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
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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
2
News
The Prospector
STAFF 2013-2014
Cupertino High School Established 1958 Vol LV, No. VIII | 2014
The Prospector AP TESTS, continued from page 1
Freshmen, sophomores take on AP courses, tests One main concern that students have with taking AP exams early is the uncertainty involved. With $95 minimum charge for most tests, students are not willing to take such a risk so early on. It is, however, possible for students to self-study for the exams and still succeed, as “good reasoning skills,” according to Shi, are key.
According to skeptics, however, students should be cautious about overdosing on the exams as they have minimal effect on college admissions. For the truly motivated, AP exams early on are a possibility. The years to come may see even younger students trying their hand at the AP Program.
editors-in-chief jessica shin tanay tandon
opinions editor isabel lin
lifestyles editor alex shieh sports editor marvin wang flip side editor rishi nair
news assistants
michael li brian zhong
opinions assistants
yane ahn laura shkouratoff myung ju song
features assistants
jeremy xue keely zhang
lifestyles assistants
maithalee kanthi ashley liu
sports assistants
Nikita Devdhar Nirmit Shah
flip side assistant
delanie medina alex shieh alex levine
photo crew
NARENDRA MODI | Modi, winning in a landslide, has been elected to run as India’s new prime minister
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
2. Obesity and breast cancer - The American Society of Clinical Oncology studied obese individuals, specifically women with higher BMIs (over 30) to those with normal BMIs (20-25) over a 10-year period. They found that younger, pre-menopausal women who have early breast cancer, obesity seems to be linked to worse outcomes, including death.
5. Camera designed to take GIFs - The innovational camera, named OTTO, does more than convert pictures into GIFS. The device allows you to choose on your smartphone all sorts of different capture modes like time-lapse and photo booth filters. COMPILED BY ANIRUDH PAI
Korean Ferry: Sinking upsets and shocks Korean students on campus MYUNG -JU SONG opinions assistant
gloria choi
adviser ann peck
1. Google heeds “takes down requests” - On May 13, the European Court of Justice ruled that Google and other search engines must remove certain links if asked. However, Google still retains the ability to keep links that are seen to benefit the public.
4. Google zooms past Apple as most valuable brand - Google’s brand value rose 40% last year, to $159 billion. However, Apple’s slipped over 20% to $148 billion. The Google’s android mobile operating system continued to gain immense popularity through new devices, such as Google Glass. Yet, Apple has been criticised for failing to create innovational products.
features editor joyce ye
photo editor serena ngan
News Briefs
3. India’s Prime Minister - On May 26, Narendra Modi of India’s Bharatiya Janata Party has been recently elected to serve as India’s Prime Minister. Results show that Modi clearly won in a vast majority with at least 273 out of 543 votes.
news editor anirudh pai
copy editors thu dam diana kruzman chris yoon katie martin delanie medina jay shroff
May 23, 2014
The Sewol ferry capsized on April 16 near the west coast of South Korea when strong ocean currents and overweight cargo caused the ship to lose balance. The ship’s captain and the crew foolishly commanded the ship’s 459 passengers, most of them students from the Danwon high school, to stay within their cabins and wait for further instructions, as the captain and the crew were the first to escape the sinking vessel. The lives of 304 students and passengers were lost in the tragedy. “It is hard to imagine what the students would have been suffering through as the water slowly drowned them,” junior Heesoo Kim said. In one leaked video taken by one of the students trapped in the ship, some students survived for six hours trapped in the ship. “The terror of slowly waiting for a cold and certain death with no one to help them really makes the accident tragic and heartbreaking.” “What many people do not realize is that the government’s response to the disaster has been always trailing behind the civilian effort,” junior Angela Choi said. “I remember that the government wasted precious time in the first week by insisting upon the use of scuba divers until they finally acknowledged that surface-supplied diving used by local
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The terror of slowly waiting for a cold and certain death with no one to help them really makes the accident tragic and heartbreaking - Junior Heesoo Kim
fishermen was more effective.” “What many people do not realize is that the government’s response to the disaster has been always trailing behind the civilian effort,” junior Angela Choi said. “I remember that the government wasted precious time in the first week by insisting upon the use of scuba divers until they finally acknowledged that surface-supplied diving used by local fishermen was more effective.” The South Korean government is facing criticism as the official rescue operations have been fraught with indecisiveness, fraud, and lack of preparation. Many senior officials in the Coast Guard had never even set foot in a rescue boat and were promoted due to their close and powerful connections to many politicians and shipping businesses.
These close ties between the regulators, government, and business is the suspected to be the reason why the Registry of Shipping allowed the Sewol to carry over 3.5 times its maximum cargo tonnage. There are also charges of censorship and suppression of the media. Four of the country’s biggest media portals are under the influence of government. “Although the media portrayed how the government was doing its very best to help out in the rescue effort, it was not the truth,” junior Rachel Yang said. “Videos of the families of the victims testifying the inaction of rescue operations were promptly deleted from websites and the mass protests and sit-ins did not get the coverage they deserved.” Similar protests against the South Korean government are are also taking place in the United States. Throughout May 10 to 11, hundreds of Korean Americans gathered in Los Angeles, New York, Atlanta, and Houston on to protests. Smaller, local protests took place in front of Lawrence Square Plaza on May 11, as many Koreans living in San Jose and Cupertino protested to bring changes for the ill prepared and frequently corrupted government. “Although I didn’t go to the protests, I wanted to show bring awareness by changing my profile pictures on Facebook and [mobile chat app] Kakaotalk,” Yang said. “It is the least I can do to get more people informed about the tragedy and alert people to the what is going on around in Korea.”
The Prospector
May 23, 2014
News
3
Traumatic brain injuries plague homeless population DELANIE MEDINA flipside assistant
A traumatic brain injury, or TBI, is the consequence of a sudden, violent blow or jolt to the head that disrupts normal brain functions. They are commonly linked to mental health issues, as TBIs can impair decision making, cause seizures, lead to substance abuse, and an increase in aggression. Although most people who suffer from TBIs can fully recover, some are not as fortunate. A recent study, published in the CMAJ Open Journal, found that 45 percent of the homeless men surveyed had previously experienced a traumatic brain injury. Dr. Jane Topolovec-Vranic, a researcher at St. Michael’s Hospital in Toronto, polled 111 homeless men, aged 27 to 81, to see if they had suffered a TBI at one point in their life. Of the 45 percent who had suffered a TBI, she found that 87 percent had experienced the injury prior to becoming homeless. Said Topolovec-Vranic, “Their thinking abilities and personalities change.” ToplovecVranic said. They can’t manage at work, and they may lose their job, and eventually lose their families. And then it’s a negative spiral.”
