Issue 1 - September 2016

W ED N ES DAY, S EP T EM B ER 21, 2016

Trump supporters deserve our respect

How-to grow a drought-friendly garden

Hackathons

What’s in a name?

OPINIONS pages 4 & 5

FEATURES pages 6 & 7

VOLUME 58 NO. 1

LIFESTYLES pages 8 & 9

FLIPSIDE page 12

The Prospector

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Student Newspaper of Cupertino High School

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Cupertino High School ranked 35th in nation ETHAN QI

CHRISTINA SHAO sports assistant

“What makes Cupertino High School [unique] is the pride we always have,” English teacher Monique Machado said. This month, the school’s students have another reason to be proud.

Newsweek ranked CHS the 35th best high school in the nation.

The rankings take into account standardized test scores, college enrollment, and college readiness.

“We have very good resilience at our school. Students at this school see challenges, are actually excited about those challenges, and want to overcome those challenges,” English and law teacher Sean Bui said.

Just last year, Newsweek ranked CHS 322nd. From 2015 to 2016, the school’s percentage of college-bound students increased from 78.6% to 93.0% — an improvement that played a significant role in raising the school’s overall ranking.

Said math teacher Anna Tran, “Students at our school tend

to exceed expectations, meaning they do more than the just the requirements to graduate. That is what pushes them to achieve more after high school.”

While many students are gaining extra sleeping hours on Wednesday morning, teachers at CHS are working in teams to create assignments, lessons, and assessments. The collaborative curriculum ensures that students receive the best education possible, integrating a variety of teachers’ ideas.

“We make sure that everything is aligned and that the students know what is important, why it is important, and also how it will eventually connect with them after high school,” Machado explained.

With an average Advanced Placement exam passing rate of 92.0%, CHS is the only high school in the Fremont Union High School District that has a passing rate higher than 90%.

Said Tran, “[CHS] has great teachers who not only want their students to pass [the AP exams], but actually understand the concepts, learn the skills, and, more importantly, learn how

CHS student helps pass LGBTQ+ education bills SUDARSHAN KANNAN copy editor

SHALMALI PATIL editor-in-chief

CATHERINE SEOK

ALLYSON CHIU | Chiu worked extensively with

state assemblymembers and the Board of Education to campain for LGBTQ+ legislation

Last year, senior Allyson Chiu campaigned for the passage of LGBTQIAPD education bills and other related legislation. The Fair Education Act, or SB 48, which sets standards for LGBTQ history to be incorporated in classrooms, was passed by the California State Legislature this July. The Equal Restroom Access Act, or AB 1732, was sent to Governor Jerry Brown for a signature on Aug. 22 and requires all single-occupancy bathrooms in public locations, such as businesses and government facilities, to be accessible to everyone.

The current co-president of Cupertino High School’s Gender and Sexuality Alliance, Allyson found her passion for LGBTQ rights after a close friend was forced to move due to discomfort with others finding out about his sexuality.

Says Chiu, “It was very eye-opening and also saddening to know that people so dear to me were affected by bullying and by society. I wanted to change that.” Soon after, she joined the NorCal Genders and Sexualities Youth Council

LGBTQ+ legislation, continued on page 3

to think.”

Although being ranked 35th in the nation is undoubtedly a remarkable achievement, the school is beginning to experience the growing pains that come with it. The competitive environment that is characteristic of many schools in the Bay Area has left students stressed and sleep-deprived, with less than 2% of CHS students getting the recommended amount of sleep. Because of this increasing issue, the CHS staff are trying to alleviate the pressure put on students through the Challenge Success program and wellness surveys.

“The agenda to decrease stress is actually going to help in the long run… The trajectory that we have is really positive,” Tran said.

“When I see students excited about learning, happy that they are here, and less stressed, that is more important to me,” Bui said. However, continued Bui, “It is nice to have this accolade. It makes me even prouder to be here at Cupertino High School.”

Bill sparks controversy for separating Asian-American demographic data ESHA RADHAKRISHNAN opinions assistant

SANTOSH MULARIDARAN features assistant

Calif., home to one of the nation’s most diverse population of Asians and Pacific Islanders (APIs), is debating a new bill, AB 1726, that would aim to recognize many Asian subgroups through the release of health data. Asian Americans, who collectively comprise 60% of the world’s population, have diverse backgrounds and needs.

Instead of releasing data and statistics for all Asians under one single label, the bill will divide the collective “Asian” group into Bangladeshis, Fijians, Tongans, Chinese, Indian and many more.

Many API advocacy organizations believe AB 1726 would break the current system of data distribution that overshadows challenges faced by minority Asians and upholds the “model minority” stereotype, in which all Asians are seen as high performing students. Vietnamese and Cambodians, for example, are more likely to live in poverty, not pursue higher education and face de-

pression. Many believe that disaggregated statistics would create a broader idea on certain issues like these and help the public address them.

The plan also aims at providing better suited medical services for APIs. While collectively, one in 12 Asian-Americans is afflicted with Hepatitis B, the number is higher for Vietnamese and Chinese. Sophia Cheung, a research dietitian at The Joslin Diabetes Center, points out that there are barriers to proper diabetes care for South Asians, considering that they have a much higher chance of developing the disease.

Despite the support behind this bill, a strong opposition force continues to assemble. On Aug. 10, Asian-American protestors from all over California rallied in front of the state capitol in Sacramento to protest. They questioned why this bill exclusively targets Asians rather than Caucasian and African American subgroups and if the more precise data would allow unequal allocation of resources for specific API subgroups over others. Said Kai Zhu, an attor-

AB 1726, continued on page 3

2

News The Prospector

S TA F F 2016-2017

The Prospector

NASA ends Mars simulation in Hawaii MELISSA SILVA editor-in-chief

Cupertino High School Established 1958 Vol LVIII, No. 1 | 2016 editors-in-chief shalmali patil melissa silva meilinda sun news editor ethan qi opinions editor peter martin features editor aishwarya laddha lifestyles editor allison lo sports editor erin song flip side editor shalmali patil copy editors caroline gee sudarshan kannan saagar sanghavi amy zeng photo editors catherine seok jenn zaratan

On Aug. 28, 2016, NASA’s Hawaii Space Exploration Analog and Simulation project, or HI-SEAS, ended, exactly one year from its inception. Funded by the University of Hawaii, NASA conducted the experiment in a dome constructed on Mauna-Loa volcano to study what it would be like for a group of strangers to live together on Mars for a year.

The experiment took place in a dome built on the side of the volcano to simulate the living quarters scientists would have to reside in on Mars. The 1,000 square foot area included a kitchen, dining room, bathroom, and exercise, shower, lab, and work spaces.

The site was chosen due to the soil’s resemblance to Mars soil and also due to the high elevation, which would prevent the growth of plants at the location. Six scientists shared the two-story location during the simulation.

The six scientists were selected to participate in this experiment because each of them had an undergraduate degree in science or engineering, had at least three years of research in graduate study and were mentally and physically healthy. All participants began the simulation as strangers to each other, which contributed to NASA’s investigation of how people who have never met might interact with each other in closed quarters. In an interview conducted by NPR, one of the participants, chief scientific officer and crew physicist Christiane Heinicke, described the importance of emergencies in getting the members to work together effectively. Otherwise, Heinicke explained, it was harder for the six to get along. NASA has been reviewing the data collected from the experiment, including the participants’ accounts and experiences of the study, which they

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recorded through blogs.

The crew had to follow regulations during the project, all of which were set to accurately mimic a trip to Mars. For example, if they wanted to venture outside of their dome, they were required to wear space suits.

While the scientists were allowed Internet access and communication through e-mail, all messages were sent and received with a 20-minute delay; this impediment was implemented to reflect the amount of time it would actually take to send a message from Mars. Their food, always freeze-dried, was re-stocked every four months, with water being sent every two months.

This investigation was crucial in NASA’s study, having been the longest of its kind conducted on U.S. soil. All data — cognitive, emotional, social, and physical, to name a few categories — is being used by NASA to investigate the successes and failures of the experiment. NASA hopes to send people to Mars, for real this time, in the 2030’s.

Other simulations, this time eight months long, will be conducted in 2017 and 2018.

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Contact Us The Prospector 10100 Finch Avenue Cupertino, CA 95014 prospector.chs@gmail.com

MAUNA LOA 365 DAYS

NEWS BRIEFS The state of Louisiana experienced severe flooding beginning Aug. 12, 2016. Water levels reached 31 inches in some areas, forcing 40,000 families to evacuate their homes. The flooding has caused millions of dollars worth of damages and is considered the worst natural disaster since Hurricane Sandy four years ago.

