Cougar Connection May 2018 Vol. 47 Issue 5
ON OUR COVER:
4
Graduation
On May 25, hundreds of families and friends will gather at Kaiser’s new football stadium to watch their students in blue receive their diplomas.
13
MARCH WALKOUT
On March 14, the Kaiser football stadium was packed with students commemorating the February 14 school shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High.
24
VOTING AGE During America’s last presidential election, only 59.7% of the eligible voting population voted. As a result, many officials proposed a lowering of the minimum voting age to 16.
30
Boys volleyball
The Kaiser’s boys volleyball team put together an impressive regular season, finishing 2nd with a record of 12-2.
Another year has gone by. As summer nears, take a look back on the some of the highlights of recent months.
Editor’s Note & Staff Credit In journalism, we are always working with deadlines. Whether that means meeting them or missing them, there is always something that needs to be done by a certain time. Deadlines aren’t only something I’ve had to deal with in the newspaper, but with almost every aspect of life. For most of highschool, deadlines have defined what I do and when I do it. There are homework assignments and project due dates, application deadlines, dances and proms, curfews and school bells -- there are even expiration dates on relationships and friendships. With so many deadlines in life, it’s nearly impossible to meet them all, so you have to realize that there is an allotted time for everything. You only get a certain window of time to get things done and to get them right. Almost every opportunity you have now isn’t going to present itself again in the future. Nothing is permanent and life is forever changing. It’s important to realize which deadlines are the ones you want to meet. Don’t waste time on things you don’t truly care about or people who don’t truly care about you. The most important things to know are your own priorities. Put your best foot forward in everything you do, especially the things you care about. By staying true to yourself, everything will fall into place and no matter what, you will never miss the deadline. Now that my time as editor-in-chief of the Cougar Connection is almost up, I would like to thank my adviser, Mrs. Ellis, for not only being an extraordinary teacher, but for being a great friend. Without her creative ingenious, contagious laughter, brilliant advice, and undeniable great taste in everything, we could not have turned this paper into what it is today. I would also like to thank our newspaper staff who have made my time here so memorable and valuable. I believe that this group of people is among the most talented and hardworking bunch in the whole school. Working with the chaos of redesigning an entire newspaper and launching a journalism website, they couldn’t have done a better job. I will terribly miss our little newswriting family. As I step down and The Cougar Connection continues to move forward, I encourage you, our readers, to keep reading and supporting student journalism. In the coming months and years, I hope that you can continue to see in our words a dedication to inform as well as an effort to foster communication, understanding, and compassion within the Kaiser community. On behalf of the staff, I would like to thank the readers of the Cougar Connection most of all. In all of my three years in the journalism program, nothing has made me happier than simply seeing someone pick up the paper and read. Without your support, our newspaper could not exist. We owe you more than words can ever express.
Sincerely, Jolie Ching Editor-in-Chief: Jolie Ching Copy Editor: Tristan Yousuf-Leo Associate Editor: Eui Jin Song Layouts Editor: Jade Ching News Editor: Tara Morisato Features Co-Editor: Claudia Tang Features Co-Editor: Deborah Yuan Editorials Editor: Nicholas Okazaki Sports Editor: Leigh Farah Online Editor: Jaron Schreiber Chief Illustrator: Holly Iwanaga Advertising Manager: Jaida Burgon Circulation Manager: Aimee Schriber Advisor: Pam Ellis Principal: Justin Mew
The Cougar Connection is the official school newspaper of Henry J. Kaiser High School at 511 Lunalilo Home Road, Honolulu, HI 96825. The Publications Office is located in Room A202. Phone: (808) 394-1200 Ext. 2261.
Member of Hawaii Schools Publication Association, National Scholastic Press Association, Journalism Education Association, and Quill and Scroll
Staff Writers: Alyssa Zamora Casey Nguyen Chelsea Chang Courtney Staples Daniel Reichert Dylan Yamamoto Jake Imanaka Kyle Lee Landon Murai Quinn Clay Reina Yamashita Ricky Ma Samantha Yonan Taylor Dunaway Yuuki Morishige
Special Contributors: Ethan Mamiya Erica Ma Sakura Liu Shannon Takahashi
Courtesy of Justin Mew
ACCESS TO LONG AWAITED GIRLS VARSITY LOCKER ROOM FINALLY APPROVED By Chelsea Chang and Alyssa Zamora / STAFF WRITERS
After seven long years, Henry J. Kaiser High School’s Girls Varsity locker room officially opened its doors to student athletes on Apr. 23. Located between the tennis courts and the corner of Kaiser Cougar Stadium, the completion of the $7.2 million building was highly anticipated by students, administrators, and faculty members alike. * After years of advocacy from both male and female student athletes, Kaiser was earmarked for a capital improvement project under Title IX, a federal civil rights law requiring female and males to have equal or equitable facilities and opportunities. However, due to limited amount of funding, it wasn’t until 2011 where the Hawaii State Legislature was able to appropriate $700,000 to Kaiser for planning and design for the 2011-2012 fiscal year, and $6.5 million designated for construction the following year. Once funding was available, monthly meetings were held during the duration of the project between the Department of Education Facilities, Kaiser High School, the contractor-- Contech Engineering, and the architecture firm -- Inform Design. Though initially set to be completed by June 2016, the project experienced numerous setbacks and delays throughout the planning and construction process as early as four months into the project. When construction began on Feb. 9, 2015, additional issues arose within six months and continued throughout the process, lengthening the delay of the completion date. “I was very frustrated because I was wondering, ‘Why is this? Why isn’t this
being done?’ It kept on getting moved to the point where we were asking ‘what year?’” said Principal Justin Mew. Delays manifested in several ways during the construction period. One which emerged was low water pressure, due to the location of the locker room being far away from the campus. Another was timing. According to Mew, construction of the building was pushed back as it would’ve made the track site unusable, therefore interfering with seasonal sports and graduation. Also during this time, weather impeded the building process as construction cannot proceed after heavy rains and this caused further additional issues. “What happened was there were some storms along the way. These storms caused some leakage in the building which needed to be repaired. Though, in a way it was good because it gave us time to fix the problems now and move forward.” said Mew. Once construction was completed in March 2017, further problems arose with punch list items, which are items the administrators felt were not made or constructed to code. These included the oxidation of metalwork and complications with the keys, tennis court lighting, the boiler, as well as the air condition. “...We didn’t accept the project because we felt it wasn’t to standard of what we wanted to give you all. We didn’t want to take it just to take it, we wanted what we were promised,” said Vice Principal Takahara-Dias. Though graduating seniors will miss the opportunity to use the facility, the adminis-
tration feels that they made the right choice, operating under the guiding principle of “holding one’s ground.” “Do you open something that’s subpar or do you want it to be in perfect condition for other classes and generations to use?” said Dias. “That is [a question] we wrestled with. We needed to make sure that our building is the building we dreamed of.” The finished product is a stunning stateof-the-art facility with its floor-to-ceiling windows and minimalistic design giving the building a modern appearance. The multipurpose two-story building functions as storage for field maintenance equipment on the ground floor, as well as an office space for coaches, conference room for team meetings, and a complex for athletic trainers on the second floor. Complete with elliptical stationary bikes, an ice bath and private shower rooms, the building will be open year round excluding summer. Moreover, the facility boasts being the first energy-efficient and “smart” building on campus with lighting and air condition being controlled through sensor technology and has the capability to run on solar energy in the future. As this chapter for Kaiser comes to an end, Mew has hopes of expanding the art department with the plans of a new upcoming project for Kaiser. “I will give you a title. It’s called the “Kaiser Cougar Complex for the Performing and Visual Arts. We have our athletics, we have our academics, but we don’t have an art side for Kaiser. So that’s a project I would like to see,” he said.
Tassle is worth the hassle
On May 25, hundreds of families and friends will gather at Kaiser’s new football stadium to watch their students in blue receive their diplomas. Spectators will eagerly clutch their homemade leis and cheer proudly for their graduates. This long-awaited ceremony is the result of months of planning. Behind the scenes, English teacher, Paul Balazs and his senior leadership class have been working hard to perfect this culmination of the students’ high school experience. As renowned author Catherine Pulsifer once said, “graduation is a time of completion, of finishing, of an ending.” Due to the momentous nature of the occasion, Balazs is determined to make the event as memorable as possible. “Parts of graduation, like the graduation song and the Kaiser band -- all of these different pieces play a large role in making sure that the night is enjoyable,” he said. Because of the immense challenge of organizing a successful graduation, Balazs is grateful for all of the support he has received from students, teachers, and parents. “All of the leadership classes, several clubs, student organizations, and teachers have volunteered to support the Class of 2018 and ensure that the graduation is flawless,” Balazs said. With every success the students have had in their planning, there have also been roadblocks along the way. One of the biggest problems they have encountered is having the graduation located on Kaiser’s new field. “This year is the first that we will be having the ceremony at Kaiser stadium. That raises some concerns that we haven’t had in the past [because] the field is on a warranty. We’re not allowed to have people walk on the field without proper athletic footwear,” Balazs said. This means that measures must be taken to ensure the field is kept clean and protected. For example, the lei ceremony cannot be held on the field. “The lei ceremony will only be open to the public on the track, not the field turf itself. This is to protect the field for future use, future ceremonies, and the community as well,” said Balazs. Furthermore, guests are not allowed to bring food and candy leis to the ceremony to avoid insect infestations on the field. Balazs feels that the ceremony was well worth its challenges. Although the field has been an obstacle to work around for graduation, it presents a valuable learning experience in accountability and responsibility. “We’re trying to be as mindful about the way we’re going about this as possible.” Balazs said. “Just because we have to work harder doesn’t mean that the experience is less valuable. It’s important to understand the value in having to be more mindful of the stadium. Before the stadium, no one paid attention to keeping the field perfect. It gives us an opportunity to be more cautious, a little more mindful of having some ownership.” Saying goodbye to his students after four years together is a bittersweet experience for Balazs. “They’ve done a wonderful job,” he said. “They’ve provided an energy and enthusiasm and spark to the school that I think many will remember for a long time. The impact they’ve had on the people who work here has been enormous and irreversible,” he said. As graduation nears, the students are perfecting last minute ideas and adding finishing touches. “It’s been an obstacle, but also an opportunity to invite several different people to the table,” said Balazs on the overall process. After four years of hard work from the Class of 2018 leadership class, they are determined to make this last event meaningful. “We’re making sure that the procession is beautiful, smooth, and memorable for the students and their families,” said Balazs.
