Issue 4 - The Prospector - 2015 by The Prospector

F RI DAY J A N UA RY 30, 2015

Why nuclear energy is the future

A closer look: staff and admin

OPINIONS page 5

VOLUME 56 NO. 4

FEATURES pages 6 & 7

School Spirit

Missed the game? Check out the score!

FLIP SIDE page 12

Sports page 11

The Prospector

CHSPROSPECTOR.COM

Student Newspaper of Cupertino High School

10100 FINCH AVENUE, CUPERTINO, CA 95014

The Piggy Bank Problem Decrease in ASB card sales causes financial concern; potential cuts ahead JASON MUNOZ photo crew

During the year students see advertisements for events and hear daily announcements, often punctuated with special discount prices for Associated Student Body, or ASB, card holders. The purchase of an ASB card guarantees students a yearbook, as well as discounted attendance to events; however, ASB card sales also contribute to aspects from nearly every section of daily student lives. Sports awards, subsidized Winter Formal ticket prices and sound systems are just a few examples of the many things funded by ASB card sales. However, this year ASB’s budget has shrunk due to the decline in ASB card purchases. Currently, despite a larger school population than last year, ASB card sales are down by 120, — almost $10,000 worth of ASB cards. Although many students may be hoping to buy yearbooks at the end of the year, there is no guarantee that there will be any extras available. Even if purchased at the end the year, yearbooks often still cost upwards of $80. Furthermore, without an ASB card, “you would still be missing out on being able to go to events on discounted prices, or athletic contests,” said ASB teacher Wes Morse. “Those are some

perks you get with the ASB card, but there are other perks that that money goes to. It’s a way to help promote things of value for our school.” A decline in ASB card sales spells concern for all students in the school. Said Morse, “I wouldn’t really call it a budget problem as

I’m hoping that people realize that buying an ASB card is more than just buying a yearbook; it’s contributing to the school that they want to go to - ASB teacher Wes Morse much as a concern at this point. It seems that we’re not keeping up with ASB card sales like we have in the past, so I’m concerned that if we don’t have the same sales, we won’t have the same budget to do what we’ve always been doing.” ASB budget deficiencies pose a myriad of problems for ath-

letes in particular. Though sports teams do fundraise for themselves and receive funding from the PTA, a sizeable chunk of their funding comes from ASB. The cost of referees is also covered by ASB; therefore, if the budget problems become severe enough, seasons are likely to be cut due to lack of funding for each game. Furthermore, the cuts in the budget also mean that coaches can no longer award MVP awards or scholarship plaques, as they traditionally have in years past. ASB card sales fund the production of both the school’s yearbook, The Nugget, and the school’s newspaper, The Prospector. ASB also covers costs to put on the school dances, and anything funded by ASB is subject to changes or program cuts if

Decrease in ASB card sales, continued on page 2

Obama proposes free community college

Hydraulic fracturing debate Students evaluate potential costs and benefits

Students and teachers react to national announcement

THU DAM

COURTESTY OF CITY OF CUPERTINO

RISHI NAIR news assistant

President Barack Obama, in a Jan. 9 speech at Pellissippi State Community College in Knoxville, Tennessee, officially announced his plan to make community college free for all Americans. His proposal has been heralded by supporters as an important investment to better the nation’s future, and snubbed by critics as an expensive burden on the nation’s taxpayers. The federal government is expected to pick up 75 percent of the expenses, with state governments funding the rest, while adopting reforms instituted by the White House regarding counseling and other student services at community colleges. Free higher education does come with a few conditions — students are required to maintain a 2.5 grade point average and stay on track to graduate on time, something stressed as being an essential key to becoming competitive in the constantly evolving workforce of today. “I think going forward, some students may be more inclined to go the community college route, but will it help them out?” asked College and Career Center Liaison Lillie Arranaga. “If more students start going to community colleges, they’re going to need more resources — more teachers, counselors, and advisors, something which hasn’t been spoken of yet.” That is an issue highly pertinent to the future of many of the school’s graduates. Of the 2014 graduating class, out of 488 total students, 412 attended college, meaning that 85 percent of graduates attended a four-year university or community college. 276 students out of 488 (57 percent) attended a four year college,

while 136 out of 488 (28 percent), almost a third of the graduate pool, chose to attend community college. As it affects so many students, it is clearly crucial that this proposal be executed efficiently and built on a strong support system for all students. The program would be added to Obama’s budget for the coming year, and was expounded on in his 2015 State of the Union Address on Jan. 20. “40 percent of our college students choose community college,” Obama said. “Some are young and starting out, others are

If more students start going to community colleges, they’re going to need more resources — more teachers, counselors, and advisors, something which hasn’t been spoken of yet -College and Career Center Liaison Lillie Arranaga older and looking for a better job. Some are veterans, and single parents trying to transition back into the job market. Whoever you are, this plan is your chance to graduate ready for the new economy, without a load of debt.” He also outlined plans to work with Congress to reduce college students’ current debts as much as possible. Obama aims to lift many of the lower class to a higher financial standing by increasing college graduation rates, something he has termed “the surest ticket to the middle class.”

Community college, continued on page 2

ENVIRONMENTAL CLUB | Junior Ethan Shen and senior

Jonathan Mo, both Environmental Club officers, have been involved in the debate on thydraulic fracturing, or “fracking.”

JOYCE YE copy editor

For the past 28 weeks, gas prices have been plummeting from their all-time high at above $4.00 to a record statewide average price of just $2.59. This seems unbelievable, yet the recent months have seen a rise in the type of oil extraction technique called hydraulic fracturing, or “fracking” for short, and with it, a huge increase in the U.S.’s crude oil supply, leading to ever-declining gas prices. Because of fracking’s allowance for domestically produced oil, the U.S. is currently the number one producer and exporter of oil. Hydraulic fracturing is a type of oil and gas production method that starts with drilling a well over 9,000 feet below the surface of the earth in areas abundant in shale, a kind of rock made up of clay, quartz and other minerals, which contains a large amount of natural gas. A pressurized mixture of water, sand and chemicals is then pumped into the surrounding rock through the pipes in the well, fracturing the rock. The additives and sand in the mixture keep the fractures

Hydraulic fracturing, continued on page 2

News

The Prospector

January 30, 2015

The Prospector

S TA F F

Of the Class of 2014:

2014-2015

46% of community college students complete their degrees in six years SOURCE: RUSSELL SAGE FOUNDATION

Cupertino High School Established 1958 Vol LVI, No. 4 | 2015 editors-in-chief diana kruzman jessica shin news editor brian zhong opinions editor laura shkouratoff features editor isabel lin lifestyles editor maithilee kanthi sports editor nikita devdhar

40% of all students in America attend community college.

85% attend college 57% attend 4-year colleges 28% attend community college

SOURCE: NATIONAL CENTER FOR EDUCATIONAL STATISTICS

20%

business manager marvin wang media liasons alex shieh jeremy xue news assistants

neil mcclintick rishi nair myung ju song

opinions assistants

anisha dangoria michelle pyke

features assistants

shalmali patil stephanie shi

lifestyles assistants

melissa silva allan wu

sports assistants

daniel fertelmeister marvin wang

flip side assistant

peter martin

online assistant

melinda sun

photo crew

jason munoz

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. “The Prospector” editorial board reserves the right to accept or reject any ad in accordance with its advertising policy. Contact Us The Prospector 10100 Finch Avenue Cupertino, CA 95014 prospector.chs@gmail.com

80%

100%

SOURCE: CUPERTINO HIGH SCHOOL

Community college

the budget does not allow for it to continue. Each year, the costs of printing yearbooks and newspapers, as well as the costs of getting referees, goes up, and with ASB sales down, there is less money along with higher expenses for the school. While steps are being taken to account for these growing changes, the fact remains that ASB card sales are the most direct form of revenue for student activities. Said Morse, “I’m hoping that people realize that buying an ASB card is more than just buying a yearbook; it’s contributing to the school that they want to go to, one that has activities and tries to foster a more fun and balanced high school experience.”

