5/1/15 Issue 8

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. 8

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

Friday, May 1, 2015

Over half of students skip mandated test Poor scheduling prompts most students to opt out of Smarter Balanced and STAR exams Mischa Nee

staff writer

catherine yu

B

etween 40 and 50 percent of Palo Alto High School juniors took the Smarter Balanced Assessment Consortium (SBAC) experimental exam on April 27 and 28, according to Dean of Students Adam Paulson following preliminary estimates. As of April 29, 140 juniors had opted out of SBAC, almost 30 percent of the class. More are expected to opt out retroactively.

Under California Education Code §60615, any student may decline to take the test by signed written consent, however the California Department of Education typically seeks 95 percent attendance for state-mandated tests. For those that do not opt out, a retake will be given on a future date.

“We will send a list out to teachers and then the students will come to the testing room and take it during class,” principal Kim Diorio said.

“But we don’t want juniors missing AP’s, so that makes it more difficult.”

Gov. Jerry Brown has stated that this year’s results will not count towards funding; however, a low turnout will put districts on a high-risk list with the possibility for federal Title I funding to be taken away.

“We don’t receive a lot of federal funding so I don’t think it has the

Staff Writer

O

Bo Field/The campanile

same implications for our district that it might have for another neighboring district that maybe does receive more federal funding,” Diorio said.

The low attendance will also result in inaccurate data for judging students’ retainment of the Common Core Standards. This invalidity has angered some students that made the decision to take the test.

“I don’t understand why they would make us go through five hours of testing when they knew that it would all be for nothing,” junior Clara Wolfe said.

However, many students chose to opt out due to the poor timing of the test. “[SBAC] is a waste of four hours and I could use that time to be study-

ing for AP’s and making significant progress in other subjects,” junior Karina Chan said.

The district had a 12-week period in which to administer the exam and historically has given state-mandated tests the week after AP testing, but altered the testing dates to early

Smarter balance

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NIOS ends, ASB looks to increase participation Despite success, more publicity could lead to increased involvement throughout activities Maggie Rosenthal

staff writer

P

alo Alto High School’s Not In Our Schools Week (NIOS), led by the Associated Students Body (ASB), concluded on April 25 after a full week of activities focused on making all students feel safe and welcome at Paly.

The activities began on April 17 with a Day of Silence to call attention to the silencing effect of anti-Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT) bullying. To conclude the day and to signify that their voice would be heard, students broke the silence at the end of the school day yelling very loudly on the quad.

Skelly hired as San Mateo superintendent

The official NIOS week began on April 20 with an Erase “-isms” Day. The day was focused on exploring the statement “I am more than just a…” and students were encouraged to wear blue to raise awareness for this day.

There was also poetry read by students on the quad during lunch, including a one such performance by sophomore Aisha Chabane.

Tuesday was Ability Awareness Day in which students discussed their dependency on others and were asked to wear purple. There was a planned Ability Awareness Student Panel in the Media Arts Center, with Ada’s Cafe in the foyer to sell treats during the panel, though it was ultimately

canceled due to unforeseen circumstances and panelist absences.

Junior class president William Zhou acknowledged the issue with the student forum, as well as one other event — the chalk walk — and recognized that ASB could improve NIOS week for next year.

“I think awareness and enthusiasm of the week and its activities were fairly low,” Zhou said. “We should have done more publicity the weeks prior.”

Sexual Assault Awareness was on Wednesday. The day focused on beginning the conversation about sexual assault. During brunch, buttons were handed out and Vikapella, one of Paly’s student a cappella groups, per-

formed. The red buttons featured the fraction “¼” in order to spread awareness of the statistic that 25 percent of all women in America are sexually assaulted at some point in their lifetime. Students could put their own hand prints on a “These Hands Don’t Harm” poster and played “The Consent Game” during lunch on the quad.

In the evening, there was a screening of “Girl Rising” in the Social Studies Resource Center.

On Thursday, students wore yellow for Service Day. In an effort to create change in their community, students volunteered for the sixth annual Paly Cont. on palycampanile.org

n April 23, former Palo Alto High School Unified School District (PAUSD) Superintendent Kevin Skelly was appointed to the superintendent position of the San Mateo Union High School District (SMUHSD).

Skelly resigned as PAUSD superintendent at the end of the 2014 school year after seven years of service.

In a letter that addressed the PAUSD community, Skelly informed that his resignation was for personal reasons.

Before finding a position in the SMUHSD, Skelly was given the role of interim superintendent at a neighboring district, Mountain ViewWhisman School District, where his employment began on Jan. 1. Mountain View-Whisman district’s board approved an appointment that would last six months.

Skelly’s role as SMUHSD superintendent is planned to commence on July 1. He will replace a former Palo Alto administrator, Scott Laurence.

His known success at Palo Alto Unified for addressing student opportunity... really helped the Board determine Kevin was the best fit.

Marc Friedman

SMUHSD Board Trustee In a press release issued to the public, Marc Friedman, president of the SMUHSD Board of Trustees explained the board’s selection.

“His known success at Palo Alto Unified for addressing student opportunity and achievement gaps, and his leadership in increasing the number of students that satisfy the UC and CSU ‘A-G’ requirements really helped the Board determine Kevin was the best fit for the SMUHSD,” Friedman said.

The Board of Trustees evaluated possible candidates from the entire Cont. on palycampanile.org

District revises zero period Powder puff game replaced with new activities Academic classes no longer being offered

Grace Kim

Editor-In-Chief

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on-academic zero period classes offered among the Palo Alto Unified School District (PAUSD) high schools will cease to be available beginning the 2015-16 school year. Released on April 10 in a letter from PAUSD superintendent Dr. Max McGee, this change comes in conjunction with the district’s attempts to reduce student stress and with upcoming changes to Henry M. Gunn High School’s bell schedule, but has faced major resistance from Gunn students.

While the decision to only offer Physical Education (P.E.) and nongraded courses as zero period classes affects both high schools, Palo Alto High School currently only offers P.E. during zero period and so will not as substantially feel the effects of the change. Gunn, on the other hand, currently offers 10 academic courses during zero period, including Advanced Placement courses and highlevel math classes. Nearly 15 percent of Gunn’s student body is enrolled in these classes, as many Gunn students

opt into zero period as a scheduling tool to have free periods later in the day.

The issue surrounding zero period courses was first presented during the March 10 school board meeting, proposed by school board member Ken Dauber. Dauber suggested ending zero period completely, arguing that the period’s earlier start time — 7:10 a.m. at Gunn and 7:20 a.m. at Paly — was a contributor to student sleep deprivation, a condition associated with depression and increased suicidality in adolescents.

With this concern, the board members and Palo Alto community quickly took interest in the discussion. Local news source, Palo Alto Weekly, even released an editorial March 13 urging the district in favor of Dauber’s proposal. Furthermore, on March 18, a letter from 35 local and regional health professionals addressed to the school board and McGee urged the district to consider later start times.

Relative to other current scheduling discussions, the decision came

Zero period

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Variety of new events created in order to combat gender inequality

Dami Bolarinwa/ The Campanile

Students participate in a relay race during Wednesday’s Triwizard Tournament, the first activity of ASB’s new Hogwarts Week.

Mischa nee

staff writer

I

n an effort to increase inclusiveness, the Associated Student Body (ASB) has replaced the traditional powder puff flag football games with Hogwarts Week and Viking Best of the Best despite some student objections.

On April 24, ASB published a press release, in which it explained

why powder puff is no longer an ap“Powder puff is not happening propriate school activity. this year because we don’t feel that it “Powder puff has received a major serves the Paly community in a way makeover throughout this process,” that we think is appropriate or prothe ASB executive council stated. gressive,” Ben-Efraim said.

“Philosophically, ASB believes in Some students have welcomed the inclusion and allowing all students decision, as they also believe there are across campus a chance to participate better alternatives. in all ASB-sponsored events.”

“Powder puff was fun because we Senior class president Maya Ben- all got to watch sports,” junior Gabi Efraim justified ASB’s reasoning for A3 Hogwarts week not hosting powder puff.

INSIDE N e w s . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . A 1- A 5 Opinion............................A6-A8 L i f e st y l e . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . B1-B3, B6-B8 Spotlight..........................B4-B5 S p o r t s . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . C 1- C 8

Spotlight

Lifestyle

Sports

Henry M. Gunn High School students use Tumblr to gain a voice. B4-B5

Who to follow for the best information?

B1

Whoís going to take home the trophy?

C4-C5

A Titan Is/My Voice Matters

Instagram Fashion Bloggers

NBA Playoff Predictions

Check us out at www.palycampanile.org

Friday, May 1, 2015

A2

NEWS TO KNOW

The Campanile

NEWS

East Palo Alto residents protest gentrification Increased cost of living in neighboring cities pressure property owners to raise prices Currently, EPA residents are facing the pressure of gentrification, a problem which many surrounding communities such as San Francisco and Oakland are also facing, due to the exponential rise in housing costs throughout the Bay Area. These rising costs of living in neighboring cities are likely to pressure property owners in EPA to also increase housing prices in their own community.

Eventually, this would force low-income residents to move out of homes and ultimately allow higher-income families to occupy these areas.

Courtesy of ABIR ABDULLAH

@WSJ Powerful magnitude- 7.8 earthquake that rocked Nepal triggered an avalanche on Mount Everest. @sportscenter Sweep complete! Steph Curry drops 39 Pts, Warriors beat Pelicans, 109-98. Golden State gets its 1st sweep since 1975

@TheEllenShow Today’s the day. The Supreme Court hears arguments on marriage equality. Let’s all stand on the right side of history together #LoveCantWait

@KylieJenner ..this isn’t about me. I’m so proud of you, Dad. You are so brave. My beautiful Hero.

Courtesy of Fox News

@FoxNews Loretta Lynch becomes first AfricanAmerican woman sworn in as new US attorney general. http://fxn.ws/1b6XVeN

@CNBC In a first for a major restaurant chain, Chipotle will stop serving genetically-altered food » http://cnb.cx/1KnbMu7 @nytpolitics Bernard Sanders to announce presidential bid http://nyti.ms/1bbpm7k @appstore Grab your bags and go; the world is waiting. #AppleWatch http://tw.appstore.com/ Travel . @MailOnline Second spectacular volcanic eruption in Chile cakes towns 18 MILES away in eerie dust @HuffingtonPost Stephen Hawking predicts humans won’t last another 1,000 years on Earth http:// huff.to/1GCHJxm @WhiteHouse “The thousands of demonstrators who did it the right way...have been lost in the discussion” —Obama on Baltimore

Courtesy of Evan Matthews

Residents march towards the East Palo Alto City Hall in a rally against gentrification.

Miranda chen

STAFF WRITER

I

n order to unite and build a stronger coalition of families throughout East Palo Alto (EPA), the city’s residents marched to City Hall in mid-April to protest the gentrification of EPA’s lowincome areas and to raise awareness about this growing problem in EPA. Gentrification, which is urban renewal that replaces low-income families with upper or middle-class residents, has been an increasing threat

to East Palo Altans for many years — but this month, the city’s residents finally decided to take a stance against this rising issue in EPA. Stand Up EPA, coined as the name of the residents’ recent rally against gentrification, aimed to bring together all EPA citizens — no matter their age, race or ethnicity. Ultimately, this coalition of residents and citizens hopes to collaborate upon common, positive goals and inspire the rest of EPA’s community to protest against important issues to create its own future.

According to EPA city Councilman Ruben Abrica, 70 percent of the city’s low-income housing currently lies in the hands of one corporate landlord — meaning that gentrification is very possible and very likely.

According to EPA city Councilman Ruben Abrica, 70 percent of the city’s low-income housing currently lies in the hands of one corporate landlord — meaning that gentrification is very possible and very likely.

While the rally mainly consisted of adults, Stand Up EPA also incorporated younger residents from EPA. Students from Cesar Chavez El-

ementary School contributed to the community’s protest against gentrification by stenciling shirts with unification messages and helping create banners which were used throughout the march to City Hall.

Palo Alto High School sophomore Daniel Li believes that this proactiveness shown by EPA’s community is both impressive and necessary for combating other important issues in the future.

“I think it’s really cool that students — even elementary school kids — are involving themselves in these protests and rallies in East Palo Alto,” Li said. “By becoming involved this early in their lives, it’ll definitely teach them to have their voices be heard in the future, which will help them and their communities.”

The organizers of the march, nonprofit Live in Peace, called the event a “visible symbol of the beauty and power of East Palo Alto.” The organization works to empower the city’s youth and to build a stronger, more united community through classes, creative endeavors and peer support.

In the future, this coalition of residents in EPA hopes to create genuine change in the community.

With the recent Stand Up EPA rally and movements to make change in EPA, Li hopes that this ongoing trend of continues in the future.

Administration prepares for AP ASB organizes new events Staff wraps up student pre-administration Susana Cacho

STAFF WRITER

P

alo Alto High School administration has been working hard to prepare for the upcoming Advanced Placement (AP) testing.

AP testing will begin on Monday May 4 and will continue for two weeks until Friday May 15.

According to the assistant principal, Victoria Kim, a lot of preparation goes into AP testing even though it may not seem like it.

“After all the prep work in getting the word out about AP exam registration (deadlines, process, fees, etc.), we held AP pre-administration sessions during the week after we returned from Spring Break,” Kim said.

“That week, there were three sessions held. After the three sessions, my staff cross-referenced all students at the session with all students registered for an exam. They were able to catch some errors — some students attended pre-administration sessions but never registered for the exam itself; others did not attend a pre-registration session.”

There have been many problems with the AP pre-administration sessions and the administration has been working to ensure that ensure that the two weeks run smoothly.

“Even with the three sessions offered, there were many students who didn’t attend the sessions (with a variety of reasons ranging from ‘I can’t make it because of this, this and this and all three of those days’ to ‘I forgot’),” Kim said. “So, in an effort to get all the students fill out the appropriate paperwork, we “invited” all appropriate students to go to P-5 for a make-up session the following week (four available time slots). As of Friday, my staff has been able to confirm all students for the exam.”

Since a few of the AP exams involve the use of technology, the administration has also been working to prevent any technical difficulties from happening.

“The tech team on campus has met twice to discuss plans for implementation of any exam that requires technology –– mainly the language exams,” Kim said. “Not only does the tech team have to prepare all the necessary hardware for the exams, but they also had to host practice sessions for those students taking a language exam but not enrolled in a language class. The two practice sessions were offered last week.”

Currently, the administration is working on room assignments for the nearly 1,600 AP tests will be taken by students during the two weeks.

aimed at increasing unity ASB makes preparations for the annual Baccalaureate for outgoing senior class

Peter Maroulis

STAFF WRITER

T

he Palo Alto High School Associated Student Body (ASB) has been hard at work planning events for the end of the year. Recently, ASB has unveiled new activities such as Hogwarts Week and Viking Best of the Best Sports Fest, while preparing the senior class for the upcoming Baccalaureate and graduation ceremonies.

Hogwarts Week, introduced this year, is a Harry Potter-themed competition (similar to Spirit Week) from April 27 to May 1 which includes inter-class competitions such as a Triwizard quidditch tournament. In its inaugural year, Hogwarts Week was warmly received.

“I have been dreaming of a Hogwarts Week for a long time now,” senior class president Maya BenEfraim said.

Viking Best of the Best Sports Fest, which will start on May 19, will include ultimate frisbee, flag football and volleyball games between classes.

Powder puff Football, traditionally

Art students prepare for end of the year

occupies the mid-May timeslot, but will not be held this year due to its antiquated stance on gender equality.

The class of 2015 will soon be leaving Paly, so in addition to planning activities, ASB also has to organize Baccalaureate.

This year’s Baccalaureate will include performances by students as well as speeches from guest speakers and will be held at The Flint Center at De Anza College.

Past speakers include Jim Harbaugh, former 49ers and current University of Michigan football coach and David Shaw, current head football coach at Stanford. This years speaker will be Ann Miura-Ko, a partner in a Bay Area venture capital firm and Stanford University lecturer.

Baccalaureate will be held the night of the last day of school and is a more formal opportunity for students to take photos with their family and friends.

As the school year comes to a close, ASB continues to strive to promote equality, organize events and encourage friendly competition between students.

UPCOMING EVENTs

Theatre department nears One Acts, AP portfolio submissions

Rachel Price

STAFF WRITER

A

lthough Palo Alto cannot count on its April showers to bring May flowers, Palo Alto High School’s visual arts department has had a blossoming month and looks forward to more progress ahead. After students participated in the annual California State Thespian Festival they look ahead to One Acts, Palo Alto Art Center’s annual art show, an end-of-the-year theatre showcase and finishing up Advanced Placement (AP) art portfolios.

During the last weekend in March, Paly’s Thespian Troupe 909 took part in the annual California State Thespian Festival. Events included All California Production, Individual Events (IE), Scene and oneact competitions, All Festival events (includes All State, Playworks and Play Marathon), Thespian Student State Officer Elections, Scholarships and Workshops.

On March 27, 20 out of the 45 Paly club members were part of the approximately 1,200 other Thespians in attendance.

“Many students achieved statewide recognition during the weekend,” Kathleen Woods, theatre teacher at Paly, said.

Paly sophomore Kathy Yan took home one statewide first place for Lighting Design IE. Other accomplishments include a title for main stage Play Marathon performance spot for the student written, student directed short play “Behind Closed Doors” and eight students in the All California production of “Hello! My Baby.”

Next month the Paly theatre has more to look forward to with their debut of One Act plays. This student produced show is sponsored by the Thespian Club and runs at 7:30 p.m.

May 7, 8 and 9 in the Haymarket Theatre. Theatre one and two will be putting on shows at the end-of-theyear Showcase in the Haymarket on Tuesday, May 19 at 7 p.m.

“Each student will perform and the material is widely varied; the evening includes comic scenes about the trials of dating as well as more serious presentation of scenes from The Laramie Project,” Woods said.

The visual arts department has a bountiful upcoming month as well.

Palo Alto Art Center will be having their annual art show May 2 to May 24 with an opening reception for students and their parents from 4 to 7 p.m.

“It’s quite a large show,” Kate McKenzie, art teacher at Paly, said.

“Each district instructor probably features about 20 to 30 pieces. I will probably hang around 35 pieces.”

McKenzie will attempt to hang one work from every AP art student as well as some other “technically and creatively impressive, unique or creative work from the school year” As noted by McKenzie, a Paly Art student’s art is featured on the cover of the event’s invitation.

The last quarter brings end-ofthe-year AP art portfolios for both art and photo students.

“Right now, we’re frantically resequencing our concentrations and adjusting our concentration statement and descriptions of individual photos, mostly deleting things to get under the character limit,” Danielle Bisbee, a junior and an AP Studio Art student, said.

AP Studio Art portfolios is a three part portfolio, including concentration, quality and breadth.

“Concentration is a series of 12 images that explore a certain idea,” Bisbee said. “It’s been really interesting to see how everyone’s concentration idea, sequencing and compositions have changed.”

As the school year comes to a close art students reflect on their work by gathering their art together in portfolios, showcases and competitions.

MAY

QUIDDITCH FINALS Stick a broomstick between your legs and get ready to fly. Just like Spirit Week, but with more fangirls and fewer eggs.

MAY

NATIONAL DECISION DAY Seniors, get ready to be freshmen again. Enjoy being upperclassmen while it lasts.

MAY

SAT Hopefully more than 50 percent of those who signed up will show up. This one actually matters.

MAY

AP TESTING The only time you won’t be happy to get out of class.

MAY

FIELD DAY Bounce houses, burgers, hot dogs and the all important extended lunch. Some things sell themselves.

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Friday, May 1, 2015

The Campanile

NEWS

A3

ASB retires annual powder puff, adds Harry Potter themed series of events

Few students show up for Smarter Balance testing

New Hogwarts Week festivities set to come to a close Friday

Numbers lower than optimal, Diorio says

Continued From A1 powder puff player in 2013 and 2014, Rossner said. “But the intention behind the event, which was to belittle women by calling the sport ‘powder puff ’ and be like, ‘Look, girls can do sports too, how cute’, [was bad].”

Previous powderpuff players find the supposed mysoginism of the event to be less than others have voiced.

Junior Sophia Armitano echoes Rossner’s beliefs, citing her enjoyment in previous years’ games.

“I don’t think [powder puff ] was sexist,” junior Sophia Armitano, a

said. “I know that everybody in my grade at least enjoyed it.”

ASB’s decision came primarily out of the outdated nature of the event; however, there was one specific incident of Powderpuff exclusivity in 2014.

“Last year a boy asked to sign up for powder puff in all seriousness and we had to make the decision to not let him sign up, although none of us felt like we could justify our decision with anything but ‘tradition’,” BenEfraim said.

Dami Bolarinwa/The Campanile

Junior Lawrence Han races towards the finish line during the flying sponge race.

ASB’s new alternatives for the spring event include Viking Best of the Best, a week dedicated to sports activities (read more about this on A4), and Hogwarts Week.

“We are not necessarily replacing [powder puff ] but we are adding new activities,” Ben-Efraim said.

Hogwarts Week began with the triwizard tournament, featuring beach ball levitation, a maze race, a flying sponge race and a polyjuice potion tarp race. The other main event consisted of teams of 20 to compete in quidditch under the standard rules popularized by college teams. After two years of pitching the idea, BenEfraim took the initiative this past year as senior class president and the response has been promising.

“This was not intended to be a second spirit week but it seems to be shaping up like a smaller one,” BenEfraim said.

However, according to Armitano, Hogwarts Week does not overcome the exclusivity that it attempts to surpass.

“Nothing is ever going to be fully inclusive,” Armitano said. “I am not a Harry Potter fan so I am not going to have a clue what’s going on, so that’s almost more exclusive.”

Continued From A1 April, a month before AP testing, during the pilot run of SBAC in 2014, receiving positive feedback.

“We were trying to coordinate our calendar with Gunn, so these were the best two dates we could come up with,” Diorio said. “In hindsight, we would not have done it this week. But we’ll fix that for next year and go back to after AP’s again.”

Additionally, the timing negatively impacted the review possible before AP testing but provided necessary practice for future years.

“Teachers and students lost two instructional days before the AP tests,” Diorio said. “But I think we received important information that will certainly help next year in terms of the time management aspect.”

Sixty sophomores opted out of the CST Life Science test, more than 12 percent of the grade; more are expected to do so in the coming weeks. In comparison, 20 opted out in 2013. Its effect on Academic Performance Indicator scores is unknown to Diorio, but she believes the upward trend is in part caused by recent suicides.

“We just had a student suicide six weeks ago,” Diorio said. “You’ve got

to pick your battles as a principal sometimes. I wish more kids took the test but I certainly understand why for some people it wasn’t the best time or best use of their time and I can appreciate that.”

The low turnout rates for SBAC are not unique to Paly, and the protest of excessive testing is becoming a national trend. Recently, in Seattle, Wash. at Nathan Hale High School, 100 percent of the junior class opted out of the test. There have been reports of multiple other high schools in Seattle having turnout rates of less than 15 percent, resulting in a threatening press release by Washington State Superintendent Randy Dorn.

In New York, just over 250,000 students are predicted to opt out.

The test has also been criticized for its increased difficulty. On the pilot test, 91 percent of English Language Learners and almost 80 percent of low-income students fell below the proficiency level, which puts districts at risk of losing funding under the No Child Left Behind Act. However Diorio does not predict this for Paly.

“I’m not worried about our results,” Diorio said. “I think our kids are really quite capable of doing well on an exam like this.”

Gunn academic, zero period classes to discontinue next school year Administration cites sleep deprivation as main concern over early classes, Gunn students with no say in decision Continued From A1 ed to be made rather than allow the quickly and without extensive deliberation. Ultimately, the district decided on a compromise to only eliminate academic classes, but retain the period for P.E. and non-graded classes.

“While I hate to disappoint students that want zero period and more student choice, the decision was an important compromise and it need-

question to fester,” McGee said.

Many Gunn students are upset not only with the decision but also with the process in which it was determined. The outrage has inspired the Tumblr social media campaign “My Voice Matters” (gunnvoicesmatter.tumblr.com), which focuses on the larger issue of student voice.

Without input from students, many feel their voices are undervalued and

“Almost as good as really loud rap music”

diminished by what adults in the community feel is “best” for them.

“The whole decision to remove Gunn’s zero period was based on inaccurate evidence since the administration used generalized scientific data to make their verdict without actually observing or interviewing students from zero period itself,” Gunn senior Schuyler Sun said. “The fact that an overwhelming amount of Gunn students do not tie zero period

to their lack of sleep shows that there was significant data that was not taken into account during the decision to revoke zero periods.”

