Issue 4 1/16/15 by The Campanile

PALO ALTO UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT PALO ALTO HIGH SCHOOL 50 EMBARCADERO RD. PALO ALTO, CA 94301 NON-PROFIT ORG U.S. POSTAGE

PAI D PALO ALTO PERMIT #44

The Campanile

Vol. XCVII, No. 4

Palo Alto High School • 50 Embarcadero Road, Palo Alto, CA 94301 • www.palycampanile.org

Friday, January 16, 2015

New school legislation comes into effect this year 930 bills regarding misconduct and sports injuries, previously signed by Gov. Jerry Brown, now effective as of Jan. 1 claire dennis

Staff Writer

ver 900 new laws passed through the California state legislature in 2014 officially became effective on Jan. 1, including several laws that aim to increase protection against rape, excessive disciplinary action and concussions for high school students. Gov. Jerry Brown signed 930 bills into laws over the course of 2014, out of the 1,074 bills passed in the legislature. The new laws of 2015 cover a variety of topics ranging from toy gun restrictions to plastic bag bans. Of the nearly 1,000 laws, many pertain to high school students, even stemming from local community issues. A Saratoga teen’s suicide led to the implementation of Audrie’s Law, Senate Bill 383, passed in August to apprehend juvenile rapists in adult courts. In September of 2012, Audrie Potts was raped while unconscious at a party. Her abusers then posted photos of her body on social media sites. The new legislation that bears Pott’s name expands the violations that can result in a juvenile’s trial as an adult. Rape of a victim who is “prevented from resisting due to being rendered unconscious” and therefore “incapable...of giving consent” is now among the offenses for which minors can be charged as adults. The law would ensure harsher punishment for perpetrators of incidents similar to that of Potts.

Claire Liu/The Campanile

State legislators recently passed new laws, some of which pertained to high school, behavioral regulation and students’ needs.

“As a long-time advocate for children, I believe this new legislation will bring justice for victims and update the law to make it relevant to our 21st century ‘connected’ society,” State Sen. Jim Beall said in a March statement prior to the passage of his proposed legislation. Despite increasing the severity and ease with which to punish adolescent rape, new laws also make expulsion and suspension in high school more difficult for public school administrators. Assembly Bill 420, passed in September of 2014, restricts school administrations from expelling or

suspending students for “disrupting school activities or otherwise willfully defying the valid authority.” The law defines expulsion as a consequence for only some more severe offenses, such as school vandalism or theft. According to the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) of Northern California, approximately 43 percent of suspensions in California schools fell under the category of “willful defiance” of school authorities. The ACLU found that, of the over 600,000 suspensions in the 2012-2013 school year, a disproportionate amount of suspensions punished students of color.

This California law, the first of its kind in the nation, aims to keep students in the classroom, as research supports the conclusion that suspended students are five times more likely to end up in juvenile detention facilities. The law also provides financial support for teacher education on alternative disciplinary procedures to combat disruption and defiance. While laws like Assembly Bill 420 aim to keep students in the classroom, yet another law aims to keep student athletes off the playing field after suffering injuries. Assembly Bill 2127 targets practice frequency in contact sports, es-

pecially football, and the manner in which high school athletic departments handle concussions. Past laws required student athletes to sit out of athletic activity if they were believed to have suffered a concussion or other head injury and could only return after evaluation by a healthcare provider. The recently passed law now requires student athletes to wait a minimum of seven days before returning to contact activities if the health care provider determines that a concussion took place. Full-contact practices for high school sports will additionally be limited to two sessions a week, with a maximum of 90 minutes in duration. The bill, passed in June, cites several studies on concussions and their effects on mental health. The California Interscholastic Federation, which organizes high school athletics in California, is among the sports and health organizations that supported the measure. According to the legislation, many states have already taken action to limit full-contact practices. “This is a strong step toward protecting our young athletes from both near and long-term brain injury,” state Senator and bill author Ken Cooley said in a July press release. “This is a reasonable and commonsense measure that will help protect our student-athletes.” Be it at parties, in the classroom or on the playing field, California state legislature has proven to have students’ needs in mind for 2015.

Bullet train construction Foothill College to offer new set to proceed as expected inexpensive bachelor’s program

Despite years of much controversy, the School to be one of 15 to extend community college education California High-Speed rail is back on track miranda chen (CSU) or University of California Hanstein said on Palo Alto Online. maggie rosenthal

Staff Writer

fter years of planning, construction for a high-speed rail train connecting San Francisco and Los Angeles began on Jan. 6 with a groundbreaking ceremony in Fresno, Calif. Once finished, the bullet train will be the first of its kind within the United States, though bullet trains have been successful in countries such as China, France and Japan. According to the California High-Speed Rail Authority, sections of the train, including the initial operating section between Merced, Calif. and the San Fernando Valley, which is expected to be running by 2022, will be operational before the completion date of 2029. The high-speed rail will have the capacity to travel the roughly 400 miles between San Francisco and Los Angeles in three hours, moving at speeds up to 200 miles per hour, according to the California HighSpeed Rail Authority. The route will also include extensions to Sacramento and San Diego. At the ceremony for the highspeed rail, California Gov. Jerry Brown addressed concerns over the cost of the high speed-rail project. “It’s not that expensive,” Brown said. “We can afford it. In fact, we cannot not afford it.” Another official at the ceremony, Gina McCarthy, administrator of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, added to Brown’s statements and spoke to the environmental benefits of the high-speed rail. “High-speed rail is good for our health, it is good for our climate and it is good for our economy,” McCarthy said.

The bullet train is expected to provide an alternative to environmentally harmful options such as airplanes and cars, eventually reducing the amount of greenhouse gas emissions released into the atmosphere by 12 billion pounds annually, according to a report put out by the California High-Speed Rail Authority. In addition, the high speed train will create as many as 67,000 jobs, in construction and other sectors of employment, annually for 15 years in California. Despite these predicted benefits, the bullet train plan sparked controversy and faced a great deal of opposition in Palo Alto and beyond. According to the San Jose Mercury News, Palo Alto, along with several other Bay Area cities and environmental agencies, sued the state in an attempt to block the high-speed train from its path, claiming the route violated the California Environmental Quality Act. The lawsuit was settled in 2013, concluding with victory for the California High-Speed Rail. Many argue that the $68 billion price tag for the project is far too costly for California to spare in its current economic state. Others raised concern about the issue of noise, especially around the populated areas that the train plans to run through. In face of the difficulties the high speed train is expected to face and widespread doubt, Brown remained optimistic during the ceremony while signing his name on a piece of railroad track. “The high-speed rail links us from the past to the future, from the south to Fresno and north; this is truly a California project bringing us together today,” Brown said.

alo Alto High School’s newly established business competition club, Distributive Education Clubs of America (DECA), placed seven members in the top eight at its first ever tournament, Silicon Valley Career Development Conference (SVCDC) in San Jose, Calif., in early January. “We did really well for our first conference,” sophomore Josh Code, vice president of Paly DECA and Vice President of Outreach for Sili-

con Valley, said. “Everyone had a great time, and overall it was a good learning experience.” DECA is an international organization established almost 70 years ago with the goal of preparing students for future careers in business, marketing and finance. Paly is now one of the 3,500 high school chapters across the globe. “[Involvement in DECA] prepares you for the real world, which I think is an invaluable experience that not enough extracurriculars and clubs bring to the Paly environment,” junior Karina Chan, co-president,

Spotlight

Lifestyle

Sports

Paly alumni reflect on experiences gained through their travels. B4-B5

Read about the kinds of tests that help identify natural talents. B1

Find out our choices for the best players in the league C4-C5

Staff Writer

oothill College is aiming to become one of the first 15 community colleges in California to offer its students a low-cost bachelor’s degree after the passage of a new bill that took effect on Jan. 1. This new bill, which was signed into law in September 2014, will allow 15 community colleges to launch a bachelor’s degree program in one, specific vocational field. In order to prevent competition, the bill requires that the 15 community colleges offer four-year programs in fields which are not already provided by California State University

(UC) campuses. One of Foothill’s main goals is to give underprivileged Californians access to a four-year, higher education at a more affordable cost than programs offered at other universities, according to Foothill Director of Marketing and Public Relations Andrea Hanstein. Experts estimate that the tuition of a bachelor’s degree offered at a community college will total to approximately $10,000, roughly half of the cost of enrolling at a CSU campus and one-fifth of the cost of attending a UC school. “Community colleges were founded on the premise that everyone deserves an opportunity for education,”

“To be able to have a program where we can increase the number of seats because we would be able to increase the number of students enrolled and then get them out there and employed — that’s our mission in a nutshell.” Thirty-six community colleges, which constitutes half of the community college system in California, submitted applications last December and are currently in the running alongside Foothill College to launch a four-year degree program. Foothill, one of seven Bay Area colleges vying to be among the first in California to offer a bachelor’s degree,

FOOTHILL

New council elected Check out the story at palycampanile.org

DECA members place at first competition

First year business club performs well at regional conference mischa nee

Staff Writer

said. “DECA rolls it all into one and allows a student to experience something that they can challenge themselves in, feel that it is useful and still have fun.” Paly DECA also claimed two first places in the roleplay aspect of the conference, where competitors had 10 minutes to create a marketing plan or solve a intracompany issue. Junior Greg Eum and sophomore Samarth Venkatasubramaniam each won Principles of Hospitality and Tourism and Principles of Finance,

DECA

INSIDE N ew s . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . A 1- A 5 Opinion. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . A 6 - A 8 Lifestyle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . B1-B3, B6-B8 Spotlight.............................B4-B5 S p o r t s . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . C 1- C 8

Gap Year Profiles

Aptitude Testing

College Football All-Star Team

Check us out at www.palycampanile.org

Friday, January 16, 2015

A2 NEWS TO KNOW

The Campanile

NEWS Alternative school Faculty prepares for to open next autumn upcoming WASC visit AltSchool to offer new teaching style by incorporating technology into curriculum

Jake van zyll

senior staff writer

Courtesy of nick timiraos

@WSJ Job openings rose to their highest level in nearly 14 years in November

@HuffingtonPost Teachers who don’t like their jobs miss millions of days of school each year COURTESY OF michael short

Students at the AltSchool in San Francisco use their iPad Minis to learn new material. @nycjim ISIS video shows child purportedly executing 2 Russian spies.

@cnnbrk U.S. Central Command’s Twitter and YouTube accounts were hacked by ISIS sympathizers.

Courtesy of Jeff Kassouf

@NBCSports BREAKING NEWS: Judge dismisses domestic violence charges against #USWNT goalkeeper Hope Solo

@washingtonpost Ohio man who voiced support for Islamic State arrested in alleged plot to attack Capitol

@Reuters Charlie Hebdo “survivors” edition’ sold out in minutes

@nytimes The survivors of a massacre in Pakistan returned to their school in a grief-tinged show of defiance and apprehension

@FoxNewsInsider Obama’s ‘Free Community College’ Plan Would Cost Taxpayers $60 Billion

Administration finishing self-study report for the WASC committee visit in March

joanna falla

staff writer

ltSchool, an alternative K-8 school, will welcome students with a personalized learning style this fall in Palo Alto. AltSchool, located on 930 Emerson, is centered around the idea of building a new style of teaching to keep up with the constant advancement of technology. Max Ventilla, Founder of AltSchool, worked at Google as a founder of Google+ when he saw unchanged teaching styles still used on children in the 21st century. In 2013, he left his job to start AltSchool in San Francisco so his two young children would receive a personalized, modern education instead of the traditional teaching styles still being implemented. AltSchool’s curriculum is heavily supported by information from the International Society for Technology in Education (ISTE), Partnership for 21st Century Skills and many other reputable organizations. With AltSchool, Ventilla aims to break away from the traditional teaching method to better prepare his students for the modern, professional world.

The technology wave has been increasing in size since the turn of the century, and this wave can be seen most prominently in the Bay Area. Many teachers have tried to put their own spin on the curriculum in order to engage students and make the learning process much more exciting for their students. Erin Angell, a Social Justice teacher, dicussed the idea of changing the current style of teaching. “There’s a time and a place for doing those kinds of things and I think it’s absolutely worth exploring,” Angell said. Steven Sabbag, a history teacher, had a similar outlook on the changing times. “I think we should always be changing our techniques,” Sabbag said. Many other teachers agree with the idea of rethinking how Common Core is taught and are adding more things that are imperative to know, such as how to work with the newest technology while living in the heart of Silicon Valley. Since 2013, Ventilla has created four more AltSchools in San Francisco and plans to double the amount in San Francisco and add two more in Palo Alto and Brooklyn, N.Y.

Theater plans new musical “The Drowsy Chaperone” to be main feature dami bOLARINWA

STAFF WRITER

alo Alto High School theater department has a variety of upcoming plays such as “The Drowsy Chaperone.” The musical is about a shy, old man living a lonely life in his apartment with only his records of old musicians to keep himself entertained. He shares his favorite musical with the audience, which happens to be “The Drowsy Chaperone,” a wild production from the 20’s. Senior Will Kast explains that the musical has “a giant cast and features members from theater and choir,

even people who are not usually involved in either.” “The Drowsy Chaperone” opens March 6 with six performances total. The Paly theater department will also hold One Acts, student directed plays. The One Acts will not have the same production value as full theater productions have, but Kast claims that “they can be a lot of fun and are a great way for underclassmen or people new to theater to score great roles.” Another upcoming art event is the Paly ceramics class’s plan to construct an eight foot pillar to be presented at the Palo Alto Art Show at the end of the year.

he Western Association of Schools and Colleges, (WASC) will be sending representatives to visit Palo Alto High School in March, so the administration is currently preparing for their arrival. According to Assistant Principal Victoria Kim, the administration is finalizing a self-study report, which will be sent out to all stakeholders and the WASC visiting committee. The report will prepare the WASC committee’s visit, which will validate the report.

New arts center under construction despite recent legal setbacks Lawsuit by construction company Taisei against PAUSD delaying building projects

ConnEr harden/The Campanile

Paly is currently constructing a new arts center with steady progress on the building.

Daniel hammerson

staff writer

alo Alto High School has been in the process of renovations, as well as constructing completely new buildings for quite some time now. There have been a fair amount of setbacks and issues with these construction projects, which has lead to a large delay in the overall completion of these projects. One of the biggest setbacks was a lawsuit by construction company Taisei, which claimed that Palo Alto Unified School District (PAUSD) breached their contract. However, proof has risen that Taisei also breached the contract, leading to further complications. The problem stemmed from the plans not being completely correct, yet the errors were fixed and the issue was settled. Even though problems have been apparent, recently the construction has been going well, and the Media

MASHA KONKOV

staff writer

four-story hotel is set to be built in two years on the property of the recently closed Ming’s Restaurant, which operated for 58 successful years and will be running a smaller version of the restaurant in the hotel. The redevelopment project will begin in Spring 2015, which will include a 177-room Staybridge Suites and a Ming’s about one-third the size of the current one. Although the restaurant will be situated in the same building as the hotel, it will be run independently. Located east of highway 101 on the corner of Embarcadero Rd. and East Bayshore Rd, the oldest and largest Chinese restaurant in Palo Alto has closed its doors and is scheduled for demolition after months of delays. The 10,000-square-foot restaurant owned by Vicky Ching hosted many banquets, reunions, business lunches and family dinners over the years. “We chose extended-stay over a traditional hotel because we’re so close to the freeway and we don’t have a downtown address, so we were advised that extended-stay would be the

JAN

LAST DAY TO ADD A CLASS

JAN

MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR. DAY

JAN

SHADOWING DAY FOR 8TH GRADERS

JAN

PALY COMMUNITY SCHOLARSHIP APPLICATIONS DUE

16 19 26

ConnEr harden/The campanile

Ming’s, Palo Alto’s oldest Chinese restaurant, has closed and will be replaced by a hotel.

best choice for this location,” Ching said. “We’re hoping this type of hotel will appeal to a variety of people, including temporary Stanford faculty and Stanford hospital patients and family.” First opened in 1956, Ming’s was on El Camino Real across from Stanford University before relocating to its current location. Many of the original recipes, such as Ming’s beef, Chinese chicken salad and peking duck, survive to this day as signature dishes. It was also a popular eating spot for the Stanford football team, which at one

time ate there after every home game. In addition to wanting to pursue new ventures, the Ming’s team chose to close the restaurant after expenses and competition climbed from the Great Recession. Redeveloping to a less laborious and energy-intensive enterprise seemed like a resourceful move, according to Ching. “We were honored to be in a position to preserve Ming’s legacy,” Ching said. The final day of operation was Dec. 28, where final paychecks for 49 employees and goodbyes to countless loyal customers were distributed.

Arts Center was finished and had its grand opening last October. Since then construction has continued at a steady pace. The creation of the new gym has not started yet and will be going to the board at some point this month. Though no progress has been made on the new gym, construction has begun on a different structure. Paly is currently building a new Performing Arts Center and progress has been steady. The old performing arts center has not been demolished, and there currently is no word on its timing. As of now, there haven’t been major problems or roadblocks involving the structure besides the loss of 32 parking spaces, which will change dependent on when construction begins for the new gym. Construction workers are putting up steel beams and progress seems to be stable. There is no word on a completion time of the Performing Arts Center, yet as of the structure is up to schedule.

UPCOMING EVENTs

Ming’s Restaurant to be replaced by hotel Creation of a new four-story hotel to house downsized Ming’s

After their visit, the committee will make a recommendation to WASC regarding Paly’s accreditation. Paly is coming off of a six year accreditation. “If all goes well, we’ll get another six year accreditation. We’re used to doing it every six years,” Kim said. “Everyone’s been involved; all staff is involved, we’ve had parent representation, student representation, so everyone should be well informed.” The WASC official visit will take place March 2, 3 and 4, though the committee will arrive on March 1. The finalized report will be a public document and will likely be posted on the Paly website.

30 FEB

Or if you’re a senior, start dropping them.

Use this day to remember the man who died in the name of true equality.

A dark and shadowy day – middle schoolers will be on campus.

Whoever said money can’t buy happiness never had student loans. CLUB DAY 2

Club going up, on a Friday.

The Campanile

Friday, January 16, 2015

NEWS

Homework policy change in math department

Courtesy of danielle BisBee

Kathleen Bowers who teachers Alg2/TrigA hopes the new homework policy will increase student understanding of material.

JEREMY FU

STAFF wriTer

ath teachers in Introduction to Analysis and Calculus and Algebra 2 and Trigonometry are implementing a new homework policy which replaces homework with periodic quizzes in order to increase mastery of material. The policy, announced at the beginning of the second semester, substitutes homework with optional

selected exercises and intermittent homework checks which students will take at the beginning of each period. Kathleen Bowers, who teaches math at Palo Alto High School sees flaws in the homework system of the past. “For me the goal of my classes is mastery of the material,” Bowers, said. “For a while I have struggled with the value of going over homework in class and a lot of that time is spent with students frantically copying the

problems from the board in order to earn full credit on the homework.” Math teacher William Friebel parallels this statement, saying that teachers are transitioning from more of a points based system, where homework may be done hastily, or without full understanding of the content, to a more knowledge based approach. “We really want students to know the skills that we teach day by day,” said Friebel. “This way it allows us

to assess if students are on track and also encourages the students to really thoroughly learn the concepts the night before, because the next day they are required to demonstrate that knowledge.” Each homework check will test knowledge learned in previous classes, and teachers hope that replacing homework with checks will allow students to be more prepared come test day and make sure students truly learn the content, not just go through the motions. Despite the removal of required homework, teachers are confident that this new system will have great benefits for students. “I think that students will really like the immediate feedback and mastering the material in smaller chunks rather than putting in a big push right before the quiz or test,” Bowers said. “Learning is a two way street and the responsibility of both the student and the teacher and I think this approach really illustrates that partnership.” Homework checks are worth five points each, the same as a regular homework assignment, and will go into homework category in the gradebook. Students will still have regular quizzes and tests. Students who do not get five points on a home-

work check can arrange to meet with teachers to retake during tutorial. “We just give them a different version with different questions from the same topic and they can make it up, for up to full credit,” Friebel said. “We don’t want to restrict the points, if you are dedicated to learning the material fully, we want to be able to give you credit for that.” When creating this new policy, teachers took into account student stress levels and student time constraints. One of the main goals of this system is to give students more control over their own course load, based on their own understanding of the material, while also closing the classroom achievement gap as a whole. “It allows for flexibility on the students end to say well, if I’ve already mastered this particular skill, I don’t need to add more practice onto it, or if I haven’t yet mastered, I can add on more,” Friebel said. “So it allows for different learning speeds, and learning styles.” For now, this policy is limited to Introduction to Analysis and Calculus and Algebra 2 Trigonometry. However, if students learn better with this model, then the policy will be up for discussion for possible expansion into other math courses.

DECA club competes at regionals Caltrain to change from diesel to electric Continued from A1

PETER MAROULIS JARED STANLEY

STAFF wriTerS

altrain has promised to replace all of its diesel trains with electric trains over the next five years, in a move that will decrease air pollution and accommodate a growing number of riders. The Peninsula Joint Powers Board, the agency responsible for Caltrain, approved its Final Environmental Impact Report on Jan. 8, which outlines goals and possible outcomes over the next 35 years for implementation of electric trains. As more people decide to carpool and take the train, the number of Caltrain riders continues to increase. With the electrification reform, more trains with larger capacities would be running more often throughout the day, compensating for the increase in riders. Caltrain’s $1.5 billion electrification, set for completion in 2020, will alter the 51 mile track between San Francisco and San Jose, Calif., offering environmental and commuter benefits. The new program will cut pollution emissions 97 percent by 2040, as well as run more trains per hour. Caltrain predicts the switch to electric trains will increase Palo Alto residents taking the train to work, eliminating more than 600,000 daily vehicle miles.

No matter what the wait times at those crossings get far worse. Alma would be an F whether we do the project or not. Roughly 10 seconds per car.

Jayme Ackemann

Caltrain Communication Manager Less air pollution is a relief to Palo Alto residents, who have faced fines of up to 500 dollars during “Spare the Air” days. Spare the Air days were instituted to prevent air pollu-

tion levels from getting out of hand and can be enacted at any time by the City of Palo Alto. Decreasing air pollution is desperately needed as Palo Alto approaches its seventh consecutive Spare the Air Day this winter, and could break the record of 11 such days in a single season. The program vows to “electrify and upgrade the performance, operating efficiency, capacity, safety and reliability of Caltrain’s commuter rail service,” according to Caltrain’s website. However, the new changes will not be without drawbacks. Caltrain ranks all of its 40 crossings on a scale of A-F, A representing the least amount of traffic.

