SDA Mustang Nov. 2009 by The Mustang Newspaper

The Mustang

11.06.09 issue two volume fourteen

11.06.09

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Mustang On the Cover Senior Christina Gineris painted this portrait of her friend, senior Chanelle Ankeney, using oil on canvas. Gineris has been interested in art since her childhood, but didn’t start painting until late sophomore year. Since then, Gineris has developed her own unique style, incorporating exaggerated colors and facial features with realism. “I like to paint stuff you don’t usually see in typical portraiture,” said Gineris. “Through my paintings, I like to make an instant

Staff

Jim Hawkins wasn’t there but... Mustang reporters journeyed all the way to San Francisco, spending countless hours in the car, reporting on the infamous music festival Treasure Island. Do you want to know what New Zealanders at music festivals talk about? Check out page 34

Nobody is vedder San Dieguito alumni and singer from possibly the most popular band from the 90’s, Eddie Vedder gave back to his mentor in a big way, inviting him to play with Pearl Jam at Viejas Arena. The Mustang interviewed his lucky teacher Bud Whitcomb.

News Editors Ariel Chao Andrew Kasselmann

Managing Editor Kyle Shohfi

Opinions Editor Ana Reyes

Arts Editors Rieko Michelle Whitfield Thea Brown

Features Editor Nicole Fisher

Circus Animal Fun Editor Dimitri Fausch

Essay Editor Design Editor Danielle Gradisher

Sports Editors Kaylin Greene Pauline Disch

Ads Manager Alexa Shapiro

Photo Editor Nina Moussavi

Staff Writers Laura Avila, Hayley Baker, Taylor Chapin, Nina Comforti, Casey Dayan, Jocelyn Lee, Maddison Lyon, Erika Mazza, Shelby Meyers, Bailey Mezan, Sandra Morales, Kate Murphy, Dana Pede, Cara Reichard, Kerry Roberson, Jack Rushell, Henry Sweat Advisor Tim Roberts San Dieguito Academy Room 93 800 Santa Fe Drive Encinitas, CA 92024 (760) 753-1121 x5161

Music aficionados look to page 26

Notice The Mustang is the student newspaper of San Dieguito Academy. Advertisements do not necessarily reflect the opinion of the newspaper. The Mustang is an open forum which welcomes letters. Letters can be submitted to room 93, emailed to sdamustang@hotmail.com, or mailed to the above address.

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Healthy Kids Survey results In the 2008-2009 Healthy Kids Survey for SDA, the survey reported how frequently students drive drunk or with people who have been drinking. SDA students talked about their experiences with drunk driving. Lifetime Drunk Driving or Riding in a Car With Someone Driving Drunk

Driven Under the Influence of Alcohol In the Last 30 Days 100%

100%

75%

50%

50% 37

25% 10 2

Grade

25%

Grade

“Sometimes I will just drink a little bit and then after a few hours drive home, but I don’t really consider that drunk driving. So I guess no, I haven’t ever driven drunk.” -senior boy “I have never driven with someone that is drunk because it is just not worth the risk. I just plan ahead so that I am not put in that situation.” -senior girl “I was at the Del Mar Fair Grounds helping my mom’s friend. He got drunk while we were there and later offered to drive me home, but my mom wasn’t answering the phone so he was my only ride to my house. He exited at Manchester and was going really fast along the curvy roads and I got really scared.” -junior girl. “I drink occasionally, at parties with people I don’t know. I don’t drive under the influence, but I have gotten in a car with teenagers who have been drinking. It’s stupid, but sometimes it’s really awkward to refuse to get in the car or say anything and there aren’t any other options for getting home.” -senior girl Interviews by Mustang reporters

Death by dried paint

One month. 238 abused, and now useless paintbrushes. Art teacher Jeremy Wright creates his own Day of Silence. rieko michelle whitfield Walking into the art room was like stepping into a graveyard of Styrofoam board. Each sign was propped up by one of the 238 paintbrushes that had “fallen victim to the ignorance in belief of self-cleaning brushes” during the month of September. After years of watching students refuse to wash off their paintbrushes, Jeremy Wright decided to take action. “You can use humor to make a point. I easily could’ve yelled at the kids, but that goes in one ear and out the other. I had fun making those quotes with [sophomore] Jack Connor.” The Mustang has placed a few of these silent tributes throughout this issue. Clean brushes, take heed.

Crushed SDA students gather around the wrecked car donated by M.A.D.D.

Drunk driving: hitting close to home SDA students feel the impact of drunk driving after the Torrey Pines death. tim kontje

“I

s this the car from the Torrey Pines accident?” This was the most common question students asked when they saw the wrecked car on display in front of the gym last month. The car was not the one involved in the Oct. 4 crash that killed Torrey Pines senior Alex Capozza. Instead, the wrecked car was provided by the organization M.A.D.D. (Mothers Against Drunk Driving), whose representatives did not disclose any information on what happened to the car except that the driver had been drunk. The lack of detail didn’t detract from its impact on students, however. “I’m shocked. I’d never drink and drive,” said Kerri Dobson, freshman. “It was bad,” said junior Selena Stribling, “Nobody could have survived it. I was thinking about Alex [Capozza]. I didn’t know him but a lot of my friends knew him.” The student organization P.A.L.S. (Peer Assistant Listeners) brought the car on campus on Oct. 15 as an anti-drunk driving message instead of Red Ribbon Day, said Ann Nebolon, head counselor and P.A.L.S. ad-

visor. P.A.L.S. help students who want to talk about their problems to people their own age. P.A.L.S. thought the car would have more impact than a Red Ribbon Day, and judging by many students’ reactions, it did: “I had no idea a car could be that wrecked,” said Brady Mears, freshman. “I was surprised at how much damage can be done,” said Evan Angelico, junior. The car, a tan Honda Hyundai Elantra, was completely smashed on the passenger side and front and looked like it had flipped a few times. “I don’t want to think about what happened to the people inside,” said Sara Rodas, freshman. Nebolon said it was “pretty intense,” but other students had different reactions. “It didn’t faze me at all,” Walker Chuppe, sophomore, said. According to last year’s Healthy Kids Survey, 39 percent of students over 16 at SDA have ridden with a drunk driver or have been driving under the influence, and the same is true for 21 percent of students under 16. “No one thinks [an accident] can happen to them, but it does,” said P.A.L. Jenn Godfrey, senior. The car was surrounded by posters bearing messages such as,

“Don’t let careless impulses drive your decisions.” “The message is pretty strong,” said Nebolon. “It can happen to you,” said Godfrey, “It can happen to your friends. It can happen to anyone.” Students also had the opportunity to wear goggles that simulated the way a drunk sees the world. Simply walking in a straight line was challenging, to say nothing of trying to drive a car, said P.A.L. Reid Nicholl, senior. “It was a reality check,” said senior Olivia Gray. At lunch, the area around the car was always full of students and there was always a line to try out the goggles, Nicholl said. This was the first time in a few years that P.A.L.S. had brought a wrecked car on campus, but it probably won’t be the last. “It usually stirs up a lot of interest,” said Nebolon. She said, “If this helps one person, it’s worth it. The message is that it’s preventable and doesn’t have to happen to you or any of your friends.” The beginning journalism class contributed to this story with photography by Emily Maxwell and Kai Schlesinger.

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Speaking their minds... Students met with strangers, friends, and teachers to discuss meaningful topics.

anna williams

laurel sorenson

ne girl raised her hand and commented on how after you break up with someone, sometimes you realize that he’s a complete weirdo and you have no idea what you ever saw in him. Much of the class agreed, and this sparked even more conversation about how some exes will get jealous when you start dating other people, spread nasty rumors, and annoy you. This is how the discussion in the group “Relationships: the Good, the Bad, and the Ugly” went on Oct. 20 during the first Mustang Discussions Day. According to students and staff members, there were many interesting discussions like this one on topics ranging from “Movies: My Top 10” to “9/11 Fallout.” There was a wide range of reactions to the discussions. Some students loved them, while others thought they were boring. “I liked it because there were people that had similar tastes in movies and I was able to learn more about them,” said senior Ryan Healey. “It sucked because my group [Gender Bias] wasn’t very fun,” said Hunter McKay, senior. “My group was ‘What do I need in a teacher.’ We had a lot of fun, we talked about past teachers and we talked about the good points and the bad points [about them]. It worked out pretty well because I got to talk and have my opinions heard,” said Emily Nathan, freshman. “My topic was Top 10 Movies. People just shared their favorite movies and movie genres. I found it boring,” said Christine Jacobson, senior. “It was fun to share my opinions and feel like I was accepted in my group,” said Camilla Larses, freshman. The majority of teachers thought that it was a productive activity. “The [responses] I got from teachers were very positive,” said Assistant Principal Jeanne Jones. Teacher participation seemed to be an important factor of whether or not the discussions worked. “[It was] worthwhile for those who took it seriously,” said Russ Davidson, science teacher. “ I think it caused some people to have a discussion they didn’t think was going to happen,” he

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Mentoring the next generation of architects and engineers

nina moussavi

Culture Commitee SDA English teacher Blaze Newman facilitates a discussion reflecting about the event.

said. “We need more topics that have school or character building goals. Every student should challenge themselves to take on a difficult topic meaningful for school culture.” “I like the activities like this because it demonstrates our school’s commitment to reaching out to students about their opinions, not just about school concerns, but about life in general,” said Jocelyn Broemmelsiek, AP Biology and Chemistry teacher. “School is not only about academics. I also like that the topics were solicited from the students and faculty, this is after all ‘our school.’ “I did experience a little frustration with the fact that not all students shared their thoughts during the discussions and wish there was a way that we could make non-sharing students feel more comfortable or more interested in speaking out.” The Mustang Discussion Day was organized by the SDA Culture Committee. The Culture Committee is a group of stu-

dents, parents, and teachers who come together to celebrate tolerance and respect for everyone. They thought that the discussions were a success. “The goal of Mustang Discussions is to be an activity to support diversity via conversation, and to unify students through common interests,” said Culture Committee member Joey Pearson, senior. Many of the Culture Committe members were pleased with the discussions and their results. “It was really rewarding and heartwarming to be a part of this. It was a really nice opportunity to recognize new people,” added Culture Committee member Dustin Atlas, senior. “This school is based off of student choice because you choose to be here. I think it’s cool for students who don’t really know each other to be able to have deep discussions,” said Culture Committee member Adam Lai Fatt, senior. “I think it was a very good

start for a new activity,” said English teacher and Culture Committee supervisor Blaze Newman. The most popular topics were My Top 10 Movies and Customizing Cars. Some of the topics such as Divorce, Fallout from 9-11 and Adoption were controversial. “A kid walked past my office and I said, ‘Come in here’ and he came up with [the topic] ‘Relationships: the Good, the Bad, and the Ugly,’” said Jones. Most of the ideas for topics came from staff and students. The Culture Committee is planning to use some of the old topics and add new ones for next time. The dates of the next Mustang Discussions will be Dec. 1, Dec.3, March 23, March 25, May 18 and May 20. “We have an opportunity to share our thoughts and feelings and embody the spirit of SDA,” said Jones. She asks that anyone who has topic ideas for the next discussion to please email them to blaze.newman@sduhsd.net.

Quick bits from Mustang Discussions Students took a survey regarding their experiences during Mustang Discussions. Most liked it: 413 positive 196 negative

Most Popular Topics: Top 10 Movies-154 people Music: Top Artists-152 people Drugs-80 people Facebook and Texting-76 people Relationships-71 people

History teacher Kerry Koda’s discussion group highlighted what students want from teachers: -To be challenged -Feel prepared for assesments -Teachers who love teaching -Teachers focused on teaching -Respect

tudying architecture, construction, or engineering in high school once included little access to professionals who were active in the field. But now, the ACE mentor program is helping the next generation of builders by pairing San Dieguito Academy students with industry professionals. This program is now at SDA, and meets after school in the B building in the conference room. The next meeting is Nov. 12. ACE mentor’s goal is to provide students with an in-depth experience, complete with shadowing experts, meeting others in the architectural field, creating their own building designs, and getting a first-hand feel for the industry. ACE was intended to correct “the shortage of professionals in our field,” said Paul McParlane, of McParlane & Associates in San Diego, who consults mechanical engineers and is an ACE mentor. “We love what we do. We love building buildings. We want to get high-schoolers interested in architecture,” McParlane added. SDA is the first school in North County to have ACE. There are nine other schools in the county with this program. At the Academy, Assistant Principal Marc Trocchio is heading ACE, which is open to all students. Meetings will be held once every two weeks right after school.The ACE year will start this fall. Trocchio said new ideas for student projects at SDA could include renovations to the sports field, solar-powered technology in the parking lot, and cuttingedge “green” technologies. By participating in ACE, not only do students have more knowledge of what they will be doing in their career path, but they will also have many scholarship opportunities presented to them. Local scholarships range anywhere between $1000 to $3000 to $5000, with some national scholarships at $25,000. Trocchio urges students to check out ACE at one of the upcoming meetings. “We’re opening up a new avenue for SDA students to explore,” the assistant principal said.

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news 11.06.09 Grass revival

SDA’s superman

s the start of southern California’s rainy season drew near, the San Dieguito Academy administration began to cut the grass on campus. The white powder recently sprinkled in copious amounts over SDA’s grass was part of a soil amendment project, said Principal Michael Grove.The powder will give extra vitamins to the grass and its application is usually timed around the rainy season since the water facilitates the absorption of the vitamins, Grove said. andrew kasselmann

henry sweat

B-day Students storm the counters at Chipotle

Burritoful S

DA’s most important holiday, free burrito day, occurred on Oct. 6, when students from SDA flooded Chipotle, searching for a complimentary tortillawrapped delicacy. The quest for a free burrito started in the school parking lot where students were seen sprinting to their cars. Barely 15 minutes after school ended, Chipotle was jam packed with eager students, mimicking their mothers outside of Wal-Mart on Black Friday. Chipotle was so crowded that there was a line in the boys bathroom. Many young men appeared distressed about this occurrence that only happens after long flights and at football games. The line exploded out the door and sophomore Gareth Hamm waited near the end saying, “They better have some really good burritos.” Closer to the front of the line, senior Jacob Sztraicher exclaimed with a little too much excitement, “This is an incredible display of burrito lovingness.” The day was a learning experience for senior Laura O’Hagan: “Next time, I’m ordering online”. Another student was able to skip the line by ordering on the internet. While the length of the line may have encouraged many kids to go to Roberto’s, senior Derek Meyers thought it was well worth the wait. “It was awesome. The burritos were toasty and the beans were good. The overall vibe was so good,” he said. Hurried by the rush of students, the Chipotle staff worked like a well-oiled machine, fingers moving so fast that they became invisible in a flurry of movement. However, Chipotle was not able to check each person’s ID. One sophomore conspiratorially whispered that, “I used my Asian friend’s ID to get a burrito.” Countless others were able to get more than one free burrito, most notably a blond haired senior who notoriously got the second of his three burritos yelling, “I’m on number two, man. Keep count, keep count.” By 4:25 the rush of students had ended, creating an eerie ghost town feel to the building. Many students also went for dinner, taking advantage of the 3 hour event which ended at 6 p.m. The Student Ambassador of Chipotle for SDA, Andrea Reyes, said, “Chipotle did this to spread awareness about their burritos and show the students they cared.” Message received. henry sweat

Numbers

There’s no soap like foam

he new school year has settled in, giving students time to truly appreciate one of the year’s finest gifts: foam soap. For the remainder of the year, students’ hands will be sanitized not with the mundane and unoriginal liquid soap but with the luxury of a frothier and dramatically more fun alternative. It seems that in addition to injecting fun into students’ everyday hygenic routines, the switch to foam soap is helping slash costs across the district. Gabriel Figueroa, school custodian, explained that the district-sponsored switch to foam was driven by the recent budget cuts. It has also been considerably more well-received among students than the majority of measures taken to reduce costs. As senior Dustin Atlas said, “It makes washing hands fun.” dana pede

3,200

dollars bidder paid for guitar signed by the Rolling Stones at SDA Foundation fundraiser

jocelyn lee

Old and decaying Letters awaiting their fresh coat of paint

Extreme makeover: gym edition

few weeks ago, SDA custodians spent hours knocking off the old tiles that read “gymnasium,” located on the east side of the gym. According to SDA principal Michael Grove, the tiles were removed because one full letter and a large chunk of another letter had fallen off the wall which caused faculty to worry about other tiles falling and possibly injuring students. The tiles have been up since 1974 and weigh hundreds of pounds collectively. Shortly after the removal of the tiles, the outline of the letters was painted over, still displaying the same design as before. ariel chao

Walk for human rights

undreds of people, including four SDA students who are part of the school’s Amnesty International club, attended Amnesty International’s 21st annual San Diego Candlelight Walk for Human Rights on Oct. 18 at the Oceanside Amphitheater Senior Jason Ley, who participated in the annual walk, said, “The walk itself was really cool because there were tons of people there that filled the pier. It was good to see that so many other people actually care.” Students stepped up to the microphone one by one with posters that shared the names and stories of what Amnesty International calls Human Rights Defenders: “people who on their own or with others take action to ensure the promotion and protection of human rights for all,” according Amnesty International’s official website. After sharing with the audience the names of reporters and activists, students proceeded to light candles and, together, walk down the Oceanside Pier . Ley said, “People with the will to help others around the world should join the Amnesty International club. There are a lot of unfair and inhumane actions being done in the world. Someone is being tortured or abused this very second. Everything is happening right now.” Club meetings are held on Tuesdays in room 154. ana reyes

student teams in homecoming flag football tourney which fought for top four positions

671

attendees at Homecoming foam dance, the best attended dance in the past eight years

tanding 5’11” and weighing barely more than 100 pounds, senior Logan Gallagher is a skinny man. His sweaters have elbow pads and he is known to quote philosophy. He also won the Nordstrom Scholarship, which pays $10,000 over four years. “I could buy 10,000 cheeseburgers.” said Gallagher, adding, “It is supposed to go to the four-year college that I go to.” The Nordstrom Scholarship is a prestigious award given to 40 students across the United States. Gallagher thanked his parents for motivating him to apply and SDA teacher Oly Norris for an excellent letter of recommendation. The application process is rigorous. It includes two essays, one about personal challenges, and the other about society’s greatest challenges, and an interview. Gallagher wrote an essay on his obstacles overcoming birth defects and familial issues and another saying that society’s greatest problem is its apathy and inability to address problems that it faces. Gallagher thought one of the reasons that he got the award was for an answer in his interview. When he was asked what he regretted about his childhood Gallagher said, “I said give me a minute. I said I wished I did more road trips with my grandpa and I choked up. I was embarrassed at the time, but I looked around and saw a few of the interviewers were getting choked up, so looking back I realize that it was genius, golden.” henry sweat

pumpkins thrown off the roof of the gym by SDA teachers in honor of Halloween

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Healthy Kids Survey results Last March, UCSD researchers conducted the annual Healthy Kids Survey and the results are in. Here, students speak for themselves. andrew kasselmann

ast school year, teenage students across California took the Healthy Kids Survey. The survey is state-mandated and is taken every other year. UCSD administers the survey to SDA, because it is the nearest UC school to the Academy campus. According to Andrea Diulio,

who helped coordinate the survey last spring, the results of the survey are used purely to observe trends and changes in the healthiness of the teenage community. Problems are identified through the survey, and the results are used to redefine the programs that the state has in place to help young adults. The survey changes each time it

Weight or Shape Has Influenced How I Feel About Myself In Past 3 Months

100% 75%

50%

vey are also UCSD students. They have been instructed to throw out surveys that they believe may have been filled out facetiously. If it appears that a student is making up answers or finishes the test in an inappropriately short period of time, the survey will not be submitted by the proctor to be scored, Diulio said.

Additionally, the question on the survey that asks for the survey taker’s mother’s initial is used in no way to identify students. It is used, however, to follow students anonymously as they progress through high school so that the state can observe how students change their habits as they grow older, Diulio said.

