The Talon | Issue 7 | April 25, 2017 The Talon

Los Altos High School, Los Altos, CA ■ April 25, 2017 ■ Volume XXXII, Issue 7

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“ INSIDE THIS ISSUE

District enacts new program to help tackle teacher housing AVI VARGHESE RACHEL LU JAVIN POMBRA

Arts & Culture Editor Senior Writer Staff Writer

YOLANDA SPURA

FINDING THE CURE

Senior Margo Lusinchi has dedicated her ASI project to growing cancer cells that could potentially help her own younger sister’s rare form of cancer. Features, 9

Conservatives can be snowflakes too Read two Talon writers’ perspectives on what Tomi Lahren getting fired from “The Blaze” says about the Republican Party.

Opinions, 6

Navigating the generation gap Check out sophomore Emma Kwan’s story about her relationship with her grandfather and the disconnect of a generation gap. Opinions, 7

A Q&A on conservatism Eitan Weiner talks about his brand of conservatism and life in Trump-era California. Arts & Culture, 12

“Damn.”

Kendrick Lamar left fans begging for more after “To Pimp a Butterfly” and “untitled unmastered,” and has burst back onto the scene with a new classic.

Arts & Culture, 13

Junior Alex Reefls shuts out the baseball competition

Junior Alex Reefls leads the league in both homeruns and strike-outs.

Sports, 15

UPCOMING EVENTS April 29

LA Live May 1

First Day of AP Exams May 5

Red Cross Blood Drive May 13

Senior Prom May 17

May 18

First Night of Dance Show Yearbook Distribution 2 5 6

Features In-Depth Arts & Culture Sports

L G B T +

AT

Graduation Seating Sign-Up

News Editorial Opinions

For one Los Altos teacher, “home” consists of a garage and a small cottage, about the size of a portable classroom.

“My house is slightly larger [than one of the school’s portables],” the teacher said. “[My wife and I] had to pay $2,500 a month for a house where our bedroom was literally a garage. They carpeted it, but we had to hang our clothes on these garage door rails. [Including other living costs,] that’s $30,000 a year we were paying to live in a garage.”

The teacher, who asked to stay anonymous because he hasn’t told his students that he is leaving, plans to leave the district and find a home elsewhere due to the Bay Area’s high housing expenses. He cites the required 20 percent down payment for a house as the crux of the issue, not

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the money required for a a community fund from local investors. In return, mortgage.

“Down payment is [one investors and Landed of] the main issues,” the profit by taking 25 perc e n t teacher said. of the “If somehome’s one were increase like, ‘Here’s My house is slightly or de$ 2 5 0 , 0 0 0 , larger [than one of crease you can the school’s porin value go buy a tables]... [My wife within 10 $1.2 milyears — lion house,’ and I] had to pay a bet by people who $2,500 a month for Landed are reason- a house where our that they ably well- bedroom was literwill benpaid could efit from afford the ally a garage.

— LAHS teacher who h o u s payment on requested anonymity ing apthat [house] preciaprobably, if tion. Teachers who buy they have a spouse.”

To help teachers put a house through Landed down that $250,000, the will have those 10 years MVLA School District to sell off the house or rerecently launched a col- finance their mortgage to give investors their share laborative program with and repay the original inLanded, a startup that asvestment. sists teachers with down “This allows our staff to payments, a portion of the get a foot in the door and home’s price that buyers purchase a property, and must put down before they have 10 years to live in it to see it appreciate,” Superincan receive a mortgage.

To do this, Landed con- tendent Jeff Harding said. tributes half of a house’s “[Then] they can either redown payment through finance or sell it.”

lahs

In order to access the up to $120,000 contribution which each participant can access, Landed requires teachers to be able to contribute half of the payment, to buy within a designated area determined by the company, and to have taught with the district for two years and be committed to teach for two more.

These eligibility requirements aim to ensure stability for community member’s investments.

For a homebuyer with a teacher’s salary, down payments pose a significant threat. With a Santa Clara County home’s median listing price reaching $889,000, according to Zillow Research as of April 19, a 20 percent down payment would cost $177,800. Due to the average teacher’s salary, which was $103,201 for the 20152016 school year, history teacher Marta Sakowicz feels that the combination makes buying a local home unfeasible.

“Landed”

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Aashna’s Got Talent COURTESY AASHNA DESAI

Aashna Desai and her dance troupe, Sangeet Dance Company, once auditioned for “America’s Got Talent.” Aashna has been competing with the Sangeet Dance Company since second grade. northwestern Indian dance inADRIENNE MITCHEL volving decorative sticks called Staff Writer dandiyas, since second grade.

In the Los Angeles Convention No stranger to competition, Center, a huddle of ten girls from Aashna had grown up performSangeet Dance Company dressed ing with her Indian dance group up in traditional Indian clothing all over the United States. Howand jewelry prepare themselves for ever, there is one major distincthe performance of a lifetime. As tion between this audition and their voices crescendo with each the many others she has been a repetition of “S-S-A S A N G E E part of — a couple months prior T,” the good-luck chant they have to this audition, Aashna fraccheered at every competition to- tured her foot. gether, they realize that in a couIn November, Aashna attended ple of minutes, the moment that a five-hour dance class right after they’ve been working toward for a long practice of Los Altos varsity the past three months will arrive. field hockey. While dancing, she Among these ten girls audition- landed on her foot improperly, reing for “America’s Got Talent” is sulting in a stress fracture. sophomore Aashna Desai, who has been mastering garba-raas, a “Aashna” continues on page 8

Kim Cave retires

COURTESY KIM CAVE

JULIA SANTOS RACHEL LU Sports Editor Senior Writer

After working as athletic director and P.E. teacher at Los Altos for 11 years, Kim Cave will retire at the end of the 2016-17 school year.

“I thoroughly enjoyed teaching P.E. and being athletic director full time,” Cave said. “I’ve really enjoyed the athletes, the staff and the camaraderie throughout the years.

It’s been a lot of fun.”

Along with managing department logistics, coaches and student-athletes, Cave spent much of her 11 years innovating new rules eventually adopted by the league and district. According to Principal Wynne Satterwhite, Cave transformed the program when she first began and brought it up to the next level.

“We’ve added sports under her,” Satterwhite said. “We’ve added coaches under her, [and] we have built facilities with her help. It’s been an amazing ride, it’s been so much fun.”

Cave’s retired to spend more time with her family and hopes to move in with her son in Las Vegas. Her husband, Ralph Cave, who had previously worked as an assistant principal at Los Altos, retired five years ago and spends his free time travelling or with family.

“He’s… been doing all of these things that he wishes I could be part of,” Cave said. “After I retire, we’re actually moving to Las Vegas, which is where my son and his wife and their family all live — we’re all going to live down there.”

Cave’s career as athletic director is defined by a litany of achievements. To help amplify athletes’ voices, Cave helped create studentathlete forms to evaluate coaches at the end of the season. In 2012, she added boys lacrosse to Los Altos’ roster of sports, followed by boys volleyball in 2013 and girls golf and girls lacrosse in 2016. In 2016, she helped with the construction of the new fitness center and new workout equipment.

“I just want to see our program and our athletes be successful, so I kind of go above and beyond to do whatever I can do to make that happen,” Cave said. “I feel that I want to give back to the athletes and their families that put so much into making the school and representing us — it’s such a great thing.”

“Cave”

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The Talon April 25, 2017

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

Latino Awards ceremony honors cultural and academic dedication EMMA KWAN Staff Writer

On Thursday, March 30, Los Altos honored high-achieving Latino students’ dedication to school and their community through cultural performances, speeches and awards at the annual Latino Academic Achievement Recognition Awards in the Eagle Theater.

The theme of the night was “capeless heroes,” and students

showed appreciation for their parents’ support of their education. Organized by Latino Student Union (LSU), the ceremony provided an opportunity for Latino students, many of whom will be first in their families to attend college, to be honored.

“My parents immigrated from Mexico 18 years ago…[and] I come from a low-income community, but despite that, [my parents] always taught me to believe in

myself,” LSU President senior Yesenia Gutierrez said. “Having the support of my parents has definitely guided me throughout my four years at Los Altos. They don’t know much about high school, but…[it has] been a lot of help just knowing that I’m getting their support.”

The awards recognized obstacles that Latino students face during their high school careers through speakers of vari-

KATIE KLEIN

Latino Student Union dancers and a traditional Mexican folklore group dance at the annual Latino Awards, which took place this year on Thursday, March 30. The event recognizes Latino students’ dedication to school and their community, and also serves as a cultural celebration.

ous backgrounds. One speaker, helped organize events in celebraLos Altos alumna Dalia Gamez, tion of Cinco de Mayo and Día de spoke about the challenges of Los Muertos. the political climate, with many “I take a lot of pride and joy in immigrants facing threats of de- being part of [this] community,” portation. Gamez’s experience as Yesenia said. “Receiving this award an immigrant fueled her passion felt really nice… because I never to succeed in both high school did the work that I’ve done just to and college, and she emphasized get recognized, I did it because I the importance of overcoming wanted to help LSU. I wanted to fears and celebrating successes be part of the community and conin higher education. tribute to the community.”

“Part of the Latino Awards is The awards also served as a culrecognizing that tural celebration, many first-generawith LSU dancers and tion students do go a traditional Mexican through hardships,” Receiving this folklore dance group Yesenia said. “But award felt really performing. To sophthey’re still succeed- nice... because omore Julissa Hering in their classes, I never did the nandez Garduza, the they’re still working awards represented in their communi- work I’ve done an opportunity to ties… and they’re just to get recog- showcase her culture still being leaders nized, I did it bethrough dance. and good scholars. cause I wanted “Dance has been The Latino coma big part of my to help LSU. munity is about life and a big part — Latino Student Union families, sticking of Mexican tradiPresident and MVLA together and getting tion,” Julissa said.

Academic Achievement through hardships.”

“I feel really proud Scholarship recipient Los Altos teachers of myself that I was Yesenia Gutierrez and administration able to learn it… and selected Yesenia as show my family evthe recipient of the MVLA Aca- erything that I have learned. My demic Achievement Scholarship, parents are always pushing me… which helps support a student’s to be a good student and to go college tuition. The scholarship to college. They have helped me recognizes Yesenia’s commitment [continue] the tradition of dance to the Latino and Los Altos com- and that has helped me be a betmunity. As LSU President, Yesenia ter person.”

District News Briefing Margarita Navarro hired as new Associate Superintendent On Wednesday, April 5, the MVLA Board of Trustees unanimously approved Margarita Navarro as the new Associate Superintendent of Educational Services.

Starting Saturday, July 1, Navarro will oversee the district’s curriculum and instruction.

“I relish the opportunity to work closely with teachers and school leaders to develop a common vision for student learning,” Navarro said in a district press release. “I strive for

a common vision across schools that supports talented teachers in meeting the diverse needs of students.”

Navarro previously served for seven years as an assistant principal in the San Mateo Union High School District. In her role, she developed class schedules, oversaw curriculum development and course alignment and administered standardized tests.

“With a broad range of experience in curriculum, testing and

personnel, Margarita was a stand-out candidate who I am confident will be a highly capable administrator and valuable member of our district team,” Associate Superintendent of Human Resources Eric Goddard said in the press release.

Navarro replaced former Associate Superintendent Brigitte Sarraf, who retired on Saturday, December 31, 2016 after working at school district for more than 50 years.

With a broad range of experience in curriculum, testing and personnel, Margarita was a stand-out candidate who I am confident will be a highly capable administrator and valuable member of our district team.

PHOTO COURTESY CYNTHIA GREAVES

Margarita Navarro was hired as the new Associate Superintendent of Educational Services to replace former Associate Superintendent Brigitte Sarraf. Sarraf retired after serving the district for almost 50 years.

— Associate Superintendent of Human Resources Eric Goddard

District plans to set new fiveyear goals As the 2017-2018 school year arching goals, specific action plans comes to a close, the MVLA which are and items that you review School Board has begun creating every year to keep the organization its next five-year goal plan. The moving in a direction.” school board plans to add two These updated goals have yet to goals — improving be finalized, and the student wellness and school board is still improving facilidrawing input from ties — to the current It’s a very efthe community. Befour of aligning cur- fective process fore the general goals riculums, maintain- to have genor action plan are fiing fiscal stability, nalized, the school eral overarchimproving student board will receive academic perfor- ing goals [and] feedback and revise mance and enhanc- specific action the drafts as necessary. ing opportunities plans [to] keep “Ultimately, this and achievements of the organizawill be voted on in a students in STEM. public meeting with According to Su- tion moving in a public comment, and perintendent Dr. Jeff direction. none of this is done Harding, both yearly behind closed doors,” — Superintendent Dr. Jeff Harding and long term goals Harding said. provide momentum Every five or six for the district to years, the district continue to improve. Paired with creates overarching goals which action plans, these goals create the they hope to achieve throughout pathway for the district’s future. the half decade period. The dis“Tremendous progress has been trict also revises more detailed made in achieving those four goals and specific action plans yearly [for this year],” Superintendent Dr. to meet the goals. Certain yearly Jeff Harding said. “If you look at goals, such as academic improveacademic achievements for stu- ments, are assessed through standents, the results are consistently dardized test scores, while others better each year. It's a very effec- are observed qualitatively, such as tive process to have general over- student wellness.

The Talon April 25, 2017

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First-ever Los Altos TEDx sets platform for future talks YALDA KHODADAD Staff Writer

During the week of March 27, the TEDx Club offered five students and seven adults the opportunity to create and present a TED Talk with TEDxLosAltosHigh. As the first TEDx event to occur at Los Altos, future planners aim to learn from this year and build on the event in coming years.

This year, many TEDx talks saw a lack of attendance. Junior Emilio Sanchez-Harris, who will help

lead the club next year, believes this was due to the way the talks were laid out. The TEDx club occurred during two school periods at a time, but many students may have prioritized their classes over attending the talks.

“A lot of people that I asked said that they couldn’t come because they had obligations for [a class] so they couldn’t make it to the entire block,” Emilio said.

