The Mustang March 2013 by The Mustang Newspaper

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Mustang

03.01.2013

issue 4 volume 17

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Mustang 03.01.2013

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Here’s the deal

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From the time we are nought but wee small children, we are told to reach for the stars, go for the gold, and live our lives as if no one is watching (except with pants. That’s a lesson some of us have to learn the hard way). This leads us to believe that as long as we work hard and wear pants in public, all of our dreams will come true. Except then reality steps in and we are faced with the heart-stomping truth of rejection. Turn to page 11 to read the section we created to tell you stories of rejection (so other people’s sorrow can comfort you) and advice with how to deal with it.

Health

Gym Buff Laurel Sorenson unleashes her inner warrior with Zen Boxing.

Teacher Tidbits Which current SDA teacher used to wear white face paint and black lipstick to show his/her appreciation for goth rock?

To find out, visit www.sdamustang.com

Cover Artist

Poochie Momma

Formal

Arts

Essay

Joleyne Lambert tells you how to help these precious pups in need of a home.

Lizzy Cook brings to life her strange and unique style on our cover.

Arts

two weird, horse-headed kids ...they made my Formal.”

Backpage

Art Adventure

I spy...

Art galleries are often overlooked here at SDA. Caroline Glass shows you the benefits of appreciating local art.

Can you take these 12 photographs and match them to their locations on campus?

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF/NEWS EDITOR Laurel Sorenson

HEALTH EDITOR Austin Kasselmann

ARTS EDITOR Caroline Glass

BUSINESS MANAGER/CAF EDITOR Lily LeaVesseur

OPINIONS EDITOR Molly Kovacs

ONLINE NEWS EDITORS Nicole Smith

PHOTO EDITORS Tacy Manis Kirsten Walz

“My favorite memory of Formal was those

FEATURES EDITOR Kelsey Navis

Centerspread

Sam Winter

STAFF ARTIST Emily Hall ADVISOR Tim Roberts

STAFF WRITERS Linden Amundsen Aly Baker Kira Elliott Eric Hsieh Taylor Knudson Joleyne Lambert Katie McPherson Marisa Pearce Joseph Swit Becca Von Zweck Andrew Walker

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 98, emailed to sdamustang@gmail.com or mailed to the above address.

San Dieguito Academy / Room 98 / 800 Santa Fe Drive / Encinitas, CA 92024

Senior Max Zikakis

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Mustang 03.01.2013

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Here’s the deal

issue

Health

Gym Buff Laurel Sorenson unleashes her inner warrior with Zen Boxing.

Teacher Tidbits Which current SDA teacher used to wear white face paint and black lipstick to show his/her appreciation for goth rock?

To find out, visit www.sdamustang.com

Cover Artist

Poochie Mama

Formal

Arts

Essay

Centerspread

Joleyne Lambert tells you how to help these precious pups in need of a home.

Lizzy Cook brings to life her strange and unique style on our cover.

Arts

...they made my Formal.”

Backpage

Art Adventure

I spy...

Art galleries are often overlooked here at SDA. Caroline Glass shows you the benefits of appreciating local art.

Can you take these 12 photographs and match them to their locations on campus?

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF/NEWS EDITOR Laurel Sorenson

HEALTH EDITOR Austin Kasselmann

ARTS EDITOR Caroline Glass

BUSINESS MANAGER/CAF EDITOR Lily LeaVesseur

OPINIONS EDITOR Molly Kovacs

ONLINE NEWS EDITORS Nicole Smith

PHOTO EDITORS Tacy Manis Kirsten Walz

two weird, horse-headed kids 28

FEATURES EDITOR Kelsey Navis

“My favorite memory of Formal was those

Sam Winter

STAFF ARTIST Emily Hall ADVISOR Tim Roberts

STAFF WRITERS Linden Amundsen Aly Baker Kira Elliott Eric Hsieh Taylor Knudson Joleyne Lambert Katie McPherson Marisa Pearce Joseph Swit Becca Von Zweck Andrew Walker

San Dieguito Academy / Room 98 / 800 Santa Fe Drive / Encinitas, CA 92024

Senior Max Zikakis

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Mustang 03.01.2013

Junior Jaeger Roberts plays dodgeball with English teacher Justin Conn’s homeroom against wood shop teacher Jeff Germano’s team in Homeroom Olympics. Conn’s team beat Germano’s in the semi-finals. Photos by Kirsten Walz.

The goal behind the games

Homeroom Olympics is using bloodthirsty competition to bring homerooms together and show off SDA’s talents.

Elise Gout

ecked out in a flame helmet and propped on two classmates’ shoulders, senior and Homeroom Olympic committee member Sarah Gallagher enters the track as the torch of the opening ceremony this semester. Accompanied by a cacophony of roars from the bleachers, students and even some teachers take their mounts, waiting with bated breath for the starting signal. As soon as the air horn reaches their ears, all participants launch forward. With this flurry of flying feet, everyone on the field watches the relay race and knows: this is but the beginning. Embarking on its third year, Homeroom Olympics is a school-wide competition in which homerooms duke it out in challenges ranging from karaoke to dodge ball. Between the growing numbers of spectators, players, faculty, and Homeroom Olympic committee members getting involved, the general consensus seems to stand: Homeroom Olympics is not only helping to put a purpose to homeroom, but is unifying students and teachers across the campus.

The competition developed out of a student discussion in the Forum, Assistant Principle Jeanne Jones said, and when the question was posed as to how to have more fun and work

together as a school, the concept came to life. “People were losing the purpose of homeroom,” said senior Lindsey Rowland, a member of the Homeroom Olympics Committee for two years. “Some didn’t even want homeroom, so we had to do something.”

Thereafter, a mass signup sheet was created and a student-run committee formed. “It’s critically important to the program that it’s run by student ideas,” said Jones, seeing as “the students’ ideas are so much better than my ideas.” “They drive it,” said English teacher Justin Conn of his students. “They remind me to sign up for everything.” The Homeroom Olympic Committee members are personally not allowed to contribute in the showing off of homeroom pride. That can be “especially hard,” said senior and two-time committee member Niki Williams. Nevertheless, she added, “It’s cool to see how everything comes together.” With 35 of a total 59 homerooms currently going for the gold, the committee members aren’t the only ones getting swept up in this year’s escalating enthusiasm. “Normally, [in Conn’s homeroom] we sit far apart,” junior and first-time-competitor

Marco Guerra said. “But, with Homeroom Olympics, we are all involved.” “Competition brings everyone together,” sophomore Brett Wilson agreed. Being in math teacher Martin Chaker’s homeroom, she has not participated yet, but is determined to represent next year. “That’s why I want to do it, because it brings the school closer, and it’s another thing that’s unique about SDA.” Students aren’t the only ones set on Homeroom Olympic success. Teachers themselves get involved on a variety of levels. “We want to win!” theatre teacher and last-year’s runner-up Stephanie Siers said immediately when asked about her reason for engaging in the games. With a small laugh, she added, “We like participating in different activities, so anything that can give us something to look forward to, and to work on, we appreciate.” With such a large pool of events to partake in, Homeroom Olympics certainly has an option for everyone. “We really try to think broadly,” Jones said. “We try to offer events that touch all different skill sets.” From watching science teacher Michael Santos use the cardboard cornucopia for protection in last year’ “Hunger Games” event spin-off, to seeing double as students dress like their teachers in the recent rendition of “Know Your Homeroom Teacher,”

one can only wonder what the committee has in store next. “Random Acts of Kindness” is a new upcoming event, senior and two-time committee member Benjy Malings explained. Every homeroom will be assigned another to support for a week. Each day, homerooms will be able to heighten their score based on their thoughtful and considerate actions or tributes to one another. Other potential events to look for either this year or next include some form of a history or trivia game, and maybe even a competition of synchronized swimming without water. When asked how they manage to make such a school-wide event possible, senior and new committeemember Brady Mears said simply, “A lot of it is just positive attitude.” This very same positive attitude paired with a hunger for victory is what is coursing through homerooms more and more each week. While points are fought for and tallied, the trophy polished in preparation, a common sense of collaboration resonates throughout San Dieguito Academy. As French teacher Holly Richerd said, Homeroom Olympics not only helps “to build community,” but it gives “a larger purpose to homeroom, beyond just us.”

Dodgeball Highlights Although Homeroom Olympics puts the attention on the competitors, spectators’ experience can be just as exhilirating. Story by Marisa Pearce. - No one hit Blaze. - One of Davidson’s players busted some far out moves on a helpless bystander. Once the boy had fallen to the ground, the minions pegged him some mo’! - Fedora boy almost saves Sears’ homeroom from a total meltdown. - Onlooker pelted in the face. Next time we should bring shields so no one decides to take pop shots at our eyes. - Final Game Changers: Conn vs. Davidson. - A dispute was under open fire over Kyle Hoff’s bottom. It seemingly made its presence be known as a ref disqualified Kyle from the game after the bottom allegedly was hit. The foul was revoked and Kyle Hoff almost led Conn’s Class to victory. -Davidson wins.

See more at www.sdamustang. com

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A fallen STAR After 15 years of bubble-based assessment, California moves to replace STAR testing. The state of California plans to replace the Standardized Testing and Reporting (STAR) program in order to better align with the national Common Core Standards (CCS) that the state adopted in 2010, said the California Department of Education (CDE). The transition, which the CDE says is set to take effect in two years, will reduce the amount of testing students will have to undergo. Exams will be administered to all students in grades 3-8 as well as high school juniors, a big change from the current system that tests all grades 2-12, said the CDE. In addition to the change in who will be tested, state educators plan to do away with the Scantron system, instead utilizing computers to measure student progress. The pencil and paper based exams ensure that schools do not receive testing results until summer months, too late to implement effective changes for the next school year, said San Dieguito Principal Timothy Hornig. “Testing in computer labs would mean quicker, more relevant data,” said Hornig. Hornig is keenly aware of the difficulties a computer-based form of testing may bring. “The timeliness that comes from the computer labs will be good, but the logistics will be tough. How do you fairly assess kids with computers? How do we shuttle all students through the computer labs over the course of a few days? These are questions that will need to be answered for the tests to be effective,” said Hornig. For more information, read the California Department of Education’s Official News Release: http://www.cde.ca.gov/nr/ne/yr13/yr13re14.asp -- Sam Winter

The JV Mustang Minds and the JV academic team from La Costa Canyon being introduced before their match. Photo by Aly Baker.

15 Minutes of Mustang Fame SDA’s academic team showed its TV talents in a match filmed for a San Diego channel. SDA had the chance to showcase a sample of its brilliance on television last month. The varsity team of SDA’s academic league Mustang Minds was chosen to participate in a televised match against LCC. The filming occurred on Feb. 19 and included a 35-minute match and the participation of the varsity team in filming promos for the match for San Diego County Office of Education’s Instructional Television channel.

SDA beat LCC, with a score of 98 to 31, remaining undefeated. The junior varsity team has also won the two matches played so far, and the freshman team has one win and one loss. The match is to be televised on ITV on March 26 at 7 p.m. and is available online on SDCOE’s ITV website. The team was scheduled to play an away game against Santa Fe Christian last night. -- Aly Baker

New budget proposed for education Plan for education could mean giving more money to some schools than others. A proposed change to California’s education funding is being compared to a re-distribution of wealth as funds would be taken from wealthier districts and given to less well-off districts. Governor Jerry Brown in January proposed a new method of distributing state education funds, giving each district a baseline grant with supplements going to those with a higher percentage of English learners and low-income families. This would leave districts like the San Dieguito Union High School District without state funding and relying solely on property taxes to fund them, Associate Superintendent of Business Services Eric Dill said. The new funding would be determined by the Local Control Funding Formula which would measure which schools were in need of supplemental funds. The new plan would also do away with categorical funding, the state requirements on where money can be spent, said SDUHSD Superintendent Ken Noah in a statement about the new budget proposition. According to Dill, California’s education budget needs to be amended, but that this plan may hurt students. “California has shortchanged our most challenged students, but it has also shortchanged our highest performing students and every student in between. Funding for all students in California is far below the national average--this is fundamentally what needs to be addressed,” said Dill. -- Laurel Sorenson

SDA graduates and Comedy Sportz players Mitchell Chivetta, Daniel Alguire, and Mitch Lang playing as a team once again.

