Issue #2 — The Prospector — 2013-14

F RI DAY, N OV EM B ER 1, 2013

“Obamacare” not a dirty word

Life lessons from Pokémon battles

FEATURES pages 6 & 7

OPINIONS pages 4 & 5

Fall recipies

LIFESTYLES pages 8 & 9

VOLUME 55 NO. 2

FLIP SIDE page 12

The ProsPecTor

CHSPROSPECTOR.ORG

Student Newspaper of Cupertino High School

10100 FINCH AVENUE, CUPERTINO, CA 95014

THU DAM

Clubs Day 2.0 Tickets replace bills in biannual event that opened between the brunch and lunch periods.

Further easing the complications of Clubs Day was the new ticket system, instituted in order to ensure ef-

RISHI NAIR web crew

SERENA NGAN features assistant

12k

The biannual Clubs Day was held on Oct. 18 in the newly reconstructed quad, but accompanying the student organization-sponsored food fundraiser were a few changes to the system — the event took place during lunch and, for

“

$12k

Last year there was about

- Mukil Loganathan, junior

The switch to a lunchtime Clubs Day not only utes was not removed from each class period as was done on previous Clubs Days, but it also allowed many clubs to improve logistics and order from restaurants

$60

quad. This, according to junior and ASB Clubs Commissioner Mukil Loganathan, resulted in a better collection system that allowed clubs to net more money.

Said Loganathan, “Last year there was about

While the establishment of this method, along with the additional guideline that food must be priced solely in $1 increments, was successful in its attempt to streamplagued previous Clubs Days, a major loophole in the ticket system allowed for easy forgery of tickets. One student was caught counterfeiting tickets in such a manner.

However, the ticket system is known largely as a tried-and-true system as it has been tested and later implemented by neighboring high schools. In fact,

In addition to the risk of counterfeit tickets, the cials had to deal with printing and distributing tickets.

“

Clubs Day will be back and better than ever because we will have the entire quad open and will have worked out all the kinks - Wes Morse, ASB Adviser -

While it faced a few setbacks and challenges, Clubs Day was largely viewed as a successful event.

Said freshman Armita Alikhani, “There was a large In response to these concerns, Morse assures stuand better than ever because we will have the entire

School food: Hit the refresh button DELANIE MEDINA flip side assistant

NIRMIT SHAH sports editor

In order to comply with changing USDA regulations and California state laws such as SB13 and SB965, the Fremont Union High School District board is implementing changes in school food. These rules place restrictions on calories – high school meals must have 800 calories or less – and sodium levels, thus limiting the number of food options at high school cafeterias.

While these reforms have forced schools across the state to present new, lower calorie foods, Bill Schuster, nutrition services coordinator SCHOOL FOOD, CONTINUED ON PAGE 2

Shutdown furthers political rift ASHLEY LIU THU DAM

lifestyles editor

From Oct. 1 to Oct. 17, the United States federal government SHUTDOWN, CONTINUED ON PAGE 2

2

News

The ProsPecTor

S TA F F 2013-2014

Cupertino High School Established 1958 Vol LV, No. I | 2013 editors-in-chief katie martin chris s. yoon news editor michael li opinions editor diana kruzman features editor keely zhang lifestyles editor ashley liu sports editor nirmit shah

The Prospector

Gov’t shutdown furthers D.C. partisanship SHUTDOWN, CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

ity of federal employees and creating doubts over the na- and social reactions. Polls concluded that while most Americans blamed congressional Republicans more than conof 1884, which states that the federal government cannot portion reported overall decreased satisfaction in governoperate until it has funding — namely, a budget. However, ment performance. trolled House of Representatives proposed a budget which delayed or defunded Obamacare, causing the Democratic Senate to refuse to pass the bill. Congress was unable to reach a compromise by midnight on Monday, Sept. 30. weeks.

Over the course of the shutdown, 800,000 federal em1.3 million additional employees were required to work without pay. Some government workers, such as Cabinet

News briefs: October

copy editor tanay tandon

web editor tanay tandon business manager ashley liu news assistants

laura shkouratoff jay shroff myung-ju song

opinions assistants

alex levine isabel lin

features assistants

serena ngan alex shieh joyce ye

lifestyles assistants

maithilee kanthi marvin wang

sports assistants

nikita devdhar brian zhong

flip side assistants

delanie medina jeremy xue

copy assistant photo crew web crew

yane ahn gloria choi anirudh pai gloria choi rishi nair

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

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

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

“The Prospector” editorial board reserves the right to accept or reject any ad in accordance with its advertising policy.

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

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continued to be paid.

During this period, many Americans were especially “What we see happening with this Republican stratwary of imminent threat of hitting the debt ceiling by Oct. egy is a willingness to threaten the very foundation of the 18, which would cause the government to default, or enter world’s greatest economic power. That is a very risky propobankruptcy, if left unresolved.

On Oct. 16, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid and Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell reached a comcalled attention to the prospect of defunding Obamacare.

15 at sequestration levels and suspend the debt limit until Feb. 7.

