letter
from the editor Editor-in-Chief: Maia Ferdman
Online Editor: Tess Wallenstein News Editor: Nachi Baru
Feature Editor: Jessica Mersten
Opinion Editors: Amy Kim & Glenn Borok
In such a fast-paced world, journalism is often judged by the speed of its coverage. In recent months Pulse has been met with financial difficulty that has stalled the publishing of this issue, making it difficult for us to maintain the newsworthiness of our content. We therefore have shifted this issue’s focus to the key controversies that have surpassed the months and even years. With a new Congress, State Administration, and a new year, however, hopefully some of these issues will be faced with a new perspective. We see consistency in the prevalence of bullying—Nachi Baru explores the homophobic tormenting that led to various teen’s suicides last September, the preventative actions being taken in government, and one CCA student’s hopeful experience. Glenn Borok grades some aspects of the education system: for example, tenure has long since stood as the policy for the hiring and firing of teachers in the US, but faces severe criticism in times of financial and educational deficiencies. I delve into the methods of an organization that seeks to prevent drug and alcohol use in teens, a longstanding problem. Tess Wallenstein and I bridge a poverty gap as we meet Alejandro, a homeless man who resides on Del Mar Heights Road. His story is symbolic of a continuous fissure in our society, and how easy it is to fall into it. In this issue we travel to other countries. Jessica Mersten uncovers what it is like to be a Turkish teen in 2011. Amy Kim explores the fairly recent skirmishes between North and South Korea, and how they affect students at CCA. We also explore some CCA cultural phenomena. Crystal Long enlightens us on the indie-hipster movement, and its context in history. Daniel Metz meets with Rachel Monk, who is in charge of CCA’s Litmag, and discloses her vision. Jessica Mersten and Arianna Irwin explore the presence of facial hair on campus, and its pros and cons. I want to take this opportunity to thank our readers for their patience and everlasting support, and to thank ASB and the generous parents whose contributions helped keep Pulse afloat. As we head into a new semester, the Pulse staff hopes to continue bringing the same level of intriguing and original content that has defined it, both in print and online. Here’s to a great 2011. Maia Ferdman Editor-In-Chief
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Entertainment Editor: Kimia Zomorrodi Layout Director: Crystal Long
Layout Designer: Jan Carstens
Layout Editor: Christina Krasnikova
Photo Editor: Daniel Metz
Staff Writers: Guy Giubilato, Arianna Irwin Business Manager: Carly Gutner-Davis
Business Team: Guy Giubilato, Kimia Zomorrodi Advisor: Christopher Black
Need advice? Or just a sassy remark? Check out Ophelia Payne: www.ccapulseonline.com
Publishing of this issue made possible in part by CCA ASB. Cover art by Ashley Butler
Mustache photo by blush printables on Flickr
staff
CONTENTS
Mustache photo by blush printables on Flickr
Regulars Calendar | 4
Budget Update: Education Report Card | 6 It’s our turn to give the grade.
Staff: Meet Your Counselors
|8 Do it–they’re writing your recommendation letter.
Student Entrepreneurs: Leah Mizrachi | 12
On the Other Side:
February 2011 / Vol. 6 / Issue 2
Bracelets, necklaces, you name it.
Teen Life: Turkey
This is how they live, yo. | 22
Student Art
Featuring Alyssa Herpberger and Thomas Talarico | 28
Contact Us!
@
For reader feedback or advertising information please contact Pulse at: 5951 Village Center Loop Rd. San Diego, Ca 92130 (858) 350-0253 x 4192
aka: that one homeless guy with the wheelbarrow on Del Mar Heights Road
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All photos by Daniel Metz except where noted.
an obnoxious coffee order with Crystal:
It’s the most indie.
20
bullying gay students
14
16
that’s fat. We are Jack’s favorite newsmagazine
We talked about litmag! 27
ccapulseonline.com editors.pulse@gmail.com
The opinions expressed by the writers and the content of the advertisements do not necessarily reflect those of Pulse Magazine, Canyon Crest Academy, or the San Dieguito Union High School District.
it’s a hairy situation... page 10
some teens are
against drugs. 18
Calendar
Late Start Wednesdays
02.16.11 03.02.11 03.16.11 03.23.11 03.31.11
February - March 2011
CCA Events
February
16th
12th
Back-to-School Night @ 6:00 pm
2nd
No School: Lincoln’s Day
Off-Campus SAT
First Day of the New Semester
21st
16th
5th
28th
Winter Formal: A Night in Tuscany @ 7 pm @ the Rancho Bernardo Inn
Envision Open Studio (All-Day Events until March 4th)
1st
No School: In-Service Day
Campus Tour @ 3:15 pm
8th
House of Representatives Meeting @ 9:38 am during 2nd period 9th
Instrumental Music Conservatory Concert @ 7:00 pm @ the Proscenium Theater 10th
Blood Drive 12th
Off-Campus ACT 15th
Last Day to Add/Drop a Class
February
18th
4
No School: President’s Day
March 2nd
3rd Quarter Progress Report Period Ends CAHSEE Week Begins for All 10th Graders & 11th & 12th Grade Retakes@ 9:38 am 8th
House of Representatives Meeting @ 9:38 am, during 2nd period 10th
Preview of Vaudeville: A Night at the Bijou @ 7:00 pm
San Diego Events
14th Valentine’s Day
18th
Nicole Atkins @ 7:00 pm @ the Loft, UCSD
Vanity Theft @ 9:00 pm @ Soda Bar
Vaudeville: A Night at the Bijou @ 7:00 pm Vaudeville: A Night at the Bijou @ 4:00 pm and 7:00 pm 18th
Last Day to Drop a Course with a “W” 22nd
Smart Start High School Teen Driving Program @ 6:00 pm 23rd
Conservatory Vocal and Instrumental Concerts @ 7:00 pm 24th
Conservatory Vocal and Instrumental Concerts @ 7:00 pm 25th
Battle of the Bands Finale @ Lunch
Start Smart High School Teen Driving Program @ 6:00 pm Spring Dance @ 7:00 pm @ TBA
March
20th
11th
Linkin Park @ 7:00 pm @ the Sports Arena
iwrestledabearonce @ 5:00 pm @ Soma San Diego
24th
Vertical Horizon @ 8:00 pm @ the Coach House
25th
Leeland @7:00 pm @ the Rock Church
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education report card These last two years of recession have been hard on many Americans, but especially hard on our educational system. Even with President Obama’s recent promise that the education budget would increase significantly in the 2011 fiscal year, many parents and administrators are worried that they will not have the cash to properly maintain their schools. The school system is currently in a dismal state, and there are three main categories, teaching standards, funding, and curriculum, that are in need of examination and improvement at CCA and across the country.
