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Monday, January 28, 2013 Volume 50, Issue 5

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The Oracle examines Gunn’s preparedness level for a Code Red event Dave Zhu

Utkash Dubey Editor-in-Chief

In light of the recent school shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary in Newtown, Connecticut, The Oracle staff felt the need to evaluate how prepared Gunn is for an armed intruder on campus. The Oracle decided to examine the Code Red and lockdown procedures and safety protocols practiced at Gunn.

The 2012-13 Student Handbook, which all students are required to read before each school year, defines a Code Red situation as an instance of an “armed intruder on campus.” In the event of a Code Red, students and staff are required to go to a classroom or the lower football field, reinforce the door, build an internal barricade and cover the windows and turn off or dim the lights.

The school would remain in lockdown until authorities and officials deem the situation safe and under control.

According to Dean of Students James Lubbe, who coordinates all the school emergency procedures, Gunn has had two code-red situations in recent years. In early 2009 there was a gang-related shooting near the apartment complex by Terman Middle School, which resulted in approximately two

hours of lockdown at Gunn. In late May 2010, a sighting of supposedly armed students in the parking lot triggered the Code Red, and Gunn was in lockdown for nearly an hour.

Beyond recent years, in late February 2006 a mental patient, rumored to be armed, escaped from the Veterans Affairs Palo Alto Health Care System, more commonly known as the VA Hospital, and Gunn was in lockdown for about an hour after school.

In order to prepare for possible lockdowns each school year, all staff members undergo formal training regarding emergency and Code Red procedures. Lubbe coordinates an emergency and Code Red review with the Gunn staff before the beginning of each school year, to ensure that all teachers are prepared by the first day of school for a potentially dangerous situation. Moreover, teachers who are newly hired are instructed on Code Red protocol during their initial orientation in addition to the full-staff review, before their first school day of school at Gunn.

According to science teacher Casey O’Connell, the reviews and initial orientation are effective and clear. “[All new teachers] that [attend] the preparation [are] as ready as they can be by the time the [school

year] starts,” O’Connell said. Megan Stauffer, a math teacher who was hired as a teacher for the first time this school year, agrees that the “emergency procedures are clear for new teachers,” and feels that she knows what to do in the event of an armed intruder on campus, and is as adequately prepared as any other teacher.

On top of staff preparation, Lubbe organizes the Code Red drill once a year to practice the lockdown procedure with students and to elicit feedback from teachers. During the annual drill, Lubbe and other administrators survey the campus and check to make sure doors are locked and classes are quiet.

Lubbe and other administrators also share feedback with teachers after assessing the effectiveness of their practices. According to Lubbe, the feedback contributes to the minor tweaks in safety protocol made every year.

In terms of overall logistical preparation, Lubbe feels that the Gunn community knows the procedures well and as a school, Gunn knows what to do, although it’s difficult to speak for every exception. “In a crisis situation, there are times the unexpected occurs, so I think it’s just how you react at that time,” he said. Lubbe also acknowledges that no community can emotionally prepare for

any kind of event that would invoke a real Code Red. Lubbe noted that during the airsoft-gun scare in 2010, while teachers’ responses were near-perfect, getting information out to the community needed work. According to Lubbe, parents who were trying to pick up their children were knocking on the main office door out of confusion. “We have to figure out how to communicate with parents and have a better solution for people entering campus during a Code Red situation, such as having [the Palo Alto Police Department (PAPD)] block the driveway,” he said. “[We] don’t want to have people to come up on campus if [we] have a situation where it’s dangerous.”

Although the campus is considerably open both space-wise and student-conduct wise, Lubbe, Principal Katya Villalobos, and Palo Alto High School (Paly) Principal Phil Winston, who was an Assistant Principal at Gunn until June 2010, agree that because the school is part of the community, the school’s transparency and openness is appropriate.

“It’s a different set of circumstances than 350 students in one building,” Villalobos said. “[We are] at a school with 2000 people coming and going on a daily basis SAFETY—p.2

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Gunn Code Red procedures effective but could use improvement SAFETY—p.1

so we’re dealing with something like a little city.”

According to Lubbe, the open campus contributes to the open and local community, which makes it difficult to close the school with security-fences and gates. “Here it’s an open campus, and we have many buildings but nothing is enclosed; every building is accessible,” he siad. “We don’t have fences because we don’t see the need -- this is not the type of community where [a shooting] is as probable.”

Lubbe, Villalobos and Winston all feel that the most important security measure Gunn takes is in

its intuitive approach to handling people on campus and knowing the conduct of the campus. “A lot of our safety is part of our culture,” Villalobos said. “If we or a teacher or a campus supervisor sees someone that looks slightly suspicious or just doesn’t belong, we will act.”

Villalobos also mentions that a built-in security feature of the school is that nearly everyone that enters or exits the campus passes by the administration office building first, and they monitor guests with a sign-in process.

Similarly, Lubbe feels that it is especially important that the administration is aware of who is on

the Gunn campus at all times. “If we don’t recognize someone, unless someone is wearing that visitor name badge, then I think we need to make sure we have that question, ‘What are you doing here, and why are you up here?’,” Lubbe said.

While Gunn’s safety procedures and security measures are considered proficient and effective, Winston thinks one thing both Gunn and Paly should look into is implementing a safer locking mechanism for doors. All building doors open outward for both campuses, which renders barricades less effective than if the building doors opened inward.

In addition, to lock a door in the case of a school lockdown, teachers need to open the door, exit the room and set the lock from the outside while the door is open.

According to general police department guidelines, this process is considered dangerous, because it temporarily exposes a teacher or door-locker to an assailant and it reveals there are people in a room, which gives an armed attacker more opportunities than the school can afford.

In response to the shooting at Sandy Hook, Lubbe and Assistant Principal of Facilities Kim Cowell are discussing implementing

Columbine locks for the buildings undergoing construction. These particular locks, which are named after the shooting at Columbine High School in 1999, are designed to lock the door when it’s pulled towards the inside of a room, rather than requiring a teacher to lock the door from the outside.

According to Lubbe, there is talk about having emergency meetings at both the district and school levels, where district officials and Gunn admin will discuss procedures and how to improve the safety of the campus. “We’re looking into improvements we can make,” Lubbe said.

Small Learning Community (SLC) embarks on annual Yosemite trip Samantha Acker Reporter

Small Learning Community (SLC), a Gunn program that provides a more intimate learning environment with similar curriculum for 25 freshmen, went on its annual learning

trip to Yosemite from Jan. 13 through 17. The purpose of the trip was to give students the chance to learn in a different environment and combine certain parts of what they have learned inside the classroom with new outdoor challenges.

Twenty-five students and two World Language teachers, Carole Stroud and Liz Matchett, as well as Assistant Principal Tom Jacoubowsky, attended. This is the third time that SLC has gone to Yosemite.

At Yosemite, students took part in a variety of activities such as learning about the park’s environment and history. During trips that occured in past years, the students kept a journal where they drew sketches and wrote assignments throughout their journey. The students this year went on several hikes to sites like Yosemite Falls and a valley trail, ice skated and played group games.

“Students learn that they have to support and listen to each other in order to achieve group

goals,” SLC English teacher Julie Munger, who has attended the trip before, said. “When we are out on the trail, we learn that the group can only be as fast as its slowest member. We learn to follow a different rhythm than the busy rhythm of classes and after-school activities.”

Nature Bridge, an organization that is recognized for its ability to maximize the quality of the guests’ experience, hosted the SLC. The students stayed in Yosemite Lodge and the Wawona Hotel.

Social Studies teacher Dawna Linsdell and English teacher Tarn Wilson started the retreat. “The students have said that this has been a highlight to their year and love the opportunity to explore outdoors,” Jacoubowsky said.

Freshman Allison Simoni enjoyed her experience at Yosemite, which she feels has made her closer with the other freshmen on the trip. “It was really fun,” Simoni said. “The team building activities really helped me bond with everyone.

My favorite part was the spider caves because you couldn’t see anything so you had to rely on the people around you.”

NEWS BITES Paly student defaces Gunn football field

A Palo Alto High School (Paly) student vandalized the football field by defecating on the “G” on Dec. 26, 2012. The student then proceeded to pour water on the feces and used the waterball to smear the excrement on the white turf. As a result, the school had to call in custodians and replace the turf. Community members learned of the vandalism through Twitter, which prompted a Gunn student to alert Gunn administrators. Paly Principal Phil Winston has spoken to the student, and the student has emailed Gunn administrators apologizing for his actions. Both administrations believe that the event is not correlated with any other occurrences between the two schools.

“It’s looked at right now as an isolated incident,” Dean of Students James Lubbe said.

Administrators took disciplinary measures against the student, and they trust there will not be any follow-up acts. “My hope is [that] there’ll be no retaliation from Gunn,” Lubbe said. As a result of this incident, Gunn will increase its security during long breaks and school-wide events, especially before football games. “Anytime things are coming up, we’ll try to have extra security,” Lubbe said.

Lisa Hao

YCS hosts annual MLK, Jr. holiday event

The Youth Community Service (YCS)/Interact Club hosted a day of service at Lytton Plaza in honor of Martin Luther King, Jr. (MLK) Day on Monday, Jan. 21.

“We planned this event in an effort to keep Dr. King’s dream of justice and service alive among today’s society—especially the youth,” YCS co-president junior Justice Tention said. “Luckily, it was a great success. We had a good turnout of about 10 to 15 volunteers from Gunn alone.”

According to Tention, the event has been club tradition for three years. “Gunn personally began attending a while back, but the occasion has continued to grow each year with more and more outside service groups attending,” he said. “Most schools bring informational booths and offer new activities, so it gets more exciting each year.”

Local high schoolers help inspire and educate elementary school students with small community service activities such as service craft tables, assisting at the “share your dream” table or writing their personal messages of hope on a “dream” flag to hang across the Plaza.

While the MLK Day of Service is already past, Tention gladly welcomes new club members to participate in the upcoming school-wide Service Day in March. “I’d encourage interested students to go to http://YCSInteract.org to learn more information and sign up for the event,” he said. “You can never stop giving to your community.”

Rani Shiao

News THEORACLE 780 Arastradero Rd Palo Alto, CA 94306 (650) 354-8238 www.gunnoracle.com

Editorial Board Editor-in-Chief Utkash Dubey Managing Editors Boot Bullwinkle Anna Qin News Cooper Aspegren Zoe Weisner Catalina Zhao Forum Ben Atlas Leon Cheong Features Rebecca Alger Chaewon Lee Centerfold Eileen Qian Stephanie Zhang Sports Mitch Donat Rani Shiao Emily Yao Entertainment Misheel Enkhbat Ellen Lee Lucy Oyer Photo Michael Wu Graphics George Hwang

Staff Copy Lawrence Chen Klaire Tan Tech Alvin Wang Business/Circulation Erica Lee Shireen Ahsan (Asst.)

Regina Tran (Asst.)

Photographers Stephanie Kim Audey Shen Anthony Tran Graphics Artist Jasmine Garnett Reporters Sam Acker, Pooja Belur, Lena Campbell, Shawna Chen, Nabeel Chollampat, Aayush Dubey, Kush Dubey, Wayland Fong, Anuva Ganapathi, Lisa Hao, Emily Kvitko, Diana Lee, Rachel Lew, Christine Lin, Noa Livneh, Alex Man, Matt Niksa, Roy Shadmon, Henry Siu, Tim Wang, Erica Watkins, Danielle Yacobson, Andy Zhou, David Zhu, Katherine Zu Adviser Kristy Blackburn

Monday, January 28, 2013

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District cancels Gunn-Paly football game district reached a unanimous decision. “It wasn’t just me behind closed doors,” Principal Katya The Palo Alto Unified School Villalobos said. “It was a truly District decided in December to district-wide unanimous decision cancel the Gunn-Palo Alto High with [superintendent] Dr. Kevin School (Paly) football game for Skelly’s support.” the 2013 season. After the next According to Assistant Princiseason, the district will discuss pal Trinity Klein, the negative feelwhether to schedule the rivalry ings of participants in last year’s game for 2014. game facilitated the discussion Although the district has men- to end the rivalry. “The primary tioned a cancellation of the game reason not to schedule a Gunnas a possibility Paly football in past years, game is that cancellation we did not “In terms of matchups was never believe it and the physicality of formally diswas helpful cussed, until in promotthe game, we weren’t the disappointing a sense of matched up properly.” ing outcome of community this year’s riin Palo Alto,” —Principal Katya Villalobos valry game at Klein said.

Paly, which Paly won 48-0. This According to the administrainstigated talks about cancelling tion, the game also lacked positive the acclaimed matchup for future spirit. “It wasn’t friendly competiseasons. tion anymore,” Villalobos said. “It Although the common belief was more of the negativity of ‘why is that Gunn decided unilaterally is one school always winning, and to cancel the game, input actu- one school always losing?’” ally came from all sides until the Another reason for the cancelMitch Donat

Sports Editor

lation was the concern over safety past few years, it’s still a fun tradiand potential injuries. “Paly is tion.” obviously in the tougher league,” Gunn varsity football assistant Villalobos said. “Because of this, coach Mark Weisman understands in terms of the matchups and the his players’ disappointment. “Riphysicality of the game, we weren’t valry games are important to high matched up properly.” school sports,” he said. “[Rivalry Since the Gunn-Paly game is a games] are about growing up and popular competition and an old coming together as a community.” tradition, Gunn football players Paly players also expressed unare disappointed. “I thought it happiness. “I really enjoyed the riwas a fun rivalry game,” Paly valry game,” junior Malcolm senior quarDavis said. “I’m “Sometimes you terback Andre going to miss get beat down in Guzman said. playing against “S ometimes Gunn my senior football, that’s just you get beat year because of part of the game. ” down in foothow great the ball, that’s just turnout is. Every—Senior Andre Guzman part of the one comes to the game. Same in life; you can’t snap game.” your fingers and get rid of your Villalobos respects and underproblems.” stands the disappointment from Junior Sean Lydster, who will those involved in football. “Don’t be playing his last season of high get me wrong, life is life, and in school football next school year, life there is going to be a winner feels similarly. “Of course I’m a and a loser,” she said. “I totally little disappointed,” Lydster said. respect the feelings of pride and “Even though we ended up on the disappointment from players at downside of the scoreboard the Gunn and Paly.”

Gunn welcomes positioning of finals to before winter break Katherine Zu Reporter

Starting with the 2012-13 school year, the Palo Alto Unified School District school calendar was changed so that finals would be held before, rather than after, winter break.

The recommendation of having a calendar allowing for finals to be held before winter break was made in the fall of 2010 by the calendar committee. After being approved by the Palo Alto Educator’s Association, the district and the Board of Education in May of 2011, the calendar was implemented.

Many factors were considered while changing the calendar. One of them was that the current calendar would allow for a break not affected by impending finals in mid-January.

“It allows for a true break,” Principal Katya Villalobos said. “It allows for students to be done with a semester and it allows us to end the year earlier.”

Overall the response from the Gunn community has registered as positive. “I’ve gotten very good feedback overall,” Villalobos said.

“There will be a survey sent out to teachers, students, staff-pretty much everybody.”

One of the effects of the calendar change that

was regarded as negative was the high accumulation of school work for students at the end of the semester. “Even though they felt the rush in December, they didn’t have to worry about having finals in January,” Villalobos said. “After Christmas and New Year’s, there was about a week until school. They could enjoy it and they really liked that time.”

Like many other classmates, senior Andrea Allen had to balance finals with college applications, which are usually due at the start of the new year. However, she expressed her satisfaction with the current calendar that allowed her to better concentrate on college applications during the holidays after the semester was finished. “Although time-wise it was more crammed, it was more efficient,” Allen said. “It was nice to have college apps as the only thing to do during break.”

Teachers also have a positive outlook on the new calendar. “From what I’ve heard informally, many teachers seem to be happy with the new calendar,” English Instructional Supervisor Ellen Feigenbaum said. “Even though it has been an adjustment, there is something psychologically appealing about starting fresh after the winter break.”

In the past years, the few days of first semes-

ter after winter break were spent not covering new material, but rather refreshing old material learned before break. “Before, when we came back from the break, we had to review material to get students up to speed,” Feigenbaum said.

For many teachers, one of the benefits of the new calendar is the longer grading period they have after the semester is over. “The administration has made it clear that the staff, as well as the students, should try to have a work-free break,” Feigenbaum said.

The administration has made an effort to smooth out the transition through communicating with the public by keeping an upto-date calendar on the Gunn website and through Assistant Principal of Guidance Tom Jacoubowsky’s regular email updates through Infinite Campus Portal.

In the coming years, Villalobos plans to improve the calendar by implementing a few minor changes. “[There are] a few more tweaks, like moving events around, putting more information on the website, and things like that,” she said. Villalobos has an optimistic outlook on the future school years. “It’s a mindset,” she said, echoing one student’s comment. “This won’t be tough once we readjust, and next year will be smoother.”

INBOX I liked the overall layout of the sections. They were in good order. I feel like the way the categories are layed out is simple for the reader and it’s easy to transition from article to article. Also the overall content is very fresh and not cliché.

