Prospector issue 6 by The Prospector

F RI DAY, M A RC H 28, 2014

A look at cheating in Cupertino FEATURES pages 6 & 7

VOLUME 55 NO. 6

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FLIP SIDE page 12

Student Newspaper of Cupertino High School

DELANIE MEDINA flip side assistant Late last November, small, peaceful protests began after thousands of Ukrainians became enraged that the previously established plan to integrate with the EU had been abandoned, instead pushing for closer ties with Russia. Police attacks on protesters and restrictive anti-protest laws have raised tensions and have caused the demonstrations to escalate. For months now, the ongoing demonstrations in Ukraine against government actions have been met with violent force. Senior Katerina Gurzhi, whose family lives in both Ukraine and in Russia, notes that although her relatives are geographically located on either side of the conflict, “they feel that mostly these protests are dangerous so … they just want the conflict to be reconciled.” Said Gurzhi, “Since ... the whole world is so much more modern now, it’s time that they let go of these old political ties and let [Russia’s] close neighbors do what they want to do and be their own country.” On the other hand, however, Gurzhi states that “[Russia is] as justified to invade as any other country, because they’re just expressing their opinion in the situation.” Shortly thereafter, the established anti-protest laws were annulled under a compromise deal struck between the government and demonstrators. Occupied buildings were vacated, and prisoners who had been arrested during the unrest were released. Furthermore, as ousted President Viktor Yanukovych slowly disappeared from the public eye and fled to Russia, the Ukrainian Parliament issued a warrant for his arrest, holding him responsible for the “mass killing” of civilians. While Gurzhi’s family does not live in Kiev, the capital of Ukraine and the site of the majority of the protests, the situation is serious enough that her parents are not willing to visit either Ukraine or Russia this summer. “Every time that we have family friends over it’s always a three-hour discussion about what’s going on,” Gurzhi said, “and also they’re really keeping up with the news as far as this situation goes. But I feel like they mostly are just watching it unfold.” Elsewhere, pro-Russian gunman held buildings in Simferopol, the capital of Crimea, and Vladimir Putin, President of Russia, was authorized by Russian parliament to send in forces to “protect the UKRAINE CONFLICT, CONTINUED ON PAGE 2

SCA 5

10100 FINCH AVENUE, CUPERTINO, CA 95014

CONTROVERSIAL LEGISLATION

TANAY TANDON web editor

JAY SHROFF news assistant FENG YE

proposed state constitutional amendment that would have allowed state colleges and universities to take into consideration the race, sex, ethnicity or national origin of applicants brought the issue of affirmative action to the hot seat of California politics over the past few months. SCA 5, introduced by State Senator Ed Hernandez (D-West Covina), was met with outrage from the Asian American community; in fact, organized opposition from Cupertino families was instrumental in Hernandez’s decision last week to withdraw the bill. The collegiate education system has long struggled with defining the balance between helping marginalized populations and maintaining a degree of consistency in its acceptance process. On one hand, it is widely acknowledged that many students of color do not have access to the same resources as their white and Asian peers, therefore necessitating extra opportunities in the form of college acceptances. On the other, opponents argue that admissions should be entirely independent of racial background and instead focus entirely on academic achievement. SCA 5 was designed to effectively overturn Proposition 209, a statewide ban on affirmative action passed by voters in 1996. Amendment author and Senator Hernandez stated

ART NOUVEAU web crew

SPORTS pages 10 & 11

The Prospector

Crimean conflict intensifies

RISHI NAIR

Pixie problems

Alumni pursue intramural, club sports

Artists rejoice: Beginning next year, AP Studio Art will be added to available fine arts courses, having previously only been offered at Lynbrook. “AP Studio Art has three separate designations and we’re going to be offering AP Studio Art: Drawing and AP Studio Art: 2-D Design,” art teacher Alice Cunningham said. “The two portfolios we offer are fairly similar, apart from the fact that 2-D Design offers additional options like photographic inserts and some digital art.” Cunningham stresses that AP Studio Art, which often consists of students looking to build their portfolios in preparation for art school, is not an easy course and that students must be extremely dedicated to their art if they wish to succeed in the class. “It’s definitely a lot of work ... there’s no standard AP test at the end, but students must submit a 24 piece portfolio,” Cunningham said. “But AP Studio Art is a very enjoyable experience for those who really love art.”

that the amendment would admit more students of color from groups underrepresented at UC and CSU schools, including African Americans, American Indians and Latinos. “The amendment is more fair for people [who] don’t live in the same situation as us,” sophomore Shripad Bangaru said. “SCA 5 will also give colleges more diversity, which is good because people will have to experience diversity in the real world.” Unsurprisingly, in a majority-Asian district, many students disagree with such sentiments. Said junior Rishi Dhanaraj, “I think it’s unfair that raciald efinitions are driving college acceptances in the 21st century.” Many South and East Asian families were outraged at the potential passage of this amendment, deeming it an attack on civil rights and worrying that chances of acceptance to state universities could be stunted due to the high percentages of Asian students already attending state universities. Resistance efforts, led largely by members of the local East Asian community, included heavily-attended demonstrations in front of Cupertino City Hall and a special City Council meeting during which many students and parents spoke in opposition to the amendment. A “Say No to SCA 5” Facebook page currently has over 8,000 likes. An outpouring of criticism from the consistently

SCA 5, CONTINUED ON PAGE 3

Hari searches for cures SERENA NGAN features assistant

ISABEL LIN opinions assistant

Finding a cure for Alzheimer’s disease has been the quest of many scientists and researchers for the past century. Throughout the years, many speculations and mysteries have arisen concerning Alzheimer’s causes and stages of progression. Though it may still be a while until a cure for Alzheimer’s emerges, progress is certainly being made. Despite the complexity of this common disease, junior Gopika Hari, in a submission for the Design a Brain Competition hosted by the DANA Foundation, was able to introduce a GOPIKA, CONTINUED ON PAGE 2

News

The Prospector

March 28, 2014

The Prospector

S TA F F 2013-2014

The redesign of the SAT in 2016 ANIRUDH PAI photo crew

Cupertino High School Established 1958 Vol LV, No. VI | 2014 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 flip side editor jessica shin photo editor thu dam 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 serena ngan 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

MICHAEL LI

SAT REDESIGN, CONTINUED ON PAGE 3

UKRAINE CONFLICT, CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

Ukraine, Crimea - violent conflicts

interests” of the Russian people. His actions were sovereignty and borders of Ukraine and of intermet with some hesitation, specifically from Presi- national laws.” Similarly, Ukraine’s interim Prime Minister believes that by sending in military forces, Putin was effectively declaring war. Despite this, It’s time that they let go of these old political ties and let the Crimean Parliament voted to join Russia and schedule a referendum, which then showed that [Russia’s] close neighbors do an overwhelming 97 percent of Crimeans would what they want to do and be back the proposal to join the Russian Federation. Regardless, senior Nick Samoray, whose their own country parents are Ukrainian, believes that more could - Katerina Gurzhi, senior have been done for the people of Ukraine, citing that “a huge amount of Russia’s income comes dent Barack Obama, who warned that “any viola- from selling oil and natural gas to the EU [and by tion of Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integ- cutting] that source of income off, Putin would rity would be deeply destabilizing” and that any probably at least hesitate to annex Crimea” since interference would be “a clear violation of Russia’s “it’s frustrating watching your home country commitment to respect the independence and get pushed around with no one backing it up.”

