CHRONICLE the harvard-westlake
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Los Angeles • Volume 24 • Issue 5 • Feb. 13, 2015 • hwchronicle.com
School policy changes following Cuba trip
Show me the money
By Zoe Dutton
Students and deans try to navigate the often unpredictable world of collegiate financial aid. Admissions officers try to figure out the best way to meet applicants’ needs.
By Jacob Goodman
the majority of the schools ranked in the top 20 of U.S. ith a $32 million News and World Report’s endowment, Har- college rankings. Students vard University is who need large amounts of so rich that it doesn’t need to financial aid often find their consider applicants’ financial choice of schools limited if situations when admitting they want to be sure they’ll them. The university prom- receive enough help. ises to meet 100 percent of “I’m unhappy that there any student’s demonstrat- were a bunch of schools that ed need and make it pos- I wanted to apply to, but sible for them to graduate when I showed them to my debt-free. A few years ago, dean, a lot of them had to Harvard also committed to go off the list because their paying 100 financial aid percent of wouldn’t be the tuition what I needSome of for any qualed,” Jazmin ified candiPiche ’15 said. these are really dates whose She added good schools, but I families that she will earned less need all of her can’t apply to them than $65,000 college tuition because of financial per year. to be covered aid.” Ac c o r d by the school ing to a 2014 she attends. —Jazmin Piche ’15 “Some of these U.S. News and World are really good Report story, only 62 out of schools, but I can’t apply to the 1,137 colleges in America them because of the finanthat send financial aid in- cial aid.” formation to the magazine The problem with apwere able to meet 100 per- plying to schools that don’t cent of students’ demon- promise to meet 100 percent strated need for financial as- of demonstrated need is that sistance. They include all the when they admit candidates, Ivy League schools as well as they often send financial aid
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packages well below what the students need to accept their offers. However often this may occur, it is not the intention of colleges, said Shawn Abbott, Vice President of Financial Aid and Dean of Admissions at New York University. “While yes, at NYU, it is the unfortunate reality that our financial aid budget does not allow us to meet every student’s full need by covering the full cost of at-
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tendance,” Abbott said, “that doesn’t mean anyone here at NYU creates a formula to intentionally provide a ‘gap’ between one’s aid and the cost of being at NYU.” NYU’s admission process is need-blind, meaning it doesn’t factor in students’ financial need when processing their applications. Union College in Schenectady, New York, on the • Continued on page B2
Administration suspends 4 on suspicion of substance abuse at home basketball game
By Scott Nussbaum
and, along with three other students, was suspended for Reports that students were one day and had to remain intoxicated at the boys’ bas- home Monday, Jan. 26. ketball game against Loyola According to the Upper Jan. 23 prompted administra- School Handbook, being untors to pull students out of the der the influence of drugs or crowd and suspend four stu- alcohol at school or schooldents, students said. sanctioned events “may result The administration de- in expulsion.” clined to confirm or deny “School is school, and our whether or how stuentire community dents were removed expects behavior to from the crowd or be consistent repunished, as adminisgardless to the type tration policy is to not of activity taking comment on individuplace at school, and al disciplinary cases. those activities in“I think there were clude classes, they disciplinary circuminclude rehearsstances that were unals and practices, related to the game, they include games, nathanson’s [or to] the Fanatics, they include exhibAudrius and were related only its,” Head of Upper Barzdukas to bad decisions by a School Audrius Barfew people,” President Rick zdukas said. “And so I think Commons said. we are very consistent about A student who wishes to our expectations for how you remain anonymous confirmed should behave when you come that he was high at the game to school.”
Another student who attended the game and wishes to remain anonymous said that he believes that punishment was administered in an uneven way. The student attended the game while high on marijuana and said some students were picked out of the crowd while others were not. “I saw other kids almost definitely more inebriated and blatantly so, but there were no repercussions for them, so I feel like it is just a hard situation for everyone,” the student said. He said one of his friends was pulled out of the crowd and questioned by Barzdukas as to whether she was high. After this discussion, the group of students left the game. During the next day at school, he and his friend both met with their deans to discuss the situation but were not punished. The student said that in the meeting he neither confirmed nor
denied that he was high. “There is this underlying sense that the school is suspending so it doesn’t need to be a public expulsion and there isn’t any comfortable middle ground that students can settle into,” the student said. However, Barzdukas feels that the administration appropriately enforces the student handbook, including infractions involving drugs and alcohol. “We think you should come to school and fully experience all the school has to offer and that if you are coming to school altered in some sort of fundamental way, there is something wrong and there is some sort of a problem,” Barzdukas said. “This is not the place to be like that, and so if we know about it, we do something about it, and we have been very consistent about that, and we are going to continue to be that way. We are going to continue to help people.”
An investigation into student complaints about the digital-storytelling trip to Cuba over semester break, though disputed by organizers, has led to changes in school policy for trips. The administration will no longer allow students from other schools to participate in Harvard-Westlake trips during the school year, nor permit outside vendors to serve as chaperones, requiring at least two teachers on all trips. It will also reiterate the alcohol policy, which forbids drinking on the part of both students and chaperones. Head of Upper School Audrius Barzdukas said that the investigation was ongoing and had not yet reached a final conclusion. “At a dean meeting we compiled the results of their conversations with students, and those conversations suggested that some school policies may not have been followed on the trip,” Barzdukas said. “As a result of having spoken to students and having spoken to [Head of the Visual Arts department and trip organizer Cheri Gaulke], we are going to make some adjustments in our policies.” More than half of the students on the trip told the Chronicle that alcohol was served to students at meals during the eight-day trip. Of the 17 students who responded to the Chronicle, 15 said there was student drinking on the trip. Twenty-one Harvard-Westlake students went on the trip, among whom six were Chronicle staffers, in addition to two other students from outside of school. Students said they were • Continued on page A4
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JACOB GOODMAN/CHRONICLE VIVIAN LIN/CHRONICLE
AS YOU LIKE IT: See page B11 for a behind-the-scenes look at the spring play, ‘As You Like it.’ Upper school students performed in Shakespeare’s comedy Feb. 5-7.
A2 News
School may provide faculty with vaccine
By Jessica Spitz
As a child, science teacher Walt Werner contracted the measles. As an adult, Werner developed non-Hodgkins lymphoma and took a five-month medical leave last year to undergo treatment, which included chemotherapy and a stem cell transplant. During Werner’s chemotherapy treatment, doctors targeted cancer cells, which, because of the type of cancer Werner had, meant intentionally killing his immune system. Werner then received a stem cell transplant that would rebuild his weakened system. “In essence, I’ve had a reborn immune system,” Werner said. “So all my childhood immune responses have been kind of lost.” Regaining his immune responses, which include his immunity to the measles, will not be as simple as just getting vaccinated again. Depending on the type of cancer and treatment, patients may have to wait from six months to a year or longer after finishing treatment to start getting vac-
cinated again. Because of the recent outbreak of measles, Werner recently emailed his oncologist asking if it is safe for him to get the MMR vaccine, which protects against measles, mumps and rubella. In early January, multiple cases of measles were reported as originating at California’s Disneyland. Within a month, the few cases grew into an outbreak, with now more than 100 people diagnosed with measles in the United States, 92 percent of whom were linked to the Disneyland cases. This resurgence of a disease that had been declared officially eliminated from the United States in 2000 has sparked a national debate over the use of vaccinations and the possibility of new legal requirements. A central point in this debate has been the theory of herd immunity, a type of immunity that works when a large portion of the population has been vaccinated and protects individuals who cannot get vaccinated themselves. These individuals include infants, the elderly, people born with immune deficiency disor-
The Chronicle
7th Grade Vaccination Rates In order for “herd immunity” to work, at least 92 percent of people must be vaccinated against measles. Below that, the risk of an outbreak increases. These are the rates of fully vaccinated students: HarvardLincoln Marlborough Windward Brentwood Crossroads Westlake (MS) 99%
Justin Rose ’17 was one of 12 students in the world to receive a perfect score on the 2014 AP Computer Science Exam. Rose was one of two freshmen from Harvard-Westlake to take the exam last year. To prepare for the exam, he took an online course in computer science during the school year and also took an introductory computer science class at UCLA during the summer of 2013. He also met regularly with Jessica Kaufman, a mathematics, library and technology teacher at the Middle School. “I don’t think it’s really spending time to study for the test but having a deep understanding for everything
that’s introduced, so not really cramming for it, but just sort of understanding it as it goes … and making sure you keep that sense of understanding,” Rose said. Though it frustrated him at times, computer science came naturally to Rose. “I enjoy it. I mean, just solving a problem with a computer, it just is a unique experience, and there can be times when you can get really frustrated. There are times when it can be extraordinarily frustrating, but that doesn’t necessarily mean I don’t like it or I don’t think it’s fun, because just at the end when you get something done, it feels really nice,” Rose said. Rose first found his passion for computer science when he started programming in the
Previews LOVE IS IN THE AIR: With Valentine’s Day nearing, five faculty members, including Dean Tamar Adegbile, pictured with her husband, reminisce about how they met their spouses.
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ders and people who become immunocompromised due to a disease or medical treatment, like Werner. California state law requires children to get certain vaccinations, including MMR, in order to attend school. However, students can be exempted due to religious belief, in which case parents must sign an affidavit, or due to personal belief, which requires a doctor’s note. Although no one in the
summer after his fifth grade year. “I’ve always looked up to other programmers, and it just seemed like something I wanted to do,” Rose said. He originally decided to take the Advanced Placement test to get ahead and into more advanced topics by the time he would reach the upper school. “I wasn’t shooting for a perfect, but I was doing well enough on the practice tests that I thought it might be possible. I wasn’t aiming for a perfect; I was just aiming for a five,” Rose said. Rose said he didn’t expect to ace the test at all. “I actually didn’t, like if you told me the day after the day I took the test that I was going to get a perfect, I probably wouldn’t have believed you,”
Harvard-Westlake community has contracted the measles, Santa Monica High School’s child-care center, less than 20 miles away from the Coldwater campus, was shut down for four days last week after an infant too young to be immunized was diagnosed with the disease. A freshman baseball coach there was also diagnosed with the measles. In the Santa Monica-Malibu Unified School District, the rate of vaccine waivers for
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COME AND GONE: Actor Russell Andrews (Anya ’17) spoke to two English III: Living America classes about his experiences with August Wilson, author of “Joe Turner’s Come and Gone.”
The Chronicle, the student newspaper of Harvard-Westlake School, is published nine times per year and distributed free on both the upper and middle school campuses. There are 727 students at the Middle School and 866 students at the Upper School. Subscriptions may be purchased for $20 a year for delivery by mail. Unsigned editorials represent the majority opinion of the seniors on the Editorial
kindergartners is 11.5 percent, compared to the statewide rate of 2.5 percent. At Harvard-Westlake, two to three percent of students have opted out of vaccinations due to religious or personal beliefs, Assistant to the Head of Upper School Michelle Bracken said. Bracken handles the collection of the California School Immunization Records at the beginning of each year. • Continued on page A8
I wasn’t shooting for a perfect, but I was doing well enough on the practice tests that I thought it might be possible. I wasn’t aiming for a perfect; I was just aiming for a five.” —Justin Rose ’17 nathanson’s
he said. “I mean, I didn’t feel horrible about it, but I didn’t think I didn’t miss anything. I was sure that I had missed a multiple choice or half a point on the short answer or something.” Head of Upper School Audrius Barzdukas congratulated Rose at the first and third Wednesday assembly Feb. 4, and in a statement on the front page of hw.com. “Justin is a living example of, ‘Good process leads to good outcomes,’” Barzdukas said. “He works hard, thinks creatively, contributes to discussions and is open to different
ideas. We are fortunate to have Justin as a member of our community, and are proud of his achievement.” Rose is taking the Design and Data Structure class at the Upper School. He hasn’t thought much about his career, but he definitely wants to continue computer science in the future. “I’m not really sure what I want to focus on, but there are so many different fields … there’s just so many ways to go, and I’m not really sure which way to take it,” he said. “Just the whole general field, I think I want to continue in.”
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PRINTED WITH PERMISSION OF TAMAR ADEGBILE
BENNETT GROSS/CHRONICLE
94%
SOURCE: CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC HEALTH GRAPHIC BY JACOB GOODMAN AND JAKE SAFERSTEIN
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Sophomore earns perfect score on AP computer science exam By Alyson Lo
Feb. 13 , 2015
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TURN UP: Noah Gains ’15 runs out at the Loyola game Jan. 23. The team finished their regular season Feb. 11 in their second game against Loyola.
In the Jan. 14, 2015 issue of the Chronicle on Page B10, in the story “Student Rwanda film wins award at Malibu Teen Film Festival,” we reported that Michael Ferris, writer of “Terminator 3,” served as a judge. The judge for the Malibu Teen Film Festival, Michael Ferris, is a cinematographer and camera operator and worked on films including “Die Hard,” “Spiderman 3” and “X-Men: First Class.”
Board. Letters to the editor may be submitted to chronicle@hw.com or mailed to 3700 Coldwater Canyon Ave., Studio City, CA 91604. Letters must be signed and may be edited for space and to conform to Chronicle style and format. Advertising questions may be directed to Kelly Loeb at 818-487-6511. Publication of an advertisement does not imply endorsement of the product or service by the newspaper or the school.
Feb. 13, 2015
hwchronicle.com/news
News A3
Senior receives presidential nomination By Bryant Wu
COLE FELDMAN/CHRONICLE
Students perform at Valentine’s Day-themed Coffee House LOVE IS IN THE AIR: Jessica Dickman ’17 sings “Tainted Love” by Soft Cell at the second Coffee House of the year Feb. 9, which was Valentine’s Day-themed. Jack Stovitz ’16 performed stand-up comedy about his “level of Jewishness,” and Adam Yaron ’16 sang a love-themed mash-up of various songs. One more Coffee House will be held later this year, the prefects said.
Administration increases tuition 3.6% to $34,700 for 2015-2016 school year By Eugenia Ko
Tuition for the 2015-2016 school year will rise to $34,700 from $33,500, an increase of 3.6%, Chief Financial Officer Rob Levin said. The 2015-2016 re-enrollment contract became available on hw.com on Feb. 9. This is the fifth consecutive year that the tuition increase rate has been about 4 percent, with last year’s increase at 3.7 percent. Though other schools are only beginning to publish their tuitions for the 2015-2016 school year, the Finance Committee of the Board of Trustees expects that tuition and
rate of increase will fall below tivity or efficiency savings,” the median for other top in- Levin said. dependent schools in the area, Levin said every major cost as they have and revenue in previous category is years. examined in [The financial The 3.6 the process of aid program] is mission percent indetermining crease is atthe budget. critical...thus enabling tributed to The greatest both our pursuit of the fact that portion of the “top-quality tuition every excellence and of purpose schools are year is facbeyond ourselves.” inherently ulty and staff people-in—Rob Levin compensation tensive enin relation to Chief Financial Officer yearly inflaterprises, committed to tion rates and small classes and individual- changing local housing costs. ized student support, and thus The financial aid program not easily amenable to produc- is also a significant portion of
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School launches online enrollment, McClain to become scheduler By Jake Saferstein
Students will begin signing up for next year’s courses using a new online process Feb. 23, and math teacher and head scheduler Beverly Feulner has begun training science teacher Krista McClain to take over the scheduling process. The new online system allows students to see only courses they can take. The program filters out classes for students based on prerequisites and corequisites and ensures that students sign up for at least five core classes and no more than seven cores. Teachers in the departments that previously required teacher permission for every course — math, science and world languages — will be
able to filter out courses for their students Feb. 16-22. After students have signed up, the deans will check their students’ schedules. Their job will be easier now, as they will no longer have to check for the right numbers of core subjects. They will only have to ensure each student’s schedule fits them well. After the deans have approved students’ schedules, another advantage of the new system will kick in. Feulner will no longer have to type up schedules. She will then pass on a list of how many students have sign ed up for each class to department heads, who will assign teachers to each section of every class. Once Feulner gets schedules back, the bulk of her workload — what Mc-
Clain is training for will begin. Every year, Feulner has to create the “Course Master,” which is a list of when and where every class and teacher will be. Feulner does this by creating a large poster of all eight periods and every teacher, and placing color-coded pieces of paper that represent classes in every slot. “I wish [students] would take [the process] more seriously,” Feulner said. “That’s my job to make sure you guys get the courses you want. I don’t want it to be a theoretical exercise.” After the Course Master is made, a computer program randomly assigns students to classes to fill their schedules. Feulner tries to avoid having to change the Course Mas-
the tuition, as Harvard-Westlake’s program is the largest among California independent schools. “[The program] is mission critical, dedicated not only to meeting the needs of existing Harvard-Westlake families but also to enhancing the school’s ability to offer the experience to a broad and strong group of potential students, thus enabling both our pursuit of excellence and of purpose beyond ourselves,” Levin said. However, Levin said the board and administration aim “to keep tuition as low as prudently possible while exercising the prudence necessary to set it no lower.”
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Danielle Stolz ’15 was one of six people in the nation to be selected as a YoungArts winner in the Cinematic Arts category and has been nominated as a Presidential Scholar in the Arts. Stolz’s film, titled “Wings of Peace,” was created when Stolz and 10 other classmates went on a digital storytelling trip to Laos during spring break in 2013. The film centers on the idea of folding origami cranes as a way to promote peace. “During the trip we saw a lot of tragedy and injustice that our country had inflicted on Laos, but we also saw the resilience and hope the Laotians expressed,” Stolz said. “The idea behind this video was to share that aspect of the Laotians’ story. Over time the video became a lot more personal, and a big aspect of it became the connection between my Japanese heritage and the Laotians, and ultimately about peace and reconciliation.” To be a Presidential Scholar in the Arts is the highest arts honor that can be given to a graduating high school senior. Nominations are based on students’ academic, civic and artistic achievements. In order to receive this nomination, Stolz first had to apply for national recognition from the YoungArts Program. Out of thousands of nationally recognized students, Stolz became one of 20 students in the nation selected each year to be Presidential Scholars. Stolz can now attend regional arts programs and attend classes taught by world-renowned artists. “I had told myself that it was okay if I didn’t get nominated because it was already such an honor to be a YoungArts Finalist and to have attended YoungArts Week in Miami, so when I heard back it was kind of a surreal moment,” Stolz said.
I like the puzzle aspect. It’s challenging but fun. Obviously, there’s a lot of work up to that part, lots of little things along the way, but, in the end, that’s what a scheduler does — put it all together.” —Krista McClain science teacher
ter. Often, making a single change can affect many classes, so most conflicts are resolved by having deans look at the master schedule and talk to students, explaining easy ways to fix problems. In August, when students request changes, Feulner tries her best to honor simple requests but will not change the Course Master, as that usually takes weeks of work. McClain is training to take over for Feulner within one to two years. She is training by watching and learning what Feulner is doing.
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“[Feulner] does it all,” McClain said. “She does way more work than anyone ever does. She started working on [the online system] last June, and worked all summer for the online process.” McClain, like Feulner, looks forward to the challenge of creating the Course Master. “I like the puzzle aspect; it’s challenging but fun,” McClain said. “Obviously, there’s a lot of work up to that part, lots of little things along the way, but, in the end, that’s what a scheduler does — put it all together.”
A4 News
The Chronicle
The Big Decision Seniors sent out the most combined applications to these 11 colleges during early decision, early action and regular decision.
1 2 3 4 5
University of Southern California University of Michigan Washington University in St. Louis UC Berkeley New York University
6 7 8 9
Stanford University
10
Columbia University Harvard University
(Tie)
UCLA Brown University Cornell University
SOURCE: UPPER SCHOOL DEAN’S OFFICE GRAPHIC BY COLE FELDMAN
Feb. 13, 2015
1st and 3rd Wednesdays approved for next year By Eugenia Ko
The 1st and 3rd Wednesday assemblies have been approved by the administration for the 2015-2016 school year. Assistant to the Head of Upper School Michelle Bracken said the assembly is being finetuned in terms of how long presentations will last or how sign-ups for presentations will work. The assemblies are overseen by the Community and Character Committee, which decided to organize the allschool meetings modeled after the assemblies at the middle school. “I think we will continue to explore ways to make the
assembly flow as efficiently as possible while being informative,” said Jon Carroll, swim program head and Community and Character Committee chair. “We will continue to push to make [the assemblies] as creative and eye-catching as possible.” Junior prefect Grace Pan ’16 said the bimonthly assemblies bring the community together. “We’re all so busy with our individual lives, it can be hard to stay on the same page without face-to-face interaction,” Pan said. “I think a combination of important notifications, meaningful messages, and fun activities would be best way to utilize the time.”
Pop singer, philanthropist speak at La Femme meetings By Angela Chon and Jesse Nadel
Liz Nisitco, lead singer of the Indie-Pop band Holychild, spoke to La Femme Feb. 9 about gender equality and empowerment in her music and videos, after students crossed paths with Nisitco during several of Holychild’s concerts. “When I would talk to [Nisitco] after her shows, she would say that her manager went to school here, and we were thinking that it would be really cool if she could come talk about feminism and social
justice, about her music to the club,” Alexis Ladge ’15 said. Ladge and other members recommended Nisitco to Assistant Director of Communications and club advisor Shauna Altieri, who contacted Nisitco’s manager, Nicky Berger ’07, to set up a meeting. “Our message is so consistent throughout everything,” Nisitco said. “If we aren’t talking about feminism, I also really like looking into class discrimination and money in our culture. I feel like people are ready to talk about these things, and I find it inspiring.”
