Issue 5, 12/8/2017 by The Campanile

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

PAI D PALO ALTO PERMIT #44

The Campanile

Vol. C, No. 5

Palo Alto High School 50 Embarcadero Road Palo Alto, CA 94301

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 8, 2017

www.thecampanile.org

Sup. search firm chosen By John Tayeri

Staff Writer

fter former Palo Alto Unified School District (PAUSD) Superintendent Max McGee announced his resignation earlier this fall, the school board has appointed Hazard, Young, Attea & Associates (HYA), a leadership firm from Illinois, to manage the hiring process of a new superintendent. Four firms, including HYA, McPherson & Jacobson, Ray and Associates and Leadership Associates, all ran for the position. Leadership Associates had organized the last two superintendent searches for PAUSD, and they selected Kevin Skelly in 2007 and Max Mcgee in 2014. On Nov. 28, each of the four firms made 20-minute presentations to the school board followed by 40 minutes of questions. After the presentations, the school board unanimously voted in favor of HYA. The firm was established in 1987, and it has conducted over 1,200 school board searches. years.

Superintendent

New courses offered for next school year District appoints new Title IX coordinator Weighted honors and AP courses introduced to course catalog By Kennedy Herron Staff Writer

our new classes, including AP English Language, will be implemented at the start of the 2018-19 school year to provide students with more options for weighted honors and Advanced Placement (AP) courses. According to Principal Kim Diorio, three additional classes — Human Anatomy and Physiology, AP Research, and Publication Leadership and Management Honors — will also be added to the course catalog. Additionally, the administration is exploring ways to credit visual and performing arts classes with weighted grades.

"I definitely would have taken more APs if I could have." Alana Abeyta

While the English Department is still discussing the details of the AP English Language course, Assistant Principal Adam Paulson confirms the class will officially launch next school year. “AP English Language came about for the equity and access,

and trying to get more kids into AP English classes,” Diorio said. “One of our school goals is to get more of our underserved kids in our honors and AP courses. AP English Literature is really for a certain type of student, and I think AP English Language will have a broader appeal.” While the existing AP English Literature and World Literature classes involve an exceptional amount of reading and analyzing, AP English Language will focus on the writing and rhetoric involved in nonfiction texts and graphic images. Students will mainly practice argumentative essays to develop their own writing style, according to the course description from the College Board. The course will most likely be offered to juniors and seniors as a weighted class. However, there is still debate over whether adding the course will discourage students from enrolling in unweighted English electives; solutions to this ongoing problem include adding honors components to all English electives or possibly even converting American Literature Honors to an unweighted elective. The thought behind these options is to incentivise students to take courses for the content rather than the effects the final grade may have on students’ GPA. “I think [AP English

Language] might be a helpful class if it's focused on writing because that might help [with] our college essays,” said sophomore Alana Abeyta. “Also, since it helps your

"AP English Language came about for the equality and access, and trying to get more kids into AP English classes." Kim Diorio

GPA, people might want to take it for that reason.” “I think we definitely hear that there’s a desire for more APs, and yet at the same time, as teachers, we’re all struggling with [the fact that] if we add APs it will just increase the competitiveness,” Diorio said. The introduction of a new AP Capstone Designation feature on students’ college applications allows for students to receive acknowledgement by indicating that they have taken AP Seminar, AP Research and four additional AP courses. This opens up the possibility of sophomores registering for AP

New courses

Board assigns Megan Farrell to oversee harrassment issues By Peyton Wang

Science & Tech Editor

s Palo Alto Unified School District (PAUSD) works toward improving its policies aimed at reducing and investigating incidents of sexual harassment, it recently named a new full-time Title IX coordinator, Megan Farrell. “The District has faced many Title IX challenges in the past,” Farrell said in an email. “It has confronted these challenges through the Office for Civil

Rights investigation, and it is poised to become a leader in how the K-12 sector enforces Title IX.” Title IX, a comprehensive federal law, outlaws gender discrimination in schools that receive federal funds. Farrell took over for the District’s previous Title IX coordinator, John DiPaolo, who temporarily oversaw PAUSD’s compliance with Title IX since June of 2017. According to a Palo Alto Online article, Interim Superintendent Karen Hendricks announced Farrell’s appointment during a school

board meeting on Oct. 24, and Farrell’s official term began on Nov. 6. For over 15 years, Farrell has worked in higher education in both public and private educational institutions as a university counsel, faculty member and Title IX coordinator. Previously, she worked for T9 Mastered, a firm in Sacramento that covers the protocol for properly dealing with Title IX investigations. She also served as a counsel to Hirschfeld

New Coordinator

Annual Madrigal Feaste to preview

Paly Choir to host concert in Performing Arts Center

GOP tax bill limits funding for education PAUSD faces possible cuts due to impact on housing market By Renee Hoh

News & Opinion Editor

olorful posters embellish the bare walls of the classroom and hundreds of new crayons sit neatly inside the drawer. These types of decorations, so typical of elementary school classrooms, reflect both the time and money contributed by teachers. It’s not unusual for teachers to dig into their own pockets for classroom supplies. However, this picture-perfect classroom may soon be more difficult to create. Currently, teachers get a modest break on their federal income taxes if they spend money on supplies, but the tax bill recently passed by the House of Representatives would eliminate that deduction, just one of many proposals on Capitol Hill that could impact students in the

INSIDE

Palo Alto Unified School District (PAUSD) for years to come. Under current law, teachers can deduct $250 from their income before they calculate their tax bill. While the House’s legislation would eliminate that deduction, the Senate bill pushes to double the deduction from $250 to $500. This discrepancy is one of many being negotiated now between the House and the Senate. “While California is expecting to lose more teachers to retirement and changes in career, our government chooses to take away the pennies from teachers and make it even harder ‘to create incentives to get bright young people to join our profession,’” Eric Bloom, Paly history and social science teacher, wrote in an email. “Luckily, since most people who choose careers in education don’t do it for money or glory, I believe the changes in

tax law won’t do much but grow the deficit.” Proponents of the House tax bill argue eliminating various deductions, including the one for teachers, allows for greater tax cuts across America, especially for lower-income families. Opponents note the wealthiest Americans would benefit the most from the proposed changes. Under both the House and Senate bills, Californians could expect to pay federal taxes on the entirety of their income rather than receiving a deduction for California state taxes. Similarly, there will be a limit to the deduction for property taxes, which is a primary source of funding for the school district. In addition, the final bill could limit deductions for interest paid on large home

GOP tax bill

Opinion

MICHAEL NAJAR/USED WITH PERMISSION

Junior Jessica Weiss and seniors Ida Sunneras-Jonsson, Katie Look and Sam Guernsey star in the Feaste.

By Kesi Sound

Lifestyle Editor

ontinuing a tradition lasting more than 50 years, the Paly Choir will host its annual Madrigal Feaste concert on Dec. 9 and 10 at 2 p.m. in the Performing Arts Center, followed by a complimentary tea service. Similarly to previous years, the performance will focus on the subject of King Henry VIII through singing and interspersed dialogue. However, this year the show will have an emphasis on Henry’s coronation from Prince to King in particular, and his search for love. Tickets for the performance are sold at three different price points. For students, the worth-

Lifestyle

it winner seems to be the student ticket, discounted to merely $15. However, for those who are not students or are looking to engage in a more luxurious experience, Nobility and Royal Tea tickets are priced at $35 and $135 respectively. Upgrading to these options means attendees will receive more food and be able to listen to an exclusive performance by the choir. However, all tickets include food, and senior and Madrigal performer Katie Look advises audiences to “come hungry.” “There’s a student discount, so student tickets are actually really affordable,” Look said. The performance is sure to hold many memorable songs for audiences. “I’m super excited for ‘The

Science & Tech

Rune of Hospitality,’” said senior and Feaste performer Sam Kim. “It’s super funky and most of us love to sing it.” “The Rune of Hospitality” is an adaptation of an Irish poem that illustrates the importance of giving. “It’s super exciting because it's such a funky collection of chords and rhythms along with guitar accompaniment,” Kim said. Like Kim, Look is also excited for audiences to hear the feaste’s music. “We’ve been working really hard on a lot of amazing music,” Look said. “One piece that will definitely be really cool is Handel’s ‘Zadok the Priest.’ It has been sung at British coronations for over 200 years, so I’m really excited to be singing it.”

Sports

this edition

News. . . . . . . . . A1-A4 Opinion. . . . . . . A5-A7 Editorials. . . . . . . . . A8 Lifestyle. . . . . B1-B3, B6 Spotlight. . . . . . . . B4-B5 Science & Tech. . . B7-B8 Sports. . . . C1-C3, C6-C8 Sports Spread. . . . . C4-C5

PHOTO BY NELL KING/PUBLIC DOMAIN

Rejection Wall

The Rejection Wall at Paly is a good example of mistake-based learning. PAGE A6

PHOTO BY LEILEIHA/PUBLIC DOMAIN

PXHERE/PUBLIC DOMAIN

Appeal of 'Stranger Things'

Intersection of art and tech

PAGE B3

PAGE B8

The reasoning behind the attraction to the popular TV show.

Explore how technological devices have impacted artists' techniques.

PHOTO BY PIXELIA/CC0 1.0

Horseback riding

Tracking Paly students' involvement in one of the world's oldest sports. PAGE C1

The Campanile

Friday, December 8, 2017

NEWS

The Campanile’s Centennial Report: 5th Edition ASB and Wellness Center A glance at high school life in the 1900s as reported by Paly students in The Campanile’s past issues to help Paly de-stress Acivities aim to relax students before finals By Kennedy Herron & Byron Zhang

THE CAMPANILE/PALY JOURNALISM ARCHIVES

Students weigh food for a Paly food drive in 1983 which amassed around 10,000 dry and canned foods. The drive also received $2,000 in cash.

By Waverly Long

Staff Writer

hroughout the past 100 years of Paly history, The Campanile has been documenting life on campus and beyond. From covering complex issues arising in our town to providing light-hearted, entertaining satires, we have written an abundance of important articles that have impacted a wide audience. This edition of the Centennial Report delves into the similarities and differences between student life in the 1900s and early 2000s versus present day.

Dec. 10, 1925: Volume VIII, No. 5

Ninety-two years ago, Paly administrators explored ways to get more students involved in extracurricular activities. The school created a committee to implement a system in which students received points for participating in various activities. The points could

ultimately earn students a reward, such as a seal on the student’s diploma. The administrators formed two sub-committees: one to manage the distribution of points and another to choose an award. A questionnaire that asked students how many activities they participated in determined the minimum number of points needed to earn an award. Today, it seems no such point system is needed to encourage the abundance of ambitious students at Paly to flood their schedules with extracurricular activities.

Dec. 19, 1935: Volume XVII, No. 11

The Campanile published a short notice to help out a fellow publication, Madrono. The yearbook staff was having trouble getting enough orders for the yearbooks — they had only sold 100 tickets, and needed to sell 550 in order to print the yearbooks. In contrast, the modern-day Madrono sells about 1,500 yearbooks

each year. Another difference between the yearbooks in 1935 and the Paly yearbooks now are the price — in 1935, one yearbook cost $1.50 (in today’s money, this is equivalent to $26.80). Today, Madronos are sold for a starting price of $75, which is raised to $90 in January.

Dec. 16, 1983: Volume LVII, No. 7

In 1983, Paly held a four-day food drive to collect food and donations to help families in need. The food drive ultimately collected around 10,000 dry and canned food items and about $2,000 in donations. A friendly competition between classes incentivised the food and donations — the winning class received a free brunch. Mrs. Small’s class, which brought in 1,965 pounds of food, ultimately claimed victory. Today, a very similar food drive is done, with advisory classes competing for food incentives such as donuts and pizza.

Dec. 18, 2003: Volume LXXX, No. 4

In 2003, Paly boys basketball won first place in the Cougar Classic tournament. Current Brooklyn Nets player Jeremy Lin, a sophomore at the time, showcased great game play in the tournament and was ultimately named Most Valuable Player of the Cougar Classic. In addition to being mentioned in the article about Cougar Classic, Lin was featured in a short “Athletes of the Edition” section of this paper alongside Katherine Stolpa, a senior girls soccer player at the time. The section about Lin featured a picture of him along with a small paragraph about his success in the season. The three-sentence blurb ended with a straightforward, confident statement: “He will help the Vikes throughout the year.” Visit palyjournalismarchive. pausd.org to find more of The Campanile’s past articles.

New District donation policy instated after controversy By Peyton Wang

Science & Tech Editor

ollowing the recent controversy surrounding last year’s approval of an anonymous $1.3 million donation to Addison Elementary School, the Palo Alto Unified School District (PAUSD) Board of Education approved of a proposal in a 3-2 vote, regarding the transparency of unidentified donors. While many parents commended the generous gift, which covered the pre-construction cost of the school’s renovation, the donation also raised eyebrows over the unidentified donor. Under the proposed administrative regulation, a person who donates over $50,000 must disclose their identity to the Super-

intendent, who then can inform Board members, even if the donor wishes to remain anonymous to the community. Along with recently-elected President Ken Dauber and VicePresident Jennifer DiBrienza, board member Terry Godfrey voted in favor of the proposition. “The question is, even if a donor wants to be publicly anonymous, do we have some obligation internally to know who that donor is?” Godfrey said. “I think that somebody in the building should know, the most senior people in the building, the people who represent the community.” Board members Todd Collins and Melissa Baten Caswell were opposed to the proposition. Collins said the proposition would work in a private institution, as

Stanford University currently has a similar policy, but not a public institution, as the donor’s identity would need to be revealed in an open session. Collins also viewed the proposal as an elusion of the Brown Act, which guarantees public access to meetings of local legislative bodies and also prohibits board members from holding District-related discussions outside the public meetings. “It’s vital that senior people in the District be aware of who is donating significant funds to the district, [which] makes perfect sense in a private institution, but we’re a public agency governed by the Brown Act,” Collins said. “What’s proposed is that the Superintendent has to retain the identity of the donor and inform the Board in confidence, [but]

there is no closed session exception for this information — [the Superintendent] would [need to] whisper it to each of us.” DiBrienza disagreed with Collins’ claim, as she didn’t think the proposal would be avoiding the Brown Act. “It’s important that someone in the organization knows where this money’s coming from,” DiBrienza said. “This makes the organization more accountable for the donations we accept. I don’t think of it as a work around the Brown Act; I think it’s actually making us more transparent that members of the organization know who the donation is from.” Similar to Mr. Collins, Caswell felt uncomfortable with the

New Policy A3

Staff Writers

mid the stress of the final stretch before winter break, Paly’s Wellness Center and Associated Student Body (ASB) have planned multiple events to help students navigate this difficult month. The Wellness Center will partner with Palo Alto Parent, Teacher, Student Association (PTSA) to host the annual Self-Care Week from Dec. 11-15 to alleviate students stress before finals. Each day of next week, a different theme-based stress-relief activity will be featured on the quad during lunch. Monday’s activity will be “Choose to Snooze,” which focuses on sleep hygiene and promoting healthy sleep. “We’re relying on empirically based stress-relief practices, but we are modifying them more to be student-friendly, so sleep is very important in terms of stress and depression,” said Elizabeth Spector, the Mental Health and Wellness Coordinator. “Promoting healthy sleep and learning about how to sleep will be beneficial for students in real life.”

All of ASB’s upcoming winter events are designed to reduce stress, improve Paly’s school climate and include as many students as possible. On Tuesday, students will be able to design and create their own “Do It Yourself ” bath salts. The Wellness Center will offer pet therapy next Wednesday, where students can interact with service animals to relieve stress. There will also be a card-writing activity. “Students will have the opportunities to write postcards during lunch,” Spector said. “We’ll supply the postcards and bring them to local organization such as Ronald McDonald House.” The PTSA will host and sponsor a soup bar next Thursday. Next Friday, students interested in yoga can go to the Media Arts Center (MAC) to participate in stress-relieving yoga activities. Self-Care Week before finals has been a tradition at Paly for several years. According to Spector, there wasn’t a full week of activities last year; however, this year, the Wellness Center is implementing a wider range of

activities. “Students can learn a number of ways to take care of themselves especially during stressful times like the finals,” Spector said. Spector encourages all students to participate in the activities throughout next week. “Conservatively, we’re guessing that 50-100 students will show up, but we hope that the entire student body can participate,” Spector said. “We’re hoping that everyone will participate in at least one activity.” ASB has also prepared a variety of activities to help students relax as they tackle the last few weeks of the first semester and beyond. From Dec. 4-8, Paly held its annual Ping-Pong tournament, according to Junior Class President Caroline Furrier. This weeklong tournament took place in the MAC during lunchtime, where two-player teams faced off. ASB encourages participation in these intramural tournaments, which allows for the opportunity for different types of students to come together. Tonight, ASB is scheduled to host a movie night in the MAC, full of snacks and a showing of “Pitch Perfect.” This movie was selected by Paly students through a survey. Not only are ASB’s movie nights a fun break from schoolwork, but they also often bring together unexpected groups of students, according to ASB Spirit Commissioner Sarah Mitz. “We want to do a few movie nights this year in the MAC,” Mitz said. “A variety of students like to go to the movie nights, which we really like, so we’re trying to incorporate more of those this year.” A number of fundraisers will occur throughout the school year in order to raise money while simultaneously providing the student body with enjoyable schoolwide activities. “Something to look forward to much later on is a Winter Lodge event for students that will fundraise as well as be a fun start to the winter season,” Furrier said. All of ASB’s upcoming winter events are designed to reduce stress, improve Paly’s school climate and include as many students as possible, according to Mitz. To commence the month of December on a high note, students participated in a Pajama Day on Dec. 1. “I’m glad ASB could put on an event that serves the students well, but I think in the future we can get more cookies for more people to enjoy,” Furrier said. “I also am inspired to do more small events like this to make the student body happier more often because many people seemed to enjoy it.”

UPCOMING EVENTS DEC

DEC

DEAD WEEK BEGINS Get ready for plethoras of other people reminding you just how stressed they are. FIRST NIGHT OF HANUKKAH Not Jewish Christmas.

FINALS Nobody wants to hear the grade you need on the final. No one. Zero humans.

DEC

WINTER BREAK

DEC

Hell on hiatus.

CHRISTMAS DAY America’s favorite non-religious religious holiday. FIRST DAY OF KWANZAA Not African Hanukkah.

NEW YEAR’S EVE Every time you see “NYE” written out you forget what it stands for.

The Campanile

Friday, December 8, 2017

NEWS

Panel addresses free speech New courses offered next year By Philip Ericsson

Multimedia Editor

he free speech panel on Nov. 28 marked the official opening of the Paly Journalism Digital Archive, a collection of all the previously published issues from various Paly publications.

“My goal for my project and the panel is to remind students that we have a voice.” Charlotte Kadifa Librarian Rachel Kellerman and Paly junior Charlotte Kadifa have been working together for the past year and half, scanning old Paly publications and gradually creating the journalism archives, which can now be found at palyjournalismarchive.pausd.org. As a result of what Kadifa

learned during the past year and a half working with old Campanile articles and in response to the current political atmosphere, the panel focused on student activism in the ‘60s and ‘70s. “In the ‘60s and ‘70s, Paly students began to openly speak about what they believed was wrong with Paly and what changes they wanted,” Kadifa said. Kadifa invited Palo Alto Online journalist Chris Kenrick and Santa Clara County Supervisor Joe Simitian to speak during the panel, who were Paly students in the late 1960s. Kenrick was a staff writer for The Campanile, and Simitian was the student body president his senior year, 1969-70. Present on the panel was also Palo Alto historian Steve Staiger. Simitian spoke about the mindset shift which occurred at Paly from the old-school ‘50s mindset to the newer age of rebellion in the ‘60s. Simitian also addressed the underground publications which were present at Paly

at the time.

“In the 60s and 70s, Paly students began to openly speak about what they believed was wrong with Paly and what changes they wanted.” Charlotte Kadifa One such publication was called The Radical Rag and was run by current NYU professor Howard Besser. The FBI kept files on the students running the underground publications as well as information about their families. The issues addressed at the panel were discussed as a way to detail the importance of free speech in journalism. “My goal for my project and the panel is to remind students that we have a voice and to inspire them to speak out for themselves and others,” Kadifa said.

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and AP Computer Science. Moreover, AP Computer Science Principles may be offered as an option for freshmen or sophomores who have an early interest in computer science. The decision to incorporate these new courses into Paly’s curriculum is controversial, since freshmen and most sophomores are currently discouraged from enrolling in AP classes. “I definitely would have taken

more APs if I could have but I feel like if they start making them available to sophomores now then that may be an unfair advantage,” Abeyta said.

“One of our school goals is to get more of our underserved kids in our honors and AP courses.” Kim Diorio

According to Diorio, next steps include communicating with Gunn High School in order to produce equitable courses and opportunities. “One of the things we’re trying to do with Gunn is trying to make our programs a little more similar, so it’s not so different depending on which high school you go to,” Diorio said. “My vision would be that two or three years from now, we would actually have one course catalog for both high schools.”

Tax bill restricts teacher funds

Superintendent search firm CONTINUED FROM A1

HYA has had prior experience working in the Bay Area, conducting searches win the Ravenswood School District, Sequoia Union High School District, Cupertino Union School District, Portola Valley Elementary School District and the Woodside Elementary School District. Currently, the District is headed by Interim Superintendent Karen Hendricks, who served as the head of human resources until being promoted upon McGee’s departure. Although the Board has selected HYA, the Board made it clear they will make the final decision regarding the new superintendent. “We, as a community, decide what we want,” said Board Presi-

dent Terry Godfrey. “They will help us by doing a survey and community meetings, but ultimately it’s up to us.”

Currently, the District is headed by Interim Superintendent Karen Hendricks, who served as the head of human resources until being promoted upon McGee’s departure. While former superintendent McGee works for HYA, he said he will not participate in the search. “I am the Midwest President and do not handle searches in the Western region of the U.S.,” McGee said in an email. “I am

so new to this job that I have not yet conducted a superintendent search, and most of my work will likely be with the Analytics, Strategic Planning, School and District Improvement Apps side of the house.”

“We, as a community, decide what we want. They will help us by doing a survey and community meetings, but ultimately, it’s up to us.” Terry Godfrey The school board indicated that McGee’s new position at HYA did not affect their decision to select the firm.

District Title IX officer assigned CONTINUED FROM A1 Kraemer LLP, a law firm in San Francisco, for two years. Farrell said her career background has appropriately prepared her for her new position as PAUSD’s Title IX coordinator. “I have been working in the area of Title IX compliance since 2011 and have served as the [first-ever] Title IX Coordinator at Notre Dame of Maryland University, as an external lawyer, consultant and trainer on Title IX matters,” Farrell said. Farrell also obtained a law degree from Widener University in Pennsylvania and an MBA from

the University of Maryland.

Although Farrell has only been in the position for one month, she looks forward to working with the District faculty and Palo Alto community to find the best solution for the District. Although Farrell has only been in the position for one month, she looks forward to working with the District faculty and Palo Alto community to find the best solutions for harassment in the Dis-

trict. “I hope to work closely with the Acting Superintendent, the administration, staff, parents and students to continue compliance efforts,” Farrell said. “I also hope to work with other Title IX officers serving K-12s in CA and throughout the country to determine the best solutions for Title IX compliance because much of the guidance currently is geared toward traditional colleges and universities, not K-12.” Farrell also looks to expand Title IX systems that were previously put in place by DiPaolo, including the complaint log and protocols for managing Title IX complaints.

JOHN TAYERI/THE CAMPANILE

Board members and student representatives from Paly and Gunn discuss the effects of the new tax bill.

CONTINUED FROM A1 school district. In addition, the final bill could limit deductions for interest paid on large home mortgages. “Decreasing or eliminating the deductions for home mortgage interest and state and local taxes could impact our local housing market, which in turn would affect property taxes, our main source of revenue,” said Todd Collins, a PAUSD Board member, in an email. “It’s speculation at this point, but it adds to the uncertainty about future revenue, along with general uncertainty about economic cycles.” While the exact impact of these tax deductions is not known, there are concerns that home

ownership will be more expensive, which could lessen the demand for housing, slowing the growth of property taxes. Property tax revenues generally increase when homes are sold.