4
Leigh Farah / Sports Editor Eui Jin Song / Associate Editor Courtesy of Holly Iwanaga
Nguyen brothers place at HSSEF and advance to IISEF Competing in the Hawaii State Science and Engineering Fair (HSSEF) is an annual event for sophomore Brandon and freshman Ryan Nguyen who have competed in science fairs since middle school. This year, the brothers represented Kaiser at the HSSEF. Before advancing to the state level, they competed in the Honolulu District Science Fair where Brandon won “First Place Overall” and “Best in Category” while Ryan was awarded “Second Place Overall” and “Best in Category”. Brandon entered a project called “Detecting Localized ORC4 in Rodent Oocytes during Meiosis Using the Fluorescent Molecule F1asH-EDT2”. His experiment involved a technique known as Fluorescence Lifetime Imaging Microscopy (FLIM), which is used to detect movements of a protein called ORC4 to form what he calls “the cage” around the polar bodies on live mouse cells. The project aimed to identify a possible cause of the genetic and phenotypic defects that may occur when a baby is born through in vitro fertilization (IVF). IVF is the process of manually combining an egg and a sperm in From left to right: Principal Justin Mew, Ryan Nguyen, and Brandon Nguyen a laboratory dish. His project won second place in the Cellular and showcasing their winning science fair experiments. Molecular Biology category at the state science fair. “I got interested Courtesy: Brandon and Ryan Nguyen in this topic based on what the lab was doing and things I read. That’s how my project got started,” said Brandon. He works at the Institute of Biogenesis Research (IBR), which focuses on reproductive biology and development. “I go to KCC, so some people noticed me. One of my professors asked if I wanted to work at the IBR in UH...now I’m a member of the lab,” he said. “I love working there...I get to work with things that most people my age can’t understand.” Brandon’s career goal is to become a doctor. “I had a chance to shadow a pediatrician about a year ago, and heard the stories of parents of children with various debilitating conditions. After hearing them remain hopeful, even when they were told that their child had only a few years left, I wanted to make a difference,” Brandon said. Ryan’s project, “Dementia, Beyond Memory Loss: A Neural Imaging Study” won first place at the HSSEF in the Biomedical and Health Sciences category. “I worked on using MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) scans from different databases to determine volumetric effects of Alzheimer’s in the brain,” Ryan said. His project explored how Clinical Dementia Rating, a scale from 0-3 with 0 indicating a healthy person and 3 indicating severe dementia, would influence certain parts of the brain such as the insula, the hippocampus, and the amygdala. After completing the project, he found that as the Clinical Dementia Rating increased, the volumes of the brain parts would decrease. Ryan has plans to further research the topic. “I want to continue with the project, with a few different ideas like following one patient over time instead of comparing different ones or looking into other factors like how education or smoking affects brain volume,” he said. Both brothers will represent Hawaii along with the other District and State science fair winners at the Intel International Science and Engineering Fair in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania on May 14 -18. Aimee Schriber / Circulation Manager
2nd literature festival puts the spotlight on students
Organized by Kaiser’s English Department and led by AP literature teacher Shareen Murayama, Kaiser High School’s second annual Literature Festival was held on March 1 and 2, with a final performance by students and teachers on March 9. The festival showcased the diverse talents of Kaiser’s brightest artists, writers, and musicians while giving participants a glimpse of the language and performing arts. The event offered a variety of student-led workshops, ranging from creative writing to script writing to acting. Before the start of the school day, attendees met at the library to receive their schedules for the festival and watched an opening ceremony, which featured performances from senior Kahea Subiono who sang her original song and senior Trinity Carlbom, who recited her poem about her home. There were a total of seven sessions during the two-day sessions. The theme of this year’s festival was “Locally Grown”, and many of the presenters and attendees created their works with Hawaii in mind. A performance of art pieces was hosted on Friday evening in the library, which served as a culmination of the two-day sessions. The pe mance’s theme, “I Am,” aligned with the festival theme, “Locally Grown.” These themes reflected the focus on personal identity evident in each of the performances, including musical compositions as well as thought-provoking literary pieces, and even a choreographed dance performance. “The whole English department overall was extremely supportive in advertising and getting students to do some posters [for the festival],” said Murayama. But the biggest contributing factor is the students who had told their friends about the literature festival. AP English teacher Sarah Shiroma said: “Since we had students leading the sessions, they were the ones who told their friends to attend.” Murayama hopes to include both professionals and students in next year’s sessions instead of having one or the other. “We would like to incorporate even more student-run sessions if possible. If you know anyone who might be interested in running a session next year, send them our way!” said Shiroma. Jordin Carmichael talking to a group of students in a literature festival workshop. Courtesy: Shareen Murayama
Tristan Yousuf-Leo / Copy Editor
5
N
OAH MATSUMOTO President
R
EINA KIM Vice President
K
I decided to run for Recording Secretary because I held the position during my sophomore year, and I’ve always loved being involved in the process of planning and organizing events. I hope that the next year will be memorable and eventful, and that everyone will have a fun experience.
N
EGAN KANESHIRO President
I was inspired to run for Corresponding Secretary because I have been in leadership class for three years. I felt that I could use my knowledge and experience to make our next school year great! I hope to find new ways to improve the school.
OLBY KAGAMIDA Treasurer
I decided to run for Student Body Treasurer because I wanted to help the school on a schoolwide basis instead of only serving my class. My personal goal is to do my job as treasurer properly.
K
ANOKO NIIMURA Secretary
2019 I was inspired to run for Class of 2019 President because it is something that I enjoy. I’m looking forward to learning and improving more this coming year. My hope is that by the end of the next school year, our class will graduate from Kaiser leaving behind a great legacy.
OELLE NAKAKURA Vice President
6
M
ARI YASUMI Corresponding Secretary
STUDENT C BODY
I was inspired to run for Student Body Vice President because I wanted to challenge myself and also discover who I was as a school leader. By the end of my term, I hope to follow through with some of the major projects to improve the school and the community that have started this year.
AYLA KANEMORI Recording Secretary
M
MEET
I wanted to run for Student Body President because when I got more involved with the leadership training class, I realized that nothing will get done if everyone only does the bare minimum; I wanted to change that. I hope that during my term as President and for many years after, Kaiser High School’s pride and spirit will continue to stay strong.
I was inspired to run for Class of 2019 Vice President because I wanted to make our senior year an amazing experience! Over the next school year, I wish to see our class create even tighter bonds and become closer to each other!
I was inspired to run for Class of 2019 Secretary because I wanted to make my class’s last year at Kaiser as memorable as possible! I hope that during their last year, the students in the Class of 2019 will have a lasting, happy memory of high school and look back at their high school years fondly.
M
ANA NOZAWA Treasurer
I was inspired to run for Class of 2019 Treasurer because I’ve learned a lot about planning for events from being a leadership student since freshman year. My goal is to come up with new ways to fundraise for our class so we can have a larger budget and use it to subsidize the costs of events to make the prices more reasonable.
NEXT YEAR’S LEADERSHIP OFFICERS M
EGAN OSHIRO President
I was inspired to run for Class of 2020 President because it is something that I have enjoyed doing in the past. I hope to utilize student voice and activism to fuel our leadership class during this next year; I want my class to know and feel that they have a voice and can make a difference.
S
ARAH HAN
Secretary
I was inspired to run for Class of 2020 Secretary because I wanted to become more involved in serving my school; I also wanted to show my peers that anyone could run for student government and become involved if they truly wanted to.
2020 L
IAM KELLY Vice President
J
J
ACIE KANESHIRO President
K
No response receieved.
V
OSHUA GRUBE Treasurer
I was inspired to run for Class of 2020 Treasurer because I wanted to become more involved with school events. I hope that next school year will be a successful one, and my goal is to make sure that we have enough class funds for an enjoyable junior prom.
AYLA LUM
2021 I was inspired to run for the position of the Class of 2021’s president because of my passion for planning class events and my love for playing a role in making events successful. My hope is that my class will have an enjoyable high school experience and that everyone will become closer to each other.
ANCE HIRAKI Vice President
I was inspired to run for Class of 2021 Vice President because I wanted to make a difference in our school. My hope is that during the next school year, Kaiser High School’s pride and spirit will increase.
Secretary
I was inspired to run for Class of 2021 Secretary because of my friends’ encouragement to run for the position; they told me that I would be a good fit for the job, so I decided to follow their advice. I hope to plan and create engaging student activities for the next school year!
J
ARED LUI
No response receieved.
Treasurer
7
A FINAL LETTER TO THE KAISER HIGH SCHOOOL FAMILY AFTER serving 6 Principals, 16 Vice Principals, 3 Regis-
08
trars, 28 Counselors, over 400 faculty members, and over 10,000 students, I feel I am well acquainted with a large segment of the Kaiser family. It’s thrilling that a country boy from East Texas would grow up to work on a small island in the middle of the sea, that sits at the bottom of an extinct volcano. That’s cool stuff! In my 1991 initial interview, the Principal asked if I could make a three-year commitment to the school. That was 24 years ago. She asked me to get involved in the life of the school and to find a niche. Since that time, there have been 42 proms chaperoned, 124 football games announced, 21 Academic Awards announced, 18 graduation rehearsals led, and 16 project graduation speeches, and countless town halls and class visits, not to mention the after-school parent nights, ball games, special events and student performances. I feel I have kept my word to the Principal. I cannot leave without expressing my gratitude for the special people in the Kaiser family who have impacted my life. I love all those in the front office, and I look forward to seeing them each day. My BFF’s at school are my fellow counselors, and they make work enjoyable. There is so much joy when one works with people who love unconditionally. I want to especially thank Mr. Mew and the administrative team. You are the last of a string of administrators I have had to work with. You came at a time in my career when I was confident in my position. In the early years, I was an administrative handful. After being called into the office on many occasions, I eventually learned from the good people I have worked with. However, I have especially enjoyed the team we have now. I appreciate the fact that they place students first, and if they err, they err on the side of what’s best for the child. Thanks for being firm, but fair…professional, but fun. I owe so much to all my colleagues. I could go around the whole school, but there is not enough type space. I hope the faculty and staff know how much they all mean, and how grateful I am for having them in my life. I hope I am able to see each of them individually before I leave. To those who I have worked with for many years, and have shared special memories together, my life is bigger for having known and worked with you. Please keep in touch! My first class was 1998, and Mrs. Ling was the class president. After that, the 11th grade counselor kept retiring, so I got the Classes of 1999, 2000, 2001. And now, this year will send me out with my eighth graduating class. This represents over 2000 students going through all manners of drama, personal conflicts, self-identification, and the whole spectrum of modern family issues. It has been a wild ride, and at the end, I feel it is I who has learned, grown, and been inspired by my students, far more than they were ever impacted by me. I came into this job to be a blessing to students, but I leave having been the one to receive a blessing from students. I am in awe of my students; and have deep respect for them. Through all the years, each student has a special piece of my heart. I will look forward to hearing of their lives to come.
Here is some wisdom I have gained over the years. These are things I try to practice each day and which I try to emulate in my life and work. I pass it on to you. 1) Wealth, fame, and high education don’t solve all problems. You will find in life that there will be some challenges that your intelligence, money, or strength can’t solve. These can’t heal a hurt child, or repair a wrecked marriage, or sustain a broken trust. Find an avenue to grow spiritually. 2) You do not have to meet other’s expectations to feel good about yourself. You are wonderfully and uniquely made by a loving God who does not make mistakes. Be you…that’s good enough! 3) Happiness isn’t only for high achievers. After years of striving for high achievement, it is okay to blow it and even lose. Mistakes and rejections are life’s greatest teachers. Losses keeps us humble, failure helps us gain empathy, and maintains proper perspective. 4) Laughter is a necessary component for successful living…the sweet elixir of life. Everyone needs to laugh every day. This is especially true of laughing at yourself. One way to minimize stress and overcome depression is to laugh at yourself. 5) You must forgive others. Grudges will defeat your spirit and kill your joy. Forgiveness must come regardless of reparations. Since all of us will do wrong, forgiveness is something we all need. If you are hurt, do not allow the offender to have control. The hardest forgiveness to learn, however, is forgiving yourself. 6) Live each day as if it were your last. You don’t know that it’s not. So, if that be so, may you, then, be more loving, understanding, appreciative, and aware of each person you see and the world around you. 7) Look at everyone you meet with love in your eyes. It changes everything about the way people will respond to you. It must be authentic, and result from a real interest in other people. Everyone you meet is a special encounter with an interesting story to tell. 8) There are no safe spaces in life. People are all different, from various experiences and world views. Your world view isn’t the only one, nor necessarily the right one. Respect, sensitivity, and simple courtesy must be demonstrated. Don’t expect a safe place to be made for you. Be strong in your values and know who you are. 9) People are more important than possessions. More than any monument we may leave on earth, none will surpass the monument we leave in the hearts of the people we love. Don’t get overwhelmed with this world’s selfish divisions, but always seek reconciliation and understanding. Happy are the peacemeakers. 10) Don’t ever, ever, ever give up. You will be tempted to give in, but know that tomorrow will bring another opportunity, and each day brings new things. Things may seem hopeless. But know that if you endure, so will the truth, followed by peace and personal resolve. The one thing you can control in life is your attitude. Assume responsibility for any misguided deeds, take the consequences that follow, learn from it, and move on. This sequence may have to be repeated over and over again. But, don’t give up. Your attitude, not your aptitude, will determine your altitude.