The shutdown caused a variety of negative economic

flip side editor jessica shin

photo editor thu dam

November 1, 2013

On Oct. 1, 2013, the United States federal government entered a government shutdown, forcing the furlough of 800,000 federal employees and suspension of many government activities due to budget disagreements between the House and the Senate, namely over funding of President Obama’s landmark legislation — the Affordable Care Act. The government shutdown ended on Oct. 17.

----------------------------------------The Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons, a watchdog group enforcing the worldwide chemical weap-

ons ban, was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize on Friday, Oct. 11, although Pakistani women’s education rights was the favorite to win.

-----------------------------------------Alfonso Cuaron’s Gravity, a movie about two stranded astronauts in space, earns $55.6 million in the U.S. opening-weekend gross.

Starring George Clooney and Sandra Bullock, the two astronauts struggle to survive in space after their shuttle is destroyed. It is the must-watch movie of the October premieres.

------------------------------------------

COMPILED BY JAY SHROFF AND MYUNG-JU SONG

YANE AHN copy assistant

High school students from around the Bay Area come together to help present Red

dollars presale, eight dollars at the door, and can be purchased online on the Facebook event or from the hosts. Donations are also accepted, and all proceeds will be distributed evenly to organizations actively parA high school senior from The King’s Academy decided to do something about huother schools — Palo Alto High School,

released on Saturday, Oct. 12 to mixed reviews and a save-corrupting bug, according to Gamestop. Nintendo also released the new Pokémon bank, an application on the cloud that lets users store all their Pokémon from X, for an annual $5 fee.

-----------------------------------------

New food SCHOOL FOOD, CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

at FUHSD, alongside his team, the decline in taste for which healthier foods are often known.

“If I want to buy the pulled pork from a USDAapproved store, it is not as Schuster, however, works to alleviate this problem by in a kitchen, draining it of the

— and healthier — product is then ready for sale to students.

A major portion of the regulations is ensuring that each student receives three of the of nutrition – fruits, vegetables, protein, grains and dairy. The source of protein, however, does not always have to be meat; it can come from meat alternatives such as cheeses. A refusal to make sure each student ends up of nutrition in his or her hands can result in state auditing. duce calories, however, the board has also noticed issues in portion sizes.

“They want to reduce the calories and they just reduce the kids say I got the proper plate and the proper portions and they’re still hungry. Schools offer three ounces of meat and three ounces of vegetables and I know some of you guys By reducing the portions, schools often inadvertently

A 12-year-old girl killed silo in Florida after being constantly cyberbullied by two girls around the same age as her. Police have arrested one of the girls and her mother but claim that the mother was arrested on separate charges.

campus is a 20-ounce Arizona and Doritos and I cannot Ultimately, the school board must endure a complicated process in order to fulenacted by the state while still plentiful dining options.

Stevenson School, Branham High School and Cupertino High School--and realized a lot of people felt passionate about it, too.

Said Park, “I just wanted people to see the reality of this issue and how big of a probHuman rights groups estimate that anywhere between 12.3 million and 27 million people are enslaved in forced or and involuntary servitude at any given time.

States, and is not just of the past. The benred-light districts in urban areas. These arity is that it is a mentally, emotionally, and psychologically damaging industry. The victims are often those without voices who RED LIGHTS, CONTINUED ON PAGE 3

YANE AHN

News

The Prospector

November 1, 2013

3

BRIAN ZHONG lifestyles assistant

Stanford Online High School, or OHS for short, is an education program completely run online. The school was founded in 2006 as a three-year institution and has since educated students from countries around the world.

Its courses are accredited by the Western Association of While 42 percent of the student body are full-time stuKathlyn Gray notes how “many OHS students elect to take a single course online, which best suits those who still want to full-time student pays $16,600 per year, although single courses cost $3,500 each; these rates are viewed by many participants as a reasonable amount considering the caliber of the education and the high tuitions rates at neighboring private schools.

Many students opt to attend OHS in order to pursue higher-level academic enrichment or accommodate their demanding schedules.

Said OHS junior Roma Forest, “In middle school, I would be learning material in class that I already went over several weeks ago. Thus, I sought an alternate form of education, one that could appease One distinctive contrast between public school and OHS is the schedule. Students in a traditional high school take courses four times a week; that students take twice a week for 75 minutes each.

Indeed, students can take classes that start as early as 6:30am or as

The courses at OHS run the gamut from recognizable science classes such as AP Biology to one-of-the-kind

Getting into OHS is not easy. The school has a comprehensive admissions process similar to those of colleges. The application asks for transcripts, standardized test scores such as the SAT scores, teacher recommendations and supplemental essays.

-

“

I nate one my

sought an alterform of education, that could appease academic needs - Roma Forest, OHS junior

On the other hand, Gray admits that OHS is not for -

ity that online mediums will become the forefront of educating the nation’s posterity. She described how “online learning through such websites as Khan Academy are rampant

put it, “the discussions fostered at OHS are so vivid and proThe intimate relationships students develop with their instructors, albeit through video chat, surpass the connections most public school students have with their teachers. OHS in-

Red Lights performance

interaction rather than to grading or running other errands.

