October 2017 Issue by The Harvard-Westlake Chronicle

CHRONICLE THE HARVARD-WESTLAKE

Los Angeles • Volume 27 • Issue 2 • Oct. 10, 2017 • hwchronicle.com

Protests erupt over Coldwater By KAITLIN MUSANTE

“Hey hey, ho ho, this bad project’s got to go,” neighbors chanted during one of the two protests held this month against the school’s proposed parking structure. This recent uptick in opposition follows the City Planning Committee’s delay of the parking discussion, which has been moved from Sept. 28 to an unknown date in the future. President of Save Coldwater Canyon Sarah Boyd said that the organization aims to highlight their many concerns about the proposal, such as its effects on traffic, the environment and public health. The organization has also reached out to political officials, such as City Council member Paul Kerkorian. “We wanted to raise awareness about the project to all the commuters already stuck in such horrible traffic,” Boyd said. During the protests, attendees stood on Coldwater Canyon Avenue holding up handmade signs reading slogans such as “Kerkorian: Ask Harvard-Westlake to increase carpooling!” and “Keep Harvard-Westlake on the East Side of Coldwater.” Students said that they felt overwhelmed by protestors on their way to school. “A guy came up really close

KATE SCHRAGE/CHRONICLE

Farewell to Formalities By KITTY LUO AND NICOLE KIM When Marc Novicoff ’18 walked onto the quad after his eighth period class, he was immediately led to a chair in the middle of a crowd on the quad. Awaiting his arrival in the center of all the commotion was Nicole Bahar ’18, prepped with a sign, ﬂowers and backup dancers

Students have noticed more girls asking boys to Homecoming Formal and an increase in same-sex asks.

ready to spring into a choreographed dance to the tune of Justin Bieber’s “One Less Lonely Girl.” “I was definitely a little caught off guard when I first sat down,” Novicoff said. “Halfway through [the dance] I tried to get up because I was kind of thinking I could participate, but instead I was supposed to sit. I was definitely a little nervous in the

chair. I wasn’t sure what I was supposed to do with my hands and my eyes and anything.” Bahar felt conﬁdent in asking Novicoff because of her status as a senior , she said. “Being a senior kind of gives you the conﬁdence and lets you get away with certain things because people respect you more,” Bahar said. “So

even if you’re doing something crazy on the quad, people won’t judge as much because they’ll respect that it’s something a senior is doing.” Bahar said she has noticed that signiﬁcantly more girls have asked their dates to formal this year, especially among the senior class. “I feel like our grade has a really big, conﬁdent group of • Continued on B8

• Continued on A3

Högsta ’05 wins Nobel Peace Prize By ELI ADLER

During his time at HarvardWestlake, Högsta took signiﬁDaniel Högsta ’05 won the cantly more history courses Nobel Peace Prize on Friday for than required, including AP his work with the International United States Government Campaign to Abolish Nuclear and Politics, AP Comparative Government and Politics, AP Weapons. Along with with the group’s U.S. History and AP Human Executive Director Beatrice Geography and International Fihn, Högsta won the award Relations, according to history teacher Larry Klein. as a result of the “I don’t think any campaign’s work to teacher expects to implement the 2017 ﬁnd a Mother TheUnited Nations Treaty resa, a Martin Luon the Prohibition of ther King or a Barack Nuclear Weapons. Obama in a classThe Nobel Peace room, but I guess Prize is one of the that’s the company world’s most prestiDaniel now keeps in gious awards, cele’ winning the Nobel brating individuals or Ed Hu Peace Prize,” Klein groups who have prosaid. “That being said, moted peace around the world. Previous winners I have written before about include Malala Yousafzai, Daniel that he was extremely engaged, super analytical and Barack Obama and Al Gore. Högsta serves as Network the consummate gentleman, Coordinator for the Geneva- so it doesn’t surprise me that based ICAN. ICAN is a coali- he has done truly meaningtion of 468 non-governmental ful work in his time following organizations from over 100 Harvard-Westlake.” Högsta attended the Unidifferent countries that works toward a ban on all nuclear versity of Michigan, majoring in Political Science and Govweapons. WHITE S

ernment before moving to Eu- countries required to ratify the rope to attend the University of treaty in order to make it leEdinburgh Law School and his gally binding have done so. Even so, the prize commitjob at ICAN. In an interview with the tee awarded the prize to the Pressenza International Press group, which consists almost Agency, Högsta spoke about exclusively of young activists. how critical it is for nations to The prize committee cited its compromise on issues of nu- “work to draw attention to the catastrophic clear disarmahumanitarian ment. “We were It doesn’t surprise consequences of any use of hoping that me that he has done nuclear weapthere’s goons and for ing to be some truly meaningful work its groundconvergence in his time following breaking efof views from Harvard-Westlake.” forts to achieve governments about what the —Larry Klein a treaty-based prohibition of treaty should History teacher such weapons” contain and in granting the what the eleaward to the young group. ments should be,” he said. Head of External Relations Ultimately, more than 120 countries supported Högsta Ed Hu knew Högsta during his and ICAN’s United Nations time at the school. “We are incredibly proud of resolution. However, major nuclear powers, including the Daniel,” he said. “It is indeed United States and the United an incredible honor to have a Kingdom, did not support it, member of the Harvard-Westarguing a limited number of lake community recognized countries with nuclear weap- for his passionate work that is ons keeps the world safe. Fur- having a signiﬁcant global imthermore, only three of the 50 pact.”

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INSIDE

FIELD HOCKEY: The undefeated girls’ team continues to dominate the season and play strong.

ONLINE

QUAD TALK: Talking to students about the increase of formal asks that break gender norms.

A2 NEWS

THE CHRONICLE

OCT. 10, 2017

Storm evokes concern BY DANIELLE SPITZ

While Ayala said he has appreciated the media’s covFour backup generators erage of the natural disaster, arrived at the front door, ready he said he is concerned that to be stowed away on a flight more focus is going to Presito Guaynabo, Puerto Rico. dent Donald Trump than With their help, Diego Ayala’s those suffering. “The ineptness of Donald ’18 grandmother and aunts would have access to electric- Trump has magnified the exity again, including a working tent of the coverage,” Ayala refrigerator. But before Ayala’s said. “There’s always politics dad purchased his plane tick- going on in any disaster response, and it’s ceret, he realized there tainly contributed to were complications. the response.” “He could go, so FEMA reported that wasn’t the probthat 31,000 federal lem,” Ayala said. “But personnel responded there was no guarto Hurricane Harvey antee he could get in Texas, 40,000 to back.” Hurricane Irma in The Luis Muñoz Florida and 10,000 to Marin Airport in San ’ Hurricane Maria. Juan, along with the Diego Trump visited majority of the island, Ayala ’18 Texas and Florida was damaged by the effects of Hurricane within four days afMaria, limiting the number of ter the hurricanes struck but departing flights. visited Puerto Rico two weeks The Category 5 hurricane, after Hurricane Maria reached which also hit other areas in the island. the Caribbean, has left nearly Leader of the Latin Amerihalf of Puerto Rico’s popula- can/Hispanic Student Ortion without access to drink- ganization Daniel Varela ’18 ing water and only 11 percent said Puerto Rico isn’t valued with access to electricity, ac- as much as other American cording to the Federal Emer- states because of its territorial gency Management Agency. status. WHITE S

PHOTO ILLUSTRATION BY SAM KO

“It’s important for HarvardWestlake students to be global citizens and always stay informed about things that are going on around the world,” Varela said. “We’re such an intellectual community that I would assume that those conversations are happening.” Fellow LAHSO leader Elena Montoya ’18 said the club is planning fundraisers for those affected by Hurricane Maria

Las Vegas concert shooting affects school community, students reflect BY NOA SCHWARTZ

A senior boy’s girlfriend was supposed to be at a Jason Aldean concert Oct. 1 in Las Vegas with limited access to cell service until after midnight. Instead, he received a call from her around 10:40 p.m., not knowing he was about to hear news that would break to the rest of the country just minutes later. The senior boy wanted to remain anonymous to protect his and his girlfriend’s privacy. The student’s girlfriend was in the crowd targeted by a shooter from a window of a room at Mandalay Bay Resort. 58 people were killed and nearly 500 were injured in the incident, according to the New York Times.

His girlfriend heard the first round of gunshots and assumed they were fireworks meant to accompany the concert’s headline performance. He said his girlfriend stood just a few feet away from the front-right portion of the stage, where the shots were concentrated. “She was very obviously shaken up and in tears, and she didn’t know what was happening, but she told me there was a shooting at the festival,” he said. “I was extremely shocked and not ready for that, as anyone wouldn’t be, but as she started to process everything I was just talking with her, trying to figure where she was, what she knew, if she was safe and if she was hurt.” His girlfriend escaped to safety and was then shuttled

In the issue

News

to a bulletproof room at the airport. He remained on the phone with her, continuing to console her and inform her of media coverage, he said. “I kind of just felt helpless the whole time because I couldn’t really do anything,” he said. “I couldn’t be with her, I couldn’t understand how she felt, so I just did my best to relate with her and tell her what was happening.” Back in LA, Sydney Pizer ’19 sat alone in her home anxiously awaiting the arrival of her parents. Though they were not in Las Vegas, they had returned from a trip there just a week earlier, and were unreachable at a concert in LA at the time of the shooting, she said. “I was feeling very scared and sad about the people who

and the recent earthquakes in Mexico. “Even though we are not directly affected, it is still our duty as decent human beings to help those who are in dire need of any kind of assistance that can be offered,” Montoya said. The cheer team hosted a bake sale fundraiser Sept. 20 to raise money for Americares, a health-focused relief

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I was feeling very scared and sad about the people who were hurt or killed in this tragedy, as well as their families, and upset that something this terrible could happen.” —Sydney Pizer ’19 WHITE’S

were hurt or killed in this tragedy, as well as their families, and upset that something this terrible could happen,” Pizer said. “I was also anxious because had the tragedy occurred a week earlier, my parents could have been there.” Pizer said the tragedy in Vegas inspired her to be a more active follower of news, particularly regarding gun control. “I felt incredibly lucky that my parents weren’t there and that I have them in my life,” Pizer said. “It made me realize I probably don’t tell them how much they mean to me enough. Ultimately, this trag-

GRAND SLAM: Pursuing her passion for

perfomance poetry, Natalie Choi ’18 reﬂects on how joining the slam poetry team has shaped her high school experience. C1

ordinator of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Nate Cardin held a training session on being allies to the LGBTQ community. A4

Features OUT OF TOUCH WITH HUMANITY:

APP-SOLUTELY INCREDIBLE: Gabe

Students and faculty disccuss the imbalance in the amount of humanities and social science Advanced Placement and honors courses offered. B4-5

Wyner ’01 broke Kickstarter’s record for the most funded app, raising over $340,000 for his language skills building app. A7

IN HOT WATER: Coldwater Canyon ten-

sions culminate with parking construction protests. We need to work with our neighbors rather than ﬁght them. A10

edy forced me to recognize the need to constantly tell your loved ones how important they are to you.” Still overwhelmed and emotionally disoriented from the night before, the senior boy had a hard time being prepared to discuss the shooting the next day at school, he said. His history teacher brought up the incident in his class. He said he volunteered to speak, giving minimal detail, and received a respectful response. “Even though it’s hard, I do think it’s important to talk about and I’m glad I was able to address it with personal insight,” he said.

Arts & Entertainment

ALL COLORS OF THE RAINBOW: Co-

Opinion

and development organization helping to provide medical services for those affected by Hurricanes Maria, Harvey and Irma. “I always think of the part of the mission statement, ‘purpose beyond ourselves’ and how can we apply that,” Cheer Captain Maya Golob ’18 said. “This is a perfect opportunity to spread awareness.”

PHOTO ILLUSTRATION BY KATE SCHRAGE

TOP SECRET: Students and faculty discuss the different de-

grees to which seniors publicize their college application plans and the potential social consequences of dishonesty and privacy. B1

THE CHRONICLE, the student newspaper of Harvard-Westlake School, is published eight times per year and distributed free on both the upper and middle school campuses. There are 727 students at the Middle School and 873 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 Board. Letters

Sports

SHUTTING IT DOWN: Field hockey is 6-0. The team has shut out every game except one and looks to beat their previous record. D1

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 Jiwon Park at jpark3@hwemail.com. Publication of an advertisement does not imply endorsement of the product or service by the newspaper or the school.

Oct. 10, 2017

hwchronicle.com/news

News A3

Gregory to step down

GOP bars former student

By Maddy Daum

After 46 years at the school, Director of Admission Elizabeth Gregory Riordan will be stepping down from her position to focus more time on her new marriage and public education. “I just felt that it was time for me to spend a little more time with my husband,” Gregory Riordan said. “I was married in February and starting last year it was hard to keep up with his schedule and mine. I told Rick Commons that I love [my job] and I’ll still be involved at Harvard-Westlake, but I think it’s time for somebody else to take on the responsibility so they can give it their full attention.” The school will begin its search in July for a new director to replace Gregory Riordan through a top independent school search firm. “The ideal candidate is someone with leadership and experience with selective admissions and enrollment management at the secondary and/or university setting plus a familiarity with the Los Angeles independent school environment and/or Harvard-Westlake community would be an appealing quality,” Head of External Relations Ed Hu said in an email. Gregory Riordan’s further involvement with the school will depend on the new director’s vision for the future of admissions, she said. “I think if they hire someone who really wants to do their own thing, which I would completely understand, then I would probably just step back quite a bit from admissions and probably be involved more in communications and external relations,” Gregory Riordan said. Along with the student and parent ambassadors, Gregory Riordan said she will miss her colleagues the most as she steps back from day-to-day operations. “[Gregory Riordan] so deftly handles the intricacies of secondary school admission with compassion, intuition and insight and has surely contributed to making Harvard-Westlake the amazing school it has become since it’s inception over 25 years ago,” Associate Director of Admission and Enrollment Management Nancy Jeon said in an email. “I will miss her incredible and undeniable presence, which has been a constant source of inspiration and admiration for me over these many years.” With more time available for her own interests, Gregory Riordan said she hopes to devote more time to her position on the board of the Alliance for College-Ready Public Schools. “I do think I will be spending a lot of time in public education,” Gregory Riordan said. “It’s something that my husband has devoted his life to and he is a very politically and socially active man, and I think I’ll do a lot of the things we can do together as a couple to make education in Los Angeles better for all kids.”

By Sophie Haber

PRINTED WITH PERMISSION OF SAVE COLDWATER CANYON

STANDING THEIR GROUND: A protester stands on the corner of Coldwater Canyon and Ventura with her poster. Neighbors gathered to protest the construction of the proposed parking structure.

Neighbors increase action in opposition to parking structure • Continued from A1

to my car with his protest sign and was shaking it in my direction, which was really scary,” Catherine Crouch ’19 said. Neighbors have also used Nextdoor, a social network for neighborhoods, to express their grievances. The app has allowed the community to rally support for the opposition and voice its opinions on the school’s project. “There is absolutely nothing our community will gain from this,” resident Jack Mazur wrote on Nextdoor. “Quite opposite actually. I am happy that so many oppose this ridiculous, unnecessary and selfish project.” In a similar manner, students around campus have joined together in support of the structure. “I understand why people object to a parking structure for environmental and traffic reasons, but personally I think the extra space for parking would be extremely beneficial,” a student who wished to remain anonymous said. “Currently, parking in the junior or senior lot can be really crowded and honestly, dangerous at times if someone is driving too fast through the lot. I think having a parking lot on the other side of Coldwater that had more space and made parking easier would be really helpful.” Many Harvard-Westlake families who live in Studio City have expressed both their support for the proposal and their sympathy for the concerns of their fellow neighbors who oppose the plan. “I feel the local opposition to the proposal is very understandable, but also overwrought,” Ethan Reiff (Skylar Reiff ’15, Izzy Reiff ’18 and Sarah Reiff ’20) said. “If [the proposal] goes forward, it will be a legitimate pain for people who live right next to the construc-

PRINTED WITH PERMISSION OF SAVE COLDWATER CANYON

PROTESTING PARKING: Save Coldwater Canyon protesters marched for two hours in order to draw attention to their cause. tion site, and a bit of a mess for the rest of our neighborhood, with traffic probably being intermittently worse whenever equipment or supplies come and go. But that won’t last forever, and in the long run I believe it will make students and other visitors to the campus on Coldwater Canyon much safer.” Some students, however, have said that they are concerned about the potential negative effects of the structure. George Grube ’20, who opposes the proposal, said that he feels the parking structure encourages the use of cars, which is disastrous for the environment, and would destroy the natural wildlife. “In my opinion, the greatest consequence of building the parking structure would be not being able to see the wild hillside,” Grube said. “I enjoy seeing the wilderness untouched by humans that stands out among the manmade streets.” Other students have expressed their concern regarding the increased traffic and

its effects on their personal safety. “The increased traffic would honestly be worse for me, as someone who walks to school, as I could get run over,” Anita Anand ’19 said. “If people are flying down Coldwater super-fast, I could essentially die because there is no sidewalk and I have to walk on the road, which would be very unsafe.” Despite the controversy, both the neighbors and members of the school community have expressed a hope to reach common ground in the future. President Rick Commons said that he looks forward to working with the neighbors and listening to all of their concerns. “We are not ignoring that they are protesting,” Commons said. “We are actually interested in what they are saying and interested in those things that our opponents would like to see from us. It is an ongoing priority to see if there is some way in which we can accomplish our objectives and make the neighbors less unhappy.”

Florida Republicans recently suspended former student Rupert Ditsworth, now Rupert Tarsey, after discovering he attacked another Harvard-Westlake student 40 times with a claw hammer as a senior in 2007. The Broward County GOP is conducting an investigation before taking further action to oust him from the organization. Two years after pleading no contest to a misdemeanor, Tarsey moved to Florida and changed his last name to his mother’s. Tarsey withdrew from Harvard-Westlake after the incident and the school was neither involved in nor informed of legal proceedings that followed, Head of External Relations Ed Hu said. “I don’t even recall hearing how exactly the case was handled,” Hu said. “The last I heard was that they wanted to charge him as an adult.” Director of HR Marisol Ordonez said since Tarsey is not a convicted felon, he might not have had to disclose his past on an employment form. However, information about the case typically would have appeared through a background check via his social security number or finger prints. The Chronicle reached out to Broward County GOP Chairman Bob Sutton, but he did not respond to a request for comment. In an interview with Daily Mail, Sutton said a colleague uncovered Tarsey’s past a few weeks ago. “We had no idea what his background is,” Sutton said in the interview. “We want him out but he is refusing to resign. He deceived us.” Tarsey questioned why he should resign in an interview with the Daily Mail. “I did nothing wrong and I was elected,” he said. “This is just party politics.” According to a 2007 Chronicle article, Tarsey asked Lizzie Barcay ’07, a Peer Support leader, to go to Jamba Juice before Peer Support. Instead of going back to school, Tarsey turned onto Van Noord, where he began to express suicidal thoughts and attacked Barcay. “He just snapped, in a way, and the violence, which I would not have expected inside of him, was just released completely and totally on her,” a classmate who wished to remain anonymous said. Dean Sharon Cuseo said that students on campus for Peer Support were immediately put on lockdown. “We were all locked into Chalmers, which was very scary because nobody really knew what was happening,” the classmate said. The classmate and Cuseo both recalled that before the attack, Tarsey was quiet and reserved. “In acting class, the only time I ever heard him talk was when he actually got on stage and did the scenes,” the classmate said. “He sort of kept to himself.”

