Pulse Magazine: Volume 5, Issue 2 by Pulse Magazine

the newsmagazine of Canyon Crest Academy

February 2010 volume 5 issue 2

letter the editor from

photo by kait bell

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ccapulseonline.com

nother semester has come and gone and the challenges that face us as journalists have become increasingly prevalent. Though we continue to have high expectations, the publishing process has become a far more arduous task due to our low funds. While these monetary problems have presented their fair share of challenges, our efforts to represent this campus have not faltered. When flipping through this issue, you may notice less color on certain pages. To combat the seemingly heightened prices, the Pulse staff has decided to use selective coloring throughout the issue. With all that said, this issue contains many stories that hit closer to home. Matt Scarano analyzes the results of the Healthy Kids Survey, administered by UCSD to measure students’ habits across the board. In addition, Amruta Trivedi takes

a look inside students’ relationships with drugs and how the district has responded to said use or abuse. Over the past term, CCA sports has succeeded in bringing home two conference banners (Boys’ Water Polo, featured in this issue and Girls’ Field Hockey, featured on CCAPulseOnline.com). They are now proudly hanging alongside past championship banners. To keep up with the constantly changing media industry, we have created CCAPulseOnline.com and continue to welcome each new development with open eyes and a fresh reporter’s notebook.

Chris Cubbison

C O N T E N T S february 2010 / vol. 5 / issue 2

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LADY GAGAâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S THE FAME MONSTER

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ON THE COVER [UN]HEALTHY KIDS Matt Scarano takes a look inside the notorious Healthy Kids Survey, its controversial findings, and what they mean for CCA and the community at large.

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SWINE FLU

cover photo by Rebecca Sicile-Kira

WISDOM TEETH

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For reader feedback or advertising information please contact Pulse at: 5951 Village Center Loop Rd. San Diego, Ca 92130 (858) 350-0253 x 4192

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EDITOR-IN-CHIEF / chris cubbison MAGAZINE EDITOR / kait bell ONLINE EDITOR / amruta trivedi CONTENT EDITORS / maia ferdman, brittany jahn, pooja magavi, matt scarano COPY EDITORS / austin evans, anita shah, pooja magavi PHOTO EDITOR / rebecca sicile-kira LAYOUT EDITOR / kait bell STAFF WRITERS / garett peterson, naomi stapleton BUSINESS STAFF / carly gutner-davis, kimia zomorrodi, paige press ADVISOR / michael gaughen

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The team has been building for four years and it seems to have paid off.”

Boys’ Water Polo

by Brittany Jahn

y the time the average CCA student has hit his or her snooze button, the boys’ varsity water polo team has been treading water for two hours. No wonder members of the team are wide-awake in first period. Between early morning practices, a winning league season and a league banner under their belt, these water polo players are certainly making waves in CCA sports history. Contributing to this year’s winning season are five seniors who have been in the program since their freshman year, including team co-captain, Jordan Warburg. “The team has been building for four years and it seems to have paid off. We were pretty solid this year,” recalls Warburg of the successful season. According to Warburg, the league play was not too difficult in terms of the teams they had to face, except for their longtime rivals Mt. Carmel. The last game of the season against Mt. Carmel decided whether or not CCA got a co-championship banner. After beating every team in the league, it became clear who the competition was in the fight for the league title. In their second game against Mt. Carmel High School and their last game of the regular season CCA lost in a “nail-biter,” making the two teams tied in league wins and residing as co-champions for the 2009 season. After winning a league banner the team moved on to compete in the CIF

-Jordan Warburg, Senior and water polo co-captain. tournament and beat Valhalla 7-6 in the first round before losing in a tough match against Cathedral. After finishing up their season in mid-November Warburg recalls the success of the season and the spirit of the team, “We’re all really goofy and we take things lightheartedly,” states Warburg, “We are always making things fun because that’s how we are.” With the season over and a banner hung in the gym, the boys varsity water-polo team can hold their heads high and start hitting that snooze button again.

Boys’ Soccer

by Nachi Baru & Jan Carstence

om Lockhart has coached the CCA Boys soccer team throughout its short but proud history. On Dec. 9 the team hit a landmark as they came out on top of a field of 16 teams from three divisions in the Islander Invitational Tournament, held annually at Coronado High School. The regular season for the team may begin in early January, but amidst a slew of preseason games, the Islander Tournament win was highly significant to Lockhart. “It’s important for us because we play in a [Division Four] league, so by doing these tournaments early on it gives us a chance to play [Division Three] schools. The fact that we won it all gives us a lot of credibility.” Still, he was careful not to get too carried away with the win. “You also have to be consistent throughout the season. It was a good step for CCA Boys’ Soccer and

it definitely started establishing us as a good program in San Diego, but one tournament doesn’t make a season.”

Nevertheless, there was no hiding his satisfaction with what he said was a genuine team effort, refusing to even name “star players.” “There were some players that scored, but there were also players who kept clean sheets and kept the goals out. And even guys who didn’t get as much playing time as they wanted, they’re out supporting their team at practices. That’s one of our emphases this year, the concept of team.” The team can certainly be proud of what they have accomplished. They continued to be undefeated in their three matches in the group stages, the highlight a 2-0 win over La Jolla, which Lockhart referred to as a “strong D3 team.”Afterwards, the team progressed to the semi-final, where they beat Division Two team Ramona in a 2-1 win. The final against University City saw the Ravens lose a man in the first twelve minutes, yet score five goals that won them the impressive four-foot tall trophy. The fact that the Ravens managed to bring home the trophy has given their confidence a big boost for the upcoming season. “When you work hard for something and you reach that goal, it’s a great feeling. Several players of mine who play club were telling me that they haven’t won something like this since they were 10 years old,” said Lockhart, who viewed their chances with great optimism as long as his team stayed physically healthy and mentally focused on playing as a team. Such confidence has gotten the Ravens to set their sights high; Lockhart says that he feels the team is capable of bringing home the banner and going deep into the playoffs. “I like our chances in league as long as we continue to work hard in practice, work hard in games, and really remember the concept of team.” According to Lockhart, his team plays skilled, exciting, fan-friendly, “fun to watch” soccer that he urges fans to come out and watch. “This is a special team. This is my strongest team I’ve ever had at CCA,” Lockhart concluded. And now his players have a trophy to back up that statement.

unhealthy kids 6 8 10 12 14

news

healthy kids survey drugs in the district swine flu future of afghanistan boxer reelection

very spring, students at Canyon Crest Academy and other San Dieguito Union schools participate in the “Healthy Kids Survey,” administered by UCSD. Healthy Kids is a comprehensive and anonymous survey that asks questions regarding nutrition, connectedness to school, home, and community, and, most notably, use of drugs and alcohol. The results it yields can then be used to affect positive change within our schools and the community at large. CCA has made the Healthy Kids Survey a top priority because of its usefulness in providing objective feedback and exposing needs for improvement in the wellness and safety of students. “[The Healthy Kids Survey] was the first issue addressed at the first district meeting in August,” reported Assistant Principal Elloise Allen. She was also able to show me CCA’s results from last year’s survey. We could be healthier.