“I don’t feel satisfied with my body weight often so I try to get a lot of exercise, about four times a week and keep fit. Exercising helps.” -freshman girl

“My weight has influenced how I feel about myself ‘cause it makes me feel like I should compete with other girls.” -sophomore girl

should change the way someone feels about themselves and I don’t eat or exercise more or less because of it.” -sophomore girl

“My weight or shape affects how I feel about myself because people make fun of me and call me anorexic, even though I think I am the perfect weight.” -junior girl

“My weight has definitely made me feel bad about myself; I don’t think it should though, because I’m not like fat, I just get self-conscious sometimes. But it just made me really depressed and I started exercising less.” -junior boy

“Well I have really high self-esteem and I honestly couldn’t care less how other people view me ‘cause if they don’t like it, we won’t hang out and that’s that.” -senior boy

44 34

25%

is administered to reflect what issues the students are dealing with at the time. The accuracy of the survey is protected by safeguards written into the test, said Diulio. Each student’s answers are reviewed for inconsistencies or impossible scenarios that will invalidate the survey. The proctors for the sur-

16 6 Not at All

Slightly

Moderately

Extremely

“I am on the cross country team and in three clubs so I feel like I am involved in the school activities.” -freshman girl

Feel Like I Am a Part of My School

100% 75%

50%

25%

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19 6

Strongly Disagree

Disagree

“The feeling I get from being part of the school is feeling a connection with the people around you. Like you can go up to anyone and start a conversation.” -sophomore girl

“I’m comfortable with my weight so I feel good about myself. I don’t think weight

Comedy Sportz and stuff.” -sophomore boy “SDA is not normal and that is why I feel part of SDA.” -freshman boy “Not as much as I’d like to be. I just feel like I could do something more, like start a club or two, maybe join ASB.” -sophomore girl

“Yeah, because there are a lot of school activities during lunch. It is a small school so everyone knows everyone practically.” -freshman boy “So many of the teachers care about me. It makes it hard not to feel like a part of SDA.” -senior boy

“Yeah, I feel like a part of school. I go to dances, and Neutral

Agree

Strongly Agree

The Mustang and beginning journalism staffs conducted the interviews.

Mustang

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news 11.06.09 “I don’t do drugs because I know they will mess you up like nobody’s business.” -freshman girl

Lifetime Substance Use

100%

“I just started smoking because my friends gave it to me, and I took it.” -sophomore boy

75% 55 50%

39 27

25%

12 Alcohol

Marijuana

Other

Cigarettes

“I’ve stopped because I’ve been hanging out with a different group of friends.” -junior girl

Past Month Substance Use

50%

“It doesn’t affect my grades or anything, and it’s fun, and like I don’t think it’s addictive.”-senior boy

25%

“I drink about every other weekend with my friends.” -sophomore boy

15 6 Alcohol

Marijuana

Cigarettes

100% 75%

25%

“Is that a question? Every weekend fool! I just do it to have a good time.”-junior boy “No, I don’t binge drink because it’s stupid and it’s not worth having fun and then feeling really bad in the morning.” -sophomore girl

1 or 2 Binges

“I started from peer pressure. I stopped 3 months ago when my parents found out and I have not used it since.” -sophomore boy

“Yeah, I drink with my friends. My parents didn’t know specifically when, but they know that I do drink.” -sophomore boy

“Yeah, I’d wake and bake. After school was over, I’d buy a 30. I’d sell and smoke that. And then I’d go home and like at 3 I’d find someone to smoke with. And then at 9 I’d snap a bowl. Pretty much my day.”-sophomore boy

“I started drinking alcohol because it was cool, and I thought it would be fun, but I don’t do it anymore.” -junior girl

“I started with a group of friends because we thought it would be really fun to drink at parties. I’ve tried to stop... not gonna lie, it’s hard not to drink at parties.”-sophomore girl

“[It] just started with a kind of a rebellious phase, getting back at parents and I went to parties. I ended by just getting over it all. I didn’t buy drugs at all, I just used them at parties because people had them there.”-sophomore girl

Other

Number of Binge Episodes (5+Drinks/Occasion) of Past Month Drinkers

50%

“I started with cigarettes, then alcohol, then pot. After that, I don’t remember what I did next. There was ecstasy, shrooms, and maybe other stuff ”-junior boy

“It is unhealthy and the results are not worth the unlawfulness and the fact that I lose part of my logical consciousness.” -senior girl

“I binge drink five or more alcoholic beverages at least once a month just ‘cause. I usually do it with friends my age or a couple years older.” -sophomore boy

“No, I have never binge drank. Well actually I have but I just did it ‘cause I was super mad at someone and I thought I could just have fun for the night and forget about a fight I had with a close friend.” -junior girl “Sometimes it feels good just to lose control.” -senior boy

3 or More

Interviews conducted by the Mustang and beginning journalism staff

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No documents, no financial aid Thousands rejected from receiving financial aid due to citizenship status. liz avila and sandra morales

hen one SDA senior immigrated to the United States from Guatemala, he was only eight years old. Years earlier his parents left their home town and went to California to make money for their family, leaving him, his younger brother, and sister in their grandparent’s care. After having made the trip to America themselves, to what they called “the land of opportunity,” they returned for their children. They crossed the border illegally to take the necessary steps towards creating a better life in a better country. He started school in California in the fourth grade, not knowing any English. Now, he is in his final year of high school at SDA. Like every other student, he is ecstatic about his senior year. Like every other student, he has worked hard throughout the last few years. Like every other student he aspires to attend a good college, such as UCSD or UCLA. Yet, unlike most students, his plans of attending college are not guaranteed due to the lack of resources for financial aid. He said, “Right now, in reality, if I don’t make it then that’s it. I have two plans for after high school: go to college or go to work.” Every year 25,000 undocumented students graduate from state high schools throughout California. But every year a majority of those students are unable to pursue a higher education, whether it is at a community college or a four-year university, because state and federal law bans them from receiving financial aid. California is one of 10 states that allow undocumented students to pay in-state tuition at their public institutions. The law, AB 540, permits immigrant students to qualify for in-state tuition rates if they attended a California high school for at least three years, graduated from a California high school or attained a GED, and filed an oath promising to become a permanent resident at the earliest

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possible opportunity. However, AB 540 does not provide financial aid to those students. As a result, lawmakers in Sacramento introduced a new bill called the DREAM act. The Development, Relief and Education for Alien Minors Actwould allow undocumented students to compete for financial aid at the public colleges and universities in state. The bill has passed the Legislature three times, but has been vetoed by the governor every time. Republican Arnold Schwarzenegger explained his decision to veto the act: “I share the author’s goal of making affordable education available to all California students, but given the precarious fiscal condition the state faces at this time, it would not be prudent to place additional demands on our limited financial aid resources as specified in this bill.” The SDA senior identifies the most difficult aspect of being an undocumented student as not being allowed to apply for a lot of scholarships that he knows he would receive. “There are ways around it,” he said, “looking to private scholarships and going to private schools because they are not federal or state based.” According to in an interview with Cedillo’s press office, the Dream Act stands at a halt in the Senate appropriation committee. It will remain there unless the bill is amended to eliminate any fees, or it is re-introduced in another bill. This past year, a lawsuit was brought before the California Supreme Court. The lawsuit challenges the validity of AB 540. If the suit were to win, undocumented students would be forced to pay out of state tuition making it impossible for some students to attend college. Despite the pending lawsuit, AB 540 remains in full force and effect while the case works its way through the legal process. For now, the student is left to hope for a change in the near future.

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opinions 11.06.09

The instigation of conversation Mustang Discussions start with some flaws, but should be continued and expanded.

DA held its first session of Mustang Discussions during an extended homeroom period on Oct. 20. The apparent success of the discussions varied among homerooms, though the infant program generally ran smoothly. The Mustang Staff feels that although the program had some flaws, it was a worthwhile use of school time and should be continued. In fact, the program would be even better if there was an additional discussion period after lunch. Since students were sorted into themed homerooms to discuss a specific topic, the quality of discussions naturally varied among groups. The homerooms that discussed light topics, such as sports, music, and surfing, easily carried a discussion throughout the period, generally avoiding lulls in the conversation. The casual nature of those topics offered students who are not particularly outspoken the opportunity to voice their opinions about a very non-confrontational topic. The next discussion day should feature more homerooms with lighter topics, possibly including such themes as Favorite Foods and Dinosaurs. Other homerooms provided students with a forum in which to discuss heavier issues, such as “divorced parents” or “gender issues.” Some of these more serious discussions were often able to take off and progress at a natural pace, but others were

tainted by insensitivity and simple rudeness. Some of the more somber discussions also experienced periods where no one would speak, likely due to the specificity of the topic and the limited number of points that can be made regarding it. If SDA wishes to continue offering more serious topics to students for discussion, themes like Current Events and other less personal issues should be considered to limit the potential for insensitivity. Teacher participation was another factor that varied between the homerooms. Some discussions featured extensive anecdotes from teachers that seemingly halted discussion among the students; others saw little or no participation from teachers that resulted in an aimless conversation. The most successful discussions had teachers who participated to the same extent as the students and were able to revive the conversation after it had hit a wall. Although students were supposed to be placed into homerooms based on selections they made in a survey, some students were placed into a homeroom that was not among their top five choices. The organization of the surveying process will need to be improved in the future, as many students were unclear as to what they should be doing when the survey was administered and there was not an adequate amount of time

What’s up with...

“...celebrities not dying anymore?” daniel alguire, sophomore

i’m positive

STAFF EDITORIAL

nina moussavi Circle up Students on the Culture Committee reflect on Mustang Discussions.

for questions and explanations. Many students did not know what to expect when they walked through the door on Tuesday morning. Several discussions were animated throughout and would have made good use of additional discussion time. Many of these conversations were slow to start but quickly gained energy and momentum. At the end of the discussion period, students were not ready to stop the dialogue and walk away from their discussion group forever.

A schedule similar to Community Day’s that would include one discussion period before lunch and one discussion period after lunch would afford students extra time to convene with their group and resume their discussion without the awkward silence at the beginning. The staff of the Mustang had 26 votes to keep Mustang Discussions (18 of whom would like to see the discussion split into two parts throughout the day) and 2 to discontinue the program.

Mind over matter jack rushall

“. . . candy corn being three colors?” lennyn santacruz, freshman

“…teachers losing their voices?” ben atlas, senior

“. . . the new facebook updates?” chris kane, freshman

Worries are temporary, so think positively to get you through your troubles.

ad things are going to happen to you. That’s pretty expected. One day, you’re on top of the world; the next day, it’s on top of you. But what if this harsh reality didn’t have to be? What if a quick psychological fix is all it takes to make you all smiles? I mean, let’s say you squirt ketchup on your chest. It’s not what you think. It’s not that terrible. Because really, all you have to do is change your shirt, and then gradually it will be like it never happened. This can

be exemplified by big or small events. Remember when Janet Jackson got her bra tugged off at the Super Bowl? No, I know I just reminded you. Remember when you threw up at your grandparents’ wedding? Well, they’re probably dead now, so that’s basically natural selection. The point remains that whereas something might seemingly be “bad” today, doesn’t mean it won’t be washed away by the next embarrassing stunt you’re sure to pull. People

tend to focus on the now, even those you believe are watching your every otherwise disgusting or inhumane moves. Take, for example, sharing a school project. You freak out, worrying that you might say the wrong thing or maybe *gulp* even though you didn’t eat breakfast that morning because you were afraid that that fat kid in the first row would call you a sissy for lisping some of your presentation, throw up. But, I’m here to assure you, that you won’t remember this

occasion a day later. It’s that initial shock that is the easiest to disengage itself from your mind: because deep in your psyche you view it as negative. People are simple; we don’t like negativity. That’s why even if “Big Harold” does chuckle at your slideshow, you probably will be so psychologically into just getting things over with, that you won’t even notice. See? So apply that to your daily life. Make the leap, and as the Buddha says, you may attain happiness.

“. . . people being against the public option in the health care bill?” calvin sonniksen, freshman

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go barefoot!

nina comforti

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opinions 11.06.09

Stinky feet

The advocate for bare feet argues the benefit of going shoeless.

fter a long day, there’s nothing like coming home, sitting down, and taking off your shoes. The ache has started to form in the arch of your foot and you can feel the newly formed blister on your heel. After having gladly kicked off your shoes, you settle into your chair only to be welcomed by the disturbing stench coming from your newly freed feet. This overwhelming aroma has become a daily occurrence and a serious problem, often sending people around you running for fresh air. The smell is unbearable and there is one easy solution to this common issue:

simply go barefoot. Though in modern society it is frowned upon and often described as ‘gross’ or ‘hazardous,’ recent studies prove the opposite. Dr. Seuss once said, “You have brains in your head. You have feet in your shoes. You can steer yourself any direction you choose.” Dr. Seuss’s quote is no exception to the common misconception that shoes are required to go places. You can steer yourself any direction, shoed or not. Giving up on shoes has proven to be very freeing; relieving the non-shoe wearer of all the stresses from that day. Anyone

who has taken a walk on the wild side knows the feeling: the happiness starts in your feet and travels with you throughout the day. Sure, there might be some health reasons warning you against barring it all, but in the long run, going without shoes can actually be beneficial. Recently, runners have been advised to run barefoot seeing as shoes have been linked

to sprained and broken ankles because they do not support the natural form a foot takes when being exercised. Sure, the risk of stepping on something sharp is heightened when not wearing shoes, but when you walk barefoot, you are more aware of where you are putting your feet. As a result of this, you are more aware of your surroundings, and you then get the chance to appreciate the outdoors and the beauty the world offers. Got blisters? Got bunions? Do your feet smell really bad? The solution is so simple, you’ve just got to let loose and take off

your shoes. If you’re on a tight budget, stop buying so many shoes and just go without them. These days shoes are an expensive investment that break after being lightly worn, not to mention quickly develop that god awful smell. The outfit you’re wearing will look just as cute without the painful fashion statement shoes you insist on wearing. By going barefoot, you can enjoy the bare-necessities of life and feel the freedom emanating from your soles. So go ahead, take off your shoes and enjoy a nice walk. No shirt, no shoes, no problem!

taylor chapin

boot, shoe, sandal

Stinkier feet

taylor chapin

The shoe crusader takes a stand for shoes everywhere.

thlete’s foot (tinea pedis) is a fungal infection of the skin that causes scaling, flaking, and itching of affected areas, as defined by Wikipedia. It is typically transmitted in moist areas where people walk barefoot, and it can spread to other areas of the body, including the groin. Can I please get an order of that

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along with a side of Plantar’s warts? Can I please waste the day at the doctor’s waiting for a painful tetanus shot since I unexpectedly stepped on a rusty nail while barefooted? Please? People with un-shoed feet should have such requests stapled to their forehead along with a personal invitation for warts, calluses, cuts, and blisters to make themselves at home anywhere from their heel to their toe. The repulsive odor often associated with unclothed feet can also be easily avoided by wearing shoes. Okay, okay, I’ll admit, the odor itself stems from wearing shoes, but most of us are already stuck with stinky feet, so we might as well do our best to

cover it up. Recently, one of my shoeless friends stepped on a piece of glass resulting in an gaping gash on her foot. I feel no sympathy. This sort of thing could be prevented with the snap of a finger in the form of suitable footwear. Apart from being a smelly health hazard, going barefoot is against the law. It’s illegal to not wear shoes on school campus and could result in expulsion. Example A: a few years back a student’s senior year was abruptly cut short when he was expelled from SDA after refusing to wear shoes. A simple, slip-on sandal could’ve easily reversed this drastic expulsion. Who wants to end up in the principal’s office faced by Grove,

Jones, and Trocchio discussing the possible untimely end of your high school career at SDA just because you didn’t wear shoes? Just wear shoes. This isn’t to say incarcerate your feet when you’re dying to rip off your shoes after a long day and give the spaces in between your toes a chance to breathe. In the comfort of your own home, bare feet are perfectly acceptable and, by all means, encouraged. If you wear shoes all day, the reward experienced at the end of the day when relieving yourself of their confines will be far more. As for public places, just grin and bear it. In this day and age, there are so many options available that you can get shoes

that feel like basically close to nothing. Certain insoles could be similar to the feeling of walking on air no less. Not to mention, an outfit without shoes is just not a complete outfit. A fashion faux pas to say the least. Yes, shoes can be costly, but you don’t need an entire closet full to cover the basic necessities. Look in the $10 bin at your local thrift store for everything from boots to heels. It’s basically a no-brainer to avoid run-ins with the law, offending the people around you, your own personal spot on the worst-dressed list, and unforeseen health complications. Leave the hippie style back in the ‘60s where it belongs and just wear shoes.

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opinions 11.06.09

Candy has no age limit

kerry roberson

Aaron Carter said it best: I want candy. But doorslams and laughter greeted this year’s teen trick-or-treaters.

“S

rumbly tumbly

o what are you guys doing for Halloween this year?” my mom asked at the dinner table in mid-October. My brother shrugged and I simply responded “Um, trick-or-treating!” My parents laughed, and then my mom inquired, “No, really. What are your plans? Any decent parties?” Hold up. Why is going trick-or-treating in the least bit comical? I was being completely serious. I had had my costume all planned out-an ‘Emerald Green’ crayon-and people were laughing?! “What?” I asked my mom, wary of the situation. “Why is that amusing?” “Honey, isn’t trick-or-treating for, like, younger kids? I would slam the door in your face if someone your age came to the door.” I avoided arguing but inside, I was bursting. When did Halloween turn into something that only little kids can enjoy? Last time I checked, teenagers enjoy a fun-sized Snickers bar just as much as a toddler does. Call me crazy, but I want to trick-ortreat, dammit. The first time I was met with a door slam rather than a handful of sweets was in eighth grade. My friends from the vol-

leyball team and I all dressed up as bunnies, fluffy ears and tails intact. We scampered around the neighborhood, loading up our pillowcases, until we hit the house on the corner. A woman who had made a pitiful attempt at dressing as a witch opened the door, carrying a cauldron chock full of Smarties. She looked at me and my friends, tall and lanky from our early growth spurts, and sneered. “Aren’t you a little old for this?” she asked, shutting the screen door. “I think those playboy bunny costumes would warrant more candy at a party than my house anyways.” Just a few seconds later, the “Trick-or-treat” mantra still echoing in my head, I found myself with a red door staring back at me, my hands empty and my heart full of dejection. Why am I too old for this? Where is the cutoff, where you are deemed too tall, too mature, too old to celebrate this holiday? Gone are the days of dressing silly to frolic carelessly along streets lit up with jacko-lanterns and smiling people; instead, we are expected to be partying somewhere, out of sight, out of mind. The worst part is that

Jocelyn Lee The day before Halloween, SDA students proudly sport their costumes, proving nobody’s too old to enjoy dressing up for candy.

pretty much every house that hands out candy ends up with leftovers: a bag of untouched fun-sized candy bars, a few spare tootsie rolls, a handful of lonely Hershey’s kisses. And what is the fate of these leftovers, these unwanted morsels? They sit in ‘the drawer,’ the place where parents keep all the stuff they don’t want the kids

to get into. They sit there, those lonely Butterfingers, uneaten, unwanted, then after they have fermented for a few months, unappetizing. And the final, lamentable destiny of this leftover Halloween candy is, in fact, the trash. And I’m getting thrown off someone’s front porch for being too old? The stingy people have

Food for thought As their wallets slowly empty out, kids look for a solution to pricey food.

cara reichard

leftovers, for goodness sake, and I’m being turned down? I plan my costume and dress up; I walk around the neighborhood, lugging my pillowcase behind me. I do the same work as the little kids, who get no pre-judgment, just candy. I, on the other hand, as a teenager, get nothing except an empty heart and an empty candy bag.

am a self-proclaimed compulsive eater. Whether or not this is medically accurate, well, the doctors can decide. The fact remains, however, that when food is placed in front of me I will eat it. Incessantly. Until it is gone. Sadly, this obsession of mine is not without consequences. There’s the short-term pains of a stomach stretched far passed the point of comfort, as well as the more long-term future of morbid obesity that I fear I have to look forward to later in life. However, these are both things I have long since made my peace with. What is not so easy to accept, however, is the fact that, no matter how much I might wish otherwise, food costs money. Money that I don’t have.

We all know the expression “money doesn’t grow on trees,”—it’s the reason we’re given for not being able to have as much as we want. What’s funny, though, is that food actually does grow on trees—among other places—and yet we still can’t have as much as we would like. It still comes down to money. And, for those of us with a large appetite and no reliable source of income, this can become a bit problematic. We certainly all appreciate free food when we can get it. On Free Burrito Day, I booked it down El Camino after field hockey practice to try and make it to Chipotle by six, and arrived at 6:01 only to find the line of hungry students still nearly out the door. It seems we’re all

living for these once-a-year opportunities, but why should our chances at a free meal be so few and far between? What about the rest of the time? Kids who go off campus every day, or buy food in the school cafeteria, can end up, in the long run, spending exorbitant amounts of money on something that passes right through them in a matter of hours. Delicious, yes. Practical, not so much. This may just seem like an irrefutable truth of life, not even worth fighting against. But there are, in fact, many changes we can make. First, to start it off, we could plant some trees around the school. You know, apples, oranges, peaches, plums. Maybe throw in a blueberry bush or

two for good measure. If we dot the campus with these fruity delicacies, no student will ever go hungry—or broke—again. Next we could add a farming class to the ROP elective list, set up a nice little open-access potato farm behind the science building, and insert a potato slicer and fryer in the corner of the Mustang Center for those who can’t afford to make it to In-N-Out that day. And it doesn’t even have to stop there. Why not replace Community Day with school-wide burritomaking day? Fill homecoming week with various food samples that fit the theme of the day? Food does not have to be responsible for emptying our pockets—both our stomachs and our wallets can stay full.

