04.27.17
Volume 21 Issue 6
T H E M U S T A N G
the mustang
FROM THE CONTROL BOOTH A message from your editor.
ROLL CALL
The Mustang Staff MANAGING EDITOR Julia Shapero
It can be difficult to tell sophomores from seniors throughout most of the year at SDA. There’s nothing that makes each class particularly stand out. However, the long haul that follows spring break is often the time of the year that each class becomes distinct. Seniors take a step back and relax - that is, once they’ve made their final decision about where to spend the next few years of their lives. Despite the frustration of rejection and wait-listing that hangs over their heads, the decision is eventually made (See “College Admissions: It’s A Crapshoot” on pg.5), and brings with it a sense of relief. With this, seniors finish out with their remaining few AP tests (if they’re taking any) and enjoy the fast-paced ride that is the last month and a half before they say good-bye to the comfort of SDA. Juniors are still plugging away as they approach their numerous AP tests that they are now wondering why on earth they signed up for. They are found at school for hours after the last bell has rung, furiously taking notes in their AP review sessions and attempting practice problems in the numerous Princeton Review books that they lug around every day. The additional stress of SATs and ACTs looms over them, adding to the number of tests during which something could go wrong (See “Stressed, Depressed, Still Took The Test” on pg.16). Sophomores are nervously attempting to study for their first AP test or possibly not studying at all, hoping they can avoid studying and magically pass the test like they do in class. In the meantime, a fancy new attraction has caught their attention: the driver’s license. However, given the tight parking situation
on campus right now (See “Parking Lots Bring Complaints” on pg.3), many are discovered learning the frustrating art of parallel parking on side streets.
NEWS EDITOR Olivia Olander
Freshman, with no AP tests to worry about and a sense of accomplishment for finishing out their first year of high school, are looking longingly to the end of the school year, which can’t seem to come fast enough. With a taste of freedom from spring break (See “Adventures Away” on pgs.14-15), their remaining hours in class appear longer than ever.
OPINION EDITOR Linnea Leidy
Even though we as high school students are often encouraged to look at our similarities rather than our differences, in this case, it seems that our differences are what make us similar. We all travel from freshman to senior year, and we all experience the thrill of our last day of class, the fear of our first AP test, and the excitement of impending graduation. It is these distinctions between the classes that make each year of high school its own unique experience, its own exciting adventure to look forward to and its own unforgettable memory to look back on. So, this being the April issue of The Mustang, our second-to-last issue of the school year, we ask you take a step away from the ups and downs of whatever year you are in high school, and to enjoy what time is left in this year. After all, you only get to be a freshman, sophomore, junior, or a senior once. -Julia Shapero, Managing Editor
ASST OPINION EDITOR Mallika Seshadri FEATURES EDITOR Kieran Zimmer ASST FEATURES EDITOR Erin Maxwell ARTS/HUMOR EDITOR Mary Ford SPORTS EDITORS Natalie Haghani Vicky Van Der Wagt ONLINE EDITOR Kate Sequeira ASST ONLINE EDITOR Sophie Hughes PHOTO EDITOR Patrick Hall BUSINESS MANAGER Yariizette Sequeria DESIGN EDITORS Hannah Elias
BRIDGET BRIGHTFIELD
EYTAN CAMRAS
Cover Artist
Backpage Photographer
For sophomore Bridget Brightfield, art has been a part of her life since she was little. “Ever since I was little, I just did it a lot,” Brightfield said. “It came easy to me.” Brightfield’s piece in this issue is based on her memories of playing on her childhood computer. “My inspiration for this [piece] is actually an old mac that I have in my garage,” Brightfield said. “I used to play this one game, Kid Pix, which is a 90s drawing application that was super old and I would just log hours into that…it was my favorite.” Despite featuring a macbook computer in her art instead of humans, Brightfield believes that the piece is a self-portrait. “I kind of joke that everything I make is a self-portrait, and, even if it’s not a picture of me, it kind of represents me in a way,” Brightfield said.
Eytan Camras began his journey into film photography after a tragedy.“My grandfather, who was dying from lung cancer, gave me his two favorite cameras and I started using those,” said Camras. Even after he purchased a digital camera, film is still his preferred method of taking photos. “It’s kind of like a birthday present…You have no idea what you’re going to get and then you see it, and you just say ‘wow that’s awesome!’ Every single time you use it, it’s that same experience.” Eytan Camras continues to use his grandfather’s film cameras, carrying on the analog tradition across generations.
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STAFF WRITERS Rosy Alvarado Nadia Ballard Maddy Campbell Citlally Contreras Austin Dilley Alyssa Fisher Layla Gantus Anna Griffin Sarah LaVake Megan Levan Michael McQuarrie Lucas Oldham Sonia Rathee Jack Salz Joshua Santana Brittany Serbin Katherine Tarangelo Madison Vance Chloe Williams Sylvia Young ADVISOR Tim Roberts The Mustang is the student newspaper of San Dieguito Academy. Advertisements do not necessarily reflect the opinion of the newspaper. The Mustang is an open forum which welcomes letters. Letters can be submitted to room 16, emailed to sdamustang@gmail.com or mailed to the address below. San Dieguito Academy Room 16 800 Santa Fe Drive Encinitas, CA 92024
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april 27
the mustang
Parking by the Numbers $47.50
Cost of a ticket
23
Tickets issued by April last year
72
Tickets issued by April this year
2
Campus supervisors this year, up from one last year
The lower student lot is near maximum capacity. Photo by Katherine Tarangelo.
Parking Lots Bring Complaints An increase in tickets and decrease in available spots have students complaining. How will the administration respond, both in the short term and in future years? By Olivia Olander.
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he recent increase in tickets and full lots can be attributed to a combination of factors, such as a new campus supervisor issuing tickets and a large sophomore class just getting their licenses, said Assistant Principal Robert Caughey. An uptick in the $47.50 tickets and lack of spaces has caused frustration for student drivers, as expressed at the Forum on March 31. At the Forum, Principal Bjorn Paige said the more parking will be added with construction in the future, but students requested a quicker shortterm response. Parking citations have more than tripled compared to the number issued by April last year, from 23 to 72, said Administrative Secretary Leah Ryan-Sonnich. This can be attributed at least partially to the hiring of another campus supervisor, Caughey said. “We’re able to cover more ground,” said Caughey. “Whereas before Leslie [England, previously the sole campus supervisor] could only get one lot at a time, now with Anthony [Valencia, the new campus supervisor] and Leslie, we can cover multiple lots.”
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The new enforcement has caused confusion for some students, many of whom were not expecting citations. “I was parked in the teacher lot because there was absolutely no parking anywhere, and I ended up getting a ticket and I didn’t even get a warning,” said junior Makena Garvey. “I know people who have gotten warnings in the past and I just don’t think it’s fair that… now people are getting tickets right away because it’s a lot of money.” Senior Gabi Gjata said she was “shocked and upset” to receive a ticket when she brought a different car to school than the one with her parking permit. “Fortunately, I got it appealed since I do have a parking sticker and didn’t know I had to write a note on the dashboard, so I was pretty relieved I didn’t have to pay the ticket.” Savannah Casey, senior, said she got two tickets for parking in the front lot after her free first, was misinformed by someone she believed to be an administrator and repeatedly turned away from the office when she tried to discuss her complaints.
“I was told that I basically just needed to come earlier to try and get a spot, but the reason why I took a free first was because I had prior engagements that prevented me from coming any earlier,” she said. She said she believes the increase in supervision for the lots may be helping to alleviate the full lots. “It just seems like problems weren’t being fixed, however, parking has seemed a little better now that we have active patrolling,” Casey said. Caughey said that the citations are real DMV tickets and the payment doesn’t go to the school. Beyond formal citations, students said overcrowded lots have become commonplace since the beginning of second semester. “I have a free first, and by the time I get [to school] there’s no parking,” said junior Mia Staples. “I’ve been coming earlier and earlier every day to the point where it’s like 1520 minutes earlier, and there’s still no parking and I’m parking close to the church because that’s the closest spot I can find… I’ve been late and it’s progressively getting worse. It’s not my fault because I’ve had my pass all year.”
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However, despite students parking on the streets, the sheriff department has not received complaints of students parking in the residential areas around SDA, said Lieutenant Mark Moreno. With some underclassmen growing old enough to get their licenses late in the school year, the lots fill faster, Caughey said. Each year, 400 parking permits are distributed to students filling 313 available student spots, said Ryan-Sonnich. This is to accommodate for daily absences of permit holders, she said. “It’s just not very fair that sophomores are getting spots… Junior year is a very important year, and getting to class late doesn’t benefit you academically,” said Garvey. Caughey said that a group of administrators discussed possible solutions during a meeting after the Forum. He said they are considering opening up spots for students in the staff lot and along Santa Fe, or reworking the designated staff spots in the lower student lot. Nothing has officially be implemented yet. The teacher lot appears far less crowded than the upper and lower lots on a daily basis. On one Thurs-
day during fourth period, there were 83 empty spots in the front lot. The next week, a count of empty spots in the lower lot during third period yielded just one spot - a designated staff space. “Designating more spots for students is a good idea because a lot of students who have free firsts have trouble finding parking. Also, it is stressful to have to get [to school] early just to get a spot,” said junior Laura Nicol. Caughey added that the staff is striving for a long term solution to the issue. “This time of year we’re always going to feel a crunch as those new students come on board with their licenses, but…next year, when the seniors will have exited, it kind of evens itself out for a little bit,” he said. Caughey added that the PQuad will be redesignated as a parking lot once the latest building project (a 33 room building on the northeast corner of campus that has not begun construction) is completed, but plans suggest that may not be until 2019. Additional reporting by Rosy Alvarado and Brittany Serbin.
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Dr. Jones to Retire
Jones is retiring at the end of 20 years at SDA. By Kate Sequeira.
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hen Assistant Principal Jeanne Jones was four years old, she used to line up her dolls and play school. Now after 51 years working in education, she is retiring. “I thought maybe it’s time, and I wanted to leave while I still love my work and while I still have my health,” Jones said. Jones said she will miss working with teenagers once she retires. “I think I will miss a feeling of purpose,” she said. “I will miss a feeling of connection to teenagers and I think it has kept me feeling very young and understanding the world we live in.” Many will miss Jones after she leaves SDA. “I just think she is in many ways the heart of SDA,” English teacher
Rob Ross said. “She’s taught me a lot about how to be respectful, kind [and how to] help people and also [to be] firm and strong all at the same time.” Teachers trust the way she handles students. “Whenever I have a really serious problem with a student or something bigger I’ll go to her,” Ross said. “There’s an immense amount of trust there. I trust where she’s coming from as a person. She always only wants to help people and I trust her judgment and her wisdom.” Although Jones has no particular post-retirement plans, she is interested in volunteering with the Court Appointed Special Advocates program (CASA) after she leaves SDA. “I am thinking of becoming one of those volunteers that works with
Jones “moshes” with students during Exhibition Day last year. Photo by Patrick Hall. kids who have court cases or are in foster care or need to advocate,” Jones said. “I’d like to do that where you would have a few students that you just really help. You’re there to support them.” The program connects volunteers with children and the people in those children’s lives so that volunteers can inform judges of their needs. Jones said she will miss Home-
room Olympics. “I love the students on that committee,” she said. “The students plan it and it’s so much fun and it’s so scary because we have to make an event for hundreds of people that has to start and finish in 20 minutes. It’s such a challenge but it’s always so much fun for me to see the kids in action.” Jones first began working at SDA
three months before the academy opened as a counselor. “The first time I saw [SDA], I lived in New York and I was visiting my sister,” Jones said. “She showed me the high school and there was a palm tree on the front lawn and I thought, ‘How do you have a palm tree at a school?’ I always loved the school and the palm tree.”