NEWS A4

HWCHRONICLE.COM/NEWS

OCT. 10, 2017

Amato to stay at the JTD school BY KAITLIN MUSANTE

After a 38-year tenure at Harvard-Westlake, Former Vice President of School John Amato will be staying at the John Thomas Dye School indeﬁnitely. Amato left Harvard-Westlake at the end of the 20152016 school year to serve as the Interim Head of School at JTD and intended to return for the 2016-2017 school year. He decided to extend his time at JTD for another year and serve as the Director of Advancement for Special Projects. After this school year, Amato will continue to serve in his current position and oversee the Ray Michaud Opportunity Fund and collaborate on an ongoing planning process. The JTD community expressed its enthusiasm with Amato’s decision. “JTD has beneﬁted from the warm, collaborative, child-centered leadership of Mr. Amato,” Helm said. “He is beloved by the JTD community, and we are thrilled that he will remain a presence on

PHOTO PRINTED WITH PERMISSION OF ANDREA FIRTEL ’95 (BRADLEY FIRTEL ’23)

FAIR FUN: Amato engages in the festivities before the annual John Thomas Dye fair. After leaving Harvard-Westlake temporarily in 2016 to serve as JTD’s Interim Head of School, Amato decided to stay as the Director of Advancement for Special Projects indeﬁnitely. campus and part of the JTD family.” The school has decided to eliminate the vice presidential position following Amato’s departure. According to President Rick

Commons, Amato’s job was primarily focused on the construction at the Middle School, which has been completed, and the upper school parking project. Chief Financial Ofﬁcer David Weil will continue to

oversee Amato’s projects. Commons said Amato’s presence on campus is irreplaceable. “Like many students, faculty, staff and parents, I will miss Mr. Amato’s incredibly

warm embrace of everyone in our community,” Commons said. “We will all just have to try to remember the way Mr. Amato made us feel and make sure to give that to each other every day.”

Cardin trains teachers on LGBTQ sensitivity

BY ALENA RUBIN

ILLUSTRATION BY SAM KO

TO AFFINITY AND BEYOND: Representatives of affinity groups joined together for their first monthly meeting Sept. 18 to discuss their Movie Monday series and the first Right on Point podcast.

Affinity groups discuss podcast, future goals at the first combined meeting BY KAITLIN MUSANTE Members of various afﬁnity groups on campus discussed community values and future goals at their ﬁrst ever monthly meeting Sept. 18. Coordinator of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion and science teacher Nate Cardin said they decided to host the meetings to foster support among the groups and amplify student voices, as well as to gain the ear of administrators on any issues throughout the year. “We wanted to work intersectionally and support each other because we know that in each of our different groups and identities, it can be a little lonely and frustrating at times,” Cardin said. Attendees discussed their

reactions to the Right on Point podcast on the Chronicle Podcast Network and decided that educating students about identity and establishing community norms were important steps to avoiding any similar issues in the future. “I think that the members of the podcast truly believe that [what they are saying] is just an opinion and that they have every right to say those things because they believe that it is more true than it is hurtful,” attendee Jaida Hodge-Adams ’19. “However, I think that it is both not true and very hurtful and that if we can start by acknowledging that certain things are not factual and are offensive, we can have a greater positive shift in our community.” The group also discussed

the introduction of Movie Mondays, a program that would show a movie that highlights diverse voices once a month before Peer Support. Cardin said that the purpose is to educate the community. “One of my hopes and one of my goals is to get more education out there and get more diverse viewpoints and diverse images and diverse videos out there,” Cardin said. They also discussed celebrating holidays, such as Black History Month and Women’s History Month, intersectionally by displaying important people who identify as one or more minority on the bulletin boards throughout school. Cardin said that this project would aim to show the connection between the groups and raise more awareness.

also once they let them know, he told them how they can Over 80 faculty and staff be the best ally,” Jones said. Cardin said he was learned how to be better alwith the high lies to the LGBTQ commu- pleased of the events. nity members at safe space turnout “Even though I’m still reltraining meetings held by Coordinator of Diversity, Eq- atively young, queer people of uity and Inclusion and sci- my generation couldn’t have ence teacher Nate Cardin. imagined having teachers at Cardin said his goal for the their school who were suptraining sessions was to give portive of LGBTQIA+ kids,” he faculty and staff more infor- said. “Things have changed mation on how to be stronger, so much in the past ﬁfteen more identiﬁable allies to those years or so and I’m really in the LGBTQ community. encouraged at the progress that’s being made.” He highlightThe worked obstacles stushops were held on dents face on camSept. 26 and Sept. pus and encouraged 28 at the Middle adults on campus to School and Upper reach out to them. School, respectively. “I covered conLast year’s DEI cepts like gender and Climate Assessment sexual orientation, revealed teachers went through each wanted more profesof the letters in the ’ sional development in LGBTQIA+ acronym, Nate Cardin DEI, and Jones said talked about chalthese workshops were lenges facing the queer community national- a part of an initiative to better ly and at HW, and explained train faculty in this regard. Cardin said that more why it would make such a difference for our faculty and DEI workshops for teachstaff to be more outward- ers are to come following ly supportive,” Cardin said. the success of this one. In the meantime, Jones Director of DEI Janine Jones said that fac- said that she is always willulty and staff learned how ing to speak with any memof the community. to let students know that ber “I just want to reiterate they are there for them and how to best support them. to students, faculty and staff “He spoke very directly that my door is always open,” about how to be an ally and she said. “The whole point of encouraged faculty and staff this work is that I can be an to not only let students who advocate to the extent possiidentify as LGBTQ+ know ble and always be an ear, so that particular faculty mem- there is a space where stuber is an ally for them, but dent and faculty can come.” WHITE S

OCT. 10, 2017

HWCHRONICLE.COM/NEWS

NEWS A5

Ross makes effort to get to know students By JOSIE ABUGOV

KENDALL DEES/CHRONICLE

I BEFORE E EXCEPT AFTER C: Jonathan Damico ’19 uses his honor code stamp that has been banned by the administration. Damico misspelled the word “receive,” which he spelled “recieve.”

Administration stamps down on junior’s entrepreneurial effort By CAMERON STOKES

The administration decided to prevent students from using an honor code pledge stamp that entrepreneur Jonathan Damico ’19 made. Damico thought it would be useful if students could use a stamp instead of writing the honor code on every test. “I felt that the product was useful, addicting and funny, and students and teachers alike seemed to get a kick out of it,” Damico said. Damico posted a picture of the product on Facebook,

evoking interest from many students. “It takes a really long time to write the honor code, and I’m all about time efﬁciency, especially on tests when I could be spending the extra two minutes on checking my answers or writing more of an essay,” Grifﬁn Gunn-Myers ’19 said. Damico said he came up with the idea about a year ago, but recently decided to put it into action. Two weeks ago he ordered ten stamps from Vistaprint and planned to sell them every Monday during

break, and donate the proceeds to the homeless shelter Upward Bound House. Before selling the products to students, Damico sought permission from his dean. “I had a feeling that the school wouldn’t particularly be fond of the product so I approached my dean pretty early on with a sample and my plan to open up pre-orders for the product online,” Damico said. He said upper school dean Jamie Chan liked the idea but decided to continue the conversation with administration about allowing stamp use.

Movie Mondays highlights diversity By SABA NIA

The new Movie Mondays committee, which screens movies that highlight diversity, presented their ﬁrst movie, “Hidden Figures,” to students before Peer Support on Monday. Science teacher and Coordinator of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Nate Cardin, afﬁnity group leaders and students created the monthly events to highlight diverse voices. The committee said that the goal of the movie screenings is to feature many movies that include different voices, stories and

perspectives. Though Cardin said that the next movies have not been selected, the organizers want to screen movies that students would be entertained by yet still learn from. “I think the research shows that a lot of fear or distrust of others often results simply from lack of exposure to different groups or their ways of life,” Cardin said in an email. “In no way are we trying to lecture or cajole anyone into any beliefs; rather, we hope that people come to see great movies and maybe leave having experienced a bit more of a culture, experience or way

Fewer students receive National Merit award By ANTHONY WEINRAUB

The National Merit Scholarship Corporation selected 20 seniors as National Merit Semifinalists Wednesday. Approximately 16,000 students from across the country are picked as semifinalists, with students chosen based on their PSAT scores. The number of semifinalists from Harvard-Westlake follows a downward trend: last year, 26 seniors qualified, and in the year prior 31 students were named. In 2013, a record 54 Harvard-Westlake students were named semifinalists.

This is the second year in which students have taken the recently redesigned PSAT, which now consists of evidence-based reading and math sections that are worth 760 points each. Seniors took the PSAT in October of last year. To qualify as a semiﬁnalist, students must have earned a Selection Index of 222 or above; the index is calculated by doubling the sum of students’ evidence-based reading and math scores. According to the NMSC, the semiﬁnalists have the opportunity to compete for 7,500 scholarships, which are worth more than $32 million.

of life that they hadn’t considered before.” Viewers said that they appreciate that Movie Mondays is trying to promote inclusivity and allow students to have different perspectives. “I think that it’s incredibly important that the school is trying to promote diversity,” Vice President of La Femme Becca Frischling ’19 said. “It’s important that everyone at school feels like they are accepted and a vital part of the community.” The first viewing of Movie Mondays follows the creation of the DEI office, affinity group

In an effort to strengthen a sense of Harvard-Westlake community, Head of Upper School Laura Ross is initiating meetings with students starting next week. “The goal of these meetings is just to get the chance to know you a little bit better and to hear from you about your experience at Harvard-Westlake thus far,” Ross said in an email to upper school students. “I’d like to hear from students at all grade levels and lengths of time at the school.” Ross will hold five meetings in her office, four of which will take place during common free periods with the students. A final meeting will be held after school. “My task is to think about the Upper School as a whole,” Ross said. “What is good? What could be better? What do we need to pay attention to? I don’t feel like I can ever know any of those things without directly talking to students.” After notifying the student body about the meetings through email, Ross said students also contacted her directly, expressing interest in one-on-one meetings. Ross noted the size of Harvard-Westlake’s student body as significantly different from her experience as Head of Upper School at the Greenhill School in Dallas, where each high school grade consisted of approximately 115 students. “The scale here is so big,” Ross said. “At Greenhill, I

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knew every kid and most of their parents. I know it’ll get there. It will take me a while to form the relationships and that’s really important to me. As a leader it’s critical to me that I know students.” Head Prefect Julia Cosgrove ’18 said Ross is a great addition to the Harvard-Westlake community and that she appreciates her various efforts to get to know the students on a daily basis. “I love that Ms. Ross is reaching out to the students to get to know everyone,” Cosgrove said. “She seems very enthusiastic about joining our community.” Ross said that after her ﬁrst few weeks as Head of Upper School, she feels that she is connecting with the community. “I had a moment the other day when I was walking down the stairs and was like, ‘I knew three kids in a row. I’m so happy,’” Ross said. Discussing the excellence in the school’s extracurricular activities, arts and athletics, Ross also said she wanted to bring students together across all of their specialized interests. “How do we have real conversations about what we believe in as a community in a place that’s so big, and people are so busy and people have these kind of silos?” Ross said. “You get these really close bonds with the people you do those things with, but how do you build the sense that we’re all in this together?”

Community members may not always feel fully represented at or by our school, so it’s our job to do the legwork to make our community members feel increasingly included.” —Nate Cardin Science teacher and Coordinator of DEI

meetings and diversity training for teachers. Organizers of the event said they are optimistic about the steps the school is taking to include more diversity. “Representation matters so much,” Cardin said in an email. “Community members may not always feel fully represented at or by our school,

WHITE’S

so it’s our job to do the legwork to make our community members feel increasingly included. A kid who doesn’t see their background or heritage reﬂected in anything else the school does might see it in one of our movies and feel a bit more like the school sees them for who they truly are. That’s important!”

National Merit Semifinalists Diego Ayala

Angel Hoyang

Adin Ring

Jordan Barkin

Nicole Kim

Mason Rodriguez

Gina Choi

Sarah Lee

Zachary Swartz

Kylin Feng

Vivian Lu

Pavan Tauh

Simon Gilbert

Kitty Luo

Sammy Tufeld

Anna Gong

Jarett Malouf

Anthony Weinraub

Eleanor Halloran

Aaron Park GRAPHIC BY KAITLIN MUSANTE

The Chronicle

A6 News

inbrief

Oct. 10, 2017

Homecoming Day festivities take place

Members of the school and greater LA community gathered to celebrate this year’s annual Homecoming fair Saturday. Festivities began at 3 p.m. and ended with the Varsity Football game. JV and Varsity field hockey, water polo and volleyball teams also competed earlier in the day. A ferris wheel, inflatable slides and a rock climbing wall entertained the crowd before and during the football game, and trucks and various cultural clubs provided food. Despite their previously undefeated record, the football team lost to Cathedral High School in a 57-20 defeat. —Lindsay Wu

DEI department to host UCLA speaker The Department of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion will host an Educating and Engaging event Oct. 24 to inform attendees about the importance of equity in the community. UCLA Professor and Associate Dean of Equity and Inclusion Tyrone Howard will speak at the event. An invitation was extended through the SoCal People of Color to the LA community. The group’s mission is to inform independent school educators and parents about diversity. Howard will explain how attendees can walk away with the tools necessary to help educate their communities. —Madison Huggins

Prefects send out Homecoming notice The Prefect Council sent a save-the-date email to all upper school students Sept. 26 announcing that this year’s Homecoming Formal will take place Oct. 21. The dance will start at 7 p.m. and will run until 11 p.m, and will include a variety of different activities for students, sophomore prefect and Homecoming Council member Grace Burton ’20 said. “There will be a DJ, a photo booth and more fun activities,” Burton said. —Sarah Reiff

Staff discusses DEI summer reading

Staff and faculty members will attend lunches to discuss the Diversity, Equity and Inclusion summer reading book, “Whistling Vivaldi: How Stereotypes Affect Us and What We Can Do” by Claude Steele throughout October. After the staff expressed a wish for professional development in DEI, these meetings expanded from their original focus to training. Steele will visit the campus to speak to faculty members about his studies on stereotypes as a way to further the school’s DEI initiative this year. —Zoe Redlich

ALL PHOTOS BY ALEX GOLDSTEIN/CHRONICLE

DON’T RAIN ON MY PARADE: (Left) Volleyball players throw candy and necklaces to the crowd. (Top right) Water polo and football players ride in the parade. (Bottom right) Cheerleaders and prefects hold a banner as they march throughout campus in the parade.

School celebrates athletes at Fanaticfest By Alex Goldstein and Kendall Dees

was just finding things to fit our image of what Fanaticfest would look like.” Varsity team members Head Fanatics and Prefects organized a parade for stu- from the volleyball, water polo, dents and faculty members at field hockey and football teams rode in cars and Fanaticfest on Friday trucks around camto replace the tradipus to advertise their tional pep rally held upcoming homecomin past years. ing games in the pa“The hardest part rade. was coming up with The Head Fanata theme,” sophomore ics said that they Prefect Jaya Nayar were pleased with the ’20 said. “We were community’s reaction considering doing as’ to the changes they semblies like years Eve before but thought made to the traditionBaxter ’19 about what the stual Fanaticfest. dents would want “I thought it went this time. We decided they’d so well,” Head Fanatic Isabel want food. Aside from that, it Wiatt ’18 said. “Compared to whites s

the pep rallies in years past, we felt it was a huge upgrade. We really wanted to make it about school spirit, and the teams playing on Homecoming, which I think we did. Overall, we were very pleased with the way it turned out and hope it sets a good foundation for future prefects and fanatics to build on.” Sophomores, juniors and seniors dressed in red, white and black, respectively, and lined the fire road to receive candy and necklaces from the varsity athletes who rode by on the trucks and cars. “I like that the parade set a tone for trying something new,” varsity volleyball player Eve Baxter ’19 said. “Home-

coming comes with a lot of tradition, and I think that by changing it up this year we not only encouraged school spirit but we were also able to start some new traditions.” Students received free tickets from their deans which they could use in exchange for food. Food offerings included Kona Ice shaved ice, King Cone ice cream and churros. Prefect Council members and cheerleaders also participated. “I think the parade threw people off because it was the first year we tried something like this, but I think overall people liked it much more this year,” Nayar said.

Students to film documentaries at border By Sofia Heller

Students will travel to San Diego, Tijuana and Rosarito Beach for the Crossing Borders trip to create a digital storytelling project about the border issues at the U.S.-Mexico border from Jan. 11 to 15. Students will make docu-

mentaries about the lives of people on both sides of the wall, capturing “an insider’s experience” with the Department of Homeland Security, Border Patrol, advocacy groups and innovators. Upper school visual arts teacher Cheri Gaulke will lead the trip, which is facilitated

by Peace Works Travel. Peace Works Travel is a teacherfounded company that allows students to travel to “countries recovering from history.” “It’s really interesting because it enables students to step outside of their comfort zone,” Chloe Donovan ’19 said. “It’s great for students to see

something that has caused so much controversy and to get to experience what the environment is like in real life.” There was a meeting Sept. 18 for students and parents interested in signing up. Registration for the digital storytelling trip will close to students Nov. 1.

Alum raises record funds for learning app By Sophie Haber

Gabe Wyner ’01 raised over $340,000 to fund his new language learning app “Fluent Forever,” breaking the Kickstarter record for most funded app of all time. The app, based on a book that he wrote in 2014, approaches language learning differently from other apps in terms of what and how the user learns, Wyner said. After struggling to master languages in high school and the beginning of college, Wyner attended a German language immersion program at Middlebury College. This is where he proved to himself that he could learn a language in just seven weeks. Later when studying French, Wyner established the

learning approach that the app is based on when he placed into an intermediate level despite only knowing the basics of the language and had to teach himself enough French to hold a 15 minute interview. “I came up with the method out of panic and reached total fluency in five months,” Wyner said. His method targets understanding the pronunciation of each language and uses ear training as the first step to fluency. “If you can’t hear a word, you can’t remember it,” Wyner said. “The words need to not sound like gibberish.” After pronunciation, the app teaches users to make essential associations to foreign words by omitting translations from sentences and providing

pictures. The app also offers options of words and pictures to use in flash cards, allowing users to make decisions about what they’re learning, but eliminating busy work. With it’s “spaced repetition system,” the app reminds users of words they would forget just before they forget them, Wyner said. Although the Kickstarter campaign reached its initial goal in a matter of hours, Wyner said he has a long way to go. Now, he is focused on expanding the app to include more languages and a forum for users learning uncommon languages, such as Gallic and some Native American languages, to share resources and learn together.

