The SUN 2009-2010 Year Issue 6

www.mcsun.org making the sun shine online

the Mt. Carmel

High School

SuN

FRIDAy january 22, 2010 VOL. 37 No. 6

9550 carmel mountain rd., san diego, ca 92129

WHAT’S

INSIDE CHASE ELLISON Junior Chase Ellison’s upcoming movie “The Tooth Fairy” comes out tomorrow night.

Read about his experience. news page A3

Sexting

[ less lol more omg ] affects teens’ self-esteem, respect among peers

WHERE WORLDS CONVERGE As one of the most diverse schools in one of the most diverse areas of the country, MC boasts a wide array of cultures and heritages. Read about folks like David and Marina Danecker, who moved from southern England, near Bristol.

CENTERSPREAD A4 AND A5

SAVE THE EARTH IT’S NOT TOO LATE TO REVERSE MAN-MADE DAMAGES TO OUR PLANET. OPINIONS page A6

ONLINE

www.mcsun.org

MAKING THE SUN SHINE ONLINE

Community Service Catalogues For last minute AP Gov and Civics volunteers, look online for periodic listings of opportunities for high schoolers.

FIVE things to do IF YOU’RE NOT GOING TO

WINTER FORMAL

1

have a bonfire

Pick up supplies for smores, a couple of blankets, and plenty of wood. Then hit up the beach.

PHOTO SCAVANGER HUNT

2

Make teams then set off to complete a funny “to do” list and take pictures after you complete each task for proof.

3

KARAOKE NIGHT

Can’t sing? No problem.

The whole point is to make a fool out of yourself.

HAVE A GIRLS/ BOYS NIGHT IN

4

Whether it’s playing CoD or watching sappy movies, a night in is always refreshing after a busy week.

5

NIGHT OUT ON THE TOWN

Just because you’re not going to the dance, doesn’t mean you can’t get all dressed up and go out!

INDEX NEWS CENTERSPREAD OPINIONS SPORTS ENTERTAINMENT FEATURES

A2-A3 A4-A5 A6-A8 B1-B3 B4-B5 B6-B8

PHOTO ILLUSTRATION BY AMANDA STINTSMAN | pHOTO EDITOR

sara shantz staff writer She dug deep down in her purse, frantically searching for her cell phone. She emptied the whole thing out and began to panic when all she found were her car keys, pencil case, school ID card, and student planner.

Her friends exchanged knowing glances; they knew why she was so worried. It wasn’t that she was concerned about her phone being stolen, because they knew her parents would replace it.

They all knew that she had very private pictures of herself on her phone that she had sent to her boyfriend. They were in a longterm, committed relationship and she trusted him to keep the pictures to himself, but now her reputation was in the hands of whoever stole her phone.

Unfortunately situations like this are becoming more and more common. According to pcsndreams. com, 36 percent of teen girls and 39 percent of teen boys say it is common for nude or semi-nude photos to get shared with people other than the intended recipient.

Although sexting might seem like harmless fun, it can often come with severe consequences. When someone has nude photos of you, the sender loses control. They can say that they “won’t show anyone” and that it’s just “between the two of you” but as soon as you press send, you’re at their mercy.

These days it’s not uncommon to receive private pictures of someone, pictures that were meant for their significant other’s eyes only. But sometimes people feel like getting revenge after a break-up and before long, private pictures may be sent to everyone on someone’s contact list.

In some cases, sexts are exchanged because a couple is in a long-distance relationship and they want to feel closer to each other.

“We started sexting because we were dating but he doesn’t live close by,” an MC senior said.

Although sexting comes with risks, some people feel comfortable sending pictures of themselves to people they trust.

“I wasn’t apprehensive about sending pictures of myself to him,”

the senior said. “I decided that I was okay with it because I trusted and am comfortable with him.”

Sexts can be used as a form of sexual harassment.

Junior Nichole Silva is a victim of sexting. She receives inappropriate text messages from a guy she has never even met.

“One of my ‘friends’ gave him my name and number without my permission,” Silva said. “It turns out she’s not really my friend.”

This person has been sexting Silva for about a year now.

“He sent me several pictures of himself,” Silva said. “Some pictures were just of his face and some were extremely inappropriate. Then he would tell me to send him pictures of myself, and when I didn’t respond, he would call me at ridiculous hours of the night leaving angry messages.

It scared me to death. I have never met this guy in my life; he doesn’t even go to this school.”

Silva was shocked and outraged by this person’s behavior.

“Most of the time, I just didn’t respond, but sometimes I would feel so violated and angry that I would text back and tell him to leave me alone and that he should get a life,” Silva said. “It only made him text me more often.”

Not only did this person scare Silva, but he caused problems between Silva and her boyfriend, senior Nick England.

“Nick and I struggled and argued a lot about what to do with this guy,” Silva said. “Nick tried to convince me to let him talk to the guy, but I was too scared that it would turn into a big dispute. Nick worried about me a lot and was afraid I wasn’t handling it properly, and he was right. It’s been a year since he has had my number and I still get texts every once in a while. I find it best to not even respond.”

For situations like Silva’s, it is hard for the administration to get involved because it happens off campus. But, Assistant Principal Greg Magno has advice for anyone who has a similar problem.

“We have all kinds of advice for you, like go to the police; change your phone number, and monitor who has your information by not posting stuff all over Facebook.”

Del Norte, MC coach arrested under suspicion of sexting minor brittlyn foster staff writer The color drained from an MC girls lacrosse player’s face when her mom sat her down to tell her the news that her respected coach, Rob Alarcon, age 35, had been arrested Jan. 7 under suspicion of sending inappropriate text messages with sexual content to a female student at Del Norte High School.

“He’s a really friendly guy but he wouldn’t have crossed the line like that,” the MC player said. “It would have been really been out of his character.”

Alarcon had been a freshman soccer coach at Del Norte, the MC varsity girls lacrosse coach, and a local club soccer coach at PQ Premier. On the morning of Jan. 8, he was “permanently released from all coaching duties at PUSD,” according to the Union Tribune.

“As always the safety of our students is paramount, and we will continue to be diligent about protecting all the students,” Principal Tom McCoy told the Union Tribune.

At the arraignment on Jan. 8, Alarcon was released from his custody pending a more complete investigation.

According to counselor Diana White, the shock of an incident like this can potentially be damaging for an athlete’s trust in a coach.

“As an athlete it’s hard to hear something like that,” White said. “It makes everyone nervous especially when you put your trust in your coach.”

Assistant Principal Katie Salo was “shocked” about the students being struck with this type of news and she hopes to actively work to resolve this issue.

“Our first concern was for the safety of our students,” Salo said.

“Then if the allegations are true, we are obviously very disappointed. It was something we weren’t expecting nor wanted, but we are ready to help out our students as much as possible along with being cooperative with the police investigation.”

According to one of the players, an incident like this has the potential to lead many people into prejudgments of falsity based on first reactions.

“People are just really quick to assume that he was creeping on the girl, when that’s not really how it went down,” the MC lacrosse player said.

“And I think it’s just the drama of what people initially hear that shapes their opinions, with or without hearing the whole story.”

According to another MC lacrosse player, the ignorance of exaggeration and condescending attitude some bystanders feel for the alleged incident is unhelpful in resolving the situation.

“It does bother me because not many people know the real facts so it could be something misinterpreted,” the lacrosse player said. “Or it could have actually happened, but it’s not our place to judge either way, especially because teenagers tend to over exaggerate with offensive terms and rumors.”

McCoy announced at the Jan.12 parent lacrosse meeting that in addition to Alarcon, the entire coaching staff had also been let go pending the selection of the new head coach.

“Currently we are looking for someone to take over the program,” McCoy said. “And we will allow them the opportunity to pick their own coaching staff. In the past we have always been fortunate to find a new coach in time for the season. And we plan to have someone in place by the time of tryouts on Feb. 20.”

Salo has high expectations the athletes will be able to bounce back even stronger despite this set back.

“I know with the resilience of our students that they are going to play hard and represent the school well,” Salo said. “No matter who their coach is, I have every confidence in them.”

News

A2

Mt. Carmel SUN

January 22, 2010

Pep rally showcases dancers, sports, WF court NICOLE BUSTAMANTE STAFF WRITER

JARED SERVANTEZ | PHOTOGRAPHER

Seniors Jessica Hua, Megan Bourasa, Tony Tu, Ashley Yang-Halsey, and Joanna Stewart dance in an encore performance of their winning class competition routine.

White and blue gossamer bows covered the gym, snowflakes hung from the ceiling, and baby blue streamers wrapped around the handrails. This was the sight that all MC students witnessed as they walked into the gym on Friday morning for the Winter Assembly.

“The purpose of this assembly is to recognize winter sports, to advertise for our upcoming winter formal dance and to showcase the talent of the various MC organizations,” ASB’s pep rally commissioner senior Taryn Kamita said.

The assembly consisted of a warm welcome by the emcees, the sports video while the various winter sports walked out, followed the by a performance by the class competition champions, the seniors, and the various dance performances. The second assembly was also lucky enough to enjoy a rap by the original performers and a human scavenger hunt, which was played for class points.This was the second time a sports video has been used at a sports assembly in MC history.

“I think the sports video went really well because it didn’t go for too long so it didn’t lose the students’ interest,” Kamita said. “But it also still recognized all the sports in a unique way.”

After the sports video came the class competition performers.

“I was really ecstatic when we won our class comp so sharing our performance with the whole

SUN SPOTS JACOB SNYDER STAFF WRITER

PACILIO RETIRING After starting his English teaching career at MC in 1977, earning the San Diego County Teacher of the Year Award in 1999, and writing a book in 2009 (“Meetings at the Metaphor Café”), English teacher Bob Pacilio is retiring.

“I love his teaching style,” junior Austin Sher said. “The way he uses music is incredible. He’s definitely going to be missed around campus.”

SEA SHEPHERDS

MAHSA FIROOZINASAB | PHOTOGRAPHER

The Winter Formal court includes seniors (L-R) Jodie Ha, Kevin Lage, Mackenzie Lance, Katie Thompson, Jesse Greathouse, Danielle Hindi, Jay Huey, Saretha Kelly, Eddie Metcalf, Alyssa Levy, Tony Tu, Taryn Kamita, and David Suh. Voting took place for the king and queen and the royalty will be announced tomorrow during the dance.

To raise money for different things, the Sea Shepherds Club is having a fundraiser where people are encouraged to recycle ink cartridges and old cell phones.

“The money from the fundraiser will possibly go to the club, research centers in San Diego, or the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society” senior Marita Barger, club president, said. The recycle box is in the Sun Center.

school I thought was just really great and a lot of fun,” senior class president Bethany Sparks said.

Following the encore performance by the seniors was the All Male Hip Hop team. All Male had been preparing all year and this is one of their few assembly performances.

“I thought that dancing in the rally was really fun even though the first assembly’s energy wasn’t that great the second assembly had a lot more spirit and was louder,” All Male captain sophomore Darren Vongphakdy said.

Shortly after that, the first assembly witnessed a show after three hard working ASBers attempted to roll out the red carpet and had some difficulties. However, all their hard work paid off when the Winter Formal court walked out looking their best.

After that the assembly continued with performances from the Dance Troupe and Fil-Am. “Our performance was from a competition earlier this year, we got fourth, but we were definitely the crowd pleaser so we were excited to show the school how much talent Fil-Am Club has to offer,” senior Jasmin Yoon said.

Overall the pep rally commissioner was satisfied with the end result.

“I think the assembly overall rates an eight or a nine because the line-up ran smoothly,” Kamita said. “There were little technical difficulties and timing went right but overall it was effective in advertising for Winter Formal and it was good exposure for the winter sports.”

All-Academic teams shine during class and competition

MELANIE DICKINSON CENTERSPREAD EDITOR

With an average GPA of 3.83, the varsity boys cross country team led the school and the CIF San Diego Section in academic achievement last season.

Varsity girls cross country and varsity boys waterpolo were also honored, with average GPAs of 3.75 and 3.63, respectively.All three were named All-Academic teams by the San Diego Section CIF, meaning they averaged the highest grade point average of all the teams in the county for their individual sports.

They will be recognized at a Board of Managers meeting on Feb. 2.

“It was a surprise,” senior Jacob Wood, a cross country runner, said. “I don’t think any of us had even heard of it before.”

Wood, who’s been running on cross country since freshman year, is also among MC’s individual athletes to be honored by CIF. He, along with cross country runner Erin Menefee and girls tennis player Sabi LeonChao, have been ranked on this year’s Union Tribune All Academic First Team, which honors individual athletes with the highest GPAs

MC

in the county, and who had achieved great athletic success in CIF championships.

“In cross country, you’re forced to focus on your own and take initiative,” Wood said.

“If you’re good at that, it helps a lot with your school work.”

Each athlete’s and each team’s dedication on and off the track (and in and out of the pool) earned them this county-wide distinction.

“I really can’t think of a better group of girls,” Menefee said. “We just have the perfect balance with every member of the team dedicated to their academics, running, and most importantly working hard for their team.”

Other honored teams included La Costa Canyon field hockey, Westview football, San Dieguito Academy girls golf, Carlsbad girls tennis, and Marananatha Christian girls volleyball.

CIF San Diego Section will be forwarding the teams for the next level of competition – the CIF State All Academic Team honors where they will be compared to the rest of California.

“It’s not something that we all focus on or talk about, but it’s important for the team,” Wood said.

News

Mt. Carmel SUN

A3

January 22, 2010

Frosh Retreat inspires tears, new friendships Vandana bhairi Staff Writer

Mary Carmen Gonzalez | Photo editor

Andy Mah (11), in plaid, leads (l-r) Eddie Oh (9), Leslie Lien (9), and Rani Marshall (9) in a group activity during Freshman Retreat.

The four freshmen huddled closely in their group, like they were told, and in low murmurs began to answer the questions given to them. Looking around anxiously while awaiting their turn each saw a different thing: some teary eyes, some serious expressions, and some trying to stay positive despite others around them.

However, the one thing that they all saw, that anyone could see, in the gym on January 8, was a whole lot of Sundevil pride. This is Freshman Retreat.

Occurring annually, Freshman Retreat is a way for freshman to bond with their class, and is the transformation of a student into a true Sundevil.

As in past years, motivational speaker Keith Hawkins assisted the freshmen along their journey.

Freshman Matt McEachern thought that Hawkins fulfilled his role as their speaker.

“Keith Hawkins was really cool and funny and he knew how to talk to high schoolers,” McEach-

Sundevil shines on silver screen Nicole BustAmante Staff Writer On Jan. 22, MC’s own Chase Ellison will be starring in his very first movie on the silver screen.

However it is not his first major role and was definitely anything but shy at the movie audition.

“The auditions were open to everyone across the country which is actually unusual,” Ellison said. “But I wasn’t nervous mostly because no one told me I was competing for the spot against the whole country until it was over.”

“I play Randy Harris a 13 or 14 year old kid whose mother is dating the Rock’s character, Derek.” Ellison said. “I am basically the typical kid role who is really protective of his mother and I just don’t want him in my family.”

Shortly after the film release, Chase along with an organization called Alana’s Achievers are teaming up with the Charger’s Athletes for education to watch The Tooth Fairy with a group of underprivileged children.

“Alana’s Achievers are rentPhoto Provided by Chase Ellison ing out a theatre in order to give Chase Ellison (11) will be featured in “The Tooth Fairy.”

the children free admission, popcorn, drinks, etc.,” Ellison said.