Caltrain’s $1.5 billion electrification, set for completion in 2020, will alter the 51 mile track between San Francisco and San Jose, Calif., offering environmental and commuter benefits. “No matter what, the wait times at those crossings get far worse,” Caltrain Communications Manager Jayme Ackemann said. “Alma would be an F whether we do the project or not. Roughly 10 seconds per car.” According to Caltrain’s project study, the already trafficked intersection of Churchill St. and Alma St. at Palo Alto High School will worsen because of the higher frequency of trains scheduled to pass through the area. The coming increase of trains will also affect East Meadow Drive and Charleston Road, presenting further inconveniences and possible safety risks for students who get to school by way of car through Alma. “We [Caltrain] have a long 50 mile rail with more than 40 crossings. It will improve traffic along seven of the forty crossings” Ackemann said. The Peninsula Joint Powers Board wrote in its project report that the increased environmental and commuter efficiencies will outweigh the negative changes in Caltrain’s ambitious project.

respectively. With the second part of the competition, the written test, Venkatasubramaniam received second overall in his event. “It’s been a super rewarding experience,” Venkatasubramaniam said. “Regardless of what field you go into, you have to have a functional knowledge of business: how money works and how to move it around smartly.” Juniors Chan, Natalie Maemura, Anant Marur and Stephanie Cong and sophomores Josh Code and Jerry Hong all placed in the top eight for their events. “I’m really proud of everyone who went to the tournament because I

feel like everyone learned something from their event and got a lot out of that experience,” Chan said. Given the fact that the club was founded at the beginning of this school year by co-presidents Chan and Cong, their first year as a club has been about growth and learning for the entire team. “Stephanie [Cong] and I decided we should start our own club because it looked like so much fun and we really value the things that DECA brings to a school community,” Chan said. Twenty-five club-members attended SVCDC, and Chan predicts that the club will continue to grow, with an estimated 50 club-members

to compete at the State Career Development Conference (SCDC), which will take place from Feb. 26 to Mar. 1. “We are foreseeing three or four people to get into the top four [in the SCDC] and qualify for [the International Career Development Conference (ICDC)],” Chan said. “I also think that a good amount of people will place in the top eight in their events.” ICDC will be held in Orlando, Fla. from April 18 to April 21. This event will host more than 16,000 high school and college students from different states around the nation who have qualified in one of the 54 events offered.

Foothill Community College to

Continued from A1 one of seven Bay Area colleges vying to be among the first in California to offer a bachelor’s degree, has chosen dental hygiene as the degree program it will offer to students if it is included in the list of winners to be announced in January of this year. “Our program directors studied employment trends [in the area of dental hygiene] and the data is positive,” Hanstein said. “Even now, over 90 [percent] of our graduates are employed shortly after program completion in well-paying hygienist jobs.” The program to offer bachelor’s degrees in California community colleges also aims to meet the demand for a more highly-educated workforce, expanding higher education to a greater number of people and therefore benefitting not only students enrolled in these programs but also California’s economy and workforce. In the next decade, this new community college program aims to satisfy the demand for one million new workers, constituting approximately 40 percent of California’s workforce.

“Impetus for the measure comes from studies which show that California needs to produce 1 million more baccalaureate degree earners by 2025 to remain economically competitive in the coming decades,” California Community Colleges Chancellor’s Office said in a release. “Community colleges are an efficient and economical way to help meet those needs due to their numerous locations throughout the state and modest tuition.” Sophomore Anmol Nagar is optimistic about Foothill’s future in helping more students obtain a higher education degree. “It’s not okay for someone’s range of education to be restricted based on [his or her] income, and I think that Foothill’s choosing to offer this degree will encourage young adults to reach their full potential when they enter the workforce,” Nagar said. With the addition of a four-year program, Foothill predicts that it will be able to significantly expand the available seats and scope of its dental hygiene program. It will allow the community college to give its

Mid Peninsula Orthodontics Stacey D. QuO DDS, MS Specialist in Orthodontics

965 High Street Palo Alto, CA 94301 Tel: 650-328-1600 FAX: 650-327-6556 email: info@orthoquo.com

students a direct path to a bachelor’s degree instead of having students spend excess time and money to first receiving an associate degree before progressing in a bachelor’s program at a private university. “Currently, only three schools in California offer a bachelor’s in dental hygiene, and they are all expensive, private institutions,” Hanstein said. “If we can offer the same degree, we will allow greater access to a program that many [would not be able to] afford. Community colleges provide access to higher education to people who can’t always get that access elsewhere. This would allow us to better serve our local residents.” As California will soon join the 21 states that already allow their community colleges to offer four-year degrees, Hanstein believes that this is a necessary step forward for California to take. “Many other states in the country already [allow] their community colleges to offer bachelor’s degrees, so I hope this is the first step towards even greater access for California community colleges,” Hanstein said.

Friday, January 16, 2015

The Campanile

NEWS A4 PAUSD falters on learning gap Flu cases increase District receives D+ in educating minorities second year in a row across United States Distributed vaccine no longer adequate to protect against the mutated seasonal flu Rachel Farn

Staff Writer

Design by Jeremy Fu

JoshUA ng

Staff Writer

alo Alto High School has been applauded as one of the most academically competitive environments in the nation. However, achievement gaps between racial groups in the school remains an issue. For the past five years, Palo Alto Unified School District (PAUSD) has received a score of a D+ or lower in educating minorities. This statistic is based on reports from an Oakland-based advocacy group known as Education Trust-West. PAUSD has worked to close this gap, but in the past few years, its attempts have failed. “The achievement gap is the single most critical issue in American education,” PAUSD superintendent Max McGee said. “This study illustrates the difference in academic performance between low-income children and their peers, between minority children and their classmates, and between those schools that serve a majority of children from low-income families and those that serve a more advantaged population.” McGee attributed the cause of the achievement gap to the community’s low awareness of minorities’ academ-

ic problems. Along with this, teachers inability to set high standards for students instead of the usual mediocre ones and inability to act as leaders in the classroom exacerbate this problem. Financial problems come into play as well, as many of the minorities who learn in PAUSD are socioeconomically disadvantaged and unable to hire tutors.

With this new committee, I’m trying to create this sense of urgency that this achievement gap has to be a priority.

Max McGee

Superintendent However, Mcgee remains optimistic about the situation. On Nov. 19, McGee announced a 22 person committee dedicated to closing this achievement gap. The goal for this committee is to successfully address the achievement gap and better support talent development for minority or socioeconomically disadvantaged students in the district. McGee announced this committee to the board of education because there had yet to be a team fully dedicated to the issue. The committee meets ev-

ery month and will suggest potential policy changes for the board to adopt. The committee’s meetings are open to the public, in the PAUSD Office Board Room. “It’s going to be much better year starting next year,” McGee said “With this new committee, I’m trying to create this sense of urgency that this achievement gap has to be a priority.” McGee believes that a child needs full support from his or her community in order to succeed academically. “It is simply a myth that academically talented children will thrive on their own,” McGee wrote in “A Gifted Child Today”. “This is especially true of those who live and learn in under resourced urban environments, and our nation will pay a price for our inattention. ” Existing solutions to this problem are the creations of programs solely focused on the minority population. “PAUSD has implemented support systems and programs for underserved students like Focus on Success, [Advancement Via Individual Determination], College Pathways, etc. [Voluntary Transfer Program] buses students in to PAUSD from East Palo Alto,” Gunn High School student Shannon Yang said.

he flu has been spreading to children and elders across California and the rest of the United States recently, due to a mismatch of the virus strain in the flu vaccine. The United States expects an annual flu epidemic, but this year’s outbreak is much more severe. Young children, adults older than 65, and people with weak immune systems are the main victims of this year’s most common flu virus. Spread mostly through coughing and sneezing, flu activity has traveled to 43 states within the last few months. There have been 21 reported pediatric deaths this season; six of the reported deaths were during the last week of December. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), surveillance shows an increase in flu circulation and hospitalization rates. Doctors blame this increase in flu activity on the mismatching of strains in the flu vaccine issued to the U.S.

citizens. When scientists created the flu vaccine, it was designed to combat a certain H3N2 virus. After taking samples from various flu patients, doctors discovered that this original H3N2 virus mutated. The virus in the patients was different than that in the vaccine. As a result, the flu is spreading faster. “[The viruses] are different enough that we’re concerned that protection from vaccinations against these drifted H3N2 viruses may be lower than we usually see,” CDC chief Tom Frieden said in a press call with the Washington Post. Creating a new vaccine is unlikely, since the production would take around four months. Although the current vaccine is not as affective, many doctors still recommend it. “The flu is bad, and you want to do anything you can to prevent getting it and to prevent giving it to other people,” said Dr. Lisa Thebner, a pediatrician in New York City in an interview with the Cable News Network. “The vaccine isn’t perfect, but it’s the best protection we have for prevention.”

Courtesy of the CDC

This year’s outbreak of the flu is much more severe, spreading to 43 states so far.

Bay Area sees increase Boxer’s vacancy to catalyze senate changes in Spare the Air days Possible new candidates jump on the invitation to adapt focuses

Increase of particulate pollution due to cold weather accounts for poor air quality Antonio Kieschnick

Staff Writer

Reilly Filter

Staff Writer

he Bay Area Air Quality Management District issued the ninth consecutive winter alert on Jan. 9 via Spare the Air, a program created by the organization to reduce air pollution. Throughout the summer and winter seasons, Spare the Air anticipates the forecast to reach dangerously high levels on the air quality index (AQI), which acts as a scale determining the severity of daily air pollution concentrations. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency established the AQI scale, and Spare the Air is responsible for issuing alerts to the San Francisco Bay Area when the air pollutants exceed 100 on the air quality index, as it is potentially harmful for the public. The air quality index refers to the moderate amount of particulate matter (PM) in the air. PM is measured in both PM10 and PM2.5. Particulate matter 2.5 is considered more concerning for human health, as the small particles have the potential to travel deeper into one’s lungs. The poor quality occurs due to the tiny particles of particulate matter

produced, which results in significant health complications. Polluted winter air tends to transpire from November through February. According to Spare the Air, in the wintertime, the cold weather traps particulates close to the ground, creating unhealthy air quality. There have been a greater number of Spare the Air alerts in early January, due to the presence of a high pressure system over the bay area. A high pressure system is caused when hot air cools and condenses, dropping down. “Since [the high pressure system] has been here for so long, it kind of just builds up and exacerbates the [poor] air quality,” Walter Wallace, a public information officer at the Air District offices, said. Spare the Air also states that the wood smoke from the 1.4 million woodstoves and fireplaces makes up one-third of the overall particulate matter pollution. In attempt to decrease overall pollution, wood burning is prohibited throughout the bay area during the winter spare the air alerts. Chemistry and Advanced Placement Environmental Science teacher Kenyon Scott has been informing his students of the current air pollution issue and has recognized some solutions to improve the bay area’s predicament.

Ella Mernyk/The Campanile

Particulate-filled fog clouds the air above the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco.

Courtesy of Flickr

Sen. Boxer, center, discusses women’s access to affordable health care as well as pregnancy health services in February of 2011.

Nicole Li

Staff Writer

alifornia could generate a multitude of jobs or dramatically change consumer safety laws in the future as prospective politicians look to fill Sen. Barbara Boxer’s vacancy in 2016. Boxer, a Democrat, announced she will not run in the 2016 senate elections for a fifth term via a YouTube video released last Thursday. According to an SFGate article from December, speculation about potential candidates for Boxer’s spot and Sen. Dianne Feinstein’s seat opening in 2018 have narrowed down to Democrats already in high office positions, including Attorney General Kamala Harris, and Lt. Gov. Gavin Newsom. SFGate also mentioned Rep. Adam Schiff and Rep. Loretta Sanchez as possible candidates. As senator, Boxer focused on legislation regarding women’s issues, water and highway spending, protecting wilderness in California and ensuring consumer health, SFGate wrote.

“I have to make sure the senate seat stays progressive,” Boxer said. “That is so critical.” Boxer also holds positions on three U.S. senate committees, the Environment and Public Works Committee, the Foreign Relations Committee, and the Select Committee on Ethics, according to her website. Incoming senators may have different priorities. Like Boxer, Harris has advocated for consumer safety, but her position as chief lawyer could affect the legislations she sponsors. Impeding transnational gangs has taken a major part during her term in office. In contrast to Boxer’s reputable forceful advocacy, Harris has been criticized for her caution around controversial topics, LA Weekly wrote. In a discussion with the Sacramento Bee recorded and posted on YouTube last year, Harris answered questions on legalizing marijuana use in California with a wait-and-see tone, saying that marijuana legalization is “something that we’re watching and I think California can do well to let Washington and Colorado

work it out and see how that actually does work.” Newsom’s website projects job creation and minority access to higher education as the Lt. Gov.’s focuses in addition to legalizing medical marijuana. While speaking at a book seminar at San Francisco State University recorded by Nick Morris, Newsom presented hopeful views on marijuana legalization. Regarding the drug Newsom said, “We don’t have to condone the use. We can actually get a handle on the use and we can address the criminal justice issues in a thoughtful and legitimate manner.” LA Weekly reported that in addition to Democrat candidates, people have also speculated about Republican politicians Kevin Faulconer, mayor of San Diego and radio anchor Larry Elder. Despite opting out of California’s senate race, 74-year-old Boxer still plans to make political changes. “I am never going to retire,” Boxer said in the video. “I’ll continue working on the issues that I love.”

Friday, January 16, 2015

The Campanile

Opinion

Community should raise awareness regarding tech usage and cybersafety

A5 Staff should adopt homework policy Win-win system opens student-teacher discussions about homework

Students need to be taught how to take precautions with technology, how to protect themselves and their information

Lauren Klass

News and Opinion editor

hink back to middle school where our parents would constantly monitor our texts, we had to tell them about every account we made and we were allowed to create a Facebook page on the condition that we would “friend” them. We used to get regular talks about cyber safety and cyber predators, be it at school or at the dinner table. Fast forward a few years and everyone has a Twitter account, multiple Tumblr pages, an Instagram, access to millions of applications and has even managed to discreetly “unfriend” his or her parents on Facebook. By high school, we gained extreme independence when it came to internet activity, in great part due to the popularity of mobile devices and their numerous apps. At this age, we are risk takers — we search the internet with no fear and we are more prone to enter our personal information online with little to no hesitation at all. And, as we ventured into our adolescent years, we also yearned for more privacy. Now that the Internet has also become a place for personal disclosure, many teenagers want to keep that space private from their parents. This uncontrolled activity can put teenagers in risky situations. Considering that we now put so much of our information online and

that it is possible for all sorts of people to get access to this content, cyber safety deserves much more attention from adults and kids alike, than it currently gets. As our society becomes more and more dependent on technology, our standing systems should learn to accommodate and we should put more effort into educating people about cyber safety. For example, cyber safety should become a part of school curriculums. At Paly, it could be an extension of Paly librarian Rachel Kellerman’s talks on online resources or a part of the Living Skills course. It is just like incorporating self defense into physical education. Cyber safety consists of, by definition, measures taken to use information and communication technology safely and responsibly. As explained by the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s website, cyber safety addresses topics such as the protection of personal and account information, online gaming and cell phone online networking.

Considering that we now put so much of our information online and that it is possible for all sorts of people to get access to this content, cyber safety deserves much more attention from adults and kids alike, than it currently gets. What many tend to overlook is that cyber safety extends far beyond, for example, not giving out your address or your number to strangers online. It includes being cautious about computer programs or account security. Last year, a cyber safety case that received a lot of media attention was the case of Miss Teen USA controversy Cassidy Wolf. Like many teen-

agers, Wolf depended on and used her computer for a variety of reasons. What she did not realize, however, was that when she left her computer open to play music, someone was watching her through the computer’s built in camera. He took revealing pictures of her and sent her messages threatening to expose the photos if she did not abide by his obscene requests. What kind of person would do something like this? Wolf was a victim of hacks conducted by Jared James Abrahams, a boy who was in her high school class. According to CNN, professional investigators found that Abrams had visited multiple sites and forums in search of figuring out how to hijack computers; many strangers online were quick to give him some tips. There are many precautions one can take to minimize the risk of suffering a cyber attack. Various government and private sites offer advice. One preventative option that many overlook is common sense. People, particularly teens, tend to do things online that make them unnecessarily vulnerable, such as sending inappropriate pictures that can end up circulating on the Internet or becoming friends and getting emotionally attached to complete strangers. Using common sense and avoiding doing things that one would not do in the ‘real world’ -as opposed to the online world is the first step to cyber safety. Just because technology has advanced does not mean it is safe nor does it mean we necessarily know how to properly use it. We have to be more conscious of the danger we face the moment our smart phones or computers are turned on. The focus, so far, has been on big business and how their private data has been breached. However, personal cyber safety is just as important in the digital and social media age, especially for teens.

Haley Fang

Business manager

uring my four years at Palo Alto High School, I have found it common to find many of my peers awake at 1 a.m. willing to struggle through homework due the next morning with me. I have also found myself listening to my friends rant about their struggles juggling the stress of school and homework. From spending roughly 30 hours a week at school to the hours of sport practices to the numerous other commitments we all have, it often feels impossible to squeeze homework into our schedules while maintaining a healthy lifestyle. As an effort to learn more about student life and how it could be improved, a group of seven participants including both teachers and students attended a workshop at the Institute of Design at Stanford. As a result, Paly teachers Erin Angell, Eric Bloom, Alexander Davis and Debbie Whitson volunteered to try a new system which involves awarding students with a homework pass if they agree to spend lunch with them, talking about homework and how other issues at Paly can be improved. To maximize the benefits for students, I believe that all classes, specifically math and science classes, should also adopt this system. Only one to two homework passes a semester could significantly lower stress. Having these passes would provide students with a break from homework every now and then, and act as a safety net when students completely forget about an assignment.

Yes, homework provides extra practice for students and allows them to pinpoint their weakness in each unit, but it has become more of a burden for students when compared to the benefits that it is intended to bring. Sometimes, a single homework pass in one class can allow more time to study for tests in other classes or just allow students to get more sleep. Other times, “life happens,” and having a homework pass could make all the difference. While these homework passes are obviously beneficial to students, they may also be able to help teachers. Most of the problems students have at Paly can be linked to a lack of communication between students and teachers. Extending this homework pass system to other classes would help fix this problem, as teachers would be able to hear firsthand from students about the struggles of being a student, and vice versa.

Homework passes are a very easy thing to do. A lot of teachers could do it without giving up too much, and I think it’s symbolically a pretty powerful thing. After trying out the new system with his classes, Bloom reflects on his experiences of providing homework passes. “What I think one of the most valuable takeaways is that kids want to talk,” Bloom said. “In the proper setting, they’re really very fair, and honest, and sincere. Homework passes are a very easy thing to do. A lot of teachers could do it without giving up too much, and I think it’s symbolically a pretty powerful thing.” This trial regarding homework passes may finally open up a window for teachers to understand and connect with their students, as well as lessen stress for students. Home work passes will also strengthen the relationship between teachers and students, a truly beneficial system for both parties. This change, however, will only occur if more teachers choose to adopt this system.

Colleges should set policies to assist transgender students Colleges should include gender neutral housing, among other policies, to accommodate transgender students

Catherine yu

staff writer

raditionally, colleges build their campuses to support the needs of two separate genders, male and female. But how do transgender students fit into this picture? On college campuses across the nation, the community of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT) students has come into the spotlight. Many schools have come to the realization that their campuses are not as welcoming to transgender students as they had previously assumed. Although some colleges and universities have actively made efforts to

modify policies, it is in the best interest of all colleges and universities to make changes and establish a universal system that accommodates students who are transgender or gender nonconforming. A transgender person is someone whose identifies with a gender that differs from his or her birth sex. During the college application process, a prospective transgender student has to take into consideration more complications than a non-transgender student. In the education system present today, many schools lack the experience and training to deal with transgender issues and lack knowledge of, or are insensitive to, the needs of the transgender population. Of the many areas of concern, the biggest dilemmas are housing situations, restrooms and acceptance into all-female or allmale colleges. There are several universities and colleges that have already taken the steps necessary to become more “trans-friendly”, and are building a more inclusive student community. Using the restroom is a basic need of every human being. However, transgender students often face

harassment from their peers for using the “wrong” restrooms. By giving only two options, male or female, transgender students are forced to reveal their gender identity and are placed in a vulnerable position in front of their peers. Students who do not identify with their birth sexes often have to put the concerns of others in front of their own in order to not make them uncomfortable. As more and more schools have come to recognize this growing problem, an increasingly number of colleges have begun to implement gender neutral restrooms. With this additional option, transgender and gender nonconforming students have the option to live in a safer environment, further increasing campus accessibility to accommodate all students. Additionally, many colleges only provide single-sex housing, which is based strictly on a person’s birth sex. Consequently, transgender students may feel unsafe or uncomfortable in such living environments. In order to accommodate transgender students, gender neutral housing is another option that schools should provide.

This type of housing at colleges gives students the option to be roommates with a person of a different sex or gender. It may be particularly important for students who are in the process of discovering their gender identity, or transgender students in general. Currently, there are a handful of schools that are providing this type of housing, but it will take the effort of all colleges to help make every student feel accepted and welcome .

Many schools have come to the realization that their campuses are not as welcoming to transgender students as they previously had thought. At all-female or all-male schools, institutions have typically observed the tradition of solely accepting only women or only men. However, in this period of time where acceptance of all expressions of sexuality has gained popularity, many of these colleges are forced to reevaluate their methods and decide how or whether to admit transgender students. As of now, only

three women’s colleges have formally opened their doors to the transgender community. These colleges are Simmons College, Mount Holyoke College and Wellesley College. They have each changed their policies to create a more inclusive admission process. Under the new policies, students who identify as female, regardless of their birth sexes, will be accepted. Being a member of today’s society is no longer a matter of being biologically male or female, and it should be in the interest of all colleges and universities to recognize students who do not fall into such distinct categories. Prospective transgender students should not have to research and ask if a college has standards that will accommodate their needs. Instead, it should be a given that the majority of, if not all, schools will have campuses that are trans-friendly. Inclusion is essential. As transgender students ask which schools will meet their needs, colleges should answer those questions by setting a universal standard to embrace and accept them into university life and education.

The Campanile

Friday, January 16, 2015

OPINION

Post high school planning should begin earlier Students should be informed of college options prior to junior year College and Career Center orientation

Sarah Wang

Staff Writer

unior year is the time for students to start thinking about their plans for life after high school. Whether that means going to a private or public college, taking a gap year or going straight to work, students need a plan after receiving their diplomas— and the College and Career Center orientation held in early January seems like just the place to go to start planning. Unfortunately, its focus is much too narrow for the entire junior class,

and it presents information students should already know at this point in the school year. According to an email sent out to students and parents of the junior class, the orientation is intended to “kick-off post-high school planning.” This implies the orientation should cover all possible options after high school. During the actual presentation, college advisors Sandra Cernobori and Alice Erber mentioned all the possible options after high school (including taking a gap year, going straight to work, or traveling) and referred to places where students could learn more about them. However, the counselors spent the majority of the hour and a half presentation talking strictly about California State Universities (CSU), Universities of California (UC) and community colleges, information that is also available in packets given to every student. Focusing on just these areas is an unproductive use of time because although the information provided details about the scores, admittance

rates and focuses of these specific schools, students are also interested in applying to private schools, a subject the orientation failed to address as much as it did public schools. Rather than spending so much time going over the packets students will end up reviewing later, the college advisors should talk more in depth about private schools, like the scores and admittance rates of a few of the more popular private schools.