“I was able to ask any questions I had as well as partake in live-

are broken into submission and repeatedly abused. Often culture paints prostitution in a positive light, disregarding the dehumanization that happens behind the scenes.

One common concern students have when considering OHS is the social atmosphere. The lack of face-to-face interactions, the void of Homecoming and rallies and the inability to partake in hands-on activities cast a critical light on online educa-

such

as

student

radio

club

or

Gay

Straight

RED LIGHTS, CONTINUED FROM PAGE 2

design the clever, red lightbulb poster for the event.

Senior reographed

Stephen several

Do has pieces

chohimself.

Alli-

Said senior and performer Ryan Duong, “It’s an issue

-

is spreading the word and getting people involved. It’s

4

STAFF EDITORIAL

Opinions

HAPPINESS As leaves turn yellow and school charges forward at full throttle, a typical high school conversation runs something like this.

“Uh, I don’t know man, sometime around two in the

Bio lab, catching up on some APUSH readings, starting my AP Comp Sci lab, and

November 1, 2013

It’s everyone’s ultimate goal, but serenity has become increasingly scoffed at and looked down upon, while stress is exalted and admired. Why it’s okay to be happy

mous poll of 219 students in the school revealed only about 20 percent of students claimed to be unhappy, a much smaller jority of students - 69% - reported that they were enjoying life, a clear contradiction to the stressed and overwhelmed image of the typical teenager. These results indicate that many students mask their happiness in favor of a frazzled and overburdened image. What has our education system done, if students now pretend to be sad and

food

“Sigh … life sucks. I wish high school However, as the two students walk away from each other, one feels decidedly more accomplished and cool than the other. Welcome to the psychological hierarchy of a competitive high school where perceived stress level determines social standing.

Students are so inured to late night studying and procrastination that feeling stressed has become the norm for average teenagers. Students try to perpetuate and go beyond this norm, setting new minimal-sleep records and piling on more and more work, by any means possible — even through deception — and thereby elevate their social perception; the longer students stay up or the more stressed they are, the cooler and smarter they become in the eyes around the campus, one negative conversations miserable and tired students’ son might even mistake this high of a horrid mental institution.

Are

with this academic community? Or perhaps its just misguided observation on the students’ part. Either way, the grim truth still stands: Being stressed is the new cool.

However, it is important for students to recognize that happiness shouldn’t be taken for granted, and certainly shouldn’t be regarded

do: the majority of students often lose themselves in the latest

o f walks will hear about how lives are. A perschool for some kind

frightening. An anony-

you happy?

friends as they study at the library. Its safe to say many students are, in fact, quite content.

Besides, as teenagers, it is our duty — as cheesy as it may sound — to enjoy the world and live life to the fullest. There is absolutely no reason to put on a fake facade, which will only fuel the ongoing stereotype of adolescent misery. High school can be challenging at times, but that’s all part of the fun.

When else will people get to work hard and play hard with no obligations or tribulations? As the old adage goes ... “You only

es %y 69

no stress

family

living in the present without regrets from the past

when my mother is proud of me

be may hat/ o w e som 20% n 11%

movies

love

sleep hanging out with friends

in defense of

scandalous clothing

LAURA SHKOURATOFF news assistant

A young teenager walks into class, already tired from spending her mornshe looks good in while keeping it appropriate enough to fall under the school’s dress code and her mom’s approval. However, as she slides into her seat, she sees other girls smirking at her low-cut shirt and guys ogling at her tight shorts. She can already hear the whispers behind her back that she knows she’ll be hearing all day. posed to pictures of models and trim celebrities wearing skimpy clothing. Because of this, many become driven to obtain a similar image. Girls often how they are supposed to look. They strive to meet these

editorial cartoon

norms of society. Unfortunately, these clothing choices tend to come with a variety of negative connotations. It is common for others to make an assumption about an individual based on what they choose to wear. Social media feeds wom-

ideally look like and most of these images contain clothing that are often considered between the thin lines of attractive and appropriate is becoming more and more dif-

It’s important for girls to know that they have the right to wear whatever they’d like. As long as what they wear ment they’re in, they should have the right to wear it without being ridiculed for it. Whether they want to go to school in in a skimpy top or show up in a concealing turtleneck, the decision is completely up to them. It’s unfair for the opinions of others to rude and inappropriate for labels and unkind words to push

whims.

5

sands of dollars are spent analyzing data on what the viewers enjoy and are willing to pay for. So when movies such

MAITHILEE KANTHI lifestyles assistant

For a long time, the majority of the cinematic industry has been unabashedly escapist, with over the top superhero mov-

been garnering great reviews

PRO//

Opinions

The Prospector

November 1, 2013

studios continue to churn out such unrealistic stories.

However, with all successes, there has been no shortage of critics calling out these producers for trivializing serious content. They issues such as drugs and law-breaking receive, spin them into a positive and tempting lifestyle. But then again, when did imposing common sense become the media’s responsibility?

The purpose of the entertainment indusand foremost, to entertain its viewers. Hundreds of thou-

of 2001, the message is clear that people enjoy watching of, its lawless behavior.

