Issue 4 - February 2017

W ED N ES DAY, F EB RUA RY 1, 2017

Kim Kardashian deserves her success

OPINIONS page 4

VOLUME 58 NO. 4

The path to college: student and staff perspectives

Snapchat streaks and superficial friendships

Winter guard + winter percussion

LIFESTYLES page 9

SPORTS page 11

FEATURES page 6-7

Married teachers

FLIPSIDE page 12

The Prospector

CHSPROSPECTOR.COM

Student Newspaper of Cupertino High School

10100 FINCH AVENUE, CUPERTINO, CA 95014

SPEECH AND DEBATE TEAM GROWS IN SIZE AND CALIBER

COURTESY OF CUPERTINO SPEECH AND DEBATE

CHRISTINA SHAO sports assistant

GENE KIM news assistant

Ranking fourth in the Bay Area as of 2017, Cupertino High School’s speech and debate program has improved significantly over the past three years. Increased participation, new approaches to skill development and a supportive parents booster program have allowed the team to grow into the successful club it is today.

In 2014, the team had no coach and only around twenty students. Now, the team has both a head and assistant coach, two captains for each of the more than fifteen different types of events and around 140 committed students who are eager to challenge themselves. Some students have travelled across the state and around the country, most notably to Arizona and Kentucky for the Tournament of Champions. The increase in participants has made the team eligible to compete for sweepstakes awards, granted to schools who collectively earn the most points at a competition. CHS received a sweepstakes award last year in the James Logan tournament, as well as in the Santa Clara University tour-

nament this past November. In addition to sweepstakes awards for the team, a student can earn a degree if enough points are earned to satisfy benchmarked quotas set by the National Speech and Debate Association (NSDA). Collectively, CHS speech and debate students have over 100 degrees, placing the team in the top twentieth percentile of the country’s forensics programs.

Said Vice President and senior Dhanya Jayagopal, “I think the most memorable event this year was the tournament at [Santa Clara University] … Around here it is pretty prestigious, and it is pretty competitive … Tino got second in sweepstakes … so I think it is the most memorable because so many students from Tino attended.”

The changes made in coaching have contributed greatly to the team’s success. After-school practices are now held three times a week for two hours each day, as opposed to the former once-a-week practices. Students also meet with their captains and coaches outside of weekly practices to improve in one-onone settings. A greater focus on individual skill development has allowed the team to improve overall.

“Officers are becoming more motivated and are doing better jobs with coaching the students. That is part of the reason

why we are improving in tournaments,” senior Shankara Srikantan, the team’s president, said.

Another source for the team’s success is the boosters volunteer organization. Tournaments require logistical preparations including managing costs and handling judges. The boosters organization, consisting entirely of parent volunteers, is responsible for fundraising and contacting volunteer judges. Furthermore, the boosters organization acts as a liaison between the coach and parents to communicate any requests made on either side. Without this volunteer group, effective communication and tournaments would be impossible.

The quickly earned success of the speech and debate team reflects the amount of effort made by students, coaches, captains and parent volunteers alike. Students enjoy competing and improving their skills, and the team’s numerous achievements encourage them to continue.

Said math teacher and Speech and Debate head coach Amartya “Marty” De, “I feel that the particular group of students I have right now are very enthusiastic about the activity they do, and the fact that we have made so much progress in just a few years feels really good.”

A review - the current status of United States foreign relations

Pankhuri Kohli sells art for the homeless

ANSHUL RAJWANSHI

online editor

LILY ROSEN MARVIN

news assistant

President Barack Obama has finished his eight years in the Oval Office and claims a domestic legacy of a recovering economy and a landmark health care program. His foreign policy legacy has been contested by experts on both sides of the aisle. While many believe that the termination of Al-Qaeda leader Osama bin-Laden did show a strong start, the the “Red Line” in Syria situation, where President Obama did not follow through with a threat to the Assad regime, as well as the rise of ISIS on Obama’s watch, has led to experts to question whether the approach of the Obama administration has been successful. Some consider that Obama did see success in peace with the ratification of the COP 21 climate agreement, spearheaded by American and French diplomats. Now, President Trump and a foreign policy team consisting of a UN Ambassador, Governor Nikki Haley and Secretary of State, Rex Tillerson, all without foreign policy experience, are in charge of defining the country’s role in the world.

As we enter a new term that promises to be vastly different from President Obama’s, classic debates have returned with new context. The classic discussion about the doctrine of force has taken new light following the United States’ decision to intervene minimally in the Syrian conflict. President Trump, departing from the traditional Republican belief in interventionist foreign policy has argued

US foreign relations, continued on page 3

CATHERINE SEOK

PANKHURI KOHLI | Kohli sold her art online and raised over $1000 to donate to West Valley Community Services

On Dec. 6th, senior Pankhuri Kohli donated $1,040 to West Valley Community Services after she and her mother sold prints of their artwork online and at the Intel Arts and Crafts Fair. West Valley Community Services provides resources such as food, housing and financial assistance to the homeless and low-income people.

Kohli, who has been volunteering with West Valley Community Services for three years, was inspired to fundraise after seeing the work of her fellow volunteers.

“Working at West Valley, I realized how dedicated everyone was to supporting [homeless] people,” Kohli said. “It was sad for me to see that they were not able to support them fully.

That was the big motivating factor for me.”

Kohli’s mother, who works at Intel, came up with the idea of selling their artwork at the Intel Arts and Crafts Fair.

While the two were able to sell several pieces, Kohli wanted to make a bigger impact.

Said Kohli, “We started off at Intel and it went well but not as well as it could have been, so we decided to make it an online thing. We went onto crowd raise, and we sold my prints and my mom’s prints for twenty bucks each. Then we also sold bookmarks with my art on it. We sold over a thou-

Art for the homeless, continued on page 3

News The Prospector

S TA F F 2016-2017

The Prospector

February 1, 2017

ASB approves ten new clubs at CHS SAAGAR SANGHAVI copy editor

Cupertino High School Established 1958 Vol LVIII, No. 4 | 2017 editors-in-chief melissa silva meilinda sun news editor ethan qi opinions editor peter martin features editor aishwarya laddha lifestyles editor allison lo sports editor erin song flip side editor amy zeng copy editors caroline gee sudarshan kannan ethan qi saagar sanghavi

[

Entrepreneurship (MIT Launch) arjun.sripathy2000@gmail.com Entrepreneurship Club teaches students entrepreneurship and gives them the opportunity to work in small groups to create their own startups and mock companies.

Tuesdays at lunch in Room 723

Shogi (Japanese Chess) saihara004@student.fuhsd.org This club creates a community of people interested in playing Japanese chess and explores the challenges behind this game.

Mondays at lunch in Room 914

photo editors catherine seok jenn zaratan online editors lily rosen marvin josephine robinson business manager amy zeng news assistants

gene kim anshul rajwanshi

opinions assistants

esha radhakrishnan leo rassieur

features assistants

edward hsu santosh muralidaran

lifestyles assistants

nico chilla xinyi zhang

sports assistants

neerali shah christina shao

flip side assistant online assistants photo crew

elena chang michelle ma utkarsh tandon justine qiu

advisor 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

][

Intro At the end of 2016, Cupertino ASB approved 10 new clubs across campus. They were selected for their uniqueness and relevance to the student body. These clubs were created in hopes of making the campus more inclusive and allowing more students to participate in extracurricular activies.

NEWS BRIEFS

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Film Making sravangogulapati@gmail.com Flim Making club offers students opportunities to work together and make great films by providing equipment, tutorials and instruction.

Wednesdays at lunch in Room 110

Roleplay (Dungeons and Dragons) luckyclovergirl1708@gmail.com Roleplay Club hosts group campaigns to allow students to participate in role playing games such as Dungeons and Dragons.

Thursdays at lunch in Room 215 Women’s Empowerment Association kumarharitha.s@gmail.com Open to all genders, the Women’s Empowerment Association aims to discuss women’s issues and help women’s advocacy by hosting and attending workshops, forums, and conferences.

Wednesdays at lunch in Room 104 Sports Medicine wangjackca@gmail.com Helps students learn about sports medicine and practice performing basic skills, such as taping and more.

Fridays at lunch in the Gym

Jewish Student Union ronib2000@gmail.com A place to celebrate Jewish culture and help students express themselves.

Thursdays at lunch in Room 108

TiNO Stress tinostress16@gmail.com TiNO Stress helps students reduce stress levels at Cupertino High School through meditation, yoga, and lifestyle changes.

Tuesdays at lunch in Room 118

Black Student Union tinobsu@gmail.com The Black Student Union creates a community for African-American students to support each other and help each other succeed.

Mondays at lunch in Room 109 Magic tinomagicsociety@gmail. com Creates a community where people with an interest in magic can practice and perform tricks in magic shows.

