The Talon | Issue 1 | 25 Sept 2013

PG 8

Los Altos:

Wed, feb. 9

PG 10-11

in the Eagle Theatre

a DEEPER LOOK

pAST PRESENT FUTURE

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201 Almond Ave. Los Altos, CA 94022 Los ALtos high school VOLUME XXVII, Issue 1 September 25, 2012

Boys volleyball added as spring varsity sport After much anticipation, this coming spring the school will add a boys volleyball team to the season roster. Spearheaded by senior Alex Blackburn, this team has been in the works for three years. In the past, roadblocks such as gym space, lack of interest and low funds have prevented its possibility.

During his final year in high school, however, Alex was determined to add boys volleyball to Eagles athletics.

“It’s been a long time,” Alex said. “But it’s finally happening.”

In order to begin a new sports team one must first get approval and charter a club for his or her team through ASB. Alex confirmed his charter in early September and now is focused on the future of the team. Although the club is official,

the team will not be official until must be funded solely by parent they gather the remaining half of the and community donations. #$9000 they need. The first half “We have to prove that we are of the funds have been obtained sustainable, that we can do this through donations from athletes on our own and that there is who have committed to play on enough interest,” McDermott the team. said. “Then boosters will help “We need to get $9000 in order us along.” to officially Although have the funding for team,” Alex the team It’s been a long said in early is still in time, but it’s finally September. the works, happening.”

So basically many of the Ihave about roadblocks half the were – Senior Alex Blackburn that money and in the way I still need previously the other half ... So we won’t have have been overcome. For one, an official team for another two or Athletic Director Kim Cave three weeks.” has found a slot of practice LAHS parent and volleyball time in the large gym after team supporter Elizabeth the badminton team finishes McDermott said funding is an their practice. Alex said that essential part of creating a new depending on the availability team. For the first year the team of gym space, preseason

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Cassidy Craford Staff Writer

practices will most probably begin in the middle of January.

Furthermore, the team is lucky in that it does not have to fundraise for basic equipment.

“Part of the benefit is that most of the equipment is already there,” cOURTESY McDermott jOhN dAI said. “We will need to help improve it and replace it, but right now the women’s volleyball has everything that we need.”

The team will, however, need to provide funds for balls, uniforms and the coach’s salary.

McDermott says they plan to do this through hosting tournaments, working at fundraising events and

Senior helps design Gatesfunded Eco-Toilet at Stanford Arman Khayyat Staff Writer

Courtesy Kieran Stolorz

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>> Send critiques about The Talon’s lahstalon.org to webeditor@ lahstalon.org

Crime Shows >> pg. 16

The rumbling of machinery fills senior Kieran Stolorz’s head as he intently studies the dozens of equations and variables laid out on detailed blueprints and diagrams.

Going back and forth from formulas to lab work, Kieran collaborates with a team of Stanford University professors and students in working towards building a functioning model of the “Eco-Toilet.”

This past summer, Kieran worked with a team at Stanford, participating in the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation’s “Reinvent the Toilet Fair.” Kieran was granted the opportunity to become involved in the project by a college friend of his father, Brian Von Herzen. Von Herzen, who happened to be the coordinator for Stanford’s project in the fair, was over at Kieran’s house one night for dinner encouraging Kieran to participate over the summer.

Kieran viewed the project as a great opportunity to exercise his passion and take on his first high-level engineering project.

“It’s fascinating just from an engineering standpoint, but even more intriguing is its application and helpfulness,” Kieran said. “It was a good opportunity to learn [and] to immerse myself with the smartest people in the world,

and be in a room with them four hours a day.”

Microsoft founder Bill Gates’ involvement greatly amplified the project’s appeal and importance.

Gates provided the preliminary funding for all projects in the “Reinvent the Toilet Fair” and was the main financial source for the project at Stanford. When Kieran was informed that Gates would be funding the project, he was left in awe.

“Obviously anytime you’re associated with a man of that much influence in the world, it’s pretty cool,” Kieran said.

“That’s just a cool thing to be able to say, not just for college resumes, but for yourself.”

See Gates-funded toilet, page 12 PURSUING A PASSION: Senior

Kieran Stolorz (left) stands inside the outhouse he designed to test the model he worked on for the Gates’ “Reinvent the Toilet Fair.”

Kieran combined his passion for engineering with a practical global application this summer.

Camp Everytown >> pg. 9

Ditch the generic, Cookie-Cutter Mold The Talon takes Readers inside a writer’s experience at Camp of TV Crime Shows, new alternatives

gathering donations.

Interest has also spiked. Senior John Dai (left) said that at a meeting for the team last spring there were 13 students last year who were fully committed to playing. These students include those who play competitively on club teams, as John does, and those who have not played volleyball but that are athletic and interested in the game.

Both John and Alex will play key roles on the team as seniors and as seasoned club players.

“I first started playing volleyball in middle school,” John said. “I found out about [club] in sophomore year, so this will be my third year playing. I think I’ve improved a lot playing club. It’s a great experience.”

Freshman Nathan Smith, another club player, will also join the team. Due to the short amount of gym time and number of students interested there will be no JV team immediately, only varsity.

Depending on the turnout at tryouts the JV team may or may not be cut. McDermott said that if interest in the team continues to grow and there is gym space available, there is a potential for the creation of a JV team in the coming years.

See Boys varsity volleyball , page 19

upcoming events flexible schedule

10/3, 10/4

end of first quarter

10/12

Practice SAT

10/17

Perfect Games >> PG. 18 Los Altos Alum Umps two perfect games in One Major League Season

TALONONLINE >> Want more from The Talon? Sports scores, news and more updated everyday online at lahstalon.org

News

September 25, 2012

2

School begins to implement grade alignment policy Shilpa Venigandla Senior Writer

Teachers spent time toward the end of last school year and over the summer to align courses, an action that was prompted by the Grades/Evaluation of Student Achievement Policy. The policy, which was passed April 23 of this year, ensures that students receive grades in an efficient manner and that each individual student has an equal chance of receiving a grade that accurately reflects the student’s achievement in the class, regardless of the teacher. In other words, assessment of a student will be similar no matter who the teacher.

The policy was created after the Assessment Task Force, a 25-member group consisting of students, parents, teachers and administrators from both Los Altos High School (LAHS) and Mountain View High School (MVHS), showed interest in aligning classes. This idea grew out of the Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC) selfstudy that took place at the school.

“Out of that self-study, Los Altos High School determined that one of their greatest challenges was the lack of alignment among teachers teaching the same courses,” Assistant Superintendent of Educational Services Brigitte Sarraf said. “So Los Altos had been working literally for nine years on wanting to achieve greater alignment and has made great progress every single year. The Achievement Policy came about in part of what Los Altos had been finding as a result of their self-study and their review.”

Teachers got together in course teams consisting of teachers instructing a particular class to determine lesson plans andassignmentrequirements.Theyworked to make sure the assignment requirements were the same, so that a student in a course with one teacher had an equal chance of obtaining the same overall grade in the class as a student in the same course with another teacher. For example, all United States History teachers came together to ensure that their lessons covered a similar syllabus and formed a plan to give out the same assignments so that all assignments in the gradebook would be the same even if teachers were different. They also made category weights the same.

The course team produced one course information sheet that was distributed to

Rebecca DeShetler

each student enrolled in the class. In the past, each teacher had created their own course information sheets.

“There can be some differences in the delivery of the curriculum but ... if you are in United States History, it comes with a guarantee that it doesn’t matter whose class you’re in, you get the same curriculum and you are being assessed in the same manner,” Sarraf said.

The Assessment Task Force gave course teams guidelines and requirements that needed to be discussed and implemented.

Some of these requirements included common grading policies, late work policies and extra credit policies.

During the two in-service days before school started, the English Department discussed these policies. The English Department as a whole is very much aligned, as Survey of Composition and Literature has been aligned for about 15-20 years.

“I would say for this year none of the discussion was hard because we were already there [at alignment], but in the past some of the conversations that were really challenging were grading philosophies,” English Department Coordinator Keren Robertson said. “We would have one person in the department

who had eight or nine grades per semester because they really believed in holistic grading whereas there were other people in the department [who] were more used to kind of putting a grade on every single thing, so they would end up with 60 or 70 assignments by the end of the semester. [It was hard] to figure out how to come up with a policy that everyone can agree on.”

Alignment can also be difficult for courses where teachers haven’t necessarily had enough time to have discussions about assessment policies.

“I do think it is very challenging to get teachers to agree because they have strongly held philosophies so I just think that for it in order to be done well, there needs to be a lot of time built in for dialogue and conversation to help people understand,” Robertson said. “That’s the only challenge for departments who are working towards alignment.”

While LAHS course teams focused on alignment for classes in terms of achievement (grading scales), MVHS course teams decided to take it further and attempted to devise a grading system that addresses a more equally distributed grading scale. Teams produced a fourpoint grading scale in which each interval

between a four, three, two and one is equal. With the original grading scale, an F entitles work anywhere between zero to 59 percent, a greater interval than the A, B, C and D grades which have only a 10 percent range. The four point grading system is being used by certain course teams– particular courses–at MVHS, not LAHS. The Achievement Policy’s purpose is not to align MVHS and LAHS, but rather to align courses at the same school.

In order to check if the assessment policy is being implemented properly, the district plans to re-evaluate the policy after first and second semester. However, according to Sarraf, teachers will not be expected to have full alignment by the end of first semester.

“The implementation process is going to happen over the course of the year, so we won’t know until the end of the year whether the policy is actually working or not.” Sarraf said. “... We’re going to start looking at it next semester and see so that we can redirect our resources and our energy to make sure that the spirit of the policy and the letter of the law are being adhered to and respected. If it doesn’t work, if we run into some problems, then we want to change things.”

September 25, 2012

3

News

AP and CST scores released for the school Maya Acharya Staff Writer

The school’s Advanced Placement (AP) and California Standardized Test (CST) scores both saw improvement in 2012.

The AP exam scores from 2012, released on Sunday, July 1, show a five percent improvement from 2011 throughout the district. A total of 2,105 AP exams were taken by 1,133 students in the district. A score of three or higher on an AP exam is considered a passing grade, making the student eligible to use the course for college credit at some colleges. Eighty-six percent of the exams earned a score of three or higher.

Assistant Principal Galen Rosenberg said that in addition to the increase in scores, the school saw an increase in students enrolled in AP classes.

“The more significant issue [than the increase in scores] is the number of students taking AP courses and taking AP exams,” Rosenberg said.

“That’s increased quite a bit more than five percent.

Normally, when you increase the pool of students taking an exam, the passing rate goes down a little bit. The fact that we’re increasing the number of students taking the exams and that they’re passing at the same or higher rate, that’s what’s significant.”

The school had 557 AP students in 2012, which is 63 more than in 2011. These students passed 971 of the 1,153 exams they took collectively.

Students who took an AP exam for calculus tested with a pass rate of 86 percent.

The pass rate for students taking an AP English exam was 88 percent. AP exams

for history and government had a 84 percent pass rate.

The percentages at which the district’s students passed in each subject were significantly higher than national averages.

“I think we definitely perform way above the national level, so we’re very strong,” History Department coordinator DeeDee Pearce said. “We’ve got really dedicated students.”

Science teacher Adam Randall’s AP Physics C students last school year achieved an average AP score of 4.7.

“I think it’s great that as a public high school, we offer every science course that the college board has AP tests for,” Randall said. “I think that’s a real benefit for students at our school. All of the AP science teachers are really passionate about the sciences they teach.”

However, Randall said the actual exam is not the only

value of taking an AP class.

“Scores are the last thing that I’m really interested in,” Randall said.

“It’s communicating scientific literacy to students in high school at a college level that is pretty cool. I think I’m as proud of the two students who got a 1 as the 28 students who got a 5 – they all learned a significant amount.”

Randall said that the school’s success in AP classes was enabled by the district’s assistance.

“The district values our AP classes and supports us with the budget, the equipment and the resources to teach a lab based science class at a first-year college level,” Randall said.

The district also saw improvement in many subject areas of CST scores from 2012.

The improvement follows an upward trend in scores seen in recent years. Rosenberg

said that the improvement is a result of schoolwide effort.

“For the last several years, we’ve been collaborating schoolwide and in departments to align what we do in the classroom with state standards, but also – I think more importantly – with what we think is the best practice for students,” Rosenberg said. “The consistency of the upward trend suggests that all the collective work we’ve been doing has been helping.”

District superintendent Barry Groves said that ninth and 11th grade scores showed improvement in every subject, while 10th grade students improved the scores in every subject except Algebra II. “This improvement in student achievement is linked to our teachers’ efforts to align instruction and continually review data to evaluate their effectiveness,” Assistant Principal Perla

Pasallo said in a press release from the district.

In future years, there will be changes in California’s standardized testing process.

“CST and state standards are going to change in two years to what are called Common Core Standards and at this point we don’t know for sure what the testing is going to be like,” Rosenberg said. “The common core standards are expected to be higher than the California State Standards.”

While the Common Core Standards will not be implemented until two years from now, there are some changes in requirements that are already expected to come with the new standards.

“I expect [Common Core Standards] will include less emphasis on factual recall... and more emphasis on synthesis, interpretation and analysis in all subject areas,” Rosenberg said.

Mountain View Los Altos (MVLA) Foundation held the annual district-wide phone-a-thon, a call-based fundraiser that aimed to raise $1.2 million this year.

The foundation recruited and organized volunteers who reached out to the community for support.

All district families were encouraged to make a taxdeductible donation, usually around $800.

The donations were typically matched by business or community sponsors. A group of Leadership Circle supporters made a $150,000 matching grant to boost parent participation. Match donations must be received

by September 30, but the foundation accepts donations any time of the year.

All of the funding went to MVLA Foundation, a nonprofit organization dedicated to raising funds for programs in the MVLA school district.

staff and students for when a real emergency may occur.

As the drill was broadcast over the loudspeakers, students ducked and covered beneath their desks for protection.

After the “earthquake” ended, students were directed to the back field to check

attendance. Firefighters and police officers mixed with the crowds of students as the teachers accounted for their students. However, to simulate a real earthquake, some classrooms were left behind for a “search and rescue” and fake injuries, such as broken legs or concussions,

were taken care of.

The moderate weather made the drill bearable, as in past years students have suffered more from overheating than the “earthquakes”. The drill went well and finished in a timely manner as students were dismissed to their fourth period classes.

News Briefs: SAT Prep, MVLA Foundation Phone-a-thon and Earthquake Drill Eddie Sartor Senior Writer

Pro bono SAT prep classes offered

STIZZiL, a startup which specializes in SAT preparatory classes, has offered free classes during its pilot program to seniors involved in Partners for New Generations (PNG).

Classes started on September 23. Estimated to be worth $1800 per student, STIZZiL is a six-week program designed to teach testing strategies for standardized tests. In return for the free courses, the students are expected to maintain a blog and provide feedback in order to improve the course experience. The students benefit from the free classes, while STIZZiL benefits from the feedback.

The STIZZiL program differs from many SAT prep classes as it is held online, instead of in a classroom setting. Despite being online, the teachers are all Amercian state-certified teachers.

MVLA fundraiser

On September 18 and 19,

earthquake drill

Last Thursday, the school participated in the interagency earthquake drill, an annual exercise that prepares the

4

September 25, 2012

News

Green Team implements new recycling system Yuki Zaninovich Staff Writer

The Green Team is introducing a new recycling program at the school, turning school trash cans into new recycling and composting bins. Through this newly-installed system, Green Team is attempting to achieve zero waste.

“For a very long time, [Green Team] has been trying to convince people to recycle or compost,” Co-president junior Wendy Wu said. “By taking out the trash cans, we’re basically forcing people to be green.”

Any kind of meat, vegetables, fruit, dairy products, cartons or paper materials are to be disposed of in the composting bins. Everything else can be put into the recycling bin. Green Team is placing laminated labelling stickers onto the two types of cans for the purpose of differentiation.

The team reported to have split the cost of $650 with the administration on 300 stickers that are being evenly distributed among the 50 bins in the central area of campus. The stickers for composting bins say “Compost” or “Anything you can eat” and recycle bins either say “Recycling” or “Anything you can’t eat.” The club said that there are some inedible materials that are biodegradable but are not mentioned on the composting bin stickers for simplicity.