Digging into Environmental Sciences
Earth and environmental sciences make their way into core classes. By Mallika Seshadri.
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n the first day of school, amid the recounting of memories from summer break, roughly 30 students strolled confidently — or, in some cases, lollygagged — into AP Environmental science. The relatively few students enrolled were among a small group of individuals who attained a scientific understanding of the environment at SDA this year. To educate students in these previously neglected topics (especially given many students solely persue recommended biology, physics and chemistry courses), earth and environmental sciences will be woven into the preexisting science curriculum beginning at the middle school level in the 2018-2019 school year; it will subsequently be phased into high school curriculum once students “have had exposure to [it] in Middle School” said SDA department chair Jocelyn Broemmelsiek. This change garnered the support
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of most SDUHSD science teachers and was one the district elected to adopt. Science Teacher on Special Assignment Jennifer McCluan explained that after this change’s implementation, earth and environmental sciences will be integrated into core biology, chemistry and physics classes. She explained, more specifically, that students will “explore the changes that are happening in climate and what effects those changes are having on life [in biology classes]. In the chemistry course, students would explore ocean acidification, and students would evaluate power plant technologies in physics.” Broemmelsiek said a potential result of environmental sciences being interspersed into core science classes is there may be some overlap as certain topics could be addressed in more than one scientific discipline. For example, “plate tectonics fits both [biology] (evolution and fos-
sil record) and physics (energy and plate movement)” she said. Broemmelsiek added that students can expect a classroom climate that fosters an “application of science knowledge” rather than one that values memorization of definitions and formulas. She described this shift in educational philosophy to be a “huge change for science education.” According to Broemmelsiek, this change will aid students’ understanding of how humans relate to and interact with their natural surroundings. A strong proponent of this change, she said it will “give students a more scientific understanding of where they fit in the bigger scheme of life. This is an important perspective as young adults mature into participating members of our society.” McCluan, another steadfast supporter of this alteration, added that 80 percent of high school students in the district pursue science cours-
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es beyond the two mandatory years of lab science but still fail to be educated in earth and environmental sciences: “Unless [students] enroll in Earth-Space Science, Advanced Placement Environmental Science, or have a science teacher who incorporates these topics into their other science classes, the majority of students in our district never experience [earth and environmental science] content during high school.” Once this change has been implemented, courses that focus on earth and environmental sciences, such as Earth and Space, will be phased out, with the exception of AP Environmental Science, said McCluan. Senior Justin Goad said this change is not only beneficial, but timely, “especially with our current administration.” According to Goad, it is pivotal to change “the way our environment is being looked at.” Junior Olivia Hussey speculated this new curriculum will “do won-
ders” and elicit necessary changes in people’s attitudes toward the environment. She said there is a lacking of “awareness about environmental issues” and suggested that education is one of society's strongest assets in mitigating such challenges. Both Goad and Hussey agreed this change is one students should look forward to, especially if they enjoy science. Reflecting on her experience having taken AP Environmental Science, Hussey said “[Being educated in earth and environmental sciences] ... has helped make me more aware of what role I have in the ecosystem and how I can have an impact by doing really simple things.” McCluan said as the process progresses to implement this change in curriculum, there will be information nights for both parents and students “to keep our community informed.”
april 27
the mustang
Dear______, Staff Editorial: If you want this choice position...
T These often-empty spaces should be designated for student parking. Photo by Patrick Hall.
Provide Parking Staff Editorial: SDA needs an immediate fix.
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ou know your school has a problem if you pull into the parking lot five minutes early, and every single spot is already taken. It’s undeniable—the parking situation at San Dieguito has gotten out of hand. Here’s what needs to happen, as soon as possible: 1. At least one of the rows in the front lot should be allocated to student spots. There are typically more than 50 parking spots in the lot unoccupied throughout the day. We’re aware that this change might add to the crowded pick-up and drop-off chaos that’s present every day, but ultimately this is a temporary price that we’ll have to pay. Students are
willing to brave the front-lot pandemonium if it means they’ll escape the plight of parking blocks away (it’s important to note that having to walk to school from a car parked blocks away makes would-be-punctual students late, and poses a security risk given recent events). 2. A fraction of the parking spots in the student lot that are labeled “Staff ” should be converted to regular spots. Teachers have several private lots of their own available for their use, and many of these “Staff ” spots remain unoccupied throughout the day (just like those in the front lot). Sometimes “Staff ” spots are the only ones left in the lot, but students who park in them out
of desperation are stuck with parking tickets. Converting even just a couple of these “Staff ” spots to student spots provides a couple more students with parking spaces, and even that can alleviate some of the problem. Ultimately, the key to this situation is that action needs to be taken as soon as possible. Having a brand new parking lot available once the 30s have been demolished will be great in the future, but that does nothing for us students who are currently facing the consequences of an overabundance of parking stickers. Even if it’s temporary—an immediate solution is needed.
he news of Principal Bjorn Paige’s departure has left much of the SDA community saddened. He not only enhanced SDA’s already distinct culture, but became part of it: singing at school assemblies, playing in Comedy Sportz games at Cabaret night, and showing up in Pikachu onesies. It is our hope that our new principal will also personify such unique facets of SDA that students take such pride in. The Mustang values Paige’s support of students’ attempts to raise thier voices. With Paige as principal, students held a walkout and a senior sleepover, both of which garnered much attention and would perhaps be unlikely at another campus. The support students feel from Paige is one we hope will continue on campus. It not only empowers students, but makes us feel like our hopes, voices and actions are valid as young adults. SDA’s culture known for its creativity whether it be in murals around campus, performances, or the dress code--which students beg will not be tightened. We hope SDA’s new principal will promote this creative spirit. The Mustang has also found Paige to be supportive of students in SDA’s strong academic environment.
Students appreciate the frequent visits Paige makes to their classrooms and the interactions they share. We hope that moving forward, our principal will show the same level of involvement. Paige can be spotted at nearly every event on campus ranging from concerts to plays to sports games. Students appreciate this level of commitment from their administration. Furthermore, Paige wrote a blog and when asked to contribute a letter to for the time capsule, Paige provided students with pages and pages of documents. Students will miss this commitment, and we hope our new principal will treat our campus and its students and staff with the same level of care. In fact, many recollected Paige’s interest in interacting with students across campus with much appreciation. One of the most recurring compliments owed to Paige is his willingness to listen to students with much open mindedness. It is essential moving forward that at a school like SDA, where student voices matter, our principal is someone who will listen to the needs and hopes of the student body and bring such ideas to fruition. The staff editorial represents the collective voice of The Mustang in regards to controversial current
Let’s Talk About Sex
High schools need to improve the quality of their insufficient sexual education. By Linnea Leidy.
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nswer this question honestly for me: Did you actually learn anything substantial in the sexual education course you had to take, freshman year? I know that I certainly didn’t, because my “sex ed” consisted of a series of online videos featuring a heavilyaccented man who was very difficult to understand, 97% of which I slept through. The insufficient, dilapidated system that society likes to call sexual education is in desperate need of improvement. Even here at SDA, where our academics are considered to be top-notch, students lack
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a proper curriculum that truly prepares them for scenarios that arise when someone is sexually active. As I mentioned earlier, sex ed for me and many of my peers meant pretending to watch out-of-date videos, and faking our way through tests that we knew didn’t matter. We weren’t taught by a certified teacher. There was no opportunity to ask questions or have discussions. Due to the nature of the online course, none of us retained any of the lackluster information that was presented to us. All of this is supposed to have left me feeling comfortable, knowledgeable, and aware
of sex-related matters, but I know that if this had been my sole source of sexual education (as it is for many students across the country), I’d find myself extremely naïve and unprepared. Sex ed appears to fall very low on the list of prioritized classes, despite the fact that it’s one of the most important and relevant subjects that students need to learn. If students aren’t taught this material in school, they’re forced to obtain it through outside sources that are often untrustworthy and ineffective. Calculus gets more attention and resources than sex ed does, and
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while I know for certain that there’s topics related to sex ed that I will need to know later in life, I can tell you right now that I will never again need to find the area encompassed by an intersecting hyperbola and sinusoidal curve. Here’s what sexual education should look like: the material should be extensive and in depth. It should be taught by a qualified teacher who has the educational experience and background necessary to adequately instruct on the subject. It should be led in a constructive classroom environment, where kids have the opportunity to engage in discussions
and ask questions. And though I can hear students groan even as I write this, the course should have a more significant impact on students’ grades and GPA. If the class continues to don its “easy A” reputation, then students will continue to blow it off and not take it seriously. Though it might not be the most riveting subject, neither are Calc AB or chemistry. Sexual education deserves just as much attention as other subjects, if not more, because while doing math can make people like me hate their lives, sexual education can save lives.
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College Admissions: It’s a Crapshoot
The sad truth about today’s college admissions. By Megan Levan.
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aitlist: An island of dread and despair. Sometimes Waitlistees (the native inhabitants of the island) can escape if they weave their past achievements and admissions officer buttkissing skills into a raft to transport them to shore. Most drown during the process. Middlebury College, in Middle-ofnowhere, Vermont has banished me to their waitlist island. It takes a minute to let that soak in seeing that I have been imagining myself there ever since I visited last April. Waitlisted. To my top choice school. Joy. At least I wasn’t rejected? It’s a weak consolation, if any at all. Unfortunately, this is all too com-
Art by Kirstin Mueller.
mon for the seniors receiving their college decisions. Each year students apply to more and more colleges, making the process even more competitive and nerve-wracking. The worst part is that the admissions process is a total crapshoot. With so many qualified students applying to so many schools, getting in could come down to the flip of a coin. We have all heard of the holistic review process (fairly reading each part of a student’s application without judgment for any low SAT scores or non-existent AP classes), but in the end, how much of the decision comes down to luck? It turns out, quite a bit. Let’s say it’s down to you and one other applicant (How about Jim?). You both have the same SAT
score, same GPA, and are overall a great fit for the school (Harvard? Why not?). But Jim plays the piccolo. And Harvard admissions officers are trying to fill their marching band. Jim is in. You’re left to perish on Waitlist Island or drown in Reject Reef where your raft imploded just a few feet from the shore. But you’ll be okay. We all will. Because you will learn to love the school that loves you back. Because those rejections are not a reflection of you or your accomplishments—they’re a reflection of our crapshoot college admissions system. So don’t go beating yourself up. Sometimes, they just need a piccolo.
