October 31, 2014
OXNARD HIGH SCHOOL, 3400 W. GONZALES ROAD, OXNARD, CA. 93036
Volume 8 Issue 1
Drops Reign Over Futures
The Big Picture
OHS staff speaks out about an unfortunate truth By Aime Cano and Mayra Sanchez
People at Oxnard High School talk about their perspective on life By Vitaliy Kostylov and Tatyana Sharpe
“Young people often don’t make plans beyond tomorrow,” said Oxnard High School Migrant and Law Education Counselor Mr. Emigdio Cordova. “As adults, it is our job to educate and enlighten our students to look at options beyond tomorrow and look at five years from now, what kind of career they want to have. They, as students, must take the initiative to find out how they can get there,” said Mr. Cordova. Some students see going to school five days out of the week as an unwanted obligation. What sets some of them apart from others is that the ones still attending school have goals in mind, such as graduating. OHS Advancement Via Individual Determination (A.V.I.D.) Coordinator, Ms. Wendy Henchy said that she would like the dropout rate to “decrease...we’re getting better at systems that work to support our students.” OHS principal Dr. Riegert has been noticing great changes in students’ attitude towards school. He said, “It seems like kids are a little more engaged now. I think as teachers we are doing a good job in the classroom with our students. At the same time,
we see students being very serious about school. If we look at our dropout rates, they have decreased in the last four or five years.” It would be in the educator’s interest to understand the reason students drop out of high school. Sometimes the reasons are not always under the students’ control. “I think they lose hope, and they have so many life obstacles in their way. The lack of positive self-esteem is also a contributing factor to the dropout rate,” Ms. Henchy said. “I think they sometimes just don’t believe in themselves or they have so many other pressing responsibilities that an education is the least of their worries.” Responsibility is a key factor for educational success. According to Dr. Riegert, “Kids need to take responsibility for their education. Sometimes they do have situations at home that get in the way of it, but every case is different, and there is never one solution. The biggest role goes out to the adults. As adults, we need to realize that a failure grade is unacceptable now. A kid must want to pass to get a grade, and the teacher also has to want that kid to pass.”
Decisions, Decisions How university systems differ By Berenise Alfaro and Luis Arevalo
For students applying to universities, the most difficult decision might be deciding which school suits their career path. But how do the University of California (UC), California State University (CSU), and private universities’ differ? Each system has a unique set of admission requirements. According to the College Board, UC’s require “A-G” courses. A 3.0 minimum grade point average (GPA), high scores on the Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT) or American College Test (ACT), extra-
curricular activities, and two personal statement essays are necessities. The CSU system also requires “A-G” courses, a minimum 2.0 GPA, an average score on the SAT or ACT, and consider extracurricular activities. Private schools differentiate from public California universities since there is no set minimum GPA, but require the SAT or ACT, extracurricular activities are highly influential on acceptance as well as letters of recommendation. Although every school
“Life is one big question... You have to find the answer,” said Oxnard High School junior Cisco Rangel. Some people go through difficult situations in life, but it is the attitude that counts.
Teenagers have to experience maturity in order to reach adulthood.
There are different challenges and obstacles during the process of living. One particular challenge that OHS junior Juan Rodriguez had to face was the absence of a parent. Rodriguez said, “It’s just me and my mom...Wherever my dad is, I don’t care anymore. He never helped me...he’s not gonna’ help me now...Don’t let it hold you down, it could be as bad as it seems but, the fact that someone still loves you, is enough to hold or keep you up.” The meaning of life is to be
has considerably different acceptance rates, the average UC admittance is lower than a CSU. According to the University of California and California Colleges, as of fall 20132014 the average UC rate is 39.5 percent, CSU rate is 58.5 percent, and private schools differ based on the institution. As stated by the University of California Admissions, “the numbers are useful only as a general guide to selectivity and not as a predictor of your chances for admission to a particular campus.” Therefore, there are no set boundaries when it comes to the chances of getting accepted to a cer-
congenial. Rangel said, “Making someone smile is probably the best thing you can get out of life...That just gives you a meaning, that gives you something to live for...Happiness is always where your home is.” Teenagers have to start deciding for themselves, at some point. “It was about tenth grade... That was when I first felt I wanted to be a teacher. I would call it a calling...It gave me a goal to shoot for as far as my education,” said mathematics teacher, Mr. John Reynolds. Adults also go through changes in life. “When we moved, it was a big change for our family...It was both positive and negative,” said Mr. Reynolds. “Looking back...There was a lot of loose morals in a lot of ways and my family had raised me...fairly strict but I think it was a good moral upbringing and they can see that I was starting to really kind of stray from those things. Later on in life...We talked about those rocky years…I came around, and it was kind of like sorry I screwed up guys,” said Mr. Reynolds. Whether it be a positive or negative experience, both aspects could define a person’s life.