Alexandra Gong, 10 The Oracle strongly encourages and prints signed Letters to the Editor and Comments. Comments are generally shorter responses, while Letters are longer pieces of writing.

Please include your name, grade and contact information should you choose to write one.

Letters and Comments may be edited to meet space requirements and the writer is solely responsible for the accuracy of the content.

Letters to the Editor and Comments and ideas for coverage may be sent to oraclegunn@gmail.com or posted on our Facebook page. These letters need not be from current students.

I’d like to see more interviews of teachers. I’d also like to see more specific things that relate to high school, instead of random stories that I can’t really relate to.

Adam Liu, 10 The articles were really long, which is good because there is a lot of fun and informative information. But it’s also bad because the articles are hard to read a lot at one time.

Lisa Zhang, 11

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Students reach semi-finals of Intel Science Talent Search

Three seniors compete in one of the most prestigous science research competitions in the United States.

Helen Jiang On Jan. 9 senior Helen Jiang was named a semi-finalist of The Intel Science Talent Search (STS).

Jiang learned about Intel STS through word of mouth and decided to compete. “One of my close friends got ninth in nationals last year and she heavily recommended me to submit to this competition,” Jiang said. She began her project through the Stanford Institute of Medicine Summer Research program and began to create her research paper for the competition in August.

Her project focuses on improving and augmenting software known as Single Particle Image Processing Linux Engine (SIMPLE), which creates a three-dimensional volume reconstruction of single particles to specifically develop a volume construction of the transcription pre-initiation complex. “This can help better understand the transcription process, and hopefully break new ground on research on genetic disorders like Down’s syndrome,” she said.

Jiang’s personal interests in searching for medical cures has fueled her scientific endeavors. “Ever since I was a kid, I’ve always wanted to cure Parkinson’s disease because my grandfather suffers from it, and that sparked my interest in research,” she said. “I wanted to do something new this year to expand my research abilities.

Jiang is content with the outcome of the competition. “I was really happy since I didn’t expect anything,” she said.

She intends to complete her project and delve into further research. “I’m continuing to work on my code for improving one aspect of the SIMPLE software, but I think in the future, like in college, I’m going to try something different and focus more on Parkinson’s disease,” Jiang said.

Laura Tung

George Yu Senior George Yu advanced to the semi-finalist stage in the Intel Science Talent Search competition. He conducted research on how to improve the power of the Linac Coherent Light Source (LCLS) laser at SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory.

SLAC designed its LCLS laser to allow scientists to render images of extremely tiny and complex biomolecules. “[The laser] will help biologists figure out molecules’ structures and help them make new drugs,” Yu said. “It also has other biological benefits, such as identifying pollutants.” Yu worked at SLAC to increase the laser’s power.

Under the mentorship of Tor Raubenheimer, Assistant Director for Accelerator Research at SLAC, and SLAC scientist Juhao Wu, Yu started his research last January.

“I wanted to work towards submitting a project [to Intel], and my mentors encouraged me to do that,” Yu said.

Yu worked on the physics portion of the LCLS project that involved increasing the laser’s x-ray field by decreasing the magnetic field. “When electrons [from the laser] wiggle, they create x-rays, and we wanted the electrons to continuously emit x-rays,” Yu said. “We use algorithms in a computer, since it’s physically impossible to fire the laser every time, to run a bunch of these simulations.”

After performing some initial calculations, Yu ran close to 40 computer simulations of the laser’s x-ray production. “We used a simulation package that simulates all the particles and emissions,” Yu said.

Currently, Yu still goes to SLAC to conduct research for LCLS, and he might continue working on this project in the future.

Senior Laura Tung hopes her research in phosphoniumbased ionic liquids will not only introduce people to the substance, but also make an important contribution to science. “What first inspired me to conduct this research project was the novelty of the field,” Tung said. “Ionic liquids have only recently gained prominence. I was attracted to the opportunity to explore uncharted waters, to have an actual probability of contributing to the field.”

Tung’s project, “Synthesis of Novel Phosphonium-Based Ionic Liquids and Analysis of Their Properties,” focuses on the chemical as well as material properties of ionic liquids.

According to Tung, ionic liquids have nonvolatile features that allow them to evade environmental problems most organic solvents create during industrial chemical processing.

Essentially, ionic liquids can serve as an important component for safer technology development.

For her project Tung worked with Professor Mark Grinstaff of Boston University and Ph.D. candidate Emily Welsch as a research intern during the previous summer. Tung’s research included synthesizing novel phosphonium-based ionic liquids with different compositions. “I have synthesized novel phosphonium-based ionic liquids with unique structures and analyazed thermal degradation, phase changes and viscosity,” Tung said.

Tung hopes people will see the value of her research. “The results are important to understanding these phosphoniumbased ionic liquids and to altering the composition for desired properties and applications,” Tung said.

—Compiled by Ellen Lee, Zoe Weisner and Catalina Zhao

Sophomore becomes national finalist for Siemens STEM contest expect. There are judges from all over and even outside the nation. There’s a lot more Copy Editor pressure. It’s really exciting, and you get to On Nov. 10, sophomore Joy Jin and her meet a lot of famous people. partner Thomas Luh, a junior at Leland High Jin and Luh first began their research School, beat five other teams to be named project in the summer of 2012 at the Thoracic team category National Finalists of Region Oncology Laboratory at the University of One in the 2012 Siemens Competition for California, San Francisco (UCSF) under the Math, Science and Technology. mentorship of UCSF professor Dr. Hu Li. The One of the most prestigious science two originally met at an internship at the competitions in the United States, the Sie- same lab in late November of 2011. Out of mens Competition annually receives about a mutual interest in scientific inquiry, both 1,600 original research projects submitted returned to the lab the next year to partner by high school students from around the up for the Siemens Competition. nation. Judges first select At the lab, Jin and up to 300 students as Luh conducted experisemifinalists, of which 30 ments on cultured, artiindividuals and 30 teams “The project could not ficial cancer cells while continue on to compete have been completed simultaneously looking as regional finalists. “[The at data from lung cancer Siemens Competition] without [Jin’s] drive, patients. The goal of their gives the students real determination, intel- project was to investigate world application of conthe relationship between tent,” Principal Katya ligence and courage. the Hedgehog/Gli and Villalobos said. “This is —Principal Katya E-Cadherin proteins and an amazing opportunity how they impacted the Villalobos development and spread for Jin. The project could not have been completed of cancer. without her drive, determination, intelliAfter performing preliminary trials, they gence and courage.” began reading biological texts and papers on As regional finalists, Jin and Luh traveled similar topics . “Research papers were where to the California Institute of Technology to we learned how to analyze results and figure present their research project along with five out what was important and necessary to other teams of Regional Finalists to a panel continue,” Jin said. of judges. After being selected as National Jin and Luh concluded from the data Finalists at the regional finals, Jin and Luh that the relationship between Hedgehog/ moved on to national finals in Washington, Gli and E-Cadherin can cause cells to mulD.C., where they once again presented their tiply faster and encourage the formation project and competed for scholarships. Al- and spread of cancer cells. “Our research together, Luh and Jin were awarded $16,000 put one more piece to the puzzle that can from both regional and national finals solve lung cancer,” Jin said. “We discovered competitions. a new relationship between two proteins “The national finals are a lot bigger than that no one had ever researched before. It’s regional finals and are broadcasted live,” Jin a novel approach.” After looking at the data, said. “Each step you didn’t know what to Jin and Luh began writing up a lab report Klaire Tan

documenting their research and findings. “It felt really satisfactory to put all our information in a research paper,” Jin said. “I realized that every word someone writes down in a lab paper takes a lot of work.”

According to Jin, the research findings will contribute to the battle against lung cancer by helping pharmaceutical companies develop a new lung cancer drug. The drug will help fight lung cancer by decreasing both the formation and spread of cancer cells. “Lung cancer has a large social and economical impact on the world,” she said. “There is a very urgent need for this type of drug, since over 80 percent of lung cancer patients experience the spread of their disease to other parts of the body, leading to a much higher probability of death.”

Courtesy of Joy Jin

Courtesy of Joy Jin

Top: Sophomore Joy Jin poses with her partner junior Thomas Luh from Leland High School after beating five other teams to be National Finalists of Region One. Bottom: Jin and Luh accept a check of $16,000 from Siemens Competition officials for their research on cultured, artificial cancer cells.

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Monday, January 28, 2012

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EDITORIALS: The Opinions of The Oracle

Current lockdown security measures have some room for improvement

In the aftermath of the recent Newtown shooting, schools across the country have called security procedures into question.

According to Education Week magazine, 82 percent of 720 surveyed districts report that school violence is on the rise. Gunn already maintains commendable security measures in preparation for an armed shooter’s entry onto campus, but they can be improved by increasing the efficacy of lockdown drills, ensuring that students and teachers possess the necessary knowledge to act appropriately and updating classroom infrastructure to increase safety.

Current school security measures already reduce chances of bodily harm to students and staff. Each teacher is trained to lock and barricade doors, quiet their students and turn off classroom lights. They know to instruct their students to remain silent and turn off cell phones, decreasing the chance that a given classroom will be targeted by an intruder. New teachers are given an orientation before the school year begins, eliminating any chance of a new teacher being caught unprepared. Administrators maintain training through mandatory drills once per year.

Such measures were successfully implemented during real Code Red situations, for example in 2009 when a student brought an airsoft gun onto campus by mistake.

Despite these precautions, there is still ample room for improvement. Disaster drills are held second semester rather than first, which can jeopardize the readiness of both students and staff. Holding these drills ear-

lier would be more efficient because it would refresh teachers’ and students’ memories before the majority of the school year. If drills are held only later in the year, the school will only be relatively prepared for the end of the year. More

Code Red procedures, sign it and turn it into the main office. However, the underlying problem remains: a majority of these students fail to actually read the student handbook at all. This results in a majorly uninformed student body that may fail to react appropriately to an emergency. Instead of continuing to use an unenforceable policy that requires students to voluntarily read the student handbook, the school should schedule an assembly

i m portantly, incoming that freshmen are would ultimately put at take place risk, as they receive no early in the instruction at all for at least year and would a full semester. The conseteach students how Ge or quences of even a single unready ge to behave in the event of Hw student can be disastrous, as an uninan armed attacker. an g formed student can be injured or killed by Another problem with the an armed assailant if he or she does not know district’s preparation for a Code the proper protocol.

Red situation is that the locks in Gunn classThe school’s primary means of making rooms require an individual to physically sure students are well-informed of standard exit the classroom and lock the door from procedure lie in the student handbook. Each the outside. This is not only inconvenient year, students check off a box on a piece of and time-consuming, but also unsafe for a paper indicating that they fully understand teacher who would possibly have to expose

him or herself to the assailant’s line-of-fire. In addition, since doors in Palo Alto schools all swing outwards, barricades set up to obstruct the entrance of an attacker can be rendered useless. This further necessitates the need for a quick and safe way to prevent an intruder from coming into a classroom. The solution for this lies in the very mechanism designed for this purpose. The Columbine Lock, named after one of the high schools that experienced such a tragedy, allows teachers to lock a door from the inside. One variant of the Columbine Lock locks the door by pulling it in towards the interior of the room, which would be marginally inexpensive and easy to install onto Gunn’s many push-bar doors. The district needs to consider installing locks onto the rest of the doors to further prepare the school for a possible assault.

Although the school invests a considerable effort into ensuring the safety of students, it must take steps towards improving preparation for a lockdown. Several aspects of the Code Red procedures are still lacking in that they do not implement some of the precautions that could potentially save lives.

The current lockdown process is commendable. Such a status should be maintained by focusing on providing these services that could mean the difference between life and death.

—Unsigned editorials represent the majority opinion of the staff (assenting: 50; dissenting: 0; abstaining: 2)

New finals schedule alleviates stress for students during winter break For the 2012-13 and 2013-14 school years, the Palo Alto Unified School District (PAUSD) decided to implement changes to the calendar, including having first semester final exams before winter break. The change came after much controversy, with supporters and opponents both arguing valid points. After reflecting on the staff ’s experiences with and opinions of the changes so far, The Oracle endorses permanently adopting the new calendar because it allows for a less academically stressful break than calendars previous years did, and allows for more contiguous and less redundant class time.

The main benefit of having finals before break is that students can enjoy two weeks free of schoolwork and studying.

Prior to the new calendar, students were all stressed to some degree, knowing that each passing day of break brought them closer to finals week. Even if students did not study over break, just the thought of tests placed a psychological burden on their shoulders. Now, without having to prepare for or even think about exams, students can use the break for its intended purpose: relaxation. Two weeks without the strain of finals or schoolwork helps students refresh their minds, spirits and bodies, ensuring better performance in school when they return. This is the intention of the school’s current policy that prohibits teachers from assigning homework over break. Whether winter break includes sleeping in or going on vacation, the calendar change removes the burden of impending exams. If a student chooses to study for standardized tests or participate in extracurricular activities, he or she can do so unhampered by finals preparation. Even seniors still

working on college applications can have a more enjoyable break. Students with incomplete applications can devote part of their break to finishing them, without having to allot precious time to finals.

For those who have already completed their applications before break, the two weeks become a work-free hiatus.

oughly. Furthermore, by imparting lessons in the days that used to be devoted to review, teachers will not have to cram in material later on. Students can then learn in a more appropriately paced and supportive environment.

Some students who oppose the calendar change find that preparation for

David Zhu

Moreover, The Oracle staff feels that finishing first semester material in December allows teachers to start the new second semester lessons immediately after break. After two weeks without school, students tend to forget previously acquired knowledge. In the past, teachers and students had to spend time reviewing and re-learning that information in preparation for finals. With the new calendar, they can devote this time to teaching new material more thor-

exams is too rushed since there is not enough time before break to review material and discuss grades with teachers.

However, this problem can be mitigated through better organization on the parts of both students and teachers, more efficient study plans and changes to class schedules to allow for more in-class review time. Also, preparation in the future will improve because the change will not be as much as a foreign concept as it was this year, and students and teachers

can learn from their experiences.

Other opponents may argue that the change induces stress by cramming disproportionately large workloads into the period right before break. Critics posit that seniors have to deal with finals and college applications simultaneously.

Although the change does add work in the days before break, students have an entire two weeks to recover after finishing their exams. According to a majority of The Oracle staffers, working harder before vacation makes the break more enjoyable and rewarding. Seniors with outstanding applications will use winter break to finish them no matter when finals are. Therefore, the new calendar actually benefits seniors by lessening their workloads because they can devote break to solely applications, while the old calendar caused them to worry about both applications and finals.

Since moving semester one finals to before winter break results in more relaxing time off and more efficient use of class time, it is clear that PAUSD should permanently maintain this calendar change. Last November, PAUSD formed the Calendar Advisory Committee, composed of students, parents, teachers and administrators, in order to evaluate the amended calendar, suggest improvements and gather opinions. The Oracle recommends that the committee suggest long-term adoption of the new calendar.

After all, most students and staff members would want to step onto campus the Monday after break rested and with a clean slate for second semester.

—Unsigned editorials represent the majority opinion of the staff (assenting: 44; dissenting: 7; abstaining: 0)

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Chaewon Lee

Even with extensive data on applicants ranging from test scores to summer activities, sorting through more than 150,000 students can be a daunting task for admissions officers within the University of California (UC). As of now, the UC system’s weighted and capped Grade Point Average (GPA) policy disadvantages students who take many AP or honor classes and complicates the admissions process. Although the GPA is not the only factor colleges consider when admitting applicants, it is one of the main factors and needs to be optimized. If the UC system switches to the fully weighted GPA system, the GPA will become fully effective in judging students and helping admissions officers.

Under the UC system’s current GPA policy, a student’s official GPA is weighted only for eight semesters worth of honors and AP classes. If a student takes more than eight semesters worth of weighted classes, the extra courses will be counted for regular weight.

The main problem with capping arises when students who take more than eight weighted classes are compared to those that take exactly eight. In this situation, the higher-achieving student is not given the proper level of credit he or she deserves.

Consider two different students that satisfy the above situation’s requirements. The first student has straight As and takes seven classes per year. He completes 5 yearlong AP courses and 2 honors courses during his high school career. He desires challenge in his courses and is willing to sacrifice plenty of time and effort to maintain good grades. For the UCs, he will have a capped or UC GPA of 4.19 as opposed to an uncapped GPA of 4.5.

The second student is also a straight-A student, but he takes just four honors classes overall. He, like the first student, will also have a GPA of 4.19.

In terms of academic accomplishment, the two students are clearly not equal, and it is unfair for the UC system to give both the same numerical evaluation for their academic performance. The first student should be better recognized for his higher level of academic achievement, regardless of how minimal this recognition may end up being in the larger picture of admission. Under the weighted grading system, he will be compensated.

The weighted and capped grading system also slows down admissions officers who must quickly and efficiently sort through thousands of applications. The capped GPA system fails to distinguish between students who take few APs and those who take several, even though the GPA system is supposed to help colleges more precisely assess a st udent ’s ef for t and level of d i f f ic u lt y i n his or her classes. To be fully effective, a GPA should encompass all the student’s work. A fully weighted GPA does just this; the capped GPA inherently does not.