Comedy Sportz Alumni Game On Friday, Feb. 8, Comedy Sportz players from past years had the opportunity to practice and play in a game with their old teammates once again. This year’s alumni game welcomed back five SDA alumni to play against four of SDA’s current Comedy Sportz players. The SDA alumni team came out victorious during both the first and second halves of the game. -Nicole Smith See the full story at www.sdamustang.com

Reviving SDA Live The TV Production crew are breathing life back into SDA’s TV show with a new class and a new approach. “SDA Live” is undergoing new renovations as they add more to their show, modeling it after the popular television show “Saturday Night Live.” While similar to “SNL,” the show is supposed to incorporate the unique SDA touch. Sophomore Stephen Gonzales, who is in the TV Production class, said the TV production class, Video & Film class, and “SDA Live” are all linked. This year, there are enough people in the Video & Film class to have a branch, called Advanced Video & Film that is capable of improving the current “SDA Live,” and making it “San Dieguito Live.” When “SDA Live” returns, it will have many new improvements. There will be multiple teachers who will “host” the show. There will also be small skits and movies. Students in the TV Production class will come up with ideas for a show, or even a movie. They will then vote on the best ones. The ideas that aren’t accepted are turned into small skits that will occur during the show. The “SDA Live” crew felt that since they have the people and the resources, they will be able to “mix it up” and make “SDA Live” much more interesting and funny than before. “SDA Live” is rumored to have game shows, similar to the popular Japanese-inspired ones. The “SDA Live” crew hopes to have a way to sign people up voluntarily. They are currently deciding on a prize for the winner. Currently, TV Production, taught by Eric Neubauer, is working on a 12-minute movie titled, “SDA Fuzz,” which is similar to Police television shows. They will catch students in the act of breaking rules or, in some way, harming the school, such as littering. -- Eric Hsieh

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The JV Mustang Minds and the JV academic team from La Costa Canyon being introduced before their match. Photo by Aly Baker.

SDA graduates and Comedy Sportz players Mitchell Chivetta, Daniel Alguire, and Mitch Lang playing as a team once again.

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Staff Editorial

Closing the gap

A modern fight for freedom

In light of Governor Jerry Brown’s school budget proposal, the Mustang staff is conflicted about the ethicality of redistributing property taxes in favor of disadvantaged schools. But ultimately, with some changes, we support his plan.

In the privacy of our home offices and personal computers, a virtual war is taking place as we fight for our right to free information.

Jerry Brown recently proposed a measure to be passed that would give schools in less affluent areas a financial boost from the state tax education fund. The Mustang cautiously agrees with the plan, but we would like to see some changes to Brown’s plan before it is considered as an official proposition. We worry that this measure, while it will assist lesser-endowed California school districts, might force schools like ours to cut back on already-struggling programs in its attempt to make things more equal. Furthermore, what if the schools use the extra money they receive in an ineffective manner? The retraction of mandatory categorical funding makes such ineffective expenditures even more likely.

These worries aside, however, the fact is that there are school districts out there that are in a worse state thatn we upper-middle class students can fathom—schools that aren’t nearly as fortunate as we are at SDA. This balancing budget measure is a way to help California bring its disadvantaged schools up to par with our state-wide standard of education. In the larger scheme of things, schools like ours don’t have it all that bad; such a budget measure may be a necessary sacrifice to help California schools maintain quality education across the board. Assuming some changes are applied, should the measure pass? YES: 13 NO: 7

Did you know? Staff editorials are the collective voice of the Mustang staff on a particular issue. After moderating a class-wide disscusion, the opinions editor articulates the staff’s consensus opinions.

max lundberg

few weeks ago Aaron Swartz took his own life. The computer programmer, writer, and political activist was arrested a few months after trying to download millions of academic journals from a publisher called JSTOR (Journal Storage), arrested on allegations of “stealing” information—information he could get for free. He was set to face 35 years in federal prison because he believed that information should be free. That’s a maximum sentence greater than if he had robbed a bank and slapped a federal judge in the face. In short, prosecutors set to make an example of him, and the weight of the federal justice system was overwhelming. So he hung himself. The internet is young, and the world is still learning to adjust to the freedoms it brings. In the right hands, it is a tool to connect ideas from all over the world to create an open network for creativity and progress, but in the wrong hands it is the tool of the tyrant. (China, for example, uses it to monitor its populace and strike from the history books all mentions of atrocities like in Tiananmen Square.) It is a fragile time, and the dangers of

a truly open internet are vulnerable. We face to lose the best outlet for information, opinion, and connectivity that humans have ever created. If we don’t stand up and fight, then Swartz will have died in vain. There are many who wish to take our right to know and discuss freely. We can’t let them. I always hear that our generation has no cause. On the surface, we have no physical threat to our safety, no concrete ideal to rally behind, no need to take to the streets. And yet our generation’s

social movement grows bigger every day, as do our challenges. Our battlefield isn’t in a jungle far away from home, and our enemy isn’t communism. Instead we fight in our homes, and our battle is for the freedom of information itself. Art by Collleen McGrath

So easy, you could Auto Tuna-fish With technology becoming more and more integrated into modern music, some people need a tune-up on their outlook on auto-tune. aly baker

uto-tune: a word with a connotation and denotation that can feel rough on the ears for many and so frequently thrown around in context of criticizing a singer or bad-mouthing a certain song on the radio. But why? Why the hate? Why the immediate dismissal or disapproval? Some people just don’t like how it sounds, and often vocalize their opinions. I’m talking about singers with the super over-processed, T-painesque sounds that are reminiscent of a sad robot trying to sing its heart out. Such singers suffer from constant condemnation. Another typical complaint is that auto-tune means that potentially anyone could be a successful singer in today’s music industry, even someone with the vocal capabilities similar to those of a fish.

Aly Baker enjoys some electronic beats from her computer. Photo by Tacy Manis.

It is so easy to envision a major record label’s pop song-making process going a little something like this: Find a hot babe, use tight-fitting clothes to squeeze out a monotonous melody

about partying, flip the auto-tune switch, copy and paste each verse and chorus, send it off to ratings-desperate top-40 radio stations, and then finally sit back and multiply $1.29 by 14

million. So maybe there are some singers out there that can fit into this business-oriented profit-gaining process, but it is a very tiny percentage in a whole world of singers, song-writers, musicians and artists. My advice would be to take autotune from the creative standpoint. I mean, come on, it can sound pretty cool. It’s always interesting to see how artists use it as a creative tool rather than a shortcut. Take Bon Iver’s “Woods,” or James Blake’s “I Never Learnt to Share,” or even Kanye West’s “Heartless” or Rihanna’s “Disturbia.”And who could forget about Hellogoodbye's beautiful ballad "Here (In Your Arms)." All of these songs employ notable use of auto-tune, and each construct a different feel with it. If you were to remove the autotune from these songs, it would be

like shaving a cat: you’d be left with something that’s still pretty cool, but it would definitely be missing that certain something that’d push it over the edge into awesomeness. It’s also important to take a step back from it, to observe the implications and developments occurring in modern music as a result of this technological innovation. More than ever before, musicians have substantial control over what they create. New programs, tools and technologies let the musician’s mind reach closer to its full artistic potential. Therefore, instead of looking at auto-tune as a modern annoyance, try to look at it as an artistic innovation. If producers or musicians have more power over what they want their music to sound like, then the music they create will be closer to the music they envision making. And what is art without expression?

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TLC: the key to a quality education Ditch those pesky calculus notes, throw out that silly SAT prep book, and adopt a new, better “ed-u-mah-cation” by tuning into The Learning Channel. taylor knudson

would break down all 42 of the current shows on TLC into categories; however, it would be simply impossible to organize “Extreme Couponing,” “Sarah Palin’s Alaska,” and the practically infinite shows about the Amish on TLC. It’s almost as if I were walking into one of the houses on TLC’s “Hoarders: Buried Alive” with the intention of organizing the large quantities of flattened cats, McDonald’s Egg McMuffin wrappers and extensive collection of Asian garden gnomes. At first glance these rather unconventional shows may seem to provide nothing to their viewers other than something to fill the holes in their minds, often with burning images of June from “Here Comes Honey Boo Boo” creating “sketi”- microwaved spaghetti with ketchup and butter. However, TLC offers so much more than something to stare at for a couple of hours or a few recipes for inedible food. The “learning” channel TLC has really earned its title as “The Learning Channel.” I suppose when I sit down to watch TLC I am expecting a “learning” experience and it is rather educational. Without “Here Comes Honey Boo Boo” I would have never realized that

The Learning Channel Guide for the University-bound Student 4 Year Education Plan NAME ____________________________________ 10th Grade English 10H Boo Boo Style Southern Linguistics Intro to Tech Remote Control Operations 101 Economics AP Extreme Couponing

AP World History AP Alaskan History with Sarah Palin AP Psychology Marriage Dynamics in Gypsy, Amish, and Polygamist Cultures Health How to Get Pregnant

Culinary Arts Cake Boss

Fashion Design What Not to Wear

it was, in fact, possible to put the word “redneck” into every day words like “recognize” (“redneckognize”), that it was socially acceptable to name various unmentionable body parts after a side dish, that it was possible for a pig to be gay, or even that it was possible that someone could be shocked by their pig being gay after naming it “Glitzy.” (Not to stereotype gay pigs, Glitzy is a proud representative of the LGBT pig community.) A wealth of knowledge I guess I can check the Language arts off of my list of credits necessary

to graduate. I can satisfy my Health/ Sex- Ed requirement with other programs on TLC such as “Strange Sex” and “Virgin Diaries.” I’ll spare you a recap on what they’re about. To fulfill my world history credit, I can tune into TLC’s latest show, “Secret Princes,” a program about four princes from the UK, Spain and India coming to the United States to immerse themselves in American culture, and you guessed it, find love. So basically, this is “The Prince and Me” minus the tall, blonde, Luke Malby plus four “princes” who weren’t rich enough to find a princess in their

A womanly month of March

own country. Perhaps I could study foreign cultures by watching “My Big Fat American Gypsy Wedding,” because the size, occupation and nationality of someone’s wedding are enough to get someone a television show. Instead of reading boring old CNN I could tune into “Sarah Palin’s Alaska” to educate myself on real world politics. I could get my Physical Education class out of the way by watching a bit “Extreme Couponing.” This show stars soccer moms, who apparently need to buy 3 gallons of ketchup at a

time, breaking a sweat clipping coupons with their bedazzled safety scissors. I could only imagine the amount of paper cuts necessary to earn it its “extreme” title. On another “extreme“ note I could maybe view some “Extreme Cheapstakes” who take a less sanitary route in conserving money by dumpster diving for lawn furniture and refusing to use toilet paper. Self-esteem boost Some may argue TLC programs are ruining our country, making us all taller, less original versions of Honey Boo Boo. However, I feel as if these shows are almost good for us. What’s a better way to realize that you’re at the most elite tier of the global gene pool than watching a bunch of fanny pack sporting pageant moms chasing their seven year old daughters around with lipstick and tangerine orange tanning spray to add that “youthful” glow? It’s not as if their stars are being abused either, when June from “Here Comes Honey Boo Boo” earns about $20,000 per episode. It seems like a fair trade. The American people get to feel better for purchasing toilet paper, bathing regularly, and not qualifying to be on shows like “A Conception Story,” while “Honey Boo Boo” will be able to pay her way through college to “edu-ma-cate” herself.

For years, Women’s History Month has been overlooked to celebrate the “Manly Month of March—” just a hair ironic, if you ask me. molly kovacs

id you know that March is internationally designated as Women’s History Month? With the amount of publicity it gets, probably not. March involves many well-known annual traditions, but not one of them is related to women’s historic progress. When I think of March, I think of my guy friends circled around the TV, eyes glazed, chips in hand, as they watch a bunch of sweaty dudes run around a court bouncing a rather large orange ball. Bets are made, brackets are drawn, and bro-time is had. That is what I know about March. But surely there is some sort of well-publicized social movement that broadcasts Women’s History? Well, if there is, I have not caught wind of it. After March Madness, the first thing that comes to mind is… Manly

Month of March. Ouch. Sorry, Susan B. Anthony, Eleanor Roosevelt—you’ll have to step aside. We’ve got some gnarly male facial hair growing ‘round here. Now, I may not be a sports person, but I have nothing against basketball. And, to be honest, I am more than happy to see a guy sporting facial hair. That is beside the point. This is about the painful irony of March, and what is has become. What can we do, as women, to counteract these testosterone-filled days of March? Something, anything, to honor and celebrate the power of women across the centuries? It struck me while I was in the shower, carefully shaving my toes because my mother had made a critical remark regarding the length of my toe hair. I was shaving my toes. Dear lord, why? I am the only person in the world with the right to give a damn about my toe hair. It struck me that, in general,

shaving is quite a strange practice. I don’t shave for me. I shave because the people in this society have deemed shaved legs “attractive,” and the high school girl in me is scared to have anyone think me unattractive. But the college-bound woman in me knows there are much more important to strive for. You know, like integrity? Intelligence? Inner strength? So, to women everywhere, I dare you to put down your razor for this month of March. Is it a stretch? Maybe. Is it gross? Arguably. But I ask you to remember that the likes of Amelia Earhart, Helen Keller, Elizabeth Blackwell, and Mother Theresa were far more concerned with the power of their mind than the acceptability of their appearance. I challenge you to let each prickly day be a reminder to appreciate these insipiring women. Happy Women’s History Month, and may it be a Womanly March.

