Issue #2 — The Prospector — 2014-2015

W ED N ES DAY, O C TO B ER 29, 2014

Celebrity (and student) activism

The problem with D.A.R.E.

FEATURES pages 6 & 7

OPINIONS page 4

VOLUME 56 NO. 2

Best Buddies

LIFESTYLES page 9

FLIP SIDE page 12

Arangetrams

The Prospector

CHSPROSPECTOR.ORG

Student Newspaper of Cupertino High School

10100 FINCH AVENUE, CUPERTINO, CA 95014

Keeping Tino Clean The trash predicament on campus and the ways students are addressing the issue SERENA NGAN

MYUNG JU SONG news assistant

“One of the worst cases of littering we have seen this year was when someone spilled milk over a half-finished salad and decided to slide the mess across the entire table,” said the school’s custodian Bernardo Chavarria. “It is a complete disrespect for the beautiful campus the administration has spent millions of dollars to provide [students] with,” he added.

Recently, the trash and littering problem in the school has been growing out of hand. Students often fail to clean up after themselves after eating, even when the trash can is merely an arm’s length away. “There is absolutely no reason other than laziness for students who don’t throw away their litter. We have trash cans in literally every corner of the hallways, cafeteria, and two trash cans in each class,” said Chavarria.

Earlier this year, the littering problem grew to a point that there was trash and leftover food left in almost every table in the cafeteria after lunch. With such a blatant display of disrespect and lack of responsibility, the administration was forced to take drastic actions: students must pick up their trash, or Clubs Day would be put on hold. “I think the students need to know that there will

be punishments or rewards for both insulting or commending behavior,” said Principal Kami Tomberlain. “In this case, there was only complete disrespect and lack of ownership for our school — if this littering problem is not reversed, the students need to see the consequences for their lack of maturity.”

Since the warning, the littering situation has noticeably improved. Many students, finally realizing the gravity of the situation, started to clean up after themselves and others. “I became more conscious of the littering in school and reminded myself to pick up my trash every time I ate in the cafeteria,” said senior An-

I became more conscious of the littering in school and reminded myself to pick up my trash every time I ate in the cafeteria. Sometimes, if I had free hands, I picked up trash from nearby tables, too - Senior Angela Choi

The Umbrella Revolution

Hong Kong students protest for democracy in their nation

Bonds J and K An overview of these two measures PETER MARTIN flip side assistant

SERENA NGAN photo editor

In early September 2014, several protests erupted after the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress — China’s legislative body — and the Hong Kong government announced a new process for electing Hong Kong’s next chief executive. As these protests have since grown in scope, the causes and impacts have affected students of the school in different ways, whether they support the protestors, the Chinese government, or a combination.

The protesters were mainly comprised of teens and young adults led by 17-year-old Joshua Wong, the most prominent student leader in Hong Kong and founder of Scholarism, a student organization advocating for a democratic government. On September 28th, Wong led a movement dubbed ‘Occupy Central’ in which protesters trespassed upon Hong Kong’s central government complex. As more joined the already large student movement, the Hong Kong police started to crack down on the protestors, even resorting to physical force, tear gas and pepper spray. In order to stand their ground, several protesters used umbrellas to protect themselves, which is where the name “umbrella movement”

gela Choi. “Sometimes, if I had free hands, I picked up trash from nearby tables, too.”

The school office eventually decided that the trash situation had sufficiently improved and that Clubs Day would take place as usual. Although Clubs Day is back, students still need to take a greater part in taking care of their own campus. “The trash situation has improved, but I still see students failing to throw away their litter,” said custodian Esteban Orozco. “There are cases when students leave their drink on the floor and people kick and walk over the spilled food to cause a bigger mess.”

The school did its part by ordering new trash cans to be installed on campus. These trash cans will encourage students to throw away their trash, and also stop outside elements from disturbing the trash. “Although the seagulls and wind are not big problems as they were in past years, they still tear up the trash cans and spill the trash inside,” Tomberlain said.

The school has taken steps to improve students’ access to locations to dispose of their trash, but has equally stressed the importance of student awareness and responsibility towards the campus. Ultimately, according to Chavarria, “it’s a team effort and part of the Tino pride to clean up after your own school — treat it with respect and the care it deserves.”

JASON MUNOZ

CONNECTIONS TO THE PROTESTORS | Junior Mavis Tsoi

has relatives who are participating in the protests in Hong Kong.

originates from.

After hearing about the student protests in Hong Kong, several students of the school were pessimistic about the success of the movement. “Hong Kong still belongs to China, but Hong Kong is a city with its own culture and chief executive,” said senior Chelsea Hu. “The Hong Kong people are fighting for a democracy — but I don’t think it’s possible for a democracy to exist under China. [Still,] I don’t think it’s fair to tell people that they can vote but not really give them the right to Continued on page 3

This coming November, California voters will be deciding the fate of two important propositions: Measure J and Measure K. First approved in 2004, Measure J will renew the $98 parcel tax that goes towards the Fremont Union High School District. This tax will go towards protecting teacher positions, avoiding increasing class size, and assuring that students are prepared for college and university. A parcel tax is a type of property tax, the rate of which is determined by factors other than property value. These factors can include age of property, frontage, size of property, or a flat rate for all parcel taxes. Anyone over the age of 65 or receiving disability aid is exempted from this tax. This is not a tax increase, simply a renewal of an already existing bill.

Measure K is another bond measure for the school district; it allocates up to $295,000,000 to build new facilities and upgrade the technology currently in schools. The maximum tax rate for this measure would be $21.00 for every $100,000 of assessed property value. These proceeds cannot go towards teacher or administrator salaries, and will be overseen with annual performance audits, along with other safeguards.

Supporters of these measures say that these are vital investments in the future of local schools, while opponents state that it is unnecessary spending and a poor use of tax dollars. The vote will take place on November 4th.

2

News

The Prospector

S TA F F 2014-2015

Cupertino High School Established 1958 Vol LVI, No. 2 | 2014 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 flip side editor delanie medina online editor jay shroff copy editors anirudh pai joyce ye photo editors thu dam serena ngan business manager mark 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 mark wang

flip side assistant

peter martin

online assistant

melinda sun

photo crew

jason munoz aine chatterjee

The Prospector

Pioneering Success

Dear Editor: In Peter Martin’s article in the last issue of THE PROSPECTOR, he presented a rather one-sided and simplistic vision of the recent case regarding the constitutionality of teacher tenure, Vergara vs. The State of California. He chose to include remarks about the negative impacts of teacher tenure without presenting the original reasoning behind it as well as its numerous benefits for schools and communities.

Vergara vs. The State of California is not a case about teacher quality. It is a case about money. Those interested in the history of the issue, or the specific agendas behind Mr. Welch’s case, or his organization, “Students Matter,” as well as the plaintiffs in said case, may find by doing further research that the case is largely motivated by business interests in privatizing the public school system and thus gaining control of the funding which is currently used to administrate schools, rat her than an overt concern for the welfare of students.

Christine McLaughlin, one of the teachers in the case who was named in the case for “gross negligence” in the classroom was the Teacher of the Year in the Pasadena Unified School District during the time that she was apparently an ineffective enough teacher to merit allegations brought against her by a seventh grader who said she didn’t learn anything in the class. Those interested can watch a video of McLaughlin teaching, which will show within a few seconds that she is an engaging teacher creating a rigorous curriculum.

In addition, much of the evidence presented in Vergara was brought against teachers in districts where tenure was not a factor. Diane Ravich, a prominent education blogger, points out that: “Not only did none of them (the plaintiffs) have a “grossly ineffective” teacher, but some of the plaintiffs attended schools where there are no tenured teachers. Two of the plaintiffs attend charter schools, where there is no tenure or seniority, and as you will read below, “Beatriz and Elizabeth Vergara both attend a “Pilot School” in LAUSD that is free to let teachers go at the end of the school year for any reason, including ineffectiveness.” (dianeravich.net) While the issues raised in the Vergara case are certainly worth considering, such as the difficulty of terminating incompetent educators, the vast majority of teachers are good at their jobs, despite a campaign from private interests to defame us. Those among us who should not be in the classroom are few and far between, and are removed accordingly with as little harm to the school community as possible. In the meantime, Teacher tenure remains both a powerful job protection and a moral incentive. Job security allows dedicated, talented teachers who have chosen to spend their lives serving students the freedom to do so, to create innovative curriculum without the fear of being fired due to a superior’s whim or a personality conflict. It allows them to think long term and invest in the excellence of the programs they create.

The job protections that teachers enjoy are not a drain on the public.

They allow a group of extremely dedicated individuals to do our jobs every day and do them well. This can only benefit our society both today and in the future.