The sudden price hike of the EpiPen, an injection that reverses life-threatening allergic reactions, has sparked outrage among consumers.

In 11 years, Mylan, owner of the Epipen, hiked the price of a set of pens from $57 to $600. CEO Heather Bresch has justified the increase by saying it was a necessary action for the company.

In response to the sexual assault case a few months prior, Stanford University banned hard liquor from all on-campus parties. The policy restricts the size of alcohol allowed in dorm rooms to under 750 mL. Though Stanford believes this change is “a sensible, creative solution,” many are skeptical of the effectiveness.

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The effectiveness of foreign language combo classes GENE KIM news assistant

adviser ann peck Editorial Policy “The Prospector” is an open forum of expression for student editors to inform and educate their readers. It will not be reviewed by or restrained by school officials prior to publication or distribution. Advisors may and should coach and discuss content during the writing process.

The staff of “The Prospector” seeks to recognize individuals, events and ideas and bring news to the Cupertino community in an accurate, professional and unbiased manner. “The Prospector” will not avoid publishing a story solely on the basis of possible dissent or controversy.

If you believe an error has been made or wish to have your opinion expressed in “The Prospector,” please contact us via mail or email. Letters sent become the sole property of “The Prospector” and can be edited for length, clarity or accuracy.

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September 21, 2016

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FRENCH COMBO CLASSES | French students Ashish Rao (left) and Siddharth Baxi (right) listen to the instruction of French teacher Melissa Rochoux

Due to a decline in enrollment, the World Language Department has combined different leveled language students into one class. The creation of a Japanese 3/4H class and two French 4H/5AP classes is intended to address the learning needs of both levels of students in one classroom, but may prove to be more of a complication than a benefit for those involved. However, if these difficulties are resolved, there is much potential in these language combo classes.

In any class, it is a given that the level of students’ understanding will differ depending on the individual. The difference creates an opportunity for a

more experienced student to help a less experienced student. Through this interaction, both individuals are able to learn the content more thoroughly, as one receives extra support from a peer, and the other becomes more comfortable explaining the material. The same benefit can apply when students with a year’s difference in learning are placed into one class. Students are given more opportunities to practice language confidently, knowing that their mistakes can be corrected by so many peers.

“Because the class is combined, I can learn from my peers to tackle difficult tasks. In speaking, I often make mistakes, but [the upper-level students] are happy to correct me and teach me what is right and what is wrong,” junior Taha Alam, a Japanese 3 student in the Japanese 3/4H class, said.

Despite this benefit, combo classes present a complication for teachers.

Because the gap between students’ knowledge is so large, the teacher must find new concepts appropriate for both levels of learners in the same class.

Students of both levels need to be challenged, supported, and engaged.

Additionally, the lower-level students must learn material that they will not repeat in their next year of language.

“That right balance for making sure that the 4 Honors students don’t do something that they will repeat the next year, while still preparing the 5AP students for the AP exam is a complication with combo classes,” Melissa Rochoux, the French 4H/5AP teacher, said.

Complications like these increase the teacher’s workload extensively.

“Even though I only have one class, I feel as though I am prepping for two separate classes,” Ruiko Nagai, the Japanese 3/4H teacher, said.

As the teachers put in more effort to find the right balance for students, the pace of the class is affected. Students of the lower level may feel more stressed if

Language Combo Classes, continued on page 3

The Prospector

September 21, 2016

LGBTQ+ Legislation

3

AB 1726

continued from page 1

in Oakland, campaigning to state assembly members about LGBTQ issues.

In May, Chiu worked with five state assemblymen, including Evan Low, Eduardo Garcia, Devon Mathis, Autumn Burke and Miguel Santiago, to pass SB 48, the Suicide Prevention Act, and other bills pertaining to the LGBTQ community. As a result of their efforts, SB 48 and the Suicide Prevention Act passed the California State Legislature. In July, Chiu traveled once more to the state capitol in Sacramento to speak to state legislators about implementing standards for LGBTQIAPD history education.

Said Chiu, “I could offer a student’s perspective on the matter, and I got to present a speech to the California State Board of Education talking about how it affected me and peers. It was a lot of hard work, we had spent months and months preparing for this. A lot of what we did was narrowing down the specifics on what

News

each grade would learn.”

By passing the Fair Education Act, students as young as second grade will learn about LGBTQ history. The bill has sparked controversy, mainly due to the perception that the bill is another sex education bill. Others argue that it merely informs students about monumental LGBTQ figures and historical events. Advocates for the bill argue that in order to accurately influence students to think of the LGBTQ community differently, it is important for students to gain exposure to LGBTQ community members and historical events.

Said Chiu, “In order to accurately influence students to think of LGBTQ differently, it boils down to their upbringing, what morals were they raised with, [and whether] they introduced to LGBT friends, teachers and role models ... By learning about LGBT people they will be more comfortable being themselves.”

continued from page 1 ney in the Bay Area, in an interview with KPCC, “We really think this bill is part of a bigger plan to bring back affirmative action, which has been banned [in California] by Proposition 209 back in 1996.”

Said Kelleen Loo, an English teacher, “[If] we are building targeted policies for specific ethnic groups because they do have specific needs, then I think that would be the appropriate thing to do.” However, opposers believe this tactic is being used only to hurt the current “overrepresented” Asian groups, such as Chinese and Indians.

Additionally, many believe this bill confuses ethnicity with national origin. For example, the People’s Republic of China categorizes its citizens as one or more of the 50 Asian ethnic groups it officially recognizes, so classifying an Asian American as “Chinese” would not necessarily reveal an individual’s true cultural or ethnic background.

Initially, Governor Jerry Brown vetoed AB 1726 due to a great controversy within the bill’s

policy: AB 1726 had required the release of disaggregated health and educational data. Levels of educational attainment among Asian Americans vary significantly, and the bill required more data for accurate representation. Educational institutions such as the University of California system would have required Asian applicants to indicate their subgroup on applications. This created a huge controversy within Californian Asian subgroups, and thus the bill has been limited to only health data. The new bill is now waiting on the governor’s desk to be signed after being passed in the Senate and State Assembly.

Said Oliver Yeh, a Taiwanese-American government and economics teacher, “I think [the bill] gets really politicized; it feels like you have to choose if you are for or against it and [both sides] call each other racists ... How do you go beyond being completely for or against [something] and how do you see the nuance in finding smart policy?”

600’s wing development to begin in the fall HENRY ZHANG lifestyles assistant

This fall, the 600’s wing of Cupertino High School will undergo construction to accommodate the needs of the growing school. This is the first phase in a larger development plan described in the project’s mitigated negative declaration published by the Fremont Union High School District in July 2016. The existing 600’s building will be demolished, to be replaced by a larger, two-story complex. Scheduled to complete by Dec. 2017, the structure will provide additional classrooms and other facilities. During construction, the classes in the 600’s wing will be temporarily relocated, and the surrounding area will be fenced off.

The development of the new building is mainly aimed to solve CHS’s overpopulation. According to FUHSD’s mitigated negative declaration, CHS is approximately 20 students over its maximum capacity of 2210 students, and the school population is predicted to increase by another 268 before the 2020-2021 school year. FUHSD states that the new building will help accommodate the student growth; the document details that it will yield 30 new classrooms and a net area gain of 16,000 square feet.

Ruiko Nagai, a japanese teacher in the 600’s wing, sees expansion as a necessary step to take.

“All the [classrooms] are occupied right now … [having] more campus space is healthier than putting more students in classes,” Nagai said.

The old 600’s wing is part of the original CHS campus constructed in 1958. Consequently, FUHSD believes that the facilities in the 600’s wing are outdated compared to those offered by the remainder of the school. The new building will cater to the modern needs of the school, providing facilities — including six sciences classrooms and a robotics lab — that will be better equipped to support both CHS’s curricular and extracurricular programs.

Adjustments must be made before construction. In her summer letter, principal Kami Tomberlain announced that all classrooms in the 600’s wing would be relocated to portables beforehand. Still, because of a net loss in rooms, there will be circumstances where two teachers share one classroom.

When asked about his thoughts on the scheduled development, junior Prachin Anne voiced his concern.

Language Combo Classes continued from page 2

the course progresses too quickly. However, if the course is paced too slowly, the higher level students will feel held back.