Nisitco’s presentation came a week after members welcomed Sheera Goren ’05, the president of Dinating, a foodie-philanthropic company that donates some of its profits to SOVA, a local food kitchen providing groceries to those in need. The name Dinating is a combination of dining and donating. Goren centered her speech around her time at Harvard-Westlake and her life in the professional world. “The main focus of her presentation was her recent philanthropic work with Dinating, where people can pro-
Administration adjusts school trip policy following Cuba excursion
• Continued from page A1
served alcoholic mojitos by restaurant waiters at multiple group lunches and dinners without being told there was alcohol in them. Chaperones were present at the meals where students said they were served the drinks. In addition to Gaulke, the trip was chaperoned by the director of Friendship Tours World Travel Alethea Tyner Paradis and documentary filmmaker Jeff MacIntyre, according to school registration documents. All three led school trips to Rwanda and Laos in previous years. Gaulke said she did not drink during the trip, and that if student drinking did take place, the chaperones were unaware of it. She said that students were only served “nojitos” — nonalcoholic mojitos — during group meals. However, some students said that they smelled and tasted alcohol in their drinks, and that when they asked servers whether the drinks contained alcohol, the servers said yes. “Chaperones were really looking out for if there was student drinking; we did not see any evidence of school drinking, and if students were drinking, they were breaking rules that they had signed in front of their parents,” Gaulke said. “If students are saying now that there was drinking, those students are also violat-
ing the contract they signed with us, which said they would report drinking if they knew of it happening.” Paradis said that chaperones had no knowledge of student drinking on the trip, until it was brought to their attention that a restaurant had inadvertently served an alcoholic drink. “At that moment and at vulnerable moments thereafter, I personally took measures to inform restaurant wait staff, bartenders and the tour guide that students were not to be served alcohol in any establishment,” Paradis wrote in an email. “Upon arrival at each hotel, restaurants and beach food-service providers, I personally reiterated the ‘no alcoholic beverages for students’ message to personnel. When bottles of rum were placed on the tables at dinnertime, I removed them. While alcohol consumption is ubiquitous in Cuba, in every instance where alcohol was being served, we took steps to maintain the integrity of the students’ contractual agreement to abstain from alcohol, and further report their colleagues’ consumption, should they be in possession of such knowledge. Throughout the trip, we monitored the students’ health and well-being for indications of alcohol consumption and found no evidence of rule violations.” Several students on the
trip agreed that while they drank or were aware of others drinking, they did not believe anyone had approached the chaperones about it. “Why wreck a good thing?” one student said, while some said they thought it was acceptable because they considered it “part of the Cuban culture.” However, upon returning to school some students approached the deans with their concerns. “The fact of the matter is I don’t know to what extent, if at all, alcohol was used on this trip,” Director of Kutler Center and Summer Programs Jim Patterson said. “I know what the kids are saying, I know what Ms. Gaulke is saying, and I know that it’s inconsistent, but regardless of that, we are going to ensure that our current policies, which are pretty clear, are well-known by all trip participants and chaperones.” When asked if she was aware that chaperones were not allowed to drink alcohol on school trips, Paradis said that she was not a HarvardWestlake employee and had not been briefed on any school policies. MacIntyre also responded that because he was not an employee of the school, he did not know the rules regarding travel and chaperones. Paradis said that there had been no drinking that she was aware of on the school trip to Rwanda in 2014, and the only
JESSE NADEL/CHRONICLE
SING FOR EQUALITY: Liz Nisitco, lead singer of Holychild, discusses her career and feminism during a club meeting. vide a day’s worth of meals for a family of four just by going out to dinner,” Shelby Weiss
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’16 said. “I was empowered by her immense ingenuity and profound compassion.”
We are going to ensure that our current policies, which are pretty clear, are well-known by all trip participants and chaperones.” —Jim Patterson Director of Kutler Center and Summer Programs
alcohol offered to students during the 2013 school trip to Laos was a “thimbleful” during a village spiritual ceremony and a farewell dinner. “Our host manager offered up a thimbleful of rice wine to all of us in prayer, as a gesture of thanks and goodwill,” Paradis wrote in an email. “I and others were deeply moved by the profound sincerity of this cultural offering — some of us tearful and emotionally stunned by the acknowledgement of our impact on these gentle people. I told the students that they were free to decline the sip of wine, and were in no way compelled to drink it.” Students also brought back Cuban cigars and rum as souvenirs, although they were not legally allowed to bring alcohol into the country because they were under 21. Gaulke said parents had agreed at a meeting prior to the trip that students should be able to bring back cigars and rum as long as they did not consume any of them, and said that she had been unaware that students were not allowed to do so until she was told by U.S. customs officials reentering the country. Students said that several trip participants had their cigars and rum confiscated at
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Customs. Paradis will lead another Friendship Tours school trip to Cuba over Spring Break with visual arts teachers Joe Medina and Alyssa Sherwood. Patterson emphasized that the issues surrounding the Cuba trip had not prompted the changes in school policy. He said that he had planned to reevaluate the trip process since starting his position as external program coordinator in August, and that the issues surrounding the Cuba trip had segued neatly into his appraisal. “Anytime you have somebody new come into a position, it makes sense early on in that role to review the policies and procedures,” Patterson said, adding that he was organizing a committee to assess the trip proposal process. “Schools evolve and change, and policies that made sense four or five years ago may not be policies that make sense right now.” Despite the fact that some students reported complaints about the trip to their deans, most students agreed that exploring Cuba was an incredible experience. “Everything was fine and everyone stayed safe, so it all worked out,” a student said. “And I had a lot of fun.”
Feb. 13, 2015
hwchronicle.com/news
News A5
Activist to discuss gender violence
By Connor Reese
JACOB GOODMAN/CHRONICLE
Member of Little Rock 9 speaks to students
DEFINE YOURSELF: Terrence Roberts speaks to students at a reception in the Feldman-Horn Gallery after speaking at the Black History assembly Jan. 21. Roberts spoke about his experience as one of the first African-American students to desegregate a formerly all-white high school in Little Rock, Arkansas and encouraged students to stop letting other people define them.
Charity event to benefit Laundry Love By Layla Moghavem
The Community and Character Committee is holding the Quarters for a Cause fundraiser to benefit Laundry Love, an organization that helps the homeless by doing their laundry. Deans will have jugs in their offices for their students to deposit donations until Feb. 18. The dean group that raises the most money will receive a free meal from Joe’s Pizza Feb. 20. The second place team members will have $2 off their order and third place members will have $1 off. “We thought [the challenge
component] would provide a good incentive for people to donate and get involved - especially the deans too,” Community and Character Committee member Courtney Nunley ’17 said. “We wanted faculty to get involved as well and really make the fundraiser schoolwide.” Students seem to think the competitive nature of the fundraiser is a good idea. “I think that the challenge is a fun way to raise money,” Andrew Lehroff ’17 said. “[Laundry Love] sounds like a good cause.” Laundry Love’s purpose is to assist people struggling
economically by cleaning their clothes at no cost. Laundromats, generally those near homeless encampments and missions, agree to allow the homeless to do their laundry for free during a specified time once a month. Chaplain J. Young had told Assistant to the Head of Upper School and Community and Character Committee Chair Michelle Bracken about Laundry Love, and she thought it would be a great idea for a fundraiser. Young and Bracken convinced the owner of Alligator Laundry in North Hollywood to hold free sessions from 4:30 to 5:30 p.m.
Alumnus discusses computers with club
Snapchat geofilter created by students By Lauren Kim
By Benjamin Most
Jules Urbach ’92, CEO of Los Angeles-based cloud rendering company OTOY, explained at a Jan. 27 computer science club meeting how he began developing ideas for faster and more efficient video rendering during his time at Harvard-Westlake. OTOY’s OctaneRender technology generates 3D graphics for films and games and streams them through a web browser. The company’s work has been used in movies such as “The Curious Case of Benjamin Button” and “The Social Network.” OTOY also developed LightStage technology used to capture actors’ expressions and movements and form animated characters based on recordings. “I remember seeing that game and thinking if I had every possible frame, I could have a 3D environment and walk through it,” Urbach said. His thoughts on the generation of 3D environments inspired him to work on render-
the second Wednesday of the month. “After Father Young mentioned Laundry Love to me, I went to one of the laundromats in North Hollywood,” Bracken said. “Only a few people, all homeless, came and they were really appreciative and loved it.” Donations can only be quarters, a symbolic nod to the fact that laundromats used to take only quarters. “The truth is that when you go to a laundromat, they don’t use quarters anymore,” Bracken said. “Now you actually have to buy a card. So it’s just more of a symbolic thing.”
Jackson Katz, the creator of a gender violence program entitled “Mentors in Violence prevention,” will speak at an upper school assembly April 20. Katz’s organization has been heavily marketed by multiple sports leagues and organizations. “We are lucky to have him coming as he is a vocal activist in the movement against the violence that exists towards women,” Assistant to the Head of the Upper School Michelle Bracken said. Through the company MacRae Speakers & Entertainment LLC, “[HarvardWestlake] was able to get him as part of our Denim Day Project in order to raise awareness for violence against women,” Bracken said. Last year, the Upper School hosted panels and speakers to help raise awareness for Women’s History Month and Denim Day, a day to help raise awareness about the violence against women. “This year, we wanted to get a speaker. Last year we did panels and speakers, but it was during Activities period so it wasn’t very long or substantial,” Bracken said. English teacher Malina Mamigonian, head of the Girls Learn International club at the Upper School, suggested him to Bracken as a viable speaker.
BENJAMIN MOST/CHRONICLE
IN ANOTHER WORLD: William Ruppenthal ’16 uses an Android virtual reality device while Erik Knighton ’16 observes him. ing environments as an adult, ucts to manage the business he said. side and monetize his work, OTOY uses light field tech- Grainger said. nology to capture a rectangle “We’ve had to keep Jules of space and separate from generate an the business e nv i r o n m e n t side of the from that I remember seeing company,” she space. said. that game and thinking “Light field U r b a c h isn’t just the also discussed if I had every possible rays of light the future of frame, I could have a 3D going to your virtual reality eyes,” Urbach and the growenvironment.” said. “It’s the ing popular—Jules Urbach ’92 ity of products rays of light coming from such as the every angle.” Oculus Rift, OTOY Coan immersive founder and President Alissa 3D gaming headset acquired Grainger, who manages the by Facebook. business side of the company, Students looked at the also spoke about the separa- home screen of a virtual realtion of tasks. ity headset and experienced Urbach manages program- the motion tracking that alming, but he is too passionate lows the screen to follow the about creating quality prod- motion of their heads.
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Sammi Ho ’16 originally drew a filter with HarvardSnapchat users at the Westlake on the bottom next Upper School can now add a to cafeteria worker Phairot geofilter to their photos, con- Janthep. sisting of a cartoon image of But, a Snapchat representhe campus tative rejected and “Harvardit for legal reaWe s t l a k e ” sons. Ho subI thought it written across mitted revised would be really cool to the bottom. versions severPictures have one for our school al other times, sent through and after mulsince so many people the popular tiple rejections, Snapchat from school.” app Snapchat her design was are seen for a accepted Jan. —Carly Berger ’15 28. certain number of seconds, and “I’m not recan either be ally satisfied, sent to individuals or to a us- because I liked my original one er’s “story,” which can be seen better,” Ho said. “It was more on another menu. unique to the school. Everyone Images on a “stowould get the joke. ry” can be seen again, The final one is more but vanish permageneric.” nently after 24 hours. “I thought it A geofilter is a recent would be really cool addition to the app, to have one for our one that allows users school since so many to broadcast their lopeople Snapchat from cations to recipients school,” Carly Berger of their photos in the ’15 said. “At first I nathanson’s form of a cartoon imwanted to make one Sammi Ho ’16 age with the name of myself, but then I rethe locale. alized I had basically Snapchat allows users to zero artistic ability, so I asked submit their original drawings in all of my classes who was an and designs to be considered artist and who would be up to as a geofilter for a specific lo- making a geofilter, and Sammi cation. volunteered.”
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A6 News
inbrief
Students discuss social justice
Students from high schools around Los Angeles such as Polytechnic, Campbell Hall, Westmark, Buckley, Crossroads, Oakwood and Chadwick spoke about social justice in school settings at a meeting for Student Voices Feb. 3. Student Voices is a program of the Southern California People of Color in Independent Schools. “It was interesting to see how kids felt about their school’s approach on diversity and their take on the day-today life on each of their campuses,” Cole Fletcher ’15 said. — William Park
Librarians create texting program Head librarian Shannon Acedo and librarian Edith Darling created a program, called Library Text H31p to allow students to text librarians during school hours with questions about library sources and within 10 minutes receive an answer. Students should text the phone number (818)-918-2275 from 7:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. in order to reach a librarian. Acedo said the program should be helpful for student research reports. This system streamlines librarian-student communication. “Someone down in the lounge can get help without having to walk all the way up to the library,” Acedo said. — Sabrina De Brito
Teacher, students contribute to textbook Work by science teacher Wendy Van Norden, Sam Schlesinger ’15 and Audrey Wilson ’15 was published in the science textbook, “The Teacher-Friendly Guide to the Earth Science of the Western US.” Norden authored two chapters in the textbook, while Schlesinger and Wilson took photographs. “Now I can email the colleges I’m applying to and tell them that some of my work has been published in a textbook and that I have been officially immortalized in the fastidious world of academia,” Sam Schlesinger ’15 said. — Angela Chon
Prefect Council to host Academic Fair Prefect Council will be holding the Academic Fair during break Feb. 23 to inform students of classes offered next year. Teachers and students will be showcasing classes in booths unique to each course. “It’s helpful to have students who have actually taken the class there to give advice and relay their experiences,” Head Prefect Sarah Winshel ’15 said. The fair is all about “exposure,” Winshel said. “There are so many that it can be overwhelming and hard to know where to begin,” she added. “With the fair, there’s a chance to see all options laid out in a more approachable form than listed on paper.” — Cole Feldman
The Chronicle
Feb. 13, 2015
Sophomore creates social networking app By Sammi Handler
nect users with other users who have similar interests and Daniel Singer’s ’17 first ambitions in their field. time running a business was “We think Harvard-Westneither when he helped launch lake is a great testing ground the website Youtell, nor when for new ideas and would love he created the apps Backchat to invite [students] to try and Bond. It was when he set Bond,” Singer said. up a car wash in third grade. When Singer first started “I’d hire other kids to clean working on apps two years cars, and I’d take half the mon- ago, he had help from his faey,” Singer said. “I just liked ther, movie producer and enbossing people around. People trepreneur Uri Singer. He bewould call me bossy. I didn’t gan working as a designer for like that, but it was true. It’s Youtell, which allowed users kind of how I was as a kid.” to pose a question and receive And when he wasn’t telling anonymous feedback from kids to wash cars, he was tell- friends, family and coworkers. ing players in other countries “I never counted it as a to look after his buildings in company that I founded bethe video game Minecraft. cause it came as this thing that “I’d stay up until like 2 had already started to form, a.m. and talk to people, and and I hopped on board, and I’d have someone in Australia I took the lead, but it wasn’t watching over something that everything,” he I had fully done said. by myself,” he We think Harvard- said. Now Singer scarcely has Since it Westlake is a great testing time for Minewas a youthground for new ideas craft. He and centered prodand would love to invite Harvard stuuct, Singer [students] to try Bond.” dent Kevin said he was Zhang ’14 are nominated to —Daniel Singer ’17 lead the prodlaunching a new app, Bond, uct. His father which they remained as a plan to announce to the school co-founder and continued to during 1st and 3rd Wednesday mentor Singer through the Assembly next week. business aspects of the comBond is a social networking pany while he consulted with mobile app designed to con- others who had experience
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School to host cultural trip to South Korea By Kelly Loeb
All teachers and staff will have the opportunity to apply to travel on a cultural trip to South Korea this summer. “A dozen or more teachers will be invited to travel together to Korea on a Korean cultural and history tour that’s being funded by Harvard-Westlake families,” Head of School Jeanne Huybrechts said. The trip is being sponsored by the Gunter Gross Global
Fund and Gyu Si (Jeong ’18) and will be led by history teachers Larry Klein and Kyong Pak. They will also be working with Aidan Koh (Paul ’05) who has run similar faculty trips at St. James’ Episcopal School, a private elementary school in Los Angeles. The attending faculty will visit Seoul and Jeju Island as well as listen to lectures on Korean history and culture throughout the trip. They will visit schools and museums in Seoul and climb
SAMMI HANDLER/CHRONICLE
FORMING BONDS: Daniel Singer ’17 works on his computer outside the library. His social networking mobile app, Bond, connects users with similar interests. Singer has previously worked at Youtell and designed the anonymous messaging app Backchat. with tech startups. He started to learn more about app design and coding from online tutorials. Singer, who was a freshman at the time, led the company to transition to focusing on an anonymous messaging app of his own design, Backdoor, which was later renamed Backchat. Backchat users could anonymously text people they knew, and the app provided hints about the identity of the anonymous user. At its peak, the app had about 3 million users and
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$200,000 in seed funding from the Brazilian company VC ArpexCapital. Singer closed the company at the end of his freshman year after losing users. With a lot of time on his hands, Singer met Zhang while he was visiting the Upper School and told him about his idea for Bond. So far Singer and Zhang have incorporated Bond as a company, built and designed a client version of the app and are perfecting the algorithm. Singer focuses on design and business aspects, while Zhang works on the programming.
[The trip] was in some cases just a transformational experience for the teachers. Many teachers have never been outside the United States, let alone Asia. —Jeanne Huybrechts Head of School
to a world heritage site on Jeju Island. Specific information including dates and itinerary have not yet been finalized, but will be announced at a later date. Huybrechts said the goal of this year’s trip is to help teachers become more globally conscious and experience nonWestern cultures. The school organized a
nathanson’s
similar trip in 2009, during which 12 teachers toured China and learned about topics like air pollution and authoritarian rule. “It was in some cases just a transformational experience for the teachers,” Huybrechts said. “Many teachers have never been outside the United States let alone to Asia.”
Rascoff ’93 writes bestselling book
By Benjamin Most
“Zillow Talk: The New Rules of Real Estate,” written by real estate analytics company Zillow’s CEO Spencer Rascoff ’93 and published Jan. 27, debuted at the number two spot on The New York Times bestseller list and reached the number one position on Amazon’s bestseller list shortly after publication.
In the book, Rascoff and Zillow Chief Economist Stan Humphries analyze Zillow housing data and offer real estate advice. “We’ve all heard the advice ‘buy the worst house in the best neighborhood’ or ‘you should always buy rather than rent,’ but when we looked at the data, we found neither of these things is true,” Rascoff said. “It’s the worst house for
a reason, and sometimes it’s better to rent, depending on where you live and how long you will live in the home.” Rascoff completed the manuscript a year ago and intends to help readers understand the “new realities of the housing market,” he said. “It was a labor of love,” Rascoff said. “We worked on the book at odd hours, whenever we could find the time.”
EUGENIA KO/CHRONICLE
CHANGING THE RULES: Spencer Rascoff ’s ’93 book debuted at number two on The New York Times bestselling list.
Student self-publishes collection of poetry By Lexi Bowers
Neda Mazdisnian ’16 selfpublished her first book, “Le Passage,” Jan. 24. The book is a compilation of 28 original poems that she wrote during her high school career, starting in the ninth grade. One of her poems, titled
“Life,” discusses the path of maturity from adolescence to adulthood. “I had a collection of poems starting from my freshman year, and I really enjoy writing poetry, so I decided to make a book out of it,” Mazdisnian said. Mazdisnian published the
book through CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform, an Amazon company that provides tools and services for independent publishing. “Le Passage” is available on Amazon.com. Mazdisnian said more than 100 copies have been sold. Mazdisnian plans to do-
nate all of the proceeds from her book to the Room to Read charity that promotes reading and gender equality. “I look forward to publishing more books in the future, and I hope I am making a difference and encouraging more people to read,” Mazdisnian said.
Feb. 13, 2015
The Chronicle
News A7
inbrief
Omelets available Mondays
Author, editor takes over English classes
By Jonathan Seymour
Custom-cooked omelets made by new part-time cafeteria worker Angel Romo have been available in the upper school cafeteria on Mondays since Jan. 26. Previously, Romo had come a few times to cook omelets for the cafeteria when he was available, but he was never on a work schedule. Cafeteria manager Nipa Noonyamas said Romo now cooks omelets at HarvardWestlake every Monday morning until 10:30 a.m. It is not clear yet for how long Romo will work in the cafeteria, but Noonyamas said that he probably won’t come every Monday through the end of the school year. Romo also works at other
JESSE NADEL/CHRONICLE
MONDAY MORNING TREATS: Students, teachers and faculty can now purchase custom-cooked omelets every Monday morning until 10:30 a.m. The omelets are prepared by part-time cafeteria worker Angel Romo, who works at other venues including the Brentwood Country Club. venues catered by Noonyamas, including the Brentwood Country Club, and he has been one of her employees for more than 20 years. “It was our idea [for Romo to work every Monday], but
some students and teachers requested omelets as well,” Noonyamas said. “It was just about time to add something new and something different to create variety, so that you guys don’t get bored.”
