The Mustang March 2017

03.17.17

Volume 21 Issue 5

T H E M U S T A N G

the mustang

FROM THE CONTROL BOOTH

ROLL CALL

The Mustang Staff

A message from your editor.

MANAGING EDITOR Julia Shapero

New semesters usually mean new beginnings. And of course at The Mustang each semester combines the new and the old as we are joined by new staff members. However, our new members were not able to debut their writing abilities in the first issue of the new semester, as it fell at the very beginning of the semester. This means that the work featured in our last issue, while it was a new semester, was all from old staff members.

So, with this issue, we welcome a fresh perspective and finally feature new pieces from new staff members, some of whom have joined us in the past and some of whom are completely new to the world of journalism. From returning member Madison Vance, “Ups & Downs of Height” explores the comical aspects of being short and tall (See pg. 9). New member Anna Griffin and new assistant features editor Erin Maxwell feature the interesting stories of two SDA students in “This One Time...” (See pgs. 12-13). In a mix of the new and the old, returning sports editor Vicky Van Der Wagt and returning member Sarah LaVake met introduce new track coaches to SDA in “Back on Track” (See pg. 34).

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OPINION EDITOR Linnea Leidy ASST OPINION EDITOR Mallika Seshadri

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As with every semester, our new members bring together a dynamic that is completely unique to The Mustang, an idea that is both challenging and exciting. Every semester requires time to adjust to different strengths and weaknesses; however, it also brings new traditions and ideas that make each day exciting.

New traditions are what make each staff especially unique. This semester we seem to have transitioned from the “sports boys,” as our predominantly male sports section was known as last semester, to the “sports girls.” We also seem to have developed a knack for writing especially long stories that could not possibly fit in our features section without major adjustments from our design editor, as well as for writing feature stories in general, as our 15 page feature section can attest to.

NEWS EDITOR Olivia Olander

FEATURES EDITOR Kieran Zimmer ASST FEATURES EDITOR Erin Maxwell ARTS/HUMOR EDITOR Mary Ford

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SPORTS EDITORS Natalie Haghani Vicky Van Der Wagt ONLINE EDITOR Kate Sequeira

It is with these little quirks that we bring in a new semester and our March issue; so, help us welcome fresh faces and new voices as you take in the same old Mustang with a new twist.

ASST ONLINE EDITOR Sophie Hughes

-Julia Shapero, Managing Editor

PHOTO EDITOR Patrick Hall BUSINESS MANAGER Yariizette Sequeria DESIGN EDITORS Hannah Elias

EMMA TOSCANI

JED JIRAK

Cover Artist

Backpage Photographer

Junior Emma Toscani has wanted to be an artist ever since her second grade teacher told her she was good at art. She began drawing realistically in sixth grade, and has been trying to draw faces aptly ever since. Toscani mainly draws using medums such as graphite and charcoal and enjoys taking realistic drawings and distorting them.“It’s a lot more interesting that way,” Toscani said of the distorted drawings.

The piece on the cover was a selection from her concentration , which deals with adolescence and puberty and the social pressures that come along with it.

Senior Jed Jirak’s first passion isn’t photography as you would expect, but rather rock climbing. Every weekend, he, along with a couple of friends, takes a long drive as far as Ramona to find potential climbs. When he does drag along his camera, he documents their adventures through the lens fitting to the experience of reaching the tops.

“Climbing is really photogenic because you’re outdoors and it’s San Diego so I try to bring my camera whenever I can,” said Jirak about his combination of climbing and photography.

STAFF WRITERS Rosy Alvarado Nadia Ballard Maddy Campbell Citlally Contreras Austin Dilley Alyssa Fisher Layla Gantus Anna Griffin Sarah LaVake Megan Levan Michael McQuarrie Lucas Oldham Sonia Rathee Jack Salz Joshua Santana Brittany Serbin Katherine Tarangelo Madison Vance Chloe Williams Sylvia Young ADVISOR Tim Roberts The Mustang is the student newspaper of San Dieguito Academy. Advertisements do not necessarily reflect the opinion of the newspaper. The Mustang is an open forum which welcomes letters. Letters can be submitted to room 16, emailed to sdamustang@gmail.com or mailed to the address below.

San Dieguito Academy Room 16 800 Santa Fe Drive Encinitas, CA 92024

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Fear Factor

SDA’s school board has voted to support immigrant students with a resolution. By Olivia Olander.

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n a dark weekday evening in March, anxious Latino parents and their young children filled every available chair in the Media Center as they worried about President Donald Trump’s increased immigration enforcement.

They filled out forms to designate guardianship for their children in the event that they are deported.

This widespread concern for undocumented immigrant parents has made life hard for some students.

“I’m basically worried for me and my family, because I’m scared that if they go to work and they don’t text me that they get there, that they probably already got sent to TJ, or I won’t be able to see them at night because they’re not here anymore,” said one female SDA junior with undocumented parents.

“That gets me really worried, because I might not be with my family the next day, or I might not see them when I get home,” she said.

Workshops/Resolutions

Some supports are in place to help students and parents, such as this workshop by the English Learner Advisory Committee (ELAC).

SDUHSD’s school board passed a resolution last week in support of students who fear Trump’s immigration enforcement.. The resolution, proposed by Superintendent Eric Dill, reaffirms non-discrimination policies in the district, including those related to immigration status.

“Students who feel vulnerable or threatened for any reason suffer a significant barrier to learning,” the resolution stated in the board’s agenda. “Following recent national news related to immigration issues, we have seen an unfortunate increase in disrespectful treatment by students to their peers based on actual or perceived characteristics.”

The resolution also states support for other groups, like LGBTQ+ students, disabled students, and students of all races.

Speaker John Turnage was the only one to give clear dissent, saying that the resolution was “not a proper use of the time and attention of the district.” Another speaker, Lucile Lynch, said the board was not doing enough for disabled students.

However, it was passed after

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the vocal support of SDA teacher Robert Ross, two students in the district, and a number of other district teachers at the meeting. The students, one of whom was a Syrian immigrant and the other of whom was connected with school Gender and Sexuality Alliance club, spoke in support of the resolution with respect to their personal backgrounds.

“I was never bullied or called names at [Torrey Pines], unlike my brother, who goes to another school [outside the district]. He was called names, he was called a terrorist, and he was made fun of because he is Syrian. I’m here to thank you for the resolution and for the commitment to keep our school safe,” said Grace Bachour, a Syrian immigrant who is involved in Torrey Pines’ Peer Assistant Listeners program.

Those most affected by Trump’s new rules, though, are still afraid.

“In my work with Latino support groups, students report widespread worry to the point of terror,” Ross said in a speech at the meeting.

“Families who have been here for decades are wondering if they’re still welcome. I know our school has no power over the national political climate, [but]... if we truly care about our students and families, we need to actively show it.”

Preparations Made

ELAC’s workshops for undocumented parents at SDA and Paul Ecke Central Elementary School included lawyers who explained what to do if parents are faced with deportation. Immigration lawyer Maria Chavez, a representative from the Mexican consulate and an estate lawyer explained how to place children with their parents’ preferred guardians, and how to help kids born in the US obtain Mexican citizenship, so they could potentially move across the border if their parents are deported.

This preparation made the situation feel more real, students said.

“It did affect me when my parents told me that they already signed a guardian release to my aunt, because they know it’s that real that they’re gonna be taken,” said the junior girl.

It also may mean future changes.

“I’ve had a lot of fear of not going to college, the fear of not having

Paige sits in the November 2016 Forum meeting, as students gather over his shoulders. Photo

by Austin Dilley.

A New Page for Paige

Principal Bjorn Paige will leave this summer. By Olivia Olander.

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fter two years, hundreds of Tweets and several appearances in a Pikachu jumpsuit, Principal Bjorn Paige will leave SDA this summer. He will start a as principal of Art and Communications Magnet Academy in Beaverton, Ore., in the new school year.

“I love SDA; it’s not an act. This is real, so I’m going to miss it a lot, but it’s the best choice for me and my family,” Paige said. “Where I’m going looks like it’s going to be really neat too. My first day there is July, so I have lots of days to breathe deep of SDA, and I intend to.”

“I love all his blog posts and how enthusiastic he is about everything,” said junior Charlotte McClelland.

“Personally I didn’t get a chance to know him very well, but I know he was supportive of the Robotics team and a lot of other extracurriculars.”

Paige arrived at SDA nearly two years ago, at the beginning of the 2015-2016 school year. He described his career on Santa Fe Drive

as the “two most magical years of my professional life.”

A successor has not yet been hired, but Paige said he hopes to part of the process.

“This is a special place, and I think the right person is there. I mean, two years ago I was a stranger.

I think the right person is there,” he said.

Meanwhile, students and teachers have reacted with sadness to his announcement, which was first presented over email March 10.

“I think it’s a great loss for SDA,” said French teacher Rouba Smith. “I have worked in many schools, I’ve worked with many principals and I was a principal myself, so I know what it takes to run a school and he does a phenomenal job here.”

Senior Kelly Luong was even able to remember her meeting Paige.

“I was hacking at Senior Court’s wall, taking down the mosaic art pieces. Hammer in hand with the screwdriver, I was just going at it

and then he came by,” Luong said.

“He was like, ‘Wow! This is amazing! Good work guys! Can I take a picture for Facebook?’”

Students who have known Paige for even longer than his two years at SDA had their own take.

“I’m super sad about it because he was also my principal in middle school too at Diegueno. I thought he had a really big impact on my life and he’s contributed to my education a lot,” said sophomore Callie Hartzog.

Paige said that although he’s excited to move back to his home state, he’ll still miss SDA’s “funky” vibe.

“There’s no question about it, there’s something magical about SDA. I think it really is the students and staff and parents and everyone who I’ve met,” he said. “It’s just hard to quantify what it is. It’s hard to imagine not being here.”

Additional reporting by Nadia Ballard, Citlally Contreras, and Megan Levan.

enough money to go to college, because [my parents] usually provide for my costs. Moving in with my aunt, I would have to work for her so I could pay her rent, and have to provide for myself,” she said.

immigration rhetoric: first as a candidate promising to build a border wall, and then as a president creating orders to tighten borders.

“When Donald Trump took office campaigning for president, he ended his alarming speech about immigrants by saying that [outside countries] are ‘not sending their

best.’ He was exactly wrong,” Ross said. “In my 17 years of working with immigrant students in this district, it is my conclusion that we are indeed getting their best, and in this moment, it is our duty to reassure them that we are on their side.”

Additonal reporting by Megan Levan

Trump’s Timeline

This executive memo comes after nearly two years of Trump’s anti-

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Shower Power

CAASPP Testing Juniors take new CAASPP test while other grades do special activities. Story by Rosy Alvarado

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Students in strength training fight to bring back locker room showers. Story by Olivia Olander

S

trength training students, school administrators, and PE teacher Deb Abrahamson looked into the weighty task of clearing the locker room showers this school year, which until recently were filled with desks, whiteboards and other school furniture.

Abrahamson and students said little progress had shown from August, when they first brought up the issue, to this month, when a dumpster was eventually brought on campus to clear the space.

“We don’t store extra equipment in math classrooms or English classrooms,” said Abrahamson in February. “Why are they using areas that are designated for showers and for hygiene? It’s just not right, and it breeds cockroaches and rodents.”

The most vocal students on the issue came from Abrahamson’s second and third period weight training classes. “[Storing supplies in showers] makes kids… much less motivated to work out hard, knowing that they might stink or feel gross for the rest of the day,” said Will Cubbison, a senior in second period weight training. “If we had those showers, it would just make the class so much better it would be indescribable. I would work out so much harder, three times as hard, and I’m sure a lot of other kids would too.”

Spare chairs and tables block out the locker room showers. Photo by Patrick Hall.

“We can actually work out much more now, and be clean for everybody else,” said senior Colton Dils, once the lockers showed signs of being cleared.

These students originally suggested a petition to bring their point to administration, but Abrahamson contacted Principal Bjorn Paige instead.

Paige and Caughey first considered storing the excess equipment in what Paige described as a “creepy basement” area in the gym, but it was too damp to be practical for all objects and ultimately flooded during a rainstorm late in February. At the same time, Caughey

said, administration began work on possibly transferring the objects to other schools or throwing them out.

Some items, like brand new desks currently in the boys locker room, will find new homes at other district schools, he said. However, the majority was discarded throughout the course of several days earlier this month, Caughey said. He added that the disposal was slow because the custodial staff had to integrate the project into their regular daytime work hours.

Regardless of the means of disposal, some of the upperclassmen in weight training just wanted to

make sure the desks are moved.

“We’re at the point where we’ll even take out the desks ourselves, we’ll turn on the showers ourselves,” said Dils, joking, “I’ll even take the desks home.”

“We’re not saying this to cause any kind of unneeded argument,” Cubbison said. “We’re not trying to be heard for no reason. This is actually something that makes a lot of sense for a lot of people. It will make the class more beneficial for everyone. We’re seniors, we’re about to be leaving, and we’d like to make the class better for the people that are going to be here after us.”

he California Assessment of Student Performance and Progress, also known as CAASPP, will be held from March 27 to April 3 at SDA. The CAASPP, which replaces the old STAR test, is aimed at ensuring that all high school students graduate ready for college, said Assistant Principal Briehana Weatherford. It includes computer adaptive tests (CAT) on English and language arts, mathematics and life science.

Juniors are going to be tested on English Language and Mathematics during the morning. Activities are planned for freshmen, sophomores and seniors.

“I think it’s important that we do well but at the same time there isn’t anything to stress about,“ said junior Sabrina Lin. Sophomores will be doing a pilot test of the California Science Test, also known as the CAST, on March 31st and April 1.

Meanwhile, as sophomores and juniors are testing, freshmen and seniors get to participate in activities during the morning testing sessions.

One of the activities is a motivational speaker, Jake Heilbrunn who is an author- life blogger. He is going to be talking about life, dreams and success.