PHOTO ILLUSTRATION BY EMMA SHAPIRO

INCRED-APP-BLE: Gabe Wyner ’01 created Fluent Forever.

Oct. 10, 2017

Debaters place at competition

hwchronicle.com/news

News A7

inbrief Interns share stories at HW Works event

By Emory Kim

Debate captain Indu Pandey ’18 won the second speaker award in the National Greenhill Fall Classic, adding to the team’s successful season. Seven students from the team attended the competition in Addison, Texas from Sept. 16-17. They participated in the Lincoln-Douglas division, in which debaters compete oneon-one on bimonthly assigned topics. Six of the seven students advanced to the elimination rounds after six preliminary rounds. To move forward, debators must win at least four of the preliminary rounds. “Greenhill is basically one of our most important tournaments of the year because it is an octafinal bid, which means that if you make it to the round of 16, you get a bid to the Tournament of Champions,” Pandey said.

ALEXANDRA MORK/CHRONICLE

HOLDING COURT: Indu Pandey ’18 debates against an opponent from Immaculate Heart School at the Greenhill Fall Classic torunament, where she advanced to the finals and won second place. Pandey, Chronicle Assistant Opinion Editor Vishan Chaudhary ’19, Spencer Paul ’19 and Jaya Nayar ’20 won in double-octafinals and secured bids for the Tournament of Champions. Debaters have the option to participate in its Round Robin,

where two pods of competitors debate. The debater with the best record in his or her pod qualifies to debate in the final round of the Round Robin. Pandey and Paul recieved invitations to the Round Robin and placed second and fourth

in their pods, respectively. “I was glad that I was able to do well in one of the most competitive pools of debaters in the country and hope that both the Harvard-Westlake debate team and myself can carry that success into the rest of the year,” Paul said.

Students host homeless migration simulation

By Saba Nia

Students organized a simulation in which participants mimicked the movement of the homeless population in Downtown LA on Ted Slavin Field Monday. Charles Connon ’18, who spearheaded the project, said he decided to host the simulation as a part of the documentary he is making for a fellowship studying the culture of LA.

Connon said he is the first student to receive this fellowship from the school. According to Connon, organizers wanted to recreate the concentrations of homeless individuals within the city to explain which factors hurt or help the “proliferation of homelessness.” The 40 participants received one hour of community service for their volunteering and were designated into different groups, including

homeless individuals and “agitators” like law enforcement and non-profit organizations, to demonstrate how the population of LA County is divided. Organizers also used tents to represent shelters and pieces of paper to show the boundaries of gentrification. Connon used drones and cameras to document the simulation from above to get footage for his documentary with Lex Torrington ’18 and Abner Benitez ’18.

“I thought it would be beneficial to film a documentary to inform people about the current state of homelessness,” Connon said. “Later down the line we can do another documentary to see how it’s changed.” The event also aimed to raise awareness on campus about World Homeless Day, and coincided with the HW Boxing Club’s taco sale, which Connon was also involved with.

HuffPost CEO speaks to students in classes By Sofia Heller Jenny Li

the way news organizations target their audiences around the world. “We’ve created an environHuffPost Chief Executive Officer and Global Head of ment in which news and inforNews and Information Jared mation that is getting dissemiGrusd ’93 spoke to students nated to people isn’t actually in Advanced Newspaper Jour- through hard-core journalists nalism and Business of Life who feel like they can help people make sense classes Oct. 3 about of the world around changes in digital them,” Grusd said. news media and his “It’s actually through previous entreprealgorithms, and Faceneurship experiencbook or Instagram es. have to guess what Prior to his position at HuffPost, you seem to be interGrusd was the Genested in. Most joureral Counsel and nalists don’t think ’ Global Head of Corabout how their craft Sam porate Development and art and profesKrutonog ’18 at Spotify, and Mansion can satisfy the aging Counsel and a immediate needs of someone part of the Executive Manage- who wants to read something ment Team for the Americas at on Facebook.” Google. Sam Krutonog ’18 said it Grusd spoke to students was inspiring to see what an in Advanced Newspaper Jour- alum could accomplish. nalism about the social and “He was effortlessly wise political impacts of technol- beyond his years,” Krutonog ogy on digital news media. The said. “He seemed like a very increasing popularity of social confident man, and seeing media has affected how read- a fellow Harvard-Westlake ers take in their news, Grusd alumnus be that successful in said, which therefore changes life is a super cool thing.” and

white s

SOFIA HELLER/CHRONICLE

GRUSD THE GURU: Jared Grusd ’93 shares his stories working at HuffPost, Spotify and as part of Google’s executive team.

Students shared their summer internship experiences at the HW Works Summer Internship Roundtable on Sept. 16. Students had the opportunity to ask questions about the program and were informed of start-up companies to which they could apply to intern. The event concluded with a review of the work done by students last year. According to HW Works Administrator Zaakirah Daniels, the program aims to provide guidance and opportunities for students as they figure out what professional fields they would like to pursue. —Noah Aire

Club holds Jamba Juice fundraiser HW Pencils of Promise hosted a fundraiser at Jamba Juice in Studio City every Friday throughout the month of September to support Pencils of Promise, a non-profit organization. As it strives to increase literacy rates, the organization builds schools and increases educational opportunities all over the world. Students were able to donate by showing a digital flyer. The money raised from the fundraiser will go straight to children education programs, according to club member Chase Garvey-Daniels ’19. —Casey Kim

APES Classes take field trip to hillside Advanced Placement Environmental Science classes surveyed the biodiversity of various plant species across from campus on Coldwater Canyon during the past two weeks. The purpose of their experiments was to analyze the type, population and proportion of the plants present across the street. The APES students will soon be tasked with comparing their data from the urban hillside to data from a sample from an undisturbed hillside. —Luke Schneider

CNPA and ASPA recognize Chronicle The California News Publishers Association granted The Chronicle awards in the 2016 CNPA Better Newspapers Contest. Volume 26 of the Chronicle received awards from the CNPA and American Scholastic Press Association. The Chronicle website, hwchronicle.com, placed first in Online General Excellence. The American Scholastic Press Association awarded the Chronicle First Place and the Most Outstanding High School Newspaper Award for 20162017. —Casey Kim

A8 News

The Chronicle

Deans ask seniors to respect reps

Oct. 10, 2017

By Alex Goldstein Kendall Dees

and

During class meeting, seniors were reminded to be respectful and limit side conversations while participating in college informational meetings with school representatives. The representatives come to campus throughout the first quarter to hold information sessions for seniors. These sessions are held during the school day, and students can be excused from class to attend. “We basically just said that if you are going to go to a college meeting, the purpose is to get information, so being distracting or disrespectful reflects poorly on us,” Upper School Dean Coordinator Beth Slattery said. “If you are not going to listen to what the rep is saying, then you should be in class.” This event is not the first time students have been reminded about their behavior in public spaces on campus. “Reps walk through the lounge and you will have kids saying the f-word, or wrestling one another, or not cleaning up their trash” Slattery said. “We don’t have a typical reception area for reps in the way that some other schools do. It’s not that different, honestly from when [the lounge] is the reception area for parents, when parents have meetings. Sometimes I’m a little horrified at how people behave and what it says about us when parents are sitting there and kids don’t realize it.” Nicole Bahar ’18 said she thinks it is important to be respectful during information sessions. “I think people need to be more conscientious and thoughtful when choosing which college meetings to go to,” Bahar said.

PRINTED WITH PERMISSION OF AMY KRONENBERG ’20

Students dress up for Spirit Week TWINNING 24/7: (Left to right) Identical twins Jenna Kronenberg ’20 and Amy Kronenberg ’20 wear matching sweatshirts for Twin Tuesday. In celebration of Spirit Week, students dressed according to themed days. Monday was East Coast Prep Day, Tuesday was Twin Tuesday, Wednesday was Western Wednesday, Thursday was Throwback Thursday and Friday was Fanaticfest Friday. On Fanaticfest Friday, sophomores, juniors and seniors dressed in red, white and black respectively.

Five new clubs showcased at club fair By Alex Goldstein

Five new clubs promoted their groups at the Activities Fair on Sept. 18 at break. “We want active organizations that have enough members to make a difference and to achieve the goals that they stated in their club charter,” Director of Student Affairs Jordan Church said. “We feel that one of the ways we can do that is by limiting the overall

amount of clubs and holding clubs to the standards that they set for themselves.” Around 20 applications for new clubs were put on the waitlist for the second semester fair. The waitlist will increase when sophomores, who cannot be club leaders during first semester, will apply as well. “We have heard from faculty members and club leaders in the past that the addition of new clubs sometimes waters

down their support and the amount of people that actually sign up for their club and are active members in their club,” Church said. “So as we expect clubs to do more and more on campus we also need to be responsible for how many opportunities kids have.” Students saw 73 clubs at the fair. These groups include community service clubs, student interest clubs and activity clubs. The fair gave club leaders

a chance to recruit new members for the upcoming school year. “The club fair really gives us an opportunity to show what our interests are and show how our clubs have become successful,” Model UN leader Chloe Donovan ’19 said. “It was a really good experience to see how many people are interested and how many people really want to learn about what everyone else on campus is doing.”

Get out! Cinema Sunday begins By Jenny Li

it so much funnier this time. The second time I watched it “Get Out” Executive Pro- was so different from the first ducer Couper Samuelson held time. It was so good.” Samuelson said he was a discussion with students during the second installment grateful the film was received of Cinema Sundays this year well publicly. “It’s rare with scary movies following a screening in Ahmanson Lecture Hall on Sun- that the audience gets everything the filmmakers day. try to go for,” SamuThe horror film elson said. “Usually, follows an interrawe believe that scary cial couple, as Chris movies get no respect, (Daniel Kaluuya) so it’s really gratifying meets his white girlwhen the movie came friend’s family and out that people began discovers their seto relate to it really crets. W ’ closely. It’s great to The film was Ted Walch have a movie that is unique in that it disactually computed applayed a deeper message while also being a thriller, propriately.” Director of Diversity, EquiAnnie Wendorf ’19 said. “It was such a better ex- ty and Inclusion Janine Jones perience to watch it a second spoke about accurate repretime,” Wendorf said. “Every- sentation of the film’s percepthing that was lost on me the tion of racism. “I find that in these confirst time from being scared became clearer, and I also found versations about race, you’re hite s

either a racist or you are fully ‘woke,’ and it’s the wrong dichotomy,” Jones said, “We have such a continuum of racists and everything else. I saw that in numerous places in the film, and I thought it was really interesting.” Cinema Sundays began Oct. 1 with a screening of “Safety Last!.” Suzanne Lloyd, main character Harold Lloyd’s granddaughter, and pianist and composer Michael D. Mortilla led the discussion afterwards. Head of Performing Arts and Cinema Studies teacher Ted Walch said he created Cinema Sundays to help unite the neighborhood. “I wanted something that would bring the community together,” Walch said. “Neighbors, alumni, parents and kids come. It gets interesting guests here, and they seem to have fun.”

JENNY LI/CHRONICLE

TED TALKS: Producer Couper Samuelson talks about how the horror genre was used to discuss racism in his movie, “Get Out.”

C HRONICLE the harvard-westlake

Editors-in-Chief: Josie Abugov, Danielle Spitz Print Managing Editors: Maddy Daum, Alena Rubin, Anthony Weinraub

Opinion The Chronicle • Oct. 10, 2017

Los Angeles • Volume 27• Issue 2 • Oct. 10, 2017 • hwchronicle.com

editorial

Digital Managing Editors: Eli Adler, Noa Schwartz Executive Editors: Ellis Becker, Elly Choi Presentation Editors: Nicole Kim, Kitty Luo News Editor: Emory Kim Assistant News Editors: Kendall Dees, Alex Goldstein, Sophie Haber, Saba Nia, Kaitlin Musante Opinion Editors: Brittany Hong, Claire Keller Assistant Opinion Editor: Vishan Chaudhary Features Editors: Kristin Kuwada, Kate Schrage Assistant Features Editors: Sofia Heller, Sam Ko, Jenny Li, Alison Oh, Cameron Stokes A&E Editors: Gabi Berchtold, Sarah Lee Assistant A&E Editors: Kaelyn Bowers, Alexandra So Senior A&E Writer: Caty Szeto Sports Editors: Aaron Park, Matthew Yam Assistant Sports Editors: Ryan Albert, Lucas Gelfond, Jackie Greenberg, Ryan Kim, Asa Saperstein, Ben Tenzer Multimedia Editor: Isabelle Eshraghi Engagement Editors: Oliver Akhtarzad, Zach Swartz Innovation Editors: Sam McCabe, Adam Yu Business Editor: Jiwon Park Assistant Business Editor: Cameron Stokes Photography Editor: Pavan Tauh Freelance Cartoonist: Anna Gong Layout Assistants And Staff Writers: Noah Aire, Tammer Bagdasarian, Graham Berger Sacks, Marcelo Blander, Salvatore Casola, Giselle Dalili, Jessa Glassman, Sarah Healy, Kyra Hudson, Joanna Im, Madison Huggins, Casey Kim, Sun Jae Kim, Spencer Klink, James Lassiter, Isabela Llevat, William Mallory, Anusha Mathur, Keila McCabe, Jordan Murray, Lauren Nehorai, Nina Nuemann, Zoe Redlich, Sarah Reiff, Luke Schneider, Zack Schwartz, William Seymour, Emma Shapiro, Jane Sidon, Valerie Velazquez, Astor Wu, Lindsay Wu, Eugene Wyman, Amelie Zilber Layout Assistant Adviser: Juliet Suess Adviser: Jim Burns

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 Jiwon Park at jpark3@hwemail.com. Publication of an advertisement does not imply endorsement of the product or service by the newspaper or school.

PHOTO ILLUSTRATION BY KITTY LUO

Tune Back In: Ignorance Isn’t Bliss

In the past month, there have been a seemingly unprecedented amount of natural disasters, political turmoil and a tragic shooting in Las Vegas. When faced with a deluge of information every day, there is no choice but to think about how to process and respond to it, which becomes increasingly difficult amid the chaos of relentless news notifications. We ignore important news if we’re bored of it, our attention jumps from one event to another and we focus on trivial elements of stories. Disaster has become so common that we’ve grown indifferent, perpetually steeling ourselves for another catastrophe. Maria, the second most costly hurricane on record, appeared to go unnoticed by many Americans. After Harvey, Irma and Mexico’s 7.1 earthquake, people seemed too tired to pay any more attention to natural disasters. Nearly five times as many people Google searched “Hurricane Irma” than “Hurricane Maria” on the day that each of them made landfall, even though both devastated American soil. It’s easy to tire of news when it seems repetitive, but such boredom does not justify the unequal attention given to the storms. The media is partially to blame, with their incessant coverage of Irma and Harvey and the relative lack of attention devoted to Maria. But the blame also falls on us as citizens: only 54 percent of Americans know that people born in Puerto Rico are Americans, according to the New York Times. This can lead to a dangerous cycle: pivoting from one story to the next, forgetting about the last. The capricious mind of the public often stunts the ability to have productive conversations, and more often than not, we don’t learn from our mistakes or enact preventative change. When news of the Las Vegas shooting surfaced, the already little conversation around

Hurricane Maria appeared to cease altogether. The Las Vegas shooting was undoubtedly a terrible tragedy and deserves a place in national discussion, but we shouldn’t forget about Maria. Experts generally agree that all three hurricanes were worsened due to climate change; nevertheless, discussions about climate change have rarely resulted in any nationwide action. In fact, Florida’s governor banned the use of the terms “climate change” or “global warming” in statements by officials. Following Columbine, Virginia Tech, Sandy Hook and the Pulse Nightclub shooting, the gunman in Las Vegas was still able to use a weapon specially designed to fire faster and longer. Tragedy jolts the country instead of inspiring concrete steps toward preventing future acts. While the conversation that the Las Vegas shooting has sparked is an important one, the focus has often been misplaced. The sensationalization of the incident is at the forefront of the discussion rather than focusing on how to prevent a tragedy like this from happening again. The intrigue of his opulent lifestyle have driven the conversation. Images of his luxury hotel suite and broken gold windows circulated. Meanwhile, it was “too soon” to talk about gun control. Straying from our impulses is hard. Paying less attention to news we feel is boring, rapidly shifting our attention from story to story and focusing on the sensational is human nature. But if we always follow our impulses, change will never occur. Now, more than ever, we need to think about the way we process and react to news. We’ve never had to juggle more events at once, and our responses to these events are critical. If we continue our current trend, then who’s to say the same events won’t occur in the future?

A10 OPINION

THE CHRONICLE

OCT 10, 2017

Controversy on Coldwater By Jenny Li

SAM KO/CHRONICLE

A vaccine to prevent stress By Brittany Hong

’m sitting in my room with that seemingly invincible mosquito buzzing in my ear, writing my personal essay and filling out supplements. Writing and filling out, writing and filling out. It’s an endless cycle. So, here I am, attempting to break the cycle by writing these words that you are reading right now. Allow me to retell an event that took place a few days ago. I fell asleep while attempting to complete my physics lab report. I woke up at around midnight. The first thought that came into my brain was that I had not been able to check off everything on my to-do list. Then it occurred to me that my whole body, neck to toe, was itchy from some sort of allergy outbreak. I went to school the next day, wearing the softest clothes possible, hoping the allergies would disappear. They did not. I went to the hospital immediately after my 8th period class ended. “The cause of your allergic reaction is...” The salmon I bought from Costco the day before? The bag of popcorn I ate while completing my homework? The flu shot I received a week ago? That mosquito bite on my ankle? “The cause of your allergic

reaction is stress.” At the end of my visit to the hospital, I received a tub of ointment and medicine, but I also got a warning that essentially declared that I should avoid any stressful activities for the next six weeks. I snorted in disbelief. It is definitely not possible for a first-semester senior to avoid any stressful activities. I needed to accomplish the impossible. Risky situations have always given me stress. I think this applies to almost everyone. I learned how to swim during the summer before seventh grade. I did this only because I had heard that there was a swimming unit for physical education. However, as an overachiever, I decided to take a risk and try out for the middle school swim team. At this time, I had not even learned how to do the butterfly stroke. I stood outdoors, with the sun bright and burning. I entered the water with the most pathetic dive the world has ever seen. Simply put, I proved myself to be a terrible swimmer. Stress permeated through my brain. The next day, I stayed home, with a terrible allergic reaction from the sun. Fast forward two years: My teeth chattered and my fists clamped up with stress as I

waited for my turn. I had decided to take a risk and run for prefect council for the ﬁrst time. Stress permeated through my brain. The next day, I stayed home, down with a cold. I can go on and on about how risks have resulted in some form of illness. However, my most recent episode allowed me to employ reverse psychology. Within the last few days, I have decided that I should take more risks. I thought taking more risks would allow me to become more comfortable with various situations, like how a vaccine produces immunity. Take a risk by riding the rollercoaster you were always hesitant to ride. Take another risk by going to sleep at 10 p.m. instead of 2 a.m., even if you don’t feel entirely ready for that math quiz. Apply for that school you have always dreamt of enrolling in, regardless of whether it’s a realistic goal or not. Even the smallest risks are worth it. I am still in my room in front of my computer screen. The same mosquito is irritating me. Bzzz. Bzzz. Splat. I took a risk and killed the mosquito. It was worth it.