Drama of all time by critics, revolves around a middle aged man who joins the drug dealing industry to support his family when diagnosed with cancer. Even “Entertainence life again — to take chances, risk danger, do things

MISINFORMED

Why Obamacare should not be a dirty word that might otherwise be unattainable. When a studio does oped show, the public buys it, and there is no reason to Some critics argue that media promote immoral beare aimed at an audience that has the maturity to properly interpret the controversial messages. Therefore, it’s right and wrong, not up to the shows to censor sensitive subjects.

Let the government and parents and schools focus on educating the youth about a sense of morality. If there’s show, the simple solution is to not watch it.

bad@$$

It is tempting to believe even the staunchest Repubeditor-in-chief lican could understand that an institution that enslaved upwards of four million people at its peak just 150 years ago, coupled with the unlimited power owners wielded for buying, selling, torturing and murdering human beings, is not the most haps comprehend that President Obama is in no way akin to the fanatical German leader behind the ghettoization and subsequent KATIE MARTIN

However, no claim is too radical, too insensitive or too plainAccording to pundit and neurosurgeon Benjamin Carson, -

Carson himself is African American. Senator Ted Cruz was all

Germany during World War II, asserting that support for Obamacare mirrors the initial appeasement of the Third Reich. Even more appalling are statements from Idaho state senator Sheryl

Does the entertainment industry glorify crime?

DIANA KRUZMAN opinions editor

“Mom, I want to be a drug dealer

most likely no mother ever will; however, as the popularity ing grows, it is becoming increasingly evident that kids and adolescents are looking up to idols other than doctors and lawyers. While these programs are meant for entertainment mous, and include desensitization to crimes and ignorance of the negative impacts of such actions.

drugs, leading to a loss of understanding of the negative consequences of this crime among the viewers. The show’s protagonist, Walter White, manufactures crystal meth in order to provide for his family, an act that has enormously negative, far-reaching consequences. Walter’s actions feed the drug habits of everyone that buys from

using federal funds. Despite these negative impacts, viewers identify with Walter because of the struggles he goes through, and feel sympathy for him; his battle with cancer and love for his family seemingly justify his actions. Although fans of the show most likely won’t quit their jobs and decide to take up drug dealing, they will feel that Walter did the right thing, and by thinking this will lose understanding of why it is a The entertainment industry often casts criminal acts in an light, a romanticization that

//CON

not only disguises the negative impacts of crime, but lowers respect for the law and fosters a skewed sense of morality in viewstantly goes around the law to accomplish his goals, and usually ends up successful. For a viewer watching the show, the portrayal of his criminal actions as adventurous and the casting of law enforcement as the villains creates the impression that those actions are not all that bad, and that in fact he is doas well as believe that the ends justify the means.

The entertainment industry needs to realize that its proand thus need to approach crime from behind a less romantic his mother he wants to be a drug dealer, but it does lead to a more lenient mindset towards crime - and after all, it is the thought that counts.

consisting of government employees who make end-of-life decisions for the elderly — an assertion so remarkably untrue that it And while comments in this vein may simply be dismissed as Tea Party rhetoric too outrageous to be believed by the general populace, this visceral hatred for Obamacare has indeed shaped public opinion of the law. According to a 2013 poll from the Kaiser Family Foundation, 47 percent of respondents believed the cent agreed with the statement that the reform would cut Medi-

is that the percentage of those who believed these unequivocally false statements was in every case higher than that of respondents who answered correctly.

Perhaps the most accessible demonstration of healthcare ignorance, however, came in the form of a late night television talk show host deployed a reporter to ask random people strolling ately replied with the latter, citing reasons for support that ranged knowledge that Obamacare is simply a nickname for the bill that subjects overwhelmingly favored.

These instances represent an enormous victory for ACA opponents. They have succeeded in their mission to deliberately mislead the public, convincing a sizeable portion of Americans that health care reform is indeed a dangerous, unpatriotic plan destined to doom the nation before the program even began. But in an ironic twist, the same Kaiser poll revealed that most major provisions in the bill are supported across party lines, with 71 percent, 80 percent and 88 percent of respondents favoring Medseemingly sole deterrent is the name attached to the law. to which politicians will go in order to persuade constituents of the evil lurking in the legislation of their rivals. And in an era of inescapable media dramatics, it is especially easy to get caught truth, it is ultimately the public’s responsibility to think critically about sensationalist statements of knee-jerk hatred.

Want to know more about Obamacare? Visit chsprospector.org

Features

6

November 1, 2013

PHOTO BY GLORIA CHOI

FANFICTION GLORIA CHOI photo crew

It’s already half past three in the morning, yet the anticipation is too great to possibly set down the book. The variable plot, the dynamic characters and the heart-wrenching romances never fail to entice the unsuspecting reader; however, even the most accomplished author cannot answer every quesPHOTO BY GLORIA CHOI

ONLINE

COMMUNITIES JEREMY XUE flip side assistant

While a large part of fandom takes place in real life, a considerable portion takes place on online communities such as Tumblr and Reddit. Whether it be reblogging photos or gifs related to one’s favorite show or posting on an anime subredof content. fans surrounding a nucleus of any common interest, may it be comic books, anime, celebrities — and the vast majority of it takes place online. One notable reason that fans enjoy these forms of media is that they can be immersed in the worlds that these interests establish.