Mondays at lunch in Room 116

The movie “Hidden Figures,” which debuted on Jan. 6, depicts the story of three AfricanAmerican women working for NASA. Dubbed the “human computers,” Katherine Johnson, Dorothy Vaughan and Mary Jackson made calculations that enabled John Glenn to become the first American to make a full orbit around the earth.

Former President Barack Obama gave his Farewell Address in Chicago on Jan. 10, a departure from presidential tradition. He thanked his family and cited his accomplishments over the course of his two terms in health care, economic growth and foreign policy. Emphasizing unity, Obama addressed race relations and political polarization in the social media age.

After much deliberation, the San Diego Chargers football team has relocated to Los Angeles after 56 years in the city. The Chargers will leave the Qualcomm Stadium and play at the StubHub Center. The move was met with backlash from many shocked fans who burned and destroyed their Chargers apparel and memorabilia.

President Donald Trump was inaugurated on the steps of the Capitol building on Jan. 20.

Promising to serve the nation’s “forgotten men and women,” he pledged to put “America first” and decried the “American carnage” of shuttered factories and inner city violence. Meanwhile, thousands of protesters participated in anti-Trump demonstrations nationwide.

ISIS militants in Palmyra, Syria, destroyed the Roman Theater and Tetrapylon, two ancient monuments that date back to the second century. Claiming many ancient religious sites to be idolatrous, ISIS fighters have damaged other monuments in the UNESCO archaeological site, including the Temple of Bel and the Arch of Triumph.

The 2017 Consumer Electronics Show (CES), an annual tradeshow in Las Vegas, NV., featured the latest technology innovations.

Among the products presented were virtual reality appliances, home voice assistants such as Amazon’s Alexa and Google Home, robot baristas and self-driving cars.

COMPILED BY MEILINDA SUN

Queen Elizabeth II recuperates from illness ETHAN QI news editor

SUDARSHAN KANNAN copy editor

COURTESY OF BILL INGALLS

For the first time since 1988, Queen Elizabeth of the United Kingdom and Commonwealth missed the traditional Christmas mass at Westminster Abbey Church due to a cold. At age 90, Queen Elizabeth is the longest reigning monarch in the world, surpassing King Bhumibol Adulyadej of Thailand, who died last October. Though she appears to have recovered, this brief bout of illness has raised questions about

the future of the British Monarch, with rumours circulating about a potential transfer of power.

Even before her illness, there has always been speculation as to when and if the queen would step down. Over the last few years, however, the Queen has progressively handed over several responsibilities and positions to various family members and trusted associates, sparking suspicions of an impending retirement. In December of 2016, she stepped down as patron of more than 20 national organizations, including various armed forces, charities and sports associations. Most notably, Kate Middleton will take over the All England Lawn Tennis & Croquet Club (Wimbledon), and Prince Harry will take over The Rugby Football Union (RFU).

Born in 1926, Queen Elizabeth served a stint in the Auxiliary Territorial Service (women’s division of the British Army) during the Second World War and ascended to the throne in 1952.

In the years following the Second World War, as the various colonies of the British Empire began gaining independence, Queen Elizabeth oversaw the British Empire’s transition towards the Commonwealth of Nations, a multilateral organization of many of the former colonies of the British Empire.

Within England, the Queen is viewed differ-

ently depending on the geographical region of the country.

Said senior Amara Belton-Schure, “In the north, they don’t like her as much because they think it’s tax dollars being wasted on a figurehead. In the south she is seen as more prestigious as a symbol of our culture and history.”

Over her long reign, she has served as a cultural icon in many of the Commonwealth nations, making frequent visits to former colonies.

Her face is currently printed on the currencies of 21 nations. In addition, she has played an active role in international charities for humanitarian causes, visiting 116 countries over her reign.

Said Junior Collette Delandro, “She’s been reigning for so long, and it would be tragic to back down now. She’s still monarch and she’s still very involved; it would be a shame.”

However, a defining characteristic of the queen’s image is her reluctance to give interviews and divulge her political and religious views.

Even earlier this year, during the Brexit referendum, the queen remained silent, unwilling to concede her position on such issues. Going forward, Queen Elizabeth will most likely maintain the same level of secrecy, and the public will only learn of her decision when she executes it.

February 1, 2017

US foreign relations continued from page 1

for isolationism and a focus on domestic production and the restructuring of trade deals. Now, liberals are discussing whether to value interventionism in the face of human rights — a complete switch from 2008, when the Democrats opposed intervention in the wake of the Iraq War. This election alongside the Brexit vote opened a debate on the effects of globalization, the idea that the world is becoming more connected and thus interdependent. Most economists argue that globalism is unstoppable and that the nation must adapt more rather than try to stop it. The new President has not followed this advice and has proposed high tariffs and the restriction of immigration from abroad.

Recent events have already put up a series of global challenges for Trump to test his doctrine against.

US-Israeli relations have been slowly souring during the Obama presidency. This deterioration was exacerbated after the United States did not veto United Nations Security Council Resolution 2334, which condemned Israeli settlements in Palestinian-controlled lands. President Trump has stated that he is Pro-Israel, and his nominee for ambassador to Israel does not favor the two-state solution, instead believing that Israel should be the sole nation in the area. The President is

News

The Prospector trying to repair what he believes are relations with a crucial ally.

Since last year, Beijing’s increased aggression in the South China Sea, in particular with the deployment of the Liaoning, China’s aircraft carrier, represents a growing threat in an important part of the world with billions of dollars of trade every year. Coupled with the ever present threat of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea and its eccentric leader hellbent on developing nuclear arms, the region is in a precarious state.

As of now, there is little understanding of the motives and current plans of China, making the nation an unclear and potentially dangerous enemy.

As of now, students seem to be unaffected by the shift in administration foreign policy. Said Isabella Cavlan, a senior involved in humanitarian foreign aid efforts, “I don’t know if [President Trump] would make a great impact on my [aid] trips.” Sohan Vichare, a junior involved in Speech and Debate, took a different point of view: “[President Trump] does not have the most politically correct rhetoric. Especially regarding international relations, it is important to be polite and respectful to other cultures.”

All eyes are on the Trump administration as it continues to navigate the ever-changing geopolitical climate.

Marijuana legalization takes effect in California LEO RASSIEUR opinions assistant

Nov. 8th, 2016 marked the voter approval of CA Proposition 64, the Adult Use of Marijuana Act, which legalized recreational marijuana use for persons aged 21 years or older in the state of California. The ballot saw a 56% majority vote for marijuana legalization, although the use and possession of the drug is still a criminal act by federal law. In addition to legalizing recreational marijuana at the state level, Proposition 64 also established two new taxes — one for the cultivation of marijuana and another for the retail sale of the drug. Totaling over $20 million per year, this new tax revenue will go towards marijuana-related research at universities and programs to counteract illegal drug distribution.

California is now the fifth state to pass legislation legalizing the recreational usage of marijuana and the 28th to legalize medical marijuana. Although Prop. 64 makes it easier for adults to access recreational marijuana, some supporters see it as a path to much-needed regulation. “The only way to control the use of drugs is to make it legal,” said junior Parth Patel. “If you make it legal, it makes it easier for you to track who uses the drug [and] where it’s being sold. [If] you make it illegal, the

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Art for the homeless continued from page 1

sand dollars worth. It was amazing — the support was great.”

In total, Kohli sold 20 of her and her mother’s prints, as well as 15 decorative bookmarks. A key part of the fundraiser’s success was the overwhelming support for Kohli’s cause. After hearing about Kohli’s campaign, College and Career Advisor Jessica Yazdani purchased one of the auctioned paintings.

Said Yazdani, “I knew that she needed help fundraising and I really liked the art that she was showing me. It honestly kind of inspired me to want to go out and do more community service. I think it’s really cool that at such a young age she is already participating and giving back to her community.”

Kohli was proud not only of the impact she was able to make but also of the manner in which she achieved it. As art has always been a major part of her life, Kohli was thrilled that she was able to use her artistic talents to help others.

Kohli said, “There is nothing wrong with using creativity to help others. I think that [the auction] is a perfect way to show that art does resonate with people and it is a motivator for people to think about the world around them.”

AP Studio Art teacher, Alice Cunningham, said, “I think [the fundraiser] is marvelous. Art is great way to support other causes. We have so many causes in our world nowadays that it’s a good way to help other people become aware of things that maybe aren’t in the forefront of their minds.”

When asked if she plans to do another art show, Kohli said, “I hope so! I’m not sure when or where or how, but I would love to continue fundraising. It’s so satisfying.”

government doesn’t have any control over the sale of different kinds of drugs.”

However, transporting marijuana across state borders — even if it is legal in both states — is still a federal offense. Legislators in states across the West Coast, where marijuana has largely been legalized, advocate for Washington to lift its federal ban on the drug. But, there is still opposition to the legalization movement; said freshman Jane Lee, “There are a lot of side effects [of marijuana].