Other activities are four year planning/study hall, college fairs, and senior tiles and senior thank yous. The last big activity will be an Action Sports World “bullying prevention” with X Games Action Sports Athletes on April 3 in the gym.

to get the scoop on all things SDA, visit SDAMUSTANG.COM page 04

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¿DÓnde Está Darrell Issa?

Our Congressman needs to start doing the job we elected him to do. By Linnea Leidy.

“W

here is Darrell?!...

Where is Darrell?!”

I find myself being unintentionally shoved further into the mass of chanting protesters.

I’m surrounded by women dawning bright pink, cat-eared beanies, little kids being ushered through the crowd by their parents, and couples proudly holding “Healthcare is here to stay” signs. Men and women clutching clipboards weave their way through the ensemble, urging onlookers to pledge their support to various clubs and groups. The unfortunate circumstance bringing us all together at Issa’s Vista office one night last month: Congressman Darrell Issa’s deplorable job performance.

Issa is the elected House Repre-

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sentative of California’s 49th District, which includes Encinitas.

This means that we, the citizens of San Diego County, elected this man into office with the confidence that he would do his best to accurately represent our voice in Congress.

The traditional, most effective way for Congressmen like Issa to understand their constituents’ opinions on matters is to attend town hall meetings every so often. Seems simple enough, right? The only problem is, Issa has been in hiding, and therefore ignoring the people that voted him into office.

Since Trump’s inauguration, Issa has essentially supported his every move. Understandably, this has upset a lot of San Diegans (the only thing he has said in opposition of

the president is that an investigation should be made into Trump’s Russian connections during the election). His absence left people feeling dejected and angry.

Unfortunately, this isn’t solely an “Issa issue,” either. Cowering Republican Congressmen is an epidemic that has spread across the country, as agitated Americans are left without a means to get their voices heard. It’s an especially prominent issue, currently, given the rapid pace at which our President is passing, shall we say, dramatic policies. What kind of a democracy are we, if our elected representatives aren’t even listening to the people they’re supposed to be representing?

This is why we were gathered on Feb. 21. A group of San Diegans

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took it upon themselves to organize a town hall meeting, in the hopes that maybe Issa would bother to show up if all of the planning and preparation were done for him by other people. That didn’t happen.

People gathered that night to show their frustration. As one protester said, “I just want Darrell Issa to please represent the people when he goes back to the legislature.” Another fellow demonstrator simply said, “Do your job! Show up! Be accountable!”

In the words of comedian Aziz Ansari, “Change comes from large groups of angry people.” These town hall meeting are an indicator that there is most definitely a large group of angry people who are more than ready to instigate change.

Granted, Issa did end up holding two forums in Oceanside last weekend. The Union Tribune reported about 1,000 attended, mostly opponents who questioned him about the Republicans’ health care plan.

While this is appreciated, it doesn’t erase the fact that Issa hid from his constituents for weeks prior. There are also many Republican congressmen across the country who are still refusing to meet with voters in their districts, indicating that this is still a big problem.

These two forums were a step in the right direction. Issa should continue to interact and listen to his constituents as much as possible throughout the next two years, and his votes in the House should reflect their voice.

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Hallway Etiquette

Walking through the hallways just got a whole lot easier. By Megan Levan.

N

Students create traffic in the halls. Photo by Patrick Hall.

owadays it’s almost impossible to walk across campus without bumping into someone coming around the corner or doing that awkward backand-forth thing to decide who is going which way.

Have you tried walking from the 30s to the Ps in five minutes? I consider myself a rather snappy walker and I haven’t yet achieved that feat.

The hallways are always jampacked with students trying to beat the bells while skirting around construction sites and oddly placed drainage ditches.

With so much hustle and bustle, it can be difficult to get to classes on time.

What if I told you that it doesn’t have to be like this?

Yes, there is a quick fix and it all comes down to common sense. All you have to do is pay attention to your surroundings and be moderately considerate of others.

First off: stick to the right. We live in America—land of right-leaning politics and right-sided traffic.

Don’t even try to argue that you’re making a statement by going against the crowd and being different.

We love you and your eccentric, unique self, but for everyone’s sake, just conform to the rules of the road (and the hallway).

Secondly: don’t stop in the middle of the path with a group of friends.

If you want to chat, by all means, chat. Just “walk and talk” or make your way off the beaten path if you’re in for a longer conversation.

If you happen to be walking in opposite directions in a narrow hallway (aka the wooden bridge near the shops), but you just have to be the social butterfly that you are, someone needs to bite the bullet and make a U-turn. After you are done discussing, turn around and get back on track.

Lastly: don’t be a turtle. Slow and steady doesn’t win the race to the PQuad.

It’s okay if you have short legs or a naturally lilting gait—walk at your own pace, just leave some passing room for your quicker counterparts.

You’ll benefit greatly by avoiding their flat-tire wrath.

From all of us long-legged speedwalkers and panicky P-Quad inhabitants, thank you.

Antifa, Please Calm Down Free speech is important, even when it’s used to say racist things. By Kieran Zimmer.

P

icture this. You’re out on thetown on a Friday night to catch a few of your favorite black metal bands. You’re feeling a little awkward that the headlining band is a bunch of racists (which, sadly, is all too common in this genre), but just like anyone, you don’t let your music taste inform your political opinions. You aren’t a racist, you’re just there to enjoy the music, and so is most of the rest of the audience. Hail satan not heil Hitler, right?

Mayhem shirt and battle jacket on, you park near the venue and make your way towards the door.

To your dismay, as you approach the doors, you are met with a throng of people protesting for the concert to be shut down. Of course, this isn’t all too concerning, as these people are just exercising their right to free speech, which the bands you are seeing are doing as well.

However, this changes when you see a small group of these protesters begin to pepper spray the police force keeping an eye on them, and yell threats of violence at fellow concertgoers. This continues for quite some time until a concert promoter steps outside and announces that

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the event has been shut down.

The group Anti-Fascist Action, or Antifa for short, has in recent times not only shut down black metal shows, but pepper-sprayed and smoke-bombed the audiences at concerts featuring artists with anti-Semitic or white nationalist views. Their mission is pretty selfexplanatory: since 2010, according to their website, “Antifa has been dedicated to research on, and action against, fascist cultural and political organizing.” Of course, this sounds nice at first, but when you look into some of Antifa’s actions regarding the metal scene, it becomes clear that the group is causing much more harm than good.

First of all is an incident concerning Montreal’s Messe Des Morts festival, featuring the NSBM (National Socialist Black Metal) band Graveland. As I described above, Antifa supporters protested outside the venue, throwing smoke and allegedly pepper spraying police and concert attendees. The event was shut down.

Obviously I’m not here telling you to go listen to some Nazi black metal. If that doesn’t appeal to you, don’t listen to it. However, if some-

one does enjoy that sort of music, they don’t deserve to be punished for it. Case in point, Casey Affleck’s (who was accused of sexual assault, something I consider to be far more serious than skinny dudes in corpse paint yelling about white power) film “Manchester By the Sea” did incredibly well and was hailed to be one of the best films of 2016. Despite misgivings with its lead actor, millions of people watched this movie for what it was.

Of course, it’s easy to ignore this because let’s be realistic, chances are none of you reading this are black metal fans. However, when one looks at other Antifa actions, a wider problem emerges.

For example, Milo Yiannopoulos’ scheduled talk at UC Berkeley in January. The former Breitbart writer (who has, in the past, made disgusting remarks in a homophobic/mysoginistic/Islamophobic manner) was to appear to speak on the Berkeley campus, however, Antifa managed to shut the event down after taking to the streets to commit several acts of violence and arson. Once again, this group is stooping to the same level of Donald Trump, a man who has, for example, shut down

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Every time Antifa shuts down a black metal show, it’s a punch in the face to free speech. Logo from Anti-Fascist Action. the National Parks Twitter account when it made jokes at his expense.

Antifa is, in essence, denying people they disagree with the right to free speech. Sadly, this is the easy route for them to take because it is easy to hate racist black metal bands and men who believe that 13-yearolds can consent to sex. However, where were they when people went to see Manchester by the Sea? No one was pepper sprayed for wanting to see that film, because of the principle that people can separate

art from the artist. Of course, no one had to watch that film if they didn’t want to, just as no one had to go to watch Yiannopolous speak if they didn’t want to. In both of these situations, the right to free speech outweighed one individual’s actions, and Antifa, instead of resorting to violence, needs to learn how to take down people like Yiannopolous in a mature and intelligent way. At the moment, their work is cut out for them.

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Little Italy, Big Appetite Brittany Serbin and Katherine Tarangelo eat their way through Little Italy.

Floral contemporary art exhibit. Photo by Katherine Tarangelo.

Extraordinary Desserts doesn’t lie. Photo by Katherine Tarangelo.

We waited for 30 minutes for the Coaster to pick us up from Encinitas and take us to Little Italy in downtown San Diego before we realized it wasn’t coming. The one weekend we decided to make our day trip was the same weekend the train was closed for construction. But that didn’t stop us. After all, how can you get the full downtown San Diego experience without navigating the confusing one way streets that leave you doubting whether you will ever find a reasonably priced place to park?

After driving in circles for 20 minutes, we decided on a public parking lot, paying the full cash-only $12 fee in all coins.

We first went to iDessert, located on India Street, a unique and innovative store where customers have the ability to pick and choose flavors of gelato, cream, cake, sauce, toppings, and meringue crust to create their own personalized dessert. Customers design their dessert on iPads situated around the entrance, and within minutes your name is called to pick up your order.

We were impressed with not only the quick service, but also the quality of the dessert as well as the bright interior and colorful meringue displays. It was a little pricey- each dessert is between six and eight dollars- but definitely worth a try.

Next we headed off to the Museum of Contemporary Art, just outside Little Italy and behind the Santa Fe Depot Coaster station, where admission is free for visitors under 25. There were several interesting exhibits, including a collaboration with the San Diego African American Museum of Art, and a notable piece where projectors overlap moving images of flowers over the walls of one of the exhibit rooms to create the feeling that visitors are encompassed in a modern garden.

Heading back into the center of Little Italy, we decided to visit one of the local Italian markets. We stopped by the Mona Lisa, a small market that sells a variety of handmade pastas, deli options, snacks, and Italian sodas. It was small but had a lot of variety, and it’s busy yet friendly atmosphere made it clear that this market was a local favorite.

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As we walked back, we decided to get dinner at Civico 1845, an authentic Italian restaurant with downtown San Diego flair. They have a small area for patio seating out front, and although spacing is a little tight it’s very cozy with gentle lights lining the roof. And they have free bread, which is always a plus.

We started with Caprese as an appetizer, and it was the perfect representation of a local Italian starter. It was very flavorful and was just the right size to split between two people. For the entree, we ordered the Risotto, and it definitely hit the spot as it came freshly prepared and very well made. Although it may be a little pricey for a teenager’s casual dinner- it could easily add up to around $40 for two people- Civico 1845 is perfect for a day out and we would definitely recommend it to anyone.

To finish out the day we decided to have a second dessert, and headed to Extraordinary Desserts to see what we could find. Extraordinary Desserts is a few blocks outside Little Italy, but is well known for its elaborate and unique options.

Be prepared to wait around 20 minutes or more for a table. Especially as it gets later, the restaurant fills quickly with people and there is almost always a wait list. However, you have the option to browse the dessert choices, and pick the ones you want so that you can order as soon as you sit down. We picked the chocolate cake layered with whip cream and stacked with an assortment of fruits, and settled on chai lattes for a drink. Both were delicious and well worth the long wait.

Overall, Little Italy is definitely worth a day trip. There is a lot to do around the area, and there are plenty of restaurants to choose from. Parking may be tough to find, as well as mustering up the money to pay for it, but once you do it’s easy to stay for the rest of the day and and hard to run out of things to do.

Basically our day trip can be summed up in two sentences: We just ate so much food. It was great.

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Ups & Downs of Height Does size really matter?

By Madison Vance

Juniors Zach Fuller (6’4”) and Keegan Leach (5’6”) proudly stand side by side outside the Mosaic Cafe. Photo by Patrick Hall.

Whether you’re vertically challenged, the one kid everyone calls giraffe, or just somewhere in the middle, height is something that you can’t change but can still make you a target for jokes. Hopefully after reading this, you there, the one you can never see in the photo because you’re too short or too tall to fit in the frame, will realize that you aren’t alone.

Perceptions about Height Unfortunately, society has developed certain perceptions about tall and short people that have led to more harmful stereotypes than it should have, seeing how little choice these people have in the matter of their height.

“There are very heavy negative stereotypes about being short that drives a lot of people’s insecurities about height,” said senior Chet Gurevitch (6’4”). “There aren’t as many hurtful things about being tall but there are a lot more weird and incorrect things.

On the other side of the coin, junior Alyssa Geffen (5’½”) said “A lot of time [being short] is looked at as being submissive or weak and I feel that it is a common idea that shorter people can be manipulated easier and conform quicker.”

Disadvantages of Height Whether you are subject to shrinking-doorframe syndrome, an eternalarmrest condition, or simply have friends that are, it’s apparent that there are some issues that only tall or short people will understand.

Clothes As society continues to find it necessary for us to be clothed in public, the short and tall people of the world are subjected to the miserable process of finding clothes that fit, with a half foot of extra problems.

“All my friends at one point or another have asked me where I buy my clothes,” said Geffen. “One time my cousin’s friend asked me if they could give me their 4 year olds’ shirt because they didn’t need it anymore. I was 14.”

She explained how this plays into the misconception of shorter people having to buy clothes at children stores. “I get my clothes at normal people stores!” she said, her frustration apparent.

Another alternative to “normal people stores” is the internet. Junior Zach Fuller (6’4”) says he has trouble sometimes “... finding clothes and shoes in some places. I’m a size 14-ish [in shoes] and I just buy them off the internet.”

