreek guard) and getting a fast-break and dunking,” Lewis said. “It didn’t happen but I was thankful for the minutes I got.” Lewis, who hopes to play varsity during his sophomore year, knows how valuable it is to be a part of the team this year. “It gives me a chance to not only learn
the plays, but also to get a feel for the speed and intensity of varsity basketball,” Lewis said. Lewis is a two-sport athlete, as he also was a key player for the Grizzlies freshman football team. As for the next 3 years, Lewis has lofty aspirations for not only his athletic, but
Seeing a day in the life of a GBHS athlete Junior Brett Munkdale lives through a typical day for a busy varsity hopeful
“Both Brett Vinny and Munkdale Devin give The junior Becoming a varsity starting athlete is the goal for the other infielder puts many young people across the nation; after all, they junior inin hard work get all of the fame and glory. fielders tips But what about those who work endlessly day in to achieve his that make and day out to hopefully garner the same attention goal of playing us bother that those who they back up get? This is a reality smarter and on varsity. that many seem to forget about, except for the few will help who live through the struggles of long practices, and us during long hours in the gym honing their craft in hopes of game situations,” Munkdale said. “The older guys one day becoming the starter that they have always really help the younger guys get better in every way envisioned. possible.” Brett Munkdale, a junior and second baseman on However once the long, tiring practice concludes, the varsity baseball team, is one of these individuals Munkdale is forced back to the harsh reality of high who strives day in and day out to school, a reality filled with tests and get better and one day become a homework. starter for the Grizzlies. “Staying motivated for school He begins everyday just as you isn’t really that hard,” Munkdale The older guys said. “Coach Esposito teaches and I would. He gets up, showers, gets dressed, eats his breakfast school and family over baseball, so really help the and toils through the school day as if needed, he allows us to do our younger guys get work”. every student does. However by the time fourth period rolls around, Baseball doesn’t ever stop for better in every Munkdale and many others striving Munkdale, as he routinely practices way possible. to continue their passions in college over the weekends working out, separate from the rest of the student hitting in the cages in his spare time, body. and doing extra practice with fellow – Brett Munkdale, Munkdale and other members of teammates. junior baseball the baseball team head off to their By the time actual games roll player practice where they all strive to get around however, Munkdale will be better and increase their chances relegated to the bench – something of reaching their goal of winning that will be different for a player sections. who started during his times on the “We do everything we can to prefreshmen and junior varsity. pare ourselves for upcoming games “Winning is everything,” Munkdale said. so we know we will be ready when the time comes,” Munkdale said he would like to be starting, but the Munkdale said. current lineup gives them the best chance to get to Yet despite the four hour practices six days a week, sections and put the ring on their fingers that they all there is still the reality that he probably won’t see strive for in the end. much game action, mainly because he backs up After all of the day’s practice and homework has Sacramento State commit Devin Lehman. However concluded, Munkdale eats dinner, watches television, Munkdale doesn’t see this as a disadvantage. and falls asleep, preparing to do it all again the next “Being a backup to a scholarship athlete has its day. Munkdale is anything but sad about his lack advantages” Munkdale said. “You can learn how to of playing time either. play the game both physically and mentally at an elite “I would gladly embrace the role of being a backup level.” and a good teammate that works hard,” Munkdale Munkdale speaks volumes about the amount of help said. “I do whatever I can to increase our chances of he receives from the senior infielders. winning” BY STEVEN GERISCH
sgerisch.gazette@gmail.com
Your Names. Your Faces. The Gazette.
also his academic career at GBHS. “My goals are to finish high school with good grades, go to State for basketball and football, and ultimately get a scholarship for football,” Lewis said. The experience Lewis is gaining from his time with the varsity basketball team can help Lewis reach these goals.
Friday March 7, 2014
w The Granite Bay Gazette
Sports C5
SPORTS-A-RAMA: ‘Tonight in the games we just killed it.’ Continued from page C1
Gazette photo / LUKE CHIRBAS
Sports-A-Rama participants show off their true game faces while in the heat of competition.
upset victory over the senior class, claiming the trophy that some feel they were unjustly robbed of last year. “(This is) probably one of the most exciting moments ever,” said Geraghty when asked how the winning moment felt. “(This is) so surreal. At practice we weren’t doing that great, but in the games and tonight we just killed it.” “Winning was super exciting, I still can’t believe we pulled it off,” Barron said. However the excitement was only experienced by one class. “It was a tough loss” said Hall. “We fought hard but it was pretty clear the juniors deserved the victory.” Kennedy Christi, a sophomore Sports-ARama team member, wasn’t as devastated after the loss as others. “(I’m) not really that disappointed,” Christi said, “I didn’t really expect to win.” Many of the members who participated spoke of the bonding and unity created by the event. “It is a lot of work and energy, but in the end it all pays off and I never regret doing it,”
Christi said. “It’s a lot of fun, people should definitely join” said Hall. “It’s a fun way to get involved with your class.” Geraghty, a three year veteran, also spoke highly of the event now as a three year veteran. “Do it, you won’t regret it,” Geraghty said. “You have such a fun time with your team, and you make lots of friends”. Added Geraghty, “It’s definitely been one of my favorite high school memories.”
Gazette photo / LUKE CHIRBAS
Senior athlete enjoys sports as both a player and fan Dylan Keeney ‘can’t imagine a high school experience without the presence of sports’ BY TREASA MAIREAD HAYES thayes.gazette@gmail.com
In every issue of the Gazette, a student is picked to be fan of the month for their remarkable Granite Bay High School Grizzlies’ spirit and energy at almost every sporting event. This month, senior Dylan Keeney has been selected for his awesome GBHS sports pride and personal athletic background.
When asked what games were his favorites to attend, Keeney replied, “All the games. I’m the fan of the month.” Since Keeney is so greatly involved, he and his friends have various game day traditions that they have carried through their four years in high school. “Before all of the games,” Keeney said, “I pray to the Tribe gods asking to give the Tribe the spirit we need to lead the team to victory.”
Because of some of these traditions, he has collected several quality memories from the countless games he’s attended. “(My) best high school sports memory as a fan is when we beat Jesuit in the section championship in soccer this year,” Keeney said, “and
(the time) we hit a buzzer beater shot to beat Woodcreek and rushed the court is a close second.” According to Keeney, his Tribe membership has always been significant, but his senior year has definitely seen the greatest involvement, as it probably has for other seniors too. Being a football player himself, Keeney loves the intense energy
SIGNING: Next step in athletes’ careers
Continued from page C1 media,” Ellison said, “It was one of the to go on and play collegiately, in addibest experiences I’ve had in my entire tion to the eight students that signed their life.” letters earlier this fall. Ellison believes his playing days will The ceremony was put online so that extend past the college level, as he is friends and family not in attendance hoping to eventually play professioncould watch the special moment. ally. At the ceremony, the students each GBHS has had quite a few professigned their official letters of intent to atsional football players come through tend their school, showing their full comtheir program including most recently mitment to the school and its program Miles Burris, linebacker of the Oakfor the following year. land Raiders. GBHS athletes “The best part is signed letters to a knowing I’m going variety of colleges this to a place where my year, ranging from dreams can actually bigger well-known have a chance to beschools such as Unicome a reality, which versity of Arizona and is to play professionalUniversity of Southern ly,” Ellison said, “I’m California, to smaller going to work as hard private schools such as as I can to get there.” Hillsdale College and Apart from the stueverything in between. dents signing, the day For runner Katie was also special for Mersereau, Hillsdale parents and coaches. College was the right After watching the ath– Tony Ellison, fit. On the smaller side, letes grow and helping varsity football player with approximately them throughout their 1400 students in attencareers, signing day dance, Hillsdale offers has value for them. a very different experi“It was really excitence than a “big football” school. ing to be in the room during the sign“I am really excited to go to a college ing,” said Mark Broers, coach of the that will offer me not only a great educavarsity girls’ soccer team. “As a coach tion but also the opportunity to continue I was really proud of all the athletes my athletics,” Mersereau said. there representing our school and com“For me it was really cool to officially munity.” sign in the room with everyone because After working with three of the signwatching some of my senior teamees through the girls’ soccer program— mates sign three years ago when I was Makenzie Brito (UCSD), Sara Wagner a freshman was the coolest thing ever,” (Chapman University), and Julia Beck Mersereau said, “so for me to now get to (University of Pacific), Broers said he sign was a pretty cool experience.” felt blessed with the opportunity to For GBHS football’s Tony Ellison, work with such talented, hardworking signing day was less of a day of deciathletes and see them succeed. sion for Ellison, and more so a day of “Being able to watch the kids grow recognition having verbally committed up in the community and have success to University of Arizona in early June of through club teams,” Broers said, “and last summer. then (getting) to coach them in their “The atmosphere in the signing room teenage years and see them reach their was surreal because it felt like we were goals is really a neat thing that not celebrities with all the cameras and many get the chance to experience.”