That puts everybody else in danger when one person’s using marijuana. It’s a hazard in our society, so I don’t support it.”

Perhaps the focal question in the marijuana debate is what role the government should play in regulating it. While some of the legalization movement’s most zealous supporters are in favor of a more hands-off approach, others see regulation as a bare-bones requirement to keeping people safe. “Giving power to the government to help keep people safe ... is a double-edged sword,” said math teacher Alvin Choe. “That power can be used in a corrupt way, which would hurt people and marginalize people. It could also be used in a beneficial way in which it helps those who ... deserve to be helped because they’re not hurting others.”

Like Alaska, Colorado, Washington D.C., Oregon and Washington before it, California now serves as a large-scale experiment in determining whether marijuana should one day be legalized across the United States — and it is looking promising for the drug’s supporters.

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Opinions

February 1, 2017

unplugged

WHY IT IS TIME TO STEP AWAY FROM OUR PHONES MELISSA SILVA editor-in-chief

Generation Z has grown up in a time of rapidly advancing technology. Today’s teenagers and children possess a growing dependence on smart devices. This attachment to technology is prevalent particularly among Bay Area teenagers. Being so exposed to the heart of the Silicon Valley impedes our ability to adequately develop the social skills that are crucial to building healthy relationships.

Few teenagers can claim that they do not own a mobile device. A 2015 study by the Pew Research Center reveals that 92 percent of teenagers claim to go online daily. This striking percentage is made possible by the easy access to the internet provided by mobile devices. Every teen knows the importance of refreshing news feeds, maintaining Snapchat streaks and documenting every moment of the day. These simple and repetitive actions represent an issue rooted so deeply in teens’ daily lives that most do not notice its potential consequences. While technology has provided people with a convenient and efficient method of communication, one must be careful not to venture too far and mistake convenience for dependence.

The prevalence of smartphone usage in the daily life of a teenager creates an obstruction in the teenager’s ability to interact socially. Even while hanging out friends, phones are undoubtedly close by, often in hand, demanding attention. This loss of human interaction to technology creates a strong emotional reliance of the user on the device. For example, rather than seek consolation in a friend or family member, one may choose instead to deal with grief or frustration by distracting oneself with social media, games or YouTube videos. Even if one decides to reach out to a friend

through texting or Snapchat, the user establishes their cellphone as their go-to method of seeking emotional relief. Dependence on technology sometimes results in superficial friendships, as people put more effort into appearing that they have an Instagram-worthy life than they do into building relationships.

The alternative to a life consumed by notifications, selfies and likes is a life with more human interaction facilitated by small talk and big talk. In a setting such as a meeting — not necessarily a big company meeting, which most teens have not encountered, but even a simple club meeting — phones should be out of sight, and thus, out of mind. Even while the meeting is not in progress, students will have the opportunity to introduce themselves to peers or catch up with others. More often than not, however, teenagers will find themselves in a different social setting — spending time with friends. When one is in the company of a friend, small talk becomes irrelevant, but “big talk” is made welcome. “Big talk” refers to topics which allow one to gain introspect into another’s life. When conversations become a time for people to share and discuss deeper topics, rather than laugh at memes together, a stronger friendship is built on trust and a better understanding of each other.

The current dependence on mobile devices, which largely goes unnoticed and is dismissed by teenagers, can and does detract from one’s ability to build strong relationships with big talk and to establish connections with others through small talk. While it is unreasonable to suggest the complete removal of technology from teens’ daily lives, it is interesting to consider the effects one would experience by significantly diminishing the time spent on social media. After all, if our parents made it through their adolescent years without so much as a cell-phone, we can ... well, we can consider checking Facebook only twenty times a day.

Respect the Kareer

The Kardashians Deserve Their Success

NICO CHILLA lifestyles assistant

Kim Kardashian is the classic example of a celebrity who is “famous for being famous.” In 2007, she and her family secured a reality TV show on E! that started a juggernaut of wealth and fame. The only justification for this, which has frustrated many, is a scandalous sex tape Kardashian made in 2003. She now controls clothing lines, smartphone apps, huge social media followings and a reality TV show now in its 12th (yes, 12th) season. However shallow she may seem, Kim Kardashian’s rise to fame is a feat that required powerful charisma and a deep understanding of consumers. Disdaining her success means disregarding important aspects of society and the American economy.

The 21st century has seen the rise of a kind of non-intimate voyeurism: a fascination with the daily lives of other people. This phenomenon is the basis of social media, live-streaming, reality television and countless other forms of entertainment. Kim Kardashian’s success is rooted in her ability to manipulate the interests of the public. In this way her career can be called a masterstroke: she constantly lives in the spotlight and absorbs attention to her benefit. Whether a fan is obsessing over her custom emojis, People Magazine is scrutinizing her relationship drama or an opinions piece exclaims outrage at how her risqué selfies set back feminism, the revenue all circulates back to her pocket. Her TV show centers around the narcissistic and dramatic lives of a wealthy family; while this is easy to scorn, the reality is that consumers obsessively buy into it. A parallel can be drawn to vloggers on YouTube, who showcase their average, everyday lives to millions for a considerable

profit. Kim Kardashian has discovered a niche in the entertainment market and dominated it; the frustration directed towards her consists of jealousy that she was the first to seize this opportunity.

She takes advantage of the fact that the free market is driven by the desire to satisfy the needs and wants of the consumer.

Kim Kardashian’s wealth perplexes many Americans simply because it rejects our understanding of success. To an onlooker, the baffling quality about her is that her success does not match the level of ambition and intelligence she outwardly displays. Therefore, to an idealist, she is an insult to the American principles of determination and ambition. The result of these circumstances is that she is constantly accused of being undeserving of her wealth. However, the entertainment industry does not run on a moral compass. Regardless of Kim Kardashian’s dedication or talent, her ability to take advantage of opportunity is enough to validate her $52 million dollar salary. If the opportunity exists, a person will always exist to take it. The power to take chances and create new industries is an inherent aspect of a free market. While the moral high ground is a commendable position, it is not necessarily always a profitable one.

Kim Kardashian’s entire career can be traced back to appearing in a celebrity sex tape. This is an undisputed fact; however, this does not equate to saying that her physical features are the only reason for her massive success. The statement itself can be rephrased to reveal an important aspect of her achievement. Kim Kardashian turned a sex tape into an entire career. The bottom line is that she (or perhaps her mother) saw a chance in the American system and used all the available assets to achieve it. This is absolutely worthy of respect from the public.

$150 60

40

45

The percentage of Kim Kardashian’s yearly income that comes from royalties from her mobile game, Kim Kardashian: Hollywood.

The game allows you to create your own star and rise to fame.

The number of individual downloads of Kim Kardashian’s mobile game, Kim Kardashian: Hollywood.

The mobile game has generated over $160 million in revenue for Kardashian.

Million Percent Percent Million

Kim Kardashian’s net worth as of 2016. The entire Kardashian family is worth $339.4 million. Her sisters, Khloe and Kourtney Kardashian, are worth $23.6 million and $20.4 million, respectively.

Of Kim Kardashian’s yearly income comes from appearance fees, product endorsements and her television show. It is estimated that she makes $500,000 for every episode of the show.

February 1, 2017

The Prospector

Opinions

5

How soon is too soon?

The respectful portrayal of tragedy in film XINYI ZHANG lifestyles assistant

A well-crafted movie usually elicits feelings such as anticipation, sadness, anger, humor and fear in its viewers. Prominent movie directors and their teams of videographers, editors and actors possess the unique power to share their transformative creations on a global platform. As with any mass-distributed medium, however, movies contain the inherent potential to offend. Nonetheless, this fact has not prevented filmmakers from venturing into sensitive topics that have become relevant both recently and in the distant past.

Although the success of such films is unpredictable, engaging with the audience during the movie’s production and taking note its timing will minimize criticism and maximize the number of interested viewers.

Last December, “Patriots Day,” a movie about the Boston Marathon bombing, was played in theaters across the country. From the moment it was announced, “Patriots Day” took fire from social media sites and user comments on news sites. Tweets condemned the production as “unnecessary” and “shameful.” Readers of Entertainment Weekly accused the producer, Peter Berg, of taking the opportunity to use the tragedy for his personal gain. However, the movie was met with a surprisingly high number of positive reviews, and many critics admitted that the production was engaging and motivating without deviating from the actual events of the attack.

“Patriots Day” would not have been successful if it had not been for Berg’s efforts to rigorously gather background information from other people. Berg started forming ideas for the film in late 2013 and finished assembling his team in March of 2015. However, he did not begin to film until after consulting with witnesses of the attack to hear the story from multiple perspectives. His team was also present on the scene of the 2016 Boston Marathon to film the race and to engage with the crowd.

