High Tide: April 6, 2018

HT

Redondo Union High School Redondo Beach, CA April 6, 2018 Vol. XCVIII Edition 12

Girls Basketball won CIF State Championship, concluding a record breaking season page 16

Somatic therapy is becoming a viable form of treatment for teens experiencing trauma and anxiety [story on page 8] PHOTO BY JADE RONA

NEWS

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Cracking the code

RUHS students compete in SoCal Code Quest

By Sydney Nguyen

In preparation for the annual Code Quest, a national coding competition that is sponsored by Lockheed Martin and hosted in Palmdale in April, AP computer science teacher Mitch Middler and Aaron Braskin, the computer science teacher at Mira Costa, hosted the first SoCal Code Quest on Mar. 25 at Mira Costa. The computer science teachers started the local competition after more students than the maximum six were interested in participating in Code Quest.

Since Code Quest only allows two teams of three programmers per school, RUHS and Mira Costa combined and held a tryout, narrowing down their teams to the top six students. However, Middler and Braskin then decided that they should give anyone who wanted to compete an opportunity.

“Programming is not normally a competitive thing,” Middler said. “So after the tryout, Mr. Braskin and I had a conversation and thought, ‘Well, it would be really nice if everybody could participate instead of just limiting it to the six people from each school.’”

Under the same format as the official Code Quest, participants formed teams and worked together to solve a packet of coding problems, varying in difficulty, that was compiled by Middler and Braskin.

Compared to the official competition SoCal Code Quest was more “low-stake,” according to senior Malek Chamas.

“It was just me and my coding partner, Arman Hossain, at Mira Costa, so we viewed it not really as a challenge or something that needed preparation,” Chamas said. “We just used the opportunity to work out how we liked to function as a team.”

Loading… SoCal Code Quest (Mar. 25): -Mira Costa and RUHS students worked together to solve a packet of coding problems -The two high schools will send six to the annual Code Quest, a national coding competition sponsored by Lockheed Martin and hosted on Apr. 21.

ILLUSTRATION FROM PIXABAY

Middler believes there is “no pressure to perform well or win” since his students are at the competition to have fun. However, he does enjoy the collaborative aspect of the event and believes that the experience will help strengthen their skills, especially since students will be faced with problems they do not usually encounter in their computer science classes.

“It’s their first time doing it, so I’m sure they’ll all learn a lot from the experience,” Middler said. “Regardless of how well they do, it’s going to be great practice and preparation for the AP exam and I think it’ll im-

prove their programming skills in general,” Middler said.

Many students have come to Middler’s class with little to no experience in computer programming. But now with a semester of experience under their belts, students can solve difficult problems, something Middler feels is “really satisfying as a teacher”.

While Middler will be accompanying his students to Palmdale for the competition, he will not be able to make contact with them during the two and a half hours of the event.

“Unlike other sporting competitions where you have the coach on the sidelines giving advice, in this one, teachers and mentors are actually kept off in a separate room,” Middler said. “We can’t even watch the competition or have any idea what’s going on until it’s over.”

Chamas values the opportunity to compete in Code Quest since this is his first year with computer science and his first coding competition, even if he does not view it as important.

“We don’t see it as important so to say, but we still value the opportunity to take part just because when I sat down and I was competing in the SoCal Code Quest, an hour and a half just zoomed by as I sat down. It just felt very natural; I got the good feeling you get when you’re doing something very productive that you enjoy doing,” Chamas said.

Chamas, who will be competing in the novice level, which is exclusive to students with less than three years of programming experience, chose to participate in the competition since he “felt open to a greater challenge” than the regular computer science coursework and because he believed it would be a “nice, fun thing to do with friends”.

“Even though I’ll be competing in the novice category, I know that there will be some teams who are way better than us that will be there, and I think that’s okay.

I’m not seeing it so much as a serious competition that I need to prepare for extremely,” Chamas said. “I just see it more as an opportunity to enjoy myself and tackle some interesting coding problems that we might not necessarily get in a regular class.”

Writing from the heart

Junior Alexander Kowal places third in Cancer Support Community essay contest

By Sabrina Kim The Cancer Support Community Redondo Beach (CSCRB) gives teens the opportunity to write about how cancer has affected their lives with the nonprofit’s “Your story! “Your voice” essay contest; five entries were selected by celebrity judge Carson Daly of “The Voice.” Junior Alexander Kowal placed third and won $500 for his piece which delved into the physiological effects cancer has on the body .

“I wanted to participate because I felt like the competition was a good way for me to express my feelings about cancer, and how it has changed my life and the lives of others,” Kowal said.

Kowal’s essay was centered around Ryse Williams, a “close” friend of Kowal who passed away in June 2017.

“Ryse was an inspiration for me because he exe m p l i f i e d everything I strive to be,” —Alexander Kowal Kowal said.

“He was a brilliant basketball player and student. He was also a great friend — he took me under his wing and helped me develop my game when I was younger.”

Writing about Williams and his death proved to be “strenuous,” according to Kowal.

“It was challenging because of how difficult it was to write about somebody you know is gone,” Kowal said. “It’s like trying to literally transfer your pain onto paper.”

Despite the difficulty of writing

“The writing experience helped me cope... it had the same therapeutic effect as talking to a counselor.”

the essay, Kowal found the experience therapeutic in the end.

“The writing experience helped me cope because it helped me express how I felt to the fullest extent,” Kowal said.

“It had the same therapeutic effect as talking to a counselor.”

C S C R B has held two annual essay contests, in- —Jill Gray, CSCRB cluding the contest coordinator 2018 event, according to Jill Gray, who is CSCRB’s kid programer, a support navigator and a support group facilitator.

“It was a really great way for teens to have an outlet to express their experience with cancer,” Gray said. “It can be really hard to talk to your parents or your friends about these topics. Sometimes it’s just easier to write it out.”

CSCRB describes their mission as “to ensure that all people impacted by cancer are empowered by knowledge, strengthened by action and sustained by community.”

They also provide free psychosocial services for cancer patients and friends and family of cancer patients.

“We are always welcoming members who have been affected by cancer,” Gray said. “I know it’s really hard for teens and kids to say ‘Yeah, I need to join a support group,’ but when you come through these doors we become like a family.”

CSCRB offers treatment, which in-

“It can be really hard to talk to your parents or your friends about these topics. Sometimes it’s just easier to write it out.”

Winning as a bonus. Junior Alexander Kowal receives his $500 prize from Dr. Robert Nolan, contest co-sponsor. Photo courtesy of the Cancer Support Community Redondo Beach.

cludes group or individual therapy. Group activities, like going to Torrance Sky Zone or yoga classes, are for connecting with others and just enjoying each other’s company.

“Your friends may not get it because they may not have had a family member or a parent go through a cancer journey, but the people here will totally understand,” Gray said. “You don’t go through the experience alone.”

Kowal did not really care about the prize — instead, he saw it as a way to let go of some of his built up feelings.

“I wasn’t really nervous when I submitted it. It was really more about my story being recognized and a way for me to express

my feelings,” Kowal said. “Winning was just an added bonus.”

Cancer Support Community Redondo Beach The Cancer Support Community Redondo Beach (CSCRB) provides group and individual therapy. It offers over 200 programs free of charge each month.

For additional information, visit CSCRB’s website, at www.cancersupportredondobeach.org

NEWS

APR. 6, 2018 | HIGH TIDE

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Battle of the brains

Academic Decathalon finishes 13th at California Academic Decathalon competition

By Grace McGonigle RUHS’ Academic Decathlon team competed in the California Academic Decathlon State Competition, the highest one RUHS participates in, held in Sacramento on March 23 and 24.

On the first day, the participants were tested on 10 subjects, ranging from art to music to science; on the second day, they made speeches, wrote essays and had a seven minute long interview.

“It was an honor to compete in Sacramento. I think this year the team just clicked and really had chemistry,” co-captain Soleil Engin, junior, said. “They’re not only my teammates, they’re my friends, and going to Sacramento with them was a wonderful experience.”

For the speeches, the students were able to prepare one and then had to give an impromptu speech on a topic given at the competition. The ten tests were each 30 minutes long and 55 questions, except for math which was 35.

“When it came to competition, I feel like it just pushed us even further to do well because we didn’t want to let each other down,” Engin said.

The team had students compete in all three divisions. The Honors division is for students with a 3.75 unweighted GPA or higher, Scholastic for 3.0-3.74, and Varsity for 0.00-2.99.

They placed 13th overall and won more medals than usual. There were many medals won by individual students, including senior Zoe Watkins’ bronze medal in art, senior Adam Munoz’s bronze in economics and senior Siobhan Killackey’s bronze in literature, silver in social science and gold in music.

Engin joined Academic Decathlon,

“AcaDec,” as a freshman and has loved her time in the class.

“I joined because I love learning. We go to six or seven classes a day and have information shoved down our throats about stuff we don’t really care about at the end of the day,” Engin said. “In AcaDec you study because you want to study and you want to learn.”

Although it is sophomore Max Black’s first year in Academic Decathlon, he was able to win a gold medal for the highest overall score on the team.

“There were other people who could’ve gotten that medal because they’ve been here longer, are more experienced and are more responsible than I am,” Black said.

“So it was really cool that I won in my first year.”

Black appreciates how the class also teaches “useful” life skills, such as the interview and speech competitions, which he believes can become useful in improving public speaking, as well as the assimilation of information that AcaDec requires.

“You get a lot of skills that will help you both right now and in the future,” Black said. “You have to learn a kind of productivity to be able to learn everything, get the studying done, go over it as often as possible, and try to know everything really well.”

While AcaDec does have many students with higher GPAs, at least three students with an unweighted GPA below 3.0 are needed to form a full team — Engin believes that the students with lower GPAs are “just as important” to the team.

“The problem is that we don’t get enough kids from the divisions that aren’t all A’s because they think that they can’t

Step up

Dance Guard places at SHARP Nationals

By Sarah Flannery Dance guard recently traveled to Pomona to compete at Nationals among many teams and earned the titles of best spirit, first place in Jazz, first place in JV and Varsity Pom and 5th in Hip Hop. The team competed through the SHARP International company, which is a Competition and Camp Circuit for dance and cheerleading teams.

Through the 15 hours spent practicing per week, the team members push themselves to master the dance routines.

—Nadia Stodder “There’s a lot of work that gets put into it and sometimes you’re in the middle of trying a jump or skill and you think to yourself, ‘I can’t do this,’” sophomore Nadia Stodder said. “But the more you push and make yourself do more, the better it feels when you are out on the mat showing off.”