Neither of these situations is beneficial but can be difficult to avoid.

Said junior Grace Deng, a 5AP student in the French 4H/5AP class, “For the people who want to go faster, the class tends to be a little bit slow.”

These detriments make language combo classes into less than ideal learning environments for students. However, combo classes provide a solution to the lack of enrollment, which is better than simply denying students an appropriate level.

Said Yukari Salazar, former Japanese teacher and current Assistant Principal, “Language combo classes are not ideal, but we have to play with the cards that we are dealt with. And if we play those cards right, with a little extra work, effort, and patience, we can work around the complications of a combo-class and make it a great experience.”

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“There will be a lot more school-wide traffic and people have to be more careful going around campus,” Anne said.

However, Anne believes that the finished product will be worth the trouble. Said Anne, “The building definitely will help fix the school’s overpopulation issue, and who knows, the [upgraded facilities] might even leave room for new or updated classes.”

Scott Stevens, a math teacher in the 600’s wing, sees the development in the same light.

“Even though things will be tough for the teachers here who have to move classrooms, the main focuses are getting students prepared and improving the learning environment,” Stevens said.

Looking past the prospect of facing disruption during the development process, students and teachers alike hope that the building will play an important role in CHS’s future.

MATTHEW WEBB

600’S WING DEVELOPMENT | A view facing the north of the wing that is planned to be demolished in fall and completed in Dec. 2017

4

Opinions

September 21, 2016

DIVERSITY IS A LIBERAL BUZZWORD - but it shouldn’t be.

MEILINDA SUN editor-in-chief

Black Americans were predominantly Republican after Abraham Lincoln led the passage of the Emancipation Proclamation in 1863. Just 20 years ago, 74 percent of Asian-Americans were Republicans and in 2004, 70 percent of Muslim-Americans voted for George W. Bush. In contrast, today, 11 percent of African-Americans, 23 percent of Asian-Americans and 6 percent of MuslimAmericans are Republican — in such a short amount of time, the Republican party has begun to suffer from a diversity crisis.

In simply scanning the crowds at the Democratic and Republican National Conventions, the Republican party’s visibly whiter and more male crowds stood in stark contrast to the Democratic Party, which featured the Women’s Caucus and even the Asian Pacific American Caucus — a group historically and continually excluded from national politics and mainstream media. At first glance, the commitment to diversity seems to be exclusively characteristic of today’s Democratic Party. In reality, though, is the ideal of an America for all Americans — regardless of race, gender, and sexual orientation — inherently Democratic?

Despite the Democratic Party’s heterogenous voter base, noting the exceptions is critical to understanding the Republican Party’s diversity crisis. Many minority groups, such as Koreans, Vietnamese and Cubans, overwhelmingly favor the GOP. These groups not only generally harbor socially conservative viewpoints, but also are united by a shared history of Communism. Thus, in the 1980s, the natural choice for many immigrants from these countries was Ronald Reagan, who represented the staunchly neoconservative, pro-free market Republican Party. Indeed, in 2004, 65 percent of Korean-Americans, 71 percent of Vietnamese-Americans and 78 percent of Cuban-Americans voted for George W. Bush.

The popularity of the Republican Party among these groups has since faded significantly, but these statistics offer hints to solutions the Republican Party can pursue to secure its survival. Immigration and the ensuing demographic shifts, if harnessed properly, could perhaps be a boon for the GOP. Substantial visa approval rates for high-skilled Asian immigrants have rendered them the fastest-growing minority group in America — by 2040, Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders will constitute 1 in 10 of the country’s population. If the Republicans play their cards right, Asian immigrants from countries like China and South Korea could potentially become an electoral goldmine. Unfortunately, today, if the dismal status quo persists, this will not be the case.

Former Republican presidential candidate and outspoken foreign policy neoconservative Senator Lindsey Graham described the GOP as going down a “demographic death spiral.” Indeed, Al Jazeera projects that whites will become a minority in America in just 30 years. Moreover, Millennials have surpassed Baby Boomers to become the country’s largest generation. Only 56 percent of this diverse, socially liberal group are white, and 35 percent are Republican. As demographics

continue to change, so, too, must the Republican Party.

Republican principles and values — liberty, limited government, and individual responsibility — are arguably neither inherently discriminatory nor intentionally harmful to minorities. Instead, it is the perversion of these fundamental ideals and the use of racist rhetoric to appeal to intolerant voters that translates into discriminatory practices that minorities condemn. In other words, it is not principle — rather practice — that has turned away so many minorities from the GOP. Many minorities, women, and members of the LGBTQ community dislike the GOP because it seems to condone both covert and overt discrimination. However, by opposing practices such as Affirmative Action, the GOP is not rejecting the concept of diversity — it is simply rejecting one of the means of achieving it. However, in the liberal echo-chamber of the Silicon Valley, we mistakenly consider opposition to one legislative initiative as hostility toward the intent as a whole.

A compelling intellectual case could be made for policies such as trickle-down economics, a skills-based immigration system, and tax cuts — policies whose efficacy and morality can certainly be debated, but that nonetheless have nothing to do with race, gender and sexual orientation in and of themselves. The collective opposition to these policies — if such a consolidated opinion exists — cannot, standing alone, explain the GOP’s lack of diversity. Indeed, the racially-charged rhetoric has rendered the GOP’s attempts at “minority outreach” feeble at best (“What the hell do you have to lose?” and “I love Hispanics!”).

If the Republican Party wants to invest in its future, it must attempt to seek the untapped political potential of a burgeoning demographic: Asian-Americans and Pacific Islanders, half of whom identify as Independent. It must, equally, consider the challenges of organizing a demographic which hails from 48 countries and comprises 60 percent of the world population. The GOP will need to make a compelling case to minorities, women and the LGBTQ+ community to win their votes.

Because the Republican party has by and large neglected these groups, the Democratic party has taken advantage of the ensuing “power vacuum” and, accordingly, scooped up the minority vote. However, the optimistic ideal of an America for all Americans is not and ought not be unique to the Democrats. The Republican party must realize that minorities deserve to have both political parties competing for their votes.

WHY trump supporters

deserve our LEO RASSIEUR

opinions assistant

A pervading belief exists among Democrats that Donald Trump supporters are, by definition, racist, sexist and homophobic. This stereotype not only ignores the many legitimate reasons one might have for voting Republican in the upcoming election but also worsens the current political divide in America. Treating Trump supporters as if they are ignorant betrays the Democratic Party’s ideal of tolerance. Although bigotry may drive some voters to Trump, is not by any means the only reason one might have for supporting him. Statistically speaking, Trump supporters vote based on immigration, national security and economic policy — none of which are concerns exclusive to racists or sexists. To be clear, however, this is not a defense of Donald Trump. As a liberal myself, that task may prove to be daunting. But if Democrats take a moment to understand the reasons that people support Trump, they might do a better job of convincing people to vote for Hillary Clinton.

On average, Trump supporters tend to be white and middle class. Unfortunately, it is easy for people — especially liberals — to dismiss the suffering of this demographic. This group is experiencing genuine turmoil, brought on by the loss of well-paying coal and manufacturing jobs.

Trump’s anti-trade rhetoric appeals to a demographic who believe that free trade agreements have exported the jobs that led to their prosperity years ago. Acknowledging these concerns will be key to the Democrats’ success come November. The white working-class is declining: they are the only population group in a developed country experiencing decreasing life expectancy. Newly released federal data shows that life expectancy for Hispanics rose from 81.6 to 81.8 years between 2013 and 2014. However, this value decreased from 78.9 to 78.8 years for whites, due to an increase in alcohol abuse, drug abuse and suicide rates. Alarmingly, both prescription opioid use and overdoses have more than quadrupled among whites in the past two decades, according to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention. This public health crisis has a vast range of causes and effects, both economic and social, but the bottom line is that regions hit hardest by the decrease in life expectancy for white Americans tend to show more support for Donald Trump. For them, a Trump presidency means a commander-in-chief who will focus a great deal of his attention on the plight of white America.