Art by Emily Hall.

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Mustang

Girls are people, too

03.01.2013

The edges are still sharp in Brooklyn; the truth comes out with new HBO series ‘Girls.’ marisa pearce

ena Dunham’s HBO series “Girls” is back, in cheek and with it comes the intense venom directed at both the show, and against Lena Dunham herself. The show is a tongue comedy about four young women in Brooklyn who don’t own cool apartments or have glamorous careers, eligible suitors, expensive clothes or paying jobs( welcome to the world on internships). It’s more than a little uncomfortable to read reviews that attack Dunham for being someone who lives in the “post college, aspiring writer, insecure about everything” stupor and even more so, it’s personally painful to read reviews that attack the series’ characters for being the worst kind of lazy, self-indulgent, white, hipster human beings possible. The problems that awkward main character Hannah and her friends face, and the things that they say, are self-conscious and somewhat exaggerated, but they also ring true. It’s this truth, more than anything, which

inspires such hatred for the show. In a media culture where women are expected to have a glossy sheen of perfection, and where likeable characters rarely have any flaws more serious that clumsiness or a shopping addiction, the characters in “Girls” actually act like human beings, and as human beings, they are not always likeable. Their thoughts and actions aren’t always logical, and they are at times irrational, emotional, and selfish. They have ambitions, and the kind of arrogance that comes with holding any kind of ambition. But they also have extreme self-doubt. This is perhaps because they aren’t perfect, and imperfect women are often viewed as unacceptable. They’re not all “conventionally pretty,” slathered in makeup and wearing the world’s most flawless clothes. They don’t always have a direction, or even know what they want out of life. To me, their lives are less funny and more agonizingly honest. Dunham films herself nude, with her skin breaking out, her belly folds, double chin, or flat on her back with her feet in a gynecologist’s

stirrups. These scenes shock because in a culture soaked in Photoshop and Botox, few influential women open themselves up so aggressively to the judgment of voyeurs. Onlookers view this as either unacceptable or admirable. By basing a TV show written by a young woman, on her own experiences and imperfections it’s almost as if proclaiming that it’s OK for viewers and women in general, to be flawed as well. That it’s OK to stop obsessing over being thin, that it’s OK to be insecure and at times, self-loathing. On the same token however, the women in “Girls” prove that it’s OK to be ambitious, somewhat selfish, and to screw up a lot along the way. There is a courage to “Girls” that has nothing to do with nudity or even bluntness. It embraces the digital, daily confession,tmi relationships we default to and are accustomed to these days. Dunham’s unabashed, shrewd, graphic comedy, with its stress on female friendships, its pleasure in the sick punch line, and its compassion

Female protagonist Hannah shows that it is okay to have flaws (in spelling, among other things), even if you come from a priveleged family. Art by Marisa Pearce.

making mistakes, feels like a retort to a culture that pathologize what ‘Feminine adventure’ should be. In a culture that too often uses an obsession with youth as a justification for immaturity or sheer laziness, an ‘actual” young

person’s version of the world, no matter how narrow in scope, comes as a refreshing shock. It still is not an easy show to love, at least not in the traditional way of television, but then neither are most girls.

Cease and desist

Many an argument has been sparked by a negative, senseless comment—it’s time to stop the madness one troll at a time. kira elliott

ouTube is not usually seen as a chat forum site. It’s a place to post videos, watch LOL cats when you’re feeling sad, and listen to music because you ran out of iTunes money. Beneath each video, however, is the seedy underside of society… the comments. Sometimes, these comments can be quite helpful. One YouTuber recommended a band similar to the one whose music video I had been watching. That same person was ridiculed for his/her taste and was called a series of grammatically incorrect insults. What ensued was nothing short of absolute war, leaving us, the readers, as awkward bystanders. Other comments get a little too personal, such as the all-too-common post about how “I listened to this song when my boy/girlfriend broke up with me and I cry every time because we were together for 5 weeks/months/ years.” That’s terrible…for you. Why, I ask, must you open up your heart to the vast, mostly indifferent world of the Internet? The way I see it, you’re simply setting yourself up to be

A troll grumbles over another YouTube video, getting ready to post another harmful post. Art by Kira Elliott.

ignored or else ridiculed. Some people may sympathize, but to be honest it’s just not worth the risk. But there is one type of comments that surpass the rest, one type that really makes me scream. Why, trolls, why? Why do you say this band or this video “is a piece of (expletive)?” Why are you watching it in the first place if you don’t like it? Why are you leaving this angry, hurtful comment? Are you trying to make fun of the 1,345 people who “liked” the video? Are you trying to get them angry? Are you struggling with issues of your own that make you want to inflict pain and annoyance on other harmless commenters? Why? I do not have a YouTube account, so I cannot leave comments, but I say to all of you now, all of you who post pointless negative comments – please, for the love of all that is holy, please be quiet if you have nothing nice to say. Please acknowledge that I like what I like, you like what you like, and if that be Justin Bieber or Black Veil Brides or Mumford and Sons, then fine. Let us get on with our lives, free of trolling and angry YouTubers. Thank you.

the

essays

Mustang

Poochie Momma 03.01.2013

These adorable pups need homes; the rescue group “Poochie Momma & the Purrrr Factory” is saving homeless animals’ lives, and you can help! joleyne lambert

he pranced with anticipation towards the behind of my furry black bear, Teather. Tail wagging, tongue drooping, Sparrow the chirping dog was jumping as she tugged harder on her thin, black leash, perplexed by making a new doggy friend. Since Teather, my best friend since kindergarten, isn’t used to the company of another fuzzy, butt-sniffing friend, we toured the two newly acquainted dog friends around the neighborhood to ensure their acceptance of one another. Sparrow passed her first night in my home with lots of energy. She ran back and forth, room to room, up and down the stairs. She bounced all around with an unlimited supply of adrenaline like the Energizer Bunny. She wagged her tail gleefully as she nudged my arm with her cold, damp nose. It wasn’t long before the spirited pooch was playing the role of my best friend. Teather is still the most special, but the bouncy and playful Sparrow grabbed at my heart, especially with her ongoing desire to cuddle. As the moon came up, Sparrow climbed inside her padded crate eagerly, but after latching her in, she cried a little for my attention. I patted her paws through the bars and she lay her head down and soundly went to sleep. Although I’ve grown to love Sparrow like she’s my own dog, she will not be mine forever. Sparrow is a foster dog. The enthusiastic mutt was abandoned at a pound, pregnant with seven puppies. Filled with bacteria, loud noises, and minimal human contact, a pound is no place for a mom and her new-born pups. Wendy Gali, the founder of Poochie Momma & the Purrrr Factory, recognizes this and takes it upon herself to rescue the abandoned canines. However, Gali is unable to take on hundreds of dogs at a time, so volunteers, such as myself, lend out their homes to the hopeful animals as she searches for a permanent home for them. Poochie Momma & the Purrrr factory is a non-profit organization which rescues animals. The group works with shelters all over Southern California. Gali explained, “We get our animals one of three ways. Usually we get calls directly from the shelters; either in Los Angeles, or sometimes down here in San Diego.”

Although the shelters are in need of help, the adoption process to save the dogs or cats still costs the rescue groups, Gali said. The shelters still consider it an adoption. “They call it a rescue adoption, so we do get slightly discounted rates because usually we are taking dogs that aren’t already altered so it’s on us to…get them altered. And if it’s puppies (and often times we get newborns) it doesn’t include any of the three rounds of shots we give or the microchips or

lives. “The more foster homes we have, the more animals we can rescue from shelters,” Gali said. “And it’s much better than boarding because if you take these dogs out of a shelter and put them in a boarding situation… they don’t develop or learn to live in a family like they would in a foster home.” Fostering an animal is taking it on as a pet of your own, nourishing the animal with love and comfort

to a year to get them into a home. We do a home check…and have them sign a contract, letting them know it’s an actual legal document; they can’t give the dogs away, they can’t neglect them, they have to maintain a safe environment. “Really what the home check is, is to deliver the animals to them and help them get situated, and figure out what would make the most sense for their family to foster these animals and for the animal to be the happiest.

the de-worming, etc…It’s considered a rescue-partner adoption. We have to have our 501 C3 status, which… is a tax exempt number; you have to apply through the shelters to become a partner.”

and preparing him or her for the real world, just without the life-long commitment. Fostering one of Poochie Momma & the Purrrr Factory’s rescued animals is a life-changing experience. If people want to help, Gali said, “They can contact us on our cell number…Then let us know they are interested in fostering. We will then interview them over the phone and let them know what the commitments are. It is usually a three month commitment because we get puppies that are nursing still…or adult dogs. Especially with bigger dogs or pit bulls, in particular, it takes about six months

We coach them on potty training, feeding schedules, and how to look for signs of illness. Basically we cover the bill for everything. It’s just the person opening up their heart and home to allow another pet in their home, and to give them a family environment to get them ready for that next step.” Fostering is like taking care of your own pet. You’ll get to spend time with a loving creature and learn what it’s like to have a pet of your own. Then there’s this twirling feeling in your stomach that dances around your soul, that pushes up against the creases of your lips and sparks a feeling within your chest. It is gratitude towards

As Gali makes her trip through various shelters, she does her best to hold back tears, to put forward all her strength and help save as many lives as possible. Unfortunately, she has limited space, which prevents her from taking home more of the needy pooches. By fostering or adopting an animal, people in the community can help make more room to save more

yourself. It is bliss, pride, a beautiful and calming feeling that influences your mind and soul. It is pride in one’s-self that you have saved an animal’s life. That you have given your help to save a life. And it is a feeling that never leaves, not even when the animal does. If you want to help Poochie Momma & the Purrrr Factory’s rescued pets, but you worry that you will fall in love - you can adopt! These fuzzy friends need full time homes too! To find the perfect pet for your home you can search Petfinder.com, where Gali displays all of her fur-balls in need of a home. You can also contact her to make arrangements to play and meet all the adorable animals; there are tons to choose from of various ages, looks, and personalities. Adopting an animal from Poochie Momma & the Purrrr Factory will not only open up space for another animal to be rescued, but the organization also uses the adoption fees for funding. Although, after all the shots and vet bills, the fees barely break even. “In addition to that kind of help, we need financial donations. We have bigger dreams” she said. She was cut off by a few playful puppies yapping. In consecutive giggles she goes on to say, “...than puppy fights in the living room. Like opening a Rescue-Only Pet Store!” A smile overcomes her face and a dreamy gaze lingers in her eyes. Wendy Gali sums up her hard work and never ending super heroism, with a gentle smile and overpowering look of serenity. “Most days I feel really good. There is a certain high when you’re driving away from the shelter...and you look back, and even though all the pups are often stinky and shell-shocked and the car smells, and you have a two hour drive ahead of you, it’s just such a good feeling that you’ve been able to save a few. “This work is not for the emotionally weak. You have to be able to get through the hard times.” Wendy and her husband looked at each other harmoniously, “It’s all smiles, and all tears; and nothing in between.” Adopting Cost: $200 for Adults, $300 for Puppies Includes: -Spay/Neuter Surgery -Full Rounds of shots (including Rabies shots) -Microchipping -Deworming Contact at: Phone: (310) 922-4936 E-mail: wendygali@sbcglobal.net

the

Mustang 03.01.2013

CAF

Mus

San Dieguito Sentinel San Dieguito Sentinel

M N. Biguous State collegeadmissions@nbiguous.edu

10:13 AM (8 hours ago)