While the long practice hours did help the team to learn the routines, it also helped them develop a working chemistry.

“We work so well as a team because we spend so much time together working at the same thing,” Stodder said. “We have a lot of inside jokes and small things as a team that really helps us when it seems like we’ve been doing the same thing for hours.”

Like Stodder, Dominguez believes that emotions “run high” during the awards ceremony because the reward makes all of the practice “worth it.”

“I think bonding is so important because you spend full hours with each other

“The more you push yourself and do more, the better it feels when you are out on the mat showing off.”

after school and wake up so early to work on perfecting every last detail. Winning something together is amazing, people do cry because we work so hard and build each other up to make each other better,” Dominguez said.

Equipment manager and sophomore Alisa Majarova felt that competition pushed the team.

“You learn that you’re a lot more capable than you think you are, especially because you are always your worst critic, so having someone that isn’t you verify all the hard work that you put in is such a good feeling” Majarova said.

Majarova also believes that due to the “fast pace” and “specific moves,” working together is important.

“It’s a pretty even split between working individually and having to work well as a team. You have to learn the tricks but if you’re the best person on a team that isn’t very good,” Majarova said. Additionally, Majarova believes that working in groups helps improve the dancers’ timing.

“Besides form, timing is important; you have to be a group that works well together,” Majarova said.

Sophomore and costume assistant Kaylee Hazard felt the difference when dancing without the band.

“Performing without the band and the props is such a dramatic change and not having all the crazy costumes and whatnot really forces us to be extra specific and work harder because it’s just us out there,” Hazard said.

Hazard feels that dance guard helps her “explore” different ways to perform.

“Being able to try a bunch of different styles of dance and learning your strengths and weaknesses makes it more personal because dance is such a personal and creative sport,” Hazard said.

1.

Two different uniforms. 1. ”It was an honor to compete in Sacramento.

I think this year the team just clicked and really had chemistry,” co-captain Soleil, Engin, junior, said. 2. From left to right: seniors Siobahn Killackey, Zoe Watkins and Adam Munoz won bronze medals in literature, art and economics, respectively. Killackey also won a silver medal in social science and a gold in music. Photos courtesy of Aimiee Gauvreau

join. They think they aren’t smart or good at school, but that’s not true,” Engin said. “I think a lot of kids don’t enjoy what they’re learning. AcaDec gives you the opportunity to learn about something you’re interested in.”

As co-captain, Engin tries to use her experience to help newer or “struggling” members on the team understand exactly what the judges are looking for.

“I’ve been on competition team since I was a freshman, so of the team this year I actually have the most experience,” Engin

2. said. “Once you have that experience it changes the way you read the curriculum, so I try to use it to help the team.”

Engin takes pride in competing on behalf of RUHS and the “positive learning environment” that the Academic Decathalon class creates.

“You want to represent your school and that changes the way you approach learning,” Engin said. “Academic Decathalon is, to me, something I am determined to do because I want to do well for myself, for my school and for my team.”

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OPINION

APR. 6, 2018 | HIGH TIDE

Editorial

HIGH TIDE Staff

Paving new paths

Editors-in-Chief Ben Brill

College is not the only option for high school students, and

students should be encouraged to pursue more alternatives

Elizabeth Fauver

Kylie Yorke

News Editor Alex Dang

Opinion Editors Miriam Farah, Jon Mallen

Features Editors Mia Berger, Christina Owen, Summer Saad

Our view

Entertainment Editors Justin Pioletti, Ben Yepez

Many high school students overlook a wider range of post-high school graduation routes, such as trade school or entering the workforce. Some jobs do not require a college diploma, so students should not be as pressured to pursue one.

Sports Editor Luke Peterson

Photo Editor Eden Millan

For many seniors, college is in the future. Some will go straight to the nation’s finest public and private universities. Others will attend community colleges, for the sake of affordability and that extra year to figure out their focus in their studies or get a better idea of their choice of career.

Often overlooked is the possibility of a trade school, or abstaining from the college process entirely. The truth is that not every high school student must go on to attend a college or university. There are many viable career pathways that don’t require an immediate college education. Others require attendance of a shorter, more affordable 2-year program.

A plumber, pipefitter and steamfitter can make a median salary of $51,450 annually, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. This career is projected to grow 16 percent by 2026, much faster than other degrees.

The U.S Bureau of Labor Statistics website also shows that electricians pull in a similar median salary of $52,720 per year, with an hourly wage of $25.35. This career

is projected to grow nine percent by 2026, as fast as the average growth rate.

These are just two examples of stable careers that high school graduates can enter into directly after graduation. The typical entry-level education for both a plumber and an electrician is a high school diploma or equivalent.

Entering into an apprenticeship and learning these valuable skills can provide an income that rivals what many college-level careers can offer.

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the career of a high school teacher, which requires valid credentials such as a Bachelor’s degree and teaching credentials, earns a median salary of $58,030 per year. An athletic trainer, also requiring a Bachelor’s degree, produces a median salary of $45,630 per year.

There is no denying that a college education provides access to careers that can produce far greater yearly salary than a high school diploma can. What often separates the higher paying jobs from lower paying jobs is that not everyone has the

talent to do them.

The truth is that by grades and test scores in addition to financial reasons, college may not be in the cards for some.

If this is you, it does not mean that your hopes for a sufficiently paying career are dashed. There really are careers not requiring a college degree that would provide immediate and steady pay.

Getting a job may provide financial stability and a larger network to make an even more substantial income. For example, a tradesman can later become a contractor, consolidating on providing a variety of technical services through multiple employees each trained in a different task, such as piping and electric work.

Though the technical work pathways are emphasized as the most successful, there are many others that do exist and are just as viable careers that only require a high school diploma.

There is a niche to be found in the places where others haven’t thought to find them, and that niche is the key to your future success.

million students were enrolled in trade school in 2014.

ILLUSTRATIONS BY EMMA LYON

median annual salary of $35,720.

$10,000.

INFORMATION COMPILED WWW.THEBESTSCHOOLS.ORG

College campuses should be more welcoming of conservative opinions

by Adam Sayad Tolerance, acceptance, diversity and inclusiveness are just some of the catchphrases of many college campuses across the U.S. While these ideals are a good part of any society, many American colleges are embracing the total opposite. College campuses are breeding a one-sided generation that vehemently opposes any objections.

Don’t believe me? The Higher Education Research Institute at UCLA released a report in 2016, which included 141,189 fulltime, first-year students attending approximately 200 public and private colleges across the country.

The various findings reveal 43 percent of them believe that colleges “have the right to ban extreme speakers from campus.” This is twice as high as the data in the 1970s and 1980s. What constitutes an ex-

Technology Editors 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 Liam Barret Jenna Edwards Maia Ward Kaden Kaczmarczyk Michael Solimando Kiera Patterson Nicholas White Lorraina Scolaro Rukhaa Kamran Martha Farah Sangjun Lee Molly Cochran Sarah Flannery Sabrina Kim Sophie Fleming Sarah Falahawazi William Pournamdari Shyanne Landers Angie Tait Sydney Nguyen Yasmine Elahihaghighi

Photographers

Illustrators The average college student debt is $29,900, while the debt from two-year technical school is closer to

treme speaker? It depends on who you ask.

While some may believe that this data is indicative of our progress to stand up against hatred and bigotry, it’s a clear sign that this generation is more willing to shut down speech that they find offensive.

An anti-immigrant speech would certainly make me uncomfortable. Both my parents came from Algeria, and my background plays a huge part in my life. However, it only makes you stronger and more subjectable to challenging situations to hear things that you sincerely don’t want to hear. Don’t get me wrong, there’s a difference between blatant hate speech and an alternate outlook on an issue.

College students need to be willing to hear different perspectives, even if they strongly disagree. Conservative provocateur Milo Yinnapoulos was scheduled to speak in February of 2017 at UC Berkeley, but riots broke out, and the police responded with tear gas and rubber bullets.

Yinnapoulos can certainly be ridiculous and intentionally says things to provoke controversy. However, does that justify the instigation of a riot? No, he should be able to speak at any college campus he wants to.

Writing Editors Reem Chamas, Lauren Kim, Kate Ripley

Ben Cheng Shuaib Ahmad Amber DuFresne Elise Dipaola Jade Rona Gracelaina Horn Kierin Woolridge Danielle Sestak Juninho Paniouchkine Mia Wicks

Technical and trade school jobs offer a

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Copy Editors Alexander Clark, Lauren Kim

Even though colleges have the right to restrict certain speakers, they shouldn’t.

Based on a number of surveys taken since World War II, sociologist Seymour Lipset concluded that academics are more likely than any other occupational group to identify as leftists. Professors tend to support a wide variety of egalitarian social and economic policies. I’m not criticizing their perspectives on policy but the fact that alternative viewpoints are underrepresented in colleges.

Ironically, liberal students are hurt by the overwhelmingly leftist bias. College is supposed to be a time where students are exposed to a diverse range of world views.

Every perspective should be offered so that college students can develop authentic ideals, not ones that are spoon-fed to them.

Let me be clear. This isn’t a liberal and conservative issue but an ideological balancing issue. If most professors were conservative, we would have the exact same problem. The solution is simply a greater balance in the number of liberal and conservative professors. Being exposed to a broader range of perspectives will help students be ready for the real world.

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.

Letters to the editor The High Tide encourages greater input of opinions from both students and staff. If you have an opinion about one of the articles, letters can be sent to the editor at

hightideonline@gmail.com We reserve the right to edit for content, grammar and space constraints. Letters must be signed and are not guaranteed to be printed.

Please keep letters to a maximum of 250 words. Longer guest opinions are also accepted.

Keep in touch with

@ruhsmedia

hightideonline.org

OPINION

APR. 6, 2018 | HIGH TIDE

5

Changing the rules of the game College athletes should be paid for their performance, as scholarships are not enough

Breaking down barriers. Senior Antoine Hood who played for the Air Force Academy is playing a game against Texas Christian University on Jan. 14, 2006. PHOTO VIA CREATIVE COMMONS

by Miriam Farah College athletes are praised and respected, yet they are often exploited for their athletic abilities. They should be paid for their efforts and performance, as they generate high revenues for their athletic departments and work the equivalent of full-time jobs.

Athletes frequently come from low-income families and sometimes leave school early to become the main provider for their families, according to Dr. Boyce Watkins, a finance professor at Syracuse University. She also states that refusing to pay college athletes hurts students from lower-income areas and African-American communities because they have fewer resources upon matriculating.