“Decreasing or eliminating the deductions for home mortgage interest and state and local taxes could impact our local housing market..” Todd Collins Beyond school districts, the House bill would be particularly hard on university undergraduate and graduate students, as interest

paid on student loans would no longer be tax-deductible. Additionally, under the House bill, graduate students, some of whom traditionally receive stipends or free tuition, may face tax implications. For instance, tuition waivers would be counted towards a student’s income and therefore would be subjected to income tax. Another penalty would be paid by parents employed at universities such as Stanford University, who have received a portion of their own child’s tuition at any college paid by Stanford. Under the House bill, this tuition waiver will also be counted as income and taxed. Schools with large endowments would be targeted by another provision in both bills and would have to pay taxes on the income earned by its endowment.

Donation policy introduced CONTINUED FROM A1

Superintendent knowing the identity of the donor without publicly releasing the information. She expressed her support for working with a vetted donor-advised fund, which would protect the donor’s identity. “There could be a potential

conflict of interest that we don’t understand,” Baswell said. “The donor advised-fund is less problematic because then we aren’t beholden to whoever it is, but if we do know who it is, I think it’s impossible not to feel somewhat beholden to someone who gives a large gift.” Gunn Student Board Representative Advait Arun also ex-

pressed his dissent for the proposal while Richy Islas remained neutral on the issue. The Addison Principal Amanda Boyce requested that the identity of the Addison project’s donor be kept a secret, as the donation was made before the approval of the policy. The Board was in favor of Boyce’s proposition.

SUPPORT PALY JOURNALISM! DONATE TO MEDIA ARTS BOOSTERS PALYMACBOOSTERS@GMAIL.COM

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Friday, December 8, 2017

The Campanile

NEWS

Pop-up shop opens Popular downtown establishments closing Kilgoris Project fights child poverty By Ujwal Srivastava Staff Writer

he holidays are arriving and so are many pop-up stores. Nestled between Mayfield Bakery and CVS in Town and Country, the Kilgoris Project pop-up store is one of a kind. Started by Jon and Caren McCormack, the Kilgoris Project aims to help families in the village of Kilgoris in Kenya through the sale of artwork. “The Kilgoris Project educates and cares for school aged children in rural Kenya, and we partner with the community for development,” Caren said. “We currently run 10 schools and serve 1,300 children in and around the village of Kilgoris in Kenya. We provide quality, holistic education close to home.”

"The store actually started really simply from an effort to bring back local crafts and as a way to raise awareness for the project." Caren McCormack Each year, the Kilgoris Project opens a pop up store during the holiday season. What began five years ago as a fundraiser in a living room has now grown into a flourishing retail store. “The store actually started really simply from an effort to bring back local crafts and as a way to raise awareness for the project and do a little fundraising,” Caren said. "Now, we get to support local artisans from Kenya and all over the world. It’s a wonderful fundraiser; it’s a chance for our community to come together, to volunteer, to build awareness.” The Town and Country loca-

Rocket Fizz and Spot Pizza leave respective locations despite success in town

tion opened for the first time in Palo Alto on Nov. 30 and runs through Dec. 10. It features a dazzling display of handmade artifacts and decoration pieces. “We have a lot of items from Kenya, ranging from beaded holiday Christmas items, to fiber nativity sets, a wonderful line of sustainable jeweleries, bags, items for kids, for the home, gifts for everybody for all occasions,” Caren said.

"The Kilgoris Project educates and cares for school aged children in rural Kenya, and we partner with the community." Caren McCormack Anne Shaw, a customer at the store was able to complete her gift shopping for the season. "I really liked the wooden bowls and cloth bags," Shaw said. Through their work, the Kilgoris Project has had a grand impact on the local Maasai people and sees the power of the impact. “The impact is direct and tangible,” Caren said. “These things go to fund direct operations in school. We feed two meals a day to 1,300 children and last year we served more than 400,000 meals.” For anyone looking to help further the Kilgoris Project mission, Caren recommends learning more about the project and purchasing small gifts to give to family and friends during the holiday season. “We’ll be back again this time next year sometime in the area,” Caren said. “We do this once a year, but we’d love for people to know about the store and get on our list, to know when we’re coming and where we’ll be."

RILEY SHORT/THE CAMPANILE

This former location of Spot Pizza on Hamilton Avenue, which closed in November 2017, was a common place to order pizzas for many events.

By Leyton Ho & Riley Short Staff Writers

pot Pizza and Rocket Fizz, two popular businesses in downtown Palo Alto, closed recently following employee shortages and lease extension issues respectively.

"People would order pizza from there for class parties so it's a little sad to see a local business close down." Nishant Patwardhan Rocket Fizz, a popular candy store on University Avenue, closed after five years in Palo Alto, saying its building lease ended and would not be renewed. A message on the store's window said, “The end of our lease is here, a special thank you to all of our friends and

regular customers. We had a lot of fun with you and loved being your candy store.” Rocket Fizz said in a Facebook post that it planned on combining the Palo Alto branch with another branch. “Our last day will be Nov. 22, the Wednesday before Thanksgiving,” the post reads. “But not to worry –– we will be combining with Rocket Fizz Campbell, Calif., which is twice the size. Please come visit!” Rocket Fizz was popular among both kids and adults, and was one of the few stores dedicated to sweets in the Palo Alto area. “Rocket Fizz was always a fun place to go when you were downtown,” said Paly freshman Arjun Chandra. “They almost had any type of candy you could think of, and now since it's closed I think a lot of people will miss having it there, even if they didn't go that often. It had a lot of cool candy that's hard to find anywhere else.” Another downtown Palo Alto business that closed recently is

Spot Pizza, a staple in the Palo Alto community. Spot abruptly closed at its location on Hamilton Avenue in downtown Palo Alto.

"I love that it was a household name, that even this year people would still come up to to me and tell me how much they love it." Tyler Marik A message posted on the window of the restaurant read, “After 14 years we have decided it is time for us to take a break and think about what we want to do next. It was a dream come true to be a small family business in this community and we want to thank every customer, employee, vendor and friend who have been a part of Spot Pizza over the years.” Spot Pizza has been a con-

sistent presence at community events such as sports. “I never went to Spot Pizza, but in elementary and middle school people would order pizza from there for class parties so it’s a little sad to see a local business close down,” said Paly junior Nishant Patwardhan. Senior Tyler Marik, the son of the owners of Spot Pizza, said the restaurant had a positive influence on the community. “I love that it was a household name, that even this year people would still come up to me and tell me how much they love it and that it’s their favorite,” Marik said. “I just have a lot of pride that we focused on the community: delivering to Stanford football and the schools.” Marik is proud of his parents’ work with Spot Pizza and said his parents deserve the best. “I’m happy for my parents," Marik said. "They built [Spot] from nothing, and now they get to sell it after serving the community for so many years. I’m very proud.”

The Campanile Friday, December 8, 2017

OPINION

‘One size fits all’ fails to address body issues

By Lucy Nemerov

Staff Writer

f you scroll through clothing company Brandy Melville’s Instagram page, you are sure to see what the company considers society’s ideal woman: over 5 feet 7 inches tall with a tiny waist, long legs and a skinny figure. The company uses this “perfect” aesthetic to appeal to its teenage consumers. With its trendy clothing and convenient location at Town and Country for Palo Alto High School students, Brandy Melville has cemented itself into Paly’s clothing culture.

This sizing policy discriminates against women who may not fit into the “normal” small sizes perpetuated by Brandy Melville. However, this popular brand’s seemingly-progressive sizing policy is actually a step backwards in body acceptance, as it only caters to girls who fit a narrow-minded ideal. The brand offers only one size option for a majority of its clothes, the “one size” being a small or size 0-2 in women’s clothing. In fact, a slogan on the many signs around the store is “one size fits most.” This sizing policy discriminates against women who may

not fit into the “normal” small sizes perpetuated by Brandy Melville. This poses a major problem as size small definitely does not fit most. Teens look to the media for what is “acceptable” and “beautiful.” When young women only see a certain type of woman represented in “cool” fashion, they accept that as the norm. This unhealthy ideal is poisonous for young, impressionable teens and will further damage a fragile selfesteem. Brandy Melville created its “one size fits most” policy to eliminate the difficulty of finding a specific size. This would supposedly make the shopping experience much easier, as the shopper would be able to pick out a piece of clothing within the store and purchase it, knowing it will fit. Yet, it is likely a majority of women are not able to fit into these clothes in the first place. According to a study in the International Journal of Fashion Design, Technology and Education, the average clothing size for a woman in the U.S. is a size 16. If the brand were attempting to be convenient for most women with “one size fits all” clothing, the clothes would be produced to fit the average woman’s body, not an incredibly skinny physique. There are obviously a large variety of body types, eliminating

any possibility these clothes can fit all or even most women. As a result of this sizing, young women feel as if they are not normal, not feminine and unable to conform to the ideal body image society has set in place. Sophomore Emma Donelly Higgins said she has noticed a double standard with men’s clothing. According to Higgins, this difference in treatment and sizing is yet another example of misogyny in our society. “I have noticed that men’s clothing brands tend to be more size-inclusive.” Higgins said. “They seem to hold all of the sizes that would be classified as plus-size in the women’s section in the same section as all the other sizes.” Women’s clothing is divided into size specific sections, as opposed to the all-inclusive men’s section. This, along with the “one size fits all” trend, speaks to how women are objectified and ranked based on their appearance, whereas men are usually judged by their character or personal successes. Brandy Melville only produces clothes for a selective percentage of the female population limits its consumer base to girls who they see fit to purchase their clothing and wear their brand. Their sizing policy shames girls with different, “unflattering” body types, implying they are not good enough to buy Brandy Mel-

ville’s product. However, many brands like Aerie, Modcloth and Thinx have introduced campaigns primarily focused on body acceptance and positivity. These campaigns have proved to be successful and inspiring, as the brands have gained recognition for supporting all women.

about rape. In reality, the event of men being raped is the same as it is for women. Being in a situation where you feel powerless and unsafe is traumatic for both men and women. Society still lacks an adequate response to rape, for both male and female victims. Some women face comments saying they are sluts or that they “had it coming.” According to a New York Times article, men who report rape risk appearing weak in the eyes of society, and because of this societal expectation men should be strong, powerful and unemotional, male victims of assault may stay silent. Until 2012, national crime statistics on rape included only incidents against girls and women committed by men, according to a New York Times article. This idea that men are “strong” and “shouldn’t be the ones being raped” remains prevalent in national organizations. Male-on-male rape is littered with issues regarding sexuality. While homosexuality has become less of a taboo topic, straight men who are raped fear being labeled as “gay.” Society has historically used the word “gay” as an insult, usually to suggest being homosexual makes one weak, overly emotional or otherwise feminine. The shame associated with this term stems from a long history of viewing feminine traits as inferior to masculine ones. According to Neil Irvin, ex-

ecutive director of the organization Men Can Stop Rape, in a New York Times article titled “Men Struggle for Rape Awareness,” “If you’re sexually assaulted, there’s this idea that you’re no longer a man. The violence is ignored, and your sexual orientation and gender are confronted.” Sexual abuse in prisons is even worse. Inmates are at risk for assault from both prison guards and fellow prisoners. According to a report from the Bureau of Justice Statistics titled “Sexual Victimization in State and Federal Prisons Reported by Inmates, 2007,” 4.5 percent of state and federal inmates reported sexual victimization in the last 12 months. With the national prison population of 1,570,861, the report suggests that 70,688 inmates experience sexual abuse annually. Though there is more acknowledgement for the sexual abuse of male minors, children who experience abuse are reluctant to come forward because of the pressures put forth by society. In an interview with the New York Times, Dr. David Lisak, a clinical psychologist who has experience with interpersonal violence and sexual abuse, said there is “cultural blind spot about this [male sexual assault]. “We recognize that male children are being abused, but then when boys cross some kind of threshold somewhere in adolescence and become what we perceive to be men, we no longer want

to think about it in this way.” Society sees children as more vulnerable. It is more willing to be sympathetic to male children who are raped when compared to adult males who are raped. However, even then, children fear coming out because of shame; many think the assault is their fault, or people will ostracize them. According to a study in Virginia in 2009, 91 of 705 men surveyed experienced sexual assault, with the 94 percent of the assaults occurring when the men were minors. Of the men assaulted, fewer than onefifth have ever received services related to their assault. Both male and female victims of rape can experience shame, depression or even suicidal thoughts stemming from their assault. Victims are also at an increased risk for substance abuse, depression, interpersonal relationships and other health problems. However, there is a lack of resources for male survivors, as many crisis centers do not even carry the resources to help men who are victims of assault. Of the few that do exist, the most prominent are the organization Male Survivor and the National Sexual Assault Telephone Hotline (1-800-656-4673). Society needs to do a better job when it comes to individuals who come out with their experience of rape. We should not ignore women survivors, but we need to pay attention to all the male survivors as well.

There are obviously a large variety of body types, eliminating any possibility that these clothes can fit all or even most women.

Aerie in particular contradicts Brandy Melville’s discriminatory ideals. This clothing company appeals to the same demographic of teen girls; however, its models range in size and body type, showing young girls they can be beautiful and successful no matter what their body looks like. If influential brands like Brandy Melville were to include sizes for all body types, it would be a huge step forward as well as an important statement for societal standards. Brands and images in the media play a huge part in what we deem as “normal” and “acceptable.” Brandy Melville including a bigger range of sizes would show many girls their bodies are more accepted in the larger media.

Toxic gender norms silence male rape victims

By John Loftus

Senior Staff Writer

ince the exposé of Harvey Weistein, sexual assault has dominated news reports. Most recently came the suspension of James Levine of the Metropolitan Opera, who is accused of sexually assaulting two men when they were teenagers. The conversation, sparked by hashtags like #MeToo, has opened up spaces for women to talk about the sexual harassment and assault they have faced. However, with the exception of Levine’s case, male victims of sexual assault have been largely absent from the conversation.

It’s unfair that a man shouldn’t be the one being raped, or that he should have been able to fight back.

While it is true that, on average, women experience sexual assault and rape at much higher rates than men, the experience of sexual assault still affects men significantly. Men often face different reactions from society when disclosing rape and have different obstacles that prevent them from coming forward. The idea that men shouldn’t be the ones being raped, male rape victims aren’t “manly” enough or they should have been able to fight back are all common misconceptions that discourage male rape victims from coming out

Friday, December 8, 2017

The Campanile

OPINION

Rejection Walls promote acceptance of failure

By Kiran Misner Sports Editor

iving in Silicon Valley, Palo Alto High School students are enveloped in a bubble widely considered the epitome of technological prestige. Within just a 50 mile radius of our high school rests some of the world’s biggest tech companies such as Apple, Google and Facebook.

Inside the walls of [Paly], failure is deemed taboo perhaps in part because of high expectations placed on students by parents and the rest of the community. Paly, unsurprisingly, is a microcosm of the area around it. Boasting some of the highest standardized test scores in the nation and consistently ranking highly in athletics, Paly can safely say that it is one of the most successful high schools in the nation. However, inside the walls of

this esteemed high school, failure is deemed taboo, perhaps in part because of high expectations placed on students by parents and the rest of the community. In response to this sentiment, Paly administration and teachers should promote failure along with success. One way of doing this is to allow students to bring back the Rejection Wall. “Rejection walls” were the subject of controversy last year after they were taken down with the intention of protecting the mental health of some students. These walls, a collective group of anonymous rejection letters from various universities posted onto windows of different buildings, were aimed at providing a cathartic release for students, so that they can empathize with fellow rejectees. At Henry M. Gunn High School, rejection walls have not been repressed, which many students say is a commendable move from the Titan administration. “In my experience, this ‘Wall

of Rejection’ has been something that provided me with a lot of comfort,” said Gunn alumnus Oliver Hart. “It was good to know that other students were in the same situation as I was, and that the staff was supportive of us during our low points.” In addition to having outlets such as the Wall of Rejection, teachers can teach the universality of failure and more importantly, the significance of learning from one’s mistakes in the classroom. In a competitive atmosphere where students think getting an A is of utmost importance, emphasizing the message of recovering from defeat is another way Paly can promote mistake-making without it being detrimental. For Paly senior Andrew Shieh, this attitude is a quality that he thinks is essential for growth in students. “Failure and mistake-making is an important way to learn,” Shieh said. “If the school can promote this perspective from educators, that makes it a more effective

learning environment for the students.” While rejection walls help students feel less alone during a time where deferrals and rejections from colleges can feel targeted, some students think these walls

Emphasizing the message of recovering from defeat is another way Paly can promote mistakemaking without it being detrimental.

only increase stress culture. To promote failure is a tricky endeavor; a school does not want to encourage lazy behavior. But by only promoting success, it advocates for a single path of triumph that leaves students feeling less confident. Yet, by taking action– such as allowing students to post to The Rejection Wall––the Paly administration can help students redefine success and thus empower students to be more resilient and successful than ever.

Ability to be rational is contingent on inherent biases

By Noah Baum News & Opinion Editor

ost people think, with a certain amount of effort, they approach a problem with a logical mind. Countless studies, however, show that we may have overestimated our ability to be rational. Neuroscientist Read Montague of Baylor College of Medicine conducted a study in 2003 which found that, when unaware of which soda they were drinking (either Coke or Pepsi), around half the subjects preferred Pepsi and half preferred Coke. However, when the subjects knew which drink was which, there was “a dramatic influence on expressed behavioral preferences and on the measured brain responses” — now, three-fourths of the subjects preferred the Coke. This probably results from the extensive advertising run by the Coca-Cola Company, which has established Coke as the champion of the cola industry in many people’s minds. You would think a taste test would garner opinions solely based on taste, but this study uncovers how people cannot always reason completely independent of their biases. We may not have as much control over our decisions — or whether they’re rational — as we have thought, as the Montague study makes evident. Irrational behaviors are manifest in different aspects of a person’s life; however, economics has established itself as a magnet for human irrationality. Psychologists

and researchers Daniel Kahneman and Amos Tversky first introduced “loss aversion,” another example of irrational human behavior, in 1979, and defined it as the observed pattern where “losses loom(ed) larger than corresponding gains.” More simply, the thought of losing something affected one’s choices more than the thought of gaining the exact same thing. Kahneman said we fear loss twice as much as we feel the positive aspects of gaining something. That is why most people find it so difficult to take a gamble, no matter the likelihood of gain it promises. When we think about how irrational we really are, it begs the question of whether logic is something which our mind is naturally equipped with, or a concept we have adopted with time. Additionally, the errors we do make in our reasoning do not seem to be random but rather patterns of the same errors, over and over. Loss aversion is an example of a logical error we all share when it comes to risk and reward, but what about when it comes to reasoning in contexts which involve other people? We still get it wrong (at least some of the time). A well-known example of this is the halo effect — or making a judgment on someone’s ability to do a certain task or tasks based on their demonstrated proficiency at unrelated tasks. An example of the halo effect would be the assumption that someone is a kind person because they are attractive or intelligent. This phenomenon heav-

ily plays into the idolization of celebrities in Hollywood, with their prowess in acting and entertaining leaving us to assume they are decent people (and recent allegations in the movie industry has revealed this is not always the case). One of the biggest causes for inaccurate analysis of problems and their solutions according to the Harvard Business Review is “out deep-seated need to see patterns,” which can result in us seeing patterns when there are none in order to make sense of a problem. This phenomenon, named apophenia, was first discovered by German scientist Klaus Conrad in 1958 while observing the false connections mentally ill patients made when in early stages of schizophrenia. However, milder apophenia can be observed in plenty of otherwise-healthy human behaviors. Irrational choices are often viewed as errors in otherwise sound logic, but science tells us a different story. People are inclined to make the same errors due to the same biases and by understanding this, we can begin to move forward. It is likely these systematic errors and bias once worked in our favor, to avoid a gamble when it was our lives at risk and to make quick judgments on a person’s character — because they may be the very person who would leave us for dead. Now, however, we have moved past a world with such scenarios. It is in our best interest to educate ourselves about the areas in which

our rationality is lacking and use more caution in those situations. By knowing when our “gut instinct” is only an artifact of the past, we can learn when we need to assess a problem more carefully. Kahneman, the psychologist behind much of the research in decision-making, told the McKinsey Quarterly journal he thought people should not “take [their] intuitions at face value.” Gary Klein, a cognitive psychologist who was interviewed in the McKinsey Quarterly along with Kahneman said unless in situations with a “certain predictability” and “the chance to get feedback on [our] judgment,” then the intuitions “aren’t going to be trustworthy.”

We will never be entirely certain of our rationality in problem-solving or when approaching a situation.

We will never be entirely certain of our rationality in problemsolving or when approaching a situation. However, by leaving decisions to what we know, and not to how we feel, we can be more assured that our results will reflect our knowledge and not our emotions. Humans operate largely on emotions, which is why it can be so hard for us to leave them by the door — but if we know our inherent irrationality as we approach decisions, we begin to reason instead of feel, and know instead of guess.

The Campanile

Friday, December 8, 2017

OPINION

More effort needs to be put towards protecting cyberspace

By Eric Li

Sports Editor

hen you Google the phrases “hacker” or “hacking,” you will generally see depictions of masked bandits surrounded by floating cryptic green text followed by hundreds of articles presenting the havoc they have caused. Hackers are depicted as modern bandits who, rather than using their abilities for the good of the people, use it to cause mayhem or to fulfill personal desires.

However, with the demonization of hacking, many ignore the blatant cybersecurity flaws that plague even the most basic infrastructures.

Hacking has certainly done harm, with cybercrime costs totalling anywhere between $375 to $575 billion annually, according to the Center for Strategic and International Studies. However, with the demonization of hacking, many ignore the blatant cybersecurity flaws that plague even the most basic infrastructures. Many governmental and corporate agencies utilize outdated security regulations that make them susceptible to modern hack-

ing methods. When faced with a world that has become a lot more reliant on technological advances, securing cyberspace becomes a increasingly larger problem we have to face. Perhaps one of the most infamous hacking cases in recent memory would be during the 2016 presidential election, where Russian hackers allegedly “sabotaged” candidate Hillary Clinton’s campaign through leaking private emails. Apparently, access of the information was gained through a phishing email that disguised itself as an e-mail login. There should be no way a simple phishing email should be able to impact the presidential race and the political balance of our country, yet the results of the election have proved otherwise. Additionally, it has also been discovered Russian hackers were able to gain access to ballots, publicizing sensitive voting information and going to delete voter data. Even though the lost votes did not impact any election, Russia receiving valuable voting intelligence may be detrimental to the United States The voting hack particularly demonstrated the key lack of security of government systems, with the hack’s potential mayhem being much worse than people thought it could be. Despite this, the government avoids the cause of the problem

in cybersecurity flaws and spends more resources prosecuting the perpetrators. SecurityScorecard, a company which provides security ratings for organizations, placed the government’s security at 16th out of 18 industries. “There’s a lot of low-hanging fruit when it comes to the government sector overall,” said Alex Heid, SecurityScorecard’s chief research officer. “They’ll implement a technology when it’s very new, and then it’ll just sit there and age. This creates a mix of emerging technologies, which might be misconfigured, or not everything is known about them yet, with legacy technologies that have known vulnerabilities and exploitable conditions.” People who are able to crack into some of the most secretive documents can be among our world’s brightest minds. Aaron Swartz, a pioneer in the early stages of the internet, was involved in the development of Creative Commons and social media website Reddit, and was one of the primary voices working against the Stop Online Piracy Act, a law that would be able to censor some parts of the internet. However, as Swartz was caught accessing millions of JSTOR articles from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology database, he was sentenced to up to 35 years in

jail and $1 million dollars in fines. He later hung himself at only 26-years-old. Swartz was a victim to the demonization of hacking, especially during his trial against the United States. Harvard Law School professor Lawrence Lessig described Swartz’s treatment as “driven to the edge by what a decent society would only call bullying.” The government attacked those around Swartz while ignoring his mental instability as he showed signs of depression. In his case, he was not fully aware of the consequences of his actions, as all he did was mass download extraneous articles from a database he had legal access to. Cybercrime cases like Swartz’s are more common than we think, and most of the time, the method of hacking is deceptively simple. As technologies begin to evolve, cybercrime becomes more complex, and monetary gain can easily eclipse moral concerns, especially in the eyes of certain hackers. The government needs to put more resources into protecting their own cyberspace rather than chasing every perpetrator. “Political forces need to be marshaled to support and fund the many lines of research that will be needed to accomplish the complex task of protecting cyberspace from attack,” said the National Academy of Engineering.