Romo cooks right behind the counter in the cafeteria, and students waiting in line have the option of picking from a wide variety of fresh ingredients and toppings for their custom omelet.
Wellness Wednesday implemented for faculty
By Carina Marx
Benefits Nicole Ryan said. The school is using GuidThe school is promoting anceResources, a website new, healthier choices for fac- designed to assess personal ulty and staff with health, to regulate the new Wellness faculty members’ Wednesday and Woldaily routines and verine Wellness prosuggest small changgrams that feature es that will improve yoga, meditation, ontheir overall help. line assistance and They are also money rewards. offering over the “One of the things phone health coachwe really wanted to es and online worknathanson’s do with the launch of shops with catNicole Ryan this program is bring egories including to the forefront easy cardiovascular disthings you can do for your ease prevention, exercise, health,” Director of Health stress management, and
smoking cessation. Faculty members can earn rewards up to $100 for participating and can involve their spouses in the program even if they have no relation to the school. All the programs are confidential. The Wellness Program includes an annual health fair with blood tests and onsite vaccinations. Wellness Wednesday consists of fresh fruit in the faculty lounge and activities such as yoga and meditation, taught by Director of Counseling and Psychological Services Kavita Ajmere. “Part of the reason why we offer this to the employees
is so they can not only make healthy choices and decisions for themselves, but also be a good example for their students,” Ryan said. There are no plans at the moment to expand the Wellness Wednesday program to students, but Ryan and Ajmere hope to expand to the middle school faculty members in the near future. “The ultimate goal is to bring awareness to what we offer at the school,” Ryan said. “A lot of employees, especially new faculty members, are not quite aware of everything that we have available to them.”
Five students to intern for Shanghai companies By Jonah Ullendorf
BENNETT GROSS/CHRONICLE
BOOKIN’ IT: Russell Andrews speaks to an English III: Living America class. He told students about August Wilson’s play.
Actor introduces Wilson book to English classes By Bennett Gross
Russell Andrews (Anya ’17), an actor in “Joe Turner’s Come and Gone” by August Wilson and several other plays by Wilson, spoke to two of Jocelyn Medawar’s English III: Living America classes Jan 28. He spoke to the class to introduce the book and the characters, and to explain the author’s past experiences and point of view while he wrote the book. “I think it was wonderful that Mr. Andrews came to our living America class,” Medawar said. “He knew August personally, so he was
able to bring prospective, passion and enthusiasm that comes from his first-hand experience.” Andrews gave anecdotes about his first interactions with Wilson. His most vivid moment with Wilson was the first time Andrews tried out for “Joe Turner’s Come and Gone” in Texas, and brought a guitar to attempt to show his versatility to the author and directors of the show. “Mr. Andrews’ speech to our class helped me know the characters and their personalities before I even read the book,” English III student Tommy Tilton ’16 said.
the United States,” Patterson said. Five students will be internWilen decided to apply for ing for two different financial the program in order to imservice companies in Shanghai prove her foreign language this summer from June 10 to skills and experience what it June 25. The program will be would be like to work in a Chicoordinated by Kutler Center nese company for a few weeks. and Summer Programs Di- She will be interning at the rector Jim Patterson with the Parthenon Group in Shanghai, World Leading Schools As- a financial consulting company sociation. It is the first time for corporate clients. During WLSA has her internship, held this proWilen will be gram at Harinterviewing I am looking vardWestpotential clilake. Students ents and conforward to learning will be either ducting remore about finance living with search for the a home-stay company. to see if it would family or will “I am lookbe a career I could be staying ing forward to potentially pursue in the learning more at hotels in Shanghai. about finance future.” The stuto see if it dents who will —Hannah Wilen ’16 would be a cabe participatreer I could poing in this protentially purgram are Camilla Katz ’16, sue in the future,” Wilen said. Jed Kronenberg ’17, Jon Nel- “I am also excited to learn son ’16, Hannah Wilen ’16 and more about Chinese culture, Theo Velaise ’17. The applica- and I hope this internship will tion included five questions be a rewarding experience.” asking why the students were Nelson decided to apply for interested in the program and the program when Patterson required a submission of the introduced the program. student’s GPA. “I’m excited to live in “Students need to learn Shanghai for a couple weeks,” how to work in a globalized Nelson said. “I went to Shangworld, one of the best ways is hai a few years ago and had a to have an experience outside great time so I can’t wait.”
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Teacher, novelist and editor Darcy Cosper, who is replacing English teacher Maura Roosevelt for the remainder of the school year, began teaching three sophomore English II classes following semester break. The school has hired Cosper as a substitute teacher in the past, with her first teaching position being at the school in 2008. Roosevelt is in the midst of writing a novel and left the school to focus on her personal writing. She notified the school of her decision over Winter Break and taught her final class Jan. 16. —Danielle Kaye
Hieatt substitutes for Williams’ classes
Chris Hieatt will teach upper school math teacher Kasia Williams’ classes while she is on maternity leave until after Spring Break. Hieatt’s classes include Introduction to Calculus Honors, Algebra II with Analysis and Topics in Calculus and Statistics. Hieatt agreed to temporarily replace Williams’ when contacted by math department head Paula Evans. “I shadowed Dr. Williams for numerous days, so I got the chance to sort of see how her classroom management skills were set and what she looked for as far as homework requirements, so it was my goal to make the transition as easy for the students as possible,” Hieatt said. —Pim Otero
Levia replaces Zucker at MS library Elaine Levia has joined the middle school library staff for the second semester to replace librarian Carolyn Zucker, who had been working part-time since her retirement. Levia does not currently teach any classes, but she has shadowed library and technology classes and said she hopes to teach later on. Levia previously taught middle school history at the Windward School and ran the library at the Oakland Hebrew Day School. The transition to a different library has gone smoothly, Levia said. —Sacha Lin
Students participate in math competition Upper school students took two versions of the American Mathematics Competition tests, the AMC 10 and AMC 12, Feb. 3 during first and second periods in hopes of qualifying to compete in the next rounds of the competition, the biggest of its kind in the country. According to the AMC website, the math competition is “dedicated to strengthening the mathematical capabilities of our nation’s youth” and the AMC “identifies, recognizes, and rewards excellence in mathematics through a series of national contests. —Kami Durairaj
The Chronicle
A8 News
Feb. 13, 2015
English teacher creates gender class By Connor Reese and Oliver Richards
PRINTED WITH PERMISSION OF ALEXANDRA KASS
THE SEEDS OF CHANGE: Members of the Environmental Club and TreePeople representatives help clean up the LA River. The club is also planning the first student-planted garden on campus.
Environmental Club cleans river By Emily Rahhal and Teresa Suh The Environmental Club received approval to create the first student-planted garden on campus and cleaned up a site around the Los Angeles River Jan. 31. The garden project was put in motion when the club received approval from the planning committee, Head of School Jeanne Huybrechts
and Chief of Campus Operations and Construction JD De Matte. The garden will be planted on a plot of land in front of the girls’ locker room behind Taper Gym. Co-heads of the club Brian Adler ’15 and Alexandra Kass ’15 met with a TreePeople representative to evaluate the area to help them choose the right plants for the venue. The club has worked on the Los Angeles River Project
for two years, restoring and repairing sections of the Los Angeles River to make them look more natural. The trip Saturday focused on cleaning the part of the river near Coldwater Canyon and Fulton. “Whenever anyone walks by and sees us working on the plants or cleaning up trash, they know that a difference is being made, and this will impact [people] on a personal level,” Kass said.
School may distribute MMR vaccine after recent outbreak to monitor outbreak situations such as this one, she said. Harvard-Westlake does By working with infecnot require employees to turn tious disease experts, Harover immunization records or vard-Westlake has a protocol to get certain vaccines. The in place if someone within the only requirement is that each community were to contract employee takes a tuberculosis the measles or any other hightest every four years, Director ly contagious disease. of Health Benefits Nicole Ryan “The most important thing said. is to be aware,” Teruya said. The school offers employ- “Have a protocol in place to ees the flu vaccine, the hepa- isolate people who are infecttitis A series, the hepatitis B ed, communicate with the rest series, the Tdap vaccine (for of the community, that’s the tetanus, diphtheria and per- most important thing to stop tussis, better known as whoop- the spread. Also make sure ing cough) and the shingles people know that the vaccines vaccine for employees over 60 are safe.” for free at the employee health The protocol would refair every fall. Before 2010, the quire any diagnosed students school offered the vaccine for to stay at home until they can tetanus and diphtheria (Td), be confirmed disease-free. Any and not pertussis. In students who may 2010, some students have been exposed at the middle school and students who are contracted whooping not vaccinated would cough, so the school be placed on a watch switched Td for Tdap. list and would not be As a result of allowed to come to the recent outbreak, school. Ryan has begun lookTeruya emphaing into ways to bring sized the highly conthe MMR vaccine to tagious nature of nathanson’s campus for employmeasles. According Walt Werner ees who need it. to the World Health Adults born before 1957 are Organization, the disease is considered immune because airborne, and is spread when most children contracted the an infected person breathes, disease during that time. But coughs or sneezes. It is also many adults may not know possible to catch measles by whether or not they have been entering a room an infected immunized. There are tests person has been in up to two that can determine whether hours after that person has or not someone has the anti- left. In addition, those infectbodies to fight a disease, but it ed may be contagious before is also safe to get the vaccina- they start showing symptoms tion a second time just in case, themselves. Ryan said. Werner said that he must Sandee Teruya, an Athletic be very careful about staying Trainer and the Community healthy. When he notices a Health Officer at Harvard- student sniffling or coughing, Westlake, stays in close con- he tends to be more cautious, tact with the Centers for Dis- he said. ease Control and Prevention Werner believes that any and the California Depart- argument against vaccines is ment of Public Health in order not based in fact. • Continued from page A2
“I don’t think there’s controversy [surrounding vaccines],” he said. “I think it’s misinformation. People will lose historical perspective on how many people died of measles and chicken pox and mumps and all these kinds of diseases.” Although Werner does believe the science behind herd immunity, he also acknowledges people’s religious reasoning for not getting vaccinated. “I think it’s a fine line,” he said. “Because in the constitution we do have this thing about religious freedom, on the other hand where do you start to separate the wackos from true religions?” Werner is not especially worried about contracting the measles because he is not around young children very often, he said. Jack* is a student and Christian Scientist who has never received a vaccination. Christian Scientists generally do not turn to medicine first. Instead, they use spiritual methods of healing, though they are not opposed to Western medicine. “The Bible basically says that every person on earth is a child of God, and therefore as a child of God they’re a reflection of God, and since God is never sick or dying or anything like that, it wouldn’t make any sense for people, as his reflection, to be sick,” Jack said. Jack’s parents have practiced Christian Science for their whole lives, and Jack has only been to a hospital a handful of times. The last time he can remember is when he broke his collarbone skiing in seventh grade, he said. Though Jack believes that modern medicine, including vaccinations, can be very useful to non-Christian Scien-
“All are welcome, there are no prerequisites, but familiarity with ethics or basic A new class entitled Ethics philosophy concepts is a plus,” and Culture: Gender Studies Mamigonian said. in Science, Philosophy and The class is the natural History will be offered next continuation of the already year. existing Ethics class, The class aims she said, which to demonstrate that examines largely gender is just a social Western ethics from construction. the 5th Century “In a sense, my B.C. to modern class is what the philosophers. gender studies course “It will address has always been, both the historical however, there is a and sociological common view that components that nathanson’s gender must mean generate many ethical Malina feminism,” Malina dilemmas, but also Mamigonian Mamigonian said. ground students in an “Gender is just a social understanding of how to talk construction and feminism about gender,” Mamigonian (though there are many kinds said. of feminism) is fundamentally The course will be held in an assertion of the very Rugby Hall. traditionally liberal belief that Mamigonian will teach the all are created equally and class, however she will teach deserve justice in that regard,” one less section of her regular she added. English classes in order to The new course will be accommodate this additional available to all rising juniors class into her schedule. and seniors. “There will only be space It will meet four periods for one period. I’m excited to per cycle, and it will be offered see how it goes,” Mamigonian only during second semester. said.
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I’m furious that people would make a choice that would endanger the lives of people around them ... so you have to rely on everyone else being a good citizen.” —Wendy Van Norden science teacher
tists, he does not believe he is more vulnerable than vaccinated people to diseases such as the measles. “I’ve never had to miss school for more than a day or two, or gotten anything major or anything like that, so I consider myself to be just as susceptible as anyone else who may or may not have had a vaccine,” he said. “I don’t think of myself as any more at risk than anyone else.” However, according to the CDC, people who are not vaccinated and are exposed to the measles have more than a 90 percent chance of contracting the disease themselves. When asked if he ever feels guilty about possibly lessening the effectiveness of herd immunity, Jack said that he does sometimes question whether or not Christian Science is correct in all aspects. “I do feel like on some level, I feel kind of conflicted because I feel like for people who do have weakened immune systems from diseases or things like that, I think those are the people who I’d be more concerned about than anything,” he said. “But then again, I’ve never carried anything like [the measles]. So I would say generally no, but sometimes kind of philosophically I feel maybe it’s inconsiderate on a level, but I don’t necessarily feel guilty.” Science teacher Wendy Van Norden strongly believes that all people should be required to get vaccinations, regardless of religious or personal beliefs. Van Norden’s nephew was born with agammaglobulinemia, an immune disorder that involves a low
nathanson’s
production of the protective immune system proteins immunoglobulins. This means that her nephew cannot be immunized and must rely on herd immunity. Van Norden’s sister founded the Immune Deficiency Foundation. “I’m furious that people would make a choice that would endanger the lives of people around them,” she said. “Not only are there people who can’t be immunized, but a very small percentage of people who have been immunized don’t know that it didn’t take. So you have to rely on everyone else being a good citizen.” In the wake of the recent outbreak, a group of California state senators have introduced legislation that would abolish the exemption from vaccines for parents’ personal beliefs. Van Norden believes that all states should follow the examples of Mississippi and West Virginia, the only two states that do not allow exemptions for personal or religious beliefs. While the other 48 states offer exemption for religious beliefs, California is one of only 19 that allows exemptions for personal belief. Of 474 students polled, 74 percent agree with Van Norden in that they believe students should be required to get vaccinations, regardless of religious or personal beliefs, while 26 percent believe that they should not. “I can’t imagine any state having good enough justification to endanger their citizens by letting people with nonscientific views ruin the herd immunity,” Van Norden said. *Names have been changed
Opinion
C HRONICLE the harvard-westlake
The Chronicle • Feb. 13, 2015
Los Angeles • Volume 24 • Issue 5 • Feb. 13, 2015 • hwchronicle.com
Editors-in-Chief: Zoe Dutton, Scott Nussbaum Managing Editors: Elijah Akhtarzad, Jessica Spitz Executive Editor: Marcella Park Presentations Editors: Leily Arzy, Jacob Goodman
editorial
News Managing Editors: Enya Huang, Jake Saferstein News Section Heads: Angela Chon, Cole Feldman, Eugenia Ko News Assistants: Sammi Handler, Layla Moghavem, Jackson Novick, Jesse Nadel, Oliver Richards, Teresa Suh, Izzy Wiesenthal, Claudia Wong Opinion Managing Editors: Haley Finkelstein, Sophie Kupiec-Weglinski Opinion Section Heads: Kelly Riopelle, Jonah Ullendorff Opinion Assistants: Asya Alekhina, Carmen Levine, Mady Madison, Katie Perrin Features Managing Editors: Carly Berger, Aimee Misaki Features Section Heads: Sacha Lin, Benjamin Most, Su Jin Nam Features Assistants: Eshanika Chaudhary, Lola Clark, Kami Durairaj, Sabrina de Brito, Danielle Kaye, Lauren Kim, Jean Sanders, Phoebe Sanders, Liz Yount A&E Section Heads: Sharon Chow, Pim Otero A&E Assistants: Nico Brown, Hannah Cho, Sophie Cohen, Tiffany Kim, Katie Plotkin Sports Managing Editors: Tyler Graham, Audrey Wilson Sports Section Heads: Bennett Gross, Jonathan Seymour, Henry Vogel Senior Sports Writers: Mila Barzdukas, Cole Jacobson Sports Assistants: Aleksei Aguero, Juliana Berger, Zac Harleston, Joe Levin, Jacob Liker, Dario Madyoon, Carina Marx, William Park, Emily Rahhal, Rian Ratnavale, Connor Reese, Griffin Richter, Nick Settelmayer, Cameron Stine, Bryant Wu Art Director: Vivian Lin Multimedia and Online Editors: Nikta Mansouri, David Woldenberg Photography and Multimedia Staff: Caitlin Neapole, Lexi Bowers, Kelly Loeb Photography and Multimedia Assistants: Eshanika Chaudhary, Kami Duraijaj, Tiffany Kim, Joe Levin, Phoebe Sanders Ads and Business Manager: Kelly Loeb Advisers: Jenny Hontz, Kathleen Neumeyer The Chronicle is the student newspaper of Harvard-Westlake School. It is published eight times per year. Unsigned editorials represent the majority opinion of the seniors on the Editorial Board. Letters to the editor may be submitted to chronicle@ hw.com or mailed to 3700 Coldwater Canyon, Studio City, CA 91604. Letters must be signed and may be edited for space and to conform to Chronicle style and format. Advertising questions may be directed to Kelly Loeb at 818-825-5059. Publication of an advertisement does not imply endorsement of the product or service by the newspaper or the school.
VIVIAN LIN/CHRONICLE
Don’t let drugs or alcohol negatively impact the school
F
ollowing recent allegations of students attending the home basketball game against Loyola while under the influence of alcohol and drugs, the editorial board agreed that the issue of substance use on campus and at school-related events should be addressed. It is common knowledge that drugs and alcohol are a presence on almost every high school campus. However, this does not mean that we should allow substances to negatively impact our school environment. When students come to class high, leave campus during the school day to do drugs and drink alcohol, or show up at sporting events or school trips under the influence of drugs or alcohol, they disrespect the time and effort that teachers and administrators dedicate toward providing them with a top-notch education and preparing them to enter prestigious colleges. Parents send their students to Harvard-Westlake with the expectation that they will take their educations seriously. When these students are intoxicated in class, their learning is hindered, and the tuition their parents pay is wasted. The editorial board concurred that the consequences outlined above are a result of drug and alcohol use on campus, but we found ourselves divided over whether substance use affects others who do not participate in it. While nine editorial board members felt that intoxicated students are distracting and may hinder the learning of others in their classes, 10 believe that students who show up to class drunk or high are only doing damage to themselves and that the negative repercussions associated with their actions affect only them.
We were not alone in our division. In a Chronicle poll of 474 upper school students, 37 percent agreed that substance use negatively impacts the school learning environment, while 63 percent disagreed. We also found we were divided on whether the administration adequately and consistently enforces the student handbook’s language on drugs, alcohol and smoking. Fifteen members of the editorial board believe that the administration is not consistently enforcing the rules when students leave during the day and return to class high or drunk. On the other hand, four members of the editorial board believe that substance use on campus is not a major issue and that the administration is appropriately enforcing the rules because they punish students when they have sufficient reason and evidence to do so. Clearly, the issue of drug and alcohol use elicited many different opinions from the editorial board. However, the unifying principle of our discussion was the belief that substance use has a negative effect on the school and its reputation. In order for Harvard-Westlake to be a “community united by the joyful pursuit of excellence,” as the mission statement declares, students need to take education seriously and follow the rules, and the administration must take all necessary action to remove drugs and alcohol from campus. The belief that the responsibility of combating these negative effects falls upon students, the administration or a combination of both is a matter of opinion that differs from person to person. Students, parents and administrators must determine where they stand on this issue and what the best path to a resolution is.
