2019-20 Issue 1

In this issue

Opinion

Feature

A&E

Sports

Politely discussing controversial topics is the only way to truly have opinions be heard.

Jack Okeefe and David Feng work to make a healthy change in the community.

Junior Katie Redd gains real-world experience in an internship with Netflix series “Alexa and Katie.”

Milan Tolentino and Anicka Delgado proudly represent their school and their country.

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Santa Margarita Catholic High School

EAGLE EYE

THE

September 2019

Netflix kills scene Volume XXXIV, Issue 1

After an outcry from schools including SMCHS, Netflix removes graphic suicide scene from 13 Reasons Why.

By Isabela Barrera, Managing Editor and Jaime Svinth, Print Editor-in-Chief

T

wo years after the release of the first season, Netflix original “Thirteen Reasons Why” has eliminated the graphic suicide scene of its main character, Hannah Baker, played

by Katherine Longford. Due to a spike in suicide rates in teenagers ages 10-17 one month after the show aired, the producers took action to reduce the negative impact on mental health for adolescents.

Originally, a graphic scene intended to show the harsh nature of suicide and discourage it in teenagers.

However, critics fear the scene prompted copycat behavior. While some argue that the scene is important to the series, the producers decided that the safety of the audience is more significant.

“No one scene is more important than the life of the show and its message [which is] that we must take better care of each other,” said “13 Reasons Why” showrunner Brian Yorkey. “We believe this edit will help the show do the most good for the most people while mitigating any risk for especially vulnerable young viewers.”

Based on the book by Jay Asher, the streaming phenomenon follows the death of a high school girl and the people who contributed to her suicide. The goal of the show is to bring awareness to the topic of mental health and wellness, but it is criticized for glamorizing the taking of one’s own life without demonstrating enough of the negative consequences.

“I see the reason for taking the scene out because a lot of kids probably watch the show and take it out of context,” said senior Katherine Burke. “They don’t think about the actual consequences [of suicide] or think that it’s socially acceptable to do that now because of the show.”

With the rise of mental health awareness, the school has revaluated the health of its students, taking steps to keep students safe.

On the main webpage, a wellness section is just a few clicks away.

Photo by Aidan Ocampo

Reasons why not- A student binges season one of “Thirteen Reasons Why.” Producers chose to keep the rest of the episode untouched, despite alterating the final suicide scene.

This page contains resources to help oneself and one’s peers. Additionally, the school initiated new programs to help look out for the wellness of students over the summer, such as Making Caring Common or Challenge Success.

“It’s a program where I, and nine other individuals including the principal, will be going up and getting trained in this program, Challenge Success, which is challenging this idea that everybody has to be a 4.5 and go to Harvard, etc,” said school psychologist Blake Oldfield.

“We are going to be using that program to shift culture.”

Speak Up!, a student-created play that highlights awareness in mental health, creates conversation about many topics that tend to be quieted in society.

“Now it is going to be a part of the sophomore curriculum,” Oldfield said. “Part of their religion class is they’re going to be shown the performance and there is going to be a talk-back where we can start having more of these conversations. We are going to have it so that everybody is exposed to this and everybody has this conversa-

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tion about these topics and how to be supportive.”

At a highly rigorous and competitive school, many students face mental health issues such as anxiety or depression. A large contributor to these issues is the culture and mindset of the student body.

Immersed in a difficult and busy lifestyle, students can have a hard time reaching out to each other or adults for help. For a generation that has many resources on their hands, students find it difficult to have the courage to say something about themselves or their friends.

“Our culture at SMCHS is very dog-eat-dog, meaning that you are feeling like you are all competing against each other, which in reality is not the case,” Oldfield said. “We have this culture that we may not be so willing to go and help somebody because they are our competition and we want to get rid of that and know that it’s not about what college you go to or what your GPA is and really kind of challenging that idea.”

Various groups on campus have made a collaborative effort to improve and address the mental

@smchseagleeye

health issues of the student body.

Although campus ministry, counseling and the nurses’ office exist as separate departments, they come together to comprise the Mental Health and Wellness Task Force to identify student needs and the steps that should be taken to meet those needs. Within each department, faculty works to shape their offices into more welcoming spaces.

“We are trying to rebrand our office so it feels more like a safe space for kids to come not just for health like stomach aches, nausea and headaches,” said nurse Rebecca Wood. “We want it to be a place where you don’t have to be sick to be in there, you can come in talk to somebody or not talk to somebody, lay down or decompress.”