But not everyone can go out to get themselves a Ferrari or Lamborghini, and unfortunately, most car companies use this price disparity to their advantage. Car manufactures need to reevaluate the price tag they put on luxury cars, because the retail price is simply too high. According to Kelley Blue Book, a popular automotive research company, the average cost of a new luxury vehicle was $55,751 in November. But the initial cost isn’t the only thing we should be concerned about. Several other factors drive up the price of an automobile. For instance, most deluxe cars require buying expensive premium gas. Maintenance repairs and insurance are also other costly necessities to sustain the remarkable automobiles in good condition. With so many additions to the original cost, it leads to the question of whether the car is even worth the large sum that is being paid. A simple solution is having automobile companies make more affordable models of their luxury cars. Many companies have taken

this step and are looking to drop the far-fetched price of their topend models so more people can buy them. Recently, Tesla came out with the Model 3, an affordable luxury car listed at $35,000, almost $40,000 cheaper than the $74,900 priced Model S. Although the Model 3 is popular for its enticing price tag, reserving a Model 3 vehicle takes anywhere from 12 to 18 months to get. Despite this, the car is, on average, receiving 1,800 orders per day, revealing that people are quite satisfied with Tesla offering an affordable version of a luxury car. Sales of this new model have soared since it has similar designs and features to many luxury cars, including the Model S, at a cheaper price. “You don’t really maintain the [Telsa Model 3] like you do your expensive [Mercedes] Benz,” said a Tesla representative. “You pay around $13,000 for some of the brakes at Benz, but these new built-in affordable brakes last forever.” Luxury cars also contain features many people can benefit from. For example, many of these top-notch cars also have the most

advanced safety options, such as automatic emergency braking, blind spot warning blinkers and even several cameras.

Luxury car companies ought to make more affordable models

By Navid Najambadi Staff Writer

hether or not you own a luxury car, there is no denying the instinct to admire the Bugatti that just raced down the road or the Bentley that’s parked down the street. It’s not a secret we all have cravings for the materialistic aspects of life. However, we often face the problem of affording such entities. Luxury cars are one of the alluring belongings in life people are powerfully inclined to purchase. We hear the name of luxurious cars all the time, whether it’s Mercedes, Tesla, Lamborghini, Ferrari, Buggati, Audi, Rolls Royce or BMW.

Car manufactures need to reevaluate the price tag they put on luxury cars because the asking price is simply too much.

Such brands have become more popular as companies frequently release improved models.

A simple solution is having automobile companies make more affordable models of their luxury cars. These features may prevent countless accidents, so why not allow more people to enjoy this technology and improved safety? Fortunately, companies have received plenty of interest from car consumers in the latest cars due to the balance of affordability along with improved durability, style, and technology. “It’s great to see companies like Tesla are already lowering prices on luxurious cars especially since Tesla has numerous safety features” said junior Stan De Martel. “Hopefully other companies can follow this trend and step up their game.” The goal is that in the future, luxury car companies will understand the market better and, like Tesla, take steps to produce lower cost cars with helpful and reliable safety features.

Friday, December 8, 2017

The Campanile

EDITORIALS

Core classes should implement field trips into curricula Writers Craft. “This offers them a new venue for considering audience and purpose in their writing, and I could not offer that sitting in a classroom.”

The Campanile thinks more emphasis and funding must be placed on field trips, at both a state and district level because it helps students learn realworld skills and lessons outside of a traditional classroom setting.

egardless of the quality of your early school experiences, there is one aspect of elementary school education we can all agree on: field trips are awesome. Everyone remembers boarding buses or cars to drive to the Baylands, or trips to museums like the California Academy of Sciences to experience alternative styles of learning. Extended trips, such as visits to gold-mining towns like Co-

loma or science camps like Mt. Hermon, are valuable experiences, especially for students who prefer a more hands-on method of learning. In addition to offering course-aligned curricula, many of the camps also promote leadership skills by incorporating team building exercises into their program. For some students, it may be the first time they have been away from home for more than a night. While trips in high school

may not be quite as formational, they are still crucial tools for learning. The Campanile thinks field trips offer valuable educational experiences that cannot be replicated in a traditional classroom setting. Exposing students to the real-life applications of the concepts they are learning fosters an appreciation for core subjects that students might not otherwise have.

Writer’s Craft, an English elective, already offers this opportunity through a partnership with the Children’s Theatre. Students in the class get the chance to submit pieces of their work to the theatre. Actors incorporate the writing into a play which is later performed for the public. “[Students] can actually work with actors and see what it is like to have their writing performed,” said Lucy Filppu, who teaches

However, for most classes in high school, field trips are few and far between. This is mostly due to a plethora of restrictions placed on field trips for core classes like science and history. Trips must be free for students to allow economically disadvantaged students to participate. They must also have a “connection with courses of instruction or school-related social, educational, cultural, athletic, or school band activities,” according to California Education Code 35330. Transportation can also be an issue. In elementary school, field trips that required driving relied heavily on parent volunteers. However, high school teachers no longer have

that option, as parents are generally less involved. Because of this, teachers may have to arrange for alternative transportation methods, such as buses, that eat away at funding. Funding for field trips is probably the most intricate part of the process. Certain programs, such as choir, theatre and sports, are free to fundraise for local, national and international trips as long as they have Boosters. The ability to fundraise for trips greatly increases the ability for classes to travel, and many of Paly’s music programs take annual trips. Recent destinations include San Jose, New York and Disneyland. However, teachers of core classes are forbidden from fundraising for such trips, forcing them to rely on grants from the school district, which can be hard to come by. The Campanile thinks more emphasis and funding must be placed on field trips, at both a state and district level because it helps students learn real-world skills and lessons outside of a traditional classroom setting. This easily can be accomplished by simply allocating a greater percentage of the annual district budget for field trips. As Filppu said, field trips “extend student learning beyond four walls and ugly neon lights. They actualize the kinds of principles and critical thinking that we want to see in our kids.” As a publication that values immersive learning, we at The Campanile could not agree more.

InFocus should be shortened, allotted time moved to Flex

ver the past year, the bell schedule has been a major source of controversy among/ Paly students — everyone seems to have an opinion, yet there are so many options that it is impossible to please everyone. One of the biggest changes this year was the prolonged time allotted for InFocus, changing it from five minutes to 10, and moving the designated time from the beginning of third or fourth period to the end. While this change has allowed InFocus to broadcast a wider variety of content, the segments rarely take up the entirety of the 10-minute slot. As teachers cannot dismiss students until the bell rings, most students are left to dawdle during the few extra minutes of time at the end of class that could be used for more productive means.

By moving the time from InFocus to Flex, we would continue to fulfill the California requirement of 54,000 instructional minutes per school year. The Campanile thinks the Innovative Schedule Committee (ISC) should designate the newly added five minutes of InFocus to Tuesday’s Flex period so that we would have an additional 25 minutes of Flex and just five minutes of InFocus every day. This amendment would allow students to be more productive with the extra Flex time and talk to their teachers.

Students would even be able to take tests during the 75-minute Flex period, decreasing the wait time in front of the Testing Center. This change would be especially beneficial for students who are just taking shorter exams and have the option of choosing whether they want to take their exams in the beginning or near the end of the period. This would reduce the amount of crowding in the Testing Center during Flex, a widespread concern among students. By simply moving the time from InFocus to Flex, we would continue to fulfill the California requirement of 54,000 instructional minutes per school year. As the ISC is currently mulling over potential bell schedule options, and has yet to reach a final decision, this change would not be disruptive to any of their plans for next year and beyond. “We are totally open to lots of options now,” said ISC junior student representative David Foster. “So, in that respect, it is feasible that it could be a proposed schedule if it was found to be the best option. If there is going to be a schedule change, it will be for next school year or the year after, depending on the complexity of the change.” InFocus adviser Paul Hoeprich said he recognizes the problem with filling the 10 minutes of allotted time, but says his team is planning more segments to ameliorate this issue soon. “Five minutes is constrictive to these students,” Hoeprich said. “The time, that is our medium, that is what we use to do what we do, and when you constrict that, you're constricting the learning that goes on with these students. I do understand that there's a give and take; if we're given the 10

minutes, we need to do something of quality with the 10 minutes, and I think that's where the problem is right now.”

We applaud [InFocus] for their inventive initiatives, but the tradeoffs of increasing the length of Flex are significantly greater. While InFocus is important for transmitting school news and events to students and has recently also come out with a lot more creative and funny segments, students are naturally inclined to not pay attention after a long 90 minutes of class. We applaud them for their inventive initiatives, but the tradeoffs of increasing the length of Flex are significantly greater. The Campanile thinks InFocus' ventures should not be wasted, and that although the time of their streamed segments will be cut short, they should still publicize their segments on their website and various social media outlets. Alternatively, teachers and staff who work in the Media Arts Center (MAC) can broadcast various InFocus segments in their classrooms and in the MAC atrium during Flex if they are compelled to do so. Through this simple revision, students will benefit immensely from extra work time, productivity and accessibility to their teachers. We urge the ISC to take this into consideration in order to work towards a more productive future for Paly students.

DECEMBER’S TOP TEN LIST Top Ten Things Paly Seniors Want for Christmas 10) A Philz within walking distance of campus 9) Spotify Premium 8) A sense of purpose

The Campanile Editors-in-Chief Maya Homan • Niklas Risano • Ehecatl Rivera Allison Wu • Ashley Zhang Online Editor Edan Sneh

Managing Editors Nicholas Melvin • Paarth Sharma

News and Opinion Editors Noah Baum • Renee Hoh

Lifestyle Editors Vivian Feng • Kesi Soundararajan

Science & Tech Editor Peyton Wang

Sports Editors Eric Li • Kiran Misner

Multimedia Editor Philip Ericsson

Board Correspondent Shannon Zhao Staff Writers

Khadija Abid Marie Davis Eric He Kennedy Herron Leyton Ho Samantha Hwang Gracie Kitayama Bernie Koen

Raj Lele John Loftus Waverly Long Navid Najmabadi Lucy Nemerov Kaylie Nguyen Ethan Nissim Christopher Pierno

Photographers

7) A reaffirming pat on the back (because we are doing our best)

Peter Gold Jonathan Stoschek Samantha Hwang

6) Free shipping 5) A senior deck 4) Gas money 3) A Columbia/Stanford/UPenn acceptance letter 2) A pair of earbuds that work for an iPhone 8 1) To graduate

-GRACIE KITAYAMA

Business Manager Edward Kim Yusra Rafeeqi William Robins Riley Short Leela Srinivasan Ujwal Srivastava John Tayeri Ben van Zyll Byron Zhang Illustrators

Renee Hoh Marie Davis Kimberley Cisneros-Martinez Kaylie Nguyen

Advisers Esther Wojcicki • Rodney Satterthwaite

Writing Coaches Evelyn Richards • Elisabeth Rubinfien

Letters to the Editors: Email all letters to editors to theeds18@googlegroups.com The Campanile prints letters on a space-available basis. We reserve the right to edit submissions. The Campanile only prints signed letters. Advertisements: Advertisements with The Campanile are printed with signed contracts. For more information regarding advertisements or

sponsors in The Campanile and their size options and prices, please contact The Campanile Business Managers by email at campanile.ads@gmail.com. Note: It is the policy of The Campanile to refrain from printing articles that misrepresent or alienate specific individuals within the Palo Alto community. The Campanile would like to thank the PTSA for supporting the mailing of our newspaper!

Friday, December 8, 2017

The Campanile

L FESTYLE

THE

HISTORY of the

Tower building Clarifying the myths and background of this Paly landmark

he bell tower of Palo Alto High School will be 100 years old in 2018. Plagued by rumors involving cows and helicopter rescues, few people know the truth of how the building came to be. Palo Alto High School was originally constructed in 1918, though most of the school was demolished and heavily modernized in 1972. The two-story tower building, however, was left untouched, making it nearly 100 years old and a historical landmark. The Paly bell tower is known as a campanile, or a freestanding bell tower. Campanile is an Italian term derived from the word campana, meaning bell. The Campanile, Paly’s newspaper, was named after this term in 1918. Since its construction, the bell tower has overseen a plethora of events. Perhaps the most infamous event that took place in the b e l l tower was the senior prank that occurred in the late ‘90s. Despite being a well-known legend among Paly students and staff, many people doubt this prank’s credibility. “I heard that this one grade brought a cow up to the second floor of the bell tower,” said sophomore Tyler Varner. “I don’t know if it actually happened though.” Math department Instructional Supervisor and Paly historian Arne Lim has conducted school tours for Paly alumni from as far back as the class of ‘45, and has never heard an alumni group discuss the alleged prank. Lim said he can’t confirm the prank and thinks that the story is simply a “legend passed down from generations.” “The story details are a little unclear, but from what I know, a bunch of seniors brought a cow up to the second floor of the bell tower as a prank,” said junior Henry Saul. “I’ve heard different accounts on when this happened, or how they got the cow out and whether the pranksters were punished, but everyone I know agrees that seniors brought a cow up the stairs of the tower building.” According to an article from The Campanile, Volume LXXV, No. 2, Oct. 2, 1998, seniors placed “a cow on the top

floor of the tower building.” The seniors were able to get the cow to the second floor of the bell tower by coaxing it up the stairs. Once there, however, the cow was stuck. “It took them forever to get that cow down from there,” said class of ‘97 graduate Tony Ara. According to Science Focus, a science magazine, it is extremely difficult for cows to walk down stairs especially a steep lengthy flight, such as the stairs located in the bell tower. Stuck at the second floor of the bell tower with no way to get the unfortunate cow down, stories differ greatly on how Paly administration ultimately removed the cow. “I think [the prank]

A student ‘sit in’ took place in the tower building after the 2009 egg wars.

Art by Renee Hoh

is really funny because cows can’t go down stairs, so I heard that they had to get a helicopter,” Saul said. Some students and staff, including Saul and junior Kaitlyn Ho, have heard Paly administrators were forced to send a helicopter to rescue and return the cow to safety. “One of my teachers told me they had to get a helicopter to get it down,” Ho said. But many are skeptical of this rumor, saying using a helicopter seems improbable. “I think it makes more sense that they used a crane to get the cow down,” said junior Warren Wagner. “Getting a helicopter would be super expensive.” According to Occupy for Animals, a non-profit organization committed to ending a n i mal cruelty, cranes are not generally used to transp o r t l i v e c o w s due to animal cruelty c o n cerns. Helicopters, on the other

hand, have been used to transport cows from dangerous mountainsides as well as rescue injured cows from dangerous situations. However, it’s unlikely that a helicopter was used in the Paly prank due to the high cost of acquiring a helicopter. “[Renting a helicopter] is

from October 2009. Students who turned themselves into administrators received a three-day suspension, whereas students who were caught by ad-

Paly was heavily modern ized and remodeled in 1972.

typically $1000 per hour with a minimum charge o f

nile The Campa

ministration through video testimony or witness statements received a five-day suspension according to an article from The Mercury News in October 2009. Many students thought this punishment was unwarranted and severe, consequently organizing a student sit-in at the tower building the following Thursday morning in protest.

t w o hours,” Kyler Mason, a utility helicopter pilot, said. In addition to the alleged prank, a student “sit-in” took place in the

building in 2009. Paly administration suspended all students involved with the infamous 2009 egg wars after vandalism and destruction of property occurred on Gunn’s campus, according to The Mercury News. Egg wars, an unsanctioned spirit week tradition where seniors and juniors meet up at night to throw eggs at each other, is looked down upon by school administrators. “It is not a harmless tradition,” said Assistant Principal Jerry Berkson in a Paly Voice article

Nearly a hundred students participated, according to an article from The P a l y

The Paly bell tower will be 100 years old in 2018. Vo i c e in Octob e r 2009, though most left for class by 8:15 a.m. Throughout its history, the tower building has been the site of extensive change and controversy. Though the current bell tower is the same

Text & Design by Khadija Abid

Design by Vivian Feng

SCIENCE & TECH

Impacts of screens on students’ sleep

Delve into the science behind how electronics affect oneís sleep patterns, and why we should become more aware of the negative effects of blue light and screen time, particularly on teenage brains.

MAURIZIO PESCE/CC-BY-2.0

PAGE B7

as the one constructed in 1918, it has been remodeled various times. In 1968, the building was seismically retrofitted to increase safety in the event of an earthquake. The campanile section of the tower building was strengthened again in 1989 following the Loma Prieta earthquake. More recently, the main office — comprised of administraTHEED TEAM #5 tion offices, a staff kitchen as well as the main reception area — underwent minor interior remodelling in 2014. Administration repainted the area, installed a new carpet and refurbished during winter break. Administration plans to further renovate the area, hoping to include over 200 mailboxes in the reception area, as well as new bathrooms and an elevator, according to an article from The Campanile in January 2014. The partitions currently dividing the guidance hall will also be removed, and the guidance offices will become an open hall. The tower building renovations, however, are not a top priority according to Lim. “With all the construction projects going on campus, this will be one of the last ones because there are no students here,” Lim said to an alumni group. “We try to do the student stuff first.” Though there have been changes to the bell and tower building throughout the years, and administration plans to improve the building, it is highly unlikely that the building will be destroyed according to Lim. “There has been enough of a contingency to say ‘lets not get rid of this building,’ and it will not go away” said Lim in a Campanile article from January 2014. This confirms that the tower building — along with i t ’ s quintessential glory and history —will not be leaving anytime soon.

Entertainment

VIVIAN FENG/THE CAMPANILE

Palo Alto buskers

Students and professionals alike head to downtown to show their musical talents. PAGE B2

Spotlight

ERICA OAKSON/USED WITH PERMISSION

Shootings spur gun debate

Recent violence has reignited debates over how to prevent mass shootings. PAGES B4-B5

Column: stages of listening to music

NICHOLAS MELVIN/THE CAMPANILE

By Edward Kim

Business Manager

rom Soundcloud and Spotify to Youtube Red and Apple Music, consumerism has created a haven for artists to release their music to the public. What was once men in their early 20s handing out CDs of their newest mixtape on street corners has turned into a culture based around Soundcloud links in Instagram bios. With many forms of accessing music, it’s important to distinguish the good songs from the bad. And even with the bad songs, one must be able to discover songs such as “Gucci Gang,” a garbage track that has gone viral. To help identify a quality song, I’ve compiled this handydandy guide to find which songs are “fire.” Step 1: Discovering the song From thousands of hours listening to music, I’ve learned that if the beat goes hard, the song is generally good. Exemplified by Offset’s quirky “Ric Flair Drip,” a solid rap song should immediately get your adrenaline pumping, ready to get hyped in the shotgun seat of your friend’s car. This initial step will cause you to add the song to your main playlist. This initial step will catch you constantly looping the song on Spotify. For a while, this song will dominate your play history. Every play on the radio, even with muted words, makes a mediocre car ride into an enjoyable one. Step 2: Getting sick of the song After enough loops of the song, you can easily predict the song’s next lines or bass drop. Rediscovering an “edgy” side, you despise the song has now gone mainstream becausee the majority of people “simply fail to appreciate” the undertones present within such a popular song. You grow to gradually detest hearing the song, now that it isn’t your own little secret. Your musiclistening habits begin to diversify again, reverting back to using your entire playlist, rather than just looping one song around. Step 3: Retro-fying the song Now tucked away deep within your darkest memories, the song will remain hidden for a number of months, or even years. Then, your radio channel will have a “throwback hour,” when the song you once fell in love with will reappear. After all this time, you congratulate yourself on knowing all the lyrics, a feat of memorization that has stood the test of time. Remembering the lyrics, you eagerly brag to the person sitting next to you that you found the song before it went mainstream. Step 4: Remixing the song This category can take many different forms, from a cover or a remix to simply ripping off another artist’s rhythm. In some cases, a remix can bring a twist on an already-popular song, such as Lil Wayne and Kehlani’s remake of “Location.” If you’ve already gotten sick of the song (see Step 2), new voices and new lyrics bring the song back to Step 1. Other times, a long-forgotten song (Drake’s “Jumpman”) will reenter your mind after hearing a eerily similar song ( Jaden Smith’s “Batman”). In this case, the original song often wins out over the copied version.

Television

NETFLIX/FAIR USE

‘Stranger Things’ Review

Read about why this Netflix original TV series is so addicting. PAGE B3

Friday, December 8, 2017

The Campanile

LIFESTYLE B2 Downtown Palo Alto hosts local busker community

Musicians flock to University Avenue for a unique and interactive way to perform for a live audience and earn money friend and crush of mine at the time said, ‘Hey you know how to play guitar and you sing a little, why don’t you go out and play on the streets?’” Dyno said. “I had never done anything like it before so it was the last thing I’d thought I would’ve ever done. She said [she’d] go with me and put out a little tip jar so I could get some money and buy her dinner. I was like ‘oh yup, I’m doing it.”’ Dyno’s performances downtown are a lot more casual than his scheduled performances: he’s often taking song requests from the audience and improvising the mixing of songs on the spot.

“Playing in Palo Alto is a really special experience because the people who walk by on University are so diverse.” Sabrina Kim

VIVIAN FENG/THE CAMPANILE

Aspiring singer Eddy Dyno performs covers of popular songs on the streets of downtown Palo Alto. He has performed as a busker ever since he was a sophomore in high school.

By Vivian Feng

Lifestyle Editor

mong the futuristic gadget stores, cafes and gelato shops, downtown Palo Alto is home to a unique busker community that lines the sidewalks along University Avenue with open guitar cases and a sense of humble entrepreneurship. Palo Alto boasts one of the more popular downtowns of the Peninsula; located near urban startup offices, Stanford University and a community of both new and old money, the streets brim with people with a liberal music preference and who often also have generously deep pockets. The Palo Alto busker community is also a fusion of musical backgrounds and tastes, with performances ranging from a college student playing John Mayer on the electric guitar to a group of men singing Indian pop songs over radio instrumentals. Buskers of all ages and backgrounds captivate pedestrians, accruing an audience of passersby for their distinctive performances that echo

throughout the street. “There was one time I was getting dinner with a friend, but we ended up spending the rest of the night listening to performers downtown,” said junior Gigi Tierney. “I think we stayed for about half an hour listening to each of the four groups that were playing. That was the most [busking groups] I’ve seen downtown in a night.”

“There’s a lot less pressure to give a perfect performance. It’s more about enjoying the music, ambience and company.” Isaac Fuh

While many Paly students like Tierney flock to downtown Palo Alto to listen to buskers, a few students partake in this activity

as well. A busker is someone who performs in public places for gratuities. In Palo Alto, the majority of the buskers perform and play music. Junior Waverly Long, Homestead sophomore Sabrina Kim, Pioneer High School senior Isaac Fuh, Castilleja junior Divya Tadimeti and Pioneer High School sophomore Ethan Lin from Palo Alto Chamber Orchestra (PACO) have been performing string symphonies together downtown. “Before we went busking, I saw other musicians and singers performing downtown,” Fuh said. “I didn’t see many string ensembles, so when we began busking, it was cool to bring less common music to downtown.” Kim chose to follow in the footsteps of older PACO members who had performed in downtown Palo Alto to earn money before. The quintet thought it would be a fun way to enjoy and practice music while making money, and as a result, decided to give busking a try.

“Playing in Palo Alto is a really special experience because the people who walk by on University are so diverse,” Kim said. “It’s great to see how families and friends of different backgrounds and ages enjoy our music. Also, there are so many people in Palo Alto that enjoy the arts; to have an audience that is really receptive and appreciative of the music is so rewarding.”

Dyno’s performances downtown are a lot more casual than his scheduled performances: often taking song requests from the audience and improvising the mixing of songs on the spot. As PACO is a competitive orchestra club, Fuh values the more laid-back and forgiving experi-

ence of busking. “There’s a lot less pressure to give a perfect performance,” Fuh said. “It’s more about enjoying the music, ambience and company. Whenever we go busking, we mess up at times, but we can laugh it off because it’s really just about enjoying the moment.” According to Kim, the most favorable and popular time for buskers to perform is during the nighttime, preferably on weekends, in order to maximize audience size. “We usually go around 6-8 p.m. on weekends, which seems to be the busiest time,” Kim said. “I’ve heard from friends who went during lunchtime that it’s not as busy.” Along with student performers, downtown Palo Alto also receives free performances from more established artists. Eddy Dyno, who currently has more than 7,000 Soundcloud followers, frequently performs on University Avenue. Dyno also began his busking career as a student performer. “[My sophomore year], a

A Bay Area native, Dyno knows most of the more popular R&B lyrics by heart, and is known for his covers of popular songs. He also occasionally harmonizes with artists on their original tracks, and every so often, Dyno sporadically performs Tongan music. “I love [busking] most because it’s an honest reaction,” Dyno said. “If the people like it, they stop and listen; if they don’t, they can continue on.” Most buskers perform either in Lytton Plaza outside of Pizza My Heart, along both sides University Avenue from Emerson Street through Cowper Street or in the inner plaza near the Three Seasons restaurant. To join the busker community in Palo Alto, one needs to apply for a “special business permit” from the Palo Alto Police Department; after the Police Department accepts an application, they issue a permit. Otherwise, one can simply enjoy the diverse array of music genres and performances by heading downtown over the weekend. “There started my love for performing,” Dyno said. “I still get stage fright, so most of the time you’ll see me singing with my eyes closed because in those moments I zone out even though there could be 30 or 100 people there, it’s just me sharing my story through songs.”

