F RI DAY, M AY 23, 2014 Korean ferry sinking affects students
Student and teacher collections
The danger of borrowing culture
85C: Worth the hype?
Column: Avoiding STARdom
The Donald Sterling controversy
NEWS page 2
Indian election results
VOLUME 55 NO. 8
OPINIONS pages 4 & 5
FEATURES pages 6 & 7
LIFESTYLES pages 8 & 9
FLIP SIDE page 12
The Prospector
CHSPROSPECTOR.ORG
Student Newspaper of Cupertino High School
GLORIA CHOI
photo assistant
As innovation in astronomical technology continues to advance, individuals are looking towards new methods for research and launching missions. SpaceX, a privately owned company with the goal of enabling people to live on other planets, strives to revolutionize space technology. As the only private company ever to launch and return a spacecraft from the low-orbit of Earth, SpaceX struggles to compete and advance in the face of government-funded projects. Since the company was founded in 2002, the company has succeeded in performing three successful missions. Throughout the nation, SpaceX has development and launch facilities located in California, Texas, Florida and Washington, D.C. Late last month, the US Court of Federal Claims prohibited the plans of Lockheed Martin and Boeing to buy Russian-made rocket engines. They made this ruling upon the controversial issues that were raised concerning the Evolved Expendable Launch Vehicle (EELV). The EELV is an “expendable” launch platform meaning that it is catapulted into space or dropped into the ocean. In order to execute such launchings, the ULA used Russian engines. This use of Russian engines may violate international STUDYING | A student studies for upcoming tests at the
10100 FINCH AVENUE, CUPERTINO, CA 95014
Freshmen, sophomores take on AP courses, tests
ELON MUSK’S PLAN TO PRIVATIZE ASTRONOMICAL EXPLORATION
Cupertino Library during the evening
SPORTS pages 10 & 11
MICHAEL LI
opinions assistant
Since their creation in 1955, AP courses and exams have risen to the academic apex in high schools nationwide. The AP Program is modeled directly on actual college courses and AP teachers must have their syllabi approved by the College Board in order to teach. Although AP exams are traditionally seen as academic achievements undertaken only by upperclassmen, they have recently gained significant popularity among the underclassman crowd. Sophomores and even freshmen are rising to the challenge in an attempt to impress colleges early and gain college credit. AP Psychology, AP Environmental Science and AP Chinese are the most popular underclassman exams, as these are relatively easy to study for without the corresponding AP course. Some are even taking AP Calculus BC as well as AP Computer Science. Said sophomore Stephanie Shi, “I took AP Environmental Science, Psychology and Chinese [this year]. I wanted to learn something [fun for myself] instead of wasting time.” Shi recommended that students attempt AP exams early if they feel that they are ready, because it will save them effort later on. “In Southern California, the school system is different so they can take AP Biology in freshman year, which gives them a [slight] ad-
sanctions that were established after Russia’s occupation of Ukraine — as pointed out by SpaceX. According to the Washington Post, Elon Musk, the founder of SpaceX, criticized the United Launch Alliance (ULA) for utilizing Russian engines in some of their rockets as Russia “is [in] the process of invading Ukraine.” In response to Musk, the ULA claimed that these engines are “the only government certified launch provider that meets all of the unique ... requirements that are critical to supporting our troops and keeping our country safe.” At a previous conference, Musk said that SpaceX could provide rockets at a considerably lower price than what was provided by ULA. As a result, he has garnered support from a number of members in Congress including Senator John McCain. “We’re just saying these launches should be completed,” Musk said. “If we compete and lose, that’s fine. But why would they not even compete it? That doesn’t make sense.” The SpaceX founder reasons that, rather than looking to foreign companies for resources, the government should allow private companies to compete with government funded companies. As private companies like SpaceX land military contracts and continue to offer innovative technologies to the society, the direction of space technology may take a surprising turn.
most popular APs to self-study 1. Psychology
2. Environmental Science
3. Chinese
ALL ON THE TABLE | The rise in self-studying for AP classes has led to increased workloads
Shi recommended that students attempt AP exams early if they feel that they are ready, because it will save them effort later on. “In Southern California, the school system is different so they can take AP Biology in freshman year, which gives them a [slight] advantage in the college admissions [process],” Shi said. The accelerated curriculum may also allow students to consider possible college focuses and study programs. “It definitely [also] helps you decide what you want to major in,” Shi continued. “It’s a good idea to challenge yourself, but don’t bite off more than you can chew.” JESSICA SHIN
JESSICA SHIN
See AP TESTS, page 2