“ I a m g r at e f u l f o r the chance to share a few thoughts before I wa l k away a f t e r 2 7 y e a r s at K a i s e r H i g h School.� James Hutcherson Special to Cougar Connection
09
What is the number one issue that youth face today? Samantha Yonan and Reina Yamashita / Staff Writers
Annie Do (12):
Under the pressure that they must study hard to be accepted and attend a well known, prestigious college. Youths today are under so much pressure, by parents, teachers, and social media to study hard and then seek higher education after. If they don’t end up at a distinguished college then they’re not worth it or smart enough. There’s sports, entertainment, arts, and so much more to do than end up in debt of thousands of dollars. I’m a senior, so college would be my next step in life. But deciding where to attend and what I want to do is the hardest decision.
Mahina Bettencourt (9):
Addiction to social media. [People my age] are constantly on it and worried about their likes, posts, messages, etc. It sucks sometimes because when I want to talk to my friends, they would be on their phones. Also, when I look around everyone is hooked on this pointless device that can steal our joy and time.
Louis Yonan (9):
Drugs are a big issue with youth today. It’s so easy for people to find drugs. It doesn’t affect me personally, but I can see the impact it has on school communities from watching the news.
Alyssa Udarbe (12):
Social status. In high school, we are still trying to find ourselves, and instead of being original, we revert to fitting ourselves in a certain category and looking/ acting a certain way to feel accepted. It makes me feel like I can’t be myself at school.
Krystal Spear (11):
Ignorance, because society forces us to focus on our daily lives so intensely and in comparison to your peers that it is almost impossible to stay connected outside of your own bubble. Everyone is ignorant to some degree, and I often find myself getting caught in a cycle of self inflicted ignorance to the world around me.
Mana Nozawa (11):
Depression and stress because stressed teens try to cope their stress with alcohol, drugs, self-harm, etc; this is damaging to their health, and I know people around me that resort to alcohol and drugs to cope with depression.
Matthew Kimura (10):
12
Stress, because many children face the problem of overworking themselves to the point of exhaustion and then face stress. Many times kids put too much on their plate and stay up late which can cause many health problems in the future.
School Policies on the March 14th Walkout from Across the Nation Leigh Farah / Sports Editor On March 14, the Kaiser High School football stadium was packed with students. The cheering and jeering of sports events that traditionally draws crowds to the stadium was replaced with the emotional silence of students commemorating the February 14 school shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High. High schools across the country supported their students in participating in similar events, be it respectful gatherings or small marches around the school. Here in Honolulu, Kaiser’s district superintendent, Dr. Christina Kishimoto sent home a letter to parents and students in the weeks leading up to the date. Kishimoto noted in her letter that students are welcome to exercise their right to attend a walkout, and should be given a designated place to safely gather if they choose to do so. A response came from Kaiser’s principal, Justin Mew, a week later. His letter communicated that students will not be disciplined if they choose to attend the walkout, but they should also not be pressured into attending the rally against their wishes. Similar to Kaiser, letters were sent out to students across the nation and it was revealed that not every school supported the walk out. Many districts believed that students should be punished for missing school. One Illinois high school freshman said that while their principal was supportive, they were in a bind because of district rules. “Due to district rules, [the principal] had to mark those who walked out truant and put people on social probation,” she said.
Several high schools threatened suspension for students who decided to walk out, however in most cases the punishment did not go this far. “At first they said it was dangerous so we weren’t doing [the walkout],” said one Ohio high school sophomore. “People still planned [to walk out] so administration threatened a three-day suspension,” she explained. In the end, no one was suspended and those who wished to participate in the walkout were allowed to go to the gym where the school had an assembly. This was the same case for many other high schools. Instead of walkouts, some schools held assemblies to commemorate the shooting. Robert Roelle, the principal of Pelham Middle school in New York, said that his district cannot support any political protests. Instead, his school decided to hold a memorial. “At 10:00, my students walked down to one of our fields, and they wanted to have a moment of silence out of respect,” he explained. “Then... 17 members of the student government each read out a name of someone who died in Florida, and then released a balloon in their memory with their name on it,” he said. “We want to make a statement saying that today was not political; it was to memorialize the people who died.” Roelle mentions that the process at the high school in his district was somewhat different. Students were allowed to
walk out, but only with parent permission. “The school wants the parents to give permission for them to be out of class,” he explains. “Everything is out of concern for the students’ safety.” Once students get permission, they will be allowed to participate in the planned protest. “They want to gather at the flagpole as a symbol of their protest,” said Roelle. A student from Palo Alto, California said her school also expected students to get permission to walk out. “My administration was fine with it as long as we got permission beforehand,” she said. Plenty of other high schools in the nation had no problem with students deciding to walk out. “My school was very supportive,” said a New Jersey high school student. “The kids organized it and the administration offered help in whatever way they could.” Edwin Brown, the Head of the Board of Education in Grayslake, Illinois says his school has no issues with students walking out. “We are planning on a simple walkout of the classroom and into the hallway for 17 minutes. Students wishing to participate may and students who wish to not participate do not need to,” he said. “Since this is a district supported
event the board has not expressed any problems with the event.” Brown added that the walkout was a chance for students to exercise their freedom of speech. “[Those 17 minutes were] not a hallway dialogue on student’s position of the Second Amendment, but I would say an exercise of the First Amendment,” he said. Overall, students across the nation have organized varied responses to the Parkland shooting. “In my opinion, the walkout was a sign of respect for the shooting,” said one California student. Administrators across the country have expressed their hope that the event would also empower students to stand up for their beliefs. When asked about the impact he hoped the march would have on students, Brown replied, “My personal hope is for students to use this opportunity to learn. Students cannot create laws; however on the gun violence topic I hope students can learn what they can do about gun violence in America.”
Hokulea crew member teaches students how to tie knots.
10
Aspiring navigators learn about voyaging As part of its “Mahalo, Hawaii Sail” tour of the state, the voyaging canoe, Hokulea, is now moored in the docks of Hawaii Kai Towne Center. On May 14, Michelle Kapana-Baird’s voyaging class visited the crew to learn about navigation and tour the Hokulea. The canoe, named after the Hawaiian Star of Gladness which is a guiding star for navigators, was built in Honolulu in 1975 to revive the legacy of exploration that the first Polynesians left behind when they made the journey across the Pacific to Hawaii. Now, 43 years later, the Hokulea and her crew have made several voyages across Polynesia to not only preserve the tradition of voyaging, but to conduct scientific efforts as well. Their studies range from hydroponics
aboard the hokulea
and water quality to marine debris and plankton. “When you’re on the ocean at night, the planktons in the water will glow and there are dolphins swimming around the crew and there is so much plankton there that every time the dolphins move, their path creates a trail of light that illuminates the ocean,” said crew member Kula Barbieto about her favorite memory on the Hokulea. Kaiser students were also taught about knotting and navigation using the stars. The highlight of the day, however, was the tour of the 62 foot by 20 foot canoe. The Hokulea housed ten compartmental beds, two sails, three large oars, and solar panels. By Jolie Ching / Editor-in-Chief Courtesy of Cougar Connection
By Tristan Yousuf-leo / Copy Editor Courtesy of Cougar Connection
Departure of Shea The end of the 2017-2018 school year marks the departure of not only the class of 2018, but also a few teachers and staff members. Among those leaving is Sgt. Dennis Shea, the former AVID coordinator and, until recently, the co-instructor of Kaiser’s Air Force Junior Reserve Officer Training Corp ( JROTC). Shea has served in the Air Force for 22 years as a substance abuse counselor, working to help military personnel overcome any substance addiction they may contract over the years. He left the Air Force in 2005 and worked the same job in the civilian sector for seven months before joining Kaiser as the Air Force JROTC as an instructor. His original desire was to go to Aiea and stay in the same school and JROTC as his son, but there was no open position there. “There are only four Air Force junior ROTC units in the state of Hawai’i. I knew I wanted to stay in Hawai’i, and a job opened here at Kaiser, so I took the only job that was available” said Shea. Shea has been an integral part of Kaiser’s AFJROTC for over 13 years, and not once did the program ever become “dull” for him as he witnessed Kaiser’s JROTC program grow over the years. “It’s always been a fun job for me” Shea said. “The unit was pretty small when I first started. The numbers were down, and the program grew quickly over the next few years.” He added, “things have grown and we’ve settled in at over a hundred for the last few years.” One of the aspects of JROTC he’s proud of, are the opportunities for leadership experience it gives to cadets, saying, “I think we offer a lot of leadership opportunities for kids and to be part of a team. [The program] provides a good opportunity to belong and to be in leadership roles in ROTC.” One of his proudest moments in his career was when the exhibition team, a drill team that performs coordinated maneuvers with drill rifles, performed at a school assembly in 2012. “That kind of brought down the house,” he stated, adding “the students have never really seen that. They were used to seeing dancing, that kind of thing at the assembly. It went over really well. I got a lot of favorable comments from other teachers.” When asked about why he’s retiring, Shea responded, “It’s just time. I’m going a little bit early. I’m 58, and my wife and I want to hit the travel circuit over on the mainland, where we have our kids and grandchild. We want to be able to do that while we’re still physically up to traveling and still have fun doing it.” Shea also hopes that he’ll never have to hold a full-time job after he retires. “Hopefully, we’ll never be gainfully employed again in my life. I could see myself getting back in part-time or volunteer somewhere, but that’ll be after at least a year of messing around.”
Shea has served as a backbone for the JROTC program for 13 years and has led it through some of its finest hours, from drill competitions to intense, rigorous adventure challenges for the special forces team of JROTC. The numerous trophies and plaques that dot the classroom can attest to his accomplishments. Things at JROTC are definitely going to be much more different for next year for many of the cadets.
11
EARTH FESTIVAL BY TRISTAN YOUSUF-LEO / COPY EDITOR On April 20th, Kaiser’s student council and the Wipeout crew hosted the fifth annual Earth Day Festival to celebrate the coming Earth Day on April 22nd and featured a variety of environmental organizations who talked about the ongoing environmental issues in the Hawaiian islands. Earth Festival had began with a school-wide assembly after period 3, which featured speeches from senior Tabbi Knudson, who spoke about student service, and navigator Haunani Kane, a crew member from the Polynesian voyaging canoe Hokulea who talked about the importance of preserving the environment to the people of Hawai’i. Once the assembly was concluded, the students were given an extended lunch period to partake in strolling around the festival, located behind the library this time instead of out front by the parking lot. The festival included several informational booths, some snack booths, and a live music performance. The festival booths were mostly student run, with a few exceptions. There was also a greater emphasis on global environmental issues this time around, as several of the informational booths were dedicated to environmental issues in countries like Australia and Europe. Besides the informational booths, there was a tree-painting session, a paper-folding session, a board dedicated to making promises of conservation, and even a plant giving station. Earth Festival bags were sold at the Hawaii station for $3. The snack booths sold local vegetables, ice cream, lemonade, and papaya boats. Thanks to the efforts of Kaiser’s Wipeout Crew and leadership students, this year’s Earth Fest proved to be both enriching and entertaining.
COURTESY: SAKURA LIU
14
NAGAOKA EXCHANGE 2018 BY TARA MORISATO / NEWS EDITOR
On March 24th and 25th, 78 students from the Kaiser band and orchestra participated in a cultural exchange with students from Teikyou Nagaoka High School in Nagaoka, Japan. The exchange culminated in a joint concert at Lyric Hall. After the concert, Teikyou and Kaiser students attended a welcome ceremony and dinner where they ate a variety of dishes including deep fried tofu, chicken karaage, and egg custard to represent Nagaoka, and loco moco, poke, and haupia to represent Hawaii. Through music and a meal, the students were able to form bonds that transcended lingual and cultural barriers. By the end of the ceremony, the room was filled with students grinning, joking, and exchanging social media usernames. The trip lasted a total of 8 days, beginning on March 20th and ending on March 28th. In addition to their stay in Nagaoka, the band also toured various attractions around Tokyo such as Harajuku, Skytree, Disneyland, and the CUPNOODLES Museum. Spring arrived early this year, and the Kaiser band was lucky to experience the beauty of Tokyo’s thousands of sakura trees in full bloom.
