Centerfold explores how our views change as we grow up
Alumnus Ranjit Steiner attempts to qualify for the 2012 Paralympics
PG. 12
Boys’ baseball end their season on a strong note
THEORACLE
The Oracle argues why honest interest in activities is important
PG. 9 FEATURES
PG. 6 FORUM
PG. 18 SPORTS
Palo Alto Unified School District Henry M. Gunn High School 780 Arastradero Rd Palo Alto, CA 94306 NON-PROFIT ORG U.S. Postage
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Wednesday, May 30, 2012 Volume 49, Issue 8
780 Arastradero Road, Palo Alto, CA 94306
Gunn plans for supplements to counseling
Kyle Zhu
Counselor Lisa Kaye looks over a student’s transcript during his junior conference, demonstrating the key role that many counselors play in academic advising and planning. Catalina Zhao & Cooper Aspegren News editor
Administration officials will propose plans to examine supplements to the counseling program at the school board meeting on June 12. This review, which will be presented as a “plan for a plan,” will direct changes that may come into effect in the 2013-2014 school year. The board meeting on March 27 prompted the administration to consider making alterations to the counseling system. At the meeting, consultant Kelun Zhang, hired by the board to assess the counseling systems at
Gunn and Palo Alto High School independently through surveys, focus groups and interviews, presented the Guidance Review Report. This evaluation included an analysis of student survey results regarding the efficacy of the two different systems. After the presentation and an open forum, the school board asked Gunn and Paly administrators to review their guidance services, looking at areas for improvement. “From the board meeting, the two schools were directed to reflect and come up with a plan to improve and enhance their guidance programs,” Associate Superintendent of Education Services Charles Young said.
Gunn then formed the Guidance Review Workgroup (GRW), consisting of teachers, counselors, administrators and classified staff members. “The Guidance [Workgroup] is in charge of creating the basics of the plan for June 12,” Jacoubowsky said. “It’s a think tank group. We’re going to look at what changes and improvements need to be made.” GRW has examined the staff’s concerns and goals and is currently formulating four separate committees. According to GRW co-facilitator Brian Tuomy, each group will be tasked with a different aspect, one group would be for analyzing, another for balance and the final for communication.
Gunn renews food contract with Sodexo Zoe Weismer
News Editor
The Palo Alto Unified School District (PAUSD) Board of Education has decided to renew the contract with Sodexo, a company that has provided school meals for students in the past six years. This decision is expected to bring a significant amount of changes to the availability and variety of meal options to PAUSD schools starting in June. According to Alva Spence, Sodexo’s Nutrition Services Coordinator, the cafeteria will now open from 10:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. and offer assorted meal selections and grab and go items. Gunn will also add five more vending machines across campus. During the discussion, Superintendent Kevin
Gunn Figures
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Skelly felt that Sodexo has been very flexible with suggestions from parents and students. “They are very interested in listening to the students,” Skelly said. The board also felt that searching for a new contractor would be too difficult given the short amount of time before the next school year. Parent group Rights For Change will be collaborating with Sodexo in order to regulate and suggest changes to the meals. Member Cindy Wenig felt that meal options could be improved. “Gunn’s cafeteria is open for about an hour and a half,” Wenig said. “How can you feed 2,000 students if there isn’t enough time to wait in line?” Rights for Change began with Rebecca Scholl, who wanted to bring the French tradition of tasting week to Gunn.
Major changes and new models will not be implemented until Gunn undergoes a process that includes collecting the opinions of staff, students and parents. “I’m not in support of bringing in any program without going through a process,” Principal Katya Villalobos said. Young agrees that a process is necessary. “The reflection and evolution process is key to this effort,” he said. “You study the report, analyze other models, look at the research and build understanding and sturdy structures that support lasting change.” According to the GRW facilitators, this process will most likely reach its COUNSELING—p.5
Students recommend summer dishes Backpage
LUNCH—p.3
of AP tests taken Number of yearbooks purStudents who spoke at TEDx at 4 1,991 Number 970 by students over two weeks chased by Gunn students Gunn
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News
THEORACLE
PAUSD removes decile class rank
NEWS BITES
Solomon Kim
Board changes graduation units
During the school board meeting on Tuesday, May 3, the Palo Alto Unified School District (PAUSD) board members elected to modify Gunn and Palo Alto High School’s graduation requirements from the original 210 semester units to 220 for the class of 2016. These changes will include a two-year requirement of a world language, an extra year of math courses, and two years of labrequired science classes. These additions will align the schools’ graduation requirements with the University of Californias’ A-G requirements. This is another tool to address the achievement gap in PAUSD schools. “Research shows that students, especially those of color, tend to perform more successfully in four-year colleges if their high school course selection is rigorous,” Assistant Principal of Facilities Kimberly Cowell said. “Of course, increased rigor is beneficial for all students regardless of ethnicity.” By implementing these changes, PAUSD hopes to boost graduation percentages for the 20 percent of students who are currently not fulfilling the requirements set in place for admission in the University of California system. “The change will not affect the majority of our students,” Cowell said. “Instead, it’s primarily a change for the students who are capable of being four-year college eligible, but who may not have challenged themselves to achieve this, or who may need more school resources to support them. This change puts more pressure on our system to better meet the needs of all of our students.” Rani Shiao
Campus construction continues
Construction workers are currently working on three construction projects: world language buildings, a gymnasium and new math and English buildings. The world language buildings will be located in the front of the school. Two new buildings connected by a canopy will house five classrooms, a kitchenette, a workroom, bathrooms and an office. This structure is scheduled to be completely constructed by Dec. 2012. The new gymnasium and the current gymnasium will have a lobby and bleachers on both sides, as well as a dance studio and fitness room. The new gymnasium is scheduled for completion by Nov. 2012, but, according to administration officials, it may be finished sooner. The math and English buildings will be built as a complex of four separate two‐story buildings connected by a canopy. A courtyard will be included in the set of buildings. English classes will be on the first floor while math classes occupy the second floor. There will also be two computer labs, a staff workroom and an office. This complex will be ready for the 2013-14 school year. Assistant Principal of Facilities Kimberly Cowell, whose role is to communicate with the construction management representative, the construction contractors and PAUSD office, has received positive feedback from the Gunn community. “Our staff and students have been wonderful,” Cowell said. “Everyone seems to be excited about the new construction and what we will have once it is complete.”
Assistant Principal of Guidance Tom Jacoubowsky shares Christensen’s opinion regarding Palo Alto Unified School Disthis matter. “One elite private trict (PAUSD) announced it will college in the south said, ‘We remove t he deci le class rank don’t compare your [Gunn] stusystem next year to give students dents with students with other better opportunities when applys c ho ol ’s s t ud ent s . We c oming to colleges. The class of 2013 pare [Gunn] students with how will be the first affected by this t hey do against each ot her,’” decision. Jacoubowsky said. “This phiThe decile system is a method losophy handicaps our students of ranking students’ academic because it doesn’t allow them to achievements in terms stand out and show how of Grade Point Average talented they are.” (GPA), in which the top “Now colleges would 10 percent of GPAs are in not be bia sed a s now the first decile, and so on. during t he ad mission Decile Weighted Unweighted However, according to process,” junior Andrew numerous Gunn and Palo Dai said. “I personally 1 4.425-4.231 4.000-3.954 Alto High School (Paly) believe that [Gunn] stu2 4.227-4.109 3.953-3.879 counselors, the system is dents have been disadrather inefficient, and even vantaged before, since 3 4.106-4.023 3.878-3.805 ha nd icappi ng. “[Gu nn Gu n n i s s o c omp e t i4 4.000-3.855 3.800-3.683 and Paly counselors] sugtive, and many colleges gested the district to remainly focus on the ap5 3.854-3.725 3.682-3.550 move the system, since plicants’ stats.” 6 3.721-3.585 3.548-3.436 many competitive colleges Students have faith are placing a large value on that the removal of the 7 3.584-3.425 3.433-3.310 a student’s GPA.” decile system will prove 8 3.421-3.200 3.309-3.098 According to Chrisbeneficial for the most tensen, more than 60 to 70 part. “For students who 9 3.196-2.675 3.093-2.694 percent of Gunn students are struggling, I think 10 2.825-1.472 2.691-1.472 score in the top 10 percent the removal of the syson many national tests, tem will give them more Students who graduated in 2012 were such as PSAT, PLAN and chances, and lead them EXPLORE. The district to better colleges,” sophoranked by the decile system based on decided, however, that the more Antonio Puglisi their grade point averages. distribution of high GPAs said. Asst. Business Manager
in the decile system does not give a fair chance to students during the admissions process. “I don’t underestimate other parts of admission process,” Christensen said. “However, since many competitive colleges try to admit students with top ten percent to enhance their status, many students who still excel at other things and might have earned two to three B’s during their high school years might be disadvantaged.”
Class of 2012 (6 semesters)
Students think positively of bell schedule
The administration decided to continue its use of the late bell schedule for the 20122013 school year after seeing the results of a survey 628 students took in late January.
How do you feel about the length of the 8 minute passing periods?
Wayland Fong
9.0%
SEC SCOOP Upcoming Events: • Spring Choir Concert (5/31) • Spring Jazz Concert (6/1) • Finals for 9th through 11th graders (6/5-6/7)
8 minutes is too much time.
76.5% 8 minutes is the right amount of time.
14.5% 8 minutes is too little time.
At this moment in time, how do you rate your support of the late start schedule?
If you have any suggestions or questions, please contact us! Or ask us a question at www.formspring.me/GunnSEC
46.7% I fully support the schedule and want it to continue.
29.5% I support the schedule even though it creates some challenges for me.
29.8% I do not support the schedule and would like to return to an earlier start time.
News n CONTRACTORS from p. 1
Tasting week is the celebration of delicious food, and professional chefs visit schools to cultivate the joy of eating. “It was an eye opening experience because we got to try the food, and we were shocked to learn that the cafeteria was only available for a short amount of time,” Scholl said. “We started a deli bar, and it was pretty successful, but we lost traction because the lines became too long and people didn’t want to wait to eat.” Eventually Rights for Change was formed, and currently there are over 100 members. According to Wenig, this issue has created a strong reaction from parents, but students seem to have little to no opinion on what they eat at school. “There’s good momentum on this matter, but unless we get the students interested we won’t get very far,” she said. Wenig believes that the lack of response from the community is due to several misconceptions. “Everyone is under a bubble; there was a feeling that the students were happy enough with the system and some people are under the illusion that it’s too difficult to change the situation,” Wenig said. Some Gunn students may also feel that the food served at school may not apply to them because a large amount of the student body goes off-campus during lunch time. For the students who stay on campus during lunch, the new changes are well-received. “I think it’s great that the cafeteria will be open longer,” junior Anna Castillo said. “Sometimes, the lines during
Wednesday, May 30, 2012 brunch are too long, and then I don’t have enough time to finish my snack.” Scholl believes that students are missing out on an important experience by not having total access to fresh food. “Everybody looks forward to a good meal,” Scholl said. “Even if you are having a bad day, it’s helpful to know that you are going to have at least one good meal.” The administration has also helped the process to implement changes in the food by supporting a more diverse menu. “I am all for more healthier food options for students,” Assistant Principal Tom Jacoubowsky said. “I want students to feel that they don’t have to go off campus for food.” According to Scholl, Principal Katya Villalobos has been accommodating as well. In add it ion, Jacoubowsk y thinks that Sodexo has done well providing food options for the campus, and feels that they have also done a consistent job over the past years. “I’m fine with the contract renewal,” he said. “I’ve had a couple of sandwiches from the cafeteria, and I’ve seen a lot of improvement. So far, it seems to be working well.” Scholl has also been talking with the owner of the Common Grounds Garden, and she hopes that one day there will be a student-run cafe using the ingredients from the garden. “We want to stretch the imagination of students and what they are used to,” Scholl said.
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Band students perform in L.A. Rebecca Alger
Features Editor
Over the Memorial Day weekend, 110 students traveled to Los Angeles to WorldStrides Heritage Festivals, a national competition for bands and orchestras. Wind Ensemble and Symphonic Band combined to form the Gunn Symphonic Wind Ensemble, consisting of students from all grades and skill levels. According to band director Todd Summers, each group, which has been categorized by school size, gets 25 minutes onstage to perform. The three judges use a rubric to give each band a score and rating. Schools are then ranked by school size and scores. The competition allows the band to see how they have improved since their last time in the competition and what improvements they need to make in the future. “My favorite part is the performance and music making with the students,” Summers said. “It is also a great community building trip for our amazing band program. We will also get a clinic from a college band director and getting feedback on how to improve is always great.” Competing creates a sense of community among the band members that helps them perform at their very best. “I enjoy the sense of togetherness that competition brings,” f lutist junior Sophia Han said. “We, as a band, become more in sync with one another and try to set aside our usual silliness to focus on the music and focus on sounding as best as we can.” The band is looking forward to seeing how they compare to other schools and displaying their skills at the national level because it allows them reach new levels of potential. “Our
goal is to play at the highest level we can and to represent ourselves, our school and our community at the highest level we can,” Summers said. The band’s repertoire consists of “Legends and Heroes,” by Pierre LaPlante, “Cajun Folk Songs” by Frank Ticheli and “Under the Double Eagle” by Josef Wagner. According to Summers, the selection of music was also used when the band competed at the California Association for Music Education (CMEA) Band Festival April 13. They received the Unanimous Superior Rating, the highest honor possible. “It made sense to repeat this set for the tour because the bands are currently working on new music for our spring concert.” In order to come together successfully, the band will have to put in much hard work and dedication. “I think the most difficult part will be intonation and balance as a band,” flutist sophomore Saakshi Singhal said. Han agrees that there will be challenging times preparing for the competition. “It’s always most difficult the days leading up to the performance,” Han said. “It seems that intonation and articulation go out the window days before, and then comes that dreaded moment of realization when it’s suddenly clear that we’ll be performing and competing these pieces in front of a panel of judges.”