Supernatural, Doctor Who, and Sherlock. It’s nice to imagine According to sophomore Rino Kodama, “Some people

questions can often be frustrating for a reader; fortunately, advancements in technology have given way to online communities that provide just the solution to such a dilemma. setting derived from an author’s original work. It is a way to uphold the individuals with similar interests.

However, with the variety of fandoms that are found online Inspired by the Warriors book series, sophomore Grace Yu began writing during the summer of her eighth grade year.

-

without a pseudonym. She displays her work not for the attention, but for the community that is provided.

skills and communicate their interests; they are able to track their progress and receive feedback from all -

shows teach us a lot about life and people in general. I think it’s Added Kodama, “It’s my way of getting out of touch with

each other on the quality of the work ...

els is through the blogging platform Tumblr. Tumblr is considered by many to be the epitome of online fandom, having evolved into an immensely popular online community where users can reblog, post and surf through content.

“I mostly reblog posts consisting of gifs,

Lu continued, “On Tumblr, I meet people with similar

In addition, Reddit, a social news aggregate, has a large following among high schoolers. Reddit is composed of individual communities, or subreddits, that cover an enormous variety of interests, including television shows such as Breaking Bad, Game of Thrones and How I Met Your Mother. to a number of subreddits and actively participating in online free time scrolling through and commenting described the communities as “generally pretWhen asked about Reddit’s impact on his

Outlandish costumes, stunning artwork, gatherings for people with the same interests and amazing visual works of literature people hear the word “fandom,” they dismiss it as child’s play. Even dictionary.com doesn’t give the term much thought, defin from the word “kingdom,” is much more complicated than its general public perception. Fandoms consist of five basic sectio experience, as they provides people all around the world with connections to others with the same passion.

Features

The Prospector

November 1, 2013

7

PHOTOS COURTESY OF AZALEAH MATULA

CONVENTIONS

GLORIA CHOI photo crew

One cannot help but marvel at the phenomenon that occurs when over 20,000 people gather at one location, at one time, for the same real — sight can be observed at gatherings like ter. For hardcore anime fanatics, aspiring artists and cosplay enthusiasts famous artists and writers, buy fanart and more. can, unsurprisingly, be overwhelming.

the Dealer’s Hall, a wondrous hall of alluring merchandise. From cute clothes to drawing books and anime art, there is something for everyone. The Dealer’s Hall even boasts a luring trove of items from out of the state and country.

-

PHOTOS COURTESY OF IHNA YOO

COSPLAY ALEX LEVINE

Alongside shopping, cosplaying, or dressing up as a certain character, is a popular practice amongst convention attendees. Zachariah attested to the numerous months — and amount of money — cosplayers must spend on preparing costumes.

“People spend … many months beforehand, preparing cos-

According to sophomore Stephanie Shi, seeing cosplayers at conventions is “like seeing your favorite characters come to Aside from the vast realm of spectacles to see and programs to attend — ranging from autograph sessions to individuals with the rare and welcome opportunity to meet others with similar interests.

Said Shi, “I don’t really know a lot of people that like the same things as me — so when I go to conventions it’s nice to

opinions assistant

Though cosplayers are often considered emblematic of fandom, there is more to their work than their impressive costumes. Cosplayers are not only devout fans of what they cosplay, but are also artists, actors, and businesspeople and most of them would agree that their art entails a great amount of dedication and fun.

The prerequisites to a successful cosplay — choosing an appropriate character and preparing a costume — require detailed knowledge of the relevant work and a great deal of patience. Sophomore Ihna Yoo was introduced to cosplay by her Yoo had a similar appearance and personality to the character. ity. While many cosplayers order costumes online and modify them, some make their costumes from scratch.

Said sophomore Isabelle Roetcisoender of her friend Maria, “She really inspires because she makes all of her coIn addition to investing time in preparing their cosplay, cosplayers face occasional harassment at conventions, as senior Azaleah Matula describes: “Sometimes, there are some really creepy people at conventions who view you as the character, not a person, so they think it’s okay to mistreat you and

with cosplaying, cosplayers consider their hobby well worthselves and ... it’s just really fun to go out there and meet people

motivate cosplayers to continue pursuing their passion.

Said Yoo of one convention she attended, “Quite a lot of young girls went up to me and said my character was their newfound admirers.

Roetcisoender also has her share of entertaining cosplay “At one point, I met this male character … and I made him carry me bridal-style. Another time this guy was like ‘Madoka! I love you!’ and I went ‘Thank you citizen, I love Beneath each costume is a creative, committed cosplayer with their own story. Despite — or because of — all of their of their art.