“We were hesitant to use ‘Anything you can eat’ and ‘Anything you can’t eat’ because that’s not always the case, but ultimately decided to do so because they are easy to understand and accurate for the most part,” Co-president junior Sarah Jacobs said. “The simplicity of the system is supposed to make

Ciera Pasturel

The old style bins sit in the quad. They will be replaced with new lidless recycling and compost bins as part of the new system that will be implemented by green team. being green easy and convenient for everyone.”

When the recycling company Recology collects the recycling bins, it sorts out the garbage from the actual recyclables.

This enables the system to maximize the amount of recyclable material that gets recycled. According to Green Team, the numerous measures it is taking will not completely eradicate waste, but they will greatly reduce it.

“As a school, you’re not going to have absolute zero waste,” Wendy said. “It’s a goal more than a literal thing.”

According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), recyclable

items and organic waste constitute about 80 percent of what is thrown into America’s trashcans. Paper, a school’s primary source of trash, can have a substantial positive effect on the environment if recycled. Each ton of paper that is recycled can save 3.5 cubic yards of landfill, 17 30-foot trees, 7,000 gallons of water, 380 gallons of oil, 4,100 kilowatts of energy, and eliminate 60 pounds of air pollutants at the same time.

Composting organic waste reduces the amount of solid waste deposited in landfills, reduces atmospheric pollution and replenishes soil with nutrients.

and bike traffic and so the construction there is intended to make it a safer intersection,” Assistant Principal Galen Rosenberg said.

The f lashing light device is the same as the one located along San Antonio Road near downtown Los Altos.

“The school district wanted a safer intersection there but that is a city responsibility,” Rosenberg said.

The Los Altos City Council made the choice to improve this busy intersection.

The Weber Tractor Service began construction on the intersection in late July.

“The evidence is pretty good that the blinking light crosswalks are safer,” Rosenberg said.

The lights were intended to make the driver aware of pedestrians crossing.

“The flashing lights definitely catch my attention when I drive and give pedestrians plenty of time to cross,” junior Matt Sears said.

However, during the 20112012 school year, a student was hit while crossing. This was reason that the crosswalk was built.

“If that accident hadn’t happened I don’t know if we would be building [the crosswalk],” Rosenberg said.

The intersection is very busy prior to school, partly because the new crosswalk slows down traffic.

“It aggravates drivers that the lights f lash for so long and force cars to wait around more than the old crosswalk,” Matt said.

A crossing guard had been assigned after the accident last school year to help ensure student safety. After the completion of the new device, the crossing guard is still helping work the intersection in the mornings and after school. He uses a handheld stop sign along with the new crosswalk system.

“It is safer but it also slows down the traffic a lot in the mornings,” said junior Andrew Sargent.

The lights blink for approximately 15 seconds and the button can be pressed frequently in the busy periods of the day, especially the mornings. This speeds up pedestrian traffic while slowing down automobile traffic.

One of the reasons Green Team decided to incorporate a new set of recycling bins was a lack of motivation for students to recycle. Since the blue recycling bins (toters) have lids, students neglected to use them and often threw their recyclables into the garbage can. Instead they are now using open-faced recycling bins and resorting to the toters for underpopulated locations on campus because of the limited quantity of the new, circular recycling bins.

Due to the implementation of the new, open-faced cumulative recycling bin, both the administration and the club are unsure about

the future of the toters and are waiting for the results of the system to make definitive decisions.

Green Team said that its additional goal along with having zero waste is updating the community on the current advances in recycling.

“We just want to get people into the habit of recycling as more and more packaging becomes recyclable,” Sarah said.

The club plans to present multiple informational announcements during the school year. As of now, short films have been broadcast on video announcements in the morning to teach the students the basics of recycling.

Also, the team has been broadcasting a “Green Tip of the Week” through the school intercom.

Furthermore, Green Team members regularly volunteer to gather and empty recycling bins from classrooms for the recycling company to pick up. The annual Earth Week event in April will also aim to educate the school community about environmental consciousness.

“We want to reduce [the school’s] waste footprint and I’m hoping students will learn that most of the things they use are recyclable, so the education part of it is important,” Green Team adviser Greg Stoehr said.

To read an opinion on Green Team’s new recycling system see page 6.

Workers complete construction of raised crosswalk on Gordon Joey Malgesini Staff Writer

The newly-constructed crosswalk on the corner of North Gordon Way and Almond Avenue was completed during the third week of the school year.

Workers installed flashing lights along a now-elevated crosswalk.

These lights flash when a student pushes a button located on either side of the crosswalk and alerts traffic that pedestr ians are crossing.

“It’s a busy crosswalk, with a lot of p e de s t r i a n s , automobi les

Chloe Arrouye

Construction workers build the new flashing crosswalk.

This project, completed during the third week of the school year, is meant to improve safety at the intersection.

The Talon September 25, 2012

Editorial

Teachers, students should take advantage of differentiation Editorial Opinion of The Talon

Many students are regularly faced with the dilemma of choosing between a class that is too difficult and workintensive for them and a class that is not challenging enough. Too often, when they choose the second option, they end up spending a year feeling unchallenged.

Teachers are responsible for educating classes full of students with varying levels of comfort with the material, and cannot be allowed to tailor a class to challenge one group of students at the expense of another. However, there is a solution to this problem: differentiation, a teaching strategy in which teachers provide different materials at different levels to students in the same class. Furthermore, it is a solution the school already encourages teachers to use.

Courses can be differentiated in three areas: content, or the resources provided for students; process, or how students are instructed; and product, or how students demonstrate their understanding. Teachers often differentiate content by providing different resources beyond just text, like images and video, to students and differentiate process by allowing students to work in groups or individually, among other ways.

Teachers should incorporate more differentiated options for product into the curriculum. In

turn, when offered this resource, students have a responsibility to take advantage of a system that holds them accountable while playing to their interests.

Some teachers at the school already differentiate their courses in terms of product.

Social studies teacher Derek Miyahara, for example, started allowing students to choose their homework assignments based on their grade in the class when he realized that some weren’t being challenged. Students with A’s or B’s could choose whether to do the homework from the textbook.

Miyahara noticed that not only did students find their work more meaningful, he received less complaints about grades. Giving students more options also makes them more accountable for their education because they have more control over the ways they demonstrate their learning.

Differentiation can also give students a chance to do assignments that they find more interesting. In turn, students need to make the most of this opportunity by choosing to do work on a level that challenges them appropriately.

The district has been working on

utilizing differentiation for over a decade, and it is also encouraged on the state level. “Engaging and supporting all students in learning” is a California Standard for the Teaching Profession, and differentiation gives teachers a way to do just that.

“Each [student] is an individual, and that’s what differentiation’s about, really understanding … students to know what’s going to motivate them, what’s going to move them forward, what’s going to be a stumbling block in their learning as well and how to get them what they need,” new teacher coordinator Carmen Gomez said.

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Student applauds administration’s response to lack of access to bike racks at back of school during construction Recently, there have been more students choosing to bike to school. The administration has done a great job in responding to the bike traffic.

Because construction has cut off the path from Jardin to the bike racks by the track, students who come from the back

thumbs Thumbs up to cleaning up the trash on the tennis courts.

After months of construction, the back courts were left so dirty that many tennis players weren’t able to access some of the tennis courts. Crews have come in to clean up the debris, allowing tennis players to resume using the courts.

In a school that continually strives to be green and have a positive impact on the environment, these steps are another beneficial step forward in improving our campus environment.

The Talon Los Altos High School

201 Almond Avenue Los Altos, California www.lahstalon.org September 25, 2012 Volume XXVIII, Issue 1

Editor-in-Chief Libbie Katsev Managing Editors Sarah Corner (Publication) Catherine Hua (Web) Mark Schreiber (Publication) News Editor Zoe Morgan Opinions Editor Rebecca Cohen Features Editor Christina Luk In-Depth Editor Ben Marimon Entertainment Editor Brenna Reid Sports Editor Josh Cohen Media Editor Ciera Pasturel Copy/Content Editors Shiktij Dave Jared Eng Dhruv Madhok Hongyi Shi Business Managers Emily Sims Jordan Stout

Senior Writers Anthony Bello, Paul Bergevin, Casey Pao, Ed Sartor, Sparsha Saxena, Shilpa Venigandla Staff Writers Maya Acharya, Riyana Basu, Robert Chin, Carly Cohen, Zach Cohen, Alex Cortinas, Cassidy Craford, Chang Cui, Chase Eller, Arman Khayyat, Sam Lisbonne, Ariel Machell, Joey Malgesini, John Naumovski, Tony Sun, David Wu, Yuki Zaninovich Photographers Chloe Arrouye, Juliet Moore, Jade Perry Graphic Artist Rebecca DeShetler Videographers Nathan Becker, Anthony Bello, James Brewer, Mark Schreiber

Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor,

5

entrance by the tennis courts are now locking up bikes by the portables.

The racks were recently reorganized.

Additional spaces were provided so that there is no longer any hassle when bikes fall over on top of another. Students used to lock their bikes to other bikes, which causes inconvenience

when the anchored bike has to leave.

As a school, it is great that we are providing the best conditions to encourage students to bike. It’s great to know the administration is considerate to all students.

Thumbs up to the library’s growing online presence.

In addition to a new Facebook page, the library also has an updated webpage on the MVLA website after librarian Gordon Jack redesigned it over summer. The webpage offers not only an online library catalogue but also book suggestions, a link to the library blog and links to resources students can use to conduct research and to create better projects. The blog contains book summaries, critical evaluation and other book information.

The library’s online presence is influential in helping it reach out to students and get them to read. The dedication of the team this season has truly paid off.

Thumbs up to the ASB for scheduling a second club day.

In the past, there has only been one day at the beginning of school for clubs to advertise and recruit potential members. While returning and newly-chartered clubs have this pivotal opportunity, clubs that are chartered later in the year do not. This not only serves as discouragement for chartering clubs in the middle of the academic year, but also makes it harder for pre-existing clubs to bolster their membership after club day is over.

A second club day will provide clubs with another chance to generate interest and gather members as well as allow students another chance to engage in the diverse clubs that the school has to offer.

Janna Wang Senior

Web masters Jerry Liu, Kaitlin Mueller The Talon welcomes letters to the editor. E-mail letters to lahstalon@gmail.com or drop them off in room 409 or the box in the attendance office.

If you have any questions, send an e-mail or call (650) 960-8877.

In the case of spelling or grammatical errors, obscenities, libelous or personal attacks, a letter may be edited or not run.

Letters must be signed, but a name may be withheld upon request. Letters may be published online, in print or both.

Thumbs up to the presentations by SOPUDEP directors and the Haiti Solidarity Club.

The club, along with adviser Seth Donnelly, hosted presentations in the theater on Monday, September 10.

Rea Dol, the founder and director of LAHS’ sister school in Haiti, and her husband spoke to the student body.

They talked about what is currently happening with the building of new facilities for the school in Haiti and what LAHS donations have done to help the students in Haiti.

The Haiti Solidarity Club has been active in the last few years, and having presentations by leaders of SOPUDEP was another step in the right direction for getting more of the student body involved in the school’s efforts overseas.

Adviser Michael Moul Los Altos High School’s Compositional Journalism class is solely responsible for The Talon, which is published eight times a year.

The Talon also updates its website, www.lahstalon.org, with full-time coverage. The Talon is a public forum for student expression.

The Editorial Board sets the policies of The Talon and crafts its editorials and thumbs. Its members are Josh Cohen, Rebecca Cohen, Sarah Corner, Catherine Hua, Libbie Katsev, Brenna Reid, Ed Sartor, Sparsha Saxena and Mark Schreiber. Please send subscription and advertisement inquiries to Emily Sims and Jordan Stout at emilysims10@gmail.com.

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Opinions

The Talon September 25, 2012

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Computer science offers students advantages It’s rare these days to walk into the library or tutorial center and not see students huddled around computers, furiously typing away at essays or watching YouTube videos. Our generation is the first to grow up alongside this exponential growth of technology and to experience its influence. It has been estimated that teenagers spend between two and four hours a day in front of the computer screen. Technology has become pervasive in everyone’s lives. For this reason, learning how computers work, and even more importantly how to make a computer work to one’s advantage, is important for our whole generation.

This school year, an AP

Computer Science course was added, and is available to all students who have completed Geometry and Algebra II. Despite the heavy workload for elective credit, this class has become extremely popular. The administration should encourage students to take the class because of its increasing “real world” applications, especially given the growing trend towards using technology in all types of jobs.

Some students, like junior Ryan Elson, believe that taking the course is important for their future in the work world.

“We are in Silicon Valley and this is the only [advanced] class that we have for learning about computers, which is very important,” Ryan said. “A lot of the information

Graphic by Zach Cohen

and gaming and new types of computers effect of the Silicon Valley atmosphere, and all the processors involve programming students also take the class because they ... That is where a lot of jobs are located.” are genuinely intrigued by the material.

AP Computer Science teacher Michael “I signed up for the class because I’ve Richardson has said that the course focuses always been interested in computers and on learning to develop computer programs the programming behind a computer’s in order to solve given computer problems. output,” junior Elena Beaulieu said.

Through these ideas students Ryan said are able to touch on additional that he took The administration concepts involved in programing the course should encourage students including the creation and because he to take the class because of use of data structures, analysis was genuinely its increasing ‘real world’ of algorithms and the study intrigued by applications, especially of standard applications and its content. given the growing trend methods.

In the future, towards using technology Richardson said that the the school in all types of jobs. course was created after students should add showed the administration moresections significant interest of AP Computer Science classes and in having a computer science strongly recommend all students to -related class. Like many enroll in them. For any profession in the other courses at Los Altos, it workforce knowing the ins and outs of how was students who advocated a computer works is a far more valuable for this opportunity. This was skill than simply understanding computers coupled with a greater interest from on a more superficial level, such as being the community for students to get involved able to type in a Microsoft Word document in Science, Technology Engineering, and or create an Excel spreadsheet.

Math (STEM) courses.

“It’s more of a kid’s choice [than an “Every time Google came to visit, they were administrator’s],” Ryan said. “But I think it unhappy we don’t have a computer science should be advised by people that they should class,” Richardson said. “There have definitely take it, because it’s important to know.” been external pressures and pressure from Of course, knowing how a computer works the community to offer something.” is not strictly required in the workforce.

It’s no surprise that many students from Computers aren’t the answer to everything this area go to college to study within the at the moment, but even that concept is technology field. Especially for those who changing. The question isn’t where we are, have grown up in Silicon Valley, students but rather where we are going. Ten years are surrounded by a community of people from now the world’s workforce will likely who are extremely passionate about rely even more on the use of technology. It technology. This vibe rubs off on students, is absolutely crucial that our generation is allowing them to see the importance of in- prepared and qualified to hold a job in this depth computer skills in their real world tech-savvy future, making AP Computer surroundings. And, even beyond the Science a must.

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Cassidy Craford Staff Writer

Recyling: Why we do it and why we need to do it

David Wu Staff Writer With global warming and climate crises on the rise, we hear news daily about the degradation of our environment.

We’ve been taught to respect our surroundings by recycling and reducing our excessive use of resources, and that is exactly what the school is doing this year by improving its recycling system. With all of the great resources the school now possesses, students should strive to make the best possible use of the recycling system, and increase awareness of the need for eco-friendly policies and actions.

The school has long been a reputable “green” school and an advocate of recycling: it won first place in the Blue Whale individual category of a statewide recycling competition in November 2010 and was recognized by the Bay Area Environmental Conference for its dedication to environmental friendliness in 2012. Even though there are school measures to reduce waste, the school’s administration and Green Team decided to take the school’s environmental awareness one step further this year.

In previous years, the school has seen several stages of development in its recycling systems. 2010 saw the installation of the single-stream recycling system that allowed all recyclable items to be put in a single bin, a system that replaced the smaller recycling bins that the school had been using before. Despite these improvements, students often continued to pay no attention to the new initiatives put into place.

“You’re always going to have problems with people who don’t want to sort out their things, or who want to toss out everything into one trash can and be done with it,” Green Team Co-President junior Wendy Wu said.