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

Student starts free, specialized tutoring program SERENA NGAN

THE FOUNDER | Senior Vinh Truong spearheaded this effort to provide tutoring services to students at no cost.

ANIRUDH PAI copy editor

The academic performance of students at the school ranks among the best in California; however, students often require additional assistance with their schoolwork. Typical tutors or tutoring programs routinely cause students to pay huge sums of money for even one tutoring session. Yet senior Vinh Truong wants to benefit the student population through his tutoring program, Pioneering Success, which aims to assist students with a multitude of subjects ranging from world literature and computer science to SAT and ACT prep.

“Throughout high school, there were plenty of tutors that were overcharging for [even] an hour [of tutoring],” Truong said. “I didn’t have enough money for any of them, so I really had to rely on struggling on my own in order to understand [certain] topics. However, I’d like to change that for the future of [the school] by providing a service that can give free access to tutoring for all.”

Although the school offers its own opportunities for free tutoring, such as the Student Center for Success, its programs lack the number of subjects that Pioneering Success offers. Furthermore, Pioneering Success tutors are selected for their expertise in their respective subjects.

Students find tutors in their desired subjects by going to the Pioneering Success website and then scheduling an appointment, in which they discuss the specialized help they need.

Pioneering Success by the Numbers

Sincerely, Arcadia Conrad Drama Teacher

21 tutors

Checkmate!

Student places fifth in international chess competition

12 subjects offered

30+ people signed up so far

COURTESY OF PIONEERING SUCCESS AND ANIRUDH PAI

Cities implement policies to assist homeless population DIANA KRUZMAN editor-in-chief

In recent years, the issue of homelessness in the Bay Area has come to the attention of local residents, as a lack of affordable housing and persistent unemployment have contributed to an increasing homeless population. At the same time, cities in Santa Clara County, such as San Jose and Santa Clara, are taking crucial steps to address the issue with a different approach — one focused on providing affordable housing in order to solve the problem at its roots.

According to Michelle Covert, who works for the Homelessness Response Team for the City of San Jose’s Housing Department, the homeless population of

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.

October 29, 2014

THU DAM

CHESS MASTER | Freshman Vignesh Panchanatham is considered among the most skilled youth chess players in the world.

12,000

Estimated number of homeless in San Jose

ALEX SHIEH media liason

Yes

Has substance abuse impacted your living situation?

No

$4 Million

Money targeted towards shutting down the “jungle” COMPILED BY DIANA KRUZMAN

While many individuals are busy enough with academics alone, freshman Vignesh Panchanatham manages to exceed not only as a student, but also as a champion chess player.

After nine years of training, Panchanatham is currently known for being one of the top youth chess players in the world.

His chess career began when his father taught him the rules of the board game and devoted time to play a game with him everyday.

At first, Panchanatham would invariably lose, but as time progressed, the results advanced in his favor. Most recently, he competed at the World Youth Championship in South Africa, placing fifth out of around 1,000 people from 90 countries.

To maintain and improve such a high ranking, Panchanatham spends a significant amount of time on chess. These times Continued on page 3

Santa Clara County is the fifth largest of any county in the nation; the last census, in January 2013, counted 4,700 homeless individuals, which research firms estimate to total around 12,000 homeless in total in the City of San Jose.

Although a common stereotype emphasizes the influence of drugs and alcohol on homelessness, only about 24 percent of homeless individuals say that substance abuse has impacted their living situation, according to Covert. Instead, a lack of affordable housing options, compounded by unemployment, is the main contributor to homelessness in the Bay Area.

“As jobs are coming into the tech sector, these higher-income employees are competing with poorer people for places to rent,” said Covert. “There is a lack of affordable housing [in the Bay Area], because the rental market has only a 1 to 2 percent vacancy. [When choosing between tenants with a higher or lower income], landlords will ultimately choose those with a higher income,” meaning that many Continued on page 3

News

The Prospector

October 29, 2014

3

NEWS BRIEFS North Korean dictator Kim Jong Un disappeared from public view for a period of over 40 days, even missing the anniversaries for the establishment of the Korean Worker’s Party and the founding of the North Korean State.

His lengthy disappearance piqued the interest of various intelligence officials in the U.S. and elsewhere, and sparked rumors of his death or a coup. However, Kim was spotted in photographs again on October 14, sporting a cane.

The 2014 Nobel Prize Laureates were announced throughout October. Various projects received awards, including efficient blue light-emitting diodes (LED), high resolution fluorescence microscopy, and the discovery of a positioning system in the brain. Additionally, Patrick Modiano was awarded the prize for Literature, Kailash Satyarthi and Malala Yousafzai the Peace Prize, and Jean Tirole the prize in Economic Sciences.

Thomas Eric Duncan, a Liberian national who was the first case of Ebola diagnosed in the United States, passed away on October 8 after succumbing to the disease. Nurse Nina Pham, one of two nurses who cared for Duncan, was consequently suspected of contracting the disease, and was taken to the National Institutes of Health in Maryland; she has since been released and declared free of the virus.

Her colleague is still under observation.

The Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) continues to gain momentum as more people join the extremist movement. Multiple attacks have been made by ISIS on important Syrian and Iraqi locations, including one strike on the Mosul Dam in Iraq. In collaboration with several other countries including Canada and France, the United States led air strikes and dropped arms and aid to Kurds defending the Syrian town of Kobani.

COMPILED BY STEPHANIE SHI

Protests in Hong Kong affect students Continued from page 1 do it.”

Despite the fact that these protests are taking place halfway across the globe, several Cupertino students’ families are affected by the movement. “I have [a] cousin who is more active in participating in these events,” said junior Mavis Tsoi. “She’s younger than me but she has a very strong opinion and she says things like, ‘you can’t just sit there and not do anything.’ She’s affected by the strikes in Wan Chai where the schools are closed down [in order to support the movement]. She doesn’t complain about it; she supports it. She even goes with her mom and dad to University to listen to [civil disobedience] talks and allows herself to be exposed to social conflicts.”

In China, censorship is the norm in contemporary media. Even so, many citizens were outraged when they noticed the wide difference in news content between Hong Kong and China’s news stations, and this outrage extended to many students at the school. “For the Chinese government, censorship is important because that is how they maintain stability,” Hu commented. “In China, a lot of people are paid to censor things on the internet, so it’s bad for the people in that they don’t have access to the information about the government and what they’re doing, but there are always ways to get around it. The Chinese government is really controlling — once you start getting into the mentality of ‘I have to control the media,’ it just gets tighter and tighter because people are always going to have something to say and then it just gets more strict.”

Even with the support of media from all over the world, the chances of the protests in Hong Kong becoming successful are slim. Said Tsoi, “To be honest, if you think about it, the students aren’t going to completely get their way and get a complete democracy because China’s still in control. But by voicing their opinion, they can either delay the oppressiveness of the Chinese government or they won’t be as strictly controlled by Chinese executives. So, to a certain degree, [Hong Kong citizens] still need to somewhat respect the Chinese government, and perhaps by voicing their opinions they’ll be able to reach a compromise, which would be better for everyone.”

Student succeeds as chess champion Continued from page 2 vary from three to five hours of playing chess and studying chess books.

Despite the abundance of time he spends on chess, Panchanatham does not intend to pursue chess as a future career.

“Actually, I want to be a lawyer… [but] I’m sure chess will help me in the analytic sense,” Panchanatham said. “However, I would still like to [become] a grandmaster before I graduate from high school.”

Grandmaster, the level that Panchanatham hopes to reach, is the highest class of any chess player. The path to the grandmaster level will certainly be no easy task, but it is a goal that Panchanatham believes he can achieve. As Panchanatham pursues his professional goal, he offers his advice to any inexperienced chess players hoping to improve and succeed.

Said Panchanatham, “Play as much [chess] as you can, because you need all the experience you can get.”

New policies towards homeless in Bay Area Continued from page 2 lower-income residents can’t find housing, and ultimately take shelter in the streets.

The imminent closing of “The Jungle”, a large homeless encampment in San Jose, indicates a shift in policy away from trying to get rid of the homeless and instead towards helping them; although the dismantling of this encampment, scheduled for December of this year, has the potential to displace homeless individuals that have nowhere else to go, the city has been making an effort to help the homeless instead of simply forcing them out. Prior to the closing of the encampment, the City has carried out an 18-month project, called the Rapid Re-Housing Pilot Project, to place 200 “Jungle” inhabitants in affordable homes before it’s closed. So far, the project has assisted 88 individuals in transitioning into permanent housing, and has provided 59 more with subsidies that could eventually lead to housing as well. The project has so far targeted $4 million toward shutting down the Jungle; aside from the City of San Jose, Santa Clara County as a whole has provided between $850,000 and $900,000 in annual, supportive housing services for Jungle residents.