COURTESY: JEANEI IMAMURA AND NOELLE NAKAKURA
15
MOVIE REVIEW: BLACK PANTHER When people think of Marvel Cinematic Universe and their cinematic universe, what first comes to mind are the action-packed fight scenes backed by stunning visual effects. Black Panther, on the other hand, does things differently, focusing more on story-driven aspects to entice the audience. This is a welcomed change for a franchise whose finale could have up to 67 heros fighting it out.
The film follows T’Challa, who after
his first appearance in Captain America: Civil War, returns to the technologically advanced country of Wakanda. Wakanda is a country hidden from the world’s view. Thousands of years ago a meteor made of vibranium (a fictional metal of the Marvel universe hailed as the strongest substance known to man) crashed in what is present-day Wakanda. This allowed the small country to develop technology unlike any in the world. Due to the fear of greed from outsiders, however, Wakanda hides itself away from other nations using a cloaking device. When Klaw, an old enemy of the country appears on their radar, King T’Challa sets out to capture him only to uncover deeper and more dangerous secrets that put the existence of Wakanda and the whole world at risk. The main antagonist is Erik Killmonger and he is, without a doubt, the best part of this film. Killmonger is an abandoned child of Wakanda. After his father was executed for trading vibranium to outsiders, Killmonger swore vengeance against Wakanda believing that Wakanda should open its doors and provide aid to all blacks around the world. Unlike normal villains, Killmonger isn’t evil in the sense that he is driven by pride or personal gain. Instead, he wants to help black people who have suffered from oppression and discrimination. Wakanda has the ability to help fight back but chooses not to. This makes Killmonger’s cause familiar for anybody who has seen or experienced oppression. In this instance, there is a very thin line between hero and villain. Is Wakanda wrong for denying help to the world and killing Killmonger’s father, or is Killmonger wrong for wanting change? The country of Wakanda bases the rights to the throne on tradition. Fight16
By Jake Imanaka / Staff Writer
ing to the death for the crown, performing ancestral burials, and hosting tribal ceremonies are common. With the introduction of Killmonger, their culture is turned on its head. Killmonger takes the throne in ceremonial combat and this causes the driving question of the film to appear: which holds more value, tradition or progressing to be able to interact and help the rest of the world? This political aspect is spectacular because it splits the audience and tries to put them in the characters’ shoes. Would they want to help people around the world or protect the culture and Wakanda’s people? In the end, Killmonger is killed in what can be said to be a mediocre final battle scene. But even as Killmonger takes his final breaths, the film presents us with his relatable and human characteristics. The similarities between hero and villain are put center stage as T’Challa and Killmonger both sit side by side admiring the beautiful Wakandan sunset. The forced dichotomy of tradition vs progression is broken when King T’Challa picks a third choice, to open their doors and share their knowledge while keeping the Wakandan culture to itself. Black Panther, while not filled with action, has entertained millions of people around the world with its subtle and intricate plot. The characters experience everyday moral dilemmas, such as helping the oppressed, are magnified to the scale of threatening countries. This causes the villain to have heroic aspects and the people that support Wakanda to have villainous aspects as well. The line drawn between them is unclear, entertaining, and could be subject to any number of ethical or moral debates. But, there is one thing we can all agree on from this film: it takes a great villain to create a great movie. Courtesy of SlideShow Collectibles
MOVIE REVIEW: A QUIET PLACE A typical movie fuses intense and calm dialogue to create suspense. Breaking the mold of typical horror movies, A Quiet Place uses silence to both immerse and terrify the audience, creating a unique experience that captures the audience in a world of silence.
A typical movie fuses intense and calm dialogue to create suspense. Breaking the mold of typical horror movies, A Quiet Place uses silence to both immerse and terrify the audience, creating a unique experience that captures the audience in a world of silence. Set in the year 2020, the Abbot family, who consists of husband Lee, wife Evelyn, sons Marcus and Beau, and deaf daughter Regan, are living in a post-apocalyptic world without sound. The apocalypse was caused by a mysterious creature who lacks vision but is endowed with tremendous auditory abilities, which, coupled with supersonic speed and power, allows it to stay at the top of the food chain. The key feature of the film is the use of minimal dialogue, with characters speaking only a total of 90 lines in 95 minutes. This approach to film provides a fresh experience for the audience. Whenever the action focused on Reagan, the deaf daughter, the movie projects absolute silence, immersing the audience into the world of the film. Using different sounds that are associated with the characters, conflict, and mood adds to the suspense of the film. Silence is an important aspect of this film, invoking fear into the audience. Without audio input for information on what is happening in the environment, the audience is more focused on what could be lurking out of frame, which plays into the fear of the unknown, one of mankind’s most primeval fears. Another component of the film is the talented cast. Due to the bleak, apocalyptic plot, the cast list was incredibly short. A large part of the population is dead and the other survivors are hiding; the movie highlights this sparse environment, showing little besides the main family. There are a total of six cast members in the film. Each cast member spend a large amount of effort into making their characters more life-like and relatable. Regan Abbot, the deaf girl in the film, is played by Millicent Summers, who is actually Courtesy of independent.co.uk
deaf. John Krazinski, the director and actor that portrayed the father in the film, fought hard for Millicent Summers (the daughter) to be cast. Due to Millicent knowing the struggles of being deaf, she guided the directors and writers to make the film more realistic. She changed individual scenes where she felt another approach would have been better. She poured her heart and soul into the character. With A Quiet Place revolving around the theme of family, John Krazinski also connected with his character well because he himself had a newborn child during the filming of this movie. John centered his efforts around the well-being of his family and the relationships with the other family members. Being a father in real life taught him the meaning of love and care for another individual which helped to create a more convincing character. All of the thematic aspects combined within this movie makes it an emotional rollercoaster. This movie has the perfect balance between tension/suspense and grief/sadness. The contrasting emotions are ordered in such a way that the audience is drawn to the family’s tender scenes at one point, and then on the edge of their seat the next moment. The emotional bond forged between the family and the audience is one that the audience will likely never forget. A Quiet Place is a movie that will be remembered through the rest of 2018. Its combination of intense and emotional scenes are incredibly well crafted, which forges an unbreakable bond between the family and the audience. This is due to the perfected cast as well as its unique element of no dialogue. This movie is definitely highly recommended.
By Ricky Ma / Staff Writer
17
Living with diabetes When my older brother Braden was diagnosed with diabetes at eight years old, my family was shocked and afraid. His illness became a call to arms by our entire family, even our dog Sammy. At first, his treatment consisted of blood sugar level tests where he would prick his finger and put his blood into a testing strip which would be read by his PDM (Personal Diabetes Manager), and insulin injections. He would inject insulin into himself whenever his blood sugar levels spiked and needed to be lowered. He had to test his blood sugar levels throughout the day, often as many as 10 times, and especially before and after meals. Insulin injections usually occurred about three to five times a day, particularly after a meal when his blood sugar levels were too high. During the first year after his diagnosis, he had three seizures. The first seizure occurred after our family had gone to sleep one night. At four in the morning I awoke to the sound of Sammy’s barking. At first I didn’t think much of his barks, and tried to fall back asleep. But Sammy was insistent. He must have sensed something was wrong. Not getting any response from me, he ran into my parents’ room and started jumping and barking frantically. He wouldn’t stop until they woke up. Once they were up, he ran back to Braden’s room. Thinking something might be wrong, they followed Sammy. In the room they found my brother in the top bunk bed seizing. His spasms were very small movements, but quite violent. I didn’t realize he was having a seizure at first because he hardly made a sound. Knowing exactly what to do, my mother raced downstairs and grabbed a needle of glucagon (a hormone that tells the Pictured: Braden Quinn liver to release sugar) from the refrigerator. She ran back upstairs and injected it into Braden’s leg. After a few minutes his seizure subsided. The second seizure was the most intense. I was sitting in the dining room doing my homework, and out of the corner of my eye I saw Braden walking into my dad’s office. At the door, without any warning, Braden dropped, hitting his head on the hardwood floor. He began to convulse. My mother ran over to him, put his head in her lap and tried to keep him still while my dad ran into the kitchen and grabbed the glucagon. After injecting it into Braden, his seizures subsided, but he was delirious. “Mom, can I eat my shoe?” he said. We stayed beside him for thirty minutes until his blood sugar return to normal. The third and final seizure happened in the living room. My brother was looking for our remote under the couch. Suddenly he stopped moving. My dad thought Braden had fallen asleep so he walked over and shook him. When he didn’t respond, my dad pulled him out from under the couch. Braden was spasming. Just like the last two times, his seizures stopped after he received the glucagon injection. A little over a year after his diagnosis the endocrinologist, a diabetes specialist, told my parents about a new type of insulin pump that was compact, waterproof, and completely wireless called the OmniPod. The pod, as we called it, is attached to his arm or leg by an adhesive patch. Paired with a PDM that checks blood sugar levels it ensures that the right amount of insulin is injected. Each pod, lasting approximately three days makes it much easier for him to control his blood sugar levels. Although it may seem like Braden is able to eat whatever he wants and then balance it using insulin, he still has to be mindful of his blood sugars and make sure that they are up to par. Braden will turn 19 in a few months and has not had a seizure in over 10 years. Through it all, he has been able to maintain a normal diet and an active lifestyle. Living with diabetes can be a frightening experience, but by being responsible and vigilant, it is possible to live a normal life.
Quinn Clay / Staff Writer Courtesy of Quinn Clay
18
About diabetes: Approximately 10% of the American population suffers from diabetes, and a quarter of the population is prediabetic, meaning that they are at a high risk for developing diabetes. Many people don’t even know they are prediabetic because there are often no symptoms. When symptoms do occur however, they include unusually excessive thirst, urination, and fatigue.
Types of diabetes There are two types of diabetes: Type 1 and Type 2. Type 1 diabetes is passed down through genetics and is triggered by an unknown factor. Type 2 diabetes, on the other hand, has several risk factors, including age, family history, ethnicity, and being overweight. Ninety-five percent of people who are diagnosed with diabetes have Type 2.
Risk factors There are many factors that increase an individual’s risk for developing diabetes, but the only risk factors we can control are diet and exercise. The American Diabetes Association recommends that people should eat healthy, balanced meals and avoid sugary beverages such as soda, energy drinks, sports drinks, and sweet tea. Sugary beverages raise blood glucose levels and provide several hundred calories in a single serving. Regularly exercising is also beneficial because it helps the body to regulate blood glucose levels. A blood glucose level that is too high or too low can be fatal, which is why it is so important to take diabetes seriously.
Managing with diabetes Terrifying as it appears, a diabetic can still live a healthy life if they are vigilant. Being responsible includes frequent blood glucose level testing - multiple times a day - and maintaining a healthy diet and exercise. Most diabetics also need to take medication or insulin shots to regulate their blood sugar. With advancements in technology, diabetics can have insulin pumps, and with the assistance of a Personal Diabetes Manager (PDM) device, they can successfully regulate their blood glucose levels.
Quinn Clay / Staff Writer Courtesy of Holly Iwanaga
19
Comics On Duty
Shannon Takahashi
Unofficial Sport
Stop being Childish
Erica Ma
Aries You are on the verge of making changes for something that has been weighing heavily on your mind for a while. Be patient. Whatever happens, occurs for a reason. Taurus Motivation is the key to your success this month. Do what you want, and let your passion drive you. If you lose your spark, find someone close and confide in them. Gemini Stay calm and patient this month. The more you chase after that something you want, the more you feel like it is slipping away. Looking back you will be glad you waited. Cancer If you’ve ever given up on something, you’ve lost the game of life. Be on the lookout for an opportunity that could change your life. You’re in for a big surprise.
Courtney Staples
Leo Time is on your side. No matter how many errands you have to run today, you still have time to think things through before you make a decision. Weigh the options. A hasty decision will result in loss of time and money. Virgo Say something to someone that you’ve been meaning to say for quite some time. Stop worrying about the consequences and make the move. Be bold and assertive.
Sagittarius Someone may be spreading rumors about you. Don’t give value to what they say without researching the truth. Do not let unwarranted rumors bring you down. Capricorn May is the month to build your social network! You may find yourself becoming involved with someone who you’ve known for a long time.