Ellison has been involved with Alana’s Achievers and the Chargers Athletes for Education for a couple months now.

“I actually met Alana in an acting class with another boy named Jacob, both of them are from the show Are You Smarter Then a Fifth Grader,” Ellison said. “My mom is also really close friends with Alana’s mom as well and when I knew I needed community service for CSF {California Scholarship Foundation} I thought it was a good idea to join.”

One of the events that these two organizations recently did together was an event where they gave away Christmas presents to every underprivileged child who showed up to their event.Along with enjoying his volunteer time, Ellison also really enjoys his filming time as well.

“My favorite moment from filming this movie is probably when I was filming a flying scene with the Rock,” He said. “He was holding me and we were both in harnesses but when the director yelled cut he dropped me and we both just kind of swung and hung there for a while. It was pretty funny.”

ern said. “But he knew when to get serious when trying to make an important point and I guess that is what makes him unique.”

McEachern explains that Retreat was a mixture of both serious and not so serious activities where you had to meet new people.

“We did all these exercises where you get into groups with people you don’t even know and you have to tell each other about yourself and things that happen in your life,” he said.

It is these exercises that often break the barrier, letting the students reveal some of the most personal things going on in their life as well as unleashing their emotions.

Freshman Alex La Scalla thought these exercises brought a sort of unification to the student body.

“Everyone was really supportive and a lot of the guys actually cried too,” she said. “Some of the guys needed more comforting than the girls did so that was cool to see them like that; not like the typical tough guys.”

Another point that Hawkins hoped to overcome was trust; he had the freshman pair up and do

various trust exercises, some easy and others more difficult.

“It was hard for me to trust people, and at the same time it wasn’t,” La Scalla said. “Even though I didn’t know the people I was paired up with it wasn’t a big deal because I just knew that they weren’t going to go around telling people what had been said.”

La Scalla believes that Freshman Retreat was a success and sees certain changes already in the class of 2013.

“I think the biggest change is that everyone seems to be less catty,” she said.

All in all, La Scalla felt that the one thing she took away from it was the fact that everyone has a story.

“If somebody isn’t as nice to you as they should be…then it probably means there’s something that’s going on in their family or with their friends that’s bothering them and they don’t want to talk about it,” she said. “{Retreat} also helped to be able to talk to people about your problems and be able to get them out instead of keeping them inside you.”

Winter Formal becomes ‘frozen in time’ in Balboa angela kim Staff writer The Winter Formal dance tomorrow at the Hall of Champions features the theme: “Frozen in Time.”

Due to some date complications, Sophomore ASB president Christine Chua and the rest of the ASB had to alter the usual theme.

“The theme is different from last year because we had a Valentines theme,” she said. “This year is more of a winter theme. The feeling of the dance will be different from last year’s which was more red.”

ASB tries to come up with various, interesting themes.

In this case, it took a sports approach and angle in honor of the sport memorabilia and athletic theme in the Hall of Champions.

“Since it’s the Hall of Champions, we tried to come up with a sporty kind of theme,” Chua said.

“We tried to think of ways we could use a sports kind of word—so we thought of ‘time’ since all sports use time, whether you’re timing a swim or a run. And ‘frozen’ to fit January, because January’s still kind of wintery…so ‘Frozen in Time’ kind of fits perfectly.”

Saturday’s dance will be the third time the Hall of Champions in Balboa Park will be used for the Winter Formal dance.

ASB director Sanford Carvajal found that the location is high quality but also affordable for the winter formal dance this year.

“Why do we use the Hall of Champions? It’s a great venue for a great price,” he said. “The Hall of Champions gives you a Prom quality dance without the price. It’s not $75 to go. It’s funny— the venue costs, with the lighting, $5500.

If we wanted the whole Prom there, it’s $15,000 because you have the word ‘Prom.’”

Carvajal stands by the location because of the good student response.

“It’s gorgeous, it is the perfect place,” he said.

“As long as we keep having 400 or 500 people coming to Winter Formal, we’ll take it off campus because we can afford to do it.”

Although the ticket sales this year are lower than previous years due to decreasing student population at MC, ASB members remains confident that this year’s dance will preserve the established quality dance experience in Balboa Park.

“The theme kind of takes more planning than anything else,” Chua said. “We are planning to have clocks as centerpieces and setting them to all one time and make them look frozen.”

Tomorrow, ASB will set up and decorate for commencement at 8 p.m. to 11 p.m.

Mt. Carmel SUN

January 22, 2009

MARY CARMEN GONZALEZ | PHOTO EDITOR

Frequent moves keeps Danneckers connected

JORDAN UGALDE STAFF WRITER Getting used to new places is rarely easy, and one might expect that moving once every few years might be difficult to handle.

However, senior David Dannecker and his sister, sophomore Marina Dannecker, have moved five times because of their father’s work in the navy and have found their experiences to be endearing.

“It’s interesting because you get to see new places but it’s hard because you have to leave people behind and get used to new cultures,” Marina said.

According to David, getting accustomed to new people becomes easy after moving often, and the real difficulties spawn from changing one’s daily routine.

“Probably the biggest challenge of moving is

getting settled into the new set of activities,” David said.

To help overcome this issue, the Danneckers stay close as a family, since they share similar perspectives.

“Family is a huge role in my life,” David said.

“When you move the only common environmental factor is your family.”

This commonality became very important when the family moved out of the country for the first time to live in England from 2005-2009.

One of the main differences that the Danneckers had to get accustomed to was the different school system, which requires uniforms and is mandatory only until 10th grade.

David found the earlier exit grade to be a plus, since it forces students to choose what they want to focus on earlier.

“You specialize a lot earlier because if you quit school early you have to be prepared to work,” David said.

Marina, on the other hand, appreciated the amount of travel that she did through the school, with field trips to Japan and Austria.

Both Danneckers found England to be very worldly and yet modest at the same time. “[England] has a proud and, for the most part, welcoming culture that is aware of its history but also aware that it’s not the most relevant nation today,” David said. “But as a whole, it’s one of those countries you can’t really capture in one idea.”

Ramirez moves past communism, embargo, for life in SD TJ RIVERA-ALONSO ENTERTAINMENT EDITOR The sweat drips down his face. His apprehension does not allow him to stay still. As the plane lands on the runway at the airport in Miami, he wonders. What will he do when he gets to the United States? Where will he and his mother go? How will he communicate without even knowing the language?

This is the situation that senior Eloy Ramirez was faced with when he moved to San Diego from Cuba about 15 months ago.

At hearing this, most would wonder how a Cuban teenager could move to the United States. Our country has an embargo on Cuba, so most Americans can never visit. On the other hand, the communist government in Cuba allows none to leave the country. The U.S. usually allows those who desert to stay. Ramirez’s situation was

quite different however.

Ramirez was actually granted the opportunity to move to the U.S. with his mother. In Cuba, there was a raffle-like situation where some families who had family members in the States were allowed to go live with them.

Ramirez and his mother were among the lucky chosen ones.

His father and grandparents had already moved to San Diego so he and his mother could not wait to move here and be reunited with the family members they had not seen for fourteen years.

Since the year he moved to the United States, Ramirez has attended MC. His life is much different from the one he had in Cuba; however, he feels that he is acclimating pretty well. He said learning the language is the toughest problem he has faced since moving here.

He still misses Cuba, his home country, very much.

“La vida alli es un poquito mas dificil, pero a la misma vez mas divertida,” he said. {Life there was a bit more difficult but at the same time, much more exciting}.

He said the culture difference has been very pronounced as well. People here have different priorities and different ways of enjoying themselves.

“La vida aqui es differente,” he said. “Parece que la gente prefiere estar alfrente de una computadora o simplemente con sus amigos. Alla no es haci. Puedes hacer lo que te de la gana. Hay mas fiestas.” {Life here is different. Seems like people prefer being in front of a computer or simply with their friends. There, it isn’t like that. More parties.} Overall, the last year has been very tough for him.

Life has its bumpy roads and obstacles and it seems that Ramirez is the type of person that takes these challenges head on.

A5

Lebanese cousins escape disaster to pursue education, American dream

MARY CARMEN GONZALEZ | PHOTO EDITOR

JAY HUEY STAFF WRITER Right off the Mediterranean Sea lies Lebanon, a country geographically similar to San Diego County, in terms of population size and the land area. With a few basic similarities, one could assume that the transition to San Diego from Lebanon would be in a walk in the park.

But two immigrants from Lebanon, freshman Rokaya Nuhaily and her cousin, freshman Jenanne Nuhaily, initially had trouble adapting to their new lifestyle. Coming from a different country with no general understanding of San Diego, the two girls felt like they were sucked into a completely different world when they immigrated.

“We couldn’t speak any English,” Jenanne said. “In Lebanon everyone knows each other because it is smaller than America and everyone

speaks Arabian or French.”

Moving from their lifelong home into a foreign country, the girls didn’t really know what to expect.

The year 2006 was a disaster in Lebanon.

The war between Israel and Lebanon forced many civilians to emigrate to other countries in search for a safer way of life, Rokaya and her family.

“Because of the war in 2006, my family had to leave,” she said. “My mom didn’t want to move at first.

I felt that I wasn’t going to like moving because I had to leave my cousins, grandma, and friends behind.”

For Jenanne, her family’s primary reason for coming to America was to live their American dream; for Jenanne to receive the best education possible.

“My family decided to come to America in 2004; we came here for high school and college,” she said. “Whenever people want to immigrate for a better education, they want to come to America.”

Since moving to San Diego, the girls said they’ve befriended many students. They enjoy the school system in America; in Lebanon they would study a different subject each day as opposed to five different classes each day.

Although the Nuhaily girls miss their family and friends back home, they feel determined to graduate from high school and college in America. They’re not sure of what they will be doing in the future, but for now they are living their American dream.

Yiu Yu hurdles language barriers JENNIFER FARRELL | PHOTO GRAPHER

MARY CARMEN GONZALEZ | PHOTO EDITOR

A4

Sun Spread

Mt. Carmel SUN

KEVIN LAGE SPORTS EDITOR Moving to a new school is never easy. New faces, new places, and new traditions can really make it difficult to be the “new kid.”

Even a student moving to a new school from a different school in San Diego to Mt. Carmel would be very difficult. Someone from as close school as close as Westview would not understand sights like the yellow wall or the phrase “its great to be a Sundevil.”

Those difficulties can be incredibly difficult for someone, such as sophomore Cheuk Yiu Yu, who just two years ago moved to San Diego from Hong Kong.

“All of my family members moved here at once, so I didn’t really have a say in whether or not

we moved,” Yu said.

When he moved here, Yu only had minimal training in English and was of course a little bit confused.

“The hardest part of moving was the language,” Yu said in his hesitant, broken English. “My first year here I joined the ELL class because I only had learned a little bit of English while in Hong Kong.”

Luckily for Yu, he found San Diego to be fairly similar to Hong Kong so he did not experience too big of a culture shock. He found school to be fairly similar here as well and while the customs were different he adapted quickly.

Despite these differences with the language and culture, Yu still enjoys San Diego and wants to remain here.

“After high school and college, I think I’d like to stay here,” he said.

Read more about Sundevils from different cultures on MCSUN.org ART BY CHRISTIAN JUN |ARTIST COMPUTER GRAPHICS BY MELANIE DICKINSON | CENTERSPREAD EDITOR

Opinions

A6 THAT’S WHAT SHE SAID MACKENZIE LANCE

January 22, 2010

The Earth: A Planetary Time Bomb CORDELL HUNTER STAFF WRITER

Meditations on Keats and Rage I totally ragequit writing this column at least four times.

I got super sad face about not being able to think of any good ideas, so I just raged.

My dear friend Jesse Liang introduced me to the prefix “rage” at the beginning of this year.

There are all sorts of things you can rage do.

You can ragequit if you hate something, you can ragewin if you’re good at something, you can even ragesleep after working hard all day. While raging, it is easy to get “sadface.”

Example phrase: I had a calc test and a chem test during the same week and I had to write an essay on Wuthering Heights. It made me so sadface. Now that Jesse added to the MC vernacular, a language that I have become fluent in over my three and a half years as a Sundevil.

My first MC words were probably “yellow walls” or “green fences.”

Example sentence: Yea, it was a total pain to get to class, two people stood in the yellow wall and I waited for a solid two minutes.

Soon after, I learned the basic terminology important for any Sundevil. My classes were always “first,” ‘second” or “third,” never “Period 1” or “Period 2.” I was taking “APs,” not “Advanced Placement classes.”

AP Classes: Classes taken at an advanced pace, often just for the five point A. Frequented by grade monkeys.

Grade Monkeys. Yet another staple of the MC language.

Example sentence: Every year I have grade monkeys who only take APES for the five point A, Mr. Dorr said during a break from his long, boring, monotone lecture.

This example brings me to a specific detail of the MC language.

Each teacher makes individual contributions, that often transfer classroom to classroom when spoken by their students.

By the second week of my freshman year I had heard “You might as well take a cheeseburger and shove it up your aorta” so many times I was scared to eat fast food and I hadn’t even take Coach J’s class yet.

Eventually in his class I found out not to get into dangerous “Re-laaationships,” and that he would always grant “power to the runner.”

Some phrases are more exclusive to certain groups on campus.

I know I would never want Coach Boyer to tell me my running is “weak sauce” or to have to yell “For the love of Oprah” when he sees me race, but to Sundevils not in cross country or track, those phrases could be meaningless.

Anyone who isn’t in AP Lit. might not understand why it is essential to begin stories with “In Korea” even if the discussion has nothing to do with Asia, or why Keats is the answer to life of why we should all have an irrational fear of bees. And if you don’t understand that, then you’re being a casual.

With words that every Sundevil hears, the meanings can change from what it means out of school to what a word means at MC. Sunny isn’t a weather forecast.

Sunny is a scary mask and a pair of footie pajamas with a tail that we all grow to love as our mascot.

The MC language is exclusive to our school, and helps build a bond within the student body.

By this time freshman year we are all conditioned to be able to complete the line “Fight on for Mt.Carmel, Sundevil’s ________and __________- win.”

Because of the constant reminders of all our Sundevil vocab, we learn to take pride in the gold and scarlet. Spirits high for Mt. Carmel!

Mt. Carmel SUN

Tick-Tock. Tick-Tock.

Do you hear that? That, my friend, is the sound of time running out. Precious, irrecoverable time.

While we sit around, watching TV and playing video games, in other words doing absolutely nothing, our planet is dying.

And the reason the earth is dying is because certain politicians and corporations are keeping us from doing something about it.

They make their money by destroying the environment; so naturally, the greedy bastards have a reason to block environmental legislation.

But that does not mean that it is a good reason.

The earth is also dying because we are letting it.

Who gives a damn if big business doesn’t want us to stand up for our planet?

We can make up all the excuses we want to, but everyone knows that true power lies with the people.

So what if nothing came out of the Copenhagen conference. Who cares if lobbyists have overrun Capitol Hill and are fighting for the corporations?

While support from lawmakers would help things get done faster, what really matters in the end is what you do.

Don’t sit around and whine that people aren’t making decisions for you, stand up and fight. Small things, such as using efficient lights, recycling and buying recycled products go a long way.

Tick-tock. Tick-tock.

Time is still running out. If we don’t do something soon, it will be too late. The polar ice caps are melting at a faster rate than anyone thought was possible. Droughts are becoming widespread and increasingly severe.