By Glenn Borok
It’s apparent that the teaching standards have dipped over the years, as the tenure system takes its toll on the education system. While many agree the tenure system has corrupted the decisions regarding personnel moves at schools, it is impossible to change as long as teacher unions stay strong. A first year teacher is more likely to be fired, regardless of if he or she performed better than many other teachers in his or her department. However, Bob Croft, the President of the San Dieguito Faculty Association, feels that “The unfortunate misperception that tenure is protecting all these ‘bad teachers’ is just another sound bite that makes it easier for some in the public, government, and media to blame teachers or their associations for the problems facing public education.” The California Teachers Association states on their website: “The truth is that teachers have permanent status, not tenure…guarantees due process.” However, while the tenure system protects some teachers from the politics and difficulties of the job market, it discourages administrators from going through the long and tedious process of firing tenured teachers, and they instead look to the teachers on oneyear contracts first when making staff cuts. Regardless, whether it is the administrators, the unions, or the tenure system, someone or something is not doing its job to weed out the bad teachers.
Since 1985 the US budget for education has increased by 138 percent. However, this is low in comparison to national economic growth since 1985, as the Dow Jones has jumped over 250 percent. CCA Principal Brian Kohn stated, “We learn to do more with fewer resources across the board, be it staffing, be it funding for different programs. We have less of everything. We have to work smarter, with less…we haven’t had to eliminate programs, but we’ve had to reduce the resources for programs. So it’s not like they disappeared, but there is less for them to work with.” The California school system is currently ranked 46th among the states in funding per student. This past summer, many education consortiums filed suit against the state of California stating that by not keeping sufficient funds for education the state was violating the California Constitution. The Public Policy Institute of California conducted a poll which revealed that 62 percent of Californians think that there is insufficient funding, while 26 percent think there was just enough and six percent think there is more than enough. The funding is taking its toll on class sizes and learning effectiveness, as California is 49th among states in teacher to student ratios.
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Because of heightened budgetary restrictions on schools, many are forced to cut extracurricular programs such as drama and art completely, or make do with fewer resources. One reason for the cuts to non-essential courses that many news sources such as the New York Times reference is the No Child Left Behind Act, instituted by President George W. Bush. This law requires improved test standards in schools in order to receive funding, which leads to a more formulaic and arguably more boring curriculum, with no individualization of classes. This is because schools are forced to work toward these tests scores to stay open at all. According to Kohn, however, CCA has luckily evaded most of these curriculum and extracurricular cuts, partially due to generous donations by the CCA Foundation. Last year in San Diego County the summer school program was limited to only those who need credits to graduate. Similar moves in Los Angeles County have affected over 250,000 students who usually attend these programs.
facts SDUHSD
Average class size
Total Enrollment Budget
Approx. 35:1 12,000
$100,460,818
State Budget Proposed 201112 Budget for K-12 Education Percent of Total Proposed Budget
$37,674,817 billion About 29.6%
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Feature
meet your counselors CCA’s counseling department is made up of four hard-working women who diligently with students to fix schedules, ensure that graduation requirements are met, discuss personal issues, and ultimately, guide seniors in their college application and selection process. What you may not know is how they got there.
By Guy Giubilato
Ashley Bahner (last names A-E)
Allyson Dexter (last names F-La)
Melissa Sage (last names Le-Rh)
Kristen Piña (last names Ri-Z)
Ms. Bahner earned her degrees from USD, and enjoys working individually with students and interacting in the campus community. Bahner speaks passionately about her job, saying, “I wanted to be able to make a difference. I didn’t have the best experience in high school and I know that gave me a lot of experience with any problems that students today are encountering. The staff and culture here is amazing, it’s very inclusive and everyone genuinely cares. I started here when I was 22 so CCA has become my home and I love it here.”
Ms. Dexter is a native San Franciscan and UCSD graduate who has had more experience with kids than we may realize. She has worked as both a nanny and tutor, and pondered becoming a school psychologist. She enjoys learning about CCA students and their specific interests and participating in campus activities. If you enter her office you will often find her listening to Metric or 50 Cent’s “In da Club.”
Ms. Sage received her Bachelors’ from UCSD and her Master’s from SDSU. She enjoys face time with the students at school, as well as seeing them in their element outside of the office. The selfdeclared “closet hippie” is a dedicated vegetarian and never mixes her paper and plastic when recycling.
Ms. Piña got her Bachelors’ from CSU San Marcos and her Master’s from Chapman University. Her favorite song is “Don’t Stop Believin’” by Journey but she also enjoys hip-hop. She also ran for Poway Rodeo Queen when she was sixteen.
Outside of school, Bahner is a frequent listener of Missy Higgins and Lady Gaga, aspires to be fluent in Spanish, and is obsessed with the T.V. show Weeds.
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“Everyone here is their own person,” says Dexter of CCA students, “I love how dedicated our staff is to making CCA the best environment possible and that is aided by students who really express their individuality with no abandon.”
When discussing the reasons behind her career choice, Sage recalls her own high school experience: “When I was in high school my counselor wasn’t very helpful and I knew that I would be able to help students during this pivotal step in their lives.” She also cites CCA’s unique atmosphere as one of her favorite parts of her job. “I love that kids here can be themselves,” says Sage, “CCA is a lot less restricting than other high schools and the acceptance is clear through the culture and environment that the kids create on a daily basis.”
Piña loves the accepting atmosphere of CCA, as well as building relationships with students and helping them through difficult times. She loves the groups of kids that CCA attracts, yet wishes that the student body knew that she and the other counselors are here for more than just schedule changes and college guidance, saying, “We are also here to help you through any personal issues you might have.”
From left to right: Pi単a, Banner Dexter, Sage.
In the Scruff By Arianna Irwin and Jessica Mersten
Beards, goatees, handlebar mustaches, soul patches, the “Gandalf,” the “Abe Lincoln,” and the fashionable “Mario Brother’s” look. So many choices, but whatever you are going for, your facial hair will surely make a manly statement. We searched the campus for CCA teachers and students with unique facial hair, and all were quick to give their thoughts on furry faces. Michael Gaughen and Doug Gilbert were among the biggest faculty supporters of facial hair. Gaughen, Yearbook Advisor and English teacher, has been sporting his soul patch since CCA’s first year and takes pride in his beard. “I preferred how I looked with one rather than without one,” he smiles. Gilbert, social science and economics teacher, who was seen in November sporting a hybrid of the “Fu Manchu” and the classic handlebar mustache, prefers to grow his hair for a cause. Gilbert grew his hair for the month of Movember (Mustache November). He describes the fundraiser as “a project where you can sponsor my mustache and the money goes to public schools.” His facial hair drew attention several months ago, and he took the opportunity to describe the organization, called Donors Choose, to interested people. As for students having beards on campus, both Gaughen and Gilbert see it as experimentation. “It’s the same thing as having a
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Mohawk or blue hair...Do it while you can. Someday, you might have a job or career when they frown on that sort of thing. Go for it,” says Gaughen. Gilbert has a similar idea, “I say to each their own. As long as it’s not distracting from the learning process, do your thing.” Young manly men on campus are very opinionated when it comes to sporting a mustache or beard. Senior Alan Bialostozky says facial hair is “sick if you can actually grow it,” whereas senior Charles Cellier “really doesn’t like it. I’m a really clumsy person,” Cellier continues, “if I had a beard, if I were even capable of growing one out, I feel like I would light it on fire...I’ve heard that hair is really flammable.” Different facial hair designs have varying effects on your overall look. For example, the short-boxed beard gives you that husky appearance. This beard gives the 300 warrior look and offers the complete macho package. There is also the simpler design called the “Van Dyke” or “French” beard that Johnny Depp dons. This mashup of a classic mustache and disconnected goatee gives your face a European flair with a dash of artsy spice. But, if you’re a guy who doesn’t have the ability to grow one yet, don’t rush the process. It takes time and a considerable amount of care. So just wait. However, if you do want to give it a try, Mr. Gaughen has some good advice, “don’t shave.”