Death by Dried Paint

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Mustang

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opinions 11.06.09 ain’t the pic pretty?

Drive-in out of town Drive-ins: they’re awesome.

danielle gradisher

Death by Dried Paint

my eyes are open

n iconic shot: two people sit in a Cadillac, staring through the windshield. One slides closer across the bench seat, tilting slowly toward the other. The flicker of a black and white movie being projected on a huge screen 60 feet away highlights her pony-tail and his strong jaw line. For so many years, the drivein movie theater was a place to go with parents, friends, and your current steady. It boomed in the fifties and

sixties, where every movie was displayed on the even bigger screen under the stars. What happened to this feat of ingenuity? Where has that gem of lights, cameras, and dancing popcorn commercials gone? If the drive-in was a person there would be a nationwide missing person alert. The news stations would have pictures floating in the upper right

jocelyn lee

Colored pants are better than blue jeans. Yeah.

t’s like standing above a crowd looking for someone, but everyone has same hair color. Actually no, it’s not like that because the thing is that I’m not actually looking for someone. And while not everybody has the same hair color, everybody has the same color of pants. Not that I normally look for people by crawling on the floor and looking at the color of their pants, but what I’m trying to say is that if hair can be different colors than why can’t pants? Sure, there are already differ-

leaving nothing of our past that our present can connect to. We see drive-ins in movies and TV shows set in the past, just as we see record players and cassette tapes. But how many of us have actually seen/touched/felt/experienced these first hand? Those who have are oddities, outliers in a country of centrists. Take it back. Take back the history, take back the past. Too much has slipped into the black hole that is human memory, lost forever. Something this perfect, something this fun, does not deserve to fall to the wayside with eight-tracks and Polaroids.

Wear the rainbow

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hand corner of the screen at all times. An AMBER Alert would blare on all frequencies. The backs of milk cartons would be adorned with its black and white picture. The search would be, in a word, frantic. Instead, we have allowed this treasure to fade from our vacant lots like stick baseball and the occasional game of horse shoes. We have allowed the drive-in, which was once a cultural icon, to fade into the night as the credits roll. We have severed yet another tie to our past. The Technology Age has consumed the Golden Age,

ent shades of jeans - dark denim, normal denim, light denim, bleached denim- but it’s all the same to me. What the world needs is a little more variety. It’s time to spice things up for those who have nothing but five pairs of the same traditional shade of long, blue denim jeans and wear them every single day. There is nothing wrong with you, or your taste in pants, for that matter. You don’t even have to buy colorful pants; you could wear some shorts, or some tights

and a skirt, or even some nifty Huckleberry-Finn-style overalls, maybe. But on the rare occasion when I see someone with bright neon, orange pants, my heart fills with glee. Even when I spot an individual with bright sky blue jeans, I smile on the inside. Since so many people wear mundane denim pants every day, I don’t really notice them. Perhaps it is when I spot a large group of people and I notice that the lower half of their

bodies all look exactly the same that truly instigates my strong feelings towards this subject. It just makes me feel better when the pattern of the similarshaded pants is broken with at least one person wearing, say, red pants. After all it only takes one person to make all the difference. The hard part is getting these individuals to show their true colors, to start this new revolution, to step out of the box and start wearing something out of the ordinary.

Mustang

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opinions 11.06.09

More troops? No.

Afghanistan

Genghis Khan personally leads conquest, demolishing enitre cities and killing thousands of native Afghans.

1893

Durand Line Treaty establishes present-day border with Pakistan to limit British influence. The Durand Line split Afghan tribes into different countries, creating tension between Afghanistan and Pakistan. The border region now ranks in the top ten most dangerous places in the world.

1919

Afghanistan gains independence from Great Britain after three Anglo-Afghan wars.

1980’s

Greate Britan occupies Afghanistan for fear of expansion of Russian influence in Central Asia.

Soviet Union occupies Afghanistan, “aiding” the Marxist Afghan government against the U.S. supported Islamist Mujahideen Resistance.

1989

1800’s

1200’s

Afghanistan has been the victim of years of invasion, drug trafficking, religion-driven violence, and political upheaval. Foreign powers both near and far have occupied the region and the effects of the occupations are clear. Should President Obama send more troops or start bringing them home? Analysis by Ana Reyes and Kyle Shohfi.

Withdrawal of Soviet Union creates power vacuum in Afghanistan. Government is characterized by warlordism.

2001

1992

Civil war period: The Taliban, a Sunni Islamist religioius and political movement, seizes 95% of counrty.

9/11 al-Qaeda attacks the U.S. The Taliban is delegitimized as government of Afghanistan and U.S. installs Hamid Karzai as Interim President.

ight years ago, the Bush Administration’s decision to invade Afghanistan in response to al-Qaeda’s attacks on Sep. 11 was almost universally accepted by the American public. Since that autumn of 2001, public support for the seemingly interminable war has waned drastically, especially in light of reports that Osama bin Laden and other key Qaeda operatives are stationed in Pakistan—not Afghanistan. Thousands of lives, both American and Afghan, have been claimed by the war, and the public is currently split on whether to continue the war and augment the number of troops or to begin the process of bringing the troops home. Given that bin Laden is likely located in the mountains of Pakistan, the logical course of action appears to be to withdraw the troops from Afghanistan and possibly relocate the troops to Pakistan. However, polls conducted among the Afghan people show that the majority of Afghans believe that the U.S. presence in Afghanistan is beneficial to the country’s security, so there is certainly motivation to stay. Of course, winning the war would be another obvious incentive, but then that raises the question, “Can we win?” answerable only by the question, “Win what?” If the objective is to capture bin Laden, American resources would clearly be better allocated in Pakistan. Meanwhile, every day that the U.S. stays in Afghanistan presents a threat to every soldier in the country. The number of

http://southport.jpl.nasa.gov

insurgents has actually increased in recent years, and car-bombs and other homemade explosives are becoming more numerous. October 2009 was the deadliest month of the war for the U.S. so far, and there is no indication that that figure will decrease. The people who are killing Americans are not Qaeda operatives or members of another terrorist organization, but rather Afghan citizens who detest the American occupation of their country. The enemy, therefore, cannot be targeted as a specific group, since anyone in the country has the potential to attack U.S. soldiers. The fact is that the force occupying Afghanistan is the United States military, not a collection of Rent-A-Cops. The U.S. military should not be used to provide security for a foreign nation, but instead to accomplish a clear-cut objective to preserve the safety and liberty of the American people. They are soldiers, not security guards, and they deserve the respect and appreciation for their lives that all Americans expect. Though proponents of the war argue that the American presence helps the security of Afghanistan, the U.S. occupation

65,000 40,000 7,589 2,752 $230,800,000,000+

causes conflict that would not otherwise exist. The car-bombs and other improvised explosive devices are aimed specifically at American soldiers, usually killing several Afghans in addition to the intended American targets. Anti-American sentiment has also led to the revival of certain radical groups, such as the Taliban, that use violence and intimidation to manipulate public opinion. The United States certainly needs to begin preparations to exit, but the withdrawal must be planned carefully and with due consideration to all of the effects it will bear upon the Afghan people. Withdrawal without the establishment of a sturdy and legitimate infrastructure for the Afghan government would result in a power vacuum and a bloody struggle that would eventually end with a despotic regime. As President Obama weighs his options in the coming days, it is critical that he bears in mind the more logical allocation of troops in Pakistan, the danger facing American soldiers each and every day in Afghanistan, and the number of Afghan civilians who have already been killed in the war.

U.S. troops in Afghanistan

2009

2004

additional U.S. troops requested by military commanders

Karzai elected as president of Afghanistan with 55.4 percent of the vote. Karzai narrowly wins presidential election. Evidence of fraud leads to a proposal for a run-off race. Challenger Abdullah Abdullah withdraws from the race Nov. 1. Karzai wins.

Afghan civilians killed in war so far Americans killed in 9/11 attacks spent on war in Afghanistan page

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essays

11.06.09

casey dayan

God’s Extended Hand The entrance to the homeless mission student Casey Ellis Dayan and friend Will Bray volunteered to help serve food, clean, and talk to its attendees.

g neglected e

minority

Some things seem so far away until you press your nose up against them. So we drove downtown and did just that. Story by Casey Dayan

ome passing business executive of some subsidiary of some company shifts his eyes away from you as if to say, “You look crazy, and I don’t really have the time to deal with you.” He moves in slow motion, cell phone in hand, shouting of the recent loss of revenues and how his inferior’s ability to change his lack of competence will be necessary in determining whether he’ll be standing in the unemployment line or not at the end of the next quarter. His hands are in his pockets, hidden from

the air that condenses his breath. Your mouth is open, pushing your raw red chin against your chest in hopes to keep it warm. Your home this week is, luckily, shared only by a few others and is underneath an unfinished awning of cement-covered scaffolding. That sick, unwashed hair smell is stuck inside your sinuses. Steam and smell wafts up from another like you, urinating on himself in hopes of briefly alleviating himself from the cold. This is not the home

to anything pleasant, really. This is a place where you are the third person to try to lick the oil from a gutterdipped McDonald’s French fry container. This is a place where food and sun and happiness are as scarce as in the Arctic, and starvation and melancholy and bitter dispositions are, in no form, lacking. This is a place that accepts people from any religious denomination or previous lifestyle or socioeconomic status. This is a place where any of us might be headed.

It is said that inspiration comes from some of the most unlikely places; I just never pictured a bus.

A few months into the summer of 2009, a friend and I took a public bus from home to the Westfield Mall in Carlsbad, California. A stop later, an off–looking woman sat down parallel to us. Her skin was cratered and weathered, her teeth discolored. Jagged. Somehow we got to talking. She was very friendly and open and told us a lot about herself, probably more than we needed to know. Her words were laced with strange metaphors, her stories full of embellishment and she obviously suffered from some form of paranoia. She was a long-time drug addict. She told us that now, even when she would cease her drug use, she continued to suffer from delusions and hallucinations. She had come to terms with her maladies and sought help, but there was no help. She told us that she actually begged to be institutionalized, but without health care, to no avail. This shocked me. She wanted to be put away? My first thought towards mental institutions is one that I believed was mutual throughout everybody: Don’t get put into one. They’re bad.

To our surprise, we learned that some citizens are asking for more mental help institutions.

casey dayan

A humble abode A photo of a sadly all-too-familiar home for some. Taken right across the street from God’s Extended Hand.

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But that is not necessarily true. As realistically acted as she was, Nurse Ratchet is fictitious. Mental institutions are highly regulated, generally pleasant places to be, and they’re in demand. According to journalist Mike Nichols and the National Coalition for the Homeless, about 45 percent of the homeless population suffer from a group of illnesses including depression, bi-polar disorder, and schizo-affective disorder. These disorders could greatly impede one’s ability to hold a job, comprehend money, or use any of the skills necessary to maintain a healthy lifestyle. Jeff Singer, president and CEO of Health Care for the Homeless, says in an Indypendant Reader interview, “…a lot of people are homeless because they have health problems that cost them their jobs and eventually

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a homeless mission dedicated to giving the homeless a place to stay and eat twice a day, six days a week. It Instead of more, we gave them way less. was here that a friend Unfortunately, during the 70’s the California state government implemented a project known as “deinstitu- of mine and I decided tionalization,” during which most state-run mental-help to volunteer and talk with some of its atfacilities were shut down or greatly downsized. “The tendees and learn more plan was to create community health centers where the about their situations. mentally ill could receive outpatient treatment, along The place is small. with residential facilities for those unable to make it on Humble. The voltheir own. Needless to say, the plan failed miserably,” unteers there are all said in the blog titled A National Shame: The Mentally regulars, and know Ill Homeless. Because of this, approximately 1.75 mileach other, and talk lion people in America are neglected and without help. plenty of trash. NothAlcoholics have A.A. The elderly have old folks’ homes. Where can the mentally ill go? Even the few state facili- ing is excessively nice, and it makes for a nice, ties left are running on a faulty system. homey feel. But no There are so few facilities that they have massive matter how accomnumbers of people coming through. The problem is mental-help facilities cannot functionally operate like an modating, the smell is hard to shake. The emergency room. You can slap a cast on a leg, or give a casey dayan shot or two, but most patients in need of psychiatric care piece of the mission The Eye of the Hurricane A volunteer working kitchen duty inside the homeless mission. need it long term. Even if you are of the lucky few, odds open to the public is who just need time to get back on their feet, and those a class-room sized dining hall with are you are not properly treated. who physically cannot. twelve plastic tables. A podium with “They call it the revolving “It’s the deranged ones. The destitute who talk to a microphone stands on the far end of door,” San Dieguito Academy themselves that need help. And they. Can’t. Get. Better. the entrance. Outside, San Dieguito teacher James Hrzina explains. Without it. Academy’s art teacher Jeremy Wright “You walk in, they take care of and a group of students decorated the you until you’re acting fine and -Anonymous interviewee entire exterior of the building with In the end it was a truly noteworthy experience. they let you back out into an mosaic. Upon entering, I was confused What we picked up there really was valuable. It’s so environment where your mental as to why Wright and his class chose to decorate the easy to inanimate the homeless from a human being to health will, once again, decline. It’s cyclical.” an eye-sore, and we do it so often. Before visiting God’s It’s the kind of thing that, until seen personally, is no place as opposed to raising money or donating food. By the end of my experience there, though, my confusion Extended Hand, we assumed that the majority of the more than words and it isn’t a publicized subject. Even was resolved. people we would be talking to would have very little after a personal family member was diagnosed with knowledge to share, even of their own current situations paranoid schizophrenia, massive depressive disorder, and , but it was the complete opposite. They were entirely manic-depressive disorder, it took substantial time and We were surprised at the helpfulness of the ataware. And they were suffering. research and inquiries of real personal accounts to fully tendees of this particular homeless mission. We put on gloves and helped serve them food. I was understand what was going on. We introduced ourselves to the owner, Pastor Curtis, surprised at how I personally felt about volunteering. This family member began to worsen in her condiand sat down in a sea of strangers. The air was nervous I was expecting a warm good-deeds feeling that never tion, which led to her arrest on numerous occasions. and stagnant and we needed to break the ice before we came. It was the eyes of the men and women who took Each time, she was psychologically evaluated for a 72 froze to death. We said hello. The first man we spoke to the food from my hands. They all looked at me the hour period, after which we would receive a call asking was an unshaven African-American who looked as if he for her current health care provider. She had no health were somewhere in his mid 40’s. We asked him a few of same way. It was a look that held not just gratitude, but confusion. That’s what got me. I could tell, after identicare provider. She would be released within the hour. our pre-written questions, but they quickly lost pertifying with them, that a large majority felt like there was Currently, she lives with no water or electricity and if it nence. He was surprisingly articulate and before long, nobody out there to help. Like they weren’t worth the weren’t for the house payments being made by another many others had joined the conversation. bother. member of our family, she would be homeless. He gave us his background. How he became homeA last look at the classic SDA-ey mural wrapped less. He explained that he had previously lived in Las around the building shined light on exactly why it was So we went to find out how the sufferers felt Vegas when he and his girlfriend started using amphetthere. This essay does not serve as any sort of solution to amines. He said he lost everything to it. about how the state was handling things. this problem, but while we are waiting for one, it doesn’t “It was crack. And I hit bottom.” He paused for a On one side of the road stands a grease-spotted makehurt to let them know that we’re trying. That mural is second and looked down at his feet. “I hit bottom all shift shelter made from cardboard, old fabric, shopping exactly what they need. It’s an attempt to make sure at once. I had no money, no food, no nothin’. Then carts and plastic bags. Bits of food and vomit spackle the nobody looks confused when they’re given help. With we were walkin’ down by the train tracks when [his ground. On the opposite side is God’s Extended Hand, half of the country arguing that we shouldn’t make any girlfriend] ran straight policy changes whatsoever; “They just like to know,” as off. All the drugs were Wright said, “that we care.” makin’ her so depressed, their housing…” Without money, they can’t fix whatever health problems impede them from making more. It’s a vicious cycle.

[

“

]

It was crack. And I hit bottom

casey dayan

A Somber Truth More of the scenery around the homeless mission in down-town. San Diego.

she walked straight in front of the train. Right in front of me. And that was it. I said to myself, ‘I’m done.’” He found his way to San Diego a few days later. We met him his third night here, trying to get his life back in order after the traumatic experience. Without prompts or leading questions, he explained that, from his point of view, there was a discernable difference between the homeless

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The opening of the futuristic movie “2012” feeds ideas of cataclysmic events tied to the end of the Mayan calendar. “2012,” right, premieres on Nov. 30 worldwide. Althoughseveral rumors have spread, it is questionable if this prophecy is valid. As the opening date draws closer, talk about the prediction has escalated on campus. By Kate Murphy.

whowillsurvive2012.com

TIDAL WAVE? Our world could look like this sooner than we think.

End of ze world...WTF, mate?! A

re we going to die in three years? I cannot speak for the entire population, but in regards to an apocalypse look-alike or a curse from the cosmos above, I am going to say the answer is no. I will say, however, that amidst the hysteria of the Mayan prophecy and the release of the movie “2012” Nov. 13, it may not be skeptical or naïve for some to believe so. With the doomsday movie hype, the craze is at its peak. Trailers, billboards and television commercials have engrained the idea into our society mind that the possibility the earth coming to an end in the near future is in fact viable. How is it that we know what’s in store for us as a planet? Well, we don’t for certain. One of the most persistently cited sources for this apocalyptic prediction is the Mayan civilization. The Mayan Empire, which spanned from 2000 BC to 900 AD, encompassed most southern states of Mexico, reaching all the way to current locations of

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Guatemala, Belize, El Salvador, and Honduras. Not only was the Mayan civilization the only set of Pre-Columbian Americans to have a fully developed written language, but it also excelled in art and architecture, mathematics, and most notably, astronomy and the cyclical nature of time. Teacher Scott Huntley explains “The Mayans had a sophisticated system of telling time and seasonal changes.” The Mayan calendar, which closely correlates with our own Gregorian calendar, has a complicated system of cyclical counts that roughly defines the amount of time between one creation and the next. The current creation began, according to this count system, on Aug. 11 of 3114 BC and is scheduled to end in Dec. 12 of 2012. This calendar phenomenon is the backbone of the prediction that our world will end on this date. A skeptical view is described NASA scientist David Morrison, who runs the website “Ask an Astrobiologist.” He explains that an alternative prediction of our

world ending began with claims that Nibiru, a planet supposedly discovered by the Sumerians, is headed towards earth. Zecharia Sitchin, a fiction author specializing in the Sumer civilization, claimed that he had found documents that validate the existence of the planet Nibiru. It is said that this planet would collide with Earth by May 2003, yet when that proved to be false, the date was pushed back to December 2012. Morrison notes, “Sumer was indeed a great civilization, important for the development of agriculture, water management, urban life, and especially writing. However, they left very few records dealing with astronomy…. Claims that Sumerians had a sophisticated astronomy, or that they even had a god named Nibiru, are the product of [author] Sitchin’s imagination.” Morrison continues to explain that it was only recently that the Mayan and Sumerian prophecies, or “fables” as he calls it, were linked together. Morrison continues on to explain

that although the Mayans were far from inept, their calendar system, “whether contemporary or ancient, cannot predict the future of our planet or warn of things to happen on a specific date such as 2012.” The buildup to the year 2012 resonates fear as well as cynicism throughout our campus, especially from those who are graduating that year. Sophomore Jenny Fisher commented “I think most people think it’s a joke, but I do have some friends who are convinced there is other scientific evidence that the world will end.” Huntley notes that in his current class’s discussions, he has noticed the topic coming up more frequently than in past years. “On tests, I give my students the option to not take it because their grades won’t matter anyway in three years,” he joked. Our society has great interest in the idea of a 2012 apocalypse, which perhaps says something about our values and the way we live our lives. To generalize

American culture is to say that we live in the future; we make plans far in advance and base our decisions on what follows. I know that I myself plan ahead, filling my head with times and deadlines that probably don’t even matter in the long run. But, the idea of changing this aspect of human beings would be more than unrealistic. It is simply how we operate. Even if the 2012 end-ofworld prophecy is true, I am not going to preach that you should not care about anything or simply give up. But, maybe just keep the idea in the back of your mind that life does not in fact continue on forever. Dwelling on things that we cannot control is not sensible. For the time being, living in the present comes much more to our benefit. For all we know, we may only have three more years.