The Indu-sputed truth By Indu Pandey

Russia hacks The Chronicle, releases 50-minute conservative rant

ussia hacked The Chronicle and released a 50-minute conservative rant as part of its scheme to topple the school’s leadership Sept. 11. Russia bypassed the paper’s highly secure vetting process after manipulating hundreds of Facebook ads. Who knew communist meme pages could be so dangerous? “I am just so shook, ya know?” Natasha Summers, a self-described nota-Russian-sleeper-agent said. “First Facebook, then the widely-read and relevant Chronicle? Is there nothing sacred to the Russians? What’s next? Coachella? Shirts with premade holes in them?” The Chronicle claimed they were not afﬁliated with the Russian government, but refused to restrict Russia’s First Amendment rights. “Uh, duh Russia has free speech,”

The Chronicle Editorial Team said in a statement. “We’re like First Amendment Fanatics. This is totally the moral high ground. You guys just don’t get it.” With fears that Vladimir Putin will become the next head of school, some students contemplate a regime change. “If Russia takes over the school, do I get lower gas prices for my Benz?” Brent Wood said before he dinged four people’s cars backing out of his parking spot. We reached out to Putin for a comment, but he was too busy horseback riding. We could not determine whether or not he was shirtless. “We can’t just let Vlad take over!” Summers said. “Me and my feminist sistas are starting Kitty Riot to protest this conservative propaganda. Rock on!”

honestly don’t remember a time when I haven’t seen the white signs decorating the houses outside our upper school, slamming our prospective parking structure in a capitalized, red font to “Save Coldwater Canyon!” and “Say No! To Harvard-Westlake’s Private Bridge.” The signs are an everyday sighting; I don’t even register the concept of them when I run around the “Are you ready to spend an extra 45 minutes in traffic?” on the cross-country team’s daily run down to the river. And when we do talk about them, it’s usually at most a laughing matter during a walk down to Starbucks. Our neighbors’ criticism of our proposed parking structure has always seemed more of a piece of light conversation. I had always personally viewed it less as a conflict, and more as a neighborly complaint about an annoyance and a situation over which they had little control. I have seen the “Save Coldwater Canyon” Facebook page (two of my friends liked the page as a joke), but I never actually bothered to scroll through and read the complaints voiced on it. However, when I read about the hundreds of neighbors who showed up at the public hearing in Van Nuys City Hall a couple weeks ago, when I saw the media coverage this hearing received and when I heard that the petition against the structure had been signed more than 2000 times, I was astounded. I soon realized this conflict was much more than just a trivial discourse. I scrolled down the Facebook page and read comments in which our neighbors called us “arrogant,” described us as having “no regard for the community or environment” and cited reasons for our being bad neigh-

bors, which included events relating to the old Hollywood Country Club more than 40 years ago and new theories of an “underhanded” or “illegal” attempt to attract visitors during the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics. Now, I know some of these positions are a bit dramatic. Nevertheless, we accept the idea that our neighbors dislike us as a fact, and it might serve us well to examine what it means that we have come to accept this. Most of the student body does not know the details of our parking structure and what it would come to mean, and both sides keep fortifying their walls, signing petitions and citing different studies. Both groups cast the other as the “wrong” side of the argument. But is there, and can there be an absolute “right” side of this debate? An awareness that reasonable points are being made by both sides is the first step in dealing with this situation. Trust must be developed between us and our neighbors. Though we do need parking spaces and practice areas, we cannot remain, as we have been for the past four years, the “bad guy” in the neighborhood. We must seek common ground and work together, beyond the public hearings where both sides leave unsatisfied and frustrated. There are problems on both sides — lack of parking, traffic, pollution — that affect the whole community, and only when we work together to mend the walls between us and our neighbors can we build a parking structure that will undoubtedly serve the people around us. Working together is more beneficial than working against each other. Hopefully one day in the near future, it’ll be a smoother run down Coldwater Canyon.

Former Chronicle News Associate gives her take on current pop culture and politics in a recurring satire column. In this issue, she discusses Russian hacking and a simulation of life in the Palisades.

School to arrange a Palisades simulation for uncultured Valley students

he school will orchestrate “Day in the Lyfe of a Lades Bro,” a simulation for uncultured Valley students to chillax bruh. The event will help Valley kids understand why the Palisades are supreme. “I’m just so sick of all of these Pali kids rubbing it in my face,” Val Lee said. “I mean, aside from the trafﬁc and lack of bougie ethnic food made by white people, what’s so bad about the Valley?” The simulation will include beachside brunch, a complimentary Pressed Juice and a temporary Ray Bans Club Master card. “This is like appropriation!” Ira Nee said, styling her 100 percent natural blond hair. “The only thing that’s worse is like if we all pretended to be poor to get on Hulu or something.” Organizers will ﬁlm this clash of civ-

ilizations as part of their documentary, “Lades Lyfe.” “No one really understands the Lades,” Jake said. “We’re a minority that is woppressed by everyone else’s lack of woke-ness. It’s so rolled!” Jake claimed he evolved past having a last name. Organizers started a lifestyle blog to accompany their cultural revolution called “Sk8rs, Not H8rs.” “‘Sk8rs, Not H8rs,’ I think, has really broken into the blogsphere,” Jake said. “I think it speaks to the essence of humanity: Postmates, staying trendy and Reform Judaism.” While some Valley plebs are upset, others welcome a taste of the Lades life. “Yesterday, there was trafﬁc on Ventura, and I saw someone who was upper-middle class,” Chase Ventura said. “I can’t take this anymore!” It’s a hard-knock life indeed.

HWCHRONICLE.COM/OPINION

OCT 10, 2017

quadtalk:

OPINION A11

Adding more to the school profile By Asa Saperstein

Poll

Do you think students who favor humanities courses are at an academic disadvantage at Harvard-Westlake? Yes: 50% percent No: 50% percent

322 students weighed in on the Oct 6-7 poll INFOGRAPHIC BY BRITTANY HONG

Nikhila Sylbert ’20

“I don’t think they are at a disadvantage because the classes offered provide as high quality [an] education as honors.” VISHAN CHAUDHARY/CHRONICLE

Anneliese Breidsprecher ’18

“I came from a different school freshman year, and I took honors English. It helped me know what I wanted to do more, and we were able to advance so much.” Donovan Econn ’19

VISHAN CHAUDHARY/CHRONICLE

“It is a disadvantage for people who like History and English because there are subjects like Chemistry Honors and Advanced Placement for math.” VISHAN CHAUDHARY/CHRONICLE

Reflecting on Respecting

By Tammer Bagdasarian and Jessa Glassman

t’s 2 a.m., you have procrastinated and are just starting to study for tomorrow’s Chemistry test that has material you don’t understand. Should you stick it out and hope for the best on the test, or email your teacher with the high expectation of a quick response that re-explains everything you do not know? For students, a single test grade can feel like it can make or break their high school careers. The most obvious step to avoid this situation is to stop procrastinating, but that can sometimes seem difﬁcult. Many students ﬁnd themselves expecting too much of their teachers, assuming that teachers will always be accessible for help. Understanding teachers’ limits is key.

Asking questions and building a healthy relationship is not something that should be discouraged, but timing and understanding need to be valued when interacting with teachers. Corresponding with your teachers is important so that you and your teacher are on the same page, and when confused about class material, asking for clariﬁcation in advance is critical. Not only is this more respectful, but will also help retention of the material in the long run. Emailing teachers in advance will also ensure a thought-out response, instead of an answer that will be rushed because of the time constraint. Respecting, recognizing and valuing teachers’ personal responsibilities and lives is critical because when students go

lmost one year ago to the day, I dragged my mother to that gathering that traditionally precedes the dance. A person with little resemblance of me posed for photographs, dressed up and fumbled to attach half of a flower to someone, full of youth’s unadulterated hope, unknowing of the journey ahead of me that was to devour my personhood and strip me of my contented pleasure. I like to think I have changed in at least some significant dimensions since this day. I like to think that with time comes progress. But when I find myself up so late, my strength of mind wavering, I think about what brought me here, how I have come to derive the value of my person by standardized feedback, how my rewards pathways have changed such that I solely crave tangible gratification. I have come to a place where I enjoy so little of what I do. This continuous process of finishing work and being assigned more has effected a sickness in me, the kind that posits me no longer to trust myself. Most days I fall asleep early, having told myself that I will wake up early to do my homework. Rarely do I keep the promise to myself. All of these components occur in such a way that there is very little stability for me, asserting the inevitability of conflict within me. It feels like all of these things have made me numb. Numb because my mind has been made single-track. Numb because the gratification of my existence used to come in meaningful relationships and now it comes in results-based rewards. Numb because now everything feels to me a competition. There is a part of me that emerged in the past year, or maybe a part now gone. The difference in composition, either way, urges me to submit to my temperament’s inclination, which doesn’t really feel like my own at all. In this way, I have devoted myself to the work that overhangs me, the necessary work with which I smite myself. This disposition’s source is the school that I attend and the

life it has formed around me. I can see how it shrugs my shoulders and distorts my face. The operation gently dissipates the anxious thinking that comprises my mind and holds me accountable for things about which I care not. It hasn’t isolated me. No, I have done that by my own volition. But our school would create the character who would sequester himself in hope of a comparative advantage, who would view all matters as a question of time efficacy. The currency in which my life deals is no longer meaningful interaction or joy, but the fleeting relief of tangible success. I think it is true that the best version of myself has been built in the face of the rigor of Harvard-Westlake. This school has propelled the growth of my character. It has single-handedly constructed the discipline I wear. It has shown to me my limits and then asked me to stretch beyond them, inoculated me to the despair of failure and forced me to make level-headed adjustments. The nature of this school is also one of forced maturation. It has propelled me towards the adulthood I so feign, but it has also impelled me to simulate this maturity. To the point of this dance, it seems almost as it was to once more tell us what is good and what ought to be fun. Our souls are twisted, cravings changed, desires altered by this very institution yet every once in a long while an event pops up, a BandAid for the bullet hole. It is but a fleeting reminder of what we were and what we should be, yet a terrifying contrast to what we are. We stand there in our suits, dressed as if for a wedding but truly in attendance at the funeral of our old selves. Year by year, we say hello to who we were and accept who we have become, denoting it only by the results we have received. So here’s to homecoming, to the dancing and partying, to the photos and parents and to the empty dreams to be found again the morning after when the binders open again. I don’t want this feeling, so I decide instead not to go, to keep binder open all night.

Students’ lives can often be hectic, and it can be easy to forget about the importance of respecting teachers and their after-school responsibilities and commitments.

home for the day, so do teachers. Keeping this in mind and remembering that many of them have friends and family on top of their school responsibilities when asking them for a favor will make everyone happier. When teachers receive confused emails asking to clarify something they spent the entirety of class on, it can seem as though students do not value their teacher’s time. Receiving a panicked email from a student at an unreasonable time can paint them as a procrastinator and make teachers feel frustrated with the hard work they put in each day teaching the class. Waiting until the last minute to correspond is unpleasant for teachers and detrimental to students.

Students also need to remember teachers’ workloads. While it may seem that the only responsibility that teachers have is to grade tests and give out homework, in reality, their jobs are much more difﬁcult and time-consuming. Making lesson plans, preparing lectures and arranging activities are just some of the things teachers have to do on a daily basis. Yes, it is part of their job to answer questions, but it is not their only responsibility. Many students don’t believe that they can follow these guidelines and still perform well in school. Obligations can get in the way, like extracurriculars that prevent students from starting their homework or studying until late at night. However, respecting teachers

does not have to get in the way of ﬁnishing work. If students make plans with their teachers to meet ahead of time or study routinely, they will perform better in school, while making teachers’ lives less hectic as well. Before you ﬁnd yourself at 2 a.m. clueless about what a noble gas is, plan ahead, talk to teachers and do everything you can to avoid the tough situation. Remember, respecting teachers and their lives not only helps them but can also make students’ lives more manageable. And if for some reason you still end up stuck here, text a friend or weigh the factors before emailing your teacher, and don’t expect an immediate and elaborate re-explanation of the entire unit.

A12

Seniors step into the ring

spotlight

OCT. 10, 2017

The Class of 2018 celebrated the start of senior year by receiving class rings and pins during Senior Ceremony on Sept. 24. Prefects and administrators offered advice to the seniors and shared memories about their class.

NOAH AIRE/CHRONICLE

MILES OF SMILES: (Left to right) Tyler Kornguth ’18, JP Cherry ’18, Jeremy Yariv ’18, Ben Kater ’18 and Jack Peterson ’18 take a photo after the event.

ASTOR WU/CHRONICLE

GIRL GANG: (Left to right) Print Managing Editor Alena Rubin ’18, Melanie Hirsch ’18, Editor-in-Chief Danielle Spitz ’18 and Tali Perluss ’18 pose.

NOAH AIRE/CHRONICLE

STRUT YOUR STUFF: (Left to right) Liam Douglass ’18 and Mycah Dottin ’18 walk across the stage to receive their class rings from President Rick Commons and Associate Head of School Liz Resnick.

NOAH AIRE/CHRONICLE

LA LA LAND: Chamber Singers and seniors in Bel Canto performed at the Senior Ring Ceremony. Seniors from both groups joined to sing “Our Time.”

NOAH AIRE/CHRONICLE

PREFECT-ION: Senior Prefect JP Cherry ’18 speaks to classmates, parents and faculty members about the importance of being grateful for all of the opportunities that the Upper School provides for students.

PRINTED WITH PERMISSION OF GRACE DENNIS ’19

HAND-IN-HAND: Amy Vanderschans ’18 receives her class ring and a handshake from Associate Head of School Liz Resnick at the Senior Ceremony.

NOAH AIRE/CHRONICLE

FUTURE SO BRIGHT: Members of the Class of 2018 listen to the speeches as they wait to receive their class rings and pins during the Senior Ceremony.

Features The Chronicle â&#x20AC;¢ Oct. 10, 2017

Under Lock and Key While some seniors are comfortable sharing their topchoice colleges and plans of action for applications, many prefer to keep their processes private.

PHOTO ILLUSTRATION BY SOFIA HELLER, JENNY LI, KATE SCHRAGE

B2 FEATURES

OCT. 10, 2017

THE CHRONICLE

The Path from Public to Private Students matriculating from public sending schools reflect on their social and academic transition to Harvard-Westlake.

that if I’m here I’m going to deserve my spot.” PJ Smith ’19, who also started at As Josue Gutierrez ’18 gazed out the window on the long bus ride Harvard-Westlake as a new ninth home after his first day of ninth grader, said he did not anticipate grade at Harvard-Westlake, he felt the school’s difficulty level. “I had just as hard work [in midstunned and overwhelmed. Basketdle school], but there’s definiteball tryouts. Nine periods every day. A new, strange school, far from his ly more work here,” Smith said. “I thought I would be over-prepared. home. “I came home and I didn’t know It’s not like [the transition] hit me what to do and I just shut down a like a wave, but it was definitely little bit,” Gutierrez said. “I went more than I was expecting.” Middle school dean Jon Carroll to my parents and told them I was said he sometimes sees incoming frustrated and I didn’t know how to students from public schools find handle everything.” As a new ninth grader from Jane adjusting to to Harvard-Westlake’s Adams Middle School, Gutierrez academic expectations to be diffisaid his initial transition to Har- cult. “The easiest transitions I have vard-Westlake was not seamless. “I had always been used to be- observed are the ones where the ing the best in my class every single student already has a connection to the school via year and coming a sibling, or one to Harvard-Westof our programs lake, I really had The more difficult loosely affiliated to get into the with the school, mindset that it’s transitions are for including PBA okay to not be the students who don’t have Baseball or Prebest in every class mier Water Polo,” those affiliatons to our and to get a bad Carroll said in an grade every once community.” email. “The more in a while,” Gutierrez said. —Jon Carroll difficult transitions are for stuSimilarly, LonMiddle School Dean dents who don’t don Alexander have those affilia’18 noticed a sigtions to our comnificant academic adjustment after starting at Har- munity. I find many public school students in the latter category and vard-Westlake. “At public school, I had a 4.0 I think the school can help make [GPA] and I worked hard, but it that transition easier by continuing wasn’t like [school] was hard,” Alex- to add strategic opportunities for ander said. “I did my best and I got new students to make connections an A. Here, you do your best and to the community.” In addition to summer classit’s like, ‘Oh no.’” Matriculating to Harvard-West- es, Carroll said incoming students lake from Palms Middle School, could also benefit from organized a public school, she said she was social events. “In the same way that the Admisexpecting to be academically unsions Office does a special reception prepared. To accommodate for this, she worked harder than she need- before the seventh grade Welcome ed to at the beginning of her ninth BBQ for students who are the only ones coming from their sending grade year, she said. Gutierrez noted a similar senti- school, perhaps a similar Summer Institute could be organized for ment. “What I always tried to do was ninth graders from public schools work as hard as I could even if to address not only the social chalI didn’t need to,” Gutierrez said. lenges they face bonding with stu“Just because I go to Harvard-West- dents who have been together for lake doesn’t mean I’m going to work two years, but also the academic any less hard. I want to make sure expectations of Harvard-Westlake

By JOSIE ABUGOV

“

ninth graders,” Carroll said. “This stantially from that of their sending would be in addition to Fast Start.” schools. “I think that kids who have nevGutierrez said his personal situation made his social adjustment er gone to public school don’t una constant obstacle. According to a derstand just how great schools Chronicle poll of 321 students, 83 like Harvard-Westlake are,” Gutierpercent of students think access rez said. “I think they kind of take to transportation and money make things for granted and don’t realsocializing at Harvard-Westlake ly appreciate all the resources, the events and the teachers especialsignificantly easier. “People will say, ‘We should all go ly. Students here are really quick eat at some place,’ and I don’t have to complain about a lot of things. the opportunity to do that,’ Gutier- They’ll say something like ‘the rez said. “I’m a big sports fan. I just cafeteria doesn’t have a lot of opcan’t really come to [Harvard-West- tions today.’ If you went to public lake] games because transportation school, you’d have one thing or you is always really tough for that. I wouldn’t eat.” Though he expressed gratitude would love to go to a football game, but unless I have my own car, for Harvard-Westlake’s small class which I don’t right now, I would size, cafeteria food and wealth of have to use my parents’ and they opportunities, Smith said that for have work or stuff that they need people who have never attended a public school, it’s easy to do.” to make generalizations According to a Chronabout the entire system. icle poll of 323 students, Prior to Harvard-West65 percent think that lake, Smith attended the social groups at HarIndividualized Honors vard-Westlake are influProgram at Walter Reed enced by socioeconomic Middle School, a program status. designed for students who “I feel like at Harare “are identified Highly vard-Westlake, a lot of the Gifted by LAUSD or submit people who are on finan’ evidence to support possicial aid and did come from Josue ble future identification” a public school group toGuitierrez ’18 and “have national pergether,” Alexander said. “It’s not on purpose, but I feel like centile achievement scores 97 permost of my close friends are on fi- cent to 99 percent in both English nancial aid. I guess you cling to and math,” according to the Walter people who are like you. I don’t Reed Middle School website. “If you’re in IHP, where I came know if that’s good but it’s somefrom, you’re going to college and thing I’ve noticed.” Unlike while spending time with you’re going to a really good colher Harvard-Westlake friends, lege,” Smith said. “I’ve never when Alexander sees her out-of- thought in my life, ‘Oh, I went to a school friends, she does not feel public school. It looks like I’m not going to college.’ But apparently, pressured to spend money. “At Harvard Westlake, when that’s what a lot of people do think you hang out with your friends [about all public schools]. That’s it’s always like, ‘Let’s go to a fan- definitely not true.” Despite his difficult transition cy brunch,’ and you have set plans and it’s usually eating,” she said. to Harvard-Westlake, Gutierrez ex“When I hang out with my friends pressed that past personal situaoutside of school, we literally just tions ultimately do not hinder the hang out at someone’s house, or formation of strong relationships walk, since we don’t have cars, between students. “As you grow to know people, to get frozen yogurt, which is like you learn that even if you had difthree dollars.” Overall, Gutierrez and Alexander ferent life experiences, good people said the entire school atmosphere are good people and you’re going to at Harvard-Westlake differs sub- find that anyways,” Gutierrez said. NATHANSON S