The Republican Party Has ABandoned Its Values PETER MARTIN opinions editor

In an interview on the eve of the 2010 midterm elections, the now-Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell made a statement that would come to define Republican politics under the Obama administration: “The single most important thing we want to achieve is for President Obama to be a one-term president.” Though failing to achieve that goal, Republican lawmakers have applied the underlying message of this statement to great effect. Throughout the eight years of the Obama administration, the GOP has worked tirelessly toward their singular goal of obstruction. While Democrats attempted, with mixed results, to set the political agenda and tone of the country, the GOP worked solely to make sure their opponents failed.

The complete refusal to consider any nominations to fill the vacant Supreme Court seat left by the death of Antonin Sca-

Instead of making decisions based off of his own research and opinions, Berg let others tell most of the story. The greatest threat to a movie about a sensitive topic is corruption from assumptions, biases and exaggeration — factors that no amount of individual research can patch. A movie about an event like the Boston Marathon bombing is something too massive and multifaceted to be open to the director’s personal interpretation. If such a film is made with one mind behind each scene, it possesses no power to connect with the audience, much less to pay respect to and honor the victims. The time that Berg invested into interacting with real people makes his work accurate and unbiased. Berg preserves the realism of the event and gives his movie voice, the voice that all such movies need to deliver a story that anyone can relate to and learn from.

However, the movie’s timing is what ultimately provokes the initial criticism. The majority of Berg’s opponents believed that was too soon for a full-blown movie to be made. A tweet accused Berg of “filming at the site of a still-fresh wound,” and many reviewers said that “Patriots Day” was not something victims would feel comfortable watching.

Humans are empathetic creatures. It is human nature to defend victims of a recent traumatic event against any means of public portrayal that may draw unwanted attention and traumatic memories. Since movies are made to generate revenue, people are skeptical about early productions under the belief that they are made solely to turn profit without care for the vulnerabilities of the victims. If a movie is released at a time when others have not recovered from their losses, hostility toward the subject would slash the number of potential audience members.

When made with the experiences of the victims in mind and timed with their feelings in heart, these movies open new bonding opportunities for people around the world. Aside from informing the viewer, a well-made and well-timed movie offers a platform for discussion and remembrance that involves everyone interested in the subject matter. And sometimes, having people come together is the best way to heal a common wound.

lia last February was perhaps the most obvious instance of this unconditional opposition, but it was far from unusual. In 2015, the Republican-controlled Senate confirmed only 11 federal judges, the lowest number since 1960. In 2016 they performed only slightly better, leaving 114 federal judgeship vacancies, 42 of which have such a backlog of filings that they are considered to be in a state of “judicial emergency.” This reveals more than just an ideological difference; it shows the single-mindedness with which the Republican Party fought to make the Obama administration a failure. The efficiency and stability of the United States judicial system was just a casualty in a war about much deeper issues.

This blind opposition can be seen in all areas of American politics. Obama served his final year in office heading a gutted executive branch, with 101 of the 379 top Cabinet-level administration positions left vacant. Budget proposals were rejected without being viewed. For the first time in over 40 years, the Republican leadership refused to even hold a hearing for Obama’s budget director to present his plan. The GOP has opposed almost every action taken by the Obama administration, regardless of the impact. For the past eight years, the Republican Party has shaped its platform into one simple message: Anything But Obama.

This new platform was on full display in the 2016 presidential election. Every Republican candidate campaigned on the promise of undoing the damage done by the previous administration, but offered no proactive policies or vision. Vows to repeal the Affordable Care Act were almost universal, but plans for replacing it went almost unmentioned. Candidates committed to rebuilding the military they claimed Obama destroyed, even while the military budget remained unchanged since the Bush administration. Many promised to renegotiate or end the Iran Nuclear Deal, the only piece of legislation that remotely slows Iran’s acquisition of nuclear weapons. They pledged to fix Obama’s “soft” immigration policies that allowed in dangerous outsiders — the same immigration policy that deported more illegal immigrants than under any other president. Every aspect of the Republican platform was a reaction, a political ideology of being anti-Obama.

And it won. The Republican Party now controls the House,

Senate, Presidency, and shortly, the Supreme Court as well. It appears as if all the American people want is a reversal of the Obama administration, to undo the damage they feel his time in office caused.

However, it is important that the Republican Party understand what happened in the 2016 election. This was not a success of the Republican platform — it was a failure of the Democrats’.

Only 54.4 percent of the voting age population voted last November, down from 54.9 percent in 2012 and 57.1 percent in 2008. Historically, Democrats win when voter turnout is high. In 2016, it was simply not high enough. Party infighting, uncertain direction and a lack of enthusiasm for their presidential candidate greatly harmed the Democratic Party — and even with those problems they still won the popular vote by a margin of nearly 2.9 million ballots cast. While the Republican defamation campaign against the Clinton family for the past 16 years compounded these problems and assisted in the eventual Republican victory, this still speaks to the core problem of the conservative agenda. By single-mindedly focusing on contesting the liberal agenda, Republicans have forgotten their own.

The now-figurehead of the Republican Party is not a Republican. The American people did not elect a standard-bearer of the Republican Party, a politician who worked hard to oppose Obama and stand up for conservative values. The American people did not elect a Marco Rubio or a John Kasich or a Jeb Bush. They were all beaten by someone who could be politely described as a “political outsider,” or more accurately as an inexperienced, reality television show host with a penchant for threatening minorities and mocking the disabled. The Republican Party may have defeated the Democrats, but they have lost their own identity in the process.

In the weeks after the election, the Democrats have been called a party in crisis. But they are not the only ones. With almost complete control of government, the Republican Party has been given a chance to lead, but to where? The Republican Party will soon learn that it is far easier to obstruct than it is to govern.

FREEDOM FISCAL RESPONSIBILITY FAITH limited government STRONG MILITARY

CONSTITUTION liberty FAMILY VALUES

6

Features

February 1, 2017

unconventional prompts JOSEPHINE ROBINSON online editor

Students, or at least seniors, are very familiar with the typical questions a college admissions board asks, such as “what achievement are you most proud of?” or “what is one experience where you had to overcome an obstacle?”. Questions like these can be repetitive and downright boring, especially for students who have many applications to complete and submit. This is exactly why some colleges opt to include unconventional questions that surprise students and get them thinking about their answers instead of simply rehashing previous essays to fit the prompt. The University of Chicago and Tufts University are well known for presenting these types of prompts, but they are not the only schools that do so.

The University of Pennsylvania once posed the question “You have just finished your three hundred page autobiography. Please submit page 217.”

Tufts University wants an applicant’s opinion on Kermit the Frog’s statement “It’s not easy being green.” The University of Chicago just wants to get to the bottom of a question that has loomed over humanity for generations, “So where is Waldo, really?”.

These questions are not meant to be dreaded but a way for colleges to get a look at your creative side. After all, all questions on college applications are intended to tell colleges something about you.

Looking back, when I was completing my applications I was not faced with many unconventional questions, like those posed by frequently by the University of Chicago. However, I remember one question that I thought was unusual.

It was; “What song should we be listening to while reading your application?” At first, I did not know what to answer; no college counselor had ever prepared me for a question like that. The question was also so outlandish that I could not take it seriously, but then again I do not think it was meant to be serious in the first place. After I had thought about the question for a while, I realized that there was no wrong answer. I figured that as long as I did not choose an inappropriate

or offensive song, school would not care that much about what I picked. It was this train of thought that eventually lead me to put “Will You Remember Me” by Sar- a h McLachlan. The song is about McLachlan asking her ex-partner whether or not they would forget about her — which is a melodramatic way of me asking the college admissions officers if they would remember me and let me into their school.

At the end of the day, these questions are not meant to be serious, so there’s no need to stress over the “right” answer. The solution is simple: just give an answer you are happy with. When it comes to the college application process, everyone has their different take on how to respond to personal questions, and no one answer is right. Your application should bring forth your authentic and best self.

“TELLING MY MOM WHAT I GOT ACCEPTED INTO AND WHAT I GOT REJECTED FROM WAS VERY DIFFICULT.”

graduated

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the ESHA RADAKRISHNAN

KALEIDo PERSP

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APPLICATION DR.

opinions assistant

Caught up in a flurry of homework and tests, first year university students cannot be anything but grateful to have their exhausting college application process firmly tucked into their pasts. Recalling their experiences struggling through a mess of college prompts, recommendation letter requests and countless essay drafts, Cupertino graduates all agree that the application process was hectic and required ample planning and forethought.

Some seniors entered their last year of high school well prepared and ready to power through their college essays. Said Melanie Gee, a freshman at the University of California, Berkeley, “I started brainstorming in the summer for my essays and developed an initial list of colleges I was applying to. I had a folder just for essays, and each essay was in its own document labeled with the school and due date.”

Alternatively, some students like Vinh Truong, who graduated in 2015 and currently attends the University of the Pacific, struggled to stay afloat in the sea of essays and applications. “The process was just very stressful. There is no better way to say it,” Truong said.

