The Oracle (Oct. 2010)

[Forum] Should over-

weight kids be put on diets? pg. 6 [Sports] Barefoot running takes off with toe shoes pg. 23

[Features] A Gunn alumnus melds electropop with classical tunes pg. 14

[Entertainment] Staff member explores the flea market pg. 18

Henry M.M. Gunn High School Henry Gunn High School 780 Arastradero Road 780 Arastradero Road Palo Alto, CA 94306 Palo Alto, CA 94306 Palo Alto Unified School District Palo Alto Unified School District

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Monday, October 18, 2010 Volume 47, Issue 2

Electric cars on the rise Hannah Plank-Schwartz After years of prototypes and promises, the electric car is beginning to emerge as more than just a science experiment. Although they are becoming more prevalent, people are still tentative to accept the idea or appreciate their advantages. People must leave their doubts behind because electric vehicles promise to be a more economical and reliable automobile choice than previously thought, with the added benefit of reducing harmful carbon dioxide emissions. There is a plethora of new and diverse electric cars to choose from for your next purchase.

The government’s financial incentives skyrocket the economic appeal of electric cars. The world’s biggest car companies have made the right choice in getting on board with this phenomenon, releasing new, electric options in the near future. The Nissan Leaf will be selling for only $20,280 after a $7,500 tax credit as well as a California state rebate of $5,000. The 2011 Camry XLE, voted most GREEN CARS—p.7

Photos by Henry Liu, Alan Phan, Melissa Sun, Jonathan Yong

Diversity at Gunn emphasized, appreciated Divya Shiv

News Editor

It is not hard to get a sense of Gunn’s tremendous cultural diversity. Just take a walk through campus during lunchtime, peer into a classroom or listen to a conversation in a foreign language. Since October is Diversity Awareness month, The Oracle would like to acknowledge and appreciate the variety of cultures that our students and staff bring to campus.

Gunn’s student body is made up of students from a multitude of cultures. “Compared to many other schools, Gunn is much more diverse and is better at appreciating our many cultures [on campus],” Diversity Commissioner senior Nilofer Chollampat said. In addition, according to Gunn’s school profile for the 2008-2009 and 2009-2010 school years, the percent of African American and Hispanic ethnicities in the student body has steadily increased over the past year, despite the fact that the

majority of the students are of a Caucasian or Asian (including Pacific Islander and Asian Indian) ethnicity.

To celebrate its many cultures, Gunn has planned several cultural appreciation events for this year, including an assembly to honor Martin Luther King, Not in Our Schools Week and International Week. In addition, the Student Executive Council (SEC) has planned cultural awareness days in which music and food are sold on the quad during lunch by language clubs.

Students have also performed dances during these lunches as well to showcase a particular culture.

According to Chollampat, SEC will also be celebrating cultural holidays, such as Chinese New Year and Day of the Dead, a Mexican holiday which will be put together with the help of librarian Meg Omainsky. “We’re going to have a display for the Day of the Dead in the library from Oct. 27 to Thanksgiving and we’re planning on having more displays,” Chollampat said.

“We might do one for all the holidays in December.”

~49.5% Caucasian ~ 40.4% Asian *~ 7.4% Hispanic ~ 2.1% African American ~ 0.6% Other

*Pacific Islander, Filipino and Asian Indians included

Academic Center advisor resigns Divya Shiv & Emily Zheng News Editors

Oct. 13 marked Academic Center (AC) Coordinator Alex Lira’s last day working at Gunn. Lira turned in his resignation letter two weeks prior to his departure, after approximately one year on campus. “I can’t imagine the AC without Mr. Lira,” junior Chloe Blanchard wrote in an e-mail. “He always put students first. It was one of his mottoes and he strove to make the AC a place where students felt welcome and could enjoy themselves while doing work. It won’t be the same without him.”

Assistant Principal of Guidance Kimberly Cowell agreed. “I compliment Mr. Lira on being supportive of students,” she said. “I appreciate that he keeps the best interests of students at heart and puts in a great amount of effort into making sure the AC is a safe environment for students. He will be missed.”

As of now, the administration has posted a job offer for the AC Coordinator position in Human Resources at the District Office. They plan on making it a two-person job.

LIRA—p.2

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News

THEORACLE

Families bond over group community service

Lunch and brunch extended by two minutes

Students volunteer for annual blood drive

NEWS BITES The annual blood drive took place on Oct. 15 and new changes were made to the volunteering system. Academic Center (AC) advisor Alex Lira took over running the blood drive because the previous club who ran the event no longer exists.

Originally, prospective volunteers could just sign up for a preferred period, but now there are more steps involved.

Volunteers are required to find ten to twelve donors to partner with them. The volunteers signed up on the AC Facebook fan page.

New regulations also required each donor to fill out sheets with their name, information, preferred period and qualifications to donate blood. “It has a list of pre-screening deferrals to help save time on Blood Drive day,” Lira said. Also donors were asked to write down the name of the volunteer who they chose to work with during the blood drive.

Despite the changes in regulations, the Blood Drive still received a sufficient number of volunteers and donors. “I don’t think that the rules were a hindrance because the whole point of becoming a volunteer was to help out during the blood drive and the new process made sure that all the volunteers were accountable,” senior Shan Caressi said. The blood drive had a total of 25 volunteers working throughout all periods and there were 105 donors who signed up.

The brunch and lunch bells now ring two minutes earlier to allow students more time to get to their classes. Although not included in the original schedule, this change has been made recently to accommodate students who have been receiving tardies due to difficulties getting to class in the allotted five minutes after the breaks. “It just wasn’t a factor when the new bell schedule was first made,” Principal Katya Villalobos said. “Now we have classrooms in the Village and students don’t have enough warning to get to class.” The plan to change this part of the schedule was proposed as part of the change in the master schedule last spring, but was only recently enacted.

Overall, response to the new bell schedule has been positive. “In general, I like the new bell schedule,” Villalobos said. “I notice people don’t feel as rushed and it creates a positive environment. It’s effective and workable.” Villalobos soon plans to have a follow-up discussion with students, staff and parents about how the bell schedule is working.

This feedback will allow the administration to improve aspects for the rest of the four years while construction on site is occurring. “I think it’s a good system,” Student Body President Ting-Ting Liu said. “The people that have farther classes seem to appreciate the earlier warning, and those that have nearby classes know they can stay out a few more minutes before heading to class. Plus, class still starts at the same time, so it’s all good.”

Gunn Family Serivce Day took place on Oct. 16. Organized by three Gunn parents, Estee Greif, Diane Downend and Wendy Kandasamy as well as the Gunn Youth Community Service (YCS)/Interact club, volunteers chose to help out at one of three sites: San Francisquito Creek, Sunnyvale or East Palo Alto.

At the San Francisquito Creek site, volunteers restored the native habitat by planting seeds, removing weeds, working in the native plant nursery and cleaning up the shoreline. The team, led by Greif, was at the site for three and a half hours.

In Sunnyvale, volunteers organized and assembled learning kits with unused industry materials into lessons for Bay Area students. The group, led by Downend, spent three hours in Sunnyvale.

In East Palo Alto, volunteers led by Kandasamy, spent three and a half hours at working for the Ecumenical Hunger Program. The group had the opportunity to work at a food closet where they served clients, sorted and packaged food and received and acknowledged donations. Families also could elect to weed, prune, plant and harvest a oneacre produce garden.

“Gunn Family Service Day is a great for families to bond by volunteering and helping out the community,” YCS co-president junior Chloe Blanchard said.

After several hours of volunteering, the volunteers finished with a barbecue at Robles Park hosted by Community Service Boosters.

—Compiled by Elise Lee, Yilin Liang and Kevin Zhang

District considers earlier finals Utkash Dubey Reporter

Finals before winter break has been a long debated issue at Gunn, and things may finally be changing.

The new proposed calendar would push the beginning of school forward by one week in August and school would end a week later, on May 31. Winter break would start on Dec. 22 and end Jan. 9, with an extra weekend and some more time to spend away from school.

The new schedule has both benefits and setbacks. According to Villalobos, she has not heard any complaints at her previous districts, which scheduled finals before winter break. “I’ve worked at other districts and I’ve never seen any real problems with finals before winter break,” she said.

Villalobos said that the only setback is when it comes to semester-long classes, such as English classes in which the first semester would turn out to be slightly shorter than the second.

“This will be a cultural change for our district and I’m sure parents and students will feel it,” Villalobos said.

For seniors applying to colleges, the new schedule would get first semester finals out of the way and clear the road for January and February applications.

However, according to the

Facebook poll given

by Student Executive Council (SEC), 83 percent of voters were in favor of having fall semester finals held before Winter Break. A total of 224 students voted.

“I think having finals before the break is the best idea ever,” junior Maysa Torabi said. “I can finish the finals and then refresh over break without having to study and cram after we get back. It’s so much less stressful.”

However, according to senior Stefan Weidemann, finals week after winter break allows for time to study and is easier on the students. “I feel break is more like a time to relax, study, and get your head together,” Weidemann said.

Sophomore A lex Chen a lso feels that stress is amplified with the proposed schedule, b e c a u s e t h e r e i s n’t enough time to study.

“As long as students study ahead, they should do better on finals after winter break, and not before it,” Chen said.

DECEMBER 2011

Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat

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11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 DECEMBER DECEMBER 2012 2012 SunTue WedFri MonWed TueThu ThuSat Fri Sat Sun Mon 1 1 76 8 7

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17 19 18 20 19 21 16 17 16 18 20 2221 22 23 24 26 28 25 27 27 2928 24 26 23 25 Key 30 31 Final 30 Testing Day

Winter Break

Key Final Testing Day Kimberly Han

Winter Break

Above are the proposed calendars for the 2011 and 2012 school years.

Finals are currently held in late Jan.

AC coordinator Alex Lira resigns n LIRA from pg. 1

“It is a tough job for one person, since the AC hours are actually longer than the normal school day,” Cowell said. “There is a lot to do there, and I want to see some of the programs such as tutoring be expanded. They will be able to run the AC even more efficiently.”

Lira said that he resigned because of conflicting opinions with the administration, which he felt did not consider his requests seriously. Issues with the administration included the number of students in the AC, the food policy and the rejection of the AC club by the Student Executive Council (SEC). “I would have liked to be at least part of the major discussions among the administration regarding the AC,” he said. “The administration has a different vision for the AC than I, and that’s fine with me. I’ll step aside so they can hire someone else that’s more aligned with its vision.”

Because the issue was personnel related, the administration declined to comment.

For some, Lira’s resignation was unexpected. “I don’t think it was a big secret that Mr. Lira’s ways of running the AC were slightly unorthodox, but his announcement was sudden,” social studies teacher Warren Collier said. “I did not have the opportunity to interact with him much in the AC, but as a person I thought he was unique. He undoubtedly has a strong passion for students and I will miss his ability to make the AC a comfortable atmosphere.”

Lira transformed the AC culture and created numerous programs, including the textbook self-checkout

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system, the AC Facebook page, gift AC in Sept., and even though Lira card drawings and SAT preparation had raised over $5000 for the AC’s tools. “The AC was there for the printing fees, the administration is students and I considered it their still considering a limit on the numspace,” Lira said. “The library ex- ber of copies printed schoolwide. isted for quiet study, and the Student “Printing is a bigger issue than Activities Center was closed most of just in the AC,” Cowell said. “We the day. So I wanted the Academic do understand that students need to Center to not just continue its origi- use the printers for academic issues, nal services, but also be an inviting and they may not be able to print as place where students could go dur- much at home for whatever reasons, ing preps.” yet teachers are still requiring stuAlthough the AC’s new envi- dents to print huge amounts of asronment under signments. It’s Lira allowed a school issue, st u d e nt s t o and we need to get away from look at what we “I wanted the Acathe stress of can do to limit demic center to not school l i fe, unnecessary some students printing, both just continue its origifelt that these with teachers nal services, but also changes took and students.” be an inviting place away f rom All in all, the AC’s ultiLira enjoyed his where students could mate purpose. time at Gunn. go during preps.“ “Sometimes, “I loved that evI would forget eryone mingled —AC Advisor Alex Lira to do a homewith one anothwork assigner in the AC,” he ment and I needed to do it during said. “Everyone laughed together, my prep,” junior Laura Zalles said. complained together and enjoyed “In times like these, the AC became the AC together.” more of an annoyance because it was Lira advises that the new AC constantly loud and full of kids. For coordinators should reach out to people who are actually trying to do students. “Talk to the students as work, the AC doesn’t exactly provide often as you can,” he said. “You’ll the best working environment.” get a true understanding of what the Cowell agreed. “Some teachers school climate is like.” send their students to the AC to take For students, Lira hopes that tests, and the noise level in there may they will voice their opinions more. distract them from doing their best,” “Just remember that the staff works Cowell said. for you, and that you have a voice Another issue was the amount which should be heard,” he said. of printing in the AC. There were “Finally, continue to take care of around 21,000 pages printed in the one another.”

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News

Monday, October 18, 2010

Q&A with

Stanford Professor of Physics Douglas Osheroff

Douglas Osheroff Osheroff, who won the 1996 Nobel Prize in Physics, recently visited Gunn to share his experiences as a physicist.

The Oracle: How did you become interested in physics?

Douglas Osheroff: I think my father helped get me interested in physics, but I was very curious from the start. I tore the locomotive of my new electric train apart on Christmas Day when I was six years old to see how the motor worked. After that my parents gave me mostly science presents. I thought I would go on in astrophysics, but when I realized that they do experiments that take years, I chose condensed matter physics so I could do many experiments.

TO: Why did you decide to visit Gunn to give a presentation?

DO: I do these things because I recognize how such interactions influenced my decision to become a physicist when I was young. Even in high school I felt that I would ultimately go into physics.

TO: What have you accomplished as a physics researcher and professor?

DO: I have been a Stanford professor for 22 years, but before that I was a research scientist at AT&T Bell Laboratories, perhaps the foremost research center of its kind, for 15 more years.

In addition to discovering superfluidity in liquid 3He. As a graduate student, I did many experiments which have allowed more understanding of the nature of the three superfluid phases.

TO: What do you hope students took away from your presentation?

DO: I hope that students recognized the excitement and satisfaction of studying physics and learned how the laws of physics

produce the myriad of physical properties and behavior that we see and use to our benefit every day. The most enjoyable aspect of teaching is exciting students to the beauty and power of physics.

TO: What sort of research have you been working on as of late?

DO: I am in the process of a “phased in retirement” over a two year period, as I feel that doing the sorts of things I did today at Gunn are probably more important than doing a few more experiments and writing a few more research papers.

TO: What non-academic related hobbies do you pursue in your spare time?

DO: My main passion is landscape photography, but I combine that with hiking. My wife and I spent our honeymoon at the Grand Teton National Park, and have returned to hike those trails many times over the past 40 years. We also enjoy classical music, travel and gardening.