In theory, the weighted and capped GPA system accounts for the imbalance between students from schools that offer many AP and honors classes and students from schools that only offer a few. However, the school discrepancy is already taken care of by admissions officers, who also use factors like average school GPA in determining acceptance and rejection.

In short, if the UC universities switch their official policy from weighting and capping GPAs to just weighting them, both applicants and universities will benefit. The universities will save their admissions officers from unnecessary work and they will give students the equitable judgment that they deserve.

—Chaewon, a junior, is a Features Editor.

CON

PRO

The UC requirement of capped classes not justified and should be repealed Cooper Aspegren The University of California (UC) system limits the number of classes that carry a weighted grade on the student’s transcript to eight semesters. While criticized by some, the decision to institute a “Weighted and Capped” GPA stands as effective and wellexecuted policy on the part of the UC system. It encourages st udent s to pursue their academic passions without feeling pressu re to take as ma ny Advanced P l a c e ment (A P) and honors weighted classes as possible. In addition, the policy helps reduce the level of stress in students’ lives by diminishing the rewards reaped by undertaking an all too extreme course load. Ultimately, the cap on weighted GPA as implemented in the UC system benefits students far more than it causes detriment to them.

Capping the number of weighted classes per school subject encourages students to satisfy their specific academic interests. It allows mathematics aficionados to enroll in Analysis Honors as juniors without feeling pressure to take AP United States History concurrently, and vice versa for humanitiesoriented students. Because the weighted and capped GPA removes the impulse to overburden oneself with an excess of AP and honors classes, students can choose to take higher level classes in the subjects in which they are

most interested. As a result, they can concentrate on enhancing their knowledge of the subjects they love without facing interference from other advanced coursework in which they have far less interest.

More than allowing students to pursue their academic interests as they see fit, a weighted GPA capping system serves to decrease the level of anxiety associated with a schedule of too much rigor. AP and honors classes, when taken in too high an abundance, can result in overwhelming levels of homework and concept difficulty for some.

By capping the number of weighted classes, the UC system essentially removes obligation on the part of students towards enrolling in too many AP and honors courses for their own good.

Even with its undeniable advantages, the UC weighted and capped GPA system has met more than its fair share of detractors who argue against the limitations it imposes. For some, restricting the number of AP and honors classes that carry a weighted designation on the UC transcript unfairly disadvantages students who took more than eight semesters of AP and honors coursework, especially if they earned less than desirable grades in those classes. However, those critics fail to realize that the GPA occupies just one aspect of the college admissions criteria. The rigor of the secondary school record occupies just as significant a role in the final admissions decision; students in the position described ultimately would have very little about which to worry.

Instituting a cap on number of weighted classes to eight semesters reflects a savvy understanding on the part of the UC system administrators as to how academically competitive students operate. The measure motivates students to pursue their specific academic interests at a higher level. At the same time, capping the number of weighted classes alleviates the level of academic stress that such a system’s absence would develop.

In the end, the weighted GPA capping system proves a far more useful course of action than its alternative.

—Aspegren, a junior, is a News Editor.

Gun control not a comprehensive solution to violence in America Utkash Dubey

Exposed names and addresses of handgun-permit holders in New York, Californian teens on YouTube and testimonials from Hollywood celebs are a only a few of mainstream media’s latest attempts to aim our attention towards gun violence in the United States. Predictably, social media seems to buzz with activity that blames inadequate gun control laws for the Sandy Hook Elementary shooting and ultimately demands a total ban on America’s notorious weapon of choice. Yet, media moguls aside and indisputable data in mind, it is apparent that amending gun control laws is not at all the major issue worth addressing. Despite devastating recent events, calls for instating laws that ban all guns, or even just assault rifles, are impulsive and extremely misguided, and stricter gun control is only a minor contributing factor for preventing future shootings from occurring. Instead, the U.S. should channel her endeavors towards modifying statistically significant aspects pertaining to violent crime, and avoid using emotional judgements to guide her decisions. To properly address gun violence issues, legislation, such as the proposal verbally offered by President Barack Obama, that directly impacts gun regulation, should be immediately ratified.

The media pundits and progressive politicians of this generation, such as David Gregory and Nancy Pelosi, assert that gun violence is almost directly linked to gun availability and sales.

More guns means more weapons in the hands of crazy people

like Mr. Sandy Hook and Mr. Joker, right? Strangely enough, that could not be much further from the truth. According to an article from “The Washington Times,” when the 10-year ban expired and assault weapons were legal to purchase and own in 2004, violent crime rates wavered, but did not significantly decrease. Even more, after the assault-weapon ban expired, violent crime rates continued to fluctuate, and on average, have not increased since the ban’s expiration. In fact, it seems so apparent that gun control laws have almost no direct influence on violent crime that I think mainstream media and politicians simply instigate this debate for exciting viewers and earning political points. If a television news outlet reports on a mass public shooting, what kind of editorial board, in their right mind, would ever endorse pro-gun legislation? Emotionally reacting to a national crisis is much faster and more meaningful to precious viewers, so there’s no point in letting the NRA member bring his case.

Going back to Mr. Joker and Mr. Sandy Hook, where’s the flaw in the progressive logic of more guns equates to more violence? Simply put, it’s easy for any criminal to get weapons if they really want it. If a to-be school shooter, for example, wanted some heavy artillery for his murderous repertoire, he or she would be able to get a hold of assault weapons without a problem, legal or not—nine out of 10 figurative times, the black

market is practically their shop wizard. If assault weapons are banned, lawful citizens actually lose the arms race, as even powerful handguns are no issue for semi-automatic spraying machines. It’s a sad cold-war scenario, but it’s the truth.

And while President Obama’s recently delivered gun policy calls for a ban on assault weapons, many anti-gun lobbyists disagree with it because the definition of “assault weapon” is so loosely defined in the proposal that it essentially does not actually ban assault weapons. The rest of the president’s policy focuses on accountability, which better addresses gun violence in America, which is why I, Utkash “Mr. Republican” Dubey, support President Obama in his endeavors towards regulating gun ownership.

At the end of the day, gun George Hwang control outcries seem to be a mess to me. Progressives blame inadequate restrictions, while senseless folks of the NRA (both Republicans and Democrats, mind you) boast their double-digit weapon stockpile and cite the 200-year-old second amendment.

And even worse, the media perpetuates this conflict with more and more discussion solely on gun control.

Enough of this “ready, fire, aim” business. If we really want to address shootings and violence in US, we should strive to hike up gun-ownership restrictions and limit purchases to something like one or two weapons for security purposes—and perhaps more importantly, think before we call for action.

— Dubey, a senior, is the Editor-in-Chief.­­­

Monday, September 17, 2012

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Homework a necessary component for successful learning Klaire Tan Homework is a daily burden teenagers deal with as students.

However, for a handful of “lucky” students, homework isn’t a staple of the daily to-do list. While the majority of teachers assign homework, a few designate homework as optional. In other words, homework doesn’t need to be completed and does not count toward your grade. For most students, the notion of optional homework is wor t hy of support. While homework can be du l l, a nnoy ing a nd stra ightout boring, it still undoubtedly remains a must for us as students and should not be optional.

The reasoning is simple. Homework plays an essential role in the learning process. It’s intended to help students understand the class material. To understand a concept, students need to immerse themselves in it; to be able to apply and use calculations in the case of math or science classes, students need

to practice. If the material is not reinforced, students forget what they learn in the classroom. This is most clearly seen at the start of school when students suffer a loss in knowledge after a summer without practice and material review. Homework combats this and promotes retention of knowledge by making students practice regularly.

Unfortunately, the sad reality of the teenage world is that homework is hardly considered to be a priority. The majority of students lack the motivation to complete optional assignments. Aware of this lack of internal motivation, teachers assign homework for credit in order to ensure that students are completing their homework and actually practicing what they have learned. Without the regular practice t hat homework provides, students would find it more difficult to understand additional class material and simply be involved in the class. As this con-

tinues, confusion rapidly multiplies, and the overall level of understanding in a class drastically drops. Ultimately, schools would be rendered unable to fulfill their single function: to educate.

The benefits of homework also extend outside the classroom and can outlast a semester. Besides helping us learn and understand class material, homework can build character. Learning to consistently finish your work at an early age will be a skill you’ll need throughout your life. Homework is no different from

Teach e

work done for a job. However, at work, the consequences for failing to complete your work are much more drastic. Choosing to not finish what you’ve been assigned won’t mean the loss of a few points. Instead, it will mean losing your job. In addition, those who fail to complete their work in the adult world are labeled as slackers. The poor references and ill reputation which result only make finding a job that much harder.

By assigning homework for credit, educators send us the indispensable message that finishing our work, whether we wa nt to or not , is

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important. They teach us to work hard even when we wish otherwise. This lesson helps combat laziness that is often inherent to high school students who lack responsibility and motivation.

Ma nd ator y homework helps bestow students with a crucial philosophy necessary for success.

In short, homework is crucial to students’ lives both as a learner and an individual. As such, teachers shou ld be encouraged to assign homework for credit to ensu re st udents complete it.

Being assigned homework for credit allows students to learn to complete mandatory work and to face consequences when we don’t.

This simple lesson of working is one which will allow individuals to succeed, both in school and the real life world. It’s essential to success in the competitive world today.

In short, the next time a teacher assigns homework, whether it’s a 200-point report or a one-page worksheet, stop groaning and just remember that “nerds will rule the world one day.”

Now, go do your homework.

—Tan, a sophomore, is a Copy Editor.

Teacher feedback system in need of improvement

Mitch Donat The United States Department of Education’s mission statement includes “to encourage the involvement of the public, parents and students.”

However, students tend to conceal themselves behind walls of shyness, limiting their own involvement in the system. This is especially true when it comes to expressing their approval, or more importantly disapproval, of teachers. Bad teachers are a part of life—most can concur with this statement. However, students have the ability and right to raise their voices about these bad teachers and flawed policies and make changes that better the school and their future.

According to the Palo Alto Educators Association’s (PAEA) Collective Bargaining Agreement with the district, all staff members are required to collect input from students in grades six through 12 while providing opportunities for student anonymity.

Staff members may devise feedback forms in any way they like and then collect the feedback at the end of

each semester. According to Principal Katya Villalobos, the collected feedback is shared with the teacher’s Instructional Supervisor (IS). However, how the teacher and IS deal with the students’ feedback is up to them. This system poses numerous problems.

First, collecting feedback once a semester is not nearly enough to ensure maximum performance. Many classes at Gunn only last for one semester; therefore, by the time teachers collect feedback, the teacher’s students have already left for a different class. Once a semester is too infrequent. But if a student wishes to give a teacher feedback directly, this poses another problem: personal connections. Most students wouldn’t go face to face with their teacher to raise a complaint at the fear of losing this connection.

And if they do, it has the potential to raise tensions between the student and teacher.

Another major issue the current student feedback system poses is that teachers aren’t consistent in their feedback questions. The contract states neither that teachers are required to have a certain number of questions, nor that the questions need to cover certain areas. For example, if a teacher’s homework policy is completely absurd to a student, he may not have the chance to raise his voice on the issue because the teacher’s feedback

doesn’t list any questions about it. The same problem of teachers not listing certain questions on their feedback can be applied to numerous issues, not just homework policies. Teachers aren’t even required to include a critical miscellaneous comments section, where students could mention their concerns over certain areas not mentioned.

Finally, the student feedback system is ineffective because many teachers don’t respond to the feedback effectively. There is no solid method for how the teacher and his or her IS deal with the feedback. According to Villalobos, if there is an ongoing complaint in the feedback, there will be a meeting between the teacher, IS and administrator. However, the problem is that the IS and administrator have no way to enforce that the teacher responds to the feedback effectively. Punishment isn’t necessary, but enforcing that the teacher responds to the feedback effectively is. It’s apparent that students’ involvement in the course evaluation is minor and that many teachers’ responses to commonplace complaints are poor as well.

It’s clear that the amount of constructive criticism teachers receive and adjustments they make from the set feedback process is very low. To improve teachers’ methods and help

the students and school, Gunn needs to adopt an open door, anonymous feedback system. This system should allow students to remain anonymous, in order to eliminate the fear of losing personal connections with the teacher. The system also needs to be open everyday, 24/7. To make sure teachers respond to the feedback, it will also go to their IS and an administrator.

If a teacher is receiving far too many complaints on the same topic, the IS and administrator will meet with that teacher until the complaints are addressed. With this system, students will always have the option to give teachers constructive criticism that can help teachers improve and students succeed.

Instead of complaining to friends and parents, students need to take complaints about teachers to qualified admin who can deal with the issue professionally. To do so, Gunn needs to adapt an open, anonymous feedback system. In a district like the Palo Alto Unified School District, where education is of the highest priority, students should not have to settle for inadequate teachers who don’t improve their methods over the years. It is the students’ right and responsibility to speak up.

—Donat, a junior, is a Sports Editor.

George Hwang

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Forum

Features

Monday, January 28, 2013

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Photos courtesy of Wayland Fong

Left: Senior Wayland Fong bargains with a shopkeeper in Vietnam. Middle: Fong and his sister play in a rickshaw in China. Right: Fong visits Rạch Giá, Vietnam.

The Oracle staffer composes memoir about his family’s past him to push himself at times because he did not know if all his work would eventually pay off. “It was hard at times because the odds Senior Wayland Fong has been passionate were against me throughout the entire proabout writing since he was in fifth grade, but cess,” Fong said. “Nobody believed that a 17 it was not until the summer of his junior year old could write a book. I had to sacrifice year he realized that he could contribute to a lot of time writing my book, which was a the world with his writing. big risk for me because I didn’t know if the Fong started to write the memoir “Fat writing would even become a book at all.”

Boy, Little Man” a year ago. His selfAnother challenge for Fong was the published version of the book amount of time he was published on Amazon on had to spend on makNov. 23. ing the memoir the “Fat Boy, Little Man” tells best it could possibly the story of how Fong’s family be. What he expected escaped Vietnam and came to to be a side project America during the Vietnam became a huge part War. He recounts the lessons of daily life. “I wish I he has learned from both his knew how much of a personal experiences growing commitment it was,” Senior Wayland Fong Fong up in America and visiting said. “When I Vietnam and China along with all that he has started, I knew that this was something I learned from his parents’ and grandparents’ was passionate about, but I did not expect it life experiences. to consume my life the way it did.”

Even though the entire process took About a quarter of the time spent on over much more of Fong’s life than he ever writing the book was used for formatting imagined, the motivation of sharing his the story in a way that was both easily underfamily’s history kept him going. “I knew I stable and captivating. According to Fong, wanted to write something that I was proud the book simply began as a couple of loose of and would hopefully impact the lives of chapters, but then slowly expanded into more other people as well,” Fong said. “Through- of a series of family memories and reflections out the whole process, what motivated me on his own life. to fisimplnish the book was knowing that One of Fong’s main inspirations for the I had something to share to the world that format of the book was from “Catfish and mattered to me.”

Mandala” by Andrew Pham, particularly While Fong’s family was behind him and the overlapping storylines. The book is split his goal 100 percent, it was still difficult for into four different sections: “The Dream,” Rebecca Alger

Features Editor

Kenneth Fuchs

Alumnus Kenneth Fuchs is the director of “Shark Tank,” “Family Feud,” “The Bachelor” and the “Bachelorette.”

He is also the president of FremantleMedia North America, Next Entertainment and Touch ‘Em All Productions Inc. Fuchs graduated from Gunn in 1979. He then went on to attend Wesleyan University.

At Gunn, he played varsity basketball and varsity football from his sophomore through his senior year.

“America,” “China” and “Two Grandpas”.

The sections help show the reader the four aspects of what has influenced who Fong has grown up to be.

According to Fong, the book made him challenge the world around him more than ever. “After finishing the book, I realize that, while I have developed a maturity in the process, I am still faced with more questions than answers,” Fong said. “Now that I realize that there are problems in the world, I ask myself what I can do to effect change.”

Fong is incredibly happy with the way everything turned out. His favorite part is getting to see how his and his family’s stories impact the people around him.

“The most gratifying feeling came from teachers and students who read my book and felt that they could empathize and relate to my experiences,” Fong said. “To learn that my book has inspired others to reflect on their own background is extremely thrilling.”

Fong wanted his book to be more than just a personal collection of memories, and, instead, a piece of literature that would positively influence others. “I wrote this book so that I could impact the world by contributing all that I could give in the way my grandpas have impacted me,” Fong said.

The Oracle: What has your biggest accomplishment in high school?

Kenneth Fuchs: Well, it has got to be making lifelong friends. I’m still close with them till this day. Well. that and making Varsity Basketball as well.

TO: Was there a class at Gunn that got you started in entertainment?

KF: There was anything that helped me choose this job direction. Back then, we had no production or anything. All we had was morning announcements over the speakers. Had there been that sort of technology back then in high school, I would have definitely been going all over that direction.

TO: What was your least favorable memory of Gunn?

KF: The year that we won only one football game. It was absolutely sad.

While Fong does not dismiss writing more books in the future and becoming a full-time author, it is not his main priority.

“The whole time I was writing, I didn’t have a bona-fide plan to make a profit, but to reflect on humanity in a way only a 17-year-old boy could,” Fong said.