To improve upon TEDx next year, Emilio hopes to break up the schedule to give students more

flexibility in choosing which talks to attend. He also hopes to increase publicity for the talks.

“We were thinking that if we break it up by period, instead of groups of two periods, hopefully we can have more people attend, spread more ideas and have a bigger, better event,” Emilio said. “We also need more time to spread the word, promote TEDx and get a lot of people there.”

Despite low attendance levels, speakers and audience members alike believed that TEDx’s oppor-

PHOTO COURTESY LINE AMALIE CHRISTENSENF

After cleaning up for the first-ever TEDxLosAltosHigh, four juniors (left to right: Julia Santos, Emilio SanchezHarris, Eric Warmoth and Lisa Deng) hold up the TEDx letters. While the event received low attendance, audience members and speakers alike believe in its importance in future years.

tunities should continue in follow- the adult speakers were less caping years. Some of the lack of at- tivating,” senior Brendon Ng said. tendance could be attributed to the “I had more of an interest in my novelty of the program, and those peers and what they had to say.”

Junior Nadia Ghaffari, whose who attended believed in the importance of TEDx as an opportunity passions have pushed her to explore the field of to hear others’ voices. teen mental health, “I felt that this year felt that she was was definitely a great able to build on her kickstarter for the I felt that [this interests during the future TEDx events year] was deficourse of her inat Los Altos High nitely a great volvement in TEDx. School,” fundraising “For a long time, manager Justin Kram- kickstarter for I’ve always wanted er said. “For a first the future TEDx to do a TEDx talk,” run-through I think it events... We had Nadia said. “I had an went pretty well. We a few difficulthat I wanted to had a few difficulties, ties... but it’s the idea talk about… it was a few speakers had kinda built up over some issues and we first TEDx event a longer period of didn't have the high- that Los Altos time. Throughout est attendance, but has ever done. my sophomore year it’s the first TEDx...

— TEDx fundraising I was really interevent that Los Altos manager Justin Kramer ested in psycholhas ever done.” ogy and… how our “I definitely think that the school should continue minds work, especially as teenbecause it allows students to agers… TEDxLosAltos gave me be creative about what they’re the perfect opportunity to get inthinking about, and giving volved and share my ideas.”

Similarly, Richard used his people their own experience,” student speaker senior Richard speech to expound on ideas he had already written about. His Wang said.

While audience members be- talk explored the usage of physics lieved the student talks provided in everyday life and how it could an opportunity to learn more be applied to mundane things.

“I just had an idea one day, and about their classmates, some mentioned that the adult presen- I wrote it on a blog on some math tations and videos piqued less stu- website,” Richard said. “I just thought it was a really interesting dent interest.

“I really enjoyed the student idea, and I wanted to share. It was presentations, but the videos that literally like back-of-the-envelope. they showed on the screens and It just popped up."

Los Altos to create design-based engineering class next year Three Dimensional Design and Prototyping. Eventually, they hope this new class will line up with the current curriculum developed by Starting next school year, Los PLTW so that students can take Altos will pilot a new engineering it at the same time as other engicourse called Three Dimension- neering courses.

“We want to use the same style al Design and Prototyping. The class, developed by math teacher and hands-on approach, but it’s Adam Anderson and physics going to be different from PLTW teacher Stephen Hine, will teach because PLTW is very strict students to use machinery to de- about what you teach,” Hine sign structures, buildings and said. “We’ll do a lot of similar stuff, but it will be more open other projects.

Unlike engineering courses at for us to decide the details. We want to get a lot Los Altos, Anderson of student input, and Hine want to inwhat they’re curicorporate artistic eleous about, what they ments and make the Our goal is a want to build and course accessible to STEAM-based what they want to all types of students. learn how to design.”

Three Dimensional class — not just Hine and AnderDesign and Prototyp- a science-based son both completed ing will give students or math-based their teaching crehands-on experience — but to also dentials at UC Santa with professional Barbara and were inengineering tools bring in the art spired by the nearby and the ability to use aspects, so that creativity to build what you design engineering academy at Dos Pueblos and design their own and build is atHigh School to creproducts. tractive. ate a workshop space “Hine and I will try — math teacher where students can to teach the basic asAdam Anderson use their imaginapects of design,” Antion to create their derson said. “What own products. With makes things attractive? The artistic part. Our goal is grants from the MVLA Foundaa STEAM-based class — not just tion and Google, the teachers science-based or math-based — obtained advanced workshop but to also bring in the art aspects, tools and machines, such as 3D so that what you design and build printers and drills, to bring their is attractive, and people will want idea to fruition.

“We want [students] to be able to see it or use it.”

Anderson and Hine want to to have a problem, conceptualize build off of what Project Lead the an idea and then create that in a Way (PLTW) is teaching students virtual 3D space,” Hine said. “Inin other engineering classes but stead of just trying to put things give students more freedom in together, they actually have to terms of design and projects with have a plan for how they’re going

HALEY ECKER Staff Writer

to do it first and then actually put it together.”

Class time will be spent constructing the products and doing stress tests. For homework, students will research an assigned problem pertaining to projects at hand and potential ideas to be used to solve this problem, and once each project is complete, students will come together to compare and discuss their products. While students will have a set of guidelines, they will have to use their imagination to design their product.

“What you do within those guidelines is up to your team and

creativity and practicality will be graded at the end,” Anderson said.

“Learning how to use real tools to build real products is something that is not really offered at many high schools anymore so we’re going to try to mix the design and build [aspects].”

One possible project for the class would be to design a chair, which according to Hine, is not as simple a task as it may sound. Students would use geometry, physics and design principles to create their final product.

“Some students when you first [talk about making chairs] will be like ‘Why would I want to build

a chair?’” Hine said. “Well, think about all the chairs you sit in.

They’re actually designed a very specific way and it’s hard to make a chair be effective and actually be structurally sound.”

Anderson and Hine encourage all students to apply for this class. They hope to have students with different levels of engineering experience play a role in managing the class and the projects assigned.

“This is a true pilot,” Anderson said. “We don’t know exactly what the final product is going to look like. We have ideas that we’re going to try.”

WIKIMEDIA COMMONS USER JONATHAN JUURSEMA

A Macbook runs 3D printing software next to a 3D printer currently printing an object. Next year, Los Altos will offer the Three Dimensional Design and Prototyping course, where students will design and construct objects in response to given parameters.

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The Talon April 25, 2017

Housing CONTINUED FROM THE FRONT PAGE

Why it’s better to buy than to rent 1. Home buyers can pay off their mortgages at a constant amount each month. This creates a predictable payment, unlike rent.

“It’s really hard to save up enough for a down payment while paying rent at the same time,” Sakowicz said. “So, theoretically I think I could own a house and Landed at the MVHS school library pay mortgage, but gathering up on Monday, March 27.

“When you look at the longevthat [down payment] is really difficult if you’re shelling out $2,000 ity or the health of the district over time, we can’t dollars a month as attract and retain well as [paying] for the best quality peoeverything [else] This allows our ple if we can’t mainyou need.” tain our status,” While the anony- staff to get a Harding said at the mous teacher is foot in the door meeting. “[And] we leaving the district, and purchase are only as good as he believes Landed the people we hire could help teachers a property and have 10 years to and get to stay with in the future. us, so housing is a “[Landed] is defi- live in it to see it real issue.” nitely helping to ad- appreciate.

Spanish teacher dress the problem, — Superintendent Robyn Hughes is because it takes a Dr. Jeff Harding optimistic about long time to save Landed’s ability to that much money,” the teacher said. “Unless someone help teachers.

“I’m excited about it, and I has somebody helping them, their family has money or they have think it’s a nice opportunity for stock they are selling, it’s hard to teachers to be able to purchase come up with a big chunk of money homes in this area where the cost of living is extremely exlike that.”

Harding, who spearheaded the pensive even though they are program, explained the importance competing with offers from buyof alleviating the down payment is- ers with much higher salaries,” sue from the district’s perspective Hughes said. “The investors are at an informational meeting about certainly going to make a lot of

Cave

CONTINUED FROM THE FRONT PAGE

According to P.E. teacher Kiernan Raffo, Cave spent hours of dedication pushing beyond her job description. She looked to attend all games, whether they were home or away, and observed practices periodically to check up on players and coaches. For her, many work days end late at night.

“The amount of hours she put in…”

Raffo said. “She works at 6 a.m, and she doesn’t leave until 8, 9, 10 p.m. depending on the night. She goes above and beyond the call of duty.

That’s not in the job description that she needs to put so many hours in, but she’s so passionate about it.”

Cave’s work at Los Altos has also led to new league-wide policies. As athletic director, Cave stepped up enforcement of a mandatory oneweek athlete break policy, and en-

2. The money you spend on your mortgage goes toward owning your house. With rent, your money goes to your landlord, and you don’t ever gain property value.

3. The part of your monthly payment that doesn’t go toward down payment, or interest, gets written off your taxes. Rent, however, is not tax-deductible.

money off of us, but without payment feels insurmountable... them, many of us wouldn’t be To buy even a one-bedroom conable to buy homes.” do in this area is going to [require In terms of assuaging teachers’ close] to a $90,000 down payment fears, Stanford University’s suc- with Landed. I cannot just come cess in helping their professors up with $90,000 in cash ever with a similar model lends Landed working here.” credibility in their eyes.

English teacher Carrie Abel “One reason we feel a little bet- agreed that Landed is a step in ter about it is that it's not a new the right direction for the district, idea,” Sakowicz said. but she cautioned “They got the idea against the idea from Stanford, which I’m very proud of that it would sinhelps its professors gle-handedly solve the district for live in the area, so teacher housing isthat gives me a little doing this... It’s sues. more confidence in a really cool first “I’m very proud of it. It wasn't just like, step. I just hope the district for do'Hey, we got this new ing this,” Abel said. that there are startup idea, let's try “It is an awesome other steps also. opportunity that reit out.’”

For many teachally shows that they — English teacher Carrie Abel ers, however, the value teachers and cost of a down paythat they're doing ment, even in a partnership with something. It's a really cool first Landed, feels unrealistic. step. I just hope that there are “The idea of home-buying feels other steps also.” more accessible, which is reFor now, many teachers will ally cool,” history teacher Megan begin looking into housing posBlach said. “But at the same time, sibilities they hadn’t considered still saving 10 percent for a down before. It’ll be a matter of years

sured that all coaches were aware anticipates things before they hapof the rule when deciding the prac- pen, she makes sure that problems tice schedule. While controversial don’t even occur. So most people don’t realize all of the at first, the decision work that happens proved beneficial and behind the scenes other schools around to make sure that it the area implemented You don’t find very many looks and moves as similar rules. smoothly as it does.”

“We looked at [stu- people like While Satterdents’] holidays, [be- Kim Cave. She white and Cave, cause] people were cares, she’s with the help of having voluntary open coaches and stugyms and practices,” willing to do the dent athletes, are Cave said. “But they work and she’s already in the proweren’t really volun- willing to put tary, because if you the time. I’m go- cess of hiring the new athletic diweren’t there, you rector, Cave’s conweren’t playing in ing to miss her. tributions to Los games. We said, ‘Let’s — Principal Wynne Satterwhite Altos will be hard take a week, and let’s to forget. just give it back to “I just think this is a huge loss the family,’ which coaches actually started liking too because they had for Los Altos,” Satterwhite said.

“Not that people aren’t replacefamilies as well.”

According to Satterwhite, Cave spe- able, but you don’t find very cializes in noticing details like this to many people like Kim Cave. She cares, she’s willing to do the work improve student-athletes’ lives.

“I don’t even think words can de- and she’s willing to put the time. scribe all that she has done,” Satter- Those are unique qualities, and white said. “She’s always there, she I’m going to miss her. We all are.”

PHOTO COURTESY ELLEN ROPER

Athletic Director Kim Cave (left) poses with senior water polo players during Senior Night last year. Cave will retire at the end of this year after serving as athletic director and P.E. teacher for 11 years.

*

* assuming value of house increases by hypothetical value GRAPHICS BY ASHLEY CAI AND ANNE SCHILL

before some teachers reach the salary and the amount of financial security they’ll need to make these decisions. In the meantime, they’ll wait to hear the feedback of teachers who are already in the position to purchase homes.

“I'm considering it at this point, so I'm getting information now and just trying to see where it goes,” Sakowicz said. “The company is pretty new. Maybe by the time I become a permanent employee, it'll look better or look worse, so I'm just checking it out.”

City begins downtown envisioning with community the future.

“This inauguration was meant to spark the entire outreach and On Tuesday, April 18, the City of engagement process for downLos Altos hosted a pop-up work- town visioning,” architectural shop at the Veterans Community firm Plan to Place Principal Dave Plaza on the corner of Main and Javid said. “The event was meant State Street downtown, launch- to get people out to experience the ing the community engagement downtown while they provided us portion of the downtown vision- with direct feedback on what they currently like about ing process. Los Aldowntown… and tos hosted the event what they want the from 5 to 7 p.m. downtown to be in with the aid of their The event was the future.” consultant team, meant to get With a high turnout comprised of archiof an estimated 150 tectural and engi- people out to experience the people, the consulneering firms. tant team will syntheIntended to downtown while size the community shape a roadmap they provided feedback and search for the future of for any initial trends downtown, the us with direct in how the public downtown vision- feedback about wants downtown to ing process will re- what they curdevelop in the future. sult in a long-term rently like and After more commumaster plan dewhat they want nity engagement sestailing how much sions, the consultants development will the downtown to will narrow down be allowed in the be in the future. priorities even more future. As a part — Plan to Place before creating policy of the process, the Principal Dave Javid recommendations for city seeks to engage City Council. the community “We’ll take the data to find comto take input from residents, which will hopefully solve any monalities and find what goals are rising above the surface, then future development issues.

At the event, the consultant create a list of priorities based on firms propped up poster boards that,” Javid said. “Further down with maps of downtown Los Al- the road, we'll bring those prioritos on them and asked residents ties back to folks and hone in on who passed by to answer ques- the ones that are the most prevations by placing Post-it notes on lent and the ones we want to focus the boards. Questions ranged on in the visioning process.”

