The Mustang Oct. 2014

October 16, 2014

T h e

Volume 19 Issue 1

M u s ta n g

the Mustang | October 2014

beHind the Pages Sadie Miller Cover Artist

2014 - Ask.fm coverage

“I know that all I’ve ever wanted to be is an artist,” said junior Sadie Miller. “In recent years, my real improvement has been taking art classes here [at SDA].” Using only Sharpies, Sadie created the cover art with her own artistic interpretation of of a still life, her current favorite thing to draw. “The assignment for that particular piece was to see what you could do with fabric,” she said. “I, last minute, hung up my jacket on a cabinet door, took a picture of it, and then ended up getting really into inking it and making up my own pattern.”

2002 - Slambook coverage

Elise and Elise Quick notes from the co-editors in chief Welcome to the opening issue of the Mustang! As this year’s staff came together for the first time, a diverse collection of ideas was able to take shape in the October edition that now sits in your hands.

In the forefront of this issue comes Yik Yak, the latest social media wall where anybody can post just about anything anonymously. As seems almost routine by now, its emergence has brought forth another wave of cyberbullying and backlash.

This kind of story is nothing that we haven’t seen, or for that matter covered, before. In 2002, it was Slambook. In 2010, it was Formspring. 2012 brought us SDA Insults. And 2014, Ask.fm.

Taking this trip down memory lane begs a couple of questions. The first, and possibly the most obvious, is why does there seem to be this innate need for releasing negativity in high school?

Perhaps this seemingly increasing trend is an implication of all the technology at our generation’s disposal. It is no secret, after all, that sending hate is easier to do when it’s digital.

Then again, these parallels could just as easily be a consequence of something less concrete.

Are high school kids, as a whole, shifting towards something less palatable? This is, of course, not to say that we were ever really that easy to deal with from the beginning.

So long as they continue to arise, the Mustang will keep reporting on these kinds of social media sites and studentinterest issues as a whole. With a new year ahead of us, our primary intention is to introduce something of a magazine style, complete with a less traditional design and greater number of feature-esque stories. By shifting a lot of our breaking news coverage online, we will be able to maximize the relevancy of what reaches you, as well as devote time towards in-depth reporting for print.

For now, we wish you happy reading. See you next time.

Elise Echeverria and Elise Gout

2 | a little insight

Ruby fEENY Backpage Photographer Freshman Ruby Feeny took the photo featured on this issue’s back page when fulfilling an assignment for her photography class. The prompt was “to take a picture of something scary.”

For the past two years, she has been actively taking pictures. With this shot, in particular, she was able to use her basic knowledge of the art form and create a final image that looks almost fake. The technique is commonly referred to as long exposure photography. “[I wanted] to make people wonder how I took it,” she said.

Who’s who?

The Mustang Staff EDITOR IN CHIEF/NEWS EDITOR Elise Echeverria EDITOR IN CHIEF/FEATURES EDITOR Elise Gout ARTS EDITORS Julianne Miller Reema Moussa OPINIONS EDITOR Carina Julig SPORTS EDITORS Lindsey King Andrew Naimark BUISNESS MANAGERS Hana Chen Leigh Houck

CAF EDITOR Dylan Hendrickson ONLINE EDITOR Caroline Daniel ASSISTANT ONLINE EDITOR Kate Sequeira STAFF WRITERS Daniel Ballard Gina Checchia Kevin Gallagher Elizabeth Loren Lucas Oldham Sophie Peeler Becca Von Zweck ADVISOR Tim Roberts

The Mustang is the student newspaper of San Dieguito Academy.

Advertisements do not necessarily reflect the opinion of the newspaper. The Mustang is an open forum which welcomes letters. Letters can be submitted to room 98, emailed to sdamustang@gmail.com or mailed

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

sdamustang.com SDA Students Say But what do people even say on Yik Yak? “There’s a lot of trash talking,” said sophomore Tina Bullington. “It’s just LCC kids making fun of freshman, each other, and sometimes SDA kids.”

“People use it almost exclusively to be negative,” said senior Johnny Menhennet.

“There was a post that said ‘SDA kids shouldn’t go to the LCC games #posers’ and I was like, ‘dang, like that’s me,’” said senior Robert Miller.

“There was this post saying a girl at LCC was a “whore” and it got 70 up likes and replies agreeing with it,” said junior Helen Anderson.

Does Yik Yak have any useful purpose?

Yik Yak Talks Smack

Yet again, a new social media app provides another outlet for students to hate on each other.

Y

ik Yak, an anonymous, Twitter-like app has swept through the school district, inciting freshman jokes, commentary on how girls dress and what guys think, and rivalries between LCC and SDA. The concept is simple: 120 characters or less, nameless posts which can be up or down voted, a system similar to Facebook’s likes and dislikes. Viewers can see anything posted on the app within a five-mile radius, making the app popular among students.

Similar to Facebook, Yik Yak was created for college students to connect with one another around campus. Released in late February this year, it has quickly spun out of control, used to convey offensive comments such as slut shaming, racism, and even making light of bomb threats. La Costa Canyon has been the subject of many of these posts locally.

“I think the main problem is that students could use this application to engage in relentless bullying of others, and they can do so in relative anonymity,” said Mark VanOver, assistant principal of LCC. “The attacker then does not have to face the consequences of their behavior, directly, because others won’t necessarily know what they’ve done. We’ve been monitoring the impact and are prepared to assist any student who finds themselves victim to bullying.”

Although Yik-Yak has affected a larger audience at LCC, students from SDA are affected by the negativity as well.

“[The comments] can be extremely hurtful,” Anne Nebolon, counselor, said. “It’s like kids making comments are hiding behind the computer. Would they really say those things if it was face to face?

Probably not, so it kind of escalates because there’s a little bit of anonymity to it and it seems like the kids are meaner because of that.”

“It’s the same concept of years ago,” said Jeanne Jones, assistant principal. “There was something called the slam book. It was like a notebook. And they’d write one person’s name at the top of the page pass it all around and people would write underneath it whatever they wanted to say. So it was extremely painful, because you see your name and you see painful things written about you. So it’s the same idea of anonymity providing people with means of taking cowardly action against another person and it is not what I call ‘the academy way.’ The academy way is respect for all and open communication, and Yik Yak is not the academy way.”

“I try to convince kids with ‘Don’t do these things.

Don’t you have better things to do than to go onto apps that put people down?’” Nebolon said. “If kids are being hurt by things that are being said about them, then we tell them to eliminate all these sites.

Start ignoring it. Don’t even go on them. Don’t participate because you have a choice.”

written and edited by Reema Moussa, reporting by Kate Sequiera with the help of the Mustang staff

“There was a huge post about gay straight alliance that had like 100 up likes and replies agreeing with it and supporting it,” said junior Matt Cattle. “A lot of posts are also pretty funny.”

“Things are pretty on point as far as social commentary goes,” said senior Riley Murphy.

“There are some high quality posts that are good little jokes about the situation…especially since it’s based on a locational setting.”

However, students generally agreed upon the negative nature of Yik Yak. “I have a friend who was personally attacked on the app, and she was so upset about it she cried,” said Bullington.

“I think there might be more self-harm and losses of self-esteem, because so many people are going to be saying hurtful things and the person who’s getting attacked is going to take it personally. It’s such a popular site, and so many people see it, so they think more people are going to see it,” said senior Lauren Gonzales.

So when will it all end, if it does? What’s next?

“First of all, it’s not respecting people’s privacy when posting personal things about them. And why would you want to make someone feel bad?” said senior Tara Gildersleeve. “Let’s all be happy. Yes [this app should be disabled], because it’s spreading bad juju, bad karma and stuff. You don’t want that out there.”

“This will end when someone does something out of reach, like suicide. It shouldn’t be disabled because people will still be bullies, but your content should be revised before it’s released onto the newsfeed,” said junior Isabelle Otillio.

students are talking about | 3

the Mustang | October 2014

Bryony Kinnear teaches her Integrated Math 1 class. Photo by Caroline Daniel.

A New Formula With a focus on hands-on work and figuring things out on their own, the Common Core standards are changing the way SDA students learn math.

A

chalk Cartesian plane was on the ground outside room 33. Earlier, teacher Bryony Kinnear had the students in her Integrated Math 1 class form themselves into a graph. Giving the class a function to solve and each student an x-coordinate, they were responsible for finding their y-coordinates and lining up to form a graph of the function. ”The teaching style is more inquiry-based,” said math teacher Amy Springstead of the new class.

“Instead of the teacher telling the students all of the steps to solving the problem, the students have to figure out the steps on their own.” In Kinnear’s class, they were literally doing just that as they walked across the graph.

Integrated Math 1, which is currently being taken by part of the freshman class is the first high school class in the new Common Core system. Common Core is a new set of academic standards for math and English which are being implemented in the majority of states.

4 | students are talking about

The math classes at SDA have historically progressed from Geometry to Algebra II and Trigonometry, up to Pre-Calculus and AP Calculus. Under the new Common Core guidelines, that will all change.