To address this issue, the school has put a new recycling

Ciera Pasturel

system into action that lets students effortlessly determine where to put their trash and maximizes the amount of recycled and composted items. Basically, edible items go in the food/compost bin and all other items in the recycling bin. If the student body uses this newly implemented system prudently, the school will produce zero waste, something that Los Altos has been striving to achieve for years.

“I’m hoping that we will actually have the system in place next week, and at that point, I think it will make a dramatic change on the environment,” Assistant Principal Galen Rosenberg said.

Recyclable items and organic waste fill up over three-

Enviromental protection agency

quarters of America’s trash cans. With all of these measures and recycling systems put in place, it is now up to the student body to take full advantage of the resources given to them.

“It’s great because we’re going to have a minimum amount of trash that isn’t going to be recycled because essentially, we’re recycling and composting everything,” Wendy said. “It’s forcing people to be more sustainable ...

The changes are going to be radically extreme. Right now we have people who are throwing stuff away when it could be recyclable or compostable, but when we get rid of the trash cans, they have to do it this way.”

The introduction of the dual-stream recycling is committing students to a conservationist mindset at school, but it should also inspire them to extend an environmental consciousness at home as well.

“We certainly hope students will be more aware in their lives outside of school ... in the choices that they make and produce less waste,” Rosenberg said. “A lot of times people don’t do things because it doesn’t even occur to them, or they think it’s harder than it actually is to make a change, so if we are able to make this change, maybe other institutions such as schools or businesses will think that it isn’t too hard to produce zero waste.”

Although there is no excuse for students to improperly dispose of waste now, the school’s biggest challenges remain keeping people from misusing the system and motivating students to actively reduce garbage in their lives. How green the school is cannot and does not depend solely on reforms that the administration introduces. The success of the school’s new recycling system is vested in the students’ willingness to make a change. The system will only go to waste if we don’t utilize it properly.

September 25, 2012

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Opinions

Copying isn’t just imitation, it’s emulation Sparsha Saxena Senior Writer

It’s no secret: we are a school— actually a world—of copiers. In an academic setting, copying is deemed as the student who cheats off of someone else’s hard work. Copying, in spite of our best interests, is an involuntary response to what we admire. So long as copying is utilized properly, it shouldn’t be frowned upon, but widely accepted as a method of academic and creative growth.

The inevitability of copying is rooted in the fact that it’s impossible for our ideas and beliefs to be individual; we are a product of our surroundings, constantly taking in information. We learn to read, write and do any activity, from the people we respect.

“Personally, I write like my dad,” English teacher Caitlin Hannon said. “He sat down with me every night and helped me, and I learned to write from him.”

Throughout the school, teachers utilize emulation as a method for students to grow. Within the English Department, teachers use student models during the revision process and generally to help students grow as critical thinkers. Hannon, for example, believes in using models to help students understand what successful

Prop

and critical thinking about the work. Using student models provides us with a more objective approach to looking at work because they aren’t our own pieces.

“Some of the best discussions I have had have been with [student

borrow a certain idea or a method of organization—not the entire paper. This can only happen when students are critically considering what went together in order to make this piece work.

Aside from having a better

“If a student can’t look at a product and identify him or herself in it, then that’s dangerous to me,” Hannon said.

Copying is pointless if students don’t take the time to consider the reasons they like what they see or why something

out of the budget starting January 1, 2013.”

This is important because each year the state agrees to give schools a certain amount of money. The way Proposition 30 is structured is that if it doesn’t pass the Mountain View Los Altos (MVLA) district loses $1.8 million, but if it does pass, no

“Yes we want those imperfections pointed out, we want to eliminate them, we want to make it more efficient, [but] we don’t think that’s an excuse for starving the schools and sentencing a generation of students to an inferior education.”

No reasonable person would argue that the state is free from problems, but striking Proposition 30 down isn’t a solution to this. The state won’t learn to be more efficient, and instead students who hold no culpability for a failed system will be hurt.

Additionally, unlike previous measures, these cuts will take effect second semester of this year. When students come back to school in January these reductions

will be in place, rather than at the beginning of the 20122013 school year.

This means that the budget the district has set up for the year could be significantly impacted by the outcome of this election. Having to decide funding midyear is a complicated and trying task.

Now, the district has over $10 million in savings that will likely be used to carry the district through the year.

However, cuts are likely to be felt next school year. The way the cuts work is that the budget becomes $1.8 million less indefinitely.

The way Prop 30 is funded is by increasing sales taxes a quarter of a cent and increasing income taxes on

revenues over $250,000. This has caused the bill to garner a lot of bad press because it is seen as a tax increase that Californians can’t afford.

However, on the issue of the sales tax, a quarter cent increase is hardly going to stop people from buying goods.

Additionally, the highest income tax increase for those earning over $500,000 a year is only three percent. This is a small price to pay to stop our schools from losing millions of dollars a year and to keep our school districts functioning.

“The results of[Proposition 30 not passing]...is that it would be disastrous for education...and it will be disastrous for many years to come,” White said.

Though copying can often be tool for learning new styles.

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Zoe Morgan News Editor

needed

This November, there seems to be a multitude of candidates and propositions to consider. Two prominent ballot measures that should be considered in particular are Proposition 30 and 38. Both are school funding proposals that are geared toward giving more The results of Prop 30 money to California not passing is that it will be schools. disasterous for education, While recent polling has shown and it will be disasterous that Proposition for years to come.

30 is hovering Joe White around 50 percent, Assisant Superintendent Proposition 38 only of Business Services has roughly 40 percent approval.

Because Proposition 38 is so extra money is received.

A common opposition far behind, the school district is focusing more of its energy argument has been that there is too much bureaucracy, so the on Proposition 30.

“I am presuming 38 doesn’t money will never reach schools. pass and the great hope is However, this is incredibly that 30 does and so our whole misleading. It is true that focus is on 30,” Assistant no additional money goes to Superintendent of Business schools, but the money is already promised and none is lost.

Services Joe White said.

Additionally, opponents say However, if both pass, the one with a higher percentage that Propoisition 30 just fuels of votes will be put into place. more money going into a state While school funding that has already lost much issues may seem abstract, money. But, the issue with the proposition will have a this argument is that this direct financial impact on money would not be going to the state, but rather straight our district.

“If one of them isn’t passed to schools. Students would be the immediate effect is the the ones directly harmed, not trigger cuts that the governor state government.

“I think what the [opposition] announced,” Assistant Superintendent Steve ads are doing is pointing out Hope said. “Right now we imperfections ... in the operation anticipate that we have to cut of state government,” School approximately $1.8 million Board President Phil Faillace said.

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models],” Hannon said. “No one interprets it the same way.”

In spite of showing everyone the same essay or solution, everyone doesn’t produce the same writing or answer. We tend to copy what “speaks to us” instead of what’s right in front of us. So when students are looking at a student model in front of them, they might

is conveyed in such a way.

“At some point, you have to count on students to be responsible for their education,” Hannon said.

But when we do take the time to understand those aspects of the piece, we grow immensely.

Emulation is one of the most valuable assets we have. In math and science classes, we can use copying to strengthen our problem-solving abilities.

Though there is one solution to problems, there isn’t always one process to achieve the answer.

“Sometimes I understand how to do the problem except for one little thing that I miss,” senior Steven Dittmer said.

“Seeing someone else’s process is helpful to fill in those gaps.”

When we take a step back and try to decipher the critical journey someone takes, we may find approaches that work for us or places we fell short. Copying is an indirect collaboration that allows for students to come to the same answer and why it works without someone telling them what’s right.

The point of copying isn’t to replicate—it’s to refine and expand. We can change the popular misconception of copying: taking someone else’s work. We can make it a valuable resource for ourselves by embracing the ways in which emulation shows us how to improve.

pieces do and don’t consist of.

“I don’t always use the perfect model,” Hannon said. “I don’t say ‘this is it.’

Instead, I say ‘let’s talk about what works’ and ‘how can you achieve these skills yourself.’”

Student models serve as a way to focus on how to personally strengthen our learning through questioning

understanding of a teacher’s expectation, utilizing student models allows students to find their own style of organization or writing. While it’s a method that at face-value seems to clarify expectations, it’s one of the best ways to become better writers.

We learn to write, play sports and do just about anything from the people we admire.

Ciera Pasturel

mistrued as cheating, it can also be used as Emulation isn’t the same thing as immitation.

for

graphic by rebecca deshetler

district

funding

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September 25, 2012

Opinions

Students must follow election, take caution Maya Acharya Staff Writer

During election season, it seems as though coverage of the election is on every news station, store window, computer screen and car bumper sticker.

But as flashy advertisements, funny videos and celebrity endorsements vie for people’s attentions, it can be difficult to figure out exactly what each candidate stands for. Finding the facts about each candidate’s stance on issues requires a bit of effort, but teenagers should attempt to learn as much as they can, especially as they approach voting age.

It is easy to see that many celebrity-overloaded coverage citizens’ votes are swayed of the election can feel a little by their emotions rather too much like watching the red than their evaluations of carpet at the Oscars.

Video advertisements from the candidates’ stances and policies. Watching the both parties are often created coverage of this election, the for the sole purpose of harming opponent’s image. evidence for this claim is their abundant. Many times facts are Elaborately tailored voiceskated over as ad campaigns overs and video clips capture and speeches simply try to attention, but viewers need to berate their opponents and remember not to rely on facts from smear win the campaigns. viewers’ Elaborately tailored Manipulated affection. voice-overs and video data and outCNN tells clips capture attention, but of-context viewers they quotes are should be views need to remember to e l e m e n ts interested not rely only on facts from of ads thats in Clint smear campaigns. are far from Eastwood’s accurate. By antics at the Republican National Convention, using these ads to attack their or Kal Penn hosting the livestream opponents, the candidates coverage of Obama’s address are distracting people from at the Democratic National their own policies and stances.

Convention. And teenagers were Everyone makes ads like these, likely not the only ones excited Democrats and Republicans about Chris Cornell playing a alike. These ads are not going to concert in order to raise support go away anytime soon, as they for Obama. But watching the have unfortunately become

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Obama for America, Evan Vucci

an integral part of modern campaigning. It is up to the viewers, especially potential voters, to watch and listen with wary eyes and ears.

Keep a publication’s bias in mind when looking for facts.

Comparing what one reads in publications considered to be left-leaning, such as the New York Times, with publications considered to be right-leaning, such as the Wall Street Journal, can be an effective way of finding one’s own opinion.

These two publications provide different viewpoints on many issues such as government debt and spending, and comparing the two can help readers make their own assessment. However, publications that are heavily biased, one way or the other, tend to present the facts in a way that benefits their party.

Always take this into account when reading biased pieces.

Watching recordings of speeches from both parties’ national conventions can

help give students a better understanding of the differences between Obama and Romney’s stances.

However, speakers often manipulate the facts and occasionally make errors in their speeches, especially when trying to bolster the perception of their own party.

No high school student has time to check the accuracy of every word that comes out of a speaker’s mouth, but unbiased resources can help give you a true evaluation of each party and candidate.

FactCheck.org, whose mission statement proclaims it to be “nonpartisan and nonprofit” and which does not accept funding from any partisan groups, provides an impartial review of statements in speeches and ads for both Democrats and Republicans.

This website was created by the Annenberg Public Policy

Center as a tool for anyone unsure of what to believe when listening to speeches.

FactCheck.org states that many of Romney’s attacks on Obama’s foreign policy were over-exaggerated and false during the Republican Convention, and states that speakers such as Julian Castro at the Democratic National Convention made false accusations about Romney’s job creation record.

The easiest way to keep yourself up to date on the facts in the presidential election is to watch, read and listen to as much of the coverage as you can.

Don’t put too much weight on attack ads. Instead, pay closer attention to interviews that have candidates lay out their policies and define their stances.

Neither campaign is guiltless of inaccuracies and manipulation. Anyone deciding who to vote for should take caution in what they believe, and use nothing but facts to make their decision.

The cafeteria: an underappreciated dining option Josh Cohen Sports Editor

It’s not uncommon to hear someone complaining about food options on campus.

As beneficiaries of an open campus, the school’s students (and teachers) often find it more desirable to go off campus for lunch than to stay, and as a result, on campus food often gets an undeserved bad rap.

Over the past few years, oncampus food has gotten much more healthful and varied due to changes in management

and United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) regulations. However, the cafeteria’s reputation on campus hasn’t entirely changed along with these improvements.

“There’s a perception problem,” LAHS parent and cafeteria advocate Susan Mirbach said. “[While working on a panel to better the cafeteria], we didn’t even talk healthy. That wasn’t an issue.

It was trying to make sure that the food tasted good, and that people knew that it existed and that it was much better than

Ciera Pasturel

Students sit and enjoy the many options offered in the cafeteria. The cafeteria offers nutritious options on-campus.

the reputation that had been around for eight or 10 years.”

As USDA regulations on school food become stricter and stricter, the food options on campus have become substantially more healthful, giving students access to healthful food at a relatively low cost. New guidelines from the USDA include a zero transfat policy, a mandate to decrease sodium content of foods (to less than 500 mg a meal by 2022), and a stricter regulation on food groups such as whole grains and dairy. “[We] watch for sodium content, fat content, we’re supposed to have zero transfat,” manager Christine Garcia said. “[We’re providing] what has nutritional value, what’s going to give people vitamins and nutrients. We’re just trying to get kids to eat healthier, to try some vegetables.”

In addition to offering more nutritious food, the variety of cafeteria has improved drastically over the past few years. New management such as food services manager Lary Hayden and Garcia have helped bring about a much more varied menu on campus. Garcia cited meals such as her Chinese chicken salad as an example of more interesting, nutritious meals

Ciera Pasturel

Sandwiches are offered fresh daily at the cafeteria. More students should take advantage of these healthful options. she’s tried to add.

“Hopefully by trying some new menu items, bringing in some new products ... hopefully we can bring a few more kids in here,” Garcia said.

Providing healthy options with low sodium content isn’t always popular among students, and with food from McDonalds and the taco truck close by, providing healthy food on campus food can often seem like an uphill battle.

“We have a lot of competition with the taco truck, and there are no guidelines there,”

Garcia said. “I know it’s all deep fried, I can only imagine that the sodium content is through the roof. So hopefully by offering some new menu items, we can bring a few more kids in here.”

The cafeteria is providing students with healthful, cheap food amidst changing regulations, all while being an active on-campus force for nutritious eating. If you’ve never stepped foot in the cafeteria before, and are looking for a good meal, it’s definitely worth a visit.

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Features

September 25, 2012

Everytown creates unity between students Tony Sun Staff Writer

same mindset.

I realized that in the past I had become the frog on the bottom of the well whose view of the world was obscured by the rims of his own habitat. I grew to fear the outside world; it represented foreignness. I was detached, hiding from society around me.

Everytown makes it impossible to hide in your own well.

Its open environment promotes new friendships and the exchange of ideas. It’s a different type of camp. It’d be a severe understatement to say going to Everytown is like going to a summer camp.

People go to Everytown to experience a change in perception. I didn’t just go to Everytown because of sheer curiosity; truth be told, I unknowingly craved an opportunity to discuss my pent-up emotions. Everyone who came to Everytown came to let go some of their burden, to see how others might have overcome similar hurdles and to open their eyes to the lives of others around them. Everyone let down their guard, broke down their emotional walls and sought to actively participate in the events. These people, who came for a different environment, were comfortable with breaking down their shells. They were willing to share the thoughts and emotions that they hadn’t ever discussed before. They found themselves around other people who had come to

I had a backpack on and watched from afar as our hiking group sang “The Circle of Life,” and the sun clambered over the Santa Cruz Mountains. The fresh scent of the redwood forest hinted my location. It was 6 a.m. and I had to rely on both my sense of smell and new friends to avoid falling into a ravine. I was at Camp Everytown, hiking, while the typical student would be at home, dozing quietly.

Before Camp Everytown began, it’d be hard to pry any sort of emotion from me, as I’m rather stoic.

A highly-opinionated person, I’d purposely withdraw my thoughts into my shell, excusing myself from debates that might expel emotion. I had become a reserved individual filled with opinions about everyone else.

When asked about myself, however, I was the young man who had denied myself the chance for self-reflection.