A complication arises in the form of a Republican-controlled House and Senate, making congressional legislation difficult. Nevertheless, as college costs rise higher and higher and the unsteady job market looms in the distance, President Obama’s proposal has been met with general approval, especially from students, educators and higher education advocates. The large amount of jobs requiring a level of education many Americans simply don’t have increases each year. Republican Tennessee Governor Bill Haslam introduced the “Tennessee Promise” scholarships last year in a bid to increase the percentage of Tennesseans earning at least a two year degree from 32 percent, making Tennessee the first state to make community college free. By 2025, 55 percent of jobs in Tennessee will require at least a two-year degree. Free community college has also enjoyed success in the city of Chicago. According to a study published by Georgetown University, by 2020, one third of all new job vacancies will require some postsecondary education. The proposal is expected to alleviate some of this skills gap over the years. “Not everybody has the opportunity to receive a higher education, and as President Obama mentioned, it definitely gives students the skills to be competitive in the workforce,” Arranaga said. “These are skills not every student can pick up in high school, allowing them to communicate effectively, think critically [and] connect the dots, because you get that through higher education or an actual job.”

continued from page 1

NEWS BRIEFS

online content editor jay shroff

photo editors thu dam serena ngan

60%

Decrease in ASB card sales

flip side editor delanie medina

copy editors anirudh pai joyce ye

40%

President Obama articulated his desire for the normalization of relations with Cuba when he authorized relaxing the U.S. trade embargo against Cuba and opening up Cuba to greater American travel. U.S. officials also confirmed the that Cuba released 53 political prisoners, indicating a step towards improved relations between the two nations. The U.S. Supreme Court announced on Jan 15 that it will address the constitutionality of same-sex marriage and determine whether states can disallow gay marriage. The court will hear the case in April and deliver a ruling by June. 42 of the 59 measles cases in California since December can be attributed to exposure at the Disneyland. A vaccine exists for measles, yet 82% of the individuals infected have not been vaccinated, either because they are too young or because they simply decided not to do so. Winners at the Screen Actor’s Guild (SAG) Awards on Sunday, Jan 25, included “Birdman,” “Orange Is the New Black,” Patricia Arquette, and Eddie Redmayne in “The Theory of Everything.” Those who vote for the SAG Awards winners comprise a substantial number of Oscars voters, so this awards show has been regarded as a predictor of the Academy Awards.

NASA’s Kepler space telescope has discovered eight alien planets in the “Goldilocks zone.” These planets orbit their stars at the proper distance to sustain liquid water, and possibly life. Two of the planets, Kepler-438b and Kepler-442b, have been described as the most Earth-like exoplanets discovered to date. “Humans of New York” creator Brandon Stanton started a campaign on Thursday, Jan 22 to help fund a trip to Harvard University for students at Mott Hall Bridges Academy, a middle school in Brownsville, Brooklyn. The school is regarded as a safe haven in an area ravaged by crime. As of Saturday, the campaign has raised over $700,000 to help further the education of these students. The Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) has purportedly beheaded a Japanese hostage when Japan did not pay a $200 million ransom. Now, ISIS has threatened to behead the second Japanese hostage unless an Iraqi woman named Sajida alRishawi, who allegedly played a role in bombings in 2005 that killed dozens of people, was released. SpaceX has created a landing pad that could potentially allow a rocket to be reused, saving money and resources. However, in a rocket landing test on Jan 10, the rocket’s hard landing caused it to disintegrate on the landing pad. COMPILED BY BRIAN ZHONG

Hydraulic fracturing continued from page 1

open, allowing the natural gas and oil previously trapped in the wall to escape and be carried back up in the water that is pumped to the surface. Fracking has been in existence for over sixty years, but has only recently sped up the collection of oil with the discovery of newfound technology, such as horizontal drilling, that allowed for previously inaccessible areas of stone to be drilled. Although fracking is an easy way to boost production of oil in the U.S., some students, such as junior Ethan Shen, president of the school’s Environmental Club, disagree with this practice, as fracking can destroy local communities. “Not only does fracking contaminate local groundwater, but it also has devastating effects on the earth itself in terms of seismic activity,” Shen said. “The chemicals used in fracking can seep into the ground, and there have even been videos where people were able to set tap water on fire because of the fracking chemicals.” Added senior Greg Pommier, “[Fracking companies] use about 740 different chemicals, and 25 [of these chemicals] are hazardous pollutants. [When a fracking spill was mimicked in a community], within two days it had killed all groundwater plant life, and within ten days, the trees were damaged.” Other students, like senior Tanay Tandon, disagree. “The ultimate goal is to eventually lose our dependence on fracking while still reaping the great economic benefits currently,” Tandon said. “That’s only going to come from innovation, which requires funding, and funding requires money, which we’re getting from fracking.” Although fracking in the United States mainly affects the nation itself economically and environmentally, Russia is feeling the consequences of low gas prices in America and its allies as well. Russia’s economy is dependent on oil and gas, as they together comprise 68% of all Russian exports. Without the financial support that big Russian oil companies bring, Russia may soon be unable to pay for education, the military, pensions, and other core government services. In order to balance Russia’s economy, oil needs to have a price of roughly $100 per barrel; if its current price stays at around $47 or declines further, Russia may find itself in a severe recession. Even if it’s not completely certain how long the practice of fracking will last, the issue of fracking is sure to continue to be hotly debated both economically and environmentally, as well as politically, as long as it lasts.

News

The Prospector

January 30, 2015

Undocumented immigrants granted drivers licenses California provision transforms driver registration process; has political and social implications

2.8 million

SHALMALI PATIL features assistant

As of Jan. 2, 2015, California joined nine other states when it passed Assembly Bill 60 and began offering its undocumented residents the right to register for a driver’s license. California has the nation’s largest population of undocumented immigrants, who make up approximately seven percent of its residents. Of all the states where undocumented immigrants have access to licenses, California is projected to have a higher demand for licenses than any of the other states. This new law allows more than one million people to obtain state driver’s licenses and car insurance, but the new license cannot be used for identification purposes. The requirements to get a license are that the bearer must be a California resident and that the resident must pass all of the necessary driving exams. After signing the bill, Governor Jerry Brown said, “No longer are undocumented people in the shadows. They are alive and well and respected in the state of California.” By allowing illegal immigrants to obtain licenses, government officials hope to see the streets of California become safer for the state’s residents. Many of the safety concerns regarding undocumented immigrants driving without licenses arise from the fact that the lack of insurance has led to multiple hit-and-runs in which the driver is too scared to admit to the crime at the risk of becoming bankrupt due to lack of insurance. For this reason, the police officers claim that it makes their jobs much easier when people are not afraid of driving, and thus do it more responsibly.

Estimated number of undocumented immigrants residing in California in 2011

9.7% of California’s workforce is undocumented

396,906

Undocumented immigrants deported in 2011;

55% of those immigrants had crimnal convictions

56% passed the English exam on Jan 2, 2015

1.4 million

Estimated number of licenses that will be given out under AB 60 in the next three years

17,200

Number of drivers license applicants on Jan 2, 2015 SOURCES: CALIFORNIA DMV; THE DESERT SUN

California government officials claim that their jobs are to protect the people of California and to not discriminate against its residents. When undocumented immigrants are able to obtain their licenses, they can gain access to driving courses that Governor Brown hopes will put more responsible drivers on the road. The California Department of Motor Vehicles has spent over $140 million and hired nearly 1,000 new staffers to work in their four new locations to prepare for the sudden influx of new licenses. 60 of the state’s DMV offices even set aside a few more hours for these undocumented immigrants to learn more about the process of getting their new licenses. On the first day after the passing of AB 60, almost 1,000 applicants received their licenses and over 46,000 applicants visited the offices. In the first week since the AB 60 has been passed, 96,000 driving exams were administered and over 10,000 licenses were issued. While the majority of undocumented immigrants are excited by this opportunity, many are still concerned that by registering, they risk revealing their current immigration status to the immigration officers or risk facing discrimination from others. Even though the new law makes it illegal to unfairly treat someone with the a license, the licenses will have to indicate with a certain mark that the person that it belongs to is not in the country legally, which worries some prospective license holders. Despite the various concerns regarding the AB 60, the DMV predicts that many immigrants will still apply for their licenses. The passing of this bill is expected to increase road safety and ease the burden created by accidents caused by lack of licensing, thus making it easier for over a million people to get through their day as safely as possible.

Obama addresses nation in State of the Union NEIL MCCLINTICK news assistant

In accordance with the annual traditions set forth by the Constitution, President Barack Obama recently delivered the State of the Union Address on Jan. 20, reigniting language reminiscent of his 2008 campaign. With Republican congressional revitalization and continuously dipping ratings plaguing his final term, the president primarily sought to frame the issues and beliefs of the modern middle-class American while also publicizing some of the major domestic improvements over the past few years. Obama focused on central topics such as middle class economics, immigration, the minimum wage, the outsourcing of jobs and the war on terror. He maintained a firm demeanor, pledging to veto when necessary, and attacked the lack of bi-

partisanship in Congress. In light of his recent announcement, which drew much media attention and was widely seen as a popular move, Obama formally announced his plans for free community college tuition, a landmark change that could potentially be one of the most significant middle class incorporations in years. With regard to foreign policy, the president was pleased to announce an informal ending to America’s participation in the War on Terror in Afghanistan, noting that thousands of troops remain but mainly for the purpose of maintenance. He also denounced certain actions taken in response to heightened tensions in foreign affairs, stating that he has “prohibited torture, and worked to make sure our use of new technology like drones is properly constrained.” With the nation partially recovering from its economic downturn, Obama stated that the economy is experiencing its

Influenza reaches epidemic proportions; vaccines may be ineffective, experts warn JAY SHROFF online content editor

2015 has not only had the warmest winter in history, but also one of the most dangerous flu seasons. According to the Centers for Disease Control, this year’s influenza vaccine is only 23 percent effective. This occurred because the virus mutated midseason, acquiring resistance to the three vaccines in this year’s influenza dose. Dr. Tom Frieden of the CDC told CNN news that “we could have a season that is more severe than most with more hospitalizations and more deaths.” The U.S. has suffered over 1,200 confirmed flu cases and five deaths, with the most cases being in Alaska, the Pacific Northwest, and the South. The seasonal flu vaccine is designed to protect against the influenza viruses research indicates are most likely to spread and cause illness among people during the upcoming flu season. Flu viruses are constantly changing, so the vaccine is updated each year based on which viruses are making people sick, how those viruses are spreading, and how well the previous season’s vaccine protected against those viruses.