Start of a Change Beginning this year, the first class of the Common Core, Integrated Math 1, is being taught to over 300 students. Geometry is still being offered this year, but next year only Integrated Math 1 will be offered, and the next classes in the system, Integrated Math 2 and 3 will be taught as well. The students who have taken Geometry will continue along the traditional path, while the freshman who took Integrated Math 1 will progress on to Integrated Math 2 and 3.

What math class students take will not affect their college opportunities, as the Common Core classes are UC accredited, said Springstead, who is on special assignment to help the district impliment the Common Core standards.

Regular and honors classes are being offered for Integrated Math 1, as well as a remedial class in the

place of Algebra Readiness, and classes 2 and 3 will be offered in regular and honors as well. After math 3, students who have taken honors will progress onto AP Calculus, and students who took the regular courses can choose between that and Pre-Calculus Honors. Currently over 450 freshmen and sophomores are taking Integrated Math 1, Integrated Math 1 honors, and Integrated Math Readiness.

Math 1 is a blend of algebra, geometry, and statistics, and math 2 and 3 will be based around the same curriculum but with increased emphasis on algebra and statistics, and the material will gradually become more complex, math teacher Paul Brice said.

The new Common Core classes have been designed to better prepare students for college and the demands of the workplace, Brice said.

“It’s actually going to prepare students better for college because they’ll be able to connect the different topics better, they’ll be able to build on their prior learning, and they’ll be able to problem-solve,” said Springstead.

Reactions Student reactions are varied, and some like the new class more than others. “I like that we don’t have a lot of homework,” freshman Ashlyn Harris said. ”It’s more thought intensive,” said freshman Josh Sirota.

Parents learned about Integrated Math 1 at Back to School Night. “The approach that they’re taking sounds like a great way [to teach]. It makes logical sense to do the different subjects together each year instead of separately and compartmentalized,” one parent said.

A New Approach Often math classes consist of correcting homework and then copying notes as the teacher explains the lesson for the day, then doing homework on the new material, ad infinitum. Brice said instead of following that model, the class is work-oriented. “Notes are not effective. We do math in class,” he added.

They use a workbook which is divided into modules, not chapters, and each day has a task. The students are in charge of working together to come up with ways to solve the problems, and explaining how they found their solutions.

Brice can find few drawbacks to the program, though he said that it would be difficult if students transferred to SDA from schools that weren’t teaching Common Core because the difference in curriculum might mean they would miss topics. Overall he said he believes the program helps students prepare better for their later education and careers.

“There’s always going to be a learning curve,” said Springstead, but she felt that it was going smoothly so far. “It’s a lot more fun for me as a teacher to teach it this way because I get to learn from my students instead of them learning from me.”

“All the research shows how you really learn is by thinking, talking, writing, and having to explain what you’re thinking, having to go up and justify why you’re right. And the Common Core is emphasizing that,” Brice said. story by Carina Julig

sdamustang.com

An SDA face in the Race

Alex Fidel, an SDA alumnus, is running for Mayor of Encinitas.

His radical ideas are shaking up the way some residents think about local politics.

A

t an Encinitas city council candidate’s night last month, Alex Fidel, 22, sat in a panel among eight other Encinitas residents all of them older and dressed in business attire.

With his curly long brown hair, matching Abraham-Lincolnesque beard, and the assortment of activist pins tacked onto his sports coat (a medical cannabis solidarity ribbon, a Palestinian flag, “Thanks but No Tanks” button), he stands out. Adding to the disparity is his outspokenness about his (for the sake of simplicity) unconventional views that earned him over 75,000 views on his KUSI News interview that was posted to YouTube in late August.

This kind of individuality and ambition fits right in at SDA, where students feel free to express themselves through fashion, music, art or at events like the forum where kids have the opportunity to speak up about school issues that are meaningful to them.

So it’s no surprise that Fidel, who will be running as the youngest candidate among five in the first direct election for mayor of Encinitas on Nov. 6, is a 2010 SDA graduate.

As the youngest candidate, Fidel has no experience in political office. However when asked about it in an interview before the candidates’ debate at Ada Harris Elementary, this didn’t seem to concern him.

“I don’t have any experience as in I don’t have any experience taking bribes, colluding with corporations, oppressing the people, not doing anything about police brutality, so I’m glad to not have any experience in any of that,” said Fidel. “At what price do we want to sell our souls and I have no price.”

This strong view of career politicians helps to explain Fidel says is his main goal as a candidate: to get people involved in political change.

“I think people need to be proactive and get issues on the agenda. If we have strength in numbers, that’s how things will change. Higher than getting elected is getting change,”said Fidel.

Some of the changes Fidel wants to see include the protection of medical cannabis patients through Prop. F, the end of corporatism, free land use for

farming, no more police militarization, fixing the city’s alleged water fluoridation, and breaking up the cable networks.

His claims during the debate Sept. 16 were met with a mix of responses. His allegation about the fluoridation of Encinitas water was directly challenged by another candidate, while his comparison of the police state to fascism was met with cheers from some of the audience.

Fidel’s ideologies fall more to the left, though he identifies as an independent influenced by people like Ron Paul, a two-time Republican presidential candidate and former congressman known for his conservative and libertarian views;Malcolm X, an African American human black rights activist known for his extreme and controversial methods; and Rick Stimson, a skin cancer survivor who gave away pure marijuana oil to cancer patients after using it upon himself.

“I’ve been able to get this good hybrid of left and libertarian views, but I like to consider myself a human being,” said Fidel, who is an independent journalist.

Fidel began to cultivate his political ideology and world views while still in high school. Though his beliefs have evolved since then, it’s where his interest was first sparked.

Fidel said he remembered a few classes and teachers being particularly influential, like economics with teacher Stephen Fisher; AP government with teacher Oly Norris, especially a BBC documentary , “Power of Nightmares”; and AP U.S. history with teacher James Hrzina, especially the first chapter of Howard Zinn’s “A People’s History of the United States.”

“Those teachers kicked me off in the right direction by teaching me how to think, not what to think and opened my eyes to these untold things about history,” said Fidel.

He wasn’t always interested in politics. He considered himself to be “apathetic” towards politics until the 2008 presidential election.

“Everyone was having an opinion on it [and] I wanted to have an opinion on it, so I would say things

For a key to Fidel’s pins visit his campaign Facebook page and see his profile picture. Photo courtesy of Alex Fidel

that I would pull out of nowhere,” said Fidel. “But I realized I didn’t have any basis for that, so I decided to shut up and do my research.”

For current high school students, Fidel thinks that being politically aware is important.

“Most of the kids at SDA can’t vote, but the government still represents you and the policies still affect you. I’d say drug policy is one of the biggest effectors; people get their lives ruined,” said Fidel.

He had a few suggestions of how students can become politically involved including looking to alternate media instead of corporate news, watching documentaries, and showing up to city hall meetings to advocate for issues they want on the agenda.

“I think young people [should] get together as a community and start organizing and mobilizing, showing up to city council meetings, we can be proactive about things,” he said. “If [politicians] are going to be all smug on their throne and condescending towards you, then we really need to change the system.”

story by Elise Echeverria

students are talking about | 5

the Mustang | October 2014

A look at the candidates Lottery

There was some controversy over the summer regarding CCA and SDA’s procedures for the high school selection process.

Though all students on the wait-list were admitted this year, parents brought up concerns that the lottery could prevent students from getting into their first choice, even if they lived right by the school.

The district is putting together a task force to reevaluate the current process. The candidates spoke of their views on the current high school selection process, whether or not it should be changed, and if so, how?

See Online: To learn more about the candidates, their views on Common Core, and their reponses to more issues being discussed in the community, visit sdamustang.com story by Elise Echeverria

The Candidates

6 | students are talking about

Amy Herman My wish would be that every student would have the opportunity to attend the high school of their choice. In the last few years the waitlists at our two Academies have grown and prevented students from attending their first choice due to limited capacity.

This summer we were able to accommodate the freshmen on the waitlist with careful coordination a teach site, and with the knowledge that we will be able to lessen the impact of that decision by increasing the size our facilities due to our Prop AA funding.

I am looking forward to hearing from the Task Force, and promise to keep an open mind as they present their ideas and recommendations.My hope is that no matter what decision is made, each school is able to retain their own unique culture and traditions that foster school spirit and community connections.

Rimga Viskanta I believe the decision whether or not to change the process should take into account two important ideals.

The first is the unique environments created at each of the schools that have come about because of the current system.

Many parents I have spoken to like that they can find an educational home for their kids that fits their child’s personality and interests whether that be the arts or sports or anything else.

The second ideal is that the parents and students really have a “choice.” When a student’s choice is to attend the school across the street with all the friends they have known since kindergarten and it is denied, that does not feel like choice.

And in fact it puts a great burden on that family.