On top of all this, the warming climate has led to beetle infestations, which are causing the decline of our forests. But the problem goes far beyond just climate change.

Strip mining for precious metals has ruined previously untouched valleys. Developments and clear cutting in South America have ravaged the

rainforests almost beyond repair and animal poaching has reduced hundreds of species of to the brink of extinction.

Uncounted tons of human garbage has found its way into the oceans and our landfills are overflowing with trash. This is not ignorance. This is not peaceful acceptance of the inevitable.

This is rape, rape of the earth, and the result of pure, unbridled insanity.

This is our legacy.

If we keep up at this rate, we will kill ourselves off in less than two hundred years and the planet will be left as a dry, barren waste heap, completely devoid of any life.

We need to put the fate of the earth before any other decision we make. Short term political goals can wait for their moment. After all, what good are healthcare and education on a dead planet? The life of our home is in your hands. The choice to save it or condemn it is up to you. But remember, choosing wrongly is the same thing as locking yourself in your house and burning it down.

Tick-tock. Tick-tock.

CHRISTIAN JUN | ARTIST

Free items result in greed, loss of respect ALISON ASHWORTH BUSINESS MANAGER

CHRISTIAN JUN | ARTIST

Yes, it is true. I go to Costco for the free samples, and I’m sure many of you would admit that you do the same.

The word “free” is treasured right now due to the poor economy.

If anything is “free,” shoppers will come running.

Although many products have been dropping in price to attract buyers, and 99 cent stores seem to be popping up on every corner, people will still go to the extremes for something that is free.

It’s not just food either. Banks and other businesses give away tshirts, mouse pads, cups, hats, etc. as advertising.

The items are all “free” because they’re probably not very valuable. However, people scramble for these cheesy things, because they’re “free.”

I find nothing wrong with people wanting free stuff.

I would think you were crazy if you turned down something that was free. However, I find fault in the way people act.

Almost every day is like Black Friday in Costco.

The store employees carefully put the free cracker samples on the tray and place it out on the front of the cart, and everyone lunges.

There are customers grabbing four or five samples for “their family” or “their friends” and others push past people in line so they can get a one centimeter-sized piece of bread.

People need to realize that they need to behave appropriately in public.

Being polite isn’t hard, it isn’t painful, so just try to be a little bit more respectful of others.

I always find that whenever I am in a store or out in public I notice someone being impolite and think,

“that’s rude.”

Being polite isn’t a chore, it’s just common courtesy to respect others. You will find that the smallest things make the biggest differences in society.

It’s like karma. If you find that there is only one sample and two people, just wait, it won’t kill you.

Giving someone a smile, or letting someone go first in line is something that might help them be kinder to others.

Start a chain reaction. Maybe your family and friends will start seeing a difference in you, and may change with you.

So this is my challenge to you: Put others first for just a week, and see what response you get. Do this at school, in public, and with your friends and family.

Make your New Years resolution to be nicer and kinder to others, and don’t just think about yourself.

It’s not too late!

‘Love doesn’t need a reason, that’s what makes it love’ BRITTLYN FOSTER STAFF WRITER It seems like the only thing people can agree on today is that the world is on an inevitable downward spiral.

Depression, anger, and unfathomable loneliness are demolishing the reason people rise out of bed in the morning.

But there has to be something that keeps real people striving to make something better of their life; that is why I believe in LOVE. Love is the strongest verb in the English language, and it is powerful enough to destroy hearts but astounding enough to lift even the most broken battered hearts into endur-

ing happiness. Yet, it is not just an emotion shared between two people in a relationship; love is a way of life. People display love everywhere; from that random stranger handing you your wallet that you wouldn’t have realized you dropped, to the best friend you can call up when your world is falling apart, and can count on to help you pick the pieces up off the floor.

This is why I refuse to believe love doesn’t exist. If love was dead then there would be no hope for the world to change, and if that was true then I believe many people would lose the raging battle against evil in this world.

Through all the wars and destruction, from the beginning of time to today, love has been the only thing to remain a constant. This

can only lead me to one conclusion: humans need love.

A good friend of mine told me once that love doesn’t need a reason, that’s what makes it love. It could not be truer because people can’t put into words how or why they love somebody, it’s just that unexplainable feeling in their gut they can’t shake, that makes it clear.

I feel that people miss out so much because they are too scared or too self conscious to tell others how they feel. And that just contributes to the increasing loneliness epidemic in this world. I believe if people just said how they felt and lived without fear of rejection, then we could undoubtedly live up to our full potential.

So why is it that we don’t just act from our heart and stop granting fear the opportunity to steal our coveted happiness?

As easy as it sounds, it’s because people would rather sit back with hopes good people will come along, instead of taking a risk and going out and finding them.

I think Dalai Gyatso, spiritual leader of the Tibetan people, said it the best: “Always take into account that great love and great achievements involve even greater risk.”

So stop holding your breath and stop counting all the reasons you have to not give love a second or third or 30th chance. Because in the end all the money and material success you acquired will slip away and once again only love will remain.

STAFF EDITORIAL

Sexting results in jail time, damaged reputations We're all aware of it. We all know who does and doesn't. We know the social consequences. So why?

Why is it that, according to a poll conducted by the National Campaign to Prevent Teen and Unplanned Pregnancy, over one quarter of teenagers are involved in "sexting"?

The technical definition of sexting is the sending or receiving of sexually charged pictures, video, or messages. It is simply irresponsible.

What teens need to realize is that once a picture is sent, the consequences are out of their control.

No matter how much trust you might think you have in the recipient, what that person does with the material is out of your hands and simply not worth it.

One picture can be forwarded, put online, ruin reputations, and maybe even be seen by college administrators, employers, and parents. Giv-

ing in to peer pressure is obviously not worth losing the respect of your peers or parents.

The conversation with parents and administrators would be mortifying for any teen involved. And not only is it embarrassing, but all trust could be lost.

Next time you think about sending a picture, just consider the possibility that you may have to look into your parents’ eyes and tell them exactly what you've been doing.

Not only is it irresponsible, it's illegal. Teens who are caught sending images face a variety of charges such as manufacturing, disseminating, or possessing child pornography.

Students who receive the photos also face charges of possessing child pornography.

In addition, it can ruin reputations. Last October, 13 year old Hope Wittsel of Florida committed suicide

after explicit pictures of her were exploited.

Eighteen year old Jessica Logan of Ohio also committed suicide after her ex-boyfriend forwarded her “sexts” to several friends after their break-up.

Both girls faced several weeks of torment from classmates before taking their lives. It just doesn't make sense. No one would be A-okay with standing nude in the quad.

How is that any different than sending a revealing picture without knowing who may end up seeing it?

In an MTV- Associated Press' poll, just under 20 percent of picture recipients show pictures to their friends or another person who was not intended to see it.

Bottom line is that this practice needs to stop. It not only ruins lives, but it’s irresponsible, degrading, and illegal.

KELLY FAN | ARTIST

Opinions

Mt. Carmel SUN

A7

January 22, 2010

Should physician assisted suicide be legal in California?

Currently, physician assisted suicide (PAS) is not legal in California. In some states, such as Oregon and Washington, PAS is legal and is defined as the act of administering a lethal dose of medication supplied by a doctor to chronic pain patients or people with terminal illnesses. In order to be eligible for PAS, the patient must be at least 18 years old and diagnosed with an illness that will cause death within six months. PAS is different from euthanasia in that a patient is fully conscious and aware of their decision.

JARED SERVANTEZ STAFF WRITER Steve Johnson, a 72-year-old cancer patient in Helena, Montana, has lived a long and fulfilling life.

He still has a sound mind, but his cancer is causing him immense pain and, in his own words, a “loss of dignity.”

He’s talked with a doctor about intentionally ending his own life, and after a recent Montana Supreme Court ruling, will be able to do so.

However, in most states, including California, it remains illegal for a doctor to aid in the death of a patient in any way.

But for those left struggling through their final months because of a debilitating medical condition, the option of physician-assisted suicide should be left open.

We all know about our unalienable rights of “life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness”, but shouldn’t the right to one’s own life also include how to end it? Shouldn’t we have the right to die with dignity rather than coughing and convuls-

YES

ing through agonizing weeks of drawn-out torture?

In addition, many dying patients would truly be happier controlling their own fate rather than withering away in a stark white hospital bed.

They could inform loved ones of the date they will be passing on and make their final goodbyes.

Rather than leaving everything up to chance, the whole process would be planned and painless. This would reduce grief for both the dying and their loved ones.

Having the option to go out on their own terms could also be the last remaining aspect of their lives that some terminally-ill patients still have control over, as every other facet of their lives is taken hostage by their disease.

In an existence defined by grief and a deteriorating condition, this final show of dignity and self-determination could be quite important.

Oregon and Washington both have enacted legislation legalizing the practice of physician-assisted suicide with certain regulations. The laws and restrictions of these states

Freshman

and some foreign countries that have legalized the practice with relative success would serve as a good model for California to follow.

By passing effective legislation, regulations could be put in place that would increase overall safety by ensuring that the procedure is conducted under proper medical supervision, discouraging people from dangerously trying to take matters into their own hands.

These laws also explicitly state that a doctor may prescribe lethal medication, but ultimately the patient himself must self-administer it after a written request and confirmation. Such regulations avoid the possibility of a person being administered lethal medication unintentionally.

California should legalize the practice of physician-assisted suicide with safe and effective regulations. We, as human beings and citizens of the United States of America, have the right to exercise our free will to end any pain and suffering resulting from a terminal illness.

NO

SHAYON SAID OPINIONS EDITOR Murder: The unjust killing of another human. In the U.S... no wait, scratch that. In most of the world, the killing of another human being is considered unethical and illegal.

Therefore, murder is wrong. If murder is wrong, and a doctor, who is known to be professional and pristine in his occupation, were to kill one of his patients, then rationally speaking, that doctor’s actions would be considered immoral and breaking the law.

That is the logical “proof” as to why physician assisted suicide should remain illegal.

To begin, a doctor goes through medical school, receives his PhD, and commits to two years of residency in order to become the best at what doctors do: save lives.

Now, if doctors take the Hippocratic Oath, swearing to assure the protection of life to the best of their ability, then they aren’t really doing their job if they are assisting in the deaths of their patients.

Sundevil Perspective

Sophomore

CORDELL HUNTER | PHOTOGRAPHER

Junior

Kelsey Elliott

Michael Pescatore

Nicole Balagtas

“No, it’s inhumane to ask someone to kill you.”

“Yeah, because if they’re going to die eventually, might as well die as soon as possible.”

“Yes, because no one deserves to suffer that much.”

Surveys of physicians in practice show that about 1 in 5 will receive a request for PAS sometime in their career. Somewhere between 5-20% of those requests are eventually carried out.

That may seem like few incidents, but this is the reality. This lack of complaince with patient requests is because every physician knows that it is against their “oath” as a doctor.

The oath I speak of is the “Hippocratic Oath,” an ancient oath in which all doctors swear to ethically practice medicine.

It specifically states, “I will apply dietic measures for the benefit of the sick according to my ability and judgment; I will keep them from harm and injustice. I will neither give a deadly drug to anybody if asked for it, nor will I make a suggestion to this effect.”

Notice the specific phrases “for the benefit of the sick” and “I will neither give a deadly drug to anybody.” Physician assisted suicide is carried out by a physician providing a patient with a lethal dose of medi-

cation.

Therefore, physician assisted suicide must also remain illegal because, not only does it contradict the goal of a doctor, but it also goes against the very oath that a doctor swears to abide by.

Legalizing physician assisted suicide is dangerous because it becomes easy to create loopholes.

Legalizing it will eventually lead to abusing the privilege.

People could convince doctors to help them end their lives, especially those who wish to die for psychological or emotional problems that they have.

If legalized, attitudes towards physician assisted suicide would loosen so much that the human value of life would diminish. A regular check-up conversation with a physician could easily end with an intentional overdose of medicine.

In the end, the importance of life is living it to its fullest and therefore, we should never get to a point where we spend more time looking for a way out of life than for a way to sustain life.

Teacher

Senior

Steve Edwards

Wes Lowe

“Yes, it should be legal because sometimes a person isn’t in the right state of mind and may not have family to help make their decision. ”

31%

34%

OF STUDENTS AGREE THAT PHYSICIAN ASSISTED SUICIDE SHOULD BE LEGALIZED.

OF STUDENTS AGREE THAT PHYSICIAN ASSISTED SUICIDE SHOULD REMAIN ILLEGAL.

“No, if suicide is a recourse, I want to be the one who makes the decision on suicide.

I don’t want a doctor to do the job for me .”

35% OF STUDENTS HAVE NO OPINION ON THE ISSUE OF LEGALIZING PHYSICIAN ASSISTED SUICIDE. *179 STUDENTS POLLED LAURA SLUSSER | ARTIST Editors Mackenzie Lance News Melanie Dickinson Centerspread Shayon Said Opinions Kevin Lage Sports TJ Rivera-Alonso Entertainment Mt. Carmel High School 9550 Carmel Mtn. Rd., San Diego, Rachel Martin Features CA 92129 (858)484-1180 ext. 3211 rmercurio@powayusd.com Dennis Sun Copy/Web http://www.mcsun.org Mary Carmen Gonzalez Photo Amanda Stintsman Photo Our mission is to provide the MC community with an informative, Staff Writers accurate and respectful student-run publication. The SUN seeks to Vandana Bhairi Andy Bolin stimulate the discussion of issues in order to promote a more aware Isaiah Bruce student body. Whether informing, voicing opinion, or entertaining, Nicole Bustamante the SUN strives for standards of balance and good taste.

Kelly Fan Anne Ferguson Brittlyn Foster Cathy McDermott Lauren Hall Editor-in-Chief Jessica Hong Jay Huey Cordell Hunter Rick Mercurio Angela Kim Adviser Abby Mansour Camille Mansour Catherine Jaravata Jared Servantez Sara Shantz Assistant Adviser Jacob Snyder Jordan Ugalde Craig Racicot Staff Photographers Photo Adviser Jennifer Farrell Cordell Hunter Abbas Mamdani Jared Servantez Artists The Mt. Carmel SUN is the official newspaper of Mt. Carmel High School, published by its Journalism 2 students. The views Christian Jun expressed in the SUN do not necessarily represent the opinions of the Mt. Carmel High School administration or PUSD Board Kelly Fan of Education. Unsigned editorials reflect the beliefs of the SUN editorial board. The SUN is a student open forum, and all final content decisions are made by its student editors. Letters to the editor are welcome and should be signed. For advertising rates Laura Slusser Business Manager and information please call, email, or write the SUN at the address above.

Alison Ashworth

DENNIS SUN | ARTIST

MT. CARMEL SUN

Hey, you’re reading the SUN! Good job.

-Kevin Lage

I’ve made so many resolutions that have all been broken. Damn...Oh, there goes another one -Vandana Bhairi

Thumbs

My New Year’s resolution was to not procrastinate...I’ll start that next month -Kelly Fan

I finally bought a new sound system for my car! Now what money am I going to use to buy gas?

-Isaiah Bruce

A8

Opinions

Mt. Carmel SUN

January 22, 2010

The Trimester System Trimesters provide simple route to Trimesters force cramming, take filling credits, offer more electives away from AP class opportunities ANNE FERGUSON STAFF WRITER The budget cuts finally trickled down to MC last year and contributed to a drastic change: the exchange of semesters for trimesters. But even though some students are upset they lose a whole period in which they could be taking yet another AP class, the advantages of this new system far outweigh the drawbacks.