Freshman Billy Hawkins (5’) said he gets his clothes at “Supremenewyork.com, infant section!”

Advantages Even though some don’t find their height advantageous, other have managed to make the best of it.

“Freshman year I was forced to play Juliet while [a guy that was shorter than me] was forced to play Romeo,” Zach Fuller (6’4”) said.

“That was a little bit awkward. My group thought it would be funny.”

Geffen said “One time they let me go to the Del Mar Fairgrounds for free because I put my hair in pigtails, put on my friends jacket, and got in as an 11 year old. This was 2015, I was 15.”

“In 8th grade, my friend and I went to get food from the vending machine,” Geffen said about her time at Oak Crest Middle School.

She couldn’t remember if she was trying to grab the bag of chips that had fallen on the ground or the quarter but she “…ended up getting stuck in between the bars and under the vending machine for a solid 34 minutes. My mom had to come and the janitor too.”

An athlete at SDA, Fuller’s height helps him in his sports. He said “In basketball it helps me to go a certain distance and reach the ball. And in baseball, there is more leverage in hitting the ball.”

Bathroom interactions can also be a problem. Gurevitch said “Any

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time I have to use a stall in the restroom is a very awkward time.

Standing up doesn’t go over well.”

Gurevitch said “I wouldn’t be surprised if [being tall] has [given me an advantage]. I feel like it is one of those things that are always there but you don’t really notice.”

— Jessica Vance and Jason Kesler contributed to this story

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the mustang Anyone who walks into Room 110 after school is immediately immersed in the uniquely dynamic atmosphere that is the Robotics club. They’re a loud and aggressively friendly bunch, and you can tell that everyone loves doing what they do.

You’ve Bot a Friend in Me

It’s no mystery that Robotics has a big presence at SDA. Anyone could recognize the yellow, red, and blue shirts as those of the beloved Team Paradox, but not many actually know what goes on behind the scenes. The club consists of four branches that each handle different responsibilities: engineering, operations, marketing, and outreach. Meetings are usually held five days a week, but nearing the competition, meetings can be up to seven days a week.

The club is made up of all types of students, but any differences they have don’t disturb the creative environment. From the time they join, students are immersed into the club’s environment. According to senior Spencer Klawans, freshmen on the team participate in a program called “Geared Learning” where they are exposed to every aspect of the team. At the end of the program, they choose to be a part of one of the branches.

A look at what goes on behind the scenes of one of SDA’s most popular clubs.

By Maddy Campbell

If Robotics were SDA’s football team, the engineers would be the quarterbacks, as they’re generally the most recognized members of the team. They make the robot that ends up in the competition, but what most don’t realize is that there’s more to the club than just this branch.

“You don’t have to build robots,” said sophomore Sarah Parkes, manager of the Operations branch. According to Parkes, Operations is in charge of managing club finances, planning travel, earning sponsorships for grants, and managing relationships with sponsors. “You do not have to be an engineer and you don’t have to be some genius, wicked smart kid to join.”

Marketing and outreach also differ widely from most people’s idea of Robotics. Marketing is in charge of designing and making team merchandise, running the team’s social media, and making promotional videos. The outreach branch organizes community events, mentors younger members, and manages community relationships.

Competitions are a complicated but dynamic process. Each team is sent a video describing the theme of the year’s competition and what tasks the robot has to complete. The Robotics club spends most of the year creating a robot that can complete these tasks and fulfilling responsibilities that get the team to the competition.

At the Del Mar Fairgrounds last weekend, the team went into full Paradox pride mode. Members dressed head-to-toe in primary colors, some with colorful pom-poms and painted faces. The 2017 San Diego Regional had them especially excited because of their win at the 2016 Regionals and their placement in the number two alliance. The team watched the finals anxiously and broke out into cheers and tears when their alliance edged ahead in the last second by two points on Saturday. Team Paradox became the first team to win San Diego Regionals two years in a row.

Any member of Robotics will gush about how amazing it is to be in that environment. “You’re surrounded by people that are obsessed with science, technology, math, and engineering, and they’re so excited to be all together and it’s super loud,” said Parkes. To sophomore Jana Roper, winning at the 2016 Regional was the best moment of her life. “It was shock and then ‘Wow, we actually did it.’ This thing that we created actually won this competition,” said Roper.

Team Paradox’s robot for the 2017 San Diego Regionals. Photo by Austin Dilley.

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In true SDA fashion, members go out of their way to make sure everyone feels comfortable expressing themselves. Geared Learning is one way they can get to know each other, but there are also events planned around the goal of bonding and making friends. “It’s like being in another family,” said sophomore Elliot Varon. “Everyone’s really close.”

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the mustang

“”“”“”“”“”“”“”“”“”“”“”“”“”“”“”“”“”“”“”“ ”“”“”“”“”“”“”“”“”“”“”“”“”“”“”“”“”“”“”“” “”“”“”“”“”“”“”“”“”“”“”“”“”“”“”“”“”“”“”“ ”“”“”“”“”“”“”“”“”“”“”“”“”“”“”“”“”“”“”“” “”“”“”“”“”“”“”“”“”“”“”“”“”“”“”“”“”“”“”“ ”“”“”“”“”“”“”“”“”“”“”“”“”“”“”“”“”“”“”“” ”“”“”“”“”“”“”“”“”“”“”“”“”“”“”“”“”“”“”“” Fish & Chips “”“”“”“”“”“”“”“”“”“”“”“”“”“”“”“”“”“”“”“ Batman & Robin ”“”“”“”“”“”“”“”“”“”“”“”“”“”“”“”“”“”“”“” Peanut Butter & Jelly “”“”“”“”“”“”“”“”“”“”“”“”“”“”“”“”“”“”“”“ Baseball & Peanuts ”“”“”“”“”“”“”“”“”“”“”“”“”“”“”“”“”“”“”“” Tuesdays & Tacos “”“”“”“”“”“”“”“”“”“”“”“”“”“”“”“”“”“”“”“ ”“”“”“”“”“”“”“”“”“”“”“”“”“”“”“”“”“”“”“” “”“”“”“”“”“”“”“”“”“”“”“”“”“”“”“”“”“”“”“ ”“”“”“”“”“”“”“”“”“”“”“”“”“”“”“”“”“”“”“” “”“”“”“”“”“”“”“”“”“”“”“”“”“”“”“”“”“”“”“ MiraCosta College & You ”“”“”“”“”“”“”“”“”“”“”“”“”“”“”“”“”“”“”“” “”“”“”“”“”“”“”“”“”“”“”“”“”“”“”“”“”“”“”“ Some things are meant to go together. ”“”“”“”“”“”“”“”“”“”“”“”“”“”“”“”“”“”“”“” ChooseMiraCosta “”“”“”“”“”“”“”“”“”“”“”“”“”“”“”“”“”“”“”“ ”“”“”“”“”“”“”“”“”“”“”“”“”“”“”“”“”“”“”“” “”“”“”“”“”“”“”“”“”“”“”“”“”“”“”“”“”“”“”“ Cardiff / Oceanside / Online ”“”“”“”“”“”“”“”“”“”“”“”“”“”“”“”“”“”“”“” “”“”“”“”“”“”“”“”“”“”“”“”“”“”“”“”“”“”“”“ march 17

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the mustang

This One Time...

Storytelling and its influence over us all.

By Erin Maxwell and Anna Griffin Stories make an impact Every conversation you hold involves stories -- about your day, about something funny you saw, about what you plan to do. Celebrity gossip is just a collection of stories about famous peoples’ lives. News is a collection of stories about world events. Movies are stories, TV shows are stories, books are stories. Even your dreams tend to be stories, albeit really strange ones. Storytelling seems to be a part of human nature, something natural and necessary.

Why do people tell stories?

People tell stories because they create meaning in their lives, and give the sense of having control over the big and intimidating world. The classic example of man’s need to tell stories centers around a 1944 psychological experiment in which people watched a film of moving geometric shapes that would move around and occasionally bump into each other or change speed. Most people who watched the film would interpret this as interaction between the shapes, and could weave a long dramatic story about what happened. The truth is, there is no real story behind these moving shapes. According to Jonathan Gotschell, author of “The Storytelling Animal,” the people who saw the randomly moving shapes formed a story because they wanted a confusing situation to make sense.

People who want to teach others will often tell a story to drive their point home, because it tends to be easier to understand large problems when they’re incorporated into a story. SDA physics teacher George Stimson, who is known for the physics related stories that he tells in class (well, usually physics related), said, “When you divorce knowledge -- facts -- from life, knowledge becomes very meaningless for most people. If you don’t see an application for it, if you don't’ see a reason for it, if you don’t see how it’s part of the world around you, then why learn? So I teach through storytelling.”

The Science Behind Storytelling Scientifically, there is a reason why stories are so enticing to people, said Scott Schwertly, author of “How to Be a Presentation God.” He explains that as you hear a story, your brain mimics the events described, so that it’s almost like you’re experiencing the real thing. Unlike facts or data, which only activate the language processing areas of your brain, stories light up the parts of your brain that correspond to the actions in the story, such as the auditory cortex or motor cortex.

Your actions after a story are also affected. Paul Zak, director of the Center for Neuroeconomic Studies, explained a study where a group of people were told a sad story. Their blood was tested afterwards, and the results showed that the story had facilitated the release of the hormones cortisol and oxytocin, which increased their feelings of distress and empathy, which in turn increased their attention and willingness to donate to charity.

Two stories from students follow in this issue. Look for more next time.

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When she was seven, Alyssa Geffen rescued a squirrel from a terrible fate. Now a junior, Geffen recounts this story, Tupperware, turtle and trauma included. Photo by Erin Maxwell Girl Meets Squirrel

I was seven and I was playing monopoly with my mom in the kitchen and we had just gotten a new puppy, her name was Maia.

We kept hearing these weird squeaky sounds and we were like “Oh it’s probably just Maia playing with a toy,” but it kept going for a solid 20 minutes, so my mom goes outside to see what was going on and my dog was flipping a squirrel in the air and every time she caught it, it squealed, and that was the noise.

So, I was seven and I was flipping out because you know, seven year olds and animals, and I was like “Mom, take the squirrel to the vet, we’ve got to fix it.”

So my mom gets the squirrel and puts it in a Tupperware and we get in the car, and I’m in the back seat and my mom had this Tupperware with a squirrel in the passenger seat, driving to the vet. All of a sudden -- I’m the hysterical crying child -- all of a sudden she slams on the breaks and there’s a turtle in the road. We almost hit it, but we didn’t.

So I’m like, “Mom, we need to take the turtle to the vet” and my mom gets the lid from the Tupperware and puts in in the Tupperware to separate them. And she puts the turtle in the other side of the Tupperware, and I’m crying, my mom is driving to the vet and all of a sudden the turtle starts peeing, and there’s a paralyzed squirrel on the other side of the Tupperware.

Finally we get to the vet, and long story short they just drove the turtle back to the lake, which was like 10 feet away at the time. And the squirrel has a little mini squirrel wheelchair because my dog paralyzed its back legs. His name is either Newt or Nib and he lives in a little aquarium thing on the front desk of the receptionist at the vet, and he learned to ring the bell every time someone comes up.

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the mustang other 10 minutes and we’re tired and hungry now, and we both left our waters at home because we thought it would be a quick little trip.

Finally we get to the top of a huge corn field and she says, “Oh, it’s just down this hill.” We start walking down it and Belan’s walking down this mountain balancing this huge bucket of laundry on her head and she’s walking perfectly normal while Kate and I are sliding on our butts down this hill, grasping the stalks of corn and trying not to do a couple somersaults.

So by the bottom of the mountain we’re dirty and disgusting and there are mosquitos everywhere and we feel absolutely horrible. We’re like “Belan, where’s the shower?” and she says, “Oh just through here.” And then we get to the edge of this forest, very dense, and we start dodging our way through.

Belan promises it’s only a little farther and finally we see this river in the clearing and she says the showers are right over there. And I was thinking, “Oh, there are probably these little huts where they siphon the water up through a hose” and I was all excited because I hoped it was like a little beach hut thing. So we get to the base of the river and it’s definitely kind of brown, and you can see pieces of trash and fish and we’re like “Oh, maybe there’s a filtration device.” So then Belan sets down her laundry and starts stripping down and hops in the river, and says, “This is the bath.” So she starts doing the laundry by rubbing clothes on rocks, and I’m like “I cannot do my laundry like this, I cannot bathe in this water, I’m going to feel filthy.”

I’m Going to Die in this Weird River in Nicaragua Meanwhile I’m panicking and regretting my decision completely of even going on this trip and all of a sudden I get the worst pain I’ve ever felt in my armpit. I thought I had cancer, I thought I was dying, I thought my arm was going to fall off. It was burning, and the feeling was spreading all throughout my body and I was doubled over shrieking and crying and yelling to Kate, “I need to go and get an ambulance, I need to go home, I’m going to die in this weird river in Nicaragua and never see my parents again.”

The pain started to subside a little bit, and this whole time Belan is so confused because I’ve been shouting in English and she doesn’t understand.

Ava Lilie, junior, went to Nicaragua last summer through Amigos. She almost died, and it’s a funny story. Photo by Patrick Hall A Bad Start to a Good Trip

This summer I went to Nicaragua through a program called Amigos de las Americas and I was there for six weeks. Pretty much through the program you live in a very rural community with one or two partners and a host family. You are totally immersed in the culture and it is overall an amazing experience. The first couple of days when you get there are spent briefing with 150 other participants from around the US. So they interviewed us about what kind of community we wanted to be in and I said that I wanted a semi-rural community with running water.

They said, “All the communities have running water, so you’re fine.”

The next day we all hop in these pickup trucks and are sitting in the back of them with like 12 50-pound backpacks, and our partners and supervisor. So our supervisor pulls up to this community and we’re hot and tired and disgusting because it's the middle of the summer in Nicaragua. He just drops us off, so my partner [Kate] and I walk up this hill and we finally ask a couple of strangers where our house is and we find it. There are a ton of kids running around in the yard but finally this one girl, named Belan, is like “Oh I’m your sister, and you only have one other sister.”