It is wonderful that our District has schools with unique personalities and strengths from which to choose. The Board continues to paint the boundary issue as either/or. Either we have choice or we have boundaries. I think that’s a wrong approach. It is possible to have boundaries to delineate geographical areas for the schools and continue with the current lottery system. Let families decide which school they want to attend regardless of where they are in the District. Absolutely.

Only if demand exceeds capacity would Simeon Greenstein: Served as principal at Torrey Pines and La Costa Canyon. Also served as a teacher and other administrator positions within the SDUHSD.

boundaries come into play allowing priority for students who live near the school to attend first. The District claims that in most years, students do get their first choice of school anyway, so the boundaries might rarely come into play.

Maureen Muir We need to hear from the parents first and the task force- that is also what the current board members are doing.

Barbra Groth Because the district has policies in place, it is really the responsibility of the district to enforce these policies, out of fairness to everyone. The idea of having a Task Force made up of parents from all over the district, I think it will be fascinating to see what they come up with.

Just because we always did something one way doesn’t mean we always have to do something this way. So I’m open to hear what they find, the pros and cons.

It’s important that every parent in the district has a say. As you know with the two academies, everyone in the district has the option of going, so we couldn’t just limit it to geographically.

If we can give more choices to students and parents, we’re going to go that route, because that’s how we best give them the opportunity to choose what’s best for them.

There’s no cookie cutter, so that’s why we try to have options for everyone. So I’m open to having a game plan that makes those choices real for everyone.

It is my personal opinion that the district should implement a policy that best meets the needs of all students.

John Salazar

I think the current situation with the lottery is ridiculous. I think we should have some type of system that gives priority to those people that live in and around each high school,particularly SDA and CCA. I don’t know exactly how it would work, that’s up to the administrators to figure out. At the very least I’d like to see the middle schools stay together. If you go to Oak Crest, you get priority at SDA. Not everyone will want to go there, so however many spots are open at like LCC there will be a lottery for everybody else.

The people that live in and around the SDA area should have first priority. They pay the local taxes, they can walk to it those are the people that deserve a first shot at it. I absolutely think the rules will be changed. . I think that Task Force is ridiculous, but if they do it it’s got to come up with the same conclusion, it’s the only thing that makes sense.

Steve McDowell Not all students have been admitted to the school of their choice and unfortunately there are still Juniors and Sophomores that could easily walk to SDA that did not get in.

Unfortunately I do not believe any of the needed changes will come out of the Simeon Greenstein group the district is putting together. My I am very impressed with the belief is students and families should not responsiveness of our district office. The be forced to depend on cars to get to and superintendent is doing exactly what from school.

It is just another expense a good leader should do: listen to the and burden pass on to families. concerns, look at the overview of how Many of the students that cannot go to those concerns fit in with the entire district the closet school to their home will miss and doing what a district should do on an out on the chance to participate in sports ongoing basis: revaluate its policies. or other extracurricular activities or even I believe that this district has benefited tutoring due to the distance they have to from this system of choice of schools. It travel. was a great experiment that has been an One way to change it would be to use overwhelming success. the system in place at Mission Bay High I appreciate the fact that the district is School.

The school accepts all students going to carefully evaluate the impact on that live within its boundaries and also not just a few people, but everyone in the attracts students throughout San Diego district in the district before considering due to its International Baccalaureate (IB) any new polices. program.

Barbara Groth: Businesswoman.

Incumbent served on the school board since 1998.

Amy Herman: Businesswoman, co-owner of Herman Design and Construction. Incumbent, served on the school board since 2010.

sdamustang.com

Three incumbents and four challengers are competing in the Nov. 4 election for three spots on the San Dieguito district school board. They discuss the lottery system and tenure.

Tenure A Superior court ruling made earlier in June declared the twoyear tenure system unconstitutional.

Governor Jerry Brown as well as some others appealed the decisions and are currently awaiting a ruling.

There have been concerns expressed that it is unfair to students because the last-hiredfirst hired practices can result in older incompetent teachers being kept on while new qualified teachers are let go as well as it taking too long to fire incompetent teachers.

Steve McDowell: Financial reporting consultant. Served on the Del Mar Union School Board. Chaired and is currently involved in City of Del Mar committees.

Amy Herman I am certainly watching what the impact of this ruling will bring, and as a district will ensure that we follow the laws as decided by the legislature.In our district I believe we are fortunate to have outstanding, dedicated, and well trained teachers. As a result of our district’s reputation of excellence, we are in the enviable position to attract and select new teachers from a pool of highly qualified candidates.

We also offer a Beginning Teacher Support and Assessment program that helps mentor and train our new teachers. This enables us to ensure that they are prepared and are a match for our district’s high expectations before they are offered tenure.

We also hold our experienced teachers accountable with an evaluation process that is conducted at each site by our principals.

John Salazar I think we have to give priority to our students. If that means we have to change the protection to the teachers, that’s what we should do.

The time has come when we can no longer allow these teachers, we all know who they are and have had them, who put on movies that have nothing to do with the subject matter and sit in the back and read a newspaper.

They are protected right now and principals can’t replace them. So we need to change that. Is it getting rid of tenure? Yeah it probably is.

I do think that what ultimately happens is the students that need the best teachers the most are hurt the most because the high achievers typically have parents that are very involved and demand that these teachers do well. The low achieving students have less active parents, so they get stuck with these teachers that aren’t doing the job.

The bottom line is that our least fortunate are getting the worst teaching. In our district and in every district. Tenure is no longer necessary.

Everybody has great employment protections and we just can’t afford to have this any longer.

Maureen Muir: Worked on Encinitas Union School District Board of Trustees and serves as Board Liaison to the North County Consortium for Special Needs.

Rimga Viskanta I believe the word “tenure” creates a lot of confusion around this discussion.

When a teacher is hired they are probationary employees for two years. I think administrators should be especially vigilant during this time when it is easiest to terminate a poor performer. I don’t believe a good teacher will suddenly become bad in year three.

After two years, a teacher receives “permanent” status. Hopefully, the district has done a careful job and only effective teachers will receive this permanent status. At this time, if administrators want to terminate a contract they can only do so with just cause and by following a process.

This is true in many private sector organizations as well. The process includes evaluations. Anyone who has ever worked and has had to undergo a performance review system knows how difficult it is to have an effective one.

It is up to school districts to set up their performance evaluation systems to identify ineffective teachers. Then it is still possible to remove ineffective teachers from the classroom.

Some seem to wish for the power of Donald Trump to just yell the words, “You’re fired,” when they want. But without due process there is evidence that firings occur for political or other capricious reasons.

Steve McDowell Teachers that have demonstrated they are great at their jobs should not be fearful about losing their job, simply because they were the last hired. While there is a need for an appeal process to ensure good teachers are not let go, school districts should be able to layoff teachers that have a history of bad performance.

Barbra Groth There are already provisions in the ed code that allow schools to dismiss teachers when it needs to be done.

So what San Dieguito has been able to do, because of the quality of our students and parental commitment and reputation, is attract the best teachers. There is always a waiting list of teachers who want a position in our district.

When we have them, we have an incredible support system from our teachers. People from all over the state are looking at our program.

People could know their subject matter but if they don’t know how to run the day to day in their classroom, then they are of no use. So, we support our beginning teachers by giving them mentor teachers to bounce their ideas off of and that give them critique.

Also we have a real aggressive evaluation schedule with new teachers before they become tenure. Our assistant principals, our principals, are in the classroom watching them give their lessons and seeing if this person has what it takes to stay.

We don’t have to settle for good. It’s a combination of factors that allows for us to not be so affected by the issues that other districts have ( LA unified) when it comes to tenure.

What it [ tenure issue] does is take the attention away from the real issues like kids in poverty and underfunding. Its kind of a buzzword, but the discussion should go towards these other factors.

Maureen Muir There are great schools in this district - supported by great parents, teachers and administrators. This is a great community.

Simeon Greenstein I support the excellent teaching I see in our district. No further comment.

John Salazar: Former buisness owner. Incumbent, served on the school board since 2010.

Rimga Viskanta: Accountant.

Worked for the City of Manhattan Beach and City of Solana Beach. Served on Ocean Knoll School Site Council.

students are talking about | 7

the Mustang | October 2014

Up Front

A quick look at the events around the SDA campus. Aug. 26 - Oct. 17.

Coming Up

Beware of Bikers A new California law both provides increased protection for bicyclists and presents additional problems for motorists.

“T

hree Feet for Safety.” This catchy phrase is the slogan for a new law that went into effect last month.

The California Department of Motor Vehicles defines the Three Feet for Safety Act as follows: “A driver of a motor vehicle shall not overtake or pass a bicycle… at a distance of less than three feet…” SDA students are in favor of it Bicyclists have been lobbying for the law for several years due to the large number of bicyclist injuries and deaths occurring regularly in California. According to the California Office of Traffic Safety, bicyclist deaths increased 7% from 2011-2012, resulting in 124 fatalities.

Bicyclist Dylan Miranda, sophomore, said that drivers have recklessly passed him.

Community Day Community day at SDA will be extended to one week. Students involved in the Community day Committee are now working on and organizing the event.