—Compiled by Emily Zheng

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State budget finally passed Ashley Ngu

News Editor

On Oct. 8, the California State Legislature finally passed an $87.5 billion state budget plan. The budget, which should have been passed two weeks before the beginning of the fiscal year, was agreed upon 100 days late, a record high.

To bridge a $19 billion gap, the budget uses a combination of cuts, funding shifts and sums of money the state estimates it will receive.

Many congressional members have criticized these unguaranteed assumptions, one of which hopes that the federal government will give the state another $4 billion. The budget also assumes that a $2.6 billion will flow in from additional tax revenue and the sale of state properties.

Portions of funding have been cut from numerous areas such as recreation, health care, social services and employee compensation.

Educational funding for K through 12 and public colleges and universities will receive $56 billion for this year. The final budget also provides more funding than was expected from the governor’s originally proposed plan in May. According to the figures presented, the budget will bring more funding to school districts in the long run. However, much of this money will not be available to districts until the next fiscal year because of the delayed passage of a budget. And even then, several districts used the May proposal as a benchmark for the amount of funding they hoped to receive and have already made cuts to their programs and staff.

Since the Palo Alto Unified School District (PAUSD) receives most of its funding from the community through property taxes, parcel taxes and donations from PiE, the PTA and individuals, the budget delay has not had as severe of an impact as in other districts. “Because we are a basic-aid district, meaning we do not get our budget from our average daily attendance, it does not affect PAUSD as much as a school district like San Francisco Unified,” Principal Katya Villalobos wrote in an email. “For this year you will not see services cut, but remember there are many issues with the state budget that passed and we do not how it will affect next year’s budget.”

According to the PAUSD Fiscal Manager Yancy Hawkins, the school district depends on state and federal funding for approximately $12.5 million, or eight percent of the education budget. The district plans to update its budget in accordance with the new figures sometime in the next couple weeks.

4

News

THEORACLE

THEORACLE

780 Arastradero Rd Palo Alto, CA 94306 (650) 354-8238 http://gunn.pausd.org/oracle

California prepares to select new governor Meg Whitman, Republican candidate

Jerry Brown, Democratic candidate

Utkash Dubey

Yilin Liang

Editorial Board

Reporter

Centerfold Editor

Editor-in-Chief Linda Yu

Previously Chief Executive Officer and President of corporal giant eBay, Meg Whitman is currently in a neck-and-neck battle for voters’ support against Democratic candidate Jerry Brown. A win for Whitman would make her the first woman to serve as governor of Calif.

Jerry Brown is the current Attorney General for Calif. and was also the governor of Calif. from 1975 to 1983, when he created the nation’s first Wellness Commission, the Office of Appropriate Technology and the Native American Heritage Preservation Commission.

Education System Whitman sees multiple flaws in the state’s education system and thinks teachers and principals should be awarded bonuses for high achievements and academic success with students. Additionally, she believes teachers should be more professional with their work. In terms of funding, Whitman wants to combine allocated grants and simplify them for individual school spending, so there is more freedom with money and no strings attached.

Education System In order to fund public education, Brown plans to distribute a fixed amount of money to districts used on a formula based on specific needs of the students in the school district. Brown plans to create incentives for good instruction and to work closely with teacher training institutions.

Brown proposes to shorten state test times and change tests to focus on concepts rather than facts. Brown also plans to continue working to narrow the achievement gap in the state and reduce the dropout rate.

Unemployment Like many, Whitman believes tax cuts will encourage employers to begin hiring again. To decrease Calif.’s high unemployment rate, which is currently at 10 to 13 percent, she promotes tax cuts for the rich and for both small and big businesses. Whitman argues her $15 billion reduction plan in government spending will decrease state debt and allow for the job creation she feels will give the California economy the boost it needs.

Unemployment To tackle unemployment, Brown has proposed his “Clean Energy Jobs Plan” to create more jobs by investing in renewable energy. Brown also supports the creation of a high speed rail throughout Calif. to create more jobs and promises to encourage the creation of small start up businesses. In addition, he also plans to allocate more funding towards education and create more jobs in manufacturing.

Managing Editors Annie Shuey Sarah-Jean Zubair News Ashley Ngu Divya Shiv Emily Zheng Forum Regina Ahn Eugenah Chou Sam Hayward Features Kevin Gao Nicola Park Lydia Zhang Centerfold Sophia Jiang Yilin Liang Entertainment Samantha Donat Tiffany Hu Hannah Plank-Schwartz Sports Krishan Allen Monica Cai Copy Editors Sweta Bhattacharya Tara Golshan Mia Howard Eden Lauffer Photo Victor Kwok Henry Liu Graphics/Web Kimberly Han Tech Colin Chen Webmaster Charles Chen

Staff Reporters Boot Bullwinkle, Colin Chen, Utkash Dubey, Roya Huang, Josephine Jen, Jesse Klein, Elise Lee, Song Park, Jennie Robinson, Leon Sung, Felix Tran, May Wu, Kevin Zhang Business/Circulation Managers Elaine Liu Annie Tran Photographers Melissa Sun Jonathan Yong Alan Phan Wendy Qiu Graphics Artists Bonnie Cardillo George Hwang Andrew Lee Allison Paley Lisa Wu 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 students' rights. The Oracle strongly encourages and prints signed Letters to the Editor. Please include your name, grade and contact information should you choose to write one. Letters may be edited to meet space requirements and the writer is solely responsible for the accuracy of the content.

Letters to the editor and ideas for coverage may be sent to gunnoracle@yahoo.com.

These letters and ideas need not be from current students. The Oracle publishes 9 issues annually. Subscriptions are $42/year.

Immigration Whitman’s strong immigration policies call for identifying and deporting illegal immigrants, and she does not want to legalize immigrants already living in Calif. “I am 100 percent against amnesty for illegal immigrants,” Whitman said on her campaign website. Whitman believes that illegal immigrants drag the Calif. economy down with their cheap labor.

Environment If Whitman were to be elected, state law AB 32, which requires the state of Calif. to drop its greenhouse gas emissions by 30 percent by the year 2020, would be suspended for economic purposes until unemployment is less than 5.5 percent for four consecutive quarters. She argues the Schwarzenegger bill on climate change is a “job-killer” because it has an impact on the state’s commerce and business, and will make tasks such as transportation more expensive to maintain. Whitman believes in balance between commitment to the environment and a strong economy.

LGBT Rights Whitman is a supporter of Proposition 8, a controversial ballot proposition that would deny same-sex couples the right to marry, and she believes that the state should defend the initial ruling. “The governor of Calif. and the attorney general has to enable the judicial process to go along and an appeal to go through,” Whitman said, according to Politics Verbatim.

Abortion Whitman is pro-choice and voted in favor of Proposition 4, which requires minors to notify their legal guardians before undergoing an abortion. “Personally, I don’t want to take the choice away from women and their doctors,” Whitman said, according to her campaign website. “I do, however, support reducing the number of abortions in America. I believe for minors parental consent should be required.”

Legalization of Marijuana Whitman strongly opposes Proposition 19, which would legalize marijuana. She calls marijuana “a gateway drug whose use would expand greatly among our children if it were to be legalized,” in a statement published on her campaign website.

Immigration Another issue in Calif. is the issue of immigration. Brown believes in the need for immigration reform and creating a path to citizenship for immigrants. Brown recently asserted during a debate that he would sign Calif.’s “Dream Act” into law, which would allow some college graduates that are illegal immigrants to eventually become citizens.

Environment Brown plans to tackle the issue of environmental sustainability in the state. By investing in the development of clean energy technology, adopting stronger standards for the efficiency of appliances and making clean energy storage and use more efficient. He also plans to appoint a “Renewable Energy Jobs Czar” who will work to oversee the clean energy actions taken within the state. Brown’s plan is meant to tackle not only the issue of environmental sustainability but also to create jobs within the state.

LGBT Rights

Brown opposes Proposition 8, which would make same-sex marriage illegal. He believes that Proposition 8 violates the Fourteenth Amendment of the Constitution, which states that everyone is equal under law, and the government cannot deprive citizens of life, liberty or property. He also appointed the first gay and lesbian judges in Calif.

Abortion Brown is a supporter of Roe v. Wade, the court case ruling that extends a woman’s right to an abortion. He also supports Medicaid funding for abortions and opposes mandatory parental notification and medical clinics that do not provide women with accurate information about abortions. “At the end of the day, the right of each woman to decide for herself what her future is,” Brown said, according to the SF Public Press.

Legalization of Marijuana Brown does not support Proposition 19, which calls for the legalization of marijuana. “I’m not going to jump on the legalization bandwagon,” Brown said, according to SF Gate. “We’re going to get a vote of the people soon on that, but I’m not going to support it.”

for more information go to http://www.megwhitman.com/ http://www.jerrybrown.org/ http://twitter.com/Whitman2010 http://twitter.com/jerrybrown2010 Lisa Wu

News

Monday, October 18, 2010

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Forum

THEORACLE

EDITORIAL: The Opinion of The Oracle

True diversity includes being open to more than liberal opinion unn prides itself as being a diverse, all-incluG sive and tolerant school. Yet when it comes to political opinion, the campus often demonstrates favoritism toward those with liberal viewpoints.

This bias results in alienation of students whose political views do not coincide with liberal and Democratic platforms. In addition to its current focus on racial and cultural tolerance, the Gunn community should integrate acceptance of differences in political opinion in its ideals of allinclusiveness.

Political debates and discussions on current events are inevitable in required classes such as government and economics. Such discussions can be highly beneficial to students, for they can learn about different viewpoints and opinions on various issues from them. Through discussions and respectful debates, students have the opportunity to connect what they read in textbooks to what is happening in the real world, learning how to apply their knowledge and practicing articulation of their beliefs to their peers.

Political discussion should be just that—a discussion, not a polarized rant attacking a different viewpoint.

Debates should foster critical thinking and intelligent arguments rather than a partisan reiteration of the same positions. At times, students talking about a topic they feel passionately about lose their composure, and the discussion quickly spirals into little more than a barbaric shouting match across the classroom, which makes the classroom atmosphere uncomfortable at best and hostile and scary at worst. Students should bear in mind that even though they may vehemently disagree with an opinion of one of their classmates, they should still treat the classmate with respect. Flinging insults and derogatory comments is unacceptable and fosters ignorance. High school students, especially at a school that emphasizes the importance of being informed and open-minded, should be mature enough to conduct themselves in a respectful, rational manner. It must emphasize anything less is unacceptable in a classroom setting.

It is also important to keep in mind that while the Palo Alto community is often to the left of the political spectrum, the country itself is generally evenly split.

According to a national survey released on Oct. 1 by pollster Scott Rasmussen, 34 percent of adults identify themselves as Democrats, 33 percent consider themselves Republicans and 32 percent do not affiliate themselves with either of the two major parties. Reiterating the same opinions and receiving unchallenged support from classmates and teachers gives students a false sense of consensus. Students should take time to learn how to

George Hwang

respectfully disagree, and practice that in conversation before they come off as pushy and rude to co-workers, family members and acquaintances from different, less liberal communities later in life.

Teachers also play a crucial role in political discussions.

Teachers should participate in discussions as mediators, not as contributors. When a teacher makes his or her personal opinion known during a discussion, he or she can throw the debate off-balance, often inadvertently. Students who might disagree with their teachers are less likely to speak up for fear of jeopardizing their grades or putting themselves on negative terms with the teacher. This can cause a debate to become a one-sided attack. While a teacher should not control a debate and inhibit students’ expression, he or she also should not let the discussion slip into a chaotic free-for-all yelling match. Teachers should encourage students to try to think critically about, understand and respect others’ political opinions, even if they are unpopular opinions, rather than automatically discount them simply because they are different.

Gunn is an insulated community. As a result, the prevailing attitude toward various political issues is that liberal viewpoints are automatically the correct view-

points, and anything deviating from that standard is just ignorant. But people cannot denounce ignorance without being well informed themselves. Being well informed is not just being thoroughly versed and convicted in one’s own beliefs. It is also enlightening oneself about all aspects of an issue, including the arguments for and against it. Being open-minded involves trying to understand others’ political opinions rather than discounting them simply because they do not coincide with one’s personal political affiliation. High school is the perfect environment for students to learn about political stances other than their own. Listening to others’ arguments builds valuable critical thinking skills and the ability to refute viewpoints intelligently. Such skills allow for political discussions that teach students how to approach different viewpoints respectfully without sowing resentment. Gunn is a skewed sampling of the political spectrum that makes up Americans’ political opinions. For their own benefit, students need to learn that now rather than suffering a culture shock when they venture out into the real world.

—Unsigned editorials represent the majority opinion of the staff (assenting: 30; dissenting: 3)

Childhood diets enforce lifelong healthy habits Eden Lauffer According to a recent study by the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services, 46 percent of the vegetables consumed by children nine to 12 years old were fried potatoes. This is a perfect example of a food group being misused, especially because fried potato products are greasy and salty. Children need to be taught from a young age how to maintain a healthy and balanced diet, and that what they eat can affect many aspects of their life.

Being overweight creates issues beyond the high body mass index number. If a child is obese or overweight early on in life, they are more prone to developing high

cholesterol, hypertension, respiratory ailments, orthopedic problems, depression and type 2 diabetes.

If healthy eating habits are enforced by a child’s parents and a nutritionist, the child will grow up with the knowledge of how to build and follow a balanced diet. Healthy eating habits should be formed as early as possible and poor eating habits must be corrected early on.

This is where young children on diets come in. In this country, childhood obesity numbers have more than tripled in the past thirty years, and these children are not subject to any drastic dieting measures.

However, both the obese children and their parents should be taken to a children’s nutritionist who can advise them on which food groups need to be focused on more and which foods should be consumed less. Placing a child on a diet does not mean starving oneself or cutting a food staple from the nutrition pyramid. Rather, it is comparing the

child’s typical diet with nutritional guidelines. If the two do not correlate, it is time to change eating habits accordingly.

Parents are meant to be good role models when it comes to nutritious and healthy eating, and if a parent notices irregularities in his child’s eating habits, it is his responsibility to step in. Over- and under-eating as well as all the odd combinations in between are reasons for a parent to be concerned with their child’s diet. For example, children should not be allowed to only eat chips and cookies because this would provide a lack of nutritional value and harm the child.

A responsible parent would take his child to a nutritionist who can help the child understand what the problem is and what needs to be done to solve it. Children’s diets are not the scary diets displayed by celebrities in the tabloids. Instead, a nutritionist can help the child work towards a balanced and nutritious

Kimberly Han

diet that works for them. Soon, the child will consider this new diet as his or her everyday way of eating.

Healthy eating habits start in youth and the effects last the rest of one’s life. Therefore, seeing a nutritionist for a healthier diet plan

is essential at a young age. Starting out eating healthy early on will help children remain healthy throughout the rest of their life.