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News
THEORACLE
ASB election results: get to know your officers for next year Officer
What is your number one goal for next year?
If you could create any new event or trend, what would it be?
What personal characteristics will aid your position most?
What’s your favorite thing to do at Gunn?
George Hwang
President
Harrison Waschura
Next year I want to make Gunn and SEC as good as it can be.
My motivation and my compassion for this school, its students and teachers.
I’d reinstate Friday Music and change the word and attitude from “swag” to “class.”
My favorite thing is to be with my friends, laughing in the sun on the quad.
My goals are to make incoming freshmen feel welcome and Titan 101 more enjoyable.
What’ll help me with running Link Crew is the experience I’ve gained by being on it for the past two years.
We wanted to have a movie day with the freshmen and Link Crew leaders.
My favorite thing to do at Gunn is to go to dances!
I would like to increase attendance at all Gunn events.
As part of Varsity Cheer, I have had experience promoting events.
I would like to add onto Spring Fling week by including a talent show at the Friday Carnival.
That’s a hard one, I guess it depends on what mood I’m in.
My number one goal is to promote and increase awareness of Gunn sports.
My biggest strength is that I have a passion for Gunn sports, and I want all our teams to succeed.
I want to end the perception that we are not an athletic school. We have great talent at Gunn.
Announcing at the football and basketball games.
My goal for the dances is to get a variety of different people on the dance floor.
My optimism and enthusiasm will help me excite the student body.
I would create other fun activities at the dances, besides just dancing.
My favorite thing to do is read The Oracle in the library with my friends.
I want to get more people to attend sporting events and have more fun events during the year.
Characteristics that will benefit my position are my enthusiasm and dedication.
One idea I have is to have Clash of the Titans for various sports.
Anything not related to school work and academics! I love all the events that Gunn hosts.
Vice President
Laura Tao Special Events Commissioner
Eileen Xu Sports Commissioner
Song Park Dance Commissioner
Kirsten Baird Spirit Commissioner
Lynn Tsai
Photos by Michael Wu
THEORACLE
INBOX
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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.
Editorial Board Editor-in-Chief Utkash Dubey
Managing Editors Boot Bullwinkle Anna Qin
News Cooper Aspegren Zoe Weisner Catalina Zhao
Features Rebecca Alger Wayland Fong Chaewon Lee
Sports Ben Atlas Mitch Donat Emily Yao
Entertainment Misheel Enkhbat Ellen Lee Lucy Oyer
Forum Leon Cheong Rani Shiao
Centerfold Eileen Qian Stephanie Zhang
Photo Michael Wu Kyle Zhu
Graphics George Hwang
Please include your name, grade and contact information should you choose to write one.
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Letters to the Editor and Comments and ideas for coverage may be sent to gunnoracle@yahoo.com or posted on our Facebook page. These letters need not be from current students.
I feel like this issue was more of a features issue than a news issue. It would be interesting to be more critical on media and culture instead of always supporting the things that you cover.
—Mark Gleason, teacher
Staff Tech Alvin Wang
Letters and Comments may be edited to meet space requirements and the writer is solely responsible for the accuracy of the content.
Reporters Ysé Massot Eric Noh Wendy Park
Adviser Kristy Blackburn
The Oracle is published by and for the students of Henry M. Gunn Senior High School. The unsigned editorials that appear in this publication represent the majority opinion of the editorial staff and The Oracle’s commitment to promoting student rights. The Oracle publishes nine issues annually. Subscriptions are $45/year.
April 16, 2012 This issue was overall very good. It was a lot more comprehensive than previous issues. I enjoyed the personal touches in a lot of the articles. The statistics on prom costs and teach perspectives on prom were really interesting to read. I think The Oracle in general is too happy and plays it too safe with topics.
—Patricia Holmes, teacher
I really liked the story about sex and drugs, since I feel that it is a topic that isn’t commonly discussed among staff and students at Gunn. —Karen Chen, 11 I think that the main story on the front page was good because it affects many people. I would like to see some more articles about people in each grade, specifically freshmen, and also about sports that aren’t usually well known.
—Maran Palaniappan, 9
News
Wednesday, May 30, 2012
5
Courtesy of consultant Kelun Zhang’s Guidance Review Report
The outside consultant’s survey presented in the district’s Guidance Review Report measured students’ satisfaction with counseling services as well as freshmen transition. 53 percent of students were satisfied with counseling services in general, and 22 percent of the freshmen class sought counseling help for high school transition. n COUNSELING from p. 1
conclusion in March 2013. Three major issues the workgroup has focused on are freshmen transition, help in guidance for college applications and the social and emotional health of students. According to Villalobos and other administrators, members of the workgroup hope to target Titan 101, freshman orientation, parent education and a timeline for counseling services. In addition, the workgroup may consider recommending a greater number of counselors and Adolescent Counseling Service interns. A revision of Titan 101 serves as one of the administration’s more prominent goals in the construction of the proposal. According to the Guidance Review Report, 50 percent of the 392 freshmen surveyed either “strongly disagreed” or “disagreed” with the statement, “I found Freshman Orientation/ Link Crew and Titan 101 useful for helping me transition from middle school to high school.” “We are
looking at ways to do a better job of delivering guidance type services and transition type services to our
“While the idea of Titan 101 is great, the implementation of it this year has not gone over as well as it could have.” —Assistant Principal Tom Jacoubowsky incoming freshmen,” Jacoubowsky said. “While the idea of Titan 101 is great, the implementation of it this year has not gone over as well as it could have.” GRW is also working to improve the guidance department’s communication with the student body and parents. “The problem right now that we suffer from is that it appears no one really knows what guidance is,” Tuomy said. “‘Do they deal with everyday issues? Are
they in charge of making sure that kids get into college?’ Nobody really knows. So part of it is we have to figure out a way to convey to the current community that this is what guidance services are at Gunn High School.” Outside parties have worked to influence the formation of the GRW’s “plan for a plan.” Using the survey data, parent-run community organization We Can Do Better Palo Alto designed a different report based on the similarities and differences of Gunn and Paly’s guidance systems in an effort to bring Paly’s advisory system to Gunn. “I think advisory has a lot of different advantages,” We Can Do Better Palo Alto founder Ken Dauber said. “For example, it uses multiple adults that students can have contact with.” Gunn parent Amy Balsom of We Can Do Better Palo Alto agreed with Dauber. “It’s providing multiple layers of scaffolding for support, no matter what students need,” she said. The group believes
that a gap exists between Gunn and Paly counseling that needs to be mitigated by changing the former’s system. We Can Do Better Palo Alto’s comparative analysis was met with criticism by Gunn administrators.
“The concern is more of a ‘give us the time to do what’s best for the community.’ We want to find how to best serve Gunn.” —GRW Co-facilitator Brian Tuomy “The report was basically broken apart and the group turned it around into a comparison of both high schools,” Villalobos said. “I don’t support the way it was done because that was not the intention or the design of the report.” While conscious of the push by We Can Do Better Palo Alto for
Gunn to convert to the advisory system, GRW’s priority is not to adopt the advisory model, but to find what works most appropriately for Gunn. “Not changing to advisory does not mean there will be no change to our system, and the concern right now isn’t ‘we will or won’t’ adopt the advisory system,” Tuomy said. “The concern is more of a ‘give us the time to do what’s best for the community.’ We want to find how to best serve Gunn.” The workgroup does not feel changing to the advisory system would best serve Gunn and its culture. “According to research, advisory is most successful at schools with 400 to 600 kids,” Tuomy said. “That is not the case for this school.” Overall, administrators feel the workgroup is on the right track. Everyone involved in the proccess remains committed to ensuring the success of any proposed changes. “We’re excited,” Villalobos said. “We ref lect, we change, we improve.”
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Forum
THEORACLE
EDITORIAL: The Opinion of The Oracle Student focus should be on pursuing interests, not impressing colleges
George Hwang
A recent survey administered by a district-hired consultant showed that nearly 70 percent of Gunn students feel anxiety about getting into the college they want to go to. However, this figure is unsurprising to those obsessed with college admissions. At fault for this is the tremendous amount of pressure from peers, college counselors, parents and family members that while well intentioned, is often suffocating to their students. In the Gunn community, getting into a good college is often portrayed as the exclusive marker of a student’s success, and all other achievements pale in comparison to an acceptance letter from a top school. This has lead to a memetic belief among many students that having little to no fun in high school is a sacrifice worth making if it means getting into a college that has been semiarbitrarily assigned a high ranking. Students select cours-
es based on their counselor’s advice for designing the ideal transcript, while pushing genuine passion aside. College counselors advise students to fill their free time with SAT classes and tutoring sessions, not to mention a plethora of resume-padding activities for which they may have no actual interest. Every detail of their lives is engineered to entice admissions officers to let them in. Yet a student with a perfect Grade Point Average (GPA) and great SAT scores will fare no better in college admission decisions if he or she has no life outside of school. A student with a good GPA and SAT scores and a truly diverse portfolio of extracurricular activities is a passionate individual, something every good college looks for. Not to mention the second student will be substantially happier, something that is extremely undervalued in communities where all people care about is grades.
It is ridiculous for students to worry that what they like to do will not look good on paper. If they like something, they should do it. The self-sacrificing attitude that it is okay to suffer through activities one hates if it means getting into a top college needs to go. High school should not be seen as a four year long period in which one’s life is surrendered in the name of a perfect college application. Not only will students be unhappy, pursuing things they do not enjoy results in a never-ending spiral, in which they will be expected to continue with these activities in college and beyond. College counselors and parents should stop encouraging this behavior. After all, their goal is to help students succeed, something that will never be achieved if they are miserable. What college one gets into does not determine his or her future success and certainly not his or her future happiness. While college is important, nothing is ever as important as being happy. Nobody regrets being happy, but they do often regret stressing about activities of unimportance There are billions of happy, successful people out in the world that did not attend an Ivy League school, and this is something many Gunn students need to realize. —Unsigned editorials represent the majority opinion of the staff (assenting: (16); dissenting: (7); abstaining: (1).
Leon Cheong The end of the school year comes hand-inhand with the dreaded arrival of Advanced Placement (AP) tests. Upperclassmen who stack their AP courses take the heat during May. Despite the stress-inducing nature of this predicament, due to either strict parental guidance or rigorous self-motivation, there are many who wish to be in this position. However, underclassmen are unable to do so, as the prerequisites required to enroll in AP classes are too strict, hampering the progress of underclassmen who are truly motivated to excel in the top lanes. These barriers should be lifted to allow underclassmen easier access to a broader range of classes. In a high school, there are students who excel in a certain area. However, the restrictions set upon AP course enrollment take away a student’s opportunity to show his or her interests in certain areas. A major problem is the time it takes to complete prerequisites listed on AP courses. Every single math, science and social studies AP class requires at least two years of preliminary classes. One example is the AP Psychology class. In the course catalog, the suggested course preparation simply lists an “A” grade in both a science and social studies course. Students would be intellectually eligible for this class after freshman year. However, these students are prevented from joining, as the prerequisite requirement of three years of social studies delays enrollment to senior year. Another example is the different AP science classes a student is enabled to take; students feel compelled to complete both biology and chemistry before being guaranteed a spot in an AP science course. AP Physics courses have set prerequisite requirements in both science and math, further limiting accessibility. This kind of limitation applies to classes across the board. Prerequisites almost completely block out students from reaching any AP courses before the arrival of their junior year.
According to the Science Department, prerequisites are set in place because in the past, those who had not met the current prerequisites often work hard, but end up frustrated because they do not receive the grade they desire. Preliminary classes act as an assessment to observe those who are eligible for an AP class. However, this also obstructs those qualified from reaching a class that they can handle. To solve this, assessment tests should be put in the place of preliminary classes in order to determine those eligible. This would shorten the long time students must spend in preparation for a course they may already be eligible for. If a student were to pass the test, there would be no need to take a class beforehand. Limits on AP course availability also negatively impact students’ upperclassmen years by forcing students to overload on APs. For example, if a student plans to take eight AP courses, he or she will try to spread them out as evenly as possible. This prevents cramming a disproportionate and unreasonably difficult workload into the last one or two years of high school. However, with the current system, this student would have to take, on average, four AP courses annually over a span of only two of his or her high school years. If the restrictions and prerequisites to APs were lifted, this student would be able to distribute a heavy workload over a broader range of years, effectively lightening up his or a class beforehand. Underclassmen should be given more ready access to AP courses. Doing this would reduce the difficulty of reaching an AP course. Students of all years would also be able to reduce their workload over the span of their four years at high school. Getting rid of these prerequisites would ultimately deliver a more efficient high school experience. —Cheong, a sophomore, is a Forum Editor.