Aquarius You have been feeling frustrated and anxLibra ious lately. Perhaps an evening with a loved You are energetic and are always looking for one was canceled? But there’s no need to competition. But not all things are worth consider it a setback. If you feel doubt, it’s fighting for. Take advantage of new oppor- likely for other reasons. Clear your head and tunities presented to you, but investigate all plan for the next step. possible options before making a decision. Pisces Scorpio This month is a good time to open your Life may throw you some sour lemons but mind to something new. Are you tired of don’t be easily discouraged. Everyone faces the same routine and feel stuck? Look challenges in one form or another. Ignore around, and you will find answers to your people who stand in situation. your way; keep moving forward.
Horoscopes
Courtesy of Cougar Connection
YUUKI MORISHIGE AND CASEY NGUYEN STAFF WRITERS
ANGELO PIETRO 1108 12TH AVENUE C, HONOLULU, HI 96816
Kaimuki is a quaint neighborhood with coffee shops, old school diners, quirky indie stores, and hole-in-the-wall eateries. Angelo Pietro, a Japan-based Italian restaurant chain, was founded by Kunihiko Murata in the spring of 2015. With a unique Japanese twist on classic Italian recipes, Angelo Pietro meshes traditional Italian and Japanese ingredients. The Italian pizzas, pastas, and salads with Japanese influences in a simple, intimate space creates a comfortable fireside-esque eating atmosphere.
FOOD 4/5
For starters, we had the mozzarella sticks, a simple but well-made appetizer. The crispy sticks had a unique bread coating.
AMBIANCE 4/5
The professional, yet calm ambiance of Pietro was highlighted by its wooden interior.
SERVICE 5/5
Pietro’s service was excellent.
COST 5/5
The food was quite well-priced for what was given.
FOOD 4/5
The crispy sticks had a unique bread coating. Although the cheese’s flavor was a bit difficult to discern, it had a good, firm texture. The appetizer was accompanied by a classic marinara sauce with a twist of mild bell pepper flavoring. This change affected the flavor of the dish, but gave the mozzarella sticks an exciting zest. Perhaps the highlight of the night was the corn soup, a small, five-dollar soup that was well worth the money. The soup had a light texture with a rich and unique buttery taste. The main entrees arrived soon after, and they didn't disappoint. We ordered pork eryngii and chicken with broccoli pasta. The pork eryngii consisted of king trumpet mushrooms with sauteed pork covered in creamy sauce, which had a hint of chili pepper spice. The dish came with fried onion toppings, which paired well with the sweet eryngii and savory pork. The chicken and broccoli pasta with shoyu sauce came with a side of garlic bread. The sauce was slightly salty, yet flavorful; the garlic bread lightened and
offset the saltiness of the sauce. The shoyu sauce paired with the pasta had a surprisingly savory flavor and complemented the chicken and broccoli well.
COST
AMBIANCE
5/5
4/5 The wood furniture and soft lighting created a traditional Italian setting (like restaurants in Venice). While the restaurant was crowded, the sounds of classical music in the background and the indirect lighting created a serene and peaceful mood.
SERVICE 5/5 The waiters were attentive, constantly checking on how we were doing, and they were very warm and personable when taking our order. The waiters also made sure that our glasses were always filled, and in the end, they helped us with pack our leftovers so we could take them home.
21
1 MOZZARELLA STICK $8.75 2 CORN SOUPS $9.50 1 CHICKEN/BROCCOLI, SHOYU SAUCE WITH EXTRA PASTA $17.65 1 PORK & ENGRYII WITH EXTRA PASTA $21.25 The food was quite well-priced for what was given. The $9 appetizer and $5 soups were good, especially considering how tasty these dishes were. We each added extra pasta for about $5 per dish, which seemingly doubled the portion, a great value for a low price. Overall, the prices were more than fair for both the quality and the quantity of the food.
KAISER HIGH SCHOOL THEATRE PRESENTS:
22
with each other. Popova is not as deep in mourning as she thinks, and Smirnov confesses his admiration for an aggressive woman, realizing he is not as much of a misogynist as he claims to be. The footman (Teia O’Malley) enters to find Popova in Smirnov’s arms, and promptly flips Nicolai’s portrait facedown on the shelf. Kessler considers her biggest challenge in creating Smirnov “being generally embarrassed about myself! I play a boisterous and aggressive character and I’m somewhat that way, but nicer in real life… It was definitely hard for me to slow down when I talk and enunciate.” Indeed, Kessler’s reflections on her performance are familiar to any performer. “I feel wonderful! I can’t stand watching it on video though; I always feel like I can improve and in my heart I know I could’ve done better,” she added. The Inspector General features senior Trinity Carlbom and sophomore Teia O’Malley as a traveler and driver sitting in a carriage. The traveler is actually an inspector general riding into town to investigate. He is enthused by the idea of going undercover and giddily asks the driver what he knows about the inspector,
Tara Morisato / News Editor
Ruby O’Malley stars as Nyukhin in The Evils of Tabacco.
At 7:30 p.m. on April 19, 20, 27, and 28, Kaiser’s Black Box Theatre presented The Evils of Gossips and Bears. The production was comprised of three short comedies written by Anton Chekhov, a 19th century Russian playwright who is considered a central figure in the rise of modernism in theatre because of his mastery of short fiction. While these shorts may seem simple on the surface — taking place in one setting with a small cast of characters — they manage to immerse audiences in the lives and motivations of the characters in a short timespan through well-written, succinct dialogue. In the first short, The Bear, the widow Popova (freshman Sydney Maher) refuses to pay Smirnov (senior Megan Kessler), a creditor who her husband Nicolai was indebted to, on account of her deep mourning and lack of money on hand. In the ensuing argument, Popova and Smirnov declare their utter lack of respect towards the opposite sex (exempting Popova’s devotion to her husband despite his infidelity). In a surprising twist, both parties who have long renounced romance find that they are actually in love
fishing for compliments about a mysterious, skilled inspector general. Instead, the inspector is taken aback when the driver nonchalantly tells stories about the easily identifiable, morally grey inspector general with multiple mistresses and an alcohol problem. The inspector sulks and takes a swig from a canteen in his bag. In The Evils of Tobacco, sophomore Ruby O’Malley plays Nyukhin, a teacher whose lecture about the dangers of cigarettes quickly spirals into a rumination on the miseries of his personal life. Nyukhin’s half-hearted attempts to stay on topic are repeatedly eclipsed by the story of how he acquired the tic of winking his right eye, or the various insults he endures from his imperious wife, who also happens to be the headmistress of the school where Nyukhin is lecturing. O’Malley fantastically materializes the pitiful, jumpy Nyukhin over the course of a 10-minute monologue. The role required her to memorize a six-page script, which, in addition to directing two other shorts, proved to be a challenge. “This took more time than I thought it would, and even up till the first show I was messing the words up,” said O’Malley. The actresses were amazing in their performances; they brought to life characters that were vulnerable and realistic but also dynamic and amusing. Each action was tailored to the attitude of the character, be it walking, scowling, or even pouring a glass of water. It is not surprising that accomplishing such a feat had its difficulties. “Honestly, getting the show up and running was a struggle because let me tell you, doing Chekhov in a high school setting is no easy task! But our cast and crew have pulled off something amazing, and lo and behold… the audience laughed! Which is what we want at a comedy show,” O’Malley said. “I’m just so glad that the risk I took with Chekhov comedies turned into something that everyone at Kaiser could enjoy.” As for what’s next, she said, “Hopefully by next year we’ll do a full oneact play! Come out and audition, folks!”
Courtesy of Ruby O’Malley
THE EVILS OF GOSSIPS AND BEARS
MY SECOND SHADOW Courtney Staples / Staff Writer
Most people nowadays know what the social term for stalking is. Digging deep, scrolling all the way down on someone’s social media profile, is somehow considered stalking in 2018. But what about the other, scarier definition? The one nobody really wants to talk about? Fear, disease, paranoia--they all haunt you. But stalking, at least the kind the news covers, doesn’t happen to young people, right? That’s where the misconception is. Imagine that you’re being stalked by someone at the same school as you. Every one of the gritty details passes like a kidney stone, you get tired fast of feeling every minute going by, waiting more anxiously than usual for your school day to be over. You find yourself unable to sleep at night because the branches casting shadows outside your windows look like arms climbing up to the second story of your house, and turning to physical objects as coping mechanisms for the immense pain you feel within as your own helplessness prevails through your waking hours. Walking around school in a haze, you become unable to discern what hurts you from what makes you laugh, just trying to keep yourself awake enough to avoid another confrontation. Friends begin whispering about you behind your back, trying to come up with some way to help you, but not sure how to make the sunken grey tone disappear from your face. Your father buys motion-activated security cameras and installs them around the outside of the house, and every time they ding with motion, your heart races until you look at the video feed and see it’s just a bird. Your mother becomes more protective, not letting you leave the house alone, creating a conflict within herself as the motherly instinct clashes with her want to let you live your own life. You develop paranoid habits yourself, like glancing at every face around you in public. Your phone becomes an asset and an enemy; you impulsively start checking your notifications every couple minutes for sinister messages online. Whether they’re from random social media accounts or a number you don’t have in your contacts, you already know where they’re coming from. Grades dropping like feathers from a flightless bird, tears falling just as fast, you find that you’re clinging to the little bits of a life you have left in a desperate attempt to get your head out of the bad places. Things become so hopeless that you tell your own therapist, “No amount of medication can fix this.” You’re on so many it won’t matter anyway. Waking up in the morning, you question how much the pills are really helping. With the rise of edgy, mildly offensive memes in 2016, the word “trigger” became one of them, and you know you shouldn’t joke about it either, but you can’t help yourself from saying it to your friends with a little nervous laugh before you break down. Your parents tell you that you should try to forget. Your school counselor tells you to try harder in school. Your therapist tells you that you have PTSD. But all of that takes a backseat to what is now habit, the scanning of faces and the pounding in the back of your head every time you step outside your classroom. You’re trapped inside your own head, knowing you need to try harder at things but not being able to break out of the shell you sealed yourself in, the impenetrable wall of zombie-like calm and reservation. Even locked inside your own bedroom, the windows blocked off and the lights turned off, you are not safe enough. Every creak of the house makes you stir, every boy who says your name from some unseen place makes your head whip around and your body tense up as your adrenaline tells you, RUN! You start to disconnect yourself from everybody you care about and love because of one person whose vendetta against you is so strong it’s turning you against your own happiness. All the chains and locks and barricades in the whole world can’t make you feel secure; there is only paranoia and the voices around you. Days melt together into months; you lose track of what the date is and your own personal responsibilities are forgotten. Today, I feel as though I have come farther than I thought I ever could. I managed to wean myself off of every one of the five medications I relied on for so long. I don’t need to see my therapist or psychiatrist anymore, despite needing both of them for over six months. While some days are still unbearable, and while I still can’t see his face and remain calm, I feel stronger than I ever have been. It’s been a year of recovery. Ironically, a lot of people knew about what was happening despite my efforts to keep things hidden. However, talking about what happened and staking my emotions out where anyone can see them gives me a strange kind of closure. Stalking is a serious issue that people should be more aware of. If not for the support from my friends and family, my amazing medical confidants, and a rather scary amount of medication, I may not have gotten through this experience. Serious issues can come out of unexpected places, but as long as you get the proper help and know who you can rely on, you can get through anything.
National Suicide Prevention Hotline 1-800-273-8255 National Sexual Assault Hotline 1-800-656-4673 Courtesy of Courtney Staples
23
EUI JIN SONG ASSOCIATE EDITOR
MAY I HAVE THIS VOTE?