Last year, 56% of all CCA students admitted to abusing alcohol in their lifetime, and 32% had used marijuana. story by Matt Scarano photos by Rebecca Sicile-Kira & Chris Cubbison Last year, 56 percent of all Canyon Crest students admitted to abusing alcohol in their lifetime, and 32 percent had used marijuana. 55 percent of those who had abused alcohol and 53 percent of students who had used marijuana reported that they had used in the past month. More dangerously, 9 percent of juniors and 10 percent of seniors last year reported that they had driven drunk or ridden in a car with a drunk driver in the past 30 days. 30 percent of students 16 and older had at some point in their young lives made this potentially fatal error. Numbers like these make drunk driving tragedies such as those that have repeatedly struck our community in recent months nothing short of inevitable. By the same token, these events give the most recent Healthy Kids Survey results special significance as schools around San Diego attempt to tackle drunk driving and other dangerous behavior. Allen and CCA Principal Brian

Kohn both expressed concern at the survey results, and said that the district and school were working together to resolve underlying problems reflected in the survey. Allen spoke of a “staff intervention team” of counselors, teachers, and administrators that would focus on understanding the “whole student.” Anti-drug curriculum is taught in health classrooms and UCSD’s Project Options is on campus regularly to help students avoid alcohol and drugs. Students who are apprehended for alcohol or drugs at school are often sentenced to attend the READI (Recovery Education Alcohol Drug Instruction) program, which teaches youth about the dangers of underage substance abuse. Red Ribbon week took place on campus the week before winter break, and this year we will be having a Yellow Ribbon Suicide Prevention Week as well. Additionally, Challenge Day will be back this February. Allen also commented that simply

“talking about it” makes the Healthy Kids data useful. “We are the only district I have had experience with where the data is shared with the community,” she said. So far this year, only limited data from the four SDUHSD high schools has been released. The district is still waiting on data from its middle schools as well as district averages and state comparisons, and will not release most of the survey data until that information is available. However, the data that is available at CCA has already been a source of concern for school officials and parents, and has sparked debate over the best ways to combat dangerous and destructive behaviors amongst high school students. Programs such as Challenge Day, Project Options, and Red Ribbon Week have been in place for years, but the Healthy Kids Survey has not shown them to be successful. Results from last year’s survey are only negligibly different than past years. The CCA administration feels confident in their educational programs, but says that students need to “connect the dots” between what they know and the decisions they make. Though these statistics do not appear on the abbreviated report, Principal Kohn reports that the numbers of students who “understand the dangers of underage drinking and drug use” are very high. “It perplexes me that there is not more of an inverse relationship between the number of students who understand [the dangers] and the number who use. But both are high.” Some students argue that the education system has taken the wrong approach to drug and alcohol education. Senior Danica Hoeprich asserts, “the education system and the law need to focus less on complete abstinence from substances and more on honest education about responsibility and moderation…Health class feeds students so much inaccurate information that once students learn that they have been lied to they don’t know what to believe any more, and find themselves faced with choices to make without any real education to draw from.”

Many who share Hoeprich’s view point out that despite CCA students’ high incidence of drug and alcohol use, the school earned the highest API scores in the county last year. Hoeprich argues that, “there is not necessarily a negative correlation between academic success and [drug and alcohol] use. The real problem is the drunk driving, and the binging. Improved education would decrease the instances of truly dangerous activity, even if it wouldn’t affect general use.” Kohn called the idea of altering health education to promote moderation and responsibility instead of abstinence “ridiculous.” He said, “As a school and as adults we [CCA] cannot promote moderation in underage drinking and drug use because it is against the law. We need to uphold the law.” The Healthy Kids Survey did not bring only bad news. The results showed that 67 percent of Canyon Crest students either “agree” or “strongly agree” that they feel like a part of their school. Kohn and Allen agreed that this is a success, and Kohn said that the school connectedness statistic is likely the “strongest indicator [out of Healthy Kid’s statistics]” of academic success and API scores. In any case, last year’s Healthy Kids Survey has provided valuable information on the status of CCA’s health as a school and as individuals. However, just how effectively this information will be used to improve education and policies remains to be seen. This year’s survey is just around the corner.

drugs & district the

story by Amruta Trivedi photo by Andrew Siann

While it’s largely kept under the radar, recreational drug use is a common problem among young adults in this country. According to a 2007 survey conducted by the Center for Disease Control, over 14 percent of ninth through twelfth graders had smoked an entire cigarette before they turned thirteen, while 38.1 percent of students had tried marijuana at least once in their lifetime. In California, 24 percent of 11th graders, 10 percent of 9th graders and 3 percent of 7th graders confessed to smoking an entire cigarette four or more times. And according to the 2009 Healthy Kids Survey, 32 percent of CCA students admitted to abusing marijuana during their lifetimes. According to Joe Olesky, SDUHSD’s Recovery Education Alcohol Drug Instruction (READI) program coordinator, the most common drugs abused among teenagers across the United States are alcohol, marijuana and over-the-counter prescription drugs—in that order. Alcohol also serves as a gateway drug for students, meaning that its use often leads to use of more dangerous drugs in the future. Olesky has observed such trends among students in this district, claiming that alcohol use often leads to marijuana use, and eventually, to prescription drug use. “There’s a direct link between [prescription drugs and illegal drugs],” says Olesky. “[Prescription drugs] are a new way to introduce young people to illegal drugs. The mentality is that ‘This is not as bad; it can’t hurt me.’” In fact, attitudes towards the harmfulness of all drugs are changing. According to a 2008 study sponsored by the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), 17 percent of 12th graders believed smoking marijuana a couple times posed a “great risk of physical

and other harm.” In 2007, over 18 percent of 12th graders believed so. This is in stark contrast to attitudes about cigarette smoking: almost 75 percent of 12th graders believe that smoking “one or more packs of cigarettes per day” poses a “great risk of physical or other harm.” That attitude explains the record low of smoking among teens. The NIDA study reveals that the proportions of students indicating any smoking in the prior 30 days stands at 12 percent and 20 percent in Grades 10 and 12, respectively. That represents a sharp decline since peaks in the mid-1990s as smoking rates for both tenth and twelfth graders are down by nearly half. Olesky says that because “the word is out on the dangers of tobacco,” smoking is not as desirable for teens as it was before. However, by observing the behaviors of the students enrolled in the READI program, he has noticed that “[students] often use a multitude of drugs. They use whatever they can get their hands on at that time.” For that reason, the READI program, a SDUHSD-supported program, and the San Dieguito Alliance, a non-profit organization, target high school students to prevent drug use all together. For students referred by a school’s assistant principal, the READI program offers a three-day intensive on drug and alcohol education. Olesky heads this program, based at San Dieguito Academy, where students learn life skills and resiliency to avoid drugs in the future. He, along with program coordinator Tiffany Findell, also runs a Parent Life Ring Support Group, where parents of referred students learn about the harmful effects of drugs and family solutions. The San Dieguito Alliance, founded by parents of SDUHSD students over 20 years ago, sponsors various drug-free events