Dear San Dieguito Sentinel, After reviewing your application, we have come to the conclusion that you may be a strong candidate for a higher learning educational institution. It is important that you continue your education after high school in order to open up as many possibilities as possible for future career possibilities. However, we have limited room for those incapable of strong performance at our school. While you proved yourself capable the real question is whether or not you are capable of maintaining that capability throughout your time at this educational institution. The extracurricular activities you took part in during your high school career make you very well-suited for this school. We expect you will go on to do great things in life, whether at this school or any other.Thank you for considering University of N. Biguous. Sincerely, Laly BaKesseur Office of Admissions Las Tresort College lastresortadm@lastresort.edu Dear San Dieguito Sentinel,

Feb. 25 (4 days ago)

The admission committee gave its absolute fullest consideration to your application, deliberating for more than 72 hours on your application alone over whether or not you are worthy of this fine institution; however, we regret to inform you that you will not be admitted into the class of 2017. We were able to admit only 20,000 students. Unfortunately you were not among those 20,000. Although, if we had room for 20,001, you definitely would have been admitted. Had you attended that one SAT prep class you missed to instead accompany your family to your grandmother’s funeral, who knows where you’d be now? If only you’d scored two points higher on your SAT, or if you’d turned in that one article-annotation assignment in tenth grade, you might have had the grades we were looking for. Otherwise, with your attitude and excellent academic achievement in every other area, you would have been a perfect fit for our school. Many of us even went so far as to say that you exemplify the exact type of student this school was created for. That being said, if one of the students who did not miss any assignments or SAT classes during high school and who was admitted happens to choose to die and/or not attend, you would definitely be on our list of people to consider as their replacement despite your current lack of qualifications. Thank you for considering Las Tresort College Sincerely, Alily LeaVebaker Office of Admissions Trapp University <TrappUniversity@trappadmission.org>

Feb. 20 (9 days)

Dear San Dieguito Sentinel, We regret to inform you that you will not be admitted to the class of 2017. Unfortunately, in the essay portion of your application, in response to the never-used, once-in-a-lifetime “overcoming adversity” prompt rarely sighted in the wild, you actually wrote about overcoming adversity, which led those on the admissions committee to conclude that because you have experience with ‘adversity’, you are more than likely to have a multitude of problems and are therefore liable to cause problems to others, which would just open a whole can of worms if you were admitted to this school. Although you did show resilience and strong problem-solving skills, this school looks for students who are able to prevent those problems in the first place. This is an institution of forward thinkers, not procrastinators who solve problems as they come. Otherwise you would have been able to foresee and prevent the results of this letter. Maybe you can write another essay on overcoming rejection. Thank you for thinking of Trapp University. Sincerely, Ily LebakeVesseur Office of Admissions

the

features

Mustang 03.01.2013

College

The future is be daunting. A rejection from a college can feel like the death knell to your future, but it may not be as big of a life-ruiner as you think. Story by Laurel Sorenson.

any high school seniors’ worst nightmares consist of being rejected from every school they apply to. This was San Dieguito Academy graduate Raina Stinson’s reality. She was rejected from all seven colleges she originally applied to despite a 3.8 grade point average, volunteer hours and experience on sports teams. “My ego took a huge blow. I felt like I wasn’t good enough for any school, I didn’t even want to apply to community college because I felt like they wouldn’t take me either,” said Stinson. Acceptance and rejection letters from colleges are flooding into high school seniors’ mailboxes as March progresses, potentially determining the next four years of their lives. Students, like Stinson, are known to feel devastated after rejection from their dream school, but after gaining perspective and finding a school that does want them they realize it is for the best. Rejection from UC Berkeley helped SDA graduate Jacob Sztraicher mature and accept himself and reality as opposed to wishing for what he could have had. “I’ve learned that rejection is almost better than acceptance. It forces you to learn and to be happy about what you’ve been given and to accept who you really are, with all your flaws and perceived imperfections,” said Sztraicher. While those who have been

through the process of college acceptance and rejection are able to offer perspective on the long term effects of rejection, in the moment it can be hard to move past, said SDA graduate Alexa Shapiro who was rejected from her top school, UC Santa Barbara. “I was an emotional wreck for a few weeks after the decision came out. At work I couldn’t focus and everyone could see that I wasn’t paying attention to my job. I pretty much stayed at home for a while until I could go out in public without seeming too depressed about it,” said Shapiro. Although Shapiro was heartbroken after finding out about her rejection, she too realized it helped her open up to new opportunities. “Looking at it now, it really isn’t a big deal if you don’t get into the school of your dreams because, honestly, everything happens for a reason and a better option is probably presenting itself that you didn’t consider so heavily before,” said Shapiro. Shaprio spent a year at community college and eventually transferred to UCSB where, due to the credit she received in community college, she is going to graduate a year early. Many students become upset over college rejection because they take it personally, social science teacher Kerry Koda said. “I’ve seen some kids shut down and feel like all their opportunities

The Explanation

are lost. They take it personally instead of realizing it’s a numbers game,” said Koda. Stanford University received 36,632 applications in 2012, according to the Stanford undergraduate website. With 93.4 percent of these students facing rejection, chances of admittance to such a prestigious institution are slim, even for the students who, like Shapiro, Stinson, and Sztraicher were able to check off all the pre-requisites like good grades, sports, and community service. There are those who spend their entire high school career trying to appeal to their dream school which, according to Sztraicher, makes rejection even more painful. “I felt I was tailored for that school’s admissions but I wasn’t. I was hurt. I moped about it for a few days and wasn’t cheered up by the other acceptances that came in later such as from UCLA and UVA,” said Sztraicher. According to physics teacher George Stimson, the problem lies in valuing schools with good reputations instead of schools that fit each individual. “We put such emphasis on getting into the ‘right place.’ That said, a year later they say [getting rejected] was probably the best thing for them,” said Stimson. While many high school seniors have been told rejection is not as earth shattering as it may seem, rejection can still

sting. Social science teacher James Hrzina advised students to deal with the pain of rejection by being proactive as opposed to dwelling on the negative aspects of their situation. “Providing yourself with options and realizing and recognizing that all of them have advantages and disadvantages means that when the acceptance and rejection letters start coming out, you can see that there are a lot of options available; so that, even though you may not get in to your dream school, you might get into another school,” said Hrzina. Counselor Ann Nebolon also advised students to give themselves options right from the start by applying broadly so that rejection does not feel like the end. “Pick a nice range of schools and make sure each one you’re applying to is one that you would actually go to,” said Nebolon. According to Nebelon, the most painful part of rejection comes when students compare themselves to other students, and she recommended they focus on their own achievements and do their best as opposed to trying to measure up to someone else. Admittedly, it can be difficult for college applicants not to compare themselves to others because of the overwhelming number of Facebook statues regarding scholarships and

admittance to college. This was the case for Stinson when facing her own rejection. “Every facebook status I saw reminded me of what a failure I was. All my friends had gotten into the schools they wanted to go to, and my boyfriend got into a great school and I knew his future was definitely headed in the right direction,” said Stinson. Despite the emotional turmoil she faced, Stinson still had dreams of going to college. Eventually, her father investigated schools that would still accept applications and found the book ‘50 Colleges That Will Change Your Life.’ Stinson worked up the courage to apply to two more schools and was accepted to Lawrence University in Appleton, Wisconsin where she was personally admitted by the Dean of Admissions. Due to the small campus, her biggest class has forty- seven students and she was able to participate in a research study with her biology professor. Stinson said she is happy she was rejected by all of those other schools because she loves her new home where she can be treated as an individual. “Remember, you are not your numbers and you have to find a school that wants the person, not the numbers to make them look better in the US Weekly rankings,” Stinson said. . Find a place you are proud to call home, because in the end that’s what it is.”

In this issue of the Mustang, we decided to create our own version of ‘Chicken Soup for the Soul,’ researching events of rejection and how to cope with them. Every day people experience rejection, and whether it be for important or trivial things, rejection hurts. There is nothing so acute as the pain of failure, but the Mustang Staff is here to assuage your bruised spirits with stories about conquering the evil that is rejection. In the next pages you will find stories of enduring spirits throughout different fields, like the musical industry, theater, relationships, and the psychology behind it all. -kelsey navis

the

features

Mustang 03.01.2013

JOBS

In order to land that dream job (or any job), students must be prepared for rejection. Story by Caroline Glass.

hanks for coming in. We’ll let you know in a couple of weeks.” We’ve all been there. The excitement of the mere possibility of a job, the nervousness of saying the wrong thing, and the anticipation of these promised calls. But when the call doesn’t come, the interview goes badly, or you hear the words “you’ve been let go,” this excitement and anticipation is gone in an instant. You wonder, why didn’t they like me? Was there someone better? WHO IS SHE? The life of the job-hunter is a troubled one, rife with rejection. Many students have over ten applications out at a time, and sometimes none of the potential employers even bother to email. And although many of us act like it’s no big deal, it hurts to be rejected. Senior Julian Dennis

recalls his memories of being let go from his first job at the La Paloma Theatre. “I was really upset for a while, because I felt like if I can’t do that, what can I do?” said Dennis. This feeling is mirrored by many, even those who didn’t get the job. “It’s like, this is a basic job. Why do they think I’m not qualified?” said senior Emma Karp. Others feel a sense of anger when no one offers them a job. “ It’s frustrating when they don’t call you back. You spend all this time on the application and the interview and then they don’t even call to tell you they’ve chosen someone else,” said senior Kelly Goehring. It can be a hard and timeconsuming process, and with each failure there is an increasing sense that it’s never going to

happen. “I have tried to get a job for months now and currently haven’t gotten anything back except “you need to be affiliated with our chain” or “we aren’t hiring”,” said senior and longtime job-hunter Tiffany Lamken. Experiences like this can be disheartening and frustrating, but students need to learn to deal with this rejection, so that they don’t give up. Everyone looking for a job will be rejected at one point or another. And sometimes it’s hard not to take it personally. But in order to get a job, one must try, try again. Senior Mariam Abdalla said, “Look at it as an opportunity. You got practice interviewing in the real world and hopefully next time, like me, you’ll get the job you applied for.” “It definitely hurts for a little bit,

Illustration by Emily Hall. but then I remember that there are sometimes dozens of other people applying for the same job” said Karp. Remember: it’s not you, it’s them. Don’t take the rejection personally. Oftentimes, the reason you weren’t offered the job has nothing to do with you or your personality. Many places prefer someone who is over 18, and are very wary of hiring minors. Others need someone out of school so that they can have more availability. Still others do want someone more qualified or someone with more experience which most high

school students just don’t have. It doesn’t seem fair, but that’s the way it goes. Eventually, though, you just have to move on. There will be other jobs. You may have to start with something you’re not crazy about in order to get a better job. So whether you have been looking for months or haven’t yet started an application, keep this in mind: you will be rejected. And it won’t be fun. But just remember to not take it personally, and keep trying. Whether it is at Target, Coldstone, or Vons, it will be the right job for you.

the

features

03.01.2013

Psychology A conversation with psychology teacher James Hrzina reveals the reasons for and effects of rejection. Story by Joleyne Lambert.

s high school students – and all throughout life – we face rejection on a day to day basis. It can be seemingly impossible to find a fitting way to deal with that sorrowful wound left by the cold and cruel blow of rejection. However alone you may feel, there are millions who face the same feeling; and there are various ways of coping with or easing the pain. James Hrzina, AP Psychology teacher emphasizes that there are always options. When struggling with rejection he believes, “…probably the best way is to recognize that, through adversity and through setbacks, opportunities are still available. It doesn’t mean that it’s the end of the world. It’s not so fatalistic; there are a lot of options that are present and available. “When it’s something like relationships, a lot of times it’s emotional; there is a lot of emotional attachment, and emotional issues that are being dealt with and that’s okay and that’s good,” said Hrzina. “That’s something that they should try to express and experience emotion, but also then recognize that other relationships will develop, that other options are out there,” he added. Hrzina recognizes that rejection from college is difficult due to all the anticipation and excitement that comes with it. But in the end, he believes that “attitude and effort” play a bigger role than the college itself. However, Hrzina also talked about relationship rejection as a different story. “There tends to be more emotion attached... and that is something that is difficult, this brain stuff, is difficult for teenagers to process those advanced emotions, so I think, one of the important things that happens there is to have that affective social support network of family and friends that love you and will support you and care for you...That can buffer the effects of that loss,” said Hrzina. Hrzina explains that we use

Mustang

devices, defense mechanisms, subconsciously to try and keep out the psychological pain or stress of a negative event: “Rationalization, repression, regression, justification and overjustification, there’s a bunch... We commonly use repression for painful events; we try to just ignore, repress, and bury them. For things like rejection, we tend to rationalize and try to justify our behavior and we try to say, ‘Oh, I didn’t want to go out with her anyways,’ and use cognitive dissonance,” said Hrzina. These defense mechanisms can help, but there’s a limit to how much we should let ourselves use them. “Ultimately defense mechanisms are helpful; we all use them,” he said. “They exist for a reason; because they protect us...If we constantly had rejection, rejection, rejection- and we didn’t have these defense mechanisms, it would be hard to cope. But ultimately if we rely on defense mechanisms continuously, it could lead to later problems. “[Defense mechanisms] can lead to problems in the long term... Try to use constructive coping mechanisms, which is addressing the problem, taking it head on and trying to do something active about it because now you’re taking something that seems out of your control, and you’re taking more control of it.” Hrzina reveals why teenagers seem to struggle with emotional trauma. “First of all, it’s just biology…That frontal lobe development is still taking place so it does make it harder to process complex emotions. Culturally I think friends aren’t the best therapists because friends often tell you what you want to hear. So they are going to support you but they may not be the best outlet.” When dealing with rejection be sure to keep in mind that there are always other options. Rejection, doesn’t mean it’s the end, it is a start to something new.