A10 Opinion
The Chronicle
Feb. 13, 2015
Living in the present By Leily Arzy
I
t is only natural to want a change of pace: to experience new things, try different foods and embark on adventures. More often than not, this desire to break with the monotony of our daily lives can be a great thing. However, when we allow ourselves, as I have, to become dissatisfied with the present in exchange for the promise of the future, it’s a problem. In short, I have become so preoccupied with the idea of going to college that it has become hard for me to be appreciative of and connected with this stage of my life: high school. My feelings have much to do with the fact that I have spent my entire life in the same city with the same people. Because of this and other factors, I have a constant desire to leave, to be somewhere where people don’t know my nicknames and solely view me as the person I choose to present to them. At the same time, I am burdened by a harsh feeling of guilt for not taking advantage of all that I have right now. My greatest fear is that I will look back on my life in 15 years and realize that I wasted an incredible period of my life thinking about a different one. It is not that I am ungrateful. I understand how truly lucky I am to be at a school like Harvard-Westlake with teachers like Kanwal Kochar, who will devote an ungodly number of hours explaining how addition works (don’t worry, that was a joke) or to have a cafeteria that serves food that is far superior to that of many restaurants. Even so, why can’t I overcome my unsettled feelings and fully appreciate the life that I have right now? It doesn’t help that I have
lived my entire life thinking about the future; thinking about how every day’s performance will affect my future self, the future me applying to college, the future me getting a job. Instead of focusing on the present and concentrating on what matters right now, my mind is wired to think about everything but. It would be easy to simply write these feelings off as a classic case of teen angst, but I know they are something more. I have complete control over the way I view the world around me, and, unfortunately, I have allowed myself to become comfortable in this dissatisfaction. I float by with little motivation, constantly dreaming of being somewhere else. I have no idea where I am going to college and yet, I am holding on to this foreign idea of my future, holding on to something that is nowhere near as tangible as my present. I need to change my mindset and take the time to actively appreciate what each stage of my life has to offer because, otherwise, this attitude will follow me at every point in my life. So, with this column in mind, I have been trying to and will continue to take advantage of my life at HarvardWestlake. Although this environment is an incredibly stressful one, I cannot make this an excuse for my desire to flee. One day I will have a career, bills and many other responsibilities, so I need to find a way to be happy in the most stressful of environments — even Harvard-Westlake. I won’t pretend that I am no longer excited for college, but I have vowed to learn that being excited about the future is very different than living in the future.
MADY MADISON/CHRONICLE
Let’s be informed voters
By Scott Nussbaum
A
s I look forward to graduating from Harvard-Westlake and entering my adult life, I realize that I am completely unprepared to be a voting citizen. The 2016 presidential election is approaching and most of the graduating class will be eligible to vote. However, I suspect that I am not alone when I feel that I am unprepared to vote next year as a college freshman. After pondering this subject for some time, I began to see that I felt completely unprepared to be a voting adult. Sure, I have a basic understanding of the voting process and its importance. However, when it comes to the details of the voting process and how one goes about voting, I feel lost. From becoming a registered voter in a party to receiving mail-in ballots to following the candidates in
How about a little respect?
By Angela Chon
A
fter three hours of a summer practice, I’m sweaty, bruised and have gone to see trainer Milo Sini about getting my wrist wrapped at least twice. My teammates and I have gone through 7 a.m. morning runs, hours of sit-ups and countless burpees. Like any other varsity athletes, we dedicate our after-school and many weekend hours to practicing and being at games. However, through the eyes of too many students around campus, cheerleading is just a joke. True, we don’t practice on the field like football, field hockey or soccer players do. And our silver poms replace basketballs, baseballs and golf balls. But like all other athletes, cheerleaders devote time and energy to being part of a committed team. I’ve had various encounters in which my peers and even faculty members have pointed out that cheerleading
isn’t a sport. More than once I’ve gotten home at 9:30 p.m. after cheering at a football game and not received the same sympathy from a teacher as the football player next to me. I’ve almost become accustomed to the dismissive look I get when I reply to others that I do, in fact, play a sport. I’m not saying that cheerleading is more of a sport than football is, and I completely understand that cheerleading doesn’t require the same level of academic intellect as debate or competitive rigor as football. All I’m asking is that our community respect our team just like any other. Apparently, even to some of my friends, wearing makeup and sparkly bows and performing dance routines during halftime isn’t athleticism. According to them, because we’re on the sidelines instead of on the court, we shouldn’t consider ourselves athletic.
But I’d like to ask them to physically lift their teammates up into extensions and throw them into cradles. I’d like to see them make human pyramids and catch people mid-air. Cheerleaders have had their fair share of broken limbs, and we work hard to make our stunts look as good as they do. Yes, sometimes our stunts do fail, and our dances aren’t always perfectly in sync. But why does that make it acceptable to label our whole team as a failure, when a failed play in basketball might easily be excused? It’s not even the physical requirements of cheerleading that validate it as a sport. I’m not saying that our summer ab workouts or all the pushups we do for each touchdown make cheer the sport that it is. It’s rather the dedication of each individual cheerleader that deserves a certain respect from others on campus.
an election, I have a general understanding of these aspects of voting, but not nearly enough information as I want to have before I graduate. I believe that HarvardWestlake should provide more opportunities and encouragement for students to become educated about civics before they depart. Whether this is through taking AP Government or a week-long informal class at the end of senior year, each student should leave high school with adequate information about how they can fulfill their role as an eligible voter. Students should emerge from Harvard-Westlake as active participants in the governments, able to make informed decisions when they vote. Although the HarvardWestlake community is connected and involved off
of campus, this may not be the case on the college campuses where seniors will find themselves next year. It seems every two years news stations report the shockingly high number of people who do not vote even though they are eligible. By becoming educated voters, we have the opportunity to challenge these numbers. As the 2016 presidential campaign begins to get media coverage, it becomes more apparent to me that the responsibility to be an active voter is looming. Rather than brush off voting until the next election or voting for the candidate my parents vote for, I want to be confident in my ability to establish my own beliefs and make them known through the voting process. I hope all other students have the same desire as well.
Many people tend to look down on cheerleading, but in reality, cheer is an essential component of all sporting events. We cheerleaders are supposed to boost the morale at games and to raise school spirit, so we definitely don’t need negative feedback from our own community. Who is there to cheer for the underrated girls’ basketball team when the stands are almost empty? Where is everybody during non-Loyola, away football games? I, for sure, can answer that the cheerleading squad has been there to support our athletes more than any other group on campus. It takes a lot of confidence to be able to perform in front of large audiences, especially when they’re already upset about losing scores. Through these experiences and since my ninth grade tryout, I’ve definitely grown both mentally and physically into a team player. So when I hear my friends joking about joining the cheer team, mocking our cheers
or objectifying us by making inappropriate comments about our dance moves and uniforms, it makes me question how supportive our peers and even my friends are at a school where we’re supposed to value the meaning of community. We aren’t the cheerleaders who compete in tournaments with impossible routines and extreme tumbling skills. Neither are we the clichéd most popular kids on campus. We are simply a group of students who dedicate their time to making sure our school’s athletes get the support they deserve and also to becoming more flexible, fit and hardworking. There’s obviously no need to worship any cheerleader on campus as an all-star athlete, but what I’m asking is that we give cheerleaders the respect they deserve for being there to support our school community.
Feb. 13, 2015
hwchronicle.com/opinion
quadtalk
The Chronicle asked:
480 students weighed in on the Chronicle poll
It is not prevalent
248
It is prevalent
Opinion A11
“Do you believe that substance use during school hours is prevalent at Harvard-Westlake?” Substance use is definitely there. I think because we’re at such a big school, and there are obviously different kinds of people — kids who are 18 and almost off to college. You’re bound to run into some kids [who are intoxicated] but I don’t really recognize it. It’s not the majority of people. KELLY RIOPELLE/CHRONICLE
—Alexa Ranger ‘16
232
No, I’ve never seen people suspiciously high or drunk, so I don’t really think that is an issue. I can see a minority of people doing [substances], but I don’t seeing it being a big thing.
—David Ozen ‘16 KELLY RIOPELLE/CHRONICLE
“Do you believe that the primary reason that people attend schoolsponsored trips is to have a learning experience or to have fun away from home?” 479 students weighed in on the Chronicle poll
To have a learning experience
31
A combination of both
88 To have fun away from home
360
KELLY RIOPELLE/CHRONICLE
I think for the most part it is about learning. I went to a school trip to Mexico a couple of years ago, which was a really good learning experience. I think for the most part people do go to learn, but I guess every once in a while, some people go just to screw around.
—Garrett Robinson ‘15
Don’t let labels limit your personal growth By Marcella Park
P
andas irritate me. It’s not the animals themselves, or even the abundance of Internet GIFs they occupy. It’s the species’ close, tangled connection to Asian stereotypes that irritates me. Pandas originate in Asia, yes, but I don’t understand how they say so much about Asian-Americans or their character that practically every Asian-American teenager has been compared to one of these creatures by someone they’d call a friend. Type “panda” into any Facebook search bar, and you’ll find Asian people who’ve even factored this idea into their names, their identities. Almost every school in the greater Los Angeles area has one of these. I think of that one guy (well, there was more than one) from the public middle school I attended who had dyed, sideswept bangs that covered his eyes, terrible posture, glasses and his own trademark pose (cheeks and lips puffed out, both hands making cute little peace signs), all of which made him “Asian” enough
to be adored merely for his “Asian-ness.” The way his (Caucasian) friends called him “adorable,” “panda” and nothing else made me wonder whether he had any other qualities going for him. The truth was, and still is: we’re more than just cute. Or brainy, or hard-working, or socially awkward, or submissive, or artsy, or wise, or sexually attractive, or asexual, for that matter. Sometimes we’re not any of these things at all. And whatever we are, it’s not just because we’re Asian. Even without all of the term’s implications, who qualifies as “Asian,” anyway? And if we can’t define a group, how can we make judgments about it? Too many others before me, “Asian” or not, all the same human, have had to say the same things. This is not just a middle school problem that plays out only in middle school scenarios. Even now, even here, a friend asked me and a few other Korean peers whether, since he hung out with us, he could be an “honorary Asian.” It wasn’t an egregious crime like the ones others experi-
ence because they’re found different, so it didn’t hurt me. It just annoyed me a little. We’re lucky to be in a relatively accepting place and time. Still, it’s a serious matter that in talking about ABC’s “Fresh Off the Boat,” the first Asian-American-centric comedy to air since 1994, critics have spent so much time asking about things like whether or not the cast used chopsticks on set instead of characters and plot. To be honest, even though I know I shouldn’t, I get afraid once in a while that my career will just be that of a hard-working Asian sidekick to some dynamic, white heroboss, the kind of casual genius who’d feel at home with the stars of shows like “House” and “Suits.” As for fetishization, I don’t think I’ve experienced it outright, but talking with some of my friends reminded me that my father has told me he doesn’t want me to marry a non-Korean — not because he doesn’t like non-Koreans, but because he doesn’t like the idea of men who like Asians
just because they’re Asian. When my debater brother had model minority discrimination as a topic, I did roll my eyes a little as he spouted out grievance after grievance. But he was right. There are grievances. As a twisted result, when I catch myself with weaknesses that coincide with negative stereotypes of Asians, I think of myself as fulfilling them and feel worse than I would about other negative qualities. Even with something as small as realizing I should speak up more in meetings and classes, I feel ashamed. The good news about this part, though, is that I can fix it myself. The key for me, I think, will be to be comfortable in my own skin, ignore stereotypes, no matter how much they might matter to others, and go on improving myself as I would otherwise. Just because I’m Asian and some people mistakenly think Asians in general aren’t great speakers doesn’t mean I shouldn’t have to work on my own communication skills. It also doesn’t mean I should feel worse about my weak-
nesses because I’m Asian, or that other Asians have the same weaknesses that I do. I won’t wallow in inability just to protest negative labels others may put on people like me. It’s the same reason why I try not to get sucked into reading about negative stereotypes of Asians or Asian victimhood online. That’s what I hope others who find themselves in similar situations will do. I don’t purposely avoid other Asians as a way to “break the mold.” In fact, most of my friends are Korean or Chinese. And we spend a lot of time in the library. If that happens to be a “bad” thing about Asians, oh well. I think it’s all right to point out “Asian-ness” once in a while. I do it, and I’m not too hurt when my non-Asian friends do it. I wouldn’t call them friends otherwise. I’m lucky to be saying that in the bubble that is HarvardWestlake, for the most part, stereotyping Asians doesn’t get devastating or extremely hurtful, just irritating, and in the end, tired. So that’s all for now. Let’s let pandas be pandas and people, people.
exposure
A12
Liking it
Feb. 13, 2014
Reimagined by director and performing arts teacher Chris Moore in a postapocalyptic world, the upper school winter play, William Shakespeare’s “As You Like It,” ran from Feb. 5-7 and featured students playing wrestlers, melancholy lords, cross-dressing noblewomen and blind curates.
NIKTA MANSOURI/CHRONICLE
SCATTERED FEELINGS: Celia (Jenny Lange ’17) reads one of the many love poems Orlando (Carlos Guanche ’16) has left in the forest, while Touchstone (Noah Bennet ’15) mocks its sentiments.
JACOB GOODMAN/CHRONICLE
SHE’S THE MAN: Orlando (Carlos Guanche ’16), left, kisses Rosalind (Covi Brannan ’15), who is dressed as a man.
JACOB GOODMAN/CHRONICLE
A MODEST PROPOSAL: Sir Oliver Martext (Dylan Schifrin ’16), left, kisses Jaque’s (Jared Gentile’s ’16) hand after mistaking him for the exiled Duchess Senior during the final scene of the play.
JACOB GOODMAN/CHRONICLE
FOR A DAME: Touchstone (Noah Bennet ’15), left, argues with William (Timothy Song ’15) over a girl.
JACOB GOODMAN/CHRONICLE
LOVERS LAMENT: Silvius (Henry Zumbrunnen ’16) grieves over his unrequited love for Phoebe.
JACOB GOODMAN/CHRONICLE
FALLING IN LOVE: Oliver (Oliver Sanderson’15), left, and Celia (Jenny Lange ’17), right, help Rosalind (Covi Brannan ’15) after she faints on seeing a cloth stained with her love interest, Orlando’s (Carlos Guanche ’16), blood. Rosalind had been meeting with Orlando disguised as man in the Forest of Arden.
Features The Chronicle • Feb. 13, 2015
Students in long-distance relationships deal with the challenges and reap the rewards that come with being unable to see their significant others in person every day. • Continued on page B12 ILLUSTRATION BY SACHA LIN
B2 Features
The Chronicle
Feb. 13, 2015
Barking Up the
Money Tree Students who need financial aid for college often risk lower chances of acceptance and fiercer competition in the admissions process. *Continued from page A1
Graham said. To apply for financial aid, other hand, employs a need students need to fill out the aware admission process, but Free Application For Student meets 100 percent of demon- Aid and the College Scholstrated need. The school has a arship Service profile. The financial aid budget of roughly FAFSA tells colleges what the $40 million dollars and admits federal government estimates a yearly class of about 565 stu- a certain family can afford, dents on average. and this value is subtracted “I have a fixed budget, and from the school’s cost of atI need to manage that budget,” tendance to give the family’s said Matt Malatesta, Vice demonstrated need. The CSS President of Admissions, Fi- profile is an additional docunancial Aid and Enrollment at ment processed by the College Union College. “We’re a school Board that gives more inforthat’s committed to meeting mation for schools to take into 100 percent of need for all stu- account when considering apdents we admit, so because of plicants. that commitment, in the mar“It’s kind of scary, and gins of acceptance, financial the slightest mistake can reaid will be a factor.” ally mess you up,” Piche said. Being need-blind without “I heard there was a woman the resources who was applyto meet 100 ing for finanpercent of aid cial aid, and can hurt a colshe added an If you are a dean extra zero, and lege’s yield (the proportion of of admissions, you want so when they accepted stugot the various to be need-blind so you packages from dents who attend the colcolleges it was can stand up at info lege), but can near sessions and say, ‘We’re nowhere help with enough. So we not going to deny you marketing the were very, very school, Upper cautious.” just because you need School Dean Since Ocfinancial aid.’” Kyle Graham tober 2011, said. postsecondary —Kyle Graham i n s t i t u t i o n s “If you are Upper School Dean p a r t i c i p at i n g a dean of admissions or a in Title IV fedpresident of a eral student college, you want to be need- aid programs have been reblind so you can stand up at quired to post net price calinfo sessions and say, ‘We’re culators on their websites, to not going to deny you just be- help families estimate how cause you need financial aid,’” much of each school’s tuition
they could expect to contrib- college soon. ute. “I probably don’t need a However, these calculators full ride, but it would be helpdon’t always give accurate es- ful to have one because my littimates. Often, they discount tle sister is going to be in colfactors that play a role in the lege in two years, and my little admission process, like geo- brother is either going to be graphical location and SAT going [to Harvard-Westlake] scores, which colleges consider or another private school, and because they want to bring in education is very expensive,” a diverse group of students. Sarah said. “If I didn’t have SAT scores also play a siblings, it probably would be large role in a college’s ability easier to pay for college, but to meet need because high- since we’re all going through er scores often coreverything at relate with students the same time, it with better economic makes everything means. A school that much more expenrequires higher SAT sive.” scores for admission Many students will have a wealthier who need aid don’t student body, Malatapply anywhere esta said. early decision so “For a college that they’ll be able to is competitive enough compare financial nathanson’s to require high SAT Jazmin Piche ‘14 aid packages from scores, that’s going to several schools. correlate to a student But sometimes it’s body that needs less financial worth it for these students to aid,” Malatesta said. “If you apply early anyway, Graham have a student body that’s get- said. ting a 1500 or 1600 average on “The conventional wisdom their SATs, as you go down is absolutely not [to apply that average you’re going to early],” Graham said. “But my have a less wealthy student thing is if [a student] is tarbody. That doesn’t mean ev- geting one of those 60 schools, erybody, of course. There are and they know that ‘If I can plenty of students of lesser just crack this college, they’re economic means who are go- going to give me a terrific fiing to outperform students of nancial aid package,’ then the higher economic means, but best shot for that school might as a general correlation, test be early decision.” scores skew very closely with Some families that need income.” help paying for college have Sarah* is also requesting annual incomes too high to full tuition coverage from col- qualify them for need-based leges, mainly because her sib- financial aid. In this case, stulings will also be applying to dents may seek out work-
“
The Figures on Financial Aid
35% 35% of students said they will seek financial aid in college.
The Chronicle polled 483 students about their experiences applying for financial aid.
38% 38% of students believe that requesting financial aid negatively impacts a college application.
69%
69% of students plan to have a job during college. SOURCE: CHRONICLE POLL OF 450 STUDENTS GRAPHIC BY VIVAN LIN AND BENJAMIN MOST
Feb. 13, 2015
hwchronicle.com/features
study options or merit-based said. “[At UChiaid. The problem is that many cago] it’s just my schools that students at Har- tuition and my dorm. vard-Westlake are interested At Harvard-Westlake, in don’t give merit aid. it was my tuition and my “We can steer people to- books and any incidental ward schools that tradition- charges I accrued over the ally give high levels of merit years.” aid because a lot of our famiThat generosity at the high lies don’t have a need but be- school level can be a problem long in that middle group that when families are applying to says, ‘We can pay for it, but it college, Slattery said. is not easy to pay for it,’” Up“The biggest issue that per School Dean Beth Slattery families here have is that we said. “That’s challenging be- tend to be more generous with cause a lot of the schools our financial aid than colleges will kids want to go to don’t give be,” Slattery said. “So a numa lot, if anything, in the way ber of families who got someof merit aid. So you can steer thing from us expect somethem to schools that might thing from colleges because give merit aid, but they’re even more they might not be expensive than we happy about those are, but their stanschools.” dards are different, M o r g a n n e and they ask for Ramsey ’14 is a more information.” freshman at the Harvard-WestUniversity of Chilake doesn’t keep cago and received statistics on how both financial aid in many students apthe form of grants ply for financial aid nathanson’s and a $20,000 in college because Beth Slattery merit scholarship. many families preRamsey is also fer to keep that incurrently applying for cam- formation private. pus jobs so she can have some “If they want me to help spending money. them with financial aid, then “I think a lot of people are I’m going to know their inon aid,” Ramsey said. “But come, and people are very also, I think everyone here sensitive about spreading kind of hates asking their par- things around,” Slattery said. ents for money, so everyone “And families here for whom complains about how much at one point, and this espeeverything costs.” cially happened during the reRamsey was one of the 18 cession, money was never an percent of students at Har- issue, and then circumstances vard-Westlake who received changed significantly — that financial aid. Harvard-West- can be increasingly burdenlake was more generous with some for them.” aid than her college, she said. “I got more stuff,” Ramsey *Names have been changed.