View the LGBTQ
Support SDA’s LGBTQ+ community. By Maddy Campbell.
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n terms of having an LGBTQfriendly environment, SDA could be the Hillcrest of schools. Regardless of gender or sexuality, students feel free to rock dyed hair, piercings, and clothes of all colors and styles. Despite this sense of individuality, I’m sure I’m not alone when I say the LGBTQ community at our school has diminished over the last few years. Yes, people are still free to look and dress however they want (and occasionally are encouraged to in some cases), but the presence of the LGBTQ community at SDA has all but disappeared. People have stopped talking so much about sexuality and gender identities, turning them into more taboo topics. Many students have been heard using more slurs or offensive phrases. Some same-sex couples aren’t as open with their relationships. Attendance at GSA club meetings dropped dramatically within the past couple of years.
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According to President of the GSA Blake-Stoner Osborne, only 20 students participated in Day of Silence in 2016. Whatever the reason, it’s gotten to a point where many don’t feel like having that community is necessary. This couldn’t be farther from the truth. Students are able to be open about their gender and sexuality within SDA’s bubble, but unfortunately there are still many people outside the school that don’t approve or support LGBTQ causes. Whether it’s family, friends outside of school, or people you meet from day to day, many LGBTQ students don’t receive support from other environments. Not only would a stronger community at SDA provide students with a support system that empowers them to face discrimination of the outside world, but it would also provide a platform for cisgender heterosexual allies to better show support and take action. Having this community at school
is so incredibly important for both LGBTQ students and allies, and there’s a lot we can do to bring it back. Inform yourself about LGBTQ issues in politics and the local community. Start conversations about it. Don’t be afraid to ask questions and talk to other students who are LGBTQ. The GSA is a great place to do this, but even talking about issues outside of the club can make a difference. As the political situation for LGBTQ people shifts dramatically, the necessity for the community grows. In addition to the recent legislation on transgender bathroom rights, it’s difficult for LGBTQ people to have their voices represented in politics because most of the president’s cabinet opposes LGBTQ rights. Now more than ever is the time to show support and provide a community where LGBTQ students and allies know their voices matter.
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“Day of Silence” used to be a notable, school-wide event (as seen in the photo above), but its popularity and participation has diminished over the years.
april 27
the mustang
Inappropriate Outfits or...Attitudes? The media needs to portray all women the same regardless of body type. By Layla Gantus.
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magine being a fourth grade teacher and being reprimanded and humiliated, publicly nonetheless, for dressing in school appropriate clothes . I know what you’re thinking: “Why would a teacher be told off if she was dressed appropriately?” Well, this is exactly what happened to Patrice Brown, a teacher from Atlanta who posted some selfies of her at school. She ended up with a few dissenters online after the photos went viral under the hashtag #TeacherBae. The reason Brown went viral and attracted haters was because she was a curvy black woman - simple as that. If a skinnier teacher was wearing a pink dress that was up to her neck and to her knees it wouldn’t’ve been an issue but Brown has a body type that society believes doesn’t belong in a classroom. This should not be an issue; Brown does not deserve to be
treated like this for simply existing. Women with more voluptuous bodies (especially women of color) get treated like sexual objects and sometimes it has real repercussions for the women – like it did for Brown. She could’ve lost her job if she had different bosses who were more offended by her body. Women, no matter what size or color, shouldn’t have their bodies and what they wear policed by anyone. Sadly, this isn’t common practice yet. Women of color are dealing with a lot more discrimination based on body type than white women. Take Nicki Minaj for example, a curvy black pop-star, who has been under constant scrutiny for her body type and choices she makes regarding her dress and dance. Minaj has been constantly put down by the general public including feminists themselves. When Minaj asserts her sexuality she is seen as vile.
A degrading wax figure of her on all fours was put into Madame Tussauds Las Vegas. The wax figure takes makes her seem like just a sexual object instead of a very successful artist. People visiting the museum also took inappropriate photos with Minaj’s wax figure. On the other end of the scale is Miley Cyrus when the a skinny white popstar started wearing less and twerking she was treated as a joke at worst and a martyr for embracing her sexuality at best. This type of discrimination against curvy women and women of color has real psychological effects. It shows young girls that they are worth their bodies only. That it is okay to be treated as less than human. That other people get a say in what they do with their bodies. None of these are acceptable ways for someone to be treated and society needs to respect all women for their choices.
Teacher Patrice Brown was villianized for wearing a normal dress to work. Image from Essence Magazine, a publication for black women.
Standards for Body Hair Aren’t Fair Many women have started growing out body hair because of unrealistic societal expectations. By Hannah Elias.
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Women should be able to have any type of body hair without fear of judgment or criticism. Illistration by Hannah Elias.
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s part of the feminist movement, many women have stopped shaving, instead opting for leg forests and fuzzy pits. Trends such as brightly colored armpit hair have become increasingly popular. In many European cultures, female body hair is widely accepted; however in most western cultures, female body hair is seen as repulsive and disgusting. Many women who have body hair whether that be leg, arm, or pubic hair are degraded and shamed for their hair care habits, and many feel pressure to meet certain standards of maintenance. In the US, body hair removal ranges from shaving to threading to waxing. However, enough is enough. Female body hair is something that is naturally occurring and body hair removal has no real benefits other than giving women the silky smooth feeling that has become so desirable. Many women have become fed up with unfair body hair expectations, finding empowerment in shaving
their heads and letting their bushes grow. In today’s society women are expected to be tall and skinny and to have long, silky hair and flawless skin. It’s no surprise that women are sick of these ridiculous standards. Instead of trying to meet these expectations, women have begun challenging them. By growing out their body hair, women are choosing to make a statement, showing that they have had enough of the unfair, unequal societal standards. In no way are women trying to say, “I can grow out my leg hair just like men!” Instead, women are challenging the idea that they can’t. At the end of the day, women should be able to manage their body hair in any way they please, instead of taking shit for being prickly or having more than a 1/16th inch of hair on their arms or legs. Women should be able to find empowerment in any way they please and not be shamed or pressured into meeting unjust social norms.
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the mustang
No Taxation on Menstruation Feminine products are basic necessities. By Sarah LaVake and Vicky van der Wagt
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It’s 2017. Enough is enough and the people are boycotting all feminine products. The world is in turmoil. There is blood everywhere. Photo illustration by Austin Dilley.
here’s nothing more dreaded in the life of a girl than the moment you feel your period starting. Every month we are uncomfortably greeted by the costly, painful, and not so fun, period. We feel moody, exhausted, and sick for days at a time. If the actual symptoms of this unfortunate biological “blessing” aren’t torturous enough, the government politely taxes the very products that make it a tiny bit more bearable without actually listening to the opinions of people it affects. This classifies as taxation without representation since no women are actually a part of the decision. Year after year, women’s healthcare has been decided on in rooms full of men without consideration from women. How does this seem effective? Men aren’t the ones who have to experience periods and cramps, women are, so why aren’t rooms full of women deciding our fate? In the state of California, food products and water are not taxed, since they are deemed as “necessities of life,” along with many health and safety materials, such as first aid kits and prescription drugs. Governor Jerry Brown’s decision to allow
taxing feminine products such as tampons and pads in September of 2016, arguing that “tax breaks are the same as new spending” has sparked much controversy regarding what is deemed as a “basic necessity.” If we are going to be real, you don’t need them to survive. But neither do you need clothes or shampoo or shoes, and if all menstruating women suddenly had blood running down their legs, nobody would be happy. If women choose to not use taxed feminine products, they are criticized by society due to their lack of using the products. This leaves women with one option, paying the for the taxed necessities. Feminine products should not be taxed. Yes, you do not need them to survive, but there are no substitutes. Many Americans struggle to make ends meet, and with an average monthly cost of about $10 for feminine products (not including painkillers, lost clothing, and chocolate), in California, taxes bring up the price by 73 cents. Taxes from feminine products are collected by the government, and then used towards programs and solutions that don’t support where the tax came from.
Defending Self-Defense
School policy gives students few options when it comes to bullying. By Michael McQuarrie
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oday, we have become a society that views even selfdefense as an intolerable act of physical violence. Our school systems have established zero-tolerance policies, in which no violence is allowed, even in self-defense. Seeing as how this effectively bans all forms of violence, students are left with but a few options when it comes to being bullied. The first of these options is to try and run away and hide, leaving the kid with a few bruises and a sore ego. While this may seem like a grand idea to those who govern our school system, most physical oppressors
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are bound to be more physically fit than their targets, therefore making this option a long shot, and a poor one at that. This will most likely just end up with the bully resuming their beat down on the target. Even if the student does get away, they are now left open to even more social ridicule than before, for they were too scared to even do anything except run. The next option for students to take is just accept the beating. If a student is to curl up and take the punches of the bully, they can expect to suffer through massive pain that they are unable to fight against.
Then, after their period of suffering, they can go to a counselor and ask to get the bully expelled. However, this only works if the student is brave enough to risk future assaults. If a bully finds out that one of their targets got them expelled, they are likely to further assault the student. Therefore, even in the most ideal circumstance, the student has to take a beating to get anything done about the bullying. The final option for students is to fight back. If a student can land a wild punch, they open the possibility of escaping and putting an end to their torment. Unfortunately, even
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if a student manages to accomplish this feat, the action of them harming another student is deemed unacceptable by the school, regardless of who instigated the attack. Here, defending oneself is met with either a suspension or an expulsion, permanently damaging student’s permanent records and diminishing their chances of getting into a good college. In the face of these three choices, the sad result is that most students end up taking the second option. This should never be the case. Taking a beating should never be the first option that a student goes to;
it should be their last possible alternative. At the very least, students ought to have the right to try and defend themselves without fear of repercussions. Now, I’m not arguing that a repeal of the zero-tolerance policy will end bullying in schools. Nor am I trying to promote fighting at school. I simply want to allow students to protect themselves if they are being physically attacked. I want students to be empowered, to respect themselves and their rights as a human being. It is a necessity that students have the power to defend themselves without the fear of ruining their lives.
