www.mcsun.org FEATURES: FIND OUT WHAT THE MOST CREATIVE, UNIQUE, AND ROMANTIC WAYS SUNDEVILS WERE ASKED TO PROM THIS YEAR. PAGE B6
MT. CARMEL
SUN
FRIDAY, MAY 22, 2009 VOL. 36 NO. 11 | MT. CARMEL HIGH SCHOOL, SAN DIEGO, CA 92129
PARESH DAVE WEB EDITOR
Inside the SUN:
CENTER: HOMELESSNESS AFFECTS PEOPLE ACROSS THE SPECTRUM OF SOCIETY. PAGES A4-A5
American Idol Finalist
Adam lambert PHOTO ILLUSTRATION BY MATT COFFELT | PHOTO EDITOR
MC shows support, enthusiasm towards alumnus MACKENZIE LANCE SPORTS EDITOR
Dressed in black, snakeskin shoes, and thick guyliner, MC alumnus Adam Lambert arrived on May 8, to a crowd of screaming fans and halls filled with memories. “It feels really, really weird to be back,” Lambert said, “Just very bizarre.” Before his performance in the stadium, Lambert shared some advice and answered some questions with top-level choir and drama students. “It was like he walked out of the TV,” sophomore Alicia Bartick said. “He was so down to earth, and I got to ask him a question.” Lambert explained his quick rise to fame and how he handles his newfound popularity. “It’s like, I don’t know what to say half the time,” Lambert said. “Imagine you’re just kicking it in LA one day, and then in like a few months, you’re on the cover of magazines. I don’t really know what to do.” A student asked him how he got so good, and what kind of professional training he has. “I had voice lessons a lot,” Lambert
said. “Outside of high school, I took lessons, and did a lot of shows, training, and I just learned on the job.” When asked why he auditioned, Lambert explained that he was pushed by some cast mates to try out. “I’d done ‘Wicked’ in LA and a bunch of people were like, ‘You have to audition,’ Lambert said. “I thought, maybe I should, and they kind of pushed me to do it and I’m glad now.” Reaching the finale of “American Idol” was not expected or Lambert’s main goal. “[The biggest shock has been] getting this far,” Lambert said. “I kept saying I just want to crack the top ten so I can get some work in the theater community. I thought if I got on TV I could get some more casting.” Lambert shared some inside information on the show, and the judges. “Simon’s a lot nicer outside of the show,” Lambert said. “The rest of them are pretty much how they are [on camera].” Lambert’s connection to MC didn’t end after he graduated. Several students and faculty members are “glamberts,” major fans of Lambert. >> SEE “ADAM LAMBERT” A3
DANIEL THAN | PHOTOGRAPHER
Adam Lambert points at his watch, while riding around the MC stadium. Go to www.mcsun.org for more pictures of Lambert’s visit.
James Hartwell ‘Dollar Days’ fundraiser successful Donation
Section A:
Info:
Make checks payable to: James Hartwell Mail to: James Hartwell c/o Crower Performance 3333 Main St Chula Vista Ca 91911 Money wire or transfer information call: 1-619-422-1570 For more information please visit: www.jameshartwell.org or www.mcsun.org
News..........2
HOMELESSNESS
ENTERTAINMENT: TAKE A BLAST TO THE PAST BY READING ABOUT THE MOST POPULAR FADS THROUGHOUT TIME. PAGE B5
Student Services provides food, scholarships, Prom dresses Just beyond the silver gates adjacent to the gym and past the attendance and finance windows is a small and square, yet indispensable and magical, room. Students enter hungry, full of questions or worried and anxious, but they often leave with more than they could have asked for. Inside room A-7, two women sit in desks facing each other on either side of the magical door. Student Services assistants Adrianne Flaherty and Edna Mailey hold the keys to a magical box of wisdom, goods and money. Ask for a Prom dress and they put one—dry-cleaned and good-asnew—in your hands immediately. Ask for a snack on Wednesday, and they can feed you all you want. Ask for a scholarship for buying a graduation cap and gown, and they can have you fit right away. Ask for a scholarship to ensure entrance into Grad Nite, and they can make that happen too. Ask for a scholarship to help pay for a yearbook...well, that’s one thing the magic can’t deliver anymore. For everything else, Tuesday to Friday, Student Services opens its doors to students, parents, teachers and the community-at-large. Recently, Student Services hosted a Mother’s Day celebration for teachers, and they have been handing out Panera bread to staff and students on Wednesdays. According to Mailey, Student Services relies on a “constant flow of generous strangers” to make donations of food and clothing. Those strangers have allowed the pair, along with students needing court-ordered community service, to hand out donations at the Salvation Army in Downtown. The month of May recalls a special tradition for them as well. Unfortunately, due the swine flu scare, it is one that will be altered slightly this month. Normally, each December and May, a group delivers clothing and other goods to residents of Tecate, Mexico. However, this year, they will have to drop off the donations at the border. The PTSA and parents of students are the main contributors of donations. “Things just keep coming in,” Flaherty said. “And students always have a need.” Right now, Mailey requests monetary donations for Grad Nite tickets. Checks can be made payable to MCHS and dropped off in room A-7. Additionally, students in families which recently lost their homes have a need for grocery store gift cards, furniture, kitchenware, bedding and healthy snacks. For those whose circumstances don’t allow them to constantly purchase new things, Mailey and Flaherty are employed to help them. After everything is said and done, Prom and graduation could cost a senior nearly $500. The magic and the magicians nestled in room A-7 have the powers to reduce that number considerably.
INSIDE
ADITI PAI STAFF WRITER Sophomore James Hartwell was seriously injured when he crashed his bike at the Arizona Cycle Park on Friday, March 20. Competing in the American Motorcross Association national qualifier race, he finished his day of practicing and just planned on riding around on his bicycle with some friends. Unfortunately on one of the jumps, he fell headfirst onto the ground and fractured his C3 vertebrae in his neck. “He spent two weeks in the ICU in Arizona,” his mom, Victoria Hartwell, said. “Now he is in rehabili-
Sun Spread..........4
tation.” For Hartwell to make a complete recovery, his family is raising funds to pay for insurance, rehabilitation, and get the house ready with equipment that he needs. Ending today, the dollar drive at MC will support the acquisition of those items. The goal of the drive was for everyone at MC to donate one dollar to Hartwell’s treatment and recovery. The amount given to the Hartwell family was not counted at MC before it was delivered but Victoria Hartwell was pleased with the results. “The school fundraiser was very successful,” she said. “We appreciate the contributions.”