Turn the next page for more and check out the online Mustang at sdamustang.com

the

Mustang 03.01.2013

centerspread

JUST A FORMALITY

Weeks of preparation resulted in a wonderful time for all. Whether or not students decided to attend the Galaxy Gala, their nights were filled with memorable moments.

Junior Chelsea Cardenas purchaes a boutineer for her date the morning of Formal at Lopez Flowers. Photo by Kirsten Walz.

“Some of my close friends and I took it upon ourselves to dress up as felines and dine at the Ruby’s on the Oceanside Pier. I requested my water to come in a bowl, but the waitress said no.” - Senior Benjy Malings, pictured above, with SDA graduate Emily Floyd. Photo courtesy of Alanna Safarik.

While some students enjoyed themselves at this year’s Winter Formal, others planned their own activites for the night of Feb. 2.

Anti-Formal:

Formal, instead I stayed home with my friends

“I didn’t go to

in fancy dresses eating ice cream.” - Junior Tasha Kismo

“I went to Six Flags on Sunday and there were no lines because it was the Super Bowl.” - Senior Kayla McKeldowney

“I watched movies and ate junk food and make prank calls with my

friends.”

- Freshman Lindsey Stidham

Formal:

“It was the best Formal out of the ones I’ve been to.” - Senior Sarah Gallagher

favorite part of Formal was seeing everyone all dressed up and having “My

a good time. I think that’s what

makes every

Formal so

- Junior Ty Gibson

great.”

“Formal was awesome. The guys in the horse masks were

the best.”

- Junior Johnny Anderson

“[The hardest part about getting ready for Formal is] getting my tie on. My mom helps me button up my shirt, put my tie on, and brush my hair.” - Junior Dan Atkin, shown above on the right, with fellow Junior, Mark Kaplan. Photo by Laurel Sorenson.

Senior Izzie Ojeda puts the finishing touches on her makeup before taking photos. Photo by Marisa Pearce.

For more quotes from other students, check out the online article at www.sdamustang.com.

Senior Emily Nathan and Junior Keenan Rodewald pose for their preFormal photo alongside one of the notorious horseheaded dance patrons. Photo courtesy of Emily Nathan.

the

Mustang 03.01.2013

features

Theater Being in the spotlight is not the most nerve-wracking part of being in a theatrical production. SDA drama students talk about their experience with dealing with rejection during casting time. Story by Kelsey Navis and art by Emily Hall.

Open. Lights. Center stage. Enter, drama teacher Stephanie Siers, cast list in hand. Background: Auditions have been completed. Anticipation grips the actors, waiting for the cast list. Senior Brigitte Williamson: “We usually try to guess what it’s going to look like; sometimes it’s a bit obvious and sometimes it’s impossible to tell.” Enter, frantic SDA theater students, vying for a glimpse of the ever-anticipat ed cast list. Sophomore Caleb Gibson: “When the cast list comes out, it’s chaos…There are many short people in theatre, and the always got trampled over on the day that the cast list was posted.” Cries of glee, moans of disappointment, and murmurs of congratulations run through the crowd. Williamson: “And even though the cast lists can cause quite a shock for the first week or so, in the end it always makes sense and the produc- tions always turn out for the best.” Note: This is not a story of happiness and bliss but of a dark and dangerous fight with rejection. It is full of daring confidence, resilient spirits, and maybe a princess or two. Casting is an eventful and exciting time for the students in theater. “The day that the cast list goes up is always very exciting, we’re always just anxious for that last bell to ring so we can race down to the theater and see,” said Williamson. Rejection, not being cast for a desired part, is a prominent aspect of theatre, but no matter how prevalent, it still hurts. “I checked the cast list and saw that my name wasn’t on there. I felt super embarrassed for even trying out,” said junior Allison Thompson, thinking back to her first audition. “However, now I know that it’s not that big of a deal, to not get a part,” Thompson added. “When I first auditioned… I got my hopes up, which only made it worse when I found out that I didn’t get the role. It was shocking at first and disheartening,” said senior Kerri Dobson. Experienced in theater, Siers is familiar with the sting of rejection. Through her years of experience with disappointing castings, she is able to shed light on coping with the rejection. “It’s important to continue. Giving up is not an option for me,” said Siers. “It does affect [the theatre students] if they don’t get the part, but what I see is that their passion is acting and theater. We try to stay positive; it’s just part of

theater,” continued Siers. Junior Trevor LaPlante keeps a healthy optimistic view on the possibility of rejection. “It’s give and take; sometimes you get a smaller role than you want and sometimes you get a bigger one…Rejection is a good way of retaining humility,” said LaPlante. The general consensus among the actors is that any part is a good part, and complaining is not conducive to the theater atmosphere. “I don’t ever complain because I don’t have the right to, and nobody does…. That goes for not just theatre, but sports, or any other thing you’re lucky enough to be a part of,” said Gibson. Having experienced the same effect, Dobson said, “In the very beginning I was disappointed, but not for very long. I knew that it would be a fantastic show and I accepted my role and put all my effort into making it a great character.” In the shows put on by the theater classes, everyone is cast into a role, but to compensate for the lack of guarantee in the after school shows, Siers offers alternatives to the actors. “I make sure everybody has a place so that nobody feels left out…I make sure everyone is involved in both acting and the tech work so they have a more well-rounded appreciation of the work done by others,” said Siers. Senior Sarah Graciano had such an experience and is grateful for the opportunity. “I remember I was a little disappointed when I wasn’t cast in ‘Almost, Maine.’ But I was more excited that I got to be the student director. I got to watch and work with the show and put in my two cents. It was a great experience,” said Graciano. Coping with rejection in theater, or in any other part of life, is all about attitude and how you take it and continue on. “Usually I just try to focus on the positive, not the negative. There are no small parts, just small actors,” said LaPlante. For Thompson, it was seeing the best in her assigned role, “I was disappointed about getting the Wicked Witch instead of Dorothy, [but] the Wicked Witch turned into the most exciting role I’ve ever had.” “I’m obviously going to have to deal with rejection a lot in my life…so I might as well get used to it now. Even though it’s terrifying, I think it’s better to start toughening up a bit in high school rather than to be smacked in the face in the ‘real world.’ Embrace rejection,” said Williamson. “This is something they’re going to face in their future. While being positive, we need to be realistic,” said Siers. The result? The view of the actors is that Siers does wonderfully with the casting, making the rejection easier to accept, knowing the show will be amazing nonetheless. As Graciano said, “With the casting, Ms. Siers knows what she’s doing. We all trust her judgment and she always casts every show perfectly.” Audience erupts into applause as the final scene closes. Williamson: “I’ll get through it.” Fin.

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Mustang 03.01.2013

Visit www.sdamustang.com to view an online version of The Mustang!

Illustration by Avery Finden

Friend Zone

If you got girl problems I feel bad for you, son. Story by Austin Kasselmann.

he friend zone: a desolate wasteland of broken dreams and emotions. Every year, countless guys are thoughtlessly banished into the friend zone with no hope of escape. Once inside, there is no leaving. Nobody has ever successfully left and nobody ever will. I would like to give a quick moment of silence to all of our fallen brothers in the friend zone (including myself). Being in the friend zone is extremely tough; it’s emotionally trying and as frustrating as fitting a square peg into a circular hole. This unfortunate experience for guys occurs when the girl he likes only sees him as a friend, but the guy sees her as something more. Let’s give this girl a name, how about Rhonda Black, Loraine Gray, or Celeste Sunshine? More often than not this girl, let’s say Rhonda Black, either likes another guy or has a boyfriend. Rhonda will never like this guy even though he is better than the option she chose to go with. Let’s give this poor guy a name too. Mack is a decent name. In fact, Rhonda will occasionally talk to Mack about her boyfriend and complain about him. However, she will never like poor Mack and he will forever be stuck in that desolate wasteland.

Being in the friend zone is like being in a skunk cave; it’s dark, dreary, and stinks to Timbuktu and back. To girls like Rhonda, it’s like Mack is in a glass case: “In case of emergency, break glass.” Then Mack becomes a shoulder to cry on, but nothing more, never anything more. Rhonda has fallen in love with the friendship and doesn’t realize she has fallen in love with Mack. If a girl ever tells you that she has fallen in love with your friendship, watch out! You have reached an all new level of the friend zone (congratulations, achievement unlocked). Just a piece of advice, if this does happen to you, run bro! Sadly for Mack, Rhonda will never ever come to realize that she likes him. It seems like the majority of girls these days just aren’t what they used to be; they now suffer from a syndrome called Lackofcommonsense. I am by no means calling girls stupid or demeaning them, because after all, the guy Rhonda is dating is an idiot. I’m just shedding light on a problem that I believe girls don’t know about. If I am able to get at least one of our fallen brothers out of this wasteland, then I have done my job.

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Mustang 03.01.2013

Illustration by Emily Hall

Music Looking at hateful YouTube comments, it is clear that even successful musicians face rejection on a daily basis. The important thing is to keep going. Story by Molly Kovacs.

ejection is hard for any musician, but especially for high schoolers hoping to launch a music career right off the bat. Amateur musicians facing rejection should remember the key to musical success; as Surfdog Records founder Dave Kaplan said, the key is “perseverance. Just, perseverance.” From students in Battle of the Bands to those who just pull out an acoustic guitar during hour lunch, music has made itself a large part of San Dieguito Academy’s culture. But what does it take for a hobby to turn into a career-driven passion—to overcome the challenges presented from the music industry? In 1996, recently graduated SDA students Jon and Tim Foreman successfully started up a little rock band called Switchfoot—one that quickly grew to be popular, even winning a Grammy for Best Rock Gospel Album in 2011. How did they do it? Getting

rejected in the music business is something that happens “about 99.9% of the time,” said Kaplan—so more likely than not, besides their obvious talent, the Foremans’ success had a lot to do with luck. Before luck strikes, however, here are a few tips to stay dedicated to a musical career: Don’t take it personally “Basically, you have to love it,” said Elly Oltersdorf, senior, on what keeps her dedicated to music. Oltersdorf, lead vocalist and guitarist in the SDA band Decibella, sees music and the music industry in a very realistic way. “More common than a negative reaction is no reaction at all. I’ve had situations in which I’ve played for a couple hours without anyone clap or acknowledge me. I never take it personally, though… Looking for confirmation that you’re ‘good’ is overwhelming and exhausting,” said Oltersdorf. Accept that you can’t

make everyone happy “The main thing is that you have to be getting something out of it; it’s not for other people,” adds Ross Cooper, senior, who is an electronic music creator under the name Royal. Like Oltersdorf, Cooper sees musical success as a personal passion before anything else. Furthermore, he views rejection in a remarkably positive light. “When I started doing electronic music a lot of people were really disappointed that I wasn’t playing guitar anymore and I got a lot of negative comments about it,” said Cooper. But he also accepts that having people dislike his music is just as natural as having people like it. “When you really polarize listeners and get negative feedback,” said Cooper, “the positive feedback tends to be a lot more passionate and real.” Keep trying Musicians like Cooper and Oltersdorf, if they are to follow music as a career, must ac-

cept many rejections before they make it big. Behind most successful musicians is a record label and, although often overlooked, the many labels that turned them down before that. “Almost every big superstar today was rejected many, many times before they got their big chance,” said Kaplan. “There are very few new signings, and I think most if not all artists come in expecting that… [Rejecting someone] is like telling [them] they lost the lottery,” he adds. The outlook may look grim, but Kaplan’s message was not so much discouraging as it was realistic. His best advice for getting signed was to “get your stuff out there, and if you have people who like your stuff, then you can come in to a record company having already made a name for yourself.” It all comes back to having a passion for music—a reward that is internal—and that, in turn, will keep rejection from hurting the success of a musical

career. Said Oltersdorf, “You can’t base your success on the amount of people who tell you you’re good. If people sat around waiting for approval, then the greatest [people] of history would have never gotten anything done.”

