The Talon | Issue 6 | March 8, 2016

Los Altos High School, Los Altos, CA ■ March 8, 2016 ■ Volume XXXI, Issue 6

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Achievement, scrutinized

INSIDE THIS ISSUE

Educational nonprofit commends and criticizes MVLA for its record on narrowing the student achievement gap

lahstalon.org

ALEX WONG AVI VARGHESE Staff Writers

AT SUGARBABY, LOS ALTOS COMES FULL CIRCLE

In an attempt to identify institutional academic barriers for minority students in MVLA, the district hired Principal’s Exchange, a nonprofit organization that analyzes schools to help underperforming students by

conducting an equity audit. The audit crafted numerous recommendations for MVLA to help its “target group” of students underperforming the most.

“We wanted to get some objective feedback on how [we treat] our students from low socioeconomic environments,” Superintendent Jeff Harding said. “We had reason to believe that [Principal’s

Exchange] could give us objective perceptions.”

The audit concludes that a “substantial number of students” experiencing an achievement gap are Latino and are categorized as English Language Learners, socioeconomically disadvantaged or qualifying for Special Education services. Many students are identified with a combination of those classifications.

While the report highlights numerous issues that students of low socioeconomic status face, it also commended the district on its successes in narrowing the achievement gap.

“We have... some fine-tuning to [do], but it’s validating that our

thinking matched [Principal’s Exchange’s] thinking in many ways,” Harding said. “Sometimes you need to hear from an outsider…

‘This is good, keep doing it, do more of it.’”

The report outlines pressure from parents and students to expand opportunities for high socioeconomic status students in contrast with the lack of advocacy for students of lesser privilege. As a result, district resources often center around Honors and AP classes rather than the CSU and UC course completion necessary to qualify for fouryear colleges, as demonstrated by the inception of courses such as AP Computer Science.

“Achievement”

continues on page 3

The newly opened, familyowned business aims to bring together old and young alike, using the one thing all can appreciate — sweets.

Entertainment, 14

John Steinbeck: on the verge of extinction Due to concerns over time and comprehension, classic Steinbeck novels have been removed from the English curricula.

Opinions, 7

“Turning the Tide” on college admissions

Senior Bianca Champenois has sparked new interest in an old-fashioned sport.

Features, 9

A fan’s perspective Read about math teacher Teresa Dunlap’s Denver Post analysis of the Broncos.

Features, 13

“Pablo”: drunk love With the limited release of his album “The Life of Pablo,” Yeezus storms back into the music scene with bold and subtly artful tracks.

Entertainment, 16

Boys soccer season secures promotion A newly improved and focused team earns a promotion to the De Anza League.

Sports, 18

UPCOMING EVENTS March 9 @ 2:30-3:30 p.m.

Teen Job Fair March 14-17

Writers Week March 14 @ 1:59.26 p.m.

Pi Day

Schoolwide Poetry Slam Board Meeting March 24

Health Van visit March 26

Color Run April 11-15

Spring Recess News Editorial Opinions

2 5 6

Features 9, 12 In-Depth 10 Entertainment 14 Sports 18

Economics meets Legos KATHERINE YEN OLIVIA JERRAM EMILY AOKI

Print Managing Editor In-Depth Editor Features Editor

Marketing director senior Duncan Burridge stared intently at the white planning map covered in Lego blocks. An L-shaped high-rise hovered in his right hand. He rearranged the blocks once, twice, three times. None of the configurations worked out.

“It’s worse than Tetris!” Duncan said.

Following a suggestion from fi-

CE

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March 21

KUNAL PANDIT

Seniors Yuna Park (left) and Erika Ozawa (right) participate in an urban planning simulation to develop a practical understanding of economics in real-world situations. Economics teacher Joshua Harmon is piloting the program in his economics classes.

VO

March 15 @ 7 p.m.

W H AT I S D E AT H ?

FROM THE EYES OF YOUTH Teenagers don’t usually spend “[My grandfather] went from very much time contemplating sitting at the table one night and death. We are dealing with the laughing and eating dinner with trials and stresses of growing up us to being in an induced coma and becoming adults, so much so two weeks later and passing that our own mortalities are too away,” senior Keana Khodadad far off in the distance for us to be said. “My mom, my aunt and my concerned about. But paradoxi- grandma decided to take him off cally, it’s around this same age the breathing machine and life that we often begin to understand support. We all gathered in the death in a more visceral way. We room… and it took a while for reach a point in time when we him to [die]. [It] was a very diffistart experiencing the mortality cult thing to watch because [I was of others who are close to us: a fa- seeing] somebody [I’ve] looked ther, a grandparent or sometimes up to appear so vulnerable. [And] even a friend. And we watching somebegin forming more body die, physicalintricate, concrete ly, the life leaving perceptions of grief Death is easy them, is very, very, and death. to understand very difficult, not The Talon explores in the sense because it’s scary several different — it was actually that something facets of how youth very peaceful beand adults perceive ceases to live. cause everybody loss and grief. From Yet, the conwas just sitting the perspective of sequences of there — but it was our students, to like, this is the end.” death are much those who deal with Death isn’t a subdeath within the more abstract. ject often on most workplace, we learn teenagers’ minds, but how death impacts for these three adolescents, it has had each of us as individuals and a severe impact on their lives. unites us as humans.

MVHS sophomore Anthony Chau was in third grade when his SEEING DEATH dad died of skin cancer.

The binary quality of death, “I’m not sure if this was typical like the binary quality of a light of young people who deal with switch, isn’t too difficult to un- death, but at first I thought that derstand. The implication of the the grieving counseling [and] all dark, though, is more layered, that was kind of unnecessary,” as is the absence of the only- Anthony said. “It was strange recently-alive. Attitudes toward for me to be put into a situation death are complex and massively where I felt like I was forced to varied, shifting across individual feel sad or expose myself to this philosophies. In fact, the only adult who was like, ‘Here’s what commonality is the physicality, you are going to do to grieve and which, while observable, could get better after this.’” hardly be called simple.

“Seeing” continues on page 10

nancial analyst senior Tiffany Johnson, Duncan rearranged the parking lots around the high-rise, only to elicit strong objections from city liaison senior Josh Kirshenbaum and marketing director senior Paula Navarro. Other group members chimed in as well, offering suggestions and directions.

All together, the seniors make up a mock private development firm tasked with pitching a development plan to “city council,” a group of urban development professionals.

“Economics”

continues on page 2

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Pétanque club brings a taste of France

IN-DEPTH | 10

IO

Based on a Harvard study, college administrators plan to focus less on standardized testing and more on student interests.

Opinions, 8

CT S O E L F THE E

STUDENT PERSPECTIVES ON POLITICS AND THE UPCOMING ELECTION SEASON

OPINIONS | 6

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The Talon March 8, 2016

Get daily LAHS updates and read the news archives at lahstalon.org/category/news

School to offer new sophomore AP course asking about humanities and things like that.”

Freshman and sophomore hisNext year the school will offer tory teacher Kelly Coble attendanother AP social studies class to ed AP seminars about the course sophomores, called Human Gelast year, and she brought it to ography. The high school course the attention of the department is popular outside of California after developing a keen interand is just beginning est in teaching the to gain popularity in course. The departthe state. ment then brought While its title may Since it is the it to Assistant Prinlead some to think only AP option cipal Perla Pasallo about memorizaand Principal Wyn[for sophotion of locations and ne Satterwhite. capitals, the course mores], some “I went [to the actually covers top- students take seminars] last year, ics such as human [MEHAP] whethnot knowing if it relationships, miwould be a class, and er or not they’re gration, food proI was sitting there truly interested duction, the develeach day thinking opment of cities, in it. how interesting it politics, culture — history teacher was and how the and human rights.

Kelly Coble kids would love it,” Students will learn Coble said. “It’s a about the processes different piece of the pie that we that humans have undergone to don’t already have.” understand and use the planet.

In previous years, sophomore “We just want to give kids a social studies classes have inbuffet of amazing classes,” Ascluded Contemporary World sistant Principal Perla Pasallo Issues and AP European Hissaid. “We’ve kind of branched tory. According to Coble, AP out in the science and math deEuropean History is very much partments because that was a a historian’s history class, while board focus, but people are also AP Human Geography appeals

ALEXIS MALGESINI Staff Writer

Economics CONTINUED FROM THE FRONT PAGE The simulation is currently piloted by economics teacher Joshua Harmon’s three economics classes as part of a 15-hour high school curriculum unit known as UrbanPlan.

The curriculum brings development professionals into the classroom to guide students and was created 15 years ago through a partnership between the UC Berkeley Fisher Center of Real Estate & Urban Economics and the national organization Urban Land Institute.

“The mission here for the students is to understand… what it takes to get the built environment,” UrbanPlan program director Marisita Jarvis said. “It’s educating future voters. Lots of local governments make big decisions on land use issues that have impacts on a million things… and we want voters to be informed about what they’re voting about.”

Harmon discovered the curriculum to be a useful educational tool for teaching economics and civics when he was a student teacher at New Technology High School in Sacramento in the 2012-2013 school year. As a new teacher to LAHS, he decided to pilot the program within his three periods of regular economics. Whether Harmon will continue using the curriculum depends on student feedback and his own assessment of the program’s utility.

“This is a pilot semester,” Harmon said. “After we complete everything, we’ll ask [the students] to complete an evaluation… and we’ll sort of digest the positives and the negatives. I’ll also use the rest of the semester as a barometer for how useful this is to frame their thinking about other economic problems. Between the student feedback and my assessment, we’ll decide whether or not we want to bring [the program] back.”

The program splits each class into groups of five, and each student within the group carries out a specific role of marketing director, financial analyst, site planner, city

to students who are more interested social science.

The additional course will add to the sophomore social studies department and give students more choices of AP classes. While AP Human Geography will only be available to the sophomore class next year, according to Coble, the class may open up to more grades in the future.

“Since [AP European History] is the only AP option [for sophomores], some students take it whether or not they’re truly interested in it,” Coble said. “And if you’re not really interested in it, the homework will be tedious, no matter what the subject area it is.”

The course load is expected to be more than that of Contemporary World Issues, and comparable with that of AP European History.

“What I really like about [the class] is that it’s really current and about how the world is today,” Coble said. “History is part of it, but it also has things like politics, sociology, culture, genocide studies and women’s studies. It’s kind of a cool mashup of everything.”

The school does not yet know

how many students are interested in AP Human Geography, but according to freshman history teacher Chelsea Doiguchi, there are definitely some prospective students, including freshman Ananya Venkatraman.

“For me particularly, the

things taught in the class are more interesting because they are relevant to current issues, especially with regards to how different cultures and people interact with one another,” Ananya said. “It is both topical as well as interesting.”

CARL FAUST

liaison or neighborhood liaison.

Together, they must contend with preset economic limitations: five and a half city blocks of space, a minimum 13.5 percent rate of return for investors and $1.5 million in tax revenue for the city.

“They’re confronting the fundamental economic problem of scarcity,” Harmon said. “Everything that they put on the board not only costs them money… but they [also] have to factor in the opportunity costs: What are they giving up to get what they have… [Other] basic economic concepts that are here have to do with supply and demand and generating profits.”

PHOTOS BY KUNAL PANDIT At the same time, economic considerations are inextricably tied to Above: Program volunteer Andy Slaton works with seniors Evelyn the political realities of demands Crisanto and Tali Abkowitz. Below: Seniors Zack Davis and Cole from various neighborhood inter- Cummins collaborate. Students in Joshua Harmon’s economics class are learning about urban planning through a new 15-hour unit. est groups and constituencies.

As part of the program, urban sented its plan to a panel of urban “Having students think about all those things and deciding who to development professionals come development professionals, who listen to is an important question as into the classroom on two separate acted as the city council and questhey are developing their own po- occasions. Each professional sits tioned students on their choices. litical identity,” Harmon said. “Like with a different group and asks the Ultimately, the group with the ‘How do I want to participate? How students to justify the choices they best proposal won the bid for do I want to influence the process?’” have made, from the perspectives development. Some groups, like This kind of civic-minded at- of their assigned roles. For these Duncan’s, were gunning harder volunteers, the expe- for the prize than others. titude is fostered rience is just as eduAs the class period wound down, throughout the projcational. his group remained huddled ect, but it comes to They’re con“It’s neat to look at around the map, shifting blocks the forefront when it from just a layman this way and that while program students deliberate fronting the or citizen’s eyes,” pro- volunteer and Bank of America about the inclusion of fundamental gram volunteer and credit products officer Kathy Caisa homeless shelter and economic probLos Altos City Plan- ley looked on with interest. She the number of afford- lem of scarcity. ning Services Man- began the class period quizzing able housing units. ager Zach Dahl said. each member about their roles, “Lots of groups tend Everything that “The program gives but by the end, she just observed. to experience conflict they put on the me a fresh perspective “I apologize for sort of dropping over [the homeless board... costs and makes me a bet- out of questions, but I think you shelter],” Harmon said. them money. ter planner because guys have a good handle on what “In some instances, it’s — economics teacher I understand how to you’re trying to accomplish,” Caisa financial question, so Joshua Harmon phrase things or how ley said. A vote of confidence. some groups are like, to describe them in a The group wasn’t satisfied. They ‘Well, we don’t want continued to fixate on the arto pay the money to do that.’ [For] way that’s understandable.”

The program culminated with a rangement at hand. other groups, it’s more of a moral “Now all we have to worry question, like, ‘Well, where are the mock city council meeting, which homeless people going to go? We took place Monday and Tuesday, about is this giant channel of March 7 and 8. Each group pre- parking,” Duncan said. have an obligation to house them.’”

The Talon March 8, 2016

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City lowers school speed limit to 15 feasibility of applying 15 mph speed zones in front of schools.

“This safety endeavor is part of Starting this year, the speed limits the City Council-approved Pedesaround Los Altos schools are being trian Master Plan, which aims to imlowered to 15 miles per hour within prove pedestrian safety and mobility 500 feet of the schools during school throughout the City,” Los Altos police hours. Outside of school hours, the said in a notice concerning the speed speed limit will remain 25 mph. Cur- limit on the Los Altos city website.

The Plan is intended to cover areas rently, the city is in the process of changing the speed limit signs around the city is not currently addressing. “[The plan] is more for how peoLos Altos School District schools, as ple get through our network to get well as Los Altos High School.

The signs will be enforceable to where they want to go,” Los Alduring school hours; however, they tos Engineering Division Director will not be strictly enforced until Jim Gustafson said. “What we’re one month after each installation, trying to find out is, where are the which should be completed by the gaps in our existing grid?”

As the first active project of the end of March. For now, drivers exceeding the new limit will simply PMP, the updated speed limits will be issued a warning until people hopefully accomplish several different goals. Most importantly, lower limits are aware of the new changes.

At private schools, the signs have yet should encourage children and parto be put in place. By applying the new ents to walk or bike to school, which speed limits to public schools first, the will decrease car traffic. “[At] 15 or 20 miles city can determine if the per hour, if [kids] get limits are successful in hit, the chances of achieving its goal before them surviving and approaching private [This is] one having fewer injuries schools to suggest the measure to try are [higher] than if change. and make it, someone is going 35 When cities such as or 40,” PWD TransSan Jose and San Fran- at least for the portation Projects cisco began updating school hours, Manager Cedric Nospeed zones in order to safe to get to venario said. increase safety for cy- school. There The lowered speed clists and pedestrians will be other limits are only the bein 2015, the Los Altos ginning of the updates Public Works Depart- things. that the PWD has in ment (PWD) decided — Transportation Projects Manager mind. One idea involves to see how the changCedric Novenario implementing new es would be received walkways and wider there. The planning for the Los Altos project began in 2014, sidewalks for the mass of cyclists and when former Mayor Val Carpenter pedestrians commuting to school. asked the PWD to determine the In order to fund these changes, the

JESSICA KING

Entertainment Editor

Achievement CONTINUED FROM THE FRONT PAGE “Pressure to uplevel and accelerate students… decreases attention on CSU/UC course completion,” the report said. “Most students in the target group do not graduate university-ready. Many of those who do… plan to attend a twoyear college over a four-year.”

The report also emphasizes the necessity of prioritizing acceleration classes over remediation classes. While remediation classes review previous course material, acceleration classes progress students to new material. The report looks to AVID as a model of acceleration, citing tutors and other support systems that foster student self-advocacy and provide foundational tools for course progression.

“We have tutorial two days a week where students are bringing questions in academic areas where they need help, [and we have] a lot of skill-building exercises that are helping them in their content classes,” English and AVID teacher Arrantxa Arriada said. “I think that’s why they do well and I think that’s why Principal’s Exchange said AVID is a good model.”

Arriada said that the methods used by AVID can easily be applied to non-AVID courses, including subject courses.

“At the start of the year, a science teacher can spend a few days… breaking down the text [and] explaining how the text is

organized,” Arriada said. “The teacher can model how they read through the text, how they take notes. Lots of times it’s a lot of the AVID methodologies and techniques. It’s about starting routines and patterns that students do, and eventually those are things they do on their own.”

Changing the focus from acceleration to remediation is not exclusively a task for AVID, and may also require supplementary classes for core subjects.

“If there’s a student who is struggling in a subject, [we should] still let them take a challenging class,” Arriada said. “[We want] kids to accelerate rather than repeat…

When we’re reading ‘Mockingbird,’ they start reading it ahead of time in Skills so the kids feel like they can participate in their class [and] they don’t feel behind.”