First flu vaccine was developed by Jonas Salk and Thomas Francis. 1938

First nasal spray vaccine for influenza was introduced. 2003

most prosperous growth since 1999, placing the spotlight on a dramatic increase in job creation and rise in GDP. He also alluded to a potentially brighter future, alleging that “more than half of manufacturing executives have said they’re actively looking to bring jobs back from China” and that “our deficit [has been] cut by two-thirds.” The president touched upon the expediting of health insurance growth, attributing changes in recent years to the addition of nearly 10 million new insurees.Obama continued with some of the brighter prospects of recent years by publicly recognizing the noticeable decline in abortions and teen pregnancies. While certainly touching base with the concerns of millions of Americans across the country, it is still left to gauge how much of his words will successfully coalesce with an opposing Congress. Regardless, his approval ratings have surged to 50 percent in light of his address.

Devastating flu season hits

Each year, the flu vaccine is reformulated based on experts’ best guesses of which three or four strains will cause the largest rates of infection. Those decisions are usually made the previous February, months before the flu season, to give companies that

The flu is bad, and you want to do anything you can to prevent getting it and to prevent giving it to other people... The vaccine isn’t perfect, but it’s the best protection we have for prevention - Dr. Lisa Thebner, pediatrician manufacture flu shots and nasal spray vaccines enough time to make enough doses. This year, health professionals decided to take strains from California, Massachusetts, and Texas in an ef-

fort to cover most of the US population. However this seemed to be ineffective, as many children were found sick with a slightly different strain of flu - H3N2, a strain that has tended to cause more hospitalizations and deaths, particularly in the elderly, making this a particularly terrible winter to have a problem with the flu vaccine. The flu season usually lasts about 13 weeks. Officials say the current one is being classed as “moderately severe” and is now just over halfway from ending. The CDC stated that flu shots may still offer some protection against other viral strains, which could help reduce the risk of the most severe complications from the flu, such as hospitalization and death. The current seasonal flu shots will still protect against flu strains that have not mutated, such as the influenza A (H1N1) virus and the B viruses contained in the vaccine. The CDC is still recommending that people get a flu shot. Unfortunately, the flu vaccine will always remain suboptimal in the minds of many until there is a universal vaccine that targets parts of the virus that don’t mutate so rapidly. Of course, companies and scientists are frantically working on just such a vaccine. In the meantime, the flu vaccine, as imperfect as it is, is considered the best form of tackling the flu.

Novartis makes the first influenza vaccine cultured in mammalian cells to increase uptake and efficiency.

H1N1 pandemic kills about 10,000 people in the United States and many more around the world.

WHO directors from the USA, United Kingdom, Australia, Japan and China finalize the flu strains for the 2014-2015 flu season.

2007

2009

Feb. 2014

SOURCE: CDC

Opinions

January 30, 2015

NUCLEAR P WER MYUNG JU SONG news assistant

The 2011 Fukushima Daiichi nuclear meltdown was the “modern Chernobyl.” The Fukushima power plant, cut off from its electricity supply after a combination of an earthquake and a tsunami, was unable to power the cooling units necessary to control its reactors. Despite the best efforts of the Japanese government, three reactors melted down, releasing hundreds of tons of radioactive seawater and isotopes into the ground, air and Pacific Ocean. Since the Fukushima disaster, opposition towards nuclear energy has surged. Green energy activists have been particularly outspoken in their resistance towards construction of new nuclear power plants and have petitioned the government to build eco-friendly solar and wind farms instead. However, despite all the hype about green energy in the last five years, renewable energy resources are not capable of meeting all of America’s energy needs. It is undeniable that the solar and wind industries have made incredible growth since 2008; for example, last year, a record quantity of electricity was generated from solar panels and generators. Solar energy is cheaper as well; in contrast to oil’s energy costs of 6.1 cents per kilowatthour, solar energy now costs about 7.2 cents per kilowatt-hour and wind power costs as little as 3.7

cents. However, green energy sources are not reliable and stable sources of power. Without sunlight and wind, solar panels and wind farms are useless. Renewable energy accounts for barely 6.5% of all energy produced in 2014, even with its rampant growth in the last decade. Nuclear power, in contrast, is efficient. About 100 nuclear reactors in the US power more than 20% of the country’s total electricity consumption, while running on an average of 95 percent capacity. A golf-ball-sized lump of uranium supplies the lifetime energy needs of a typical person, equivalent to 56 tanker trucks of natural gas, 800 elephant-sized bags of coal or a renewable battery as tall as 16 “super” skyscraper buildings placed one on top of the other. Such compact and energy-dense sources are impossible to replicate with any renewable energy. Furthermore, nuclear energy plants have improved in safety. Although Fukushima Daiichi reactors were based on Generation II designs, which were more than 40 years old, new Generation III+ and IV

One criticism of the politicians within sports assistant local and national governments is that they are not like doctors. Rarely do politicians stop, examine, and analyze America’s problems carefully, and they oftentimes prescribe the wrong solutions to critical issues such as wealth inequality. Again and again, many politicians choose to rush to the scene and confront wealth disparity by prescribing America minimum wage hikes. In reality, hiking up the minimum wage has never been and will never be the solution to help people get ahead. To begin, if the minimum wage rises, small and medium businesses who make up 99 percent of the private sector will be the hardest hit because they cannot handle the costs of rising wages. Some politicians, with the aim of helping the lower class, do not understand the core essence of how business works and how many businesses MARVIN WANG

designs, such as the molten-salt reactor, are inherently safe. In the newer designs, a meltdown causes the reactor to seal itself off without any outside power, preventing any leakage or a potential explosion. The green movement must accept the nuclear energy expansion if the world is to avoid dangerous climate change. Nuclear energy has a smaller carbon footprint than oil or coal energy, and renewable sources are simply unable to grow fast enough to become a major, reliable power source for at least 25 years. Instead of blindly limiting development of nuclear energy due to its potential dangers, environmentalists should carefully weigh the pros and cons of each energy resource. On the basis of efficiency, safety, almost nonexistent carbon footprint and conservative land use, nuclear power is an essential energy resource and it must be considered in the future energy mix.

al consumer will have a ripple effect on the economy because increasing prices will leave consumers with less money to spend on other goods and services, affecting many businesses and their employees in other sectors. Therefore, an increase in the minimum wage would leave all consumers, including the low wage workers, with less money in their pockets. Regardless of how businesses choose to transfer the costs of a minimum wage hike, consumers are the ones who will suffer as a consequence. Instead of minimum wage hikes, America should encourage employers to offer more on-thejob training to people. In return, this will allow the U.S. labor market to become more skilled and globally competitive in order to fill better paying jobs in the long run. In addition, opposing minimum wage hikes doesn’t mean that companies shouldn’t take responsibility for their employees. In the book Conscious Capitalism, authors John Mackey and Rajendra Sisodia promote the idea that businesses should take care of their employees, who in return take care of their customers better, making the businesses better off in the end. Those that are able to afford to increase their workers’ paychecks should pay their employees more over time. Ultimately, this results in a lower turnover rate where less workers would quit their

dollar BET YOUR BOTTOM

10% increase

current minimum wages: UNITED STATES (FEDERAL):

$7.25

10% increase

current minimum wages: UNITED STATES (FEDERAL):

CALIFORNIA:

$9.00 $10.00 $11.05

/hr

SAN FRANCISCO:

IN THE U.S. MINIMUM WAGE

COULD BRING UP FOOD /hr PRICES BY UP TO

/hr

operate on thin margins. By pressuring businesses with increasing labor costs, politicians risk the perils of having businesses cut working hours and jobs in order to operate, and thus depriving the poorest and least-skilled of the opportunity to work and earn a modest amount of money in the first place. Furthermore, working at a low-paying job is a way to gain work experience, and denying workers that opportunity would also deny them the chance to use their experiences to progress to a better job and earn more in the future. Similarly, if businesses choose to transfer the increasing labor costs onto the consumer by increasing prices, the consumers, including the lower and middle classes alike, will suffer from incremental price increases. Many argue that the increasing costs from minimum wage hikes are rather small in the effort to combat low wages for many workers. However, the true monumental costs on an aggregated scale are unseen and thus often dismissed. The costs for each individu-

$7.25

/hr

SAN JOSE:

IN THE U.S. MINIMUM WAGE COULD BRING UP FOOD PRICES BY UP TO

CALIFORNIA:

$9.00 $10.00 $11.05

/hr

SAN JOSE:

/hr

SAN FRANCISCO:

/hr

jobs, and thus businesses can avoid the high costs of rehiring and build loyalty within the businesses by keeping more of their workers. That being said, wage increases should be done through employer choice, not through government compulsion, because only employers would know whether or not they have the flexibility to increase wages. Raising the minimum wage is not the solution to poverty in the U.S., but instead is a counterproductive measure which denies people of potential upward mobility. Eventually, a low-wage job should be just a step on the ladder of career progression, not an end goal. Although low-wage jobs may help some young people pay off part of their college tuition and allow them to purchase comfort items, it should not be the sole source of income. Yes, there are people living on these low wages, but society should encourage these people to look for better paying jobs and search for solutions that provide a long-term cure instead of a quick fix in order to solve the gaping wealth disparity.

raising the minimum wage will not be as effective as many may hope

January 30, 2015

Opinions

The Prospector

CHARLIE HEBDO ANISHA DANGORIA opinions assistant

MICHELLE PYKE opinions assistant

Speech is one of the most fundamental aspects of communication. It is something humans find themselves capable of doing, even if they’ve never been taught how. Before children can lasso letters into words and corral those words into sentences that form cohesive thoughts, they express their views in pictures. As they develop as individuals, their minds shape pictures into sentencesand other forms of expression. Humans have an intrinsic desire to communicate, and no matter the method, they will always find a way to voice their opinions. The Charlie Hebdo shooting was an undeniable tragedy that raised questions extending beyond journalistic freedom of speech. Additional issues resurfaced about religion and international security in the face of radical religious groups. While nobody deserves to have his or her life taken away due to something he or she expressed, publishing controversial material should be reevaluated, especially after multiple calls (some reasonable, others threatening) to remove such material that could potentially incite hate-fueled violence or deeply offend certain groups have been ignored. The amalgamation of ideas that are fundamentally different leaves the forum of free speech looking like a battleground of clashing words, ideas and cultures. This figurative war is often the birthplace of violence, both ideological and physical, and oftentimes such acts of cruelty leave scars that cut so deep that it is impossible to judge the legitimacy of the cause. Religion is both a victim and a weapon of ideological warfare. It has remained a serious area of conflict for hundreds of years, and because it is so deeply integrated into modern culture, it is hardly a surprise to learn about the unfortunate events that follow. In journalism, cartoons have proven to be a useful method for expressing controversial views because of their tendency to use provocative pictures to invoke a clear and often passionate re-

PRO//

//CON

sponse. It is true that such opinions are a right, but if the primary motives of such publications are inappropriate and do not necessarily carry some variation of constructive criticism that positively impacts society then it is not necessary to publish such material. According to Laurent Leger, a Charlie Hebdo journalist, the magazine’s intention upon publishing this content was to “laugh at the extremists —every extremist. They [could] be Muslim, Jewish, Catholic.” However, such cartoons not only offend extremists, but people who have innocent and honest intentions. Freedom of speech is certainly a powerful weapon that can be used to effectively bring new truths to light, but the real question is how this can be accomplished. Extremism has been negatively viewed in most forms of Western media and this is not an exception, but the issue of Charlie Hebdo is not as one-sided as many news sources have suggested. The vast majority of Charlie Hebdo caricatures both inform and educate the public, without intentionally targeting and provoking select groups of people. However, images that single out and incite anger within specific religious groups, such as the images that defiled the name of the prophet Muhammad, could not have been published without expecting a negative response. The Charlie Hebdo attacks were a reminder of the tumult that lies just under the surface of the privilege of free speech. When the consequences of actions provoked by freedom of speech threaten the very foundations of human life, and even survival itself, then it is in the best interest of all parties to reevaluate the viewpoints and the manner in which they are expressed. While freedom of speech is an inalienable right in most societies, just because one can say something does not mean one should. Journalists should strive for not only intellectual integrity, but also a constructive message that fosters conflict resolution, rather than conflict manipulation.

23-30

editor-in-chief

On Oct. 7, 2013, the French satirical magazine Charlie Hebdo released a cartoon depicting bullets ripping through a copy of the Qur’an. On Dec. 11, it featured a cartoon of French Justice Minister Christiane Taubira, a black woman, drawn as a monkey. The Sep. 19, 2012 issue of the magazine depicted the Prophet Muhammad shooting a pornographic video. The Jan. 7 attack on the magazine’s headquarters in Paris isn’t the first; most notably, Charlie Hebdo was firebombed in November 2011, and its staff receives death threats regularly. That’s because the news magazine makes use of shocking, often borderline-obscene imagery — anything to get a reaction out of its readers. Although the magazine labels itself as secular, atheist, and anti-racist, it has received extensive criticism for its use of derogatory images as a tool for satire. Its critics say that although the images are meant to make a point, by employing the stereotypes and offensive visuals that it aims to criticise, it goes too far. Charlie Hebdo has by no means targeted Islam alone; however, in the wake of the January 2015 attacks, Muslims around the globe have led protests over the magazine’s depiction of Islam, because although it’s meant to satirize radical Islam, the cartoons seem to target the religion as a whole. In the Muslim faith, it is blasphemous to even depict the Prophet, let alone in situations such as filming an adult video. It is true that Charlie Hebdo specifically targeted the Muslim faith for some particularly nasty cartoons, and it is true that the magazine has also made use of racist, antiSemitic, and anti-Christian sentiment in numerous instances. But it is also true that by doing this, the magazine is exercising its essential right to freedom of speech - and banning or censoring hate speech or “offen-

TRANSPARENT On the heels of the death of DELANIE MEDINA Leelah Alcorn, a transgender teen flip side editor who recently committed suicide after years of isolation and emotional abuse at the hands of her religious parents, the transgender rights movement has gained some much needed traction in the media. Through Alcorn’s suicide note, which was published posthumously on her Tumblr page, Alcorn delved into the societal standards that affect transgender people and expressed hope that her death would spark a conversation about the discrimination, abuse, and lack of support that the transgender communities continuously face. Although Leelah received tremendous support following her suicide, her death illus- the average life expectancy trates the severity of the victimization and disof a trans person is only respect trans people face solely because they go against society’s definition of “normal”. With a country focused more on fighting homophobia, sexism, and racism, transgender rights are being overlooked and belityears. tled. “Transgender” is an umbrella term for those whose gender identity differs from the sex they were assigned to at birth, and unfortunately, because of the obvious lack of support many trans people face, it’s not uncommon that some feel the need to take action to end their pain and suffering. Research from the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention indicates that LGBT youth are about twice as likely to attempt suicide than heterosexual, non-trans teenagers. The Youth Suicide Prevention Program reported that over 50 percent of transgender youths attempt suicide before the age of 20. Similarly, focusing on the wider context of transphobic discrimination, the National Coalition of Anti-Violence Programs recently published a report indicating that 72 percent of

DIANA KRUZMAN

sive” material is a slippery slope towards allencompassing censorship, one that does not allow any contradictory opinions to come through. Voltaire once wrote that he “may disagree with what you say, but will defend to the death your right to say it”. Satirical material will always offend someone in some capacity, and blocking it out just for the purposes of sheltering minority groups attacks the very purpose of satire: to incite change in society. The clearest argument against publishing hateful material is, of course, when that material has no satirical purpose — such as several Charlie Hebdo cartoons that have been accused of being printed simply to incite a reaction. Ultimately, why should someone have the right to print a cartoon implying that a holy book is worthless when this targets not only extremists, but ordinary, peaceful believers? The answer is that one can’t get rid of hate by banning its expression; it will just simmer underneath, growing stronger with every moment that it is suppressed. Instead, governments and individuals must allow a platform for opinions to be expressed freely, and if that means putting forth offensive speech — one that is simply hateful, and upsets millions of people — then so be it. That is the price the world must pay for true freedom. Hate speech is abominable. Racism is a scourge that should be wiped from the earth as quickly as possible. And anti-Semitic, anti-Christian, and anti-Islamic viewpoints are both narrow-minded and often purposeless. But blocking out the expression of these sentiments won’t end violence — it will just make it worse. In a paradoxical twist, the protection of these forms of “free” speech is the only thing standing between civilization and a world of senseless violence.

transgender people deserve to be seen as well as respected in our society

LGBT homicide victims in 2013 were transgender women. While 2014 was undoubtedly a big year for transgender rights, horrifying statistics and tragic stories like Leelah Alcorn’s prove that America still has a long way to go with regards to transgender rights and equality. It’s hard to say just how long it will be until transgender people are seen as equal, due to the fact that they represent only a tiny portion of the population, which can make it harder for them to gain acceptance. However, despite their small numbers, the lives of transgenders do matter and, as such, deserve to be recognized. Although the transgender rights movement has already gained some visibility, notably from transgender actress Laverne Cox and Amazon’s new original series Transparent, there’s so much more that can be done to increase awareness and acceptance for those brave enough to make the decision to live their lives the way they know they were meant to be lived. On a more political level, President Barack Obama’s most recent State of the Union address was pivotal for the transgender rights movement, as he reiterated his support for gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender Americans. The President’s acknowledgement of the LGBT community is monumental and helps to alleviate the burdens of alienation felt by many transgender men and women by pushing Americans to recognize the legitimacy and validity of their choices. As a society, it’s important to be supportive of those brave enough to undergo such a grueling process rather than brush aside their feelings because they’re scared of what they might mean. As Americans, we have to be willing to let go of any preconceived notions of what is “normal” and focus on supporting the people who feel that their lives are meant to be lived a different way. For decades, transgender people have a trans person has a faced oppression from those not willing to in accept change and if we’re going to keep forward as a united people, chance of being murdered. moving that needs to change.