I learned a lot of new things, but I didn’t find most of the information applicable to me

Portia Barrientos Junior

Junior William Lee was frustrated with the orientation’s focus and wished the time was better used. “I didn’t find it particularly useful because of the emphasis on CSUs and community colleges,” Lee said. “I think the orientation should have

Conner Harden/The Campanile

Juniors were urged to schedule individual meetings with college counselors after a presentation by the College and Career Center.

talked more about different types of schools.” Junior Portia Barrientos found the orientation to be informational but agreed that its narrow focus did not apply to her. “I learned a lot of new things, but I didn’t find most of the information applicable to me,” Barrientos said. In addition to failing to go into detail about other types of schools, the orientation only briefly mentioned the Common Application. Many juniors do not know how the application works and would have gained a lot from learning about the process. And since the vast majority of college applicants will end up using the Common Application, students need to know what they will be required to write and prepare for when fall comes around. By knowing what the application will ask for, juniors can spend some time building a resume that will make for a stronger application. According to Cernobori, teacher advisors will share more about the Common Application in the spring of junior year. “[ Juniors] are going to hear about it in advisory. … There are three lessons coming up in advisory,” Cernobori said. But teacher advisors are not college advisors and leaving the task of explaining the college applications to them can lead to different advisories absorbing different information. It would be more beneficial for college advisors to relay more of the descriptive information, such as how to make each application unique, regarding the application to students during the presentation, and leave the technical information (dates and specific requirements) to teacher advisors. Lee would have liked to hear more about the Common Application during the orientation, since that is a topic he does not completely understand. “I would have liked to learn more about the Common App because I don’t know that much about it yet,” Lee said.

The orientation also shared information about the Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT) and the American College Test (ACT), giving students packets containing the dates, prices and information of each. According to the College Board, students should plan on taking the SAT during their junior year - similarly, the ACT website recommends that students take the ACT during their junior year. According to Cernobori, there is enough time to register for the test even if students find out about the options in January. But, it can take a few months to prepare for these standardized tests depending on how much preparatory work one plans on doing and finding out one’s options now leaves almost no time to pick the right test and prepare for it, all while trying to fit this planning into a busy schedule. Junior Annie Carilli feels that information on standardized testing should be presented earlier in order to make the information relevant. “[The college advisors] should have talked about the ACT and SAT earlier, because many students need to consider when to prepare for them,” Carilli said. College advisors should hold a session earlier to talk about the SAT and ACT or have the teacher advisors do it instead since the information is very straightforward. This would leave more room to talk about other topics during the orientation. Though the orientation provided useful information regarding the CSU and UC systems and some pathways students can take after high school, it did not address the workings of other types of schools and the popular Common Application. To make room to talk about these topics, the orientation should not waste time going over informational packets that students will take home with them, and the information regarding testing should be given to students earlier so they can use it more effectively. These changes will make the orientation more applicable to more students at the right time.

Government should protect free speech for all

Charlie Hebdo and Sony Pictures show the need for government protection of free speech for artists and writers

Chris Skokowski

Senior Staff Writer

with

Seth Alston

Editor-in-Chief

hroughout the world, free speech has come to be seen as a right of the people, one which should be protected by the government. Countries in which people do not have the right to speak their minds, such as North Korea, are criticized worldwide for holding back the thoughts of their populace and suppressing the voices of their people. However, it now seems as if dictatorships and undemocratic regimes are no longer the strongest enemies of free speech. The extent to which artists can express themselves has nearly always been based on whether their own governments allow or prevent people from speaking their mind, but in the wake of attacks made on the satirical magazine Charlie Hebdo and Sony Pictures in response to their public critiques, it appears that it is now the fear of international retaliation by the groups being criticized that is most threatening to the reach of free speech. Threats of this kind can be traced back to 1988 when author Salman Rushdie, a British author hailing from a Sunni Muslim family, published “The Satanic Verses.” The title of the book referenced several verses in the original Koran that allowed

the worship of idols which were later withdrawn by Muhammad when he claimed they had been spoken to him by the devil pretending to be God. In the book, the dream sequences of one of the main characters follow the story of the so-called ‘satanic verses’ and suggest in the end that Muhammad never gave up his old pagan Gods. The book was banned in many predominantly Muslim countries, but across the globe bookstores carrying the novel were bombed (including two in Berkeley), the Japanese translator of the novel was killed and a fatwa, or religious mandate, calling for Rushdie’s death was issued by Ayatollah Khomeini of Iran. Khomeini was the leader of the country at the time and a central figure of Islam worldwide. Rushdie was forced into hiding for over a decade due to the issuing of the fatwa, which still stands today with a $3.3 million bounty for those willing to undertake it.

set forth by Charlie Hebdo magazine had already been published, and the assassination of Kim Jong Un in The Interview had already been filmed by the time both companies were attacked. The writers of both The Interview and Charlie Hebdo were never kept from creating their critiques, it just so happens that one group of writers was attacked before their material was released to the public, and one group was attacked after. French President François Hollande came forward on the day of the attack on Charlie Hebdo and affirmed France’s commitment to protecting people’s right to exercise free speech. More than anything, this is what should be required of governments. Charlie Hebdo had received threats for years, and regardless of whether the editors of the maga-

zine saw such threats as a real danger, it should have been the job of the French Government to treat the threats seriously. On the other hand, Sony Pictures took the protection of people into its own hands when the company pulled the film from theaters. In this case, the threats that were leveled against Sony and those who watched The Interview were handled too personally by the company. By pulling the film Sony deprived its audience of the sort of commentary necessary to expose the farcical attitudes professed by those leveling the threats. President Obama and multiple other figures in Washington have come forward following the hacking of Sony saying that by pulling The Interview, the company only allowed its attackers to rid the company of its freedom of speech.

Ultimately, what it comes down to is that free speech is a right which must be protected, regardless of the tastes of those who are exposed to it. Satirists such as the cartoonists of Charlie Hebdo occupy an important place in society where they sacrifice a certain amount of their credibility in exchange for the freedom to point out and write about the absurdities of our world. Nobody should be kept from stating his or her opinions, and it should not be the norm for writers and artists to fear for their safety when they do speak their mind. In the increasing number of countries where writers, cartoonists, filmmakers and artists have the freedom from government persecution to share their criticisms of society it must be the responsibility of the government to protect them against the consequences.

Nobody should be kept from stating his or her opinions, and it should not be the obligation of writers and artists to fear for their safety when they do speak their mind. At the time, the controversy over “The Satanic Verses” unraveled as surreally as the dreams the book depicted, but now the threat of retaliation is all too common. In just the past few weeks it has become clear that people are not necessarily being prevented from sharing their thoughts, but they are increasingly attacked for releasing them; what we need is no longer freedom of speech from censorship by laws and governments, but protection of the speakers from the people who take offense from their work. The fact is that the critiques of Islam, among other major religions,

Courtesy of News Everyday

Demonstrations erupted in Paris to show support for free speech after a terrorist attack on the satirical magazine Charlie Hebdo.

Friday, January 16, 2015

The Campanile

OPINION

Should merit scholarships consider income?

The current NMSQT system allocates scholarships by state, others propose a system based on income brackets

Mischa Nee

Staff writer

YES

he College Board describes itself as an “organization committed to excellence and equity in education.” The Preliminary Scholastic Aptitude Test (PSAT) is administered with the supposed aim of giving students the opportunity to practice under testing conditions to achieve greater success on the Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT). However, the test also serves a much larger purpose: to select students worthy of National Merit Scholarships. Each year, over 1.5 million high school juniors take the PSAT in hopes of either using as little energy as possible in order to get out of school by noon, or to acquire a substantial amount of money for college tuition. For those that seek the 8,900 scholarships offered, the current system is created with little attention paid to the “equity” that the College Board claims to stand for. The state cutoff system, which sets a score for which students in each state must exceed, uses a simple mechanism of taking the 99 percentile from every state. But by clustering thousands of students of extremely different backgrounds into state groups, the system fails in maintaining equity. Take the District of Columbia, with a poverty rate of 18.0 percent in 2012, compared to the national average of 15.0 percent, and where 49.5 percent of its residents are African American. This territory had the highest cutoff for the class of 2015 at a score of 224 out of 240. Then look at North Dakota, which has a poverty rate of 11.9 percent and a white

population of 89.6 percent. It had the lowest cutoff, along with West Virginia, of 201. North Dakota ranked sixth out of the 50 states in Education Week’s annual state rankings on quality of education for 2014. Here in California, we have a poverty rate of 23.5 percent and are ranked 41st in quality of education. Yet this immensely diverse state has the fourth highest cutoff in the nation at 222. The data yields no explanation for the College Board’s choice state cutoffs, a possible reason for the extreme lack of transparency in how these numbers are created. If the PSAT is an attempt to give equitable rankings of students achieving great academic success, it has failed in eliminating the advantages and disadvantages of all high schoolers so as to find those worthy of recognition and scholarships. The only consolation the College Board attempts to provide to its inherent bias towards the wealthy is in the National Hispanic Recognition Program (NHRP), which does not even provide scholarships for the students. The SAT’s bias in favor of the wealthy becomes apparent in the unbroken trend of increasing family incomes yielding higher scores on average. Students with family incomes between $0-$20,000 score 400 points lower than those with family incomes of $200,000 or more. This has been attributed to the factors that decreasing levels of financial security often comes with single-mothers, lower levels of parental education and less academic support (i.e. paid tutors or private schools). In order to reward students for the greater work ethic and passion required to succeed without financial security, the PSAT cutoffs ought to be based on income brackets. This eliminates the current disregard for intrastate diversity and honors each student for his or her individual background. In this way, students with family incomes of $0-$20,000 would need to score a 200, $20,000$40,000 would require a 205 and so forth. Recognition should be given to all students that score above a chosen number, 210 for instance, but the distribution of scholarships ought to favor the socioeconomically disadvantaged not only for their need for financial aid, but also due to the greater challenges they had to overcome to achieve academic success.

Jeffrey Ho

Online editor

s high school juniors from across the nation begin receiving College Board’s Preliminary Scholastic Aptitude Test/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test (PSAT/NMSQT), many are eager to discover whether their score will qualify for a run at National Merit Scholarships in the Semifinal round. The PSAT currently features cutoff scores based purely on approximating the 99th percentile of test takers within each state; about an estimated 16,000 out of this year’s 1.5 million test takers will qualify as National Merit Semifinalists, allowing them to further compete for College Board’s 8,900 coveted merit scholarships. Cutoffs for the class of 2015’s National Merit Semifinalist recognition vary greatly state by state, where West Virginia and North Dakota had the nation’s lowest cutoff score at 201 and Washington D.C. and New Jersey the highest at 224. Over the years, many have criticized the state cutoff system, as students from states with higher cutoffs would have qualified but did not based on geographic location. Although the current PSAT/NMSQT’s individual state cutoffs seem controversial, this and many other variations of test and cutoff administration are far superior to creating cutoffs based on personal and family income. The current system ensures that the spread of National Merit Scholars in any given year will be proportionate to the number of people who take the PSAT within in each state. In comparison with almost every other

Courtesy of Anthony-James green

Juniors recently received results from the NMSQT, which gives merit scholarships.

nationally administered standardized test, however, others use standardized testing to compare students across the nation with respect to one single standard. In addition, the PSAT is becoming less of an intellectual indicator of college preparedness, as more people now devote increasing amounts of time and money to obtain higher scores. Given all of this, however, we must ask ourselves how basing the cutoffs off of family income will change the scope of the PSAT. For starters, implementing cutoffs based on parent income (eg. students whose parents have combined income of $0$20,000 must score 200, parents who have combined income of $20,00140,000 must score 205, etc.) would make the test inherently need based rather than merit based, thus further defeating the purpose of the test and the program’s goal of equity for all test takers. This new system would still not truly compare peers based on their academic performance to others in the nation; rather than blocking students and comparing scores by state, students would be evaluated by an equally variable and significantly more systematic variable — income. If anything, creating cutoffs solely dependent on parental income would encourage students and families on both ends of the income spectrum to invest more money in PSAT preparation due to newfound expectations, and as a result the PSAT would serve as an even weaker indicator of college and intellectual preparedness. Creating cutoffs based on income would not only make the entire process much more complicated, but

there would exist more flaws than the current system possesses. To implement such a system, students would be required to submit tax returns and other similar forms in order for their scores to even qualify for further recognition; in order for the effects of an income barrier to effectively have a purpose, it must be combined with individuals’ personal family background, personal beliefs, and other variables to eliminate the “bias” of sorting by state. In addition, based on comparing family income alone, one’s income in a particular area could result in drastic differences if that person were to live in another part of the nation due to the difference in cost of living. For example, a student whose parents make a combined $50,000 per year could be considered anywhere between poor and well-off middle class. As a result, if the PSAT were to attempt to benefit the less socioeconomically privileged, it would fail to take into account the differences in geographical location and could potentially hinder more students’ chances of earning Semifinalist honors. In our hypothetical situation, not only would the PSAT/NMSQT staff lack the time and resources that go into processing a nationally administered test, but such a system would also compromise its justification for cutoffs with arguably more arbitrary standards. Putting our differences aside, If the PSAT’s main flaw is its current ability to measure and predict future student success, changing the cutoff realistically does not solve anything; College Board ought to consider a change in the actual test itself.

Comparing grades reduces self esteem and motivation Peer-pressure when sharing grades causes unnecessary competition, takes away from educational benefits

Nikhil rajaram

Staff writer

n a community as academically competitive as Palo Alto High School, it is no wonder that a large culture has arisen of students comparing themselves to their peers. Particularly, sharing test or course grades is an activity that many students partake in. After tests get handed back or semesters near their ends, some students choose to immediately pester their peers, inquiring about their grades. While seemingly harmless, this activity has adverse effects such as lowering self-esteem and reducing the importance of self drive. Additionally, many people who feel uncomfortable sharing their grades are pressured into doing so by their peers. Grade privacy has been deemed important enough to warrant federal policy protecting it. The Family Education Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA), passed in 1974, places limits on the disclosure of student documents, grades included. Before the act, any-

Dami Bolarinwa/The Campanile

When receiving tests back, students often pressure their peers into sharing their grades. This practice can take away from the goal of learning by promoting competition.

one could have access to a student’s educational records, not just the student and his or her parents.

At times it was more important to me that I beat someone else on a test than if I was improving or learning.

Saba Moussavian Junior

To a certain extent, sharing test scores and grades is acceptable —

constructive, even. Being partly motivated by your peers is a good thing. However, test sharing can easily get to the point where the only reason students start to put in effort is to top their peers, and at this point it becomes unconstructive. In sharing test scores and grades, students place value on others’ achievements rather than on their own. Teachers can help combat this issue by releasing grade distributions for tests and semester grades. Students who share grades are partly motivated to do so by a curiosity to know where they placed amongst

their peers. Knowing the grade distribution for a class can help students gauge their relative performance without identifying who certain grades belong to. Junior Saba Moussavian recalls one of the biggest pieces of advice she received from upperclassmen was to not share grades. “At times it was more important to me that I beat someone else on a test than if I was improving or learning,” Moussavian said. “Keeping it [grades] to myself and trying to not ask others helped me focus on improving myself.”

Amidst all of the competition, it seems as if the main goal of education is forgotten. Education’s purpose is to relay information to students that will help them succeed later on in life; students should not prioritize grades above all else, nor should they treat grades as a means of competition. Students should start to set goals for themselves before tests that are based off of their knowledge of the unit and the effect on their overall grade in that class. When they get their tests back, they should compare the grade to their original goal and use that to evaluate how they did.

Friday, January 16, 2015

The Campanile

EDITORIALS

Disclaimer: The ideas and views presented in the editorial section represent over 50 percent of The Campanile staff, and do not necessarily represent the views of any particular staff member.

Students should meet individually with advisors to strengthen relationships

common discrepancy amongst Palo Alto High School teacher advisors (TAs) is the prerequisite of individual meetings for writing letters of recommendation; individual meetings provide TAs with an avenue to get to know their advisees outside of their advisory setting but are not universally offered. The Campanile recognizes the efforts of Paly’s administration and teachers involved in the TA system, and applauds the advantages they’ve given to students through providing a counseling method more personalized than those provided by most public schools throughout the nation. However, The Campanile believes an implementation of a mandatory one-on-one meeting for all TAs and their advisees is a viable objective that would strengthen teacher-student relationships and improve the quality of students’ counselor recommendations.

Apart from short forms and previous interactions with the teacher, a TA has no real basis for his or her letter of recommendation. Ideally, every advisee would have their TA as a classroom teacher at least once in the course of his or her high school career — however, for most students, this may not be possible. Many students end up having little to no interaction with their TAs outside of advisory, which potentially hinders TAs’ abilities to write college recommendation letters that wholly represent students’ characters and performance throughout high school. The majority of major colleges and universities require counselor recommendations, making these letters a crucial aspect of each student’s college application. Status quo, the TA system allows for letter-writing that is already more student-specific than that provided in schools where, for example, a single counselor writes recommendations for hundreds of students. How-

JANUARY’S TOP TEN LIST

ever, a guaranteed TA-student meeting would allow for TAs to gain additional perspective and an even greater understanding of their advisees. Ultimately, this would further dissolve any students concerns about generic or broad recommendations. Additionally, the lack of individual interaction between some TAs and their students prevents the potential of genuine bonding, and hinders conversation that might be significant but too personal to initiate in a classroom setting. Individual meetings set the arena for a TA to not only make sure his or her students are on track with their graduation requirements and college work, but to ensure that their advisees are stable and aware of the on-campus staff support network that exists to help them. This mandatory meeting would improve the already high-quality TA system, ultimately transforming student-staff relationships into ones that extend beyond simply academic guidance.

Obama hopes to pay for education of American community college students

n Friday, Jan. 9, President Barack Obama, speaking to an audience at a community college in Tennessee, revealed a plan by which he hopes to make community college free for American students. The plan would use federal funding to make at least two years of community college available to every student able to maintain a 2.5 grade point average (GPA). The Campanile would like to fully express its support for the President as he pursues this goal. We agree with the President that college education is the key to improving the quality of life of many American families, and at a time when college tuitions, textbook prices and every cost associated with higher education seems to be increasing, free community college would open up the possibility of a degree to underprivileged Americans throughout the nation. The United States has one of the lowest growth rates globally in people graduating tertiary education

and will lag behind other developed nations in the coming years. A more educated workforce would allow the United States to compete in international markets and increase its global stature. In order to compete with the European nations that completely subsidise higher education, funding community colleges are a step in the right direction. Although the program would likely be expensive, in some estimates exceeding $80 billion, it is undeniable that the costs associated with it would be recouped in the wealth of newly qualified American graduates who would be able to earn more and contribute more in the domestic economy. The decision by Obama also displays how in-touch he is with the citizenry. The youth has made it clear that education is an important focus going into the future, and we commend the President’s effort for government relevance in the lives of young adults.

giving a grade for the product that I have,” Chute said. “I think it’s a nice compromise. They get a group grade, but within that can reallocated to better reflect how the group dynamic functioned.” Chute notes that, nonetheless, most groups will divide the points equally, but this system allows for reallotment when necessary. “I wanted there to be some room for them to take some ownership for what happened,” Chute said. “The group can choose to give members of their own group more or less points depending on what they did or didn’t contribute.” While this is not always the case, when reallotment of points seems necessary, Chute further investigates the claims. Applying this more holistic group grading system will require some legwork by teachers in order to substantiate claims; however, a correct measurement of a student’s effort is well worth the minimal effort this would entail. Providing an individual grade for these kinds of assignments would not only more accurately reflect the work done by each student, but would also be a motivator to divide the work more equally initially. Individual grades would thus teach better collaborative work habits. Being able to work well in a group is a crucial life skill, and is a part of the justification for group projects. By grading this dynamic element of the project, teachers would be encouraging these skills in addition to providing a more reflective grade.

10) Having parents up your a** 9) #TeamNoSleep 8) Getting to answer the question “What do you want to do for the rest of your life?” 7) Realizing your grades won’t get you into college 6) Sucking up to teachers for letters of recommendation 5) APUSH 4) Spring break @ college visits! 3) SAT’s 2) Retaking SAT’s cuz you “failed” the first time 1) Looking forward to college apps -Galen Byrd

COMIC OF THE MONTH

Ella Mernyk/ the campanile

“Stop that, Charlie, drawing is dangerous”

The Campanile

Group projects should yield individual grades; group grades are unrepresentative he blessing and curse that are group projects is one familiar to every Palo Alto High School student; on one hand the work is divided, but on the other, the division of labor is rarely equal. This persistent nature of group projects has long been an issue in terms of its reflection in the grade book. In theory the work would be divided equally among members, so naturally an overall group grade would be fitting. Unfortunately, due to the nature of group projects, a more appropriate measurement of participation would be an individual grade. Individual grades for group assignments would ensure each member’s work is appropriately recognized. Rather than the traditional group grade, an individual grade would not only reflect the end quality of the project, but also the student’s contributions or lack thereof. The problem this presents to teachers is finding an accurate way to judge individual participation. Administering a post-project evaluation would create an arena for students to self-report, whether it be as a written reflection, a survey or a delegation of points. Math teacher Deanna Chute is a teacher who has adopted one such method. Grading the project as a whole, she then multiplies the points earned by the group by the number of group members and allows members to distribute the points amongst themselves. “Actually, the group is essentially giving [the individual grade]. I’m

SSJ>SSS

Editors-in-Chief Seth Alston • Esther Doerr • Grace Kim Claire Liu • Coby Parker • Sarah Tayeri News and Opinion Editors Lauren Gargiulo Lauren Klass

Lifestyle Editors Stephanie Cong Paul Mewes

Sports Editors Owen Dulik Kevin Mullin

Online Editor Jeffrey Ho

Business Manager Haley Fang

Photography Editor Conner Harden

Staff Writers Abira Berezin Dami Bolarinwa Galen Byrd Susana Cacho Miranda Chen Kate DeAndre Claire Dennis Joanna Falla Rachel Farn Bo Field Reilly Filter Jeremy Fu

Yi Ge Daniel Hammerson Lori Huang Jamie Har Antonio Kieschnick Masha Konkov Nicole Li Tiffiany Liang Tara Madhav Peter Maroulis Anant Marur Chelsea McIntosh

Mischa Nee Joshua Ng Kai Oda Rima Parekh Aiva Petriceks Rachel Price Nikhil Rajaram Thomas Rauner-Swan Maggie Rosenthal William Shin Chris Skokowski Noah Smith

William Snodgrass Owen Staiger Jared Stanley Alec Sullivan Ethan Teo Sarah Wang Jenny Zhuge Catherine Yu Carissa Zou Jake van Zyll

Photographers Conner Harden Daniel Hammerson

Zoe Tierney Ella Mernyk

Dami Bolarinwa Sara Gram-Knutsen

Advisor Esther Wojcicki The Campanile would like to thank our sponsors Dick & Jerry Smallwood, Fabian and Simone Klass, Leah Tong and Michael Yu, Janie and Michael Farn, Frank Ho and Lucille Zing for their contribution to our production. Letters to the Editors: Email all letters to editors to theeds15@googlegroups.com The Campanile prints letters on a space-available basis. We reserve the right to edit submissions. The Campanile only prints signed letters. Advertisements: Advertisements with The Campanile are printed with signed contracts.

For more information regarding advertisements or sponsors in The Campanile and their size options and prices, please contact The Campanile Business Managers by email at campanile.ads@gmail.com. Note: It is the policy of The Campanile to refrain from printing articles that misrepresent or alienate specific individuals within the Palo Alto community.

Friday, January 16, 2015

The Campanile

The Gap Year

LIFESTYLE

Claire Liu Editor-in-Chief Nikhil Rajaram Staff Writer

B4-B5

Aptitude tests: Do you know you?

he word “test” usually provokes feelings of stress and angst within a person, and most definitely has a negative connotation within most minds. This is probably due to the fact that most tests require time commitment, large amounts of preparation and solid comprehension of material. Everyone experiences academic testing at some point, whether it be for a class or standardized testing for college admissions. These scores can help students better understand how well they know the material for a class or how they rank compared to fellow students. There is another type of testing, however, which many may not be familiar with, and may also help someone gain more understanding about his or herself. This type of testing is called aptitude testing. An aptitude test helps individuals find the inherent strengths and weaknesses which will make them naturally inclined toward success or failure in certain areas. Aptitudes are natural capabilities you are born with, they are hereditary and cannot be learned in the traditional sense. A few of examples of these talents and abilities would be memory for design, spatial thinking and flow of ideas. These capabilities are skills that are widely used in real life, whether in school or in the workplace. As mentioned before, these natural talents may help certain people excel

in certain subjects or fields.