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Asking For Your Worth
Women should be confrontational when it come to salary negotiations. By Madison Vance
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ou and I both are subject to social norms and some of them stem from things as little choices in language. Colloquialisms such as “like a girl,” “grow a pair,” and “pussy” easily slip off the tongue these days but are rooted in sexism and continue to enforce the ideas that femininity is frail and that women should be non confrontational. Society wrongly teaches females to accept less success at the expense of men achieving more. Although women are able to perform and deliver as well as their
male counterparts, they are often not comfortable self-advocating for equal pay, representation, and respect, or even realize that it is an option. The culprit behind it are the societal expectations females unknowingly adhere to which in turn propagate inequality in pay and professional accomplishment. This isn’t just a fable. Manifesting itself at my mother’s work, two of her colleagues with the same title and performance record are receiving significantly different salaries. The woman makes over 10 percent
less the man does. But why? She simply hasn’t asked for a raise and the company is unlikely to offer her one if she is willing to stay with the company for her current salary. Further disadvantaging women in the professional environment is a common polarization of perceived acceptable behavior that leaves women between a rock and a hard place. Kathleen McCarthy, president of Smith College, detailed how social norms affect women in the workplace in her column in the New York Times: “[I]f women adopt the
norms of a leader — commanding, decisive and assertive — we may be punished for being too bossy, too pushy, too strident, too ambitious, too scary.” Along with this is the idea that there is a fine line between aggressive and convincing, and it’s a line you don’t want to cross. It can be hard to ignore the opinions of others and move on when your reputation and the respect of your peers are at stake. If women speak up, they are called “bitches”; if they stay quiet, they are overlooked and not
respected. While I believe that the social norms I have mentioned affect women in regards to the wage gap, I also think it is important that everyone recognizes the importance of asking for what they are truly worth. I believe that women should have to advocate for themselves, just as men do. It can be an important distinction in the job market and a character builder. I believe that women should recognize self advocacy as an option and shouldn’t feel discouraged from asking for their worth.
An Artistic Take on Free the Nipple
Instagram’s hyporcritical censorship policies hurt artists. By Hannah Elias
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n an age of social media, many freelance artists have taken advantage of this platform to share their work. Many of these artists however, are having their work censored and taken down due to violations of the community guidelines. The Instagram community guidelines read: “We know that there are times when people might want to share nude images that are artistic or creative in nature, but for a variety of reasons, we don’t allow
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nudity on Instagram. This includes photos, videos, and some digitallycreated content that show sexual intercourse, genitals, and close-ups of fully-nude buttocks. It also includes some photos of female nipples, but photos of post-mastectomy scarring and women actively breastfeeding are allowed. Nudity in photos of paintings and sculptures is OK, too.” While the guidelines read that nudity is paintings and sculptures is ok, many artist have had their work
taken down. Instagram claims that they want to be a safe and authentic place for inspiration and expression. However, by putting restrictions on artist, they are no longer allowing for authentic expression. The hyposexualization of an artist’s work restrict them in the ways that they can promote their work. It appears that one of Instagram’s main concerns is the portrayal of female nipples as they make a point of specifying that pho-
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tos of post-mastectomy scarring and women actively breastfeeding are allowed, where the woman’s nipple would not be present or visible are acceptable. Due to the nature of some artist’s work, they are constantly having their work taken down off the site. As a result, many artists have been forced to make their accounts private in order to have the freedom to post their work. This makes it extremely diffi-
cult for these artists to share and promote their work. Not only does this restriction make their work less accessible to the public, but it also creates a lot of extra work for artists who now have to constantly be allowing people to view their work. The entire purpose of artist running accounts on sites like Instagram is so that they can promote their work, and a large part of that is insuring that their work is easily accessible.
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This One Time... Professional storytelling as a career path, and some student stories for y’all to read! Story and photos by Erin Maxwell Once upon a time, in a land far far away (actually, not necessarily that far away), bards would travel the world reciting epics, and societies would record history in the minds of their descendants simply by telling narratives. There was none of that writing nonsense that we have nowadays. Luckily, it turns out that the centuries old oral storytelling tradition isn’t completely gone, and it lives on through the work of professional storytellers. For all y’all who enjoy telling stories, there’s a way to (sort of) make a living out of it! Harlynne Geisler, a professional storyteller since 1980, has made a career out of telling stories (picture woman with microphone on stage) to audiences at various schools, libraries, colleges, festivals, and any other place in between. She also was a resident storyteller at the San Diego Museum of Art and wrote the book “Storytelling Professionally; the Nuts and Bolts of a Working Performer.” Milbre Burch started her storytelling career in 1978 after receiving a PhD in theater, whereupon she started touring her stories, as well as teaching others the art of storytelling. She now teaches “Storytelling as a Transferable Skill in Communicating Research” at the University of Missouri. These women make up but a small part of the industry, yet demonstrate a wide range of what one can do as a storyteller. From touring, to teaching, to writing books, people who want to tell stories have many choices as to what they do. These choices also mean that there’s a lot a variety among salaries. According to professional storyteller Slash Coleman, those who simply tell stories to audiences have pay that ranges from nothing (if it’s a hobby or you really aren’t good) up to $50,000 a year. Working through a group lends to a higher overall salary, mainly because it gives the storyteller more credibility to be supported by someone other than their mother. As for teaching jobs and book writing and all the other varieties of career paths, the salaries range too widely for me to tell you and you to care. Unless you are looking into this career path, in which case Google is a thing. In a world of movies and TV shows and books, storytelling seems in many ways to be a lost art form. However, with the help of professional storytellers like Geisler, Burch, and Coleman, as well as the following SDA students, the oral tradition in some small way lives on.
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Keely Fuller, junior, took on the ultimate babysitting battle and won, but not without a little help--and a little post traumatic stress. They Have Eyes Everywhere
I was babysitting for this little 2-year-old this one time, and he was perfectly fine, a little angel. So when the parents asked me to come back and babysit again, I was like heck yeah. But this time it was the 2-yearold and their little 10-month-old baby, and she was a crier, like very much a crier and I did not know this. The mom did not warn me of this. So she was asleep for a really long time and I was just hanging out with the 2-year-old, and then the little crying baby wakes up so I take her and I’m rocking her back and forth and we like play; we do stuff. Then it’s time for the kids to have dinner and start winding down, so I make the little 2-year-old’s dinner. As for the little baby, I’m like okay I need to change her diaper. So I go and change her diaper, and literally her head hits the counter so so lightly and she bursts into tears. She will not stop crying. And I’m literally trying for like an hour to get her to stop crying. And the little 2-year-old, I felt so bad because I wasn’t giving him any attention, and then at one point as I was trying to get the little baby to stop crying I accidently tripped over the 2-year-old and then he started crying, so it was great. And then I ended up having to call my mom to come help, and so she came and she put the baby to bed. And then she left, and the parents came back later and they’re like yeah, so we had a nanny cam and we were just wondering, who was that strange woman? So yeah, I don’t really babysit anymore.
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When she was in 6th grade, Angelique Velasco went to Girl Scout Camp. Now a junior, it still haunts her. My New Friend Wolfy
When I was a Girl Scout, I think this was in 6th grade. I went to a camp called Camp Winacka. This is a very outdoorsy kind of camp. It’s not sophisticated at all. It’s very rugged. And basically I was in a cabin with four other girls and our chaperones, and it had a screen door. Basically we woke up one morning and on the screen door was just this huge brown and gray spider, and it was like the size of my hand. It was disgusting. We had to like kick the door open to get out, and when we returned to the cabin later that night the spider was still there, so we were like “Oh I guess he’s here for the stay.” So we’re going to call him Wolfy. So then we kicked open the door again and we went to bed. The bunks are disgusting; so there are cockroaches everywhere and it’s awful, it's terrible. And then I got up in the middle of the night because I heard a noise outside, and there's just these wild turkeys running everywhere, but that's not the main point. But Wolfy the spider, I looked at the screen door and he was gone. So I woke up my mom and I said, “Mom, the spider’s gone.” And she was like, “Ok, go back to sleep.” So, I went back to my bunk and opened the sleeping bag and the spider was in my sleeping bag. I had to go sleep with one of the other girls in her cabin. The spider had crawled under the door and onto my sleeping bag in a number of minutes. I would not stop crying, and that’s how I developed my arachnophobia.
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When she was 11, junior Michelle He took a trip to Hollister. It was a traumatizing experience. She hasn’t gone back. The Terrors of Clothing Shopping
One time I was at the mall shopping with my mom, and we went into Hollister and I got a few things to try on. When I finished trying them on there was no rack to put the clothes back, so I was like, “Okay I’ll put them back myself.” So I had this pile of five or six things in my hand and I was going to put them back. I guess I must have been wearing Abercrombie or Hollister that day, so I was dressed kind of like a Hollister employee would have dressed, and I was carrying these clothes to put them back. Apparently when people try things on you're not supposed to put them back directly where they came; there’s a special rack. I don't know, it’s some employee thing. But basically, this guy who actually worked there came up and he was being really mean to me. He’s like, “That’s not where they go; you should know they don't go there.” And I was like, “I’m sorry, I just found them here.” He said, “That’s not how you do your job; didn’t they hire you to do a good job?” And I was like “I don't work here.” As soon as he said that he was like “Oh my god, I’m so sorry.” I was 11 at this time so I don't know why he thought that I worked there. And then the girl behind him was like, “I told you she didn't work here.” And he was like, “I’m sorry, I’ll take these off your hands.” I’ve never gone back since.
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A performer at Balboa Park makes tribal baroque music while singing opera.
We went to the rose terrace because everything else was closed by 6 o’clock.
Embark to the Park We do more than just eat for once. Story and photos by Layla Gatnus. Balboa Park is one of San Diego’s biggest tourist attractions. Most of us know about it but how often do we go down there? Probably not since our last elementary school field trip.
closed for a private event. Lovely. And the cherry blossoms were in bloom too. It could’ve made for a new profile photo but alas the wedding is more important than my Instagram.
In all honesty, however, it is more than just a tourist attraction because there is a lot to do and about half of it is free. Which is a big plus for any broke high school student. Pro tip: it’s an all day thing in case your best friend is an overbooked lunatic who can’t do anything for the entire first half of the day.
The only condolence however was that we didn’t have to pay the $10 admission fee and spend more money on what makes the world go round, food! So we decided to go wherever was open and free.