“

News Briefs A man purchased the Third Faberge Egg from a junkyard sale for $14,000. He originally planned on melting it down before he searched the name engraved on the egg. The egg itself is valued at over $30 million and has since been purchased by a private collector. Malaysia Airlines Flight MH370 went down in the general region over the Indian Ocean on Mar. 8. The wreckage has not yet been located, but evidence points to the conclusion that the plane

MARCH went down in a remote part of the Indian Ocean. Relatives of the passengers have been so grief-stricken that they are accusing the Malaysian government of lying to them. Russia has been removed from the G8 group of countries, leaving the original G7 group. Other national leaders in the G8 group decided that Russia’s actions in Crimea were unacceptable based on the G8 standards. Many countries still consider Crimea to be a part

of Ukraine and not Russia. Four men were arrested for trying to BASE jump from the top of the one completed World Trade Center. James Brady, Kyle Hartwell, Marko Markovich and Andrew Rossig were prosecuted for burglary, reckless endangerment and jumping from a structure. New York Police Department officials have expressed disappointment about the men’s actions, saying that they misused a national landmark in an extremely inappropriate manner.

GOPIKA, CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

Alzheimer’s research method to possibly treat and cure the disease. Her innovative proposal received the accolades of the foundation and earned her first place in the competition. “Alzheimer’s is caused by certain biochemical aspects in the brain,” Hari explained, “so I proposed a way of inhibiting a certain protein channel which would stop the buildup of these problems and could hopefully be used to treat or cure Alzheimer’s in the future.” Hari first came upon this competition while reading a blog and was immediately drawn to it because of her interest in the topic of neuroscience. Even though she expressed immense interest in this topic, she still faced multiple difficulties. “Since I never worked in a lab, the research techniques were new to me and I had to learn about it before I considered whether or not I could use it in my proposal,” Hari said. Although she had to overcome these hurdles, Hari also received help from her frequent reading of science publications that described newly minted research techniques as well as her experiences in school, which included classes such as AP Biology. Reflecting upon her proposal and submission process, Hari said, “I learned a ton about the brain, and how much there’s left to learn ... we could probably do research for years and still only barely scratch the surface.” Regarding her future, Hari says that she will definitely be pursuing medical research or science. The competition process was instrumental in giving her a “broader look into the specifics of [the field] as well as how much potential there is for people to do research.”

“

I learned a ton about the brain and how there much there’s left to learn ... we could probably do research for years and still only barely scratch the surface - Gopika Hari, junior

“[My proposal is] highly experimental so it’ll be really interesting to see what the results could reveal about Alzheimer’s or the basis of certain channels in the brain,” Hari said. “I’m hoping that one day in the future it can actually get tested in a lab and can further Alzheimer’s research.” For those who are interested in entering in the competition next year, Hari encourages these students “to definitely go for it.” Said Hari, “When I first looked at the past reports, I was like, ‘there’s no way I can write a report like this,’ but then ... you just throw yourself into something you’re interested in and [when you] look at it further, it should be a lot of fun.” SERENA NGAN

News

The Prospector

March 28, 2014

Mike HONDA

THE INCUMBENT

Part two of a three-part series

DIANA KRUZMAN opinions editor

On June 3, 2014, California voters will cast their ballots to determine their representatives in Congress for the next four years. On this day, seven candidates will vie for a position representing California’s 17th Congressional District — one of 53 such districts in the state — in the U.S. House of Representatives. Most well-known among these is long-term incumbent Mike Honda, a Democrat with a platform focused on immigration reform and promotion of technology. Honda, with a liberal agenda and a long history of service, is wellloved by his many constituents after six terms in Congress. Honda was first elected to the House of Representatives in 2000; prior to his term there, Honda had a long and illustrious career in both education and politics. After receiving a Master’s in education from San Jose State University, he served as a science teacher, a principal, and a member of the Board of Education before his 1996 election to the California State Assembly.

Honda cites his desire to make a change in the education system as one of his primary motivations for getting involved in politics. “During my career as a public teacher and school principal, I saw a lot of things that affect students’ ability to succeed that couldn’t be changed just from inside the classroom,” Honda said. “I think our entire model of education needs to be overhauled, with a focus on educational equity and meeting the needs of each and every child, regardless of their zipcode or socioeconomic status.” One of these changes includes the establishment of universal pre-K programs, which Honda believes are integral to the success of all students in the future. Honda’s other main points of advocacy include issues crucial to the Silicon Valley, including federal investments in nanotechnology, immigration reform, and LGBT rights. His main focus is improving the quality of life of his constituents, which includes employment and welfare refinement. “I want to strengthen job training programs, increase the minimum wage and create more incentives for American manufacturing,” Honda said. “I also think it’s important for us to strengthen and expand Social Security benefits for current and future seniors.” To promote these goals, Honda has learned that biparti-

san cooperation is key. In 2003, in a heavily Republican Congress, Honda partnered with Republican Sherwood Boehlert to pass the Nanotechnology Research and Development Act, which provided $4 billion in funding to nanotechnology research. This experience, along with having far-reaching impacts, demonstrated the value of working together across party lines — something that Honda feels is crucial to progress. Honda feels that the foundation for a career in politics is involvement — whether it is in school clubs, class council, or his own Student Advisory Council, in which high school students can practice civic engagement and get involved in the legislative process. “It’s important to really engage with the community you live in, to understand what’s at stake and how politics can be used to make improvements,” Honda said. “You can’t enact meaningful political change if you don’t understand your community and the roots of the problems you want to address.” Honda faces opposition from candidates such as Democrat Ro Khanna and Republican Vanila Singh; they will face off for the first time at California’s blanket primary, which will determine the two candidates running in the general election in November.