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features 11.06.09 other after-school activities sometimes conflict with the ability to sit down and eat with family. Senior Matt Grau does not eat dinner with his entire family most of the time because his brothers will be out. Grau, however, does not feel like he is missing out much without family dinners. Senior Andy Lopez use to sit down for dinners but his family is just too busy. “Activities definitely make it difficult for us to eat together. That’s actually why we aren’t able to set a time for dinner because we [kids] have different practice times or tutoring times,” Lopez said. “We don’t [eat together] anymore unless it’s a holiday celebration or we all happen to be at home to eat dinner. We’re just too busy sometimes,” he said.

Awkward situations

While some students do sit down with their families often, they feel like it can sometimes be a hassle. Junior Ryan Santore and sophomore Victor Morales agree that sometimes eating dinner with family can be irritating. “It’s annoying when I have a lot of homework and have to sit at the table but it’s sometimes fun to find out what my family did that day,” Santore said. “We all make time to have dinner together but sometimes it’s a hassle because there are times that we have fights and don’t want to be around each other,” Morales said.

A vacant seat

Come m together get

Whether you dread it, or love it, families are still gathering around the dinner table to connect. Story by Nicole Fisher and drawing by Rieko Michelle Whitfield.

fter a long day at work, a father returns home to his house for a relaxing evening with his family. As he swings open the front door, the smell of the night’s meal surrounds him. It’s not just pot roast but the aroma of his wife’s labor over dinner. The man shouts out, “Honey, I’m home.” When he walks into the kitchen his entire family, with huge smiles on their faces, is waiting for him to sit down and eat. The family talks and about their day and they all enjoy a nice home-cooked meal. The words “family dinners” tend to be associated with a picture of this 1950s housewife waiting with her home-cooked meal for her husband. In this day and age, with the number of activities teenagers have during the regular week, it might seem hard to get everyone together to sit down and eat. But believe it or not, families are still trying to find a way to connect through the traditional family dinner. Senior Sheta Chatterjee sits down with her family every night. Her mom will make Indian food and at least once a week, her family will go out to eat together. “We

have lots of discussions [at dinner]. It’s the time when we all talk about our days. If I have stressful stuff going on I ask my parents and they give me advice or my dad tells us about how things are going in his business,” Chatterjee said. Because they sit down every night, Chatterjee feels like her family has a strong bond and trust. “My family is really close,” she said. “We share everything with each other.” Sophomore Michelle Yu eats with her family every night. Over the weekends her family will eat lunch together as well. “For me it’s just a habit. I have been sitting with family at dinner since I was little. I like sitting with company while eating,” Yu said.

After-school activities interrupt family time

Junior Brittany Parker eats dinner with her family every night but does admit that activities sometimes get in the way. “It is sometimes hard to have dinner together when you play sports but we usually just eat later,” Parker said. Like Parker, many students do feel like sports and

Another reason why families do not eat together anymore is because older siblings have moved out. “My family use to have very funny and energetic dinners before my two sisters moved out,” junior KaWatkins said. Since her sisters have left, her family still tries to get together often. “We usually met at my sister’s house because she just had her first baby [this last] May,” she said. Senior Ally Zimbalist has had two brothers move out. “We used to be a family of five and we would never eat together because we always had different schedules and so we were just not use to it,” Zimbalist said. Now that the family is smaller, Zimbalist eats with her family more often. On average Zimbalist will sit down with her family once or twice a week.

Food is not the only connecting force

Some families might not sit down to eat together anymore but there are other ways that families have learned to bond with each other. Zimbalist plays cards and board games with her family once a month. She will also sit down and watch television with her dad and as a family they go to Berry Happy for frozen yogurt occasionally. Lopez and his family have movie nights. “[We] all gather around the living room eating junk food,” Lopez said. Family dinners might not be done the same way as in the past but families are still finding ways to bond and talk with each other. “We don’t need to have a meal to share how we feel,” Chatterjee said.

Gathering around the dinner table benefits teens in other ways as well. The National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse at Columbia Univeristy (CASA) conducted a study to show the connection between family dinners and teenage substance abuse. The results of the survey showed that teens who ate dinner more frequently with thier families were less likely to smoke, drink and use illegal drugs. In the 2007 study, 59 percent of teens reported having dinner with their family at least five times a week. The study also showed 92 percent of teens prefer to have dinner with their family when they have the opportunity. The CASA study results have been in the same ballpark since 1996, when the study began.

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A amigo true a i Senior Samantha Maisel went to Mexico this summer; it was no vacation. As a volunteer she taught school children, above, helped a community, and learned that happiness does not come from how much you have, but how much you give. Story by Elisa Figueroa. page

Photo courtesy of Samantha Maisel

amantha Maisel wakes up in the middle of the night. Outside the rain is thudding against the tin roof. She feels sick and groans at the thought of getting up to use the latrine. Once outside, she is instantly soaked as she steps into the slushy mud of the small Mexican village. At this time at night in Santa Ana Tlapacoyan, it is too dark to see the bugs as they fly around and the dog as it barks at her threateningly. Maisel reaches the latrine and emotionally breaks down. She is sick, cold, wet, scared and has never felt so alone and homesick in her entire life. She has to remember why she volunteered to go to this rural village in Mexico. Maisel is a senior at San Dieguito Academy and in summer 2009 she stayed in Santa Ana Tlapacoyan, Mexico for six weeks with an organization called AMIGOS. While there, she spent time with host families, including a two-toothed grandma, taught around 40 kids of the village about health and cleanliness, and experienced some festivities of the Mexican culture. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I first heard about AMIGOS from my friend and she showed me pictures. It looked really cool,â&#x20AC;? Maisel said. Maisel also thought it would greatly improve her Spanish, and might even look nice on a college application. AMIGOS is a non-profit youth volunteer organization that reaches out to towns and villages in Latin America. AMIGOS volunteers travel to different Spanish speaking countries and live in host communities with host families. While there, they help address health and education priorities and better the community.

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Maisel explains that she was supposed to go to Honduras but because of the coup, AMIGOS transferred her to Santa Ana Tlapacoyan. The village is located in the southwestern part of Mexico. “We had to fly to the city of Oaxaca, drive for three hours in a bus, and drive two more hours in a taxi to get to the village,” Maisel said. The first thing she noticed was how poor the village appeared. She later described it as very rundown with tiny shacks made of sticks and mud with painted houses scattered here and there. “To go on these kids of trips you have to be in a certain mindset,” Maisel said. Maisel definitely had to keep the right mindset because for the next six weeks she was going to live in one of those tiny shacks. Her second host family’s home was made of sticks and had a tin roof. She slept on a cot that she brought from home. There was no electricity, technology, or gas. All meals were cooked on an open fire, and what little entertainment they had time for came from non-electronic activities. The house had no clean water which meant that Maisel had to put chlorine tablets in the water she drank. She also had to bucket bathe instead of showering.

was a beautiful experience. “Everyone had flowers and candles,” Maisel said.

Sickness was tough, but part of the experience

On a lower note, Maisel was sick to her stomach almost everyday. “Even though I put chlorine tablets in my water, I was still sick a lot,” she said. “One of my original fears of going to Mexico was getting swine flu,” she said. “Thankfully, I didn’t though.” Being sick all the time caused Maisel to become homesick, especially that night when she was stuck in the latrine. “In the whole time I was there, I was only able to write once, and call once,” she said. “And when I was sick, I just wanted to talk to my parents.” “When I was there, I was homesick for my family. And now that I’m home, I’m homesick for there,” Maisel said. Back in the US now, Maisel said that she misses her

host families the most out of everything else. She is currently staying in touch with them. Maisel and her family plan to stay in Oaxaca for Christmas so she can visit them. Maisel said that she is planning to continue volunteering with amigos and that she wants to speak about her experience to other people in the future. Maisel now has a different perspective on life in America. “When I walked into my house for the first time in six weeks, and I saw all my stuff and all the technology, I started to cry,” she said. “We take everything for granted here.” Maisel went on to say that the people in Santa Ana Tlapacoyan had nothing and yet they were so happy, and so generous and nice to her. “They really believed that people here are treating their friends and family members the same,” Maisel said. “I wish that were the case.”

Nobody’s perfect

Maisel ate her meals with a different family each day because a single family could not afford to feed her for the duration of her stay. “I would look forward to eating breakfast with a new family,” she said. While eating with the different families, they would share their boarder crossing stories and talk about how different family members were working in California. Some even knew people who were working on streets like Santa Fe and Nardo in Encinitas. In turn, Maisel would talk to the families although sometimes she would make mistakes. At times, Maisel accidentally said the wrong things, thinking she was saying something else. “I wanted to go on a horseback ride but instead of saying ‘Quiero montar caballo,’ I said ‘Quiero montar caballero,’ which means ‘I want to ride a cowboy.’ They got a huge kick out of it and would joke about it every time they saw me,” Maisel said. Maisel taught in a little schoolhouse for the rest of the day. She taught the six– to eight-year-olds about physical hygiene, dental hygiene, and nutrition. She explained that they were a little shy at first, but they quickly warmed up to her. Pretty soon, she was receiving love notes from the kids. “They were real cute,” she said. Maisel also taught an older group of 14-to-16-yearolds. She taught them about self expression, and she had them write poems. The poems the teenagers wrote were mostly about love, loss, pain, and their families. She also taught the people of the village how to cook with amaranth. Amaranth is a purple, red, or gold plant that is rich in important nutrients such as protein, folic acid, vitamins, calcium, and iron.

Sleep was welcome, but not the loneliness

At the end of the day, Maisel was always ready for sleep. She shared a room with the grandma of the house. “The first night at my second host family’s home, I was supposed to sleep by myself but Grandma was trying to tell me that I could sleep with her,” Maisel remembers. “She only had two teeth, which made her Spanish even harder to understand.” Maisel finally did understand and was grateful for not having to be alone at night. “Somehow she always knew when I was awake because she would tell me stories,” Maisel said. “She talked about all her boyfriends and how she was going to see them in heaven.” Maisel also explained how grandma was insistent that she was going to die soon, even though she was as healthy as a horse. Maisel liked how the Mexican culture treated death. While there she attended a funeral and said it

Memories (Above) Maisel’s host family’s home was made of sticks and had a tin roof. There was no electricity, technology, or gas. (Below, left) Every morning Maisel would get up early to help her host mom make tortilla for the day. We ate tortillas every meal,” she said. “To this day when I think about tortillas, I’m not hungry anymore.” (Below, right) “I loved the grandma’s of the village. They are so funny and wise,” Maisel said. Photos courtesy of Samantha Maisel.

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Photo courtesy of Michael Santos

natural

Photo courtesy of Oly Norris

Back in the day (Left) Oly Norris, 16, standing with his father in front of his first car, a 1976 Volkswagon bus. (Right) Michael Santos smiles and takes a swing with his senior prom date.

in their

bi habitat Y

ou see the same four teachers every day, five days a week, for 90 minutes at a time. Yet the whole time, we observe them like the animals behind the bars at the San Diego Zoo. Could these didactic, authority figures in the front of the classroom be more than just instruments of learning hired by the San Dieguito Union High School District? Is it possible that our teachers could be human beings who have lives outside of the classroom? Did they also go through the rite of passage that we call high school? Staff writer Rieko Michelle Whitfield has the juicy deets for you. Almost as good as lurking Facebook albums from last weekend’s party. Almost.

Stephen Fisher, Economics

Then:“When I was in high school, every summer I went to magic conventions. My grandfather was a magician, and he had a friend who owned a private jet. So we would take the private jet to go to these magic conventions all over the country.” Now: “Some weekends when I feel I need a break, I take weekend trips to everywhere from here to up to Santa Barbara. They’re always unplanned and I go by myself.”

Gail Lee, Math

Then: “Friday nights during the winter, my girlfriends and I would get together and put on make up and be all cute, and we would go out to the pond. We would ice skate and have a bonfire, and all the boys would come. It was so fun! I would skate around and some guy would grab me and I would think, “He touched my arm! Oh my God I think he loves me!” and that whole stupid thing. Or we would say, “Oh my God he said ‘hi’ to me. That must mean something!” or “Oh my God he acci-

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dentally hit me upside the head, I think he likes me!” It’s hard to believe now, I guess. But if you’re a girl, you’d understand.” Now: “I love going to concerts. This past summer I went to Coachella to see Paul McCartney. Just this year, I also went to see AC/DC and Neil Young.”

John West, Spanish

Then: “Once I had a chance to date Denise Richards. We were at a party, when her friend told me that [Denise] was into me. But then I ended up getting in a fist fight. I came back to the party to try to get together with her, but she had left. Her friend told me that Denise thought it was lame that I got in a fist fight. I’ve seen her on the cover of Cosmo, and it would’ve been cool to say, ‘Yeah, I went out with her in high school.’” Now: “I travel and go to the beach a lot with my wife and my daughter Cassidy. I am also taking college classes to get an MA in History.”

Michael Santos, Biology

Then: “I was at my first dance with my first girlfriend, and while we were dancing, I held onto the girl’s waist at arms length and just went side to side. I was thinking, ‘I’m not going to move my hands because I don’t know what to do with them.’” Now: “I play in a 6-on-6 adult soccer league, and a lot of my free times revolves around exercising on my Wii Fit trying to get my Wii Fit age down.”

James Hrzina, Psychology

Then: “I played a lot of sports in high school, and graduated with a 4.1 GPA.” Now: “I was on a trip with my wife, Oly Norris and his wife, Stephen Fisher, Jocelyn Broemmelsiek, and a former student Greg Moser, staying at John Ratajkowski’s house in Ireland. The last night of our trip we were at a pub in Dublin, where my wife Darlene saw two men wearing t-shirts that said ‘Dublin Veterinary School.’ They said they work on horses and that their friend on the other side of the bar has a kitten farm. She said, ‘No way! I don’t believe that. You just use that to pick up girls!’ Then Darlene calls me over, and I hadn’t heard their conversation so I fell for it. I started talking to the guy with the kitten farm about how much I love cats. But my wife finally convinced the men to admit, ‘Yeah, we’re not really veterinarians and our friend doesn’t have a kitten farm.’ I had been talking to this poor guy about kittens for the past 45 minutes.”

Oly Norris, Social Studies

Then: “I was really into the straight-edge punk-rock scene. My buddies and I would go to places like the Che Café. We went to see bands like Youth of Today, Fugaz, 3 Mile Pilot, and Danzig. And Slayer, God I loved Slayer.” Now: “I save all my hall passes and sneak out when the waves are really good. Whenever there’s a really good swell, I might “get sick,” and with my wife’s permission, I drive to Santa Barbara at night, then work my way down the coast surfing. Sometimes Hrzina comes with me, but he usually comes up with excuses why he can’t go. That’s why the nickname ‘Kitten Farm’ stuck with him. I was really thinking about getting a Kitten Farm tattoo if Hrzina does it. Word on the street is that Fisher already has one.”

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hayley baker

Five seconds of bliss or regrets? Scientists and students agree: sometimes the five-second rule just doesn’t apply. Story by Bailey Mezan.

t happened almost in slow motion. I could feel myself grimace; anguish washed over me as my last Reese’s Piece hit the ground. What do I do now? I’d been holding out for that savory piece of chocolaty delight since second period, do I ignore the possibility of five billion germs swarming my fallen friend? Do I pick it up and pop it in my mouth? What if I am seen? Will I graduate high school with the reputation as “the girl who eats food off the ground?” There’s a huge part of me that doesn’t want to give up on this piece of chocolate. And how truly wrong is that? First I look at the Reese’s. Besides a few specks of dust, it has no physical mutilations from the fall. The more I think about devouring my poor little piece of chocolate, I have to wonder, how dangerous are the germs that lurk the depths of a classroom carpet? Since an early age we are taught the five-second rule by our peers, but are the exceptions too exceptional? The five-second rule test was pioneered in 2003 by Jillian Clarke, a high school intern at the University of Illinois. She exposed tile slates to E. coli and feces; she then placed gummy- bears and cookies on the tiles for five seconds each. She found that five seconds was plenty of time for bacteria to make its way onto a gummy-bear and into a mouth. Since Clarke many other scientists have emulated the experiment. Two college students dropped wet apple slices on their cafeteria floor and found that before a minute of exposure to the ground there would be no contamination. For a dry food, in their instance a Skittle, it took five minutes to detect any form of contamination. The difference in results may imply that an item is sanitary to eat after five seconds depending on where it drops and what it is. Most students would agree that certain places are too dirty to even go there. When asked if he would eat a Skittle off the side walk, Sophomore Chase Mcquiston said, “Before I ate it I would have to inspect how gross it looks.” Would he eat food off of a Mexican restaurant’s table? That scenario was “a little too nasty,” he said. Then there’s the issue of humiliation and reputation. Is one’s credibility as a sanitary human being really worth that snack off the floor? Senior Summer Bates said, “I may pick it up and offer it to someone else.”

A practical rule of thumb: If food is dropped on the floor and the questions “what did it touch?” “what will I contract?” or “will I die?” follow, just forget it; it’s too gross. When asked the most offensive misuse of the “fivesecond rule” he had seen, Senior Nate Burns said, “In fourth grade, me and my friend were at a BMX game and he dropped a Sour Patch Kid on the ground in a crowd and he picked it up and ate it.” Teachers at school are also under pressure to enforce rules for unsanitary food. Biology teacher Michael Santos said he learned about the five-second rule from his brother; at the time it was the “three-second rule.” He tells kids “not to eat food off the floor unless it’s really really good.” He doesn’t believe the five-second rule is always reliable. “I wouldn’t eat a burrito off the floor after our pig dissection,” he said. Scott Huntley, SDA’s cooking teacher, also enforces regulations to keep his class sanitary. “If students are eating food off the ground, it’s like eating your boogers: it’s their deal if they want to do it,” he said, “but we talk about food sanitation from day one; it’s a health issue.” The worst instance of dropped food was at a restaurant he worked at: “One of the cooks in charge of the fry station dropped a pan of crab stuffed shrimp and figured it would be okay to use anyway because it would be boiled.” Huntley concluded that the five-second rule was mostly reliable and something he abided by in his own home. “Americans are germaphobic,” he said “Meat markets in other parts of the world don’t have rules for contamination. Americans do because we are so far from the source of most of our food.” Five seconds have flown. The point at which the candy is not considered life-threatening has come and gone. A bead of sweat drips down the side of my face. I look at the navy blue floor of my classroom. I examine the shoes that cap the ends of my classmate’s legs. I inspect for mud, dirt; anything with a potential threat. My eyes wander to the sea of students surrounding me. Most are asleep; some are texting or biting their nails. I am completely unnoticed, so I pick up my Reese’s, my dear fallen friend, and I plop it right into my mouth. No regrets from here.

Question: What is the grossest misuse of the five-second rule you’ve seen?

“... A lollipop; it was a random person.” Kyle Fincher, sophomore

“... someone dropped a a piece of pizza, cheese side down and ate it.” Kellen Den-uijl, junior

“... I spit out a piece of gum and my friend picked it up and ate it.” Christina Gineris, senior

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jocelyn lee

nina moussavi

San Dieguito spirit H

omecoming week at most high schools consists of pep-rallies, cheerleaders, football and a formal dance to end the week. But as SDA traditions hold true, things are done a little differently around here. An average homecoming week at the Academy is filled with 60’s revolutionaries, twins, wet teens, and some wild, wild things. The week is topped off with a school wide flag football tournament and an informal dance, most often in the school gym. However, this year they decided to switch things up a bit and have the dance outside on the east side of the gym. For those who didn’t go, you missed out on a night filled with a live band, hot chocolate, and most importantly foam. The dance broke the record for the highest attendance of any on-campus dance bringing in an impressive 671 people, and with the huge variety of activities going on, that number was not surprising. Story by Nina Moussavi.

jocelyn lee

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1. SDA students blow off some steam on a water slide during Water Day. 2. Stephen Fisher and James Hrzina prepare themselves to participate in Fear Factor at the Homecoming Assembly. 3. Twins pair up for a three-legged race on TWOsday. 4. ASB set up some plain white t-shirts

and dye to let students make their own 60’s apparel. 5. Students work on dream-catchers during lunch on Where the Wild Things Are Day. 6. Junior Kellan Den Uijl makes a huge splash at the end of the jumbo slip n’ slide on Water Day. page

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11.06.09

Which Academy teacher recently Y competed on ‘Wheel of Fortune’?

J E E Y WU E T Z

carol kaelson

Spin City Wuertz celebrates with Pat Sajak after solving one of the many puzzles during his game.