Don’t Worry, the Showers Are Only Somewhere Over Yonder Belan was probably around twelve, and she was the sweetest girl ever; she had this cute little gap in her teeth. She offered to show us around the community, but first she needed to take a shower, and we’re like “Oh perfect, we need showers too. We’re all gross and bug spray-y.” She said, “Well I’m going to shower today and do all my laundry, and you guys can shower tomorrow. You need to learn how to do it” and we’re like “We know how to shower but okay.”

So she takes this huge bucket of laundry that’s probably 20 pounds, not even exaggerating, and says like, “Don’t worry, the showers are only somewhere over yonder.” And we are walking behind her, and chatting, and it's been 10 minutes and we keep walking for an-

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We start walking back through the jungle and then I feel the pain again, this time a couple inches below my armpit. So I’m still shrieking, but it’s significantly better because it’s not in my actual armpit. And then it happened again and I was shrieking again and it was just so horrible. And then I see this scorpion crawl out of my shirt and onto my arm! I was freaking out because I hate bugs, and Kate flicks it off and stomps it with her boot, so it’s all gone. And I’m running up the hill super frantic, and Belan is like “What’s going on?” and I was going to point out the bug but Kate had destroyed it. I shrieked “Un escorpión me pico!!!” But Belan’s like “I don’t understand, that doesn’t even happen.” I’m like “Yes it does! It hurt so much!”

But she didn't understand, so we run back to the house, and the pain has kind of subsided but you can still see the marks. So I went up to my host mom screaming “I need to leave, I need to call the ambulance, I can’t do this anymore, I need to see my parents, my arm is going to fall off.”

And she’s like “What?” And I was repeating “Un Escorpión me pico” and she didn’t understand and she was so confused. So she said, “No, you’re overreacting, you don’t need that.” So I was freaking out and crying for the whole rest of the day and it was a horrible start to my summer.

I Shouldn’t Be Alive Right Now But eventually I moved on and a week goes by and my supervisor came to check on us. On my health log I put that I got bit by a scorpion, and he freaked out. And I was like “I don’t know, I told my host mom and she didn't want me to call you.” He was like “What is going on, that’s not okay. You might need to transfer families, this isn’t good.” So he went to go talk to my host mom and she said “I had no idea Ava got bitten by a scorpion, she never told me.” And I was like “YES I DID I definitely told you! UN ESCORPIÓN ME PICO!!” And she was like “What?” Then my supervisor told me “Ava…un escorpión in Nicaragua means gecko…”

And I was like oh my god, so my host mom was so confused because I had been telling her that a gecko bit me. Turns out the word for scorpion in Nicaragua is alacrán, and she was super confused as to how I was still alive. She said, “Yeah, alacránes are super poisonous and deadly.”

So basically, I have no clue why I’m still alive, because I shouldn't’ be.

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the mustang

Plaid Clad Heroes Some heroes wear capes. Others wear plaid.

By Michael McQuarrie

Students work together to solve a question. From left to right are juniors Ayse Coban, Janette Jin, Darian Flores, Tom Amoroso, and Brendan Hall. Photo by Patrick Hall

Team Overview SDA’s Mustang Minds unites some of the school’s brightest students in academic competitions around the district. These students are celebrated for their exceptional mental abilities, and work off one another to challenge other high school teams and themselves. The Mustang Minds program is divided into 3 teams: freshmen, JV, and varsity.

Practices At practices all teams work together and push each other to their intellectual limits. There are two different types of Mustang Minds practices; study days and buzzing days.

On study days, students work together to research a variety of topics, from deriving the equation for a three dimensional solid to the Great Emu War in Australia, which, by the way, was won by the emus. Many students choose a subject or two to specialize in, doing personal research to truly become an expert on the topic.

Students may also use this time to talk with members of the different teams and expand their breadth of world knowledge as well as their areas of interest. “I like that the practices can test my knowledge and that I can grow through the activities that we do,” said junior Rokas Veitas, a member of the JV team. On days that are closer to competitions, students often participate in what is known as “buzzer practice.” Buzzing days pitch the students against one another, using mock games to give students academic practice in a tournament setting.

They work together in their teams to solve questions quickly and accurately, competing not only for points but also for pride.

To the students, the practices are more than just a place to study for their classes. Junior Darian Flores said, “I consider the practices to be one of the many fun intellectual enclaves that SDA students have.” They are an area where students can further explore their intellectual curiosities and have fun in an academic environment.

Competitions One of the most attractive aspects of Mustang Minds for the students is the ability to participate in tournaments with their friends. Freshman Tate Oien said, “The tournaments are really fun because it actually feels like you are in a game of Jeopardy or an academic competition like that.”

Walking into a game, the excitement is palpable. As the schools move to their places on the stage, they size one-another up, see-

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ing which side has the member with the biggest pair of glasses.

The Jeopardy-style games cover information from a large variety of subjects, giving all students a chance to answer and participate. During the games, the students can expect to see two main types of questions: toss-ups and bonuses. During a toss-up, both teams can answer and whoever presses their buzzer first gets to take first shot at the answer, which can earn them a total of three points. The team that wins the toss-up then receives a multi-part bonus question, which can earn them anywhere from zero to five points, depending on how many parts they get right. Finally, if a team gets the answer wrong, they can expect to lose one point.

As the questions begin to fly and the buzzers begin to buzz, the points begin steadily climbing up the board. SDA’s plaid sporting students work together, their scratch paper slowly filling up with the work they have done. The crowd claps as students get the answers right, sighs as they get them wrong, and laughs as one team has Richard Nixon as the answer for all five parts of the bonus question. No matter the result of the game, students never fail to leave with a huge smile on their face.

Mathletes meet your maker Mustang Minds allows students to specialize in different events and further their knowledge in a variety of manners. Not only does this translate into class, but it just generally gives students a more encompassing breadth of world knowledge.

In addition, for those who aren’t exactly the most sports-minded, Mustang Minds teaches the same skills of teamwork and thinking on your feet as sports; qualities that are important in today’s society.

“It’s essentially a team sport in which you can just know stuff and not have to do things,” said Veitas. It creates a tight bond between team members and ultimately provides a great all around experience.

Veitas also said, “There is very much a ‘team‘ aspect of working together with other people during the bonus questions so that’s also another important skill that I’ve learned.”

Finally, Mustang Minds teaches students the ability to think on their feet and to really expect the unexpected. Oien said, “It’s really cool to just be on the spot and have to think on your feet.” SDA’s Mustang Minds provides students with a wide range of skills that help them in their daily lives.

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the mustang

Coffee Coffee’s latte, left, and black coffee, right. Photo by Hannah Elias.

Customers ordering their daily cup of joe. Photo by Hannah Elias.

Two Gals Sippin’ Joe Coffee Coffee is keeping things funky in Leucadia.

By Hannah Elias.

The History Coffee Coffee is a small cafe located a block away from Beacons in Leucadia. The shop has been keeping Leucadia funky since 2011 when longtime friends, Karen Chambers and Dave Thomas opened a joint cafe and surf shop. The pair wanted a place to “hang out with friends and family and meet new friends while enjoying the best coffee in town” said Thomas. They joined together with another local, Dan Scheibe, a coffee roaster from Revolution Roasters and the three opened shop. In the six years since opening, Coffee Coffee has grown its roots into the Encinitas community.

The Place Coffee Coffee is a relaxed cafe serving their customers the highest quality of coffee. Inside, the shop is decorated with beach-themed artwork and photography while the outside wall is covered with a large mural of a mermaid. The coffee shop has a large outdoor patio on the sidewalk of the 101 which provides plenty of outdoor seating for those who want to sip their coffee and get some vitamin D. In addition, there is a large coffee bar inside which encircles a massive coffee roaster where Dan the Coffee Man from Revolution Roasters can be found on Saturday mornings roasting up the beans for the next week.

The Grub The coffee shop has an extensive menu with plenty of options for breakfast and lunch, all which are made to order between 7 a.m. and 1 p.m. Coffee Coffee also sells sandwiches and salads which are available all day. For students who want a fresh and healthy

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afterschool snack, food items vary in prices but a typical meal will cost around between $7 and $10. Some of the most popular items include their scrambles such as the Surfy Scramble (steamed eggs with choice of turkey or ham topped with avocado and Monterey jack cheese which is served with sprouts, tomato, and salsa fresca on the side and a choice of bread), and their breakfast croissants (a freshly baked croissant topped with steamed eggs, Monterey jack cheese, tomato and a choice of ham, turkey, bacon, or avocado).

The Beans & Things All of the coffee which is available is roasted in house. The shop has all kinds of blends and flavors of beans coming from countries all over the world such as Kenya and Peru. The shop’s most popular coffee items are their cappuccinos (a double espresso, hot milk, and steamed milk foam), cortados, (a 2:2 combination of Cuban espresso and milk), and coconut green tea. If you would like to take the coffee home, you can buy fresh roasted coffee beans in store for $9.50 for a half pound bag and $16 for a pound bag.

The Details Coffee Coffee is the perfect place to hang out and be in good company. The regulars who come in are those who “build connections with the baristas and actually care about what they are drinking,” says barista Andrea Lagang. Lagang has been working behind the counter since last July and she enjoys that she gets to work in a space in which both customers and staff can bond over a mutual love of coffee.

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the mustang

Making Monet, Doing Art SDA seniors jump into the uncertain world of art as they apply to program-specific schools.

Story by Mary Ford and Julia Shapero. Photo illustration by Hannah Elias.

The Pursuit At the end of the month, the seniors will know. Maybe not where they’re going, but what direction they’re headed. That’s right, college decisions are coming out at the end of March. But what about the students who’ve known what direction they’re headed all along? Seniors like Thea Farber, Claire Jantzen, Evan Weissman, Laura Dunham, and Ryan Martinez have decided to pursue a less conventional path towards college. They are following their dreams instead of following the norm. They’ve decided to pursue the arts, in their many forms: music, photography, makeup design, fashion.

The Paths Laura Dunham has been committed to the Fashion Institute of Design and Technology for over a year now.

“Lots of people don’t even think about it...But I’ve always loved art and artistic things so I started to show more interest in the fashion industry, because there are so many opportunities,” said Dunham.

Thea Farber also is in pursuit of an unusual career path, applying to college and trade school to pursue Cinema Makeup design.

“I love it. It’s all I do. Almost every day, I’m working on designs.

It’s very exciting that I’m able to pursue my passion,” said Farber.

Claire Jantzen, already working for the film production company Adolescent, said “I want to go to film school. That’s my plan, to study film production, so directing, cinematography...all the production part of making films. I want to continue working.”

Ryan Martinez said, “I’d like to go to [Columbia College Chicago] to major in music management and marketing. What I’d really like to do is play music and be in a band...but it’s also good to have backup plans. So I’d [learn to] be managing either a recording studio or an actual band.” Evan Weissman, who is looking to study music business or music recording in college, said, “My main goal is to be a resident audio engineer in a studio that I like and I think that’s kind of difficult. You have to be good.”

The Process Some of the art school application processes proved to be quite the contrast to the five-paragraph essay standard to most applications.

For example, Dunham had to create a storefront display concept and textile design. “Where most kids are writing essays, I was like out hiking looking for a bunch of stuff to use,” said Dunham. “We put it all together in this portfolio and then I had to go to a meeting...and I had to upsell myself like a job interview... It was in front of some really important people like Tim Gunn, who’s on the show ‘Project Runway.’ It was him and the heads of the school. It was really scary.”

Jantzen also made two short video films as part of her application process. For her submissions to film school, Jantzen said, “I had to make a film and write a cinematic statement and [create] a resume and put all that together...I didn’t have to make a ton of different films. I only had to do two different ones.”

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For Weismann, the application process included a creative submission, complete with a five minute music submission and an essay detailing his 10 favorite songs and what they meant to him. “It’s hard to pick ten songs that represent you... I think a lot of people who are really into music kind of define themselves by the stuff they like. Breaking it down to the 10 songs was really difficult.”

The Plan With arts, more than most other majors, there is a large fear of never ‘making it,’ never achieving commercial success or celebrity fame. Said Farber, “There’s no actual time frame of when you’ll get somewhere.

You just have to keep working. That’s really terrifying. You ask yourself, what if I’m not good enough or what if I’m slower than everyone else? What if I’m not there by the time I should be and I’ve already spent six years [pursuing this career]? That’s really scary, the timing.”

Jantzen added to Farber’s sentiments, saying, “You know [a college career] is scary and I’m hoping it will lead in the path of directing and cinematography, that’s what I want to do, but it’s hard...I think for me it’s just the motivation and staying focused...So I’m just keeping my head straight on and just kind of running forward and I’m just going to burn through whatever comes my way.”

Weissman is worried not about his college path, but the one he hopes to encounter after. “The industry’s going nowhere,” he said. “I don’t know if there’s going to be any music studios in 10 years or whatever, or if there’s going to be more because of the way we’re changing it.”

The Positives Martinez took a more optimistic tone about college and a future career path, saying, “One thing that I found with music is you just got to see where it takes you. You can’t hope to go out and just become big. That doesn’t happen for many people. So I’m excited to see where things go and just kind of find my way as best I can.”

Perhaps an anomaly to the whole meta-crisis of art school, Dunham seemed secure in her choices and future path.

“I feel secure, even though it isn’t the traditional path that most people go down,” said Dunham. “There are a lot of jobs that directly hire people who go to [The Fashion Institute of Design and Technology]. I feel pretty safe in knowing that I’ll get a job. It’s also in a field that I love and am passionate about.”

Despite the fears that often accompany the less-traditional path of art school, those in arts majors are often free from the fear plaguing the hundreds of other high school seniors who are heading into college undeclared.