I always saw myself in terms of only positive absolutes; whenever it came to my attention that other students were struggling, may need help or may not be as fortunate as myself, my pattern would be to shut them out. I would don my rose-tinted glasses.

I did this in a systematic fashion, similar to how those that suffer from more severe problems shut themselves out from the outside world. I had hidden away the problems I observed by focusing on my own beauty—a selfish approach.

You come here to share your I’d have never realized this had I experience. What you put in not gone to Everytown. you get out. You don’t want to I shed a layer of my narcissism get back on the bus the same over a bowl of pasta in the woods. way you get off.

The pasta was just typical bland – junior Ricardo Herrera noodles and the woods were just a standard grove of redwoods in the Santa Cruz Mountains.

It was the atmosphere, the openness, the degree of trust and the people at the camp.

Words really affect people.

I began to accept the truth, [We think if] we ignore it, it’ll which in turn helped me take off go away. It doesn’t. [But] it’s my rose-tinted glasses. I was glad that I listened to my own curiostiy going away for this group of and didn’t just brush off the idea people. as being “silly on paper.”

– junior Sarah Jacobs Everytown emphasizes that you’re never alone; as it turns out, many people share my

graphic from nrcs

camp for the same reason.

As a camp that focuses on personal and truthful reflection of oneself and on the underlying issues of our society, it works on helping society by choosing to open up raw wounds like racism, sexism and discrimination. The camp covers topics that would normally be skirted over by society. It might sound cliché but the camp uses love and hope to close up most of the wounds.

“Societies these days don’t have an outlet for these sort of problems,” camp director Richard Valenzuela It’s the fact that you take said. “Our schools and our world the risk. Step out of what is skips over these problems, applying comfortable in this beautiful liberal amounts of medicine to these place – it’s part of the journey. deeply embedded problems.”

I learned from Everytown how – senior Tyler Polen narcissism clouds my judgement and keeps me from much of the campus. True friendship shouldn’t be premised on race, gender or perceived intelligence.

There’s hardly ever an opportunity to learn these I look forward to going back things on campus. No matter to school and communicating where you’re from, or who you better, and making a are, I suggest you traverse into those woods and try it out; even change for the school. the most cynical of you will be – junior Hector Lopez enlightened. Even if pasta is not your thing, there’s something for everyone at Everytown.

World-renowned guitarist steps into the spotlight Zach Cohen Staff Writer

Freshman Ashwin Krishna takes a bow, waves, sits down and firmly grasps his guitar, readying himself for a performance for which he’s been practicing for months. He shuts his eyes and meticulously places his fingers over the exact spot he knows will produce the perfect chord for the beginning of the song. With the audience hushed in anticipation, he begins to play.

Ashwin is an internationally-ranked classical guitarist. He is ranked first in the United States and third internationally. At the age of 14, he has already competed in rigorous guitar competitions such as the Guitar Foundation of America, an international competition which draws competitors from various countries in Eastern Asia, Europe and the Middle East.

He started his journey at a young age when his father encouraged him to pursue guitar as an extracurricular.

“My parents tell me that I used to be banging around on all the tables, trying to make music,” Ashwin said. “[As a result] they signed me up for guitar lessons.”

Ashwin knew that his passion had been uncovered, from the beginning of his journey. Not everyone has the pleasure of finding interest and passion in something in their first encounter. However, this was not the case for Ashwin.

“The first time I picked up a guitar, I didn’t really know what it was because I was really little,” Ashwin said. “It was a really small guitar too, and I held it upside down. ” From his first encounter with the instrument, Ashwin was able to connect with the thing that he loved the most about guitar: the sound.

“The first time I strummed a chord, it was pretty weird, because I hadn’t played any other instrument [other] than that,” Ashwin said.

Ashwin has come a long way since he played his first chord. In the eight years since he took up the

Courtesy ashwin krishna

Freshman Ashwin Krishna plays the guitar as an internationally-ranked classical guitarist at 14.

Ashwin is currently ranked 1 in the United States. guitar, he has became a highly-competitive musician, picking up new skills and new concepts quickly. His rise in abilities, though, came at a price.

“I had one teacher for eight years,” Ashwin said. “He told me that I was getting too advanced for him, so he told me to go to another more advanced teacher,” Ashwin said.

Ashwin’s former teacher was a more relaxed instructor, who encouraged him to forge a connection with his music. Competition wasn’t a pressing issue.

Rather, there was greater emphasis on crafting a strong understanding for music from which Ashwin could build his passion for guitar.

It was difficult for Ashwin to move apart from a teacher whom he had for eight years, and he was sad to see his teacher’s affinity for technique and musicality, something Ashwin personally connected with, no longer a part of his studies.

Instead, Ashwin’s new teacher focused more on performance and on aesthetics. While the transition was challenging, it is fundamental to his success as an

accomplished guitarist today.

When Ashwin is on stage performing, he chooses not to ponder on the causes and effects of other problems in his dayto-day life. Instead, Ashwin primarily focuses on his music.

“While I’m performing I’m usually just focused on the guitar playing,” Ashwin said. “Sometimes when people say things while I’m playing, I don’t hear them. I just close my eyes and just enjoy the music.”

Ashwin’s passion for guitar makes it easy to incorporate some flair into any of his routines, which is a requisite for a great performance on the advanced level.

“I’m not as competitive as most people would think ... some players are really good with technique, but I’m more of a musical person,” Ashwin said. “I like to shape the music around myself. I learn the song ... and then I’ll work out what dynamics I want to do for different measures.”

While dynamics are important to performances, Ashwin focuses on one thing that’s really quite simple. “[The guitar has] a really unique sound that no other instrument has,” Ashwin said. “I’ve tried other instruments; I can play piano, but I’ve always liked guitar more than all of them, just because of the sound.”

Big things come from small beginnings, something that is shown in the progress of Ashwin’s character.

From a simple love for the sound of guitar, Ashwin has built, around himself, a successful career that has brought him on stage in front of hundreds of people and won him many accolades.

Ultimately, Ashwin may or may not pursue fame and recognition with guitar, but he knows that his passion for the instrument will always be a part of him.

To hear Ashwin play some of his pieces, go to the Features section at

www.lahstalon.org

September 25, 2012

Since its construction, the high school has undergone several changes that have shaped the environment we see every day on campus.

Originally, every club constructed a float for Homecoming parade, there was no math and science building and there was no such thing as an Advanced Placement (AP) or honors course. Even now, we are witnessing the school go down its evolutionary path with the addition of new classes and the construction of new buildings, reflective of the integration of STEM into classroom curriculums.

clubS

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In-Depth

get access to these new resources we could use.”

This year, the club has also become a class, taught during seventh period by science teacher Karen Davis.

“For the first year, we’re trying to get everyone to a proficient level on pretty much the basics of the robot,” Adam said.

“In the past we’ve had years where there’s been a knowledge drop-off a group of seniors who are really involved in robotics graduate. With the class, we’re trying to make it [so] that knowledge stays and so it’s easier.”

This move could potentially strengthen robotics as a whole, pushing it further in the right direction. Yet, while the school has been focusing on improving the campus, others have also been an advocate for international aid.

The Haiti Solidarity Club was founded

by Libby Strichartz and Alex Cala, ‘11, after One Dollar for Life (ODFL) went on a trip three years ago. Since then, Haiti Solidarity has been fundraising for Haiti through car washes, support letters, art auctions, open mic nights and benefit concerts. The club also organized a fundraiser to donate medical supplies to Haiti. In addition, the club visits Haiti twice a year during February break and the summer.

“I think visiting Haiti gives people a perspective on what is really important, and obviously helps everyone appreciate what they have,” Haiti Solidarity President Amanda Spielman said. “The week we spend in Haiti is a huge educational experience as well as a service experience.

It’s honestly hard to express it in words. I am just so stoked to see how many people have expressed interests in going.”

Now the school also has a sister school in Haiti, SOPUDEP, because of the club’s presence in the country.

“Having a sister school connects LAHS on an international level,” Amanda said.

“It’s something established and I think in some senses it creates a concrete goal we can work towards supporting, together …

I think in the future it can even unite our high school as a whole with a common goal in mind. I also believe that in the future there can be more of a direct relationship between our students and our sister school’s students in Haiti to me, that is so exciting.”

Since Los Altos High School’s beginning, clubs have been a large part of student activities on campus. They involve a majority of the school’s population in activities that are unique to student interests. As the school itself continues to change, the different types of clubs present at the school have followed suit.

Founded in 2005, the Knit Together Club was chartered with the intention of keeping students out of trouble and benefiting the community. The club knits beanies for both profit and donation, with any proceeds going to various organizations and to underprivileged people on the street.

“It’s a way for high school students to come together at a sober event that was also a non-profit event,” Knit Together President junior Lambie Lanman said.

Throughout the years, the Knit Together Club has donated to the community in different ways. One year, the club supported the building of a school in Burma; another, students went to San Francisco and donated the beanies to homeless people.

“They weren’t [just] some kids in a room … now they were the same kids on the street, actually passing out the hats that they made,” Knit Together club advisor Michael Smith said.

Continuing into the future, the club’s main goal is to keep students out of trouble and to have a positive impact on the local communities.

“We should continue to increase and push for programs and clubs that have this alternative,” Smith said.

In addition to the Knit Together Club, the Robotics club, formed around 16 years ago, is quickly gaining the interest of students and staff. Last year, during the Spring Sports Assembly, the club had the opportunity to showcase its hoop-shooting robot and has been in the spotlight since.

The robotics season consists of designing a robot over the course of six weeks to complete a specific challenge.

The team has dealt with many different situations over the years, such as funding issues and huge amounts of competition.

Yet, the team has also had periods of success, which are partially a result of rebuilding the team itself.

“About four years ago, there was a huge group of seniors that was pretty much the entire team and they graduated,” robotics Co-captain senior Adam Evard said. “From then on it’s been kind of been rebuilding, almost starting from scratch with the team.

We came in as freshmen, the second year after the seniors have graduated. Every year, we’ve done significantly better.”

Furthermore, technology has played an integral role in the development of the team, with gradual adjustments in the software and machines being used every year.

“We’ve incorporated new technologies and new equipment so as a team we have resources in our own shop like tools, heavy machine tools, that we’ve gathered that over years,” Robotics Cocaptain senior Lucien Miller said. “We’ve gotten new computers this year and we’re using a new software Note: Values do not add up to 100% due to rounding errors called Designer Works so as the years go on, we

LOS ALTOS HI “The far-reaching goals we set every year is what keeps us on track and looking forward.”

— Principal W y n n e Satterwhite

past

pres

“One thing I notice about the students here at this school is that they know how to ask for help more than students I’ve worked with in the past. The communication is important, so the communication skills here are pretty good.” — math teacher Jeanne Yu

By Shilpa Venigandla, Senior Writer | Carly Cohen, Staff Writer | Steven Cui, Staff Writer | A riel M achell, Staff Writer | Brenna Reid, Entertainment Editor | Yuki Z aninovich, Staff Writer

EVOLVING

DIVERSITY

Over the past decade, the school has seen buildings added, policies changed and teaching staff modified. The population, which often escapes people’s notice, has been changing as well, causing an increase in the diversity at school.

Both the Asian and the Hispanic populations have grown nearly four percent since 1998. Meanwhile, the Caucasian population, which was, and still is, the majority, dropped over seven percent.

Although this may not seem like a drastic change, the fact that the Bay Area has always been a diverse area makes this How diverse change significant.

Large increases in is our school? diversity in this area are rare, and so any increases in diversity are remarkable.

Many factors at school help us to acknowledge this diversity, and a factor that helps greatly is the existence of diversity clubs, mainly Latino Student Union, Black Student Union (BSU) and the newly-formed Asian Student Union (ASU).

“I think [diversity clubs] are great,” BSU President senior Brianna Ellington Data from 2009-2010, compiled

19% Asian 1.9% Filipino 46.9% Caucasian 2.6% African-American 26.6% Hispanic or Latino

by California Department of Eduction

said. “I think it gives kids a chance to be proud of who they are, racially, and be more connected with their culture.”

Diversity clubs serve as a representation of the ethnic group they stand for and convey aspects of their culture to the student body through activities like fundraisers. One of the most well-known of these activities is perhaps the Diversity Assembly, which is an assembly in the spring semester that has been an annual event at school for many years now. Students like junior Max Chi, who performed a traditional song on a Chinese instrument called the erhu, get to show their culture through performances.

“I think [the Diversity Assembly] lets kids share their culture,” Max said. “It was fun to perform in it ... I got to play music from my culture.”

However, it was only five years ago that Assistant Principal Cristy Dawson took over and altered the Diversity Assembly from a regular rally into one of the most popular events on campus, where students could perform their passions.

“I think it’s fabulous,” Dawson said. “I think it allowed students a chance to show who they are ... to perform their talents and show their passions.”

The Diversity Assembly has undergone some major improvements, allowing the growing diversity at school to be expressed through the sharing of cultures. As the diversity grows, new clubs like ASU will arise to adjust to the more diverse environment.

“We felt there wasn’t representation for Asians,” ASU Vice President John Lee said, “We did have ASU a couple of years ago ... We wanted to bring it back to new flesh and blood.”

11

In-Depth

IGH SCHOOL future

sent

Increasing

“One thing that has not changed [since my student years] is the devotion of the faculty. Every teacher is dedicated to their students’ success and that’s one of the reasons I came back here because I knew there was a great legacy for that.” — history teacher Michael Messner

the focus on Science Technology Engineering Mathematics

W

hile the past is solid and verifiable and the present surrounds us, the future is unknown. However, observing our surroundings can serve as a good indication for understanding what the future will hold.

In the last few years, the school has started putting a larger emphasis on enhancing Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) awareness and education. Starting six years ago when a

“I predict that there will be more branches of classes in the future so people can pursue more specialized careers.” — sophomore Allison Mock

$50,000 in total grants to the district last year

Photos courtesy of Yearbook and by Ciera Pasturel

once students, now teachers

F

September 25, 2012

group of parents organized STEM week for grants from Google, Shuff was able to have the school, the district board included plans AP Biology students travel to Ventura to to increase STEM awareness, technology and perform experiments on rockfish DNA, the classes in their five-year plan. In addition, results of which are now published on the the MVLA Foundation has allotted money to Barcode of Life Database (BOLD) website. go toward the STEM program at the school.

Paige was also able to design and partake in The school has been adding more AP some high level biotechnology labs with her science classes, with the addition of AP life science class.

Physics B last year. The school is now “It was mainly just a trial … to show expanding and creating more diverse science students who don’t think that they’re capable classes such as Robotics and Health Science of doing high-level science, that they are,” Careers. Next year the Science Department Paige said. “We don’t want students walking will receive three new classrooms as well as away thinking that to be involved in science more money for programs. you have to have a Masters, a Ph.D., or an “Just throwing around ideas: we’ve talked M.D. ... We also don’t want students walking about biotechnology; we’ve talked about away thinking that they have to be massive anatomy and physiology; we’ve talked math geniuses to do anything related to about building our classes so they’re more science. There’s such a broad range of thematic based,” science teacher Danielle opportunities, and just the more that we can Paige said. “So maybe there’s a common expose students to that, we hope that we can theme, maybe doing provide them with “We also don’t want students more environmental more ideas for what walking away thinking that science but have they want to do in the they have to be massive math it carry through years ahead.” biology, chemistry geniuses to do anything related As the science and to science. There’s such a broad technology and physics.” worlds range of opportunities...”

The funding and expand, so does the enthusiasm that — science teacher Danielle Paige push for increased makes this emphasis STEM programs in on STEM and the expansion of this schools nationwide. department possible isn’t just coming from “I think it’s just kind of the nature of district organizations and parents. the economy and the world globally that “[Four or five] of the labs that we’re going there is an interest in really seeing that to be running in AP Biology this year are [expansion],” Paige said. “If you look at the actually donated from Stanford,” biology job outlooks, the fastest growing job trend teacher Meghan Shuff said. “We’re going is in health sciences.” to run data and see if it helps students While the Science Department is focusing understand the concepts and kind of on STEM concepts, they are still trying to branch off from there and maybe develop keep some parts of the current curriculum. some more of those labs for next year. We “When you do projects like this, it really also have this great nonprofit called BABEC develops critical thinking and I think just [Bay Area Biotech Education Consortium] as a human being it develops your mind, to and so they also give us discounted lab be able to analyze information and weigh wear that we can use in class.” it out and say what is true and what is not And it’s not just universities and nonprofits true,” Shuff said. that are helping the push for STEM programs. Last year, through Director of presented at STEM Maggie Education week last year Johnson at Google

And

what next?