CAREER: Both good and bad comes with retirement Continued from page C1
Regardless of how unaffected their play has been, the athletes know that this is their last year, and that it holds a special importance. “I’ve been trying to enjoy every practice and every moment because I know I won’t get to experience it again,” Riffice said. Cooper is also ready for his final season. “I’m excited and ready to go for my last year.” Cooper said. However, he also noted a downside to the end of his competitive swimming career. “I feel like after this season is over, I will never be in as good of shape as I am now.” Cooper said. Cooper and other athletes are also disappointed about the end of his time with their teammates and coaches. Even if they don’t continue to play their sport, many have fond memories of their respective high school teams. “My last game was against Jesuit, beating them for the section title,” Anderson said, “Couldn’t leave on a better note.”
It was one of the best experiences I’ve had in my entire life.
Your sports.
of both the Tribe and athletics in general at GBHS. Because of his heavy participation in athletics, Keeney can’t imagine a high school experience without the presence of sports, even just attending games. “I think people who don’t go to games should reevaluate their lives,” Keeney said, “because the team needs us and the Tribe life is the good life.” Dylan Keeney would like to thank the Tribe gods for selecting him as fan of the month.
Gazette photo/GRACE MOORE
Gazette file photo/LAUREL TEAGUE
Senior Mitch Riffice (top), lays the ball in during an early season basketball practice. Senior Chase Cooper (bottom), treads water as a member of the Granite Bay High School swim team.
Your school.
The Gazette.
C6 Sports
Friday, March 7 2014
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AT A GLANCE
For the Record Girls’ Basketball Sac-Joaquin Section Division I Playoffs wFeb. 21 – Granite Bay 48, Kennedy 75 Mens’ Basketball Sac-Joaquin Section Division I Tournament wFeb. 26- Granite Bay 45, River City 44 wFeb. 28- Granite Bay 39, Jesuit 77 Boys’ Lacrosse wMarch 1 – Granite Bay 13, Clayton Valley 2 wMarch 5 – Granite Bay vs. Cardinal Newman, at Cardinal Newman wMarch 7 – Granite Bay vs. Franklin, at Monte Vista wMarch 14 – Granite Bay vs. Las Lomas, at Granite Bay Girls’ Lacrosse wFeb. 28 – Granite Bay 16, Berkeley 6 wMarch 4 – Granite Bay vs. Campolindo, at Campolindo wMarch 11 – Granite Bay vs. Foothill, at Foothill wMarch 14 – Granite Bay vs. Las Lomas, at Las Lomas Track & Field wMarch 1 – Clark Massey Invite, at Cordova wMarch 8 – King Gilbert, at Granite Bay wMarch 14 – SFL Championships Girls’ Soccer wFeb. 26 – Granite Bay 0, Whitney 0 wMarch 4 – Granite Bay vs. Bella Vista, at Bella Vista wMarch 13 – Granite Bay vs. Del Campo, at Del Campo wMarch 17 – Granite Bay vs. River Valley, at River Valley Boys’ Golf wMarch 6 – Granite Bay vs. Auburn Valley, at Auburn Valley wMarch 7 – Granite Bay vs. Jesuit, at Jesuit Boys’ Baseball wMarch 6-8 – Central California Showcase wMarch 11 – Granite Bay vs. Bella Vista, at Bella Vista wMarch 15– Granite Bay vs. Campolindo, at Granite Bay wMarch 20 – Granite Bay vs. Franklin, at Franklin Boys’ Tennis wMarch 4 – Granite Bay vs. Plesant Valley, at Granite Bay wMarch 11 – Granite Bay vs. Davis, at Davis wMarch 18 – Granite Bay vs. Roseville, at Roseville wMarch 25 – Granite Bay vs. Woodcreek, at Granite Bay Boys’ Volleyball wMarch 4 – Granite Bay vs. Ponderosa, at Granite Bay wMarch 11 – Granite Bay vs. Oak Ridge, at Oak Ridge wMarch 18 – Granite Bay vs. Jesuit, at Granite Bay wMarch 20 – Granite Bay vs. Bellarmine, at Bellarmine Girls’ Softball wMarch 4 – Granite Bay vs. Bella Vista, at Bella Vista wMarch 5 – Granite Bay vs. Del Campo, at Del Campo wMarch 7 – Granite Bay vs. Rocklin, at Granite Bay wMarch 11 – Granite Bay vs. Oak Ridge, at Granite Bay Swimming wMarch 7 – Roseville Swim Invitational, at Roseville wMarch 14 – Granite Bay vs. Rocklin, at Rocklin wMarch 21 – Granite Bay vs. Jesuit, at jesuit
Seniors Blaise Nasri, Myles Slattery and Jackson Rodriguez, top, cheer for the Seniors at the Sports-aRama rally. Junior Matthew Postell, left, tightly guards an Acalanes High School middie on Feb. 27. Racing across the gym, bottom left, sophmores receive third place in the race for class dominance. Seniors, bottom right, line up to compete in the dance competition. Senior Michael Geraghty, far bottom right, checks an Acalanes High School attack man.
Gazette photos by Luke Chirbas
green screen. March 2014 The Gazette’s arts and entertainment guide
Get the look: the latest fashion of 2014
Pages 8 and 9
Page 2
March 2014
sneak peek.
Gazette photo /CAITLYN HURLEY
Gazette photo /COLLEEN VIVALDI
wSee pages 8 & 9 for a spring style guide about upcoming trends.
wSee page 10 for insight and traditions behind the famous day of leprechauns.
Gazette photo /BRIAN ZHUANG
wSee page 16 for 5k fun run festivities and information for local runs.
Will you accept this rose?
Y
The Bachelor television show hooks teen at GBHS
ou can call me crazy, but I actually really do love the show I don’t want to come off as obsessive, because I’m not. It’s The Bachelor. just that intense shows like these keep me guessing and looking It’s not just the unbelievably attractive men that are on forward for the next one to come. They’re purely engaging to me. the show, but it’s also the intense conflict and drama that comes Girls are constantly fighting with and complaining about the with it. Watching 27 scheming girls fighting for their time with the other girls in the house, creating a whole circle of everlasting one Bachelor actually entertains me. Is that strange? drama. It’s basically a huge cat fight between all the women. Now It’s exciting, heart-breaking, nerve wracking, how would you like to be in something like that? intriguing and exhilarating: all the qualities that a And then there are those dream-like one-on-one regular teenage girl would want in a show, in my dates at exquisite and exotic locales. Where do I opinion. sign up? Now sadly, I don’t have a lot of time to watch But even I acknowledge that this show truly these types of shows. With my four AP classes and isn’t realistic. playing competitive soccer eight hours a week, I With so many girls all fighting for one man, barely have any time to watch TV at all. what are the odds that you would actually end up I feel like most of my life is spent trapped in with the last rose and find true love? my room studying, doing homework and studying Most contestants say that they have “truly fallen some more. And even when I do get some free for the bachelor,” but in all honesty, that’s quite time, I’m usually trying to get ahead on other impossible. To fall in love with someone over the homework. I guess I’m kind of nerdy like that. course of eight weeks is really unlikely to happen. But Monday is the one day that gets me excited Now, by all means, I’m no expert on love. tjohnk.gazette@gmail.com every week. But in watching this show, I’ve seen very few It’s the day when I can put aside all my school contestants walk out of the show because they work and actually enjoy something I really love to watch, realized that there wasn’t any connection between them and the something that simply entertains me. Bachelor. It’s the day when The Bachelor is on. Do you see my point? It’s all mainly forced love. It’s just I know that people have their doubts on the series, but I am one because the contestants want the publicity or maybe they are just who does not. I truly have full confidence that the Bachelor for having a new fun experience while their hearts are on the line. All this season, Juan Pablo, will find true love… at least for a while. of these work. I guess you could say that if I had the chance to apply for any But besides all of its flaws, The Bachelor will always be that one season, it would have been this one. show that truly entertains me. Former pro soccer player with a sexy Venezuelan accent, Juan No matter what anyone else says, it’s a show that keeps me Pablo epitomizes the gorgeous, athletic, soft and sensitive soulengaged and away from my own drama. mate that the contestants, and I looking for love, would want for And in case there’s any doubt, “Yes Juan Pablo, I will accept their husband. your rose.”