Opinions..........6
This was the second fundraiser put on through the Hartwell family. Prior to “Dollar Days,” there was a fundraiser at the Barona Raceway. A couple hundred people came out to that and it was successful as well. According to his website, www. jameshartwell.org, which was last updated on April 25, he has improved a lot and has started to gain feeling in his legs and arms. Additionally, after 15 days in rehabilitation, he gained enough strength to stand up on his own. If anyone still wants to make a donation or help out, the family will happily accept. Their contact information and latest updates on Hartwell’s condition are on his website.
Section B: Sports..........1
Del Norte 2012 class strikes up controversy at board meeting LAURA SLUSSER STAFF WRITER Protesters filled the gym at Morning Creek Elementary School during the school board meeting Monday night, after the school board considered closing Del Norte to the incoming sophomore class. When the school board finally announced that they had decided to allow sophomores to attend to Del Norte, cheers rang throughout the gym. The school board received an immediate standing ovation from almost the entire room. The other interest groups were dwarfed merely by their number. The protesters were organized and peaceful, adults and kids alike carrying signs and wearing name tags. They filled up the vast majority of roughly 200 seats before the school board. Previously a few parents had threatened to sue the board. However, the board insisted that it was the prospect of increased attendance from transfer students who are currently attending private and charter schools that encouraged their decision, rather than the e-mails and threatened suit. According to some parents who attended, including sophomores in Del Norte’s opening year is extremely important. Some parents said they moved to the 4S area specifically so their children would attend the school. “We moved across the country, from the Washington, DC area, and the reason we picked the 4S ranch community was because they were building this high school—a brand new facility,” parent Kent Miller said. “We had lots of other choices, but we chose this one because of the promise of the high school for our daughter.” His daughter, freshman Kelsey Miller, agreed. “It’s so great,” she said. “It’s got all the stuff that we want... advanced classrooms and extremely good athletic programs, and they have a laptop deal with Apple, so we’re really excited about that. But if it’s not going to open, we’ll be really disappointed. I’ve been planning on this for a year.” The group shared extremely strong feelings on the issue. “[The thought that Del Norte may not be open] is pretty much tearing us apart,” freshman Alex Harvey said. However, many MC students felt very strongly against Del Norte from the beginning. “We shouldn’t have even had this school [in the first place],” MC freshman Jessica Wehner said. “…technically it’s their fault [the protesters’] because they pushed for this school and everybody told them they didn’t need it but they kept pushing for it.” After the school board announced their decision, the Del Norte protesters triumphantly filed out of the gym, noisily leaving behind the other interest groups. “To any potential Nighthawk sophomores, I hope that they get a chance to see Del Norte the way we see it,” freshman Cristina Azar said.
Entertainment..........4
Features...........6
News A2 Les Miserables combines musical talents Mt. Carmel SUN
May 22, 2009
Choir, orchestra join together; earn several standing ovations Vandana Bhairi Staff Writer
matt coffelt | photo editor
Scott Hanson (11) leads stars as rebel leader Enjolras in orchestra and choir production of Les Miserables: The Concert. The production featured songs from the award-winning musical, without acting scenes.
The lights turned down, the audience is silent. The curtains slowly rise and the orchestra starts playing their first song, “The Prologue,” and then the choir joins in.On May 15 and 16, members of the MC Orchestra/Band and Choir performed their version of Les Misérables. Les Misérables is a complex story about the uprising of peasants in the French Revolution and the constant struggles of “Les Misérables”, The Miserable’s, especially for personal liberty. The group had intense rehearsals after school leading up to the performance. The week of the performance they had rehearsals every day. Freshman Vianae Jarrell, part of the choir, says that the rehearsals were gaining momentum as days
went along. “The first rehearsals were a little rusty,” Jarrell said. “It was hard to get everyone on the same page, but near the end, we were getting way better.” Senior Pooja Parashar, a member of the orchestra, thought that working with the choir was very interesting. “It was nice to hear such inspired voices,” she said. “They are proud of themselves, and very enthusiastic about the performance.” Although the group was enthusiastic, there were still many challenging parts. Jarrell said that the hardest part was remembering all the music. “It is a long show, so memorizing music, and being able to differentiate between stanzas that may sound alike were really hard,” Jarrell said. According to freshman Neha
Vaingankar, the performances went very smoothly. “We had nearly full houses,” Vaingankar said. “The audience was really into it, they would clap really loud after the solo parts. Everything was on track and no one missed their entrances. We were all really, really excited and put in 110%.” Jarrell believes that the best part of being in this large scale production was seeing everything come together. “[My favorite part] was seeing the outcome,” Jarrell said. “It took a lot of work.” Parashar says that the performance was amazing overall. “It was a LOT better than anyone expected,” she said. “We came a long way since we first got the music a month ago. We all had to make it work, if we all put in effort we’d get somewhere. We were determined to make it amazing.”
Key Club walks to honor, remember, find a cancer cure in Relay for Life Kelly Fan Staff Writer “Every step we take here today, is a step closer to the cure,” a woman said on Saturday, May 16, addressing a crowd minutes before the starting off of the American Cancer Society’s Relay for life. Survivors of cancer, supporters of the cure, and MC Key Club members alike congregated at Hilltop Park this past weekend to fundraise for the cause, honor those touched by cancer, and to offer support for fellow members of the community. It is a tag team sort of event, where every entering team has at least one member on the track at all times, for 24 hours. The event is much more than just raising money, as Debbie Stenger,
teacher at MC and advisor to Key Club believes. “This event is a great place to go to pull together, not in terms of money, but also in terms of support, to find healing,” she said. “Often, people are too quick to write a check.” But Relay for Life is not all about the suffering and hardships of cancer. Rightly stated on a banner carried around the track, the event is a “celebration of life”, and holds a message of hope. This positive atmosphere was maintained by the loud speakers blasting music and a stage occupied with live entertainment, as well as booths that entertain, inform, and earn funds. The event was also a place for survivors of cancer of all kinds to share their stories. “It is a great experience to walk
around and talk to people,” junior Michelle Nguyen said. “They tell you what they did to get through what they did and how they got where they are today.” Another participant at the Relay for Life and a member of Key Club, freshman Paige Crowl found herself being moved by the strength of the survivors. “Survivors are really inspiring,” she said. “It’s really powerful because you know what they’ve gone through.” Relay for Life is more than a just a fundraiser. It is vehicle of hope and remembrance for many cancer-impacted members of the community. “[Relay for Life] is a place for people to find moral support, to see people,” Stenger said. “It really puts a Daniel Than | photographer face on what it is you are actually trying Luminaria bags, decorated by individuals to remember and celebrate the lives of cancer victims, were to help.” assembled by members of the MC Red Cross Club led by president Jodie Ha during Relay for Life.