Focus on remediation classes for students of lower socioeconomic status during elementary and middle school creates gaps that are hard to close once students enter high school. Discrepancies in student math placement become prevalent in fifth and sixth grade. “[MVLA] promotes acceleration for high socioeconomic status students, but remediation for others,” the report said. “Stratification begins in upper elementary school for math… [which] results in differential educational attainment by graduation.”

Communication with the MVLA feeder districts in LASD and Mountain View-Whisman can be difficult, as the two districts vary in policies and structure. The report recommends feeder districts to offer only standards-aligned and accelerated

CARL FAUST

A new speed limit sign outside the school. Recently, Los Altos has reduced the speed limit around public schools in the city to 15 miles per hour due to concerns over pedestrian safety and accidents; the Public Works Department is in the process of installing signs to inform drivers of the change.

PWD plans to apply for grants, one of which is the Active Transportation Grant, an overarching California grant that includes multiple cyclist and pedestrian safety grants. “[This is] one measure to try and make it, at least for the school hours, safe to get to school,” Novenario said.

“There will be other things we try to do [to make it safe], like putting new walkways or bike paths to get to school, but this [speed limit change] is one way we can do this already.”

So far, responses have been most-

ly positive, with the few complaints dealing with lengthened commutes due to the lower speed limits.

“Parents think [the plan] is great because obviously it’s a lot safer for the kids to walk [or bike], so it feels good that parents welcome the change,” Novenario said. “When people call who are concerned or don’t like the signs, I have to try and educate them why we need to do this.”

Students, however, do not seem as supportive of the lowered limits. Many agree that 25 mph is slow

enough. However, this belief may derive from the misconception that the 15 mph limit will apply around the clock, instead of just during school hours.

“A 25 to 20 mph limit on school hours is good enough,” junior Ansel Ordonez said. “When seeing a pedestrian sign, it’s your responsibility [as a driver] to be alert and keep caution, in which case you should avoid speeds above 25 mph, because people will jaywalk unless there’s a crosswalk.”

mathematics courses and no ELA class below the UC A-G graduation requirements, in order to align schools and straighten out the path for UC qualification.

“It was clear that we need to behave more like a K-12 district,” Harding said. “We want [math to] be consistent throughout all the grades, so it doesn’t seem like you’re moving to another region in the country, you just move forward.”

In order to create these seamless transitions, the district plans

to further emphasize communication between districts. “[Communication] doesn’t happen automatically,” Harding said.

“It has to be a priority… to see our teachers working with their teachers, our administrators working with their administrators.”

To help reduce divergence in educational opportunities between students of higher and lower socioeconomic status, the audit calls for increased communication of graduation standards

for all students. One specific recommendation is for the creation of an “On Target” map that outlines expectations for each grade, with emphasis on a four-year college as the end goal.

“In this environment, the expectation is you go to an elite college,” Harding said. “The expectation here is so high that we have not impressed upon students that… going to any four-year school is something to be proud of.”

KUNAL PANDIT

Students collaborate in social studies teacher Derek Miyahara’s first period AVID 12 class. In a report recently released by the district, Principal’s Exchange highlights AVID as a model for success because it accelerates students instead of reteaching content already covered in course classes.

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The Talon March 8, 2016

30th Writer’s Week brings creativity ALICE DAI

Print Managing Editor

30 YEARS OF WRITERS WEEK From March 14-17, Los Altos will host the 30th annual Writer’s Week, which brings poets, novelists, journalists and working writers into the classroom to speak to and work with students. Especially in a Silicon Valley environment dominated by technical fields, the week provides key exposure to another career path.

“A lot of times the school focuses a lot on STEM,” designer of this year’s Writer’s Week poster senior Emily Goto said. “There has to be some time when the school [says] ‘We actually like creative thing’ You don’t have to major in science.”

This year’s slate of speakers ranges from poets, to philosophers, to novelists and even lawyers. Below, The Talon profiles just a few of these working writers.

MARIKO TAMAKI THE GRAPHIC NOVELIST Mariko Tamaki’s “This One Summer” is an ode to the retroactively sweet nostalgia of angsty adolescence A New York Times Bestseller, winner of the Caldecott Medal and the Michael L. Printz Award, Tamaki is the latest in a train of critically and popularly

acclaimed featured writers that have walked the steps of the Eagle Theater (Khaled Hosseini’s “The Kite Runner” and Andy Weir’s “The Martian” immediately come to mind). The graphic novel thrives off tales of growing up and messy first-loves and fully livedup-to cliches of teenagers in the summertime. It’s the stuff of Young Adult genre gold, perhaps not in its purest form and perhaps all the better for it.

SAMBUL ALI-KARAMLI THE LAWYER A corporate lawyer and devout muslim, Sambul Ali-Karamli is the maverick of accessible Islamic literature and culture. Her novel “The Muslim Next Door: the Qur’an, the Media, and that Veil Thing” is meant to be a no frills, genuinely quotidian conversation about Islam and its adherents. Written to the Western nonMuslim, from a dedicated follower of the religion, the book is an anecdotal and humorous tribute to Islamic religion and lifestyle. Ali-Karamli is also a social justice advocate, serving on the steering committee of Women in Islamic Spirituality and Equality.

JACK BOWEN THE PHILOSOPHER Jack Bowen is a modern philosopher of sorts. His novel, “Dream Weaver,” is a sweeping journey into

the unknown, and the reader is given the grand opportunity to philosophize with the book’s young protagonist Ian. What is the meaning of life?

Does absolute truth exist? Perhaps there are no definitive answers to life’s burning questions, but Bowen’s work leads into the twisty ruminations that awaken the latent philosophers inside of us all. Bowen has also authored a college-level textbook, “A Journey Through the Landscape of Philosophy,” and lectures in philosophy and ethics throughout the United States and England. Currently, he is a philosophy teacher and water polo coach at Menlo School in Atherton.

NOAH WARREN THE POET Nova Scotia native, Yale University graduate and current Wallace Stegner Fellow in poetry at Stanford University, Noah Warren is the poetic leading light of his generation. In 2015, Wagner won the oldest poetry competition in the United States, the Yale Series of Younger Poets, for his anthology “The Destroyer in the Glass.” His work explores the nexus between isolation and communion, teetering on the edges of certainty and confusion, joy and sorrow. Warren has published work in the “Yale Review,” “Poetry,” the “Southern Review” and “AGNI.”

PASTE MAGAZINE

“This One Summer” is a critically acclaimed young adult graphic novel

by Jillian and Mariko Tamaki. Mariko will be visiting the school to speak at the 30th annual Writer’s Week.

District approves math placement rules SAVITA GOVIND ALEX WONG Staff Writers

While teacher recommendation and student choice previously decided math placement for incoming freshmen, new administrative regulations passed by the MVLA School Board on February 8 created a framework for a more objective policy, where teacher recommendations may only accelerate an eighth grader into a higher level course.

The regulations outline two ways for students to progress to the next course. They can either achieve a C or above in their eighth grade math class or meet a minimum score on the Math Diagnostic Testing Project (MDTP), designed by the California State University and University of California to assess algebra foundations.

To Superintendent Jeff Harding, the regulations help address the discrepancy of placement into higher level math courses between students from low and high socioeconomic backgrounds.

“This [policy] is about equity,” Harding said. “Our intention is to try to give students from a low so-

cioeconomic [status] equal footing, equal opportunity as students from wealthy families, who have parents standing up for them.”

The policy attempts to reduce the likelihood of students falling into remedial classes, using a system that provides students multiple chances to move to the next course. Teacher recommendations can no longer push students to lower classes, and can instead only be used to accelerate students.

For students in regular or support course tracks, math class often holds the role of a “gatekeeper course,” as students who do not meet necessary course requirements are unable to meet qualifications for the University of California and other colleges.

“Math tends to be a gatekeeper course,” Harding said. “What I mean by gatekeeper course is that it tends to be a barrier to students in terms of going to college, [because if ] you don’t take Algebra II, you don’t get in.”

In April, all feeder middle schools will begin to administer the MDTP to eighth grade students. The test is designed to evaluate students in their mastery of algebraic concepts,

while providing another opportunity for students to advance to the succeeding math class.

“Sometimes students do not like the teacher, or maybe the student doesn’t do homework… but they understand the topic very well,” Harding said. “If they pass the [MDTP] and show that they’re ready for the next level, this gives them another option to get into the next course.”

The regulations stem from a complaint in August 2015 filed by the Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights (LCCR), an organization that works to promote minority rights, which took issue with MVLA’s lack of a clear placement policy. The previous open enrollment system, according to the LCCR, was susceptible to factors that hurt minorities and students of low socioeconomic status.

“Reliance on subjective factors allows for the unconscious bias and stereotyping to influence teachers’ recommendations regarding math placement,” the LCCR complaint said. “Teachers may encourage minority students to repeat a class that they have completed successfully… because of implicit biases regarding what

MIRANDA LI

students of particular races are capable of achieving.”

Controversies arose over the legitimacy of the LCCR’s claims, as district members argue that the data used in the report was taken out of context and without explanation. The statistics, which showed that fewer minority students advanced to algebra from geometry in ninth grade, did not differentiate between different algebra classes.

“They took any course that had the word ‘algebra’ in the title and counted it as algebra,” Blach math teacher Marcia Chron said. “They noticed that it looked like some kids were retaking the same class that they had just passed the year before.

In actuality, they took things like ‘algebra readiness,’ ‘pre-algebra,’

and... counted [them] as algebra, so obviously it looked like they were repeating the class.”

Whether the allegations are backed by evidence or not, the policy ensures that math placement is not a hindrance to minority students and those of lower socioeconomic status who may not always be pushed to the next math level.

“The LCCR wrote a report that said basically [math placement] is a civil rights issue,” Harding said.

“They said our former [placement methods] were biased against [students of] low socioeconomic [status]. Now it’s debatable whether that’s the case, and I don’t think anyone ever intentionally held students back, but now we have a policy that ensures that students move forward.”

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The Talon March 8, 2016

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Please send letters to the editor to talon.lahs@gmail.com Los Altos High School

Campus should be more proactive in improving digital learning Google Classroom offers efficiency and organizational benefits, but it’s not for everyone

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s part of MVLA’s shift to cloud and digital learning this year, the school introduced Google Apps for Education, a suite of services that includes Google Classroom, Drive, Docs, Calendar, Spreadsheets and assigning MVLA email accounts to all students through Gmail. In particular, the new Google Classroom platform, which allows teachers to digitally assign documents, spreadsheets, forms and homework announcements to students’ accounts, is an excellent starting place for all teachers to customize their digital teaching experiences.

But everyone on campus must recognize both the potential benefits and f laws of Google Classroom and be proactive in exploring other options. Students’ digital learning can only improve if students, teachers and administrators strive to promote constant dialogue and actively pursue and experiment with various digital tools.

When used consistently and appropriately, Google Classroom enhances students’ learning experiences by streamlining all class and homework assignments onto one digital platform. According to a Talon survey of 61 teachers across departments, Google Classroom is used daily by 39.3 percent of teachers, and another two to three times a week by 32.8 percent. Especially in departments where assignments, quizzes and labs are graded frequently and on an individual basis, Google Classroom reduces the amount of paper that students need to keep track of and streamlines teachers’ grading.

But Google Classroom has limitations that make it inefficient for certain teachers and subjects. According to the same survey, 8.2 percent of teachers never use Google Classroom. Teach- to better suit their curricula. This ers complain that it poses an in- experimentation has confused convenience for departments students and continues to do so, that grade stuespecially when dents by monthteachers do not ly units or porthave a clear, confolios, or largely Students’ digital learnsistent routine of assign work that ing experiences can where they post cannot be done only improve if stuassignments, anon a Chromebook dents, teachers and nouncements or laptop, such or other imporadministrators strive as mathematics. tant communicaThis is expected to promote constant tion. But students — no digital plat- dialogue and actively should recognize form can suit all pursue and experiethat their teachteachers’ needs. ers are only trying ment with various Teachers who to find the best are unsatisfied digital tools. platform available with Classroom to enhance differturn to other forms of digital or- ent assignments. ganization with students, such as In order to eliminate this confuclass blogs or the MVLA teach- sion, teachers should commit to er websites. This poses an unnec- using one platform consistently essary inconvenience to students for posting assignments and imwho must check several different portant announcements. Teachers websites to keep up on homework. must understand that constantly In addition, teachers who de- switching between different platcide to abandon Google Class- forms creates confusion and inroom often experiment with var- conveniences students. ious platforms, such as Blogger, More importantly, everyone

201 Almond Ave., Los Altos, CA March 8, 2016 Volume XXXI, Issue 6 Editor-In-Chief Sofia Guo Managing Editors Alice Dai (Print) Katherine Yen (Print) James Sun (Web) News Editor Spencer Dembner Opinions Editor Hanna Khosravi Features Editor Emily Aoki In-Depth Editor Olivia Jerram Entertainment Editor Jessica King Sports Editor Josh Kirshenbaum Media Editor Carl Faust Copy/Content Editors Claire Bai, Teddy Chmyz, Cole Hanson, William Jow Business Manager Eric Thiem Senior Writers Chris Dadok, David Lisbonne, Emily Terada, Kevin Yen Staff Writers Keith Bohrer, Paola Campos, Eli Colbert, Anisha Desai, Savita Govind, Jim Hollingworth, Akhil Jakatdar, Miranda Li, Rachel Lu, Alexis Malgesini, Booker Martin, Julia Santos, Tinomuda Tugwete, Avi Varghese, Alex Wong, Ben Zaeske Photographers Francesca Fallow, Katie Klein, Rachel Lu, Allegra Maeso, Kunal Pandit, Michael Sieffert, Kimia Shahidi, Meilin Tsao Graphic Artists Jim Hollingworth, Miranda Li, Skylar Maeso, Vanessa Mark, Anne Schill Videographers Bobak Afshari, Matt Carpenter, Britt de Visser, Danny Nguyen, Eitan Weiner, Andrew Young Adviser Michael Moul

POLICIES

on campus must recognize that and working with teachers to these tools and experimentation solve logistical issues. are all in an effort to improve stuNo one is expected to be an dents’ learning experiences, and expert on digital platforms. But no matter what the tool or plat- students, teachers and adminform is, there is istrators are all no perfect, oneresponsible for size-fits-all apstaying open to plication. Tech- Everyone on campus new possibilities nology and the and encouragassignments that must recognize that ing positive, conteachers give will these tools and exstructive feedcontinue chang- perimentation are all back to improve ing, and students in an effort to improve everyone’s expemust be proacriences with digstudents’ learning tive in giving conital learning. The stant feedback to experiences, and no administration teachers about matter what the tool must also conthe effectiveness or platform is, there is tinue soliciting of platforms. feedback from no perfect, one-sizeStudents are teachers and stua valuable as- fits-all application. dents regarding set to teachers in digital learning. that they are often more familiar Instead of complaining or keepwith the newest digital platforms ing quiet about inconveniencavailable for use. To help acceler- es or frustrations, the school ate teachers’ exploration of the should see digital learning as best platforms, students should an opportunity to increase ditake an active role in suggesting alogue and collaboration beany new platforms to teachers tween teachers and students.

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 Editorial Board sets the policies of The Talon and crafts its editorials and thumbs. Its members are Eli Colbert, Alice Dai, Spencer Dembner, Jim Hollingworth, Olivia Jerram, Josh Kirshenbaum and Katherine Yen.

ADVERTISE & SUBSCRIBE Send advertisement and subscription inquiries to Eric Thiem at talon.lahs@ gmail.com.

Talon Supporters Honorary Pulitzers Sanjay Desai, Corrie Dunn and Rick Jow, Fallow Family, Elizabeth Faust, Haiyan Gao, Lisa Giannini and Simon Patience, Emily Goto, Tabitha Hanson, Gary Herbert, Su-Jane Hsieh, Quyen Nguyen, Susan Slater, Lillian Terada, Tracy Weatherby, Wendy Yang and Yusheng Bai, Danny and Tracy Young

Silver Supporters Martin Family, Zeyu Li, Puneet Pandit, Pradeep Parmar, Taya Perry, Ruth Slater, Tony Sun

6

The Talon March 8, 2016

Read more opinions articles at lahstalon.org/opinions

INTERVIEWS BY: HANNA KHOSRAVI, OPINIONS EDITOR | JOSH KIRSHENBAUM, SPORTS EDITOR | TINO TUGWETE, STAFF WRITER GRAPHICS BY: SKYLER MAESO, GRAPHIC ARTIST | VANESSA MARK, GRAPHIC ARTIST

Voices

of the Election Season

I

n light of the current election cycle, The Talon looks at several voices of the student body, particularly of those who care deeply about youth involvement in politics. Whether or not they will be able to vote legally in the upcoming election, these students care about staying aware and having their voices heard.

SENIOR STEPHEN FOULKE

A

JUNIOR ANGELA CHEN

lthough I identify as being a Libertarian-Republican, I don’t think of myself as being particularly extreme in my views. Why I like the more libertarian part of the right wing is because I feel that it has the most in common with the beliefs of men like Thomas Jefferson and George Mason. The beliefs of these men and others are the foundation of this country and therefore cannot be extreme...

From those still in the race, I would say Marco Rubio is my favorite because he is electable and not super extreme.

Ideally, I would want Rand Paul to win because he is a Libertarian-Republican, but he is no longer running.

O

ne thing I really appreciate about Bernie [Sanders’] campaign, regardless of whether or not I support him, is how involved he has gotten our youth and our generation, and how he has given our generation more of a voice, because he is our ‘youth’ candidate. I think it’s super important, just because these are the things that are going to be affecting us, and regardless of political views, I think it’s just great to be passionate about something. I think election campaign season is a super fun time ― It’s great; it’s like watching a football game, except with fewer concussions and more passion.