Likewise, her findings could also challenge the usual premise that homelessness is a conscious choice or the result of an addiction or mental illness. Topolovec-Vranic’s study suggests that TBIs could be a possible factor for becoming homeless, making it all the more important to monitor those who suffer from TBIs for various health and behavioral changes. “I’m not saying that traumatic brain injuries will lead to homelessness,” said Topolovec-Vranic. “It’s very complex, and there are a number of factors, but the data [does] show that the majority of these men sustained at least one injury before they became homeless,” Topolovec-Vranic continued. “And for the most part, on average, these injuries occurred in early teenage years. Furthermore, a new study published in the Journal of Adolescent Health found that almost half of newly admitted adolescents in the New York corrections system had a history of TBIs.
Cappella, Cantos choirs visit New York City on tour SERENA NGAN photo editor
COURTESY OF STEPHEN DO
From April 24 to 28, the cantos and capella choir had the opportunity to get a taste of what the professional lives of Broadway performers are like through a group field trip to New York. From attending well-known Broadway shows such as the Phantom of the Opera, Les Miserables and Cinderella to participating in a workshop hosted by a Broadway performer, the large group was able to learn more about the different aspects of music and bond as a team at the same time. The choir group not only had the chance to attend several Broadway shows, but its members were also able to perform a song in one particular show, Cinderella. Furthermore, the group was able to explore the many tourist attractions in New York City, such as the Rockefeller Center and the Statue of Liberty. Another major attraction the group attended was the Ellen’s Stardust Diner, which allowed customers to be served by singing waiters who performed shows at the same time. “The most memorable part of the trip was at Ellen’s Stardust Diner, which hires aspiring Broadway stars who stand on tables, walk around the whole diner, and just sing and perform while you eat,” senior and Cantos member Alyssa Chan said. “It was just fun singing along to all the songs and watching a show at the same time.” Moreover, the choir group sang several patriotic pieces to veterans at a veteran’s home. This experience shined a new light on the significance of the songs for many. “[Singing in the veteran’s home] really got to me
SIGHTSEEING AND SINGING | Cappella choir poses in New York
and a lot of people because the patriotic music we sang actually had such a huge impact on [the veterans] — something that we didn’t understand when we sang the music for our Masterworks concert,” senior and Cappella member Stephen Do said. “It was really emotional.” After this fun-filled trip, many had the time to reflect on what they took away from it. “I definitely gained a better understanding of music and the work that needs to be put into it — like practice and certain singing techniques — and honestly, I gained a better understanding of the music we sang after the trip,” junior Tanvi Chokshi said. “When we sang in front of the Statue of Liberty and especially in the Veterans home, the songs gained so much more meaning because we sang to people who actually connected with the music at a much deeper level than we did.” For some, this trip was just a large field trip with a class of students; however, for many others, it was the last opportunity to bond with friends in many years to come. Said Do, “You really do gain a lot of memories with your friends. Personally, I have trouble enjoying the moment because I’m always busy and stressing about the next thing, but when I sit down and think about it for a minute, [I realize the entirety of what’s going on]: that I have the opportunity to do such amazing things that not everyone gets to do and especially, the opportunity to be doing it with your friends and people that you care about. It gets all sentimental-ly when you know it’s your senior year and you won’t ever get a chance like this anymore. It’s something we gained together as a choir - specifically capella. We got a lot closer because of this trip and it’s just great because we’re all enjoying each other’s company with the few weeks that we have left.”
Opinions
4
May 23, 2014
MAITHILEE KANTHI lifestyles assistant We’ve all seen it: the use of Native American headdresses by prominent celebrities, the stereotypical Asian garb donned as a Halloween costume, the blatant Americanization of Bollywood . It seems as if everywhere we go, we see proof of cultural appropriation occurring in our society. Cultural appropriation is defined by Susan Scalfdi of the Huffington Post as “taking intellectual property, traditional knowledge, cultural expressions or artifacts from someone else’s culture without permission.” Permission does not necessarily mean verbal consent from a whole group, but rather a respect and understanding of the custom. When a foreign group of people pick and choose a part of someone’s heritage, with complete disregard to the significance of it, they wield a sense of entitlement. Cultural appropriation is a term generally reserved for the use of customs borrowed by the western world. Their use of minority’s customs reiterates the conquered-conquered relationship that white people hold with most minorities. The dominant power has the luxury to pick and choose from a foreign culture, with no responsibility to bear the difficult aspect of the culture. White people could carelessly choose to wear a traditional Chinese dress, but every time an ethnic Chinese wants to make the same decision, it is a calculated, weighted choice. Because the difficult truth is that minorities are expected to assimilate into the western world. When they wear traditional clothes in public or flaunt their strange traditions, it is seen as a sign of their Otherness. But when a white person adopts the kimono or celebrates Holi, it is seen to be an exotic statement. As Jarune Uwajarun of EverydayFeminist says, “using someone else’s cultural symbols to satisfy a personal need for self-expression is an exercise in privilege” Go to any Californian music festival and one is bound to see a blonde teenager donned in a ceremonies Native Ameri-
can headdress. The teen in question may have no intention of offending anyone, but their use of the garb is itself insulting. It ignores the historical abuse and exploitation committed by their white ancestor towards the group as a whole. White people wearing Native American costumes can therefore be seen as sign of arrogance; they have the privilege of accepting parts of their culture while refusing to acknowledge the existence as a whole. In addition, headdresses continue to hold a spiritual and religious meaning to the groups that use it. The blatant disregard to their culture is evidence of white privilege in action. Not all adoptions of cultural aspects need to be appropriation though. There can be a healthy, friendly exchange of ideas and traditions between two parties. The key difference between appropriation and exchange is that a mutual respect is present during the exchange. For example, an interracial couple could choose to adopt the other’s wedding customs as a symbol of acceptance. Exchange crosses over into appropriation when one party asserts dominance over the other, stealing without any cultural context to give it meaning. It is our responsibility to respect marginalized cultures and think critically of how our adoptions treat the group. A healthy flow between cultures is only natural and leads to the continued evolution of customs and traditions. There is always a thin line between evolution and imposition though, and we will have to consistently distinguish between the two. We must learn and practice the difference; otherwise, we run the risk of disregarding the continued racial discrimination that groups of people are forced to endure every day. As the young generation, we cannot expect to improve our society until we learn to acknowledge and respect our peers’ heritage.