For Jantzen, the college path is already clear. “I think for me specifically, because I know exactly what I want to do, [college is] going to be awesome...Instead of wandering and taking a bunch of random classes and being like I want to come here and figure out what I want to do…[I’ll know] what I’m doing,” she said.

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Making Monet, Doing Art 1.

4.

3.

2.

5.

1. Having been committed to the Fashion Institue of Design and Technology for over a year now, senior Laura Dunham knows exactly where she’s headed.

Photo courtesy of Laura Dunham.

2. Hoping to pursue a career in cinema makeup design, senior Thea Farber practices her realistic makeup skills on her own hand.

Photo courtesy of Thea Farber.

3. Senior Claire Jantzen, who applied to various film schools, already works for the film production company Adolescent.

Photo courtesy of Claire Jantzen.

4. Senior Ryan Martinez hopes to continue with his passion for music as a major in music management and marketing in college.

Photo by Austin Dilley.

5. Senior Evan Weissman works in a recording studio, pursuing his dream of becoming a resident audio engineer.

Photo courtesy of Evan Weissman.

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the mustang Other students including junior Andrew Silverstein, agree that this kind of upbringing has enhanced his ability to evaluate and appreciate different views, especially a time where the United States is so politically divided. Even though Silverstein finds such an upbringing to be informative and beneficial, he also said he has to “stay moderate” as to not “get yelled at by either [parent].”

Caught in the Middle

Mina Seif Asgari Barkosarai, junior, on the other hand, is a proud liberal vehemently opposed to Trump. Unlike the other students, Seif Asgari Barkosarai’s parents are divorced. Because she moves between two homes rooted in vastly different political ideologies, Seif Asgari Barkosarai pays much attention to the sources her parents rely on. She politically sides with her mom because of what she says are her reputable sources as well as their shared values.

When one parent is watching Fox News in the living room and the other is invested in MSNBC in the bedroom, things can get tense.

Story by Mallika Seshadri.

Impact of School and Local Communities Growing up in such circumstances has made many students more reliant on their school and local communities to inform their beliefs. Seif Asgari Barkosarai said the SDA environment, which is predominantly liberal, has greatly influenced her and her political and moral stances/decisions. “I have school, and I have friends and a different community to inform [my views]. That, I think, affects me more...All my friends and all the people that I meet...bring up really good points rather than just trusting everything your parents say,” she said with a sense of gratitude and enthusiasm.

The other students did not find outside sources and the political climate at SDA to be as influential, but they did say being educated among such a diverse group of students has enhanced their views, especially with regard to social issues such as women’s rights that became an increasingly important topic of the past election season. Jill Butler, senior, said “Going to school, you meet a lot of different kinds of people [of] different socioeconomic backgrounds” which has helped her “gain an understanding.” Silverstein also found the perspectives he is given at school to beneficial, especially as he “would look for other sources of information.”

A family car with two bumper stickers displaying opposing political ideologies. Photo illustration by Austin Dilley.

Following the election of President Donald Trump, it would be an understatement to say things are politically polarized, and some students find themselves living in a household with parents that have opposite political opinions.

Forming Political Opinions Many students who have grown up in such an environment find their situation to be advantageous. Sophomore Jack Butler said it has given him “a chance to look at everything from both sides of the argument to actually get a real understanding of both sides.” His ability to evaluate different political scenarios objectively is the result of growing up exposed to contradicting political views and helps him to “make more informed choices.”

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The Last Election Season Like so many, students who find themselves living with parents who lie on opposite ends of the political spectrum have found this past election season to be an anomaly. Silverstein said as the political fervor escalated throughout the election season, he often moderated the increasingly tense conversations his parents shared. And after the election, his liberal mom struggled to be in the presence of her husband who voted for Trump “to talk...about what happened.” Even for Seif Asgari Barkosarai, whose parents who divorced prior to the election season, her parents’ relationship grew tense.

On the other hand, Jack Butler described the political climate at home during the election season to be less conflict-ridden than prior elections, because even though his dad is Republican, he voted for Democratic candidate Hillary Clinton in opposition to Trump’s policies and morals. In fact, Butler said previous election seasons have been more tense because his parents supported different presidential candidates.

Resulting Activism In the span of time between Trump’s candidacy and the start of his first hundred days, many have become more vocal. Jill Butler, among others, participates in forms of political activism given her passion for social issues and her support of education and the arts. She said her parents support her in her decisions in being politically active and that they “don’t belittle” her for “her beliefs.” The frequent conversations her family shares about politics has motivated her to stand up for what she believes in.

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the mustang

Drawn-Out Conversation: Art teacher Jeremy Wright illustrates his repsonses to these questions.

By Sonia Rathee

Please draw what you look like?

What scares you the most?

Draw yourself as a highschooler?

What was your dream job when you were a child?

Draw your dreamhouse?

What’s your guilty please?

Where do you see yourself in 10 years?

How do you get to school?

Draw a map of your life?

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Tocumbo is surrounded by large extensions of land that are home to avocado trees and sugar cane.

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A dance group of the Huehues de Tlaxcala perform during El Desfile del Paletero on the third day of the La Feria de la Paleta.

A look at life in the small Mexican pueblo of Tocumbo.

Story and photos by Kate Sequeira In the mornings, vendors walk the street. “El pan!” they call travelling on foot. The sound of Enrique Iglesias’s “Cuando Me Enamoro,” signals the passing of another truck selling drinking water. In Tocumbo, Michoacán, México, where my family lives, people buy bread, cheese, cream and water in the streets instead of making a trip to Sprouts or Vons. Everything else is located in small independently owned stores in the plaza. It’s a mere five-minute walk from most homes because of the town’s small size of around 1,799 people, as counted by a 2010 survey, which is not much different than the size of SDA’s student body.

The beige and off-white colors of the houses in Encinitas are exchanged for the vibrancy of the blues, pinks and purples of the brick and adobe houses in Tocumbo. The homes have personality since many were built by their very owners without restrictions on outside appearance by town regulations. The houses line the skinny streets of the pueblo, which hold only enough room for one parked car and one passing by. Luckily, cars aren’t frequently in use in Tocumbo, rather motorcycles and four-wheel vehicles pass through the streets. It’s surprising to see how many they can carry, holding entire families of up to five and sometimes a baby as well.

Younger children also pass by, 12-year-olds in control of their own motorcycle, speeding through the breaks between the topes (speed bumps). These topes take the place of traffic lights and stop signs in Tocumbo. Because of their size, they force cars to a complete stop.

Unlike Encinitas, Tocumbo is surrounded by forest and large extensions of huertas, land with sugar cane, avocados, and blackberries, which adds to the tranquil atmosphere. The sun rises at 7 a.m. revealing working men and women heading to their small stores in

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the plaza and those already busy in their huertas. The distant sound of gunshots from hunting in the forest can sometimes be heard.

Trucks carrying thin green cylinders pass through the streets throughout the day, selling the gas needed to fuel the stove for cooking and the boiler for hot showers.

In Tocumbo, water flows through the pipes of the houses every other day of the week from early in the morning until 4 p.m. People have to make sure their tanks are filled with enough water to supply bathrooms and kitchens during the points throughout the week when water does not flow. When water is weak, people use la bomba, an electric pump, to push water to the higher floors of the houses.

Getting Around Everywhere is within walking distance. The walk from one side of the small pueblo to the other takes no more than 20 minutes. Passersby call out, “Adios,” smiling. “Buenos tardes,” they say other times, carrying their colorful plastic bags of fruit from the plaza. It doesn’t matter if they don’t know me; I am greeted all the same as people pass by on foot on a mandado (errand) or enjoy a ride on a moto (motorcycle) or a bici (bicycle).

With my grandma, it’s another story. When I’m with her, I am known as nieta de Jose or hija de Ceci, as I listen to long conversations of old friends and occasionally respond to questions directed my way. A greeting often takes up to half an hour as mandatory questions are asked about life, the well-being of various family members and the update on the pueblo. It isn’t long until we are caught up to speed on which families are facing what drama, who has fallen ill and who has divorced since the last visit.

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Residents of Tocumbo walk down to the plaza for the tianguis (swap meet) on a Tuesday morning.

When people need to travel longer distances they take a bus or a combi, a van, instead of depending on cars, which most consider essential in the United States. Depending on the destination, the combis can be tightly packed with some seated on the ground or standing pushed against the door, or nearly empty except for the single rider in the passenger seat chatting animatedly with the driver.

This past winter, much of the conversations involved the gasolinazo (the large gas price spike in January that occurred after long weeks of gas shortages around México), as frustrated bus drivers relayed instances of spending at times up to three hours in line for gas without successly getting ahold of any and as passengers recounted the protests flooding the news. “Oí que iban a cerrar la carretera el domingo,” one would say to the other as they shared rumors of the next time the highways would be unusable because of protestors.

Daily Life in Tocumbo Tocumbo church bells ring from time to time throughout the day, signaling all kinds of occasions including the usual Sunday and daily masses as well as quinceañeras, renewed marriage vowels and anything else going on in the church no matter how small. La primera always rings half an hour before the start of the mass, warning those getting ready that they should be heading out soon. La segunda then rings 15 minutes later, queuing those at home to begin trickling into the street for the short walk to the plaza high heels, blazers, well-ironed shirts and all. As time closes in on the start of the mass, voices are heard exclaiming, “Apúrate. Ya van a dar la ultima,” as they speed walk, rushing to make it before the final bell that signals the beginning of mass.

Tuesdays bring the tianguis, a swap meet of indigenous people that travel from town to town selling fruit, clothes and cooking supplies among other things. The stands cover the plaza in tarps and tables for the morning.

Throughout the week, trucks piled high with sugarcane pass through Tocumbo on their way to the nearby pueblo of Santa Clara. The sugarcane is burned and the wind blows the ash back to the town.

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Like in all other pueblos, the church in Tocumbo is the first thing visible when nearing the pueblo, taller than all of the other buildings.

In Tocumbo, everything is natural. Most people buy the milk from cows sold in the street. They themselves scoop out the fat, setting it in a small container they then place on the counter where it remains for a week until it turns into jocoque, a type of cream. The tortilla dough is made by hand, shaped by machine and sold at tortillerías in the pueblo. At the end of each school day, a nevero makes a trip to each school on his motorcycle that has a small cooler attached to the back holding two flavors of ice cream he made himself earlier that day.

La Feria de la Paleta The small plaza holds four paleterias (ice cream stores), which is no surprise because Tocumbo is famous for its ice cream. At the end of each December, the pueblo holds La Feria de la Paleta, a fair dedicated to ice cream. Posters are hung throughout the streets with the faces of those chosen to run for reina and princesa de la Paleta. During the nights of the fair, the plaza is crowded. This year, bands and dancers took the stage, including Norteño VIP and Té de Brujas. Tapetes, temporary handmade decorative mats of wood chips, sand, beans, and seeds along with other items from nature are displayed outside the church the last few days of the fair.

A couple days into the festivities occurs the Desfile del Paletero, a parade celebrating ice cream and culture. The candidates for reina and princesa are at the front of the parade, followed by musicians and dancers representing each state of Mexico. The final day of the fair, brings la quema del Castillo, a display of firework-like lights that burst into words and objects including various flowers and, at closing, the phrase “La soma les desea un feliz año 2017,” wishing everyone a happy start to 2017.

Life in Tocumbo is much calmer than life here. It’s a town where everybody knows everybody. Despite the fact that the lifestyle over there is different than what we are accustomed to, its richness in culture and friendliness makes life there worthwhile.

Visit sdamustang.com to read the rest of the story with perspectives from other SDA students on their travels to Mexico.

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the mustang PALs

Auto Tech Metals

ASB ASB

Metals Speech & Debate

Culinary Arts

Culinary Arts

Speech & Debate

Culinary Arts Culinary Arts

Speech & Debate Yearbook

Wood Tech Sculpture

Band

Screenprinting Screenprinting

Video & Film Video & Film

Photo Sculpture

Sculpture

Screenprinting

Sculpture

Creative Writing Creative Writing

Sculpture Painting

Acting

In this bracket, the sweet 16 electives were narrowed down to the most popular, according to an informal survey of around 100 students.

March Madness: Elective Edition As sports fans fill out brackets to find the best college basketball team, students narrow down their favorite classes to find the most popular elective at San Dieguito Academy. By Sophie Hughes, Yarisette Sequeira, and Sylvia Young.

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tudents had the opportunity to choose from San Dieguito Academy’s wide array of elective choices during the class registration period for next year. With class options ranging from Screenprinting to Creative Writing, students had to be decisive in selecting which new courses they would try in the coming year. After surveying a random sample of San Dieguito students, the most popular electives were narrowed to the top two, with Sculpture barely beating Culinary Arts for the top spot.

Students tended to like Sculpture and Culinary Arts for two reasons: the unique classroom experiences as well as the satisfaction that arises from completing an assignment. In these classes, students have the opportunity to be creative in new ways by learning new skills. These experiences contribute to the creativity and individuality that SDA is celebrated for.

Senior Kayla Dewitt said “It’s definitely a staple of being at SDA. You definitely have to take Sculpture at least once, and Culinary Arts is great if you can get in.”

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Many students love the rewarding sense of accomplishment sculpture offers after finshing a piece of work.“It’s fun to take home [a piece] every time you make something, and feel like ‘Oh, I actually made this from beginning to end,’” said sophomore Taylor Thompson.

Many people in Culinary Arts find the fun filled and relaxed environment to be a great aspect of the class. “I enjoy the people around me, and the fact that we all have the common goal to make amazing food!” said junior Nadia Haghani. “With Mr. Huntley as our teacher, there is a humorous environment where we get to joke around, and the class turns into a stress reliever from other classes.”

While the survey found that Sculpture and Culinary Arts were the most popular electives, San Dieguito Academy offers a wide array of electives that provide new and interesting opportunities for students in a range of different topics. Having these unique classes, along with the addition of new electives next year, helps students continue to create and explore new ideas, keeping the SDA culture alive.