tain school. Cost is a major factor when deciding which type of university system to attend. An average UC tuition per year costs $33,110 for living on campus and $29,200 for living off campus. According to the UC system, “these expenses are offset by grants and scholarships...over twothirds of UC undergraduates receive some gift aid.” Thus, allowing residents to waive off a large fraction of their fee. A CSU school fee is around $22,000 for on-campus tuition and about $23,000 for off-campus. In addition, private universities prices rank
from $60,000 for on-campus tuition to as low as $18,000, but it mainly depends on the type of school attended. Each university system is diverse. Whether it is a UC, CSU or a private school, the key factor for applicants to remember are the advantages each system can provide.
Photo by Juan Quero San Diego State University.
The Buzz Staff
Not So Secret Menus
Are secret menus really that secret? By Tammera Magana and Janine Tadiaman
Throughout the years, popular food joints have continuously captured customers with their creative and one of a kind menus. One thing people might or might not be aware of when Photo by Tammera Magana ordering food are Animal fries from In-N-Out’s sethe secret menus. cret menu. Starbucks, Jamba Juice, and In-N-Out are some of the few known to have such menus. “I get the ‘Pink Star’ [which] tastes like a pink starburst,” said Oxnard High School junior Breanna Campbell, referring to her favorite Jamba Juice secret menu item. “At In-N-Out, you could order a bunch of patties, but it’s not on the menu,” added Campbell. Through the power of the Internet and social
media, one can learn more about secret menus from different places. OHS Junior Ana Sanchez said that she found out about Starbucks’ secret menu through Pinterest, Instagram, and Twitter. According to the website HackTheMenu, McDonalds serves a “Monster Mac -- eight burgers piled inside of just one bun.” The same source also said Subway has an item called the Wing Effect, which is just bologna on the edges of a sub. Aside from secret drinks, Starbucks also has secret sizes such as the Short Drink, an eight ounce cup and the Trenta, a 31 ounce cup available for Refreshers. Every lesser known food had its origins from the creative minds of the customers. According to qz.com, In-N-Out Vice President Carl Van Fleet said, “The so-called ‘secret menu’ items are simply variations in methods of preparation for our basic menu items. We always make each burger exactly the way a customer orders it.” Anyone can contribute to the ingenious creations that make up a secret menu, but they vary by location.
Room 307
Managing Editor Yadira Vico Copy Editor Tammera Magaña Alizé Saldana Layout Editors Patty Casimiro Chase Perez Photojournalism Editor Mayra Sanchez Website Editor Denis O’Leary Entertainment Editor Christina Escudero Sports Editor Esteban Leon
One night at the Glen Tavern Inn By Nicholas Robles and Jason Toledo “The story surrounding [Room] 307 is dated back to the prohibition era. The 3rd floor…[initially] housed a speakeasy [undercover bar], and a brothel. The main story is regarding a cowboy that was shot in the chest by the owner for swindling him of all his money. The other story is...a prostitute that had been killed on the 3rd floor -- her decapitated body stored in the closet of 307,” said the general manager of the
Editors-In-Chief Stephanie Chavez Juan Quero
Glen Tavern Inn, Dustin Aremburg. The Buzz reporters gave their first-hand experiences at the hotel: Photo by Jason Toledo Hallway of the reportedly haunted Room 307.
Business Manager Daniela Peña
Jason Toledo
Nicholas Robles
Juan Quero
Esteban Leon
The lobby of the hotel had dim lighting that added to the eerie building. As I made my way upstairs, every step creaked. At the top floor, I stared down the long, windowless hallway decorated with old movie posters. Later, I walked into the hallway, I thought Juan had followed since I felt a presence behind me. After I took a picture of a decoration, I turned back to see nobody. I walked back to the room confused and asked Juan if he had ever been with me but denied it.