This is how my friend and I spent my day a couple Saturdays ago. We left ready for a jam-packed day at Balboa Park… at 3 o’clock. This left us a little bit rushed as everything closes at six because the retirees that volunteer at the park need to get to bed. The planned activities for the day were to go to the Japanese Friendship Garden, the Timken and anywhere else we can fit in before moving on to dinner downtown. But we of course didn’t get there until 3:50 and things were starting to close. The Timken, a (free) art museum (god bless!) that was on our roster was closing in about half an hour so we booked it down there and went in at the last minute, not knowing what to expect. We were met with a lot of classical European art from the last millennia. It was stunning. The artwork in there was on a different level. Each room focused on work from a different country with a special room that had prints drawn during different wars by different artists. My personal favorite was the French room with the center piece being the “Lovers in a Park” by Francois Boucher which depicted a man and a woman sitting together in a park with another woman walking across holding flowers in two baskets. They are surrounded by nature and have a cute dog in the corner. After, we went to the Japanese Tea Garden just to find out that it was
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We ended up watching a show-stopping street performance in one of the hallways. To start off the guy was singing, normal enough, but it was opera. Then if that wasn’t enough he was playing the violin, at the same time. On top of that he had bells wrapped around his ankles and was melodically stomping them as well. And for a while he was spinning around in a circle doing all three. I was baffled and thoroughly entertained. We also went over the bridge to the rose terrace and took time smelling the roses and they smell like nothing honestly. Then after everything was closed we drove down to north park to try a restaurant recommended by one of our friends who could be real life food critic. Soda and Swine specializes on meatballs but also has a an array of delicious side dishes as well. And while the meatballs were delicious in the sliders (3.50 per slider) that we got them in, the real star was their apple pie (5.00). We got one nice slice of apple pie and a side of soft serve ice cream with it and it was life changing. The pie comes warm like it was freshly out of the oven which contrasts perfectly with the cold icecream. One bite with both components was a taste of heaven. The entire day ended up being really good even if it wasn’t exactly what we planned. With the right attitude, the initial plan isn’t needed to have a good time.
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Adventures
Away
School-sponsored trips this month allow SDA students to travel around the globe, from California to Washington to Italy.
Junior Carolyn Knapp and Senior Hannah Elias stand in front of the Rialto Bridge in Venice, Italy before going to grab some gelato. Photo by Darian Haseyama.
Gondolas took SDA students and chaperones on tours through the Grand Canal and other channels of Venice. Photo by Maddy Campbell
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A group of SDA students almost large enough for a class gathered in the San Diego airport on the first day of spring break. In November 2016, art teacher Angela Jackson and math teacher Gail Lee invited their classes to a trip to Italy, on which 26 students decided to join them. Once in Italy, we were greeted by our tour guide who took us on a brief visit to Venice and Saint Mark’s basilica. Students enjoyed gondola tours of the canals and their first taste of real Italian gelato. Later, we got to try authentic Italian pizza, for which we were grateful after an intense day of exploring. Our time in Florence started with a visit to the Galleria dell’Accademia, where art history students nerded out over Renaissance altarpieces and the famous “David” by Michelangelo. We later got amazing views of the city from the top of the bell tower of the Duomo and roamed the jewelry market that stretched across the Ponte Vecchio. The group arrived in Rome just in time to visit the home of the Pope and the heart of Vatican City: the stunning Saint Peter’s Basilica. Later, we took a guided tour of famous structures in the city, such as the Coliseum, the Roman forum, and the Pantheon. We left Italy the next day with tears in our eyes, but already planning our next trips to the amazing country. Story by Maddy Campbell
Seniors Gabriela Navarro, Karla Peña and Zachary Glover looking out at the view of Seattle from the top of its iconic Space Needle. Photo by Mallika Seshadri.
Seniors Lila Duga and Natalia Pinpin looking up at a glass instillation at Chihuly Garden and Glass. Photo by Mallika Seshadri.
Students in SDA’s music program traveled to Seattle to compete in a festival that welcomes schools from around the nation. The two day trip began with participation in the Heritage Festival. The performance resulted in SDA’s band (combined wind ensembles) being the second to highest scoring concert band, and the jazz band being the highest scoring of all that competed! Additionally, four soloists from SDA were awarded the Maestro Award for musicianship (which is given to eight musicians out of a pool of hundreds) including senior Natalia Pinpin (oboe), and juniors Sofia Piedrafita-Ortiz (clarinet), Andrew Silverstein (alto saxophone), and Mallika Seshadri (flute and piccolo). SDA’s ensembles also earned two larger awards including the Adjudicator’s Award and Outstanding Band Group. Reflecting on the music program’s accomplishments, music teacher Jeremy Wuertz said,“We’re very proud of our student musicians, individually and as a group. It’s a great accomplishment.” The next day was set aside for fun and sightseeing where studetns gleefully hung out together and sang their way around the city. Story by Mallika Seshadri
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Sophomore Rachel Kanevsky, junior Natalie Paxton, junior Rachel Kaplan and freshman Molly Buhaenko practice yoga for the Instagram scavenger hunt at the festival. Photo courtesy of Rachel Kaplan.
Senior Yoni Kruvi performs his solo musical piece “Adolopho,” which won third place overall. Photo courtesy of Yoni Kruvi.
Students from SDA’s Thespian Troupe traveled to Upland, CA, for the California State Thespian Festival, commonly known as Thespicon. The students participated in three days of theater oriented events, including competitions, workshops and performances. SDA took home wins in the Solo Musical and Showcase categories, sent several students to the All State Show and performed a short play on the main stage. The workshops were intended to holistically train the students in a short 90 minute period. Students stumbled through a Tai Chi lesson, danced in a comedic movement course, and learned how to navigate theater in New York City. The workshops were taught by volunteers who were professionals in their fields. One highlight for students was a gigantic lightsaber battle, in which nearly all of the 1300 attendees gathered in the quad of Upland High School and cheered on high school stage fighters in Jedi cloaks. SDA thespians also ventured off campus for boba runs at TPumps up to six times throughout the weekend, and used the sugar/caffeine rush of multi flavored tea to survive the strain of late nights performing and early mornings rehearsing. Story by Olivia Olander
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Stressed, Depressed, Still Took The Test Students and teachers recount their misadventures during SAT and ACT testing. By Sonia Rathee, Nadia Ballard, and Citlally Contreras
Standardized testing has been considered the bane of student’s existence ever since it was introduced, and even more so when the ACT and SAT became an integral part of college acceptance. These tests are a stressful lurking presence in the back of many student’s minds. However, it doesn’t have to be. From projectile vomiting to pushy parents, the SAT and ACT might be terrifying to think about, but the mishaps and mayhem that occur during the tests help to remind us students that even at a test that might dictate the future of their education, not everything goes according to plan. Refusing to let her test be interrupted by another student, junior Shannon McGuire took matters into her own hands. “This really loud uncomfortable child next to me kept making super weird sounds and snorting while he was taking the entire test. Finally I got so mad, I turned and yelled at him and told him to shut up. The teacher asked ‘Did you say anything?’ and I just coughed and, said ‘No. Sorry, I’m sick.” Other students aren’t the only things that can disturb you during the test: junior Neesha Chockalingham was disturbed when the classroom that she was taking the ACT in had frogs in a terrarium and a “frog was staring at [her]. The frog jumped at the glass and scared [her] in the middle of the test.” Junior Michelle He also had an odd experience with her proctor during the ACT who “didn’t give us instruction on how to fill out the Scantron at all. We just immediately started the test, and then he was like ‘we are so much better than all the other classes, I am so efficient we’re gonna be so on time’. When we were done taking the test we finished like 30 minutes early and the proctor was like ‘this is what you get for having me, I’m just really good at this guys. You’re welcome.’ It’s not even like we could leave the class early.” Students struggle to stay focused during testing; however, senior Ross Urbina had an even harder time during the math portion of his test when he “got super mad at this problem and tensed [his] leg but then got a hamstring cramp and... couldn’t do any math because [he] was so focused on the pain.” The pain that these weighty tests cause students is not only physical, but also psychological. Stephanie Beraud, senior, experienced this firsthand when she arrived to check in for her test and was so nervous she projectile vomited. “It got on some people’s shoes,” she said. “I was so scared and embarrassed to go back so I just ran out and left the campus.” To say the least, she didn’t take her SAT that day. While the idea of taking the SAT without the help of a calculator isn’t vomit-inducing, it doesn’t help alleviate test anxiety. All hope was not lost for one senior girl however, when she “saw a drawer in the classroom that had a bunch of calculators inside.” She then “opened the drawer and grabbed a calculator... and when the test was over [she] just left it on the seat and went home.” “I took the SAT at Mt. Carmel’s campus, but they had new buildings and stuff and I was completely lost. So I just wandered around the campus for a while looking for my class,” senior Ashni Varma said, “I was half an hour late for the first part of the SAT because I got so lost walking around. I was so surprised they still let me in.” Deb Abrahamson, test organizer, once had a dad who “didn’t like the way that [she] was running things and refused to leave.” Abrahamson said that he “came to me on his cellphone and said, ‘I reported you to College Board!’ The assistant principal had to come and escort him off campus. The stories don’t end here, for as long as standardized testing exists, students will have experiences to share. Next time you’re stressing out over a test remember these accounts and have a laugh.
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Mare Cognitum: Space not Satan
Jacob Buczarski creates enthralling, intense, and beautiful art, entirely independently and in his own vision, going against all sorts of underground music norms in the process. By Kieran Zimmer.
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e live in a culture that loves extroversion, whether we realize it or not. Aspects of our lives we don’t often give much thought to (read: social media) place intense emphasis on the number of connections we make with others, and in both work and school settings collaboration is encouraged more than anything else. In such an extrovert-driven society, it falls to reason that working independently is somehow a lesser skill. However, individuals such as Jacob Buczarski, the sole member behind Orange County black metal band Mare Cognitum, use their selfdriven work ethics to create art unparalleled by many of their peers. Mare Cognitum (Latin for “The sea which has become known,” one of the moon’s craters) is one of the more recent torchbearers of United States black metal, releasing cosmic and enthralling music exploring themes of the unknown and mysterious since 2011.
Finding a Voice
Since not all of us were spawned in the darkest depths of burning forests, Buczarski was unafraid to share how he actually got into music growing up., and what drew him into recording solo. “Heavy guitar music pulled me in as a teenager, first with hardcore, and then death and thrash metal, and black metal later on. A lot of time was spent crawling through internet forums to find new bands, I was always searching for something that was fresh and different, so my taste widened pretty quickly thanks to the huge cataloging that was already happening online. To be honest I hated the sound of black metal for long time, and came around to it only after death metal sort of became a bit stale for me.” “While I’m pretty introverted I do like playing in bands,” said Buczarski. “I got into recording solo because I would head up recording demos for the bands I was in and got pretty good at it, and when my last band broke up and I didn’t really know anyone to start a band with, I just started doing it all myself. That’s really all there is to it. It was almost accidental, and then I realized I had a bit of a knack for it, so I continued.” I recently had the chance to send
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some interview questions to Buczarski via email, which he took about a month to respond to in order to give the best answers he could. “Since this interview was more wellresearched than some I get from big publications, I tried to return the effort you put into it,” he said. The thing that struck me the most about Jacob is that he was incredibly kind and approachable, not a misanthropic black metal elitist. His personality was revealed to be one of a normal guy who designs software and spends time with his girlfriend by day, while going to concerts and recording extreme metal by night.