Commentary
Tamren Johnk
Guide to Green Screen
Page 3
Page 6/7
Page 10
Food reviews St. Patrick’s Day Page 4 Page 8/9 Traditions Who’s hiring? New Page 5 Spring Page 12 Senior activities fashion Top tweets Music Reviews
Upcoming GBHS Events for March March 7 St. Baldrick’s @ one lunch March 13/14 Finals schedule (1/2 & 3/4) March 31
Spirit Week kick-off
Page 13 Raves
Page 14/15 Recent movie reviews
Page 16
5k running marathons
March 2014
Page 3
tune in.
Kid Cudi Satellite Flight: The Journey BY CAROLINE PALMER cpalmer.gazette@gmail.com
O
n February 25, Kid Cudi released Satellite Flight: The Journey to Mother Moon. Cudi’s only promotion for it was a tweet at 7:00 p.m. the day the album came out, advertising tickets to Copernicus Landing two hours later. Fans of Cudi knew something was coming and quickly spread the word. Out of nowhere, he released the album on iTunes. Some say he may have gotten this confidence and idea from Beyoncé who had a surprise release in December that went very well. It’s obvious just from the title of the album that Cudi is going for a futuristic, space-type feel, much like his prior album Indicud. However, Satellite Flight has a bit of a different feel than his past albums. Much like in his other album, Man on the Moon, there is a lot of speaking before and during songs on his new album. Lines like “the story goes, a young man will come and save the universe from the forces of evil” are said before multiple tracks. This audio continues the story line from both Man on the Moon and Man on the Moon II, where Cudi narrates his trip through space and time. The album gives off a hallucinogenic feeling—it’s as if when you
listen to the songs, you are lifting off to another world. It makes you question what you don’t know, which is probably exactly what Cudi was hoping listeners would feel. The rapping in the album is very good, but what really sets this apart from other current albums are the beats and instrumentals of the background. Sometimes, audio plays for over two minutes before Cudi even starts rapping in the song. What Cudi could work on is his moaning and humming throughout the songs. Sometimes it adds uniqueness to the song and isn’t too bad to listen to, but other times it sounds like he is trying too hard and making unnecessary additions to the album. For example, in some songs such as “Internal Bleeding” Cudi seems to be sort of scream-singing, and it isn’t the best thing to listen to. With the exception of some mediocre singing and too much audio, the album is really enjoyable and relaxing to listen to. What has always set Cudi aside from other artists is his disinterest in what fans think. As an artist, Cudi always tries to push his artistic boundaries, and as a result of this, we see a broader range through his four albums of what the artist can do. It might mimic the Indicud theme and Man on the Moon’s story line, but Satellite Flight still holds some originality and quality.
Republic Records
Satellite Flight: The Journey was released on Feb. 25, 2014
B
Skip to: Satellite Flight
The Grouch & Eligh The Tortoise and the Crow BY LUKE CHIRBAS
U The Grouch & Eligh Music
The Tortoise and the Crow hit the market on Feb. 18, 2014.
A
Skip to: We Want the World
lchirbas.gazette@gmail.com
pon entering high school, I discovered a new appreciation for all types of music. Whether it be pop, rap, jazz, reggae (but not country), and by listening to the new album The Tortoise and the Crow, I remembered why I appreciate hip-hop so much. Too many times now artists sing their desire for having sex. This garbage has somehow became synonymous with rap. Grouch and Eligh should be the billboard for Hip-Hop. They have rhymes and lyrics that are deep and meaningful. Some discussed topics such as world unity and human kindness, a theme that is often regarded as an oxymoron when associated with this type of genre. With creating such great music, it surprises me that it took so long for this explosive duo to meet up. But the wait was sure worth it. They dropped 41 songs in a single album, and every song is better than the last. The two artists complement each other so nicely, creating sounds of perfection. Clearly pronouncing the lyrics and keeping with the rhythm was a
major selling factor in this new album. Crouch and Eligh also ingeniously put together some of the sickest beats I have ever heard. Having huge drops at perfect times and or just simply keeping the beat, definitely complimented the lyrics and do not contradict them. The synonymous melodies are one of those rare sounds you hear maybe once every five years. It has the ability of putting you into a tranquil state. Beyond that, the rhythms and beats change often from song to song, always keeping the listener guessing what the next track is going to resemble. Of course there are one or two songs that are not as attractive, and should not have been put in the album. However, that is expected with the as much songs the album contains. The real stand out of the album was song called “We Want the World.” As simple as it sounds, it just goes together. The constant beat has a way of keeping you listening for more. This is a great album, and I recommend it for anybody who wants to listen to true hip-hop.
Schoolboy Q Oxymoron BY STEVEN GERISCH
S
sgerisch.gazette@gmail.com
choolboy Q, member of the rap group Black Hippy, recently released Oxymoron, his highly anticipated, major label, debut album. Major contributors to this successful breakout album include 2 Chainz, Tyler, The Creator and Kendrick Lamar. Accompanying many of Schoolboy’s first time releases are his highly popular singles, “Collard Greens” and “Man of the Year,” the latter being the more recent of the two. Schoolboy, coming off of a poor opening track of “Gangster,” partners with Jay Rock to create his 2nd song on Oxymoron, “Los Awesome.” “Los Awesome” contains a very up-tempo beat and a catchy chorus, creating a song that many will flock to. Overall this is one of his better songs on the album. “Los Awesome’s” up-tempo nature also serves as a great precursor to one of Schoolboy’s most popular songs, “Collard Greens,” a song that features Kendrick Lamar, currently one of the most popular artists in the music industry. Although “Collard Greens” was released more than 6 months ago, it is still touted as one of the more popular and well known songs right now. The album progresses with “What They Want,” a collaboration done with 2 Chainz.
While slower in nature, the song still follows the typical path of the rest of the album Schoolboy produces another gem with Studio, a relatively slow and sensual song. BJ the Chicago Kid joins on this track, adding to the plethora of talent featured on the album. “Prescription-Oxymoron” is next up on the album and he dives into this one by rapping all about how he has become addicted to prescription pain killers. Tyler, The Creator makes a guest appearance on “The Purge,” the next song on Oxymoron. Schoolboy seems to adopt some of Tyler’s style and creates a cohesive song. Skipping ahead in the album, Schoolboy produces another quality song with “Hell of a Night.” It starts off with an ominous lull of tones and quickly transitions into up-tempo lyrics combining with beats to produce one of his best songs yet. He continues his genius by placing his hit single “Man of the Year” two songs later. “Man of the Year” has garnered a lot of the attention on this album as being hyped as an early favorite for song of the year. Schoolboy finishes off his album with another song that comes deep from his heart. “F--- LA” comes off as an egregious title for a song title, especially for a Los Angeles native. All in all Schoolboy Q’s Oxymoron is a great kick start to this year in
Interscope Records
Oxymoron debuted on Feb. 25, 2014.
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Page 4
March 2014
current.