From the counseling office, to the school psychologist, to the nurses to the teachers, there are many resources and places to find help. Oldfield emphasizes that it’s important to say something as soon as you know that there is something wrong.

“Over the years, we became very aware that students knew about

the academic and college side of what we did, but we made the assumption that you guys also knew about the personal social side, which a lot of you actually don’t know,” said counselor Alyssa Flynn.

“So, we are making a strong initiative to let you guys know that that is what we are trained for, more than the college side quite honestly, is our foundation in the mental health and wellness. We’re here, lets all work on this together so that you guys are the best versions of yourselves.”

With growing awareness of mental health, the message can get lost in the media. Flynn stresses that students make sure they understand what is being said. A main focus is to look out for your own well-being and that of others.

“It’s knowing who you are,” Oldfield said. “It’s being able to take a step back, slow down, and ask yourself, ‘How am I?’ On a campus like this where everybody wants to go to college and everybody wants to go to the best college, sometimes we get lost in the shuffle of everything that we don’t take time and go, ‘Am I good?”

Website: www.smchseagleeye.com

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News

The Eagle Eye

JUUL makes the switch After receiving hate for advertising to minors, JUUL angles its advertising campaign towards adults.

By Evelyn Driscoll, News Editor and Colin Sekerka, Staff Writer

S

ince JUUL’s teen targeted advertising became exposed in 2018, the 16-billion-dollar e-cigarette industry shifted their advertising campaign to appeal less towards minors.

Haunted by their history of teen advertising, the company re-evaluated their campaign to clearly connect it with JUUL’s mission: to help transition adult smokers to a less dangerous product. Since the product is only legal for users 21 and up, JUUL’s “Make the Switch” campaign ultimately aims to lessen underage use of their products. “[Underage usage] is an issue we definitely want to resolve,” said JUUL co-founder James Monsees, according to TechCrunch. “Any underage consumers using this product are absolutely a negative for our business.”

In the past, JUUL has used themes of romance, pleasure and style in their ads on social media.

In the new campaign, the company purged their ads of these themes and switched to more adult models, aiming to make their ads seem less appealing to kids. JUUL also stopped selling their non-smoking flavored products--which masks the smoke taste and acts like candy for kids--in retail stores. These two removals are at the forefront of JUUL’s attempts to recover from the backlash they received as a result of teen targeted advertising.

However, while the actual content of JUUL’s ads have changed to include fewer factors that appeal to teens, the outlets JUUL advertises with are still generally used by teens.

The Pew Research center says that 85 percent of teens use YouTube. Despite such a large amount of youth exposure to the outlet, JUUL product advertisements still pervade this site in vlogging, HowTos and influencers. “[I] haven’t seen any on Instagram, [and] I don’t have a Snapchat,” said anonymous Student A. “Everything was on YouTube.”

Channels like DashVapes combine comedy with vaping, creating videos with over 2 million views.

Since YouTube is more popular among teens than adults, it’s likely that teens make up the majority of views. Furthermore, JUUL itself has a YouTube Channel. The channel presents videos of past adult smokers testifying to the use of JUUL in their lives that have helped them switch from smoking cigarettes. JUUL’s YouTube videos now require users to sign in to confirm their age before watching. However, third party YouTube players like Floating Player and NetTube allow teens to bypass this age restriction. JUUL’s videos that promote nicotine products are still promoted on the top internet platform teens use, according to Variety Magazine.

Although this leads to more youth viewing JUUL material, having such a similar age group all using the same network also allows for benefactor ads, such as anti-vaping, anti-smoking and any ads promoting against the use of nicotine.

Much like large multinational corporations like Coca-Cola, Gatorade and Pepsi, JUUL offered a variety of flavors to better suit the preferred tastes of their customers. Despite eliminating these flavors, they still use this idea of variety in their arsenal of different

e-cigarettes.

JUUL offers new, different devices claiming to “be not as bad” or “having different, lesser effects” than traditional devices (JUUL Corporation). They try to make the point that vaping is “safer” and “better” than traditional smoking. Products like the suorin, bo, phix and candypen, all created by JUUL, give customers a list of options to choose from in output of juice, charging and displacement.

However, they all contain nicotine and hexavalent chromium. Both of these are known to cause lung cancer, and all run off the same juice pods.