VOTING AGE SHOULD BE LOWERED
same situation happened in Hyattsville, Maryland. Researchers from the Austrian Science Fund (Austria is the only country in Europe with 16 and 17 year-olds allowed to vote) have found that the young voters were able to make decisions aligning with their party. They also found that lowering the voting age did not have a negative impact on input legitimacy and the quality of democratic decisions. Additionally, younger citizens are increasingly involved in politics as the years go by. According to a 2012 study done by the National Opinion Research Center at the University of Chicago, a majority of teens are involved in improving their communities through fundraising, volunteering, community problem solving, or online political discourse. The majority also spend time at school learning about critical citizenship and media literacy, and how to evaluate information online. Seventy one percent of teens have volunteered and 61% have raised money for a cause they cared about, and 61% have worked with others to solve problems affecting their school, city, or neighborhood. All of these statistics, the study concluded, point to the conclusion that teens of this day and age are far more likely to be politically engaged. However, one might argue that citizens under the age of 18 are simply too immature or easily swayed to make such an important decision. With the presence of social media in teens’ lives, it seems doubtful that teens do not get slightly influenced by what they see on the Internet. With the indictment of 13 Russian nationals for breaking U.S laws and interfering with the 2016 presidential election, the evidence is especially damning. The defendants, according to Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein, posted derogatory information about several candidates and concealed their identities to purchase political advertisements on U.S. social media and other online sites. Some of these advertisements attempted to appeal to minority voters, such as an Instagram ad for the “Blacktivist” account that said, “Choose peace and vote for Jill Stein. Trust me, it’s not a wasted vote.” While it is not yet known how effective these strategies were, the fact is that social media can be manipulated to affect voting, and its overwhelming presence in teen’s lives can make one hesitant to allow younger citizens to vote. According to a Pew survey conducted during 2014 and 2015, 71% of teens use more than one social media site. However, we must place more faith in these young citizens. Rather than denouncing them as immature and incapable of making their own decisions, we should instead look at what is needed to make a “good vote.” When someone votes or makes an informed decision, we use our cold cognitive abilities, which we use when we are in a calm situation where the most important skill is the ability to reason logically with facts. Studies of cold cognition, according to a study done by American Psychologist, have shown that the skills necessary to make such informed decisions are firmly in place by 16. By this age, adolescents can process information and reason logically and take time before making a decision. To conclude, it would be in our nation’s best interest to consider lowering the voting age to 16 years. Not only has our nation lowered the voting age before; statistics constantly point to the fact that having younger votes increases the voter turnout. If we truly are a nation of democracy and innovation, we should recognize that adolescents are increasingly engaged in politics and willing to take an active stance on their beliefs.
Courtesy of Cougar Connection
T
raditionally, Americans had to be at least 21 years old to vote. A section of the Fourteenth Amendment, ratified after the Civil War, protected the right to vote for the “male inhabitants of [each] state, being twenty-one years of age, and citizens of the United States.” States were allowed to lower the age, but were not required to do so. Most states still limited the age to 21 years and older by the time of the Vietnam War. However, because so many men between the ages 18 and 20 were drafted to fight, Congress was called upon to expand the voting age to them. Thus, the Voting Rights Act of 1970 was enacted, which lowered the voting age to 18 for all federal, state, and local elections. In response to the Oregon v. Mitchell case in 1970, in which the Supreme Court ruled that Congress had the authority to lower the voting age in federal elections, but not for state and local elections, Congress proposed the Twenty-Sixth amendment to lower the voting age to 18. The Senate Report accompanying the Twenty-Sixth Amendment explained that it was created for several reasons. One was that younger citizens were fully mature to vote. While the reasoning for this was that most people had finished high school by this age, the fact remains that by 16 as well most students are fully mature to determine their country's future. The other was that younger voters should be given the chance “to influence our society in a peaceful and constructive manner.” More and more nations around the world are lowering their voting age, including Austria, Argentina, Brazil, Germany, and the UK. Various US states are doing so as well: two Maryland cities have already granted municipal voting rights to 16 and 17-year-olds, and more than 15 states already allow 17-year-olds to vote in primaries. However, 16-year-olds are still not allowed to participate in federal elections. If the voting age for elections were extended to 16-year-olds, voter turnout might increase. In a democratic nation, voter turnout is especially important because it ensures that all citizens are represented in the election. According to UC Santa Barbara’s American Presidency Project, only 50 -60 percent of the voting population of America casts their ballots in the presidential elections. Lowering the age to 16 years old would ameliorate this problem. Younger generations have proven to have more initiative to vote, according to a study done in Denmark. 18-year-olds were far more likely to cast their “first vote” than 19-yearolds, and every month of extra age in those years resulted in a decline in “first vote” turnout. The same concept may apply to 16-year-olds, and guaranteeing their right to vote may help ensure more citizens participating in their nation’s elections. Takoma Park, Maryland lowered its voting age to 16 in 2013, and found that registered voters under 18 had a turnout four times higher than voters over 18. The
D
VOTING AGE SHOULD NOT BE LOWERED TO 16
URING AMERICA’S LAST PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION, ONLY 59.7% OF THE TOTAL ELIGIBLE VOTING POPULATION ACTUALLY VOTED.
In attempts to ameliorate this poor voter turnout, many individuals, including the House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, have proposed a lowering of the minimum voting age to 16. However, lowering the age requirement may exacerbate the problem rather than actually fix it. One of the major problems behind lowering the minimum voting age involves the neurology of an adolescent brain. When it comes to decision-making, there are two main types: hot and cold cognition. Those who are in favor of lowering the minimum voting age argue that by 16 years of age, cold cognition, or decision-making in relaxed situations, is as developed as it is in adults, a claim which can be supported scientifically. However, politics is not amicable and calm but rather tempestuous and heated–this is when hot cognition comes into play. This type of cognition involves being able to make good decisions in times of social pressure or intense emotion, characteristics which are prevalent in politics. In 18 year olds, hot cognition is still developing and may not be fully developed until age 21; to give 16 year olds the right to vote would intensify impetuous judgement. Another major problem is that the votes cast by
these young voters would not necessarily reflect independent decisions but rather decisions which are extensions of their parents’. Unlike 18 year olds, those aged 16 have yet to move away for college, and thus, are more prone to parental pressure. In some cases, politically zealous parents may force their child to choose a certain candidate. What about friends? Opponents may argue that moving to college doesn’t change the fact that you’ll still have friends–peer pressure would be the same for a 16 year old as it would be for an 18 year old. The problem with this argument is evident in a study published for the National Center for Biotechnology Information. This study involved four ethnically and socioeconomically distinct groups made up of more than 3,600 males and females aged between 10 and 30. The study’s findings showed that regardless of the demographic background, resistance to peer pressure actually increases linearly from age 14 to age 18. Thus, peer pressure would in fact have more of an effect on a 16 year old than for an 18 year old. In summation, with a lowering of the minimum voting age, we cannot know for certain the extent to which these youth voters are being externally influenced. Perhaps most importantly, regardless of whether he or she is educated politically or finds politics intriguing, a 16-year-old will not be able to realize the real-life consequences that result from their voting decisions because they are not yet independent. Sure, 16 year olds can secure a job, and because they have to pay salary-related taxes, they should have a say in regards to who implements those taxes right?
Firstly, only about 9% of 16 year olds are employed. Secondly, 16 year olds may have a job, but the differences in responsibilities taken up by 18 year olds is marked: most 18 year olds must buy their own food and water, lease their own apartment, pay for their own gas, ensure their own safety, etc. They are also more versed in laws because these laws are now applicable to them: the type of taxes 18 year olds must pay significantly expands, they are eligible for jury duty, and they are tried as an adult in a court of law. Although it is just a two-year difference in age, what needs to be taken into account when lowering the minimum voting age is that there are significant changes in responsibility and knowledge that occur once one reaches the legal age of adulthood. As there is a constant emergence of conflicts within our nation, it is critical that our governmental body is constructed by voters who are best equipped rationally to choose the politicians which make up this body. With a reduction in voting age, increased voter turnout would probably result, but the quality of the votes which are balloted may suffer. The question we should be asking is whether we value quality or quantity. NICHOLAS R. OKAZAKI EDITORIALS EDITOR
Courtesy of Teen Vogue
Should teachers be armed? by Nicholas Okazaki and Eui Jin Song / Editorials Editor and Associate Editor
In the wake of the recent Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School shooting as well as the nationteachers should be. wide school walkout movement that ensued, America’s citizens are left wondering what course of action should be taken next in preventing school shootings. Talk of a gun ban has recently made a resurgence, but the most prudent option that should be acted upon is the arming of teachers. At first, this strategy of giving teachers access to guns seems absurd, even ludicrous. However, this route of action is much more logical than one might assume. One of the reasons behind arming teachers is that law enforcement response times are far too long: according to the Department of Homeland Security, it takes 18 minutes on average for law enforcement to arrive at an active shooter site. In a situation where not only the average school shooting is 13 minutes but also an additional couple of seconds could translate into another casualty, the absence of first responders for such a prolonged period creates the perfect conditions for the massacre of defenseless school staff and students. However, if certain teachers were trained and armed, the response time would be decreased to minutes, even seconds. In addition to considerable reductions in response times, the arming of teachers also would be more financially feasible than security guards. According to the Washington Post, under Trump’s plan to train and arm one out of every five of America’s teachers, 121 million taxpayers would be spending $2-$9 each. This contrasts from the $96-$900 each taxpayer would pay in order to cover the costs of Newt Gingrich’s proposed plan to station six to eight security guards per school. Also, the cost for armed teachers could be reduced to lower amounts due to psychological factors; not every teacher is willing to take up a responsibility that is akin to a police officer’s when their job title is solely “teacher.” Only those who are willing would be trained, and if they are adept enough at using a gun, they would be allowed to use a gun on campus. For those who are trained, although they are mentally burdened with the responsibility of protecting their school in the event of a threat, it is important to consider that the chances of a public school student dying from a gunshot wound in school is actually about 1 in 614,000,000. Additionally, the incidence of school shootings has declined since the 1990s, further adding evidence to the fact that the probability of a teacher having to defend his/her school is immensely small. In attempts to counter the pro-arming of teachers argument, opponents will cite the safety issues that could result from the arming of teachers– having guns at school would spell disaster because students could secure a misplaced gun if a teacher is careless. However, this is assuming that the armed teachers would be exercising open carry–they wouldn’t be. Instead, having the firearms locked in a secure space, accessed only in times of a threat, would instead be the protocol. Opponents additionally cite that teachers who are stressed due to student behavior could decide to shoot a student. Similarly to the previous argument, this one operates under assumption, specifically the assumption that the safe for the gun could be accessed by the teacher alone. A simple multi-person verification could easily solve this potential problem–two or more teachers would have to agree to opening the safe. When it comes to the safety of our schools, schools can no longer afford to be designated as gun-free zones: they are sitting ducks for shooters. A reciprocal threat must be established in order to deter and stop school shooters from executing their twisted plans.
YES,
On February 14, 2018, seventeen students and teachers at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High teachers should not be. School were shot and killed, with seventeen other students injured. It was one of the world’s deadliest school massacres, and has left states grappling with the issue over how to properly prevent such shootings from occurring again. Various states, including Florida, have created several measures to combat such shootings. One particular measure is arming teachers so that they could potentially stop the shooter from causing any harm to the students. However, arming teachers is a far too risky measure that has the potential to escalate crime rather than decrease it and puts unnecessary pressure on teachers. First of all, arming teachers has the potential to increase violent crime rather than reduce it. A 2013 study, led by a Boston University School of Public Health researcher, found that each percentage point increase in gun ownership led to a 0.9% increase in the firearm homicide rate. For this reason, the strict gun reduction policies of many governments seems to be a sensible means to advance the common good. The United States’ federal government has made no attempt to create such gun reduction policies, which is why it is up to state governments instead to create such laws. However, arming teachers increases the availability of guns and thus could cause more violence than it does to prevent it. Additionally, the training required for teachers to carry a firearm to school can be sorely limited. The legal minimum standard in Michigan is only eight hours, while the FASTER (Faculty / Administrator Safety Training & Emergency Response) program is only 3 days, amounting 26 hours total. Police officers, on the other hand, receive 110 hours of firearms training. This is simply not enough training for teachers who are expected to confront shooters. Simply increasing the training period for teachers is also not a practical solution, because the problem lies within the training program itself. According to a 2008 RAND Corporation study evaluating the New York Police Department’s firearm training, between 1998 and 2006, the average hit rate during gunfights was just 18 percent. NYPD is credited for having one of the most sophisticated arms training programs in the country, with live fire, non-lethal force and simulated scenarios. Clearly, reconciling arms training with real life situations is a difficult experience. If police officers find it difficult to hit their targets, how much harder would it be for teachers who have less experience? Arming teachers is also not economically feasible. The Washington Post article “The economics of arming America’s schools” found that it would cost the country $1 billion. Most likely the school districts will take the brunt of the cost for these measures, only adding to the financial burden that the majority of them are experiencing. According to the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, at least 31 states provided less state funding per student in the 2014 school year than in the 2008 school year. How can we expect to pay to arm teachers if school districts are currently experiencing such funding cuts? The “arming teachers” debate is a complex one: it cannot boil down to whether or not one is a staunch NRA advocate or a liberal seeking to take away all guns from the nation. Instead, it is a debate that has to be approached carefully. With the lack of statistics on the efficacy of the measure, we can only go with what has been seen so far and the potential risks that come along with it. While teachers may be able to deter shooters and possibly stop the shooting, the measure invites too much risk. According to NRA Executive Vice President Wayne LaPierre, “the only way to stop a bad guy with a gun is with a good guy with a gun.” However, in this day and age, the only way to “stop a bad guy with a gun” is to stop the bad guy from getting the gun in the first place.