Teacher Playlist Mike Valentine, AP History Teacher’s Playlist Born in the USA – Bruce Springsteen Stairway to Heaven – Led Zeppelin Satisfaction – Rolling Stones Respect – Aretha Franklin American Pie – Don McLean
Who’s Hiring BY MAGGIE BELL
BY KAT MCGRAIL
Taco Bell
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Team Member - Cashier & Food Prep 6975 Douglas Blvd. Granite Bay, CA (916) 791-0707 “Taco Bell is a great place to build your reputation and create references while getting experience in the food industry.” – Jackson Rodriguez
Peet’s Coffee Barista- makes drinks 731 Pleasant Grove Blvd. Roseville, CA (916) 771-4391 Chipotle Restaurant Team MemberCrew 1136 Galleria Blvd. Roseville, CA (916) 783-8841
Panera Bread
BY GINA FINN
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Hourly Associate-no prior experience needed 916 Pleasant Grove Blvd. Roseville, CA (916) 771-3131 Gazette photo /DANTE WEEKS
Top Netflix Picks BY DANTE WEEKS
dweeks.gazette@gmail.com
House of Cards (2013-Present) This Netflix exclusive series follows ruthless congressman Frank Underwood (Kevin Spacey) as he climbs his way up the ranks of the United States government. Blackfish (2013) This documentary examines the life of a performing Killer whale, Tilikum who killed several people while in captivity. Blue Mountain State (2010-2011) This hilariously entertaining series follows players on the football team of the fictional blue mountain state college. The series takes an inside look at the partying, binge drinking, women, hazing, football, and the everyday lives of these players.
ns (III)
Brownstone Productio
The Perfect Host (2010) This suspenseful thriller stars the psychologically disturbed host, Warwick Wilson (David Hyde Pierce) and the career criminal, John Taylor (Clayne Crawford). The Movie starts off with John Taylor robbing a bank and trying to get off the streets but finds himself at the wrong doorstep of Wilson who isn’t the man he seems to be. This film truly shows just how far humans are willing to go to satisfy our various needs.
repect your elders.
March 2014
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High costs for lifetime memories ... BY KIANA OKHOVAT
kokhovat.gazette@gmail.com
With nearly three months of the 2013-2014 school year left, students have a lot of fun activities to look forward to – especially the seniors. Already, talk of the ‘senior wave’ of events is in the air, especially the one that’s on everyone’s minds – Senior Ball – as seniors anticipate all the fun events they’ve waited four years to participate in. But what the majority of students don’t know is how all these events are pulled off. Every other organization and department on campus gets money from the district except for the Associated Student Body. “That’s just how it is,” activities director Tamara Givens said. “The activities program is self-sufficient. It’s not technically a department. The money is all raised by students and is all spent for students.” Classes get money for their events through fundraising, the revenue from the Activities stickers you can purchase on your ID card at the beginning of the year, and, the biggest class money-making source, class T-shirts. “The more people buy class shirts, the cheaper your Senior Ball tickets are,” Givens said. Each class has a big opportunity to make money for their class, carrying over the profits year after year, ultimately leading up to funding the big senior year. “(Classes) can do whatever they want, fundraiser wise,” Givens said, “Most of your money is spent during senior year, so they want it for (that).” Aside from T-shirt sales, big money-makers for the freshman and sophomores are water sales at graduation, and the Powder Puff snack bar. The junior class recently
replaced their biggest money-maker, Junior Prom, with an auction due to a lack in prom attendance. “(When) our kids stopped going to junior prom … our junior class lost money,” Givens said. “They couldn’t sell enough tickets to be able to support it, so they couldn’t do it anymore.” The goal of the auction is to be the final push, to earn money for senior year. One of the most popular, and most pricey, events for seniors is Senior Ball. Each ticket costs $90 to $95 dollars. As a whole, the event costs nearly $50,000. So what exactly does that cover? Essentially, the room fee at the Hyatt Hotel, where Senior Ball is set, secruity, dinner plus a 22% gratuity rate, flowers, DJ, lighting, balloons, an unlimited candy bar, an unlimited soda bar and a photo booth. “I would have never guessed it would be that much,” senior Meghna Menon said. “That make sense as to why tickets cost so much … I always used to wonder … why they were so expensive.” Student government realizes the magnitude of the ticket price, and charges students exactly what the event costs, they make little to no profit off of the event. “Our school and a lot of the other schools are forced to charge what seems like a lot of money (for Senior Ball),” senior class president Audrey Tate said. “It barely covers, like sometimes it doesn’t even cover all the expenses that we have to pay for.” Givens understands what an expensive strain the Senior Ball ticket ($90-$95 each) can be on families, and tries to keep costs as low as possible. A renewable contract with the Hyatt Hotel, where Senior Ball is held, helps keep expenses low, but the end result is still a financial
strain. “I hate that it’s that expensive,” Givens said. “But if anybody’s ever planned a wedding or anything, that’s what it costs.” Each class also budgets money enough for all the students that need financial compensation, since the school doesn’t aid students for student government activities and events, the class does. For Senior Ball last year, the amount of money for comped students was nearly $1,000. This year, the senior class will be bringing back an old senior tradition, “the Senior Tiles”, to make up for a deficiency in their sophomore T-shirt sales during the 2011-12 school year. Still in the early stages of brainstorming, the senior tile-making event is planned to take place during March. “You can never have too much money in your account (for Senior Ball) because it is so incredibly expensive to put on,” Tate said. Add the $50,000 Senior Ball expense up to the couple thousand dollars spent on Senior Picnic, Sunset and Breakfast, and it is a pretty big number. “Your class has to be able to raise enough money to be able to afford to pay for all that,” Givens said. At the end of their four years, if there is any leftover money from a senior class, seniors can choose to spend it on a senior gift to the school, or, if they don’t designate it to anything specific, Givens uses it as a fall-back for ASB. “I think most kids think that the school puts these events on for them, (that) there’s some kind of tax payer base, that pays for everything,” Givens said. “There’s zero money.”
Just some of the senior events: August 8: Senior Sunrise
May 23: Senior Sunset
September 9: Senior Tailgate
May 23: Senior Goodbye Rally
February 14: Senior 5th Quarter
May 30: Graduation
May 3: Senior Ball $90 to $95
May 30: Sober Grad Night $110 to $125
Page 6
March 2014
Mediterranean
Gazette staff is on the hunt for the Hummus is among us... The best Mediterranean joints in town.
Pita Pit: B+ BY MAGGIE BELL
mbell.gazette@gmail.com
Conveniently located in Roseville, Pita Pit may just be the right Mediterranean place for you. Pita Pit is a chain restaurant similar to Chipotle, however is a healthier option to the Mexican restaurant and adds a Greek twist. On my venture to the wild side of the food world, I entered Pita Pit which is nestled in the corner of the center between popular Costa Vida and Bloom Coffee and Tea. The atmosphere inside of the restaurant is a modern looking buffet style bar with intense hanging light fixtures. Pita Pit offers a variety of meal options from spicy chicken to your basic turkey to plain vegetarian. I decided on a turkey pita sandwich and moved on to the topping station. I am usually an Italian food fan so was tentative into going into full blown Greek mode. However, not wanting to miss out on Greek cuisine, I channeled my inner “Big Fat Greek Wedding” and went for it. In my stressful decision of picking my contents, I was pleasantly surprised to see that there was no limit to the number of toppings I could put onto my pita sandwich. Oddly enough it tasted a lot like a Subway flatbread sandwich—only better.
It is filling enough that you feel full yet fresh and leaves you feeling energized. For all you health nuts out there, it also is a very healthy fast food option as opposed to McDonalds or Panda Express. Pita Pit offers something for everyone, so if you’re a big fan of Greek cuisine or just looking for a regular sandwich with tasty bread, Pita Pit has you covered. One of the few things that disappointed me, however, was its service. The waiters that served me were a tad sullen and seemed very uninterested in helping me. The service was also unnecessarily slow. I may have caught them on a bad day however this was my unfortunate impression of the Pita Pit restaurant. Despite the employees, Pita Pit was a good Greek experience that I would definitely recommend to all you foodies out there.