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ou flip between channels, seeing momentary flashes of Anderson Cooper’s solemn face and a Snuggie commercial. Finally you settle on some local station just in time to hear a hundred voices shout, “WHEEL OF FORTUNE.” The neon colors and flashing lights are hypnotizing, so you patiently watch Pat Sajak escort a perfectly coiffed Vanna White onto the stage. Sajak turns to introduce tonight’s contestants: a former teacher from Detroit, a fashion merchandiser from the East Coast, and Mr. Wuertz. That’s right, SDA. Jeremy Wuertz, director of the band program, is pursuing greatness via the popular TV game show. He defeated several hundred other hopefuls to win his place as a contestant on the hit game show “Wheel of Fortune.” Wuertz was fanatical about word games and puzzles from a very young age and watched the show regularly throughout his childhood. While he had less and less time for it over the years, he recently began to tune in again (with a wife and baby this time around), and found himself no less adept at solving the puzzles. “When my wife and I found out about the tryouts in San Diego, I knew I had to give it a try,” he added. So on a scorching Saturday in September, Wuertz spent hours in line anticipating his chance to prove himself. After two written tests, one interview, several grueling simulated games and a lucky break or two, he received word that not only had he won his place on the show, but he would film in October instead of waiting several more months like the other contestants. Wuertz did not obsess over practice and preparation. Still, his passion was evident: “I do have a 16-bit SEGA Genesis handheld version of the game, which I play for maybe half an hour every night,” he said. The band teacher filmed the show on Oct. 15 in the Sony Entertainment Studios in Culver City. Wuertz had been scheduled to play during the day’s sixth and final taping, forcing him to spend his entire Thursday anxiously awaiting his turn in the spotlight while he watched the other contestants succeed or fail. Finally, it was show time. According to Wuertz, the stage was smaller than it appears on television, but no less illuminated. The legendary puzzle board consumed his vision, he said. “It seemed that the longer we stared at it, the bigger it got, and we couldn’t see anything else.” While he had anticipated that his experience leading concerts with band would help him stay at ease in the spotlight, he found himself affected by “a degree of pressure unique to being in that spot” that he hadn’t expected. “It seems easy enough, but when you’re there you have to consciously be in the moment; you have to remember your sequence of activities, like spinning the wheel and buying letters and remembering when it’s your turn, while also trying to solve the puzzle,” he explained. “Looking at the board in real life is very different from watching the show in your living room, or glancing at the TV while cooking dinner.” This unexpected pressure most challenged Wuertz on one particular puzzle; he had maintained control of the board and filled in most of the board, but as he considered different possibilities, he found himself unable to gain confidence in any of them. Still, he was encouraged by Sajak and White, who proved to be very professional and encouraging hosts, and his “incredibly nice” fellow contestants: Debbie, who moved from education to healthcare, and Alexia, from the East Coast fashion industry. After chatting all morning and afternoon, they became friends: he said that “it was very easy to play with them; while nobody wanted to lose, it was nice because we all wanted to see each other do well.” Did Wuertz win it all, or hit bankruptcy? Tune in to KNSD at 7 p.m. on Jan. 4 to find out. - dana pede

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features 11.06.09

A recent trend is bringing the song, “Do your ears hang low?” to a whole new level. Story and photos by Hayley Baker.

rom pogs and pokemon cards to slap-bracelets and flannel, students witness a lot of trends come and go throughout their educational career, but body modification? Stretching, also known as gauging or tunneling, is the process of slowly stretching a piercing. Stretching has been practiced for hundreds of years in various cultures all over the world, ranging from African tribes to ancient Asian cultures. Body piercer from Encinitas’ 454 Tattoo and Body Piercing Brad Lee remarked that he began stretching his ears in the 90’s when he was 16. The process has become a new trend; the popularity of this style has spread to a handful of SDA students, and the numbers keep growing little by little.

Saftey

Stretching can be done correctly and safely, but it can also be done very dangerously. Body piercer Tom Lulu said that “a lot of times students can do it the wrong way. But if they can do it correctly, it’s safe.” The procedure should be done slowly and gradually. The consequences of stretching too fast or too big include build up of scar tissue, bleeding and tearing, and blowouts (when the piercing is pushed out through the back of the piercing due to pressure), Lulu said. A person begins stretching their ears with a healed piercing. The body jewelry is measured in gauges from sizes 20g up to 00g. The typical piercing is usually anywhere from 20g to 18g, and the stretching is process is done by inserting the next size up from the current piercing size. The sizes go in twos, so a person stretching from a 14 would then stretch up to a 12, then 10, 8, etc.

Why?

Why are students choosing to stretch their ears? Senior Kayla Mevis responded with a simple “because I like the way it looks.” Debate coach Todd Newkirk commented that he began stretching his ears for culture identification: “I stretched my ear lobes to identify to a culture I ascribe to.” Sophomore Maddy Miller said “I always liked the look of it. And in the hardcore scene it is kind of the style.”

Reactions

Those with stretched ears receive all sorts of different reactions. Newkirk said, “The general public and friends who dislike it will point it out.” Have his ears had ever prevented him from getting a job? Newkirk said, “Well, I work here. It’s never affected the fields I’m interested in, but I imagine if I were to go into professional business things might be different.” Senior Jason Mullins said, “My sister was really into it because she stretched her ears too. My mom didn’t really care. My grandparents just pretended I never did it.”

Stretching it to the next level Senior Alex Pourtash takes time out of his busy day to show off his 0g size steel eyelets.

Miller had a little more opposition. “My dad didn’t want me to do it at all. I did it anyway and when he finally noticed he was like whatever, you already did it.” Miller also added that about half his friends approved of his jewelry choice while some of them thought it was weird. Both Mullins and Miller said that they’ve noticed more and more students stretching their ears. “I have some friends doing it, and I notice other kids doing it around school,” said Miller.

Consequences

Can high school students make the choice to stretch their ears in a way that might be permanent? While Newkirk and body piercers Lee and Lulu said that they’ve known friends who’ve stretched as big as ½ inch and had their piercing heal back to a regular size, they all agreed that students should be prepared for it to be permanent. “If you’re old and wrinkly and you stretched real big when you where young, plastic surgery to repair ears is around $250 per year, so it’s not the end of the world,” said Lee.

Ear-tacular Sophomore Maddy Miller sports a 0g taper.

Size chart Jewerly for stretched ears is measured in gauges.

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11.06.09

For Bud Whitcomb and Eddie Vedder, the Pearl Jam concert at SDSU on Oct. 9 was a night to remember. Vedder, a former San Dieguito student, invited Whitcomb, his first guitar teacher, right, to play onstage with the band. Whitcomb fondly reflects on Vedder’s journey from teenage musician to accomplished rockstar. Story by Rieko Michelle Whitfield

Jay Vinitsky

Can’t find a better man E

ddie Vedder is something of a legend here at San Dieguito Academy. Knowing that the front man for Pearl Jam once walked these hallways when he was just an aspiring teenage musician, we look to Eddie Vedder for inspiration. Whether you are the drummer your next door neighbors love to hate, the guitarist who’s sitting home alone on a Friday night working on soloing in the Mixolydian scale, or the singer/ songwriter furiously scribbling the lyrics to a new song at odd hours in the morning, there’s something we all share: the dream to be able to make it in the music industry like Vedder. But something else that nearly every musician in Encinitas has in common is that we all know, or at least recognize, Bud Whitcomb, the owner of American Music Exchange. He’s that loquacious guitar buff with the long white hair who permanently resides behind the counter of AMX, the music store off of El Camino Real.

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Maybe you’ve chatted with him for a few minutes every week while waiting for your drum lesson, or you’ve bought a set of strings when your D string spontaneously decided to give out. Either way, he is an Encinitas local who has been involved with the San Diego music scene for decades. And those who saw Pearl Jam with Ben Harper and the Relentless 7 at the Viejas Arena on Oct. 9 were in for a surprise. Pearl Jam welcomed Whitcomb, Vedder’s first guitar teacher, and drummer Matt Cameron’s former drum teacher Joe Szanto, and had them join the band onstage to play “Little Wing.” With Szanto on drums, Whitcomb jammed with guitarist Mike McCready as Vedder belted out a soulful rendition of the Hendrix classic. “It was a very personal moment that we shared,” said Whitcomb. “I’m proud to say that he is my

friend.” There were several of these sentimental touches during the night, including a birthday shout-out to the daughter of a former roadie, and a nostalgic anecdote during the middle of the Byrd’s cover “So You Want to be a Rock ‘n’ Roll Star” about Vedder’s experiences working at a gas station in Encinitas and begging his boss to let him sport a Mohawk. The strong communal spirit made the night more meaningful than just any typical rock concert. With a 32-song set including several numbers off their new album, “Backspacer,” and 10,000 enthusiastic attendees, the show at San Diego State University was as Whitcomb describes, “the best show I have ever seen, but maybe I’m biased.” Vedder contacted Whitcomb to invite him to play at the show five days before the concert. Whitcomb, who hadn’t played live in 20 years, was shocked by

his offer. “[Vedder] told me how his friends in Hawaii would take him out in 40 foot [face] waves and tell him, ‘We’ll take care of ya.’ I said, ‘I’ll call you right back.’ So, I caught my breath, called him back, and said, ‘OK, 40 foot faces, it’s on!’ And he said, ‘All right, it’s on,’” Whitcomb said. Additionally, Vedder invited Whitcomb’s entire family to the event as well. “The whole night was a special gift from Eddie to my family and me,” said Whitcomb. As Vedder’s first guitar teacher, Whitcomb had the opportunity to know Vedder when he was a teenager with dreams as big as his talent. “I knew he was dead serious. He wanted to be a pro. He didn’t always have money for lessons, so he would do my yard work as a trade. Most kids didn’t have his initiative and drive. He was a hard worker and still is to this day. Eddie’s a real blue collar guy,” Whitcomb said.

Though Whitcomb is like a “proud uncle” regarding the band’s major and long-lasting success, he does not take credit for where Vedder stands today: “I taught him some chords and rhythms, harmonic structures and scales, but he made himself who he is.” Since his years at San Dieguito Academy (which was known as San Dieguito High School at the time), Pearl Jam exploded on the Seattle grunge scene to long lasting, multi-platinum success. Through it all, they have also been involved in social and political activism playing benefit concerts, including donating $10,000 towards the new theater at SDA. “They live what they believe, which is pretty rare,” Whitcomb said. “Their basic philosophy is that they’ve been given a lot of opportunities, so they want to give back as much as they can. Their sense of community is totally genuine.”

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11.06.09

Bassist Jeff Apruzzese explains how Passion Pit went from zero to hero in just two years’ time. Story by Thea Brown

oma’s backstage is not behind the stage. It is actually an intricate development of hallways and doorways a floor above the venue. On the night of Oct. 15, it seemed to be the location of chaos. Sequined clad trannies and oh-so-revealing bathrooms plastered each corner and turn. Somewhere among the mess hid the energetic, indie-pop band Passion Pit. While rest of the band prepared for their set, bassist Jeff Apruzzese gave up a moment of his time to divulge the secrets of the band’s quick rise to fame. Apruzzese provided insight as to how a band can most successfully use the technology of today to peak in just two years. Apruzzese was warm and welcoming, sliding into one of the duct taped couches. His cool demeanor provided a good juxtaposition for the happenings all around us. Men dressed in full red spandex uniforms carrying stilts darted through doorways just as others started to apply a second layer of violet eye shadow. Apruzzese laughed and explained that it was the opening act, Trans-K----Inental. “The band is funny. Trans-K----Inental has a super tight backing band and then they have five cross dressers that switch off singing. Last night was the first time I saw them and it was insane. It’s like a different show. Two shows for the price of one.” Attention was diverted away from the openers as Apruzzese began to explain how he got involved with the band. He joined the band as almost an accident. Passion Pit started around early 2007, as a solo project by lead singer Michael Angelakos. Angelakos had recorded a few songs to give to his girlfriend as a Valentine’s Day present, and soon after was playing shows in coffee houses with his computer. Eventually the band expanded to a full lineup. Apruzzese got involved that summer when the original bassist left. “I was asked to join and play, just as a fill in. Soon there was a record deal and I was there. I guess I was just in the right place at the right time,” Apruzzese said. The East Coast-based band was able to draw a lot of attention fairly quickly. Apruzzese attributes this to the band’s new

thea brown

Higher and Higher! Bassist Jeff Apruzzese and keyboardist Ian Hultquist encourage the crowd to sing along.

and different sound, utilizing almost pure synth with little guitar. They were able to get signed just by playing shows outside of Massachusetts. “The first show we played was in New York and all of the labels were there,” he said. However, he believes that

the most influential key to their success was the Internet. “The internet played a huge part,” he said. “We were just able to ride the wave of Internet hype that eventually gained us hype in New York. The Internet propelled us and soon we were rising. We traveled to cities we had

never been to, playing well-attended or sold-out shows. [Our] music spread virally.” A new trend for rising bands seems to be appearing in TV shows or commercials. Passion Pit, or at least their managers, recognized this, having songs appear in “Gossip Girl,” and the

UK drama “Skins.” The night their song was on Gossip Girl the band had planned to go out, but the band’s keyboardist, Ian Hultquist, was so excited that he stayed in to watch the show. Passion Pit has been cited as having already toured with an impressive group of artists from Death Cab for Cutie to Girl Talk. “That’s a lie. We haven’t toured with them. Greg [from Girl Talk] is a good friend of ours. We’ve played with him three times. The story about the Death Cab for Cutie Tour is even better. We had won the opportunity to open for them as part of this Boston music thing [Best New Act in “The Boston Phoenix”’s Best Music Poll]. What’s funny is the tickets said the show started at 5. We went on at 4:30.” Nevertheless, the band has done its share across the U.S. playing shows and festivals with large audiences. The show that night was a highly attended show. Originally set up to be at Soma’s side stage, it got switched to main stage after the quick sales of tickets. The show also proved to be one of the more successful productions Soma put on. There was only one major technical difficulty involving Angelakos’ piano, a big improvement for Soma. They had a sense of synergy that most bands these days seem to lack. Possibly the biggest influence on the band’s sound and demeanor is each member’s differing musical background. Apruzzese provides the punk background for the band. He grew up listening to Bad Religion, Fugazi and Lifetime. One of his fondest memories is going to a record store owned by Lifetime vocalist Ari Katz. Apruzzese would hang out and browse through records. It’s where he discovered most of his favorite bands. However, today Apruzzese is embracing a new kind of music more like his own, ranging from Neon Indian to San Diego-based band Pinback. He hasn’t gotten the chance to see any of these bands. Constantly touring makes it kind of hard. They start their UK tour a day after their U.S. one ends. It is not a chore, though. “It’s nice because it is like touring with eight of your closest friends,” he said.

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11.06.09

Horror, revived Interview with Sage Stallone, owner of Grindhouse Releasing. Story by Alex Fidel

orror movies have been in trouble for the longest time, no thanks to Hollywood. Movies like “Saw,” “Haunting in Connecticut,” and others have been altering the public’s perception of what ‘horror’ is. I mean, if the same people who made “Juno” made “Jennifer’s Body,” you know horror is in trouble. Luckily, we may have a savior. Sage Stallone, son of Sylvester Stallone and minor supporting actor in “Rocky V” alongside his father, also owns a company called Grindhouse Releasing. Their specialty is restoring and reissuing long out of print low budget extreme exploitation-horror classics, done with the help of film editor Bob Murawski (“Spiderman 1-3,” “Army of Darkness”). Some of their titles include “The Beyond,” “Cannibal Ferox,” and “I Drink Your Blood.” They also re-release the titles they acquire theatrically, their most recent acquisition being the cult classic, “Evil Dead.” The word “Grindhouse” comes from a nickname used for the types of theaters that would show these types of movies. Alex Fidel: Tell us a bit about

Grindhouse releasing. Sage Stallone: In Italy 1996, I was shooting “Daylight.” That’s where the idea for Grindhouse had just hit me. So I began contacting Italian directors like Lucio Fucli, Umberto Lenzi, etc. All my free time went into befriending my heros. Their films hadn’t been properly released in the US. Many US distributors would make very bad prints and video transfers; they wouldn’t take the time to make them look good. Lucio Fulci’s “The Beyond” was butchered, none of the gore was intact; they stripped the Fabio Frizzi soundtrack! “The Beyond” was Fulci’s masterpiece. All I wanted to do was restore movies that were treated like crap. AF: When did you first discover exploitation horror? SS: I’ve been a horror/euro horror fan since I was a teenager. At 13, I saw Umberto Lenzi’s “City of the Walking Dead” (aka “Nightmare City”). It wasn’t incredibly well made, but it was so extreme, I hadn’t seen anything like that in American cinema. At 15, I started getting into the Fulci films. I first saw “City of the Living Dead,” realizing Fulci’s

New play has landed SDA’s theater faces a delightful challenge ana reyes

ostumes, blocking, lightingthese are only a few of the many pieces that have to come together in order to create an enjoyable play. But with theater teacher Sharon Dasho having a baby—leaving a substitute teacher in charge—things might get just a little bit more hectic in the theater this autumn. The school play is “A Delightful Quarantine,” a story about a group of people who are quarantined in their houses for three days when aliens land in a little town in Pennsylvania. Dasho, who is taking maternity leave, said that because she is picking a play for a production class, a play with many parts is necessary. Also, the class includes a lot of female students, so the script needs to have a lot of female characters.

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“’[A Delightful Quarantine]” seems like an easy play to put on. I wanted to make sure that the class and the substitute teacher wouldn’t be left with a drama or something heavy,” said Dasho. “This play is funny and contemporary.” Though the responsibility of directing the play will be in different hands, assistant stage manager Jean Marie Lester, a senior at SDA, believes that students will rise to the occasion and encounter few setbacks. Plus, the substitute teacher, Brandon Taylor, has been kept up to date on the progress being made, making the transition from Dasho to Taylor easier. Seniors Maddie Bailey, Alec Gordy, Addison Schwan, Lauren Wilkins, and Brianna McDonnell will be starring in the play, which will be shown the nights of Dec. 3, 4, 5, 10, 11, and 12.

eye for good filmmaking, incredible cinematography, use of long lenses & zoom shots, and all the creepy prog rock soundtracks, all of which I have never seen in American films. AF: Explain your connection to Quentin Tarantino and why the Grindhouse intro clip is at the beginning of “Kill Bill” & the “Grindhouse Double Feature.” SS: I think I brought back “grindhouse” (the style and the term). No one had heard that word before. Quentin knew about grindhouse cinema, and he wanted to do that type of stuff. He asked to borrow the [Grindhouse Releasing] logo. No one had seen the whole ‘kaleidoscope’ effect of my logo for so long, it was special to me, and it was like a trademark to my company. The version in his movies are a bit different. I don’t want to be negative, but “Grindhouse” wasn’t truly ‘grindhouse,’ not to say that I dislike it. AF: What does your dad think about Grindhouse and the movies you acquire? SS: He passed on “Cannibal Holocaust” after about 10 minutes [laughs]. But he watched “The Beyond” from beginning to

Grindhouse Releasing

Here, kitty kitty. Gory artwork From the “Cat in the Brain”

end, and then jumped up out of his seat. He loved it. He thought it was extremely well shot. He liked all of the gore in the beginning, but once the little girl got that hole shot in her head, he was sold. He was like “yo!”… [laughs] he gave out a big “yo” when that happened. AF: You’ve recently acquired the rights to release “Evil Dead” theatrically. Will this be shown in big theaters or smaller ones? SS: It’ll be hard to release movies that are old… even 5 years old. They aren’t going to go out of their way… they wouldn’t even do the same with

“Wizard of Oz.” The best we’re going to do is book the theaters individually. The reason why I wanted to make money on Grindhouse was to put some of it back into making prints and distribute them theatrically. It takes a lot of money to strike a print. You can check out Grindhouse’s catalog at www.grindhousereleasing.com Give it a chance! Get to know what quality horror is like. You can get the full interview at AResurrectionofThought.blogspot.com

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11.06.09

In the heat of battle Two-and-a-half weeks. 51 aspiring musicians. 15 bands. One winner to be crowned champion of 2009 Battle of the Bands. SDA students duke it out in front of the gym for a spot in the finals, armed with everything from funky bass lines to fog machines. Which band will be the lone survivor in this battle of skill and stage presence? Go watch the musical action for yourself at the Battle of the Bands Finals on rieko michelle whitfield

Nov. 19 at 6:30 p.m. in the gym.

Party at the SDA. David and the Roughriders covers Miley Cyrus on Nov. 3.

rieko michelle whitfield Drumroll please... Roberto KnappRamos keeps the beat for Fine China on Oct. 27.