According to Covert, this project and others have elicited favorable reactions from both homeless and non-homeless residents. “[Homeless residents] are very willing to accept housing assistance if we can help them find a suitable place to live,” Covert said. “Of those interviewed, about 93 percent say, “If you could find us an affordable place to live, we would take it in a heartbeat.”

Of the non-homeless residents, “many are very compassionate, but also very frustrated because they see so many homeless individuals - in encampments, in the park, in tents at the side of the street,” Covert said. “They want solutions, but the city doesn’t have enough money to house everyone.”

The advances in Santa Clara County’s approach towards housing the homeless have already had a noticeable impact on the homeless population. However, as the dearth in affordable housing continues and unemployment persists, more changes will have to be made to address the issue. According to Covert, the City can’t do it by itself — “[San Jose] needs the help of other cities, of the county,” and of the citizens combined.

Students express concern over some school facilities MELISSA SILVA lifestyles assistant

Despite the addition of new facilities following construction on campus, there seems to be a shortage of many campus utilities. The increasing number of students at school calls for a greater amount of bike racks, tables, and other student necessities.

One problem many students have encountered is the lack of space for storing bikes safely. However, according to Assistant Principal Geoff Wright, “There are some underutilized bike racks out by the pool […] that are empty during the day, which is causing the overcrowding in our campus.”

Furthermore, some students would prefer to have more outdoor tables. “There’s only one table in front of the wagon wheel,” said sophomore Isabella Cavlan. “A lot of people are forced to sit on the ground…

I think an improvement that could be made is to make more seating available for students outside.”

Another issue students have noticed is that there are not enough water fountains on campus. With only about six or seven water fountains for over 2000 students, “it isn’t a whole lot,” Wright said. There are, however, some long-term campus renovation plans that may bring more drinking fountains to the school in the years to come.

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Opinions

the flaws in

school

October 29, 2014

drug education DANIEL FERTELMEISTER sports assistant

80%

20% middle school

elementary

10% high school

Fact: drugs are dangerous. Also a fact: police don’t want teenagers doing them. It’s a logical chain of thought, and the first step in preventing dangerous drug use is obviously to educate students on the dangers of it. Drug use is definitely something that should be PERCENTAGES OF AMERICAN CHILDREN WHO RECIEVE D.A.R.E AND FOLLOW UP DRUG fought, but D.A.R.E. and other proEDUCATION THROUGHOUT SCHOOL grams like it are not the way to fight it, COURTESY OF TIME.COM because unfortunately, nobody is going to completely stop high schoolers from doing drugs. Instead, D.A.R.E. only exacerbates the problem, and highlights the fact that drug education in America needs to be revised.

D.A.R.E. — Drug Abuse Resistance Education — is the nation’s leading drug education program. It’s been around since 1983 and is implemented in elementary and middle schools around the country. Programs like this are made to provide vital information about the dangers of drug use to students, leading them to make safer decisions in the future — or at least that’s the goal. The reality is that they employ an extremely ineffective “just say no” strategy, which fails to actually provide students with the information they need regarding drug use, leaving them with no knowledge beyond the general idea that “drugs are dangerous.”

The programs’ foremost issue is the extent of their education is very surface level — they simply inform the students of the existence of drugs. They don’t do enough to actually warn students of the dangers of these drugs. Furthermore, their “just say no” policy is very poorly suited for its teenage subjects; for example the programs feature exaggerated emphasis on the dangers of marijuana. Obviously, marijuana isn’t exactly Tylenol, but

it isn’t heroin either. The true dangers of pot are disputed, but research has shown that it is no more dangerous than alcohol or cigarettes. D.A.R.E., however, has seemingly ignored this research, and continues to paint pot as an extremely dangerous gateway drug. That is where the falsehoods of the program come to display. Research has proved that marijuana use is not tied directly to the use of harder drugs, such as cocaine or heroin. In fact, states that have legalized medical or recreational marijuana use have not experienced an increase in the use of more dangerous drugs. Marijuana is not completely safe by any means, but the exaggerated emphasis that the program places on pot is entirely unfounded. Unfortunately, D.A.R.E.’s “just say no” inclination fails to teach students the difference between more dangerous and a recent study showed that suburban kids who less dangerous drugs, so when some students inevitawent through the bly decide to experiment, they are not aware of what is d.a.r.e. program were 3-5% truly dangerous and what is not. more likely to do drugs Finally, D.A.R.E. has shown an obvious disthan those who connect from its targets. A quick visit to its webwere not d.a.r.e. graduates site reveals a few of the “warning signs” that may mean that a teenager is using no d.a.r.e drugs. These include extremely dangerous habd.a.r.e. its such as “locked doors” and “going out every night.” These claims are simply ridiculous. What D.A.R.E. has failed to acknowledge is that their role is to educate teenagers. And educating teenagers does not mean labeling angst as dangerous behavior. These so-called “warning signs” don’t mean drug use, they mean teenage behavior — and overemphasizing this behavior simply serves to drive teenagers further away from the initial message of the dangers of drug abuse.

In short, D.A.R.E. hasn’t lived up to its name. Its goal is drug education, but what it delivers is simply a failing attempt at drug prevention. Numerous studies have shown that students of D.A.R.E. and similar programs are each day no less likely — and in some cases even more likely — to use hard drugs. These programs don’t educate teenagers about drugs, they simply tell them to abstain. And that U.S. YOUTH UNDER 18 will never work. The system needs to be one of educated SMOKE FOR THE FIRST TIME. suggestion, allowing students to make smarter decisions.

3,800

facing their mistakes

the NSA intercepts 1.7 billion emails, texts, phone calls, and other electronic communications every day.

COURTESY OF THE WASHINGTON POST

fluctuate even without nonverbal cues or direct interventions.

Facebook justifies its actions using its Terms and Conditions, which Facebook claims grants the social network the ability to conduct such studies.

Indeed, Sheryl Sandberg, Chief Operating Officer of Facebook, bluntly stated that “[the study] was poorly communicated. And for that communication we apologize. We never meant to upset you.” Sandberg’s words give the impression that Facebook’s only fault in this incident is a minor “communication error.” Unfortunately, Facebook is missing the bigger point: users simply don’t know what they are signing up for when they agree to open any account, whether it’s Facebook, iTunes, or any other online provider. The Terms and Conditions, those hundreds of pages (literally) of text that essentially no one reads, indeed carry implications that allow Facebook to encroach on users’ liberties in ways they may never imagine or accept. Except users don’t even know what rights they waived or what sorts of rights Facebook gives itself in its Terms and Conditions.

Of course, the only way to truly combat this is to refuse to click “accept” on the Terms and Conditions. This will most likely not result in any substantial change, as Facebook has been interwoven

facebook and other online companies owe their users confidentiality BRIAN ZHONG news editor

Every day, over 750 million users log onto Facebook, scroll through their friends’ photos, like and comment on statuses, and share their everyday lives with others. For many, this has become routine; they don’t consciously think of their actions or what others may be observing as they continually respond to Facebook notifications. They often times don’t question the safety or privacy of their information, or consider whether anyone else is monitoring their activities online. They may be justified in their confidence in Facebook to uphold their rights. But fallout over a recent study performed on over 700,000 users should greatly undermine users’ confidence in Facebook.

This study, conducted by Facebook on unsuspecting users, seeks to determine whether the moods of the posts on users’ Facebook news feeds influence their dispositions. Facebook removed positive posts and injected more negative posts, taking note of users’ responses to these changes. The study concluded that emotions are contagious and can

1

so deeply into the fabric of users’ daily lives. But there is much more that Facebook customers can. They can voice their opinions to Facebook about the troubling problems with the Terms and Conditions. They can use social media as a means to raise awareness about the issue, by starting campaigns and encouraging their fellow Facebook users to actively seek out information.

The world is rapidly becoming digitized; every aspect of everyday life, from purchasing goods to communicating information, has been revolutionized by the the Internet. Concerns regarding the powers of the companies and the ability of these organizations to abuse their powers will simply heighten. The NSA surveillance program, companies’ ability to track location and search history — all of these translate to a lack of communication between technology companies and its users. Consumers simply cannot comprehend the enormous amount of data that companies have, and that poses a troubling concern, considering how ubiquitous technology has been in their lives. The next generation of Internet users must take a leading role in constructing the infrastructure that will govern their activities on the Internet.