RESPECT

At the same time, people of all backgrounds are interested in seeing a Republican in the White House as a matter of economic policy. Out of Donald Trump’s many promises, a tax cut seems the most likely to come to fruition. After eight years of what some view as crippling tax rates and reckless government spending, a case can be made for Reaganomics: a decrease in taxes leading to the resurgence of a free-market economy. Whether or not one has faith in this economic theory, its effectiveness has been a matter of academic and political debate for decades. In Reagan’s era, a sharp decrease in personal income tax led not only to an increase in employment but also income growth for the poor. This was in the face of economic conditions darker than what Obama confronted in 2008, with unemployment reaching a peak of 10.8% at the beginning of Reagan’s presidency before dropping to 5.4% by the end of his second term thanks to the changes he introduced. Trump, however, wants to accomplish two goals at once: lowering taxes would additionally encourage corporations to stay in the United States, keeping thousands of jobs secure. Contrary to what some may believe, being a Trump supporter and being intelligent are not mutually exclusive.

Even if this is not the case, it certainly does not help to immediately assume that anyone who supports Trump is ignorant. Clinton recently caused an uproar for saying that half of Trump supporters belong in “the basket of deplorables” at a recent campaign fundraiser; mistakes like this add up, and could cost Democrats the election. Given the plethora of genuine concerns that many voters believe Trump addresses better than Clinton, alienating Trump supporters with accusations of bigotry will not convince anyone to vote the other way. It is not as if telling a Trump voter that he or she is racist will put a stop to their opinion: on the contrary, this will only increase their mistrust towards Democrats and liberals. Ultimately, the choice between Clinton and Trump is as valid as the choice between Obama and Romney. Human beings are all incredibly diverse, not least in opinion.

Democrats should give people the common dignity they deserve before dismissing them as bigots, and address their actual reasons for supporting Trump. Otherwise, political schism will continue to tear the nation in two.

September 21, 2016

The Prospector

Opinions

5

A tale of two schools Why the Cupertino and Lynbrook High School boundary change is a necessary choice for their futures EDWARD HSU features assistant

Upon turning in course selection forms for the upcoming year, many students are overtaken with apprehension, speculating that they may not receive all their intended courses. These students are often unable to change their schedules and become frustrated with the rigidity of the course selection process. The source of this problem is attributed to the school’s growing population, as each successive graduating class increases in size every year. Students at Lynbrook High School face a similar problem in course selection — only, for the opposite reason. Lynbrook High School has a student population of fewer than 1,800 students, compared to the 2,295 students attending Cupertino High School. As a result of its shrinking population, Lynbrook High School is burdened with a smaller faculty, limiting the school’s course catalogue.

Last June, administrators of the Fremont Union High School District (FUHSD) formed the Citizens Advisory Committee (CAC). Composed of district administrators, students and teachers representing each FUHSD school, the committee studies the enrollment needs of the district and proposes effective solutions to the Board of Trustees. One of the several proposals, a boundary change aimed to increase the student population at Lynbrook while reducing Cupertino’s, has sparked heated debate. While the CAC has maintained its desire to keep this option on the table, some members of the parent community at Lynbrook High School have held the Board of Trustees back from confidently approving the proposal. Despite the assertions set by this vocal minority, a boundary change does have the potential to resolve the issue of declining enrollment at Lynbrook.

Why, then, are so many people against a potentially favorable solution?

Pride plays a large role in many parents’ outrage about the boundary change proposal. Some Lynbrook High School parents believe that by transferring an area previously within Cupertino High School boundaries to Lynbrook, the academic reputation of Lynbrook High School will be seriously damaged. While Lynbrook High School and Cupertino High School rank 17th and 63rd in the state, respectively, according to U.S. News and World Report, both are still academically notable in the state. Moreover, according to the California Department of Education, 87 percent of Cupertino High School students and 90 percent of Lynbrook High School students met or exceed-

ed the standard for the California Assessment of Student Performance and Progress (CAASPP) test in the spring of 2016. Based on these performance statistics, the academic performance gap between the two schools is evidently overstated by parents fighting the proposal. While there is always the possibility of Lynbrook High School’s academic rankings going down, redrawing its attendance boundaries should have a minimal effect on the academic reputations of both Lynbrook and Cupertino.

Some Lynbrook parents claim to have faced more financial challenges than Cupertino parents to be able to afford a home within the attendance boundaries of Lynbrook High School. They feel that if the boundary change proposal is approved, families living in the affected Cupertino area would be securing a “free ride” to attend the school that many Lynbrook families worked so hard to afford. Indeed, families living in the Bay Area have spent large sums of money to live within the attendance boundaries of an FUHSD school. According to data from Redfin, the median price of single-family homes in the Lynbrook area is $1.71 million dollars, while the price of single family homes in the Cupertino High School area is $1.65 million dollars. Though the price of single family homes in the Lynbrook area exceeds that of Cupertino High School, the $60,000 difference is relatively insignificant in the context of house prices ranging in the millions.

It is understandable that all parents want their children to have access to the highest quality education and oppose measures that threaten to undermine it. However, many parents who fight the boundary change proposal fail to consider its potential benefits and bring up arguments that are often irrelevant to preserving their children’s access to a comprehensive education. While members of the Lynbrook High School community have legitimate concerns regarding the boundary change, they must acknowledge the necessity of a boundary change — for the success of not just the local community, but also the Lynbrook students themselves. If no action is taken to address Lynbrook’s declining population, a decline in the number of opportunities, advanced courses and academic performance is sure to follow. Without a doubt, a permanent boundary change will solve this issue by guaranteeing a steady increase in Lynbrook’s student population to restore the academic standards and breadth of courses that many parents demand. Although the choice to approve the boundary change ultimately rests in the hands of the Board of Trustees, parents of both Cupertino and Lynbrook students should support this proposition.

CLASS COUNCIL ELECTIONS: DECLINING VOTER TURNOUt Council representatives should be able to articulate ideas beyond vague and bluntly incorrect political rhetoric ANSHUL RAJWANSHI news assistant

ASB, or the Associated Student Body, is a well known and controversial organization on the school campus, and every year, ASB runs freshman class elections. The freshman class council sets a precedent for the class leadership in the years ahead. However, there has been a depressing trend that has occurred regarding these elections. School-wide voter turnout is low and class council election voter turnout decreases after sophomore year. The student body and ASB need to recognize this issue if ASB hopes to remain relevant in the lives of students.

The freshman class council election statistically has the highest voter turnout. An expert on class elections attributes this turnout to the initial excitement from participating in the voting process. However, this initial voting rate itself is unimpressive. Around sixty percent of students vote in the freshman elections, which sets up the future races and leadership. It is unacceptable for barely half of the freshman class to decide the fate of the whole class.

The issue lies with the candidates and the interest that they generate during the electoral process. No one expects student council representatives to have a concrete understanding of policy and government, however, they should be able to articulate ideas beyond vague and bluntly incorrect political rhetoric. Freshmen currently lack the high school experience and ideas to create a meaningful election, but that does not mean they cannot engage their constituents. ASB’s approach to the election process reflects this. Freshmen are told to create small fifty-word biographies to explain their ideas. There is no way that a student can explain all of their ideas in fifty words. Also, ASB recently removed the mandatory videos, thus cutting out another venue for information and ideas. However, ASB was correct in doing so. The videos were never used by the candidates in a constructive manner and instead turned the race for the leader of 500 students into an arts and film contest. It is important thus for the candidates to generate political interest and voter mobilization during their own campaigns

and canvassing.

To put it simply, ASB can do nothing if the student body is not willing to take responsibility for a poor campaign. Students running for office need to sit down and think about their reasons for running, beyond college applications, and find the initiative to lead their peers.

Only when the student body feels a sense of duty in creating concrete and well-researched ideas can they hope to attract their peers to the Wagon Wheel for voting.

There is another disturbing trend in the data. From data received from ASB about the class of 2017, 345 sophomores voted compared to 225 juniors, and 211 seniors. A disparity exists where students tend to become inactive in junior and year senior elections. Again, this is credited to a lack of enthusiasm in the democratic process, specifically the sense that the leadership is set in stone. Once again, the student body needs to challenge the status quo. Just because a student is deemed to be a leader their freshman year, it does not mean that they cannot be shaken from power. Incumbents are meant to fall, or else they would be royalty. Create a support base, play politics, and generate concrete ideas. On the flipside, students need to help out the current class council administration as well. There tend to be fewer students interested in helping out the council after elections since there is a sense of anger and possible jealousy. No matter who runs the administration, it is important to remember that loyalty is to the class first and then class politics. Thus is the way of actual government, and thus must be the motto if Cupertino High School’s student government is to become meaningful in some capacity. The student body must meet their representatives and discuss how their specific talents can be put to use. Meanwhile, note down the weaknesses that are seen through the first-hand experience and then run in the spring to fix those changes. Government is not a way to spite people or irritate them, but more so a means to bring people together to accomplish a common goal in the most effective manner. This is the way democracy works.