“I spent 24 hours just busting out essays nonstop for different prompts, and I hated it. Everything had the same theme but was written a little differently.”

Seniors drafting their answers to essay prompts are typically faced with the arduous tasks of meeting the word count and rhapsodizing their achievements to colleges. Yun-Da Tsai, a current sophomore at New York University, candidly advised next year’s juniors to “suck it up, because that is really all you can do.”

Upon reflecting on their essays, graduates easily recognized the considerable amount of growth they underwent after high school. “I noticed that there was a significant difference in the writing, even though I took it seriously during the college application process,” Truong said. “This is because there was still a lot of stuff that I did not know. I would say that made the process a more humbling experience.”

While the majority of Cupertino alumni are expected to express their appreciation towards their family and friends at the end of their college application season, Gee suggested that students also show gratitude to their teachers who continue to supply recommenda-

tion letters on demand. “Thank the teachers who write the rec letters,” Gee said. “They are not obliged to write recommendation letters, but they do it because they care. Please be respectful when requesting letters, and earnestly thank them and talk to them afterward.”

After the waiting period, the most trepidatious part of applying to college, some students must confront a much more ominous foe. Said Truong, “Telling my mom what I got accepted into and what I got rejected from was very difficult. There was a lot of disappointment because I am a first generation college student and my mom was expecting a lot of Ivy Leagues to just come flying down my way.”

Regardless of where one ends up after high school, life continues. Said Truong, “Even if you are in a community college, top tier school or even if you do not choose to go to college, as long as you are moving forward, you are doing something with your life. You are improving, and I think that the most important thing to realize.”

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While the process of applying to college is arguably the most challenging period of a student’s high school career, it is no less challenging for teachers and staff, who each year dedicate hours of their own time to help students through the process.

Many staff members take on additional responsibilities during the fall. This means spending time and effort writing recommendation letters, counseling students or otherwise guiding students as they apply to the universities of their choice.

Said math teacher Anna Tran, “My role during this process is mainly to write letters of recommendation.

[Recommendation letters] aren’t easy for teachers. There’s a lot of pressure to write a really good one. And not from any external sources, but from ourselves. When [students] ask us for a letter of recommendation, we take that very seriously. We want to do the best we can so that [students] can get into the colleges [they] want to get into.”

Additionally, many of the college resources come from Jessica Yazdani, the College and Career Advisor, in the College and Career Center (CCC). “I’m here to support students

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in whatever way they need in terms of college and career readiness.” Said Yazdani, “That might be checking their college applications, going over their essays, giving them information about schools, providing workshops and having college representatives here to talk to students about their campus.”

The college application process is demanding, however, and some staff members believe that certain aspects could use improvement. “I wish that some schools would look at the whole student. In a lot of ways, getting into college is a numbers game,” said guidance counselor Lisa Hart. “CSUs, for example, ask you certain questions about you on your application, but they don’t want essays or letters of recommendation. What they are instead looking at are your GPA, classes and test scores. That part is hard for me because I know there is so much more to a student than those numbers.”

Said English teacher Nikki Merrick, “I wish I could just have a conversation on the phone with colleges. If it was one conversation, I could then just talk about the student. Even if I had a thirty-minute conversation for every student that I was recommending [to a school], that would still save me an hour and a half per student. In some ways, [having a phone conversation] might yield more authenticity for [those writing the recommendation letters]. If we’re asked a question and have to respond in the moment about that student, I feel like that would be more natural.”

Said Yazdani, “I think students get stressed out thinking they might not get into their dream school, but I always let them know that wherever they end up going, they’ll make it work for their path in life. As long as they’re motivated and take advantage of internships and all of their opportunities, I truly believe they’ll find a meaningful career once they graduate college.”

“I like the fact that I’m helping a student get into college. To be involved in that part of [students’ lives] is an honor,” Tran said. “I actually really enjoy writing recommendation letters. When I write them, I realize, ‘Wow, this student is amazing.’ I get to reflect on the time I had with them in my class, follow up with them and find out what schools they got into. It’s a very fulfilling process.”

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“I STARTED TO REFLECT ON MY OTHER INTERESTS AND DECIDED TO APPLY TO ART SCHOOLS AS WELL, BECAUSE WHY NOT?”

ESS DISSECTED AND CONTEMPLATED NT PERSPECTIVES

IVY STREET

Features

The Prospector

February 1, 2017

the

seniors

ERIN SONG sports editor

As this year’s college applications season comes to a close, the clock ticks closer and closer towards the graduation date for the class of 2017. With only six months remaining until graduation, seniors have chosen to spend their final semester in various ways, ranging from resuming their current studies to succumbing to the infamous annual plague of senioritis.

For a majority of seniors, the brunt of the college applications process has ended, giving the class of 2017 ample time to reflect on their experiences.

Despite the inevitable stress that arises from college applications, seniors such as Jessica Xia have turned the process into an opportunity to reevaluate their own interests. “I thought I was pretty confident in going into neuroscience and a pre-med track, but I began to think how much of that aspiration was influenced because that was what my parents did for a living,” Xia said. “I started to reflect on my other interests and decided to apply to art schools as well, because

why not?”

Students also found the supplemental essays that colleges require their applicants to submit as another chance to explore their own interests and identities.

“Parts of writing essays were actually fun. I enjoyed writing essays with more open-minded and creative prompts,” Xia said as she recounted putting down breadfish.co.uk as one of her favorite websites on her short essays.

Although second semester has definitely come as a relief to many seniors, many still feel obligated to maintain decent grades in order to prevent from getting rescinded from colleges that had originally accepted them. Said Xia, “I do feel slightly less stressed second semester, given that my schedule isn’t as packed and I don’t have any more college applications, but that hasn’t changed much about the current workload I have this semester.” For students such as Xia, challenging courses still comprise a bulk of their schedule.

“AP Biology still has tests and quizzes every week, so

the workload for that is still the same,” Xia said.

Senior Tam Pham, who plans to enroll at De Anza Community College after graduating from high school, intends to use the following two years further explore her interests. Pham identified several benefits of a community college education. She sees it as a means of expanding her potential career paths while maintaining responsibility over her current financial and religious priorities.

“Personally I value my spirituality very much, and I would prefer to balance my education with my spiritual life, which I feel community college accomplishes.” De Anza Community College currently offers a specialized Transfer Admission Guarantee (TAG) Program that guarantees transfer to universities, including most member schools in the the University of California system. Said Pham, “I want to find a balance between something that interests me and can support my lifestyle.”

8

THE THE DANGEROF OF DANGER ENDANGERing ENDANGERing ANIMALS ANIMALS CAROLINE GEE copy editor

In 2016, the World Wildlife Fund and Zoological Society of London announced in their Living Planet Index report that two-thirds of vertebrate populations could be wiped out by 2020.

Skeptical critics questioned the accuracy of such a prediction; nevertheless, the statement has been a major wake-up call for animal conservationists everywhere.

The Living Planet Index report found that animal populations dropped by 58 percent between 1970 and 2012, largely due

Lifestyles to human-driven factors such as poaching, habitat destruction and pollution.

Yet the question remains, why should we care?

Many of these endangered animals are keystone species — organisms essential to the functioning of their ecosystems. One example of a keystone species on the brink of extinction is the orangutan. Orangutans are crucial to maintaining the health of tropical rainforests due to their roles in plant seed dispersal. Surviving only on the islands of Borneo and Sumatra in Indonesia, orangutans have lost 80 percent of their habitat to deforestation for palm oil plantations in the last 20 years, resulting in a population decrease of 97 percent during the 20th century. At this rate, scientists predict that orangutans may become extinct in 25 years.

The most effective way to help the orangutans is using less palm oil.

Although this can be challenging, given that palm oil is in 50 percent of consumer products, many stores host a wide range of affordable alternatives. Look specifically for products like sunflower oil, coconut oil and olive oil when shopping, as manufacturers often hide palm oil behind names like “vegetable oil” in their ingredient lists.

Climate change poses yet another threat to a multitude of species. Increasing levels of carbon emissions are causing the sea ice cover to recede, forcing polar bears to seek refuge in unnatu-

February 1, 2017

ral habitats for extended periods of time. In the Alaskan village of Kaktovik, thousands of tourists have flocked to see the burgeoning number of polar bears residing on dry land. The situation may be a tourism hotspot, but scientists who studied these polar bears found them to be suffering in physical condition and reproduction rates. As sea ice loss continues, polar bears face discouraging survival rates, a reality that perpetuates the International Union for Conservation of Nature’s Red List 2015 prediction of a 30 percent decrease in the polar bear population by 2050.