Colleges sign billion dollar television and multimedia contracts, but athletes receive a little portion. In fact, 86 percent of college athletes live below the poverty line, according to Sporting News. Meanwhile, 52 percent of national college students living off-campus were poor in the 2009-11 data, according to the University of North Carolina. College athletes are disportionately poorer, emphasizing the need to pay them for their athletic contribution.

Instead, most profits from college athletics go toward coaches, athletic directors and some administrators rather than academics, according to Marc Edelman, a law professor at Baruch College. Although it would be difficult to grant huge salaries to athletes like they do coaches, a reasonable paycheck relative to how much the programs make would suffice.

College athletics is a large business that student-athletes ironically do not

have much of a voice in. In fact, a NCAA bylaw prohibits players from allowing their “name or picture to advertise, recommend or promote directly the sale or use of a commercial product or service of any kind.”

Ironically, universities frequently use images of their athletes to sell tickets and promote their athletic program, but athletes cannot take a single dime of the profits if they held an autograph signing event for instance. College athletic departments, meanwhile, heap large revenues at the expense of their players.

Contrary to common belief, full-ride sports scholarships are scarce: only athletes in football, men and women’s basketball and women’s gymnastics, volleyball and tennis receive one, according to CBS News.

Athletes, as a result, are most likely not attending on full-rides, but rather on small scholarships.

For those who don’t receive full-rides, they are left with merely an average of $10,400 in scholarships, according to U.S. News. Meanwhile, the College Board reports that the average cost of private American universities is about $32,410 per year.

Athletes are practically working a full-time job while being full-time students. The NCAA limits training for players to 20 hours per week, according to USA Today. However, a NCAA survey conducted in 2011 reported that Division I football players trained an average of 43 hours per week, baseball players trained 42.1 hours and men’s basketball players trained 39.2 hours during season.

Student-athletes offer so much more to their university than just their talent; they are a huge part of the university’s advertising team. In order to promote their school and attract potential applicants, universities use their athletic success to their advantage.

To be fair, athletes who generate high revenues should be paid more. Players who bring in more revenue for the college through plays or press should receive commissions. Hard training should also be rewarded with a basic salary.

Athletes are a vital part of college campuses, putting an astounding amount of time into their sport.

They should be treated rightfully so with fair pay in order to help them become financially stable and prepared for a workforce they too are trying to enter.

A wider perspective History textbooks should include a greater emphasis on non-European history

by Samaya Rubio Considering we are attending a high school in America, we learn about American history. Okay, that sounds reasonable, but what about the other “world” history?

As a direct product of Redondo Beach Unified School District from kindergarten to senior year, I have learned a lot of history, but most of it comes from Europe. Even by the time I reached middle school I had been taught way more about what happened in Italy (just one European country) than all of Africa.

Our school is racially diverse (compared to the rest of the United States), yet we are learning all about Europe instead of any other continent. Europe is (obviously) not the only continent in the world, so why do we put all of our focus on it?

Most of my knowledge of Middle Eastern culture and history comes from friends and reading articles. For example, I know all about the Lebanese election cycle from one of my friends Malek Chamas. I know a lot about the history of murderous siblings and questionable elections from other friends, but I learned all about all of Henry VIII’s wives in school.

There is a very rich history ranging from the many religions that came from the region to the first college in the world being founded in Morocco. We learn NONE of this in schools—especially the information about religion. If all across America (in a general education program like common

core), children were taught positive details about all religions, maybe we would have less of an issue with mistaking all people of one religion for terrorists. Just a thought.

Another continent that we learned little about is Africa. This year in my AP English Literature class I read a book based in Africa for school for the first time. This was not even in a history class; it came in my English class.

Considering we had an African American president and African American students at RUHS, why are we leaving out a whole group of people from our “world history?”

When will we acknowledge that we have an AP European History class but no AP African, Australian, South American or Asian history classes. I understand why we have AP U.S. History, because we live in America, but last time I checked America hasn’t been a colony of Britain for 242 years, so justifying European history over any other country is ridiculous.

Most people who immigrated to America in 1992 and 2012 were from Latin America and Asia, according to the Pew Research Center. The continent that had one of the smallest percentages of immigrants to the US was Europe.

If we have such a strong immigrant population from Latin America and Asia, why don’t we acknowledge these people by teaching their history?

Many students who immigrated from other countries only see white people in their history books. When I think about the students who went to my elementary school, I don’t think of only white people.

It is important for all students to have role models from their history who have the same heritage as them because we want all students to feel as proud of their culture and history as an Italian would.

We don’t even recognize Native Americans strongly in our history curriculum.

There are 562 nationally recognized tribes in the US, yet we learn about the Cherokee, Navajo and Sioux with maybe a sentence in a textbook about a few others. All most people remember is the Trail of Tears and

Sacagawea when there is so much more to Native American history and culture. It is appalling to see that the people who lived on the land (before the immigrants came to take over) have no recognition.

It’s time we move away from Europe and teach the history of the whole world.

In 2015, a textbook published by McGraw-Hill was referring to black

slaves as “workers.” McGraw-Hill apologized and corrected the mistake.

Arizona state government ended

an ethnic studies course on Mexican-American history and culture in 2011.

More colleges are trying to incorporate

more diverse history like Oxford

University and Boston college.

ILLUSTRATIONS VIA CREATIVE COMMONS AND INFORMATION COMPILED FROM WWW.SALON.COM

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APRIL 5, 2018 | HIGH TIDE

A ban is not the answer to reforming legislation on firearms

ILLUSTRATION BY MICHAEL BOTTCHER

by Adam Yorke Living in Los Angeles, you have certainly heard the call to ban assault weapons.

It’s impossible to scroll through Instagram without passing images of activists hoisting “Ban Guns” signs as thousands march through downtown.

There is no need to explain why; of the 10 deadliest mass shootings in American history, six have occurred in the past decade. And of those six, all have involved the AR-15, a military grade assault rifle.

The answer seems easy enough: ban all assault weapons. This solution is not only ineffective, but advocating for an “assault weapons” ban also hinders real progress in achieving better public safety.

First of all, an “assault weapon” is not just a scary looking gun. In fact, there is no clear definition. The US Department of Justice defines “assault weapon” as a “semiautomatic firearm with a large magazine of ammunition designed and configured for rapid fire and combat use.” But this defini-

tion includes all firearms—handguns and shotguns too. Unless there is a clear distinction between “rifle” and “weapon,” implementing a hardline “assault weapons” ban would restrict the purchase of all guns that can be used in combat, essentially all guns.

“Fine, ban all assault rifles.”

Except you can’t do that either. Just because an AR-15 is big, black and menacing does not mean it should be any less legal than a semi-automatic hunting rifle. Both weapons operate at high velocities, are accurate at long range, can fire shots in rapid succession and potentially use large capacity magazines. The difference? One has “military style features,” and one does not.

The 1994 Federal Assault Weapons Ban explicitly prohibited pistol grips, flash hiders, folding rifle stocks and threaded barrels for attaching silencers in addition to prohibiting specific firearms.

This legislation had an adverse effect: instead of reducing the amount of rifles in circulation, the quantity actually increased from 70 million in 1994 to 87.3 million in 2004, according to Cleveland State University. That is a 24% increase largely attributed to the sale of new firearm models with simple cosmetic alterations to comply with federal regulations.

But that statistic is irrelevant as long as violent crime was reduced. It wasn’t. Ac-

cording to Christopher S. Koper, the lead author of “An Updated Assessment of the Federal Assault Weapons Ban: 1994-2003”, “although the ban has been successful in reducing crimes with assault weapons, any benefits from this reduction are likely to have been outweighed by steady or rising use of non-banned semi-automatics with large-capacity magazines, which are used in crime much more frequently than assault weapons.” Essentially, banning “assault weapons” did nothing but increase the use of non-restricted firearms. Koper continues, “indeed, there has been no discernible reduction in the lethality and injuriousness of gun violence.”

Let me repeat that for the people who choose to ignore credible, federally funded research. There was no discernible reduction in the lethality and injuries caused by gun violence in the ten years that the Assault Weapons Ban was in effect. The ban failed to make America safer.

The theoretical benefit of an assault weapons ban could be in the number of fatalities as a result of a mass shooting.

However there is not enough evidence to reasonably discern the effect of an assault weapons ban on mass shooting casualties.

Unfortunately, there is not adequate data relating specifically to “assault weapons,” but a national survey by the CDC indicates that it is just as likely for a firearm

to be used for defense as it is to be used in an attack.

Progress in curbing firearm homicides and mass shootings is not and will not be found in an “assault weapons” ban. It is impossible to create a federal bill comprehensive enough to have a dramatic effect on firearm fatalities while being liberal enough to withstand the Supreme Court.

Any “assault weapons” ban enacted into legislation would have no effect on the totality of gun violence, no effect on the quantity of mass shootings, and would increase the number of firearms in circulation. Additionally, there is not even close to enough evidence to say that a ban would save more lives than it ends.

There is no denying that America has a gun violence problem. Eleven thousand homicide victims per year is an absurd statistic and we, as one nation, need to stop the violence. But marching for an assault weapons ban is nonsense and accomplishes absolutely nothing. Universal background checks need to be implemented. Violent felons should not be able to purchase an AR-15. Thorough mental examinations are absolutely necessary and resources to aid the mentally ill need to be more available.

Reform is imperative, but neglecting empirical evidence is harmful and ignorant.

Hits&Misses Girls Basketball takes state The girls took the 2018 Division II State Championship on Sat., March 24, forever solidifying them in history as state champions.

Noisy Construction If you haven’t heard it, we envy you. The rooms next to the site have more bass than a New York nightclub.

A discovery in astronomy

Austria proposes headscarf ban

New analysis supports the prediction that the supermassive black hole at the center of our galaxy is actually surrounded by smaller ones.

The new coalition government proposed the ban for girls aged under ten in schools to “protect Austrian culture from Muslim influences.”

A well-deserved Spring Break

Spring Break: not a true break?

College admissions, benchmarks, and everything else that’s had students down. It’s relieving to take a load off, at least for a time.

Spring Break is overhadowed by the coming of AP season and the large amounts of work and preparation that are already under way.

OPINION

APRIL 5, 2018 | HIGH TIDE

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Parents must realize college today is a totally different ball game

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by Molly Cochran School and college acceptance has always been difficult, but it gets harder with every passing year. For this reason, parents need to stop comparing their college admittance to ours in a time where a 3.8 GPA opened you up to pretty much every school you desired. Now, students with a 3.5 GPA can struggle with acceptance to even the least competitive of universities without the extracurricular activities to strengthen their application.