The variety among their products resembles their past use of flavors to entice young customers.

A secondary study, completed by American Journal of Preventive Medicine, discovered that four out of five kids in the United States who have used a tobacco product began with a flavored product. The options among JUUL products-while they don’t feature flavors-still provide the impression that JUUL is for everyone.

JUUL’s history of targeted advertising through Instagram and Snapchat still haunts teen usage today. Despite purging their mistakes, the damage has already been done and the social media advertisements still affect student usage.

“I first learned about it from a friend who let me try it,” Student A said. “He learned about it through his Instagram, and his older brother had one.”

While the steps JUUL has taken to amend their past mistakes are supposed to limit teen usage, both teens, adults and anti-tobacco activists claim they must do more.

“The company should change

Infographic by Evelyn Driscoll

Vaping kills - Increased research links vaping to numerous diseases and cancers.

the design to make it look less technological to appeal more to those who are addicted to smoking versus appealing to the younger generation,” said anonymous Student B. The sleek design of JUUL products makes them small and look more like a tech product rather

than a smoking device. This makes it easier for teens to hide them at school and also contributes to the attractive style of e-cigarette usage.

JUUL’s “Make the Switch” campaign decreased teen targeted ads, but the device itself and JUUL’s advertising outlets are still teen-oriented.

ASB changes tradition ASB increases school spirit by offering new amenities to the student body.

By Domi Drust, Web Managing Editor and Jaclyn Paul, Staff Writer

Photo by Aidan Ocampo

5-Star Students ASB introduces the new 5-Star Students app for Clash of the Classes. 5-Star Students promotes school spirit throughout the student body. At school events, students can check in, complete tasks and earn points that add up throughout the school year. 5-Star uses these points to rank the grades. ASB uses this ranking system to score the school wide competition, Clash of the Classes. ASB hopes to increase school spirit through Clash of the Classes competition.

“On a grade wide level, the winning class will receive a prize at the end of first semester as well as an overall prize at the end of the school year,” said ASB President Claire Crafts. “Class participation is so essential for this project.”

Photo by Aidan Ocampo

Photo by Aidan Ocampo

ASB card upgrades

Class t-shirts

ASB updates a student staple, the Student ID card.

This year, ASB cards are available for purchase for the student body in two variations, a freshmen through junior ASB card and a gold senior ASB card. The ASB card offers student discounts not only in schoolm but off campus, too. The card offers discounts on school events such as school dances. On top of receiving discounts for school events, the Senior ASB card offers discounts on Senior events such as senior Cruise and Grad Night. Outside of Santa Margarita, the ASB card offers discounts at Chickfil-A and other student favorites. The ASB card is available for purchase on the SMHS website as well as in the activities office throughout the year.

Class t-shirts allow students to unite to represent their class. Once a month, each grade will be permitted to wear their t-shirts with non-uniform bottoms. “[Wearing class t-shirts offers] a nice break from the uniform but also an opportunity for all students to truly shine their eagle pride as a freshman, sophomore, junior or senior. These t-shirts are designed by the students and are very personal to each class,” said ASB Treasurer Alexis McCabe.

Freshman wear white, sophomores wear blue, juniors wear yellow and seniors wear a mix of the three--providing a way to show unity as well as diversity.

News

The Eagle Eye

An atmospheric oven

By Devon Nguyen, Staff Writer

July scorches Earth with deadly temperatures, making it the hottest month on record.

J

uly was the hottest month ever recorded on Earth.

According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, the average for July was 114.5 degrees Fahrenheit. A punishing heat wave swept across Europe and then settled over Greenland, where it triggered hundreds of billions of tons of ice to melt. The Scandinavian Ice Sheet, the permafrost layer that covers almost the entirety of Scandinavia, has begun melting. The ice sheet is as old as the first Ice Age, where it originated. The Scandinavian Ice Sheet has been gradually melting since the 1990’s, and has shrunk considerably more after the July heatwave. Now, the ice sheet is in danger of completely disappearing, with only a fifth left of what it used be.

Okjökull, the first Icelandic glacier lost to climate change, received a small funeral after it melted in July. The plaque placed where Okjökull “died” reads, “Ok is the first

Photo by M Basheer

On fire - July brings concerning high temperatures. Rising temperatures cause extreme consequences like high water levels and low levels of clean oxygen in our environment.