—Lauffer, a senior, is a Copy Editor.

Monday, October 18, 2010

Life as a fitness nut

7

Leon Sung

Above: The Annual Electrical Vehicles Rally was organized by the Electric Auto Association (EAA) for its 38th year to help raise local awareness. The rally exhibited electric cars, bikes and scooters as well as converted gas vehicles.

Electric, hybrid vehicles: a smarter alternative

n GREEN CARS from pg. 1

popular car in 2010, has a suggested retail price of $26,250. With almost identical features, the Leaf has a cheaper asking price without even factoring in the additional money saved on gasoline and maintenance. The Leaf, which will be released this December, is purely electric and can go for 100 miles on one charge.

General Motors (GM), recently emerging from bankruptcy protection, will launch its competitor, the Chevy Volt, as a comeback car in November of this year.

Federal and state governments are issuing tax credits, that give rebates for the environmentally conscious purchase of electric cars. The Volt, including a $7,500 tax credit, will sell for $33,500. It is referred to as a plug-in hybrid because in addition to its charge, it includes a backup gasoline-run generator for long trips to further its appeal as a practical car. Running only on battery, it travels 40 miles per charge with an additional 310 miles possible from the gas tank. Following the lead of these two major car companies, BMW will be revealing VisionEfficientDynamics, which is a plug-in diesel-electric concept car. According to the New York Times, Volkswagen is also coming out with an electric version of its Up! Concept car. “This is not a false dawn,” said Paul Scott, vice president and a founder of Plug In America, who has long been advocating for quicker action on electric cars.

“This is the real thing.”

The Silicon Valley, especially Palo Alto, is certainly on the bandwagon with this growing electric trend, as it should be.

Of the 20,000 pre-ordered Nissan Leafs, 3,000 of the orders are from Silicon Val-

ley. The electric car fair at Palo Alto High School proved to me just how affordable and practical electric cars are. Upon arriving, I quickly learned of the major automobile dealers coming out with new models this year as well as the huge diversity of electric cars from the Tesla to newly converted pick-up trucks. I was curious about whether these electric-car owners would be able to debunk the critics of electric vehicles. According to a study by the Boston Consulting Group the costs of creating an automotive market dominated by electric cars are prohibitively high. However, I was fascinated to find that of the ten car owners I asked, every one of them agreed that an electric car could be obtained or built for as little as $4,000. Even with the newer cars being sold for a high initial purchase price, the overall cost to own, operate and maintain the vehicle is usually the better financial option. Cars like the Leaf and Volt are completely comparable, if not cheaper than the average car, without factoring in the amount saved on gas. The owner of a polka-dotted purple car boasted that “[i] t doesn’t cost anything now; there are no gas charges, it has a heater and it didn’t increase my electric bill at all. I can even drive it around town for two days without charging it at all.”

Reliability is another key factor in the decision to purchase an electric car. Sempra Energy Utility agrees that due to the lack of moving parts and fluids such as engine

I’m # 1!

oil, anti-freeze and transmission fluids, electric vehicles require little maintenance and are far less likely to leak. Their great reliability is also indicative of much less down time to worry about.

A third pivotal factor in the decision to purchase electric cars is their dramatic effect on the environment. According to the Baker Institute Energy Forum, a mandate requiring 30 percent of all vehicles to be electric by 2050 would reduce U.S. oil use by 2.5 million barrels a day. Electric cars have a huge impact on carbon dioxide emissions; drivers decrease their emissions by 50 to 60 percent by driving an electric vehicle plugged into California’s smart grid.

This year, one fourth of car owners said they are likely to consider a plug-in electric car for their next vehicle. I for one am convinced that joining this electric revolution is the prudent and moral thing to do.

I pledge that my next car will be electric and I hope you will too.

– Schwartz, a senior, is an Entertainment Editor.

The following column is my chance to ramble about my lifestyle and get it published.

Since you probably have no prior knowledge about me, I would imagine it quite dolorous to have to read the autobiography of a 16-year old stranger. So to make myself relatable to you, allow me to start this diary entry with the most intimate facts about my adolescent life: my proudest moment from middle school was the day I earned my “sub-six” T-shirt; my most cherished possession is the Iron Gym Xtreme Workout Bar that hangs from my door frame and my biggest academic achievement as a sophomore is maximizing the push-up track on the P.E. fitness test CD. If you’re still not getting me, I’m the kid who, in P.E., sprints the warm up laps and becomes excited at the mention of the mile run. Now, if you know someone like me, it’s natural to ask the question of “why?”, so it is my hope that this snapshot of my life will provide the answers that you seek.

I wake up every morning at 5:50 a.m. to run three miles in the frigid cold, do 800 crunches on the hardwood floor and do 70 pull-ups in the Iron Gym. After school, I run seven to ten miles with the cross country team.

I do this routine not to strengthen my body, but to strengthen my mind and character. The greatest belief that I’ve had growing up as an athlete is that a strong body nurtures a strong mind. The two cannot and should not be separated. Without discipline, drive and determination to fight through pain, and sweat and tears, the body remains as weak as the mental qualities that attempt to mold it. Conversely, by enduring through the process of building and maintaining a strong body, you forge for yourself a character which will neither flinch nor collapse in the face of physical and mental adversity.

For the most part, you and I live life devoid of hardship in the cozy bubble of Palo Alto.

Most of us have never had to truly suffer in our lives yet, which makes us naive and soft on the inside. Since the life experience is defined by comparisons, you can never truly appreciate what happiness or pride is without having persevered through life’s harrowing endeavors. As a human being and an athlete, I find the need to inflict my own hardship to harden this otherwise soft interior. That is why I run, fight or train everyday so that not one moment passes in which I need to question my ability to cope with this world. We don’t train because we like the feeling of pain at 6 a.m. We train because enduring the pain and overcoming our own discomforts makes us more confident and mature in our qualities as people-people that can be depended upon in times of need.

The key point to physical training lies not in how fast you can run or how much you can lift, but in how dedicated and disciplined you can be to yourself. As long as you understand this, a sturdy body is merely the side effect of a truly sturdy self. For the true reward of forcing yourself to run everyday is not the toned muscles, but the confidence you instill within yourself to overcome any obstacle, academic, emotional or otherwise.

Though putting meaning to life through physical training may not be for everyone, I implore you to try nourishing your mind with the development of your body. Don’t be afraid to start slowly, but remember to stay consistent and true to yourself. I hold much greater admiration to the one who can only do five pushups, but does so every night, than the one who can do 50 and thinks he’s done.

– Sung, a senior, is a reporter.

Forum 8 To read or not to read: Read, of course THEORACLE

A

The Oracle explains the rationale behind the required reading lists for English

Samantha Donat I am a bookworm, and a passionate one, to say the least. An English junkie, a reading snob, whichever way you want to put it, I simply love to read. Middle school English classes were a cinch for me. Occasionally I would have to read a specific book, but it was never anything that would take up all my allotted reading time. But I would always still have time to read novels of my own choices. I was essentially getting graded on doing one of my favorite hobbies. So when I walked in to my first English class in high school, I figured it would just be another walk in the park: I would read a book and then write something about it.

Easy enough, right?

Wrong.

In high school, I soon discovered that I no longer had a say in what I read. I would be assigned specific books to read, with specific chapters and pages each night. At first, I figured it would be no big deal, but I soon discovered that the first novel did not fit into what I would consider my personal taste. In fact, I found it dreadfully boring, and I had great difficulty forcing myself to turn each page. At that point, reading wasn’t a hobby anymore. It became, like the rest of my homework, a kind of chore that I did just because I had to. I wasn’t nearly as excited to curl up on the couch with a book anymore, knowing that I was going to be graded on my knowledge of every detail. I also rarely had the time to read books of my choosing anymore, which made me despise the school’s required reading even further. I hated that I had to dissect the reading I was assigned by looking for the symbolism of motifs, and things of that sort. And I knew it wasn’t just the personal loss of a favorite pastime that was making me hate the assigned reading so much; other classmates were expressing similar complaints about the books. I would constantly wonder if there was something I was missing in reading these books, some hidden impact that they were supposed to have on me. Why couldn’t I just choose my own books to read? Alas, I would draw a blank, and go back to sulking over books that I had no interest in.

Then one sunny day the summer after my sophomore year, as I sat outside catching up on all of the “interesting” reading I had missed during the school year, I caught myself doing something I had never willingly done before: I was contemplating the symbolism of a particular object in my book. Surprised with myself, I put down the book and realized that while reading a book of my choice, I was using a strategy I had to learn with assigned books in school. And even more surprising was that by looking at the symbolism in my book, I had actually understood a little bit more about the novel than if I hadn’t been forced to look for symbolism in the assigned academic books. And then the guilt hit me. Maybe there really was a hidden significance in each of the books we read in school.

It was clear that they had indeed made an impact on my reading styles and strategies. Had they affected me in other ways? Not wanting to get back into the mindset of the “forced reading” that I had grown so accustomed to, I stopped myself there and simply decided to make peace with my assigned reading. I would try to accept that the books we’re asked to read aren’t purely for evil English teachers to take pleasure in our torture (although some students may believe that), and that there is actually good reasoning behind the choices made. And though I may not find all the books particularly appealing to my tastes, I’ve come to the understanding that, as cliché as it may sound, what we read in school really does help us in the rest of our lives, whether it be my broadening our tastes, generating new opinions or simply reading a book in a new way. And if you don’t get any of that out of it, at least you can appreciate your personal reading choices a bit more.

—Donat, a junior, is an Entertainment Editor.

Roya Huang The books, poems, plays, short stories and other literary works students read in English classes all have themes and messages that relate to society today.

They link the past, present and future by showing how far society has come along and problems that still need to be fixed.

The literature chosen for the classes also encompasses a range of written works and cultures to expose students to diversity. The books students are assigned make up an important part of our school curriculum and should continue to be required reading.

The main argument against the required books is that they are all morbid, depressing and not always fun to read.

However, these books, which are chosen at state, district and school levels, show students specific problems with society and lead them to become better thinkers, problem solvers and future leaders through analyzing them. The English department believes that a classroom discussion, led by a knowledgeable teacher, is an intellectual, safe setting in which to discuss serious world problems. Students are encouraged to open up the issue, create their own opinions and debate with each other on the reasons, statuses and solutions of the problem. For example, To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee evinces prejudice in the 1930s, a problem that is prevalent today in areas such as religion, race and sexual orientation.

In order to become better critical thinkers about today’s issues, students need to be exposed to the wrongs of the past.

Freshmen and sophomore English classes give students a strong foundation to become better readers and writers by exposing students to a plethora of culture and writing styles.

Upperclassmen get to choose their English classes to tailor to their tastes, which can range from British Literature to Escape Literature to Fantasy and Film Literature. Students cannot complain that there is no variety in class choices and the types of books they offer. The books chosen for these classes are meant to develop the students’ characters, teaching students how to analyze a problem, make connections to other subjects such as social studies and history, and make the right decisions in the future.

And no matter what the reader’s literary taste is, every

Kimberly Han /Andrew Lee

student can benefit from being exposed to different cultures through literature. References to The Scarlet Letter would not be lost on a educated student who has read the novel

by Nathaniel Hawthorne. Reading Mark Mathabane’s autobiography Kaffir Boy will help students make connections between the historical culture they’ve read about and current events in the world.

Furthermore, the different writing styles challenge students to read books they may not otherwise try. Most students would not pick up a horror story, a Charles Dickens novel, a Shakespearean play or an epic poem if not required to read it in class. Most would never dream of analyzing a popular film or a fairy tale. Some students may not reach outside of their comfort zones and find something they may actually like, whereas in English class, students are required to broaden their horizons, at least for the semester.

Students may also gripe about the books because they may not be able to relate to them as well as they should. Though some students can make personal connections because of experiences they’ve had in their lives, this is not true for all.

English teachers and classes do a good job of relating themes to current events and world issues. But for other students, perhaps more of a focus should be made on local events or developments on campus and more connection should be made to student life and the role of teenagers in society. This way, students would be better able to understand the impacts of the literature’s message and be able to take a more active part in implementing the solutions they’ve developed.

—Huang, a sophomore, is a reporter.

EDITORIAL CARTOON

Lisa Wu

Ivy League conditioning begins early...Crawl, infant, CRAWL!

Features

Monday, October 18, 2010

9

Break dancing science teacher busts a move Kevin Gao

Features Editor

Anyone who has been to the Night Rally in recent years has heard the crowd chanting for the astronomy and engineering teacher Bakari Holmes to hit the dance floor.

Holmes started dancing at the age of two and has been involved in dance groups since his youth.

According to Holmes, his passion initially stemmed from the musical influence of his family. “Music’s been in my family for all my life although I would always get teased by my brother because he said I had no rhythm,” he

Courtesy of Sam Rusoff

Astronomy and Engineering teacher Bakari Holmes gets the crowd on their feet at the Night Rally by getting his funk on while free styling to Kanye West’s “Golddigger.”

Math teacher enters spotlight Tiffany Hu

Entertainment Editor

People are mixing around the dance floor, dancing with people they don’t know. Each person is a possibility for a new dance. The element of surprise tinges the air.

This is the Jack and Jill style dance competition, in which dance partners are paired randomly; this is math teacher Rachel Grunsky’s zone.

Grunsky began dancing in college when she joined the Lin-

dy Hop Swing club.

“I started dancing in college because there finally [was] a

Bonnie Cardillo

said.

Throughout middle school and high school, Holmes joined musical groups either as a backup dancer, an instrumentalist or a vocalist. According to Holmes, he has a sense of his own style of dance. There is no set genre, but his style is a mixture of hip hop, rap, break, contemporary and Latin.

Holmes began as a dancer but now has tapped into different aspects of art as well. “I have this other side of me that is musical and artistic,” he said. He is also an artistic director for a professional Bay Area Glee group. “What I’m responsible for is the general excellence of everything,’ he said. “Sometimes I teach vocal parts, direct or help with choreography.”

Holmes believes that his passion for dance and music comes because of the ability to express. “Music is beautiful and there’s so many ways to tap into emotions,” he said. “I like being able to have an idea and being able to see it come out how you expected or even better.”

Most students who attended this year’s night rally recall Holmes and airbands head judge Matt Hall showcasing their moves in the center of the gym. What students may not know is that Holmes was improvising. “My wife was watching TV and SNL and Justin Timberlake and Jimmy Fallon were on and they were doing a parody of the song ‘Golddigger’,” he said. Holmes then downloaded the track from iTunes and listened to it on his iPod on the way to school. He then plugged in his iPod to feel the beat before free styling in front of

the spectators in the gym.

Holmes appreciates the support he receives from the student body. “Just to have something I can give to the night rally is special,” he said. “I want to just keep being able to inspire people without hurting myself.”