Said Yoo, “If anyone else wants to cosplay, they need

e have seeming no connection to each other,but in truth, they are all key components of the fandom community. When most ning it simply as “fans collectively, as of a motion-picture star or a professional game or sport.” However, fandom, originating ons: fanart, cosplaying, conventions, online communities and fanfiction. Participating in such groups is often a great unifying COMPILED BY JOYCE YE

three, but the outcome is always worth it ... If you want to co-

8

Pumpkin

Lifestyles

November 1, 2013

Nutella

Spice Latte

Marble Cake Ingredients:

1 teaspoon baking powder 1/2 teaspoon salt

THU DAM photo editor

1 1/4 cups sugar

Ingredients:

of closets, there is no better way to fall into the autumn spirit than curling up on the couch and enjoying a warm, homemade pumpkin spice latte

1 cup hot milk (soy/ almond milk works

With these simple recipes, you can enjoy the season and all the delicious

3 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder Directions: 1. Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F and lightly grease a 9 X 5 inch pan.

2. In a large bowl, beat together the butter and

1-1/4 teaspoons white sugar 1/8 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice

3. Beat in the eggs one at a time and add the vanilla.

1 tablespoon sweetened whipped cream 1 pinch pumpkin pie spice Directions: 1. Combine the hot milk,

-

pumpkin pie spice in a blender and blend until frothy (vigor-

ture on top, gently smoothing it to cover.

7. Top with the remaining pound cake batter.

8. Use a knife and swirl the chocolate batter through the pound cake. Be careful not to over-

to about 2/3 full

the cake.

9. Bake the cake for about an hour and 10 minutes or until a cake tester comes out clean.

10. Cool for 15 minutes then remove from the pan, and allow to cool to room temperature before serving.

each mug 4. Garnish each mug with whipped cream and pumpkin pie spice and enjoy!

w

w

CAFFE I nE PHOTO BY GLORIA CHOI

ANIRUDH PAI photo assistant

ALEX SHIEH

form of skin cancer, basal cell carcinoma.

feature assistant

Many students are more than familiar with the nightly routine that accompanies a combination of a heavy homework load and a hearty dose of procrastination: as midnight approaches, they sleepily read

However, there are other unconvenfee ice cream, which contains about 30-45 milligrams of

still prove to be harmful to the body. The - infamous future cafduction of stress hormones which, if untreat- feine spray. While the ed, can lead to a plethora of cardiovascular and respiratory problems. Even though cof- spray might be ludirecommend under two cups per day, as the

after a grueling day of sports, clubs or maybe even both. They then take a sip of immediately comes to mind for many, but already-high stress levels, the drink has be- there are innumerable ways to consume this come a necessity for a number of teenagers due to the increased amount of work that goes hand-in-hand with multiple advanced classes.

However, there are many more ways to conlong earned negative publicity; however, two of the most common ways people ingest the beverage has been proven by countless ies of Health prove that people who drink

uct is currently up on Indiegogo, an international crowd funding site. Despite the recency of its invention, its reputation and popularity has risen immensely. So how does it work? In the $15 bottle, four sprays is equivalent to -

provides a delicious and satisfying way of obtaining it. improve their cognition and reaction rates.

According to the Cancer Research journal, be worth it for a student heading for an allreading those last few pages of the chapter and falling which in a recent study researched the ef- nighter.

November 1, 2013

The Prospector

Lifestyles

9

ARE HIGH-SCHOOLERS TOO OLD TO

TRICK-OR-TREAT? YANE AHN copy editor

My Halloween tradition has always been to watch Disney Channel’s Twitches while ignoring the people knocking on my doors because we never had at the same time. She does not see her happily candy. I think I was always a little jealous of those employed life as a tragedy at all. who went door to door every October 31st. They were living out their childhoods as princesses, su- cided to spend her Halloween indoors studying for the ever-demanding AP Biology because, as pumpkin buckets to the brim with candy. That was she put it, “my grade is more important. Besides, years ago, though, as it seems that others’ Halloween festivities, like mine, have been replaced by the But while she’s not going door-to-door this realities of growing up. season, but it isn’t because she thinks that she’s Senior Baotran Ton is going to work at Great too old.

America’s Halloween Haunt this year. Her blue col- “If people want to trick or treat they should lar job doesn’t leave her blue, though, as Ton gets the value of partaking in the season’s festivities.

Ton, who took her younger brother trick-or-treat- On the opposite end of the Halloween specing in years past, this year took her brother along with her to Halloween Haunt. She prefers giving to trick-or-treat by herself in pursuit of candy: stead, especially since she will be making money bags full of candy and going to the pumpkin

PHOTO BY JESSICA SHIN

branded adult.

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the costume element but solely on the delicious rewards she will reap — however, the heart she has for the candy is still the same as that of any her childhood.

Senior Katerina Gurzhi also planned to follow een before college trick-or-treating and going out purely to relive the sentimental feelings of childhood nostalgia before her life as a legally

never too old for trick-or-treating! You’ll take your kids out trick-or-treating one day, Ultimately, it’s not really a matter of age. As the years pass, our values may change and that’s just something we can’t stop. Yet childhood doesn’t have to end at a certain year.