For now, Fong simply wants to go to college and learn more about the world. According to Fong, if anything, writing the book proppelled his curiosity to grand new heights.

Wr it i ng “Fat Boy, Little Man” made Fong realize that as human beings, we all have similiar stories, and that is what unites us. “I have come a long way in understanding who I am, but more than that, I have learned how close we are as Americans,” Fong said.

Even though Fong enjoys hearing others’ perspectives, his real reason for writing the book was to pay homage to those that have worked so hard to help him get to where he is now.

“I wrote the book in tribute to my grandpas and their lives,” Fong said. “I wrote about the children, the workers, and the relatives I had met. I wrote about my parents’ hometowns in rural China and Vietnam. I wrote about my family history with the hope of finding my place in society.”

TO: In terms of the cast, how do you deal with someone who is not cooperating?

KF: I try to remind them that we are all there for them. Most people in front of the camera are just incredibly insecure, and the more comfortable they feel, the better they can do their job.

TO: How would you describe your time at Gunn?

KF: My time at Gunn was amazing.

Ten of my friends from Gunn are still my best friends. I still keep in touch with them every day.

TO: How do you deal with any onset dramas that go on?

KF: You have to use all your training and experience to help people get past their problems and focus on collaborating in order to do what’s best for the show. Put egos aside.

TO: What advice do you have for students who want to work in entertainment?

KF: Be open-minded, never take the easy path and have no fear to fail.

Oh, and I thought of this a few days ago and it was pretty good: be wrong as fast as you can.

TO: Is there a time crunch to push out a certain amount of episodes?

KF: There’s always a time crunch and budgets are worse now than they were, but that’s part of the puzzle and we all need to join in the solution of how to get it done.

TO: Are there any funny moments with the cast?

KR: There are millions of funny moments, most of which I can’t talk about in public though. ­—Compiled by Alex Man

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THEORACLE

School welcomes science and English teachers discussion, which he believes are the best ways to learn. “[Halter] keeps the class engaged and makes sure to call on as [many] Over winter break, L-4 found a new people possible,” Fron said. occupant: English teacher Ethan Halter.

Halter finds much of his joy in teaching Halter has been teaching for six years, and in his students’ development. “I love seeing has taught his way around the bay to finally students open themselves up to new ideas settle in Palo Alto. and new ways of thinkHa lter g re w up i n ing,” he said.

Ann Arbor, Michigan According to Halter, where he attended public the well-developed stuschool until he switched dent is willing to let go to attending boarding of the need to be right. school Connecticut. It “A good student must was at boarding school be a critical thinker, but t hat Ha lter found his also willing to follow her inspiration for teaching. teacher in a direction English teacher Ethan Halter “[Since attending boardthat she is uncertain of,” ing school,] I’ve always known I wanted he said. “Such following requires patience to be involved in inspiring people,” Halter and courage because learning something said. new means confronting confusion, and He and his wife moved from Michigan confusion can be uncomfortable, even to California. scary.”

Halter majored in comparative literaIn the future, Halter hopes to establish ture and religion; however his preference is his position on campus. He better wishes to in the former. “I care a lot about literature,” learn what students are like outside of the he said. “Perhaps I care too much.” classroom in order to familiarize himself Halter’s new co-workers believe that with the student population. his talent for teaching is promising. “He Aside from English, Halter also enjoys is very knowledgeable and passionate soccer, lacrosse, basketball and camping. about literature,” English Instructional Moving here gave him new opportuniSupervisor Ellen Feigenbaum said. “He ties to pursue these interests. “One of the brings the potential for an interdisciplin- awesome things about Palo Alto is all the ary perspective.” recreational stuff, like Santa Cruz and the His students have also praised his teach- mountains,” he said. ing skill. “I have been in his class for one Halter spent last two winters learning week, and I have already realized so many how to telemark ski. “I’m really enjoying new things,” freshman Charlotte Fron said. the challenge of learning something new,” Halter’s class is made up of lectures and he said.

Shireen Ahsan

Assistant business manager

tempts to make every student comfortable.

“Being a very introverted person, I was the quiet kid in school—I think I can serve my A new face this semester is biology teacher introverted and extroverted students very Timothy Aston, who was hired midway well,” he wrote. through the year because of the departure of Another important attribute of Aston’s Vashti Srinivas. Aston is familiar with the is his comedic teaching style gets students Palo Alto Unified School interested in the subject District and has been submatter. “I’m a fairly laidstituting for a couple of back person, and approach years. This year, however, teaching with a sense of he has been hired as a temhumor,” he said. “You don’t porary teacher until the have to go far to come up end of the 2013 school year with ridiculous examples to teach Biology 1 and Biolof just about any subject in ogy 1A. “The students have biology, and I try to hook been phenomenal with Science teacher Timothy Aston students in with whatever the transition from teacher I can find.” to teacher, and while it’s been challenging Aside from school and teaching, Aston coming in mid-year, I wouldn’t change the enjoys fine-tuning his love for music. Though experience a bit,” he said. he played cello throughout high school, he Prior to his teaching, Aston lived in now spends his free time practicing guitar.

Los Angeles where he worked at Twentieth Photography, another hobby, takes up a Century Fox in finance while also studying good amount of his free time. “I usually take for his teaching credentials. Aston finds joy landscape photos in national parks, primarily in applying his love of science to teaching. Yosemite,” he said.

“My favorite part of teaching is when I see a He also enjoys playing tennis with his wife, concept click with a student after wrestling which he relates back to his experience with with it,” he said. badminton. “I remember being soundly beatAston already feels comfortable in his en in the Gunn gym when playing Badminton new niche. “Gunn so far has been fabulous,” for MVHS,” he wrote. Gaming ,a hobby that Aston wrote in an email. “I grew up in the appeals to a wide range of Gunn students, is area, and went to MVHS (I’ll leave which one another beloved pastime of Aston’s. a mystery), so I’m in familiar surroundings.

Aston’s passion for science truly shines All the Gunn staff I’ve interacted with have through in his day-to-day teaching style. gone out of their way to be welcoming, and I “People are curious about their surroundings couldn’t have asked for a better environment from a young age,” he said. “Helping to bring to start my teaching career.” more young adults into scientific literacy is As an understanding teacher, Aston at- something I feel passionate about.”

Misheel Enkhbat

Entertainment editor

11

Features

Monday, January 28, 2013

Spotlight on: homemade creations

Ocean-diving filming phenom Stephanie Zhang

Centerfold Editor

Photos courtesy of Haley Nieh

Top: Junior Haley Nieh snaps a photo of several coral and butterfly fish. Middle: Nieh’s photo captures the natural beauty of Australia. Bottom: Nieh finds clownfish hiding amidst a sea anenome.

Junior Haley Nieh’s love for the ocean surfaced when she participated in a marine biology program in Thailand five years ago. Over the years, she has turned her passion into action.

During winter break, she traveled across the world to Australia, where she documented and photographed the underwater Great Barrier Reef. “More people should really go explore the ocean, because I really believe that if they do they will see how beautiful and unique the underwater world is,” Nieh said.

The Great Barrier Reef is composed of 2,900 individual reefs stretching over a distance of 1,615 miles.

Due to the climate change in Australia, there has been mass coral bleaching of reefs that can be extremely deadly to the ocean. The main purpose of Nieh’s trip was to raise awareness for the danger that is affecting life under the sea. “I think that it’s always easy to overlook oceans, but when you actually think about it, beneath those waters, there’s a totally different world that is incredibly essential to this one,” Nieh said.

Nieh states that though we do not mean to, our lifestyles on the earth negatively affect life in the ocean. “The ocean has many properties that regulate our natural cycles, and coral reefs produce a lot of oxygen that we breathe,” Nieh said. “Although most of our atmosphere is composed mostly of nitrogen, the oxygen that we do get to breathe mostly comes from the coral reefs as well as the rainforest.”

Previously, Nieh participated in a non-government organization in Thailand that developed a method of reef checking. “In Thailand, I learned how to use many methods that helped me check the conditions of coral reefs and I began to become more aware of what was going on around our environment,” Nieh said.

Nieh’s trip started on Hamilton Island, which is an island off the coast of Sydney, Australia. Then, she took a helicopter to the Great Barrier Reef where she started her

research. Nieh’s journey in the water started with snorkeling, through which she was able to observe many organisms. “When I was snorkeling I would shoot some video, then turn it off, have some fun, then go back to shooting whenever I saw something really cool.” Nieh said, “I was always looking out for things that I could research about later.” After, Nieh switched over to scuba diving and was able to record bigger fish and observe organisms living deeper down in the ocean. “Once I went snorkeling, I started seeing the big coral reefs,” she said. “When you’re that deep in the ocean, you get a lot more variability and that’s when the damaged coral starts to appear.”

Nieh has received much encouragement from her friends throughout her journey. “I really admire how independent Haley has been throughout this whole process,” junior Larry Wang said. “I think she’s really committed because she herself tried to raise all the money to fund this project and she has put a lot of hours into her work.” Nieh has started a group on Facebook titled “Haley’s Heavenlies” on which she has also received a lot of support. “When Haley first came to me with her idea of her documentary, I thought that it was a great idea because it’s for a great cause and it’s something that people are really fascinated with,” junior Langsi Wu said.

As for the distribution of her documentary, Nieh plans on starting small and hopes that social networks might spread her message. “I will probably share my video first with the people on the Facebook, and from there just hope that it will travel by the Internet to inform more people about the dangers facing our oceans,” Nieh said. “I just hope that people will be able to see my documentary and realize how beautiful our oceans are and how we can work together to protect and preserve them.”

This summer, Nieh is planning on returning to Thailand to continue her research and the protection of our coral reefs. In the future, Nieh plans on pursuing a carreer in ocean preservation as well as the media arts.

Fashion designing extraordinaire Eileen Qian

Centerfold Editor

Junior Sara Ma was born with an innate artistic ability, allowing her to entertain herself with a wide variety of artistic activities, such as making gift boxes, creating accessories and drawing. In eighth grade, the amalgamation of Ma’s artistic talent and genuine yearning to experiment led her to begin clothes-making.

Ma was first motivated to try clothes-making during when she failed to find a Halloween costume that she liked.

After designing a Queen of Hearts dress, Ma found that clothes-making was an activity that she wanted to pursue further. “I realized how gratifying it is to be able to create a piece of art that is functional,” she said. Ma enjoys making her own garments because it lets her produce something unique. “Unless you’re making something really special and different, buying clothes would be a lot easier,” she said. “I make clothing that I can’t find.”

Ma primarily makes formal dresses, not only because it is harder to find dresses that are completely compatible to her, but also because she can personalize her pieces. “There’s something about a dress that I love,” Ma said. “I can’t quite put my finger on it, but to me, a dress is more charming and fun. Although it’s not more practical, a dress can be more versatile in style. There’s a dress for every occasion.”

Ma draws inspiration not only from magazines and online sites for, but also her surroundings, such as animals, friends, machines and chess pieces. When she finds a design that she likes, Ma sketches the item in a notebook, makes changes to it and creates her own version of the piece. “I’ll look over my sketches and see which ones I am able to make and start planning where each seam would go and what each piece might look like,” she said. When her idea is finalized, she sews together fabric that she buys from stores with fragments of clothes that she already owns. “With

reconstructing, I get a wider variety of fabric options and sometimes there are some really cool details from the clothing that I can use in my recreations,” Ma said. Because the complexity of her designs varies, it can take from three hours to four days to complete one item.

According to Ma, there are many benefits to making dresses instead of buying them from stores. “I like knowing that what I make is 100 percent my style,” she said. “Every part of the garment is fully customizable. I get to make the decisions on the fabric I use, the cut of the dress, the embellishments and best of all, it fits me.”

Throughout the years, Ma’s hobby has taught her to be persistent and patience. When she first started, she would begin new projects with motivation, but find herself losing her initial drive. She soon, however, found a method to overcome this shortcoming.

“Now, I start a project and finish them in one to three days so I don’t lose my motivation,” Ma said.

While Ma wishes to continue designing clothes after high school, she does not plan to pursue it as a career. “I think I’ll be keeping fashion design as a hobby,” Ma said. “Although I do enjoy creating my own designs, I would rather pursue another career.”

Ma’s father, Siyad Ma, encourages Ma’s clothes-making because he believes that it is a practical way for her to channel her artistic creativity and learn in the process. “She has improved her planning skills, her artistic taste, and her creations have given her a good sense of satisfaction for her accomplishments,” he said.

Ma’s friends believe that it allows Ma to express her creativity and fashion sense. “She takes ideas or themes like stars and the galaxy and is able to transfer it into a tangible and a wearable form,” junior Julie Xin said.

“Instead of spending a lot of money on a costume that she might only be able to wear once, she creates her desired look from things that she already has or is easily accessible to her.”

Photos by Audey Shen

Top: Two skirts and an unfinshed top demonstrate junior Sara Ma’s artistic skill. Bottom: Ma poses in an original one-shoulder dress.

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Features

THEORACLE

Senior produces rap projects DJ mixes talent with passion Membreno’s many influences include rapper Tupac Shakur, R&B singer-songwriter Rick James, football coach Vince By day, he is senior Calvin Membreno. Lombardi, civil rights activist Malcolm By night, he is still Calvin Membreno. But X, and former president George Washingwhen the microphone turns on and the ton. “These people inspired me because senior starts to rap, he becomes Coach Cal. they all contributed something positive Membreno, who performs under the alias to America at some point, and that gives Coach Cal (previously Killi Cal), began me the motivation to do anything I want,” rapping seriously in the summer before Membreno said. ninth grade. “It was my only outlet at the Membreno has worked hard to develop time to express how I felt being on punish- his own distinct sound and style. “I feel ment for the whole summer,” he said. While that I am different from every rapper in the grounded over the summer, he had time world because I am balanced at illustrating to build a foundation for his talent. Rap- a honest relatable lifestyle, yet at the same ping has allowed him to positively express time I keep people interested with my innohis thoughts. Membreno enjoys rapping vative lyrics and punctual rhythm,” he said. because of the “sense of accomplishment Membreno believes that today’s artists you get as you create a new song or a hip produce either one of two songs: the “trendy catch phrase.” and imitation type of Membreno’s previsongs” or the “unique ous stage name dates songs that display lyriback to his childhood. cal ability which tends “When I was a kid my to convey any type of parents use to call me message.”

‘Killi Cal from CaliforMembreno feels that nia’ as a silly nickname his biggest accomplishand I guess it just stuck ment is seeing his audiwith me,” he said. Memence enjoy themselves. brano’s current stage Membreno plans to name originates from Senior Calvin Membreno continue to make music his friends who view for his friends no mathim as a unique, alert teenage rapper. “I feel ter what his future holds. Membreno, whose like I must lead by an example and always records include “Killi Cal Livin,” “No Days stay a couple steps ahead to live up to my off,” and “The Free Tape,” has two upcomnickname: Coach Cal,” Membreno said. “It ing projects; “The Goon Tape” and “Go’er means a lot to me.

Gone Wild.”

Henry Siu

Reporter

album was made entirely of samples it blew my mind. Pretty soon, I bought a [Music Production Center] and the rest is history,” Senior Timmy Linetsky, also known as Linetsky said.

Bout Phase, is a professional DJ as well as a Last September, Linetsky decided to post musician. His music is an old-school take on a beat every night for a year. It took him electronic music. Linetsky, who previously anywhere from 45 minutes to two hours performed under t he to make a beat. “A song alias Underbelly, decided always starts off with a to change his stage name beat, which is basically at the start of the year. “I the core musical idea,” had spent the past three Linetsky said. “Turning days frantically trying a beat into a song is like to think of a name; I had turning a sketch into a pages of words I liked painting: it’s about taktaken from books and ing the beat, which is random phrase generausually just a 4-bar loop, tors, and I spent hours Senior Timmy Linetsky and giving it depth and desperately trying endprogression.” Some of his less combinations of words and phrases,” he musical inspirations include Flying Lotus, J said. “In the end, it just came to me.”

Dilla, Seven Lions and Clams Casino. “There Linetsky’s musical career began when is good music in every genre, you just got to he first started playing classical piano at dig it up.” Linetsky said. the age of 7. “He was always very perceptive For Linetsky, making music is more than and emotionally more mature than his age,” just a hobby. “The high of making something Linetsky’s father Gene Linetsky said. “His great is unlike any feeling in the world,” intuition and empathy are certainly above Linetsky said. “It’s a high that lasts, too. I average.” couldn’t stop making music if I tried.” From Linetsky was first enticed into expanding making beats in his bedroom, to performing his music capabilities from piano playing at gigs around Palo Alto, Linetsky only has when he first heard “Midnight in a Perfect great ambitions for the future. “Right now World” by DJ Shadow. “When I first heard I’m working on a mini-album featuring full his album ‘Entroducing’ I had no idea that versions of the best Nightly Beats,” he said. every instrument was just a sample from “I’ve also got a few more shows lined up at a record. Back then, I didn’t even begin to the Media Center and will be playing gigs think about how the music was created; I just regularly to promote the album. Look for liked how it sounded. When I found out that me on the cover of ‘Rolling Stone.’”

Wayland Fong Reporter

Artist of the Month: junior Kelsey Chan The Oracle: What media do you primarily use?