FRESHMAN YALDA KHODADAD

I

appreciate the fact that [Hillary] Clinton is a woman, but I have trouble agreeing with her policies and wouldn’t just vote for her because of her gender. [Bernie] Sanders, on the other hand, has more agreeable policies, but the problem is, I don’t think he could win if he was the Democratic candidate. And [Donald] Trump — do I even have to give my opinion?

SOPHOMORE JONATHON CABLE

I

think this is a really interesting election season because we have all these people who aren’t originally from politics; all these businessmen and surgeons and people who really haven’t been in the public eye. I think it’s just really interesting to see how people are reacting and you can see that people are fed up with the people who are politicians and they want change. It’s definitely really new.

INTERESTED IN GUEST-WRITING FOR TALON?

JUNIOR SIMON PATMORE-ZARCONE

I

think that probably Hillary Clinton is the person, on either side, who has the most foreign policy experience, which I think makes her the most needed candidate right now. If we were in a peacetime, Bernie Sanders would be great because his reform is powerful, but we can’t have him right now because we need to focus on not just the United States.

If you would like to write about your stance on an issue that’s affecting students at our school, email Opinions Editor Hanna Khosravi at opinions.lahstalon@gmail.com with a summary of your idea.

The Talon March 8, 2016

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John Steinbeck: On the verge of extinction CLAIRE BAI RACHEL LU

Copy/Content Editor Staff Writer

George and Lennie. Crooks, Curly and Candy. These are all characters with whom we have traveled in the adventure “Of Mice and Men” our freshman year, but who won’t be passed on to the next generation. This year, the English department has pulled the text from the ninth grade Survey of Composition and Literature English curriculum to slow down the pace of the class.

Instead, students spent the unit exploring the narrative format by itself, as a trial. With the department’s simultaneous removal of “East of Eden” from American Literature and possibly from the AP English Language and Composition class, students may never be exposed to Steinbeck’s works throughout their high school career.

But for the department to do so would be a huge mistake; “East of Eden” provides the basis for the beginning of the AP English Language curriculum, and its many nuanced complexities make it an ideal initial introduction to the AP-esque discussions students in the class partake in throughout the year.

The department’s elimination of Steinbeck from the English curricula was not a conspiracy. For the past three years, the Survey team had been discussing the potential removal of a major text to create more time for other units. This past summer, the teachers finally decided to initiate the change, but unfortunately, Steinbeck’s work was the chosen candidate.

On the other hand, the biblical

epic “East of Eden” left American Literature students in the dust trying to catch up with the copious 600 pages over a span of eight weeks. However, teachers and students alike were reluctant to let it go, and everyone should share the same sentiment.

Both works have been the first books that students read in their respective English classes, and therefore prepare students in mindset for the tone and pace of the forthcoming course.

“With ‘East of Eden,’ it’s so long and some kids just look at the sheer volume, and they’re like ‘No way,’ and they’re just scared and they don’t even want to try, or they fall behind… so some kids just felt like they couldn’t dig themselves out of that hole,” American Literature teacher Arantxa Arriada said. “So we agreed this year to take it out of the curriculum, but I’m really scared that once you take something out it’s gone. I didn’t want to take it out, but when you’re part of a team and you’re aligned, sometimes you have to compromise. You don’t get everything you want.”

When the newly proposed homework policy is implemented, summer homework would be eliminated from all honors and AP classes, which could mean the removal of “East of Eden” in the AP English Language and Composition course as it was assigned for summer reading in past years.

“Discussing [‘East of Eden’] as a class when we came back from break was one of the most memorable times in English class, and that’s what really got me started [in] liking [the class] and the people and in general, learning from people’s ideas,” AP English Language student junior Margo Lusinchi said. “I think taking out that component [means]

being thrown into the class without any prior idea of what was going on, and I think that was very helpful.”

In addition, students who partake in AP classes should realize that they are committing to a college-level and styled course, which automatically means acceleration and a heavier workload. Therefore, there should not be dissent toward the concept of summer homework.

“I feel a little bit like a hypocrite because in general, I agree with the idea that kids should have summers and that we shouldn’t be giving summer work, and that it’s in kids’ best interest to not have a bunch of stuff to do over the summer,” AP English Language teacher Keren Dawson-Bowman said. “But I also feel like reading a book is a really good thing for kids to do over the summer. I think it should be fun ― you can take ‘East of Eden’ to the beach, you know?”

It is inevitable that not everyone agrees Steinbeck is a must-read.

There are other great writers of the English language who make similar points about themes such as race relations in shorter, more straightforward texts, and thereby fulfill students’ and teachers’ needs. In addition, students should be exposed to a greater variety of authors because diversity within education is necessary for diverse perspectives.

“If we were going to have a conversation of race or even the migrant workers’ experience, there are modern texts that do that also, and so while I see Steinbeck as valuable, I don’t think that he is the only person we can reference in terms of those reasons,” Abel said. “I think it’s a conversation of how much do we want to keep to the canon, and how much are we okay with getting rid of our white male authors that

we have always read because they were the only ones we could read, and finding new texts.”

There will not be a complete loss though, as the freshman Survey teacher team plans to put “Of Mice and Men” back on the table as a possibility for next year’s reading, and “East of Eden” is currently a listed choice in American Literature’s Lit Circles unit. But with the rise of social media and decreasing interest in classical literature, high school students do not have much exposure to the writings of authors like Steinbeck outside of the classroom. The complete removal of “East of Eden” and Steinbeck is essentially the burning of a bridge that connects students and great literature. “‘East of Eden’ is an incredible piece of literature that I think all high

schoolers should have the chance to read,” AP English Language student junior Derek Mark said. “Steinbeck’s overarching messages in this Cain and Abel based novel gave me new insights on not only literature, but to my own life as well.”

Steinbeck has long served as a pillar for English curricula not only at LAHS, but at schools all across America. Removing his major works from classrooms would prove devastating, as it would represent a loss of exposure to an American icon. Steinbeck is famous for his quote, “With all our horrors and faults, somewhere in us there is a shining.” It would be a true shame for students to lose sight of this complex portrait of hope and humanity that Steinbeck was so famously able to pinpoint.

ANNE SCHILL

New homework policy could satisfy student wishes spent on homework is crucial, and kicks off the new homework policy to a good start.

BEN ZAESKE The policy additionally addresses the isStaff Writer sue of students not being able to complete their work, and says, “If [students find] that homework for class is taking significantly more than the expected amount listed here, he leadership teams at Los Altos and they should speak with their teacher for Mountain View High School have been help examining their study habits and stratworking to align their administrative egies and for other resources.”

Aside from simply stating the number of recommendations for a new homework policy, and released their most recent draft on Tues- hours of homework teachers can assign, the homework policy also adday, February 23. The new official dresses concerns about concurhomework policy released by the rent deadlines, when teachers school board effectively addresses schedule overlapping due dates, the issue of homework and follows Defining a and at the same time, student the recommendations of students homework stress. The policy reads, “Stulaid out by The Talon four months policy can be dents are encouraged to comago almost to the letter. municate with their teachers Defining a homework policy can tricky, because in a timely manner, when they be tricky, because as many people as many people find themselves with concurrent realize, homework doesn’t just take realize, homedeadlines. Teachers will attempt a set amount of time. School proj- work doesn’t to ameliorate these student conects can range in duration from a just take a cerns. Schools will continue to few weeks to just a couple of days, explore ways to address the issue students are constantly juggling set amount of of stress caused by concurrent multiple courses at the same time time...You can’t deadlines.” and extracurriculars often hamper just mechaniSimilarly to the early parts students’ abilities to fully com- cally assign a of the policy which encourage plete their work. The point is, you students and teachers to comcan’t just mechanically assign a set set number of municate about homework, this number of hours to homework. hours to homesection on concurrent deadStudents approach homework in work. lines recognizes the difficulty different ways resulting in a variaof student schedules and the tion in how fast they can complete stress they can cause. Student their work.

The new homework policy addresses this stress is a growing issue, and the fact that issue and establishes it right off the bat. It it is recognized and addressed in the policy reads: “It is important to note that [the] num- is just part of what makes this newest draft bers below refer to the time spent by the ma- such a positive. Having a homework policy jority of students in the class. Individual stu- that conforms this well to student expectadents may find that they need to spend more tions should not be taken for granted, and or less time on assignments for a class.” Es- it will be up to the teachers and students to tablishing f lexibility for the number of hours make sure it is used and followed effectively.

T

MIRANDA LI

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The Talon March 8, 2016

‘Turning the Tide’ on college admissions ANISHA DESAI JULIA SANTOS Staff Writers

There is a possibility that community service, contributions to family life and accomplishments based on quality will be valued by college admissions just as much — or even more — than GPA, the number of AP or Honors classes taken or standardized testing scores. Harvard University and 88 other colleges and universities can picture a world where high school students will view college in a way where one’s “concern for others and the common good” is of utmost importance.

Harvard’s report “Turning the Tide” is a revolutionary catalyst for much-needed change to the college admission process. “Turning the Tide” stresses the importance of achievements that are beneficial to one’s community and the need of levelling the playing field for students of different socioeconomic

status. By issuing this call to action, Harvard brings up a conversation that will lead to equal opportunities for all high school students.

At a young age, students, especially in affluent areas such as Silicon Valley, are taught that having a stacked resume of academic achievements and accomplishments during their high school careers is the deciding factor on whether they are admitted into the school of their dreams and have a successful future.

“Yet high school students often perceive colleges as simply valuing their achievements, not their responsibility for others and their communities,” an excerpt from the report said. “The messages that colleges do send about concern for others are commonly drowned out by the power and frequency of messages from parents and the larger culture emphasizing individual achievement.”

This is a huge flaw that has plagued the college admissions process for

FLICKR USER JOSEPH WILLIAMS

Pictured above is Harvard University’s Widener Library. Harvard recently published a report entitled “Turning the Tide” to open up a conversation regarding changing the college admissions process.

years, and it’s extremely important ing able to afford things like tutors that a university as prestigious as and prep classes. According to ColHarvard addressed this mispercep- lege Board, students with families tion head-on. With Harvard leading that earned above $200,000 a year a shift toward more community- scored an average of 1722, while stuminded individuals, parents and dents whose families earned under students will feel more relaxed to $100,000 scored an average of 1579 focus on individual interests rather and below. The change that the rethan multiple pursuits and academic port calls for helps to account for excellence. While a high GPA and some of this disparity and will hopefully give previously overstacked resume looked students a chance. can indicate posi“Admissions offices tive qualities such should work to relieve unas organization We lose somedue pressure associated and dedication, it thing on this with admission tests (SAT is far more impor- quest to look and ACT),” an excerpt from tant for students the report said. “Options to develop a deep- better than evfor reducing this pressure er connection with eryone else. We include: making these tests their community need another optional, clearly describing through thought- way to look at to applicants how much ful and passionate students’ charthese tests actually ‘count’ service. In fact, and how they are considered that type of learn- acter versus in the admissions process, ing will better pre- just looking at and discouraging students pare students for their resumé. from taking an admissions the real world, in— Superintendent test more than twice.” stead of test scores Jeff Harding “Turning the Tide” inand GPAs. cludes many revolutionary “When you think about what we do as adults and ideas to change the way students giving back to the world around us, view not only the college admissions following your passion and making a process, but college itself through difference in the world is where real shining a light on the importance satisfaction comes from,” Superin- of having good morals and values. tendent Jeff Harding said. “We don’t While change will not be seen overwant to suck that out of students. We night, the report furthers the realizawant you to do that because that’s tion that there is more to college than what you are going to have do when numbers and letters.

“I think we are talking about a you are older, so start early.”

Another crucial aspect of the re- deeply rooted culture at the uniport correctly points out the unfair versity level,” Harding said. “This academic advantage that students shift is going to be incremental from wealthier families have. There over years. It’s a pendulum swing, is a direct correlation between par- like how the pendulum swings out ent income and how well a student so far, and then it sort of stops and does on the SAT or ACT ― the more begins coming backward. I think we money they make, the better their are just at that high point before it children do on the tests due to be- starts coming back.”

A shifting American viewership ELI COLBERT Staff Writer

From the desk of Richard Nixon aka “The Nixon Tapes”: “You know what happened to the Greeks. Homosexuality destroyed them. Sure, Aristotle was a homo. We all know that, so was Socrates.”

A nosey statesman with his ear to the door of the oval office might mistake Nixon’s candor for discussion of public policy. Nixon was actually just shooting the breeze with his cabinet. He was miffed by what he took as a minor character’s latent homosexuality on primetime’s “All in the Family.”

Nixon’s viewing preferences notwithstanding, the word “primetime” used to have some cultural significance. Painters, plumbers and presidents alike tuned in for the scheduled spectacle of television. The term seems silly now.

Why would we wait for a time, instead of controlling it? Since 1980, the big three television networks, ABC, NBC and CBS, have been inching into irrelevance. The Big Three now hold less than 40 percent primetime viewership as compared to 90 percent in 1980. Analysts offer two methods in locating our missing viewers.

The Substitution Hypothesis suggests that the proliferation of other sources of programming including internet streaming services, as well as the popularization of DVD options, has di-

ANNE SCHILL

luted the chokehold held so long by the Big Three.

“Consumer and advertiser spending on mass media is relatively constant, and what changes with the introduction of new media is simply the way the consumer’s resources are distributed,” researchers Hindman and Wiegand said in an essay, “The Big Three’s Prime-Time Decline: A Technological and Social Context.”

A significant chunk of this diverted audience can be traced to the incredible rise of cable programming, and what’s known as Multiple Video Programming Distribution. Cable television had found its way into 85.1 percent of homes by 2004, as compared to 1980’s 22.6 percent.

A second, related school of thought is the Social Differentiation Hypothesis.

“Social differentiation, also called Structural Pluralism, is defined as the degree of heterogeneity along institutional and specialized interest group lines, in a way that determines the potential sources of organized social power,” researcher Tichenor said in “The Big Three’s Prime-Time Decline.”

Simply put, as our population grows more diverse, and in turn, more diversely interested, its sources of political and social power become more diverse. We are looking at a more nuanced nation today, than we had in 1955, or even in 1980. Our broadcast landscape has grown to represent every established demographic.

We mustn’t cry for executives at ABC, NBC and CBS quite yet.

In fact, operating incomes have grown for all three since 1980, having adjusted for inflation. This

can be credited mostly to advertising revenue. In a marketplace which is as fragmented as ours, there is still value in imprecisely reaching a mass audience.

It would be a fiction to say that we’ve lost the collective, shared quality of television. In fact, there are more avenues for social networking available to the casual viewer today, than ever before: modes which far outpace the simple connection of coinciding television time.

So my more truthful requiem is for the physicality of television, which still stings, because in a lonely world, any common thing is worth clinging to. Bon voyage to dutifully switching on the set at seven. Thank you primetime TV, and sorry. You helped build a culture around looking at something. Now, we’re looking away.

Jim Takes a Break

By Jim Hollingworth

Interlude There’s not much to talk about on the college front besides the cacophony of thumb-twiddling that’s taking place as we wait for lateMarch admissions. There’s also the happy truth that college is currently a bit “out of sight, out of mind” and I’d rather not dwell on something that’s better left alone for a few more precious weeks.

So, in the spirit of rebelling against college-oriented themes, I’d like to talk about an activity that you would never put on an application, a skill that is so underwhelmingly useful that by learning it you might actually become less productive, and a pastime that I think is essential for living in a world of papercentered assignments — the art of doodling.

It is my firm belief that everyone should learn how to draw. You don’t have to be “good” at it, like it’s a competitive sport. You don’t have to understand ‘realistic’ perspective, or shading — you don’t need to know a single thing about proportions or how many eyes should fit in the width of a human head.

But everyone should try sketching their own character. With eyes pointing in different directions, with hair that looks stupid, with misaligned noses and mouths — it’s okay if your lines look like they’ve been drawn by a demented secondgrader hyped up on caffeine.

Because cartooning is a way to relax. The feeling of childish power I get when I make a face-shaped circle is genuinely exciting. I have the ability to make the head happy, sad, bearded, excited, horned, anything.

It’s like speaking another language, like being in control of a tiny world.

I draw kings and queens throughout my history notes to liven things up; I draw puns on intimidating math quizzes; I draw fight scenes and tea parties during homework breaks. Drawing is a therapeutic alternative to beating level 497 on Candy Crush. It’s a talent-building, no-strings-attached hobby — nobody’s going to mock you for your three-minute sketch of a oddlyshaped zombie eating a sandwich.

You’ve got to give it a wholehearted effort, though. If your reaction to this is to draw a wimpy stick figure with a neck as long as its body and no nose, and then tell me that you don’t have any “natural talent”, you’re perpetuating a cycle of defeated laziness.

Your creations don’t have to be like things you’ve seen before; they don’t have to be smoothly professional. Make what makes you chuckle.

‘Art’ is a scary word with intimidating connotations: years of practice, brush strokes, depth, and berets. But the pursuits of doodling, cartooning, and drawing – these are happy minute-fillers that can brighten the dreary study guides, the empty margins, and the blank backsides of unimportant college applications.

The Talon March 8, 2016

9

Read more features articles at lahstalon.org/category/features/

AVID and Skills classes form tutoring partnership HANNA KHOSRAVI BEN ZAESKE Opinions Editor Staff Writer

Long known for their effective peer tutoring system, the Advancement Via Individual Determination (AVID) classes have recently branched out, effectively expanding their roles and becoming tutors for students in English 10.