As a student new to the PUSD system, I too was skeptical of there being only five classes per day, but since a trimester equals a semester, I actually can take as many classes as I’d hoped to.

There was no Armageddon when students and staff waved goodbye to semesters; we all came out the other side of the change relatively unharmed. And the benefits gained from switching to trimesters go far beyond helping to address the budget problem.

Firstly, the new system allows students to earn more credits in a shorter amount of time. Trimesters eliminate the need to take summer school classes, though it was nearly impossible to fill graduation requirements without them in years past.

No one enjoyed wasting their precious months of freedom stuck in a classroom, so there’s no reason to complain now that summer school is gone. Anyone who was at all dedicated to an elective class can celebrate; you no longer have to focus on balancing chemical equations when all you want to do is bask in the sun!

This new system has proven itself to be extremely effective for your average student too.

With the old plan, kids could only take six year-long classes; now, we can take seven and still have space for

another one-trimester elective.

As for the brave and ambitious students who want a full day of AP classes, the solution to your problem is to make up the classes you’d normally have to take as a senior in your first two years of school with the extra trimesters. This way, one can spread out those three-trimester classes over a two year span.

What’s more, this extra trimester space gives students the opportunity to take the elective they’ve dreamed about since freshman year but have never been able to fit into their schedules.

I am a part of this category of student. Last trimester, I finally got to take the photo class I’ve been trying to squeeze into my hectic schedule for the past few years.

Kids have greater opportunities to explore departments they may want to major in for college or fields they want to work in because of classes like auto mechanics, computer skills, or journalism. The increased

flexibility with trimesters will result in students who are better prepared for the real world because more kids can take these classes.

This is especially true for seniors with extra trimesters on their hands who can now get out-of-school skills with classes like Work Experience.

We can’t undo the schedule change: working against it is entirely useless. Go with the flow, and be glad that MC only decided to kill summer school and not elective programs like the music or art departments.

The glass is always half full if that’s how you want to see it, and I prefer to see the change to trimesters as a positive adjustment in the long run.

Though the road may be a little bumpy now as teachers, staff and students adjust, we’ll all be better for it in the end.

ABBY MANSOUR STAFF WRITER “Nobody move! I have to finish this lesson!” An MC teacher struggles to regain control over her anxious class after the bell has already rung.

Such struggle results from the lack of time caused by the new trimester system.

Because teachers now have 12 weeks rather than 18 to teach an entire semester’s worth of lessons, they have inadvertently taken it out on us, the students, by assigning massive amounts of homework.

“Hate to tell it to you but you guys are definitely the guinea pigs” these teachers say. “We’ll just have to suffer through this together; it’s new for us too.”

It’s not like I don’t appreciate the efforts that the teachers are making.

I know they are trying very hard to teach their full curriculum, but they are not the ones applying to colleges.

It’s not they who are finding that if they had been given enough time to earn that A,

The MC Opinion:

courses than planned because AP classes still take up an entire year.

Seniors who had planned on taking all six academic AP classes now do not have this opportunity.

Even seniors not planning on taking AP classes have been negatively affected because they had still planned their year out and had to readjust everything so that they would still receive all of the credits needed to graduate.

I have been told that the trimester system is extremely beneficial to the underclassmen because it allows students to take more academic courses.

However, in several cases, sophomores have been denied classes of their choice for several reasons.

In the case of one sophomore, a French 3 class wasn’t available for her in the first trimester.

However, the same course was not to be offered during second trimester. She and two other people in the same situation are now placed in French 4 while the teacher tries to teach them individually. This makes it extremely difficult, if not impossible, to learn the language.

In theory, the trimesters aren’t such a bad idea. However, I believe that in this year of transition, it has had a greater negative impact than positive.

CHRISTIAN JUN AND KELLY FAN | ARTISTS

Vice-Principal Commentary: Mr. Garrett I am in support of Mt. Carmel’s transition to the trimester system.

Last year, I worked closely with the teachers’ restructuring committee as they considered making a change in Mt. Carmel’s scheduling format. I was in favor of a change away from semesters because the semester system has limitations for many students pursuing their diploma.

One of these limitations is insufficient opportunity to complete UC A-G requirements and also participate in a four-year-elective program such as ASB, AVID, band or choir.

In the past, this limitation was largely overcome by the availability of summer school.

Unfortunately, in the ten years that I have been at Mt. Carmel , I have seen summer school change from 36+ courses including Chemistry, Physics and Honors Algebra to eight courses with no offerings for students in fouryear-elective programs.

Another limitation of semesters is no opportunity for quick remediation when a student does poorly in a part 1- part 2 course sequence. In most cases, when a student fails part 1 of a course they are obliged to continue on to part 2 and then are left to fit the needed repeat course into summer school or the following year. In addition, failing part 1 and moving directly on to part 2 leaves a student with poor preparation for part 2.

maybe we would’ve gotten into our dream school.

It’s our futures that are on the line and that are getting negatively impacted by this new system.

Another huge factor is the lack of tutorial time. Twenty minutes is simply not enough to finish anything.

Although some teachers stay later (which is also an inconvenience for them), some teachers simply don’t have the luxury of staying after to make up for rushed lessons. This often results in lower grades due to lack of understanding and time to finish and make up tests.

Honors classes, which were originally designed to move faster than average classes, are now moving at a near impossible pace.

In addition, many seniors and juniors who were planning on taking AP classes have actually had to take fewer

A further limitation of semesters is the inability of students to accelerate into upper level courses. For example, a student who enters high school taking Algebra cannot make it to AP Calculus.

During the work of the teachers’ committee, I acted as an objective advisor by providing information, both negative and positive, on semesters, trimesters and 4 x4.

I had access to this information through my role as master schedule administrator and my connections to like colleagues in other schools.

Objectivity notwithstanding, I did advocate strongly for a move away from semesters.It was clear to me that under current circumstances, namely ever increasing budget pressure and ever increasing numbers of highschoolers seeking UC A-G, semesters are not the best system for Mt. Carmel students.

Trimesters have not yet solved all the problems created by the semester system, that will take at least two to three years, and they have brought some new problems. Among these are pressure on the teaching staff to effectively offer curriculum in the new format and pressure on the office staff to manage a scheduling system that was once a seasonal effort and is now year-round.

However, I believe that remaining with semesters would have brought

68%

OF STUDENTS LIKE THE TRIMESTER SYSTEM MORE THAN SEMESTERS *179 STUDENTS POLLED

just as much pressure as that system became less and less able to meet the needs of students. For all staff, the focus must remain on students and their success.

Many upperclassmen were upset by this transition in the middle of their high school career and it is true that they will not benefit from the longterm changes promised by trimesters.

Nevertheless, they have benefited from flexible scheduling, increased access to elective courses and, ironically, increased availability of off-roll time. When Westview opened with the 4 x 4, hundreds of students transferred away from Westview.

Many of these transfers were running from the new and untested system.

Now the 4 x 4 is established and effective. In time, the trimester system will become just as familiar and comfortable to students. Having said that, I hope trimesters never becomes a “that’s how we’ve always done it” phenomenon.

I applaud Mt. Carmel staff for making the tough decision to transition to a new format and I hope that they continue to question why and how things are done on behalf of students. In the long run, this best serves Mt. Carmel students.

Sincerely, Ron Garrett

69%

OF STUDENTS SAID THEY BELIEVE THE TRIMESTER SYSTEM IS BENEFICIAL. *185 STUDENTS POLLED

Teacher Commentary: Mr. Currie As far as I’m concerned the new trimester schedule has lots to recommend it. I love seeing my students every day. I don’t get the twice a week lab day-skip “brain damage” in my classes this year, and I don’t miss it. Seeing all the students each day means more consistency in learning.

Another trimester schedule positive is that students can take more classes, unless they are taking lots of AP classes, then they can only take fewer classes. Yikes! A tremendous positive is I only teach four classes at a time, not five. As an English teacher who grades essay compositions, this means that I only have potentially 152 papers to score (38X4) as opposed to 180 papers (36X5).

That is a huge, and gratefully appreciated, change.

One negative impact is I am teaching the first half and the second half of a course at the same time.

As confusing as that is for an old dog like me, at least I don’t have four completely different preps at the same time, some of which are brand new, like Monique Lamphiere-Tamayoshi. In my book, she should be recommended for sainthood.

21%

OF STUDENTS SAID THEY WOULD PREFER TO SWITCH BACK TO SEMESTERS *183 STUDENTS POLLED

In theory, any teacher could be called upon to teach four preps, even if they only teach two classes. My brain would go up in smoke if I was faced with that kind of challenge.

A temporary negative impact is that my tenth grade Honors Humanities course has the first half in the first trimester, and the second half in the third trimester. If ever there was a course where every effort should be make to keep the parts together, it is a multi-disciplinary, and complicated course, like Honors Humanities.

This is, however, a temporary problem. If next year’s scheduling is tweaked better this should never need to happen again. The bigger negative is that each course has to be condensed into a more rapid pace. That is tough on students and teachers alike.

However, that dark cloud may have a silver lining because some of our students will go on to universities with quarter systems.

Since they take three quarters in the regular school year, this new trimester system is good practice for them.

The biggest problem, as I see it, with trimesters, is my

57%

OF STUDENTS WOULD PREFER TO CONTINUE USING THE TRIMESTER SYSTEM *183 STUDENTS POLLED

Honors Humanities course is adversely impacted by the need to squeeze a year’s worth of brilliant and amazing curriculum into two trimesters instead of three.

When the trimester system was first proposed last school year, my understanding was that AP AND Honors level classes would be allowed all three trimesters. Now it appears that only AP classes get that extended learning time.

Any teacher who has ever taught Hon Hum, and any student who has ever taken Hon Hum, will tell you that class is chock full of great stuff.

Literature, history, art, architecture, music and philosophy, from early cave man to the twentieth century, were included in the scope of that class.

Under our new trimester system, there just flat out isn’t enough time to do all that.

Should the Hon Hum class be a five point GPA class? Yes! Should Hon Hum be a three trimester instead of two trimester class? YES! Ah, but you see, I am not in charge of the world.

Sincerely, Scott Currie

22%

OF STUDENTS WOULDN’T MIND USING EITHER OF THE SYSTEMS *183 STUDENTS POLLED

SPORTS & ARTS

Friday

January 22, 2010

B Mt. Carmel SuN

INSIDE

Wrestling starts off season undefeated

SPOTLIGHTS

Cathy McDermott Editor-in-Chief

WHAT’S

Check out the spotlights on your fellow Sundevils: Alex Weber, Coach Enright, and Erica Lohrenz. sports page B2

BURGER JOINTS The newspaper staff reviews the best places to get burgers around San Diego. entertainment page b5

RELATIONSHIPS Long distance, interracial, and inter-religion relationships can be complicated. Read how some Sundevils deal with the struggles. features page b8

JV SPORTS

on www.mcsun.org

MAKING THE SUN SHINE ONLINE

Do you participate in a JV sport?

Have friends or family on JV? Log on to MCSUN.org to check out articles and pictures of your favorite teams.

Read up on the early games and season long expectations of junior varsity water polo, basketball, wrestling, and soccer.

Keep an eye out for updates on the junior varsity teams. Find scores and schedules for the teams

HELP HAITI...

DONATE TO: RED CROSS AMERICAN.REDCROSSS.ORG DOCTORS WITHOUT BORDERS DOCTORSWITHOUTBORDERS. org PARTNERS IN HEALTH donate.pih.org UNICEF UNICEFUSA.ORG MERCY CORPS DONATE.MERCYCORPS.ORG

UPCOMING

GAMES

B. Basketball G. Basketball B. Soccer G. Soccer G. Water Polo Wrestling

JAN 22 @ AWAY JAN 22 @ AWAY JAN 22 @ AWAY JAN 22 @ HOME JAN 22 @ HOME JAN 28 @ AWAY

“I think there’s no better feeling than your hard work translating into success,” senior Ted Kassen said.

And success is the perfect word to describe their season so far.

“We’ve competed at a number of tournaments, and we’ve won more team championships than we’ve ever had in team history,” coach Gail Miller said. “The guys have done what we’ve asked from them and their hard work and sacrifice is starting to pay off. We still make mistakes but if we try paying attention to the little things and adjusting, the winning and success will take care of itself.”

The team has a solid lineup, with a strong returnees and eager rookies.

“I don’t think there is anyone specifically on the team that has grown since they first started,” senior Alan Ta said. “I think our senior class has evolved as a whole, because we are a really close group of guys and spend a lot of time together. We’ve been together since freshman year, so I feel like we all evolved together.”

The boys have proved that they are definitely a school to watch out for, winning all three of their conference tournaments so far.

“Before the tournament in Pasadena, our coach told us the coaches from the other teams were giving us a hard time, because the San Diego sections doesn’t have a stellar reputation as far as wrestling goes,” Kassen said. “We ended up beating every other team there so we basically made them eat their words.”

The team constantly works to improve and grow, whether it’s during normal practice or during 5th period, where the seniors come in for extra practice.

Kiersten Iwai | Photographer

Kenny James (11) wrestles his opponent in the recent match against Orange Glen. So far the Sundevils are undefeated.

“Before and during season all the seniors who had 5th period off roll would do cross fit training with Coach Miller,” Kassen said. “I think it made the seniors a lot closer and needless to say it helped us get in better shape.”

It’s the boys’ dedication to their sport that makes them so successful

at the matches.

“The uniqueness of the sport brings 14 different guys together and each one has a different body type,” Miller said. “Certain moves are better suited to some body types more than others. I think the most important part is each guy is willing to listen to our advice and work toward reaching that

goal no matter what it is they need to improve on.”

According to Ta, their secret to winning and best attribute is the bond that they share with each other.

“I think the guys are very close and they get along more than most teams I’ve coached in the past,” Miller said. “I can see they genuinely care

about the health and wellbeing of their teammates and ultimately that is the goal of the team. We are a family and we try to support one another as much as possible both on and off the mat.”

The team will be having their last home dual meet against Westview at 7 p.m., on Feb. 11.

Girls basketball suffers tough loss to Wolverines Vandana Bhairi Staff Writer Beat Westview! After the Lady Sundevils suffered a tough loss to the Wolverines 48-34, there is nothing more that the girls want than revenge. Sophomore Erica Lohrenz said that the reason for the loss was due to a slow start at the beginning.

“I feel like we just weren’t really prepared for it,” she said. “We really didn’t start playing until the second half when we started picking things up. We didn’t lose it in the first quarter but it was kind of hard to make a comeback after that.”

Senior Carly Voris says that the next time the team faces Westview they will do things a little differently.

“We will not let them shoot one three pointer and we will also take care of the ball better and not turn it over as much,” she said.

Although the team may have lost to Westview, they had a spectacular win against Ra-

mona, crushing them 65-31. Voris believes that when sophomore Briana Stewart pulled a skilled that game truly showcased the team’s talent. move that left the opposing side totally quiet.

“The highlight of the season was the third “Briana Stewart had two steals in a row quarter against Ramona,” Voris said. “We came and had two fast breaks; everybody in the audiout we’re only up by ten; it was 30-20. Our ence on the other side was completely quiet,” starters came out she said. We were away at and we outscored Ramona and we were just killing them which was them them zero to 19 all in the just great. That doghouse third quarter. is NEVER quiet so the fact We really didn’t start playing until “Never have they didn’t say anything the second half when we started picking that I ever seen a baswas cool.”