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the mustang

Reinventing Recycling on Campus Teachers and students work to improve the recycling system at SDA.

By Megan Levan and Citlally Contreras

The Facts The facilities page on the San Dieguito Union High School District boasts a wide array of services, including “a district wide energy conservation program, a recycling program and the district’s storm water management plan.” According to Dan Love, the director of maintenance and operations for SDUHSD, the extent of the recycling program is providing each school site with an EDCO recycling dumpster.

It is up to the schools to fill those dumpsters in the way they see fit.

Unfortunately, according to math teacher Paul Brice, almost all of the waste generated on the SDA campus gets thrown in the trash dumpster (including the majority of recyclable materials placed in the blue Pepsi bins and the blue bins in classrooms).

The Recycling Heroes Math teachers Paul Brice and Martin Chaker and their recycling homerooms have been working to create a recycling system on campus. Brice developed a new recycling program about four years ago. His homeroom created a PVC structure with three sections—one for trash, one for bottles and cans, and one for mixed paper—that they distributed to many of the classrooms. They currently ask that homerooms choose a recycling representative to put their cans and bottles into the blue Pepsi recycling containers around campus, and to place the bag of mixed paper in front of one of those Pepsi containers for Brice’s students to pick up and empty into the recycling dumpster behind the Mosaic Cafe.

The Problems As of now, 20 of around 75 rooms have the PVC recycling system, and Brice says that many of these homerooms have stopped taking their recycling out on Thursdays. In fact, he said his homeroom has recently had to postpone their collection of recyclable goods because so few homerooms were participating.

Principal Bjorn Paige said that the school is committed to buying the materials for additional PVC structures in other classrooms, but they like to have the teacher request a recycling system before investing in the building and maintenance of each one. Paige said that with so many teachers sharing rooms, it can be difficult to keep the system going because the teachers do not have a sense of ownership of their recycling system.

According to Brice, an additional issue is that the trash cans around campus tend to attract a mixture of trash and recyclable goods.

The Pepsi recycling containers are being treated as ordinary trash cans which defeats the purpose of having them there in the first place. Chaker says that if trash cans were to placed next to recycling bins, students would be much more likely to put their trash in the trash can and their recyclable materials in the recycling bin.

Goods that can be recycled. Art by Kirstin Mueller.

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The Solutions An overall solution to SDA’s lack of recycling is to create a uniform, school-wide recycling system—a challenge that Chaker’s homeroom readily accepted last year. Chaker and his homeroom have spent months designing and creating recycling structures. They are now onto their second prototype, a wooden frame with a bottle cut-out, trash can cut-out, and paper cutout that make the separating process simple (and aesthetic too).

They hope to present their prototype to Paige soon, in order to receive the funding necessary for each classroom to have a recycling center. Each recycling structure costs five dollars, so the total cost will run around $375 total.

Chaker believes that his homeroom’s recycling bins will be a great next step for making SDA more environmentally friendly through providing a more permanent recycling program that is consistent throughout the entire school.

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Getting Dirty At Artist Soapbox

A new club on school is helping students cope with their lives by making art. Story and photos by Layla Gantus.

Junior Olivia Kaminski took the paint and sharpies provided and drew a horse that she gave to Elias at the end of lunch.

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n an hour lunch not too long ago, an SDA junior sat in the art room with her hands covered completely in blue paint laughing and enjoying life.

This happened during Artist Soap Box, an art therapy club started by senior Hannah Elias to help students let go of their everyday stresses. The club meets once a month during hour lunch and does de-stressing art in the art room.

Elias herself has found art as a way of getting through her day. “For me personally I have used art as a form of stress relief and therapy for the past couple of years and I just thought that having an open time for other students to come do that would be very nice.”

The most recent meeting was held on March 1 where the Art Therapy Club did origami and finger

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painting. In previous meetings, members did some Spiro graphs and used rainbow scratch paper as well.

They made origami cranes in a mini lesson led by Elias even though only a few students carried through and finished the cranes due to the complexity of it. However, they all were happy with their distractions whether they made the crane or not.

With the paint they made little finger animals of their choice and put finishing touches on them with sharpies. At the end of the meeting Elias signed one of her paintings and gave it to one of the club members which led to a warm embrace between the two.

Elias chooses these mediums for the club because they are relatively easy yet stimulating and are similar to the type of art kids do.

“I think it definitely helps with

Elias made pikachu and a caterpillar named Filbert. Senior Kelly Luong made a panda, her favorite animal, climbing onto some bamboo. Elias gave one of her pieces to Knapp. stress relief. It’s mostly if I just had a big test or something and pent up energy then I can come and paint and do art and have fun,” said junior Carolyn Knapp, who has come to every meeting.

During the meeting the planned activities are more of a suggestion for the members than strict guidelines, most of them are already art students who took the materials given and did whatever made them feel better.

Junior Lilly Callendar, who was enjoying painting her hands instead of the planned finger painting, said, “I think it’s really nice especially if I had a stressful day and then I come and get to finger paint or something, that’s always really fun.”

“It’s not like it needs to be good or anything; it’s fun expression,” said Knapp.

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Senior Trevor Anderberg was focused on making his crane.

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the mustang

Moto Deli: Unique Image, Great Food Sandwiches and motorcycles collide at this new joint. Story by Kieran Zimmer and Austin Dilley.

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ake a second and think about motorcycles. Chances are you’ll think of menacing thugs ripping burnouts on Harleys while sporting leather jackets proclaiming their allegiance to gangs called “The Legion of Doom.” Needless to say, sandwiches probably aren’t one of the things that came to your mind.

Leucadia’s Moto Deli might not be a tough-guy biker bar, but it certainly explores the unlikely intersection of motorbikes and high-quality sandwiches. Founded by marketing whiz Mario Warman (formerly of Forever 21) and chef extraordinaire (formerly executive chef of Stone Brewing Company) Andy Carbal-

lo, the two certainly had to endure some bumps in the road to get the restaurant to become the high-end motorcycle-worshipping sandwich joint it is today.

A Dynamic Duo

Warman and Carballo come from wildly different backgrounds. They met through a friend of a friend, the stars aligned and they started down a long road to the opening of a restaurant. For Mario it was a chance to finally go somewhere in his career, to break out of the day to day grind of the corporate office, and to flex his branding muscles. For chef Carballo it was all a big game of chance that led him to opening Moto Deli, namely ending up

Moto Deli’s modern architecture is sure to catch the eyes of passerby. Photo by Austin Dilley.

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Owner Mario Warman details his creative process. Photo by Austin Dilley. in California after growing up in New York and being introduced to Warman by a mutual friend.

sandwiches one can recieve.

What’s especially impressive here A New Spin is the on-the-spot creativity that was Slow And Steady Unlike the word-of-mouth busithe inception for sandwiches such “Slow and steady” operations ness strategy (or lack thereof) emas the Cubano (Moto Deli’s spin on have been a theme of Moto Deli ployed by many Encinitas businessthe Cuban, a ham and cheese style for some time now, as Warman and es in times past ,Warman’s history as sandwich originating from Cuban Carballo ran the deli as a food truck a marketing major set up the restauimmigrants in Florida). Carballo for nearly a year, before opening rant’s reputation long before it was whipped up this one on the Moto a brick and mortar store. The next even open. Warman told us that Food Truck with the ingredients he goal of the restaurant is to transihe was proactive on social media, had after Warman said ,“I’m really tion into a full-fledged, three-meal working to detail the progress of the hungry, but I want something difLeucadia restaurant. restaurant and to help people underferent that I haven’t had yet. Make Interestingly enough, Moto Deli stand what the deli was all about. something up.” Upon hearing this, occupies the former site of Sub PalThis same careful cultivation is Carballo looked at what he had and ace, a Leucadia thought “Hmm, I institution very could do kind of much representaa Cubano with all tive of the classic this stuff.”

“There’s actually a lot more that Southern CaliforOther one-ofgoes into making a really good nia surfer image a-kind eats such with its yellow as a falafel (in sandwich than you think, down to and blue hues and place of meatthe order that you put the ingredilaid back atmob a l l s ) m ar i n ar a sphere. However, and an open face ents on it.” w the space has “Rabbit on Rye” been completely grace the menu, - Chef Andy Carballo transformed to along with a delithe point where cious if-it-ain’tlocals might not broke-don’t-fix-it recognize that the building ever held reflected not only in the brand’s imgrilled cheese. Pro-tip from CarbalSub Palace. age but in the food. Chef Carballo lo on making great grilled cheese: As soon as one walks into the said “There’s actually lot more that butter both sides of the toast. deli, it is apparent that Warman has goes into making a really good sandBottom line, if you like sanddeveloped his brand thoughtfully wich than you think, down to the wiches, motorcycles, or both, Moto and creatively. From the motorcycle order that you put the ingredients Deli is worth checking out. Not only helmets hung above the door to the on it.” do they pay homage to classic sandshirts and hats for sale next to the Creative Eats wiches and put their own spins on counter, it becomes clear that Moto Although the restaurant is a newplenty of new ones, but it is clear Deli is chalk-full of unique vibes not er establishment, something locals that they are dedicated to keeping to be found anywhere else in Encinimay be wary of, the food is spot on. their restaurant unique while detas. This dedication to making the Though the prices are reflective of livering quality food. The next time restaurant great if further shown by the food’s artisan creation, the dolyou’re in need of a tsaty bite on the Warman’s initial way of getting the lars are more than worth it for the 101, you know where to go.

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deli off the ground: through social media.

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the mustang

When Punk Grows Up

In a genre where people spike their hair into three-foot-tall mohawks, owning a shampoo company doesn’t make Dallas Van Kempen a sellout. By Kieran Zimmer.

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iving in Southern California Meet Dallas Van Kempen. He and attending a school conis, in many ways, a normal guy. He sidered pretty “alternative” by runs a shampoo business, has a wife most standards, chances are we’ve and kids, and once a month travels all been exposed to punk rock in from Boise, Idaho to his hometown some way or another during our of Encinitas for work. lives.

“Encinitas and Del Mar were Punk was originally used as a much sleepier towns, and you pretty slang term by to describe ruffians much knew everyone in town back and hooligans, and was subsequentthen. Vista and San Marcos barely ly used as a label for “punk rock,” existed,” Van Kempen said when dein which authority is looked down scribing the town he grew up in. on and shenanigans are encourEncinitas Roots aged. Fans of the genre are generally Although this sounds like the opseen as nihilistic and overtly antiposite of the town we live in today, authoritarian, the kind of people in many ways Van Kempen was an you imagine spiking their mohawks Encinitas dweller not unlike you or while sewing Dystopia back-patches me. When I asked him about skatreading “Human=Garbage” onto ing’s connection to the powervioleather jackets. The kind of people lence scene, he replied “Dude! I’m you imagine smoking cigarettes and an Encinitas Kid! I skated at the Del Dallas Van Kempen as a high school punk (age 16) and as a father and businessman (age discussing anarchist politics while Mar skatepark every day after I went 43). Photos courtesy of by Dallas Van Kempen. begging for change to buy fourties to school...until my mom picked me on city streets. The kind of people up.” who you imagine to have no future.

Although he was an avid reader since I was like 6 or 7 years old.” violence. Blending blistering harddogs and horses, called Eqyss, which Of course, this stereotype has (with favorite authors including I know what you may be thinking, core and thrashy metal, their songs grew out of the family’s love for their often been proven wrong. We live Charles Bukowski and H.P. Lovewhich is that Van Kempen is older were short, spastic, with lyrical toppets, not wanting to use the current in the hometown of Blink-182, a craft) he didn’t have much of a now, he’s grown out of punk muics focusing on dark subjects such as products on the market to keep their band who helped bring “punk” to passion for school. First attending sic, he’s matured. Well, he may have revenge and anger. dogs clean. the mainstream, consisting of guys Torrey Pines for one year, he then matured, but the answer to the forAlthough the band released 44 When his father fell ill, Van Kemmildly into surfing who had high transferred to Sunset, which allowed mer is a resounding nope. “It’s [still] minutes of material, their impact on pen took over Eqyss Grooming nasally voices. This makes one wonhim to graduate early from San Dithe majority of what I listen to” he aggressive music was much, much Products, and has been the CEO der, what happens to punks when eguito High School. said. “I still spin larger than they ever would have for 25 years and counting. Ovation they grow up? Do my Man is the guessed.

Their riffs have been refercame more recently from a partnerthey keep chainBastard sevenenced on the track “Jock Powervioship that had good timing, and since smoking ciga“[Punk rock] is still the majority of inches.” lence” by newer powerviolence band 2007 has bloomed into a full-fledged rettes and dying And although Weekend Nachos, featuring Patrick successful business. what I listen to...I still spin my Man their hair, or is it Encinitas may Stump (yes, that Patrick Stump, the No Sellouts Here time to become is the Bastard seven-inches.” have changed a one from Fall Out Boy), and their Talking to Van Kempen about his part of the rat great deal since shirts have been worn in a countless companies, it becomes especially race? Of course, —Dallas Van Kempen Van Kempen number of menacing looking band clear that he is far from the “sellout” many people cagrew up, he still photos.

Listen to any recent powor “poser” people may call him, due sually into catchy has local connecerviolence record and chances are to the anti-corporate ethics of punk skate-punk get tions that many you’ll hear the bass-heavy blasting rock. According to him, working old and start families, there’s even a SDA students can probably relate: of Crossed Out. in the shampoo industry “isn’t very documentary about it.

