February 10 11 by The Mustang Newspaper

THE MUSTANG

issue 4, volume 15

Feb. 11, 2011

February 11, 2011

THE MUSTANG Editor-in-Chief News Editor Alexa Shapiro

Opinion Editors Kerry Roberson Kaylin Greene

SDA offers various after school tutoring, for free, like with teacher Ronette Youmans (pictured). Check out all the types of tutoring offered on campus. See page four for the full story.

Winter sports attract fans of all types, like seniors Ryan Santore and Siddarth Iyengar, whether the sports are indoors or outdoors. See story and photos on pages 13-15.

The Oscars are coming up on Feb 27. See reviews of the nominees for the coveted title of Best Picture, like “Black Swan” (pictured) on pages 18-19.

Features Editor

SDA students aren’t the only ones who know how to sport formalwear. Staff members, like Suzanne McCluskey, pictured, like to keep it old school. See full story on the backpage.

Cara Reichard

Arts Editor Thea Brown

Online Arts Editor Angela Zhang

Sports Editor Pauline Disch

Assistant Sports Editor

on the cover

Anna Sheridan

Steeze Editor

This issue’s cover was made by a student who is no longer with us, SDA’s once spritely songbird senior, Lara Fleck. The piece, a photo collage of another peer loved and lost, Reem Jubran, was made to provide, “a different perspective on the portrait,” and portray, “the multiple sides of person through multiple images,” said Fleck. In its cleverness and its unadorned depiction of the female, the collage is unmistakably hers. In her last words to me she spoke of the inspirations for her piece. “Pretty girls and Glasgow (her former art teacher),” she told me with a tearful faintness of breath. We are thankful that she left us with this piece before her untimely departure. She will be dearly missed. But even though she has gone away, hold it in your hearts that she is in a better place now, sunny San Francisco, and her model Reem Jubran now resides in San Jose.

Tatiana Skomski

CAF Editors

Ari Brin Eleanore Hendrickson

Copy Editor Amy Dushkin

Photo Editor Jocelyn Lee

strange finds

Assitant Photo Editor Emily Maxwell

You can find something new every day at SDA. We asked students what was pictured in the photo on the left and where it is located.

jocelyn lee Answer: a watermelon painted on brick around a tree in senior court.

“A gremlin’s den behind [John] Cannon’s class.” -Marisa Pearce, 10.

“A tile that fell down in senior court.” -Benjy Malings, 10.

“Bricks over by the water fountain by the Mustang Center.” -Avery Gallagher, 11.

“A bit of broken bricks under old concrete near the side of the 21 building.” -Amariani Palacios, 10.

“It looks like leaves and bricks sitting on a rock and grapes.” -Genieva Bandstra, 9.

“A planter in senior court with bricks that are painted.” -Karen Altick, 11.

“Two or three bricks, by the stairs near the 30’s [building].” -Elliot Horen, 10.

“Near [Justin] Conn’s room, in the plant box. I think it’s a painted brick.” -Molly Kovacs, 10.

“Bricks...leaves...or maybe moldy cheese?” -Mariko Kobayashi, 11.

“The bricks that go around the trees in senior court.” -Elissa Gibb, 12.

“It looks like a brick, maybe by the gym.” -David Martinez, 9

“A brick by the art room.” -Kyle Fincher, 11.

Numbers 58

500

total homerooms at SDA. homerooms competing in the Homeroom Olympics.

dollar increase in the pairs of best friends in the price of AP tests this year. Best Buddies Game on Feb. 8.

points Justin Conn’s home- homerooms tied for thirroom gained for winning the teenth place in the Olympics, all school relay on Jan. 25. with 200 points each.

tiles on the art wall at Conner’s cause on Jan. 22.

t-shirt slingshots used by ASB at the Winter Assembly on Jan. 14.

Ads Manager Katy Swanson

Staff Writers

Lindsey Agnew Natalya Ballard Katherine Berriochoa Katherine Bueche Samantha Bueche Tim Kontje Tate Dannemiller Elisa Figueroa Rachel Huddleston Erica Lee Cherise Lopes Baker Erika Lynn Mazza Ashlynne McLean Charlotte Ohrbom Cassia Pollock Jack Rushall Kai Schlesinger Opal Theodossi Anna Williams

San Dieguito Academy Room 93 800 Santa Fe Drive Encinitas, CA 92024 (760) 753-1121 x5161 sdamustang.com Notice

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 93, emailed to sdamustang@hotmail.com, or mailed to the above address.

news

Feb. 11, 2011

THE MUSTANG

emily maxwell Although now students can purchase parking permits with no restrictions, next year students will find themselves in a class before they can park in the student lot.

starting smart

A driving course becomes mandatory for students to purchase a parking permit, resulting in mixed feelings from students. Story by Alexa Shapiro

tudents next year will be required to take a free two-hour mandatory driving class with their parent in order to obtain a parking permit for the student lot. This program, Start Smart, began as a pilot course a year ago at the Academy, said representative from the SDA foundation and prevention specialist from the San Dieguito Alliance for a Drug Free Youth, Nancy PerrySheridan. The program received a positive response, causing it to be presented to the SDA administration, said Perry-Sheridan. From there, the district wanted to make the class available to all high schools. Due to past fatal accidents, two of which were within the San Dieguito district, there was a push to raise attendance for the program, said Principal Michael Grove. To raise the incentive for community members to attend, it became mandatory for students who wish to buy a parking permit in the SDUHSD district. “It’s a way of getting [those who don’t attend] to go,” said Grove. Students get annoyed With the announcement of Start Smart becoming mandatory, students reacted with mixed feelings, some of which were frustration. “It’s a stupid waste of time. I already took driver’s ed,” said ju-

nior Maddie Holcomb. Holcomb believes fewer people will buy permits due to the change. Junior Eric Neiman feels similarly: “I think its lame. I think it’s a waste of time because the state has already tested you on safety [to get your license].” “The sheriffs should be doing more important things than teaching people that already know how to drive,” said junior Nolan Gallagher. Others believe that students won’t pay attention to the class. “I don’t really think it will be that effective because two hours is a really long time and I think people would just zone out and not pay attention to the video,” said freshman Janet Gomez. Students see the benefit Despite some frustration, many others saw the value in Start Smart. “It’s only two hours of your time and if it’s free then sure, I think a mandatory ‘Drive Safe’ class is great,” said junior Suki Berry. Berry believes the class will be effective if the class provides useful information that will make students think. “It’s kind of necessary and it’ll reinforce reminders of safe driving that could help prevent accidents,” said sophomore Maylee Sands. “I think it is a great idea! I’m glad people are getting as much training as they can get, not just

the online training and classes,” said sophomore Joy Liesegang. Liesegang believes that the class will be effective. “[Start Smart] will make people pay more attention [to how they are driving].” Sophomore Dyhana Buckley feels unsafe in the student lot and thinks the class will help. “When I’m in the student parking lot, I feel like someone is going to hit me with their car; it’s crazy,” said Buckley. A good start Those behind making Start Smart mandatory believe the class will be informative. In the class, students are educated on the risks of inexperienced driving and given tips to avoid collisions. There are a lot of videos, which show consequences of driving while distracted, PerrySheridan said. These distractions include driving while texting, under the influence, drowsy, or “showing off ” to others. Some videos are “real actual footage taken by kids in [an] accident,” said Perry-Sheridan. Perry-Sheridan has already seen a positive response after participants attended the class. “We’ve already had reactions because we’ve offered [Start Smart] since December of 2009. Students didn’t want to [go at first] but enjoyed it mostly because of the videos and the sheriff,” said Perry-Sheridan.

The sheriff, Matt Carpenter, is from the Encinitas Sheriff ’s department and teaches the Start Smart program. Additionally, the class is taught in Spanish for Spanish-speaking parents. “There are lots of classes to meet needs,” said Perry-Sheridan. “Some people will procrastinate, making it so that some will have to park on public streets,” said Grove. While many believe that students may be the main source of annoyance at having to attend the class, Grove feels parents may contribute to that attitude. “The response from parents [so far has been] nothing negative, maybe a little annoyed that they have to go,” said Grove However, Grove feels that the parents will have a positive attitude after they attend. To remind students that they need to attend, Grove has included Start Smart in recent allcalls, in which he calls the homes of all students with updates and announcements. Despite student opinions on the course, administration and community members feel the class will be effective in eliminating the amount of deaths caused by inexperienced driving within the past few years. “[If it’s going to] save someone’s life, I’m fine with catching some grief about [Start Smart being mandatory],” said Grove.

More student thoughts “I think it looks awesome, and it only takes two hours of anyone’s time. Hopefully it will be effective because it could prevent a lot of accidents.” Katia Macua, sophomore “I think the class is a good idea. Some really horrible things have happened and I think it’s important that everyone keeps that in mind. I think the class would be effective because it reminds people of their mortality and how carelessness on their part can affect other people.” Erin McGrath, junior “If you’ve already passed your driver’s test, you’ve proven yourself ready to drive. You shouldn’t need to do anything else.” Elisa Willes, freshman “I think it’s good for people who don’t know how to drive and I do, so I’m angry about it. I don’t want to do it.” Andra Nordin, junior “I think its stupid because they are putting too much emphasis on the fact that teenagers are unsafe drivers. People won’t take it seriously. They won’t think about it.” Bianca Rice, junior For more student thoughts visit The Mustang Online at www. sdamustang.com. The journalism class contributed to this story.

news

jocelyn lee

THE MUSTANG

Feb 11, 2011

jocelyn lee National Honor Society tutors help students after school in the library, left. English teacher Ronette Youmans helps a bilingual student, right.

a helping hand

At the Academy, tutoring programs are available for students in need of help in a number of different subjects. Story by Anna Williams. Math tutoring Room 122 is a hub of learning where math students collect after school. Tutoring is held on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays from 3:30 to 4:30 p.m. with one math teacher always present; Kim Dinh hosts tutoring on Tuesdays, Gail Lee on Wednesdays, and Amy Johnson on Thursdays. All students are welcome. The average number of students attending per day is 10, although Johnson said, “it changes day to day, depending on who’s giving a test.” Junior Ashley Beltran began attending math tutoring last year when she was in Lee’s class. “I started going just to finish my homework more efficiently and better understand it,” said Beltran. When asked what the best aspect of math tutoring was, Beltran replied, “the fact that it’s here, it’s accessible, and that you have the one on one time with the teachers. They can meet your individual needs.” Assisting students in a variety of areas, Johnson said, “I help with whatever students need, questions on homework, if they’re studying for a test and have general questions.” The main advantage for a student who attends tutoring is that it’s a place to complete homework before going home, where students can discuss problems and have the chance to hear a different explanation than your regular teacher’s method, said Johnson.

All subject tutoring National Honor Society tutors students in all subjects on Mondays, Tuesdays, and Wednesdays from 3:30 to 4:30 p.m. in the library. Students are welcome to drop by, whether they are interested in a one-time study session or need regular assistance. There are on average five to seven tutors and 10 to 15 students. Junior Kira Harland said she tutors, “Because I actually feel like I learn the subjects and the concepts clearer when explaining them to somebody else, but more importantly I think tutoring is a great way for students to learn outside of class so they don’t struggle. I tutor to bring that to them.” Students in NHS must be juniors or seniors. Harland sees the advantage in other students being helped by students: “When students get help from people the same age, the concepts may be explained more easily and students can connect better with students than teachers can, usually.” Sophomore Kimberly Zuniga’s teacher suggested to

actually pretty quiet in here, and that makes it easy to concentrate.” Zuniga found it especially helpful because “[the tutors] don’t just give me the answers right away. It’s one-on-one, and they try to help me understand.”

“[The tutors] don’t just give me the answers right away.” -Kimberly Zuniga, sophomore Bilingual Tutoring Bilingual tutoring is held on Monday through Thursday from 3:15 to 4:15 p.m. The location for Monday tutoring is room 90 with English teacher Erin Norton and room 81 on Tuesday through Thursday. There is always a teacher present and sometimes an Avid tutor as well. Students in bilingual tutoring are taught by teachers, who specialize in assisting English Language Learners in all subjects. English teacher Ronette Youmans, who has been a part of bilingual tutoring for several years, explained her main reason for being involved with this: “It’s difficult to complete homework for language learners, because of family responsibilities, lack of resources, such as a computer or dictionary, and other reasons. We try to get them to finish here, then go home, because if we can hold them here after school, we can be like the parents before they get home.” Subjects these students work

“[The tutors] can meet your individual needs.” -Ashley Beltran, junior everyone in her class that they check tutoring out and Zuniga began attending each day after having trouble in her classes. Zuniga said the greatest aspect of tutoring was that the location was here at SDA and “I get an individual tutor, with the full focus on me.” She said, “it’s just nice to come here after the bell rings. It’s

on are history, English, and sciences, such as earth and space or biology, or “anything that has almost another language,” said Youmans. Teachers who are a part of bilingual tutoring also help students who have missed school, Youmans said. Youmans said, “The best part

[of tutoring] is being able to hear their voice, to work one on one, and to see their appreciation for the time. Sometimes their voice disappears in a larger class.” When asked about the main advantage of tutoring Youmans said, “They have a quiet space with resources, and someone who can speak their language, and it helps to organize their day.” Students have a variety of reasons for attending after school tutoring but for sophomore Julio Sanchez school sports were his greatest motivator. He began going attending tutoring “because I can’t play soccer since my grades were failing.” Sanchez said that the greatest aspect of tutoring was that “some of my friends are in here, so I can see how they’re doing. And, I get to do my homework, and I don’t have to worry about it when I get home.” He checked out tutoring after the assistant principal suggested it and has found it “pretty helpful that I can ask teachers here to explain something better if I don’t get it.”