FENG YE

SCA 5, CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

Democratic-leaning Asian population of the Bay Area led Senator Hernandez to table the bill; it now cannot be voted on until 2016. Many of those opposed to it look at this as a victory. But some students remain supportive. Sophomore Michelle Pyke explained that SCA 5

does not limit admissions to race; as usual, “academic ability and a person’s potential in that college” are foremost in importance. Race, she says, will make up only a factor of the decision. “Minority groups need more representation,” added freshman Shankara Shrikantan. “SCA 5 will allow that to happen ... [it will] put them into higher education and improve their communities as a whole.” While postponed from the voter ballot for now, it seems inevitable that the battle over SCA 5 will rise once again come 2016, while the hotly debated practice of affirmative action continues to remain a contentious issue in both the South Bay and in the rest of the state. SAT REDESIGN, CONTINUED FROM PAGE 2

Details on the new SAT redesign The College Board revealed in March that the SAT will undergo its first alterations since 2005, as the college admissions test in its current state does not adequately measure abilities most crucial for academic success, according to College Board President David Coleman. Some of the notable changes include offering the SAT in print and online at some locations, as well as changing the score back to 1600 from the previous 2400 scale to reflect the two sections: evidence-based reading and writing and math. Come 2016, students will have to opt to take the essay portion. Lastly, there will no longer be a penalty for wrong answers, with students

only earning points for correct answers. Additionally, College Board is planning to work with Khan Academy, a website that provides free online education, to provide SAT preparation materials free of charge. With the newly reformed SAT making its debut in Spring 2016, many students feel the changes are unjust because they have spent time and money preparing for the soon-to-be obsolete version. “It feels like all that time and money is all wasted away now,” freshman Alicia Lee said. “Plus, nobody knows what exactly to expect in the new test, so there’s absolutely no way we can study for those either.”

The college admissions process is more competitive than ever.

Opinions

SCA

March 28, 2014

What will it take to level the playing field?

// CON

PRO // LAURA SHKOURATOFF news assistant

SCA-5, a now-tabled California bill that would have allowed California public colleges and universities to take into consideration one’s race, sex, ethnicity, or national origin when considering their admissions, sparked outrage and uproar throughout the state upon its introduction. Unfortunately, many Californians were misinformed on the proposed amendment. Most American immigrants are taught that this country is a land of equal opportunity, while many fail to see that the public college school system in California provides everything but that. In actuality, SCA-5 is a large and vital step toward equality and opportunity for a vast amount of California citizens. Many citizens are distinctly opposed to the idea, claiming it promotes racism; however, SCA-5 aims to address that very problem by equalizing the college admissions system. The current system is racially disproportionate; for example, although Asian-Americans made up only 10.4 percent of Californian citizens under the age of 18, they filled 36 percent of the spots for UC students accepted in the fall of 2013. On the other hand, Latinos and African Americans, who make up 56.8 percent of the under-18 population, formed only 31.8 percent of accepted UC students last year. SCA-5 strives to equalize this system by letting California colleges take into consideration the race of an applicant and the struggles and disadvantages each ethnicity

has likely faced. Many argue that merit-based acceptances are the only fair way to choose an applicant. However, the reality is that on an application, an Asian-American or white student’s hardest work can look very different from the hardest work of an underrepresented minority. On average, Caucasians and Asian-Americans earn over double the median income of most other minorities, specifically Latinos and African Americans. This gap normally results in a lack of outside school help, such as SAT preparation and tutoring for the poorer minorities, therefore resulting in lower test scores and grades. Other factors put underrepresented minorities at a significant disadvantage: societal perceptions that Hispanics and AfricanAmericans are not hard workers perpetuate further discrimination by keeping them disproportionately out of colleges. SCA-5 needs to be put into play and take into consideration the racism and discrimination that many minorities have experienced. SCA-5 will turn the tables and give underrepresented minorities the chance to prove themselves in a way that no other solution offers. The basis of the problem lies in financial inequality between children of affluent families and those in underprivileged schools and homes, and until a solution is found, SCA-5 will provide the most equal ground possible. Where students are from should not determine what they become.

BRIAN ZHONG sports assistant

JOYCE YE features assistant

Equality in education has always been an issue, but has now come to a head with the introduction and subsequent tabling of the Senate Constitutional Act No. 5, or SCA-5. The bill, which would have allowed public universities to consider race, sex or national origin in the admissions process, is blatant racism disguising itself as a means of achieving equal opportunity. Although designed to provide fair opportunity to all students in California, it does the exact opposite, opening the door for discrimination based on race and gender. If SCA-5 were to have passed, this would have been a huge step backwards for human rights in our society. One of the key features of America is that it stands for freedom and opportunity and past leaders such as Martin Luther King Jr. have fought for that right. The point of college admissions is that it is based on merit and not skin color or racial background. Merit-based entrance is true equality — not race-centered admissions. Although it can be argued that SCA5 could have promoted diversity among the student body, the advent of holistic review at all UC campuses already allows for students with unique backgrounds or compelling stories to share their experiences. According to UC Berkeley Office of

Undergraduate Admissions, applications “are considered in the context of the opportunities an applicant has had.” For instance, if a student grew up in a poor community, devoid of many resources that wealthier students have, that student can articulate this condition in the application through essays or even teacher recommendations. Therefore, universities are predisposed to accepting highachieving students who are socioeconomically disadvantaged. Furthermore, universities want students who can thrive in the competitive and rigorous environment. As a result, higher-ranked UCs are less inclined to accept students not up to par academically. Admitting students based on race and not merit means that minority students who cannot meet the university’s standards but are admitted due to affirmative action policies may struggle to keep up academically. Even if SCA-5 had not been tabled due to statewide outrage, it would not necessarily benefit UC or CSU students. If public universities accept a significantly greater number of under-qualified students of color, student performance drop and professors are forced to alter courses in order to accommodate everyone. The bottom line is that SCA-5 would not have improved the conditions at universities and that the status quo already accounts for personal circumstances. Socioeconomic disadvantage in public education is definitely a problem, but this problem needs to be addressed at its roots. Allowing discrimination based on race will lead only to bitterness, not equality.

THE TWO SIDES OF EQUALITY “If passed, [SCA-5] would allow public education institutions to give preferential treatment on the basis of race, sex, color, ethnicity or national origin”

-The Global Times

Opinions

The Prospector

March 28, 2014

CHEAT SHEET

91% of high school students have cheated on homework

// a curriculum based on worksheets encourages academic dishonesty and is not educational

COURTESY OF SCIENCEDAILY

NIRMIT SHAH sports editor

Being handed numerous useless worksheets each day to quickly file away and forget is a situation familiar to many students; however, it has rarely been questioned or even considered an issue. An even lesser-known drawback of worksheets is their tendency to encourage academic dishonesty, a problem that sorely needs to be addressed. Many teachers offer homework under the pretense that it will offer students practice or some form of beneficial substance to add to the curriculum, but this assumption is far from accurate. Each teacher assumes that a student will do his or her homework at home; however, with impending assessments, essays, and other big ticket items from other classes, homework becomes a project that is nearly always done o n

the fly — it is impossible to expect any student to prioritize relatively worthless homework over larger scale tests. By this logic, then, a student will always find the most efficient manner by which he or she can receive the most credit, and the answer usually resides in copying. Worksheets not only propagate cheating, but also teach nearly nothing about the curriculum and more about how to “fill in the blanks”. Many questions require a student to merely scan a book or packet and copy down the sentence or definition preceding or following a few key words from the question itself; thus, they ultimately teach the student nothing apart from how to scan and copy blocks of text. To avoid the issues that worksheets promote, the curriculum should be swayed to- w a r d s assess-

Conveniently Forgotten Truth A

ments over short intervals. In order to succeed on an assessment, a student is required to, at the very least, understand what each question asks of him/her. Even if he/she is given questions from the test by friends from periods before, the student would still need to know how to utilize that knowledge, thus separating it from a worksheet, which does not require any knowledge about the subject whatsoever. Ultimately, if a teacher expects to reduce the academic dishonesty in his or her class and create an effective curriculum, homework and worksheets should be made optional or as support systems, not requirements. Instead, emphasis should be moved towards short-term assessments, a change that will have far-reaching implications on both education and academic honesty.