Leah Mizrachi
Feature:
Student Entrepeneur
This issue’s student entrepreneur, Mizrachi, designs, manufactures, and sells her own line of eye-catching jewelry. By Maia Ferdman
Leah Mizrachi, a CCA freshman, has been in the jewelry business since she was twelve years old. Now, two years later, her company has grown to include four original, homemade lines of necklaces and six lines of bracelets which she sells individually, online, and in local boutiques. Mizrachi began making and selling necklaces by accident. “I got my wisdom teeth taken out and I was bored, so I started playing with beads,” she says. “I was wearing one [bracelet] and someone asked me if they could buy one.” Word spread and one by one people lined up to buy a piece of jewelry. Soon enough, Mizrachi bought materials regularly. Her products are either 25 sterling silver or silver dipped in fourteen karat gold. Her pieces sometimes consist of leather bands or charms with words of peace, happiness, and love. Mizrachi has been selling her products at Mable’s, a boutique that was once at the Forum. She called them one day, she offered to sell her jewelry wholesale, and they accepted. She has also sold her jewelry at Ronda’s Closet in Carmel Valley, though she hasn’t done so recently. Mizrachi comes up with her designs spontaneously: “Sometimes I see something in a store and then I change it.” There are still some design aspects Mizrachi has not achieved, and she hopes to take classes to improve her skills. “Right now it’s just me doing it off of what I know and playing with beads.”
This past summer Mizrachi spent every other day working on her own website, using a program on her Mac to create the site completely on her own. This way she can sell her products to friends across the country. Though her mother sometimes helps make her jewelry, Mizrachi designs and manages her business by herself. While Mizrachi thoroughly enjoys making jewelry, she also aspires to design shoes and handbags and perhaps be a nutritionist when she grows up. “I don’t know [what I want] yet. It’s too far in advance, and I live in the present,” she says. However, she does have a concrete goal with her business: “I really want to get it [jewelry] into Nordstrom by the time I finish high school…If you can get it in one big clothing store in in San Diego it will soon go to another and it grows from there.” However, this would require complete commitment. “If you sell it in one Nordstrom store they can run out in a week and you need to give them more. They don’t want to wait.” In the meantime, Mizrachi is focused on school. She works on jewelry for a few hours on weekends because homework is her priority during the week. She saves most of the money she makes from her business, and she donates ten percent of her proceeds to Camp Ramah, a Jewish sleep-away camp located in Ohai, California. “I want to give other kids [who can’t pay] the experience of going to camp,” she says.
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Locked in the Closet Story by Nachi Baru
Illustration by Runtao Yang
What it means to be gay in the harsh confines and intense, judgemental spotlight of high school
By all accounts, Tyler Clementi was a young man with a promising future. A highly talented aspiring violinist, the eighteen year-old New Jersey native was in his freshman year at Rutgers University when he ended his life last September by jumping off George Washington Bridge in Manhattan. The reason? A video, showing a sexual encounter Clementi had with another man, filmed by one of his roommates, had surfaced on Twitter in the days before his death. Clementi’s tragic story attracted global media attention, but he wasn’t the only youth to commit suicide due to bullying about their sexual orientation. Seth Walsh, a thirteen-year old middle school student in Tehachapi, California hanged himself after enduring years of insults over his homosexuality. Gay high school student Billy Lucas of Indiana took his life in a similar fashion after being called derogatory terms at school. Eight-grader Asher Brown shot himself in August of 2010 after facing homophobic slurs at his school in Houston. These examples are indicative of a larger trend affecting lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgendered (LGBT) students of all ages across the country. A survey conducted by Mental Health America (MHA) reported that those students are two to three times as likely to attempt suicide as their peers, with four out of five respondents saying that they did not have an adult at their school that they felt they could trust with their problems.
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The issue of gay rights is also becoming a big topic nationally. Congress held hearings throughout December on repealing the Don’t Ask Don’t Tell law, which requires gays and lesbians serving in the military to keep their sexuality secret, before a landmark vote late in the month to repeal the law and allow homosexuals to serve freely in the US Army. A Pentagon study released the same month revealed that 60% of troops felt repealing the law would have no effect on the military’s effectiveness, and various polls have revealed that anywhere from 55% to 65% of the American public support allowing gays
to serve openly. Repeal of the law, however, has stirred fierce opposition from Republican Congressmen (most notably former Vietnam POW John McCain), while in California, hearings started in late December to determine the constitutionality of Proposition 8, passed in 2008, that illegalized gay marriage in the state. The MHA report on gay students finds that 22 percent of respondents had skipped school sometime in the last month to avoid facing insults at school and furthermore that up to 28 percent of gay students drop out of school because of what they perceive as a hostile atmosphere. Worryingly, such cruel teasing isn’t dependent on a student even coming out of the closet; many gay students who haven’t publicly revealed their orientation are simply cowed by the overall harsh attitude displayed towards homosexuality in many of the nation’s schools. The epidemic, however, is not just an American phenomenon. A survey by the School’s Health Education survey in Britain revealed that around 66 percent of the country’s gay and lesbian students have faced some from of bullying at school, with 41 percent being attacked physically. Worldwide surveys have found that LGBT youth attempt suicide three to six times as often as heterosexual young people. In response to such troubling statistics, a variety of programs to help gay students have sprung up across the country.