New Offering
His most recent LP, “Luminiferous Aether,” was released in late 2016, much to the applause of the underground music community. The album throws the listener into a whirlwind of blast beats and tremolo riffing, transporting them into the depths of unknown galaxies, and even though the lyrics are nearly incomprehensible, their emotion and depth is undeniable. “The theme of the album is based in the idea of renewal and rebirth - a sort of dawning of awareness that I wish would happen for more people” said Buczarski about the new album. “I was imagining a world with more introspection where people as a whole actually disassemble their dogmas and back up their worldviews with carefully thought out reasoning.” In a genre like black metal, philosophy at this level is something often missed by many artists, those who cheesily advocate Satanism and Not only does Buczarski establish himself as a colorful goat in a black and white corpse-painted herd with his lyrics, his social media presence takes a similar route.
Ruffling Feathers
“Apparently, the most offensive thing I can do is dress modernly for my band photos and act like a relatively normal human being on social media,” he said when discussing the heavy use of facepaint and anonymity in metal. “That seems to ruffle more feathers of the underground elite than the most blasphemous record can hope to achieve.” Not only is Buczarski a normal person on social media, but in real life as well, something rarely acknowledged by underground ex-
Dallas Van Kempen as a high school punk (age 16) and as a father and businessman (age 43). Photos courtesy of by Dallas Van Kempen.
Buczarski is unafraid to dress like a normal human being in promo pictures, something not even the most blasphemous black metal acts can boast. Photo courtesy of Jacob Buczarski. treme music artists:. “I went on a hike just last Saturday. The drought is improving here in California as you know and there’s a lot of greenery and wildflowers blooming, it’s very beautiful. I’m not totally an outdoorsy person though, I try to keep a balance of things in life but in the end my general habits are pretty unexciting. I’m totally fine staying in for the weekend and working on the house, working on music, or just spending time with my girlfriend.”
Day to Day
This peek into Buczarski’s personal life continues when I ask him about his work as a software designer, probably the last job one would expect a black metaller to hold. In-
arts
terestingly enough, software design has more parallels to creating solo black metal than one might think: “I’m getting a big kick out of the fact that you looked at my linkedin. It’s so weird to me that these two aspects of my life are inevitably colliding. I never intended this from the beginning, it’s a little difficult to explain black metal in an office environment, but thankfully IT is pretty forgiving to weirdos, even if black metal is pretty much incompatible with corporate life. But on the actual topic of the tech-savvy required to record music, I certainly credit my abilities in technology as a major factor in my success as a home recording musician. It is easy
to understand a DAW and other audio processing software when you understand software design methodology in general. Even outside of that it has been helpful - right now I am working on building an application to automate my merch shipping processes. The hardware side of technology carries over into being able to work on my guitar myself and modify pedals and that sort of thing as well.” Contrary to common belief, one doesn’t have to be a church-burning satanist to create great black metal music. Jacob Buczarski might be the complete antithesis of 90’s Norwegian “trve” metal, but his art is all the more compelling because of it.
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the mustang
Sentinel
THE WORLD’S ONLY RELIABLE NEWSPAPER
What Does Your Favorite Trash Can Say About You? More than you thought it would be able to. By Sylvia Young and Vicky van der Wagt. Photos by Sylvia Young.
You’re that one kid in class that keeps the teacher distracted so the test gets moved back a day. Thank you for your service.
You’re probably a Gemini and all your friends are fake. You know they just use you but joke’s on them because you don’t actually care.
You listen to country music and other people’s conversations, but you’re really good at keeping it hidden. It’s probably because you’re an alien wearing a human suit.
You lurk in corners but for some reason you always know everything about everyone. You know things about people before they even know it themselves.
You just respond “okay” to everything and leave everyone on read. You probably only type in lowercase letters unless you’re writing a formal document.
Half of the time you don’t know where you are mentally or physically. You trip a lot, but you act like it was on purpose. The only reason you have friends is because you give
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humor
april 27
the mustang
Sentinel
THE WORLD’S ONLY RELIABLE NEWSPAPER
Crossword Puzzle
Ask A Senior
Complete this crossword puzzle complete with only SDA teacher last names. Remember, the rumors are not true. There is no hidden message.
Senior Chloe Williams helps gullible underclassmen navigate high school.
yearbook. 57. Is there anything the key teacher isn’t in charge of ? 99. CalcDROOLus? More like calCOOLus with this Luna Lovegood-esque INFP Ravenclaw 188. _______? I hardly see-her (maybe you could find her stage left, though)
Across: 5. Please don’t leave us *puppy dog eyes* 7. She’s pregnant! And we’ll never be Donne talking about it. 20. Strong like a bull, blonde like the best kind of brownie 22. If your worries are profuse or a new schedule need be produced, don’t be obtuse, visit Ms._______ april 27
25. If he isn’t in a kilt, beret, or golf cart, the end of the world is nigh. Find shelter. 35. Holden Caulfied doesn’t think she’s a phony; she’s just too darn nice! Hey, that’s a great clue, ‘enn ett? 42. n. Place of worship; Where you place your fingers in frustration when stressing out about how many times you’ll show up in the
Down: 3. Her dedication PALes in comparrison to her kindness 4. This teacher energética has a mop for a dog 16. This custodian keeps our school clean with eyes like a sparrow, it’s Carmen ________ 17. One can count, one can counsel 19. He played the villian in the good Spiderman movies as well as starring in Why Him? and The Interview 37.
+
+
+
99. Not the prestigious University, but the guy who could help you get into one
humor
What is the difference between the Learning Commons, the Library, and the Media Center? The library doesn’t exist because books are irrelevant, the Media Center is the center of media at SDA right in the, you guessed it, center of campus, and the Learning Commons is a hip new secret club open during lunch in the tunnels under the school. This week’s password can be found in P11 behind the Monopoly poster. When my teacher tells me to be silent during a test and somebody sneezes, am I allowed to say “God bless you”? Of course! But to be considerate to all groups and faiths, please follow it with “Salud, gesundheit, to your health, good one, ew gross!, and live long and prosper.” What is the school dress code? Feel free to rock those weed socks and Playboy shirts covered in naked women, as long as you wear shoes! I’m having trouble with my English homework. That’s not a question, so I’m not surprised.
How do I get to create my own mural at SDA? Actually it’s a little known secret that the writers for the Sentinel are in charge of such things. It costs $200 and your third born child. Please deposit these items in the bell tower, behind the 79th brick, at high noon. How do I check myself out of school when I turn 18? We apologize for the inconvenience, but the answer to this question has been censored as it contains confidential information. -Administration What does “SDA” stand for? Seriously? Have you ever heard of Google? It tells you from the first result that it’s “Seventh Day Adventist.” *Smh* Some people. Is this a real advice column? If a hen-and-a-half could lay an egg-and-ahalf in a day-and-a-half, how long would it take a monkey with a wooden leg to kick all the seeds out of a dill pickle? Stop asking stupid questions.
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the mustang
Sentinel
THE WORLD’S ONLY RELIABLE NEWSPAPER
This Year’s Brilliant Senior Prank Boggles It was epic. By Jack Salz.
L
ast week the most spectacular senior prank that has ever been witnessed by mankind graced the halls of San Dieguito Academy. Teachers and students alike stopped in their tracks as they attempted to process the awesome magnitude and power of this senior class’s handiwork. The amount of effort and energy that such an event must have taken shocked the school as many assumed this year’s prank would fail to inspire just like pranks from years past. Recently we’ve seen such lukewarm senior pranks as a surprise water balloon fight that ended with school staff getting pelted with rocks
as well as the senior class just bringing watermelons to school for no obvious reason. To top it off, last year’s senior class simply lay down to block other students’ paths. This downward trend was disrupted this year when the senior class busted out of the gate with what could be the best senior prank this school has ever seen. With one simple action, a group of seniors set forward a series events that would change the very foundation of SDA forever. All at once this magnificent prank empowered SDA students by illuminating their woes and humiliating school staff ’s inability to halt the progression of incidents. The lackluster senior pranks
of years past all seemed to be made up in this surreal exhibition of student pride and competence. To many, it seemed that the senior class had gotten too caught up in the anger surrounding the overcrowded parking lot and senioritis to complete a senior prank; to others it appeared to just be another impact of SDA’s declining school spirit. Upperclassmen tend to blame the apparent degradation of SDA’s welcoming attitude and general school pride on the newest wave of freshmen. But most of those upperclassmen aren’t doing much themselves to solve the situation; nothing is stopping older students from wearing their dinosaur jumpsuits or participating in
Senior boys that may or may not have been arrested. Their charges? Resisting lameness and bedazzlement. Photo by Mary Ford.
school events. So news of the prank came as great relief to many. The senior class actually stopped complaining about underclassmen and embraced school spirit for long enough
to continue a school tradition. It was very nice to see a group of students working together to beat teenage apathy to celebrate school pride. Good job seniors.
P-Quad Declares Independence from SDA How come no one saw this coming? By Mary Ford.
T
he portable building section of west campus, known as the P-Quad, declared late Wedneday afternoon it would secede from the San Dieguito Academy Classroom Union. “The Declaration of P-Quad Independence,” a blatant plagiarism of the United States Declaration of Independence, was released through Reddit. The newly formed sovereign buildings group cited discrimination, lack of communication, and “Cultural Differences,” as reasons for the sudden split from the current school classroom system. Betta Scchol, a leading voice in the fight for P-Quad secession said, “All that the main campus has given us so far is flooding, some
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parking spaces that are only for teachers, and a ridiculous looking statue. It’s not even a horse. They couldn’t even do that right. It’s time for change.” A source who has not been cleared to speak on the record said, “We haven’t even received proper numbering. P isn’t a number!” The election of the rightleaning party leader Ersnott, in what had been a shocking conservative upset election at an ‘universally liberal’ school, marked changes for SDA in the fall of 2016. “You might remember that one of the campaign promises in my election was to stage a referendum for the independence of these great portables,” said Ersnott. “Although not technically allowed, an overwhelming
majority of constituents voted to leave the San Dieguito Academy Classroom Union this Thursday. We intend to honor their wishes. Oh, and we’re taking the lower student parking lot too.” The shocking decision to separate has led many in the main campus SDA community to cry out in opposition. Protesters who gathered outside the P-Buildings this morning held signs that included sayings such as “Would you like some cheese with that whine?” and “We might be able to lose the bathrooms but we can’t lose those parking spaces.” “I’ll give you something to cry about!” shouted principle Bjorn Paige over the notoriously poor announcement system.
humor
A very real sign placed in front of the P-Buildings today marks the beginning of a newly formed school division. Photo by Mary Ford.