AVID is a college preparatory program for students who are typically underrepresented at four-year universities for reasons including ethnicity, family income or difficult circumstances at home. AVID students are often first-generation college students, or students who find themselves to be the first in their families with the opportunity to attend a university.

AVID teachers stay with their students for all four years of their journey through high school, and sophomore AVID instructor Arantxa Arriada explains that while AVID is an academic program, in many ways, it is also much more.

“By the time [the students] graduate, it’s like a family,” Arriada said.

Connected through AVID all of high school, students in AVID also receive support in courses they might normally feel out of place in by working through them together.

“This year because [my students] are sophomores, a lot of them are having a first experience with honors and AP,” Arriada said. “AVID is really nice because sometimes in those classes students don’t feel like they belong, but with AVID they know they have [the support of] other AVID students in the same classes, and [can] work together as a cohort.”

A pivotal part of the AVID program is student tutoring. Two days a week, students who have had experience taking honors and AP courses come in to help tutor the

AVID students. AVID tutoring is an actual class that students take, and AVID teachers have expressed how prominent and beneficial the tutoring system has been for the success of the program. “[Peer tutoring has] been amazing, especially once [AVID students] start taking AP and honors classes,” department coordinator Keren Dawson-Bowman said. “[The tutors] are usually older juniors and seniors who are incredibly helpful [when it comes to] having the AVID students be successful in the class and learn the material. I haven’t done math since I was 18 years old, so it’s really helpful to have students who know the maFRANCESCA FALLOW terial, have been through the classes Sophomores Natalie Ramirez (left) and Odethe Virgen Barajas (right) study together during a free period. and know the teachers.”

The tutoring AVID students re- Both students are involved in the AVID and Skills classes tutoring program that pairs AVID student tutors ceive has, in many ways, prepared with Skills students to help with homework after school three times a week. them for a new role as tutors for the be wrong, and since she’s my friend In some ways, the AVID students garding the progress she makes as a English 10 classes. When English it’s comfortable,” Natalie said. “If I was have been where the English 10 tutor, sees her and Natalie as a team teacher Carrie Abel realized that over [at the tutorial center I would students are, and having a tutor rather than a student and teacher. some of her students were struggling be tutored by] people I didn’t know, who has walked in their shoes is “Up until I started tutoring, I in other classes like geometry, she so I wouldn’t feel as confident to ask often very helpful. would always say, ‘I’m never gowondered if a tutoring partnership questions, whereas here, I can just ask Sophomore Jazlyn Mejia is an ing to be a teacher’,” Jazlyn said. “‘I with AVID might be beneficial. [my tutor] anything and I know that AVID student-turned-tutor who just don’t want to be a teacher.’ But “I knew that for many students, she won’t make me feel bad about not spends her seventh periods on then I realized that being a teacher the tutorial center is knowing stuff.”

Mondays, Tuesdays, and Thursdays is much more than just grading. I this scary place where While the program with Natalie, working with her on know how they feel when their stuupperclassmen sit originally began as a any questions she has regarding any dents don’t do as well. They get upat tables and you are I think tutoring casual situation solely subject. The duo, friends outside of set. And that’s how I feel about Natsupposed to approach built my confifocused on aiding the class and now even closer thanks alie. When she doesn’t do well, I feel them,” Abel said. “So I dence because English 10 students in to the tutoring process, have fallen like I could have done better, [but] thought about how geometry, it has grown into an effective rhythm in which it’s a very powerful feeling when she a lot of my students it showed me into a full-fledged pro- they are able to set goals and accom- comes up to me and tells me, ‘Hey, I knew those in Ms. Ar- that I could help gram after seventh plish them successfully. aced my Algebra II test.’ I feel like we riada’s [AVID class] people. period on Mondays, “Natalie has told me before that accomplished something.” and might be more Tuesdays and Thurs- she used to have a tutor who was in For students like Jazlyn, who have — sophomore Jazlyn Meja comfortable [workdays, where any Skills calculus, and that the tutor was re- always felt that they have been the ing together] because student who needs ally good, [but Natalie] was really “tutees,” as Arriada said, tutoring has they knew each other.” help can drop into room 503 after uncomfortable and scared to ask been an empowering experience.

Arriada was pleased when some school and receive assistance from her any questions because she didn’t “I think [tutoring] built my of her students volunteered to an AVID tutor, whom they continue want to look dumb,” Jazlyn said. “[I confidence [because it showed spend their free time after school to work with on a long term basis. told her] ‘No, you have to ask.’ And me that] I could help people,” helping their classmates on a mulWhat makes the program par- she said that she feels more com- Jazlyn said. “Being Hispanic, I’m titude of topics, benefiting students ticularly effective is the fact that fortable with me because we can always kind of scared to speak like sophomore English 10 student AVID and English 10 students joke around, talk about our day, and up and speak my mind, but Natalie Ramirez. seem to understand each other [still] be very productive.” when I tutor I can let my ideas “I like it because I feel I am free to in a significant and unique way.

Jazlyn, highly conscientious re- be shown.”

Pétanque club brings a taste of France to Los Altos KEITH BOHRER Staff Writer

Just a few months ago, senior Bianca Champenois was one of the few people at the school who even knew what pétanque (pay-TAHNK’) was. She fondly remembers learning the game from her grandmother at an early age and playing it with her siblings on her grandmother’s lawn. In particular, Bianca cherishes her pétanque memories because of what they symbolize to her.

“Pétanque means summer,” Bianca said. “Pétanque means getting together for a fun game. Anyone can play, regardless of skill level, [and you can play] at the beach or in your backyard which makes it such a fun game.”

Originating from the south of as many points as it has boules that France in 1910, pétanque has become are closer to the but than the closest a major part of French culture and lei- boule of the losing team. The game sure. The versatile game is similar to is often played on a variety of softer the more popular Italian version of the surfaces such as dirt, grass and sand, game, bocce, but it has its own intrica- and is played up to 13 points. cies. Bocce tends to be closer to bowlBianca created the Pétanque Club ing, while pétanque involves more of a at the beginning of this school year tossing motion, like horseshoes. in order to spread her unique pasThere are two teams sion to different stuin pétanque, usudents. She is proud ally with one person that she can share on each side. Each A simple game her culture with the team has four balls or people around her. that is easy to “boules” at the start of “A simple game that a round. At the begin- enjoy, pétanque is easy to enjoy, péning of a round, one has a low key tanque has a low key team tosses a small relaxing atmorelaxing atmosphere wooden ball called you can socialsphere where you where a “but” or “cochonize and just have fun net.” Both teams then can socialize and with friends,” said throw one boule, try- just have fun with club member senior ing to get it as close to friends.

Nathan Smith. “I had the but as possible. never heard of Pé— senior Nathan Smith The team that is tanque before Bianca furthest away from showed it to me. [It’s] the but must throw until one of not something that’s very commonly its boules is closer. If the losing played around here so I’m really glad team fails to get any of its remain- Bianca gave all of us the opportunity ing three boules closer, the leading to see a part of French culture.” team throws the rest of its boules Club member senior Sarah Katat the but. The round is over after sev has grown to love the game. She both teams have thrown all of their finds herself playing every week. boules, and the leading team gets “It’s just fun to be with friends

PHOTOS BY FRANCESCA FALLOW

Above: Senior Bianca Champenois throws the boule during a game of pétanque, a game similar to bocce that originated in France. Left: a close up of the boule. Bianca recently started the Pétanque Club to share the game with her fellow peers. and other people who like weird sports,” Sarah said. “Pétanque Club definitely makes me appreciate the French culture more.”

Bianca is hoping to gain more participation for the club by changing their playing location.

In doing so she hopes that even more people will come out and join her next time they play.

“Pétanque Club not only teaches club members incredible skills, but also helps relieve stress,” Bianca said. “I want to

move to the quad and bring picnics to all of the meetings to expose more people to our club.”

The club meets Fridays at lunch in the back field and is open to anyone interested. No prior experience or skill is required, and even school staff stop by sometimes.

“This club is very inclusive, and people from all different backgrounds come to meetings,” Bianca said. “Who knows, you might even end up playing pétanque against Mr. Rosenberg.”

The Talon March 8, 2016

Claire Bai, Copy/Content Editor | Emily Terada, Senior Writer | Kevin Yen, Senior Writer | Paola Campos, Staff Writer | Eli Colbert, Staff Writer | Savita Govind, Staff Writer | Jim Hollingworth, Staff Writer | Miranda Li, Staff Writer | Julia Santos, Staff Writer | Michael Sieffert, Staff Writer

Curtains

Personal Column

Staff Writer

y aunt was shot by her husband when I was 9 years old. He shot her twice, once in the chest and once in the head, and then once in his own hand; he told the police he was shielding himself and my aunt from the intruders when they were shot.

Without, being aware of the truth, my grandma called to tell us what had happened. And through all the tears, wailing and the confusion of my brother who had just walked out of the shower, I was told that it was four robbers who had shot my aunt.

I cried that day, mainly because of the pain it brought to my mom. After the murder, my mom wore only black and white for an entire year to mourn the death of her only sister. This was the first time I experienced grief associated with death, but it was indirect grief from seeing my mom suffer.

Every few weeks, my grandma calls us to ask how my siblings and I are doing. After passing the phone around, it stops at my mother for quite a

War Face

Personal Column

I

a b a th

JULIA SANTOS

M

ELI COLBERT

Staff Writer

remember learning about it when I was a kid. I remember when the existence of death was bad news. I think it was in Sunday School that I was told Moses had bitten the fertile dust of the Promised Land, all those nutrients from milk and honey notwithstanding. I kept to my room for the next few days and drew pictures of all the people I knew. Even holy men who held conversation with combustible shrubs could die. I kept cool, though. My steely-eyed playground poise: “Death? I’ve heard of it.”

Anyway, I found this tin in my garage labelled “Downto-earth ways to begin your opinions piece on death”.

To read a few: “Let me level with you”, or, the always engaging “We’re all going to die someday”. I’ve never been one to discourse on all the towering, crucial cans of worms, death among them. I’ve felt that any way you write these things, it comes across reductionist or pandering. I mean, I know the footnotes, I don’t need some hack’s editorial. In fact, the crowd of voices on death is so thick and erratic, that perhaps “I’ve heard of it” is still my most informed response to the concept. So, more morbidly than Foreigner might have phrased it, I want to know what death is.

I am not a doctor, nor am I an anthropologist, nor a psychologist. All that anyone can do, is break loose a chunk of the idea and then write it to tears. I like movies and television. Call it vapid, but a study of death by way of various cultural touchstones is not the worst

d i

while. They talk about the case; she tells my mom one of my aunt’s coworkers saw her ghost all over the office; they discuss selling the family farm; usually the call is mostly about the lack of progression toward finding my aunt’s husband.

I watch my mom’s face during the calls. She always looks so solemn and I imagine I can see the wheels turning in her brain as she’s thinking everything over. She’s definitely listening and she asks a lot of questions, but she never talks about how she feels, like my grandma does.

Sometimes I ask myself why I haven’t talked to my parents more about my aunt’s death. And I think it’s because, watching my mom on the phone, I’ve come to a conclusion that the conversations with my grandma are enough for her to handle.

My mom seems to have accepted it but but it’s harder for me to do the same. The night it happened I turned off the lights and went to bed, and right before I closed my eyes, I saw that the curtains

were pushed to one side and the silhouette of a tree was visible through the gap. I immediately wondered what dangers lay outside the window. Since that moment, not a day goes by without me readjusting those awful curtains. I know they’re only curtains and they can’t keep me from dying, but I still find myself fixing them every night.

My fear of the darkness began that day, and it has never gone away, though it’s better now. I fix the curtains so they cover up every inch of the window and shield me from the unknown, but I can’t handle the sight of shadows f lashing by without thinking, “This is the end.”

And that’s where I am right now. I’m not really sad, not completely scared anymore, but it’s made me think about things a little differently. Every now and then I ref lect back on her death, but only for a second.

idea, I don’t think. Throw the most engaging, deathoriented movies of a century into the crucible of aspirant journalism, and the lump of salt and steam you’re left with might say something.

Two weeks ago, I saw a matinee of “Barry Lyndon” at the Castro Theatre. The movie charts the feats of Redmond Barry in 18th-century Ireland and England, in and out of fortune. The movie is adapted from a novel called, The Luck of Barry Lyndon, and by its two chapters, is shuffled into a pathetic dichotomy: “By What Means Redmond Barry Acquired the Style and Title of Barry Lyndon” and “Containing an Account of the Misfortunes and Disasters Which Befell Barry Lyndon.”

The curtain closed for intermission. What I was thinking about, as the lights refocused, was the polite barbarity of 18th-century Europe. Barry Lyndon has an uncouth encounter with his cousin and falls in love. Not one to romance her own penniless flesh and blood, Lyndon’s cousin elects a dashing British officer to woo her instead. Lyndon is up in arms about the whole thing. Really. Leave it to the 18th-century to actualize your idioms. Barry takes up his pistol and duels the officer, riding away from his life in town later, alive and with a killer’s notch down his belt. Jesus. Everyday in pre-industrial Ireland, you were playing with your life. What does it mean to live as we all do now? It’s still high stakes, it always will be with life and its loss.

But here and now, equipped with penicillin, access to higher education, and more modern modes of conflict resolution, the dealer always has bad cards.

The movie reminded me of “Full Metal Jacket,” another underrepresented Kubrick gem. It’s hard to beat

a young Matthew Modine aping John Wayne in basic training. Modine’s character is one of my favorites, Private Joker, he’s monikered by his drill sergeant. Asked why he joined the service, Modine’s character replies, “Sir, to kill, sir.” The sergeant instructs Modine to show his ‘war face’. Modine screams. Kubrick’s representation of morality in Vietnam bleeds gray into more gray. In a haunting closing sequence, Joker’s company marches back to the base, through burning Vietnamese buildings, chanting a Mickey Mouse march song.

1967 seems foreign now. There was the draft—that miserable sandwich line which scooted the just-grown into jungles, pockets full of Valhalla wet dreams. There was more of a dialogue with death.

The curtain re-opens. We’ve become unaccustomed to death, which is part of why we’ve sensationalized it, which is maybe okay. As it turns out, “knowing what death is” is as fruitless and coy as its mushy, power ballad sibling. I know this. We live in a time when death is a big deal, because it’s infrequent, or at least predictable. Love in the time of natural causes doesn’t quite have the same ring as love in the time of cholera. Perhaps we should be envious of the 18th century’s more accessible relationship with death, although the loophole in this logic is big enough to swallow a civilization. As the projection fades to black, a message appears: “It was in the reign of George II that the above-named personages lived and quarrelled; good or bad, handsome or ugly, rich or poor, they are all equal now.” If this pill is too bitter to swallow, if you’re looking for a consolation, don’t buy flowers, fertilize them: “From my rotting body, flowers shall grow and I am in them and that is eternity.”

A th H — a le a c la

in A ro n h b in e o

m ti o e “

The Talon March 8, 2016

*Continued from the Front Page...

The reason for Anthony’s slight emotional detachment was deliberate — after his father was diagnosed, he decided to distance the himself from his son.

“I found out pretty recently when I was talking to [my mom] that she and my dad were deliberately making it so that his death would have as little impact on my life as possible,” Anthony said. “I think that was like one of the reasons why I didn’t feel as much. And I... don’t think I actually felt sad about it until much later, until even now.

Sometimes, I’ll be thinking about it, and then suddenly I’ll be like, ‘Oh, that happened.’ I actually feel much sadder about this than I did 12 years ago.”

At 18 years old, looking back, Anthony regrets his actions on the day of his father’s death.

He remembers his frustration — his dad was acting strangely, and unlike his usual self, so he left his father’s bedroom to play a video game alone. His mom came to see him a few minutes later and delivered the news.

He regrets that he was not in the room when his dad died.

Anthony recalls walking into the room and feeling for his dad’s nonexistent pulse. The remorse he feels now is sometimes unbearable, sometimes manifesting itself in the discomfort he experiences at the thought of his own mortality.

“In terms of thinking about my own death, there are some times where I have really weird off periods — it was like every other year,” Anthony said.

“There were instances [when] I would get existential crises and start thinking about death and becoming really depressed about it. For like two or three weeks, I’ll just be like, ‘Oh wow, this is actually going to happen to me sometime in the future.’”

Senior Aditya knew that his father was going to die – in theory, a 16-month battle with terminal cancer gave him time to anticipate and plan for the loss.

But the reality was different; he wasn’t ever really prepared for the first, concrete moment of realization, of loss.

“My initial reaction was just sort of denial,” Aditya said. “I don’t think I really understood the reality of it… I saw him there, and I still didn’t believe he had

passed away because sponsibilities, and I think I’ve comes. However, it’s something who are dying. Earnest’s sense of he looked so normal definitely changed as a person. that patients under hospice care duty comes from the time a vigi— he looked like he was Whether or not it’s for the bet- face every day, having decided lant hospice worker connected sleeping. And I came over to ter, I’ve yet to find out because to meet their end naturally her to her ailing father for a last him, and it wasn’t until I shook it’s also made me a little bit without the discomfort of mod- minute conversation.

“That was the last conversahim, just a little bit, just to more of a kid too because when ern medical practices. Hospice make sure, that I think it hit me it happened, there were times workers, who take care of these tion I had with him,” Earnest that I reacted in ways I really patients, ease a dying person’s said. “He passed when I was really hard, and I just lost it.”