$84,000 for AP Computer Science classes AP Biology received $10,000 for their Ventura trip last year

or many of us, it's hard to imagine the school—the quad, the buildings, the sports, the classes— as being anything other than what we see today.

The school has evolved dramatically since it was first established in 1954.

It's been almost six decades — 58 years to be exact — and a lot has changed.

“There's far more classrooms, for one thing,” science teacher Thomas Budd, who graduated in the late ‘60s, said.

“The library, the cafeteria, the science and math buildings. Those are all new.”

Social studies teacher Pete Bjorklund ‘99 also said that the campus layout has changed dramatically since he graduated from the high school.

“The whole quad looked nothing like it did when I was there,” Bjorklund said. “There was a humongous block, where you'd walk downstairs. If you wanted to do acting or other activities, it would be held there.

Where the library is, there was a hallway, a major overhang that went into the office.

Where the band room is, that used to be our 'cafetorium' which was our cafeteria and auditorium.”

The construction of the math and science buildings, which were originally centered in the 400 and 500 wings, also started in Bjorklund's senior year.

“It wasn't even there,” Bjorklund said.

“They had just started building it when I was a senior. It was like a completely different school.”

Now, with the construction going on at the back of the school, it seems that the

in the MVLA school district

Google Grants Data from MVLA district press release, administration and Science Department

campus is getting larger each year.

Furthermore, many of the active clubs at school didn't always exist. Currently, there are over 75 clubs, and new charters are made every year. Many, such as Haiti Solidarity, are fairly new.

“There's a lot more clubs offered today than when I attended school here,” Budd said. “More options with what to do with extra time. I like how this allows every student an opportunity to look into areas that they may not normally be able to.”

Social studies teacher Todd Wangsness, ‘80, said that it's not just the clubs that have changed over the years, but the classes too.

“I think it's actually more challenging here with the amount of homework, the quality of homework, the expectations of what goes on in a classroom — there's a lot more variety of activities that go on today,” Wangsness said.

“It's not as teacher-centered with lectures. I hardly ever remember getting into groups to do something with somebody else. You just

200+ refurbished laptops sat in your chair. You never moved it once.”

While the classes have certainly become more student-involved, expectations to take AP classes have sky-rocketed.

“It wasn't always like that,” Bjorklund said. “I was right on the edge of when they just started to get AP crazy. The whole ‘you have to take 9,000 APs or you're never gonna get into school.’

That push, the pressure, definitely started taking place right before I left.

We still had to do community service hours and extracurriculars, but in terms of APs, that pressure just wasn't there. I feel like — without that — you had more time to be a kid.”

The academic rigor has increased over the years, but based off of accounts from the past, the school seems to have lost

some of its athletic prowess.

“Los Altos High School had some athletic dynasties then that may not be possible now,” Budd said. “The LAHS football team, for example, had won leagues 20 years in a row.”

A lot has changed at the school over the course of 58 years, with some for the better and others for the worse. But Wangsness thinks that there's one thing that hasn't seemed to change, and that's the social life.

“The freshmen, the sophomores, the juniors, the seniors — they all still clump together,” Wangsness said. “They have their own hangouts, their spots.

Standing around, talking. We did the same when I went here.”

September 25, 2012

12

Features

Senior works in Gates-funded toilet project CONTINUED FROM FRONT PAGE

During his work on the project, Kieran took on roles that included helping in the lab when needed and building units to demonstrate the structure of an outhouse. Kieran’s work in the project contributed to building an “Eco-Toilet,” which recycles waste as fertilizer and biochar. When he started working on the project in early June, the team at Stanford had already started the project six months earlier.

However, up to that point, they had still not been able to devise a fully-functioning model of their structure.

The main accomplishment that Kieran and the team made this summer was getting the structure to function properly and consistently. The project initially had functioning faults, which included improper seals for burning gas and maintaining appropriate

temperatures. By the end of the summer, Kieran and the team were able to patch up all the problems and complete a functioning model.

“I wasn’t super optimistic that it would be completely functioning, just by seeing where it was when I started,” Kieran said. “But it was pretty impressive what we we were able to do in two months, and actually get the thing running. That was really the main breakthrough.”

Ultimately, Kieran and the Stanford team’s model did not receive the award and promotional funding from Gates at the “Reinvent the Toilet Fair.”

However, the project certainly exceeded expectations and provided great optimism for the future. Kieran intends to follow up on the project and further improve the model. The project is scheduled to be implemented and tried out in Nairobi, Kenya.

“There is obviously always room to improve technology,” Kieran said. “An analogy is computers. Getting smaller but faster more efficient transistors. [Toilets] can get smaller, better, more efficient as technology evolves.”

Kieran’s goal of becoming an engineer was established with his fascination in the procedures he learned and applied. However, the project served as more than just an engineering experience; Kieran was intrigued by the benefits that an “Eco-Toilet” would provide to the 2.6 billion people worldwide without proper sanitary waste disposal. The project allowed Kieran to experience a side of engineering he had yet to consider: the application of such technologies to help those in need.

courtesy kieran stolorz

Senior Kieran Stolorz worked with Stanford University’s team in the “Reinvent the Toilet Fair.” Their toilet converted waste into fertilizer.

“Working for a cause greater than making video games is also interesting,” Kieran said. “Maybe I don’t want to just sit by a computer typing up code for like a search engine. I’d rather work for an actual meaning other than to make money.”

Although Kieran doesn’t know whether he will be typing up code or providing “Eco-Toilets” to people in Kenya 10 years from now, he has rooted his passion in the field of engineering. With many years of problemsolving, discovery and innovation to come, Kieran has already taken a jump start into his future.

Teacher inspires unique program Anthony Bello Senior Writer

Voices of students from all grade levels collaborating are heard from every table in the room. Each of these tables is home to insightful discussions about historic events and leaders. But more importantly, every table is home to a collaborative, hands-on learning environment– one that was inspired by social studies teacher Christa Wemmer.

This is the World Studies support class, one of many classes created to aid underclassmen in high school to help prepare them for their future.

Wemmer began her nine-year career at the school through the development of the Opportunity Program, which helps sophomores falling behind to catch up on credits. Working closely with Assistant Principals Cristy Dawson and Perla Pasallo, Wemmer had the goal of keeping students from being transferred to alternative schools such as Terra Bella and Alta Vista.

“My passion is working with students who aren’t connected with school and trying to get them to be motivated,” Wemmer said.

In addition, it is now known as the World Studies Support Program.

Each class is a double period, leading students to take fewer electives.

Wemmer believes that helping younger students will cultivate a love for learning at an earlier age and promote a better work ethic.

“Why wait until 10th grade to help kids?” Wemmer said. “Why not help them from the beginning?”

Wemmer’s initiative manifested into a team of teachers banding together and starting support programs in their respective departments. Math teachers Laraine Ignacio and Betty Yamasaki help with math. English teachers Jonathan Kwan, Carrie Abel and Survey teachers help with English. Lastly, Wemmer and social studies teacher Anne Battle lead World Studies.

“We all meet once a week, we all do these double periods, we all stay after school and do the homework club,” Wemmer said. “Everyone is putting

www.MVLA.net

Social studies teacher Christa Wemmer (center), Teacher of the Year, works with sophomores Yulissa Arreola, Kori Robinson-Griffin, Andrea Valencia and Gerry Primitivo. Wemmer believes that her award shows the collaborative success of the Opportunity Program. in volunteer work, so it’s a big group sophomore Jose Cruz said. that’s working, and it’s shared.”

For her efforts in creating such Along with teachers, peer tutors help a unique program, Wemmer was with this teaching model’s success. voted Teacher of the Year in June By involving upperclassmen in the by the staff and administration. learning process of But Wemmer younger students, believes this It’s the best thing that could this program helps award doesn’t happen in my teaching career, younger kids be only reflect her but I feel it’s very sahred stimulated to learn ownachievement, because the work that’s being and enjoy it by but rather the honored by the staff is the work seeing their tutors’ achievement of interest in the everyone who that the whole group is doing. subject material. participated in – social studies teacher Sophomore Kori the program.

Christa Wemmer Robinson believes “It’s the World Studies best thing that Support provides students with a new could happen in my teaching way of learning. career, but I feel it’s very shared “The activities and how Ms. because the work that’s being Wemmer did things, it wasn’t just honored by the staff is the work regular boring school,” Kori said. “It that the whole group is doing,” made you want to get better in what Wemmer said. you’re doing, and want to learn.”

Wemmer greatly values the Wemmer and the peer tutors pushed team aspect of the program and and engaged students in learning. The says that student work reflects peer tutors and Wemmer stressed the the interest and efforts of the importance of both effort and grades teachers and tutors. One of the in school by keeping a close watch on biggest rewards was seeing the students’ performance. love for history in her students.

“In a way, sometimes they made “Ms. Dawson came in and it harder for us by pushing us to do asked the kids how many of better, but overall [peer tutors] were them wanted to major in history a huge help because they made sure in college,” Wemmer said. “All we were on top of our stuff by keeping of their hands went up, and for our grades on check and helping Ms. Battle and I, that was the us understand the history more,” biggest reward.”

“

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graphic by rebecca deshetler

13

September 25, 2012

Features

New mascot soars into campus events Benjamin Marimon In-Depth Editor

The start of school can bring mixed feelings.

Students are slowly switching out of the summer routine and into the academic rigor of classes.

However, back-to-school events can provide a welcome break, from the ASB brunch activities to the back-to-school assembly. This year during the assembly, the crowd was not only cheering for the dance team or their class during the historic tug-ofwar, but also for the new school mascot.

On August 17, the school introduced the mascot as ASB Spirit Associate sophomore Kenneth Moussavian, a temporary fill-in, who ran onto the turf wearing the eagle costume. He participated in activities with the cheer team and interacted with the crowd, trying to show that the mascot will have a positive impact at school events during the year.

“His presence really stood out,” junior Nathan Hart said. “He was probably more acknowledged than any other particular person or event in the assembly.”

The school previously had an eagle as the mascot for sports games and assemblies, The mascot represents but in past years, our school spirit. This is ASB retired the our mascot, our school, costume to the our eagle. student store. Over the summer, several – junior Michelle Albright ASB students and Assistant Principal Cristy Dawson came together with administration and staff to discuss bringing back the mascot.

“I think it is just symbolic,” Dawson said. “There is nothing more that is the absolute epitome of spirit than the mascot.”

One motivating factor was that other local schools, such as Mountain View High School and Egan Jr. High School, have mascots.

“Coming to high school and not seeing a mascot made me a little sad because it showed that there wasn’t a lot of school

“

“

spirit here,” Crittenden Middle School graduate senior Bhavdeep Singh said. “It definitely affected my spirit for the school.”

A mascot seemed logical for students to have the complete high school experience, and now that there is a mascot, this perspective has changed for some.

“I thought it was pretty cool that we actually have a mascot now,” sophomore Elvis Li said. “At Egan we had a viking, and I was thinking, shouldn’t high school have one too?”

In the future, the mascot will appear at school assemblies and sports games. However, the overall role of the mascot is still in its developing stages. As the year progresses, ASB hopes to experiment with the mascot’s role at different assemblies and games, and find other effective ways to interact at school. Currently, ideas include having it soar at freshman orientation or eighth grade night. “[The mascot represents] our school spirit,” ASB member junior Michelle Albright said. “This is our mascot, our school, our eagle. I feel that before, school spirit was just a broader idea and that there was nothing to really focus on. The mascot is a really good way to rally everyone together and make [school spirit] more of a centralized effort.”

Before the mascot soared into athletic events and campus activities, tryouts for this position were held on August 30 and 31. Applicants were required to submit an application with questions that asked about their experience with attending school activities and sports games as well as their ideas

graphic by ciera pasturel

on interacting with the crowds at these events. In addition, applicants had to go through an interview process with the spirit team, which consisted of Dawson, the ASB spirit commissioner and an ASB spirit associate. The panel also included a student representative and several other ASB students.

“We really wanted to see what each applicant can do with the mascot character and how they can get the crowds going,” Senior Class President John Lee said. “That’s what the mascot is about, bolstering our school’s spirit in terms of cheering during games and assemblies … and we needed to find a student who can do that for us.”

After deliberation, senior James Brewer was chosen as the mascot for the school year, with several other students chosen as alternates.

“He’s demonstrated that he has lots of spirit and experience going to games and participating, so we are really excited about him,” Dawson said.

Students in Debut fashion club participate in international fashion film festival

The first San Francisco International Fashion Film Festival (SFIFFF) took place on August 25.

Applicants from around the world sent in films, hoping for the chance to showcase their work. For seniors Janna Wang and Megan Feroglia, their wishes came true, becoming the only high school students to be featured in the SFIFFF. Their participation in the festival helped promote their fashion club, Debut, which they formed at school last year. Janna and Megan were introduced to the festival by junior Melody Blake, the actress in the short film.

A close family friend of Melody who works as a professional hair and makeup stylist helped organize the festival. When the family friend encouraged Melody to participate, Janna and Megan were the first people that she thought of to ask for a collaboration.

“It was a great opportunity to get some visibility for our work in front of professional filmmakers and fashion industry leaders,” Megan said.

Their film, “One Last Sip,” which draws its main inspiration from “Alice in Wonderland,” focuses on nostalgia. Janna and Megan utilized costume design to construct a narrative which relayed several aspects of growing up. Melody’s portrayal of a young girl maturing in her wardrobe from pink sneakers and overalls to a young woman with black heels and dresses depicts this sentiment of nostalgia in the character’s discovery of articles of clothing from her childhood.

“It’s just basically about growing up and your style transforming ... how your fashion is like a 3D art,” Janna said. “It’s a way to express yourself.”

COURTESY janna wang

Junior Melody Blake and seniors Megan Feroglia and Janna Wang were the only high school students to be featured in the SFIFFF. They aimed to promote their fashion club, Debut.

They undertook this project as a chance to work on something fun together during the free time they had during the summer. Filming took two days to finish and the editing, done mostly by Janna, took around 30 hours over a twoweek period. The trio wanted their project to add a unique, youthful perspective to the festival.

“Since it’s an international film festival, there’s no way that you’re going to get recognition unless you bring a unique point of view,” Janna said.

Things weren’t off to such an easy start after the girls submitted their film. There was initially no feedback COURTESY janna wang about their application until the Seniors Janna Wang and Megan Feroglia were the only high schoolers CEO of Modacine, a company in the SFIFFF. You can watch their film, “One Last Sip,” at www.lahstalon.org. dedicated to fashion film that was involved in the formation of the festival, After the festival wrapped up, the two seniors and the praised the film and the filmmakers alike, saying that they professionals, who were interested in the potential they’ve were impressed “with the effort [they] put in and how shown through the film, started building connections in the professional of a film it is.” fields of fashion and media arts. This gives members of the “He told us that they were going to screen our film to fashion club hope for success this year due to the possibility represent student filmmakers because they do have impact of future involvement in Bay Area fashion events. on fashion in the future,” Janna said.

“To see the people there and the fashion shows and Upon hearing the news, the three students became the films was really inspiring,” Debut club member eager to attend the festival, especially impressed by junior Amanda Choy said. “I felt like I needed to do its professional appeal. From the website to the venue something with my life.” to the films themselves, the festival The ability to participate in a festival provided the students an excellent like the SFIFFF gave the trio an There’s no way you’re opportunity to experience what it was opportunity for experience in the going to get recognition like to work in fashion-related media fashion and film industries.

Alongside Modacine, the San unless you bring a unique arts. Both seniors are interested in Francisco Bay Area Fashion Network pursuing a related field, with Janna point of view.

(SFBAfn) was involved in the creation attending Freestyle Academy and – senior Janna Wang of the festival. The network includes Megan taking part in the Sobrato fashion designers, hair and makeup Arts Related Technical Training for stylists, modeling agencies, fashion show producers Entertainment Careers (ARTTEC) program. and directors and much more.

