High Tide: March 2, 2018

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Redondo Union High School Redondo Beach, CA January 26, 2018 Vol. XCVIII Edition 10

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High Tide

When push comes to shove Students debate over the need for stricter gun control following the Parkland shooting Story on pg. 8

Illustration by Brennan

Hickey Photos by Danielle Sestak

NEWS

2

Show me the money ASB gives away annual club funds

ASB CLUB GRANTS: AT A GLANCE

10 Clubs received grants from 20 requests.

$150-$800 The range of amounts granted

-CPR classes -Transportation fees -Custom shirts for volunteering opportunities -Drama master classes -Annual Disneyland trip for seniors who cannot experience Graduation Night or other senior activities Reasons clubs that received grants need funds ILLUSTRATION BY MARGARET WEDAA

By Sabrina Kim and Sarah Falahahwazi The Associated Student Body (ASB) has the power to distribute grants to clubs based on how the money will benefit students. However, various clubs believe that there is bias involved in the grant distribution process, particularly towards clubs with ASB members.

“It just depends on what students are requesting. We really want the students to think of something that’s going to benefit a large group of kids, but there’s also rules we have to follow for the club and how the money is spent,” said Brooke Mata, the activities director.

Out of the 20 clubs that applied for a grant, ten clubs were given funds. Clubs were denied if incorrect or insufficient

paperwork was submitted, if the money would not be used to support a large amount of students or if the grant is used for any purpose other than the benefit of the club, according to Mata.

Students became “frustrated” when they did not receive grants due to their belief that grant distribution is biased towards clubs with ASB ties. However, clubs with ASB connections have an equal chance of receiving funds as any other club, according to Mata.

“ASB kids have nothing to do with it. It’s definitely how the grant is written,” Mata said. “We actually had some clubs with ASB kids in them that did not get approved funds this year, and that happens every

ASB recommends that clubs request funds for something that would benefit a large amount of students. year. There’s a great misconception about ASB being favored on campus.”

The Make-A-Wish club president, Hetal Shah, applied for a grant but was denied. The club wanted to buy art supplies in order to make Valentine’s Day cards for special education students, but they were forced to use “basic” supplies such as markers and printer paper.

“I’m not really upset about it,” Shah said. “But I wish they would have given me

even a small amount of funds rather than just completely rejecting our request. I also wish that they would have given me more of an explanation for their decision.”

Any funds that the club earns is used to help the children of the Make-AWish Foundation, many of whom have life-threatening diseases, according to Shah. However, they were denied funds this year because the money would not be used to benefit the club itself.

“My main issue is that any money we raise is spent on the foundation as opposed to us as a club,” Shah said. “Although I don’t think we really need any more than $100 for our club, I feel like I’d be able to work with any amount of money I had.”

The Geofilter club, however, received a grant of $600, which will be put towards creating geofilters for Snapchat, according to president Alena Smith.

“I got my friend Halle Bender to get ASB to sponsor us and sponsor these filters through the club,” Smith said. “So we collaborate within the club to design the filter then ASB pays us to upload them.”

ASB commissions the Geofilter club to make filters to promote spirit battles and other school events. The club can pitch their own ideas as long as they get approval from ASB. So far the club has spent roughly $300 of their grant making these filters to “jazz” up Snapchat stories.

“We have just the right amount of money we need to upload whatever is needed,” Smith said. “At the same time we didn’t pull extra money from ASB, which they could have spent on helping another club out.

The money we receive is strictly for uploading filters, as it was part of our agreement with ASB.” Clubs that were accepted had a “clear” reason as to how their funds would be used to benefit students, according to Mata. The Geofilter club, for instance, wrote that their money would be used to “promote school spirit” and “positive use of social media.”

“The ASB grant process is utilized to benefit the students of RUHS,” Mata said.

“I think it is a really awesome way for clubs to be able to try new things that they wouldn’t normally be able to do or would have to fundraise in order to better their program.”

Academic Decathalon going to tenth straight state final

By Aaya Jhaveri After finishing 6th in Los Angeles County, Academic Decathlon will compete in their tenth straight state final in Sacramento on Mar. 22.

In order to get to the state competition, the ACADEC team placed as 6th out of the 60 teams at regionals. Senior and team co-captain Siobhan Killackey asserts that ACADEC is a challenge, but one that can be overcome through hard work.

“The competitions can be stressful. It’s the culmination of all your studying, so of course you want to do as well as you can so that time wasn’t wasted,” Killackey said.

“Studying a lot, both individually and in groups, helps people feel more prepared.”

The support from her team eases the nervousness in competing, Killackey believes.

“I most definitely have a very supportive team. We’re all friends and try to help each other for competitions whenever we can,” said Killackey. “As captain, I try to motivate everyone to do their best and provide support whenever possible. Also spending time with my team members is always fun, and winning medals is also really gratifying.”

Junior and ACADEC secretary and activities manager Poorvi Gorripati believes that the strive to do well in competitions

together and we help each other out; in brings her and her team closer together.

“We definitely get nervous before com- this way we are able to strengthen our petitions, but that’s a good thing because weaknesses,” Gorripati said. it demonstrates that we really care about doing well,” said Gorripati. “Being with Academic Decathlon is a scholastic competition for high your team and school students that test in seven subjects: science, math, seeing all these music, literature, social sciences and economics. other contenders with their The Academic Decathalon team placed sixth out of 60 teams brings a regional teams to move on to the state finals. greater sense of team spirit which Each year designates a new theme and the 2018 theme pushes you to do better and want is Africa; the students will have to be well-versed on the to win even country’s history and culture. more.”

Since comCompetitions involve two parts: petitions are a -Objectives that test knowledge on the covered subjects “team effort,” -Subjectives involve a speech, interview and essay which Gorripati finds it tends to be the more “nerve-racking” part for decathletes. important that everyone on ACADEC does Rivalry does not only occur in competitheir part in order to make a successful tions, as decathletes strive for certain positeam.

“We do a lot of speech and interview tions throughout the year. ACADEC coach practice in front of each other and other Aimiee Gauvreau considers competition faculty members and basically, we work with peers “healthy” because it inspires

ACADEMIC DECATHALON: 2018

better ethic among students.

“There’s still some competition between them, especially at the beginning of the year when we’re still determining teams,” Gauvreau said. “But it’s understood that people who receive certain slots deserve it because they’ve worked the hardest and performed the best.”

Gauvreau believes incorporating studies and fun is all a part of the process.

“That’s my job as a coach; to make sure we’re studying at a pace where it allows us to memorize the material as accurately as possible but also in a way that’s fun so students can compete with each other to be the best.”

Due to ACADEC’s ability to join Jeopardy-like competitions and professional sitdowns with a panel of judges, Gauvreau believes that the program prepares students for college and life.

“We live in a world where we have to learn to balance our own individual approaches to things that are also expected by prospective employers,” said Gauvreau.

“Students are at an age where their brains are just waiting for more — why not fill your brains with as much information as possible so that when you get out into the world, you’re able to make informed decisions?”

NEWS

MAR. 2, 2018 | HIGH TIDE

3

A survivor’s story

Holocaust survivor Eva Schloss speaks to RUHS students and staff

Eva Schloss, Holocaust survivor and past. step-sister of Anne Frank, came to speak “When I came back from Auschwitz, to RUHS students and staff on Wednesday, people didn’t want to hear. Everybody had Feb. 28. suffered a lot through this terrible period, Schloss was brought to RUHS by Rab- not just Jewish people but everyone in the bi Yossi Mintz as a part of a six week tour occupied countries. People say ‘we have across the United States to encourage ac- learned our lesson’ and ‘never again Austivism and involvement in major world chwitz,’ but unfortunately we have learned issues. nothing,” Schloss said.

“I really want to tell Schloss hopes that the “We have to young people to speak up. younger generations, inget involved, we cluding RUHS students, Not everyone in Germahave to see what hear her message. ny and Austria did; people were taking the easy way is going on in our “They will be the leadworld, and we out. They were bystanders, ers of a different time pehave to have the riod of the world. They and this is what we can’t be. courage to get We have to get involved, should get ready to become we have to see what is gopoliticians and become organized and ing on in our world, and we involved. The older generspeak up. We have to have the courage to can’t just accept ation has made a mess of get organized and speak up. things,” Schloss said. what is wrong.”

We can’t just accept what is Schloss was born in Vi-Eva Schloss wrong,” Schloss said. enna, Austria in 1929 and Her tour was inspired lived there until the events by today’s issues surrounding immigration of World War II forced her family to move and prejudice. to Amsterdam, Netherlands.

“There is again discrimination, big dif“It looked as if life was going to be very ferences between rich and poor, racism, nice in Amsterdam, but it wasn’t because religious discrimination and a big refu- Hitler marched in and occupied that coungee problem. 65 million people are trying try as well,” Schloss said. to get accomodations in other countries, She was eventually forced into hiding, and again the world doesn’t want to help where she and her mother were separated them. This is what happened with the Ho- from her father and brother. locaust,” Schloss said.

“The hosting of Jewish people was at Schloss hopes to inspire people to fight first acceptable, but then it became much to make a difference and to not repeat the more difficult. We had to go into hiding,

Never forget. Eva Schloss, Holocaust survivor and step-sister of Anne Frank, addresses RUHS students and staff, with Rabbi Yossi Mintz asking questions. PHOTO BY JACOB ALTHER

like the Frank family, and we were betrayed, like the Frank family. We were all sent to Auschwitz,” Schloss said.

After their liberation, her mother ended up marrying Otto Frank, Anne’s father.

Schloss believes that Otto helped her recover from her experiences in the Holocaust.

“When we returned to Amsterdam, we heard the devastating news that my father and brother had not survived. I was full of hatred and I was very depressed. Otto helped me a lot. He who had lost everything had still no hatred and was helping

a lot of people. He was really an amazing person,” Schloss said.

Like her step-father, Schloss sees the potential in people’s good intentions and hopes that those intentions do not deteriorate with age.

“Usually people are positive and want to have a good life, but then realize that it’s not so easy,” Schloss said. “They have to pay for a house and have to get education for their children and their family. They they become selfish as all the good intentions fly to the wind. That is what we have to avoid. We have to carry on with the work.”

Decorum in D.C.

Model United Nations club attends conference hosted by Georgetown University

By Sabrina Kim and Sarah Falahahwazi

Committee’s in session.