PHOTO ILLUSTRATION BY SAM KO

OCT. 10, 2017

HWCHRONICLE.COM/FEATURES

A Faithful Few BY CLAIRE KELLER

Three students speak about the positive and negative experiences as religious minorities in the school and their respective social communities. Mason Rodriguez ’18: Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints

KRISTIN KUWADA/CHRONICLE PHOTO ILLUSTATION BY SOFIA HELLER

Iman Akram ’18: Islam As she attempted to differentiate between the small and large intestine, Iman Akram ’18 leaned over her desk to complete the fetal pig lab during her freshman year. Completion would prove difﬁcult, however, as her focus drifted to the unnerving conversations her peers were entertaining across the room. As the class completed the lab, two of her peers stabbed their scalpels into their pig, laughing and exclaiming “Allahu Akbar!” Akram was born into a Muslim family and said she ﬁnds Islamic culture in almost every aspect of her daily life. As a Pakistani-American, she believes that both her ethnic and religious background changed the way she sees herself and the world around her. As one of the few Muslim students at school, Akram explained that most Islamic holidays are not automatic school holidays, but she can take the day off by getting special permission. “I think that at least the acknowledgement of minority religion holidays at school would make a huge difference because most students either don’t know anyone of these smaller religions or they don’t know there is a holiday at all,” Akram said. “While giving us the day off would be ideal, a no homework

FEATURES B3

Mason Rodriguez ’18 is a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, commonly known as the Mormon Church. Born into the faith, he believes it has played a signiﬁcant role in his life for as long as he can remember. As the only male member of the church at the Upper School, one of three Mormon students in the school and the only member at his elementary school, Rodriguez thinks he has been a representative for his Church his entire life. Rodriguez said he takes pride in his faith and is typically comfortable with sharing his beliefs. “Most of my friends know that I am LDS, and I’m not shy about it,” Rodriguez says. “If it comes up in conversations, I’ll talk about it, but I don’t go out of my way to say something.” Nonetheless, he does not feel that all inquiries about his faith are reasonable. He said stereotypes surrounding LDS culture can lead to misconceptions and rumors, as often seen in

the media and award-winning musical “Book of Mormon.” Church policies of the LDS faith include a ban on alcohol, drugs and the use of foul language. The church also places an emphasis on education, and offers early morning Book of Mormon and Bible study classes for students outside of Utah and Arizona, where classes are held during the school day. “During the week, I dedicate about 45 minutes every day to the church,” Rodriguez explains. “I go to a 6 a.m. bible study class at my church, return home to eat breakfast and then go to school. I go to church every Sunday, where meetings and services take about three hours.” Despite this, Rodriguez expressed that he believes students at the Upper School are generally accepting of cultures different than their own, and that he has never felt marginalized by his beliefs. Rodriguez said he encourages anyone with questions about the LDS church to ask them. “My knowledge is imperfect,” Rodriguez said. “But I can promise I’ll answer as best as I can.”

night or some other accommodation would help raise awareness and tolerance for religious minorities on campus.” With the current social and political strife Akram feels is sweeping our nation, she said she has had to talk about her faith more frequently than ever before. “I have deﬁnitely received some pretty uninformed questions about supporting terrorism or enforcing sharia law in the United States,” Akram said. “I recognize that those questions are based entirely on stereotypes.” Despite being asked challenging or derogatory questions, Akram said that for the most part she is open about her beliefs. She said she encourages others to ask informed and respectful questions about her faith. She said she is grateful to attend a school where she feels supported in her beliefs by the majority of the community. “I feel that I have been able to have many constructive conversations about my faith when the inquisitor is open to listening and understanding what I’m saying,” Akram explained. “While extremely uncomfortable questions have deﬁnitely been asked, those experiences are typically outliers and overall I’ve had positive experiences representing my religion.” RYAN ALBERT/CHRONICLE PHOTO ILLUSTATION BY SOFIA HELLER

Jadene Meyer ’18: Jehovah’s Witnesses

PHOTO PRINTED WITH PERMISSION OF JADENE MEYER ’18 PHOTO ILLUSTATION BY SOFIA HELLER

While her kindergarten peers blew out the candles, Jadene Meyer ’18 spent her birthdays and holidays sitting at the back table, observing but never joining as her classmates celebrated. “Growing up as a religious minority held a lot of pressures,” Meyer said. “It’s like you walk into a room and you always know how different you are, even if no one else does. And then they do.” Meyer grew up in a Jehovah’s Witness household, and says her religion became an intrinsic part of her identity from a young age. As a Jehovah’s Witness, her family does not celebrate birthdays, Christmas or Easter, despite identifying as a sect of Christianity. According to Meyer, these beliefs unique to their faith set Witnesses apart from much of modern society. However, Jehovah’s Witnesses in particular have been subject to stereotyping and marginalization from the media and society in general.

Meyer recalls that elementary school posed far more of a challenge in terms of her religion than high school has so far. “When I was younger, it was isolating to an extent to be the one kid who couldn’t go to birthday parties, celebrate Christmas, dress up for Halloween, and children always ask the hard questions,” Meyer said. She remembers that as a child, she did not have the knowledge or conﬁdence to answer questions about her beliefs and often felt frustrated with her circumstances. However, Meyer expressed her gratitude for the opportunity to grow up as a religious minority. “I think it’s instilled within me a conﬁdence in my beliefs, whatever they may be and I’m thankful for that,” Meyer said. She said she appreciates the lessons she has learned and the tight-knit community she grew up in. Despite its challenges, Meyer said her faith has been a positive aspect of her life and taught her to be more accepting, open and tolerant toward others.

The Chronicle

B4 Features

Oct. 1

Off Balance

Faculty and administration respond to student concerns regarding the imbalance of available honors and AP classes for the English and Humanities Departments.

PHOTO ILLUSTRATION BY SAM KO

10, 2017

hwchronicle.com/features

By Kristin Kuwada and Anthony Weinraub

Features B5

influenced his decision to take honors courses in STEM fields. “If I had been offered honors classPaging through the curriculum es in history and English in ninth and guide the spring before freshman year, tenth grade, I definitely would have Diego Ayala ‘18 was disappointed with been less likely to take honors classes in math and science, and I guess a what he found. Ayala, who said he prefers the so- part of that does have to do with the cial sciences, couldn’t sign up for hon- GPA [bump] and the way GPA is calculated at Harvard-Westlake,” Ayala ors classes in his favorite field. He initially signed up for Geometry said. Emmie Wolf ’18, a student interestHonors and Biology Honors, but regular courses in both history and En- ed in the arts and humanities, believes taking advanced classes earlier in high glish. Beginning freshman year, students school would have raised her GPA and can take honors classes in both the enhanced her educational experience. “I definitely think my grades math and science departments, but no changed when I started taking honors honors classes are offered in the Enand APs in classes that I liked and I glish or history departments. Likewise, in tenth grade, students thought were interesting, which would can take Chemistry Honors and three have been more arts and humanities options of honors math courses, but for me,” Wolf said. According to upper school dean no honors classes exist in the English Chris Jones, students and parents or history departments. One year later, Ayala faced the same have frequently raised the subject of this imbalance with deans and the adproblem. He signed up for regular-track ministration. However, there are no active plans courses in history and English — World and Europe II and English II, to increase the availability of courses respectively — but Chemistry Honors for these subjects, and Jones questioned the need to extend the and Math Analysis Honors. number of honors and AP “There’s no reason stuclasses in the humanities and dents would not have been social sciences curriculum. capable academically or in “I really don’t think the anterms of time management to swer should be more AP and take an AP class, say, Eurohonors classes,” Jones said. pean History in tenth grade “I know that we are going to or even a social science like move in a few years to a sysHuman Geography in ninth tem where there really isn’t grade,” Ayala said. “It just ’ additional weight attached to doesn’t make sense to me in Chris Jones it anyway. So I think at that terms of the ability of the stuUpper School point, that’s going to remove dent body.” Dean some of the angst that famiOnly in eleventh and lies are feeling about that diftwelfth grades can students take AP and honors courses in the hu- ference.” The administration has had discusmanities and social sciences. sions about a potential GPA dispariA greater choice of electives in the humanities and social sciences are ty among students interested in the also available from eleventh grade on- sciences and those interested in the humanities resulting from the lack of ward. According to the College Board, Ad- honors classes. However, Jones believes that colvanced Placement courses are meant to have students “face new challenges leges are able to recognize students and learn new skills” in subjects that that have maximized the curriculum regardless of their area of interest. interest them. “I don’t think [GPA] is as big a deal Ayala said that the higher GPA as we think it is,” Jones said. “If it weighting of AP and honors courses were, I think we’d be able to look at the nathanson s

stats books and see that very linearly dents may not know what field they’re it’s starting with the highest GPA with interested in by ninth grade. the highest number of AP and honors However, Ayala said that the disand it kind of goes from there.” parity in honors courses could be Likewise, Head of Upper School mitigated by not allowing students to Laura Ross said the AP limit starting take advanced courses in the science with the Class of 2022 will reduce the or math departments earlier than elevfocus on the amount of honors and AP enth grade. courses available in every department. “I just think there should be equalThe new policy will set a limit of ity of opportunity in all fields,” Ayala two, three and four courses for soph- said. omores, juniors and seniors, respecLike Jones, Weber said he believes tively. there isn’t an identifiable problem that “[The AP limit] will lessen the idea currently needs to be resolved, as he that you don’t have the GPA bump, so said that AP and honors courses aren’t clearly the school has been thinking necessarily more educationally enrichabout this,” Ross said. “I think it would ing. be really important to see if we’ve seen “I’m not convinced that it’s a huge any data that would indicate that not problem,” Weber said. “I don’t think having that GPA bump has hurt kids that honors courses and AP courses in the application process that are into particularly determine value. A senior humanities.” can take an AP course in English beRoss further said that the AP limit cause we are reading closely and we policy will allow for a greater breadth are reading deeply so that students and depth of courses and electives in have the time and space required for both the history and English depart- them to come up with their own opinments. ion and hypotheses to pursue their “We’d love to grow that part of the own inquiries. This kind of studying is curriculum,” Ross said. “The whole supported by the AP that exists.” point of the AP maximums is not just Nonetheless, Weber said that he to set maximum limdoes support the posits but also so that sibility of creating over the next couple more options in subI like the idea of of years, we would be jects that students more offerings because growing the breadth feel driven to pursue; of the curriculum and however, the increase choice seems more would be having more courses would neinteresting and more fair.” in in-depth research cessitate an increase classes in an area of —Larry Weber in hiring, which the interest.” isn’t planning English Department Head school Upper School Ento do. glish Department “I like the idea of Head Larry Weber said more offerings bethe delayed availability of honors and cause choice seems more interesting AP English courses is designed to help and more fair,” Weber said. “So idealacclimate sophomores to the Upper ly we would have more offerings and School’s more rigorous curriculum. more people to do it.” “Freshman and sophomores develSome students agree that more Enop at different rates in terms of their glish and history class options would conceptual analytical thinking and the make them more excited about their way they infer from details,” Weber classes. said. “Since that’s kind of an unpre“I think it would be nice to have dictable growth curve, we’re afraid that a variety of material because I know we could be making the wrong distinc- there are a lot of options for seniors to tion too early and creating the sense in take different types of English classes the student that he or she might not that pertain to a certain theme,” Sky be ‘an English person’ when that may Graham ’20 said. “I think it would be not be clear until they’re older.” cool to have a bigger theme in terms of Ayala said that he agrees some stu- our interests.”

65%

72%

of respondents are more inclined to take more AP and honors STEM courses.

of respondents think there should be more AP and honors humanities courses.

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50% of respondents think students who favor humanities courses are at a disadvantage.

PHOTO ILLUSTRATION BY SAM KO

B6 FEATURES

THE CHRONICLE

OCT. 10, 2017

Do Not Disturb Despite their strong beliefs about politics, many students on campus do not participate in political discussions at school.

PHOTO ILLUSTRATION BY SOFIA HELLER AND ALISON OH

By RYAN ALBERT AND JENNY LI

participate in political conversation. Although Daisy Wan ’20 said she believes Brynn*’s ’19 mother does general political awareness not believe in global warm- was important for the fuing, no matter how many ture, she said it didn’t conarticles Brynn has sent her. cern her as much because After years of frustration, she is a student. “I’m not really at that age Brynn said she’s given up. “I realized people are root- that I care that much yet,” ed in their opinions and they Wan said. “I kind of don’t are not going to change,” worry about it too much. I Brynn said. “There’s no try not to get my opinion out there because it’s not my point.” This same mentality has place to say anything.” Evan Keare ’18 agreed affected her on another that a sense of front: polihelplessness tics. Brynn Obviously prevents her said that from contributif reputathere are political ing in political ble sourcconversations, but most discourse. es couldn’t of the time students talk “I feel overchange her whelmed, and mother’s about personal topics I feel like so mind, then and sports.” much is going she won’t have the —Landon Poon ’20 on, but there are so few power to things I can do make a difference. For that reason, she to change it,” Keare said. said, she doesn’t participate “There are so many things I don’t agree with, but what in political discussions. “At this point in time, it can you do about it? Even doesn’t really matter,” Brynn people who have power can’t said. “None of our opinions do anything.” Despite her interest in have a direct effect by thempolitics, Keare said she felt selves.” The feeling is not uncom- that the constant stream of mon. According to a Chron- overwhelming news created icle poll of 319 students, 42 an unwelcome atmosphere percent said they don’t par- that deterred her from participate in political discus- ticipating in political discussions. sions. “It’s exhausting and deLandon Poon ’20 said he only notices a small amount pressing for me,” Keare said. of political discussion in the “I like politics, and I know enough about it to have an school environment. “A majority of the school intelligent conversation if doesn’t talk about politics I want. I just don’t want to with their friends,” Poon engage. It’s just exhausting.” Francis de Beixedon ’19 said. “Obviously there are political conversations, but said the never-ending news most of the time students cycle motivates him to distalk about personal topics tance himself from a conversation about these events. and sports.” “I get tired of the endless Age can also contribute to de Beixedon students’ unwillingness to headlines,”

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said. “All the stuff happening has made me kind of jaded. It made me sort of disenchanted with everything that has been going on.” The major factor, de Beixedon said, is the toxicity of some discussions. This sentiment is not uncommon: 36 percent of respondents cite the toxic nature of discussions and the potential of losing friends as a deterrent from political discussions. “It’s divisive, and it makes you lose your friends,” Poon said. “If your friends disagree with you, people get really pissed. You want to keep everyone on your good side.” Ryan Wixen ’19 suggested improving political conversations by looking at them as opportunities to be open to learning about others’ opinions and contribute based on personal beliefs rather than political ideals. “I don’t argue for left or right values because they are left or right,” Wixen said. “Just, if someone is having a conversation about something and it is something that matters to me, I’ll talk about it.” Kevin Taylor, who is a West Valley Area Representative of the Mayor’s Ofﬁce of Public Engagement, acknowledged the importance of political discussion and representation on a more technical level. He explained an ongoing cycle between students, who are dissuaded from entering politics because they feel overlooked, and politicians, who further disregard the needs and perspectives of those students because they are insigniﬁcant to their political success. “Whose responsibility is it to break this cycle?” Taylor

said. “There are a certain set involved.” of people in power that count To tackle difficult political on your being cynical about issues, Cardenas suggestparticipating in the process. ed taking a break from the Every time you decide that stream of news occasionally. there is no reason to partic“There’s so much going ipate, they claim your deci- on, on a day-to-day basis,” sion as a victory. The deci- Cardenas said. “We need to sion to break that is on you.” infuse a little bit of self-care Political Discourse Club here, and it’s okay to step leader JP Cherry ’18 ac- away from things. I think knowledged the responsibil- people should remain enity of students to participate gaged and recognize all the in political discussions in or- good there is. Don’t ever der to establish a foundation feel so overwhelmed that it for the future. makes you completely freeze “The political sitor stifles you in any uation in our naway. There’s such a tion and world is great power in usat a critical point,” ing your voice and Cherry said. “It is activism.” incumbent upon us Taylor said he to view the present recommended those as an opportunity questioning their to safeguard our fuability to make an ’ ture, rather than alimpact to first tackCelso low ourselves to slip le things on a smallCardenas into numbing comer scale. placency with the “I subscribe to status quo. Ethical political the old adage of ‘think globengagement doesn’t guar- ally, act locally,’” Taylor said. antee a stable world, but a “It’s important to remain cupolicy of apathy guarantees rious about the world and there won’t be a world worth keep tabs on as much as living in.” you can, but to really affect Upper school dean Cel- change, it starts in our own so Cardenas acknowledged neighborhoods.” that it might be difficult to Taylor emphasized the balance political involve- power of the unique voices ment with student life, but students have and said his suggested students remain drive to participate in politiengaged in current events. cal discussions is continual“I think students do slide ly reinforced by the benefits over the fact that they do of his actions. have power and that they “Keep in mind, when you do have a voice,” Cardenas speak up, you are speaking said. “It’s one of the things I for many who either can’t or regret. I wasn’t so politicized won’t speak for themselves,” until the latter part of my Taylor said. “Your voice is high school career. There’s that much more powerful. all sorts of reasons, like the Making a difference in somepressures of school and oth- one’s life, being a voice willer involvements, but I think ing to make an impact, this there are so many things is the fuel that drives me to that are bigger and greater, keep doing.” and more important, that I would encourage them to get *names have been changed NATHANSON S