“While I don’t currently plan to pursue a degree or With people of all different professions and talents career in filmmaking, I’m interested in all forms of present, Janna, Megan and Melody took the festival in creative expression.” Megan said. stride, participating in a discussion panel with all the Megan helps film music videos for bands like Smash other film directors. Being interviewed by fashion college Mouth and helps host live shows. Melody hopes to become representatives, film critics and others of the same caliber a model in the future. was a nerve-wracking experience.

“I think the most important lesson we can learn “I was up there and my knees were shaking like an from this is to just really use your skills and just go earthquake,” Janna said. for it,” Janna said. “Nothing’s too big of a leap.”

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Casey Pao Senior Writer

The Talon September 25, 2012

Entertainment

14

Music blogs: a new platform for discovery Ed Sartor Senior Writer

The music industry isn’t what it was. The internet age has drastically changed the landscape where aspiring artists find themselves.

These days, music blogs are the links in the chain that connects artists with the public. Fortunately for us, blogs also are an avenue for artists to share their music for free.

Music blogs offer two important services. First, blogs give artists places to promote their music through free releases or streams, from the smallest street performer to the millionaire record label.

For the rest of us, music blogs are reliable sources of new tunes. Their easily accessible format gives people more incentive to explore new music and genres. This in turn helps the artists, who benefit from getting their name out in an overcrowded music industry.

The appeal of music blogs is more than just an overwhelming quantity of free music. Their intuitive design allows users to get in as deep

as they want in the constant stream of music. One could spend a few minutes searching and find a couple of songs, or spend a few hours and find enough music to fill out a

new playlist Music blogs come in various flavors these days. From indie to electro, reggae to hip-hop, if it has a beat, there’s a blog for it. Hypem.com (The Hype Machine), a useful tool in anyone’s search, helps prospective music hunters sift through the thousands of blogs on the internet.

The constant stream of updates keeps even the light surfer at the forefront of the music world. Good bloggers keep the front pages filled with fresh and original content, posting many times a day to ensure timeliness.

This gives users an incentive to revisit often, or at least the knowledge that when they do return, they will have a new batch of music to enjoy.

That said, blog surfing is addicting. It’s not for the faint of heart. Side effects may include fattening of your music library, foot-tapping in class and subconsciously humming in the elevator.

But if you take a look online,

there’s a whole new world of music waiting for you.

A couple blogs to help you get started: thissongissick. com is a music blog run by a University of Colorado at Boulder student. This blog has a very good following and attracts some of the biggest names in hip-hop and electronic music. While the posts may be a bit more irregular than on other blogs, the content is always fresh and of good quality.

The Kollection: The Kollection is arguably one of the best blogs on the internet. It is run by a group of 10 dedicated bloggers who pull music from all over the internet into one place. From indie to dubstep, reggae to hip-hop, the Kollection encompasses almost every genre and posts around 4 times a day. The posts tend to be reposts from other blogs, but the convenience of The Kollection makes this site a great s o u r c e f o r t h e c a s u a l blog surfer.

Talon Book Review: ‘Never Fall Down’

An honest look at a young boy’s true experience in communist Cambodia History provides us many vital lessons. Most importantly, it is a testament of what must not be repeated. If somebody asked an average person about a few of these horrific incidents in history were, they might mention the Holocaust or the colonization of the Congo. Not many would think to mention a more obscure historical event, such as the 1975 Communist revolution brought on by the Khmer Rouge in Cambodia.

This regime of radicals was comprised of soldiers who herded the inhabitants of Cambodia to labor camps in the countrysides. Two million people—about a fourth of Cambodia’s population—died from exhaustion, starvation, disease or execution. The goal of turning the Cambodians into the agricultural “Old People” cut off foreign influence and nearly eradicated urban institutions.

“Never Fall Down,” by Patricia McCormick, is one of those novels that completely engages the reader with the grave subject matter of the genocide. Upon being introduced to Arn ChornPond by a neighbor in her New York apartment, McCormick wrote a book that tells the

be resourceful to obtain the money needed for survival.

Despite his hardships, he is a jovial child, who loves dancing around to street music and enjoys the little things in life.

When news of Cambodia’s Khmer Rouge revolutionaries reaches his city, Chorn-Pond awaits the event, for nothing particularly amusing happens in his life. Once the Khmer Rouge soldiers begin marching the city’s population to the countryside, his vivaciousness disappears, and the plot takes a drastic turn. Pond must mature fast, as he transitions from an easygoing kid to just one out of the hundreds who are oppressed by the soldiers of their own country. Survival now depends not on selling ice cream, but upon playing the khim and shooting a gun to please the despotic soldiers.

The first page hooks the reader in not with its content, but rather with McCormick’s writing style. Her voice is very clearly the first-person view of a Cambodian boy, as the sentences are short, choppy and grammatically incorrect.

Although one may start off worried about having to read an entire book with phrases like “Ladies in sarong walk so soft,” Arn’s straightforward tone soon fits in with the

true story of Arn as a young boy during Cambodia’s Pol Pot Communist regime. At the beginning of the novel, Arn is portrayed as an average Cambodian boy who must

setting and events –it makes the account more powerful.

One forgets that the book was written by an American woman, and develops a penchant for this boy who actually went

Riyana Basu Staff Writer

ciera pasturel

“Never Fall Down” is based on the true story of a young boy during the Pol Pot communist regime.

The book depicts the drastic change in the life of the Cambodian people during this horrific time period. through the labor camp almost 40 years ago. Usually, while reading a heart-wrenching book, one takes solace in knowing that the characters are purely fictional. It’s always easier to dwell on the fact that the story was purely made up from imagination. However, the emotion in this novel is greatly amplified by the fact that this character that the reader is so empathetic toward really did exist.

Unfortunately, the reader is forced to move through the story a bit too fast. About halfway through the book, the reader realizes it’s been three years since Chorn-Pond first

embarked on his journey with the Khmer Rouge. This large time frame takes away from the key idea that the character is gradually growing accustomed to camp life. The short sentences are very in the moment and accurately portray the emotions of an instant, but McCormick could definitely paint the whole picture a little bit better.

Although the stories of Arn’s disgusting dinner that night or a stolen sugar cube make the story so enjoyable, they also make it hard to realize that years have gone by in the grand scheme of things. Nevertheless, McCormick’s emotional writing style makes up for the minor

technical issues.

Arn Chorn-Pond has now turned the stigma of his past into a passion for promoting peace. He has founded several humanitarian groups, such as the Cambodian Volunteers for Community Development organization and the Cambodian Living Arts group.

His achievements in the United States and the many honors he has received for his work are the opposite of his turbulent childhood, making this novel a must read. McCormick captures the essence of the Cambodian genocide in an intimate way that no history book ever could.

September 25, 2012

15

Entertainment

‘The Words’ becomes lost in its own words Christina Luk Features Editor

Writersstruggle.Fromprofessional writers to journalists to the student trying to find the right words for an essay, struggle exists for writers of all levels and types. Sometimes they can have an idea that seems great.

Something that would be appealing as a three-layered cake–but they just can’t find the right words to convey their message. At other times, they try to develop their ideas, but end up lost in another pile of words and other ideas that detract them from their original purpose. Authors, screenwriters and movie directors have to

Rory discovers an old manuscript hidden in a satchel his wife (Zoe Saldana) bought him on their

honeymoon in Paris.

Rory types this story, verbatim, on his laptop one night – just to get a feel of what it’s like to have the words flow from his fingers.

But when his wife discovers this “masterpiece,” which she assumes is Rory’s own work, Rory is pushed

always dreamed of becoming.

But when an old man (Jeremy Irons) comes into the story, things take a turn; Rory is confronted by “the Old Man,” the author of the manuscript that Rory found, and the true author of the hit story published under Rory’s name. With his guilty conscience coming to meet him in reality, Rory is taken to the point where he has to rethink

would expect a movie with so many levels about the struggles of a writer to be completely developed, right? Not according to Klugman and Sternthal. They decided that their movie needed to take a romantic getaway and run off to be lovers-in-Paris.

Now, this isn’t to say that the description of the post D-Day life that inspired the Old Man to write

grapple with the same issue.

Directors Brian Klugman and Lee Sternthal had the perfect triplelayered masterpiece in mind: a story that gave light to the struggle that all writers go through of not being able to find the right words, and the consequences of following through with the option of plagiarism. But in their creation of “The Words,” their masterpiece was subject to the very same perils of the struggle they were trying to portray. Klugman and Sternthal’s triple-(story)-layered idea was ready to be fully-developed, but was lost to the words and ideas of mainstream love tragedies, turning their words into an off-topic, overdeveloped cliché.

The film starts off with distinguished author Clay Hammond (Dennis Quaid) reading excerpts from his new book, (conveniently called) “The Words.”

Reading an excerpt from his book, Clay takes us into the life of Rory Jansen (Bradley Cooper), a young writer struggling to get his voice heard. But time after time, Rory is met with frustration and refusal from publishing companies, and the troubling doubt of whether he is actually capable of being a good writer constantly looms over his head. In the midst of his struggle,

thewordsmovie.com

“The Words” jumps between the lives of two writers, one in present-day New York City and one living in post-WWII Paris, who are connected by a seemingly-lost manuscript.

Paris has come to Palo Alto.

La Boulange is a French-style bakery and cafe situated on University Avenue. The bakery features both a versatile indoor-eating area and an outdoor patio. The atmosphere is distinctly Parisian, complete with purple and green walls, retro movie posters and chalkboard menus.

Small pastries and sandwiches line the display cases in true European fashion. The indoor and outdoor layout is perfect and enhances the feeling that

stand on its own.

But while Klugman and Sternthal plan to make a scrumptious triple(story)-layered cake of a movie with Clay Hammond, Rory Jansen and “the Old Man”, their creation is left unfinished with many holes.

Whatever happened to Rory Jansen? To Clay Hammond? Why doesn’t Rory, after imploring the Old Man for solutions to his plagiarism, ever ask the Old Man what his name is? Why is only a little background given on Clay Hammond’s life as a writer?

With these many unanswered questions, the overdeveloped plot of the Old Man’s life is almost like exquisitely- crafted icing on a layered cake that’s not even fully baked.

With this three-layered-story model, “The Words” had the potential to bring about words like “phenomenal,” “wellcrafted,” “thought-provoking” and “emotionally-charged.”

But instead, the words that were brought about were “imbalanced and off-topic with an overdeveloped cliché.”

Klugman and Sternthal seemed to get lost in the original words of their original idea, and seemed to face a problem similar to that belonging to Rory Jansen: They just wanted their voices and their ideas to be heard in the crowd of the movie industry and viewers alike. But in the process of developing something that could have been great, there was a struggle—a struggle to keep their voice and their words heard, and a struggle to fall in line with the voice and words of the mainstream, yet hackneyed, Parisian love tragedy. In the end, Klugman, Sternthal and Rory Jansen all should have done the same thing: stuck to their own ideas and their own words.

into getting the story published.

Before the guilt of his plagiarism can sink in, Rory becomes the new Ernest Hemingway of his time who writes a poignant book from the perspective of a young American soldier who falls in love with a young Frenchwoman after D-Day. Fame and success surround him as people take in the book’s raw emotions, and Rory finally feels as if he has become the person he’s

the consequences of his famed success, and whether the happiness he created for himself and those around him should be destroyed by his moral conscience.

While Rory’s torn between his success and what’s right, it seems that Klugman and Sternthal were also torn between doing a cliché lovers-in-Paris movie and developing Rory and Clay’s lives and writing careers. Surely, one

his book isn’t developed well. The Old Man’s recollection of events is draped in nostalgic, sepia tones that takes the audience through the romance and cultural barriers of the time. To top it off, the tragedy, sorrow and the Old Man’s frantic need to pour his soul onto paper comes alive, evokes much sympathy and deeply moves viewers. In fact, the life of the Old Man is so thoroughly developed and creates

this is a true French restaurant, as if it was on a side street in Paris. Even the stylized furniture matches the theme and creates a truly immersive experience. The cafe matches sophistication and simplicity to make dining or relaxing a true pleasure.

The food is equally appealing. Traditional French pastries, like the croissant, are available but many of these delicacies have been modified in new and interesting ways.

One notable addition is a delicious chocolate hazelnut croissant.

The food is expensive, with pastries in

the $2-5 range, but the small treats overcome their steep prices with excellent flavor.

Healthy doses of powdered sugar help to increase their appeal. The presentation of the food is also magnificent and clearly done with loving care. More substantial meals, however, are available, and they are varied and unique.

Salads, soups and sandwiches incorporate different flavors in great ways. The open-faced sandwiches pair meats like flank steak and roasted chicken with portobello mushrooms, caramelized onions and other additions in innovative and delicious combinations. Their macarons, which are a main feature on the menu, are as good as the staff promises.

The moist, rich treats are expensive but well worth the price of admission.

La Boulange is a versatile attraction with great food, solid service and an authentic ambience. For anyone who loves French pastries, this restaurant is a must. For everyone else, La Boulange is a great bakery and cafe perfect for a either full meal or a relaxing snack.

The store is located at 151 University Avenue, Palo Alto, CA.

La Boulange is a French bakery and cafe that offers everything from soups and sandwiches to macarons. Located in Palo Alto, it empolys a decidly Parisian feel with its decor and outdoor seating.

La Boulange: a piece of Paris Sam Lisbonne Staff Writer

such a poignant connection with viewers that it is strong enough to

photos by chloe arrouye

16

September 25, 2012

Entertainment

CSI: Consider Switching In-season shows Casey Pao Staff Writer

The murder victim enjoyed speed dating, having had multiple dates right before his death. Horatio Caine glances up from the body, whips out his sunglasses, perches them on his nose and calmly stares at the camera. The words tumble out of his mouth, “You know what they say, Frank, speed kills.” It’s almost cringe-inducing.

Imagine every episode of a crime show starting off with a cheesy oneliner like this making you want to turn the tv off and chuck the remote out the window.

While cheesy one-liners may ruin a show, the most important makeor-break aspect is the plot. After all, what’s a show without a good plot?

Nothing, at least nothing worth watching. There’s a limit to how many episodes and seasons a show can have before things start repeating because unless some aliens decide to invade Earth, there aren’t that many variations of a crime. Viewers are constantly given the same plots in new packaging, maybe this time with a little bow and the next time a different colored wrapping paper. There’s the you-cheatedon-me revenge killers, the psychopathic murderers, the

I’m-only-trying-to-protectsomeone liars. Between all the different series and spin-offs, there’s bound to be overlap between plotlines.

After all, “Crime Scene Investigation (CSI)” has had three versions: Las Vegas, New

multiple seasons.

To make it even worse, there are even more crime shows that never gained the “CSI”/”Law and Order” level popularity and are cancelled to go down in not-so-successful crime show history. The list includes but isn’t restricted to shows like “Without a Trace”

York and the recently-cancelled Miami.

There are six different series of “Law and Order”, only two of which have survived. All of these shows are based off only two original ideas. Producers feel the need to create spinoffs once the original show gains popularity because the more shows you create, the more views you gain and the more income you generate.

Soon enough, the plots are being traded between shows over and over because they have to maintain all of these crime shows, especially since all of them have already had

and “Cold Case.”

But television companies and production crews still crank out crime shows non-stop, no matter the critical reception to past shows.

The reason why we’re so attracted to crime shows is that in a world where things don’t always fix themselves so cleanly and neatly, crime shows do. In under an hour, viewers are introduced to a crime, brought through the process of solving it, and then the victims or affected characters can move on with

justice served.

It almost never happens in the real world of real detectives and real crimes, and it’s nice to watch some of these scenarios wrap up cleanly with a good ending.

Technologically-advanced machines can solve half of the crime for the detectives and then there’s good old fashioned police work that uses logic, some reasoning and a dash of luck.

Don’t lose hope yet for crime shows that don’t seem to have enough of those qualities but instead have copious amounts of cheesy oneliners and repetitive plot lines.

W i t h e v e r y batch of bad comes a little bit of good and television is no different.