Why do you use it?

Kelsey Chan: I chose the clarinet in fifth grade because I liked the tone quality of the clarinet the most. It also had the largest range of notes that it could play, and the instrument itself wasn’t too big to carry around.

TO: Why do you like band?

KC: Band is the perfect way to meet other students who are passionate about music. It is also a nice way to relax and get my mind off of school work. Learning how to play the clarinet has also taught me valuable skills that I have transferred to both playing piano and playing volleyball.

My clarinet teacher recommended that I read “The Talent Code” by Daniel Coyle, which basically explained how everyone has the ability to become an expert in pretty much anything as long as he or she practices the correct way.

Each repetition of any skill, whether it be for piano, clarinet or volleyball, adds more myelin coating around synapses, improving the connections in your brain for that particular skill.

Audey Shen

TO: What do you enjoy most about band?

KC: I enjoy being able to collaborate with other musicians and being able to listen to all the other instruments in the ensemble. Each instrument contributes to the overall sound of the band, creating different nuances that are incredible once you are able to distinguish them from one another. In freshman year, we played Disney arrangements from “The Lion King” and “UP,” which were probably my favorite songs that we played that year.

TO: When and how did you first become interested in band?

KC: I started playing clarinet in fifth grade because it was a requirement for music class. In ninth grade, I signed up for concert band because I had never played along with other instruments, and I thought it would be nice to try something new. It was also helpful for me because I was able to meet new friends easily. I started participating in allstate and all-county bands last year as a sophomore becaus [band director Todd] Summers always encouraged all the students to participate in music programs outside of school. Since I didn’t have enough time in my schedule to do youth orchestra because of my volleyball commitments, I decided that all-state and all-county would be perfect because they were only single weekend events.

TO: What are some works that you are most proud of? Why are you proud of them?

KC: I am most proud of the songs that I prepared for all-state this year and last year (Poulenc clarinet sonata and Saint-Saëns clarinet sonata) because I put a considerable amount of time working on the details and trying to sound more musical. I remember practicing those pieces so often that I would get tired of listening to them, but in the end I was proud of how they turned out. These show how much I’ve improved as a player.

TO: Do you have any advice for aspiring artists?

KC: Focus on one thing you want to improve (articulation, rhythm, dynamics, etc.), and repeat that skill until you are satisfied with the progress you have made for that one goal.

TO: Where do you find your inspiration?

KC: My clarinet teacher always likes to come up with funny analogies or stories to go along with different parts of the music. She always asks me what kind of emotions are expressed in the music, and from there I try to think of the types of scenarios that would have that music playing in the background. Going to all-state and national competitions always inspires me to improve as a player because there are always so many high school students who are so much better than I am.

TO: How much time do you spend working on your art?

KC: I have practice for wind ensemble four days a week during A period, and at home I practice from an hour to an hour and a half every day, depending on how much music I am working on. All-state band is normally four days long with six to eight hours of rehearsal per day. The concert is on the fourth day. All-county band is a total of four days as well with a similar amount of time spent in rehearsals, culminating in a concert on the last day.

TO: What pieces are you currently working on?

KC: [For solo pieces] I am currently working on a piece by Stravinsky and another called the Weber Concerto. At school, we are preparing for the next few concerts in February and March, including the Winter Band Concert, the concert at Terman Middle Schooland the Chabot music festival.

—Compiled by Rani Shiao

13

Features

Local ART

*

*

Bliss in the Moment

Out of the natural scenery, a boxy steel man on a blue and silver bicycle takes a moment to stop and savour the view of the Baylands, a large tract of preserved marshland. The sculpture, “Bliss in the Moment,” is dedicated to cycling advocate Bill Bliss, who passed away in 2005. On Earth Day last year, a dedication ceremony occurred for the sculpture and the general public was invited. The Bliss family partnered with the Palo Alto Public Art Commission and the Art in Public Places Program to commission the art piece from local artist James Moore.

Bliss devoted his life to expanding trails, improving the safety of trails and advocating legislation in favor of safer cycling. He envisioned a 500-mile bicycle and pedestrian trail which would run along the shorelines of the San Francisco and San Pablo Bays, and form a continuous loop. As of 2012, 330 miles of the trail have been completed.

The sculpture is located at a busy trail intersection where bicyclists, hikers, joggers and other pedestrians travel through.

According to Moore, the sculpture depicts the cyclist with one foot planted on the ground while facing the sunrise because it conveys hope for the future along with dedicated action for the present.

Courtesy of Scott Loftesness and http://sjl.us

Digital DNA

Lytton Plaza in downtown Palo Alto is home to a large metallic green egg. Not a dinosaur egg turned fossil, but an egg created from scraps of old technology. At a casual glance, the sculpture appears to be nothing more than a strange eye sore, but with a closer inspection, the beauty and meaning shines through.

The sculpture, “Digital DNA” was created to be a symbol of the growth and birth of the Silicon Valley, and how Palo Alto was the starting point of it all. The egg represents the beginning, while the circuit boards and steel portray the advancement of technology throughout the decades.

“Digital DNA,” designed by Adriana Valerra and Niton Malz is a 300-pound, 7-feet tall mass of computer circuit boards and steel. The Palo Alto Public Arts Commission bought it for $9,950 in 2000, and it was supposed to be placed in 2004. Unfortunately, a fire destroyed “Digital DNA,” and it was recreated for $10,000. Finally, in 2005 “Digital DNA” was ready for public display.

Michael Wu

Go Mama Going down California Avenue, there is a mysterious sculpture of a six-foot doll. The bronze statue, the artist’s version of a child’s doll, is running in place, and on the doll’s stomach is the face of a baby. The sculpture, “Go Mama,” was created by Marta Thoma in 1999 for the City of Palo Alto.

The face of the doll appears more cartoon like, while the face of the baby is eerily realistic. The lifted eyebrows and slightly open mouth give the baby’s face an expression of surprise, while the doll has a relaxed, calm expression.

Thoma’s work is a variety of surrealism, figuration and modern art. “Go Mama” evokes feelings of both fantasy and fear because of the giganticism of the piece. While viewing the piece a sensation that the doll will stomp over. The scale of the sculpture is used as a device of disorientation, shifting viewers’ perspective and challenging perception.

Michael Wu

Rrrun On the edge of Bowden Park, a giant cement car is constantly sprinting with its human legs. The sculpture, “Rrrun,” was created by artist Marta Thoma, who has numerous pieces of artwork displayed throughout the Bay Area.

“Rrrun” was sparked by her thoughts on the large amounts of time spent commuting or traveling by car. However, she also expresses her appreciation for the feeling of freedom and the ability to escape when behind the wheel.

The sculpture is located near Alma Street so that it is visible not only to the pedestrians in the park, but also to the people passing by in cars. According to Thoma, the location of “Rrrun” reflects the metamorphosis of the car into a man because the place where the sculpture is situated connects those on the street to those in the park.

The unusual artwork has received mixed reactions from the community, ranging from tepid responses to praise and criticism.

After a commissioner saw a small model of the current sculpture in Thoma’s studio, the Public Art Commission employed Thoma to create “Rrrun” which was installed at Bowden in early 2006. ­­—Compiled by Katherine Zhu and Erica Lee

Michael Wu

14 Introducing our tasting panel...

Cente

Cheese Puffs Cheetos vs. Trader Joe’s Baked Cheese Crunchies Price

Cheetos Brand: $2.19 Trader Joes: $0.79

Results of the blind taste test: Jonathan Abraham (9)

Briana Irani (9)

• Barkhordanian and Liu prefer to buy the Cheetos brand, but they actually liked Trader Joe’s Baked Cheese Crunchies more.

• Erickson and Stevens both prefer to buy Trader Joe’s 3 out of 8 5 out of 8 Baked Cheese Crunchies but they actually liked Cheeprefer Baked tos more.

Cheese Crunchies • Abraham, Beroza and Irani all prefer to buy the Cheetos brand and the test confirms their preference.

• Spector prefers to buy Trader Joe’s Baked Cheese Crunchies and the test confirms her preference.

Although Cheetos is one of America’s most iconic chips brands, consumers will be surprised to find out that 3 out of 8 students in our panel actually prefered the Trader Joe’s Baked Cheese Crunchies. In general, the students thought that the Cheetos were cheesier, stronger in flavor and very salty, whereas the Baked Cheese Crunchies were more buttery and less salty.

?Who Made

Adam Liu (10)

The Oracle conducts blind food-tasting tests with students to determi

Wheat Cereal

Nieku Barkhordanian (10)

Kellogg’s Mini Wheats vs.

Safeway’s Bite-Size Frosted Shredded Wheat Price

Kellogs Mini Wheats: $4.29 Safeway Frosted Shredded Wheat: $3.39

Results of the blind taste test: James Stevens (11)

Sivan Spector (11)

2 out of 8 prefer MiniWheats

6 out of 8 Froshed Shredded Wheat

• Barkhordanian, Beroza, Irani, Spector and Stevens prefer to buy Kellogg’s Mini Wheats, but they actually liked Safeway’s Frosted Shredded Wheat more.

• Liu prefers to buy Safeway’s Frosted Shredded Wheat but he actually liked Kellogg’s Mini Wheats more.

• Abraham prefers to buy the Kellogg’s Mini Wheats and the test confirms his preference.

• Erickson prefers to buy Safeway’s Frosted Shredded Wheat and the test confirms her preference.

Consumers will be happy to hear that in terms of wheat cereal, they can get a cheap price along with good quality and taste. We found that 6 out of 8 students in our panel preferred the Safeway Bite-Size Frosted Shredded Wheat. Our panel thought that the Kellogg’s Mini Wheats were a little too wheat-like and dry. Students liked the Safeway brand because the wheat was more crunchy and there was more sugar in each bite.

Alex Beroza (12)

Lydia Erickson (12) Photos and Graphics by George Hwang and Michael Wu

Senior Lydia Erickson drinks Cola soda to evaluate the taste.

An assortment of gummy bears, cheese puffs, ce

erfold

Monday, January 28, 2013

Cola Soda

Coca Cola vs. Safeway Refreshe Cola

15

Crazy, Stupid (Brand-name) Love

Price

Coca Cola (2 Liters): $2.19 Refreshe Cola: $0.79

Results of the blind taste test:

3 out of 8 prefer Coca-Cola

5 out of 8 prefer Refresh Cola

• Abraham, Barkhordanian, Liu and Spector prefer to buy the Coca-Cola brand, but they actually liked the Safeway’s Refresh Cola more.

• Beroza, Erickson and Irani prefer to buy the Coca-Cola brand and the test confirms their preference.

• Stevens prefers to buy Safeway’s Refreshe Cola, and the test confirms his preference.

For years, Coca Cola has been a symbol of America, flashing its “Since 1886” trademark on every label. Interestingly enough, 5 out of 8 students surveyed prefered the mock brand by Safeway. Most of our students believed that the original brand was too acidic, less carbonated and even tasted a bit like mint toothpaste. Many believed that the Safeway brand was sweeter and had more flavor.

it better?

ine whether brand-names foods taste better than store-brand remakes.

Gummy Bears Haribo Gold-Bears Gummi Candy vs. CVS Gummy Bears Price

Haribo Gold-Bears Gummi Candy: $1.79 CVS Gummy Bears: $0.99 3 out of 8 prefer CVS Gummy Bears

5 out of 8 prefer Haribo Gold-Bears Gummi Candy

Results of the blind taste test:

• Beroza, Barkhordanian and Irani prefer to buy Haribo Gold-Bears Gummi Bears, but they actually liked CVS’s Gummy Candy more.

• Erickson and Spector prefer to buy DVS’s Gummy Bears but they actually liked Haribo Gold-Bears Gummi Candy more.

• Abraham, Liu and Stevens prefer to buy the Haribo Golden-Bears Gummi Candy and the test confirms their preference.

When many think about the chewiness of gummy bears, their minds might automatically jump to the brand name Haribo, and for good reason. In our taste test, students preferred the Haribo Gold-Bears to the CVS Gummy Bears 5 to 3. Our panel thought that the Haribo gummy bears were more flavorful and chewy while the CVS gummy bears were sometimes bland and had a strange aftertaste. ­—Compiled by Eileen Qian and Stephanie Zhang

ereals and soda from various brands.

Junior Sivan Spector gets a cup of Cheetos from junior Stephanie Zhang.

Chaewon Lee Let’s put it this way: food brands are like television channels. Sure, experimenting with them can be fun, but after awhile, it’s nice to settle on just one. They’re also like designer labels: knock offs are a major turn-off. As for me, getting food from a particular brand is more than just a desire; it’s a burning need. That’s why last month, when I opened my food cabinet to find my precious Honey Bunches of Oats cereal replaced by the similar Trader Joe’s Honey Crunch n’ Oats Cereal, I almost died.

Unfortunately, events like that happen way too often in the Lee household. From time to time, my mom will sneak cheaper no-name versions of my favorite food items into the spots of their original. And whenever she makes these sneaky substitutions, I can’t help but feel cheated of the type of satisfaction that only comes from eating good food. Whether the item in question is soup (Campbell’s only), instant ramen (Shin Ramen, please) or even powdered doughnuts (strictly Hostess), I want it to come from my favorite brand no matter what, and not some random, generic one.

I want to say no-name brand foods bother me so badly because they taste dreadful (or at least not as good as brand name products).

Then maybe I would feel less guilty about rejecting them (because they really are much more economically friendly. Sorry mom). But in all honesty, most of the time, the no-name food taste, look and feel similar to their brand-name counterparts. Sometimes, they even taste better.

I surprised myself when two out of three times during The Oracle’s blind food test, I chose the nameless brand samples over the popular ones.

But even with the experiment’s results, I don’t think I’ll consider buying non-brand foods any time soon.

First of all, brand-name foods feel more trustworthy to me. Because they’re inherently popular, I think that their products must be top-quality and safe from sketchy ingredients.

Afterall, if they weren’t well-made, they wouldn’t be popular in the first place.

Also, because of some weird sense of loyalty I feel towards my favorite brands, I convince myself that only they can produce certain foods exactly the way I want them. If I sample Safeway’s generic orange juice and think for a moment that it might taste better than any other juice I’ve tried, I remind myself that that can’t possibly be true, because I already like Tropicana’s juice the most. And when I try Tropicana’s juice again just to make sure it actually taste as good as I remember it to be, it always ends up tasting perfect to me.

Of course, logically speaking, it’s pretty unlikely that my all favorite brands are the best makers of their products. More likely, my satisfaction comes from the placebo effect. In other words, I believe so strongly that my preferred brands are the best ones out on the market that they end up making me happy me regardless of actual taste.

At the end of the day, I know that I’m being ridiculous when I refuse perfectly fine food from supermarkets, but I can’t help myself. It’s so hard to change my weird perception of quality and taste, because it’s been hard-wired into my brain for basically forever. So for now, I will still only buy Auntie May’s Freeze-Dried Fruits, Quaker’s Chewy Bars, Chips Ahoy! chocolate cookies and Tic Tac mints (and the list goes on and on).

—Lee, a junior, is a Features Editor.

16

Features

THEORACLE

German program ranks one in U.S.’s top five Emily Kvitko Reporter

The school’s German program was named a German Center of Excellence by the American Association of German Teachers (AATG), placing it in the top five nationally. According to Executive Director Keith Cothrun, the jury was impressed with the way the program values both its students and its curriculum.

German teacher Kerstin Helbing took over in 1999 and helped establish a solid program. However, she was caught off-guard when she was notified of the award. “It was actually really cool because I was at school and I got an email from the AATG Executive Director with the news,” she said. “It’s like ‘oh, wow!’ It was unbelievable.”

Cothrun believes that the Gunn’s program shows excellence in every category. “The panel noted the highly qualified staff with credentials appropriate to the teaching assignment,” he wrote in an email. “[However], most impressive is the program’s curriculum.” Cothrun feels that the program offers a strong structure that is well taught, reflecting high standards.

According to Helbing, the German program has the fewest number of students, compared to the amount of students in Chinese, French, Japanese, and Spanish. However, it is still just as strong as the other language classes .

Helbing strives to incorporate unique learning styles with

culturally authentic materials, such as books brought over from Germany, and hopes to keep students interested in order for them to feel connected with what they are learning. “Every year on Dec. 6, the German club brings candy and puts it in the German’s students’ shoes,” Helbing said. “We do this as a tradition celebrating the coming of Saint Nicholas and rewarding the good children.” Around the same time of year, German II students compete to see who can build and decorate the best gingerbread house.

Another difference is that the entire program revolves around one teacher; this arrangement helps unite the students.

“You get that family feeling as well as a very trustworthy environment,” Helbing said.

The fun and lively atmosphere of the class reminds Dahlen, who lived in Munich for a year, of actually being in Germany.

“Speaking a language that is not so common feels cool, and being able to share it with others is what makes it so special,” Advanced Placement (AP) German student sophomore Kastania Dahlen said. “We all come together like a community rather than a regular classroom.”

The German language students also get the opportunity to interact with students in Germany. The German American Partnership Program allows students to travel between Germany and Gunn. “It helps them experience something fresh and new,” Helbing said.

Helbing is often willing to change the class based on students’ requests. This semester, for example, students chose to focus on extensive reading.