1. Junior Adam Sayad with his resolution group; delegates had to come up with comprehensive solutions to pressing global issues. 2. Juniors Nasim Khorasanii and Yuxuan Hu sit together during committee. 3. Sophomore Charlotte Maguy with the Lincoln Memorial in the background. Model UN members got to tour the National Mall, visiting the World War II Memorial and the Washington Monument.

PHOTOS COURTESY OF NICHOLAS SKLARENKO AND SAMANTHA ALDOVER

The Model United Nations club flew to Georgetown, Washington D.C. from Feb. 15 through 18 to participate in the North American Invitational Model United Nations conference (NAIMUN).

The event was hosted by Georgetown University, and welcomed 3,300 delegates from various parts of the world, including Italy, China, Germany, Venezuela and the United Kingdom.

“This conference is one of the biggest and most prestigious on the East Coast, and there’s a lot of really strong competition over there, so it was exciting for us to see how we match up against the various schools participating,” MUN adviser and history teacher Nicholas Sklarenko said.

This was the first out-of-state conference ever for the team, which usually attends conferences at local universities such as UCLA, UC Davis and USC. “We definitely weren’t planning on going across the country, much less to D.C., but that’s just what we ended up deciding on because we have an alumnus there, Yasmeen El-Hasan, so we thought it would be a perfect combination to see her and also experience our first-ever Georgetown conference,” senior and club president Emma Golub said.

The team began fundraising months in advance, raising over $4000 thanks to a campaign through Snapraise!, a “fundraising platform for high school sports teams, groups, and clubs,” according to their website.

“We wouldn’t have gotten here if we hadn’t fundraised,” Golub said. “It was really just little things here and there that allowed us to reduce the prices for our delegates, and also help us bring along so many students.”

Twenty-one RUHS delegates took part in the “intense” Georgetown conference, and followed the normal MUN debate process of being divided into committees with specific countries and topics to be discussed.

The committees were significantly larger in Georgetown compared to other con-

ferences — around twice as many delegates participating in each committee — which, according to John Forbes, only added to the competitive nature of the event.

“The East Coast kids just have a very different vibe. They were way more intense, and there were delegates already committed to Ivy League schools to study international political science and law. They were able to stay strong through 4-hour committee sessions, which I was dying in a little bit,” Forbes said.

Despite the pressure of spending almost 20 total hours in-session and sleeping “almost not at all” during the trip, the delegates did eventually find time to explore D.C. “We were able to find the National Mall, which is where the Washington Monument and Lincoln Memorial are located, and that was definitely a highlight. Timing was tight, so we couldn’t stay for very long, but it was still beautiful and gave us even more time to bond,” Golub said.

The NAIMUN conference also held outside lectures and events meant to further engage delegates in the topics they discuss in committee.

“There were people speaking about various global issues that they actually work on. This specific forum featured an organization called Child’s Promise that focuses on bringing education to students in Ghana. We got to hear about people that work in this organization and how students can help contribute to these efforts, which was really cool,” Sklarenko said.

MUN meets every Thursday in Sklarenko’s class, room 822, and are preparing for their next conference at UC Irvine this April.

“If you’re on the fence about MUN, know that as a club we’re really just suggesting that you have fun with it. There’s a certain level of commitment, but it’s not really about debate, whether you’re good at it or not,” Golub said. “You learn so much about governments around the globe, and it opens you up to what else is out there, so I’d say it’s really just about learning.”

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NEWS

MARCH 2, 2018 | HIGH TIDE

Rakuten OverDrive now available for student access

HIGH TIDE Staff Editors-in Chief Ben Brill

Elizabeth Fauver

Kylie Yorke

News Editors Alex Dang, Jon Mallen

Opinion Editors Miriam Farah, Jon Mallen

Features Editors Mia Berger, Reem Chamas Summer Saad

Entertainment Editors Justin Pioletti, Ben Yepez PHOTO VIA WWW.OVERDRIVE.COM

Luke Peterson

Information compiled by Danny Parhizi

What is it?

Rakuten OverDrive is an online platform used for accessing digital books. It provides access to a multitude of books, from textbooks to novels.

Who has access?

The service is available for all students and can be utilized on chromebooks, personal computers or even cell phones.

How will OverDrive be implemented?

Administration plans to introduce the platform to students as a resource for specific classes, as well as a means to access books for use outside of school.

How to access OverDrive: 1. Find ‘Sign-in’ on the website.

2. Select ‘Student’ from the drop down menu.

3. Log in using your RBUSD email and password.

4. Check out your book of choice.

Stay on top of return dates! Students are limited in the amount of books they can check out at one time.

ASB hosts Health and Fitness Fair

A preview of Drama’s 2018 Spring Musical:

“Crazy For You”

by Ivanica Skalko As part of ASB’s annual Health and Fitness Fair on February 22, multiple food and fitness vendors that specialize in healthy living gathered in the Student Union to give students ideas of how to live healthier.

“This month we were focusing on healthy lifestyles and healthy living.

So we thought, well, what is the best way to bring this to students? And the best way is to physically show them healthy alternatives for food, exercise and lifestyles,” ASB Commissioner of Awareness Eliana Stuart said.

There were multiple food vendors — including Pressed Juicery, Fresh Brothers and Ready Fit Go — to provide healthy alternatives for students to try out in person. Along with food vendors, ASB invited

Sports Editor

two different gyms: Triton Gym and Quest Taekwondo.

Despite the mixed reactions and some previously planned vendors dropping out last minute, Stuart was happy with the outcome and the huge amount of students that came out to the event.

“I was so happy with the turnout despite the little setbacks we had,” Stuart said. “It looked like a lot of people came out and got to see the different options, and hopefully it made students think about making healthier choices.”

Eden Millan

Copy Editors Alexander Clark, Lauren Kim

Writing Editors Lauren Kim, Kate Ripley

Technology Editor Samaya Rubio

Staff Writers Aaya Jhaveri Adam Sayad Alex Laureano Alexis Mesa Analisa Asaro Austin Nunis Camille Grace Christina Owen Christopher Snyder Danny Parhizi Ethan Park Grace McGonigle Ivanica Skalko Juninho Paniouchkine Jenna Edwards Liam Barret Kaden Kaczmarczyk Maia Ward Kiera Patterson Michael Solimando Lorraina Scolaro Nicholas White Martha Farah Rukhaa Kamran Molly Cochran Sangjun Lee Sabrina Kim Sarah Flannery Sarah Falahawazi Sophie Fleming Shyanne Landers William Pournamdari Sydney Nguyen Angie Tait Yasmine Elahihaghighi

Photographers In production. Junior Beck Hokanson and sophomore Jason Young practice their lines in a scene together.

PHOTO COURTESY OF LIZA HOLMES

by Sophie Fleming After weeks of preparation and practice, Drama students are set to perform this year’s spring musical, “Crazy For You,” starting March 16.

This comedic play revolves around the romantic, classic tale of a boy, a girl, and the revival of a lifeless town and theater. Packed with all sorts of humor made for everyone to understand, this musical is expected to put a smile on the faces of the audience.

Enoch White qualifies for National Merit Scholarship

by Alexis Mesa Senior Enoch White is a finalist for the National Merit Scholarship, a $2500 award given to high school students who scored in the 99th percentile on the PSAT. However, when compared to other finalists, he stands out for his unexpected success.

“I was a little surprised. I didn’t think that I scored that well because I didn’t really put a lot of thought into any of the testing, but apparently I scored well enough,” White said. “I got 1500 out of 1520.”

Unlike a majority of students in the top one percent, White did not study before taking the test.

“Most of the questions were pretty simple. There were a couple of math questions I was unsure of, but besides that, it was pretty easy,” White said.

For White, testing has never been difficult. In fact, he has grown “used to” doing well on assessments in a variety of school subjects.

“I honestly have no testing strategies. I suppose if there was a question I really had no idea how to answer, I’d save it for the end,” White said.

Photo Editor

Despite possessing a top score on the PSAT, White realizes he is unable to acquire the title of National Merit Scholar. The National Merit Scholarship Corporation will observe several aspects of his high school career, much of which he neglected to do.

“It is fairly probable that I will be disqualified for the scholarship. They take into account your other academic factors, both attendance and GPA. My weighted GPA last semester was a 3.33,” White said.

“When teachers find out about the NMSQT, they always say ‘yeah that makes sense, if only you’d actually apply yourself’.”

However, White’s goals were never conventional when compared to most students. Instead, he is taking a different route by joining the United States Marine Corps.

“At this point, it is probable that I will not be going to a college because I cannot afford it and my parents won’t pay for it, and so I will be enlisting in the Marine Corps, active duty,” White said. “I always knew I was going into the military. All that would have changed if I went to college after high school is that I would become an

officer in the Marine Corps earlier.”

White has experienced success outside of academics, devoting much of his time to the school’s Junior ROTC. As one of the highest-ranking cadets, White values selflessness, preferring to improve the program over bettering himself.

“With ROTC, I’ve made a commitment to a group, and so if I made a commitment to a group, I’m going to stick to it. A commitment to myself is of no value, however, a commitment to a team is. I don’t like letting other people down,” White said Now completing his last semester in high school, losing the National Merit Scholarship is something White recognizes as a missed opportunity he would work harder to obtain if given a second chance.

Although a “sad” reality, White vows to apply effort wherever it is demanded in the years to come.

“This has made me realize that sometimes I need to put in work in order to succeed, which has been a difficult realization for me,” White said. “I’m not going to be able to continue coasting through life.”

Shuaib Ahmad Ben Cheng Elise Dipaola Amber DuFresne Grace Laina Jade Rona Danielle Sestak Kierin Woolridge Mia Wicks

Illustrators Brennan Hickey Makena Frias

Emma Lyon Michael Bottcher

This is a wholly student-managed, designed, and written newspaper that focuses on the school and community.

Signed commentaries and editorial cartoons represent the opinions of the staff writer or cartoonist.

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OPINION

MARCH 2, 2018 | HIGH TIDE

5

Editorial

Students must be responsive to concerning behavior they see Listen very closely to the words you hear in the halls, or the comments you see on the internet and social media. The statements someone makes might just be evidence of a problem far beyond the scope of that ‘small talk’ or ‘joke’ he or she says.