Future pop-up workshops will from gauging current community opinion to determining commu- take place on Thursday, May 4, at nity expectations, including what the Farmers Market on State Street location downtown residents from 4 to 8 p.m. and Wednesday, visited the most and why, how May 17, at the Los Altos Library residents traveled downtown and from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. and at what level of development resi- Grant Park Community Center dents wanted for downtown in from 1 to 4 p.m.

DANNY VESURAI Staff Writer

The Talon April 25, 2017

5

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

Making “Communications Week” into a conversation The leaders of LAHS Communications Week should make changes in their efforts to come through to students

In the wake of sexual assault cases in the community, the school’s Communication Week was a long-awaited breath of fresh air. From a student perspective, seeing the school open up the conversation on sexual assault and online safety was reassuring, and the good intentions behind the action were clear. However, when it came to the execution of the activities, there were clear hits and misses.

Of the two main activities organized for the week, the Consent Workshop hosted in the theater was clearly more successful than the Digital Citizenship Presentation in the large gym. While the general setup was similar for both, there were important distinctions in the presentation styles and overall goals of each that ultimately led to their success or failure.

One notable contrast between the two was the understanding of differences and limitations the presenters had going into the activity. Anea Bogue, who is the founder and director of three empowerment programs, REALgirl, REALwoman and REALboy, led the Consent Workshop. The difference between her presentation and that of the Los Altos Police Department (which gave the Digital Citizenship Presentation) is that she understood her audience and the fact that they’d already spent a fair amount of

201 Almond Ave., Los Altos, CA April 25, 2017 Volume XXXII, Issue 7 Editor-In-Chief Emily Aoki Managing Editors Hanna Khosravi (Print) Jessica King (Print) Spencer Dembner (Web) News Editor Alex Wong Opinions Editor Akhil Jakatdar Features Editor Tinomuda Tugwete In-Depth Editor Miranda Li Entertainment Editor Avi Varghese Sports Editor Julia Santos Media Editor Andrew Young Copy/Content Editors Teddy Chmyz, Savita Govind Business Manager Cameron Avery Senior Writers Anisha Desai, Rachel Lu, Booker Martin Staff Writers Cameron Avery, Ross Avery, Maddie Chu, Priya Dixit, Haley Ecker, Nathan Godderis, Brian Huebner, Sana Khader, Yalda Khodadad, Emma Kwan, Avery Luke, Alex Luna, Emily MezaPerez, Adrienne Mitchel, Javin Pombra, Jaclyn Saik, Yolanda Spura, Emma Van Geuns, Danny Vesurai, Madison Woo, Justin Yu Photographers Emily Aronovitz, Francesca Fallow, Katie Klein, Natalie Munguia, Kunal Pandit, Thara Salim, Kimia Shahidi, Michael Sieffert, Yolanda Spura

time exposed to the issues she was discussing. The Digital Citizenship Presentation, on the other hand, didn’t seem to do so — some students even joked that the “only new thing they learned” about was a passwordprotected smartphone application that stores photos but is disguised as a calculator.

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Bogue seemed to be aware of than we are and possess wisdom the fact that students may know that we do not, and therefore a lot about sex and relation- value their guidance. But when ships already, and was therefore it comes down to it, we just want able to focus on building upon to have an honest conversation that knowledge and delving fur- with them, without anyone tryther into issues like consent that ing to fit into a mold that they most students are already famil- don’t. We may be the same at the core, but we iar with. The Postill have plenlice Department ty of differences, is probably very and an adult tryaware that stu- While we are different ing to be a teendents are famil- in age and experience ager won’t have iar with the dig- different things on more success ital world and talking to high social media, yet a daily basis, a highschool students their presenta- school student is, at than an adult tion didn’t recog- the core, as much a who remains true nize that at all. As person as any 30, 40 to their own gena result, the preeration. sentation became or 50 year old is.... an The issue with something of a adult trying to be a the Digital Citijoke to students teenager won’t have zenship presenwho felt that the more success talking tation was that officers were “tryto high school stuit felt more like a ing too hard” stereotypical lecwith their use of dents than an adult ture from a parent emojis and car- who remains true to than a productoons and other their own generation. tive discussion. tactics that were While the Conaimed specifically at a younger age group but sent Workshop wasn’t extremely interactive, it still felt like a looked truly out of place.

While we are different in age discussion because it appeared and experience different things to students that Bogue had takon a daily basis, a high-school en the time to understand their student is, at the core, as much perspective rather than creata person as any 30, 40 or 50 year ing a general lecture meant for old is. We are not a different any audience at the most baspecies that processes informa- sic level possible. In the future, tion exclusively in emojis, nor the school and those presenting do we look down upon adults on important topics like these who aren’t up to date with Snap- should utilize student consultachat or the latest memes circling tion and get feedback from stuthe Instagram community. It’s dent test groups in advance in quite the opposite — we don’t order to help guarantee effective expect the LAPD to know ev- presentations.

It’s great that the school has erything Generation Z, because they aren’t Generation Z. How- opened up the conversation on ever, we also understand that sexual consent and digital safethey are far more experienced ty; now let’s make the most of it.

Graphic Artists Ashley Cai, Carissa Lee, Anne Schill Videographers Arjin Unlu, Bobak Afshari, Britt deVisser, Danny Nguyen Adviser Michael Moul

POLICIES 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 Cameron Avery, Teddy Chmyz, Spencer Dembner, Sana Khader, Hanna Khosravi, Michael Sieffert and Andrew Young.

ADVERTISE & SUBSCRIBE Send advertisement and subscription inquiries to Cameron Avery at business@lahstalon.org.

Talon Supporters Honorary Pulitzers Kazuo Aoki, Aloma Avery, Perry Dembner, Vaishali and Sanjay Dixit, Kendall Goto, Fred and Flora Khosravi, Andi Lou, Chung and Janice Park, The Sullivan Family

Silver Supporters Wendy Aoki, Zhuang Qi Dai, Derek Hua, Shawn Hui, Vicente Luna, The Martin Family, Jasmeen Pombra

6

The Talon April 25, 2017

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

Conservatives can be snowflakes too ernment should decide what women do with their bodies,” Lahren said on “The View.” “I’m Sports Editor Senior Writer for limited government, so stay out of my guns, and you can stay Old, white, angry and male is out of my body as well.”

Three days after Lahren made how we tend to describe most conservatives, but 24-year-old these statements, TheBlaze announced that Tomi Lahren is “Tomi” would be breaking that mold. temporarily susWith her Barbiepended.

Since esque appearance Beck’s intolerthen, Lahren has and fiery attitude, ance of Lahren’s filed a wrongful Lahren gives consertermination lawvative media a new pro-choice comsuit against the face. Lahren was the ments and immenetwork. star of the talk show diate decision to Lahren should “Tomi” on TheBlaze, suspend her show never have been a conservative digifired from her job tal network founded prove that confor voicing a proby Glenn Beck, that servatives can be choice opinion. had a wide reach on “snowflakes” too.

Putting our persocial media. She is sonal political afa rising star in the conservative sphere and conse- filiations aside, we believe all quently, the epitome of a liberal’s Americans can agree on one worst nightmare. Lahren has thing: free speech is a hallmark made a name for herself, through of our democracy and a driving force for any politiher youthful stance cal commentator. on controversial isIt is ironic that sues and ease when Despite Lahren’s TheBlaze describes calling out leftists as their digital net“snowflakes” for be- intentions, the issues with her sit- work as “a plating overly sensitive. form for a new The situation be- uation are rooted generation of augins when Lahren in the mindsets thentic and unwas invited on ABC’s voice,” “The View” where of her own, fellow filtered because this stateshe expressed sup- conservatives. ment seems to only port of a woman’s stand when the content supright to choose abortion.

“I can't sit here and be a hyp- ports Beck’s conservative agenocrite and say I’m for limited da, hence his decision to ban government but I think the gov- Lahren off the show. Beck’s in-

JULIA SANTOS ANISHA DESAI

tolerance of Lahren’s pro-choice comments and immediate decision to suspend her show prove that conservatives can be “snowf lakes” too.

Not only was Lahren suspend-

ed, she also received backlash from her fellow conservatives who were quick to criticize her comments for being hypocritical, citing a previous episode of “Tomi” in which she used the

ASHLEY CAI

term “baby killer” to describe those who are pro-choice.

Though her language may be crass, Lahren is not a hypocrite when it comes down to being pro-choice. She never has actually opposed abortion. For instance in the episode described above, out of context, her usage of terms such as “baby killers” and “murder” make it seem as though Lahren is against abortion. However, after watching the entire episode, one can tell that Lahren’s overarching point is in line with her stance on “The View” — that most pro-choicers advocate for rare abortions and acknowledge that it is a difficult choice. Lahren then says that this mentality is what separates pro-choicers from people who see abortion as faultless, people who she calls “straight-up baby killers.”

But despite Lahren’s intentions, the issues with her situation are rooted in her target audience’s mindset.

While liberals are often the butt of the joke and are called “snowf lakes” when overreacting to someone or something that disagrees with their beliefs, the same theme can be seen when observing the critics who shamed Lahren for her non-conservative views. When it comes to free speech, conservatives and liberals alike are true believers, but the second someone expresses opinions contradictory to their beliefs, issues arise and “snowf lakes” start falling.

Landing long-term with Landed YALDA KHODADAD Staff Writer

According to USA Today, in Bay Area cities like San Francisco and Oakland, there has been an increase in subsidized teacher housing in order to attract more teachers to their schools. These benefits have contributed to more competition between districts, as they strive to increase the appeal of a teaching job.

In the past year, there has been a rise in popularity of a startup founded in 2015 called Landed, Mercury News states. The program aims to assist educators in their search for housing by matching the amount put for down payment. Landed’s financial gain appears in 10 years, when they regain the matched amount, plus 25 percent of the increase in the home’s value, if any.

This program is a great option for teachers considering housing aid in order to remain in the district, due to the fact that it diminishes one of the main struggles that teachers face: saving enough money for down payments.

The MVLA School District’s involvement with this program, although it may not be for everyone, marks a big step in the field of dis-

trict housing for struggling teachers.

When teachers are forced out of the district, they take their newfound knowledge of the school, district, and unique teaching methods with them, making the hiring process fruitless as we ultimately end back at square one.

Schools around the Bay Area have lost far too many wonderful teach-

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

The Talon April 25, 2017

7

Answering the trivial questions in life: is cereal soup?

More specifically, is cereal soup?

I would argue that yes, cereal is a subsection of the broad term ADRIENNE MITCHEL Staff Writer “soup.” Soup is “a liquid food especially with a meat, fish, or vegetable stock as a base and often containing pieces of solid food.”

I don’t take life too seriously. Thus, by definition cereal is soup, That doesn’t mean that I laugh as it is a liquid food (milk) with at inappropriate times or I joke pieces of solid food (cereal) in it.

Although most people assothrough sensitive subjects. That means while others argue over ciate soup with a pot filled to politics, stress over academics the brim simmering away on or worry about the awkward first the stovetop, soup by definition impression they left on the kid doesn’t require heating. For exin their table group, I live in the ample, a traditional Spanish soup called gazpacho is moment and realize made of raw vegetasome things are out bles and served cold, of my control. And with no heat applied. instead of debating These days, If you’re still havabout topics that it seems that ing trouble visualizflare people up but ing how cereal could accomplish noth- everywhere we be soup, let’s break ing else, I prefer to turn there is down a soup we all discuss and debate always someknow and love — about more light- thing to get chicken soup. Chickhearted questions. en soup is comprised Each year, Ameri- worked up of chicken broth and cans purchase about over and angry chicken, as well as 2.7 billion boxes of about. other optional ingrecereal, which transdients such as carrots lates to the average American consuming around 14 and noodles. In a similar fashion, pounds of cereal annually. Ce- your morning bowl of cereal is real is such a staple in our every- made with milk and packaged day lives that it even has its own cereal. You may make the arguholiday, National Cereal Day (on ment that most soups have more March 7) to celebrate this ubiq- than two ingredients, but a bowl uitous breakfast. But even with of cereal also has more than two widespread popularity, it is evi- ingredients. Most packaged cedent that the most important as- real isn’t just plain wheat, but an pect of cereal has been continu- assortment of grains, sweetenously overlooked — its identity. ers, dried fruits and nuts.

ASHLEY CAI

So there you have it: cereal is in fact soup.

Now if you’re still reading this article, I bet you’re pretty worried about The Talon’s choice to insert such a ridiculous question into the Opinions section, which is usually filled with the voices of people discussing very serious issues. Perhaps it is not all that out of place though. These days, it seems that everywhere we turn there is always something to get worked up over and angry about, and if everything’s a serious issue, nothing is. People put down others who don’t have the exact same opinion, protest

topics without even knowing much about them and pick apart everything others say in order to find a way to contradict it. People actively find things to get upset over and, not being able to do anything about it, grow more and more upset as time goes on.

Does this sound productive to you? Wouldn’t it make more sense just to recognize that becoming upset over topics and spreading that unhappiness isn’t helping anyone?

I’m not urging people to stop being passionate. In fact, I encourage people to spread their passions to others, as this is a

productive way to spread potentially beneficial knowledge.

But there is a stark difference between scrutinizing undesirable details and making observations. Having a mindset that picks apart an issue and only sees the bad in it is not advantageous.

Instead, try to be objective when approaching issues and don’t let yourself get too upset.

So talk about the light subjects. Go debate if a hot dog is a sandwich, what the pronunciation of “GIF” is, if people should take showers in the morning or at night and most importantly, if cereal is soup.

Baby steps: navigating generational differences EMMA KWAN

his disjointed English don’t help the situation, but aside from linguistic differences, conversations with him usually are a little bit different.