Dan Savage, a gay author and journalist, started an online video channel entitled It Gets Better, whose goal is to have gay adults encourage gay students to stay positive and refrain from suicide in the face of bullying. The project has attracted a number of supporters, from celebrities (talk show host Ellen Degeneres and singer Adam Lambert, to name a few) to President Barack Obama and Secretary of State Hillary Clinton. At least politically, the public seems to have taken notice. In Clementi’s state of New Jersey, the state assembly has looked to introduce a bipartisan “Anti-Bullying Bill of Rights,” and New Jersey Senator Frank Lautenberg has stated his intention to encourage federal funding to go toward anti-harassment programs in schools. The repercussions and reverberations of the recent spate of suicides has reached our very own backyard; the San Diego Unified School District unanimously passed a mission resolution that states their intent to provide a safe, secure, ad supportive environment to students of all sexual orientations. The issue of preventing antigay bullying is undoubtedly complex, and encompasses a range of social and cultural issues that go beyond the school district charter; it is highly unlikely that there exists a “perfect model” for the full implementation of such an ideal. For an example of a school that provides an encouraging and protecting environment for homosexual students, however, the SDUHSD might not have to look much further than our very own CCA, which may already have the sort of atmosphere that schools across the county and the nation are striving for. That is, if the story of Canyon Crest senior Grady O’Leary is anything to go by. The bright and outgoing yearbook editor and swim team member describes the process of his coming out as a fairly drawn out one that began in freshman year. “I actually came out to my friends first, as I thought they’d be more supportive,” says O’Leary, noting how difficult he found it telling his parents, as “I would always have to go back to them and answer to them.” While most of his good friends knew by sophomore year, O’Leary was apprehensive of telling his parents, but found the courage and was “….surprised at how supportive everyone was.” Indeed, O’Leary hasn’t faced the sort of taunts and open bullying that has sadly characterized cases like those of Asher Brown, Seth Walsh, and Billy Lucas. O’Leary feels that much of that has been due to the
fact that he has refused to let himself be characterized solely on the basis of his sexual orientation. “I think that though sexuality is a part of who I am, there is something bigger that I am…people judge me based on other factors and activities, and that’s one reason I haven’t had any problems with it.” He also feels that his decision to surround himself with friends who are “open minded” has allowed him to avoid negative experiences and stay secure. O’Leary also expressed his good opinion of the counseling staff (whom he described as “amazingly supportive”), and the role they played in helping him throughout the years when he remained in the closet. At the same time, however, O’Leary admits that the experience was a very difficult one personally. “It eats at you because you have something that you want to tell everyone …it doesn’t go away. I initially thought that maybe this wasn’t happening, but I found out that this is who I am…It’s hard to be in a group of people that have been sort of targeted. And if you feel like you identify with them then you start feeling ‘OK, is there something wrong with me, is there something that I’m doing wrong, is there something I shouldn’t be doing. But if you stay true to yourself, as corny as that sounds, if you stay true to yourself, you’ll find people.” When asked his opinion about the recent suicides, O’Leary remarked that “The sort of stuff that goes on is not okay,” while also noting that “There is so much that you can do as someone who is gay, but if you make that kind your [entire] identity I think that’s where the negative stigma comes in.” Asked as to what advice he would give the thousands of gay students around the world who are being bullied and are contemplating suicide, O’Leary answered, “I would tell them to keep doing their thing, and doing it the best that they can. If you associate yourself in an environment that is supportive, you can do almost anything. Don’t let it take you over and don’t let it become the only thing that defines you. [Your sexuality] is part of you, but not the whole thing.”
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America’s Infatuation with Trans Fat By Michael Wang
All of the values shown above were taken from each respective fast food chain’s website. As you could probably deduce, a smaller serving size will result in less fat, calories, et cetera, all around. The tiny size of White Castle’s standard hamburgers allows it to be the healthiest choice in comparison to the rest of the hamburgers, assuming that you’re willing to forgo a bit of food substance. White Castle also shares its winning place with Wendy’s Jr. Hamburger. And finally, Carl’s Jr’s Big Hamburger wins the award for the unhealthiest burger, for it has the highest count in calories and sodium. Eat up, America!
Photos from Bev Sykes, theimpulsivebuy, ayustety, Kolin Toney, Andy Melton, Marshall Astor, Justin Cozart, and pointnshoot on Flickr
For years our capitalist image and American lifestyle has been topped off with the all too infamous fast food chains. Ranging from big names such as McDonalds, Burger King, and Jack in the Box, to the somewhat less broadcasted chains such as White Castle and Hardee’s, fast food chains have been immortalized for their cheap prices and ample amounts of food. All too inclusively has the general opinion of fast food been relegated to an exclusive 21st century saying that has spread far and wide, “fast food is bad for you?” In spite of the variety of fast food chains which litter the world, it is the umbrella term for all these chains that is generalized into one conclusive statement. So now the question comes to be, are there any significant differences between each individual fast food chain in terms of calories, carbs, fat, and sodium? Below you’ll find the nutritional comparisons between a variety of fast food chains in terms of a very common menu item, a standard hamburger.
The
Global Dilemma
Illustration by Mimi Jiao
From left to right: Beverly & Pack, nicole.hung616, and giladr on Flickr
On the fateful Tuesday, November 23, North and South Korea exchanged artillery fire on their disputed frontier, escalating the hostility between the rivals to the utmost degree. According to South Korean officials, the skirmish began when North Korea tried halting Seoul’s military drills near the North Korean sea border, and South Korea refused. The North reciprocated by shelling the small island of Yeonpyeong, which houses South Korean military installations and a civilian population. The result from this salvo includes casualties of two South Korean marines and three civilians, and an approximate number of fifteen injured troops. Seoul officials also noted that there could be possible North Korean casualties. Shortly after the introductory barrages, South Korean President Lee Myung-bak called for an emergency security meeting and declared, “Enormous retaliation should be made to the extent that [North Korea] cannot make provocations again.” This incident did not impact the Koreans alone. According to Businessweek, global attention was directed towards the tiny island and sent stock prices down globally. Investors searched for secure places to park money, raising the dollar and gold. Hong Kong’s main stock index sank 2.7 percent; European indexes dropped between 1.7 and 2.5 percent. The Dow Jones industrial average lost 142 points, an amount equivalent to 1.3 percent. The United States, having more than 28,000 troops stationed in South Korea, sided with the South and condemned the attack. The White House stated that President Barack Obama was “outraged” by North Korea’s actions. Mediator China, economic and political patron of the North and commercial associate with the South, exhorted for both sides to remain calm in order to contribute to peace and stability on the peninsula. CCA students themselves were affected by this incident. Sophomore Angelina Woo commented, “My parents and I were so shocked. Many of my relatives were planning to evacuate.” Although Angelina and her relatives were not physically affected, she explains
By Amy Kim
that she worries for her family if things worsen. “They were getting their passports and personal belongings ready in case their safeties were threatened. My parents were on the phone with them for a considerably long time so I was pretty much frightened at that point.” Of course, clashes flare up on the disputed border from time to time, but this particular conflict follows months of tensions that have steadily risen to their worst levels since the 1980s. Ultimately, it goes back to March when North Korea was blamed for launching a torpedo that sank the South Korean warship, the Cheonan. With the deaths of 46 sailors at hand, South Korea called it the worst military attack on the country since the Korean War. Pyongyang denied liability at that time, and South Korea could not retaliate for the sinking. Sophomore Kristen Shim also added, “I find this much more serious than the Cheonan incident because this time, both sides physically took part in the fray. But whatever the cost, I think war should be the last alternative since it wouldn’t be worth the lives.” She continued, “My relatives from both of my parents’ sides live in Korea. They were sad in the sense that the South couldn’t do anything. They thought they should have retaliated beforehand. If you look at Korean history, Korea was a tributary state under China long ago before industrialization. There is pride in the culture today, but there is also a sense of sorrow and hunger in the Korean culture because we’ve never been fully independent.” Despite the fact that both sides have denied liability in the past, they now cannot deny their hostilities. Undeniably, it was North Korea that shelled the island, sent a throng of civilians to their deaths, and partook in this fusillade. Whether or not this incident disturbs the 1953 Armistice negotiations that put a halt to the Korean War is rather controversial. Since a peace treaty was never signed between the two sides, they technically remain at war. Today nearly two million troops – including those of the U.S. – are garrisoned on both sides of the world’s most heavily militarized border. Perhaps if tensions continue to elevate, the validity of the delicate promises between the two nations might diminish.