Aptitudes can be identified through a series of activities such as assembling blocks, remembering numbers and solving puzzles. Additionally, these tests cannot be studied for and the majority of these tests will not require pencil or paper. The biggest difference between academic and aptitude testing is that while one can do well or poorly on a traditional test, there is no way to “fail” an aptitude test. Aptitudes are scored on a scale of low to high and a low score is not to say anything inferior about the person tested. Instead, a low score is actually just an indication that the person does not possess a certain talent. No one can be talented at everything, after all. You might be asking yourself why you would want to take an aptitude test. At the very least, this test can help you understand what your natural strengths and weaknesses are. Scoring high in analytic reasoning might explain why literary analysis essays always come just a bit easier for you than for others. Scoring low in flow of ideas might explain why it takes more time for you to formulate an idea for a project, or why you feel like you might not be as creative as some of your peers. After taking a test and understanding your results, you no longer have to wonder whether you are talented at a certain skill — your scores will speak for themselves. This information can be taken a step further and be put to even better use. It turns out, those who excel in specific careers show certain patterns in their aptitudes. Certain aptitudes prove more useful in certain careers than others. So, aptitude tests are a great option for those who are not quite set on a career. An example of a career with a certain set of aptitudes would be engineering. Aptitudes which are a good fit for engineering are attention to detail, memory for design and spatial thinking. When one’s aptitudes match skills they need to do well on the job, tasks will come more naturally to them. Of course, every job requires hard work. However, someone who takes on a job which is a

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The modern teen and the relationship status Jamie Har Aiva Petriceks Staff Writers

good match for their set of aptitudes will feel that it is easier to excel at their work. Many may also feel that work is more enjoyable, another factor which may make someone feel more satisfied in their career paths. These tests are not only helpful for those who are searching for prospective careers, or trying to see if they should switch careers. In fact, this can help kids and students of all ages as well. Taking an aptitude test can help students strategically decide what classes or extracurriculars to enroll in, and prevent kids from blindly choosing classes or having parents pick for them. If students know what they are talented at, they can pick classes or activities which will put their aptitudes to good use and help them find and develop their interests. Picking activities which are a good fit for a student’s aptitudes will get them more motivated and enthusiastic about that certain activity. Knowing one’s aptitudes can even help them pick a college or major in college, helping them either find a good fit for a learning environment post high school. An aptitude test is usually administered by a proctor who conducts the activities, who will observe and score whoever is taking the test. Testing time depends on the specific organization which conducts the test, and how they have specifically structured the activities of the test. Aptitude tests must be taken in person and cannot be taken online like basic personality tests or career interest tests. This is because personality and career interest tests are usually questionnaires, whereas the specific activities of an aptitude test are very hard to simulate online. The necessity of an in person test taking session, as well as the lack of test administering locations, make aptitude testing relatively difficult to access in the Bay Area. The closest location which offers aptitude testing in the Bay Area is the Johnson O’Conner Research Foundation in San Francisco. Anyone can take the test by simply scheduling three appointments. The test is split into two three hour appointments, followed by one consulting session afterwards to review and help someone understand his or her results. The foundation offers free follow up visits to answer any remaining questions about one’s results. As said by the founder, Johnson The individual who knows O’Conner, “The individual who their own aptitudes and knows his own aptitudes, and their their relative strengths, relative strengths, chooses more intelligently chooses more intelligently among among the world’s host of the world’s host of opportuniopportunities. ties.” You might just learn a little Johnson O’Conner something or two Founder about yourself through your aptitudes.

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INSIDE

The best new up and coming artists in the Bay Area Bo Field Staff Writer

Fight the system! Eat Chipotle! Live for a day!

Owen staiger

senior staff writer

Unlike many students, I am not satisfied with the daily grind. I do not find enough challenge in the day to day Paly life. I came to Paly excited for the challenges ahead. Alleged “rigorous” coursework, pressure for high standardized test scores and the expectation of admittance to a prestigious university after my four years seemed like a trial of my worth. I found myself quickly disappointed as I annihilated all challenges in my way. Since my realization, I have sought supplemental challenges to spice up my day to day life. My most recent adventure was a race against the machine with my companion Maclean Mansfield. Instead of settling for another boring lunch period and a environment-ruining drive like the common man, we decided to bike to chipotle. Chipotle—considered by many to be the last bastion of American freedom—is loved by many Paly students. Each lunch, students race to either the Stanford or El Camino location to order their burrito in time to have a chance to eat comfortably and make it to class on time. Due to equipment complications, Macdaddy had to borrow local legend Emma Staiger’s bicycle. Once we figured out Emma’s bike combination we set off on our journey, passing unmotivated peers satisfied with mediocrity. The key to this challenge is the route. The neighborhood around Peer’s park is catered toward bikers with ample barriers blocking the passage of cars. Bikers have no trouble maneuvering through the maze while enjoying the scenic area in the process. Biking by Peer’s park and through the California avenue shopping area makes for a quick trip—under 10 minutes for Mac and me. We ordered our burritos ahead, specifying an 11:45 pick up. After a record fast, leg busting bike ride, we arrived at precisely 11:45, locking our bikes to the conveniently located upfront bike racks. This was my favorite burrito to date. Putting in the hard work before made this ‘rito taste all that much better. As Mac and I scarfed down our double chicken meals, we watched other Paly students file into the door after looking for parking spots. We had beaten every driver and even finished our burritos before the first Paly student could tell the servers what rice they wanted. We left Chipotle at 11:55, leisurely biking back through the scenic neighborhood and parking our steeds punctually at 12:02. We had never been back to school this early after driving to an eatery. We meandered on over to the deck where we were greeted with admiration from our fellow seniors. I would definitely recommend trying this out yourself. It is much quicker than driving, enjoyable, and good for the environment. If you plan on challenging yourself I would recommend something other than the fur moccasins, long-sleeve shirt and pants I wore. In the future I plan on wearing tight bike shorts and aerodynamic accessories in order to minimize my time and maximize my style.

“Boyhood” dominates Golden Globes Jake Van Zyll Senior Staff Writer

Friday, January 16, 2015

The Campanile

B2 LIFESTYLE Effects of missing the most vital meal of the day Research shows that students should not skip breakfast because of the numerous benefits it’s proven to have carissa ZOU

staff writer

et’s face it: amid our hectic high school schedules, breakfast seems like such an insignificant, minute detail of our jam-packed lives that we continue to put it off. Occasionally, we will be proactive enough to bring a small, sugary snack to eat during brunch, but even this only happens every once in a while.

Breakfast is a critical meal because it influences practically every dimension of our being during the course of the day.

John L. Ivy

Exercise Physiology Ph. D With a constant influx of tests and homework assignments, breakfast seems to be the least of our worries. Often times, we forget the underlying importance of a piece of bread, an apple and a tall glass of milk at 8 A.M. in the morning. We’ve always heard that “breakfast is the most important meal of the day” and that we should never forget to eat breakfast. But, really, what makes breakfast so much more important than the other meals of the day? John L. Ivy, who has a Ph.D in Exercise Physiology, explains the benefits of breakfast because of its drastic impact on performance for the entirety of the day. “Breakfast is a critical meal because it influences practically every dimension of our being during the course of the day, including how we perform physically and mentally,” Ivy said. After a long night’s sleep and several hours of “fasting,” the body

lacks a direct source of energy which breakfast is supposed to compensate for (Why do you think it’s called break-fast?). By omitting the meal that comes directly after eight hours of food deprivation, many do not provide themselves with the pertinent amount of energy to function optimally throughout the day. This lack of energy further hinders one’s productivity in school by detracting from his or her daily cognitive functions. “If we fail to replenish our carbohydrate stores during the early morning hours, the resulting low blood glucose levels can adversely affect our ability to concentrate and perform mental tasks,” Ivy said. “Studies have shown that children who eat breakfast perform at a higher level in school and are more physically active than those who skip breakfast.” Breakfast has been proven to improve student academic activity in multiple areas, supplying students with the necessary energy to perform at their full potential. “A review of 22 studies related to breakfast consumption and academic performance in children and adolescents suggests that eating breakfast may help children do better in school by improving memory, test grades, school attendance, psychosocial function and mood,” a report released by the International Food Information Council Foundation said. Even more than that, breakfast also decreases stress levels by lowering the amount of the stress hormone, cortisol, in the bloodstream early in the morning, when it is typically at its peak, ultimately reducing stress levels in students. Overall, breakfast serves as an important fueling source for optimal academic achievement and gives students and adolescents the vital tools to focus and reduce stress.

ella mernyk /the campanile

Although a bowl of cereal is not the healthiest thing one could eat for breakfast, it is convenient and a good source of whole grain.

Another inherent benefit of consuming a sufficient breakfast is the daily intake of necessary nutritional ingredients that are necessary for human health.

In order to improve one’s ability to focus on academics and release stress in an easy and convenient manner, students can adopt healthy habits to consume a breakfast without making it a huge burden in the morning. According to an analysis written by the International Food Information Council Foundation, “A research review of 47 studies examined the association between breakfast consumption and several health-related factors such as nutritional adequacy in children and adolescents. The re-

view found that breakfast eaters have higher daily intakes of fiber, calcium, vitamin A, vitamin C, riboflavin, zinc and iron and are more likely to meet nutrient intake recommendations compared to breakfast skippers.” In order to improve one’s ability to focus on academics and release stress in an easy and convenient manner, students can adopt healthy habits to consume a breakfast without making it a huge burden in the morning. However, it is crucial to ensure that every morning’s breakfast consists of three main nutrients: a source of whole grain, dairy and fruits or vegetables. From these three categories, one can easily assemble a quick and healthy breakfast with little to no effort. To ensure that you start of the day right, here are a few simple breakfast options that do not take long to assemble. Grab a granola bar and a

bowl of yogurt on your way out of the house and snack on it during brunch. The granola will serve as a perfect source of grain while the yogurt will provide the dairy and calcium that your body requires. Pop a piece of whole grain bread in the toaster and munch on it on your way out the door; it’s fast, simple, and easy. Pack a container of various fruits the night before so you are ready to go for the next morning. Or, if you are more in the mood for a beverage, blend up a fresh fruit smoothie and drink it on the way to your first period class. Clearly, there is a variety of simplistic ways to ensure that you start off the day with a nutritious meal. If you learn to ditch the Pop-Tart, cinnamon rolls and bacon for some of these healthier options, you will surely find yourself in a more focused state of mind.

Comparing various prep periods Considering Stanford Insight on the benefits of free periods and students’ preferences

Students weigh in on location and appeal

Chris skokowski

Tara madhav Jenny Zhuge

Senior staff writer

staff writers

ith the beginning of the second semester in full swing, many of our schedules may still be in motion, and it’s important to look at all the options. By options, of course, I mean which period to reserve for a prep. Preps can be incredibly useful for getting work done, unwinding, getting some much-needed sleep or having the time to go further off campus for lunch. Especially during second semester, when many classes pick up steam, preps can be a lifesaver. When weighing prep periods against each other, it is best to consider the four perks each can have: sleep, productivity, early dismissal and extended breaks. While each of the four has its advantages, you’ll have to weigh what you value most out of your free time. For sleep, no prep can beat first period, which offers the opportunity to sleep in three times a week. In total, first period can give you over four extra hours of sleep per week with a 50 minute lie in on Monday and up to an hour and 45 minutes on Wednesday and Friday.

As long as you can search your soul for what you truly value, there is a prep which can fulfill all your needs. Considering the fact that first period only occurs on days with four or seven periods, you may need the extra sleep if you stay up late to complete homework for these high-stress days. While second period prep does not give you the late start on Mondays, it has advantages of its own. The second period and Brunch block on Monday can be an ideal time to finish homework for classes later in the day, and the shorter days on Tuesday and Thursday mean that in addition to sleeping in, you will only have two classes to make it through in the afternoon. “Second period prep is good because you get to go to school later

zoe tierney/the campanile

Preps in the middle of the day make students more inclined to get homework done.

but it comes before classes so you can not do homework assigned that day, ” sophomore Nicole Li said. However, although these morning preps are appealing because of the extra sleep, if you really want to get some homework done, a prep in the middle of the day might be the best option for you. Third period is probably the prep which offers the least, but, even so, grants you an early extended lunch twice a week and an extended brunch on Monday. Unfortunately, this prep is simply outclassed by its more consistent brethren, such as fourth period, which offers an early extended lunch three times a week. “I have a fourth period prep and it forces me to do my homework because its in the middle of the day, junior Adele Bloch said. “But ideally a first period prep would be great because I would personally use it to sleep or study for the tests I have that day because the fourth period days are very tiring.” For someone who cannot make it through a four or seven period day without a break and a large meal, fifth period is the ideal prep. With fifth period, one gains extended lunch during all three of the longer weekdays. With a lunch period that

can last over two hours, you could get lunch in San Jose, or enjoy a full meal in a restaurant without worrying about time. Be cautious telling your friends about your free period if it is before lunch, you might end up paying for a lot of Chipotle bowls or bubble teas Sixth period prep can be both a blessing and a curse. While it allows those who have it early dismissal twice a week, being able to leave at 11:35 a.m. two times a week can make days that last until 3:25 p.m. seem endless. In addition, if you do choose to leave campus for lunch and sixth period, you’ll only have to return for advisory or to sign in for tutorial (having sixth prep means you will receive cuts for tutorial if you do not sign in). Finally, seventh period prep is perhaps the most straightforward of them all, offering early dismissal on all three of the longest schooldays. Seventh prep is ideal for athletes not competing at Paly, as it ensures that they will always have time to make it to practice. Ultimately, within the flexibility of your schedule, the choice is yours, and you can’t go wrong with any. As long as you can search your soul for what you truly value, there is a prep out there which can fulfill all your needs.

ow that college applications have been completed and sent off to their respective universities, seniors can take a deep breath and wait for the responses to start rolling in. While waiting is agonizing on its own, choosing which colleges to apply to is a hardship in and of itself. Being right across the street from Stanford University, Palo Alto High School has a special recognition of living so close to a prestigious institution. The town itself has a great relationship with the university and many residents are proud to call Stanford their home. But when application time comes will a student apply to his or her hometown school or decide to dive into new scenery and weather with the plethora of schools on the East Coast? For some students, Stanford seems like a logical step in a stacked college application.

It’s true what they say: Stanford is its own bubble. Campus life occurs on campus.

Nick Quach

Paly graduate Ria Bhatnagar, a graduate of the Gunn High School Class of 2012 and currently a junior at Skidmore College in Saratoga Springs, NY, reiterates that some seniors are attracted to Stanford because of their aspirations for top-10 or even top-5 universities in the country yet alone the world. “The people who applied were the ones who were also applying to Harvard, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Yale, Princeton, all of those and were pretty sure of getting in,” Bhatnagar said. For every student, factors like cost and suitability — aside from interests and needs — are the main thoughts when applying to a premier university or college. But for prospective college bound students in Palo Alto,

location is another big aspect to consider. For those who want to get away, Stanford is a no-go. “Some people say that Stanford is too close to home, but Stanford really is its own city. It’s true what they say: Stanford is its own bubble. Campus life occurs on campus,” said Nick Quach, a graduate of the Paly class of 2014 and a current freshman at Stanford University. Quach has many reasons as to why he chose Stanford for his undergraduate education. “There’s such [a] diversity of people [at Stanford]. What ever you think of or like, you will find someone who agrees with you, and also someone who disagrees with you. But everyone is respectful of your opinions,” Quach said. Theodore Hu, also a 2014 Paly graduate and a current freshman at Stanford, agrees with Quach’s opinion on what Stanford’s varied student population has to offer. “Throw a rock into a crowd of Stanford students and you’ll probably hit some genius, someone who went or is going to the Olympics, someone who started a company or someone who launched a successful social project in underdeveloped parts of the world,” he said. And for others, applying to Stanford means hoping for a rare place in Stanford’s acceptance pool. According to its website, Stanford’s acceptance rate is now 5.1% of their 42,167 applicants as of fall 2014. Stanford, being a top private school, also has a high tuition fee, which may cause hesitation when considering to apply. The annual tuition for an undergraduate student, according to Stanford’s website, is $44,184. The median income for a Palo Alto family is $163,661. This hefty price tag is likely to call for a significant amount of a family’s annual income. There is also the concern of where a student’s tuition fund will come from: the parents or Stanford? If the student is not eligible, then they would probably decide not to apply to Stanford at all in order to escape the heavy debt on his and her shoulders once they graduate. So to apply or not? The answer may vary, but the question is the same, and it hits home.

Friday, January 16, 2015

The Campanile

LIFESTYLE

Student pursues modeling career in Europe

Junior Ellinor Saltin describes her early start in the industry and the difficulties of beginning at a young age Mischa Nee

Staff writer

alancing school with sports or clubs is a challenge faced by most students, but focusing on academics while also modeling for magazines across the world is a different story. For junior Ellinor Saltin, it has become her flourishing passion throughout high school. Only three years ago, the 5-foot10, 17-year-old Swedish native had never thought of becoming a model as an attainable dream. After agencies asked her numerous times to consider joining the fashion world, Saltin finally decided to pursue it. “The first time I got asked to become a model, I started crying because I was so scared,” Saltin said. “I thought I totally did not fit [the standards of ] a model, but after I got asked a couple other times, I was like ‘okay, maybe I should try [modeling], because it could be pretty fun.’” Saltin was first asked to join an agency while shopping at a mall in Sweden at the age of 13 but waited another year, until moving to Spain, before posing for her first photoshoot in Majorca, Spain.

Before you are 16 it’s very unusual to get a lot of work since you’re still quite young. It’s more like preparation for future jobs.

Ellinor Saltin Junior

“[My first shoot] was with a famous photographer, Nicole Langholz, from Holland, for Women’s

Magazine,” Saltin said. “I was scared but it was fun.” Now, two years later, Saltin already has a contract with Next Models in Los Angeles, Tyra Banks’ agency, as well as four others in Sweden, Germany and Spain. Her “mother agency,” Sight Models, located in Barcelona, was the first agency that discovered her and works personally with the development of her career. Despite her abundant career opportunities, Saltin has decided to focus on school after moving to Palo Alto in the beginning of her freshman year. “Right now school is my main priority, and I know that it’s really important,” Saltin said. “That’s why I can’t take off a week or two to go to Europe, I have to do [school work] first.” Saltin has lately had to reject multiple jobs from well-known designers due to her dedication to her academics. “Last year I got asked to do a runway for Burberry, Gucci and Yves Saint Laurent,” Saltin said. “But because of school I never had the chance to go.” An additional obstacle Saltin has faced is the different age requirements the U.S. has for models, and until recently, Saltin had been unable to walk the runway as runway models must be over 16. Although Saltin has done seven or eight jobs for top magazines across Europe, as well as various editorials, she has yet to do any photoshoots or walk the runway in the U.S. because agencies tend to prefer models 16 and over. In Europe, agencies are more accepting of teenage models.

“Before you are 16 it’s very unusual to get a lot of work since you’re still quite young,” Saltin said. “It’s more like preparation for future jobs.” With her early start in modeling Saltin has already made post high school plans with her “mother agency.”

I know it might not sound hard, but running in an extremely tight corset and heavy wedding dress, still smiling in 97 degrees Fahrenheit, is not as easy as you would think.

Ellinor Saltin Junior

“I’m going to take a gap year after I graduate and start working more, because I love traveling, and my agency is really supportive,” Saltin said. “I’m going do things in Paris and Milan.” Saltin wishes to pursue a career in modeling as long as possible, yet obtain a college degree and have another profession after modeling ends, possibly in graphic design. But while her passion continues, Saltin wishes to pursue more bridal shoots after her first experience with Prinovias Wedding Dresses. “I love bridal because it is very different from other kinds of shoots,” Saltin said. “The dresses are beautiful and the make-up is very natural.” The make-up may be natural, but the shoot itself is most definitely not. The modeling agency appears glamorous, but according to Saltin, it too can be difficult.

Courtesy of mario sierra

Junior Ellinor Saltin models for Prinovias Wedding Dresses, located in Madrid, Spain.

“The latest work I did in Madrid, Spain, was for Hola magazine,” Saltin said. “I know it might not sound hard, but running in an extremely tight corset and heavy wedding dress, still smiling in 97 degrees, is not as easy as you would think.” Sight Models also requires Saltin and her coworkers to maintain

a good physique, but she does not permit clients to alter any part of her figure. “To me, Photoshop destroys the real beauty of pictures, it creates an unrealistic image of perfection,” Saltin said. “I would never want to be a part of that problem or in any way contributing to it.”

“The Interview” comedy fails to “Boyhood” sweeps at entertain with predictable plot the Golden Globes New film starring James Franco and Seth Rogen lacks acting skills

“The Grand Budapest Hotel,” “The Affair” and “Fargo” win big at annual film event jake van zyll

senior Staff writer

courtesy of sony pictures

“The Interview” was released by Sony Pictures Entertainment on Dec. 24, despite North Korea’s alleged hacking of the company.

Rachel Farn

Staff Writer

ow did America get to the point where people look to movies like “The Interview” for entertainment? The action comedy movie, directed by Evan Goldberg and Seth Rogen, has been mired in controversy recently. But aside from the crude humor, there is not much else to praise. First off, the movie’s plot was extremely predictable and overused; the government plans an assassination with amateur undercover agents, the agents screw up the plan, but end up completing the assassination regardless. The press does not help either by making the movie even more predictable. With reports on every other channel about North Korea’s supposed hacking of Sony, Kim Jong Un’s threats of “merciless” retaliation against the movie, the cancellation of the movie’s release and it’s actual release, spoilers of the movie are constantly being broadcasted. Also, this movie is the same as most other movies Rogen directs and James Franco and Rogen costar in. It includes the same old crude humor,

ridiculous plot and uninspiring characters as in “This Is the End”, Franco and Rogen’s last movie together that was also directed by Rogen and Goldberg. That is not to say that the continuous sexual, racial jokes in the movie are not at times funny, but a new and different comedy from Rogen is well overdue. “The Interview” features subpar acting, further contributing to its poor quality. Of all the characters, Dave Skylark, the interviewer given the job to kill the president of North Korea, played by Franco, had the best acting. Even then, most of his acting in the movie consisted of silly facial expressions or unnecessary over exaggerations, which any non-actor could achieve as well. The acting in the movie was extremely basic; there was nothing difficult to act out or impressive to watch, just Franco cuddling with dogs, cringing his face, excessively shouting, throwing around fake fruits and exaggeratedly mouthing words. The poor acting may be a result of the one dimensional characters. Dave Skylark is an arrogant, obnoxious interviewer who is actually childish and immature on the inside. Aaron Rap-

paport is the producer of a celebrity tabloid show who simply wants to be recognized as an actual news reporter. Kim Jong Un, the character, is the president of North Korea who is ruthless on the outside, but fragile on the inside; he admits to feeling pressured by his family and isolated for liking Katy Perry and Margaritas. The characters are so shallow and boring that the actors must count on ridiculous acting and humor to make the movie amusing. Overall, the movie was not as great as the hype made it out to be. The plot was cliche and boring, the acting was elementary and Rogen needs to step up his game. Other than somewhat funny crude humor, the only interesting aspect of the movie is the controversy surrounding it. After the Sony hacking, Kim Jong Un’s spokesman responded to the movie by calling it “an act of war” and “[an] act of terror”. The silly portrayal of Kim Jong Un provoked the North Korean leader.. Was releasing the movie really worth it despite the tensions between America and North Korea? No. The movie does not benefit viewers or anyone else. In fact, it probably causes a loss of brain cells.

he 72nd Annual Golden Globe Awards took place on Sunday, Jan. 11. The event was hosted by comedy duo Tina Fey and Amy Poehler, and featured some surprising winners. The night belonged to Richard Linklater’s “Boyhood”, which had five nominations. The film explores the highs and lows of growing up as seen through the eyes of Mason (played by Ellar Coltrane) and was filmed over the course of twelve years, using the same actors. The drama won the Globes for Best Motion Picture — Drama, Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role in a Motion Picture (Patricia Arquette), and Best Director — Motion Picture (Richard Linklater). Julianne Moore won the Globe for Best Performance by an Actress in a Motion Picture — Drama for her premier performance in “Still Alice”, which received no other nominations. English actor Eddie Redmayne beat out Jake Gyllenhaal’s prodigious role in “Nightcrawler” to win the Globe for Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture — Drama, for his portrayal of Stephen Hawking in “The Theory of Everything”, which was directed by James Marsh and written by Anthony McCarten. Not surprisingly, “The Grand Budapest Hotel”, which earned four nominations, was awarded the Globe for Best Motion Picture — Comedy or Musical, although many thought Alejandro González Iñárritu’s Birdman might be a likely winner. Iñárritu took home the Globe for Best Screenplay — Motion Picture. Golden Globe winner Alejandro González Iñárritu’s comedy-drama Birdman earned seven nominations, but won just two Globes. “How to Train your Dragon 2” won the Globe for Best Animated Feature Film, beating out Disney’s “Big Hero 6” and the hugely high grossing film, “The Lego Movie.”