Icelandic glacier to lose its status as a glacier. In the next 200 years, all the glaciers are expected to follow the same path. This monument is

to acknowledge that we know what is happening and know what needs to be done. Only you know if we did it.”

The plaque is written in English and Icelandic.

“We see the consequences of the climate crisis,” said Icelandic Prime

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Minister Katrin Jakobsdottir.

She plans to make climate change a priority with Nordic leaders and German Chancellor Angela Merkel in a month.

Nordic countries like Greenland, Norway, and Denmark could face danger in the future if glaciers continue to melt. Rising sea levels would severely impact cities, villages, and towns amongst or near the coast. TAccording to the UN Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, the Earth will reach its worst climate of around 120 degrees Fahrenheit, precipitating the risk of extreme drought, wildfires, floods and food shortages for hundreds of millions of people.

Locally, increasing global temperatures could have dangerous effects. As in past years, the heat wave this summer continued to bake southern California with highs above 100 degrees in some inland areas. On August 2, SoCal experienced its third heat wave of the summer. If this heat trend persists, citizens can expect greater smog, decline in marine species and potential water shortages.

Diocese dedicates Christ Cathedral The dedication of Christ Cathedral fosters community for Catholics.

By Evelyn Driscoll, News Editor After years of preparation, planning and anticipation, the Diocese of Orange dedicated the Christ Cathedral on July 17. When the diocese adopted the building, formerly named Chrystal Cathedral under the Christian faith, they began the long process of transforming it into a hub for Catholic life. The dedication marks the final step in this process of not only making Christ Cathedral a house of worship for the 1.3 million Catholics in the diocese but also a place to welcome all people.

“The word ‘dedicated’ means to be set aside for a particularly special purpose,” said Director of Campus Ministry Patrick Visconti. “The building was being set aside, being dedicated to the church [and dedicated] to Christ.”

The dedication began outside the building, as Bishop Kevin Van read the dedicatory prayer.

“The dedication prayer basically explains what the church is,” said Director of Office for Worship at the diocese Lesa Truxaw. “It tells you what a church is and what we do: take

care of the sick, take care of the less fortunate [and work for] social justice. [It is] the arms and feet of Christ.”

As one of the 15 masters of ceremonies for the events, Truxaw ensured that the day went smoothly. With around 60 bishops, 280 priests, 130 deacons and many more lay people and clergy, she was in charge of making sure e v - eryone did as they were supposed to. She also helped coordinate the liturgy and ultimately plan the dedication.

“A dedication of a worship space of a church basically is setting aside a building permanently for the purpose of worship,” Truxaw said.

“We do this by initiating the building the same way we initiate a human being: we use water.”

The event featured a cleansing ritual much like a baptism, as bishops sprinkled h o l y

water on the walls of the church.

Not only did the bishops consecrate the foundation of the church, but they also walked down the aisles and sprinkled holy water on

“ It’s like we’re holding hands. We’re all linked to this cathedral.

- Lesa Truxaw

“

the congregation.

For Visconti, the highlight was watching the

dedication of the altar. During this part in the mass, the altar was covered with the sacred chrism, officially setting it aside for the celebration of the Eucharist. At the celebration of the Eucharist, the altar became officially consecrated.

Truxaw’s role of ensuring everybody did as they were supposed to prevented her from truly seeing a lot of the actual dedication. However, the parts she did see were incredibly impactful.

“The one part I reserved for myself was walking with the Blessed Sacrament to the Blessed Sacrament chapel,” Truxaw said. “So, for me, that was a highpoint.”

While different people have their own favorite experiences, the whole dedication ultimately created a center of Catholic life. Truxaw highlights the connection the cathedral creates in the Diocese of Orange community.

“I hope this cathedral can be that point of energy for the diocese,” Truxaw said. “People live their faith lives out in their parishes, but this is the mother church to the daughter churches that are the parishes.”

In this way, the cathedral provides a home to the large community of Catholics. However, it doesn’t only create a place for Catholics. At its root, the cathedral isn’t simply a place of

worship, but it is a place of service.

“Our hope for the cathedral has always been that it is a beacon of faith. When you read about cathedrals, they’re [not only] ‘cities set on a hill’ supposed to be calling people together in faith, but also to serve people,” Truxaw said. “It’s not just matters of faith, because we have around us all people of different faiths and no faith. So we definitely have to recognize that role [of service].”