Council and ASB need the student body’s help to create a strong school government.

The community needs to figure out the purpose for which it wants government to serve.

Features

6

{

Sys.out (“Ready, Set, Hack!”);

SAAGAR SANGHAVI copy editor

For most people, when the timer goes off at a hackathon it signals the end of their projects. However, for CHS senior Ayush Jain, it is an entirely different story.

Recently, Jain teamed up with two other students from Monta Vista and Phillips Exeter Academy to attend AngelHack, a global hackathon packed with many professional coders. Although much younger and inexperienced than their competitors, Jain and his team entered the hackathon unfazed and envisioned some ambitious goals.

Said Jain, “Our idea was to create a product that could make prosthetics much simpler by using a device called the Myo armband to control a robotic arm. Since it was a hackathon we had to finish all that in under 36 hours.”

Generally, at hackathons, participants hope to have a completed project by the end of the competition, but this rarely happens. However, Jain’s team was determined to prevent that from happening.

Said Jain, “Although this was one of the longer hackathons I [have] competed in, the biggest obstacle we faced was completing all the necessary components in the constrained time limit and having an ambitious idea did not make things any easier.”

While many participants feel that participating in hackathons is a daunting task on its own, some go even further to organize hackathons for students across the Bay Area.

Senior Rucha Patki organized CU Hacks last year with Tinovation, a coding club on campus.

“We thought it would be great if more people got into hackathons, so we JENN ZARATAN organized one with the Cupertino Library,” Patki said. “It was a hackathon where anyone could come. It was targeted towards people who did not have as much experience, although experienced people were still welcome to come.”

Patki was inspired to organize a hackathon after her first time attending such an event.

“My best experience [at a hackathon] was probably my first time going because I did not know what to expect. It was cool to see what I could make with the knowledge I had at the time,” Patki said. “Over time, that knowledge grew.”

Although competitive, hackathons promote a friendly environment. Many offer workshops for beginners and almost all host college student mentors.

“By the end, nearly everyone has a product that they can pitch to the judges,” said Patki. “However, more importantly, it is about the experience when you are there‒it is not all about the final product, it is about what you learn along the way.”

As an organizer, the hardest part for Patki was coordinating the workshops.

The organizers collaborated with other clubs and organizations to put together a cohesive program for first-timers.

“Though challenging to organize, it was pretty neat to see what other people were coming up with and teaching to other kids,” said Patki.

Inspired by the work of senior leads, many students are inspired to organize hackathons. Junior Davin Clark hopes to help put together a hackathon this year.

“Hackathons are a really great experience — the people who go there really enjoy programming, and I also really enjoy programming,” Clark said. “I want to be able to give that experience to others.”

It is still a work in progress, but the team is ready to put on a successful event.

“You have to get sponsors, get a location, and it is a lot of organizing,” Clark said. “We spread the word online, and through clubs. We hope it will be a good event.”

Clark and his team hope to host TinoHacks this school year in March.

Meanwhile, Patki aims to continue attending and organizing hackathons this year.

Said Patki, “It is an experience that you will learn something from, no matter what it may be. To any student at CHS, I would say, give it a shot.”

{

Sys.out (“out on top”);

JUSTINE QIU photo assistant

HACKATHON ESSENTIALS AS SUGGESTED BY SEASONED HACKERS

September 21, 2016

{

Sy (“Inspired

UTKARSH TANDON online assistant

After hours of programming, to take a nap, Jain and his team su time to present to the judges. How one and a half days, giving an enth task. Still, they went on to win the

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In a hackathon with as many as a 1,000 promising programmers vying for award winning titles and creating more than 250 projects in total, coming out on top cannot be easy. Junior Sriharsha Guduguntla and senior Issam Bourai both fought through these barriers and created projects they grew to be proud of.

Bourai, whose team placed second at BASEHacks said,“The purpose of our project, RoboVision, was to help the visually impaired. It uses OpenCV, a software that can recognize features in the real world.” The app is intended to act as a possible replacement for guide dogs by being able to communicate to the user while detecting any impediments that might be within their walking area.”

Guduguntla, whose team won fourth place at Make Hacks, took a different approach.

“We made an app called QuikBux, which allows young students to get quick money by doing small work for others,” he said. “The app allows people to post ads for work they need done, and others can reach out to them and earn quick money by helping out.”

When Bourai and his team discovered that they placed second at the programming competition, they were quite surprised.

“We were not really looking to place,” he said. “We thought it would be nice to win, but we really just wanted to make something cool, though it was nice to be recognized for the work. It was quite a rewarding experience.”

JUSTINE Guduguntla echoes similar thoughts. He was shocked to have placed fourth at Make Hacks, as it was one of his first collegiate hackathons.

“It was really awesome to win because there was a lot of college level competition,” he said. “It was really great to be a high school student and

KEEP YOURSELF AWAKE BY GRABBING A FEW ENERGY DRINKS – BUT BEWARE OF THE SUGAR CRASH

A SPARE CHANGE OF CLOTHES (YES, PAJAMAS ARE ACCEPTABLE) CAN GO A LONG WAY

KEE BR

Features

The Prospector

September 21, 2016

ys.out d innovation”);

Autodesk award because of their impressive use of each company’s respective products.

The team’s story continued further even after the event, unlike that of many others who participate in hackathons. As Jain’s team saw immense potential in their product, they continued to improve the algorithm and build new prototypes. Their efforts caught the attention of Thalmic Labs, the creators of the Myo armband, who were thoroughly impressed with Jain’s product. The company therefore decided to continue on the project and incorporate it within their own research to control real prosthetic arms.

Jain credits the success of their product to the hackathon culture. The feeling of programming in an environment full of innovation helped Jain’s team complete a project that would normally take two months in less than two days. Said Jain, “The recognition we received made us feel that this product could seriously benefit society, leading us to stay motivated towards our ambitious goal and truly strive for excellence.”

, drinking energy drinks and fighting the urge uccessfully finished their product. It was finally wever, after little to no sleep in the span of husiastic speech proved to be a daunting e Myo award and snagged runner-up for the

{

JENN ZARATAN

Sys.out (“New but familiar”);

JOSEPHINE ROBINSON online editor

ATHON

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place in such a competitive hackathon.”

While their wins are unique in many ways, Bourai and Guduguntla both agree that their victories taught them that working hard on something they love brought out their maximum potentials.

“Halfway through the hackathon, we hit some roadblocks and asked ourselves if we really wanted to continue,” Bourai said. “We made some cutbacks on our final project and it was not how we had originally envisioned, but the majority [of it] was there.”

Bourai’s team was eventually approached by Clarifai, a tech company who wanted to feature the team’s work in a vlog.

One of the best pieces of advice these hackers have shared regards the importance of interacting with people and learning new things. Though a hackathon is considered a rigorous competition, focusing solely on winning can develop a less enjoyable experience.

“Hackers should interact with other developers that share both similar and different interests with them,” Guduguntla said. “It allows people to expand their community, and maybe in the future, they could [end up] starting a company with these new people they meet.”

Bourai suggests that working on a project you would be proud of encourages the most fruitful experience in a hackathon. “Do it because you like to do it,” he said. “Discover what you are passionate about and pursue exactly that.”

EP YOURSELF COMFORTABLE, RING YOUR PILLOW, BLANKET, OR SLEEPING BAG

PUT YOURSELF INTO THE ZONE, BRING HEADPHONES TO ZEN OUT WHILE CODING

An all-night coding competition with students from all over the Bay Area is more than enough to intimidate many from going; however, it did not deter junior Joycelin Liaw from attending.

A l though she was a newcomer, hackathons were not her first encounter with coding. “As someone who took computer science, a lot of people, who have been to events like that, told me hackathon was a good experience to have,” Liaw said.

Liaw attended her first hackathon, BASEHacks on June 11 and 12, with the encouragement of a few JENN ZARATAN friends, who made the event less overwhelming.

Said Liaw, “I did not feel strange because a lot of people who attended were also first timers too, so being with people who were also not as experienced helped me fit in better.”

Although high schoolers organized BASEHacks, Liaw found it well run and had no complaints.

Said Liaw, “I was very surprised because it was organized by high schoolers and was very well planned out.”