Showtime’s drama series, “The Affair”, surprised everyone by winning the Globe for Best Television Series — Drama over Netflix’s “House of Cards” and ITV’s “Downtown Abbey”, to name just two. The Affair’s Ruth Wilson won the Globe for Best Performance by an Actress in a Television Series — Drama while her co-star Dominic West was nominated in the corresponding category. Academy Award winner Kevin Spacey won his first Golden Globe after eight nominations. His work on Netflix’s “House of Cards” did more than enough to set himself apart from the other nominees. Spacey expressed his disbelief in his acceptance speech. “This is the eighth time I’ve been nominated,” Spacey said. “I can’t f**king believe I won.”

The night belonged to Richard Linklater’s, “Boyhood’’ which had five nominations. Golden Globe winner Alejandro González Iñárritu’s comedydrama Birdman earned seven nominations but won just two Globes. Shockingly, HBO’s “True Detective” did not win a single Golden Globe. Though it is the seventh highest rated television show of all time on the Internet Movie Database (IMDb), the chilling anthology series lost in all four categories in which it was nominated, including Best MiniSeries and Motion Picture Made for Television. “Fargo”, adapted from the 1996 Coen Brothers’ Crime/Drama, earned the most nominations for a television show at five, also winning the Globe for Best Performance by an Actor in a Mini-Series or Motion Picture Made for Television, which went to actor Billy Bob Thornton. To summarize: Kevin Spacey finally won, “Fargo” and “Boyhood” swept, and hopefully 2015 will be a better year for film.

Friday, January 16, 2015

The Campanile

SPOTLIGHT

Friday, January 16, 2015

SPOTLIGHT

A different path A LOOK AT THE ALTERNATIVE ROUTES OF SIX PALY ALUMNI photos courtesy of hillel zand, shivonne logan, sam kelley, freddy kellison-linn, audrey debruine, levi schoeben

Hillel: Discovering Jewish History

For the past semester, alumnus Hillel Zand has been spending time in Israel with Kivunim, a secular Jewish gap year program. For Zand, Kivunim provided a compromise between the world travel he craved and the experience in Israel his parents wanted for him. “We are based in Jerusalem, but we take frequent trips to countries around the world,” Zand said. “We study the Jewish communities, many of which were previously big and thriving and now may be dying out, in the places we look to visit. I’m enrolled in courses such as Civilization and Societies, Hebrew and Arabic to better my understanding of these communities.” Although the program has a strong academic focus, Zand believes the structure of the courses, in addition to the traveling opportunities, provides a unique, experiential type of learning that differs from a high school education.

“I’m learning here, but it’s a total 360 from Paly,” Zand said. “We focus on things like the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, the greater Middle East and we do case studies on specific countries. The best part, though, is that we go out and we practice what we’re learning and see it play out in the real world. This helps us gain a worldly and multi-dimensional perspective on things and makes us realize that things are much more connected than they seem.” Taking a gap year has clarified Zand’s vision for his academic career and assisted in personal character development. “Going into this year, I was undecided about what I wanted to study, and now I have a clear vision,” Zand said. “The experience has reaffirmed my desire to major in international relations and double minor in economics and music. Also, this gap year has forced me to become more self-sufficient. It’s a transition year before beginning college, but being on my own halfway across the world also feels like a taste of adulthood. Additionally, it has left me more appreciative of my childhood spent in Palo Alto.” Although Zand admits there are some factors related to taking a gap year that many may perceive as negative, he believes the benefits significantly outweigh the disadvantages. “One thing I was concerned about was the psychological barrier of knowing I’d be one year behind the class I graduated with,” Zand said. “It’s been a little difficult seeing friends go to school, then hang out at home on break, but I can say that taking this year to do something different has been so fulfilling — easily the best decision I’ve ever made.”

Shivonne: Teaching and Learning in Morocco

Influenced by a passion for international relations and foreign service, alumna Shivonne Logan currently resides with a host family in Morocco, where she is spending the year as a participant of the highly selective National Security Language Initiative for Youth (NSLIY). “This program was created by the State Department after 9/11, with the goal of expanding critical language skills and cultural understanding for students,” Logan said. “All of the students participating are doing so free of charge.” Logan’s weekly routine consists of five three hour Arabic lessons, taking academic courses and spending time with her host family. In her free time, Logan does service work in the community. “I teach English at a center for women’s empowerment that assists women who may be con-

sidered outcasts of Moroccan society — single mothers, mothers out of wedlock,” Logan said. “I work with these women on training for restaurant jobs, making sure they have the language skills for interacting with tourists. What’s exciting is that I am Teaching English as a foreign language (TEFL) certified, meaning I can continue instructing English around the world in the future.” Living and attending school in Morocco has granted Logan a heightened understanding of different traditions and cultures around the world. For Logan, who possesses a great interest in women’s issues, contemplating the role of women in her new surroundings has been particularly compelling. “All of my host sisters wear hijabs, and my host mother wears a niqab, which covers everything but her eyes,” Logan said. “Initially, I respected and understood the philosophy and religious purposes behind this, but I wasn’t fully aware of the range of factors that could play in influencing a woman to wear a hijab or niqab. There is an underlying desire for respect that exists within all individuals, and for many Moroccan women, dressing conservatively grants a certain level of respect and protection. In Palo Alto, hijab is slightly taboo, and some consider it oppressive. Living here has made me realize that [the hijab] is something a woman

wears as she walks out the door to feel empowered, and that’s a beautiful thing.” Logan’s experience abroad has not only expanded her global understanding, but has caused her to contemplate plans for college and future careers. “I’m still interested in focusing on developing conflict and post conflict regions, but I’m interesting in exploring this through different majors,” Logan said. “I’ve realized there are different ways to help people; diplomatic policy is not the only option. Non-profit work is a possibility.” Logan believes her gap year has pushed her to consider perspectives she may not have otherwise been exposed to. “I’ve realized that although I’m very proud of being American, I’m more concerned with being a global citizen,” Logan said. “For example, living in Morocco has made me conscious of different points of views. With the recent Charlie Hebdo attacks, the Je Suis Charlie movement has been spreading rapidly, but over here, the Je Suis Ahmed movement, which honors the Muslim police man who died defending the journalists, has been very popular. Overall, it has been an interesting and complex struggle learning how to interpret being both an American and a global citizen and how to live within and understand other cultures.”

Sam: Traveling in Asia and Eastern Europe

Despite being excited for college, Paly alumnus Sam Kelley decided to take a gap year in order to discover himself. Kelley spent his time visiting 17 countries scattered across eastern Europe and Asia, the most noteworthy being Myanmar and India. In India, Kelley volunteered for a program to help teach basic English to primary school-aged children, some of whom had learning disabilities. The classroom teacher left Kelley stranded with the challenge of teaching the students himself. “I felt like the sooner I got out of there, the more they would benefit because when I left the volunteer program, the actual teacher was going to come back,” Kelley said. “Ultimately I felt like I was making the situation worse by trying to help. And I was getting a lot more out of it than the kids were.”

Kelley next traveled to Myanmar after a few friends that he had made in India recommended the country to him. “Myanmar was interesting because it was isolated for a good portion of the 20th century, so tourism is still a fledgling industry there,” Kelley said. “It felt more real to me, just because they were open telling me about their way of life and trading experiences.” While in Myanmar, the locals helped Kelley reach a secluded “White Beach” which a tourist agent had told him about. “The beach is almost completely inaccessible; it took a lot of help from locals giving me rides, taking me along hiking routes, and taking me on fishing boat rides to get there,” Kelley said. “It was a real testimony to how helpful the people are there and how much they want to interact with someone new. Once I got there, it was probably the most beautiful beach I’ve ever seen — absolutely picturesque — that was an awesome experience.” Experiences like these cannot be achieved at college. Kelley recommends for anyone who hasn’t found their passion yet to seriously consider taking a gap year. “Once you get to college you’re going to be bogged down with the same amount of work as you are at Paly and it doesn’t leave you a lot of time to explore your own interests,” Kelley said. “I thought I could better use my time in college if I took more personal time to figure out who I am as a person and where I would fit into in a potential workplace.”

Text By: Claire Liu Editor-in-Chief Nikhil rajaram Staff writer

design By: stephanie cong lifestyle editor mischa nee Staff writer

Freddy: Researching the Retina

For Freddy Kellison-Linn, the idea of taking a gap year started to seem appealing before it did for most others. During the summer before his senior year, Kellison-Linn worked at a research lab at Stanford studying the retinas of macaque monkeys. He inquired if he could extend the opportunity into the year after high school, and the head of the lab approved. “It’s definitely been a positive experience,” KellisonLinn said. “I wasn’t super excited about college at the end of high school. It’s not like I was dreading it or anything, but I just wasn’t pumped to go off to college and I had stuff I wanted to do here. But at this point after talking to my friends after they’ve come home, I’ve definitely gotten more excited and I’m very ready to go off to college.”

During his gap year, Kellison-Linn has continued to research the retinas of macaque monkeys. Currently, he is living in an apartment with his friend in Redwood City, Calif. “Specifically what I’m working on is electrical stimulation of the retina,” Kellison-Linn said. “So being able to look at what neurons there are in the piece of retina that we’ve cut out and then go in with our electrodes and, if we want to activate a certain cell, we apply a current with certain electrodes and figuring out how we can do that without activating any other cells or any axons running through the space. So, the ultimate long-term goal of this is to develop a futuristic prosthetic retina that could potentially restore sight to people who have had deterioration in the photoreceptors or cannot see for some other reason.” Based off of his experience, Kellison-Linn recommends seniors to consider taking gap years if they have something they want to do that they cannot do if enrolled in college. “I think not being super excited about college is a good reason to take a gap year, but not in and of itself. I think it can be a motivating factor. I took a gap year because there was something I wanted to do. The idea of a gap year had been appealing but it was always sort of abstract and I didn’t want to really consider it unless I had something I knew I wanted to do. I didn’t want to sit around my parents house and play video games for a year.”

Audrey: Exploring the Pacific Northwest and Spain

For alumna Audrey DeBruine, the option of taking a gap year presented a rare opportunity to stretch herself beyond her comfort zone. Particularly, DeBruine craved the experience of not knowing what exactly would come next. “I wanted to feel uncomfortable,” DeBruine said. “I had felt like up to this year, I’ve always known what would come next. Every year of my life, I’ve known the next year would be different, but it would still be predictable. A person can anticipate the following year of his or her life with substantial accuracy throughout middle and high school. Although college is a new experience, I still knew what I was expecting, and understood how I would fill the role of a college student.

With taking a gap year, I couldn’t get a full picture of what my day to day life would be, and that’s what made it something I wanted to do.” This desire to dabble into the unknown greatly influenced DeBruine’s planning of her gap year. In the fall, she joined a National Outdoor Leadership School (NOLS) course, during which she explored the Pacific Northwest. “I did a NOLS course, where I went backpacking, rock climbing and learned how to sail,” DeBruine said. “I wanted to do this program because I knew that living outdoors for three months was something that I might not get the chance to do in the future.” In addition to the semi-structured semester with NOLS, DeBruine reserved the remainder of her gap year for travel in Spain. Pairing an organized NOLS program with a relatively unplanned second semester in Europe granted DeBruine the ability to test her self-direction and independence. “Dealing with swaths of free time is a daunting task,” DeBruine said. “I tend to do well with a lot of structure, so I wanted to experiment with having to create my own plans as opposed to having someone do that for me. I wanted to push myself to create meaningful use of my time.”

Currently, DeBruine is taking Spanish courses in preparation for Spain and hopes to become relatively competent with the language by the end of her trip. She plans to live with an aunt who resides in Madrid. Although another adventure from which to learn from awaits, DeBruine has already come to a few realizations at her gap year’s half-way mark. “I set many expectations for myself at Paly that proved to be unattainable, and I definitely paid for it,” DeBruine said. “I’ve learned to reevaluate success; there may not be anything necessarily inherently negative about the track that urges students to get a 4.0 in high school, then a 4.0 in college, then get great internships and then get a high-paying job, but there’s something to be said about making sure that was the right thing for myself, or considering how I could manipulate that route to work best for myself.” Chuckling, DeBruine shares a lesson learned on the mountains. “The NOLS program taught me that I could live in the outdoors with a minimal amount of supplies and services,” DeBruine said. “I really only need to shower twice a week.”

Levi: Working at Carbon3d

Levi Schoeben is spending his gap year working for a service-level agreement (SLA) 3-D printing startup called Carbon3D. Carbon3D is working towards designing technology that will allow printed parts to be final products and is based in Redwood City. “It’s been great taking time off of school and to explore what I really want to do with my life,” Schoeben said. “I work as an intern in the lab and focus on printing various parts for companies that are interested in working with us or just want parts to compare. Being a small, about 40 person company I also get to be a part of the path towards launch, including working with the chemistry, software, engineer, design, and marketing teams. It’s a very eclectic multidisciplinary office space, where everyone seems ex-

tremely excited to work on something that really feels like the future everyday I go into work.” Schoeben’s decision to take a gap year was not entirely of his own volition, as he had health conditions that required him to stay in Palo Alto. So, Schoeben decided to take a break from educational institutions to better understand how he wanted to structure his college plan. Though Schoeben’s circumstances made taking a gap year the best option, he believes that most will be able to find worth in taking a gap year. “If you are the type of person who is even thinking about it [taking a gap year], then there is some real value,” Schoeben said. “Find what will complement your high school education and pursue that. Be it travel, working, volunteering or whatever. I think it’s very important to be given the freedom and responsibility of doing anything you want for a year while still being supported by your parents. It’s a great way to kind of get a trial run of adulthood.” Spending his gap year working, Schoeben believes this experience will serve him on much later in life. “My gap year is giving me a taste of the real world,” Schoeben said. “It’s helping me get exposed to a ton of professions and what jobs can come from what backgrounds. My job will certainly shape how I choose my classes and thus shape my college degree.”

Friday, January 16, 2015

The Campanile

LIFESTYLE

Decoding the language of casual romance

Debating the meaning of the informal terms high schoolers use to describe the many phases of a relationship Jamie Har

Staff Writer

Aiva Petriceks

Staff Writer

igh school is often characterized by the relationships that bloom during the transformative four years of a teenager’s life. Traditionally, one thinks of a “relationship” as what happens when two people who like each other decide to be committed to each other and only each other. However, modern teens have created terms like “thing” or “friends with benefits” to describe the romantic and physical aspects of a relationship without any binding commitment. With different titles for similar types of relationships between people, these terms can easily become ambiguous. The term “thing” is a very broad term that can embody completely different meanings for different people. It may involve both emotional and physical characteristics or just one aspect, but the term usually describes two people who have mutual feelings for each other but not the permanence of a committed relationship. “People use the term ‘thing’ because they, for some reason, think it’s not as awkward for them to say,” senior Guive Assadi said. “It doesn’t sound as official.” While some people believe that the term “thing” is used to avoid the binding expectation of a relationship, others believe the term’s purpose is to describe the time and future expectations involved in “hooking up”. “A ‘thing’ is when people are hooking up [and] have been hooking up,” junior Henry Gordon said. “It’s not just once. It has to be more long term, like going steady, but not quite together.” The term “hooking up” is also ambiguous. Though the basic idea of a hookup remains the same between most people, the details vary greatly.

Being a thing doesn’t mean they don’t want to be committed. The feelings just aren’t developed.

Quinn Grecius Junior

“A relationship with just physical interaction [and] without emotions … is just hooking up and should be defined as nothing more than a hook up,” Gillian Chryst said. “Hooking up with someone would be purely for the physical attraction that could possibly lead to more like a relationship or more hooks up, [but if ] for whatever reason those parties don’t want their emotions to be shared, then it should be defined as a hook up.” Sophomore Emily Read echoed Chryst’s general definition.

Abira Berezin and Carissa Zou/The Campanile

High school students use a wide range of vocabulary to define the many different stages and facets of a romantic relationship.

“Hooking up is really just about sex and sexual acts,” Read said. “[Compared to a ‘thing’], hookups tend to be much more public because there’s this idea that since it was purely for sex there is no reason to respect either people’s privacy.” Gordon expanded on the varying details of “hooking up”. “It’s reliant by person,” Gordon said. “Some people think it’s having sex, [whereas] some people think it’s just making out.” Based on the use of the term “thing”, its meaning can change. For instance, some people define the difference between having a thing and being a thing. “They are similar but both are at different places on the casual to serious commitment scale,” Read said. “Having a thing leans more towards the casual aspect and can be anything from being friends with benefits to flirting, [whereas] being a thing is usually used to describe some kind of relationship that’s more serious.” Junior Adele Bloch views being “a thing” as a stepping stone to becoming an official couple. “It’s [when] before you start dating, you hang out with a person, you maybe hook up, but you don’t want an official title,” Bloch said. Junior Quinn Grecius offers a slightly different definition from Bloch’s. “Being a thing doesn’t mean they don’t want to be committed,” Grecius said. “The feelings just aren’t developed.” Assadi views a “thing” as no different than a monogamous relationship. If a “thing” is considered separate from a “relationship”, how does one

transition between the two? According to tradition, once two people gain some interest in one another, they spend more time together and go on dates before a formal, committed relationship is established. Adults call this stage before a committed relationship “dating”, whereas most teenagers use the term “thing” instead. “Early on, people set out to do more things like go geocaching or go to the movies,” Assadi said. “Later on, often a partner will just go to the other’s house and hang out there for a couple hours and leave when they have the next thing they have to do.” According to this definition, the number of dates is significant in determining whether a potential relationship may develop. For some, making the transition from being a “thing” to being in a relationship is fluid since there is not much of a difference, but others believe the two stages are different enough that they can make or break relationships and feelings between two people. “I think the main problem is the ambiguity of the relationship, so one person might be more involved and think about it more seriously while the other has it in the very back of [his or her] head,” Read said. “A lot of the time, [the first person] ends up with a lot of hard feelings.” Chryst echoed the confusion that can result from conflicting expectations and feelings. “I know a lot of people who, including myself, have had ‘things’ with people and thought they were going to be exclusive or in a relationship, but it didn’t work out,” Chryst said.

Being “just friends” brings up the question: how much is the relationship physical, and how much is it emotional? If two people are interested in each other or have a “thing” and have hooked up, one person may think that the physical aspect of the relationship is more important than the emotional, while the other may feel the opposite, creating a constant, underlying tension between the two people. This tension can negatively affect not only the potential relationship but also the two peoples’ friendly interactions.

Being a “best friend’’ is on the way to friendzoning. Some people may not mean it in that way, but 99 percent [of the time], it’s leading to that zone.

Henry Gordon Junior

When one person in a casual relationship has unreciprocated romantic feelings for the other, that person can easily become “friendzoned”. Friendzoning is restricting another person to the “just friends” relationship category to avoid a romantic or physical relationship with him or her. “[Being friendzoned] could mainly be [due to lack of ] physical attraction, but [he or she could] also care for that [other] person too,” Chryst said. The ways in which a person can be friendzoned differ from person to person. “Being a ‘best friend’ is on the way to friendzoning,” Gordon said. “Some

people may not mean it in that way, but 99 percent [of the time], it’s leading to that zone.” Chryst elaborated on the reason why being entitled “best friend” may be a sign of friendzoning. “I think that best friends do get thrown into being friendzoned easily with a friend that they like just because their love or care comes off more as unconditional love rather than attraction and lust towards the other person,” Chryst said. Even if two people do not start off as “best friends”, it is easy to distinguish when one becomes friendzoned. “You just know when you’re friendzoned,” Gordon said. “Usually the other person’s friends are the ones that tell you something, or some [other] third party.” Once a person is friendzoned, changing the other’s mind without damaging the friendship can be very difficult. “It makes it hard for the person who has gotten friendzoned to jump out of that position because [he or she is] too scared to risk [his or her] relationship with that person,” Chryst said. Differing ideas about the ideal relationship between people also lead to complications regarding the genuine meanings of relationship titles in society. “[In] this day and age, young guys aren’t looking for the same things in relationships as girls are and vice versa because real life gets in the way, friends or families get involved, and it may not be the relationship you wanted to be in when you first thought of that friend as your boyfriend or girlfriend,” Chryst said. Relationships are not as simple as two people liking each other — they are confusing, inconstant and always evolving. Labels and titles have been invented to try to understand a relationship and categorize certain experiences or feelings, but sometimes they can add more conflict instead. With all the heartbreak and insecurity that may come from being in a relationship, why do people still persist? The complications that may arise in a relationship come from differing desires, expectations and/or needs. Though these differences cannot be completely avoided, sometimes the conflicts that they create are worth enduring for those irreplaceable, precious moments that just cannot be explained. In the end, it is companionship that people really want and need. “I think human beings just aren’t meant to survive alone, and everybody longs for someone else to be with them at the time being,” Read said. “Eventually everyone will figure out what they want to do and what kind of relationships they want with the different people in their lives.”

Students reflect on beneficial job experiences

Getting a job is an effective way for students to develop relationships, strengthen character and earn money Paul Mewes

Lifestyle Editor

t seems like students are always short on cash. Apart from a small allowance, most students at Palo Alto High School have no source of income. With more money, students could drive wherever they want and eat at Town and Country every day. Who wouldn’t want that? Believe it or not, there is a way to earn more much needed money. It is called a job. A job is a paid position of regular employment. So, it’s like being a student — showing up every day, doing work — except for the wages. Some students are ahead of the rest of us and have discovered the secret of paid labor. If you have ever seen someone flaunting their fancy new purchases around campus, wearing designer clothes or eating delicious meals, chances are that person has a job. “[My job] is a good source of income to balance out my spending,” senior Theodore Zaharias said. Zaharias works at the counter at Pizza My Heart, cutting, heating and serving pizza by the slice to accommodate the customer’s various

and unique needs and desires for their Pizza My Heart experience. He works three to five days a week on the busy days, which are usually Fridays and weekends.