Writing Lab Open from 9 a.m. to 3:45 p.m., the writing lab has become a staple for students who use the resource of an editor for anything from class work to personal writing. Students schedule appointments with the writing lab by reserving spots in a log on the counter in the library. An SDA graduate from 2003, Kelly Werhley, left school for college with the feeling that “I wasn’t interested in writing. During high school, most papers would come back and I just assumed that I didn’t get it, that it wasn’t for me.” Then, he had a teacher who was “very ruthless” in his feedback and “it just made more sense after that,” said Werhley. “Ever since then, I want to give back to students.” Werhley edits essays and enjoys editing creative papers. He describes the writing lab as the only job he wants to get up and go to. He has worked with all types of students; from English language learners to AP students who want to polish their work to those with college and scholarship essays. This is his third year in the writing lab, although he also spent another year and a half in the AVID programs as a tutor. Werhley’s favorite part of tutoring is being around the students of SDA who are “optimistic, idealistic, and want to change the world.” When describing people in the outside world Werhley said “They sort of forget how to enjoy life, so it’s inspiring to be around that all of the time [at SDA].”

Feb. 11, 2011

news

THE MUSTANG

yo quiero taco bell Students react to no more Taco Bell.

thea brown The Taco Bell located on Encinitas Blvd suddenly closes, leaving an empty building and a large fence in its place. Kira Gaby, Taylor Knudson, Joey Kobara, and Katie McPherson contributed to this story.

more applicants

Increases in applicants to UC’s make admission more difficult. Seniors applying to University of California schools this year face more competition than in the past. “It’s not as good of a chance to get into a UC anymore,” said counselor Ann Nebolon. The UC system this year reported a 5.7 percent total increase of freshmen applicants from 2010, with some individual schools having application increases of over 13 percent. One of the most tangible of these changes is UC Riverside halting its guaranteed acceptance policy for qualified UC applicants. “There are more students applying to college, and not more colleges there to accept them. UC Riverside is just an indicator that all campuses are impacted, and that they have more applicants than they can take. Merced will most likely change the same way as UC Riverside, and it is the default currently,” said Nebolon. The increase in applications for spots in selective universities adds stress to an already taxing process, and students should adjust their own applications accordingly. “Students are always stressed out when applying to colleges, but now are applying more broadly. Our students need to look at all possibilities and apply to a range of different schools. SDA students are applying to more out-of-state schools and more CSU campuses,” said Nebolon. Roughly 60 percent of SDA students go on to four-year universities, according to Nebolon, and approximately 33 percent go to community colleges. The number of SDA students going to community colleges has gone up over past years, while the amount enrolling in four-year institutions has remained relatively the same. lindsey agnew

Above graphs feature the increase in UC applicants from around the world, as well as an increase in SDA students applying to UCs. Graphs by Lindsey Agnew.

extra funds Culinary arts receives help. Mr. Peabody’s, a restaurant in Encinitas, has dedicated the first Monday of every month to fundraising for the culinary arts program at SDA. The restaurant has raised donations from tip jars and raffles on to help fund the culinary arts class and club. Culinary arts teacher Scott Huntley plans to use the money towards items to get people interested in the class, such as a waffle cone maker that will be used during exhibition day. He also plans to use some of the money for replacements if and when classroom equipment breaks. Huntley is appreciative of the donations: “They really helped out and went above and beyond.” emily maxwell

Anyone missing their volcano burritos, chalupas, and talking Chihuahuas should have no fear. Although it currently looks like a set piece for “Saving Private Ryan,” the Taco Bell on Encinitas Boulevard is only closed temporarily for remodeling. Andrew Maynard, assistant planner at Encinitas City Hall, said that the Taco Bell would be “modified slightly with a small addition.” Many students don’t seem too concerned. Sophomore Tim Greene said, “I don’t care. It’s not that big of a deal, the food isn’t that good.”

“I don’t really care; I haven’t eaten there in a couple years,” said Alexis Jones, sophomore. In spite of the aftereffects of chalupas and Mexican Pizza, other students had some cause for alarm over the remodeling. Rocky KeefeOates, senior, said, “Taco Bell was the ultimate go-to for any occasion: celebrations, late night cravings, or just a quick lunch. I was completely shocked to see it was gone; I mean I know its beef might be poisonous but some things are just too good to be true.” tim kontje

mixing it up

Students attempt to develop acceptance at SDA. Mix and Mingle, an event organized to meet new people, proved to be a learning experience for the Students Developing Acceptance (SDA) club. “I don’t think it was as successful as it could have been, but now we know what we need change in order to make it better. This was our first event for this club and I think it was a good starting point but we will continue to work to improve our next events,” said senior Brittany Parker, senior. The club members learned that all aspects of an event need to be considered in order for it to be successful. “I realized just how long it takes to prepare for an event and how far ahead we need to plan our events in the future,” said Parker. The SDA club hosted Mix and Mingle Feb. 2 to 4. It was an opportunity for students all over campus to meet new people. Participants wore purple or sported purple signs to show they were ready to participate. The idea of the event was to encourage students to talk with new groups that they don’t usually socialize with. “We say all the time that our school is the most accepting place on earth and though that may be partially true, in some aspects it is not accepting. We want the event to promote acceptance so that those aspects of the school that aren’t,” said club member Evan Angelico, senior. Parker started the SDA club at the beginning of last quarter and is now its president. “Over the past couple of years I have noticed that the atmosphere at SDA has started to change and I wanted to do something about that. Through this club I am hoping to reduce the amount of bullying around campus and I am hoping to raise awareness in students about the effects their words can have on others,” said Parker. The club has about 15 regular members but anyone is welcome to join. The club meets Tuesdays and Thursdays during homeroom. “My favorite part of being in the club is that I get to hear all the great ideas the students have to make SDA a better place and you get to have an input on the activities we are planning,” said sophomore Tania Gomez. Although some students thought the event was awkward, most enjoyed it. “I think it went well, but I did notice that most people only participated on the first day,” said junior Mariko Kobayashi. “I forgot to continue participating the two remaining days. Other than that I felt that people were stepping out of their comfort zones and mingling.” elisa figueroa

opinions

THE MUSTANG

Feb. 11, 2011

(aP)peasing college

Students at SDA are perceived by their peers to only take AP classes for the purpose of getting into better colleges rather than for the joy of learning and may be doing extracurricular activities for the same reason. What does this mean and how might it affect you?

etting into college is hard: the application process itself is complicated and the years of labor spent preparing for college is grueling at times; sacrifices must be made. Competition between students is at an all-time high and never before have universities received as many applications and turned so many down. Recently, high school students across the country have been taking more AP classes and extracurricular activities on top of their already-heavy load. Are we taking on more than we can handle simply to get into college, or are we doing it for our own pleasure? Most kids believe that the majority of our peers participate in extracurricular activitiesto appease colleges, and about half believe they are done for sheer enjoyment. It is possible that high school students may begin

an extracurricular activity like playing a sport, joining a club, or doing volunteer work, lose interest, but continue to participate in the activity to appease the colleges they apply to their senior year with the goal of appearing dedicated and devoted. In reality, colleges want to see commitment. They want to see applicants who are passionate about the activities they do outside of school, so we suspect that many high school students pursue extracurriculars that they may or may not be genuinely concerned about in order to meet college expectations and build up resumes. On the other hand, many believe that students partake in after-school activities because that is legitimately how they want to spend their time outside of the classroom; just being able to write those things down on

college applications is a bonus. The majority thinks that their peers take AP classes to make their resumes look more impressive. AP classes should be offered so that students can take higherlevel classes in their own areas of interest, rather than as an opportunity to make it a goal in itself to take as many as possible. High schools could enforce a maximum number of AP classes a student is allowed to take. Taking AP classes in subjects students are interested in studying at college can eliminate prerequisite classes freshman year and help students graduate on time. Unfortunate as it is, the process of applying to college has become much more competitive over the years. AP classes seem to be losing face value because more kids are signing up for more AP classes. Having a heavy

STAFF EDITORIAL

course load simply illustrates a student’s ability to balance many challenging classes rather than showing progression and excellence in one or two subjects they are passionate about. When it comes down to it, the majority agrees that if we weren’t so concerned about applying to college, we wouldn’t partake in all the AP classes and extracurricular activities we are involved in. Therefore, we feel that high school students should only take AP classes in the areas they are interested in, and pursue only the extracurricular activities that they are extremely passionate about. Instead of worrying about filling out all 12 spaces available on Common Application to describe achievements and extracurricular activities, worry about thoroughly filling out just four or five of them. It’s a better use of time.

Staff Survey Are the majority of your peers involved in AP’s only for the purpose of beefing up their resumes for college? YES: 23 NO: 1 Are the majority of your peers involved in AP’s only for the purpose of enjoying themselves? YES: 1 NO: 23 Are the majority of your peers involved in extracurricular activities only for the purpose of beefing up their resumes for college? YES: 11 NO: 13 Are the majority of your peers involved in extracurricular activities only for the purpose of enjoying themselves? YES: 13 NO: 11 If you didn’t have to worry about college, would you personally still be involved in all the activities you are now? YES: 8 NO: 16

valen-times past

Valentine’s Day used to involve pink art projects, candy from the whole class and decorated shoeboxes full of valentines. Sammy Bueche has realized that with each passing year, Valentine’s Day has become a day to resent rather than relish, and she yearns for the love that has gone missing.

alentine’s Day is a holiday that confuses me. Some of us are stuck celebrating another lonely reminder about being single, leaving you buying your own chocolates on February 14. Some of us are cuddling away with a significant other, being doused in presents and flowers. Then there are the in-between people who claim neutrality and aren’t really fazed by the holiday at all. Why can’t it be simpler? Maybe we could all use the day to actually show appreciation for those that we love by telling them instead of resenting the loves that we don’t have or lavishly showering other people with gifts. There’s really one group of humankind that has it the best on the confusing holiday that Valentine’s Day really is: children. We all remember the foil

wrapped rose chocolates, the cheesy pun-laced valentine cards that mom would help you write all the names of the kids in your first grade class on, collecting sugar laden candy in shoeboxes intricately decorated in doilies and craft paper. That sounds a lot better than awkwardly spending one dollar on a cute little candy gram to send to someone in your second period class and having everyone uncomfortably stare in your direction when they find out that it’s from you. I think that Valentine’s Day was better off the old fashioned way. You had to give everyone in your class a valentine, so everyone felt appreciated. There wasn’t competition between girls about the presents that their boyfriends got them, no need to find a significant other to spend the day with – just the simple pleasure of

jocelyn lee

enjoying candy and a basic note saying that someone is thinking of you. Wouldn’t it be nice if we could still decorate shoeboxes with pink and white wrapping paper and flowers like the good old days? We could all spread the love like we did back in elementary school with hugs and cards, which didn’t involved sappy movies and slobbery couples making out in the hallways. Not only would we all save money, time, and more importantly, the sanity of those of us that don’t particularly care for Valentine’s Day, but we could all have a flashback to the times where life was a little more simple. I say we take all of the unnecessary pressure out of Valentine’s Day and do things the old school way.