Just like any art, dancing takes practice and dedication. Holmes believes that originality is important to being a good dancer but it is pivotal to learn from the best. “Find people you think are excellent and learn from them,” Holmes said. “If you get a chance to do it professionally, go for it. If you can, do it before you’re old.”

Bonnie Cardillo

leve l . ” Choreography is fun because you really have to listen to the music and come up with moves that make sense and express the energy of what you hear,” she said. “For teacher airbands, it is important to make the choreography ideal for all dance levels and what will look good on a big scale.” According to Grunsky, the best part of teacher airbands is performing during the night rally and seeing student reactions. “It is awesome to get the big cheer when we choreographed for that purpose,” she said. “It means our vision came across to the audience which is awesome.”

According to Grunsky, dancing is versatile and “can be pretty much what you want it be. If you want to be a serious competitor, then intense training is required,” she said. “I did that for about a year while competing in hustle.” People can also dance on a less competitive level. “If you want to go and just have fun, take the group lesson before the dance party,” she said. “Of course there is the middle ground as well. The point is that dance can fit in any way you want.”

As a teacher, Grunsky says that students are usually surprised but supportive of her dancing. “I have actually done a dance lesson in Algebra 1 at my last school,” she said. “It was a stretch, but it did h≠elp the students to understand different types of factoring,” she said.

Grunsky highly recommends students try dance.

“There are junior divisions for many of the dances,” she said. “West Coast swing has evolved into a more contemporary dance. You can dance West Coast to a lot of the songs on the radio. It would definitely be a fun extracurricular for students.”

place that was going to teach me how,” she said.

“I always felt awkward [dancing] in high school because I didn’t know what to do, there were no real dance moves.” After swing, Grunsky branched out and joined ballroom and salsa clubs within her school.

Today, Grunsky still keeps up a dance regime, and mostly competes in the distinct practices of West Coast swing and hustle. “In West Coast swing there is more room for playing with the music so that part is fun,” she said. Grunsky also enjoys the challenge of the hustle, which is a more “athletic and technical dance.”

According to Grunsky, her favorite part of dancing is the social aspect. “You go out and dance with a bunch of different people,” she said. Of the competitions, the Jack and Jill ones are Grunsky’s favorite. “It is always a fun challenge to see if you can follow and understand the variety of leads,” Grunsky said. “With each leader, it is a different dance.”

Grunsky participates in numerous competitions. At the 2009 Cardinal Classic competition, Grunsky and her partner won first place in Open Division Hustle, West Coast swing and nightclub two-step. Currently, she is focusing on West Coast swing competitions, where she has placed from finalist to first. “Now that I am competing more in Swing, I go out about once a week and take private lessons every now and then from world champion swing dancers that come to the area,” she said.

Grunsky also choreographs teacher airbands along with social studies teacher Faith Hilal. “We like being creative,” Grunsky said. “I enjoy working with another colleague from a different department. It is something I don’t get to do very often.” Choreography is another way for Grunsky to intermingle with dance, Courtesy of Rachel Grunsky only on a more technical Math teacher Rachel Grunsky gracefully glides across the floor during a competition.

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Features

THEORACLE

A home away from home: Senior travels to South America, stays for six months Sam Hayward Forum Editor

This past February, senior Nick Yanofsky left the United States for Paraguay in hopes of improving his Spanish, understanding South American culture a little better and maybe having some fun along the way. After six months of travel, he returned as what he describes as a completely different person.

“This trip changed my life in unimaginable ways,” he said. “I am much more confident as a person and learned that you have to get out there and be in uncomfortable situations if you want to see any progress. I also now have a better understanding of what I do have, what I don’t have, and always appreciating what I do have.”

Yanofsky first found out about the trip through a program called American Field Service (AFS), when he was in Spanish II class. “A representative from the program came to my class and that’s how I first discovered AFS,” he said. “Once I had signed up, I knew I was going to do something completely different than I had ever before.”

When he arrived in Paraguay he was completely awestruck at the quality of life there, “The first thing I noticed was that everything was very small,” he said. “It was a small house, small backyard, three bedrooms and

two bathrooms but all very small. Although, it was very cozy because we always had company at our house in some way or another.”

Yanofsky stayed with a family of four: a five-year-old and his eighteen-year-old brother and their two parents. He describes his host family as very loving and affectionate. “My younger host brother, Rodrigo, was a very fun and rambunctious kid and we always watched space movies together. My older brother, Derlis, kept to himself more and tended to stick around home a lot. He was more family oriented. My mom, or mama, had a very kind, loving view on everything and she was not terribly critical or judgmental. My dad was my best friend in Paraguay.

We always cracked each other up and we could never stop laughing. The family was definitely the best part. They will always be very important to me.”

Each day, Yanofsky had more or less the same routine. “I would wake up at 5:30, put on my school uniform, eat breakfast and at 6:30 walk the half mile to the bus station,” he said. “School would start at 7:00 and end at 11:50 a.m. Everyday it ended the same.

Then I would go back home and have lunch.”

Yanofsky said school was very different from school in America. “Every morning we would stand in the auditorium and sing the national anthem,” he said. “Then the

students would go to their classrooms where the teacher rotated classes, not vice versa. The students there were not as serious as they are here and always liked to laugh in class. The homework was also very minimal.”

According to Yanofsky, lunch was the biggest meal of the day. “Lunch could sometimes last up to a couple hours,” he said, “Everyone always ate lunch.” After lunch, the rest of the day was mostly relaxing. “After my big meal, I would take a siesta, right in the middle of the day. Then usually, I would hang out with my friends at the Plaza drinking Tereré, a common Paraguayan beverage. Afterwards, I would come home to dinner which I cooked every now and again. On the weekends, I would go to the dance club, or discoteca, around 11:30 p.m. and not get home until very late.”

Although Yanofsky said that he had always struggled in Spanish, once he came back from Paraguay he was completely fluent and was confident he could carry on a conversation with any fellow Spanish speaker.

“At first, it seemed like everyone talked so quickly,” he said. “All I heard was mumbling.

Then I started to pick out a few words, slowly increased my vocabulary, and always asked for people to re-explain everything. They always helped me. It came to me very slowly and then at one point just took off.” After

that, it was only a matter of time before he understood everything. “It was more just fine-tuning my Spanish at the very end,” he said. “At the beginning, I was getting pretty good at saying ‘I am American, and I don’t speak Spanish.’ But after a while, I started not only to speak in Spanish, but also to think in the language.”

In the future, Yanofsky has plans to possibly pursue a career using his newly acquired skill. “I plan on enrolling in college and maybe have something to do with speaking Spanish as a job,” he said. “The one thing I am worried about is losing a lot of my Spanish because I don’t find as many people to speak with. But I call my host family every week, which gives me good practice.”

Yanofsky says now he sees life from a different perspective. “I went and lived with a family that had very little,” he said. “And yet, they were the happiest people I had ever met.

The people there were just more genuinely happy with what they had. Being there taught me different value systems from different perspectives, and let me form my own opinions about what I liked about the culture.”

Yanofsky recommends the trip to anyone seeking to enhance his or her Spanish speaking abilities. “If you want to learn a language and learn a lot about yourself and others then this is the best thing to do,” he said.

Palo Alto, CA

ure e cult m o s s n y y, liste y enjo b k s m f e o Ñ n in Ya h t out d. w ithn ig ma ria chi ban a in g to

Senior Nick Yanofsky poses for the ca mera w ith Pa ra gu ayan studen ts.

Ñemby, Paraguay

a group miles w ith s y k s f o n Ya a ra gua y. e met in P h s d n ie r f of

Photos courtesy of Elias Kaufhold, Mathew Streicher and Nick Yanofsky

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Features

Monday, October 18, 2010

traveling to new countries

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Graz, Austria

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Graphics by Kimbery Han and Lisa Wu

Foreign exchange students experience culture in U.S. Ashley Ngu & Lydia Zhang

News Editor & Features Editor

Everyone has had to be the “new kid in school” at one point or another. But for senior Elias Kaufhold and junior Matthew Streicher, their experiences are further magnified by the fact that they are not the average new kids on campus. Instead, they have the unique distinction of both coming from foreign countries.

Kaufhold, who is originally from Berlin, initially decided to travel to the United States in order to challenge himself intellectually. Streicher traveled from Graz, a city in Austria, to California for pretty much the same reasons. “I decided to come here mainly for the new experience and also to improve on my English skills and learn the culture because it’s completely different here,” Streicher said. According to Kaufhold, he previously took part in a four-month long foreign exchange program to France during his freshman year as part of a scholarship he was awarded.

Kaufhold and Streicher say their school systems are similar to each other’s but differ widely from the United States’ educational system. Similar to other places in Europe, students in Austria and Germany are separated into advanced and normal schools by the time they reach fifth or sixth grade. Their equivalent of American high schools encompass fifth through twelfth grade students, with about 100 students per grade. In Germany, the students in a grade are split into classes of about 25 to 30 people, who will usually stay together for the whole year. “You get to know the people in your class really well because you stay with those

same people for a year or more,” Kaufhold said. “But there isn’t much drama or anything like that.” In Austria, it differs slightly in that the students in a class may stay together from fifth grade all the way to tenth.

In Germany and Austria, only the students who attend advanced schools are able to apply to attend college. The only items taken into account for the application are their grades for the 11th and 12th grades and their test score on the final exam taken at the end of 12th grade. Streicher wishes to attend college in the U.S. but is unsure about the expenses for U.S. colleges. In both Germany and Austria, students can attend college without tuition as long as they have the proper credentials.

Kaufhold and Streicher both feel that the school atmosphere in Palo Alto is much more liberal and spirited. “Probably my favorite thing here is the school spirit,” Streicher said. “Homecoming is really exciting because we don’t have anything like it. We don’t have school spirit at all.

We don’t even have school colors.” Streicher participated in Homecoming Week by dressing up throughout the week, like as Sonic the Hedgehog on Wednesday for Nintendo.

He also used the week as an opportunity to introduce the students he meets to his own culture. “When we went to the Homecoming dance, he went to the corner and started teaching everyone German and Austrian dances,” his host sister senior Anna von Clemm said.

Both students agree that their experiences in Palo Alto have been enjoyable, although they admit the homework load is more than they are used to. “Back home, we have maybe ten minutes of homework everyday so at about 3:10

p.m. we go to sports or arts clubs, hang out at a park with friends or watch a movie on weekdays,” Kaufhold said. In Germany, he had time to participate in a local soccer organization and a karate club. He also started an amateur rock band with his friends. Kaufhold says that here, it’s a lot harder to find time to join activities after school, through there are more opportunities.

However, the pair says that the topics they cover at Gunn are fairly similar to what they would be learning in their home countries and that the difficulty level is nearly the same. Though the learning is similar, they say that school is still full of new things for them. “Matthew just completely doesn’t understand some of the things we do here,” von Clemm said. “It’s really fun because he will always come home from school and tell us about his day, and everything is so interesting and new to him.”

According to Kaufhold and Streicher, American culture is not at all new to them as parts of U.S. pop culture are found in both Germany and Austria. Much of the popular music played in their home countries comes from America, like Justin Bieber and Enrique Iglesias. Both Kaufhold and Streicher watch the same shows and visit the same Websites that American teens often enjoy. “We have everything Americans have,” Streicher said. “We have Lady Gaga, Skype, Facebook, Youtube, De Simpsons, Family Guy, Scrubs, Sony, HP and even Crocs, those ridiculous shoes.”

Both Kaufhold and Streicher say that they are glad that they took the opportunity to come to America. “As much as I love Germany, I will definitely come back and visit after college,” Kaufhold said.

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Cente

THEORACLE

Encountering the paranormal Hunting for real ghosts Samantha Donat

To put it quite simply, I’m a scaredy-cat. I turn on all the lights in the house when I’m home alone; I’m terrified of what could be hiding in my closet when I go to bed. I tried watching The Amityville Horror last weekend and lasted 10 minutes at the most.

The scariest movie I’ve ever seen was Paranormal Activity last year. I spent that night sleeping in my parents’ room. No joke.

Thankfully, I have yet to have any of my own actual paranormal experiences. However, my aunt and uncle’s house, just outside of Boston, Mass., really sends my heart into my stomach. Growing up, they would try to hide their stories from my easily frightened mind, but I eventually discovered the truth: there was a ghost haunting their house, and specifically in their bathroom.

The previous owner of their house, an old woman with an old-woman sort of name such as “Mrs. Dibble,” had died in the house before my aunt and uncle moved in. But within a year of moving in, some strange events occurred. My aunt would be in the downstairs kitchen, my uncle would be at work and their only child, a toddler, would be napping in his crib. Suddenly, my aunt would hear water running from upstairs. She would go up to check, to find the tub quickly filling up with water. Alas, no one else was home to turn the faucet. My aunt firmly believed that the ghost of the old woman was stopping in every once in a while to take a bath.

They also had an old black Labrador dog they had brought with them in the move, who would wander around the house like any other dog. The only exception was my aunt and uncle’s bedroom, which the dog would absolutely refuse to go into.

Considering that many people believe dogs have a sixth sense, this especially gave my aunt and uncle the creeps. They tried tricks, treats, almost anything, but the dog would just sit outside the threshold, refusing to step inside. That’s enough to make your skin crawl, right?

So when I went back east to visit my aunt and uncle, let’s just say I wasn’t too keen on spending the night—especially considering I would have to sleep in the basement. But I told myself to be a big girl and ignore the horrible feeling in my stomach.

And I did. I wouldn’t say that I actually slept for more than a few hours each night though, since I would lay shaking in my makeshift bed, terrified to open my eyes and see the mangled face of an old woman staring back at me. Every creak made my heart stop, and every snore from my sleeping brothers made me clench the blankets tighter. At one point, when I dared to open my eyes, I could swear I saw a hazy white shape on the other side of the basement. I then proceeded to jump out of bed, run up the stairs (stubbing my toe in the process) and sleep in the living room. I woke up the next morning still shaking. But when I went back over what had happened, I smiled weakly to myself. Had I really seen something, or was the white figure just a figment of my imagination? Does the saying “seeing is believing” actually have grounds for belief?

After contemplating whether to accept what I thought I had seen, I gave up, incapable of coming to a conclusion. Quite frankly, I’d rather not know if seeing really is believing. Whether or not it can be proven true, I’d prefer to lie quivering under my covers, unknowing of the potential spirits out there, as opposed to knowing that the creak I just heard could really be a spirit coming to pay me a visit.

–Donat, a junior is an Entertainment Editor.

In the Kendrick House of Jasper County, visitors who pay admission are given the opportunity to converse with Carol Sue Janney, whose parents owned the historical mansion. However, Carol is a hard person to find and an even harder person to talk to. She died when she was two years old.

The Paranormal Science Lab that leads the Kendrick tours to meet Carol are just one of the many ghost hunter groups that have begun to climb in popularity. The most famous has been the show “Ghost Hunters,” in which the members of The Atlantic Paranormal Society (TAPS) search for paranormal indicators and supernatural activity in different locations.