// the “go green” movement has made people too complacent with conservationism

// STAFF EDITORIAL

STATE OF THE PLANET The Earth loses 50 soccer fields’ worth of forest land every minute of every day. COURTESY OF GLOBAL FOREST WATCH

Up to 50% of all living species are expected to go extinct by 2050. COURTESY OF THE CENTER FOR BIOLOGICAL DIVERSITY

At current rates of consumption, global reserves of fossil fuels are expected to run out by 2088. COURTESY OF ECOTRICITY

On March 29 of this year, millions of people worldwide will turn off their lights for one hour to save electricity and raise awareness for environmental issues. This event, called Earth Hour, certainly sounds promising. However, upon closer inspection, it is clear that Earth Hour itself does not accomplish much. Not only does turning off electricity for a single hour have an inconsequential impact on reducing carbon emissions, it may even be detrimental — it takes more energy than Earth Hour saves to fire up power plants again after one hour of reduced usage and the candles participants usually use are more inefficient than electric lights and often contain paraffin wax, which is made from fossil fuels. In fact, Earth Hour and similar “green” events only serve as symbols for fighting climate change; while they may have the right intentions, they just encourage people to believe that they do not have to put in much effort to make a difference, providing them with psychological fulfillment but not actual accomplishment. To truly combat climate change, people have to recognize the true gravity of the situation and take action beyond pursuing empty symbols and participating in one-hour-a-year awareness campaigns. The false sense of security that environmental

awareness faces is evident in the response, or lack thereof, of society to climate change. The decline of the environment is more real than ever; every year, the sea level rises 0.14 inches and natural disasters, such as the current drought in California and the recent Hurricane Haiyan in the Philippines, become more common. In spite of these imminent consequences, only 58 percent

“

To truly combat climate change, people have to recognize the true gravity of the situation and take action beyond pursuing empty symbols and participating in one-hour-ayear awareness campaigns of Americans are “somewhat” or “very worried” about climate change, according to a study by National Geographic. Despite campaigns warning of the consequences of climate change, people continue to practice unsustainable behaviors — taking long showers in the midst of a drought, eating unsustainably grown meat and produce and raising large families when population levels are already dangerously high. This is clearly reflected in the continuing pattern of overconsumption in industrialized

countries; for example, a study by The Nature Conservancy reveals that though the United States accounts for only 5 percent of the world’s population, it still produces 22 percent of its carbon emissions. Clearly, even in the face of unsettling scientific findings and observable conditions, people simply do not take conservation seriously enough. Awareness campaigns like Earth Hour are not enough. While they attempt to teach people that saving the environment is easy, the message they send simply perpetuates the idea that individual acts of conservation are sufficient to combat climate change. In reality, recycling a bottle every now and then or buying a reusable shopping bag only constitutes a small part of an environmentally friendly lifestyle. The lifestyle change necessary to combat climate change is achievable, but only with real effort. Awareness campaigns in the public and private sectors need to focus on educating people about the reality of the situation: that only small rises in temperature and sea level have drastic consequences and that only a concerted, united effort by the general population can counteract climate change. Climate change is not some distant issue that scientists will solve eventually; it is a grave problem that affects the entire human race right now. Only if we abandon the notion that individual, insignificant acts are enough and shed our false sense of security can we actually join together and take achievable steps to reduce our impact on climate change.

80%

Features

Did you know?

of “high-achieving” high school students admit to cheating

35%

March 28, 2014

Stanford survey

Th brunch web crew agitated the libr of “college officials believe of failure, they rapidly print essays, cram lab equat cheating is a problem answers. Practicality has defeated the spirit of education pursue knowledge or insight; they would rather settl grade. Cheating has become an efficient method o accordingly, integrity is slowly losing its meaning. Among the nation’s high schools, cheating ha over the past 15 years. While 20 percent of college st ing during high school in the 1940s, this year, that nu percent. Unfortunately, it can be stated that this stud to the astronomical percentile. In mid-January, 1,800 participated in a survey conducted by Stanford Unive vided keen insight into the motives for academic dish that must be taken to deter them. Given that 75 percent of students reported copy be inferred that cheating has become trite and commo demic. Nonetheless, only 35 percent of college officials as a serious problem on their campuses. Copying a wor for example, is no longer associated with potential rep become the norm in the learning environment. What is more is that according to Stanford’s Perspe nology data analysis, even as students are caught in the a dismissed with little to no punishment. Consequently, to engage in academic dishonesty as they progress th survey displays that freshman cheat significantly less tha GLORIA CHOI

of high school students admit to getting away with cheating

85%

of college students believe cheating is integral for success

Teachers’ take

Cheating zeros and onMARVIN WANG cheating pers lifestyles assistant nesses to the emphasize th and harmful to a classroom learning environment. Many school work. Said math and programming teacher Eric persevere and to tackle on hard problems. W and don’t succeed, they have a learning But in that case, why cheat? Ferr when “they first try [a problem] on th “[They] seek for help from a f ever, they don’t understand someo want to turn in assignments.” “By cheating, students bypas English and law teacher Sea that often contributes to cheatin dishonesty worthwhile. Said Bui, “I [do] understan spect them more if they take th “I always give a one-minut “explaining how the decisions Years of teaching experie for combating cheating in h “I realized that rather make many versions o to do the problem don’t have Mos ing must f non-learni Said T to do to ch caught, they loser.”