Gazette photo /MAGGIE BELL
Anatolian Table: BBY NICOLAS ONTIVEROS nontiveros.gazette@gmail.com
When most people think of Mediterranean cuisine, Italian and Greek food comes to mind. However, the Anatolian Table provides a new dimension to Mediterranean food: Turkish food. When I walked into the restaurant, I was immersed in a cozy ambience. The authentic Turkish music and pleasant staff were very welcoming. However, after opening the menu, I noticed how expensive the food is. A Tavuk Sis, a dish with cubes of chicken, rice, salad, and bread, cost $15.95, which is quite pricey for the amount of food. Kebaps can range from $16 to $22, while other meat dishes with yogurt are priced around $17. The dinner menu includes various soups, appetizers, Kepabs, traditional dishes, oven dishes, vegetarian dishes, seafood and dessert. The vast majority of the available food is authentic to Turkey and retains their Turkish names (with English in parentheses). For beverages, there are ordinary soft drinks and Turkish drinks, such as Turkish coffee and yoghurt drinks. The quality of the food was still superb. On the Tavuk Sis, the seasoning on the chicken gave the chicken great flavor. Coupled with the salad and rice, the dish provided a tasty
meal. Overall, the food tasted authentic, which is hard to find these days because of the lack of Turkish restaurants in the area. The waiters and other people working at the restaurant were polite and had good service. My food came out quickly and the staff worked efficiently. Not a chain restaurant, the Anatolian Table has restaurants located in both Rocklin and Sacramento. The locations have very similar menus. Because the restaurants are not in the Granite Bay area, the drive is about 30 minutes to each restaurant. The restaurant is not an ideal place to grab a quick bite. There is to-go available, but to enjoy the full experience, one should eat in the restaurant. Altogether, the meals are excellent at the Anatolian Table, but the long drive and high prices are significant drawbacks.
Gazette photo /NICOLAS ONTIVEROS
Maalouf’s Taste of Lebanon: ABY AKASH KHOSLA
akhosla.gazette@gmail.com
Mediterranean is a rather simple type of exotic cuisine – it is almost too simple to be called exotic. Interestingly, for that reason it becomes even more palatable. Maalouf’s Taste of Lebanon is no exception – it takes a cuisine that still feels exotic to many and makes it even simpler. That principle is usually associated with “Americanizing,” but Maalouf’s is among the most authentic Mediterranean “hole-in-the-walls” in the Sacramento area. I went to Fulton Avenue in the Sacramento region on a rainy day and decided to stop at Maalouf’s. When I entered, I was greeted almost as if I entered one’s home kitchen by the welcoming staff. Upon sitting down, I quickly realized the ambience wasn’t stellar and didn’t have the highest of standards. The place was old and looked like a well-maintained hole in the wall. I looked beyond that though when I saw the menu – it was loaded with options ranging from “Lamb Kabob”
sandwiches to “Vegetarian Dolmas,” which are steamed grape leaves stuffed with rice and chickpeas. When I ordered, I chose four appetizers and a main course which included hummus, a fava bean dip, falafels, vegetarian grape leaves and a “Chicken Sharwarma” sandwich. Service was fast and got the food out in a perfect order. The hummus was fresh, the bread was soft and the other appetizers were quality ones I can’t seem to find anywhere else. Most people hate falafel, and I never really had the taste for it until I tried the ones at Maalouf’s. They have a buttery feeling on the inside and a crispy, succulent exterior, which taste even better with Tahini sauce. Grape leaves are among my favorite Mediterranean dishes – they have the candor of finger food, but the sophisticated tang of most delectable exotic foods. Fava beans weren’t things I knew that existed until I tried the “Foul Mudammas.” This dip had something special – it was hot, had olive oil and had a complex bean flavor that I haven’t tasted in other cuisines. After all the appetizers, I wasn’t quite ready to leave without a chance to try out the meat.
The Chicken Shawarma sandwich was a great way to finish. It was generously loaded with pieces of chicken breast, tomatoes, pickles and a garlic sauce. Also, the sandwich came with a side of a Tabouleh salad: a lemony and fresh salad with bulgur, tomatoes, cucumbers and finely chopped parsley. One of the main reasons I would come back here is because of the portions they offer for the price – for 40 dollars, one can feed a family of four. But what mesmerizes me most of all is how the food is so good for such a small price.
Gazette photo /AKASH KHOSLA
Page 7
March 2014
Mediterranean
Milo’s Greek Food: C+ BY CAROLINE PALMER cpalmer.gazette@gmail.com
When recently craving some Greek food I headed down to Milo’s Greek Food, a laid back restaurant with a zesty feeling. The drive out to Milo’s takes about 20-25 minutes. However, if you are looking for a taste of Greek food and are tired of other Greek food places, this might be the place. I walked into Milo’s not sure of what to expect, the location is sort of out of the way, and the building had a modern look to it. The windows read things like “pizza,” “gyros” and “Philly cheese steak.” I was surprised that the menu lacked authentic Greek food being that Milo’s has the words “Greek food” in its’ name. The menu had foods like hot wings, chicken strips, pizza, Philly cheese steaks and salads. The only things
that appeared to be Greek were the gyros and some of the salads. The two workers on staff seemed to be lacking enthusiasm. Although there was only about five other people in the establishment, the line to order food seemed to drag on forever. Finally, I got to the front of the line and, trying to have a “Greek food experience”, I ordered the chicken gyros. After about 15 minutes, my food was ready. I was handed a hot plate of chicken gyros wrapped in thick pita bread with onions, tomatoes and lettuce. In addition, the gyros included a Tzatziki sauce on top, which added a zesty overall flavor, and seasoned fries on the side. The chicken inside of the gyro was delicious. However, the pita bread on the outside was a little too thick for my liking and not very flavorful. When I first walked in at around noon Milo’s seemed to be lacking customers. But by 1:30, about ten more
people had filed in, and the restaurant had more of an exuberant feel. Overall, my meal was okay I probably would not go back to this place, since it is out of the way. However if nearby I would maybe stop by Milo’s on the occasion. If the restaurant wanted to improve on some things, I would suggest more Greek like food to give the menu more of an authentic feel.
Milo’s Greek Food is located off of Foothills Blvd.
Gazette photo/CAROLINE PALMER
Daphne’s Greek Café: B+ Royal Kebab Grill: BY BRENDAN GONZALEZ
BY DANTE WEEKS
bgonzalez.gazette@gmail.com
dweeks.gazette@gmail.com
Daphne’s is an exceptional café with great food service and a nice venue. With the motto, “We’ve taken our inspiration from people who live actively - and actively live,” it’s apparent that their service and food reflect that. Unlike many other cafés, Daphne’s features a lot of healthy Greek meals, which makes it a hot spot for those who wish to go on a Mediterranean diet. This café serves smaller portions, but still manages to satisfy your stomach. Most people shy away from a unique place like this because they worry about their taste preferences and are afraid they won’t enjoy it, but that couldn’t be farther from the truth. Daphne’s is known for their flavor and ability to make a healthy meal satisfy anyone that consumes it. Their menu consists of specialty salads, flatbread pizzas, pita sandwiches, grilled meats and seafood that are complimented by flavorful sides such as the spicy fire feta dip, roasted veggies and tabouli. All of their food is prepared on the spot so you know you’re getting your money’s worth in taste and freshness. On top of it all, they had great customer service, and their staff seemed very informed and could answer almost every question I asked. I chose the rustic flat bread pizza because it was extremely healthy but still looked appetizing. The rustic flat bread pizza had tomato sauce, sliced roma tomatoes, cucumbers, tabouli, mozzarella, feta cheeses, bell peppers, red onions and
B
Kalamata olives. I usually like my pizza greasy, cheesy and with a lot of pepperoni on it, so I was hesitant when ordering the rustic flat bread pizza. I was relieved when it didn’t disappoint my taste buds. It was amazing, and the fact that it was so healthy made it even better. I’m not usually one to eat healthy mostly because I don’t like the taste, but Daphne’s changed my view on eating healthy, and it doesn’t seem too hard to do when the food is this good. Another item I would recommend getting are: classic pitas served with fresh carved gyros, grilled chicken, fire-roasted vegetables, and falafel. I would definitely recommend going to Daphne’s not only because it’s healthy but it’s delicious and not too expensive. You get your money’s worth and more at Daphne’s and it’s hard to find somewhere to eat that’s like that nowadays.