Although it doesn’t plan to change the decision, the district has opened the conversation to students. Recently, school officials hosted a brown bag lunch discussion April 15 at Gunn.

Students passionate about the issue came and discussed with McGee and Gunn principal Dr. Denise Her-

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rmann their opinions regarding the changes to zero period scheduling.

“More than anything else, kids want to be heard,” Gunn sophomore Chloe Sorensen said. “Staff want to be heard. Staff and students are the two largest stakeholder groups in the district, and yet their voices are not being heard. Zero period is only one piece of the puzzle. There is a larger issue at hand — when will our voices matter?”

“Practically writeen for ipads”

Politixworks.com

Friday, May 1, 2015

The Campanile

NEWS A4 Enrollment growth pushes Measure A forward

New bill, which would raise the current Measure A tax of $638 to $759, stirs contraversy among residents Lauren Klass

News and Opinion editor

M

easure A, the Palo Alto Unified School District (PAUSD) parcel tax increase, will be on the ballot on May 5. Palo Alto voters must decide whether or not to renew the current tax, which expires on July 1 of next year, for a new six year term.

Measure A includes an increase in the tax amount, from the current tax of $638 to a new tax of $759. If Measure A is approved, it will generate an estimated $14.7 million in revenue for the district to pay for investments in student health and wellness efforts, academic supports for struggling students, and for Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Mathematics instruction (STEM).

Parcel taxes are paid by all property owners, with the exception of renters and seniors, as part of the annual property tax. The tax is paid regardless of whether the owners have students enrolled in the school district.

Many opponents of Measure A, and of a parcel tax in general, argue that the tax is unfair because people who do not use the school still have to pay it, and because different people with different income levels all have to pay the same amount.

Others, however, believe that setting such a standard of contribution

will be beneficial for the community and schools in Palo Alto.

“Any way you calculate the amount to be paid will be deemed unfair by someone,” an anonymous Palo Alto High School parent said.

“As far as whether those who don’t have children in schools should pay for the tax, one must think of this just like any item in a community that is being shared by everyone regardless of usage.”

PAUSD uses this tax to fund about seven percent of its budget.

The previous parcel tax, approved by voters in May 2010, generated about $12.4 million per year. These funds are managed locally by PAUSD and cannot be taken away by the State or other school districts.

I don’t want to see programs cut because we, on our city’s average income, can afford to provide.

Jenny Xin Junior

Supporters of Measure A argue that enrollment in the school district has grown by over 1,100 students in the past six years and is projected to grow by another 700 students over the next six; without additional state funding to support this growth, the quality of instruction in the school

Illegal immigrants get drivers licenses

New law expected to aid 1.5 million people

Conner Harden/The campaniile

The parcel tax increase, paid for by all Palo Alto residents except for seniors and renters, will be voted on the May 5 ballot.

district will be severely impacted by the measure.

“I would rather support the tax expenses,” junior Jenny Xin said. “I don’t want to see programs cut because we, on our city’s average income, can afford to provide our students with a well-rounded education but choose not to.”

PAUSD Board member Ken Dauber said in a statement that the parcel tax not only pays for 85 fulltime school staff but also supports various programs such as social and emotional wellness of students of PAUSD district, addressing the achievement gap and the introduction of foreign languages in elementary schools.

coutesy of creative commons

peter maroulis

staff writer

A

California law went into effect on Jan. 2, giving undocumented immigrants residing in the state the ability to apply for and receive state driver’s licenses. Since then, the law, known as Assembly Bill 60 (AB60), has induced far more license applications than expected which in turn has aided in bringing immigration debates to national attention.

“The interest in this program is far greater than anyone anticipated,” California Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) Director Jean Shiomoto said in April in a press release.

“We projected receiving 500,000 applications by July 2015, but have already reached that level and are on track to continue at double the anticipated number of applications.”

Why wouldn’t you want to better identify people who are going to be here?...We could increase safety on roads.

Charlie Beck

Los Angeles Police Chief AB60 licenses differ from California Driver’s Licenses in that beyond state limits, government and law enforcement officials do not have to accept the AB60 licenses.

In just the first three days of the AB60 program, 46,200 applications were filed and by April 5, a whopping 493,998 applications had been recorded. Over 200,000 immigrants in California have received licenses thus far, with an estimated total 1.5 million undocumented immigrants expected to have applied for licenses by Jan. 2018. In order to accommodate the growing number of license applicants, the California DMV recently hired 900 new employees. Additionally, the state has passed new laws to provide auto insurance at lower costs for those protected under AB60.

“We’re ramping up capacity,” Chris Shultz, deputy commissioner of the California Department of Insurance, said in an interview with The Wall Street Journal.

Prior to 1994, undocumented immigrants could obtain licenses under California law. However, immigration influxes prompted California to revoke license privileges for people illegally living in the state. Now, due to safety risks, illegal immigrants will once again be able to get AB60 Driver’s licenses. With an AB60 license comes an increased level of safety; car accidents and hit and run incidents are expected to be reduced.

“I had to learn how to drive, even if it was a big risk.” Adilene Sanchez, an illegal immigrant, said in an interview with The San Jose Mercury News. Sanchez was pressured to get behind the wheel to drive her children to school and herself to work.

With nearly three hours of driving per day, she did not have any other choice.

“Why wouldn’t you want to better identify people who are going to be here?...We could increase safety on roads,” Los Angeles Police Chief Charlie Beck said in a press release.

However, immigrants who receive licenses put themselves in danger. As AB60 licenses are not protected under federal law, the national government could at any time subpoena the DMV for information to stage a mass expulsion of illegal immigrants from the United States.

With far more people receiving licenses than anticipated, hundreds of thousands of immigrants who illegally live in California are now at risk of being deported. Of the estimated total 11.5 million illegal immigrants in the United States, approximately 2.5 million of them reside in California, giving it the largest illegal population.

A new era of immigration protection, ushered in by President Obama’s executive order shielding 5 million illegal immigrants from deportation “[America] has given me hope, work, a home and education for my children,” Sanchez said.”

Other critics argue that voters should withhold funds until PAUSD addresses some of the fundamental problems facing the district such as academic pressure, stress and the overall mental health of the school students. This is a particularly sensitive subject in light of the student suicides that that have impacted the district in recent times.

The city must receive at least two thirds of the votes from the of the approximately 44,000 registered voters in the district. Residents will recieve and must return their ballots by mail by Election Day, May 5, to be counted. Voters have the alternative of dropping ballots off at the County Government Center.

Green building rules implemented Palo Alto housing guidelines include solar panel compatibility jeremy fu

staff writer

P

Immigrants line up infront of the DMV to register for the new licensing services.

“Some elections present hard choices,” Dauber said in the statement. “This isn’t one of them.”

However, opponents of the measure even complain that the information about Measure A available to voters is confusing, lacking clarity on whether or how the funds will be applied to elementary or high schools. “[We should] review the current budget and expenses,” an anonymous Paly student said. “Without reviewing where this tax money is going into, there is no way to know whether money is being spend on meaningful things or not. Instead of increasing tax no matter what, I think it’s important to have a good idea of where it’s being used toward.”

alo Alto City Council’s new building ordinances to require all new homes to dedicate roof space for solar panels and install greywater ready irrigation systems, adding on to existing green building codes.

New homes must dedicate 500 square feet of roof towards future solar panel installation, with conduits for wiring.

Furthermore, new construction must have three-way diverter valves installed in the drainline of laundry machines to allow for potential greywater irrigation. The city development services department believes that these ordinances will allow Palo Alto to lead in green initiatives.

“Palo Alto has a history of leadership in the area of sustainability, energy efficiency, and green building,” Melanie Jacobson, Palo Alto green

building consultant said. “Over the past three code cycles, Palo Alto has developed a green building code that is more aggressive than the State of California requirements. These ordinances continue this leadership position.”

However, exceptions may be made for houses with protected trees, in sync with the existing Solar Shade Act of 2009 and the Palo Alto Tree Ordinance. Furthermore, there is an infeasibility clause within the measure which allows for alternative solutions when compliance with the codes is not feasible or cost effective.

As a result of the new reach code, the city expects for single family homes to have 20 percent greenhouse gas savings. Palo Alto’s electricity has been carbon neutral since 2013, or has no greenhouse gasses associated with its production, so this statistic only applies to savings as a result of natural gas usage.

These new ordinances belong to a larger effort to amend the building codes, and include an energy reach code which exceeds the state’s energy savings requirements by 15 percent for new residential and commercial projects.

The history of the city’s green building and energy ordinances dates back to 2008, when the city council approved optional codes. Since then, the city has approved numerous energy reach codes and has ensured more rigorous enforcement.

However, with this code cycle, the city development center has shifted its focus to sun and water measures.

In the future, the city plans to adopt a zero net energy building code through solar power and cost effective energy sources. The development center is pursuing mandates to require electrification to allow for houses to switch from gas to electricity, and mandates to eliminate lawns.

Paly ASB will drop powder puff “Viking Best of the Best Sports Fest” to replace spring sport event owen dulik

sports editor

P

alo Alto High School’s Associated Student Body (ASB) has announced that it will be replacing the tradition of Powder Puff football with a new coed multi-sport competition called the “Viking Best of the Best Sports Fest.”

While Powder Puff is gone, football still remains a part of this new competition. The “Viking Best of the Best Sports Fest,” starting on May 19, will consist of three separate competitions in the first round. All teams will participate in a flag football game, an ultimate frisbee game and a volleyball game.

Although ASB is very excited about the prospect of a new tradition, others are disappointed that the much beloved all-girls football game is no longer taking place.

“It’s disappointing because Powder Puff is something that I know not only I look forward to, but the rest of my class looks forward to,” junior and former Powder Puff player Jacey Pederson said.

Pederson, however, continued on to describe her excitement over the new competition.

“Despite being a little sad, I am also excited for the new tradition and to see how it goes,” Peterson said.

After winners are crowned and points are announced, the top six teams will advance to a final round in

courtesy of randon Dukovic

The powder puff games will be replaced with volleyball, football and frisbee games.

which the sole winner is decided by a relay race. While there is no tangible prize for the winners, they will be announced “Grand Champions” and will have bragging rights until next year’s events unfold.

ASB has quite a lot to live up to with the cherished tradition of Powder Puff having always excited and entertained the school. Anything less would be considered a disappointment.

The main idea that pushed this change in tradition was inclusiveness, which has been the goal for this year’s ASB to improve schoolwide.

ASB’s reasoning for the departure from Powder Puff has been reinforced by ASB Student Body Vice President Reid Walters “Powder Puff was taken away because we wanted a more inclusive event that was open to all students,”

Walters said.

Powder Puff football used to consist of 40 to 55 female students, and only 10 male students. With this new competition, ASB envisions around 200 students participating. ASB Sports Commissioner Livi Musil references the fact that Powder Puff was sexist, as it created a separate event entirely for females that could not compete with the boys.

“It’s time to be progressive and let go of an activity stuck in the 1950s,” Musil said.

Another facet of the teams is diversity. Teams will have to have at least four members a different gender.

While other school spirit events have teams that are grouped by grade, ASB has placed no such limits in this event and hopes to have teams that are age diverse, continuing the trend ASB established with volleyball.

The Campanile

Friday, May 1, 2015

NEWS

A5

Buzzfeed degrades integrity of journalism Online news site epitomizes deterioration of journalism from breaking news to entertainment tabloids

Nikhil Rajaram

staff writer

S

o reads the slogan of Buzzfeed the nearly ubiquitous social news and entertainment company that delivers “the most shareable breaking news, original reporting, entertainment, and video across the social web to its global audience of more than 200 [million monthly unique visitors],” according to the company’s website.

Buzzfeed was founded in 2006 by internet entrepreneur Jonah Peretti and has grown into an internet juggernaut, drawing in about 78 million unique visitors every month, far ahead of the New York Times’ estimated 57 million. In 2013, Peretti announced that the company had become profitable, a little over six years after its inception — no small feat for a startup.

More often than not, Buzzfeed authors are too lazy to seek out the real source and instead link the direct resource to said media.

The content that draws in these many throngs of visitors is presented in the form of popular news articles, slapstick quizzes and listicles — the website’s signature list-articles. Such list-articles deliver comedic narratives, typically in the form of numeric lists. Aside from the various news stories and the community opinion pieces, much of the content that populates the website consists of light-

design by bo field

The website Buzzfeed has recently gained popularity for its quizzes and tabloid-style news, to the detriment of journalism.

hearted and entertainment-oriented content.

Innocuous, right? There must be no harm in a website attempting to cover all the bases by consolidating both news and entertainment into a single, all-encompassing website.

Wrong. There is a distinction between legitimate publications and tabloids for a reason — news and entertainment simply should not mix.

Light-hearted and entertainmentdriven substance draws in a larger audience — as demonstrated by the wide popularity of tabloids.

The motif of tabloid popularity has been more evident in the past few years than any before — the journalism community is witnessing a drastic drop in demand for news pertaining to government and foreign affairs in favor of celebrity and entertainment news. Buzzfeed preys on this mentality and inherently draws in a wider audience as compared to legitimate news publications such as the New York Times.

Buzzfeed’s widespread popularity made it ever the more alarming in

2011, when Ben Smith was hired as Editor-in-Chief in an attempt to lead the company’s foray into legitimate journalism and reportage.

As Buzzfeed expands and starts to provide news, more and more people who previously visited the website for entertainment gravitate towards it as a news source. With multipurpose staff writers trained to maintain a significant ratio of listicles to regular articles, the quality of journalism found at Buzzfeed pales horribly in comparison to other established publications.

A typical Buzzfeed news story will consist of a few sentences being split by multiple unnecessary pictures or other embedded media. Rarely do these news stories surpass even half the length of a regular news story published by a reputable publication. The unfortunate reality is that a website that categorizes its articles by “LOL,” “win,” “omg,” “cute,” “fail” and “wtf ” is attempting — and just about short of succeeding — to usurp the journalistic roles of esteemed publications.

In short, Buzzfeed perpetuates the gradual degradation of journalism that has come about with the preeminence of tabloids and entertainment news.

Buzzfeed perpetuates the gradual degradation of journalism that has come about with the pre-eminence of tabloids and entertainment news.

As mentioned before, Buzzfeed raised venture capital quickly after it was founded and achieved profitability early on. But, without any banner advertisements on its website, how does Buzzfeed generate revenue?

Rather than having evident advertisements on its website, Buzzfeed instead uses a method called native advertising. Native advertising is integrating the promotion of a product or a company into the website’s traditional medium, making it indistinguishable from the content. This is the behind-the-scenes of stories

along the lines of “18 Things Every Starbucks Addict Needs To Have At Their Wedding.”

Coupled with Buzzfeed’s yearn to expand into the realm of news, native advertising evokes a deeper concern than low-quality news. Native advertising makes it so that there is an inherent bias in the website’s news towards whoever Buzzfeed is sponsored by. Here, ethics are completely abandoned. Publications are often criticized for political bias, but one would not expect or hope to see product placement trickling its way into a news article.

As if any of the aforementioned injustices were not enough, the vast majority of content on Buzzfeed is sourced improperly, if not downright stolen. Full articles have been plagiarized from other websites and published on Buzzfeed, where they achieved much more popularity.

When images or other forms of media are sourced on Buzzfeed, it is in the form of a small, light grey colored link directly below the picture. More often than not, Buzzfeed authors are too lazy to seek out the real source and instead link the direct resource to said media. This method of sourcing is wildly incorrect and poses no benefit to the actual creator of the content.

So, borderline tabloidism, unethical advertising and plagiarism. Not a great track record. Buzzfeed’s “journalism” takes a wide berth from the original goal of modern journalism — to maintain society by informing the public. Not only is much of the Buzzfeed website not dedicated to informing the public, but when it makes an attempt to do so, it does not do so adequately. Buzzfeed is the dwelling place for subpar articles that very well may be interspersed with product placement and plagiarism. The website’s established lightheartedness simply does not mesh with the very consequential practice of journalism, and it should not make attempts at legitimate journalism any longer.

Society should define extent of public identity Contradicting pressures from society of when to share or not share personality traits can confuse youth

Jaime Har

staff writer

B

e real!” crowds of wise, thoughtful adults chant.

“Embrace who you really are, and don’t be afraid to show it. That’s the only way you will create strong relationships and successfully boost your self-confidence. Never hide behind a façade.”

Almost certainly, every person has heard phrases like these more than once from adults, teachers and peers.

Whenever people admit feeling insecure about their social interactions or reputations, they are reminded that being comfortable with themselves and open to others is paramount.

Young children and adults alike have become conditioned to preach and believe these mantras.

Yet, people who share too much about their lives, most often through social media, are also harshly criticized by society. Those who post anything and everything, including their unfiltered thoughts on social or political issues, pictures of recent parties with underage drinking and smoking and snide comments that verge on the brink of cyberbullying, are admonished for revealing such unruly and unappealing sides of their characters.

In particular, if viewers include people who can hold any power over the course of a person’s life, including college admissions workers, job employers and gossiping students and parents, those who share raunchy or inflammatory aspects of their life are highly encouraged to feign complete

innocence and utter kindliness — but only if it is virtual. In real time, people are told to let their personal traits and inner thoughts spill freely without any fake faces.

These conflicting standards pose a real identity crisis for individuals in society for two main reasons. First, people try to categorize virtual and real life as separate facets of life that should not intermingle, failing to realize that technology has become such an integral part of modern society and of people’s identities that it is impossible and utterly irrational to try to isolate the two. Second, they impose expectations to simultaneously conceal and reveal personality traits — two opposing actions.

Since one’s virtual life is equally as important to his or her identity as one’s real-time interactions, how can people be expected to adhere to two self-conflicting standards of how to have ideal relationships and profiles on and offline, all at the same time?

The real question is not whether one method is always better than the other but rather when people should hide or reveal truths about themselves.

The answer is simple; they can’t and should not be expected to be.

Unfortunately, trying to choose only one of the two absolute methods is difficult because of the many benefits and drawbacks of both sharing and concealing personal information depending on the situation.

The idea that hiding behind fake profiles is harmful to people’s wellbeing and relationships holds some truth. Tiring and unsatisfying, constantly trying to hide behind a fake personality keeps a person from truly being able to live as him or herself because the walls surrounding the person create a deep rift in connection and understanding of intentions.

At the same time, though, revealing too much can make a person vul-

dami bolarinwa/The campanile

People try to hide their identity behind virtual personas to fit the norm, yet struggle to balance this with their true personality.

nerable to abuse by others. If a person posts something offensive, inappropriate or utterly private online, that mistake and shared idea stains his or her reputation and profile forever. The posts might not accurately reflect the person at every point in his or her life, but they are associated with the person nonetheless.

However, it is indeterminable whether hiding things from others is much better than revealing everything. When it comes to forming trust between people and having support in real life situations, keeping true feelings and thoughts private can often lead to miscommunication, loneliness and mistrust. People without outlets to release their thoughts and feelings will internalize their struggles and become devoured from the inside; the only way to prevent this detrimental effect is to be open

in a supportive community full of people who are equally receptive, as well as accepting of that person’s openness.

Since one’s virtual life is equally as important to his or her identity as one’s real-time interactions, how can people be expected to adhere to two self-conflicting standards of how to have ideal relationships and profiles on and offline, all at the same time?

The real question is not whether one method is always better than the other but rather when people should hide or reveal truths about themselves. Society confuses people and complicates their efforts to protect their reputations and relationships by

constantly pushing for an inconsistent expectation, so society needs to decide at what times and under what circumstances hiding and revealing are appropriate.

People need to be more realistic and rational with the expectations that they decide to set for themselves, both by recognizing that their virtual life cannot be separated from their real life and that humans cannot fulfill two opposing characteristics simultaneously.

In the end, people all want to protect themselves from harm and know how to best present themselves, and they will go to almost any extent to do so, whether it be hiding or sharing personal things. Let us help people define and follow their paths by providing a consistent and reasonable standard for when to and not to share personal truths.

The Campanile

Friday, May 1, 2015

OPINION A6 More women need to be involved in STEM jobs Programs developed to introduce girls to STEM fields early on work to remedy gender gap in the workforce

Lauren GargiUlo

News and opinion editor

S

cience, technology, engineering and math (STEM) degree holders make up almost half of the U.S. workforce; however, only about 25 percent of these degree holders are women, generating a large gender gap and a great opportunity to expand employment in today’s most impactful professions. The majority of these professions are related to computers.

In order to boost the confidence of girl who wish to be involved in STEM, role models are a vital part of the process.

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, 1.4 million computer science jobs will be available in 2020.

Most of these jobs will be filled by those who earned computer science degrees, and although 57 percent of

bachelor degrees are earned by women, only 12 percent of these are computer science degrees. These startling facts are why women and girls need to get involved in STEM. The American Association of University Women, an organization which promotes equality for women and girls, has found many reasons why there are so few women involved in STEM fields. One of which is that females have the burden of gender stereotypes weighing on them, usually resulting in negative performance.

For example, a girl taking an Advanced Placement Calculus exam may have the extra stress of not reinforcing the negative stereotype that girls are bad at math, and because of this, she may end up not doing as well as her male counterpart. With this constant pressure to defeat a stereotype, it may lead her to giving up and developing a fixed mindset in which she does not believe in working hard to achieve her goal, but rather simply thinking she is not good enough.

“Create opportunities for success and safe environments in which to fail,” Regina Agyare, founder of Soronko Solutions, said in an article published by the Cable News Network. “They’ll learn to persevere and develop a growth mindset, so critical to success in STEM fields... instead of ‘this is hard, I can’t do it,’ they will believe, ‘I can try another way.’”

In order to boost the confidence of girls who wish to be involved in

Design by Maggie Rosenthal

Though women make up approximately half of those employed in the U.S., they are grossly underrepresented in all STEM careers.

STEM, role models are a vital part of the process. Since there are gender stereotypes and biases that females are not as adept in STEM fields as males, women need role models to tell them that they can do it and achieve great success just like anyone else.

Techbridge, a program that inspires to expand career options for girls in STEM fields, found that less than 60 percent of girls know someone in a STEM career. Because

of this, they set forth a “Role Models Matter Online Training Toolkit” which helps adults engage girls in STEM and become role models. Recently, a huge flood of programs have emerged to boost girls’ confidence and encourage more girls to become involved with STEM related fields.

For example, Girlstart is an organization that provides strategies, resources and programs all related to STEM to young girls nationally.

Coding programs such as Girls Who

Code, Black Girls Code and Girl Develop it have also sprung up.

Though more and more women are entering STEM related fields because of the programs that have been put in place, the overall societal belief that males are superior in STEM fields must end now so that the whole world is coming to much more research and technology based world.

More people will need to be educated in STEM fields in order to fill the STEM jobs that are soon to come.

Newly released Apple watch not worth the hype Apple watch fails to differentiate itself from Samsung and Android competitors despite impressive early sales

Nicole Li

Staff Writer

L

ong-following audiences of Apple’s success should be pleased to hear about the new Apple Watch hitting the market.

Media release of the smartwatch has been peppered with gloats of new applications to aid exercise, realtime alerts of phone calls and messages and many other sleek features for Apple to claim fame to. Creators hope it will revolutionize the way people use technology by virtue of it being wearable.

Well, Samsung and Android Wear has tried to do that for a while now, with limited success. The complaint has always been that smart watches are bulky, unnecessary and overpriced. So when important ideas fail to take off, consumers turn to Apple to dish out a new product that everyone wants. However, the anticipated new timepiece may not be that product.

The Apple Watch’s rounded chrome display and customizable watch bands are admirable, but the apps themselves are no different from the original smartphones and tablet

Courtesy of forbes.com

New, pricey Apple watches have sold well, but have failed to do anything beyond the abilities of an iPhone and a Fitbit combined.

apps. The smartwatch alerts users to phone calls and messages and provides reply features such as emoticons and short messages. It checks heart rate, responds to voice commands and allows users to set up Apple Pay. These features make the watch sound a lot like a combination of a regular iPhone and a Fitbit. In a day and age where everyone carries their phones in their pockets and every Fitbit is practically weightless, this basic functionality is irrelevant. iPhones are not land lines and Fitbits are not obsolete.

The real reason so many people are psyched out by the new product is just that: it is a new Apple product. In Silicon Valley, it seems like

people trade in their old iPhones annually for bragging rights and faster clicking, and now everyone wants to maintain another pricey emblem of the company — all $350 of it.