CHEATIN

March 28, 2014

The Prospector

y results reveal widespread cheating

he last five minutes of h are marked by mobs of d students swarming in rary. Driven by the fear tions and copy worksheet

n — no longer do students le with a satisfactory letter of achieving this goal, and

as increased dramatically tudents admitted to cheatumber has increased to 98 dent body has contributed 0 students from the school ersity and the results prohonesty and the measures

ying an assignment, it can onplace, a widespread epis see academic dishonesty rksheet or an assignment, percussions; rather, it has

ectives in Assistive Techact of dishonesty, they are , students are more likely hrough school. While the an students of other grade

levels, as they become accustomed to the practice, students are exposed to the realities of academic dishonesty — and its simplicity. As a result, seniors reportedly cheat 130 percent more often than the average freshman. Academic dishonesty has lost its notoriety; yet, in this context, a negative connotation is beneficial for the student. In order to ensure actual learning and prevent future instances of dishonesty, students must face consequences for their actions. However, cheating has founded the basic means of academic achievement. It is more likely that the highest-achieving 10 percent of the high school population would cheat than the lower. In fact, students who took no AP or Honors classes reported minimal academic dishonesty, while those with more rigorous courses cheated more. This observation may indicate that high stress levels and a competitive environment may be the leading factor in academic dishonesty. Students who reported physical indications of stress and an inability to meet parental expectations were also more likely to cheat. As students are overwhelmed with lofty goals and a stressful setting, they are prompted to act dishonestly, feeling that not cheating puts them at a disadvantage. Although cheating may reap immediate benefits, it does not dismiss the importance of an honest education. The Stanford survey is presented as a reality check. As Principal Kami Tomberlain said, “[Students] are taking too much … they strive to achieve a grade, but they don’t care that the grade is a representation of learning.” Students have failed to understand the meaning of education. It’s time students quit procrastinating, quit cheating and take upon the burden of responsibility. Honestly.

on cheating

g is no small matter. Penalties ranging from warnings, red-pen -book records established some ways to reduce cheating, but sists in schools across the country, including our own. As witongoing trend of academic dishonesty, teachers are quick to hat such actions are counterproductive for personal growth express deep concerns for those students who cheat on their

c Ferrante, “[Students who cheat] miss out on the chance to When they struggle, they learn to connect. Every time they try moment. Learning is the process, not the end result.” rante claims that many students turn to academic dishonesty heir own, then get stuck.” friend or go online for answers,” Ferrante continued. “Howone’s thought process, and because of time pressure, they just

ss personal growth and learning.” an Bui echoes these sentiments, but acknowledges the stress ng. But temporary pressure, he says, cannot make academic

nd the stress and the difficulty of classes, [but] I [would] rehe grade they have and make up their grades with hard work.” te lecture on making good decisions before quizzes,” Bui said, s you make now [could] affect your life later on.” ence has given math teacher Roy Timmreck a simple strategy his classroom. than changing the class to make everyone miserable, I [could] of the test so people who are cheating don’t really know how ms on the tests,” Timmreck said. “Their grades are lost [and] I e to catch them.” st importantly, Timmreck stresses that students found cheatface consequences — or otherwise the cycle of dishonesty and ing will simply continue. Timmreck, “Most people think that worse thing for a teacher heaters is to catch and punish them. But if [cheaters are] not y continue to cheat and continue to make themselves [the]

The logistics of cheating

It’s 12:00 a.m. Your copy of “One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest” rests plaintively on your lap. No matter what you do, you simply, physically, cannot write ASHLEY LIU in-class essays. You stare at the prompt, which your teacher has given you to mull lifestyles editor over, perhaps to write an outline. The next day, you arrive in class with your essay — pre-written in size 6 font MYUNG JU SONG and taped on your thigh. news assistant As the competition for top colleges intensifies, an emphasis on GPA and enrollment in rigorous classes continues to provide incentive for students to cheat more, as many grow up believing that a degree from a name university is the only guaranteed ticket to success. Unsurprisingly, students across campus have devised increasingly novel methods of cheating to relieve some of this pressure. Ethical? Definitely not. But clever? Perhaps. Some more traditional methods of cheating are utilized frequently. Several students have recounted the use of “cheat sheets,” or simply papers that they hide during the administration of their exams. “I had four pieces of paper, each [containing ten answers],” one student said. “If [my teacher] walked by and I was done with one of them, I’d throw it behind me, or eat it.” Amid laughter, the student protested, “Paper’s edible. It’s nature. Trees are fine.” Other students have turned to technologies, such as smartphones, cloud sharing and free online resources as increasingly abundant sources for test answers. For example, one student reported that members of the first period class texts answers to students in later periods. “Let’s say there’s 10 problems,” an anonymous student explained. “A is 1, B is 2, C is 3, E is 5 … so we [generate] a number sequence … you just go down the number sequence, then check your answer if it’s right or not.” Similarly, students reported that they used Google Docs to collaborate on the sharing of answers, as well as other online resources to decode questions during the exam period itself. “I’ve used Wolfram Alpha during the test,” the same student continued. “Do you remember the derivative of cosecant? I can’t remember that.” All students seemed to agree that cheating was more common among upperclassmen, particularly second-semester seniors. Several seniors themselves reported that they had cheated more during second semester than they had at any other point. Other students expressed similar observations. “I see seniors cheating all the time,” one underclassman commented. “I guess they are so accustomed to cheating that it’s just a way of life in school. When I was a freshman, cheating was the most horrible thing you could do in school. Now, I do it all the time but I do not feel as much guilt as I have for the first cheating.” For some second-semester seniors, cheating is often nothing more than a result of missing motivation. Such students expressed pragmatic rather than ethical concerns. “Sometimes, I even forget that I have [the class in which I cheat],” one senior noted. “In all my classes, I’m dependent on others … which is really bad, because I don’t do any homework. I don’t do anything, so I don’t know what the hell is going on.” Several underclassmen also expressed regret over the fact they had gained an unfair edge over their peers. “Cheating really demoralizes me,” one student said. “I feel guilt whenever my honest friends get a B on a test but congratulate me for being smart and getting an A. It makes me feel like a terrible friend and I worry if I’ll ever be a useful, trustworthy person in life.” After watching a nearby classmate get caught while cheating during a test, this student swore off academic dishonesty — but only temporarily. “I was just inches away from having my testing grade reduced to zero and suffering consequences just as the student sitting next to me,” the student recalled. “I resolved from that incident to stop cheating, although I have been unsuccessful.” Despite the ethical boundaries many students acknowledge are crossed, it appears that cheating becomes a trap for those who would otherwise face extremely low — or even failing — scores. The same student added, “It is really hard not to cheat when you are just as screwed not knowing the material and still getting an F. I feel that it is really hard to quit cheating when you have been successful using it and when others around you also cheat in class.”

Lifestyles

March 28, 2014

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PHOTO BY SERENA NGAN

JEREMY XUE flip side assistant

YANE AHN copy assistant

It’s that time of the month again. No — not that time of the month. When you arrive home from school, a sleek black box is waiting for you at your doorstep. Your Loot Crate has arrived! The Loot Crate is a subscription box that contains all things geeky. They often include items such as T-shirts, action figures, pins, and comic books — and the variety of subscription boxes isn’t limited to just geek gear. Tons of different types of subscription boxes are available, as people worldwide have discovered the fun of receiving subscription boxes once a month. Each month, YouTube is flooded with videos of recipients opening their subscription boxes, often with thousands of views on each one. It’s a simple question of whether or not a diverse array of fun items is worth your wallet.