Maybe we can’t do anything about growing old, but we don’t have to grow up.

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November 1, 2013

Paying respect or perpetuating racism?

Recent debate surrounding Washington Redskins team name intensifies TANAY TANDON

the owner to let the team carry that name es-

web manager

Controversy in the sport of football is not rare — doping, drug abuse, criminal records and even coaching scandals have all manifested themselves in the game. The racial backlash surrounding the Washington Redskins’ name, however, is far from

In response to such protests, current team owner Dan Snyder recently made use of a tradition-based argument in his open letter to fans regarding his refusal to change the team name.

“We are proud of our team and the passion of our loyal fans. Our fans sing ‘Hail to the Redskins’ in celebration at every Redskins game.

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American populations who found the team’s name form with growing interest in the debate’s outcome.

Surprisingly, the Washington Redskins were not always known by the controversial name: prior to 1933, the team went as the Boston Braves. In honor of then-

Similarly, some students take a viewpoint claiming that any derogatory meaning of the word is outdated and meaningless in a modern society.

Said junior and football fan Suyash Ganu, “Sports in America have a long history and it’s a great American pastime. Americans do not have resent-

the name was later changed to its current form. Thus, supporters of the franchise’s current name argue that

Opposers bring up the highly negative connotation of the word throughout the late 19th and

Both sides continue to present valid arguments, and the controversy will likely provoke many more

Americans, especially in land disagreements, the is taken. Until then, opposers must cope with the name while supporters of the management’s actions will continue to face the ire of protesting populations.

usage of the name presents a tolerance of racism.

“It is really irresponsible on the part of

Teachers leave classrooms behind, take on the world of sports

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“

that part of the reason teachoutside of work is because we need to be in shape physically as well as emotionally and mentally

If you bike 80 miles a day, the feel great - Eric Ferrante

JESSICA SHIN

Roberts - Martial Arts After starting it for fun during college, math teacher graduating, and eventually became a black belt. She began the sport because she “thought it was a good way to stay

include anyone, no matter what size or shape, was one of Roberts’ favorite aspects, although being unable to perfect some higher level techniques has constantly been an obstacle for her. Even after achieving black belt rank, she continues to practice martial arts in a small area in her garage where she has all her gear accessible. She enjoys domental relief that she believes is necessary for anyone.

JESSICA SHIN

Ferrante - Cycling

Founds - Ultimate Frisbee Growing up watching her older brother play, history mate Frisbee player and joined a team during her freshman year in college. Despite the competitive nature many players possess, the sport, known colloquially simply as‘Ultimate,’ is less widely known than other sports because “most people playing Ultimate and teaching. Recently, she and her team tionals Tournament, in which her team placed fourteenth.

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Ultimate manages to maintain something that people call ‘the spirit of the game,’ which is the idea that even when you have an opponent, you treat them with respect

Although many people travel by car nowadays, math and computer science teacher Eric Ferrante usually does not; his main mode of transportation is his bicycle. He began cycling during his college years to get to classes and his cycling distances became longer and longer. He eventually went from daily trips to

Although many people may think that the physical weariness of cycling may be the hardest aspect, for “You

may

feel

tired,

but

your

Besides cycling, Ferrante also plays tennis in ball whenever he goes back home to Santa Cruz.

PHOTO COURTESY OF ERIC FERRANTE

November 1, 2013

The Prospector

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Commentary: Failure a “A better mindset”: necessary element of the School athletes boost physical youth sports experience and mental fitness with preseason workouts and training MARVIN WANG lifestyles assistant

NIKITA DEVDHAR sports assistant

When I was younger and delved into the large realm of sports, I quickly learned a few things about myself. One, I loved playing soccer. Two, I had no eye-foot coordination of any sort. Three, how mediocre I was at soccer, I always got stickers, medals, or trophies simply because I partici-

the channels on the television, others choose to spend their time improving themselves as athletes.

Though preseason may seem optional to new athletes, veteran athletes who have gone through the preseason trainings may disagree with this notion. Additionally, some athletes see preseason as a

something new. What I don’t support, however, is the fact that these participation awards can raise kids to believe that it is acceptable to settle for less than our best because they are going to get an award regardless of whether they work for it or not.

Said sophomore and cross country runner Hursh Karkhanis, “Preseason is something that you have to be motivated for and you could make great connections with the athletes you practice

adorning our walls from participating in sports seasons, regardless of whether we were undefeated or winless. We were taught that it doesn’t matter whether you win or lose; it only matters that you tried. The same mentality that was fostered in elementary school is no longer the case in high school. High school sports have a high level of competition, and if you don’t have the right

Some athletes view preseason as a gateway to and a key component of winning. Most of the time, they are motivated to perform at high levels. One such athlete is senior Brett Koci, a varsity wrestling workouts. Koci, whose goal is to achieve the title of CCS champion in the upcoming

preseason is helpful for keeping me in shape and prepared for the gruesome regular season. PreCoaches encourage athletes to participate in the preseason, arguing that it is essential for the athletes to be conditioned for the regular season. Paul Armstrong, head of the cross country and

GLORIA CHOI

doesn’t motivate us to get better; it only tells us that it’s okay to settle for less than your best performance, which is obviously not the case in high school.