There must be constant discussion on how to catch the warning signs of someone who may be depressed or needs emotional help in general. In some cases, it could bring to attention someone who may commit a violent crime. These ‘red flags’ shown by people must be taken more seriously before it is too late.

The tragedy of the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School shooting, committed by former student Nikolas Cruz, has left many in shock. However, Cruz’s peers say they are not surprised he committed this inconceivable act of violence against the school.

Months before the shooting Cruz made several concerning comments, including a comment that said “I’m going to become a professional school shooter.” Cruz frequently posted pictures of dead animals and pictures of him holding guns on his social media account, followed by several classmates and friends.

Cruz had the police called on him a numerous amount of times by both neighbors and his own parents before they passed away. There were a total of 23 calls to the

ILLUSTRATION BY MAKENA FRIAS

police on Cruz in the duration of ten years, according to NPR. However, the fact that this behavior was not dealt with more responsively and that several warning signs had not been taken seriously are factors into why Cruz was unobstructed in his goal to carry out the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School shooting.

Just days after the shooting done by Cruz, security guard Marino Chavez, at El Camino High School, overheard students talking about “shooting up the school” sometime within the span of three weeks.

Chavez then reported this to authorities and the two students who had been planning a school shooting were arrested. Two assault rifles and 90 magazines were found in their possession.

Editorial Board Vote The school community needs to respond better to concerning behavior they see at school and on social media, and utilize anonymous reporting to ensure our safety.

YES: 7

NO: 1

This conversation was an obvious red flag to Chavez. If this conversation had not been reported to the police by Chavez, another school shooting would have occurred. This further proves that when red flags are taken seriously, a tragedy is prevented.

Fellow students along with teachers and administration should encourage the school community to be aware of red flags

and how to handle them when noticed.

Students should also be taught what red flags are in more depth so when a red flag is shown, they are able to catch it and take action.

Most students feel less compelled to report these red flags because they lack confidence in anonymous reporting systems, such as Sprigeo. A multitude of students at Redondo have posted reports on Sprigeo to play practical jokes on their friends, detracting from the legitimacy of the reporting.

If the school’s current system of Sprigeo is improved upon or a more streamline process of reporting concerning or shady behavior is developed, it could bring positive results in keeping our school community in constant conversation to prevent couldbe tragedies.

It’s time for students at Redondo to take safety into our own hands by keeping the conversation going. If we can learn anything from the countless tragedies, and especially those preventable ones that go unreported, the key is effective communication.

Because we can set the standard by learning to evaluate and respond to the concerning things we may see, we can take pride in knowing that we attend a safe school environment where students don’t live in constant fear.

Are walkouts effective in protesting for legislative reform on gun control?

Yes. It is how to achieve change.

by Molly Cochran Gun violence is a national crisis of student safety. Change is necessary and cannot be achieved by stagnancy.

A school walkout is the best way for us to use our voices.

Every day that our government fails to reform gun control is another day students nationwide are put at risk. We remain sitting ducks, patiently awaiting another tragedy to make actual change.

While it’s true that calling senators, sending letters to legislators and online activism help push for change, they aren’t enough anymore. The necessity for drastic measure increases

No. They are not effective.

with every life lost. We have to physically walk out of school to make politicians understand that their lack of change is making our schools unsafe; we’re scared and we demand action.

If none of us participated in the walkout, we’d be allowing those victims of gun violence to die in vain.

The only reason that any change at all is happening is that we aren’t simply taking to Twitter and posting in all caps; we’re going to our government buildings and demonstrating.

The upcoming national walkouts, March 14 and April 20, are set on the anniversaries of Parkland and Columbine, respectively, and serve as an easy way for school-aged citizens to practice their First Amendment rights.

The time has come for us to start advocating for ourselves, even if we do miss some class time to do so. Students and teachers know best what it’s like to live in fear of attack by school shooter, far better than the politicians on Capitol Hill.

by Maia Ward Student walkouts are not the most efficient way to bring change to current gun legislation that supporters make them out to be.

If the walkouts are to be effective, a great deal of students must participate to draw attention to their cause.

Otherwise, the attention will not be nearly enough to enact change.

The truth of the matter is that the turnout is not likely to be as high as protesters hope. While many students may care about the issue at hand, gun control, not enough will take the time to walk out of class to protest it.

Bringing conversation to the issue

of gun control is of the utmost importance. However, school itself is quite important too. Learning valuable material, maintaining satisfactory grades in classes, and preparing for AP tests are issues that are likely to motivate a great deal of students to choose to stay in their classes.

Even if there is a large turnout, there are other more effective ways that students can get involved and help support the movement for reform to laws on firearms, without leaving their classes.

On their own time, students should contact their state officials, or even plan a trip to Washington. While Congressmen, Governors, assemblymen and senators may not always be available to directly respond to students, whatever they say or advocate for is heard by elected officials.

It is most effective to focus our energy directly on contacting representatives and creating petitions in order to bring immediate legislative reform to current laws on firearms.

For all its related tragedies, necessary legislative reform on firearms is lacking THE CAPITOL:

America’s greatest obstacle in achieving legislative reform

by Kate Ripley How long must the cycle of tragedy and grieving continue? The American people need more than a prayer, retweet and an empty promise; they need action.

The victims’ families of recent shootings have lost their loved ones, and they will never get them back. They now need the effort of their government to ensure a tragedy like this never happens again. The government is elected for the people, by the people, and it is their duty to promote laws that reflect the needs and values of Americans.

ILLUSTRATION BY MAKENA FRIAS

Congress has passed zero legislative reform on the sale and possession of arms since Sandy Hook except for the renewal of the ban on plastic firearms, according to The Huffington Post. There have been new state laws on guns since Sandy Hook, but none at the national level.

In fact, very little has changed since the infamous Columbine shooting which

happened almost 19 years ago. Obviously people disagree on how best to tackle the issue, but that does not excuse the continuing practice of doing nothing.

Politicians continue to say what they think people want to hear without performing the actions that should come with it. They transform politics into drama, making ad hominem attacks against one

another, rather than working together to achieve bipartisan reform.

When it comes to mass shootings, Republicans claim the issue is mental illness while Democrats claim the issue is guns.

Rather than working together to make a compromise, they attack the other side for “politicizing” the issue.

Instead of moving forward in Congress to pass lasting legislation, they send only their thoughts and prayers. Thoughts and prayers will not prevent further tragedies, nor revive the hundreds of people lost to mass shootings.

Congressmen should bear this warning: you were elected for a purpose, and if you do not follow through, you will be replaced by a candidate who is committed to progress. The youth of this nation are the future, and we will defend our right to define the future of this nation. Change will come in Congress, but only if we, the people, use our power of the polls to make it happen.

INFORMATION COMPILED FROM WWW.MEDICALNEWSTODAY.COM AND WWW.PCRM.ORG

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MAR. 2, 2018 | HIGH TIDE

Vegetariansim isn’t all bad

RUHS needs more career oriented classes

OPINION ILLUSTRATIONS

BY EMMA LYON

A vegetarian diet can lower body weight, stabilize

cholesterol levels and lower risk of developing cancer.

As with breast cancer, frequent consumption of meat is associated with an increased risk of colon cancer.

Almost 30 percent of available ice-free surface area is used by livestock or for growing food for those animals.

by Analise Asaro Although RUHS has implemented new programs such as the various computer science classes, as well as continued older ones, such as Project Lead the Way (PLTW), RUHS still needs to offer more career specific classes for students..

The school seems to have neglected many careers that are both viable and popular, such as business, law and advertising.

Adding these classes would benefit RUHS’s prestige, provide ways for students to experiment with different careers before college and give students a head start in their career and technical education.

There are programs like Southern California Regional Occupational Center (SCROC), which have options for classes applying to the real world and jobs. However, as these classes are not on campus and are not advertised by RUHS very well, a small amount of students know about them, and even less actually end up taking them.

There are clubs such as Mock Trial and Model United Nations that are both great preparation for their fields, but neither is the same as having an actual class because they are predominately student run as opposed to being taught by a professional.

Of the 1,870,000 Bachelor’s degrees in 2013-2014, the most were for Business.

Many high schoolers want to either major or minor in business due to the wide range of opportunities it offers and how many jobs a business degree can be used for.

RUHS has already began to put in classes that apply to modern day jobs in the STEM field, for example the recently added Computer Science classes. Having technology options in high schools is important because the demand of jobs that require these skills are increasing as programming become more and more prevalent.

PLTW is the perfect example of a career specific class that gives students a head start before college. It typically takes eight years and around $300,000 to get a medical degree or a law degree, yet only the medical field is represented at RUHS. Many students have taken bio-medical science freshmen year and realized they hated it and did not want to go into that career. By having that option as a class for them at RUHS, they realized early on that they needed to find a new career path, as well as saving a few thousand dollars.

Becoming a lawyer or a doctor is a huge commitment with the risk of not being able to pay off the debt that was accumulated from eight years of school. Instead of students realizing half way through medical school they don’t want to be a doctor, this could have been prevented if they had gotten a preview in high school.

This can be applied for any career if we had the options. Nearly 80 percent of students change their major at least once, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. Fifteen percent of teens do not know what they want to be when they grow up, and there are just not enough classes in high school that apply to the real world to help them decide.

Having more career specific classes would be extremely beneficial to students, as well as bring even more popularity and attention to RUHS. Only recognizing some careers on campus, such as those in STEM, is not fair to those who want to venture into the fields of business and law.

Having more classes that will actually help us in our future careers will give RUHS students an advantage in college because we will already have the experience and know what career path we want.

by Christina Owen Deep dish meat lovers’ pizza is perhaps my favorite food on this planet, which is why it pains me to say that we should probably all be vegetarian.

If you want to slap me in the face right now, I completely understand. While this reaction is completely natural, it is important to consider the benefits of vegetarianism.

Both processed meats and red meats have been categorized as carcinogens, according to the American Cancer Society. Processed meats are Group 1 carcinogens, meaning that they are carcinogenic to humans and in the same group as Tobacco, while red meats are Group 2A carcinogens, meaning that they could be carcinogenic to humans.

A vegetarian diet can meet protein requirements and supply all the essential amino-acids, vitamins, fats, and minerals, according to the American Dietetic Association.