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in elementary, middle and high schools in North County. According to Executive Director Judi Strang, its major event, Red Ribbon Week, invites drug-free students, drug counselors and law enforcement to speak about the consequences of drug use and the benefits of a drug-free lifestyle. Last month, the San Dieguito Alliance supported Red Ribbon Week here at Canyon Crest. The capstone event of the week was a speech by Jason Barber, an alcoholic-turned-drug counselor, who emphasized that “[Drinking and driving] is not an accident.” Because a Torrey Pines senior was killed in a car accident due to underage drinking late last year, for many Ravens, Barber’s speech served to reemphasize the fact that alcohol can lead to unforeseen consequences. The San Dieguito Alliance also supports Red Ribbon Week at elementary and middle schools, where high school seniors are invited to speak about their choice to lead a drug-free life. Senior Deven Klee was a teen presenter at several elementary schools in Carmel Valley and Del Mar. “A number of my friends have made bad choices and in all cases, they have had a negative impact on their lives,” Klee said about what motivated him to speak to younger students. The San Dieguito Al-

Alcohol also serves as a gateway drug for students, meaning that its use often leads to use of more dangerous drugs in the future liance relies on students like Klee to leave the strongest impact on young children. However, Klee was unsure about the positive impact the teen presenters actually left. “Some students seemed to understand the gravity of the issue while others disregarded everything we told them,” Klee reflected. “One girl told the elementary schoolers that it’s okay to drive if you’re only ‘a little drunk,’ which is ridiculous. Hopefully the students didn’t take her seriously,” Klee said. However, Olesky affirms that because there is collaboration between parents, teachers and counselors in this district, this district does “more than any other district in the country to prevent drug abuse.”

cough, cough

oink,oink story by Maia Ferdman photos by Rebecca Sicile-Kira

he infamous swine flu first appeared in news headlines last April. It began as a pandemic scare. It then evolved into somewhat of a joke. Now, as the flu season officially begins, the H1N1 virus has already touched, directly or indirectly, the lives (and the immune systems) of almost every CCA student. H1N1 is a new strain of influenza that contains genes from pigs, birds and humans. Symptoms are similar to those of the regular seasonal flu, including headaches, chills and aches, fatigue, coughing, a sore throat, and a high fever. It is spread through sneezing, touching, coughing and through saliva. An easy way to prevent the contraction of this virus is by washing your hands often and for at least 15 to 20 seconds. Hand wipes and sanitizers are also effective in keeping your hands clean. Karla Renschler, a CCA junior who suffered from the flu, has another recommendation. She says, “I tried really hard not to get [the flu]. I had vitamin C every day and tried to keep my hands out of my face. But I was really sleep deprived from studying, which could have been the reason I got sick.” This may sound familiar, as these methods are precautions for virtually all contagious diseases. However, H1N1 is

not just any disease. Swine flu has caused more deaths in people under 25 years of age than in other age groups. The Center for Disease Control (CDC) recently devised a new method for estimating flu statistics, and came to the conclusion that 22 million Americans have contracted H1N1, 98,000 have been hospitalized, and almost 4,000 have died since April. The danger of the illness in pregnant women, as well as in those with heart and kidney disease, cancer, diabetes, asthma, and infants under six months is significant. While the severity of the virus varies between cases, these priority groups are highly recommended to receive the recently developed H1N1 virus vaccination. This new vaccination has caused waves of controversy among nervous recipients. The questions lie with two issues: safety and price. A poll run by Reuters on MSNBC shows that two-thirds of parents in the United States will either wait to get the swine flu vaccine for their children or not get it at all. Some who have questioned the safety of the vaccine point to 1976, when an outbreak of swine flu occurred in military barracks. After the 1970s version of the vaccination, various cases of Guillain-Barré syndrome sprung up, a disease that can cause paralysis and eventually death. Various people died before the immunization (or lack

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H1N1 is a new strain of influenza that contains genes from pigs, birds and humans. thereof) came to a halt. Now, in 2009, voices from various parts of the country are raised, asking questions about the validity of the new vaccine. However, US officials from the CDC and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) have ensured that the current vaccination is very different from the previous version, and the inoculations are being observed much more closely to keep any harmful side effects at bay.

As far as price goes, the government is paying for the H1N1 immunization, though doctors will charge for administering the injection. Then coverage is up to the insurance companies. These administration fees will most likely be around $20 for swine flu and $35 for the regular flu vaccines, but prices

and coverage get more complicated when you see a doctor who is out of your insurance company’s network. This has led some people, including members of the vaccination priority list, to question the worth of this protection over the worth of their wallet.

Doctors recommend getting both the swine flu and regular seasonal flu immunizations at once, as the cooling weather will increase circulation of the regular flu. The H1N1 inoculation comes in two forms: a shot and a nasal spray called Flumist. The shot is a killed form of the virus, and the spray is a weakened version. Both have the purpose of heightening the immune system to fight against the virus, and are said to be equally effective. However, because Flumist is a weakened form of the virus, it is better for those who are healthy, from the ages of two to 49. Those with egg allergies should also get the nasal spray. In the meantime, the CDC states that treatment with antivirals can be used in confirmed and suspected cases of H1N1. One such antiviral is Tamiflu,

a medicine that fights the reproduction of viruses. According to Dr. Roger Schechter, a CCA parent and physician at Palomar and Pomerado wound clinic and emergency room, “antivirals work by preventing the virus from binding to the human cell. If the flu virus can’t bind to the cell, it can’t inject its genome into the cell and therefore can’t reproduce.” Taking these medications earlier in the development of the sickness will reduce its severity as well as its length. However, Schechter continues, “some authorities are afraid that overuse of the antiviral will lead to strains of flu resistant to [it], but others feel that by reducing the overall time of infectiousness for many people, then less people will become ill overall.” In essence, the H1N1 virus has merely become another contagious, though potentially more risky, illness. Renschler’s doctor merely told her that because the seasonal flu has not prominently emerged yet, there is a large chance that she had H1N1. Says Schechter, “most of the time, during this pandemic, if you have a fever over 101° F, a cough without many nasal or upper throat symptoms, you probably have H1N1.” For many Canyon Crest students, the consequences of falling ill are more frightening than the disease itself; missing school is far more burdensome than a high fever and a cough. CCA Principal Mr. Kohn says that although it may not seem like it, “the numbers for absences aren’t much different than this time of year each year.” However, he wonders “how many of you are walking around sick” and “whether there’s an inclination to come [to school] sick.” The San Dieguito Union High School District follows the health rules and regulations that the county health department and the CDC give it. The severity of the measures taken by the school against H1N1 has declined noticeably in the past few months. “If somebody came down with swine flu last year we would have shut the whole school down for a week,” says Kohn. In contrast, now “the reason why we have the same policy [for H1N1] as basically anything else is that the Center for Disease Control said to treat it like any other flu.” The CDC recommends staying at home for at least five to seven days once you fall ill. The disease is still capable of spreading within this time frame; although it may be inconvenient, this will ensure the safety and health of countless other students and people you interact with every day.