Did You Know?

The Beatles were rejected by four producers before they signed on with EMI’s Parlophone label in May, 1962. The moral of the story The music industry, like most art-based career paths, is not for the faint of heart. But with the right amount of talent and passion, a little bit of negative feedback should not be a setback. The most important thing to remember when rejected from something you love? “Don’t take any notice,” said Kaplan, “and keep going.”

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Mustang 03.01.2013

Eco Club’s Ants

SDA’s FIRST Robotics Team 2102, Team Paradox, held an event that showed the community what they are all about – they do much more than just build robots. It was like walking into a playground—kids were playing, discs were flying, and little hands were sticky with colorful paint. Beneath the fun-and-games atmosphere, however, there was a distinctly intellectual and creative vibe. On Sunday Feb. 2, the Encinitas Library was populated with a group of proud, yellow-shirted robotics aficionados, part of SDA’s Team Paradox, who had put together the second annual FIRST Robotics Showcase. It included science activities across all age groups, and informed the attendees about the opportunities involved with FIRST Robotics, a program “For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology.” Last year’s inaugural showcase was a product of senior Victoria Ly’s Girl Scout Gold project. “The purpose of the event is to show the community about who Team Paradox is [and] what FIRST is and the importance of science and technology,” says Ly of last year’s event, which was successful enough to bring about what may become an annual tradition. Every year in early January, FIRST Robotics initiates the “build” season, which lasts six weeks. During this time period, hundreds of teams around the country just like SDA’s Team Paradox build a robot to complete a certain regional challenge with other teams in the area. This year, the challenge involves shooting Frisbees into goals of varying heights and even climbing rungs of a pyramid to score extra points. However, when describing the team, it is not all about the technology and engineering. “We like to use the word corporation,” said team member Andy Colletta, senior. Behind the engineers, there is a whole team of people to manage things such as finances, design, team spirit, and public outreach.

Pants-deep in ants.

Senior member of the team, Weston Braun, explains to members of the community how one of their past competition robots works. Photo by Molly Kovacs.

As President Kyla Wilson, senior, referenced in an informative presentation at the showcase, there are many things FIRST considers in the annual competitions. First, there is the way the robot performs in the game, but—as this showcase emphasized—team spirit, “cooper-tition” (cooperation in the competition), and community involvement are also considered in different divisions of the team’s ranking. Their design and ingenuity have been commended in the past, leading them to larger regional and national competitions, but the team is perhaps even better known for their loud and colorful displays of team spirit. With the spirited poster-painting, the “Fibonacci Sequence” coloring sheets, the mini remote-control robots, the adorable “Parrot-Ox” plushies, the information booths, and the helpful team members, the showcase proved to be professional, fun, and educational for kids and adults alike. --molly kovacs

Starting this year, SDA’s Eco Club will be working on a study on the ants of the San Elijo Lagoon Conservancy. The club members plan to work twice a month for at least a year leaving cookie samples, Pecan Sandies to be exact, at four designated sites. The samples will be placed in various habitats to discover which environments certain types of ants prefer and where native ant populations are concentrated. The Eco Club will be working with an entomologist from the San Diego Natural History Museum and a representative from the San Elijo Lagoon Conservancy on this project, with the field work done by club members. Club president Senior Cameron Clay said that, “This gives students a rare opportunity to get hands-on work with field biology, and hopefully will inspire others to gain a love for the ecosystem we live in.” --linden amundsen

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arts

Star Light, Star Bright

‘Warm Bodies’ Steams Up the Movie Theater

John Green’s best-selling novel tells a heartbreaking love story between two cancer patients.

Love bridges the gap between human and zombie in a post-apacolyptic world.

Despite its humor and quirkiness, John Green’s “The Fault in Our Stars” is ultimately a tale of star-crossed lovers. Hazel, the heroine of the book has thyroid cancer that has spread calamitously to her lungs. Then, she meets Augustus Waters, a former basketball player who has lost a leg to osteosarcoma, at a support group for cancer kids. At first Augustus seems too good to be true. He’s sexy and smart, and he appears to want nothing more than to do nice things for Hazel. Yet the reader comes to understand how Augustus’s illness has forced him to confront an existential crisis far too premature for his age. Over the course of the story, his appealing exterior breaks down; his flaws, fears and humiliations are exposed, yet he is all the more lovable for his fragility and heartbreaking humanity. John Green writes in his signature tone- a blend of melancholy, sweetness, philosophy and humor. When Hazel decides to give away her childhood swing set because the sight of it depresses her, she considers this headline for the Craigslist ad: “Lonely, Vaguely Pedophilic Swing Set Seeks the Butts of Children.” Green’s characters may be improbably witty, but even under the direst circumstances they are the kind of people you wish you knew. “The Fault in Our Stars” is all the more heart-wrenching for its bluntness about the medical realities of cancer. There are harrowing descriptions of pain, shame, anger and bodily fluids of every type. It is a love story without sunsets. Instead, Hazel has to lug a portable oxygen tank with her wherever she goes, and Gus has a prosthetic leg. These unpleasant details do nothing to diminish the romance because in Green’s eyes, they only make it more moving. He shows us true love, two teenagers helping and accepting each other through the most humiliating physical and emotional ordeals, and it is far more romantic than any sunset on the beach. -marisa pearce

The new film “Warm Bodies” is a breath of fresh air, which is ironic, because in a post-apocalyptic world of zombies and rotting corpses, there is not a lot of fresh air to be found. The movie centers around Nicholas Hoult’s (of TV show “Skins”) character, R, a zombie who doesn’t want to be a zombie, which makes it an uncouth addition to the popular zombie franchise. Rather than playing into the horror of zombies, the movie instead finds humor in it. While the average zombie would prefer hunting out the flesh of humans, R prefers hanging out in his makeshift home in an abandoned plane listening to records and trying to will himself to “act less dead.” He falls in love with a human girl named Julie, and instead of eating her, woos her with his music taste and most importantly, his desire to change humans’ perceptions of zombies and make them realize that maybe zombies aren’t just brain-dead, lost causes. These were my favorite parts of the movie, seeing as there were multiple, seemingly unnecessary scenes of graphic zombie chowdowns, which had me burying my head in my mom’s shoulder and saying “EW” too loudly. So I guess even those scenes added to the humor and offbeat nature of “Warm Bodies.” If you don’t mind seeing a heart or two being eaten, then see this movie, because its wonderful characters and surprisingly unique plotline will most definitely warm your own. -emily hall

STRFKR’s ‘Miracle Mile’ STRFKR shows off some cool electronic noise in their recent album. This was the first full STRFKR album that I’ve listened to. And I know you’re wondering, did it leave me mentally aroused enough to have intercourse with a large, celestial burning ball of gas? No. It did not. I refuse to say that it was bad, for I am doubtful of the existence of “bad” music, but I will say that it simply was not any cup of tea that I would be particularly interested in. STRFKR’s fourth album, “Miracle Mile” is a mush of jangly beach pop. However, in this goulash of soft vocals and dull electric guitars there are some more interesting aspects interspersed throughout it. Little boops and bips thrown in here and there pull this album from the brink of total boringness. Otherwise, this album is perfect for lazing on the beach on a summer afternoon. Or for lying out by the pool. Or just in the background of any situation, because to me, that’s all that it can be: background music. What stands out the most to me about this album is its incredible lack of anything that stands out. There is nothing really that makes me want to listen to it again, I would love to make a comment about the beautiful lyrics and messages, but honestly I probably could not recite any of them. The reverb-heavy mumble-cooing fell back as a part of the rest of the mush. Overall, this album obviously was not my most favorite piece of music. Yet despite the boringness, I can’t say that I didn’t enjoy it. As background music, it’s pleasant sounding. But, I have yet to discern whether or not the pleasure comes from the music itself or from the aural stimulation in general. -aly baker

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A Play-Worthy Cause SDA’s 3rd annual Theatre for a Cause produciton is extra special this year, as all proceeds will be donated in the name of an SDA student.

A mock-up of the SDA’s first student sculpture. Photo courtesy of Jeremy Wright.

The First of its Kind For the first time in SDA history, four seniors are creating an entirely student made sculpture. All good things take time. Ask anyone who has ever waited for a Hot Pocket to cool, taken a plane ride, or listened to a classical music piece. And after 3 years, a collaborative sculpture project between the art department (the design gurus) and the tech department (the construction gurus) is finally taking off, and it is definitely something that proves the value of waiting. It was born from the collaborative efforts of Jeremy Wright of the art department and four art-loving students, seniors Sophie Prendergast, Melea Michael, George Erie, and Scott Lindquist. The project was initially proposed in 2010 as the first project of its kind. Wright describes the planning process for the sculpture’s creation as being an extremely collaborative effort. The creation of the sculpture was an anomaly from the “norm” for similar large projects, because it was entirely student-based. “My hand wasn’t in the design. I just gave my design sense,” Wright said. Erie, Lindquist, Michael, and Prendergast were all chosen by Wright to construct the sculpture on the basis of the high quality of their past 3D design projects. “I’ve always wanted to make my mark on the campus and this allowed me to do just that! Now there will forever be a little piece of me at SDA,” Prendergast said. Recently, the sculpture reached its donation goal on fundraising website Kickstarter, meaning its construction will be started very soon. “The next step is getting supplies and moving forward.” Wright said. Wright and the student creators of the sculpture hope to finish its construction this June. “We would like to have it done before graduation,” Wright said. Once construction of the sculpture is finished, it will be displayed on the grassy knoll north of the 90’s buildings, according to Wright. The steel sculpture will be an abstract marrying of shapes, and over 6 feet tall, according to Wright. After being involved in the production of the sculpture for almost their entire high school careers, the students have high hopes for its reception by students once it is finally finished. In response to what reaction they hope to get regarding the sculpture, Senior Melea Michael says “I hope they [viewers of the sculpture] won’t knock it for having no obvious meaning or symbolism. It may look like just a bunch of shapes put together and called ‘art’ but I see it as much more than that. It’s all experience and collaboration of ideas made with the hope of exciting SDA students.” -emily hall

This March will mark the 3rd annual Theater for a Cause production at SDA. The event is a favorite of Theater Director Stephanie Siers which pairs a deserving charity with an emotional play. “Theater for a Cause is a play that I choose that intertwines with a charity and all the proceeds we donate to the charity,” she said. This year’s production will be “Tell Me That You Love Me, Junie Moon,” which lines up perfectly with Siers’ charity selection. “This year’s charity is called HelpHopeLive, and we will be donating for student Spencer Fox who works with the organization,” said Siers. “HelpHopeLive works to help families who have had a catastrophic injury and helps bridge the financial gap between insurance coverage’s. And we will be donating the proceeds to the charity in Spencer’s name.” Fox, a junior, shattered his C4/C5 vertebrae and was paralyzed during a snowboarding accident in February 2010. Fox remained in the hospital for three months and upon his release he was considered “medically stable” meaning that health insurance wouldn’t cover much “It offers a challenging of the transition and physical therapy costs he would need. performance “We were trying to fundraise and my sister realized opportunity and creates that we needed to make donations tax deductible,” students who grow said Spencer’s mother Celia. “Since you can’t make a philanthropic heart an individual a charity we turned to HelpHopeLive which and grow community creates funds in patients’ names and the donations are involvement to make a tax deductible. If you donate to them in Spencer’s name, we difference.” draw on the donations we receive through HelpHopeLive -Stephanie Siers for Spencer” The play will explore the issues surrounding devastating physical problems. “The three characters have all undergone a catastrophic event or life changing illness,” Siers said. “The whole play is about finding strength within each other to overcome health problems and enjoy life.” The event has also become a favorite of Siers’ drama students. “The kids love it because it offers a challenging performance opportunity and creates students who grow a philanthropic heart and grow community involvement to make a difference,” she said. The play opens on March 28 and will have further showings on March 29 and 30. All performances will be at 7 p.m. at the Clayton E. Liggett Theater. One act teasers will be open to interested students and teachers the week of the show. For Siers, she is excited to support another worthy charity and welcomes the challenge the production brings. “We are all excited to help an SDA student and have a direct impact,” she said. -joseph swit

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Mustang

ART ADVENTURE 03.01.2013

arts

With the number of art galleries and museums in the area, students should take advantage of them. Story by Caroline Glass.

e all know that SDA is artsy. We pride ourselves on being the school with the most murals, the most interestingly dressed, and the most artistically talented. But for a school with such a passion for art, many students are oblivious to the abundance of local art in the San Diego area. From museums to galleries to something in between, the spaces for viewing and appreciating art have often been neglected by the majority of SDA students and young people in general.