Visconti urges students to visit the cathedral and explore its rich history and meaning. He encourages students to take full advantage of the opportunity it provides to strengthen their faith lives.

“I think it’s a good place for people to go and get an energy boost and be like ‘cool, yeah, I’m proud to be Catholic,’” Visconti said.

The dedication ultimately fosters unity and provides a place for worship and service among the Catholic and non-Catholic communities alike.

“It’s kinda like we’re holding hands. We’re all linked to this cathedral,” Truxaw said. “[It’s the] connection that keeps us home together.”

Photo by Evelyn Driscoll

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The Eagle Eye Staff Print Editor-in-Chief Jaime Svinth Web Editor-in-Chief Aidan Ocampo Copy Editor Giulia Henshaw Managing Editor Isabela Barrera Web Managing Editor Kendrick Choi Domi Drust Photo Editor Aidan Ocampo News Editor Evelyn Driscoll Opinion Editor Emily Freeborn Feature Editor Alex Vallone A&E Editor Julia Furtado Sports Editor Roman Sergi Illustrator Mia Fineberg Tristen Mielke Olivia Pannell Molly Roberts Staff Writers Mckenna Andrew Grace Caspino Madison Clark Gracynn Crocker Katie Eli Hadley McCusker Julia Mortimer Devon Nguyen Jaclyn Paul Megan Plocher Bella Scarano Colin Sekerka Staff Adviser Debra Barbre

Opinion

The Eagle Eye Staff Editorial

Cheaters never win Consequences of cheating persist past high school years.

W

hether swapping answers at break, buying a test bank or browsing Quizlet for solutions, cheating is ever-present. However, while academic dishonesty can damage a student’s reputation, many students that cheat aren’t caught. Momentarily, avoiding punishment may be a blessing.

However, lingering consequences of repeated cheating may leave a student worse off than if he or she had simply been handed a referral.

1. When students cheat, they sacrifice academic growth Students speed up the process it takes to complete assignments or prepare for tests by cheating.

Without it, they would be unable to accomplish what is expected of them. But, by cheating, students sacrifice the time to learn material in favor of ‘getting the grade.’

“If you don’t value the journey, then you don’t value decision making, you just value the end result,” said IB coordinator Dr. Johnson.

“When the mindset is ‘whatever it takes to get there,’ cheating becomes almost acceptable.”

However, when challenged to apply what they ‘learned’ in a practical manner outside of the classroom, students who looked up answers on Quizlet will ultimately lose. For example, if a medical student can’t recall information they were tested on because they cheated, they won’t be able to succeed in their profession. Although short-term cheating may guarantee a certain grade, long-term they will suffer from not investing time to learn.

2. When students cheat, they cultivate personal mistrust Unethical decision-making in high school, at a university or in the workplace damages personal relationships. If professors know about one instance of cheating, they are likely to question the credibility of the student’s work every time after. Likewise, parents and friends might become suspicious of other ethical boundaries the student is willing to violate if they have the courage to cheat in the classroom.

3. When students cheat, they develop unethical habits Many of the habits people develop begin in high school.

Through cheating, they develop the habit of sacrificing integrity for

the sake of a desired reward.

“It’s not about is it right or wrong, its 'if I can get away with it, it’s okay’-- that attitude, that expediency, is a habit built up for 3 or 4 years,” Johnson said. “It’s going to take you as a young adult reflecting that this isn’t the person you want to be [to break that habit]. You proliferate a culture of unethical behavior.”

When students receive the desired result through cheating, their unethical methods are not only unchecked but rewarded. “Cutting corners” becomes easier and more frequent as students evade punishment. They develop the habit of respond to adversity by short-cutting situations. “Cutting corners” becomes an acceptable alternative to working through the issue.

In fact, according to "Does academic dishonesty relate to unethical behavior in professional practice?" An exploratory study by the Manufacturing and Engineering Department at Kettering University, they found evidence to support their original hypothesis that "engineering students who frequently participate in academic dishonesty are more likely to make unethical decisions in professional practice."

Even in later years, the student will be accustomed to defying ethical boundaries, and it will remain a possible solution to everyday dilemmas.