A plethora of activities, such as workshops, kept Liaw and other newcomers interested. “For example, the CFO of WikiHow was there, in addition to many other people from big businesses. They were there to sell products and also help us learn a lot about computer science. They had presentations planned out and after they answered questions,” Liaw said.

Not only do hackathons provide tools for students to learn and develop their interest in computer science, but they also host coding competitions for students who code their own applications and create their own robots.

Said Liaw, “My friends and I actually made an app but decided not to submit it because we did not want to present it. We would rather soak up other people’s ideas.”

Some of the apps that students submitted to the competition were chat bots, drones, and others were based on hardware provided by the hosts of BASEHacks.

“One that particularly stood out was a group that, having brought their own ingredients, implemented a drone to create a sandwich-making robot,” Liaw said.

Though many people may be under the impression that hackathons have predominantly male attendees, this was not the case for BASEHacks. “[There] was not a big difference, the male to female participants were pretty equal,” Liaw said.

For Liaw, her first hackathon proved to be a memorable experience and she would consider going again.

BRING A LAPTOP AND CHARGER

MOST IMPORTANTLY, BRING AN OPEN MIND, AN IDEA, AND BE READY TO BE INSPIRED

Lifestyles

8

September 21, 2016

vv

HAIR CARE

audiobooks vs.

for everyday needs

MATT WEBB

photo assistant

AMY ZENG

paperbacks LILY ROSEN MARVIN online editor

Audiobooks versus regular books: the debate bookworms such as myself have been contemplating for ages. For most of my life, I have grown up believing that a good oldfashioned paperback book far surpasses the audiobook. However, the start of high school forced me to reevaluate the situation. I was suddenly overwhelmed with homework, tests, and an overpowering desire to watch Netflix. With my limited time, I was forced to recognize the advantages of audiobooks.

There are undeniable benefits to listening to audiobooks. First and foremost, they are massive time savers. Instead of having to carry a physical copy of a book, all you have to do is pop in your earphones and go about your day. This can be great when you have an ever-expanding to-do list with no time to sit down and enjoy a book. Another advantage to audiobooks is that they allow you to multitask. For example, I can listen to a story while I am cleaning my room, eating a snack or driving in the car (much to my mother’s annoyance).

Finally, audiobooks can make it easier to get through some of your less-than-enjoyable reading assignments. Personally, I would have never finished All Quiet on the Western Front if it were not for the audiobook. However, this is not to say that audiobooks are flawless. Most people who listen to audiobooks know that a narrator can ruin a story. One unpleasant accent or highpitched whine can ruin an entire audiobook before you even finish the first chapter. Outside distractions can also make it difficult to concentrate on the plot of the story. It completely disrupts a story’s flow when you have to pause every few minutes to answer when someone is talking to you.

I have always found an undeniable pleasure that comes from reading physical books.

I have always found it relaxing in a way that reading audiobooks are not. Being able to read at my normal pace, which is much faster than a narrator’s, always draws me into a story. I find that when I read a book, it is easier for me to remember the events and characters than when I listen to a story, which is helpful when reading school books. As a book lover, I want to say that paperbacks are perfect. Sadly, there are a few faults that cannot be overlooked. To begin with, they are more work. I find it very difficult to motivate myself to take the time to read a physical book. When I am overwhelmed with school work and sports, reading for pleasure is not a priority. Finally, books do not allow me to multitask. It is hard to concentrate on a story when I know that I have a million things to do when I finish reading.

All types of books have their pros and cons. You simply have to pick the medium that works best for them and the amount of time they have. While I will always prefer physical books, I have to admit that audiobooks have earned a special place in my heart.

Banding Together

copy editor

Whether you are someone who spends hours perfecting an award-winning hairstyle or someone who leaves the house without even bothering to use a comb, it is important to have healthy hair. The ingredients in these simple hair masks are everyday items that can be found around the house, making them a practical and efficient way to heal both self-inflicted damage, such as changing your hair color, frequent washing, harsh products and heat, as well as naturally-occurring problems like slow hair growth and dandruff.

20

+ 1/4 cup coconut oil

MIN 1 BANANA

15

+

MIN 1 TSP OLIVE OIL

1 avocado

15

+ 1 TBSP HONEY

MIN 1 CUP WHOLE MILK

JENN ZARATAN photo editor

A week before the school year began, senior Alejandra Serrano waited anxiously for contact from two of the top music libraries in the world. In only a few days, she would hear that her band of Cupertino High School students had achieved a major feat: both iTunes and Spotify had adopted their original song.

The band, Radianze, includes Serrano as the lead singer, seniors Priya Govind and Akshay Bhide on piano and drums respectively, and Cupertino alumni Daniel Warburton on guitar. While some of the artists had worked together before, this particular group of students assembled for the first time to record their song, “Heavy Notions.”

Before any of them imagined the song would be officially released, it started out as just another project for leisure. Serrano first wrote the lyrics before handing them to Govind, who created the musical arrangement. She then sought out Bhide and Warburton to accompany them.

“The lyrics just come from feelings that people can relate to. In my life, I have obviously felt the lyrics, and they come straight from self-expression,” Serrano said. “ [ H e a v y Notions] is about being close to someone — it could be a friend, or a love interest — and how people change and not everyone lasts forever in CATHERINE SEOK

your life.”

Serrano and Govind have collaborated multiple times before, creating song covers and posting them on YouTube. Initially, Serrano’s goal was just to finish and record an original song, complete with multiple instruments. After recording “Heavy Notions” in a professional studio, she posted the song on her YouTube channel, as she did with all her other pieces. However, after garnering hundreds of views with the support of her friends, Serrano thought to post it elsewhere. Using a website called TuneCore, a distributor for artists without record labels, she sent her song to iTunes

‘Heavy Notions’ is about being close to someone — it could be a friend, it could be a love interest — and how people change and how not everyone lasts forever in your life.

- Alejandra Serrano

and Spotify. A few days later, she received emails from both companies, saying that the song had been approved and was now available online.

Said Govind, “I did not know about it. [When I first saw it on Spotify], I thought someone had illegally taken our song and released it ... I was ecstatic. [Alejandra] mentioned it, but I did not expect it to happen. [Publishing my music] was just something new and something I have never been apart of before.”

In the future, Serrano says she and Govind will continue to write new songs, which she will definitely consider sending to iTunes and Spotify, too.

“Singing means a lot to me. It is just one of those things where you cannot really describe the emotions it gives you,” Serrano said. “It is a distraction from the real world, and I think music is wonderful because of that it gives [me] something that a lot of other [activities] cannot.”

Lifestyles

The Prospector

September 21, 2016

tips for a 1. PLANTS droughtfriendly garden

Keeping a drought-friendly yard does not mean you have to give up on having a beautiful garden. In fact, many heat and drought-tolerant plants are easy to care for and can make your garden look more attractive.

Succulent plants, like cacti, are long-lasting and lowmaintenance. Herbs are also a useful addition; lavender, thyme, oregano, rosemary and sage do not require as much water as other plants do, and even come in handy in the kitchen.

ALLISON LO lifestyles editor

For the past five years, California has been in a severe drought. While there is nothing we can do about the weather, we can still find ways to use water more efficiently. Here are a few tips to managing a garden productively.

2. STONES Stone walkways can make your garden look more balanced and inviting. Gravel pathways, which are porous, help the ground absorb water quickly. Large pavers also work well in place of concrete, as concrete tends to increase water loss through runoff and evaporation.

4. COMPOST A great way to keep your garden healthy is through composting. Put biodegradable wastes like coffee grounds and eggshells to good use and fertilize your plants naturally. Like groundcovers, compost retains moisture and prevents excess water from running off.

5. WATER Nico Chilla

@lifestylesassistant Throughout July and August, African-American actress Leslie Jones endured intense harassment in the form of threats and humiliation. The culprit behind these injustices was a gang of thousands of racist and sexist Twitter users hidden behind computer screens. “Internet Mobs,” such as the one plaguing Jones, have become common on the Internet; they are a problem that is unstoppable by today’s social media.

This ultra-intensified version of cyberbullying arises from people taking advantage of anonymity — the ability to remain completely unidentifiable on the web. It is a feature that users consider the ultimate gift of free speech.

This ability is the reason why the web is so unpredictable, making social interactions on the Internet fundamentally different from interactions in real life. The downside of anonymity, of course, is that it breeds a culture of anarchy and spontaneous hatred. Anonymous users act in a way that is contrary to how they would act in real life because

3. COVERS Groundcovers are any plants or materials that cover and protect bare soil. These include tanbark and mulch, which can help your garden use water more efficiently. Replacing lawns with groundcovers can improve drainage and allow water to reach the roots of plants more easily.