OCT. 10, 2017

HWCHRONICLE.COM/FEATURES

FEATURES B7

Are Secrets for Everyone? By KATE SCHRAGE

tracking each of the seniors’ early application schools— Jocie Chen ’18 was on what she deems an “invasion the home page of her Com- of privacy.” “I do wonder now if people mon Application when she sensed her friends looking at trust each other not to share her screen. She said she felt something, even if it’s your nervous and embarrassed close friend who might just as they bombarded her with let it slip,” Slattery said. Though confidence and questions and judgments: “That’s a really big reach general privacy certainly for you,” “You need an in- play a role in the decision to sane GPA to get in,” “Come share information, Chen says on, everyone here is applying many students on campus instead choose to keep their there,” and “Are you sure?” Many students prefer to college lists secret purely bekeep their college applica- cause of the possibility that tions as private information they may be applying against their friends. and more than 21 “When you hear percent of 171 seabout your closest niors polled have friends applying to resorted to being the same places as untruthful about you, you get really where they plan to worried because you apply. Additionally, don’t always think 76 percent believe you’re up to their that they have been standards,” Chen lied to by a friend ’ said. “And someor classmate, which Beth times it makes me could be indicative Slattery nervous when I show of a secretive social other people what atmosphere. “This year, kids are re- schools I’m applying to beluctant to make a decision cause maybe they aren’t as about where they’re apply- ‘good’ as theirs.” Similarly, Daniel Varela ing until they find out what everyone else is doing, and ’18 said he feels as though they’ll often tell their close social life at Harvard-Westfriends what they’re doing lake is severely impacted, or what they’re hoping for, both short and long term, by but I think they generally try the secrecy and competition to keep private with exactly of the college process. “Especially if the school where they’re applying and certainly with the application you [and your friend] are itself,” Upper School Deans both applying to is in your Department Head Beth Slat- top five, it does create a lot of tery said. “That part is really tension and you kind of distance each other during that understandable to me.” Slattery recalled an in- time period,” Varela said. “It stance a few years ago that could lead to worse repermay have impacted the way cussions in the end.” In addition to conflicts Harvard-Westlake students go about the college pro- between friends vying for cess: a student attempted to the same university, othput together a spreadsheet er students worry that the NATHANSON S

worst social tensions are to come after the process itself, and will arise when college admission decisions are released. “When I found out that a lot of people that I was close to were also applying to my Early Decision school, I got super stressed,” Tarin North ’18 said. “When the letters come out, a lot of people are going to be upset. I know I would be upset if I didn’t get in, but I also wouldn’t know how to handle it if I did.” Another aspect of the competition between students is the belief that there isn’t room for everyone to succeed, upper school dean Jennifer Cardillo said. “I think that students feel like it’s a little bit of a game in that someone else’s success might cost them something,” Cardillo said. With the potential for competition and social tensions that can be rooted in the college process, the deans advise students to avoid allowing their school choices to be influenced by those of their friends, but this practice opens up the possibility of two friends competing for the same spot. “It definitely hurts to know that your friends are applying to the same schools,” Charlotte Weinman ’18 said. “But the way to absolve that is to not tell your friends where you’re applying, but then it feels like you can’t talk to them about specific things pertaining to your school.” Though nearly one fifth students polled admitted to opting for the route of dishonesty in the process in order to protect themselves from criticism and the poten-

Applications on Lock 47%

of seniors do not feel comfortable sharing their top schools.

tial for rejection, Borna Shoa ly their prerogative wheth’18 doesn’t believe that it’s a er they want to be secretive about it or be open about it, necessary measure. “I wouldn’t say there’s a but I don’t think it’s had any need to lie, but people deﬁ- negative or positive effects nitely do and there’s a pres- on friendships.” Natalie Kroh ’18 has besure to be more private about it, so I think it’s more secre- gun to take the preemptive tive here than it would be at approach of avoiding aggressive conversations by makother schools,” Shoa said. While 43 percent of stu- ing sure to keep a neutral dents polled believe that the atmosphere to avoid conﬂict. “As soon as it gets comcollege application process is a personal process and petitive, that’s when I stop should not be discussed with the discussion,” Natalie Kroh friends and peers, many stu- ’18 said. Other students claim dents said that there’s no necessity to keep quiet about that the anxiety that comes with choosing their plans, whether or especially if not to reveal they do not I think that their choices coincide with has become a others’. students feel like it’s a unifying issue “Everyone little bit of a game in for the stuhas their own that someone else’s dent body. set of schools “For now, and unless success might cost them its a collaboyour top choice something.” rative process is one of the schools that —Jennifer Cardillo because we’re all suffering like thirty peotogether,” Abi ple are going to be applying to from Har- Thomas ’18 said. “When it vard-Westlake, then [sharing gets closer [to decision time] information] shouldn’t be a it might be a little more comproblem,” Harry Garvey ’18 petitive, but right now it’s just sort of togetherness.” said. Although the strain of Reid Hudgins ’18 takes a more transparent approach college applications is evito his college process and dent among the senior class, claims that the risk of “jinx- some still believe that efforts ing it” could be a reason as are being made to maintain to why his friends and other a healthy, inclusive and students may be inclined to good-natured aura on campus, especially in comparikeep their schools private. Many students attribute son to past years. “[The effects of the college the majority of the competition and tension on campus process] have actually been to general stress itself, and reversed from what I was exargue that college does not pecting from last year,” Wilder Short ’18 said. “I still see play a role in social life. “I don’t really think the the support that you’re hopprocess has had a big effect ing for in this time because on people,” Ayanna Frey ’18 it’s all very stressful, and I said. “I think it’s general- don’t see any division.”

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The Chronicle polled 171 seniors Oct. 6 about their thoughts and experiences with secrecy during the college application process, and how it impacts their relationships with peers.

21%

76%

of seniors have lied about where they are applying.

of students believe that they have been lied to about where a friend or classmate is applying. PHOTO ILLUSTRATION BY SOFIA HELLER

B8 Features

The Chronicle

Oct. 10, 2017

Asking the Right Question Students discuss the growing trend of girls asking their dates to Homecoming Formal.

KENDALL DEES/CHRONICLE

EMMA SPENCER ‘18

PRINTED WITH PERMISSION OF CONNER CORLEY ’20

POPPING THE QUESTION: LEFT: Bella Carino ’19 with Andrew Shibuya ’19 CENTER: Conner Corley ’20 and Dahlia Low ’20 RIGHT: Ariana Miles ’18 and Cameron Jones ’18

• Continued from A1

responds with the trend of more girls asking their dates to formal. girls and I think that obviously attriShe said her peers, however, butes to the ‘girl asking boy’ situa- were not as open to the idea as she tion,” Bahar said. thought they would be. A Chronicle poll of 301 students “I got a lot of weird comments found that 84 percent think more from a lot of people actually saying girls have asked guys to Homecom- things like, ‘that’s weird,’ ‘why isn’t ing Formal this year than in the past. he asking you’ or ‘he should ask you,’ Novicoff said he enjoyed being at ” Tran said. “I was really surprised the receiving end of the ask, which because, especially in this time, I was unlike any of his past homecom- didn’t expect to receive comments ing formal experiences. that were judgmental.” He prefers to ask people with a Likewise, Bahar said there still are punny sign in a hallway or a class- implicit deterrents against a girl askroom, where there will not be a large ing someone they have a romantic audience, he said. interest in. “In past years, I’ve asked people in “It’s just the scenario where girls a pretty low-key way just because I are being more bold and asking don’t usually want to put somebody guys,” Bahar said. “It’s a very new else on the spot like that,” he said. situation, so it’s going to take some “I think [Bahar] figtime until girls are ured because we’re just asking any guy both in improv tothe same way that We’re the gether that she guys just ask any girl. generation growing could really pull I think for guys, the anything, and I’d be way they choose their up with a really strong okay with it. It was dates a lot of the time feminist movement and has to do with physical nice to have it in her with feminist ideals.” hands this time and traits. When girls are not have to worry asking guys, I think — Nicole Bahar ’18 there’s more considabout it.” He said that eration of personality while he acknowland friendship.” edges there are cerStanding on the tain expectations for homecoming quad holding a plate of brownies and asks to be planned and initiated by a sign with a reference to the TV show guys rather than by girls, he appreci- “The Office,” Dahlia Low ’20 said she ated the change. felt no hesitations in asking her best “I liked the switcheroo,” he said.“It friend to formal. was nice to have the roles reversed “If you’re going just as friends, I and get flowers and a poster and don’t think of it as nerve-racking stuff like that.” as if I were asking a love interest or This trend is indicative of an in- something,” Low said. “It’s more laid creasingly progressive student body back and more of a funny thing with that is becoming more conscious of a friend.” gender stereotypes, Bahar said. Bahar said she attributes girls’ “I definitely think every year things inclination to ask friends over love are changing for the better for wom- interests to the comfort of knowing en,” Bahar said. “We’re really in the their date is less likely to reject them. heart of it, we’re in the thick of that “I think boys still have less emchange, because we’re the genera- barassment for them to go and ask tion growing up with a really strong a girl that they’ve never spoken to,” feminist movement and with feminist Bahar said. “But for most of the girls, ideals.” we’re asking guys who we’re friends Alyse Tran ’18 said she also be- with and who we’ll get a safe “yes” lieves her ask for her boyfriend cor- from.”

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Low, on the other hand, said she little note on the door for her to come believes girls ask their friends to into the kitchen because she might formal because they tend to have not have otherwise but she was still known them for longer than potential surprised. Her reaction was hilarilove interests. ous, and it made it worth it.” “When you’ve known the person Klace said she appreciates the for longer, it makes it more com- school’s community for being acceptfortable for you. Like for me, I was ing and inclusive of LGBTQ couples. totally comfortable asking [my date] “I feel really lucky to go to a school because we’re so close,” Low said. where I can feel comfortable being “Maybe for some people in lower open about my true self and not havgrades the relationships haven’t been ing to hide,” she said. “It’s always a going for so long and there’s a differ- little nerve-wracking, but overall I’m ent dynamic between classmates be- really excited [to go with Baker].” cause they haven’t known each other Although Klace thinks there has for so long.” not been a rise in LGBTQ presence at Bahar said she thinks having a Homecoming Formal, she acknowlclose friend as her date will make her edges that more students are beginexperience at formal more enjoyable. ning to feel comfortable with coming “I feel like I’m going to enjoy Home- out. coming a little bit more just “I hadn’t noticed that because the reason I chose there had been an increase my date is because I know in LGBTQ couples going toI’m gonna have a fun time gether to Homecoming, but with them,” she said. “BeI have noticed an increased fore, it was a little more ‘out’ presence of people on orchestrated, like ‘if I go campus, which does make with this person then I’ll go me happy,” Klace said. to this preformal, and he’s In addition, she agrees nice and people won’t judge that there has been a recent ’ me.’” increase in reversing genFlynn Klace ’19 surder roles because of shifting Flynn prised her girlfriend Josie mentalities within the comKlace ’19 Baker ’18 with a sign, flowmunity. ers, balloons and a pie in “I think it is becoming Baker’s kitchen. Klace said she de- less and less important which gender cided to do the Homecoming Formal asks the other which is something ask because they had already agreed I’m really glad to see,” she said. Baker would ask her to prom. In the poll, 73 percent of students “She had golf so I asked her mom think gender roles have influenced to let me into the house before she Homecoming asks, while only 12 pergot home so I could set up all of the cent believe gender should have an stuff in the kitchen,” Klace said. “I influence in asks. had told Josie I couldn’t hang out Similarly, Novicoff said he appreuntil later so once she got home she ciates the rising trend of girls asking wasn’t expecting it at all.” guys because it defied conventional Like Bahar, Klace also enjoyed be- perceptions of expected gender roles. ing in the position of planning and “I think it’s just like a typical, norasking this year, which she found to mal gender role that guys ask girls be more exciting than being on the out, guys pay on their first date and receiving end of an ask. stuff like that where it’s just as“It was super fun asking,” she sumed, but I’m glad guys are letting said. “I got asked last year, and that girls ask and that girls are wanting was awesome as well, but seeing to ask,” he said. “This year, for sure, her reaction and planning the whole there have been way more asks that thing was probably more fun than girls have done for guys than in prebeing asked myself. I actually put a vious years.” nathanson s

Arts & Entertainment The Chronicle • Oct. 10, 2017

Slam poet Natalie Choi ’18 performed in the 2017 Get Lit Words Ignite Classic Slam semifinals, the largest youth poetry festival in Southern California. By Caty Szeto

a similar space for poets to call out racial, Natalie Choi ’18 stood on economic and gender the black stage, a single spot- injustices plaguing light illuminating her figure c o m m u n i t i e s as she recited her two-min- e v e r y w h e r e . small, ute poem at the semi-finals The of the 2017 Get Lit Words Ig- weekly Chicanite Classic Slam in front of a go jazz club has cheering crowd of fellow poetry event now evolved fans. Choi’s love for slam began into nationslams in middle school, when she wide would watch countless videos and festivals. E v e r y of high school students competing at the Get Lit Classic year, the Harvard-WestSlam on buttonpoetry.com. slam Watching the performanc- lake es, she immediately felt con- poetry team nected to and inspired by the “My Word!” performance poetry, which she attends the didn’t always experience from Classic Slam by reading poetry written on pa- hosted per. When she found out that Get Lit Words The there was a slam poetry team Ignite. at the Upper School, she de- Get Lit Clascided to audition for the team sic Slam is the and further pursue her middle largest youth classic poetry festival in Southschool passion. “It was kind of a spur of the ern California, where high moment decision,” Choi said. school students compete with “I wrote a poem the night be- each other and “slam” their fore and I memorized it with- repertoires consisting of an in maybe a period before the iconic poem and their original audition. I just kind of went in response poem to it. A panel there and I was super nervous of artistic judges selects fimy first time but it was great.” nalists to move on to the next Slam poetry is a movement round based on the poet’s perthat first gained traction in the formance, audience reactions and sometimes person1990’s, most popal taste. ular among poets In April, Choi, along with less academwith her team, was ic styles, accordnamed a semi-finalist ing to the Academy in the competition with of American Poets. her piece, “7 PoliticalConstruction worker ly Correct Cat Calls as and poet Marc Smith Told by a Poet.” In her created the tradipoem, she emphasized tional structure of ’ the importance of not slam competitions, where poets per- Natalie Choi ’18 objectifying women. Choi said she tries formed their original works either alone or in teams to use a touch of humor to connect with her audience and in front of an audience. Smith started the first hopes to teach a valuable lesweekly poetry competition son about the courtship culknown as the Uptown Poetry ture of our society. Because Slam at a Chicago jazz club Choi was a semi-finalist, Butcalled The Green Mill. The ton Poetry recorded her perforaudience served as the judge, mance and uploaded it online taking into account both per- for others to view. Choi learned about her vidformance style and content of the original work to select eo being uploaded from her old a winner for the cash prize. teammate Hannah Dains ’16, However, the true prize was after receiving a text congratthat it provided an outlet for ulating her. Upon hearing that young poets and poets with her perforance had been updiverse backgrounds to be loaded to Button, she couldn’t heard, creating an empower- contain her excitment. “It was crazy to me. I starting community for them. Now, slam poetry provides ed watching poets on Button nathanson s

ILLUSTRATION BY SAM KO

a n d that was how I was inspired to do slam poetry in the first place and now I was up on Button. It’s as if everything had come around full circle.” So far, her video has garnered close to 50,000 views and over 4,000 likes. Choi admitted that it feels strange to think that so many people she’s never met have watched her perform on the Internet but that it is also rewarding and provides her with a sense of accomplishment. “It makes me feel like my poem and my poetry have a voice somewhere in the community and that I’ve somehow spoken to a bunch of people that I maybe wouldn’t have otherwise interacted with,” Choi said. Choi said slam poetry has grown from a middle school interest to a supportive community, in which she feels she can truly express herself. She said it also gives her the opportunity to convey those thoughts and feelings to new people, an experience that sometimes helps her see herself in a new light. “It gives you a chance to really learn more about yourself,” she said. “Who you are beyond academics and your own friend group.” Much of her willingness to share her deepest thoughts

and put herself in a vulnerable place, she said, comes from the positive and considerate attitude of the slam team and environment. “It’s the most supportive community that I’ve encountered at Harvard-Westlake so far,” Choi said. “No one is there to watch you fail and everyone is there to share in each others’ successes and to support people in their failures.” For Choi, performance poetry has also impacted the way that she writes by making her written voice stronger. Because she sees most of her written work ultimately turned into staged pieces, she now channels more emotion into the writing process. According to Choi, she likes to write her poems the way she envisions them being performed. Choi said she highly encourages students to find out more about slam poetry and even audition for the team at Harvard-Westlake. Drawing from her own experiences over the last three years, she said she believes that participating in slam poetry would be a valuable addition to time at the school. “I could not recommend it more,” Choi said. “It’s the coolest experience to be able to share what you’ve written with other people and also to meet new people.”

THE CHRONICLE

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Reflecting on “Cabaret” AN PAV

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Student actors in the fall production of “Cabaret”make connections between themes such as politics and identity in the show and in their own lives as young adults.

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his approach. “It’s just a reminder to stay Every Tuesday, Wednesday optimistic throughout all of and Thursday since Sept. 5, [the struggles one may face], the sound of actors’ feet mov- that there’s always a bright ing swiftly across the floor as side,” Davila said. “I definitethey dance the Charleston and ly think it has its ups and singers harmonizing floats out downs. You have to be smart of Rugby Theater, the drama about it. You have to analyze it. Because [Schultz] is being lab and the dance studio. According to Performing so optimistic, he’s refusing to Arts Department Head Rees look into it and learn about Pugh, “Cabaret” presents what’s happening to keep himthe young actors in the Har- self safe.” Davila added that he sees vard-Westlake production of the musicals with the chal- Schultz as more of a cautionlenge of having to portray ary tale in that he has learned characters much older than more about approaching polthem living in Weimar, Germa- itics and social issues from what Schultz chooses not to do ny. However, Pugh said that than he has from what Schultz this challenge is best overcome actually does. “If you were to see a governwhen actors use their imagiment that was about to take ofnations. “We are asking young peo- fice, persecuting against a speple to play older people, people cific race or gender, don’t look hopefully without the kind of at it and say, ‘Maybe someone personal tragedies and dev- else will do something about it. astations in their lives to play There’s not a lot that I can do,’” characters who’ve experienced Davila said. “There’s always those kinds of things,” Pugh something that you can do. I said. “The spirit of play, and feel like that’s something that Schultz missof pretend, and es out on.” full immersion Michael of pretending We can imagine Gaven ’18, should allow what it is to be who plays Cliff people the freeBradshaw, dom to explore pushed around, to be an American what feeling marginalized.” author livthose feelings are like.” —Rees Pugh ing in Berlin, Pugh addPerforming Arts said that his character also ed that even Deparment Head takes an opthough “Cabtimistic aparet” deals with mature themes such as proach to the world he lives substance abuse, sexuality, in, but unlike Schultz, Cliff is politics and prejudice, it is more active and tries to help ultimately a story about the those around him. “Although he is really gullhuman experience, giving students a way to connect to the ible, naive and kind and just tries to be nice to everyone, he characters they play. “We can all imagine what does know about what is going it is to fall in love,” Pugh said. on in the world around him,” “We can all imagine what it is Gaven said. “He is the one who to have our hearts broken. We really realizes that the Nazis can imagine what it is to be are rising to power.” To better understand his pushed around, to be marginalized. Then, we can ‘extrap- character, Gaven said he has olate’ how that feels to us in reflected on his own experiencour lives and imagine that on es of loneliness and curiosity. “It’s really just about tapa hundred-fold scale.” Alec Davila ’20 said that to ping into the emotional strugportray his character, Schultz, gles I have had with my life,” a middle-aged Jewish widow- Gaven said. “I am playing a er, he played off of Schultz’s character who is completeoptimism to make up for not ly by himself in a whole new having experiences similar to world he has never been to before. But one thing is that he his character’s. “It’s definitely hard to re- is fascinated by many things late to problems of that mag- around him. It’s a combination nitude,” Davila said. “[Schultz] of everything between being stays optimistic throughout alone and happily looking for the whole show, and it’s never a new adventure.” Gaven said his character’s seen that he’s defeated. So, I never really take into account story presents the message showing that I have problems of cherishing those around when I’m playing the charac- you during times of societal tumult. He said this is an ter.” Davila said that Schultz’s important idea especially for positivity has taught him to young adults, who are entering not assume a worst case sce- an age where they are increasnario during times of political ingly affected by and aware of strife, and to stay balanced in current events.