As we walked into the lobby of the Glen Tavern Inn, I saw why the hotel would be considered haunted. Complete with Halloween decor, the design of the lobby gave it a classic and western look. A few hours after we settled in our room, we decided to look around the lobby some more. During the middle of the night, the lobby had a more creepy feeling. The overall mood of the lobby, and the rest of the hotel was more creepy than pleasant.
Once we checked in, the creaking flights of stairs lead to a distinctly different environment. At the very end of a lonely hall, was our room, 307. It was not until 1:00 a.m. when Jason and I sat on the hallway sofa -- adjacent to our room. Whether it was sleep deprivation or some other entity, I could not help but sense that I was being watched. From the corner of my eye, I could see a faint figure. However, when I turned to see any sign of life observing us from the end of the hall, there was nothing to be seen.
The spiritual presence of the two ghosts never happened. However, as a firm believer in the supernatural, I was overwhelmed with the whole experience. This was the first time that I spent the night at a haunted place. Throughout the night I was overthinking the whole idea of confronting a ghost. My fear kept me awake as I constantly glanced at the room’s entrance. I had a feeling that something was behind the door. Finally, I was able to force myself to sleep keeping the lights on.
possible but without much scientific evidence I don’t care whether OHS students discuss their opinions regarding paranormal activity they [exist] or not,” By Denis O’Leary and Mark Ramos said freshman Timo“When I was a little kid, we ghosts are real...I thy Whitfield. used to live in this apartment think some movies Senior Spenser building, I would always hear [are] based on true Judd said, “I’ve seen strange noises at night,” said Ox- stories…[that] acapparitions in my nard High School freshman Raul tually happened,” house before. There Garcia. said senior Richard used to be an old Since the concept of para- Madrid. lady who died...my normal activity was first introAlthough some friend used to live duced to the public, unexplain- believe ghosts are in my house before I able occasions have led people real because of did and he said they to believe in the supernatural. movies, other peo- Photo by Denis O’Leary got a paranormalist A contribution to this belief ple require proof. “I Media influences people reto investigate...they has been scary movies. “I believe believe it could be garding the paranormal. saw the old lady.”
Keeping the ‘Spirit’ of Halloween Alive
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Reporters Berenise Alfaro Luis Arevalo Aime Cano Brandon Cardilino Melissa Cuevas Victor Galicia Edith Gallardo Stephany Garcia Vitaliy Kostylov Zaira Miranda Yesenia Monje Stephanie Quero Mark Ramos Imani Roberts Nicholas Robles Tatyana Sharpe Andrew Smith Jaime Tadiaman Janine Tadiaman Jason Toledo Teresa Valerio Faculty Advisor Mr. David Page However, even with experiences, the topic of whether ghosts exist or not is still controversial. “It’s so unrealistic…there are no statements proving that ghosts exist,” said freshmen Justin Terrill. Senior Giselle Cruz said, “I choose not to [believe] because then I’d be too scared. I feel like there are ghosts and demons, but I’m lying to myself.” Whether it be a fact or fiction, the existence of supernatural forces holds true in the perspectives of those who experience them. It is with the accounts of these students that the belief of life after death continues to live.
“Oxnard...What Kind of Name is That?” People share their thoughts about the city of Oxnard By Stephanie Chavez and Tammera Magaña
Oxnard is known for being a place with good weather, beaches, and cultural diversity. However, there are also some negative aspects about the city. “There is good and bad. [We should] make the best of it,” said Oxnard resident Elaine Padilla. A positive aspect about the city is that there are many different recreational and public areas. “There are many different people and different kinds of neighborhoods and places in Oxnard...there are the beaches…[and] downtown...The Plaza and all that,” Camarillo resident Becky Holguin said. “Then we have The Collection, which we are really liking with the little kids because...It is just beautiful.” Another advantage about Oxnard is its diversity. “I love all the migrants...I went to church in Oxnard for fifteen years because I wanted diversity, and there is diversity in Oxnard much more than Camarillo, and I think we need that,” said Holguin. Becky Holguin’s husband, Mario Holguin, who also resides in Ca-
marillo said, “the weather…is really awesome, and I miss…[it] even though we live like ten miles away, you can’t beat it. Here you can get the cool beach breeze.” Nonetheless, as in most places, there are negative things that are also a part of the city. Mr. Holguin said that he did not like “the name Oxnard...when [he] first heard of Oxnard. [He] thought what kind of name is that?” “There are [some negative] things that I can think of. One is the gangs, my friend’s son was killed in front of his doorstep, a 19-year-old, who was not a gang member. He was a latino...a football player at the high school, and he was shot by gang members and killed,” said Becky Holguin. Overall, any place should not only be judged primarily by its negative aspects. For Oxnard resident Felix Fabian Sanchez, “Oxnard is a place where people can have more freedom.”