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San
Dieguito Alliance
Maia Ferdman takes a look into an organization dedicated to the prevention of drug, alcohol, and tobacco abuse, as well as advocacy of a safe and healthy lifestyle.
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The San Dieguito Youth Partnership, a county-funded prevention organization, is a youth group made up of kids from CCA, TP, LCC, and SDA that are dedicated to drug, alcohol, and tobacco prevention. The group is part of the larger San Dieguito Alliance, and does everything from pressuring grocery stores to catching liquor stores that sell alcohol to minors. Barbara Gordon, who works for the San Dieguito Alliance and is director of the San Dieguito Youth Partnership, says “it’s all about changing the norms around drug, alcohol, and tobacco.” Rather than engage in one-on-one services, the youth group looks to uproot the idea that underage substance use is okay at the beginning. One way they do so is by trying to reduce the prevalence of drug and alcohol related logos and pictures in retail stores. “We know that the alcohol industry knows that young people under 21 are big consumers of their product, and even though their policy is that they don’t advertise to young people, we know that they do,” says Gordon. The group has been successful in pulling a line of drinking related t-shirts from Abercrombie & Fitch, as well as a line of Vans shoes and wallets with Cannabis leaves printed on them. Their current projects include Sun Diego’s beer bottle-shaped skateboards and Lucky Brand Jeans’ many suggestive shirts. They have yet to be successful, but continue to send letters to the store’s corporate headquarters. “[Parents] don’t realize that research shows that if you wear drug or alcohol messages you’re more likely to use drugs or drink,” says Gordon. Though Gordon is in charge of facilitating the program, the group as a whole decides what projects to focus on. The kids also advocate their cause with schools in the district and with city councils. They helped pass the recent Social Host Ordinance, which raised the penalties for adults and parents who provide alcohol for minors. Some of the kids choose to participate in the “Minor Decoy” program. The group partners with the Encinitas Sheriff Department to find people and stores that sell alcohol to minors. One method they use to do this is the “shoulder tap.” This is when a participant asks someone on the street outside a grocery store to buy him or her alcohol, making sure that the person knows that they are underage. The participant is often wired to an undercover officer, who will then grant the compliant buyer with a ticket. Acting as a decoy, however, means that a participant will try to buy alcohol in the store itself. He or she will use his or her real ID if asked for it, because the Sheriff Department “[is] not into tricking people,” says Gordon. “They tell the girls
I think adults shouldn’t sell or buy kids alcohol so I don’t think it’s wrong to nail these guys,” says Gordon. not to wear a lot of makeup because they don’t want them to look older. They want to find people that are [knowingly] selling alcohol to kids.” And the consequences for doing so are far from small; the alcohol establishment gets “a ding” on its license, and the individual clerk who sold the alcohol can be fined up to a thousand dollars. “Some kids don’t like to do this kind of stuff because you are getting somebody in trouble. But some kids do. I think adults shouldn’t sell or buy kids alcohol so I don’t think it’s wrong to nail these guys,” says Gordon. While the San Dieguito Youth Partnership is a group for teens who are passionate about changing policy and educating others regarding drug and alcohol abuse, it is merely one division within the larger San Dieguito Alliance. This organization also includes programs such as Teen Presenters, which takes high school seniors who are drug and alcohol free to speak at elementary and middle schools about the benefits of a clean lifestyle. Another branch is the Study Buddy program, for teens who are interested in volunteering as tutors for local elementary school children for an hour each week. In addition, the San Dieguito Alliance has partnered with the County Sheriff, California Highway Patrol, and SDUHSD to bring forth a new, free, two-hour driver’s education class called “Start Smart.” Created in response to the large number of recent traffic-related tragedies in this region, this class will cover everything from drunk driving to distracted and drowsy driving. According to Gordon, beginning next year teens must attend one session of “Start Smart” with their parents in order to park on any SDUSHD campus.
The San Dieguito Alliance and the San Dieguito Youth Partnership provide many opportunities for teens interested in volutneering or in social action against drug and alcohol abuse. Feel free to contact Barbara Gordon at barabaragordon1@gmail.com with questions or interest in joining, or check them out at http://www.sandieguitoalliance.org/.
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Look at that hipster.
The Indie-Slash-Hipster Movement:
Moccassins, Neon, & (500) Days of Summer By Crystal Long
The previous school year concluded the first decade of the 21st century. 100 years ago, the Victorian “turn-ofthe-century” knocked society off its feet by Amendments 18 and 19 (the ban of alcohol sale and the right for women to vote, respectively), Coco Chanel’s radical new fashions (No petticoats? Exposed ankles? Impropriety!), and the popularization of technologies that forever changed the pace of life in the free world (telegrams, telephones, typewriters). As we near the end of 2010, we are already dropping heavy hints as for how the outcome of the next pop cultural era will play out. Every decade is strongly influenced by the rebellious youth of the former. For one, the slick Greasers of the 1950’s passed their torch to the mod, beat poets of the 60’s. The moody Joy Division wannabes who smashed their electric guitars when Ian Curtis committed suicide couldn’t afford new ones, so they discovered flannel and Nirvana in the 90’s instead. Our most recent, and still standing, emerging subculture is undeniably the indie-slash-hipster movement. The exact date of term “indie” has a hazy origin, usually traced back to garage band cassette tapes from the mid90’s. However, its use as the name of an entire underground lifestyle gathered momentum around 2008, when “indie” just referred to any Midwestern boy holding a sunflower. I’m looking at you, Never Shout Never and Backseat Goodbye. Now its iconography has evolved into wolves and triangles and moccasins. And the label “hipster” has been consistent since Grandma was doing the jive. But when our parents and grandparents were rocking the 20tth century, their attitudes were still a constant shock to the previous generation. Cherie Currie and Joan Jett for example, stars of the girl-power rock band the Runaways, quickly became sex symbols as well as torch-bearers for feminism through their rebellious anthems. In the late 70s, they were the first female rock artists to be taken seriously, ranked among the male guitar gods of their day. To struggle
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for liberation from stiff decorum and oppression earned either a badge of respect from one’s peers who were still too afraid to openly lash out, or a round of blushes before the said peers looked away. The youth were fighting for enlightenment and freedom from their parents’ ideas of conventional living. From the birth of the Pill to Elvis’ pelvic thrusts to the popular public anti-Vietnam war demonstrations, the undermined social class of the future was on a mission to make their voice heard. To stand up for nonconformity was cool. It was the coolest thing. No other sentiment could have sounded cooler than when Kim Gordon cooed mutiny into the microphone in Sonic Youth’s “Kool Thing” at the start of the 90s.
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I just wanna know What are you gonna do for me? I mean, are you gonna liberate us girls from male white corporate oppression? Don’t be shy Fear of a female planet.