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“One of my main goals someone who’s about to regwhen portraying his role is to ister to vote. If Sally was livget people to see how much ing in America today, and she he cherishes the relationships was turning 18, she probably he is quickly making in the wouldn’t even register. That show,” Gaven said. “It real- has been a motivating factor ly just goes to show that bad for me to register.” things are going to happen one Weinman said her characway or another, but with a lit- ter’s need to create a persotle help from friends, with little na has similarities to the way pockets of positivity, you just teenagers often feel obligated keep your head up and keep to present themselves in a cerworking to solve problems.” tain fashion online, another Jake Schroeder ’20, plays issue affecting young adults the Master of Ceremonies (Em- today. cee), the host of the cabaret in “I think Sally is the kind which the show takes place of person who wants as many and the liaison between the opinions on her as possible,” characters and the audience. Weinman said. “She’s not necSchroeder said that because essarily trying to be palatable his character is more open to to everybody she meets but interpretation, he has less of trying to shock someone or a problem with relating to the appeal to someone. Even in character’s struggles. social media, in the way that However, he said he has we try to curate our personalibeen doing a lot of research ties online, it’s not necessarily and recalling conversations he to try to be palatable, but it’s had with Holocaust survivors really to have a brand of your in order to better understand personality. I think Sally is the world the characters of like a pre-social media embod“Cabaret” live in. iment of that sentiment.” “I went to a Jewish eleWeinman added that she mentary school, and has used Sally’s need I learned a lot about to get attention from the Holocaust and others to bridge the the hardships during gap between herself World War II,” Schroand her character. eder said. “A lot of “Her driving momy friends from that tivation is that she’s school have relatives always looking for that are survivors, validation, and that and at my elementary is something that I ’ school they had holodefinitely relate to,” Michael caust survivors come Weinman said. “It’s Gaven ’18 and tell us their stomore amplified in the ries. Drawing from both that character than in me in my and my research online, I was day-to-day life, but she’s sort able to kind of get background of looking for attention and to on where people were coming put on a good impression on from.” everybody she meets. I always Schroeder said he believes try to let people see the absothat his character, who he lute best in me in every interfeels represents political apa- action, so it’s been interesting thy, has taught him the impor- to sort of play with that side of tance of getting involved. myself.” “I think the Emcee is very Regardless of whether or obsessed with himself, so ob- not the audience can relate to sessed with himself to a point specific characters’ problems, where he doesn’t care about Weinman said she hopes the everything that is happening, human themes and emotions especially with what’s happen- in “Cabaret” inspire increased ing with World War II and the empathy from the audience in rise of the Nazis,” Schroeder future conversations in our said. “This character has just school community. helped inspire me to do some“I think one of the reasons thing rather than sitting here.” this show has been so popular Charlotte Weinman ’18 for so long is because the basaid her character, Sally sic emotions that it deals with Bowles, a performer from the are things that people expericabaret who ends up living ence in their lives even today,” with Cliff, also represents po- Weinman said. “There are litical indifference. She added some things that are timeless, that Sally’s apathy has taught feelings of insecurity, feelings her the importance of taking of self-doubt. Watching people advantage of the freedoms one go through that sort of thing has access to while living in a always can inspire this sense democracy. of empathy. You root for char“In a place that’s democrat- acters who you are unlikely to ic like America, it’s sort of your root for in real life, so I hope responsibility to enact change people take away a sense of and to take advantage of that empathy for people much difkind of system,” Weinman ferent from them, and I hope said. “It’s interesting to think people are self-reflective after about that kind of apathy as seeing [‘Cabaret’].” NATHANSON S

PHOTO ILLUSTRATION BY RYAN ALBERT, SARAH LEE AND ALEXANDRA SO

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THE CHRONICLE

Senior’s play produced in festival

OCT. 10, 2017

By KAELYN BOWERS AND ALEXANDRA SO

Uriah Celaya’s ’18 original play, “Rule of Threes,” was produced in the seventh annual Short New Play Festival held in New York City at the Lucille Lortel Theater this past summer. Unlike other students’ plays, Celaya’s play was entered in a festival alongside professional playwrights. Celaya’s play is about a woman, Maria, who starts to question her own fate after she and her two sisters manage the strings of mortals’ fates. “The play is about struggling for what your destiny is said to be versus what you want to make your life out to be and how to balance the two,” Celaya said. Celaya submitted his play the day of the deadline, after ﬁnding out about the opportunity the day before from Dara Weinberg, his director for the Playwrights Festival. His mentors for writing play were English teacher Jocelyn Medawar and performing arts teacher Christopher Moore. “[Medawar] has really been an inspiration for me in a lot of ways,” Celaya said. “She has helped me a lot throughout the process. And, of course, Mr.

ILLUSTRATION BY ESTHER GROVER ’19

PLAYING BY THE RULES: Esther Grover ’19 created an illustration for a poster for “Rule of Threes,” Uriah Celaya ’18’s play about three sisters who control the strings of mortals’ fates. The play was shown at the Short New Play Festival in New York City. Moore helps everyone. He is very frank and that also really helps a lot.” When Celaya found out that his play was selected for production and that he would be ﬂown out to New York, he said he was shocked because he was one of the six writers chosen out of 300 submissions. But he also knew that this one accomplishment was only the beginning of his career. “I know I have a lot to come

Witch Word Works?

Across 1. Short play 5. Acorn-producing trees 9. Not evens 13. Comedian Michael who starred in “Ant-Man” and “The Martian” 14. Song for two 15. “Sk8er Boi” singer Lavigne 16. Online auction website 17. Black and white cookie 18. Uneasy 19. What your Film Studies teacher might give out for Halloween? 22. Alliance of countries voting together 23. “Kid-tested” cereal 24. The Mustangs of college football: abbr. 27. What your Biology teacher might give out for Halloween? 32. Abbreviation in Chemistry indicating conditions of 1 atm and 273 Kelvin 35. Racetrack shape 36. Actress Emma of “La La Land” 37. Still-life fruit 39. Over the top, in modern slang 42. It’s written on an envelope: abbr. 43. Like x and y on a graph 45. Scratchy voice sound 47. Letter before tee 48. What your French or English teacher might give out for Halloween? 52. Superlative sufﬁx 53. Word in the names of two Major League Baseball teams 54. Helper 57. What your Molecular Gastronomy teacher might give out for Halloween?

63. 65. 66. 67. 68. 69. 70. 71. 72.

before me, and just one accomplishment I think doesn’t deﬁne me yet,” Celaya said. “But, I do think it is something that I have to live up to because I did well one time, so I know that I can do better. So, that is what I’m going with, to just continue.” Celaya said his own experiences as a student during junior year inspired the play. “My mom wants me to be a doctor, but I want to be an English major, so it is kind of do-

ing what my mom wants me to do versus what I actually want to do, and I think that struggle comes out in ‘Rule of Threes,’” Celaya said. In the future, Celaya hopes to continue pursuing writing both in his upcoming two plays in the Playwrights Festival and his career. “I feel like it was the start for me for how I hope for my career to go in the future,” Celaya said. “That was my ﬁrst step to go out somewhere and

see [my play] be produced. Of course I want to continue playwriting, but I also want to do other forms of writing too.” Before writing this play, Celaya took creative writing at the Middle School, participated in the Playwrights Festival and wrote a play during his sophomore year. “I was really shy,” Celaya said. “I think writing was a way for me to talk without actually having to talk, so it eased me out of my shell a little bit.”

Science teacher Nate Cardin created a Halloween themed crossword puzzle for HarvardWestlake students to complete. Crossword puzzles will be featured in every issue this year.

Trumpet sound Uncles, in Mexico “Present!” Breakfast fruit Light brown color

Sufﬁx with cyclo or jumbo

Join metals together Freeway access Group of cattle

Down 1. Eject, like from a volcano 2. Meat on a stick 3. Considering everything 4. Singer Swift 5. Nasty smell 6. Essence 7. Perceptive 8. Wall Street purchases 9. Wrapped up 10. Policy updated in the 2017-2018 HW Student Handbook 11. Ms. Jones’s title in the Ofﬁce of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion: abbr. 12. Clever 15. French author de Tocqueville or Actress Arquette 20. Amazon smart speaker 21. With it 25. Repairs 26. Consumers 28. Night before a major

holiday 29. Reed instrument 30. Very, very 31. Seventh letter of the Greek alphabet 32. “The Final Frontier” 33. State where 24-across is located 34. Sport where you’ll get black and blue...and lots of other colors 38. Awesome (in the 1980s, anyway) 40. Childish Gambino genre

CROSSWORD BY NATE CARDIN

41. Cleopatra’s deadly snake 44. Pay attention 46. Strategy, like your three-year one at the Upper School 49. Morse code bit 50. Prep school in New Hampshire 51. Last period of the day at the Upper School

55. Tractor maker John _____ 56. Mistake 58. Yankee superstar, to Scan fans 59. Costa _____ for 60. Piece of paper to ﬁll out Answers! 61. Goes to bat 62. Email option 63. German car maker 64. Director Spike _____

Sports The Chronicle • Oct. 10, 2017

Football

AARON PARK/CHRONICLE

QUARTERBACK KEEPER: Quarterback Jameson Wang ’20 rushes off of the read-option run in a 54-31 win against Dominguez on Sept. 22. In the game, he accounted for seven touchdowns through the air, five of which went to wide receiver Cam Jones ’18. Wang, the team’s leading rusher, has rushed for over 500 yards and 11 touchdowns.

Tough lessons bring team success in new campaign By Jackie Greenberg

After a disappointing season last year, finishing with a record of 3-8, the Wolverines have started the season at 5-1, led by quarterback Jameson Wang ’20. Wang has passed 16 touchdowns and has rushed for 11 touchdowns more. The Wolverines beat Garfield and El Camino Real, two teams they lost to last season. “We worked hard all summer and during the offseason,” halfback Jake Kelly ’20 said. “As a whole, we were more focused on our goals.” Offensive and defensive schemes have undergone changes. New defensive coordinator Patrick Cartmill added to the defense’s complexity to show

opposing offensives different ies and their mentalities over the winter,” Ruggles said. “I looks. Also, after a year off from think that carried over into play calling, head coach Scot spring ball, which carried over to our season. Ruggles returned to We had some staff his old role, as offenchanges on both sive coordinator. sides of the ball and The team’s ofI think obviously we fensive performance went back to what jumped to 44 points we’ve done here for a per game. long time offensively Ruggles said the and defensively.” players spent much According to Rugof the summer in the ’ gles, captain Liam weightroom and have Jake Douglass ’18, comcontinued to work Kelly ’20 mitted to the Unito improve strength versity of Southern and ability to tackle to perform much better defen- California, brings the team a different playing style. sively. “Nobody’s going to ques“Coach Casey came up with an unbelievable plan tion Liam Douglass’ work eththat I thought was phenom- ic,” Ruggles said. “I think he’s enal, the kids bought into it really earned everything that and really changed their bod- he got considering how inexwhite s

outtakes

“When you put time and effort into something, you want to reap the rewards, and I think that that’s what our kids are doing on the field this year.” — Scot Ruggles Football Head Coach white’s

perienced he is with the game of football. Having a guy like that, his size and physicality, he brings to the game a kid who’s committed to USC.” After getting blown out at Cathedral last season 560, the Wolverines practiced hard, in the weight room and on the field, to make a statement against stronger teams. “We’re in a good football league, there’s ups and downs,” Ruggles said. “The top two teams have consistently been Cathedral and St. Francis and they have coaching staffs that have been there for a long time and full time coaches and really good

football players. We expect our league, regardless of what people’s records are to be really good.” The Wolverines lost on Homecoming night in the Angelus League opener to Cathedral 57-20. The team started out slow, getting down 22-0 in the first quarter. The team’s defense, which had been strong, could not stop quarterback Bryce Young and Cathedral’s rushing attack. However, the Wolverines put up the most points Cathedral had surrendered to any opposing team this season.

Field hockey

Team dominates early season

By Lucas Gelfond

From the first game of the year, something about the field hockey team was different. The team was older, better organized, bonded and poised to win. The team record is 11-0. In the entire season, the team has been scored on just once by Glendora, shutting out its opponent in every other game. The team is well on pace to beat last year’s 15-3-3 record. “Overall, this is probably the strongest team I’ve coached,” head coach Erin Creznic said.

Creznic has been coaching field hockey for 15 years, 12 years as the head varsity coach. This is not to say that the team has dominated every game — of the 11 games, three have been 1-0. Two of these have been against Huntington Beach, a team the Wolverines see as a challenge. “Huntington Beach met my expectations in a sense that they were as strong as they were last year, or maybe even stronger,” team captain Alyse Tran ’18 said. With their strong record

on the field, the players said that they have lots of ideas as to how the team has been so successful. Team captain Mia Reilly ’18 attributes the wins to an overall improvement in player quality. “I think that because our team is lucky to have so many good players this year that we are able to play at a much more sophisticated level than last year, which is why we keep winning and doing so well,” Reilly said. Multiple players noted the • Continued on D7

PAVAN TAUH/CHRONICLE

SWEEP THE COMPETITION: Center midfielder Rachel Brown ’20

dribbles upfield in a close 1-0 win against Newport on September 14.

D2 SPORTS

Game to watch

THE CHRONICLE

OCT. 10, 2017

Girls’ Vollyball

OCTOBER 7 Volleyball vs. Marymount The Pavilion In the ﬁnal game of the regular season, fans should expect a close match between the Wolverines and the Sailors. Both programs come into the game with winning records and will be looking to seal the deal after months of hard work. Although the Wolverines have had troubles against Marymount in the past, they should come out with more ﬁrepower than ever, hoping to close out the season under new head coach Haley Blanchard.

KEY PLAYER Jaimie Rao ’18 The 6’4” senior opposite has put up outstanding numbers this season and has proven to be a crucial hitter for the Wolverines. Rao has been essential on the right side, keeping defenders guessing on her next move. Expect nothing less from the Harvard commit, known for her explosive kills and pivotal blocks, as she looks to lead her team heading into the playoffs.

& Figures Facts

Total sets won by girls’ volleyball this season

Number of goals allowed by girls’ ﬁeld hockey this season

Rushing yards per carry by boys football

9.1

.83

Win percentage by boys' water polo in home games

Junior Varsity Field Hockey Next Game:

Oct. 16 @ Glendora

Girls' Tennis Next Match:

Oct. 17 @ Notre Dame

Girls' Volleyball Next Match: Oct. 17 @ Harvard-Westlake

Boys' Water Polo Next Game: Oct. 17 @ Orange Lutheran

Cross Country Next Meet: Oct. 20 @ Mt. SAC

MATTHEW YAM/CHRONICLE

SET IT UP: (Left) Lindsey Kelly ’19 sets a ball to Mycah Dottin ’18 for a spike in a 3-0 loss against Marymount last season. The Wolverines will face the Sailors at home on Oct. 10. (Right) Isabel Wiatt ’18 prepares to defend a return and pass to Carly Wallace ’20.

Team dominates opponent in Homecoming victory By RYAN ALBERT

The girls’ volleyball team is on track to end the season strong after gaining experience with its new head coach. So far this season, the girls have an overall record of 16-6 and a league record of 3-1. They have also played in three tournaments, The Molten Classic, the Mohs Memorial Tournament and the Durango Fall Classic. In the Mohs Memorial Tournament, the Wolverines defeated Redondo Union in what middle blocker Caroline Tilton ’19 said was the team’s best game and a big bonding moment. “[Redondo Union] is a really talented team and we deﬁnitely stepped up and took the challenge,” Tilton said. “It was

Last year, the team played a close match but it was the best we had played all sea- and defeated them twice durson and the whole team really ing the regular season. In the first matchup, the came together.” The players have been Wolverines won by a comfortable margin, winning adjusting to the in only three sets. new team dynamic Later that season, brought on by new the second meeting head coach Haley saw the girls defeatBlanchard. ing the Bishops three Outside hitter Bisets to one. anca Bergsneider ’19 However, the Wolsaid she has benefited verines beat Alemany from the new struc3-0 in their rematch ture. at the homecoming “There is more ’ game Oct. 7. conditioning but Caroline Head coach she understands us Tilton ’19 Blanchard thinks more,” Bergsneider said. “There is definitely better the difference between the two games was like night and day. team bonding now.” “This is how the first game Earlier this season, the girls were setback when they should have gone if we played lost to Alemany Sept. 26 for our [best] game and tonight we came out and did it,” the first time since 1995. WHITE S

Blanchard said. The girls are preparing for their upcoming matches as the season continues. They have four more league matches left in the season, two of which are at home. Tilton said the team is looking forward to its next match against Marymount on Oct. 10 at home. “We are all excited about our match against Marymount,” Tilton said. “They are our league rivals and we know a lot about the team from outside of school. They are a really talented group of girls and the match should be pretty exciting.” The coach is excited for the rest of the season as well. “We are now 3-0 in our last three games and we are just looking forward to the great match going into Marymount on Tuesday,” Blanchard said.