There’s a certain simplicity to For the most part, we fit the mold of a stereotypical grandfather and our exchanges that I have come granddaughter. My grandpar- to appreciate, despite the fact ents’ walls are lined with photos, that the lack of complications worksheets and art that my par- can be restrictive. It’s easy to apents have sent, seemingly mean- proach a conversation without ingless artifacts from my time in worrying about judgement or external tension elementary school, — in that sense, but they are hung his unconditional like college diplosupport is gratifymas. There’s mess- It’s difficult to ing, because it’s a ily written poetry imagine a situaversion of affecfrom the second tion that doesn’t grade and pride for tion in which we involve assuming accomplishments are able to live in the worries that they’ve only heard our utopian world, my parents have about in muffled where my grandas a result of their conversations over father’s bad days close proximity to the phone. We sit my academic life. together as a family don’t cut him off It’s always a comat the dinner table, from any conversapromise when it our phones hidden tion and where my comes to family. away in place of enheadphones don’t We have to recogthusiastic conversanize generational tion. I feel a certain do the same. and cultural difcomfort when we visit my grandparents because ferences, navigating around the their city feels like a second home. details of our lives as if we are Yet there’s still a disconnect: walking across a room of broken I don’t know much about my glass, because the most loving regrandfather’s life before I was a lationships are never completely part of it. Our interactions are transparent. In a conversation often one dimensional; he asks with my grandfather, the world about school, and I ask about takes on a utopian quality in his favorite sports team. We at- which there is no stress, no sicktempt to talk over a friendly game ness and no sadness. We disguise of mahjong, although he spends our worries and fears in an effort most of his time squinting at his to maintain a feeling of blissful tiles, motioning for other play- ignorance, the norm around a soers to move faster. There’s impa- ciety of high blood pressures and tient tapping and clicking, and frequent doctor’s visits.

We have limited knowledge for once, he moves quicker than I do. My subpar Taishanese and about each other because we

Staff Writer

choose to keep to ourselves, because we have trained our minds to believe that our differences in age serve as barriers to understanding. It’s the intimidating aspect of overcoming and embracing differences in our upbringings and perspectives of the world that continues to make improving our relationship easier said than done. It’s difficult to imagine a situation in which we are able to live in our utopian world, where my grandfather’s bad days don’t cut him off from any conversation and where my headphones don’t do the same.

Our barriers are not impossible to break, but I sometimes wonder

whether it’s possible to repair a relationship that isn’t truly broken. There’s another part of me that can’t help but be worried, because as my schedule begins to include college applications and extracurriculars, visiting family becomes an afterthought.

Time is limited, because growing up inevitably means leaving a childhood of guaranteed visits to my grandparents behind. It’s bittersweet, because it’s those memories and in-person interactions that have shaped our relationship, and I can’t help but wonder how our new reliance on digital media will change the way we communicate. I distinctly re-

member one game of mahjong that I played last year on one of my grandfather’s good days. We chatted about strategy, he talked about his favorite sports team, and we laughed because my sister won every game.

It’s the subtleties of our interactions that made the difference, noticing details that have been learned in baby steps.

It takes baby steps to learn to play mahjong, to assimilate to a new culture and to learn more about the complexities of a person. And for the sake of all the worksheets that still hang on my grandparent’s walls, those steps are worth taking.

ASHLEY CAI

8

The Talon April 25, 2017

JULIA SANTOS, SPORTS EDITOR | AKHIL JAKATDAR, OPINIONS EDITOR | TINO TUGWETE, FEATURES EDITOR | TEDDY CHMYZ, COPY/CONTENT EDITOR | ROSS AVERY, PRIYA DIXIT, HALEY ECKER, EMMA KWAN, JAVIN POMBRA, JACLYN SAIK, YOLANDA SPURA, EMMA VAN GEUNS, MADISON WOO, STAFF WRITERS

A

come up with any excuse, though I felt I had to.

When I was with girls, my heart pounded and I felt like I was floating in the clouds. I just didn’t feel the same when I was with boys. All my close friends knew about my recent breakup, and I knew that they would read my sadness as heartbreak, rather than the loss of a best friend. How could I explain that a boy-crazed little girl, still seemingly hung up on her boyfriend, wasn’t interested in boys to a family that steadfastly believed I was destined tally bumped into a tall girl with to marry a man?

I kept feeling like I had to be “gay long, dark brown hair. After an awkward exchange of “I’m sorries,” enough,” but, over time, I eventuwe found that we were both on our ally came to the realization that I didn’t have to “prove myway to the same class. She self” to myself or to smiled, introduced anybody else. I love herself as Madgirls, and that is die, and told me enough for me that she could I kept feeling like I had and it should show me the to be “gay enough,” but, be enough way. Maddie over time, I eventually for everyintroduced came to the realization body else. me to her that I didn’t have to In Aug i rl f r i e n d “prove myself” to myself gust, I came and just or to anybody else. out to my about everyfriend at sumone else in — sophomore Reilly Dennedy mer camp and the art room. a progression of The entire time, close friends and I tried to wrap my family members evenmind around what I tually followed. was feeling. I thought of every The summer before sophomore cheesy high school movie I’d ever seen. The fireworks, the roller- year, I was sitting next to one of coaster — that feeling in my stom- my closest friends, Cynthia, on the edge of the stage in the theach, I felt it all.

I hadn’t even thought about ater. She nudged my side, teasthe possibility that I might not ing me for my frizzy hair. There it be straight until then. I ques- was. The most impossible, magitioned if I could really be les- cal, forbidden, wonderful feeling bian if this was the first time I’d had returned. This time I didn’t thought of it. Everyone else, gay try to push it away. or not, seemed to have had it all figured out in grade school.

Skye Riordan I watched countless videos Sophomore Syke Riordan’s reon YouTube about other peo- alization of his gender identity as ple’s coming out stories. They female-to-male transgender has all seemed to have known for been a gradual one, constructed so long. If I did come out, what through lived experiences and if people thought I wasn’t “gay realizations. Since as early as he enough,” because I’d had can remember, he recalls a sense a relationship with a of apartness, one that he tried unboy? I couldn’t successfully to heal.

“I created a fake reality for myself, almost like when you’re reading a book and you go

s part of a global movement for social equality, LGBT+ (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, etc.) community members around the world are advocating for their rights to be and love whoever they want. Sexuality refers to the gender or genders that we are attracted to; gender identity is the gender or lack thereof with which we identify. Openly LGBT+ students and staff at our school share their experiences with sexuality and gender identity in the generally tolerant community of the Silicon Valley. Despite the community’s accepting nature, each individual has their own hurdles to face.

Coming Out Guest written by Reilly Dennedy Names and places in this piece have been changed to maintain subjects’ anonymity.

In grade school, I used to play with dolls and chase boys around the playground. I always liked playing with the other girls, even though I didn’t care for dolls. I did what they did and I liked what they liked because I craved the moment when their soft skin wrinkled into a smile and their cheeks turned pink and kissed their eyes.

I had a “crush” on James, a tall, blonde soccer player with sparkly blue eyes — all the girls in my class liked James. My friends made up nicknames for him because that’s what they did when they had crushes. At the time, it felt natural.

At the beginning of freshman year, I was sitting in my boyfriend’s living room watching “Spy Kids” when I had my first kiss. I assumed I was straight — sexuality wasn’t something I’d thought about.

It wasn’t until high school, in September, that I met an outed lesbian.

I had just transferred to Los Altos and was having trouble finding the art classroom. My eyes were glued to the slip of paper in my sweaty palms, and I acciden-

History of LGBT+ in Los Altos May 2004 LAHS GSA petitions city council to make June 7 “Gay Pride Day.” City Council votes against this, citing a disturbance of the more conservative members of the community. The Council instead declares June 7 “Tolerance Day’.”

December 2004 Broken Box performs “The Laramie Project” for the first time at Los Altos.

“Back then, open discussions were becoming more common about homosexuality and how we treat each other,” Broken Box director Nancy Moran said. “I wanted to give a message of tolerance.”

February 2006 Los Altos City Council bans gay pride events from being sanctioned. GSA protests this move and gains support from local politicians such as Lieutenant Governor Gavin Newsom.

into this whole separate world — science teacher was saying how I had guy friends who called me he noticed that I had become so a guy name that I created for my- much more open and talkative self,” Skye said. “I felt so uncom- and friendly,” Skye said. “I kind of fortable and numb… it felt like I noticed that too.”

Overall, Skye feels comfortable could never really be happy with being openly trans, but progress myself no matter what I did.” still needs to be made.

Skye feels his gender identity “[Being trans] is still really scary,” was less of an identity conflict as it was reconciling perceptions Skye said. “I know that California's generally accepting, [but there’s with reality.

“I’ve always had the same gen- still] so much secrecy that I don't der identity, [I was] just kind of think there should be [surroundmorphing what I told people and ing trans identity]. I think that if what I told myself,” Skye said. the concept is more normalized, “It's always been there. I feel like it'll be just like any other quirk a misconception is using the word people have.” ‘transitioned.’ people don't have Ms. Carlson one gender identity and then all of History teacher Sarah Carla sudden realize they don't like it and want to switch it — it's more son began planning her life in of realizing what’s actually there fourth grade.

“I was hanging out in the backand correcting to make what's inyard and thinking about what my side match what’s outside.”

Skye first began expressing him- life might be like in the future,” self as male to his close friends be- Carlson said. “And at that point fore coming out to the rest of his I wanted to be a sailor, and my community. He has generally been dream was that I was going to go accepted, but his parents are not and sail the world. Then, in my late 20’s, I was going to settle down yet fully supportive. “[My mom] was afraid of [my and have a wife and kids.”

It was then that Carlson had gender identity] breaking my relationship with my dad, which the first inkling that she may be to an extent it has,” Skye said. lesbian, and at age 13 she came “It’s such a disjointed relation- out to her parents. Her parents were originally skeptiship because he’s always cal as they believed thought of me as his she was too daughter… and young to be now he doesn't certain about know what I I know that California’s her sexual am to him generally accepting, [but orientation. anymore.” there’s still] so much Wo r r i e d While he’s secrecy that I don’t think about her faced interthere should be [sursafety in personal sether homerounding trans identity]. backs, Skye town of is empathetic — sophomore Skye Riordan Livermore, with people her parents inwho struggle to stead sent her adapt his identity. to a local private “The first shift is school where students pretty major, [it’s asking] ‘think of me in a whole different were more accepting.

“The town that I lived in at the way, call me by a whole different name,’” Skye said. ‘I definitely time had a more homophobic clisympathize with people who mate, certainly more than today,” struggle with [my gender iden- Carlson said. “There was a lot of violence against gay people at my tity] at first.”

Opposition is inevitable, but local high school, to the point that Skye feels his coming out was the when I came out to my parents best choice for his own well being. they decided to send me to private “Three or four months after school to protect me. My mom [coming out], my eighth grade took a second job and got a loan from family in order to protect me. I was lucky to have their

May 2006 Los Altos Mayor Ron Packard suggests that the GSA host a pride parade in downtown Los Altos. GSA begins preparations.

June 4, 2006 Los Altos hosts its first and only gay pride parade downtown, spearheaded by the GSA. Over 300 residents gather to march peacefully in support of LGBT+ rights.

May 4, 2009 GSA organizes an annual Day of Silence to recognize the harassment of LGBT+ people.

The Talon April 25, 2017

9

support in that way, even if they Student resources weren’t entirely convinced that I knew what I was talking about.”

Approach a teacher or trusted adult A few years later, at 15, more Good first step for students who aren’t ready to talk to a counselor or join a peer group sure of her sexual orientation, Many teachers who support, or are part of, the LGBT+ community have flags or other symbols of supCarlson officially came out to her port up in their classrooms friends and family during a diGuidance counselors & administration versity assembly.

No appointment needed, email or drop into a counselor/administrator’s office “Coming out was very scary Open to family-oriented counseling and emotional, and I cried a lot Anonymously refer peers for counseling through the referral box in front of the library afterwards, but it ended up being Student Services Coordinator Kristin Castillo can help students connect to services and resources okay, ultimately,” Carlson said. “It Can provide further referrals was definitely easier to be out of the closet than in the closet, beCommunity Health Awareness Council (CHAC) cause it’s just easier to be honest Drop into a guidance counselor's office for referral and truthful about how you are.

Provides confidential, free psychotherapists/counselors, located in the 100 wing It’s very stressful to feel like you’re Suited for students who want ongoing or in-depth support hiding something about yourself Can provide further referrals to community programs and have to keep that a secret from everyone, and can't talk The Adolescent Counseling Services Outlet Program about kind of an essential part of Call or drop in to participate in a group session your humanity.”

Provides free and confidential LGBT+ peer groups for youth, as well as other resources to As well as being therapeutic, connect LGBT+ youth however, Carlson also realized Includes programs specifically for trans or gender exploring youth and Latino and Spanthat coming out put her at risk ish-speaking youth of hate and discrimination, and Visit http://www.acs-teens.org/what-we-do/outlet/ for more info for others, at risk of violence and abandonment by their families.

Gender Sexuality Awareness (GSA) Club In an effort to fight against this Meetings at lunch on Wednesdays in Room P-16 mindset, Carlson joined her high Provides a safe space at lunch for students to share their experiences and connect with school’s Gay-Straight Alliance each other (GSA) club and then her college’s Opportunity to become more involved with LGBT+ issues on campus club that supported gay rights.

“I was president of the GSA in Camp Diversity high school and then when I Sign up for Camp Diversity each fall and spring was in college I was presiFor students that want to help promote awareness for LGBT+ issues within dent of a club that adthe community or want to learn more about themselves or their peers It’s very stressful to feel vocated for marriage like you’re hiding someequality rights,” Carlson said. “Since then, thing about yourself and I’ve been involved have to keep that a secret with an organizafrom everyone, and can’t tion called the Point talk about an essential Foundation which part of your humanity.

Greg Roper tries to serve students who have been cut off by — history teacher Sarah Carlson their families financially Q: What has your experience with being gay in the Silicon Valley been like? or who have had financial A: A few people have been uncomfortable around me, especially on the water polo team. struggles because of being gay When I first came out to some people, they were kind of freaked out because, you know, or that kind of idea. They’re a I’m a gay guy and they’re in Speedos, and that’s a little bit awkward, but they got used to scholarship organization, and so nity along with greater it pretty quickly, and once they got used to it, it was a-okay. No one has given me crap they gave me a scholarship for my acceptance for differabout it; people joke with me about it; it’s really been pretty awesome. I haven’t had any undergrad years, and since then ing sexual orientations, serious problems with anyone.