Students write letters, petition for Mrs. Noia Laura Slusser Staff Writer
In an attempt to save library media assistant Lauren Noia’s job, the library has been asking for letters and signatures from students. Last Monday night, they presented them before the school board. At the end of roughly two weeks, librarian Erica Turner collected a grand total of 757 signatures and 226 letters. “Mrs. Noia received word from the principal after school on Friday, May 1, that she would be receiving a pink slip,” Turner said. “We began the ‘save the library position campaign’ on the following Monday.” Teachers Dani Schelhorse, Karen Shimer, Brad Moeser, Tim Calver, and Mindy Davis all worked together to support her, bringing in classes to the library to give their students time to write letters. Turner stressed how important it is to
have Noia working in the library. “On average 200 students visit the library every morning and 1200 students visit the library every day,” Turner explained.
“
Library services will have to be reduced. Two people cannot do the work of three.” - Erica Turner, Librarian
“…All computers in the library are equipped with a broad range of current software and the computers are consistently in use.” After the huge crowd of Del Norte protesters left the school board meeting on Mon-
day night, the gym was nearly clear. On the front right side sat senior Jonathan Smith, junior Eddie Brann, junior Matt Johnson, and others, ready to speak on behalf of MC’s library, alongside of Rancho Bernardo High’s representatives, presenting a similar case concerning budget cuts. Unfortunately for the visitors, despite the letters and speeches presented, the school board voted to cut funding anyway. “Library services will have to be reduced,” Turner said. “Two people cannot do the work of three.” The board said that although it was the “wrong” thing to do, they had no other choice but to cut the budget. Despite this major setback, Turner and Noia seemed optimistic. Although the library media assistant’s job has been lost for now, it is one of the first on the list to come back if warranted by the new budget.
Upcoming Sundevil Events May 22, 23 -Filipino Culture Night -Doors open at 6:30 p.m. -PAC May 27, 28 -Physics boat races -Sundevil pool May 30 -Prom -Loew’s Coronado resort -8 p.m.-Midnight
June 1 -Library closes -TUrn in books ASAP June 2 -physicals at WV -6 p.m. $20 June 3 -Athlete of the Year -7 P.M. -SUNDEVIL ARENA jUNE 5 -sat @ mc -7:30 A.M.
News
Mt. Carmel SUN
A3
May 22, 2009
Improv team receives first place title in league tournament MELISSA ROADMAN EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
DANIEL THAN | PHOTOGRAPHER
Dylan Gervais (10) and Alec Sobejana (11) act out a comical scene during a recent competition against the Morse Tigers.
The MC Improv Team placed first at the San Diego County High School Improv League Tournament, which took place at the NCP theatre downtown. Seven schools competed, but the foursome of senior Sam Bratt, juniors Alec Sobejana and Austin Henton, and sophomore Dylan Gervais took home the title. During the tournament, the teams have to perform different games and take suggestions from the audience, similar to the show “Whose Line is it Anyway?.” “We do different games that involve thinking off the top of your head,” Gervais said. “We get a suggestion and depending on what game we play, that’s what we do. We ask the audience.” One of their main skits involves Bratt holding an object, which is determined by the audience. “Sam asks ‘what am I holding?’ and they blurt out a whole bunch of things,” Gervais said. “The
one that he can hear the best is our suggestion for the scene.” The teams also compete in head-to-head competitions with members of the other teams. “There’s a head-to-head competition game
“
We get a suggestion and depending on what game we play, that’s what we do. We ask the audience.” - Dylan Gervais (10)
called 185,” Gervais said. “There is a standard joke. [It goes] 185, then you get a suggestion, walk into a bar. The bartender says ‘I’m sorry, we don’t serve your kind here.’ Then you finish with a punch line.”
Besides competing in this tournament, the Improv team competes against schools around San Diego County as well as performs at different events. They performed at the Fiesta de los Penasquitos, where two of MC’s teams competed against each other. Last week they also played against San Diego School of Creative and Performing Arts (SCPA). “We played SCPA, which is a performing arts school,” Gervais said. “[This] week we have one against Morse High School, which was the runner up high school in the tournament.” According to Gervais, professionals judge the contestants, but during dual matches, the home team usually wins. “Most of the time the home team wins because the audience cheers louder for them,” he said. In order to prepare for these matches and tournaments, the members of the Improv team meet every Tuesday for a 6 ½ class, where they practice different games.
Adam Lambert Band Director Warren Torns retires after 35 years >>CONTINUED FROM A1
“I am a fan of Adam because he is different,” junior Shelly Chen said. “He is charismatic and an entertainer. I love how when he was in high school, he was that boy that no one really knew, but now he’s shown everyone up.” Senior Catherine Miller who met Adam personally, when he came to MC, described her experience. “When I got to meet him, I was completely star struck for about two seconds,” Miller said. “Then I asked him what it was like to have so many people know who he is and he said that it was really surreal and kind of weird.” Miller has been a fan of Lambert since his first audition. “I like Adam because he is down to earth and original,” Miller said. “Whenever you hear a song of his, you automatically know that it’s Adam because his voice is different than anything else that’s out there. In a good way, of course.” Chen voted over 500 times, just for the finale episode. “I’m not really keeping track of how many times I have voted for him, but I can guess I am up to around 500 maybe,” Chen said. “I am just pressing call, redial, end, call, redial, end, etc.” Math teacher Michelle Mullin, was just as active as Chen. “Last night I voted approximately 500 times, all by text messaging,” Mullin said. “He can sing, really sing. Love his style, and he’s a Sundevil. Once a Sundevil...” Chen, like Miller, was especially thrilled when Lambert visited MC. “I was extremely excited when he came to school, especially being able to meet him and shake his hand and being able to tell him how great I think he is,” Chen said. “I loved how he was really friendly and grateful for everything.” Glamberts are spread throughout the school, with certain groups being especially enthusiastic. “All of the ladies in the attendance office are Adam fans,” Miller said. Whether he is at MC, on “American Idol”, or on stage in LA, Lambert sings with a passion. “It feels good after [I sing], you know that rush you get when you perform? I like that” Lambert said. “Making people happy is cool. Making people smile, or touching them in some way, or affecting them, that’s cool.”