clubs

taking

funds to fuel their efforts in improving our school’s carbon footprint. President Elle Masri and her fellow club members in Body Aloud! are also working to improve the lives story & photos by Naomi Stapleton of America’s youth. She says of the very active club, “Body Aloud! is an organization dedicated to promoting self ake sales, car washes and lemonade esteem and healthy body image in all indistands. CCA clubs are currently workviduals.” Although Body Aloud! is not curing to reinvent these nostalgic childrently focused on fundraising, they are workhood strategies in order to get the word out ing hard to spread awareness for their club and make money for their cause. While we and its ideas. The sophomores, juniors and have definitely advanced past the days of seniors that comprise the club recently put yelling about 25 cent lemonade from street together a workshop for Earl Warren parents corners, student organizations still have the and “are now ready to begin our CCA classsame idea in mind: a little spare change will room presentations, connecting our matealways help. Whether sponsoring a charity rial with teachers’ curriculum,” according to or funding a school wide event, the clubs of Masri. The club also hosted the “Love Your Canyon Crest Academy are working hard toBody Day” on January 12, further stressing ward their goals this year. the group’s core values. Some groups have already exeSport clubs are also getting in on cuted successful drives and events this year. the fundraising scene. The field hockey girls From conquering environmental issues to sponsored a tennis tournament in October providing for struggling families, CCA clubs and raised money to support their sport. are dedicated to their cause and making the The Ravens Wrestling team club most of regular lunchtime meetings. Howheld a Self-Defense Clinic on Nov. 14 to ever, just one thirty minute lunchtime each week is not enough to contain the aspirations of our passionate student population. Communication and meetings outside of school are required to put together the huge events that CCA students are planning. Ecoclub, for example, is a very active club that has big plans for the year. Club President Judy Li is proud to thank CCA students for bringing in a grand total of 280 pounds of E-Waste in their recent recycling drive. The club received a variety of computers, TV’s, keyboards, scanners, printers, and other small electronics. Club members are also working promote interest in the sport. Club on purchasing native plants to be grown on President Keonmin Huang says, “Curcampus and developing ideas for eco-friendrently, our club is selling stadium chairs ly products to be sold at school. In addition at every home volleyball game at $50 to intense fundraising efforts, the club is apiece… In addition to selling chairs, also participating in various competitions our team is having another fundraiser. to achieve community recognition and gain It [was] a self-defense clinic hosted by

initiative B

Church’s ATA Martial Arts, the studio near the Souplantation. This class [was] taught by Master Ken Church, a sixth degree black belt who has encountered many sticky situations and is more than qualified to teach the effective but the easiest self-defense methods.” This event was held on Nov. 14 and experienced a great turnout. The wrestling season is only just beginning, but the according to Huang the team is already “working very hard to raise money because the money we raise will go to the wrestling team during the regular season. The reason team members are working tirelessly to raise money is because the wrestling team needs $20,000 to afford the freshmen, junior varsity, and varsity tournaments which cost about $350 per tournament in addition to gear, mat tape … Most importantly, we need the money just to keep our own coaches.”

The Choir club is also actively organizing events. Monica Wang, the club’s President, has established plans for raising funds to keep music study alive at CCA despite the recent budget cuts. “In order to help raise for Envision, Choir Club would like to see that, if everything goes as planned, the lunch time ensemble groups go out into the community outside of school and find opportunities to fundraise. For instance, if it is possible, we could perform at restaurants and maybe earn some proceeds there,” she says. The club meets on Mondays (male ensemble) and Wednesdays (female ensemble) “so that students can be a part of and get the benefits of the Envision Vocal Music Program at the campus if they want to do more or can’t join the choir class for some reason.” The Outreach Club has various fundraising plans in the works, according to their President Audrey Oh. She said, “Outreach Club’s goal is to help fundraise money for different organizations that need help and to also donate our time volunteering around

the community.” The Speech and Debate Club is formulating plans for upcoming events. The members spend their time during the weekly meetings practicing and preparing the team to compete next year. Club President Maggie Yang has high hopes for the group: “We hope to prepare members for the rigor of a team next year. In addition, we also plan to fundraise this year in order to help support the costs of the team next year.” A new club at Canyon Crest is Givology. The group is incredibly active and already establishing itself as a charitable force to be reckoned with on campus. President Manita Singh and the club members meet each week to discuss how their “high school chapter will form a partnership with an existing school and start figuring out ways to raise money for them. Then, it’s the exciting part- we figure out to whom the money is going to go, and exactly what it’s going to be spent on.” The club has already come up

Boxer up for

re-election S

enator Barbara Boxer is nearing the end of her third term as one of California’s two Democratic female Senators. Her bid is up for reelection in 2010, and she is running for her fourth term. Although many politicians agree that she is sure to be reelected without a fuss, others are doubtful and have turned their attention to Boxer’s potential Republican opponent, Carly Fiorina, a former Hewlett-Packard Co. chief executive. Fiorina’s experience in politics consists largely of her experience as an economic adviser to GOP presidential nominee John McCain during last year’s campaign. Many people are convinced that if Fiorina decides to officially throw her name in the ring, the run for reelection in 2010 will

turn out to be Boxer’s toughest race yet. While Boxer’s reelection campaign has already started, the Republican Party has yet to organize and promote its possible candidates. This doesn’t come as much of a surprise, though, considering that only one Republican, state Assemblyman Chuck DeVore of Irvine, has officially announced a challenge to Boxer’s seat in the Senate. According to Boxer’s website, “More than 8,800 new donors contributed in the past three months to the Boxer reelection effort. Eighty percent of all donors have contributed $100 or less to the campaign, demonstrating Senator Boxer’s strong grassroots support.” Senator Boxer’s 2010 reelection campaign fundraising continues to outpace the fundraising of her 2004 reelection campaign, which itself was extremely successful-more than 43,000 individuals have already contributed. Despite successful campaign

with several possible fundraising ideas: “We can start fundraising for an already existing school that Givology has partnered up with, but what we think would be really cool is to form a brand new partnership with a school in India. We hope to join this school up with Givology and start gearing all our efforts to that one school. In the meantime, we are going to adopt an already existing school that is hopefully nearby, so we can eventually get a chance to visit the students. In November, we are thinking of hosting a ‘Turkey Trot’ to fundraise for that school, as some of the members in the club are part of the cross country team.” Although Givology is new to CCA, the club promises to do great things very soon. With an incredible grand total of 93 clubs in Canyon Crest Academy, one can easily see that this is a very active campus. Wherever you go on campus, you come across a brightly colored poster reminding us of our fellow students’ goodwill, generosity, and energy.