COURTESY OF FACEBOOK.COM

in

4

facebook users have no privacy settings

photo crew

MARK WANG business manager

rent system lies in that there is a large number of workers would like to work legally in the United States, but cannot due to inaccessibility of worker visas, pushing many to forego the legal migration process and go through illegal means to obtain work. Expanding worker visa programs like H1B and H2 would allow those workers to obtain work opportunities in America through legal means and benefit many employers who would otherwise hire undocumented workers for labor-heavy work.

However, despite the issue of fairness, deportation of America’s 12 million undocumented residents is not a viable option either because it often ignores the ties of undocumented parents to children and tears families apart.

Instead, the long term solution for those hiding in the shadows for years is to encourage them to come out and give them a pathway, such as a legal document, that allows them to stay legally, work, and pay taxes. Through the legalization of those undocumented residents, they may apply for the citizenship process in the waiting line as those immigrating legally. However, those newly legal residents must fulfill their obligations in the process by learning to communicate in English, be of good moral character, and uphold the Constitution.

Furthermore, many undocumented young adults were brought to the United States illegally as children. Though first unaware of their situation, they eventually have to confront the issue of being an illegal in a country they consider their home. Legislation, such as the DREAM Act, plays a fundamental role in providing those undocumented residents opportunities to reach the dreams that their parents had hoped so

J.D. SALINGER

RYE

in the

CATCHER

the

It’s time to change U.S. policy towards undocumented immigrants

george orwell

MOCKINGBIRD

Romeo and Juliet

fitzgerald

TO KILL A

Today’s best-selling young-adult fiction covers a variety of genres, from dystopian fiction like The Hunger Games to realistic fiction like The Fault in our Stars.

One category, however, is often missing. Young adults’ reading lists are often lacking in classics — works that have proven their worth both in culture and education over generations. While the school incorporates classic novels, like The Scarlet Letter and To Kill and Mockingbird, into its English curriculum, students rarely take the initiative to read classics outside of English class.

The value of reading culturally important works of literature cannot be underestimated for several reasons. References to classic novels, particularly in TV and movies, are ubiquitous, mainly because classics oftentimes reflect common experiences among humans. Being able to find these shared experiences in the literature that people read is what makes classics so relatable; however, many students do not value classics despite this connection.

One explanation is that classics can be difficult for high schoolers to find interest in because “15 or 16 year old student[s]... don’t have a lot of those kinds of [shared] experiences in [their lives] yet,” as World Core and VMC teacher Carley Stavis noted. Often, students may read a classic novel in high school, but the meaning and significance of it may not become apparent to them until much later in their lives. In spite of this, reading classics as a teenager, as opposed to as an adult, still has

its value. Teachers acknowledge that classics may not necessarily be the most engaging or interesting of stories for high school students. On the other hand, integrating them into the curriculum provides students with the opportunity not only to read a widely respected novel, but to be able to discover its value and the role it plays in society, which is where a classic differs from modern young adult literature. It is difficult to teach students about the cultural significance behind more recent books, but with classics, such a large number of people have read, analyzed, and discussed them that society has almost come to an agreement regarding their importance and the lessons they teach.

The bottom line is that while classics are often not the most exciting of books to read, if one can get past the monotony that is often off-putting for teenagers, they might find hidden meaning lurking between the lines. shakespeare

AINE CHATTERJEE

THE GREAT GATSBY |

why indulging in classic literature is important for students

5 harper lee

ANimal farm

good old classics

As the 2014 mid-term elections approach, many politicians are eager to boost their campaigns with brushed-up credentials and exaggerated promises. However, immigration reform may possibly be the one issue some politicians choose to avoid in fear of losing their voters and eventually their campaigns, despite many calls for such reform. Perhaps the problem lies with how divided people are on how to fix immigration, but many Americans believe that status quo is no longer an option. Americans must recognize that their country’s immigration laws are broken, and that necessary fixes to those laws would benefit America much more than many may think.

Addressing immigration issues is an often emotional task – especially among large immigrant groups like Latinos. It is worth sympathizing with the difficulties of those immigrants who have no choice but leave their countries in search of better opportunities, and their only beacon of hope is the United States. After all, America’s greatness is built upon the sweat, blood, and tears of hard-working immigrants.

However, only legal immigration should be allowed; it is not fair for wishful immigrants who wait many years in the legal process that someone else could reside in the country without any legal consent at all. Unfortunately, the cause of much illegal immigration in the U.S. is the inefficiency of the current immigration system, where it often takes years to be able to legally enter and reside in the U.S. Therefore, making the immigration process easier and more efficient to go through for many immigrants would bring down illegal immigration by a large number.

One example of the inefficiency of the cur-

Opinions

The Prospector

October 29, 2014

much for. Taking away that opportunity would only reinforce the hardships those capable individuals would face in this country. A further step is to expand the legislation to allow those who participate in such programs to gain a green card, so they can become able legal residents and contribute to America’s economy.

Many argue that legalizing undocumented residents would incentivize more people to immigrate illegally. It is sensible enough then to say that the United States, as a sovereign nation, should enforce its borders more tightly to prevent future illegal immigration. But prevention should also start in countries with histories of large emigration. To truly solve the problem at its roots, the United States should cooperate with several countries to undertake relief programs to aid people in desperate economic situations so that many people would able to cope with their living conditions in their countries and not feel the need to emigrate elsewhere.

Immigration reform is the paramount issue of the current day, yet progress has been slow.

Acknowledging that the issue must be solved, politicians should put aside their party affiliation and work in bipartisan ways. Fixing the broken immigration laws is no easy task, but compromise is the only way to get things done in today’s tight-locked political system.

POLITICAL CARTOON

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STUDENTS &

PUT THE

On Feb. 14, 2014, actress Ellen Page came out publicly as a gay woman in a speech for a Human Rights Campaign Foundation Conference.

In her speech, Page acknowledged and advocated for LGBTQ — lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and questioning — issues, and discussed the influence of the media on defining “standards of beauty, of a good life, [and] of success,” all of which she admitted had affected her to some extent.

The Human Rights Campaign (HRC) seeks to promote equality for mem- b e r s of the LGBTQ community by using its platform to spur conversation about LGBTQ rights and educate people about how certain laws will affect members of the community.

In these efforts, one triumph the uistrem M. Nam ad in HRC hasdum hadpullatatio involved iur. rallying supporttratium adhuis stilis. The Eferesta poerfirtertu ers of gay marriage.

HRC created a videm facchus logo —termaximum a red equal sign withreia pationdam pink backin patus hebem erum prox non diestiam te, Castillegit, faudetimpl. Ve, catur, volus es ci in viliculiis, sed condiis delicave, Catis bonsimihil hac rent. Etorum di iam hostanum publibus ductum mentero perox moricae de-

ground — as a symbol muspe rehemus satque for marriage pra? Ta modiur.equalTum ity.

When que California’s noverteli, nonum Proposition tried tes con Etri,8 was for praet in court, sumunte the HRCpaturs urged proptis users of social to es conostum ad media num adchangeffrenitum their profile huide tam picfiri tures to cur. this Em iconic logo postam dienter to show support for marfenducerem. riage tus, equality.

Forte utem After tem, thistere,logo first sil demwas comnost posted efac on the HRC factus re tuam website,locumFacebook autum egil vireported vit; host 2.7 firteatmillion firte moreSertiquam changes inopubliprofile int. pictures in one day than cae porum ne terentem, usual. nimurniactam der hoHRCinthasopubalso rununThe testiaes made significant lic ienius fuita inprogress telum in legalizing avolut vite nigay conmarriage Itastus in individual states.

Ralfit verficiem ad fatessus lying supporters legalet publint ractati toentrae, ize marriage equality in cuppl.

Mae nihiliu ropubit the District of Columbia, fuerives?

Quod si publis the organized coaliforedHRC nostis, nostien adessen tion andproptia committed two pris staff tatilici vivitis, members intilique to host weddings and parimum virmis; nonencourage of marriage equalsum. Rae support pori contrae audachuitra ity. In New York, HRC reports that res clustus, que inthe Etracips, sessolium itnonoxim “led theaurnihilis largest field campaign in re nic intis iamever atiliis support of state LGBT rights legislation. ” hos verum egerficur, que quam audam ia? support of Mullabest? well-knownItur, figFuiu With iam dithe se ferbi perios ures suchmeasaus, Ellen Page, theesHRC continues noculiu nihi, veri, coeredius, nos to fight for marriage equality in individual hos, noximum nit, merur hil vividena, vo, states, and works endmor discrimination of LGTi. At veres criu cetocam abemura consula BTQ individuals. avestiquam ut Catus paridetius, nonsuam terrid patiquam dem est vigilia ompes occhili, forum ocae

SPOTL MAITHILEE KANTHI lifestyles editor

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As ice caps melt and l fills multiply, the world is fin starting to take notice. Bei eco-friendly is tres chic now days, and no one exemplifies th better than mega-celebrity Le ardo DiCaprio. DiCaprio, winn of various environmental an humanitarian awards, has been involved in environmental activism for over fifteen years. In 1998, he founded the Leonardo DiCaprio Foundation, which focuses on three key issues: protecting biodiversity, conserving uistrem dum pullatatio iur. oceans and forests, andadhuis fightM. Nam ad in tratium ing change.