But as all things go, teenage rebellion began to lose its shock value. As a parent, one would expect his or her hormonedriven adolescent to lash out. The unpredictability became predictable. Skirts would be increasingly shorter, common speech would be increasingly vulgar, and religion and morals would be increasingly sparse. None of this was new. Even the revolutionary voices of the next voting generation became a marketing strategy, almost mocked in countless family films and kids’ clothing sections at Target. Young girls are encouraged by corporate marketing schemes to dress in “punk-rock chick” attire not too different from Avril Lavigne’s. And many an occasion have I encountered an elementary school boy’s b-boy or art-geek ensemble impressive enough to rival even the steeziest teens. So as the norm embraces this standard of teenage angst, our true youngster duty calls for us to find a new form of counterculture. Our parents’ generation started the popularization of the discotheque and the tight 80s workout skirts… so why don’t we take a cue from the generation before theirs and copy them? It makes perfect sense, really. Once scandal has lost its charm, it becomes more ground-breaking to promote the lost ideals of class and demureness over raunchiness and controversy. The end of this decade has seen many subtle hints toward the new “it” thing. Think about it; this last decade has been a complete pining for the 80s. The revival of neon, sportswear as casual wear (not classy), and keyboards and synthesizers in music? It’s undeniable. Though many don’t realize it, as the fashion world’s seasons have yet to kick it into full swing, but the next era is likely to draw a heavy 60s influence. The first prominent step to emerge from the obscurity of counterculture and begin propelling hipsterdom and 60’s style into the mainstream world was arguably the summer 2009 “indie” flick (500) Days of Summer, introducing this generation’s heartthrobs, Zooey Deschanel and Joseph Gordon-Levitt. Because it was a fairly popular movie, we will continue off of it to elaborate on easily relatable terms. This film is severely and unfairly underrated anyway in terms of its effect on the beginning of the next era of popular film trends, fashion trends, music tastes, and gender roles. Any teen who has seen the promotional poster for The Social Network has probably noticed how remarkably hip and Tumblresque it looks. New target audience? Or simply reshaping the target audience? Since the heart-warming story of Summer and Tom, it’s
stemmed a more public approval of irregular plot sequences. Since then, we’ve seen Inception and The Social Network both hit number one with box-office sales, each with a potentially confusing style of storytelling. Movie-goers are clearly now more comfortable with staying on track with the director as they jump around from past and present in the script. And as for the costumes, there is no doubt that Miss Deschanel’s style was not coveted by every store catering to the female portion of the audience. In the last year, both Forever 21 and Charlotte Russe have made dramatic changes to their online and traditional stores in attempt to draw in new customers and retain returning ones as the desired image started to shift. Forever 21 began a blog reminiscent of Lookbook (www.lookbook.nu), and Charlotte Russe purged themselves of the party girl vibe and completely turned the store around with an entirely different selection of muted tones, delicate jackets, and Sgt. Pepper jackets over their former neon tanks and plethora of flannels. And as the spotlight followed GordonLevitt, his geek-chic style encouraged the artistically-advanced, or the pretentious snobs as they’re known by pretentious snobs, to don a slightly preppier, ironically nerdy outfit over an Ed Hardy or surfer bro ensemble. Someone should try counting how many ironic 3D glasses they see each day. The soundtrack is also a sample of the recent cultivation of popular music taste. Slowly, slowly, slowly, the standard rock-pop songs on Top 40 radio that today’s hipsters have grown to detest (Daughtry, Nickelback, Adam Lambert, whassup?) are being replaced by, at worst, watered-down versions of hipster music. Though some indie kids may disagree for artistic integrity’s sake, Neon Trees’ “Animal” could be considered the radio-friendly compromise between the before-mentioned rock-pop and Temper Trap. One of whom’s songs, “Sweet Disposition,” was used for a Diet Coke commercial. Not too obscure. On another genre’s note, “Home” by Edward Sharpe & the Magnetic Zeroes dominated the airwaves this summer. If not on a mainstream Clear Channel radio station, (i.e. Star 94.1, Channel 93.3, etc.) then on personal speakers and iPods. This strange phenomenon featured large ensembles, heavy orchestral influences, and some very Southern peach cobbler lyrics. Back on the revival track, kids these days seem to be loving their lo-fi more and more as technology progresses and sound becomes clearer. For example, Panda Bear and Local Natives. But music is a tricky subject when it comes to the topic of origins and influences and how “icky” anything popular is. So on a more serious note, (500) Days of Summer was also a subtle reflection on the changing perception of gender roles in today’s society. Summer was a heartless, anti-commitment, strong-willed young woman making her own way in the work force and choosing to go against the stereotypical female obsession with the quest for love. Consult any retro comic book or Disney princess cartoon and one will not be able to deny that typecast single female role is as a lonely girl who dreams of a Prince Charming. As Recession statistics emerge, one realizes that our soon-to-be 60s-whiplash youth culture is on the brink of a large statement after all. For the first time, more women are in the workforce and graduating from college than men. Are women finally gaining equality, or are women going to be the new dominant sex? Summer embodies the new gender role of the snarky girl-in-charge, who has her feet planted too firmly on the ground to be carried away with notions of true love, an icon for individualism and independence. Tom’s character plays the old-fashioned romantic. This doesn’t necessarily mean anything derogatory or praising towards either sex, but it’s worth noting, seeing as this generation of teenagers
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teen life in
Turkey
Turkish high school student Melike Tokatlıoğlu is very much like us. She studies hard for her classes and spends time with her friends on weekends. But her cultural heritage helps define her view of the world, and in the following interview she provides a glimpse into the life of a teenager from the often overlooked country of Turkey.
By Jess Mersten
1. What is your average weekday like? My average weekday consists of going to school at 8 am, I am an IB (International Baccalaureate) student so I stay at school till 4:15 PM. Then, I either stay at school until 7pm for MUN (Model United Nations) or go to Alsancak (the local hangout place in my city) or home. I then maybe do homework (or I procrastinate, which is more like me). I watch TV, read books, go to bed. 2. What do you like to do with your friends on weekends? On weekends, I mostly go to Alsancak, the city center. All the good shops are there, so I go there and meet with friends and visit Starbucks, shops, sit down somewhere by the sea, stuff like that. If I don’t do that, I go to a shopping mall. In fact, there is one across the street from my house, called Forum Bornova. 3. What extracurricular activities/hobbies do you participate in? I have been playing the piano since I was 7. Even though I can’t attend to it anymore as much as I would like, I still play it once in a while. I have been a part of my school’s MUN(Model United nations) club for 4 years now. It is a pretty big deal in my school, we attend 3 conferences, one local, two international every year. We go to the Hague and either Ireland or St. Petersburg every year. I have been to 8 conferences so far with MUN. I also participate in the youth section of Rotary, Interact. I was the Goztepe Interact Club president last year and the 2440 District Interact representative. I do theater. I was the lead, Sheherazad in the play Arabian Nights last year. I am also in the Library Club in my school and I learn a little French. 4. Where is your favorite place to visit? My favorite place to visit, is probably Bodrum, Istanbul or the islands nearby. Bodrum, Antalya, Kusadası, Cesme are cities in Turkey that
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are beautiful in the summer. They have amazing beaches, night clubs, summer houses and stuff like that. Cesme is 1 hour away from Izmir and we have a house there so we go there every summer. Istanbul is a little obvious, it has great shops and malls and a “boshorus” bridge that connects two continents. It is pretty amazing but it also has a tremendous traffic problem and it is too crowded. The islands near my city either belong to Greece or Turkey but either way, they are close and very quiet. 5. Where do you see yourself in 5 years? In five years, I hope to be a freshman in a good law school in the U.S. I have always wanted to be a lawyer, but being a lawyer is pretty horrible in Turkey so I want to study law in the U.S. However, the law systems in Turkey and the U.S. are pretty different so I can’t be a lawyer in Turkey with a law degree from the U.S. So, maybe I will work for an international organization in Europe. 6. What do you like and dislike about living in Turkey? First of all, I think being Turkish is great since it is different in an international scale, has an amazing history and geography, very warm people and a different language. I am usually proud of being Turkish since once we were the Ottoman Empire, which practically ruled the world at some point. We also have a great revolutionary history. The geography of Turkey leaves me astounded every time. I also love Turkish people most of the time. We are hospitable, warm-blooded and kind to many people. There are of course some things that I don’t like about my country. I don’t like that we are confused with Muslim countries by foreigners, that people consider us to be Arabs,
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I live in a country that you can’t sum down to a basic way of life. I probably live more similarly to you than a kid living in Van. But we are mostly very committed to our traditions.