THE POWER OF MONEY JAY SHROFF copy editor In today’s world, its seems to be that everything is centered around money. The ninehour day is essentially non-existent, with some people working maybe two or three different jobs on a daily basis to make their ends meet. Even as students, we see that we spend our time constantly studying to get good grades, to get into a good college, to get a good job and make more money. This wealth-centric mindset permeates almost all aspects of life, including politics. Especially as the elections for District 17 — the congressional district in which this school is located — come closer, it becomes even
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Politics in this country should be driven by the people of this nation, not by their wallets.
more obvious that money controls everything, from how much the people know about the candidates all the way to how many votes a candidate gets. Running in an election is expensive; in the last presidential election, over $1.9 billion were spent in campaigning by both parties. This money often took the form of TV ads and flyers that helped candidates spread the word about themselves. Think about if someone tried to run against these candidates without this bonanza of cash on their side. It seems to be impossible to run in a major election without large amounts of money. The
American form of government can no longer be called a democracy if the governmental positions go to the highest bidder. Lobbyist groups and PACs (Political Action Committees) also use money to make sure that what they want is passed. For example, these groups endorse certain candidates that will bring about changes in their favor, and because these challengers now have sufficient funds to unleash a “media storm”, they do, and they most likely win, and then bring about the changes benefiting that lobbyist group. The most famous of these is the NRA (National Rifle Association), which was successfully able to stop any legislation regarding gun control, even after the Sandy Hook shooting rocked the nation last year. Politicians endorsed by this organization are forced to support the NRA in any gun control legislation in fear of losing the money that they are receiving from the NRA as an “endorsement.” In reality, the NRA is essentially buying the votes of the assemblymen to get what they want passed. America needs people who don’t have their hands tied behind their back and can actually make laws beneficial for the people without being scared of losing their monetary support. Politics in this country should be driven by the people of this nation, not by their wallets. For students that can vote, it is necessary that they read the candidates’ description before they vote and maybe think about researching which organizations a candidate is associated with to see what kind of policies that they really will be instituting if they are appointed to office.
The spending race in politics
2012 ELECTIONS congressional races
$3.6 BILLION
$6.3 BILLION TOTAL COSTS
PRESIDENTIAL
RACES
of all elections $2.6 BILLION presidential race: raised $2.2 billion
May 23, 2014
The Prospector
HOMOPHOBIA LAURA SHKOURATOFF opinions assistant Within the past few decades, the gay rights movement has come very far. Same sex marriage is now legalized in 18 states. However, it is important to remember that we have yet to reach complete equality. Especially in the United States, gay rights movements and laws regarding the LGBT community are common issues that are debated on a daily basis. Homophobia is the act of discriminating or being prejudiced against someone because of their sexuality, and despite varying religious beliefs, moral values, and an often conservative mindset, there is no excuse for being homophobic. From a religious standpoint, gay rights issues are just an opportunity to discriminate against those who have different beliefs than them. “But the Bible says…” is a common argument used by many conservative Christians. However, are we all really expected to live in accordance to a book written thousands of years ago? The Bible also says that mixing fabrics in clothing, trimming your beard, eating fat and planting two different types of seeds in the same field are strictly against the rules. Whatever happened to love your neighbor as you would love yourself? Isn’t that the golden rule? Besides, one of the main ideals the United States is based upon is separation of church and state. If
BARRON’S
BARRON’S
5TH EDITION
AP ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE
THE FAULTS OF AP TESTS Every May, millions of students across the United States spend two weeks of their lives stressing over, cramming for and finally taking Advanced Placement tests. However, the value of AP tests is now more doubtful than ever. The original goal of AP tests, to prepare students for college by giving them an opportunity to earn college credit in high school, is becoming implausible. AP testing is a broken system because it no longer fulfills this goal The true value of the AP system is in the advanced courses themselves; AP testing itself only serves to promote a test-centric mentality and inhibit educational exploration without true accomplishment. The principal flaw with AP testing is that passing an AP test is simply not equivalent to succeeding in a college course. Not only is it an oversimplification to suggest that a score on a single test demonstrates qualification in a subject, but AP tests themselves are curved to an unreasonable extent. Although AP tests are designed to be difficult to match college standards, on many AP tests earning only 60 or 70 percent of the total possible points can result in a score of 5, designating the test-taker as “extremely wellqualified” in the subject. Additionally, the way in which many students prepare for AP tests is not always comparable to learning in a college course; often, students will study for an AP test on their own and never dedicate the time or thought that an actual course requires. In an effort to determine if success on AP tests actually results in being prepared for college, Dartmouth College’s psychology department administered a condensed version of its Psych 1 final to students who had taken the Psychology AP test and found that 90 percent of students who earned a 5 on the AP test failed the final. Largely due to the results of this experiment, Dartmouth decided it would no longer award credit for AP courses. For similar reasons, many other elite institutions, such as the Massachusetts Institute of Technology
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There is no excuse for being discriminatory
religious beliefs are affecting laws that are made, there is a serious problem with our governmental system. Religious people also commonly use the excuse of being “conservative,” yet being conservative does not mean someone has a free pass to discriminate and negatively impact other’s lifestyles. Another common excuse for denying gays rights is the idea that their relationships are not natural. Yet in a world of genetically modified food, nuclear warfare, and homes filled with factory-made chemicals, natural is the last thing that we should be worried about. Besides, homosexual tendencies have been found in over 100 different species in the wild, which provides sufficient evidence to the fact that varying sexualities are not “unnatural.” It is unfortunate but understandable if one grows up being taught that homosexuality is wrong, different or unnatural. However, it’s important for those individuals to understand that it is necessary to approach the situation with an open mind and comprehend that it is okay to stray from the beliefs that they may have been raised with. If they choose to maintain their viewpoints on the issue, it is vital that they do not discriminate against others because of what they believe. The way that others decide to live their lives is not a choice someone else gets to make. We have the responsibility as human beings to evolve and progress as a society; therefore, we cannot deny someone’s basic human rights nor can we ignore the prejudice that still remains. dencies. Endangering lives by spreading negative opinions is completely unacceptable.