RACHEL MARTIN OPINIONS EDITOR After 35 years of dedication to San Diego schools, band director Warren Torns is retiring. A reception will be held honoring Torns’ success after the Spring Concert for the MC Wind Ensemble and Orchestra on June 2 at 7 p.m. at the Poway Performing Arts Center. Torns has taught at four different high schools in the San Diego area, including El Capitan, Patrick Henry, Grossmont, and, of course, MC. Three or four alumni from each school are helping to plan the party. Former students will always remember how the classes Torns taught were very different than any academic class. “Just imagine you had an English class with 300 kids in
it,” Patrick Henry alumnus Chris Lewis said. “Then imagine you are the teacher trying to teach a lesson that day. Imagine how difficult it would be to keep everyone quiet at one time – let alone learning something for an hour. Now you have imagined the enormous task Mr. Torns had EVERY day of his career trying to push his bands to success and excellence with a huge amount of students in his program.” The excellence of his programs will be showcased on June 2 when Torns will direct the MC Orchestra in his last concert ever as a teacher. MC seniors will never forget the impact Torns had on them. “Mr. Torns has made a difference everywhere and in the lives of everyone he’s taught,” senior band president Jay Caparino said. The underclassmen are sad to see their band director
retire. “Mr. Torns has had such an impact on the band program as we know it today, and although he will definitely be missed, he’s leaving behind an incredible legacy,” junior Andrea Ito said. There are many groups on Facebook honoring Torns, including “Torns Controls the Weather,” and “Mr. Torns is Retiring.” In a post on the “Mr. Torns is Retiring” page, El Capitan alumnus Wendy Riggs said, “He always pushed us to work harder and perform better than even we knew we could. He not only taught band but he taught us life lessons on teamwork, communication and work ethic. My favorite quote I remember from Mr. Torns, ‘To be early is to be on time, to be on time is to be late, and to be late is unthinkable!’” Junior Kelsey Chesnut said it best. “He’s awesome...like a band god.”
NEW BELL SCHEDULE FOR 2009-2010 SCHOOL YEAR Monday/Tuesday Regular Friday
P.1 PASS P.2 SNACK P.3 PASS P.4 LUNCH PASS P.5
7:30 am- 8:40 am
Wednesday/ Thursday 7:30 am- 8:37 am
8:40 am-8:47 am
8:37 am-8:44 am
8:47 am-9:57 am
8:44 am-9:51 am
9:57 am-10:09 am
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10:16 am-11:28 am
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11:35 am-12:45 pm
11:24am-12:31pm
12:45 pm-1:18 pm
12:31 pm-1:01 pm
1:18 pm-1:25 pm
1:01 pm-1:08 pm
1:25 pm-2:35 pm
1:08 pm-2:15 pm Tutorial 2:15-2:35pm
Late Start Friday Every other week
P.1 PASS P.2 SNACK P.3 LUNCH PASS P.4 PASS P.5
8:45 am- 9:41am 9:41 am-9:48 am 9:48 am-10:44 am -No Snack10:51 am-11:49 am 11:49 am-12:23 pm 12:23 pm-12:30 pm 12:30 pm-1:26 pm 1:26 pm-1:33 pm 1:33 pm-2:35 pm
Senior class holds fundraiser for dodgeball tournament ADITI PAI STAFF WRITER As the year winds down, MC students face tests, finals, CIF for sports and end of the year projects. Luckily, senior Sarah George and the others in the senior class thought up a great way to relieve some of that end-of-the-school-year tension and stress. Either the last week of May or the first week of June, the senior class plans on hosting a dodgeball tournament between students and teachers. 20 teams signed up for a price and will face each other for a prize. George first came up with the idea during a brainstorming summer meeting for class council. “In the summer I thought it would be fun for a fundraiser,” George said. “I realized a lot of kids were interested so then we decided to open it up to everyone.” Although their project is underway with a lot of popularity among students, some road blocks still exist for the seniors. “For half the teams we have everything we need including the forms and the money,” George said. “For a quarter of the teams we have forms but no money and we are still waiting on some to give us their paperwork. My worry is that the teams without money will say they don’t want to do it anymore when it comes time for the competition.” ASB plans on doing after school games and then finals during school at lunch time. If the finals can’t be finished in that week, they plan on including some prelim games during lunch as well in the beginning part of the week. “It’s one of those bracket tournaments where teams play and some advance to higher rounds,” George said. “Because the numbers are off, some senior teams may get a bye game.” This great fundraiser for the senior class holds promise for a last bit of money to fund all the exciting events planned. The dodgeball tournament will be an exciting way to end the school year.
A4
Sun Spread
Mt. Carmel SUN
Mt. Carmel SUN
May 22, 2009
A5
A PHOTO ESSAY BY MATT COFFELT
Shelter from the Storm
Veteran struggles on the streets
Storefront provides safety, comfort for San Diego’s homeless youth
Kylie Baranowski and Erica Byerley While wandering through downtown San Diego we came across a destitute looking man brandishing a sign at passersby: “Hungry. Please help! God Bless You!” His name is David Wells and he is a US Marine Corps veteran who served in Vietnam. Every single day Wells is faced with the grim reality of his struggle just to get by. He hasn’t slept in a bed in over four months. For Wells, having a roof overhead is not a right, it is a luxury. He is forced to resort to soliciting donations from total strangers, often only to be rejected. But rejection isn’t the worst response that Wells has experienced. “I get people [who] come by and kick my cup, you know, I have people steal my cup on a bicycle,” he said. “They got this high and mighty attitude; they got their noses all up there. Look down once in awhile, there’s another world downstairs. They have a very arrogant attitude.” After having served his country in Vietnam, and returning to a lack of appreciation for the efforts of soldiers, Wells has become accustomed to society’s apathy. “I’ve still got my [Marine Corps] jacket; it’s the only thing I have left,” he said. “I had a sign that says ‘No respect for a vet, only in America.’ And the police told me to get rid of the sign, they said it was disrespect.” Yesterday, Wells only took in $1.85. Not nearly enough for a meal, or even his favorite vice, coffee.
“Some people will get me a coffee,” he said. “I love coffee. I just can’t afford it. Coffee’s too expensive.” Wells isn’t doesn’t exactly fit into the stereotype of a typical homeless man. “I don’t really like the crack, the arguing, I don’t like that stuff,” he said. “I’m not an alcoholic, I’m a coffeeholic.” His impoverished situation isn’t because he’s some kind of junkie. A series of unfortunate events has left Wells out in the cold. His situation is also because of the lack of opportunities available after he returned from Vietnam. But he has hope for the future. “I’m just trying to get money for a bus ticket home right now,” he said. “A friend of mine’s got a house, and behind his house he’s got a cottage. He says if I get there, he’ll let me stay there until I get on my feet.” Even surrounded by squalor, Wells doesn’t let worries burden his heart. “The good lord will take care of me. I’m not worried,” he said. Still, the truth is hard to swallow. Veterans account for 23% of homeless people in America. A majority of these homeless vets are single males who came from disadvantaged communities.