1 12

PHOT O BY

JE R

EM YX UE

Features

January 30, 2015

ms. MOFFETT AP SECRETARY MELISSA SILVA lifestyles assistant

You may remember Denise Moffett if you had to get your locker number at the beginning of the year. Or maybe you’ve talked to her if you’ve ever had to see an assistant principal. You might have received a blue slip that she wrote in order for you to go see a staff member. Moffett, one of the two assistant principal secretaries at CHS, helps out Geoff Wright and Andy Walczak, and Wendy Armstrong, the other secretary, assists Melina Nafrada and Cathleen Farrell Rodriguez. “[Being a secretary was originally something] that I was only going to do temporarily,” Moffett said, reflecting on her 19 years at the school. “But I discovered that I really liked it and I wanted to stay here.” One of the biggest reasons she likes her job is the interaction she has with students. “I love high school students [because] they’re young adults, and you can talk to them,” Moffett said. Right across from Wright and Walczak’s offices, both

secretaries can be found at their respective desks, hard at work behind their computers or helping out a student or staff member. These two ladies have a variety of things to do, from making sure the blue safety backpacks in each room are up to date to completing paperwork for student suspensions. The secretaries do not only organize the assistant principals’ schedules and answer their phone calls, but they also often help students. “Students come to me, and they need their assistant principal to sign some forms,” Moffett said. “A lot of times, [if] it’s the De Anza forms [for summer courses or credits], I can handle that.” She also takes care of dance forms and even forms for lost or stolen items, and records students and tutors present for administrative tutorial. And, if need be, she’ll be the one to dial 911 in an emergency. Most sophomores’ parents probably saw Wendy Armstrong, the other secre-

tary, on Jan. 26 to submit residency verification paperwork. Both ladies put a lot of work into field trips as well, making sure that all the students’ forms are in and the bus lines are approved, then later sending all this information to the district office. Moffett, who received the Classified Employee of the Year award earlier this month, has contributed much to the school. Not only does she do her job well, but she also enjoys it. “[I like that] it’s different every day,” Moffett said. “There’s never a dull moment; there’s always something happening, something new.”

PETE (HERNANDEZ) STUDENT CONDUCT SPECIALIST JEREMY XUE media liason

You’ve probably seen him around school. You’ve might have even been caught by him for something like not being in a classroom for tutorial. Sporting a baseball cap, a dodgers jacket, and sunglasses, Pete Hernandez, who insists on being referred to as “just Pete”, is the school’s Student Conduct Specialist — which includes being the disciplinarian and security guard.

TO O

U TH

S a i d Pete, “I was a counsellor in San Jose working with kids that were locked up, [on] probation, in and out of the system. I really wanted to get away from working with kids that were already locked up, and rather, work in a school setting to prevent it from happening in the first place.” Students that get in trouble for doing things they are not supposed to be doing are referred to Pete. Although the job is rewarding, there are some areas of frustration. “I don’t like seeing kids get in trouble,” Pete said. “My goal or my overarching idea is that I’d like to see kids get out of trouble, not in trouble. It’s about building good relationships in terms of getting to know the students, their needs, what their issues or troubles may be — just helping them correct their mistakes and making sure they don’t make those same mistakes again in the future.” In the past, Pete worked as a Student Conduct Specialist in Los Altos. His experiences in both schools revolved

around the students; as in his previous school, P e t e found that “this is a good school academically, and [it has] a good set of kids.” Pete’s advice for students is to work on “making good choices and thinking about your actions before you actually do [them].” Although the job involves some frustration, overall Pete has found that working at the school has been a worthwhile experience. “I don’t think there is a thing that I would change,” Pete said. “I have the best administrative team I could work for; I’ve worked at 5 different schools before and hands down with the admin team and supervisors I have, it doesn’t get any better.”

Features

The Prospector

January 30, 2015

ms. ARRANAGA COLLEGE & CAREER CENTER LIAISON SERENA NGAN

PH O

photo editor

beneficial events and connects students with colleges, one of her largest responsibilities is answering students’ questions and assisting them with preparing for and starting the college application process, which peaks primarily from August to January. “During the last few months, I’ve met with students [for a variety of questions, which include the request] to review their personal statements for their college applications, questions about how to apply and where to apply to, when they should be applying, who they should reach out to to get recommendations,” Arranaga said, regarding the role she plays in the college application process. “Also, [students] come to ask if their college list is long enough [or if there are] any interesting schools out there that have specific programs for whatever they’re interested in.” While she mainly assists seniors, Arranaga also helps “juniors [who] have come [to the College and Career Center] to just make sure that they’re on the right track and not missing out on anything for next year’s process when it comes to college applications.” Arranaga also organizes and announces several extracurricular and learning opportunities that can be beneficial to underclassmen. In addition to scheduling events and speakers to come and visit students interested in attending colleges across the nation, Arranaga “also coordinate[s] the career fair, advertises job posts, [and publicizes] volunteering opportunities, resume workshops, and test prep.” Although Arranaga’s role in the school is different from any other in the school’s staff, it is essential for students to explore and reach their future goals.

NG AN

For the curious underclassmen stepping onto the campus for the very first time, the windowed room plastered with flyers and posters about the mysterious entity called “college” seems strange and out of place from the rest of the school. But as those underclassmen evolve into juniors and seniors, that windowed room becomes more and more entwined with their lives. No senior can apply to college without arranging at least one meeting with Lillie Arranaga, the advisor of the College and Career Center (CCC). For this reason, only a small portion of students are aware of the several functions and benefits of talking with Arranaga or visiting the CCC before it’s too late. As students advance to senior year, the encounters with Arranaga increase exponentially. While Arranaga does organize several

“[My job is] very unique,” Arranaga said. “I love my position primarily because I can be a resource to the students. There’s often times when students just don’t know what they want to do [...] so when they come in here, I think [the process is] about self discovery and having students realize what they’re capable of doing [...] and also just getting them on the right path. Because at the end of the day, there are multiple paths to an ultimate goal. [Students should know] that their path may be different from someone else’s, [but they shouldn’t] let that deter [them] from getting to where [they] really want to be.”

mr. HICKEY STUDENT ADVOCATE PETER MARTIN flip side assistant PHOTO BY THU DAM

talk.” Hickey has new students come in each day, but also has returning visitors. “One of the most rewarding things is when someone talks to me and they want to come back and talk again,” Hickey said. Hickey enjoys his job and finds it very rewarding, citing an excellent work environment with a strong community. “I have a private practice office outside of school in downtown San Jose, but I don’t like doing just exclusively private practice because it’s very isolating,” Hickey said. “One of the things I love about this place is the people I work with and being able to decompress with them between sessions. It’s really nice to have this environment to do that in.” He speaks highly of the teachers and their concern for helping students as well. “The teachers are really perceptive and sensitive to when somebody seems to be having an off day, and we’re very much a community of connected adults here who try to get students through tough times,” Hickey said. “High school can be a bit of a rollercoaster for everyone, so it’s nice to have a place where there’s someone just dedicated to helping students.” However, not all schools have a person like Hickey on staff. “Somebody like me, a licensed marriage and family therapist, in

a school full-time is actually a pretty rare thing,” Hickey said. “I have a colleague at every single school in our district, but generally high schools don’t have a licensed therapist on staff, so it’s a pretty great thing to have.”

PH OT O

TH U

DA M

Chris Hickey works as the school’s student advocate, assisting and working with students going through tough situations who just need to talk. Hickey receives a variety of visitors, some recommended by teachers and administrators, and many who come seeking help on their own. “A big spectrum of different things can happen in a course of a day,” Hickey said. “It’s interesting, I’ve been here fifteen years and every day I never know quite what’s going to happen; there’s always a different thing going on.” His office is a place to decompress and talk about problems, always aimed at serving the students. “When somebody comes in, one of the primary things I ask them is ‘has this been helpful and have we addressed the issues you wanted to address when you came in the room?’” Hickey said. “I don’t really work by having a huge agenda I place on students; [instead], when students come in I let them take me through whatever they’re experiencing, rather than demand they talk about

certain things. It’s more of an open place to

Lifestyles

S E L M A

CAN YOU VOTE? Are you 18 years old?

the

FUTURE is

here MAITHILEE KANTHI lifestyles editor

NO NO

YES NO

Did your ancestors vote, allowing you to vote under the Grandfather Clause? Do you own land?

Do you have a permanent mailing address?

YES

Do you know how many county judges exist in your state? Can you name them all?

YES

Did you pass the YES literacy test?