Feb. 11, 2011

opinions

Fashion Designers Club No experience needed Room 27

THE MUSTANG

A stylish waste of time When winter formal rolls around, a huge amount of time is spent by students shopping online in preparation for the night. Formal attire, accessories and hairstyles are thoroughly researched and considered on various websites, sometimes late into the night or even during class. Kerry Roberson thinks this particular sort of time-wasting has gotten out of hand.

strongly maintain that the internet’s sole purpose is to distract me. I have now found that it requires a considerable amount of willpower to attempt to do something productive on the computer; I have to mentally beg myself to not open the internet so that I can actually get my homework done in a timely manner. Between Facebook, Youtube, Bubbleshooter, Netflix and every other equally addicting website out there, it’s hard to focus on being industrious. But, what with the Lightspeed system we have on school computers, a new sort of addiction is taking hold of many female students at SDA. Because social networking, computer games, blogs, and other “inappropriate” content is restricted on the school’s computers, we shop. Who can concentrate on writing essays or doing research when there is the ability to shop for formal dresses online? And, what a coincidence, it’s that time of year. In what other part of the year is it even vaguely acceptable to spend large sums of time on nordstrom.com or modcloth. com, viewing dresses (200 per page, obviously) during class, after school and even late into the night, searching for the ultimate, flattering, statement-making, “that’s-so-me” dress? Under any other circumstances, this pastime would seem outlandish and obsessive. This phenomenon is taking hold of a huge percentage of the students at our school. Around this time, things as important as college essays and school assignments are shirked to spend class time shopping for dresses and other formal accessories without even leaving the chair. What is so thrilling about

shopping for formal online? First of all, you save gas, time and effort by boycotting physically going to the mall and, instead browsing through dozens of stores’ evening dress inventories from the comfort of home. Secondly, the cliché phrase “You want what you can’t have” is also probably pretty applicable. The excitement of seeing an adorable dress online is comparable to looking at cute puppies at the animal shelter. It’s adorable, but honestly, who wants to pay for shipping and handling, or dog food, just to find that it doesn’t fit, or incessantly pees on the carpet? It really is the same idea. Because the reality is, formal dress shopping online is pretty addicting, but for the most part it is a waste of time, and not to mention a waste of money, too. Shopping for dresses is easiest when you can actually try them on in a store because, more often than not, the girls that order their dresses from the internet receive them and are disappointed by the way they fit, the itchy fabric, or any other sort of qualm that makes the dress unsuitable and inadequate for the special night. And once the dresses have been sent back, an almost tangable frenzied panic sets in. The majority of these girls end up tearing through department stores and boutiques alike with a couple weeks, or less, until formal, going with an unexpected Plan B. They’re also on a restricted budget, because they had to pay for shipping and handling, there and back, which isn’t cheap by any means, for the dress that inspired such high hopes. Hopes that were predictably, crushed, by being just a couple sizes too small.

opinions

THE MUSTANG

Feb. 11, 2011

are you double down? The KFC Double Down: two strips of bacon, one slice of pepper jack cheese, and a hearty slathering of signature Colonel Sauce encased between two fried chicken patties. The challenge: just eat one. As two staff writers soon realize, this seemingly simple game is anything but. While at the outset, Eleanore Hendrickson feels that there may be joy in the fried, and Ari Brin is overcome with heart-attacking disgust, this may eventually prove to be the most Herculean test that both writers will ever face.

t appears. My heart stops, and I haven’t even taken a bite. This is what chickens were made for: to sandwich two beautifully bronze strips of bacon, cheese, and Colonel Sauce. It glistens, beckoning to me. How can I resist the calls of the Double Down? I feel that Shakespearean dialogue is necessary when handling such matters. There is nothing more striking than thou, I think. Thou art the sun. What is that thou cry, mon Cherie? Thou seeketh the gentle caress of my hand? I comply.

My fingers are coated with grease now, but who among us is perfect? Eating it seems almost like a waste now. To sacrifice such beauty would be sinful, a sacrilege. This must be a dream. Perhaps I have died. Is there any other explanation for how this greasy glory came into being? I mean, other

than the corporate board of directors capitalizing on my weakness for fried foods? “I’m sorry,” I whisper to the meat. It stares blankly back. The silence is heartbreaking. “I know. But I must.” Fighting back tears, I slowly raise the work of art to my mouth. “Farewell,” I cry softly. I sink my teeth into the majesty. It squirts hot oil at me, and I feel unworthy to consume such a masterpiece as the oil burns my palate. I feel a sudden glow; much

like that a pregnant woman would feel. My heart clenches, hopefully in the good way. The tears that brimmed so close to the surface finally burst forth and cascade down my visage as I chew with vigor. I break away from my joy for a moment to take a glance at my counterpart, Ari Brin. She is crying too. I feel we are one. Hark! Has the world ever lay witness to more bliss than to-day? I try to ignore my conscience calling for a carrot, or even a lettuce leaf, anything to neutralize the fried crisps that appear to have lodged themselves in my heart-ular region. I pound my chest a bit in an attempt to

settle both the chicken and my conscience, but I feel the same. As the last chicken-lets slither their way down my gullet, I expect to feel some semblance of accomplishment at having finished such a behemoth of meat. Yet I feel only a sense of emptiness that belies my protruding stomach. What’s happening? I try to revive the joy that had encompassed me as I took my first bite. This is your calling, I think to myself. This is the American way; you can’t find this in China. This is it. But no words can pacify the numbness that slowly envelops me. I look over at Ari. Defeated, we shake our heads. THE KFC DOUBLE DOWN NEED-TO-KNOW FACTS: Price: $5.49 Calories: 540 Fat: 32 grams Sodium: 1380 grams

t appears. It is the devil. It stares up at me, high and mighty, in its pretentious red box. Through its fried chicken lips, it drools “special sauce.” The Double Down oozes elitism, unidentified oils and droopy cheese. Not sex appeal. It isn’t even kosher. Not sexy. At first I chicken out. But I have been starving myself for days to prepare for this moment. I have promised myself that I would take on this challenge. Now I must deliver. 610 calories. It delivers nearly 60 grams of protein in the form of boneless, triple-fried, breaded chicken. It nearly completes

www.kfc.com

one’s daily recommended protein intake. Knowing all this makes me wonder: Why am I even entertaining the idea of eating this? How could have I let myself be won over by the advertising and my curiosity? I could be at Subway right now instead, eating a Turkey sub which contains 3.5g of fat—9 percent of the Double’s Down’s 37 grams. In fact, the Double Down contains more fat and sodium than 4 McDonald’s hamburgers. But I put all that behind me. I’m young, I think! My body loves me! I take my dreaded first bite. It squirts fried oil at my face. My temptation to call an exorcist, or

at least a nutritionist, overcomes me. The sandwich (if you could even call it that) is death in my mouth. The sensation is hot, like a sticky summer day, but there is no shade-like relief from the scalding suns of Kentucky. My god, is this the end? I think as I swallow. It slides down my poor esophagus like a lump of burning coal, and tastes much the same. It coats my insides with grief. And grease. But that is of lesser importance, as I feel darkness creep into my body.

My heart contracts a painful wrench. “Why?” I shout at the thing. “All I wanted to do was live! Love! I had so much left within me! O, fate!” My arteries are clogged, but there is no plunger to help flush away the pain. The box – which once held the sandwich she-demon – falls to the floor. Empty. My heart tries to keep up with my stress, but it fails, ventricle by ventricle: a brave soldier

in the fight for my life. “Nooo!” Why did I order this? I was feeling like a dare devil, I suppose, like all the others who sacrifice diets and self respect just for a challenge. But I would take it all back, if only I could gain back all that I had lost. I feel life slipping away from my fingertips. At least it is all gone now. The pain stops, and a numbing sensation takes over my body. I look over to my counterpart Eleanore Hendrickson. Defeated, we shake our heads.

features

Feb. 11, 2011

THE MUSTANG

Photo courtesy of Avery Finden Senior Brandon Rowley holds up his answer after his girlfriend decorated his room. This was just one of SDA students’ elaborate formal askings this year.

Formal?

From sweet surprises to poster perfect wall décor and even DBQs—who knew SDA students were so creative? With formal around the corner, SDA’s girls are taking the initiative in asking dates. Story by Katie Berriochoa.

he formal frenzy is almost over. But for the last month, SDA girls have been given the opportunity to take the initiative in asking dates—and they ran with it. After endless time thinking up the perfect plan, yet all the while being secretive and inconspicuous, here are the most memorable “askings” of 2011. Taste the Rainbow “I know she’s going to ask me, I just don’t know when,” said junior Jordan Golden about girlfriend Juliana Alberti, before the asking took place. By incorporating one of his favorite food groups, candy, Aliberti reconfigured the average skittles bag into a technique to not only catch Golden’s attention but keep it. Concealed inside the candy bag was an invitation to formal. With help from his mom, the seemingly unopened bag was effectively sneaked it into his room while he was away at basketball.

“He knew something was up but didn’t know what…” said Albierti. “ And his response, “I get a formal date and candy!” DBQ “At first, I was just going to ask him pretty simply by giving him a flower and asking ‘will you go to formal with me?’” said sophomore Aly Baker. However, after being convinced by her friends to do something out of the ordinary, Baker decided to create a noteworthy experience for him and just go for it. With the help of AP World History teacher Scott Huntley, Baker created a special DBQ (document based question) packet for Sophomore Brady Mears. “Mr. Huntley made sure that Brady got the special packet with the message in it…and had people read parts of the DBQ out loud in class…when we got to the document with the message in it, he called on Brady to read it out loud” said Baker, “when

he [Mears] got to the message, which was placed somewhere in the middle of the document, he just read it out loud as if it was a part of the document!” After finishing the sentence and realizing what had just occured, Mears turned to her and said yes. Scrapbook Wonders Junior Mary Lyons asked her boyfriend, freshman Cole Driscoll, to formal by creating a scrapbook and enclosing her proposal inside. “I was looking through my camera and had a lot of pictures of us…so I wanted to do something with them”. After flipping through 10 pages of memorable moments, and reminiscing, Driscoll neared the end and found letters which collectively spelled out “Formal?” “He couldn’t stop smiling,” said Lyons “before [I asked] I was nervous to give it to him and after I saw how much he liked it, I was really happy.” Strike! What drove sophomores Chloe

Stanners and Brian Abrams in wanting to attend formal together? “Young love,” said Abrams. After convincing the employee who was running the intercom at the San Marcos bowling alley to make an announcement, Stanners asked her date over the loud speakers. “I was really nervous-like I had butterflies…[and when I asked], his face got all red,” said Stanners. “…At first he said no. It wasn’t funny...then he said yes.” Snapshots After decorating boyfriend Brandon Rowley’s bedroom with streamers and balloons, along and adorning the walls with a medley of memorable picturesque snapshots, sophomore Avery Finden waited in agony. “I was excited and nervous before…not knowing what his overall reaction would be” said Finden, “and I was so happy after, knowing he loved it.” Rowely posted a picture on her Facebook wall of himself holding a sign reading “Yes.”

Picture Perfect Sophomors Hailie Brant and George Erie met last year at formal. “I wrote a story book inluding both of us in it with pictures...and asked him to wear the plastic crown i attached...I surprised him by taking him to the Midway, where formal was last year because thats where he asked me out.” Though Erie was expecting the invite, he didnt know how or when Brant would ask him. Drama During rehearsal for a scene in the middle of theater class, sophomore Sarah Graciano asked junior Daniel Alguire. “The person in the scene was supposed to give her a picture of himself, however [instead I gave him] a piece of paper that said, ’Daniel formal with me?’” said Graciano. After reading it aloud, Alguire said yes. “I knew she was going to ask me, we’ve been going out for over a year, but I was still surprised…and very happy,” he said.

features

THE MUSTANG

Feb. 11, 2011

valentine’s day woes Those in the throes of a blissful romance may enjoy Valentine’s Day, but for the rest of us poor and lonely souls (as well as those of us who don’t want to go broke just to keep Hershey’s and Hallmark in business) it can be both a both depressing and frustrating day. Story by Katherine Bueche.

very month has that one holiday people get psyched for. October brings Halloween, December means Christmas, and New Years Eve means sparkling apple juice and even more sparkly clothing. There is one holiday, however, that seems to be exclusive to the hopeless romantics and amorous individuals who adore the bright pink, candy coated, rose petal sprinkled holiday that is for “Valentines” only. Andy Miller, freshman, says, “I love Valentines Day; it’s so fun!” She added, “I have a boyfriend so it’s more fun, but I remember when I didn’t have a boyfriend, and Valentine’s Day

sucked.” It’s understandable to have a fondness for the holiday when you have that special someone, because it usually means a cute and well- thought out date, some kind of gift, and showers of affection and romance. “If you’ve got a sweetie-pie then it’s a good day,” says Spencer Creighton, senior. However, for all the single people out there, Valentine’s Day seems a whole lot more like a gaginducing mush fest that they weren’t invited to. “It’s really annoying when you don’t have a girlfriend or boyfriend, and the constant love in the air is nauseating,” says Eric

Poincenot, sophomore. There are many reasons why Valentine’s Day is not for everybody, because not only is it date-less induced depression, but it tends to be more than a tad commercially exploitive. “It’s a money making scandal

Card Association, which makes this holiday second place only to Christmas in card sales. As noted by Neoli Marcos, a writer for a website dedicated solely to Valentine’s Day, chocolate and candy sales reach up to $1,011 billion on the holiday. Even more drastically, around $14 billion is projected to be spent by Americans 18 years and older this Valentine’s Day, according to the National Retail Federation. “There’s always pressure to find a Valentine and buy an expensive gift,” remarks Joe Stefanki, sophomore. Not loving the holiday isn’t unusual: according to Marcos,

“It’s really annoying...and the constant love in the air is nauseating.” - Eric Poincenot, sophomore that Hallmark plays off for their benefit!” says Delaney Sztraicher, senior. (Sztraicher, though, said she still thinks it’s delicious to eat chocolate.) Around $1 billion in cards is spent on Valentine’s Day each year, according to the Greeting

approximately one in four Americans don’t celebrate Valentine’s Day. A pretty general consensus occurs on the topic of Valentines Day, however. This is the idea that love should not be limited to one single day throughout the year. English teacher David Tow says,”I think Valentine’s Day is a good idea, but instead you should be nice every day. You also don’t need to buy presents just to show that you love each other. Take the Bill and Ted approach, be excellent every day!” Senior Erin MacNabb has similar feelings, saying, “I feel like if you really love someone, you don’t need a holiday.”