AP CHEMISTRY
ALEX LEVINE flipside assistant
Opinions
and Stanford University, accept credit for a select few AP tests, while others like Brown University accept none at all. Furthermore, while proponents of AP tests claim that statistics show that success on AP tests results in success in college, this assertion ignores other criteria. Most notably, the students with the most access to AP tests and expensive test prep materials come from relatively privileged socioeconomic backgrounds that tend to succeed in college anyway. The last flaw with the AP system is that, although AP tests are evaluated for college credit, the greatest benefit to students and education in general comes from AP classes. While AP tests themselves inhibit learning by prescribing an overly-broad curriculum, AP classes allow for more enriching intellectual experiences. By placing high-achieving students together with high-quality teachers, AP classes often provide a more challenging intellectual experience than regular classes. However, since AP classes provide the greatest educational benefit and not AP tests, it is possible to focus on developing enriching classes alone and not on standardized testing. Many schools have noted this and accordingly canceled their AP programs. For example, the prestigious Berkeley Carroll School in Brooklyn canceled all of its AP classes, instead developing stimulating and applicable classes such as Applications of Calculus, in which students are challenged to connect calculus and physics in ways beyond those prescribed by AP Calculus or AP Physics curricula. Such classes, being unique, still have the effect of standing out on college applications while being able to focus on the educational quality of the class alone rather than covering an AP curriculum. Ultimately, AP testing does not truly prepare students for college and instead inhibits education by prescribing broad curricula and insufficient standards. Rather than perpetuating a test-centric mentality by promoting AP testing, the American educational system should focus on the quality of high-level classes themselves in order to improve and advance education.
3,938,100 TOTAL AP
exams taken
61 % FOR A 5
on APUSH
2,218,578
total number
of students
6
Features
May 23, 2014
A Morsel of History MARVIN WANG sports editor For many students, high school graduation meant forever departing from what they called home for four years and stepping into a new world. Not for Wes Morse. Morse’s history with Cupertino began over 30 years ago, as a student studying here in the 1980s. However, graduation did not mark his last days at the school. Instead, Morse came back to Cupertino and began his career in teaching. While researching for a book about the history of Cupertino 14 years ago, Morse acquired some old Cupertino items to make the book as accurate as possible. His collection of Cupertino history grew quickly after many years of his teaching tenure as history teacher and ASB advisor. Taking a glimpse into Morse’s classroom now, students might find themselves journeying back to an unfamiliar past. “As a school historian, I try to collect things that have information or sentimental value towards certain events or activities,” Morse said. “Anything that is part of Cupertino history for 55 years.” Many Cupertino antiques that Morse has collected include old posters that promoted Cupertino, bumper stickers, awards, plaques and graduation programs. Among his collection, one that intrigued him the most was the switchboard. Morse recalled how he grabbed the switchboard after a new principal who moved into the office, which hung there as a decoration for many years, no longer wanted it. Said Morse, “[The switchboard] was how the school communicated to the outside world. There aren’t too many [things] like that are still around [anymore].” In addition, Morse has shirts made for certain occasions — for example, when there was a fire incident in the science building many years ago. “I have this shirt that says, ‘Cupertino has one of the hottest science department on the Earth,’’’ Morse explained. “It was used for a fundraiser for trying to get money to pay for all the things that were lost in the science building fire.” The science building fire wasn’t the only low point in Cupertino history commemorated by memorabilia. “I have some things that marked the near closure of Cupertino high school in the mid-80s,” Morse added. “I have a bumper sticker that said ‘Save Cupertino!’” Though there have been highs and lows in Cupertino history, Morse is quick to emphasize the good memories that he has had as a teacher in the school. Said Morse, “[I] try to celebrate all the contributions of many teachers in the past by keeping their faces on the wall and their stories alive.”
Stubbs’ Dog-ma NIKITA DEVDHAR sports assisstant Teachers always have interesting stories behind the things they collect, and AP Statistics and Math Analysis teacher Mrs. Stubbs is no different. Since she’s an avid collector of dog calendars, one could say that she collects them “woof ” happiness. Mrs. Stubbs started collecting dog calendars during the first year she started teaching. “I walked into [the] room my first year teaching and the walls were very blank, so I had a dog calendar, and I put it up in the back of my room. The next year, a student gave me a calendar of dogs for Christmas, and I just kept putting up pictures of dogs!” she said. Not only has the tradition of dog calendars stuck, but it has also influenced her opinions on dogs. “I definitely want a dog in the future. I had one when I was younger, but I do want a puppy,” she said, “Getting all these dog calendars has definitely affected me.” The calendars plastered up in the room aren’t only pleasing to Mrs. Stubbs, but also to her students. As a math teacher, Mrs. Stubbs’ classroom defies the standard classroom environment and brings positive energy to the atmosphere. “I like the dog calanders because they add character to the room, and instead of being a normal classroom, it’s a classroom with creativity,” sophomore Pia Mandrekar said.
Features
The Prospector
May 23, 2014
The fight against [uni]corniness
DIANA KRUZMAN copy editor
According to the Encyclopædia Brittanica, “the unicorn appeared in early Mesopotamian artworks, and it also was referred to in the ancient myths of India and China.” Now, thousands of years later, unicorns inhabit the classroom of A.P. Literature teacher Ms. Teresa Filice, and their purpose is surprisingly educational. “Inauthentic writing is cheesy, and sometimes students think they want us teachers to hear it,” Filice said. “It’s what I call ‘unicorny’ writing.” To discourage this type of writing, Filice keeps a plethora of unicorn items in all corners of her classroom — everything from posters to calendars to plush toys — as a reminder for students to always write what makes sense instead of what they think teachers want to read. “If students write cheesy things, I’ll draw a unicorn next to it, and if it’s something that helps students to remember this class, then I’m totally cool with it,” Filice said. Filice’s collection began when she first started teaching, and has quickly expanded since then as students and friends have added on to the amalgam of unicorn-themed items. The collection has expanded outside of school as well. “I think that people heard about [my collection], and so I get unicorn birthday cards, [and] one of my friends got me a unicorn necklace,” Filice said. “It just sort of caught on beyond the classroom.” Filice’s collection has incited enthusiastic reactions from teachers and students alike, and now,
many associate her with this mythological creature. Although she never intended for the collection to be anything more than a teaching tool, she has discovered over the years that it has become a unique part of her personality. “Last year, [in the teacher calendar], one of my students drew me riding on a unicorn,” Filice said. She remembers this as the defining moment when she realized that her collection had become her trademark, and since then she has embraced her persona as a purveyor of unicorn-themed items. “Even teachers that don’t know me very well know about [my collection],” Filice said. Throughout this experience, Filice has learned that having a passion — no matter how seemingly silly or childish — is something to be proud of, and advises students to pursue their interests. “I think if you just talk about [your interest] enough, people will pick up on that it’s something that you like,” Filice said. “If you own it [and] don’t let people judge you for it, it can be fun.”