CON
PRO
AP course prerequisites should be more lenient Catalina Zhao At this time of year, students are faced with an ever-important task: planning their next year’s school schedule. Within the broad range of courses to select from lie the infamous Advanced Placement (AP) courses, which offer college credit and preparation for the national AP exams in the spring. More and more students, including many ninth and tenth graders, are registering for AP courses and taking the exams. While some schools allow underclassmen to take AP courses, those classes should be reserved for juniors and seniors only. Since AP courses involve college-level topics with college-level workloads, they can be too stressful for high school freshmen and sophomores. They can be detrimental to the health and well-being of these students who generally have not reached the George Hwang maturity level of their older peers. Underclassmen should slowly transition into high school by enrolling in grade-appropriate prerequisite classes and not overburdening themselves with college-level courses. Moreover, allowing underclassmen to take AP classes promotes peer pressure and unhealthy competition. Not only will freshmen
and sophomores feel pushed into taking APs when they see their classmates doing so, but juniors and seniors will too. If schools allow students of all grades to sign up for the collegelevel classes, it might send the message that getting into a top college is the most important, and maybe only, goal in a high schooler’s life. Students might be forced to work solely toward that target by loading up on AP classes. For those students who are not enrolled in an AP class or who do not wish to be in one, seeing their classmates, especially the ones who have just transitioned from middle school, embark on that challenge can make them feel insignificant and less worthy. According to Livestrong.com, a health wellness website, this mindset can lead to problems such as depression and increased levels of stress. Furthermore, restricting AP courses to only upperclassmen and upholding prerequisites will lead to better average performance in those classes. Juniors and seniors have much more experience with high school life than underclassmen, which, along with their level of intellect, leads to better work and scores. This increased performance boosts a schools’ ranking, which in turn, according to Education.com, enhances a high school’s profile. In the admissions process, colleges accept more students from prestigious and high-ranking schools because of their reputation. Therefore, schools benefit from the grade level limitation. Advocates of letting underclassmen take APs may argue that allowing underclassmen to take APs will prepare them for college and help boost their resume. However, students have all of junior and senior year to gain experience and get a taste of college academics. Additionally, colleges do not merely focus on a student’s AP courses; a variety of other factors play into the admission process as well. Since letting underclassmen take AP classes burdens students with more stress, promotes peer pressure and unhealthy competition and could hurt a schools’ ranking, schools should uphold its grade-level prerequisites and not open AP courses to all underclassmen. After all, the grade limit and prerequisites were established to help students maintain a healthy, enjoyable lifestyle, one that has the right balance of stress, academics, extracurricular activities and hobbies. —Zhao, a sophomore, is a News Editor.
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Wednesday, May 30, 2012
‘Holograms’ exploit superstars’ fame Mitch Donat On Sep. 13, 1996, Tupac Shakur died of fatal gunshots to the chest. 16 years later, he gave one of the most memorable and bodacious performances ever seen at the Coachella concert in California. Through digital engineering and $400,000, Tupac was resurrected in the form of what the media is calling a “hologram”–not a real, Princess Leia hologram, but a 19th century trick with expensive materials and gave a brand new and original performance. What could go wrong with bringing back one of the most inspiring hip-hop artists Georg e Hw
Big business is the name of the game. It would not be surprising to find that Tupac will soon be “owned” by some superpower business corporation. “Holo-Pac” would sell out every show he “performed” at, and would have no limits on how many he could perform. He could even perform at two shows simultaneously. It is unethical for companies to bring back artists from the past and use them as a recipe for profit. What is more troubling is that if the ownership and sponsorship of these holograms get really out of hand, they could soon start playing a role in swaying public opinion. Imagine
a ng
of all time? Actually, a lot. Us i n g t h e recorded performances of deceased legends can be seen as immoral. The modern economy will quickly pounce on the hologram business, raising questions concerning its ownership, sponsors, and the future performances to come. Holograms can be used as an economic and influential tool, which is why big business should prevent their expansion.
this: “hologram” George Washington comes back to life, tours the country and promotes the campaign for (insert political candidate,) inspiring all Americans to vote for Candidate. Holograms pose a threat to society because of the mass political influence they can have on people’s lives. The past should be set in stone to look to for influence and lessons, not a place for picking up old pieces in order to influence the modern world. It is an extreme example, but extreme things can happen when one brings back figures from the past. Because corporations have the capital to invest on holograms, the numbers are
sure to inflate. Already, Michael Jackson is rumored to tour around the country in the Jackson 5. If the numbers continue to grow, we can expect to see more than just musical artists being protected. Notorious, infamous figures from the past are destined to return on more than just stages worldwide. George Orwell’s “1984” sums it up nicely. “[Those] who control the past controls the present.” The companies that own the most powerful figures from the past will have the most modern influence. If so many influential and illustrious people are “brought back,” what is the point of going forward, making new music and opening the pages for other aspiring figures to come into the world? Many argue that sponsorship issues and other figures returning are very unlikely, and are extreme examples of a simple stunt to impress a crowd. Yes, it was a simple stunt (if anything is simple about a $400,000 hologram) and “Holo-Pac” put on an amazing show. However, because of the way the modern world works, one can see this is just the beginning of the holosanity which is sure to light up stages everywhere. For large businesses, this would be too valuable of an opportunity to pass up on. The past should be set in stone and not a tool for business corporations to use for personal profit. Just wait until holopac erupts in a burst of light, shouting “Obama 2012!” —Donat, a sophomore, is a Sports Editor.
Trayvon Martin case skewed by media bias Ben Atlas
about.” Then, Zimmerman was asked what race Martin was. Zimmerman responded with, “He’s black.” The National Broadcasting Company (NBC) played a recording of the conversation on the news, but the question concerned was omitted. Thus, Zimmerman appeared to be accusing Martin of being “up to no good” because he was black. Cable News Network (CNN) reported that Zimmerman said “coon” over the phone, before retracting its statement due to an
Trayvon Martin, a 17-year-old AfricanAmerican boy from Sanford, Florida, was shot and killed by George Zimmerman on Feb. 26. Zimmerman, a 28 year-old multiracial Hispanic, has been accused of murder fueled by racism. The incident sparked outrage around the country. Although the trial is still going on, evidence has been completely skewed by the often partisan media. News reports claiming to be impartial have instead provided biased views and Ge have rushed to sensationalize the org eH controversial case, giving inacwa ng curate details due to their haste. The Trayvon Martin case is just one example of news outlets choosing to portray a story is much easier to sell than reporting on the facts. A report on how a “cruel” white man brutally murdered an innocent black teen is appealing to the public. However, since some facts improved recording were not accurately reported until later revealing that he had in the investigation, it does not becomes said “cold,” and not “coon.” This is an clear until too late that this is indeed not example of CNN reporting before they the true background of the case. had the highly important upgraded audio According to Yahoo! News, phone call reporting and skewing the facts. recordings were doctored to leave out Furthermore, evidence of an assault on certain portions that contained evidence Zimmerman was not released for a good towards vindicating Zimmerman. In a call deal of time, making the incident appear to a police dispatcher, Zimmerman said, to be blatant murder. Photos of Martin “This guy looks like he’s up to no good. were brightened and photoshopped in Or he’s on drugs or something. It’s rain- order to make him appear more innocent. ing and he’s just walking around, looking Additionally, Zimmerman was portrayed
as white to create the typical scenario of hate and racism. The media promoted its own agenda rather than report the fact. Since exposing a tragic hate-killing of a poor black boy by a white man is more appealing to the masses, that image was projected. Because of the failure on the part of modern media and news sources to report the facts without manipulation, there is no longer a desire for a good outcome to the court case. Should the jury vindicate Zimmerman, he will never again live a normal life; Zimmerman has already received multiple death threats and currently lives in hiding—if he’s found innocent, these demons will continue to haunt him. If the jury finds Zimmerman guilty, Martin’s family will leave with a tainted victory, not knowing if the jury’s decision was based on fact or on the media campaign against Zimmerman. Justice has been obstructed through various inaccuracies in reporting. Modern media should give more thought to bringing out the truth. Since so many stations have biases and have already taken sides, it is exceedingly difficult to get an impartial report. Whether a news company is too quick to make a story, and fails to first verify their facts, or is outrightly partisan, such misinformation is easily portrayed. Since news sources play such an important role in determining citizens’ opinions, unverified facts and biased reporting can have an indelible effect on the lives of people such as Zimmerman. —Atlas, a sophomore, is a Sports Editor.
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U.S. drinking age should be changed
Ysé Massot The U.S. minimum legal drinking age (MLDA) of 21 was one of 39 measures ratified in the 1980s to reduce vehicular accidents, injuries, homicides and suicides caused by drinking excess. However, keeping the MLDA at 21 nowadays is not a viable solution because it actually makes alcohol more attractive to youth. Moreover, this law is not effective because numerous studies have shown that the majority of college students who are underage drink. Part of the problem with alcohol abuse by young people is that the drinking age is too high. When the MLDA was raised to 21, which is the highest in the world, drinking became more attractive to young people. According to David J. Hanson, Ph.D., a professor of sociology at the State University of New York, research shows that prior to increasing the drinking age, alcohol consumption by college students increased as graduation neared. According to the research, when the law mandated a minimum age of 21 in California, younger students suddenly began drinking more than older graduating students. This law is definitely not effective to prevent youth under 21 from drinking and it might actually worsen the problems with alcohol. According to a Gallup survey, two-thirds of American college students reported they drink alcohol and 54 percent of teenagers nationwide said they had no problem with obtaining alcohol. Furthermore, a 21 year old or younger person dies in an alcohol-related traffic crash once every 3 hours on average. This shows that raising the drinking age to 21 was not at all an effective way to reduce underage alcohol abuse. Most European countries, like France (where I am from) have set the MDLA to 18. Moreover, European culture makes drinking alcohol less of a taboo than in America. In France, drinking in the street is allowed in most of the cities and one surely do not need to hide a bottle of wine that he or she wants to offer to a friend with a package so the public does not see it. If the U.S. played down the significance of drinking alcohol, youth would not been so enticed by the consumption of alcohol and would not drink as much. I also think that instead of telling students not to use alcohol at all, Living Skills should increase students awareness about the danger of drinking to much and teach them how to drink in a responsible way. Lastly, it is unfair to be prohibited from drinking alcohol at age 18 when society already considers people of this age to be full-grown adults for most purposes. Indeed, by 18 you earn many responsibilities and rights such as marrying, smoking, voting, owning guns and joining the army. You should be considered as mature enough to drink alcohol. Setting the limit age for drinking alcohol to 21 is an unfair and ineffective rule, which worsens youth alcohol related problems. At 18 years old, people are mature enough to drink alcohol and raising the limit to 21 makes alcohol more attractive to youth, which increases the numbers of youth drinking and alcohol accidents. In order to decrease alcohol related problems in America, drinking alcohol in America should not be considered as such a taboo, American students in high school should be taught how to drink in a responsible way and the age limit to drink alcohol should be progressively lowered to 20, 19 and finally 18. —Massot, a freshman, is a reporter.
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Female Gunn students dabble in engineering and robot design with the Space Cookies Klaire Tan Reporter
Courtesy of Cara Lai
Top: Senior Eeway Hsu tinkers with a machine. Bottom: Seniors Annie Liu and Sharon Lo hold up parts to their creation.
For most students, the name “Space Cookies” sparks little recognition. However, for a handful of girls, Space Cookies is a familiarity that brings to mind late nights of hard work. Space Cookies is a For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology (FIRST) robotics team established by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) Ames Research Center and the Girl Scouts of Northern California for girls from various Bay Area schools. In the last two years, the team has nearly doubled in size, with 16 girls of the 38-member team being from Gunn. “Gunn girls are a major part of Space Cookies,” awards director senior Sharon Lo said. “They definitely contribute to the team.” According to many Gunn girls on Space Cookies, being on the team has been a valuable learning experience that has shaped who they are. “Space Cookies forces girls to not be shy or scared of challenges,” Lo said. “It teaches us how to be leaders. There’s no one to hide behind [at Space Cookies].” Team co-captain and mechanical lead Cara Lai has been heavily influenced by the robotics team as well. “It made me grow up,” Lai said. “It showed me how tough situations can be, how to take on challenges and not be scared to fail.”