The team also had imketball team do things up. We didn’t lose it in the first pressive victories against that. So that was quarter but it was kind of hard to make a Valley Center 50-32, San pretty amazing. comeback after that.”

Marcos 48-23; however When playing Ra-Erica Lohrenz (10) they lost to West Hills mona who isn’t a 60-34, and beat Oceanside terrible team, we 50-23. destroyed them Voris said that although the offense is good, in the third quarter and won by 30 points bethe strong part of the team is the defense. cause of that third quarter; everyone scored and “Defense works very well,” she said. went in…it was a blast.”

“When we play good teams our defense is very Lohrenz’s favorite part of that game was

“

strong. We’re athletic, quick, and we keep our hands up big. We’re looking to run the floor even if we don’t get to. We figure if you make a mistake on offense, you have to make it up on defense.”

Voris, captain along with senior Alix Johnson, says she, as well as Johnson, aren’t the only leaders on the team.

“I feel like we’re not some dominant leaders of the group,” Voris said. “We all work together; it’s not us leading the way and everyone following us. We’re all going together.”

The captains will lead their team in upcoming games against Oceanside (tonight), Ramona (Jan. 29), Westview (Feb. 3), and Valley Center (Feb. 5) Lohrenz believes that in order to beat these teams and get to CIF, the Sundevils need to pick up their game.

“We’ve been running the plays well but they haven’t been executed well enough to get us a basket. But we’re getting there. We just need to play basketball like we know we can.”

Solid start for girls soccer; good outlook for rest of season andy bolin staff writer All teams get ready for games in different ways. For the girls soccer team, blasting music in the parking lot gets the heart rate going, “It’s a lot of fun,” senior Sarah Hsu said. “We all get pumped up and get ready to play in the next game.”

This routine has played particularly well for the girls so far in league.

In the four league games, three of them have been home games for the girls.

In those three home games, the girls have a record of 2-1 with their lone loss coming to Westview.

“We wanted that game so badly,” sophomore Briana Pompa-Hogan said. “We can’t wait until we play them again. Hopefully it will be a different outcome.”

The two wins at home have come kiersten iwai | photographer against Ramona and Valley Center.

Corey Hubbert (10) kicks the ball in the girls soccer game versus As many people would say, a win is a Westview on Jan 8. The Sundevils lost a close game to the Wolverines, win, but for many girls on the varsity but will get another chance at them on Feb 3. Tonight the girls will face team, these wins have been a little too off against Oceanside at home.

close for comfort.

“Last year we destroyed both of these teams both times we played them in league,” Pompa-Hogan said.

“If we want to make a significant run in the playoffs like we did last year, we need to step up our play.”

In their one away game so far, the girls tied a San Marcos team who they believe shouldn’t even be able to play on the same field as them.

“We are a much better team then them,” senior Kellie Fox said. “They are not even on the same level as we are. Next time we play them, we need to show them who we really are.”

Although the girls feel that their league play has not been up to standard, they are still in second place only behind Westview.

“Even though we have not played as well as we know we can, we are still in contention for league and need to think positively about the season,” Hsu said.

The girls feel that they have the team chemistry to be able to overcome

the deficit to Westvtiew and play extremely well in the second half of league play.

“We know what we are capable of,” Fox said. “As long as we play our game throughout the remainder of league, we will be fine. Our main goal is CIF and league would just be icing on the cake.”

They feel that tonights Oceanside game will be a great test at the remainder of the season.

“Last year they gave us a good fight,” Pompa-Hogan said. “If we play the way that we know we are capable of, then we will be fine. If we play how we have against teams like Ramona and Valley Center, then this will be a much tougher game than it should be.”

The girls are excited for the remainder of the season and to continue their play into the playoffs.

“We know what we can do,” Fox said. “But if we talk about playoffs, then we need to perform like we belong there.”

Sports

B2

Mt. Carmel SUN

January 22, 2010

Superbowl parties annually unite fans andy bolin staff writer The day that should almost be considered a national holiday.

The day party food is sold out in grocery stores because of all the pregame preparation.

The day where friends and family gather around the television to watch a football game that will potentially go down as one of the greatest ever played.

This day, of course, is Super Bowl Sunday.

“Our house is packed with people and food,” senior Kevin Cardenas said.

“Everybody is scattered around the living room to watch the Super Bowl.”

The Super Bowl party is not your typical “football party.”

Normally during a football party, During the Super Bowl, many of friends and family come together for the year’s new commercials are played more of a social gathering and they use for the first time. the excuse of the football game to have Even non football fans are eager a party. for the Super Bowl just for the pure During Super Bowl parties, all of enjoyment of laughing throughout the the guests have their game. eyes glued to the TV “The comand they make sure mercials are so Our house is packed with they don’t miss one people and food. Everybody is funny that I make play. scattered around the living room to sure I am always Athletic Trainer watching the watch the Super Bowl.”

Christine Ahlf is one game when they of many people who go on commercial Kevin Cardenas (12) host their own Super breaks,” junior Bowl parties.

McKenzie Corder “It’s kind of hilarious,” Ahlf said. said. “There are always those commer“During the commercials, if somebody cials [{that} everybody is talking about starts to talk everybody yells at them the next day at school.” to be quiet so they don’t miss the comAlthough the Super Bowl game is mercial.” usually the main attraction about Super

“

Bowl parties, you always know that you will not leave the party with an empty stomach.

“The food is amazing,” Cardenas said. “There is so much food to choose from that I know I will be full by halftime.”

Many people like to bring unique food that is usually a family recipe or a cultural food.

But there are also people who need to bring the traditional party food.

Some of this food includes chips and salsa, nachos, and many types of different finger foods.

Super Bowl parties are always a fun event to attend with friends and family.

Everybody can be part of these parties, even if you do not consider yourself the biggest football fan, or are just an occasional viewer.

Provided BY sodahead.com

Boys soccer starts strong, expected to excel isaiah bruce staff writer “We came into league with the idea that we couldn’t lose,” boys soccer coach Mark Green said. “But we underestimated our opponents and forgot even the basics of soccer.”

The team started league with a 1-2-1 record after being predicted to place first in league after a strong 9-1-2 finish in their preseason.

“We thought that we were going to be unstoppable going to league since we did so well in the tournaments,” freshman Michael Griswold said. “I thought we could just lay back and chill after that tie against RB since they’re ranked third in California.”

The team started off league against Ramona which they believed would be an easy win. Last year MC beat Ramona 4-1 with all of MC’s goals scored in the second half. And just like last year MC was left scoreless going into the second half. But they wouldn’t be able to make the same astonishing comeback

as they would end up losing 1-0.

“We were just really out of it,” senior Blair Love said. “It was pretty embarrassing to lose to Ramona but we had to focus on our next game.”

And as it turns out their next game would be one of the biggest a team would like to play, the rivalry game. But this disappointing loss would be a bad lead in to their upcoming game against arch-rival Westview.

“I was so excited to go to Westview to play,” freshman Michael Pescatore said. “All my friends were there watching so I knew it would be intense.”

But both teams seemed to be at the top of their game. With a strong defense on both teams, neither was able to come up with a goal, ending in a 0-0 tie. As the Sundevils looked on to face their next opponent they were faced with another teem who they thought to be an “easy win.” But senior Aohdan Quinn’s goal wouldn’t be enough as it resulted in a 2-1 loss to Valley Center.

“There were a lot of really bad calls by the refs,” Quinn said. “But we still should’ve

Compiled by andy bolin, jessica hong, vandana bhairi | Staff Writers

played a lot better.”

For a team predicted to be first in league, this streak of no wins didn’t seem to fit.

Going three games without a win would normally bring a team’s morale down. But with the leadership of senior Andy Bolin they looked forward to face San Marcos in their next match.

Bolin would score two goals to help end the win-less streak in league for a 4-0 win over San Marcos on Jan. 15.

“It was tough going that long without a win,” Bolin said. “But I was happy that I could help our team pull out a win.”

With the help of Bolin, the third ranked leading scorer in the county, they would begin a winning streak as they beat Mt. Miguel 2-0 on Jan. 18. This would be a good boost as they moved on to play Orange Glen. And the Sundevils will play at Oceanside at 5:30 tonight.

“I’m not going to lie, we started out pretty bad,” Griswold said. “But hopefully we’ll keep this streak up and still make first in league.”

Sundevil Spotlight coach Enright

Alex weber

boys basketball

Wrestling

Wrestling brings out the best in people. Only the best of the best can survive and make it in wrestling. What you put in is what you get out. Only you know how hard you try.”

QUICK HITS If you had S100 to spend on anything, what would you spend it on?

I wouldn’t spend it on anything. I like to save my money.

What’s the worst injury you have received in your sport?

I don’t receive injuries, I give them.

What do you plan to do after high school?

Whatever life gives me.

What is your favorite TV show?

Scrubs and Jersey Shore.

erica lohrenz girls basketball

QUICK HITS If you could un-invent one thing, what would it be and why?

Video games. Kids spend too much time inside and less time outside with other people.

Why did you decide to start playing your sport?

Basketball is fun and I enjoyed the competition.

What is your biggest pet peeve?

When people talk to me for no reason.

If you could own any brand of clothes, what would it be?

Whatever my mommy says to get.

Why did you decide to start playing your sport?

My brother was wrestling and he got me into it.

What’s your weirdest food combination?

Twix and soy sauce.

What’s your biggest pet peeve and why?

Being late. It shows a lack of respect for others.

If you could un-invent one thing, what would it be and why?

Steroids. No one works hard these days.

all photos by Mahsa Firoozinasab | PHOTOgrapher

[I like basketball because] of the excitement of the game, It’s a lot of fun and fast paced which is good because I’m competition and watching the players execute what they have not a patient person. I’d also rather play on a team than go solo been taught and at the same time using their own abilities to in a sport.” make us successful. “

When did you start playing your sport?

12 years old.

What is your greatest fear and why?

Not reaching my goals. My goals are meant to be reached.

mary carmen gonzalez | PHOTO editor

Quentin Brillantes (9) performs a flip throw in during the game against San Marcos on Jan. 15 where they won, 4-0. Tonight the boys will face off against Oceanside at Oceanside High School.

What is your greatest fear and why?

Death - not knowing what happens to my family and friends after I am gone.

What is your favorite TV show?

Sopranos/Project Runway.

When did you start playing your sport?

Junior high.

If you could own any brand of clothes, what would it be?

Banana Republic/Hugo Boss.

Name one person or group of people that you admire.

I admire anyone who has the courage to stand for what they believe in.

What’s your weirdest food combination?

There isn’t much that I won’t put a little tabasco sauce on.

If you could have any superpower, what would it be and why?

To be all knowing - to know the good and the bad would make things simpler.

QUICK HITS What is your greatest fear and why?

Sharks because they’re scary.

If you could un-invent one thing, what would it be and why?

Homework. It takes forever and I hate staying up late to do all of it.

What is your favorite TV show?

“Keeping Up With the Kardashians.”

If you could have any superpower, what would it be and why?

I would want to fly because I’m a bad driver, so I wouldn’t have to drive, I could just fly places.

Why did you decide to start playing your sport?

My dad inspired me to play because I saw him play a few times and as soon as i tried playing it I couldn’t put down the ball.

What’s your biggest pet peeve and why?

I hate when people try to sing songs they don’t know the words to and they end up ruining the song.

Name one person or group of people that you admire.

LeBron James because even though he’s so young, I think he’s one of the best out there right now.

What do you plan to do after high school?

Go to college and hopefully play basketball.

What’s the worst injury you have received in your sport?

I haven’t gotten hurt too bad, fortunately. The worst was probably just an elbow to the nose.

Sports

Mt. Carmel SUN

B3

January 22 , 2010

Girls waterpolo excels CAMILLE MANSOUR STAFF WRITER

goals,” Jimenez said.

After senior and captain Emily Bell scored five goals in a row in the beginning of their game against San Marcos last Thursday, she felt she has done her part in accomplishing the team’s goal.

“Our goal as a team was to go out in the first quarter and blow them out of the water,” Bell said. “I was so happy that I was able to contribute to that goal.

Plus it was fun to start the game with a backhand shot which I have been practicing really hard to perfect. When I saw the shot go in, it was hard for me not to smile.”

The team has been doing well because the Valley League doesn’t offer a lot of competition.

“We play teams that may be equivalent of a JV or even novice level team here at MC,” Jimenez said. “Our practices are harder than the games. We pretty much know we’re going to win league.”

The girls’ coach, Jon Au, also has a unique way of helping them succeed.

“We have journals that we take out in games for a play or to write something down about the other team,” junior Ashley Purdy said. “When we play a team

basket ball boys “Give it your all to mentally break down the other team,” senior Oriana Jimenez said.

This is the mentality of the girls varsity water polo team as they once again defeat another opponent.

The girls have gone undefeated so far this season playing Orange Glen, Valley Center, Oceanside, Ramona, and San Marcos.

“In order to be undefeated our team had to basically bond and want the same

we’ve seen before we write stuff down that we know about them that could help us in a game. Like the more violent a team is the more violent you have to play.”

Even if they know they’re going to win, they still have to give it their all no matter what.

“Our coach is very motivational,” Jimenez said. “He inspires us to try. The way he coaches is to self motivate ourselves.”

“He wants us to be faster than the other teams,” Purdy said. “We have morning practices, we have evening

practices, and conditioning. We’re all trained to play every position. Even if the goalie’s been ejected we can all go play goalie for her.”

The coach has obviously contributed to their streak, but also the captains help the girls stay focused.

“They’re good leaders--they know how to watch our team,” Purdy said.

“It’s good that we have them to keep us in line.”

With interesting techniques, good leadership, and intense training, the team has begun their season accomplishing their goal: to be undefeated.

JARED SERVANTEZ | PHOTOGRAPHER

Team captain Wendy Dorr (12) leads the girls water polo team in their pre-game cheer before their game against San Marcos. San Marcos was soundly defeated and helped contribute to the girls’ undefeated record in league. The girls credit their success to their motivating coach and dedication through hard work during practices and conditioning.

Boys basketball earns victories; works hard towards league championship JESSICA HONG STAFF WRITER Ramona, Valley Center, and the infamous Westview have all been beaten by the varsity boys basketball team.

With a league record of 3-1 as of Jan. 15, their chances of winning league seem higher than years past.

“It feels pretty good because last year we were close,” sophomore Kishan Naik said. “We hope to win this year. We have the momentum going.”

The team was especially ecstatic about beating Westview on Friday, Jan. 8.

“I think the guys were very excited to win the way we did,” coach Brad Enright said. “A close game on the road is always fun, especially against your rival.”

The next home game against Westview is scheduled for Feb. 3 and the team looks forward to scoring another victory.

“Westview’s probably our biggest competition so when we get

“We’ve been working hard the them at home, that’ll be good,” Naik whole year, a lot of defensive drills, said. offensive drills and then just playing Senior Brandon Ford agrees. together as a team basically,” senior “We’ve had some times when Max Shulman said. “If we keep dowe’ve lost some big home games and ing what e v e r y o n e ’s we’re doing come out to now, we’ll be watch,” he fine.” said.

“But “ We ’ v e we want to had some tell everyreally hard body in the practices and school that stuff,” Ford we’re trying said. “But in to change our program order to win, you have to around. go through “Things painful pracaren’t how - Brandon Ford (12) tices. I think they used to if we work be and we’re hard, then trying to get our goals are everybody to going to be come out to the games, come out and support,” successful.”