Academic Council is selling MUSTANG CARDS at a new Reduced Price of $10!

Mustang Cards offer discounts at local retail and restaurants. Ask an Academic Team member for one today!

features

Feb. 11, 2011

THE MUSTANG

The menu at Pipe’s Cafe features delicious items for every meal, all at an affordable price, making it an ideal place for students with big appetitites and tight budgets.

cheap eats for kids

Everyone loves food. Everyone loves money. Everyone wants the most of both, but it’s not always so easy. Explore the cheap food spots of Encinitas, and ensure that you never go hungry, or broke, again. Story and photo by Sammy Bueche.

pending excessive money on food is a commonly known curse that we all face. Breakfast dates, off campus lunch, dinner with friends—the list goes on and on. We all occasionally (or constantly) throw down some big bucks on good food, but over time the prices add up. Well the good news is, no matter what meal you’re looking for, there are a lot of local places that have deals most people don’t know enough about. It’s a lot easier to go out to eat while still saving money than most people think. You can save tons of cash by ordering smart from certain places, so here’s an inside look at some of the best deals in town. Pipes Café Well known in the surfing community, Pipes Café is a small breakfast joint with a lot of charm on Liverpool Drive in Cardiff. It’s nearly always busy, because the food is fast and inexpensive. If you’re looking for a lot of food for a very fair deal, Pipes is the perfect place to go. Senior Elissa Gibb says,” You get so much food for so little cash! A big breakfast there is only like 6 bucks.” The menu features lots of great deals, particularly the “Big Breakfast” for

only $6.50 that comes with eggs, bacon, pipes potatoes, pancakes, and an English muffin as well as the inexpensive a la carte items such as a large dish of potatoes for $2.25. Potato Shack Café Potato Shack is a tucked away restaurant on I Street on the 101 and it features one of the best pancake deals in Encinitas. The restaurant is famous for their “manhole pancakes”, which are absolutely humongous. Senior Katey Ford has “been going there since I was a wee little lass!” One pancake ranges in price from $5.50-$6.95 depending on the topping you order, and it’s easy to get full from only half a pancake. Go there to share one, and it’ll only cost you around $2.50 for a very filling breakfast. Thai Pan Express Thai Pan is so hidden on El Camino Real that most can’t even find it right away, but it’s definitely worthwhile. It lies in the generally deserted area where the Albertsons used to be, and it’s the only store still open there. Thai Pan is a cute restaurant with good service, and the lunch deal they offer is one of the most affordable ways to try a different type of cuisine. For only $7.50,

you get a spring or egg roll, a cup of soup, and a large sized entrée. “As new and cheaper meals take over the dark streets of Thailand, the menus changes and morph to match perfectly,” says junior Oliver Martin. All dishes come with rice or noodles. The portions are so large that you can easily share with another person and order another roll and soup if you want, which makes the price even cheaper per person. Joe Stefanki says “The curry tastes yummy in my tummy!” The food is fresh and filled with flavor, and it’s a good place for hour lunch or weekends. Lotus Café Lotus Café, located in the Lumberyard on 101, is a restaurant with a somewhat expensive reputation, but when played right it has some excellent deals for lunch. The atmosphere there is very peaceful, and it’s a really nice eating experience. The best deal for lunch is to buy a cup of soup, because for $3.00 you get a decent sized cup of really fresh and delicious soup and a huge piece of bread. “The soup’s super cheap and organic. I like the tomato bisque. The pasta’s also really good” says Freshman Alynne Powers. The kid’s menu items, such as

the grilled cheese or quesadilla, are also great deals and come with chips and salsa for around $4.00. Seaside Market Deli Seaside Market, a grocery store in Cardiff on San Elijo Avenue may seem like any other grocery store, but it is by far one of the best places to go for lunch. The deli offers many excellent deals, including a huge bowl of chicken, beans, rice, salsa, and sour cream/guacamole on request for only $4.00, or two large tacos for $5.00. Freshman Jennifer Minnich is a fan because “it’s very good and very cheap.” Another benefit of eating there is that, since it’s a grocery store, you can choose from a large variety of drinks and desserts. There are many vegetarian options as well, and you can also purchase premade sushi or fresh salads starting at around $4.00. Seaside Market also is a good alternative to pricey coffee shops, because they offer excellent coffee for $1.00 a cup as well as far better desserts than most coffee shops that range in price from $2.00-6.00. Tomoyama Sushi Tomoyama, located directly next

to the La Costa Ultrastar movie theatre, is one of the very few places where teenagers can actually afford to eat sushi without blowing over $20.00. The happy hour deal at Tomoyama, from three to five on Monday through Saturday, is worth the drive. Every sushi roll is half price of an already fair deal, with a huge selection of everything from standard California and spicy tuna rolls to specialty rolls and nigiri. Some of the best specialty rolls are the eel special roll and the rainbow roll. You get a good dine-in service, and it’s pretty easy to accommodate a larger group. Filiberto’s Mexican Food Filiberto’s is a very well known Mexican restaurant on 101 that most SDA students are familiar with, but offers a better deal than a lot of places and has the benefit of being open 24/7, so it’s good for a late night snack. Every day, they offer a different special for $1.00, such as a three rolled tacos with cheese on Mondays or a kid’s quesadilla on Fridays. The “bum meal” is another good deal, where you pay $1.50 for a slightly smaller sized bean and cheese burrito. Brian Dominguez, Junior, says “my wallet thanks me!”

Acne myths MISLEAD

features

THE MUSTANG

Nearly all teenagers suffer from acne at some point or another, and nearly all try to find a cure. But instead of looking towards official sources, many teens rely on the myths and rumors floating around to solve their problems. Story by Natalya Ballard.

alentine’s Day, like most holidays, calls for the consumption of chocolates and sweets. Yet some teenagers don’t indulge as much as they’d like for fear of breaking out. This is just one of the myths that beset teenagers, a population commonly afflicted by the cosmetic disease, acne. Distressed and in search of explanations, teenagers can easily fall for myths. Unfortunately, such myths can distort the truth about acne and prevent kids from properly treating it. Among teens, the myth that dirt and poor hygiene cause acne is commonly accepted, yet terribly deceptive. Dermatologist Alizabeth L. Truong, owner of Academy Skin Physicians San Diego, said that “dirt alone cannot cause acne.” By believing the myth that their acne is caused by poor hygiene, teens will over-wash their faces. In actuality, over-washing worsens the skin, and generates more acne and irritation. “Washing your face twice a day is recommended, but doing more than that will not help you,” Truong said. According to Skincarephysicians.com, a website run by the American Academy of Dermatology, washing more than twice a day dries out the skin and stimulates it to rehydrate by producing more oil, and thus clogging the pores even more. There has been much debate as to the connection between diet and acne, and doctors still vary in opinions. Conflicting studies make it difficult for a definitive answer. A female student, a junior, said she believed diet does influence acne: “When I eat chocolate I do break out more. Greasy foods also make it worse.” According to Truong,

“Sweets will affect acne, but no, not greasy foods” Skincarephysicians.com states, however, that food does not influence one’s acne. Milk’s effect on acne is debated amongst dermatologists. The hormones in milk can worsen acne, Truong said. “I suggest drinking soy milk instead,” she added. “Cow milk is full of estrogen and hormones and studies have shown it can worsen acne.” SDA students said they thought stress contributed to their acne. Another female student, a junior, said, “When I’m stressed out, I definitely break out more.” Truong confirmed stress to be an acne stimulant. “Stress definitely worsens acne,” she said. “Stress increases the levels of the hormones responsible for acne, and that causes more oil to be produced on the skin.” As long as people suffer from the acne, myths will continue to be circulated. The true cause of acne, however, is the overproduction of sebum in oil glands. Teens are frequent prey to blemishes because hormonal fluctuations cause the overproduction. When increased skin cell shedding and excess oil combine, the pores clog, bacteria called P. acnes create inflammation and acne is born. Some people suffer from more acne than others, not because they are dirtier or eat too much greasy food, but because they genetically shed more skin cells and produce more sebum than others. Various forms of acne exist, and an individual and appropriate treatment plan is necessary for a healthy and less troubled you. So, if you’re suffering from acne, consult a dermatologist; don’t just believe every myth you hear.

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Feb. 11, 2011

features

Feb. 11, 2011

THE MUSTANG

pauline disch Face-painted Mustang students stand and cheer for the varsity boys basketball team against Canyon Crest Academy on Friday, Jan. 28, proving that SDA kids really do display school spirit.

Spirited Away

SDA fans show school spirit at indoor games, but are the field sports left out in the cold? Story by Anna Sheridan.

very fan is at the front of their seats, waiting for the ball to leave the opponent’s hands. Every seat is packed, every spectator hooked on the adrenaline that comes from watching basketball games. Occasionaly, the SDA basketball fans will challenge the visiting cheerleaders to a cheer off, or build cardboard structures intimidating the opposition. Every indoor game is packed with students, parents, JV athletes, and even teachers who come to watch their students excel at what they do best. While our indoor sports (basketball and volleyball) pack bleachers, the outdoor field sports have to rely on a handful of parents to get their motivation. “We need some school spirit,” said soccer fan Isabelle Morales, junior. At the soccer game against Orange Glen at SDA on Jan. 20,

there were only small groups of SDA spectators and parents came to cheer on the mustangs. Elena Castrellon, mother of Genesis Castrellon a sophomore on the varsity girls soccer team, said that she tries to make it to every game to support the girls. “We try to make it to all the away games because we enjoy soccer and watching our kids play,” said Castrellon. Compared to the mass of blue Orange Glen sweatshirts, SDA fans paled in comparison. The lack of fans in the stands is felt by the players on the field. “Fans make the game feel real and important, like it matters,” said soccer play Nicholas Biehl, senior. Most student fans come to games to support their friends who are participating, but some just come to show their school spirit. “I love to support my team and my school,” said Caitlin

McKinley, junior, who attends girls soccer games because she enjoys the sport. Junior Isabelle Morales goes to the games to support her former teammates. “I try to go to basketball games, soccer games, and wrestling matches. We need some school spirit,” said Morales. Other students, like sophomore Camilla Larses, are novice sports fans. “This is my first time coming to a game. I came to support my friend,” said Larses. Junior Sonja Gerber believes that home games dictate the high school experience as much as any other school sanctioned event. “Our school teams are important to our school environment, and they need our support. We may not have the best team, but we do need to show that we have school spirit,” said Gerber. In comparison to the scantily attended soccer game, the basketball game on Jan. 28 against

CCA, had packed bleachers with fans from both schools. The new student fee of four dollars for league games didn’t stop SDA fans from coming to support their school. Junior Jordan Golden said that fans make a difference in the way the basketball team plays. “It’s always harder for a visiting team to play in a gym that is yelling at them. And we never want to lose in front of our peers,” said Golden. “Students should come to the games because they are fun to watch and show support for friends and represent their school,” said Golden. Even the coaches notice the difference that fans make to the game play. Boys varsity basketball coach Luke Stucky encourages all students to support their teams this season. “The home games are fun, and we should challenge for a league title this year,” said Stucky. Continued on next page.

Feb. 11, 2011

features

THE MUSTANG

spirited away We’ve got spirit, yes we do. We’ve got spirit, how about you? San Dieguito students show their support by attending, and sometimes creating human pyramids, at sporting events. While basketball and volleyball bring the most attention, parents and other relatives brave the cold to support the outdoor sports like soccer and field hockey. We may not be the most dominant high school when it comes to our sports, but everyone better watch out for our sports fans. We are one of the few schools that doesn’t officially have a cheerleading squad to root for our home teams, but that doesn’t stop us from improvising and encouraging our atheltes. With the help of some cardboard, facepaint, and creativity SDA students are proud to support their fellow Mustangs. Sure we may get teased and looks from other schools, but they’re just jealous. Photos by Jocelyn Lee, Pauline Disch, and Kaylin Greene.