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Sing out your soul. Junior Austin Burns sings for Moosetrap on Nov. 3.

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Keep it brutal. Death metal band Amun Ra played on Oct. 29 with fellow competitors Angry Dragon.

Upcoming Bands... The winner of Battle of the Bands will be annonced on Thursday, Nov 19, but until then, check out the rest of the bands playing during lunch in front of the gym.

Friday, Nov. 6:

Tuesday, Nov 10:

SpencerPeck! (Emily Chaves, Tim McNalley, Lara Fleck)

The Jugulars (Logan Gallagher, Nolan Gallagher, Kevin Shaw, Ryan Cardenas)

Defend Defend! (Ryan Blackman, Jason Ley, Felipe Pezzoli, Alex Pourtash, Lukas Weiss, Eric Gudmundsson) Monday, Nov. 9: Astrologic (Jake Miller, Eric Gudmundsson, Evan Angelico) rieko michelle whitfield

Music and lyrics. On Nov. 2, Junior Matt Benedetti reads off the lyrics of Orange Cloudâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s song about Reptar the Dinosaur.

The Piskies (Jocelyn Ferrera, Karl Olsen, Josh Drilling, Tate Dannemiller, Kirby Lochner)

ERIN (Josh Drilling, Tim McNalley, Kirby Lochner) Thursday, Nov 12: Pell-Mell (Casey Dayan, Paige Ely) Orange Cloud* (Matt Benedetti, Skyler McKee

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*Due to technical difficulties, Orange Cloud will be performing again.

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11.06.09

Lost Symbol Dan Brown Can’t Find It!

6/10

W What Will We Be Devendra Banhart

Everything and Anything!

9.5/10

evendra Banhart has shaved off his beard and he has cut his hair. He has also signed to Warner and released a new album, “What Will We Be.” Each one of these elements seems to show the new Banhart: a more refined man with a more refined sound. The album is the followup to “Smokey Rolls Down Thunder Canyon” released in 2007. “Smokey” provided Banhart with his first two real “hit” songs, “Carmencita” and “Lover,” The music video for “Carmencita” featured Banhart’s girlfriend of the time, Natalie Portman, drawing in a lot of her fans as well as the attention of Perez Hilton. “Lover” was featured (along with Banhart himself) in the movie “Nick and Norah’s Infinite Playlist.” Regardless, the album provided him with enough buzz to hook the attention of Warner. “What Will We Be” opens with a sound similar to that of Banhart’s side project, Megapuss. The album as a whole has a schizophrenic sense of genre switching from the jazzy tone of “Chin Chin & Muck Muck” to the deep bluesy “Rats.” “16th & Valencia Roxy Music” can almost be confused for a song

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by Franz Ferdinand. Underneath the outer sound can still be found that distinct twang of Banhart’s voice, and bongos. The lyric’s themselves have seemed to step up a notch. Though the songs still seem a bit strange- he is a member of the freak-folk family- he is no longer singing about how he would like to marry little boys, or the little black babies growing out of his toes. The lyrics focus more directly on love and relationships, like in “Baby” — “Baby I finally now finally know what I’m going after/I’m learning to let in all the laughter/Holy moly, it’s so funny/You crack me up.” Overall, the album seems to have a sense of equilibrium between new and old. Banhart has made the transition to a major label, but has still retained his unconventional way of presenting music. He has come far from “The Charles C. Leary,” showing his ability to grow and adapt with each release. This sets him apart from other artists in his genre, who continuously release the same thing with the same sound, time and time again. Maybe he’s just figured out something they can’t understand. Who knows? -Thea Brown

ell, at least the Catholic Church can’t ban this one. Still, they may not be very happy about it, either. And somehow I don’t think that the whole “changing thing with your mind” is going to go over very well with them. Or the whole “humans are gods, too!” thing. Okay, so Brown is still clearly not the Church’s biggest supporter, but this time he has gone after every major religion’s “misinterpretation” of their key texts. How very democratic of him. Oh, and the Freemasons are, of course, at the forefront of this novel. Astonishingly, the Ma-

sons, arguably the most vilified “secret” society in history, are portrayed in a flattering light. None of that demonic ritual, government, and mind-control stuff that filters around every once in a while. The Masons, past and present included, are a dignified, spiritual group of men trying to keep the very fabric of society intact. Do I detect a little hero worship there, Danny? And poor Robert Langdon is pulled away—again!—from his hand-ground Sumatran coffee beans and Harvard lecture halls to give a speech that never ends up happening. Instead of a crowd, Langdon encounters

a severed hand. Surprise! On that note, the novel is off and the main characters go on to get chased, tasered, kidnapped, and killed. Okay, well, almost killed. Where’s the fun in killing off your main character, anyway? Brown had me until he started the conclusion about 70 pages before the book actually ended. Seriously, catch the bad guy and finish the damn thing. I don’t care about the sun rising on a new day and all that bunk, just that the rather confused psychopath gets what’s coming to him and all live to decipher code another day. Which, of course, they do. Victory! -Danielle Gradisher

First Days of Spring Noah and the Whale

After a Cold Harsh Winter

7/10

oah and the Whale’s new, deluxe CD/DVD album, “First Days of Spring,” released Oct. 6, follows the hardships of Charlie Fink’s recent split from longtime girlfriend and band member, Laura Marling. The mellow music, hushed guitars, and soft violins emanate straight from the heartbreak of lead singer Charlie Fink. Noah and the Whale follow no norm, surprising everyone with their less upbeat and less folky take on music. The title and opening song “First Days of Spring” starts with — “It’s the first day of spring and my life is starting over again”— setting the tone to the rest of the album. Other songs on the album,

including “Blue Skies” and “Slow Glass,” illustrate the misfortune that has befallen in his life. With lyrics like — “This is a song for anyone with a broken heart”— and — “I have nothing, I have no one; I love nothing, I love no one”— the pain is almost unbearable, but the uplifting musical elements make it bearable. Although the songs are about the excruciating pain of a lost love, the songs are surprisingly uplifting. They follow the hardships of a break up, but also illuminating the ability to find one’s self through it all. Post break-up, the band lost their two female vocalists; Marling and Emmy the Great. This loss did damage to the original

sound of Noah and the Whale and, if anything, it’s made Fink’s voice more pure without the vocals and harmonizing in the background. Along with the CD, the band also released a correlating film that has the same running time. Director Fink said the film “can be seen as a companion piece to the album, as a visual version of it, or as a piece of work in its own right but this decision is one which Noah and the Whale have decided to leave up to the listener and viewer.” Noah and the Whale’s album “First Days of Spring” is both enticing and interesting, successfully bringing the new sound for the listener’s enjoyment. -Nina Comforti

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Where the Wild Things Are Karen O & the Kids All In Karen O’s Head

9.5/10

pike Jonze created a masterpiece. What was thought almost too good to be true and most likely disappointing, surpassed most expectations. The result is a 101 minute introspection into the raw mind of a young boy. Jonze and screenplay author Dave Eggers did made sure to create a movie for not only children, but for adults too. They did this through various ways, such as including jokes and exciting chase scenes. However, the key element in creating a comfortable atmosphere for children was the soundtrack created by Karen O & the Kids. The band is actually a supergroup comprised of not only Karen O, but Brian Chase and Nick Zinner (Yeah Yeah Yeahs), Tristan Bechet (Services), Bradford Cox (Deerhunter), Dean Fertita (Queens of the Stone Age, The Dead Weather, The Raconteurs), Aaron Hemphill (Liars), Greg Kurstin (The Bird and the Bee), Jack Lawrence (The Dead Weather, The Raconteurs, The Greenhornes),

Oscar Michel (Gris Gris) and Imaad Wasif (New Folk Implosion, Alaska). The final addition to the lineup was a choir of untrained child singers. The other contributors on the album, besides Karen O, had been kept fairly hidden until “The Rolling Stones’” review of the soundtrack. The soundtrack features very simple acoustic guitar, piano and percussion on most songs, with Karen O’s voice screaming out in her regular fashion. The addition of the child’s voices, clapping and chanting allow children to connect to the album on a greater level, allowing it to be fun an upbeat. The “hit” from the album, “All Is Love” features repition of very simple lyrics—”L.O.V.E. it’s a mystery/ Where you’ll find me, where you’ll find/All is Love”— causing the song to become more of a nursery rhythme than a song. Songs like “Lost Fur” however suggest an intervention by renowned soundtrack composer Jon Brion (“I <3 Huckabees,”

“Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind,” “Synecdoche, NY”). Possibly the most obvious song as “soundtrack” on the album, “Lost Fur” shows the sophistication gone though, as well as time and effort, to create a piece of music geared towards a movie. This song in particular features a greater sense of unhappiness, a theme highlighted throughout the movie. Each song on the album held a sense of childlike behavior, with almost creepy undertones. They were more than fitting for the movie. Though on various forums the album has not been well received, calling it “Kidz Bop for Indie Kidz,” people need to remember that it is a soundtrack for a kids movie. The “Where the Wild Things Are” soundtrack is not only the perfect complement to the movie masterpiece, but holds a lot of validity for being its own album. Even though the album was created as a soundtrack, it holds its own weight as viable alternative CD. -Thea Brown

Lungs Florence and the Machine

Finally Catching Their Breath

7.5/10

et another band from the United Kingdom, Florence and the Machine, has joined in the second uprising of British invasion. The Beatles have come again, but now with a female singer and a new twist of synthetic pop. The band’s first full album, “Lungs”, released on Oct. 27, is an incredibly well put together edge to new-age British alternative rock. The music brings out an unconventional way of hating love, to a mixture of pop and blues. Lyrics like— “He crafts every one with love and with care/ then it’s thrown in the ground and it just isn’t fair”— promotes the idea that men or this man in particular throw away love without much of a notice. Throughout the album, she sings about how she has become a creature through heartbreak, and the sacrifice of self for love. The only unfortunate song

on the CD is “Girl with One Eye” which portrays a bit of an old, premature style. The lyrics are about taking the eye from a girl who apparently stuck her fingers in a certain pie that the Florence Welsh, the lead singer was particularly protective over. Clearly, that is not the best song to come about, but the rest on the album dissuades from such a tragedy with its blues-rocky, lighthearted tunes and dark, tragic words. Unlike the works of uninspirational, silly and somewhat strange British pop artists like Lily Allen and Amy Winehouse, the album brings the band to a more enchanting version of soulful rock. A mix of sharp crescendos and intensified drumming creates a dramatic feel to the album, although lightened with a background sound of harp. Although the music does not compare to that of the Brit-

ish uprising in the sixties, the vocal aspects of the band contribute heavily to the popularity of this album. Welsch’s voice has a nearly unbelievable range, along with many effects like whispery, sex-kitten dramatics and outbursts of shouty, Janis Joplin sound. The exceedingly well-done album could be considered an odd combination of Annie Lennox, Lightspeed Champion, and Bloc Party. Clearly, this album is going to sweep away the less important and rather untalented British stars such as Kate Nash, a regular Lily Allen mock. Already this is taking its effect, considering the album was number two on the charts just below Michael Jackson for five weeks after its release. Overall, the album itself is a worthwhile listen (possibly even moreso than M.J.), and is constructed to more than mere perfection. -Erika Mazza

Sufjan Stevens The BQE

3 Down, 47 to Go

5/10

ufjan Stevens’ alleged goal is to create an album for each of the 50 states. With Illinois and Michigan completed, his third album is geared towards the home of The Big Apple. “The Brooklyn-Queens Expressway,” better known as “The BQE,” epitomizes New York City through a style that Stevens’ fans have never heard before. The anticipated lyrics, previously of serial killers in “John Wayne Gacy Jr.,” and sleeping in vans in “Chicago,” are replaced with a 36-piece orchestra consisting of a wind and brass ensemble, string players, horn players and hula-hoopers. Yes, hula-hoopers. The charm of Stevens comes partly through his beautifully written stories. But with this completely instrumental album, many fans may be disappointed. His sound is almost unrecognizable; however, it would be great on a relaxing playlist. The album has nothing new or innovative, but obviously contains the brilliant musical expertise of Stevens. “The BQE” began as a one-time performance at the Brooklyn Academy of Music all the way back in 2007. There, Stevens performed the 30-minute composition with his backing orchestra, three screens of visuals, and five women twirling hula hoops. To further the development of the album, there is a video of the Brooklyn-Queens Expressway, a divided highway that runs from Brooklyn to Queens. The film has various images of New York architecture, streets, congestion, and the reoccurrence of the hoola hoopers. Overall, the performance, film and album combine to create one of Stevens’ most creative works. -Shelby Meyers

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arts 11.06.09

We like Girls!

Up and coming artist, Girls, shake the grounds of the San Francisco music scene. shelby meyers

Gobbledigook

ake a voice strongly resembling Buddy Holly. Mix in a twist of Beach Boys style lyrics and melodies. Top that off with a lead singer’s emotional memories of growing up and escaping from a cult. The resulting creation can only be: GIRLS! The transfixing melodies and upbeat sound of Girls almost forces the listeners to never turn off their iPods. Christopher Owens and Chet “JR” White started

the band in hometown San Francisco simply for enjoyment. They stayed up late into the night and used broken recording equipment to produce music with no intention of stardom. However, their involvement in the music business was inevitable. Girls has been named “Best New Band of 2009” by Spin Magazine and has been listed in the “Top 500 songs of the 2000’s” with “Hellhole Rat Race” by respected music website Pitch-

Wanderlust erika mazza

Icelandic elf worship is slowly wandering in our direction.

efore the infestation of Icelandic music into the underground scene, Americans regarded Iceland as grassland that held an enormous number of men and insignificant amount of women. Freezing weather with animalistic males fishing for salmon or trecking through the thick forest, pursuing a fresh night’s meal. Not to mention, the language was unbelievably silly. However, with the uprising of artists such as Björk, Sigur Rós, and múm, the appreciation for Icelandic culture has become distinct. Icelandic music is here to wreak havoc upon the confused minds of the current American population. It shall bring about an entirely new life of music connoisseurs. Soon enough, teens around the United States will be screaming lyrics of which they do not know the origin of nor understand. Dressing in fish costumes with face masks of painted rainbow stripes, changing their names to things like Smirnocka and Haffalaf in order to adjust to the new-age music scene. This is not to downplay the beauty of the instrumental aspects of these artists, of course. Each has its own unique ability to connect with the audience through either illusory synth or an exceedingly breathy voice.

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They have, on occasion, made even me move toward my more emotional side, along with the glitchy beats and alluring voice of Kristín Anna Valtýsdóttir. Not to mention, I can every once in a while get in the mood for Björk’s eclectic music style (and outfits, no doubt). Unfortunately, the majestic sounds coming from sporadic instrumental of the bands like Sigur Rós and múm dissuade from the lyrics themselves. If one were to take a language course in Icelandic (or look up the lyrics to Staralfur), these lyrics otherwise known as pretty would take an entirely abnormal leap. The lyrics include the imagery of a boy falling asleep and waking up to an elf staring at him. Although this does correlate with the Icelandic culture of belief in the mythical creature, it is a tad strange to be thought of as a song bringing out all sorts of dark, unrevealed emotions. Although the lyrics may be strange and unclear to the American listener, the music itself still holds validity in its complex change of rhythms and musical crescendos. Songs like “Hú Hviss” and “GLING GLó” are well done Icelandic works. So as Bjork says, “Every boy is a snake, is a lily. Every pearl is a lynx, is a girl.”

fork. They also recently headlined a tour throughout Europe and they will soon make their way to San Diego at UCSD’s The Loft on Dec. 4 with the Morning Benders. Owens’ music is greatly influenced by his childhood in the Children of God cult. The cult has a strong focus on harshly sheltering children from the outside world. They prohibit any music and culture, therefore only allowing him to hear soundtracks during movie nights

once a week. Before escaping the cult after 16 years, Owens was solely surrounded by spiritual music. The traumatic experience of the cult, which included suicide and prostitution, drenched the music in emotion, according to their label, Matador Records. With the successful release of their first album titled “Album” and the background stories to add interest, the music world is expecting something great in Girls’ future.

matadorrecords.com Pretty Boys Girls, Christopher Owens and Chet “JR” White, plant flowers and connect to their feminie side

Kerry’s Cooking Corner From Kerry Roberson’s kitchen to yours. RISOTTO 2 tbsp olive oil ½ onion, finely chopped 3 cloves of garlic, minced 3 cups arborrio rice 1/2 cup dry white wine About 20 kalamata olives, chopped 4 sundried tomatoes, chopped ½ cucumber, diced 3 ½ cups chicken stock (or veggie stock for a vegetarian option) 1/2 cup water as needed until rice is tender. ½ - 1 tsp saffron About 15 cherry tomatoes, halved ½ cup flat-leaved Italian parsley, finely chopped 2 cups feta cheese, crumbled. Salt and pepper to taste

In a deep bottomed sauté pan, combine olive oil, onion, and garlic. Set burner on medium heat, and let the ingredients sauté for about 3 minutes, until onions and garlic are slightly browned.

Add the rice, and brown for another minute. Turn the heat down to low, and slowly add the 4 ounces of dry white wine. Stirring occasionally, let the wine cook down until the rice has absorbed it. Add the olives, sundried tomatoes, and cucumber and let simmer for a couple minutes. Add 1 and ¾ cup of the stock, and let the rice absorb the stock partway. Intermittently, add the rest of the stock, about a half cup at a time. In between additions, let the rice absorb most of the stock. Continue stirring until the rice has absorbed all of the stock, being careful to scrape the bottom of the pan to prevent any clumping or burning. Once the rice has completely absorbed all the liquids, add the saffron, the cherry tomatoes, and the parsley. Spoon the rice into a different dish, and add the cheese. Stir the cheese into the rice and let the cheese melt for a few minutes. Serve hot or cold. OATMEAL PANCAKES 1 ¼ cup quick cooking oatmeal 1 cup plain or vanilla yogurt 1 cup milk* 1 tbsp sweetener (honey, sugar, or brown sugar) ¼ cup white flour ¼ cup whole wheat flour

1 tsp baking soda 1 tsp salt 2 large eggs, beaten ¼ cup chopped walnuts (optional)

In a large bowl combine oats, yogurt, milk and honey or sugar. Stir in flours, baking soda and salt. Add beaten eggs and mix well. Add chopped walnuts if desired. Batter will be thick. Heat a nonstick griddle over medium heat. Very lightly coat griddle with oil. Spoon ¼ cup of the batter onto a hot griddle for each pancake. Cook until bottoms are browned and bubbles on top start to pop (about 3 minutes). Flip and cook until other sides are browned about 2 minutes. Repeat with remaining batter. Great with apple sauce, maple syrup, or crushed berries. For a decadent indulgence, mix in ½ cup chocolate chips into batter. *add additional milk if batter is too thick.

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11.06.09

A flashback of fashion faux-pas These are the fashions crimes of the past. We’re all equally guilty of them; some of us were regular offenders. Their ghosts may haunt the glossy pages of our photo albums or creep into Facebook albums labeled, “oldies but goodies.” Some of these trends, along with other memories of tweendom, have been repressed far into the subconscious. Either way, they need some addressing. By Bailey Mezan.

1Abercrombie shirts:

4 Day-of-the week underwear:

2 Spiky rubber earrings:

5 Toe socks: 6 Rubber sex bracelets: 7Stretchy choker:

So much for plain white tees, these shirts had phrases like, “on vacation until further notice” or “tell your boyfriend I said hi.”

As threatening as they looked they were meant to be a harmless addition to any outfit… kind of.

3 Butterfly clips:

An almost too-realistic depiction of how cute it would be if a butterfly died in your hair.

An inappropriate way of reminding you that Tuesday is almost over and Wednesday is well on its way. Probably the least mortifying of tween trends; this in itself is concerning. Not the most attractive accessory to begin with and its suggestive meaning, doesn’t help.