The theme will be different than last year but will not be revealed until the week arrives in December.

Photo by Leigh Houck

“Yeah, I mean not where they’re [the drivers] gonna hit me but it’s definitely close,” he said. “[It] freaks you out a little bit.”

With the Three Feet for Safety Act in place, a driver who overtakes a bicyclist without three feet of passing space, can be slapped with a $35 fine. The DMV also states that, if a three foot berth is impossible, “… the driver

shall slow to a speed that is reasonable and prudent, and may pass only when doing so would not endanger the safety of the operator of the bicycle.”

Drivers who are involved in a driver/bicyclist collision while in violation of the Three Feet for Safety Act that results in injury to the bicyclist can be fined $220.

On the other hand, some students have firsthand, daily experience with motorists driving dangerously.

Freshman Micah Tyler, who bikes to school daily, said that “It happens a lot…coming down on Bonita.” Tyler said that the drivers aren’t really shaving any time off their daily commute by cutting too closely to bicycles. “It doesn’t make a lot of sense, but it happens,” said Tyler. story by Leigh Houck

“I don’t mind the idea of a water balloon fight; it just needs to be in a controlled environment.” —Principal Tim Hornig

Party Animals Homecoming is set for Oct. 24 and will have a safari theme.

H

omecoming week begins Oct. 20 at SDA, and ASB has been preparing since the summer. The highly anticipated week will have a Safari theme with animal prints and a jungle feel.

Each day of the week from Oct. 20 through Oct. 24, will have a different theme and the students can dress up accordingly. Then on Oct. 24, from 7:30 to 10:30 p.m., the Homecoming dance will be held in the gym. The dance will feature a DJ and stage lights. ASB is also looking into an airbrush tattoo artist, karaoke machine for outside, and a photo booth.

Due to the chaos of the water balloon fight at the end of last year, as of now the traditional senior water balloon fight will not be allowed to continue. Hornig said that he is open to other options as long as things remains Photo by Caroline Daniel under the control of the staff.

a. This teacher won a huge bass in a fishing tournament that she entered 22 years ago. b. This teacher has been best friends with her S.O. since sixth grade 2. Ellen diChristina

c. This teacher ran with bulls in Spain a few years ago to celebrate her best friend’s 30th birthday. d. This teacher has a pilot’s license and accidently flew close to Mira Mar military base one time

4. Ruth Magnuson

5. Deb Abrahamson

8 | students are talking about

story by Luke Oldham

H2No

Teacher Tidbits

1. Annelise Ihle

There will be a Homecoming Week Assembly in which the Homecoming King and Queen for each grade will be announced. There will be four or five contenders for king and queen for the senior class, according to Keillor.

The Homecoming royalty was chosen by the SDA students during homeroom the previous weeks.

The student-teacher flag football game will not be held during Homecoming week this year, but will occur on Nov. 7. This also occured last year due to the construction of the field.

See the answers online at sdamustang.com

Photos by Hana Chen, Kate Sequeira, Kailea Pankopf, and Tony Sommers

Students take turns going down the water slide at lunch. Photo by Caroline Daniel

ASB decided to reduce the amount of water used on Water Day this year by only having one water slide.

The water used for the slide was afterwards put on the SDA gardens.

503

SDA made room for a larger freshmen class this year, admitting more than 500.

Parents complained about having to send their children to LCC when living so close to SDA. A new school district Task Force is being formed to reconsider the lottery, and the potential, but small chance, that SDA could be turned into a traditional boundary school.

sdamustang.com

STAFF EDITORIAL

YIK YAK: NO LAUGHING MATTER The Mustang thinks students should be concerned about Yik Yak. There are jokes on the site, but offensive and harmful comments have been posted also.

Staff editorials represent the collective voice of the Mustang, and 17 staff members up or down voted statements about Yik Yak based on whether they believed the concerns were valid.

HAVE SOME RESPECT

Girls need to stick together in a world that tries to put them down.

By Becca Von Zweck.

Y

ou’d think it’d be instinctual, that all women would be wired with the urge to defend their own gender against the onslaught of double-standards and slut-shaming befalling them.

Unfortunately, it seems that even girls themselves fail to realize how degrading some of their comments towards each other really are.

It’s the fault of society, and the media, however, that feminism has been painted in such an unattractive light when it could instead be used to enlighten people in the ways of gender equality.

So, to clear up the confusion and misconceptions surrounding the topic, here’s an analysis of feminism, what it is and what it isn’t.

Feminism is not the hatred of men, nor is it an extremist group intended to raise women to the higher power and take over the world. It is simply a call for equality, about wanting women to be given the same opportunities as men and to be treated with respect.

It’s the idea that women should be treated like

Girls are often hypercritical of each other, and can be judgmental of clothing choice or behavior. Photo by Hana Chen.

people, not objects. That’s all it is. It has nothing to do with men besides the fact that they seem to get away with a lot of things that women can’t.

The female body is over-sexualized by the media, so much so that even showing too much of our shoulders and stomachs can be seen as “inappropriate.” Men are seldom criticized for having active sex lives, whereas a girl who exhibits the exact same behavior and lives an equally active sex life is automatically seen as a less admirable person. Since when is what you decide to do with your body anyone else’s business?

It’s disheartening to recall the number of times I’ve overheard a girl call another girl a “slut” or a “skank” because of what she was wearing, or due to the number of guys she’s supposedly slept with, as

though their personal sex life and/or preference of clothing has anything to do with who they are as a person.

People like to use the phrase “Have some selfrespect!” for women that are comfortable in their bodies and their sex life, although “self-respect” has nothing to do with how others perceive you and everything to do with doing things that make you happy and confident in yourself.

Rather than slam other girls for the personal choices they make — whether it comes from jealousy, or a need for competition — we should instead try to support and defend each other against these malicious accusations and insults. That, to me, seems like a much healthier and open-minded way to live.

perspectives | 9

the Mustang | October 2014

PUT IT AWAY Phone confusion lands students in hot water. By Elizabeth Loren.

I With homework, extracurriculars, and technology serving as distractions, students are becoming sleep-deprived. Photos by Hana Chen.

WAKE ME UP

How many hours do you sleep? Probably not enough. By Hana Chen.

8:30 p.m. started writing article

8:34 p.m. much needed snack break

8:45 p.m.

Netflix: new episodes of “The Walking Dead” available

8:57 p.m.

URGENT text: “He liked my selfie!!”

F

act: most people reading this right now are probably tired. Right?

Sleep-deprived eyes are scanning this sentence at this very moment.

It’s not a surprise; high schoolers spend roughly seven hours in classes, and most also participate in extracurricular activities, such as sports, volunteer work, and jobs. On top of that, there’s also the pile of homework to do each night, likely to take at least another two hours. When it’s finally time for sleep, the bed seems to be an angel sent from above (or maybe that’s the delirious lack of sleep speaking).

But sadly, again and again the alarm clock must blare in the morning, waking groggy, bleary-eyed teens with severe cases of bedhead so they can make it to school in time for the early 7:50 a.m. start of first period.

And before actually getting out of bed, we often cocoon in our comforters, trying to summon the courage to tackle the day with 4, 5, maybe 6 hours of sleep in our fuel bank.

This period in students’ lives is one of the busiest; everyone is prepping in anticipation of college, stressing over grades, readying their resumes and trying to show their ambition. The cycle of staying up late and waking up early seems to never stop.

Lack of sleep is the top contributor to attention deficiency as well. During early morning lectures, eyelids always feel the urge to close, no matter how interesting the class may be. In math, a student yawns and misses a quick explanation during notes. During sports practices or games, he is weak and unfocused, therefore not reaching his highest potential or

10 | perspectives

performing at his best.

While students are always complaining about the source of their exhaustion coming from the load of schoolwork and other draining activities in their lives, it is partially their faults as well. Studies have shown that multitasking while doing homework, such as texting or watching a television program, greatly reduces productivity and absorption of crucial information into the mind.

It takes so much longer to get homework done when a phone lies right beside you, relentlessly vibrating, beeping, or blaring an annoying ringtone. Social media, phones, Netflix... It’s hard to escape the lure of technology, especially when it’s right at people’s fingertips, begging to be browsed, watched, or listened to.

Many have had the experience of checking a text during a study session, and then getting distracted for over an hour, somehow ending up on Youtube. It’s safe to say people are pretty hypocritical when it comes to the reason why they’re lacking sleep.

It’s not easy managing time and finding a balance between schoolwork, extracurriculars, and sleep. As a victim of sleep deprivation myself, I’ve learned several tips on how to not end up staying up too late. Here’s one: place electronic devices far from your workspace or turn them off. At least try and have some self-control. It’s for your own good.

Now that you’ve finished reading this wonderful article, I prescribe an antidote for all the sleep deprived: go take a nap.

9:38 p.m. notification: “@ hottie with_ body_ has requested to follow you”

9:59 p.m.