[Selma] holds the potential to share the reality of the movement with the youth of America accurate of life at that time. America’s history is not something to forget – it is something to be remembered and recognized. The fact that “Selma” was not nominated at the Academy Awards despite the film’s high ratings and positive reviews – even a 99 percent positive rating on Rotten Tomatoes, which is practically unheard of – could be a reminder of the racism still prevalent today. The time has come for America to overcome the controversy and unite in a joint effort to eliminate racism once and for all, and “Selma” serves as both a guide and a reminder of how to take the the first step.

YES YE S

Historical films are a very large genre, with topics ranging from documentaries to movies about presidents as vampire hunters. While it seems as if the whole spectrum has been completely covered multiple times, there’s one aspect of history that has previously failed to make it big in the Hollywood department: the civil rights movement. “Selma”, a film released in December, is the first large-scale movie to explore the harsh reality of Martin Luther King Jr. and his activism throughout the late ‘50s and ‘60s. The true story follows the life of King over a period of three months in 1965, where he leads a risky march from the city of Selma, Alabama, to the state capital of Montgomery. The march is an attempt to secure equal voting rights for African-Americans, and the movie shows in great detail the measures taken and the issues that the activists faced. Especially considering the recent events in Ferguson and the protests that have followed, “Selma” holds a strong and important reminder of the roots of civil rights issues. One of the most breathtaking parts of the movie is witnessing the parallels between the civil rights movement fifty years ago and the movement today. Though it seems as if a large amount of progress has been made, “Selma” highlights the harsh truth – so many problems are exactly the same, simply hidden within a different aspect of society. For most viewers, the film is not simply a matter of entertainment. “Selma” was also not

Will you pay $50 for the poll tax?

opinions editor

designed primarily for a teenage audience, but considering the lack of education surrounding the civil rights movement in many schools, it holds the potential to share the reality of the movement with the youth of America. It is not intended to place a feeling of shame or point fingers at caucasian viewers, either – “Selma” is able to stand on a middle ground, making viewers feel motivated to embrace the truth of the past but also to change and make a difference for the future. The topics covered in the film are often violent or saddening, yet the truth is that it is

Have you been to jail?

YES

one dream can change the world LAURA SHKOURATOFF

YES

YE S

DATA FROM MICHELLE MCCUE, WEAREMOVIEGEEKS

ARE YOU LITERATE?

African-Americans needed to pass the literacy test for the right to vote

The federal census is taken every five years...

Does enumeration affect the income tax levied on citizens in various states?

Of the original 13 states, the one with the largest representation in Congress was?

true or false?

Who passes laws dealing with piracy?

Communism was the type of government in?

U.S. Russia England

Questions from 1965 Alabama Literacy Test Answers: 1) false, 2) yes, 3) Congress, 4) Virginia, 5) Russia

January 30, 2015

HUMAN ORGAN PRINTING While 3D printing has been a reality for decades now, scientists previously faced trouble in developing arteries that could provide cells with nutrients and excrete waste, which prevented the arteries from functioning for an extended amount of time. Recently, researchers from the University of Sydney and University of Harvard have made a breakthrough and have succeeded in printing tiny, interconnected “capillaries” using a high-tech bio-printer. This development is the next step in constructing more complex organs such as hearts or lungs.

H O V E R B O A R D

Greg and Jill Henderson of Arx Pax recently created the Hendo Hoverboard, reminiscent of Back to the Future 2 (ironically enough, the year Marty McFly visits in the future is 2015!). They invited Tony Hawk, famed skateboarder, to try it out at their studio/lab in Los Gatos. The board currently operates by magnetic technology, similar to MagLev trains, and so for the time being, can only work over nonferrous materials, which are metals other than steel or iron. While the current technology only allows the board to hover one inch off the ground and have a battery life of only 15 minutes, the invention marks a breakthrough that could be used to stabilize buildings during earthquakes.

j e t p a c k A human pilot rode the first jetpack at the “Future is Here” festival last May for a total of 20 seconds. Nitrogen gas and hydrogen peroxide, which fuel the jetpack, react with a silver catalyst, producing the compressed steam thrust that launches the pilot into the air. The “Martin Jetpack” can be controlld by a joystick in the pilot’s hand, allowing the pilot to “roll, pitch” and yaw.” However, the contraption weighs close to 100 pounds, limiting the use of it to trained professionals. While this is not currently available for sale, unless one buys the parts and assembles it themselves, it is being featured in a Smithsonian Documentary.

Air-touch computer Using a combination of see-through eyeglasses, a miniature camera, and air-touch interface, the iAT (i-Air Touch) Technology allows users to interact with their digital data in seemingly mid-air. The glasses display data to both eyes or just one eye, while the camera scans and records input. The air-touch interface relays information back to the glasses and camera, responding to the movements of the user. Reminiscent of 2002’s Minority Report, iAT technology does not require any physical remote, providing users with an experience straight out of their favorite sci-fi films.

egan

how to

safely go As new years resolutions began to solidify, many choose to change their eating lifestyles in the way of going vegan. By definition, to live a vegan lifestyle means to live without consuming dairy, eggs, or meat of any kind. For many, going vegan may seem to be a daunting task, but you may find that by easing into the process, going vegan may not be as difficult as it seems. Initially, “new” vegans may find themselves unsure of where to start. One way to start off becoming vegan is to first identify. Identify which foods you eat on a daily basis aren’t included in the vegan lifestyle; including chicken, butter, milk, or eggs. Then, attempt to find vegan alternatives for the nutrients that these staple items provide to your daily diet. Many of these vegan products have been produced in a way that almost exactly reflects the taste of the original product, as well as provides the same nutrients, which also makes going vegan a much easier

transition. For example, a daily dose of calcium can be found in substitutes like Trader Joes Vegan Cream Cheese, Silk Soy Milk, and Soy and Co products (like soy yogurt). Common cooking materials like butter can be replaced with margarine or Crisco, and when making cake; replace milk with water, and butter with oil. Even desserts can be replaced with ease; Speculoos Cookie and Cookie Butter serves as an effortless substitute for Nutella, and ice-cream cravings can be satisfied with SO Delicious coconut milk ice-cream. Meat can be replaced with simple yet nutritious alternatives like Helen’s Kitchen Organic Veggie Ground, Boca Original Meatless Chicken Nuggets, and even Soyrizo, a delicious, non-vegan chorizo. After identifying the foods you can’t eat, the rest of the process becomes much easier. The first few days are the hardest, as it takes a lot of motivation and persistence to resist that chocolate bar or macaroni and cheese,

M O ST C O M M O N

ingredients SUBSTITUTES

NIKITA DEVDHAR sports editor

the

spinach

Speculoos:

for protein

cookie & cocoa butter

no b u t t e r ? how about some

margarine

being a

ENVIRONMENTALLY

FRIENDLY

according to the UN, meat production and farm factories are responsible for

70%

of freshwater consumption

19%

of greenhouse gas emissions

30%

of Earth’s land use

STRONGER HEART a vegan diet reduces risk of ischemic heart disease by up to 32%

e a t

contains milk

try

P E R K S of

VEGAN

but after a few weeks, your body will adjust to the restrictions. If you’re finding it hard to stay away from non-vegan foods when you go out to restaurants and can’t resist getting “your regular order”, find a few friends that can stay by your side and keep you grounded to your lifestyle. If you’re at home alone and can’t resist certain foods, try putting a rubber band around your wrist and lightly snapping it every time you feel like eating nonvegan foods. Eventually, your taste buds will adjust and get used to vegan replacements. Remember that it’s okay to slip up at first; changing a majority of your everyday diet doesn’t happen overnight. Just remember to take it at your own pace, and stay persistent throughout the whole process. Going vegan may be a huge change in your lifestyle, but through perseverance and the right outlook, you might find it to be much easier than it looks.