Aditya felt a disconnect. Any shouldn’t have — I acted out, last few weeks, days, even hours, talking with him on that phone funeral goer is likely plied with like I’d just get like plastered, or whether it be reading to them call. And I will always be gratethe familiar idioms: he was I’d like just cry, and fight with or making sure their affairs are ful for that person who enabled brimming with life, as if life my parents just because I was set in order. Their work has pro- that to happen to me. So I felt found effects, not just on the like this was my opportunity to could be measured and a body like, I don’t know.”

But the response is different patients, but also on the care- pay it forward.” filled with it. And now he’s lifeless, drained; these expressions for everybody, and often chang- takers themselves who develop Since then, she has helped nearare lent credence when a loved es for each individual over insightful views on the matter ly a dozen patients who are close to passing away, and it’s molded one seems the same, but not time. And yet, moving on can of mortality. be nearly impossible. Keana furnished with vitality.

This is the case for Libby her view on the subject of dying.

“It’s given me a lot of time to “I’d never seen a dead person witnessed the sudden death Boatwright, a chaplain who before,” Aditya said. “When you of her grandfather, who was in works in Stanford Hospital’s think about really nice ways of see a human being who had so the ER due to chest pains and Spiritual Care department. Her dying and not such great ways organ failure, duties include end-of-life ritu- of dying,” Earnest said. “For me much life in them, on the weekend als at patients’ requests. Boat- personally at this point, the like my dad was such an enthusias- [My father] was such of a family wed- wright believes that with the least amount of intervention is tic, energetic, com- an enthusiastic, ener- ding back at the right mindset, death can be a how I would like to go.” passionate person, getic, compassionate beginning of her beautiful experience.

In Earnest’s seven years of voland when you see freshman year.

“We start out life with a lot of unteering, only one patient has person, and when you a human body and “Even today, I celebration as a baby, a lot of fuss died by her side. It was the first it’s just a shell and see a human body and don’t fully accept and such,” Boatwright said. “I patient she ever sat with and she their entire per- it’s just a shell and it,” Keana said. “I want people to know that there remembers the event as deeply sonality is gone, their entire personality don’t think that I is someone there at the end of moving. The experience has moit’s scary and it’s is gone, it’s scary. moved on in the life as well. So I’m drawn to that.” tivated her to continue volunan image that I’m sense of emoBoatwright helps manage the teering with NODA. tional closure volunteer program, No One Dies “I read [Psalm] 73,” Earnot going to have and being able Alone. The program offers com- nest said. “In it, it talks about out of my head for — senior Aditya Vohra to see it in a less fort and support to hospital pa- ‘When my heart is failing and a long time. My sad way, I think tients who are expected to pass it beats no more, there you are dad was someone who I knew for 17 years and I that I’ve just been able to… like away without anyone at their side. God waiting for me,’ and after “This is something I’m very I read those words to her, she saw every day. I thought about these two things, my life and how horrible it would feel to this event have been able to co- close to because I truly be- passed. It was lovely. It was a be close to the end and know it exist. And I think they’re going lieve that there should always privilege.” and just be like, ‘Wow, the next to have to coexist for the rest of be someone with them,” Boattime I close my eyes, every- my life because there was never wright said. “That they don’t die thing, every memory I had, will any closure.” assuming they were completely be completely forgotten.’”

But everybody experiences isolated... that we attempt to be Each sputtering end of a huFollowing the diagnosis, Ad- death differently. For Aditya, that touch, that personal expe- man is different. In larger words, itya redoubled efforts to spend there was closure – of course, rience... that someone was with circumstance informs mindset. time with his father and know he’s not comfortable with them when they died. And so A nurse’s modes of acceptance him, to live gratefully for what death, or accepting of it, but he that’s why it draws me. It’s a very will differ from a priest’s, a firetime was left. understands the value of look- passionate piece for me.” fighter’s, a teacher’s, a writer’s.

“I guess I idolized my dad ing back on shared time and Since most of her experience It’s no surprise that a signifimore because I knew he was embracing its conclusion. deals with terminally ill, elderly cant share of death-directed “I’d tell [people] to expect a patients, Boatwright sees hos- attitudes are fearful and angry dying, and I think the reason for that is when… he was given lot of hopelessness, but every- pice care as the natural transi- and overgrown with denial. sort of a time limit, when I in- one sort of reacts differently, tion from life to death.

That anybody with the ability teracted with him, I tried to so just be ready and just be “The idea is to allow the body to self-actualize could die, is focus on picking my battles, as strong and as brave and as relax,” she said. “The person’s painful. There’s no right way because every teenager fights compassionate as you can,” Ad- been working for a whole life- to think about death. There with his parents, and I tried to itya said. “And just savor, savor time, and now, rather than could be such a thing as comjust think like, ‘How important and look back on the time you having this extra medication ing to terms with death, but is this argument really?’” Ad- did have with them because or anything else to work with, there’s certainly no overcomitya said. “What’s really impor- no matter what you do, you’re it’s just allowing the body to die ing it. It overcomes you: stumtant is just being on the same never going to be ready for it, naturally.” bling together, towards all our team in this situation and just you’re never goFor Boat- own ends of days, fully knowing wright, death is where we are going and where making it easy and comfort- ing to be ready for able and not problematic. I death and you’re I want people to know not a horrifying we have come from, which rethink I idolized him more be- never really going that there is someone end, but rather ally, is the operating direction. cause I tried to focus on every- to be okay with inevitable And now, like life itself, this there at the end of life... an thing good, which is good. But it. [It] sucks and facet of life that spread must end. it’s obviously also very biased. you’re not always So I’m drawn to that. can be peaceful.

It was hard, and it makes you going to [feel like “Much of our have to be a grown-up. I’m not you can] do it but — No One Dies Alone vol- work is to try to trying to say that I’m very ma- just try and hang unteer, Heidi Earnest bring peace to ture… but it makes you a lot in there.” a person, bring more aware in the moment, Keana takes it a them to a place and I think that is really what little differently. She believes, where they feel like they can die being an adult is, just trying to she may never move on from on their own,” Boatwright said. be absolutely aware of what- deaths, but there are many “They’re slowly going to a ever’s going on around you ways we can continue our lives place of perfect peace.” and aware of your situation through the pain and hurt of Like Boatwright, and aware of your priorities… I loss.

NODA volunteer nurse have to do things that I didn’t “So maybe if you decide you Heidi Earnest feels have to do before. I had to or- want to make this into a more compelled to help those ganize the funeral, and I had to positive thing, not the death, speak at it.” but what you do after, you can Losing the parent who fi- honor the person,” Keana said.

The footprint of gems and crysnancially supported the family “Figure out what would have was especially distressing, and made them proud, what would tals in our culture can be linked pushed Aditya to become proac- they have wanted to see you do. to luck and fortune, healing remtive about taking care of his im- My grandpa always wanted to edies, and as it happens, death. Each minent future, despite his natu- see his grandchildren succeed.” crystal has its own mythology, its own ral tendencies toward grief. set of ostensible abilities. That of am“Money’s never really been a concern for my family; we’re ethyst is the power to supposedly ferry in one of the richest zip codes Not many of us think about a person smoothly between life and in the world, but now all of a dying or about how to predeath. Here, amethyst is a graphic sudden, we don’t have an in- pare ourselves for when backbone for these stories. come anymore, and I have to that day think about college and getting a job,” Aditya said. “It gives you a lot more re-

Drawing the Veil

Experienced Eyes

Graphics by miranda li

12

The Talon March 8, 2016

Teresa Dunlap: a die-hard Broncos fan AKHIL JAKATDAR Staff Writer

“What is it about humans that make them passionate, one way or another, about a sports team?”

It’s the question that geometry and engineering teacher Teresa Dunlap often wonders about.

And even though Dunlap was raised a football fan ever since she could remember, the answer still evades her. Recently, Dunlap wrote an article on the Denver Post about her thoughts on Peyton Manning’s legacy and her all-time favorite team, the Broncos. Her passion and undying devotion for her hometown Broncos has given her a new perspective on the game, the players and what being a true fan really means.

“When I was four, [my family] moved back [from the Bay Area] to Denver,” Dunlap said.

“It was [my father’s] hometown and team, and they weren’t very good back then. But he would sit and watch the games, and I would always pester him because I wanted to spend time with him.

So I would start asking him questions, and he would very patiently explain to me the rules. Once he started explaining to me the rules, I started enjoying it more.”

The 1977 Denver Broncos, with the likes of quarterback Craig Morton and head coach Red Miller, managed to defy the odds and make it to the Super Bowl XII. As a result of the Broncos’ growing success, Dunlap joined her community’s vibrant fan base when she was 10.

“That happened to be the first year that they ever went to the Super Bowl,” said Dunlap. “The whole city just went crazy and was totally into it. So it was a very exciting time, and then obvi-

ously they lost that Super Bowl.

But to me, that fan base was a really special group. They were like this goofy band of crazy fans that didn’t take it so seriously and they weren’t entitled to anything. They appreciated and supported the team. I felt it was really cool to be a part of that community.”

Dunlap considers the memories created during her childhood as the largest factor that contributes to her adult football fandom.

“I think a lot of teams are like that, it becomes a family thing,” said Dunlap. “There’s something to that. I’ve tried to understand that forever, like why is that such an important part of [family], like even though that is such a silly thing to care about in the big picture… but it becomes such an important part of growing up and your life and your community.”

After seeing the constant barrage both online and in real life from Broncos fans regarding the Broncos poor performance early in the 2015-2016 season, Dunlap decided to write an opinions article for The Denver Post before this year’s Super Bowl, which the Broncos won. In the piece, she urges other fans to stay faithful and to support their players for their hard work for the team, no matter the result of the Super Bowl.

“I was paying attention when Peyton Manning came aboard four years ago, and how well received he was in the community,” Dunlap said. “He was playing really well, and [but] as soon as he wasn’t playing as well, a lot of fans turned on him. I thought this was very disrespectful for somebody who had done so much for that community, and it troubled me a little bit.”

Understanding the greater is- life. For her, the passion and enersue at hand, Dunlap decided to gy she has rooting for the Broncos voice her opinion to other fans who day in and day out has been a conshared her beliefs. Sadly, she has stant in her life. no plans to continue “I just know it has writing guest opinalways been a part ions. Dunlap is proud of me,” said Dunlap. of the final product I just know [foot“I didn’t see that unthat came out of her ball] has always til I realized that it’s hard work. been this common been a part of “It was actually a thread in my life me. I didn’t see pretty fair amount of since I was ten.” time that I put into that until I realAlthough she that [article],” said ized that it’s has moved back to Dunlap. “I had some been this comCalifornia since her really strong feel- mon thread in my childhood and has ings, and it would be lived and taught in hard for something life since I was the Bay Area for the I didn’t really feel ten. past 25 years, Dunlap strongly about.” doesn’t feel the same — geometry and engineering teacher But looking back about any of the loTeresa Dunlap on her football encal sports teams. thusiasm, Dunlap “I don’t know what cannot deny its prevalence in her causes that,” Dunlap said. “Maybe [it’s because] when it’s [the team] created, if it’s a childhood thing [then] it stays with you.”

While she hasn’t been able to find the elusive answer for why fans can be so passionate about a sports team, she believes that just being a fan and being part of a community intertwined by the common bonds is a better gift than any answer. Nevertheless, there are a lot of interesting questions that Dunlap has conceived throughout her years observing the growth of the Broncos fan base. Many of these questions are shared by the majority of football fans.

“What is this about a football team and football game?” said Dunlap. “I mean the team is not that important, but the community is and for some reason, it bonds over this one common thing. I think there is something interKIMIA SHAHIDI Geometry and engineering teacher Teresa Dunlap proudly sports her Broncos beanie. Dunlap has supported esting about that. I never quite the Broncos since her childhood, and recently wrote a guest commentary for the Denver Post about her understood it, but I know I can’t favorite team and Peyton Manning. quite shake it.”

A look inside the Winter Guard community PAOLA CAMPOS Staff Writer

Take a second and imagine a plastic tarp large enough to nearly cover the entire floor of the large gym. Now take a second and consider how long it might take you to fold up the tarp and return it to its smallest size. It might take you about a half an hour to complete this task. At the November spirit assembly, it took the members of Winter Guard close to a single minute to fold.

With just 10 members, the Winter Guard program is more-or-less a continuation of its sister program, Color Guard, which ends after the regular marching band season in the fall. Students who want to continue building their color-guard skills take this opportunity to stick with a fixed practice schedule, as well as perform in a few additional competitions.

Like many of the other programs on campus, Winter Guard consists of students who come together to

learn the fundamental skills that are exercised in group activities.

“This program has given me a very good work ethic,” Winter Guard captain senior Isabel Guerrero-Lubarsky said. “Scott Lang, a leadership coach and inspirational speaker, stated at one of his talks with the LAHS Marching Band that a marching band kid is probably going to be the person to cure cancer. This is because a marching band kid repeats something over and over until it is perfect. The

PHOTOS BY MEILIN TSAO

Above: Members of Winter Guard smile for a photo. Senior Isabel Guerrero-Lubarsky, freshmen Yalda Khodadad, Brooke Bettinger, Shawna Hui, Lauren Eaton and Abigail Adams, sophomore Everett Henrie and senior Ann Suzuki (clockwise from top right). Not pictured: junior Sashi Sharma and senior Chelsea Santos. Above right: the group huddles together.

marching arts strive for uniformity and perfection, so in order for that to happen we repeat things until everyone is the same.”

Aside from this development of skills the students benefit from as being part of the program, Winter Guard brings these 10 individuals together to do something they love and want to be a part of.

“It’s not a class or a club, it isn’t something to do for P.E. credits, and we don’t even practice at school on weekdays,” freshman Brooke Bettinger said. “It’s just for fun.”

However, what sets this program apart from many others at the school is the sense of community that resides within its members.

“I think the fact that we’re so small helps make us such a close knit group because you get to know everyone so closely,” sophomore Everett Henrie said.

Although this is a positive aspect in terms of the team’s unity, the low number of student

involvement has caused some concerns for the program’s future as there is a very serious chance that Winter Guard might not exist in years to come due to lack of participants signing up for the team.

“I would definitely would like the program to be more recognized,” Isabel said. “Most people know that we are the people with the giant white tarp [that] we spin flags on top of it, [but they] don’t recognize how competitive of [an] activity it is.”

Although there are benefits to only having a handful of participants, it can be difficult not to have as many members to fall back on. However, despite all this, the group always comes together to pick each other up.

“The Winter Guard community is like a family,” Isabel said. “We push each other, sometimes get upset or annoyed with each other, but in the end we are there for one another.”

The Talon March 8, 2016

Choose Your Own Poetry Adventure!

By Eli Colbert

Vol. 4: Persona In a ‘persona poem,’ the writer assumes a character. Here, Bianca writes from her own persona, and I write from the persona of a writer. Poets make choices, some of them selfish.

Here are a few.

Ballad of REX | By Eli Colbert

God bless you but I ought to conjugate these elsewhere said the writer, Weren’t we chasing something? the craft—the beautiful math? he continued.

When did you last see craft? asked the motor, I do know that REX the motor has come out of the wall and eaten itself— That it has grown legs and a fondness for citrus.

Who among us? asked the motor hasn’t stolen into the study like light to eat oranges, Giving pause to the crystal and the fruit tree, Legs like vines on the bed at half-light said motor.

Something has left already and is getting farther away whispered motor, I taught something like a termite but not a termite to dance motor ended.

Buried motor and colored the mouth with chunks of butane, Took its sound and culled it.

Support through Special Education TINO TUGWETE AVI VARGHESE Staff Writers

Every student who passes through special education classes is taught the essential skill of self-advocacy: communicating with teachers, administration and people in general in order to ensure that a student can stay on track in classes and in daily life while making sure that their own needs are fulfilled. It’s part of a program that focuses on helping students build the skills they need to succeed in a two-year college, four-year college and beyond — and encourages students to take charge of the process themselves.

“We try to get students out into mainstream as much as possible,” Algebra and Learning Skills teacher Erica Starks said. “That’s the goal… the classes are just like [the ones] everyone else takes. They have rigor, they have standards, the kids are kids… Four years is a short time. We are just trying to do the best we can and move them forward.

They are just as productive and just as intelligent and have just as much potential as anyone else.”

Special Education is a community that often has misconceptions attached to it, often due to a lack of awareness about what it entails.

It has many facets and employs a range of services that adapt to fit the individual needs of each student. The range of student needs are a reflection of the of students in the program. Students in special ed vary in the accommodations they require, from Study Skills to Geometry to therapeutic services.

Writer gorged on their dead plurality, Readied the haunt which is a secret necessity, and felt his brain grow cloudier— writer rhymes words: ‘ostrich’ and ‘sausage’.

Motor had plunged like a monster peeling the pool with his backstroke.

Motor moved—each year they are born this way.

What did it want if not affirmation that yes, it could wash its children here.

Untitled | By Bianca Champenois

I was taking the bus with my friend. I was listening to what disappointed him when he opened his eyes. We missed our stop and ended up at the beach.

I was lost in conversation.

I wish I brought a swimsuit.

I was waiting for the train that wouldn’t come for another hour. I pulled out a book and started to read. I don’t usually read. It was nice.

I was lost on Tralfamadore.

Now I have to kill time until the next train. So it goes.

I was speaking to a Spanish woman and mispronounced a word. My cheeks blushed, I said I was embarrassed, I didn’t know what to do. She asked me when I was due.

I was lost in another language.

Apparently, I’m having a baby.

I was driving on the main avenue, and the light switched from green to red. There was some yellow in between. Yellow used to be my favorite color. I tried to take a shortcut and turned right.

I was lost in a field of sunflowers.