Charming Farry ASHLEY LIU lifestyles assistant For junior Emma Farry, a charm bracelet is more than just a fashion statement — albeit a rather noisy one. A family tradition, her charm collection is a way to document her travels and trace her family’s roots. Farry’s collection began when her father brought her a charm from a business trip. Once discovered by her grandmother, Farry received an additional couple of charms. Since then, Farry’s collection has grown to between 20 and 25 charms, all compiled on a single bracelet. Having moved from Australia in fourth grade, Farry is certainly cosmopolitan by most standards. However, her travel history is expansive as well. Farry noted that her eclectic collection contained charms such as a dagger, which she obtained from Denmark, as well as a frangipani, a type of tropical flower, from Hawaii. She even owns a flying pig charm from England. “Every one of them has a story behind
it,” Farry said. “Even the chain is special, as [I] got it while on vacation in Bali, Indonesia.” Her favorite charm, however, is an echidna, an animal that is similar in appearance to a porcupine or hedgehog. “‘The echidna is very special for me because it is from the town in Australia where my dad is originally from,” Farry said. “I still have family living there, but I don’t get to go there as often as I would like to [due to its distance.]” Farry generally does not wear the bracelet to school — not only to protect its sentimental value, but also as a matter of convenience. “It’s really jangly, so it gets in the way,” Farry said. She also stated that she had broken it twice — once, on a trampoline — in fact, it lies broken now. “It’s good that it’s on a chain, however, so I don’t lose the charms,” Farry said. “I’ve had some of them for years.”
Rocha’s paw-some kitties YANE AHN opinions assistant Before even entering English teacher Susan Rocha’s classroom, a friendly placard with a Hello Kitty printed on it greets students by the door. Even a cursory glance around her classroom is a splash of vibrant colors on little outfits boldly worn by the iconic cat. Rocha’s impressive collection of the cute character is well known by all — from those who briefly walk in during tutorial to the alumni who visit years later. “I loved her as I was growing up,” Rocha said. “I think it was when I was in elementary school ... when she first came out. I think she was born around the same time I was.” It seems almost like destiny that Hello Kitty, first introduced to the United States in 1976, would become a close companion to the teacher. The cat stands for more than just a cute and cuddly decoration — it also serves for a sentimental reminder. Said Rocha, “She kind of disappeared for a while and then recently … [she] had a resurgence and so it kind of reminds me of my childhood.” Rocha’s Hello Kitty items are not only limited to the plushies littered around her room, and the knickknacks cluttering her desk. Inside her desk drawers is a colorful collection she’s gained throughout the years, ranging from erasers wrapped in pink to pens hugged by the winking kitty. Fond students have greatly contributed to grow the pile of quirky Hello Kitty merchandise each year. “Most of the Hello Kitty items I have, I have not bought myself,” Rocha said. She’s loved all of the gifts that students have given her. “My TA last year got me the Hello Kitty from the college he was going to, so [Hello Kitty’s] wearing the shirt of the huskies. … Another student gave me a Stanford one, because I went to Stanford,” Rocha said. The stuffed Hello Kittys are lined up near her whiteboard, the two eyes and yellow noses of each doll affectionately facing the class. “People constantly remind me that Hello Kitty doesn’t have a mouth, which I didn’t notice,” said Rocha. The international craze isn’t only limited to Rocha’s classroom, as she spreads the cuteness with her Hello Kitty plushies daily. Said Rocha, “I think it’s because Hello Kitty’s so positive. She just touches people with her kindness.”
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Lifestyles Need a date?
May 23, 2014
GET WITH THE [ALGO]RITHM
KEELY ZHANG
features assistant
For many, finding “the one” is a lifelong challenge wrought with tears, heartbreak and enough sweets to fuel the chocolate industry. For others, even meeting someone to break their heart is a challenge — after all, the average person only stumbles upon a couple hundred of the billions of people in the world in their lifetime. With statistics this grim, it’s no wonder why hoards of loveless singles are now flocking towards online dating. In fact, OkCupid, an online dating site created by Harvard University students, currently has a user base of about 40 million Americans — partly due to its scientific approach to dating. Users select and answer questions such as, “Do you like horror movies?” and “Wouldn’t it be fun to chuck it all and go live on a sailboat?”, from a pool of thousands. OkCupid then uses this data to match its users with each other. Nevertheless, 35-year-old Chris McKinlay was still struggling to find a match — in fact, OkCupid’s algorithm found him less than 100 women above the 90 percent compatibility level. Of the dozens of women he attempted to pursue, only six agreed to
a first date. Fortunately, McKinlay wasn’t your average online user — at the time, he was also pursuing a PhD in applied mathematics. So he set out to optimize his chances with online dating via an algorithm. McKinlay created 12 fake OkCupid accounts that would prowl the site using a Python script he wrote to gather information about women in his target demographic. They returned information about their interests, what questions they chose to answer and how they answered those questions. When OkCupid caught and banned all 12 of his accounts, McKinlay installed spyware on his friend’s computer to monitored his friend’s use of the site. Using this data, McKinlay reprogrammed his own bots to simulate human behavior — perfectly mimicking human clickrates and typing speed, and ultimately outsmarting OkCupid’s system. Three weeks and 20,000 women later, McKinlay found a pattern in the data and was able to group the women by similari-
ties, a model he based on another algorithm called K-Modes. Two clusters of women specifically caught his attention — so he created two separate accounts to target each cluster, tailoring each account to the data his bots returned. By then, OkCupid had matched him with 10,000 women at the 99 percent compatibility mark. It was no longer about finding dates — it was about going on them. More than 55 dates later, McKinlay finally found “the one” — 28-year-old Christine Tien Wang. Of course, finding her was the easier part. But since meeting, both have taken down their OkCupid accounts and the couple is even engaged. Dating is imperfect and inefficient, but McKinlay and others have started to quantify and analyze this phenomena. Perhaps in a couple of years, online dating algorithms like his won’t be the exception but rather the norm. Until then, those of us less versed in writing Python scripts will have to go about dating the old fashioned way — by face-diving off a cliff and hoping it won’t hurt too much.