Local Art

Grace Madamba is a representative of the Lux Institute, a museum/gallery in Encinitas which features a new artist every month. She feels that the reason students may be hesitant to visit art galleries is intimidation. “I think teens may be intimidated, but sometimes it’s intimidating even for adults to visit art museums and galleries! I think there is a preconception that art is elitist, that it isn’t accessible or approachable, and that only art critics, curators, artists and people in the art world are the only ones “in the know” enough to come to a show or exhibit and be able to critique it or have an opinion about it,” she said. Santos Orellana, owner of Santos Fine Art in Leucadia, feels it is less about intimidation and more about the challenge. “Not enough people today accept the challenge of trying to experience art. I believe that today too much emphasis is placed on the idea that art can be “understood,” he said. But in reality, Madamba says, most gallery owners and curators welcome everyone in to their studios and want to make art accessible to all who are interested in it. “We don’t feel art should be like that. Lux welcomes all levels of art interest, and by inviting visitors into the studio to watch a resident artist at work, engage

• Surf Hut Gallery: Where: 696 N Coast Hwy 101 Encinitas What: This is for all the art-loving groms out there, featuring oceaninspired paintings and photographs and the unique addition of surfboard art.

Now that you have learned a bit about art galleries and how inspiring they can be, you probably want to know where they are. Check out the list below for some of the best in the San Diego area. • The Lux Institute Where: 1550 S El Camino Real Encinitas What: A hybrid museum/gallery that features a new artist every month and gives attendees a unique experience to interact with both the artist and the art .

Art enthusiests congregate at Cirello Gallery in Noth Park during the montly Art Walk. Photo by Caroline Glass.

with him/her and ask questions, we hope that it helps in “demystifying” the creative process and in making art feel more personal and accessible, not just something only “certain” people know about or can talk about.” Junior Carmen Lugo, one of the students here who does regularly visits galleries, also feels that this intimidation isn’t warranted. ”I don’t think there is any reason to find galleries intimidating. With so many inspiring people around it’s a beautiful way to have intellectual conversations with people as well as asking for advice or ideas for future pieces. It is always nice to meet the artist to discuss their work too,” she said. Other students may be nervous about going to an art gallery because they are unsure of how to act. Madamba offers her advice on the demeanor one should take when visiting an art gallery or museum: “Respectfully. You’d want to be aware of where you’re standing, so that you don’t accidentally back into an artwork or graze against it with a big backpack or purse. And as much as you might be tempted to, especially when the art is created in an interesting medium, you

should never touch a piece of art. Every once in a blue moon, an artist might say it’s okay to touch, but standard procedure is to assume you shouldn’t touch anything exhibited in a museum or gallery--for the sake of the safety and preservation of the work.” Orellana added, “People young and old should behave in the same way while viewing an art exhibit, with respect. Respect for the work of the artist being viewed, not because it may be good or bad, but because the work on exhibit is a depiction of human kind; after all, art is a social science.” And as for appreciating art, take your time when viewing each piece “Observe how it makes you feel, what it makes you think or what it might remind you of,” said Madamba. Lugo feels strongly that students here should take advantage of our area and go to see as much art as they can. “Of course more students should visit them! (Or at least give it a try). I think that many people would be pleasantly surprised at the intellectual stimulation that came from a piece of art,” she said. Junior Alynne Powers agrees

that students could get a lot out of visiting galleries. When asked if more students should visit galleries, she responded “Yes! Artwork is meant to be viewed by many people.” For student artists, viewing other art can be very beneficial. Lugo said, “As a sculptor, it’s hard for me to become inspired or to think beyond a certain capacity, so going to art galleries as well as art museums really opens my eyes to new thought processing.It gets my creative energy flowing and forces me to think outside of my comfort zone. So, looking at other people’s art gives me a greater perspective on imagination and creativity.” Powers agreed, “I like going to art galleries to critique other people’s work.” Now that you’ve overcome your intimidation, learned how to act, and seen the value in observing art, you’re probably wondering where all these places are. See the sidebar for a rundown of some of the best galleries in our area. You are now prepared to embark on your art-admiring adventure. Keep in mind the tips you learned and you can become the artsiest at SDA.

• The Roots Factory Where: 1878 Main St San Diego What: Taking a leaf from the book of Banksy, this gallery specializes in graffiti art, providing an urban break from the world of fine art. • Space 4 Art Where: 325 15th St San Diego What: This unique gallery puts on new and exciting shows every month, featuring dozens of local artists. Next month’s focuses on art related to the occult. • Santos Fine Art Gallery Where: 978 N Coast Highway 101 Encinitas What: A gallery that focuses on promoting the work of up-andcoming San Diego artists. The style of art changes as the featured artist does. • Cirello Gallery Where: 3803 Ray St San Diego What: For a more classic art fix, the Cirello Gallery displays art using classic mediums such as watercolors. It also takes the unique approach of having several featured jewelry-makers.

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arts

Mustang 03.01.2013

Cookin’ Up Some Art

Sophomore Lizzy Cook shows off her surrealistic style on our cover.

Photo by Caroline Glass

Art by Lizzy Cook.

“I think ever since I was a fetus I was supposed to make art.” Obviously our cover artist sophomore Lizzy Cook has known art was important to her for a very long time. She has always enjoyed it, but it wasn’t until she took her first real art class in 7th grade that she realized it was her true calling. Since then, she has discovered her true inner artist and began to use this talent as an outlet. Since then, she has experimented with many different mediums, although she cites her favorites as being sharpie with water color and acrylic paint. These unusual mediums mirror her different style. “I don’t really know how to describe my style of art. I guess I’ve never really thought about how to describe it in words. Surrealism, perhaps? It definitely isn’t realistic or abstract. Weird? Disturbing at times? Colorful definitely, I love me some colors,” she said. This uniqueness and strangeness is a common theme in Cook’s art. Not only are her style and mediums distinctive and odd, her subject matter is too. She said, “I like to create characters and stories that probably don’t make sense to anybody else. I get a lot of questions like, ‘What is that?’ ‘Why does he have a foot coming out of his eye?’” But this confusion is purposeful. She uses it to send a message about the strangeness of human nature. “I like to make people feel kind of uncomfortable when they look at my pictures and make them think about how strange the things they say and do on a regular basis can be if put into perspective, ” she said. “I do this because most of the time I am extremely confused by human nature and I want to share that confusion with other people.” -caroline glass

The Bard Returneth The Old Globe brings a unique opportunity for high school actors and actresses. Calling all Shakespeare fanatics and wannabe actors! This summer, the Old Globe is running their Shakespeare Intensive, a 4-week program for high school actors and actresses. While learning about theater technique, voice, movement, and stage combat by professionally trained teachers, participants will have the unique opportunity of learning and practicing on professional stages. Students will get to put what they have learned into practice, as they rehearse and present two of Shakespeare’s plays. In addition to their own plays and studies of Shakespeare, these actors in training will get an all access pass to the plays at the Shakespeare Festival, which runs concurrently. The professionals starring in the company will drop by to add their instrucions on performing the works of Shakespeare. Auditions are held March 8th and 9th at the Old Globe theatre and the workshop runs from July 6th through August 12th. See theoldglobe.org for more information. -caroline glass

Fashion Forward

Designs by Annie Smith

SDA’s third annual fashion show lets student designers show off their work and student models strut their stuff. San Dieguito Academy’s third annual Spring Charity Fashion Show is just around the corner. This year’s show will consist of designs from a local clothing store, students, and Mia Bella Couture prom dresses. The show begins at 4:30 p.m. on Friday, March 8t, and will end around 6p.m. Tickets will be sold in front of the school gym, the show’s venue, and will be $3 and include a free ticket for the raffle held at the end of the show. Food and beverages will be sold, and fun is guaranteed. All proceeds will go to Red Cross to help victims of Hurricane Sandy. Students can support their classmates and benefit a good cause by attending this year’s Spring Charity Fashion Show, hosted by SDA’s Fashion Entrepreneur Club. The club is also looking for models and people who want to help put on the show, so check out meetings in Room 21 any Monday at lunch. -annie smith

Animation Mania A festival of animation featuring short films of every genre makes its way to the Museum of Contemporary Art in La Jolla. A festival has come to the town of little La Jolla that is proud to show the best animated shorts of all time. These short films range from one to eight minutes, which may seem too short for much content, but at the Spike and Mike animation festival, my friends, they’re done right. The festival exhibits short films that are more captivating in three minutes than most movies are in three hours. The festival, which is taking place at the Museum of Contemporary Art in La Jolla, includes award-winning short films from around the world Some have political statements. Damian Nenow’s, “Paths of Hate” is about war. On the lighter end, Julien Bocabeille’s “Oktapodi” centers on the romance between two octopuses. The festival includes films that have won Academy Awards like “Bunny” by Chris Wedge, maker of the full length “Ice Age” movies; “Creature Comforts” by Nick Park, creator of the “Wallace and Gromit” series; and Pixar’s “For the Birds.” The lineup is amazing; they take out and add different films every showing so there isn’t a single night that is the same. The festival has prominent animators appear to premier their work and sign autographs. The festival had debuted some of Tim Burton work in previous years but this year David Silverman, director and producer of “The Simpsons” appeared in February and Rich Moore, the director of “Wreck It Ralph,” is scheduled to appear tonight, March 1. The whole show is fun; it feels like a carnival. There is a lot of laughing, but there are serious moments too. You come out with an appreciation for what you’ve seen, and you know it’s not a show that just wants your money. It’s a good date night and fun with friends, but no matter who you go with you’ll walk out and say, “That was pretty cool.” The festival runs through March 30th and is located at the La Jolla Museum of Contemporary Art. Tickets are usually $10 online for 20 short films. See http://www.spikeandmike.com/ for tickets and dates. -andrew walker

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Mustang

League switch up 03.01.2013

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A new playoff format will be put in place in time for the start of the spring sport season, changing a long standing system.

austin kasselmann

oth league divisions and playoffs will be seeing a major change. Some sports such as boys and girls lacrosse and baseball will see the effect of the changes this coming season. Implementing the new changes so soon and halfway through the school year seems rash and hurried. These changes came with the new San Diego Section commissioner, Jerry Schniepp. After 52 years, the section’s Board of Managers passed a sweeping change. Divisions will no longer be decided by enrollment, but by performance over the past five years. This change was made, because the board decided too few schools were winning too many of the league titles. For this reason, SDA sports teams will be playing a variety of different schools in the coming seasons. With the new divisions based on performance,

teams could face both much larger and much smaller schools. Besides being different schools competing, these divisions will also contain more teams and more teams will advance to the playoffs in the higher divisions. The number of teams that advance decreases, however, as the divisions lower. For Example, more teams will advance from Division I than Division II and continue the pattern down the divisions. However, in every sport there will be an Open Division which is filled with the top teams and all of these teams are guaranteed a playoff berth. Despite all of these switches, some sports will remain unchanged. Mostly individual sports will stay in divisions decided by enrollment. Their playoff format will also remain the same. However, this is still to be decided and no concrete decisions have been made, so it could still change. Sports such as cross country, track, golf and tennis will all be

unaffected by this new division format for now. Reactions to these changes are mixed, as it is truly a radical change from the way the league system used to be run. Formerly, divisions were based on enrollment and schools played against schools that were roughly the same size. This new format based on performance raises several concerns. Some small schools are concerned because they have been playing and beating other small schools. Now with the new division system, they will be playing much larger schools that just haven’t been doing as well against other very large talented schools. Therefore, the small school could end up playing way out of its league. For example, SDA’s girls volleyball team will play in Division I next year, following a great season and playoff run. However, they will be playing much larger schools that have a larger

talent pool to choose from. On the other hand, some larger schools that simply don’t posses the same talent level as other schools their size, will embrace the changes because they will now be competing against similarly talented schools. The outcome of this new division system is yet to be seen and will no doubt bring some controversy. There will be some huge problems to begin with, and teams will be upset. I cannot see the first season of these new changes going smoothly. Some major changes will probably have to take place right away and some with time. It will most likely take time to work out the kinks and perfect the system. Until then, there will be some unhappy schools and some who cannot believe their luck. The playoffs will definitely be different this year and new champions will be crowned. This switch up will make some waves.