Groundcovers hold moisture well, keep weeds at bay, and are relatively easy to care for.

All these methods help save water, but the best way to reduce water use is to change the time of day when you water your plants. Watering your garden at night rather than during the day gives the soil time to absorb moisture without drying out in the sun.

there are no ties between their profiles and themselves.

The largest problem with these “Twitterstorms” is that they drown out respectful, productive discussion. In the past, social media has provided a public forum to gather ideas and enact change. Unfortunately, in recent times, the menace of online abuse has discouraged this opportunity.

For example, YouTuber Shane Dawson deserved to be called out after unintentionally insulting Beyoncé’s daughter in a video; he did not, however, deserve to have his home address and phone number leaked to social media.

Following events like these, Twitter has been working to improve its environment.

“We hope — and we recognize it is a high hope — to elevate civil discourse,” Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey said at an investor meeting. Their efforts can be seen in the example of Milo Yiannopoulos, a conservative journalist who Twitter banned in response to his attacks on Leslie Jones.

The ban button may be working for Twitter in the short-term, but it is not an answer to the problem overall.

One issue is that people can create endless streams of new accounts to replace banned ones. More importantly, banning raises the question of where to draw the line

9

between opinion and verbal abuse. Supporters argue that banning Yiannopoulos was censorship on the conservative side, especially since Jones herself has tweeted racist humor in the past. There have also been instances where people have been arrested on account of controversial social media posts, demonstrating a need for clear boundaries set by both government and companies. For example, Anthony Elonis was indicted on the basis of having threatened his wife and others on Twitter. The “threats” were in the form of rap lyrics, which eventually led to a Supreme Court case where it was determined that the tweets could not be considered threats.

Today’s social media is incapable of adapting to these new issues because they require the companies to become the judges of where the free speech boundary lies. Excessive banning results in accusations of censorship, while the opposite creates a foul environment for Internet users.

Companies like Twitter are effectively cornered and unable to fix the situation. In any case, our culture needs to call attention to the fact that there is a connection between a profile and the person behind it. Instances of mass abuse are only becoming more common; people must acknowledge that every raindrop is responsible for the flood.

INTERNET MOBS

Sports 10 ATHLETE SPOTLIGHT:

September 21, 2016

Cheyanne Johnson

MICHELLE MA online assistant

Every other weekend, while most students are still in bed, senior Cheyanne Johnson wakes up near sunrise, grabs her hunting gear, and prepares for an unforgettable adventure. For Johnson, hunting is a lifestyle.

Said Johnson, “You go out in your little buggy, drive around, and have a good time.”

Johnson started hunting at the age of twelve. “My dad grew up hunting and fishing, so he took my brother out a lot, and eventually I wanted to hunt. I went out with my dad on a couple of hunts and eventually got my license. It has been my passion ever since,” Johnson said.

Johnson has hunted in various locations, including Hawaii, Arizona, and Nevada. She primarily hunts turkey, doves, deer, pigs, elk, and geese using a bow or rifle.

On a typical hunt, Johnson will utilize a stalk-and-spot method to catch her prey. This method involves driving around in a buggy and performing a “stop and glass”, where she looks around with her binoculars and finds a target. Said Johnson, “If we see something, we drive as close as we can. I am big on doing one shot, one kill.”

Johnson is well aware of the ethical concerns of hunting. Said Johnson, “Some people look at hunting as torture, but I view it as a source of food. Hunting highlights conservation. ” Johnson expressed interest in becoming a veterinary technician in the future, and although others may see it as a bizarre choice in career considering her interest in hunting, she emphasizes that hunting for food and taking care of animals are not mutually exclusive. Said Johnson, “There is a difference between getting meat from the store and the way their animals are raised and treated and the way that I eat what I hunt. Sometimes ranch owners ask me to harvest pigs for them when they are injured.”

Everything that Johnson hunts is either consumed by her family or donated to Patriot Guard Riders. On Thanksgiving and Christmas, Johnson and her family cook the meat they have

COURTESY OF CHEYANNE JOHNSON

not eaten and donate it to homeless shelters.

To give back to the community, Johnson co-founded the nonprofit Veterans Sportsman Alliance (VSA), which takes wounded and disabled veterans out hunting, fishing, race car driving.

“Whatever they think they cannot do, we make sure that they can do it,” said Johnson, “I want to show people the good in hunting, and inspire the next generation to get out there and try it.”

SPOTLIGHT ON: COLORGUARD

ETHAN QI

ERIN SONG sports editor

Performing at center stage of the CHS football field, 38 athletes spin six foot tall poles with effortless finesse, twirling colorful flags in intricate patterns. While the marching band plays music to cheer on school athletes, the color guard team provides visual accompaniment through the synchronized movement of flags, sabers, and rifles. With a team size that has now doubled since the past year, color guard has definitely attained a wider presence in the CHS community.

Although commonly associated with the traditional large flags spun around by the team members, color guard routines consist of three main pieces of equipment.

Said senior Samantha Zhang, “As our team expands, we are beginning to use a more diverse range of equipment to make our routines more unique. Currently, we are implementing the use of flags, sabers, and rifles.”

The flag, which is the most commonly used, often uses a variety of different colored silks, the pieces of cloth attached to the flagpole, in accordance to the different routines. The saber, a sword-shaped object with a hilt at the end, is often used in routines that require faster movement, while the rifle, a heavier object, is often spun on a strap. Various other props have been used

for events such as the CHS field show, including briefcases, airplane propellers, and astronaut helmets.

“We vary our props to enhance the mood of our shows. For example, we used astronaut helmets in our field show last year because it was space themed. It really adds to the visual experience,” Zhang said.

Although practice usually takes place during the 7th period band class, the color guard team practices separately from the band, often spending the period on the fields. Practices also extend to those outside of class in order to prepare effectively for football game performances and competitions.

Said Zhang, “Practices usually take place every other day, ranging from two to four hours.

We also participate in the annual summer band camp to teach newcomers how to handle the equipment beforehand.”

The thought of throwing seven pound poles in the air may seem a daunting task, but the encouraging atmosphere of the team allows newcomers to gradually improve their color guard skills. Said freshman Sue Chiang, “I was a bit scared at band camp at first because I did not have any prior color guard experience and it looked scary, but after catching my flag for the first time, I felt really proud of myself, and I think that feeling is one of the main reasons I joined guard.”

THIS MONTH’S SCOREBOARD GIRLS VARSITY TENNIS: 5-0-0

GIRLS VARSITY VOLLEYBALL: 6-0-4

BOYS VARSITY WATER POLO 1-0-2

GIRLS VARSITY FIELD HOCKEY: 4-0-1

GIRLS VARSITY GOLF: 1-0-0

BOYS VARSITY CROSS COUNTRY: 2ND AT STEVENSON RELAY

VARSITY FOOTBALL: 2-0-1

GIRLS VARSITY WATER POLO: 0-0-3

GIRLS VARSITY CROSS COUNTRY: 4TH AT STEVENSON RELAY COURTESY OF CHS ATHLETIC TEAMS

*Correction: September 24, 2016 The print edition of this scoreboard had displayed Cross Country’s scores as Track’s, and formatted some scores as win-loss-tie instead of win-tie-loss. The scores are entered as of Sept. 16.

Sports

The Prospector

September 21, 2016

TINO SPORTS TEAMS’ TRADITIONS

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NEERALI SHAH sports assistant

Sports teams are tight-knit families that build new amazing memories every season. Although it is difficult to describe the full experience without being on the team, one can learn about the traditions that give each team a unique identity.

VOLLEYBALL

WATER POLO

As a preseason bonding event, the JV girls volleyball team makes tie dye shirts in which they train and wear during pre-game warm-ups. The girls also bond through attending Stanford volleyball games and holding their own secret sisters tradition. Explained by sophomore Kaitlin Linne a common fault the girls have during games is over passing, so they huddle up mid game and remind each other, “When you overpass a ball an angel loses its wings.”

Sophomore JV girls water polo athlete Audrey Shiomoto defines their pregame home games with their secret sisters tradition, mandatory team meetings, and pool warm-ups.