OVEREXPOSURE A LOOK INTO THE PHOTOGRAPHER BANDWAGON JESSICA SHIN
JEREMY XUE
sports assistant
What makes an individual a “true photographer”? According to senior Jonathan Lin, a true photographer is “a person who truly has passion for the art of photography and constantly tries to better him or herself in this craft.” Recently, photography has experienced a sudden increase in popularity, due to the newfound “hype” of being a photographer. So why is photography experiencing such a sudden spike in popularity? One prominent reason may be the increased accessibility and usability of cameras. Nowadays, a decent mid-quality camera such as the Canon EOS Rebel T3i can be purchased for $500 to $600, and now the process of taking a picture has been simplified to the point that even the most novice photographers can participate. However, this doesn’t necessarily lead to quality photos. “Not to put myself above others, but I do see photographers at school that post sub-par photos,” Lin said. “My advice to them is to search things up on the internet or ask another photographer
whose work you admire to help you.” tion or to be cool,” Lin said. “That’s what The rise of social media as a medium differentiates those who take great photos to share images is another explanation of and those who do not.” a this phenomenon. An increasing number of student photographers have been taking pictures for events such as pre-prom, school events and parties, later uploading them to Facebook for their friends to view, like and comment on. “Overall, I just think that the ongoing trend of being a photographer is not necessarily negative, but [one] should should do it because [he or she] has a passion for the art, rather than just doing it for the recogni-
The good old days
Take Photos
Not so long ago
Take Photos + Photoshop
Now - 2014
Take Photos + Photoshop + Website + Facebook + Twitter
Lifestyles
The Prospector
May 23, 2014
9
Path to personality JOYCE YE
It’s a Friday night, and instead of hanging out with your friends, you’re at home glued to your computer, scrolling down a seemingly endless stream of friends’ Facebook posts. If this scene sounds familiar, you’ve doubtlessly seen a couple, if not a huge influx, of Talentoday personality test results. This is an interesting phenomenon which appears to have grown in popularity during the past few months. The allure of personality tests is understandable, but yet, as with any test, the results may not be reliable. First off, a problem lies in the tes=t-taker. It’s in the human nature to always want to seem “better”, and even people who will not intentionally lie will subconsciously choose answers which they think will reflect better on them rather than answers which are more accurate. The fact that these test results are often posted on social media such as Facebook, which friends have easy access to, is further encouragement for the test taker to make themselves seem more appealing. Even if a person is being as honest as he or she can, the results of a personality test may not be accurate. Humans often have complicated moods and emotions, and because no two moods at different times are exactly the same, people are com-
Smart
pelled to answer differently on questions based on what they’re feeling. Furthermore, test results themselves can be deceptive. In 1948, a psychologist by the name of Bertram Forer conducted an interesting experiment in which he gave his students a personality test, but instead of individually scoring the tests, he gave every student the same analysis taken from a newspaper astrology column. The results went along the lines of “You have a great need for other people to like and admire you. You have a tendency to be critical of yourself... At times you are extroverted, affable, sociable, while at other times you are introverted, wary, reserved.” Forer then asked his students to rate their results on a scale of one to five, with five being the most accurate. The average of the student’s ratings were 4.26, proving that personality test results often draw on common human emotions and experiences, tricking the test taker into believing that the results are accurate. In this way, personality tests may not actually be reflective of the personalities of the people taking them; instead, they rely on humans’ habit of reading meaning about themselves in almost anything. So remember: Take those Buzzfeed quizzes with a grain of salt.
Leaders
h ip
Which traits suit YOU?
Organized
BAKERY
It’s burning. It’s scorching. It’s 85 Degrees.
ISABEL LIN
opinions editor
I’ll admit it- I wasn’t the least bit convinced when I initially heard the hype and acclaim surrounding 85C, a newly-opened bakery located just minutes away from the Cupertino Library. Curious to see why the bakery-cafe was receiving such a popular reception, I resolved to visit the venue and judge it for myself. Upon setting foot into the bakery-cafe, I was enveloped by the lively chatter of customers and employees. Bustling with activity, every table in the lofty, bright open space was occupied. Off to the side, an appealing array of breads was arranged in a square formation; across the other side of the room, the whir of pearl milk tea machines hummed as employees hurried to deliver customer orders. After much deliberation in which I struggled over what to buy, I finally got to taste the breads that everyone was so hyped out. True to the rumors I had heard, 85C’s breads did not disappoint. Though there wasn’t a huge selection, the uniqueness and quality of the baked goods definitely compensated for the smaller selection. Aside from the traditional milk-custard and raisin-butter milk breads sold in Chinese/Taiwanese bakeries, 85C had a variety of distinct breads like mango bread, rose cheese bread, squid ink black bun, and more. The goods I tried (taro swirl, mocha bread, coffee bread, black sesame red bun) did not disappoint with their fluffy but substantial textures. I particularly enjoyed the coffee bread, which included a delicious red bean filling with mochi. Moreover, the bread was actually fresh- meaning that when employees came out with a plate of steaming bread, customers could take it straight off the plate. (This was a phenomenon I never observed in other Chinese bakeries.) Most im-
portantly, for the quality of the bread, the price — ranging from $1.80 to $3.00 — was very reasonable. I did, however, find some drawbacks to 85C. Most notably was the fact that when I visited during the afternoon, every table both inside and outside was occupied. Furthermore, I found the pearl milk tea to be rather disappointing. Priced at $3.50 (with boba), it was half the size of PMTs from other local stores and had an uneven proportion of tea and milk heavier on the milk side. Moreover, the tea and milk were not properly mixed together and the drink was only slightly cold. Regardless of the small flaws in 85C, I still found my overall experience at 85C to be quite impressive and I will surely be back again. Here’s to hoping that my trip to 85C didn’t mark the starting point on my fast track to diabetes.
t n e i t Pa
features editor
Sports
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May 23, 2014
Donald Sterling controversy “
It bothers me a lot that you want to broadcast that you’re associating with black people – Donald Sterling
BRIAN ZHONG news assistant
These words came from Donald Sterling, owner of the Los Angeles Clippers basketball team. And these same words are currently the spotlight of a deluge of condemnations and censure by the media and the public. Famous basketball players take to Twitter to express their outrage over his remarks. Media companies incessantly shine light on the situation, reporting the fallout every step of the way. At a superficial glance, Donald Sterling’s actions are reproachable in every regard possible. Yet, this controversy carries deeper, more troubling implications; implications that many don’t realize. If one were to sympathize with Sterling, one would contend that his First Amendment right to freedom of speech was violated. However, the First Amendment only protects one’s speech from the government. In Sterling’s instance, the government is not prosecuting him for his words; rather, the court of
public opinion and the NBA, a private organization, is judging his remarks. The NBA has every right to ban Donald Sterling for life and to fine him $2.5 million, as it is a private organization. However, Donald Sterling’s episode carries many more implications than an alleged infringement of the Bill of Rights. According to California Law, people cannot record conversations without the consent of both parties. It is unclear whether Donald Sterling agreed to record the conversation, casting a shadow of doubt on the legality of the event. Everyone has probably had that moment when they may have told their friends or family members something they would never say in front of their teachers or other adults. The comments may have been offensive, and the person may get in big trouble if his or her remarks were leaked to the entire school. Let’s face it: we all say things that we may never admit or repeat in front of others. In this case, Sterling indeed say something deplorable, yet he said to one of his closest partners: his girlfriend. This conversation was never meant to be heard by anyone else, yet the phone conversation has been replayed countless times
now: on laptops, on phones, on televisions. What precedent does this set, when something supposed to be intimate and confidential turns up on everyone’s screens? It seems as if people with unpopular views cannot even express themselves at all, even in front of their closest confidants. That person who you entrust with your secrets with may be documenting your actions and could release them to your connections. Even if you are not an owner of an NBA team, your job, your friendships, your whole life could fall apart just because of something not even intended to be displayed in public. Yes, this revelation may seem overly nonsensical. But it happened to Donald Sterling, and he is simply the tip of the iceberg. It’s true that Sterling’s words have no place in an America that has triumphed over slavery and segregation. But most of us are criticizing Sterling without considering the bigger picture. People should take a cold hard look at today’s society and consider a future in which their private, intimate words can be exposed to everyone. Then can they truly envision the predicament our world is in.