The LDF stilis.climate Eferesta poerfirtertu viuses social media and partnerdem termaximum facchus rei ships with environmental pationdam in patus hebemleaders erum to raise funds and promote public prox non diestiam te, Castillegit, exposure for these crises.

Recently, faudetimpl. Ve, catur, volus es ci in the organization has focused projects viliculiis, sed condiis delicave, Caranging from providing protection for tis bonsimihil hac rent. Etorum di iam tigers from extinction to preserving Anthostanum publibus ductum mentero arctica’s landscape. perox moricae demuspe rehemus satque “[DiCaprio] currently serves on the pra? Ta modiur. Tum noverteli, que nonum board of the World Wildlife Fund, Oceans tes con Etri, for praet proptis sumunte paturs 5, Seas, The Natural Dees Pristine conostum ad num adhuideResources ffrenitum tam fense Council, and International Fund firi postam cur. Em dienter fenducerem. for Animal Welfare,” sayssilJustin Winters, director Forte tus, utem tem, tere, dem comnost facof the LDF. However, DiCaprio does not as tus efac re tuam autum locum egil vivit;act host simply as a pretty face to gain publicity for these firteat firte int. Sertiquam opublicae porum ne campaigns.

While he uses der his own socialtestiaes media terentem, nimurniactam horunun platforms to promote awareness for certain int opublic ienius fuita in telum avolut vite issues, ni con he is alsofitanverficiem informedad individual has theractati credItastus fatessus who et publint ibility to serve on all of the boards he is currently entrae, cuppl. Mae nihiliu ropubit fuerives? Quoda part of. Through his experience and research, si publis fored nostis, nostien dessen tatilici

MENTAL IS

online assistant

ENVIRON

MELINDA SUN

LGBTQ IS S U ES

October 29, 2014

LGBTQ ISSUES cont.

Like the HRC, the school’s Gay-Straight Alliance (GSA) aims to end discrimination of LGBTQ individuals, although on a slightly smaller scale.

According to the GSA website, one of the goals of the GSA is to “[provide] a sense of community and a space for LGBTQ and straight ally youth to build a social network where their identity is respected.” The GSA also resolves to ”educate the school community about homophobia, transphobia, gender identity, [and] sexual orientation issues.” To achieve this GSA hosts pride weeks and raises awareness of these matters.

Last year, the school’s GSA undertook a project to increase awareness and promote rights for LGBTQ individuals. Club members organized an “Ally Week” activity in the quad where students pledged to help end discrimination and held up posters to show their support for the LGBTQ

community.

Sophomore Rebecca Nissen participated in the project, noting that the project was “a way to be open about things [students] don’t usually talk about. [LGBTQ support] is not widely discussed.

This project showed that there are people on campus who support this community.”

The GSA also hosted a project in honor of Harvey Milk, the first openly gay Californian politician. Milk’s election, according to the Harvey Milk Foundation, was ”groundbreaking.” It “symbolized the freedom to live life with authenticity to millions of LGBTQ women and men around the world.” Milk’s election was historic, and his subsequent assassination rallied his supporters; to celebrate Milk’s accomplishments, on Harkvey Milk Day in May of this year, the GSA handed out free milk and cookies in the quad. Activities like this help further GSA’s mission of acceptance.

ENVIR

PHOTOS BY SERENA NGAN

Urban Cupertino has more concrete than grass, but that doesn’t stop members o the school’s Environmental Club from look ing past their own backyards.

“We’re really focused on addressing the drought in California right now,” said presi dent Jonathan Mo. “At our meetings we fo cus on brainstorming tips and information to [compile] into an infographic.”

Most Environmental Club meetings focus on educating their members on cur rent events, such as the drought in Califor nia, as well as discussing possible actions the community can take. Many students often believe that the impacts of climate change don’t directly affect them, and those that are aware of their own actions often find it hard to make any significant changes to alleviate their carbon footprints. For this reason, the

proptia F v i v i tis, pris parimum intilique virmis; nonsum.

Rae pori contrae audachuitra res clustus, que in Etracips, sessolium nonoxim aurnihilis re nic intis iam atiliis hos verum egerficur, que quam audam ia? Fuiu iam di se ferbi perios Mullabest? Itur, nocuDiCaprio has made himliu me aus, nihi, veri, self into a knowledgees coeredius, nos hos, able spokesperson for noximum nit, merur the various causes he hil vividena, vo, Ti. At supports.

His dedicaveres criu ce cam mor tion and consula perseverance abemura aveshave recently earnedparihim tiquam ut Catus adetius, role as the United nonsuam Nations’ climate terrid patiquam change represendem est vigilia tative, ompes offering occhili, him forumthe oca chance to reach out to a wider group of leaders who can in turn make environmentally friendly programs accessible to their respective countries.

While DiCaprio admits that the environmental problems facing the world are not singular and easy to tackle, he greatly believes in the idea that younger generations can be the ones to solve them. “The world is now at a turning point, and climate change is the defining issue of our time,” DiCaprio said at the Clinton Global Citizen Awards. “The task before us to protect this planet will require the largest movement in human history. It will have to cross all cultural, religious and political boundaries. But the good news is the solutions are ready, and with leaders [...] who do not shrink in the face of crisis. They can rise, they can inspire and they can contribute.

And that truly is the best hope of planet Earth.”

CELEBRITIES ON

DELANIE MEDINA flip side editor

FEMINISM

Earlier this summer, actress Emma Watson was named a United Nations Women Goodwill Ambassador. Through her involvement with the U.N., Watson has been causing ripples in the fight against gender inequality. Most recently, she gave a zealous speech on feminism and gender roles at the U.N. headquarters in New York to promote her “HeForShe” campaign, which aims to motivate men and women across the United States to advocate for the end of gender discrimination.

During her speech, Watson addressed a common misconception associated with uistrem dum pullatatio iur.femiM. nism, that “[it]adhuis has become Nam noting ad in tratium stilis. an unpopular word,” videm as many Eferesta poerfirtertu terpeople believe feminists’ actions maximum facchus rei pationdam “are seen ashebem too strong, aggresin patus erumtoo prox non sive, isolating, anti-menfaudetimpl. and unatdiestiam te, Castillegit, tractive. ” volus Watson on Ve, catur, es cicommented in viliculiis, sed the beliefdelicave, that manyCatis campaigns, like condiis bonsimihil “Women portray hac rent. Against EtorumFeminism,” di iam hostanum the fight for equality as “man-hating,” publibus ductum mentero perox moriso hopes HeForShe will finally putmoto caeshe demuspe rehemus satque pra? Ta rest “usnoverteli, vs. them” que mentality. diur.the Tum nonum tes con Etri, for she received her praetAlthough proptis sumunte paturs escriticism conostumfor ad num speech, involvement with the U.N. adhuideher ffrenitum tam firi postam cur.has Embrought dienter some much-needed attention to the prominent genfenducerem. der inequality problem. been the facefactus of a popForte tus, utem tem, sil Having tere, dem comnost efac ular film autum franchise in Harry Potter, Watson’s widespread re tuam locum egil vivit; host firteat firte int. Serinfluence amongst porum the younger generation is sure to beder an tiquam opublicae ne terentem, nimurniactam asset in combating theopublic new equality horunun testiaes int ieniusmovement. fuita in telum avolut vite ni con Itastus fit verficiem ad fatessus et publint ractati entrae, cuppl. Mae nihiliu ropubit fuerives? Quod si publis fored nostis, nostien dessen tatilici proptia vivitis, pris parimum intilique virmis; nonsum. Rae pori contrae audachuitra res clustus, que in Etracips, sessolium nonoxim aurnihilis

RONMENTALISM cont.

e of k-

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club implemented the Walk One Week program last year. Students were encouraged to walk, bike, or carpool to school in an attempt to reduce carbon emissions.

For many, the term “environmentalist” holds a negative connotation of an extreme, overtly “green” individual, thus preventing many people from embracing the title. Environmental Club works to redefine the name and make environmentalism “cool”.