The girls chant a variety of mantras to add energy to their games, often cheering “TINO ON THREE, ONE TWO THREE, TINO GIRLS!” Another team bonding the girls enjoy is “food day.” Said Shiomoto, “On food day, our coach brings pizza and drinks out to the pool deck, and we eat as we watch the boys water polo team suffer in the pool.”

CROSS COUNTRY

FIELD HOCKEY

Everyone aspires to run like the school’s speedy cross country athletes. The team members encourage each other and push one another through the difficulties of their grueling sport. Before every race, runners gather into a huddle. Sophomore Owen Tanaka always takes this opportunity to encourage his varsity teammates.

Said Tanaka, “I try to pep them up as much as I can so we do well.”

Runners also gather around and scream “TINO ON THREE, ONE TWO THREE, TINO!” and queue their notorious ritual of ripping off their track pants at once.

Do not let the skirts fool you- the girls field hockey team consists of some of the most dedicated and fiercest athletes. The team holds unique traditions, as explained by varsity player, junior Saloni Dangori. On game days, the girls don handmade bows decorated with their respective jersey numbers.

Said Dangori, “If we don’t wear our bows, we feel like we are out of our element.”

Field hockey girls also look forward to the secret sister tradition every season. Teammates give each other presents at every home game and reveal their identities at senior night.

ATHLETES DOUBLE UP: CATHERINE SEOK

CHEER

Two Sports, One season JENN ZARATAN

Underneath the flawless routines of the school cheer team lie hours of hard work and intense practices.

The girls often review cheers in the locker room.

Said sophomore JV cheerleader Nicole DeLafuente.

“These moments unite the team.” The cheerleaders wear their uniforms on the first day of school and every game day, holding team dinners before and sometimes after the game. Before they go into their formations, the team gets into a huddle and screams, “Ooh aah, you wish you were a pioneer, ooh aah you wish you were a pioneer, TINO ONE TWO!”

CAROLINE GEE copy editor

CATHERINE SEOK

ORIANNA JALAL

ANNA RAJARATNAM

angela hawthorne

Injuries are less of primary concern for Rajaratnam as she competes in two water sports. However, freshman club swimmer and cross country runner Orianna Jalal always monitors herself for any ailments.

“Especially for cross country, I always let my coach know if something hurts, and he is understanding and flexible,” Jalal said. “I think it involves a lot of communication with the coach about how you feel.”

Similar to Rajaratnam, Jalal believes that the additional effort is worth the results.

“It is a great cross-training, and it helps you become healthier and more fit, which is the ultimate goal,” Jalal said. “It is important whether you have that drive or that passion for both sports. If it is important, then it will lead you to something.”

From 5 to 7 A.M., senior Anna Rajaratnam can almost always be found swimming at the Santa Clara Swim Club. She exerts herself even further, eight hours later, during her two-hour long high school water polo practices. A standout in both club swimming and water polo, Rajaratnam is one of the few student-athletes at Cupertino High School who juggles two sports at once.

Said Rajaratnam, “It is definitely tiring. You wake up every morning sore.”

Originally a water polo player, Rajaratnam took up club swimming to improve her speed and stamina.

“Swimming gives me an edge in water polo,” Rajaratnam said. This edge is significant towards shaping Rajaratnam’s long-term goal of playing college water polo.

The extra hours spent swimming, however, must be accounted for in managing schoolwork. Said Rajaratnam, “I take lunches off, go to the library, and read up on AP Biology because I do not have enough time to read at home.”

Transitioning between practices can pose both a physical and mental challenge.

Sophomore Angela Hawthorne rushes from high school field hockey practices to four-hour long ice hockey practices every Friday.

Said Hawthorne, who plays goalie in both sports, “Sometimes I have to get used to the sport at the beginning of each practice, making sure I do not do certain things in ice hockey that I do in field hockey.”

These lengthy training sessions, coupled with the additional fatigue, may seem daunting to most athletes.

However, the discipline required to perform in two sports simultaneously strengthens these athletes’ minds and bodies in profound ways.

Flip Side

September 21, 2016

12

SEPTEMBER IN PHOTOS CATHERINE SEOK

CATHERINE SEOK

JUSTINE QIU

JENN ZARATAN

CATHERINE SEOK

BACK TO SCHOOL RALLY | The cheer team shows their spirit and excites the crowd at CHS’s first rally

CLUB’S FAIRE | National Chinese Honor Society advertises their club and recruits new members

FUHSD COLLEGE FAIR | A representative from FIDM recruits applicants for next year

BACK TO SCHOOL NIGHT | Spanish teacher Joy Keifer informs parents about plans for the upcoming school year

BACK TO SCHOOL BASH | Junior Meesha Reiisieh plays Twister at the first dance of the year CATHERINE SEOK

U SA

Most American schools, use à la carte lines and vending machines, giving students variety and freedom of food choices. Many American students receive 20 minutes to eat, and elementary students buy their meals for around $2.18.

JA PA N

In Japan, lunch at school is called Kyuushyoku.

Staff brings lunch into classrooms and students serve their classmates as a responsibility. Their meals contain rice, soup, vegetables, milk, and either fish or meat. Schools offer a mix of traditional Japanese and Western food.

FRANCE

French students receive a freshly cooked three-course meal, costing on average three US dollars. Typical lunches include bread, salad, vegetable, cheese, and meat or fish, with desserts with fruit and yogurt. Students are required to take at least 30 minutes during lunch time to sit at the table, as eating is considered a time to socialize in France.

What’s in a Name?

AISHWARYA LADDHA

KOREA

features editor

In Korea, the teachers and students all eat together, eating the same meal. Korean school lunches have soup and rice, served with side dishes like kimchi. As it is common for students to be attending classes all day, some schools may even serve dinner if they offer night classes.

FINLAND

Finish school lunches have half a plate of vegetables, ¼ of starch or grain, and ¼ with meat, fish or beans. Along with their plate, they receive skim milk and fruit. Students receive their meals for free, and the schools ban bringing lunches from home. Some schools go as far to post school lunch menus in the newspaper and online.

From elementary to high school, everyone has experience with school lunches. But each country’s lunch style varies, fitting the various needs and cuisines of countries around the world.

S CHOOL LUNCHES

AROUND THE WORLD

COMPILED BY ELENA CHANG

Next Month: October Tournament of the Bands

Ultimate Frisbee Week

PSAT

Blood Drive

Teacher Work Day

Clubs Day

Saturday, Oct. 8

Saturday, Oct. 15

Monday, Oct. 17

*Correction: September 24, 2016 The print edition of this calendar indicated the the PSAT would occur on Friday. It will take place on Saturday.

Tuesday, Oct. 18- Friday, Oct. 22

Monday, Oct. 24 Thursday, Oct. 27

JENN ZARATAN

Here is a secret — if someone asked me how to pronounce my name “accurately,” I honestly would not be able to tell them.

I remember back in elementary school, to be called a nickname in public, one that was normally only used by my family or close friends, felt like the most embarrassing thing anyone could call me.

Embarrassment and choice are two different reasons entirely; my choice to go by my full name is no longer a surface level preference but a decision that resonates deeper.

I choose to go by my full name not because I am embarrassed, but rather because as a first generation IndianAmerican living in Western fluidity, my name ties me back to my roots. When translated, my name means “wealth” or “prosperity,” but abridged, it loses meaning, becoming nothing but empty syllables.

They say eyes hold the window to the soul, but for me, my name is my window. From my perspective, to take pride in my full name is to be proud of my culture, of my heritage, and of my story.

Like June (Jin-Mei) in The Joy Luck Club by Amy Tan or Pamela (Premila) in “By Any other Name” by Santha Rama Rau, accepting my name, even with its inevitable pronunciation mishaps, has become a point of pride. And despite the exasperation I sometimes feel upon hearing people’s first responses to hearing my name, each of these experiences has only fortified my choice to keep my given name.

I am not advocating against nicknames or “Westernizing” names. Given the situation, be it ordering PMT or shorthand while texting, sometimes it is for the sake of convenience that I and others may opt to use a nickname.

On the first day of my summer internship, when my colleagues and I were introducing ourselves, I made a conscious decision to go by a nickname. It was weird at first, and I did not always respond to it, but the experience did end up reinforcing why I go by my full name. Sure, it was convenient for everyone involved, but it felt like I was rejecting my cultural identity and trying to adopt an unfamiliar face by devaluing my name.

Frankly, I want my achievements, my story to be tied to my identity, in this case, my actual name, rather than a bland, generic nickname. So when I introduce myself, it will always be by my given name, Aishwarya.