Gazette photo /DANTE WEEKS
Royal Kebab International Grill is a casual restaurant that strives to make fresh, organic, but also affordable Middle-Eastern food. I was under the impression that I was not a fan of Middle-Eastern food. However, when I realized that in this case, Middle-Eastern food consisted almost exclusively kebabs, I decided to keep an open mind. When entering the restaurant, it appeared much more modern and upscale than I expected from a small, non-chain restaurant. It allows the customer a nice, casual ambiance for a relatively cheap, sit-down meal. They also have plenty of outside seating for sunny days. The service is fast and friendly. Orders are taken at the counter and the food is brought quickly to the table. Also, the owner is always making rounds to all the tables to make sure the customer are satisfied. To start, Royal Kebab offers numerous healthy, vegetable-based appetizers, and a variety of salads. As I’m not much for vegetables, I decided against an appetizer. However, their cucumber-onion yogurt dip is well-regarded. For the main course, there is an assortment of different meat and fish kebabs. As a meat lover, I went with the chicken-beef combo kebab. The meat was tender, juicy and seasoned perfectly. For those worrying that a kebab
does not sound like a sufficient meal, each kebab comes with about five chunks of meat, and the combo kebabs come with two skewers. All kebab orders come with basmati rice, salad and pita bread. The main courses range in price from $7.99 to $14.99, so eating here will not wear out your wallet. Royal Kebab does not offer much when it comes to dessert however they serve many different kinds of gourmet OrGano Gold coffee and tea. They also offer catering if one desires quality Middle-Eastern food for a large group. Royal Kebab is open for lunch and dinner, so it is a great place to grab a quick, affordable meal. While Citrus Heights might be slightly far for GBHS students, the quality of food and service, along with affordable prices makes the drive worth it if one was a craving something different.
Gazette photo /BRENDAN GONZALEZ
S Pages 8 and 9
pretty & poised.
ophisticated pring tyle
GBHS students represent the dawning of spring’s latest trends BY CAITLYN HURLEY
churley.gazette@gmail.com
Pretty pastel mixed with a childish chic represents the perfect style for this upcoming spring. Senior Hailey Lederer is letting her younger self be represented through her frilly ankle socks and cutout healed sandals. Her simple collared blouse under her light blue sweater adds a classy aspect to her simple yet edgy outfit. Her statement necklace under the collar is an easy improvement to any outfit. Lederer compliments her Alex and Ani bracelets with a simple rose gold watch. This spring will be filled with plenty of soft pastels and simple statement shoes to class up any outfit. Gazette Model/HAILEY LEDERER Gazette Photos/CAITLYN HURLEY
Her opaque, black tights add to her childlike outfit, while also covering her legs during those colder days. Lederer sets the stage for spring fashion by embodying an Alice In Wonderland-esque look, all while appearing mature and professional. Alex and Ani bracelets can be purchased at Nordstrom, as can sheer tights in every color of the rainbow. Frilly socks are starting to come to popular retail stores, including American Apparel, Urban Outfitters and Forever 21, as are the 1990s-styled healed sandals. As for sweaters, collared button-ups and chain necklaces, all of these chic items can be found not only in the mall, but even in boutiques and most mother’s closet.
March 2014
Page 10
pinch me. BY TREASA MAIREAD HAYES thayes.gazette@gmail.com
March 2014
C
heers
T o t h e day o f G r e e n
Varying styles of St. Patrick’s day at GBHS
S
aint Patrick’s Day: a holiday originally revolved around the patron saint and Irish missionary Patrick and Ireland’s accomplishments through the generations. However, St. Patrick’s Day traditions differ entirely in Ireland from the United States, a day centered on attending church with family versus the massive intake of alcohol that Americans have made it out to be. “It’s a day that’s been more or less taken over by the breweries…,” GBHS chemistry teacher and Gay-Straight Alliance adviser James Cunningham said. “When we were growing up, it was a day where we went to church and the schools were off; it was a family day. I (had) never heard of corned beef and cabbage until I came over to the United States and the alcoholic consumption falls into a stereotype on Irish people.” However, as most GBHS students are underage, St. Patrick’s Day focuses on spending time with family and for some, reveling in their proud Irish heritage. “My family and I go to this Irish pub and restaurant called The Boxing Donkey in old Roseville,” junior Natalie Hahn said. “They have a lovely Irish dancing and music celebration, and the food is delicious.” According to Hahn, her dad is one hundred percent Irish and the holiday becomes much more festive. “Since my mom’s side is almost fullblooded Irish,” GBHS senior
Sierra Alejandrez said, “we will have a family dinner with traditional Irish food, music and decorations.” Although Alejandrez’s family is Irish, her annual traditions are predominately Americanbased in some people’s eyes. Seemingly, Cunningham finds it difficult to associate himself with the U.S. customs of the holiday because of his native Irish dissension. “Believe it or not, how we celebrate St. Patrick’s Day over in America now is now how we celebrate St. Patrick’s Day in Ireland with massive intake and booze, but it’s a generational thing for me (as) a day for going to church,” Cunningham said. Even for students who are underage and can’t say they’re Irish, the holiday is celebrated in their own personal ways as well. “Every year, my mom will dye the milk green,” Alejandrez said. “So, when the little ones (and I) wake up in the morning, they think it was the leprechauns who did it.” Although St. Patrick’s Day is a holiday where the Irish can be prideful and others can pinch their friends for not wearing green, most GBHS students don’t take part in its festivities to the fullest. “I think the furthest extent most GBHS students go as far as actually celebrating and recognizing the holiday is wearing green,” Alejandrez said. “But other than that, unless they are Irish or have a special connection with the holiday, I don’t think many people go all out for it.” Whether it’s feasting on green pancakes and cabbage or simply sporting green, an average percentage of the GBHS student body appreciates the day’s significances. “My family eats corned beef (and) mashed potatoes for dinner,” senior CJ Stone said, “and for breakfast my mom makes green pancakes that she’s been making since I can’t remember. My extended family always comes over and it’s like a mini Thanksgiving.”
Gazette illustrations /THOMAS TAYLOR, Tamren Johnk and AKASH KHOSLA Gazette photos /COLLEEN VIVALDI Gazette model /TREASA HAYES
March 2014
go gb go.
Page 11
Your names. Your faces. The Gazette.
Page 12
March 2014
current.
Artist of the month:
Top Tweets
Spirited tweets by Granite Bay High School students BY KIANA OKHOVAT
kokhovat.gazette@gmail.com
BY KEVIN BURNS
kburns.gazette@gmail.com
Armin Anderson: Senior When did you first start painting? Gazette photo /KEVIN BURNS
I signed up for Art 1 freshman year and have done it ever since. I am in Art 7 now, which means I have done it every semester except for one my entire high school career. Why did you first try it out? I saw the teachers of the art classes and thought they were cool, so I tried out the class and really enjoyed it. What painting style do you use mostly? My favorite style to paint in is the painterly style, which I use for almost all of my paintings because I really like the end look. What has been your favorite part of your art career? Definitely how much I have improved since when I started. I actually got the chance to display my work in a gallery in Sacramento, which was really cool.
Recipe of the month:
Old-Fashioned Caramel Apple Crepes
BY PARKER BURMAN
pburman.gazette@gmail.com
Ingredients: •1 cup all-purpose flour •2 eggs •1/2 cup milk •1/2 cup water •1/4 teaspoon salt •2 tablespoons butter, melted •2 large apples •1 tablespoon cinnamon •1/4 cup caramel sauce
Directions: Crepes 1. Whisk together the flour and eggs in a bowl. Add in the milk and water while whisking to thoroughly mix the batter. Mix in the salt and butter and whisk until mixture is smooth. 2. Heat a lightly oiled pan over medium heat. Pour about ¼ cup for each crepe onto the pan. Be sure to coat the pan evenly with the batter, moving the pan to spread the mixture out. 3. Cook each crepe for about 2 minutes or until the bottom is light brown. Flip the crepe with a spatula and cook the other side for about the same time, until it matches the first. Serve hot with sauteed apples. Apples 1. Melt butter in a pan, slowly adding caramel over medium heat until melted and completely liquid. Add cinnamon to mixture. 2. Add apples to the mixture and saute them until soft. Serve them inside crepes and put cinnamon on top to complete the crepe.