“I think it’s important to use public figures [to promote environmentalism] because they attract the wanted attention that [activists] need in order to be successful in promotion,” said officer Quinten Pabon.

“They give you that boost that sheds light on the important matter at hand.”

The environmentalist movement is not simply focused around climate change, as

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Features

The Prospector

October 29, 2014

FEMINISM cont.

media would have one believe. While climate change is a significant portion of the international movement, environmentalism covers a wide array of topics, from pollution to animal extinction. Environmental Club works to bring these far-reaching issues back to a community level in order to get members directly involved. In addition to educating members on key events in the environmental community, the club also partners with outside organizations, such as Our City Forest, to provide students with volunteer opportunities.

“In the past, we’ve done creek clean-ups and planted trees,” said junior Ethan Shen.

“What we’re trying to do is volunteering that’s actually focused, and if it’s something that [our members] care about, then it won’t even feel like volunteering.”

Elsewhere, members of the school’s U.N. Club are looking to follow suit in Emma Watson’s effort to promote equality. Formed in 2007 by alumnus Alex Pommier, the U.N. Club was created to promote knowledge about the United Nations and ongoing situations around the world and to create an opportunity for students to volunteer in events related to the U.N.’s mission. As part of this mission, the club has talked to its members about Watson’s HeForShe campaign in an effort to spread awareness.

“We’re trying to make people aware of feminism and show them how it’s not something to be apprehensive about,” said president Pooja Singh.

Although the mentality of millions can be hard to change, the U.N. club, like Watson, hopes to encourage “guys and girls to be equally involved in gender equality and to identify themselves as feminists.”

THU DAM

Lifestyles

8

FRIENDS BY CL A SS

189 accepted

embellished him with the finest of all fake tuxedos that Prestige studios has to offer, resulting in his own senior portrait. Each of these moments is forever emblazoned onto the walls of Facebook. The only problem, of course, is that John Chang doesn’t actually exist.

Instead, John was created as a social experiment — to test how well students at the school really knew their Facebook friends.

“John added me on Facebook and said he came to our school,” said senior Jonathan Chow. “He was new, and I thought he was someone I could meet up with.” When told the truth, Chow replied that he “wasn’t surprised that so much credibility could be established in less than a day.”

Friend requests were sent to all seniors, juniors, and sophomores on each respective class Facebook page — and in total, nearly 50% of requests were accepted. These results highlight a profound discrepancy regarding the dynamic of friendship and acquaintanceship. According to numerous studies regarding Dunbar’s number, the hypothesized number for the maximum number of stable relationships that can be maintained at once, a single person is only capable of maintaining stable relationships with approximately 150 people. “[Dunbar’s] number does apply to me — it’s true for everyone, I think,” Wright said. “If you have a really close group of friends, you have this really strong bond with them. I have a group of friends. . . too many!

Too many! I’m not afraid to say that.” The John Chang experiment illustrates this concept and how it relates to students at the school; if so many were willing to accept a friend request from someone that didn’t even exist, it is evident that social media has overcome the natural tendency of humans to follow Dunbar’s number. Instead, the proliferation of social relationships has become based on quantity, not quality - and as a result, some students have missed out on the chance to form valuable relationships.

“The more people I know, the harder it is,” Wright said. “Even with all the people I know, I’m still trying to find my group of people.”

NEIL MCCLINTICK news assistant

out of Class of 2016 533 friends

Class of 2015 John Chang’s friends

A FRIEND OF A FRIEND

171 accepted

Class of 2017

October 29, 2014

JEREMY XUE media liason

The Social Network, the 2010 dramatization of Facebook’s origins and explosive rise, publicized the previously obscure history of Facebook and its founder, Mark Zuckerberg. As of 2014, Facebook boasts over 1.23 billion active monthly users, with over 757 million daily users. While other examples of social networking such as MySpace and AOL existed and were undoubtedly popular prior to the advent of Facebook, Zuckerberg’s creation has brought new life to the online world — life that sometimes transcends that of face-to-face relationships. Trivial aspects from wall activity to total friend count often create an atmosphere that unquestionably deviates from that of the “real world.”

Last month, The Prospector conducted an anonymous study in order to gauge the atmosphere of peer-to-peer relationships at the school. Of over 200 respondents, the majority of students responded that between 0 and 25 percent of their online friends were “real friends.”

“I do a lot of traveling, and I end up being friends on Facebook [with the people I meet],” said Tatiana Wright, a junior with nearly 2700 Facebook friends. “It does look like a bunch of random people, but I do know the majority. I want to say I know about 2000 of them.” However, she later added that she is “not so sure.”

While polling statistics can provide insight, a less voluntary study was additionally employed; thus, John Chang, a senior at the school, was born on September 14th. He has friends — 533 of them to be exact. He has numerous specific interests, and as a committed Interact member and recent transfer student from Troy High School in Fullerton, Chang has a fully developed past and present. He celebrated his birthday on October 18th, which elicited the generous remarks of his faithful friends. Like his fellow seniors, John waited in line on a late summer afternoon as an employee

150 accepted

533 total friends 510 strangers 23 accomplices

Average # of Facebook friends for ages 13-18

= 100 friends DATA FROM PEW INTERNET AND AMERICAN LIFE PROJECT

<HACKATHONS/> MUÑ OZ MASKS if(hackathons == “fun”){ System.out.println(“You should go!”);

function tooMuchMath(x, y){ var coding = “ too good ” ; while( “ i n hackathon ” ) { EnergyDrinks(); eatTooMuchBadFood(); codingTooHardNeedStackOverflow(); var sleep = 0;= JAY SHROFF online content editor

The crowds gather. Donning their fan gear, they march towards the open stadium.

As they approach the stands, they see the swirling mass of those wanting only one thing: to win. This isn’t Sunday Night Football. This is a hackathon.

Over the last few years, hackathons have become the next “big thing” for high school programmers. Unlike the name implies, however, hackathons don’t involve the type of “hacking” that involves breaking into encrypted databases. They are events in which coders come together for a couple of days to create unique projects, such as applications and robots, that are based around a central theme that is chosen at each event. The team with the best product can win prize money, along with new technology and gadgets.

Recently, a group of students from the school traveled to the University of Pennsylvania for PenApps, one of the largest and most well-known hackathons in the nation, with over 1,200 competition entrants and $30,000 in prizes. One member of this group, junior Kamesh Vedula, collaborated with a group of college students at PennApps and created an app that rewarded users for in-app experiences. “[A hackathon] is a place where everyone around you is into the same thing you

are and you can easily make good friends who know the same thing or know something completely different from what you know,” Vedula said.

Many students use the opportunity that hackathons present to address key issues in today’s developing world. Instead of meeting at coffee shops or conference rooms to discuss the world’s problems, many students can now be found tackling these topics at hackathons. Furthermore, such events often create the vibe needed for someone to come up with the next big Facebook or Twitter. A notable example of a hackathon “hack”, GroupMe, is a group messaging app that was acquired by Skype for over $50 million. The idea behind a hackathon is that with thousands of competitors all trying to build a viable product, eventually someone will create something revolutionary.

The sole purpose of going to a hackathon isn’t to win. It’s all about the experiences that students get, the things that they learn, and the friends that they make. Many students see hackathons as social events, where they can meet new contacts and make connections, all while having fun. And ultimately, the products that they create give students a sense of accomplishment and pride.

“Knowing that you are starting off with nothing, but by the end having an amazing product, is the most rewarding and amazing part of going to a hackathon,” Vedula said.

JASON MUNOZ photo crew

The use of face masks is important to ensure that your skin is at its best. They can help you improve your skin in numerous ways, from moisturizing and renewing skin to treating acne.

However, store-bought face masks can be expensive, and tend to be filled with unwanted chemicals. Fortunately, you can quickly and easily make your own face masks at home! The following recipes use common and all-natural ingredients to create face masks for all skin types to help you look and feel your best. As a bonus, they’re all edible (and pretty tasty too)!

MATCHA MASK

+

1.5 Tsp Matcha Green Tea Powder

½ tbs rose water l e av e o n fo r f i f t e e n m i nu t e s

½ Tbs honey

=

+

CHOCOLATE BANANA MASK

½ banana, blended

=

+

+

opt: pinch of 1.5 Tbs cocoa cinammon powder l e av e o n fo r t w e nt y m i nu t e s

BLUEBERRY OATMEAL MASK

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2 tsp blended oats

=

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1/2 tsp jasmine water

+

1 tsp juice from blueberries

l e av e o n fo r f i f t e e n m i nu t e s

1 tsp honey

Lifestyles

The Prospector

October 29, 2014

ARANGETRAM ram.