Melanie Dickinson
According to the Veterans Administration, 154,000 veterans are left without a home on any given night. Which begs the question: Why are so many vets homeless? One reason may be the effects of the war on their mental state. Many veterans still live with the lingering effects of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. But by far the largest reason is the insufficient support provided by the VA. The equation is simple, too many veterans with too few benefits to go around leaves many vets out in the cold. “I send all my benefits to my kids,” he said. “I’ve got a boy. He’s 31, but I signed over my stuff because I didn’t know if I would come back alive.” Neither VA benefits nor the change he earns on the streets of downtown are enough to give him a better life. “I served my country, and this is all they can give me, pennies and snide remarks?” Wells said. “Is that all I’m entitled to? I don’t know.”
On any given night in America, anywhere from 700,000 to 2 million people are homeless. National Law Center on Homelessness and Poverty
ART BY MELANIE DICKINSON | STAFF WRITER
Thirteen hundred of the 9000 homeless men and women in San Diego County are under 18, according to the 2004 Regional Task Force on the Homeless. Under the tourist town façade of America’s Finest City, high school aged teens are victims of verbal and physical abuse, rape, assault, and sexual exploitation on the streets of San Diego. Such are the primary customers of Hillcrest’s Storefront. As the city’s only emergency teen shelter, it caters to teens aged 12-17, most of whom are between 15 and 17. It maintains a haven of 20 beds, about five computers, comfortable chairs, and ping pong, foosball, and air hockey tables. “Our clients are tough, highly resilient kids,” Director Jan StankusNakano said. “They are not criminal kids. It’s not their fault.” A majority of these clients are orphans in-between foster homes, over 80% are filing for CPS abuse, and still others were just victims of circumstance. Yet these circumstances often thrust them into dangerous situations. “Teen pregnancy, STDs, survival sex, commercial sex, exploitation, and condoms can all be part of the dinner conversation here,” Program Manager Laura Beadles said. “We’d like to think they will abstain from sex or drugs. The reality: They’re doing it and we need to protect them.” So rather than penalize individuals for their actions, the Storefront staff puts its efforts into education, and attempts to provide them with sufficient outlets like expressive art. “We do less to punish them than we do to empower them to make healthy decisions.” The walls of their lobby, sleeping quarters, and common rooms are
adorned in various brightly-colored murals of rainbows and trees, all of which were painted by the youth. Storefront serves as a sort of stopping point for many of its visitors. After a couple weeks of free food, warm showers, and a safe bed, teens generally leave Storefront to lead lives as diverse as that of MC’s graduating class. Some may pursue education, some may join the military or the workforce, and some may rejoin their families. Out of an average of 200 teens they serve per year, 102 teens were transferred to safe, more permanent homes last year. Yet there is a constant struggle to offer support for these youths in transition. “This Mother’s Day weekend we did everything we could to distract our clients from the fact that they wouldn’t be with their moms on Mother’s Day,” Beadles said. “We went to the beach, to the movies, and got care packages for the kids.” Whether it be in care packages, a check, or an odd stuffed animal, Storefront is dependent on the goodwill of local churches, businesses, and service groups. It functions on $900,000 per year, and although the community has been supportive for the 23 years that Storefront has operated, there is always a need for money, as with any nonprofit. While Storefront does relatively well around Christmas, they struggle when the spirit of giving doesn’t overcome community thought, according to Beadles. They have been known to have to stretch holiday donations until July of the next year. Stuffed animals are even appreciated for these 16 and 17-yearolds. “Just because you act tough doesn’t mean you can’t break,” Beadles said.
Opinions
A6
Mt. Carmel SUN
May 22, 2009
Glued to a screen
Paresh Dave
Extracurricular lessons I did not expect to walk out of an AP Government exam with the knowledge that birth control pills cause girls to gain 15 pounds of weight they will never lose. Our proctor, Jim Dutton, mentioned this in an attempt to give us some life advice. Unfortunately, studies have proven that equal number of women gain weight as lose weight. Though Dutton was not completely right, I have absorbed at least nine important thoughts outside of normal class instruction during the past four years that I consider true. Here’s a sampling…
1 Gain the friendship and trust of your teachers. Then, you can always trust someone like Joe to open his trailer door and let you escape the pressures and heat of the day.
2 When you are doing something illegal, have a plan in place in case the police spot you. For instance, if six people are in five-person car, not everyone should duck down at once when a police car becomes visible.
Overreaction to swine flu causes unnecessary paranoia LAUREN HALL STAFF WRITER
Little chuckles were heard throughout the room as a student sneezed. “Swine Flu,” APEC teacher Lee Raskin yelled at the student. Of course the class saw the humor in Raskin’s mimic of people’s dramatic panicking about swine flu, but some do not realize just how unnecessary their stress is. For one thing, we have a cure, and although many people in Mexico have died, that is because they do not have very good health care and were not prepared for such a shock. Because we are prepared and are taking control of the situation there is no need for panic, but it seems that people do not realize this. Mission Hills High School was even shut down for a couple days because of one probable case, potentially preventing all sports teams from competing in important sporting events and interrupting the student’s education. As it turns out, swine flu may
SHAYON SAID STAFF WRITER
4 In February, I wrote in this same column, “Now, were one of my tires to suddenly rupture, I feel confident that I could replace it with the spare.” Guess what happened on Adam Lambert Day? I successfully replaced a flat. When your friends teach you something...listen! Also on the subject of cars, drive slow when it rains or you’ll hydroplane (trust me).
CHRISTIAN JUN ARTIST
It seems as though no matter how hard someone tries, they often continue to make more mistakes than succeed. Naturally, we call someone who doesn’t succeed a failure. The term success, however, is too variant, meaning it’s too hard to determine how success is measured. Truth is, success isn’t measured by how many times we succeed in something, it’s actually more related to how few times we fail. Real success is seen in one’s ability to rise up from their setbacks and learn from their mistakes. Some even rise up from the bottom to prove their success. For example, the famous Chris Gardner who lost everything he had as a poor private businessman, simply trying to get by with his son. After going through a six-month no salary training period, he attempted to get a spot as a stockbroker with Dean Witter.
Only one out of 20 was to get the job, and he did. He later went on to become a multimillionaire working for Dean Witter, rising up from the depths, to the top of the charts. His example of rising to the top shows one of the true meanings of success through his persistence in rising after failing.. It’s the type that shows even the smallest people can rise to the biggest level, unlike the common belief that those who have already succeeded are the only ones who will continue to succeed. Our ability to rise from those failures is what makes us eventually learn and succeed. The entire idea is something that can really be applied to life. Unfortunately, life is full of mistakes. However, the fact that we fail is the proof that we have the ability to succeed. It’s easy to agree that every human is a victim of failure and our ratio of failing to succeeding greatly favors the failing side. But no matter how many times we fail, the fact that we muster the strength to get back up is where our true success is found.