The process of ghost hunting is ambiguous and varies from group to group depending on its work style and beliefs. However, almost all ghost hunters use equipment such as flashlights, electromagnetic and temperature readers, audio recorders and a wide range of security cameras to capture footage.

Generally, ghost hunters aim to spark communication with alleged supernatural beings through simple “yes or no” questions. The Paranormal Science Lab uses flashlights with weakened electrical connection. The flashlights then appear off even though the switch is on and, and ghost hunters claim that ghosts are able to tap the switch and turn on the light in response to posed inquiries.

Another method widely publicized by the TAPS is the use of the electronic voice phenomenon (EVP). Ghost hunters use audio recorders to tape their own voices asking questions or starting conversations and then rewind the tapes to listen for anomalies. The use of EVP has spread its way through books, organizations and even Hollywood. It was used in the famous movie The Sixth Sense starring Bruce Willis, in which a psychologist discovers that there are dead voices speaking to one of his patients in his audio records.

Despite the increasing popularity of ghost hunters, it remains a gray area of study where there are no definite accurate methods or guaranteed results. Regardless, it remains one of the most exciting ways of pursuing that invisible line between what people can and cannot see.

Uncovering th

At the turn of the century, Atherton House w

by Dominga de Goñi in 1881, it is believed to b Carrie Rousseau. Dominga de Goñi was the w death, enabled de Goñi to build Atherton Hou Horn was a disgruntled writer who enjoyed she turned on her husband and tried to control e him completely. Finally, he decided that he ha Chile, his mother’s country of origin, where h give him a proper burial on the seas, the ship’s Atherton’s body was interred, but de Goñi a bedroom doors at night and felt cold winds bl troublesome that de Goñi sold Atherton Hous The house passed from owner to owner, n sounds echoing through the halls, sudden icy w

“This is the Zodiac speaking...I During the late 1960s, a serial killer who still has yet to be identified surfaced in Northern California. Confirmed to have killed seven victims, the man garnered the nickname “Zodiac Killer” due to a series of letters sent to the press. Although the attacks ceased by the early 1970s, the case remains open in several cities and on file with the California Department of Justice, and is still well known today. “It happened before I was born but I’ve heard the name,” English teacher Kristen Owen said. “I watch a lot of crime TV shows and there are allusions to the Zodiac Killer.”

The murderer’s case began with the shooting of two high school students, Betty Lou Jensen and David Faraday on December 20, 1968 in the city of Benicia. The two students were parked in a car in an alley that was known to be a lovers’ lane around the area, when the killer pulled up in a car and shot both victims. The Solano County Sherriff’s Department investigated the case

but had no leads. Six months later, on July 4, 1969, Mageau were both shot in a similar manner in V Vallejo Police Department, taking responsibilit murders of Jensen and Faraday. The call was trac station only a few blocks away from the Police D The first of many letters and postcards was sen the San Francisco Chronicle, and the San Franc 1969. Each letter contained one-third of a crypto would reveal his name. The killer also demanded would embark on a killing spree. A few days later, the man first referred to himself as the “Zodiac details of the murder to prove he was the killer. Th printed, and a week later, the cryptogram was de

erfold

Monday, October 18, 2010

he secrets of the Atherton

was one of the crowning jewels of San Francisco’s exclusive Pacific Heights neighborhood. Built be haunted by four different spirits: Dominga de Goñi, Gertrude F. Horn, George Atherton and wife of Faxon D. Atherton, a wealthy businessman. He amassed a great fortune, which, after his use. Her son, Jorge Atherton, and his wife Gertrude Horn lived there with her. d manipulating her husband in any way possible. Frustrated with her unsuccessful literary career, every aspect of his life. Atherton’s mother was no less domineering, and together, they lorded over ad had enough of being dominated by his wife and mother. In 1887, he embarked on a voyage to he hoped to live by independent means. But on his way there, he died of kidney failure. Unable to s captain ordered that his body be preserved in a barrel of rum and shipped back to San Francisco. and Horn began to notice odd occurrences in the house soon after. They heard knocking on their lowing through the house. They believed it to be Atherton’s ghost. The ghost’s antics became so se and moved out. none keen to live in a house where mysterious voices are heard throughout the house, knocking winds and various cold spots. Finally, in 1923, a woman named Carrie Rousseau bought Atherton House. Undeterred by the paranormal activity, she lived there with 50 cats until she died in 1974.

Following her death, the house’s apartments were let to various tenants, many of whom reported the same voices, knocking and unexplainable cold. Some even say they have seen Atherton standing in shadowy doorways at night. It is clear that Atherton House has lost none of the eerie intrigue that has surrounded it since the day Atherton came home from sea in his makeshift casket.

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13

Discovering the Winchester

Imagine thousands of spectral beings out to kill you–what would you do? For Sarah Winchester, this included moving from Boston to San Jose and building her house 24 hours a day, for 38 years straight, until the day she died.

Winchester’s husband, William, was the manufacturer of the Winchester repeating rifle, which played a role in western expansion. When her daughter and husband died in her early 30s, Winchester became convinced that her house was haunted by the many lives that her husband’s rifle had taken. After holding a series of séances, a “spiritual medium” told Winchester that in order to keep the angry spirits at bay, she must not stop building her house.

In San Jose, Winchester bought an abandoned farmhouse in 1884. For the next 38 years, her house was built around the clock. Additionally, Winchester had many peculiar habits. She kept her face hidden by a black veil at all times, and she never slept in the same room for fear that a spirit would find her and possess her in her sleep if she did. Each night she would hold séances in her Blue Room.

With an income of $1,000 each day, Winchester was never short of money. In the end, her house had 160 rooms, 47 fireplaces and 6 kitchens. Each room was ornately decorated, some stairways led nowhere, and windows were built into the floor. The house is filled with traps and devices that were designed to help Winchester escape the ghosts that she thought were constantly following her. There is also an occurrence of the number 13. Windows have 13 panes, there are 13 bathrooms and there are 13 windows in the 13th bathroom. Stairways have 13 steps per flight and there are 13 gas jets in the ballroom chandelier.

When Winchester died in 1922, she left the house to her sister. However, from passageways to trapdoors to icy drafts and hidden staircases, the question of whether spirits truly roam the halls remains a mystery.

Revisiting the Black Dahlia

The Black Dahlia murder, which refers to the murder of Elizabeth Short in 1947, is a killing that has haunted Los Angeles for more than half a century.

Short moved multiple times throughout her early life and settled in Hollywood.

She started living in Los Angeles where she moved to and from hotels, apartments, rooming houses and private homes for six months. She disappeared on Jan. 9, 1947 where she was found days later on the fifteenth. A woman taking a walk discovered the body. Short had been cut in half, beaten and bruised.

Her face had been cut from her mouth to her ears, in a “why so serious” matter. The cause of death was blood loss due to lacerations from the cuts to her face and a shock due to a concussion.

The killer sent a package containing Short’s birth certificate, photos and business cards to a Los Angeles newspaper a week after the body was found. However, no killer was caught.

Hundreds of policemen investigated the case, over 50 men and women confessed to the murder and the police chased down hundreds of tips but the murderer was never found.

The name Black Dahlia was given as a nickname by newspapers. Black Dahlia referred to the movie Blue Dahlia that was a current popular movie. The newspapers were fans of giving nicknames to gruesome murders and The Black Dahlia’s nickname stuck.

The name has become well-known throughout the years and has garnered a reputation for being difficult and grotesque. There are films adapted from the story as well as literature, film.

like killing people because it is so much fun...”

, Darlene Ferrin and Michael Vallejo. The killer called the y for the attack and for the ced to a phone booth at a gas Department. nt to the Vallejo Time-Herald, cisco Examiner on August 1, ogram that the killer claimed d each letter be printed or he another letter was sent where c Killer” and gave unknown he letters were eventually all ecoded, but with no mention

of the killer’s name. “I like killing people because it is so much fun… man is the most dangerous animal of all to kill…the best part of it is thae [sic] when I die I will be reborn in paradise and thei [sic] have killed will become my slaves,” the killer said in the letter.

On September 27, 1969, Bryan Hartnell and Cecelia Shepard were approached by a man wearing a black executioner’s hood in Lake Berryessa.

The two were tied up and then repeatedly stabbed. The man left his crosscircle symbol on the couple’s car, and then proceeded to call the Napa County Sheriff’s office from a pay telephone to report the crime. Hartnell survived the attack and gave a detailed account to the officials, but no leads were found.

Two weeks later, the last of the Zodiac Killer’s attacks occurred on October 11, 1969 in San Francisco. Paul Stine, a cab driver, was shot in his car. The Zodiac Killer took his wallet, keys, and a strip of his bloodstained shirt before

leaving. After the attack, the San Francisco Police Department investigated about 2,500 suspects.

The Zodiac Killer continued to send in threatening letters and postcards, signing each with his cross-circle symbol and keeping a tallying score between him and the San Francisco Police Department. “Every now and then when a similar murder happened, you’d read about it in the paper and people would be worried about it,” biology teacher Katherine Moser said, who was a teenager at the time. “People adjusted their behavior,” Moser said. “He had a particular pattern of locations and people, so people started avoiding lovers’ lanes and places like that.” The Killer tried to take blame for thirty other murders, none of which the police were able to confirm, and sent his last letter to the press in 1974. Thirty years later, the police are no closer to finding out who the Zodiac Killer is, and nothing is known about his current whereabouts.

– Compiled by Monica Cai, Mia Howard, Elaine Liu, Jennie Robinson and Sarah-Jean Zubair Photo by Victor Kwok

14

Features

THEORACLE

Courtesy of Alex Wong

Courtesy of Alex Wong

Classical electropop band sprouts from local origins Sweta Bhattacharya Copy Editor

Courtesy of Alex Wong

Top left: A picture on the band’s Facebook page. Top right: The musical duo on a poster. Lower left: Amber Rubarth, Alex Wong, and Kevin Rice perform live.

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After receiving their big break on the iTunes Indie Spotlight, the locally-rooted band, The Paper Raincoat has been making strides in the music scene. The Brooklynbased band was founded by members Amber Rubarth and Alex Wong, a Gunn alumnus.

Despite being a relatively new band, the classical electropop group has had several notable successes and established their place in the music industry. According to Wong, the band started a collaborative effort with Rubarth and drummer Kevin Rice that grew into a definitive concept, which finally evolved into The Paper Raincoat. “When we realized that much of what we were writing centered around a central theme and sound, we thought we should give a name and identity to the project,” Wong said.

The band’s debut Extended Play (EP) Safe in the Sound, released in July 2008, was placed on the iTunes Indie Spotlight, an iTunes feature well known for publicizing some of the best new indie and alternative artists. After the positive response it received for their EP, the band released its first fulllength album, The Paper Raincoat. Their self-titled album made the sales chart of the now Amazon-owned online music store and social networking site Amie Street, and held the bestseller position for months. Due to the widespread success of their well-received album and EP, the band recently signed with Secret Road Licensing, a Los Angeles-based independent record label. Once signed, their publicity increased with several music placements on hit shows such as One Tree Hill and MTV’s The Real World and Jersey Shore, as well as being featured on the sound track for the 2010 feature film The Last Song.

Wong got his start as a professional musician in his late 20s. For him, instrumentals were the backbone of his primary musical interests. Growing up, classical music had a huge impact on Wong’s musical taste. “Until then I was mostly influenced by instrumentalists,” Wong said. However, he now draws upon artists such as Radiohead, Simon and Garfunkel and Timbaland as inspiration, leading to the amalgam of different genres in the group’s music. As he matured, his perspective and awareness of the working components of a song did the same. “Now I’m obsessed with the whole picture—how a song is put together and how the dynamics and instruments all work together to elicit the greatest emotional response from the listener,” Wong said. “Also, when you’re younger I think you get really into flashiness and that sort of subsides as you mature.”

Playing in a band has both benefits and

drawbacks. “Being in a band with people you like can be the best thing in the world,” he said. “Being in a band with people you don’t like can be the absolute worst.” Wong says he’s lucky to work with his best friends, and compared a band’s dynamic to that of a marriage. “You all have to be looking at the long term and have an underlying sense of love and respect so you can compromise and give and take without feeling threatened,” he said.

For Wong, his musical foundation at Gunn was and is a great influence on his work with The Paper Raincoat. “One of my biggest musical influences, Bill Liberatore, still teaches [at Gunn],” Wong said. “His theory class was the best one I ever had, including at music school.” According to Wong, his education at Gunn helped him not only with the musical aspect of being a part of band, but with other important components as well. “The education was really good in general and as indie musicians, these days we’re forced to call upon so many skills—business, management, accounting [and] psychology—in order to run our business, and I think Gunn gave me a good foundation for that.”

Music teacher Bill Liberatore shares a similar appreciation for Wong’s accomplishments in high school and beyond. “He was always a first rate musician,” Liberatore said. “He was an amazing percussionist and a really good theory student. I knew that he was exceptional; he was always heads and tails above everybody else.” Surprisingly, “he never sang in high school,” Liberatore said. “I kind of love that because who knows what gifts lie in all of you at this age? Who knows what’s lurking inside of all of you? It was lurking in Alex Wong.” On the music, “I love his album,” he said. “It’s amazing!’

Senior Shivani Rustagi first found out about the band when Wong came to speak to her Advanced Placement Music Theory class last spring. “I hadn’t listened to his band before I had met him, but [it] spurred my interest,” Rustagi said. She appreciates the wide variety of styles that The Paper Raincoat provides with their songs. “I love how diverse their songs are,” Rustagi said. “All of their songs have a different twist to them.”

According to Wong, The Paper Raincoat has big plans for the future. They are not only working on their first music video, but also working on new songs for the upcoming year. The band is also planning to tour for the first part of 2011. Wong hopes that the band’s new ventures leads not just to the group’s growth as a unit but also to individual growth, maturation and exciting challenges and experiences. “I hope [the band] will change with us as we change and not ever feel stagnant,” Wong said. “I hope we will always be excited to make the next Paper Raincoat record.”

15

Features

Monday, October 18, 2010

Sisters volunteer at elementary school to share music talent Annie Tran

Business/Circulation Manager

As children, senior Stephanie Tsai and sophomore Lily Tsai were always fascinated by the sounds of music. “Even though you hear it all the time, I do honestly have to say, music is my passion,â€? Stephanie said. “And when you have a strong passion, you kind of have this insatiable need to spread it like wildfire.â€? The Tsai sisters decided to spread their passion by spending three hours after school every week at CostaĂąo Elementary School in East Palo Alto. At the school, they, along with other volunteers teach students the art of music. Stephanie has played the cello and piano for over ten years.

Lily has played violin for nine years and previously played piano for eight years.