I’m going to be late.

I was sitting with you in the downtown coffee shop even though we never ordered anything. You told me about how humans thought they could understand things that didn’t even exist, but I didn’t pay attention because I already agreed with you. I tried looking into your eyes, but I saw nothing. I looked down.

I was lost in denim.

I’ll never know what’s real to you.

I found myself on a beach at the end of a sunflower field with a baby in my arms. I don’t think any of that was real.

I was lost in my mind.

I couldn’t find you.

13

CARL FAUST

Sophomore Brielle Marie O’Connor, pictured above, currently takes two study skills classes in Special Education, as well as general education classes. The program has helped her in many ways by addressing her specific needs, such as planning and time management.

The Special Education department encompasses both Resource and Special Day Class (SDC) programs.

Students in SDC take the majority of their core classes in the department in addition to a Study Skills course. Students in resource programs, meanwhile, use classes in the special education department to supplement or replace elements of a mostly general education-focused course load.

“Your accommodations are tailored specifically to your needs, so if you have trouble understanding it, or you just need more time, you get more time,” junior Ethan Siesel said.

“If there’s another issue, then there’s a separate way to address the issue, so it’s pretty tailored to you.”

As a result, many students are involved in a mixture of general and special ed classes that adapts to their individual needs, with additional support for students with more severe challenges. For some students, this may mean Study Skills and a Basic Reading class, whereas other students may go to special ed for all four core classes on top of two Study Skills periods. Ethan, a resource student, works with Starks in Learning Skills to manage his workload so that he can keep afloat amidst a schedule filled with AP and Honors classes.

“I have three different tests Friday, I need to break this up,” Ethan said.

“When can I take these, when can I do them next week, what times work?

[Starks] coordinates with the teachers to figure out the test times and then I take the test… I’m definitely doing that more this year than past years, but I think that’s just me growing as a person and maturing over time.”

Ethan also counsels with Starks about managing long-term projects. It usually involves an exercise with which any student in general ed classes are inADVERTISMENT

SKYLER MAESO

timately familiar: breaking the project up into manageable chunks.

“At this point in time, I should have a rough idea of what I’m thinking of,” Ethan said. “By this point in time, I should have this much of a rough draft due. Because previously, what I did... was I would try to do everything the week before the project was due, and that wasn’t good. So just planning out assignments.”

Sophomore Brielle Marie O’Connor takes two Study Skills classes in Special Ed along with general education classes.

“I learned that I do have problems with planning things out,” Brielle said. “I’ve been working on getting homework done and turning it in. If you saw me in eighth grade or middle school, I didn’t turn anything in and now I have better grades. I probably wouldn’t have had that if I didn’t have the support. I know that I will have trouble and I know that I can talk to the teacher if I do need help. I used to not [ask for help] because I was just scared. Now I understand that I do need to work on things and that I can ask questions. It’s okay if I don’t finish things. I just know what I need.”

Students in Special Education, many of whom share more than one class within the department, tend to form tight bonds with each other and have developed into a strong community and a system of mutual support.

“Special [Education] is a good thing,” Brielle said. “It’s not for kids who are dumb, it’s just more support so kids are passing… [It’s to help] kids who have a harder time in a general education classroom or a mainstream classroom just doesn’t work for them.

The school cares about the kids, [it’s not that] they think you’re dumb so they put you in special education. It’s because they want you to succeed.”

14

The Talon March 8, 2016

Catch reviews of new movies, music and more, plus read the entertainment archives at lahstalon.org/category/entertainment

At Sugarbaby, Los Altos comes full circle SPENCER DEMBNER News Editor

Ask Darren Howze why he does what he does, and he points to a hand-painted sign over the store’s entrance. It says, “It’s a Beautiful Day to be Sweet.”

Howze, along with his wife Colleen, is the owner of Sugarbaby Sweetshoppe, a new candy store nestled on State Street that opened in February. Their mission: to create a community gathering spot for both children and adults that will make people happy.

But Howze hasn’t always been PHOTOS BY KIMIA SHAHIDI a sugar enthusiast. His journey to starting the Sugarbaby Sweet- Left: Buckets of various flavors of brightly-colored saltwater taffy line one wall of the shop. Center: Colleen, Jake, a second grader at Almond, shoppe began decades ago at our Gabi, a seventh grader at Egan and Darren Howze (left to right) sit outside Sugarbaby Sweetshoppe with the family dog, Maxwell Yoda Howze.

Right: Giant lollipops are propped on a tall board. Colleen and Darren both attended Los Altos High School when they were teens. very own LAHS. Darren graduated in 1987 and in Hawaii, working as a bartend- with Meridian Data, a startup that sweet shop, a place where fami- tempts to please all kinds, carryhis wife followed shortly thereafter er in the Lahaina Hard Rock Cafe worked on CD-ROM technology, lies could have a good time… I re- ing everything from the simplest in 1991. Darren lived on East Edith and on dinner cruise ships. He but eventually the company folded. searched it and developed a busi- candies to artisanal and hand“As the internet started to pick ness plan — it was very much a crafted local chocolates and trufand played soccer, while Colleen continued to surf frequently, one was involved in musical theatre as of the main reasons he moved to up in the early ‘90s, Meridian labor of love.” fles. It intends to expand its offerquickly became outdated,” Howa member of Girls 21. the island.

Over the next year, Howze and ings based on customer interest After graduating from LAHS, Eventually, however, his work ze said. “I remember coming to his wife worked tirelessly to put and availability.

Darren attended Cal drew him back to the work one day, and everyone was the shop together, doing much of Sugarbaby is not the first Poly, majoring in pobay. He took on a two- leaving because they had been their own interior design work and sweet shop to open its doors in litical science and culweek project with HP laid off. I thought to myself, ‘Hey, decoration. They secured a small Los Altos — the Sweet Shop, tivating an interest in We want to while visiting over the this internet thing is really turn- space that had long gone unused, near Santa Rita, has been open surfing. After college bring a little winter, which soon ing into something.’” but had last been a coffee roaster for several years. But Howze says Over the next 20 years, Howze by the name of “Mr. English.” Fi- he doesn’t expect to compete he moved to Hawaii, sweetness to turned into a job. having visited fre“I had every intent soon found work with several in- nally, they opened their doors this with them for business. quently during his Los Altos and of going back to Maui,” ternet service providers including year, at 325 State Street.

“I think they do a great job,” brighten up early years.

Howze said. “I even Uunet and Worldcom. He moved Howze says they decided on a Howze said. “The shop near Santa “My father worked people’s lives. left my surfboards. But back to Los Altos from Menlo sweet shop because unlike other Rita is a completely different retail for United Airlines for then I ended up stay- Park in 2013. community businesses, it’s inclu- ecosystem than downtown.”

— Sugarbaby owner Soon, however, he would change 45 years [as an engine ing and fell into the sive and open to all ages.

Indeed, Sugarbaby’s goals exDarren Howze his career completely. shop supervisor], so corporate world.”

“I wouldn’t want to be involved tend far beyond making money.

“About a year and a half ago, I in anything like a bar, serving alwe had flight priviHowze became in“[A sweet shop] is a pretty simple leges,” Howze said. “I could fly to volved in sales and project man- decided to step out of the corpo- cohol,” Howze said. “A sweet shop thing in a lot of ways,” Howze said.

Hawaii first class for 20 dollars — I agement for numerous technology rate arena and do a ‘feel-good’ en- is something that anyone from 1 to “We want to bring a little sweetdidn’t fly coach until I was 22.” companies, especially after he left deavor,” Howze said. “Downtown 91 can relate to.” ness to Los Altos, and brighten up Howze spent a year and a half HP 18 months later. He took a job Los Altos needed a boutique style Sugarbaby Sweet Shoppe at- people’s lives.”

Talon Recipe: Matcha Green Tea Latte MIRANDA LI Graphic Artist

St. Patrick’s Day is coming up on Thursday, March 17, so The Talon is here to sweeten up your St. Patty’s day with a quick, easy and bright green recipe for matcha green tea latte. You can find matcha powder at your local Ranch 99 or even Trader Joe’s.

INGREDIENTS: 1 teaspoon matcha powder 2 teaspoons sugar 3 tablespoons warm water 250/300 mL whole milk Optional: ice cubes

Warm up the milk in a separate pan or use cold milk for an iced latte. Use the spoon (or whisk) to mix the paste and milk together until it is smooth and light green in color.

HOW TO PREPARE: Spoon the matcha powder and sugar into a mug or cup. Add the warm water and mix with a spoon (or a matcha whisk if you have one) until it is a smooth dark green paste.

If you’ve chosen to make an iced latte, pour over the ice cubes. If you want to snap a picture for your Instagram, brag to your friends, or are just feeling fancy, add a sprinkle of matcha powder on the top as a garnish.

The Talon March 8, 2016

15

MOVIES

Deadpool’s not your typical Marvel hero COLE HANSON

Copy/Content Editor

“Deadpool”

Feb. 12 2016 (R)

Directed by Tim Miller Starring Ryan Reynolds

★★★★☆ Viewers be warned, this is not your typical superhero movie.

The explicit, fourth-wall breaking experience that is Marvel’s Deadpool stands as a refreshing contrast to the mainstream superhero genre. Equipped with an indomitable sense of wit and powers of invincibility, Ryan Reynold’s interpretation of the comic book character Deadpool transforms a generic plotline into an comedic work of entertaining superhero cinema.

From the moment opening credits incite laughter with character titles like “God’s Perfect Idiot” and “some hot chick,” it is clear that humor is poised to be the backbone of the film.

And it’s a solid backbone. Reynolds’ brazen interaction with almost every character, from blind grandmas to bad guys, proves to be endlessly entertaining, providing sufficient compensation for the movie’s other disappointing aspects.

Take away the hilariously presumptuous approach Deadpool brings to everything he does, and Deadpool is essentially a low-budget rendition of the age-

old “defeat evil for the girl” story, saturated with poorly executed CGI, stereotypical antagonists, and a mediocre supporting cast.

The story begins with an immediate introduction to the red-clad super soldier himself, mid-confrontation with his archenemy, Francis Freeman (Ed Skrein), the man who we learn is the insane scientist responsible for Deadpool’s existence and disfigured form. From here, the timeline reverts back to the times of former Special Forces operative Wade Wilson and his previous life as a mercenary.

Eventually, Wilson meets the prostitute Vanessa (Morena Baccarin), and they fall in love classic movie montage style.

Despite the lack of in-depth development, Wilson and Vanessa’s connection is still playfully convincing enough for viewers to perceive Wilson’s internal turmoil when he must choose between dying with Vanessa or pursuing Freeman’s risky “cure” for cancer. Following his disfigurement from Freeman’s brutal treatment for his cancer, Wilson adopts the name “Deadpool” and embarks on a quest to find Freeman for a cure to Deadpool’s marred appearance.

Unfortunately, the antagonists’ performances aren’t nearly as convincing. The movie relies on the cliche of an unlimited supply of generic, black-clothed henchmen who prove little deterrence for Deadpool. Even

Skrein, Deadpool’s intended target who is gifted with super ref lexes, delivers a stereotypical, emotionless bad guy routine.

But then again, it’s hard not to let Reynold’s satirical narration and juxtaposition between the raunchy comedy and katana-related violence entertain.

The script is riddled with fresh jokes, and metaconscious humor engages the audience in a unique way.

Certainly, this film is not tailored for all audiences and Deadpool himself makes this clear during a fourth wall break at the beginning of the movie.

Gratuitous nudity, violence and obscene language sets this film apart from your conventional model of Marvel cinema.

Although the Deadpool concept was already introduced in 2009 with his appearance in X-Men Origins, it’s important to note that the most recent Deadpool is, by design, a completely different portrayal of the character both thematically and charastically. Specifically, Reynold’s comic portrayal and human, as opposed to mutant, background serves as a stark contrast to the sinister, mute depiction he played six years ago.

To account for the obvious adjustments in character, the writers integrated a revised timeline into the plot. This meant Reynolds’ powers were altered, leaving him with a completely regenerative body, super speed

20TH CENTURY FOX, MARVEL ENTERTAINMENT, THE DONNERS’ COMPANY

and of course, bestowing upon him the ability to speak, which makes the movie infinitely more fun to watch.

With his debut as a feature film director, Tim Miller and his screenwriters (“the real heroes”) Rhett Reese and Paul Wernick have undoubtedly captured a fan base who appreci-

ate their willingness to venture outside the level of moderation we have come to expect when watching Marvel feature films.

Deadpool paves the way for more mature approaches within the superhero genre and hopefully will act as a foundation for future directors to execute a greater level of originality.

‘Hail, Caesar!’: the Coen Brothers’ latest masterpiece DAVID LISBONNE Senior Writer

“Hail, Caesar!”

Feb. 5 2016 (PG-13)

Directed by the Coen Brothers Starring George Clooney

★★★★☆ “Hail, Caesar!” is the latest and greatest from the Coen brothers, and is a comedy mixed in among their renowned “serious” movies of past years. Chronicling the day-to-day life of studio “fixer” Eddie Mannix (Josh Brolin) as well as difficult decisions in his personal life, “Hail, Caesar!” is an enjoyable, lightweight twist on modern comedies.

Set in the mid 20th century after the second world war, the movie covers roughly 28 hours of Eddie’s hectic life. In the midst of filming an innovative take on the story of Jesus Christ — titled “Hail, Caesar!” — Mannix and his colleagues at Capitol Pictures encounter multiple setbacks involving an actress’s illegitimate child, a singing cowboy and the kidnapping of Baird Whitlock, the alcoholic centerpiece of the film. A communist group known as “The Future” demands $100,000 for Whitlock’s return, and if Mannix cannot deliver the cash, it’s the end of the line.

One of the most notable aspects of “Hail, Caesar!” is the talented, star-studded cast. The film features George Clooney, Josh Brolin, Ralph Fiennes, Alden Ehrenreich, Scarlett Johansson and Channing Tatum, as well as cameo appear-

ances by Jonah Hill and Dolph bare plot to be overlooked and even Lundgren. Brolin is the perfect embraced. “Hail, Caesar!” revolves Los Angeles movie man — curt at around the numerous subplots of times, sarcastically friendly at oth- each character, and by keeping the ers — and Ralph Fiennes wonder- central plot relatively simple, there fully wears the picky British movie is room for the characters to grow director mask. Tatum and develop without marvelously portrays overshadowing the a young, ambitious main storyline. sailor while Clooney’s Whether the The most hearty own experience as a viewer follows subplot chronicles Hollywood veteran Mannix’s personal life. translates dynami- the plainer cen“Hail, Caesar!” invites cally into an enjoyable tral plot or the the viewer into his life and convincing Whit- more complex by examining the poslock — disgruntled, combination of sibility of his leaving drunk, famous and Capitol Pictures, and subplots, there feebleminded. Even by dissecting the efmore impressive than is always subfect on his family of the roster of actors stantial comehis consistently stayis the precision and dic value. ing late at the studio. perfection with which However to the casual each role was cast. viewer, these more disOn the surface, one could argue crete subplots are difficult to notice, that “Hail, Caesar!” has a severe lack and as a result, create a sense of disof plot. While an actor being kid- array. “Hail, Caesar!” appears chopnapped does not outline a particu- py, jumping from subplot to subplot larly intricate or unique story, sev- before returning to the main storyeral other factors at play allow the line without any clear cohesion, un-

less viewed attentively.

On the contrary, if viewed attentively the movie’s web of storylines mesh together to create an intriguing set of deep characters, all with enough backstory to compensate for the shallow yet entertaining narrative.

The Coen brothers’ attempt at a true comedy succeeds without breaking a sweat. Whether the viewer follows the plainer central plot or the more complex combination of subplots, there is substantial comedic value. Character natures are entertaining by themselves — Clooney’s onscreen cluelessness and general gullibility, for example — and when combined with three or four other comical characters, the experience is truly enjoyable.

The film does a fantastic job making jokes appear unscripted by tailoring each to joke to its character. For example, Scarlett Johansson’s character — a grumpy, child-bearing actress — cracks sexual jokes that are perfectly in line with her role’s attitude and nature.

The Coen brothers created a film that, regardless of the attentiveness with which one watches the movie, is quite funny. However to the observant viewer, there are more references

and subtle jokes to catch, and as the majority of comedy film viewers do not fall into that category, it is a slight drawback.

“Hail, Caesar!” is fantastic but for a single flaw: the easy-to-miss subplots and jokes detract from a casual viewing experience. In order to get the full experience of the Coen brothers’ latest, you have to pay attention the whole time, and for a comedy’s audience, that is a tall task. However, if viewed carefully, “Hail, Caesar!” is more than delightful. A packed roster, spot-on casting, plenty of witty jokes and sly references combine to form a wonderfully enjoyable evening, and an even better movie.

PHOTOS COURTESY UNIVERSAL STUDIOS AND WORKING TITLE FILMS

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The Talon March 8, 2016

Kanye’s ‘The Life of Pablo’: beautiful, stupid JIM HOLLINGWORTH Staff Writer

‘The Life of Pablo,’ Kanye West Hip-Hop/Rap

Feb. 14 2016

★★★☆☆ Listen, I didn’t want to like this album. ­Regardless of whether or not you subscribe to the metaphysical idea that the artist exists independently from his art, we can all agree on one thing: Kanye West can be pretty annoying.

From his award-interrupting speeches to his narcissistic Twitter rants, West seems to thrive on pettiness. He basks in arrogance and immature attention, he loves to make a scene; these are his inescapable character traits, and they nose their way onto his new project, “The Life of Pablo,” in leaps and bounds.