I've been involved with alumni LGBT+ teenagers will feel activities and reading applications more comfortable coming Q: Have you experienced any instance of homophobia? for new scholars.” out than their predecessors.

A: We were at the pediatrician’s office, and I was talking to [the doctor]... my dad On a national level, Carlson “In terms of the broader comsaid to her, ‘Greg recently came out to us as gay, and we were wondering if there’s believes that protecting trans- munity, having gay marriage be any information you think he should know.’ Her whole demeanor instantly gender rights and fighting against recognized, not only recognized changed; she had been really friendly, happy, all-smiles pediatrician… she was employment discrimination for but having the majority of people less enthusiastic and more reluctant, and her first question to me was: ‘So, LGBT+ are important issues. On a support it is something that’s Greg, when did you first choose to be gay?’ At that point I just looked at her, more local level, Carlson still sees encouraging,” Carlson said. “As dumbfounded… I awkwardly told her I figured out I was gay around eighth discrimination and stereotypes more people come out out, more grade, and treated her with courtesy. It was definitely very awkward, but against gay people. people know a gay person and once we left, my dad said, ‘[Do you] want to get a new pediatrician?’

“I do occasionally hear kids use have a gay friend, and so attitudes the word ‘fag,’” Carlson said. “ I have changed and [being gay] is told a kid off three days ago for more accepted.”

Q: Do you feel like you owe it to the LGBT+ community to advocate that. I do hear some anti-gay slurs for less discrimination? or language.”

A: I think your question is phrased a little bit weirdly, because I Carlson hopes that don’t feel like I owe it to the LGBT+ community to do that, bewith the growth cause it’s not that they have done everything for me. I came of the queer out by myself, and [my] parents didn’t care, so it’s not like c o m m u I had to turn to them to support me or coach me through “The name Gay-Straight Allithe coming out process, but I do want to help people who ance implies that everyone who’s have troubles with that. Not that I owe it to them, but I not straight is gay, which is not feel like I got through with it and I think I can help other the case,” former GSA president people get through with it. So I feel like I can do that, Sasha Sobol ‘16 said to The Talon because helping and stopping discrimination is generafter the decision. “Queer is an “All of a sudden, tolally pretty cool. umbrella term for anyone who’s erance didn’t seem like not straight and/or cisgender, enough anymore,” MoQ: Anything else? which allows us to represent all ran said. “We had made A: If people are worried about coming out in [Los Alidentities without specifying evsuch progress, [but I tos], [I would tell them]: ‘Honestly, don’t be.’ I love ery single one.” thought,] ‘We need to it here. It’s a nice community to be gay in. My only put it back out there that problem is there aren’t enough gay boys. this is still an issue.’”

May 2014 GSA is approved to recharter as the Queer-Straight Alliance at the start of the 2014-2015 school year.

at

February 2015: Broken Box performs “The Laramie Project” again, 11 years after the group’s original production.

LAHS

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The Talon April 25, 2017

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

Juan Palominos: problem solver and role model ALEX LUNA staff writer

When junior Juan Palominos sits in his math classes, rather than being frightened at the sight of functions, or groaning at the thought of evaluating sequences and making graphs, he embraces the challenge of learning something new in the field of STEM. Juan, since the age of 12, has decided to focus his time on improving his mathematical and scientific skills in order to find success in the future.

“I developed a passion for both [math and science] since middle school,” Juan said. “I’ve always been recognized for my achievements and I just felt like the recognition pushed me to work harder and keep getting good grades in those two subjects.”

While students in the Silicon Valley tend to lean toward a STEM route, many students outside of the area don’t enjoy those types of subjects due to the level of difficulties they can present.

Juan appreciates the challenges that these subjects offer.

“I just love how both [science and math] are like puzzles,” Juan said.

“Everytime I approach a problem I start from the beginning and then move my way towards the the top.

For me, I always try to never give up, and every time I encounter a challenge, I just keep fighting until I get what I want. Every time I solve a

problem I'm satisfied, I’m happy. Es- nities they’ve had. I feel like the fact pecially if it's a hard one.” that everyone in those classes are alJuan doesn’t just throw himself ways putting in the work, always putinto all things number-related ting in the effort to get good grades, and doesn’t just work hard for [encourages me] to try even harder himself. As the first member of because I saw that they could do it, his family to go to college, Juan and I asked myself, ‘Why can’t I?’” feels that he needs to work hard With the support of his AVID to make his family proud and class, Juan is able to manage those fulfill his goal of being a positive types of pressures and receive oprole model. portunities that he otherwise might “I get to be the example for my not have had access to. brothers, an example that they can “[AVID] helped me because follow and they can have in their it's opened a bunch of doors for future.” Juan said. “I me,” Juan said. “My try my best at school AVID teacher, Ms. to just be a role model Arriada, presents a in my household, an I want my brothlot of opportunities extra one because both ers to say ‘I can that I wouldn’t have my parents are the best be like my older [known about] in they can be. I want my brother, I can the past. Last sumbrothers to say, ‘I can mer, I [was in an] be like my older broth- even be better if engineering proer. I can even be better I try my best.’ gram at Santa Clara if I try my best.’”

University for a — junior Juan Palominos In his time as a stuwhole week. [I] got dent at Los Altos, Juan to stay there, live has battled and continues to battle there, basically like a student. with the academic rigor of the I got the opportunity to learn school alongside most students. about engineering and without Being a first-generation college AVID I would have never had student however, usually means that opportunity.” that he faces a different set of chalJuan attempts to make the lenges compared to others in areas most of every opportunity availlike AP classes. able to him and through all his “I still have a hard time with it, hard work he has been able to especially in my AP English class... maintain a cumulative 4.1 GPA. not because I’m Mexican,” Juan said. When the Student Communities “It's just a class where everyone is so Leaders class first formed, he smart and they know what they’re jumped at the chance to join. He doing and I haven’t had the opportu- hopes to continue developing

TINOMUDA TUGWETE

Junior Juan Palominos is a member of AVID and SCL. Through perseverance, motivation and these classes, Juan is able to make the most of life and challenging situations. leadership skills that can help him later on in life.

“It just makes you a better person because you realize that everyone can be a leader,” Juan said. “A lot of people say ‘Oh I'm not a leader because I’m just a quiet person, and I don’t do

much outside of school,’ but I feel like everyone is a leader in their own way. At first, I didn’t recognize the fact that I was a leader in my house, in my community and in SCL class I just improved all those skills and it's made me [a] better [student].”

“[Garba-raas] is a lot of jumping and pounding, and it’s a dance you do barefoot, so that’s a lot more impact,” Aashna said. “You don’t have a shoe or a sole to take away the amount of impact that goes into a dance.

Some dances can go for over five minutes long, so it’s a lot of stress to your feet, but for me it’s a lot of fun. It’s worth damage to my feet.”

A week after the injury, she received notice that her dance group would be auditioning for America’s Got Talent in February, the same month her boot was supposed to come off. In COURTESY AASHNA DESAI order to allocate as much pracSophomore Aashna Desai (top left) and her dance team, the Sangeet Dance Company, waiting to perform tice time as possible in preparathe audition of a lifetime after months of practice.

On February 11, the team had the chance to audition for tion for the big audition, Aashna made the call to take the boot off a spot on the iconic America’s Got Talent stage. in December and rely on elastic group arrived by plane in Los didn’t land properly. Addition- at 8 a.m, they were given passes therapeutic tape for support.

“Fracturing my foot was aw- Angeles on a Friday night at 9 ally, because stage dimensions to skip the lines and move on p.m., the day be- weren’t provided, to the audition. ful and one of the fore the audition. practicing accurate However, no set worst things I could In order to ensure spacing in the routine time for the audihave possibly done,” They drilled It seemed to perfection the fol- was impossible. tion was provided Aashna said. “While lowing day, Aas“They drilled us re- go really slow for them, so Aaseveryone was condi- us really hard hna and her group ally hard because it until the audihna and the rest tioning I just had to because it was practiced their was our last night tion, but everyof her group never sit in the corner and our last night of routine from 10:30 of practice,” Aashna thing was hapknew when their spin the dandiyas practice. That p.m. to 1 a.m. that said. “That was when audition time was and do arm workouts was when it hit night. Nerves were it hit me — you have pening so fast approaching. for three hours.” now that I look high, and prac- to get serious.”

“It’s a really After hours of prac- me — you have tice was anything When her group ar- back at it. long process for tice, it was finally the to get serious. but perfect, with a rived at the Los Angea 90-second auday of the audition, — sophomore — sophomore basket toss mishap les Convention Cendition,” Aashna Saturday, February Aashna Desai Aashna Desai in which the f lyer ter the next morning said. “A lot of it 11. Aashna and her

was waiting around and you always had to stay stretched because you never knew when they would call you to go in.”

The dance group spent a lot of time doing reality filming, including the beginning portion of the T.V. show in which a crowd of auditioners walk forward to the registration, which took several takes. Additionally, they had multiple on-camera interviews about topics such as why they were auditioning for America’s Got Talent, who the group is, and what they would do with the money. Yet most of the time Aashna and the rest of the team were just waiting.

It wasn’t until 5 p.m. that they were called to audition.

“I was really, really, really nervous,” Aashna said. “If anyone messed up at all, anyone dropped their stick, it was over.”

Aashna reports that she was so in the moment and so focused that it was hard to take in other aspects of her performance.

“I was so relieved that I did everything that I was supposed to do properly,” Aashna said.

“We were all nervous before, anyone could mess it up, and you never want to be the person to do that.”

Although the Sangeet Dance Group didn’t make it into the judge’s round, they are featured in the America’s Got Talent promo video and may still have a shot at being featured on TV. “At the end of it I was really happy at the way we performed as a team and the way I performed individually and the way we handled the whole experience,” Aashna said.

Aashna CONTINUED FROM THE FRONT PAGE

The Talon April 25, 2017

11

Margo Lusinchi: growing cells to beat cancer YOLANDA SPURA

to a protein that functions to carry iron around the body. Cancer cells, which need a lot of iron to grow and When someone you love is suffer- multiply, will absorb this gallium, ing, what can you do to help? Senior thinking that it is iron. The drug Margo Lusinchi grapples with this prevents cells from multiplying, question every day — her half sister, which could have the effect of stabiZamora, was diagnosed with Diffuse lizing Zamora’s cancer.

Intrinsic Pontine Glioma (DIPG), a “I got some gallium, which is a rare type of cancerous tumor located drug my sister is taking right now,” in the brainstem that mainly affects Margo said. “Because she’s taking so children. When Margo enrolled in many other drugs and going through the Advanced Science Investigations treatments, you don’t really know (ASI) course, she didn’t think too what’s helping and what isn’t... It’s a much about how she could use this cocktail of different drugs. My goal course to help her sister. But when is to see exactly what effect that parshe discussed her ideas for a project ticular drug has on the cells.” with her parents, she quickly realized For her experiment, Margo obthe potential that ASI had to help her tained four vials of DIPG cells from explore her sister’s cancer. the Stanford labs, each with a differThe class allows students to design ent mutation of the cancer. Her plan their own experiments is to grow the cells, feed based on their interthem and then split ests and explore this them into a control and concept at their own That’s why I do test group. From there, pace for the whole year. my experiment, she will apply a powder Margo’s project in- I try to make form of the gallium, volves testing Gallium which she obtained Maltolate, a relatively sure that I’m from its inventor Dr. new drug created to actually doLawrence Bernstein, stabilize several types ing something onto the cells. If she of cancers, on DIPG productive and sees positive results cells in order to detershe plans to test the beneficial for mine the effect that the cells under a variety drug could have on her myself and a of different condigreater cause. sister’s cancer. tions. Eventually, she “Within the first — senior Margo Lusinchi hopes to be able to few days of the class, test all four muta[ASI teacher Darren] tions of the cancer.

Dressen told me, ‘Keep If Margo finds that the gallium in mind you’re not necessarily going maltolate has a positive effect in to cure [Zamora’s] cancer so I don’t stabilizing DIPG cells and preventwant you to get attached to that ing them from growing, the drug idea,’” Margo said. “But it’s worth it could be directly injected into if I can do anything, even if it’s just her sister’s tumor via a port in her me learning more about her cancer. head. Due to the unknown effects I wanted to inform myself and help of the drug, Zamora is currently in some way.” taking the drug orally.

Gallium mimics iron, binding “If it could go directly to the tumor,

More on Zamora

Staff Writer

YOLANDA SPURA

Senior Margo Lusinchi views DIPG cancer cells under a microscope to check their growth. Margo’s project involves testing the effect of a drug, gallium maltolate, on DIPG, which is the same type of cancer that her sister has. then wouldn’t it be stronger than if it has traveled throughout your body?” Margo said. “Also, if it has negative effects on your body, which I don’t know if it does, then they wouldn’t be as prominent because the drug wouldn’t be traveling, it’d be more localized.”

While Margo is excited about the future of the drug and making a difference for DIPG patients, her road hasn’t been easy.

“I don’t really know all that much about the cancer or about the drug,” Margo said. “I’m scared that I’m thinking of myself as a big shot by taking action, but really I know nothing, you know? Most people will say, ‘Well, that’s how you take the first step; you don’t all figure it out from

the first try,’ which is true. So that makes me feel better. That’s why I do my experiment, I try to make sure that I’m actually doing something productive and beneficial for myself and a greater cause.”

Still, Margo often feels like being able to help her sister and other kids that are suffering from DIPG is unlikely. Balancing her school life and her extracurriculars with her ASI experiment is difficult, and while she hopes her experiment can achieve a concrete result, there’s no guarantee.

“I do want to help Zamora and other kids that are suffering, but I feel more and more that that’s unlikely, at least not anytime soon,” Margo said.