The German program has five class periods, as well as a German club and honor society. “Extracurricular activities and special events are clearly integral elements of the program,” Cothrun wrote.

Every October the club holds a popular barbeque for all students in celebration of the annual beer festival Oktoberfest, one of the most famous and large-scale events in Germany.

Helbing’s incredible achievements as head of the program did not come as a light load.

“Not a lot of people know that you have to prep

Photos courtesy of Kerstin Helbing

Top: German program students take a field trip to San Francisco order to watch a German movie. Bottom: German II students make gingerbread houses. for every single period that you teach,” she said. According to her, teaching German can be difficult but it always has its rewards, which she finds priceless. “It is so much fun,” she said. “My fun, I take from you guys, my students.”

Students expect the program to continue its strong growth and development. “I’m truly proud that we have a super successful German program here at Gunn and feel lucky to be a part of it,” Dahlen said. “I can’t wait to see what the future holds.”

Sports

Monday, January 28, 2013

17

5

Steps To Juggling a Soccer Ball with senior Meera Parat

1 2

Keep tapping the ball upwards with the top of your foot and your ankle.

3 4

Put your foot on top of the ball and roll it up onto your foot.

Relax your feet and try to put some backspin on the ball.

Keep the ball low or else the ball may be difficult to control.

5

Stay focused on the ball and don’t forget to count how many taps you’ve completed.

—Compiled by Eileen Qian

Photo by Michael Wu

18

Sports

THEORACLE

Varsity Game: Bianchini

MONTHLY AWARDS Courtesy of Butch Garcia Mitch Donat

The Sports Section of The Oracle has started a monthly segment that features chosen varsity and junior varsity (JV) athletes that have performed exceptionally well in the season. It will also feature varsity and JV games that showcases the most talent from the players. Be sure to watch out for next cycle’s awards. Stories compiled

by Shireen Ahsan and Regina Tran.

Varsity Athlete: Guard junior Zoe Zwerling

Girls’ Basketball Anthony Tran

The girls’ junior varsity (JV) basketball team took home a 45-28 win against Newark Memorial High School at the Milpitas JV tournament on Dec. 15. The team went into the game with a 3-2 record while Newark Memorial had a 5-1 record.

Despite their opponent’s strong record, team captain junior Noa Shadmon was not surprised by the outcome of the game, and she believes they have a very strong team, especially when everyone plays together as one unit.

“By encouraging each other in practice, it helps our team gain confidence and trust which leads to our great chemistry,” she said. “We always try to improve as a team and as individuals during practice which positively affects our success.”

The team’s current record is 5-3.

On Jan. 5, guard junior Zoe Zwerling led the Lady Titans to a 44-14 victory in their first league game against Los Gatos. She scored 16 points and had three rebounds and three steals.

“The league is very respectable; all teams play hard, but we play fair and play good basketball, which I really enjoy,” Zwerling said.

According to Zwerling, her teammates are a huge part of their outstanding performance.

“I couldn’t do any of it without them,” she said. She is currently in the recruitment process for college basketball. “I would love to be able to play at that next level,” Zwerling said. “It is definitely a source of motivation for me.”

On Jan. 5, the wrestling team won its first Bianchini Memorial Invitational with 189 points, beating out second-place Palma (161 points) and third-place Archbishop Mitty (142.5 points). Overall, Gunn had three champions and nine medalists at the meet.

Sophomore Ian Cramer won the 138-pound title (first place) with four wins by pin. Senior Eric Cramer won the 132-pound title, and junior Cadence Lee became the first girl ever to win her weight class of106 pounds at Bianchini.

“It’s a pretty good representation of how I’ve improved,” Lee said.

Other Gunn medalists include junior Stephen Martin in second place, junior Sean Lydster in third place, senior Daniel Papp in fourth place, seniors Blaze Lee and Harsha Mokkarala in fifth place and junior Eric Calderon in seventh place.

JV Game: Milpitas Tournament

Anthony Tran

Junior Varsity Athlete: junior Tavor Baharav

Wrestling Anthony Tran

Junior Tavor Baharav won the 138-pound title in the Ruppel 2nd Man Invitational on Jan. 4.

He won five consecutive matches and it was his first win since joining the sport. Baharav was determined to take home a title and told himself that he would win in his weight class. “This time, I managed to convince myself,” Baharav said. “When I won, I was overjoyed, but also felt a sense of fulfillment, having accomplished what I had set my mind to.”

Baharav plans on continuing to work hard at future meets and tournaments. “I hope to continue to represent Gunn well, especially in the Gunn-Paly meet,” he said.

By the Numbers: Winter Sports Edition

26 17 5 9

The number of team points Senior Eric Cramer scored at the Mid Cal Invitational for wrestling

The number of points the Boys’ Varsity Basketball team beat Lynbrook High School by in an away game

Number of shutouts the Boys’ Varsity Soccer team have had this year

The number of rebounds sophomore Meghan Mahoney had against Lincoln High School for girls’ basketball —Compiled by Misheel Enkhbat

Too Close—Alex Clare No Interruption—Hoodie Allen Blow Me (One Last Kiss)—P!nk Live While We’re Young—One Direction I Knew You Were Trouble—Taylor Swift Pound the Alarm-—Nicki Minaj Here With You—Asher Monroe Remember the Name—Fort Minor Everyday (Netsky Remix)—Rusko Smile Back—Mac Miller My Homie Still—Lil’ Wayne ft. Big Sean Ten Thousand Hours—Macklemore Clique—Kanye West Sound of My Ceremony—Nipsey Hu$$le SB Dunks—G Eazy So Good—B.o.B. —Compiled by Sam Acker

ang ge Hw r o e G

Sports

Monday, January 28, 2013

4

3

2

1

Anthony Tran

5

Anthony Tran

19

Stephanie Kim

8

Anthony Tran

Courtesy of Butch Garcia

1. Senior Claire Klausner scores a fastbreak layup. 2. Junior Sean Lydster crushes his opponent. 3. Junior Arjun Parikh concentrates on his free kick. 4. Junior Kirsten Wei dribbles the ball toward the goal 5. Junior Patrick Skelly drives past his Santa Clara defender.

Titans blast through winter season with high CCS hopes Girls’ Soccer:

The girls’ soccer team has an overall record of 1-8-3 and 0-6-1 in the De Anza League. Head coach Juan Mayora sees much improvement that can be made for the team. “The season is not going as smooth as I had hoped,” Mayora said.

“Lack of teamwork by the team is hurting our season. But the girls are working hard and will find a way to get it done.”

Seeing how the girls are doing, Mayora has set realistic resolutions for the remainder of their year. “Our goals for the season are to] continue to work on teamwork and consistency and win enough games to stay in the division,” Mayora said. “We are working on fitness, skill and understanding how to play together.”

Mayora encourages students to come out and support the team in their next home game against Palo Alto on Jan. 30 at 5 p.m.

Boys’ Basketball:

The boys’ basketball team had a disappointing start to the new year and currently has a 4-12 record overall and a 1-4 record in the El Camino League. “It hasn’t gone as we expected, and we are learning from the results of each game,” head coach Mike Ferolino said. “As long as we are improving, we are heading in the right direction.”

According to junior shooting guard Patrick Skelly, the team has gone up against competitive teams at their tournaments. “It’s been tough, and we’ve had plenty of heartbreakers,” Skelly said. “We lost by a total of six points in those games, even though we tied going into the fourth quarter for all of those games.”

Despite the difficult beginning, junior point guard Michael Hwang feels that the team has good chemistry. “Our team loves playing with each other, and the wins will come on their own,” he said.

The loss of senior center Max Girod has become a setback as well. “Without his height, it’s easy for the other team to get buckets inside,” Skelly said.

The boys’ next game will take place at home on Jan. 29 against Los Altos High School.

Girls’ Basketball:

With a promising overall record of 10-5, the girls’ basketball team is likely on its way to Central Coast Section (CCS) like last year.

Despite the loss of four seniors, the team has stayed as one solid unit in the ongoing season, and head coach Sarah Stapp has high hopes of winning CCS. “The girls are playing really hard,” Stapp said. “I’m pretty fortunate, as they’ve had good relationships on and off court.”

After winning the first two league games by a large margin, the team is expecting to face better competition later. “We still have a lot to go,” Stapp said. “Those were probably the two easiest teams.”

Senior forward Sarah Klem feels the same about the season and thinks that getting past setbacks is a goal too.

“The season is going pretty well, though there are definite obstacles we will need to overcome to be successful,” Klem said. “Even though we lost some great players, we gained players who moved up and also current players who have really stepped up from last year.”

Boys’ Soccer:

The boys’ soccer team has a solid 2-3-2 record in the De Anza League.

However, team captain senior Ben Sampson believes there is much more to improve on as the team is still relatively young. “We are looking to get better at working together and being consistent,” he said.

One of the team’s major setbacks is the injuries players have sustained throughout the season. “We’ve been hit with a plethora of injuries so we need to fill some gaps quickly,” Sampson said.

Looking optimistically into the season, Sampson has high goals set for the team. “Our first goal is to make it to Central Coast Section,” Sampson said. “The Gunn team hasn’t been there since before any of us were at this school, so we’re all itching to get there.”

The team’s next home game is against Los Gatos on Feb. 1 at 3:30 p.m.

Wrestling:

The wrestling team continues the season with an overall record of 1-0 in league and 3-1 overall. Although the team has lost crucial seniors, new freshmen have already filled in the vacant spots.

“We have a lot of good freshmen this year,” head coach Christopher Horpel said. “Freshmen and other first-year wrestlers who look good so far include [senior] Dino Soto, and [freshmen] Tanner Kerrins and Larry Li.” The team has been training intensely in order to prepare itself against tough opponents. Horpel set up a rigid training routine to ready his wrestlers physically and mentally.

“Practices are always a combination of drilling techniques we know, learning some new things, and wrestling live,” Horpel said. “As the season progresses, we cut down on the new things we learn and do more live wrestling. Conditioning is also part of practice every day.”

Each wrestler has a unique goal set in mind that he or she has been training hard to achieve.

“I wanted to have an undefeated dual record and a better overall tournament record than last year,” junior Cadence Lee said. “I took first place in the Lynn Dyche tournament.

Unfortunately after, I had my first loss in the San Ramon tournament which I took third place in.”

Meanwhile, senior Darrion Yang is primarily focused on his game mentality. “My main goal this season is to improve my mental toughness so I would be able to deal with exhaustion and fatigue better during my matches,” he said. “I hope to place in SCVALs and then qualify to wrestle in CCS.” While some may try to achieve the glory of winning, Horpel simply wants his wrestlers to have fun. “My goals are the same every year: get better and enjoy the process,” Horpel said. “If we do this every day, winning a lot will be a natural by-product.” ­—­Compiled by Lawrence Chen, Alex Man and Alvin Wang

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Sports

THEORACLE

For energy, stick to healthy foods, avoid drive-thru

The foods one eats before and after a workout or important game can make all the difference. The Oracle offers guidelines for healthy snacks that help to both increase performance and replenish muscles starved of sugars, proteins and electrolytes.

Greek yogurt

Do’s:

One perfect pre-game snack is Greek yogurt. Unlike other yogurts, it has less fat and isn’t loaded with unnecessary sugar. It’s packed with high protein per serving, providing sustainable energy that will last for long periods of time. This protein also helps rebuild tired muscles after excercise. Mix in fruits and nuts for more flavor and vitamins, such as bananas which pack high amounts of potassium for long-lasting energy.

Basic Nutrition Facts (eight ounces): 24 grams protein, 350 mg potas-

sium (up to 560 with half a banana), 90 mg sodium.

Almonds

Another crunchy pregame option are nuts; while they can sometimes be too fatty, eating a 1/4 cup of almonds will give athletes have the strength to power through a workout. They contain healthy carbohydrates and nonsaturated fats which can not only give an athlete energy but also help lower cholesterol and reduce risk of heart disease.

Raw almonds are preferable to roasted because roasted almonds have too much salt.

Basic Nutrition Facts (one ounce): 14 grams fat, 160 calories, 6 grams pro-

tein, 210 mg potassium.

Protein shakes

Oatmeal

Protein powder shakes are an athlete’s preferred post-game drink to quickly recover from competition or practice. They pack serious amounts of protein to help reconstruct starved and tired muscles after exercise. Not to mention, they come in varieties of flavors such as chocolate, vanilla, strawberry. Mix vanilla powder with orange juice for a creamsicle taste, or add frozen fruit for an antioxidant-rich smoothie.

If an athlete prefers to exercise in the morning, the perfect breakfast would be oatmeal. This grain is a great alternative to the unhealthy carbs in Froot Loops and white bread, which don’t provide long-lasting energy. Oatmeal contains a wide array of vitamins and high amounts of fiber, which provides superior long-lasting energy. If the taste is unappetizing, try adding dried cranberries or fresh strawberries.

Basic Nutrition Facts (one-half cup): 25 grams protein (up to 40 with

Basic Nutrition Facts (one-half cup): 4 grams fiber, 5 grams protein, 27

mixed in milk), 150 mg of sodium, 390 mg of potassium.

Fast food

grams total carbohydrates, 150 calories.

Don’ts:

Sugary cereal

After exercise, it’s best to resist temptation and avoid the drive-thru line. The high fat content can make you feel sick to your stomach. Along with fat comes numerous preservatives, such as high fructose corn syrup. Even worse than the high fat and preservatives is the wasted opportunity to build one’s muscles and replenish the body.

Numerous whole-grain cereals are good for before and after exercise. This is because they contain nuts and oatmeal, which as mentioned, contain fiber and healthy carbs. However, sugary cereals such as Lucky Charms and Fruity Pebbles have little to no nutritional value; they are almost 45 percent sugar.

Basic Nutrition Facts (one Big Mac): 51 grams saturated fat, 970 grams

Basic Nutrition Facts (Lucky Charms, one serving): 210 mg sodium, 13

sodium, 550 calories. Not recommended.

g of sugar. Not recommended.

—Compiled by Mitch Donat and Samantha Acker

Monday, January 28, 2013

21

Senior returns to physical education class Hockey’s back and Ellen Lee It was rough. Coming back to the track that I thought I had wished my final “goodbye” to was more painful than I’d expected.

Locker-less and friend-less, I resorted to changing in the back of my car in to an ensemble that barely resembled a physical education (P.E.) uniform. After a series of text messages and Facebook messages to an array of friends, I was able to put together something close.

In a P.E. shirt a size too large (with a name that definitely isn’t mine sharpied on it) and a pair of Terman Tiger basketball shorts (I went to JLS), I waited on the track to see a crowd of faces I had never seen before. Confused stares from my classmates (for the period), only underscored my feelings of discomfort a nd awk wa rdness. But with the help of senior Rohit Advani, I ran my warmup laps with company.

After the treacherous lap and a half around the track, I joined Mr. Horpel’s class for the lacrosse unit. When Mr. Horpel selected two team captains for the “All Star” game and told them both to switch off picking teammates, I knew I was doomed. Not only was I a senior in a sophomore P.E. class, but I was about to live my number one nightmare of being picked last for a team. But for some reason that I’ll never know, the angels above gave me a blessing, and I was picked to be a part of the red team, close too last, but not last.

This game of lacrosse challenged the level of intensity I had experienced during my freshman year flag football unit, which for me was very intense. It wasn’t particularly physically strenuous but rather questionably violent. After a string of unfortunate events—“sword fights,” body slams, kicking and pushing—I realized that there weren’t many rules on the field. And soon, this aggressively competitive side of me that I hadn’t know existed overcame me.

I found myself no better than the rest: kicking, pushing, hitting sticks and body slamming (sorry, Grace Gandolfo) whenever I or anyone else was in a five feet radius of the ball. Knocking the ball out of my opponent’s possession became just as important as making goals. And while I made a whopping total of zero goals, the rest of my team members each made at least one,

leading the red team to victory—a victory that I am convinced I contributed tremendously to.

Going back to P.E. made me realize how much I miss the class. I forgot how nice it was to have a break from backto-back academic classes and to play on the field. Although I am sure that approximately 100 percent of my class would disagree with me, a four-year P.E. requirement, for a second, sounds quite enjoyable. However, the idea of running the mile in today’s 30 degrees weather sets me straight and helps me remember that two years is plenty.

—Lee, a senior, is an Entertainment Editor.

Michael Wu

Michael Wu Michael Wu

Top: Senior Ellen Lee stretches out her hamstrings by struggling to reach the tips of her toes. Bottom: Lee completes her first push-up in two years.

Gunn-Paly game’s community spirit will be missed Wayland Fong The school district has decided to suspend the annual football rivalry game between Palo Alto High School and Gunn High school for one year, according to Principal Katya Villalobos. This suspension would end a 48-year-old tradition between the two schools.

As Palo Alto citizens, we know that it is important to have traditions that bring the community together. In my eyes, the annual football game is just a testament to that sense of community.

The game itself has a place in history for both schools as well as the Palo Alto community.