Our parents need to acknowledge that

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18%

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INFORMATION FROM NICHE.COM. PHOTOS VIA CREATIVE COMMONS

it’s more competitive to get into college, and rather than forcing us into more and more extracurriculars, they should be focusing more on our mental health. Too many extracurriculars only increase our stress level and bring us closer to breakdown.

They wonder why we’re always tired, anxious and depressed. We’re not partying every night. We’re taking AP classes.

I’m not saying that our parents didn’t take hard classes as well, but adolescents today are extremely overworked. High school students today, myself included, are so pressured and stressed that it impacts our mental health.

And, it’s not like we have a choice. If we don’t take hard classes and participate in extracurriculars, we probably won’t get into the better schools we want to. Without a degree from one of these schools, it can be harder to get a well-paying job.

We advertise America as the “land of

opportunity,” and that’s another reason that college is more competitive now. More people are applying to the top schools in hopes of getting a good job and fulfilling the American Dream, the notion that hard work will bring financial success. Of course hope is a good thing, but the more people that apply, the harder it is to be accepted.

Global diversity is a positive thing too, but as Jacoba Urist mentions in The New York Times, “an American college education has become a consumer good, and schools are actively marketing themselves overseas.” This further increases the number of applicants. With more applicants comes the need for higher GPAs, higher test scores and more extracurricular activities in order to stay competitive.

With the application rates going up, the acceptance rates naturally decrease.

Since 1988, Columbia University’s accep-

tance rate has fallen to less than 7 percent and schools like Yale and University of Michigan have taken similar plunges in acceptance rate, according to US News and World Report.

When our parents are looking back at their time in school, they are viewing a different picture than the one that is painted in front of us every day. Due to changing circumstances over the past decades, these aren’t the same schools they were 30 years ago.

Generally, older generations can offer wise advice and insight into future experiences we will have in life, but unless they work in the world of academia, they probably are very unaware of how much more stressful and competitive our academic careers are than theirs were. Our mental health should be more important to them than our acceptance into an Ivy League caliber school.

Why many student athletes are hesitant to report their injuries

by Christina Owen With rigorous training regiments and long practice hours, it is no surprise that many athletes eventually find themselves seeing the athletic trainer or sitting in physical therapist’s office. In fact, going to get injury treatment is so common that student-athletes refer to our athletic trainer, June Caponpon, on a first name basis.

Yet a majority of student-athletes feel guilty for receiving injury treatment, and some don’t even report their injuries.

It’s common sense: if you’re injured, seek medical attention. June is available for the sole purpose of helping treat injured

athletes. So why don’t athletes seek help?

The answer is that athletes are apprehensive about reporting injuries because they fear retribution from coaches.

Fifty-four percent of student athletes have played while injured, 42 percent of student athletes said they have hidden or downplayed an injury during a game so they could keep playing and 62 percent of student athletes claim to know someone else who has done the same, according to a research report conducted by SafeKids Worldwide.

I can safely say that I fall in to all three of those categories. Having suffered from a concussion and multiple muscle tears, I am no stranger to injury. When I sat out while watching my teammates play, I felt like I was letting my team down.

While I sat out, the majority of my injured teammates did not, as they did not want to let the team down or appear as if they were only pretending to be injured to get out of practice. Of course, all athletes

want to jump back up and claim to be fine, but being fine is often far from the truth.

For many athletes, not wanting to look dishonest outweighs the desire for overall health and well-being. In some sports, missing practice to go to June’s, sitting out due to injury or not competing results in a loss of participation points and a lower grade.

Seventy-three percent of athletes have been yelled at by a coach because of an injury, according to the same report by SafeKids Worldwide. In addition, some coaches often ostracize injured athletes, further emphasizing the idea that one is not an asset if they aren’t scoring the points.

Most of the time, the onset of injury is gradual as a result of strenuous training.

Overuse injuries are responsible for nearly half of all sports injuries to middle and high school students, according to the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons.

What’s even worse, however, is that more

than half of all sports injuries in students are preventable, according to the Center for Disease Control.

Injuries can be better prevented by injury prevention programs, which typically consist of specialized stretching and strengthening exercises that vary depending on the sport. Many are outlined as 1520 minute warm-ups before practices instead of less structured warm-ups.

Injury prevention programs have been shown to be effective, yet less than ten percent of high schools nationwide have such programs implemented, according to the Huffington Post. If RUHS has an injury prevention program, it is not apparent.

Athletes and coaches need to understand that missing one game is not the end of the world, and an athlete is not weak or uncommitted for sitting out when necessary. One high school game lasts maybe an hour, but an injury, if not taken care of properly, can last a lifetime. When in doubt, sit it out.

There is no good reason the vending machines should be locked

by Ivanica Skalko A few weeks ago during a journalism work period, I realized that I forgot my water bottle at home. With the permission of my teacher, I walked to the vending machine in hopes of purchasing one.

To my dismay, I was unable to purchase a single water bottle because the vending machines are electronically locked during class time.

There has been no specific reason given as to why administration has locked the vending machines during class time, but it is safe to assume that it ensures students are not leaving class to buy snacks. However, the vending machines should not be locked, so students have options to buy water and snacks if they need, no matter what time of day that may be.

ILLUSTRATION BY EMMA LYON

The locking of the vending machines seems justified if it is to eliminate a reason for why students may want to leave class.

However, there doesn’t seem to be a clear harm or problem if a student goes to the vending machine on his or her bathroom trip. Buying a bag of Cheez-Its to hold someone over until snack doesn’t have any negative effect on class time if the teacher is already allowing someone to leave to go to the bathroom.

It is understandable that administration wants to promote students staying in class as much as possible, but if students are go-

ing to leave class anyways, they might as well get a snack. There’s no harm in getting a snack to eat from the vending machine if your teacher is already letting you leave. In addition, most teachers also allow students to eat during class if it is not disruptive.

Eating in class is beneficial because it can help students focus on the material they are learning, and not how hungry they are. Limiting students’ access to the vending machines during class when they could have the chance to buy a snack, with permission, poses a bigger distraction: a grumbling stomach.

Having the vending machine locked during class time is also inconvenient for students with free periods. Many seniors have a free period where they have the option to work on homework and do other activities, and there is no reason these students shouldn’t be able to get a drink or snack.

The vending machines are meant to provide snacks and drinks to students who need them, and the need for a bottle of water or a quick snack does not always come during the 15 minutes of snack or 35 minutes of lunch. If students have permission from their teacher to leave class to buy something from the vending machines, they should be able to purchase what they need.

Ultimately, unlocking the vending machines so that they are available at all times would do more good than harm. Students should be able to have the convenience of purchasing a drink or snack at any time during the day, as the need for something to eat or drink outweighs concerns over the few people who abused the privilege of having the vending machines available during class.

8 APR. 6, 2018 | HIGH TIDE

IN FOCUS

Somatic therapy is becoming a viable option for teens expirencing trauma and anxiety

by Alex Dang and Angie Tait

*For high school students searching for coping mechanisms, there are better ways of treating forms of trauma than alcohol and drug use as a form of “self medication,” in which the substance makes the individual feel better able to deal with life. Current therapies are now helping teens successfully deal with anxiety and traumatized nervous systems without medications and traditional therapy.

in your body because your body actually excretes natural opioids,” Coffman said.

Daniel Ziegler, class of 2015, has a phobia of needles that he believes originated from a childhood kidney operation.

“Whenever there was anything brought up of [needles], I would definitely be thrown off and I had to fight my way out of passing out,” Ziegler said. “Whenever it happens my hands are like freezing cold; you start to kind of lose control — it’s just very uncomfortable.”

Dr. Robin Roberts, a Westwood-based “I had to fight my psychotherapist, is a frequent lecturer eing abused by a family member way out of passing and field instructor in various health as a child, feeling helpless and fields at UCLA, her alma mater. Similar powerless, experiencing a brush out. Whenever it to Dr. Coffman, Roberts’ work focuses on with death — these are all potential sourchappens my hands a “union and balance of the elements of es of trauma, which is the number one are freezing cold; mind, body and spirit,” according to her cause of death in Americans aged 1-46, acwebsite. you start to kind of cording to the National Trauma Institute.

“It’s a myth that mental illness is in Dr. Robert Coffman is a psychotheralose control — it’s your head; it’s not true. Mental illness is pist, based in Beverly Hills, who specialjust very uncomfortno different than any physical illness, izes in somatic therapy — a form of therable.” and most of what we call ‘symptoms’ of apy that focuses on the ways the body is mental illness are actually physical,” Robconnected to the mind, according to the -Daniel Ziegler on erts said. “Just as talking alone isn’t going United States Association for Body Psyeperiencing trauma to cure your diabetes, talking alone can’t chotherapy. His patients include people symptoms cure depression, either.” who have trauma or PTSD, have been in While Ziegler can still watch a gory car accidents, have eating disorders or are movie without being affected by his phoexperiencing grief or loss. bia, his fear is triggered in specific situations involved neeIf victims cannot fight or flee from something “dandles and syringes, such as giving blood. gerous” or “overwhelming” they go into a third response, Ziegler finds talking about his phobia of needles “diffiknown as “freeze,” according to Dr. Coffman. cult,” and did not begin attending therapy until he was a “When you go into freeze, your nervous system goes senior in high school. into somewhat of a conservation mode, and you become During the therapy sessions, Ziegler and Dr. Debra disconnected, and the pain of the trauma doesn’t register

B

What is somatic therapy?

According to PsychCentral, “somatic therapy is a holistic therapy that studies the relationship between the mind and body in regard to psychological past. The theory behind somatic therapy is that trauma symptoms are the effect of instability of the ANS (autonomic nervous system). Past traumas disrupt the ANS.”

Who does somatic therapy help?

Somatic psychotherapy helps patients suffering from psychological traumas cope, recover and live a normal life. Our bodies hold on to past traumas which are reflected in our body language, posture and also expressions. In some cases past traumas may manifest physical symptoms like pain, digestive issues, hormonal imbalances, sexual dysfunction and immune system dysfunction, medical issues, depression, anxiety and addiction.

Photo by Jade Rona

Clydesdale, a somatic therapist, would discuss things to try to “trigger some type of reaction.” Whenever there was a reaction, no matter how small, Dr. Clydesdale would have Ziegler focus on it, relax and try to “let [the reaction] pass through.” “[Dr. Clydesdale] would tell me to think about a place where I felt very comfortable, and then once I stopped feeling uncomfortable and started to settle down, I would start to shake — uncontrollably sometimes,” Ziegler said. “From there, we used breathing techniques. Then after that “It’s a m you feel kind of like a zombie, just super mental ill relaxed.” your head Ziegler enjoyed the slow, “small steps” he made towards progress in therapy, estrue. Men pecially since his therapist knew not to is no diffe “push [him] farther than [he] could go.” any physic Ziegler believes that the main point and mos of therapy is for patients to “learn how to deal” with the trauma and triggers on we call ‘sy their own. He uses the breathing techof mental niques he learned in therapy whenever actually p he needs to “get centered.”