It seems like people trade in their old iPhones annually for bragging rights and faster clicking, and now everyone wants to maintain another pricey emblem of the company — all $350 of it.

To put this into perspective, common G-shocks sell for $130 apiece, but clearly people do not just want a wristwatch. Everyone wants Apple,

and all the promises that come with it.

Humans are decadent creatures, and the reason for that is the need for social acceptance. Why buy the $200 Beats Solo 2 when the comparable Sennheiser Momentum On-Ears are $50 less? Beats are well known and owning a pair will earn a certain amount of respect that On-Ears cannot (see the previous Campanile article “The best headphones available on the tech market” for a headphone breakdown). But despite the hefty price tag, does Apple live up to its reputation?

For all its reputed athletic assistance and convenience, the Apple Watch is not convenient. Imagine

using a stylus for the small screen when the apps get too difficult to tap.

Imagine breaking out the iPhone 6 Plus every five minutes because the watch’s apps require a steady connection to the iPhone to function. Imagine charging the timepiece alongside the 6 Plus every night because the battery lasts a day.

It is the siren song of a personalized, stylish and high-tech accessory tied to a name brand that lures most people to place orders. Not the need for a smartwatch.

Analysts in The Economist and The Wall Street Journal say Apple had one million pre-orders on the first day that the three smartwatch models became available, compared to the 720,000 shipments Google’s Android Wear raised in six months of last year.

With this confidence in public trust, Apple has created a $17,000 gold-cased Apple Watch Edition for wealthy consumers. Never mind that it functions exactly the same as a regular Apple Watch Sport that costs two percent of that price.

The Apple Watch is trending now, but will it stay that way in a year?

Will this be another dead fad, like the line of iPod shuffles and nanos or the wearable tragedy of Google Glass?

The problem with style is that the world keeps turning, the wheel of innovation keeps turning, even after the birth of a supposedly revolutionary device. Apple’s time in the spotlight may be coming to a close. But for now, consumers will continue to feed Apple’s sky-high shares. After all, it is a fan favorite.

Interested in advertising with The Campanile?

Email Campanile.ads@gmail.com for more information

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

Friday, May 1, 2015

The Campanile

A7

OPINION

Juniors should not stress about the college process (yet)

Students have enough time and support throughout the application process to keep them from falling behind

JEFFREY HO

ONLINE EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

A

s a second semester senior, I am in an optimal position to critique the yearlong struggle/ process/madness I have endured and finally completed — college applications. I’ve been through the process; I applied to way too many schools; I wrote most of my application essays way too close to the deadline.

In short, everyone makes a big deal about it. However, to say the least, juniors in the process of applying to college need to calm down. College may determine where you live and/or study for the next four years, but the mindset in which juniors approach this stressful time is all wrong.

For one, junior year is too early to overly stress about college. Sure it’s great that you’re seeking out a potential list of schools, but unless you’re getting recruited to colleges for athletics, all you juniors need to realize is that a multitude of things trump the beginning of the college application process. Grades and standardized testing are the two components most highly weighed when comparing applicants. Grades arguably matter most during junior year, so why veer from previous priorities and complain about college apps and the process now?

Junior year is also the time to finally appreciate sleep as shuteye hours only diminish. Junior year is also the time to actually enjoy extracurriculars before all the free time diverges to application essay writing. Junior also allows you the time to venture out and meet new people in various programs and internships. Come senior year, when the college application crunch actually tightens, chances are you will still cringe at the fact that there are many essays left for you to write, no matter how early you may have started. There’s no need to unnecessarily elongate an already stressful process.

Additionally, over the years, there has also been great controversy over the manner in which Paly staff assist students in the college application

Design By Chris Skokowski

While junior year is important to college applications, students should not spend the school year worrying about the college application process when it is still a year away.

process. Many believe that teacher advisor (TA) recommendations aren’t personal enough because the TA may not find the opportunity to interview or get to know each and every student he or she is writing a letter for. As inefficient you may perceive the mid-junior year College and Career Center (CCC) college planning orientation, the presentations effectively provided the information they intended to convey — to provide a first glimpse at the college application process ahead. The fact that our teachers, TAs and CCC advisors devote countless hours of effort ought to relieve much of the stress juniors face, even if this may not be apparent at the outset. The hard work TAs and recommenders to should provide every student the reason to relax and not stress over parts of the college application process you have little control over. At some point, the college conversation will become rather repetitive, and the fate of your applications is completely out of your hands for regular decision by January. It is better to accept when things leave

your hand and focus on having fun in your senior year. Rather than complaining about how few resources you can get your hands on or how unpredictable the Common Application may be come November, you should realize that there is in fact plenty of time to plan and prepare for college.

Grades and standardized testing are the two components most highly weighed when comparing applicants.

Even for the lucky students that are accepted in Early Decision, the deadline to enroll still remains in the following year. This gap leaves ample time for reflection on your next four years of education and where you will want to be experiencing them.

To be honest, the entire concept of visiting colleges before applying is, with the exception of intentions to apply early decision, absurd. Coming into the college application process firsthand last year, I set out to visit many of the schools I applied to over

the summer break instead of when they were in session. In hindsight, this proved counterintuitive and ultimately unnecessary.

College may determine where you live and/or study for the next four years, but the mindset in which juniors approach this stressful time is all wrong.

For me, visiting campuses over the summer may have provided a preliminary feel for student life, yet I ended with only an idealistic and truly incomplete perspective of each college I visited by the end of the tours. In addition, touring schools across the nation is also quite pricy, as the combinations of transportation, living accommodations and other tertiary costs stack up quickly. Asking current students about their current college experiences and surfing the web for virtual online tours arguably provides an equally informational perspective on each college. This in turn makes an extra $75 application fee and seem-

ingly similar supplement to apply to another institution seem like less of a burden and more so like an investment, especially if a college accepts you.

Alternatively, visiting after being admitted provides a more realistic opportunity to get a feel of a college campus, as often times institutions will host admitted student tours or special overnight events. And come spring, the only stress that lingers in the second semester senior comes in the form of whether you made the right decision by signing a university’s Statement of Intent to Register form. After all the stress of applying, this is a good problem to have.

At the end of it all, both the college application and decision processes are representative of what you personally make them to be. The application may be a grind for the first part of senior year, but come April, you won’t look back. The prospects of applying to college likely won’t be fun, but when you finally get to decide what college to attend, making the decision will make it all worth it.

Outside observers misrepresent the problems students face The administration has room for improvement, but should not shoulder the blame placed on it by outsiders final source was Adam Strassberg, a psychiatrist practicing here in Palo Alto, with a son attending Palo Alto High School. Strassberg, while qualified, was, again, only quoted addressing the same side of the story

Galen Byrd

Sports editor

W

hen I read Carolyn Walworth’s article on Palo Alto Online and saw the sequential articles published on the New York Times detailing how miserable all the high school students here in Palo Alto are, it made me furious. Not only do these stories represent the large minority of students, but they make rash assumptions about our families and every individuals’ life goals.

The first article published in the New York Times April 12, written by Frank Bruni, detailed only three outside sources, all of which addressed only one side of the issue. His main source was, of course, Walworth.

Bruni, obviously, decided to use the harshest remarks from Walworth’s post on the Palo Alto Online, and in doing so misrepresented all that she had to say, along with the Palo Alto student body as a whole. His second source was Julie Lythcot-Haims, whose sole qualification is the parenting of two students, one of whom is not even in high school yet. Bruni’s

These articles all have a common theme — none even suggested the idea that there are sane students in our community, students who look out for their own well-being as well as the mental health of those around them.

On April 24, the New York Times published another story about our community, which was printed on the front page of the Sunday review.

This article, written by Matt Richtel, was about the line between helping students succeed and pushing them too far. Again, Richtel’s only student voice was Walworth, and again, the author used only her most pointed remarks. These articles all have a common theme — none even suggested the idea that there are sane students in our community, students who look out for their own well-being as well as the mental health of those around them.

Although many students in our district feel over-pressured to “succeed” in life, the majority who strive for happiness have not been represented whatsoever in the recent media spike surrounding our community.

While many community members feel the need to point fingers at the administration for the limited number of students who feel the “need” to go to an Ivy League school, the administration ought not take the blame for the issue brought about by our community as a whole. Our district is one of the most “successful” districts in the nation and prepares students for the road ahead. Our schools are here to educate us, and are doing a great job at that. While classes tend to be rigorous, students learn much more than the average high school student in the state. This is reflected by Paly’s average SAT score being over 1950, 460 points over the California average. For this we should all feel lucky and blessed to have the opportunity to learn, and most students and parents alike express this sentiment

Along with being excellent educators, most teachers in the PAUSD are helpful, understanding and supportive of their students — helping to strike the perfect balance between stress and happiness.

Along with being excellent educators, most teachers in the Palo Alto Unified School District (PAUSD) are helpful, understanding and supportive of their students — helping to strike the perfect balance between stress and happiness. In fact, many tend to be more proud of their students who attend the lesser known

colleges, knowing that they will have a better experience than at a top-tier university. I have even heard faculty members almost looking down upon students who go to the most prestigious universities, condescendingly stating that “of course [very ‘smart’/‘successful’ student] is going to Stanford.”

Our administration has room to grow in teaching students more stress management skills as opposed to attempting to out stress completely.

While our community is extremely focused on academics, so are many other places around the country.

There are schools where most students take Advanced Placement (AP) BC Calculus as juniors, meaning teenagers are able to cope with the stresses that school brings, but what can our district do to encourage students to learn while helping them find their own boundaries.

The largest stressor that outspoken students claim to endure is homework, especially in AP courses. While busy work adds unnecessary stress, it seems that most teachers only assign relevant work. And although the amount of homework that students appear to have every night may seem daunting, it is for good reason. AP classes are college-level courses. That means that students are expected to do more learning, so much so that teachers cannot fit everything into the few hours they see students during each week. It is fair for them to have students do more learning outside of the classroom than a typical high school class.

Personally, I have opted to take five APs over the past three years. In these classes, I have learned an extensive amount through most homework assignments, and I never had a night when I had more than three hours of homework. In fact, throughout high school, I only had an hour of homework per night on average. Although that may be a little bit below most students’ averages amount of homework, when parents and students say that they have nearly five hours of homework per night, that is a minority.

Finally, students are not the only ones being misrepresented in the media — so are our parents. While there are some parents in our community who feel that their students will only be successful if they attend a well-known university, most are easygoing and wish the best for their students’ mental health. My parents, for example, encouraged me at the beginning of junior year to drop AP Biology and enroll in a ceramics course because it would give me a break in my day. This turned out to be one of the best decisions of my life, and as a result of this, I had a healthier, happier junior year.

Our community expects the best from each individual. While some students and other community members feel too much pressure, and recently have been quite outspoken about this expectation, the rest of us know that getting an “F” on your Honors Chemistry final (yes, I got a 56 percent) is not the end of the world.

Friday, May 1, 2015

A8

The Campanile

EDITORIALS

Teacher advisor involvement in AP testing would increase efficiency

A

s Advanced Placement (AP) testing starts next week, The Campanile would like to express its belief that the method used to administer AP pre-administration sessions was ineffective. The sessions are inefficient in terms of time usage, and confusing to select one of the few available times. The sessions were an unnecessarily slow process and did not utilize an effective system Palo Alto High School already has in place, advisory, to communicate directly with students.

Instead of forcing students who wished to take AP tests to congregate in three sessions with hundreds of kids each, the administration could give the forms to all Teacher-Advisors (TA) and have them administer a session for their advisees. This would

be a much more efficient use of time, allow students to ask more individual questions and foster complete attendance. The TAs would not be required to wait for hundreds of students to fill out each box before moving on to the next one, they would only have to help a maximum of 30 students to complete the tasks. Advisors could also resolve any questions or confusion that the students have about the forms as there are much fewer people, and thusly the TAs could be more specific in their guidance and tailor it to individual students. Students are also much more likely to attend if they believe that it is an advisory session which they must go to as opposed to three optional sessions where they will have the chance to make it up if they decide not to

go. There is also a dedicated block of time in every student’s’ schedule for advisory and so they would not have to miss a lunch or time after school in order to finish the mandatory forms.

In terms of actual logistics, since each TA has a class of both juniors and seniors, he or she could administer the session to them in a group advisory, and anyone who missed the session could come for a make-up session the following week.

On the whole, properly making use of the enormous resources that are offered with the TA system would allow the administration to make sure that every student fills out the required forms for AP testing, to ensure that all students questions are answered, and to be as time-efficient as possible.

School ban on graded zero period unjust

T

he Campanile believes that

the Palo Alto Unified School District’s (PAUSD) decision to stop offering academic zero period classes at their two high schools inappropriately disregarded the expressed wishes of students and staff.

Beginning in the 2015-16 PAUSD school year, only Physical Education and non-graded courses will have zero period classes available.

Released April 10 in a letter from PAUSD superintendent Dr. Max McGee, the decision is in reaction to concerns discussed in the March 10 school board meeting regarding student sleep deprivation and its ties to adolescent depression and suicide.

Citing this apparent connection, Palo Alto Weekly responded urging the school board in favor of the period’s dismissal in an editorial released on March 13. Further support for the decision was given in a letter sent to the board and McGee March 18 from 35 local and regional health professionals.

The motion met little debate, and ultimately a compromise to only retain non-academic courses during zero period was rapidly decided upon, with McGee remarking in his letter that he didn’t want the question to “fester.” While Palo Alto High School only offers P.E. during zero period, Henry M. Gunn High School currently offers 10 academic courses during zero period, including Advanced Placement and high-level math courses. The decision to get rid of academic zero periods and the conduct of the decision have faced major resistance from the Gunn student body.

“This decision angered many students,” Gunn sophomore Chloe Sorensen said. “The decision was not meant to be made this way; it was going to be discussed and voted on at the April 21 board meeting. Many

board members were in favor of student choice and wanted to keep the option of zero period, perhaps with some changes. However, it never came to a vote, because McGee was forced to make an executive decision.”

In a survey conducted by Sorensen on March 14, 90.82 percent of students enrolled in zero period do not want the option to be removed, and out of all the students surveyed, 89.46 percent of them did not want the option to be removed either. The survey was publicized by class officers at Gunn, surveying a total of 370 students (as of March 23) with 196 of the student responders enrolled in a zero period class.

It is evident from this information and from the reactionary social media campaign, “My Voice Matters” (gunnvoicesmatter.tumblr.com), that students at Gunn feel their voice is undervalued and misrepresented in the district’s policy. The Campanile believes that despite the apparent pressures the district faced to make this decision, they should have had a holistic approach to decide this matter. Interviewing students and staff seems like a baseline to understanding the effects of a period’s start time on students; however, this was inexplicably absent McGee’s decision.

The Campanile further believes that the most important factor in making a decision about school and schedule choices should be the opinion of the students, faculty and parents, not of the school board. The fact that approximately 90 percent of students disagreed with the decision yet McGee’s statement has not been reviewed. The Campanile suggests that McGee and other district staff hold an open forum where students and community members can suggest new options and that the superintendent and school board respects the choices of students.

Admin ought to revise police presentations

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t Palo Alto High School, the administration feels responsible for educating its students about the transition in their liability in the eyes of the law once they turn 18. As such, they require seniors to attend several legal information seminars, hosted by Paly’s school resource Officer DuJuan Green.

The Campanile feels that while the administration is right in its efforts to give its seniors at least a modicum of legal knowledge before they are released into the real world, these talks with Green are not the solution.

These talks are informal and unprofessional, and Green failed to convey the gravity of any of the legal scenarios they delve into. They mask the importance of the material they are supposed to share with humor, rather than use these opportunities to effectively inform students. In addition, the talks are unfocused, with class time being wasted on shallow explanations of topics as diverse and unrelated as reckless driving, contributing to the delinquency of a minor and public indecency. It is this topic

that, given the administration’s efforts to end Paly’s senior streaking tradition, would be expected to be the main focus. However, the officers were unfocused and gave vague explanation of criminal behavior. Green provided hypothetical drug situations as opposed to being specific on crimes and the sentences that follow those crimes.

The Campanile feels that it would be in the best interest of students, teachers and the administration if these aimless, uncomfortable talks were replaced with constructive sessions where students over the age of 18 could learn their rights and responsibilities as adults, without the weak PowerPoints and vague, ineffectual speeches unrelated to the concerns of students and unable to get the true points of interest across in a meaningful way. If the administration wishes to deter students from public indecency or any other illegal behavior, simply presenting law enforcement officers is not the solution; students deserve appropriate education about how their rights change when they reach adulthood.

MAY’S TOP TEN LIST

Top Ten Reasons For Second Semester Seniors to Come to School 10) ­Your parents tell you to 9) The joy of learning

8) What else are you going to do?

7) See your friends 6) 5) 4) 3) 2) 1) -PAUL MEWES & GALEN BYRD

COMIC OF THE MONTH

Ella Mernyk/The Campanile

this is the end for james franco’s mural

The Campanile Editors in Chief Seth Alston • Esther Doerr • Grace Kim Claire Liu • Coby Parker • Sarah Tayeri News and Opinion Editors Lauren Gargiulo Lauren Klass Business Manager Haley Fang

Lifestyle Editors Stephanie Cong Paul Mewes

Sports Editors Galen Byrd Owen Dulik Kevin Mullin

Online Editor Jeffrey Ho

Photography Editor Conner Harden

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

Yi Gi Mackenzie Glassford Danniel Hammerson Jamie Har Antonio Kieschnick Masha Konkov Nicole Li Peter Maroulis Anant Marur Mischa Nee

Conner Harden Danny Hammerson

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

Photographers Zoe Tierney Ella Mernyk

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

Dami Bolarinwa Sara Gram-Knutsen

Advisor Esther Wojcicki The Campanile would like to thank our sponsors Dick & Jerry Smallwood 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.

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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.

The policy of The Campanile is to publish editorial content that represents at least half of the staff.

Friday, May 1, 2015

The Campanile

L

IFESTYLE

HanaHaus combines coffee with innovation

By Claire Dennis

Wise words from a departing senior

Owen Staiger

senior staff writer courtesy of eugenie grey courtesy of matthew zorpas

matthewzorpas — Matthew Zorpas is what anyone would expect out of the modern gentleman, hence the name of his blog, “The Gentleman Blogger.” Zorpas is usually dressed in more formal wear, such as suits and dress jackets, but that does not mean his day-to-day outfits are anywhere near similar. Zorpas loves to spice up his outfits with statement prints on ties, shirts or pocket squares, try different types of dress shoes or even add a stylish hat in the mix on some days.

When Zorpas is vacationing and allows himself to dress more casually, one can expect nothing less than dapper style out of his clothing, with his simple yet charming choices in his outfit pairings.

courtesy of jenn im

imjennim — California native Jenn Im has got the Asian, Cali-girl style down like no one else.

She switches between outfits that have more of a bohemian tone to outfits which are more sophisticated or even outfits which have a darker, more grungy look. Im’s Instagram account features fashion updates or “outfits of the day” with little tidbits of her life and beauty products sprinkled in the mix. Im shops or features items from a variety of lesser known stores to mainstream shoppers, therefore offering followers not only outfit inspiration but lots of shops to check out as well.

feralcreature — With her ever-changing hair color and signature wing tip eyeliner, Eugenie Grey is not a fashion blogger to be overlooked.

Grey’s style is very clean and sleek and similar to Im’s, as it can vary between bohemian and grungy, slightly goth-like looks. She takes her inspiration from other fashion designers such as Dion Lee. Her style is ever-changing which reflects her childhood. Grey’s choice of style usually depends on the weather, as Grey currently resides in both Los Angeles and New York, her darker clothes are more common in the freezing New York Winter, and her lighter, more flowy clothing is reserved for the sunny summers of Los Angeles. Grey’s account features updates at least once a day, with followers guaranteed never to be bored.

Insta-Fashion Bloggers

Text by Stephanie Cong Lifestyle Editor

Design by Mischa Nee and Joanna Falla Staff Writers

Everyone knows the panic of not knowing what to wear at 7:55 a.m. before rushing out the door to school. At that time, drastic efforts are made to throw a presentable outfit together — rummaging through piles of clothes, trying on this and that, desperate to wear something nicer than a pair of sweats. Fashion bloggers are a great way to find inspiration for outfit ideas or new styles and trends to try, but through media such as blogs or Youtube,

posts and videos can take several days to a week to be published. Through social media such as Instagram, however, fashion bloggers can post photos at the touch of a button and stay connected with their followers on a much more intimate basis. Here are seven Instagram accounts guaranteed to equip anyone with plentiful outfit ideas and fashion tips. And, on top of that, guaranteed to get rid of horrible early morning outfit dilemmas.

chiaraferragni — Chiara Ferragni may not have the most creative Instagram username, but her account is worth a follow nonetheless. Ferragni’s blog, “The Blonde Salad,” represents your classic fashion blogger — super chic, elegant and always a step ahead of everyone experimenting with new trends by working with a group of the top young fashion bloggers. Ferragni has been the first fashion blogger to be on the cover of Vogue Magazine, and has even started her own shoewear line, the Chiara Ferragni Collection. Ferragni is usually dressed head to toe in the newest designer trends from Valentino, Chloe or Calvin Klein, and is never caught without a trendy bag in hand. courtesy of chiara ferragni

dulcecandy — Dulce Candy is the go-to, sweet, adorable, girl-next-door fashion blogger. After being stationed in Iraq for 15 months, she made make up videos while working as a mechanic to add femininity to her life. Covering both her absolutely darling style and trendy cosmetic products, her Instagram account is sure to leave you jealous of both her wardrobe and makeup collection. Candy’s outfits usually have a simple, colorful and down-to-earth style, but do not let that fool you — she knows how to dress up as well.

Additionally, this girl knows how to accessorize like no other! Candy is not only a blogger, but also a mother and has recently become an author as well — her new book, titled “The Sweet Life,” details her tips and tricks for success.

iamgalla — Both a style and travel guru, Adam Galla is the definition of men’s fashion on the go.

Galla mixes up his wardrobe and look depending on his location, taking on a more poised and upscale style when he is in cities like London or Paris, but taking it down to a more casual feel when he is in Brazil or the Bahamas. Regardless, Galla has got all the looks covered, whether he is in a suit and tie for a red carpet event, a trench coat and chinos in London or wearing Ray Bans and Sperrys at the beach. Galla is a style inspiration for men who love fashion around the world. courtesy of adam galla

courtesy of dulce candy

INSIDE Why the prohibition of psychedelics should be rethought

By Anant Marur

Alumni discuss Greek life experiences

By Masha Konkov

Gunn uses social media to strengthen student voice

By Aiva Petriceks

As a second semester senior, I have learned and forgotten years of wisdom. Even though I may not remember any ions from chemistry, I have learned from my high school experience and can pass along my knowledge to the future upperclassmen of Paly.

SAT, ACT, AP classes and college applications — these will become a few of your least favorite things. Junior and senior year pose many challenges to the high school student. You feel like your every move is being considered for your college application.

Starting off junior year, you are going to start thinking about standardized testing and grades. With standardized testing, you are going to want to familiarize yourself with both the ACT and SAT. I would highly recommend taking both tests.

If I could offer one “secret tip to success,” I would tell you not to stress. I stressed for my first SAT and didn’t do very well. I then took a month of off studying before my second go at it and significantly improved my score.

Even more evident was with my ACT. I took the ACT early second semester and was satisfied with my score.

My friend did better than me in his early first semester of senior year so I almost jokingly challenged myself to take it again. I went in blind and did not treat it with much seriousness and I made an evident improvement.

After surviving junior year it is important to start preparing yourself for college applications. Your best tool for success in this trying time is summer. During the summer you can either start your applications or spend your time doing things that will go on your applications. You can’t go wrong either way but I would suggest creating a summer experience that will be personally fulfilling as well as application filling. The key is to do it for yourself and let the cherry on top be that you get to write about it. If you pay loads of money to go to Africa to paint houses and you don’t personally get anything out of it you have lost money and time.

Another way to spend your time during breaks or over the summer is visiting and researching colleges.

If you narrow your college choices down early you will end up writing less essays and be able to make better decisions about when to put in your application. One of my regrets of this process is not being decisive when it came to deciding if I wanted to submit early action slot applications.

After you finish your college applications, relax. There is nothing you can do anymore and it is better to enjoy the final days of high school.

Spend time with the friends you’ve made over the years and enjoy the company of the amazing peers in your grade that you have been sleeping on for the past three years.

It is as true as it is cliche — high school is going to be over before you know it.