or Middle Eastern, or behind in any way. No, I don’t wear a “turban” I keep saying to people, most of the women in Turkey don’t. I don’t like the ruling party and how they portray Turkey as an Islamic country. I don’t like the nationalists in my country because they take everything to the next level, bring violence and misrepresent my people.
centeredness. I think its intrusion [into] every country in the world is offensive. I think the American culture lacks a real history and despite that, it is very elitist. America has been through too many violations of human rights in its past. Racisim itself is a shame on its own. Still, all cultures have faults like that.
7. How do Turkish students view Americans? Well, I live in the Western part of Turkey, which is way more modern and European than the Eastern part. I go to an American school and want to have an education in America. So, the way I view Americans is very normal, kind and very positive. Obviously, I have met Americans first hand and most are quite nice. But I can say that the “American stereotype” is not always positive amongst Turkish teenagers. Americans are usually considered to be a little stupid, maybe because of the way they are represented in the media. Turkish people come across so many Americans who can’t place Turkey on a map that we (not me but Turkish students) believe that Americans don’t know anything about what goes on outside of America.
9. If someone were to visit Turkey, where would you recommend they visit? Easily, I would recommend the Eastern part of Turkey, which includes Mardin, Kapadokya, Van and other cities. These places represent the history of so many different cultures. I also would recommend the Southern part including Antakya, Antalya, and Adana for their beaches and again, historical value. They are pretty hot though. The Western part represents a whole other culture. I am an hour away from the biggest Amphitheaters and ancient cities. Istanbul, obviously is a modern and a historical city that deserves to be seen. Lastly, Izmir, my hometown is small but pretty, next to the sea and is my favorite city in Turkey. “I live in a country that you can’t sum down to a basic way of life. I probably live more similarly to you than a kid living in Van. But we are mostly very committed to our traditions.” For instance, we are in Kurban Bayram right now which is a religious holiday. People sacrifice cows and sheep to God and then give the meat to the poor. It is a tradition for the younger members of the family to visit their elders and kiss their hands. They [elders] usually offer candy and Turkish deserts to us and give the children some money. Turkish families are usually very close. We have dinner every night together and then watch T.V. together. Still, I can tell you that I am living quite differently from most Turkish teenagers. I am studying for the SAT and I do IB and I have American friends. Most Turkish people are not as lucky as me.”
8. What are some of your favorite things about American culture? Dislikes? Firstly, I like it that America is very liberal in all aspects. The economy, the education system, the ordinary lives of people are pretty independent from the government. I also like that freedom of speech is very valued in America, people can say whatever they like to their president and won’t be persecuted for it. In Turkey, they banned YouTube because someone posted a crude video about Ataturk. Human rights are protected way more in America than in Turkey. I also like the American movies and T.V. shows. In Turkey, T.V. shows are 2 hours long and are interrupted numerous times by commercials. I like how Americans can criticize themselves through movies. What I don’t like about the American culture is its self-
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The Other Side:
How one man’s daily trek up and down Del Mar Heights Road proved us wrong By Maia Ferdman and Tess Wallenstein
Every day, without fail, at around three or four in the afternoon, the “homeless man” trudges up Del Mar Heights Road in a way that has become systematic. In the midst of BMWs and rows of million dollar homes, he pulls the contents of his life behind him in a single cart. Seeing him day after day, while driving home from school, we began to wonder, why? We weren’t used to seeing someone so misplaced in our “perfect,” albeit predictable, Carmel Valley world. We grew more and more intrigued with each passing day, his presence never failing. We decided we would speak to him in the hopes of satisfying our curiosity. We went into it optimistically and assumed that everything would fall into place. Here he was, we thought, a kind and sociable man who had fallen on hard times, rendering him without a job and eventually, without a home. It was a compelling story. We assumed this because we didn’t consider that there was an alternative; ignorantly, we had perceived him in a way that satisfied our idealized view of the world. However, we, two white upper middle class teenage girls, didn’t anticipate the realities of bridging a socioeconomic and as we soon discovered, racial, barrier. One Monday after school, we saw him across the street from Torrey Pines High School, making his habitual walk eastward, cart in tow. We approached him from behind, struggling to suppress our nerves as we introduced ourselves. We reached out to shake his hand and he hesitated. His calloused hand with its gritty fingernails was limp, weak, and reluctant, as if we were the dirty ones. He looked at us with an expression of confusion and muttered an almost unintelligible, “no English.” We asked him what he spoke, and he said Spanish. Luckily, one of us happens to speak Spanish fluently. We discovered that his name is Alejandro, and that he is from Mexico. We
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asked him why he walks up and down the street every day. With a hand pressed to his concave stomach and exasperation in his voice, he began to ramble about the banks refusing to cash his checks, repeating that he doesn’t have any “dinero para comida” (money for food). We were unsure of whether he understood why we were talking to him. Throughout our brief conversation, he seemed guarded and skeptical, confused. He chose not to answer our questions, instead speaking only of his conflict with the banks. It quickly became clear to us that in us he saw only the possibility of some cash for food. By the same token, however, all he had been to us was a good story. In actuality, we discovered that he is not some specimen to be observed or classified, or even completely understood. What struck us was how even though one of us spoke Spanish, even though we looked each other eye-to-eye, there was a disconnect. Something about his dialect, the speed with which he spoke, or perhaps even subject matter stopped us from understanding the majority of what he said. Maybe the way that he was talking about hunger and the banks made us uncomfortable. No matter the shared language, we were incapable of overcoming the language of poverty. Alejandro picked up his cart, and with his back to us, continued his trek up the hill. We were left to decipher what he had told us, yet speaking with Alejandro had only heightened our curiosity about him, only gave us more questions than answers - who else knew about him, who could piece together the rest of his story? First we visited the banks in the Del Mar Highlands that supposedly denied his checks. The order and cleanliness of the Bank of America juxtaposed Alejandro. Imagining him, clad in a dirty, ripped t-shirt and scraggly salt and pepper beard, in the