Van Kempen’s fascination with a job that many students might reShampoo Salesman fulfilling.” However, he doesn’t feel However, when you stop thinking punk rock began early. “I would gard as the dream summer gig: a job After the band imploded due to guilty when called names, simply about radio pop-punk and begin to see these kids, older than me, walkat Lou’s records. This job helped to conflicts of interest between membecause he embraces the fact that he delve into the darkest corners of the ing around Del Mar and Encinitas expand his musical horizons even bers, Van Kempen bounced back is supporting his family, something genre (read, powerviolence; a subwith these cool shirts on, from Bad further, and grow his passion for and forth from odd job to odd job, he takes pride in. sub-genre of punk that emphasizes Brains or Corrosion of Conformity. music even more. before finally deciding to go back Because of this, Van Kempen is the fastest of the fast beats and slowI was probably five or six years old Powerviolence Founding to school, not wanting to “work in almost more punk than the kids est of the slow ones, bizarre timing when I started seeing the shirts and Father a f**king gas station” the rest of his who dye their hair and cuss at cops changes, incredibly short songs, I was like, ‘Wow, that looks cool!’

His band, Crossed Out, was life.

He graduated in 2001 from Cal while busking on the street. Despite and inhuman screamed vocals), you So, just sorta asking people, ‘What’s formed in 1990, stayed together unState San Marcos after majoring in falling into business ownership, would expect to be met with the that shirt?’ ‘Oh, it’s a band. It’s cool.’ til 1993, and played only 16 shows, American History. His involvement he has stayed true to himself and most hostile fans and musicians, the Eventually I could hear the mumany of them at landmark venue in the shampoo industry began with doesn’t lie to himself about the fulpunkest of the punk, right? sic and it was just cool, I liked the the CHE Cafe.

Along with peers his father.

Van Kempen’s dad had fillment he gets from his work. In Not quite. One of the founders of music, I liked the artwork on the such as the noisy Man is the Bastard worked in construction for much punk, supporting friends and family the powerviolence genre graduated records, I liked the imagery, and as and the fastcore pioneers Dropdead, of his life, but was left without a is a key focus of the genre, and Dalfrom San Dieguito High School. Oh, I got older I understood the lyrical Crossed Out’s distinct tone and business after construction began las Van Kempen has done exactly and he owns Ovation Cell Theracontent more and more. I just natusound helped to set the template for to leave California.

This led to him that, while still jamming hardcore py Shampoo, whose commercials rally gravitated towards it. I’ve been the hardcore punk genre of powerstarting a shampoo company for music on the daily. you’ve probably heard on the radio. into punk and hardcore, literally,

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arts

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the mustang

It’s the Little Things

The restaurant Breakfast Republic is open in Encinitas, bringing tactics of a brand heavy age. Story by Mary Ford.

A

t nine in the morning on a Sunday, the line is already 15 people deep.

With Breakfast Republic, the new brunch spot in Encinitas, that’s typical.

The Business

Infused with the witty, dry humor of the millennial hipster, some carefully chosen punny decor, and delicious food, the restaurant is a hit only a few months in.

Founded by restaurant entrepreneur Johan Engman, Breakfast Republic takes a few liberties with the classic version of America’s most important meal of the day.

“I think it’s a unique concept,” said Engman taking the time to talk to a high school journalist, as he juggled operating 11 different restaurants as well as opening a new one. “It’s not like your regular breakfast diner at all…I call it a whimsical design. It’s a fun environment, very colorful, very brand heavy. Anywhere you look [in the restaurant] you’ll see the logo.”

Once seated, servers rush around me balancing plates, checks, and their sanity. The Breakfast Republic logo flashes before me everywhere I glance: on napkins, plates, drinks, menus, hats, coffee cups, even socks.

Babies cry, silverware scratches against plates, and any notion of the ‘inside voice’ is eschewed as waiters crouch down, trying to hear just what their patrons are ordering.

Surrounding me are hanging lights shaped like baking whisks and chairs shaped like eggs.

There is the “Cluckin’ Good Hot Sauce,” the cutlery wrappers that say “I’m allergic to stupidity. I break out in sarcasm,” and the writing on the tables defining “hangry” and “brunch” in smartalecky terms. There is the rainbow rooster sculpture and the living

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wall emblazoned with bold red letters reading “Run Cock Run,” a running X-rated joke between restaurant locations.

Every single worker in the restaurant looks like they belong there, as they dance between tables and dodge running toddlers. They aren’t dressed in uniform: They’re dressed in the brand heavy t-shirts and socks the restaurant sells, which add another sprinkle of young-spirited individuality.

“You have to do a lot of things to set yourself aside,” said Engman.

“One of them is the branding in this case. We wanted to design t-shirts, caps, coffee cups, and stuff that you would want to buy whether you liked the restaurant or not.”

In a hyper-connected internetcentric world, is it any surprise that branding has become a huge asset in commercial success?

Music is no longer about selling albums, but selling a celebrity’s personality. Think Lady Gaga’s outrageous and attention grabbing outfits or Taylor Swift’s woman scorned personality. In parallel, the restaurant industry is no longer singularly dependent on selling the best food, but the merchandise and the location’s design as well.

A perfect example of the restaurant businessman, Engman said, “I sell a baseball cap for twelve bucks. I don’t think any restaurant in the world sells it for that little. The point is so I sell a lot…because I want my branding out there. I want people to walk around the city with my brand on, because that is free marketing. [I want] to have a cool brand that people want to take pictures of and put on Instagram or social media.”

The Food

Although the decoration and media aspect of a restaurant are important in themselves, the

quality and taste of the food is the key ingredient to making customers happy.

Decadent plates like the Mr. Presley French Toast (stuffed with peanut butter and topped with banana fosters and bacon), the Mint Chocolate Chip Pancakes (just what they sound like, with mint butter), and the Mashed Potato Omelet (with bacon and cheddar cheese, topped with sour cream) are three selections from a quasi-overwhelming array of options. Categories on the menu range from French toast to scrambles to other ‘playing fare,’ not to mention a whole side of the menu being devoted to drinks.

What I tried, the Portuguese Linguisa Sausage Omelet, was about as large a mouthful as its name. Despite the fancy title, the dish itself boiled down to a massive amount of eggs, delicious sausage, and some choice flavorings and spices. It’s true that I could have probably made the omelet at home with a recipe book, but the side of perfectly seasoned breakfast potatoes was novelty and made the overall meal unrepeatable.

“All we do is breakfast,” said Engman. “Nothing more, nothing less. That becomes easier for our consumer to identify with. If you see the name of the restaurant ‘Breakfast Republic,’ there’s no confusion as to what we do.”

Maybe it’s the excitement a new restaurant brings or the success of the branding, but Breakfast Republic weekend brunches bring hour long waits. Photo by Mary Ford.

These egg chairs sit in the middle of the floor, keeping the theme of amusing decor strong throughout the restaurant.

Photo by Mary Ford.

The Verdict

Breakfast Republic isn’t made successful by one thing; it isn’t shaped by the hostess desk with a picture of Christopher Walken, reading “Walkens Only,” or the servers who probably moonlight by waxing their mustaches and drinking chai lattes, or the creative and original menu. The restaurant is a mix of these nuances and more, subtle or otherwise totally in-your-face, to cultivate a theme new and needed in developing Encinitas.

arts

Even the salt shakers at Breakfast Republic display the logo of a restaurant with good food but better business tactics.

Photo by Mary Ford.

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New Backpack Too Small To Carry Penny This deck is not as small as those backpacks. By Chloe Williams.

B

obSport released a new line of Quarter Ounce backpacks earlier this week that are so small, nothing fits inside.

Half-pint backpacks have been gaining popularity among teenagers and tweens recently, a trend dominating the $2 billion industry, according to Pow! Research Center. As consumers demand the latest style in fashionable accessories, the size of schoolbags has gotten smaller and smaller each year, with this new design breaking records all across the board, outselling even Hydro Flasks and unnecessarily think chokers.

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According to BobSport CEO, Minnie Baggs, the new Quarter Ounce backpack is so small, it can’t even carry a pencil.

“All of these other bags have too much space! Why put your books in them when you look so much cooler just carrying them around?” asked Baggins. “And what a deal at only $249.99 per bag!”

The release shocked competing brands, who are now scrambling to produce their own Quarter Ounce packs, but Jansport has made it clear that anyone who violates their design patent will be in for a long legal battle.

“What the hell BobSport?

We were about to release our 1 1/2 cup backpack. Now we’re a laughingstock!” said Kranken representative Iva Benburnned.

The reaction at SDA, however, seems to be positive. “I love my Q.O. It shows the world that I don’t care about their standards,” said senior Po Pueller.

“It’s pretty dope,” commented junior Ben Thair.

“Totally lit,” added junior Don Thatt.

Quarter Ounce Backpacks can be found at Not Topic, Lululimes, Hollistop, Abrezombie and Fetch, H#M, and Suburban Outfitters.

humor

Proud freshman Dihm Witt displays her new Q. O. She was the first student on campus with the new bag. Photo by Austin Dilley.

march 17

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Horoscope of the Month

By Nadia Ballard.

ARIES This month you might be extra annoyed with people.

Be aware of how your temper can get out of hand and take deep calming breaths when you feel yourself about to bash a friend’s head in with a french fry, because this is the fifth time they’ve taken a bite of your mac and cheese without asking, and you did not spend all that time carefully and artfully making your mac and cheese just to have someone else experience it’s cheesy goodness.

TAURUS Try shaking things up this month; spice up your life by spicing up your food.

Try adding these combinations of spices to your food: basil and cloves, cardamom and garlic, turmeric and catnip, sassafras and horseradish, salt and pepper. Be wary of bad combinations of spices.

GEMINI Your diet consists of the 3 main food groups. Small insects, leafy greens, and calcium vitamins. You're a lizard.

CANCER Late at night you lay in bed and stare up at the ceiling.

You imagine what it would be like if the ceiling collapsed and fell away to reveal the starry night sky. Too bad the sky is cloudy, and it's actually one in the morning and you're at Sonics.

LEO Take a nice good look of your grasp on reality. It might surprise you, that when you think you’re just having a nice evening at Target, you’re actually in the forest surrounded by empty Big Mac boxes and Oreos. So many Oreos.

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VIRGO Make a conscious effort to be positive. If you do, people will enjoy your company and next time someone brings in donuts they might bless you with a maple donut.

LIBRA You’re not opposed to the idea of devoting an entire day to eating bread, and you are proud of this fact.

SCORPIO Contrary to popular belief, Scorpios do in fact eat scorpions. You, a Scorpio might be thinking to yourself right now, “What? Never have I ever eaten a scorpion!” However we all know the truth, you can stop denying it.

SAGITTARIUS Eat Wheatgrass.

CAPRICORN One of your greatest fears is being misunderstood. You crave the intimacy that goes along with feeling completely accepted and unconditionally loved. These fears can sometimes overwhelm you and when they do, your best bet is to find solace in food. Because remember, only 100% real fruit juice can give you love unconditionally.

AQUARIUS Imagine yourself an otter, it's time to use your fuzzy water resistant paws to get yourself through life.

Life is your oyster- don't let your challenges hold you back. Let your inner otter show this month.

PISCES Your biggest fear is that one day when the aliens come to earth, they won't just invade and try to annihilate the human race. It’s that when they do come they’ll take all the popcorn.

Check Out the Online Paper at sdamustang.com humor

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THE WORLD’S ONLY RELIABLE NEWSPAPER

Group Chat Etiquette

silent. They’re not happy about it, either. Embrace the constant push notifications and morning greeting of 250 missed messages, all halfcoherent and outdated. Don’t try to answer a question directed at you minutes later. No, the group chat has moved along and you were a shrew who turned off the notifications. They all hate you so you better slide back into those messages real smoothly. Or here’s an idea: never leave.

What you never knew you were doing wrong. By Mary Ford.

A

new phenomenon has arisen: The Group Chat. For those unaware of the strict, dangerous etiquette that lurks behind the chaos of a group chat, here are some rules to traverse those murky waters.

1. Never ever leave the group chat: What? Are you crazy? Even if you aren’t interested in the group, or they’re planning something that you can’t attend, or you were placed in the group by accident and you hate everyone there, you can’t leave. Equate leaving a group chat to a llama.

Picture that llama. What does that llama smell like?

Now, I hope you see that once you’re in, you can never go back. That’s that. If you leave, all that will happen is that the other members of the group chat will feel offended, scared, a little gassy, and obliged to put you back into the group chat, which will just make things awkward for everyone there. You can’t leave.

2. If someone leaves a group chat, put them back in: I know; Tiffany just left because you said something passive aggressive about her boyfriend Rod. You might feel offended that she left, scared without her illuminating presence enlightening the group chat, and a little gassy.

It’s okay. Even though it’s

Friends in a group chat send offended texts, even bitmojis, when one girl decides to leave the chat. Photo by Mary Ford.

pretty much impossible to leave a group chat by accident, Tiffany was the exception.

So shove her back in there.

Do it. I promise that she’ll appreciate it. Eventually.

3. Never ever put the group chats on silent.

Don’t make it awkward and turn off the notifications.

Everyone else knows when you put the group chat on

4. Never let the group chat die.

Sometimes it’s awkward and group chats die. That’s not okay. A wise five-yearold philosopher once said, “Friendship is forever.”

Group chats are friendships.

Group chats are forever.

GROUP CHATS NEVER DIE.

No Construction Criticism Here Why be efficient when you can be late? By Jack Salz.

I

f there is anything that students love, it’s long scenic walks between classes. So naturally, in 2015 when it was announced that Senior Court would be closed off to make way for new construction, students welcomed the demolition of their favorite lunch spot with pure elation.

Indeed, it’s a known fact that school spirit has been completely unaffected by ripping out the heart of the campus.

Similarly, news that the front of the gym would soon be closed off, effectively shutting down the center of the school, was also received with open arms. It’s not as if students

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wanted to go to the Mosaic Cafe anyways.

Now that the main veins of transportation have been ripped out of the school, students no longer have to worry about which route to class is the fastest.

Instead, they simply arrive late, much to the excitement of the teachers and administrators. This certainly provides students with enough free time to appreciate the lovely stretches of fencing and plywood walls that have been constructed for students’ convenience. San Dieguito has truly never been more open and free.