As keystone species, polar bears maintain the seal population by preventing them from over hunting fish and other small organisms. Scavengers like the Arctic fox and Thayer’s gull also rely on polar bears for leftover seal carcasses. The disappearance of polar bears would undoubtedly harm other species’ chances of survival, thereby marking the pressing importance of combating climate change. Simple lifestyle choices like walking or biking instead of driving, avoiding products with excessive packaging and eating less meat are effective ways to reduce carbon emissions.

Orangutans and polar bears are only two examples of species suffering from the effects of human-driven factors. As poaching, deforestation and pollution continue to destroy thousands of species’ natural habitats and populations, more and more scientists are making speculations as to their imminent extinctions. Unless we choose to make considerable lifestyle changes, these scientists’ predictions will turn out to be true.

ICONIC FILMS through the ages CATHERINE SEOK

Roman Holiday Frustrated and sheltered from the world, Princess Ann escapes her life and meets reporter Joe Bradley. The two immediately click and fall in love. Despite their differences, the two develop feelings for each other in this bittersweet story of new experiences and different possibilities.

1953

Snow White and the Seven Dwarves Disney’s first full-length and wildly successful animated film is a timeless classic that follows the story of Princess Snow White and the evil Queen. Snow White bites into an apple containing a curse that can only be broken with the famous “true love’s kiss.”

1937 1942

This film takes place during World War II and revolves around Rick Blaine, a conflicted man who has to help his former lover and her husband escape Czechoslovakia with the Nazis in pursuit. Widely successful as a wartime film, Casablanca and its acclaimed actors, Humphrey Bogart and Ingrid Bergman, remain iconic decades later.

Casablanca

photo editor

Ferris Bueller’s Day Off When high school senior Ferris Bueller and his friends decide to ditch school to explore Chicago, they face numerous obstacles, including a crashed Ferrari. The 1980s classic follows the story of Ferris as he tries to return home before his parents notice and without being caught by his principal.

Titanic The second-highestgrossing film of all time tells the story of first class passenger Rose DeWitt and working class passenger Jack Dawson as they cross paths and unexpectedly fall in love.

In this tragic story of love and sacrifice, the two main characters must make choices that may change their lives forever.

1986 The Godfather In 1945, Michael returns from the frontlines of World War II. However, when he, the son of Mafia leader, Vito Corleone, does not wish to become a part of the family business, a series of tragic events follow.

Rocky Rocky Balboa, an unsuccessful boxer, gets the chance of a lifetime to fight champion Apollo Creed.

After weeks of training, Rocky is determined to “go the distance” and prove himself to the world in the ring.

1976

1972

1962

Based on Harper Lee’s renowned novel, “To Kill a Mockingbird” focuses on Scout and Jem Finch as they learn about the darker side of their small town in Alabama. The film explores the true meaning of justice and the reality of racism from the perspectives of its two young protagonists.

To Kill a Mockingbird

1997

1994

The Lion King follows Simba, the son of the king of Pride Rock. Simba flees when Mufasa, his father, is murdered by his jealous brother, Scar.

Simba tags along and grows up with Pumbaa and Timon until his childhood friend, Nala, encourages him to return and challenge Scar.

The Lion King

2004

After being home-schooled for her entire life, Cady Heron attends her first day of public high school. She initially befriends Janis Ian and Damian Leigh, and together they plot to bring down North Shore High School’s infamous clique, “The Plastics.” This all goes to plan, until Cady falls into the wrong crowd. Cady learns over time what is truly important to her, and it definitely does not involve the Plastics.

Mean Girls

Lifestyles

The Prospector

February 1, 2017

stafF PIcks

chrome extensions BOOMERANG

SANTOSH MURALIDARAN features assistant

easyloop for schoolloop

adblock With over 40 million users, AdBlock, one of Google Chrome’s most popular extensions, allows users to roam the Internet without being distracted by various ads that often appear on websites.

Created by a small group of developers, AdBlock restricts ads from appearing on nearly all sites, including Youtube and Facebook. Though it is most popular as a Google Chrome extension, it is also available on web browsers such as Safari, Firefox and Opera.

EasyLoop for Schoolloop is a Chrome extension created for students who use Schoolloop to check their grades. The extension enables users to calculate what scores they need in various assignments in order to achieve their desired course grade. The extension calculates grades when assignments are added or removed and also includes a final grade calculator for final exams. All calculations are done within seconds by the extension’s software, allowing students to quickly know how their grades may change.

honey As online shopping continues to grow in popularity, more and more shoppers are seeking the best deals and cheapest products on online stores. Honey searches the web for coupon codes, sales and the best deals in various online web stores. When shopping online, users can click the Honey button to view the coupons and deals available for that store. During online checkout, Honey will instantly apply coupon codes to the shopping cart. With a Google Chrome extension like Honey, users can save the most amount of money on the best products.

“HAPPY HUNDRED!” the artificiality of snapchat streaks

The yellow ghost glowing across the screen is a familiar sight to millions of teenagers across the country. Whether you are scrambling to “story” the fleeting sunset, or spending those ten minutes taking and retaking that selfie to send to your crush, it seems that for many, social media has become their lives.

The issue of the detriments of social media to humans is overused and exhausted, yet evaluating the extent and purpose of the entanglement of social media, specifically Snapchat, in human connection and relationships serves a unique point of interest.

The purpose of Snapchat Inc., as stated on their website, is to “improve the way people live and communicate … empower people to express themselves, live in the moment, learn about the world, and have fun together.”

Snapchat distinguishes itself among all social media platforms because of how effortlessly it embodies the teen and young-adult psyche of pursuit of ambition, recognition, achievement and competition.

To an extent, Snapchat has achieved its goal of bridging the distance in relationships and promoting communication -- but there is an underhanded slippery slope to this concept as well.

The “streaks,” the “best friend” list and the “Snapscore” exemplify the superficiality of digital communication. For many, these gimmicks of Snapchat have come to represent the worth and commitment of a friendship or relationship — indicating that a longer streak somehow equates to a stronger, “better” relationship. Many pursue this meaningless number in order to “prove” the worth of a friendship, but in doing so these tensecond snaps have disintegrated from sharing meaningful moments to sending black screens with the word “STREAK” plastered across.

Snapchatting to document every waking minute of our lives has become a social norm, and society inevitably falls prey to this social

phenomenon of “achievement without work.”

And while partaking in this game of “streaks” and “snaps” is not something to be ashamed of, the extent to which we obsess over and value the proof of digital commitment and communication poses a question of triviality. We have taken a platform designed to bring humans closer and used it, consciously or subconsciously, to determine the value of a relationship.

At the end of the day, our digitized conversations and connections will not equate to the value of face-to-face interactions. The skills and shared experiences we gain from personal communication are irreplaceable and unique as they are rooted in emotional context rather than textual or pictorial context. So while digital connections like Snapchatting and sharing your personal achievements with distant individuals can aid personal relationships, it cannot ever replace the immortality of a shared experience.

Snapchatting, and social media in general, has become this metaphysical representation that we have attached to relationships. So instead of sending that ten-second selfie to your best friend, give them a call.

6 150 9000 629

billion videos watched daily million daily users

snaps sent every second

days: longest Snapchat streak recorded

COURTESY OF ADWEEK

Boomerang is a useful software for email scheduling and organization. Boomerang enables users to schedule emails to send automatically based on a given date and time set by the sender. Scheduled emails are sent automatically, even if the user is offline. If one wishes to receive responses for an important email within a fixed amount of time, the sender can simply set the specific time and date that they want to see replies by, and if no response arrives by the desired date and time, Boomerang will notify the sender. This extension is even accessible on mobile, making it the perfect productivity tool on the go.

AISHWARYA LADDHA features editor

9

Sports

10

BOYS BASKETBALL

FIGHTS HARD AGAINST WILCOX JENN ZARATAN photo editor

The Pioneers came to a close loss at their home game against Wilcox, ending with a final score of 64-58.

After starting off strong with the first few baskets, Tino had a narrow lead before Wilcox quickly overtook them. Both teams continued to score consistently, claiming basket for basket and switching the lead over several times. The first quarter ended with Wilcox striding ahead, seven points up of Cupertino.

Freshman and shooting guard Jack Townsend pulled Tino ahead with a three-pointer, but Wilcox maintained its lead, going for more layups and dunks as Tino went with long-distance shots.

A wise strategic decision on Tino’s part, their preference was also their apparent strength, as the team’s average three-point shooting percentage amounted to 56% and their two-point shot accuracy slumped at 43%.

“We’re not the tallest team,” said senior Parth Redkar. “Our four players on the outside are good shooters, and we usually want to go inside the [key] but it was difficult, and we can make

February 1, 2017

overall we didn’t do a good job keeping them on the outside.”

Coming back from halftime energized, the team moved quickly to score points and attempt to gain back the lead.

“Second half we definitely did improve on defense, but we wanted to stay aggressive offensively and pick up the pace,” said Ellegood.

While Tino was able to make 17 defensive rebounds, throughout the game they struggled particularly with making rebounds on their own side and Wilcox regained possession often.