There’s no denying that it is easier to maintain a non-vegetarian diet; vegetarianism requires more time

and effort. For someone who is transitioning to a vegetarian diet, it may be difficult to cut out meat altogether. In addition, for someone who is beginning a vegetarian diet, meal planning and/or finding alternatives will require more effort, especially if you are the only vegetarian in your family.

If the thought of getting cancer doesn’t scare the living daylights out of you as it does to me. A vegetarian diet is also more sustainable for the environment. Overgrazing livestock harms the environment through soil compaction, erosion and harm to plants and animals.

A vegetarian diet preserves land and conserves water. It takes about 2500 gallons of water to produce one pound of beef and about 660 gallons of water for one pound of chicken. On the contrary, it takes about 220 gallons to make a pound of tofu and 180 to make a pound of wheat flour, according to a report for the Water Education Foundation.

Given that many Redondo students are student-athletes, protein plays a very important role in our diets. When one

INFORMATION COMPILED FROM WWW.MEDICALNEWSTODAY.COM

thinks of protein, the most common association is with meat, even though there are other healthy options.

As the proud president of the Tofu Haters’ Club, I am in no position to tell you to run to the nearest Whole Foods and try to fill the void with lumps of soy. However, there are many other meat alternatives that can even be comparable to meat itself if you really can’t live without it.

Furthermore, the concept of vegetarianism is no longer so taboo. I can say with almost absolute certainty that every grocery store and restaurant in the South Bay has several vegetarian options that are economically sustainable. Trader Joe’s, for example, carries a variety of meat substitutes such as meatless soy patties, Tofurky, veggie burgers and soy bacon.

Even so, you do not need to purchase fancy soy meat products to maintain a vegetarian diet. Other sources of vegetarian protein include brown rice, quinoa, beans, lentils etc. which you may already be consistently eating.

You might be thinking of vegetarians as kombucha drinking, sage burning, SoulCycle patronizing hipsters, but maybe it’s time to ditch the stereotype and think about what’s undeniably more important: your health.

The College Board is a necessary evil

by Sangjun Lee Depending on who you’re talking to, students may cringe or cower in fear when they hear this name: The College Board.

Basically acting as a government subsidized monopoly in education, College Board doesn’t necessarily have to respond to the needs of the student in order to keep their profits soaring. It shows itself to be a flawed institution with many student and teacher complaints.

However, the College Board monopoly on education is a necessary evil that provides firm ground for the success of our education system.

First off, the fact that College Board has a virtual monopoly on education is clear. Its AP format is prevalent in over 21,000 high schools nationwide, with 2.7 million students who took an AP exam in 2017.

Those numbers tower over its main “competitor,” International Baccalaureate (a course and test with a format similar to the structure of AP), which

is in less than 1800 high schools nationwide, with 86,000 students who took an IB exam in 2017.

Now, you may be wondering (probably even more than before) why this monopoly is necessary. College Board still serves its “not-for-profit” purpose of expanding educational opportunities for the public. Its SAT and AP exams are always being updated to match students’ abilities and to improve college readiness.

Teby Wammack, one of RUHS’s college counselors, believes that the SAT and AP exams are important tools for colleges to measure students’ potential.

“Although it is not the only tool, this standardized testing is a good equalizer to measure students in terms of their readiness,” Wammack said. “It provides an equal platform to measure students fairly across the nation.”

Wammack knows that different schools may give different grades for the same work, showing the need for a flat, standardized grading scale to see students’ potential; College Board provides the necessary scale. College Board’s AP exams also allow students to self-select AP courses that they will succeed in.

Recently, College Board partnered with Khan Academy to help educate and prepare students for the SAT at no cost.

This allows low-income students to take part in official SAT prep without any financial burden, whereas

in the past, only higher-income students could afford the expensive prep classes that boosted their scores.

However, none of this is to say College Board shouldn’t be challenged in the future. While the SAT faces some competition from the ACT, the ACT seems comfortable with charging similar, expensive fees at around $60 per test with essay.

Additionally, IB is unable to compete with AP because high schools that chose the AP curriculum are largely unable to change to IB. The enormous cost in materials and teachers it takes to enact such a change would overburden those schools.

I’m not going to lie; it’s going to be difficult for any competitor to truly rise up against College Board. The Center for Responsive Politics reports that hundreds of thousands of dollars are spent annually by College Board on US political lobbying, and local governments, like New York City, are pushing for more taxpayer funded expansions of AP curriculum.

“A suitable competitor would definitely drive those costs and profits down,” Wammack said. “And that would benefit the students.”

College Board’s exorbitant prices and excessive profits can be curtailed with more marketplace competition, but we still have to wait for a strong, credible challenger to confront College Board. As much as I hate to say this, we need College Board, at least for now.

ILLUSTRATION BY MAKENA FRIAS

OPINION

MAR. 2, 2018 | HIGH TIDE

7

Donald Trump isn’t wrong: “Our airports are third world—horrible.”

by Adam Sayad When it comes to the physical state of American airports, political lines can’t divide us. They’re in awful shape. Going from London or Dubai to Los Angeles or New York is like taking a time machine back to the 1960s, except for the fact that thousands of passengers are moving through these facilities on a daily basis.

There are many reasons for the degrading state of American airports, but many of them fall back to the fact that they’re run through a socialist model. Basically, most airports are owned by a local or port authority. For instance, Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) is owned by Los Angeles World Airports.

When the government interferes in a business, more attention goes towards operation and funding leaving less regard for quality and experience.

Look at the DMV with its long lines, inefficient operations and generally rude service. This mechanized trend is mirrored in American airports. In contrast, airports under partial or entirely private ownership handle three quarters of passengers in Europe, according to the European Airports Council International.

It’s difficult for American airports to make improvements because of the way federal funding is distributed.

Passengers travelling through the U.S. are subject to taxes and fees that go towards airport operations overseen by the Federal Aviation Administration or FAA.

A large portion of these fees goes towards funding the Federal Airport Improvement Program, which provides grants that sum up to $3.4 billion a year for capital projects at U.S. airports, according to the FAA. While this may sound good, the problem with this program is that it unjustly transfers ticket tax dollars from frequently used airports to those that are used least.

The top 60 airports in the U.S. carry 88 percent of the nation’s passengers, but receive only 27 percent of grants from the Airport Improvement Program, according to Foundation for Economic Education.

The solution to this problem is simple: get the government out of major airport management. Many people are worried about the current state of security in our airports. I’m not advocating for complete deregulation.

The government should oversee airport operations like customs and border protection, passenger screenings and air traffic control.

However, many parts of an airport operation, like concessions and infrastructure improvement projects, need to be privatized in order

riers.

While places like Dubai and London compete for the international traveler who can choose to stop in a number of places between Europe, Asia and the United States, American cities don’t cater much to the international traveler.

International carriers compete for the business of wealthier long-haul passengers who tend to spend more time and money at the airport.

Instead, domestic air travel, where there isn’t as much competition or urgency to improve, makes American carriers most of their profit. Low budget carriers like Spirit Airlines thrive off of this model. The name “Spirit” is associated with bad quality and incredibly low rates of customer satisfaction.

They don’t offer complimentary beverages or snacks, and their seats don’t recline.

Additionally, their terms and conditions include a $45 charge to carry a bag onto the plane and a $10 charge to print a boarding pass at the airport.

While U.S. carriers and airlines have a long way to go, steps in the right direction are being made. LAX, the fourth busiest airport in the world, is in the midst of a necessary $14 billion overhaul. This will include new terminals, restaurants, and improved transportation into and out of the airport, according to CBS Los Angeles.

Airports are vital economic and cultural centers that connect Americans from every background to the world.

A world class nation deserves world class airports. Something

The U.S. ranks number 30 in the world for quality of air infrastructure.

In some U.S. airports, there is

no sole communication network everyone can use. t o run more efficiently.

Despite this, the problem doesn’t just lie with the government.

American air carriers are consistently outperformed by international car-

12 million passengers ranked more than 400 airports, and no American airport was

in the top 25.

INFORMATION COMPILED FROM WWW.BUSINESSINSIDER.COM

Businesses should not use “diversity” as cheap advertising

by Samaya Rubio If you watch TV, chances are you’ve seen a commercial with the theme of “diversity.” Don’t get me wrong. I believe in all the things they are promoting, but they’re doing it all wrong.

According to CBS News, Americans see about 5,000 advertisements per day, and I for one would rather see advertisements for the product at hand than a commercial that uses a theme of “diversity” to hook their audiences and get them to want the product instead of just selling it.

America is an extremely diverse country in terms of political views, ethnic background, and lifestyle, but having that as a commercial theme feels wrong.

I would much rather see a car commercial featuring families of all races DRIVING

IN CARS than a car commercial showing people of all races participating in their own cultural celebrations that have nothing to do with the product at hand.

A particularly annoying commercial is one for Airbnb, a vacation house rental website, that showed clips of racially diverse people’s faces through the whole commercial, and only at the end, viewers learn what the commercial is actually for.

This seems like a cheap advertising tactic, and at the end of the commercial, any person unfamiliar with Airbnb would be extremely confused.

If we mainstream diversity in the media, we will be one step closer to equality overall. If the only time people see someone of a varying background is in a diversity commercial, what are we showing the world?

Non-white people are only being shown as a super-special addition to a diversity themed commercial, not as an example of a regular “just like me” prototype used in every other commercial.

This extends to all advertising, not just television ads. Fashion shows, magazine

covers, and billboards should be more diverse. Out of 444 models in print ads in Spring of 2017 according to thefashionspot. com, only 24.5 percent were nonwhite, while according to the 2010 census, 23.1 percent of Americans are not white alone.

We have to take into consideration that in the past there have only been white models. In a Seventeen Magazine I recently flipped through I saw three ads with African-Americans on them in the first pages, which made me very happy, but it’s still not enough.

These were all lighter skinned people with straightened hair and more “white-looking” features. People of all races who look like they are white are featured more often in all parts of the media.

As I looked through the ads, I only saw one advertisement with a darker skin tone, and the ad was for Lancome that only sells one shade of foundation that would fit that model. Not to mention that I saw one or two Asian or Middle Eastern models in total in the magazine, while the national percentage of Asian American people is 5.6 percent, according to the 2010 census.

I haven’t even touched on the LGBTQ+ community yet. By my spotty memory, I can only remember two commercials EVER that featured a non-heterosexual couple outside of a diversity commercial.