Here are some other creative choices: There’s the Naturebox, a delicious array of healthy, nutritious treats. It’s perfect for those who want to treat their body right in a tasty way. A huge selection is available — from Cranberry Almond Bites to Baked Sweet Potato Fries — but for the adventurous, a random set of five or more can also be sent right to your mailbox. Ask someone who’s already ordered one for a coupon link! Another option is the $12-per-month Skoshbox, which is filled to the brim with sugary surprises from Japan like Guomei Jellies and Big Thunder Cookies. Offering a diverse collection of beauty products for women and men is the Birchbox. This box is more expensive, but also offers

higher quality products, such as lotions, perfume and toothpaste. Birchbox also offers individual products for sale. For the biking community of Cupertino, Bikeloot is a trendy and cheap choice, proudly bearing the catchy slogan “Loot Up.” For $9 dollars a month, the box is filled with high quality products such as handwarmers, reusable towels, and energy bars. A personal favorite is Carnivore Club, a beautiful monthly meat subscription box. High quality meats that aren’t available at your local meat market, once a month, at your door. It’s worth the $50 dollars a month price. Use the promotional code NEWSITE if it seems like the right option for you! Make sure to search up coupons and codes before buying, and happy subscription boxing!

our favorites: FOOD: »» »»

Try the World; $45 a month Hellofresh; recipes and its ingredients; ~$10/month

beauty I Fashion: »» »» »» »»

Shoedazzle; $40 a month Popsugar; high reviews beauty products; $35 Beauty DNA; beauty products tailored for the individual; $25/month Color Me Monthly; nail polish; $7/month

brain food: »» »» »»

Just the Right Book; $90-$400 annually Pijon Box; college care package; $29/ month or $25/month for 6 months Nerdblock; 19.99 a month

creative: »» »»

Lullubee; crafting kits; $125 for 4 months Homegrown Collective; homegrown gardens in miniature jars; $39/month

MISC: »» »»

Barkbox; for dog lovers; $29/month Hammockpack; vacation feel; $25

Lifestyles

The Prospector

March 28, 2014

PROM economics JESSICA SHIN flip side editor

Corsages + Boutonnieres: Corsages and boutonnieres may not play the most essential role in the preparing for prom, but they are definitely never forgotten. Depending on the quality and size, corsage and boutonniere sets can cost anywhere between $15 and $30.

Jewelry:

posters + Flowers: The commonly held belief that having a date is “necessary” or more “socially acceptable” leads lots of guys to a dilemma. To spend the $20 on posters, flowers and cupcakes — or to be viewed as forever alone?

tickets: Usually ranging from $50 to $80 depending on several variables — including not only the type of dance but also the number of weeks in advance the ticket is bought — tickets are what lead students to reconsider whether a single night will be worth the large amount of money.

SHARED EXPENSES $ Dresses/ Suits: Finding the perfect dress and suit is the not only time-consuming but also the most money-consuming part of going to prom. Dresses, depending on the store or designer, can range from $50 to $300. However, it’s a lot more worthwhile for the girls, since they get to keep the dress — although a suit will have different costs depending on which parts are included in the set, it will range around $100 to $300.

The jewelry is where the unfairness between genders kicks in. Girls will usually have some special jewelry to go along with their fancy dresses, which will add to their total prom budget by about $10 to 20.

Professional pictures: Just like the corsage and boutonnieres, professional pictures at prom are not required; however, they tend to hold the most memories. The couple photos have different sets ranging from $25 to $50 while group pictures will only cost $10 per person.

Dinner: While some might decide to eat somewhere fancy since they are all dressed up in black and white, others may choose to stay frugal because of the other costs that go into prom. Going casual can cost around $10 to15 while fancy fare could cost up to $30.

representation: asians in media ALL PHOTOS FROM GOOGLE

MAITHILEE KANTHI lifestyles assistant

As an Indian immigrant to the United States of America, it’s fair to say I’ve received mixed messages all my life. My diverse community led me to believe Asians were a common and accepted part of American society. And yet, the singers and actors I saw — a kid’s true role models — did not resemble my family or friends. While many of my white classmates had a character they could connect to on screen, I often felt ignored. I got the message loud and clear: The media does not represent me or other people of color. Media is not only a form of entertainment, but for most young adults, a reflection of the real world. Such a limited outlook perpetuates narrow beliefs of beauty and value to an impressionable audience. When people of color grow up expected to simply be side characters to someone else’s story, they are disadvantaged

from the first step toward significance. “Stereotypes not only give others the impression that a group of people can only have these limited characteristics, but it tells the group itself the same,” junior Ashley Tsai said. “It makes them feel like they can only ever fit the stereotypes they see.” It’s difficult to avoid absorbing the ethnic parodies present in media, a significant problem as most portrayals are ‘Americentric’ rather than accurate portrayals of cultures and customs. Eastern Asians are typically squinty-eyed and loud, and South Asians always frugal and employed in telecommunications. Despite the variety of real life characters we see, their fictional counterparts all conform to one typecast. Every Asian mother is not some “tiger mom,” just how every Indian man is not an engineer. Television has the power to legitimize characters and whatever they signify seeps into the minds of society as a whole. “Race or color doesn’t matter. If you’re a part of society you deserve to be heard,” sophomore Rohan Pandit said.

We live in a system that hinders the potential of certain people simply because of the ethnicity with which they’re associated with. Despite the advances Asians have contributed to society, they continue to be marginalized in all forms of representation. One has to simply flip through a magazine to notice the whitewashing present in our culture. Our nation was founded on immigration and yet any group that does not fit into the American mold is deemed a “foreigner.” While diversity is slowly creeping into American media, with Elementary’s Lucy Liu and Young the Giant’s Sameer Gadhia, this change is still not coming fast enough. Children and adults pay lip service to equality while staring at a box all day that contradicts their statements. If audiences are ever shown that they do not have to fit a static stereotype, it serves to widen their horizons and inspire. Representation is important, because at its most basic level it says: I see you. And in this world of chaos and caricatures, that is important.