Body, mind and soul why sports are good for academics
ALEX SHIEH
lifestyles editor
John Wood, a legendary UCLA Basketball Coach once said, “Sports do not build character. They reveal it.” As cheesy as it sounds, it’s just about right. Throughout the world of sports today, people still recognize the toughest failures and allow the underdogs’ to win. A person’s character has already been developed and sports only help to expose it. Many students start sports early in life by attending after school sports team and clubs. This not only helps to reveal their character earlier, but also helps their grades
omit. Research has proved that students need an adequate amount of physical activity throughout the school day. According to the National Association for Sport and Physical Education, students are recommended to get at least 60 minutes of physical exercise each day. For high school students, laziness kicks in quite often. Physical exercise leads students to have higher grades, greater expectations for themselves, more personal confidence, stronger peer relations, and more restraint in avoiding risky behavior. According to Charles Basch, Professor of Health and Education at Columbia University, “Physical movement affects brain’s physiology by increasing blood flow, oxygenation, brain tissue volume, nerve connections, and brain neurotransmitters, signals from one brain cell to another. These help improve the attention span of a student, ability to process information, develop the brain storage, and reduce boredom in class.” Whether in winning a race or failing a test, sports can assist a student can reveal their true character. In times of defeat, a sullen loser shows the incapability to handle any setbacks both in sports and in life. However,
a student experienced with sports, is capable of gracefully taking the loss and learning from it, just as any failures in life. In a game, victory can reveal whether a person is genuinely humble, or whether the true trait is arrogance. At an age of learning, sports do much more for students than just helping with the aspects of winning, losing, and grades. They teach discipline, patience, respect for others, and most importantly, provide a test of overcoming challenges and indicate how a student would guide him- or herself in pressurized situations. Sports give the opportunity for students to realize their reactions to pressure in a game in comparison to a real life situation. Though it is always amusing to always win, that should not be the objective of participating in sports. People often say it is the learning— the art of teamwork, the acknowledgement of defeat, the courtesy towards victory; that these are the true objectives. However, neither is the case, rather it is about exposing one’s character. The spirit is already present within a sportsman, the game helps reveal it.
3.01 Average GPA of NCAA athletes
7.7 million Number of student athletes in high school
Recruited to play |
senior Cupertino athletes go to college
NIKITA DEVDHAR news assistant
Many seniors play the last game of their careers at Senior Night. Others, however, get to continue their passion at the collegiate level. Every year, college recruits visit thousands of high schools and evaluate which players they could see on their college teams. But the recruitment process is nothing short of stressful, as athletes themselves must contact coaches, then wait for an undetermined amount of time until they get a response. The recruitment process can go faster if the athlete in question is part of a club team, as club coaches often have ties to and contact with college coaches. One player who benefited from these connections is Masha Yelsukova, a senior who signed on to play collegiate volleyball at University of Massachusetts at Lowell. Yelsukova was recruited through club volleyball and had offers from colleges like San Diego State University and Sonoma State, but later decided not to play there because she wanted to play at a higher level. Yelsukova, like many other athletes, experienced the stressful recruitment process — but in the end, she received offers from several of her top colleges. “When a coach responds positively
Sports
The Prospector
May 23, 2014
or offers you a spot, it is the most amazing feeling ever,” Yelsukova said. “I would get butterflies in my stomach and it would make me jump for joy. I burst into tears when I got an offer from San Diego State University because I put so much time and work into this … I sacrificed weekends and missed school days and sacrificed most of my social life for this. For me to get an offer like that from such an amazing school is so rewarding.” As if the recruitment process wasn’t stressful enough, many athletes often face the question of whether or not they are good enough to play at the next level. For senior Tommy Cheng, who will be attending and playing tennis at Ca’rnegie Mellon University in the fall, his decision was reaffirmed by many of his older collegiate friends. “[I knew that I was good enough] mostly because of my older friends because when we were practicing, as they began to commit to college, I realized that I was at the same level as they were, and I realized that I was at the level to play college tennis,” said Cheng. Cheng was eased into recruitment by his older college friends, who provided
advice about the college search and were often the go-to people when there were any questions about the process. “A lot of my friends that are a few years older already started the process before me, so I could always ask them for advice,” Cheng said. “As I had questions throughout the process, I asked them things like, ‘Should I ask for official visit?’ or ‘Should I call them?’” Athletes also have to find the perfect balance of all the qualities they want in a college. This factor played a major role in the ultimate college decision for senior and future Harvard student and tennis player Kenneth Tao. “I wanted a program that was both good at tennis and also a really good school, so I could choose the best path for myself,” Tao said. “I picked Harvard because it was obviously a great school and I worked well with the team and the coach there.” In the end, even after all the stress, the feeling of getting signed to one of your top colleges trumps all. The school community congratulates these athletes on their athletic dedication and achievements.
11
Senior Night: Team traditions
NIRMIT SHAH copy editor
The last home game of any sport is typically dubbed “senior night” and is set to give the team’s seniors a memorable final game at the school. Underclassmen, friends, and family generally make posters and take pictures at the end of the game; however, every team has its own individual perks to make senior day unique and special. Track and Cross Country, for example, have team members make a poster for each senior and write farewell notes on the posterreminiscing upon memories shared with the senior. At the end of the meet, Coach Armstrong delivers short speeches about his relationship and memories with the seniors. Girls’ volleyball on the other hand has their ceremonies before the game with each senior receiving a bouquet of flowers from a younger teammate and a floral garland preceding the match.
THU DAM
At left, girls’ volleyball team seniors Sam Tenorio and Rachel Blocher pose with friends.
Ultimately, each team strives to ensure the game is one to remember by the graduating senior and holds powerful sentimental value – powerful enough to make winning the game that much more important. This year, girl’s water polo won their first match of the season during senior night. Through it all, the final home game is the senior’s way of remembering his or her time as a high school athlete while following post-graduation plans.