-Dr. Robin In therapy sessions, Coffman pays particular attention to the breathing of a patient: he has patients with shallow breathing stretch their muscles by leaning against walls and bending their knees or laying over medicine balls to stretch their “tight” back muscles. Through these exercises, Coffman intends to increase the energy charge in their bodies by expanding their breathing and metabolism, which he believes helps his patients “have their emotions push through.”

IN FOCUS

APR. 6, 2018 | HIGH TIDE

Reactions to trauma can be triggered by simulating situations. In Coffman’s practice, he has patients stand up, and asks them about how they feel in their chest when they simulate standing in a specific situation — such as in front of their father — then he will “sculpt” their body in the exact opposite way that they stand.

Different postures can lead to different emotions — humiliation and disapproval when standing in front of their father with a concave-chest, or pride and approval when standing in front of their father with their chests out — and Coffman myth that utilizes them to access the psychology of his lness is in patients. d; it’s not “I see things in their body that you know are connected to psychological issues. I get ntal illness them, in their own language, to try to idenerent than tify with those things,” Coffman said. cal illness, Additionally, Coffman will have patients st of what perform relaxation exercises and “gradual body awareness” exercises, having them ymptoms’ go “very slowly” while paying attention to illness are their bodies’ activities. physical.”

“When people notice their body reacn Roberts tions, they often notice that the patterns occur over and over,” Coffman said. “I want them to begin to associate that when they think of someone or something, they have these feelings, these sensations and these kinds of activities in their body.”

In light of the school shooting at Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida on Feb. 14, 2018, Coffman believes that the survivors of shooting incidents will have PTSD, and that, as with other trauma victims, they will

9

“need to get professional help as soon as possible.”

— attend sessions for two to five years.

“They’ll have an exaggerated response to anything visCoffman suggests that trauma victims seek a therapist ually, auditorily, tactilely — anything that has a reference who does both talk and body therapy; he also suggests to the incident. They may hear a car backfire and they that people with trauma get professional help as soon as may start shaking or having a panic attack,” Coffman said. possible.

Stress from the “freeze” response doesn’t necessarily “The longer you leave the shock in your body, the need a real trigger, either. Roberts referenced the recent worse it gets,” Coffman said.

Parkland shooting, saying that just the thought of a trauFor people considering somatic therapy, Roberts bematic event can cause a buildup of stress and adrenaline lieves that the process would not only help them “get to that needs to be released. the source of the problem” but likely also leave them “feel“It was terrifying in your imagination, when nothing ing better in their own skin.” was happening around you, but your nervous system still “They should expect to not be passive, but to be inactivated. In the end that’s a secondary trauvolved in their own care; they should be ma, meaning you heard about it, you didn’t ready to learn a lot about themselves,” directly experience it, but your nervous sysRoberts said. “I think people should expect “I see things in tem still reacted,” Roberts said. to be surprised that the conscious mind their body that Ziegler did therapy for about a year. doesn’t know everything, and that when you know are While he says that he since been “triggered given support, our body knows how to connected to psy- heal itself.” back,” he believes that the therapy was “super effective.”

Coffman has had his clients’ spouses chological issues.

“At the time after therapy, I stuck an acuand significant others tell him how “unI get them, in their recognizable” the patient is after therapuncture needle in my arm and I dealt with own language, to that and I was fine. I don’t know if I can do py, like “a completely new person.” But that now,” Ziegler said. “I don’t think I ever try to identify with to Coffman, patients must be dedicated, got to the point where [my phobia] was totalthemselves, to recovering in order for the those things.” ly fleshed out — I just got to a point where it therapy to be successful.

-Dr. Robert would be really manageable.”

“People that are very motivated get a Coffman Coffman’s sessions usually last an hour, lot more out of therapy than people who and his patients typically visit his office once are less motivated. People who work hard a week. The duration of therapy can last as and understand what I’m doing or try to short as two to three months; people who do “light recovget more out of therapy,” Coffman said. “They realize that ery” see Coffman for six to nine months, while long-term changing their personality in a deep way takes a deep patients — sometimes making up two-thirds of his patients commitment.”

The Effects of Trauma Trauma impairs: memory, concentration, new learnig and focus.

Trauma has been correlated to: heart disease, obesity, addiction, pulmonary illness, diabetes, autoimmune disorders and cancer.

Trauma impacts an individual’s ability to: trust, cope and form healthy relationships.

Trauma disrupts: emotion identification, ability to self-sooth or control expression of emotions and one’s ability to distinguish between what’s safe and unsafe.

Trauma shapes: a person’s belief about self and others, one’s ability to hope and one’s outook on life All of the following are potential sources of trauma, and those who have expirenced these may benefit from somatic therapy: Sexual abuse or assault; physical abuse or assault; emotional abuse or psychological maltreatment; neglect; serious accident, illness, or medical procedure; victim or witness to domestic violence; victim or witness to community violence; historical trauma; school violence; bullying; natural or manmade disasters; forced displacement; war, terrorism, or political violence; military trauma; traumatic grief or separation.

Information from Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration

Information from University of Buffao School of Social Work

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FEATURES

APR 6, 2018 | HIGH TIDE

Lights, camera, action

Ryan Cartee and Jessy Blackman attend the YoungArts program

by Sarah Falahahwazi

Artists from around the world came to the University of California, Los Angeles, to participate in the YoungArts regional program in the hopes of sharing their creativity with the public. For juniors Ryan Cartee and Jessy Blackman, this was an opportunity to meet others who were just as passionate about their discipline.

The YoungArts program is an application-based competition. Over 8,000 artists applied for the YoungArts programs in various subjects including cinematic arts, voice, and photography. However, only 781 participants received awards. Winners are separated into three categories: Merit winners, Honorable Mentions and Finalists, and can receive monetary prizes, national recognition and admission into regional programs. The regional programs provide mentors and master classes for the top 10% of applicants.

“You really gain a lot from this program even if you don’t win any money,” Blackman said. “You get to meet new people that like the same thing as you and you get to learn more about yourself, which I think is really important for people who are in the arts.”

Blackman applied to the program with her discipline being voice, and she was awarded the title of Merit winner. Cartee applied with a cinematic arts discipline and was named an Honorable Mention. Both girls attended the YoungArts Los Angeles regional program from Mar. 24 to Mar. 29.

Blackman claims she initially felt intimidated by the atmosphere when she arrived to the regional program, though she was able to overcome her doubts during her performances.

“Being with the mentors and seeing people that were successful helped me see my potential,” Blackman said. “When I performed with my band in UCLA, I was shocked because that was the first time I could really get into the song and not have to worry about messing up.”

Though she did not receive any monetary awards, Blackman has gained more confidence in her singing and songwriting abilities as a result of participating in the regional program, and she hopes to become a country-pop artist.

“I feel like I’ve gained the strength to keep performing,” Blackman said. “Being a YoungArts alumni has given me the ability to believe in myself and the knowledge to become successful.”

As an aspiring filmmaker, Cartee learned how to better develop her characters and concepts for her audience.

“I think it’s so cool how you’re able to tell a story through a screen. It’s just a really liberating feeling when I’m writing a script or when I go pick up my camera to make a movie,” Cartee said.

Due to her mentors’ support, Cartee has also become more confident in sharing her ideas and pursuing her passion for filmmaking. She claims that after participating in the regional program, she refuses to be deterred by the “low” acceptance rates of art colleges.

“The best thing that I’ve taken away from this is that everyone has a story to tell,” Cartee said. “It doesn’t matter what your background is, if you’re passionate about something then keep pursuing it.

Just do what you love no matter what it takes.”

Filmers in the making. The attendees of the program pose on the awards stage after ciweving their awards. PHOTO COURTESY OF RYAN CARTEE

RUHS psychologists provide support for students on campus

by Jenna Edwards rough time and knowing that you have helped them learn to problem solve is something very valuable,” Palma said.

There is not only a collaborative aspect between student and psychologist but also between the team of psychologist themselves.

“Since we have the same job, our days mostly look about the same, but that’s also a reason why we all spend a lot of time together, to work as a team,” Saveau said.

All three psychologists came into the profession later in life, and they learned that they really enjoyed the subject.

Saveau has been working here the longest out of the three, for three years .

“This is actually my second career, I got inspired to do this job instead because I think psychology is beneficial for both me and whoever I am helping. It’s very inspirational,” Saveau said.

Palma began her career at RUHS at the beginning of the last school year.

“Earlier in life, I didn’t know what I wanted to do, I didn’t even know that this was a career option. I had actually found out through a colleague in the psychology profession that this career existed. I already knew that I was interested in psychology, and I was like ‘wow, this is just what I wanted,’” Palma said.

Palma was already in the field of mental health before she came to RUHS, being a behavior specialist.

“I used to work with kids who had autism, and that also inspired me to work as

a psychologist, because even now I am still working with students who have special needs,” Palma said.

Hunt is the newest staff member of the three. She bagen working at RUHS at the beginning of this year, as it is a relatively new career for her.

“My story is similar to Ms. Palma’s actually. I didn’t know that this was a career option until later in life and it just really struck me as an interesting thing, and when I got into it a little more, I decided it was something I wanted to do,” Hunt said.

Never working around teens before so closely, Hunt was apprehensive to the idea of working in a high school.

“I was actually pretty nervous, because I was thinking ‘oh all these kids kids are gonna be like ‘I don’t have time for you,’ but actually, every single kid I’ve ever encountered here has been nothing but kind and respectful to me so I felt it was easier to fall into place,” Hunt said.

Each of the psychologists understand that high school is a difficult time in one’s life, so they take pride in their jobs, in bringing relief to students dealing with issues they may not have anyone else to about.

“I want students to know that we are accessible to everyone, and we are willing to help them with what they are going through always,” Palma said, “This is an outlet that all people are welcome to come to whenever something is causing problems for them.”

“Since we have the same job, our days mostly look about the same, but that’s also a reason why we all spend a lot of time together, to work as a team,” —David Saveau

Support system. “This is actually my second career; I got inspired to do this job instead because I just think psychology is really interesting in itself,” Saveau said. PHOTO COURTESY OF DAVID SAVEAU

W

ith the stress of highschool, between managing schoolwork and keeping good mental health, it is beneficial to know that we have three school psychologists who are available to help students in emotional need.