At the Space Cookies, Lo is involved in public relations and is responsible for informing the team’s sponsors and building public awareness. She has made key contributions to the team that have led to some of their recent achievements, such as winning the Chairman’s Award at the Silicon Valley Regional. According to Lo, the Chairman’s Award is often regarded as the most prestigious award of the FIRST robotics competition. It recognizes teams for their exemplary efforts in spreading the FIRST message. “Contributing to the community and making engineering accessible is the real focus of FIRST robotic teams, not just building a robot,” Lo said. “That’s the most important goal of FIRST.” In order to spread the FIRST message, Lo helped organize many events for Space Cookies outside of the lab, including their summer robotics workshops and mentorships with middle and elementary school robotic teams. She and Lai later presented the team’s efforts to spread the FIRST message at the 2012 FIRST robotics competition. According to Lo, the quality of the presentation is crucial in determining the recipient of the Chairman’s Award. “You have to tell a story,” Lo said. “You have to present your team’s growth, past and future.” For Space Cookies, winning the Chairman’s Award was a momentous event that allowed the team to advance to FIRST World Championships.
As mechanical lead, Lai oversees the robot’s entire design and fabrication, coordinates game strategy and is on the field ever single match during competition. “There are people who come in a few times each week and are good teammates, but then there are the people who pour their heart and soul into the team,” freshman Elizabeth Chang-Davidson said. “They come every day and work for hours and hours, staying even later than late. [Lai] is one of them.” Besides being responsible for the mechanics behind Space Cookies, Lai is also involved in other aspects of the team. She regularly attends its robot demonstrations, mentors at the summer workshops and collaborates with representatives from fellow FIRST robotic teams in the Bay Area. In total, Lai estimates that she has contributed over a hundred hours to Space Cookies in attending outreach programs alone. “I go to a lot of different venues to demonstrate the robot for Space Cookies,” Lai said. According to Lai, Gunn’s culture is responsible for Gunn girls having such a large presence on the Space Cookies team. “The culture of Gunn is very supportive of FIRST robotics,” Lai said. “People at Gunn are interested in doing robotics, period. Whether [it’s] at GRT [Gunn Robotics Team] or the Space Cookies. This mindset has definitely contributed to a lot of Gunn girls joining the team.”
TEDx speakers inspire students to think outside the box Rebecca Alger and Misheel Enkhbat
Features Editor & Entertainment Editor
Fourteen inspirational speakers from the Bay Area and Gunn joined together for the second annual Gunn TEDx event on May 24. TEDx is a program of independently organized events that allow ideas to be spread on a more community-based level. TED (Technology, Entertainment, Design) conferences are held annually in Long Beach, California and Edinburgh, Scotland along with other events all over the world. The talks are based on Ideas Worth Spreading, the program’s motto. The TEDx club at Gunn is based on the popular TED conferences. Because TED conferences can cost thousands of dollars for spectators, students around the country have been starting their own TEDx clubs in order to bring the power of TED talks to their peers.
NBC Bay Area News newscaster Raj Mathai talks about his experiences and advice for students.
Gunn is a leader for high schools in bringing TED to campuses. “We were the first high school in the world to have a TEDx club,” TEDx president senior Soham Tikekar said. “Then Harker and a couple of East Coast schools took our lead and started their own clubs.” Although the club is relatively new and only has a few members, all participants in the club feel that TEDx has allowed them to reach new levels of creativity. “I feel like the club is really fun,” freshman Jamie Shen said. “It’s a great opportunity to share skills and it really inspires me. It serves as a platform for my inspiration.” Organizing the annual TEDx event requires plenty of preparation, including picking speakers that appeal to the audience. “This year we actually hand-selected students,” Tikekar said. “As for the guest speakers, we had a brainstorm session and thought of people who would be cool to invite.” The event was student-run and held in the Little Theatre. Speakers at the event ranged from psychologists to CEOs to students. “The purpose of the event was to incorporate different ideas from a diverse group of people,”Tikhar said. Speakers at the event discussed ideas from finding true happiness to achieving personal success. The event coordinators looked for people who could inspire others through their experiences. “We didn’t necessarily look for people based on how sucessful they were,” Tikhar said. “Instead, we wanted to find people with stories to tell and experiences to share.” Art teacher Mark Gleason was one of the speakers at the event. He wanted the listeners to understood that art and technology can be put together to create a new kind of art. “I hope the audience will get the sense that we don’t have to be technically adept, and that it’s not the software that does the job, it’s the artistic eye and some plain old problem solving,” he said.
Head anchor for NBC Bay Area News Raj Mathai spoke about how was able to spark his successful newscasting career. He credits his creative job applications as the key to getting his first internship. “You have to be able to be creative, wheather it is college, a job, or whatever,” he said. According to Mathai, in order to be sucessful, one must differentiate himself from one’s competitors. “Think of finding a job as trying to get inside a house. Everyone will be standing in the front door trying to get in. If you want to increase your chances, you need to find the back door,” he said. He believes that in order to be successful, hard work is neccessary. “Stay active, stay passionate, and just stay engaged with what you love,” Mathai said.
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Courtesy of Ranjit Steiner
Left: Gunn alumnus Ranjit Steiner trains on the track to qualify for the 2012 Paraylympics. Left-center: Steiner and his mom smile for the camera. Right-center: Steiner playing football during his high school years at Gunn before his amputation operation. Right: Steiner dressed up in a very unique pirate costume.
Gunn alumnus takes on challenges with amputated leg Zoe Weisner
News Editor
Few teenagers have to face learning how to walk for a second time. For Class of 2010 alumnus Ranjit Steiner, this became a reality after doctors found a tumor in his right leg and amputated it during his sophomore year. Although the change forced him to make adjustments in order to play sports again, it also led him to his new dream: the 2012 Paralympics. “I did not really connect the dots between the tumor, the cancer and not being able to play sports anymore until a couple months after they found it,” Steiner said. “At that point, they told me that I would never play football or run track again and it became very real.” Prior to finding the tumor, Steiner participated in various
sports. “At Gunn, I was most interested in football and track of course, but I experimented,” Steiner said. “I tried wrestling freshman year and it just wasn’t for me and I was hoping to play soccer in my sophomore year, but tore my [anterior cruciate ligament (ACL)] prior to the season.” His doctor discovered the tumor in his leg after he tore his anteiror cruciate ACL. His choice to amputate was influenced by the Paralympics and the increasing pain in his leg. “I always knew about the Paralympics,” he said. “When I did my research and found that I could compete in track again after amputating, my decision became very easy.” After surgery, his first priority was becoming comfortable without his leg. “I did a lot of gait training, [which is] basically walking on a treadmill and having my therapist
analyze my stride,” he said. “I also worked extensively on gaining flexibility and strength through my hips and [glutes] to compensate for not having function in some muscles in my leg.” Steiner has gained a significant amount of strength and only attends therapy to prevent injuries. Prosthetist Matthew Garibaldi thought Steiner was a special case, and that his only potential weakness is his hip area. “The major advantage Ranjit has over most of our patients is that he has been given the God-given gift of natural athletic ability,” Garibaldi said. “His main struggle was developing his hip abductor group to provide a level pelvis when in single limb support with the prosthesis.” Steiner postponed competing in the Paralympics until he could easily run using a prosthetic leg. “Once
I realized that the process was going smoothly and that I was well on my way to being able to run, the 2012 Paralympics become a realistic goal,” Steiner said. So far, Steiner has competed in track meets in Oregon where he qualified for the trials, a series of meets where the representatives of each country are chosen for the Paralympics. His ultimate goal is to get 15 seconds in the 100m and 30 seconds in the 200m. He has participated in the long jump category but has yet to compete in meets. Steiner must compete at an International Paralympic Committee (IPC) sanctioned event to qualify for the trials. “If I run the times I am running now, I will qualify for the trials,” he said. “Then of course, there are the trials on June 29 through July 1.” Stei ner rema i ned posit ive
throughout his recovery by refusing to succumb to his disability. “First and foremost, you have to accept your condition for what it is and realize that it is who you are,” he said. “Even if it is hard to deal with, it is a reality and you just have to embrace it and feel comfortable with yourself.” Steiner progressed relatively smoothly through his ordeal compared to other amuptees. Many amputees suffer from anxiety and develop severe insecurities. According to Girabaldi, patients dwell on unanswered questions such as “Will I ever be able to live the life” or “Will I have a girlfriend/ boyfriend?”during the post-surgical time. “These are the types of thoughts most people have until they start the prosthetic process and realize that this isn’t the end of their life, but rather, the beginning
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Junior competitors Anu Rajan and Varun Bhadkamkar show off their certificates.
Students win awards at World Affairs Council Ben Atlas
Sports Editor
On March 30 and 31, four students represented Gunn for the first time at the World Affairs Council with two students, Anu Rajan and Varun Bhadkamkar, winning awards. The World Affairs Council is a conference of students and teachers devoted to discussing global current events. The two-day conference simulated a diplomatic symposium formed to discuss exploitation of the Arctic. Guest speakers, such as head of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) Charles Bolden, gave speeches pertaining to world afairs. According to World Form club advisor Lauren Cory, after listening to the speeches, students assumed the characters of world leaders and attempted to work out real-world problems through formal debate. Cory was given scholarships to send a few students from Gunn to the Council. “I was contacted and asked if I knew of any students who are very interested in global affairs and who might also be interested in attending the conference sponsored by World Affairs Council,” Cory said. “I suggested [juniors]
Devyani Bhadkamkar, Varun Bhadkamkar, Anu Rajan and [senior] Karen Camacho.” Rajan received an award for her position paper. “We write position papers before the conference portraying our stance as the political figure or group we represent,” she said. Rajan represented RAIPON (Russian Association of Indiginous People of the North) during the debate-oriented conference. According to Rajan, the conference was divided into two parts: talks from famous figures on current events and a conference of high school and college students. The partitioned style worked to enhance the overall experience and draw a clear link between real-world events and the simulation. Bhadkamkar won two awards, one for best position paper and one for best delegation, while representing the Athabaskan Council. Both winners talked to some of the guest speakers in recognition of their achievements, such as Bolden as well as a venture capitalist and authors of influential books. Both thoroughly enjoyed the conference. “The World Affairs conference was educational and informative,” Bhadkamkar said. “It was cool to talk to such accomplished people.
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Features
Wednesday, May 30, 2012
Sophomore makes rap music NIOS showcases chalk art Cooper Aspergen News Editor
It was on a trip to England when sophomore Finn Mayer embarked on his first music project, a remix of Bob Marley’s reggae classic, “Stir It Up,” with his cousin, Ed Young. Eventually, they became inspired to form a rap group, Oversees, using the respective nicknames “Prime 8” and “Teddy Slim.” After their first single garnered close to 60 downloads, the group released its first Extended Play, “Optimistic Linguistics,” in April 2012. Mayer writes and performs the lyrics while Young formulates the background beats and samples using Apple’s recording software program “Logic”. “I listen to old music and listen to the song, see what could be a good beat, isolate that, mess with it a little bit, and see which samples Finn likes,” Young said. Oversees’ style can be described as very eclectic and influenced by a variety
Kyle Zhu
Sophomore Finn Mayer performs a rap song on the quad during lunch.
of genres. “I guess it’s sort of psychedelic,” Mayer said. “It’s very heavily soul and funk-influenced rap. We use a lot of soul and funk beats.” The group finds inspiration in the work of the rappers MF Doom, MF Grimm, A Tribe Called Quest, Del the Funky Homosapien, Lil B and Wu Tang Clan, the latter of which Mayer describes as “some of the greatest rappers of all time.” Mayer characterizes his first experience writing rap lyrics, during his freshman year, in a modest and self-deprecating fashion. “First I sucked a lot, obviously,” Mayer said while reflecting upon his earliest work. However, as soon as he gained a greater level of proficiency in his songwriting, Mayer found the practice to be an ideal form of liberation. “When I’m upset, I’ll write about my own problems,” he said. “The reason I like it is just because it’s the most pure form of expression. I try to not release any lines that don’t put an image in my head that I feel is accurate about me.” Mayer greatly appreciates the work of his cousin, describing it as an essential component of the music they release. “One time, Ed used a sample of a rhythm from a song and then cut it up and completely switched the order of the notes, and that was pretty interesting,” Mayer said. Frequent collaborator sophomore Ross Cardillo, from Palo Alto High School, known as “DGA” or, “the Dopest Gringo Alive,” speaks highly of Mayer’s skill as a rapper. “Finn is the best freestyler I’ve ever met,” Cardillo said. “He manages to embody a lot about himself through rapping. He’s picked it up crazy fast since he’s only been doing it for a few months now.” Oversees is currently in the process of recording a new album with rappers King Goo and Cardillo.