Sports

March 28, 2014

Burning calories Cupertino alums participate in with bhangara intramural, club college sports MICHAEL LI news editor

RISHI NAIR web crew

A popular fitness trend gaining ground lately is Bollywood dance, so we decided to try it out. Bombay Jam is a Bollywood dance-based fitness program that was recently developed by the Mona Khan Dance Company. It focuses on cardio exercises that help to tone and shape the body. The program is extremely accessible and can be performed by individuals of all ages and fitness levels. Fortunately, the Cupertino Sports Center offers Bombay Jam classes so we headed over there on Sunday morning. The class had a $5 drop-in fee because we did not have Sports Center memberships. We went downstairs and as soon as we entered the multipurpose room, the instructor began blasting Bollywood music. Initially we had some problems learning the dance moves and purposefully went to the back of the room so we could watch the people in front of us. Everyone else in the class was much older and more experienced — we were the only newcomers. However, the moves were relatively simple and did not require significant amounts of prior skill and experience. We were able to learn the moves after following along for fifteen minutes. The instructor played four songs and led us through each one of them before switching on a fifth song which was supposed to be for cooling down and stretching. We felt that the pop-style music was very energizing. Many of the songs had a great beat to dance to, and there were even some slower ones, for cooldown. People shouted, “Whooooooooo!” whenever they were excited by a certain dance move. Furthermore, the last stretching session was amazingly refreshing; we walked out of the room feeling two years younger. The fitness program was decently strenuous and thoroughly exercised our arms, legs and torsos. Compared to other dance fitness programs such as Zumba, Bombay Jam is much more fast-paced and intense. Interestingly, there were not many other men, aside from a Steve Jobs lookalike who was actually extremely adept at Bombay Jam. The room was mainly populated by Indian women who were complete dance professionals. Dance fitness is definitely a trend that will continue to rise in popularity because it allows people who are not suited for extreme physical activity to obtain the exercise that they need to stay healthy. Whoooooooo!

CHRIS S. YOON editor-in-chief

For those athletic people who love staying in shape but don’t have the time or skill to commit to an intercollegiate varsity-level team, there are options outside of this traditional sporting track that many choose to pursue: club sports and intramural (IM) sports. Club sports bridge the gap between IM sports and intercollegiate sports: The intensity of these games depend on the type of sport and school; however, students often have to cover their own costs. IM sports, on the other hand, are much more lax and fully operated by interested students. Justin Shieh, an alumnus from this school and current

ego freshman, takes more casual approach to his sport experience. “My suitemates made a basketball team and asked if I wanted to join,” Kanthi said. “I joined because it was a very minimal time commitment and I wanted to play a sport on the side in college. Plus, IM sports are a great way to bond with your suitemates. We played seven games in total, and we had a good time.” An added bonus of joining an IM sport is

freshman at UC Santa Barbara, is part of the school’s club rowing team. His interest in joining the team developed from a lifelong involvement in athletics that he hoped to maintain through college. Once school started, he attended an informational meeting on rowing and was instantly “hooked.” Though the commitment levels have not been too demanding so far, Shieh says that in just two quarters of college he has yet to discover the “challenge of balancing school with sports.” “Spring quarter is our racing [season] so there are many more hours of practice and weekends are spent traveling and competing,” Shieh said. “It’s definitely not easy though, especially when you have 5 a.m. practices.” On the other hand, Nikhil Kanthi, a graduate and UC San Di-

that

it rarely interferes with students’ academics. Said Kanthi, “A couple of Monday nights were longer, but nothing I hadn’t seen before in high school.” But according to Shieh, the best has yet to come “Racing season just started, but the best moments are created when you travel together to compete,” Shieh said. “Friendships aren’t too bad either.”

Swim team rejoices in season success KEELY ZHANG features editor

“Everything’s fabulous.” That’s how senior Courtney Schultz describes the Cupertino swim team. She wouldn’t even be exaggerating either. Barely three weeks into the season, the team has already broken records. The first record is the number game. This season houses one of the largest teams in school history — at about 60 members total. Said Schultz, “The amount of people who cheer at meets is great.” In addition, the team this year has added its first two divers in recent history. Although the divers compete in separate meets from the swimmers, the points they win are ultimately tallied with the swimmer’s to determine the winning school. This means that the team will begin all its meets with an unprecedented advantage — one of the many reasons that the swim season has begun undefeated. In fact, two weeks ago, the Varsity boys won their first meet in two years. In addition to Schultz, the swim team has two other captains: seniors Melissa Kumnoonsate and Chris Tracey. As the head captain, Kumnoonsate has the most responsibility. It is her job to keep a vigilant eye on both Junior Varsity and Varsity team members, call team meetings and organize team bonding — something that has become more challenging with the increase in membership. Schultz sums it up succinctly: “She’s the team mom.” All three captains participated in club swimming before they joined the team freshman year. Given her stellar swimming records, it’s hard to imagine that Schultz had absolutely no passion for swimming just six years ago. In fact, her main focus had been track and field. It was only after she fell over a hurdle in sixth grade and broke her arm — and then fell over another hurdle in eighth grade — that she finally decided

to become a swimmer. “[My mom] was like, ‘No more track and field ever,’” Schultz said. “So I was like, ‘OK … I’ll swim forever then.’ It’s crazy … [swimming] is [now] going to be the key to my future.” In fact, Schultz was recruited for swimming by multiple colleges and will attend one of them next fall. Unlike Schultz, Tracey started swimming when he was just eight years old. But similarly, swimming has since become an integral part of Tracey’s life, and he plans to join the swim team in college. Although Kumnoonsate’s story of starting swimming due to parental intervention is similar to those of her teammates (“[My mom] didn’t want [me to just sit] on the couch watching TV”), Kumnoonsate doesn’t know if she will continue swimming in the college team. “I feel like I’m more committed to my team rather than [the sport],” she said. It’s not hard to imagine why. The atmosphere in the swim team is very different from that in club swimming — for one, it’s friendlier. Said Tracey, “For club swimming, the only reason you know these people is because of swimming … At school, the people [there are] your friends. You hang out with them [outside of swimming].” In addition, all three captains agree that swimming with the team is less competitive, and thus more enjoyable. “Whereas at club, you’re just trying to beat your times or win your event,” Tracey said. “[Here,] we’re thinking of the school as a community instead of individually.” So why is the Cupertino swim team fabulous? According to Schultz, “because we [just] are.”