Gazette photo /PARKER BURMAN
Drop the beat.
March 2014
Page 13
Teenagers flock to join the
Neon nation
-Photos special to the Gazette/ CLAIRE ELLINWOOD tt
Gaze
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ALCA
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Raves are back in the spotlight as teens look for new forms of weekend fun BY AUSTIN ALCAINE
aalcaine.gazette@gmail.com
Gazette photo /cAITLYN HURLEY
Rave fashion almost always consists of neon bracelets, called “candy” and other neon clothing.
Being in an ever-changing generation young people are constantly looking for the next trend to get in on, and possibly break a sweat. Right now, that trend is raving. Raving is a conjugation of the word rave, and a rave is a large congregation of people who get together to dance to electronic music. “I enjoy going to raves because when you are in the middle of the huge group of people you can feel all the energy from everyone around you,” said Austin Allegra Granite Bay High School senior. A key feature to a rave is the lighting production. At a rave, there are lights flashing all throughout the crowd, and coming from the stage where the DJ forms his beats. The lighting is a major part of the show because it essentially sets the tempo for the rave, the lights will flash with the beats of the music and give the ravers a queue when to begin dancing. However, raves are not all pretty lights and fast paced music. The drug culture at raves can be quite intense. According to FBI.gov, raves have become a popular venue for “club drugs”, which mainly consist of drugs like MDMA, or ecstasy, and even “date rape” drugs like Rohpnyol. “You just have to be careful when you are there, and not take anything that is given to you by someone you don’t know when you’re there,” said Sarah Dillabaugh, a senior. Although the drugs can be rampant at raves if the proper precautions are taken a safe and fun night can still
occur. “Whenever I go to a rave, I am always with a group of a couple of friends so we can watch out for each other while we’re there,” Dillabaugh said. Raves have also gained popularity on social media, accounts like RavePix show off insane laser lighting from various productions. This account has 33 thousand followers and could possibly mislead it’s followers to think that raves are just a giant party with unique lights, rather than being possibly dangerous. Even with the possibility of danger students continue to find raves to be very enticing. “I am going to my first rave on March 15th and I could not be more excited for it,” said Johnny Pellerin, a senior. Raves have increased significantly in popularity and are commonly found in urban areas but have been appearing in suburban counties as well. The sheer uniqueness of raves is often what attracts its participants who are looking for something outside the box to get involved in. With the commotion that takes place at a rave it is essential to be aware of surroundings and who you’re with. “I think it can be an awesome experience you just have to go into the rave knowing what to expect,” Allegra said. Knowing what to expect is key otherwise the cacophony of the music and the massive crowd of people can be overwhelming to someone who was not expecting all the chaos. “I am really excited to go to my first rave and I know it will be an awesome experience,” Pellerin said.
film.
By: Colleen Vivaldi cvivaldi.gazette@gmail.com
the monuments men: B -
Rated: PG-13
W
animal logic
hile it easily could have been an extended advertisement for a children’s toy company, The Lego Movie managed to pull off snarky jabs at consumerist culture, cleverly interwoven into a colorful, fast-paced plot. When the opening date was announced, I called my six-year-old cousin Trevor, the one person who was as excited as I was to see Lego men blown up. We bought tickets for a Saturday morning and walked into the theater, not expecting it to be busy. Despite the less-than-primetime showing, almost every seat was filled with people aged anywhere from 3 to 90 years old, eagerly anticipating an animated kid’s film. The story begins with the wizard Vitruvius hiding a powerful weapon called the “Kragle” from the villain, Lord Business. See where I got the anti-capitalism message? The wizard failed to protect the superweapon, but he warned Lord Business that, someday, a person called “The Special” will the Piece of Resistance strong enough to stop the Kragle. Over eight years later, an average construction minifigure named Emmet falls into a hole at his construction site and touches the Piece of Resistance. Emmet falls unconscious and experiences a stream of vivid hallucinations before awaking in the custody of Lord Business’ lieutenant, Bad Cop, who has a split “Good Cop” personality. Here, Emmet is rescued by another minifigure named Wyldstyle. Emmet is mistakenly identified as the Special, and so begins his hilarious and fun-packed adventure to stop the evil Lord Business’ master plan with a team of new friends he meets along the way. I admit that I’m biased towards children’s movies – they always hit me right in my soft spot – but it’s been a while since I saw one as well-crafted as The Lego Movie. With both lighthearted, silly jokes to entertain kids and more than a few subversive critiques of corporate America for their parents, this movie can entertain Lego-lovers of any age. Rated: PG By: Haley Byam hbyam.gazette@gmail.com
the lego movie: A -
W
columbi pictures
orld War II, a war that challenged history, culture and the existence of people, created monumental distress in the progress of humanity. Knowing that, Frank Stokes, portrayed by George Clooney, discovers that the Nazi Regime, under the calculating and devious Adolf Hitler, is confiscating fabulous works of art and architecture that date back to the beginning of time. All based on a true story, Stokes persuades president Franklin D. Roosevelt to commission a selective group of “monuments men” to counteract the evil actions and motives of the Nazis, while recovering the precious works of art. He hand picks seven men to enter into the second war to end all wars and sacrifice their very existence for the culture of the people. Although the movie initially started off pretentiously slow, the eventual convalescing of the art comes after Stokes and his men theoretically split up in Naziridden areas of the European continent. Matt Damon plays James Granger, who is stationed primarily in Paris, where he meets up with a fierce French woman named Claire Simone (Cate Blanchet). Midway through the movie, amidst the actual fighting, some of the random story lines did not connect what-so-ever and left me a tad confused. The climax, which finally brought some much-needed action to the movie, revolved around traveling to mines to recover lost art. WWII eventually comes to a close, and so does the brave journey that The Monuments Men carried out. As a history and art geek, I enjoyed this movie. However, some dysfunctional subplots and lack of overall connection failed to pull everything together. I would suggest seeing this movie purely from the standpoint of our history’s culture.
March 2014
B
blue grass films
ased on the previews, I had high expectations going in to see Endless Love. I assumed it was going to be a tear jerking love story like every other romantic comedy movie, but found myself a little disappointed in this movie because overall, it was very predictable and the acting was not that great. Alex Pettyfer and Gabriella Wilde played 17-year-old teenagers who were destined to be with one another. The movie started when the two high school seniors, Jade Butterfield (Gabriella Wilde) and David Elliot (Alex Pettyfer) befriended one another after their high school graduation. David had had a crush on Jade all of high school, but felt he would never have a chance with a girl like Jade since she is sheltered by her parents and usually keeps to herself. Jade’s eldest brother passed away his senior year of high school, which left her mourning about his loss causing her to have no friends. Unexpectedly, David runs into Jade at a gathering at the country club in which Jade invites him to a graduation party at her house. Jade’s parents meet David at this party and her dad, Hugh Butterfield (Bruce Greenwood) instantly believes that David is going to ruin his plans for Jade’s future for college and tries to break them up from ever seeing each other again. This begins parts of the movie when every scene keeps you engaged but is inevitable at the same time. Jade and David start sneaking around town, meeting up with each other in places that Jade’s dad would not find them. Their summer romance is rushed throughout the movie jumping around from one scene to another while not explaining the situations completely, leaving you wanting to know more. With the many twists and turns in their summer relationship, Hugh and the rest of the family end up accepting David because they see how happy he has made Jade feel since the loss of her brother. Even though Endless Love had its ups and downs, this movie made you want to fall in love, feel young and act dumb.