story by Carly Gutner-Davis photo by Korean Resource Center fundraising, some argue that Boxer doesn’t still have ringing endorsement from the majority of California’s voters. According to Channel 13 News’ online website, “The California Republican Party [has] cited a recent field poll showing that 42 percent of registered voters surveyed believe [Boxer] should be re-elected, while 43 percent said she should not be. The same poll found her favorability rating at 59 percent.” Although the election is a year away, California’s Democratic voters are starting to doubt whether Boxer can seal the deal and be guaranteed a seat in the Senate for a fourth term. Her opposition has time to grow, and if the Republican Party decides to unite and throw its support completely behind one strong candidate, Boxer may indeed be facing her tightest race yet.

the

futureof

Afghanistan story by Chris Cubbison illustration by Isa Beniston

ollowing the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks, the United States entered Iraq and Afghanistan in hopes of thwarting any future terrorist threat by uprooting the cause. In the eight years since, the United States military has focused most of its energy on Iraq. However, primarily in the past two years, the rising level of violence in Afghanistan has government officials as well as American citizens on edge. Many Americans have forgotten our history and influence in the Middle East, starting in the Cold War era. It is important to note the historical relevance when dissecting an American presence in Afghanistan, whether that be in the 1960’s or today. The first bookmark in the continuing saga of American-Afghani relations begins with the first president to visit the Middle East, Dwight D. Eisenhower. According to the Department of State, about $500 million in foreign grants were awarded to Afghanistan from the early 1950’s to the late 70’s. The grants, were intended to “raise the standard of living” for the Afghan people. The next direct time the United States would grant federal funds towards Afghanistan would come in December 1979, following the Soviet Union’s invasion of the middle eastern country. Not letting the Soviets expand their influence, the United States intervened by negotiating a withdrawal from

Afghanistan. On top of that, the United States also gave the Afghans about $3 billion to resistance forces, money that would go towards military support for defeating the communists. Though much of the grants given to Afghanistan have gone toward relief programs, many claim that the grants helped support future terrorist organizations by providing potentially dangerous groups with a large checkbook. “By falling for a British-authored geopolitical strategy of encouraging the spread of a virulently anti-western, nominally Islamic form of fundamentalism, the United States gave aid and comfort to the creation of a new terrorist international—far more deadly than the earlier global terrorist apparatus that stalked world leaders during the decade of the 1970s,” says analyst Jeffrey Steinberg at the Executive Intelligence Review. During this time, Osama Bin Laden began to rise through the ranks. Using his family’s wealth, Bin Laden helped implement a donation system in which Saudi states could contribute funds to fuel their jihad, or “holy war”, against the Soviets. Using the donations through the “Golden Chain”, Bin Laden could successfully supply his private army, or “holy warriors” known as the mujahideen, with the supplies and ammunitions necessary to overthrow the Soviets. University of Ottawa Economics Professor Michel Chossudovsky promotes this argument. “In March 1985, President Reagan signed National Security Decision Directive 166,...[which] authorize[d] stepped-up

covert military aid to the mujahideen, and it made clear that the secret Afghan war had a new goal: to defeat Soviet troops in Afghanistan through covert action and encourage a Soviet withdrawal.” Following the withdraw of the Soviets, Bin Laden focused on strengthening the foundation of his group, now known as al Qaeda, and planning future jihads against enemy countries. Thirteen years later, Bin Laden coordinated the attacks on the World Trade Centers and the Pentagon. Eight years after those attacks, President Obama is facing a dilemma concerning the number of troops in Afghanistan. Though American troops, alongside NATO troops, have been present in Afghanistan since the September 11 attacks, not much has changed since then. The Taliban continue to oppress the Afghani people, through various extensions ranging from local violence, to drug pedaling. U.S troops are forced into canyon-warfare, often relying on helicopters to locate enemy forces hidden in various mountain ranges. On December 1st, President Obama announced at his West Point address that the United States would be sending an additional 30,000 troops into Afghanistan over an 18month period. “These are the resources that we need to seize the initiative, while building the Afghan capacity that can allow for a responsible transition of our forces out of Afghanistan,” the President said. By putting a time-limit on how long American forces will remain in Afghanistan, the President also stressed the importance of handing the defense of the country back over to the Afghani government. “We will work with our partners, the UN, and the Afghan people to pursue a more effective civilian strategy, so that the government can take advantage of improved security.”

la terre tremble ‘‘ story by by Amruta Trivedi photo from the United Nations Development Program

Over the past year and half, it seems that earthquakes are striking in larger numbers and in larger magnitude. In May 2008, a 7.9 earthquake shook central China; in September 2008, a 7.6 earthquake struck Indonesia; and on January 12th, 7.0 devastating earthquake hit Haiti. The 6.5 magnitude earthquake that struck off the coast of California earlier this month has prompted speculation about the inevitable “big one” that scientists believe will strike southern California in the near future. The entire western coast of the United States sits on or near tectonic plates. In California alone, there are about 1,500 known fault lines. Of those, two pose significant threats. The first is the Hayward Fault that shears the Bay Area east of San Francisco. Despite its small size, this fault has demonstrated menacing power in the past. In 1868, scientists recorded an earthquake with a magnitude of 7.0 on the Richter scale. In 1889, an earthquake of magnitude 5.6 was recorded, the last quake above 5.0 in the region to date. The fault has ruptured nearly every 140 years for the past 700

years and because the last big earthquake was about 140 years ago, many researchers believe that another one is imminent. The second is the San Andreas Fault that divides the Pacific Plate and North American Plate and runs from southern California, near Palm Springs, to northern California, near Eureka. In March and April of 2009, the Salton Sea area experienced a swarm of more than 450 small magnitude earthquakes, an unusually high amount according to Dr. Robert Newman of the Institute of Geophysics and Planetary Physics at the Scripps Institution of Oceanography at UCSD. These small tremors have prompted speculation about a large earthquake near more urban areas including Los Angeles and our very own San Diego. “Swarm events are not necessarily precursors to larger regional events,” says Newman. Instead, he emphasizes the reality “that we live in a region of high seismicity.” In fact, the United States Geological Survey has listed San Diego among the “26 urban areas in the United States at risk of significant seismic activity.” On average, San Diego has about two or three earthquakes per day, yet most cannot be felt. Because California is prone to seismic activity, Newman asserts that Californians should be prepared for a large earthquake if it happens. Important items to include in an up-to-date earthquake kit are “a battery-operated radio and flashlight, enough food and water for a week, and the contact information of friends and relatives.” Yet safety is more than just an up-to-date earthquake kit. Newly constructed buildings are subject to a series of earthquake-resistant architecture standards. Older buildings are also being modified in order to withstand severe earthquakes.