Unlike other staff members, psychologists David Saveau, Cora Palma and Holly Hunt are not bound to a strict schedule.

“Sometimes we will have to go into crisis meetings where something urgent has happened to students, sometimes we will have to have conferences with parents over the phone; it really just depends on

the day,” Hunt said.

With their schedules relying on student walk-ins, the psychologists never know when they will be needed.

“Just today I had a student come in for a crisis, and I helped them work through it and find a solution to the problem for an hour, and that’s just how the job goes daily,” Hunt said.

Although it is unpredictable, the psychologists are used to the spontaneity of the career and are happy to help students, even through the sometimes “hectic” environment.

“As a psychologist, being able to help someone through a

“I want students to know that we are accessible to everyone, and we are willing to help them with what they are going through always.”

—Cora Palma

FEATURES

APR. 6, 2018 | HIGH TIDE

Coping mechanism

Solomon Conley copes with depression by writing poetry

by Shyanne Landers

Writing is a coping mechanism for many people in order to ease the pain of depression. Whether it be through poems, letters or lyrics, senior Solomon Conley uses this method to handle his depression and spread positivity.

“What I write about can be about [the] past, current or hypothetical things. It could be about being in love, which I’ve never been in, but I can relate to that in some way and write about it for other people,” Conley said. “I’m a big believer in love and peace, so I just write about that.”

Conley has over 600 notes on his phone and a notebook full of writing pieces. He posts photos and screenshots of them on his Instagram story in order to have other people connect with what he writes.

“I feel like the more we share, the more we grow. I don’t know if my story could help anyone else, but I share it in case it can. I just want a way to advise kids, teens and adults that are suffering because I know it’s hard,” Conley said.

Enjoying the ability to help whoever he can, Conley has decided to take the time to assist whoever he sees is suffering.

“You never know what someone is going through. The quiet and calm ones are usually the ones who are suffering the most, so you have to go more out of your way to connect with them,” Conley said.

He continues to apply this knowledge to his life every day by approaching people he notices needs someone to talk to.

“The day after Vince passed, I came to the library to draw, talk to other people and let them know they can come to me if they needed anything,” Conley said. “I saw a kid crying outside, so I brought him a box of tissues and we drew together. It was nice to let him know he isn’t alone.”

Having stable mental health is always important, and Conley wants people to be able to talk to him about it.

“If someone has a problem, they can always come to me. I do my best to help people so I post the suicide hotline numbers for like the LGBT+ community and stuff like that,” Conley said.

He began writing in October of 2017, when he was diagnosed with double de-

pression, which is major depression and dysthymia. Dysthymia is a mild but persistent form of depression.

“I take medication for it and [I] can’t depend on it too much. You have to find other ways to cope with it. I use writing, drawing, yoga and meditation as a way to balance the medication,” Conley said.

He has also wanted to create a foundation to financially support mentally ill people who cannot afford the help they need.

“I want to be able to help people in pain.

Life is a feeling process and there is some good in being able to feel pain,” Conley said.

“I’m grateful I can feel it because I know some people who are immune to emotional pain due to what they’re going through.”

Conley’s depression has “improved” since he began writing and he wants the same for others. He is in the last stage of making a book, titled From Me to You, and wants to give it away for free.

“I finished putting it all together. People keep telling me that I should sell it. I honestly want to just give it to people for free.

I don’t want people to pay to feel comfort, I would just hand them out,” Conley said.

He is unsure when the book will be published, but Conley is open to giving it to those who are interested in the future.

“I tried to share the parts that most people can connect with. Something that means so much to me might not have the same impact on everyone else who reads it,” Conley said.

He writes his emotions when he does not feel like talking about them.

“As a person, I share about 50 percent of myself. I feel like everyone should keep the other half to themselves,” Conley said.

Conley also plans on showing his work with his future kids in order to show them what his life is like. He explained there is not a limit to who he wants to see his work.

“Sharing, in my opinion, is the way that people can connect. Sharing with people helps me, too. You learn something about me and I learn something about you,” Conley said. “It could be something I never knew. I can handle a situation differently because of a story that was shared with me.”

1.

2.

Love, Solomon. 1. “I write the best when

3.

I’m hurting. It allows me to let out a lot of my feelings,” Conley said. 2. “I just want to help people, that’s all,” Conley said.

3. “I’ve been realy able to connect with friends over this type of thing,” Conley said. PHOTO BY MITCH ZIEGLER

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ENTERTAINMENT

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Shipwrecked

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Tony’s on the Pier serves as a monument for the Redondo Pier, but fails to serve quality food

by Alexis Mesa Locals and tourists alike can agree that the Redondo Beach Pier is a great source of fun and entertainment. With famed landmarks such as the Fun Factory and Veterans Park at every corner; it’s difficult to get bored. Unfortunately, it’s easy to get hungry when there is an abundance of mediocre restaurants including the well known Tony’s on the Pier.

For over 66 years, Tony’s has deservingly been an integral part of Redondo, surviving the pier fire in 1988, gang activity and a capsized boat which shook the wooden platform just last year. Also known as “Old Tony’s,” this primarily seafood restaurant has become too familiar of an establishment for anyone to critique.

Yet that doesn’t mean its quality should suffer with age. From the interior to the worn down menus, Tony’s appears as if it’s

been the same for six decades.

Upon entering Tony’s, you’re immediately hit with beach nostalgia originating from 1952. Across the ceiling hang thick fishing nets, sea creatures and vibrantly colored lighting fixtures while the floors are covered in a godawful faded green carpet. Most of the walls in the restaurant are glass to ensure a breathtaking view of the pier no matter where you’re seated. Every aspect of the interior, good and bad, allows eaters to immerse themselves in history.

The service at Tony’s is also admirable.

Each waiter or waitress wears a Hawaiian button up, making it easy to spot them from across the room. When asked a question, the workers are attentive and kind, but they lose your attention when listing their large quantity of entrees.

Unlike the atmosphere, the food is un-

4.

remarkable. The soggy fish and chips leave a lot to be desired with bland meat, which requires heaps of tartar sauce to make interesting.

While the scallops sauteed in lemon, butter, garlic and wine are packed with flavor, they are extremely rubbery and tough to break down when they should be tender.

A tolerable entree offered is the seafood fettuccini alfredo, which of course is mostly pasta, not just shrimp and crab. If a customer wanted pasta, he could buy a better plate at a Domino’s for cheaper than 20 bucks.

Monumental. 1. The hallway displays various celebrities that have visited throughout the years. 2. Tony’s on the Pier was originally established in 1952.

3. The calamari served is locally caught from fishermen. 4. The fish and chips is a popular dish at the restaurant, but leaves a lot to be craved. PHOTOS COURTESY OF ELISE DIPAOLA

Although the purchase of a main course comes with a bowl of soup and a salad, Tony’s is still overpriced for what they are producing. Ranging from $20 to $30, the cost is excessive when considering the standard of each dish. As a restaurant which prides itself in being family friendly, Tony’s is vicious to the wallet.

As a major historical landmark, Tony’s shouldn’t be closed for its expensive and dull tasting food, however it should improve its quality instead of continuing with tradition. One thing is certain, with menu changes and lowering of prices, Tony’s will always have its place on the pier.

Hippie Dippie The Green Temple offers an authentic vegetarian dish at a decent price

by Sophie Fleming

Embracing their name, The Green Temple’s environment perfectly captures the zen and peace that any temple has to offer. Of all the things about the restaurant, nestled behind a quaint meditation shop in the Riviera Village, the amount of peace that the outdoor eating area brings has to be my favorite.

The earthly combination of stone and greenery is incorporated in their outdoor sitting area. Huge pots holding miniature trees and vibrant bushes are sprinkled throughout the space. Vines with large and small leaves hang downwards from the ceiling. Vibrant flowers spring from every nook and cranny, turning the place into a wondrous garden.

Customers sit at patterned, metal tables in cute wooden chairs that give the area a bohemian quality. An octagonal water fountain stands tall in the middle of the space, and little koi fish swim in the clear water. In the center of the pool stands two stone Buddha statues, with smooth rocks and succulents scattered around them.

Their interior eating area obtains the same sense of calm and tribalism.

Chairs of various wood types are cushioned with embroidered seat pillows, providing comfort for customers while they eat. The room lights along with the natural sunlight shining through the expansive windows give off a warm glow.

Different artifacts, from African drums and stone pottery rest on a high shelf, bordering the room. A lacquered, maple-wood counter looks into the kitchen, where the food is being prepared and mouth-watering smells are drifting out.

The Green Temple’s food is just like their scenery— uniquely fresh and exotic.

True to their description of “farm to table organic dining,” items in their menu are almost all organic and natural.

For people who typically like to customize their meals, Green Temple Bowl would be a first choice.

This specific item on the menu allows customers to choose three or four components to have in the bowl. Some ingredient

choices include broccoli, corn, asparagus, organic brown rice, tempeh, baked tofu, and guacamole. And those are only a few examples out of the 18 different food items to choose from.

The hummus wrap is another menu item is fairly enjoyable. Made with sprouted organic whole-wheat tortilla stuffed with organic hummus, avocado, sprouts, carrots, tomatoes, and cucumbers, it’s not bad, but nothing extravagant. It simply tastes like fresh vegetables loaded in some bread. The hummus however gives the sandwich some unique, pungent flavor.

I’ve never been a huge fan of vegan/ vegetarian food. Meat is pretty much a must-have in my diet and is usually in almost every meal I have.

But, honestly, it’s not awful here. I genuinely enjoyed a couple of their dishes.

Their veggie burger, made with organic brown rice, beans, nuts, almond cheddar, and onions, is pretty tasty. While definitely not meat, it’s tasty in it’s own unique way.

For people like me, who’d rather stay away from the whole unique tempeh-andalmond-cheese style of food, there a basic dishes like cheese quesadillas and guacamole-- things that some customers might be more familiar with.

Their salads are alright, too. The bowls are served with one of their in-house made, organic dressings and a slice of organic whole-wheat walnut bread. All their dressings are both vegan and gluten free.

Overall, The Green Temple is a fairly enjoyable place to eat. While their style of cuisine wouldn’t be my first choice, it’s organic and I do enjoy some of their dishes. The atmosphere of the restaurant is the best part of the whole place; however, it’s always a nice eating experience in their garden seating area, where you can just relax while you eat your vegan burger next to some friendly koi fish in the pond.