2 4 5

1 3 6

1. At a varsity boys basketball game senior Sam Housekeeper, atop the pyramid, and friends challenged the San Marcos cheerleaders in support for their home team on Jan. 14. Senior Evan Angelico was the first to immitate the girls and soon more joined and formed the Academy’s greatest pyramid ever. 2.Parents were scattered in the stands and braved the cold to support their student athletes at the girls soccer game against Orange Glen on Jan. 20. Not many fans come to watch the freezing outdoor sports, but those who are dedicated come prepared. 3. SDA alumni Travis Norton, left, and Jason Jones, right, support the girls volleyball team for the first home game of the season. Although the two had trouble positioning themselves due to the referee’s comments of being too close to the line, they were able to cheer in the stands in their cleverly crafted cardboard boxes. 4. At the varsity girls volleyball playoff game at Canyon Crest Academy, SDA students traveled to support their fellow Mustangs on Nov. 17. Seniors Allie Noble, far left, Ilea Harrington, left, Cristina McLennan, right, Cassie Boyd, far right, and freshman Laura King, bottom, have fun with their friends as they supprt the team and record this event for future memories. 5. Parents root for the varsity girls basketball team on Friday, Jan. 28 in a game against Canyon Crest Academy. Despite the new price to pay for attending basketball games, these determined parents and grandparents paid the $5 and rooted for their girls. 6. Seniors Ryan Santore, right, Siddarth Iyengar, center, and Connor Brownell, left, dress to impress at the girls volleyball semi final playoff game at Canyon Crest Academy. Along with these blue-faced students was the San Dieguito Mustang mascot.

arts

THE MUSTANG

Feb. 11, 2011

bite into this

Buffy is the original vampire queen.

jocelyn lee

These are the students that are the latest outbreak of Art Wars at SDA, which consisted of two painters going up to a 100 panel grid and painting whatever during a ten minute interval. For more about Art Wars go online to sdamustang.com to read staff writer Rachel Huddleston’s coverage of the event. Photographed from the left is junior Sammay Ness, sophomore Andrew Walker, sophomore Julian Dennis, junior Kiley Dalrymple, junior Suki Berry, and sophomore Mike Guhl.

Online

Graph 3: Return of the Axis

Art Aid

New and exciting things for you.

Have sequels infiltrated Hollywood so thoroughly that there is no escape? Study conducted by Ari Brin.

SDA artists create for the community.

The best in arts and entertainment is reviewed by SDA Mustang critics and uploaded to theonline arts section. You can find movies, music and more online—even exclusive interviews with bands such as Allstar Weekend. And if you don’t particularly fancy cute boy bands, music review range in taste from Baths to The Pretty Reckless. Jack Rushall and Cherise Lopes-Baker have reviewed the new, controversial MTV television series “Skins USA,” which critics have accused of verging on child pornography. Naturally, we ended up having two articles online. Tempted? Good thing www.sdamustang.com is guiltfree and all natural. Have your serving today. -Angela Zhang

Originality, where art thou? Oh, the glory days, when sequels weren’t coming our of our ears. Now, we have not just “Shrek 2 and 3”, but that golden nugget of a “Shrek 4.” And the francise hasn’t been squeezed of life yet, says Paramount, for a fifth spin-off is due out in November. Moviegoers should expect a second “Piranha” to swim into theatres, as well as a seventh “Muppets” and an eighth “Harry Potter”. But movie studios are just giving audiences what they want. Don’t hate the player, hate the game. Is there no end to the lengths movie studios go to for a quick buck? Is there a deficit of new ideas in Hollywood? HUH? I’m sorry, but I’ve always been of the mindset that audiences deserve better. I’ve always thought that I deserved better than “Babies 2: More Babies.” Or a fourth “Mission: Impossible.” I mean, come on! The third “Mission: Impossible” was one of the biggest fiascos of the year! What makes so little sense is that movie studios are so addicted to sequels that they will sequel even the most un-deserving movies. I have one thing to say: Get it together, Hollywood.

If you saw the art walls on display on Water Day or at the Conner’s Cause benefit event, you had a chance to admire one of the SDA Art Club’s recent projects. The idea for the art boards came from art teacher Jeremy Wright. “People have told me that it’s a unique idea,” said club president, senior Erin Nogle, “They really enjoy it and have been very encouraging.” Besides the art boards, the club is organizing a student-art auction that will benefit a homeless center in Hillcrest run by San Diego Youth Services, an organization that provides care for teens and young people. (For more information on the center, see http://www.sdyouthservices.org/.) -Tim Kontje

As shown, the quality of sequels has steadily declined, but they keep returning.

In this current era of “Twilight,” “True Blood,” “Vampire Diaries,” and the like, the vampire craze is familiar to us all. But what many people forget, or simply do not know, is that long before there was Bella Swan, there was Buffy Summers. “Buffy the Vampire Slayer,” which aired from 1997 to 2003, did vampires first and, quite frankly, did it better. Buffy was not a helpless girl dependent on her vampire lover to save her from the evils of the world—although she did have her share of passionate love affairs with the undead to keep things interesting. Instead, Buffy was a warrior, a competent and quickthinking young woman with the ability to kick anybody’s ass while maintaining an excellent fashion sense and never running short on sarcasm and wit. Most importantly, she was dependent on no one. After being informed, at the age of 15, that her fate was to be this generation’s one and only vampire slayer, Buffy moved with her mother to the town of Sunnydale, California—conveniently located on a hellmouth— and set about fighting vamps and saving the world from one apocalypse after another. She was helped along the way by her ragtag group of friends—Giles, the Watcher and father figure, Xander, the comedian of the group, and Willow, the powerful Wicca. This core four made up the Scooby Gang, and for seven seasons they faced the demons of high school, college and young adulthood and grew up tremendously along the way. “Buffy,” aside from empowering women everywhere, showed us that we have the ability to fight off the demons we face every day, and that we really will survive those difficult years of growing up, even on the days that seem so dark they’re almost…apocalyptic. -Cara Reichard

buffyworld.com

The cast of“Buffy” stayed together for seven seasons of ass-kicking, vamp-slaying, wise-cracking fun.

SDA Loves Buffy Senior Catherine Oswald dishes on she loves ‘Buffy.’ “‘Buffy the Vampire Slayer’ gets more intense and complication the longer you watch it. Buffy is the stereotypical ‘pretty blonde victim’ with a secret. The series is fun and changes tone with every episode. It is definitely a good watch.”

arts

Feb. 11, 2011

THE MUSTANG

RAH RAH like a dungeon dragons Kanye West and Nicki Minaj are destroying your city leaving no survivors in their wake.

Beautiful, DirtY, Rich

The best living or dead hands down come out to show us their teeth. Done did everything they could think of, greatness is what they on the brink of. It’s one hell of a life, so don’t call out their names, they’re kind of busy. Story by Thea Brown and art by Tate Dannemiller.

eople are weird. I mean, just looking at the person sitting next to you; it is so easy to point out the things about them that deviate from yourself and what you consider to be the “norm.” But at the same time you realize that this person could be looking right back at you and thinking the same thing. In this sense there is no “norm:” we are all just weird. But in that sense, being weird is just being normal, so is there even a meaningful definition behind the word weird? Though it may be hard to apply it to your average high school student, weird has a place in our vocabulary, and that place is on Lady Gaga. From her Alexander McQueen Armadillo heels, to her full meat dresses, the woman just oozes oddities. Lady Gaga’s growing popularity helped perpetuate what now quantifies the modern day pop-star. Her music videos have been called blasphemous, pornographic, and all around disturbing. Instead of sporting belly shirts and low rise jeans, this year’s music sensations can

be found attending the American Music Awards in DIY dresses made out of VHS tapes and skintight, nude bodysuits. “Before Lady Gaga and throughout the 2000’s, popular musicians kind of dressed relatively normally for the most part. Then when Lady Gaga made it big with her out-there outfits, I think she kind of redefined ‘normal’ in a way. It enabled other musicians to be more daring, I guess, with their fashion choices,” said Aly Baker, junior. But when you listen to the music, it isn’t that different or unusual. Though Lady Gaga may be wearing a dress made out of Kermit the Frog dolls, she is still just singing about boys, boys, boys. And Rihanna’s “What’s My Name” doesn’t show much progression from the sound in her first hit “Pon de Replay” even if she has ditched the cargo pants for the body suit. All of the Lights But this weirdness extends far past just fashion. It is in their videos, their behaviors, and all of their marketing. When Kanye West first hit the music scene

as that college dropout with late registration, he seemed like a fairly normal guy, good at what he was doing. But slowly Kanye began a transformation into the ranting nonsensical genius we have come to love today. Maybe it began with the Taylor Swift incident at the VMAs, or when he first made his Twitter account, but Kanye exemplifies utilizing being weird perfectly. He’s learned how to market himself to the masses, simply by confusing them. As he so eloquently Tweeted, “There is no astronaut training for celebrity... even though this whole life is so outer space!” The weirdness has reached his music as well. Listening through “Dark Twisted Fantasy” versus listening through “Late Registration” is a completely different experience. Between the chanting of “Power” and the screaming of “Monster,” it’s hard to picture the new album gaining popular support. It’s not as catchy as most songs on the radio with its experimental sound. And yet it was voted the best of 2010 by Rolling

Stone, Pitchfork, Billboard, and MTV. Coincidence? I think not. Moment 4 Life So while some of our current pop-stars seem to be acid-trip, 50s pinup girls like Katy Perry, we have a few that are in a league of their own. Nicki Minaj, for example, is like nothing we have ever experienced before. Whether she is more famous for having a phenomenally large behind or for being featured in over 50 songs in 2010 alone is unknown. “She’s so renowned and all because female rap sorta died after Missy Elliot (RIP) and people basically forgot [about female rap]. But then “Your Love” came on the radio and the winds shifted then Nicki Minaj came out of nowhere, being featured in every song on the radio,” said Cole Axelrod, senior. When her debut album hit the charts it was surpassed only by the new Kanye. Between her absolutely ridiculous lyrics (just listen to “Did it On ‘Em”) and her vocals that range from a deep grunt to high pitch screech, it’s hard to take this girl seriously.

But surprisingly, she was actually formally trained in singing during high school. She also claims to have split personality disorder, attributing different songs to her other personalities “Harajuku Barbie” and “Roman Zolanski.” What’s My Name? Sure, there have always been some oddballs in the music scene. Look at Marylin Manson or the Insane Clown Posse or even Gwen Stefani during her solo project. But ever since Lady Gaga, every pop-star and her grandmother is trying to utilize this new weird image thing. Though it has only affected the music of a few, trail blazing sounds like those in the music of West and Minaj are sure to give birth to the new sound of pop. Already Britney Spears’s new single “Hold It Against Me” has a dubstep breakdown, so who’s to say what other weird turns popmusic is going to head in? I was listening to Nicki Minaj once in the kitchen and my dad turned to me and said, “You know, this is what all those people in the 50s feared would happen to music.”

arts

THE MUSTANG

Feb. 11, 2011

for little gold men

So much time, effort, and emotion is amassed just for the hopes of taking home a little golden trophy at the Oscars. But for the Best Picture nomination, these movies really are the best. The movies are what redefine our contemporary culture, standing time as representations of what was 2011.

...and James Franco gets “127 Hours” in the spotlight for be ing stuck under a rock...

MarK Wahlberg is shocked to learn that he has been deemed as a better lover than a “Fighter...”

...while Jennifer Lawrence tries to warm up her “Winter’s Bone” amid the cold and pain...

...while poor Colin Firth can b-bbarely get enough courage to clearly deliver his “King’s Speech ...”