The lyrical quality of this album is a sharp drop from his last full release, “Yeezus.” The two best verses on the 17-count tracklist come from featured artists (namely, Chance the Rapper and Kendrick Lamar) who make West’s lazy, slurred lyrics look like those of a mildly angsty middle-schooler. When West isn’t writing clickbait lyrics about having sex with Taylor Swift or his wife’s famous controversy, his bars just feel half-

JIM HOLLINGWORTH

hearted. His punchlines are, for the most part, obvious; his rhyme scheme is weak at best and nonexistent at laziest, and on the rare occasions he does stumble across an interesting line he feels the need to repeat it five seconds later like an insistent child who wants you to be proud of his crayon drawing. Yes Kanye, that’s a very nice bit of wordplay you got there, can we move on now?

He dedicates an entire track to whining about his shoe brand; “Father Stretch My

Hands pt. 1” contains the most absurdly terrible intro verse I’ve ever heard, and a line about a stolen sandwich on “Wolves” represents an intellectual low point. He does convey emotion in some of his delivery, particularly in the standout dark, ref lective tracks of “FML” and “Real Friends.” But his claims of sincere love feel somewhat invalidated when they’re shortly followed by an extended section about his desire to attach a camera to his gentleman-sausage during sex.

However. his guest artists, and he doesn’t Kanye West was a producer disappoint here: the Weeknd is long before he was a rapper. And a particular highlight, providing this album represents some of the the chorus for “FML.” boldest, most sonically investing The song “Waves” is an interinstrumentals of his career. From esting representation of the althe soulful gospel-influence intro bum as a whole: some of the lyrtrack, to the thumping re-work ics are pitiful, some are decent; of “Bam bam” in “Famous,” to the central background noise is the Yeezus-like daggers of “Feed- unusual and strangely beautiful; back,” to the chillingly manic the features are wonderful; and background of “Freestyle 4” to the song actually comes together the brooding, atmopretty well. spheric “FML” to the “The Life of Pablo” perfectly-balanced feels like a drunken “Real Friends” — the “The Life of confession of love list goes on and on. Pablo” feels — lazy, slurred, but Every song brings a full of heartfelt paslike a drunken fresh dose of brilliant sion.

Thoughtful music. It’s not to say confession of ref lections on famthat West is doing love — lazy, ily and faith share everything alone like slurred, but minutes with referthe untouchable ge- full of heartfelt ences to his wife’s nius he pretends to pointless emoji app; be — the guest list passion. sometimes it feels of producers is too like a trainwreck, long to count — but he’s certainly and sometimes it feels like his leading the efforts. His ambitious magnum opus. aim of producing a rap album It comes down to this: what are with no rap beats isn’t really met you looking for in a rap album? here, but it’s as close as such a Historically, and in my opinion, goal can realistically be, sampling the defining characteristic has the most diverse and tasteful set always been lyrical prowess and of genre-sweeping songs since meaning, and for the most part, Madlib on Madvillainy. that’s not to be found here.

The features on “Pablo” are But the rollercoaster quality also well-chosen and artfully of this album’s text is backed up subtle, with big-name artists by some of the best supporting like Kid Cudi only appearing noise in the genre. And so, debrief ly to contribute a line or spite my misgivings, he can rap hum a bit. West is known for about sandwiches, shoes and sex getting the best results from tapes all he wants.

Escape the Room is exactly what it sounds like — in a good way MIRANDA LI Staff Writer

Escape the Mysterious Room

Escape the Room

Real Escape Game San Jose

★★★★★ Panic. Yells diffuse through tense air, hands flail, feet shuffle nervously. Three, two, one… time’s up, and the room explodes in laughter and noise. Escape the Room games are paid, timed experiences in which the players are trapped in a room full of puzzles.

They are exactly what they sound like: the ultimate goal of the game is to find the key to escape the room. That said, even without succeeding, participants will enjoy the one hour mental exhilaration.

There are multiple locations across the Bay Area, namely in San Jose and San Francisco; each location has different themed rooms.

A common misconception is that Escape the Room games are all

horror themed. But all manner of themes are available, from time travel to cats and everything in between. Parties book tickets online in advance, which generally cost around $30 per person for an hour of gameplay. 11 people are allotted per session, so be ready to meet new friends; other smaller Escape the Room companies allow small group bookings for those who prefer more intimate settings. Though a bit pricey, those who allow themselves to become absorbed in the game will feel their money is completely worth it because of its mental exercises, teamwork and intense, focused tension.

At the location, we were greeted by a Master of Ceremonies, who explained the rules of the game (in short: don’t break anything or stick your fingers in electrical sockets).

At this point, groups with strangers would be introduced to each other, but since no one aside from my friends and I happened to book the same time slot, I already knew all of my teammates. There

PHOTO & GRAPHIC BY MIRANDA LI

was a brief description of the fictional context of the room being locked, the elements of the room were introduced and the door was locked behind us.

In the room stood an employee playfully dubbed the “Spirit,” who ensured that customers abide by the rules and provided hints to keep the game from hitting a standstill. Every ten minutes, an ominous voice announced the time passed or time left. Other than the Spirit, we were alone with a mysterious room, a complex puzzle and our wits.

Escape the Room is a great bonding experience for friends, family and/or coworkers. It is mentally challenging, but not to the extent of being overwhelming. The main challenge is solving the puzzles under the one hour time limit, not the puzzles themselves. The Spirit was adept at giving strategically vague yet helpful hints, which kept the game rolling when we were stumped. Escape the Room requires out-of-thebox thinking and a meticulous eye for clues. Designed to appeal to all kinds of different thinkers and skill sets, the room included a variety of logic, word and visual-spatial puzzles which all culminated in finding the key to the door. And for those who just aren’t puzzle people, the largest component of the game is physically looking for hidden clues.

The room needs to be carefully deconstructed, bit by bit — furniture taken apart, rugs removed — in order for all the clues to be revealed. Everything and anything could be a piece of the puzzle, from looking beneath drawers for hidden compartments to flipping clothing inside out.

One of the largest aspects of Es-

From left to right: sophomores Miranda Li and Annalisa Pao and MVHS sophomores Mae Hubel and Natalie Rockhold. The four girls successfully escaped the Mysterious Room at the San Jose Real Escape Game location. cape the Room is teamwork. With a group of close friends or family, this aspect comes easily, but it is highly likely that you will be working with at least a few other strangers. For the extroverted natural leader, the game requires a fair amount of coordination between players and organization of new clues and puzzle answers. For those who aren’t particularly social but are in it for the mental workout, puzzles can be completed individually and given to the group to put together.

The entire atmosphere of the game was one of concentrated tension and intense focus mixed with a consistently delirious, grininducing euphoria whenever a puzzle was solved. Especially during the last few minutes, there was a constant cacophony of excited yelling and frantic pacing, which made the end of the game all the more exciting. Actually succeeding

and escaping the room was a feeling of achievement comparable to winning a Nobel Prize. The success rate is relatively low, some as low as 7 percent, so getting out felt like the accomplishment of a lifetime, especially given the amount of effort and focus the hour entailed. For the groups who don’t escape, there are consolation high fives and hugs and an explanation of how the room would have been solved. Despite failing, the participants will find the hour an engaging experience nonetheless.

Overall, Escape the Room is a memorable experience that will be the highlight of everyone’s week, without exaggeration. Instead of sitting and binging on Netflix all weekend, do something fun, exhilarating and physically and mentally active. Pay some money, lock yourself in a room and tear your eyes away from your phone to use them on a puzzle.

The Talon March 8, 2016

Avi(ew) on Music

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GAMES: NINTENDO

New Nintendo console codenamed NX BOOKER MARTIN Staff Writer

By Avi Varghese

The End of Beats After Kendrick Lamar’s “Good Kid, m.A.A.d. City,” the pressure was on for a follow-up that could establish him as more than a one-hit wonder. Ordinarily, when an artist’s major-label debut meets the success and critical approval of “m.A.A.d. City,” they will slog to create an album that refines and reworks the aesthetics of the debut — at the risk of overworking that style. After last year’s “To Pimp a Butterfly,” no one viewed Lamar’s career in remotely the same way.

In the year since the release of the album, critics and fans have lauded the way Lamar tackles questions of race and black selfacceptance — but the social messages of the album overshadowed the ways that Lamar innovated musically. Instead of refining his New-West-Coast style or making subtle stylistic changes, Lamar smashed the boundaries — not just for himself, but for hip-hop. He embraced a new method of creation that integrated the intimate interaction of a live band with the sonic potential of digital production.

It’s no fluke that Kamasi Washington, a tenor sax cited

by The New York Times as a spiritual successor to John Coltrane, would cede the spotlight to Lamar’s rapping as a guest player on “u,” or that Lamar would join forces with funk legend George Clinton on “Wesley’s Theory.” Rather than confining himself to the limits of hip-hop beatmaking or purely rapping with a band, concertstyle, Lamar chose to combine Washington’s saxophone with the expertise of label T.D.E.’s in-house producer Sounwave, creating a track that bumped with tried-and-true, solid beats developed over decades of rap history while splaying outside those lines with the wandering paintbrush of Washington’s sax. It’s an approach that grinds preconceived notions of what mainstream rap music could be completely into the dust; where those who came before might stick a session saxophonist on a quietly funky drumline, Lamar allows the jazz, the soul, the funk to shine just as strongly as the one-two hit of his collaborators from the L.A. beat scene.

This is a new hope for hip-hop.

It says that innovators like The Roots, who play as a full-featured jazz band, won’t be succeeded by artists playing for a niche of those “in the know.” It says that the line between beats that sample the musical legends of the past century and the work of those legends doesn’t have to exist. It says that the future of rap — rap that draws in crowds, rap that people blast in their cars, rap that can top the end-of-year lists of Rolling Stone, The New York Times, the Guardian and Pitchfork in the same year — is organic.

Nintendo is in a difficult position — it needs a new console to remedy its mistakes and get sales back on track.

However, abandoning its current home console, the Wii U, risks upsetting loyal fans who bought the console expecting lasting support, not a measly catalog of future releases.

Nintendo’s Wii U has bombed in sales ever since its disastrous release in 2012. It’s safe to say Nintendo has halted all future game development for the Wii U apart from titles that have already been announced; they are wagering nearly everything on their next console.

Codenamed the NX, the console was confirmed by Nintendo to be in development last year. It will likely release holiday 2016 or early 2017, which cuts the Wii U’s lifespan to a very low four years compared the original Wii’s six.

To make matters worse, the NX will be entering a heavily saturated and competitive market currently dominated by Sony’s Playstation 4 and Microsoft’s Xbox One. These consoles, released a year after the Wii U, put Nintendo’s prior console to shame in terms of hardware and power. This led to a lack of thirdparty support, meaning developers stopped making games for the Wii U, which further decreased sales.

Despite the risks, however, the NX is Nintendo’s chance to recover. Enough time has passed for the NX to have significantly better hardware than the competition for a similar price while having several years before the next wave of consoles hits. Nintendo is in a difficult position, but it can succeed so long as it does not repeat its mis-

NX

VANESSA MARK

takes with the Wii U. The NX needs to be a powerful home console with traditional controls. The phase of motion controls is over, and the Wii U’s GamePad, a fusion of a tablet and controller as a second screen, failed to catch on. Having a standard controller as the norm will appeal to third-party developers and gamers alike, allowing Nintendo to once again enter the competition.

The console’s hardware needs to hold an edge over the PS4 and Xbox One to attract a wider audience of gamers who care about graphics and capability. Doing so also provides an assurance of future support for years to come because games won’t be held back by the hardware. Nintendo must prove it can still offer breakthrough technology.

An opportunity has arisen for Nintendo to make its console intertwined with the devices we use in our daily lives. The company is on the right track, opening registra-

tion for their new online account system on February 16. Hopefully, these accounts are Nintendo’s first step to unify the NX with smartphones, tablets, PCs and Nintendo’s handheld, the 3DS. Nintendo should begin linking game purchases to these accounts instead of its current system of locking games to a single console. Recently, the company has been testing the waters with games on other platforms, such as iOS. There is great potential for Nintendo to bolster sales by allowing games to be downloaded on all available platforms, similar to how “Mario vs. Donkey Kong: Tipping Stars” can be bought on both the Wii U and 3DS with one purchase. The company’s backlog of exalted games is just begging to be released on devices more readily available.

While Sony and Microsoft charge $50 and $60 per year for online play, respectively, Nintendo currently offers this service for free. Online

play should remain free to provide yet another incentive for gamers to own NX. Other features would add a nice bonus, such as remote play capability using the 3DS, or even tablets, phones and PCs. Most importantly, Nintendo must continue making amazing games, such as their Mario, Legend of Zelda, Fire Emblem and Super Smash Bros. titles. No other company has as many well-known and respected series as Nintendo, nor the ability to create creative new properties such as 2015’s “Splatoon.” While powerful hardware and ergonomic features are essential to coax new fans to buy the NX, those who have experienced or are willing to try Nintendo-exclusive games will continue coming back forever. However, gamers will only experience Nintendo’s next generation of games if the NX is successful enough to attract them.

Smash Bros. is done with downloadable content BOOKER MARTIN Staff Writer

“Super Smash Bros.” makes me yell at my best friend. And laugh at him, high five him, cheer with him and sulk with him. It brings eight people together in my family room, all engaged in the action taking

place on-screen. As a video game franchise, Nintendo’s “Super Smash Bros.” offers arguably the best gameplay to experience with friends and family. The game has become a worldwide phenomenon.

“Super Smash Bros. for Wii U” originally launched as the fourth installment in the series in September of 2014, but the fighting game continued receiving support until the last set of downloadable content (DLC) was released on February 3 this year. For a game to receive new content two years down the line is no small occurrence ― it is a clear indication of a rare and dedicated fanbase only a few companies like Nintendo can sustain.

VANESSA MARK

For a representation of the scope of this fanbase, look no further than its frequent tournaments and professional Smash idols who play the competitive fighting game for a living. In fact, the largest “Super Smash Bros.” tournament to date was held locally in San Jose last month.

This tournament, called GENESIS 3, brought nearly 4,000 competitors to the San Jose Convention Center to compete in three of four Smash iterations: the original “Super Smash Bros.” for the Nintendo 64, the competitive favorite “Super Smash Bros. Melee” for the Gamecube and the latest release, “Super Smash Bros. for Wii U.” Unlike previous games, however, the tournaments for Smash Wii U have been different each time. As Smash Wii U received new patches and DLC, the game benefited from a return to the spotlight. These updates provided something new, a reason to go back to the game. They proved that the game would continue to grow and evolve, and the community was challenged to evolve alongside it and adapt to every change.

While exciting, the updates made it impossible to permanently place characters in a tier list, which orders fighting characters from best to worst. The end of Smash Wii U’s DLC is bittersweet; fans have now experienced everything the game has to offer, but can finally form strategies that won’t become obsolete due

to a future update.

From high stakes tournaments to sparring with friends, it’s clear that Nintendo has created the perfect combination of fun and competition. Smash’s gameplay is easy to jump into but hard to master.

Initial glances might see a simple fighting game, yet seasoned veterans of the franchise can point out many small dynamics that bring an immense level of psychological depth to the gameplay.

Unlike many other fighting games in which successful combos are contingent on a single player’s ability to time precise inputs, Smash introduces mechanics that allow players to influence the direction of their knockback and potentially escape a string of hits. Thus, successful Smash gameplay requires players to predict or react to the inputs of their opponents and place careful thought into covering the opponent’s options. These mechanics are what keep the Smash experience fresh ― players are constantly adapting to one another and dealing with unique situations.

The end of Smash Wii U’s DLC is an important point in Smash’s history. The series now spans four games that, for all time, will remain the exact way they are today. Smash Wii U can finally be judged as a finished product, and has earned its place alongside Melee at every tournament. Moreover, the game has earned its place on every Nintendo fan’s shelf.

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The Talon March 8, 2016

Get daily updates on Eagle athletics and read the sports archives at lahstalon.org/category/sports/

Boys soccer earns promotion to top league TEDDY CHMYZ

Copy/Content Editor

A year can make a huge difference. Last season, the boys soccer team had one of the worst seasons in school history, winning only two games in league play, finishing in last place and demoted from the De Anza division to the lower El Camino division. This year, the team finished the league season undefeated, just one point out of first place, and will be returning to De Anza next year with hopes of continuing their success.

The Eagles finished with a record of 9-0-3 in league play, and 15-2-4 overall. The team also had success in both preseason and postseason play, winning the annual Christmas Cup tournament and qualifying for CCS for the

first time since 2012. The team entered CCS as the third seed, hoping to make a run into the later stages, but was eliminated in the second round in a 3-2 overtime thriller against Alvarez on Saturday, February 27.

“CCS was a great experience just knowing that we were past playing against weak teams, as only above average teams [qualified for CCS],” junior defender Albin Möllerstedt said. “It felt good to be among the top teams, and competing at a higher level than we had during the season.”

The Eagles contribute these increased successes to a change in team mentality, from a more individually focused style of play to one that encourages passing and teamwork. The team also

MICHAEL SIEFFERT

focused more on individual accountability: showing up to practice and being ready and focused on game-days.

“This team had a lot better chemistry than the previous years,” senior co-captain Matt Carroll said. “We all filled a role in the team and everyone was happy to do their job... last year a lot of the seniors tried to be the hero and score all the goals, whereas this year we had a very even spread.”

The impact of this team-based style of play can be seen on the scoresheet, as 12 different Eagles contributed at least one goal during the league season, the most of any team in the league. The large senior class on this year’s team initiated the change in attitude by involving the younger members of the team more and making sure everyone felt like a part of the team.