nutella

Lifestyles

The Prospector

January 30, 2015

AND drink

soy milk

SAVE MONEY by cutting out the 200 lbs. of meat that meat consumers eat every year, vegans save about $4,000

for calcium

SOURCE: UNIVERSITY OF OXFORD

the murder mystery podcast that is gripping the world A strange, eerie keyboard piano sound begins to play before host Sarah Koenig says, “For the last year, I’ve spent every working day trying to figure out where a high school kid was for an hour after school one day in 1999 – or if you want to get technical about it, and apparently I do, where a high school kid was for 21 minutes after school one day in 1999.” This is how the first episode of the highly popular Serial podcast begins. Created by the producers of the critically acclaimed public radio broadcast This American Life, Serial explores the mysterious death of high school student Hae-min Lee, who was tragically murdered on Jan. 13, 1999, and the subsequent conviction of Lee’s ex-boyfriend, Adnan Syed, who is currently serving life in prison for the crime. First broadcasted on Oct. 3, 2014, the 12-episode series quickly became the most popular podcast in the world and, according to Apple, is the quickest podcast to have reached 5 million downloads. As of the season finale it was estimated to have had 40 million downloads and about 38 million listeners. Serial has brought widespread attention to a case that may have resulted in an incorrect conviction. Since the start of Koenig’s investigation, additional evidence has come to light, including a testimony which seemingly points toward Syed’s innocence. Syed’s case has been accepted by The Innocence Project, a nonprofit organization dedicated to exonerating people through the use of DNA testing. Yet, as the series’ popularity continues to grow, people have increasingly criticized the podcast for a variety of issues. The series is an example of investigative journalism, and delves

into whether Syed was wrongly convicted of Lee’s murder. Each episode of Serial is created as new evidence is uncovered. “From a purely journalistic perspective, I don’t think that that would be acceptable: to have verified knowledge… and you withhold that from your listeners or readers for the purpose of making your story more compelling, that is an ethical problem,” Jane Kirtley, a professor at University of Minnesota’s School of Journalism and Mass Communication, said in an interview with Jessica Goldstein of Think Progress. Serial has also been heavily criticized for dramatizing a real murder story. Radhika Sanghani of The Telegraph said, “[Serial has] turned violence against women into a drama where the the heroine [is] forgotten.” Additionally, User brotherofhaemin, supposedly Lee’s brother, posted on Reddit, “TO ME ITS[sic] REAL LIFE. To you listeners, its[sic] another murder mystery, crime drama, another episode of CSI. You weren’t there to see your mom crying every night, having a [heart attack] when she got the [news] that the body was found, and going to court almost everyday for a year seeing your mom weeping, crying and fainting. You don’t know what we went through.” As enthralling as Serial can be, it is important to remember that the people in the podcast series were real people. This is not CSI or NCIS, but the tragic death of a real high school student. A second season of Serial has already been funded and is underway, though the new story to be featured has yet to be decided. Serial can be streamed online from serialpodcast.org for free.

MELINDA SUN online assistant

TIMELINE of known events 1/13/99

12:00pm

Jay and Adnan go to the mall.

2 : 1 5 p m

21-minute period in which Hae was killed

Hae Min Lee, 18, was found buried in Baltimore’s Leakin Park.

3 : 3 2 p m

Call was placed to Nisha; Jay said they were at the Forrest Park golf course, but the call pings a cell tower near Best Buy.

4 : 2 7 p m Adnan Syed, at 17, was convicted of the murder of his ex, Lee.

PHOTOS COURTESY OF NEWS.COM.AU

Jay Wilds, photo unavailable, Syed’s best friend and key witness against Syed in the trial.

Call to Adnan; Jay said this call came in by the school but it did not ping the tower by the high school.

6 : 2 4 p m

The police called Adnan about Hae’s disappearance; Jay said they were at getting food and later said they were at a friend’s.

TIMELINE

of events, from Jay’s testimonial, 1/13/99

2 : 3 6 p m

Jay picks Adnan up from the Best Buy parking lot after Adnan called him by a pay phone.

3 : 0 0 p m

Jay and Adnan drop off Hae’s car at the I-70 Park-and-Go.

4 : 0 0 p m

Jay and Adnan smoke weed at “The Cliffs” and discuss how to hide the body. This was later dropped from Jay’s testimonial at the trial.

4 : 4 5 p m Jay drops Adnan at school for track practice.

6 : 0 0 p m

Adnan and Jay bury the body at Leakin Park.

DATA FROM HANNA SENDER, BUSINESS TIMES

Sports

w h at d o e s i t ta k e t o relocate a football team? MELINDA SUN online assistant

In light of the recent controversy surrounding claims that the St. Louis Rams will be moving to Los Angeles, many have considered the costs and benefits of relocating a professional sports team. Most professional sports teams face similar dilemmas in deciding whether to relocate a team, and the Rams are no different. The St. Louis Rams football team started as the Cleveland Rams in 1936, and then moved to Los Angeles in 1946, settling in St. Louis in 1995. And now, the team is considering moving back to Los Angeles; Stan Kroenke, owner of Kroenke Sports Enterprises (which owns the St. Louis Rams) has partnered with the Stockbridge Capital group to build a new stadium in Los Angeles, which should be ready in 2018. Yet, the motives for relocating a team and its effects on a team’s publicity and fans are widely unknown. Currently, the Rams play at the Edward Jones Dome stadium in St. Louis; the team has a year-to-year lease on the stadium, which will end after this season. A Sports Illustrated survey reported that fans found the Dome to be the worst stadium in the NFL; furthermore, in 2012, TIME Magazine ranked the Edward Jones Dome the seventh worst major sports stadium in the US. Consequently, the promise of a new, better stadium incentivizes relocation. In St. Louis, however, community leaders are staunchly opposed; on game days, thousands of fans flock to St. Louis to not only watch games, but also spend in restaurants and stores in St.

January 30, 2015

the st. louis’ rams possible relocation causes uproar in the football community

Louis, improving the local economy. In fact, Missouri’s governor has even appointed a task force to work with government officials and the Rams to develop a plan to keep the Rams in St. Louis. Kroenke has already purchased 60 acres of land in Inglewood, CA, however, and is planning to build a stadium which can seat 80,000 people. An improved stadium would attract more spectators, and thus increase profits to the Rams. In addition, the Rams enjoy a very supportive fan base in southern California. The region was the Rams’ home for 49 years, and when the Rams moved to St. Louis in the hopes of attracting a larger audience at games, fans were distraught. In general, when sports teams’ fan turnouts dwindle, teams make less money, and it may simply be a better idea to increase profits by relocating. This, however, is not necessarily the case for the Rams, who enjoy loyal supporters in St. Louis, despite complaints about stadium conditions. In fact, in many instances, team relocation causes criticism because teams leave their loyal fans behind. Yet, the benefits of relocating come at a hefty investment of billions of dollars. 28 NFL franchises have built new stadiums and renovated their facilities with expenses totalling $10 billion –– taxpayers foot $6 billion. Relocating is a huge investment; therefore, a supportive and large fan base is essential to not only balance out any investment, but ultimately, to garner more support from fans, build a better stadium, and make profit. Sports teams that relocate face controversy for “abandoning” their fans and pay a great amount to build and renovate stadiums. Despite this hefty burden, however, all of these efforts are supposed to increase profits.

SUPER BOWL WEEKEND ISABEL LIN

FUN GAMES AND ACTIVITIES

features editor

SUPER BOWL COOK-OFF Have each person bring a dish, and vote on your favorites while watching the game!

THE BEST WAY TO SPEND YOUR TIME RANK SUPER BOWL COMMERCIALS

Vote on every commercial with a scale of 1 to 5, and tally up votes at the end to determine the most liked commercial within your group. Compare the results to the “best Superbowl commercials” on social media the next day!

SUPER BOWL TRIVIA Prepare a list of interesting trivia questions about the Super Bowl and see who can get the most correct!

BROWN SUGAR SMOKIES

COURTESY OF ALLRECIPES.COM

1 pound bacon 1 package little smokie sausages 1 cup brown sugar

Seven Layer Taco Dip Ingredients: 1 package taco seasoning mix 1 can refried beans 1 package softened cream cheese 1 container sour cream 1 jar salsa 1 large tomato, chopped 1 green bell pepper, chopped 1 small iceberg lettuce, shredded 1 can sliced black olives 2 cups shredded cheese Blend taco seasoning mix with refried beans and spread mixture on platter. Mix sour cream and cream cheese, then spread over beans. Layer with salsa, tomatoes, green bell pepper, lettuce, cheese and olives.

FLAG FOOTBALL There’s no better way to get in the right game spirit than physically immersing yourself in a game of flag football with others!

COURTESY OF ALLRECIPES.COM

Preheat oven to 350 ° F. Cut bacon into thirds as strips and wrap each one around a sausage. Place the wrapped sausages on wooden skewers and arrange the skewers on a baking sheet. Sprinkle liberally with brown sugar. Bake until bacon is crisp and sugar is melted.

CARAMEL SNACK MIX 1/2 cup butter 3/4 cup white corn syrup 1 cup packed brown sugar 2 cups nuts or other toppings (e.g. chopped almonds, walnuts) 1 package crispy corn and rice cereal

COURTESY OF ALLRECIPES.COM

Preheat oven to 275 ° F. Mix butter, white corn syrup and brown sugar. Microwave mixture for 2 minutes, or until butter melts. Place the cereal and other toppings into a nonstick roasting pan. Pour the melted butter mixture over the cereal and toppings and mix gently until the cereal and nuts are coated. Bake for 1 hour, then cool, stirring every 15 minutes.