Popular rappers struggle with law despite success

Many up-and-coming hip-hop artists engage in illegal activities, leaving many to question the morality of their music By Ben van Zyll

Staff Writer

he hip-hop music industry has allowed many young rappers to build successful careers while gaining large followings along the way. Although thousands of fans obsess over their catchy songs, many often fail to ask themselves: is this person as good of a person as they are an artist?

“Kodak has been in and out of jail. I don’t really know what the problem is. He makes catchy music and could live a really good life.” Arjun Khanna Kodak Black has become well-known among young people across the country. The 20-yearold Florida rapper, born Dieuson Octave, made a name for himself in the hip-hop music world in October 2015, when he signed to Atlantic Records. Since then, he has been involved in more than a couple of criminal activities. In the same month he signed for Atlantic Records, Kodak was arrested on charges of robbery, battery, false imprisonment of a child and possession of marijuana. He was later released on bond, promising to appear in court on a scheduled time and date. “Kodak has been in and out of jail,” said Paly junior and aspiring rapper Arjun Khanna. “I don’t really know what the problem is. He makes catchy music and could live a really good life.” In February 2016, Kodak was accused of sexual battery in a hotel room. Just a couple of months later, Kodak was arrested again for

possessing marijuana and a weapon as a convicted felon and fleeing the police. The next month, Kodak was held in police custody on charges of armed robbery and false imprisonment. He has been convicted of more criminal activity since then, including assault, violating house arrest and more possession of marijuana. Kodak has been in and out of jail, with the option to be released by bond, a minimum payment of $1,500. Although Kodak Black has been involved in several legal situations, he still has an overwhelmingly large following of a predominantly young group to whom his music appeals. He currently has 4.6 million followers on the social media app Instagram. He also has 13.4 million monthly listeners on Spotify, with many of his most scandalous songs reaching top 100 ratings. These songs often consist of references to drug use, shooting people and his experiences with incarceration. “Kodak doesn’t really talk about his severe crimes because they shed him in bad light,” Khanna said. “People should know about the more severe crimes he’s committed rather than what he leaves on the surface of his rap music. As good of a rapper as he is, he’s done some bad things in his rise.” Another up-and-coming rapper, XXXTentacion, has been surrounded by controversy because of violent allegations against him. The 19-year-old Florida rapper, whose real name is Jahseh Dwayne Onfroy, was released from jail in 2016 after pleading no contest to charges of home invasion and battery with a firearm. In this case, he entered the home of a man and robbed him at gunpoint. Last October, he was charged with three crimes: aggravated battery of his pregnant ex-girlfriend,

DAVID CABERA/ CC BY-SA 4.0

Hip-hop artist Kodak Black has been arrested on charges of robbery, sexual battery, false imprisonment of a child and possession of marijuana. domestic battery by strangulation and false imprisonment. He pleaded not guilty and claimed another person battered his ex-girlfriend. A 142-page transcript of the two-and-a-half hour testimony from the victim has emerged and evidence suggests he is guilty. Evidence in-

cludes affidavits of witnesses and 51 pages of medical records that support the victim’s testimony. Despite substantial evidence, XXXTentacion was able to avoid jailtime during this case. XXXTentacion is still making music and, like Kodak Black, has a large social media following. With

4.9 million followers on Instagram and about 14 million monthly listeners on Spotify, XXXTentacion has developed a massive fan base. XXXTentacion’s rise to fame has continued to progress, unaffected by the offenses. “Honestly a lot of rappers use their music to disguise a darker

past that they’ve had,” Khanna said. “As negative as [XXXTentacion’s] music is, he’s definitely done worse in his past and people should really separate his ‘good’ music from the fact that he’s committed such bad crimes. Support his music but don’t support him as a person.”

The Campanile

Friday, December 8, 2017

LIFESTYLE

Understanding the tremendous appeal of ‘Stranger Things’

As the second season of the popular show hits Netflix, certain key elements continue to attract widespread viewership By Leela Srinivasan Staff Writer

arely will a show come along that manages to attract all types of television addicts, a series that captures the attention of viewers who prefer suspense and danger, paranormal fanatics, drama and mystery lovers and even the suckers for a classic teenage love triangle. In light of the release of the highly anticipated second season of “Stranger Things” to Netflix, we ask ourselves, “what is it about the popular television series that makes it so appealing to so many different people?” Youthful Charm There is certainly an attraction to the simplicity of children’s lives, an appeal founded in the innocence with which they think about the world and in the way they confront problems. Palo Alto High School parent Manuel Amieva said the effervescence and charm of the group of middle school kids that assume the lead roles on “Stranger Things” are what got him hooked. “I think that the strength of the show is that they’re showing [the viewers] the plot through the eyes of the children,” Amieva said. “I find them to be both funny and insightful.” There are several actions the children take to solve the mystery plaguing the town that demonstrate these characteristics. First, the children eagerly consult their favorite teacher to resolve confusion about the “upside down,” an alternate dimension, with the naive notion that their teacher must have the answers about this parallel universe. Then they creatively connect this unknown to a theory found in the fantasy tabletop board game Dungeons and Dragons that they play. The analogy, although childish, gives the town’s police chief insight into the case and brings the police department further along in the investigation. “The children basically are the detectives; they even know all kinds of things about history,” Amieva said. They communicate with each other using a walkie talkie system,

through which they create signals such as “code red” and habitually sign off with the words “over and out,” a system of correspondence that proves to be efficient. How these young, innocent children are able to use their strengths and extensive knowledge about seemingly-inapplicable topics to cunningly keep up with the mystery, oftentimes one step ahead of the police chief, attracts a widespread viewership. With only rickety bicycles, walkie talkies and wild imaginations, the children create a wonderful story that viewers cannot resist. Historical Connection Directors Matt and Ross Duffer (the Duffer brothers) toyed with a recurring theme from United States history — government mistrust — to strengthen the plausibility of the paranormal elements within the plot. According to a New York Times article by Lynn Vavreck, “In the economic hard times of the early 1980s, multiple polls conducted by news media organizations like CBS, The New York Times and The Washington Post showed that only 29 percent of Americans trusted the government to do the right thing.” “Stranger Things” introduces the reasoning for this lack of trust by demonstrating how the public is oblivious to the government’s unethical human experimentation happening in their hometown.

It would have been difficult to maintain the suspense of the show if it were set in the present. This concept may seem incredulous and strictly limited to science fiction; however, Project MK Ultra, a Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) mind control program carried out in the early 1950s, involved experiments dangerously similar to those in the show. During its early years, the project recruited former Nazi scientists involved in the creation of several harmful substances during

NETFLIX/FAIR USE

Main characters Will, Mike, Dustin and Lucas stare intently at a video game screen, utterly appalled that they were outscored by “MadMax.” World War II, some of whom had been convicted in the Nuremberg trials and escaped prosecution. U.S. and Canadian test subjects were often subjected to illegal activities that aimed to develop drugs or methods used in interrogations involving torture. These dangerous innovations later enabled the CIA to weaken a subject and force confessions through mind control. Some unethical methods included the use of Lysergic Acid Diethylamide (LSD) for manipulation, isolation, verbal abuse, psychological torture and hypnosis: many of which were administered to the young character Eleven in “Stranger Things.” While Project MK Ultra was definitively shut down in the mid -‘70s, it is not far-fetched that similar experimentation could have occurred just a few years later in 1983 when the show takes place. ’80s Culture The directors managed to incorporate various aspects of life in the ’80s in the show, engaging those who lived through the iconic decade and giving younger watchers a taste of what they missed out on. In fact, it would have been difficult to maintain the suspense of the show if it were set in the present, as opposed to in 1983.

“I don’t think the events that occurred in the show could have been possible with cell phones, because [the kids] would have been able to take pictures as evidence, which would have spread all over social media,” said junior Luc Pardehpoosh, a “Stranger Things” aficionado. “It wouldn’t have been a mystery at all.”

“I think that the strength of the show is that they’re showing [the viewers] the plot through the eyes of the children.” Manuel Amieva

A significant portion of the initial plot revolves around the whereabouts of two significant characters, Will and Eleven; the hunt to retrieve them would have been halted by current technology’s ability to locate individuals. “If the show were [set in the present], parents would be able to track their kids much more easily,” Pardehpoosh said. He explains that tracking devices would have prevented kids from pursuing their adventures, as they oftentimes disappeared from home for days at a time. “It seems like in that time period, parents were not as strict

with where their kids were,” Pardehpoosh said. Additionally, the soundtrack blends hits from The Clash, Toto, Tears for Fears, The Bangles and Foreigner, bands that dominated pop music in the ‘80s. The directors also use “Every Breath You Take” by the Police and Cyndi Lauper’s “Time after Time” in addition to eerie, synthbased tracks produced by the talented Kyle Dixon and Michael Stein. With the release of the celebrated movie “Ghostbusters” in June 1984, the kids in the show demonstrate their attraction to pop culture by dressing up as the lead characters for Halloween. Along with music and cinema, ’80s fashion is represented well through the entire cast’s style, particularly by character Billy Hargrove, who was introduced in the recently-released second season. He is a hot-headed teenager whose clothes speak for his nature: he wears rugged denim jackets paired with tight jeans, ample leather and deep V-necklines. What cannot fail to catch the viewer’s attention is his greasy mullet, an infamous hairstyle that depicts a cropped front and long back that covers one’s neck. The trend peaked in the ’70s, led by rock legends such as David Bowie and carried over into the ‘80s.

With the addition of these quintessential details, the show posesses a retro charm that is sure to attract a larger audience. Iconic Casting The show revolves around a 12-year-old named Will Byers, but the Duffer brothers used an interesting technique to increase their viewing audience: they cast sensational ’90s actress Winona Ryder as the child’s mother.

With only rickety bicycles, walkie talkies and wild imaginations, the children create a wonderful story that viewers cannot resist. Ryder is an icon in our parents’ age group, who experienced pop culture as her hit movies were released. By casting her as a mother, the directors gave her a role that enables her to embrace her current age while drawing in audiences who saw her past successes. Middle-aged viewers who are at a similar stage of their lives as Byers can grasp her unconditional love for her child. These viewers also classify as those who may not be typically inclined to watch a show centered around a gang of middle school kids.

Prime destination for sweets ‘Daddy’s Home 2’ disappoints A hidden dessert spot on Palo Alto’s University Avenue

ERIC HE/THE CAMPANILE

The Mount Diablo Cake at Cafe Venetia is a divine treat for sweet-lovers.

By Eric He Senior Staff Writer

hether it be post-dinner cravings or mid-afternoon impulse buys, sweet treats have a special place in our daily lives. Popular dessert chains such as The Cheesecake Factory, T4 and Cream are almost always full. In an attempt to avoid the hassle, one should explore smaller and lesser-known options, such as Cafe Venetia, to satisfy the craving for something sweet. Cafe Venetia is a small coffee shop on University Avenue tucked away from the larger establishments. As one enters the establishment, the smell of assorted pastries and coffee fills the air, while close-up photographs of cookies, coffee and chocolates cover the orange walls, invoking one’s hunger. Although small, Cafe Venetia does its best to accommodate patrons. For those willing to bear the autumn temperatures, Cafe Venetia also offers multiple tables outside. Those with a decreased tolerance for temperatures can sit inside at the bar-top seating, which overlooks the street, or at tables which fit up to five. For customers looking for privacy, Cafe Venetia also offers a second floor, available through reservation. Offering a variety of pastries, tarts and cakes, the selection can be quite intimidating. Indecisive patrons should ask

the friendly staff, who are happy to assist in ordering. In terms of coffee, their first menu offers basic drinks, such as espressos, cappuccinos and hot chocolate. For those with a more refined taste in coffee, the second menu displays their vast selection of coffee beans and blends from places you’ve probably only seen on TV. The Mount Diablo Cake and a simple cappuccino can be purchased for a total of $10.64. The cake is three-dimensional in shape, but flat in taste. Topped with a thick layer of carefullyarranged chocolate mousse, this cake is sure to satisfy cravings for anything sweet. As I took my first bite, the staggering volume of chocolatey sweetness took me by surprise. The layer of mousse on top of the cake floods one’s tastebuds, and unfortunately drowns out the other flavors of the cake. It took the reading of the label for me to discover the cake actually also includes raspberry jam and rum. An unknown layer of filling, presumably almond, is a greatlyappreciated change in the texture of this overly-creamy cake. Akin to mass-produced chocolate cakes available at your local supermarket, the chocolate and sweetness were too overpowering. Fortunately, the barista had also recommended a cappuccino. Although the $4 is somewhat pricey for the volume of the drink, the cappuccino was velvety and was an incredible experience to sip. Topped with a decorative swirl

of foam and milk, the bittersweet drink served as a lifeboat from the sea of sweetness of the cake. Although pricey, the cappuccino and Mount Diablo Cake form a delicate balance of sweetness. For those seeking sugary treats, this combination is perfect. Cafe Venetia’s other chocolatey options were fortunately not as sweet. These other options include the Mousse al Cioccolato and the chocolate caramel, totalling to $12.50. Served in a tall margarita glass, the thick, creamy mousse spreads the comforting taste of chocolate throughout the mouth. Perfect for the cold, this upgraded hot chocolate is ideal for those looking for a tasty warm sweet treat. In terms of value, the $5.50 price is reasonable. For those looking for a cheaper chocolaty alternative, consider the chocolate caramel tart.

Although pricey. the cappucino and Mount Diablo Cake pair up to form a delicate balance of sweetness. The chocolate caramel tart was one of sweeter items available on the menu. Covered with a thick fudge-like layer of chocolate, the house-made filling is not quite gummy as other caramels. The sweet and viscous filling seemingly melts in one’s mouth. The crust was brittle and hard, and in combination with the thickness of the chocolate and caramel, it is a struggle to eat. The crust crumbles, akin to a biscuit, rather than flaking apart. Overall, the $5.75 tart had good intentions, but unfortunately the whole is not greater than the sum of its parts. Being one of University Avenue’s underground eateries, Cafe Venetia is mostly unknown. However, step through their door to receive great customer service, a cozy environment and most importantly, delicious decadent treats.

Recently released movie is poorly-timed and predictable

VIMEO/FAIR USE

Lacking both wit and an original plotline, the highly anticipated sequel, ‘Daddy’s Home 2,’ fails to entertain.

By Edan Sneh Online Editor

s the seasons transition from fall to winter, people prepare for the holidays with festive decorations and jolly songs. While most holiday movies premiere during the holiday, “Daddy’s Home 2” came to theaters on Nov. 10 — a month before Christmas — but full of Christmas cheer. Besides their release date hiccup, the movie could have been much better if it would have featured more of Will Ferrell’s staple childish humor.

The message of the story is almost identical to the first movie, leaving veteran moviegoers groaning in their seats at every major plot point. The movie picks up a year after the first movie, “Daddy’s Home,” when “Step-daddy” Brad (Will Ferrell) and “Daddy” Dusty (Mark Wahlberg) have decided to become co-dads and best friends. The two dads decide to spend Christmas together and invite their own fathers, Kurt and Don (Mel Gibson and John Lithgow)

to join in the festivities. Writers Brian Burns and Sean Anders clearly have some daddy issues. If four dads were not enough, Roger, played by John Cena, also makes an appearance in the movie as the dad of Lithgow’s daughter. As with many of Ferrell’s movies, the plot suffers in relationship to the humor. The message of the story is almost identical to the first movie, leaving veteran moviegoers groaning in their seats at every major plot point. The sequel focuses a little too much on the “daddies,” leaving the “mommies” with little to no character development. In one scene, the movie reveals that Karen (Alessandra Ambrosio), Wahlberg’s wife, is a shoplifter. The conflict is supposedly resolved after Wahlberg says, “We’re working on it,” and is never mentioned again. Since the conflict is not resolved, it feels as if the movie is promoting shoplifting. The most unbearable part of the movie was its Christmas cheer. Christmas was the main focus of the movie, which constantly made me wonder whether the movie studio knew what month they was releasing the movie in. The movie goes as far as to have a Christmas miracle at the end which takes place in a movie theater; the snow storm ends as the family conflict is resolved. At this point, all of the actors decide

to break the fourth wall. Ferrell makes a speech about moviegoers coming together, obviously referring to the people watching the movie. And suddenly all of the actors, possibly angry for not being cast in the new “Pitch Perfect” movie, start singing in perfect harmony. If you are looking for a great Christmas movie starring actor Will Ferrell, please check out “Elf.” “Daddy’s Home 2” manages to do one thing right, and that is family fun humor. I found myself openly laughing in the theater at the stupidity of some joke, and Ferrell’s ability to withstand every

‘Daddy’s Home 2’ came to theaters on Nov. 10 — a month before Christmas — but full of Christmas cheer. possible injury and even death. The awkward moments in the movie were extended way beyond what they needed to be in the signature Ferrell way. Yet, considering it’s a family-friendly movie, the director should have done away with its bad morals, such as parents unresponsibly leaving alcohol in their child’s reach and not punishing them for drinking underage.

Friday, December 8, 2017

The Campanile

SPOTLIGHT Text and Design By Ujwal Srivastava

CAUGHT IN THE

How recent mass shootings have reignite

INT

BREAKING DOWN THE PROBLEM

Number of Guns Yet, repeated simulations and research have shown that in the heat of the moment, people are unable to stop an active shooter. the two together, it logically folA simulation conducted at Mount lows that Americans should own St. Mary’s University in 2015 the most guns. And it’s true. A took average students with varyUnited Nations study found that ing ranges of skill, trained them the U.S. has a gun ownership and placed them in a classroom. rate of 88.8 guns per 100 people When the moment arrived, many — by far the highest of any nafumbled to pull out their tion. War-ravaged gun, and struggled to keep Yemen comes in secThe U.S. has a gun the peace and prevent vioond place with 54.8 ownership rate of 88.8 guns lence from breaking out. guns per 100 people. The study found that To put this number per 100 people — by far the without years of skill into further perspechighest of any nation. Warand training with guns, tive, the U.S. is home ravaged Yemen comes in as well as experience in to 5 percent of the high-pressure combat world’s population, second place with 54.8 scenarios, it would but 40 percent of all guns per 100 people. be impossible for a guns. Some believe civilian to defend that this strongly corthemselves relates with the fact “The theory that armed that gun violence claims the lives This trend held true for individual of 80 people a day, according to states in the U.S. as well, and sim- citizens should be betthe Center for Disease Control ilar results were obtained by vari- ter able to defend against ous independent researchers, such crime is not wrong — (CDC). One of the central points as the Harvard School of Public there’s nothing illogical of conflict in the gun debate is Health and the National Insti- about it,” said a senior in whether more guns leads to more tute for Biotechnical Information a survey conducted by The Campanile. “But the problem violence or in fact deters violence. (NCBI). On the other hand, a strong ar- is the data just proves otherThe U.S. makes for a great case study because they have a lot of gument in favor of gun ownership wise, and you can’t argue with guns, as shown by the numbers. is self defense. Proponents claim reality.” While there might have But evidence also shows that the that if more people were armed, U.S. has more gun violence, which they would be able to defend been some incidents where an would directly support the claim against mass shooters before they armed civilian was able to prevent that more guns equals more vio- had an opportunity to fire. In fact, a shooting, in the end, evidence lence. For example, the murder after the Sandy Hook shooting in points towards the conclusion rate in the U.S. is 15 times higher 2012, the National Rifle Associa- that more guns leads to more than any other developed nation, tion (NRA) argued for more guns violence. Unfortunately, the U.S. and a 2014 study published by the on school campuses. Secretary of has more guns than the next 18 International Journal of Criminal Education Betsy DeVos has made nations combined, and it doesn’t Justice Sciences found that the similar claims about the value of look like these numbers are going down anytime soon. U.S. suﬀers from mass shootings firearms as a safety precaution. loves two things more than anything — being first Aandmerica owning guns. When you put

at a rate 11 times greater than any other developed nation. However, the most crushing blow to this argument comes from research presented in a Nov. 5, 2017 Vox article. In a detailed analysis of developed nations, a strong, positive correlation was found between number of guns and number of gun related deaths.

pr. 16, 2007 — 32 killed at Virginia Tech Univ ementary School. Dec. 2, 2015 — 14 killed in Sa Nightclub in Orlando, Fla. Oct. 1, 2017 — 58 kill in the history of the United States. Nov. 5, 2017

Second Amendment merica’s love-hate relationship with guns is rooted in the AConstitution, specifically the Sec-

consensus has been reached. Gun policy and attitudes towards firearms fluctuated throughout the 19th and 20th centuries, but a significant turning point occurred in the 1970s. “The NRA used to be for gun control, but in 1977 in Cincinnati, a radical minority took over the NRA, shaping it to be as we know it today,” Bungarden said. In essence, the NRA used to promote legislation to foster safe practices with regards to firearms,

ond Amendment. It reads, “a well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed.” These seemingly-innocent words have been at the heart of one of America’s most lengthy and polarizing debates. Two prevailing fields of thought emerge from the wording of the Second Amendment. The indi“The NRA used to be vidual rights theory argues that the wording for gun control, but directly implies the right in 1977, a radical mifor an individual, with or nority took over the without aﬃliation to an organized militia, to own NRA, shaping it to be a firearm, and any action as we know it today.” from Congress that pre-vents this can be deemed Jack Bungarden unconstitutional. Another theory, known as the collective rights theory, argues that the wording “a well but ever since the gun rights adregulated Militia” implies that the vocates took over the NRA, it has Framers only intended to give this become a large lobbyist in Conright to states, as a means of self gress and has endorsed less gun defense against federal aggression. regulation. On the other side of the arguThus, only groups, not individuals, have the right to possess firearms, ment, gun control advocates ofand any attempt to limit this from ten point to the increased power of modern weapons. When the individuals is germaine. According to AP U.S. His- Second Amendment was written, tory teacher Jack Bungarden, the weapons such as the AR-15 and intention of the founding fathers other semi-automatic handguns is something that Americans have that could fire far over 100 rounds debated over for decades, but no a minute were a figment of the

Mass shootings between 2000-2014

133 7

imagination. The rifles used at the time when the Second Amendment was written took a trained soldier almost half a minute to fully reload. Only holding one shot at a time, these rifles were significantly less accurate — and therefore less deadly — than modern firearms. Regardless of interpretation, it is undeniable that while our weapons have modernized, our laws have not. The Second Amendment has also had a tangible role in shaping Supreme Court decisions with far-reaching impacts. Most notably is the 2008 case District of Columbia v. Heller. In 1976, the District of Columbia enacted one of the nation’s toughest gun control laws, banning all handguns, automatic firearms and high-capacity semiautomatic weapons. Murder rates declined, preventing almost 50 deaths per year. But in 2008, the Supreme Court struck this law down deeming it unconstitutional as it violated the Second Amendment. Since then, murder rates have stabilized, but only time will reveal how they are aﬀected by the absence of strict gun control. The precedent set by Heller has two broad impacts: the Supreme Court siding with the “individual rights theory” of the Second Amendment, and the legal precedent to strike down any future legislation that attempts to curtail access to guns.