OF STUDENTS POLLED FEEL MODERATELY THREATENED BY THE SWINE FLU.
5% OF STUDENTS POLLED ARE EXTREMELY FRIGHTENED BY THE SWINE FLU. * 225 STUDENTS POLLED
MELISSA ROADMAN EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
The MC students and community stared in awe as Adam Lambert finished his performance of “Mad World” by Tears for Fears. While thanking the crowd, Dr. Tom McCoy readied himself as he saw the sophomore girl running onto the stage wearing only a skirt and a bra. The crowd immediately erupted into laughter. It continued as the mayor shrugged it off with a joke, “I promise I’ll keep my shirt on.” While the initial reaction was comical, the action was more attention seeking than anything else, and took away from the reason for the gathering. The packed Sundevil Stadium, filled with students, teachers, and Lambert fans, was supposed to be the location of a celebration of an alumnus that has gone on to overcome obstacles and reach success. There had been no behavior problems up until Lambert had finished his second performance. He rightfully captured everyone’s attention in the audience. However, once the girl ran across the stadium, the attention would never
completely return to him. Instead of discussing Lambert’s performances during the remainder of the day, friends discussed the streaker and what would come from her action. That night on the news, instead of glorifying Lambert’s return, half of the report was used to show the streaker’s dash across the stage. TMZ even captured the action. On YouTube, as of May 11, about 1,200 views are recorded for the video entitled “Girl rushes on stage while Adam Lambert performs Mad World.” Conversely, only 280 people have viewed his FOX morning news interview. The clip even made its way onto “Access Hollywood” on May 11 as well as the “American Idol” results show on May 13. Although Lambert took it in stride, laughing into the microphone, the streakers behavior was immature and distracted from the purpose of the assembly. The time that was supposed to be devoted to recognizing an MC alumnus that many have watched blow the competition away on “American Idol” was cheapened by the streaking incident.
‘Stupid people’ cause problems, leave it up to others to fix plaguing issues CORDELL HUNTER STAFF WRITER
7 Slowly counting numbers in your head and focusing in on them as you imagine them floating away into nothingness when trying to fall asleep/rest your mind actually works. Before Academic League matches this season, Mr. Matson had us meditate. I quickly learned counting is the best way to relax the mind.
the torture of suspected terrorists and lied about it to the American public. Thanks to his callous disregard for humanity and complete After going through piles of old magazines idiocy, Americans are now one of the most looking for things to write about, I realized just hated nationalities in the world. how depressing news can be. Almost every However, not all the world’s problems can story is about death, destruction, torture, or be attributed to George Bush. Al Qaida and the recession. the Taliban have played a significant part in the The funny (and sad) thing is, most of these chaos that makes up today’s world. problems are caused by For starters, they people who either have bomb things. Then no common sense or they say that God is are just extremely stupid; telling them to do it. The world is full of stupid Bernie Madoff, for That GOD wants people, but there are also many example. them to kill people. Did he really have with brains that actually work.” I don’t know his head up his butt so far if it’s just me, but that he didn’t know what I think that any the effects of his scam god would have would be? something against He betrayed and stole millions of dollars killing people. from clients who trusted him and thought he They also oppress and persecute women. could get away with it; looks like someone In Afghanistan, for example, it is against deserves a Darwin award. the law for a woman to go outside without her And, of course, I can’t talk about loss of husband. common sense without bringing in George And when girls try to do things the men Bush. don’t want them to, (for example, going to The former president spent most of school), they burn them with acid. his years in office completely wrecking both I don’t know about you, but I’m pretty American and worldwide peace. sure anyone who burns somebody with acid is Not only did he start a completely one sick bastard. unnecessary war on unfounded claims, he The world is full of stupid people, but proceeded to lead the government into an there are also many with brains that actually almost TEN TRILLION DOLLAR debt, the work. second largest amount our nation has ever Hopefully, they will be able to use them to seen. fix the problems caused by the idiots before it Not to mention the fact that he authorized is too late.
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8 Avoiding conflicts makes you everyone else’s tool. Standing up for yourself and others makes everyone stronger. When my friend felt I was betraying him, he gave me the talking to that I needed. By doing so, everyone was put in a better place.
9 Friends can supplement your study. Food can complement your study. So, find a friend willing to open up his house that has good food in it. Throughout this year, I held AP Physics/“24” study parties. Not an incredibly large amount of actual studying took place, but our last session definitely paid off on the next day’s test. Friends, coaches, teachers, cops and life hold truths. Walk through world with ears open and eyes wide. Not every bit of knowledge is true, but everything has some value.
11%
Rising above challenges measures true Streaker steals attention at Lambert’s ability to succeed; learn from mistakes homecoming celebrations, festivities
Rain sickens, snow heals. I marched in the only Rose Parade dampened by rain and I walked around the Baseball Hall of Fame in clothes drenched by a downpour. Both times I became sick. However, after having my wisdom teeth removed and after battling a cold, I went snowboarding. Both times, I returned home feeling better.
6 Quitting is usually bad, but don’t be afraid of quitting something that you don’t enjoy. My second semester of my second year of band, I was going nowhere and doing nothing. Yes, I quit on myself. But, I had no passion for playing the trumpet and there was no use doing something I didn’t like when I had other options—like taking journalism so I could someday write this column.
viewers. The media covers the news with stories of death and despair as a way of hooking people in but they do not realize how much their stories affect people’s ability to think about these dangers logically, and how to deal with them effectively. If anything the media should be worrying about people’s reactions to the fear of this flu rather than the flu itself. If we focus on how to prevent it and how to deal with those who have it logically, then we will be protecting ourselves. But by dwelling on the one problem we can not solve the potential issues that we might have to face in the future. So with that, signs are posted on doors, and people in the news talk of being extra cautious. These warnings include being careful around people with germs, and always washing your hands and open sores, but shouldn’t these steps be taken anyways? In any case, whether the swine flu ends up being dangerous, it is not right now because we have a treatment. In the end it could be the paranoia and panic of the masses that could lead to the most problems.