“Criminal Minds” focuses on the mindset of the criminal as per the title, instead of the crime itself. The show delves into the past of the criminal to explain why the unsub, or unknown subject, would act in such ways and uses that information to predict their next move. Add some interesting characters, like a genius with an eidetic memory and a hacker that isn’t standard FBI material,

and you got a good show on your hands.

Or even better, take a story that everyone knows of but not necessarily knows and make it modern. “Sherlock”, a British show broadcasted by PBS in the United States, follows the characters of Sherlock Holmes and John Watson from Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s books.

With hour-and-a-half long episodes, the show has only broadcasted two seasons, each with three episodes.

What makes this show different from the rest is that fact that it concentrates on the thinking process that Sherlock goes through and the logic that he employs. The usage of onscreen typography to explain what is seen by Sherlock but not elaborated on out loud and the relationship between Sherlock and John, played by Benedict Cumberbatch and Martin Freeman respectively, create a show that will keep you watching until the very end.

With shows like “Criminal Minds” and “Sherlock”, there’s still some hope out there for crime shows. Next time you reach for that remote control, don’t get too saddened by the lack of good plots and character development. Just keep your eyes out for the good ones. Soon enough, the overwhelming flood of crime shows won’t be too much to handle because you’ll know which ones to watch and which ones to ignore.

‘Breaking Bad’ writing explores moral lines between good and evil Paul Bergevin Staff Writer Breaking Bad has just finished the first half of its fifth and final season on AMC, the second half will air next summer. In the first season, the audience is introduced to a high school chemistry teacher Walter White (Bryan Cranston). In the very first episode, Walter is diagnosed with lung cancer and is told that he has a very small chance of living. In order to provide for his family and to pay for his chemotherapy, Walter teams up with his former student Jesse Pinkman (Aaron Paul) and the two start cooking crystal meth together. Over the five seasons, Walter and Jesse’s operation grows and the viewer develops a changed perception of Walter and Jesse.

Breaking Bad is widely acclaimed as one of the best dramas on television.

It does a great job developing their characters, and the actors allow the viewer to see so many different sides of them.

The director and executive producer, Vince Gilligan, makes the progression of the main character, Walter White, go from good to bad. As the seasons go on, the viewers watch the change of Walter White from a poor chemistry teacher with cancer, to the best meth manufacturer in the world. In first season he kept a man chained up in his basement for weeks because he couldn’t bring himself to kill him, but in the fourth and fifth seasons, he had no problems with killing innocent children to keep his operation going.

As a viewer you still like him because he was that poor guy who was doing something to help his family, but then you realize you are watching a man who has become evil and insane.

What the viewers see in Breaking Bad

is a person who started as one type of human, but then makes a conscious decision to become something different. The viewers are introduced to this man in a way that made him impossible to dislike, and because viewers experience TV through whichever character is understood the most, the audience is placed in the dilemma of continuing to root for an individual who’s no longer good.

One thing that can be frustrating about Breaking Bad is the pacing of the show, and intentional confusion of the viewer. Every episode begins with a flash-forward that tends to be irrelevant to the rest of the plot. There can be episodes where the first forty minutes of the show are spent on Walter and Jesse catching a fly in their lab. But then in the last five minutes of the show, it manages to get the heart really pumping. Not all episodes follow a format like this either; in the fourth season especially, the episodes tended to be faster paced than other seasons. This is not necessarily a bad thing–the show just has very erratic pacing that can occasionally frustrate the heck out of you. Although these aspects can be frustrating, the acting usually compensates for the slower episodes.

Breaking Bad has some of the most outstanding actors in television.

Bryan Cranston won three consecutive Emmys for best actor in a drama from 2008 to 2010. Cranston does such a great job because he allows the viewers to see all of the complexities that are influencing his life. He shows his despair and hopelessness in the early seasons, while he also shows anger and intensity in the meth production business. Cranston also has hilarious and incredibly serious interplay with lab assistant, Aaron Paul.

Aaron Paul plays Jesse Pinkman, a former student of Mr. White, who is a

Ursula Coyote/AMC

Breaking Bad is centered around a high school chemistry teacher who, after being diagnosed with cancer, starts cooking meth with the help of a former student. user of crystal meth and a small scale producer before Walter found him.

Paul has extremely powerful eyes.

His wide-eyed stare reveals so much about his character, his confusion over Walter’s chemistry, his shame in his drug-related mistakes and his feelings toward Walter. Walter’s anger at Jesse for his flaws provides some of the only comic relief in the show. Jesse also takes on the role of being the moral compass of the show, once Walter loses control and all morals.

In one episode Walter and Jesse go out into the boonies in their RV to cook a batch of meth. When they decide on a place to park, Walter reminds Jesse to put the keys somewhere where he can find them again. Jesse puts the keys in the ignition and they are left there for multiple days. This causes the RV

battery to die stranding Walter and Jesse in the middle of a New Mexico desert with no food, no water and 200 pounds of crystal meth. Walter reacts to this situation like a crazed father whose son just keeps making idiotic mistakes.

Jesse simply gives Walter his wideeyed stare and proceeds to make the situation even worse. Interactions like this between Jesse and Walter provide comic relief for an incredibly intense show that can be a little slow at times.

Breaking Bad is a kind of show where all the seasons build on each other. If you want to start watching, it is necessary to start from season one and watch them all. The first four seasons are all available on Netflix, but it is a big commitment to start, due to the sheer addictiveness and intrigue of the show.

Entertainment

September 25, 2012

17

A deliciously ‘Fraiche’ take on frozen yogurt Rebecca Cohen Opinions Editor

One street off of University Avenue, away from the metropolitan buzz in downtown Palo Alto, is Fraiche Yogurt.

The small eatery is nestled on the corner of Emerson and Ramona, and attracts customers in exponentiallygreater numbers than its small size and relatively newcomer status would ordain. This is because frozen yogurt enthusiasts come time and time again to enjoy the sweet, healthy, organic and most importantly, fresh yogurt that Fraiche has to offer.

Fraiche was started by Patama Gur, who after frequent visits to Europe, was inspired to use simple, local and natural ingredients to make delicious, artisan food, rather than the mass market conventional for Americans.

According to her online minibiography, she was especially struck by the thick creamy yogurts that she found abroad, which were satisfying and indulgent even in plain form.

Today, Fraiche has three Bay Area locations: one in San Francisco and two in Palo Alto. The menu consists of six types of tasty items offered:

organic fresh yogurt, organic frozen yogurt, steel cut oatmeal, handmade baked goods and blue bottle organic coffee.

The atmosphere is cool and simple, with reconstructed hardwood chairs and tables, and glass and stone counters. There are couches and sofas scattered around the room. Bright lights with warm hues keep the room lively and intimate. On the gray walls are pictures of the dairy farm cows that supply the milk for the yogurt. To order, a customer picks a yogurt—an original tart, a sweet soy, chocolate, pomegranate or homemade oreo—and then adds one or two fresh toppings that range from fresh fruit to organic granola.

Fraiche does not attract only the typical teenage female consumer that most frozen yogurt establishments cater to. The patrons of Fraiche range from sophisticated businessmen who come during the day armed with laptops, to college students on breaks to high school students in for a late night snack. The cool pop buzz, which bounces in the background quietly, instills a very sleek vibe.

Fraiche is not a cheap purchase—

jade perry

Fraiche offers organic, artisan frozen yogurt in a variety of flavors and toppings.

While it is more expensive than many yogurt places, its quality justifies its price. the smallest size, a nano, comes with only three ounces of yogurt and costs $2.95. Add two toppings and it becomes $3.95. The other sizes, small, regular and large follow a similar price scale. However, it is definitely worth the pretty penny. Fraiche yogurt is

Old movies, new screenings Alex Cortinas Staff Writer

You often hear “They just don’t make ‘em like they used to” in regards to cinema.

When you hear about the greatest movies of all time often “Casablanca” or “Gone with the Wind” come to mind.

So why not venture into the masterpieces created by Old Hollywood?

It used to be that the only place to catch these films on the big screen was at Stanford Theatre, but over the summer Cinemark and its subsidiaries (Century, Tinseltown and CinéArts) began screening classic films in participating theaters across the nation and have continued this trend into September.

Intrigued, I decided to see what all the hype was about and bought a ticket for Dr. Zhivago at Century 16. Based on the Boris Pasternak novel of the same name, the movie is a love story that takes place in communist Russia.

The contrast between the typical movie experience of the past versus that of today is fascinating. As opposed to going to a theater with miscellaneous advertisements and previews for upcoming films, there were 10 minutes of a recording of an orchestra as I made my way to my seat.

From there, the movie played, and while I was expecting shoddy production and interminable dialogue scenes, the movie came together quite nicely and I was thoroughly entertained.

As an added bonus, there was intermission.

Although Century does not offer this year round, the Stanford Theatre in Palo Alto plays only classic movie and has film festivals throughout the year.

The Stanford Theatre, opened in 1925, and has entertained Palo Alto for decades. In 1987, it was purchased by the David and Lucile Packard Foundation and returned to its original

grandeur.

The theater’s neoclassical architecture, complete with balcony seating, offers a unique viewing experience.

Some extra perks to the Stanford Theatre include that each ticket is $5 for students.

A large popcorn is $2.50 and you can save even more money by bringing your own snacks. There is also a live organist that plays during the intermissions.

Additionally, because the Stanford Theatre specializes in classics, it offers lesserknown films. Century, on the other hand, because it is only showing a limited series, is mainly playing the highlights of the era, with big name films like “Chinatown” and “To Kill a Mockingbird.”

If you want to get a more general preview of the older style of movies, Century 16 is the best choice. However, for those who want to be truly immersed in old-style films, the Stanford Theatre is the only one to go to.

ciera pasturel

The vintage Stanford Theatre, which opened in 1925, is located in Palo Alto. Now they have screenings of old and classic movies, giving these movies an authentic feel.

delicious, healthy and leaves one feeling genuinely good after eating it, a world away from the sickness sweet treats usually induce. Make the trip to Palo Alto, eat the artisan yogurt and enjoy the taste and health benefits.

It’s worth it.

Ed’s Beat

By Ed Sartor

To download or not to download The download button. A symbol of the 21st century.

Throw out your CD’s, throw out your old vinyls, the internet age is here to stay.

But as the music industry shifts almost exclusively to “the cloud,” let’s take a moment to reflect on what we’re doing.

Popularized by iTunes, the online download has become easily the most widely-accepted form of music distribution. Being able to make one click and have a song stored on your computer instantly is much preferable to ordering a cumbersome vinyl which can take weeks to reach your home. In a society where convenience is the name of the game, there’s no longer a place for CDs, tapes and vinyl recordings.

Or is there?

There’s something special about being able to hold something tangible in your hand. My first CD collection in middle school consisted of only a few Metallica albums, Cake’s “Fashion Nugget,” and Bob Marley’s “Legend.”

But through two computer crashes and a broken iPod, these soon-to-be antiques have been a staple to my music library. But more than that, they have personality.

From the scratches on the case to the worn pages of the tracklist, I’ve imbued my character in these CD’s

as much as they’ve imbued their character in me.

The download is a deeply impersonal medium of music. All it takes is one click to listen to a song. But with a new CD or vinyl, there’s a much longer connection with the music before being able to appreciate it. There’s the unwrapping and opening of the case, the booklet the artists have put together and the CD shining up at you. Unless it’s a vinyl. In which case the smell would probably hit you first.

But that’s only the first part of the equation. A good vinyl collection is always a sight to see, and the interaction and organization of a collection can be an experience in itself. And after that, physical mediums can be recycled, put back into circulation through music stores like Rasputin and Amoeba Music in San Francisco. They are given a second life. Generation after generation can dive into the music and feel the weight of the culture in their hands.

There’s no doubt that physical mediums are a dying breed. They simply can’t compete with the ease of downloading music online. But while some people appreciate music solely for its sound, vinyls and CDs offer a complete package that can be much more personal and satisfying than an online playlist.

So when you find that box of old records in your garage, take a careful look at it before you decide what’s garbage and what’s a musical treasure.

For more on music and music blogs: see pg. 14 or visit

lahstalon.org

September 25, 2012

Sports

18

Los Altos grad umps perfect games Paul Bergevin Senior Writer

It’s the time of year when millions of American males will grab some chips and dip, throw on their crusty team apparel, grab a seat on the couch and tune in to a Sunday packed with football.

Once a week, the National Football League (NFL) becomes the center of many people’s universes—their eyes dim a little, their hearing deteriorates and their productivity grinds to a halt. Disturbances, if people even dare to interrupt midplay, are not met kindly, unless of course the disturber brought snacks. When Sunday comes around, football is king. Period.

But, why is it king? Why is the NFL suddenly a multi-billion dollar corporation that can rule so many American males’ lives once a week? There are many answers, but the most prominent one is fantasy football.

True, the accessibility of the game has never been greater.

With the expansion of television coverage in recent years, the stay at home fan can get a one-of-akind experience right from their living room. NFL RedZone, which broadcasts every touchdown on every Sunday, flips in between games whenever a team advances insidetheiropponent’stwentyyard line. DirecTV entices consumers to subscribe to their product by providing users with the Sunday NFL Ticket, which airs every game each week, regardless of the area code. Because of these programs, fans now have the power to not miss a single breathtaking run, def-defying catch or overtime thriller across the league.

But, why do people in Minneapolis feel the urge to watch Jacksonville get clobbered

by New England? The NFL has grown immensely popular not because more people want to watch football, but because they feel the need to watch. By way of office pools or friend circles, people invest their pride in the NFL through the ever-popular game of fantasy football.

Fantasy football is unlike any other game. It’s statistical analysis and prognostics (in English: complete and total luck) mashed together with American football, bringing the complex game down to a science so that even the most clueless fan can feel confident knowing the difference between playing Aaron Rodgers or Mark Sanchez.

Fantasy football is special because it can become the sole reason people will get up early on Sunday mornings to watch the out of town games and become a couch potato for the next six hours. The NFL couldn’t be more pleased with the wave of attention that fantasy football creates, for the real live game couldn’t be any healthier. The league is the first game to take on social media and use it to their advantage, helping to bridge the gap between what’s happening on the field and the fans. Now, thanks to fantasy football, the NFL is the most interactive professional sports league in the world.

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Mark Schreiber

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A Few Remarks

When Barrett began to umpire high school games, On June 13, San Francisco another umpire Giants pitcher Matt Cain threw introduced him to one of the most dominant games the idea of going to in the history of Major League umpire school. He Baseball (MLB), recording 27 attended school and consecutive outs and 14 strikeouts worked in the minor to become the 23rd pitcher ever leagues from 1989 to to throw a perfect game. Ted 1999, at which point Barrett, the man calling balls and he was hired as a fullstrikes for Cain’s game, was not time MLB umpire. only the first umpire in history In his first season to be on the field for three perfect on the job in 1999, games—he is also a Los Altos Barrett was the home High School graduate. plate umpire in a “It’s really cool to be on the perfect game pitched field for these perfect games,” by New York Yankees Barrett said. “When you think pitcher David Cone. about the history of baseball—162 Last June, he found Jeffrey Liu/AP Photo Courtesy of KEith Allison games a season for around 150 himself in the midst o f years—but there have only been another one. During 20-something perfect games.” the Cain perfect Giants pitcher Matt Cain (right) celebrates after his perfect Barrett moved to the Bay Area game, Barrett realized game this June, which Los Altos graduate Ted Barrett (left) from western New York in 1981 Cain had a perfect umped. It was the LAHS alum’s third time umpiring a perfect game. and started attending LAHS as game going and tried a junior. At the school, Barrett to make sure that he didn’t get the back of your mind when just constant travel, three days succeeded caught up in everything is happening.” in one city, then you jump on a in football, the moment plane and go to the next city.”

Although Barrett loves his job, The day to day grind of the basketball and miss a What really helps Barrett get Photo of Jeffrey Liu it is not as glamorous as people season really gets to be aCourtesy grind, and baseball. call.

Despite through the rigors of his schedule can make it out to be. year after year, game after He graduated the emotion are the special moments he “The worst part of the job for me game, but it’s kind of cool when from the f r o m experiences on the field. is the travel, because of dealing you have these milestone type school in the fans, “The day to day grind of with airports in the post 9/11 of games.