RAPID FIRE STATS Minutes it takes to buy an AR-15

88 Guns per

Loose Background Checks nother important factor fueling America’s gun epidemic Ais notoriously loose background

checks. The logic is quite straightforward: lax laws lead to more guns in society, which lead to more deaths. According to GunPolicy.org, when compared to other developed nations with low homicide rates such as Australia, Canada and Germany, the U.S. is lacking when it comes to gun control laws. All three of these nations require the owner to obtain a license, register the gun, have a valid reason for buying the gun, enroll in a safety training program and sign a safe storage agreement. The U.S. has none of these regulations. Take a closer look at Australia. In 1996, the deadliest massacre took place in Australian history when a man open fired in a cafe in Port Arthur, killing 35 and wounding 23 more. Immediately after, the Australian government responded with legislation banning automatic and semi-automatic guns, initiated a buyback program that collected 650,000 guns and also started a national registry. While gun violence (homicides, suicide, domestic violence) has reduced drastically overall, the key statistic to look at is that of mass shootings. In the 18 years prior to Port Arthur, 13

mass shootings took place. In the 14 years after legislation — none. Research from Harvard University has found that one out of every five guns is bought without a background check. The largest holes occur in online sales, private sales and guns obtained from friends and acquaintances. For example, in 31 states, a father can pass a gun along to his son without any sort of background check being mandated. Gun shows present another loophole, where gun transactions occur with no background checks. The Giﬀord Law Center explains that due to a lack of federal laws, the burden falls on individual states to create a strong network of laws to prevent the wrong people from accessing guns. Their research shows that not only do states with stricter gun laws have less violence, but stronger gun control laws help prevent gun traﬃcking and other crimes. But in the U.S., it is quite easy to obtain a gun. An October 2017 Business Insider article details just how simple it is to buy one. In fact, the publication’s reporter was able to walk into a store and leave with an AR-15 (the same gun used in the Orlando shooting in June) in a mere seven minutes. Most sales consist of a federal and state check. If you don’t have

Paly students weigh in... These are the results of a survey administered to 77 Paly students

Strongly Agree

7.5%

3.8%

17.5% 71.3%

Agree Disagree

100 people

Strongly Disagree Data from Business Insider, CDC

a criminal record and meet a few other simple criteria, you’re good to go. No wait time, no further questions. And that’s just the public sales involving a dealer. Private sales are a whole other ballgame, and are even less scrutinized. “Gun violence and mass shootings are both immense problems in the U.S. and a large part of the issue is the lack of gun regulation,” said junior Soumya Jhaveri. “We absolutely need to reform our gun laws to ensure that people undergo a more thorough background check before being able to buy a weapon. For instance, we need to look into past histories of domestic violence.” Modern guns are high-grade military equipment, normally used by people who have trained for years and understand the circumstances in which deadly force is justified. In no other developed country are guns sold to civilians without proper checks into the purchaser’s history, and many countries also require buyers to learn basic firearm safety beforehand. Guns are falling into the wrong hands and stricter background checks might be the solution to curbing this.

We need stro backgroun checks an stricter gu control la

The Campanile

Friday, December 8, 2017

SPOTLIGHT

E CROSSHAIRS

Text and Design By Ethan Nissim

ed a decades-long debate over guns laws SOLUTION

TRO

versity. Dec. 14, 2012 — 27 killed at Sandy Hook Elan Bernardino, Calif. June 12, 2016 — 49 killed in Pulse led at a concert in Las Vegas, the deadliest mass shooting — 26 killed in a Texas church. The list goes on and on.

here are still many unknowns in this complex equation of inTdividual rights, gun control laws,

year and walk into a Las Vegas hotel room undetected. We have to improve the constituent safety and governscreening process before guns are ment responsibility. Whether you issued, looking into not just crimbelieve concealed carry deters or inal and asylum records, but also increases violence, or if the Second other strong indicators of violence Amendment should or shouldn’t such as alcohol abuse. We have to apply to the modern guns of toclose loopholes in policy that alday, the fact still remains that low the shooters to obtain weapthe U.S. has an ons such as at gun unparalleled shows and through “Gun violence and mass problem with private sales. shootings are both immense gun violence. It is undeniable Unfortunately, there that the gun situproblems in the U.S. and a is no easy solution. ation is not black large part of the issue is the Every scenario is and white or good lack of gun regulation. We unique and, as Swanson and bad, but rather puts it, the factors respans the murky need to reform our gun laws sponsible for mass viogray area in beto ensure that people undergo lence are messy, complex tween. In no way is a more thorough background and dynamic. There is no one side at fault, but one-size-fits-all solution, the status quo is not check.” but this doesn’t mean we a sustainable model — shouldn’t take proactive for either side of the Soumya Jhaveri steps. spectrum. First and foremost, The violence we have to realize that caused by guns is no one side is 100 percent right. the deaths that occur every- so diverse that it is often stated There will be examples of cities in day but go un- m e n t i on e d that America does not have just which guns helped and examples on the nightly news. one gun problem but multiple However, if we want to reduce gun problems. Just like the probin which guns didn’t. Data will fluctuate from year to year. If we mass shootings, we have to limit lem has many folds, the solution want to make progress, we will access to high caliber weapons. will also have many folds, and it is We have to strengthen back- imperative that we put down our have to compromise. It’s important to note that ground checks across the board at guns, set aside our diﬀerences and mass shootings actually repre- a federal level so that no one can start moving towards a solution sent only a small fraction of gun purchase 33 guns in a calendar today.

Only five percent of the world population is American, yet

Mental Illness ental illness is perhaps the phrase most often associated M with mass shootings, but new

violent acts. But the overall thesis of both Swanson’s and Metzl’s work is that there are better predictors of a mass shooting than mental illness, though in the end, there is no guaranteed measure. Most prominent on this list is drug and alcohol abuse. Repeated national

year was 13 percent. But the likelihood was dependent on whether developments are showing that they were unemployed, poor, livmental illness may not actually be ing in disadvantaged communia good predictor of gun violence. ties, using drugs or alcohol, and In fact, mental illness is most ofhad suﬀered from ‘violent victimten used as a scapegoat, a myth ization’ during a part of their lives. perpetrated by the media and gun The association was a cumulalobby, according to Jonative one: take away than Metzl, professor of all of these factors psychiatry, sociology, and and the risk fell to Metzl’s research is medicine and health,at two percent, which breaking stereotypes held Vanderbilt University. is the same risk as And people believe it. In found in the general against the mentally ill. It a 2013 Gallup Poll, 80 population.” shows that people who are percent of respondents At the end of mentally ill are more likely believe mental illness the day, yes, there is at least partially to is a connection beto be victims of gun violence blame for mass shoottween mental illrather than culprits. ings, and more people ness and shootings. believe mass shootings But is it as big as result from a failure of the media makes it the mental health system to be? Absolutely than the abundant access to guns. and international studies of thou- not. The attention mental illness Metzl’s research is breaking sands of people have clearly and has gotten in light of recent mass stereotypes held against the men- consistently shown that substance shootings is unfair, and as a result, tally ill. It shows that people who abuse is a strong indicator of po- background checks, which now are mentally ill are more likely to tential gun violence. mainly focus on mental illness, One example is from Swan- are severely lacking. A person’s be victims of gun violence rather than culprits. Additionally, re- son’s research in 2002 across four likelihood to be involved in a search by Jeﬀrey Swanson of states. By tracking patients of psy- mass shooting is definitely based Duke University shows that this chosis or a major mood disorder, on their past, but is a compound group of individuals are only re- Swanson found that “the number of factors, not solely their mental sponsible for 3 to 5 percent of all who committed a violent act that health.

onger nd nd uns aws.

violence. Homicides and suicides make up a larger proportion of gun deaths — around 11,000 and 20,000 respectively. Gun control is often launched into the national spotlight after a mass shooting, and ironically, this article targets mass shootings because of their prominence, but gun control is necessary to limit

40 percent of civilianowned firearms are located in America What has Paly Done? aly has taken many measures to protect our campus in case of Pactive shooter; however, there is

always room for improvement. “I don’t think any school can ever be really ready or prepared completely.” said Assistant Principal Janice Chen, who oversees the school safety plans. “I think that the drills are really important to take seriously, and in the last drill at the beginning of the school year

the majority of our students and faculty definitely took it seriously. Is there room for improvement? Yes, but I think for the most part we know what to do when and if a situation like that happens.” According to Jhaveri, based on the frequency of recent shootings, the possibility exists that one may occur near us at any time. Chen assuaged these concerns by discussing steps Paly can take

7.3%

7.5%

11.3% 18.8

43.8%

26.2%

Individuals should have the right to carry a concealed gun.

to ensure the safety of its students “One way to prepare for any type of emergency is to practice when it’s unscheduled, when people aren’t prepared for it,” Chen said. “Even our fire drills too, same thing. We all know when it’s scheduled, what to do, but if we want to get really good at it, we have to do it when it’s not scheduled.”

15%

21.3%

42.5%

48.3% 28.7%

Fewer armed citizens leads to less gun violence.

35%

The school is prepared in case of a mass shooting on campus.

Friday, December 8, 2017

The Campanile

LIFESTYLE

Strategic planning for finals studying crucial for all Paly students With finals week approaching, these tips can will help high schoolers combat one of the most stressful time of the year

is a way to unwind and relieve stress, whether that be through yoga, running or playing a favorite sport with friends. If that’s not your cup of tea, Animal Smart, a science-based organization on animals, says interaction with therapy pets can help increase levels of a stress-reducing hormone called oxytocin. There are always therapy dogs at Paly during finals week for those who wish to relax with them.

By Yusra Rafeeqi Staff Writer

inals week is quickly approaching and that only means one thing: frenzied cramming is about to begin. As the semester reaches an end, many students feel increasingly stressed about the looming exams that could lower their grades in a snap. The panic to memorize every bit of information that students have forgotten from the beginning of the year resurfaces. According to Science Daily, the stress and anxiety that come with studying for finals can hinder the ability to form new memories, a crucial part of studying. And as many Paly students know, stress can do much more than that — the constant late nights trying to review and the lethargic mornings after do nothing to help one perform better on a big exam.

The panic to memorize every bit of information that students have forgotten from the beginning of the year resurfaces. But just because finals are threatening to take over the lives of tired high schoolers doesn’t mean there aren’t ways to avoid all the mishap. It’s just a matter of taking it one step at a time and preparing efficiently. Instead of cramming the night before a final, choose to study key material in short, focused sessions before the exam. This method allows for a better understanding of material. Even if it means starting weeks earlier,

Similarly, make sure to ask for the setup of the exam a long time before the actual day so it does not result in stress.

PHILIP ERICSSON/THE CAMPANILE

The amount of studying that students feel that they have to do for finals may seem daunting, but a few strategies can help reduce this stress. setting aside 15 to 60 minutes a day goes far in helping to build memory and retain the information, according to The Princeton Review. “I try and take breaks or change the location of where I work to stay fresh and keep my attention span,” said junior Riya Sinha. “And if it’s a more memorization-based final, then I try and look at Quizlet or other memory games to try and remember.” Another important tip for studying is to take timely breaks between study sessions to let the learning soak in. Studying for hours at a time can be tiring, boring and at times too much to handle, as most high schoolers al-

ready know. Additionally, like Sinha said, learning through creative, fun methods can have its perks. According to Bottom-Line Performance, game-based learning provides the motivation as well as the practice to recall necessary information from memory. Several sites such as Quizlet, Kahoot and even Jeopardy offer ways to study. Another way to make studying bearable is for students to reward themselves for accomplishing tasks. Junior Maya Wilson says she has benefitted from these study tactics. “I usually just start studying a couple of weekends before finals

week, and then I study the week of finals as well,” Wilson said. “I find that going over my past notes and rewriting stuff that I’ve forgotten or am confused about really helps. This year I want to work on making sure that I’m setting a time limit for how long I study because I find myself studying for almost the whole day which can be stressful.” Often, students can find certain concepts confusing, especially when relearning material from months ago. When this happens, a way to retrieve the information is through videos on YouTube or by simply talking with a friend or teacher. Don’t be shy to approach

teachers and ask for help. Similarly, make sure to ask for the setup of the exam long before the actual day so it does not result in stress. Feel free to question teachers on certain topics and difficulty levels in comparison to past exams. Also, remember reviewing and redoing old tests can help and can even be good practice for working within time limits. Even after following these study tips, some students may find the stress is still too much to bear, which can interfere with their our ability to prepare effectively. In that case, relax. USA Today found exercising

One of the most important things during finals week, however, is to be well-rested and charged for the days filled with long hours of thinking and applying knowledge. Although students hear this from almost every adult in their lives, it really is crucial to sleep for as much as it takes to feel ready in the morning. Sleeping helps improve memory. Along with that, taking in healthy “brain foods,” such as vegetables, fruits and dark chocolate can help improve brain function. It’s a given students may feel the stress and anxiousness of finals week. It’s not something that can be stopped, but it can be controlled. No matter what, try not to give in to the panic of cramming and all-nighters that are bound to happen; stressing and panicking will not help you perform well on finals.

Participation in Religious impact on dietary restrictions Many beliefs around the world encourage people to adopt certain lifestyles ‘Movember’

No-Shave November trend present at Paly By Grace Kitayama

Senior Staff Writer

s November drew to a close and homes became filled with decorative lights, Christmas trees or menorahs. The shearing of beards also took place for those who participated in No-Shave November, as they finally got out their razors and shed their facial hair. According to ABC News, Movember, also called No-Shave November, started in 2003 with the goal of raising awareness about prostate and testicular cancer. The movement has now spread to 21 countries. The idea is the money men save on facial grooming products can be donated to cancer research, according to the official No-Shave November website. However, the movement has transitioned into more of a social fad. At Paly, several students and teachers put down their razors in order to spread awareness and partake in the facial-haired fun. Senior Rafi Moskowitz participated to raise awareness and also because the event seemed fun. “[I grew the beard] to raise awareness for prostate cancer, which is what No-Shave November is traditionally meant for,” Moskowitz said. “I had never grown out my beard past a couple of days, so I figured it would be a fun experiment.” Similarly to Moskowitz, AP Psychology teacher Chris Farina partook in the event for the amusement and has been a longtime Movember participant. “At this point I’m participating because it’s become more of a ritual than anything else,” Farina said.

The goal [is] to raise awareness about prostate and testicular cancer. For participants at Paly, NoShave November is also an excuse to show off their manly facial hair. “I enjoy letting my beard grow and No-Shave November is a good opportunity to do so,” said junior Kyle Mostofizadeh. While participants have grown their beards for various reasons, they all agree the addition of facial

hair is something that turns heads. Junior Ben Rapperport said he has gotten more beard-centered attention than he expected. “I [have been] stopped by guys I barely know and getting compliments,” Rapperport said. Additionally, Moskowitz has also enjoyed the reactions he received while bearing his beard. “People who don’t know me assume I’m in my 20s,” Moskowitz said. Despite the many perks that come with No-Shave November, the month still contains drawbacks for many a facial-haired face. A common downside to the month is disapproving mothers. “My mom tells me I look homeless,” Moskowitz said. Similarly, Farina faced the criticisms like those of Moskowitz. “My mom always tells me it’s ugly,” Farina said. “And students keep telling me I look a lot like Rafi Moskowitz.” Another unexpected disadvantage that comes with the addition of a beard is when the beard gets into things it’s not supposed to. Mostofizadeh has been met with this pitfall firsthand. “Oftentimes I will lose something in my beard, so that was definitely a drawback,” Mostofizadeh said. Despite these drawbacks, participants agree there are different perks that make the occasional hair-induced hindrance worth it. “My face is itchy and hairy, but also warmer and more aesthetically pleasing,” said senior Benner Mullin. Mostofizadeh also agrees that despite getting unwanted food in his beard, he keeps it because of how he feels when he wears a beard. “I am in tune with my masculine side,” Mostofizadeh said. Undeterred by his mother’s disapproval, Farina kept his beard, utilizing it as a prop that he can contemplate with. While the month is over, and beards will likely not grace the faces of students and teachers until next November, one thing can be sure is that the beards will not be forgotten. “I enjoy stroking my beard and pretending I’m thinking deeply about some complex question like the nature of human consciousness,” Farina said.

U.S. ARMY/PUBLIC DOMAIN

Pictured is a pre-Ramadan feast following the religious norms of not eating meat from pigs, blood or improperly slaughtered animals.

By Kaylie Nguyen

Staff Writer

ost of the time, the word “diet” conjures up images of people eating salads or drinking green smoothies to be healthy or lose weight. However, there are many people who restrict the food they eat for a different reason: religion. Paly junior Soumya Jhaveri practices a religion called Jainism. One of the central beliefs for Jainism is ahimsa, or nonviolence. Thus when Jains choose what to eat, they must consider all the living things that could have been harmed in producing the food. “The goal [for Jains] is to minimize the amount of violence inflicted on other organisms as a result of food being harvested,” Jhaveri said in an email. Every Jain has a different interpretation of this idea and follows it to different lengths. “The thing about Jainism, like most religions, is you can decide how much you want to follow it,” Jhaveri said. “So there are people who eat root vegetables and there are also people that are even stricter than me with their diets and don’t eat out at all.” All Jains practice vegetarianism. This is because according to Jain texts, all organism possess varying levels of senses. For example, bacteria, plants and vegetables are considered one-sense beings. Humans and most animals are five sense beings. It is against Jainism to intentionally harm higher than one-sensed beings. Violence to the higher-sensed beings, including the consumption of meat, attracts more negative karma.

Jhaveri is lacto-vegetarian, meaning that in addition to meat, fish and poultry, she does not eat eggs. Eggs have the potential to become a chicken, a five-sense being, so to her, it seems wrong to eat them. Also, in order to produce eggs, chickens can be treated under harsh conditions. She avoids other animals products like honey or gelatin: since five-sensed beings are harmed while harvesting them. However, dairy products are exceptions because they contain one-sense bacteria. Jhaveri says stricter Jains may not eat cheese because it often contains animal rennet. Some types of cheese are also fermented, meaning that it contains more bacteria than necessary to consume. Jains do not drink alcohol for the same reason and because it impairs cognitive ability.Another unique part of Jain diet is that some do not eat root vegetables. “I don’t eat any root vegetables because when you pull out the roots to eat a plant, like a potato, onion, or carrot, you kill the entire plant, versus when you eat something like a tomato, the entire plant continues to survive except for the one tomato that you are consuming,” Jhaveri said. In addition to Jains’ regular diets, there are certain days based on the lunar calendar, including the Holy Week Paryushan, when they fast to practice self-restraint. Jhaveri’s family does not eat fruits, vegetables, yeast, cheese or butter during these days. Jhaveri said eating those foods is not ideal, but it would be impossible to get the proper nutrients without eating fruits and vegetables daily.

“It’s really not as restrictive as most people think it is,” Jhaveri said. “I can find something to eat at every restaurant, and it’s made me into a very flexible and adaptable person. And it’s not something I really talk to people about, but when I have, I’ve always found people to be accepting about it.” Another example of a religion with dietary restrictions is Islam. According to Quran, the religious text of Islam, food and drink are classified as haram and hala: forbidden or permissible.

Violence to the higher sensed beings attract more negative karma. Muslims cannot eat pork or any products that contain by products of pig meat or milk, including gelatin, lard and bacon. “One of the main understandings religiously is that [eating pork] almost parallels to cannibalism because a pig has the brain and cognitive understanding of a five-year-old child, so they know when stuff is happening to them,” said Muslim junior Noor Navaid. “They’re also not the cleanest animals. Anything that has a lifestyle that’s not entirely clean or can’t be controlled because it’s their natural lifestyle ... we can’t eat.” Muslims also avoid meat from carnivorous animals since it is considered impure, intoxicants and sauces and foods that contain or are prepared with alcohol. “[Alcohol is not allowed] because it’s an intoxicant and it puts

a strain on your ability to think, your cognitive abilities,” Navaid said. “There’s an emphasis on being able to control yourself and be able to be present all the time, and you can’t really do that with intoxicants and alcohol, especially.” Some Muslims choose to only eat meat the zabihah way. According to Navaid, the animal must be naturally raised in a free environment. Then, when it is cut, it is turned upside down and cut across the jugular vein so it does not feel pain. The animal must also be completely drained of blood. During this process, they must recite a dedication to God. “When you cut the meat you have to say ‘this is is in the name of God’,” Navaid said. “We’re cutting this meat for God, it’s not just to satisfy our hunger because we know when we cut this meat it goes back to God, the creator.” Although Muslims are permitted to have meat, they try to limit the amount they consume. “[Islam] was brought in a time where people would raise their livestock and then kill it,” Navaid said. “The ideal method of having meat in Islam is you raise your animal, you become close with it and then it’s a hardship for you to have to cut the meat.” However, the Quran states if there is an instance of possible starvation and there is no other food, consuming haram food is non-sinful. Foods that are not haram are considered halal: seafood and vegetables. “There [are] no restrictions except for pork and alcohol, and some people might set their own boundaries, but that’s up to the individual person,” Navaid said.

Friday, December 8, 2017

The Campanile

SCIENCE & TECH

Personal Delivery Devices to expand across Bay Area

Delivery robots solve last-mile shipping needs and receive positive responses from locals, while growing e-commerce job markets By Byron Zhang

Staff Writer

et off my territory!” shouts a DoorDash delivery woman, while pointing at a six-wheeled robot that waits quietly in front of a restaurant. The robot remains dormant until a waitress comes out of the restaurant and places a hot meal box inside the robot. It proceeds to head towards its location, steering through neighborhoods and crossing bustling streets. As portrayed by this footage in a Buzzfeed video last April, robots took another successful leap into the delivery industry after Amazon announced its drone shipping mission in 2013. Although Amazon’s plans have not yet been finalized, robots from alternate companies have started to be used for delivery. Last March, robotics company Starship Technologies launched its nine-month Personal Delivery Devices (PDDs) pilot program to deliver food in Redwood City, Calif. The first of its kind in the U.S., PDDs can carry up to 20 pounds of food and travel as pedestrians up to 4 mph within a three-mile radius. According to junior Grace Lam, who has built indoor delivery robots for robotics company NVIDIA, delivery robots are similar to self-driving vehicles. They operate through sensors and Artificial Intelligence (AI), which allows the robots to perceive and interpret their environment. Starship’s robots have an obstacledetection mechanism, also called a situational awareness bubble, around it. Using nine cameras and ultrasonic sensors to detect obstacles, the robots will always come to a stop at a safe distance. Starship currently cooperates with two food delivery platforms in the U.S.: DoorDash and Postmates. Upon the arrival of the robot, the platform will send out a text message to recipients to confirm the arrival of the item and unlock the robot. A report released by the Red“

wood City’s City Council said the use of the PDD will eliminate vehicles on the road, as PDDs travel on city sidewalks and therefore do not impede traffic. In addition, according to Starship, approximately 70 percent of people do not pay attention to the robots, and most of the remaining 30 percent is “overwhelmingly positive.” “The majority of people are just ignoring [delivery robots],” said Starship co-founder Ahti Heinla. “It has become part of their normal environment.” Due to the encouraging reactions from customers and pedestrians, Starship has begun to expand its robot delivery business to other parts of the U.S. and Europe. Additionally, the company has tested the PDDs in 100 cities from five countries around the world. In the Bay Area, PDDs operate commercially in Redwood City, Walnut Creek and Foster City. According to an email from Starship, the company is also expanding to other locations in the Bay Area, which may include Palo Alto in the near future.

“Anybody who sees a robot [starting] to automate part of their job [is] going to be really upset.” Alex Kantrowitz The success of Starship Technologies has led to the creation of other similar start-up companies. According to Starship, there are currently eight other companies designing delivery robots, including Palo Alto robotics company Robby Technologies. Although Robby robots mostly are handmade “rough-draft” models now, the company has already tested its robots multiple times around the Stanford campus and will soon cooperate with Instacart, a sameday grocery-delivery company. According to Palo Alto City Council, Robby has already submitted a proposal along with sev-

PHOTO BY ELVERT BARNES/CC BY-SA 2.0

PDDs use situational awareness bubbles, multiple cameras and ultrasonic sensors to perceive surroundings and deliver products. eral other robot delivery companies, though the Council has not released the exact date of discussing these proposals. In order for delivery robots to acquire a “citizenship” in Palo Alto, they must comply with a set of pedestrian rules. According to an article published by Palo Alto Online, Palo Alto City Council requires delivery robot companies to obtain a permit from the Development Center and limit the PDDs’ speeds to under 2.4 miles per hour on sidewalks, also compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act. Similar to Redwood City, Palo Alto will allow delivery robot companies to operate commercially on a pilot basis with a set expiration date. Amid the rising popularity of delivery robots, concerns of robots stealing human jobs have risen among Doordash employees similar to the complaint of the delivery woman from the April 2017 Buzzfeed video. Because Starship robots will only charge $1 for deliveries in the U.S., delivery workers are afraid food delivery companies will replace human workforce by more efficient

and cheaper robot service in the future. “Anybody who sees a robot [starting] to automate part of their job [is] going to be really upset,” said Buzzfeed News Senior Technology Reporter Alex Kantrowitz. “Jobs aren’t anything to joke about, people depend on them for their livelihood.” However, both Starship and Doordash claim that delivery robots will have no negative effects on the employment of delivery drivers, as Starship PDDs are only designated for short-distance deliveries. According to Redwood City’s City Council, some restaurants do not offer delivery service because the large number of delivery requests often exceeds the number of delivery drivers available. Starship said in the near future, many companies may need “delivery drivers picking up and dropping off robots in different neighborhoods.” “We think you will actually see a creation of jobs,” Starship said in a report. “Last mile delivery is the largest bottleneck in the growth of the e-commerce industry, es-

Exposure to blue light from electronics and artificial sources has hidden dark side Blue light suppresses of secretion of melatonin, disrupting circadian rhythms

PEYTON WANG/THE CAMPANILE

Technology companies Apple and Android offer features that filter blue light on their devices.