Like many other things, jobs have their pros and cons, but in the end it’s a great opportunity to meet new people, build character and be a dynamic part of the community.

Theodore Zaharias Senior

Courtesy of Harry Halsted

“It feels great to have more money in my wallet as well as in the bank,” Zaharias said. “Now I can even start doing different things with my income such as investing and saving.” Another student in the workplace is sophomore Ciara Bleahen, who works at as an art class across the street from Addison Elementary School, called Art Works Studios, twice a week. Bleahen helps set up classes, picks students and children up from Addison and assists students with their projects.

Harry Halsted is one of many students on campus with a job, which offers students real world opportunities to apply their skills.

“It’s a lot of fun,” Bleahen said. “The students are really nice and surprisingly well behaved. I either put the money towards college or a camera that I’m saving up for.” According to Bleahen, her job is helping her pursue her dreams because, “you really can’t do anything in this world without money.” Although these students seem to have found jobs to pay the bills and give them pleasure, they concede that not all students are suited for the rigors of the working world.

“Like many other things, jobs have their pros and cons, but in the end it’s a great opportunity to meet new people, build character and be a dynamic part of the community,” Zaharias said. Bleahen has similar advice for other Paly students looking for job opportunities. “It depends on how much time you have,” Bleahen said. “The job must be something that you enjoy, and something that you’re willing to dedicate time to, otherwise there is

no point getting a job. This is also the time to test out your future plans, so if it takes multiple horrible jobs to find the one you like, then by all means, go for it. However, it makes no sense to make your life miserable for a little extra pocket money.” Zaharias also offered some final advice for the young students aspiring to emulate his success in the workplace. “It’s up to you, and I firmly believe that you know best for yourself,” Zaharias said.

Friday, January 16, 2015

The Campanile

LIFESTYLE Culinary fads and trends this new year

What food aficionados and restaurants may bring into the culinary spotlight in 2015

Life lessons from a somewhat composed junior

Claire Dennis

Staff Writer

he ‘90s brought the era of fried calamari. In the 2000s, gourmet cupcakes reigned supreme. So what culinary trend can we expect to champion in 2015? Just as fashion designs or music genres fall in and out of style, popular dishes come and go in waves. Changes in food availability, health conscientiousness, politics and celebrity diets are just some of the factors that distinguish between a dish achieving instant stardom or becoming a culinary pariah. Neil Irwin, a New York Times economic correspondent, recently graphed food trends by calculating how many times dishes had been mentioned in New York Times articles in a given year. “Quinoa” shot up in 2013, while “crab cakes” peaked in 2000 and have since fallen off. “Things kind of catch on and spread,” James Beard Award winning chef and owner of the Delfina chain of restaurants Craig Stoll said. ”But I’d like to think that some of the things that are popular now are also for forever”. But not all trends can be identified by clear-cut science of graphing, just as not all dishes follow a set recipe. To predict what niche will gain popularity in the coming year, the National Restaurant Association (NRA) polls approximately 1,300 professional chefs on their beliefs on what is “in” and what is “out.”

It’s only natural that culinary themes like local sourcing, sustainability and nutrition top our list of menu trends for 2015

Pearl Chow

Palo Alto food blogger Many factors play into new trends, especially world traveling. “[People] will go travel and come back and try to make something or dig up something that they discovered on their trips,” Stoll said. “That’s fantastic for everyone”. Local ingredients remain of vital importance to restaurant-goers and restaurateurs alike. The NRA’s 2015 Culinary Forecast places “locally sourced meats and seafoods,” “locally sourced produce” and “environmental sustainability” as the three top

Stephanie cong

Lifestyle Editor

Ella Mernyk/ the campanile

The “cronut”, a cross between a croissant and a doughnut, grew popular last year after being introduced in New York bakeries.

trends to watch. In a society continually striving to become more environmentally aware, diners appreciate knowing that the fresh ingredients used in their delectable dinner came from just across the bay. According to the NRA, the use of local ingredients can also help restaurants reduce costs by eliminating need for excess shipping and transportation of their ingredients. “It’s only natural that culinary themes like local sourcing, sustainability and nutrition top our list of menu trends for 2015,” Hudson Riehle, NRA’s senior vice president of research, said. “Those concepts are wider lifestyle choices for many Americans in other aspects of their lives that also translate into the food space.” Additionally, both professional and home chefs have embraced the idea of using less meat in meals, a recent phenomenon sparked by the increased interest in environmental sustainability. “It would be great to see the Meatless Monday movement continue to gain traction,” Palo Alto food blogger Pearl Chow said. “It made a big impression on me when I read that almost 40 percent of the crop calories we grow go into feeding livestock. And when we do that, we only get a small percentage of those calories back from eating the animal. That’s a lot of wasted calories which is just another way to say wasted energy”. “What’s especially great is when people start to eat meat as a garnish and not as the center of the plate,” Stoll said. “Having meals more about

vegetables, more on a regular basis, is a great way to eat...[meat] is treated in a different way. It’s more like a special thing”. According to Stoll, due to the ongoing drought in California, food producers have improved methods of dry farming which continue to provide stable food supplies without furthering the impact of the drought. Both Stoll and Chow recognize a newcomer to the scene of food trends in widespread pickling and fermenting. No longer a measly side dish or simply a garnish for the classic hamburger, pickles have received a makeover. Restaurants are stepping away from classic conventions by integrating ethnic flavors and using new foods as vehicles for fermentation.

Due to the ongoing drought in California, food producers have improved methods of dry farming that continues to provide stable food supplies “People have been doing fermenting for ages and it’s great,” Stoll said. “I’m happy and I don’t hope it goes away in any way, shape or form. But if pickles seem too obscure and diners have more of a sweet tooth, doughnuts are making a comeback. The NRA says cronuts will be phasing out but their classic counterparts will return in fun flavors, just in time for Dunkin Donuts’ arrival in the Bay Area in 2015. Gone are the days where ramen was reserved for a studying snack. Chefs say that in addition to the

popularity of Japanese food in general, ramen could become the next hamburger, as the one-stop all-purpose meal. Overall, a variety of ethnic foods, with origins ranging from Peruvian to Southeast Asian, have gained much popularity in the last year. Some trends still have experts on the fence. The culinary world seems to be deadlocked as to whether wheat will resurface or gluten-free options will become prevalent in the near future. In recent years, large amounts of diners have begun to choose to avoid the protein found in wheat, due to conditions such as Celiac disease or simply due to research that has found health benefits to a gluten-free diet. Michelin-starred San Francisco restaurateur Michael Tusk believes that the future of wheat involves new grains processed locally at mills. However, the NRA stays true to the belief that gluten-free diets are here to stay. While open to trying new trends, there is one that both Stoll and Chow hope to see gone in 2014. “I hope people will stop trying to convince themselves that raw kale tastes good because it doesn’t,” Stoll said. “Cooked kale is great”. “I hope to never see kale chips again in my lifetime,” Chow said. Whether diners are dying to try something exotic or want to stick to classic treats like the all-American hamburger, there is sure to be something for everyone on the menu in 2015, according to Chow. “They all have a space on the table,” Chow said.

Iggy Azalea criticized over cultural clash New artist is bashed for cultural appropriation and success as an atypical hip-hop artist Nikhil rajaram

Staff Writer

n May 19, 2014, Forbes ran an article — whose title has since been changed — entitled “Hip Hop Is Run By A White, Blonde, Australian Woman.” The article, referring to Iggy Azalea as one of hip-hop’s biggest success stories, delved into the peculiarity and praiseworthiness of Azalea’s rise to fame in 2014. It argued that Azalea’s success is remarkable given that she is a blonde, white woman — a demographic that is unusual in hip-hop. However, the same success that made her the first artist since The Beatles to have the two top songs on Billboard’s Hot 100 sparked controversy across the entire the hip-hop community. Azealia Banks, a black female hiphop artist, was one of the most vocal about the issue, even slandering Azalea during an interview on a radio station. The conflict between Azalea and Banks seemed to first turn public when Banks sent out a series of tweets directed at Azalea, criticizing her for her lack of discussion about the decisions of the Eric Garner and Michael Brown trials. Banks called Azalea out for easily taking on black culture — referring to Azalea’s assumption of a “black accent” in her songs — but reluctance to discuss the racial issues that are also deeply ingrained in the culture. Azalea responded, returning the criticism to Banks by denouncing her for using world issues to promote fan battles and not taking any legitimate action. The conflict erupted next during an interview with radio host Ebro Darden on radio station Hot

courtesy of shirlaine forrest

After recent success, Iggy Azalea has been criticized by other hip-hop artists for her perceived exploitation of black hip-hop.

97. Darden brought up Azalea, which incited a reaction from Banks. “That Iggy Azalea s**t isn’t better than any f**king black girl that’s rapping today, you know?” Banks said. “When they give these Grammys out, all it says to white kids is: ‘Oh yeah, you’re great, you’re amazing, you can do whatever you put your mind to.’ And it says to black kids: ‘You don’t have s**t. You don’t own s**t, not even the s**t you created for yourself,’ and it makes me upset.” Hip-hop artist Q-Tip also took to Twitter, giving Azalea a brief lesson on the origin of hip-hop, presumably to tell Azalea that racial issues cannot be ignored in hip-hop. Azalea’s quick success is one of many instances of musical appro-

priation — a subset of cultural appropriation — that have occurred in America’s music industry. During the 1960s, rock was born from the blues, a genre which had inherent black ties as it had originated in AfricanAmerican communities in the Deep South of the United States, growing out of folk music and spirituals which emerged during the era of slavery. Though rock borrowed many elements from the blues, the racial bonds did not carry over, and rock started to be predominantly white. Rock soon became the world’s most revered genre, and has far surpassed the blues in pop culture prominence. World-famous bands like Led Zeppelin plagiarized blues artists such as Robert Johnson and Son House

without giving the original artists recognition, and faced little opposition for doing so. Azalea’s rise to fame might be an indication that similar appropriation is occurring in hip-hop. Many feel her music is delving into cultural appropriation of hip-hop, but others view the music as harmless assimilation. However, the verdict is not unanimous. Several artists, including Kendrick Lamar, have claimed this criticism of Azalea is undeserved. Azalea’s newest LP, “The New Classic”, has been nominated for best rap album at the Grammys, a title that Lamar’s “good kid, m.A.A.d city” lost to white rapper Macklemore’s “The Heist” last year.

Dear Reader, Life may be full of ups and downs, but it can teach you some invaluable lessons. Some lessons might be hard to learn and some might pop up at the most unexpected times, but each and every one of them are a gift and equally as important. Here are a few things I’ve learned over the years — a bit of wisdom from me to you. 1. Open your mind and your ears (figuratively) You never know what opportunities you will run into and what you’ll learn through life as long as you keep your mind and ears open. Keep your ears open to the world around you, to gain knowledge, to hear the opinions of others. Being a good listener is underrated. Only through listening do you gain enough knowledge to truly understand the world around you. Keep an open mind towards all the opportunities you encounter in life and towards everyone you meet — these people and opportunities may open your eyes and widen your world in ways you may have never expected. If you stay huddled within your own world and your own mind, you may very well lose the capability to grow to your full potential. 2. Guac is extra, is that okay? The good things in life, whether it be guac on your burrito bowl, a better job, or an A on your next test, will always require sacrifice. Now, this may seem clear and obvious. However, you not only need to work harder, spend more time, or be willing to pay more for whatever you wish to attain in life. You also need to be careful in picking goals which require large amounts of sacrifice. You only have a limited amount of time, energy, and money — you can’t do everything, so choose wisely. 3. One (or a lot) less problem(s) without you We’ve all had that one really negative, judgemental friend who we are not on good terms with anymore, and for a good reason. In general, you must have a positive outlook on life in order to succeed and reach goals that they set for his or herself. But all it takes is one source of malicious judgement and negative energy to really take away from your desire and motivation to succeed. That is why it is important to make sure to surround yourself with those who are supportive, encouraging and offer constructive advice to help you achieve your goals and grow as a person. It’s always hard to say goodbye, but make sure you do to those who are negative influences in your life. You’ll thank yourself later. 4. You’re okay, I guess I’m kidding, you’re probably extraordinary in one way or the other. But, it’s important to never get too full of yourself, to never lose your sense of humility. Once you reach a point where you think you are too good for anyone or anything, where you think you know everything there is to know, your capability and potential plateau. You stop growing and believe that there is no more room for you to improve. Yet, there are countless possibilities and ways one can improve, always. If you lose your sense of humility, you only hurt and limit yourself. 5. In all seriousness, learn to take your own (good) advice It is easier to be all talk and dish out advice than it is to really take initiative and apply it to your own life. Easier said than done, after all. But if you’ve got some good advice, you might as well try it out. Sincerely, A somewhat composed junior

Friday, January 16, 2015

The Campanile

LiFESTYLE

Bay Area artists everyone should know in 2015

Local musicians from various genres are about to make big moves this year Anyone who thinks that Emo died when the members of American Football all decided to stop playing music and go cry at their respective colleges after high school is sorely mistaken. Emo music has been very much alive since then, if not misunderstood occasionally for the purpose of commercialization (see: My Chemical Romance), through bands like Algernon Cadwallader and This Town Needs Guns. One of the most creative and exciting new bands in the genre is Tommy Boys, which went from playing house party shows in random San Francisco living rooms at this time last year to accompanying bands on a nationwide tour and signing to Other People records. Their music is an energetic cacophony of descending, twinkling guitar noodling and hoarse, almost screaming vocals, and it takes the typical sonic landscape of the genre and electrocutes it, upping the complexity, tempo and energy. Even though so far their only release besides singles has been a mostly-instrumental demo tape, their self titled debut LP is slated for release on January 27th, and if they play their cards right, Tommy Boys could very well end up headlining its own tour in the near future. Notable Tracks: “Estate Sale,” “Song 5,” “Song 1”

Giraffage, also known as Charlie Yin, is a San Francisco based producer who has steadily been gaining popularity since his first releases under the name in 2011. His music is a mix of nostalgic old R&B samples overlaid with complex electronic instrumentation and modern drum loops. After dropping a series of remixes and two full LPs, the most recent of which, “Needs,” gained him greater widespread popularity and critical acclaim, he began to make a name for himself in the live music circuit. Giraffage was on the lineup for local festivals like BFD and Treasure Island, and supported Porter Robinson on his massive, cinematic Worlds tour. All of this culminated in him signing to Fool’s Gold records at the end of 2014 and dropping “No Reason,” a 5 track EP exemplifying his progress musically and production wise. Giraffage is off to a promising start in 2015, and whatever he’s working on next is certainly going to be well received in electronic music. Notable tracks: “Tell Me,” “Close 2 Me,” “Music Sounds Better With You”

Death Grips’ musical career technically ended in July 2014 when the group announced, after a series of critically acclaimed LPs, that it was at its best and therefore would release disc two of its final double album, “The Powers That B,” before breaking up. The Sacramento based group consisted of Zach Hill, a successful drummer featured in groups such as Hella and Wavves, Andy Morin and MC Ride on vocals. Death Grips had already been building a rabid fanbase online and later in its career became notorious for disrespecting its record labels and not showing up to scheduled festival slots. The group’s fans ranged from being shocked to angry when its disbandment was suddenly announced, but they soon realized that Death Grips’ run wasn’t quite over yet. Its final LP, “Jenny Death,” was announced with a cover for the double album, and by the end of the year, a new single, “Inanimate Sensation,” was released. 2015 began with “Fashion Week,” a collection of instrumental tracks released by the group, dropping out of nowhere. The tracks were organized so that the letters in each spelled out “Jenny Death when” acrostically, the question that remains on the mind of every one of the groups followers. “Jenny Death” could drop any day, and there’s no doubt it will be one of the most significant releases of this year. Notable Tracks: “Guillotine,” “Inanimate Sensation,” “Artificial Death in the West”

East Bay production partners James Laurence and Dylan Reznick, who go by the name of Friendzone, create hip hop production that’s evolved to the point that trying to put vocals on it would almost be a disgrace to the original work. Emulating similar producers like Clams Casino and Suicideyear, Friendzone skews the genre lines of hip hop and electronic to create spacey, barely sample reliant beats that range from beautifully surreal to slowed down and melancholy, all while retaining the slapping kicks and rolling snares that even the most casual hip hop fan can recognize and appreciate. Their production has been in high demand in rap for the past couple of years, and they have built their portfolio to include production for artists like local lo fi duo Main Attrakions, A$AP Rocky and Yung Lean among many others. Despite its fairly quiet year in 2014, the group promised through its Tumblr that 2015 would be the opposite, announcing its contract for a new instrumental album coming out on Vapor Records, a tour and a full collaborative tape with Main Attrakionz all on the horizon. Notable Tracks: “Poly,” “Solarflare,” “Retailxtal”

A female rapper coming out of the Bay Area and gaining huge popularity with one or two catchy tracks will sound familiar to anyone who still remembers Kreayshawn and the White Girl Mob. But history repeats itself, and Ashley All Day, whose music serves as an antithesis to the whitewashed and much hated pop derivative sound of Iggy Azalea, is poised to make big moves this year. Her lazy, lean, slurred vocals are sometimes reminiscent of those of Goth Money’s Black Kray or the Bay’s own Lil B, and the booming production on every track will get even skeptical heads nodding. Her fashionable aesthetics and clean visuals will definitely help Ashley gain popularity in varied demographics. The real challenge for Ashley is keeping the respect of the genre behind her without becoming a punchline or producing pandering trash like other female MC’s before her. Notable Tracks: “I Be Everywhere,” “Yadadamean,” “Lean”

Interstellar twists laws of the universe Astrophysics community criticizes science-fiction blockbuster’s scientific inaccuracies Anant Marur

Staff Writer

hristopher Nolan’s “Interstellar” is at the center of a hot debate emerging in the scientific community. The film is a science-fiction action/mystery that revolves around a perilous journey for human salvation through space and across dimensions. It received widespread praise from the film critic community, taking number 17 on IMDb’s top 250. On the other hand, members of the scientific community accuse Nolan of twisting science to make the film more appealing. There were several moments during the film in which characters like Cooper and Brand talked about ideas that even casual moviegoers found ridiculous, especially concepts related to the crux of the film: dimensional physics. Flaws like these undermined the accuracy of the rest of the movie. “The idea that love is the fifth dimension made absolutely no sense, and I don’t understand how a species can ‘evolve across dimensions’,” junior Greg Eum said. “As soon as Anne Hathaway started talking about di-

mensional love, I lost a lot of my respect for the movie. It seemed like they ruined a profound movie by being cheesy.” Like many confused audience members, the astrophysics community began to closely examine “Interstellar” and established different viewpoints about the film’s scientific legitimacy. Astronomer Phil Plait wrote a scathing review of “Interstellar,” raising several different concerns. First among his concerns was Miller, the first potential planet for human inhabitation that the Endurance visited. Miller was key to the plot of the movie because of the 23 years that passed in the few hours the crew was on the surface due to a proven scientific effect called time dilation. However, in order for the time dilation to be as strong as it was on Miller —close to 60,000x acceleration — Miller would have to be so close to Gargantua, a supermassive black hole, that it would be instantaneously ripped apart. Plait also points out an inaccuracy that occurs when Cooper has to “fall into” the black hole. The ship comes dangerously close to the black hole,

and Cooper ejects himself. Cooper is seen falling into the accretion disk, which is a disk of incredibly hot, radioactive material moving at incredibly high speed. In reality, this disk would have torn Cooper and his ship into a series of subatomic particles. However, the disk is conveniently seen at rest in the movie, allowing Cooper to cross the horizon — something that is physically impossible. On the other end of the spectrum, astrophysicist Neil Degrasse Tyson has high praise for the film, although he does not claim that it is entirely accurate. One of the least believable parts of the movie for a lot of moviegoers was the tesseract scene. Cooper discovers that it was he himself who had been sending warnings from the fourth dimension — an attempt to be meta that’s reminiscent of Nolan’s past work, Inception. “If you can poke through a tesseract and touch books, why not just write a note and pass it through?” Tyson said. This is one of the examples of scientific liberties Nolan is accused of having taken to increase cinematic appeal.

“Interstellar” seems to be riddled with inconsistencies on a scientific level, despite that one of the film’s executive producers, Kip Thorne, is renowned for his work in gravitational physics and astrophysics. In fact, Thorne has released a book, The Science of “Interstellar,” discussing the plausibility of the various scientific phenomena utilized in the film. Critics of “Interstellar” claim that although the book proves several plot points possible, a lot of them remain extremely improbable. However, the genre of science fiction is intended to be exactly that — fiction. Many moviegoers enjoyed the film regardless of its possible inaccuracies. “The science concepts were cool, and I didn’t care if they were accurate or not,” junior Nathan Kau said. The high ratings by movie critics have indicated that the success of “Interstellar” isn’t necessarily contingent on whether its use of black holes is impeccable. “To ‘earn’ the right to be criticized on a scientific level is a high compliment indeed,” Tyson said in his review of “Interstellar.”

2000

This edition featuring:

Zoë Limbrick with The Campanile’s own Anant Marur

The Campanile: What’s your stance on bagels? Zoë Limbrick: OH BOY. 10/10 in every aspect. It’s like a donut plus bread. I love donuts and I love bread. Zero negativity towards bagels. But right now I’m eating cheerios for breakfast, which I like to think of as really tiny bagels. Like I’m eating 600 bagels every day at 7:30 in the morning. TC: Can you see why kids love the taste of Cinnamon Toast Crunch? ZL: First, isn’t that supposed to be for Trix? Second, regardless of which cereal brand, I CANNOT see why kids love the taste of Cinnamon Toast Crunch. I see it as a sign of my youth slipping away. TC: Actually Trix is different. Trix are FOR kids, rather than silly rabbits. ZL: I’m out of touch! I’m no longer relevant! TC: Are you having a midlife crisis? ZL: I’m 99% sure high school is a very long midlife crisis. TC: Fair enough. ZL: I often have to say to myself, “Stay relevant Zoë, buy some flowy pants and flow with the go,” because flowy pants are in style. TC: Do you consider yourself more of an Amy Poehler of a Tina Fey? ZL: First of all, I feel like a pretentious BUTTHOLE comparing myself to either. But I would say Amy Poehler because we both rock a short blond ‘do. Also I bought a necklace on Etsy with Amy Poehler’s face on it one time, so that kind of seals the deal. TC: Who would be the best husband between Dwight Schrute, George Costanza and Ron Swanson? ZL: I mean George Costanza! His living standard is so low, I’d feel like the Queen of England every time I compared myself to him. Also, one time, he draped himself in velvet, and that is my favorite texture. TC: You have the option of choosing one animal body part to add to your body. No animals will be harmed in the making of your new and improved body. What animal part do you choose? ZL: Really floppy dog ears. Not only would they compliment my eyebrows (assuming they’re the right color) but I really like when people have to correct the inside-out floppy dog ears. TC: Does that mean you’re a dog person? ZL: Cats can suck it, mostly because I am a weak person who fears cats because they can inflict pain. TC: If I were a mystical wizard and I were to transform you into food right now, what food would you want to be? ZL: My brain first thought of carrots but I don’t even like carrots that much. So, right now, I don’t think I’m even worthy of wizarding powers what with me misusing them for vegetable creation. TC: Not worthy in the slightest. ZL: First of all, rude. TC: Is there a second or just a first? ZL: Just a first, to leave you in suspense. TC: Any words for the haters? ZL: I draw inspiration from the way Taylor Swift deals with the haters. “Haters gonna hate hate hate hate hate.” Really moving stuff. It’s righteous. Also I have a parting message. TC: Let’s hear it. ZL: Stop Kony.