Lawrence Chen Reporter
Senior Amanda Zunino enjoys working with different kinds of artistic mediums such as watercolor, pastel, and sidewalk art. In addition, she also dedicates much of her time to chalk art. Zunino recently won Gunn’s first chalk art contest, and for winning, Zunino was awarded a $35 gift card for the University Art Center in Palo Alto. According to art teacher Deanna Messinger, Zunino earned first place through hard work and perservence. Her use of vibrant colors attracted the judges’ eyes. “What made Amanda’s chalk painting good was the amount of effort and time she put into it,” Messinger said. “Her ability to draw and paint from observation also made it look realistic. The image of diverse people laying next to one another, is a warm metaphor that people could identify with and relate to in the spirit of Not In Our Schools week.” One of the project’s goals was to strengthen the Not in Our Schools message that “We’re All In This Together.” According to Zunino, the art helped bring the community together in a more visual manner. “My art piece was about how we have more power as a community than as individuals,” Zunino said. In eighth grade, Zunino began chalk art after a teacher recommended that she experiment with chalk. “My art teacher in middle school suggested that I join a group of [chalk] artists, and there was an expo at the Art and Wine festival, so I got hooked after that,” Zunino said. After she discovered chalk art, she gradually found her own style. “I usually do realistic chalk art, but sometimes I do cartoony,” Zunino said. For the contest, Zunino first submitted an application with a colored design pro-
Kyle Zhu
Amanda Zunino won first place in the Not In Our School week art contest with this art piece on the quad. portional to five by seven design. After her design was reviewed and approved, she was given a space on the ground according to her proposal. “Most of the people who worked as solo artists were encouraged to have four by six panels,” Zunino said. “But that was just a bit too small for me to be able to get any good detail in the piece, so I went ahead and made mine a little bigger.” Zunino spent the two Standardized Testing And Reporting (STAR) days working on her art. “The hardest part about it, was that I have never done people’s faces in chalk,” Zunino said. Despite these difficulties, Zunino will always enjoy chalk art because of the different environment. “I like chalk art because it is more of a performance art than a studio art,” Zunino said. “When I work, people are around me and get to watch me.”
Artist of the Month: junior Cat Yu The Oracle: Do you have a role model? If so, who or what? Cat Yu: I aspire to be able to completely capture a person’s attention with a piece; to create a piece that really lingers in that person’s mind. TO: What do you like the most about photography? CY: I like how a photo can be used for so many different purposes, from capturing a moment to conveying a message. I love being able to share how I see the world with other people. TO: What made you continue photography? CY: I don’t think there’s a definite reason or cause that’s made me stick with photography. I just know that I love everything about it, the fun and the frustration. TO: What is difficult about photography? CY: Photography is all about light. It can be hard at times to find or create the perfect lighting. Lightroom and other photo editing software can digitally improve an image, but for film, it’s harder. It is frustrating, but still really fun, trying to get the right amount of contrast using dodging and burning. Kyle Zhu
TO: What types of things do you like to take pictures of? CY: I love taking pictures of nature. Particularly in nature, I like getting extreme close-ups of something like the underside of a leaf. With this shot, I can point the focus to the thin veins and razor-like edges that are the composition of the leaf, whereas in a normal shot, all that detail is lost. TO: How did you start photography? CY: From a young age, I’ve always been into different forms of art. I have experience with different mediums, from drawing to oil painting and to glass blowing. TO: What made you continue? CY: I don’t think there’s a definite reason. I just know that I love everything about it, the fun and the frustration. TO: How has photography affected you? CY: Photography has made me appreciate the earth and the things living on it. Photography has shown me that “beauty” is not “pretty”. Beauty can be found in the most unexpected people and places, and lost in superficial, made up faces. It has also given me a new way to connect and meet new people.
TO: What is your proudest photo? CY: The piece I’m most proud of at the moment is a black and white negative of my friend, Torey, that I made an enlargement of. I’m proud of it not because I believe it’s particularly stunning, but because of the time and effort I spent in the dark room working on it. TO: Will you continue photography in the future? Do you think you will pursue it as a career? CY: I will definitely continue to take pictures, even if it’s not professionally. At the moment I’m unsure about my future career. I may end up pursuing a career that incorporates both mediums, like photojournalism. This summer I’m studying in CalArts at a program called California State Summer School for the Arts (CSSSA). I applied to major in photography and to minor in painting and will be immersing myself in both mediums. I talked with an alumnus who told me attending CSSSA was what made her decide to become an art major. I’m excited to improve my art and see if this is something I want to seriously commit to. —Compiled by Eileen Qian
12
Cente
THEORACLE
What do you want to
The Oracle represents the best memories of various students and teach
“Pick a career where you get to do the things you enjoy.” – science teacher Katherine Moser Tr 87 av .8 e % l
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“Good ballplayers adjust.” – math teacher Chris Karas
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What life motto do you live by?
“In college, I cut all
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Graphics by George Hwang
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Wednesday, May 30, 2012
13
be when you grow up?
hers during each critical period of their lives through times on a clock Time changes dreams
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What do y ou remem ber about age 10? “My friends and I buried money next to the library as treasure made a map for it, ars later.” and dug it up 3 ye
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– Koji Ha
IV
As I close out my junior year, I observe as my senior friends prepare to leave the nest that they have spent their first 18 years in to embrace the world. The stages of childhood and adolescence are rapidly closing out for me as well, and I have to start asking myself what I want to do when I grow up. Although the question stays the same, the answer is always changing. Through the first 10 years of my life, the answer couldn’t have been simpler: I wanted to be a professional soccer player. It was the core of my life, and I adamant on letting everyone know that fact. I remember, very fondly, the moment I was asked to present what I wanted to be in my second grade class. Fists clenched and palms sweaty, I walked up to the front of the class with my cleats clacking against the linoleum floor. With eyes focused on me in full soccer uniform—shinguards, and all—I proudly said, “I want to be a professional soccer player when I grow up!” The class applauded and I sat back down, feeling capable of anything. Back then, I thought for a fact that my dream of being a professional soccer player would be fulfilled. But as my voice started to squeak and the super fun experience of puberty set in, I came to realize that my body wasn’t the only thing that was changing. As reality began to set in, I became cognizant that achieving my dream was much less feasible than previously imagined. Along with the countless other befuddlements of middle school, I was nervous about what would become of my life in just 10 years. It was the first time that I really felt like I was growing up, and a part of me was really excited about that. The eagerness led to countless ideas of what I wanted to be in the future. In no particular order, I wanted to become a doctor, engineer, biologist, astronomer or even a poet. These professions all ended up being passing affinities, but in the end, the question remained unanswered. My hormones had, for the most part, settled down by freshman year and I was looking for a fresh start. As I opened the course selection book, I was completely overwhelmed by all the options I had (or at least I thought I had). Freshman year had roughly preset courses, so I ended up being able to choose two electives: Criminal/Civil Law (Law) and Beginning Journalism. Although I was giddy about Law, I dreaded Beginning Journalism as I wasn’t initially very fond of writing. But long story short, I’m sitting here writing this story and not dusting fingertips at a crime scene. If you were to ask me what I want to be when I grow old, I would proudly answer now that I want to go into journalism in college, and possibly pursue it as a career—which I’m fairly certain will be the case. It’s not that simple though. Somewhere there’s an internal desire to go after a nearly impossible dream—I guess that’s the kid in me because honestly, if I could do anything I wanted, I would want to be a famous rapper (I can see you laughing already). The fame, money and happiness are all so alluring, and if given the opportunity (however slim chances may be, being a white kid from Palo Alto), I would seize it without a second thought. It would be a very fun dream to explore, and I encourage others to consider their wildest dreams as well, especially as our time here in Palo Alto ends. It may help us all in grasping the prospect of growing up. —Bullwinkle, a junior, is a Managing Editor.
14
Features
THEORACLE
Bakari Holmes
Rachel Grunsky
Stephanie Werbe
Science teacher Bakari Holmes, who taught physics, astronomy, Introduction to Engineering Design, Principles of Engineering, Digital Electronics and the Robotics Team for five years is leaving Gunn for San Jose High School (SJHS). For years, Holmes has been working on Project Lead The Way (PLTW) which promotes scientific learning. According to Holmes, the program has not been as successful as he expected it to be. “I have goals that I want to accomplish that I no longer believe can be accomplished here,” he said. “Starting and teaching the PLTW classes have lit a fire in my belly that cannot be quenched.” Thus next year, Holmes will become a PLTW teacher at SJHS, where he feels the program has more significant support. He hopes to encourage excellence by teaching engineering training courses and advocating Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) education. “I plan on being a part of transforming the culture of an urban school to become a place where STEM education is a priority and students are given a rigorous STEM-flavored education that prepares them for the jobs of the 21st century,” Holmes said. Some teachers foresaw Holmes’ leaving. “It is not a surprise to me in the context of his involvement with the PLTW program,” Ledgerwood said. “Several schools in the Bay Area hold this program as a centerpiece to their instruction and by going to another school district, Holmes will have the opportunity to fully immerse himself in all the richness that the program has to offer.” Other teachers feel that Holmes’s departure jeopardizes the success of the engineering programs at Gunn. “The kinds of things that [Holmes] teaches are not often found in high school and are valuable higher-order thinking,” Paley said. “Our internal competency will be lost, and I’m worried about finding an adequate replacement.” Deciding to leave was a difficult choice for Holmes. “I remember the roars of the crowd and palpable excitement of performing at night rallies,” he said. “I remember many heart-to-heart talks with students tryingGeorge to connect with them, inspire them Hwang and help them calm down. Most of all, I will always remember pink sheets, walking it out, trolling my students, assigning insane projects in engineering and seeing my students blossom like little rose buds.”
Math teacher Rachel Grunsky is moving back to live with her family in Bakersfield at the end of the school year. There, she will continue to teach new students math. During her five years on campus, Grunsky taught Algebra 2, Geometry/Algebra 2, Introductory Analysis & Calculus, Analysis Honors and AP AB Calculus. Grunsky will continue to pass down her knowledge at a new school, Mira Monte High School, where she will teach Algebra 1 and CAHSEE-level math. Grunsky enjoyed working with many motivated students and being involved in the Gunn community and culture. “When I leave Gunn, I will definitely miss certain events like the choir-staff musical,” she said. According to junior Yannie Yip, Grunsky’s teaching style has allowed her to enjoy math class a lot. “She is very clear and to-the-point when it comes to explanations, and her little humor here and there makes the class really delightful,” she said. “Math has never been my favorite subject but she makes it fun and manageable.” Yip believes Grunsky truly cares about her students and always tries to help and accommodate to their needs. “It’s sad to see such an amazing teacher leave Gunn, but I wish her all the best in her next place in life,” she said. Senior Yan Jia has learned a lot from being Grunsky’s teaching assistant and has developed a close relationship with her. “Ms. Grunsky is passionate about teaching and always attempts to create more engaging and interesting lesson plans,” she said. “I was asked to try her new lesson plan and provided her with comments. Ms. Grunsky really appreciates my comments, hoping to eliminate all the confusions in the new lesson plan.” According to Jia, Grunsky is a very optimistic person, and always brings energy and happiness to her in class. “I will miss Ms. Grunsky’s smiling face and her optimistic personality,” Jia said. “She is definitely an inspiring teacher.” Grunsky urges students to explore their passions. “My final advice to students at Gunn is to take fewer AP classes,” she said. “Take the time to find out what you love and have fun.”
At the end of the year, math teacher Stephanie Werbe will be moving back to her hometown, Laguna Beach. After an opportunity for her husband to relocate to Southern California arose, she and her husband jumped at the chance to move back and to be closer to family. “I am excited about being back in my hometown and being surrounded by my family and good friends,” Werbe said. When Werbe was a long-term substitute she taught Algebra 1/Geometry. As a full time teacher she taught Geometry/Algebra 2 Advanced, Algebra/Trigonometry Advanced and Algebra 1 Advanced. Next year she will be teaching at St. Margaret’s Episcopal School in San Juan Capistrano. The classes she will be teaching are Algebra 2 and Advanced Placement and Calculus AB. These years have taught her various lessons about herself, and how to be a better teacher. “Teaching definitely teaches you to have more patience,” Werbe said. “Some qualities have come forth more than others.” Students enjoy the comfortable environment Werbe creates in her classes. “Every day I look forward to going to MA-9 and enjoying a fun math class,” sophomore Ryan Spain said. Werbe plans on teaching at a school that has similar values as Gunn. “I hope that the next school I go to will have the same accepting staff and students, and that they’ll have programs like Not In Our School’s week and ROCK,” she said. Werbe enjoyed the supportive atmosphere on campus and will miss Gunn. Some of her most cherished moments at Gunn were the staff airbands and the staff softball game. “I’ll miss a lot of my students, definitely my math colleagues,” Werbe said. Werbe was the facilitator for a professional development group, and the club adviser for two student clubs. Many students are disappointed that she is leaving. “I’m really sad that she’s leaving because I was hoping to have her in the future,” sophomore Raina Yusufovo said. Werbe feels her greatest contribution is related to her students. “[My biggest acheivement was] getting to know my students outside of the classroom and helping them get through daily struggles by offering my time, help and advice,” she said. “My goal as an educator is to be an adult whom my students can trust.”