The United States Geological Survey has listed San Diego among the “26 urban areas in the United States at risk of significant seismic activity.”

This process, called seismic retrofitting, involves increasing the seismic durability of a building. Base isolation, an aspect of seismic retrofitting, involves taking a newly designed or seismic upgraded building and separating it from its foundation with steel or concrete bars. The bars connect the building to the foundation while isolation pads replace the original material that is removed. This technique helps to restrict transmission of ground motion to the building. Another method, external reinforcement, calls for steel or concrete columns to be added to the exterior of a building. This practice is common among older buildings. The Veterans Association Hospital and Scripps Memorial Hospital in La Jolla added external reinforcement to comply with the stricter seismic regulations for hospitals. Current research is focused on developing new ways to increase the seismic durability of buildings. UCSD Structural Engineers test procedures on a one million pound concrete structure using a shake table and jolts up to a magnitude of 8.0 on the Richter scale. Their findings have been applied to reinforce various government buildings, including the California Department of Transportation Office Building in Oakland. Although earthquakes cannot be foreseen as tornados or hurricanes can, California is beginning to enforce stricter structural codes to better protect its citizens from the high seismic activity that has plagued the state in the past.

â&#x20AC;&#x2DC; wisdom behind

teeth

the

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From scary dentists to serious pain, chances are you’ve heard tell of the famous wisdom teeth removal or maybe you’ve experienced it yourself. L

story by Naomi Stapleton photos by Rebecca Sicile-Kira

ots of CCA students have had their wisdom teeth removed, but many of us still have no idea whether or not ours have even come in yet. Read on to become a little wiser about what to expect from the seemingly scary “wisdom teeth extraction.” Wisdom teeth are the third molars in the mouth and usually come in during late teens and early twenties. But don’t let that give you the idea that you have a while before you need to think about your wisdom teeth. Your dentist may want to remove yours early before they even grow in if the teeth are impacted. A tooth is impacted if it is unable or has failed to grow in properly. Often before the wisdom teeth even develop roots, they may be pointing toward your other teeth. This could create serious problems for your mouth later on. See your dentist for an X-ray and more information about whether yours may already need to be removed. Remember that the earlier you have the surgery, the shorter the recovery time and the easier the process for your dentist. Most wisdom teeth-less students agree that recovering from the surgery takes about one to two weeks. Ashkan Shahbandi, sophomore, therefore recommends that you “do [the surgery] during a break! It’s a terrible idea to do it during school as you might have to miss a few days due to swelling and you really can’t eat anything at first.” He admits that “the downside was not being able to play saxophone for about

two weeks or so, and my mouth hurt a lot in the first week,” but Shabandi did find one positive spin on the whole experience: “I got to have A LOT of smoothies.” Cindy Li, sophomore, also enjoyed the soft comfort foods associated with surgery. Her advice to people going through the surgery: “Eat lots of ice cream!” While they might not yet be a proven cure, ice cream and smoothies will definitely improve the experience of having to take so many different types of medicine. While Rosie Jackson, senior, did not have her wisdom teeth removed, she did have jaw surgery to remove her second bicuspids (located between the canine and molar teeth). She advises students to drink lots of water after the surgery, and later on to enjoy some cozy hot soup or a refreshing Jamba Juice. Instead of viewing tooth surgery as a horrific and terrifying procedure, try thinking of it as an easy excuse to take some time off school and catch up on your favorite movies or shows with a guilt-free bowl of ice cream. So if you’re slated for wisdom teeth removal soon, take the advice of these experienced and somewhat toothless CCA students and don’t worry too much about it. Your dentist will have them out of your mouth within an hour and you’ll be none the wiser. Pun intended.

historyof Hayden

story by Pooja Magavi & Anita Shah photo from Charles Hayden

harles Hayden, a math teacher at Canyon Crest Academy, has many interesting experiences from before he started teaching at our school. Apart from serving in the Navy, Hayden also started a math program designed to benefit students at an inner-city school. After only one year of college, Hayden joined the Navy around the time of the end of the Vietnam War—1975. He was part of the Navy’s submarine service for 24 years. In his first twelve years as an enlisted man he reached the rank of master chief sonar technician, which is the highest of the enlisted ranks. After commissioning in 1988 he retired as a Lieutenant Commander. During his time in the Navy, Hayden served on four nuclear powered submarines, worked in Washington D.C. in navel intelligence, and also on an aircraft carrier during the Persian Gulf War, then Deep submergence research and rescue on Coronado. He reflected that it was “a very diverse career. We did a lot of different things in a lot of different places.” However, even though this job was rewarding, Hayden was required to spend a lot of time away from home as submarine deployments entailed at least six months at sea. Thus, Hayden decided to leave the Navy and become a teacher. “I had a degree in math so it was an easy fit to become a math teacher,” he said. Hayden knew that he wanted to do something different in his teaching career after having seeing how his own kids’ math classes were being taught. Thanks to a spe-

cial military program known as Troops to Teachers, veterans were given assistance in getting their credentials, but were required to teach at lower socioeconomic inner-city schools. Hayden inquired at job interviews if he could pilot a program so that he would have the same kids for six straight years—starting in seventh grade pre-algebra through twelfth grade calculus. When getting his masters, Hayden found, “research states that for students to truly be successful in math, they need at least two or three years in a row of a strong math background. A student should not have a teacher one year who enjoys math, and next year one who dislikes it.” The Hoover Foundation run by San Diego State University approved Hayden’s plan, and he began teaching at Monroe Clark Middle School in the San Diego Unified District. Students who attend Monroe Clark Middle School feed into Hoover High School. Hayden started off with 120 math students in Pre-Algebra classes at Monroe Clark. He initiated a morning program through which students could come to school early and study math with him. He provided snacks such as donuts as an incentive for the students. He said, “Most students did not have parents who could help them once they got past geometry. Around 60% of their parents never graduated from high school.” Understandably, it was a challenge to get them to come in; however, in the end,

it was a “pretty successful program,” so much so that another teacher has started up a similar one in the district after Hayden left. Once at Hoover High, Hayden continued to teach 100 to 110 of the same students. Another incentive that he implemented was rewarding each student with a letterman jacket if he or she earned an A in his class. Each subsequent A in one of his classes meant another badge on the jacket. “Some of my students were also football players, and they would wear my math jacket instead of their varsity one because they were prouder of the jacket they had worked so hard to get.” A lot of fundraising was necessary for this program to pay for the donuts and jackets. One donor even contributed enough money so that all of his students could get a graphing calculator. The 85 students that took his AP Calculus class were all accepted into four year universities including University of California at Berkley. “It was a really rewarding thing for me. What’s really fun is that they still come visit me and they’re doing really well.”