Friday, May 1, 2015

B2

The Campanile

LIFESTYLE

Uncovering the lawfulness of accessing unlicensed content

Legality and consequences of possesing such content depends on the means by which the media is acquired Sarah wang

staff writer

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itTorrent, Putlocker, mp3skull, The Pirate Bay and LetMeWatchThis.

Any of these websites ring a bell? All of them contain copies of unlicensed music, movies and television shows available to the public for free. People all over the world use these kinds of websites to access content rather than use websites like Netflix or Amazon that require fees in order to view the same content.

In a survey conducted of 245 current Paly students, 73 percent of students admitted to downloading unlicensed music off the internet, with 35 percent of respondents reporting that they download music at least once a month. Furthermore, 83 percent of students admitted to watching unlicensed movies or television shows from streaming websites, and 56 percent of the total respondents said they watched these movies and shows at least once a month.

But is downloading unlicensed music or streaming free movies actually illegal?

Whether or not downloading music or streaming movies and shows is illegal all boils down to whether or not the user is committing copyright infringement. According to chapter five of Title 17 of the United States Code, a copyright infringer is someone who breaks the terms of certain exclusive rights given to the copyright holder, including rights to reproduce, distribute and display certain works.

Someone who violates these exclusive rights has broken the law, making his or her actions illegal.

When a consumer decides to download music from an unauthorized website like mp3skull, he or she is committing copyright infringement. Though the consumer is technically not redistributing the work, he or she is accessing the work from

design by lauren klass

Even though downloading and streaming media such as music, TV shows and movies is considered a federal crime, many Paly students admitted to partaking in this activity.

a distributor who does not have permission to do so.

According to the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA), common types of online copyright infringement can include joining a file-sharing network and downloading unauthorized copies of music from other network members, transferring copyrighted music through means such as instant messaging or making an MP3 copy of a song and uploading it onto the internet so others can download it.

These types of copyright infringement do not just apply to music, but can extend to other works such as movies and television shows. The bottom line is that downloading an unauthorized copy of media off the internet is most likely illegal as downloading equates to copying, a violation of the copyright holder’s rights. Distributing these works is always illegal, whether through means of uploading unlicensed content online or sending it to friends through email, as the act is the equivalent to giving away free copies of music that the copyright holder intended to sell.

Given these restrictions, it seems reasonable to conclude that streaming movies and shows off of unauthor-

ized streaming websites is also a form of copyright infringement. When asked, 75 percent of respondents said that they knew that streaming unlicensed movies or shows is illegal.

However, streaming unlicensed content is actually legal as long as users avoid breaking two rules, according to Jim Gibson, director of the Intellectual Property Institute at the University of Richmond School of Law. Downloading any part of a file while streaming a movie is considered illegal, as this means a copy has been made of unlicensed content. Secondly, streaming content publicly is also considered illegal, as this counts as distribution of the work, a violation of copyright laws. For example, showing a movie from a streaming website to a classroom full of people is an illegal act.

By avoiding these two acts, a user who views movies and shows through streaming websites is not illegally viewing content, although the user is viewing content that was published illegally. Since the user is not distributing or copying the movie or show by just simply viewing it, he or she has not committed copyright infringement.

Since many people illegally obtain works off the internet, it seems like there is no punishment for doing so since these illegal activities usually take place in the privacy of a home.

However, there are laws that outline the punishments for those who commiy copyright infringement.

With respect to the copying of music, criminal penalties for firsttime offenders of copying or distributing music can be as high as five years in prison and $250,000 in fines.

If sued by the copyright holder in a civil court, civil penalties for the same act can reach thousands of dollars in damage and legal fees, with the minimum penalty being $750 per song, according to the RIAA. The same law applies to downloading movies, though the price per work would naturally be higher since a movie is worth more than a song.

Yet, even with these punishments in place, people continue to break the law by using these websites to access free content.At Paly, 83 percent of students admitted that they knew that downloading unlicensed music is illegal, yet the majority of respondents said they did it anyway.

The chances of getting caught in the privacy of one’s home seem miniscule

and to some, there are worse crimes that law enforcement focus on.

“I’ve never heard of anyone getting fined or having trouble with the law from illegal streaming or downloads of music and movies,” an anonymous junior said. “Authorities have better things to spend their time on.”

Regardless of the lack of enforcement of the law, the law is still the law, and there are reasons for its existence.

Copyright laws protect the rights of those who create these works. Artists depend on the sales of their music in order to make money, but they cannot make this money if consumers just download free copies of their music from the internet. The same situation applies to all those who earn revenues from movies and television shows, like directors, producers and actors.

Accessing content for free instead of paying for it takes away from the revenue artists are supposed to earn for the product they produced.

Though it may seem more worth it at times to just access the free content since getting caught seems unlikely, just remember that laws are created for a reason, and someone out there is losing hard-earned money just because you decided to take the risk and obtain unlicensed content.

“Lost River” disappoints Newly released Star Wars trailer excites fans Despite impressive cinematography, plot and characters prove static and mediocre Chris skokowski

senior staff writer

R

yan Gosling’s new film “Lost River,” which gave him the reins for writing and directing for the first time ever, is filled to the brim with emptiness. Set in a nearly abandoned part of Detroit, every aspect of the film reflects the minimalism of the setting. This common theme has become the main source of criticism for the film, as it contains only a thin plot and is forced to rely on its (admittedly excellent) cinematography and soundtrack for emotional impact.

“Lost River’”fails because while it can mimic (and often surpass) the visual and acoustic styles of Gosling’s influences, it lacks a sense of gravity and importance.

So, let’s start with what Gosling gets right with “Lost River:” the soundtrack and the visuals. Johnny Jewel’s soundtrack, reminiscent of his earlier work on “Drive,” is excellent, and at many times forced to carry the film. With so little dialogue, the music often has to fill in the emotional gaps of the story and convey the feelings of the characters during the many instances where they simply look blankly at things. That ends up turning into another plus for the film however, as the sets the characters often stare at are incredible.

While the decaying city of Detroit may be seen as ugly, Gosling manages to find beauty in the way he frames his shots and uses lighting. With slow-motion shots of demolition by fire and by bulldozer, and with surprisingly vibrant shots of abandoned buildings, the film is able to find incredible visuals in its destruction. The cinematography and lighting also establish a dichotomy within the movie’s world. The main characters live on the outskirts of society, where the film finds its palette from soft natural light and muted colors, but when

they venture into the city, they are surrounded by harsh neon lights contrasting upon darkness. In both cases, the film is a feast for the eyes.

Unfortunately, Gosling chose to write and direct an entire movie instead of a music video. The characters are intriguing and the core ideas and locations of the story are interesting, but everything seems wasted, and the execution ends up being disappointing. In the end, characters aren’t given enough lines to become fleshed out, due to both the minimalist script and the only 90 minute runtime, and even when major plot events occur or are resolved, none of the characters seem to change or develop in the slightest.

There are many intriguing ideas within the film, including the namesake abandoned city underwater, but the plot fails to capitalize on the dreamlike world it creates. In fact, the main conflicts of the film are introduced within the first few minutes of the film and nothing of real consequence seems to happen until these conflicts are resolved in the closing scenes. As if realizing that his film is not going anywhere, Gosling attempts to comment on the American dream in the middle of the movie, but the blatant way he presents his ideas is so at odds with the minimalist style of the film that they lack the subtlety necessary to stand on their own.

Ultimately, “Lost River” is an excellent music video. However, it is only a decent film. “Lost River” fails because while it can mimic (and often surpass) the visual and acoustic styles of Gosling’s influences, it lacks a sense of gravity and importance.

The characters’ struggles may seem real, but the viewer never gets the chance to feel invested in what they are watching, and that is a shame given how well the film handles most of what it takes on.

The good news is that if you liked the trailer, which displays some of the cinematography and music, you will probably enjoy the movie, but do not expect to get any more story in 90-minutes than you got in the two and a half minute tease.

In anticipation of the film, fans attempt to uncover more details

bo field

staff writer

O

n April 16, three small words shook up an entire galaxy of excited Star Wars fans: “Chewy… we’re home.” Spoken by a gracefully aged Harrison Ford reprising his role as Han Solo for the first time in more than 30 years, the line has become iconic amongst followers of the franchise since it was heard in the newest teaser trailer released for the long-awaited seventh Star Wars film, “The Force Awakens.”

News outlets exploded, discussion forums crashed, and many shed genuine tears of joy and nostalgia. Han and Chewbacca are back home in the cockpit of the Millenium Falcon, and millions of fans are also at long last back home on their couches following their adventures. Anticipation for “The Force Awakens” is at an all time high. But can it be possible for a film to be too anticipated?

Since the very minute that the production of the mythical seventh Star Wars episode was announced in 2012, the franchise’s gargantuan fanbase has been abuzz with every conceivable form of speculation, rumor, libel, slander and fear-mongering doomsday proclamation. Due to tepid reception for the most recent three films, it is hard to convince jaded day one fans that they even want a new movie, and even harder to convince them that it will not be as terrible as “The Phantom Menace.” But those that do actually accept and look forward to the new film, and even some who do not, take its hype to an incredible new level.

On the internet, nobody knows that your stepdad’s friend’s cousin does not actually work at Skywalker Ranch and did not actually send you those blurry screen captures of Darth Revan that you are trying to pass off as leaked photos of the reincarnation of Darth Vader. The opportunistic among the fandom have taken advantage of this fact and done just that, among many other shady whistleblowing debacles, since the announcement and commencement of the film’s production. If you believe

courtesy of Lucasfilm

The trailer of the highly anticipated Star Wars episode was released on April 16.

all of the rumors that are floating around, which often blatantly contradict each other, then “The Force Awakens” will contain everything from 5,000 year old reanimated Sith lords to lightsabers somehow recovered from the core of a gas giant to Boba Fett as a kindly old caretaker for the next generation of young Jedi.

All of these have been claimed with dead sincerity by sources that remain anonymous and more or less all have no real credibility. Fans are now split between denouncing these leakers, following just one like a messiah and trying to somehow weave the convoluted net of lies and deceptions into something resembling a possible synopsis for the film.

Arguably the most notable of these leakers is Jason Ward, Editorin-chief of the blog Makingstarwars. net. In the last few years, Ward and his staff, who claim exclusive inside sources, have posted everything from plot summaries to concept art to complete character lists for the new film, to the acclaim and excitement of the blog’s rapidly growing fanbase. Despite only a rough 5 percent of their information being proven as correct so far, Makingstarwars.net commands a huge following (and lots of ad revenue) from posting claims that could just as likely have come from any excited 8-year-old as straight from Geroge Lucas’s mouth.

However, if we look back on the long and storied history of the franchise, we see that it wouldn’t be a true Star Wars release without spoiler men

and leaks up until the opening crawl at the first midnight showing. The release of “The Phantom Menace” in 1999 was preceded by a Spoiler Manlike entity who went by the name of SuperShadow. SuperShadow trolled the last millennium’s primordial internet with similar leaks, hints and more that he claimed came straight from his close personal friend George Lucas. Before the internet, there was actual print press that would come to the movie sets for any possible scoop.

To avoid this issue, crews working on “Return of the Jedi” in the early ‘80s were adorned with false branding for a fictional horror film called “Blue Harvest” as a way of hiding in plain sight from inevitable media espionage.

Among all this espionage and deception, one truth remains: unless they have personally worked on the film, specifically in the script or editing departments, nobody knows what will happen in “The Force Awakens.”

Will Han die? Will Jabba the Hutt come back to life? Was it really Jar Jar in the Darth Vader suit the whole time while Anakin ran free, only to come back for the sequel trilogy in the greatest plot twist of all time?

Only time and patience will tell.

Until “The Force Awakens” releases everywhere Dec. 17, the leaks will continue, despite multiple debunkings and inconsistencies that will inevitably come to light as more official content is released. The leakers are easily startled, but they will soon be back, and in greater numbers.

Friday, May 1, 2015

The Campanile

LIFESTYLE

Trader Joe’s salads provide diverse options Reviewing the wide variety of eclectic salad choices available at the local grocery store Lauren klass

news and opinion editor

Carissa zou

staff writer

S

pring is finally here, signaling the revival of refreshing smoothies, various fruits and fresh salads. Of course, with Trader Joe’s just across the street and its wide variety of foods, a classic student lunch choice during this time of year is a refreshing salad for under the reasonable price of $5. However, once one has embarked on the five-minute commute, the greatest dilemma arises: which salad should I choose?

From Chinese chicken to caesar to Moroccan salads, all possibilities offer tempting and intriguing combinations that embody specific flavors and textures unique to every salad.

Broccoli Slaw and Kale Salad with White Chicken Meat - $3.99 5/5 This salad consists of a simple slaw of chopped broccoli, carrots and kale paired with white chicken, sunflower seeds, red cranberries and a vinaigrette. From the written description, this salad seems to incorporate a variety of unique flavors and textures, many of which seem unsavory upon first introduction. The presence of bitter kale or crunchy broccoli is often an immediate turn off for many young teenagers looking for something savory or sweet, but this amalgamation of distinct flavors unexpectedly embodies a truly harmonious culinary experience. The fruity punch from the cranberries perfectly compliments the saltiness of the sunflower seeds and bring life to the initially bland chopped vegetables. The salad also provides a pleasant and

Sarah Wang/The campanile

Trader Joe’s offers a variety of salads from Broccoli Slaw & Kale to Crunchy Slaw.

crisp texture from the crunch of the broccoli slaw and the sunflower seeds and the sweet and spicy vinaigrette naturally ties the dish together. Overall, this salad provides a burst of flavor and each of the ingredients appropriately compliment one another.

Crunchy Slaw with Chicken, Crispy Noodles and Peanut Dressing $4.49 4.5/5 An all time favorite, the Crunchy Slaw with Chicken, Crispy Noodles and Peanut Dressing is a salad that can be eaten at nearly every occasion.

The variety of ingredients all fit within a certain harmony of tastes and textures, and is sure to keep one well nourished until the next meal. The diverse greens, including romaine lettuce, green onion, cilantro and green cabbage, in addition to the carrot shreds, bring a fresh, crunchy spin.

The chicken breast pieces, on the other hand, bring a slightly heavier component. Additionally, the pieces are on the larger side and are quite dry at the center. However, this ben-

Tech cafe opens downtown HanaHaus combines a cafe and workspace Claire dennis

staff writer

W

here do entrepreneurs, tech moguls and Palo Alto families come together?

HanaHaus, a unique tech cafe and recent addition to downtown Palo Alto, serves to bridge the groups and integrate technology and entrepreneurship in the Palo Alto community.

This concept of combining a cafe and a workspace with an emphasis on the technology industry blossomed from the mind of Dr. Hasso Plattner.

Plattner founded the German software company Systems, Applications & Products in Data Processing (SAP) and throughout his career has been dedicated to supporting innovation and entrepreneurship. SAP has backed HanaHaus, but the company hopes to differentiate the images of each venture.

HanaHaus is located in downtown Palo Alto at the site of the Varsity Theater. The historic location was most recently occupied by Borders bookstore. The renovated theater blends cutting edge technology and modern furniture with classic Spanish architecture and vintage gilt. Patrons enter into the long courtyard, highlighted by archways and fountains, filled with cafe seating. Upon entering the building, patrons arrive at the heart of HanaHaus’s workspace.

The space is divided into free and paid seating. Free seating includes the entrance courtyard, as well as the space in the immediate vicinity of the cafe. The free seating is intended for cafe customers and community members interested in the workspace without the technological amenities.

For a range of prices, customers can reserve single seats and group tables to private conference rooms. Any customer can reserve their space up to two days in advance on the HanaHaus website. In addition, HanaHaus boasts a 100 seat auditorium for rent and for its own sponsored events. According to the website, these events could include “design thinking workshops, innovation showcases, speakers, musical events and more.”

Arguably, the most innovative amenity of the HanaHaus workspace is the tech desk. The concept is a way to connect entrepreneurs with experienced mentors. In following with the design thinking model that Hana-

Haus promotes, the company is still in the process of developing the best way to lay out the tech desk. However, it retains the hope that the tech desk will facilitate bonds between those experienced in the technology field and those just starting out.

Also available at HanaHaus, Blue Bottle is a local artisanal coffee company based in Oakland, known for its emphasis on fresh flavor by only serving coffee within 48 hours of roasting. In addition to coffee, the cafe offers breakfast, lunch and dinner entrees, as well as assorted pastries. A popular cafe item is the granola, which can be combined with yogurt and fruit or easily picked up to go in pre-packaged bars. In either form, the granola offers a sweet and salty study snack for hardworking students. Another bakery favorite is the olive oil shortbread, a moist and buttery cookie with a hint of herbal flavor. The fresh, healthy menu coincides with the young clientele but can be a bit pricy, with a salad coming in at around $10. Blue Bottle is known for its coffee, but non-coffee drinkers have the option of choosing rich hot chocolate or tea. Blue Bottle coffee’s cult following constitutes a main reason for HanaHaus’s early success.

Everyone there is very productive, and it’s a great environment to get work done in.

Danielle Bisbee Junior

Junior Alisha Kumar, a frequent patron of HanaHaus and Blue Bottle cafe, attests to the coffee as a driving factor in her love of the space.

“I really love Blue Bottle coffee,” Kumar said. “It’s absolutely amazing, and even if you don’t go there to work, you should stop by to pick up a latte.”

The open-air study space and community atmosphere also draw Palo Alto High School students to HanaHaus.

“Everyone there is very productive, and it’s a great environment to get work done in,” junior Danielle Bisbee said.

Move over Paly library — HanaHaus might be the new top study spot for students.

efits the overall feel of the salad, for it adds something more substantial to go along with the greens. To top it off, the crispy wonton noodles, a more carb-based component, add a perfect crunch to the salad. The peanut dressing leans towards a slightly heavier, denser dressing, and should be added to the consumer’s discretion. However, it really pulls the salad together, and is not too watery or too spicy.

Do take into consideration that the tasty meal comes with a price: both the fat content and the sodium levels reach around 30 percent of the daily values, all in just one meal. On the other hand, this salad is a rich source of protein, Vitamin A, Vitamin C and iron. Furthermore, the Crunch Slaw with Chicken, Crispy Noodles and Peanut Dressing salad is not to be confused with the Chinese Inspired Chicken Salad. The latter option may appear quite similar, but it contains a different variety of vegetables and a completely different dressing which do not come together

to form the same overall taste the former option provides.

Lemon Chicken & Arugula Salad - $3.99 3.5/5 The Lemon Chicken & Arugula Salad is a Moroccan-based combination of greens, grains and meat.

Though it is not a traditional Moroccan salad, it brings together many savory spices such as parsley, paprika and mint. Together, they make a balanced meal. Quantitatively speaking, the sheer quantity of the couscous and red quinoa mix seemed to overwhelm aspects like the arugula leaves. Considering the grains’ large presence within the salad, it is a wonder that they did not make it into the title. The salad comes in a plastic container which includes a patterned bottom and sides, with the plastic alternating between some surfaces that stick into the salad while others stick out. Though this is not a big problem with other Trader Joe’s salads, it definitely was noticeable with this one. The couscous and red quinoa get stuck into the uneven surfaces with ease. Considering that, once the dressing packet is removed, there is not much salad left, the loss of grains to the packaging only makes it worse.

The spicy pimento dressing itself is quite a savory mix — however, it is heavy and it is definitely possible to enjoy the salad without utilizing every last drop of the dressing. Though it is a personal preference, keep in mind that a little bit of this dressing goes a long way. Also, while the small peppers are not overwhelming spicy, but their presence is notable. At the end of the day, the Lemon Chicken & Arugula Salad is definitely worth a shot, for it encompasses a very bold mix of flavors and ingredients.

Several KIND bars fail to meet FDA standards of healthy food KIND forced to remove healthy labels

courtesy of petproject.hk

Some KIND bars like the Fruit & Nut Almond & Apricot cannot be labeled as healthy.

jared stanley

staff writer

Y

ou would think that given its name, a Fruit & Nut Almond & Apricot Kind bar would be allowed to be labeled healthy, but the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) had other ideas.

A letter issued to KIND, LLC, informed them that the company was not allowed to label several of its bars, such as the Fruit & Nut Almond & Coconut as healthy. The company was accused of mislabeling its products with phrases such as “healthy,” “plus,” “no trans fats,” “antioxidant-rich” and “good source of fiber.”

The FDA has a very strict definition of what counts as healthy food.

In order to qualify as “healthy”, the food item must have no more than one gram of saturated fat, 15 percent of calories from saturated fat and 480 mg sodium. It must also contain at least 10 percent of the daily value for vitamins A, C, calcium, iron, protein or fiber.

Each one of the four bars, Fruit & Nut Almond & Coconut, Fruit & Nut Almond & Apricot, KIND Plus Peanut Butter Dark Chocolate + Protein and KIND Plus Dark Chocolate Cherry Cashew + Antioxidants that did not meet health requirements contained between two and a half and five grams of saturated fat per forty grams of bar and between nine and 13 grams of total fat. To put that in perspective, the American Heart Association recommends consuming 13 grams or less of saturated fat per day.

Many KIND bars come with plus signs on the packaging, and the FDA also has strict restrictions as to what types of products are allowed to have this plus sign on it. The plus symbol is used to indicate when a product has 10 percent or more of the daily recommended value of certain vitamins, minerals, and other nutrients.

Both the KIND Plus Peanut Butter Dark Chocolate + Protein and the Dark Chocolate Cherry Cashew + Antioxidants bars do not claim to have more nutrients than an average snack bar. The FDA is the organization that decides what is an average amount of nutrients in a snack bar.

So is KIND misleading its customers when it says its bars are in fact healthy? The Salt, a blog from The NPR science desk, reported that saturated fat may not be as bad as people make it out to be. For example. highfat nuts help control appetite in order to keep weight down, reduce negative LDL cholesterol and lower the rates of heart disease and mortality.

“Nuts... contain nutritious fats that exceed the amount allowed under the FDA’s standard,” KIND wrote in a blog post.

The company willingly admitted that its labels do not meet FDA regulation, but KIND also questioned the FDA’s skewed definition of healthy.

Despite this minor setback, KIND has been a successful company.

“I had a gut feeling that this product was magical and delicious, but I didn’t think that it would be what it became,” founder and CEO Daniel Lubetzky said to CBS News.

Lubetzky added that the company’s sales have doubled every year for the past decade, making it the fastest growing energy bar on the market. Americans have consumed more than one billion KIND bars since the launch of the company in 2004.

Some consumers have worried that drastic change would occur to several of KIND products as it attempts to change its bars to meet the “health” standards.

“We couldn’t be more proud of our snack foods and their nutritional benefits,” the company said in an earlier statement. “While we make these updates to our packaging and our website, please know that our recipes will stay the same.”

B3

How to go to bed at a reasonable time

sarah wang

staff writer

I am in bed by 9 p.m. on most school nights. I usually don’t sleep until 10 or 10:30 p.m., though, since I spend some quality me-time scrolling through Facebook and spooning my cat. But I always make sure to get at least nine hours of sleep no matter what. I need my beauty sleep, because sleep-deprived Sarah is not a pretty sight.

You might be wondering, how in the world do I do it? I must be taking the easiest course load ever, or I must not have any extracurricular activities. Well, with four APs, a sport and an assortment of other activities, my schedule is by no means easy.

Although I do admit I do not have the most budding social life (a.k.a. my social life is nonexistent). Yet all around me, I see and hear people complain about not getting enough sleep because they went to bed at 2 a.m. due to their enormous amounts of work. I don’t doubt that they have a lot of work to do, but I most definitely doubt they spend their time efficiently.

If you enjoy getting less than five hours of sleep, then go ahead and keep doing that, but please keep your tired and cranky attitude away from me, because believe me, I have enough of that on my own even with enough sleep. But if you are one of those people who claims to be overwhelmed and have no choice but to sleep that late, I have compiled an enormous list of two pieces of advice of simple ways to get to bed on time and shut up about not sleeping enough.

1. Shut up This seems to be a reoccuring theme in this column since it has appeared twice. You and I both know that the main reason why you cannot get work done efficiently is because you will not put your phone down.

Stop communicating with people.

You are going to see them the next day, and I guarantee you your conversation can wait. I don’t talk to anyone when I work, and if I get a text, I ignore it until I finish working. I’m probably not the most social person to begin with since I generally try to avoid all forms of human contact, but I assure you you will survive if you do not communicate with people while you are supposed to be doing work.

News flash: multitasking makes you a slower worker.