Stephanie started Gunn Music at CostaĂąo after playing with her orchestra at a local elementary school over two years ago. “An idea sprouted and made me think, why not introduce music to children, or at least introduce it to children who wouldn’t usually have the opportunity to receive lessons,â€? Stephanie said. CostaĂąo currently does not have any established art programs for their students. “I think this idea of Stephanie’s is brilliant, especially with

her energy and dedication,� Visual and Performing Arts Instructional Supervisor Todd Summers said. “Here at Gunn we have so many opportunities available to us, but just a short trip across Highway 101, there’s a totally different situation where they have to work with almost nothing.�

Since both the sisters have studied piano extensively, they decided to teach only piano since most of the students would have access to a keyboard or piano rather than string instruments or wind instruments. Stephanie is currently trying to borrow extra instruments from the music department so that she can teach her students how to play other instruments. “Stringed instruments are not only hard to learn but they are also really expensive to buy,�

Stephanie said. “In this economic climate, a lot of children [in East Palo Alto] and parents wouldn’t be able to afford lessons, let alone the instrument.� Lily says that she and Stephanie want to give students that can’t afford instruments the chance to learn how to play.

CostaĂąo recommends students that already have musical experience to the Tsai sisters, though they hope to provide their services to students without any background at all later on when they have more volunteers for their program. “Right now, we don’t have

Q&A with

a lot of options of instruments to teach our students,� Lily said. “It’s kind of just piano.�

Stephanie says that she is learning to play guitar because there is such a high demand for guitar lessons among her students. “If you’re learning something you’re genuinely interested in, then you’re more likely to put more effort in it, from what I’ve seen,â€? Stephanie said. “I’ve taught my students classiVictor Kwok cal music like Bach, Senior Stephanie Tsai teaches a student at CostaĂąo how to play the piano. Tsai but a lot of them are and her sister started a new program at CostaĂąo to promote learning music. now asking to learn stuff that they can rehave to come in shifts. rience could really teach a stulate to more, like “Babyâ€? by Justin Summers and Stephanie are dent something as musicians and Bieber.â€? Lily has already started to trying to promote this program as people, like students don’t even play more modern pop songs with much as possible to students in the realize how much you can do, her students. “I have to transpose music department, which includes let alone learn,â€? Summers said. most of the modern music my stu- orchestra, band and choir. The “There are so many huge benefits dents want,â€? Lily said. “One of my Tsai’s and the administration are to this outreach. People learn best first requests was a song by Lud- currently trying to work together so when they’re teaching someone, acris. I had to tell them no though that any available instruments could and by teaching someone you can because that’s music that needs be lent to the students of CostaĂąo. discover so much about yourself more of a beat.â€? CostaĂąo also pro- They are also working to have their as a person. I can guarantee you vides two rooms for Gunn Music volunteers from Gunn be able to that you will be walking away on campus to teach students in. offer their skills regardless of the with something beautiful, not just However, because of lack of space instrument they may play. something else to put down on volunteers for this program would “I truly believe that this expe- your transcript.â€?

Artist of the Month James Oh (12)

TO: What role does art play in your life and your future?

JO: It plays one of the major roles in my life, besides school and church. I plan on majoring in it, or at least something art-related. In terms of my schedule, it’s really time-consuming because I go to art studio four times a week.

TO: What do you specialize in? What materials do you like using?

JO: My most comfortable medium is acrylic paint and canvas. I also like poster color, a water-based medium, which is paper-friendly.

Courtesy of James Oh

The Oracle: When and how did you start drawing?

James Oh: When I was little, I always had a liking towards color. I started seriously in the beginning of sophomore year.

TO: What do you like about art?

JO: This is cheesy, but you can express a lot more than you can with words.

There are endless possibilities of expressions and interpretation, and I like how one work can be interpreted in so many different ways.

TO: What inspires your art?

JO: Definitely nature and conversations with friends, even strangers; people and things like store clerks, music or really anything can really inspire you. It’s what you get out of it.

TO: What is your greatest strength and your greatest weakness?

JO: My strength would be concepts, or the meanings behind paintings. My weakness is that if I have no or lose motivation for a piece, it’s difficult to continue and progress slows down if I lose passion for it.

TO: How do you describe your art?

JO: I specialize in conceptual art. I work with relationships, which are the glue for my portfolio; they connect each piece of art. My technique isn’t my strongest point, but I make it up with creativity, I work a lot with the environment. I also work with acceptance—I had a piece on homosexuality and another on cliques. Your views on things change, such as the composition of a tree and just the world around you, and I’ve come to appreciate things a lot more.

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16

THEORACLE

My quest to ‘get’ women

Entertainment

It’s a guy thing

Kevin Zhang On a beautiful September Saturday afternoon at the SODA Aquatic Center in Moraga, Calif., a massive collection of water polo squads convened. Our first game had just finished up and I was feeling light-headed and woozy.

Subsequently, hobbling around the aquatic center, I went through the locker room in order to go to my car to grab lunch. As I walked in, something was different, very different, but I couldn’t put my finger on it. The locker room was cleaner than I remembered and seemed to have a completely different angle. Out of nowhere, “BOOM,” a blonde bombshell (fully clothed) walked right by me with an extremely puzzled face. I had just walked into the women’s locker room. Shocked by the attractiveness of the woman and the event that had just transpired, I was paralyzed, and before I had a chance to say anything, the lady was out my sight.

As I reflected on my journey through, I treasured the few seconds where I caught a peek at the mysterious lives of women.

I began to wonder, especially after seeing the unbelievable cleanliness of the locker rooms, what were some other intriguing aspects about women? Who are they?

This question was enigmatic and exciting. Because of my affinity of so-called “feminine things” such as the Home and Garden Television or Bravo Network, I thought that learning more about women would be a cakewalk. I was gravely mistaken.

I began my quest to learn more in the library. I decided to read up on Seventeen magazine and hopefully gain knowledge about females. After picking up a cover with Lauren Conrad on it, I began to read about finding the right guy. I was intrigued. I decided to take the magazine back to the Academic Center and continue reading it while getting some homework done. While walking over, the buzzer went off. I immediately turned around and held up my magazine to try to calm people down and let them know I had set it off.

What a bad idea. Soon, hoards of people began asking me what I was doing with a copy of Seventeen. As I tried to explain why I had a picture of Lauren Conrad and the words “10 things about Sex” in my hands, Ms. Omainsky, our librarian, said, “It’s okay, we don’t judge here in the library.” Sigh.

A few days later, I managed to check out the magazine out and read it thoroughly. Certain parts of Seventeen drew parallels to deciphering hieroglyphs. I was blown away by the wealth of information ranging from hooking up, to fraternities, to how to accentuate your behind. I have to admit, it was a ton of fun reading about long distance relationships and what to look for in guys (which was especially enlightening). What impacted me the most was the unparalleled attention to detail girls have towards their appearances. After

Krishan Allen While driving around town, I am occasionally tempted to turn on the radio. In these rare instances, I soon begin to wonder why I bothered. As the sounds of the Jonas Brothers and Katy Perry fill the car, my ears scold me for putting them through such pain. The main gripe I have with radio stations is the amount of “girly” songs that get airplay. Maybe some of you girls are wondering what us guys think of your music and pop culture. Well here’s your chance to find out.

While you may think it’s cute that we’ve had a “Bad Romance” after the “DJ Got Us Falling in Love Again” because we’re living a “Teenage Dream,” I really couldn’t care less. I would much rather listen to music that lets me laugh, dance, smile or relax rather than these tunes that almost always tell the tale of some girl in need of (or complaining about) some guy. It pains me to see that Justin Bieber can reach such a mainstream audience around the world. I often

wonder what it is that these people (especially young girls) find so enjoyable about his music. His voice? No, it can’t be. He hasn’t even hit puberty and has yet to find the voice that he will live with for his adult life. His background beats and instrumentals? Doubtful. They often lack creativity and seem to be quite repetitive. His hair? The hair? It’s gotta be the hair.

The same goes for the so-called “chick flicks”, those godawful movies that tell the tale of girls and guys falling for each other. Once again, they are predictable and repetitive, and neither of these qualities interest me at all. Movies should be insightful, thought-provoking or awe-inspiring. “Chick flicks” will never meet these criteria. These movies are described by girls as cute, heartfelt or sweet, adjectives are foreign to a male’s vocabulary. One more important thing needs to be said of “chick flicks.” If you somehow do manage to get a guy to watch one with you, give yourself a big pat on the back, but also understand that he is most likely making a huge sacrifice for you.

Do not take this for granted. If you do, he may go off and tell his friends the “10 Things He Hates About You”.

This being said, every guy needs to break out of his boundaries once in a while. We can only stand watching action movies and listening to “tough” music for so long. Besides, who doesn’t love a good dose of Taylor Swift every now and then?

—Allen, a senior, is a sports editor.

The world of B.B. and C.C. How can you get your adrenaline pumping without leaving the comfort of your seat? Video games of course. Whether it is jaw dropping graphics or mind-boggling complexity, games have always provided a venue for males to release their angst. Games with violent, bloody proportions are popular with teen males, allowing them to express their combative nature. They stimulate your mind without needing to physically train your body, and they allow you to kill someone without real-life repercussions. Games relieve stress and incite imaginative thinking. Despite the negative views that some parents impose on their children, video games are and always will be a part of a teenage male’s life.

Most of us have at least one team that we root hard for, and would pay hundreds of dollars to watch them play in the pouring rain, only to have them lose so badly that a little part of us dies on the inside. The paint on our chests with our team’s color and the life size poster of the star player in our rooms can only begin to describe the passion and love we have for the team.

But when wea ring our San Jose Sharks Jersey, you can expect hostility towards an Anaheim Ducks fan when they happen to be in town.

Food can make the difference between a good or bad day. Without the proper meat and sweets diet that we have come to know and love, we can get pretty cranky. Sure, a green leafy salad is great, but alongside a fresh-off-the-grill steak cooked to perfection, life is just that much better. It’s hard to keep this craving satisfied at all times due to us being hungry every 20-30 minutes, but any food is sacred food at a time of hunger, and mooching is definitely a no-no when it comes between a man and his hunger.

Girls are complicated.

That pretty much sums it up.

They lure us in with their dangerous curves, their flirting, and their trickery, and smacking us right back down into confusion. The funny thing is, we love it. One day we think that they totally like us, and the next we’re left wondering what we did to make them so mad. Their secrets are kept away from us, but ladies, please understand that we have no control over our eyes and actions, and we are very sorry.

reading the magazines and conversing with women, I ultimately concluded, that I know nothing about women.

—Zhang, a senior, is a reporter.

Photo by Henry Liu

—Compiled by Boot Bullwinkle and Colin Chen

Graphics by George Hwang

17

Entertainment

Monday, October 18, 2010

New age fashion trends The Oracle staffer takes a look at the strange trends sweeping our society.

TOMS

Woven Bags

Motorcycle Jackets

As seen on campus

Fall Fashion Edition Antonio Puglisi

Hannah Allison

Freshman

Junior

Ruffled Cardigan J. Crew, $40

Striped Sweater Pac Sun, $20

Gold necklaces

“I like clothes that are casual, easy to wear and comfortable.”

Forever 21, $14

“My style is mostly classic to preppy, with a touch of trend.”

Dark wash jeans Citizens of Humanity, $120

Henry Liu

Haight Street Boutique, $60

Glasses with no lenses Yes, I do have these myself, but sometimes I wonder what the point is. When I was first introduced to them I thought they were kind of ugly, but I’ve learned to love their uselessness and accept that they’re pretty cute.

Jeggings I wonder if these come in destroyed or distressed. I also wonder if they’ll ever make Leans (jeans that look like leggings).

Shorts Volcom, $20

Leather Boots

Barefoot Shoes Barefoot shoes are a new type of shoe created to emulate the feeling of running barefoot. To achieve this quality, the shoe is designed to look like a second layer of skin—it even has toes!

Snuggies Seriously, they’re just bathrobes on backwards. The only nice thing is that they come in a variety of colors and prints.

Urban Outfitters, $15 Olive T-Shirt

Silly Bandz I had noticed silly bands in drug stores before and thought that they might be fun to play around with, but I truly didn’t think they were worth my money. Who would’ve thought that a trend that was started by elementary kids would reach high school?

Ozzy Osbourne’s Glasses Talk about bringing back old fashion. Ozzy Osbourne’s quirky circle-lens glasses have begun to regain popularity through fashion mogul MaryKate Olsen.

Sneakers Bikkembergs, $70

­—Compiled by Samantha Donat, Tiffany Hu and Hannah Plank-Schwartz

Lady Gaga As chic as Lady Gaga can be, she is the epitome of weird fashion. As her fame has grown so have her strange outfits. Although the public may not be copying her fashion completely, there is definitely a growing similarity between her style and some designs at the popular store Forever 21.

–Compiled by May Wu

Bows

Cowboy Boots

LACE

Henry Liu

18

Entertainment

THEORACLE

“Non-stop laughter.” ­—Variety

“A rib tickling comedy.”

—New York Post

“Screamingly funny!”

—CBS Radio

“Uproarious!

Hysterical!”

—USA Today

Nominated plays come to Gunn Sweta Bhattacharya Copy Editor

Theater teacher Kristen Lo has organized a series of readings to be held at the end of Oct. that incorporates both Gunn students and staff members. According to Lo, the readings offer a unique and cost-free experience.

The scripts for the readings, which are set to be performed on Oct. 21 and 22 at 8 p.m. in the studio theatre, are from four 2010 Tony-nominated plays. Lo’s inspiration for the plays was not only to put on a different kind of performance for her audience, but also to expose the community to plays that are not usually available in our area. “These plays are hardly ever done at high school levels,” Lo said. “They have great scripts though and I wanted the students and the audience to be exposed to them.”

The reading consists of a compilation of four different plays. The first two, A View From the Bridge and Lend Me a Tenor, were nominated for Best Revival Play, and the other two plays, Time Stands Still and Red, were nominated for Best New Play. A View From the Bridge, set in the 1950s, discusses the family and community dynamic in an Italian-American neighborhood in Brooklyn, while Lend Me a Tenor focuses on the adventures and conflicts of a fictitiously famous tenor singer. The play Time Stands Still explores the story of a photojournalist working to capture moments during the Iraq war, and Red portrays the artistic and personal journeys that a late Mark Rothko, 1950’s artist, experienced.

According to Lo, her experience with working on this project was

“It turns out to be more a study in artist appreciation, a portrait of an angry and brilliant mind that asks you to feel the shape and texture of thoughts.”

—The New York Times

Graphic by Andrew Lee

both exciting and enjoyable. “It was really fun,” Lo said. “I wish I had more time to work on each script.”

This is the second reading Lo has organized. After working on a similar production at Palo Alto High School last year, Lo decided to do the same for the Gunn community. Lo hopes that this series of readings can help bring a taste of Broadway a bit closer to home.