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Mustang 03.01.2013

Analytics austin kasselmann In SDA’s game against the San Marcos Knights on Feb. 6, the Mustangs scored 29 points in the first half and only missed 10 shots. They then continued to score 33 points in the second half and again missed 10 shots. X’s signify a made shot and O’s symbolize a missed shot. The numbers next to the X and O on the free throw line signify the total number of shots made or missed at the line. During the second half the Mustangs improved on their three point shooting, but missed more shots from inside the key. The second half was much better shooting wise for the Mustangs. The Mustangs made school history this season by winning the first mens basketball CIF game. After this victory, they unfortunately lost against Valley Center in the CIF Quarter Finals in a close game, putting an end to a great and successful season.

Mens Basketball: State Rank - 214 National Rank - 2957

Gone Native

The new Native Foods Café features a friendly environment as well as an exclusively vegan menu that can be enjoyed by diners of all varieties.

kelsey navis

he food revolution has come. Opened Jan. 29, the new Native Foods Café in Encinitas boasts a completely vegan cuisine but also hearty dishes that are artfully handcrafted by the chefs in hopes of making you smile. It is Native Foods Café, and it is bringing a new perspective on food to Encinitas. Upon entering the new establishment, a sense of peace washes over, like one of the blasting door fans some restaurants have, only this one gives off calmness not really cold air. For a restaurant that has “In Photosynthesis We Trust,” painted big and bold on the wall and whose selection of meat includes “Native Chicken [that] is made from free range soy, wheat and pea protein,” there is nothing that seems over the top, no heavy pressure that demands veganism in an unrelent-

The Oklahoma Bacon Cheeseburger. Photo by Kelsey Navis.

ing-protester-kind-of-way. “Less than 20% of our guests are actually vegan or vegetarian. Our food is healthy and delicious, so everyone can enjoy it. Our menu aims to please the palates of all food lovers,” said manager Angela Meade-Tatum

Beyond the feel and look of the café, one glance at the menu reveals a rainbow of choices, including a whole spectrum of ethnic foods intermingled with classic American dishes like a cheeseburger and homemade apple pie. Along with a plentiful supply of qui-

noa in many of the dishes, Lavender Lemonade is just one of the novel options available to anyone with an open mind and stomach. “Native Foods creates a fun, warm and friendly environment that is welcoming to all of our guests, whether they are vegan or non-vegans. We strive to create a compassionate dining experience that is good for our guests, their families and the environment,” said Tatum. My first Native experience was with the Sesame Kale Macro Bowl. Placed in front of my waiting stomach was a deep bowl of kale and brown rice, artfully topped with tempeh skewered into graceful arcs. What I found was a carefully concocted dish that hit all the right food areas: flavor, smell, texture, and sight. “Our entire menu is 100% plant based cuisine that is fresh, homemade

and chef-crafted. Our food is made fresh daily – from our drinks, dressings, sauces, seitan, tempeh and our desserts as well. There is a lot of thought that goes into every dish on our menu and can appeal to a wide variety of eaters,” added Tatum. Moderately pricey for a casual sit down café, averaging $9 per meal, the outstanding amount of care that goes into the cuisine and the stellar service are beyond well worth it. Snuggly nestled into the Encinitas Village, Native Foods Café matches the spirit of Encinitas so well. It’s almost like it has been there all along, inviting the curious in for an exceptional and unique food experience. Tatum reports, “Native Foods is getting an incredible response from the community so far. People are so happy we are here, and we are getting busier and busier every day.”

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03.01.2013

Gym Buff

Study Habits

Zen Boxing

There’s more to studying than you’d think.

Laurel Sorenson getting ready to face off with the punching bag. Photo by Max Zikakis

Zen Boxing sounds like a contradiction. How can you be tranquil while trying to punch stuff? Zen really means to be in the moment, and nothing helps people be fully present and attentive like letting out their inner warrior, said Zen Boxing trainer Lance Peterson (otherwise known as Sifu Sixx). Peterson opened Zen Boxing in Leucadia in order to allow everyone access to boxing as a method of staying in shape without the intimidating environment of a normal boxing gym. “We don’t do sparring and it’s not based on dominance or one person pitted against another,” said Peterson. Instead of actually fighting, Peterson uses a rapid-fire type workout in which the punches and movements are called out and the participants must respond quickly to do them and prepare for the next one. Pe- Zen Boxing terson uses 466 North Highway 101 this technique Encinitas, CA 92025 to release the (760)666-0889 “inner warrior” and find an -A type of boxing that teaches physical strength outlet for the and mental discipline stress of daily -”I try to awaken the inner warrior and give life. people a good environment to... release.” “We need to - Lance Peterson give the rage a place to go, just like any human waste. Many people don’t make time to find their release,” said Peterson. The rapid-fire portion provided an exciting, challenging workout to help with the stress release by creating an intense environment without actually having to fight. Following along with the movements was like a game in which I had to focus the entire time while also feeling the satisfaction of my fist against the semi-squishy water bag. While this workout includes the physical aspect of boxing, Peterson also emphasizes the mental strength and endurance needed to get through a difficult workout. During the section of the workout with squats and weight training, he instructed the class to “let the monks do the work.” He had us visualize that we were parts of machinery being controlled by monks so that we were exerting very little effort. I recommend Zen Boxing to anyone who thinks boxing looks fun but doesn’t necessarily want to take a punch. It’s a difficult workout that leaves your heart pounding without making you feel like a limp noodle for the rest of the day. It’s exhilarating, not exhausting. The Zen Boxing facility is located at 466 North Highway 101 just south of Pannikin Coffee with group and private classes offered daily. -laurel sorenson

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Each student develops study habits, but science also provides some insight as to which general study tips will benefit us all. 1. A study by UCSD concluded that how people learn information on a test does not affect how well they do. A “visual” learner who learns the material for a test in a visual way is just as likely to do well on a test that they learned in a more physical way. 2. In a study conducted in the 70’s, Dr. Bjork concluded that the brain is able to recall information better if a student studies in multiple locations instead of one. The brain associates the surrounding atmosphere of where one studies with what they are studying. 3. In a study by the University of Florida researchers found that memory was better retained by diversifying concepts. Mixing problems with area, perimeter, and circle theorems works better than blocking individually for example. 4. According to research at the University of Memphis, students who study shortly before an exam do well, but the information is quickly forgotten. If incremental spacing is applied, such as an hour today, an hour tomorrow, etc. the student will do well on the first test, but is also much better at recalling the information later. -max lundberg

Local Eats Try this delicious favorite from Peace Pies in Leaucadia Banana Berry Coconut Pie from Peace Pies: 133 Daphne Street, Leucadia “This recipe here is a true pleaser, sure to turn the head of any skeptic. Here in San Diego, we have access to fresh, local strawberries year round that make your mouth water. It’s easy to make amazing food when you start with the BEST LOCAL produce.” -Recipe courtesy of JP Alfred, “This is Raw: Recipes for Live Food” Ingredients: Crust: 1 Cup Hazelnuts 1 Cup Raisins Filling: 4 Bananas 1 Cup Fresh Mixed Berries ½ Cup Shredded Coconut plus Coconut for the Topping Method: Process the crust ingredients and pack into a pie plate. In a bowl, combine peeled bananas and coconut. Mash with hands and leave chunky. Add berries and fill the pie crust. Top with shredded coconut and berries.

Kooky Dash Runners in their favorite “Cardiff Kook” costumes participate in a 5-10k. On Feb. 3, Encinitas residents gathered at Moonlight Beach to celebrate the Cardiff Kook and the many creative opportunities it provides in the second Cardiff Kook Run. Participants dressed in Kook costumes and ran a 5-10k. SDA students also participated in the event. “I thought it would be fun to race along the coast and I wanted to join the community in celebrating the Cardiff Kook,” said junior Janine Sherman who ran the 5k along with juniors Ben Hoffman and Sam Fierro. Hoffman, who got 10th place overall and 3rd in his age group, said, “I prepared by running almost every day for three years at an average distance of six miles.” Although these students are serious runners, many who participated in the event were not.

Junior Ben Hoffman begins the Cardiff Kook Run. Photo by Katie McPherson

Before the run began, a multitude of inappropriately dressed (for a race) participants gathered around the starting line. A group of elderly women in magic carpet costumes danced sporadically while a bearded Moses guided a herd of “holy” sheep. At 9 a.m, at the signal of the starter, the 5k runners shoved their way across the starting line in what can only be described as a mass migration of Kooks. It was in this moment that one might re-

alize how special Encinitas is. Where else is a statue, designed to be a singular sculpture, transformed into a creative outlet that never stops producing art? Not only does the Cardiff Kook represent the surf culture of our town, but it also represents the “Kook” in all of us. As runner Laila Al-Shamma put it, “We’ve taken a silly looking statue and made it our own.” For more see sdamustang.com -katie mcpherson

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Mustang

Surfer vs. Skater

Junior surfer Keely Thompson and senior skater Tanner Rumsey answer life’s real questions and come out on the other end with some great career advice. Story by Lily LeaVesseur.

Photo by Kirsten Walz

What happens when Pinocchio says “My nose is growing”? Surfer: “His ears turn blue.” Skater: “He lies. Then his nose grows.” Surfer, I don’t think Pinocchio’s ears turn blue when he lies about his nose. But I know your legs are sure getting red from the fire that started on your pants when you lied to me just now about being an expert on Italian folklore. Your nose didn’t grow, and none of your body parts actually changed color/spontaneously combusted, but I just know these things. Your ears only turn blue if someone walks over your grave and talks about you in winter. See? I know things. Now let’s get out of this house of lies before it collapses on us. Minus ten points for putting my life in metaphorical danger. Skater, how intuitive. I would never have thought of the little wooden boy as a schemer trying to screw over those of us who thought we were being clever and tricky by asking people to solve the paradox of his nose. He may be Gepetto’s puppet, but is it possible that we, too, are puppets of his master mind? Is there a God? What’s the meaning of life? How do zippers work? These are the great questions I struggle with every day. Here’s 15 points for making me - for making all of us - really think. In “The Lion King,” what was Scar’s name before he got his scar? Surfer: “I’ll name him Milligan.” Skater: “His name was always Scar. It’s like if a guy named Doctor became a doctor.” Skater, you continue to wow me – wow all of us – with your strong sense of logic and your perception of the world and all its wonders. I bet that Scar purposely lived life on the edge once he became aware of the deeper meaning of his name, and set out to get a gnarly scar to provide

us with more paradoxical questions about Disney characters. Fortunately we have you to unravel these great questions! You should become a prophet or something. Plus 200 points for holding all the answers. Surfer, after Skater’s superb performance, yours seems a little subpar. Your lack of cohesive thought process is… like… you know? Minus five just because. (See what I’m doing? Not using logic. How does it feel?) Why do ships carry cargo while cars carry shipments? Surfer: “Because the post office wants to confuse us.” Skater: “On the boat the sailors call it cargo because it came from a car. Once off the boat and in the car, the drivers refer to it as shipments because it came from a ship.” Surfer, you bring up an interesting point. With the impending doom of no-mail-Saturdays, the USPS is trying to distract the public from this loss of tradition by misleading us with labeling switcheroos. But I won’t be fooled. The lack of mail in my hand on Saturday will weigh as heavy in my heart as the lack of it on every other day. (No one sends me mail except for colleges in states too sunny for my delicate skin. Shout out to Texas Christian University!) Logic may not be the first tool you use to tackle life’s problems, but conspiracy theories are just as effective. Plus 50 points because you bring creativity to the table. You may never become a physicist but you’d make a great struggling artist. Skater, you, on the other hand, would do very well at some high-paid, logic-y logical logic job. You continue to amaze me – us – with the way you face reality with reality. Plus 10 + 10 + 10 points (I know you can figure that one out on your own). Surfer: 35 points Skater: 245 points Yay Surfer! You win nothing.

03.01.2013

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Mustang 03.01.2013

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I spy...

How well do you know SDAâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s campus? In an effort to stump the observant, we searched the school far and wide and found these items pictured above. Ranging from the obvious to the obscure, they may open your eyes to how much you really notice while at school. Test your skills! See if you can identify all of their locations, and then check your answers online at sdamustang.com.

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Mustang 03.01.2013

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I spy...