Ted Barrett 1983, attended B a r r e t t era with going through security, the season really gets to be a F o o t h i l l knew he waiting in lines and having to deal grind, year after year, game professional umpire C o l l e g e had a job to with things like weather delays,” after game,” Barrett said. “But and Los Altos graduate and finally do, and he Barrett said. “The part of the job it’s kind of cool when you have matriculated just wanted that I actually do like, is when I these milestone type of games f r o m to get the actually get to go out on the field. where something cool happens.

California State University, East calls right.

I think when a lot of people go I was behind the plate for Greg Bay (CSUEB).

“The biggest fear that you see a Giants Maddux’s Barrett’s first experience have is to miss a play, like what game, they 300th win, I 162 games a season for umpiring came at age 14 in a happened in Detroit last year in believe that was working around 150 years, but there New York Little League game. the Armando Galarraga game the umpires second base have only been 20 something In California, his basketball [when an umpire missed a call are all from when Sammy perfect games. coach, Vance Walberg, sent the on the last out],” Barrett said. the Sosa’s bat Bay Ted Barrett players on his team to Egan to “It would be terrible to be in Jim Area. But broke and professional umpire umpire baseball and softball Joyce’s position, where you cost we’re not. there was and Los Altos graduate games. The money that they a guy a perfect game. But on the There are 68 cork in it earned for umpiring went to the other hand, the way the media is of us from and of course basketball program. and replays are, you don’t want all over the the perfect “All the guys I was working with, to miss a call where they come United States. And when they games. When you work so they had no training,” Barrett back and say that he didn’t make the schedule, they don’t many games these are the ones said. But they were like ‘Wow, really earn a perfect game ... care where we live, it’s just kind that really stick out and stay in you are really good at this.’” blowing a call is definitely in of computer generated. So it’s your mind.”

Nationally-ranked freshmen bolster girls tennis Sam Lisbonne Staff Writer

The girls tennis team is looking to have one of its best seasons yet as it adds three nationally-ranked freshmen to the varsity squad: Carina Burdick, Lili Kobayashi and Juliette Martin. The girls are all ranked nationally and at the state level, and they will add to a large returning senior class in what Coach

Freshman Lili Kobayashi

Hung Nguyen says is a very promising season.

“We expect to finish at least third, maybe even higher,” Coach Hung Nguyen said. “[The] expectation is high this year.”

The three freshman will be playing the number two, three and four spots for singles on the varsity team, which is led by number one singles player junior Kacey Incerpi.

The team finished sixth out of seven last year in the De Anza division, just holding on to stay in the league. The team is glad to stay in the upper division, but team members are also aware of the difficulties and challenges that come with it.

“De Anza is much more competitive than the El Camino [division],” Nguyen said.

The team has ambitions of achieving much better results than those of last year.

“Third [in the league] would be a really good achievement,” Nguyen said. “We should make CCS, which is our primary goal this year.”

The freshmen compete in major tournaments year-round

Photos By Chloé Arrouye

Freshmen Carina Burdick (left) and Juliette Martin (right) battle in a home match against Sacred Heart. Both won their respective singles matches. and see this season as a way to advance their own skills while also helping the seniors complete their high school career in a strong fashion.

“I want the team to do well,” Juliette said. “A lot of the team

is seniors, so it would be really great if we could do well for them this year.”

The team began with a win in the Fresno tournament on September 8 and lost to Monta Vista on September 11.

Ben Schneider (‘11)

19

September 25, 2012

Cross country goes for the Division II CCS title Dhruv Madhok Sparsha Saxena Copy/Content Editor Senior Writer

Boys

Results From Earlybird Invitational (3 Miles) Girls Boys

With a new lineup and a more intense training regimen, the boys varsity cross country team has high aspirations and chances of taking the CCS title for the first time in the Eagles’ history.

The three main teams in the hunt for the CCS title this year are Los Gatos High, Mountain View High and LAHS, as it has been for the past few years, but the Eagles hope to take the title this year.

“That’s what they’re all shooting for, and they definitely have a good chance at doing it,” cross country coach Dan Oren said. “Last year, they lost to Los Gatos by only four points.”

While the cross country team has lost three of its seniors from last year— Gregory Lee, Austin Bowie and Dane

Terence Rabuzzi 16:02 Claire Bowie Alex Carr 16:24 Anneliese Gallagher Josh Cohen 16:30 Kristen Adams Ben Zaeske 16:55 Samantha Buhr Konrad Niemiec 17:36 Elise Witham Kreisman—it has seen improvement in its current runners and has a new talented freshman, Ben Zaeske.

“We have four really great guys returning: [senior] Josh Cohen, [senior] John Beutter, [senior] Alex Carr, [junior] Terrence Rabuzzi and we gained a really strong freshman Ben Zaeske who’s right in there in the mix with the other four guys,” Oren said. “So we have a solid five, and that’s what it takes to score easily.”

To attain its goal, the team is building itself up and doing all the little things right. The team is running miles, working

hard, taking care to prevent injuries, eating right and taking rests. When done together, these little things pay off.

“There is not one thing,” Oren said.

“They really want it badly and they’re determined to get it. They’re doing everything they can to be as good of a team as they can be.”

The varsity team is very evenly matched, which can be an advantage in most league meets, where having a solid top five is more important than having one or two exceptional runners.

“We have a better chance at winning the small races like CCS because we get all the lower points,” Alex said.

“At States we don’t have as much of a chance because the front runners are going to get a really small amount of points because there are so many people in that race versus the CCS race.”

Girls

Juliet Moore

The junior boys sprint off the line at the Lynbrook Invitational. Junior Terrence Rabuzzi (above middle) took first place in the race, leading the juniors to victory.

One Writer’s Opinion on the Penn State Scandal

By James Brewer, Staff Writer The Penn State University (PSU) football team was anchored by mainstay head coach Joe Paterno for 61 years.

Paterno, whose tenure with the team as an assistant coach in 1950 lasted until his dismissal in 2011, led his team to two national championships and five undefeated seasons. The savvy coach, who saw many of his college players ultimately succeed as they moved on to the National Football League (NFL), was a universally respected figure among his collegiate peers and the recipient of much admiration by PSU fans. But it was his persistence to not only cultivate talented football

players, but to better the men that he coached which earned him respect.

A scandal involving child sex abuse, a potential cover-up and an assistant coach, Jerry Sandusky, put a damper on Paterno’s legacy as one of the best collegiate football coaches of all time, one who both witnessed and influenced a revolution in the way football was played. On July 23, 2012, the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) came down with sanctions against Penn State, the figureheads of which are a four-year ban from postseason competition, a $60 million fine and removal of major scholarships.

There is no doubt that Sandusky did wrong, Paterno did wrong and the old program did wrong.

What’s questionable is the NCAA’s penalty, a penalty that will affect the future of Penn State when it is its past that has done wrong.

If you look at Penn State’s current staff, you

will find little overlap with Sandusky’s days.

Joe Paterno was fired, Sandusky is no longer associated with the program and the players are living their own lives.

It is as if the NCAA is punishing a son for his father’s crimes.

Truly Penn State was headed in the right direction. Joe Paterno no longer has a headset on during Saturday games.

It is Bill O’Brien who runs the show and is heading in a new direction, yet the NCAA refuses to refer to the program as new. The NCAA decided to tear down a program instead of the individuals responsible. The NCAA attacked Penn State for what Paterno, Sandusky and those around them had done.

The people truly impacted by the sanctions are the students who’ve faithfully supported Penn State. The NCAA has done a horrible thing by hurting those who are not responsible.

keep reading at lahstalon.org

Though the girls varsity cross country team is suffering from injuries, the team is still hoping to qualify for States this year. The team has a stronger lineup, including one nationally-ranked freshmen to help propel it towards a CCS victory.

“This year, we have runners who have been training for several years,” girls varsity captain senior Claire Bowie said.

Claire was the only girl who qualified for CCS last year, but this year’s strong top five lineup is giving the girls team a better shot at qualifying for CCS and States.

“Our top girl is going to be [freshman]

19:59 21:01 23:11 23:19 23:21

Lauren Jacob, who competed in the USA Track and Field (USATF) meets last year in junior high school and placed third in the nation for the 3000 meter in her age group,” Oren said.

Lauren hasn’t run any races yet due to injuries, but her experience and training will help the team.

Other new team members senior Louise Stephan and sophomore Anneliese Gallagher will also be a strong force in the team this year. Louise, who didn’t run cross country last year, has experience from her track seasons at Los Altos—she was the team’s top twomile runner during the track season— and Anneliese is also a first-year cross country runner who is balancing cross country and field hockey.

At recent meets, the team has already performed well. Claire has set a personal record at the Toro Park meet with an average mile time of 6 minutes and 40 seconds. Additionally, Annelise placed 15th out of 200 girls at the Lynbrook meet. Generally, the team’s personal records are improving and the teams are performing better than last year, which gives the team a great shot at CCS. Currently, the team is suffering from a few injuries due to the high impact of running. Instead of routine runs, many athletes on the team are aquajogging, which Claire said is as effective as running and can prevent injuries due to impact. The team is resting and building up the energy to find success in the big meets.

New boys volleyball team added CONTINUED FROM FRONT PAGE

Despite the enormous success and momentum of the team, they are lacking one key element: a coach.

Recruiting for a coach, said Alex and McDermott, will begin this fall and involve Cave and Principal Wynne Satterwhite. However, no search is taking place at the moment.

It’s clear that all members of the effort are

Sports Briefs David Wu Staff Writer

Field Hockey The field hockey team has shown promise early in the season, beating Sobrato 2-0 and Del Mar 1-0 in the past several weeks. The team is currently 2-0 in league play.

“I’m pleased with the progress of the team. We’re trying to make CCS which is usually our goal, and that’s always a challenge but we’re taking it one game at a time,” varsity head coach

enthusiastic about the new team’s potential. They are aware that despite the effort it has taken to get the club and team started, the job doesn’t end here.

“I’m pretty excited,” John said. “I’m sure it’s going to be a lot of work though.”

Ciera Pasturel

Members of the Egan boys volleyball team will benefit from the school’s new team.

Mary Donahue said.

The team plays in the top division of the Blossom Valley Athetic League (BVAL) league, but Donahue has confidence in her team’s capabilities.

“We’ve definitely seen a lot of improvement in hockey skills, so I think that combined with the team’s athleticism helps us,” Donahue said.

Volleyball If you look at this year’s varsity volleyball team, you may not recognize many faces from last year.

The graduation of seniors has left the team with many fewer experienced players, but has also given the underclassmen a taste

of volleyball at a higher level. So far, the team has gone 6-3 in tournament games and 1-2 in league games.

The team is still trying to assimilate the varying levels of skills of each player; there’s a threeyear gap between the oldest and youngest team members.

“This year, we have a lot more talent,” head coach Peter Kim said.

“We had a lot of veteran leadership last year and they played together for a while so it was a little bit easier getting everybody together. This year we have a lot of new faces and ... that’s our main focus.”

20

Sports

Inside the Offensive Line

September 25, 2012

Behind the mask of football’s most underrated players

Anthony Bello Senior Writer The offensive line of a football team is the trench, the division between two rows of soldiers teeming with adrenaline.

In a football game, it’s where the battle is fought. Although it is an extremely important part of the team, it often goes unrecognized by the average eye.

For the Eagles, the line has an enormous responsibility in setting up plays for the team. If the line doesn’t push, agile running back senior Victor Galvez cannot weave between the defense. If the linemen don’t block, quarterback junior Lambie Lanman will be sacked in a heartbeat.

And if something goes wrong, the O-line often takes the blame.

“If something doesn’t go right, like say it could happen to Victor, we usually get blamed for it,” lineman senior Daniel Morris said. “We’re the easiest targets [for phrases such as] ‘The line wasn’t blocking, the line wasn’t driving, the pocket wasn’t built ’—the finger’s usually pointed at us.”

Oftentimes the average fan doesn’t see what’s behind the successful plays, what work is put into setting a strong foundation for a big running gain. The ones making the play

are glorified—after all, they’re the ones that score the touchdowns. But varsity coach Rudy Alcala sees the deeper roots of the team’s success.

“As a staff, we’re letting them know that we value our line,” Alcala said.

“And we’ve always put high value on our lineman, because we know we can’t do nothing without them.”

During practices or after the game, Alcala shows his appreciation for the linemen.

“Our coach realizes how important we are,” Daniel said. “He’ll just be like, ‘I know the fans don’t really look at you like that, but I know the game and I’ve played line, and I’m really proud of you guys and enjoy what you do for [the team]. ’” Alcala also stresses the importance of unity among the team and the line. Each player works together so that winning— and losing—are shared.

“11 guys on the field, one heartbeat,” senior David Davis said.

Fame isn’t important to the linemen— it’s winning. David would rather win with the whole team instead of getting singled out for an exceptional play.

“I feel better if Victor runs in the ball

and scores if I make that block for him,” David said.

The line is so important to the team that Alcala even said that if the team was to attempt to make a lateseason run, it would be because the line stays healthy and injury-free. A missing lineman would completely alter the team’s dynamic.

There are few guys with the experience and seasoning of the seniors.

“If one of those guys goes down or gets hurt, it just changes what we can do immediately,” Alcala said.

“It would in effect change how we could pass because the protection would be gone, and how we could run because our blocking down field would change. It’s very critical to be able to move the ball.”

Several offensive linemen also switch to defense during the game, so training is key The defensive and offensive lines (above, left) for their play hard in the team’s matchup against Santa Clara. endurance. guys that we worked with for a long time, “ W e don’t have a lot of so the chemistry is in our favor.”

As for the upcoming years, the numbers, and we don’t have a lot of subs, departing senior linemen are focusing on so we’re focusing a passing down what they’ve learned over lot on conditioning the years to the younger linemen, while and getting in shape, keeping CCS in mind.

“All the linemen are pretty new and because we’re going young, so David and I are trying to to be in for back-topush them as much as we can so we back plays series after series,” Daniel said. can get to CCS,” lineman senior Paul “We’re with a group of Hernandez said.

Photos By Jade Perry

Boys water polo returns hungry for a CCS title Chase Eller Staff Writer

Water polo season has finally started, and this year’s team has huge aspirations. Even though it is only returning two fulltime starters, the team expects to maintain the level of play that Eagles water polo is so accustomed to.

After reaching the finals in last year’s CCS tournament, this year’s team is looking

Captain senior Ian McColl rips a shot from outside. Ian has led the team in scoring this year.

not only to return to the finals, but win in the finals as well.

“We are looking to take a CCS championship this year,” junior Surya Ram said. “Last year we were in the finals, this year we intend to go all the way.”

After losing many of last year’s starters such as Matt Orton, ‘12, and Adam Warmoth, ‘12, this year the Eagles will have to play with a reconstructed starting lineup. However, the team is confident that new starters will be able to step up and work well together.

LAHS water polo is usually wellprepared and this year is no different.

As a result of the morning workouts before school and the rigorous practices after school, the team is just as, if not more, prepared than it has been in previous years.

Unlike in previous years, the water polo team has taken two trips out of school together. The first trip to San Diego was supposed to help the team prepare, but the scrimmages were canceled so the team was able to relax and get time to bond. The next trip was a tournament in Santa Barbara, where players faced off against the top teams in Southern California.

These trips helped not only to prep the team for the difficult season but also helped the team bond and become a more cohesive unit.

“The main factors in this year’s success would be how much the new starters step up, and if we are able to work well as a unit,” Surya said.

The Eagles plan on being dominant on both sides of the ball. In past years, the water polo team has always been capable of scoring and putting up big numbers, but this year’s team is

going to need to rely more on defense.

“We will need to improve our defense in order to be successful,” coach Johnny Bega said.

Although this year’s team may not have as much experience as in previous years, it does have different strengths and advantages that could help it achieve its aspirations.

“This year our team really plays cohesively,” captain senior Ian McColl said. “More so this year than any other year I have played. I think that we really know the guys to our left and to our right.”

Overall, this year’s team is looking promising. The team’s cohesiveness and offensive depth make the CCS championship a definite possibility.Ifallgoestoaccording to plan, the Eagles hope to have another successful season of water polo.

Junior Ryan Seltzer Photos By Chloe Arrouye