When the two schools first created the rivalry game, it was supposed to be a friendly game with the intention of bringing the community together. For 48 years, this purpose has been fulfilled each and every time. If students were genuinely discouraged by the final scores, then the

huge masses would not be showing up at the games. Besides, the Titans have proved that it is not completely impossible to win in the past with their 2002 victory against Paly. The discrepancy between the two football teams just makes potential victories for Gunn even more exhilarating.

George Hwang

Proponents i n support of this suspension believe that it would strengthen both teams’ records and increase their chances of getting to CCS. This, however, should not be a reason to deprive students of a district-wide tradition. No

school should rely on a single game as a crutch to determine whether they get to CCS or not. With Gunn’s 7-3 record and Paly’s 8-3 record, both schools are well on their way to a successful season next fall anyways.

The community understands that it is more than just a football game. I have been to all of the GunnPaly rivalry games during my time at Gunn, and I have enjoyed every game. This annual event is a place to be with friends, to hear the school bands play their renditions of current pop songs and to just get away from the stressful environment of high school. This suspension of the rivalry will deprive the community and future generations of Titans from this game that has been such a big event for the community.

—Fong, a senior, is a reporter.

better than ever Boot Bullwinkle

As the frost freezes over on the windshields of Bay Area citizens, so does the ice at HP Pavilion, the home of the San Jose Sharks. Across America and Canada, hockey fans rejoiced on Jan. 3 as the National Hockey League (NHL) lockout came to an end.

After coming to the realization that professional soccer was on a downward slope of commercialism and embellished fouls (David Beckham, I’m looking at you), I fell in love with the sport of the Great North.

The fast-paced play combined with the icebreaking hits keep me riveted to the game, and I try to attend at least 12 games a year. That is, until this year.

The Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) between the NHL Board of Governors and the NHL Player Association (NHLPA) expired on Sept. 9, a month before the puck was supposed to drop for the 2012-2013 season.

The two sides exchanged petty arguments in a competition of stubbornness and petulance as NHL fans sacrificed 113 days and a total of 625 regular season games. The NHL All-Star Weekend scheduled for Jan. 26 through 27 in Columbus, Ohio, was cancelled and so was the outdoor game known as the Winter Classic.

Things seemed bleak as NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman announced on Jan. 3 that if a deal wasn’t reached by Jan. 12, the entire season would be cancelled.

But as I prepared to go into hockey hibernation for the second NHL lockout in seven years, the unthinkable happened as the NHL Board of Governors and the NHLPA reached and ratified a new 10-year CBA. The abbreviated regular season (48 games compared to the normal 82) began on Jan. 19 as the Los Angeles Kings raised their recentlyacquired Stanley Cup banner to the rafters at Staples Center. The San Jose Sharks started off very well with a 4-1 dousing of the Calgary Flames Jan. 20, and they finished off the sweep of Alberta, handling the Edmonton Oilers. I’m too blinded by my love of hockey to be mad at the league, and after all the opening ceremonies and festivities, my anger and anguish were quickly dissolved.

I have never played a game of hockey in my entire life. The closest I have ever come to it is physical education hockey and ice skating. And yet, it hasn’t diminished my love for watching the sport.

Nevertheless, hockey has been my favorite sport for many years. Its fast pace combined with its offensive and defensive tactics make it a very strategical game. And then there’s the oh-so-awe-inspiring fact that 6’ 6”, 265 lbs. men with beards hit each other on ice skates. They score, they defend, they hit and they fight. It’s such an exciting sport to watch, and it’s finally come back.

As a senior, this will likely be my last chance to support my beloved San Jose Sharks in the Bay Area. With a roster full of young and feisty forwards bolstered by an experienced roster with many Stanley Cup winners, I’m fully expecting the Sharks to take home a Stanley Cup of their own and bring yet another championship for the Bay Area.

I know that I should be angry with the two sides for not being able to pull their heads together for 113 days, but I’m too blinded by my excitement and pure enjoyment of watching big men hit each other on ice skates.

—Bullwinkle, a senior, is a Managing Editor.

22

Sports

THEORACLE

The Fierce Bay Area Four

The Oracle features Bay Area sports teams that have recently achieved success Emily Yao Sports Editor

After ending the 2010 regular season with a disappointing record of 6-10, the San Francisco 49ers saw their future change for the better when the head coach of Stanford University, Jim Harbaugh, stepped in as their new head coach. The team’s impressive jump from a 0-5 start in 2010 to 9-1 in 2011 meant one thing: the 49ers were back in the game.

For the first time since 2002, the 49ers clinched the National Football Conference (NFC) West in 2011 with a win against the St. Louis Rams. Their 13-3 regular season record also rewarded them with the second overall seed in the NFC Divisional Playoffs, where the 49ers clinched a 36-32 victory over the New Orleans Saints.

In 2012, a 11-4-1 regular season record allowed the 49ers achieved the same feat for the second year in a row, and on Jan. 12, the 49ers crushed the Green Bay Packers 45-31 in the divisional playoffs.

During the 2011 NFC Championship Game, the 49ers lost to the New York Giants

20-17 in overtime, ending their postseason Ravens on Feb. 3 in New Orleans, where reign. But the 2012 championship game Harbaugh will face off against his brother, was a different story, and the outcome was Ravens’ coach John Harbaugh, for the presdifferent for the better. tigious title.

With new wide receivers like Randy If the 49ers want to win, Kaepernick will Moss, Mario Manningham and A.J. Jenkins, have to step up and play smart football, the 49ers overcame a 17-point according to die-hard 49ers def icit aga i nst t he fan senior Nikhil Ku13 -3 At l a nt a mar. “The deFalcons this fense needs year. 49ers’ to get after qu a r t erquarterback Coback Joe lin KaeFlacco, pernick and the and runsecondning back ary needs Frank Gore to make led their team sure that it can to victory, making cover wide receiver it the biggest comeback Anquan Boldin and the George Hwang win in NFC championship game hisexplosive speed of wide receiver Tortory. rey Smith,” he said. “The front seven need Beating the Falcons 28-24 has earned the to limit Ray Rice at the line of scrimmage.

49ers a spot in the Super Bowl XLVII, their The Smith brothers, Aldon and Justin, need first trip to the Super Bowl since 1995. San to do a good job at setting the edge so that Francisco will meet up with the Baltimore Rice can’t get outside.”

Tim Wang

to a solid start despite having two rookies this year, center Festus Ezeli and forward Harrison Barnes.

After a disappointing streak in recent So far this season, the Warriors have years, Oakland’s Golden State Warriors won 22 out of 37 games. Compared to their are making a rebound. average win rate of 45.7 percent in the 2011A basketball team that was originally 2012 season, this season’s near 60 percent formed in Philadelphia in 1946, the War- win rate is a great surprise. riors have since moved to CaliWith a current fourth place fornia, their new home. In ranking in the National Basthe past 17 seasons, the ketball Association, the Warriors only made Warriors are in strong it to the playoffs position. twice, but this Many Warrior year they are fans also have on the rise. high hopes for During the team this t h e 2 011 year. Junior season, the Alejandro Wa r r i o r s Nava rro, a changed dedicated t heir head Warriors fan, coach to has a similar Mark Jackson mindset. and have since “I think that been on a painthe Warriors are ful reconstruction playing better team journey. This season, defense and getting however, they have had more out of their main George Hwang one of their best starts since scorers,” Navarro said. “Playoffs 1992, passing the 20-win mark before this year—it’s gonna happen, watch.”

30 games.

With 46 games left to go, things could Led by team captains David Lee and change at any time. But for now, the WarStephen Curry, both centers, they are off riors are on track to return to prominence.

Reporter

Zoe Weisner News Editor

The Cardinal’s win over the Wisconsin Badgers during the 2013 Rose Bowl Game signified that the Stanford Cardinal is on track to becoming one of the country’s top collegiate football teams. It has been 41 years since the Stanford Cardinal’s last win at the Rose Bowl Game in 1972, led by quarterbacks Jim Plunkett and Don Bunce, in which Stanford narrowly beat the University of Michigan Wolverines by a score of 13-12.

But for the next four decades, Stanford was unable to clinch another victory at the Rose Bowl until earlier this year. Although

their road to victory was not an easy one, the Cardinal can attribute most of their recent success to their former coach, Jim Harbaugh.

Harbaugh became the head coach of the Stanford football team in 2006. With a team that finished 1-11 in the previous season, it was highly unlikely that Harbaugh would steer what would become known as one of the greatest upsets in college football history.

However, the turning point was during Harbaugh’s third

One of the controversial changes coach Harbaugh made this season was starting Kaepernick in place of former starting quarterback Alex Smith, who suffered a concussion during their Week 10 game against the Rams.

But Kaepernick has proven through the weeks that he is capable of leading the team.

In his first playoff game against the Packers, he rushed 181 yards, setting a National Football League record for the most yards rushed by a quarterback in a single game, either playoffs or regular season. “Kaepernick brings a characteristic explosiveness to the game, and he is not afraid to go deep down the field,” Kumar said. “He can also make throws that many quarterbacks can only dream of making, with his high arm velocity and his ability to throw on the run.”

From starting the 2010 season 0-5, their worst start since 1979, to qualifying for the NFC championship games for the first time since 2002, the 49ers tackled their weaknesses and are now forces to be reckoned with. Many fans are proud to call Candlestick Park their home and are now donning red and gold with pride.

were released from other teams, including Sergio Romo, Javier Lopez and Cody Ross.

Although the 2010 team did not have any After Barry Bonds, arguably one of the big name players, clutch hitting by Cody greatest baseball players, retired in 2007, Ross—who prior to being picked up by the the San Francisco Giants struggled to find a Giants thought that his career was over— player to fill Bonds’ place. In 2008, the Giants helped lead the Giants to become World believed Pablo Sandoval was the one, but he Series champions, and he was rewarded by only became an All-Star in 2011. receiving the Most Valuable Player honors I n 20 09, t he Gia nt s of the World Series. broug ht up c atcher Last year, the Giants Buster Posey, but a lack started the season by of experience caused receiving unfortunate Posey and the Giants news about t heir to, yet again, disappoint.

All-Star closer, BriIn 2010, with predican Wilson. Bochy tions of placing last in overcame the loss the National League and won the World West Division, the Giants Series by picking his played baseball unrecstarters by committee. ognizable to Bay Area His rashness paid off. fans. The Giants manEven though many playaged to win close baseers from the 2010 team ball games by pitching were not on the 2012 efficiently and hitting roster, the Giants were effectively. As a result, able to gain experience George Hwang they became the 2010 World throughout the regular seaSeries champions. son in one-run baseball games.

Their success in 2010 to the Their experience in stressful situations present is because of manager helped the Giants beat better teams in Bruce Bochy and general manager the postseason. “The real thing is that the Brian Sabean. Bochy was able to bring out the Giants have a knack for winning close games best in all of his players, while Sabean traded and coming from behind,” true Giants fan and picked up free agents and players that junior Tejas Kannan said.

George Hwang

Roy Shadmon Reporter

year of coaching, in which the Cardinal beat University of Southern California once again and participated in the 2009 Sun Bowl. In Harbaugh’s final season with the Cardinal, the team went 11–1 with their only loss coming from the undefeated University of Oregon. Stanford ’s 11 wins allowed the Cardinal fourth place, according to the Bowl Championship Series (BCS), and a BCS bowl invitation to the 2011 Orange Bowl. Stanford

defeated Virginia Tech 40–12 for the Cardinal’s first bowl win since 1996 and the first BCS bowl victory in program history.

When Harbaugh left in 2011 to become the San Francisco 49ers new head coach, former passing game coordinator David Shaw took his place. For the past two years, Shaw has helped build the team by focusing on developing each individual player. For instance Shaw took a big risk by switching quarterbacks mid-season to freshman Kevin Hogan, but the decision led the Cardinal to five straight victories.

By using his own methods and experience, Shaw’s techniques definitely contributed to the Stanford Cardinal impressive 12-2 record.

Entertainment

The Oracle looks at trends on campus PJ Monday

Courtesy of Doroni Kopelman

The onesie is always a good conservative take for PJ Monday—you can’t go wrong wearing it. On the other hand, if you feel like you can’t rock the onesie, then plaid pants with a sweatshirt might be a good fit for you. However, if you don’t have pajamas, then this is your day to wear your favorite slippers or Crocs with fuzzy socks.

Flannel Friday

Bring out your country side and bring out your flannel.

Flannel Friday is the long awaited day of the week and you don’t want to regret missing out on the fun. You’ll also join the flannism party, which we all know is the best party known to man.

Courtesy of Hellen Abraham

“Django Unchained”

Quentin Tarantino’s “Django Unchained” stands as possibly the year’s most entertaining film as well as the most harrowing. Jamie Foxx stars as Django, a slave enlisted by the German dentist turned bounty hunter Dr. King Schultz (Christoph Waltz). Once Django helps his employer terminate three murderers, Schultz aids his manservant-turnedpartner in rescuing the now-freed man’s enslaved wife (Kerry Washington), held captivity by the brutal plantation owner Calvin Candie (Leonardo DiCaprio). The film boasts topnotch acting across the board. “Django’s” powerful treatment of the horrors of slavery on a level not seen in recent years and cements the film’s status as a grand achievement in 2012 cinema. Tarantino’s self-authored screenplay sports hilarious and crisp dialogue, warranting his nomination and possible win in the Best Original Screenplay category. In the end, “Django Unchained’s” bloody whirlwind of a plot is one you can be sure you’ll never forget

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Monday, January 28, 2013

Opera offers more substance than pop

Utkash Dubey Courtesy of Josh Wilson

V-Neck Tuesday

The v-neck is typically a T-shirt with the collar in the front shaped as a “V.” Especially on cold winter days, feel free to pull out your v-crewneck. The v-crewneck will keep you warm and fashionable. With a little bit of patience and some scissors, it is also possible to make your own “V” from a “U” T-shirt.

Pink Wednesdays On Wednesdays, we wear pink! Avoid making frenemies by being fabulous and wearing pink because if you don’t, you can’t sit with us. Spice it up with clothing from Victoria’s Secret and join PINK Nation.

As an added bonus, you will also be supporting the Breast CancerAwareness cause.

Courtesy of Luma Hamade

—Compiled by Roy Shadmon

“Les Misérables”

Tom Hooper’s “Les Misérables” proves a highly overrated and flawed film that fails to bring anything new to its long celebrated source material. Based on Claude-Michel Schönberg’s musical and for the most part preserving its “sung-through” format, the film stars a brilliant Hugh Jackman as Jean Valijean, a French convict who breaks parole and transforms himself into a highly respected citizen. He seeks to fulfill Anne Hathaway’s portrayal of dying prostitute Fantine’s last wish while evading capture by the vengeful and suspecting policeman Javert (a miscast Russell Crowe). “Les Misérables” suffers from the inadequate singing of its cast; the fact that actors’ vocals were recorded live on set results in a far less pleasant viewing experience. The film proves even more unsuccessful, however, with the staging of its theatrical set pieces. A thousand close-ups and cuts do not make for an effectively produced musical. In the end, “Les Misérables” serves as the biggest cinematic disappointment of the holiday season and one that surely does not qualify as essential viewing.

“Zero Dark Thirty”

Kathryn Bigelow’s “Zero Dark Thirty,” written by her “Hurt Locker” collaborator Mark Boal, stands as perhaps the most suspenseful political thriller released not only in this year, but also in this decade so far. Jessica Chastain stars as Maya, a CIA operative tasked over the course of a decade with accurately locating al-Qaeda terrorist leader Osama bin Laden. While the outcome of the climactic raid sequence is predictable, the Navy SEALs’ trek into the pitch black compound remains all the more tension filled through the sheer power of Bigelow’s filmmaking. The fact she was not nominated for a Best Director Oscar stands as a reprehensible travesty on the part of the Academy. In the end, “Zero Dark Thirty” proves itself to be the awards season’s most essential viewing, and one that stands far superior to all the other nominees for Best Motion Picture.

—Compiled by Cooper Aspegren

Modern pop music has been in its “love, sex, emotions, alcohol and more sex” phase for a while now. Knowing that, it’s hard for me to believe that music nowadays can even be considered tasteful, let alone respectable. Our generation seems to be soiled with unhealthy surface-level entertainment, and more people seem to fall victim to progressive-style music that simply isn’t worth appreciating.

In the midst of melodic disaster, I have found my new hope: good ol’ fashioned Italian opera.

As strange as it sounds, there is something really mystifying and fantastic about the reverberations and mastery of voice manipulation that I hear and see in opera. When I listen to “Caruso,” which tells the sorta-true story of an Italian tenor who confesses his love to his second wife, I can sense the power, passion and funky serotonin levels. Opera in general is an experience truly unlike any other: some acts give the sensation of a dramatic clash, like a drummer fighting through a fiery barrage of symbols, and others, like “Caruso,” combine rage, regret and sorrow in absolutely spectacular ways, but I guess that’s the beauty of it.

And if that wasn’t enough, opera is nearly an athletic feat. Those cartoons of opera singers turning from pale to red and then to purple are only slight exaggerations of what actually happens. In fact, sopranos have been known to (on very rare occasions) pass out due to lack of oxygen. Not just anybody can sing opera. It takes incredible stamina and strong vocal cords to pull it off.