2. Get over yourself Once in a while I spend about half an hour facing the wall, crying internally and clutching my cat when I know I have a lot of work to do. Believe it or not, this wastes a lot of time, so stop. Surprisingly, your workload will not magically get up and throw itself off a cliff if you keep complaining about it. No one cares that you have a lot of work to do because everyone has a lot of work to do. No one will come and save you, so just pull yourself together and start working.

If this exhausting list seems too hard to follow, just refer to number two again. You might not get to bed at 9 p.m., but you will most definitely not be falling asleep at 2 a.m. Sleep is important and you cannot function without enough of it. Plus, sleep is apparently beneficial for growth (vertically), which is obviously evident in my towering 5-foot-2-inch stature.

I guarantee these two pieces of advice will help you get to bed at a reasonable time, and if they don’t, feel free to call me out on it. But do not contact me past 10 p.m. because your messages will most definitely not deliver since my phone will be on airplane mode and I will be fast asleep, spooning my cat.

Friday, May 1, 2015

B4

Text By Aiva Petriceks

The Campanile

SPOTLIGHT

AHenryTitan is someone w m. Gunn High School Students Use Social umblr, a microblogging website, is often synonymous with hipster blogs covered in aesthetically pleasing photos. Many people use Tumblr either to procrastinate or to entertain themselves on a laid back night. However, for Henry M. Gunn High School students, Tumblr plays another, even more significant role in their high school lives; it is a way to share their voices when their community makes false assumptions about students and their school lives.

Following two student suicides in Nov. 2014 and Jan. 2015, the Palo Alto community has been swamping the Palo Alto Unified School District (PAUSD) Board of Education and the Gunn administration with concerns that pressures from school are becoming too overwhelming for students. Some parents believe that students have lost a sense of community. This angered many Titans, especially Gunn junior Sarah Reich.

“I was at a school board meeting [in early February], and a parent got up and said, ‘What even is a Gunn Titan anymore?’” Reich said. “Having people think there was some sort of confusion on the identity of our school made me really frustrated. So, I decided instead of letting people ask questions about what it was like to be at Gunn or tell us what our problems were, we could show our school unity and show how strong of a community we are.”

Inspired, Reich came up with the idea to solve the issue of people thinking Gunn has lost a sense of community by taking photos of her peers holding a whiteboard that stated what they envision a Titan to be and post them online for everyone to see. She recruited her fellow Titan, Gunn senior Dylan Huang, to take the photos and work with her to pilot this project.

“The main thing we are trying to portray to the community is that not everyone at Gunn is the cookie cutter student and has the same values

and has the same goals,” Reich said.

“Our school body is diverse, and filled with a lot of different people. It gives the community a message that you can’t use one explanation or give Gunn one stereotype because we are a really large community of awesome people.”

Reich and Huang titled

and people can look at it like a website but follow it like a blog.”

Adhering to the title of their movement, Reich and Huang created atitanis.tumblr.com, which quickly skyrocketed to success with the help of students who started changing their profile pictures on Facebook to pictures of the project.

We are showing [the community] that we aren’t going to give up, and that we aren’t going to let our voices be silenced by adults just because we are kids. We just want to show the community that we have a voice, and our voice matters.

- chloe sorensen, Gunn Sophomore their movement, “A Titan is,” and got various definitions of what a Titan is from their peers. Some responses included, “my second family,” “a fighter” or “not alone.” Students also gave light hearted answers like “a babe,” “an old sport” or “spunky and radical.” After capturing what a Titan is from their fellow students, Reich and Huang were faced with the decision of where to post their photos of their peers.

“I thought that a Tumblr was easier than other forms of picture sharing,” Reich said. “Instagram is really hard to get people to get notifications. Facebook is harder to use because you have to post more steadily.

I wanted to post more quickly. I used Tumblr because it has a rolling feed

“The feedback that we got was very positive,” Reich said. “Everyone really wanted to be involved with the project, and I remember during those few weeks where we took a majority of the pictures after school when I was holding my camera and the clipboard people constantly stopped me. Students have been very thankful. They said [things] like, ‘Thank you so much for doing this. You really helped our school.’ I think people are really glad that we found a way to share what it was like to be at Gunn without all the negativity.”

As “A Titan is” has shown, pictures are really worth a thousand words. Unlike other Tumblrs, which are filled with photos of sunsets and inspiring text posts, atitanis.tumblr.

com is filled with simple photos of smiling teens holding a whiteboard.

The reason that such straightforward photos have the power to be so motivating is the thought behind them.

These one or two word answers have shown students’ love for their community and the people that surround them everyday.

“A Titan is” even sparked another Tumblr movement with the similar motive of fighting against community members who are making false assumptions about Gunn students: gunnvoicesmatter.tumblr.com. The idea for the movement titled “My Voice Matters” stemmed from an idea that was a long time coming.

Following the recent suicides, Gunn students felt as though decisions attempting to reduce student stress were being made without their input, including banning the decoration of graduation caps, changing Gunn to a block schedule and eliminating academic zero period.

“I think there was an increasing feeling among the student body that our voices aren’t really being heard by administration and school board,” Gunn sophomore Chloe Sorensen said. “Our voices are not necessarily involved in the decision making process, and that has escalated a lot because of the decision about zero period.”

School board member Ken Dauber started his campaign to end academic zero period at Gunn because he believed it was heightening stress and a lack of sleep among students. He brought pediatricians to the Gunn administration and the school board who said zero period was harmful to students since students do not operate before 8:30 a.m. and advised cessation of the classes.

“Kids are angry at Ken Dauber because he didn’t really talk to any kids and kids are also mad because they are very annoyed at the pediatrians,” Sorensen said. “They are giving us all these statistics that don’t really apply to us and they don’t really under-

stand anything about the issue. They have misconceptions like zero period means you are taking eight classes, or zero period means that you go bed at 2 [a.m.] and wake up at 6 [a.m.].”

Over 300 students at Gunn are currently enrolled in zero period, many of whom take the classes that are taught before school so they can pursue their outside of school passions. Students strongly opposed the proposal to end zero period and hoped to get an opportunity persuade the school board to not go through with the proposal. However, on April 10, Superintendent Dr. Max McGee announced in a letter to the Palo A l t o community that academic z e r o period howed s ’ classes s i n were to A Tita does m be elimvoice r u inated at o y eople p s i Gunn and ’ s Matter aren’t Palo Alto we H i g h School. h, Gun c i e R h This de-Sara cision applied primarily to Gunn, since Paly only teaches Physical Education during zero period. Gunn students felt almost voiceless due to how unwilling the school board and administration were to adjust their decisions according to what the student body wanted. After seeing the uproar of student frustration, Sorensen and

‘

The Campanile

Friday, May 1, 2015

SPOTLIGHT

B5

Design by Bo Field, Aiva Petriceks and Carissa Zou

whose Voice Matters l media as a platform to express their Voice

Gunn senior Michelle Zhang decided to make a movement based on the success of “A Titan is.”

“I had lunch with [Zhang] one day, and she brought up [the frustration of not having a voice in essential school decisions],” Sorensen said. “I asked her, ‘Don’t you think we could start a campaign that is just like ‘A Titan is?’ We started thinking of ways that we could make a similar campaign but with a different message. She came up with the sentiment ‘My voice matters,’ and I came up with writing on your hand and covering your mouth because o u r voices our being silenced t r i g h t le tha p o e p now. It d e Voic y was a M ‘ . powermatter ing that ful way gniz to spread e reco d. r a e h that mesg t bein sage.” nior “My Voice nn Ju Matters” has a very slim chance of changing the school board’s decision, the ultimate goal is to pave the way for greater student voice in decisions that affect them.

“We won’t be able to reverse [the zero period decision], but I think we are using it as a stepping stone for the future good,” Sorensen said. “We are showing them that we aren’t going to give up, and

Photos courtesy of atitanis.tumblr.com and gunnvoicesmatter.tumblr.com

that we aren’t going to let our voices be silenced by adults just because we are kids. We just want to show the community that we have a voice, and our voice matters.”

Gunn students are quickly replacing their “A Titan is” profile pictures with their “My Voice Matters” photo, spreading the movement even faster.

Profile pictures on Facebook are usually just an image for people to show themselves across social media. However, with the Gunn Tumblr movements, profile pictures now have the power to spread a message; the more people who change their profile pictures, the bigger the conversation becomes.

“What it really comes down to is exposure of [‘My Voice Matters],” Gunn senior Josh Wilson said. “The more photos we post, the more we talk about it, the more students will get behind it and the more force we will have going into trying to get the administration from pushing on our own agenda.”

The power of the “My Voice Matters” was shown when 40 Gunn students attended the school board meeting on April 21 to speak their opinions. Seventeen students spoke, showing that students are using the sentiment my voice matters to show that zero period is an issue they will not back down from.

Students are able to make the effortless shift from the “A Titan is” movement to “My Voice Matters” because of the similarities the movements have. “‘A Titan is’ showed people that your voice does matter,” Reich said. “‘My Voice Matters’ is people recognizing that we aren’t being heard.”

Posting photos of students behind a movement, instead of posting a long message on Facebook, allows the community to connect with the faces they are seeing in the photos and see the students behind these movements.

“From the outside it is easier to say all these things without seeing

how it affects kids,” Sorensen said.

“But [parents] seeing the faces of kids, and even their kids and their kids’ friends, has an effect. The ‘My Voice Matters’ photos are mugshots, they aren’t smiling kids because its a serious thing and we want parents to know that it affects us negatively and you can’t keep doing things that will make stress worse when they are trying to make stress better.”

With an influx of support all at

from parents, the school board and pediatricians the last few months, and the support of the Tumblrs have shown how much every Titan cares about one another.

“We are all really supportive, and we have been uniting against the outside,” Sorensen said. “The outside has been attacking us a little bit, it is important for us to sit there in solidarity so that we stay sane. It is a very hard time for us and if we didn’t have

The more photos we post, the more we talk about it, the more students will get behind it and the more force we will have going into trying to get the administration from pushing on our own agenda.

- Josh Wilson, Gunn Senior once, it is easy to believe these movements brought out the best of the Gunn community. However, the two Tumblrs didn’t magically bring Gunn students together, rather they showed the Palo Alto community the unity that Gunn has on a day-to-day basis.

“Part of me does think that [‘A Titan is’] united our school, but I think that it takes on the appearance of uniting our school when in fact our school is already united and used it as a way to share that message,” Reich said.

Gunn students have been attacked by outlandish suggestions coming

each other, I think it would be much worse.”

Students from Gunn’s neighboring school, Paly, have noticed their cross town school’s effective use of social media to advocate for what they believe in and disseminate an impactful message.

“It is pretty cool that the students are advocating for issues that they think are very important to them, especially using social media to really get their point across,” junior Dorothy Han said. “It intrigues other students, especially for me as a student from Paly, I definitely wish Paly could

do something like that. It unites the student body as a whole and it also reminds us of important issues that we deal with in our community.”

Paly students should not just watch Gunn students unite over the issue of student voice, rather join them too, according to Sorensen.

“I think Paly students should care about this because it’s not just a Gunn issue,” Sorensen said. “The board oversees both of our schools, and although they’re more focused on Gunn right now, there will definitely be issues or conflicts with Paly in the future. I think the students have to make sure we are all in this together and really make sure we stand up for each other and make our voices heard. If they are unwilling to listen to Gunn kids, they will not listen to Paly kids either.”

The Tumblrs have proven that students, whether at Gunn or not, have the power to create a movement to command that their voices are heard.

“I have a unique perspective because I have been doing so much over the past few months,” Sorensen said. “[Creating a movement] is not something I would have ever saw myself doing before. I really think anyone can make an impact. I didn’t consider myself to be some special kid or some hero, but that has been how I have been preserved and it has been an amazing experience for me to be so involved and have so many kids be grateful in me speaking out.

Anybody can be that person. More people should step up and take that risk, because it was worth it for me.

The community needs to see more kids like that.”

If a student does want to start a project, on Tumblr or not, a simple message to better his or her community can get one a long way.

“My advice would be to keep [the movement] simple and let your community shine in it, instead of making it super complex,” Reich said. “Keep it basic and then the message will come through itself.”

Friday, May 1, 2015

B6

Teachers include life lessons in their curricula

The Campanile

LIFESTYLE

Music festivals epitomize social experience of music Despite being expensive, festivals are worth the price due to their vibrant atmospheres Abira Berezin

Staff Writer

A

MISCHA NEE

Staff Writer

Life advice from fellow students can often come off as both hypocritical and uninformed, so where should you really be looking for helpful tips? In the past, my answer would have been Yahoo Answers to all of my pressing questions: “How many times is it socially acceptable to text a girl with no response??!!” “What should I wear on a first date?” and “Tips for manscaping”. But after sitting through a year of lectures by AP Chemistry teacher Ms. Sylvestri and U.S. History teacher Mr. Cronin, I can guarantee you that the answers are lying right in front of you every period of the day. You just have to listen closely and read a little between the lines.

“It’s not like Burger King, you can’t ‘have it your way!’”

— Carolina Sylvestri As those of you taking the April ACT found out, fast food is such a major part of our lives that sometimes taking it away can seem extremely daunting. Its food is meant to be cheap, look good and taste mediocre. But despite the golden buns and seemingly juicy patties, Burger King’s slogan is filled with many promises as empty as the calories of its burgers.

As Ms. Sylvestri tells us, chemistry doesn’t let you choose what it’s going to do, and neither does life. The Maillard reaction will only happen above 130°C and the hot guy isn’t going to ask you out until fate lets it happen.

No matter how much you may want it to be true, you just can’t have it your way.

“Is it work? Yes. Is it effort? Yes. That’s why they made Fritos.”

— Carolina Sylvestri No excuses. Coaches have said it, weight loss campaigns have said it and now Ms. Sylvestri has said it.

The work that you’re going to have to do is not just going to go away, and the things worth doing of course require some effort. And for that, God gave us Fritos (or whatever your chip of choice happens to be). So drown in your half-gallon tubs of ice cream while you sit down to watch the newest episode of The Bachelor (except not this year because “countryboy” Chris Soules bored us all out of our minds and the girls’ looks didn’t make up for any of his shortcomings) without shame because we all have multiple midnight snacks when we give up on a limits homework or don’t want to read anymore Shakespeare.

“Don’t start none, don’t be none.”

— Justin Cronin For those that claim to not want drama in their lives, (I’m definitely not one of those people) a sure lot of them “start some”. You can always be the better man no matter what the situation. As Jordan Baker in “The Great Gatsby” put it, “It takes two to make an accident”. Now whether that’s just a euphemism I can’t be sure, but just always know that getting stuck in the thick of an argument or lovers’ quarrel is done out of your own volition. It’s always up to you to decide if you want to be on the next World Star Hip Hop clip, so don’t throw the first punch.

“Somebody has to be the lifeguard of the gene pool.”

— Justin Cronin I’ll just leave the literal meaning of that up to you guys to interpret, but there’s always got to be a lifeguard of every pool. Not everyone can just have fun all the time, so don’t be the douche that always refuses to be the “lifeguard.” Be a lifeguard out of empathy and kindness but also out of personal gain (because that’s why most of us do anything anyways). Everyone should have the opportunity to be in control of a situation and hold all of the responsibility. It’s a test that all of us as humans must endure.

And as to the gene aspect of it, just don’t hookup with any loosely related cousins.

s the school year winds down, our beloved summer winds up. Also known as: festival season. That’s right, get ready for your various news feeds to be over run by countless pictures and posts from music festivals. Music festivals are beautiful because they bring people together and allow opportunities to see favorite artists for a reasonable price.

Huge musical festivals can range anywhere from $100-$400 as a base price. If you really want to go to a festival but your only concern is the price, think of it this way. The cost to go to one headliner’s concert could easily be half or more than half the price of a multiple day general admission ticket. This means, you could see as many artists as you want out of the usually wide selection for the price of seeing one or two big artists. “[Tickets are] absolutely worth the money,” junior Henry Gordon said. “If you can buy at the right time for the right festival, the experience is more than worth the cost.”

These festivals are worth the money, but if you are being pressured into going by friends when you actually don’t like the music, it may not be worth it. The point of going to the festivals are usually to see artists you love. The combination of the music, people, and experiences make the festivals worth the cost, “Music festivals give you so many amazing experiences and memories that are priceless,” junior Katie Douty said. “So even if a ticket is a lot of money you definitely won’t regret it in the end.”

The whole experience of a festival is unforgettable because there are so many aspects in a festival. For example, there are usually several stages, places to eat and places to win prizes.

This allows you to plan what you

ESTHER DOERR/The campanile

Coachella-goers have a variety of activities to choose from, ranging from the iconic ferris wheel to various musical performances.

want to do and who to see at what time. There are usually places where you can just relax if that’s what you wish to do. So even though the festivals are centered around the music, you would be paying for everything that comes with going to a festival.

“I love the feeling of music festivals; connecting with the music, people around you, and most importantly, connecting with yourself physically, emotionally and spiritually,” senior Alexis Crews-Holloway said.

If you know a musical festival would be your kind of scene and if you know you’d love the music and really want to see some artists, don’t let the price discourage you (unless you really can’t afford a ticket). You will meet the nicest people at festivals and get to bond with people through your love of music.

There are several local and close by popular summertime festivals that could interest a prospective festival goer. For example, starting with a festival on the cheaper side, BFD is held at Shoreline Amphitheatre in Mountain View and has starting ticket prices under $100. This year it

will be held on June 6 with popular headlining bands like Modest Mouse and Of Monsters and Men. BFD is a one day festival with mostly alternative bands and uniquely gives local up-and-coming bands and platform to be discovered.

Outside Lands and Coachella are two big festivals that incorporate many genres, like indie, R&B, electronic and other genres. Outside Lands is located in Golden Gate park and San Francisco where as Coachella is held south of Los Angeles at the Empire Polo Club. Both are three day festivals that start in the $300 price range and attract a lot of people due to the quality of the artists they get and the spectrum of musical genres that they include.

“I would recommend going to Outside Lands for sure,” Gordon said. “Such a diverse audience and lineup, and get to have a great time with your friends.”

“When I got back from Coachella I literally felt like crying, it’s now my favorite place on earth,” Douty said.

If you love country music, Stagecoach is the festival for you. It is three

days of your favorite country artists and is held at the same place as Coachella at the Empire Polo Club and tickets start in the $200 price range but quickly go up.

“There seem to be many festivals like Outside Lands and Coachella, but none really incorporate country so it was an amazing experience to have lots and lots of people all enjoying the same music that I do,” senior Kelly Swanson said.

For electronic music lovers, Nocturnal Wonderland is a massive electronic music festival. It never disappoints to bring the biggest names to perform and bring three days of dance. It is located in San Bernardino, near Los Angeles, and has starting prices in the $200-300 price range.

California Roots is a huge manly reggae festival in Monterey that is known for its chill vibes and messages of peace and love through music. It’s starting prices are in the $100-$200 price range for all three days.

In the end, no matter which festival you go to, coming together with strangers to see your favorite artists for a couple days, is priceless.

Drone racing gains popularity Young Thug and Lil Wayne clash New technology makes drones accessible Thomas Rauner-Swan

Staff Writer

I

fumble with the buttons on the goggles as my eyes follow the speck in the distance that I know to be a quadcopter. “What channel is your video on?” I ask. “Fatshark channel four,” my friend replies as I tune into his frequency. After the black and white static dissipates, I am flying through a small gap in a tree, forty feet above the ground. I can see other miniature quadcopters floating beside me as I speed down the field.

Looking down I can see myself sitting on the grass next to the group of people whose eyes are glued to the spectacle in front of them while they shade the sun with their hands to watch our every move.

Now with the implementation of first person view video goggles, it appears as though they are a bird flying far above the ground. It is truly an immersive experience. .

Ever since live video feeds have been around, people have been putting transmitters on remote control airplanes while they look into a video receiver to determine where they are going. Now with the implementation of first person view video goggles, it appears as though they are a bird flying far above the ground. It is truly an immersive experience.

At the Mountain View Baylands at Shoreline, this type of flying is extremely popular. On a sunny day, you will find many hobbyists flying their sometimes home-built machines through the trees at ridiculously fast speeds. It is a great community of pilots who love chatting with each other about the newest radio control fads.

Recently, due to the increase in quality of video signals at longer ranges, this type of flying, also known as FPV or first person view, has become more popular. Now with the growing popularity of multirotors

and the affordability of this type of technology, remote control enthusiasts are able to race each other at distances that were previously only attainable with extremely expensive equipment.

The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) regulates the use of most of the frequencies used to fly first person view. In order to be allowed to use these frequencies you first need to pass a 35 question multiple choice test randomly chosen from a pool of over 400 questions. This test is on the basics of how radio frequencies work and includes a safety procedure section. Anyone interested in flying FPV should consider passing this test in order to legally operate his or her equipment.

Once you are a licensed amateur radio operator, the excitement really starts. All you need is an operational remote control airplane or multiorder, a video transmitter, a video receiver and a camera, and you are ready to fly. FPV racing can be an individual sport or a group activity.

Licensed (and sometimes unlicensed) FPV enthusiasts in the Bay Area fly at the Sunnyvale Baylands on the weekends. For pilots looking for a more structured experience, a flying group called Areal Sports League, flies at the Baylands every third Sunday of the month. At meetings you can expect high speed FPV racing as well as drone combat. A large part of these races is building and maintaining equipment, as well as practicing flying itself. A great part of this hobby is that participants want to share what they have built with the rest of the drone community. This environment is especially helpful for those who are novices because they can easily get help from the more experienced pilots.

For those looking to get into the hobby, the best thing to do is to meet some hobbyists at the Mountain View Baylands on the weekends.

There, perspective pilots can learn about the hobby from the experts, and watch in first person as they skillfully maneuver their machines through small gaps in trees.

“Barter 6” sparks hip hop controversy

Courtesy of Cam Kirk

Young Thug in midst of one of his performances during the acclaimed Rodeo Tour.

Daniel HAmmerson

Staff Writer

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oung Thug is a polarizing character in the current hip hop scene whose name sparks much controversy and debate, due to his unique music and approach to the genre. His mixtape “Barter 6” was set to drop on April 17th, yet was released a day early. Before April 17, many thought the project was his debut album, but all of this was clarified in a press release from his record label 300 Entertainment. The label also announced that his debut album would be titled “Hy!£UN35” with a scheduled release date of August 28. Following these announcements ‘Thug released his second music video from the mixtape for the first track “Constantly Hating.”

Though the intentions of the original album title were good, Wayne went on to diss Thug during one of his tour stops in Ohio.

Just days before the mixtape was released, Thug announced that he would no longer be using the title Carter 6 due to fear of legal action.

The Carter is a series of albums released by Lil Wayne since 2004, and The Carter 5 is currently set to be released in 2015 after many delayed potential release dates. Thug was not able to use such an album title since it was the intellectual property of Wayne. Use of such an album title was said to be an ode to Wayne, who

Thug lists as one of his main inspirations. Though the intentions of the original album title were good, Wayne went on to diss Thug during one of his tour stops in Ohio.

Thug responded through instagram stating he wanted no part of any beef, reiterating that Wayne was one of his idols. Though no direct confrontation has taken place, Thug held a listening party in Wayne’s hometown of Hollygrove, New Orleans, which many saw as a insult in its own way. Cash Money Records founder Birdman is featured on the mixtape and has been prominent throughout the rise of Young Thug.

Birdman was recently sued by Wayne for money owed from his solo work and label imprint Young Money Entertainment. Prior to these events, Wayne and Thug even collaborated on a track making the controversy more unexpected.

Shortly after the original mixtape announcement ‘Thug released his first single from the tape titled “Halftime.” Following this release ‘Thug then leaked the single “Just Might Be” produced by Wheezy, who produced eight of the 13 tracks on the mixtape. Producer London on da Track, a common Young Thug collaborator also produces a good number of tracks from the mixtape. A couple weeks later the video for “Check” was released in which Thug, Birdman and others from his crew flaunt extravagant amounts of cash.

Even though Barter 6 is only a mixtape, it will leave fans eagerly anticipating Thug’s upcoming debut album.

Friday, May 1, 2015

The Campanile

LIFESTYLE B7 Paly alumni share personal Greek life experiences Investigating the truth behind societal stereotypes and misconceptions regarding “frat” culture and Greek life masha konkov

staff writer

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ow that spring has sprung onto us, second semester seniors are playing the waiting game when it comes to college acceptances. With the anxieties of applying behind them, soon to be graduates can finally start looking forward to the college experience.