The Campanile

Friday, January 16, 2015 ATHLETE OF THE MONTH

SPORTS

Lauren Koyamaís six three-pointers led girls basketball to take the gold in the Steve Geramoni Invitational.

Equestrian’s journey to national success Junior Eve Jobs discovered a love for horses at a young age, utilizing her talents to compete in multiple show jumping competitions and securing several national awards over the past few years

Jobs competes primarily in show jumping, which is a member of the English riding equestrian event family. The intent of show jumping is simple and straightforward: to jump cleanly over a set course in an allotted time. It is one of the most popular and perhaps the most recognizable equestrian event, aside from Thoroughbred horse racing. Show jumpers must always be mindful of their ever ticking clock. Riders who race too fast may be at fault to careless mistakes like knocking down fences and riders who go too slowly may incur time faults. Show jumping is one of the three events of equestrian Olympic disciplines. It is essentially what

2015 COLLEGE FOOTBALL ALL-STAR TEAM The Campanile picks the best players at each position for this 2014-2015 college football season.

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Ultimately, I want to make it to the World Equestrian Games and the Olympics but, I still have a long way to go.

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ost little girls day dream about riding horses, for equestrians, that dream is their reality. Equestrian is the sport where the horse is considered as much of an athlete as the rider. It is a sport enjoyed frequently by our common peers and also by royalty. Equestrian has claimed its spot in the Olympics in 1912 and since then has had strong claims as one of the most unique sports to partake in the Olympic games. It is one of the few sports that favors experience over youth, the previous equestrian Olympians from London 2012 ages range from late twenties to mid thirties. Although only a select few athletes can make it to the Olympics, junior Eve Jobs is determined to achieve her dreams. Her promising equestrian career boasts some of the most prestigious awards one can earn at her age, setting her on the path towards competing in The World Equestrian Games and Olympic games. Jobs first found her love for equestrian by spending time around horses. Soon after she began her equestrian career at the mere age of four, she started traveling around the country to compete at various competitions. “I started riding when I was four years old and before that I’ve always just loved going to the barn and feeding horses,” Jobs said. “It just escalated into my passion.” Her simple hobby of feeding horses would eventually lead to her successful career in equestrian. Jobs owns and regularly competes four horses. She currently rides with two trainers in Los Altos, Calif. whom she also travels around the country with alongside her team and horses to different competitions. “Right now, I have four horses that are in my competition string, and they travel with me everywhere,” Jobs said. “Competitions are a really great way to meet people from around the world.”

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pole vaulting is to track and field. Jobs has won multiple distinguished national awards for equestrian such as claiming numerous National Junior Jumper Championship titles. In addition, she has also won numerous competitions all across California, along with being on teams that have traveled to Canada and Kentucky. Last June she competed at the North American Junior and Young Rider Championships (NAJYRC) in Kentucky, successfully placing sixth with her team. The NAJYRC competition is run by the rules of the Federation Equestre Internationale (FEI), which is the international governing body for equestrian sport. The NAJYRC is the only FEI championship held annually on the North American continent. Most equestrian competitions in the U.S. run under the United States Equestrian Federation. Jobs considers competing and placing at the NAJYRC to be her biggest accomplishment in her equestrian career so far. The NAJYRC, which was founded in 1974, is not only extremely hard to qualify for, but it is also one of the most acclaimed competitions for young riders, ages 14 to 21, in show jumping. The NAJYRC is an international competition, and the young equestr ians who compete at the NAJYRC come from several different countries such as the United States, Bermuda, Canada, Mexico, Puerto Rico and the Caribbean Islands. Several of North America’s best equestrians like Olympic medalists Karen O’Connor and McLain Ward, got their first taste of International competitions at the NAJYRC. “Going to the Young Rider Championships would probably be my biggest achievement so far,” Jobs said. “It was really fun.” Jobs’ success in equestrian certainly did not ensue overnight. It has taken countless hours of practice and time taken away from her free time to get to where her career currently stands. “You always start on ponies,” Jobs said. “And then you get to horses and just kind of work your way up, trying to get the highest level of sport.” Much like any other sport, equestrian requires a lot of time and a great deal of dedication. Jobs usually practices about 21 to 25 hours per week excluding competitions. With her extensive practice schedule, Jobs has had to set priorities. Although it has been difficult to find a balance between different aspects

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TIFFANY LIANG

INSIDE ANDREW CHO

of her life, from time to time she has to miss school in order to go to competitions, Jobs believes that finding the compromise between equestrian and school is essential. “It takes up a lot of time, and school is definitely hard to balance, but we make it work,” Jobs said. “You have to miss a lot of school for competitions but it’s fun and a great sport. It’s also very rewarding just to do well and have your hard work pay off.” Jobs would like to continue her equestrian career after college. Ideally, by the end of the year, Jobs hopes to have competed in World Cup classes. However her ultimate goals regarding her future equestrian career is to make it to one day make it to The Olympics and the World Equestrian Games. “I plan to take equestrian as far as I can, definitely after college,” Jobs said. “I want to try and start playing in some World Cup classes by the end of the year. I’m not trying to compete at the World Cup this year, I just want

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to go to s o m e qualifying competitions to get experience. Ultimately, I want to make it to the World Equestrian Games and the Olympics but, I still have a long way to go.” The World Cup is one of the four most well-known and famed international competitions in the equestrian community. It is an international competition where contestants who qualify come from all over North America. The other three competitions are the Pan Am Games, the Olympics and the World Equestrian Games. In order to qualify for the World Cup, the equestrian must compete in a certain number of the World Cup qualifying classes to earn points in order to be able to participate as a contestant for the prestigious equestrian competition. Contrary to how the term ‘classes’ sounds, ‘Classes’ in terms of horseback riding are not equestrian lessons, but rather they are events at competitions or horse shows. Each class is similar to a ‘level’ in other sports. Some might label equestrian as a sport, but others may say that it is not. Despite the slight controversy surrounding the topic as to whether equestrian should considered a sport or not, Jobs holds a firm belief that equestrian should be thought of as a sport, but also an art. “Equestrian is definitely a sport because of the skill it requires,” Jobs said. “But it’s also an art because of the beauty it holds.”

Friday, January 16, 2015

The Campanile

SPORTS

Girls basketball seeks league title despite underdog status

Team looks to improve record to prepare for CCS Championships

Wrestling preparing for positive turnaround High expectations for upcoming meets TIFFANY LIANG

STAFF WRITER

fter getting off to a good start, the Palo Alto High School’s wrestling team did not perform as well as they had hoped at their latest meet last Friday, Jan. 9. The team split up to compete at different meets. Senior James Giaccia and sophomore Seth Goyle competed at Doc B in Clovis, Calif. Doc B is one of the toughest tournaments in the country. The rest of the boys wrestling team competed in a Frosh-Soph tournament in Los Gatos, Calif.

I’m disappointed for myself and my team. ZOE TIERNEY/THE CAMPANILE

Center Alexis Harris goes up for a shot in the paint at an away game against the Mountain View Spartans girls basketball team.

MASHA KONKOV

STAFF WRITER

he Palo Alto High School girls basketball team is proving itself as a serious contender for the league title, with a consistently successful season. Following a close loss of 4336 against Menlo Atherton High School, the Lady Vikes quickly redeemed themselves with two victories against rival Henry M. Gunn High School (45-34) and Wilcox High School (59-24). Fully aware of their disadvantage in being a small and young team, the girls have developed their communication and teamwork to the point where every team member is a valuable asset in every game. Especially with no seniors on the team, the girls have needed to learn the ropes of high school basketball without a mentor. “We’ve been playing like a team,” junior Maddy Atwater said. “We pass the ball well and have a ton of team chemistry. We all contribute to every single game and if one person has an

off game, another person will step up. It’s awesome because if the opposing team tries to take someone out of the game, we have eight other players who are just as good.” Other than standard Santa Clara Valley Athletic League games, the Lady Vikes have competed in three tournaments, winning two of them. The tournament they lost 55-44 in was the first game of the season, and definitely did not speak for their future standings, where they are 12-2 overall and 2-0 in the league.

We plan on controlling the pace, pushing the floor and playing hard defense. With that, we are a hard team to beat.

Maddy Atwater Junior

“I’d almost be disappointed if we didn’t win league, because I know we’ve come far from being the underdogs to now,” sophomore Skylar Bur-

ris, who has been playing on varsity since freshman year said. “We’ve gotten a lot better at moving the ball and working to make the extra pass for an open shot.” Atwater leads the team and league with assists, averaging 3.7 per game. Junior Alexis Harris averages two blocks per game, also leading the team and league. The girls average 53.7 points, 28.7 rebounds and 8.6 assists per game. The Lady Vikes are excited to bring their fierce fighting spirit to the upcoming home game on Jan. 23 against Mountain View High School. “We plan on controlling the pace, pushing the floor, and playing hard defense,” Atwater said. “With that, we are a hard team to beat.” The girls have several games left in the season to improve their current record, and set their sights on the Central Coast Sectional Championships. Come out and support the Lady Vikes on February 20 against their cross-town rival at Gunn High School in a must win game.

James Giaccia Senior

“We’ve had better weeks but it was a really tough competition and we definitely have some positive take always. They’ll do better next time around,” coach Braumon Creighton said. Giaccia mirrored Creighton’s views on how the team did at the

meet, agreeing that the team could have performed better, yet has a good base for further competitions. “I’m disappointed for myself and my team,” Giaccia said. “It wasn’t the best performance.” The wrestling team has an upcoming meet against Cupertino on Jan. 22 at Paly in the Big Gym. “It’s a really big competition so we’d love to get as many people as possible out there,” Creighton said. “I expect to do well, their team is sort of building like we are. We have a slightly smaller but we have more quality than they do.” Giaccia also believes that the team will do well at the upcoming meet against Cupertino High School. “Personally, I plan to pin my opponent at the Cupertino dual,” Giaccia said. “I think the team will perform and wrestle really well.” Giaccia believes that the team has been training harder in preparation. On Jan. 23 and 24, the wrestling team will compete at the Mid Cal tournament in Gilroy, Calif. Creighton plans on taking five wrestlers to the meet: James Giaccia, Chioki Bryant-Anderson, Emil Wolfgramm, Seth Goyle and Keahi Asing.

ZOE TIERNEY/THE CAMPANILE

Wrestler James Giaccia practices different moves with fellow teammate Seth Goyle.

Boys varsity basketball off to a promising start

On track to continue the season’s success so far, Vikes have started 3-0 in league and on a massive win streak In an interview with senior forward Corey Bicknell, Bicknell highlighted some of the teams strengths. “We make up for being a smaller team by shooting well, running the break and taking shots,” Bicknell said. Bicknell further went on to say that limiting second chance shots, playing solid defense and executing are keys for team success. The teams goals from the beginning of the season have gotten larger. The team has gained confidence with its hot start. They have now made it a priority to get to the CCS finals. While this is not an expectation for the team, the team believes that it is a possibility if it keeps playing at the level that it is currently at.

We make up for being a smaller team by shooting well, running the break and taking good shots.

Corey Bicknell Senior

ZOE TIERNEY/THE CAMPANILE

The Paly basketball team converses with coach Adam Sax while in a timeout, during its home game against Milpitas, which it won in a decisive fashion, 66-36.

ALEC SULLIVAN

STAFF WRITER

he boys basketball team has started off the season on a roll. The team is currently undefeated with three wins in league play coming off of big games against

Milpitas, Wilcox and Santa Clara recently. The Vikings currently stand first in the De Anza league and are just starting to get hot as they look to continue their 8 game winning streak. Senior forward Alex Dees commented on ways to keep the streak

alive. “We need to play within ourselves, not try to do anything we aren’t capable of and not lose focus,” Dees said. The team’s drive and kick style offense has been a very big point producer for the Vikings as opposing defenses struggle to defend against it

and is a big reason as to why the team has been successful this season. The team relies heavily on senior guard Kevin Mullin to not only facilitate its offense, but to score as well. One of the most valuable players on the team, Mullin is currently averaging over 20 points per game.

In an interview with senior Jonathan Rojahn, the guard praised coach Adam Sax. “Coach Sax is a really hard worked and is really committed to coaching. He scouts a ton and always gives us detailed scouting reports on every team,” Rojahn said. The team has upcoming home games against Homestead on Jan. 23, Los Gatos on Jan. 27 and Wilcox on Jan. 30. All its upcoming games need to be won in order to champion the league.

Ken Morgan & Arlene Gault

Ken Morgan

650.208.3722 ken.morgan@cbnorcal.com

Arlene Gault

650.208.2014 arlene.gault@cbnorcal.com

Friday, January 16, 2015

The Campanile

SPORTS

Girls soccer team continues winning streak Soccer players confident for leagues tournament after recent win against Monta Vista High School streak Jamie Har

Staff Writer

s one of only three teams without any losses or ties in the Central Coast Section (CCS) heading into leagues, the Palo Alto High School girls soccer team is determined and confident that it will continue to keep up its outstanding performance. As a pointer to the team’s current successes, it recently won a varsity home conference game against Saratoga High School on Tuesday, Jan. 13 and its game against Los Altos High School on Thursday, Jan. 8. Last year, the Paly girls soccer team did not have to participate in the first round of playoffs because of its great work during the season. The team then went on to win its second round of playoffs. Though they lost semifinals in the next round to Los Gatos High School, the team members maintained its resilience through this year. Junior Heidi Moeser credits the team’s success so far to the members’ committed involvement. “We dominated the majority of the game [against Los Altos High School], and although we had many players out with illness, we still had talented players we could pull from the bench that contributed,” junior Heidi Moeser said. “Ansley Queen and many of the other players were able to fill into other positions they don’t normally play.” One of the team’s most wellknown members is current junior Jacey Pederson, who already has 10 goals

and two assists so far this season. The team’s willingness to take risks and accept challenges is one example of the many lessons learned from the previous season. Its encouragement and support for each other are other strengths of the team. “Our team works very hard at practice and we maintain a competitive atmosphere to better prepare us for games,” Moeser said. “I think our work ethic is what allowed us to have a successful season last year.” Moeser elaborated on how the team has improved on and off the field in specific areas from last year. “We are really starting to gel and play as a team, [which I think is] switching the field, getting everyone involved and anticipating where players will be and where they want the ball,” Moeser said. “I think this will be a good year because we have lots of talent, returning and new.”

We’ve been off to a great start, and I can’t wait to see what the rest of the season holds.

Jacey Pederson Junior

Before its win on Jan. 8, the team won its away non-conference game on Saturday, Jan. 3 against across town rival school Gunn with a final score of 6-0. “I’m very happy about our win against Gunn,” senior Olivia Musil said. “It always feels great to beat a rival like that. This season we’ve been working a lot more on shooting, and

courtesy of al chang

Varsity player Lena Chang fights to keep the ball in control. The girls soccer team’s hard work has earned it numerous wins.

it showed during the Gunn game.” Last year, Paly’s girls soccer team placed fourth in the Santa Clara Valley Athletic League De Anza Division (SCVALD). This year, the team appears to be high contenders for the spot again and hopes to advance. and improve their ranking “This season we plan on winning league … [and] hopefully we will bring home the championship,” Moeser said. “We have a very strong team this year and I think both those goals are realistic.”

Upcoming are another home conference game against Mountain View High School on Tuesday, Jan. 20 from 3:30 to 5:30 p.m. and an away conference game at Homestead on Thursday, Jan. 22 from 3:30 to 5:30 p.m. The team members are evaluating their competition to train as best as possible. “Our biggest competition this year will probably be Mountain View High School,” Musil said. “They have a strong team every year, so you can always expect a battle.”

Though the girls soccer team members support each other and recognize its growth in the past year, the team also know which skills to focus on refining. “An area in need of improvement would be our finishing and converting opportunities into goals, ” Moeser said. Regardless, the team is excited and optimistic for the season. “We’ve been off to a great start, and I can’t wait to see what the rest of the season holds,” Pederson said.

Boys soccer team off to strong start after win against Los Altos Boys soccer team anticipates a good year after its first league win and its other recent significant victories

Zoe TIerney/The Campanile

Players Takaaki Sagawa, Xavier Sherer, Declan Cassini and Reuben Kramer practice to prepare for their upcoming games.

Antonio Kieschnick

Staff Writer

s the night crept in and the sun began to set, it seemed almost as if the players took strength from the creeping darkness as they held on with gritted teeth, waiting for the final whistle.

Crunching tackle followed crunching tackle as Palo Alto High School battled to hold on to a tenuous one-goal lead and beat Los Altos High School on Thurs. 8, January in the first varsity league soccer game of the season. It was an even-sided affair early on with most of the possession coming in the middle of the park. Paly’s main

outlet came in the pace of junior striker Dami Bolarinwa. Bolarinwa got onto a number of through balls, but was called offsides multiple times. As the first half progressed, Paly began to wrest control of the game, with Bolarinwa and junior winger Cole Tierney coming close. The breakthrough came late in the first

half with the introduction of junior striker Ariya Momeny. His strength was too much for the Los Altos defenders. Just a few minutes after Momeny’s introduction, he held off one defender before coolly slotting home into the right side netting. Following Momeny’s goal, Paly began to pile more pressure on Los Altos, especially when the Los Altos defenders received the ball. The constant harassment by the speedy strikers left the defenders uneasy and eager to get rid of the ball. Paly continued to do the same in the second half, comfortably controlling the game. Los Altos rarely threatened the Paly goal, but when they did, they came up against junior goalkeepers Alessandro Bonomi in the first half and Eli Friedlander in the second half who dominated their areas impressively. As the game progressed and Los Altos began to fatigue, Paly and senior midfielder Wesley Woo began to find more gaps in the Los Altos defence. The onlooking crowd cheered Paly on in search of the killing blow in the form of a second goal. That second goal would prove unnecessary

as the team saw out a robust performance to start off its league campaign. With a 4-1-2 record in the preseason, including a 3-0 victory over rivals Gunn High School, prospects are looking good for Paly this year, not to mention the fact that most of the team will remain next year, giving them time to grow in confidence and develop a greater understanding. “Our defense is getting very mature. I don’t know how many shutouts we’ve had, but we haven’t given up very many goals,” varsity coach Donald Briggs said. “I told [the team] that as long as we don’t give up any goals, we’re going to be competitive in every game.” By playing balls in behind the Los Altos defence, Paly truly exploited the pace of strikers Bolarinwa and senior forward Edward Chen, who ran the cumbersome Los Altos defense ragged. The victory over Los Altos was followed by an albeit less impressive 1-0 victory over Monta Vista High School, where the team still dominated, but fans have no need to worry: good teams win on good days, bad ones win on their worst days.

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Friday, January 16, 2015

The Campanile

Friday, January 16, 2015

COllege Football

College Football

2015 College Football All-Star Team Text By: Owen Dulik Design By: Owen Dulik Sports Editor Catherine Yu

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DEFENSE

TCU was robbed when it came to the College Football Playoff selection yet won the lottery when it recruited Chris Hackett. Hackett is a hard-nosed safety who always gets involved in plays and makes things happen. Hackett is blessed with good hands and strong tackling skills. After this junior year season, Hackett declared for the draft and will surely be ready to prove himself in the NFL.

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Miami had Denzel Perryman leading its defense to a great season, and Perryman excelled and even finished as a finalist for the Butkus award. Although Perryman is short, he is powerful enough and has enough hit power to make a considerable impact at such a high level. Perryman also thrives in coverage, as his speed allows him to keep up with even the best receivers. Perryman’s game will mature and better in the future, making him a star.

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The Florida State Seminoles were outstanding this season and quarterback Jameis Winston’s right hand man was Nick O’Leary. The veteran tight end will declare for the NFL Draft and will bring his dualthreat nature to a much bigger stage. O’Leary is a pivotal component of the Seminoles’ run game with his sheer blocking strength but also takes play action dump-offs with his great downfield running and extends plays. O’Leary’s unparalleled talent has led to 618 receiving yards and six touchdowns this season.

OFFENSE

The Wisconsin Badger Melvin Gordon was also a Heisman candidate and rose from being unknown to being an electrifying household name. Gordon’s best skills are his breakaway speed and elusiveness in the open field, which is why he broke so many long runs off this year. Also, Gordon is valuable in short yardage situations, as he has brute strength that he is not afraid to use to shed tacklers. Gordon racked up an astonishing 2,587 yards and 29 touchdowns this year.

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Marcus Mariota is easily the best quarterback in college football, as he won the Heisman Trophy for best player, and will also most likely be selected number one overall in the 2015 NFL Draft. Mariota led the Oregon Ducks to the National Championship, and although Oregon cruised past Florida State, the Ducks fell to Ohio State. Mariota’s best traits are that he has a great pocket presence and can wait to deliver the perfect pass, but he can also scramble with his surprising agility and speed to extend any play. This season, Mariota threw for 4,121 yards, 40 touchdowns and only had four interceptions.

Nelson Agholor has had a jawdropping junior year for the USC Trojans and has dominated in the Pac 12 Conference. What makes Agholor so dependable is that he can burn most cornerbacks on deep routes for easy touchdowns but has also proven to be reliable when catching short passes and turning them into long touchdown runs. Agholor has also dominated in the special teams game and has returned several punts for touchdowns. Agholor caught for 1,313 yards and 12 touchdowns this season.

Amari Cooper was the last Heisman finalist and had an incredible junior year for the Alabama Crimson Tide. Cooper will surely be a superstar when he goes to the NFL, and he has shown that he can dominate opponents while looking like a man amongst boys. Cooper has the rare combination of speed, catching, strength and jumping that makes him so uncoverable. Cooper’s ability to dominate opposing cornerbacks showed this year, as he posted 1,727 yards and an astonishing 16 touchdowns.

La’el Collins had has an intimidating presence this season with the LSU Tigers and will be ready for the NFL draft. Collins could have even been selected in the first round of the draft last year. What makes Collins so special is that he is a monstrous, physical specimen that can protect any quarterback. In addition, any run game can thrive behind his blocking. Watch out for Collins next NFL season.

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Ronnie Staley of Notre Dame switched from playing right tackle to playing left tackle and has improved dramatically. This aggressive beast uses his size to obliterate and brutalize opposing defensive linemen. Staley is the single best tackle eligible for the draft, and will be selected very high overall.

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Vernon Hargreaves had a surprisingly excellent sophomore season for the Florida Gators and played to the definition of a shutdown quarterback. Hargreaves’ best traits are his ability to read plays, and he has the speed to get to the receiver and light him up with deafening hit power. Hargreaves should be on every NFL scout’s watch list next year, as he will be returning to grow better in future years.

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The Iowa Hawkeyes had the best offensive lineman this year in senior Brandon Scherff. Scherff won the Outland Trophy for best interior lineman this year, and dominated opposing defenders with his pure strength, relentless blocking and surprising speed and athleticism. Scherff might even be selected number one overall this draft but will definitely go in the top five no matter what. Scherff is definitely a player that struggling NFL teams can build their run games around.