“Broadway is so far away,” she said. “But it’s the closest thing we have to a national theater and what is going on there is very important to the drama community.”

English teacher Paul Dunlap, who is acting in the readings, shares a similar excitement and anticipation. According to Dunlap, Lo had the idea to create a staff-student dramatic reading several years ago and, when she told him this year that the idea would be put into action, he was eager to participate. “It seemed like a good idea because, for one, the connection between English and drama is so natural,” Dunlap said. “The boundary is so fuzzy and I love supporting things that are related to literature and things that are related to theatre.” Dunlap also mentioned his appreciation for acting as another motivation to participate. “I like to act and I don’t get a chance to do it very often, so it seemed like a good chance to do that,” he said.

Another aspect about the reading that Dunlap appreciates is the special chance for teachers and students to act alongside one another. “It breaks down the traditional separation between students and teachers that we have in classrooms,” he said. “When we’re participating in a scene, we’re bringing something to life and we’re all equal participants. Each of us has a role and it doesn’t matter if we are teachers or students. We’re all somebody bringing a contribution to the creative process.”

For senior Pierre Baudin, who is also acting in the production, the difficulty was maintaining the integrity of the character while preforming the lines. “It’s a real acting challenge to portray a character realistically while reading from a script.”

Photo by Melissa Sun

PLAY INFORMATION A View From the Bridge, Lend Me A Tenor, Time Stands Still and Red playing in the studio theatre, Oct. 21 and 22, doors at 7:30 p.m., free of charge.

Entertainment

19

Monday, October 18, 2010

Flea markets worth another look Elaine Liu Business/Circulation Manager

Growing up and watching the TV show Friends religiously, I distinctly remember the episode titled “The One with the Apothecary Table” in which Phoebe insists that all their furniture be purchased from a flea market to create a personal feel. Since then I’ve stuck to the clichéd belief that flea markets are old-fashioned marketplaces where people sold their secondhand household goods and unwanted products. I couldn’t have been more wrong.

At the San Jose Flea Market, visitors feel the essence of a flea market through its bustling open-aired layout. Averaging around 6,000 vendors every week, the 120-acre lot is one of the biggest markets in the whole country. Down the walkways lined with sellers, customers browse through a huge array of products that range from car parts to clothing apparel to childhood toys. The items for sale are more often brand new rather than used or secondhand, and they come with cheap prices and discount sales.

I soon learned however, to be wary of false brands or fake labels that can be misleading. That supposed American Eagle flannel shirt that you just bought? It might not last through one gentle rinse cycle in your washing machine before falling to threads. The safer approach is to check not for brand name, but for quality of material.

There were certain stalls in the flea market that sold clothing made with good cloth and fabric but no label, and there were others that marketed towards people looking for the popular fashion brands.

One of the highlights of the visit was the Farmer’s Market that cut through the middle of the marketplace. This quarter-mile long produce row is lined with vendors of freshly picked and sold rightoff-the-vine fruit and vegetables sold at such accessible prices that I was tempted to buy several sunshine yellow and red nectarines for 99 cents a pound. There was such a diversity of smells and an explosion of colors that filled the produce market as well as a steady trickle of curious newcomers purchasing strawberries and regular customers pushing carts to buy their groceries for the coming week.

Perhaps the most intriguing aspect of the San Jose Flea Market was the Health Fair. Housed under a giant white circus tent and sponsored by HealthTrust, the Health Fair is designed to help underprivileged groups of families and individuals who have a hard time receiving the health services they need. The Health Fair offers screenings and services that include free seasonal vaccines, blood pressure readings and dental checkups. Run by organization employees and volunteers, they follow up these free or low-cost services with informational sessions about healthy living methods. One of the volunteers handed me a brochure offering family health insurance to children under nineteen who would have access to multiple health insurance organizations for almost no cost regardless of immigration status. It was fascinating to see this aspect of the flea market where people were offering help to families free of charge.

Going to the San Jose Flea Market was a rewarding experience and almost a sensory overload. The open-air style allows for customers to feel changing weathers of bright sun and slow-moving breaths of wind, as well as the constant mixed sounds of both ethnic and popular radio music in the background. Walking out with a bag of delectable nectarines and a cute one dollar teddy bear in my hands, I also carried with me a new founded idea of what a flea market is really like: a place for people from all backgrounds and lifestyles to mix and share in the trading of goods.

To find more flea markets in the area to explore, check out the list in the top picture on the right. It will be a trip you won’t regret.

>> San Jose Flea Market 7 a.m.-5:30 p.m., Wednesday-Sunday 1590 Berryessa Road (408) 453-1110 >> Palo Alto Music Boosters Flea Market 9 a.m.-3 p.m., second Saturday each month 50 Embarcadero Road (650) 324-3532 >> Los Altos Hills/ Foothill College Flea Market 8 a.m.-3 p.m., third Saturday each month 12345 El Monte Road (650) 948-6417

Photos by Henry Liu

Top: Hand-painted garden ornaments sold at Farmer’s Market. Middle: The San Jose Flea Market hosts more than 2,000 vendors. Bottom: A variety of practical second-hand goods are put on display.

20

Entertainment

THEORACLE

Best vs. worst hor ror mov ies T e r r i f y i n g Best: As far as best horror movies go, The Blair Witch Project is arguably number one. This Halloween, make sure to rent this movie for a great Halloween thrill. The movie was shot entirely by amateurs in a documentary-style, which gives a more realistic and eerie feeling to the film.

The dark woods and ominous lighting provide a perfect setting for the film, keeping you anxious for what comes next. The plot revolves around four college students who venture into the woods in Maryland to pursue the legend of the Blair Witch. As the film progresses, the group encounters surprising twists, and the ending will leave you with your night light on for weeks to come.

Worst: The “star” rating system is a standard for reviews, but The Human Centipede is on a scale on its own. You can’t talk about the worst horror movies (by that we mean the most ridiculously bad) without mentioning this one because no film has inflicted more indescribable things on victims than The Human Centipede.

The horror-comedy, directed by Dutch filmmaker Tom Six, was released in the U.S. in April and shocked audiences around the country. The movie follows a maniacal surgeon whose vision of the future is human centipedes (chains of people who have been connected and have to crawl on all fours).

The Human Centipede id condemned to be the worst horror movie of the year. The acting can be called mediocre

with the characters sobbing while scantily clad. The plot leaves much to be desired and makes one wonder how the director was able to deliver such a stomach-churning movie.

Six uses the shocking compositions to leave the audience scarred and wishing for a long cleansing shower. If the desire for a disturbingly different horror movie h it s, T h e H u m a n Centipede m ig h t be the perfect movie t o view.

Watch out for The Human Centipede II, in theaters in 2011.

Terrifying:

What’s Halloween without a scare?

Ta k e s o m e time out of your candy raids and costume parties to put some fright into the on ly creepy holiday all year long. Wear a mask and drive around busy blocks, blend

vs.

Te r r i f i e d

like decorations on a lawn or hide in trees and attack from above.

Every opportunity is a good opportunity and with a good laugh and apolo g y a f t e r, eve r yone will have a good time.

Scaring others one of the most treasured Halloween pastimes. So go out there and make some little kids cry. Just kidding, but let’s hear a scream or two.

Happy Halloween.

Terrified: If scaring others is not your thing then you can be the “terrified” one. This Halloween, try seeking a scary experience in local haunted houses around the area. Haunted houses were originally houses where supernatural phenomena occurred, but today they are houses filled with man-made frights to give visitors a scare. Nowadays, haunted houses also often use modern techniques to amp up the fright factor.

Some local haunted houses include the one held annually at Fairmeadow Elementary School known as “Scaremeadow.” The haunted house consists of classrooms throughout the school that are decorated with material made to frighten all who enter. “Scaremeadow” is run by volunteers who work shifts to keep the haunted house going. It mainly consists of fifth graders who act along with alumni to scare visitors, although the Gunn Robotics Team has previously worked at the haunted house to help with technical portions.

If a local haunted house is not enough, there is always Great America’s annual Halloween Haunt. This event is held every Friday, Saturday, and Sunday in October from 7 p.m. to midnight. The Halloween Haunt consists of six mazes, four “scare zones” and lots of spooky decorations throughout the park. Tickets are sold separately from the original Great America tickets but can be upgraded to enter.

Lisa Wu

—Compiled by Zoe Weisner, Mia Howard, Kevin Gao and Elise Lee

Try this chocolate truffle recipe for your next Halloween party Ingredients: 1/3 cup heavy whipping cream 2 cups semi-sweet chocolate (60 percent cacao or higher) 1 teaspoon vanilla

1) Start by bringing the whipping cream to a simmer at a low heat. Keep your eye on the pot and stir every few minutes.

Break the chocolate into small pieces in a separate bowl.

2) Combine the cream and chocolate.

After a few minutes, stir until smooth.

The final mixture is called “ganache”, and is your foundation of any good truffle.

Optional: Mix in additional ingredients like spices or fruit preserves with the ganache to create a flavored truffle.

Truffle coatings: Cacao powder Crushed almonds, pistachios, or walnuts Coffee grounds

3) Chill the ganache for two hours (if left in the fridge for too long it will be impossible to complete the next step).

Scoop out small balls of chocolate with a teaspoon. Place on a baking sheet and refrigerate over night.

4) Roll the truffles in cacao powder or crushed nuts. Enjoy!

For a mint chocolate truffle: After simmering the cream, remove the pot from heat and soak the mint leaves for an hour. Strain out the leaves, reheat the cream and continue.

—Compiled by Eugenah Chou

Sports

Monday, October 18, 2010

21

Spotlight: update on fall sports How has the season been so far?

Emily Watkins (12) — Girls’ Water Polo “We lost seven seniors last year and we only have three seniors on varsity this year. But we have won every game except our game against Los Altos. We even beat Los Gatos, which was very exciting because we lost to them last year in the final game of SCVAL where I think Los Gatos was undefeated.”

Kevin Zhang (12) — Boys’ Water Polo “Our overall record is 8-9, and we are 4-4 in league play. The team has bonded considerably, and we were 6-3 in our last nine games with some huge league wins. We had a heartbreaking loss of 15-14 to Paly at home and are excited for our second round of league games.”

Audrey Waschua (12) — Volleyball “We moved down a league since last season, so this season we are so far doing well and haven’t dropped a game. We are improving each day and working very hard to be competitive with each team we face. Our Dig Pink for breast cancer night is Thurs. Oct. 21 against Cupertino. Our current league record is 6-0 and our overall record is 18-4.”

Allana Booth (12) — Girls’ Tennis “The tennis team is going very well. We’re doing well in the higher league, which we moved up to this year, and we are really playing as a team and supporting each other. Our goal is to end up third or fourth in the league.”

Micah Brown (12) — Cross Country “The cross country team has improved a lot since the beginning of the season. We have excellent leadership in our captain Ian Wilkes. I always look forward to each practice for the challenge that they pose. Everyone on the team has a positive attitude and is very supportive of everyone else, always cheering them on and encouraging them to run faster.”

Miles Sturken (12) — Football “It is midway through the season and although we have had a couple of tough losses, we are in a very manageable position to enter the second half and step up our play against our division opponents. When we play as a team and stay mentally focused, we win.”

—Compiled by Song Park

Squash club back for new year, using Stanford facilities Annie Tran

Business/Circulation Manager

Among Gunn’s fresh crop of clubs this year is the Squash Club, headed by seniors Matteo Lieb and Nick Talbott. “We really want to try to bring this sport to the Bay Area because most kids haven’t even heard of it and think it’s some vegetable or something,” Lieb said. “Squash is more popular internationally and on the East Coast, so I kind of want to bring it to Gunn.”

Lieb, the club’s president, has over five years of experience, having played on his school team when he lived in England. “I had a little tennis experience already when I started to play,” Lieb said. “Plus, squash is such a big thing there, it’s even a physical education unit that we’re taught over in England.” Talbott, the club’s vice president, has a more in depth experience with the sport. “I’ve basically been playing squash since I could walk,” Talbott said. His father, Stanford University’s Head Squash Coach Mark Talbott, was the world’s top-ranked player for 13 years (1983 to 95) and introduced Talbott to several different sports, including squash, at a young age.

Talbott’s father has been a huge aid to the club by helping them set up a deal with the Arillaga Center for Sports and Recreation at Stanford university.

The club will be able to play there for free, and members will only have to pay $30 for a packet that includes a racket, rubber balls and goggles. “We are really grateful to have connections like this, and the packet itself is actually a relatively small fee for sports gear that you could use all year,” Lieb said. Mark Talbott has also helped other squash clubs in the Bay Area, hop-

ing to help promote the sport and make coach.” it more popular among today’s youth.

Lieb and Talbott are hoping to co“It would be great if [the club] could ordinate squash tournaments or scrimcontinue to grow so that there would mages with other local squash organibe established teams at high schools,” zations in the area to promote a little Mark Talbott said. “I want to be a part competition and interest among stuof that.” dents. “Squash is mostly known as The rules of this fast-paced game are some rich white boy sport for country fairly simple. The ball can hit any num- club kids,” Talbott said. “I want to ber of walls as long as it eventually hits change that stereotype and open it to all the front wall before bouncing on the types of people; regardless of color or floor. Unlike tennis, there is only one gender.” serve allowed and the server must have at least one foot in the service box.

The ball must also hit above the service line and bounce to the opposite quarter-court. A player loses the game when the ball bounces twice, hits the tin or lands outside of the out-lines.

The game can also be lost when there is interference because of a stroke, which gives a point to the obstructed player.

The game is mostly played with two people. Although players could also play as doubles partners, singles is recommended. The official scoring is to 11 and when the player wins a rally, they win a point regardless of who served the ball.

According to Talbott, students of all skill levels and backgrounds are able to play. All that is needed is some hand-eye coordination. However, if the student has had any prior experience with a sport that involves a racket helps a great deal.

“Squash is a game that requires a wall, a racquet, a rubber ball and comfortable shoes,” Talbott said. “If you have any background experience with Photos by Victor Kwok a sport that involves a racquet then Top left: Senior Micah Brown swings with force during a mini squash battle. Top right: you are basically ready to go. Matteo Seniors Matteo Lieb and Micah Brown work together to perfect technique. Bottom: and I can teach you the essentials and I think both of us have enough skill to Right At the squash court, seniors Brown and Lieb practice together at Stanford.

22

Sports

THEORACLE

Aide shares professional badminton skills through coaching May Wu Reporter

Special education aide Seth Elliot’s badminton career began on a net-less street with his mother as his only support. After playing badminton in physical education class the summer before high school, he decided to pursue badminton further by trying out for the MenloAtherton High School (M-A) team.

Elliot’s first year on the M-A team sparked his passion for the sport. “The coach I had my freshman year of high school made it really fun playing,� Elliot said. “I knew I had a team I really enjoyed which helped me make it through the other years.� Because of his great experience his first year of badminton, Elliot continued to play for the next three years of high school as well as afterwards in college.