Sports

The Prospector

January 30, 2015

w a t c h o u t f o r. . .

t’s r tha r e k c a ou tr tivity an just y c a th An more atch y a w day w every

FITBITS F E AT U R E S

ALEX SHIEH media liason

Fitbit is a simply structured yet multi-functional tracker designed to assist people in improving their overall health and wellbeing. Fitbit was created by Eric Friedman and James Park in 2008; currently, the product has the industry-leading battery life, and at only 2 inches long and about half an inch thick, is the thinnest, lightest GPS and heart rate device available. Despite its small size, Fitbit contains many essential functions, such as the ability to effectively track activities and monitor sleeping quality. With its highly advanced tracking system, Fitbit targets serious athletes who wish to enrich their workouts. It keeps track of a whole range of data including the number of steps, calories burned, and active minutes throughout the day. This is done with an accelerometer that measures and senses motion patterns. Additionally, Fitbit has a GPS tracking system that benefits traveling athletes as it calculates the distance, pace, route and split times. These statistics can be wirelessly synced to smartphones and computers for increased convenience. Along with helping during athletic activity, Fitbit has a sensitive sleep setting that provides information during sleep, such as the amount of time spent awake and the level of vigorous motions overnight. This setting may strongly benefit individuals with sleeping disorders. However, it has one downside: the sleep setting activates once movement is stopped and heart rate is lowered. Thus, the tracker could falsely record sleep if an individual is not asleep but does not move for a long period of time. Fitbit also possesses another sleep function, the silent wake alarm. This is especially useful as the alarm

watch/ alarm The Fitbit serves as both an actual watch and an alarm that quietly yet efficiently wakes someone up.

activity moniter Fitbit can track your heart rate, with a battery that can last for 7 days.

SLEEP TRACKER The Fitbit has a sleep setting which can calculate the amount of time you spent awake

gently vibrates to wake one up at a desired time, without disturbing anyone else nearby. In addition to the the tracking and sleeping system, the Fitbit has a few extra benefits. As a device that one can wear on the wrist, Fitbit can get an automatic heart rate at any time. This ensures that people are working out at the right intensity. Another benefit of Fitbit is its long-lasting battery, a challenge that many smart watches in the past have struggled with. With a battery life lasting up to seven days, Fitbit stands out from its competing trackers. Despite the many functions that Fitbit posses, some types of Fitbits have more functions than others. The simplest one is the Fitbit Zip, which is primarily used to keep track of exercising goals and progress. After the Fitbit Zip is the Fitbit One; although it contains the track functions just like the Zip, it also has sleep functions. Next is the Fitbit Flex, which contains all the functions of Zip and One, but is a flexible band that comfortably fits around the wrist. The Fitbit Charge is even more advanced; this Fitbit, with all the track and sleep functions, also contains a long battery life. Similar to the FitBit Charge is the Fitbit Charge HR. The only addition to the Charge HR is the heart rate monitor, which although may seem like a little difference, is essential to many athletes. The last one is the Fitbit Surge. This Fitbit contains everything — the track and sleep functions, a long battery life, and a heart rate monitor, as well as a GPS tracker. With all the functions that Fitbit is capable of, it has become an essential tool for many people. Ultimately, Fitbit is now commonly known as the 21st-century pedometer, a device that not only tracks, but senses, monitors, and inspires.

JANUARY SPORTS SCORES BOYS SOCCER

GIRLS BASKETBALL BOYS BASKETBALL VARSITY: 1/6/2015 VS. MONTA VISTA

45 - 53 (LOSS)

1/9/2015 VS SARATOGA

53-45

(WIN)

1/16/2015 VS. SANTA CLARA

39-45

(LOSS)

1/20/2015 VS. MOUNTAIN VIEW

56-44

(WIN)

1/23/2015 VS. LYNBROOK

78-77

(WIN)

JV:

36-52 (LOSS)

1/9/2015 VS SARATOGA

(LOSS)

1/16/2015 VS. SANTA CLARA

37-42

(LOSS)

1/20/2015 VS. MOUNTAIN VIEW

39-46

(LOSS)

1/23/2015 VS. LYNBROOK

36-45

(LOSS)

ALL PHOTOS BY THU DAM

GIRLS SOCCER

1/7/2015 VS. MONTA VISTA

1/6/2015 VS. LYNBROOK

2-2 (TIE)

VARSITY:

1/9/2015 VS MILPITAS

1/8/2015 VS SARATOGA

1/6/2015 VS. LYNBROOK

1/16/2015 VS. SANTA CLARA

1/13/2015 VS. MILPITAS

1/8/2015 VS MONTA VISTA

1/21/2015 VS. HOMESTEAD

1/15/2015 VS. WILCOX

1/13/2015 VS. MILPITAS

1/23/2015 VS. LYNBROOK

1/20/2015 VS. FREMONT

49-27 (WIN) 61-23 44-32

41-35 46-28

1-0

(WIN) (WIN)

(WIN)

0-1 2-0 2-4

(WIN)

(LOSS) (WIN)

(LOSS)

JV:

1/7/2015 VS. MONTA VISTA

1/6/2015 VS. LYNBROOK

1/9/2015 VS MILPITAS

1/8/2015 VS SARATOGA

1/16/2015 VS. SANTA CLARA

1/13/2015 VS. MILPITAS

1/21/2015 VS. HOMESTEAD

1/20/2015 VS. FREMONT

49-32 32-28 34-39

(WIN)

(LOSS)

0-0 2-5

(WIN) (TIE)

(LOSS)

LOS GATOS JV 41-30 (LOSS) VARSITY 42-30 (WIN)

GUNN JV 66-12 (WIN) VARSITY 42-31 (WIN)

(LOSS)

1/15/2015 VS. WILCOX

2-1

(WIN)

(LOSS)

JV: 1/6/2015 VS. LYNBROOK

0-4 (LOSS)

1/8/2015 VS MONTA VISTA

0-0

(TIE)

1/13/2015 VS. MILPITAS

0-7 0-0

(WIN)

WRESTLING

2-3

(WIN)

(LOSS)

1/15/2015 VS. WILCOX

1/23/2015 VS. LYNBROOK

38-27

3-1

3-4

0-1 (LOSS) 2-0

(WIN)

1-1 (TIE)

1/20/2015 VS. FREMONT

JV:

54-37 (WIN)

1/6/2015 VS. MONTA VISTA

48-63

VARSITY:

PALO ALTO JV 51-0 (WIN) VARSITY 52-22 (WIN)

(TIE)

1/20/2015 VS. FREMONT

0-4

(LOSS)

COMPILED BY JESSICA SHIN

Flip Side

January 30, 2015

JANUARY IN PHOTOS THU DAM

THU DAM

BOYS BASKETBALL | Senior Kyle

Avvakumavits defends a pass from a player on Santa Clara’s team during a Friday night game.

THU DAM

QUIZ BOWL | Teachers Kenji Mitchell WINTER RALLY | Senior Samuel Kang MISMATCH DAY | Junior Caroline and Staci Wigton participate in Quiz performs with Korean Club during the Bowl’s lunchtime teachers vs. students Winter Sports rally. game.

GIRLS SOCCER | Junior Jade HarChou and senior Nellie Niu show off their rison and senior Jordan Amick work Tino Spirit by dressing up on Mismatch together to score during a Varsity Soccer Monday. game against Fremont. JEREMY XUE

the

ins

and OUTS of

CUPERTINO

Sometimes when we get busy, we forget to look at the little details. Visit chsprospector.com to see where these zoomedin photos come from!

SCHOOL SPIRIT

B. D.

DANIEL FERTELMEISTER sports assistant

C. F.

H. COMPILED BY THU DAM

NEXT MONTH: FEBRUARY Powderpuff Week

Monday, February 2

Friday, February 13

Comedy Hour

Valentines’ Day Serenades

Friday, February 13

But maybe there’s hope. At Friday night’s basketball game against Lynbrook, I saw spirit that I’ve never seen at Tino. The stands were full and we were louder than we’ve ever been. We cheered together, we laughed together, cried together and, at risk of sounding cheesy (way too late), we won that game together. When we all rushed the court after the win, we were one. So thank you, random basketball crowd, for showing me that maybe Tino’s got it after all.

Presidents’ Week Break

February 16-20

End of Fourth Grading Period

When I imagined coming to high school, I pictured chaos. I pictured rallies where the entire school appeared as a sea of color and deafening noise. I wanted to be on the football field with the entire school in the stands. I wanted everyone to chant. I wanted everyone to love Tino and show that love in the marvelous mayhem that school spirit commands. Well, the marvelous mayhem that school spirit should command. Imagine my surprise when the stands were empty. I mean, I wasn’t exactly expecting our spirit events to cause earthquakes, but when our football team played Fremont (tweety birds) at home on a beautiful Friday night, the away stands had more fans than our side did. At IDC Fantastics, I was forced to sit and watch as a sea of Matadors in purple (stupid color) went to war with an army of Vikings in blue and white (go back to sea). I watched this with the 30 other Pioneers who actually showed up. About half of them were wearing Cardinal. I love the Cardinal and Gold, probably more than most at this school. And that’s the problem. Every time we fail to flood a game with Cardinal and Gold, I’m forced admit to myself that, in at least one way, my school is inferior to the others. Because other people don’t love the Cardinal, I’m seeing green over the Purple and the Blue and the Maroon. The school I love has caused me to envy the ones I hate. When I see pictures from other schools, I’m saddened by the fact that I’ll never see that spirit flowing out of our stands. For the people that go all out, these events are the best parts of high school. We’re missing out. Maybe the grass is just greener on the other side. Or maybe it’s Firebird Maroon, or Lynbrook Blue, or Matador purple. All I know is that we’re missing out, and I can’t stand that.

Friday, February 27

THU DAM