Definitely not the classiest form of jewelry, but cheap nonetheless.

hayley baker

Ultimate steeze Spotted: Juniors Cody Scheiwe and Maddie Roberts looking effortlessly fashionable. by Maddie Lyon and Taylor Chapin Necklace: gift

T-shirt: Urban Outfitters

Sweater: Bargain Barn T-shirt: The Gap

Belt: Grandma’s

Pants: Target

Skirt: Urban Outfitters

Shoes: Flashbacks Shoes: fishing store

Estimated cost: $70 Personal style: Comfortable Style icons: My brothers

taylor chapin

Estimated cost: $50 Personal style: Thrifty Urban Style icons: My sister

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11.06.09

taylor chapin

Treasure Island Madness

Treasure Island deck.................................................................................................................................. Cloudy Skies Attendents of San Fransisco musical festival bundle up and embrace themselves as setting sun brings on even coulder temperatures than the beginning of the day.

shelby meyers

X marks the spot on Treasure Island Land Ho: Island spotted off starboard! Thousands of musical treasures and pleasures along the shore! Girl(talk) gone wild

e made it. After a twoday, ten hour drive including numerous detours and GPS mishaps, we were finally sitting in the cold grass of Treasure Island as music, pirates on stilts, and dancing robots surrounded us. The blustery San Francisco weather was unfamiliar to our San Diego-conditioned bodies. Even in a crowd full of people swirled in smoke and deep bass, the wind chill found its way underneath our thin sweaters. As the sun sank below the skyline, the crowd shifted from Bridge Stage to the Tunnel Stage in preparation for Girl Talk. We squished our way to a decent spot about 20 or so feet from the stage and staked it out. With about ten minutes ‘til show time, we were bombarded by bearded New Zealanders with overwhelming accents and friendliness. The conversation continued onto the topic of our age as we watched their faces

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drain of color when they found out we were a mere seventeen years old. Within an instant, they mumbled some excuse and disappeared into the sea of people as we stretched out into our new found space. The lights dimmed as a chant blared through the speakers, “Girl Talk!, Girl Talk!” and Greg Gillis, Girl Talk himself, appeared through the fog. Strangely enough, the mellow San Francisco crowd didn’t really get into it as much as usual. Being Girl Talk concert veterans, we were used to a wild, dancing, sweating crowd. We jostled the motionless bystanders with our sporadic movement and loud voices singing along to all the words. As it came to a close, to the tune of “Tiny Dancer,” the sky lit up with explosions of fireworks over the San Francisco Bay. It was a moment to be remembered, as was our day spent on Treasure Island. Taylor Chapin Nina Comforti

nina moussavi

Move Forward Crowd serges forth in order to get closer to the performers.

Stuck in the pit

e could feel the cold metal of the railing on our skin. We could see the sweat glistening on their faces. And we could feel the force of 2,000 people pushing up behind us. Yes, we were that close. Front row, sing-

ing along as Passion Pit energetically performed all of our favorite songs. As enjoyable as it is to bump Passion Pit songs on your car radio, it can’t compare to seeing them live. Despite the odd couple sucking face next to us and the intoxicated young man singing completely off key in our ears,

the hour of bliss was imperishable. Our luck didn’t follow us to every band we watched, and we couldn’t push our way to the front row during every performance. However, you didn’t hear us complaining, because even when we were in the back row of MGMT, we were still singing every song at the top of our lungs. If you have ever wondered what 10,000 people packed together, swaying to the same song looks like then the crowd for MGMT would have answered that question. As they were the last performance of the night and the headliners of the festival, the sea of bodies seemed to stretch for miles. But the journey to get to this moment, wandering through an unfamiliar city, proved itself to be more challenging than we had imagined. But in the end we found that Treasure Island music festival was an event to remember. Nina Moussavi Maddie Lyon

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Upcoming events from ASB Battle of the Bands Nov. 2,3,5,6,9,10,12 in front of the gym at lunch. Battle of the Bands Finals Nov. 19 in the gym. Come experience the top SDA bands perform. Adopt a Family Dec. 1-14

Can Food Drive held by club WHAM Nov 4-13. Bring cans to your homerooms. Ping-Pong Tournament Nov. 30-Dec. 4 in front of the gym during lunch. Sign up in room 70.

Senior Java Nov. 20 in the Mustang center during homeroom. Student Elections Dec. 7-15. Vote in front of the gym during lunch. Sign up in room 70 by Nov. 13 to run for a number of positions.

! st e n i nl ermit te o l l a s your p d e s pas r u e o driv ons so y

s d e Tak , flexible les V-approve actice tests taylor chapin Janglin Soul Alex Ebert, Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros front man, croons to an adoring audience.

Shiver me timbers shelby meyers

fter a sleepless Friday night and a 14-hour drive, my drowsy eyes couldn’t have been happier to finally see San Francisco. We immediately stepped out of my exhausted Jetta onto Fisherman’s Wharf and caught a view of the spinning lights of the Treasure Island Ferris wheel. We attempted to listen for the tune of MGMT’s “Electric Feel” coming from the island, but to our expected disappointment, we simply heard the drone of the traffic. This distant view of the festival made us antsy and greatly excited for the day ahead. With my previous experience in the scalding heat of Coachella and Street Scene, I naively wore a little purple dress. However, I came to realize that the small island surrounded by rainy skies and shark-infested waters had no need for 60 SPF

sunscreen or the fear of dehydration. The new chilly atmosphere was apparent in everything. Grizzly Bear stated that they had never played a windier show. Beirut claimed that they were really cold and scared to death of earthquakes. And Yo La Tengo joked that we would get warmer if we took off all of our clothes. Nevertheless, I was pleasantly surprised at how much I enjoyed the difference. I realized that contrasting atmospheres created a completely new musical experience. The gloomy weather brought out Edward Sharpe’s comforting side; if it were hot, the whole show would have been more of a party atmosphere. This understanding gave me a new reason to see a band multiple times, even if it leaves me no pocket money. Now, every time I have goose bumped legs and chattering teeth, I will no longer think of my discomfort, but instead, the pure joy of Treasure Island.

n M pr ia D • Fu mit r n r e p alifo line n •C o ee 0 fr 5 •

HS2 A C e cod * t oun cess. c s i d o ter ent pr n e nd paym a .com online d E s iver ng the r D i t dur Visi

Want a fast, easy way to fundraise for your class? Earn a 25% commission and save your friends 15% off drivers ed. Visit www.DriversEd.com/Associate-Programs. *Discount for online drivers ed class only. 2.1_BW_6x10_D26 © 2009 DriversEd.com

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circus animal fun 11.06.09 Student accidentally responds to rhetorical question posed by teacher.

Student mistakenly receives athletic scholarship for “Comedysportz.”

Invisible children missing; fundraiser cancelled.

The

Mustang Messenger Real News for Real People

Fight almost happens By DIMITRI FAUTSCH

taylor chapin

Empirical evidence Mary Joanna, leader of the study, writes down the results of her experiments on hemp paper.

Studies conducted by righteous 17-year-olds show that pot is good for you. Who knew? By HAYLEY BAKER A group of four SDA students has come out with a breakthrough study on the effects of marijuana proving that the chronic does not do any harm to the adolescent brain and in fact improves the overall health of the average high school teenager. The study group included twenty of their fellow classmates, who had been “toking fat bong loads since they’d been in the womb, man” stated one of the 17-year-old righteous scientists. Mary Joanna, leader of the study, described the procedure of their experiment: “so like, we proved that marijuana doesn’t like, effect the brain negatively. We prepared some stuff for our test subject to do in two different states of mind: in one case the stuff would be done while super faded and the

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other case not. So like, we set this all up and like, for example like, when, Test Subject A was asked to complete a matching game where the cards are like, all face down and you have like a minute to find all the matching pairs, he or she could only identify one or two matching pairs. When the test subject was super faded, they could still only identify one or two things. So like, that proves that like being stoned did nothing to their ability to focus or their short term memory since it was the same before and after. You know, man?” The students went so far as to prove that marijuana actually benefits the development of the adolescent brain. “So yeah, what we did is that we like, Test Subject A would be super faded and Test Subject B would be buzzed a little and Test Subject C would be sober and recovering from a crack addition. Our observa-

tions show that Test Subject A was much more likely to enjoy themselves doing really pointless and uninteresting stuff and was also more likely to lie around the house all day and sleep. Sleep is super chill for teenagers, so this conclusion obviously proves that, like, pot is super good. Test Subject B would just be alright and hang out a little while Test Subject C would have nervous sweats and shake and shit. That shows that pot prevents kids from experiencing the schwag effects of crack use withdrawal, you know?” The results from these studies will go on to change the national opinion of the ganja. The study has already been published on leader Joanna’s twitter, and has been circulated among only the top elite of scientific researchers, which are also coincidentally some of the major drug dealers involved on our campus.

In what’s being called the biggest fight to almost happen in SDA’s history, two freshmen almost got into a tussle last Friday after one blamed his dropped muffin on another student. The fight started after freshman Evander Hazard bumped into fellow freshman Buster Brown, and Brown, who was in mid-bite of his muffin, dropped it and the fight almost commenced. “I was so close to punching him, seriously so close to just smacking him. He didn’t even apologize, and by that time, the muffin had passed the allotted five seconds. You know, if Evander thinks he can just ruin my moist and delicious blueberry muffin and get away with it, he might have another thing coming,” said Brown. Witnesses say Brown was literally an inch away from Hazard’s face, and was extremely angry about his dropped muffin. “Oh, so Buster said he was close to punching me? No, I was about to punch him. And no, I don’t care about his stupid, tasty blueberry muffin,” said Hazard. Hazard has a long history of nearly getting into fights, but he

was just way too over it today and those other days too. After the fight the whole school was almost buzzing about the altercation. “You know it’s just kind of demoralizing. You’re so pumped for a good old-fashioned high school fight and then nothing happens,” said freshman Mohammed Alison. Fellow students echoed Alison’s assessment of the situation, agreeing that their day was ruined after the would-be fight, later characterizing the Academy as just a teaser school and the Switzerland of the school district. Sources say that this isn’t the first time a fight has led on the student body, going on to cite the mud fight that almost took place between two senior girls. Even the administration was lamenting their decision of coming to SDA, with principals and staff alike longing for the steroid-infested days of their youth. Most students were concerned with the fate of the scrumptious blueberry muffin, asking if it would be “taboo” to eat it after it had been on the ground for more than five seconds.

Formal to take place below water By CARA REICHARD The rumors have been confirmed—following the popularity of our neon foam dance, this year’s winter formal will, in fact, be held underwater. “It took a lot of persuading, but we finally got the administration on our side,” said ASB president Michael Brown. “It’s going to be pretty awesome.” And how will this work? “The dance is being held at Sea World, in one of their empty tanks,” explained Brown. “But we finally got the go-ahead to, halfway through the night, flood the tank with water. It’ll probably be up to mid-chest for most people, maybe over the head for some of the really short kids.

We’ll be passing out glow-inthe-dark scuba gear at the door.” “Yes, we had our doubts about this one,” our principal admitted, “but I’ve done my research. The number of students who have drowned at other high schools doing this in the past is relatively low, and besides, we’ll have plenty of teachers and parents there keeping an eye on things. I’m not too concerned about it.” All the rumors flying around have stirred up quite a bit of interest in this upcoming dance. “We’re expecting to make a lot of money off of this,” said ASB treasurer Will White. “At this point, it’s looking like it might have the largest attendance of any dance in SDA history.”

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sports 11.06.09

Friends beat foes The varsity volleyball girls keep up their team chemistry for wins. Vahalla. “We could’ve annihilated them more too because they t was a great way to end the were a small school with little week for the varsity girls volexperience.” leyball team on Oct. 9 by beat More fans entered to cheer ing Christian Life High School. for the Mustangs as the game From the start it was obvious went on and several Comedy that the Mustangs were far more Sports students stomped their experienced than the players feet to the beat of “we will rock of Christian Life because the you” to support the players. opposing team was constantly There was also a huge roar from making fundamental errors. both players and fans for junior That factor combined with Becca Kutlow. the Mustangs dominant com“I fractured my elbow so this munication made for the fastest was my first game back from my sporting events of the year. injury. Everyone was really supIn one instant three playportive and we kept our inteners from Christian Life fell like sity up and played really well,” dominoes due to the strength of said Kutlow. the ball hit by junior Erin Nogal. Assistant Varsity Coach Senior Katherine Merchat had Rebecca Bailey said the girls are several powerful kills that sped coming together and getting past the opposing team, along better every day. This commuwith senior Anna Kobara who nication was strong in the defeat started off the game with nuof Christian Life because of thier merous serves that stumped the calls to each other like, “mine!” Christian Life players. This has allowed the team to “We could’ve passed more win six of their last nine games. which would have given us a “Our strength is our team better offense,” said junior Jessie chemistry because everyone pauline disch

nina moussavi

Double the trouble Juniors Jessie Vahalla and Kim Rabaii go up for a block.

supports one another, but our weakness is staying aggressive through the whole match and not just having high intensity in spurts,” she said. Bailey also commented that Merchat’s hitting has improved immensely and Kobara continues to dominate in saving, passing, and defense; just to name a few players.

Game Results: Horizon 3-0 W Bonita Vista 3-1 W Christian Life 3-0 W Tri-City Christian 2-3 L Calvin Christian 3-0 W Rancho Bernardo 2-0 W Tri-City Christian 1-3 L Santa Fe Christian 1-3 L Calvin Christian 3-0 W

Coastal North: Santa Fe Christian 5-0-0 Tri-City Christian 3-2-0 San Dieguito Academy 2-3-0 Calvin Christian 0-5-0 courtesy of the north county times Nov. 4

Volleyball misfortune leads to forfeits Due to a mix-up in a volleyball player’s home address the varsity team was forced to give up 16 of their matches. alexa shapiro

t was a disappointing trip to Principal Michael Grove’s office for the varsity volleyball team last month. Earlier, the team was told during a weekday practice by a teammate that she would have to leave because she was attending the Academy illegally. The following day, the team was pulled out of class during second period and Grove informed that they would be forced to forfeit all 16 games that the girl had played in. “The team was really upset, not with [the girl], but with...the decision,” said junior Catherine Oswald. During a standard background check by the district, the girl was discovered as an invalid resident of the San Dieguito district. CIF rule states that if a team carries of a player living outside of the school’s district, they must forfeit all games that the player participated in. “The team was of course

disappointed because we did work hard for the games we did win but we are still not going to let this event bring us down,” said senior Jenn Godfrey. “It would take much worse than this to bring down the girls on this team.” Volleyball still has a chance of making it to playoffs; however with their current record stating that they have 16 forfeited games, chances are slim. “Even if we win all of our games, there is no chance of breaking even,” said senior Anna Kobara. Before CIF, all participating teams send in a record of their games and highlights in order to be placed for the tournament. The record determines who each team plays and where they go at the beginning of the tournament. According to Kobara, sending in volleyball’s record will look bad. League games, however, didn’t start until October. Since the inellegible player had left

the team before the games began, she did not interfere with the volleyball team winning their league. “At least we still have a chance,” said Kobara. “It wasn’t like we were undefeated, but it wasn’t a bad season either.” The Academy sent in an appeal to the CIF counsel following the incident. The appeal would allow the volleyball team to keep their 16 games and raise their chances of making it to CIF, said Kobara. It’s not often that appeals are accepted, said Athletic Director, John Labeta. In the appeal, the school states that they did everything they could to find players who weren’t in the district, and that the girl’s presence on the team was out of their hands. It requests that they still allow the volleyball team to go to playoffs with their games still valid and expresses that it was not the fault of the school. The appeal was rejected,

nina moussavi

Raise your spirits On court, the varsity volleyball team circles up for a quick, encouraging talk in order to keep up their intensity to defeat the other team.

leaving volleyball to end their season two weeks early, said Oswald. “We can only hope that people are being honest and bring in valid [proof of residency]. It’s unfortunate for the young ladies who worked so hard,” said Labeta. The inellegible player is still

a large aspect of the girls’ volleyball team. She continues to go to every game and cheer on the Mustang girls, said Kobara. “I am nowhere near mad at [her] for any of the events that happened. She was a great player, an all around nice person and an even more amazing friend,” said Godfrey.

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Grass stains and body pain At Homecoming, students had the opportunity to destroy the faculty on the football field but they didn’t... again. It was a close game because touchdowns were being scored t was a dark and foggy evening on both sides, so the students ended up playing in overtime. down on the football field at Before the end of the game, juSDA. Tensions were high as nior Morgan Joel from the field students battled each other to hockey team said that she and decide which four teams would her teammates were staying well challenge the undefeated skills spread out and it didn’t hurt that of the teachers and faculty. they had an amazing quarterAfter school, the Homecomback, junior Ariana Crow. During Flag Football games started ing half time she also predicted with 21 teams, each with a the end result, declaring, “The burning desire to demolish their other team is going down!” opponents. Joel was right because the In one of the games in the girls were able to score in OT first round team Late, composed of senior girls, played team Lions with a win of 5-4. Not all games were laughs of Judah, which and smiles was full of senior “Tonight, history is going though. In boys. The girls the first to repeat itself.” - James may not have round the been as skilled as Hrzina. team Brown the boys in scorBailey’s ing touchdowns, played the team Nascar which but they were extremely quick resulted in several plays that to yank their flags off. consisted of more than just a Notably, one of the girls’ push or shove. There was also a main concerns was the music in debate over whether one of the the background. At one point they yelled all together, “change boys from Nascar was hiding his flags under his shirt, a classic the song!” to the students workmove to avoid being stopped. ing as DJ’s. Certain insults were exchanged. “We mentally destroyed Most of the games involving them and knocked their selfall guy teams were rough and confidence down approximately in some occasions the referees two notches,” said senior Alex had to pause the game to cool Grinberg from Late. This was everyone down. probably true, but the boys “I feel like the game was demolished their hopes of conmore intense and personal than tinuing and booted them out of fun; Lions of Judah was too the competition winning seven much to handle,” said senior touchdowns to two. Josh Johansen. Also in the first round was Finally the showdown arthe varsity field hockey team rived, the four teams: Nascar, which was pumped to show off Legends, Nipsey Husslers, and its speed and strength against Hardballs were going to take on the team The Get Down. pauline disch

]Nascar

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Top four teams vs teachers: Nascar Hardballs Nipsey Husslers Legends

Boom Boom 3-0 Team Discovery

Boom Boom

Varsity Field Hockey 5-4 in OT The Get Down

Hardballs 4-0 Smashing Pumpkins

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Brown Baileys 3-1 Nascar

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Purple People Eaters

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Gypsies

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Late 6-1 Lions of Judah

Legends

Team X 3-0 Gypsies

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Husslers ]Nipsey of Judah ]Lions 2-0

Gypsies

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Nooms 6-1 Nipsey Husslers

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the field with no hesitation. Sheryl Bode, spanish, came out of nowhere with close interception and rushes. Mike Santos, biology, rushed the ball for a touchdown, but had to leap over a group of students near the end zone and almost took them out like bowling pins. After the amazing talent of Profe West’s oral guitar solo to Nirvana ended the third quarter, the students knew they had to make a comeback in the fourth. Despite all their attempts, students could not gain back enough points to overcome the teachers’ eight touchdowns and were only able to score six.

]

Legends 4-1 Rockets Hot-Corn 3-0 Ochocincos

students, an interception is a really fast way to get ahead, I saw someone do it on TV once.” Due to the fog, this was the first year the game was played on a short field as opposed to the whole football field. Unfortunately for students, this allowed the teachers to launch the ball from one end to another in a single throw. James Hrzina, social studies teacher, was the main quarterback and hurled the ball like a pro, but most of the teachers ran in the ball to score the majority of their touchdowns. Assistant principal Marc Trocchio was a beast and sprinted up and down

]

]Freshmeat 5-4 in OT ]Legends ]Hot-Corn3-0

the teachers. For the first time in SDA history, a freshman team, the Legends, would participate in the staff game. However, the team’s MVP, freshman Dylan Been, broke his thumb in an earlier game and could not play. The game wasn’t too extreme because of the ice-breaking comments from Profe West. He was the announcer of the faculty game and in one instance was confused whether the techers got a first down or touchdown. The teachers were celebrating in the endzone so he corrected himself with a touchdown. West also made a suggestion for the student teams: “Hey

]

Freshmeat 6-1 Neon Hippos

jocelyn lee

In a rush Two flag football teams battle it out for a precious victory to bring them one step closer to the faculty finals.

Three of the four teams were chosen through the elimination rounds. A fourth team was needed so that four different student teams could play each quarter. The freshman team, Legends, was able to make it to the finals because of their superior score in the second round: two points versus one from teams Gypsies and Lions of Judah.