Many factors contribute to the debatable idea that college is the best four years of one’s life, but this is often attributed to the experiences students in Greek life share. While not all colleges in the United States have a Greek system, there are currently over nine million sorority and fraternity members in the nation.

According to the Merriam-Webster Dictionary, a fraternity is “a local or national organization of male students, primarily for social purposes, usually with secret initiation and rituals, and a name composed of two of three Greek letters.” Over the years, “frat” culture has evolved into so much more, garnering a negative connotation for the Greek system in general.

More recently, one fraternity related incident that grabbed the nation’s attention was at the University of Oklahoma, when a video of Sigma Alpha Epsilon members taking part in a racist chant went viral. The University disbanded the fraternity and expelled two of its members. These instances go farther than -isms, pushing legal boundaries of vandalism and hazing.

In January, three University of Michigan fraternities allegedly did tens of thousands of dollars worth of damage to two Michigan ski resorts.

These unfortunate occurrences have created the stereotype that all fraternities and sororities are associated with hazing, drinking and partying. Unfortunately this assumption

has some truth; according to USA Today, there has been at least one death related to hazing per year since 1975. Binge drinking is responsible for 82 percent of these deaths.

Comedy actor Will Ferrell, who himself was a fraternity member during his time at the University of Southern California, reacted to the Oklahoma incident by suggesting to shut down the whole Greek system altogether.

“Because when you break it down, it really is about creating cliques and clubs and being exclusionary,” Ferrell said. “Fraternities were started as academic societies that were supposed to have a philanthropic arm to them.

And when it’s governed by those kind of rules, then they’re still beneficial.

But you gotta be careful.”

Due to the sensationalist tendencies in the media, the hazing scandals are making headlines, while the fundraisers and philanthropy events generally do not. There are just as many positive statistics regarding Greek life as deterring ones.

Greek life will take you past college, I’ve been connected to employers who also happened to be Greek, and it helped me get [my] job.

Natalie Brock Paly alumna

According to USA Today, 85 percent of Fortune 500 executives were part of Greek life, and college graduation rates are 20 percent higher among Greeks than non-Greeks.

Palo Alto High School alumna Natalie Brock, who is currently a member of Delta Gamma sorority at Southern Methodist University, believes getting involved in Greek life has been one of the best decisions

courtesy of nadya nee

Paly alumna Nadya Nee (third from the right) at an event with her Chi Omega sorority sisters at the University of Pennsylvania.

that she has made in her college career.

“My sorority has given me so many things, including ways to get involved in campus, ways to improve in school, and friends that will last a lifetime,” Brock said. “Greek life will take you past college, I’ve been connected to employers who also happened to be Greek, and it helped me get [my] job. One of the main misconceptions about Greek life is that were all snobby brats who hate each other, and all we care about is partying, which is just completely untrue. We rarely are recognized for the good things we do, such as raising millions of dollars for philanthropies every year, or being one of the top fundraising groups for Relay For Life every year.”

Lauren Hammerson, a Paly alumna and graduate from Loyola Marymount University, was a member of Alpha Phi. Her opinion towards the Greek system aligns with Brock’s, as she views it as something solely beneficial to one’s college experience.

“I think the greek community and sororities norms/values/general attitude completely pertains to the college campus you are looking at. But that is my own experience that I to be true within my sorority,” Hammerson said. “Someone else could have an entirely different experience, just depends.”

Although sorority members have the stereotype of being shallow and overly consumed with social status, “frat guys” are thought to be racist, sexist, and crazy party animals.

Paly alumni Connor Fitzgerald and current member of the Delta Chi fraternity at Denison University thinks that some of the stereotypes regarding fraternities are true, but do not define them whatsoever.

“I was lucky enough to be social Chairman, rush Chairman and President, so it was a lot of responsibility which was a good experience for me,” Fitzgerald said. “Least favorite part is the politics/rivalries between fraternities, fairly similar to clique-

ness in high school. At my school the majority of houses that are not affiliated with a sports teams are looking for good guys with big personalities.

Knowing someone in the fraternity can definitely help you get a bid, but what is more important is your conversations and actions at parties and other social events. A stereotype I saw to be true would be that fraternities dictate the social scene which can definitely be frustrating for those who are not affiliated.”

Ultimately, there will be students who decide to go Greek to build a network, make friends, develop leadership qualities and social skills that will take them far after graduation, and there will be students joining solely for the partying.

To pledge or not to pledge is a personal decision, but the negative stigma in society should be reconsidered because at the end of the day, it is up to the future students to define the reputations of Greek organizations.

Experts weigh in on summer jobs and college programs College counselors advise students on the benefits and disadvantages to different summer enrichment options catherine yu

staff writer

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hen students look to the future, it is important to consider how their summer activities will appear on college applications, and subsequently how they impact admissions decisions.

Palo Alto High School’s high achieving environment pushes students to differentiate themselves by pursuing esteemed summer plans. However, one of the debates troubling students is the value of attending selective summer programs compared to the value of obtaining work experience.

Many students may apply to summer programs when looking to gain a step-up from their peers.

However, from a college admissions standpoint, several questions arise: is the opportunity to write down one’s expensive summer experience on a college application worth the money? Even more, does a family’s ability to send its children to such costly programs accurately reflect a student’s work ethic? Or, is it more worthwhile for a student to find a job opportunity and gain employment experience?

If the program makes an impact on the student — and the student makes an impact on it — it’s completely worth it.

Ian Fisher

College Coach consulant Summer programs hosted by the nation’s most prestigious universities boast of offering students unique opportunities. Programs like Stanford Institute of Medical Research or John’s Hopkins’ Center for Talented Youth are popular amongst Paly students. These summer programs, however, are costly and can range anywhere from a couple thousand dollars to upwards $10,000 dollars.

For example, University of Chicago’s Summer Session can cost the equivalent of one year’s tuition for in-state freshmen enrolling at a Uni-

courtesy of nick cook

Junior Nick Cook (bottom right) traveled to Belize with Humanitarian Experience for Youth last summer to help build schools.

versity of California campus. At the same time, summer programs provide students with the opportunity they cannot find elsewhere, and might not experience in college. Students must consider if these experiences will provide them with the motivation they need for their academic pursuits.

College admissions consultants can shed light on this debate. Paly’s own college counselor Sandra Cernobori speaks on the topic of employment compared to summer programs.

“Colleges and high schools hope that you do have some time over the summer to rest, relax and recharge,” Cernobori said. “We don’t actually want you busy for the entire summer.

I wouldn’t even limit [the summer] to work experience or program. From a college point of view, it’s not like one activity is better. It’s that [a student is] doing something over the summer that encourages [him or her] to explore interests, or share a little bit about [him or herself ] so that [he or she] not just sitting in front of the TV.” Ian Fisher, a consultant at College Coach, believes a summer’s impact on

college applications is up to the student.

“The summer program itself is never going to be a reason [a student] does or does not get into college,” Fisher said. “What makes a difference is what [one] does in that program, whether it’s learning a new skill, developing an interest or meeting with faculty who might be able to write a letter of recommendation. If the program makes an impact on the student — and the student makes an impact on it — it’s completely worth it.”

Coming from the Palo Alto community, students may give colleges the impression that being financially well-off is the only factor that allows them to experience these exceptional opportunities. This is where the value of summer programs is questioned and met by the value of work experience. Because of Palo Alto’s wealthy community status, both students and their families have become wary of how summer pursuits affect students’ portrayals in their applications.

Do such programs actually show that students are given opportunities

through an affinity for education, or rather from financial advantage?

“I don’t think [attending expensive programs] is necessarily negative,” Cernobori said. “I would say it would be either neutral or favorable.

There might be some people that have some stereotype that living in Palo Alto means that you’re affluent and that you can afford an expensive program.”

What one could do at home could be as good or better than a program for one’s application, but the difference is that the program is established, structured and available.

Ian Fisher

College Coach consultant “That might be true for some of Paly’s students, but I don’t think that’s true for all of our students and I don’t think that college representatives would think that’s true for all of Paly’s students either. I don’t think it’s

an automatic assumption to think ‘oh, this is a rich kid.’”

According to Fisher, if expensive summer programs are off the table, students will only have a valuable summer experience if it is wellplanned. This usually involves an internship or acquiring employment. It could also mean a self-planned project, such as taking community college classes or volunteer work.

“What one could do at home could be as good or better than a program for one’s application, but the difference is that the program is established, structured and available,” Fisher said. “[A student’s] own summer option is yet to be determined and might be much harder to lock down.”

It is difficult to definitively say that getting a summer job would be more beneficial than attending a selective program because commitment level varies across students. The most important things, according to college admissions consultants, are that the student has a good, clear sense of what they plan to do and that they get the most out of their summer activities.

“If [a student] turned down the more structured program, I would want [him or her] to have what [he or she] plans to do instead and action items for how [he or she] plans to achieve it,” Fisher said. “It would not be great if [a student] ended up spending the summer on the couch because [he or she] didn’t find a job in a reasonable period of time.”

Colleges get a lot of applications from students that indicate what they’ve done over summers for the past four years. There is some level of familiarity with summer programs, but it’s more about what a student gains from the experience.

“For most people at some level, money poses some sort of an issue, but maybe there’s some self-discovery that happens at the [expensive summer programs] that’s super cool,” Cernobori said. “Attending an expensive program alone is not is not meaningful. It’s what happens and what a student gets from it that is meaningful.”

Friday, May 1, 2015

The Campanile

LIFESTYLE

B8

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Destigmatizing Psychedelics Prominence in Counterculture

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Therapeutic Effects

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sychedelics have enormous potential in the realm of psychiatric therapy, but research has been limited due to a heightened negative stigma surrounding them. A catalyst for this stigma was the Controlled Substances Act of 1970 (CSA) which categorized psilocybin mushrooms, lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD), dimethyltryptamine (DMT), peyote and methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA) as Schedule I controlled substances, indicating that they have “no currently accepted medical use in treatment in the United States and a lack of accepted safety for use under medical supervision, and it is further undisputed that the drug has at least some potential for abuse.”

2000

Applications

hrooms, acid and ayahuasca, among other psychedelics, have been associated with counterculture since the mid 1900s, especially when their use peaked in the ‘60s, inspiring a wave of psychedelic culture dubbed psychedelia.

However, society has since closed its mind to psychedelics, failing to separate their therapeutic potential from the hackneyed depiction of them as purely recreational that was popularized during the peak of psychedelia. In order to fully utilize psychedelics, the ‘hippie’ stigma needs to be broken down so research and discourse can take place.

Governmental Responses

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he CSA stigmatized psychedelics, making it difficult to find “accepted medical use in treatment.”

A study by the Heffter Research Institute in 2011 showed that a modest dose, about two grams, of psilocybin mushrooms can lower patient anxiety levels for up to three months after only two six to eight hour sessions. A study from 2014 on LSD’s psychotherapeutic uses found that the use of LSD could reduce anxiety levels by up to 20 percent for as long as a year after the experience.

This psychotherapeutic effect is one of the most natural ways to combat anxiety.

Other anxiety medications containing benzodiazepines, such as Xanax, artificially increase levels and effects of certain chemicals on the brain to produce a temporary calming effect. However, psilocybin and LSD reduce anxiety by making the user far more conducive to creating new neural connections during the experience, allowing them to look at situations from new perspectives afterward. This ability allows patients to solve the root of the problem by either discovering a way to remedy the situation or realizing that the situation does not warrant anxiety.

DMT, a more obscure psychedelic compound and the psychoactive ingredient in ayahuasca, also has potential for therapeutic use, though its best application is still unclear. After an experience, users have been known to renounce drugs altogether in light of self realizations.

However, apart from the Santo Daime church, which won the right to brew ayahuasca tea for religious services, no one has explored the potential uses of DMT. Apart from the stigma, there is no reason not to pursue this type of research, especially given that every living creature has the enzymes and compounds necessary to easily synthesize DMT.

DMA had garnered attention in the medical community as a form of psychedelic therapy for those suffering from post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) prior to the CSA’s passage. MDMA causes the release of serotonin in the brain, increasing feelings of trust and compassion. Patients suffering from PTSD struggle with trust and intimate relationships, so MDMA has the potential to be a significant step forward in treatment. The medical community had agreed that MDMA should be classified as a Schedule III controlled substance, or a “drug with a moderate to low potential for physical and psychological dependence,” but the government denied this motion when passing CSA. Despite government opposition, MDMA’s role in treating PTSD remains one of the most promising uses of psychedelics in psychotherapy. The Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies conducted a pilot study on the effects of MDMA on patients suffering from chronic PTSD and found that after only two sessions, 83 percent of patients no longer qualified for PTSD diagnosis.

Conclusion

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verall, psychedelic assisted psychotherapy could potentially serve as a more viable option to treat depression and or anxiety for one in 10 Americans who currently use antidepressants. This would be a huge step forward in depression treatment, since many antidepressants have been known to cause side effects, including the very conditions they are designed to prevent.

JAMIE HAR

DAMI BOLARINWA

ALISHA KUMAR

This edition featuring:

Andrew Gibson

with The Campanile’s own

Anant Marur and Bo Field The Campanile: So, first question, right off the bat: I hear you have an affiliation of sorts with Arc’teryx.

Would you mind commenting on how you feel about that brand?

Andrew Gibson: I really feel like the Arc’teryx mentality just embodies perfection. On the Alpha SV jacket, they had about seven conferences for each of the 12 zippers on the jacket.

TC: Seven times 12 comes out to 84.

84 conferences.

AG: That sounds about right. Like I said, they embody perfection.

TC: Do you have any personal idols, Andy? Anyone who might have, for instance, been on Shark Tank?

AG: Mark Cuban. He’s the modern Rockefeller. He brought himself up from humble beginnings to the affluent man he is today.

TC: Who is your favorite actress in the acclaimed film, ‘The Breakfast Club’?

AG: Molly. Molly Ringwald.

TC: Students around campus have heard you speaking a very unique dialect of English. How does one go about learning this intricate language?

AG: I think one should go on Rap Genius and read some Juicy J lyrics.

Urban Dictionary might help as well.

TC: What’s your opinion on the trout as an animal?

AG: Slimy.

TC: Slimy, grimy. Do you support the movement to protect the coral reef?

The reef is burning away as we speak.

From all those pollutants and chemicals, that is.

AG: Chemical fishing is bad. Even if it does kill trouts, it’s not okay. It’s never okay.

TC: What’s your spirit animal?

AG: Definitely not a trout, nor an owl.

Maybe a grizzly bear; they eat trouts.

TC: What are your opinions on the U.S. Government’s war on drugs?

AG: I think it’s a failure. Nixon’s efforts were really misguided.

TC: True. As Juicy J would say, “We gon’ stay trippy for life, mane.” So, how do you feel about fungi?

AG: Well, they say I’m a fun guy.

TC: Fasho. You have a very noticeable lack of a tan. Does this mean you’re a snow sports enthusiast?

AG: Ye. TC: What’s your crowning achievement in snow sports?

AG: I ‘muerto’ed a ski instructor.

TC: You’re gonna need to elaborate on that.

AG: We were going down the slopes of Mount Hood, and my velocity reached uncontrollable levels. I saw a ski instructor in the distance but forgot to steer away. Before I knew it, my skis gunned into the back of his knee, and he collapsed in front of a train of 8-year-olds. I was fine though. I also went through a fence onto a road once at Kirkwood.

TC: Who do you support for the 2016 presidential election?

AG: Waka Flocka Flame, son.

TC: Which of his policies do you identify with?

AG: I think he has some great ideas regarding banning people with big feet from wearing sandals. I hate when people do that. Ruins my entire day.

TC: You seem thirsty. What are some of your favorite beverages to quench your thirst?

AG: Mango juice, orange juice and the ‘yung’ Arizona.

TC: Which city would a business tycoon like yourself want to travel to for international experience?

AG: Kyoto.

The Campanile

Friday, May 1, 2015 ATHLETE OF THE MONTH

SP RTS

Varsity lacrosse player Maya Benatar has been driving her team towards victory this year.

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d n d a o n e e n " o " r u e le h t nb c o l g l n ege in t i r i u q e r he p t s n i ath ga Text by: a owen dulik t to n e sports editor th m u g e Design by: r a Miranda Chen Kai oda n a A staff writer staff writer

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uke University’s mens basketball has further reinforced its place as a dynasty after winning its fifth National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) championship with a 68-63 victory over the University of Wisconsin on April 6.

In a press conference after the game, Wisconsin Head Coach Bo Ryan condemned Duke Head Coach Mike Krzyzewski for his policies regarding player tenure at Duke.

“But every player that’s played through the [Wisconsin] program, okay, we don’t do a rent-a-player,” Ryan said.

What Ryan is referring to is the growing trend in recent years of the top high school basketball players in the country signing with a top collegiate team, such as Duke or University of Kentucky, and playing one season before declaring for the National Basketball Association (NBA) draft.

Ryan’s criticism of Krzyzewski is unwarranted and ill-conceived for several reasons. First, it is the fault of the NBA that players attend college for just a year before turning pro. In 2006, the NBA introduced the “one and done” rule, which established that high school players need to wait a year after high school before declaring for the draft.

What this has done is help the majority of players improve and mature both mentally and physically before entering the draft. But for top tier players, the rule has become an annoying technicality. Players like Anthony Davis, Kyrie Irving and more were already just so dominant when exiting high school that they did not need to mature further before stepping up to the professional level. It is not the fault of players or college coaches that the players do this, they simply have to abide by the NBA’s rule.

Another fault with Ryan’s point is that Krzyzewski is not making some sort of covert agreement with the players he signs. Krzyzewski simply recruits the best talent possible, and wants them to play for him. Why would Krzyzewski want to get rid of some of the best players in the country so quickly? What these players do is something that is the best move for their careers under the current system, and they shouldn’t be looked down upon for it.

What may have just come off as an angry remark after a close loss, the words spoken by Ryan have resonated in the basketball community. While Krzyzewski and the top collegiate players are not the source of the problem, the NBA is where the change is needed. The “one and done” rule needs to be abolished for several reasons.

“While college is definitely a level needed for most athletes, the top tier should be able to immediately turn pro out of high school.“

Top tier professional athletes such as Anthony Davis, Kyrie Irving and Andrew Wiggings (left to right) were required to attend one year of college before they entered the NBA. Courtesy of triangle offense

courtesy of slam

e

PREDICTIONS fOR THE 2015 NBA PLAYOffS Who will be the NBA Champions of 2015, and how far will each team go in the playoffs?

A main reason is the pressure that these men face. Several top tier players are aware of the fact that they could be drafted in the first round and be guaranteed a contract. All their friends and family are pushing for this. They are guaranteed millions of dollars. This has been their dream for their whole life. How could they say no to this? Instead, these players are forced to “attend” college for a year.

While they do develop, they do not get much out of the situation. The players will immediately turn pro, because it has been their goal and college was merely a stepping stone.

Another key point is that this NBA policy is making a mockery of college academics. As has recently been unearthed in a scandal at the University of North Carolina, college basketball players don’t always have to attend their classes or complete homework assignments. They are superstars and legends on campus — ­they are essentially professional NBA players. But they are put into this environment for no other reason than because the NBA wants them to not be able to immediately enter the league. While college is definitely a level needed for most athletes, the top tier should be able to immediately turn pro out of high school.

Hand in hand with the previous point, the “one and done” rule is cannibalizing college basketball by providing another tier of talented basketball for viewers to watch. Now, some players are choosing to play overseas for a year before declaring for the draft.

This is creating an international professional basketball scene as well.

These players that choose to go overseas make very good money, and are often treated as superstars, instead of at the mediocre level that they would be treated at if they were in the NBA. This may lead to more fans watching different leagues instead of the NBA, which would make the association lose the money that it is so dedicated to earning.

Overall, it is once again the athletes who build up these huge moneymaking systems that get screwed over by bureaucracy. Unfortunately, sports have turned into even more of a moneymaking endeavor than a source of entertainment and pure play. This aligns with the current trend in other aspects of our world, and is nearly impossible to change.

But one simple fix to the system could really help out the players, and not have the fans buy into a fallacy, and that simple fix would be to abolish the NBA’s “one and done” rule and let players declare for the draft out of high school.

INSIDE FAIR JUSTICE fOR PROfESSIONAL ATHLETES Exploring the justice systemís trend of giving lighter sentences to professional

courtesy of rantsports

FISHING OPPORTUNITIES fOR PALO ALTANS Ever wondered where to fish in Palo Alto? Here are our recommendations for fishing trips around the bay.

athletes because of their athletic prestige.

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Friday, May 1, 2015

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C2

SPORTS

Baseball struggles as season comes to a close Teams performance hindered by injuries and lack of a strong defense, young talent seems promising for next year KAI ODA

STAFF WRITER

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n April 15 and 17, the Palo Alto High School baseball team suffered two grueling games against Los Gatos High School. The varsity team suffered a disappointing 6-3 loss in its first game against Los Gatos, and although the team improved its play in the second game, the team still lost 8-6.

The boys made a few errors during both games, but remain confident about their abilities.

“We should have won that game,” sophomore Ryan Chang said. “We didn’t play good enough defense, but we can definitely beat Los Gatos.”

Los Gatos is one of the best teams in the De Anza League, with nine wins and one loss. The boys struggled with the intimidation that comes with playing teams like Los Gatos.

“We get too tense playing baseball,” Chang said. “Our coach says we need to play relaxed, and it only matters how we treat the ball. Sometimes we get it in our heads that this team is too good and we just psyche ourselves out.”

After the Los Gatos games, the team prepared for its matchup against Milpitas High School, one of the last games of the season.

“Our new coach Fukahara is trying to teach us this thing called Kaizen,” Chang said. “Basically, if you don’t do well a certain day, you can always improve the next one.”

This mentality has enabled the boys to stay positive throughout the year, and has allowed them to come back from losses.

Additionally, a strong senior presence and sense of team unity draws the players together and encourages quality play in both games and practice.

“We stopped playing so relaxed and started to make some mistakes,” junior pitcher Justin Hull said. “This

CONNER HARDEN/THE CAMPANILE

Junior Riley Schoeben swings his bat and hits a straight line drive onto the right. The Vikings would lose to Wilcox at home 6-3 but take revenge in the second game 4-1.

has kind of carried on throughout league play and until last week. But we have had some really great practices and are playing well now.”

Our new coach Fukahara is trying to teach us this thing called Kaizen. Basically, if you don’t do well a certain day, you can always improve the next one.

Ryan Chang Sophomore

The Vikings came out strong in their first game against Milpitas with a final score of 7-4. However, the second game was much closer. After extra innings, the final score versus Milpitas ended with a 7-7 tie.

“The second pitcher we faced for Milpitas was their ace, so it took a while to score runs,” Chang said.

“Aron Ecoff was incredible pitching for us, and kept us in the game.”

The boys most recent game against Menlo Atherton High School ended with a 7-4 loss. The 11-inning game against Milpitas left the boys fatigued. Consequently, the boys began to make mistakes that led to their downfall.

“Our hitters focused more on hitting home runs than base hits,” Chang said. “But ultimately we lost because of our defense. Six errors will not win us many games.”

The end of the league season is fast approaching for the boys, and junior Owen Plambeck is optimistic about the results in the coming games.

“First and foremost, we want to get into our league playoffs and hopefully win those,” Plambeck said. “After that, our main goal is to get into [Central Coast Section (CCS)] and make a deep run into CCS playoffs.”

Chang also has high hopes for the boys’ chances in CCS, but acknowl-

Badminton steps up after slow start Juniors James Wang and Eric Chiang pave way for recent victories

edged that they needed to focus on the league games first. However, he has faith that the seniors’ experience will lead them to victory.

First and foremost, we want to get into our league playoffs and hopefully win those. After that, our main goal is to get into [Central Coast Section (CCS)] and make a deep run into CCS playoffs.

Owen Plambeck Junior

“I feel like we have a chance,” Chang said. “Our seniors will lead the way because they have been here for four straight years. But ultimately, it comes down to all of us playing great baseball.”

Over the season, the baseball team’s success has come in waves.

Boys tennis earns spot in postseason CCS

Underclassmen talent leads team to playoffs PETER MAROULIS

STAFF WRITER

T

ZOE TIERNEY/THE CAMPANILE

Junior Helen Yan attempts to return the serve in a game against Lynbrook High School. The Vikings fell to Lynbrook 27-3.

JEREMY FU

STAFF WRITER

A

fter a mixed season against its competitors, the Palo Alto High School badminton team hopes to turn around its performance this season as the season progresses.