Arangetram. Ah. Run. Gate. Thrum. Ah-run-gate-thrum. Aranget-

An arangetram is the pinnacle of Indian classical arts. The history of the arangetram can be traced back to the days of dancing as a form of temple worship. However, as time has progressed, arangetrams have expanded to involve all culminative performances of dancers of multiple styles, as well as classical Indian instruments and, on occasion, vocal performances.

The literal translation of an arangetram is “to climb upon a stage,” while the figurative translation is “the first solo performance an artist gives upon the completion of their formal training”. Modern-day arangetrams encompass much more than the dancer’s performance, however.

Today, many arangetrams include chaat and chai, traditional Indian tea and snacks, for the audience to enjoy, as well as a banquet following the performance to celebrate the dancer’s achievement. Arangetrams are not just a performance; for many dancers, it is their transformation into a expert in their art form.

As life-changing as an arangetram is for the dancers, it is also a truly unique experience for all involved. For many parents, their child’s commitment to dance or vocals is often a commitment they make as well. Senior Ashni Shetty, who had her arangetram in August of this year, learned dance from her mother for ten years before holding an arangetram of her own, and credits both of her parents for encouraging her to have one.

“I wanted to do it because [my mother] did it twenty years back, and I felt like doing it twenty years later was something we all wanted to do as a family,” said Shetty of the experience she shared with both her immediate and extended family.

For the audience, the arangetram is an equally enriching experience: it is a chance to behold the talent of a friend, a classmate or a peer, and a

pass final exam book venue 1 year

8 months

send invites

6 months

$ 5 0 0 0 for venue rental

$ 2 5 0 0

for live musicians

$ for3 catering 0 0 0

a millenium of Indian dance ANISHA DANGORIA opinions assistant

chance to understand the significance of dance to that particular individual.

Senior Monica Nissen described attending her first arangetram as “a cultural experience.”

“Going to [Shetty’s] arangetram had me in complete awe,” Nissen said. “I’m even more honored to know her now, after seeing this momentous occasion in her dancing career.”

More than anyone else, however, the arangetram is a once-in-alifetime experience for the dancer putting on the performance. The arangetram is the commencement of that person’s career as a recognized dancer, a dancer who is now qualified to give solo performances and teach the art to others. However, in order to reach this stage, a dancer must prepare for months. According to junior Janany Subra, who also had an arangetram this summer, dancers must practice their routines tirelessly before their big day.

“I don’t know the exact amount, but I definitely practiced for hundreds of hours,” Subra said. “It’s like five to six hours a day the two months before your arangetram, and before that, it’s ten to twelve hours a week.”

The cultural and personal significance of an arangetram also make the event a momentous occasion through the communities the dancers are involved in. For many dancers, an arangetram is a way for their community to acknowledge their hard work and success in the field of dance.

It is a chance for them to show the world their talent, much like a final sports game or an art exhibition. With each tap of the dancer’s foot on the stage, during the two hours of an arangetram, the world gets to watch that dancer embark on the journey of a lifetime, a journey of cultural importance, not only to the dancers, but to their friends and family. The arangetram is not the end of a dancer’s journey; it is only the beginning.

buy costumes confirm photographer dress rehearsal 4 months

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Sports

October 29, 2014

Changes made to baseball As viewership decreases, Major League Baseball begins to reach out to the younger generation; however, the sport may be intrinsically unappealing to younger viewers SHALMALI PATIL features assistant

Baseball, a sport peaking in its interest in the middle of the twentieth century, has long passed its prime. Today, the average baseball spectator is approximately fifty-four years old, a sharp increase from the average age of fifty in 2009. Not only has the number of viewers decreased, but the number of the world’s Little League players has also declined by half a million players in the last seventeen years.

These numbers have not gone unnoticed by the Major League Baseball’s Advanced Media executives, who are relying more heavily on their mobile app to excite teenagers about the dying sport. The app consists of the games’ recent statistics and updates the user on the score and highlights without forcing them to sit through the games. The playoff games tend to have a three to four hour runtime, much more than the amount that most people are willing to spend watching a game that mainly consists of a lot of standing around. Many spectators feel that in the entirety of the three hours, there are only a few compelling and notable mo-

FIRS T ONE ACROSS THE

ments worth watching and talking about. Many people are left bewildered once they realize that baseball games are no longer than that of football and basketball games because the latter two have exactly what the younger generations are looking for: quick points and heart stopping final moments.

Baseball, compared to other sports such as football and basketball, lacks the intensity and luster that keeps spectators from looking away. Recently, several rules have been implemented that restrict violence and injuries in the diamond. Major League Baseball wants to emphasize that baseball is so much more than violence, no matter how intense and attention-grabbing it may be.

These rules make sure that violence does not overshadow baseball’s important values.

David Kau, a sophomore on the school’s JV Baseball team, agrees. “It’s like watching football,” Kau said. “It’s fun watching people hit each other, but at the same time [...] if the person getting hurt is one of your favorite players [...] then their career has to end or they’re out for the next season. It’s kind of disappointing.”

Others suggest that learning to appreciate the game instead of trying to lessen the number of innings is the best way THU DAM

(CARO)LINE Freshman Caroline Gee is currently ranked third in the Central Coast Section for Cross Country NIKITA DEVDHAR sports editor

For some freshmen, running at the Varsity level may be a daunting challenge in itself. However, freshman Caroline Gee has surpassed the competition, not only running in Varsity Cross Country meets but also winning many of them.

Gee started running on the school’s Cross Country team this year under the coaching of Paul Armstrong, who also coaches Track and Field. Because she ran on the Track and Field team in Lawson Middle School, Gee became interested in Cross Country when she entered high school. “I started [Cross Country] freshman year because I liked running, and it was really fun,” Gee said. Already, Gee has won first place in many meets, including the Earlybird Invitational, SCVAL #1 and #2, the Artichoke Invitational and the Serra Invitational.

Before racing in a meet, an athlete must get into the correct mental and physical mindset, and Gee is no different. “We usually have a really light practice [the day before a meet], and I don’t eat any junk food the day of or the day before,” Gee said when asked about her pre-meet rituals. “It gives me confidence, because it makes me feel like I won’t mess up as much.”

Runners must also prepare themselves mentally for races. “At the start of the race, I’m really nervous,” Gee said. “[I worry that I may] get a cramp or something and I might slow down too much. But at the end, I’m always relieved if I do well, and I’m always really happy.”

Along with her high rankings at races, Gee also has a strong support system, in the form of her parents and her teammates. As an active soccer player as well, Caroline often goes straight from Cross Country meets to soccer games. “She goes to every practice, and she has to go from one thing to another, because she also has soccer, so whenever she’s at one thing, she focuses on that, and then she goes to the other thing and works really hard there,” said Gee’s sister Melanie, a junior.

These high rankings have only been part of the the first year in Gee’s high school career as a Cross Country runner, and first of many more to come. “I hope that she becomes one of the type of people she idolizes right now,” Melanie Gee said. “She’s almost at that level, so I hope that she can get to the level where other people can also look up to her.”

to keep the game alive. “The game is completely dynamic even though you don’t always see it,” stated sophomore Liam Ramirez, also a member of the school’s JV Baseball team.

With the possibility of shortening the time of the games, and using a mobile app to try to attract the younger generations, baseball may be able to regain its popularity. However, if Major League Baseball does not make major changes soon, America’s favorite pastime may die with the older generations.

g i r l s wa te r p o l o m a kes a s p l a s h RISHI NAIR news assistant

Hard work pays off: the school’s Varsity Girls Water Polo team’s newfound successes this year demonstrate this essential maxim. The team has an overall 4-8 winloss record so far, improved from last year’s 1-13, and a 3-6 win-loss league record, improved from 1-11, huge leaps in performance. According to team members, an increased work ethic and improved practice schedule account for this improvement.

This year, the team has implemented stricter practice exercise and skill drills. “We’re working on improving teamwork and chemistry while pushing each other to pick up any slack,” said sophomore Anna Rajaratnam.

This year, the team’s goals are set higher, as Rajaratnam describes. “We want to improve our focus and speed, so we are well-conditioned to win.”

Coach Jennifer Townsend has spurred a substantial boost in both the players’ skill and work ethic. Said Rajaratnam, “[Townsend is] really positive while being competitive at the same time, and she really pumps us up and works us hard to help us improve.”

Of course, the well-being of these student-athletes comes first. “First and foremost, it’s my duty to keep all the athletes safe, and teach them about the rules of the game, teach them techniques, encourage competition, all while having fun,” Townsend said.