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Instead of being taught that failure is bad, we should be taught that’s it’s okay to fail

understand the concept of failure at a young enough age, and instead of being taught that failure is bad, we should be taught that’s it’s okay to fail. Rather than emphasizing the concepts of winning and losing, we should instead teach the younger generation to set high standards for themselves and push themselves to the best they can be, and not stop when their success has gotten a label on it.

Sophomore Richa Wadaskar posts up during a regular preseason practice.

won’t be ready for the regular season. Conditioning is optional. However, if you are serious, then

shape for the regular season. Other teams have already started, and we don’t want to be behind It is true that some athletes attend practice only during the regular season without preseason training and still succeed, but for many, preseason workouts are an essential facet of their sporting training is seen by many athletes as key to establishing a winning record in league.

“Knowing that you are coming into the season with a better mindset will help you tremen-

Flip Side

November 1, 2013

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OCTOBER IN PHOTOS THU DAM

SERENA NGAN

THU DAM

JASON CHEN

ANIRUDH PAI

TOURNAMENT OF BANDS | Mark Chang, Sam Tam and Scott Tatsuta wait on the field to pass out trophies.

CLUBS DAY | Senior Joshua Park and sophomore Ethan Shen advertise their club’s snack .

BLOOD DRIVE | Junior Charles Tzou reclines as he donates blood during the blood drive.

CHOIR CONCERT | Choir teacher Andrew Aron shows off his mustache during the debut choir concert.

NIRMIT SHAH

FIELD HOCKEY | Senior Jane Li sprints to hit the ball during the Senior Night game.

An expert’s guide to pumpkin carving

The initial phase I packed my backpack: knives, forks and spoons, along with a paper design and some tape and set out. Sitting on a park bench on a chilly October afternoon, I waited for the photographer to show up. Gosh!

Shouldn’t have worn shorts today! I was about to take the ludi-

Preparation for operation

JESSICA SHIN

came the forks and spoons. Out came the paper designs and the tape.

In went the knife as I carved a cap from the pumpkin. In went the forks pumpkin went the paper design, securely taped with Double-Strength Scotch Tape.

The surgery is underway eagerly watching my each and every move. The knife made its last dance around the perimeter of the design as I stood up with a triumphant smile on my face. The struggles had been real, but at least they were over.

The great depression

KEELY ZHANG features editor Text

About a week ago I saw my classmate secretly playing Pokémon on her phone in the middle of AP Government. Perhaps others knew about this phenomenon years ago and I’m a little slow on the uptake, but I had no idea that Pokémon could be played on smartphones.

So of course I was left with no choice but to give this a try; after almost rage-quitting twice and crying a -

more than 30 minutes on the game. — not with homework and ACT preparation to keep me occupied. But, as -

Suddenly, I felt a hand on my shoulder. I slowly turned around and saw Professor Carvin-Fordayz’s icy face staring straight down save before my phone died, I had to restart. So I did.

It’s been about a week now. I’ve trained long and hard — averaging three to seven hours a day — and have even

Pumpkin. My sad eyes slowly drifted across the orange-splattered room to the pumpkin, now devoid its insides.

neglected ACT book, my obsession with Pokémon has surprisingly done me some good; it taught me a number of valuable life lessons that I am now going to pass on to you guys.

of

tion, I learned how important it is to never lose hope.

That’s what it truly means to be a Pokémon Master.

The second thing I learned was how to analyze your

Final words...

As I drew closer, I could make out a crude design of a fox hastily gouged into the pumpkin shell. I gazed in wonderment as I was suddenly struck upside the head by the question of the century: “WHAT DOES THE FOX SAY?” The answer, like a beam of brilliant, divine light, shone straight into my head: HAP-HAP-HAPPY HALLOWEEN! HAP-HAP-HAPPY HALLOWEEN! HAP-HAP-HAPPY HALLOWEEN! COMPILED BY MICHAEL LI

NEXT MONTH: NOVEMBER End of second grading period Friday, Nov. 8

Band home show Thursday, Nov. 14

Fall play: Julius Caesar Nov. 8-9, 15-16 at 7 p.m.

ELD Thanksgiving lunch Thursday, Nov. 21

Fall sports awards ceremony Monday, Nov. 25 at 7 p.m.

Thanksgiving break Thursday-Friday, Nov. 28-29

JOYCE YE

to beat up someone, remember to do some calculations and strike them where it hurts. Especially if they’re male.

The third thing Pokémon taught me was the importance of friendship. In the game, you need to trade certain Pokémon to evolve them, something you cannot do without a trusted friend to trade with. Unfortunately I haven’t made any friends yet so I can’t give you any advice on that.

Beyond those lessons, Pokémon has also taught me how to abuse animals, the advantages of underage gambling and why Pokémon possesses such a timeless appeal is because its themes are so universal: patience, strategy, friendship, tresbefore Pokémon was invented and will be around long after But probably not. It’s probably because playing Pokémon