In an emergency message broadcast over the longthought-dead Mustang TV, Paige swore to pester and torment the P-Quad until its leaders rescinded their decision to leave. Although Paige could not disclose the exact tactics the San Dieguito Academy army would use in their missions, he hinted that “it involves ficus trees, shish
kebabs, and parallel parking.” With angry Facebook posts and mourning tweets, students wonder how colleges will deal with them going to two schools at once. “Is it even two schools?” asked Evan Odder. “What about the P-Buildings closer to the gym? Are they leaving too? This is so stupid.”
april 27
the mustang
Sentinel
THE WORLD’S ONLY RELIABLE NEWSPAPER
Horoscope of the Month By Nadia Ballard. ARIES Take a nice long look at your finger nails. Take note of the way that all those squashed together dead cells curve into shiny brilliant armor for each and every one of your fingers. Be grateful. TAURUS Spread your wings and fly but don’t overestimate your wingspan or else you’ll start knocking stuff over, and then your wings will just be a hassle. GEMINI Similar to your sign, you are a gem and don’t you forget it. Of all the crystallized solids out there, you are truly a specimen. Go outside and let the sun glitter off of your beautiful form. CANCER It’s spring time and because of that you might be more susceptible to surprise bird attacks and swarms of bees making unprecedented calls to have tea over at your house. You can’t prevent this its nature. LEO You are a meme with a dream. VIRGO Go outside and smell the roses. Better yet go outside and smell the sunflowers. No, you should step into nature and appreciate the wildflowers because just like you they go unappreciated. LIBRA Find a flat surface completely devoid of color and motion. Stare at it and clear your
april 27
mind. Pause your thoughts and let the complete blankness of this consume your vision. Let anything that crosses your mind during this moment get swallowed up by the abyss of nothingness that you’re staring at. Do this twice a week for whiter teeth. SCORPIO Have a nice long cry. Sit in a corner and sob like no one’s watching you. Let your tears run down your cheeks, cry so much that you could fill the void inside your soul with your tears and then take the salt from your dried tears to season some french fries. SAGITARIUS This month is the perfect time for you to improve yourself. Train your body to become stronger by going on a diet of dried paint chips and sand. Crunch crunch. CAPRICORN You have trouble expressing your feelings. To help with this try painting your nails to reflect your mood. Pretty purple for calmness, dark blue for the unknown and foreboding depths of the abyss of sadness, and yellow. AQUARIUS If the world seems too big and stressful for you right now, no worries. Once your baby brain falls out and your adult brain starts growing in everything will be fine. Just be patient. PISCES With the changing seasons you might begin to experience headaches. To help alleviate the pain try rubbing your head against the dirt floor or a mossy tree. This is will help release some of the autumn still left in your skull and make room for spring.
Check Out the Online Paper at sdamustang.com humor
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the mustang
Mu s t a ng s Mi gr a t e
The eight Spring sports are now well into their seasons. Players from each one share their experiences.
Track & Field
Boys Lacrosse
Softball
Boys Volleyball
Junior Sofia McAndrews Hurdles
Senior Ben Jennings Defense
Junior Rilee Grau Center Field
Junior John Giovannoni Middle Blocker
What events do you do? I run the 4x100 varsity relay, 100m hurdles, high jump, and 200m hurdles What is your favorite event? Hurdles or relay What is your pre-race/event routine? I like to do l a lap or two then do some drills with friends while envisioning my race and performance. When and why did you start doing track and field? I started doing track in 8th grade because I love to jump and race at top speed. Do you do track outside of school? Outside of track I run on my own but am not part of a club. Serious injuries? Freshman year I fractured my growth plate in my left hip coming out of the blocks my first race. Practice Schedule? I practice monday through friday for 2 hours and sometimes saturdays for 2 hours. Favorite memory? My favorite track memory was when my coach told me and my two friends that we weren’t going to place in our hurdles but we came in first, second, and third and proved him wrong. Are you planning on doing track in college? I do plan on doing track in college, I love the sport. Favorite warm-up song? Anything with a great beat to get the team pumped for the meet. Biggest motivator? My biggest motivator is my hurdles coach.
How is the season going? Much better than usual. Do you enjoy playing for the school? Yeah, I like playing with my friends and school teams are much closer than offseason teams. Favorite memory? Beating CCA for the Academy Cup because usually CCA wins that game but we played really well and ended up winning by a goal. Serious injuries? I strained my rotator cuff and it bothered me deep into my sophomore year because I didn’t stop playing like my doctors told me to. What drove you to play Lacrosse? My parents signed me up in 6th grade, it was the first sport that I really enjoyed because you could hit people with the sticks. Ever since then I have loved the sport. Practice Schedule? 2 hours a day, 6 days a week, so 12 hours a week. I practice a little bit more because we don’t get to go in the weight room very often. It gets rough because there’s barely any time for recovery, but it’s still fun. Favorite college team? Notre Dame because I know most of the starting players’ names and playing styles. Are you playing in college? I’m going to play lacrosse for UCSB. The good program at UCSB is a big reason why I decided to go there. Favorite Pump Up Song? Litty by Meek Mill Do you play lacrosse outside of school? I play Lacrosse year-round. I like playing for SDA better because there’s more riding on each game. Biggest motivator? Past coaches were very influential figures in my life, and I like to think that they motivate me to play better.
How is the season going? Pretty well, we are having a really fun time. Do you enjoy playing for the school? Yeah, it’s super fun to go on the buses and bond with my teammates. Favorite memory? Going to breakfast and singing songs on the bus rides home. Also when we beat Mission Hills on our senior night last year. Serious injuries? I haven’t gotten hurt from softball but I’ve dislocated my knee twice so I always wear a brace when I’m playing. What drove you to play Softball? My family is a huge baseball family. I played baseball until I was around 10, then I started playing softball and I’ve been playing ever since. Practice Schedule? We have practice or a game everyday but other than that I do private hitting lessons/conditioning. Favorite college team? My favorite college team is Notre Dame or UCLA because my hitting coach played at UCLA and I have always loved the fighting Irish. Are you playing in college? Yes I am planning on playing softball in college, I am currently going through the recruiting process. Favorite Pump Up Song? Any song with a fast beat and good bass. Do you play Softball outside of school? I play on a travel team called Epoch and I love both. Biggest motivator? My biggest motivator would have to be my other teammates and my parents because they always support me.
How is the season going? It’s going pretty well. Winning some and losing some but we are excited to start league and try to defend our title. Do you enjoy playing for the school? Yeah it’s a lot of fun because I get to play on a team with my classmates and kids of different ages. We also get to represent the school. Favorite Memory? My favorite memory was road tripping out to Vegas for a tournament last year or winning CIF. It was also fun being able to move onto the state tournament and travel to Los Angeles. We made it to the semifinals in a close match. Serious injuries? Not yet... What drove you to play volleyball? Watching my sister play, and the fact that I’m tall. Practice Schedule? We usually practice 10-12 hours a week Favorite college team? My favorite college team is UCLA Bruins Are you planning on playing volleyball in college? Yes, hopefully. Favorite Pump Up Song? My favorite pump up song is “Pick up the Phone” by Young Thug. Do you play volleyball outside of school? I play club volleyball at Wave and it’s a toss up, they’re very different environments and I enjoy them both a lot. Who is your biggest motivator? Coach Kevin Pratte and Coach Ray Wilson.
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sports
Photos courtesy of players.
april 27
the mustang
into Spring
Story by Vicky van der Wagt, Sarah LaVake, Katherine Tarangelo and Lucas Oldham.
Boys Tennis
Baseball
Girls Lacrosse
Senior Noah Hauptman First Base
Senior Devon Maguire Defense
Senior Kanoa Nakama Golfer
Senior Blake Stoner-Osborne Doubles
How is the season going? The season is going well and we are improving every game. Do you enjoy playing for the school? I enjoy playing for the school. I have met some of my closest friends and it is a great way to get involved while playing the sport I love. Favorite Memory? In the locker room, one of my teammates found a clip of me singing “Happy” by Pharrell Williams and the whole team was laughing like crazy. Serious Injuries? I have broken my thumb, fractured my elbow, and fractured a rib. What drove you to play baseball? My dad encouraged me to play at a very young age. I have played baseball since I was four. Practice Schedule? We practice about 12 hours a week during the season. Favorite college or professional team? The Los Angeles Dodgers. Both of my parents grew up in Los Angeles. Are you planning on playing baseball in college? I was considering it, but I wanted to focus on my education and have a true college experience. Also a growth plate injury in my elbow got in the way (I would have wanted to pitch in college). Favorite Pump Up Song? My favorite pump up song is “Vivir mi Vida” by Marc Anthony. Do you play baseball outside of school? I have played travel baseball since I was eight. I enjoy them both. In travel we face tough competition across the country and in high school I get to play with the same group of guys. Biggest motivator? My biggest motivator is my dad because he has watched since i was four and he is honest with me when I need to do something to improve my game.
How is the season going? The season has been great! The team is having a blast and working really hard. We are 5-2 so far so it's been a good start! Do you enjoy playing for the school? I love playing for our school and try to support the sda girls lacrosse program as much as I can! Favorite Memory? My favorite memory from the team was our first home game. We had a lot of fun, and worked really well together. I also love seeing my team everyday at practice and having the best time. Serious Injuries? The worst injury I had was a minor sprain in my ankle. Nothing too serious! What drove you to play Lacrosse? I tried lacrosse with my friends in 7th grade because it seemed fun, and have loved it ever since. How many hours a week do you practice? We practice about 10 hours a week Favorite college or professional team? I don't have a favorite team, but I have seen Colorado play for college and they were really good. Are you planning on playing lacrosse in college? I do not plan to play lacrosse in college, but I may join a club team once I'm settled. Favorite Pump Up Song? My favorite pump up song is Runaway (U & I) by Galantis Do you play lacrosse outside of school? If so, which do you prefer? I don't play lacrosse outside of school Who is your biggest motivator? My biggest motivator is my Dad, who is the Junior Varsity coach, and my whole team. We all pump each other up to play and all of our energy increases a ton around each other!
How is the season going? We have a strong team this year and are entering a tough league. Everyone is improving and we should have a good chance at going to CIF, we’d call it a pretty zesty clown fiesty (fee-es-tee). Do you enjoy playing for the school? Yes, It’s fun improving and getting to know some great people along the way. It was awesome when the team voted for me as captain and I’ve made sure to do my best at making everyone feel like a family and play their best. Favorite Memory? I broke my driver on the first day of tryouts. It was my first shot and the course had to shut down the driving range for us to retrieve it. I guess it was a good excuse for new clubs! Serious Injuries? One of the closest is when I was cleaning the driving range since I work at our home course, and a customer just missed my head by an inch with a point-blank driver. What drove you to play golf? My parents forced me to play. At first I thought it was the dumbest sport but the complexity and precision of the game got me hooked. Practice Schedule? I usually practice an average of 20 hours each week on season. Are you planning on playing golf in college? It depends on the school I go to. Favorite Warm Up Song? The team favorite is Bohemian Rhapsody. Do you play golf outside of school?I play golf recreationally. The environment is more relaxing, but I like getting to know new people and play new courses. Who is your biggest motivator?My golf coach John Mason when I first started learning golf. I am still with him.