Enright attributes the victories Ford said.

Many team members agree that to the team’s collaborative efforts.

“More than anything we have as long as they keep working at it, played really hard and we have they will succeed.

“Things

aren’t how they used to be and we’re trying to get everybody to come out to the games, come out and support.”

played together,” he said. “Our scoring has been very balanced and we have made shots late in the game-that is a formula for success in any basketball game.”

Though they’ve been working hard so far, they still have a long road ahead of them as they train for six more Valley games.

“There are quite few games left so we can’t feel too good about ourselves yet,” Enright said. “We need to continue to work hard each day and improve individually and collectively.”

The next away game is scheduled for tonight at 7:30 at Oceanside HS and the next home game is Jan. 29 at 7:30 p.m. against Ramona.

For now, the varsity boys basketball team is on the track for success.

“Our guys are focused on winning a league championship and they are taking the necessary actions to do that,” Enright said.

“It feels good knowing that we worked hard and deserved it,” Ford said. “We earned it.”

JENNIFER FARRELL | PHOTOTOGRAPHER

Mike Nelson (12) keeps the team ahead with frequent rebounds at a recent game against Westview. The team will play their next game against Oceanside tonight.

Team captains step up, inspire success LAUREN HALL STAFF WRITER “One thing I expect from my team is effort,” senior Aodhan Quinn said. “You can’t always be on your A game every day but one thing that you can always control is how hard you work for the team.”

As co-captain of the boys soccer team, along with senior Blair Love, Quinn knows his team’s talents and capabilities and can

tell when they are giving their all.

Captains push their teams to go beyond their best, and to aim for high goals even against their most competitive opponents.

“I expect that our team gives it their all at every practice, and never approaches a game with defeat already in mind,” water polo co-captain Emily Bell said.

Each captain leads their team in stretching, warm ups, and drills, as well as making sure everyone stays on task, and getting the team mentally prepared for games.

The way that each captain leads the team is reflected in the team’s personality and mentality.

“I’m a very vocal captain but at the same time I lead by example,” Quinn said.

Some captains can be more serious and determined, and others control the pressure of games by having fun.

“I’m fun and silly as always but know when to step up and be a leader,” girls basketball co-captain Alix Johnson said. “I’m not too bossy because hate to be bossed

around personally, but I do voice my opinion a lot when our team tries new things.”

And every captain has different ways of keeping their team motivated.

“I keep the team motivated by encouraging everyone and always keeping our eyes on the prize,” Bell said. “Before every game senior Wendy Dorr and I always try to pump everyone up with a motivational talk and a big loud cheer.”

Most teams at MC are led by two captains, so that the teams are balanced by two

different styles of leadership.

Overall, captains are the athletes who can relate to the other members of the team and support them, while bringing out the best in their athletic ability.

“You should always have a good attitude on the court and as far as effort goes, always give it 110%,” Johnson said. “Practice makes perfect, and most of all heart, when you’ve got that, you’ll never give up on that court. You’ve got to want it to win it, and our goal is to definitely win the whole thing!”

B4 Entertainment Authors create inspirational fiction for teens Mt. Carmel SUN

January 22, 2010

Angela Kim Staff Writer

Jerry Spinelli

But revisiting the book again, I notice all the ways Magee dealt with racism in Pennsylvania, and the parallel of his fixing problems and the knot of string. His perseverance is powerful.

As a female, “Stargirl” remains the book that actually shapes my philosophy today.

“Stargirl” is a novel about a boy who falls in love with a girl. But she’s no Bella Swan. Her name is Stargirl, a name she christened herself.

Her nonconformity allures the narrator, 17-year-old Leo, but he rejects her later for being too “different.” Their romance is bittersweet and ends with Leo and Stargirl’s separation.

Stargirl teaches us to stay true to ourselves and keep our chins up in the face of prejudice and peer pressure. Stargirl changes herself to be liked by her student body—but realizes that conformity made her unhappy.

Her confident sense of self touches me to this day, and probably touches my fellow fifth grade graduates.

Spinelli is truly a coming-of-age master, and influences teens all over the States.

From classics like “Maniac Magee” to lesser-known novels like “Eggs,” Jerry Spinelli writes prolifically for children and young adults.

Most of his novels focus on eccentric main characters, and their coming of age.

“Stargirl,” read by most fifth graders (and my personal favorite), illustrates the growing pains of every teenager.

Spinelli was born in 1941 in Pennsylvania, convinced he would be a professional baseball player.

His autobiography, “Knots in my YoYo String,” reveals that early on, he had a knack for words, and decided he would be a writer.

And through these words, he touches our generation.

“Maniac Magee” was something I read in fourth grade. It is a classic tale of an orphan, but with a historic and far-reaching perspective.

I remember reading “Maniac Magee” and laughing at Magee’s idiosyncrasies as a fast runner and talent for unknotting balls of string.

Many people read to escape real life, to immerse themselves in someone else’s fantasy life of romance and mystery.

Those people should not read anything

by Ellen Hopkins.

Hopkins throws her readers, head first, into quicksand. She makes readers suffer and struggle along with the characters, making the reader feel just as vulnerable and confused.

Hopkins’ young adult books have won countless awards since 2001, when her first book, “Crank,” was released.

She is often regarded as a genius by critiques and readers because of her unique writing style.

Hopkins writes her entire novels, which are usually at least 500 pages, in free verse.

The intimacy of her free verse expresses a sense of secrecy, almost like a personal journal.

Her dramatic use of poetry to convey the real life stories of teens sets her apart from the pack of endless young adult

Rachel Martin Features editor Author Meg Cabot once commented on another author’s book by saying, “Opening a book by Sarah Strohmeyer is like opening a box of chocolates.”

The same can be said about Cabot herself.

There is hardly a more popular young adult novelist than “The Princess Diaries” creator, Cabot. As a long time teen author, Cabot has perfected the art of young adult writing.

Cabot first became popular for her journal entries by Princess Mia Thermopolis of Genovia. Spanning though 10 novels, Princess Mia vents about her everyday debacles of managing to be the princess of a small European principality while also making it through high school.

The novels gained even more publicity after a movie was made starring Anne Hathaway in 2001.

However, Cabot hasn’t made herself a household name simply through “The Princess Diaries” series. She also gained popularity through her two “All-American Girl” novels and “The Mediator” series.

writers. She has often used her readers’ actual life experiences as her inspiration.

Hopkins contains a truly amazing gift of placing you directly into the character’s life.

She doesn’t tell you what drugs, sexual abuse, pregnancy or mental illness will do to you. She forces you to endure it.

She ensures that you learn the lessons as the characters do.

In every single book, somewhere on the first couple pages, Hopkins makes a special note to all her readers.

“If this story speaks to you, I have accomplished what I set out to do. Think twice. Then think again.”

Hopkins does a remarkable job of reaching in and pulling at the strings of the reader’s heart.

According to her personal web site, her books are the most read books in youth mental institutions. Her books relate to everyone and everything in some way, and they speak to each individual distinctively.

Hopkins continues to write teen novels today. In fact, she released her newest book, “Fallout,” earlier this week.

Anne Ferguson staff writer Most kids today grow up in an environment built on concrete with skyscrapers and telephone poles surrounding them instead of trees and mountains.

The ever-growing urban jungle cuts teens away from the wild world outside, but author Gary Paulsen bridges the gap between city and forest and child and adult with his novels for teens.

Paulsen has authored over 200 books that have influenced the lives of adolescents for nearly four decades.

His stories not only give kids in cities a fairly accurate idea of what it is like surviving without the amenities of city dwellers, they also immerse readers in a vivid and unforgiving terrain. He alludes to survival skills long forgotten by most of America and introduces situations few have fathomed and fewer have experienced.

The most famous of his stories include “Hatchet” and “Dogsong,” which like much of Paulsen’s work, deal with youths’ coming of age in harsh, unfriendly environments. The growing-up theme tends to mirror the actual

5.0//5.0

REVIEWS

Other than series, Cabot has also gained recognition for her stand alone novels, such as “Teen Idol,” “How to be Popular,” and “Pants on Fire.”

Cabot has also been successful with her adult novels, including the “Queen of Babble” books and the “Heather Wells” mystery series.

Whether reading her young adult or adult novels, Cabot has a unique sense of how people click. Some people say they read to be “challenged.” This is not Cabot.

A Meg Cabot book will not challenge its reader, but all her books promise a welcome distraction from reality.

She is the queen of chick lit. Her books are the ones you pull off your bookshelf after a bad day at school and curl up in bed to read.

Teens often have a hard time finding books they actually want to read for pleasure.

Although they won’t appeal to boys, girls should look to Meg Cabot to fulfill their desire for a good, light romantic novel.

Gary Paulsen

Ellen Hopkins

Cathy McDermott Editor-In-Chief

Meg Cabot

lives of his readers, though they are far away from untamed Canadian lakes and wild bears.

His characters connect with teens because both are so much alike. Paulsen delves deep into the minds of his characters, revealing hidden thoughts and feelings that reflect those of his readers.

He builds the characters up so they are not flat; they are as three dimensional and complex as any of us.

Paulsen’s books have won numerous abb as Ma awards, including two Newberry md ani Honor awards, and have sparked many | Ph oto gr a positive reviews over the years. phe r He is especially praised for his simple s l o w e d speech and eloquent phrasing, almost l a t e l y , like poetry.

Paulsen plans to Although his out-put of literature has continue writing for many years to come.

3.14//5.0

4.0//5.0

4.5//5.0

Name: Che Café Location: UCSD Campus Style: Vegetarian

Title: Sherlock Holmes Rating: PG-13 Genre: Action/Mystery

Title: Paper Heart Rating: PG-13 Genre: Romance

Name: Soma Location: Sports Arena Boulevard Style: Concert Arena

Jared Servantez Staff writer

Cordell Hunter Staff writer

Camille mansour staff writer

Jordan Ugalde Staff writer

At first glance, the mural-covered Ché Café looks out of place in a eucalyptus grove amongst the glass and concrete of the other buildings on UCSD’s campus.

Inside, it proves to be an even more unique experience. The café itself serves an entirely vegan menu, and functions as a center for grassroots organizations.

Most appealing about the Ché Café, however, is its role as San Diego’s leading “do-it-yourself” music venue. Musical artists can book and set up their own shows for little to no money, attracting a more eclectic and interesting crowd than would be found at more mainstream venues.

The small performance area, with a maximum capacity of only a couple hundred people, makes for very intimate performances and an atmosphere that can’t be found at any other local music venue.

Despite the venue’s small size, it has begun to gain fame nationwide, and plays host to both local independent bands as well as national touring acts.

As a refreshing change of pace from larger, costlier venues like Cricket Wireless Amphitheatre, the Ché Café deserves recognition as one of San Diego’s best places for live music.

Much like a Victorian era James Bond, Robert Downey, Jr.’s Sherlock Holmes is like a detective on steroids, something along the lines of what you would get if you mixed Mike Tyson with Einstein.

Both visually and mentally engaging, the film offers enough action to satisfy manly men, enough romance to satisfy girls, enough suspense and twists to thrill mystery buffs and a good enough story to please critics.

Taking place in Victorian England, the story centers around a plot by a member of parliament, Lord Blackwell, to take over the world.

As Holmes and his trusty sidekick, Watson (played by Jude Law), race through time to solve the mystery before it is too late, Blackwell leaves several traps in their way.

Some are funny, such as the hammer-wielding French giant (played by Canadian wrestler Robert Maillet), and others are nasty, such as the rigged warehouse in which Holmes and Watson are almost blown to pieces.

Filled with twists and turns and dead bodies, Sherlock Holmes will keep viewers on the edge of their seats until its final seconds.

With a great storyline, excellent characters and superb actors playing them, Sherlock Holmes does not disappoint.

So many films can lead us to believe that love is only made for beautiful people in beautiful places.

However, “Paper Heart” follows teen Charlyne Yi as she interviews real couples on what their opinion of love actually is.

It intertwines between reality and a love story; it was supposed to be a documentary considering Yi is not a professional actor.

But through the process, the directors decided to bring in Michael Cera (playing himself) to make the film a little more interesting. At times it can be difficult to tell what is fact and what is fiction.

The audience watches as Yi, who originally does not believe in love, eventually succumbs to it. This plot presents a fresh idea on how love actually works for teens in the real world.

This independent film was released in Oct. 2009, and like most indie films, it did not show in most major theatres.

However, it is now available to rent and I recommend it to anyone who wants to be exposed to a more accurate interpretation of what love might actually be like for a high school student.

When going to a concert, the quality of the venue is an important factor in making the experience an enjoyable one.

Soma, for the most part, provides for a decent experience as long as one stays in the concert hall.

Although the main hall can fit over 500 people, the lobby seems to fit at most 100 people.

Also, anyone looking for a breath of fresh air in between sets should probably look elsewhere since the only outdoors area is the smokers’ lounge.

But what makes up for these faults are the concerts themselves.

The giant stacks of speakers blast the music to a level that allows one to feel immersed in the experience.

And though the rules may officially state that no moshing or crowd surfing is allowed, the security for the most part turns a blind eye.

But whenever fights or serious injuries seem imminent, the security team effectively prevents most of those problems from occurring.

So despite its issues, Soma has the potential to provide an exciting concert experience.

Entertainment

Mt. Carmel SUN

B5

January 22, 2010

good.

Which is the bestBurgers burgerare in town?

Cheeburger

Carl’s Jr.

There are many notable, famous burger joints, but not many of them challenge people to finish one of their one pound burgers. Cheeburger Cheeburger’s famous “one pounder” officially qualifies as a meal; if someone isn’t filled up after eating one, they deserve a medal or something.

However, the taste and quality of the burger all depends on the customer because they allow a large assortment of different cheeses and over 30 different toppings.

The burger itself is made out of

Compared to other burger chains like Jack in the Box, Carl’s Jr. puts out decent enough burgers to contend.

The most famous burger on the menu has to be the deceptively named “Six Dollar Burger.” It is really only $4.19. The “Six Dollar Burger” combo is the way to go, because you get fries and a drink. Unfortunately, it knocks the price up to around $7.

As one begins eating the burger, the juicy taste of the beef stands out

Shayon Said Opinions Editor

100% fresh Angus beef, never frozen, and takes at least 15 minutes to serve.

The burger makes you start to feel full after the first bite. Unfortunately, the first thing you notice about the burger is that it drips oil, meaning it’s far from healthy, and the beef easily falls apart if you try and eat the burger without cutting it into pieces.

In any case though, Cheeburger Cheeburger’s pounder is worth definite consideration if you haven’t already tried one.

The record stands at three pounders in one meal. I dare you to try to beat it.

Jacob Snyder Staff Writer

Provided BY huntsville.about.com

A

more than anything else. But when the middle of the burger comes, that’s when eating it becomes a challenge, almost straining to keep it all together. It becomes a mess.

Glancing at the menu, there are several types of burgers that sound enjoyable, but messy. The “Six Dollar Burger” has several different flavors, from teriyaki to guacamole to jalapeno to western bacon.

When it comes to choosing where you want to eat, Carl’s Jr. should be a backup to other chains.

If you do decide to go, make sure to wear clothes that you aren’t fond of, because you’re bound to get messy.

In-N-Out

Burger Lounge

Upon one’s first glance at In-NOut menu’s, one may be disappointed that the only food items on the menu are fries, hamburgers, cheeseburgers, and a Double-Double (two patties, two slices of cheese).