By Samantha Hwang & Peyton Wang Staff Writer and Science & Tech Editor

n a typical school night, a student can be found typing up an essay, watching Netflix or checking Schoology on their computer. As they settle down under the covers, they continue to check text messages on a bright screen in their dark room. Not only does this take away from precious sleep, but they are also exposing themselves to the blue light on their electronics, which is detrimental to a person’s sleep and health. Circadian rhythms, also known as our internal biological clock, are located in the suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCM) of the hypothalamus. They dictate when we sleep and are reset by environmental factors called Zeitgebers, which include light and exercise. Humans are biologically inclined to sleep at night due to melatonin, the hormone secreted by the pineal gland in the absence of light that controls our circadian rhythms. Thus, exposure to artificial light, especially blue light,

prevents the release of melatonin into our bloodstream, disrupting our sleep patterns. “Technically, all light suppresses melatonin, since our circadian rhythms are light-calibrated, but blue light does it the most,” said senior Chloe Hong, who competes in biology events for Paly's Science Olympiad team. “It could be that there’s more blue light naturally at a time during the day when it’s evolutionarily advantageous to be awake. Also, red light has the least amount of impact on our circadian rhythms.” In 2010, the National Institutes of Health conducted an experiment in which they exposed subjects to 30 minutes of blue light before bedtime. As a result, the participants’ rapid eye movement (REM) sleep was delayed by approximately 30 minutes. Two years later, a Harvard study compared the effects of exposure to blue and green light at similar brightnesses and durations. The researchers found that the blue light shifted circadian rhythms and suppressed a person’s melatonin for twice as long as the green light. In addition to electronics,

other blue light sources include artificial lighting. According to a Los Angeles Times article, a NASA study found that since 2012, outdoor artificial lighting has increased 2.2 percent per year.

“All light suppresses melatonin, since our circadian rhythms are light-calibrated, but blue light does it the most.” Chloe Hong Recently, people are switching to light-emitting diode (LED) lights, which consume less electricity and are more cost-efficient light sources. Although LEDs are regarded as “environmentally friendly,” they come in shortwave, high-energy blue and violet light, which can have harmful effects on health and sleep. “LEDs actually come in different wavelengths,” said senior Alvin On, who works with LED lights on Paly’s Robotics Team. “Certain LEDs may be dangerous because of their short wavelengths.”

An article from Harvard Health Medical Publishing also claimed that exposure to blue light could potentially result in severe illnesses, including lung cancer, heart disease and obesity. In recent years, electronics and mobile companies have gained awareness of the dangers of blue light. Apple and Android include features called “Night Shift” and “Night Mode,” which filter blue light on their devices. According to Apple’s website, Night Shift uses the clock and geolocation of a user’s device to track when the sun sets in their location. At nightfall, the device automatically adjusts the colors of the screen to warmer colors, such as yellow and red. Furthermore, during the daytime, the display reverts to original, non-Night Shift setting. On Android devices. The Night Mode option undergoes the same process. Paly students have found that enabling the blue light filter option on their phones has benefited their sleep. “I use the Night Shift feature on my iPhone before I sleep,” said senior Tilak Misner. “It turns my phone screen yellow and puts less strain on my eyes in the dark. I feel that I’ve been sleeping better when I use it, compared to when Apple didn’t have this option.” As Paly’s educational system progressively converts to paperless learning, students are exposed to increasing amounts of blue light in their daily lives. For many students, it is difficult to reduce their exposure to blue light due to the majority of schoolwork being assigned online. However, students can avoid stimulants before going to bed. Alicia Szebert, a science teacher at Paly, shares her advice on the issue. “Even adults themselves are on their phones before they go to sleep [and] first thing when they wake up,” Szebert said. “Charging [your phone] in a separate room and reading books before bed is really helpful. You won’t get that blue light, [which] puts your body into a better place for falling asleep — it’s not as physically stimulating for your eyes.”

pecially local e-commerce such as groceries and food delivery. By removing this, we will provide a new lease of life to retailers, and therefore increasing deliveries from warehouses using trucks and vans.” Although robots may not steal human jobs, the robots themselves can be stolen. These robots are vulnerable; thieves can pick them up or vandalize them easily. Also, the temptation to enjoy a free, delicious meal may be the driving force behind robot delivery thefts.

“Delivery robots are just one example of the innovations that society will adopt soon.” Grace Lam According to Henry Harris Burland, Vice President of Marketing at Starship, although over 4 million people have encountered a PDD on the street, there has been no record of burglary. However, Burland also pointed out that robot stealing or kidnapping will

not be preventable as the robot population grows, as Starship envisions a future where thousands of robots run down the streets of thousands of cities. To best combat robot thefts, Starship can accurately locate every robot’s position. Sirens will ring if someone picks it up, and there are nine cameras that provide a 360-degree view of the robot, so thefts will most likely get caught. With a functional defense system, fleets of delivery robots are ready to join human pedestrians on the streets. Just 18 years after Karl Friedrich Benz drove the first gasoline car in 1885, the Wright brothers invented the first airplane. With today’s much advanced technologies, how long would it take for these six-wheeled bots to fly up in the sky? “Delivery robots are just one example of the innovations that society will adopt soon as a result of the fourth revolution,” Lam said. “I’m excited to see how our world will change in the next decade; AI is going to enable incredible changes in our society.”

Bay Area’s abundance of STEM internships By Shannon Zhao

Board Correspondent

any families flock to Silicon Valley with the lofty idea that its innovation and spirit of work will rub off on their children’s academic experience. Commuters see major companies and startups throughout the city on their daily commutes. However, despite being surrounded by an abundance of companies, these corporations can still seem aloof and intimidating to high school students who want internships. In most cases, companies will not advertise internship opportunities for high school students. However, this does not negate the possibility of openings for high school interns. “Even if companies say that they do not want to take any more interns, they realize that when you contact them that they are getting an intern who is passionate enough about the job to take action,” said senior Thomas Chapman, an intern at Issuu, a digital publishing platform company. Senior Eli Zucker, a summer intern at NASA, attributes his success with taking initiative. “Being proactive is extremely important in getting internships,” Zucker said. “It's a way for them to filter out who is truly interested and also shows that you can get things done.” According to Zucker, another contributing factor to obtaining an internship is making connections. Zucker initially applied for a summer internship at NASA through the student work opportunities tab on NASA’s website, but never heard back from the company. Instead, he found an internship by contacting specific departments separately. “For NASA, you need a connection to have any chance at all,” Zucker said. “Everyone I know with a NASA internship did not apply through public channels.” Fortunately, living in Palo Alto provides students with opportunities to make more useful connections than the average high school student living in the United States. Overqualified Paly teachers, classmates with Stanford professors as parents or tech cafes like Coupa Cafe and Hanahaus give students plentiful opportuni-

ties to expand their networks. Although networking proves to help in landing an internship, there is not an iron rule saying you need connections to obtain one, according to work experience teacher Meri Gyves. “I feel that having networking abilities are very important, but it’s not the only ability,” Gyves said. “Your ability to research a company and know a lot about that company gives you a heads up also, even over networking.” Gyves said students can begin their internship inquiry by researching an ample number of companies they would be interested in working for and then follow up by cold-emailing these companies. These cold emails involve sending these companies an email explaining why you are interested in the job, explaining previous knowledge you have in the field and attaching a resume or portfolio of accomplishments. Internships can serve as an effective connector between securing a future occupation and going to school for a particular interest. The accumulated experience gained from an internship allows students to explore their passions, discover their talents and decide whether to pursue a career in the field of their internship.

“I feel that having networking abilities are very important, but it’s not the only ability.” Meri Gyves As an intern, Zucker got to attend conferences with researchers and professors who were developing future launch plans and demonstrating cutting-edge technology. Across the desk where Zucker worked was a team developing an elastic structure to cushion Mars landings. Zucker said having the opportunity to observe top-line professionals was both motivating and inspiring. “My internship was the time I was completely surrounded by scientists,” Zucker said. “I wouldn't say it helped me discover a specific field that I'm interested in, but I know I definitely want to be in that type of environment.”

Friday, December 8, 2017

The Campanile

SCIENCE & TECH

THE INTERSECTION OF ART AND TECHNOLOGY

How developments in technology are changing the art front in the heart of Silicon Valley

or decades, art has been on the cutting edge of technology. Moreover, as art has inspired technology at the heart of the Silicon Valley, science and technology have also influenced art in many ways, enabling artists and creators to amplify the scale of their work. From drawing tablets to lasercutting, recent developments in technology have pioneered new ways for people to create visual art and express their ideas. Wacom tablets Whether it be illustrators, graphic designers or art enthusiasts, graphic tablets have drastically transformed the art industry. A drawing that would have otherwise taken hours or even days can now be completed in a matter of minutes. Although it may look like regular pen and paper, the technology behind a Wacom tablet, the most popular brand of drawing pads, is all but simple. Inside the pen, a digital chip, modulator and transmitter function together to produce a magnetic field. The tablet’s sensor board includes a magnetic field that tracks the pen’s location, pressure and speed through tiny antenna coils. These magnetic fields allow

the tablet and pen to be used without an external power source, such as batteries or a power adapter. With 13 different models available, Wacom tablets are also catered to different professions, from architects to engineers. While digital technology increases efficiency, traditional art is nowhere near extinction. One of the biggest critiques of Wacom tablets is that art made digitally is too perfect. Everything from the paintbrushes to the colors is simulated, making it easy to erase

Artists and musicians are definitely dedicated and willing to do a lot of work to get the right effects. Fred Bertsch any unwanted lines. Additionally, the surface lacks the texture of real canvas or paper. “You draw on the tablet, but you have to focus on the computer screen [and] it feels a bit detached,” said senior Vivian Nguyen, who creates digital art on the Wacom Intuos tablet. “Also, you can’t have the 3-D texture effect from oil painting, or mixed media.” Digital animation Animation is the process of photographing a succession of images that produce an illusion of movement when played in a sequence. Traditionally, ani-

mations were created by drawing each frame individually on paper. Digital technology expedites this process by providing animators with tools far more complex than pen and paper. “The advantage of doing drawings digitally is that it’s really easy to make different layers and give your drawing more structure, plus it’s a lot easier to get rid of mistakes,” said senior Kevin Kerr, who enjoys making digital animations on the iPad application Animation HD. In addition to 2-D animations, 3-D technology allows animators to create virtual models linked to a weight system that can then be almost treated as physical objects or actors. After building a human frame, a link is created between each vertex of the mesh model to a bone structure. Lastly, the animator adds a set of controls and constraints in order to easily manipulate the models. Painting with virtual reality Although walking by a person wearing thick black goggles and waving two sticks around the room may seem off-putting, the prospects of virtual reality and art are anything but

insane. The Tilt Brush, developed by Google in 2016, allows artists to paint with light using a virtual reality headset. In its earlier versions, images could only be created in a twodimensional surface that could then be tilted, hence the name “Tilt Brush.” However, the newest model includes two handheld controllers with tracking sensors that map a user’s movement in space, enabling them to create art anywhere within a room-sized area. With one controller as a palette and the other as a brush, the possibilities are endless. At Paly, students enrolled in Steve Ferrera’s Intermediate Ceramics and Advanced Sculpture have the opportunity of using this tool. “The first big assignment is building a virtual reality sculptural park inspired by four artists: Takashi Murakami, Jen Stark, Yayoi Kusama and Keith Haring,” Ferrera said. In addition, sharing drawings is one of the Tilt Brush’s newest and most beneficial tool. Users can take videos of themselves painting through the goggles and upload them to various platforms like YouTube. Machine learning Along with the Tilt Brush, Google is currently developing new ways to generate art through the us of artificial intelligence. The Magenta Team, formed

by the Google Brain Team, aims to use “machine learning to create compelling art and music,” according to their website. “We started out by creating some source code and putting it up on GitHub,” said Fred Bertsch, a software engineer on the Magenta team, in an email. “We hoped that artists and musicians would install a bunch of our tools, play with the models, improve the models and create amazing new art forms.”

The advantage of doing drawings digitally is that it’s really easy to make different layers and give your drawing more structure. Kevin Kerr The Magenta team also looks to build a community of artists and engineers in order to combine art and technology. “Artists and musicians are definitely dedicated and willing to do a lot of work to get the right effects.” Bertsch said. “In fact, a few of them did play with our tools and create some interesting work.” The main challenge faced by coders is creating images and sounds that attract the attention of an audience, as many often lack structure and narrative. In addition, art requires elements of surprise that are difficult for a computer to generate. As Magenta continues to expand, user feedback and discussion are encouraged to help the company learn how to improve their products. “Our tools were too primitive,” Bertsch said. “We didn’t give enough capabilities to make the tools worthwhile. So, we’re improving them.” 3-D printing and lasercutting Creating 3-D models becomes even more interesting when they can become part of our physical lives.

TEXT & DESIGN BY MARIE DAVIS

With a 3-D printer, artists can combine various materials and traditional finishes to create anything. The software used to create 3-D models is similar to the software used by 3-D animators, as it can allow artists to use weight systems and constraints to facilitate the process. After the model is created and sent to a 3-D printer, the printer creates the image from bottom to top by printing successive layers of a chosen plastic filament. After a model is printed, various traditional finishes, such as glazes and varnishes, can be mixed and matched to transform the plastic. Located in a classroom at Cubberley Community Center, MakeX, a free makerspace, offers public access to innovative technology, including 3-D printers. Students and other community members can complete their personal art and engineering projects at the center using the various tools available. In addition to 3-D printers, MakeX provides laser-cutters. Using a carbon dioxide laser, students can cut illustrations or images on the surface of nearly any material, such as wood, glass, or plastic. Similar to 3-D printing, laser-cutting can also be combined with traditional methods to create art. “Some people have brought canvases, like watercolor paintings, and they can get a burn effect with the laser,” said junior Jevan Yu, a student mentor at MakeX. While they were initially developed for industrial manufacturing, laser-cutters have opened the door for many artists, allowing them to create complex engravings and designs. “There is some industrial art that goes on,” Yu said. “That’s kind of the intersection between engineering and art.”

DESIGN BY KENNEDY HERRON

Friday, December 8, 2017

The Campanile

SP RTS competitive EQUESTRIAns ATHLETE OF IT’S A rigorous training process for riders

Ramsey also finds riding a way to or over 7,000 years, the human race has used horses for the pur- focus away from negative thoughts. She said she can use riding pose of transporas an escape from the tation. Soon enough, “Riding is pressures that come traveling wasn’t the from everyday life. only way humans a huge “It relieves benefitted from stress because it these animals. commitment. takes your mind Slowly, the off school and practice of ridYou have to you can think ing horseback travel a lot, about someprogressed thing else,” from a human and it’s so Ramsey said. necessity to Despite all a competitive competitive.” the enjoyment Olympic sport. that comes with Juniors Anna Abby Ramsey the sport, these Thie and Abby three athletes say Ramsey, as well as they have all faced senior Lydia Cartheir share of hardships roll are all riding comwith the sport. petitors. According to the Ramsey said she’s fallen off a girls, they’ve each been riding lot of horses and has gotten many confor over 10 years. “I’ve always connected with horses re- cussions before due to the high intensity ally well,” Carroll said. “I love animals in of the sport. Despite no severe injuries, Ramsey general.” All three riders grew up with horses says they are common to the sport. in their lives. “I know a lot of people According to Ramsey, she’s loved horses from a young age. For Thie, her who have gotten injuries grandparents’ horses helped strengthen way worse than [concussions],” Ramsey said. her passion for riding the animals. Thie has had Carroll said her favorite part of riding is the satisfaction from successful rides. some very serious She said the feeling of enjoyment is an and frightening encounters. extremely satisfying one. “There was “When you have a really nice ride with your horse, it feels really good and a rope around you feel like you’re progressing,” Carroll my hand and my horse said. Ramsey said she enjoys the personal went back connection she’s developed with the ani- and broke mals the most. Having such a strong rela- four of my tionship with an animal is what keeps her f i n g e r s at once,” so passionate about the sport. “I’ve had my horse for three years, and T h i e it’s special to have a bond with an ani- said. On mal,” Ramsey said. “It seems weird, but it’s funny that after three years, it’s show- a n ing that we know each other really well.” oth-

er occasion, Thie had a more damaging com, a horse sale website, the cost to buy a horse ranges from hundreds to tens of injury. thousands of dollars. “We were in an arena The high price at a show and my horse “FiNd a can be correlated to saw a dog,” Thie said. the intense train“He took off but Trainer ing hours and far he slipped, hit travel that riders my shoulder and you feel often face, accracked it.” cording to Thie. For Thie, comfortable “During however, these working with training seadangers and son you’re at struggles helped and have fun the barn every motivate her to single day,” overcome adwith it.” Thie said. “That versity and inused to be fun, still a persevering but now with mindset. Anna Thie high school, it can “You learn to be a lot.” get over fears because Carroll and Ramsey when you fall off you both said they spend get scared,” Thie said. “You about four days a week at the get broken down to the point barn, riding and training. where you don’t want to do it anyAnd traveling as far as southern Calimore, but then you build it back up.” While these athletes get to enjoy the fornia is common for riders. The competitive aspect of the sport privilege of participating in the sport, it’s a luxury that not many plays a big role in the experiences of the get to experience. The eco- participants, according to Carroll. “Riding is a huge commitment,” Carnomic aspect of riding can also be a restricting factor roll said. “You can ride for fun, but it doesn’t really work out. You have to really for many. According to want to ride. It’s super time consuming, the website for JP super expensive. You have to travel a lot, Training, a popular and it’s so competitive.” But Ramsey said she finds a lot of training facility for local horse- pleasure in the competition. “I’m a very competitive person, and back riders based in it’s just really fun to [compete] against Woodside, other riders,” Ramsey said. Similarly, Thie said if the sport is Calif., ten 3 0 - m i n - approached properly and is absolutely ute pri- worth while in the end. “Find a trainer that feel comfortable vate lessons costs working with and have fun with it,” Thie a b o u t said. “It’s something that will stick with you for your whole life. Even though it’s $800. Based a complicated sport and sometimes you on prices feel crushed by it, in the end it’s somelisted at thing that teaches you to build and get e q u i n e . over fears.”

Text & Design BY Bernie Koen SPORTS SPREAD

Value of team success for NFL prospects

Evaluating the importance of college team success for NFL prospects and taking a deeper look at what steps professional teams should take when deciding on who to draft.

KEITH ALLISON/CC BY-SA 2.0

PAGE C4-C5

Design BY Byron zhang Cricket

PICS_PD/PUBLIC DOMAIN

New cricket curriculum A look into PAUSDís newest Physical Education sport. PAGE C6

Opinion

KAI ODA/THE CAMPANILE BIDGEE/CC BY 3.0

Athlete injuries

The wackiest ways in which athletes were injured off the field. PAGE C7

THE MONTH

This edition featuring:

LEILA KHAN

with The Campanile’s own

MARIE DAVIS

The Campanile: Who are you and what sports do you play? Leila Khan: My name is Leila Khan. Over the fall season, I was on the dance team, and this winter I am a part of the varsity girls soccer team. TC: How long have you been on the teams? LK: I competed with dance team and was on dance the whole year as a freshman. This is my first season playing Paly soccer. TC: What position do you play for soccer and how are you preparing for the upcoming season? LK: I play striker, and I’ve been going on runs and training with friends when we don’t have practice to prepare. TC: How did the first game of the season go? LK: Our first game was Monday, Nov. 27 at 4:30 against Aragon at their school. It was a preseason game, and we had a whole new team. We scored two goals, both scored by sophomores, and we won the game 2-1. TC: How does it feel getting on varsity soccer as an underclassman? LK: I’m very excited to be on varsity as a sophomore and as this is my first year playing Paly soccer, I’m pumped to kick a--, compete and do well against other high school teams. This season I will have to work very hard in order to match the skills of the upperclassmen on varsity. TC: What’s the worst thing about soccer so far? LK: Regular season games don’t start for a long time. TC: What has been your favorite memory from dance? LK: My favorite memory was attending nationals in L.A. with the team. TC: What is your least favorite part of being a dancer? LK: The lack of appreciation that the team receives. TC: Do you have any pre-game and pre-dance rituals? LK: My pre-game is eating a banana, drinking Gatorade and doing some sprints. For dance, I stretch and practice the routine in my head. TC: Who’s the funniest person on both soccer and dance and why? LK: I don’t know the new team very well but probably Emily [Tomz] or Claire [Chen]. I can’t choose from dance; everyone is hilarious. TC: What’s the main difference between soccer and dance? LK: The teams are very different; dance is unique in that we perform and compete to prove how unified we are as a team and soccer is more about using our personal skills to our advantage to develop a better, more aggressive team. TC: Are you doing a spring sport? What’s the best part of being on these teams? LK: I’m doing track. The best parts are all the new and fun people you get to meet. TC: Is it difficult being on multiple teams? LK: Balancing the practices with school work, family and friends can be difficult, but I really enjoy being a part of multiple Paly teams.

Figure Skating

JARED C. TILTON/PUBLIC DOMAIN

Men in figure skating

Discussing the experiences of Paly male figure skaters. PAGE C8

Friday, December 8, 2017

SPORTS REPORT

The Campanile

SPORTS

Boys basketball shifting gears after losing players

Following CCS championship winning season, team aspires for continued success despite rough start By Leela Srinivasan

BOYS B-BALL RECENT SCORES

Paly vs. Half Moon Bay 12/5, W, 62-45 UPCOMING GAMES

Paly vs. Carlmont 12/15, 7:00 Paly vs. Salesian 12/16, 6:00 Paly @ Cupertino 1/3, 4:30 Paly vs. Miramonte 1/6, 4:30 Paly vs. Los Altos 1/10, 7:00

GIRLS B-BALL RECENT SCORES

Paly @ Aptos 12/1, L, 65-75 UPCOMING GAMES

Paly vs. Carlmont 12/8, 6:00 Paly vs. Lincoln 12/9, TBA Paly vs. Evergreen 12/12, 7:00 Paly vs. Leigh 12/14, 7:00

BOYS SOCCER RECENT SCORES

Paly vs. Menlo-Atherton 12/5, W, 1-0 Paly @ North Monterey 12/2, W, 2-0 Paly vs. Milpitas 11/28, W, 10-0

Staff Writer

lashback to March 4: the Santa Clara University bleachers are packed with Paly students, roaring as senior Spencer Rojahn’s game-winning shot hits the net, sealing the Central Coast Section (CCS) Championship for the Vikings. Following a record of 26-5-0 and a year of success, this year’s boys basketball team has a lot to live up to. The varsity team lost graduated seniors Miles Tention, Jack Simison, Ethan Stern and Eelis Copeland, who drove the team in terms of impact on the court and leadership, according to senior center and forward William Schlemmer. “The loss of our seniors has been tough; we lost a lot of speed and athleticism,” Schlemmer said. In order to accommodate these changes, it was essential the team alter its strategy, according to Schlemmer.

“We had to change our play style from an up tempo and pressing type of team to a team that relies more on half court offense and defense.” William Schlemmer

“We had to change our play style from an up tempo and pressing type of team to a team that relies more on half court offense and defense,” Schlemmer said. “Anytime you lose your starting point guard (Miles Tention), who also happens to be MVP of the league, it’s tough.”

DAVID HICKEY/USED WITH PERMISSION

Senior point guard Spencer Rojahn pulls up for a jumper during the NorCal final game against James Logan High School last season. While this loss affected the team, they are fortunate four out of the five starters from the previous year are returning and will be key components of the team once again. According to Schlemmer, the first scrimmage of the year, which took place on Nov. 15 against Bellarmine College Preparatory, served as a wake-up call, but did not crush their morale. “They destroyed us,” Schlem-

mer said. “I think it was great that someone beat us as badly as they did this early in the season, because it showed us how we need to prepare in order to compete with the top Catholic schools, and it exposed a lot of our weaknesses.” Despite the rough start, it is still early in the season and the team has big aspirations for what is in store, knowing fully well that their squad is stacked with poten-

tial. “[The] first goal is to go undefeated in league this year,” Schlemmer said. “Second goal is to make it to the CCS open, and the ultimate goal is to make it back to the NorCal finals and win State.” As varsity dove into preseason, the junior varsity ( JV) team also faced Menlo School for their first preseason scrimmage, dominating the Knights with an astounding 77-25.