According to Marketing Week, only 0.06 percent of people featured in advertising are LGBTQ+ or disabled.

People wonder why it takes people so long to come out; it’s because LGBTQ+ kids don’t see that there are other people out there like them, especially not in mainstream media. Show our diverse population that they are the same as everyone else, that they can be a typical family.

I would like to see a commercial with a diverse cast that doesn’t need to have the theme of diversity like a car commercial I saw recently that showed people of all races buying the same car, which I believe would make people more likely to buy the products if they see themselves represented by the company.

The world is a very diverse place, and advertisers of all kinds should be embracing that and not just in one commercial with the theme of “diversity.”

Hits & Misses

Teachers in West Virginia are currently striking for better wages and benefits. It’s time teachers receive the pay they deserve.

Students at a high school in Missouri were not allowed to return to school after they participated in a march against gun violence.

Dick’s Sporting Goods will end sales of all assault-style rifles, high-capacity magazines and guns to anyone below the age of 21, regardless of local laws.

AP tests emptied our wallets! These students miss the hundreds they spent on these tests.

The newest Marvel movie “Black Panther” breaks records with $218 million at holiday weekend box office!

The boys’ bathrooms are closed once again! It is an inconvience to find an open bathroom, forcing students to miss class time.

8

FEATURES

MAR. 2, 2018 | HIGH TIDE

Here comes the sun...

HOW SAFE DO YOU FEEL AT SCHOOL? “For the most part I feel safe, but obviously there have been a lot of problems with school shootings. It has crossed my mind many times, and I’ve wondered ‘are we safe here?’ Most of the time people think ‘that would never happen here,’ but we can never know that for sure. The kids in Florida probably thought the same thing, and it did happen. We need to take precautions at a local level.”

-LS “As far school shootings happening at our school, I do feel pretty safe. School shootings usually only last about three minutes and since the police station is so close, I do feel safe at our school in particular.”

IS ARMING TEACHERS IS AN EFFECTIVE WAY TO PREVENT SCHOOL SHOOTINGS? “We need to arm teachers because obviously the government can’t protect us. The police officers in Parkland didn’t do their jobs [by not going into the school.”

-NR “A teacher’s job is to teach. Even here in Redondo. We can’t expect to pay thousands upon thousands of dollars, that we don’t even have to give to the students, to be put towards weapons and training for teachers.”

-IC

-IC “Although the police station is right here I don’t think that’s enough. If someone came to our school with a gun I don’t feel that [our security guards] could really do anything.”

-LS

OTHER THAN ARMING TEACHERS, WHAT WAYS DO YOU THINK WE CAN PREVENT GUN VIOLENCE IN SCHOOLS? “Instead of arming teachers I think we should push the age to buy a gun up to 21. It doesn’t make sense that in the eyes of the law you’re not responsible enough to drink, but you are responsible enough to own a deadly weapon.

Mental health should be more of a concern. It’s such a taboo. When someone has cancer people rush to help but mental illnesses are often ignored.”

-KC “We definitely need to focus more on mental health; it is the root of the problem. The current administration has cut funding for mental health treatment, and I do not agree with that.”

-LS

“We can’t yank trained people out of the military and say ‘okay you’re going to go be a teacher now”

-KC “The man who stopped the Texas church shooting was a regular, NRA supporting citizen. He wasn’t a police officer, he was a regular citizen who was armed, and he was able to stop a mass shooting. If we have teachers who are willing and capable of preventing these shootings we should be focusing on that, and in that case we wouldn’t have to worry about wasting taxpayer money on school security.”

-NR

WATCH THE FULL DISCUSSION ONLINE AT

HIGHTIDEONLINE.ORG

HT

ROUNDTABLE DISCUSSION

SENIORS DEBATE A CONTROL AND RESPONSES TO AN SHOO compiled by

ARROW INDICATES DIRECT RESPONSE

PARITICPIANTS IN ROUNDTABLE DISCUSSION:

ISABELLA CHACON -IC

KATE CUNNINGHAM -KC

FEATURES

MAR. 2, 2018 | HIGH TIDE

IS BANNING SEMI AUTOMATIC WEAPONS AN EFFECTIVE WAY TO PREVENT GUN VIOLENCE? “I don’t understand why people are upset about the idea of a ban on automatic and semi automatic weapons.”

-KC “I don’t get why people need [AR15s.]

If it’s only for protection, a handgun is sufficient.”

-IC “It’s like asking ‘why do you want a fast car?’ It’s on the market; it’s available.

So should we ban fast cars.”

HOW EFFECTIVE OF A DEMONSTRATION DO YOU THINK A WALK-OUT WOULD BE? “Most kids participating [in the walkout] are just doing it to get out of class, let’s be honest.”

-NR “I sympathize with the idea of a walkout. I understand what it symbolizes.

These kids are saying that they are not gonna stay in school until it becomes safer, but I personally would not participate because I don’t want to jeopardize my education. It also represents a cause that I do not support; it calls for greater gun control”

-LS

-NR “Cars and guns are completely different. The whole point of a gun is to kill things. Whether it’s for hunting or mass shootings. Nobody needs a gun that shoots that many bullets that quickly.

Those guns shoot to kill. You could survive a shot from a handgun, but these bullets travel at such a high velocity that they rip apart your body and I don’t see the need for that”

-KC

AND DISCUSS GUN D APPROPRIATE NOTHER SCHOOL OTING Amanda Ban

LUCAS SIMOES -LS

NICK ROBBINS -NR

WHY DO YOU THINK AMERICANS SHOULD BE ABLE TO OWN ASSAULT WEAPONS? “My parents are immigrants from Brazil.

[The government] took away their guns and a bunch of mass murders happened there. My grandpa had to go into hiding because the government was targeting his family.”

-LS “People say that they need these weapons to protect themselves from the government, but the government has nuclear weapons all kinds of things that we probably don’t know about. If they decide to come after you you’re not going to stand a chance with your little rifle.”

-KC

“You could do and voice your opinions. You can advocate your opinions, whether it be arming teachers or whatever else you think needs to take places. It’s fighting for change.”

-KC “I would rather contact my representatives or contact a lobbyist.”

-LS

WHY DO YOU THINK AMERICANS SHOULD BE ABLE TO OWN ASSAULT WEAPONS? “If you have suffered from a tragedy it doesn’t make you a policy expert. It’s wrong for CNN and MSNBC to exploit these kids to push an agenda.”

-NR “ The kid basically said that CNN tried to manufacture his answer and that the town hall was all scripted. Then after looking at the evidence both Fox News and CNN came out and said that the kid was lying and that CNN didn’t do anything wrong. I think it’s really messed up that this kid and his family used this to thwart the left leaning movement that has come from this. That is not what this should have been about.”

-IC

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10

FEATURES

MAR 3, 2018 | HIGH TIDE

The Heart of a Champion Emily Sawyer and her team in Texas won last year’s National Cheerleading Championship

by Sabrina Kim

C

heerleaders across the United States want the title of National Champions, which comes with a trophy, jackets and bragging rights.

All of these priveleges apply to sophomore Emily Sawyer, who was on a team in Texas that won first place at the National Cheer Association (NCA) championships last year.

“The NCA competition was really stressful. We started off as a junior level three team, and we had great tumbling for that level, but our stunts were not good at all. They were falling a lot and just not hitting,” Sawyer said.

After losing three competitions prior to NCA, Sawyer’s team, Cheer Athletics Lady Diamond, in Austin, Texas, was moved down from level 3 to 2. The team remained unsuccessful in hitting their routine.

“By the time NCA came around, I was pretty nervous because we hadn’t been doing great, and I wasn’t sure how it was going to go,” Sawyer said.

Sawyer explained her team knew how to perform their routine, but their attitude was “sloppy.”

“That’s not something that coaches can easily correct. We knew how to do everything, but we had to fix the way we performed on our own,” Sawyer said.

Her team practiced the entire week leading up to the competition and worked on being sharp.

“NCA was really big it was amazing.

One of my old coaches came to see me there, and it really got me more excited to perform. I also got to see a ton of other people from my first gym that closed down,” Sawyer said.

Once her team performed, she realized how prepared and ready for the competition they really were.

“We all watched the video of us doing

the routine after we got off the stage, and I saw that we looked amazing; our technique was perfect,” Sawyer said. “I was wondering what happened to my team because it was that crazy.”

Later on that day, her team received the placement results for day one of two.

Her team placed in first of the Junior Level Two Division for that day. They performed again the next day and didn’t make any mistakes.

“We were at the ceremony where they announced the champions at the end of the second day, and as soon as we heard ‘Cheer Athletics Lady Diamond’ announced, everyone jumped around, screaming and crying,” Sawyer said. “The coaches hugged everybody, and there was music playing for us. It was such an emotional moment.”

After claiming the title, the team got to enter the well-known jacket room where a surplus of exclusive jackets are held.

“The jackets lined the entire room. We tried them on, walked out with them, and took a bunch of pictures. We got to stand in front of this huge banner that said ‘National Champion of NCA’ and hold the trophy as well,” Sawyer said.

Sawyer explained she has not been able to stay at one cheerleading gym for more than a year. These gyms allow competition teams to practice their routines in an authentic environment.

“It’s never been my choice to leave. The two gyms I’ve been to in the past have been so great that I didn’t want to move on,” Sawyer said. “I even tried out for this year’s team at my second gym and made the team, but then I had to leave.”

Sawyer recently moved in August of last year from Texas due to her father’s job change.

“Everything is bigger in Texas, so cheer was a huge deal there. The parents go all

Bring it on. Last year, Emily Sawyer (front) and the Cheer Athletics Lady Diamond team in

Austin, Texas won the heavily sought after National Cheerleading Association Championship.

PHOTO COURTESY OF EMILY SAWYER

out, and I noticed they don’t really do that as much here,” Sawyer said. “I like parents to show a bigger amount of support because it just makes it more fun for everyone involved.”

Sawyer explained the parents in California support their kids, but they “don’t have the same sort of spirit” those in Texas have.

“I remember at one of my old gyms a couple of the parents known as the ‘cheer dads’ would dress up in blue morphsuits, wear wigs and put on shirts from the team,” Sawyer said.

Family was the reason Sawyer became involved in All Star cheerleading.