“Nothing but Nonstop Smiles” A few positive outcomes of volunteering By Brandon Cardilino and Yadira Vico
“You’re going out of your way to show another kid, who’s seven or eight years old, that this is a place where it’s okay to be and there’s somewhere out there for [them],” said Oxnard High School senior Cody Honea, who volunteers at Royal Family Kids Camp. Volunteering for the first time can be a bit intimidating if one does not know where to start. However, once one begins to volunteer the experience becomes less intimidating. “I was volunteering initially to feed the less fortunate and when I saw all of the little kids running around in the alleyway amongst unsavory characters, I decided that I wanted to provide a positive role model and also a positive learning environment,” said senior Paulina Nava, who volunteers at the Ventura County Rescue Mission. Senior Julissa Murillo, who also volunteers at the Ventura County Rescue Mission, volunteers there because she “gets to be in that position to help the little kids and kind of be their mentor, in a way, and give them advice.”
For senior Jayda Bell, who volunteers at the Casa De Vida rehabilitation group home and Strawberry Patch daycare, volunteering is a way for her to help and meet new people. “The atmospheres at both places are extremely welcoming and warm-hearted, with nothing but nonstop smiles and laughter,” said Bell. Volunteering for some people is about being able to helping out and giving their assistance whenever they can. “I’m a junior counselor. I pretty much help the kids. I play with them. I hang out with them. If they have any issues or something they need to talk about, they come and talk to me about it,” said Honea. However, for Nava, volunteering not only helps others but helps her as well. Nava said, “It’s so much fun and as much as the children learn through science experiments, games, and arts and crafts, I myself am also learning key skills and gaining unique experience that I can carry with me for the rest of my life.”
The Chosen Ones
Teen Slang or Nah?
Oxnard High School students with food allergies
Today’s generation is changing slang By Teresa Valerio
By Alize Saldaña
“As a seafood chef’s son, seafood is quite a big part of my life. My dad absolutely loves seafood, even taking me to a seafood restaurant for my birthday,” said Oxnard High School junior Daniel Siu. Siu does not prefer seafood, but still takes the risk of eating it on special occasions. Being allergic to seafood and medications such as Ibuprofen, “it would be quite convenient to be able to use Ibuprofen,” he said. Senior Hannah Medina said, “My fish allergy has affected me the most. [My] family absolutely love eating fish, being Asian and all. So it can get pretty upsetting when they’re eating fish and salmon while I’m eating chicken.” Medina said she would like to be able to eat fish, but the reaction is “bad” and her throat swells. Her family’s love for fish has made it difficult to escape the smell that irritates her nose. Although she is allergic to fish, she still believes the taste is “great.” According to EpiPen’s web-
site, “as many as 8 million Americans, or 2.5% of the population have food allergies.” Anaphylaxis is an allergy trigger that causes people to have food allergies. The most commonly found food allergies are peanuts, tree nuts, shellfish, fish, cow milk, eggs, wheat, and soy. Junior Benjamin Riggs is one of the few students at Oxnard High School who is allergic to melons. Riggs became aware of the allergy at a young age and to this day, does not take the risk of eating melon. “I was slightly surprised because I did not know the allergy existed,” said Riggs. “I’m allergic to watermelon. It sucks because it’s so refreshing, and my friends make fun of me,” said senior Csammer Love Jularbal, a band member. Jularbal does not find being allergic to watermelon a problem because it is not a large part of her life. “It’s kind of funny knowing you’re the reason band parents know not to mix melon with other fruit,” said Jularbal. Page 3
“Slang is used all day every day,” said Oxnard High School sophomore Lily Chesser. It has become a big part of pop culture. New words and phrases are being shared through songs and some social media sites, such as Twitter, Vine and Instagram. “Everywhere you go there’s always people that speak different slang,” said Chesser. It has become a part of pop culture and teen life. This new generation brought many new words such as bae, fleek, yeet, bruh, etc. “Today’s slang is very difficult to understand, it’s [kind of ] the opposite of all English rules,” said Chesser. “It’s safe to say that one way of
speaking isn’t the same way it was about twenty years ago, let alone 100 years.” Teens are influenced by their surroundings and also the people around them. “[Slang] gets around by internet and social media,” said Chesser. Junior Nancy Melendez said, “Many people tweet and just come up
with these words and phrases. And others find them interesting.” Individuals are using slang on a day to day basis. Natasha Flores said, “they use it so often that they don’t even realize that they are using it. People use slang in different ways such as just making words shorter and making themselves sound cool.”