THE GREEN TEMPLE RIVIERA VILLAGE

ENTERTAINMENT

APR. 6, 2018 | HIGH TIDE

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From the grill to the studio Wendy’s released an EP both promoting themselves, and taking shots at competitors

By Austin Nunis Wendy’s has notoriously been no stranger to public Twitter banter with it’s competitors. The popular fast food chain has recently released a hip hop album of songs dedicated to taking shots at rival food chains and promoting their brand of freshness.

The mixtape, released on March 23rd, consists of five songs and clocks in at a total of ten minutes. It is available on both Spotify and Apple Music.

Wendy’s teased the release of the album on the 21st, posting a picture of the album cover on Twitter with the caption “Fresh, never frozen beats”. The cover features a single beef patty on a white background, and heavily resembles the cover art of Notorious B.I.G’s album, Ready to Die. The album, titled “We Beefin?,” was part of Wendy’s “Fresh, Never Frozen” campaign, promoting their commitment to quality food. Their campaign includes ensuring that all of their meat is sourced from trusted companies across North America and is 100% pure beef, according to their website. The company also guarantees that they don’t freeze their meat patties.

“It’s really about telling our food story; that we’re fresh, never frozen,” Wendy’s CEO Todd Penegor said to “Mad Money” host Jim Cramer. “And we called out a few of the competitors along the way, but we want to really make sure that people understand that we are fresh and we’re a little bit different.”

The album includes the songs “Twitter Fingers,” “Clownin” and “4 for 4$,” with most of the disses coming from the tracks “Holding It Down” and “Rest in Grease.” The most popular song on the album is “Twitter Fingers,” with over 900,000 streams on Spotify. The songs feature a multitude of beats that pleasantly surprise listeners with their smooth flow and clever lyrics.

In the track “Rest in Grease” the female rapper, presumed to be the personification of Wendy, burns McDonald’s with the line “You number one? That’s a joke/ Why your

ice cream machine always broke?/ Why your drive-thru always slow/ Why your innovation can’t grow.” She refers to McDonald’s faulty ice cream machines that customers tend to make fun of online. One customer even went as far as creating an app to let fellow consumers know if their local McDonalds’ McFlurry machine is out of order. She also pokes fun at the notoriously slow drive in lines at McDonalds.

On “Holding It Down,” Wendy’s takes bold shots at the unoriginality of Burger King’s menu with the line “BK? Don’t think that you got away. You copied my old menu and put it on replay.” The line calls Burger King out for supposedly replicating Wendy’s popular menu.

The witty disses add to the quality and liveliness of the songs and continue to create a playful album of memorable melodies.

Not only does it take shots at competing food brands, but the new album also cleverly devotes a song to highlighting the cheap, yet extensive menu at Wendy’s.

In the last song on the album, “4 for 4$”, the rapper praises Wendy’s, singing that “It’s versatile, dinner meals or even quick snacks/ The best you ever had, that there is just big facts/ The competition tired like they just sprinted six laps/ For 16 quarters come with four items, you can get that/ A fries, burger, nuggets and a drink come with that.” The catchy song aims to show customers how much quality food they could get for only a few dollars, further promoting their business.

Wendy’s clearly put time and effort into the production of the project, as the album features a pleasantly surprising mix of catchy hip hop beats that are likely to get listeners dancing.

For a fast food chain, the album was surprisingly successful and even landed the #1 spot in Spotify’s Global Viral Top 50 playlist.

The clever marketing tactic has reached and entertained a broad audience, with

Spicy. Wendy’s dropped their debut EP, “We Beefin?” on March 23rd. PHOTO COURTESY OF AUSTIN NUNIS

many Twitter users applauding Wendy’s for their creativity and boldness.

“Fresh is still so on trend,” Penegor said.

“How do we make sure we get food-forward, to showcase all of that? And then how do we connect to that next generation of consumer? You heard a little bit of it with that mixtape, but we’ve got 2.5 million Twitter followers where we really get to talk about our differences and how we stand apart from the competition.”

Although the idea of a fast food restaurant producing music may be strange, Wendy’s successful use of creativity and social media appealed to a new demographic and caught the attention of younger generations.

WE BEEFIN? WENDY’S

“Ready Player One” predicts a virtual reality future

By Zach Paulsen

The great escape. Wade Watts becomes “Parzival” as he enters the OASIS to secape the harsh reality of Ohio in 2045. PHOTO COURTESY OF YOUTUBE VIA CREATIVE COMMONS “Ready Player One” switches back and forth from reality and the OASIS: a realistic and advanced version of Virtual Reality. Wade Watts (played by Tye Sheridan) is known as “Parzival”, and Samantha (played by Olivia Cooke) is known as “Art3mis” in the virtual reality world. James Halliday (played by Mark Rylance), the creator of the OASIS, created a challenge to determine the new owner of it after his death. Because it is so involved with everyday life on Earth, the one who controls the OASIS holds a lot of power: freedom.

The challenge consists of finding three keys throughout, and when all the keys are collected, you’ve won. Not everyone participates in the challenge, only easter egg hunters, or “Gunters.”

With the same goal of finding the three keys, Parzival and Art3mis eventually cross paths, and the adventure begins.

Compared to the trailer footage, the thriller aspect of the movie was surprisingly significant. The purpose of a trailer is to hype the movie portrayed, but there is also a chance that too many significant clips shown in a trailer from the movie can cause disappointment out of recognition.

Looking back, the footage from the trailer of “Ready Player One” had many scenes that made the movie itself so exciting to watch. There wasn’t enough context to completely portray how much a certain clip affected the movie, so nothing was spoiled. The use of the trailer footage was enough to reel in an audience and still not give things away. Overall, the movie surpassed the expectations set by the trailer.

The use of sound in “Ready Player One” added an intensity to action packed scenes that made it stand out from other films. For example, when Wade Watts competes in a

racing challenge, the emphasis or the roar of the cars, the sound of the collisions, and the explosions called for full attention from the viewer. The upbeat rock music added to the adrenaline, including songs such as “We’re Not Gonna Take It” by Twisted Sister, “Stayin’ Alive” by The Bee Gees, and “One Way or Another” by Blondie.

The movie provided the platform to see worlds of pop-culture spanding multiple generations come together. Characters from other popular films were represented, including the Joker, Harley Quinn and Deathstroke, in addition to the popular and familiar King Kong, Godzilla, Gundam and Chucky.

The attempted romance between Wade Watts and Samantha had potential, but was unsuccessful because it felt rushed. For the majority of the film, they only knew each other through the OASIS, and then when

they finally met in person, they acted as if they had known each other before. It was like an online Minecraft relationship that lasts for a few days, and then somehow when meeting in real life, it was love at first sight. The failed romance attempt didn’t spoil the movie as a whole, but the emphasis of love in the trailer was misleading.

Because of its focused plot and attention paid to the potential future problems of overpopulation and escapism through technology, “Ready Player One” was overall an enjoyable film.

READY PLAYER ONE STEVEN SPIELBERG

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OCT. 6, 2017 | HIGH TIDE

SPORTS

SPORTS

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BASEBALL | TRACK AND FIELD | HOCKEY

Baseball is off to a hot start

by Liam Barrett

The grass is cut, spring is here, and baseball is back. With a record of 8-3, this year’s team is looking good and hoping to make this season one to remember.

The players are talented and hungry this year as they thirst to add themselves to the long history RUHS baseball success.

Junior Christian Dicochea says “the team has really come together recently and we have been playing on the field with a lot of energy” The team seems excited to play and ready to win. With a great start to the season, many players attribute the early success to good team chemistry and hard work put in during the preseason.

Many of the players have been together since little league, illustrating why this team bonds so well together.

Junior Theo Forshey says “[the] team chemistry is really good and we all love being with each other. We play together like brothers.”

The team is holding each other accountable for their actions and are settling for nothing but excellence. The team constantly pushes themselves to get better every day which is creating a winning environment.

Junior Jose Aceves attests to this saying “we are our toughest critics and biggest supporters at the same time. We feel we are the team to beat.”

With the impressive start to the season, the team has one goal to achieve. The team is pushing themselves to win a CIF title this year.

Aceves thinks the team “has a very good chance at winning CIF” and explains that “if [the team] keeps pitching how [they] have been and stay consistent on offense, no one can stop [them].”

With talent, energy, and a winning environment, this years team could be one to remember. The team is ready to meet expectations set on them and are planning on continuing their winning ways. The team is ready and willing to do anything to win; let’s see what they can do.

Spike me up inside. Junior Jacob Lininger jumps over hurdles at the first Bay League competition at PV. Overall, RUHS won the meet. PHOTO BY BEN CHENG

Track finishes the first half of its season

by Sangjun Lee

With a victory in Bay League against Palos Verdes and Morningside, the track team prepares for the second half of the season.

In particular, field athletes–those who compete in events not on the track such as pole vault and long jump–work to both diversify and intensify their training.

Junior Hunter Bode participates in the triple jump, long jump, and high jump.

“We had a great start to the season,” Bode said. “We beat Palos Verdes at their home track, and I achieved my goal of getting a varsity letter.”

Bode is enthusiastic about the rest of the season, pointing to his intense practices as sources of confidence.

“I’m optimistic because we do a variety of hard workouts including short sprints, run-throughs for long jump and triple jump, and takeoffs for the high jump,” Bode said. “All of this work gives us both physical and mental strength for when we actually compete.”

Although Bode has been hitting some of his goal times, he believes that there is still more work to be done.

“Especially with jumps, I need to improve my technique and inter-flight mechanics so I can land

higher caliber marks,” Bode said, “I’m hoping to rank high in Bay League and get to CIF.” On the girls side, 2017 CIF state-pole vault qualifier Amari Turner, junior, aims to qualify for CIF state again this year.

“My long-term goal is to hit 12 feet 10 inches at CIF, but I’m currently focused more on placing (making top five) in the invitational heat at Arcadia this week,” Turner said.

Turner has been working on more intensive sprints and drills to develop her speed and form during her vaults. For core strength, Turner exercises in the weight room several times a week.

One of the most important parts of pole vault practice is her pole runs, in which she vaults a certain height for form and visualization.

“These runs help me stay positive,” Turner said.

“I can mentally practice my event in a low-stress environment.”

Turner plans on continuing to motivate herself and to improve little aspects of her vaults as the season progresses.

“Now is the part of the season when you kind of feel your body breaking down, so I do my best to focus on myself and not worry about other competitor’s jumps,” Turner said.