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sports 11.06.09

Struggling to finish

The varsity field hockey team is making the plays but is swimming upstream to pull ahead in their league. pauline disch

he mood was tense at the varsity field hockey team’s first league game of the season. The entire first half consisted of girls from both SDA and Rancho Beuena Vista driving the ball up and down the field with no one scoring. Varsity coach Brooke Wilson said the girls have too many missed opportunities which can lead to losses, especially in overtime situations. Rancho Buena Vista made some fouls that were not getting called by the referees which led to the girls becoming frustrated. Halftime came and Wilson complimented the girls on hanging tough and keeping a strong defense. “Girls, we are doing a lot of good things; we just need to finish it,” she said. Freshman Kelsey Taylor had several momentum-changing plays along the sidelines while junior Jessica Bloom was all over the field making passes. Another standout player is senior Heather Scruggs because of her offensive talents and “nasty rocket-like drive that is hard to stop,” according to Wilson. Rancho Buena Vista wasn’t going down without a fight, and had an equally strong defense against the Mustangs. SDA had great passes across the field, but it wasn’t enough to prevent RBV from scoring in the first 10 minutes of the second half and

winning 1-0. The Mustangs had some close calls. For instance, the ball was practically in the RBV goal and their goalie was on the ground, frantically trying to block a point from SDA. The ball was passed up the field, away from the RBV goal, and the referees didn’t blow their whistles to what many Mustangs argued to be a goal. The girls tried to come back with four short corners in almost two minutes, meaning they had penalty plays at the opposing side of the field, but RBV stayed strong. “We played really well as a team and our defense did really great,” said Taylor, “it’s just unfortunate that they scored a goal.” The field hockey team is 11-7-1 overall and 3-4 in their league as of Nov. 4, but several games have been extremely close in overtime situations according to Wilson. This game was one of those examples because the girls were unable to break it open. Wilson also said that the team dominates on the offensive end and is able to keep control of the ball for the majority of the game time while outperforming other teams, but if a loss occurs in this instance it is “more than undesirable.” “We need to score as opposed to continually being ‘so close,’” she said.

nina moussavi

Looking forward Junior Katey Ford keeps an eye out for her fellow players while protecting the ball from CCA.

Game Results:

Canyon Crest 3-0 W University City 3-1 W Valley Center 1-0 W in OT La Costa Canyon 2-1 W in OT Bishops 2-0 W Torrey Pines 1-5 L Santana 0-1 L in Double OT Serra 1-3 L

Palomar League: Rancho Buena Vista 0-1 L Rancho Bernardo 2-3 L in OT Vista 3-2 W in OT Poway 1-2 L in OT Rancho Buena Vista 0-5 L Rancho Bernardo 2-1 W Westview 1-0 W

Rancho Buena Vista 7-0-0 Vista 5-2-0 San Dieguito Academy 3-4-0 Rancho Bernardo 2-5-0 Westview 1-3-0 Poway 1-4-0 courtesy of the north county times Nov. 4

These girls are making a racket Tennis makes a strong effort against league and non-league teams. kaylin greene

kaylin greene

Heads up Sophomore Betty Hwang serves the ball high during a match against La Jolla Country Day.

ophomores Perri Calloway and Betty Hwang were playing doubles against La Jolla Country Day, a challenging opponent in the Coastal League. Hwang and Calloway had taken a slight early lead only to be passed by LJCD in a series of volleys that sent players from both sides scrambling out of the court’s bounds. “They are one of the top teams—they’ll probably win league—that’s how good they are,” said coach Joe Tomasi halfway through the match. The tennis ball on Calloway’s and Hwang’s court traveled from

side to side seven, eight, nine times before a particularly tricky shot was hit from LJCD and Hwang reached in an attempt to make the return. This happened several times, making the game intense but ultimately frustrating for players and spectators alike. “We played really well, but they’re the best in the league,” Calloway said. San Dieguito put up a good defense, but was defeated by La Jolla Country Day, which won 4-3. “I think it was okay. I’m happy with the effort, and I hope they learned something,” Tomasi said. SDA has been playing tough teams throughout the

season, even Division I teams, and has still been playing well. San Dieguito holds fourth in Coastal League standings as a DII school with 4-3. “We’ve progressed pretty well actually—we are playing better and doing better, but I don’t think it’s going to be good enough to make playoffs

Game Results: Tri-City Christian 11-7 W Francis Parker 11-7 W Canyon Crest Academy 2-16 L Tri-City Christian 7-11 L Santa Fe Christian 10-8 W Valley Center 12-6 W courtesy of the north county times Nov. 4

though,” he said. For the first time in a few years, the tennis team was able to beat Francis Parker in a match earlier last month. “We need to have a little more enthusiasm and killer instinct,” Tomasi said. “We’re a good team, but we have to learn how to win.”

Coastal League: Bishops 4-0 La Jolla Country Day 4-0 Canyon Crest Academy 7-1 San Dieguito Academy 4-3 Francis Parker 1-1 Tri-City Christian 3-7 Santa Fe Christian 0-11

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No uphill battles here Blue 3-1 Red

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Blue

The cross country team is speeding past opponents up and down hills because it is one of its biggest strengths. pauline disch

kaylin greene

Fast as lightning Junior Steven Forsythe and senior Brendon Junge run like the wind with the dust in their tracks to make their way to the finish line.

he cross country team has been maintaining their strength by placing in the top spots after a meet on October 15. At the first Coastal North Cluster Meet, both boy and girl runners from SDA were among the best. Standouts for that meet include senior Nate Burns, who placed first in the 5K run (approximately 3.1 miles) with a time of 17:35 out of 64 runners in their league. Junior Julia Pederson also stood out by placing second in the 5K run with a time of 23:50 out of 28 girls. In an interview, assistant coach Justin Conn said that the team is progressing nicely despite many athletes dealing with some nagging injuries, but the players are becoming healthy at the right time. He also complimented the runners’ strengths with running up slopes.

Thank You!

Mustang Magic was a huge success as a result of these contributor’s donations. Funds raised will make a difference in the experiences for the kids at San Dieguito Academy.

Coastal North Cluster, October 15 Girls: Boys: 3.1 Mile Boys 1. Nate Burns (12) 17:35 3. Steven Forsythe (11) 18:12 4. Brendan Junge (12) 18:16 5. Evan Armstrong (10) 19:09 7. Conor Paris (11) 20:00 8. Daniel McNeela (11) 20:06 10. Chase Brokaw (10)

3.1 Mile Girls 2. Julia Pederson (11) 23:50 4. Katherine Swanson (10) 24:40 5. Alexa Shapiro (11) 24:43 6. Courtney Swan (12) 24:51 7. Amy Lewis (11) 24:51 8. McKenna Taylor (12) 24:54 10. Emily Nathan (9) 26:02 courtesy of athletic.net Nov. 3

“We are always working on our hill running which is what SDA cross country is known for,” said Conn. Not only are the coaches confident in the team’s capability of running up hills, but the athletes also know it is a huge part of their strategy. “We do a lot of hill repeats in our exercises during practice because that is what helps us beat other schools,” said sophomore

Katy Swanson. It is not just about the speed of running for the cross country team, but the runners all communicate together for support. “We encourage each other while we are running in races because, not only do we want to do well individually, but we want our teammates to do well so we can be successful as a team,” said freshman Emily Nathan.

Aldila

DEMA

Val Agnew

Jewelry by Karen – Karen des Jardin

French Pastry Café

Dental Specialty Associates

Allen’s New York Pizza

Mark Sweat and Jola Prosceno-Sweat

Fusion Learning Center

Detour Salon

Alterations Center

Jolene Andrade

H&M Landing

Disneyland Anaheim

Berry Happy Frozen Yogurt

Justin Froese

Hansen’s Surfboards

Dixieland Jazz Festival

Best Western Encinitas

K1 Speed

Harrah’s

Dr. Martin Schulman

Moonlight Counseling

Today’s Pizza

Vanity Beauty Center & Salon

Blaze Newman

Kanaya Fine Tea - Judy Nakatomi/Ka-

St. Tropez Bakery & Bistro

Phyllis Vitamins and More

San Tropez Bakery Café

Hearst San Simeon State Historical

zuyo Hirose

Moonlight Music

Trader Joe’s

Velvet Moon Designs - Erin Gibbs

Monument

Dr. Ray Kieffer, DDS

Staples

The Princeton Review

SDA ASB - Rod Keillor

Borelli’s

Keith & Cheryl Kelly

Nan Sterman

Queen Eileens

Via Sat

Hornblower Cruises and Events

Eagle Creek - Ricky Schlesinger

Stater Bros.

TRE Clothing

Third Corner Wine Shop and Bistro

Brian Fortini

Ken Noah

NBC - Blaire Burns

Randy Horn, DDS

SDA Culinary Arts - Scott Huntley

The Huntington Library

Educational Consulting – Kristine

Next Step College Counseling

Tres Jolie Salon

Surf Ventures Unlimited-Geoff Fisher

Bully’s

Svarcas

Stephen’s in Cardiff

Reuben H. Fleet Science Center

SDA Surf Team - Oly Norris

In-n-Out Burger

Ki’s Restaurant

NICHE

Tupperware - Denise Ross

Vons

Cardiffit and Premier Fit Club

Encinitas School of Music

Super Cuts - Johanne Corazza

Rob & Michelle Roberson

SDA Theatre - Sharon Dasho

Jamroc Caribbean Grill

La Paloma Theatre

Off Track Gallery - Grace Swanson

The Tutoring Club - Leslie McDonald/

West Coast Tennis Academy

Caroline Cesena

Encinitas Surfboards

Surf Bros. Teriyaki

Donnal Somerville

SDA Yearbook - Carrie Land

Jan Kaufman

Larry & Kelly Stefanki

Oh My Dog!

Ruth Anderson

White Dragon Martial Arts

CBS Paramount – Cheryl Heuton

Encinitas Village Vet

Pala Casino & Resort

Ultra Star La Costa 6 Cinemas

Silpada Designs Jewelry - Patti Lochner

Jason Berend

Bruce and Lisa Bishop

Surf Ventures Unlimited - Geoffrey

Sage Grill

Wild Rivers

The Century Club Buick Invitational

Eric Neubauer

Fisher

USS Midway Museum

Skin Essentials by Ellen - Ellen Tallman

Jeff Germano

Lisa Kaufman Designs

Panda Restaurant Group

Salon Endera

Sony Electronics Inc.

Claudette Parham Jewelry

Eureka One-On-One Review LLC

Susan Coppock

Stephan Mayfield and Margaret McCal-

SpragueLand Studios

Jeff Kassebaum Photography

Dan and Marla Strich

Paul Jordan Salon

lum

101 Diamond Jewelers

The Comedy Store

Fidel’s Little Mexico, Inc

Terrie Yoshikane, DDS

Transworld Surf Magazine - Chris Cote

Fontana’s Hair

Jeff Norman

Bruce and Meryle Minton

Jerry and Paula Abels

Surf Hut Art Gallery - Sterling Kig

Abby and Dave Fisher

Del Mar Thoroughbred Club

Flippin Pizza

Fran and Greg Goldstein

Jeremy Wright

Michele and Brad Miller

Peets Coffee

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San Diego Ballet

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Mustang

Math-Scientist likes to tutor! From 9th grade up through college courses!

Available afternoons or evenings at the place of your choice in Encinitas and Cardiff area for $25/hour. Call Martin Osterwalder at (760)274-6344 in the day time.

Blood Drive Nov. 17

In the gym

From 7:30 am-1:30 pm.

You must be 16 years or older.

Marco?

sports 11.06.09

SDA water polo is making a big splash. kaylin greene

he Academy’s new water polo team has faced many challenges, but has made progress towards establishing both a boys and a girls team. The boys team formed late in the regular boys water polo season, and therefore is not able to have any scrimmages. Other complications, such as not being able to secure pool times specifically for SDA’s use, led to the team not actually being officially under the CIF league until next year. Until then, several San Dieguito Academy students are playing with the Boys and Girls club’s Seawolves water polo program. SDA’s game schedules with other teams have been set for next year, ensuring spots for the team to have game time. “Athletes still have to maintain a 2.0, still need a Blue Card, and still need to get a physical. Everything still falls under San Diego’s CIF program,” said Athletic Director John Labeta at a meeting regarding SDA’s aquatic program on Oct. 27. The aquatic program currently includes both

girls and boys water polo, but plans for starting a co-ed swim team are still up in the air. The girls water polo team has received much interest because over 50 girls have given their contact information to parent coordinator Russ Johnson in preparation for the girls season, which begins Nov. 14. Because of a tight budget, athletes will only practice three times a week and are encouraged to contribute up to $300 to pay for coaches, the use of a pool for practices, and game fees. Swimsuits will also have to be purchased at the athlete’s expense, but the athletic department is working to provide team caps and parkas (a long waterproof jacket). Although the team received a grant and a loan from the athletic department, the team plans on holding fundraisers to pay back the loan and lower costs each athlete needs to pay. The girls team will not be playing a full game schedule, but is signed up for a tournament in January and has been contacted by teams from other schools, such as Canyon Crest Academy.

The last tee Girls golf finishes the season at Coastal League Tournament. kaylin greene

he newly reinstated girls golf team finished their season with 0-12 after progressing from the beginning of the year. Many of the girls who joined had never been involved with golf, so it was a great learning experience for them. “Golf is not a game that you just learn and get good at right away; it takes time and dedication. The girls are learning and having fun,” said girls golf coach Doug Timmons. Standouts on the team include freshman Victoria Ly and junior Pauline Disch, who scored 48 strokes in a 9-hole match against Canyon Crest Academy Oct. 13. Although the girls on the team have learned new techniques since the beginning of the season, Timmons said that the girls still have room for improvement. Many team members are freshmen and have not had much experience playing golf before.

This, combined with the effort required to start up and maintain a new sports program, has presented the girls with several challenges throughout the season. “I think we did really well and everyone improved a lot,” said junior Paige Kaufman. The team was able to participate in the North Coastal league tournament, which took place on Oct. 28 at Encinitas Ranch Golf Course. “It’s going to be another match, and it’s going to be a great way to end the season,” Kaufman said earlier that day. She, along with Pauline Disch, Victoria Ly, freshman Dana Smith and freshman Molly Kovacs participated in representing San Dieguito Academy. Other schools involved included Francis Parker, Horizon, Bishops and Canyon Crest Academy. Although conditions were very windy during the match, SDA’s girls golf team demonstrated that, in the end, they improved over a couple of other schools.

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Timeout With: Kevin Shaw pauline disch

t’s not uncommon to see someone in Encinitas practicing Yoga or Pilates, but what about balancing on a rope? This is called “slacklining” and senior Kevin Shaw is the club president. Not only does Shaw participate in this tranquil hobby, but he has also dabbled in a few tricks. He is going to share these slacklining secrets and more with the Mustang. Mustang: What exactly is slacklining? Shaw: It’s when you walk on a rope tied to two trees, but not tied too tight so there’s a little bit of slack hanging. The goal is to walk across it while keeping your balance, but what’s really fun is to balance with another person and try to stay on longer than them. M: How did you get involved? S: Sophomore year, Dan Schricker (now a senior) and several other people did it at

school during lunch and the adults told him to stop because he could get hurt. Eventually my friend, alumnus Garrett Johnson, got hurt and broke his arm at school, so Dan started the club. M: Why would you do such a thing? Does it help you achieve inner balance? S: It actually helps me escape from life, but I really like to do it because it’s fun. M: What do you enjoy about slacklining? S: The tricks. I like to do a “knee drop” which is when you almost sit on your ankle with your knee below the line (rope) and keep your balance at the same time. I really just enjoy the tricks and being outside. M: What is the most embarrassing incident you’ve had with slacklining? S: I personally haven’t done anything that risky, but I remember when Dan tried to do a back flip and fell on his face. Also, one of my friends tried to lie on the line, but when he did

he spun around in circles and fell. It’s also embarrassing, but really funny if someone “nuts it.” M: You’re president of the club, but what does the club do? S: We meet at school to decide where we are going to slack line, but we usually do most of our slacklining on the weekend at parks. M: Are there any slacklining stereotypes? S: Actually, on the minimum day some random guy came up to me and said he worked for Circus, Circus and implied that I could work for them. He seemed like he was high and I said that they are two totally different things. M: Is there any special equipment you need? S: Sometimes when we do high lines (which are when you balance on the line 20 feet, or more, above the ground) and we wear a harness. It is easiest to balance barefoot because it’s super hard when you wear shoes.

courtesy of kevin shaw

Shoes are for wimps Senior Kevin Shaw balances on the tips of his toes to make it to the end of his perilous journey across the line in his front yard.

M: Does that mean you would want to try and walk across something crazy like Niagara Falls or the Grand

Canyon? S: That would be fun, but I would have to try it with a harness.

Pop culture throwdown What are the latest and greatest pop culture trends? The Mustang finds out. Interviews and photos by Kaylin Greene.

dj swan sophomore cross country

amanda godfrey freshman volleyball

zake morgan junior water polo page

current song on my ipod:

my life is average because:

thing that has lived in my car the longest:

word that is overused:

i’ll make a man out of you -from mulan

i can play rockband drums on expert

one flip flop in the trunk

dank

down -jay sean

get it together -jurassic five

i’m level 15 on farmville

i go to friends’ houses to make pretzels

a piece of (unchewed) gum under the mat

my socks

favorite word from a different language:

sugoi -japanese for “wow”

like -american sign language for “turtle”

mob

pañuelo -spanish for “hankerchief”

Mustang

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sports 11.06.09

Surfer vs. Skater

Senior skater Ray Martino starts off brilliantly but doesn’t fulfill his expectations, while senior surfer Anthony Lazarus mirror-acrously wins it all despite revealing private information. By Dimitri Fautsch and Henry Sweat. 1) When does it stop being partly cloudy and start being partly sunny? Skater: When there are more clouds versus when there is more sun. Surfer: When the sun rays bounce through the clouds Us: Sounds reasonable Skater, five points. Surfer, how could rays bounce through clouds, that makes no sense. Minus five points for being illogical. 2) Do astronauts change their clocks when they move over different time zones in space? Skater: No, because it’s all up to Houston… it’s Houston’s problem. Surfer: It depends on three types of watches: the automated automatic time changer, Rolex, Facebook birthday clock. It depends on the clock. Us: Skater, do you always blame stuff on others? Instead of blaming others for your problems, fix them yourself; it’s amazing what you can do with

dedication and perseverance. Minus 20 points for being unmotivated. Surfer, way to repeat yourself with the “automated automatic,” but moving on to more important things… when did the Facebook birthday clock become its own type of clock? You need to go out and live a little more. We’ll give you five pity points. 3) How much deeper would the ocean be if sponges didn’t grow in it? Skater: Nothing, I can’t even give Spongebob credit; I hate him. Surfer: Dude, six inches just came to my head for some reason. I shouldn’t have said that out loud. Us: Skater, au contraire, sponges need a constant flow of water through their bodies in order to survive, so they do absorb water. Furthermore, a wise animal friend once said that if you don’t have anything nice to say, don’t say anything at all.

Minus 13 points because you are wrong and for hating on others. And Surfer, woo hoo, you’re average, congratulations. Plus six points. 4) If you put a chameleon in a room full of mirrors, what color would it turn? Skater: The color of the chameleon; its original color, greenish brown. Surfer: Miraculously, which means mirror color. Us: Skater, we didn’t know that greenish brown was the de facto color of a chameleon. Looks like you need a trip to the reptile house at the zoo. We’re deducting nine points for your failure to support needy animals. Surfer, a mirror is whatever color it reflects... “mirror color” therefore cannot be a color. Minus three points for misunderstanding the simplistic concept of a mirror. Total: Skater: -37 Surfer: 3

nina moussavi A step above the rest Skater Ray Martino rests his foot on the shoulder of surfer Anthony Lazarus, believing he is a step above the competition.

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jocelyn lee

Art of graffiti

Mustang pride Ramirez poses next to his masterpiece in which he chose to paint a horse and a mustang to represent SDA.

maddie lyon

n the rush between periods if your journey takes you past silk-screening room 110, you may have noticed the new splash of colors covering the wall this year. The mural, which was started at the end of last year and completed this summer, was done by Antonio Flores, Josue Aceituno, who both graduated last year, and seniors Jose Perez and Miguel A. Ramirez. After several meetings with the administration, and extensive planning on how they could best represent SDA in their art, the four artists were granted permission to work on their mural which was going to take on a new style of art yet to be represented on the SDA campus: graffiti art. “We wanted to do something different, that you don’t see around SDA, and something that would stay forever,” Ramirez said. “Street art is just colors of the community if you put it into perspective. Some say graffiti is vandalism, but when it’s done and you explain why

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you do it, it’s art.” They decided to cut the wall into four separate pieces so each artist would have his own section; each artist tried to paint what they believed would best represent SDA. “One of the major challenges was trying to connect all four pieces to make them one big one, because each of them had such different colors and ideas in them,” Ramirez said. “The hardest part was doing all of the shading and mixing the colors together because I am not used to having to do it on a wall, just on paper,” said Perez. After putting in long hours, working 9-5 the last week of summer, the mural was finally completed. The hard work has paid off. “People say they like it, and they want it to stay forever, and I hope that too,” said Perez. Positive feedback has come from teachers and students alike, many of whom have said that it is refreshing to see something new and different on the SDA campus.

nina moussavi Caligraffiti Perez shows off his piece of the mural which features a form of graffiti which combines caligraphy and graffiti.

taylor chapin