Photo by Juan Quero Cultural slangs often consist of unexplainable phrases and terms that today’s youth catch on.
A Kick in the Right Direction Mr. Christopher Conte has taken the role of Head Boys’ Soccer Coach at Oxnard High School By Victor Galicia and Nicholas Robles
Sanchez mentioned the changes Mr. Conte “It’s a new experience. It’s something will bring to help the team. “This year we’ve different that will help the team,” said varsity soccer player, junior Diego Alfaro. been learning more tactics, like what to do in different situations and formations that will At the start of the 2014-2015 season, Oxnard High School Advanced Placement (AP) help us outplay the other teams.” Mr. Conte has introduced an academic United States History teacher, Mr. Christopher focus to the team. “We’re looking at the NCAA Conte, has become the new head coach for Oxnard High School’s boys’ soccer team. “I standards, and he’s helping us reach the university teams,” said Alfaro. Mr. Conte also said watched most of their games last year, and I really like coaching, so when the opening hap- that he plans on helping players get sports scholarships. pened, I jumped right on it,” said Mr. Conte. Redeeming his new role as coach, Mr. Conte said, “I know it will be a lot of fun, and we have many great players on the team. I want to take it to the next level.” As the season approaches, the players are enthusiastic about having a new coach. “I feel pretty good about having a new coach. He really knows what he’s doing and will benefit the team,” said varsity player junior Jacob Martinez. Also, varsity player and junior Joel Sanchez Photo by Juan Quero added that the team looked “more motivated Oxnard High School history and government teacher Mr. Christoper Conte in his classroom. than last year to accomplish [their] goals.”
The Wrestling Bros. Two OHS students with more than a name in common By Denis O’Leary
Oxnard High School junior wrestlers Anthony Rios and Anthony Zaragoza go beyond wrestling on campus. “I just had my first fight, so currently I’m one and zero,” said Zaragoza, who also enjoys practicing Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) at Knuckleheads MMA. Zaragoza said that when wrestling season starts, “[he is] going to take a break from fighting to take care of [his] wrestling career, but once wrestling season is done, [he is] going back to fighting.” He also recognizes Rios’ performance and said, “He’s like my best friend.” Despite their similarities, the two Anthony’s are distinct
in their own ways. Rios, who boxes at the PAL (Police Activities League) said, “My boxing career is going well, I already competed in fights that my record so far is 5-1. Rios, with the same intentions as Zaragoza said, “Once wrestling season starts I’m going to take a break from my boxing career, [but] once track season
starts, [I will] do boxing and track.” At the end, both Anthony’s have the ambitious goal of reaching the CIF (California Interscholastic Federation) tournament. With their standards set high, their persistent practice regiment will ensure they both reach their full potential.
Wrestling, like boxing and MMA, is referred to as a contact sport. Where wrestling is the only one of the three to be practiced by Oxnard High School.
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Both coach and players have set goals. “A goal of ours is winning league,” said Martinez. Varsity player and junior Alfonso Esquivel said, “One of the team’s major goals is getting to CIF and definitely doing great.” This soccer season will be the first one that OHS will have a boys’ freshman soccer team. “There are so many kids that want to play. We have the space, we have the numbers, and with all these things, it should be a given,” said Mr. Conte about the new team. Freshman Manuel Frausto said, “I joined the team because I felt like it was a good opportunity to have fun and play for one of the best high schools. OHS is one of the best schools for soccer and to be able to play for them is great.” With a supportive coach and motivated players, the season looks bright for the OHS boys’ soccer teams.