Said Redkar, “We turned the ball over so many plays, and rebounding was also a problem for us. Again, we’re undersized [compared to Wilcox], and they were good at bringing the pressure … to keep us out of the [key].”

In the last few seconds of the quarter, Ellegood stole the ball from Wilcox and made a stunning three-point shot from farther than half court, beating the buzzer and ending 43-55. Wildly energized by the feat, the crowd came to their feet and watched the final quarter expectantly.

A shooting foul and two free-throws put Tino four points within Wilcox’s reach; with less than three minutes left in the game, Cupertino started to foul Wilcox’s players in a last effort to gain possession of the ball and make a comeback. The team frantically tried to make shots, almost coming up to match Wilcox. Eventually Tino missed a critical three-pointer and chances of taking the game to overtime were slim. In total, Tino scored 15 points to Wilcox’s nine in the final quarter, but in the end it was not enough to beat Wilcox’s impressive plays throughout the other three quarters.

Our four players on the outside are good shooters, and we want to go inside the [key] but it’s difficult and we can make decent shots on the outside.

-Senior Parth Redkar decent shots on the outside. For Wilcox, they’re a big team but they’re also not really the best at shooting, so we tried to keep them out of the paint and make them go for more outside shots.”

In particular, junior George Ellegood earned all of his 23 points from three-pointers and free throws. Overall, Tino made a total of 10 out of 18 three-pointers compared to Wilcox’s 6, but the latter team was still able to finish the first half with 17 points to Tino’s 15.

“We needed to defend from the start. We let them get too deep into the [key] and all the way to the basket,” said Ellegood. “We played zone [defense], so we were able to kind of slow them down, [whereas] if we matched up man to man, they were just gonna isolate us and we’d be in trouble. But

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JENN ZARATAN PHOTO BY JENN ZARATAN

February 1, 2017

The Prospector

BOYS SOCCER TEAM KICKS OFF SEASON WITH HOME GAME VICTORY

JUSTINE QIU photo assistant

UTKARSH TANDON online editor

On Thursday, Jan. 12, the CHS varsity boys soccer team stood on home turf, ready to take on Lynbrook High School. Although the boys struggled to create chances at the goal near the middle of the game, they emerged victorious with a final score of 3-1 in favor of Cupertino High School. The victory offers a boost of confidence for the team, who hopes for a promising future as they continue to prosper throughout the season.

The boys started off strong in the game, earning many opportunities to score. Persistent passing from junior midfielder Aditya Prabhu created constant pressure on Lynbrook and kept Tino’s advantage in terms of possession. This pressure finally caused Lynbrook to snap as one of their defenders failed to keep hold of a backwards pass, leading to a Tino corner kick at the 17th minute.

The players gathered around the goal post as junior Ryan Kim took off to the corner of the field. A flawless swinging kick from Kim brought the ball in a perfect position for senior Tatsuya Tatsumi to finish off with a brilliant header into the goal. The team, ecstatic, gathered together in celebration as they went up 1-0.

The same tug of war continued as Tino goalies Tony Rodriguez and Jose Martinez made some excellent saves and striker Chris Ortiz made valiant efforts to reach the Lynbrook goal. However, Lynbrook suddenly gained an unexpected corner kick of their own and they did not waste the opportunity. A header from Lynbrook evened the scores at 1-1 just before halftime.

Tino felt no need to panic as there was much time left to take the lead, but scoring chances were slowly disappearing. Lynbrook was more effectively moving the ball around in order to complete a greater amount of passes and therefore prevented Tino players from making easy steals such as those accomplished in the first half of the game.

behind the sceneS :

the experiences and perspectives of sports coaches

NEERALI SHAH sports assistant

Sports bring teammates together, create everlasting bonds and provide a sense of stability for many students. Coaches play a substantial role not only in developing the technical skills of athletes but also in looking out for their well-being. Just a few of the many coaches who have brought their guidance to Tino sports are Kenji Mitchell, Scott Stevens, Chris Oswald and Gavin Goes. These four coaches shared how their respective sports have shaped them into the people they are today.

Varsity football head coach Chris Oswald began playing football at the age of 10 and continued to play through college. He fell in love with the sport and formed a strong connection with his teammates. Soon, he began coaching. During the thousands of hours he spent on and off the field, he concluded that the most important aspect of coaching was being available for his athletes, both professionally and personally. For Oswald, the best way to establish trust between his players and himself was to teach and coach at the same school he attended.

Said Oswald, “Being consistent and present is important ... and they need someone to be there for them.”

Junior varsity boys basketball head coach Kenji Mitchell began playing basketball in elementary school and continued to play throughout high school. Upon graduating from CHS, he started coaching club basketball and continued to improve his skills on the court by playing intramural basketball in college. Over the years, Mitchell has noticed that the skills he learned as a player on the court and as a coach on the sidelines transcend the sport itself. Immediately after transitioning from the role of player to coach, Mitchell grasped the fundamentals of perceptiveness and patience.

Said Mitchell, “I feel very proud of them when they win, and the biggest thing I have learned is recognizing losses and reflecting on them and understanding that there is always room for growth.”

Emphasizing failure as a learning opportunity is also an essential component of Coach Scott Steven’s guidance of the varsity girls basketball team. When Stevens began coaching basketball at CHS five years ago, the experience of coaching a high school team was brand new for him; however, he quickly adapted to the high school culture and helped lead the team to become a formidable competitor. Stevens not only pushed his players to be the best they could be physically, but also supported them mentally and emotionally.

Said Stevens, “It’s only fun to work with the people you have made a connection with, and I have spent a lot of time with my players on and off the court.”

Along with Steven’s multifaceted coaching abilities, the girls’ hard work and sweat on the court translated to winning their league numerous times.

In addition to girls basketball, the girls varsity soccer team, led by Coach Gavin Goes, has also shown tremendous amounts of progress. Currently sitting at third in the league, they have high aspirations of qualifying for CCS. For Goes, landing his coaching job was easier than for most coaches because he holds a teaching position at CHS. However, there was an official application as well as a run-through of whether all of the coaching requirements were met. Every aspiring coach must take a national coaching program, multiple safety programs for head injuries, CPR and first aid. Goes began coaching his daughter, Hannah Goes, when she was nine years old and has over 15 years of experience as a club coach. To spend the last three years of high school closer to his daughter, he took on the position of the varsity girls soccer head coach. Although he had assisted for the boys junior varsity soccer team prior, Goes felt more comfortable and confident coaching a girls team.

Said Goes, “I like how girls play more because of the mindset they use on the field.”

Good coaches can take care of the players actions on the field, but great coaches can provide stability for their athletes on and off the field.

Gavin Goes, Kenji Mitchell, Scott Stevens and Chris Oswald have helped CHS capture one of the most beautiful aspects of coaching: the long lasting relationship not only among teammates but also between athletes and their coaches.

Sports

11

With the game nearing its close, Tino junior Tyler Matsuzaki received the ball and managed to weave through several Lynbrook defenders and produce a magical goal to put Tino up 2-1.

Said Matsuzaki, “The score was 1-1, and I think we had about ten minutes left. I was given a pass near the box, so I took a touch and shot it. I wasn’t really thinking much when I hit it, but it flew right above the keeper and went in.”

Although a Tino win looked very probable, they didn’t seem finished with the game. To secure a victory, they employed the strategy that offence is the best defence and kept pushing forward during the dwindling moments of the game.

“Coach tries to make us play possession and mainly keep the ball,” said junior Leo Ho. “We try to make short passes so it’s easier to implement that game plan.”

This tactic led to yet another goal as excellent ball handling from Tino midfielders set up striker Chris Ortiz to pull off a superb finish past the Lynbrook keeper’s fingertips. The whole team, joyous in their victory, huddled around in celebration.

To the boys, the 3-1 win indicated a solid start to the season, encouraging them to continue pushing forward with a similar tenacity. Said Matsuzaki, “I think if we stay focused and work hard, we have a fair chance in finishing near the top of the table.”

PHOTO BY CATHERINE SEOK

CATHERINE SEOK

SPOTLIG HT :

winter guard + winter percussion

ELENA CHANG flipside assistant

Although the marching band is over for this year, color guard and percussion are not done competing yet. Both winter guard and winter percussion are making their transition into indoor competitions as this season starts.

Last year, Cupertino established a winter guard team, which, like the color guard performs with flags and weapons while dancing. Unlike during the fall season, the winter guard team competes indoors solely as a color guard rather than as a part of the marching band.

Said competitive team senior Shefali Venkatramani, “Since the judges are closer to us for the winter season, the dance work and flag work is much more intense. Everything is a lot more intricate with many more levels of complexity. It’s challenging, but in a good way.”

With growing interest, the guard leadership decided to create two winter guard teams this year, a competing and noncompeting team. Each team practices separately after school. The competitive team practices for three hours every Tuesday and Thursday and from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. every Saturday.