“It takes so much for something to be successful in science — not only

Zamora Moon Lusinchi, 9, was diagnosed with DIPG in July, 2015, and was given at most nine months to live; the cancer, which only affects children, has a less than two percent survival rate. Zamora, now almost two years past her diagnosis, is defying these odds. She recently temporarily relocated to London to receive treatment at the Harley Hospital for Children as current treatment options are limited due to a lack of research and funding for the cancer. As the tumor is inoperable and traditional chemotherapy aren’t effective on this type of cancer, Zamora is trying a new treatment with a CED catheter that pumps chemo drugs directly into her brain. resources, but mostly time and effort. This sort of thing requires your undivided time and attention, which I obviously cannot give right now because I’m a student, not a professional researcher.”

Still, Margo finds herself motivated to complete her experiment, not only for her sister, but also for herself.

“My motivation is not just my sister and other kids with DIPG, but also the knowledge that I can gain from this kind of experiment,” Margo said. “It’s so cool to see that I can do something so technical. Growing cancer cells requires an immense amount of patience and care, and my project has required me to grow determination, independence and trust in myself.”

Nicolas Chan: making Mozart from a machine

hand, but there have been attempts in the past at algorithmic composition, which is following a certain rule As a clarinetist in the wind ensem- or pattern to generate music. With ble and the marching band, Nicolas computers, many more algorithms Chan’s musical interests do not often are now possible.”

To come up with an algorithm that align with his love of programming.

But in Advanced Science Investiga- fit the task at hand, Nicolas conducttion (ASI) this year, Nicolas applied ed extensive background research on both his interests to develop a proj- the field of machine learning. After ect on computer music composition, hours of poring through literature on bringing together the two fields of artificial music composition, Nicolas developed his algorithm, drawing inmusic and computer science.

“I'm both a musician and a pro- spiration from others in the field.

“Most of the first semester was grammer,” Nicolas said. “I've played clarinet in the school marching band spent reviewing literature, and I worked on developing for all four years of my my algorithm until the time here. I've also done science fair during the a lot of programming second semester,” Nicoand lead the Computer I’m both a las said. “Some of the and Programming musician and a research I found uses Club, so I wanted to programmer... genetic algorithms and search for an area where so I wanted neural networks to opmy interests overlap.” timize music.”

Humans are inher- to search for Ultimately, Nicolas ently able to identify an area where chose the genetic algood compositions my interests gorithm as the basis of from bad ones. Alhis project. In Nicolas’ though these concepts overlap.

— senior Nicolas Chan project, a genetic alare entirely foreign gorithm works, as the to machines, Nicolas name implies, by mimwanted to give computers not only the ability to deter- icking the process of evolution in namine the quality of music but also ture to optimize a set of pitches and the ability to compose sheet music, compose music.

“After digging through a lot of taking into account criteria such as research, [I found that] there has key and rhythm.

“For hundreds of years, people have been a lot more research done on been trying to find ways to make mu- [music composition] after comsic,” Nicolas said. “I wanted to look puters were developed because we at [computer] algorithms for com- can use [and run] machine learnputer music composition. Histori- ing algorithms very fast,” Nicolas cally, people have composed music by said. “[The algorithm] starts with a

JUSTIN YU Staff Writer

JUSTIN YU

Nicolas Chan presents his project at the Synopsys Silicon Valley Science and Technology Championship, winning first place in the Physical Science and Engineering category. Nicolas’ project uses machine learning algorithms to give computers the ability to create music. population of whatever you're trying to optimize. In my project, it's a random set of pitches.”

Think of this population as a group of organisms you might find in the wild. Just as natural selection causes these organisms to gradually adapt and improve, Nicolas’ algorithm hones each set of random pitches into structured melodies. In nature, an organism deemed most fit to survive — perhaps based on their strength or speed — will pass on its information to future generations. Similarly, for each cycle of Nicolas’ algorithm, the melodies that are most consistent with regard to key will be selected and

combined together, producing higher quality compositions as time goes on.

“Then, you assign each individual a score based on how well they fit your criteria,” Nicolas said. “In nature, that's how likely it is to survive and reproduce. In my project, it might be that the pitches are mostly in the [right] key. You then take the best scoring individuals and combine their traits to form the next generation, and the process repeats.”

The idea behind the genetic algorithm itself has existed for decades, so Nicolas’ project focused on applying this methodology to music composition, which led to many in-

teresting discoveries. “[For one,] I thought it was interesting how the computer ended up coming to particular results,” Nicolas said. “When I optimized only for pitches staying in the key, I got all the same note. This perfectly fit the criteria, but it was not good for making nice sounding music. Some of the research I saw only focused on one aspect, such as rhythm, so I tried [focusing on] both rhythm and pitch.”

On March 23, Nicolas displayed his project at the Santa Clara county Synopsys science fair, where he won a top prize to qualify for the California State Science Fair.

The Talon April 25, 2017

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Catch reviews of new movies, music and more, plus read the Arts & Culture archives at lahstalon.org/category/a&c

Q&A: Eitan Weiner on his brand of conservatism NATHAN GODDERIS Staff Writer

The Talon: How do you stand politically relative to Donald Trump?

Eitan: I’d like to think of myself as a true conservative, so I’m definitely in stark contrast to everything that Trump represents. I think he’s a disgrace to conservatism, and I’m pretty ashamed to be a conservative and to be looped in with a lot of people who support Donald Trump and also consider themselves conservative.

T: What does conservatism mean to you, then?

E: One thing that really attracted me to conservative ideology is deep-rooted — not nationalism — but intense patriotism. I don’t want to sound cheesy, but I love my country, I love what it stands for, I take the Constitution as seriously as you can take it. There’s really three main things about conservatism: your inalienable rights, staying true to the constitution and personal responsibility. In the family that I come from, personal responsibility is just really important.

T: Could you elaborate on that?

E: Well, most of conservatism is centered around the fact that government is not God and, for that reason, it should be limited. That’s why God-given rights are stressed: you have those rights regardless of what anyone says, including the government. Personal responsibility is one of the main principles because, once again, government is not the cure-all to our problems.

Government handouts don’t lift poor people out of poverty, working hard and being responsible by not creating obstacles for yourself is what gets you out of poverty. In today’s politics, it seems as if we’re leaving behind the entire of idea of limited government. Trump has dragged the Republican Party drastically to the left. For God’s sake, a majority of Republicans now are against free trade! Ronald Reagan, the president that Republicans idolize so much, is turning in his grave.

T: Are there any conservative ideas that you disagree with?

E: Yes, definitely, socially I’m not super conservative, I’m more of a libertarian, which nowadays is sort of looped in to conservatism and that sort of thing. I’m for gay marriage, I’m really sort of “live and let live,” not really big on the whole being involved in other people’s lives, so I think one of the biggest ones

that is sort of highlighted in the media of what conservatives believe is being against gay marriage, and I’m definitely for that.

T: What political issue is most important to you?

E: It’s hard to think of one political issue that’s really important. I’m not really old enough to be really economically involved in the world.

I think social politics is something that’s a lot more interesting to me, certainly at my age right now, so It’s always really interesting to debate abortion or political and social movements like feminism and Black Lives Matter.

T: How often and where do you research politics?

E: I research a lot and I listen to a lot of political commentators, I try to surround myself with both news from the left and the right and the center. I get a lot of my news from all over the spectrum, so at night I’ll watch CNN and the PBS news hour, which is pretty center and fairly unbiased, and then also every once in awhile I’ll turn on Fox News to see what they’re saying just to get a little taste on what the Trump train is like. A guy I listen to a lot is Ben Shapiro, and he was the biggest influence on why I got into politics.

T: Could you elaborate on Ben Shapiro?

E: Ben Shapiro is a huge influence of mine because of his incredible speaking skills. He is the master of debate on all things political and his use of hard facts and evidence are what drew me to his platform. His slogan is “facts don’t care about your feelings,” and this is the kind of thinking that is appealing to me. Standing up in the face of a politically correct world is exactly what we need for the future of American politics.

T: How did you find out about Ben Shapiro? What stood out about him?

E: I don’t remember exactly when I started watching him, I just remember that it was on YouTube.

He does lectures all across the country on various college campuses talking about conservatism.

The lecture he gave at the University of Missouri following the controversy of Tim Wolfe at the university is what got me hooked on his ideas. The thing that stands out about him was his brutal honesty.

He basically said everything that I had been thinking at the time but I never knew how to articulate. Shapiro definitely isn’t the only con-

servative political commentator that shaped my views, but he’s the most prominent of them. Others include Thomas Sowell and Karen Straughan just to name a couple.

T: What are some negative aspects to being a conservative at school?

E: It’s definitely a hard time to be a conservative, especially in a state like California and an environment like this. I would say that some of the negative aspects are some of the negative stereotypes or stigma surrounding conservatives, like the old redneck, southern, good-old-boy image that is portrayed. I don’t know, it really doesn’t bother me that much.

T: Were there times when you felt you were treated differently by other students for being conservative?

E: Not necessarily treated differently but I’ve gotten some weird looks whenever I’ve said something, like if I was having a normal debate or an open discussion with somebody who didn’t know that I was a conservative and I would say something that was in contrast to what popular belief is, I would sort of get a “Whoa” sorta look, but nothing major.

T: Like what?

E: A lot of the time it’s me pointing out something false. For example, I remember overhearing one of my classmates citing a statistic on campus sexual assault, some outrageously high number like 1 in 3 women, so I felt the need to sort of butt in and correct him. This sort of thing happens quite a bit where someone will cite some random

statistic that makes a problem look worse than it is and I feel as a conservative that everything should be looked at objectively and that we should stop spreading lies about very serious issues. In my opinion, you don’t need to say that 1 in 3 women in college are sexually assaulted for people to take action in support of women’s rights and stopping sexual assaults.

T: Do you ever feel that there is a liberal bias in the classroom?

E: Yes, all the time, although it depends what class you’re in. Obviously in my trig class there’s not a liberal bias, but I’d definitely say in social sciences, history and English there can be major biases. It might be stuff that the teacher doesn’t notice is a bias or the students don’t notice is a bias because obviously most people around here are pretty liberal, and just one instance where I really felt there was a huge leaning that was misleading in the class was when we were talking about Black Lives Matter and how it relates to some of the protests from the 1960’s, and I just felt that some of the material being presented was fairly far-left leaning and misguiding.

T: Could you explain that more?

E: We looked at pictures from Ferguson, Missouri in the wake of the death of Michael Brown. The movement was talked about in terms of standing up towards racial prejudice in policing, but there was no mention of the fact that Michael

Brown was killed in self defense by Officer Darren Wilson. There was no mention of the various studies about disproportionate crime rates in various communities which account for the strict policing and violence in parts of the country like Ferguson and Chicago.

T: How do you feel about the Trump protest at school?

E: You can protest if you want, I don’t really care. I disagree with why they're protesting, because I hate Trump for other reasons than a lot of liberal students do. I do think he’s a bad person, but I mostly disagree with him on policy issues rather than him as a character, because it’s not like we haven’t had horrible people in office of the president.

T: What would you want liberal students on campus to know about conservatives?

E: A lot of it has to do with sort of like racial politics because racial tensions in the United States right now are very high, and a lot of debate even when it doesn’t have anything to do with race comes down to the racial argument, so just know that the whole stereotype of conservatives are redneck racists who live in the past is really not a thing. Conservatives are not people who want to take away your rights, they’re people who really support your rights and want the government to stay out of your life, that’s really the biggest thing, limited government. We just want to stay out of your lives, so that’s it.

RACHEL LU

Most students know Eitan Weiner (right) as a member of Broken Box, the student theater company at LAHS. Eitan spoke with The Talon about an aspect of himself that he said surprises some students — his conservative political leanings.

A tour of the alt-right internet AKHIL JAKATDAR MICHAEL SIEFFERT Opinions Editor Senior Writer

The internet is a big place. The following websites and forums offer a look at a radical, right-wing perspective — something the average internet user may not come in contact with.

The dialogues on these sites can be caustic, but they do provide a unique inside look at what modern political extremism looks like.

The_Donald The_Donald, a forum on popular website Reddit, is one of many differ-

ent forums by which fervent Trump supporters can express their support for the political leader. With a very strict moderating staff that focuses on banning all users who promote any type of anti-Trump speech, this internet forum has gained much infamy in recent months in its radical support from Trump. /pol/ 4chan is a minimally designed forum that features little to no censorship. The site has a variety of forums focusing on various topics. Their political forum, /pol/, goes by the nickname of the “Politically Incorrect”. The notable lack of censorship

has made the site a safe-haven for politically extreme views. The site does not have a particular political stance, but the majority of posts lean towards conservative extremes. The forum also aims to be as offensive as possible, living up to its politically incorrect motto.

Stormfront Self-described as a White Nationalist community, this forum site features boards on every white nationalism topic under the sun.

From white history to Aryan housemaking to environmental issues, all aspects of Nationalist ideologies can be discussed with other like-

minded individuals.

Instagram Many of the most far-right activists create their platforms on Instagram.

As Instagram is a photo-sharing social media, many alt-right activists post “memes” depicting their hatred towards Islam, their mistrust in the Democratic party and their love for all things Donald. With some of these Instagram pages like too_savage_for_democrats and the_typical_liberal gaining over 140 thousand and 290 thousand followers respectively, Instagram has become a popular platform in progressing the alt-right movement.

Infowars Alex Jones’ Infowars is a hallmark of political extremism. Widely accepted as a conspiracy theorist, Jones’ site posts high bias news articles and political commentary. The focus point of Infowars is Alex Jones’ radio show where all elements of national and foreign politics are discussed. Jones has been criticized frequently for his sometimes dubious claims and his support for baseless conspiracies such as the Sandy Hook Massacre being a hoax. Jones’ radio show is uploaded to YouTube regularly, and viewers can get a taste of the web’s hottest conspiracy theories.

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A R T S & C U LT U R E

The Talon April 25, 2017

On YouTube filters and LGBT+ visibility PRIYA DIXIT Staff Writer

This past March, YouTube released an update for its restricted mode function. The restricted mode function uses an algorithm to sift through and block content that is inappropriate for children to consume, including content that includes hate speech, sexually explicit content and profanity.