SoundCloudjam session 10:02p.m. mother walks in, shakes head

11:10p.m. eh, I’ll finish this tomorrow ...

t was second period when it happened. A recording of birds chirping broke the silence of the classroom, and my face flushed. That was my ringtone. I reached into my bag and pulled out my phone, which confirmed my fears: my phone was on and had been ringing.

My teacher looked up from her desk. Though it was clear that she couldn’t tell whose phone had been ringing, she demanded that we all turn our phones off, before threatening to take them away.

Teachers have different cell phone policies, and the school policy leaves the issue of cell phones up to the individual teacher to decide. This can lead to confusion among students about when cell phones are acceptable to use.

Many teachers have different policies for what happens when someone gets caught; most just take away the phone until the end of the class period or the end of the day. For many, though, perhaps the worst punishment is the embarrassment that comes with getting called out in class for having a cell phone.

The embarrassment is multiplied when whoever owns the phone doesn’t realize that they have done something wrong. So cell phones should be allowed periodically in class, as they can be beneficial to students’ education. I am not, of course, talking about logging on to Tumblr to view cat photos - I am referring to using your phone to look up formulas or words that you don’t know (like triskaidekaphobia: fear of the number 13).

Phones can also be useful in helping students understand the pieces that they are reading. The school could work with teachers to designate specific times where cell phones could be used, while doing work that requires research, for example, that could make the cell phone policy less confusing.

It’s a simple (yet unfortunate) fact that there will always be someone who uses a cell phone when they aren’t supposed to. Creating a standardized cell phone policy would help ease that problem. Students would be less likely to abuse their phone during class (obsessively looking over Zac Efron’s Facebook page, “liking” his photos on Instagram, etc.) if they had an opportunity to use it in a class activity that requires research that day.

Being able to use a cell phone in class would allow students to spend time on their cell phones, thus easing students’ desire to use their phones later on.

And reducing cell phone abuse in class is what a uniform policy is all about.

sdamustang.com Editors Note: While Lucien Bonnafoux left an invaluable impression on both the faculty and student body, his passing highlights something even more universal. San Dieguito Academy would not be the place that it is without the relationships it fosters. At times, it can be all too easy to take it for granted. Orlando Tirado’s letter serves as a reminder not to.

Remembering Lucien Lucien Bonnafoux, former photography and yearbook teacher at SDA, died last month. Alumnus Orlando Tirado remembers a man who taught him how to use a light meter and to search for greater truths.

S

Bonnafoux traveled to Belize after retirement from SDA. Photo by Abran Quevedo, Courtesy of Sheryl Bode

o that he should not be forgotten, I write in memory of Lucien Bonnafoux,

About Lucien Bonnafoux:

SDA’s long-time photography teacher, whose recent passing, in certain ways,

Lucien Bonnafoux worked at The Academy between 1974 and 2004 and was a photography and yearbook teacher. “He had tremendious creative energy, he was strongly opinated, and was very devoted to SDA, its students, and the craft that he was teaching,” said Jeanne Jones, assistant principal. “He had a particularly strong voice [in the development of the Academy] because he was a very intelligent and creative man. The Academy was very creative, and he helped established that.”

reminds me that the death of analog photography is approaching.

“Mr. Bonnafoux,” as we called him, was a dinosaur. His hands and skin were

tinted a yellow-grey, that special tinge that darkroom chemicals give people after years of living in the dark. In French, his first name means “light” and his last name means “good-crazy,” both words that epitomize the idiosyncrasies of the artist. He was enthusiastic and effusive about photography; he taught us the basics of composition, and even taught us how to use our own shadows as a light meter, tricks of the trade only the old photographers knew.

When I knew him, it was a time—the Camelot years at SDA as they would later be called—full of angst and an abandoned kind of freedom, in which Goths and surfers managed to co-exist in mutual respect. And so, many of us sought refuge in Mr. Bonnafoux’s darkroom, totally seduced by the silver developing, in hysterics over the madness we felt inside suddenly taking form, finding nuance in the grey areas, just messing around. At a time before the “selfie” we were using our bodies in wild ways, and even in our artistic transgressions, Mr. Bonnafoux found a way to kindly tell us maybe we shouldn’t push the envelope so much. Perhaps it was because Mr. Bonnafoux also had secrets.

What many don’t know was that he had worked in the fashion industry, in editorial and advertising, in Paris and New York, a master printer and image-maker.

We were lucky to have him. He once showed me the test strips of a matchbook photo-shoot: each match struck again and again, each time more beautifully, until the sexiest product photograph was made. He was fascinated by innermost secrets, and one of the projects he had worked on for many years—privately—was a documentary portrait series of individuals transitioning genders. He was curious, and like any great photographer, he used the camera to give life to these curiosities.

In his last years, he was exploring the deep—a YouTube video shows him swimming with manta rays!—and he hosted a radio show that invited callers to speak about sexuality and psychology. It was Mr. Bonnafoux who taught me how to think conceptually, though I would realize that many years after the fact. He would

In The Academy’s first year, Bonnafoux was taking the all school photo. Blaze Newman remembers: “Lucien was on the roof of the gym with a big bullhorn. There were a thousand kids, and as always people weren’t moving together enough. That year, kids were dressing as far out as they could come up with to try and see what was really going to be ok with us. We said we were open minded and tolerant and were we really? So there was one guy who wore fishnet panty hose over his face…pretty much every day. And so Lucien’s up on [the gym] trying to get people to move in and on the big bullhorn goes ‘The kid with the panty hose on your head! I need you to move in!’ and it was just totally businesslike. It felt to me like the embodiment of The Academy.”

About the writer: Orlando Tirado is a writer, filmmaker, and curator living and working in New York City and Los Angeles. His film Medeas, written in collaboration with director Andrea Pallaoro, premiered at the 70th Venice Film Festival, has screened in over 30 international film festivals, won various prestigious awards, and will be in forthcoming limited theatrical release in the U.S. and France. He holds and MFA in Art: Photography and Media from CALARTS, an MA in Comparative Literature from SUNY-Binghamton, and a BA from Hampshire College. He is currently adapting various novels into screenplays, writing a play, and collaborating with artists through socially-engaged curatorial work. He graduated from SDA in 2000 and was once the Editor-in-Chief of The Mustang.

lament my shortcomings as if it had been him who couldn’t take the picture at the decisive moment. When I got in trouble, he came to my rescue, defending me. I don’t know why he believed in me, but he shared with me who he really was, which I think he felt he had to keep under wraps for the sake of professionalism. And in doing so, because he treated me like a real artist, I went after greater things, with ambition, and after greater human truths. This may not mean much to you, Reader, since times have changed, and the darkroom days are just about over. I am not even sure if the darkroom still exists, but I picture him, emerging from the depths like a giant, mythical creature, with big scary eyes that all of a sudden turn gentle.

Orlando Tirado, Class of 2000 New York City, NY

perspectives | 11

the Mustang | October 2014

sdamustang.com

Junior Ciara Reiter was designed by senior Caity Cecio into a fairy princess. The look has ethereal eyeshadow, blending aqua blue and two shades of purple with pink glitter dust to the eyelid. Cecio then used black eyeliner to create a swirled cat eye on each side of Reiter’s eyes to create a dainty swirl design. She added bubble gum pink blush to her cheeks and the matching color for her lipstick. To finish the look, she used the pink glitter dust again to spread over her lips. This tutorial takes about 25 minutes to achieve. An easy eye makeup palette will suffice. Pinks and blues were used to embody the girly spirit of the fairy costume. When it comes down to the eyeshadow look and the lipstick, one could change up the colors and be as creative as wanted.

Makeup Mad ness 12 | the middle

H

alloween is a busy time for students because it is on a school day and there is the stress of having to find time to get into costume and makeup quickly before the night starts. Makeup designer and senior, Caity Cecio, designed two different Halloween do-it-yourself makeup tutorials to give students easy ideas on how to dress up this year.

All of the tutorials take less than an hour and the materials are relatively simple to buy or find at home. Anyone can do these and add personal creativity to the tutorials where desired to make it exactly how one wants it to look.

The first tutorial was designed on freshman Lawrynce Cecio, who was made into a zombie with special facial effects. The tutorial embodied a scabbed over zombie with fake blood pouring out of his facial wounds.

The second tutorial was designed on junior Ciara Reiter, who was a fairy with many bright colors and glitter used for the makeup. The tutorial included pinks, purples, and aqua blue colors particularly defining the eyes and lips.