So far, the team has played seven matches against its neighboring schools, losing its first three matches by a wide margin and winning three out of five matches thereafter. The Vikings have played against traditionally strong schools, but after finding its groove, the team appears to have a higher rate of success.

“I think as a whole team, we have figured out who’s good at which event and how to play our matches better,” freshman Jackie Cai said. “I think for the rest of the season, we will be able to get a few more matches down.”

Furthermore, the team did not have a full lineup during the first three games as a result of missing health forms. After the team returned with full strength, it has lost fewer games.

Senior Joseph Chang attributes their success to better doubles teams and stronger singles performance. “[ Junior] James Wang wasn’t available for the first three games, but he’s been dominant since his return, winning all four of his varsity-1

matches,” Chang said. “[Freshman Cai] has also been amazing, winning all her games in girls singles-1, one of the most competitive categories.”

I think as a whole team, we have figured out who’s good at which event and how to play our matches better. I think for the rest of the season, we will be able to get a few more matches down.

Jackie Cai Freshman

Despite the improving lineup, the team still struggles against stronger teams. Following a short winning streak, the Vikings fell to Lynbrook High School 27 to 3 and lost to crosstown rival Gunn High School 20 to 10.

However, Cai also believes that the losses in the beginning of the season, they allowed the team to experiment with different lineups. Furthermore, she believes that receiving their first win was vital to the team’s future performance.

“I think it took us some time to figure out what is the best lineup,” Cai said. “After beating an easier opponent like Saratoga, it definitely boosted our confidence.”

Overall, the girls team has been performing well, with Cai dominating in girls singles and senior Promise Lee playing well in girls doubles and mixed doubles. Additionally, the Vikings have played well in both varsity 2 and 3 girls doubles and girls singles, often winning many critical points in these categories.

The boys lineup has also had a strong showing, with the combination of junior James Wang, junior Eric Chiang and senior Joseph Chang, who proved to be a formidable trio of boys, securing wins in varsity-1 boys doubles and varsity-1 mixed doubles.

Chang is confident that as a result of the strong lineup, the team’s excellent performance will continue.

“For the rest of season, we’ll be taking on many strong teams to finish off the season,” Chang said. “But I am confident that our team will be able to finish strong.”

As for the team’s prospects next year, Chang believes that the strength of the underclassmen will allow for the team to be even more successful.

“Many of the young underclassmen have made great strides and are improving rapidly,” Chang said. “I believe that they will have an excellent opportunity to win league next year.”

The team’s next game will be on May 7 against Gunn High School.

Senior Ellis O’Brien attributes their unstable record — 12 wins, 10 losses and one tie — to a weak defense and injuries.

“The team got off to a hot start winning eight of our first nine games,” O’Brien said. “But recently, we lost four out of our last five. Unfortunately, I am injured and have not been playing.”

As the baseball season draws to a close, the boys’ perspective on whether or not the rest of the season will go well varies. However, although they have made a few mistakes, most players feel that the team has a lot of young talent that will translate to a more successful team in the years to come.

“In general, we did a lot better than we did last year,” Chang said.

“We were a lot more aggressive and kept our head in the game. We have some freshman and four sophomores and they have really been stepping up for us.”

here comes a moment in every team’s athletic season when the team is tested, both physically and mentally, and put to its limits. For the Palo Alto High School’s boys tennis team, that moment came during a rousing victory at its last match of the season against Los Altos High School.

The Vikings were one win away from clinching a spot in the postseason Central Coast Section (CCS) on April 16, with a Santa Clara Valley Athletic League (SCVAL) record of 1-9 and a non league record of 10-10.

The squad’s sole league win was a 6-1 triumph over Los Altos on the road earlier this season.

After some frustration through March and April, the boys kept cool heads, put aside their past losses and trounced Los Altos 6-1 once again, this time at Paly. The nearly perfect match was marred only by a loss from the doubles team composed of sophomores Noah “Slaps” Galper and Henry “Yaddidio” Badger. With a strong team effort as well as added spiritual guidance from the seemingly omnipresent Super-Fan Dan, boys tennis secured a spot in CCS. “We’re extremely happy to make CCS, and although we only got a 10-10 record, I believe we can bring solid competition to the other teams,” Badger said.

However, the team acknowledges that it does need to step up its season’s performance in order to be successful during the CCS playoffs.

With five sophomores on a 13 man roster, the squad has had some difficulty this season due to lack of experience, but has managed to compensate for that with excellent team chemistry. The upperclassmen have praised their younger teammates, who have stepped up to become solid team players and will be integral for the teams performance next year. “[Sophomore] Adrian Smith has gotten very good at anticipation and

sensing what’s going on this season,” senior Eric Lu said.

Smith, a returning varsity player, has played all season long in a singles spot, which is unusual for an underclassman. This year, Smith has been and will be a crucial component for the young squad.

Sophomore Kevin Chen has also played an instrumental part as a team player this season, exhibiting the strong work ethic that defines the boy’s tennis team. Chen has been called the leader of the “sophomore dream team,” a nickname given to the five sophomores on the team.

“I’d like to think that with our chemistry and spirit we make a huge impact on our team,” Badger said of the sophomore dream team.

Putting an at times rocky but always positive season behind them, the boys look to make a name for themselves in the postseason and have already started planning for next year.

“I believe that next year we have a solid chance, so hopefully we can finish SCVALS on a good note and improve for next season” junior and team co-captain Shiv “Twister” Matta said.

I believe that next year we have a solid chance, so hopefully we can finish SCVALS on a good note improve for next season.

Shiv Matta Junior

Matta will be returning next year and will continue his important role as a team captain while also keeping the spirited members of the sophomore dream team (soon to be junior dream team) on track. Matta is determined to display his hard work over the season during CCS. “Los Altos was a big win for us and we’re in CCS and we’re going to play hard and just see how far we can go — we have nothing to lose.” Matta said.

Friday, May 1, 2015

The Campanile

SPORTS C3 Track and field defeats Los Altos, falls to Los Gatos Despite recent losses, athletes are optimistic that coming meets will result in better records and lead to CCS wins Ethan Teo

Staff Writer

I

nconsistent performances have been the bane of the Palo Alto High School’s track and field team this season. The team lost its recent meet against Los Gatos High School on April 23, with its boys and girls varsity teams losing 69-58 and 97-30, respectively. The Paly frosh/ soph boys won 79-43, and girls junior varsity won 100-26, but it was not enough to escape defeat. The entire team was disappointed with its overall performance.

“It was a disappointing loss,” sophomore long-distance runner Naveen Pai said. “Although we lost, the score was close throughout the whole meet.

I wanted to make a difference, but I didn’t run the race I was hoping for.”

Just one week before, the track and field team had uplifting results with decisive victories against Los Altos High School on April 16 in every division except for the frosh/soph boys category, winning the meet overall.

Many athletes placed first in their respective events while also setting their own personal records at the meet, including sophomore sprinter Marion Sellier, distance runners junior Bryn Carlson, freshman Julia Doubson, junior Samuel Desre and senior long jumper Anna Dukovic.

Junior Eli Givens topped the varsity boys’ 100 meter dash while sophomore Kai Oda also placed first in the varsity boys’ 800 meter race.

Courtesy of Malcolm Slaney

Junior Austin Cox passes the baton to junior Eli Givens during the 4x400 meter relay, helping boys varsity track and field win the race and beat Los Altos 66-61 on April 23.

“We crushed them,” sophomore sprinter and long jumper Annalise Wang said. “Everyone performed really well all around.”

Paly track and field had a disappointing start to the season with a loss to rival Henry M. Gunn High School and a mediocre performance at the St. Francis Invitational. While results have been slightly more prom-

ising at times, Givens believes that the team has not reached its full potential yet.

“We’ve been doing better, but I think a lot of us could do even better than we are doing now,” Givens said.

The next meet will be the De Anza League (DAL) Trials on May 5 and May 7, where some Paly athletes may qualify for the Santa Clara Valley

Athletic League (SCVAL) Finals.

In preparation for the important upcoming competitions, Givens has set a few goals, both for himself and for the team.

“My goals are to just come in first at De Anza and SCVALs and also really focus on getting a good time for the CCS [Central Coast Section] seeding,” Givens said. “A lot of other

athletes on the team have great potential to make it to CCS as well.”

Wang also sees the team succeeding at both the DAL trials as well as the SCVAL finals given the team’s previous successes and recent improvement.

“We’ve been doing better than we did last year,” Wang said. “At our next meets, we’re going to be amazing.” `

Girls swimming stays undefeated Key meets loom ahead Late season charge pushes team ahead after a string of league wins

for boys swimming

Worn-out athletes taper for fast recovery Bo Field

Staff Writer

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Ella mernyk/The Campanile

Sophomore varsity swimmer Jessica Wu practices breaststroke in preparation for a SCVAL league meet at Los Gatos on April 30.

Kate DeAndre

Staff Writer

P

alo Alto High School’s girls swimming and diving team has continued its stride through the season, finishing some recent meets in wins.

The girls’ overall winning streak was cut short at the Section Challenge Meet where the team finished second. Luckily, the team remains undefeated in league, making Central Coast Section (CCS) more reachable.

“Since the season is almost over, we are all putting in as much effort as possible at each practice and staying positive. We are also trying harder to focus more on each other and less on ourselves to make our team as a

whole faster for the best results at our final meets,” sophomore swimmer Haley Chalmers said.

A recent match against Monta Vista High School on March 26 resulted in a precarious win. The meet required more focus from the team than previous matches.

“We just wanted to win because they’re kind of hard, and we barely scraped through, but we did, we won,” freshman swimmer Emily Zhang said.

After that meet the team made goals for a matchup against Saratoga High School on April 16 and 17, which paid off in another win.

“I’ve been making sure that I go to every practice offered and take every opportunity I’m given to make my-

self a better swimmer and to get the results I’ve been wanting at CCS,” Chalmers said.

The team believes that it has good chemistry from team bonding and constantly working to build team dynamics.

The team has added the goal of qualifying for CCS to goals of winning meets. Practices have intensified, building pressure to train harder.

“I think we have a chance at CCS this year and next year too, but this year is the first year we have actually had a solid chance at winning,” Zhang said.

For its meet against Los Gatos High School on April 30, the team has planned to improve technique in order to drop times.

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he boys swimming and diving team stands at a crossroads in their season: the hardest training is over, but the biggest challenges competitively are yet to come.

Looking forward to league championships and Central Coast Section (CCS), the team has begun the process of tapering, or resting for greater performance in these pivotal meets, and although practice for athletes will continue to get easier, the real difficulty lies in the anticipation and need to perform in the end of the season.

The team’s one remaining dual meet against Los Gatos on Thursday, April 30, has been anticipated to be a close match and an intense way to end the normal season. After it, the team will participate in the Santa Clara Valley Athletic League championships on the following Thursday, May 7. The team hopes to take first place in the league championships to continue its record of success in the meet in the last few years. Following up, the team’s qualified swimmers will participate in the CCS championships, going up against longtime

rivals and consecutive champions Bellarmine High School, hoping to pull off a win and end Bellarmine’s decades-long winning streak.

Although optimistic, the athletes do suffer from exhaustion after the long and arduous training regimen demanded of them since the season began in January. Morning and afternoon practices take a physical as well as emotional toll on the athletes, but many team members feel a certain level of motivation coming back as the postseason approaches.

The team hopes to take first place in the league championships to continue its record of success in the meet in the last few years.

“The team is starting to get energy back from taper[ing] and has a bit of end of season fatigue but for the most part is still strong,” senior varsity swimmer Lucas Novak said.

Novak has utmost faith in his team’s perseverance, and the rest of the squad has similar motivation going into these crucial final weeks.

Friday, May 1, 2015

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The Campanile

NBA PLAYOFFS

R1 - WARRIORS VS. PELICANS

R1 - TrailblaizerS VS. Grizzlies

Although the New Orleans Pelicans have an undeniable superstar trapped within the 6-foot10 and 220-pound body of Anthony Davis, he alone was not enough to overcome the strong Golden State defense led by Andrew Bogut and Draymond Green. Green was able to shut down Davis when in isolation, which left the Pelicans with very limited scoring options. Tyreke Evans — New Orleans’ second scorer during Meanwhile, the the regular season Golden State — only scored 12 Warriors had such points per game in a variety of scorthe series with a dising options that appointingly low 36 even when one percent of his field player was in a goals made. shooting slump, there were four other players that the team could rely on to score.

Lastly, it would be a mistake not to name Stephen Curry this year’s Most Valuable Player (MVP) after his gametying three-point shot that led the Warriors to take Game 3 in overtime — he probably did not even need that absurd highlight as validation for MVP this season.

The Portland Trailblazers have been mainly suffering from the significant injury of perimeter player Wesley Matthews. Without Matthews, the Trailblazers have been forced to rely on only point guard Damian Lillard and power forward LaMarcus Aldridge, both of whom have been effectively shut down by the Grizzlies’ Mike Conley and Zach Randolph respectively. So far, Lillard and Aldridge have taken nearly half of all of the Trailblazers’ shots while also not making buckets at a consistent rate. Memphis has been smart to focus on defending the two Trailblazers stars, and will ultimately come out of the series in just five games due to the Trailblazers’ lack of alternate scoring options.

Conference Semis- WARRIORS VS. Grizzlies

While the Memphis Grizzlies are a decent team, the Warriors have far too many advantages that they can leverage, and there is no way that the Grizzlies can manage them all. The Grizzlies’ priority will probably be to stop Stephen Curry with perimeter defenders Mike Conley and Tony Allen.

While they may be able to slow Curry’s scoring game, Curry is known to be a great passer as well, averaging 7.7 assists a game during the regular season.

If the Warriors are able to move the ball with at least as much ease as they usually manage to do, then they will have no problem with scoring using the other four players on the court.

There is almost no Warriors player who is incapable of making shots at a consistent rate, so their offense will constantly be a threat for Memphis to deal with. Meanwhile, the Grizzlies are not a great team on offense, while the Warriors are the number one defensive team in the league. The Grizzlies will find it difficult to score against the Warriors’ excellent help defense.

Memphis may get lucky on home grounds and steal a game away, but the Warriors should get the easy win in five games.

Conference Semis- Rockets vs.

Spurs If this matchup were a first round matchup, a San Antonio Spurs victory in just four or five games would be most likely. The Spurs have extensive experience in the playoffs while the Houston Rockets of recent years have been unable to make it past the first round. Furthermore, Houston’s heavy reliance on scoring superstar James Harden will make it difficult to succeed in the playoffs, as the Spurs’ defense will easily be able to shut down Harden through double teams and help defense. However, the Spurs will have faced a tougher first round matchup than the Rockets, and therefore will likely be more fatigued. The Spurs may have a little bit of trouble keeping up with the Rockets’ pace of basketball, but should be able to finish them off in six games.

R1 - Hawks VS. nets

NBA PLAYOFF TextBy: EthanTeo

NBA Finals- warr cavalier

Conference Finalswarriors VS. Spurs

Many critics feel that the Golden State Warriors do not have what it takes to win the NBA Finals — let alone the Conference Finals — due to their lack of playoff experience. While the San Antonio Spurs are clearly the veterans in this series, the Warriors’ aggressive, up tempo play will win them this matchup. The Warriors are a lively, young team and will be able to outlast the Spurs in a series The Cleveland Cavaliers’ strength is in their star-powe of seven. The Spurs are parHowever, the Cavaliers lack depth in their rost ticularly good at constantly Warriors’ defense over a course of six ga moving the ball, but Bogut as main anchors on the defensive e the Warriors’ domihard for them to penetrate th nant help-defense will be forced to score f led by Draythat will be difficult wit mond Green Thompson, Harrison B and AnLivingston and even S drew Bogut Cavaliers lack a structur should the game speed that the W mitigate will dominate on both ends of the Spurs’ strengths.

M o r e o v e r, the Warriors have home-court advantage, and Oracle Arena’s intimidating crowd will more than likely shake the Spurs. This will be an exciting series, but the Warriors will secure a clutch win the seventh game.

R1 - Wizards VS. raptors A Washington Wizards victory in only four games was not the result most analysts predicted, let alone a victory in the series itself. The Wizards had very balanced scoring and had very good ball movement in all four games, totaling 105 assists overall compared to the Toronto Raptors’ measly 78 assists. Each Wizards player took turns dominating each game of the series, with Paul Pierce making 70 percent of his shots in Game 1, John Wall scoring 26 points and dishing out 17 assists in Game 2, Marcin Gortat scoring 24 points and grabbing 13 rebounds in Game 3 and Bradley Beal scoring 23 points in Game 4. The Raptors on the other hand were extremely reliant on shooting guard DeMar DeRozan, and he did not perform well enough to save the Raptors from a 4-0 loss.

As both the Atlanta Hawks and Brooklyn Nets are slow paced teams, nearly every single game in this series has been incredibly low-scoring. Ever since the start of March, the Hawks have been playing horrendously and have not had the same flowing offense that they did for the first half of the season. This series, the Hawks have had trouble with consistency in shooting and made under 40 percent of their shots throughout the series, but the Nets have struggled even more with the same issue.

The Nets have kept up for now, but with home court advantage as well as greater versatility among the starters, the Hawks should be able to capture a victory in seven games.

The Campanile

Friday, May 1, 2014

NBA PLAYOFFS

R1- Clippers vs. Spurs

This series really could go either way. The player who will either help the Los Angeles Clippers make it or break it is shooting guard and sixth man Jamal Crawford. In Games 1 and 4, both of which were wins for the Clippers, Crawford scored a combined 32 points on 57 percent shooting from the field.

On the contrary, Crawford only made 21 percent of his shots in the Clippers’ losses in Games 2 and 3.

In order for the Clippers to successfully put this series away, Crawford must exhibit efficient shooting for the remainder of the games. However, keeping Crawford’s inconsistency in mind as well as San Antonio Spurs’ sixth man Manu Ginobili’s extensive playoff experience and strong, consistent play, Crawford and the Clippers will likely choke in Game 7 and get eliminated from the playoffs.

PREDICTIONS

riors VS. rs

DesignBy: StephanieCong AntonioKieschnick

Conference FinalsCavaliers VS. Wizards

er among LeBron James, Kevin Love and Kyrie Irving. ter and will be unable to outlast the Golden State ames. With Draymond Green and Andrew end, the Cavaliers’ Big Three will find it he paint like they are used to. They from outside the perimeter, but even th quick perimeter defenders like Klay Barnes, Andre Iguodala, Shaun Stephen Curry. Meanwhile, the red defense and will not be able to handle Warriors will bring offensively. All in all, the Warriors the court and emerge as the 2015 champions.

C5

R1 - Rockets vs. Mavericks

As expected, the Houston Rockets relied strongly on scoring stud James Harden. Harden was able to draw enough fouls to attempt an average of 10 free throws a game. The Rockets also saw flashes of the younger Dwight Howard that was an intimidating defensive presence. The Dallas Mavericks struggled to execute due to the injuries of their best two players, Rajon Rondo and Chandler Parsons. The Rockets let Game 4 slip through the cracks mostly due to Harden’s lazy defense that allowed Monta Ellis of the Mavericks to score 31 points, but Ellis was not enough to make a comeback against the second seeded Rockets. The Rockets captured the victory in Game 5 with strong performances from Harden and Howard.

Conference Semis- HAWKS VS. WIZARDS The loss of Thabo Sefolosha has and will continue to cause the Hawks to take a hit on their perimeter defense. The Wizards’ big men dominated in their first round series against Toronto, and will likely continue to do so against undersized Paul Millsap and Al Horford of the Hawks.

Additionally, the Hawks have struggled to score in the past 30 games or so, and that is what will hold the Hawks back in this series. Atlanta has had some spurts of beautiful offense, but it has been rather inconsistent in the big picture. Unless the Hawks can miraculously change their slump just in time for this series, the Wizards will likely emerge victorious in seven games.

Conference Semis- Cavaliers vs.

Bulls The Chicago Bulls have a lot going for them in this matchup. They will likely dominate the boards as well as defensively with their big men such as Joakim Noah and Pau Gasol, especially since both Brendan Haywood and Anderson Varejao — the Cleveland Cavaliers’ veteran centers — are injured. A generally slower pace in the playoffs also seems to work in the Bulls favor, considering their aggressive, hard-nosed and defensive playing style. However, while all of this may be true, LeBron James’ tremendous playoff experience will be the reason why the Cavaliers will prevail in this series. James will also have sidekick Kyrie Irving — but unfortunately not Kevin Love due to an injury in Game 4 of the first round — who seems to have been able to take care of things so far in the playoffs. Swift ball movement between the three of them will take down the Bulls in six games.

The Washington Wizards may have an advantage in size in this matchup against the Cleveland Cava liers, but size will not be enough for the Wizards to escape defeat. The W izards lack strong perimeter defense that the Cavaliers can take advantage of with capable three point shooters in Kyrie Irving and Kevin Love — if Love recovers from his injury by then. J.R. Smith will be helpful on the perimeter as well, and LeBron James will be able to dominate every area of the court. Even with Wizards point guard John Wall’s speed, the Cavaliers should be able to keep up with Wall’s pace when working as a team. All in all, size does not define success, and that is why the Cavaliers will win in five games.

R1 - Bulls VS. bucks For the first three games of the series, the Chicago Bulls played incredibly well. The Milwaukee Bulls shooting guard Jimmy Butler played like a superstar on the offensive end, scoring no less than 25 points in every single game while Bulls center Joakim Noah has held strong on the defensive end. The Bucks’ wins in Games 4 and 5 were more due to poor shooting on the Bulls’ part rather than smart and efficient basketball by the Bucks.

Turnovers have also been a slight issue for the Bulls, especially for Derrick Rose who has averaged more than 5 turnovers per game this series so far. However, unless the Bucks get lucky in Game 6 and plays against a Bulls team that shoots poorly once again, it will be very likely that the Bulls advance to the next round in six games.

R1 - cavaliers vs. celtics The Cleveland Cavaliers won in a 4-0 sweep of the series against the Boston Celtics, mainly due to the leadership that LeBron James was able to provide. In four games, James averaged 27 points, 6.5 assists and 9 rebounds. There were times when he alone was unable to execute and score effectively, but backup scoring options Kevin Love and Kyrie Irving were able to step up in those situations.

On the other side of the court, the Celtics made the mistake of attempting far too many three-point shots. Over the course of the series, the Celtics made 22 of their 86 attempts from behind the arc — the equivalent of 25.6 percent of those shots made.

Even shots taken from closer to the basket were difficult for the Celtics to make with Timofey Mozgov of the Cavaliers stepping up as a solid rim-protector. The Cavaliers outplayed the Celtics in every facet of the game, so it was no surprise they were victorious in only four games.

Friday, May 1, 2015

The Campanile

SPORTS

C6

Boys golf finishes first in SCVAL Softball hopes to

The boys golf team remains undefeated and advances to CCS Joanna Falla

Staff writer

F

or the third year in a row, the Palo Alto High School boys golf continues to maintain its undefeated title by winning in its league championships after previously giving the boys golf team of Henry M. Gunn High School its first loss of the season with Gunn receiving a score of 183-195.

Sophomore Timothy Liu gives credit to the team’s ability to look at past mistakes and learn from there.

“We didn’t play as well at the beginning of the season, especially at Sunnyvale Muni [golf course],” Liu said. “ We felt like we left some shots out there every round. One of those rounds was against Homestead. We won the round, but everyone felt as though they could have done better.”

Coach Doyle Knight looks at it from a positive perspective and is excited about the rest of the season and the upcoming league championships.

“The team is doing great again,” Knight said. “They are consistently getting better which as a coach is exactly what you want to see happen.”

While Knight has been consistently impressed with the team’s overall performance, the actual team members believe that there is always room for improvement.

Knight believes that the team’s work ethic is what gets it through each game and what helps the team maintain its undefeated title.

“We have been so good because the players want to improve every year,” Knight said. “They love playing this sport and are enjoying the success they have built with the team.”

Overall, the team has won eleven out of its twelve games.

The team is now getting ready to defend its title for the League games with only two freshman players leading the team.

“I think that we’re a really talented and deep team.” Knight said. “Our bottom players are solid, and could potentially pass as starters on other teams.

The team is talented on its own, but Knight makes sure that the team has good technique and knowledge of the field the team will play on.

The team is doing great again.

They are consistently getting better which as a coach is exactly what you want to see happen.

Doyle Knight Boys golf coach

“I try to get our team to play tougher courses and tournaments to improve the skills they have taken upon themselves to develop,” Knight said. “I encourage them to be ready for a course they haven’t played by having them look it up on Google Maps and seeing the layout. I seek out advice from college coaches I met over the years on how they prepare their players.