According to Elliot, badminton was not a popular sport when he was in high school, and it was hard for him to find a place to practice

regularly. “There weren’t any badminton clubs back in the old days,� he said. “If you wanted to play outside of high school, you would have to try to find open gyms in different parks or different community centers.� Outside of badminton season, Elliot would do summer training at Cubberley Community Center, which was similar to an open gym session with little instructional support.

Once Elliot began studying at Stanford University, he found himself in a whole new tier of badminton competition and was determined to improve himself. “We had some really good players, and I could see another level or two of how high I could go,� Elliot said. “I was like, ‘Maybe I could get that good.’� With the help of a coach who had coached nationally-ranked players, Elliot began to compete.

By his sophomore year, he made it to the semi-finals of the collegiate nationals of badminton, and by junior year he was a runner-up in

men’s singles finals. In senior year, he topped it off with first place in the collegiate nationals in men’s doubles.

After his college days, Elliot decided to travel across the world to continue his badminton career. “I never would have thought that I would’ve travelled to Denmark and lived overseas being a professional badminton player,� Elliot said. International tournaments proved to be much more difficult, and Elliot found himself only competing in first or second qualification rounds. “I was just losing all my matches; getting beat by teenagers and then getting beat by fifty-year-olds and everyone in between,� Elliot said After spending five years overseas, Elliot returned to the Bay Area in 2009 and began coaching at M-A, the place where it all started. He still dreams of going to the Olympics, but has decided to sacrifice his practice time in order to help improve the students he now coaches. “I want to build a foundation so that when I’m not there, it won’t turn into a program that’s not going anywhere,� Elliot said. “I would really like to see the M-A high school team improve and do well in their league competition.�

His M-A team also stresses how important he is to the team. “He is invaluable,� co-coach Mary Podesta said. “The players love to play with him at practice.�While

Podesta is in charge of the administrative work, Elliot is in charge of the athletics. “I hold the position so that he can train the players,� Podesta said. “He sets what we will be doing everyday at practice from conditioning to skill drills.�

Besides coaching at M-A, Elliot has also been in charge of co-coaching the Stanford Badminton team. Elliot’s past experiences as the former captain of the Stanford team helps him to relate to the players. “The fact that he has a long-time connection with Stanford and is able to relate to the students really helped bring the team together and improve morale,� current Stanford captain Brian Sa said. Elliot has been dedicated to rebuilding the Stanford badminton team using his hard work ethic and his depth of knowledge in badminton.

Not only does he influence the team members on their badminton career, he has also impacted their lives in general. “Elliot has helped me tremendously as a player and as a person,� Sa said. “[He has showed] by example what it means to be dedicated and to be selfless with your time.�

Henry Liu

Educational Consulting, Tutoring, & Test Prep Expert Stanford-Educated Tutors Convenient In-Home Sessions One-on-One Tutoring

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www.CardinalEducation.com

Sports

Monday, October 18, 2010

23

Five Fingers shoes provide alternative choice for runners Eugenah Chou Forum Editor

High quality running gear has long been defined by pretty much the same general standards. A good shoe equals significant ankle support and heel cushioning­–flexibility, yet stiffness and a strong, sturdy build. However, Vibram’s Five Fingers (“Fives” for short) suggest a new ideal: less is more and least is best. Running in Fives simulates the sensations and natural benefits of running barefoot.

It’s Five Fingers, ten toes and a whole new concept of smart running.

Despite alleged improvement in running shoe technology, there has been a continuous number of running related injuries since the creation of the modern running shoe in 1968. In Born to Run, runner Christopher McDougall searches for the secret of pain free running by seeking out the people of the Trahumara Indian tribe in Mexico, who are known for their ability to run over 100 miles using nothing more than thin leather sandals. McDougall overcame his own running-related pain by mimicking the Tarahumara runners’ style and claims that modern running shoes are the cause of an increase in running injuries.

Ironically, the “traditional” interpretations of protected running used by big name shoe brands go against the method of minimalist footwear that have been tried and true for hundreds of years. His research has since sparked revolutionary “minimalist” era amongst runners. Minimalist footwear, like Fives, are simple, light-weight and respect the natural motions of barefoot running.

Research indicates that there are positive health benefits behind minimalist footwear. About 20 years ago, Dr. B. Marti of the United Kingdom surveyed a group of over 5,000 participants in a long-distance race. His research revealed that runners using shoes that cost more than $95 were more than twice as likely to get leg injuries as runners using shoes that cost less than $40.

While the additional technology

in modern running shoes arguably provides support and protection to the soles of our feet, the restrictive cushioned heel forces runners to change their natural form.

On the contrary, Five Fingers follows basic, natural principles.

“Biomechanics come into play a lot with these shoes,” Dawson Montoya of Zombie Runner, a specialty running shop located on California Avenue, said. “Because you are essentially running barefoot, your body slowly returns to its natural form. There is more focus on running and instead of over-striking, you take shorter, quicker steps and burn energy more efficiently.” According to Montoya, running with Fives restores the basic principles of running. Without a constrictive sole in the way, a runner’s leg and foot muscles, instead of the joints, absorb the shock of each step.

Although the feel of the hard earth might take some getting used to, a barefoot runner is much more cautious and aware than the more typically shod runner because a rubber sole robs the body of necessary sensory info. “Running in these shoes is the closest I’ve felt to nature in a while,” senior Leon Sung said. “They enable me to take full advantage of the mechanical phenomenon that is the human leg.”

After complaints of dirt and dust sneaking into the shoe during trail running, Vibram introduced its first covered-top model named Bikila ($100) after the athlete Abbe Bikila, who won the 1960 Olympic marathon running entirely barefoot. Fives are highly versatile and used for everything from yoga to walking, trail hiking, long-distance running and even water sports.

To keep them clean, one simply throws them in the wash.

Zombie Runner as been carrying Five Fingers for the past few years. Although the shoes might initially give the appearance of a short-lived novelty item, they are swiftly gaining a permanent place in the running world. The shop’s first order of Fives sold out almost immedi-

ately and popularity has since been steadily increasing.

“Positive research about minimalist shoes have sparked a new generation of runners,”Montoya said.

It is important to note that Fives take both time and patience to adapt to.

The leap from standard to minimalist footwear is significant, and jumping into it too quickly can cause serious injury. “The first time I used them was during cross country practice,” Sung said.

“I did not know about the break-in period and hammered a six-mile run at my normal speed. The next morning, both my calves cramped Henry Liu up and I was limping The sole of the shoes are intricately designed to enhance performance and for the next week.”

According to Mon- comfort. “Fives” are very versatile and can be used in a variety of activities. toya, Fives can be a While the shoes certainly aren’t prisingly durable and light,” Sung good choice for newbie runners for everyone, they are well-worth said. “I wouldn’t trade my Fives as long as the transition period is consideration.

“The shoes are sur- for anything.” respected.

12 Step Program to Run Barefoot or ‘Minimal’

Barefoot running, or any change to your running form, requires an incremental transition period.

The number one cause of injury is doing too much, too quickly. In the long run, you will be a better, happier runner if you make the transition slowly. Here is a program to help you transition to a barefoot running form.

Step 1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

6.

7.

8.

9.

10.

11.

12.

Activity Walk barefoot in the house Walk barefoot outside Perform feet, leg, and breathing exercises Run 100 feet on grass

Run 20 feet on a hard surface Run 100 feet on a hard surface Run 500 feet Run 1 mile Run 2 miles Run 5 miles Run 8+ miles Teach someone else to run barefoot

Frequency 2 hrs everyday for 1 wk 30 mins/day for 1 wk Everyday for 1 week 3 days for 1 week

3 days for 1 week 3 days for 1 week 3 days for 1 week 3 days/wk for 2 weeks 3 days/wk for 2 weeks 3 days/wk for 1 month 3 days/wk for 1 month For life

Courtesy of Zombie Runner

Q&A with

New P.E. Teacher Jill Naylor

The Oracle: What is the number one thing you hope or expect students to get out of taking P.E.?

JN: You know, I think the number one thing that I would love for kids to realize and learn is that sports activities and health Jill Naylor go beyond just school. So if they can find a lifetime activity, whatever it is that students are interested in, whether it be badminton, ultimate Frisbee or running a marathon or one block, it doesn’t matter as long as students are starting to understand and realize that it’s not just about P.E. and getting a grade. It’s a lifestyle, and if they can learn to implement that into their living, then I’ve done my job and hopefully they’ll incorporate it and enjoy it for the rest of their life.

TO: How did you decide to teach at Gunn?

JN: I chose to go back to teaching because I took time off to take care of my kids; they’re seven and five. So for the last four and a half years I’ve been at home but now they’re at school full-time. But now I thought it would be a good time to get back in and work with kids because I missed teaching. It was just the perfect time, they called and said, “Could you come?” and I took the opportunity.

TO: So you’ve taught here before?

JN: I was at Jordan. I’ve taught at the Palo Alto School District before, but now I’m returning to Gunn.

TO: Are you a fan of any sports teams?

JN: My heart does go out for the Giants. I like the Boston Red Sox, they’d probably be my number two. For football, I’m a Niners fan, because I’m a Bay Area girl.

I’m a diehard for it. And my alma mater of course, UC Davis.

TO: What do you think of the child obesity rates in America?

JN: The good news is that we as a country are working toward solving the issue, but that comes from people like myself and others to educate and to help students and children to begin the process of educating themselves, then I think hopefully, can begin the process of honing in on the obesity situation at hand. And this applies to adults as well, it’s not just children. I think it’s to help them understand that exercise can be enjoyable and fun, not necessarily a chore.

TO: What is your favorite sport to teach?

JN : Soccer, definitely soccer. I have played soccer all my life. I’ve coached soccer from the little guys all the way to the collegiate level, so I really enjoy playing it and also coaching it. I’ve been coaching it for a year, so I am looking forward to that unit.

—Compiled by Regina Ahn

24

Sports

THEORACLE

The Four C’s of Sports Psychology

The bone-crushing hits, the beautiful plays and the dazzling tricks draw hundreds and thousands of people out to watch sports events. But what goes on in an athlete’s mind during the game? What can they change to reach their maximum potential? Sports psychologists have observed the “Four C’s” of sports psychology: concentration, confidence, control and commitment.

Concentration

Concentration is the mental state of being able to focus on the task at hand. An athlete has to be able to focus on every aspect of the game and cancel out all distractions. “The most important aspect of sport psychology is getting on track to perform your best by focusing on things within your control,” sports psychologist Lena Torgerson said. If athletes are unable to do this, then their athletic abilitiy will not be at its peak. There are three different levels of concentration: sustained concentration used in sports such as cycling, short bursts of concentration which common

field events such as baseball, soccer and football demand, and intense concentration in sports like sprinting and skiing. No matter the level concentration, certain techniques can be used to achieve optimal focus. One technique is called goal setting, in which the athlete prioritizes smaller goals to achieve and focus on, eventually leading to a larger, broader goal. For example, a football player may say to himself before a play, “I sprint my route, catch, dodge and sprint,” (smaller goals) but his eventual larger goal would be to score a touchdown. The mental process of visualizing

Confidence is another key to high performance. Confidence in an athlete is the belief that he can achieve his goal. With confidence, an athlete can maintain concentration and push through obstacles more easily. “Confidence reminds you that you will do what is needed to perform great in the game [or] competition,” Torgerson said. By getting themselves “in the zone,” athletes take a posi-

Control

To be truly ready for a game an athlete needs the help of another valauble asset.

Control is one of an athlete’s more powerful tools. If athletes have control over themselves, then they have the potential to control the game. Identifying when and why an athlete feels a particular emotion is an important stage of gaining emotional control. “A great athlete has both mental and physical parts of the game under control,” Torgerson said.

The emotions that often take over an athletes control are anger, anxiety and fear. When an

the task at hand keeps athletes focused on that task, and keeps them away from distractions.

“Being self-aware allows you to know how to react to different situations,” Torgerson said. To help with the transition to smaller tasks, the athlete can use designated “trigger words,” phrases in an athlete’s mind that immediately refocuses them on the primary goal.

For example, in tennis, a good serve can be the difference in a set, or even a match. The server’s trigger word could be “technique.”

Confidence

tive approach to whether they fail or succeed.

Using the mental imagery strategy, the athlete visualizes a previous good performance so he can remember the look and feel of success.

Athletes can also try to predict obstacles and how to overcome them, creating a feeling of strength. This gives them the feeling that they can accomplish anything. When setting goals to focus on concentration, it’s important to

athlete becomes angry, his anger becomes the main focus of his attention. Without focus, concentration is lost and performance deteriorates. Commitment to the goal is lost and confidence disappears. Anxiety may show itself in two forms: physical or mental. When the athlete is physically nervous he may have butterflies, cold sweat, nausea and a weak bladder. While some nervousness creates energy for the player, too much anxiety leads to negative thoughts, confusion and a lack in concentration. When an athlete is mentally

To master the Four C’s of sports psychology, an athlete needs to be fully committed to his sport. Other personal commitments like work or friends may get in the way, or an athlete might lose interest in the game.

Setting realistic yet challenging goals will

set realistic yet challenging goals. One must feel in control of the situation. Thoughts and expectations can build a situation up or crush it down. Some examples of high confidence are positive thoughts, excitedness, prepared emotions and a focus on self and task. Negative thoughts and feelings can result in a loss of focus and therefore loss of a game.

anxious, he worries, has negative thoughts, becomes confused and loses concentration.

A way to reduce some of these symptoms is conscious attempts at relaxation. One way to relax muscles is to flex a muscle for six seconds and then relax. This brings the muscle to a more relaxed state then it was in before.

Complete this for the feet, thighs, buttocks, abdominals, neck, back, biceps, hands, jaw and eyes to achieve total muscle relaxation.

The muscles should feel warm or heavy when completely relaxed.

Commitment

raise the athlete’s feeling of self-value, giving more drive to achieve the goals. Goals should always be SMARTER: Specific, Measurable, Adjustable, Realistic, Time-based, Exciting and Recorded. By combining the Four C’s of confidence, an athlete can achieve his

maximum mental potential in the sport he plays. “The right mind set affects a player’s performance greatly,” Torgerson said. “Having a strong mental game separates a good athlete from a great athlete.”

Faces in the Crowd

—Compiled by Boot Bullwinkle

How do you prepare for an athletic event?

“We do breathing exercises so to calm ourselves down and to not get so stressed out.”

Sara Ameri (9)

“I eat a banana because it has potassium that keeps me from cramping.”

Harrison Waschura (10)

“I always take a shower and a nap. The nap to conserve energy and the shower to wake me up.”

Brian Yu (11)

“We go through the colors and release red energy and keep blue energy. It makes you feel really relaxed.”

Willa Akey (12) —Compiled by Jesse Klein Graphic by Kimberly Han