Serena Ngan
Tino golf team RISHI NAIR
flip side editor What do you think when you hear golf? Probably a bunch of old g=uys with British accents sporting plaid knickers, putting along in little golf carts. A rising contradiction of this typical stereotype is our school’s golf team. As a relatively small team, comprising of only eight members, our golfers have had to be very dedicated, especially in the face of much larger teams such as those from Palo Alto and Monta Vista. Said freshman Allyson Chiu, “What I like about golf is that even though it’s a team sport, the scores are individual so you have control over your play. Also, the courses, like the Country Club course, are so fancy!” Senior Matthew Kadiu doesn’t agree with the stereotype golf is given: “A lot of people categorize golf as a rich person’s sport, or an old person’s sport, and to a certain extent it’s true, you need a steady income to sustain it, but you mainly just need to put in a lot of hard work. It may look easy, but the hole is only four and a half inches wide, and you’re
swinging from a distance.” Instead, Kadiu said, “Give it a shot. People never take a chance, but instead categorize things and stay away from them, but you should actually try golf. You don’t know what it’s like until you’ve tried it. I would describe golf as a lot of mixed emotions, you face a few ups and downs, but eventually you get it. I especially enjoy how it’s a great learning experience, and helps you mature a lot.” This year’s team is more diverse than ever before: “I think there was about an equal number of girls as boys on the team, which is new,” Kadiu said. “In the past, it’s just been a majority of male golfers. It’s cool that we’re the only team out there that has such diversity.” After many practices and games at various courses against different teams, the team finally competed in league finals on April 29 and in the first and second rounds of the CCS Tournament on May 6 and 7, respectively. Looks like we can say “deuces!” to golf ’s old stereotype.
Flip Side
12
MAY IN PHOTOS
SERENA NGAN
SERENA NGAN
JASON CHEN
SERENA NGAN
SPIRIT WEEK | Sophomores Idean Nakhjavani and Hursh Karkhanis pose in full Twin Day apparel.
TRACK AND FIELD | Sophomore Derek Pan powers through his 800 meter run.
TINO SPEECH AND DEBATE SHOWBASEBALL’S PICNIC AT THE PARK CASE | Junior Patricia Arazia performs FUNDRAISER | Baseball players help in the Showcase. set up the food and drinks table.
HALL OF FAME RALLY | CHS alum Aki Yoshikawa addresses the crowd of students, staff and alumni.
STRESS?
How Do Students:
Relieve Reading
Vinh La (11) - “Reading books that you’ve already read before always helps. Old books aren’t actually that hard to read, and you can relate to them. That way, you can remember the times that weren’t as stressful.”
The great outdoors
Keshav Suresh (11) - “When I get stressed out I like to take walks in the middle of the night at 1am because it’s really nice out and sometimes it’s warm, and other times it’s nice and cool and windy.”
Shopping
Annabelle Tseng (11) - “I online shop. I look through stuff and add a ton of stuff to my cart. It makes me less stressed because its so satisfying. I never buy anything but it makes me feel in control of my life.”
Just chilling
Daniel Hurt-Ben (10) - “I have to take a lot of breaks and work for a while, but sometimes I take a break for too long and I end up stressing more. Since I stress more I can sit down longer and I’m motivated to get my work done and keep my grades up, and once that’s all done, I don’t stress anymore.”
Ain’t worried ‘bout nothin’
Joshua Robinson (9) - “I don’t stress because school shouldn’t be that stressful, and when I go home late after track practice, I just eat and go straight to sleep. When I wake up the next day I just end up doing my homework at school. There’s no way for me to relieve stress when I don’t have any in the first place..”
Sit back and relax
John Kim (11) - “Usually I would play video games, but since AP testing is going on, I have to cut back on that. Sometimes when I get frustrated with my work, I just stop what I’m doing to sit and live in my imagination for a while. I know it sounds childish, but daydreaming helps me. Sometimes I pretend I have super powers, and to me it’s just a way to not worry.”
NEXT MONTH: JUNE Graduation Thursday, June 5
Track and Field State Meet Saturday, June 7
Last Day of School
Finals Week
Drama Awards
Senior Finals Wednesday, May 28 and Thursday, May 29
Thursday, June 5
Tuesday, June 3
Friday, May 30- Thursday, June 5
JESSICA SHIN
Avoiding STARdom
The inequality of standardized testing KATIE MARTIN editor-in-chief
Amidst the madness brought on by spring — a season rife with looming exams, dwindling morale and a summer constantly wished for but never arriving — is a single week of bliss. From the shorter class periods to the snacks distributed during breaks, the week of STAR testing is undeniably special. Or so I’ve heard. I never so much as caught a glimpse of a Scantron before entering high school. Nine years in a nontraditional academic setting was enough to convince me that many standardized assessments, including California’s own recently scrapped STAR test, are inherently harmful to education — and I am grateful to have been opted out each year. It’s easy to dismiss standardized testing as just an inconsequential element of school, especially in the affluent city of Cupertino, where educational resources are abundant and schools are well-funded by taxpayers. Yet it is this prosperity that enables us to succeed — in fact, STAR test scores are correlated most heavily not with intelligence or quality of teaching but with income level. And when scores from a single test determine both financial and academic ranking, schools in impoverished communities are further marginalized. It’s a system that damages all but those at the top. I’m well aware of the bind that teachers are in, as their jobs are often dependent on these scores. But the testing system is just as harmful to educators because, when the stakes are this high, ethics can often be compromised. When one scandal broke last year in an Atlanta school district, 35 administrators, including the district superintendent, were indicted for their roles in changing answers and providing hints during testing. Even less surprising is that this district serves primarily low-income students, so the pressure to deliver improved test results each year in the face of threats to employment — and to the very existence of the school itself — is unparalleled. These ideas, however, came under serious scrutiny upon my arrival at this school. Some classmates asked me how I felt opting out of the STAR test — wasn’t it disrespectful to my teachers? Yet a single test cannot possibly be as informative as teachers’ yearlong, comprehensive assessments. Still others insisted the test’s link to property values was too significant to justify opting out. But since scores are indicative almost solely of income, these homes are located not in higher quality districts with better teachers — they’re simply in richer districts. Most indicative of the deeply ingrained importance of test scores were the inflammatory messages I received on Tumblr in response to my views. But issued anonymously, these notes were sent by those who didn’t possess the courage of conviction that this environment consistently challenged me to develop. And while I recognize that I’ve benefitted from local wealth that results in high API scores and a school district with a stellar reputation, I cannot support a system that harms those less fortunate.