Considering this is a new team with students of various skill levels, sophomore guard Will DeAndre said the sky is the limit. “The game against Menlo really showcased all of the ability and potential that our team has,” DeAndre said. “Any time a JV team can put up over 75 points, you know that you have something special. With a talented team like we have, I think a championship could be a very real possibility.”

Girls soccer hopes to maintain undefeated streak Preseason wins against Aragon, MA and Saint Francis are building momentum for a strong season

UPCOMING GAMES

Paly vs. Alvarez 12/7, 3:30 Paly @ Lincoln 12/9, 1:15 Paly vs. Sequoia 12/11, 3:30

GIRLS SOCCER RECENT SCORES

Paly vs. Saint Francis 12/4, W, 1-0 Paly @ Menlo-Atherton 11/29, W, 3-0 Paly @ Aragon 11/27, W, 2-1 UPCOMING GAMES

Paly @ Mitty 12/9, 4:00 Paly vs. Notre Dame 12/13, 3:30

Paly vs. Saratoga 1/3, 3:30

WRESTLING RECENT SCORES

Half Moon Bay Tournament 12/1 - 12/2, W UPCOMING GAMES

Webber Lawson Tournament 12/8 - 12/10

FOOTBALL RECENT SCORES

Paly @ Salinas 11/17, L, 14-7 Paly @ Wilcox 11/9, L, 27-10 Paly vs. Los Altos 11/3, W, 44-7

DAVID HICKEY/USED WITH PERMISSION

Senior captain midfielder Emily Tomz and the Paly girls soccer team look to continue their dominance this season and progress deep into the open division CCS tournament.

By Ujwal Srivastava

Staff Writer

here is nothing more satisfying than defying expectations and simultaneously exacting revenge on the team that eliminated you from the playoffs last year. Last week, the varsity girls soccer team was able to accomplish both.

“We had a more defensive game plan today, but that depends on the opponent.” Ernesto Cruz

From the outset, the team was unsure of how it would recover from the loss of key seniors. There were also concerns surrounding

the team chemistry between returning and new players. However, two resounding victories dismissed those concerns. “I think we expected this year to start off a bit shaky, given that we have a lot of new players, we lost many good players last year and that we didn’t have many practices as a team before going into preseason,” said senior and team captain Emily Tomz. “We’re starting to bond more and things are coming together quickly.” The Vikings kicked off their season with a 2-1 win against Aragon High School on Nov. 27. Goals by sophomores Leila Khan and Kaitlin Meyers helped the team get its first win. “I didn’t expect us to do that well, but [the team] did a super good job,” said coach Ernesto Cruz. “There was good leadership from varsity and good contribu-

tions from sophomores.”

“We’re starting to bond more and things are coming together quickly.” Emily Tomz

The real test for the Vikings was their second game of the season — a game against MenloAtherton (MA) High School, the team that beat them 3-0 in the first round of the playoffs last year. This time, the tables were turned. Led by Tomz, who scored two goals, the team thrashed MA 3-0 in an intense game. “Our defensive line was solid, our midfield was strong and kept possession well and our forward line was quick and did a great

job of keeping MA’s back line on their toes,” Tomz said. “We came in looking for revenge and we found it.” On Monday, the Vikings played their first home game of the preseason, defeating St. Francis High School 1-0. A goal by Frida Rivera in the 25th minute put the team up for good. “We had a good game, playing at a high level,” Cruz said. “We played a stronger team but it felt good to play at home. We had a more defensive game plan today, but that depends on the opponent.” According to Cruz, the Vikings have started the season strong and will look to build on this early momentum throughout the preseason in preparation for the league games starting in January. They also hope to orchestrate a deep postseason run.

“It’s been interesting. It’s been fun,” Cruz said. “They like each other. They work hard, and we’re making progress every time we practice and we play.”

“I didn’t expect us to do that well, but [the team] did a super good job.” Ernesto Cruz

The JV team opened the season with a 4-1 loss to MA but will look to smooth out the wrinkles during the remaining preseason games. JV’s next game is Dec. 9 against Archbishop Mitty High School and varsity’s next game is also on Dec. 9 at Archbishop Mitty.

The Campanile

Friday, December 8, 2017

SPORTS

Girls basketball poised to dominate upcoming season

Varsity team driven to reach CCS, Norcal in an attempt to continue last year’s winning streak plays and what we can do to be the most effective as a team,” Daniel said. One player who could step up to fill the void of the lost seniors is freshman Annika Shah. “I think Annika will be huge for us. She can handle the ball and that is what we need the most,” Leong said. The girls opened up their season with a game against Aptos High School and lost 65-75.

“I think it was definitely an improvement over our scrimmage against Saint Ignatius, and offensively we came out pretty strong.” Ellie Jeffries

DAVID HICKEY/USED WITH PERMISSION

Junior Ellie Jeffries dribbles past a defender towards the hoop, as she attempts to score. Jeffries said her team made progress in its game against Aptos High School.

By Leyton Ho Staff Writer

olstering a proven track record and a new core of key players, the two-time defending Centra Coast Section (CCS) Division One Champion girls basketball team aims to replicate its past success this season. With an invigorated roster and a clear set of goals, the team

is poised and ready to continue its domination. The girls return many invaluable players from last season’s championship-winning run including senior guard Carly Leong. Leong stated she looks forward to her fourth season as a member of the varsity team. “[Our goals this season are] to win league, to beat Gunn and to become a close team,” Leong said.

Accomplishing these goals would be a step towards another CCS winning season. Despite the team’s extensive past success, there is still one achievement they have not conquered in the past two seasons: winning a game in the California Interscholastic Federation Northern California State Championship (NorCal states). “It would be great to get to NorCal and win a game especially

because I think it would be the first time a Paly girls basketball team has won a game in NorCal,” said junior forward Lauren Daniel . In order to accomplish its goals, the Vikings will need to overcome the loss of a few key seniors: Maya Lathi, Jacqueline Moore, Skylar Burris, Julie Chandler and Lauren Koyama. “[Losing the seniors] is really

tough so we all have to work on our shooting and keep our identity as a shooting team,” Leong said. Daniel expressed that team chemistry must be developed in order for the Vikings to find success. “I think the biggest thing this year is going to be working as a team because a lot of us have not played together before so we need to get to know how each person

Junior forward Ellie Jeffries was pleased with the progress the team made in the game against rival Aptos High School. “I think it was definitely an improvement over our scrimmage against Saint Ignatius, and offensively we came out pretty strong,” Jeffries said. The loss indicated to the team that there is stil work to do in order to play up to their known potential. “I think that going forward we have room to improve defensively and on the offensive boards.”

After successful opener, wrestling team optimistic for season

Despite losing key seniors, boys varsity stays hopeful after placing highly in recent tournament

By Ben van Zyll Staff Writer

he Half Moon Bay High School gym hosted the 51st annual Peninsula Wrestling Tournament, where the Palo Alto High School wrestling team started off the winter season with varsity finishing third out of 37 teams and junior varsity ( JV) finishing first.

“The entire game we had been getting bad calls, and the other team was getting away with things they shouldn’t have.” Javid Alasti Despite losing a group of hard-working and leading seniors from last year, the wrestling team members do not seem to be worried by the change. “We were led by seniors Seth Goyal and Sara Aguilar last year,” said junior Hamza Muzaffar. “The seniors’ motivation led us to our victories last year.” The motivation was found over the weekend of Dec. 1 as five varsity boys and three varsity girls ended as place winners. The tournament voted junior co-

captain Andrew Wang as Most Outstanding Wrestler of the varsity tournament after earning two pins and two technical falls, taking home the 132-pound title as well. Sophomore Peter Graham won third place in the 113-pound group. Senior Cooper Kim won fourth place in the 120-pound group. Co-captain senior Calvin Grewal won third place in the 126-pound group, and junior Alex Daw won fourth place in the 220 -pound group. For the girls, freshman Alexandra Lee won fourth place in the 131-pound group. Senior Aisha Maas won fifth place in the 143-pound group, and junior Masako Perez won second place in the 150-pound group.

“We have several good underclassmen, and three of our starters are staying, so we think we have a good chance at winning [next year].” Javid Alasti Eight JV wrestlers ended up winners: Jamie McGregor, Charlie Williams, Sacha Williams,

PALY WRESTLING/USED WITH PERMISSION

Varsity co-captain Calvin Grewal grapples with an opponent from Everett Alvarez High School at the Peninsula Invitational. Macguire Ferrell, Adar Schwarzbach, Tyler Weaver-Escobar, Halo Lynch and Nathan Sanchez, who won first place in the 220-pound group. Moving forward, the team hopes to continue its success. “We hope to take aim for high standards under our new leaders, Calvin Grewal and Andrew

Wang,” Muzaffar said. “They’re both exceptional wrestlers. We hope to excel in the upper division and keep our spot. I believe that if we set our goals and work hard enough, we could be a fierce competitor for SCVALs (Santa Clara Valley Athletic League) and maybe CCS (Central Coast Section).”

Wang holds high hopes for the team as well. “Each individual has their own unique goal for their season,” Wang said. “Some are new and want to learn as much as they can from the sport. Some want to win league, and some want to place at CCS or state. Despite each individuals’ own self-achieving goal, I

think that the whole team is focusing on wrestling their best at competitions no matter what.” The team hopes to continue its momentum into its next event, the Webber Lawson Wrestling Tournament, according to Wang and Muzaffar. The event will be held at Fremont High School on Dec. 8 to 10.

Boys soccer hopes for successful season after preseason win

Team remains optimistic in dominating future competition despite losing key senior players By Kaylie Nguyen Staff Writer

To achieve these goals and prepare for the rest of the season, the team has been training rigor-

ollowing last year’s defeat in the first round of Central Coast Section (CCS), boys varsity soccer looks to avoid repeating history in its new season. “We’re going into the season wanting to finish first in league and make it through to CCS,” said senior Matt Knowles in an online message. “Our team has lost in the first round each of the last few years, so those losses are

“We were going up against a team that we knew were really good.” Matthew Knowles

“They always play us strong every year, but those games usually get personal, and there is nothing more satisfying than beating them.” Matthew Knowles fresh on our minds.” According to Knowles, the team also hopes to win its games against its biggest rival, Los Gatos. “They always play us strong every year, but those games usually get personal, and there is nothing more satisfying than beating them,” Knowles said.

ously. “We’ve been working really hard in practice to go over the basics for how we want to play this season,” Knowles said. “We also strive to practice with the same mentality as if it were a game, and I think that’s really translated well in our preseason games so far. [...] We’ve been very organized in games, and everyone knows what their specific jobs are, which really comes down to our preparation in practice.” The team had its first preseason game against Mountain View High School on Nov. 20 and lost 1-0 but many of the players couldn’t compete due to club obligations. The team later won 10-0 against Milpitas High School in home non-conference game and 2-0 against North Monterey County High School in a tournament game. “We were going up against a team that we knew were really

DAVID HICKEY/USED WITH PERMISSION

Senior center midfielder Xander Scherer dribbles the ball across the field against Monta Vista High School defenders. good, and we could see that immediately, but we didn’t let it affect our game strategy, and we just kept pushing until finally we were able to break the deadlock late in the game,” Knowles said. The team also won its most recent game at home against Menlo-Atherton High School 1-0. “Right now, we’re a young

team,” said varsity coach Don Briggs. “We only have a couple of returning seniors, three of them. Right now we’re just trying to get better and improve.Luckily we’re able to compensate for them.” According to Knowles, the loss of the senior players from last year, including several from the starting lineup, has been a chal-

lenge for the team. “We lost a really strong senior class last year which included seven starters, so that is going to be difficult to cope with,” Knowles said. “But I think the guys we have this year have really stepped up into those roles, and I’m encouraged by the tough mentality some of the underclassmen have been

showing.” The varsity team will face off against Homestead High School on Dec. 9.The junior varsity team won 4-0 against Mountain View in an away non-conference game and went on to beat Milpitas 4-0 at home. It also won 3-0 against Westmoor High School, but lost 2-0 against MA.

Friday, December 8, 2017

text & Design By Paarth sharma navid najmabadi

PRO

The Campanile

SPORTS SPREAD

the great

college success directly infl

or any National Football League (NFL) team, draft day is the busiest day of t analyze every aspect of any would-be NFL player. While deciding which player lyzing their statistics) to the more bizarre (asking them what kind of animal th importance is always highly questioned: team success. Across the country, many quest considered for the NFL. In this article, The Campanile investigates the true importa

NAVID NAJMABADI

hio State University, University of Alabama and University of Michigan are three of the most dominant college football powerhouse programs of the past 25 years, not only because they are able to lock down wins, but also due to their ability to triumph over quality top teams in the nation. As of 2014, these three universities are collectively responsible for 20 Hall of Famers and over $252.2 million in football revenue. University of Michigan, which has always maintained a strong football program, is accountable for eight Hall of Famers and has 942 wins, more than any football team in National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division I Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) history. However, Alabama has been at the top of the rankings in recent years, winning four National Championships in the past eight years. These schools are dominant, and as a result, they have generated numerous top-ranked players. Quarterback Tom Brady of the New England Patriots has had a great NFL career, and by many, he’s considered the greatest quarterback of all time. Brady’s college career included being a part of Michigan’s undefeated season in 1997, when

it won the Rose Bowl against Washington State University. In his two starting seasons at Michigan, he racked up 4,644 yards and threw 30 touchdowns, finishing with an incredible passer rating of 135.6. Despite his solid college career, Brady was the 199th pick in the 2000 NFL draft, and he watched six quarterbacks get drafted before he heard his name called. The first was Chad Pennington, who was 18th overall, and had set records at Marshall University. However, Pennington never played any ranked opponents while at Marshall, leaving him unprepared for the intense amount of competition in the NFL. The second quarterback chosen in the draft was Giovanni Carmazzi, who went to the relatively unknown Hofstra University. He failed to win a starting job for the San Francisco 49ers and ended up never playing in a

regular season game in the NFL. Carmazzi was followed by 75th pick Chris Redman, who led Louisville to a mediocre 7-5 record. Then came 163rd pick Tee Martin, whose team finished 9-3. Hardly worth mentioning are 168th pick Marc Bulger who had an atrocious record of 4-7 at West Virginia, and 183rd pick, Spergon Wynn, whose Minnesota team went 8-4. S o w h y d o n’t w e hear about any of these quarterbacks in the NFL record books? Well, all the quarterbacks drafted before Brady had something in common: either their team records were inadequate, or the teams they had

In over 15 seasons starting for the Patriots, Brady passed for 64,723 yards and threw a total of 478 touchdowns, only 62 shy of the retired Peyton Manning’s record. He has also played in 12 Pro Bowls and has won two league Most Valuable Player awards, while contending for another this season. But this is only his individual success. When a franchise drafts the “future” of its team, it looks for a leader who can increase a team’s success. That’s exactly what he did. Just like when he attended University of Michigan where he was surrounded by success, Brady expanded the winning culture for the Patriots. Over the course of the 280 games he has started, his teams are 217-63, the highest winning percentage among active quarterbacks and the most wins for a quarterback in NFL history.

Brady has not only shown his excellence in the regular season, but also in the playoﬀs where he holds the NFL record for the most playoﬀ wins by a quarterback with 25. On top of this, he led the Patriots to seven Super Bowl appearances, winning five. Brady was named Super Bowl MVP in four of them. For the icing on the cake, in the 2017 Super Bowl, he completed one of the most epic c o m e -

backs in Super Bowl history, as he came back to win when his team was down 28-3 late in the fourth quarter. But Brady is not the only example of how winning translates from college to the NFL. Julio Jones is another victorious college stud who is now a successful NFL star. Jones attended the University of Alabama and helped his team achieve a perfect 14-0 record to win the 2009 National Championship game against Texas. Jones, along with teammates Mark Ingram, Greg McElroy and Marcell Dareus all entered the 2011 NFL draft after the successful season at Alabama. J o n e s was selected sixth overall in the draft by the Atlanta Falcons and proved to be no bust. In his rookie year

with the Atlanta Falcons, he helped them reach the playoﬀs, something they failed to do in the past two seasons. In his second season, he gained 1,198 receiving yards and made his first Pro Bowl appearance. So have scouts changed their criteria and what they look for in players? Fortunately, yes. Most scouts look for both talent in a player and how well their team has done. For example, Ezekiel Elliott, now on the Dallas Cowboys, led the Ohio State Buckeyes to their first-ever College Football Playoﬀ appearance as they finished the regular season with a stunning record of 12-1.

gone up against weren’t of high enough caliber. The fascinating thing is that none of these quarterbacks were successful in the NFL, not even achieving a fraction of success Brady experienced.

Rather than focusing on Brady’s mechanics and how he led his young and inexperienced Michigan team, the NFL scouts were too focused on his physique. These scouts were so focused on his lack of athleticism that they couldn’t delve deeper to view his winning reputation. Via an Instagram post, Brady said the scouts in the 2000 NFL draft described him as having a “poor build, skinny, lacks great physical stature and strength, lacks mobility and ability to avoid the rush, lacks a really strong arm, can’t drive the ball downfield, does not throw a really tight spiral, system-type player who can get exposed if forced to ad lib, gets knocked down easily.” Ultimately, Brady not only proved the scouts wrong about being able to start in the league, but he also showed he could excel at his position.

Elliott was selected at number four overall due to his strength, speed and impact on the game. As a rookie, Elliot led the league in rushing yards with 1,631 yards and has become a key part of the Cowboys franchise. For a player to show he can lead a team to victory against tough opposition reveals a lot about his mentality and should automatically ring a bell for scouts to keep a good eye on them. When a player can win with college-level players on their team, imagine what will happen when they get to the NFL with an even more talented group alongside them. In many cases, it is almost certain players will become even better once they reach the NFL. At the end of the day, yes, a team’s success is based on the number of wins it gets. Increasing such success can only be attained through drafting a player who has won in the college and is familiar with a winning culture.

The Campanile

Friday, December 8, 2017

at debate

SPORTS SPREAD

design By kesi sound

luences professional success

the year. Teams across the nation spend hundreds of hours hiring teams of scouts to rs to draft, teams do everything from the normal (watching the player’s tape and anahey would like to be). But to NFL fans, there is one aspect of the draft process whose tion whether or not the success of the player’s college team should matter when being ance of team success, and whether or not it should be considered in the draft process.

Con

PAARTH SHARMA

rent Richardson was supposed to dominate the NFL. Chosen with the third pick in the 2012 draft, Richardson, a Heisman finalist, was compared to Hall of Famers Emmitt Smith and Earl Campbell well before stepping under the bright lights of an NFL stadium. He was touted as the next Adrian Peterson, with former Colts vice-chairman Bill Polian going as far as to call him a “sure-thing player” ahead of the draft. Richardson played college football at the University of Alabama, a program that at the time was in the midst of securing its place as one of college football’s most dominant dynasties. There, he ran for 1,740 yards his junior year in 2011, leading the University of Alabama Crimson Tide to the National Championship on the way. It seemed as though year after year, the Crimson Tide pumped out running backs who put up gigantic numbers. First there was Glen Coffee who ran for 1,383 yards in 2008. Then came Mark Ingram, who put up 3,261 yards on the ground over three seasons in Tuscaloosa. A n d then came Tr e n t Richard s on . T-Rich, as he was k n o w n , looked like a guaranteed success. His combination of power and balance, like the Alabama running backs before him, seemed as though it was guaranteed to serve him well in the NFL. The scouts weren’t completely wrong. Sure, Richardson isn’t putting up the incredible numbers he did in college, but in 2017, there’s no doubt that he’s become a serviceable running back–for the Saskatchewan Roughriders of the Canadian Football League. Per plexingly, Richardson’s NFL career simply never took off. The Browns, who called him their back of the future, cut him after two laughably bad seasons. From there, he went to the Indianapolis Colts, where he became the face of what quickly turned into the league’s worst run offense. During his disappointing NFL career, Richardson averaged the second-worst yards per carry average since the NFL was formed of any running back who carried the ball at least 500 times. The Colts cut him after two years, and Richardson ended up in a place best known as a destination for washed-up NFL play-

yards before he enters the same time zone as a defender. During Richardson’s career at Alabama, he averaged over five yards per run before any contact with the defense. Meanwhile, other running backs would typically run into defenders only a yard or two into their runs. Looking at this, it becomes clear why Richardson’s numbers looked so good – most of the yardage he was getting was gift-wrapped to him by his overpowering offensive line, which would simply push opposing defenses out of the way. As a result, Richardson’s rushing yards didn’t reflect his ability, but rather stood as a testament to just how effective the ones blocking for him were. A closer look at the individual members of the 2011 Alabama Crimson Tide offensive line only

ers: Canada. But how could so many teams be so wrong? How could so many people, many of whom had long careers in the NFL, have pegged a player for success, only to watch his career flop like a dead fish from the minute it started? The sad truth is scouts, coaches and general managers (GMs) across the NFL were fooled by the success of the Crimson Tide and thought Richardson was the key factor behind the team’s success, when in reality, the

will be able to gain

team around Richardson was so dominant there were many Division I runners who could have put up similar numbers. A quick look at Richardson’s offensive line only supports this theory. In football, the performance of a running back is directly related to the performance of his offensive line, a group of players who block and push defenders out of the way of the running back, thus giving the back room to run. A terrible offensive line can make a running back look worse than he really is, as he will have no room to run before being hit by an onslaught of defenders, thus lowering the yards he can obtain. A phenomenal offensive line, on the other hand, does the opposite. If the line is able to clear loads of space and push many defenders out of the way, a running back

lots o f

exacerbates the situation. An NFL team doesn’t draft the team. They draft the player, and if the

player’s success is entirely dependent on those around him, it is a given that he will not succeed in a diﬀerent environment. Richardson’s success in col-

lege was almost entirely contingent on an incredible oﬀensive line and a system that allowed him to play without true vision and decision-making, two things that the Cleveland Browns did not have. In fact, these two factors have led to the vast majority of Alabama running backs being unable to find success in the NFL. The system that seems to produce backs with great numbers in college has yet to produce

backs that put up anywhere near those numbers in the NFL. So what, you might ask, became of Richardson’s successors? Unfortunately, not much. Alabama’s next running back, Eddie Lacy, put up 1,511 yards from scrimmage and was taken in the second round of the NFL draft. While he went to the Pro Bowl as a rookie, he quickly fell oﬀ the map and has become one of the worst running backs in the league, averaging a horrendous 2.5 yards per carry this season. TJ Yeldon, Lacy’s successor, put up huge stats as a member of the Crimson Tide, eclipsing well over 1,100 yards from scrimmage three years in a row before becoming the third running back selected in the 2015 NFL draft. Two years later, and Yeldon is currently riding the bench for the Jacksonville Jaguars. Sadly, the University of Alabama, with its consistently excellent oﬀensive line and incredible system, allows every running back passing through it to flourish in college but largely produces duds at the NFL level. However, many NFL teams look at the success of the Alabama football program as a whole and assume players from the program will be successful in the NFL, without questioning whether those specific players are what made the team great.

Luckily, the NFL has begun to realize that team success is not an important measurement when looking for players that will be successful at the next level. The top two quarterbacks picked in the 2016 NFL draft were Jared Goff and Carson Wentz, who attended UC Berkeley (Cal) and North Dakota State University. During Goff ’s time at Cal, the Bears were hardly a football powerhouse, going 14-23 over that span. Meanwhile, Wentz’s team was not included in the FBS, the top section of Division I college football, consisting of the top 128 college football teams. However, the Los Angeles Rams and Philadelphia Eagles saw the two would be successful at the NFL level and drafted them. This season, Goff and Wentz are among the league’s top young quarterbacks, with Wentz currently in the running to win the NFL’s MVP. The moral of the story is that NFL teams should remember that when they draft players, team success is not entirely relevant. Why? Each team is different, and the success of the team relies on 53 players, not one. Assuming any single player is so important as to control the fate of the entire team would be a fatal mistake.