Yet amidst the content blatantly inappropriate for children, videos with innocuous LGBT+ content was filtered out by the algorithm, sparking anger and controversy across the internet.

Amidst the widespread discourse and confusion over antiLGBT+ bias that spread across the Internet, it became clear that the event was not isolated; it only seemed to prompt more questions about the long history of such biases in children’s literature and film.

Traditionally and historically, most LGBT+ content across any and all forms of media has been controversial. The Motion Picture Production Code of 1930, known as the Hays Code, prohibited any depictions that would “lower the moral standards of those who see it,” or content that did not uphold “the sanctity of the institution of marriage and the home.” This contributed to the overall sense that LGBT+ themes were inherently inappropriate or taboo.

But despite the Hays Code’s discontinuation in 1968, LGBT+ media still falls under scrutiny. The recurring theme of backlash and even censorship still extends to another avenue of entertainment

that is sometimes criticized for the inclusion of LGBT+ characters and themes: children’s literature.

While the closed environment presented by YouTube obscures the extent of the discrimination, the tracking of bans and challenges of books from school libraries presents a clearer picture of the genre’s situation.

Over the last few decades, children’s books ranging from picture books to YA novels have been frequently banned and challenged for containing LGBT+ characters. According to the American Library Association, 361 of the 5099 book challenges in the 2000’s have cited “homosexuality” as their justification for the ban.

An extremely prominent and notable example of a controversial children’s book with LGBT+ themes was a 2005 picture book, “And Tango Makes Three,” written by Peter Parnell and Justin Richardson and illustrated by Henry Cole, which describes the lives of two male penguins raising another penguin together in Central Park. The lists of frequently banned and challenged books themselves feature children’s books with transgender characters as well, such as “George” by Alex Gino.

But why was this middle grade novel with a young female transgender protagonist being banned and challenged alongside more widely controversial titles, such as “Fifty Shades of Gray?” A common argument was that the book’s inclusion of “sexuality was not appropriate at elementary levels.” Similarly, “And Tango Makes

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to be family members, in my experience, who have noticed that a child in their family may not turn out to be cis or het,” Lane said. “They want to start buying some books that recognize their position.”

According to Lane, the prominence of parental acceptance has been coupled with an increase in children’s books with LGBT+ themes and characters overall.

“There’s definitely an increase [of books with LGBT+ characters at Linden Tree], as [the books themselves] become more prevalent,” Lane said. “And a lot of that has to do with the authors themselves, writing books that are either specifically about queer characters, or with characters who just happen to be gay or trans, or somewhere in the LGBT+ spectrum. I’m currently reading a book… that was very

popular a few years ago, with a trans character and a bi character, [which] has nothing to do with anything about the plot. It’s a cultural shift, that’s much wider than just our store.”

This trend of normalizing LGBT+ themes and characters is a countercurrent to the pervasive bias against LGBT+ content exhibited by the Hays Code, decades after it was discontinued. It’s important to accept LGBT+ content as a reflection of reality instead of a reinforcement of political agenda or spreading an immoral ideology.

The media children have access to ought to reflect the reality of a diverse world. The current YouTube debacle brings to our attention the importance of not letting these subtle, ingrained biases filter out LGBT+ themes after a history of censorship and bannings.

ANNE SCHILL

Kendrick Lamar’s new religion

about the people affected by them, a microscopic rather than big-picture look.

A lot has happened in the years If “To Pimp a Butterfly” saw between Kendrick Lamar’s album Kendrick taking on the role of a releases. The country is more dis- politician addressing a national united than it’s ever been in recent audience, then “DAMN.” sees him memory. Divisions — racial, po- as a hip-hop everyman, pulling litical, economic — are at an all- you close and shouting in your time high. face. It’s a one-on-one conversaYet “DAMN.,” Lamar’s newest tion where “To Pimp a Butterfly” album, chooses not to address was a speech given to thousands. this directly. Unexpectedly, this As his lyrics have become more album is perhaps his most deeply accessible, so too has his sound intimate, with the songs focusing — the album swaps the freeheavily on events and reflections jazz-influenced experimentation on his own life. It’s a notable of his previous effort in favor of shift from his 2015 release, “To more mainstream, traditional Pimp a Butterfly,” whose unify- hip-hop beats. This isn’t to say ing, empowering lyrthat the producics seemed to speak tion isn’t highly creto a nation in crisis ative: Lamar has as(one song, “Alright,” Even when Lasembled an all-star even became the mar references cast of producers unofficial anthem of current politiand guest features, the Black Lives Matnotably evident on cal events, his ter movement).

“Pride,” where freIn today’s political focus is less on quent collaborator climate, this seems big-picture poliAnna Wise blends like a strange choice tics than on the with Lamar over a — now more than Steve Lacy guitar. people affected ever would one exParadoxically, it’s pect Lamar, typically by them. through this up-close, one of the most outpersonal look at Kenspoken rappers in this generation, drick’s life that we’re able to gain to take a strong stance against the insight into his broader worldcurrent political climate. view. Essentially, by talking about But Lamar is done evangelizing. himself, Kendrick is able to relate In an interview with the “New more to other people — the lisYork Times,” he says he’s “not re- tener included. It’s imbued with a ally addressing the problem any- near-horoscopic specificity — it’s more.” This isn’t necessarily him not hard to imagine the scenarios running from the fire — instead, Lamar writes about being applied he’s choosing to address it in a to a wide range of people. less direct way. When it referKendrick’s best skill is his lyriences political events, it’s always cism — not evident as much in

CAMERON AVERY

Three” was the most frequently banned and challenged book in 2007 for “homosexuality.” In addition, the Family Policy Alliance opposed the book on the grounds that it was promoting a political agenda to children, according to the Huffington Post.

We can see that the two primary arguments advocating to ban LGBT+ themes in children’s books are that LGBT+ themes in children’s books promote a political agenda, and that the themes of homosexuality and gender identity are not appropriate subjects for children to deal with. According to the American Psychological Association, not discussing discrimination with children leads to the belief that the subject is taboo. Thus, as parents and groups ban and censor LGBT+ content and characters in children’s literature and beyond, the topic of LGBT+ issues is continually shunted into a negative light.

Yet amidst the trend of censorship and rejection of LGBT+ themes in children’s books, examples of positive inclusion of LGBT+ children do exist, demonstrating the growing prevalence of positive representation in the genre, as well as positive reception. Linden Tree, a bookstore in downtown Los Altos stocks a variety of children’s and young adult books with LGBT+ themes. Linden Tree bookseller Grace Lane finds that parents in the area are frequently accepting of such themes, in contrast to the parental backlash discovered by the American Library Association.

“For the younger books, it tends

clever wordplay or rapid-fire delivery, but in the narratives that he’s able to weave, the stories he crafts, the weight he’s able to endow into every bar. With “DAMN.,” his mastery of the genre is on full display.

The immediacy and intimacy of the album is expressed in lines like “I'll prolly die walkin' back home from the candy house / I'll prolly die because these colors are standin' out,” from “Fear.”

He jumps between time periods, ages and locations without warning, like in “Fear,” where he examines the manifestations of fear through three time periods in his life — as a child facing his mother’s discipline, as a teenager coming to terms with the violence of the streets and finally as an artist, coming to terms with his fame.

Indeed, time is a central theme in the album, and Lamar plays with the concept of time throughout it. “DAMN.” is bookended by death: a gunshot caps off “BLOOD,” the opener, and “DUCKWORTH,” the finale. After the second gunshot, the song rewinds — like a tape recording — back through the entirety of the album, putting the listener back at the first song.

A few songs seem poised for radio success, and in the days it’s been released, “DAMN.” has rocketed to the top of the charts, outshining the work of reliable hitmakers like Drake and Ed Sheeran. Overall, this feels like an intentional choice. It’s Lamar broadening his audience, attempting to bring himself back to his roots.

TOP DAWG ENTERTAINMENT

Kendrick Lamar’s new album “DAMN.” charts an introspective course even as its accessible tone sees him to the top of the charts. Below, a still from his video for “DNA.”

A R T S & C U LT U R E

The Talon April 25, 2017

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In America, even vegans crave meat EMMA VAN GEUNS MADISON WOO Staff Writers

Jackfruit carnitas? Watermelon sashimi? Coconut bacon? In recent years, the meatless hipsters of America have jumped on dishes like these as they search for an alternative to familiar, meat-based dishes. In the western world, meat is the main attraction of any meal, and we have been conditioned as a society to depend on it in some form, even as some of us experiment with vegan and vegetarian diets — but that may have more to do with our own preferences than health reasons.

The vegan diet has been around prior to its rise in popularity in the U.S. Based in part on cultural and religious beliefs, vegetarians and vegans have been around for centuries in Asia. For hundreds of years, various religions and cultures have cut out meat products and developed cuisines that eschew meat alternatives, finding protein and calcium through other food sources. Jainism, Hinduism and Buddhism are three religions that share roots in India and some of whose followers have developed vegetarian dietary restrictions over time.

Followers of Jainism, which is mainly practiced in India, adhere to a strict set of rules due to their belief in “ahimsa,” the ideal of non-injury to all living creatures. In addition to rules that require them to eat at specific times and disallow the con-

sumption of certain vegetables, they’ve abstained entirely from all animal products. They eat beans and kale to get the calcium and protein that come from milk and animal meat in other diets, and they get fat from nuts and seeds. In combining these foods with large servings of grains such as rice, Jainism has inf luenced various Indian cuisines, making rice, dal, wheat, fruits and various spices the basis of their meals.

Like Jains, Buddhists follow the belief of ahimsa and are not allowed to consume animal products. The cuisine of Buddhism varies depending on the region, but the bulk of their nutrients are derived from rice, beans, bread, fruits, vegetables and sometimes meat depending on the region.

Hindus believe that the food a person eats heavily influences their quality of life and that eating animal products breeds animalistic traits. Unlike Jains, Hindus follow a mostly vegetarian-based diet of beans, dal and dairy products to provide the necessary proteins and fat into their diet.

Meatless diets have taken on a fresh perspective in Western culture. For many health enthused young adults and LA fitness gurus, a meatless diet can serve as a body detox or trendy new diet.

But increased attention has been brought to the apparently flawed commercial livestock industry through activism groups like People for the Ethical Treatment

of Animals and The Humane Society of the United States, and has brought on a wave of ethical vegans and vegetarians. Twenty percent of millennials currently follow a meatless diet for ethical reasons, according to Mintel, and the number of those aware of the environmental impact of meat consumption across all generations is on the rise.

Typical Western diets have exerted a strong influence on the diets of some modern ethical vegetarians and vegans. Instead of centering their diets around the available vegetables as many Asian cultures do, they often consume meat alternatives.

Though the practice started with brick-like Tofurkey cutlets and tasteless tofu that bore little relation to the meats they were meant to replace, recent efforts have brought ethical vegetarians and vegans closer than ever to the meaty flavors they miss.

Companies like Gardein and Beyond Beef have become ethical favorites by making well-textured, protein-heavy replacers out of protein isolates (which give the meat replacer its stringy texture) and flavorful concentrated spices. Their popularity has inspired meat replacers’ to move from specialty restaurants — to which they’d largely been restricted for years — to the frozen grocery aisle.

But tofurkey and mock beef won’t satisfy those with an addiction to juicy steaks. The availability of finer faux meats to the public is currently lim-

ited; whole roasted chicken and pork tenderloin, for example, have yet to receive bona fide replacements. Scientists have dedicated their lives toward creating the realest fake meat through newly developed in vitro meat, formed from animal cell samples cultured in a lab.

It is often called the food of the future, maintaining meat in food culture without the harm of animals or the environment.

According to Public Policy Polling, 13 percent of Americans are either vegetarian or vegan.

The normalization of meatless diets has progressed greatly in the West as the possibilities

for faux meats have increased.

Countries with high percentages of vegetarians such as India have developed cuisines with no concept of a meat dish, and their practitioners are unlikely to feel desire for meat at all. As today’s meatless Americans have children with whom they share their beliefs, those children may become, just like their counterparts in India, further and further removed from modern American cuisine’s emphasis on meat. It begs the question: is faux meat the future of vegetarianism? Or is it just a stepping stone on the way to a meatless Western diet that no longer prizes meat at all?

CARISSA LEE

When YA gets mental health wrong RACHEL LU Senior Writer

ANNE SCHILL

Over the last few years, contemporary young adult (YA) novels have introduced more and more characters who are afflicted by mental illness, hoping to bring light to an issue that is often stigmatized and misunderstood. It's a move that should, in theory, expose teens with or without these illnesses to the seriousness of the issue. But in trying to represent these students, authors have often relied on inaccurate stereotypes, distorting the reality of mental illness in the process.

Jennifer Niven’s international bestseller “All the Bright Places” presents this archetype in the most obvious way. The story is a more angsty, pretentious trope of the romance between the school freak and the popular girl.

The two protagonists, Theodore Finch and Violet Markey, just happen to meet while they are contemplating committing suicide. When Finch sees Violet, this sets off his hero-complex, and with all his teenage wit and charm, he convinces Violet not to jump. They bond over Virginia Woolf quotes because they are deep, philosophical teenagers.

When their geography teacher assigns them a project of visiting the famous sites of Indiana, Finch tells Violet “Our mountain is waiting,” and to start off their Big Adventure, they proceed to drive away to Random Places because they are Spontaneous.

No teenager I know is that obsessed with Virginia Woolf, much less holds an entire conversation

just by quoting her. The constant quotation, though meant to show the Deep and Introspective side of the characters, is so overdone that at times, the novel borders on comedy. Besides, spontaneity and philosophical thoughts don’t mix well together. Spontaneity conjures an image of one wandering on a whim and knee-jerk reactions while the latter conjures an image of one sitting down and taking time to think.

While these traits can serve to create interesting characters when employed separately, combining them together is an inaccurate portrayal of teenagers.