“Last year the seniors did not really mix themselves with the juniors and sophomores,” Albin said. “This year, the seniors really focused on getting all the younger players involved as well and we had a really great group of guys who worked well together.”

This increased camaraderie between players led to the team winning more games this year than in the last two years combined. The Eagles hope to keep that positive attitude going into next year in the De Anza division, and avoid a quick return to the lower division.

SOARING EAGLES Nicky McConnell

MICHAEL SIEFFERT

Ask the average fan to name their favorite soccer player, and you’ll hear a list of offensive superstars: the celebrity strikers, the hairgelled top scorers.

But soccer is not solely an offensive sport, and no successful team is complete without the fundamental backbone of the defense. Many of the sport’s most valuable players aren’t scoring elaborate goals — they’re preventing them.

As a starting center back, senior Nicky McConnell is a key gear in Los Altos’ superb defense, and helped lead the team to its first CCS opportunity in years.

An avid soccer player since third grade, Nicky was originally drawn to the defensive half of the field out of personal preference and practicality.

“Usually the more aggressive guys are defenders, which I like,” Nicky said. “I’m pretty tall, pretty big, which is definitely an advantage when it comes to being the first one to the ball.”

A fierce mentality is an essential part of an effective defense. Players need to be able to push and fight for the control of the ball, and throw themselves into critical

KUNAL PANDIT

Top: The boys soccer team celebrates a goal in its CCS first-round win over Westmoor. Bottom: Senior defenseman Joe Kull winds up in the Eagles’ second-round loss to Alvarez. After an undefeated season, the team will move up to the De Anza League next year.

The team will lose many key players to graduation, but it has many young players with enough experience starting for varsity to lead the team to continued success.

“We have a good core of juniors who played on varsity this year, and many good players coming up from junior varsity,” Albin said. “I think we will be able to stay up in De Anza and compete for a high spot.”

Next year’s team will face a tough challenge in attempting to place highly in the De Anza division and avoid relegation while still keeping the selfless team mentality that allowed this year’s team to succeed. Maintaining

this team-oriented attitude will be harder for the team next year, in the tougher competition that comes with returning to the De Anza division. The stronger opposition combined with the loss of many important players and leaders could impact the team, but as of now, they seem likely to continue their success in De Anza.

“It will be a tough year for them, [since] they will be losing seven starters from this year’s team,” Matt said. “However, I’m confident that the returning players will be able to step up as leaders and lead the team to another successful season.”

JIM HOLLINGWORTH, Staff Writer

tackles that often decide the outcome of the match. Soccer is not a high-scoring sport — one mistake is all it takes to tip a victory the wrong way. For Nicky, this pressure is the most challenging aspect of the sport.

“You’re the last line of defense.

If you lose the ball, and they score, that’s on you,” Nicky said. “If you mess up, even with a bad pass or a bad clear, it can cost you the game.”

Nicky laughs as he recalls his own early experience with a defensive error.

“I actually scored a couple of own-goals my freshman year,” Nicky said. “The team’s never really let me forget it.”

But that’s all in the past. By all metrics, this year has been Nicky’s strongest. He’s responsible for commanding the team’s defense with the broad perspective of a center back. The team depends on him to stop crucial opposing attacks. And he’s even scored two goals of his own, including a half-field slam that he describes as a personal highlight of the season.

Unfortunately, the Eagles suffered a second-round CCS defeat in overtime Saturday, February 27.

But Nicky doesn’t have any plans to stop playing.

“It’s very competitive, but I’m looking to play in college,” Nicky said.

“Soccer is a real passion of mine.”

Meg Enthoven Senior Meg Entoven’s fridge always contains at least 100 eggs, four gallons of milk and enough energy bars to power a small star.

This is because her family is a family of athletes, of competition and of height.

It’s natural that she’s drawn to basketball — her mother played for Stanford in college and won the NCAA championship in 1992. Meg joined her first club team in sixth grade and fell in love with the intensity of the game.

“I love the competitiveness,” Meg said. “I’m lucky enough to play at a high level of competition.”

A varsity starter for four years, the senior has found her own award-winning success in her athletic career at the school, as the recipient of an All-League First Team award and last year’s MVP. She’s also won numerous tournaments with her club team, Palo Alto Midnight.

After qualifying for CCS this year, Meg and her fellow Eagles suffered a tough loss to Silver Creek on February 27. But the achievements of her final season are a testament to the work and energy she’s put into her years of basketball: she’s scored 173 points and leads her team in steals, rebounds and blocks.

But for Meg, individual statistics are less important than the unity between herself and her fellow athletes.

KUNAL PANDIT

“I have always loved the team aspect of [basketball] and having to work together with my teammates to play well,” Meg said. “It’s very rewarding to share the victories we have together.”

Meg’s team is particularly tightknit. For her, a key element to a strong team is its camaraderie and ability to support one another.

“We’re all very close, and we do a lot to make sure that we’ve bonded off the court,” Meg said. “We go to team lunches a lot, and do other activities like team movies, secret Santa, secret snack buddies and team dance circles before every game.”

Her relationships with her school teammates will continue to be a key aspect of her athletic career, long beyond her final senior game.

“After playing with these girls for a long time I definitely feel very close to all of them,” Meg said. “I always know they have my back on and off the court.”

The Talon March 8, 2016

19

Gymnastics vaults into new season EMILY TERADA Senior Writer

With the season well underway, the gymnastics team is looking to improve its overall standing within the league. Due to the loss of many seniors to graduation last year, the team plans to recruit more underclassmen to help bolster the program.

“Our main goal is to win CCS, but a lot of our excellent gymnasts graduated,” junior Chiara Cerruti said. “We have a lot of new freshmen and sophomores that bring a lot to the varsity team. Our JV team is mainly composed of juniors, so I think we should work on getting more freshmen and sophomores

MEILIN TSAO

to get the required skills so that the team can keep doing well.”

The team was unable to get a head start on the season due to lack of availability of gym space.

Instead, the group focused on strength work as a precursor to utilizing gym equipment. “[The team] learns how to respect the space,” coach Kaylee Chee said. “Unfortunately we have to be the ones that move in and out [of the gym]. We do a lot of plyometrics [and] high-intensity workouts [to prepare].”

Since gym time is limited, the team makes the most out of the after school practices.

“There’s a lot of work involved [and] commitment and accountability are high priorities [for us],” coach Youlee Lee said.

Along with the principle of hard work, the team values what each member brings to the table. All members have a role to play and work toward improving each other.

“I think this team really works on making everyone feel included and part of a big family,” Chiara said. “I think we’ve all learned that even if you fail at something you should keep working on the skill. All the gymnasts push each other in a way that makes everyone a better leader and gymnast.”

Currently, some schools such as Palo Alto High School, Tracy High School, John C. Kimball High

COURTESY CHIARA CERRUTI

Top: Junior Izzy Estrada performs on the beam in a meet last year. Bottom: Freshman Roosa Uusitalo does a flip. Despite a lack of training space and time, the gymnastics team is ready for the upcoming season.

School and Merrill F. West are cutting their gymnastics programs due to lack of funding, among other reasons.

“We just want the program to stay running especially because a lot of schools are cutting their gymnastics programs because lack of funding... and equipment,” Chee said. “[We want] to keep the program going [because] it’s important.”

At school, the team is able to

Track looks to start season fast BOOKER MARTIN Staff Writer

No longer a no-cut sport students take to fulfill their P.E. credits, the school’s track and field team aims to set the bar high this season through successful team dynamics and individual perseverance.

Last year’s season yielded some impressive performances. The team sent several athletes, including the varsity boys 4x400 meter relay team, to the state meet. “[When] an athlete or relay team makes it to the state meet, I am so excited for them,” co-head coach Gerri Baldwin said. “From CCS only the top three athletes make it to state, [one of the] biggest meets a high school athlete will ever compete in. I think there is the potential to send three individuals and a relay team [this year].”

Track and field is one of the largest sports at Los Altos; it has a current total 165 athletes with 30 more expected to arrive once winter sports have concluded. In recent years, tryouts have been required to ensure every athlete is capable and committed.

“So far our staff is extremely happy with the athletes on the team,” Baldwin said. “Everyone is working hard, everyone is excited for the season; we have a real positive vibe.”

Last season, however, demonstrated that Los Altos still has room to improve, as neither boys nor girls varsity won league finals. Fortunately, several of 2015’s frosh-soph league victors will be bringing their talents to varsity this year, including junior sprinter and thrower Derek Mark.

Last year, Derek won the frosh-soph boys open 400, ran on the winning frosh-soph boys 4x400 relay team, placed second in discus and even joined the 4x400 relay team that went to state championships.

Another aspect of track and field competition is the limited number

of slots per varsity event, which encourages teammates to compete against each other and push each other to higher levels. With multiple strong competitors in most events, competition within the team is fierce, but still healthy.

“While the competition for a varsity spot is tight, my teammates remain sportsmanlike and friendly, no matter what result they get,” distance runner sophomore Nathan Godderis said. “We are all supportive of one another. We motivate each other in workouts… to run faster and longer.”

This team spirit helps in a sport where much of the time success needs to be attained individually.

“Track isn’t easy,” Derek said. “The most challenging part of track for me is balancing out all my events. I have many different types of events, ranging from discus to the 300 meter hurdles to the 400 meter, making it difficult for me to train for each one in addition to competing in all of them at a dual meet.”

Los Altos has many successful returning athletes among the team.

Most notably is the distance team, with two talented veteran seniors Lauren Jacob and Ben Zaeske. Between track and cross country, both have experienced running at States, and will hopefully go out with a bang during the last season of their high school athletic careers.

Unfortunately, Los Altos continues to struggle garnering enough female competitors.

“On the girls side we have a traditionally small team, so we don’t have the depth to capture as many points against teams like Los Gatos, Gunn and Palo Alto,” Baldwin said.

The boys, however, have sufficient numbers and will hopefully be a serious force to reckon with in the 2016 track and field season.

“I think the boys team has the potential to win [leagues],” Baldwin said. “We just need to keep everyone healthy and [make] sure we put everyone in the right events that will score the team the most points.”

ALLEGRA MAESO

Members of the boys and girls track and field teams run laps during practice. Both teams are optimistic for the coming season and are confident that they can achieve good results.

make use of specialized gymnastics equipment, like a spring floor, so members can work on more intricate skills as opposed to using wrestling mats.

“One of our biggest strengths is having a gym at school with good equipment,” Chiara said. “Many of the schools that we competed at last year had wrestling mats as their floor, while we have an actual spring floor. This allows us to get more skills and also... practice

more often.”

Despite the current obstacles, the team is optimistic for the coming season and hopes to create a welcoming environment that will encourage all members to improve.

“Our goal as a team would be to have everyone improve throughout the season,” senior Jessie Nelson said. “I know a lot of people are working towards new skills like back handsprings and kips.”

Baseball optimistic with new season on deck

ALLEGRA MAESO

Junior infielder Aidan Kelleher hits a ball back up the middle in a win over Monta Vista. After missing CCS last year, the baseball team is looking to bounce back this season.

JULIA SANTOS Staff Writer

Any baseball fan will tell you that the game has more parity than any other sport — it is very true that anyone can beat anyone on any given day. As of press deadline, the baseball team is 4-2, and is hoping for positive results in a league where nothing is ever certain.

“This year we look to improve on situational hitting to cash in on the opportunities we have to score runs,” junior catcher Brendon Ng said. “I think we have a much better vibe this year with a lot of team chemistry that will help us have success through our season.”

With ten seniors, eight juniors and four sophomores, the team is one of the largest in the league and includes both talent and experience. Many of the athletes on the team began off-season training during December, so going into

the current season, the Eagles are very prepared to pursure a rewarding season.

“Our team has excellent pitching and a solid defense that will give ourselves a chance to win almost every game,” Brendon said.

“It’s hard to point out a specific weakness this early in the season, but we need to do a better job staying energetic and focused throughout all seven innings.”

In their previous season, the Eagles faced many one-run losses due to their failure to capitalize on the team’s talent. They ended the season with a 14-18 record, earning seventh out of eight teams in league and failed to make CCS. “This season we want to take advantage of the talent we have on our team and make it to the CCS tournament,” Brendon said. “We want to compete and improve every game to give us a chance to reach and possibly win [CCS].”

The Talon March 8, 2016

One Sport. Two Teams. One Goal.

New era dawns as girls lacrosse enters inaugural season KEITH BOHRER Staff Writer

MICHAEL SIEFFERT

H

it the ground running, make a state“Since many of the girls played field hockThe action of implementing the girls ment and set the bar high. The girls ey, we are all very close,” Diana said. “Once we lacrosse team is certainly a step in the lacrosse team will be start playing games, that will be right direction for women’s sports and looking to accomplish these beneficial for communication.” will contribute to the strengthening of the three things in its first-ever Freshman Katie Radcliffe school’s athletic department in the short season at the school. The boys Adding a girls will have a lot of weight on her and long term. lacrosse team was added to the lacrosse team shoulders, as she is one of the “Adding a girls lacrosse team to Los Altos athletic department just a few to Los Altos only experienced lacrosse play- was an amazing idea,” Diana said. “It gives years ago and now the girls have ers on the team. She started girls the opportunity to explore a different followed in their footsteps. was an amazing playing in third grade and will sport and ramps up competition.”

The team will be led by head idea. It gives be expected to take a leaderThe team will be writing history in its coach Jessica Lappe, who is an girls the opporship role and help her team- first ever season, and will look to achieve its alumnae of the school and had tunity to explore mates learn the game. Despite goals at the same time. played lacrosse for eight years, the pressure, Katie is prepared “[Our] goals for this year are to have fun, a different sport for anything coming her way. reaching heights as high as have the girls play their best, have the girls Division II lacrosse for Re- and ramps up “[I want] to help teach the sport experience growth both on and off the gis University. Since then, competition. to some of the girls who have not field and start the foundation for this new she has coached for seven played before,” Katie said. “La- sport for the coming years ahead,” Lappe — sophomore years for both Tomacrosse is one of the fastest grow- said. “I look forward to a productive and Diana Gonzales hawk and Norcal Laing sports and I’m stoked that Los exciting first year of lacrosse at Los Altos crosse and is now ready Altos has a team [now].”

High School.” to take over the first girls lacrosse team at the school. Her experience will be vital to the team this year as many of the girls are new to the sport.

“I haven’t had a lot of experience playing lacrosse besides from eighth grade P.E. at Egan [Junior High School],” sophomore Diana Gonzalez said. “This is a brand new team with many people new to the sport, [but] in my opinion we will get the hang of it pretty soon.”

At the very least, the team will have chemistry, as a large portion of the players come from the field hockey team that competed in the fall. The roster includes a mixture of both upper and lower classmen, which ALLEGRA MAESO is a promising sign for the future seasons of girls lacrosse. That being said, there is Left: Senior Joceline Montebello looks for the ball in practice. Above: Senior Kyra Kliman still a difference between the sports, and the manuevers around a defender. Despite a relatively inexperienced squad, the girls lacrosse team hopes to do well this season. girls will need time to adapt.

Boys lacrosse focuses on fundamentals for success ERIC THIEM Senior Writer

As of press deadline, the varsity boys lacrosse team is 1-1, with the games being polar opposites. The first against Newark Memorial was taken by Los Altos in a crushing 15-5 victory, while in the second, the Eagles were defeated by Saint Francis with a final score of 14-3. The team has adopted a new practice routine this season, so these erratic scores may be an indicator of future performance if this new program is unsuccessful.

The new preseason practice routine allots more time and effort on refining the team’s ball handling and coordination, in hopes that this emphasis will boost the boys’ performance and win percentage. Game knowledge and play making is currently taking a backseat as the team hopes these talents will be developed more naturally over the course of the season.

“In terms of stick skills, I don’t think we’re that bad,” senior defender Stephen Foulke said.

“But since we focused a lot of time developing those skills, we sort of neglected going over plays and game time scenarios. I think it’s easier to get the plays down than it is to get the skills down, so it shouldn’t hurt us all that much.”

Similarly, offensive focus has trumped over defensive training, playing to the strengths and leadership skills of the boys, and bringing out the best of their talents.

“I believe that focusing on offense as a whole instead of individual plays has been a great choice.” senior defender Cole Botsford said. “While learning our offense, we have had different players implementing play calls, which makes our offense more versatile than learning a few complex plays.”

However, after many of the older, more experienced players graduated last year, the varsity team has been left with many new faces. The relatively young team has new players of all different skill levels forcing the

team to make adjustments to their playstyle.

Nevertheless, the team is optimistic that through the training of the preseason these newcomers will become valuable assets to the group.

“Many of our players are new to the game, so that falls more on the weakness side, but that’s a short term problem,” Stephen said. “Our defense is strong and we have a deep bench.”

Obviously, many of the boys dream of becoming CCS Champions and proving themselves the best of the best by the end of the season.

“We are working toward everyone [getting] better throughout the season, but mostly we want to win league and all of our non-league games,” Cole said.

No matter the outcome, however, the members of the lacrosse team will be proud as long as they play a good season.

“We decided to define success this year as ‘unselfishly giving our best everyday,’” Stephen said. “Coach [Kevin Arabejo] decided that’s our motto, so if we do that then we are satisfied.”

ALLEGRA MAESO

Junior Brendan Radcliffe catches the ball in practice. The lacrosse team hopes that by being fundamentally sound, it will have a successful season.

GRAPHIC BY ANNE SCHILL ; TALON FILE PHOTOS