Friday, December 8, 2017

The Campanile

SPORTS

Cricket introduced to elementary schools in Palo Alto Both Hoover and Walter Hays Elementary Schools recently integrated new sport into P.E. curriculum with student assistance hardest to learn,” Kim said. “For example, leg before wicket and stumpings were tricky to understand because there’s no corresponding rule in baseball. But the actual mechanics weren’t too difficult because I had played Little League baseball.” But once the rules of the sport were ingrained and each knew how to play, both Kataria and Kim said the elements of cricket were very rewarding for them. “[Players’] mental approach is totally changed,” Kataria said. “Cricket forces players to play positively. Without a positive approach, you cannot win a game. In addition, it will help with things like hand eye coordination, focus, communication, team spirit and also fitness. There are just so many things that kids will learn from cricket.”

CHRISSY BEST/U.S. AIRFORCE

The sport of cricket is played with two cricket bats, which are flatter than a baseball bat, and a wicket made of three stumps and two bails.

By Raj Lele

Senior Staff Writer

t the beginning of November, both Walter Hays and Hoover Elementary Schools, initiated a cricket unit in their Physical Education (P.E.) curriculum. Although many students had experience holding a bat and throwing a ball, very few had done so in the form of cricket. Walter Hays P.E. teacher Ken Bunton said the number of students who knew how to play cricket hovered around 20 percent. So, the P.E. teachers at the elementary level took advice about how to teach

cricket from Palo Alto’s very own cricketers. Paly sophomore and cricketer Pratham Kataria said the P.E. teachers turned to him and his family for help. He then developed a few drills for the students. “I was pretty happy to hear that cricket was being introduced to Palo Alto,” Kataria said. “I was supposed to go to the teachers’ training session on Aug. 10, but unfortunately, I had a game that day. However, my sister and my dad went and taught some drills about cricket to the teachers and staff.” Kataria said he racked his brain for ideas on how to help the

P.E. teachers demonstrate aspects of the game that while second-nature to him, would be difficult for newcomers of the sport to grasp. “The first thing I thought of were the rules, of course,” Kataria said. “The people playing the game need to know the basic rules of cricket before they start playing the game. Also, you have to teach them how to hold the bat properly or how to hold the ball when bowling. After they have some of those basics down, I would focus mostly on fielding. Today, fielding divides a good team from an outstanding team. It is the most important aspect of the game.” Bunton said once he taught

these drills, the students began to excel. However, there were minor setbacks. “Students picked up the skills of bowling and batting very well,” Bunton said. “Maybe the hardest part was to get students to swing at low to high instead of baseball style — holding the bat high and swinging level.” Because there are quite a few similarities between baseball and cricket, Paly junior Nathan Kim, who started playing cricket during middle school for Jordan’s cricket club, said learning the mechanics of batting and bowling was not particularly difficult. “Honestly, the rules were the

"To see that cricket is being played makes me feel like my [Indian] culture is finally being validated by the Palo Alto community." Rohit Seshadri Kim said in addition to having a different mindset when playing cricket compared to other sports, he had to approach the game differently because it wasn’t part of a culture he was from. “I think it’s really cool to open your eyes to a new culture, especially a sport, and I genuinely hope that the elementary schoolers feel the way I do,” Kim said.

Because cricket is a prominent sport in India, Jordan Middle School sixth grader Rohit Seshadri said he felt both pride and appreciation of his culture in hearing of the installment of the cricket unit. “Not many Indian festivals or rituals are celebrated by the district on a consistent basis, so to see that cricket is being played makes me feel like my culture is finally being validated by the Palo Alto community,” Seshadri said. “It was hard to see many other religions and communities being noticed and celebrated by Palo Alto, especially when Palo Alto has a strong Indian population.” Bunton said a new cultural experience is vital for the students he teaches, and he noticed how excited the Indian students were when they found out they would be playing cricket. “One super athletic fifth grade boy said ‘finally, India is good at something,’ when I told class that in 2017, India was the best in the world at cricket,” Bunton said. “Cricket has been a very valuable multicultural experience for our students. It is a must for every school.” Bunton said he hopes to continue this unit next year with a few more rules to make the games more interesting. “This year, the goal was to keep it simple,” Bunton said. “We modified the game with three versus three, the fielders and the wicket keeper got batsmen out by fly out, bowler hitting stump or fielders knocking bails off stump when batsman is between crease cones. Next year, we will do this again with added four runs, six runs possibility and adding boundaries to the pitch.”

Schultz family visits Paly's new wrestling facility in the new gym Wife and father of David (Dave), famous Olympic wrestler shot dead in 1996, visited the Peery Center in November

RUTULGADA/CC-BY-SA-3.0

Deceased Professional wrestler David Shultz, third to left, won an Olympic gold medal in 1984, four gold medals in the Wrestling World Cup and one gold medal in the World Wrestling Championship.

By Shannon Zhao

Board Correspondent

world class wrestler, Olympic gold medalist, inspirational coach and Palo Alto High School alumnus, David (Dave) Schultz, was shot dead three times at point-blank range on Jan. 26, 1996. To help honor their son's memory, Dave’s father and wife, Philip and Nancy Schultz, returned to the Viking campus in November to tour the new wrestling facility, led by a group of Paly wrestlers. Dave and his brother Mark Schultz were both state champion wrestlers in high school and continued to win more medals at the collegiate and professional level. The brothers’ success on the mat soon captured the attention of millionaire and American philanthropist, John Du Pont. Du Pont was a sports fanatic who was never quite good enough to compete in sports himself, but channeled his compulsive obsession through sponsoring many

sports teams. His next big project was to organize a super squad of citizen athletes under the name of Team Foxcatcher. When Dave was offered a spot on the team, Du Pont’s money was too green and he was too powerful and influential to be turned down. In 1989, Dave moved onto the Foxcatcher Farm with his family, to be the new wrestling coach of Team Foxcatcher. Along with coaching the Foxcatcher wrestlers, Dave was well on his way to winning another gold medal in the 1996 Olympics. Although fame soon shadowed Dave’s wrestling and public life, his work ethic remained persistent. As a Paly student athlete or an Olympic gold medalist, Dave never took his natural born talent for granted, and trained intrinsically. “[Dave’s work ethic] was inscribed within him from a time since he was 11, 12 years old," Philip Schultz said. As mentally and physically demanding the sport of wrestling is,

Dave was able to channel his passion and competitive nature into dominating on the mat according to his dad. “He incorporated the whole damn thing with grace and ease," Philip Schultz said. “He was elevated because of the sport. The sport actually moved him towards the light that was his.” On top of the strenuous nature of the sport, the Foxcatcher wrestlers were put under great pressure and possibly sexual abuse by Du Pont. Confirmed by many coaches and wrestlers, Du Pont allegedly removed wrestler Andre Metzger from the Foxcatcher team for declining his sexual advances. According to Mark, Du Pont invented a wrestling move dubbed the "Foxcatcher Five" that consisted of grabbing another wrestler's testicles with five fingers. Du Pont also faced charges of sexual abuse in 1986 and as a result, his wrestling program at Villanova University was disbanded, according to the Philadelphia Daily News. Du Pont’s eccentric behav-

ior quickly escalated and though the athletes grew suspicious, his wealth protected him from any allegations. The conspiracy theorist believed ghosts and Nazis lived on the Foxcatcher farm. When Du Pont learned Dave would soon leave Team Foxcatcher for a wrestling job at Stanford University, his idiosyncrasies only intensified, until the last string of his mental sanity snapped. On a Friday afternoon, Du Pont drove onto Dave’s driveway and shot him dead.

"He was elevated because of the sport. The sport actually moved him towards the light that was his.” Philip Schultz The timeline of events leading up to Dave’s death was adapted into the 2014 thriller "Foxcatch-

er" starring Mark Ruffalo, Channing Tatum and Steve Carell. The Schultz family has kept in close contact with the Paly community since Dave’s tragic death. Nancy graciously donated Dave’s Olympic jacket to Paly, displayed in the new Peery Center. “We constantly interact with people that have grown up with the Schultz brothers and we get to hear their wonderful, insightful stories,” said junior wrestler Andrew Wang. “Dave Schultz is more than just a portrayal from an actor, he was a humble, kind, diplomatic soul who laid a path for us to follow.” Nancy Schultz and U.S. Wrestling have worked in collaboration to create the Dave Schultz Memorial International, an annual wrestling meet in Colorado Springs that honors the “spirit of friendship, sportsmanship and goodwill” that Dave epitomized. Posters, medals and plaques in memory of Dave line the walls of the new wrestling room. The National Wrestling Hall of Fame

sent Paly two brass plaques that hang on the entrance of the wrestling room dedicated to Mark and Dave. Paly wrestlers view the Schultz brothers as the gold standard of wrestling. “Say Jeremy Lin is super good, Dave and Mark would be comparable to two Jeremys,” said junior wrestler Aidan Gans. “They definitely are huge factors in the wrestling community, and not just for us at Paly… I mean they are the most decorated brothers in the U.S.” As one of the most reputable international wrestlers of his decade, Dave won a combined 16 medals in the World and U.S. National Championships, and exemplified some of the most technical matches seen in wrestling history. “He’s a huge role model for me and all of us in the room,” Gans said. “If you are a Paly wrestler that wants to be one of the best, then you really look up to them because they came out of the same program, and they truly are some of the greatest wrestlers.”

Friday, December 8, 2017

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SPORTS

Student group hopes to increase fan support at sports games Sixth Man hopes to encourage athletes in their matches by filling seats and cheering, even for unpopular sports

DAVID HICKEY/USED WITH PERMISSION

Paly’s Sixth Man group aims to gain support for all Viking teams, even those that usually only get a few people in the stands, to watch their game and cheer loudly. The Sixth Man phenomenon connects all Vikes.

By Kesi Sound & Renee Hoh Lifestyle Editor and News & Opinion Editor

he moment before the serve, players are tense and crouched, ready to receive the ball. A single “Hoo” emerges from within the student section and echoes throughout the Peery Center. Senior Ahmed Ali chants as he claps his hands above his head. With each clap, others join in, intensifying the chant. Announcing their presence on the court is Paly Sixth Man. “For basketball, there’s five players on the court so the fan is oftentimes known as the ‘Sixth Man’ like the sixth player supporting the other five on the court,”

said senior Matan Ziv, a member of Paly’s Sixth Man group. The new group even has a Facebook page, complete with a detailed description. “The Paly Sixth Man was established in 2015 with the intention of visiting as many sports games as possible, and supporting as many Vikings as possible outside of football. School pride required.” Similar to local legend Super Fan Dan, Paly Sixth Man has gained themselves a similar large following of students. Many students at school know about the Sixth Man phenomenon through the group’s social media promotion. With a heavy presence on both Instagram, Facebook and in the Peery Center stands, most Paly students are aware of the group’s existence to some degree.

“I don’t really know exactly who the Sixth Man group is but I know that it has a big presence on Paly campus and definitely hypes people up about sporting events,” said senior Tanay Krishna.

Paly Sixth Man has filled the newly minted stands, advertising events such as Paly Digs Pink volleyball games and traveling to away basketball games.

Following the Peery Center’s inaugural opening, Paly Sixth Man has filled the newly minted stands, advertising events such as Paly Digs Pink volleyball games

and traveling to attend away basketball games, including the State Championships. “I went to a couple away basketball games last year, and I started barrelling down and getting swept up in the sauce,” Ziv said. “We’re all Paly Vikes; we all want all the teams to do well. I think it’s great for anyone to come out. I really encourage it.” With chants such as “Are you ready for the PA Vikes,” catchphrases such as “Finger Lickin Good,” FLG for short, and the iconic homemade axe, Paly Sixth fosters a sense of community among students, parents and players. “I think [Sixth Man] is really good for the community,” Ziv said. “People show up to the games, even if they’re not a die-

Taking the less-traveled running tracks

Bryan Kagiri’s path from Nairobi, Kenya to sprinting the 400m for the Vikings

MALCOLM SLANEY/USED WITH PERMISSION

Bryan Kagiri (second from the left) has a very unique track and field story that spans many countries, two continents and more than a decade.

By Will Robins

“

Staff Writer

was 7 years old when people began telling me I should run track,” Kagiri said.“But all I wanted to do was play soccer because that was what everyone else did.” Junior track and field member Bryan Kagiri moved to America when he was 14. He joined the Paly track and field team when he moved to Palo Alto, but his passion for the sport goes back to his time living in Africa. Kagiri was born in Nairobi, Kenya and lived there for six years. While growing up, he said he mainly focused on soccer and didn’t give track much thought until he moved to South Africa and saw his mother run for the first time. “When I saw my mom run, I knew wanted to try track out,” Kagiri said. Kagiri’s mom is a professional athlete, and received the silver medal for the 800m at the 2004 Athens Olympic games. Inspired

by his mother’s accomplishments, Kagiri began running track. When he moved back to Kenya four years later, his interest in track only intensified.

“The Arcadia meet in Los Angeles was a humbling experience for me. I realized that there are some great track sprinters that are better than me.” Bryan Kagiri

“When I got back to Kenya, I began to run even more because I realized my talent, and it became my first priority,” Kagiri said. When Kagiri moved to the United States, he said he wasn’t sure if he would keep running. “I wasn’t sure if track and field was taken seriously at American high schools,” Kagiri said. But he was invited to Paly’s track team, and he immediately

enjoyed it. He ran varsity as a sophomore, and excelled. Last year, he ran a 400m in 49.31 seconds, which is only five seconds slower than the National Men’s High School record set by Darrell Robinson, with a time of 44.69 seconds. This year, he hopes to improve on his time and possibly beat Paly’s 400m record of a time of 47.65 seconds. “I wouldn’t say beating the record is my goal, but it’s a great motivational tool to improve as a track sprinter,” Kagiri said. Last year, Kagiri was part of the distance medley relay at the Stanford Invitational Meet as well as the anchor for the boys 4×400 relay. Kagiri has also participated in the Junior Olympics four times and plans on running in the event throughout his high school track career. In addition, Kagiri competed in the Arcadia National Meet against some of the best schools in the nation. “The Arcadia meet in Los Angeles was a humbling experience for me,” Kagiri said. “I realized that there are some great track

sprinters that are better than me. That experience only pushed me to work harder so I can get better.” Kagiri’s devotion to the sport of track has influenced his decision to continue running throughout his life.

Last year, Kagiri ran a 400m in 49.31 seconds, which is only five seconds slower than the National Men’s High School record set by Darrell Robinson, with a time of 44.69 seconds. “My goal is to make it as far as possible, maybe after high school to race at the collegiate level,” Kagiri said. Kagiri explained that though it will be tough, his highest goal is to make it the Olympics and follow in his mother’s footsteps.

hard fan that’s going to sit in the front row. Anybody can get behind it because we’re all Paly Vikes no matter our previous differences.” Sixth Man isn’t the first group to refer to themselves and the crowd as the extra player of a sports team. The phrase was first coined by the University of Minnesota in the 1900s, where a magazine reported on the results of a football game, stating there was a “ mysterious influence of the 12th man on the team, the rooter … ” Since then, the phrase has gained notoriety within popular culture. In fact, both Texas A&M football fans and Seattle Seahawks fans refer to themselves as “12s,” or “the 12th man.” This similarity has led to dispute between the two teams,

ending with the Seahawks being forced to pay Texas A&M $140,000 to use the trademarked phrase in 2016. Creating memories that will last for a lifetime, Sixth Man’s dedication has spanned multiple generations of Paly students. “[At states], Spencer Rojhan hit the game winning three against Los Gatos,” said Max Jung-Goldberg, Paly Sixth Man member. “That shot was pretty impressive.” Paly Sixth Man has cemented their spirit at games as proud representatives of Paly’s unofficial cheerleaders. “We’re in the stands, being the sixth man out there,” Ali said. “We are repping out team, repping our school, repping our colors, all day every day.”

Wackiest owies By Nicholas Melvin Managing Editor

hen sports are played people get hurt. It is inevitable. Pushing the human body to the limit of physical performance is bound to lead to slip ups and twist ups, and as a result, injuries. We are accustomed to watching these injuries occur, but what we see less of are the injuries that happen off the field, which is disappointing because oftentimes, these injuries would be far more fun to watch than most of the gruesome mishaps we see during games. These are some of the injuries that I believe would provide fans with the highest degrees of humorous satisfaction if they were to be watched. Chris Brown Throughout his career, infielder Chris Brown was notorious for missing games due to the slightest discomfort. “He was a contradiction,” said Brooks Hust, Brown’s high school coach, in 1986. “He was the type of competitor who would throw his body at the ball during a game but would not practice because of the slightest injury.” Over the course of his career in the Major League Baseball he continued his tendency to miss time for dubious reasons, including a toothache, a thumb injury (which he suffered by punching teammate Marvell Wynne) and an ankle he twisted while walking to the clubhouse after a game. Out of all the questionable injuries over the course of his career, the one that takes home the belt as the oddest injury happened in 1987, when he begged to be taken out of the lineup because he slept on his eye funny Lionel Simmons Who doesn’t love Nintendo? Its games are intelligent, entertaining and enjoyable. The company also invented the first comprehensive handheld video gaming device: the Nintendo Game Boy. During his first season in the National Basketball Association, then-Sacramento Kings small forward Lionel Simmons got his hands on one of these fine pieces of equipment and ended up enjoying it a bit too much. He devel-

oped tendonitis in his wrist and forearm from playing and had to miss multiple games. Perhaps that’s why he only came in second for Rookie of the Year. Mickey Tettleton Feet are essential parts of the human body. We use them every time we waddle, totter or somnambulate anywhere. Without them, we would be far less mobile than we are today. That’s why when former Oakland Athletics and Detriot Tigers designated hitter Mickey Tettleton developed a case of athlete’s foot, it was a foregone conclusion he was going to have to go on the disabled list. However, what is less straightforward is how Tettleton developed the athlete’s foot. It all started when he was tying his shoes. That’s also where it ended. He developed the condition by tying his shoes too tightly. So be sure to leave some breathing room when you loop that bunny around the tree. Brian Anderson When you want to look nice, nothing beats a crisp, ironed shirt. But when testing if they are hot or not, be sure to remember Arizona Diamondback’s pitcher Brian Anderson’s rule of thumb (one which he derived from personal experience): DON’T USE YOUR FACE. “I was getting ready to iron a shirt,” Anderson told MLB.com. “You know on the road some irons you plug in and have to turn on; some you plug in and they’re automatically on? There’ve been so many that I plugged in, would wait five minutes, go to use it and it would be one you had to flip on. So this one, I plugged in while watching the Indians play on ‘Sunday Night Baseball.’ I picked up the iron, held it to my face to feel the heat and was trying to look around the corner (of the iron) to watch the game. I just put my cheek right on it. It didn’t take much, and it fried the side of my face. What are you going to do?” Takeaways These are the bloopers of the sports world. The unseen moments that would be enjoyed equally, if not more than, the actual game, if only they became available to the public.

Friday, December 8, 2017

The Campanile

SPORTS

men Breaking the ice A LOOK AT THE LIVES OF PALY’S MALE ICE SKATERS

he effortless, graceful glide of a sharp blade traveling over glistening ice. The rush of exhilaration that accompanies the perfect landing of a jump. The crisp, frosty air contrasting the inner warmth produced from flying across a shining rink. These are just a few of the many beauties of figure skating that juniors David Foster and Andrew Shih have been surrounded by since they were young. Foster’s love of figure skating emerged after he and his older brother experimented with many different sports during their childhood. According to Foster, he was drawn to the less competitive aspect of figure skating.

sister was around 7, we used to live in Fremont, and my mom took us to this ice skating rink one time,” Shih said. “My sister got the hang of it really quickly, and I just kind of trailed along. I kept falling, every single time. And then my sister started getting more serious and then my mom also started to get me into it too. Afterwards, I cycled through a bunch of other sports — I did soccer, fencing, swimming — but in the end I just returned to skating. When I was 11, I took it really seriously, too.”

MY FAVORITE PART ABOUT FIGURE SKATING IS THE AMAZING FEELING OF LAUNCHING INTO A SPIN OR LANDING A JUMP. IT’S REALLY FAST AND POWERFUL, AND IT’S GRATIFYING WHEN YOU’RE ABLE TO DO IT RIGHT. DAVID FOSTER

“It’s an interesting sport that not a lot of people do, especially [not] boys, and [it’s] something I can do more recreationally,” Foster said. Foster skates at Winter Lodge twice a week in addition to working there, w h i c h he said gives him an opportunity to skate more often. According to Foster, he would love to be able to skate even more, but doesn’t have the time. Shih also experimented with many different sports when he was young and, like Foster, was ultimately drawn to figure skating. Shih’s involvement with skating was also partially caused by his sister’s passion in skating. “When I was around 4 [and] my

His sister’s desire to pursue skating caused Shih’s parents to encourage him to continue as well. Shih said his parents wanted to keep both kids in the same place, so he needed

really fast and you’re just jumping all over the place, doing, like, two rotations in the air and you’re spinning really fast, too,” Shih said. “And it was cold in the rink, and so if you were sweating, it kind of balances out with the coldness. I think [I enjoyed it because

of ] the combination of how exhilarating the sport was, and it was an exercise, too — it was just a perfect combination and it was fun.” For Foster, the satisfaction and pride of completing a stunt after working hard at it is one of the most rewarding parts of skating. “My favorite part about figure skating is the amazing feeling of launching into a spin or landing a jump,” Foster said. “It’s really fast and powerful, and it’s gratifying when you’re able to do it right.” However, before reaping the benefits of the many positives of skating, there are a few obstacles a boy interested in figure skating must overcome, according to Foster and Shih. One obstacle skaters of all genders face is the price of skating lessons, skates and access to skating rinks. According to Foster and Shih, taking figure skating seriously can be expensive. “The one thing that I was surprised by as I

to continue skating. However, his parent’s encouragement to pursue skating wasn’t the only impetus that drove Shih to continue with the sport. “I really enjoyed it because I thought it was really cool how you’re literally skating with blades on your feet, and you’re going really,

Text & design by waverly long

did more a n d more skating is the inequality — as a sport, it is difficult to advance without investing in it financially, at least in this area,” Foster said. The requirement of a skating rink to practice the sport

also poses an obstacle to many, according to Shih. “Unlike basketball or soccer, where you can just practice in your backyard, you actually have to go to a rink, because you can’t freeze your pool, right?” Shih said. According to Shih, in order for a skater in this area to get to a really good

rink, one may need to drive to Redwood C i t y, Calif. The distance of the drive contributes to the time taken out of the skater’s day for the sport. In addition, boys interested in figure skating in this area may find they have less opportunities than girls due to the smaller number of boys interested in figure skating. According to Foster, this struggle is shown in the classes available at Winter Lodge. “Winter Lodge is the closest place to [go skating], but it’s only open in the winter, and there are far more opportunities for girls there than boys,” Foster said. “There are some classes that I cannot take, because they are for girls only, which limits the amount I can practice in classes.” In addition, being a male interested in figure skating sometimes has negative social implications that may affect a boy pursuing figure skating, according to Shih. “When I was younger in figure skating, everyone is going through puberty and everyone is judging everyone,” Shih said. “I kind of didn’t really tell anyone that I figure skated, because everyone probably just would’ve made fun of me because I was a guy that figure skated. … People would think that it was more

feminine.” H o w e v e r, these stereotypes and judgements from his peers didn’t impact Shih’s love for figure skating. “When I’m on the ice, I don’t even think about that, because it’s just like you’re so focused on actually hitting your jumps and your spins and all your footwork, and it doesn’t matter,” Shih said. “I feel like it adds on to the argument that there’s also a lot of power and ferocity that goes into skating a routine well.” Foster and Shih both want to encourage people, specifically boys, to pursue figure skating.

Though many try out different sports and may switch interests as their passions change in middle school, high school and perhaps later in life as well, Shih advises those interested in skating to start at a young age. “The ages people are landing jumps are getting smaller and smaller,” Shih said. “You have 10-yearolds landing triple jumps already. It’s kind of crazy.” According to Foster, many people try out figure skating but give up when they get older. Foster encourages people to continue with the sport. The sport’s combination of many different aspects, including dance, coordination, concentration and strength makes it an interesting and fulfilling activity, according to Foster. In addition, it is an excellent work out, Foster said. Furthermore, Shih said the sport has taught him important lessons about life. Skating taught him the importance of waiting for results to show and being willing to put in hard work in practice, Shih said. “I learned that patience is a real virtue,” Shih said. “There’s this jump called the axel — it’s one and a half rotations and it’s kind of like every skater’s big first milestone — when you reach it, you feel really accomplished. I spent almost two years on it, and when I finally landed it, I was really overjoyed.”

art & design by kaylie nguyen