Similarly, a new practice of post-game review helps the players to improve continuously. “After we’re done with each game, we take time to reflect on the way that we played, what we did well, and what we could improve on,” said senior Sayali Kakade. “This reflection really helps because it ensures that we work on the right things during practice to utilize that time effectively and that we improve and get more competitive at each game. We’re a lot more focused and our mindset is much more competitive than last year.”

The team this year has also upped the ante in their technique and conditioning. “We’ve been learning many advanced moves, and it’s not like we’re starting from scratch; a lot of these girls play water polo outside of school as well,” Townsend said. “Also, most of the team has been carried over from last year so they know each other very well and are really well-coordinated.” It is important to transfer these new skills to games while not being afraid to make mistakes, something the team has improved on this season.

Additionally, Townsend highlighted an important indicator of the team’s motivation. “Last year we won for the first time in three seasons, which was very exciting and important for us, and we want to continue this.”

Ultimately, despite the increased practice intensity and modified training, the team still retains its fun-loving spirit. “At the end of the day, I want these girls to learn to love water polo and have fun,” Townsend said.

SET TING NEW GOALS: WATER POLO 2014-2015 cupertino statistics

national average statistics

124

79

146

GOALS

ASSISTS

STEALS

10.2

117

GOALS AGAINST AVERAGE

SAVES

COURTESY OF MAXPREPS.COM

not exempt

from the law ALLAN WU lifestyles assistant

Adrian Peterson, star running back for the Minnesota Vikings, calls it a good “whooping.” Physical child discipline has long been considered an integral part of life to many Americans.

Many believe that physical discipline provides children with knowledge of what is right and what is wrong; however, at times an individual may go too far. Peterson has been charged with child abuse after photo evidence of bloodied scrapes and cuts on his 4-year-old son’s thighs and lower extremities surfaced. It was revealed that Peterson had used a “switch,” or a thin tree branch, to strike his son repeatedly. Words like “abuser” have been thrown around to describe Peterson. Yet Peterson remains firm in his stance that what he did to his son was out of love and his intent was not to hurt his son, but to educate him. Wrote Peterson, “My goal is always to teach my son right from wrong.”

and the L AW

Athletes answer to the law like any other citizens — or at least, they are supposed to. Adrian Peterson’s exalted status in the NFL does not give him a get-outof-jail-free card for breaking the law and avoiding severe consequences Adrian Peterson crosses many lines. He has consistently crossed the goal line for double-digit touchdowns since 2007, the year he entered the league. Last season, Peterson ran into the endzone for 10 touchdowns, good for top 5 in the league. Most recently, Peterson crossed a line that classifies him as a child abuser.

Labeling Peterson as a child abuser may seem rather extreme considering his public statements and reported text messages, which deliver the similarly classic message of many parents who love their children and desire to properly raise them. Wrote Peterson in a public statement disclosed through Twitter, “I love my son very much and I will try to become a better father and person.”

The matter at hand here, however, is not that Peterson’s intentions do not parallel with that of an apparent lawbreaker, but that Peterson has excessively disciplined his son to where there could be long lasting psychological trauma. The word “abuser” invokes an image of an individual who has the intentions of injuring others and executes those intentions, but an abuser can simply be someone like Peterson, who may not necessarily have had harm-

27 NFL players have been arrested since the 2013 Super Bowl COURTESY OF CBS NEWS

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ful intentions, but goes too far and creates unintended consequences. Peterson absolutely crossed a very distinguishable line and his unrestrained physical discipline clearly displays abuse.

Without a doubt, Peterson is correct in certain aspects. Peterson places high importance on physical child discipline, which is understandable. Peterson did grow up in a rough neighborhood surrounded by negative influences and he believes it was essential to his safety and success. Wrote Peterson on his Twitter account, “deep in my heart I have always believed I could have been one of those kids that was lost in the streets without the discipline instilled in me by my parents and other relatives.” Proper physical child discipline is appropriate and although there are many advocates against physical discipline, it continues to exist and thrive because it is effective. However, the point at which physical discipline becomes abuse — when it causes excessive pain and results in bloodied marks — is where educating a child becomes generating fear and hostility in a child. Peterson blatantly crossed this very point and needs to be re-educated. His actions dissolve the initial intentions of teaching right from wrong and replace them with feelings of pain and trepidation.

Peterson’s actions can be explained by cultural identities and predispositions, but cannot be excused by them. He turned physical discipline into abuse, and thus removed the opportunity to properly educate his son. Peterson stepped across a line, but unlike a rushing touchdown, he can and must take a USA TODAY step back.

5

NFL PLAYERS

has been charged with a S E R I O U S

CRIME

1000 charges

were brought

AGAINST ATHLETES

in1998

Athletes:

ATHLETES

Sports

The Prospector

October 29, 2014

Flip Side

October 29, 2014

12

OCTOBER IN PHOTOS THU DAM

THU DAM

SERENA NGAN

JEREMY XUE

THU DAM

FIELD HOCKEY | Hannah Lundquist HOMECOMING COURT | Kevin goes for the ball in a JV field hockey game against Monta Vista.

Endo and Kristen Nagamatsu cross the field on their way to be crowned royalty during the annual Homecoming Game.

CHOIR CONCERT | Monica Nissen performs a solo at the Debut Choir Concert on Oct. 22.

CLUBS DAY | Tino Cancer Society sells BLOOD DRIVE | Senior Nellie Niu Kara’s Cupakes during Clubs’ Day on Oct. 24.

waits to assist donors at the biannual Stanford Blood Drive.

How well do you know your teachers?

A matching activity.

We all know random facts and information from school, but do you really know the people that teach you this material? Test your knowledge with the matching game designed below, which contains all the eccentricities of a select few of the school’s very own staff members!

Mr. Gavin Goes

Journalist

Physics, Physics Honors

THU DAM

Served people dressed as college mascots

Mrs. Allanah Ujifusa Chemistry Honors, AP Biology

Ms. Colleen Carey

Waitress

Physiology, Biology

Draw lines here to match the teachers Mrs. Susan DesJardin to their stories!

Physics, Physics Honors

Voted “Most Likely to be on Saturday Night Live” in the yearbook

Lived in married student housing as a senior

Mrs. Kelly Roush World Core SS, AP US History

Ms. Teresa Filice

Wildland Firefighter

World Core, AP English Literature

To see if your answers were correct, head over to chsprospector.com!

COMPILED BY MICHELLE PYKE

NEXT MONTH: NOVEMBER End of Second Grading Period

Friday, November 7

Friday - Saturday, November 14-15 All shows start at 7 PM

Fall Play

Friday - Saturday, November 7 - 8

Capture the Flag Week

Monday - Friday, November 10 - 21 Thanksgiving Break

Thursday - Friday, November 27- 28

Monday - Tuesday, November 10 - 11

Veterans Day - No school

THU DAM

BEST BUDDIES LAURA SHKOURATOFF opinions editor

I’ll be the first one to admit it — I was a little reluctant sophomore year when I decided I wanted to join Best Buddies. Best Buddies is a club that focuses on building friendships between students with mental disabilities and the rest of the school’s student population. I guess I was fearful of the fact that these kids were distinct from everyone else, that they were isolated from the rest of the school and labeled as “different.”

At the first club meeting of the year, we did an activity known as speed buddies, a spin-off of speed dating, where I got to meet all of the students in the group and learn about them, from their favorite foods to what TV shows they watched.

There was one kid that stuck out to me — a boy who has a disability that makes him unable to speak and have difficulty walking. His positive, joyful and loud personality quickly proved to me that he didn’t let his disabilities stop him. Alejandro communicates with a “speaker,” a tablet programmed with words that he selects and uses to vocalize his thoughts.

The speaker often frustrates him; therefore, he communicates mainly through high-fives, nods, and smiles. We decided to be buddies for the year.

Alejandro and I spend our Thursday lunches playing games, having dance parties, and joking about the fact that cheating at Connect Four has recently become his favorite activity. He shares pictures with me, and on holidays we have special activities, from Thanksgiving potlucks to Easter egg hunts.

On the last day of school of our first year as buddies, Alejandro quickly ushered me inside his classroom with a grin on his face. Pulling out his speaker, he selected five words he’d been practicing for me all week. As the tablet read the phrase out loud, I couldn’t help but smile from ear to ear as I heard what my buddy wanted to tell me — “thank you be my friend.”

Though those words might not have meant much to anyone else, they reminded me of the value and strength of friendship, as well as how much Alejandro had taught me in the past year.

I learned from him to keep smiling, enjoy the little things, and always dance when your favorite song comes on.

The love, joy and passion that these kids with mental disabilities show is truly immeasurable. The next time you pass by a group of these students eating lunch or walking down the halls, shoot them a smile or give them a big wave. I promise you it will make both your day and theirs.