March 28, 2014

The Prospector

Sports

• Five aspects tested: attention, memory, speed, flexibility, problem solving

Exercise for the brain THU DAM photo editor

While the phrase “I’m going to go work out today” is nothing out of the ordinary, “I’m going to go work out my brain today” is certainly not a commonly heard phrase. But why not? The brain requires constant conditioning just like the body’s muscles do in order to stay sharp and flexible. The brain is made up of approximately 100 billion cells called neurons, which serve to transmit electrochemical signals. As we develop and make connections, dendrites, or nerve endings, branch out and connect with other cells, allowing the neurons to communicate with each other. The more we actively use our brains to learn, the more connections we are able to make, and this increased number of connections is what allows us to think quickly and solve problems effectively. We may think that since we use our brains all the time, there is no need to worry about extra stimulus. Although our brains are constantly working, most of the time we are not completely engaged in our activities, and the valuable connections that could be made go to waste. With so much new knowledge to acquire every day, how do we keep our brains flexible and ready to make more connections? The first steps are are to get a sufficient amount of sleep and nourish the brain with a nutritional diet, and although these are basic, many of us with AP classes and extracurriculars seem to struggle. Sleep allows the brain to organize the day’s thoughts and store them as memories; depriving the brain of this time makes it harder to store long term knowledge. A proper diet fuels the mind just like it does the body. However, since many of us tend to skip out on these steps, there are other ways to keep the brain in check. Homework is intended to further the brain’s connections and keep the mind engaged, but at times, it can feel mind-numbing instead. Luckily, there are many other stimulating alternatives to exercise the brain. Brain Age and Lumosity offer entertaining and beneficial games that only require a few minutes every day to increase the brain’s plasticity. Brain Age is a game by Nintendo, and it challenges players with “concentration training” games. A similar program aimed towards an older audience is Lumosity. Lumosity is a brain training program that tests and practices five aspects of the brain: attention, memory, speed, flexibility and problem solving. Users can track their progress and see their brain’s condition improve over time. Scientists are using Lumosity as part of the Human Cognition Project, which is a study to see the various ways people think. The research is currently still under way, and its intention is to eventually apply its findings to the classroom environment and to aid in medical research for mental illnesses. If playing games seems too trivial for a high schooler’s busy schedule, Testive is a personalized learning tool created to integrate the PSAT, SAT or ACT into a brain training program. This study tool customizes games and questions based on current progress, and emphasizes activities to strengthen evident weaknesses. Aimed as a test preparation program, Testive molds to current improvement as a way to help increase test scores. With these tools, the brain can stay engaged and make connections that will last a lifetime.

• Currently being used by the Human Cognition Project • Scientists hope to use findings in future medical research

Flip Side

March 28, 2014

MARCH IN PHOTOS SERENA NGAN

SERENA NGAN

JASON CHEN

SERENA NGAN

BUNKASAI | Sophia Jung, a school alum, performs with the Stanford Traditional Drummers at Bunkasai

MASTERWORKS CONCERT | Sophomore Caroline Chou sings during the choir concert

BEWARE:

STUDENT

DRIVERS

SPRING SPORTS RALLY | Senior Stephen Do participates in the group dance during the rally

MARCH MADNESS | Junior Charles Liu pauses to aim for the basketball hoop

THU DAM

“THE WHO’S TOMMY” | The cast prepare for the spring musical

Although learning to drive is a step towards adulthood, teenage drivers are not known for their maturity. This results in a range of slightly dangerous yet undeniably amusing driving experiences. Here are some of those stories.

SERENA NGAN

In pursuit of the pixie

My SAT friends [and I] went to Pho Hoa during our lunch break in SAT class. I was the one driving. When I was driving out of the parking lot, I had to make a U-turn and I thought I was good to go all the way to the farthest left lane. But I was wrong. There wasn’t enough space for my car to fit in the lane, and my car was blocking all three lanes. The scariest part was that when I was frantically waiting for the left signal to turn green, I was blocking six cars. And … a firetruck. The firetruck didn’t have to go anywhere, but it waited a good five minutes in one spot because of me. Lesson learned: Make sure there is room for your car when you want to go into a lane.

KATIE MARTIN editor-in-chief

One day, I was going to my girlfriend’s house in my grandpa's 1942 Willy’s Jeep, which is a super old World War II stick shift Jeep with a top speed of 60 miles per hour. The car was in fairly good shape, but because the fuel gauge was broken, I didn't know how much gas I had. Before I left, I had looked in the tank and figured it was good enough. While we were driving down Stevens Creek, the car starts to sputter gas, and I'm thinking, ‘Oh no!’ After a while, it stops in the middle of the street and cars are honking. I had to get out and push another half mile or so to get to my house and grab another car to get gas for it. We took turns, one pushing while the other was steering. Embarrassed as I was, this was before we were dating and I was extremely worried. I didn’t think she was going to talk to me after that incident.

COMPILED BY ALEX SHIEH

NEXT MONTH: APRIL International Week Monday-Friday, April 1-4

Spring musical: “The Who’s Tommy” Friday-Saturday, March 28-29, April 4-5

Band/Orchestra Spring Concert Tuesday, April 8

Clubs Day Friday, April 11

Spring Break Monday-Friday, April 14-18

Blood Drive Monday, April 28

JOYCE YE

I wanted to look like Emma Watson. That had been the goal for about three years — after watching the Harry Potter starlet undergo the drastic transformation from long-haired lady to fashion-forward pixie perfection, my idolatry of Watson soared to new heights. And since I couldn’t suddenly adopt a British accent or become the next teen acting sensation, the next logical move, naturally, was to chop off my mid-length locks to achieve the stylish look I’d always dreamed of. Sitting in that black vinyl chair facing rows of mirrors, catching a last glimpse of blonde hair sweeping my shoulders and a stylist leaning toward me to ask, for the final time, whether I was certain I wanted to go ahead with this decision is a moment I frequently revisit. That stomach-lurching instant I heard the scissors snipping away at years of my life, measured in increments of six inches, I forced myself not to blink, simultaneously terrified and thrilled at the sight that would soon greet me. I was not disappointed and later placed the ten-inch ponytail in a plastic bag in a larger plastic bag in a manila envelope to ensure safe delivery to the donation site. Aside from a healthy dose of post-haircut narcissism that accompanied my approximately week-long staring contest with any reflective surface — mirrors, phone screens, car and store windows, the occasional refrigerator — the pixie granted me the power of predicting, with a reasonable degree of certainty, the reaction that most would have upon meeting me. Hair, though technically nothing more than dead, pigmented cells sprouting from under the skin, often seems to be an initial means of forming judgments; while I have grown accustomed to accepting praise, fielding criticism and answering more questions than I could possibly count regarding the hair atop my head, the feeling of surprise that accompanies these statements has not yet entirely subsided. And I suppose it makes sense -- appearances can be polarizing. Long hair is what many consider the ultimate symbol of femininity; pixie cuts are a blatant denial of the gender norms that are easy to accept at face value. Some of my peers did not understand that hair length is not correlated with sexuality, while others insisted that the only surefire way to a guy’s heart would be to grow out my newly-cut locks. But being mistaken for a boy — entering a local coffee shop and approaching a barista who deemed me a “handsome young man” before taking my order to standing in line at the grocery store with a box of ice cream sandwiches and being addressed as “sir” by the cashier — has never lost its sting, though in retrospect makes for a fantastic collection of stories. Ridiculous comments aside, I like my hair. I like that it sets me apart. I like being able to feel the sensations of warm sunshine or bitterly chilly mornings on my ears. I like that I can never have a bad hair day. But what I like best about it is that it’s a conversation starter. And relationships can begin with a slightly hairy discussion.