“I had already been in that atmosphere and gone to competitions, so the only thing I hadn’t done was actually cheer,” Sawyer said. “It also had to do with me wanting to do better than my sister did when she was my age, so it was like a competition for me to advance farther than she did.”

Her first gym was Austin Cheer Factory, but the gym closed down a year after

she joined due to the owner suffering a minor heart attack.

“Before you ask, he’s okay and alive. I had known the owners for about a decade before I joined because my sister used to cheer in that gym. I transfered to Cheer Athletics in Austin after that,” Sawyer said.

Changing teams once more, Sawyer is currently a part of the LAX All Stars team located in Inglewood. They have junior and senior levels, which both go from level one up to three.

“It’s a senior level two team called Starstruck. Level one is basic tumbling like cartwheels and back walkovers, and as you go up in levels they get more difficult,” Sawyer said.

Although she hasn’t stayed with one team for longer than a year, she feels each team is “like a separate family”.

“I love meeting all these people because some of them are kind of crazy in a good way,” Sawyer said. “You don’t make super close connections with everybody, but it’s still great to be able to make connections.”

Tanner McEveety comes from a long line ofss people in show buisness

by William Pournamdari and Zach Paulson

Q: Why are you interested in flimmaking? Q: What are some of the benefits?

A: “The craft involved and knowing what goes A: “I’ve been on sets a lot on my father’s tv into it is what makes me think filmmaking is so cool,” McEveety said. “I have a somewhat unique experience being able to go on set and being able to see what it’s like to make a film.”

shows. He’ll bring us around to meet some of the actors so it’s pretty cool. While on set there was craft service where I got to take advantage of the food and can eat whatever I want.” McEveety said.

Q: Why do you think your family is so

Tanner McEveety’s family is in some productions you may recognize....

A:

ILLUSTRATION VIA WIKIMEDIA COMMONS

involved in the movie industry?

“When you have so many family members involved in it you end up being exposed to it, and if you’re interested in it as a career you have a direct pipeline from your family member,” McEveety said.

“Personally I would want to do screen writing or become a stunt coordinator just because I like martial arts so much.”

Stephen McEveety Cousin Producer

Vincent McEveety Grandfather Director

Mike McEveety Dad First Assistant Cameraman

FEATURES

MAR. 3, 2018 | HIGH TIDE

11

Bookworms Rebecca Bloch self published a poetry book about her life experiences

by Rukhaa Kamran

Julia Chun self published a book based on the lives of homeless people

by Yasmine Elahihaghighi

Young Poe. Bloch poses

Nothing is always as it seems. Chun poses

with her book “People Watching.” PHOTO BY

with her book “the streets speak.” PHOTO BY DAN-

EDEN MILLAN

IELLE SESTAK

P

oetry can take some getting used to. After finding inspiration from those around her, junior Rebecca Bloch was able to self publish her own poetry book, “People Watching.”

“I wrote a poetry book for people to read about how others feel. The entire book isn’t just about me. A majority of it is about people I know and their situations. I just wrote it for people to relate to and feel less alone,” Bloch said.

Bloch’s book focuses on her and her friends’ experiences as teenagers. Her main goal was to give her audience something to connect with.

“A lot of people don’t like expressing how they feel. They think it’ll make them seem vulnerable or weak. I know a lot of people that think nobody else can relate to what they’re going through. In my book, I wrote about everything. I have three sections, so whatever you’re feeling, I guarantee you it’s in there,” Bloch said.

The book is divided into three sections: ‘hurt,’ ‘love’ and ‘everything in between.’ She believes almost everyone can relate to at least one of the sections.

Bloch still chose to include the ‘love’ section because she believed most of her audience has experienced love.

“The ‘love’ section was the hardest one to do because I’ve never been in love,” Bloch said. “I would go to my friends who have experienced stuff like that, and they would tell me what it’s like. It was still very fun to write about.

I’m a hopeless romantic, I would totally write about it again.”

Her favorite section, ‘everything in between,’ consists of her more “random” and “miscellaneous” poems.

“Even if you’ve never been hurt or been in love, I think ‘everything in between’ is great for you. It just has to do with the beauty of life, people and humanity. It’s nothing very specific like ‘love’ or ‘hurt.’ I wrote it because if you haven’t felt those things, there’s another section you can turn to,” Bloch said.

Bloch finished writing her book within three weeks. A majority of it was done over winter break.

“I would work on it sporadically, but there would be some days during break where I would just write from 5 pm to 3 in the morning,” Bloch said.

Because she self published, Bloch did not have any professional publishers edit her work. She mainly had mentors and family friends who were in the writing business look over her work.

Bloch showed her friends her poems before the book was published because she wanted to see how they would react to it. She wanted more opinions since a majority of her poems are targeted towards teenagers.

After receiving positive feedback from her friends and fellow classmates, she plans on releasing another poetry book later this year.

Bloch’s favorite part about releasing her book would be all the people that have reached out to her, saying they have bought it. The best part of this entire experience to her is when people send pictures of their favorite poems.

“You just have to find something that you love writing about. Whether it’s journalism or fiction, you just have to do it. Go to a place that inspires you and just write down whatever you’re feeling. You just have to stick with it and don’t give up when it gets tough.”

I

nspired by her volunteer work, junior Julia Chun self published a book on homelessness hoping to reguide the incorrect stereotype around homelessness.

The book features eight short stories from real homeless people about their experiences and views on the topic.

“I wanted to spread awareness about homelessness. I thought that the best way would be to put in their own stories and not have someone else speak for them and say how they feel,” Chun said.

When writing the book, Chun found it challenging at times to word the story so that people would not misinterpret the book’s message.

“I am trying to break a stereotype but I also do not want to build a new one . I do not want everyone to read the book and think homeless people just want empathy,” Chun said. “In a sense I am building a new face for the homeless community and because it is coming from scratch, it is a really delicate thing to do.”

Chun spent a majority of her time perfecting the writing of the book, but published it after over 6 months of working.

“The beginning process was purely interviewing and research on homelessness and then two months after that I was writing every single day. I would come home and listen to my interviews and just write,” Chun said.

Chun’s inspiration for the book came from her time spent at Highly Favored: a Blessing to Others, an organization that helps feed and provide the homeless with basic necessities.

“When you volunteer, it is really eye

opening to see. I feel like there is this stigma around homelessness and everyone thinks or assumes they all need money for alcohol and drugs only,” Chun said.

Everyone Chun talked to was open with her and willing to explain their story of what it is like being homeless.

“Most of the people I interviewed came from homeless shelters. I made them dinner first and then sat down and talked to them. I wanted it to be a casual thing and not to feel super serious,” Chun said.

Chun explains how there is a false stereotype that the homeless are rude, and hopes the stories in her book will change people’s opinions.

“If you even just have a conversation with them for a little, they will always say thank you no matter what and be polite to you. Seeing how kind the people are and helping them is so rewarding in itself,” Chun said.

Chun explains how people came up to her saying they felt a new understanding of the reality of being homeless.

“It is supposed to make you feel empathy for others and the homeless in particular. I have had people reach out to me, and I am just happy its purpose is being reached,” Chun said.

Chun felt happy knowing that her book spread around and the people buying her book were not just immediate friends and family.

“I think my book was successful in the sense that it touched a lot of people,” Chun said. “I had people who do not know me super well and who have never talked to me come up and ask for a book.”

People Watching

the streets speak.

On Amazon: $7.45

On Amazon: $8.00

by Rebecca Bloch

Information compilied from Amazon.com

by Julia Chun

ENTERTAINMENT

12

Long live the king

Black Panther balances social justice with superhero entertainment

by Lorraina Scolaro Creating powerful emotions throughout the story and straying from the norm of everyday superhero films, Marvel’s latest film, Black Panther, is a compelling story.

Taking place in the Kingdom of Wakanda, audiences are taken to the past, present, and future of Black Panther, known as T’Challa (Chadwick Boseman).

Unlike most superhero films that focus on the small story at hand or just the hero’s origins, Black Panther delivers a meaningful story by blending in layers of action and characterization. Audiences are able to see the past of almost every important character, making it easy to understand even the villains and their treacherous motives.

As the story progresses and the truth behind Wakanda’s past is revealed, audiences meet the first villain, Ulysses Klaw (Andy Serkis). Obsessed with Wakanda’s prized metal and driving life force, vibranium, Klaw powers the first part of the movie. He takes T’Challa and his trusted advisors on a chaotic chase as they work to detain the madman.

About halfway through the movie, the plot shifts and a new villain takes charge, Erik Killmonger (Michael B. Jordan). Unlike Klaw, Killmonger isn’t obsessed with power and vibranium. This makes it hard to call Killmonger a villain since the only part “evil” about him is his methods of reaching his destination.

At this point, Black Panther strays from being the typical action film to an emotional rollercoaster, highlighting the meaning behind every relationship, conversation, and moment in the movie. Connections begin to show and suspense builds as more

and more details are added to the well planned and intense plot.

Underneath the basic storyline, Director Ryan Coogler hints at real world issues, focusing on not only African American empowerment and culture, but also equal representation for women, making for a heartfelt and relatable story.

The top warriors of Wakada are a tribe of women lead by Okoye (Danai Gurira) a powerful female warrior. Along with that, one of their top spies and possible love interest for T’Challa is Nakia (Lupita Nyong’o). Topping it off is Wakanda’s top technician, T’Challa’s younger sister, Shuri (Letitia Wright), who drives all of the country’s technical advances. In both everyday life and battle, the women are seen as equals. The men don’t stop to spare them and instead see them for the warriors they are.

The mix of science fiction and myth along with real world issues adds to the sensitivity and emotion of the film. Some may be hesitant due to the fact that the movie is a bit politicized but somehow, someway, Coolger blends the superhero life perfectly with the real world. He shines a light on issues outside of the theater yet at the same time doesn’t distract from the true star of the movie, Black Panther.

Living up to the hype, Black Panther delivers on every aspect. Showing the active and chaotic life of superheroes while bringing in the compassion and emotion that drives everyday life, the film defies the norms. Empowering all, Black Panther opens our eyes to not only Wakanda but our own hearts.

BLACK PANTHER

MARVEL STUDIOS

Wakanda Forever. T’Challa returns after a successful mission.