Luciano Pavarotti’s legendary enactments of “Caruso” and “Nessun Dorma” are now, strangely enough, the songs I find myself listening to the most, along with performances

by Andrea Bocelli, and even occasional by Josh Groban, the young American opera singer. I’ve been listening to opera so much recently that I don’t consider most other genres to be relevant to musical culture anymore. My hip-hop and “TSwift” obsessed friends probably disagree with me, but I think I’ve seen the light now. Opera singers are really the only good singers “on tour,” or whatever opera folks do. They’re the real singers that actually sound great without the obnoxious beats, seizure-inducing flashy music videos and, of course, the notorious autotune software.

However, I can’t praise every single opera singer. There are old school fellas like Pavarotti and Enrique Caruso, who boast classical, strong voices. There are more modernized but still old school opera singers, such as Bocelli, that are a pleasure to listen to weather the music is opera or not. And then there are younger hipster-like opera “singers” like “America’s Got Talent” winner Neal E. Boyd who just don’t know what they’re doing, but uninformed people like them anyways. Yet, on average, I enjoy opera far more than any other genre of music.

It’s hard to pinpoint and explain how exactly opera is so much more fantastic than Katy Perry or “P!nk,” because passion, power and emotion can be (inaccurately) identified in so many other genres of music. So with that in mind, I will withhold further verbal or written support of opera.

Instead, I personally recommend trying it out.

Have an open mind, listen (or watch) intently and enjoy the moment. Don’t think of opera as a strange branch of vocals meant solely for old rich folks; instead, let opera’s amazing feel captivate your interest.

—Dubey, a senior, is the Editor-in-Chief.

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Entertainment

2K13 Be more CHARITABLE...

George H w a ng

Palo Alto Art Center Palo Alto Art Center’s Teen Volunteer Program has a range of programs for high school students. Volunteers can choose from a variety of opportunities, including working with children at an art camp, organizing and administering projects, or working as a special events helper, just to name a few. Call 650-617-3520 for more information.

Ronald McDonald House The Ronald McDonald House allows teens to help create a welcoming environment for children with illnesses.

Volunteers generally work in the recreation room, helping organize activities, like cooking, arts and crafts, and sports. Volunteers must be 16 years or older and must attend an orientation to be considered for a position. Call 650-470-6011 for more information.

Palo Alto Family YMCA The Palo Alto Family YMCA is a great place to volunteer if you like working with kids. Whether it’s taking care of young children in the daycare center, or helping train aspiring athletes, there is a way for everyone to contribute. For more information, call 650-856-9622.

Academic Center (AC) Tutoring Help out your fellow classmates by signing up to tutor in the AC. Pick the subjects you would like to be a tutor for, and earn volunteer hours by helping out your peers.

Talk to Pam Steward in the AC for more information.

—Compiled by Anuva Ganapathi

Be more WATCHFUL...

“Hannibal” (NBC) As this season of Showtime’s “Dexter” comes to an end, fans of serial killer thrillers will be itching for more, and NBC’s new psychological thriller, “Hannibal,” which is set to be released early this year, will fill this void. This new series is based on Thomas Harris’s critically acclaimed book “The Silence of the Lambs,” which has already been made into several film adaptations. Mads Mikkelson will play the world-famous Dr. Hannibal Lecter, a forensic analyst who secretly shadows as a cannibalistic serial killer, which will please those who wish to find a series that mirrors “Dexter.” Will Graham, an FBI criminal profiler portrayed by Hugh Dancy, recruits the help of Lecter’s brilliant analytical mind to capture a serial killer at large.

Lecter’s experience as a serial killer, unbeknownst to Graham, will help him immensely in dissecting the mind of the hunted as well as those of his own victims.

“The Americans” (FX) FX recaps a long held fear with origins dated back to the Cold War in the upcoming drama “The Americans.” The show will focus on the lives of two sleeper agents, spies who have been covertly placed in America by the former Russian secret service (KGB) to become assets to the mother country should tensions between America and Russia resurface. Sleeper agents Phillip and Elizabeth Jennings, played by Matthew Rhys and Keri Russell, have been trained to lead a completely fabricated life as husband and wife.

But doubt ensues when the two are finally given a secret directive after years of settling in. They quarrel as Phillip considers ending his affliliation with the KGB while Elizabeth refuses to betray it. “The Americans” combines heart-pounding espionage with a tranquil sense of American suburbia. The pilot airs on Jan. 30.

“Sherlock” (BBC) The famed Sherlock Holmes was originally created by author Sir Arthur Conan Doyle at the turn of the 19th century and has been popularized in modern media by the recent movie series starring Robert Downey, Jr. These plots generally feature the brilliant consulting detective Holmes and his friend Dr. Watson solving crimes in the late 1800s. However, the BBC has been putting a contemporary spin on the character ever since 2010 in the crime drama “Sherlock”, starring Benedict Cumberbatch as police consultant and basket case Sherlock Holmes. After running two series of three 90-minute-long episodes each, the BBC has renewed Sherlock for a third three-episode series. Fans of everything Sherlock Holmes will be at the edge of their seats, waiting for the arrival of the new season. Receiving an average 10 million viewers per episode in the United Kingdom alone, as well as almost unanimous acclaim from critics, “Sherlock” is a mystery series that will not disappoint.

George H w a ng

—Compiled by Leon Cheong

Entertainment

Monday, January 28, 2013

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New Year, New You Be more eventful...

“Wicked” Witness the musical “Wicked,” a story of the Wicked Witch of the West from the parallel novel to “The Wonderful Wizard of Oz” by Lyman Frank Baum. This musical production tells the story in the perspective of the different witches of the Land of Oz, Elphaba (Witch of the West) and Glinda (Witch of the North). “Wicked” was originally a novel by Gregory Maguire but has been transformed into an award-winning musical masterpiece. “Wicked” can be seen between Jan. 17 through Feb. 23 at the Orpheum Theatre in San Francisco (1192 Market St., San Francisco).

The Hamburg Ballet: Nijinsky Hamburg Ballet artistic director John Neumeier presents this year’s production in honor of one of the world’s greatest male ballet dancers, Vaslav Nijinsky. The ballet is about the life of the longdead Nijinsky, depicting all his memories and emotions through the art of ballet. Neumeier’s ballet can be seen between Feb. 13 through 19 at the War Memorial Opera House in San Francisco (301 Van Ness Ave., San Francisco).

61st Annual Orchid Exposition Come see the largest orchid convention in the US with over 150,000 unique orchids from around the world. The exposition is named “East meets West” because of its Taiwanese style decorations, and includes a silent auction, live music and delicious food.

The orchids can be seen at the Fort Mason Center in San Francisco (Marina Boulevard, San Francisco) between Feb. 21 and 24.

—Compiled by Henry Siu

Be more techy...

Google Glass Google recently started a research and development program to create an augmented head-mounted display called the Google Glass.

The Google Glass takes the form of an aluminum strip across the forehead with two nose pads for support and looks very similar to regular glasses. The information on the Google Glass will be displayed in a smartphone-like format. Features such as internet access, integrated camera and video chatting will be available. However there are many more prospective features for the Google Glass which will be controlled with natural language voice commands. Project Glass is currently being developed by the Google X Lab which is a secret facility run by Google in an unspecified Bay Area location. Consumer versions of the Google Glass are predicted to be released by the end of 2013 or towards the beginning of 2014.

The Leap Leap Motion (previously known as OcuSpec) recently announced its first product in development: the Leap. The Leap is roughly the size of a small cellphone and is a device that connects to a computer using a USB. The Leap is designed to be set facing upwards on the user’s desk while providing about eight cubic feet of 3-D interaction. Users will be able to control their computers as one would with a smartphone by swiping, pinching. As shown in its promotional video, the Leap will be able to accurately track anything from all ten fingers at the same time, to chopsticks. Leap Motion has been working on the Leap since 2010 and consumers who preordered Leaps will receive their Leaps in early 2013 for the price of $69.99.

CityCar Intensive study on human travel started in 2003, focusing on improving people’s fluid navigation in crowded urban areas in an economical fashion. With a release scheduled for sometime this year, the CityCar, also called the folding car, developed by Massachusetts Institute of Technology will instantly make the Smart car obsolete. The concept of the CityCar was developed for a clean, economical and sustainable solution for traveling in cities. The CityCar weighs only 1,000 pounds, 60 percent of the size of a Smart car, contains a lithium-ion battery pack that has a roughly 75 mile capacity and can fold down on itself to become one third the size of a normal car. In addition, each of its wheels are controlled individually, so the CityCar will be able to move sideways for parallel parking and will have the capability to perform zero degree turns. This car will be released all across Europe and in some places in the United States. It went through pre-tests in late 2012 and is projected to release sometime in 2013.

i ne G Jasm

tt a r ne

—Compiled by Lawrence Chen

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Entertainment

Tips for wooing your significant other W ith I nternationa l Fli rti ng W eek (Feb rua ry 10 - 1 6) com i ng close, sen io r E l l e n L e e a n d j u n i o r M i tc h D o n a t sh a r e a fe w o f th e i r fa v o r i t e m o v e s a n d t e c h n i q u e s t h a t a r e su r e to p r o m i se a su c c e ssf u l a f fa i r .

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Offer to share your fruit roll-up with your partner and give him or her the other end. After eating a few inches off your end and getting yourself closer to your partner’s lips, “accidentally” plant a kiss.

the shrinking fruit roll-up technique

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a spin on the classic

Teach your partner how to play some of your favorite video games while subtly, yet confidently, placing your arm around her shoulders.

both eyes on the prize

Keep watch for your partner in the halls and secretly, but not creepily, spy on him or her.

the water fountain sweep

Casually hold your partner’s hair while she drinks from the water fountain. Not only will she appreciate the help but she will love the intimacy.

Photos by Michael Wu

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Entertainment

Monday, January 28, 2013

Restaurant reviews: Dining you won't want to miss Armadillo Willy’s We generally have it good here in the Bay Area, but if there is one thing that is significantly lacking, it’s good ol’-fashioned Texas barbeque. Armadillo Willy’s seeks to right this egregious wrong-doing with eight locations between San Jose and Dublin, including one conveniently located in Los Altos. Highlights of their menu include Pit-Smoked BBQ sandwiches and plates, as well as fries of assorted Lucy Oyer flavorings and burgers. I chose to try the BBQ Melt with brisket served on Texas Toast (which is just toast with double the thickness). The succulent meat melted in my mouth and the “thick-cut, double-smoked, brown sugar bacon” was as delicious as its name is long. It was far from the highlight of my meal, however, which is clearly to be bestowed upon the corn muffin I ordered on the side, which is something extrodinary. On a separate occasion, however, I tried their tri-tip chili and was disappointed as it paled in comparison to my previous order.

The restaurant itself has a Southern feel and I particularly appreciate the back room’s comfortable booths and plastic checkered-tablecloths.

Prices are very reasonable, and service is generally quick.

If one is searching for Texas barbeque without actually having to go to Texas, then Armadillo Willy’s is the perfect place to try.

Ike’s Place

The long line at Ike’s Place sandwich shop is an accurate testament to the quality of the concoctions they serve. No matter what type of sandwich you prefer, there is surely something on their menu that will please you, and if not, you can customize. Ordering can be a tad awkward since each sandwich has a completely obscure name like the “Name of Girl I’m Dating” (chicken, avocado, honey mustard), but it’s forgivable since the names denote such delicious results.

As someone who does not identify as a particularly sandwich-inclined individual, I must admit I was skeptical when I was first taken here. But Ike’s and I were destined to be together. The first sandwich I ever tried from Ike’s, the “Ménage a Trois” (chicken honey mustard, honey, various cheeses), was the one for me. I savored every single bite of that delicious sandwich and never looked back. Once, maybe twice, tried a different sandwich, only for it to always end in crushing regret. Granted, the “Ménage a Trois” is not for everybody, but I have yet to meet a single person who has been to Ike’s and not found something that they absolutely love.

The line can be long, and it is hard to find. Additionally, they discontinued their half sizes, so now a sandwich can cost upwards of ten dollars for a size most high schoolers have no chance of finishing. Yet the sandwich at the end of the tunnel makes it all worth it.

The Original Pancake House Tucked behind the better known streets of downtown Los Altos, The Original Pancake House offers a wide variety of breakfast treats. As expected, their menu features countless types of pancakes that range from the more traditional blueberry to the more far-fetched “Little Pigs in Blankets,” which are sausage links wrapped in buttermilk pancakes. Additionally, customers can choose from a selection of waffles, crepes, French Toast and just about every other traditional American breakfast food imaginable.

Though it is part of a chain with over forty locations, the Pancake House has a friendly, family-oriented atmosphere.

The cheery yellow walls are the perfect compliment to a weekend morning. For my first meal ever at the Pancake House, I went for an order of the classic chocolate chip pancakes with a side of bacon. As an experienced connoisseur of all things chocolate, I particularly appreciated the generous amount of chocolate chips both in and on top of the pancakes. I’ve had too many breakfasts destroyed by stingy chocolate allotment and was relieved that this was not the case here. The bacon, on the other hand, though delicious, was ridiculously overpriced.

My friend and I planned to share the “full” order of bacon for $7, but were outraged when the plate arrived with only 4 pieces of bacon on it. $1.75 for each piece of bacon is too much, no matter how good.

From my own impressions and the input of a few Original Pancake House veterans, I concluded that the pancakes are delicious and worth a visit, but everything else on the menu can be skipped. Then again, if a person goes to a place with the word “pancake” in it and doesn’t order pancakes, they have only themselves to blame for the resulting disappointment.

Graphics by Jasmine Garnett

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Entertainment

THEORACLE

Photos by Stephanie Kim

Left: A black cat stares eerily into the distance. Top middle: A cat snuggles in between the two columns of one of the shelter’s many cat rooms.

Bottom middle: The animal shelter contains numerous dog kennels. Right: A pitbull gazes directly at the camera from behind a metal fence.

Practice compassion by volunteering at your local animal shelter Tim Wang

Reporter

Every day, the barking and purring of dogs and cats can be heard as they snuggle with volunteers for comfort.

The Palo Alto Animal Service, located at 3281 East Bayshore Road, is home to more than a dozen canines, felines and an assortment of other animals. On any given day, people can come in to look at and potentially adopt one of them as a pet.

The animal shelter is composed of five main areas, a gift shop, office, the cat section, the yard and the dog section. Walking in from the front door, one is greeted with a shop that holds all that is needed to properly raise a pet. To the left is the office, the nerve center of the shelter and along with it, the clinic where animals can receive health services and are spayed or neutered. To the right of the shop is a corridor that leads to the cat rooms, which include their cages and play rooms. Directly in front and past the shop is the yard, and beyond that are the dog kennels and a few rabbit pens.

The Palo Alto Animal Service serves the Palo Alto, Los Altos and Los Altos Hills communities. Last year alone

the shelter took in over 900 animals and helped hundreds of them find new homes. In addition to arranging adoptions, the shelter is responsible for helping to recover lost pets, controlling vicious animals and caring for injured stray cats and dogs, with rabies control being its primary job.

Nationwide, over eight million animals are found and taken in by animal shelters per year, and fewer than half of those animals can find homes that are willing to adopt them. Each year, however, almost four million animals are euthanized because they are not adopted. The Palo Alto shelter, however, is dedicated to the preservation of the lives of the animals they serve.

The Palo Alto Animal Service is usually busiest in the spring, with the wild animal births, or after natural disasters, which bring in a huge influx of lost animals that have been separated from their owners. These times are stressful for both the owner and the service, as the service becomes bursting to the seams with animals.

The place is also one of great joy and sadness. “This is a very emotional place, people are very happy when they find their pet, but at the same time it can be very sad if a lost pet is found deceased,” supervisor Connie Urbanski

said. As such, the Palo Alto Animal service does its best to find and rescue as many lost pets as possible.

Volunteers are welcome but must undergo extensive training and are asked to serve for a minimum of six months. Volunteers perform tasks like playing, walking and training dogs, helping cats socialize, grooming rabbits or even office work like scheduling and taking reports. They can also choose to foster an animal in their own homes. Opportunities also exist to help out at various events and projects that the animal service hosts.

Senior Sarah Hessen-Schmidt, an avid volunteer at a local dog rescue organization, agrees that volunteering is very important to the community but also believes that it is extremely self fulfilling. “It makes me feel good about myself and that I am making a difference for the lives of animals and of other people in the community,” she said.

With continuous cuts in money and staff, local animal shelters and services need all the help they can get.

With hundreds of animals dying every day from neglect and abuse, an individual can make a great difference and drastically improve the life of an animal. If you have time on your hands, are an animal-lover and want to help out, the Palo Alto Animal Service would love to have you.

Faces in the Crowd What is your favorite pet moment?

“One day I made funny faces with my dog and we took a bunch of selfies of it.”

Ellie Campbell (9)

“I had a baby bunny, and once when I picked it up, it kept wiggling its butt, and it was really cute.”

Ally Gong (10)

“I had a sleepover with my friends and my dog came out at 5 a.m. wearing my friend’s underwear on its head.”

Nicholas Christians (11)

“My German Shepherd once got beaten up by a little chihuaha, which was pretty amusing to see.”

Kira Lin (12) —Compiled by Alvin Wang

Graphics by George Hwang and Erica Lee