...but Hailee Steinfeld could have delivered it with “True Grit” and correct pronunciation.

foxsearchlight.com

The King’s Speech Watching a timid man with a speech impediment has never been better entertainment. In “The King’s Speech,” Colin Firth plays the future King George IV, who ascends to the throne through a series of unlucky events. In the process, he must deal with his crippling stutter and with haters throughout Britain. Geoffrey Rush, who the typical teenager would only recognize as undead Barbarossa from “Pirates of the Caribbean” (unless you saw the delightful “Legend of the Guardian: Owls of Ga’Hoole”), is spectacular as the unique dialect coach. He not only assists the King with his stutter, but also with his intensive insecurities. Although “The King’s Speech” brought tears to every blood-thumping soul in the audience, it was not without its comedic moments. All of the characters are unnaturally witty and sharp, and they banter with one another as characters in any good Brit film should. They also curse—as any good Brits should. In fact, Rush’s doctor uses the power of the profane to help the King step out of his comfort zone. And trust me—you haven’t seen humor until you watch a nervous, pasty, shivering, badtoothed Brit let out a stream of blasphemous no-nos. “The King’s Speech” was undoubtedly the best film of 2010. If it is gypped of Best Picture, there truly is no justice in the world. -Ari Brin

thefightermovie.com

wintersbonemovie.com

kingsspeech.com

truegritmovie.com

127 Hours

Winter’s Bone

Sometimes the best movies are based off of real people and scenarios. This just might be the case for the film “127 Hours,” which is up for Best Picture this year. Although its release date was November of last year, the story of Aron Raslston’s experience trapped in a canyon in Utah has only been playing at the Edwards San Marcos Theater since Jan. 28. The movie might not be too popular around here, but it definitely impressed the Academy. “127 Hours” had all the elements of a great film despite the fact that it was centered on just one person. James Franco gave an incredibly believable performance. It was also beautifully and expertly shot. The camera angles, editing style, and incorporation of music were major factors into its nomination. -Elisa Figueroa

“Winter’s Bone,” the Best Picture Nominee and winner of the 2010 Sundance Grand Jury Prize is so indie that by writing this article, my street cred is going through the roof. Such a film shouldn’t even be considered on the same playing field as such blockbusters as “Inception,” which grossed $527 million more. But “Winter’s Bone” was the little engine that could. Slowly but surely, it chugged its way into the hearts of movie-lovers everywhere, with its grand ole’ plot and its killer acting. So maybe I wouldn’t call myself an expert on “Winter’s Bone.” I read a plot summary and watched the trailer once, and I can confidently say that this is the best movie I have never seen. I would recommend it to everyone, and it should win Best Picture or else. -Ari Brin

True Grit

The Fighter

“True Grit” is the second time this novel has been adapted into a thrilling movie, and it has been hugely improved by the Coen brothers. The music reinvents the story giving a cooler, modern feel. A huge sequence of challenges, seals the audience’s suspense while the main character, Mattie, endures every imaginable ordeal. The intensity of this movie is much more exciting than that of a simple western movie. With a blood sizzling storyline and a protagonist that demands attention, “True Grit” will withstand the test of time, and could easily win Best Picture with America’s stamp of approval. It’s the flame that ignites the dreams of many little boys and girls, who love the electrifying spirit of the Wild West, and relate to the little girl who faces a cold blooded killer with a heart full of bravery. -Cassia Pollock

Nobody who’s seen “The Machinist” would deny that Christian Bale has range, but his role in the “The Fighter” proves once and for all that his true talent lies not in the in the dark and brooding mysteriousness of Batman, but in the wild and crazed demeanor of the mentally unbalanced. Another notable performance comes from Amy Adams, who broke from her usual chick-flick-leading-lady role to play Charlene, a tough-girl bartender who becomes Mark Wahlberg’s romantic interest. Also impressive is Ward and Ecklund’s chaotic Irish-American family—six sisters and a mother who are constantly butting themselves into their brothers’ lives, and who are almost all played by small-town Massachusetts natives, giving the family an extremely authentic feel. -Cara Reichard

arts

Feb. 11, 2011

inceptionmovie.com

THE MUSTANG

disney.go.com

filminfocus.com

thesocialnetwork.movie.com

foxsearchlight.com

Toy Story 3

Inception

Last summer our spirits were lifted when the third film in the Toy Story series was released. Movie watchers of all ages rushed to theaters to follow up on the adventures of Woody, Buzz, and their owner Andy who was leaving for college. For young viewers it was a standout movie because we could relate to the story. Watching Andy decide what to do with his childhood treasures touched us all. It reminded us that when we go off to college we shouldn’t forget who we are going to leave behind, both people and toys. It’s no surprise that Toy Story 3 was nominated for best picture, with its clever humor (like a Spanish Buzz) and heart-warming story of sticking together. Everyone walked out of the theater with a smile. -Pauline Disch

The mind-blowing action thriller “Inception” won big with Oscars nominations and was nominated for best screen play, art direction, cinematography, original score, best picture, sound editing, sound mixing, and visual effects. What sets it apart from other movies is its diversity in pulling in the audience. Its obscure plot incorporates adventure, stimulates thought, and inspires determination . When it all comes down to it,though, it is simply a timeless love story between man and woman. Leading man Leonardo DiCaprio does an excellent job in creating a bond between him and the audience. His guilt over lost love, Mal, is relatable and though the storyline is very complex, “Inception” is a pinnacle of pure extraordinary thought, leaving the audience in awe. -Katie Berriochoa

The Kids are Alright

The Social Network

The true genius of “The Kids are Alright” lies in its ability to make you feel extremely uncomfortable. The dialogue and interactions between characters are so realistic, so believable—and put such an emphasis on awkwardness—that the viewer is literally cringing, for the characters’ sake, throughout most of the movie. Annette Bening and Julianne Moore both give impressive performances as lesbian couple Nic and Jules, who, along with their children, have all the difficulties of the typical suburban American family—plus the added issue of the children’s donor dad appearing and stirring up trouble. The concept behind the film is anything but typical: the children track down their sperm donor, Paul, who is played by Mark Ruffalo, and invite him into their lives. While he quickly forms a close relationship with the two kids, he also begins an affair with their lesbian mother (Moore), ultimately leading to a major conflict in the family. What’s remarkable about this movie, then, is that even with such an unordinary premise, the dialogue and the actors and everything else manage to make it all seem completely realistic. Despite the eccentricities, this could really be anybody’s family. -Cara Reichard

In a time where the internet and Facebook are so prominent, it is no wonder that audiences were intrigued and later amazed by the “The Social Network.” With its shocking portrayal of the creator of Facebook, Mark Zuckerberg, its interesting plot, and its intellectual yet witty dialogue, it stands to reason that it was nominated for Best Picture along with recieving six other nominations. From the opening scene where Zuckerman’s girlfriend breaks up with him to the ending where he friend requests her on Facebook, the film is filled with a flurry of creativity and intelligence from the screenwriters. The story flashes back and forth between the past and the present and gives the movie an interesting feel. The screenwriters had to have known a lot about technology and the court system in order to pull off this movie. David Fincher, who directed both “Fight Club” and “The Curious Case of Benjamin Button” did not disappoint. The “The Social Network” had amazing performances from its entire cast including Jesse Eisenberg who played Mark Zuckerberg and had to deliver an astonishing amount of lines, Justin Timberlake, and Andrew Garfield. -Elisa Figueroa

Joseph Gordon-Levitt and Leonardo diCapro use “Inception” to break into your mind...

...but Annette Bening and Julian Moore just want to make sure that “The Kids are Alright...”

...but Natalie Portman’s story isn’t just about how an ugly duckling turned into a “Black Swan...”

...so instead everyone just logged on to their “Social Network” to tell all of their friends.

...but all the kids want to hear before they can be OK is another “Toy Story” before bedtime...

Black Swan The careful breakdown of the human psyche was so chillingly portrayed by Darren Aronofsky in “Black Swan.” During the entire movie I was squeezing my body so tight, every single muscle tensed. Whether I felt just plain uncomfortable (like when Natalie Portman is masturbating in front of her mom) or just scared shitless (like during the rest of the movie). The movie captured my mind and emotions, sucking me into the darkness of the “Black Swan.” Darkness ain’t something that is new to Aronofsky. His cult classic “Requiem for a Dream” left me sleepless for several weeks, replaying that scene with Jared Leto and his infected arm again and again in my head. But what’s nice about Aronofsky’s latest opus is that it’s not just a shocker about drugs or sex or murderers. “Black Swan” combines a skillfully constructed screenplay with unique cinematography, which is probably what contributed the most to the unsettling effects of the movie. All of the elements come together in “Black Swan,” making it the perfect contender for an Oscar. Whether or not the Academy will choose it as the Best Picture however, is hard to say. It’s racy, and mind-bending, not a traditional film in the slightest. And when it was over I sat in the theater for 10 minutes, trying to recover. -Thea Brown

steeze

THE MUSTANG

Feb. 1, 2011

u l t i m a t eformal 2011

Senior Ryan Santore and sophomore Amy Cordova, change it up and show off their unique, ultimate formal steeze. By: Tatiana Skomski. hat: jack walsh’s sunglasses: sammy young’s

neclace: tiffany’s $60 tie: grandpa’s blazer: ebay $25

dress: bloomingdales $80

vest: online $20

pants: uncle’s handme-downs

shoes: urban outfitters $49

in a teague of her own What started as a simple way to recreate a favorite childhood dress, turned into a wardrobe changing experience. Designing and making your own clothes may seem like a daunting task, however for senior Emily Teague it’s just another stitch of the needle. By Tatiana Skomski.

rban Outfitters, Free People and Anthropology are just a few stores that offer many of the popular and favored styles and designs of SDA’s female students. However, with the skyrocketing prices at these loved boutiques, many are left only admiring the intricate designs in these store windows. Because of this, many have turned to less expensive versions of these trendy styles. For senior Emily Teague, this meant taking matters into her own hands. Creating your own clothes may seem more expensive and more difficult than searching through the sales racks at an Urban Outfitters store; however Teague has proven the exact opposite. “I made this jean dress

that I love that I got the idea for from an Urban Outfitters’ dress that was probably $100. It cost me some time and $10 at most,” said Teague. Since a young age, Teague has been designing and sewing her own skirts, dresses and tops. Not only is it an incredible solution to a rough economy, it is also the perfect way to create an original wardrobe. “Sometimes I see really expensive clothes I love but don’t have money for, so I’ll make similar ones for way cheaper. Most of the time I’ll look around the fabric store and find something I like and try to make use of it,” said Teague. From the minute her mom taught her how to sew, Teague has been creating her own clothes. “I had this old dress that

I wore a lot as a kid and loved the way it was made, so I wanted to remake it in my size. I didn’t have a sewing machine yet so I bought some fabric and spent the next five days hand sewing the new dress. That Christmas I got a sewing machine and have been using it ever since,” said Teague. Although dresses and skirts are her favorite to design, Teague is known for her entire wardrobe, which, of course, she has designed completely and solely on her own. Teague barely even uses patterns when designing her garments. “My mom taught me basic sewing when I was little. So I knew how to use patterns, but when I started sewing my own clothes I decided to stop using patterns and just look at how

other clothes were made (like how sleeves were connected) and try to do it in different ways. It got easier and now I barely ever look at seams of old clothes,” said Teague. Formal and prom dresses can definitely be on the pricey side and with Formal right around the corner, I asked Teague about plans for her formal dress. “I just bought black velvet for my formal dress. I’m thinking of making it tight with a low back and spaghetti straps that criss cross all over the back.” Although designing is one of Teague’s passions in life, she is unsure about pursuing a it as a career “I’m not sure... I like a lot of other things and can’t really imagine myself doing any one thing as a career yet. But maybe Senior Emily Teague shows off her own someday.” signature and simply unique design.

steeze

Feb. 11, 2011

THE MUSTANG

Anna Williams

OVER EXPOSED A new fashion trend has hit the hallways of SDA, and in this case, less is not more. Opinion by Opal Theodossi.

randmothers yelling, boys old and young staring, and those “hawt chicks” flaunt-

ORDER THE MUSTANG SPECIAL (Papa Toni’s Dinner Deal) Papa Toni’s will donate $2 to SDA w/ every purchase**

EVERY WEDNESDAY IS FREE PENCIL DAY FOR STUDENTS! **Must mention to cashier at purchase

ing it. That’s right, I’m talking about the latest fashion trend of those oh-so cute peep show shorts and belly shirts that cover so little it’s more appropriate that we just go back to the ways of Adam and Eve and make the world a nudist colony. You know you’ve seen this fashion crime numerous times; in some places it’s also called a fashion trend. The name of it: Nearly Naked. Day or night, you’re walking down the hall and all of a sudden out of nowhere it hits you: a mob of girls wearing almost nothing. “It’s really hard to walk down the hallway and just see butt crack everywhere, and it’s not just that they need to pull up their pants, they should pull down their pants too because you just see butt everywhere, like bottom crack, and it’s gross!” said one outraged junior. Hot or cold weather, half shirts and bra’s are seen almost everywhere. It’s hard to watch these girls walk about showing off what they think they should parade around, when in reality

it’s better to show too little than too much because you never know what may or may not be accidentally hangin’ out. “Sometimes I feel like parents should dress their kids up until they’re 15 or 16 years old because they obviously don’t know what’s appropriate, and what’s not,” said sophomore Amy Cordova. Whether you’re on the beaches of California, or the icebergs of Antarctica, the trend of near naked fashion has undoubtedly hit the world by storm and knocked clothes off the face of the planet worse than when those damn comets made the dinosaurs disappear. “Dayyumm, I say keep it up ladies,” says an anonymous junior guy. Although some people don’t have a problem with this fashion trend, a majority of the population would disagree. Most are disgusted, and appalled at the fact that parents would let their children walk out of the house in clothes that more or less resemble street workers or Nurse Barbie. Now if after reading this you still want to start following the Nearly Naked dress code how you pull it off is simple: go to the store and buy absolutely nothing.