Girls’ Golf

Girls’ varsity squad begins season with early victories By OLIVER AKHTARZAD AND ADAM YU

Chamberlain said. “On the third hole of that golf course, we had two fours, two sevens, The girls’ golf team began an eight and a nine. That is the season by winning five of absolutely an outlier for our its first six matches and going team because our team is very deep and very poised. It 4-1 in league play. However, members of the was one of those days the golf squad still believe that they course won.” While the can perform loss may have even better. temporarily de“I think I would say this railed the Wolthere is always verines’ searoom to imyear, even though we son, the golfers prove,” Daisy suffered a loss, we might said they are Wan ’20 said. be an even stronger still optimistic “We’re already for the remaindoing great, team than last year” der of the seabut I think —Daisy Wan ’20 son. we should go “I would say out to hard this year, even courses and just practice the really tough though we suffered a loss, situations that we get into we might be an even stronsometimes, so that in the fu- ger team than last year,” Wan ture we’re always prepared no said. “Last season was really good, but I think this season matter what happens.” The team lost its first can be the greatest. That loss match of the season to Marl- against Marlborough is only borough Oct. 2 by a score going to make our team come of 206-212. However, Girls’ back stronger and work hardGolf Program Head Margaret er to be the best.” Chamberlain is not worried Josie Baker ’18 also exabout the defeat. pressed optimism despite the “I would say we lost more squad’s recent loss. to the Wilshire Country Club “We’re doing alright,” Bakthan we did to anything else,” er said. “[Losing] keeps us on

“

AARON PARK/CHRONICLE

FULL POWER: Claire Dennis ’18 takes a stroke in a 207-264 win

against Louisville last season. The girls are 5-1 overall this season.

our toes, makes us realize that we have to stay focused for the rest of the season, and not let up on everybody else because we’re deﬁnitely still in position to win Mission League if we stay on top of our game.” The team was able to show off some of its strengths during the ﬁve game winning streak they carried from Aug. 31 to Sept. 28, in which they defeated Flintridge Sacred

Heart Academy, Chaminade, Louisville, Notre Dame and Marymount, respectively. “I think our team has a lot of strengths,” Wan said. “We’re great skill-wise as well as [preparing mentally]. We play a fair game as always, very supportive of each other. There are times when we might not have played our best golf, but we always bounce back and look forward to winning the next match.”

Oct. 10, 2017

hwchronicle.com/sports

Sports D3

inbrief

Water Polo

Squad struggles to close games

Football uses new tackling dummies

The Athletics Department purchased an $8,000 remotecontrolled tackling dummy for football players to use during practice in order to improve their skills while keeping players safe. The tackling dummy from the Rogers Athletic Company can move up to 19 mph on the field and weighs 195 pounds. The company has been making tackling dummies since March, and they have shipped them to high school, college and professional football teams, including the Los Angeles Rams. The Wolverines have responded well to the tackling dummy, and players said the intensity of practice has increased, making it easier to focus on tackling technique. ABC 7 News came to campus to film drills using the dummies and interview players regarding their feelings about the dummy. —Keila McCabe

By Asa Saperstein

With an 9-5 record and a less experienced squad, the boys’ water polo team is struggling to close out games and capitalize on offensive opportunities. The group has struggled in late-game situations against older, more experienced teams. Head of Aquatics Brian Flacks said that the team needs to be more focused in closing out games. “We need to start winning some of those one-goal, overtime games, so it comes down to details,” Flacks said. “In practice over the next month [we need to get] better, and executing at the end of the game is important.” Goalkeeper Sam Krutonog ’18 underscored that the lategame woes have come from the team’s mindset in those situations. “Our biggest weakness is our mental attitude when the going gets tough,” Krutonog said. “We’ve lost four of five games in overtime, and I think it says something about our mental approach. We’ll definitely look to keep trying really hard in close-game situation.” Attacker Alex Bucur ’19 said that the team has been frustrated about losing so many games. The team has had trouble converting in high-pressure moments all season. “Our weakest link by far has been our ability to finish the opportunities we earn on

PAVAN TAUH/CHRONICLE

LIKE WATER: Attacker Ryan Neapole ’19 looks to pass against Murietta Valley on Sept. 6. The team,

while strong, has struggled to recover from player departures and to meet standards of past seasons.

offense,” Bucur said. “We have fallen just short of the things we’ve wanted to accomplish by losing several games by a single goal.” Krutonog said the team’s preparation is still strong despite their struggles this season. “We’ve lost a couple more games than we would have liked to lose, but the team has done a great job of pre-

paring for games,” Krutonog said. “The coaching staff has worked incredibly hard to give the team the best chance [it] possibly can to win games. Our overall preparation has been the team’s strength, guys coming in during free periods to shoot or watch film with the coaches.” Bucur said that wins are especially gratifying this year because no one expects the

team to deliver against highlevel opponents like Huntington Beach. Krutonog said the win against Huntington Beach in the South Coast Tournament showed that the team has the ability to go head-to-head with any team. Bucur said this is one of the best wins of the season because the team remained calm down the stretch against an elite opponent.

Cross Country

Cross country runs strong in early season

By Ryan Kim

The cross country team started its season strong in invitationals and one league meet. The girls’ team won the first Mission League meet Sept. 26 with the help of Natalia Quintero ’21, who took first place with a time of 17:54. Additionally, the boys’ team achieved second place behind Loyola. Both captains, Jonah Ring ’18 and Adin Ring ’18, missed the meet due to injuries. The whole team ran in the Sunny Hills/Wayne Walker Cross Country Invitational on Sept. 23. Capain Lila Cardillo ’18 finished in 12th place with a time of 20:23, while Andrew Shibuya ’19 came in seventh in 15:54. “It was a good opportunity to get in a race on a course that wasn’t flat, which will be important as we move forward toward meets such as Mt. Sac,” Cardillo said. The squad participated in the 37th Annual Skechers

Woodbridge Cross Country Classic Sept. 16th during the second day of competition in Norco, Calif. The meet took place at night which allowed runners to avoid the 80 degree heat during the day. Quintero won third place at 16:56. Additionally, Jonah Ring earned a time of 15:17 and 42nd place. The team began its season with the Seaside Invitational Sept. 8th at San Buenaventura Beach. Quintero and Shibuya were among the top finishers, with Quintero winning the freshman women’s race with a time of 18:17 and Shibuya placing seventh in the junior men’s race at 15:29. Runners said they were happy with their strong start this season. “The season is going really well,” Shibuya said. “We’ve had a lot of good races at the invitationals and now we’re focusing more on the league meets and getting ready for CIF finals. I think we are going to end the season very strong.”

Alumni inducted into school hall of fame

The Athletic Department inducted four alumni into the Harvard-Westlake Hall of Fame during halftime of the Homecoming football game. Ashley Grossman ’11 started for the Girls Water Polo team four years in a row and led the team to four Mission League titles and a CIF D-IV Championship. Zaakirah Daniels ’10, a current assistant Track and Field coach for the Wolverines and HW Works Administrator, was a seven-time Mission League champion for the Track and Field team and holds the school record in the 100M hurdles. Anna Farias-Eisner ’05 ran track and field and holds the school record in 10 events. Lauren Hansson ’11 led the Girls Track and Field team to a CIF Championship in 2011 and is an eight-time Mission League Champion. A banquet was held Oct. 6 honoring each athlete. —Luke Casola

School baseball players compete in MLB

RYAN ALBERT/CHRONICLE

RUN IT: Team Captain Jonah Ring ’18 leads the pack at the Seaside

Invitational in Ventura, one of the team’s four September events.

Over the past nine years, Harvard-Westlake has sent four baseball players to the Major League. Nik Turley ’08 was drafted by the New York Yankees the year of his graduation and made his Major League debut for the Minnesota Twins this year. Lucas Giolito ’12 was drafted by the Washington Nationals in 2012 and now plays for the Chicago White Sox. Max Fried ’12 graduated the same year as Giolito and plays for the Atlanta Braves. He had his debut in August of this year. Jack Flaherty ’14 was drafted by the St. Louis Cardinals and made his MLB debut in after his impressive Minor League stats. —Grant Palmer

THE CHRONICLE

D4 SPORTS

OCT. 1

Instant Rep VOLLEYBALL

Team defeats Alemany after earlier loss

Underclassmen lead te RYAN ALBERT/CHRONICLE

FIELD HOCKEY

Mia Reilly ’18 scores game winning goal RYAN ALBERT/CHRONICLE

CROSS COUNTRY

Natalia Quintero ’21 wins first league meet RYAN ALBERT/CHRONICLE

FOOTBALL

Jameson Wang ’20 run

10, 2017

HWCHRONICLE.COM/SPORTS

play

SPORTS D5

Highlights of the season and homecoming games.

GOLF

TENNIS

eam to victory

Undefeated after beating Marlborough PRINTED WITH THE PERMISSION OF WOO SIM

PRINTED WITH THE PERMISSION OF WOO SIM

WATER POLO

Beats Loyola 9-8 in rivalry match

ns in a touchdown PAVAN TAUH/CHRONICLE

PAVAN TAUH/CHRONICLE

Volleyball sweeps Alemany

3-0

Fockey defeats HBHS

1-0

Water Polo beats Loyala

9-8

Football loses to Catherdral

57-20

Wolverines play at homecoming games

ILLUSTRATION BY RYAN ALBERT

D6 Sports

The Chronicle

Oct. 10, 2017

Girls’ Tennis

Field Hockey

Dominant team seeks league title • Continued from D1

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KONFIDENT KOSSARI: Varsity player Kiannah Kossari ’18 swings in game. The team has recovered well from the departure of multiple key players, going 5-0 in league and 6-2 overall. The Wolverines are also now under the direction of new head coach Jelena Durisic.

Tennis team cruises through regular season By Ben Tenzer

winning because our lineup is so good.” Another difference from Despite of the departure of key team members, the girls’ last season has been the head tennis team has been able to coach position, newly filled by find success so far this season. Jelena Durisic, who replaced The Wolverines are holding on Kristie Gipe. Team members to a 6-2 overall record and have said that Durisic has a 5-0 record in the Mission provided a new approach to League. The team’s success is coaching which has been a largely due to its ability to ad- good fit for the squad. “[Durisic] is defijust to a new roster. nitely more energetic “I think our team and fun than [former has adjusted very coach] Kristie Gipe and well,” team capI think she relates to tain Lara Mikhail us better and makes ’18 said. “Whereas the games and practicbefore we used to es more fun,” Mikhail depend on wins said. “She hasn’t really from the good playchanged the way that ers like Jenna she trains us though. [Moustafa ’17], [and W Also, the assistant former players] Sophia [Genender ’19], Lara Mikhail ’18 coaches are the same so the people who are Amanda [Chan ’19] and Jennifer [Gadalov ’19] , our giving us advice in between coaches have done a really good changeovers are the same.” Because of the team’s job in finding the strengths in each player to place them so dominance in league play so that their chances of winning far, Durisic has been able to are maximized. We’re not win- play around with the lineup, ning by as big of a margin as matching different pairs to see before, but I think we’re still which ones perform the best. hites

“Coach Durisic keeps us team’s chemistry has been a on our toes with new lineups major factor in its achieveevery match and pushes us ment this season. to be the best we possibly can “I think that because the be which has made us really people who are on the team adaptable and better tennis this year are actually commitplayers,” Grace Swift ’19 said. ted and happy to be there,” Despite the team’s success, Mikhail said. “They are satthe players have remained isfied with their spots in the modest and continue to stay lineup, practices are more effocused on upcoming matches. ficient, and there’s a lot more “I don’t team spirit think anyone which is enis really concouraging durcentrated on ing matches.” Coach Durisic our record at The girls keeps us on our toes with hope to return this point,” Mikhail said. new lineups every match to their former “Everyone is glory: reaching and pushes us to be the trying to have the CIF playbest we possibly can be.” fun and make offs. the best out goals — Grace Swift ’19 for “Our of this season, the season and although are to keep we know that we are very good playing as well as we have been in comparison to the other and hopefully make it back to teams in our league, we don’t CIF,” Swift said. “We’ll achieve necessarily let that arrogance this by supporting each other get to our head and treat every and making sure that everymatch the same no matter who one is putting in effort. Since we are playing and treat every we have such a small team it’s time with respect.” important that everyone does Players also say that the their best.”

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team’s bond and cohesion. The team regularly has “family nights” where the freshmen, JV and varsity team bond together in “family groups” so that they can get to know each other. The events are meant mostly to foster connections between upper school players and lowerclassmen, but it is merely one of many activities the team does together to bond. “I think we are so successful because we definitely have a lot of talent and we have amazing chemistry,” center defender Cypress Toomey ’19. “We really know the ways each other plays, so we work really well together.” Creznic agreed that the team members’ bonds with one another have shown through in the season and says that seniors are responsible for the team harmony. “Just watching that and [seeing] how much fun that they were having with each other – I think that’s just a reflection of this team and the leadership of the senior class,” Creznic said. This year’s team is older than most years – 11 seniors and 12 underclassmen. Seniors include high scorers Mia Reilly ’18 and Nicole Bahar ’18 as well as Erin Lee ’18, team captain and winner of the MVP of the Northern Section of the Sunset League last year. “Even from the seniors being seventh graders we knew this would be a good year, when they were seniors,” Creznic said. “There are 11 of them so they certainly make a huge impact on the team. They’re great leaders too.” Despite the successes, Creznic says the team still stays humble. “They’ve still been very nervous for a lot of our games and I don’t think they realize how good they are,” Creznic said.

Athletics holds open house for prospective student athletes By Keila McCabe

The Athletics Department hosted its first annual open house during Homecoming for prospective families to meet coaches and learn about the athletics program Saturday. Prospective athletes for every sport attended the open house. Athletic Directors Jason Kelly and Darlene Bible said the goal of the program was to give applying families the opportunity to get to know Harvard-Westlake athletics. The program started with a speech from Head of Athletics Terry Barnum. Barnum described the goals of the school’s athletics and the Harvard-Westlake Athletics Principles. “There are more students

that participate in athletics than actually go to school at either the Middle or Upper School on any given day,” Barnum said. “Our athletics program is robust, and we are proud of what we have been able to accomplish.” The rest of the open house consisted of various speakers to help the families better understand the admissions process at Harvard-Westlake. Director of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion and Associate Director of Admissions Janine Jones and Director of Financial Aid Melanie Leon spoke more about the specific dates and details of applications and financial aid. After hearing about the school, the prospective families were released into “break-

out sessions,” and the families spoke to the program heads of their respective sport for further information on the individual sports. “At a normal admissions open house [the students] don’t get the opportunity to meet with the program head and ask specific questions about athletics, which is important because many times people applying don’t know the answers to those questions,” Bible said. Coaches and admissions faculty members led tours for prospective families after the opening remarks. The open house concluded at 5:00 p.m. and the families were then able to partake in the Homecoming festivities.

KEILA MCCABE /CHRONICLE

OPEN SEASON: Head of Athletics Terry Barnum presents to parents at the event. Families listened to presentations and toured the school.

Oct. 10, 2017

hwchronicle.com/sports

Sports D7

Water Polo

Squad fails to meet high expectations

• Continued from D3

In the Elite 8 Tournament said that his improvement hosted at the Upper School, can be attributed to all the the team fell to Huntington film that he watches evbeach 9-8 in bracket play. The eryday with Coach Flacks. Wolverines were down four at “I feel like assuming a halftime, and fought back to leadership role on the team equalize the score at 8-8 at and attempting to lead by the end of the fourth quarter. example has forced me to The group has struggled step up,” Maloney said. with closing out games all Bucur said Maloney was a season, and it showed here. role player last year, but has Huntington Beach put one assumed a leadership role in to close out the game on the team and become one with just a few minutes left. of the top offensive options. The Wol“This year, verines saw he’s stepped out Huntingof their shadow ton Beach and evolved into [Maloney’s] again to our leader and desire to win in every play for one of our top single moment has third place, offensive opmore detions,” Bucur pushed us to succeed in termined said. “His desire ever practice and game.” to win in every and irritated by the — Alex Bucur ’19 single moment late game has pushed us woes, Buto succeed in evcur said. The Wolverines ery practice and game.” held a two-goal lead at halfFlacks called Maloney time until Huntington Beach “one of the best players in went on a 4-0 run in the the country” and “extremethird quarter. The team re- ly valuable offensively” . sponded with a 4-0 run of “Offensively, and in a lot their own, winning 12-10. of other ways, he has been Flacks said this win, along unbelievable for us this with others against top team, year and another offensive shows that they can con- threat that we didn’t retend with any opponent. ally expect,” Flacks said. Attacker Keller Maloney The team beat Loyola 9-8 ’18 has exceeded expecta- on Homecoming night. BuPAVAN TAUH /CHRONICLE tions, becoming possibly the cur led the team with four best all-around player on the goals, and Gabe Kaplan POST MALONEY: Attacker Keller Maloney ’18 takes aim in the Elite 8 Tournament. The Wolverines team, Flacks said. Maloney ’18 made the go-ahead goal. defeated Huntington Beach to take third in the tournament. Maloney is in his fourth varsity season.

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THE CHRONICLE

D8 SPORTS

Q&A

OCT. 10, 2017

Bella Hedley Volleyball

By JACKIE GREENBERG When did you start playing volleyball? I started playing volleyball in third grade, so a pretty long time ago. What has motivated you to continue playing? I had always been really into sports when I was younger, so I had already done everything, and when I started playing volleyball, I immediately loved it. It was always really fun for me so that drove me to keep playing: how much I genuinely loved it. What position do you play and how has that changed throughout your years of playing? I play outside hitter. It’s been pretty consistent throughout the time that I’ve played, except I sometimes play libero because I’m pretty short in the volleyball world. Most people at my position are six feet or taller so sometimes I play libero, but most of the time I’m on the outside. How’s the balance between club and school volleyball? It’s nice because there’s a rule that if school volleyball is going on, you’re not allowed to practice with club and vice versa, and it makes it an all-year activity. What’s your favorite thing about volleyball? I really like the team aspect of it. Aside from the competitive aspect of it, I’ve met a lot of my best friends through volleyball, and it has taught me teamwork and how to use it in other aspects of my life. It’s been a big part of a growing experience. What goes through your mind before a game? I don’t really get nervous and I like high pressure situations, so I just feed off of it. Since I’ve been the club captain for ﬁve years and I’m the captain for school this year, part of my responsibility has been to make sure my teammates aren’t too nervous. I deﬁnitely feel more responsible because more people look up to me, and it really pushes me to lead for example. I think that it’s important for me to keep in mind that I have that role. What’s been your favorite school moment? We beat Redondo Beach HS this year at a tournament, and that was really big for us because they are highly ranked. We had a rough season last year, so bouncing back was great. They have bigger hitters than us and more aggressive players, and I remember that the little things like our defense and effort won us the game. What impact do you hope to leave on the volleyball team?

Stats

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Overall season record Kills at Durango tournament SCPL Girls Athlete of the Week Award

I would really like to leave a legacy of working hard and bringing a lot of energy. Everyone on the team is really close to one another, so I would like to leave the memory of myself bringing lots of energy. Do you have a role model or player that you look up to? When I was growing up, I always thought that Misty May Treanor was really cool just because she was the best and she was my height. People were always telling me, ‘you’re so short’ and that I was going to have to switch positions, and like her, I proved a lot of people wrong. How do you hope to evolve your game at the college level? In college I hope to continue to get better and push myself to the next level. I am so excited to be playing with and against very talented athletes and although it will deﬁnitely be difﬁcult, I am looking forward to challenging myself to be the best I can be.

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