If you have spent any time with Spencer Stein

story by by Kimia Zomorrodi photos from Spencer Stein you would know his favorite animal is the cat. But Spencer is no ordinary cat lover—instead of volunteering at the Helen Woodward center or other animal shelters, Stein spent last summer living by himself in the deep rainforests of the Osa Peninsula in Costa Rica, hiking miles each day through the jungle trying to protect jaguars, pumas, and ocelots. “Poaching, habitat degradation, and hunting are becoming a huge problem in Central America so I decided to help,” said Stein. His daily task was to hike the rainforests and maintain a network of 135 motion-censored cameras spread over thousands of acres of dense rainforest. When any animals crossed the path of the camera, a picture would be taken of the animal including the date and time.

“These pictures provided us with a copious amount of information about different animals’ behaviors and the ecosystem as a whole,” explains Stein. With the data and information gathered, the non-profit organization raised awareness by giving daily lectures to locals and tourists, and wrote grant proposals for funding. National Geographic rated the Osa Peninsula to be the most biologically diverse place on earth. While Spencer never saw any of the illusive cats, he saw his fair share of interesting animals. Stein plays basketball and enjoys hanging out with his friends. Besides investing time in more mundane hobbies, he likes to paraglide or practice wilderness survival skills, like starting a fire without matches. After talking to Stein, it becomes apparent that he avoids the simple and average things in life. He enjoys his unconventional hobbies because they give him a rush. As a senior at Canyon Crest Academy, Spencer thinks it is important to be involved in school activities. Taking an activist role in conservation, he founded the Global Green Partnership, a CCA club. It hosts and recommends community service opportunity to the studentbody related to helping the environment. Stein plans on at-

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Poaching, habitat degradation, and hunting are becoming a huge problem in Central America so I decided to help.”

tending college, too, but still wants to continue his paragliding and wilderness training. Stein is interested in the unconventional, and is

interesting to talk to. If you happen to see him around, don’t be afraid to go up to him and get to know him. He considers himself easy to befriend and loves to entertain others and make sure everyone is having fun.

she’s no

snow

white

story by Anita Shah image copyright Disney

isney’s new highly anticipated movie, The Princess and the Frog, loosely based on E.D. Baker’s 2002 novel The Frog Princess and the Grimm brothers’ The Frog Prince features the first Disney black princess, Tiana. It is the 49th animated feature in the Walt Disney Animated Classics and the first theatrically released 2D animated movie by Disney since 2004’s Home on the Range. With the release of this new animated movie, much controversy has surfaced. While Tiana is the first black Disney princess to hit the big screen, a big part of her character is her role as a frog. “I think it’s racist for Tiana to be a frog because in African American history they were referred to animals and were seen as less than a person. To compare the first black prin-

cess to a frog, she is not considered an equal with other Disney white princesses” states Alexa Kern, senior. The Princess and the Frog is set in New Orleans, the heart of jazz and music. William Blackburn, a former columnist at The Charlotte Observer, told London’s Daily Telegraph, “…New Orleans [is] the setting of one of the most devastating tragedies to beset a black community.” New Orleans is known for its history of slavery and voodoo. However, Peter Del Vecho, a producer of the film said that the idea for a black princess came about naturally. The producers

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Disney wants to get rid of the lingering tidbits of racism from the past. Dumbo and The Jungle Book both showed black stereotypes.” wanted to create a fairy tale set in the United States and centered in New Orleans, with its colorful past and deep musical history. “As we spent time in New Orleans, we realized how truly it is a melting pot, which is how the idea of strongly multicultural characters came about,”

Mr. Del Vecho said (The New York Times). Disney first coined the name “Maddie” (short for Madeline) for the character of Tiana, but many people thought it sounded like “Mammy,” a popular slave name associated with racism. Another rumor that surfaced on the Internet said that an earlier version of Maddie’s script was that of a chambermaid to a white woman, a very common job black women used to have. Tiana’s love interest, however, is not black. In fact, he is from the far-off and fictional land of Maldonia, has a Brazilian accent, but an Eastern Indian name, Naveen. His skin is neither white nor black; rather he

is portrayed with olive skin and dark hair. According to a poll on Black Voices, an AOL blog, 72 percent of the website’s visitors did not find it offensive that Price Naveen is not black, though 17 percent did. Disney wants to get rid of the lingering tidbits of racism from the past. Dumbo and The Jungle Book both showed black stereotypes. In the last 20 years, Disney has made a huge stride to break this barrier. In 1997, Disney’s television division premiered a live-action version of Cinderella with a black actress, Brandy, playing the lead and Paolo Montalban, a Filipino-American actor playing the part of the prince. In 1998 Mulan was premiered as a rare animated movie that

depicted Chinese characters. According to the New York Times, the debate surrounding The Princess and the Frog illustrates how difficult it is to deal with race in animation. Oprah Winfrey voice is used for Tiana’s mother. Disney consulted with Winfrey on racial aspects of the movie, figuring she would have valuable approach. Winfrey told the New York Times she was satisfied with Disney’s due diligence. “They asked me what I thought. That’s most important,” she said. “And you have to applaud them for finally having their first African-American princess. Sadly, though, given all the complaining folks are doing without even seeing the movie, Tiana will probably be Disney’s

last black princess.” Tiana’s doll and toy set were unveiled in March 2009. Tiana, being the first Disney princess in over a decade and being the first black one is a double package for their promotional machine. The implied message of Tiana, that black American girls can be as elegant as Snow White herself, is a great leap in the national imagery, according to a range of scholars and cultural historians. “She’s the first modern American [Disney] princess, and that she’s black sends a huge message,” says Cori Murray, entertainment director for Essence magazine.

...

happily

story by Chelsea McGuerty image copyright Disney Bridal

isney has built an empire based around “making dreams come true,” whether it’s by making people an action hero or a princess. Almost every girl

ever after

has let this Disney fantasy of being a princess consume their Halloween costumes and Christmas gifts. Now, Disney has outdone themselves again with their wedding line of dresses and engagement rings designed by Kirstie Kelly, allowing every girl to be a princess. Before the dresses and rings, Disney created “Disney’s Fairytale Weddings” through which couples could get married in one of Disney’s trademark castles. Disney even went so far as to have a carriage waiting for the newly married couple. The only thing missing from this wedding fantasy was the gown and ring. Now this package is complete. The 34 ground sweeping dresses are based off of classic Disney princess movies like Sleeping Beauty, Cinderella, Beauty and the Beast, Snow White, and others. “Subtle references to the personalities of each princess can be seen throughout the collection such as

pave and milligrain borders, suggestive of Cinderella’s ethereal grace and charm, or baguettes and clean lines for Ariel, symbolic of an art deco influence and her bold individuality,” says a Disney reporter. As far as princes go, the engagement rings and gowns range anywhere from $3,000 and up depending on the size of the diamonds, and the dresses are sold from $1,100 to $3,500. Canyon Crest Academy senior Alex Nassar shares her Disney fantasy of being Ariel. “I wanted be Ariel! I would swim around in my pool pretending to be le petite mermaid. I would emerge on my diving board and break out in song and I always dreamed of having a Prince that would search for me. That’s why I’m really excited about this new wedding line because I’ll be able to fulfill my Disney dreams.” Senior Ericka Schwering remembers her Disney memories. “When I was little my cousin ice skated for Disney on Ice, where she played Ariel. So I was obsessed the movie and I wanted to be able to swim and breathe under water. She was so cool and had such a cute Prince!” Now with the complete Disney wedding line, students such as Nassar and Schwering can grow up and have their perfect happily ever after.