CHRISTIAN JUN | ARTIST
3
5 This is a self-taught one: senior year is expensive. I tracked my spending since last summer on items like the yearbook, dances, AP tests, college applications and visits, coaches’ gifts and gas. The grand total will exceed $3,500.
be even less dangerous than the regular flu. After a 30-year-old student was found with swine flu while returning home to China, he and dozens of others who were on the plane were quarantined. A jet from Mexico also flew to several Chinese cities to pick up many Mexicans who had been quarantined in China. Is this not overreacting? People who did not even show a sign of having swine flu had to interrupt their lives because of others’ panic, and it’s not fair. Some even assume that Mexicans are more likely to acquire this flu. Assuming that someone is more likely to get swine flu because they are Mexican is condemning people of a certain nationality and is way off base. The swine flu starting in Mexico has nothing to do with the people there but is has to do with the location, sanitation, and animals, something that could happen to any group of people. In a zoo, three wild boars were killed by zoo officials because of this epidemic. These animals had no signs of swine flu whatsoever. In fact, the media has used this drama of the possible swine flu “pandemic” merely as propaganda to get more
CHRISTIAN JUN | ARTIST
Opinions
Mt. Carmel SUN
A7
May 22, 2009
Should letters be given for non-athletic activities? YES
ALISON ASHWORTH STAFF WRITER
Sophomore
Freshman
can.
Dedication is one of the most important qualities to be a great and supportive part of a team; dedication to improve, help others, and put everything you have into everything you do. This scenario applies to both types of MC “teams”, sports and non- athletic organizations. Hours of practice, preparation, and hard work are need for both. Therefore, students participating in academic activities should continue to receive letters. Students committed to a group or league put in just as much hard work as those on sports teams. Just like sports, many students in groups such as Academic League, Speech and Debate, drama, choir, band, and newspaper enter many contests and win prestigious awards for their work. It makes sense to recognize the students who dedicate themselves to these types of groups for their hard work and represent MC the best they
When someone wearing a red and gold jersey steps up the mound, or onto the field for their game, they give their all to represent the MC community and students. This is exactly what non- athletic teams do too. Every meet, debate, concert or newspaper issue symbolizes what MC students are: hard working, dedicated students driven to improve each and every time. Just like students playing sports, they have to juggle class assignments as well as other activities. Speech and Debate and Academic League are not one of six classes you may take during the day, but a separate after-school activity. Students who participate in these groups have a heavier workload. Some are even on a sports team as well as a non-athletic team. There are some students that do not have an interest in sports too. They might not have talent in athletics, but may excel in other areas, such as academics. This is how they connect and become a part of MC, and they should earn a school letter.
Raymond Remigo
Mitchell Kogan
“Yes, because not everyone is gifted athletically, and those gifted mentally should receive the same treatment.”
“Yes, because everyone has something to contribute. We all should receive recognition for it.”
Junior
Senior
Anna Pacilio
Brandon Yi
“Yes, because even if you don’t play a sport, you should still be rewarded.”
“Yes. The point of a letter is to show off your efforts. Non-athletes should be able to brag just as much as the athletes do.”
Arguments against opposing article: -Though they seem old-fashioned, letters are a high school tradition -Academic letters differ from athletic letters in many ways, like their color. -If letters were strictly for athletes, there would be more rivalries.
Teacher
Academic League
Newspaper
Dance Troupe
MT. CARMEL SUN Mt. Carmel High School 9550 Carmel Mtn. Rd. San Diego CA 92129 (858)484-1180 ext. 3211 rmercurio@powayusd.com http://www.mcsun.org
Our mission is to provide the MC community with an informative, accurate and respectful student-run publication. The SUN seeks to stimulate the discussion of issues in order to promote a more aware student body. Whether informing, voicing opinion, or entertaining, the sun strives for standards of balance and good taste. Melissa Roadman Editor-in-chief Rick Mercurio Advisor Catherine Jaravata Assistant Advisor Craig Racicot Photo Advisor
The Mt. Carmel SUN is the official newspaper of Mt. Carmel High School, published by its Journalism 2 students. The views expressed in the SUN do not necessarily represent the opinions of the Mt. Carmel High School administration or PUSD Board 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 and information please call, email, or write the SUN at the address above.
Editors Katelyn Cutts News Kylie Baranowski Center Rachel Martin Opinions Mackenzie Lance Sports Kevin Lage Entertainment Kaveri Gyanendra Features Paresh Dave Web Cathy McDermott Copy Matt Coffelt Photo Staff Writers Vandana Bhairi Nicole Bustamante Erica Byerley Sarah Carrigan Melanie Dickinson Kelly Fan Matthew Geller Lauren Hall Cordell Hunter Abby Mansour Karen Michel Aditi Pai Vincent Pham Shayon Said Sara Shantz Laura Slusser Dennis Sun Jordan Ugalde Sean Williams Staff Photographers Ana Alvarez Mary Carmen Gonzalez Allison Rogers Amanda Stintsman Daniel Than Kyle Covey Artists Christian Jun Alyssa Surmillon Business Managers Alison Ashworth Megan Ashworth
Let’s face it. Letterman awards are old-fashioned. When you’re sewing MC’s emblem on the sleeve of your jacket, you really have to ask yourself: What does this even mean to me? It doesn’t say anything about the team you’re on or the club you’re in. It just indicates which school you go to, which is obvious enough. In athletics, it’s a tradition. Letters were specifically meant to distinguish the top athletes from everyone else. Fair enough. But if academic clubs and teams want to distinguish themselves, they should find another way. Like medals or fancy hats. Currently, someone with a letter could be on the debate team or the newspaper staff or pretty much any other organization. You can’t know. But if every team had a different type of award, everyone would feel a lot more special. Like, when you see a guy with a medal, you know: “That guy’s on the debate team.” Or when
you see a guy with a fancy hat, you know: “That guy’s on the newspaper staff.” And when you see a guy with a letter, you know: “That guy’s a top athlete.” This new system would also allow students to spot kindred spirits. Say you’re really into science, but you’re new in town and don’t have any friends. Then, when you see the award denoting Science Olympiad you have an instant friend and a conversation starter. It could be recognized similarly to a letter and be put on college résumés, but called something different. Furthermore, this will divide our school into factions creating a sort of playful rivalry. When the senior class holds a dodgeball tournament or any event where clubs can go against each other, it would be much more successful if we have vendettas among clubs and teams. But in the end, it all comes down to one question: Do you really want to sew a letter on your jacket when you could have a really fancy hat?
SOME ATHLETIC ACTIVITIES THAT RECEIVE LETTERS
Speech & Debate
Science Olympiad
LAURA SLUSSER STAFF WRITER
Arguments against opposing article: -Letters are old-fashioned, every jock used to have them. -They’re not nostalgic, they are dated and overused. -Non-athletic events should be rewarded with something original.
Glen Johnson
SOME NON-ATHLETIC ACTIVITIES THAT RECEIVE LETTERS Drama
NO
Sundevil Perspective
“Anyone that represents MC in the best way possible deserves a letter.”