The long-distance track team starts its own YouTube channel

by Luke Peterson

King of the mound. Junior Andrew Dalquist pitches in a game

against Bishop Montgomery. RUHS won the game 11-2. PHOTO BY SIENA VIDA

Running around and around on rubber tracks?

Running around and around on dirt paths over hills?

Pitiful. And painful.

With the intent of letting the world in on their mundane pain (they work out and compete all year), members of the long-distance track team have created a YouTube channel called the Seahawk Project.

Junior Rudy Orre is in charge of composing the site’s videos.

“The Seahawk Project is something that we hope to look back on in twenty years and laugh at, remembering what it was like to be on the team and have so much fun,” Orre said.

Other members of the team, including seniors Brian Adler and Anthony Bass, plan on taking time before workouts and competitions to film all the “tantalizing” behind-the-scenes action.

“We use our phones as our recording equipment to make the viewers feel that they’re right there with us. It’s what directors use in fight scenes to make it feel more personable; people call it ‘shaky-cam’,” Orre said.

“Also, we don’t have any fancy cameras or anything like that.”

The YouTube channel happens to be one front of the war the track team wages with rival schools.

“We really only started the thing because other schools did,” Orre said. “There’s this school called Roosevelt that started a channel last month, and PV must have liked the idea so they started one themselves. We saw this happening and just had to make one.”

PV’s channel–the “Triton Project”–has over 250 subscribers and was started on March 8. Roosevelt’s channel–the “Roosey Project”–has more than 4,000 subscribers and began in November of last year.

The Seahawk Project, at an age of fewer than two weeks, boasts four videos, 24 subscribers, and over 450 whole views.

As can be seen, the track team has some catching up to do.

Regardless, the Seahawk Project is well on its way to YouTube stardom.

“I think it’s crazy that so many people have seen our videos already in such a short amount of time,” Orre said. “We’ll keep making them as long as we’re having fun doing it.”

SPORTS

APRIL 6, 2018 | HIGH TIDE

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The fight on ice. Sophomore Mathew O’Connor looks off to the other end of the rink as the puck leaves his end. RUHS recently tied with PV, but beat Costa in the game before that. PHOTO BY TAYLOR ROSE

Can’t check this

The hockey team seeks to strength its focus as it begins to play area schools

by Yasmine Elahihaghighi The RUHS hockey team hopes to continue its strong season as they move on from its last game, a 3-3 tie with Palos Verdes.

“We moved from Division II to Division I, so our goal from this point are to make a name for ourselves. We want to try to make the playoffs eventually,” senior Joey Shy said.

Shy feels the team has “really good stick handlers” but needs to “combine their strengths”.

“We are all from different club teams or some of us do not even play on club teams at all. This is the only team that we play in this year so we are all getting to know each other right now,” Shy said.

The average player on the team spends over 20 hours a week with their club team,

but only one hour with the Redondo team so “chemistry is an important factor”.

Shy’s teammate, senior Connor Matthews, explains how he feels the team also needs to work on their offense.

“We need to work on keeping the puck on the offensive side. We will get it in there, but will not keep it as long as wanting it before it gets reversed,” Matthews said.

Although the team this year wants to improve its skill, they also hope to increase the crowds at their games.

“We have a lot of different friend groups.

My friends personally all try to come out and watch the games, but we are trying to get everyone on the team to invite all their friends,” Shy said.

The team’s goal is to eventually have “a few friends turn into whole groups” that will start coming out.

“Seeing one of your buddies either fall, lay someone else out on the ice, or score a goal gets the crowd cheering so it will get the entire environment more excited and that will get us more excited as well,” Shy said.

Many members of the team participate in lacrosse or other sports so the team has not yet created scheduled practices.

“Right now we only have one game a week and our practices are more relaxed.

We are all getting off of the school day and this is a Spring League. We are not taking it as seriously as many people take club teams,” Shy said.

Coach, Nicholas Sklarenko, does a “good job of helping the team get back on track.”

“We all know our coach really well so we are really friendly with him. We are not afraid for him to judge us or give us constructive criticism. He tells us when we are doing bad so being very comfortable around him helps us get better advice,” Shy said.

Although they goof off in practices, the team takes games very seriously.

“When it comes game time like when we were playing PV that is when everyone got very serious. We were down 3 or 2-0 and there was no more joking on the ice,” Shy said.

“We all did our job and told people what to do and our heads got back in the game. We know when to focus.”

Girls lacrosse beats Crescenta Valley Softball faces its first League game

by Kiera Patterson

Girls varsity continues its successful season with a record of 8-3 and a 15-8 win against Crescenta Valley last Tuesday.

After a loss to Palos Verdes in the prior game, the girls came into this game with determination and confidence to beat Crescenta Valley.

“We played well as a team, quickly moving the ball up and down the field and placing our shots. We ran plays and were quick off the draw, starting the game well right off the bat.

We were aggressive and smart with the ball and on defense, translating in forcing the other team to make turnovers,” sophomore Hannah Hiken said.

The second half was when the girls really took control of the game and began to light up the field.

“We ended up winning that night. We came alive in the second half and kept possession of every ball. I think we did a really great job at playing together and moving the ball up and down the field,” senior Lisa Diethelm said.

The girls began their training at the beginning of the year before the season and now are training every day after school since winter break.

“I think this season is going well and I hope to finish strong.

We have worked so hard this year with extra training and new drills. This season has probably been our hardest yet because we are playing higher level teams, and I am proud of how we have risen to the challenge,” Diethelm said.

The girls do not only credit their successful season to the training but to their ability to work well together on the field and off the field.

“My teammates are very supportive and fun to be around.

We have fun on bus rides together and make practices more enjoyable. Everyone is always willing to help others with problems or school work outside lacrosse and we motivate one

another to get better,” Diethelm said.

Every minute of the game can be grueling and tough, but at the end of the day, the girls know they have each other to walk onto the field with and off the field with.

“I love the intensity of a game and playing with my teammates. Walking into the field with the team is always incredible, and I am so grateful that I got to play such an awesome season with them,” Diethelm said.

The fight on turf. Girls lacrosse plays its next game against Glendale on April 18. PHOTO BY VICKY VUONG

by Michael Solimando The Seahawks look to bounce back from a rocky 3-9 start to the season in their first Bay League game on Friday, April 6th against Inglewood.

Senior Sophie Shipley shared her thoughts on the opening 12 games of the season for her and her team.

“I think we had a little rough start but our team is really united this year. We are all working together to hopefully win the Bay League” she said.

Shipley knows that “it’s extremely important to start off Bay League with a win” because the first game “sets the tone for the rest of the season” and grab hold of that “optimistic” feeling.

“Most of these early losses have been pretty close, winnable games. We need to come out stronger and always keep our energy up” Shipley said. “Our defense and baserunning have been good. We’ve also had good energy in the dugout which is really important for the team to be successful.”

Senior Mckenna Zayas underscored the team’s goal to “win Bay league and hopefully make it as far as possible in CIF Division 4” while giving her own recap of the first 12 games.

“Even though we haven’t won as many games as we wanted to, I have seen a lot of progress in our team especially when it comes to battling back, we never just lay down,” she said.

Specifically, with the Bay League portion of the season about to begin, Zayas believes her team needs to improve “on hitting as a whole, especially when we have runners on base.”

The Seahawks will look to improve to 4-9 if they can secure the win against the Inglewood Sentinels today at 3:15 pm.

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SPORTS

APR. 6, 2018| HIGH TIDE

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State Champions at last

Queens are the Champions. 1. Junior Jasmine

Davis dribbles around a player on her way to the basket. 2. Freshman Kelli Stoke moves past the opposing player for a lay up. 3. The team celebrates their win. PHOTOS BY BEN CHENG

2000

RUHS lost the Regional Championship to Brea Oinda

3.

2002

2015

RUHS lost the CIF State Championship to St. Mary’s

RUHS lost the Regional Championship to Mark Keppel

2018 RUHS wins the CIF State Championship vs Pleasant Valley

Girls Basketball’s win at CIF State concludes a record breaking season

by Kate Ripley Closing a record-breaking season, girls basketball has proven they rule the game, winning their first CIF State title against Pleasant Valley with a final score of 52-47.

“It’s an awesome feeling, winning it.

The whole atmosphere, playing in the arena, it was a great feeling,” junior Jasmine Davis said. “We’re a part of history, and I’m glad that we are. We really deserved it.”

Their victory was the cherry on top of an almost perfect season—31 wins, including a 12 game winning streak, with only 5 losses—a school record, according to tbrnews.

As the championship game came to an end, the girls continued their theme of the season by fighting for their 5 point lead and then maintaining it until the end.

“This team we are known for our finish.

That’s one of our goals, to finish strong and not let the other team think that they have

a chance to come back and win it. We pass the ball. Everybody shares on this team,” Davis said.

In honor of Ryse Williams, a star boys basketball player who passed away last June, the girls ended each huddle of the championship game with a “Ryse Up” break and wore “RyseUP” warm up shirts.

“Part of the reason we always break our huddles is to remember Ryse and also to try and play the way he did, to take after how much he cared about the game, how he always left it all on the court and was such an unselfish, dedicated team player,” captain Ashlynn Autrey, senior, said. “We try to model the way we play after that. He was such a big part of Redondo and basketball.”

Along with passion, Autrey and her teammates largely attribute their victory to their defensive work.

“A lot of what we spend time on is defense and how to shut down their scorers.

One of the good things about us being less offensive is we don’t have set scorers. In different games, different people are winning scorers a lot of the times, and we have different ways to score,” Autrey said. “A lot of the teams we play, they have some people who are set scorers, and they aren’t going to win if they aren’t scoring.

Despite their defensive skills and ability to hold off the majority of Pleasant Valley’s offense, the team did experience some trouble with the opponent’s starting center, Sirena Tuitele, who led with 21 points and 10 rebounds.

“She was a very talented, very good, player, so it was difficult. Basketball is very physical, but the whole season I’ve never gotten an actual bruise except for that game when I played against her,” Autrey

said. “We did take away a lot of her shots and left her from being as open as they would have liked. That’s part of why we could win in the end.”

Despite the difficult circumstances, including missing key player Anna Johnson, the girls won the championship for their coach, Marcelo Enriquez, according to Autrey.

In his 23 years of coaching at RUHS, Enriquez only took one other team to state in 2002, but lost in the finals, making this year’s victory all the more meaningful.

“The difference between that group to this group is the extra chemistry that this team had. I had more versatile players with this year’s team, and it showed,” Enriquez said. “I’m really proud of this group. It’s a special group. They are so cohesive, and they really are just a wonderful group of girls to coach. I felt very blessed.”