Said Venkatramani, “For the competing team, the show’s theme is inspired by the monarch butterfly. Every three generations, the butterfly knows it has to go back home. It does not know why, but it knows it needs to go. Wherever it ends up is where it is fated to be, and our entire show is about applying that mentality to our life and finding where we are supposed to be.”

Compared to the marching season of color guard, winter guard has many notable differences, including the fortune of not having to deal with weather and a smaller area to perform.

Said Venkatramani, “I like working with a group to create a performance — the feeling you get after putting in so much work and performing; when you realize, ‘Wow,’ you feel accomplished.”

Like winter guard, Tino’s winter percussion program is relatively new. Established two years ago, the 23-member team consists of Tino students, Lynbrook students and eighth grade students.

They practice for about three hours every Monday, Wednesday and Saturday.

Said senior section leader Akshay Bhide, “This year’s show is called ‘Never Be Like You,’ based on the theme of conformity, which people try to resist, but face mob mentality.”

The show runs for about seven minutes, which is much shorter than during marching season.

The season includes five competitions in total.

Said Bhide, “The hardest part of winter percussion is the commitment, because outside of rehearsals we have to practice our music and marching, making sure we know our part. Sometimes it is hard to stay committed when you have lots of other things going on, but through my four years in band, I have been able to figure it out.”

Along with Bhide, Mark Dorcak and Aviv Benchorin are section leaders for winter percussion.

Unlike marching band, winter percussion does not get to watch a drum major, the conductor of the whole band, so they must rely solely on their skills and listening.

Said Bhide, “Both Mark and I maintain rhythm. Since I have had all this practice with marching since freshman year, it has become pretty natural for me to keep rhythm while continuously moving, so I do not have to think about it too much anymore.”

Both winter percussion and winter guard intend to perform at a showcase at school, on a date that has yet to be decided.

Flip Side

February 1, 2017

12

JANUARY IN PHOTOS JENN ZARATAN

CATHERINE SEOK

CATHERINE SEOK

SPIRIT WEEK | Juniors Isha Shah and Mahak Bandi dress up for Tourist Day on Friday of Spirit Week

CUPERTINO BADMINTON TOURNAMENT | Junior Justin Sze competes in the studentrun badminton tournament

BOYS BASKETBALL| Shooting guard George Ellegood, junior, dribbles the ball at a home game

COURTESY OF CUPERTINO SPEECH AND DEBATE

CATHERINE SEOK

SPEECH AND DEBATE | The speech and debate team competes at the Martin Luther King Invitational

CLUBS FAIR | Juniors Katya Smirnova and Deepali Mittal recruit members for their new club, TiNOstress

6,500 MILES, 9 YEARS,

m TINO’S MARRIED

&

1 LASTING FRIENDSHIP

TEACHERS m

merricks

CATHERINE SEOK

COMPILED BY AMY ZENG

how did you meet?

Mr Merrick: We used to teach right across the hallway from one another.

Mrs. Merrick: He would come over and ask me questions. Things like, “where can I get some paper clips?”

Mr. Merrick: Stupid questions.

Mrs. Merrick: They were stupid questions, yeah.

Mr. Merrick: Just to be able to talk with her.

favorite thing about each other?

Mrs. Morgan: Mr. Morgan’s personality and his excitement — one for teaching but also kind of for life in general. He’s just a very energetic, fun person to be around.

Mr. Morgan: She’s super smart. I’m impressed by that, and she can help me with any problems or issues I have or troubleshoot at school. She is really kind and ready to help not just me but all staff members that we see here on campus and other teachers and students on campus too. And she’s really pretty.

morgans

CATHERINE SEOK

what ’s it like to both work here?

mcleods

COURTESY OF LISA MCLEOD

Mr. McLeod: It’s cool because we get time to connect during the day. We have kids, so sometimes that’s the best time to talk together.

Ms. McLeod: We can have lunch when we want to. We don’t carpool to school together because we have kids and because he has to leave earlier than I do, so if he forgets to bring his coffee or something, I bring him coffee. Or if he forgets to bring a birthday cake for another teacher, I’ve gone to the store and gotten him a cake.

FAVORITE THING ABOUT EACH OTHER? Mrs. Morse: [My] favorite things about him are [his] sense of humor and compassion.

Mr. Morse: [My] favorite thing about her is that she is the greatest mom to our two kids. I also admire her dedication to her students. Working at the same school really helps us understand each other’s jobs, challenges, and frustrations. We are able to support each other in our careers.

Powder Puff

Monday, Feb. 6 - Friday, Feb. 10

Choir Valentine Serenades Tuesday, Feb. 14

morses

CATHERINE SEOK

February President’s Week Break

Monday, Feb. 20 - Friday, Feb. 24

COURTESY OF LAURA OCKEL

CATHERINE SEOK

Michelle and Edward were first grade classmates at an international school in Taipei, Taiwan. They ran into each other after nine years when they both moved to Cupertino, Calif. Between the two of them, they have lived in more than nine houses and attended six schools. Here, they reflect on their experiences nearly a decade later.

CATHERINE SEOK

EDWARD HSU

MICHELLE MA

features assistant

online assistant

At the age of five, just as my awareness of my surroundings heightened, my mind began to store images into my head that became the first genuine memories of my childhood. Images of Taiwanese comfort food, crowded metro rides and the breathtaking view of the metropolitan skyline atop the Taipei 101 are still fresh in my mind today.

I grew up under the impression that my birthplace of Taipei, Taiwan would be my home forever. “Forever” was cut short when my parents announced that we would be moving to Cupertino, Calif., a city six thousand miles away from what I called home.

I remember the first time I stepped foot into an American school. The unfamiliar blue and white buildings were a sudden change compared to those in Taiwan. My classmates stared at me when I counted out loud with my fingers in Chinese. The cultural differences that I observed in America made me uncomfortable and insecure and ultimately led me to hide a part of myself.

At first, I forced myself to fit into a different mold. Weekly calls to my grandparents stopped. I no longer cared about my next visit to Taiwan, because I knew that returning would only hold me back from becoming a “true” American. My indifference toward my home country eventually reached a point where I no longer had to pretend that I didn’t care; I had successfully and proudly distanced myself from my ethnic origin.

By the end of elementary school, I genuinely felt like I fit in, but I thought about all the pieces of myself I lost along the way. I had forgotten a significant amount of my native language; I was no longer able to read some of my favorite Chinese comic books. When talking with my grandparents over the phone, I would forget how to say simple words, like “school” or “phone,” because I had rejected Chinese and adopted English as my main language.

Since moving here, I have tried so hard to forget my past. My desire of becoming a “true” American came at the cost of forgetting my culture. Looking back, I realize the importance of adapting to my surroundings and looking to the future, but not at the cost of forgetting my past; my Taiwanese heritage will still be a part of me. I will always have black hair and brown eyes, and since this will never change, I might as well embrace it.

Whether it’s your childhood aspirations, family traditions or your cultural identity — those are things that are worth holding onto.

For the first six and a half years of my life, the place I called home was the beautiful city of Kirkland, Wash. — a picturesque setting of mountains, lakes and friendly neighbors. My idyllic life was interrupted in the middle of first grade when my dad’s job required my family and me to move halfway across the globe to my parents’ hometown of Taipei, Taiwan.

Although initially filled with trepidation, I was relieved to find that people in Taiwan were warm and kind. As time passed, the dreams I had of returning home gradually faded. I began to love my new life and embrace the convenient transportation, culture and sense of community.

During the summer before the fifth grade, I packed my things and prepared to move once again — this time, to California. The mélange of items that eventually shipped here was a collection of my fondest memories. As a veteran mover, I was confident in my ability to adapt and excited to take on the next chapter of my life — in a place I had always perceived as home.

Once I arrived in California, I realized that my impression of America from when I was a happy 6-year-old was nothing like the harsh reality. I felt incredibly lonely; once again, the world I was familiar with was ripped away. The well-established friend groups intimidated me. I wished that I could have grown up in one place rather than three.

Although it took me a while, I eventually adapted. The strangers who smiled at me when I asked “Can I join you guys?” at a lunch table later became a few of my closest friends. Now, I can brag about how many places I have friends in around the world.

Running into Edward after our paths had diverged over the years, I was struck with an indescribable feeling of joy and disbelief.

I reflected on all the struggles I had faced, the unrelatable experiences I have had and all the perspectives I have gained. I realized that life is dynamic, and circumstances are constantly changing. I had spent the past three years in Taiwan recognizing how much of the world I had yet to see, but here, the world was oh-so-small after all. No longer did I feel a pervasive emptiness — it was as if I had finally found my home.

Finally, I was reminded of my true self. I am strong — put me anywhere and I will survive. At times I wonder where my home is. But as my mom always says, home is where your loved ones are — and that is enough.