Features
Katherine Byrne
Specialized Core Program teacher Katherine Byrne is retiring after 16 years of teaching at Gunn. She has had extensive teaching experience in many subjects including English, World History, Contemporary World/Government, U.S. History, Economics and Algebra. Although she started off as an English teacher, her interests changed once she experienced teaching students coming out of juvenile hall. It was there that she found her passion in the special education field. Byrne got her special education credentials at San Jose State and started her work at Gunn in 1996. Byrne taught a majority of younger kids during her teaching career, but she described the transition teaching upperclassmen at Gunn to be new and refreshing. Byrne says her teaching experience here at Gunn has been rewarding and positive. “My experience at Gunn has been amazing,” Byrne said. “The staff is great and works well together.” Byrne has been teaching at Gunn for long enough to have seen many changes on campus, including that of the technological transition in teaching methods. “Now the [educational] videos can actually be coordinated with what you are teaching at the time you are teaching it, and it’s so much better now,” Byrne said. Byrne is constantly amazed at the variety of activites and classes at Gunn. She hopes to keep in touch after her time here so that the enjoyable atmosphere of Gunn will stay with her. “I plan to keep checking the Gunn homepage and maybe watch TBN [Titan Broadcast Network] on the computer,” Byrne said. Byrne believes that she learned the most from her students, who, according to her, taught her a variety of life lessons. “I’ll miss my students the most,” Byrne said. “They are such interesting people.” Byrne’s teaching and efforts to reach out and connect with her students have made a huge impact on them. “I’m going to miss her talks and the close relationship we had,” senior Shelby Sanders said. Byrne’s colleagues praise her ability to connect with students. “She’s always very well prepared and understands her children,” Byrne’s aid Auma Pascal said. Her dedication to Gunn and her work with her students will remain an important and cherished part of Gunn history.
Wednesday, May 30, 2012
Angela Dellaporta
15
Roy Pascual
After 32 years of teaching, English teacher Angela Custodian Roy Pascual left Gunn at the end of Dellaporta will be retiring. Throughout her time at the first semester, after having problems with his Gunn, Dellaporta has taught a variety of English knee. Rather than risking injury, he decided to retire classes including Mythology, Philosophy and Conat the age of 60. Due to Pascual’s middle-of-the-year temporary Heritage. After retiring, Dellaporta plans departure, The Oracle was not able to contact him to spend her time refurbishing an old family farm directly for this article\. and taking care of her elderly parents. Pascual’s time at Gunn has surpassed the tenure Dellaporta will never forget the cheerful times of most teachers, leaving a legacy of 19 years behind. that she has had at Gunn. “I am definitely going to Co-worker and head custodian Luciano Hernandez miss the energy of my students,” she said. “I just love remembers Pascual’s friendliness and prudence. teenage energy. It’s so full of life and so engaging, “He was a good worker: quiet, hard-working. He got even though it’s very difficult to control sometimes.” along with everybody,” Hernandez said. Dellaporta loves when her students are engaged At Gunn, he shared his love for food with his in class discussions. “My absolute best times here co-workers. “He was quiet and shy, except when have been when my students have been so interested you talked about food,” Hernandez said. “He would in discussing in class that they can’t resist sticking always ask me if we could barbecue today or tomoraround after class to continue the conversation,” row or pitch in [for food]. He loved to barbecue, and she said. he loved eating food, especially fish,” Hernandez Dellaporta first took the teaching job at Gunn besaid. On Pascual’s birthday every year, he would cause it seemed like a straightforward task. However, buy his fellow coworkers dinner instead of expectafter years of teaching, she now has a very different ing to receive gifts. Co-worker Antonio Peterson viewpoint. “Teaching has reinforced my belief that said, “That’s how he celebrated his birthday, and I that you can bring out the best in everyone, because, thought that was very unique about a person. Inessentially, that is my job,” Dellaporta said. “We’re stead of us giving him something, he’d reverse it.” not really just teaching literary style, all teachers are Every year, for 19 years, Pascual and his coworkers teaching students how to live their lives.” would feast on the Kentucky Fried Chicken that Although she will not be physically on the camPascual brought in. pus, Dellaporta believes that the lessons she has While many may only know him as a hardworklearned here will always stay with her. “None of my ing custodian, Pascual spent much of his time students or colleagues here at Gunn ever set out to helping the community as well. “He loved to help teach me a lesson,” Dellaporta said, “but through my people, especially his community,” Peterson said. experience here, I have learned more than I could “He worked here. He loved to help here, but he also ever imagine.” liked to help the elderly, give them food and go to After retiring, Dellaporta plans to change her life churches and get extra food and deliver it to people path in order to spend more time with her family. that he knew needed food to eat. He was a nice She also plans to explore new hobbies in many difhumanitarian, and overall, he was a caring person.” ferent fields, “I’ve always found music so beautiful,” Pascual even found a way to use his custodial Dellaporta said, “so after I retire, I will probably pick work to help others. “He would find clothes that by Erica Dellaporta Lee, Wayland Fong Wonhee Qian, Emilythat Yao, Stephanie Zangand he would up—Compiled some instrument.” also has,plans to Park , Eileen were left behind nobody claimed, visit Greece more often, a country that she has always clean it, wash it and send it back home to the Philipadmired and adored. pines and just give it to people,” Hernandez said. Dellaporta has loved every moment here at Gunn, Pascual’s impact at Gunn will be greatly missed and she knows that she will miss it immensely. by his peers. “Just being with him is the thing I miss “Teaching is the kind of job where you’re never just the most,” Hernandez said. “Because after working sitting back, you’re always learning, and that’s what here with somebody for 13 years, it was just his makes it exciting and wonderful.” presence. It makes you wonder what he’s doing.”
Compiled by Eileen Qian, Emily Yao, Erica Lee, Wonhee Park, Stephanie Zang, Wayland Fong
16
THEORACLE
5
Sports
Wednesday, May 30, 2012
Steps To Performing a front one-anda-half full twist dive with junior Miko Mallari
1
Take a 3 to 5 step approach that ends at the front edge of the board and prepare to launch yourself as high as you can possibly go.
2 3 4
Throw your body off the board with your arms spread out and rotate your shoulders downward.
Swing your right arm across your body like you’re punching someone to the left of you and place your left arm behind your head.
After you have completed a full somersault and a full twist bend at your waist, join your hands and put them above your head.
5
Be prepared to rip a hole in the water by putting your hands to your side. This is how you eliminate splash. —Compiled by Emily Yao Photo by Kyle Zhu
17 Teachers, students share opinions on NBA playoffs Sports
Wednesday, May 30, 2012
“I think the Boston Celtics will rise out of the East. They’re old school, play good defense and good team basketball. Out of the West, I think the Oklahoma City Thunder is the favorite. However, I would love to see the San Antonio Spurs because of their great team ball. Overall, I hope Boston wins it all, mostly for sentimental reasons.”
Chris Redfield
Picks... “I think it’s going to be the Miami Heat, even though I don’t like them that much, and the Spurs in the NBA finals. The Thunder are very athletic, however the Spurs have great depth and have a great coach. Spurs are going to win it all because of their defense and experience.”
Picks... “In the West, I’ll take the Spurs. They pass the ball well, are deep, play good defense and their coach is probably one of the best in the history of the game. I’ll take Miami in the Eastern Conference because of their top-end talent. It would surprise me if any team from the East won the championship.”
Picks... sophomore Sarah Robinson
TO: Is it hard to balance schoolwork now that you are on the U-17 team? SR: It is hard to balance both my schoolwork and my sports because I am constantly away. It is hard to keep current with what is going on in my classes.
“The Heat are going to meet up with the Thunder in the finals, but the Heat are going to win it all. They have three (since only two remain) really good players and the best player in the league LeBron James. Even though the Thunder have Kevin Durant, the Heat can match Shane Battier against him, and he won’t matter.”
Zoe Zwerling
“I think the Indiana Pacers are going to shock everyone and make it to the NBA Finals. They play with a lot of energy and passion. From the West, the Spurs will make it and win it all because of their great team basketball, and they’ve done this before.”
Picks...
* The Pacers have already been eliminated.
Q&A with
TO: Can you elaborate on the process of being recruited to the Under-17 team? SR: Basically, there is the full women national team, and then, there are youth teams. I am playing [an age] up on the U-17 national team, and we are trying to qualify for the World Cup, which is next year in September. The tournament lasts for about a month. We currently play games against other countries and are brought into camps every month or every other month. The camps last between a week and two weeks, it depends.
Gene Yang
Picks...
Joshua Paley
The Oracle: How do you feel about placing first in Central Coast Section (CCS) for cross country and now being on a national soccer team? Sarah Robinson: I feel good that my hard work has started to pay off, and I love that I can do both sports. I think they balance each other out well.
“In the West, I think the Oklahoma City Thunder and the Spurs will be meeting. In the East, I think the Philadelphia 76ers will move on to the Western Conference Finals, but it’s really up in the air with the Heat and the Pacers. I think that in the end, it will be the Heat over the Thunder because no one can keep up with them.”
Picks...
Rajeev Virmani
Sarah Robinson
Allison Nguyen
TO: Who would you consider your biggest supporters/fans? SR: I think my biggest supporters would be my family and my coaches. They are the people who see me work hard and see my improvements. They are a big reason why I have accomplished what I have done. TO: How do you feel about committing to Stanford for soccer? SR: I verbally committed to Stanford to play soccer and attend school there when I graduate from Gunn. I have always wanted to go to Stanford since I was little, so I am extremely excited and happy. Everybody has been very supportive and nice about this. TO: How is traveling with the Under-17 team going to affect your performance at school? SR: Traveling with the Under-17 National Team is hard on my school work, but it is worth it. It does affect my school work because when I come back, not only do I have to catch up, but I have to learn what the class is currently learning. That makes it very difficult. TO: Do you feel that you have to sacrifice anything out of school or your social life in order to be on the team? SR: I would not call it a sacrifice because I love playing at a really high level. But the result of me constantly traveling and having sports every day is that I have less free time. I try to be efficient with my school work, so I can learn the material well and get all my assignments done. —Compiled by Misheel Enkhbat
*
—Compiled by Mitch Donat
Graphics by George Hwang, photos by Michael Wu
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18
Sports
THEORACLE
Spring sports teams compete in playoffs, show strong Badminton
Even though the badminton boys’ varsity team ended their season in fifth place in the league, the team still has a very positive attitude. “We did not do as well as we did last year but I am still very proud of my team because everybody has learned a lot and tried his best,” boys’ varsity team captain junior Koji Habu said. For girls’ badminton, junior Helen Weidermann defeated the number one seeded player from Monta Vista High School. Because of her win, she, along with junior Martin Hung and freshman Angela Lin, represented the team at the Central Coast Section (CCS) Badminton Championships. Hung and Lin played mixed doubles and secured a victory for the Titans at CCS. For next season, the team will have to deal with the loss of eight seniors. According to Habu, the seniors who are currently on the team are very strong players, and losing them will be tough for the team. “We will focus on our technique and mental strengths to become as good as the seniors are,” Habu said. “I also hope we will have motivated freshmen.” In addition, Habu has high hopes for himself and believes the team has the potential to do well next season if it improves on some points. “The team should focus and challenge themselves even more during practice and competition,” he said. “I am sure our team will get first place next year as long as we continue to challenge ourselves and learn from our past.”
1
2
Baseball
Audey Shen
With a 19-8 overall record and 11-3 league record, the baseball team won its first league title in 12 years and is headed to CCS playoffs. “I am very excited about CCS,” senior Graham Fisher said. This is the first time in my high school career that we are going to CCS playoffs.” “I am ready to go out and shock some higher seeded teams.” The team has attributed much of its success this year to two areas of strength. “Our team’s strengths this year are definitely our pitching and clutch hitting,” Fisher said. “Our pitches have been dominant this year and we have also had some big scoring innings when we need them in games.” In its first round of CCS playoffs, the Gunn baseball team defeated Cupertino High school. The team, however, was upended in a 4-3 loss to Aptos High School in CCS quarterfinals.
3
Diving
The diving team won second overall in Santa Clara Valley Athletic League (SCVAL) De Anza Division Championships. The team competed six times during the season as a part of the swim team. The boys won three of their meets and lost the other three while the girls won all six of theirs. The team is appreciative of the swim team, who helped them do better in competition. “Diving is a small event that is part of the swimming team,” diving coach Brian Arakaki said. “Because we have an amazing swim team, our dive team came out performing well.” The divers are happy with the end of a successful season that enabled them to grow both individually and as a team. “Although we lost a couple of divers from last season, we also gained some new talent,” varsity captain junior Miko Mallari said.“With both the new and the old, and the addition of our new coach, we’ve taken long strides as a team. “We also qualified more divers for CCS than we have in the past 4 years.”
Kyle Zhu
Kyle Zhu
4
Golf
The golf team has been fighting strong this season, landing them an overall record of 9-3. The team is unaffected by the leaving of the seniors. “We lost two seniors but was compensated by many good freshmen that joined,” sophomore Jayshree Sarathy said. This season, the team made huge improvements by winning SCVAL for the first time in ten years by 24 shots. “[Our win] serves as proof of our hard work and effort,” Sarathy said. The Titans not only won SCVAL but also placed second in the De Anza league. “We had a scoring average of 199 compared to last year’s 205,” Sarathy said. “It just shows how far we’ve gone.” The players are proud of their accomplishments, they hope to train even harder for next year. “As the season went on, our team began working harder and taking the matches more seriously,” Sarathy said. “By the end, we had improved a lot.”