Students may want to follow the exact steps, change them up a bit, or even do a completely different makeup idea for this year’s Halloween. All in all, Caity Cecio’s main piece of advice is to, “Have fun creating these looks and add your own creative touch to them!” story by Gina Checchia photos by Gina Checchia and Reiko Inouye

These tutorials will have all of the steps with detailed pictures, an exclusive interview with the makeup designer, and links to where the makeup used can be found. Find these tutorials in full at sdamustang.com

Freshman Lawyrnce Cecio was designed as a zombie that makeup designer Caity Cecio did using do-it-yourself special effects. The finished product still has the usual zombie makeup aspects like the dark circles underneath the eyes, the blood pouring from the mouth, and the pale white face. This version of the classic zombie adds in fake wounds made from tissue paper and liquid latex, fake blood spread across his face, and special zombie prosthetic skin to add texture to the wounds. It is an easy step-by-step process that takes about 45 minutes to achieve and all you need is liquid latex and a zombie kit. You can get all these supplies at Party City for about $4 each.

the middle | 13

www. sdamustang.com

I

Art by Samantha Laurent.

using taxi 2.0 Teenagers are beginning to take advantage of new ridesharing services in order to get home safely after they have been drinking. While they offer many benefits, these services are raising safety concerns, particularly from parents.

14 | something different

t was getting late and the night was alive. All thoughts of that earlier school day had dulled somewhere between the first or second beer. There was music and people and a bottle of something that tasted like tequila floating around the room.

It got later. School went from being an afterthought to forgotten about entirely. The beer count wasn’t as easy to pinpoint then as it was before. “Outside,” said the student, “some kids were smoking, passing around a bong.”

Around 2:30 a.m., the crowd started to disperse. The drive home was maybe 10 minutes and on familiar roads. But, as “compelling” as it was to get behind the wheel, for him it “wasn’t an option.” Then again, the alternative of facing the parents was even less of one.

For this junior, and for many teenagers throughout San Diego, these kinds of Friday nights are nothing unheard of. That’s where ridesharing companies like Uber are coming in as option number three.

Over the past five years, these services have been optimizing smartphone technology to operate something of a substitute taxi business. Users are able to download the company’s coordinating app and request a ride near their area. Multiple drivers can respond on their own phones, allowing the customers to then select the one that they’d prefer. Drivers can use their own vehicles or drive company cars, and all payment is done electronically, including the tip.

These new companies are beginning to acquire an increasing customer base from the teenage generation. Kids who have been drinking, using illegal substances, or simply are unable to drive no longer need to depend on a designated driver or taxi. While this brings up many safety and parental concerns, including driving with a stranger, the majority of students favor the services for their confidentiality and affordable cost.

When Teens Use It Students are trying these new types of services to get rides during a variety of situations. They have asked not to be identified.

“I use it about once a weekend, I guess,” one student said. “I was at a party the first time, and we didn’t have [a designated driver] at the time. I asked my mom about it, and she didn’t want me to drive. [Uber] is hooked up to her credit card.”

Another female student used Uber her first time after seeing a band at the Del Mar Fair. Due to alcohol consumption, she “wasn’t in the right position to drive.” When the driver was unable to locate where in the fairgrounds they were, she and her friends ended up walking across the street to the Hyatt Hotel to be picked up. “I told my parents that my reason [for using it] was I didn’t want to deal with all of the bad traffic coming out of the concert when I was leaving,” she said.

Not all kids tell their parents ahead of time about using ridesharing services. One girl used her own debit card in order to pay Uber.

She said that she and her friends had gone on a party bus to a concert.

The idea to use Uber came when they noticed a group of intoxicated kids stepping off of a party bus beside them and requesting drivers on their phones. “We weren’t going to have our parents come and pick us up,” she said. “I actually wasn’t even supposed to be out that late.”

The more secretive nature of the car service has been a large benefit for several kids. “I usually use Uber when I need to go out on the town,” said one boy, “and don’t want to deal with getting my parents involved.”

The Common Concerns Uber makes a point on its website to say every driver is “thoroughly screened,” which includes a three-step criminal background check as well as ongoing reviews of the driver’s motor vehicle records. The company was contacted to make a statement, but they did not respond. While some kids are anxious about riding with strange adults, others say it doesn’t bother them. continued on page 16

sdamustang.com

something different | 15

the Mustang | October 2014 Using Taxi 2.0 continued from page 15 One girl described her first experience with Uber as “kind of freaky,” as she wasn’t accustomed to having “some stranger” pick her up. “[On the GPS] you can see them getting closer and closer to you, which is creepy in a way. But I was with other people,” she said, “so it was fine.”

“The only weird thing I would say is that someone had to sit shotgun,” said one female student, who was traveling with her friends. “We all kind of fought over who would have to sit in the front because it’s just weird to sit by yourself in the front with a random person. But other than that, it was a fine experience.”

For another student, a frequent Uber rider, the has “never been uncomfortable.” Even though she has only had male drivers, she said, “They are always very friendly and nice.”

“He just seemed like a normal guy,” said one girl of her first Uber driver. “He seemed like a dad, a dad’s age. He drove a black Prius. Plus, when you download the app, it tells you the license plate number of the car that is picking you up, so you don’t just get in a random car.”

At the end of an Uber ride, the company also has a policy where the customer must rate their driver, and vice versa. Drivers who cannot maintain a 4.7 out of five approval rating are removed from their position.

“I’ve only been on my own one time while being driven. Every other time, it has been with friends that I am going out drinking with,” one boy said. “But the drivers have always been courteous, respectful, and efficient. [I’ve] never had a problem with any.”

In Comparison to Taxis The more manageable price tag was a widely mentioned benefit for kids who were using Uber. The starting rate for taxis is $2.80, with an extra three dollar charge per mile; Uber’s base fare is $1.80, with an extra $1.25 per mile.

“I think it was like ten dollars per person just one way, and we had four people in the car. That was from Del Mar to La Costa,” said one student. “It was easy to pay. We didn’t have to worry about splitting the money or anything.”

Another student received a large number of courtesy miles just for signing up. “For us, it was free,” she said. “It just seemed like a better option.”

Additionally, there tended not to be taxis in the areas where the kids needed them.

“I can use Uber if I need to get from A to B and there’s not a clear transportation solution available,” said one boy. “I’ve had cabs take over two hours to maybe show up.”

For those who choose to use drivers with the Uber town car, the experience is also more comfortable.

One girl compared it to being in a “tiny limo,” complete with complimentary bottled water. “It’s fun and it’s fancier,” she said.

How Parents are Reacting At this year’s Back to School night, confused parents turned their printout maps every which way to find their kids’ math classes. Amidst the swarm of ASB volunteers and animated club booths, they were asked about their views on Uber and Lyft. While most were lukewarm about their kids riding with complete strangers, all preferred it to the unsafe alternatives.

Said one mother, “The whole thing is scary. You

just don’t want your kid driving somewhere alone.”

Another said she would, “for some reason,” feel better about a taxi, attributing her hesitancy to knowing very little of ridesharing businesses.

Some parents felt that, overall, Uber was a good service to have available. “I’d rather that than have them drive themselves,” said one father. “They shouldn’t be under the influence anyway, but as we all know, that isn’t going to happen.”

“It’s a good sign that they would find a third party,” added a fellow dad. “I think that shows responsibility and maturity that they’re not going to hurt others by their actions.” After a pause for the school bell, he added, “If I had a daughter, it might be different.”

While counselor Anne Nebolon did not condone the intoxication of students, she realized that kids, when drinking, often are in need of rides. “It’s definitely a conversation that would be good [for kids] to have with parents,” she said. “To say, ‘If I ever did find myself in this position, would you be okay with me using something like this?’”

By the end of the passing period, teachers were already dismantling the sound system. Lingering packs of parents were being corralled by ASB towards their rightful destinations. Some went to calculus. Others to sculpture. Despite the diversity amongst their kids, the parents interviewed agreed they would prefer to be called personally for a ride should their teenager be inebriated. “We always tell them, ‘If you’re ever drunk, we’re here to pick you up,’” said one father.

One mother, a nurse, has known firsthand patients who “testify to the negative consequences” of driving under the influence. “It’s important that kids are safe,” she said. “That’s the key priority.”

story by Elise Gout

16 | something different

www. sdamustang.com Downtown San Diego offers tons of fun places to visit on a boring weekend.

A look at

Downtown San Diego

I

t was a hot Saturday morning, a lazy breeze blowing through San Diego. As waves continually crashed on the shore behind me, I walked between white stone walls encompassing tiny souvenir stores and the occasional clothing boutique.

From around the corner, I could hear the constant chatter and friendly laughter of families, friends, and couples as they dined on burritos, pizza, Greek falafels, and Ben & Jerry’s ice cream. The atmosphere in Seaport Village’s open food court was light and fun as the music from that day’s performer, a solo guitarist, drifted over the tables huddled under the huge oak tree in the center.

Seaport Village

Seaport Village is one of downtown San Diego’s main attractions, and while it is a good location for family outings, the seaside area is also a great spot for teens looking to spend a day with friends. “For teenagers, the sights and the music,” said Timothy, a guest services manager at Seaport Village. “There are a lot of festivals that go on in the park over there as well.”

And while watching the performers, listening to the music, and participating in the festivals, teens can also enjoy dining at the various restaurants around the village. “If you’re looking for seafood, I always recommend the Harbor House,” Timothy said. “If you’re looking for a good bite of Mexican food, Puesto’s has a great menu; they do lobster tacos and stuff like that.”