The more prepared the team is mentally and strategically the better they will be.”

Since the team practices with other coaches and online resources, it has maintained its undefeated record.

Liu thinks that the teams mental game is what makes it strong.

“Everyone has gotten a lot more comfortable on the course.” Liu said.

“Any jitters that we could have had

at the beginning are mostly gone now that we’ve played a pretty good amount of matchers.”

As the boys golf team wraps up the season with the upcoming League Championships and hopefully Central Coast Section (CCS) [Championships], Liu is confident that the team has what it takes to continue its record.

“I think it’d be great to be able to keep this up, and I know we are certainly capable of it, as we finished undefeated in leagues last year too,” Liu said.

Liu acknowledges that the team has the hard-driving determination to uphold the amazing title of being undefeated and that it is willing to put all its focus into the game.

Knight knows the players have to balance things and works on helping the team members organize their lives to focus on the game.

“With all the other stuff they have going on in their lives I try to keep them focused and committed for the season,” Knight said.

On April 22, the boys golf team officially claimed its undefeated title for the fourth consecutive year with a record of 12-0 in league games and 14-0 overall.

The boys team won its first league match last Tuesday on April 21 against Gunn.

The team participated in the official league tournament on April 28 when the team played against Los Gatos High School as well as Gunn for a second time. Paly finished the match with the lowest score of 361, while Los Gatos putted 388 and Gunn played 397.

After winning this major match, the boys team advanced to the CCS in hopes of remaining undefeated.

end on high note Team aims to continue winning streak

Masha Konkov

staff Writer

T

he Palo Alto High School softball team is on track to have a winning season with an overall score of 14-7 and 4-4 in the league The games in which the girls came out victorious had final scores with large margins, most recently a 11-0 win against Gunderson High School on April 28, where sophomore Mackenzie Glassford pitched a perfect game.

Prior to this, the girls defeated Harker 12-0 on April 20 and Lynbrook High School 18-1 on April 22.

The team’s biggest rival and top team in the league is Mountain View High School, whom Paly had a 4-3 loss to on April 15.

“We lost 4-3 but three of the runs Mountain View got were unearned so we should have won 3-1,” senior pitcher Casey Glassford said.

The team has a batting average of .338 and a fielding parentage of .921, proving an efficient defense. The winning percentage is 67 percent.

Despite these impressive statistics, the girls are fourth in the El Camino League, behind rival Mountain View, Monta Vista High School and Santa Clara High School.

“We need to work on getting timely hits, reducing errors and [our] communication on and off the field,” junior outfielder Natalie Snyder said.

Casey Glassford voices her optimism for the upcoming season.

“This season is going so much better than last season, everyone is really stepping up and contributing to the team,” Casey Glassford said. “For the rest of the season we’d like to have our defense remain tight and keep doing damage at the plate.”

Coach Bill Laskey is hoping to build a strong program, investing in freshman potential on junior varsity and shaping them into strong athletes by the time they reach varsity.

With at least two games a week, the girls have had the opportunity to bond together as a team.

They are able to build off each other’s energy during games and practices, according to Snyder.

Softball at Paly has not gotten much publicity or attention in the past years.

However the girls hope that they can develop a larger fan base this season for both the varsity and junior varsity team, according to Snyder.

“Come out to the softball field on May 8 to support us as we face Mountain View on home turf,” Casey Glassford said.

Girls lacrosse on winning streak The Lady Vikes hope to beat Mountain View for their final home game Dami Bolarinwa/the campanile

Ashley Crichton steps up to the plate to bat. Her team went on to shut out Gunderson.

Boys lacrosse hopes for success in league playoffs The team will play final game against Mountain View Will Snodgrass

Senior Staff Writer

W Conner Harden/The Campanile

Senior Paige Bara takes a shot against the Leland goalie on the Paly lacrosse field. The Lady Vikes went on to beat Leland 21-9.

Susana Cacho

Staff Writer

T

he girls varsity lacrosse team has continued its season with a 13-1 record. The Lady Vikes have not lost a game since their match against St. Francis Catholic High School on March 14, in which they lost 20-22.

On April 16, the team faced off against Henry M. Gunn High School for the second time in the season. The team won against the cross town rival with a score of 11-7.

The game included goals from seniors Claire Chevallier, Allie Peery, Lauren Gargiulo, Lisa Rogge, Liana Pickrell and junior Maya Benatar.

According to junior Maya Benatar, the team has been successful due to the amount of effort the players put in each game. They all come ready to play at every game.

“Unlike other teams we play in league, we have more than one or two powerful players. We really work as a team and every player on the field is a critical part of our success,” Benatar said.

The team faced Saratoga High School on April 21 and won with a score of 10-7.

We really work as a team and every player on the field is a critical part of our success.

Maya Benatar Junior

Goals were made by seniors Paige Bara, Allie Peery, Lauren Gargiulo, Claire Chevallier and junior Maya Benatar. Last season the Lady Vikes won Santa Clara Valley Athletic League (SCVAL) against Saratoga

with a score of 15-13. Looking forward in the season, Benatar hopes to continue their successful record onto SCVAL. On April 29, the team played against Los Gatos High School and won with a score of 11-6.

The team has gone undefeated in their league with a record of 9-0.

“I think we are definitely making it a goal to take the SCVAL championship for the second year in a row,” Benatar said.

Despite its success this season, Chevallier believes the team still has some room for improvement.

“We’ve been pretty successful, but I’d say what trips us up the most is not staying mentally focused when the refs make dumb calls or when other frustrating things happen,” Chevallier said.

The girls will play Mountain View on May 5 for final home game.

ith the end of the regular season approaching, the Palo Alto High School boys lacrosse team is looking to carry momentum into the Santa Clara Valley Athletic League (SCVAL) playoffs after a series of important victories.

The Vikings were hampered early in the season by injuries to several key players, but with a healthy team, the Vikings have been performing excellently in league play.

The team beat Gunn High School by a score of 20-1, which was followed by another large victory over Saratoga High School by a score of 17-4.

The boys then went on to win a double overtime thriller against league leading Los Gatos High School, getting revenge for a loss earlier in the season.

The Vikings received the game winning goal from junior Cole Tierney, ultimately leading to a 9-8 victory.

“We didn’t let up pressure on either side of the field for the whole game and that’s all we needed to get the win,” Seligson said. “Unfortunately, a few mistakes were made here and there that gave Gatos the op-

portunities they needed to bring the game to overtime.”

The team hopes to carry momentum from the Los Gatos game into the final games of its league season and its league playoffs. The Vikings will play Los Altos High School on Fri, May 1 and will end their regular season schedule against a tough opponent in Mountain View High School on Wed, May 5.

We didn’t let up pressure on either side of the field for the whole game, and that’s all we needed to get the win.

Matthew Seligson Junior

Seligson believes that Mountain View will be a challenge for the Vikings, but an important challenge to overcome as the season approaches playoffs.

“We lost a few weeks ago in an away game while missing several key starters,” Seligson said. “A strong win over them would prove our dominance in SCVAL, and hopefully give us a good seeding going into the playoffs.”

The boys hope to carry momentum into the teams’s final game.

Friday, May 1, 2015

The Campanile

SPORTS C7 American baseball needs to be refreshed AThlete of the Japan’s baseball has what America’s doesn’t—an intensity that appeals to the younger generation Month

Courtesy of nytimes.com

Matt Murton, an outfielder for the Hanshin Tigers, makes his 211th hit of the 2010 season, breaks the Japanese single-hit record.

Antonio Kieschnick

Staff writer

B

aseball is in crisis. Now, this is not meant to be some sort of fear-mongering, paranoiac, McCarthyistic rant on the decline of American values. It’s just the truth. It might not be obvious in a Bay Area that has enjoyed an enormous amount of success in the last five years, but people just do not care anymore.

Minor league membership is down by around 17 percent and the majority of spectators consist of middle-aged white males — not a dynamic, vibrant audience by any stretch of the imagination (no offense). So what do we do? Is baseball not the national sport of liberty? Is it not all Fourth of July barbecues? When freedom rings, does it not just ring from the mighty mountains of New York, but from Yankee Stadium in the Bronx? Does it not just ring from the curvaceous slopes of California, but from AT&T Park in San Francisco and Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles? If it does, then why don’t people care anymore?

And more importantly: how do we make people care again? Well, a solution is necessary, and it might come from a rather unlikely source: Japan.

It’s hard to know where to begin when discussing what baseball means to Japan, but how about this: Japanese baseball is more American than the Major League Baseball (MLB).

In Japan, games can only last a maximum twelve innings. Does that not just scream America? The nation that invented the 24 second shot clock

to hurry things up basketball? But it’s Japan that has a time limit in its baseball games, whereas in the U.S., baseball games go on until they finish, which can go on for hours. By limiting the time a game takes, long tedious at-bats where a player will readjust their gloves ten times are avoided. Although there has been some experimentation with timing in the Arizona Fall League, it is still a long way off from being implemented in the MLB. There is a question of the intensity, and in Japan, it seems there is nothing quite like baseball. Each game is packed to the rafters and the cheering rings around the stadium in an everincreasing hurricane of noise until it reaches an earth shattering crescendo, at which point it stays at this fever pitch until the end of the game. There is no respite, there is no relief, just an almost primitive, basic carnal passion.

The fans’ enthusiasm is even more impressive when you take into consideration the mentality of the general public with regards to the MLB. Many Japanese baseball players view the MLB as the holy grail, a nirvana towards which they should work for, and there is a general consensus that the MLB is ultimately the best baseball league in the world.

Despite acknowledging the superiority of the American game and dreaming of making it all the way to the majors, fans still regularly go to see their local teams as opposed to just staying at home and watching the MLB. For example, the Yomiuri Giants drew upwards of 3 million in

attendance last year. The Giants’ San Francisco namesake, in their world series-winning season drew about 350,000 more people in attendance than Yomiuri. However, San Francisco also played 22 more games than the Tokyo team. The Yomiuri Giants had a 42,000 average attendance, meaning that if they had played those extra 22 more games, the Yomiuri Giants would have outstripped the Bay Area ‘world-beaters’ by about 550,000 in attendance figures.

This contrasts sharply with the American view of baseball, where baseball represents a relaxed aspect of the American psyche. Let me explain.

The MLB can only regain popularity by mimicking Japan’s intense atmosphere and passion, where baseball can essentially take on the role of the cathartic sport.

Society can basically be divided into two frames of mind: anger and peace. Where one side is hyper-aggressive, angry and frustrated while the other is a relaxed, prospering and content society happy with life.

Now, these moods need to find some outlet through which they can be expressed, and typically in the U.S. this can come in the form of sports. For example, football could be considered an outlet for all the pent up rage and frustration we accumulate throughout our week. Baseball provides the exact opposite: A golden sun dipping

down under the crisp, sea-lined horizon as the Giants play whoever, with your loved ones around you and hot dog in hand, baseball is the perfect expression of contentment and happiness.

In Japan, baseball represents something else, where all of the frustration and anger going into football in the U.S. goes into baseball instead. In practice, players will work themselves to the point of complete physical exhaustion, something that could be interpreted as a release for any pent up fury. Every time a player crushes a ball off for a home run, or the opposing player makes some grotesque error, fans delight.

So now, let’s get back to the question at hand: what can the U.S., or more specifically, the MLB, learn from Japan to get its baseball back on track? Well, for starters, you have to be relevant, and fifty-something yearold audiences aren’t going to make you relevant. Baseball needs to start by rebranding itself not as a relaxed picnic, but an intense experience.

Why? Well, if you recall, baseball was an expression of our relaxed, calm, nowhere-to-go-and-nothing-to-doattitude. The problem? That’s something out of the fifties. The MLB is still considering itself the sport for a time of prosperity, for people who had all the time in the world and very few worries, a bit like the eighties and nineties that saw baseball’s reemergence (partly due to steroids). This new generation of sexually repressed, frustrated and impatient tech-kids has no interest in that lifestyle, it has no time for relaxing and just watching a baseball game.

The MLB can only regain popularity by mimicking Japan’s intense atmosphere, where baseball can take on the role of the cathartic sport.

There is, of course, the alternate view that if baseball can just hold out for a return to a relatively functional society where people relax, it will return to its halcyon days... It could, but then again, I’m writing this in front of a screen at 2 a.m. on a Saturday night, a screen that pretty much holds everything I need to know. Including friends in their respective rooms, with their respective screens, friends with whom I can communicate at any time of day without meeting up. So remind me again: why do I need to go to a baseball game?

Athletes should not be considered above the law Historically, athletes have tended to receive exceptional treatment when they are tried for crimes Joanna Falla

Staff writer

A

t 10 a.m. on Oct. 3, 1995, a jury declared that former football star O.J. Simpson was not guilty of killing his ex-wife and best friend. Much of America was outraged by the verdict, saying that he was given special treatment for his athletic title. If Simpson had not been a famous professional athlete, he would have been subject to more than paying $33 million in grievances. Palo Alto High School’s Athletic Director Jason Fung does not think that Simpson’s star factor had anything to do with the outcome during the trial and that justice will overcome any prejudices or bias.

“I think everyone has their day in court and depending on what evidence is there is really what we have to stand on as a justice system,” Fung said. “I don’t believe that the star factor has anything to do with trials.

I’m sure the judge in that courtroom could care less.”

Another scandal involved Michael Vick, who was charged with taking part in dogfighting in 2007. Instead of paying fines like Simpson, Vick served a 23-month sentence and paid $1 million for the injured dogs. The NFL recognized the actions of Vick and punished him for being a “partner” in the dogfighting ring and killing nine dogs. As the 21st century progresses, people care less about the athlete’s personalities and more about his or her actions and due punishments.

On Valentine’s day in 2013, Paralympic sprinter Oscar Pistorius murdered his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp. From the evidence against Pistorius, he was sentenced to five years with the possibility of parole for

courtesy of abcnews.com

Ex-Patriot Tight End Aaron Hernandez talks to his attorney as he was tried murder. He was convicted and is serving life in prison.

first-degree murder. People charged with first-degree murder get a life sentence without the possibility of parole. Pistorius was treated as an exception above the law for being a professional athlete, and his lawyers later stated that he would be eligible for parole after 14-months. People feel uncomfortable living with murder, so why would it make a difference with a professional athlete? Fung says people are well aware of the situation at hand and have resigned themselves to the fact that as consumers, people are paying for criminals such as Michael Vick to play for a six-year contract for $100 million.

“They all go through the trial process and we all know its not always fair,” Fung said.

Sports in America are taken very seriously with the average NFL team having a net worth of $1.43 billion.

Fair justice among professional athletes has been argued since the controversial murder trial of Simpson.

Tight End Patriot Aaron Hernandez was tried for the murder of Hernandez’s friend Odin Lloyd. The NFL had been known to look the other way when a player gets into

hot water, but when Hernandez was lead out of his home in handcuffs on June 26, 2013, the Patriots released Hernandez without prior notice 90 minutes later. When Hernandez was arraigned, NFL commissioner Roger Goodell said the NFL would not approve any future contracts. Fung believes NFL has to make morally controversial decisions in order to keep its net worth.

“The NFL is a big company with a lot riding on it and I’m sure they have to do what is beneficial to the organization,” Fung said.

Hernandez was charged with first-degree murder on April 15, 2015. CNN reported that Hernandez walked into the trial with “a swaggering entrance, flashing a trademark Hollywood smile... Joking with his lawyers,” which could imply that Hernandez was confident that he would get away with murder, regardless of the outstanding evidence.

“I don’t feel they think they can get away with it but more importantly a lot of them are still young and the pressures of success and fame change one to believe [their] ‘sh*t don’t stink,’” Fung said.

The quality of judgement during trials has been questioned recently as people start to comprehend the injustice of the court process. Simpson paid grievances for the brutal murders of his ex-wife and friend. He escaped jail time and made hundreds of thousands of dollars from his book “If I Did It,” a memoir in which he confesses towards the “hypothetical situation.” Oscar Pistorius is an internationally known athlete with prosthetics from the knee down so may have had a more sympathetic jury. After receiving his sentence, Pistorius’ lawyers said that he would be on parole after a year. The famous sprinter is a international celebrity who should have been given at least 20 years instead of five.

Our justice system should hereafter hold professional athletes and international leagues to an equal if not higher standard than everyone else. Famous athletes are seen as role models to many future athletes and fans, and they need represent professional athletes in a positive and respectable outlook instead of assuming that an athlete’s title can excuse them for any crimes.

This edition featuring:

Maya Benatar with The Campanile’s own

Owen Dulik

Maya Benatar, a junior on the Palo Alto High School’s girls lacrosse team, has been on the team since her freshman year. An attacker, she has helped the team achieve a top 20 state ranking.

The Campanile: So what is the girls lacrosse’s record so far?

Maya Benatar: We’re undefeated in league.

TC: Wow. What are your playoff expectations?

MB: I think we are really at a place where we should win SCVAL [Santa Clara Valley Athletic League] again. I think that our biggest rival is [Henry M.] Gunn [High School] and we played St. Francis out of league, and that used to be our biggest in league rival, and we beat them. So I’d expect to win.

TC: Who would you say is the best player on the team?

MB: That’s a hard question. I might say Allie Peery because you don’t think of her has having a remarkably fancy stick but I think that ends up helping her score more because she never drops it. Like she never tries to do some crazy fake and drop it, she just runs in and is probably the most athletic.

TC: Who’s the funniest on the team?

MB: Actually now I’m going to have to say Ellen, our little freshman, she’s wonderful.

TC: You’ve been on varsity since your freshman year right?

MB: Yeah, I was on [Junior Varsity] for about a month and then got pulled up halfway through the season, so I was on varsity for most of freshman year.

TC: So what’s it like, would you say you have a very close team dynamic?

MB: I think that [everyone on] our team is social and fun to talk to, and practice is always really fun.

TC: Well you seem to be very proud of the girls team, do you think it’s better than the guys team at Paly?

MB: Well I think compared to the other teams in the league, yes we have a better record and have been performing better than the guys and I think it’s also due to injuries.

I know that a lot of powerful players on the guys team have missed some key games or have been out for them, so I think that is part of the reason.

TC: When girls lacrosse play the guys’ team in the scrimmage at the end of the season, who do you think is going to end up victorious?

MB: I mean I always think that you know boys are powerful athletes, maybe more powerful than girls biologically but I think it’s going to be close.

TC: Where do you see yourself in the future in regards to lacrosse?

MB: I’m still interested in playing lacrosse in college. I would say I spent the last year on a competitive club team where a lot of the girls were trying to get recruited for D1 and I decided that’s not what I want just because of academics and stuff, I wouldn’t want to spend so much time with lacrosse, even if I could go to a D1 school. But I do think that D3 looks like a good option, and if I end up at a school that only has D1, I’d definitely play for club.

TC: Before college, you still have your senior year, are you excited to finish your lacrosse career at Paly?

MB: Yeah I think it’s going to be great. We are graduating a lot of seniors which is going to be hard for the team dynamic socially and on the field, but I’m excited to be a senior on the team.

Friday, May 1, 2015

The Campanile

SPORTS

C8

For the Love of Fishing

Text By Kai Oda

A

lmost everyone has been fishing at one time or another. However, what stops most people from continuing to fish is either the lack of fish, the patience required or the knowledge and equipment to cast a line in. The Campanile interviewed students at Palo Alto High School to figure out why they continue to fish. Additionally, The Campanile has narrowed down a few species of fish to go for and a couple of places where you are almost guaranteed to catch.

Design By Ethan Teo Cat Yu

There are many people that find fishing excruciatingly boring. If the objective is to catch a fish, and you sit by the side of a lake for six hours and catch nothing, then fishing may seem pointless. But then by that definition, if you have ever been camping or hiking, then you have been subject to more boredom. When you camp or hike, you detach yourself from the civilized world and enjoy the freedom that comes with a lack of distraction. Fishing provides a similar experience. In the pursuit of fish, you will often end up in isolated areas where you are subject to the wrath of nature. While fishing I’ve laid low to the ground and watched lightning light up the world around me, come face to face with a mother bear and her cubs and watched my dad nearly go over the edge of a waterfall. Each fishing outing becomes an adventure, and catching a fish becomes the privilege.

Paly sophomore Dylan Williams has been fishing since he was a small boy, initially drawn into the sport by envy.

“There was a guy fly-fishing and he caught an eight-pound trout,” Williams said.

“I thought that was super sick, and I wanted to try it.”

Despite his initial intentions, as Williams grew older, he began to appreciate the solitude and peace that fishing gives.

“The most enjoyable thing is getting away from everything that happens,” Williams said. “When you’re on the lake you don’t think about homework or sports commitments. You’re just there, and it’s extremely relaxing.”

Although Williams sometimes goes weeks without catching a fish, he has never thought about quitting. The relief that fishing gives can be comparable to what yoga does for some people.

“It can be boring at times when you don’t catch anything,” Williams said. “But the exhilaration that comes when you finally catch something makes it worth it.”

Fishing is defined as “the activity of catching fish, either for sport or for food.” It goes by names such as angling and trolling, but despite this definition, the purpose of fishing is not to just catch a fish. If you wanted to do that, the seafood section of any supermarket is where you should go. Simply buy a fish, hook it through the lip of your new catch and drop it in the water. After about twenty minutes, start shouting and waving your rod. When you lift your fish out of the water, your friends will all be impressed that you managed to catch a twenty pound salmon in a ten acre pond. Basically, fishing is not so much about the fish as it is the age-old struggle of human against nature.

There are a multitude of variables such as temperature, bait, depth of water, oxygen levels, line thickness and water clarity, so that each fishing outing presents as unique challenges. The only thing an angler can do is select and constantly adjust his or her technique so that he or she will have the greatest probability of catching a fish. After that, fishing becomes a matter of luck. It is the balance between preparation, skill and a random element that makes fishing enjoyable. There is no other sport that resembles fishing.

Types Of Fish

Rainbow Trout

Largemouth Bass

If you have fished before and caught anything, it was likely a bass. This fish is characterized by large spines along the back and aggressive behavior.

It usually resides in warm ponds and lakes. On the other hand, bass can be anywhere between a mere eight inches and a sizable 10 pounds. There are a wide variety of techniques and baits that can be used depending on the conditions, and choosing the right bait is a huge part of the fishing process. Generally, it is a good bet to cast a plastic worm near cover (weed beds, fallen trees, tules).

Ever y year, billions of dollars are spent to raise millions of trout for recreational fishing. Many lakes on the east side of San Francisco Bay dump 2,000 to 3,000 pounds of trout in the lake every week in the winter. All the trout are over 12 inches and are delectable when cooked. The downside is that you have to pay a small fee to get into most stocked lakes and the shoreline is crowded with anglers looking to catch trout for themselves. A trout rig consists of a weight, a leader that is 18 inches long and a small hook. When fishing from shore almost everyone uses powerbait because it releases a scent that draws trout to your hook when it enters the water. Unfortunately, this means that you must leave your hook in one place and wait. Luckily, it is pretty much a guaranteed catch if you are willing to make the drive.

Fishing locations Boronda Lake

This is one of the closest lakes to Palo Alto High School.

Many students have hiked around Foothills Park and visited the lake. The thick weed growth prevents many people from fishing here, but vast numbers of sunfish and bass lie hidden below the foliage.

The lake is about a quarter-mile across and less than 6 feet deep, so simple techniques work best here. By using a hook and a small piece of worm and dropping it between the weeds, most people are able to catch a sunfish. If you are looking to catch one of the larger bass that roam the waters, try using a five-inch long plastic worm. The bass will often grab the worm as it travels over the weeds and make a mad dash for the tules around the lake.

Regardless of the type of fish you are going for, Boronda Lake usually provides consistent action, though it can be difficult to catch some of the larger fish.

Del Valle is located in Livermore, a town that is about an hour drive away from Palo Alto. This lake has bass, catfish, sunfish and thousands of stocked trout. The park covers 28 miles of undeveloped land and the lake itself is over three-miles long and 60 feet deep.

The size of the lake can make it intimidating for new anglers, but the best fishing is often a 30-second walk from the parking lot. Other wildlife found around the lake includes bald eagles, wild turkeys, cows and tarantulas. But the main attraction is the trout that California’s Department of Fish and Game puts in the lake. Dozens of fish over five-pounds are caught almost every day. There is a five-fish limit on trout, and a two-fish limit on bass. One thing to note is that air temperature often drops below 45 degrees in the morning, so bring lots of layers. There is a small tackle and boat rental shop at the lake and a required entrance fee.

Del Valle