Gymnastics
Audey Shen
5
6
This season, the girls’ gymnastics varsity team did exceptionally well. The team finished fifth place at CCS playoffs, which was held on May 17 at Twisters Gymnastics. They won first place at their competition on April 18 as well as at the SCVALs competition on May 10, and placed third overall at the North Varsity League Finals. Gymnastics coach Suzie Hackstedde was pleased with the performance of a few varsity girls who placed top ten. Senior Chrystal Chern placed seventh on beam, while freshman Natalie Byun placed seventh on vault and floor, first on bars and beam and was the individual all around champion. The team also placed third place in league. One thing the team hopes to improve on for next season is its capacity to control stress and to do its best under pressure. “We need to learn how to put the stress down before and during the competitions because this season, the pressure made us [affected our scores],” Montez said.
Boys’ Lacrosse
The boys’ lacrosse team, lead by coach Michael Blocho, ended its season with an overall record of 2-10-1 and a league record of 1-6-1. The last game they played was against the Woodside Wildcats on May 1, where the Titans lost with a final score of 5-2. Of the last six games the team played, five of them ended in a loss, while one finished with a tie. “Things definitely could have gone better,” junior David Lester said. “There were many games that we should have won.” With the accumulation of losses, the team unfortunately did not qualify for the SCVAL playoffs. According to Lester, the team’s goals for next season are to aim for a respectable record and build on a team with all but three players returning. “We had a little too much fun at times instead of doing what we needed to do to win,” Lester said.
Kyle Zhu
Jonathan Yong
1. Junior Chris Rea pitches a fastball. 2. Sophomore Paul Lou prepares to smash a shuttlecock. 3. Senior Emily Igler performs a dive during a meet. 4. Junior Francesca Gencarella works on her mid-air split jump on a balance beam. 5. Junior Harrison Waschura gets ready to throw the ball to his teammate. 6. Freshman Jack Jaffe swings his driver during golf practice.
Sports
Wednesday, May 30, 2012
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records, make history throughout the entire season 7
Girls’ Lacrosse
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The girls’ lacrosse team ended their season on a high note, with an exceptional performance at Santa Clara Valley Athletic League (SCVAL) playoffs, an overall record of 14-7 and a league record of 11-4. “For the first time in three years, we finished with a winning record and made it to the playoffs,” coach Doug Arakawa said. The week before competing in SCVAL playoffs, the girls triumphed in their games against Leland, Los Gatos and Saratoga. Unfortunately, the team’s winning streak ended when they lost to Los Gatos during the semifinal round of SCVAL playoffs. According to Arakawa, the team’s goal is to continue building a respected and competitive lacrosse program at Gunn. “This past year we had several outstanding freshmen and sophomores make our varsity and JV teams, and I hope next year we can attract the same quality athletes to our program,” Arakawa said. “We are going to lose eight seniors this year, but I am confident that our remaining 13 varsity players have what it takes to continue the winning ways we have established this year.”
Softball
Kyle Zhu
Courtesy of Nicole Jacobsen
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The softball team has had a great season, with a final record of 8-3 in league play. The team finished in second place in SCVAL. The team’s success has been linked to several different factors. “We have a very good pitcher [junior Claire Klausner], solid defense, and productive hitting,” senior Claire Collins said. Despite the team’s strong performance this year, Klausner believes that the team still has areas to improve upon for next season. “We need to improve our defense more and cut down on errors,” Klausner said. According to Collins, the team will successfully adjust to the loss of seniors next season. “The seniors this year make up three-fourths of the spots on the infield, so those positions will definitely hurt and our defense won’t be as good,” Collins said. “But teams get better year on year because everyone else will improve. We have a few really good freshmen that will certainly get better, a ton of rising seniors and a lot of talent.” Unfortunately, the softball team didn’t qualify for Central Coast Section (CCS) playoffs.
Swimming
Kyle Zhu
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The swimming team ended the season on a high note, with both the girls’ and boys’ teams moving up in terms of their rankings in the Central Coast Section (CCS) Championships. The girls got their first CCS title, improving from their fourth place finish last year, while the boys placed l4th, a step up from last year’s 19th-place finish. Not only did the girls win CCS, but they also set a record for the amount of points earned: their score of 266 points helped them defeat defending champion from Archbishop Mitty High School. In addition, seniors Julia Ama, Rachael Acker and Casey Lincoln and sophomore Jenna Campbell set a CCS record when they collectively obtained a time of 3:23:06 in the 400 meter relay. The time was extremely close to beating the national public school record of 3:22:85. Both the boys’ and girls’ swim team competed six times throughout the season, not including CCS. The girls’ swim team was undefeated this year with six wins. While the boys’ team had more of a mix, with three wins and three losses, the team was second overall in SCVAL. “I’m most proud of how hard everyone worked and how much they grew,” coach Mark Hernandez said. “It’s nice to see that hard work pays off.” According to Hernandez, this year will be a tough one to beat now that many key seniors are leaving. “This year’s senior class is the best in girls’ team history,” Hernandez said.
Boys’ Tennis
The boys’ tennis team ended league with a record of 1-11 and an overall record of 5-13. Meanwhile, the boys’ JV team excelled this year with an overall record of 12-0. From the start of the year, the team set a goal to play Menlo High School. Unfortunately, they were not able to achieve this goal. “We really wanted to have a chance to play Menlo. They are regarded as the nation’s best team,” senior Jack Kwan said. “The boys had two chances to play them and we would have had our first opportunity to play them if we had made it to the finals in the Fresno tournament. We could have had another chance if we had beaten Los Altos [High School] in leagues.” The team lost in the second round of the CCS to Los Altos. For next year, the team hopes to improve and meet its goals. “Next year, we want to try harder and be our best,” freshman Isaac Wang said. “If we all practice well, we can definitely
Track and Field
Courtesy of Arjun Narayen
Jonathan Yong
7. Freshman Piko Ogawa practices her cradle during a home lacrosse game. 8. Freshman Natalie Oda prepares herself before batting. 9. Senior Will Thorson comes up for a breath during the 50 meter butterfly race. 10. Senior Rishi Argawal jogs with his teammates before a track and field meet. 11. Senior Roy Peleg prepares to hit a crosscourt forehand.
The track team hopes to wrap up its successful season with a strong performance in both SCVALs and CCS. As the team’s freshmen and sophomore boys are currently undefeated, coach Matthew Tompkins hopes they can win SCVALs for the division. Tompkins has similarly high goals for the remainder of the team. “Varsity boys also are a solid team and we’re hoping to place third or fourth,”Tompkins said. According to Tompkins, the team is working well together under the supervision of the various team captains, and there are no specific areas for improvement. “The kids obviously work very hard and it’s a great team atmosphere,” Tompkins said. “One of our greatest strengths is the team captains, who have done a great job. The challenge is [that] our team is so big, so the team captain’s job is to get the people in different events to hang out with each other.” For the upcoming CCS tournaments, the eight individuals who qualified hope to both win and to put the team’s best foot forward. “It is most important for the eight people to do their best and earn a time that is representative of the hard work that they’ve put in over the season,” junior hurdler Wyatt Eberspacher said. —Compiled by Rebecca Alger, Ysé Massot, Eric Noh, Rani Shiao, Alvin Wang and Emily Yao
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Entertainment
The Oracle delves into upcoming summer entertainment Television Previews Concert Previews “Awkward” Truth be told, American television has seen enough of the “your average teenage girl who goes through high school, desperately trying to define herself ” storylines. However, in the case of the Music Television (MTV) series, “Awkward,” the stereotypical plot experiences a few hilarious twists. Of course, “Awkward” has all of the characters expected of the average TV show about high school; the popular hunk jock, the standard misunderstood girl who ends up falling for the popular boy, and of course, the snobby cheerleaders who make the plot that much more complicated. However, unlike other TV dramas, the “Awkward” characters are strung together by the touching, hilarious and, well, funnily awkward storyline. Season 2 of “Awkward” is not to be missed. Tune in on June 28 to catch up on the life of Jenna Hamilton, a normal girl with a genial outlook on life, and of course, to fall in love with the oh-so-beautiful Matty Mckibben. Once you’re watching, you’ll find yourself scouting for re-runs all through summer.
“Major Crimes” Couldn’t get enough of the Turner Network Television (TNT) hit series, “The Closer?” Well, this August, TNT is premiering a spin-off of “The Closer,” called “Major Crimes.” “Major Crimes” stars Mary McDonnel, as Captain Sharon Raider, head of the Los Angeles Police Department’s (LAPD) “Major Crimes” division. “Major Crimes” will also feature recurring cast members from “The Closer,” including Robert Gosset and Jon Tenney. “Major Crimes” is expected to revolve around the LAPD’s most intense cases and keep viewers glued to the edge of their seats. This new series is anticipated to be filled with gun fights, crime scene investigations and of course, policemen kicking some major ass. The show takes place in the bustling city of Los Angeles and the officers of the Major Crimes department witness gruesome, heartbreaking and puzzling crimes on a daily basis. If you’re into suspense, drama and humor, tune in to TNT this summer to enjoy a dose of action and drama.
“Anger Management” On June 28, the world will watch as Charlie Sheen makes his TV comeback in the new Fox Networks series “Anger Management.” In this new show, Sheen plays an anger management therapist who is considered to be slightly bonkers and has some anger management problems of his own. Sheen winds up in a sticky situation with one of his patients, which leads to a series of random but hilarious events. This series is based on the 2003 comedy “Anger Management,” which starred Adam Sandler and Jack Nicholson. Although there are still not many details about the synopsis of the show, it is guaranteed to be a knee slapper that will leave you breathless and rolling on the floor. And remember, “Your temper is the one thing you can’t get rid of by losing it.” —Compiled by Stephanie Zhang
Vans Warped Tour: Jun. 23
As summer vacation nears and the school year comes to a close, music festivals are rushing to prepare shows during the heat. The Warped Tour, sponsored by popular shoe brand Vans, is a summer concert that has been pleasing audiences since its inception in 1995. The tour features up to 100 bands per show and is coming to San Francisco on Jun. 23 at the AT&T parking lot where bands including All Time Low, Vampires Everywhere! and New Found Glory will play. If you aren’t familiar with these bands, this tour is perfect for fans of punk rock, alternative and rock. Each ticket costs $36 excluding the extra fee.
Outside Lands: Aug: 10-12
For those who have an eclectic taste in music, try going to the enormous Outside Lands festival in Golden Gate Park which will play host to artists such as Stevie Wonder and Norah Jones. Bands like Metallica, Passion Pit and Die Antword will be playing as well. Although one regular three-day ticket is priced at $225, one should keep in mind that the festival includes much more than just music. It will include additional activities such as food tasting from restaurants all over the Bay Area, art exhibits and shows with local variety acts and comedians.
Rock the Bells:Aug. 25-Aug.26
For those of you who are hardcore hip-hop fans, the Rock the Bells concert in Mountain View from Aug. 25 to 26 at the Shoreline Amphitheatre is a definite must-see. General admission is $99 to see over 20 acts, including Kid Cudi, Tyga and Ice Cube. The doors open at 11 a.m. and the concert ends at an undisclosed time. Though this is a two day concert, students won’t need to reserve a hotel because the venue is close by. — Compiled by Zoe Weisner
Event Previews
San Francisco Pride Parade: Jun. 24
“Prometheus”
Ridley Scott’s “Prometheus” has been described as a prequel to “Alien,” taking place before the events depicted in the 1979 classic. The film, kept largely under wraps, appears to focus on a group of space travelers who enlist the help of an android, David (Michael Fassbender), to discover the origins of man. An accidental finding on the voyage, linked to “an alien life form,” puts the fate of the crew as well as the rest of humanity at risk. As Scott’s first science-fiction film since 1982’s “Blade Runner,” “Prometheus” stands as one of the most highly anticipated film releases of the summer.
“Brave”
Critics did not seem to enjoy “Cars 2,” released by the almost impeccable Pixar Studios to an unprecedented 38 percent rating on Rotten Tomatoes. With Brave, Pixar has the opportunity to earn back its previously held critical prestige. The upcoming film, directed by Mark Andrews and Brenda Chapman, is distinguished as the first Pixar film featuring a female protagonist, Merida (Kelly McDonald). According to the film’s trailers, Merida must combat the traditional expectations for a princess in the Scottish highlands. While not as of yet highlighted in the marketing, “Brave” is sure to include the audience-pleasing adventure element, utilizing its feminist tone effectively for
“The Dark Knight Rises” The details surrounding Christopher Nolan’s “The Dark Knight Rises,” the third and final film in the director’s “Batman” series, have been largely shrouded in secrecy. The marketing material thus far released indicates that in this installment, the Caped Crusader (Christian Bale) must “rise” from a decade-long exile to defend Gotham from the brutal, highly intelligent mercenary, Bane (Tom Hardy). With the addition of Anne Hathaway’s Catwoman, a character who appears to serve as both an ally to Batman as well as an adversary to Bruce Wayne, it is recommended to view “The Dark Knight Rises” in an IMAX theater for the best quality possible. — Compiled by Cooper Aspegren
Every year San Francisco holds a parade to celebrate diversity and give support to the LGBT community while eradicating ignorance and discrimination. Join the love with this year’s San Francisco Pride Parade, where the theme is “Global Equality.” Anybody who wants to participate in the event can apply at http://www.sfpride.org/parade/. For those who want to be more involved in the parade, a free float-building workshop will be provided. Other features of the parade include performances, floats and animals. Remember that this is a parade about accepting others, so don’t hate, love!