GRAPHIC BY VIVIAN LIN
Features B3
B4 Features
The Chronicle
Homespoken
Feb. 13, 2015
GRAPHIC BY JACOB GOODMAN AND VIVIAN LIN
Some bilingual students whose parents do not speak English start acting as translators from a young age, and their school lives are different from those of their peers. By Su Jin Nam
experience from most of his peers applying to Harvardll students attend- Westlake and, more recently, ing Harvard-Westlake to college. have gone through its “I think [applying to Harapplication process, most with vard-Westlake] made me more help from parents or guard- responsible and independent ians. because I had to take care of Youna Choi’s ’17 experience most of the paperwork and was different from others’. Her translating,” Jim said. “Espemother speaks Korean and cially now that I applied to colhas a limited understanding lege, most of the weight of the of English, something process lay on me bethat led to problems cause of the language when she applied to barrier. I learned high school. Choi’s to be resourceful in older sister, Eojin finding information Choi ’14, helped her and dealing with the instead and translathassle alone.” ed for their mother. Upper School “It was the most Dean Beth Slattery difficult with Eojin,” said Harvard-Westnathanson’s said mother Hyelake interviewers acYouna Choi ’17 jeong Joo (Eojin Choi commodate their in’14, Hyunseok Choi terviewees’ English ’16 and Youna Choi ’17) in an abilities. When applying, prointerview in Korean. “We had spective families have access to request help from someone to translators to help ease lanwho was more well-versed in guage barriers. After accepEnglish. With Hyunseok and tance, however, these benefits Youna, it was easier because stop being offered. their older sister, who had the “I know I have a very fast first-hand experience of going speaking pace, so I’m very conthrough the process, was able scious of providing opportuto help them and help me help nity for a translator to speak,” them.” Slattery said. “In addition, the Bilingual students whose admissions office takes into parents do not speak English account an interviewee’s level say they have to interpret for of communicative ability with them in such everyday situa- their interviewer. If they are tions as making doctor and unable to communicate as efdentist appointments in addi- fectively in English as they are tion to more occasional situa- in the language they are most tions like an application pro- comfortable with, the admiscess. sions officers understand that Jazmin Piche ’15, whose they are not getting a full parents speak Spanish, said picture of what the person is that when she was in sixth like. It would be unfair to pit grade, her mother’s employer a complete picture against one suggested she apply to Har- that is only partially finished.” vard-Westlake. Some students think the “We didn’t realize I could school should do more to help even apply until my mom’s families that don’t speak Engboss said private schools of- lish after they are admitted. fered financial aid,” Piche said. Once enrolled, Piche found “My mom’s boss helped us out herself in situations that were a lot because we knew no one never a problem for her peers. who had applied before.” During events the school hostJim* ’15, who said that his ed, her parents found it diffifather speaks broken Eng- cult to participate, and more lish and his mother speaks no often than not, these language English at all, had a different barriers affected her parents’
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relationships with the school. Piche and Tirmizi speak in “I think there should be English in order to avoid any people offering to translate at awkwardness that may arise every parent function,” Piche from language differences. said. “That way, parents can go And when they bring their around with the parent trans- friends to their homes, where lators and talk with people, they might be heard speaking and if they don’t understand, in other languages, they have they ask their parent trans- varying experiences. lator. For example, if there’s “My friends, they know a dinner party, there should with time what my ‘ethnicity’ be an option on the invite for is, for a lack of a better word, so ‘parent translator available whenever I’m talking with my for this and this language’ and parents in Hindi, they won’t be list the names of the parents surprised, though they may be and which languages they can a little uncomfortable maybe translate.” because they don’t know what Slattery believes that par- I’m saying,” Tirmizi said. ents decline to attend parent Choi sometimes finds that functions because of language bringing non-Korean friends barriers, and that students over to her house is difficult. with non-fluent parents also “It can be awkward, and it tend not to tell their parents can make it hard for me to get about school events. permission for others to come “I usually send e-mails to over,” Choi said. “My mom the parents to solicit them to wants to avoid having to talk come in, rather than leaving it to people, especially parents, all on the student to handle,” because she can’t understand Slattery said. “I think what is them well.” very common among students More often than not, conwho speak another language stant exposure to English has at home is a sense of indepen- decreased students’ opportudence. Rather than discuss- nities to practice their native ing something at length with languages. their parents, because it’s time “My brother and I naturalconsuming ly now speak or sometimes English [with too difficult to our parents], translate, they but they enI think that tell their parcourage us there should be people ent that it has to speak in offering to translate at nothing to do Hindi to keep with them, or the language every parent function.” that it’s somealive,” Tirmizi thing they —Jazmin Piche ’15 said. “We go don’t need to back to India worry about. every summer. This isn’t ideal Whenever we in a school-to-family relation- do that, we have to be able to ship, so I try to reach out di- talk with our family in Hindi, rectly to the parents.” so we have to keep practicing.” Sahar Tirmizi ’16 has spoJane* ’15 lives with her ken Hindi and Urdu since mother in the United States, she was young, and switches while her father lives in Jabetween the two depending pan. Her mother spoke very on the situation. Her par- limited English when the two ents both speak English, but first immigrated. Jane recalls she speaks native languages having had to write formal eat home because her parents mails to her teachers on behalf want her to remain connected of her mother when she was in to the culture. fourth grade, and making docWhen with friends, Choi, tors’ appointments by the time
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she was in sixth grade. “I used to think, ‘Why is [my mom] making me grow up so fast?’ whenever I saw the parents of my friends writing their own e-mails and making their own phone calls,” Jane said. “I didn’t realize until later that the independence early on would really help me. Now my friends are scared of interviews and sending formal e-mails, but it’s so easy for me because I’ve being speaking to adults since I was young.” Despite the challenges speaking more than one language may bring, students say that the benefit often outweighs the losses. “Being raised bilingual is probably the single asset I’m most grateful to my parents for having given me,” Jim said. “Hispanics are very proud of their language because it lies at the center of their culture. I really don’t think I could have been as connected to my heritage had I not spoken Spanish. There’s also a lot of criticism and shame attached to not knowing how to speak Spanish. I’m not going to lie, but the best part is being able to talk crap with my mom around other people without them knowing. I don’t want to scare anyone, but if you hear people speak in a different language around you, you probably do not want to know what they are saying.” Jim also believes that his knowledge of the Spanish language will help him in his future career pursuits. “Over the summer I shadowed a few doctors at a neighborhood hospital,” Jim said. “And what stood out to me was how many patients only knew Spanish. As more and more Hispanics move to the U.S., I see bilingualism as becoming more of a necessity in any career that Americans pursue. I know it’ll help me communicate with this rising demographic.” *Names have been changed.
Feb. 13, 2015
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Features B5
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PRINTED WITH PERMISSION OF KELLY MORRISON
Blog My Life
Whether they blog about sweaters, healthy living or broader facets of life, students have found a way to share their interests with an online community. February 13, 2015
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By Sharon Chow
share her experiences with oth- during the school week, as to beters after losing “significant weight ter manage her time. Preparing for her next photo for health reasons.” She develops “I have to consistently keep up shoot for her blog “bylaureng,” healthy versions of recipes for her with other blogs to see what is up Lauren Genender ’17 carefully blog, which has reached and coming. Basically, during chooses outfits for each of her 7 million visitors and has the week I do my research and friends who will be modeling for 700 thousand page views come up with ideas so then her that day. Genender picks an per month. According to on the weekends I execute it interesting location by her house Morrison, Foodie Fiasco into a photo shoot or story,” to set the mood that she is trying reaches 203 countries, Genender said. to create. Named after the hair-tie and she now has people Other bloggers, such as Rebusiness that she started in fifth working for her so that becca Katz ’15, post more spograde, Genender’s blog focuses on she has more time for radically. seasonal fashion, photography, food other obligations, such “When I get inspired I’ll nathanson’s and fitness for teenagers. as schoolwork. sit down and write something, Mady “I want to be able to relate to Morrison manages which usually takes anywhere Schapiro ’16 teenagers in and outside of Los Anher own payroll and has from 25 minutes to an hour, geles,” Genender said. “I want my worked for companies and then posting it is very message to everyone who such as Silk and Fresh easy,” she said. reads the blog to be that and Easy. She either menHer blog, “The Art of Blogging,” there are so many amazing tions the companies in her is a personal blog in which she adthings to do and see, and posts or develops recipes dresses everyday topics such as many, many ways to express with their products, which feeling nervous, enjoying the little themselves, whether it be she then posts on her blog. things and being awkward. through what they chose Morrison is also repreKatz and others promote their to wear one day, make for sented by a blogging agen- blogs on various social media sites breakfast or photograph.” cy called Sway Group LLC, such as Facebook to gain more recGenender is one of the which connects companies ognition. They also feature guest col17 percent of Harvardto female bloggers. umns or posts. Schapiro features a nathanson’s Westlake students who blog The time bloggers guest on her blog every Sunday by Rebecca to share their interests or spend posting on their posting a picture of the person in a Katz ’15 thoughts. blogs varies. Morrison, for sweater and describing how he or Mady Schapiro ’16 started her example, spends about 15-20 hours a she came to own it. blog “Call Me the Sweater Lady” week working on her posts. Blogging can also be a stepping in October because she wanted to “Prioritizing stone for students share her collection of sweaters is key,” she said. hoping to write prowith others. Schapiro started “Sometimes, you fessionally. I want my her collection of sweaters in have to make an “I do hope to keep eighth grade, when she began executive decision, writing professionmessage to everyone thrift shopping frequently. like the editorial calally, as I want to be who reads the blog With more than 100 sweatendar takes precean editor when I’m ers, she now has to store dence today. I hired older, so writing on to be that there are... them in plastic bins in her other people, so I my blog is what I many ways to express closet. have to manage that hope will give me the themselves.” “I had more time on my into the budget now, experience I need,” hands, and I do love my like how I can pay Genender said. —Lauren Genender ’17 sweaters, so why not share their salaries out of “Writing profesthem with everyone?” my payroll, but also sionally is the dream, Schapiro said. that really helps so I’ll see where this Kelly Morrison ’16 minimize my workload.” blog takes me, but for now, it’s launched her healthy livGenender also spends a lot of mostly for fun and to get people ing blog, Foodie Fiasco, time over the weekend developing thinking a little bit,” Katz adds. in June 2011 to her blog but only a couple of hours
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PHOTO ILLUSTRATION BY SHARON CHOW
B6 Features
The Chronicle
Kiss & Tell
From camp girlfriends to long-time boyfriends, students and a teacher share stories of romantic and awkward first kisses.
By Carly Berger fine,” Jones said. “But then he was like, no, I want to.” he slipped away from her Jones went to sit next to cabin and rushed down him on her friend’s bed, but to the beach dunes at then he told her to move in her sleep-away camp where front of him. Jack, her camp boyfriend, “So I went and stood in was waiting for her. He gently front of him, my friend started kissed her nervous lips, his singing, which is so awkward, braces touching her teeth, and and then he grabbed my face, she knew she wasn’t into it. and was like, all right come Brooke Reese ’15 pulled away over here,” Jones said. “I was so and rushed back to her cabin, afraid. It was kind of awkward where her counselors waited and he had really big lips, so I for her return, angered that guess it was nice.” she snuck out. English teacher Jocelyn “We both laugh Medawar’s first kiss about it all of the was also with an time now,” Reese older guy, sitting said. “We are really in a stick-shift car. good friends, but it Medawar was 14 and was just so weird.” the boy was 17 when Reese was 13 she had her first kiss. when she had her first She said that she did kiss, just like Katie not enjoy it but found Jones ’15, who was at it rather shocking. nathanson’s a friend’s house and “I thought it Jocelyn thought her friend’s was probably one of Medawar older brother’s friend, the most disgusting who was 17, was very experiences of my cute. Her friend let it slip that life,” Medawar said. “I did not Katie had never been kissed, know all that was, perhaps, and the brother’s friend involved in a first kiss. Tongues, eagerly tried to change that. I didn’t know tongues were “He was like, I’ll make out involved.” with you, but I was like, no, it’s After the kiss, Medawar
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Battle for Love By Juliana
berger
Chemistry teacher Nathan Cardin decided to try dating websites when he was a graduate student at Stanford, but found himself unable to use eHarmony because he is gay and there were only two options for matchmaking: male searching for female and female searching for male. “It was kind of like a triple take,” Cardin said, “Then a fundamental realization of: ‘I’m not included. I’m not part of that,’ and it got me mad.” So when he heard in 2009 that a law firm was looking for people to talk to about problems they had with discrimi-
Feb. 13, 2015
ran to her friend who gave kiss her. her advice. She said, “Babe, “I just went for it, and she try again,” and that is exactly kissed me back,” Shkurovich what Medawar did. said. “It was nice.” Medawar kissed the same Unlike Shkurovich, who boy again, and her second kiss was in middle school when he was awesome. had his first kiss, Emily Kelkar Noah Gains ’15 was just ’15 had her first kiss during 11 years old her junior year when he had with her boyhis first kiss. friend of seven I was really He had been months at the nervous, and she was going out with time after the his elementary homecoming nervous, and I was s c h o o l dance. really, really awkward. girlfriend for “We were We joked about it for a a couple of standing outdays, and after side by the while.” school, his pool and we friends were all —Noah Gains ’15 were alone,” asking him to Kelkar said. kiss her. They “Neither of us were sitting on a bench, and knew what to do I guess, so we he pecked her, got up, and were sitting outside for like 20 sprinted away. minutes having the most awk“I was really nervous and ward conversation, and then she was nervous, and I was I was like, What do you want really, really awkward,” Gains to do? And then he was like, said. “We joked about it for a maybe I’ll show you, and then while.” he kissed me.” Marc Shkurovich ’15 was Kelkar said it felt like the 14 when he had his first kiss. kiss lasted forever, but said it He was lying on the volleyball was only about 10 seconds. court at his camp with his “I guess that is when I realcamp girlfriend of five days, ized that I was falling in love,” when he decided he wanted to Kelkar said.
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ILLUSTRATION BY MADELINE MADISON
Chemistry teacher Nathan Cardin finds love after challenging dating website eHarmony’s policy on same-sex pairings.
nation against gays, lesbians and bisexuals on the dating website eHarmony, he decided to call. “I’ve always been the type of person that if something has to get done, someone has to do it so it might as well be me,” Cardin said, “I’ll just put myself out there.” The lawsuit against eHarmony was first filed in 2007, and Cardin joined it as lead plaintiff in 2009. It claimed that eHarmony violated Unruh Civil Rights Act in California, which states that businesses based in California cannot discriminate against people based on characteristics including sexual orientation.
The lawsuit was settled in around the time of his involve2010, before heading to court. ment with the suit. The couple EHarmony created a settle- plans to marry over spring ment fund and changed its break, just months before the website to allow for same-sex Supreme Court is expected pairing as an option to decide whether on its main site, into legalize same-sex stead of users being marriage across the redirected to another United States. relationship website “It’s ridiculous owned by the comthat we’re up to this pany. point, and we’re do“It’s one more ing a fantastic job, message that says but we’ve been havthat it’s not okay to ing to piecemeal 50 discriminate against states, one state at a nathanson’s people because you time,” he said. “So, it Nathan Cardin don’t like who they would be nice to just are,” Cardin said. have a one and done. Cardin met his now fiancé, Let’s just have the Supreme Ben Procter, on Match.com Court get it done, and every-
one will see that the world’s not going to end.” Cardin and Procter will be married the first weekend of spring break before going on a honeymoon in England. They will also be holding receptions for their extended families in Kansas and New Hampshire over the summer. The couple decided to have a smaller and more relaxed vibe for their wedding. “What would we want to hang out and have on a Friday or Saturday night?” Cardin said, “What do we usually get on Saturday night? Tacos and cupcakes. So we just did that. It’s going to be super low key, we are very excited about it.”
Feb. 13, 2013
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Upper Sc hool Dea n Tamar married Adegbile Isaac Ad egbile in 2005.
Lessons In Love
cClain 11. ista M 20 her Kr c sen in a g e t in y tr nn Chemis Christian He d marrie
Five faculty members recount how they met and fell in love with their partners.
By Enya Huang Krista McClain Chemistry teacher Krista McClain has been married to her husband Christian for about six years. They met in a lab class. “There was a broken beaker in my drawer,” McClain said. “I cut my finger on it, not knowing, because it went right through the nerve. I didn’t feel it, but I saw blood.” At the time McClain only knew Christian in passing as some cute guy in her class, but that day, he came to her rescue. “He came over, and he was like, ‘I was a lifeguard!’” McClain said. “He took care of my hand and bandaged me up. Christian was like, ‘I’ll take her to the hospital.’” But their teaching assistant refused to let them both leave. “I didn’t have my purse, because I was in lab, so Christian gave me his credit card, and I took a cab,” McClain said. “It was like five, six stitches. It wasn’t really a big deal.” McClain met Christian a few days later to return the credit card, and they soon struck up a friendship. “We would run together and bike together,” McClain said. “He was always onand-off dating people, and then I was on-and-off dating people, so it never worked out for anything but just friendship for a while.” “He saved my finger and gave me his credit card. What man gives a woman his credit card without knowing them?” After they graduated from college, they started dating about three years into their friendship, when they both happened to be single. How long did it take for her to know he was the one? “I knew within the first two months of dating,” McClain said. “I’m a very lucky girl.”
Laurence Weber English Department Head Laurence Weber and wife Devorah Brous met in Los Angeles while she was visiting family after spending 15 years in Israel fighting for human rights, Weber said. Brous had planned to go to Thailand and visit the Sanctuary in Koh Phangan afterward. “Then she met me and changed her plans,” Weber said. The two ended up honeymooning at the Sanctuary, though. “Timing has to align,” Weber said. “I was particularly oriented to possibility at that moment. I would have been stupid to let such a captivating person slip by.” Weber said his first impression of Brous was that “she’s beautiful and intense and a little bossy. She’s interesting.” Weber was drawn to Brous’s “goodness, her vivacity, passion for life … and her belief that things can be and should be better,” he said. Tamar Adegbile Upper school Dean Tamar Adegbile and her husband Isaac Adegbile will have been married for 10 years this July. Adegbile and Isaac met in Providence, Rhode Island, at the National Association of Independent Schools Diversity Conference. Her first impression of Isaac, Adegbile said, was that “he was easy to talk to, smart, handsome. He was a really good person.” After spending time together, Adegbile realized that she and Isaac had a lot in common, such as a passion for working with young people. “I felt very comfortable around him,” Adegbile said. “After spending time with him, I found it hard to imagine life without him.” Adegbile’s favorite thing
about her husband is his smile. “[His smile] is very warm,” Adegbile said. “He has a really bright smile, and smiling for him seems effortless. It’s not as natural for me, so I notice that about him. It’s very calming and reassuring. “He’s five years younger than me,” Adegbile said. “I tease him sometimes about having been in diapers when I was a teenager, but it’s not that dramatic a difference.” Irma Hernandez Bookstore manager Irma Hernandez’s love story began as part of someone else’s. “We met at a wedding rehearsal,” Hernandez said. “And his brother was marrying my friend.” Hernandez’s first impression of Greg, her husband, was not the most positive. “He had long hair, long curly hair, and that was not my type of person that I go out with,” Hernandez said with a laugh. “[But] for the wedding he cut his hair, so he looked really nice.” Hernandez also liked that they had aspirations in common. “We wanted the same thing,” Hernandez said. “We wanted a family. You know, you talk, and you say you wanted to get married, but not necessarily to that person. But [you] just say that you do want to get married, you do want to have a family, and that’s the same thing he wanted also.” Hernandez spent some time pondering how someone actually knows whether another person is the one. “You do know because you know you love that person,” Hernandez said. “But it’s also like taking a chance because you don’t know if it’s going to work out or not, even though you feel confident and you love that person, but people change.” That’s not an issue now for Hernandez, who com-
mented on how caring her husband is. “Any time I feel stressed or my neck is stressing, he’s always willing to give me a good massage on my neck,” Hernandez said. Francine Werner History teacher Francine Werner and her husband science teacher Walt Werner met when they were colleagues at Westlake School, and have been rried r ma married 33 years. e n r e . 1982 “My first impression ine W ranc erner in F r e of him was very positive,” each r Walt W ory t e Werner said. “We talked Hist e teach c for about an hour.” scien Werner recalls with clarity the moment she realized she and Walt were meant to be. “It was in the hallways at one of the old buildings that’s gone. There was a little seventh grade girl who [Walt] didn’t know, but she was just sitting on the floor, and she was crying because she’d gotten a bad grade. He just knelt down and he was talking to her, and that’s when I walked by and said, ‘Yeah, I’m gonna marry that guy.’ And I was right.” Werner strokes her chin as she ponders her husband’s endearing characteristics. “I like the fact that his sense of humor isn’t snarky, because mine is,” Werner said. “His sense of humor is very playful. People don’t get hurt. With mine, they do.” “You have a life together with somebody, and it is what it is,” Booksto Werner said. “You re man a marrie don’t think back that d Greg ger Irma Her n Herna ndez in andez much to the origins.” 1996.
B8 Features
The Chronicle
Feb. 13, 2015
tinder makes sparks fly Some students have turned to Tinder, a matchmaking mobile app, for dating or simply amusement.