CAF

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San Dieguito Sentinel our dreams are fulfilled: check out our second page!

UCs: ‘No more mild exaggeration in college apps’

80¢

new school scandal: prebounding By Cara Reichard

By Eleanore Hendrickson

A representative of the University of California school system announced last Wednesday that exaggeration in college applications would no longer be tolerated, and would instead be regarded as fraud. “We know you only went to three Amnesty International club meetings,” said UC representative Vera City. “So stop telling us about how many children you’ve saved in impoverished countries.” The crackdown comes at the heels of last year’s expulsion of a Harvard student for falsifying credentials on his application for scholarships. Many SDA students were visibly unsettled by the announcement. “So I only played one game this whole soccer season,” said senior Liza Lott. “That doesn’t mean the UCs can throw out my application just because I said I was a significant contributor to the team, right? Right?” Senior Ian Vention was also fearful that his application would be considered fraudulent. “I wrote about the death of my family in a house fire that gave me lung cancer, and how the experience has made me a stronger person,” Vention coughed nervously. “Maybe it was a little exaggerated, but storytelling is an art form!” Other students, however, were pleased with the new UC policy. Said senior Jean Eius, “Now my efforts in saving Chinese children from floods, creating an organization to solve the fiscal crisis, and inventing a device that converts carbon emissions to cupcakes will finally be acknowledged.”

Feb. 11, 2011

Courtesy of Abraham Del Pozo Junior Dan Sing took an unorthodox approach to formal asking that fell flat.

Guy asks girl to formal By Ari Brin

In an unacceptable breach of revered tradition, junior Dan Sing asked sophomore Ellie Gible to the 2010 Winter Formal. Gull was in attendance at last Friday’s boys varsity volleyball game, where Sing was playing. Midway through the second half, Sing tore off his jersey to reveal “HI, ELLIE: FORMAL?” painted messily on his chest. The text, warped by Sing’s excessive chest hair, was nearly illegible. As soon as the message was deciphered, a riot broke out among the audience members. Sing was soon forcibly removed by campus security from the rudely interrupted game. Charges of public indecency have already been pressed, with heresy charges expected to follow. “I’d never seen anything like it,” spat Gull’s best friend, Dee Scoh. “A guy can’t just ask a girl to formal. Save it for prom, you testosterone-fueled brutes! Why don’t you apes evolve already!”

The event caused an outrage around school. There have been protests against Sing and an all-school assembly planned to emphasize the dangers of not following formal-asking code. The publicly shamed Gull has been a hermit from the public eye ever since, wearing a veil to school events and avoiding interviews. “It’s really a no-brainer,” said principal Stu Born angrily, who personally telephoned all school homes to notify them of the inexcusable disaster. “It’s called a Sadie Hawkin’s dance for a reason. It wasn’t called a Biff Hawkins dance last time I checked!” Even after the catastrophe, Sing had no qualms about whining loudly about the situation. “I’d been eating a diet of just Twinkies for months just to fit all that text on my stomach,” he complained. “And now all I have to show is no date to formal. And scurvy.” “Also, I’m still bloated,” he added.

Recent scandal surrounding the dramatic and highly publicized break-up of long-term couple, juniors Bea Trail and Reg Ected, which went down last Wednesday in senior court, has brought to light an interesting new trend in the SDA dating scene: the prebound. While most of those present to witness the event felt Ected was being totally melodramatic when he screamed at her that she was a “two-faced, back stabbing, @$#%!,” it turns out there may have been some truth behind his words. “I mean, all right, I might have been seeing some other people on the side for the past month or so,” Trail admitted. “But I mean, I knew Reg and I were gonna break up some time soon. I was just prebounding.” Many people feel Trail is completely in the right in this situation. “Prebounding is totally as legitimate as rebounding,” said senior Todd Playa. “And it’s so much more efficient. I mean, I’m always on the prebound, so I’m never wasting any time.” The general consensus among students seems to be that prebounding is totally justified if a good rebound becomes available before the relationship has quite come to a close. “It’s really not that big a deal,” said sophomore Dee Seever. “I mean, rebounding happens when the relationship is over. Yeah. So does prebounding. It’s just that half the relationship maybe doesn’t know it’s over yet.” Perhaps junior Shay Meless summed it up best. “Here’s the thing with prebounding. It’s when you know it’s coming anyways, and you just…you just can’t wait.”

Egyptian gods, pharaohs support riots in Egypt By Arinore Brindrickson

Dormant Egyptian gods and pharaohs have taken to life again to express their overwhelming support last Thursday of the ongoing riots that have taken over the Egyptian political scene in recent weeks. “I usurped my own brother to receive kingship,” said the eighteenth dynasty pharaoh Thutmose IV, who also siphoned public funds to build shrines in his own honor. “And then I married my sister. But no free elections? That’s just brutal.”

Other kings had similar sentiments. “What’s up with these bottomed-out minimum wages? Not even the slaves I forced to build my pyramids had it this bad,” complained Khufu, who reigned for six decades over 3,000 years ago in Egypt’s Old Kingdom. Meanwhile, many of the Gods were simply peeved because of the food price inflation. “I miss those sacrifices I used to receive,” sulked Ra, former Sun God. “Baby rams, newborn sons… that was the good stuff. Now the Egyptian people can’t

even afford a single camel which to slay in admiration of my godly powers.” Recent reports have surfaced that suggest that current President Hosni Mubarak has not built a single temple or obelisk in Anubis’s honor. Egyptian political analysts have suggested that this may have played into the angry sentiments against Mubarak. “I swear I was planning on doing it soon,” said Mubarak after the reports had arisen. The gods have planned a political uprising against Mubarak for Feb. 21.

They plan to use every force of nature within their disposal to assist the rioters in gaining the political and social benefits they have been searching for. “I’m glad that we’re finally getting some help with this protest thing,” said rioter Agi Tater upon hearing of the godly assistance. “The Gods are such a great resource. Maybe I should make them a sacrifice of my newborn son.” “Mubarak’s never gonna know what hit him,” chuckled god of the afterlife Osiris. “You don’t mess with the Egyptians.”

CAF

Feb. 11, 2011

THE MUSTANG

San Dieguito Sentinel’s

FREE!!!

Formal Fun!

No more normal formals by Thea Brown

It takes 364 days to plan for the perfect Formal. Not a minute more, not a minute less. If you are reading this and thinking to yourself, “But Formal is tomorrow night, what am I supposed to do?” do not fret. Every Formal needs people that look bad so the ones that look good look even better. Call it taking one for the team. It’s funny, because each year at Formal I find myself looking around at people just wondering how they let them in. Then I remember I’m not at one of my all exclusive clubs that I hit up on the weekends like the Impraesentiarum. But at the same time, I look so goddamn good. Each time I catch my reflection in a glass, or a really shiny wall, I just have to stop and appreciate how beautiful I am. I would give you advice on how to be as perfect as me, but who are we kidding, this is all innate, baby. Born, not bred. I can, however, tell you what you’re doing wrong. I don’t care what you do instead, because, honestly, no matter what you do it will never be right. Honestly, all this fug is starting to impede on my own personal enjoyment. Lemme start with my fellas. I see all these boys milling about the dance floor, asking girls all polite, like if they would care to dance. What is this? A puritan chastity festival? When did we regress into the 50s? It’s like they want to treat us females as if we are more than just objects of affection. I’m sorry but this is 2011, and we have moved on from the age of knee length skirts into a time of progressive spandex dresses and nip slips. Do we dress like we want this kind of attention? But what’s even stranger than this resurgence of “class” from our male counterparts is the modesty of us females. When I am out on the dance floor bumpin’ up between two boys, it sickens me to look over and see not only a covered chest, by mid-thigh FLOWING fabric. Formal is all about looking as desperate and skanky as possible. Adorn yourself with six-inch heels and think black eyeliner until you are beautiful enough to be a background dancers in a Lil’ Wayne video. I’m sorry, but if things continue on this trend of upscale decency and overall respect for one’s self, I don’t know if I can attend any future Formals. And without me Formal is nothing more than another bland high school dance. So please, I’m begging you, bring back the glory days of the 2000s Formals. With next year’s Formal only 366 days away, all I can do is hope and pray.

Formal Eye Makeup

You want the perfect look? We want you to have it! Just follow our deceptively simple instructions, and the Rueben H. Fleet Science Center will be aglow with both knowledge and your eyes! Photos and makeup by Ari Brin.

Hipster All you hipsters think one wing is enough to cement your hipsterity? You can up your street cred by adding not one.. not 2.. but 10 MORE wings! Your eye is practically taking off in flight. How’s that for obscure?

Sickly Sick on formal night? The only way your evening could go worse is if you’ve been dumped (see right). You already look like a jaundiced, dried up, prunedevil, so there’s no point in makeup. I mean, who are you fooling?

Boring I pity your date. I bet he wanted someone exciting. Someone risktaking. But now he has to stare into your soulless, boring, dead eyes. To achieve this lackluster look, pull out some makeup and slap it on. Whatever.

Just dumped Oh, boo hoo. Woe is you. You got dumped on formal night, and now you’ve got a free evening to sit and cry. Turn on the TV. I heard that “Star Trek” reruns are on. Captain Kirk will always be there, even when your date is not.

FREE!!!

What to wear! by Charlotte Ohrbom

To help you choose this perfect outfit, here is a collection of the best and most happenin’ styles for you. Channel your inner Jwoww. This Jersey Shore girl knows how to bring all the boys to her yard, and not by mixing up a delicious batch of milkshakes. Jwoww takes every opportunity to show off her oddly gravity-defying boobs in plunging necklines that reach her naval. The lower and more revealing yours is, the better. Take a hint from Rihanna and have the brightest dress with the loudest pattern. If people can’t see your dress from a mile away, why even bother? Keep it bright and you will leave people wondering, what’s her name? Idolize JLo and her ability to show off what her momma gave her. Jenny from the Block knows to make her dresses as tight as possible to let everyone share in the glory of her perfect bubble butt. Even if your rear end isn’t as defined as hers, make sure your dress is so tight you can’t sit down, ensuring maximum butt definition. Lady Gaga knows the key to having the best time dancing for hours on end: add heels taller than four inches. It is a well known sign of love to use your stiletto heel to stab through your date’s shoe and foot, and shoes like these will get you a soul mate in no time. The thinner the heel and the higher the platform, the more your date will want to make sure you ask him next year. You will certainly make an impression now, with the bright, tight sight that will be your dress. Last, but most importantly, if you see any girl with an outfit more fly than yours, make sure that some soda accidentally finds it way all over the front of her dress. Follow these tips and you will be the belle of the ball. As for our male readers, you don’t need style, because true men would never be caught wearing shiny material.

Even though there’s only a day until winter formal, it’s never too late to ask! Just cut out this handy slip! Remember: they can’t say no! Really! There’s not even a checkbox for it!

________, will you go to formal with me?

Yes!

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THE MUSTANG

Feb. 11, 2011

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sociology graduate who transferred to UCSD

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— Andrew Pinkard,

MiraCosta College chemistry graduate who transferred to UC Berkeley

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Feb. 11, 2011

THE MUSTANG

ouch that hurts Bad luck won’t set back this team.

pauline disch Junior Harper Crickmore tries to dodge the Canyon Crest defender and pass to her teammates. On Jan. 28 at SDA the Mustangs battled with the Ravens in a game that was filled with unnecessary fouls. One CCA player was on the ground in almost every play and was told the referee “Excuse me, can we watch the pushing? Thanks.” Fans in the the stands claimed the Raven was pretending to be injured by San Dieguito and was faking her falls to get sympathy from the referee. Back and forth parents and coaches were yelling at the roughness in response to multiple girls being forced to the ground. The girls went on to lose this game 37 to 50 and according to assistant coach in training Kim-Ashleigh Mostert CCA had the same record as SDA and the same shooting percentage, so it was a matter of who wanted it more. “I don’t think our hearts were really in the game; there were a lot of turnovers which we need to eliminate,” said junior Megan Hatfield.

wrest up

Wrestlers are refocusing their technique. As the Valley League championships are quickly approaching in February the San Dieguito wrestling team is working hard in preparation. “The wrestlers conditioning has been superb and we are focusing on their technical skills for league championships,” said head coach Eric Wilson. Wilson also said that the team has yet to obtain first place in a match, but the students are getting closer to it and are dedicated to improving their skills. “We can hold our own well. Almost everyone on the team is a first year and they are pretty impressive,” said senior Sam Caras. pauline disch

cutting it close A slow start hasn’t brought down boys soccer hopes of winning. Although the boys soccer team has started slowly with a 6-9-1 record as of Feb. 9, according to maxpreps.com, the players and coach are confident they can bounce back. Athletes believe their small number of wins is due to a lack of effort. Sophomore Andrew Kasselmann thinks that many of the team’s losses can be traced back to not enough passion. He says that the boys are not really trying until the end of the games when they are already losing, therefore it is hard to come back. However Kasselmann also said it is a very young team with only four seniors, but this disadvantage is no excuse for their record. Junior Kyle Kintner also explained that the team is young and that they don’t communicate throughout the game which makes it hard to find players. The Mustangs have two games left from the regular season against Del Norte on Feb. 15 and against Canyon Crest on Feb. 17. Both these games will help to determine the winner of the Valley League for boys soccer. pauline disch

jocelyn lee Freshman Curt Hauser controls the ball as the El Camino goalie approaches him on Jan. 14.