But seeming to stick to the basics while adding subtle changes is the key to In-N-Out’s success.

The cheeseburger looks like any other burger, but after taking a bite one can immediately tell that this burger is of another caliber. Whether the difference is that the patties are

Located in Coronado, Little Italy, and La Jolla, the Burger Lounge makes the promise of a “premium burger experience.”

The restaurant is cramped, and it is difficult to find seating if you happen to have a larger group.

The menu is small with only three options of burgers. They come by themselves, without fries or a drink, which is disappointing for eight dollars.

For these extras you can end up paying an additional $8 for what would be normally included op-

Jordan Ugalde Staff Writer

Chili’s Kevin Lage Sports Editor

Chili’s has many different options for burgers that will fit almost any person’s particular taste.

The Oldtimer Burger is a delicious burger that comes with mouthwatering crunchy fries along with a soda of your choice, all for $9.50.

The burger is thick and juicy and grilled to perfection that will fit the order of your choice.

The Oldtimer is available with over 20 different options, with everything from sautéed onions to crispy onion rings and jalapenos that you will help you to create any kind

never frozen or In-N-Out’s “special sauce” (Thousand Island dressing), the taste of this burger is unrivaled by most fast food joints.

However, if one does want some variety, there is always their secret menu, which one can find online.

This secret menu includes items like “animal style” fries (covered in cheese, sautéed onions, and special sauce) and enlargement of the Double-Double, which have reached up to 100 patties and 100 cheese slices.

Because of the uniqueness and amazing taste, In-N-Out is, as their jingle says, what a hamburger is all about.

of burger experience that you want.

Unfortunately, on a busy day like Friday night, the restaurant can get crowded quickly and it will end up taking anywhere from 15 minutes to an hour to get seated and an additional 20 or 30 minutes to get your food.

The service is quick and efficient, which is always a satisfying touch to any burger experience.

It is conveniently located in Scripps Ranch and 4S Ranch, where you are guaranteed a fantastic meal which will leave you satisfied and wanting to make another trip back for dinner or even lunch sometime soon.

Kevin Lage Sports Editor

Provided BY thevarguy.com

A

Islands Mackenzie Lance News Editor

Provided BY greatbignerd.wordpress.com

A

A mixture between well done beef, fresh lettuce and ripe tomatoes, and a cardboard bun, the Big Wave Burger at Islands has potential to be delicious but never fully reaches expectations.

The meat is delicious, but the bun leaves something to be desired.

At $8.99, the burger costs more than getting a combo at fast food joints including In-N-Out. The burger comes with fries, which are clearly the best part of the deal. The fries are well seasoned and

tions.

The Grilled Lounge Burger comes out looking delicious on a shiny white plate.

The buns look fluffy but after touching it, it suddenly deflates to half its size, as all the air escapes from inside the bun. The burger itself is delicious if you don’t mind a bit of excess grease.

A big drawback of the Burger Lounge are the location. For someone who lives in PQ it can be difficult to get to. To get there you must drive for quite a while, which is hard to justify when PQ is filled with similar burger places, like Chili’s or In-n-Out.

the ketchup is well stocked.

However, even the delicious fries can not make up for the bun. It wasn’t quite burnt, but it was definitely stale.

It gave the impression that someone had made a Costco run about a week ago and that was the last time buns were supplied.

If it’s possible to look past the bun issues, the other ingredients are high quality enough for the burger to be tolerable.

If you’re looking for a burger filled with crunchy lettuce instead of a crunchy bun, then sail clear of Islands.

Hamburger Factory

Fuddrucker’s

The setting of Old Poway Park makes an already stellar dining experience even better.

The Hamburger Factory represents what is great about hamburgers.

Fresh vegetables, a variety of burgers and friendly service make the Hamburger Factory a great place for dinner.

The vibe is very “country family.” A bit like Frontierland at Disneyland combined with a family kitchen with a staff that makes you

The Fuddrucker’s one pound burger is probably one of the most intimidating burgers out there.

Not many average stomachs would be able to finish it.

Aside from its size, the cool thing about Fuddruckers’ burgers is that they provide a topping bar giving every burger its own personality.

Now, though there is a salad bar, the variety they provide is a little limited. They provide all the basics on a burger: tomato, lettuce, onions,

Mackenzie Lance News Editor

feel at home.

The basic Wrangler burger is very affordable at $5.49 and would be well worth way more.

The lettuce was crispy and fresh and the tomatoes oozed juice.

The burger was certainly worth the trip into Poway and was a priceconscious alternative to fast food options in PQ. The Hamburger Factory thrives on its charm and the quality of its service and ingredients.

The restaurant is truly an escape from the hectic world of today, into the relaxing family atmosphere of yesteryear.

Shayon Said Opinions Editor

Provided BY cabcooks.wordpress.com

A

pickles. Nothing really outgoing like that of other places like Cheeburger Cheeburger.

However, the pounder is so big that the taste of the meat would most likely overwhelm the taste of all the toppings and the only taste left is a mix a beef, juices, and spices out of most bites you take.

Since the pounder is so large, they of course offer smaller sizes and different meats.

Overall, all meat there is fresh, not frozen.

It’s an interesting restaurant whose wide variety of burgers makes it worth a visit.

Provided BY kittybradshaw.com

C Provided BY clayfood.blogspot.com

B

Provided BY myfolsom.com

C

Provided BY daytondailynews.com

C

Features

B6

Mt. Carmel SUN

January 22, 2010

Getting to know...

Stacey Rodillon

Christopher Tan

mahsa firoozinasab | PHOTOGRAPHER

Rachel Martin Features editor “It’s awesome.”

These are the words English teacher Stacey Rodillon used to describe her favorite form of exercise and fun — dance.

From the time she was three years old until she went to college at the University of California San Diego, Rodillon trained in ballet, jazz, musical theater and hip hop.

However, Rodillon had a hard time continuing her training.

“When I went to college at UCSD, in order to keep my grades up, I couldn’t dance that much, so I saw an ad for ballroom dance, and me and a friend of mine were like, ‘Hey, I’ve always been curious about that,’ so we just went and kept going,” Rodillon said.

She competed for a short time in college until an injury prevented Rodillon from continuing. However, she still dances socially.

Rodillon is one of the teachers who organizes the Dance Through the Decades for her American Literature class.

“We had done the Gatsby party when I was here in high school, but it was a much smaller version of what some teachers have made it now,” Rodillon said.

“And now, it’s Dance Through the Decades in American Literature, and Mr. Pacilio, who was my

teacher in high school, told me about it, and I was like, ‘Oh, perfect, I can do that.’”

Rodillon has also been involved in the after school ballroom dance class for the past few years.

“Students liked {Dance Through the Decades} a lot so they wanted me to teach it after school, so it was actually student initiated,” Rodillon said. “And it has been every year. It’s been entirely student driven.”

Rodillon’s ballroom experience has helped her teach her students.

“I danced mostly social ballroom dance, and I’ve had a very limited amount of actual professional training,” she said. “But because I learn really quickly, I tend to dance with a lot of people who are very experienced because I guess I’m able to follow fairly well.”

There are many reasons why Rodillon has continued to dance since her childhood.

“For one thing, it’s exercise without being really exercise,” Rodillon said. “It’s so much more than getting on a stepmaster or whatever it is that people get on.

And I think it’s a good emotional release. Whenever I feel stressed or upset, it’s my favorite thing to do.

“Oh, and you get to dress up really nice.”

Shayon Said opinions editor Hey Topher! How do you feel?! Every game night senior Christopher Tan, more commonly known as just Topher, gets his little moment of fame as the only male on the cheer team.

Tan got pulled into cheer by one of his friends right after class comp last year.

“Well, my friend, Angela Fajardo, pulled me. She told me to join cheer right after class comp.” he said.

He did a toe touch during the class competition which caught Fajardo’s eye. She recommended cheer to him afterwards.

Tan’s cheer career only rose after that when his popularity as the solo male on the team skyrocketed. Pretty soon, students who were attending MC sports events, specifically football, began counting the number of famous toe touches that he performs.

Though he gets much attention from it, Tan finds performing toe touches quite nerve-wracking.

“It’s actually pretty weird doing it because everyone’s watching you,” he said. “I have to do at least 10 too.”

However, Tan admits that the attention he gets from toe touching is enjoyable.

“I mean, I like the attention,

Featuring...

Oceanography Club

Snorkeling with leopard sharks. Maybe fishing for giant squid. Trips to Catalina Island and scuba diving at night.

These are common encounters for members of the Oceanography Club.

The president, senior Wendy Dorr, feels that this club can be a great experience for those interested in the marine sciences and underwater wildlife; however, joining the club is great opportunity for students looking to be part of an exciting experience.

“We do things in the ocean that increase students’ appreciation of the marine environment and the life within it,” Dorr said. “All of our activities relate to the things we learned while in Marine Science or APES.” In the last two years, the group has taken two three-day trips to San Clemente Island, and an overnight trip to Catalina Island.

Senior Shelby Jones, the club’s secretary, enjoys taking the trips as a release from school.

“Our club is special because we are constantly learning on our field trips while participating in activities we may never have an opportunity to do again,” Jones said. “We’ve explored the deserts’ geology, gone squid fishing, and snorkeled both at night and during the day.”

Dorr has the advantage of having her father, sci-

abbas mamdani | PHOTOGRAPHER

jennifer farrell | PHOTOGRAPHER

Club Corner Tj rivera-alonso entertainment editor

Ron Garrett

ence teacher Harold Dorr, as the advisor.

She said the club has a long history both here at MC and at Poway.

“My father, Mr. Dorr, started the club in the fall of 1984, and it has been active ever since,” she said.

“He had originally started this club at Poway High when he was a student teacher there, but he made another club here so that his students could get hands on experience with the things he taught.”

With such history and exciting activities, many students would love to join this exclusive club; however, there is one requisite that all members must meet to join.

All members must be in, or have completed, Dorr’s Marine Science or AP Environmental Science class.

Jones believes that if a student has enjoyed their experience in one of Dorr’s classes, they will definitely fall in love with this club.

“I had so much fun in the first few weeks of class that I joined the club,” she said. “Once a part of the club, a number of my friends made it even more fun, causing me stay for three years.”

Whether it’s going on field trips to San Clemente and Catalina islands, snorkeling at night, fishing, exploring geological landscapes all over southern California, scuba diving, taking pictures underwater, performing lab dissections, or simply having a beach barbeque, the Oceanography Club always seems to have something to do.

but it just gets kind of nervy because all the attention is on you,” he said. “It {cheer} is amazing though: you’re surrounded by girls, you get into games for free, and it’s just fun.”

Nonetheless, his abilities are pretty untouchable when it comes to records.

“My record is 16 toe touches at a basketball game,” Tan said.

“But the most I’ve done was like 30 at home.”

Topher is also an avid participant in the MC Advanced Dance PE class.

“I needed a PE class so I just picked dance,” he said. “I’ve never even taken any dance classes before so I went in and kicked my legs. I was pretty good so I went to the Intermediate class, and then the Advanced one.”

Being in a PE class with all girls may have been strange at first, but the class turned out to be fun soon.

“It was awkward at first because I was the only guy, and I remember the first day was really hard,” Tan said. “No one talked to me because I was the only guy, but eventually it got to be a lot of fun.”

Definitely one of the more interesting characters on campus because of his unique activities for a guy, Topher stays spirited and recommends cheer to any guy.

Kelly Fan Staff Writer Assistant principal Ron Garrett does a lot for MC. He takes on widely varied responsibilities; apart from the usual assistant principal duties of discipline and attendance, Garrett also deals with curricular issues, counseling, teacher evaluation, master schedules, and much more.

Despite all his time and dedication to the school, Garrett feels he is not overly preoccupied with work.

“I draw my line,” he said. “I am definitely not a workaholic. I give my work my all, and I have no problem staying late, but family is also very important to me.”

Outside of work, Garrett enjoys activities like hikes and bike rides.

“I have a wife and two children, and I go bike riding with my family all the time,” Garrett said.

“I really enjoy my family. I think of myself as a family man. I can’t think of much I do without them.”

Another more unusual hobby of Garrett’s is collecting street maps. He started the hobby as a young person, and has kept up with it up to now. He has over 200 maps from all around the world in his collection.

“I love to travel, and I collect street maps from places I visit,” he

said. “I would study the maps and know where everything was before I got there. I don’t know if that’s a man thing, not wanting to ask for directions.”

Besides the usual travel destinations such as Hawaii and New York, Garrett has travelled to the more exotic places of Guatemala, Bangladesh and Vietnam.

“I don’t necessarily travel for vacation,” Garrett said. “I travel to be a traveler. {Traveling} is always a new experience, and I try to keep an open mind about it” One of his favorite travel destinations has been Guatemala.

What Garrett loves most about visiting Guatemala is how eyeopening it is.

“It’s a very heavily indigenous place,” he said. “It makes me really appreciate what I have.

I don’t make millions, but I know that I am a wealthy mad. Travelling there has made me much more broad-minded.”

Another lesson that his travels has instilled in him is the power of education.

“I really believe in the power of education as a social force,” Garrett said. “I love the idea of public school for everyone who wants it. Everyone can aspire to have a high school diploma. It is uniquely American. People in the U.S. often don’t recognize how lucky they are.”

Rejection common in teenage relationships; students learn to cope with disappointment Andy bolin Staff Writer While in deep conversation, and dreading the response of her soon to be ex-boyfriend, the phone starts to vibrate.

“At that point I was just over it,” an MC senior said. “When he ended things, I was kind of relieved.”

Break ups happen everyday in the real world, but in high school, it’s almost a given that you will be part of a break up. The way that you handle the situation is, for many, harder than the actual break up.

“I see him differently now,” she said. “I believe I handled the situation pretty good given the circumstances.

I have put the entire situation behind me. Just doing that made the process that much easier.”

There are many different things that go into an actual break up for the person who is planning on breaking up with their soon to be “ex.”

Many people seem to think that the process is very easy.

“It took me almost three months to break up with him,” an MC sophomore said. “I didn’t have the guts to do it.”

After the break up, it is usually a pretty awkward situation for both of the people involved.

“When I see him, I walk the other

way,” the senior said. “I just don’t feel comfortable enough to have a conversation with him. If I just walk right by him then he will think I am a jerk.”

For the person who ends the relationship, the situation might be more awkward for many different reasons.

“Everybody thinks of me as the bad guy now,” an MC junior said. “All of her friends don’t like me now and they all give me nasty glares.”

Break ups occur in many different ways. The typical break up usually consists of a long talk about why things have not worked out and how things will be better if they are “just friends.”

“I feel that this is the most effective way,” an MC freshman said. “People who don’t break up with someone in person need to grow some balls.”

The other typical ways that people break up with their girlfriend or boyfriend consist of either on the phone or a text message.

“A text message gives you time to come up with a lame excuse on why to break up with someone,” the senior said. “In person you have to actually tell the truth, and some people are not mature enough to do this.

High school relationships are usually fun while they last, but once they end, things often turn very messy.

photo illustration by Amanda stinsman | PHOTO editor

An MC senior poses as a struggling student, trying to cope with being ruthlessly rejected by his girlfriend in the corner of a bathroom stall.