In more recent developments, the location where a direct and functional

walkway once was is occupied with a ditch lightly populated with small shrubbery.

At this moment it’s not clear what the plant life will develop into, but the recent rain resulted with the basin turning into a muddy swamp.

It’s clearly a beneficial addition to the school’s scenery.

Despite this section of the school being opened up, the swamp itself is still surrounded by a tasteful and aesthetically pleasing orange plastic fence, presumably in place to allow the plant life to further grow without students romping throughout.

Surely students will stay on the concrete path once the fence is removed, rather than take the direct, much quicker

humor

Two students attempt to find a better way to get from point A to point B. Photo by Patrick Hall.

route through the basin, which would undoubtedly leave the plant life mangled and damaged.

High school students are known for their long-term thinking skills and respect for the establishment, so it is obviously nothing to be concerned about.

All of the students attending San Dieguito

can be thankful that the construction planning was done with them and their best interests in mind, and administration is working hard to maximize the efficiency of school traffic to ensure that everyone can get to class in a timely matter.

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the mustang

It’s March. It’s Madness.

The biggest tournament in college hoops is underway. Story by Luke Oldham.

Upcoming Home Games: Track and Field Escondido v SDA @ SDA Thur, March 23 Torrey Pines v SDA @ SDA Thur, March 30

Boys Lacrosse SDA v Fallbrook @ SDA Thur, April 6 SDA V Canyon Crest Academy @ SDA Thur, April 18

Girls Lacrosse SDA v Sage Creek @ SDA Fri, March 31 SDA v La Costa Canyon @ SDA Fri, April 21

Boys Tennis SDA v Sage Creek @ SDA Tue, March 21 JV SDA v Torrey Pines @ SDA Thur, March 23

National Chmapion

Baseball Luke Oldham’s Final Four predictions

I

t’s the greatest month of the year! March Madness has begun, and millions of college basketball fans have submitted their predictions on who will emerge victorious in the NCAA’s biggest annual tournament. Do not be surprised if you run into kids with their heads glued to their phones in the hallway, or can’t hear the person next to you in the learning commons due to the electric atmosphere; it’s all part of the Madness.

In previous years the title contention was dominated by just a couple of powerhouse programs, but in this unique 2016-17 season, the championship is up for grabs with no one team being a clear favorite. Sure, top ranked programs like Kansas, Villanova, and UCLA are all likely to plow themselves a path deep into the tournament, but in a long season filled with ups and downs, you never know who will flip that switch

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and become an unstoppable force in March, and who will fall to the insurmountable pressure.

Kansas, led by top Wooden Award contender, Frank Mason III, is a serious threat. The Jayhawks have had a very impressive season, boasting wins over Duke, Kentucky, and Baylor. This team is likely to go far as long as Mason remains healthy; however, an upset could be inevitable if their weaknesses inside the paint are exposed.

SDSU did not make the tournament this year, but if you like local teams, you can still root for UCLA. Led by freshman PG Lonzo Ball, the Bruins have been one of the best offensive teams all year. When they get rolling, it’s hard to stop them.

TJ Leaf ’s health (ankle) will be vital if this team wants to contend for a championship, however.

Last year’s champions, Villanova, are looking to recapture the glory

SDA v Carlsbad @ SDA Tue, March 21

for a second straight year. The Wildcats are yet again a solid and consistent force, with the best record in the Big East. If Villanova can recapture the crown, they will be just the ninth team in the tournament’s 73 year history to win back-to-back championships.

There is a lot of hype surrounding the Gonzaga Bulldogs. Having had a near perfect season, with only one loss to BYU, the Zags are one of the top ranked teams in the NCAA. The legitimacy of their ranking, however, is questionable due to the fact that the Bulldog’s strength of schedule was significantly weaker than that of other top teams. Gonzaga will need to prove that an entire season of non-competitive matchups will not stop them from making a deep run into March.

Despite suffering a few embarrassing losses earlier in the season, Duke and North Carolina can-

sports

not be left out of the conversation.

Duke started off a little shaky due to Grayson Allen’s kicking antics; but suspensions aside, Duke is an extremely talented team that has been gaining momentum as of late.

North Carolina also tallied a number of losses to unranked opponents during the season. Despite this, the best rebounding team in college basketball is seeking vengeance for a demoralizing loss in last year’s final.

As the most anticipated tournament in all of college sports is officially underway, we look forward to a month full of buzzer beaters, crazy dunks, and inspiring Cinderella stories. Top teams will be upset and hearts will be broken. But it’s all part of what makes this month so magical. It’s March. It’s Madness.

SDA v Classical Academy @ SDA Thur, March 23

Girls Softball JV SDA v Westview @ SDA Tue, March 21 JV SDA v Del Norte @ SDA Mon, March 27

Boys Volleyball SDA v Ramona @ SDA Wed, March 22 SDA v El Camino @ SDA @ SDA Thur, 23

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the mustang

Back on Track

The SDA track and field coaching staff focuses on the mechanics of each event through different workouts, drills, strategies, and activities. By Sarah LaVake and Vicky van der Wagt.

Gordy Haskett: Distance Strategy: It doesn’t matter how fast you run, but how good you look.

Preferred Warm-up: Once around the school and meet me on the track.

Role model: Pee Wee Herman Why are you coaching? I love the kids and seeing them become great runners. I like to see them suffer.

How many years coaching? Past experience?

Favorite workout: Long runs Where are you from? Cardiff High School Sports: Cross Country and Track and Field Fun practice activities? Free runs, game days Motto: No tea parties!!!

Superhero name: Flash Gordon

Dr. Hank Glass: Shot Put and Discus Strategy: Trained by the US Track and Field Thrower Coaches Preferred Warmup: Everything, Discus Drills everyday Role model: My wife Why are you coaching? I’ve been involved with Track and Field for over 50 years, I was a sports doctor, I started as a runner in college and am ending up as a high school coach Past Experience: Coaching since 1990, so 27 years Favorite workout? Running 10 miles in the mountains Where are you from? Vermont High School Sports? I played football, basketball, and baseball in high school but I ran in college Fun practice activities? Scavenger hunts Motto: Some days we win, some days we learn Superhero name: Jesse Owens

Photo courtesy of Gordy Haskett.

Photo by Sarah LaVake.

Dena Austin Miller: Long jump and triple jump Strategy: Learn the mechanics of the sport, then improve Preferred Warm Up: the drills the team already does Role model/athlete: Tianna Bartoletta Why are you coaching? Because I love the kids involved with Track and Field Past Experience: I’ve been a coach almost my entire career Favorite workout: Surf centric workouts or jump drills Where are you from? San Diego High School Sports: I varsity lettered in triple jump, I also did the long jump Fun practice activities: Videotaping events and group critiques Motto: If I train like an average person, I’ll look like an average person Superhero name: Bolt

Photo by Vicky van der Wagt.

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Darrell Driskell: Hurdles and Sprints Strategy: mental aspect, I try to instill positive, kind of no fear, attack kind of philosophy Preferred Warmup: hip flexors and hurdle stretches Role model/athlete: My high school coach Why are you coaching? I was inspired by a track meet Past experience? I’ve been coaching for 25 years Favorite workout: I like running anywhere from 5-6 miles, up at the lagoons, or Black Mountain.

Where are you from? Riverside, CA High School Sports? Cross country and track.

Fun coaching practice activities? Capture the flag, and I want to get those monster balls you can roll in.

Motto/Quote: What you can see and believe, you will achieve.

Superhero name: Big Boss Daddy the Driskell

Photo by Sarah LaVake.

Photo by Sarah LaVake.

Mike Fitchett: Pole Vaulting/Sprint groups Elizabeth Brandon: Sprints Strategy: Getting the best from everyone, no matter where Strategy: Help athletes identify and formulate their goals they start and make a plan on how to attain those goals.

Preferred Warmup: 8 minute jog, precise sprint drills Preferred Warmup: 10 minute running, drills, and strides.

Role model/athlete: My high school track coach Role model/athlete: Michael Johnson, my hero.

Why are you coaching? I am a track and field fanatic. I love Why are you coaching? I enjoy watchinng the kids get better developing teams to compete at the highest level. Coaching and better at their event. is in my blood.

Past experience? I coached many athletes who competed in Past experience? I have been coaching college and high London and Rio Olympics. school athletes for the past 30 years.

Favorite workout: Chase drills (head starts) Favorite workout: Chase drills (head starts) Where are they from? I am Swedish and Polish.

Where are they from? Anchorage, Alaska What sports did you do in high school? Track What sports did you do in high school? Springboard Diving, Fun coaching practice activities? I love to join in on practice.

Track & Field (Pole vaulting, hurdles) Motto/Quote: Practice like you’ve never won, perform like Fun coaching practice activities? Silly contests you’ve never lost.

Motto/Quote: Wag more, bark less Superhero name: Someone with the ability to teleport Superhero name: Sushi-man Photo courtesy of Elizabeth Brandon.

sports

march 17

the mustang

Surfer vs. Skater

Senior Skater Jordyn Barratt and freshman Surfer Koby Hughes answer questions vital to the success of your next test grade. Read on. Story by Mary Ford.

W

here is SDA’s secret passageway?

Skater: In the hall through the art rooms Surfer: In the sewer Okay Skater, this might have been a bit of a trick question, because I do not know where the secret passageway is myself. However, what I do know is that there is one. I feel it in my ring finger. Do you feel it in your ring finger? I know you do. Being the super-secret detective sleuth that I am, I decided to investigate your claim, just like any excellent super-secret detective sleuth would do. And with my super-secret detective sleuth skills that I learned at the super-secret detective sleuth school, I licked my ring finger and held it to the wind to find the secret opening to the secret passageway but there

was no wind so my training failed.

There goes 20 bucks and six hours of rigorous training on finger licking detection skills. Darn it. So what did I learn? That the likelihood of there being a super-secret tunnel in the hall through the art rooms is great.

I encourage everyone to storm the hall and find the passageway. Winner gets twenty bucks. Also, Skater you get twenty points.

Hey Surfer. Believe it or not, I’ve never been in a sewer. I know what you’re thinking. “What? But she’s so cool and confident. How could she have never visited a sewer? Wow, I really misjudged her. I might just have to tell everyone about her failure to visit a sewer.” Wait, surfer. Before you do that, let me tell you why I’ve never been in a sewer. But just give me a second to collect myself.

It’s a pretty emotional story. Here

goes. Believe it or not, my supersecret detective skill school didn’t teach us about sewer detection. I know, I’m sorry. I’ve failed you. I’m at a professional loss. I cannot verify the sewer is a secret passageway for you. But my pet dragon can. He’ll get back to you in a few days. Ten points while we wait.

What do the French call French fries?

English fries Papas fritas Skater, that’s a good one. That’s a good one. English fries. I chuckle.

However, French fries are actually from Belgium. So wouldn’t they be Belgian fries? Schooled. In fact, I’m pretty sure that the English hated potatoes because the Irish loved them. The Irish loved potatoes so much that they ate them too much

Barratt chucks deuces while Hughes eats pizza for breakfast.

Photo by Mary Ford. until they all got sick and died. That was the Potato Famine. Schooled.

And then the Irish got sick of England not liking potatoes as much as they did. So they drilled a line (jagged for extra effect) between them and England, and set their new island sail 400 miles to the west.

They them put their anchor down, declared independence, and moved on. Schooled. Minus 10 points.

“french fries,” it translates to “fried dads.” Geez. That’s just gross. How could you even think about that.

Geez again. Minus five points.

Surfer: 10 points Skater: 5 points Congratulations surfer, you win nothing!

Surfer, I may not have taken French, but I took Spanish for three years. If I know anything, it’s that “papas fritas” does not translate to

CIF Champs

The SDA girls soccer team wins CIF and makes it to the Regional semi-finals. Story by Vicky van der Wagt and Citlally Contreras.

T

he SDA girls soccer team won Division 4 CIF Finals this year in a game against Montgomery High School.

They also made it to the Southern California Regional Girls Soccer Championships semi-finals, where they were defeated 1-2 by Brentwood School. After a challenging season,they finished with a record of 16 wins, 8 ties, and 4 losses.

The team, coached by Siggy Eyre, was very successful during pre-season, playing teams their own level like Orange Glen and Monte Vista High School., “We started off with some big wins in pre-season and realized it was a reasonable goal to shoot for CIF,” said team captain and senior Shayne Busick.

During the season, they played teams that were in higher divisions (from bigger, more competitive schools), like La Costa Canyon,

march 17

Canyon Crest Academy, and Sage Creek. After playing those more challenging teams, they were very prepared for CIFs. “Most of us have now been playing together for twothree years, so we have great chemistry and work well together on the field,” said Busick.

“Our team bonded a lot even though we were from all different grade levels,” said sophomore Shayna Glazer.

This year, the team made some great accomplishments. “We beat LCC for the first time in many years and we won back the Academy Cup from Canyon Crest,” said Busick.

Their first CIF game was against Southwest, which SDA beat 3-1. The semi-final game was then against Mission Bay, where they again won, 3-0, securing their spot in the finals.

The final was a tough game, and SDA secured a 1-0 win against

Montgomery High school with a goal by sophomore Julia Lucero in the second half.

“We all wanted to know the feeling of being CIF champions and we wanted to do it for each other,” said Busick, “By far the most exhilarating part of the season was running all together at the final whistle of the Championship game. We practiced the celebration at practice beforehand.”

This was the last season for four seniors, Hope Hajek, Maia Nelson, Shayne Busick, and Tina Bullington.

Busick is going to play for Trinity University next year.

The SDA girls soccer team may move up from the smaller schools in Division 4 and play in Division 3 next year, where they will be competing against schools like Mt. Carmel and Mission Hills, although nothing is concrete yet.

sports

The girls soccer team celebrates their victory against Montgomery high school, making them 2017 San Diego Section Division Four CIF champions. Photo courtesy of Shayne Busick.

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03.17.17

The Mustang