Football
Golf
Basketball
Softball
Soccer
Volleyball
Swim & Dive
Baseball
ALL PHOTOS BY AMANDA STINTSMAN | PHOTOGRAPHER
Nineteen days, 21 hours, and 55 minutes until summer starts (as of today after school). But who’s counting? -Melanie Dickinson
Just about a couple more weeks until the end of the school year. It’s time to trade in the books for the beaches. -Vincent Pham
Yay for AP testing being over. And hooray for early onset senioritis. -Kevin Lage
School’s almost over! Too bad the final days will be spent stressing over finals. - Jordan Ugalde
AP tests are over and the school year is coming to an end. Why is it that the last few weeks are always the longest? -Kylie Baranowski
Summer is coming up. Maybe I should start working on my tan. -Rachel Martin
Thumbs
Opinions
A8
udgment Day J May 22, 2009
Mt. Carmel SUN
We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights... ~ Declaration of Independence
Judgment of appearance build cliques, groups, cause division among people
Discrimination within race construct biased stereotypes, labeled ethnicities
KAREN MICHEL STAFF WRITER
CORDELL HUNTER STAFF WRITER
really use that phrase in our everyday lives? “People like that [judgmental] are the reason why everybody always has the same cookie-cutter style outfits,” “I knew I belonged to the public and to the world, an MC senior said. “I’m sure that if people didn’t judge not because I was talented or even beautiful, but because by appearance, but personality, half of our kids would be I had never belonged to anything or anyone else.” wearing completely different outfits.” Since the late 1950s, sex icon Marilyn Monroe has Nowadays, different cliques most commonly express been considered as one of the many themselves through their appeargoal appearance’s that young teenance. Examples include the dancage girls everywhere are trying to with their vibrant colors and People everywhere can ers achieve. Her voluptuous curves and tight fitting jeans, to surfers with seductive smile seemed to be most pick out someone by the way their DC’s tank tops and worn popular with society and the media. they look.” out rainbows, to even the teachShe lived a very successful life with ers with their button up suits and hit movies, popular songs, and her red ties. People everywhere can notorious relationships. pick out someone by the way they What teenage girls sadly never seem to acknowledge look and, for the most time, guess correctly in what group was Monroe’s style of living. With three failed marriages, they belong to. But is that what it’s really about- being her mother being diagnosed as mentally ill and her death able to read a book by its cover so easily and know exactly from an accidental overdose at such a young age, Mon- what genre of literature it should be in? “The sad part that people still don’t realize, is that we roe’s glamorous lifestyle of photo shoots and beauty only all still look the same,” the senior said. “We all still have served as a cover-up to her actual life. hair, even if you cut it short and dye it black, we still have The phrase “never judge a book by its cover” is most skin, even if you spray tan it or leave it pale, and we all still commonly used in grade school as an attempt to prevent judgmental students. In reality, however, how often do we judge, even if you judge by appearance or personality.”
“
58%
OF STUDENTS SAID THEY HAVE BEEN RACIALLY DISCRIMINATED AGAINST
83%
OF STUDENTS SAID THEY HAVE BEEN JUDGED BASED ON THEIR APPEARANCE. *223 STUDENTS POLLED
“I think it [being judgmental] has a huge impact on students, because it contributes to all kinds of problems including their self worth, which of course impacts their academics. People really underestimate the impact they have on someone when they exclude or pick on them.” ~ Counselor Kim Bronson “I think, especially as a teen, they are all insecure, and to have someone do something mean to them has a lot of detrimental effects. I think that the students who do that [judge] do it because of their own insecurities.” ~ Counselor Lori Lindsey
were only given five-day suspensions while six black students were arrested on aggravated assault charges and indicted by an all-white jury for knocking out one of the The philosopher Thomas Hobbes believed that evil boys. When most people think of racism, they think of was inherent in all humans. While many disagree with this outrageous and obvious acts of hatred. However, prejutheory, the actions of some people make me wonder if dice goes far beyond extreme incidents like these. In fact, Hobbes was right. most people who do something or say something racist For example, after 9/11, some have no clue they are doing somepeople freaked and started calling thing wrong. all Arabs terrorists. Even in eleAlthough it might not seem like Most people who do some- it, stereotyping mentary schools little kids wouldn’t is a form of racism. play with their Arab classmates. thing...racist have no clue they are While it is easy to lump everyone They most likely didn’t understand doing something wrong.” of a certain ethnicity into a catwhat had happened on September egory and refer to them by that 11, they just heard what their parlabel, it takes away from individuents said and copied their hatred. ality. Most people would rather be Although some of the fear has gone away, many still known as individuals, not as generic members of a racial have bad feelings toward Arabs. This malcontent is evi- group. And though many consider it harmless, it is an dent in the “random” searches they still get pulled over easy step downward from stereotyping to worse forms for more than anyone else in airports. Racism, though, is of prejudice. Almost all sane people would agree that not only directed against Middle Eastern people. A few discrimination is wrong. Even so, it is all too easy to say years ago, when black students in Jena, Louisiana went something that could be considered racist. Yes, it requires to eat lunch, they found two nooses hanging from the some self-control not to say everything that comes out of your mind, but if everyone exercised some restraint, the branches of the tree they were going to sit under. Even worse, the white students that hung the nooses world would soon become a better place to live.
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Prejudice builds insecurity creating divisions throughout society; inhibits individuality SHAYON SAID STAFF WRITER It’s dreaded by all, yet it flows in every one of us. It’s one thing that can make or break our sanity in the blink of an eye. It’s what stops friendships from even being started, and ends long-term ones. It’s insecurity, and every one of us is a victim of it. Of course, some are more affected by it than others, but the entire problem lies in its overall effects. Just like any other flaw in human nature, insecurity has a trigger. When people judge others they trigger their insecurity which leads not only to personal problems, but problems among an entire society too. According to MC counselors, the main reason people judge others is because they themselves are insecure and they need to be an “emotional sadist” in order to hide it. The fact that one would judge and put another down ends up demoralizing a student’s ability to happily be a part of a school community. People really seem to ignore the long-term effects and problems that judging others creates. According to a former MC student who is now in the PUSD New Directions program, several students actually leave public high school to join home schooling programs because of the judgment and cruelty they receive from their schoolmates. It’s amazing how ignorant our society is because despite the awful effects of judging others, we simply continue to judge more often.
As we walk through the halls we often see groups of people who have a specific race or ethnicity in common and hanging out with one another simply because of that same trait. Often times, it can cause people to reach a radical stage of insecurity resulting in things like rehab centers and suicide attempts. Of course, many immediately judge them and see nothing more than a stereotype because they are different than us. We can’t expect to better our school and our society if we continue to judge. If we are ever to actually put an end to judgment of race and appearance, we must first put an end to personal insecurity by ridding ourselves of the judgment others have done unto us.
CHRISTIAN JUN | ARTIST