2000

January 1, 2000: We heard a collective breath of relief throughout the world when the Y2K threat was averted. We could now stop worrying about the apocalypse until 2012. May 16, 2000: Britney Spears released her second album, “Oops…I Did it Again,” and took off on a world tour. The pop star soon became an international sensation and role model for tween girls everywhere. November 7-December 13, 2000: A controversial national election rocked the nation, and the United States was confronted with the closest presidential vote since 1876. Although Al Gore won the popular vote, George W. Bush managed to win the disputed Floridian electoral votes, and consequently, the presidency. The United States elected George W. Bush as their 43rd president.

2001

January 15, 2001: Wikipedia emerged onto the Internet. Sleep-deprived students everywhere celebrated. September 11, 2001: We all remember where we were when al-Qaeda attacked the United States this fateful date. Thousands perished at the World Trade Centers and at the Pentagon in this coordinated terrorist plot. 9/11 remains one of the largest national tragedies in American history, and sparked a new age of patriotism and unity in the hearts of all who reside in the US. This turning point also kicked off the war on terror, as well as a new standard of airport security. October 2001: Apple released its first iPods, forever revolutionizing the music industry. What would later transition into an entire family of iProducts began as one heavy 5 GB model that at first sold for a whopping $399. October 7, 2001: The American and British militaries invaded Afghanistan in search of Osama bin-Laden. November 2001: The film Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone made its international debut. It received the title of fifth highest grossing film of all time and three Academy Award nominations. The beloved wizard continues to bring in the big bucks and the dedicated fans.

decadein review story by by Maia Ferdman

The year 2010 has opened, and we can’t help but reflect on the past decade. We may have been born in the 90s, but the first decade of the second millennium was truly ours. However, in the age of the Internet and constant communication, we tend to forget that it was not so long ago that cell phones were the size of bricks and that pagers were the fastest way to get in touch. The past ten years have transformed society in virtually every aspect of public and private life. Here is a look back on the past decade.

2002

June 11, 2002: American Idol debuted on Fox. It later ascended the ratings throne to become #1 for five years in a row.

2003

February 1, 2003: The space shuttle Columbia exploded, killing its seven crew members. February 15, 2003: Anti-war demonstrations erupted in over sixty countries in protest to the imminent entry of Iraq by the US. It seemed that the reputation of our country went on a downward spiral. March 20, 2003: The US invaded Iraq. April 14, 2003: The Human Genome Project was finished, mapping the functions of 99% of a human’s genetic makeup. October 7, 2003: Californians recalled Governor Gray Davis, and elected Republican actor Arnold Schwarzenegger as governor. October 25-November 3, 2003: The Cedar fire burned in San Diego County, destroying thousands of acres, including 2,820 buildings, and killing fifteen people. December 13, 2003: US forces in Iraq captured Saddam Hussein. Many Iraqis celebrated their newfound freedom.

2004

August 2004: Canyon Crest opened, with the class of 2008 deciding on the Raven as the school mascot and black and red as the school colors. February 4, 2004: Harvard student Mark Zuckerberg founded Facebook, the soon-to-be popular social networking site that we all know and love. October 24, 2004: The Boston Red Sox broke the legendary Curse of the Bambino by winning their first World Series title in 86 years. November 2, 2004: Citizens of the United States re-elected President Bush, over his Democratic opponent John Kerry. December 26, 2004: An earthquake of a magnitude of 9.3 hit the Indian Ocean area, causing massive tsunamis that devastated countries including Indonesia and Sri Lanka.

2006

May 24, 2006: Former Vice President Al Gore released his movie An Inconvenient Truth, documenting Gore’s journey as he informed the world about climate change. The movie won the Best Documentary Feature at the Academy Awards, and ignited an age of environmentalism that had already begun to simmer. June 9-July 9: The FIFA World cup was held in Germany. French player Zinedine Zidane inspired the saying “Zidane il a frappé” (Zidane has hit) when he famously head-butted Italian player Marco Materazzi in the Final, leading to Italy’s victory. August 24, 2006: Pluto lost its status as a planet in the eyes of the International Astronomical Union, and was named a “dwarf planet.” September 11, 2006: Facebook opened its cyber doors to anyone over the age of thirteen. November 19, 2006: Nintendo released the ground-breaking Wii.

2005

February 15, 2005: Youtube emerged. We prepared ourselves to be entertained by icons such as “Charlie the Unicorn” and “David After Dentist.” August 23-30, 2005: Hurricane Katrina devastated the South, leaving thousands of New Orleans residents without homes and many without lives. Controversy surrounded this tragedy, with questions about the effectiveness of the federal response.

2007

January 24, 2007: The United States elected its first female Speaker of the House of Representatives, Nancy Pelosi. July 1, 2007: Vice Principal Brian Kohn took David Jaffe’s place as CCA Principal. July 21, 2007: J.K. Rowling releases Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, the seventh and final book of the Harry Potter series. May 22, 2007: The band Senses Fail released their music video for their song “Can’t Be Saved.” What’s so special about this music video? It was filmed at CCA’s campus, featuring Performing Arts teacher Michael Schwartz.

2008

August 17, 2008: Michael Phelps swooned admirers everywhere as he won a record breaking eight gold medals at the Beijing Summer Olympics. November 4, 2008: Barack Obama defeated John McCain in this historical presidential election. He became the 44th president of the United States and the first African American president after his inauguration in January. December 1, 2008: The recession became official in the US as the Dow Jones sank about 680 points.

October 20-November 9, 2007: More than one million people (including those of Carmel Valley) evacuated their homes due to wildfires that once again ravaged the county. November 5, 2007: All of our favorite shows went on stand-by as the Writers Guild of America reminded us who is really responsible for our favorite dramas and comedies by going on strike. March 7, 2009: Our very own Girls’ Varsity basketball team won the first CIF championship banner in CCA’s history against Our Lady Peace Academy. June 25, 2009: Michael Jackson, the celebrated King of Pop, died in his home. The media will continue to cover this story for many

2009

decades to come.

October 9, 2009: The Norwegian Nobel Committee announced that President Barack Obama was to win the Nobel Peace Prize for 2009 because of his efforts to encourage international diplomacy and cooperation.

s t n e m e s i t r e v ad

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