PHOTO VIA CREATIVE COMMONS

Oodles of Noodles

Northern Cafe immigrates specialized noodle dishes into the South Bay

by Sydney Nguyen

Launching its debut to the Asian food scene, Northern Cafe drew in many customers early in the game, providing an enjoyable food experience for all. The restaurant is located in a plaza among many other Asian restaurants including Japanese, Korean and Vietnamese cuisine on Western Ave. and Redondo Beach Blvd. in Gardena. Focusing its palette on Northern Chinese cuisine, more specifically dishes from Lanzhou, China, Northern Cafe specializes in noodles and offers several different types of noodle dishes from noodle soups to cold noodles. Other dishes such as dumplings and home style Chinese dishes are also available.

Along with that, customers are able to choose between six different types of noodles that are made fresh behind the glass for customers to see. People are given insight on the art of noodle making and it is also an entertaining experience for kids and adults alike.

In the front trays are filled with Chinese cold side dishes that are more unfamiliar than the usual chow mein or orange chicken.

Beef tendon, pig ear and papaya salad are some of the sides offered at Northern Cafe if customers want to sample more traditional, lesser-known Chinese dishes. However, more familiar dishes like dumplings, dim sum, fried

rice and fried noodles are also a choice.

The choice of noodles is a pleasant element allowing customers to customize their dish to their liking and to try new noodles they might not be able to get at other restaurants.

For instance, most places that serve noodle soup might make it with regular, thin noodles.

However, now customers can try it with flat noodles and customize the noodle size.

Fresh noodles add to the flavorful soups and broths, especially the braised beef noodle soup with a punch of spice incorporated into the broth from the braised beef that is cooked to just the right level providing a soft, pull apart texture. Each broth provides great flavor from the meat in the dish as well as seasonings and spices used in it. A couple vegetarian dishes are also available, such as their vegetable steamed dumplings or green onion pancakes.

Northern Cafe provides customers with good quality ingredients and at an affordable price as well. Most of the noodles are $8.99, and depending on what it is and the quantity it is served with, most of the other dishes are around the same price range.

The restaurant is small, however most restaurants in the plaza have limited spacing. Making the most of the space, it is filled with many booths and a couple of tables.

The kitchen is visible to diners due to the glass barrier where chefs can be seen tossing and stretching the noodles. Customers can also walk up to the register area to take a look at the offered side dishes in trays.

Northern Cafe has taken place of Dumpling House, another Chinese restaurant, and has brought more customers than the former Chinese restaurant. Already crowds are forming outside to get a taste and if customers do not get there at the right time, waits could be long, particularly during dinner time.

Finding parking is usually a hassle due to the popularity and variety of restaurants in the plaza. Although, the variety of different cuisines and restaurants to choose from, in-

cluding three popular dessert shops, makes it a good location.

It is a spot popular with families due to the fact that people are able to see their noodles being made and because it provides delectable home style Chinese dishes. With Asian cuisine rising in popularity, Northern Cafe provides food enthusiasts with a satisfying noodle experience centering on Northern Chinese cuisine at an affordable price.

NORTHERN CAFE

GARDENA

MAP COURTESY OF NEARBY.ORG

Northern Cafe

15846 S Western Ave $$$$$

ENTERTAINMENT

MAR. 2, 2018 | HIGH TIDE

2018

Pyeongchang Olympics

wrap up Inspiring moment

Final medal count

Norway led the Winter Olympics with a total of 39 medals, fourteen of which being gold. Germany and Canada finished second and third respectively. The U.S.A. had a relatively dissapointing olympics with only 23 medals.

After missing the 2014 Winter Olympics due to a torn ACL, Lindsey Vonn returned to Olympic action. She won the bronze medal in Alpine Skiing.

Bloopers

Feel-good story

The U.S.A. men’s curling team wins gold for the first time in its history, upsetting Sweden in the final 10-7.

North Korean speed skater Jong Kwang Bom appeared to trip his Japanese opponent during the men’s 500m after falling early in the race.

Grail Churros offer tasty treats in an aesthetic setting

By Jenna Edwards These are not your mama’s churros.

Nor are they trendy pictures from Disneyland or overpriced and overhyped food district churros. The Grail Churros and Ice Cream, an ice cream and churro shop that opened recently on PCH takes a completely new spin on these simple ideas.

The Grail’s churros and ice cream have been featured all over Snapchat and Instagram, most likely for their unique take on such a classic dessert. Instead of the classic cake sticks covered in sugar and cinnamon, the most popular option at The Grail is a churro ice cream sandwich.

The different and distinctive variety of flavors of ice cream such as ube, thai tea, and jackfruit help to personalize your churro to however you like.

With the samples I tried, I can conclude that all flavors of the ice cream are super enjoyable and unlike anything I could find at a basic ice cream parlor.

At The Grail, the desserts can be something as simple as a normal chur-

ro, to a churro ice cream sandwich with thai tea flavored ice cream, M&M’s and caramel drizzle. When you come in the store, you are greeted by friendly workers who eagerly await to explain the process of ordering to customers.

After you order, your dessert will come out shortly, if there aren’t too many people inside. There is lots of space to sit around and enjoy the churros. Although the ice cream and churros were great-tasting and fun to eat, beware of the large portions. One five dollar order is more than enough to feed around one to two people easily.

The Grail has an aesthetic, western desert vibe without seeming too much like Coachella. The interior design is the perfect combination of clean, trendy and eclectic displays, with bull skulls with flower crowns hanging on the wall and lots of greenery and plants dangling from the ceiling. They even have a wall with cactus wallpaper and a neon

light display perfect to take pictures of the delicious deserts in front of.

One downside was the mess that occurred during and after eating the sandwich. Since there is so much of it, as soon as you try to bite into the sandwich, ice cream pours out of the sides and onto your hands, in which many napkins need to be used to clean up.

Although it may seem a little pricey, the expense is worth it, because of both the uniqueness of the idea, and the tasty, hand-crafted ice cream you get to eat. If aesthetic food priced decently with reasonably long lines is what you’re looking for, The Grail is a great place to enjoy a frozen, sugary treat.

Aesthetic. The Grail

Churros and Ice Cream sells unique desserts in a fun environment.

13

3

OCT. 6, 2017 | HIGH TIDE

SPORTS

SPORTS

14

BASKETBALL | WATER POLO | SOCCER

RUHS winter sports roundup Boys basketball

by Liam Barrett For Zekiah Lovett and Quinn Collins, their time as RUHS basketball players is over. In the last year, these two captains lead the team in a dominant 9-1 season and also took the blame for most of their losses. As the season progressed it was clear that the way these two players performed decided the outcome of the game.

Although the team exited the playoffs in the first round, losing to Loyola by three points, the teammates still trusted each other and the playing process.

As Lovett puts it, “I think the guys depended on me and Q, we set the tone during the game.”

Quinn, a four-year varsity player, was the face of RUHS basketball this year. He was the dominant force in the post, the streaky three-point shooter, and more importantly a leader for first-year players.

Junior guard Jayden Winfrey explained how important Quinn was to the team and how the played. “[Quinn]’s work on the boards would completely change games for us. He was

very important to our success.”

The two captains impacted the team both on the court and in the locker room.

They shared their wisdom with younger players and took over games when the team needed them most.

Lovett transferred to RUHS as a junior last year in the middle of the season, immediately making an impact. Both he and Collins helped the team make a deep playoff run culminating in a loss to Centennial.

Even though the team won’t be the same without them, Lovett thinks they will be fine without them.

“The team is talented and ready for next year. I think they are going to be successful without the Quinn, and myself.”

With the two leaders of the program now leaving, the team will need to figure out who will fill those spots. The future of the basketball program is unclear, but this means something new may be formed.

Without the two captains of the past year, the team will have to figure out how they will win.

Ball in the life. Senior Kyle Carter threads his way through defenders in a 59-56 loss to Loyola, knocking RUHS out of the playoffs. PHOTO BY ETHAN CHENG

Girls basketball

by Michael Solimando

Title vision. Sophomore Alyssa Munn, pictured above, makes a dash for the basket. RUHS defeated Mark Keppel High on Feb. 24 by a score of 52-36. PHOTO BY JADE RONA

The girls have made it to the big dance.

The CIF Southern Section Division 2AA championship game awaits the Seahawks as they prepare to take on Lynwood HS on Saturday, March 3. The Seahawks will be going into the game on a six-game win streak, including four straight playoff victories.

Back in November of 2017, the Seahawks beat Lynwood 59-55.

Junior Dylan Horton shared what winning the CIF championship game would mean to her personally.

“It would mean a lot to me and it is something that I would remember for the rest of my life because it shows how much hard work and dedication I’ve put into the game,” Horton said.

One aspect Horton thinks they could improve on before the championship is “coming to the ball, preparing for the aggressive full-court defense and traps.”

Horton and her teammates are prepared for the challenge as this team has been “preparing for this game all year.”

Junior Claire Haddad shared what the team has been doing to stay locked in and ready themselves for the championship showdown against the Knights.

“We’ve been watching film to learn their tendencies and adjusting to that, as well as learning their plays and how to defend them,” Haddad said.

Although Haddad is “nervous” it’s “a good nervous, like healthy stress.” She knows how much this game is worth as it would “be a huge validation of how hard [they] work in practice.”

The team has an opportunity to capture milestone number two out of three this weekend.

“From the beginning of the season, we’ve had three goals. To win Bay League, CIF, and State. This would get us more than halfway there, acting as motivation to finish off strong” Haddad said.

With the Seahawks looking to prove that their previous meeting was no fluke and the Knights looking for revenge, the game should be one for the history books.

Girls water polo

by Kiera Patterson

After a loss to San Clemente, the girls water polo finishes their season off in the first round of CIF with a 14-3 loss.

The loss was disappointing to all the girls but what hit them harder was the fact that some of these girls would not be returning to this game.

“After the game in the warm-up pool is when my emotions really struck hardest.

I burst out into tears along with some of the girls. Sad, not because we had lost, but because we knew this was the end of our time playing polo together,” captain Kaitlyn Arns, senior, said.

Arns is one of the four seniors including Camille Grace, Ashley Clancy, and Zoe Curtin that played their last game for RUHS. “During the game, my adrenaline was super high and I played harder than ever.

Leaving it all out in the pool so I would not have any regrets later and even made a few short blocks in with my head instead of my arms,” Arns said.

The love and support from one another are what have kept these girls from playing

the game for so long and loving it.