Chili Cook Off: Jul. 4
A grand tradition, the Chili Cook Off will take place this 4th of July in Palo Alto. It will be held at Mitchell Park and there will be more than enough chili to fill hungry stomachs. Last year there were many live performances from the band Johnny Super, and DJ Joe Sheldon. Line dancing was led by Hedy McAdams, and children enjoyed jumpy houses, balloon artist and face painting.
Garlic Festival: Jul. 27-29
This next event will require a longer drive, as it is the Garlic Festival which takes place in Gilroy. The drive will be well worth it, as there will be tons of food, vendors and, of course, enough garlic to scare away a family of vampires. Every day there will be different live music performances, with some groups set in a certain area of the festival and some groups who stroll around creating music for all to enjoy. Activities like ceramics and drawing will be available. — Compiled by Erica Lee
Entertainment
Wednesday, May 30, 2012
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Revealing clothing during school hours not justified Misheel Enkhbat We all know that summer is approaching when girls start wearing increasingly revealing clothes. If I had a dime for every piece of clothing that revealed more skin than appropriate, I’d be a millionaire. I’ll be the first to admit that I’m guilty of wearing short shorts and crop tops. In fact, I’d even go so far to say that summer is my favorite
season just because I can wear shorts and various short-sleeved tops. However, lately I’ve been noticing girls around school wearing less and less appropriate clothing. Now don’t get me wrong, I have nothing against short shorts or tank tops, but I do have a problem with girls wearing outfits so scandalous that they border on obscenity. I’ve seen many a shirt that expose more than necessary. I empathize with how difficult it is to maintain a level of dignity in extremely hot weather. We all know the days when it’s so hot that wearing layers of clothing is not an option. As students, we have to remember that we are in a place of learning and not at the
beach. Personally, I like to have a scale for what is appropriate for school and what is not appropriate. For example, I like to make sure that my shorts are not way too short. Shorts that are too short can be extremely uncomfortable and not many girls can pull it off without looking like the circulation in their legs isn’t permanently being cut off. Furthermore, when in doubt, I run my outfit by a friend because I know that they’ll be brutally honest. Although they don’t have to mock your outfit every time you ask, a second opinion doesn’t hurt. I check my shirts by making sure that they are not completely revealing or inappropriate because personally, I don’t think
my abs are exactly “summer ready.” Shirts that are completely see-through are also red lights I watch out for. I know many times I’ve almost worn a shirt before I realize that its completely see through. However, when I really want to wear shirt, but I know that it’s probably not the best idea for school, I console myself by reminding myself that I can wear it over the summer or at a party. Lastly, I try to remember is that school is almost over, meaning when the last day I’ll be free to wear whatever I want. —Enkhbat, a sophomore, is an Entertainment Editor.
Summer Bucket List 1. Bring back that childhood spirit by opening a lemonade stand. 2. Feeling adventurous? Drive down to Ocean Beach in San Francisco. 3. Go enjoy the Palo Alto nightlife in downtown with the summer weather. 4. Camp in your backyard without parental supervision. 5. Make a surprise picnic for that special someone. 6. Bike across the Golden Gate Bridge at sunset. 7. See showcased art in San Francisco and dine at a fancy restaurant. 8. Buy tickets to Outside Lands and see Metallica and Stevie Wonder on the same stage.
George Hwang
—Compiled by Wayland Fong
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Entertainment
A Summer Roadtrip Viva Las Vegas! Located right outside of California, Las Vegas, to the contrary of common belief, is a place for people of all ages. A ride on a gondola in the Venetian, a visit to the M&M factory and an exploration through the Mandalay Aquarium are amongst the wide range of things to do here. If you’re up for an adventure, take a visit to sin city. Remember: what happens in Vegas stays in Vegas.
You Are Here Located ha l fway between San Francisco and Los Angeles, San Luis Obispo is a perfect stop for road trips across Califor nia. The town offers sandy beaches, peacefu l lakes and miles of hiking trails. And just outside of city limits visitors can tour Hearst Castle, a 250,000 acre estate that includes impressive gardens, goldplated swimming pools and a castle filled with a sensational art collection. Take a break from your never-ending road trip and make a pit stop in San Luis Obispo.
San Luis Obispo Las Vegas
If you’re hoping to hit the ocean this summer, why not do it in style? Ditch the mainland and head to Santa Catalina Island, off the coast of South California. At Santa Catalina Island, you can explore the ocean in glass bottom boats and submarines, or go snorkling with the local ocean creatures. The island also offers off-road Jeep tours to explore the canyons, mountain ridges and breathtaking vistas that make up Santa Catalina Island. On these journeys to the rugged interior, one may even spot bald eagles, foxes and the herds of American bison that make Santa Catal i na a prime destination for wildlife enthusiasts.
Catalina Island
—Compiled by Klaire Tan and Alvin Wang
Graphics by Jasmine Garnett and George Hwang
Travel tips from a seasoned road tripper Kristy Blackburn
As someone who went on a road trip with my family every summer until I was in my early 20s, it’s safe to say that I am somewhat of an expert on road trips. Although technology has made jumping in the car and taking off for the great unknown easier (thank you, Google maps, wi-fi and online reservations) there are still some basic tips that come in handy. Here are my top four: 1. Be prepared. Okay, yes, this may be obvious, but it’s a good place to start. Being prepared includes having a route in mind, and possibly even calling ahead to book a room for the night. The most interesting night I spent on a road trip was at a truck stop in Alaska, where my family (including my aunt) slept in our minivan because we got into town too late to get a hotel room. This was in middle school, so my younger brother was skinny enough to sleep on the floor between the front seats and the middle seat of our minivan, but it wasn’t the most ideal set-up for any of us. I’m not knocking being impulsive, but if “roughing it” isn’t your style, plan ahead. 2. Be open-minded. I learned this lesson one year when I fell asleep on Interstate 90 through South Dakota on the way back to college. My parents were fascinated by the many signs advertising the World’s Only Corn Palace in Mitchell, and to my dismay I woke up just as they were pulling into the parking lot of this random place. To spare you the trip, the Corn Palace is a building decorated with large murals made yearly from corn and native grasses. My favorite fun fact: the Corn Palace was apparently the first indoor ice skating rink in the U.S., but only because the main building flooded one winter in the late 1800s and then froze over. Though I am pretty sure I will never visit the Corn Palace again, it makes for a fun conversation starter, and I am always surprised when I meet someone who have also had the pleasure of visiting it. 3. Be adventurous. One of the best trips my family and I took was when we drove to the Artic Circle and back (in our trusty minivan, of course). We drove down more dirt highways than I’d ever been on, and the back of our van was covered in mud, but the scenery and sense of adventure were well worth it. Another great adventure was the year my brother planned a trip around Civil War battlefields, including Gettysburg and Appomattox. It was amazing to get such a vivid sense of history, and while I may have grumbled at the outset, it was a journey worth taking. 4. Keep in touch. With Facebook, it’s much easier to “check in” and let people know what fabulous places you are visiting, but don’t forget that a lot of folks love real mail, too. When I was writing for the “Let’s Go: USA” travel guide during college, my editors enjoyed the many postcards I sent them along the way. Postcards are an inexpensive way to say hi from the road, and your friends will appreciate getting something more fun than junk mail in their mailbox. Use your best Twitter skills to write a short “wish you were here” message. Hitting the open road is a great way to enjoy the summer, and regardless of where you end up going—whether it’s down the coast or across the United States—you’ll definitely create some memorable moments. —Blackburn, a guest writer, is The Oracle adviser.
Entertainment
Wednesday, May 30, 2012
Faces in the Crowd
Don’t be fake: get a natural tan
What are you doing this summer?
Ellen Lee
“I’m being a classic Gunn student and taking an SAT college prep class.” Ravi Levens (9)
“I’m going to pursue an amateur bear wrangling title, or summer school.” Avery Sredanovich (10)
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Suns out, guns out. As temperatures rise, we begin to peel off our suffocating layers of clothing and wear the bare minimum. But a sense of selfconsciousness regarding our skin pigment fills the hot air. Now let’s be honest. When my friends and I hit the pool on the weekends, we don’t go playfully run
rocking pallid skin tones. As if shriveling yourself up like a raisin at the pool isn’t bad enough, an innumerable number of girls make occasional visits to tanning booths for the horrific spray tan. As a semiclaustrophobic person, I find spray tanning or “fake baking” to be far from worth any money or time. And excluing my partial phobia, fake tanning has d e t r i-
use of electric charges to darken your skin tone. Now this isn’t me discouraging the occasionally, accidental “oops, I stayed out in the sun too long and got a nice tan,” because you could hold that against me. This is me discouraging the use of unnatural methods in an attempt to reach your desired shade. Rather than wasting your money and potentially shortening your lifespan tanning, spending time do-
Jasmine Garnett
“I’m going to Mongolia to ride horses and camels.” Justine Schmidt (11)
“I’m going on an intense whitewater rafting trip.” Jake Verhulp (12) —Compiled by Lucy Oyer
around, splash in the water, and play Marco Polo. Our individual incentives, or goals for the day, are to darken a shade or two by the end of the afternoon. But are skin peeling, stinging sun burns and skin cancer really worth the one week “glow” that we all love to show off? In fact, multi-million dollar blockbuster, “Twilight Saga,” says otherwise with the protagonist, Edward Cullen himself,
mental health affects. I could go on, but I think the deathly side affects would scare you from this column. I’m all for expressing yourself through art, but is it really necessary to spray paint your skin? And if you are going to go that far, at least be creative and do some cool designs. Theres no point if the end result isn’t anything special. For those who perfer a more charred look, you may as well want to consider the
ing outdoor activities under the sun will result in a desirably darker skin tone, without endangering your health. You will be pleasantly surprised when you see those unavoidable tan lines accentuating your progression. And if you’re amongst the unlucky contingent of people that simply —Lee, a junior, is an Entertainment Editor.
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Entertainment
With summer fast approaching, many look forward to the fresh cuisine popular in the hot summer months. Yet countless visits to favorite local restaurants and cafes can add up. But worry not, The Oracle has recipes that will help you recreate your favorite summer foods in the comfort of your own kitchen.
Mango Strawberry Smoothie This delectable smoothie is a perfect compliment to any meal or an ideal snack on its own. To make it you will need: •2 cups of strawberries •1 whole mango •2 cup of orange juice •2 handfuls of ice •1/2 cup of milk •1 whole banana 1. Chop up the fruit into cubes. 2. Add all the ingredients to the blender. 3. Blend for 2 to 3 minutes or until smooth, stop intermittently to scrape edges. *Most fruits work well with this recipe, experimentation is encouraged. Created by Ellen Lee and Lucy Oyer
Farmer’s market produce makes for a treat perfect for parched throats on a scorching day.
Peach Chicken Salad This light salad makes good use of one of summer’s best fruits; peaches. To make it you will need: •3 peaches peeled, cubed •2 cups chicken breast •1 chopped cucumber •1 red onion, chopped •1 package of lettuce
For the mint vinaigrette: •1/4 cup white wine vinegar •1 tbsp. lemon juice •1/3 cup sugar •1/4 cup minced mint
1. Place peaches, chicken, cucumber, onion and lettuce in salad bowl and set aside. 2. Put the white wine vinegar, lemon juice, sugar, minced mint and salt in a blender and process until smooth. 3. Pour dressing over salad and toss.
This salad can be prepared in a few minutes for a nutritious and delicious summer meal.
Adapted from Priscilla Gilbert’s Allrecipes.com submission
Chocolate Pudding Everyone loves froyo, but for those that don’t have a yogurt making machine at home, this chocolate pudding is a great substitute. You will need: •3 cups milk •1/4 cup cornstarch •6 ounces chopped semi•1/2 cup sugar sweet chocolate •1/8 tsp. salt •1 tsp. vanilla extract 1. Combine the cornstarch, sugar and salt in the top of a double boiler. Slowly whisk in the milk, scraping the sides with a spatula to incorporate the dry ingredients. 2. Place over simmering water and stir occasionally. 3. After 15 to 20 minutes, when the mixture begins to thicken and coats the back of the spoon, add the chocolate. Continue stirring for about 2 to 4 minutes, or until the pudding is smooth and thickened. Remove from the heat and stir in the vanilla. 4. Pour pudding into individual serving dishes. Cover surface of pudding directly with seran wrap and chill in refrigerator for at least 30 minutes and up to 3 days. Adapted from John Scharffenberger’s Wednesday Chef
The pudding is quick and simple to make but will stay fresh in the refridgerator for days.
Compiled by Ellen Lee and Lucy Oyer