NO,
Gun ownership: Kaiser faculty opinions On a scale from 1-10, with 1 being the least and 10 being the most, how comfortable would you be with the idea of bringing a gun to school for the sake of student and campus safety?
“I think it’s crazy. I would never carry a gun my-
self. Arming teachers on campus would make me feel unsafe.”
(This poll was conducted anonymously.)
100% 90 % 80% 70% 60% 50% 40% 30% 20% 10% 0%
1
Yes, I would go, regardless of whether there is a pay bonus or not.
19%
65%
Percentage of Teachers (31 teachers total)
by Claudia Tang and Deborah Yuan / Features Co-editors
16%
Yes, I would go, but only if I received a pay bonus. No, I would not go, regardless of whether there is a pay bonus or not.
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
Would you go to teacher training sessions where you would learn how to use a gun?
“I’d love to get a raise - if carrying a gun does that - great.
However, I don’t think it is a good idea. Trump’s idea that teachers are ones who would most likely protect the school’s students, & go after a shooter - he is absolutely right. Teachers are the kids’ best bet. However, I believe that if many of our teachers were armed, there may be more “accidental” deaths in schools nationwide. Guns could be taken & used by students, teachers might get upset & shoot their students or other teachers, or their bosses...”
What is your opinion on President Trump’s comment supporting armed teachers? “I am opposed. I am worried about how to securely store a gun. If teachers do not have a secure location to store personal items (i.e. purse, briefcase, etc.), then where will teachers securely store a gun?”
“While schools definitely need plans in place to deal with unfortunate emergencies and crises, it should NOT be a teacher’s responsibility to defend against an armed attacker as if they were law enforcement. There are reasons why people choose the professions they choose… You cannot expect someone who chooses the teaching profession to possess the qualities necessary to be an armed employee....”
“The only thing that makes sense at this point. A dedicated teacher could act quick enough to prevent more deaths from happening. Waiting for the police response time could be fatal for everyone. The weapon should be conceal carry of course and always on the teacher’s person out of sight so there are no accidents.”
What would you suggest as an alternative to President Trump’s idea? “Since he likes to build walls so much, why not build a wall that encloses the entire campus, with security cameras all around and only one main entrance to school. This is how it is done in most Asian schools.” “Armed security professionals (If it is done to protect our money at the bank...it should be done to protect our children at school.)”
“Have smaller size classes so teachers would be able to identify problematic students.” “Stronger gun laws, increased security checks when buying/selling firearms, open conversations regarding mental health and bullying, more opportunities for those who need mental health support to seek assistance”
“Gun regulation, gun safety. I would suggest that corporations be prohibited from contributing money to our elected officials. Perhaps the NRA and other profit first corporations would have less power.” “Tax bullets 10000000000%”
27
WATER POLO COUGAR CONNECTION CONTACT INFORMATION
Email Newswriting@kaiserhs.k12.hi.us Address Henry J. Kaiser High School 511 Lunalilo Home Road Honolulu, HI 96825-1799 USA Phone 808.394.1200 Instagram @cougarconnection
COURTESY OF COUGAR CONNECTION
BY LEIGH FARAH / SPORTS EDITOR
The Kaiser girls water polo fell just short of capturing the OIA title, losing to Kahuku 9-6 at Central Oahu Regional Park on April 21. “We were sad of course but we played to the best of our abilities and gave them a fight,” said junior Kanoko Niimura. Despite the loss, they did what few other teams had done before. They came in to Satuday’s game with a 14 game win streak and finished the regular season undefeated with a record of 12-0 which included a 6-5 stunner against Kahuku on April 4. Kahuku had solidified themselves as the Goliath of girls water polo, winning nine straight state championships and 15 crowns since it first started 16 years ago. This year no other OIA team came within five goals of the Red Raiders, making what the Cougars were able to accomplish quite a remarkable feat. “I think the season so far has been way better than anyone could have ever expected. We were worried because some really important players graduated last year,” said junior Megan Kaneshiro. The Cougars, however, are far from done as they enter states as the second seed coming out of the OIA. They will look to improve upon a few things.“The main thing we can improve is our ability to come out strong. We tend to be a second half team. We come out slow but we fight at the end,” said Niimura. “We can definitely improve by moving more in our games and by staying more calm. A part of the reason we lost was because we got lazy and stopped rotating our formation and swimming to the goal,” said junior Erin Patterson. The team looks to capitalize on what has got them this far: speed and impeccable swimming ability. Many of the girls are on the OIA winning swim team. “Our main strength is our speed, All other teams acknowledge the fact that we are very fast team and in water polo it is really helpful if you can swim,” said Niimura jokingly. The girls will have no problem turning things around with tough grueling practices they have had all season orchestrated by coaches Asa Tanaka, Randi Gongob, and math teacher Reinhard Lai Hipp. “Practices get intense most of the time: they run three hours and it’s not rare that people cry or get mad,” said Patterson. The girls have worked hard and are invested in doing what it takes to win. But win or lose, this is a team like any other. From singing too loud to wrestling in the water, this is a close tight knit group with unparalleled team chemistry. “Sometimes I can just look at one of my teammates and we both know exactly what we want to do in a defense or offense play,” said Patterson. In and out of the water, this is more than just a team, it’s a sisterhood. The team will lose three key seniors: Bay Hamby, Sarah Taga and Danielle Georgia but features an ensemble of mostly juniors and underclassmen. iIth that being said, it’s far from over for the water polo team from East Honolulu.
SCHOOL SHOOTING Alyssa Alhadef, Scott Beigel, Martin Duque Anguiano, Nicholas Dworet, Aaron Feis, Jaime Guttenberg, Chris Hixon, Luke Hoyer, Cara Loughran, Gina Montalto, Joaquin Oliver, Alaina Petty, Meadow Pollack, Helena Ramsay, Alex Schachter, Carmen Schentrup, and Peter Wang. These are the victims whose lives were tragically taken in the Parkland, Florida Shooting that took the nation by storm. It was Valentine’s Day when 19 year old Nikolas Kruz killed 17 people with an AR-15 at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High school. In the time since then, students across the nation have organized walkouts and marches, demanding stricter gun control. The students have been met with stiff resistance by organizations like the NRA, politicians and many other Americans who believe that gun restrictions will only affect responsible gun owners. However, some claim that the shooting was not a gun control issue but rather an issue regarding the negligence of law enforcement, putting emphasis on the FBI’s failure to follow up on a multitude of tips regarding Kruz and the armed on-duty officers failure to confront Kruz. Both sides have gotten very heated; students and parents have called out politicians and key figures for their incompetence, while outspoken students David Hogg and Emma Gonzalez have received their own share of personal backlash such as false accusations of the two being “crisis actors”. But what this country needs now is not conflict. It is imperative that we come together and find common ground. We need to devise ways to keep our country safe without infringing on the Second Amendment and threatening what it means to be American. There are several measures that even gun supporters can get on board with. These include raising the minimum age to buy a firearm from 18 to 21 years old, which President Donald Trump endorsed. Federal law requires any person to be at least 18 to purchase a handgun, with no federal age requirement to buy a long gun such as a rifle, shotgun or an AR-15. Another measure is the banning of bump stocks, a device that allows semi-automatic weapons to mimic the firing speed of an automatic weapon. The Las Vegas shooter used this, firing 90 shots in just 10 seconds; because of the devastation that it has caused, even the NRA has agreed with banning them. A second device which make shootings more deadly is high capacity magazines. In mass shootings when the shooter used high capacity magazines, the death rate rose by 63% and the injury rate increased 156%. People argue that guns don’t kill people, people do. By Dylan Yamamoto / Staff Writer Illustration Courtesy of Courtney Staples
While some gun control is necessary, the main focus should be on the people committing these atrocities. Universal background checks are essential to ensure that guns don’t get into the wrong hands such as those who are mentally ill or are on no-fly lists. Forty percent of all gun sales are undocumented private party gun sales(“the loophole”) that do not require a background check. We can close this loophole by requiring background checks at the point of all transfers including purchases from unlicensed sellers, which currently only nine states require. Ninety-seven percent of Americans support universal background checks according to a Quinnipiac poll done on February 20. One measure that has gained popularity is the school safety bill. Twenty-seven states have proposed bills that will subsidize funding to go towards school safety, some proposing upwards of $500 million. The money will beef up buildings by installing bulletproof windows and armored shelters, more security guards, and metal detectors. The bill will also be utilized to educate students and teachers about firearms and what to do in an active shooting situation. But most notably it will go towards adding more counselors, resource officers, and increased mental health services. It is absolutely necessary that students get the help and treatment they need and with these proposed bills, they can do so. Recent reports estimate that 1 in 5 youths, aged 13-18 suffers from a severe mental disorder at some point in that span. It is also estimated that 1 in 4 adults suffer from mental illness in a given year. This can translate beyond preventing school shootings. By putting more support systems and resources in place we can ensure no illness goes untreated. While the survivors from Parkland may not be gun experts, I applaud them for their bravery to exercise the First Amendment and fight for their fallen classmates and fight for what they believe in. They have demonstrated that when you work together, you can elicit change and make a difference. We need to come together as a nation with the same determination and put aside the politics and the personal agendas. We must take action to prevent shootings so those seventeen victims won’t just be another statistic.
29
STANLEY, COUGARS PUT TOGETHER AN INCREDIBLE SEASON Dylan Yamamoto / Staff Writer The Kaiser boys volleyball team finished a remarkable season as OIA runner-ups with a 12-2 regular season. They were led by senior outside hitter Jon Stanley Jr., who won OIA east Player of the Year honors. “The recognition was completely out of the blue and amazing. I always wanted this award because it meant I made it. All the hard work for four years. I was happy and overwhelmed. I couldn’t stop screaming when I found out I won,” said Stanley on winning the award. Stanley began playing the game when he was just five years old. Volleyball runs in the Stanley blood as both his brother, Clayton and father Jon (who also coaches the team) played on the US Olympic team, the latter making the Volleyball hall of fame. His mother also played professionally and played on Canada’s Olympic team. Stanley also has brothers and sisters who play the game. Stanley grew up loving the game and was inspired watching his brother win the gold medal, it made him aspire to be just as good as him. He developed a love for the game. “Volleyball is my world. I love the sport. I love everything about it. Passing, setting and getting the kill. The feeling you get from bouncing the ball or stuffing someone. Best feeling in the world. You just get a rush of everything. Chicken skin,” said Stanley. Stanley has had a tremendous four years playing for his father. “It has been amazing. It was always my dream to get coached by my father. I’ve learned so much about myself and just being a team player” said Stanley. The journey doesn’t end here however. Stanley will continue his career at Brigham Young University, or BYU, where he will play alongside his brother Will. “I’ve always been dedicated and wanted to get better. I’ve always wanted to be the best player and teammate. It’s honestly one mental set. You have to want it, because hard work does pay off. I’ve been waiting my whole life to play in college and it’s all coming together. I can’t wait to attend BYU,” said Stanley. Stanley Jr. however, was not alone. Senior Jacob Summers made 1st team selections with Stanley and senior Dylan Poon made 3rd team. Seniors Christian Holt and Brandon Yasue and junior Kalai Skeele also made honorable mention. Joining Jon Stanley Sr. on the coaching staff were coaches Mike, Pedro and Vashaun. Despite the loss in the championship game the Cougars are proud of what they were able to accomplish. “This season has definitely been one to remember because of all the success we’ve had” said Holt. “I’m proud to be a part of this team and I know we will go down as one of the best Kaiser Volleyball teams,” said Poon.