How is the season going? We moved up a division so the competition is a lot harder than it was last year. So far we’re doing okay. Do you enjoy playing for the school? I do enjoy playing for SDA, it’s a fun time. It’s awesome to practice and bond with the team. What is your favorite memory from the team? My favorite memory from tennis was when we won CIF last year. We celebrated and had a party and it was really fun. Have you had any serious injuries from tennis? I have tendonitis in my elbow so I wear I sleeve. What drove you to play tennis? I tried a lot of sports in the past and tennis was better than the other ones for me so I stuck with it. How many hours a week do you practice? We practice two and a half hours everyday after school and have games about every other day. Favorite Professional Player? Roger Federer is kind of cool. Are you planning on playing tennis in college? No, I won’t play competitively but I’ll probably play recreationally. Favorite Pump Up Song? “Downtown” by Macklemore and Ryan Lewis. Do you play tennis outside of school? I used to play tennis outside of school but I don’t anymore. I stopped after junior year but I prefer playing at school. It’s just more fun and more relaxed. Who is your biggest motivator? I am my biggest motivator.
april 27
Boys Golf
sports
Photos courtesy of players.
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the mustang
Two Girls Drinking Juice Alyssa Fisher and Sophie Hughes venture into the treacherous land of juice cleanses. One day of consuming nothing but a set of six juices, all for $48. Sounds like a great idea, right? Wrong.
J
uice is great. Who doesn't love juice? I used to, that's for sure. After an entire day of eating nothing other than a few bites of an apple and three baby carrots and only drinking six 16-ounce bottles of fruit and vegetable juice, juice is no longer as appetizing to me as it once was.. Waking up on Friday morning, I blatantly ignored the kitchen because it was just going to be too tempting. I headed to work with six bottles and two ice packs in my backpack. The first breakfast juice, Glow made of apple, celery, cucumber, kale, collard greens, spinach, and mint tea, wasn’t the most appealing thing in the world, but it could’ve been worse. Around 9:45 a.m. I opened Fuel, which contains carrot, orange, apple, pineapple, lemon, and turmeric. I enjoyed it. Very much so. It was sweet and tart, but still hearty enough to actually keep me from getting hungry. At 11:30, I tried “Purify” which was a bright red color that made it look more appetizing than it actually was. Its ingredients include carrot, cucumber, celery, apple, lemon, and beets, which gave it the false-advertising red tone. It took me over four hours to actually finish the juice. At 3 pm, I went to track practice, which in hindsight, was probably not the smartest idea with nothing but fluids. I felt surprisingly decent at the time. My stomach was a little scattered in comparison to my mind, but I felt fairly normal, under the circumstances. After practice, I decided to attempt to drink “Twelve Essentials,” the juice that had the worst reviews on the Suja website, and honestly, sounded the grossest to me. The juice was this nasty green color and made of celery, cucumber, collard greens, lemon, kale, chard, parsley, ginger, romaine, green leaf lettuce, mint tea, and spinach and I literally plugged my nose while attempting to swallow a sip. I choked and spit it out. It was absolutely disgusting. It tasted like dirt and roots and chicken feed and it is the nastiest thing I have ever attempted to put in my stomach. I immediately threw it away. The “dinner” juice, called “Green Supreme”, was fairly bearable. It only consisted of lemon, apple, and kale, creating a nice balance of flavors, and its vibrant green color was pleasing enough to the eye where I was able to gain a little trust back after having all the taste buds on my tongue commit a mass suicide, all thanks to “Twelve Essentials.” Luckily, I was able to end the day on a good note with “Blue Dream” and its delightful blend of apple, almond milk, blueberry,
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water, chia, lucuma, cinnamon, and vanilla bean. It had a strange after taste, but in comparison to the juices from the rest of the day, it honestly was the best feeling ever. Waking up the next day, I felt pretty freakin fabulous. After not eating for an entire day, my stomach had been somewhat shrunk, and I wasn’t as hungry throughout the day as I used to be. And I usually eat a lot. Like so much food. In the three days after the cleanse I haven’t eaten any lunch and could barely finish the food on my dinner plate. I had so much energy and breakfast was the only time I actually felt hungry. All in all, it was a slightly traumatic experience, but I would definitely say that I would do it again. The end results are just too good to forget about. --Sophie Hughes
I
would like to start off by saying that I love food. I know the number of steps from my bed to my fridge in the kitchen (27) and I have a habit of eating when I’m bored. I also used to love juice. That is in the past tense now that I have completed a one day Suja juice cleanse. Yes, I starved myself on purpose. For one day, I had nothing to eat except for six 16 ounce bottles of fresh, coldpressed, fruit and vegetable juice. When I decided to complete this cleanse, I was very optimistic and excited about the results I would get. When the day came, I woke up positive at around 8:30 am and went to the kitchen to try my first juice of the day. It was very green and therefore very intimidating to me since the taste of grass is not very appealing to me or most people. At the first sip, I became more confident since this juice was very tolerable. However, once I finished the bottle and watched my family finish their breakfast of golden pancakes and perfectly cooked sausage, I realized I was in for an extremely rough day. Around 11a.m., I reluctantly went back to my fridge for my second juice, Fuel. I was pleasantly surprised to find that this juice was actually enjoyable and did not trigger my gag reflex at all. Considering the only vegetable in this drink was carrot, I was able to drink it quickly. Usually, at this point in the day, my stomach begins to tell me it’s time to start making regular visits to my pantry to binge on snacks such as potato chips or cereal straight from the box. So as you could imagine, by 11:30 my stomach was pretty much screaming at me to eat real, filling, delicious, wonderful food. But I couldn’t. I had to push through. Also around 11:30, my friend Ava and I
The Suja juices contain many healthy fruits and veggies, such as apples and kale. Photo by Sophie Hughes started our two-hour drive to the desert. An hour later, she insisted we stop at one of my favorite Mexican food restaurants. We sat down at our table and while she ordered a heavenly chile rellano, I opened my third juice, “Purify”. I found this juice almost unbearably bitter and it kind of reminded me of how it would taste to eat dirt-covered roots. Once Ava received her food, I became extremely irritated and slightly depressed that I was unable to eat lunch so I left the restaurant and waited for her in the car. She was not happy with me. Once we arrived at our house in Borrego, I decided to drink my 4th juice, 12 Essentials. Little did I know I was about to taste the bitterest, most repulsive, gut--wrenching, substance of my entire existence. When I opened the lid, a putrid stench filled the kitchen. I shut my eyes, plugged my nose, and took the first drink. I immediately choked and spit out the juice which tasted like a combination of dirt, grass, and stagnant water. With my eyes watering and throat stinging, I made the smart decision to throw the drink away and try to forget about that horrifying experience. When dinner came around, I sat down with my family and friend to drink my second to last juice, Green Supreme, while they had an amazing meal of bbq chicken and corn on the cob. When I opened my
sports
juice and started to drink it, the whole table started making fun of how I couldn’t eat the delicious dinner and waving food in my face to taunt me. At this point, it was 6 p.m. I had gone 18 hours of the day without any food. I had become increasingly irritable and short fused and their taunting me got on my last nerve. I began an angry rant about how none of them would be able to go even two hours without food and stormed out of the room. Despite my little outburst, I enjoyed this juice, it was the perfect mix of bitter and sweet and I finished it easily. After I apologized to my family, I drank my last juice of the day, Blue Dream. This was easily the best juice of the day. It was made to be sweet and it had a taste that reminded me of blueberry pie. Due to the thick texture of this juice, my stomach felt somewhat full, but still not content. Going to sleep after this, I felt accomplished...and starved The next morning, I woke up feeling unusually fresh and ready to start my day. I’m not a morning person at all, yet I had an endless amount of energy. This outcome was all I had hoped for when I made the decision to undergo this day of torture. Because of the positive results, I would recommend this one--day cleanse as long as the person is aware of how brutal the process is. --Alyssa Fisher
april 27
the mustang
Surfer vs. Skater
Senior surfer Zach Kanzler and junior skater Max Grensted visit space. Just kidding. They talk about it, though. Story by Mary Ford.
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hat is the moon made out of? Surfer: The moon is definitely made out of cheese. “Wallace and Gromit,” ten out of ten, everyone knows that if you get up there, the moon is definitely made out of cheese. Skater: Well that was my previous answer, so now I have to go with rock. Nice reference Surfer! “Wallace and Grommit” is classic European cinema. I’ll probably write my college senior thesis about the implications of “Wallace and Gromit” on the slow disintegration of NASA influence. Who needs a billion dollar, universally respected scientific organization when you have the cold hard facts of stop motion children’s movies? If this isn’t proof that science is dying, I don’t know what is. 10 points.
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What a rock solid answer Skater! *pun points for me* *air horns* *confetti*. However, I’m sorry to say that we just debunked science so your scientifically-proven answer is no longer valid. Two and a half points. What is space expanding into? Skater: Space is expanding into itself. Surfer: I think it’s going to expand like a rubber band and smack back together. It’s going to whip all the way backward and time is going to go backwards and it’s all going to be crazy. Hey Skater, hey. I’m not sure that answer makes sense. That’s okay though, because you tried and it probably made sense in your mind. But how crazy would that be? It’d be a great plot twist in one of those journey to self-discovery movies.
The tagline would be: One space goes on a journey to find out who it’s becoming. Little did it know, it was becoming itself the whole time. 10 points because the movie already won an Academy Award and made Gordon Ramsay cry. Although I think your theory is super valid Surfer, I just want to point out that you totally avoided actually answering the prompt. You sound like an excerpt from my English essays. Pro tip: As long as someone sounds sophisticated and uses big words like “lacuna” or “abeyance,” they’ll get a good grade. Try it! Also, if space was eventually going to smack back together “in the future,” and time was going to spin backward, wouldn’t that mean that it’s spinning backward now? Are we living in backwards time? Is time real or just a convention made up by man? Space is hard. Five points.
sports
Kanzler and Grensted communicate via the dance of their peoples. Photo by Mary Ford. Who lit the sun on fire? Surfer: Probably Neptune honestly. Apollo is probably his son somehow. Skater: Am I allowed to say Jesus? Hey Surfer, I’m not sure if it’s my raging case of Senioritis influencing this response, but I think you don’t need to try so hard. Now you’re influencing me to try hard and debunk your answer. From what I learned in Percy Jackson, Apollo is somehow the son of Zeus, which makes you wrong, but I’m not sure. Zeus also gave birth to Athena out of his head and there are a couple
problems with that but whatever. Senioritis. Greek mythology is weird. Seven and a quarter points. Hey Skater, you can say Jesus if you want. You can say anything that you want because of the first amendment. Except some things actually. You can’t say some things. Well you can say “some things”, just not some things. You get me? Good. five points for the amount of time I said some things. Surfer: 22.25 points Skater: 17.5 points Congratulations Surfer! You win nothing!
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04.27.17
The Mustang