Just Kickin’ IT

Girls soccer gears up for league.

The girls’ soccer team was off to a great start. The Mustangs won two important games in the Baron’s tournament against Chula Vista and Valley Center. “We have had some very unfortunate injuries to some starters that have set us back as well as a formation change,” said Varsity coach Anna Gerber. The Mustangs are 6-8-1 as of Feb. 9. League games started on Jan. 20, with a win against Orange Glen. “We are building for league play and are looking forward to the upcoming Valley League Challenge. The team is not doing as well as they did last year, when they had a record of 7-4-3 at this time. anna sheridan

Girls basketball is 15-7 as of Feb. 9 according to maxpreps.com and is only getting stronger as the season continues. Although the girls are 3-2 in their league and are behind Del Norte at 3-1 and Valley Center at 4-1, the players are confident in their team chemistry. “All of us know what our strengths are so it is easier to work together as a team. Also, we do not have to focus on one player making the team win, so we can all participate with our strengths,” said junior Harper Crickmore. The Mustangs’ successful record may come to a halt, however, after senior Delaney Sztraicher sprained her ankle in a game against San Marcos on Jan. 14. Sztraicher said that she is one of the five starters, so one of her teammates needs to step up and take her place until she is healed and can return. Coach Jim Segovia said Sztraicher is the team’s third leading scorer and her injury is tough on the team and her. However he did say they are lucky that junior Michaela Whatnall has filled in well and is a veteran and very smart. Last year the girls were able to win their league but lost to Brawley in the playoffs. This year the team beat Brawley 52-31, so a rematch would result in a close game. pauline disch

no tears here

Despite injuries, boys basketball prepares for their last game this season against CCA. The boys’ basketball team continues their season with a 10-15 record as of Feb. 9 according to maxpreps.com. Coach Luke Stucky said that the team has played a very tough schedule to start their season. The Mustangs played La Costa Canyon this year, and even though they lost, they put up a fight. “We hope to make this an ongoing rivalry,” said Stucky on playing LCC again. “Our weaknesses would be inexperience and inconsistency,” said Stucky. “But what the team lacks in experience, they make up for in size, hard work, and rebounding skills.” The team has experienced two major losing streaks during this season, the greater of which cost them 5 games. Another setback that the team is struggling with this season is the absence of sophmore Jon Viles who severely injured his ankle on Jan. 28 when SDA lost to Canyon Crest Academy with a score of 47-66. Viles will be out for the rest of the season. League games started Jan. 21 when the varsity team lost 44-55 against Orange Glen. The team is now fourth in the Valley League according to maxpreps.com behind CCA, Orange Glen and Valley Center. In comparison to last year, when the team had a record of 6-17-0, the boys are excelling. On Feb. 11, there will be the final home game of the season, where the seniors will be recognized, against Valley Center at SDA beginning at 7 p.m. anna sheridan

sports

THE MUSTANG

surfing up a storm Both boys and girls on the San Dieguito surf team are placing high and advancing the team in competitions.

DA’s surf team is maintaining its reputation with an undefeated record of 4-0, according to surfsss.org. This was after beating five schools at last Sunday’s contest on Feb. 6 at San Fernando Beach in Mission Beach. The team competed against other schools in the first round, but due to a fog delay many heats were postponed. At the end of the contest all teams were able to surf against one another but because of the weather all individual heats were postponed for next month’s contest. “We have been doing really well, probably one of our best seasons in five years,” said Mark Brolaski, coach. The Mustangs also had a contest Sunday Jan. 23 at Oceanside Pier. As a team SDA walked away with first place, and individually many surfers made it into the top ten. Senior Austin Burns was sixth in men’s shortboard and senior Austin Paccione finished fourth in men’s longboard. Junior Richie O’Reilly was fifth in men’s longboard. In women’s shortboard freshman Sam Lamirand

photo courtesy of tom english Senior Austin Burns competes in men’s shortboard at a surf contest on Jan. 23 where he won 6th place individually.

was second and sophomore Hannah VanVeen finished third. VanVeen also won fifth place in women’s longboard and Paccione second in Body Boarding. According to surfsss.org San Dieguito earned a total of 75 points on Jan. 23 compared to Carlsbad’s 70 and Torrey Pine’s 68. Both Carlsbad and Torrey

Pines have records of two wins and one loss so they are the main schools to be keeping an eye on. “The surf was perfect, the winds were offshore and the weather was awesome. You couldn’t have asked for better conditions,” said coach Liz Brolaski about the Oceanside contest.

The next contest for division one and two schools will be held on March 13 at Oceanside Pier. The Mustangs will surf against the usual teams including Point Loma, La Jolla, Torrey Pines, La Costa Canyon, and Carlsbad High Schools for the last regular season contest of the year. pauline disch

He plays soccer, football, baseball, beach volleyball, and basketball...what can’t this teacher do? Story by Pauline Disch.

basketball has a price New league brings new prices for students and parents.

During the winter sports season students and parents have recently noticed that it now costs money to attend both girls and boys basketball games. This new rule is due to the new Valley League and was not the school’s desire. “It was not a school decision; we didn’t want to charge people. This additional charge is only for basketball because you can control the audiences,” said Jones. It is easy to control the audiences at these specific events

timeout with: Hrzina sychology, Sociology, and US History teacher James Hrzina is always competing against students in student versus faculty games, but what did he master as a child? We’ve seen him as a flag football quarterback and a softball batter, but what was his specialty? The Mustang finds out. Mustang: What sport did you play in high school? Why? Hrzina: I’ve always been a big fan of football and decided to play my freshman year as a receiver. However, our school was 90 percent a running program, so I barely caught any passes and mostly just blocked. I stopped after just that one year. Soccer and baseball were my two main sports, though. I played them both since I was a little kid when my dad was always my coach. That’s one of the things I loved so much about sports-the connection it provided between myself and my Dad. He passed

Feb. 11, 2011

away when I was a freshman M: Did you ever make an amazin high school, and I was very ing or memorable play? fortunate to have other great H: I scored a game-winning goal coaches/mentors throughout versus a rival school that helped high school. us secure M: Anything our league extremely championembarrassship and ing ever spot in the happen? playoffs. H: I was What made chosen as it especially the MVP of memorable the league was that the in soccer defender my senior I scored year, and I against got a really ended up nice bronze going to the statue at same college an awards (USD) and banquet, we became but they friends. I A young soccer playing Hrzina smiles with pride. had fun misspelled my name on the placard, misreminding him of it every now pronounced my name when and again. they called me up, then later I M: What high school did you go dropped it and broke the figurine to? Did you continue afterwards? off from the base. H: I went to Bishop Mont-

gomery High School-a private, Catholic school in Torrance, CA. After HS, I went to University of San Diego. USD’s soccer and baseball programs are both very strong, so I didn’t play in college. However, I missed playing competitive sports, so I took up lacrosse my junior year and played for three years (I graduated in four years but went for a fifth year to get my teaching credential). Lacrosse became my favorite sport and I’ve played it ever since then. M: Do you still play today? H: Yes, I am a very competitive person and still like to play a lot of sports today. I’ll play pick- up basketball or beach volleyball or anything else if the occasion arises. In terms of scheduled events, every year I play in a men’s soccer league on Sundays and a summer lacrosse league. Those are both really competitive and a lot of fun. Besides that, I play in every possible student vs faculty sport at SDA. I love those!

“The CIF insists we charge for basketball.” - Assistant Principal Jeanne Jones. because of the enclosed area. For outdoor events like baseball and soccer it is harder to keep track of who is coming and going. Although this was forced upon San Dieguito and some Mustangs are unhappy, not all parents are angry with the new fee. “I’m happy they’re charging because we (parents) have to pay every time we go to other schools, so at least we are starting to make some of that money back,” said Janna Crickmore, mother of junior basketball players Harper and Blaire. Some students think that it should be optional for observers to pay and to make it more of a donation. Senior Jessica Gray believes that if the donations were made optional, some students and mostly parents would give to the program. Currently the admission to varsity basketball games, for both boys and girls, is $5 for adults, $4 for students without an ASB sticker and $2 for those with a sticker. Junior varsity games are less expensive, only costing $3 for adults, $2 for students without a sticker and $1 for those with a sticker. Children under five years old are able to attend both games free of charge. “At the beginning of the season parents can buy a $30 pass to attend all games, which works out as a better deal,” said English teacher Erin Norton who volunteered to run the cash box. pauline disch

sports

Feb. 11, 2011

THE MUSTANG

Surfer vs. skater

Sophomore skater Katia Macau and junior surfer Sam Shrader start the spring semester off right, dishing some seriously intellectual answers to a few seriously pressing questions. In short, I was pretty impressed. Story by Ari Brin. Restaurant rules say: No Shirt, No Shoes, No Service. What if someone goes in with no pants? Skater: They never said no pants. I’ll walk in there with just a shirt and shoes and see what happens. Surfer: I would say no because that’s against the health code. What if all the chefs were pantsless? ME: Skater! You indecent animal! I’m taking away 100 points from your nude self. Put some dang clothes on. Good answer, Skater. I like that your morals (and clothes) are intact. However, I was a little disturbed by that mental image of a naked man cooking my fettuccini alfredo. When you threw that out there, I threw up a little in my mouth. Minus 5 points in honor of my lost appetite. Why do they call it “chili” if it’s hot? Skater: It brings you chills if

it’s too spicy. Surfer: Cause chilis are hot, hot, hot. ME: Skater, I just spent a good 30 seconds wondering whether something spicy has ever made me shiver. Then I realized that that just doesn’t happen. Minus 7 points, and you probably have a medical condition. You should get that checked out. Surfer, I appreciate you stating this fact. Chilis are not just one hot, not two, but indeed three distinct hots. Plus 3 points for feeling the burn. Why don’t they call mustaches “mouthbrows?” Skater: Well, then it would have to be a unibrow. I’d call it a unistache. Or a mushbrow. Surfer: Because the technical term would be “unimouthbrow.” ME: I love how you both jumped immediately to the popular Uni-Mushbrow Theory. Get it? Cause it isn’t that popular

at all. In fact, it was sort of shocking to me that both of you would answer in such a fashion, so I give you identical points for a near-identical answer. Plus 4 for both of you. Toast always lands butter side down, and cats land on their feet. What would happen if you strapped a piece of buttered toast to a cat’s back and dropped it? Skater: If I was the cat, I would eat the toast mid-air and then fall on my feet. Surfer: I think it would keep bouncing up and down in one place for eternity. ME: Ingenious, Skater! In fact, even I had not thought of this. However, I am having a little difficulty with the logistics. Just to test your theory, I tried it on my cat, but he just sniffed the toast and fell asleep. Being a scientific gal, I glued some buttery toast to my own back and for the next

Ari Brin Notorious hunk-of-meat Sam Shrader showcases his toned puppies as Katia Macau looks on in amazement and wonder.

half-hour, attempted to eat it off using only my mouth. Needless to say, it was an experiment gone rogue, and I have not yet recovered from the humiliation or the neck pain, and I think there may have been some cat fur stuck to the butter. Plus 45 points for your… originality.

Surfer, while I see where you are going with this, it seems like a bit of a stretch. In fact, I’m not quite sure the laws of physics would abide. Minus 760 points. Skater: -58 Surfer: -758

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THE MUSTANG

Feb. 11, 2011

A Night To Remember... Math teacher Paul Brice looks dashing in a white suit as he calculates the equation... of love.

Counselor Vicki DeJesus is lookin as fresh as the flowers on her arm.

Principal Michael Grove rocks the mullet and the pink bow tie to match with his lovely date.

English teacher David Tow is towinâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; both these beautiful ladies to the dance.

Can you spy assistant principal Ryan Yee in this group of young men? There he is, in the top left corner, in all his long-haired glory.

SDA students are getting all excited about winter formal tomorrow night, and weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re not the first ones.Many years ago, our teachers and administrators also donned their formalwear, corsages and boutonnieres and danced the night away. Now we look back on their formal photos much the same as our own children will one day look back on ours.