Features

Mt. Carmel SUN

B7

January 22, 2010

Coming-of-age Traditions

5 1

Quinceañera

A Quinceañera, or Quince, is a Hispanic comingof- age tradition held when a girl turns 15. The father-daughter dance is just one aspect of a traditional Quince.

kelly fan | staff writer

Saralynn Vargas (10) sits in her elaborate carriage after the fatherdaughter dance at her Cinderella themed Quinceañera.

vandana bhairi staff writer The mariachi band plays as people converse waiting for the big event to start.

All of a sudden, the lights dim, the music pauses, and as the fog from the machine rolls in, a teenage girl slowly walks in, clutching her dad’s arm, nervously smiling, as she tells herself that she’s ready for her big day.

Marking the change into womanhood, a Quinceañera is a coming of age party for Hispanics on a girl’s

8 1

15th birthday.

There are several traditions in a Quinceañera such as the reaffirming of faith for those who are religious, as well as when the dad removes the ballet flats off the girl’s feet and replaces them with high heels.

Sophomore Saralynn Vargas had her Quinceañera in August 2009.

She said she wanted it because it was something different.

“I wanted to have a Quinceañera because I don’t think anyone in my family had had it before,” Vargas said. “It’s also really unique to my friends since I’m the only Hispanic

one; I wanted them to experience my culture.”

Quinceañeras also require a lot of work to plan and are very stressful sometimes. Vargas, who started planning her Quinceañera since the beginning of 2009, said how much work had to be done for the big day.

“We had to find the DJ, the place, the dress, the shoes, the makeup person, the hairstylist, the cake person, and I had to practice for the hip hop dance; and on top of that we had to arrange living arrangements for all my family that came from Nicaragua. It was a lot of work for my family and me.”

Although there are some traditional parts to a Quinceañera, many people nowadays choose not to incorporate the typical customs for both practical as well as religious purposes.

“I didn’t have a court because times right now are tough and not everyone can afford the same dress, and there aren’t many cheap ones,” Quinonez said. “I’m also not really religious so we didn’t have the whole church part.”

Vargas feels that the whole experience was not only worth the work but was extremely memorable.

“I felt that the whole thing was all just a memory, and there wasn’t anything that really stood out,” she said.

“It was so fantasmic to see my friends dressing up, dancing, and having fun. It was one of the best days of my life and I know I’ll remember it for the rest of my life.”

Senior Recognition

Brittlyn foster staff writer

This is it. Six years of tireless preparation, community service and building anticipation has gotten Rancho Bernardo senior Jenna Hering ready for her coming-of-age Senior Recognition party.

“It is basically a celebration of our six years in National Charity League,” Hering said. “And all of the philanthropic work we have done over the years. This is an event to ‘present us into society,’ and recognize our accomplishments and success as we are about to head into a new chapter in our lives.”

The National Charity League, “NCL” is a mother-daughter charity league where both mothers and daughters apply for a six year membership. They build their relationship through contributing to the community and growing close with other members.

Seniors are “presented to society” after doing six years of philanthropic work for the National Charity League.

“NCL focuses not only on the work the girls do but our moms as well, and the relationships we have built with them throughout this experience,” Hering said.

The payoff for the strenuous years of work and training is a formal party of dinner and dancing with Hering’s family and closest friends.

“All the girls wear white formal gowns and the parents wear tuxes and black gowns,” Hering said. “I am looking forward to being there with my fellow classmates of all really cool girls who I have gotten to know over the years.”

The actual event takes a year of foundation and arrangement to make the party a reality. The groundwork includes six years of community service, compiling a list of high school academics and athletics, a synopsis of the impact of their favorite philanthropy event, along with a thank you to their moms about how the NCL has changed their life.

“Planning the Senior Recognition basically takes all year, and the mothers who are on the board put in a lot of effort to plan it,” Hering said.

“We have a say in the theme, and we had to decide a while ago. Also, we have to get our dresses very early on so that they can be approved.”

This events’s main goal is to give closure on all the practices and growth the girls have accumulated over the years during the NCL. “NCL always has senior recognition events, as a way to put a close to our time in the league and to share our experiences with our family and friends,” Hering said.

As for Hering her upcoming Senior Recognition is full of excitement and potential.

“It will be exciting and fulfilling to see and hear all about what each girl has done and what they plan to do for college, or wherever they go after the party is over,” she said.

Debut

A Debut is a traditional celebration for Filipina girls turning 18. Months of planning go into these huge parties attended by family and friends.

TJ Rivera-Alonso Entertainment editor As senior Nicole Reyes steps out on to the dance floor with her escort, all eyes are fixed to her. She glides her way to the middle of the dance floor, her vivid red dress swaying behind her. She’s spent the last 18 years dreaming of this instant, picturing this entrance in her head over and over, until it was just right.

Now, after six months of hard work and stress, she finally gets her perfect moment. She is the Debutante. This is her 18th birthday celebration.

Debuts are huge parties where family and friends are all invited to celebrate the coming-of-age of a young Filipino woman.

The Filipina celebrating her 18th birthday must choose a color as the theme to her party. It is also customary to have 18 roses representing the 18 most important men in the girl’s life and 18 candles for each woman.

Reyes recently had her Debut at the Rancho Bernardo Inn ballroom. She put in a great deal of effort to throw this event.

“Many people think it’s just a big birthday but it’s much more than that,” she said. “You need to book a venue, order a cake...and there’s so much more than that.”

Reyes had to put in over six months of her own time in order to plan her Debut.

“I made the programs, place

photo provided by nicole reyes

Nicole Reyes (12) poses with her court at her Debut, a traditional Filipino celebration, held at the Rancho Bernardo Inn. cards and put together the seating chart,” Reyes said. “I also had to take the time to do a cake tasting.

Having a Debut is a very costly thing if you want it to be very nice.”

Reyes felt the hardest part of planning her Debut was narrowing the guest list to 150 people.

“Yes, only 150 people,” she said. “This seems like a lot, but Filipino families are very, very, very large. Out of the 150 people at my Debut, about 100 of them were family or family friends.”

Another unique part about Debuts is the Cotillion Waltz. Her

Sweet Sixteen A sweet 16 is celebration of a 16-year-old girl’s transition into womanhood. Sweet 16s range from simple parties with a DJ, to the more traditional version with the father-daughter dance and speech by the parents.

Sara Shantz staff writer She woke up in the morning filled with nervous excitement.

It seemed like just yesterday she was daydreaming about what her sweet 16 would be like. Later that night, several months of planning would all come down to a few hours of dancing and fun with friends.

Every girl looks forward to her 16th birthday and for some, a small family dinner just won’t do.

Senior Brittney Hultgren had a blowout party for her sweet 16.

She rented out the swanky Carmel Mountain Ranch Country Club and invited her close friends to help her celebrate.

“My most memorable moment from my party was probably having my close friends all together, dressed up, and having fun,” Hultgren said.

Hultgren wore a formal dress to her party and got her nails and hair professionally done.

Although it was a little on the expensive side, Hultgren was okay with it since it was a once-in-a-lifetime event.

“I had always wanted to have a big party with it being all decorated and Hollywood themed; it was perfect,” Hultgren said.

Even though it took a lot of time, energy, and money to plan this event, Hultgren believes that it was worth it.

“All the preparation and planning was tedious, but I would most certainly do it again,” Hultgren said. “It was a night I will never forget for sure.”

Sophomore Nicole Manalo had a more traditional sweet 16 party.

Her party was at the beautiful Tom Han’s Lighthouse restaurant in downtown San Diego. It was very family oriented and unlike some

group will practice formal dancing many times before the actual event.

“Since November, my court and I practiced at least once a week up until my Debut,” Reyes said.

“We had to learn how to waltz, and we actually learned a choreographed waltz.”

In the end, Reyes was very pleased with her Debut, but it is hard to ignore the rollercoaster of emotions that many Filipinas go through leading up to their 18th birthday.

“Planning a Debut is not for the faint of heart,” Reyes said.

16

parties, she sat with her family, not her friends.

“My mom wrote a letter to me and it was just really touching how she put all of those memories together,” Manalo said. “My mom read the letter to me before she read it out loud to everyone so I wouldn’t cry,” Manalo said. “She didn’t want me to mess up my makeup.”

Manalo enjoyed doing the father-daughter dance.

“I also loved the dance with my dad, even though it wasn’t that great, it is something I will remember for the rest of my life.”

Manalo and her dad didn’t rehearse the father-daughter dance very much before the party.

“The party wasn’t that big so we just practiced the night before… it was a little scary and embarrassing because I’m not much of a dancer but my dad is. He was doing all these crazy moves,” Manalo said.

Features

B8

Mt. Carmel SUN

Relationships. . . can be complicated January 22, 2010

Students, staff strive to make interracial relationships successful SARA SHANTZ STAFF WRITER They walk to class together holding hands and heads turn. People stare with disapproving looks and mutter mean comments to one another.

For one interracial couple, this kind of experience is normal.

“I get mean looks and comments all the time when I’m with Mike,” senior Sydney Benson said. “I literally can’t walk from class to class without a specific group of girls glaring at me. I was called ugly to my face, and one time when we were together one of them yelled at him to ‘get away from that white girl.’

They’ve even threatened to fight me and will walk up to me and just stare at me. Half the time they talk extremely loud, so I hear everything they say about me.”

Although this harassment is annoying, Benson handles it maturely.

“I just ignore them and usually I laugh it off,” Benson said. “Sometimes I shoot them a look but they’re immature and need to grow up. We live in a diverse society. Good luck in the future if you can’t handle other races.”

Benson believes that racism stems from how a person was raised.

“I know there are people out there who are completely against interracial relationships and then there are some that aren’t,” Benson said. “Unfortunately I don’t think this will ever change, it’s just how people are raised and it’s their culture.”

For teacher Monique Lamphiere-Tamayoshi, her experience in her interracial relationship has been positive.

When Lamphiere-Tamayoshi met her husband’s family for the first time, they were excited to meet her and treated her respectfully. They presented her with a beautiful lei, and she felt honored.

“At first I wasn’t sure what his father thought, especially when his first words were, ‘Who is this hoale‘ {which is a Hawaiian derogatory term used to describe Caucasian people} girl,” Lamphiere-Tamayoshi said.

“Then I realized he was teasing me.”

Lamphiere-Tamayoshi’s family accepted the fact that she and her husband are of different nationalities.

“My mother adored him, but it took my father getting to know him before he accepted him — I think that is with most dads, regardless of race,” LamphiereTamayoshi said.

While most of the time Lamphiere-Tamayoshi and her husband don’t encounter any trouble because they are of different ethnicities, but Lamphiere-Tamayoshi did encounter a problem once.

“One time we went to Tijuana and when we came back across the border, I was passed right along, and Rodney was not — they didn’t believe he was from Hawaii — and then they set him aside to question him further — was a little frustrating,” LamphiereTamayoshi said.

All relationships are complicated to some extent, but interracial relationships sometimes have added complications.

PHOTO ILLUSTRATION BY JARED SERVANTEZ | PHOTOGRAPHER

Practicing different religions can cause problems for couples

Long distance relationships force teens to adapt to change, learn to trust each other

High school students deal with differences in faith

College often separates teenage couples; causes communication, trust problems

BRITTLYN FOSTER STAFF WRITER

CATHY MCDERMOTT EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

The definition of a high school relationship might as well be one word: mess.

Between the tornado of emotions and hurricane of drama, two people end up either falling for each other or splitting apart.

A leading reason for this drama is the issue of different religions between a couple.

Many MC couples tolerate their partner having a different faith, rather than letting that play a factor into the relationship.

A Wiccan junior feels that being open and accepting to other’s beliefs builds a stronger relationship.

“He was always very interested in learning about what I believed in and in turn I always liked hearing about his beliefs, but we were never forceful about converting religions or anything like that,” the Wiccan said.

Protestant sophomore Jason Wong believes tolerance is a key component in having a successful interreligious relationship. “{Religion} doesn’t have much to do with our relationship, but when it does we’re okay with each other’s differences,” Wong said.

“It doesn’t make our relationship stronger or weaker but it helps us learn more about being the right type of person towards each other,” Wong said.

Being able to talk about each other’s different beliefs can lead to having a more open and honest relationship.

Catholic sophomore Kelly O’Callaghan believes talking openly about religion can really contribute to a more prosperous re-

lationship “You have to talk about {religion} because that helps both people come to an understanding of the beliefs that each person has,” O’Callaghan said.

“Religion doesn’t change the way you care about someone but it helps in ways to improve your relationship,” O’Callaghan said.

On the other hand, a lack of respect and tolerance in a relationship, can lead to miscommunication and failure.

“When it came Sunday I told him that I didn’t feel comfortable going to church with him because it was against what I believed in,” the Wiccan said.

“He felt like I was disrespecting his religion when really I just didn’t feel right about going with him.”

Sometimes religious practices can lead to arguments and misunderstandings of one’s morals.

“He got mad at me because he wanted us to be able to share that church experience and he kept pressuring me to go and finally he said, ‘Well, if you don’t go to church then what’s the point of us dating?’” the Wiccan said.

“And I said, ‘Well, if you’re going to act that way then you don’t understand anything about how I feel’ and so we broke up.”

In a relationship two people can either choose to let religion destroy their happiness or allow their differences to create communication and hopefully lead to a stronger relationship.

“You can make a relationship happen no matter what religion you are,” Wong said.

The beaming smile on senior Anna Oh’s face was impossible to ignore. Just the thought of her boyfriend, alumnus Steven Martinez, made her glow.

But it was obvious that behind the sincere smile was a spark of sadness in her eyes.

Oh hadn’t seen her long distance boyfriend in a couple of weeks.

“I knew before we even started dating that my boyfriend would be going off to college,” Oh said. “When the time came closer for him to go, we started having more serious conversations about our relationship and how far we were willing to take it.

“We came to the decision of staying together, but I was very hesitant and skeptical.

College is full of parties, fun, and let’s face it: beautiful girls.”

Even after they settled on trying to make things work, even with him being over eight hours away, Oh still had her doubts.

“I was afraid that he wouldn’t want to be tied down and deal with the commitment,” Oh said. “I would have understood completely if he broke it off, because he was entering a new chapter of his life.

“The biggest thing that I was worried about was being cheated on. The opportunities would be endless for him to hook up with another girl, and I would never find out.”

The transition from seeing each other every day to dealing with long distance definitely started to get to Oh. “I felt like giving up on the relationship, when he first left,” Oh said. “I tried to tell myself to give him lots of time and space,

because I didn’t want to annoy and smother him. For about two weeks, I felt very uneasy because we didn’t talk as much.”

Like any relationship, the two had to learn how to adapt to the changes and adjust to meet both of their needs.

“I was worried that it would end, but we both communicated with each other and said exactly how we felt about everything,” Oh said. “I didn’t want to keep nagging, because I didn’t want to be a clingy and irritating girlfriend, who had no faith in her him.

In the end, we both have 100 percent trust in each other.”

It was already difficult enough trying to patch up communication between each

other, but it was the little things that were the most difficult to cope with.

“The hardest aspect for me was that if I wanted a simple hug or just for him to hold my hand, I would have to wait three months until I would be able to see him,” she said.

“These high school love birds spend every second together, attached at the hip, and don’t know how lucky they are.”

Fortunate enough for Oh, she’s managed to keep up with her busy senior schedule, while ensuring her relationship is still strong.

While many long distance relationships end abruptly, some do have happy endings, after a lot of hard work and effort that is.

MARY CARMEN GONZALEZ | PHOTO EDITOR

Steven Seidel (12) and Amanda Lee (12) pose as a long distance couple striving to make their relationship work by using technology to communicate.