Washington Husky Danny Shelton might just be the single best nose tackle in college football and will be bringing his talents to the NFL next season. Besides his skills as a leader, Shelton brings his terrifying stature and speed to the table, making him a force to be reckoned with. Shelton posted 5 fumble recoveries, 16.5 tackles for loss and 9 sacks this season.

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Joey Bosa is relatively unheard of, yet was named national Best Defensive Lineman of the Year as well as Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year, in just his sophomore season for the Ohio State Buckeyes. Bosa posted incredible stats this season, with 13.5 sacks, 20 tackles for loss and four forced fumbles. This youngster is an absolute beast and uses his brute force to get his way and will be even more dominant in the future.

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Scooby Wright played an excellent season for the Arizona Wildcats, yet has gone under the radar. Even though Wright was passed over for other big names for awards, the talent is all there. This speedy and agile sack machine is an explosive hitter who will stuff any run game. Wright is a vicious, relentless player who will be ready to prove himself in the future.

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This year, the UCLA Bruins had Eric Kendricks, the fearsome Butkus Award winner for being the best linebacker in college football. Kendricks has displayed an innate quickness with play recognition and pursuit and uses his strength to bring players to the ground. Kendricks can also drop into coverage and play the pass, which makes him dangerous in many ways.

Senquez Golson was the best college football cornerback this season and dominated in the SEC Conference with the Ole Miss Rebels. Although Golson is below average in the height department, he has great jumping talent and the strength to rip 50/50 balls out of receivers’ hands. This tenacity was evident in the stats column this year, as Golson posted 10 interceptions. Golson will only improve in the future.

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Ifo Ekpre-Olomu is not only one of the best names in college football, but also one of the best athletes, regardless of position. Although the Oregon Ducks cornerback was injured for the end of the season, Ekpre-Olomu was a Jim Thorpe Award Finalist, for best multi-sport college athlete. Ekpre-Olomu is more than capable in coverage and has enough speed to keep up with any wide receiver. This trusty, talented star repeatedly comes up clutch, making important open field tackles. Because he was injured, he might get passed over in the draft but will make a large impact in the NFL, no matter who he plays for.

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The Florida State Seminoles’ defense was anchored by sophomore multi-sport athlete, Jalen Ramsey. Ramsey was a finalist for the Jim Thorpe Award and backed up his talk with play this season. This fiery, passionate player makes big hits and gets key picks and also finds the time to trash talk opponents both on and off the field. Ramsey is deadly because he can not only play coverage, but he can come off of the edge and make huge sacks with his deadly blitzes.

WR3 Kevin White was one of the single most underrated players in college football this year. While he is unheard of, the West Virginia wide receiver had 1,447 receiving yards and 10 touchdowns this year. White’s particularly deadly in the short yardage and screen games, because of his unprecedented speed. White will enter the NFL Draft, and will surely make an impact in his rookie season.

Friday, January 16, 2015

The Campanile

SPORTS

San Francisco 49ers select new head coach

Jim Harbaugh and the 49ers mutually agreed to part ways after a disappointing record in the 2014 season

Courtesy of chatsports.com

The 49ers struggle to find a new head coach ended with the hire of former defensive line coach Jim Tomsula (right), who will replace former head coach and current Michigan head coach Jim Harbaugh (left).

Noah smith

Staff writer

he San Francisco 49ers have decided to promote defensive line coach Jim Tomsula to head coach, sources told ESPN National Football League Insider Adam Schefter. Tomsula has spent the last eight years as the 49ers’ defensive line coach. He will replace former head coach and Palo Alto High School alumnus Jim Harbaugh, who parted ways with the Niners on Dec. 28 to coach at the University of Michigan.

49ers CEO Jed York explains why he picked Tomsula as head coach. “After conducting a thorough coaching search, and meeting with a number of outstanding candidates, Jim Tomsula clearly is the right man to lead this team,” York said. “Jim is a great teacher and a tremendous mentor who conducts himself with great class and integrity.” Many of the team’s current players approve of York’s pick of a new head coach, which improves York’s image. Defensive Tackle Justin Smith says that Tomsula has the personality and knowledge to go with the position.

“He’s a fiery guy. He’s not just a rah-rah guy, there’s a lot more to him than that,” Smith told 49ers.com. “He knows his stuff so you don’t have to yell and just jump around all the time. You can actually talk. He’ll give us some information, some input, how we’re going to shut it down and that’s what I appreciate about him.” Nose Tackle Glenn Dorsey agreed with Smith. “He’s a hard-working, blue-collar guy and a lot of guys in the locker room can relate to him. He brings a lot of enthusiasm to the game, and a lot of wisdom. He works well with

us and we respond well,” Dorsey told 49ers.com. “He’d make a great head coach. He’s just a tremendous coach, and he’s helped me a lot, on and off the field.” The Niners missed the playoffs for the first time with Harbaugh as head coach by going 8-8 this season en route to a disappointing third-place finish in the NFC West. Harbaugh’s first three seasons in San Francisco were marked by overwhelming success, as the Niners appeared in the NFC Championship Game three straight times and reached Super Bowl XLVII.

But after getting off to a 7-4 start this season, San Francisco struggled down the stretch, losing four of its final five games. Harbaugh’s fourth season with the Niners was impaired by the shortcomings of quarterback Colin Kaepernick, regressing in his second year as starter, the lengthy absence of star pass-rusher Aldon Smith, who was suspended nine games for multiple violations of the NFL’s personal conduct policy, and the off-field troubles of defensive lineman Ray McDonald, who was released last month following an allegation of sexual assault.

Paly swimmer looks ahead after recent success Real Madrid Swim team member Andrew Cho has lofty goals in his sport after making decision to end his water polo career prematurely to focus attention on swimming career seth alston editor-in-chief

upine on the surface of the water, Andrew Cho looks very uncomfortable. With his legs kicking furiously, he has his head thrown back, his face showing an expression of extreme strain. One arm thrust above his head, awkwardly extended, he reaches until he makes contact with the wall of the pool. Backstroke is certainly not the most elegant swimming discipline, but if you’re Cho, it is definitely the most rewarding. A junior at Palo Alto High School, Cho has been a member of the Palo Alto swimming community as an athlete with Palo Alto Stanford Aquatics (PASA) since his childhood. “I started when I was seven,” Cho said. “I’m really familiar with PASA because I’ve been in the program for over eight years.” Introduced to the sport by his older brother Thomas, a Paly swimmer and water polo player in his own time, Cho found the team dynamic and atmosphere of club swimming immediately captivating. “From the beginning I started swimming because of my brother, so I went into it just intending to have fun,” Cho said “I didn’t realize that I would be at this level right now, but I definitely just wanted to swim because I loved swimming in the beginning.” Cho spent several years as a comparative casual swimmer, not committing himself to any particular stroke and using the sport mainly for recreation and exercise. He maintained his position in the PASA organization but was not totally devoted to the sport itself and found the long hours and physical toll of the sport to be oppressive. During this time he also pursued another aquatic sport, water polo, which he considered to be his true calling at the time, in which he excelled in more than his swim team. “I was actually thinking about quitting swimming before coming to Paly to play water polo, but that didn’t happen, thankfully” Cho said. Cho did play water polo during his freshman year, and his talented playing merited a spot on the varsity team where he earned good playing time, unusual for his age. However, after his freshman year, swimming

continues to dominate jake van zyll

senior staff writer

Keri gee/ the campanile

The 16-year old swimmer aspires to join the South Korean Olympic team, but first he has to finish his high school career.

suddenly gained a much greater significance in his life, and water polo became the sport that would have to be sacrificed. “[Sophomore] year made me realize how much I loved the sport, how much I can get out of it and how much it can benefit me in the long run,” Cho said. “I saw the results and I was super proud of myself.” During his sophomore year, Cho devoted himself fully to swimming and found a new niche in the sport which allowed him to surpass his previous level of performance. “By the beginning of last season, backstroke just hit me, and I had one really good race and since then I’ve really been focusing on the stroke,” Cho said of his transition to the event. “It’s my strong suit, even though growing up I wasn’t really into any stroke per se, I just jumped back and forth.” Cho achieved a Junior National cut in his two-hundred meter backstroke with a time of one minute and 48 seconds. He continued to improve his times in both the 200 and 100 meter backstroke events in order to achieve his personal goals for the year. “Last year I got time standards in winter Junior Nationals, summer Junior Nationals, Sectionals, and I’m setting myself up to be close to get-

ting Olympic trial times,” Cho said. “I’m two seconds off in my hundred back and four seconds off in my two hundred back, so hopefully I can cut that.” Olympic trials and possibly the Olympic games themselves would be the ideal way to achieve the next step for a swimmer of Cho’s success, and he has high hopes for his future in the sport. Looking forward, 2015 still holds mostly national level events, but Cho knows that if he wants to elevate his competition to the Olympic level his opportunity is coming up fast. “I have Sectionals in February, then I have summer Junior Nationals,” Cho said. “And this is kind of reaching for the stars, but my parents and I have been talking and trying to see if I could possibly make it on to the South Korean Olympic team.” As a dual citizen, Cho would be eligible to compete for the Republic of Korea in the Olympic Games under the rules put forth by the International Olympic Committee. Ideally, he would achieve his Olympic Trial times and join the South Korean national team in Rio for the 2016 games, however there are obstacles other than the rigorous performance standards Cho would have to overcome.

“This might just stay a dream, its complicated because to retain Korean citizenship you have to go into the army, and because I’m a dual citizen I need to decide whether or not to keep my citizenship when I turn eighteen, which is also when the Olympics will be happening,” Cho explained. In order to make his Olympic dreams come true Cho would need to maintain his current level of performance with his club by competing at Junior National level events , while at the same time surmounting the gauntlet of the NCAA recruiting process and negotiating the complex legal situation surrounding his Korean citizenship and potential Olympic performance. Despite the onslaught of significant events the next year will bring, Cho is positive that it will be another good year in the world of swimming, both in the future and in his high school career. He also remains hopeful that with enough hard work he will realize his Olympic ambitions. “This is my last chance to make the South Korean Olympic team and to represent my home country, I’m going to work my tail off because it’s a dream of mine and I want to make my family proud,” Cho said. “We’ll see what happens.”

fter winning 22 consecutive matches, Spanish football club Real Madrid C.F. has yet again proved why it is the best soccer team in the world. During the 22 matches, Madrid scored 81 goals and conceded only 10. Los Blancos’ impressive streak was ended by Valencia CF in a 2-1 loss. Madrid’s Cristiano Ronaldo put his team in the lead by burying a penalty kick in the 14th minute. Both of Valencia’s goals occurred in the second half, one coming from a deflected shot and the other from a corner kick. One of the many Real players performing excellently is Welsh midfielder Gareth Bale. This season, the 25-year-old has six goals and five assists under his belt, and played a key role in helping Los Blancos win the UEFA Champions League by scoring a beautiful header to put Real up in the 110th minute. An even bigger part of Real Madrid’s continued success must be attributed to forward Ronaldo. The Portuguese international has the most goals in the league at 26, followed far behind by Barcelona striker Lionel Messi, who has scored a modest 16 this season. Ronaldo, along with teammates Toni Kroos and Sergio Ramos, was placed on the FIFA World XI Team for 2014, which consists of one team made up of the best players worldwide per position. Ronaldo received his third Ballon d’Or on Jan. 12, earning more votes than competitors Messi and German national team goalkeeper Manuel Neuer combined. The 29 year old striker, who scored 52 goals in 43 games during 2014, expressed great appreciation at receiving the award for a second year in a row. Ronaldo told BBC sports “it has been an unforgettable year. To win this trophy at the end of it is something incredibly unique.” Real Madrid will be looking to extend their first place spot in La Liga, an effort that will be lead by the world’s best footballer, Cristiano Ronaldo.

Friday, January 16, 2015

The Campanile

SPORTS

Unrealistic expectations plague amateur athletes AThlete More athletes dream of playing professionally, yet chances they will are immensely low Rachel Price

of the

Month

staff writer

istening to a fourth-grader tell you that he wants to be a football player when he grows up does not warrant surprise. However, it now seems as though a fourthgrader’s dream of playing a sport he enjoys deserves the same response as the typical yet highly improbable dream of becoming the president of the United States. Fourth-graders might not, and need not, understand the statistics that correlate to this improbability just yet. Fourth graders are not the only ones with the dream of becoming college athletes. However impressive high school students would like to think they are, they can be compared to fourth graders in this sense. The look in their eyes when they tell you of their dream might seem a little less sparkly now that they realize their dream is not likely to come true. Each year the number of high school athletes increases while the number of athletes that make it beyond high school remains the same. All the while the amount of money, time and effort students invest in their athletics continues to grow. An annual High School Athletics Participation Survey from the National Federation of State High School Associations concluded that the amount of students who played sports between 2011 and 2009 increased by about 40,000 students, estimating that 55.5 percent of high schoolers participate in athletics. Palo Alto High School students are part of this 40,000. When asked about her fellow student athletes and teammates, Paly senior Rebecca Tse commented on their hopes of playing in college or beyond. “I have a lot of people on my team that realize that they don’t want to have that commitment for another four years in college,” Tse said. “But I think that a lot of people do end up wanting to play in college.” Along with the triumphs of wins and the laughs shared amongst teammates after and during practice comes a concern of the future and what it does or does not hold. A looming question persists: Is the money and time commitment student athletes put into their sports a worthwhile

This edition featuring:

Lauren Koyama with The Campanile’s own

Galen Byrd

ella mernyk/the campanile

Football is one of the most popular high school sports, making it one of the toughest sports to succeed in professionally.

investment, since there are no guaranteed results? Tse is a coxswain for the Los Gatos Rowing Club and has committed to the University of Michigan’s women’s rowing class of 2019. According to her, the 20 hours a week she spends on her sport is worth the investment but at times it is hard to balance the time with her academic work.

Only 2.6 percent of college athletes go to the pros, and only 0.13 percent of athletes go straight to professional athletics from high school “You realize that you can’t pick one over the other, so you kind of just make do,” Tse said. The amount of time invested by student athletes into their sport is a lot compared to the amount of athletes that continue to play after high school. According to an NCAA report, chances of high school athletes

continuing to participate in their sport after graduation are slimmer than current competitive universities admission rates. On average, 6.2 percent of high school athletes play their sport in college. The transition into professional sports chances are even slimmer. Only 2.6 percent of college athletes go to the pros, and only 0.13 percent of athletes go straight to professional athletics from high school. The slim chances of going pro or playing college sports does not come as a surprise to most, yet the competitiveness of high school sports has increased dramatically over the past few years and some of the effects of this increased competitiveness are interesting. The increased amount of injuries has increased dramatically as a result of the intensified competition. Athletes physically pushing themselves despite ongoing injuries is a tendency created by stress surrounding greater competitiveness. Disregarding injuries as teenagers can lead athletes to suffer more severe and longer lasting effects. Concussions are one of the many injuries athletes

suffer from. Concussion rates reported in 2007 by the National Library of Medicine (NLM) reflect some of the negative effects of the growing intensity of sports. The NLM found that 8.9 percent of high school athletes’ and 5.8 percent of collegiate athletes’ injuries are concussions. “Concussions represented a greater proportion of all injuries among high school athletes,” the NLM said. According to a recent article by Health Day, research shows that Concussion rates have doubled between 2005 and 2012. Life long injuries for a hobby that will rarely last beyond youth are not worth the risk. Like any smart investor, one values an investment with a good return. Why then do athletes invest so much time, energy, and money into competitive sports when they will not continue playing out of high school. The chances that one may make it beyond high school might be the reason, or the thrill of the competition. Or, maybe, student athletes simply enjoy playing their sports and want to have fun.

Dance should be rightfully acknowledged as sport Dancers participate in fall and winter sport seasons, yet do not receive a prep for P.E.

Catherine yu

staff writer

t Palo Alto High School, the two groups that make up the Spirit Squad are the cheerleading team and the dance team. However, out of the two teams, only cheerleading is acknowledged as a sport. This is mainly because dance is not legally a sport in California. Even though this is the case, Paly should sanction dance as a sport since dance team members work as hard as and practice as much as cheer team members. If cheer is considered a sport at Paly, then dance should be considered a sport as well. Being on the dance team means participating during the major fall and winter sports, football and basketball respectively. At the games, the Spirit Squad cheers on the sidelines and performs at halftime. Dancers often feel as if they do not get enough recognition for the effort that they put into their craft, especially at Paly, where the dancers all practice outside of school, while most cheerleaders do not cheerlead when not in season. One of the main issues that dance team members find unfair is the fact that any cheerleader

enrolled in Physical Education can get excused from the class while they are in season, whereas the dance team is expected to participate in both Physical Education and attend practices because dance does not fulfill the practice requirement. Many dancers have to go out of their way to get Contract Physical Education since they can not get regular preparatory periods just by doing dance team. Contract Physical Education is offered to students who practice a sport outside of school. In order to attain it, a student has to provide evidence that they do their sport for a minimum of 15 hours a week, in addition to filling out a packet that requires approval from an out of school teacher or coach. The largest obstacle standing in the dance team’s way is the time requirement to be recognized as a sport. Although this is an issue, the problem is not that the dancers do not put in enough time into practicing. They put in plenty of additional hours. The problem is that the current team members have so much dance commitment outside of school that their schedule does not allow for more practices. So, regardless of willingness of dance team members to put in extra hours of practice, they are unable to get preparatory periods and sport recognition. Paly’s administration should acknowledge that members are unable to fulfill the time minimum due to too much outside practice. And even further, the administration should reward the team with recognition for this outside commitment. Compared to its counterpart, the cheer team, the dance team at the very least parallels in both performance and effort. Team members put

in a tremendous amount of time into the activity, even though they don’t fulfill the school’s time requirement. So, for all of the effort and work that

members of the dance team put in, Paly should give dance sports acknowledgement even though California does not.

Courtesy of Anne PEterson Barry

Cheerleaders preform at a Palo Alto High School event alongside the dance team.

Lauren Koyama is a sophomore on the Palo Alto High School varsity girls basketball team. She plays point guard in her second year on the team. The Campanile: What position do you play? Lauren Koyama: I play point guard. TC: How long have you been playing basketball for? LK: I’ve been playing since like second grade. TC: What aspect of the sport do you enjoy the most? LK: I enjoy the team aspect and like just getting (together) as a team. TC: What would you consider to be your best quality on the court? LK: I think shooting is one of my best qualities. TC: Have you worked on your shot a lot? LK: Yeah, I practice everyday and shoot a lot to practice it. TC: Since like second grade you have... LK: Yeah. TC: When did you start taking basketball really seriously? LK: Probably in middle school I started taking it the most seriously. TC: What changed in middle school to make you want to play? LK: The competition got a lot better so it started to be more serious, and I started to get after it more. TC: You are a sophomore on varsity, this is your second year, correct? What is different playing on varsity than playing last year? LK: We have definitely grown as a team, and we are not as young, and we are not getting picked on as much so we have definitely got more leadership going on to and we are definitely better as a team. TC: You guys don’t have any seniors is that correct? LK: Yeah we don’t have any seniors. TC: So do you feel more as a leadership position this year. LK: Yeah I definitely feel more of a leadership role. TC: How do you feel you guys play as a team? LK: We definitely have good chemistry because a lot of the girls have been playing together for at least five years, and we all know each other, and where we are going to be on the court. TC: What drew you to start playing basketball in the first place? LK: My sister started to play basketball and that got me into it. TC: You are a sharpshooter from distance, how does that contribute to the team and to your individual game? LK: I have definitely practiced the deep shot and have gotten the green light to shoot, so it is always an option for me and also people come out to guard it so I can easily just drive or pass it. TC: And you have gained confidence from your coach allowing you to shoot freely? LK: Yeah definitely. TC: And all your teammates have confidence in you as well? LK: I hope so. TC: How do you balance basketball and school during the season? LK: It is definitely harder, you just find time to do both. TC: How do you see your season going? LK: We are definitely going to try to win league and go on.

Friday, January May 25,16, 2011 2015

The Campanile

SPORTS

Stephen Curry for MVP PTs fg% 3p% ast Reb Stl to ft% Blk Min '14-’15 23.0 .497 .393 8.1 4.9 2.2 3.2 .927 0.2 33.2 Career 20.5 .469 .434 6.8 4.2 1.7 3.2 .899 0.2 35.3

Text By

Galen Byrd Senior Staff Writer

Design By Galen Byrd and Anant Marur

n just his sixth year in the league Stephen Curry has had his best season yet. With career highs in field goal percentage, rebounding and steals, he has become an elite player in the league, and lead his team to hold the best record in the league for the most part of the first half of the season. Heading a 16 game winning streak, longest in franchise history, Curry is a clear frontrunner for league Most Valuable Player due to his excellent play in all aspects of the game.

The Shot

The Leadership

No wonder his team holds the best record in the league. Curry’s importance to the team is unmatched. He is fourth in the league in Player Efficiency Rating, a statistic that rates player’s per-minute productivity, taking both positive and negative stats into account, along with both offensive and defensive stats. Curry is fourth in Value Added, a stat that measures the number of points a player contributes to a team above what a replacement player would produce, and third in Estimated Wins Added. Along with being first in Plus-Minus (net point differential per 100 possessions) Curry is an emotional leader in the locker room, providing an example of how to play unselfish team basketball.

If you have not already heard someone rave about the perfection of Stephen Curry’s shot, you have been living under a rock. Mechanically, his shot gives him every advantage imaginable. Shooting the ball prior to the apex of his jump, along with releasing his jump shot in only 0.4 seconds, makes it nearly impossible for a defender to block it. Watching him shoot is so pretty, you expect that every shot he takes will go in. Although he is not shooting 100 percent from the field, he is shooting a career high in field goal percentage, at 49.7 percent, along with the second best free throw percentage in the league. Although his three-point percentage has dropped slightly due to intensified defense against his outside shot, he is still fifth in the league in three-pointers attempted and third in three pointers made.

Stephen Curry Golden state warriors

The Control

The Defense

In previous years, Curry’s play has been lacking on the defensive end. He typically defends the worse opposing guard, and has been able to get away with it due to teammate Klay Thompson’s stellar defense. This year, it has all changed. Steph has stepped up to the challenge of defending elite guards and has proven himself, leading the league with an average of 2.2 steals per game. He does not take possessions off, and is more intense than ever on the defensive end. His effort put in on the defensive end has proven to take a little extra energy out of him on the offensive end, but he is still putting up MVP-like numbers on that side of the ball as well. This defensive improvement makes him one of the most well-rounded players in the league, behind only LeBron James.

Over the years, Curry has been criticized for his excessive turnovers and sloppy passes. Although he relapses every now and then with an unnecessary one-handed, no-look pass intended for a teammate cross-court guarded by three defenders, he has cut down on the inefficient plays and made the smart, simple passes. He has the capability to thread the needle between many defenders and put the ball right where his teammates need it, and demonstrates his accuracy nightly. Curry is fifth in the league in assists per game with an average of eight, and is displaying a career-best assist to turnover ratio at an average of two and a half. Along with his precise passing, Curry’s handles have improved dramatically. He is now a premier ball handler in the league and can put even the best defenders on skates.

The Attitude

Former Warriors head coach and current national broadcaster Mark Jackson put it best in his first return to Oracle Arena when he said “He’s a better person than he is a basketball player. Playing at an all-time high.” Curry is one of the special players who can recognize his own brilliance while remaining incredibly humble and grateful for every opportunity he is granted. He plays so relaxed and understands to not blow out of proportion each game, whether a win or loss. His level-headedness adds to his aura of having fun and playing team basketball.

ALL PHOTOS COURTESY OF ESPN