PHOTO ILLUSTRATION BY AIMEE MISAKI AND JACOB GOODMAN
By Aimee Misaki
People ages 18 to 24 make up 35 percent of Tinder’s deRon* quickly swipes left on mographic, which is the highest Tinder, a cellular dating app number out of all age groups, that connects people who are according to Facetets.com, a nearby, as he gazes through website with data-driven apphotos of numerous girls in his proach to application analytics. area. A photo of a pretty girl School psychologist Luba surfaces on his screen, and he Bek said Tinder is the latest inswipes right. In less than 10 carnation of speed dating, a forminutes, Ron secures a coffee malized matchmaking process date with her. He calls himself that was first organized by Rab“the Tinder King.” bi Yaccov Deyo of Aish HaToSo far, he has met two girls rah, in order to match Jewish through Tinder. Users have the singles for marriage. option to swipe right to like or The first speed-dating event left to pass, and if the happened seven other party likes them miles away from back, the “match” allows Harvard-Westlake both parties to converse. Upper School at “You can see how far Peet’s Coffee & Tea the person is, so the two in Beverly Hills in people were about one 1998. mile away, which is the “Speed dating closest radius you can was one or two minget,” Ron said. “I’m not utes to get to know nathanson’s trying to put in heavy each other and then Luba Bek work over Tinder.” move on, but for this After looking at someone’s generation, it has to be instanphotos and their description, taneous dating because they users can choose to “like” or have no patience for anything “pass” them in the blink of an other than that, so [Tinder] eye. serves the purpose,” Luba Bek Tinder’s marketing slogan is said. “Tinder is how people meet. It’s When setting up the app, like real life, but better.” users must connect their Face“People are time-deprived, book accounts in an effort to careers have priority over re- ensure veracity of users’ names, lationships, not least because photos and ages. they are often a prerequisite to Despite this precaution, them, and the idea of a unique many students still fear the perfect match or soul-mate is dangers of meeting a random a statistical impossibility,” said person online. Tomas-Chamorro-Premuzic, Jane*, who started using professor of business psychology Tinder last year, matched with at University College London, in Clark*, who had mutual friends the Guardian on Feb. 17, 2014. with her on Facebook. A con“What Tinder especially has versation ensued between them, accomplished, which I think which eventually led to Clark none of our competitors could realizing he went to the same achieve before, is that it opened high school as Jane’s cousin. up this young demographic “We literally talked online — 18- to 25-year-olds — that for months, but it wasn’t that no product could open up be- successful,” Jane said. “He was fore,” president of Match.com a really nice guy, but the only in North America Amarnath reason why I trusted him was Thombre told New York Times because he and my cousin went Feb. 5. to the same school.”
Many people use Tinder for Jessica Carbino, who refinding hook-up partners, for ceived her doctorate at the dates or just for pure amuse- UCLA on research on dating, ment. Some students such as discovered that, for example, Hannah Dains ’16, however, do clothing, the pucker of the lips not use Tinder seriously and or posture can reveal compathave never met their matches ibility not only on a physical in real life. level, but also a social level. “I actually read an article— Another study at Indiana an experiment that a girl did University revealed that success where she put up pictures in on Tinder depended 72 percent different amounts of makeup on looks, 17 percent on a clever and saw how guys responded to opening in the description and her,” Dains said. “So I started 11 percent on humor in the deout by doing a similar thing scription. where I changed my description “The first thing that atevery week and saw if people’s tracts us, all research shows, is messages towards me changed physical attraction, so Tinder at all.” is right on the spot.” Bek said. In the end, the results were “It’s not the depths of personalthe same no matter how much ity. It’s not the sense of humor; she changed her description. it’s not the quirkiness. It’s not “It seems like a fake way the similarities.” to meet people,” Tinder user For these reasons, students Huey* said. “I have the same like Noah Gains ‘15 believe that sentiment about online dating the app omits the actual steps websites because it seems like to feeling true love and is only just a replacement for tradi- for casual hook ups. tional seeing-people-across“I think it takes away from the-hallway-and-making-eyes- the actual process of going at-them.” out and meeting Je s s i c a people,” Gains ’15 Dickman ’17 said. decided to Ron is now The first thing write a script dating a girl that that attracts us, all for the Playhe did not meet research shows, is wrights Festivia Tinder and acval about two knowledges that physical attraction, so teenagers who one should never Tinder is right on the fall in love on take the app seriTinder after ously for love. spot. being matched “Each rela—Luba Bek tionship that you for three days. “My screenSchool Psychologist go through when play is makyou are an adoing fun of our lescent or even generation and how kids actu- a pre-adolescent is like an exally do that,” Dickman said. “I’m ercise that can be good or bad, definitely a user — I’m not go- difficult or easy, which eventuing to lie — but not for serious ally develop your skills to bereasons.” come someone who is good at However, Chamorro-Pre- relationships,” Bek said. “If your muzic wrote in The Guardian exercise consists of swiping left that Tinder actually replicates or right, you don’t learn much. the real dating world because It’s like cheating in learning rephysical attractiveness is one of lationships.” the most prioritized determinants of infatuation. *Names have been changed
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Feb. 13, 2015
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EUGENIA KO/CHRONICLE
Making History in Havana Twenty-one upper school students on a digital storytelling adventure trip to Cuba made history, trip organizers said, when they became the first American high school group to visit the country in 2015 after President Barack Obama’s Dec. 17 announcement of resumption of diplomatic relations with the island nation. From tobacco farms to salsa dancing classes, the students were immersed in Cuban culture while documenting their adventures. Students enjoyed a casual soccer game with some Cuban children and were beaten in baseball by kids half their size. Now that the group has returned after eight days in Havana and Viñales, they will be producing digital projects. A group of ninth through 12th graders will visit Cuba during spring break. For more in-depth coverage, see www.chronicle.com.
EUGENIA KO/CHRONICLE
ANGELA CHON/CHRONICLE
ANGELA CHON/CHRONICLE
BREAKING DOWN BORDERS: Clockwise from top left, Elly Hong ’17 photographs an art gallery with Cuban film posters; Michael Edwards ’16 and Milo Hensley play soccer with local children in Viñales, Cuba; Mikaela Wolfsdorf ’16 high-fives a child in Havana during a photo shoot for her photography project; live musicians perform Cuban popular music in Las Terrazas, Cuba; Cameron Stine ’17 discusses baseball with a child in Viñales.
Arts&Entertainment The Chronicle • Feb. 13, 2015
The Alliance for Young Artists & Writers awarded 35 students with Scholastic Art and Writing Awards for their work in 28 different art forms.
Gold Key Perrin Carrillo ’15 Jacob Goodman ’15 Jesse Halpern ’15 Diana Kim ’15 Ivan Rodiguez ’16
Danielle Stolz ’15 Xenia Viragh ’15 Elizabeth Kim ’17 Jack Li (2)* ’17
Silver Key
TIFFANY KIM/CHRONICLE
STEALING THE SHOW: Chase Garvey-Daniels ’19 sings “I Want You Back” by the Jackson 5 at the Muse & Blues: Intercampus Poetry & Music Showcase at the Katzenberg Black Box Theatre Feb. 5.
Tenth Muse hosts arts showcase By Tiffany Kim
showcase by singing “Be Free” by J. Cole while surrounded by Students, faculty and par- crystals that were handmade ents read and sang original by Visual Arts teacher Katie Palmer ’98. compositions in the Upper school stuMuse & Blues: Indents also were reptercampus Poetry & resented at the showMusic Showcase at case. Jensen McRae the Katzenberg Black ’15 sang her song, Box Theatre Feb. 5. “Heart in California,” The showcase and Liz Yount ’17 perwas produced by fomed her original the Tenth Muse, a slam piece, “Nameless middle school literLove Poem.” ary publication. It nathanson’s José Gutierrez ’18 was hosted by EngZachary also performed his lish teacher Zachary Greenberg original poem “Learn Greenberg and staff members Ashley Starr ’18 and to Fly.” Greenberg then performed Davis Cook ’19. Greenberg opened the “The Responsibility of Light,”
a new poem. Individual sections of the poem were dedicated to his students and fellow teachers. Middle School Dean and Performing Arts teacher Kate Benton read her poem “Sunday Afternoon July 19.” Susan Carr also read a poem called “Theme for English III” written by her son, Justin Carr ’14, who died in February 2013. In remembrance of him, a portrait was placed on a stand on stage during most of the show. During the 10-minute intermission, Greenberg reserved a table to speak to students and parents about his poetry book, “Scarlight.”
Jake Adler ’17 Kaleigh Bergmann ’15 Ariana Blut ’15 Katherine Calvert ’15 Perrin Carrillo (2) ’15 Max Cho ’15 Benjamin Goldsmith ’16 Jesse Halpern ’15 Diana Kim ’15 Nathan Lee ’16
Emily Maynes ’15 Isobel Phillips ’17 Xenia Viragh (2) ’15 Sophia Dienstag (2) ’17 Elizabeth Kim ’17 Jack Li (2) ’17 Su Jin Nam ’16 Sam Schlesinger ’15 Cameron Victor ’15
Honorable Mention Aaron Drooks (2) ’15 Alexandria Florent ’17 Daniel Eghbal ’16 Sunaina Goel ’15 Eliseo Gonzalez Hagerman ’16 Hailey Hicks ’17 Alex Kihiczak ’16 Diana Kim ’15 Vivian Lin ’16 Troy Loizzo ’16 *Parentheses indicate number of awards won in the above category.
Emily Maynes ’15 Nina Milligan ’16 Whit Spain ’17 Danielle Stolz ’15 Eibhlin Villalta ’15 Xenia Viragh (2) ’15 Cayla Blachman ’15 Sam Schlesinger (3) ’15 Cameron Victor (2) ’15 SOURCE: ARTANDWRITING.ORG
GRAPHIC BY LOLA CLARK AND JEAN SANDERS
Senior to produce ‘Love Notes’ Advanced Dance I and II showcase charity musical event to feature six guest male dancers By Sophie Cohen and Eshanika Chaudhary
The annual Advanced Dance II showcase, featuring dancers from the Advanced Dance I and II classes as well as six male dancers, will take place on March 6, 7 and 8 in the Rugby Theatre. Advanced Dance II is the highest-level, audition-only dance course at HarvardWestlake and is only open to students in 11th and 12th grade. Although the theme has yet to be revealed, the show will feature several pieces that follow a storyline. While the dancers from ADII began choreographing at the start of the school year during ADII class time, students from ADI began rehearsing with the other dancers at weekend rehearsals after winter break. “The Advanced Dance I class is invited to join us as
artists, and the majority of the According to Winter, all that class chooses to do this,” Per- was needed was for them to forming Arts teacher Cynthia show their interest. Winter said. “They do not just “I wanted to do [the showhave little parts. They have big case] the past two years but parts and, they are a very im- I just never really had time portant part of the show.” in my schedule,” Weisman ’15 Many dancers from Ad- said. “I actually used to do vanced Dance dance in eleI are considermentary school ing auditioning and haven’t reIt’s just truly for Advanced ally been able amazing what these Dance II next to do it until year. this year again, students are doing. I’m The six so it’s really just blown away and so cool male dancers, getting Albert Choi ’15, back into it.” incredibly proud.” Benny WeisTickets —Cynthia Winter went on sale on man ’15, Erik Gredonia ’17, performing arts teacher Monday, Feb. 9 Jordan Strom and are avail’16, Jonah able for purGoldman ’16 and Spencer Per- chase in the Upper and Middle ryman ’15 are not enrolled in School Bookstores as well as the dance program. online at the Box Office. While some of the boys had “It’s truly amazing what never danced before, others these students are doing. I’m did have prior experience. just blown away and I’m so inThere was no selection credibly proud of them,” Winprocess for the male dancers. ter said.
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By Katie Plotkin
Daniel Dávila ’14, among others. Jensen McRae ’15 will pro“I am humbled to be able duce “Love Notes,” an annual to collaborate with such talsinging showcase that will ented and passionate musibenefit a charity in honor of cians for a cause that means her late friend, Justin Carr ’14, so much to me,” Yaron said on Feb. 22. in an email. “Justin Carr and Carr ’14 died of his loving parents are cardiomyopathy in an inspiration, and I 2013 during his juhope that our music nior year. will reflect this senti“[Carr] was a ment.” very respected stuMcRae will be dent and a very good singing one original friend of mine, which song as well as mulis why the cause is so tiple covers with othclose to me,” McRae er performers during said. the showcase. nathanson’s The Justin Carr There will also Jensen Wants World Peace be a few “featured McRae ’15 Foundation advoplayers,” includcates for Carr’s dream of world ing McRae’s younger brothpeace through grants from er, Holden McRae ’20, and causes such as Love Notes. Yaron’s two younger brothers. McRae started her char“I just try to find people ity, Love Notes, because she who are really talented, and I wanted to combine her love of just kind of throw them on the music and community service stage,” McRae said of her felto be able to help as many dif- low performers. “I think that ferent causes as possible. is when you get the best prodThis year’s production will uct, when you get really talinclude performances from ented people and you just let McRae, Adam Yaron ’16 and them do whatever.”
Feb. 13, 2015
hwchronicle.com/features
Features B11
Auction to benefit Justin Carr Foundation By Griffin Richter
JACOB GOODMAN/CHRONICLE
BACKSTAGE PASS: Orlando (Carlos Guanche ’16) talks with Jaques (Jared Gentile ’16) about the numerous love poems Orlando left around the forest earlier in the scene (left). The court jester, Touchstone (Noah Bennett ’14), delivers a speech in the final scene of the play, (top right). A servant named Adam (Teddy Leinbach ’15) talks to Orlando while hiking in the Forest of Arden (bottom right).
Students perform Shakespeare’s ‘As You Like It’ By Sabrina de Brito and Su Jin Nam “Standby 120 ... 120, then house lights and sound.” When stage manager Victoria Keating ’16 gives the cue, lights and sound shift, and the play ends. The winter play ‘As You Like It’ was Keating’s third gig as a stage manager. The play, performed in Rugby Auditorium, opened on Feb. 5 and ran until Feb. 7. “This production was one of the easier ones that I’ve done,” Keating said. “It has fewer than 200 cues. Some of the dance showcases go up to 300 or 400 cues.” “As You Like It” blended classic Shakespearean story lines with a post-apocalyptic setting. This was the first Shakespearean winter play the Upper School had performed in eight years, director and performing arts teacher Christopher Moore said. Moore said that he was excited to direct the play with the twist in setting. “I think [the play] is really relatable to all the kids, and to put it in a different time setting was a lot of fun to explore, Moore said. “Shakespeare’s plays, his themes, his characters, his stories are all timeless.” Cast members spent the
first week of rehearsals work- Auditorium a total of 56 times, ing with English teacher Joc- telling crew members where eyln Medawar-Turner for help they were needed, reminding interpreting the play’s lan- cast members of the time, and guage. telling the directors how the She asked the actors to put cast was doing. the text into their own words “My job before the show in order to hone a better un- starts is to make sure everyderstanding of each charac- one backstage knows what’s ter’s situation. going on,” Keating said. “After Talia Lefkowitz ’17, who the show starts, my job is to played the role of a shepherd- make sure nothing goes wrong ess named Phoebe, said that on stage. Also, I make sure no the cast memone gets hurts bers grew very at any point close while prein time, even After a paring for the if that means performance, the show. yelling at a few This was people. Basifeeling is a mix of her first upcally I patrol.” relief, exhaustion and per school proK e a t i n g ’s accomplishment.” duction, and job as stage though she was manager be—Victoria Keating ’16 gins very nervous at before first, she said production that the other nights. students were very welcoming. She works with actors in “On opening night, the au- every rehearsal, blocking each dience was smaller because it entrance, exit and set change, was a school night, but they and sends out a report each were also very responsive. It day to cast and crew that sumwas very nice to get laughs, marizes the rehearsals and inand I think they really liked forms them of upcoming reit,” Lefkowitz said. hearsal times. An hour before the show “It’s an interdependent reon Feb. 6, Keating began to lationship,” Keating said. “The walk around, checking on the crew depends on the cast to cast and the crew. portray the story, and the cast She walked back and forth depends on the crew to help between actors in the lounge them reach the hearts of the and crew members in Rugby audience.”
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Once in the tech room, Keating is alert and cautious throughout the entire play. As the stage manager, she calls the cues. Without her cues, the lights and sounds would not change. “The lights and sounds are really important because they influence how the audience feels,” Keating said. “Really bright and white lights can make the audience feel happy, and really mellow and yellow lights can make the audience feel melancholy.” Keating’s job does not end with her last cue. Along with the rest of the crew, she cleans up programs and papers left behind, and clears the stage of props used during the last scene of the play. “After a performance, the feeling is a mix of relief, exhaustion and accomplishment,” Keating said. “Relief because it has ended, and you know you’re done with your work for the night. Exhaustion because it’s late and you’ve put many hours into it and you’ve been on your toes for a good two hours. Accomplishment because, though you may have made some mistakes, the show still went on, and people enjoyed it. It’s really a great group effort, and in the end, everyone’s feeling great.”
The Justin Carr Wants World Peace Foundation and the Art Department hosted a silent art auction during the three performances of the winter play “As You Like It” from Feb. 5 through Feb. 7. The auction was extended to continue though Feb. 13. Art made by current art students was auctioned. Pieces created by Justin Carr ’14, who passed away in 2013, were also auctioned. The pieces were sold during intermissions and shortly after the three performances. The foundation will be giving all of the proceeds to underserved schools to pay for art and math tutoring. The foundation also works to raise awareness of idiopathic hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, the heart disease that unexpectedly took Carr’s life. Susan and Darrell Carr, his parents, began the foundation after Carr’s death, saying they were inspired when their son asked for world peace when he was four years old. Marianne Hall, a visual arts teacher, along with Audrey Chambers ’15 organized the event and worked with the foundation to make it happen. “I was inspired to create a silent auction to memorialize Justin Carr,” Chambers said. “I hope to raise as much money as possible for a great cause.” Chambers’ goal is to raise a total of $2500 through the auction. “This is the first year of ‘Art Gives,’ so I wasn’t sure what to expect,” Chambers said. “But I am continually pleased and surprised by the support I have received from Harvard-Westlake and its art community in seeing my vision come to light.” “On the bidding side of things, one challenge I faced was how to walk a fine line between directing the attendees of the play to the auction without taking away from Mr. Moore’s wonderful show. In the end, I believe the posters, flyers and brief announcements achieved the right balance of publicity.”
Pan-African film festival features student work By Lauren Kim and Sammi Handler
Eight films made by students who went on the Rwanda trip last year premiered at the Pan African Film Festival Los Angeles Feb. 8 at Rave Cinemas 15 Baldwin Hills Crenshaw Plaza. “They shared how the Rwanda trip changed their lives, but more importantly that they learned that they could make a difference in the world by making films about subjects such as rape as a weapon of war, the role of music in healing after trauma, and how education is transforming a country after genocide,” Visual Arts Department Head Cheri Gaulke, who led the trip to Rawanda last
year, said. “They did HarvardWestlake proud.” The festival set aside a screening room specifically for the films “Just One Story” by Su Jin Nam ’16, “For the Love of the Game” by Chris Headley ’16 and former student Jacob Klein, “Children of the Genocide” by Nina Milligan ’16, “Cut the Tall Trees: The Killing Power of Words” by Noah Bennett ’15 and Max Cho ’15, “I am Kizito” by Mike Mapes ‘16, “Reweaving: Rwanda after Rape” by Katherine Calvert ‘15, “The Kindness of Strangers” by Cole Kawana ’16 and “The Rhythm of Healing” by Imani Cook-Gist ’15, in a portion of the event called “Transcending Genocide: Rwanda through the Lens of Teen Filmmakers.”
PRINTED WITH PERMISSION OF GETTY IMAGES
Alumnus wins ‘Best Arrangement’ Grammy award
TOP HIT: Ben Bram ’99, right, poses with the members of the Pentatonix. The group won a Grammy for ‘Best Arrangement, Instrumental or A Capella’ for the arrangement ‘Daft Punk.’