“This sport requires so many hours of hard work and dedication and I want future teams to remember that being close to your teammates and creating that bond is what wins games. Not individual talent, but the connection that we all share is what really makes the team strong,” Arns said.

The girls claim their success was as strong as their dedication.

“The girls on this year’s team have made my last season of water polo unforgettable.

I am so grateful to have been able to play with my close friends. I honestly could not have asked for a more fun, weird, talented group of girls to enjoy my last water polo experience,” Clancy said.

Many of the girls look forward to playing water polo in college. Others look to strengthen the team’s legacy.

“My teammates are what made me love water polos so much. They got me through the hard times and motivated me to keep trying even when I felt like I’d never improve,” Arns said.

I’d like to be under the sea. Senior Zoe Curtin is cornered by a defender, causing her to make a pass to keep the ball in RUHS’s possession. PHOTO BY DANIELLE SESTAK

SPORTS

MARCH 2, 2018 | HIGH TIDE

15

AOTI: Athletes of the issue O’Connor-Rigby is the first female captain of the boys wrestling team

Fiedler adapts to her all-male hockey team

by Austin Nunis

by Martha Farah

From her first move, it was already clear that junior Hannah O’Connor-Rigby was a natural when it came to wrestling.

“She’s probably one of the best wrestlers I’ve ever initially coached,” RUHS wrestling coach Rick Gorolla said.

“The first time I first met her, I said ‘let me teach you how to wrestle’ and I watched her do her first attempt, it was almost perfect, and it was amazing how gifted she was.

Nobody just walks in and becomes a great wrestler, you’ve gotta put your time in. But what a great head start she has, she’s got such a head start because she’s so talented and has the right attitude.”

After becoming interested in the sport after watching the team train, Rigby is now the captain of the RUHS junior varsity boys wrestling team.

“I chose her because of her enthusiasm. She’s a very motivating, enthusiastic person, and she’s also a very talented and gifted wrestler,” Gorolla said. “She can relay that energy and pass it on to the rest of the team, [which is part of the reason] that we have the greatest team out there.”

Rigby is Redondo’s first female wrestling captain, which doesn’t affect her.

“Honestly, I don’t think there’s really a significance to being the first girl captain. Coach says in the wrestling room that there is no girl or guy, just a wrestler, so I just think of myself as one of the other captains,” Rigby said.

“It’s more about the unity of the team than being the first girl captain.”

As captain, Rigby assists with planning fundraisers and organizing aspects of the banquets in addition to taking the lead in practices.

“I just make sure that everyone is doing what they’re supposed to be doing and I helping out,” Rigby said.

“Honestly I just feel like I’m closer to the guys, more

involved because I’m captain.”

Though Rigby has developed “close” friendships with the guys on the team, she worries they don’t always take her seriously.

“They’re kind of neutral, they don’t really seem to care that [I’m] a captain. But I don’t want people to get mad at me,” Rigby said. “It’s a little challenging if I want them do something but they don’t listen to me since I’m nicer than I am strict.”

What Rigby lacks in disciplinary skills she makes up for in her determination in practices and tournaments.

“The guys respect her because there’s only a handful of them that are stronger than her,” Gorolla said. “When it comes to some exercises that the whole team is challenged at, she’ll do them faster than most of the other guys. She’s just as good, if not better than most of the guys on the team.”

Rigby’s commitment to the RUHS cheer team forces her to maintain an uneasy balance.

“The biggest challenge is practicing and the commitment in general. The practices are also really hard but the outcome is always really worth it,” Rigby said. “The tournaments are also always rewarding. Winning is great, but losing means that you can come back and learn from what made you lose, so you go to practice and try to work that out. It’s a feel-good sport, if you work hard you’ll get a big reward out of it.”

Though Rigby has already proven to be a very successful athlete and captain, her coach believes that a little more experience will make a big difference.

“She just needs to be around the sport more. She’s so enthusiastic and she has so much spirit and energy,” Gorolla said. “If she can help pass thay on to the other teammates, boys and girls, it will help drive her and the team to something special.”

Seniors comes to terms with end of season

1.

2.

In the rink, nothing is going through her mind but the excitement of winning as the only girl on the team. Junior Isabella Fiedler plays on an all-male hockey team, the South Bay Stingrays.

“It was intimidating for sure. Now, the guys are tougher so it’s harder physically wise,” Fiedler said. “First, it was more getting used to the fact that they’re going to make fun of me because I’m a girl, but now they don’t do that.”

When she began playing on the team, Fiedler had a hard time when her male teammates would “mess around” with her.

“At first, it was kind for hard for me because I was younger and I was like, ‘They’re so mean,’” Fiedler said. “As I got older, I would make comebacks, so it wasn’t as bad. I was able to take it and I realized that it was more of a friendly type thing.”

Parents would sometimes be concerned with Fiedler being the only girl on an all-male hockey team.

“It’s not how you would think it would be. We joke around and they’re not crazy. You would think that I wouldn’t be included, but they actually include me a lot,” Fiedler said. “They even come up to me when they need girl help and they would ask me questions.

We’re a family.”

To better fit in with her teammates, Fiedler felt the need to act differently when being around them.

“Once I started joining traveling teams, we would have to go all around to different tournaments,” Fiedler said. “It was kind of difficult at first because since it was all guys, I would have to act less girly and be tougher.”

In hockey, checking is body-on-body contact where a player can push another against the boards to get the puck, which affected Fiedler when playing hockey.

“At first, when I started playing hockey, there was no checking.

As I got older, there was checking and I had to bulk up,” Fiedler said.

“You can get hit in the broads, break stuff and really injure yourself.”

In spite of the difficulties at first, Fiedler created a friendly relationship with her teammates, now considering them to be her “brothers.”

“I was kind of nervous when I started playing because I didn’t know what to expect,” Fiedler said. “I couldn’t really relate to them, but then I got used to it and now I have a lot of friends.”

When Fiedler began playing in eighth grade, she had the option of joining an all-girls team — the Lady Ducks — yet chose not to.

Currently, she plays on two teams, the LA Lions — an all-girls team — and the South Bay Stingrays.

“The Lady Ducks is not a very supportive program to me, so that’s why I chose to play on the boys team,” Fiedler said. “I thought it would be fun and it was.”

Fiedler believes that the girls teams can sometimes be “cliquey,” leading her to enjoy playing with her male teammates instead.

“I’ve known a lot of kids in this area because I’ve played with them before,” Fiedler said. “You grow up with those people. The guys on my first hockey team are on my team now, so you pretty much grow up with them.”

Fiedler’s love for hockey has grown over the years.

“When I started, I thought, ‘This is fun.’ Once I got into it and I started to get better, I wanted to go play college hockey,” Fiedler said.

“I’ve actually already been recruited to one college, Nichols College.”

Although Fiedler grapples with sometimes being “hit on” by the male players on other teams during games, her affection for the game remains intact.

“One time, I was fighting with this kid and he asked if I wanted a kiss. The ref had to pull me away,” Fiedler said. “In games, we lightly punch people in fights, but when he said that I wanted to punch him.”

Fight night. 1. Junior Noah Ristovski takes a shot near the goal in a game against Costa. RUHS lost the game 1-0. 2. Senior Hayden Owens also shoots for the goal. PHOTOS BY ETHAN CHENG

by Alex Laureano This time of year marks a close on the final chapter of a four-year story for nine seniors.

As they reflect on their past it brings out huge smiles from their all-time highs and tears from looking back at the journey together since childhood.

Captain Damian Sanchez said, “It was a great experience, I always look forward to playing with them because I’ve grown up with them since elementary school.”

These boys have competed for many years together building their friendship and creating a strong foundation for a great soccer team.

Their journey has had many highs and lows. Their greatest achievement has been their Bay League title, a sought-after goal by many teams in the South Bay. But learning from the lows has given them a new outlook on different challenges and opportunities.

According to Co-Captain Braden Anderson, “I learned about commitment and trusting my teammates with doing my task.”

“Every time I step on the field I learned how to gain confidence, trust in my friends and teammates, and how to build around a great team with a great coach,” Sanchez

said.

As their most recent season was cut short in the playoffs the seasoned group was a little choked up knowing they weren’t going to play together anymore.

Many were unapproving of the fact that they had to finish this chapter of their lives this way. But it was a stepping off point, one that maybe leads to a collegiate career.

“Growing older with them and playing with them was just a great experience for all of us,” Sanchez said.

Now to start the next chapter of Redondo soccer the incoming seniors and underclassmen will have to fill the big shoes of nine leaving players. The fact that this group is leaving on this note should light a fire for the newcomers for next year.

“Give it your all and don’t hold anything back,” Sanchez said.

Co-Captain Braden Anderson said, “I’ll miss playing with all my buddies who I’ve played with and against all over Southern California.”

But lows have come a gone, losing to fierce rivals in overtime and having a playoff run cut short.

Surf RUHS lost to Costa on Feb. 28, 77-70 “Costa is a very aggressive team so it would have helped if we were also aggressive to force them to make bad wave selections,” senior Braeden Anderson said.

The team will compete in the State Championships on March 2.

FEATURES

MAR. 2, 2018 | HIGH TIDE

16

Armed and dangerous Americans lead the world in gun ownership

Gun violence in America

2/3 of all mass killings involve guns

In America, a mass murder — defined as having 4 victims, not including the killer — occurs at least once everyday.

Guns and suicide There are about

31,000

gun related deaths in the US

19,000

of those are self inflicted Suicide is the second leading cause of death for people ages 15-24.

5%

of all suicide attempts are by gunshot

85%

of those attempts resulted in death In July 2007, a nationwide report indicated that male veterans are twice as likely to die by suicide compared to their civilian peers.

Mental health and gun violence

Half

of U.S. adults will develop a mental illness during their lifetime

7 million Americans suffer from severe mental health issues, such as schizophrenia, acute depression or bipolar disorder.

People with severe mental illness are roughly twice as likely to commit violent acts in their lifetimes. $1.6 billion

Less than half of Americans with severe mental health issues receive adequate treatment.

in state mental health services have been cut since 2009

INFORMATION FROM THE NEW YORK TIMES, WASHINGTON POST, CNN, NPR, HUFFINGTON POST and BBC. IMAGES COURTESY OF CREATIVE COMMONS AND MARGARET WEDAA