Some of the more casual restaurants in Seaport village include Assagio Pizza Pasta Plus, Greek Islands Café, Margarita’s Kitchen & Cantina, Marion’s Fish Market, and the Seaport Village Deli.

All of these restaurants are located in the village’s food court next to the merry go-round.

Sophomore Kelly Luong had never tried a soft pretzel before going to Seaport Village. “We were walking on the boardwalk and passed a pretzel place, and my mom was like “Look Kelly! You’ve never had a soft pretzel! Go get one!’ So my brother went and waited in line, and he bought a soft pretzel. I tore a huge chunk of it and ate it before he snatched it away from me,” she said.

Downtown San Diego is the place to visit for a fun day out with friends. Seaport Village’s remarkable sea-side view, Little Italy’s rich and comforting Italian atmosphere, and the GasLamp Quarter’s eye-catching architectural designs are just a few of the things that downtown San Diego has to offer. Photos by Sophie Peeler.

Across the village, there’s an open grass area on the shore of the water. Booths selling jewelry, art, and various other trinkets line the sidewalk, and there are even sword-swallowing and kite-flying performers.

There are also booths that do temporary henna tattoos.

“It was fun, and it wasn’t too expensive,” said sophomore Melody Sobhani about getting a henna tatto. “I got a music note because, you know, my name is Melody.”

“I love the little farmer’s market in Little Italy!”

-Katherine Tarangelo, sophomore

Little Italy

Lined with Italian restaurants and stores selling professionally-made pasta, Little Italy stretches from Pacific Highway to India Street, and is the place to go to buy anything Italian.

“I love the little farmer’s market in Little Italy!” said sophomore Katherine Tarangelo. “If I’m in the mood, I’ll usually buy one of the smoothies they sell.”

While the outside environment in Little Italy doesn’t exactly replicate a real Italian neighborhood, the restaurants and stores do just the opposite. Many of these stores and restaurants are located on India Street, just past the arching Little Italy sign.

Mona Lisa is one of the many stores on India Street.

Inside the tiny market, shelves stacked with variously shaped pastas, Italian brand cookies, and extravagantly named wine bottles are cramped closely together, leaving just enough room to walk through the aisles and strongly replicating a traditional Italian supermarket.

Gaslamp Quarter

A few streets down from Little Italy, the Gaslamp Quarter is bustling with people. The sidewalk is lined with gas lamp posts every few yards that illuminate the restaurant and theater fronts once night falls.

In the heart of Gaslamp Quarter is the Horton Plaza Westfield mall. This outdoor mall’s most particular feature is its bright colors and intricate designs that cover every inch of the mall’s surface, including its rainbow staircase. And for those who aren’t interested in shopping, there are giant chess boards equipped with five-foot pawns on the mall’s top floor.

So next time you and your friends have nothing to do, grab the car keys (or grab a ride), and head down to downtown San Diego. Enjoy the view and music at Seaport Village, eat some of the best Italian food in San Diego at Little Italy, or shop at the vividly colored Horton Plaza mall in the Gaslamp Quarter. story by Sophie Peeler

something different | 17

the Mustang | October 2014

MOVIE MAP If you liked this...

Netflix got you stumped? Check it out.

...Maybe you’ll like these

story by Julianne Miller

18 | arts and culture

sdamustang.com

UC vs. Ivy league ‘Tis the season to be choosing and the writers here have analyzed in depth the personalities of every college a shallow, ignorant, overly ambitious suburban mother could think of.

Words by Dylan Hendrickson and Kevin Gallagher Art by Sydney Busic

University of Pennsylvania The person who goes here wants the typical college experience: giant parties, a legendary football team...wait...there’s a Penn State and a UPenn? I guess the UPenner is willing to be the guy adding the mumbled, “UPenn” whenever someone’s stuck on what the eighth Ivy League is.

Columbia The typical city nerd--impeccable knowledge of all the up and coming music scenes. Audibly scoffs at the mention of Madison Square Garden. Makes paintings that she claims represents the ills of society but is just 5 strokes of paint on canvas and a smiley face. Apparently, we’re the ones in a bubble. My editor-inchief wants to go here so for the record, Columbians are smart and kind and I got in my two required positive adjectives.

Brown Likes to wear colorful cat and three wolf moon t-shirts, but is in the weird limbo state where he likes them both ironically and sincerely.

Princeton The person that goes here is smart and infinitely talented, yeah, but...is that it? He likes old greystone buildings and the flat tranquility of central New Jersey. He aspires to go to the neighboring “Institute of Advanced Studies.” It’s all a bit...lame.

Yale He doesn’t want to be associated with Harvard. “Of course I got into Harvard,” he says, “but Cambridge just don’t got the funk like New Haven.” At night, he looks east across the valley through half-shuttered windows, wondering if one of those lights in the distance is the one that crushed him.

Dartmouth Dartmouth? In a state called New Hampshire? Do people even go here? It sounds like someone took names from Harry Potter.

Cornell He’s always ready to remind you that they went to an Ivy League school. He gets a little bit of an inferiority complex because of it.

Santa Cruz ”Wow!” he thought when he saw the campus for the first time. “Santa Cruz is a surf place and a forest! Outta sight!” With the amount of trees, the shorter Cruzer is tempted to become a full-fledged ewok but is hindered from going farther because of the rent prices.

THE IVY LEAGUE

Harvard The big daddy--muscular and popular and all around the guy you hate but have no real reason to. Has either a Roman numeral or “Jr.” in his name. When you try to dig up dirt on him on Google in the future you realize he’s a billionaire and immediately feel bad about yourself again.

Davis The kind of person here is curious about what life outside of California is, but doesn’t really want to leave because the midwest, let’s be honest, kinda blows. And she still wants to go to the beach. Berkeley’s kind of a beach town, right?

“It’s...cozy...,” she would say about the area, “and hella nice for biking.”

Riverside He thought it would be so cool to live in the “Inland Empire” and had high hopes of imperial palaces and glimmering buildings made of gold. Instead there were just a bunch of tract homes and some mid-day smog. Hey, they’ve got the oldest orange tree in California...that’s something!

UC Irvine He didn’t want to take a portrait with these quote, “plebians”, as none of them had a president give their commencement speech. Of course, Obama won’t give the current Irviner his commencement either, but the rest let him have his moment if it means he doesn’t show up.

Merced The kind of person who wants to go to Riverside but wants to separate herself from her younger, more immature “SoCal” mentality.

Berkeley They’re basically better than you in every way. And they’ll let you know. Yeah, they got 5s on all their AP tests. “2270 on the SAT? It wasn’t even that hard. You just have to know the test.” Can be found either protesting a foreign hot button issue or striving for sleep.

Santa Barbara The token “party hound” of the group; likes beach parties, dorm parties, pre-party parties at Party City etc. etc. She says Isla Vista is truly, really, a nice and safe college town but you have a hard time taking her seriously.

San Diego This is the kind of person who owns more shorts than long pants, and not because he doesn’t have money for “fancy pants.” Will not stop talking about how good the Mexican food is and after a while, will start to regard Chipotle as a fraud. This person doesn’t really care about architecture; “sixties pretty” is good enough for him.

Los Angeles Fine with being lost in a lecture hall that contains more people than a midwestern town.

Will be confused about what a bruin is for the first three weeks, then once told it’s a bear, wonder why they have the same mascot as Berkeley. Please don’t mention Berkeley to her.

Also, she’s just a social drinker, just to clarify that for you.

THE UC LEAGUE

circus animal fun | 19

the Mustang | October 2014

Karina Langli dives for a ball while being videotaped to send to college coaches. Photo courtesy of Karina Langli.

For the Love Of The Game

Many students dream of playing sports in college. As deadlines for applications approach, more and more kids are talking to coaches and comitting to schools.

“T

he University of Rochester on Mother’s Day would send my mom Mother’s Day cards and on St. Patrick’s Day they sent an email saying Happy Saint Patrick’s Day and for my birthday they would send me stuff,” said Sarah Hynman, a senior.’

The college was recruiting her to play volleyball for them. “’It was one of the first schools I was in communication with junior year and it was more serious than a lot of my other ones and they were really pushing for it,” she said.

Hynman, who is no longer considering Rochester, is one of many San Dieguito students hoping to play sports in college. Some just want to continue playing.

Others hope that their athletic ability will get them into a selective college or maybe even earn them a scholarship.

20 | sports

Karina Langli, senior, recently committed to Berkeley for beach volleyball. Although getting recruited has now assured her of getting into the school, there are other reasons she wants to play. “I wanted to get recruited because I love playing volleyball,” she said.

“I want to have that experience of playing a varsity sport in college and bonding with your team over how sore you are and winning and losing together.”

The process to play in college starts before applications even cross the student’s mind. Softball player Alexis Funaki, senior, started looking at schools and contacting them her freshman year.

Soccer playing seniors Nathaniel Bloom and Gerardo Olvera started at the end of sophomore year and beginning of junior year. Langli started emailing coaches halfway through her junior year.