B12 Features
The Chronicle
Feb. 13, 2015
ILLUSTRATION BY SACHA LIN
By Haley Finkelstein
D
rew Mirman ’15 still remembers the warm August night when she and Addison Abdo ’14 reenacted her favorite tionscene from “The Notebook” s h i p s . the in which Ryan Gosling dances With with Rachel McAdams in the help of technology and school breaks, middle of the street. “It was such a perfect mo- however, some are able to ment,” Mirman said. “It made make their relationships last. In a 2013 study, researchme realize that the long-distance relationship is so worth ers at Cornell University it if you find an amazing guy. I asked 63 couples involved in did, and it is so worth every- long-distance relationships to monitor how often they inthing.” Abdo, a freshman at teracted with each other and whether by texting, video chat, Northeastern Unicalls, etc. Not only versity, started datdid the researchers ing Mirman in Nofind that frequent vember 2013, and contact throughout they have been tothe day between cougether for 14 months. ples formed stronger Although long-disbonds, but also that tance relationships the couples felt more can be hard enough intimate with each when the distance is other than couples a few hours by plane, nathanson’s who see each other Abdo is spending his Drew on a day-to-day basis. first semester studyMirman’15 Tom Thorne ’14 ing abroad in London. and Jazmin Piche ’15 With the time difference, it can be hard for them to agree that technology makes plan when they will Skype or their long distance relationtalk on the phone, but they ship easier to maintain, alare willing to make sacri- though it is not the same as fices, even if it means saying being together in person. Thorne and Piche took goodbye to those extra couple up the title of “boyfriend and hours of sleep. “I will sometimes stay up girlfriend” in May 2013, and super late, even until 4 a.m. their parents have been very my time, so I can Skype with supportive of their attempt Drew. It’s the only way it will to make things work while Thorne studies at Oxford Uniwork,” Abdo said. Some students have found versity in Oxford. Because they it difficult to cope with the live on opposite sides of the stresses of long-distance rela- Atlantic, they have not seen
each other in four months. “We can send texts and see each others’ faces, though I wish Tom would use his Snapchat more so I can know what Oxford looks like,” Piche said, laughing. “I think it works because we’d been together for over a year before going long-distance,” Thorne said. “We also communicate at least once a day and FaceTime every weekend, so we’re never out of touch.” However, a long-distance relationship is not always a bed of roses. Some students find the distance too difficult to navigate, resulting in the end of their relationship. Joyce* ’15 and Timothy* ’13 started dating in January 2013 and broke up at the end of December 2014. As their relationship progressed, Timothy, a college student in New Hampshire, and Joyce developed trust issues, which led to arguments that ultimately broke their relationship. “It was exhausting and made us both sad and mad,” Joyce said. “We both felt jealous and worried constantly. It just wasn’t worth the arguments.”
in unfamiliar surroundings, a glimpse of the familiar means so much more. So I think in that sense, the distance and the ability to use modern technology have Af- strengthened our relationter mu- ship.” tually decidMaddie Oswald ’15, who ing to break up, is dating Columbia University Joyce and Timothy no student Matt Karo ’14, belonger wanted to deal with lieves that being self-sufficient the jealousy surrounding their helps them deal with the dislong-term relationship. The tance. former couple still talk on a “Our relationship works so weekly basis, and Joyce says well because we communicate there are still feelings in- a lot, plan and talk about the volved. future, but we also let each Julia Safir ’15 also had a other live independently,” Oshard time adjusting to the diswald said. “We know tance from Gregory it will be lot easier Lehrhoff ’14, who atnext year since we tends Tufts Univerwill both be on the sity in Boston. The East Coast, a threetwo have been dating hour train ride away.” since April 2014. Romantic sur“At first I craved prises also help. Karo constant texting and was supposed to come calling and Facetihome on a Friday for ming because I guess Winter Break, and nathanson’s I was in denial of the night before his Gregory him not being here anticipated arrivLehrhoff ’14 anymore,” Safir said. al, Oswald had just “It definitely made turned out the lights and gone things worse, and caused me to bed when Karo came walkto be less present in my actual ing through her bedroom door. life.” “I thought I was dreamThe two of them have since ing,” Oswald said. found “an awesome balance,” Despite the hardship of she said. “Our staple is al- distance, Abdo and Mirman ways having goodnight phone also believe that love conquers calls that recap our days and all. thoughts.” “She is the most amazSafir and Lehrhoff also see ing girl I have ever met,” Abdo each other at least once every said. “I don’t know what I month. would do without her,” Abdo “It takes such a load off of said. me to be able to see her face,” Lehrhoff said. “When you’re *Names have been changed
Sports The Chronicle • Feb. 13, 2015
“COACHING 40 YEARS REQUIRES A COMMUNITY LIKE THIS THAT STICKS BY YOU AND SUPPORTS YOU.” - GREG HILLIARD COLE JACOBSON/CHRONICLE
END OF AN ERA: Greg Hilliard’s final season as the boys’ basketball head coach is coming to a close as the team prepares for its CIF playoff run. Hilliard said he believes his team has a good chance in the playoffs if it can stick to its game plan. The Wolverines have the opportunity to add to their nine CIF Titles in the Hilliard era.
The Last Hurrah After three decades of constructing a renowned basketball program at Harvard-Westlake, Greg Hilliard brings his coaching career to a close.
By Jake Liker
Before the announcement, many had already been invited by the Harvard-Westlake’s Athreg Hilliard was honletic Department and Alumni ored at a banquet folRelations Team to the banquet, lowing the conclusion officially titled a “Salute to Greg of his final regular Hilliard.” season home game Friday night After attendees helped by speakers who called him “a themselves at the buffet, a class act,” “a force for good” and range of speakers shared nos“cool, calm and collected.” talgic anecdotes and expressed Festivities began before grattitude for Hilliard at the the game. The referees spoke reception. and presented Hilliard with a “It’s kind of overwhelming,” plaque, and Chaminade Head Hilliard said of the large turnCoach Todd Wolfson shared a out at the reception. “There’s few words before giving Hilliard a lot of love in this room. I’m a gift. humbled by it… The pregame I’m very thankceremony con[Hilliard is] one of ful that I’ve been cluded after all able to have this four seniors on the hardest workers I’ve experience.” the boys’ varsity Hilliard was ever met. I’m a better basketball team, joined onstage Alex Copeland person today because of by a few of his ’15, Spencer Perfamily members [him].” ryman ’15, Noah before addressGains ’15 and —George Fescke ing the crowd. Raymond Chung “When I first former assistant coach ’15, presented started coachHilliard with a ing basketball, I framed and cuswasn’t sure I was going to make tomized Harvard-Westlake jerit,” Hilliard said toward the besey. The number on the jersey ginning of the speech. was 30, to commemorate HillHe shared an experience iard’s 30 years at the school. from his first head coaching job Following the boys’ varsity at Catlin Gabel School in Portbasketball team’s 64-56 loss land, Oregon, garnering laughs against Chaminade, those at the after recalling how he forgot game were invited to join curtwo players at a road game in rent and former players, alums, Salem. coaches and other members of “I thought that was my last the Harvard-Westlake commuday coaching, but they gave me nity to gather in Hamilton Gym another chance,” Hilliard said. to celebrate Hilliard’s legacy After 10 years in Oregon, with the Wolverines. Hilliard knew that he wanted
G
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something more. He came to She expressed sentiments California and discovered Har- from Zach and Renaldo, both vard-Westlake. former players for Hilliard. “What I loved about Har- Zach remembers Hilliard’s calm vard-Westlake was that they nature, and she read a statewere going to encourage me and ment from Renaldo. push me to be all I could be as a “From the time I was 10 and coach,” Hilliard said. “Coaching a water boy for Zach’s team to 40 years requires a community the time I won Mission League like this that sticks by you and MVP honors on that same supports you.” court, Coach Hilliard Other speakers inremained consistent,” cluded Head of School read Renaldo’s stateJeanne Huybrechts and ment. “Coach Hilliard former player Jason will always be someCollins ’97, who went one whose guidance on to play professional and reassurance will basketball in the NBA. always stick. I am honHuybrechts spoke first, ored to have been one calling Hilliard a “reof his players during lentless force for good” his legendary run.” nathanson’s and a “class act on and “We are all and alGreg Hilliard off the court.” ways will be members Collins spoke for of a strong Harvardhis twin brother Jarron ’97, who Westlake community brought could not attend the ceremony together by the leadership, guidbecause he was attending to ance and patience of Coach Hillhis assistant coaching duties iard,” Jackson-Woolridge said at with the Golden State Warriors the conclusion of her speech. in Atlanta. Collins spoke with “I read a statement from you, pride about his senior season, in Coach Hilliard. You thanked which the Wolverines went 36-1 our community for blessing you en route to a second consecutive with 30 years of support. I want state championship. to turn that around and thank “To this day, I still talk about you for blessing us with 30 years my senior year team when we of love.” only lost one game,” Collins said. George Fescke, who was an Pat Jackson-Woolridge Assistant Coach to Hilliard for (Zach ’04, Renaldo ’08, Tiana 17 years, called Hilliard “not ’11 Woolridge), widow of the for- only a teacher to the players, mer Los Angeles Laker, Orlando but a teacher to us coaches.” Woolridge, compared Hilliard “You are one of the hardest to former Los Angeles Lakers workers I’ve ever met,” Fescke coach Pat Riley, commending said in his speech to Hilliard. Hilliard for being “cool, calm “I’m a better person today beand collected.” cause of you.”
C2 Sports
Facts &
Figures
Coach Hilliard Edition Years coaching at HarvardWestlake
30
613 CIF-SS divisional championships
2 League titles
Wolverine wins for Greg Hilliard
9
State championships: one in 1996, one in 1997
13
Game to watch FEB. 14
Girls' Soccer vs. Valencia Valencia High School
The girls' soccer team went undefeated in league, and its final nonleague game of the season will be against Valencia tomorrow on the road. The girls have already won the Mission League and are locked in for a high seeding in the playoffs, and tomorrow's game will be their final preparation for postseason play.
KEY PLAYER
Chloe Castaneda '15 Chloe Castaneda returned to the pitch Wednesday night against Flintridge Sacred Heart Academy after being sidelined due to injury for over a month. Whether or not she can get back into the groove of things will be crucial in determining how the Wolverines do in the playoffs. Castaneda recently commited to play for UCLA.
The Chronicle Girls' Basketball
Wolverines toughened by league By Henry Vogel
The girls had a 3-4 record in the ultra-tough Mission League as of press time, but after finishing its last two regular season games this week, the team has its sights set on the playoffs, where it is likely to be the No. 2 seed in the 4-AA CIF Southern Section Division. The Mission League has two teams ranked in the top 10 in California. Chaminade is the number two team in the state and in the nation (both behind Mater Dei), and Bishop Alemany is the number seven team in the state and number 14 in the nation, according to Maxpreps.com. The format of the league schedule is each team plays the other teams in the league two times, once at home and once away. The girls were blown out by both Chaminade and Bishop Alemany the first time they played, but in the second game against Chaminade last week, the Wolverines only lost by six. “We definitely started out nervous,” Head Coach Melissa Hearlihy said. “All of the hype was there. The game was something to be nervous about.” Since Chaminade starts two girls that are 6-foot-1, Hearlihy said that their height was a little intimidating, but after the first quarter, the girls settled down. Once the team relaxed and started playing its style of basketball, the girls cut the lead down to one before Chaminade answered with a couple of three pointers. Though the game resulted in a 66-60 loss, Hearlihy said that the team felt good when the game was over that it is ready to compete at the next level. “We’ve lost a lot of games, but we’ve also played a lot of really good teams. That was the point of our schedule,” Hearlihy said. “It wasn’t about
how many games we could win may make a substantial impact this year. We needed to play in the playoffs. One of these the best to become the best.” issues is half-court offense. Lindsey Tse ’16 handled “Sometimes offensively the ball for most of the game you have to settle down, and against Chaminade, using we struggle with that, coming her ball handling skills to down, setting up and still consistently break the press having enough time on the and get the ball to other shot clock,” Hearlihy said. players in their favorite spots. Bishop Alemany is tied Tse has been controlling with Chaminade for the league the tempo all season and title as of press time, meaning has dominated offensively, its team came at the girls with including a 16-point effort everything it had, given that against Chaminade. each game could The team will rely decide the league on the experience championship. The of Tse and Teeana game was also away Cotangco ’15 with in Bishop Alemany’s playoffs around the historically loud and corner. distracting gym, so it The squad had had all the makings another big test this of a late round playoff week against Bishop matchup. Alemany, but lost 54This experience nathanson’s 40. The team finished provided the girls, Lindsey Mission League play specifically the Tse ’16 yesterday against younger players, with Marlborough, a fast-paced more experience in intense, team that likes to run the high-pressure moments that floor like the Wolverines do, they may encounter in the but results were not available playoffs. as of press time. Defensively, the girls have During these two games, been aggressive and effective the team focused on perfecting all season, but Hearlihy said certain aspects of its play that that she does not want to
By Zac Harleston
Last Game:
L (45-34) vs. Chaminade
Girls' Basketball (18-4) Last Game: W (60-24) vs. St. Paul
Boys' Soccer (4-7-5) Last Game: L (2-1) vs. Chaminade COLE JACOBSON/CHRONICLE
T (1-1) vs. Chaminade
UNDER PRESSURE: Lindsey Tse '16 handles the ball against an aggressive Ventura defender. Tse has stepped up as the team's primary distributor. It is her job to break the press and limit turnovers. settle for good. She wants her team’s defense to be great. This means improving weak side and help defense. As of press time, the girls are seeded fourth in the division 4-AA playoffs behind Sierra Canyon, Oaks Christian and Serra, but two teams are likely to move up to the open division, according to Hearlihy. The open division takes the best teams from each division and puts them into their own bracket. “Looking at the division, we have a great chance, and now that we are closer to that goal, some of the younger kids are starting to kick it in and figure it out,” Hearlihy said. The improved play of the younger players in addition to the fact that the team is the healthiest it has been all season in terms of injuries means that the team could very well be peaking at just the right time. “I don’t think we are peaking for playoffs, I know we are,” Hearlihy said. “I can see the competitiveness and the urgency in practice. We’ve talked about this all year long and now it’s here.”
Coach points to dedication as key to potential playoff run
Boys' Basketball (8-16)
Last Game:
HENRY VOGEL/CHRONICLE
Boys' Soccer
Junior Varsity
Girls’ Soccer (4-3-4)
Feb. 13, 2015
FIRST TOUCH: Jeremy Yariv '18 scans the field to find a teammate in a game against St. Francis Feb. 4. The soccer team faces Loyola today.
The boys' soccer team has achieved second place in the Mission League with 7-3-1 league record. “The most important thing for us to do is to simply show more intensity with the way we play,” goalkeeper Michael Gaven ‘18 said, “We need to give 100 percent the whole time, and we need to hustle to every ball. We lost a couple of games where we really couldn't find that intensity, but we will find it.” The squad has achieved a winning record this season behind the goal-scoring of Myles Pindus '15 and Henry Quilici '15 and now stands at 12-3-1. Quilici currently leads the team in goals with 15. Despite winning its first eight games, the team's inconsistent play has defined the second half of its season as it has gone 4-3-1 in its past eight games as of press time.
"I don't make much of stats like that," midfielder Theo Velaise '17 said. "When the playoffs come around, I know we will perform." In spite of the squad's inconsistent play to close out the season, this year it has won four more games than last year's team did. Head boys' soccer coach Lucas Bongarra credits his team's success this year to its dedication. "The commitment of the boys, the coaching staff and the parents [as well as] the philosophy established early in the season has given us more direction as a program," Bongarra said. This season, the squad's depth has been a factor in its success. "All of [the players] at different times in the season have contributed to the team's success," Bongarra said. The team's matchup against Loyola Wednesday did not affect its second place
league finish. However, the Wolverines are confident in their abilities and took no opponent lightly this season. The game plan won't see any changes as the squad prepares for the playoffs. "The boys have practiced and prepared really well for all of the games," Bongarra said. "I think we have given them enough training and scouting reports about our opponents for them to come out to the field very confident." The team hopes to prevent injuries during its playoff run despite the fact that injuries have been prevalent in its season already. "Injuries seem to be our biggest challenge," Bongarra said. "Milo Sini and his staff have been amazing. They have helped resolve many issues and the boys have always been ready to play despite some painful injuries." Additional reporting by Nico Brown
Feb. 13, 2015
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Sports C3
inbrief Junior commits to USC baseball
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John Thomas '16 committed to play baseball at USC last week. Thomas is a third baseman and catcher on the baseball team. “USC has been my dream school for as long as I can remember,” Thomas said, “Obviously this is very exciting, but there is still work to be done, and I can't look ahead. Right now the main focus is the upcoming season, and I can’t wait to get on the field and work with my teammates and coaches. Without them I couldn’t possibly be where I am and I owe this all to them.” — Mila Barzdukas
Junior competes with men's national team
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COLE JACOBSON/CHRONICLE
ON GUARD: Alex Copeland '15, far left, dribbles by Loyola's Joshua Curls '16 in the Wolverines' 58-55 loss on Jan. 23. Ali Iken '17, top right, runs to the floor in front of a sell-out crowd as the starting lineups are announced in the team's loss to Loyola Jan. 23. Spencer Perryman '15, bottom right, locks up a St. Francis player on the perimeter en route to scoring 12 points in a 77-55 Senior Night league win.
Boys' Basketball
Staying Alive By Cole Jacobson
Despite facing a severe lack of bench depth, the varsity team still finds itself high in the CIF-SS rankings as playoffs approach.
Francis, the Wolverines were heavy underdogs during a 75The varsity boys’ basketball 72 victory against defending team is safely in the playoff Division III State Champions race, with a record of 12-12 Chaminade on Jan. 16, when overall and 4-7 in Mission Alex Copeland ‘15 took over League play to put the team with 33 points, including eight at fifth in the league as of in the last three minutes, to press time. Results from the will his team to the thrilling game Wednesday against upset on the road. Loyola were not available as The coaches told me to of press time, but a loss would take over, to put the team on not disqualify the team from my back, and I just tried to do playoff contention. that as much as I could to get “If I was totally honest, us a win,” said Copeland, who four [wins in league play] is leads both the Mission League what I was expecting, just and CIF-SS Division 4AA with based on where teams were on 24.3 points per game. “I knew paper at the start of the year,” that whether I finished at the said Hilliard, content with end or not, my guys would the performance of his final ride with me, which just gave Wolverine varsity basketball me the extra confidence to hit team. “What surprised me those shots.” about the Mission League was Coming off that victory, that with all the transfers, the team looked to keep up the league is down overall, its momentum with the first and we had a better chance in notorious rivalry matchup most games than I envisioned with Loyola on Jan. 23, playing -- we’re playing better than I in front of a full-capacity crowd thought we would.” in the Taper Gymnasium in “It’s right where we thought the only home game of the we’d be,” added Spencer season that required tickets for Perryman ‘15, currently second admissions. However, despite in the Mission League with 20 points from Copeland and 41 percent a gutsy 13-point, s h o o t i n g 14-rebound from threeperformance point range. from center I think we let “ B e a t i n g Noah Gains a couple games slip Chaminade ‘15, the team away from us. We was above fell short in its expectations, effort to secure definitely should've but losing to another upset won a couple of the Notre Dame league win, as was below, so the defending games that we lost.” it evens out. league champion —Noah Gains ’15 Cubs escaped I’d call it ‘par’ right now.” with a 58-55 win Harvardafter a clutch Westlake surprised both itself last-possession three-pointer and the media with a blistering from Cornell commit Stone start to league play, going 3-2 Gettings ‘15. in the first five Mission League “Loyola turned out to be a games to rise as high as a tie better match than I thought, for third place in the league because even though they did standings at one point. While get their points from their the team was favored in its first bigs, they didn’t dominate two wins over Sherman Oaks us the way I thought they Notre Dame and Flintridge St. would,” Hilliard said. “We
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made enough threes to make everyone feels the same way, it close, but we didn’t finish the other league teams are well inside.” sore and tired, so we need to Unfortunately for the go at them.” squad, the tight loss to Loyola “It’s been taxing on our was the beginning of a rough bodies,” admitted Gains, patch for the team, currently averaging as the Wolverines 23.0 minutes per went on to lose their game. “We knew next four games we’d get tired when in a season-long Wolfgang and Parsa five game skid. In went down, and every a road matchup at game’s a battle, but Notre Dame on Jan. we don’t want to be 28, the team was a team that makes shorthanded in the excuses.” paint, only grabbing With losses in the nathanson’s 15 total rebounds next three games, Alex while playing without including a pair of Copeland ’15 a sick Ray Mueller blowouts to Alemany ‘17 and only getting 14 minutes (89-58) and Crespi (61-36), from Gains. The team briefly the team sunk down to a .500 took the lead behind 25 points record for the first time since from Copeland and 20 from the beginning of the season. Ali Iken ‘17, but subsequently “We have to run in let the game slip away with transition,” said Iken, who poor late free throw shooting averages 13.5 points per game in a stunning 81-77 loss. while leading the entire “Personally, I think we let Mission League with 63 threea couple games slip away from pointers, about the team’s us, we definitely should’ve recent struggles. “We can’t won a couple games that we walk the ball up the court, lost,” said Gains, still on pace because we can’t beat teams in to become the first Wolverine the half-court game if they’re to average double-digit bigger and stronger -- we have boards since 2012. “We’re not to push the ball up the floor to disappointed but we’re not get some easy baskets.” happy … we want to do better.” After the Crespi loss Feb. A severe lack of depth 2, players and coaches met to has hurt the team as Mission discuss the issues plaguing the League play has picked up. team, wanting to identify the Because of season-ending causes of the team’s slide while injuries to Parsa Shoa ‘16 (back) figuring out how to get back on and Wolfgang Novogratz ‘16 track. (foot), the Wolverine squad “We had been playing a only has six players averaging little more selfishly, so we had at least 10 minutes per game a team meeting with players in league play in Copeland, and coaches after the Crespi Gains, Iken, Perryman, Carter game to iron out some of those Begel ‘17, and Aaron Glazer ‘17. issues, because that Crespi “As well conditioned as game was like the bottom,” we are, a small rotation Hilliard said. “We scored 36 takes its toll. It’s much more points, which is incredibly out mental than physical because of character for us, so we went everyone’s capable of doing it back and revisited things a as athletes, but we think we’re little bit.” tired and we think our legs are “It’s about how we dead,” said Hilliard. “We need to overcome that because • Continued on page C7
Ben Hallock '16 traveled to Perth, Australia with the U.S. Men’s Senior National Water Polo Team for a week of common training and a series of exhibition matches Jan. 20. “Every single day was filled with multiple hours of training, games and long team video sessions,” said Hallock. “I learned that there is nothing more valuable than not backing down physically to the older and bigger players.” The team took part in the Aquatic Super Series, an event hosted by Australia in which national teams from all over the world compete with each other in swimming and water polo events. — Bryant Wu
Senior athletes honored by school
The Harvard-Westlake January “Athlete of the Month” awards were given to water polo player Sophia Gonzalez ’15 and basketball player Alex Copeland ’15 in a 1st and 3rd Wednesday Assembly Feb. 4. “I felt there were many athletes who were also outstanding this month, and I am very happy to be recognized as one,” Gonzalez said. Copeland, has averaged 24.3 points per game in his senior season, leading the Mission League. Copeland and his team are looking to move onto the playoffs after their last regular season game today. Gonzalez is the leading goal scorer and the senior captain of the water polo team, which has already clinched its 19th straight league title. — David Woldenberg
Martial Artist featured on Chinese Televsion China Central Television filmed martial artist Kathryn Tian ’17 in her Chinese class on Jan. 27 for a video feature on noteworthy Chinese students in different countries. Tian won a gold medal for the U.S. and was named “Best Female Athlete” at the World Association of Kickboxing Organizations Juniors and Cadets World Championships in Italy in September. CCTV is the main state television broadcasting network in China. Tian is also the leader of the Martial Arts Club at school. — Liz Yount
The Chronicle
C4 Sports
Feb. 13, 201
Signed, Sealed
More than 20 Wolverines made official Feb. 4 by either signin of Intent to play a DI sport or intention to play at a D
"It used to feel like a dream, like it was so far in the future, but now it finally feels real. It's really assuring and exciting." — Courtney O'Brien '15 Princeton University
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"I couldn't believe the process was almost over or that i had so much to look forward to. I was so happy that i found a place that wanted me and was exactly where i wanted to be."