Rated: PG-13 By: Mary-Frances Hansen mfhansen.gazette@gmail.com
endless love: C +
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impact pictures
Rated: PG-13 By: Austin Alcaine aalcaine.gazette@gmail.com
pompeii: C -
he movie Pompeii directed by Paul W.S. Anderson follows the tragic life of the slave known as Milo (Kit Harington). Milo is the last of the Celtic horsemen from the land of Britania, whose people were slaughtered by an evil Roman senator. After his people were murdered, Milo was taken as a slave and forced to face off against his fellow men of oppression in fights to the death for the entertainment of the rich. At first, the movie had me thinking it would be a generic action movie, until it took a turn towards a romantic adventure. On his way to Pompeii, Milo runs into the King of Pompeii’s daughter, Cassius, and it was love at first sight. Pompeii, at that point, gave into Hollywood unoriginality, and like that, all my hopes for this movie were crushed. Milo began his epic fight for his true love, all the while foreshadowing the cities imminent demise as the volcanic mountain began shaking the ground the city stood on. I do not have anything against romantic action movies, I thoroughly enjoyed many ‘80s movies, but what I cannot stand is when the acting and the writing is so pitiful that it hurts to watch. Throughout the whole movie, the characters played off of typical clichés. The slaves, for example, were all apparently very well fed and had pristine exercise equipment on hand because they were all in peak condition, unlike the typical slave. Like the naïve guy I am, I thought, “Hey, well at least the action scenes of this movie will be entertaining.” Well, I was wrong. The fighting was like when you play fighting with your friend in elementary school and you stab them between your arms and ribs to make it look believable. However, everything was far from that. There were some positives to this tragedy of a movie. The scenery of Pompeii was very nice to look at. That was the only positive thing about the movie, though. But, I guess if you are into clichés and muscular slaves, then this is the movie for you. I mean, all my fellow movie-goers seemed to enjoy the flick.
W
weed road pictures
inter’s Tale was not your average love story. While interesting, the fantasies of this movie made it far too cheesy. The movie starts out with the main character, Peter Lake (played by Colin Farrell), in New York City. He has no memory of himself and is confused by various items he has found in a box in the walls of an upstairs hideout. The movie then flashes back to the 1900s where two parents of a young child are turned away from entering the United States because of health issues but want there child to enter the nation, so they float him ashore. Pearly, the man who finds and raises him (Russell Crowe), is a demon who works with Lucifer (Will Smith). This is where the movie got confusing. When Peter Lake leaves the gang, Pearly is angry and wants him dead. In his conversation with Lucifer, Pearly is denied permission to kill Peter. Pearly is a demon and his mission is to prevent bright stars from entering the sky, which happens when a miracle is performed on earth. Peter Lake befriends a horse, who somehow convinces him to enter a wealthy-looking home to steal one last time before they go into hiding. Inside he finds a beautiful, dying girl whom he falls instantaneously in love with. Pearly and his men try to kill the girl, but Peter and the white horse arrive just in time to save her. The horse has magical flying abilities and is able to whisk them off to the redhead girl’s lake house, Beverly Penn (Jessica Brown Findlay). Many of the scenes were incredibly cheesy and predictable. However, the storyline had an interesting twist when the “legend” of the redhaired girl did not turn out as expected. When Peter Lake cannot save Beverly, he is confused. The movie then flashes back to 2014, where Peter can only remember a drawing of a red-haired girl. He then finds out the legend was never meant for Beverly, but rather a young girl battling cancer whose life is able to save. While the movie was touching, there were a few elements that were never fully explained at all during the film. In fact, the whole movie was hard to follow until the last 30 minutes when the story started to come together. If you’re looking for a fantasy love story, I would recommend this movie; however, I would wait until it enters RedBox, as it was not worth $11. Rated: PG-13 By: Kat McGrail kmcgrail.gazette@gmail.com
winters tale: C
T
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film.
R
strike entertainment
oboCop? More like RoboFlop. Set in 2028, cop Alex Murphy (Joel Kinnaman) is nearly killed in the line of duty, attempting to tame the wild, crime-corrupted city of Detroit. This tragedy is a golden opportunity for OmniCorp, an international tech company, which is in the center of new, innovative robot technology. OmniCorp’s technology has always been used overseas in the American military, but now OmniCorp wants to use it to fight crime at home as well. The only problem is, American’s don’t trust machines. But now, with this nearly decapitated Murphy at their hands, OmniCorp sees a solution. By building Murphy into a robot, Murphy will be saved (or at least as saved as he can be, in his state), and OmniCorp will have a newer, better product to sell, one that Congress will approve of: a machine with human instinct, a robot with a conscience. OmniCorp plans to have a RoboCop in every U.S. city, eliminating crime once and for all. That’s the jist. The producers behind RoboCop tried so incredibly hard to make a decent action film, it was painful. Its trailer was more interesting than the film itself. The thought of how putridly I had wasted my previously delightful Sunday afternoon made me want to vomit. See, I am a cinephile, the ultimate film junkie. I live for movies. Of the thousands of films I’ve seen, I’ve had my share of disappointments. But the last time I hated a film with such vigor, this much detest, was in 2012 -- Eddie Murphy’s A Thousand Words is awarded that honor. Now, the acting was good and the cast was quite reputable and strong. The special effects were impressive and the directing was solid. The only thing it lacked was what makes a film a film: its screenplay. The plot had no storylines to tug at my emotional strings, or adrenaline storage (of which there is plenty). It tried, though. The film tried so hard. But it just didn’t work. The screenplay can go down the drain. And just when you think the film’s momentum is finally picking up, it dies, pathetically. Every. Single. Time. Rated: PG-13 By: Kiana Okhovat kokhovat.gazette@gmail.com
robocop: F
March 2014
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fire on through.
March 2014
Let the fuel burn.
Granite Bay locals take up motivational marathons BY KAT MCGRAIL
S
kmcgrail.gazette@gmail.com
ince the weather is already starting to warm up, it’s time to be thinking about fun things to do before school gets out for the summer. But before student hit the beaches, it might be time to think about coming out of hibernation and branching out to new activities. While the sound of “running for fun” may scare off even the most adventurous, but there are a ton of local runs and walks that students can participate in around this time. Springtime runs are the perfect way to get fit and have a good time. A 5K is a medium-distance race; students do not need to be proficient runners to complete one. Though there are longer distances like 10K (about 6.4 miles) or a half-marathon (about 13.1 miles) that provide a more challenging experience, students should try a 5K before running a longer distance. The 5K requires little to no running experience or training to prepare, so it is perfect for first time runners. Even if you are not a runner or you have never tried even walking a 5-kilometer (approximately 3.2 miles) these events are in a totally relaxed environment and there is no pressure to receive a fast time. Many of these running events have special themes from glowing at night, to color, to muddy obstacle courses, to raising awareness. Granite Bay High School sophomore Jordan Holt participated in a 5K called The Color Run. Though this was not her first time participating, Holt enjoyed getting her teammates together to partake in this run. “I am not a dedicated runner,” Holt said. “But it was still a lot of fun.”
Holt said that the theme of color and getting sprayed at the end of the course made the race more enjoyable. Jessica Lenck, a senior from GBHS who also participated in The Color Run, said she enjoyed the event too. “I ran this with five of my friends [and] my favorite part was getting covered in color,” Lenck said. “I would recommend this run because it’s a lot of fun and its different from other 5Ks.” Some local 5Ks double as fundraisers to raise awareness and money for a good cause. Woodcreek High School’s National Honors Society organized a 5K with Me-One Foundation, an organization that raises cancer awareness and provides money for families to attend a camp with other families with members that are battling cancer. Joey Borees, a student at Woodcreek involved in NHS, ran a 5K for the first time in support of the Me-One Foundation. “The best part of running [was] that I could just get in my own zone and run on my own,” said Borees. Since these runs are not competitive, students can get friends together or run by themselves. Either way, these 5K runs are an easy way to get some exercise in a fun environment. A run that raises awareness is also a great way to have fun with friends, while creating a positive impact in the community. Whether you want to challenge yourself with a fast time or just complete the run in support of someone else, the most important thing is just getting out there.