middle of the quiet, orderly, professional bank, was striking. We approached an employee named Mark, who referred to him with a somewhat affectionately condescending tone as “Gandalf.” He told us that Alejandro comes in about once a week, looking for someone who speaks Spanish. There never seems to be a Spanishspeaking employee at Bank of America when Alejandro comes in, and thus no one bothers to find out what he wants. He never gets further than the door. Wells Fargo employee Melissa had a different impression. She told us that he comes in regularly, asking by name for someone who “owes him money.” He has fallen into a routine, she describes: he leaves his cart outside, goes to each employee’s desk and asks, one by one, the same thing regarding the money he believes he is owed. Everyone, including bank employees who speak Spanish, turn him away. As in the Bank of America, the Wells Fargo employees don’t delve further into his search. Had one of us walked in with a question perhaps similar to Alejandro’s, no matter how ambiguous, we likely would have been met with a different reception. It is as if his inquiry is not valid. We realized that this is the way our world works. Our society is too stratified to accept the idea of a poor man with a legitimate concern for a bank. We went to Ralph’s next, where we have seen Alejandro before. Sarah, the floor manager, told us that he comes in daily and buys bread rolls. She says that he is “usually quiet and pleasant,” and although he is met with some stares, people generally don’t seem to mind him. She directed us to Monica, a Spanish-speaking cashier, whose lane Alejandro frequently chooses to buy his bread. She says she often chats with him as he makes his purchase, and fondly calls Alejandro a “very nice guy.” She says that she tries to offer him free bread and water, but “he gets offended and refuses to take
The Face Behind Project Mayhem
Rachel Monk By Daniel Metz
Underground campaigns shroud the topic. It serves as a mission, one determined to strike against the so called legislation of literary art. It begs to question these laws of the traditional and classic, those of rhyme, rhythm, meter, form, and even the very subject of one’s work. The vision is to create a culmination of the offbeat, unvoiced art of our school. This is Project Mayhem. This is the students’ chance to take stage and prove the unorthodox is worthy of admiration. CCA’s annual literary magazine is not a new venture. Since its genesis, it has strived to collect and publish the literary and artistic masterpieces of CCA’s student body. As an additional product of the yearbook class, this year’s Litmag will be the fifth iteration. Through these years, it has remained discreet, circulating among only those already in the know. This year marks the shift from a connection-based campaign to a campus-wide mystery. Rachel Monk, senior, acts as the orchestrator of it all. In fact, she is the entire staff. Monk is perfect for Litmag, and it for her. A
student with a wide array of creativity and interests, she delves across varied disciplines in spare time. She prowls Google Maps to admire nature’s beauty. Moments later she is rampantly searching, reading, and observing microscopic fungi and extreme blowups of sea life. In more frivolous moments, she doodles. No matter the medium, these doodles have become a large part of Monk’s life.. To colleges, Monk wrote her essays about doodling. She is eccentric in many ways; who else announces with pride that “the only reason I get Thai food [is] because it has baby corn in it”? Litmag is sure to be quirky. Monk wants “to disprove that poetry is for sissies; [to] have all the craziness to come to me.” No typical poetry is allowed; the standard of describing nature’s serene grace will not make it to print. Through her mysterious advertisements, she targets the original, the dark horses of literature, those deserving of circulation. Litmag will lead the peculiar into the spotlight.
Submissions may be made to litmag@ccayearbook.com
Student Art
Want to see your art in Pulse? E-mail it to editors.pulse@gmail.com today!
Alyssa Herpberger (11)
Thomas Talarico (12)
[continued from page 21]
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will be at the head of the change in the workforce and society. This does tie into the theme of 60s revival for the 2010-19 decade. Although artistic expression may be taking a trip back to the good ol’ days for inspiration, the aim for equality continues to pave its way forward. So even as Mad Men continues to increase its ratings and viewings, today’s teens may be taking a cue from the ad men and “girls” of that fabulous age, we’re still finding a way to set it apart from Grandma’s jive and make it our own revolution.independence. Tom’s character plays the old-fashioned romantic. This doesn’t necessarily mean anything derogatory or praising towards either sex, but it’s worth noting, seeing as this generation of teenagers will be at the head of the change in the workforce and society.
anything for free.” The Highlands security guards, also familiar with the “homeless guy,” described Alejandro as “chill” and “mellow.” They see him once or twice a week, resting under the shade of the overhang by Ralph’s. “Some people look at him like he’s a vagrant,” says one cop, “but he mostly doesn’t bother people.” “He’s a strong dude,” added the other, acknowledging the obvious weight of Alejandro’s cart. Alejandro seems to have become somewhat of a Carmel Valley celebrity. Everyone sees him making the long walk up the hill, day after day, pulling his trademark cart behind him. It has become a common practice for people to invent their own anecdotes about his life: who he is, why he walks up and down Del Mar Heights so habitually, and how he got there. And we did just that. We built his story in our minds to fit the structure of our affluent and shielded community. However, perhaps his story is even more intriguing because he is a speck on the perfect bubble that is Carmel Valley—a glimpse into a more realistic world, a contrast that is striking, especially because Alejandro’s presence overlaps these two
realities.
In addition, he represents a man who has been let down by society. We tend to hold certain preconceptions regarding the poor, which may or may not hold true for Alejandro. Regardless, he is trapped in a world that ignores or discounts him, despite his obvious attempts to reach out, in this case to the banks. Our society is simply not equipped to respond effectively to poverty. Therefore, people like Alejandro are left in the dust. When we tried to bridge the gap between us, we discovered that these problems are not black and white. In order to fully comprehend and approach these issues, we as Carmel Valley residents and as a society in general, must first make the effort to understand, and only once we do so, can we hope for change.
Hey Parents, Students, Teachers, and Community Members! Interested in buying a year-long subscription to PULSE Magazine?
Would you like to receive all four issues of PULSE that are produced per school year, right to your very mailbox? Do you want to stay tuned in with all the happenings at CCA and around the Community? Well, now you can! All you have to do to buy a subscription for PULSE Magazine and receive all our issues hot off the printing press and delivered straight to your front door is: 1) Fill out the form below and either A) mail it to CCA, in care of our supervisor, Mr. Black, or B) drop it off in room F202. 2) Turn in your form of payment (either $30.00 in cash or a $30.00 check made out to “CCA-ASB”) ATTACHED to your form! That way, you can buy your PULSE year-long magazine subscription AND pay for all 4 issues at the same time! It’s quick, easy, and hassle-free!
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SUBSCRIPTION CONTRACT
2010 - 2011
$30 for a one year subscription of PULSE magazine The undersigned person agrees to subscribe to Canyon Crest Academy’s PULSE Magazine as indicated in the space above. The person agrees to pay for the subscription on the basis of the rate indicated. Subscriptions can be renewed at the beginning of each academic year. Please make checks payable to CCA ASB. Subscriber’s Name _______________________________________________________________ Address _______________________________________________________________________ City/State/Zip ___________________________________________________________________ Phone ________________________________ Contact Person ___________________________ Total Cost __________________________ Subscriber’s signature__________________________________________Date ____________________ Student sales representative ____________________________________ Date ____________________