Carolyn Lee, who teaches the college application class and is a former coach, said, “College athletics is a business more than it is a sport or activity. At the end of the day, universities have to make money and this is how people make their livelihood and I think understanding that is very essential for athletes.”

To get recruited, students have to get the attention of schools they would be interested in attending. Said Langli, “I was very self-motivated. I set deadlines for myself and emailed the same group of coaches two times per week over summer with new tournament video and information about myself and how I would fit into their school.”

Once a school gains interest, the athlete can visit the campus. Senior Parker Ryts, a soccer player committed to University of South Dakota said, “In February of our semester break I went out and visited the school[University of South Dakota]” ‘said Rytz.

“They told me there that they wanted me to come there and that I would be getting a scholarship.”

The coaches will often come and watch games to see if they want the player on their team. When coaches do watch the games, there is a lot more pressure to play well, Bloom said.

“The first few times playing in front of coaches, it is nerve wracking,” said Langli. “But as you continue to play in front of coaches, you just have to remember you are still doing the same reps you have done a thousand times in practice. So why should they be any different in front of coaches?”

Lee said, when she was a coach, “At tournaments [in the past] I would introduce athletes to coaches.

“I want to get recruited because I love playing volleyball -Karina Langli, senior

sdamustang.com This helps students by making them more memorable to coaches.”

Many students who dream about playing in college already have schools in mind that they want to play for. Bloom has been dreaming of playing at UCSD since he was a freshman. As of this past summer, he has committed to play there next year. He said he is “very relieved that I don’t have to worry about applying to a bunch of schools.”

Through the process, there are exciting moments and nerve-wracking moments. Rytz recalled, “It was so scary [playing in front of coaches], not just scary but just like feeling the pressure like I have to play well, cause I really want to go here.”

Langli said, “It is an extremely stressful process [trying to get recruited], especially when you have been playing your sport so long and putting everything into it and getting nothing back.”

However, through all that stress there are the

exciting moments and for most, those moments are when you receive an email back from a coach. “I usually freak out when I see those emails!”Langli said.

Every student has a different experience with the recruiting process. Most, though, can agree with Langli and her advice to other students looking to get recruited: “It is a long process in which a lot of coaches will turn you down. You just have to keep emailing schools even if they don’t email you back because you never know if they are watching your video or not. If you really want to go to a school you have to email and call the coach as much as possible and not allow yourself to give up if a school turns you down. As a whole, I would say it is not going to happen overnight. You have to keep pushing through the entire process and you will end up at a school that fits you.”

story by Lindsey King

When asked about playing in front of coaches Bloom said, “ I feel pressure but in a good way that makes me step up my game.” Photo courtesy of Nathaniel Bloom.

sports | 21

the Mustang | October 2014

Stewart coaching at Santa Fe Christian. Photo courtesy of Jason Stewart

Building family SDA’s new boys basketball coach hopes to help the team rebound from a disappointing season by creating a family atmosphere.

F

or around half a week near the end of last month there were hordes of boys walking through the halls, class to class, bouncing basketballs, trying to get comfortable with the feel of it in their hands. After a number of teachers complained that the balls were too distracting in class, the boys’ coach told them to stop, bringing an end to the “High School Musical”-like experience. However, the unabashed new basketball coach, Jason Stewart, said that he is happy to have had the slap on the wrist because he loves the dedication displayed by his players towards becoming better.

Before SDA

Before taking over the basketball program this year, Stewart was part of the 1997 National Championship-winning team for the University of Arizona.

Since then, Stewart has spent his time running Pro University, a basketball camp for middle and high school players and, for the last four years, coaching the JV basketball team at Santa Fe Christian High School.

Stewart looks fondly back at his playing days at Arizona. He describes winning the championship as

22 | sports

“unbelievable.” He said, “There are no words to really describe it. You stay so focused and we were so close and so together as a team. We had the right amount of talent at the right time with a huge amount of love. We really cared about each other. We really loved each other, and, as a result of that, we were loyal to each other throughout the entire process and I believe, ultimately, that’s what won us the championship.”

Coaching Style

we want to do the best that we can. If you are going to do well at anything you have to kind of delve into it and really make a concerted effort.”

Stewart’s expectations for his players have already begun to take effect, as easily seen at his fall ball practices. At practices, Stewart does not repeat himself- not because he is too stubborn to do so, but rather, because he does not need to. He delivered a list of seven or so steps to a drill that need to be completed in order to a gym full of silent teenage boys.

The boys respond with a “Yes, Coach!” and proceeded to follow his directions to the letter.

As any substitute teacher can tell you, keeping the attention of any amount of teenaged boys for an extended period of time is no easy feat; to keep them silent at the same time is a further task of Herculean proportion. Stewart’s ability to command the respect and attention is a testament to how influential his coaching has been in the short amount of time that he has been here, as well as a good indicator of great things to come.

Stewart’s favorite part of coaching, he said, is “getting to know people on a very personal level.”

Explaining that he finds “helping people develop” to be very rewarding, Stewart added that he likes to work with high school age players because “in these four years, and if you really count junior high which I think matters, middle school, then really you’re talking about six years, in which young people are developing and going to be the person that they’re going to be for the rest of their life.”

Stewart has a very open approach to basketball.

He said that he realizes that “all of my teams, all of my kids there all have different aspirations, different goals outside of basketball. Getting to know what those interests are is important for me.” Stewart added “Helping my players to achieve things as a team that they didn’t think they could achieve is also rewarding for me.”

Stewart’s arrival was greeted with great enthusiasm from the team. Said senior Austin Keillor, “He’s a great coach, he really knows what he’s doing. He’s very good with players. He expects a lot from us, but, as a team, we are up to it.”

Senior Bo Templin added: “The whole team is really eager to start the season. People know, with his background of playing at U of A, that he’s done it before and so we have no reason to believe he won’t do it again here at SDA.” Following last year’s league record of 1-7, Stewart said the biggest challenge of this season is going to be “calming the expectation and just really embracing the process of success. There’s been a ton of attention given to the fact that I’m in this position now and while I am extremely grateful for that, I think that realistically there’s going to be a learning curve.

“ We take the floor with

The support and spirit experienced at Arizona are the same feelings that Stewart wants to create at SDA. “When it comes to team ball my philosophy has a lot to do with making sure that each person respects the game, respects each other. We always try to create a family atmosphere,” Stewart said.

Stewart described himself as being very demanding of his players. “We don’t go to practice and we don’t take the floor with the idea that we just want to do okay,” he said. “We take the floor with the idea that

Expectations

the idea that we want to do the best that we can. ”

-Jason Stewart, coach

sdamustang.com And that has nothing to do with the athletes that are in place, I like our juniors and seniors right now as well as our sophomores and freshmen . It really has everything to do with us speaking the same language and being on the same page. One of the challenges is going to be, for in a short amount of time, to get the boys to understand what I want from them, for them to feel comfortable with that, and then for us to go out and actually execute it out on the floor.”

The Transition to SDA

Stewart, or “Coach Stew” as his players call him, explained why he came to SDA: “It just made sense.

I felt comfortable because I just knew a bunch of the kids already from being at the rec center, from coaching club ball.”

Stewart said the transition to SDA “has been made relatively easy” due to the work of many different people, including Rob Gaan, his parent liaison for basketball; Robert Macphee, a member of the athletic council; Justin Conn, the new athletic director; and Principal Tim Hornig. They “have been very instrumental in making me feel comfortable, getting me acclimated, right away,” he said.

he hopes to get more of the student body involved. “I’ve talked to some of the some of the guys on ASB and they’re like ‘Students really only go to senior night’ and I’m like, wait a minute what about everything else? And so I’m really trying to lead, taking a selfless approach to supporting each other on campus.”

Stewart said that his goals are not limited to coaching basketball: “I’m all about doing stuff as a family, and so just as much as I want the community and students to come to the basketball games, I want my basketball athletes to go to whatever else is going on, on campus, from soccer or track to…robotics club President Clinton congratulating Stewart after winning the National Championship. Stewart called Clinton “one of the coolest people ever” explaining that, even in their small interaction, “He was or journalism. All genuinely interested in my life.” Photo courtesy of Jason Stewart these things are important to support ing that, but to heighten it.” each other.”

Stewart said that in his time as coach, what he hopes Stewart said he is a big to ultimately accomplish “is the same as any teacher, advocate of building a family which is you want to be a part in the development of community; “When someone young people’s lives, realizing that these times are shows interest in something that important. So I hope to develop a culture, within basyou’re interested in, you respect that person, you love ketball anyway, that is going to be a good representathat person and you want to do the same for them. So, tion of caring and a loving family that works hard for I would like to figure out a way to do that throughout a united goal and supports each other in good times campus. Not to say it doesn’t already exist, I’m not sayand bad.”

“ He expects a lot from

us, but, as a team, we are up to it.”

-Austin Keillor, senior, on Coach Stewart

Personal Goals

Additionally Stewart said that in his time as coach

story by Kevin Gallagher

sports | 23

the Mustang | October 2014

24 | backpage