Not only is the novel full of contradictions, it is also full of walking plot devices rather than real, fleshed-out characters. Finch is less his own person than a plot device to help Violet through her journey. As the novel progresses, Finch acts as a catalyst to heal Violet, but when he is revealed to have undiagnosed bipolar disorder and depression, her attempts to help him only result in him running away. Yet, he leaves notes for her to continue on this Great Adventure. It is on these trips that Violet begins the process of healing and transformation and truly understands Finch because, of course, she can only understand him after he’s gone. The idea that a character can experience an epiphany without a journey of self-discovery is somehow so farfetched to YA authors that they use the trope of the road trip revelation so much that it has all but lost its meaning.

Although this book follows both Finch and Violet, the book is truly about Violet’s transforma-

tion. Finch’s viewpoint disappears from the writing when he commits suicide. Instead of treating it as a serious issue, Niven makes Finch’s mental health a vehicle for Violet’s personal growth. To conclude her journey of self-discovery, Violet quotes Virginia Woolf yet again to mark her transformation: “No longer rooted, but gold, flowing. I feel a thousand capacities spring up in me,” ending the novel on an angsty note to show how deep Violet’s journey truly was. It’s all about Violet. Instead of exploring Finch’s mental health issues, instead of having an honest discussion about the reasons for and consequences of suicide, Niven paints suicide as reckless but romantic, drastic but brave. It’s not until Violet meets Finch and he dies that she emotionally heals.

When portrayed in this light, issues like mental disorders and suicide are trivialized. Of course, it is important to talk about these issues, but it is almost better to not talk about it than to romanticize serious conditions. We don’t need more misunderstanding clouding topics that need honest exposure.

And when books like “All the Bright Places” and “Love Letters to the Dead” are published for such a wide audience that eagerly eats these stories up, someone with mental health issues who reads such a book may be less confident about asking for help or telling others due to the fear of misunderstanding or not being taken seriously. It’s important to portray mental health issues in books, but it’s even more important that we get it right.

The Talon April 25, 2017

15

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

Pitching no-hitters with junior Alex Reelfs

started young, but he didn’t keep up with the MLB nor did he idolize Staff Writer anyone from the baseball community — it was his competitive naJunior Alex Reelfs listens to the ture due to always competing with same song on repeat before every older brother that pushed him to game. Headphones on and tossing become better.

“I played in the front yard with a baseball in his right hand, Alex blasts “The Zephyr Song” by the my brother where one person is Red Hot Chili Peppers until it’s batting and one is pitching and I stuck in his head. Why? To pitch would always lose because he is to the tempo during the game. two years older than me,” Alex said.

Alex started this pregame ritual “That made me even more compethis freshman year, and now half- itive because my goal was to beat way through his junior year sea- him and I had to get better.”

While Alex grew up with extra son, he has already pitched two no-hitters — the only two in the pressure from having an older brother, it was Alex’s father, the league this year.

“I have always been competitive coach of his little league team, who since I was young,” Alex said. “I be- gave him the time and resources lieved that if you aren't trying to be that other young baseball players the best then why try. This also in- did not have at their disposal.

“My dad was my little league coach volves never settling which is why after my first no hitter in the first so that allowed me to get to the field game of the year, I came back and 30 minutes early and leave an hour or two after practice,” threw another one on Alex said. “That enSaturday. It is just all abled me to be better. about getting better.”

I have always been Standing at 6 feet When it comes to competitive and since 5 inches tall and 220 game time I trust I was young I believed pounds, Alex is a le- my training and that if you aren't trythal pitcher and first- believe that if I to be the best then baseman playing his go and throw like ing why try.” third year of varsity Nearing the end high school baseball. I know I can, my of regular season His love for baseball stats will back up play, Alex is at the all started when he my abilities. height of his varsity first picked up a bat — junior Alex Reelfs high school baseat the age of 6. ball career, switch“My mom tried to get me into t-ball which is the first ing between first baseman and level, but it never really caught my pitcher every game. Alex is curattention because it was too easy rently leading SCVAL in home for me,” Alex said. “And then once runs (2) and has pitched the most I got into little league, before and strikeouts in the league (46). He after practice I would always stay pitched two no-hitters this season, one in the opener in a 4-0 for hours at the field.”

Alex’s drive to improve his game win over Gunn, and another just

NATHAN GODDERIS

KUNAL PANDIT

During a home game, junior Alex Reelfs winds up to pitch the ball. Statistically, Alex is in the middle of his best season of varsity high school baseball, leading SCVAL in home runs, pitching the most strikeouts in the league and pitching two no-hitters. recently in a 6-0 win over Branham. Alex throws an 89 mile-perhour fastball, an impressive feat for a high schooler.

“There is some pressure but at the same time when it comes to game time I trust my training and believe that if I just go and throw like I know I can, my stats will back up my abilities,” Alex said.

In addition to his talent when it comes to playing the game, Alex has proven himself to be team player — he was picked to be a team captain alongside senior Max Higareda. He helps keep the team motivated and focused during practices, even during the toughest times. Alex hopes to guide the Los Altos varsity baseball team to CCS this year. The

team has a strong lineup and are currently 5-5-1 in SCVAL. Junior year is one of the toughest years for student-athletes planning to play in college. While the majority of the high school athletes are playing for fun, there are always a select few students looking to extend their athletic careers past high school — Alex is one of these athletes. Although there is more at stake for him personally when it comes to impressing college coaches with statistics and game IQ, Alex is truly grateful for his teammates.

“Even if my teammates aren't trying to play in college, that doesn't mean they don't want to win,” Alex said. “It’s nice because usually that would not be the case.

We have a second baseman who

wants to be a doctor but still comes out and competes and does really good. It’s a team sport and on our team everyone contributes.”

Alex is currently in the middle of the recruiting process, talking with coaches from schools including the University of Utah and Columbia University. He also has a scholarship offer from Sacramento State.

“I mean the recruiting process is tough because if you reach out to a coach the likelihood is that they haven't seen you play so it's a tryout and you only get one chance really,” Alex said. “It's feels good but at the same time it's a lot of pressure because they want me to commit but I don't know if I'm ready for that. I want to explore more colleges.”

Bus driver shortages impact athletic programs SAVITA GOVIND CAMERON AVERY ANISHA DESAI Copy/Content Editor Business Manager Senior Writer

Due to bus driver shortages this year, sports teams have had to handle multiple last minute transportation issues, a problem that has yet to be resolved. The problem stems from Los Altos competing with local companies for drivers during after-school hours. Further compounding the situation is Los Altos’ recent growth in student population, an

issue could be exacerbated if the student body continues to grow.

“You can see the strains and the stress on the program, people having to hassle for rides and parents getting more involved,” district bus driver Rudy Alcala said. “It’s just very hard.”

As a result of the shortages, teams can’t always rely on having a bus for every game. This year, coaches and athletes have had to scramble to get parent drivers hours before a game.

Larger teams such as track and field and badminton have been affected the most. Track has reported two instances where there were not enough buses to accommodate the entire team, and Badminton has

reported one instance where there was no bus at all.

“Every time [we have not had buses], we have gotten everyone [to the game], but it’s kind of messy,” Junior Varsity Badminton Coach Ian Lee said. “For example, the first time, we had to get the kids to find parents to drive them there, and there was no [way] to keep track of whether all our kids got there on time.”

The main reason behind the school’s shortage stems from too much demand for drivers and too little of a supply. Between schools, businesses and public transportation, everyone needs buses at the same time.

ANNE SCHILL

“We’ve been growing over the in part from the $100 transportalast few years because a handful tion fee that all athletes pay at the of years ago we didn’t have this beginning of the season. However, problem,” Athletic Director Kim this is not nearly enough to cover Cave said. “We’ve increased the all transportation costs, so the dissize of teams and trict must supply [so have] other additional funds to schools.

Everycover the rest.

You can see the one’s trying to “The school get the same bus strains and stress spares no expense companies to on the program, with on the cost of transport them.” maintaining the people having to According to hassle for rides and buses, so that part the Mercury is good,” Alcala News, Silicon Val- parents getting more said. “We just need ley tech giants involved. to flip that [and such as Google — district bus driver Rudy Alcala see] what we could and Apple have do to try and entice the money to some drivers. It’s contract from private companies going to be a search.” and add benefits for drivers. BenThe district has posted a busefits include covering healthcare driver position for the past year costs and 401(k) match plans. In with minimal response. While addition, they have asked shuttle they have reached out to private contractors to give their drivers companies to see if they can partpay raises, making this a more ner, this hasn’t worked out given attractive job to drivers. conflicting times when drivers are “The time that we need the bus- needed and not all drivers have es, 3 o’clock in the afternoon, that the proper credentials. is prime time for [business buses] “Those drivers can drive a charbecause they take people home,” ter bus, but a separate certification Alcala said. “They pay more, [and] is required to drive a school bus, their benefits are great. It is hard to which most to all of those drivers compete and get those guys, so we do not have,” Associate Superintenhave to come up with a better plan dent Mike Mathiesen said. “We are to try and get in and recruit some open to paying the cost to train and bus drivers.” certify drivers [but] it’s still a chalFunding for team buses comes lenge to get people interested.”

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The Talon April 25, 2017

Haley Ecker, Staff Writer | Alex Luna, Staff Writer | Anne Schill, Graphic Artist

How do Los Altos student-athletes feel when they’re concussed? “Groggy,” one said. “Foggy,” said another. “Vegetable-like,” added a third. Concussions are traumatic brain injuries that severely affect brain function, causing headaches, dizziness, sensitivity to light and difficulties concentrating. However, many students do not take their injuries as seriously as physicians tell them to, despite the negative side effects.

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or junior Dejia Walker of the varsity be able to keep up with it longer.” cheer team, this was the case. But even Junior Jazlyn Meija had a similar expethough her doctor advised her to limit her rience to Deija. She suffered her concusscreen time and not complete homework sion just a few weeks ago during a lacrosse for two weeks, she didn't want to fall behind game. Despite her doctor's advice to avoid in her classes and continued to use her com- all strenuous physical and mental activputer and phone. ity, she decided to continue “Falling behind is her schoolwork in so easy, so I couldn’t order to stay caught “When you go back to just not do any work up. According to for two weeks beJazlyn, she felt it sports, if you’re exacerbating cause that would put was okay for her your symptoms, you need to me way far behind,” to not follow her doclisten to your body and back Dejia said. “I eventutor's orders because ally fell into this endshe felt fine. off. In the long run, you [will less cycle of playing “Academically, I be] more successful in your catch-up because I couldn’t just drop had so much work everything, and sport, and you’ll be able to that I didn’t do.” many of my teachers keep up with it longer.”

Those with a conwere very supportcussion of any caliber ive,” Jazlyn said. typically need to folNevertheless, Jazlyn - Pediatrician Dr. Orchid low a strict recovery still feels the pressure Ghaffari of Palo Alto Medical process outlined by a to quickly recover due Foundation doctor. In high school to commitments to sports, however, aththe team. letes will often feel “My teammates were pressured to make a speedy recovery and re- really upset because I was their starter goalie join the team. This makes it much more dif- and now I'm off,” Jazlyn said. “I'm still going ficult to completely follow the doctor's ad- to be out for another two weeks, and they’re vice. Along with the stress to uphold one's just really upset because they need me.” academic endeavors, high school athletes in When subject to concussions or simiparticular find it much harder to put athlet- larly serious injuries, athletes often feel the ics and academics aside in order to recover. need to ignore their doctor's orders and “If you’re working on something that is a return to practice without making a full recognitive brain function like academics and covery. Similar to the pressure Jazlyn feels, your symptoms are worsening, that load a Los Altos football player, who will remain needs to be lightened so your brain can heal,” anonymous for his privacy, dealt with a Pediatrician Dr. Orchid Ghaffari of Palo Alto similar experience during his season. He Medical Foundation said. “Similarly, when wanted to make a speedy recovery so he you go back to sports, if you’re exacerbating could return to the field. your symptoms, you need to listen to your “The trainer wanted me to get a full recovbody and back off. In the long run, you [will ery, so he extended my absence by another be] more successful in your sport, and you’ll week,” the anonymous Los Altos football

player said. “At the time I was mad about it, rate recovery methods. but now I see why he did that because I don’t “We try to follow the expert's recomwant to mess up my brain this early in life.” mendation and the international experts Should an athlete receive too many con- from multiple disciplines that came up cussions from a particular sport, they may with their best recommendations based on have to quit playing the sport all together. the evidence we have right now,” Ghaffari For junior Connor Brett, this was the case. said. “It’s really hard to say that you absoAfter getting several minor and two seri- lutely must rest two days or five days, but ous concussions from water polo, Connor’s we know that any activity that is bringing doctor recommended that he stop playing back your neurologic systems is putting a contact sports altogether. His most serious strain on your brain.” concussions had occurred within a short Concussions can occur in any sport, at any period, and as a result, Connor was unable time. Participating in high school sports is a to attend school for rewarding experience, several weeks. He was but athletes should “I never finished my work. forced to drop classes remember that if they which he later had to receive a serious injury I never caught up. It caused to make up during like a concussion, it’s me a lot of anxiety and dethe summer. better to listen to the pression because of the “I was pretty much doctor's advice instead not functional,” Conof feeling pressured to schoolwork. Because I kept nor said. “I couldn’t complete schoolwork doing work, my concussion do anything. I would and return to practice. was extended longer, so evhave to stay in my “It’s unfortunate room all day with that sometimes famiery time I went back to get the lights off, and if lies see [concussions] reevaluated, I would have to I wanted to go upas a nuisance or as a stairs I would have setback in their sport,” go and wait to be cleared beto put sunglasses Ghaffari said. “For cause I was doing too much on. At the end of their long-term wellin my school work. So my the day, I would be being, it’s still critiexhausted and my cal for them to avoid concussion affected me a lot head would hurt.” a repeat head injury longer that it could have beSince all athletes are before they’ve fully cause I was so worried about physically different, recovered. Hopefully, they’ll each recover they never have anfailing all my classes.That from concussions difother head injury, but definitely made the year a lot ferently. It’s difficult the biggest downside harder for everything.” to gather solid data on would be to go back concussions because and risk suffering of people’s biological another head im- Cheerleader junior Dejia differences, and even pact when your brain doctors struggle with hasn’t even recovered Walker giving patients accufrom the first one.”