SOFTBALL SISTERS Eui jin song / Associate Editor Some of the most famous athletes in history have been siblings: take tennis players Serena and Venus Williams who hold the 1st and 2nd ranks in singles or Alex and Maia Shibutani who recently won the Bronze medal for ice dancing at the Olympics. At our very own Henry J. Kaiser High School, siblings Christiana, Ivane, Precious, and Primrose Aholelei are all part of the Varsity girls softball team. Not only do they continually encourage each other to put in their best effort, but their ability to coordinate and cooperate well have contributed to the softball team. Ivane Aholelei is a freshman who started playing softball after her siblings introduced her to it. “I didn’t exactly know that softball was a sport but I played baseball,” she said. “Once I moved down here my sisters introduced me to softball. I love it now, it’s my favorite sport.” Ivane’s position is the shortstop, one of the most demanding defensive positions. However, Ivane is not only able to hit well, but also considers it important to boost the team’s morale. “Whenever everybody’s down, I try and make them smile, try to pick them up,” she said. Precious Aholelei, a junior and the catcher of the team, also mentioned the challenge and importance of getting the team to act as one. Being on the same team as their siblings, however, has contributed to a sense of pressure amongst the Aholeleis. “Having that pressure from your siblings, especially, [makes me] scared to make a mistake,” Ivane said. However, all of the siblings agree that the camaraderie they experience from playing with their siblings overshadows the pressure they feel. “When I play with my siblings I feel excited and happy because it’s once in a lifetime that you get to play with your siblings at once,” Primrose, the team’s pitcher, said. Ivane further explained, “I feel like it’s really good because you’re surrounded by people who know you, and I feel comfortable.” The synergy that the siblings possess resulted in nine home runs in the team’s pre season. The siblings and their accomplishments on the field were covered by the Honolulu Star Advertiser in March. “We never expected things to be like this,” said Precious with a smile. All of the siblings view softball as a big part of their lives, and where they feel most at home. “It was a sport that we played since we were younger, it’s how we all showed who we are,” Precious said. We can expect to see these siblings helping the softball team win victories after the other this season.
Malia Nam Wins 3rd OIA Title Tara Morisato / News Editor Now a three-time golf OIA champion, senior Malia Nam is a force to be reckoned with on the course. At the 2018 OIA championships at Turtle Bay Golf Course, Nam finished with 136 strokes in two rounds— 70 for the first and 66 for the second. She was seven strokes ahead of the runner-up, hit eight strokes below par, and beat her previous personal record of 67. At the age of seven, she began practicing the sport that would become one of the driving forces in her life. Driven by the thrill of competition, Nam continued to sharpen her skills over the course of the next ten years. “I’m really competitive and hate losing, so that makes me work harder. Also, [being] able to travel and play national events inspires me,” she said. Nam’s ambitious nature on the course is usually advantageous; she’s made a name for herself and won nationwide and even international tournaments out of determination to beat out her rivals. However, that competitiveness is a double-edged sword which gets in the way when things go wrong. The moments between shots allow much time for brooding over unsuccessful swings, and golfers must steel themselves to stay resilient emotionally as well as physically. “It’s still a work in progress of trying not to be harsh on myself,” she said, “But right now, I’m trying to focus on the good shots that I hit and not carry on the bad emotions to the next hole.” Nam considers last season’s OIA championship playoff round with Kalani High School’s (then junior) Miki Manta to be one of her biggest triumphs. “There were a lot of memorable experiences throughout high school but I would say playing and winning in a pretty intense sudden death 9 hole playoff last year at the OIA championships was definitely a highlight.” The two had tied for the two OIA championship rounds that year, and eight holes of the playoff, wherein one slip-up meant giving up the title. Finally, on the ninth playoff hole, Nam chipped in from a bunker, while Manta’s putt rolled five feet past the hole. That round showcased both players’ immense prowess on the course, and no one had expected a nine-hole playoff. Nam had won her first OIA championship in freshman year, but lost the title by one stroke to Manta in her sophomore year. Winning back the championship in junior year, and defending in senior year was all the more empowering. In November 2017, Nam received a full ride scholarship and committed to the University of Southern California, and is now considering a degree in the fields of business, real estate, or physical therapy. Nam is resolute on getting a college degree, but becoming a professional golfer is a possibility she will neither confirm nor deny. She explains that going pro is dependent on whether she can secure a steady position on the LPGA Tour. “Why not get a degree and have a backup? If I do go pro, I don’t want to be that golfer who is struggling to make the cut and feels so much pressure to sponsors,” she said. As her time in high school winds down, Nam reflects fondly on her progress and her experiences. “[Outside of] golf, I’ve met some really amazing people here at Kaiser that impacted my life,” she said. “Since my junior golf career is coming to an end, I’m focusing on just enjoying the moments and having fun with my other competitors before we all leave for college.”
32 31
MM 12
Elev. 5393.60’
WP 5
MM 13
32
Bataan March Route (26.2)
Boy Scouts Troop 279
Elev. 5111.12’
Elev. 5247.84’
NMSU ROTC
Elev. 4862.34’
MM 11
WP 6
Elev. 4609.25’
MM 10
NM Army Natl Guard
MM 14
Elev. 5233.83’
WP 4/8
MM 18 Elev. 4750.26’
MM 17
By Daniel Reichert Staff Writer
Special Forces (Veterans)
Elev. 4065.29’
MM 9
Elev. 4994.49’
MMM 15
Conquistadores
MM 19
MM 16
Elev. 4287.76’
WSMR Chapel
WP 7
MM 6
WP 3/9
MM 20
SYMBOLS WYATT SANDS COMPLETES THE Water Points* BATAAN MEMORIAL DEATH MARCH
MM 22
US Navy WP 10
MM 21
WP 2a
MM 7
MM 8
Sponsor Raytheon
Elev. 4371.82’
MM 5
Fruit
Elev. 4462.40’
Medical Stations
MM 23
Child & Youth Services
Honorary March (14.2)
MM 4
Elev. 4153.61’
WP 11
* Portable Restrooms will be at every Water Point
WP 2
US Air Force
Elev. 4334.38’
MM 24
MM 3
Sponsor Northwind
WP 12 MM 25
WSMR MAIN POST
Finish
Elev. 4340.5’
Start
Elev. 4303.25’
WP
BA
MM26
going; I wanted to complete it for myself, my father, and a fallen hero,” said Sands. The Bataan Memorial Death March does not just serve as a personal challenge, but also to remember and honor the heroic World War II veterans who fought to defend the Philippines. In addition to honoring those who fought in the Philippines, Sands had someone in particular he was marching for. “The day before [the march] we had an opportunity to represent a fallen soldier, [so] I marched for a fallen Navy SEAL. This gave me a responsibility to complete the march. Also, seeing my father in his early 60’s marching with me, I knew that I had to complete it for more than just myself.” Completing eight hours and landing in sixth place for his category, Sands reflected on his experience. “I know I could have gotten a faster time and
MM 2
Sergeant Audie Murphy Club WP 1 Sponsor Honey Stinger
ABERDEEN
MM 1
Sons of the American Legion
BATTA AN LI TA
ON
Senior Wyatt Sands traveled to New Mexico over spring break to participate in the Bataan Memorial Death March. Traversing 26.2 miles through the White Sands Missile Range, Sands finished the march, a challenging military event, which challenges physical and mental endurance. The White Sands Missile Range is located 46 miles north of El Paso, New Mexico. With temperatures ranging from 33°F in the early morning, to around 90°F later in the day and rugged terrain of the desert, the march proved to be a very treacherous experience. “It was scheduled to be a cool, cloudy day. The morning felt nice, but right in the middle of the race it got SO hot, the sun just beat down all the energy I had stored up,” said Sands. Preparing for the challenge took strength training and conditioning, using different methods. “I spent my time getting used to the weight of the bag and my boots…[and went] on hikes [to feel] out how things would be [on] an uneven terrain with added weight and gear,” said Sands. Even with preparation, it takes more than just endurance to finish the march. “A few things kept me
SVO NMSU
even finished first in my category, however, I felt a deep responsibility and duty to stay with my father. He told me a multitude of times to just take off and… [have] a good time, but the ideal of “no man left behind” stuck to my soul and that responsibility took precedence over everything.” What made this march an accomplishment for Sands is the fact that he has never completed a marathon before. “I have not done this march before, nor have I completed a marathon before. The closest I have come to a distance race was a 4-miler I did a few years back,” said Sands. As if that was not hard enough, he also carried a 35-pound backpack through all 26.2 miles of the march. Despite the Bataan Memorial Death March being such a difficult challenge, Sands wishes to participate in the march again. “I will absolutely do this event
again. It gives you a challenge that seems almost insurmountable, but once you set foot, there’s no turning back and the feeling you get at the end is incomparable to any other feeling I have experienced. It’s also a great way to honor the past as well as the serving and retired individuals of the armed forces. The one word I could use to describe every aspect of this event is: beautiful.” The Bataan Memorial Death March is more than an accomplishment. It brings out the best in people to get through challenges, as described by Sands. To traverse all 26.2 miles of the march took determination, knowing that it was being done to respect and honor the World War II heroes in the Philippines. Congratulations to Wyatt Sands and his father for completing this strenuous march.
33 Courtesy of Cougar Connection
ASK JAIDA BURGON I want to ask this guy to go out, but I’m not exactly sure how he feels towards me. I don’t know him well either, he is just someone in one of my classes, but I am attracted to him. Should I ask him to go on a date anyway, knowing that my feelings are at this time, probably one-sided?
In my opinion, yes, I think you should. Be courageous! Imagine that you are reflecting on your life years from now; if you never ask him,--you will definitely regret it. You can’t say for sure that he doesn’t have feelings towards you, and I’m sure anyone would be more than happy to attend a prom with you. Look at it this way: if you don’t ask him, you will always be wondering what could have been. Carpe diem! Seize the moment! Don’t let the fear of rejection stop you from something that could turn out amazing! If you are one of those people who needs reassurance on how he feels towards you, ask around! I’m sure you could get some friends to help you out. In the end, have support from people who care about you, whether his answer is yes or no.
I broke up with my girlfriend over seven months ago, and I think I have finally gotten over her. Recently, we started talking again, and I am so happy we have moved beyond that “need to act like strangers” phase. The problem is that just being around her stirs memories of the past. I don’t want her to misinterpret my feelings and run away again. What should I do? Act like we still are friends, even if my feelings for her are still burning? Or should I step away? I don’t want to make her uncomfortable. I don’t want to get hurt again.
I would like to start with saying that many people can relate to you. Everyone goes through relationships, where even when months have passed, they aren’t sure they did the right thing by ending it. In your position, I would reflect on what caused your relationship to end. If all has been forgiven and you think you can be in a “friends only” relationship with her, then communicate with her. Communication is a huge aspect in relationships, and without it, the relationship will fall apart. You should feel comfortable enough around her to speak about how you feel. If you can’t even do this as friends, then this is not a relationship you want to bring back. If in the end, she does not feel the same anymore, then you know that it is time to move on with your life. I would say it is definitely okay to always be there for each other, but it might be best to drift for a few more months to get yourselves back on track. If the outcome turns south, you know that there is someone else out there for both of you.