By Mila Barzdukas
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rianna Gazmarian ’15 opened her pen and laid it on the recently faxed sheet of paper. After posing for photos in an Ohio State T-shirt, she signed two signatures next to those of her parents’, effectively committing to play soccer at the Division I level and earning a partial scholarship. According to nationalletter.org, the National Letter of Intent (or NLI) is a document signed by student athletes to indicate their commitment to a participating NCAA college or university in the United States, and puts an end to the recruiting process. The document is a binding agreement where the student promises to provide their athletic services to the college or university for one year in exchange for some form of an ’ athletic scholarship and a roster Brianna spot for their sport. Scholarships Gazmarian ’15 can be whole or partial, and there are about 138,000 available across the country, according to USNews. com. “It’s such a sense of relief and accomplishment,” Gazmarian said. “All the hard work I’ve put in since I was 5 has paid off, and now I get to play DI soccer, which has been a big dream of mine for a long time.” I chose to g NLI’s are made a DIII school becau available on National Signing Day, which I have a lot of othe according to the interests outside o website is usually football." the first Wednesday in February. —Jeremy Tepp Before that date, Lineb an athlete can make a verbal commitment to a school, but the commitment is not official or binding until the athlete has been accepted and signed their NLI. The NLI must be signed within a seven-day period after the blank letter has been delivered to the studentathlete. While the NLI is nathanson s
— Emily Kelkar '15 Oberlin College
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"I decided on Colgate not only because of the great mix of academics and athletics, but also the focus on family. When I suffered my injury I had no doubt in my mind that they would be extremely supportive in my recovery." —Matt Glick '15 Colgate University
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"I have to say the training I learned from the coaching staff, from head Coach Scot Ruggles to my position coach Chauncey Fagan, all the backpedaling drills, all that information passed down [to me] by the team, I'll take to the next level."
"it was a fun experience to look at a bun of schools, and it was comforting to kn i was guaranteed to get in when a lot people were stressing about the colle process. the stressful part for me was picki a school. once it was over i was rea relieved, and i'm happy with my decision."
— Hassan Smith '15 University of Pennsylvania
— raphael raede UC
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. 13, 2015
hwchronicle.com/sports
aled, Delivered
erines made their commitments ither signing a National Letter DI sport or making official their o play at a DIII school.
considered to be the only way someone can play at the DI or DII level, someone who hopes to walk on to the team does not sign one because they do not have a scholarship. In addition, a student-athlete does not necessarily have to sign a NLI to earn a scholarship, because scholarships are usually given out on a yearto-year basis. In addition to signing the NLI, a prospective athlete hoping to earn a scholarship must take the SAT or the ACT and earn a specific score, as well as have a GPA above a 2.0, according to the website. NCAA Division II schools can also give out athletic scholarships, but they usually have fewer to go around. For instance, a DI school can offer up to 12 full athletic scholarships for an entire girls’ volleyball roster. However, DII schools can only offer up to eight. While the Ivy League is a DI conference, it differs from its ’ counterparts' athletic scholarships. Brianna Ivy League schools are not allowed Gazmarian ’15 to give out any athletic scholarships whatsoever. They can only give out needbased aid. While the NLI does not apply to the Ivy League, schools can send a prospective student-athlete a likely letter after they have applied. While the document is not binding, it is the school’s way of saying admission is likely as long as the student athlete maintains grades and good standing. I chose to go to Similarly to the Ivy League, school because Division III schools do not accept NLIs. They can only give out e a lot of other academic and need-based aid, ests outside of but can send out likely letters. ball." The acceptance letter to the —Jeremy Tepper ’15 university is the only way a student can “commit” to that Linebacker school. However, a DIII coach can “support” an application through admissions. Supported students must get in on their own merits, but the admissions department is made aware by the coaches that if admitted, the students would contribute to athletic teams. “I chose to go to a DIII school because I have a lot of other interests outside of football," said Jeremy Tepper ’15, who was accepted to Pomona College. “I felt that DIII would give me more time to develop my academic and extracurricular pursuits.”
Sports C5
"In the beginning, I wasn't sure how everything would go, and I didn't realize how much I liked the school, but once I realized that, it just came together." — IMANI COOK-GIST '15 Oberlin College
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"It's a huge relief that all of my hard work has paid off, and it's truly a blessing to know I'll be able to attend such a great institution and play football."
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— Desmond Butler '15 Williams College
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"I definitely feel relieved that the college process is over, and I'm glad that all of the work I've put in over the past few years has paid off." — Teeana Cotangco '15 Claremont McKenna College
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"I couldn't be more excited to be playing at the next level for the university of oregon. It was always my dream school. the coaches here really helped me get to where i needed to be to become that type of player, and i can't wait to play in the pac-12."
ok at a bunch ting to know hen a lot of the college me was picking i was really decision."
— Ezra Steinberg '15 University of Oregon
ael raede '15 UCLA
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C6 Sports
Feb. 13, 2015
The Chronicle
Wrestling
Wrestling squad prepares for CIF By Audrey Wilson
als holds promise in upcoming CIF competition. Despite struggling against According to Ruiz, the strong team competition in team is trying to get as many the Mission League, five Wolwrestlers as possible to comverine wrestlers qualified for pete at Masters. CIF Championships at Mis“I’m really proud of our sion League Finals against freshmen,” Lennon said. Alemany Jan. 31. “Both the boys and the girls J a k e are really growAdler ’17 won ing quite quickly league in the wrestling-wise I just hope that 132-pound and showing a we continue to do what lot of heart at weight class. Ryan Ruiz our tournaments we always do, which is ’16 took secand duels.” work hard and wrestle ond in the The team smart.” 126-pound has had various weight class. setbacks this —James Lennon ’15 season, including James Lennon ’15 capsicknesses that tured third caused disapin the 138-pound weight pointing results at the Asics class, while Josh Musicant ’17 Challenge Tournament, but took second in the 145-pound the athletes are still hopeful weight class and Malcolm that they will take home CIF Neill ’15 took third in the medals. 170-pound weight class. “Going forward I just hope While the squad finished that we continue to do what with an 0-3 record in dual we always do, which is work matches during the regular hard and wrestle smart,” Lenseason, the mark is misleading non said. due to the fact that the team The five grapplers will never entered more than eight compete at CIF Championwrestlers in a varsity match. ships at Lakeside High School The strength of its individuFeb. 20 and Feb. 21.
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VISUALIZE AND ATTACK: Jake Adler ’17 faces an Alemany wrestler in the varsity wrestling team’s 52-24 loss to the Warriors on Senior Night Jan. 7. Adler went on to win the Mission League in the 132-pound weight class, being one of five Wolverine wrestlers to advance to CIF-SS prelims.
Senior tennis player performs well in Central American tournaments By Tyler Graham In September, Michael Genender ’15 will take his talents to Palo Alto to play tennis for Stanford. In the meantime, Genender is traveling far and wide to compete in national, high-profile tennis tournaments. Genender’s globetrotting has most recently taken him to tournaments in Costa Rica and Ecuador. The reigning CIF-SS singles champion is playing these tournaments with the goal of qualifying for Junior Wimbledon and the Junior U.S. Open. The tournament Genender played in Costa Rica was the Copa del Café, a junior tournament hosted by the International Tennis Federation, where he advanced to the
quarterfinals against a field drawing talent from all over the world. Past winners of the event include tennis greats Bjorn Borg, Jimmy Connors and Roger Federer. The tournament took place in early January. “I played my quarterfinal match in Costa Rica during a night session in front of a packed 2,000-seat stadium,” Genender said. “The match was streamed online and was viewed by a large amount of people. I signed a ton of autographs, and I had to do four interviews after the match. I had never experienced anything like that before, and it was an unbelievable experience.” In Ecuador, Genender competed in the Ecuador Grade 1 ITF tournament. Genender
lost in the round of 64 after qualifying for the tournament by winning three matches. “Something that was really exciting was being able to compete internationally and represent the United States,” Genender said. “The level of the tournaments is really high and every match is extremely difficult. I know I need to be at the top of my game to put myself in positions to win.” While Genender’s offseason has been full of excitement, the drawback to his success is the extreme time commitment that a tennis career outside of school requires. However, Genender’s work ethic on the court is matched by his efforts to keep up acaemically off of it. “I’ve had to focus a hundred percent on my school-
PRINTED WITH PERMISSION OF MICHAEL GENENDER
MAKING A RACKET: Defending CIF-SS singles champion Michael Genender ’15 lunges for a backhand in a Costa Rica match. work whenever I have some free time,” Genender said. “It’s pretty rigorous having to make up so much work on my own, but I’m working really hard.” Genender, in addition to winning the CIF-SS singles title in his junior season, carried the Wolverine team to a second place finish in the CIF-SS Division I tournament, drop-
ping a 10-8 decision to topseeded University Irvine in the title match, before also falling to the Trojans in the Southern California semifinals. In 2015, the senior will be the top singles player for defending league champion Harvard-Westlake, which looks to be a top contender for a CIFSS Division I title once again.
Girls’ Water Polo
Squad seals 19th consecutive league title By Bennett Gross
CAITLIN NEAPOLE/CHRONICLE
LET’S GET PHYSICAL: Izzy Wiesenthal ’17 fends off a Marymount defender in the Wolverines’ 11-1 home win over Marymount Jan. 7. The squad has already clinched a league title and playoff spot.
Despite having a young roster with only one senior, the girls’ water polo team is cruising to a 19th consecutive league championship, and an eighth undefeated Mission League season in a row. The squad has already clinched a Mission League championship with a 17-7 overall record and a 10-0 start in league play, and if the Wolverines win their final two games against Louisville and Alemany, it would make 87 consecutive games won for the girls’ water polo program. “We have a really young team, and we are all still learning, but the older girls have been great helping everyone improve,” Camille Os-
wald ’17 said. “Mission League play has been great for us so far. Notre Dame was definitely a challenge, but we just kind of rose to the occasion to beat them twice.” The team had dominant performances against Marlborough, Marymount, Louisville, Alemany and Flintridge Sacred Heart Academy, winning all of those games by at least 10 goals. The team was ranked ninth in CIF Southern Section Division III Coaches’ Poll as of press time, and is ranked first in the Mission League, ahead of rival Notre Dame, whose only two league losses came to the Wolverines. “I think it’s going pretty well right now. It’s awesome that we are 10-0, and we are really aggressive to the ball,
and we like to use our game plan which is to push the attack,” senior captain and leading goal scorer Sophia Gonzalez ’15 said. “We have definitely gotten better every game, we are growing, and the team has gotten closer, so this season has been really good so far.” After losing in the CIF-SS Division III quarterfinals to Upland High School 12-7 last season, the team is looking to return to the elite level of winning divisional championships in 2011 and 2012. This year, the team has faced three other teams in its division aside from the ten Mission League opponents. In the Bonita Tournament in late January, the squad defeated Santiago 17-9 and topped La
Serna by a score of 15-13. However, the Wolverines lost to Troy by a crushing score of 13-12 in the Bonita Tournament. The team’s last regularseason matchup is today against fellow CIF-SS Division III opponent Palos Verdes. First, however, the team finished the league season with a Senior Night match against Alemany yesterday, but results were unavailable as of press time. “I’m looking forward to my last home game on Senior Day,” Gonzalez said. “However, I hope that we will have some more home games when we make the playoffs, but at the end of the day, I am happy with how my final season as a Wolverine has gone.”
Feb. 13, 2015
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Sports C7
Girls’ Soccer
Boys’ Basketball
Wolverines maintain spotless league record with 7 to 1 goal ratio By Jonathan Seymour
COLE JACOBSON/CHRONICLE
LOCKUPS: Alex Copeland ’15 defends Chaminade guard Jordan Ogundiran ‘15 in the Wolverines’ 75-72 upset road win Jan. 16. Copeland scored 33 points in the win, while Ogundiran had 30 of his own.
Squad ready for playoffs • Continued from page C1
respond,” added Copeland. “Coaches have stressed that not only does adversity build character, but it reveals it.” Indeed, the team did respond well by breaking its streak with a 77-55 blowout over St. Francis on Senior Night. Three of the roster’s four seniors scored in double figures, but players and coaches argued that the best moment of the night was a lastminute three-pointer from forward Raymond Chung ‘15, who was the only senior not to have scored entering the fourth quarter. “That spirit shown in the Senior Night game when Raymond hit that three, that’s what it’s all about,” said Hilliard. “Seeing his face because of what other people did reaffirms that this was the perfect team for me to go out with.” “It was the best moment of the season,” added Perryman. In Wednesday’s matchup against Loyola, the team hoped to get redemption in front of the rowdy Loyola student section for the crushing loss last month. Still, despite the team’s status as fifth in the league as
of press time, the team still finds itself ranked 7th in CIFSS Division 4AA according to MaxPreps due to the Mission League’s strength (currently rated as the fourth best league in California according to CalPreps). The squad is still in a position to move up even further if division foes Bishop Montgomery and Orange Lutheran move up to the CIF-SS Open Division as is expected. “I would imagine that Crespi would have a very good shot at the top seed, and we played them close the first time,” Hilliard said. “If we play a little better we have a shot, and you can’t ask for anything better than a shot. With the two super teams moving up, I’m expecting us to make a good run in the playoffs.” Win or lose, the memories set this season will stick with Hilliard, and the team’s seniors, long after their time at Harvard-Westlake is done. “I might have had two moments of serious doubt in the Alemany game and Crespi game, but when it’s all said and done, these guys have been phenomenal, so much fun to be around,” Hilliard said on his 30th season running the helm.
An undefeated league record and a playoff berth are in sight for the girls’ soccer team as it headed into the final league game of the season Wednesday at home against Flintridge Sacred Heart Academy, a school that the girls beat 3-1 on the road earlier this season. Results were unavailable as of press time. With their most recent loss on Dec. 29 in the consolation game of the Excalibur Tournament hosted at Foothill High School, as of press time, the Wolverines have maintained a spotless 7-0 league record and an impeccable 13-2-1 overall record and have not lost a match in 2015. A major asset to the team this year has been Lindsey Avant ’17, who replaced Jackie Ridgley ’14 in goal. In 16 games, Avant and the rest of the Wolverine defense have allowed seven goals, while the team’s hard-hitting offense has scored 49 goals. Despite the potentially devastating losses of team veterans Brianna Gazmarian ’15, who is committed to Ohio State and Chloe Castaneda ’15, who is committed to UCLA, the Wolverines have not skipped a beat, as freshmen and new team members Bridget Stokdyk ’18 and Ariana Miles ’18 proving themselves more than capable of holding their own. Most of the team attributes the girls’ success to their increased focus on mobility and on working together to secure a victory as one cohesive unit. “The season’s going really well so far,” right back Mei Mei
Tercek ’16 said. “We’ve come ors and move to a 6-0 league really close as a team and have record. focused a lot on mobility and “When we put our offense supporting each other on and together, we can do a lot of off the field. We had a few in- great things,” Howard said. jured players, and Bridget, a “Ariana, a freshman, has been freshman, really stepped up as a huge standout and has cona center defender and has done tributed immensely. She does really well.” a great job of getting down the Since defeating Notre Dame line and getting crosses off, and Marymount in which really creates a back-to-back games lot of chances for us. to open up league I think we have good play, the girls have chances in the playoffs beaten Chaminade if we continue to work twice, Alemany, hard and put in effort.” FSHA, Notre Dame After crushing the again, and MaryChaminade Eagles mount again. 3-0 at home near the In their first beginning of league nathanson’s game against Chamiplay, the girls did it Paige nade on Ted Slavin again Monday Feb. 2 Howard ’17 Field Jan. 14, the girls on the Eagles’ home won 3-0, maintaining turf. Karla Alas ’16, offensive pressure throughout Tiffany Guerra ’15, and Corrin the night and overwhelming all scored goals, while the team the Eagles with goals by Quinn played such strong offense and Frankel ’16 and Courtney had such impenetrable deO’Brien ’15 as well as by Miles fenses that the ball never left on a rebound off the goalie’s the Eagles’ side of the field for hands from a shot by Courtney more than a minute at a time. Corrin ’16. The girls will play their final The squad also beat non- game of the season at Valencia league opponent Alemany at High School tomorrow, and the home 3-0 two days later in pairings for the CIF Southern much the same dominating Section Playoffs will be pubfashion. lished Monday. The WolverAfter an off week full of ines will play in the first round practice, rest, and recovery, of the playoffs Thursday Feb. the girls beat FSHA 3-1 at 19. Maxpreps.com ranks the St. Francis High School Jan. girls’ soccer team 21st nation24 and went on to beat Notre ally, seventh in California and Dame 3-0 at home Jan. 28. fourth in the Southern Section. The Wolverines’ next league “I definitely think playoffs matchup was Jan. 30 at home will be more challenging than against Marymount, who they what our competition has been previously beat 3-0 on the road. so far in league,” Miles said. After an even first half, Miles “But I believe we are going to and Paige Howard ’17 scored be able to do well and step up back-to-back goals to cement to the higher level of competia quick victory over the Sail- tion.”
The Chronicle
C8 Sports
Feb. 13, 2015
Turning Up the AC Q&A with Alex Copeland ’15
BENNETT GROSS/CHRONICLE
DRIVING THE LANE: Varsity basketball player Alex Copeland ’15, who committed to Yale for basketball, goes up for a layup on a fastbreak in a game against Chaminade. By Dario Madyoon
How did you start playing basketball and when did you know it was “your sport?” I really loved football when I was younger because my dad played, but when I was 5, he put a basketball in my hand and I fell in love with it. I played for the Westside Junior Lakers when I was 5 or 6, and I remember I was the first kid in the league to do a crossover, which was pretty cool. I remember I thought that I was a young Allen Iverson. I had the braids and the headband and everything. I continued playing football through eighth grade, but then I really wanted to make varsity as a freshman so I realized that I really had to focus on basketball and put football in the past. NATHANSON’S
This Season:
24 Points per game 2.9 Steals per game 32 State Rank by ESPN 63 Total Career Wins Career Shooting 46 Percentage
What’s the most memorable moment of your Wolverine career? There were some great moments from each of my years at Harvard-Westlake. During my freshman year, I had a floater at the buzzer and the whole crowd chanted “he’s a freshman.” Sophomore year we beat Loyola and everyone stormed the court, and that was just an amazing feeling. This year we had a huge upset against Chaminade, which was an awesome moment because no one really thought we could do it. I have to say it’s between that and beating Loyola. Anytime we beat Loyola it’s special.
Why did you choose the No. 4? Well, I grew up wearing three because of Allen Iverson. Freshman year I wore No. 1 because I’m pretty sure that’s what I was assigned. I remember Derick Newton ’14 asking me if I would wear a different number so he could wear No. 1. So I gave him No. 1 and I went with No. 4 and I feel like it’s become part of my personality now. I really like representing No. 4.
How do you prepare before every game? Any rituals? I try not to have superstitions, but I always get caught up into it. I have some music that I listen to before every game. It’s a lot of Drake, J. Cole, Spooky Black, and Flatbush Zombies right now. I love to sing even though I’m terrible at it. You might catch me in the locker room singing out of tune before games. I always put my left sock and shoe on before my right. And I always have the same routine in warm ups. I don’t really like to talk about it or put it out there, but I do have a routine that I do in warm ups before every game.
What has changed since being a freshman on the varsity team? Being on the team for four years, I’ve seen a lot of different seniors. I remember like it was yesterday what I felt like as a freshman, sophomore and even as a junior. I saw a lot of different ways to lead, and I picked different things from previous leaders that I liked and responded well to. I just tried to be a guy that the younger guys can look up to, learn from, and respect. I wanted them to know that not only can they count on me to steer them in the right direction, but also to be there for them when they’re down and support them.
What has it been like playing for Coach Greg Hilliard in his final years? It’s been awesome. Coach H is a legend in the basketball community and high school basketball in California and even in the country. He’s taught me a great deal about being a basketball player and more importantly about being a good person. Some of the lessons he’s taught me about how to carry myself on and off the court are things I will carry with me for the rest of my life. It’s been a true honor playing for him.