Although cheaters may not care about the long-term effects of their cheating, the consequences of their actions stunt more than their personal ambitions. Cheaters ultimately cultivate a culture of mistrust between students and educators and disadvantage those that learn honestly. Higher GPAs and test scores can mean that cheaters take opportunities from other well-deserved students. It becomes more than just a personal problem—it affects an entire community.

In modern institutions, cheating is becoming commonplace and harder to trace. While cheating may seem like a valuable option for busy, high-achieving students, its effects clearly present dangerous consequences for a student’s future.

Think before you cheat—it could be the beginning of a destructive and unbreakable habit.

Member of these organizations:

Cheating- U.S. News and World Report details the statistics of high school academic dishonesty.

Work hard play hard

Sports electives benefit athletes inside and outside of the classroom.

Photo by SMCHS Athletics Twitter

Circle up- Period four football elective prepares for their weight-lifting.

Players that don't partake in the elective lift an hour before school.

By Colin Sekerka, Staff Writer Electives allow students to explore courses beyond the standard math, science, history, English and religion. Classes specialized in the English department allow students to experience different styles of writing, different ways to express oneself via words and even go so far as to embrace the structure of books and poems. Electives in history give in-depth, enticing reviews of our historical background and how it has helped to shape our modern world today as well as reviews of wars and outstanding conflicts between the human race.

Math and science electives go farther into the patterns, sequences and repetition of mathematic and scientific methods, even going so far as to learning of the linguistics of them.

Although these varieties of elective courses the school offers can help better one's knowledge in their defined area or department, there is a downside. Adding another class to a student's agenda is exactly as it sounds, one more class equates to more of a combined work load.

This might not seem like much; after all, it is just one class. However, to athletes that are confined to sports practices ranging from one to three hours a day, this extra work load can often times be to demanding. Football alone demands its players to attend a rigorous daily two-hour practice after school, and a three-hour practice on some specified days. Ice hockey is much the same way with a twohour practice held at Great Park Ice Arena. Basketball, swimming and volleyball are seasonal sports, but hold long, two or sometimes three hour practices during their seasons.

Specifically for these sports, time is everything, and having little time and too much work is a game-changer. Especially for students that live further away, having to spend an additional couple of hours at school bites at time available for homework.

There is, however, a solution to this work-thawing extra course.

Having an extra course to offer for students doesn't always have to have an academic influence.

Classes that focus on physical aspects, such as physical education held in the weight training room or independent athletics study, which focuses specifically on the

needs and demands of a player of a club or CIF-sanctioned sport.

Both courses have some benefit to offer, yet are limited solely to physical expectations, not that of academic.

Axel Koskela, a Senior D1 varsity ice hockey player and foreign exchange student from Sweden, knows how substantial amounts of homework can affect his day and sleep schedule.

"I've been at [SMCHS] for about a month, and already the work load can be overwhelming," Kosekela said.

He is in favor of having that extra period as a no-academic work course.

Additionally, players can benefit from having a period to focus on their sport. Different sports require different skill sets, and having the knowledge and working on that specified skill in the independent sports study course can have drastic effects.

"Pulling those weights and getting my mind set on hockey has really helped, it lets me focus and forget everything else for some time," Kosekela said.

Axel takes the standard weight training course offered to both sports players and non-sports players.

There is a flaw to this available elective however, and it resides in those who decide to take it or not.

Yes it does help psychologically, yet there are people who, despite playing a sport, take the elective to have an easy class and some way to "slack off" in a sense during school.

"There are people in my class that take the course that really don't need to, they already have everything they need," Koskela said.

Aside from sports-based and athletic-based courses, there are electives to help students with an overload of homework or who have too much to do after school.

Academic assistance allows these kinds of students with this need to be satisfied.

Finally, sports-based electives give students time, preparation and basic skills for any sport.

However, each student must take advantage of the opportunity to cultivate therir academic skills while balancing academic rigor.

Sports electives have their benefits and their disadvantages, but it all depends on the students taking the courses and the purpose they take it for.

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Opinion

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The Eagle Eye

Forbidden or free speech Popular social media platforms censor controversial topics.

By Mckenna Andrew, Staff Writer

C

ensorship emerged as a major theme this summer. Social media platforms such as Instagram, Facebook, YouTube and Twitter stand to promote diversity, yet have been caught censoring political discourse.

However, some of the largest social media platforms such as Instagram, Facebook and Pinterest were recently exposed by users for censoring conservative, Christian and pro-life viewpoints.

If platforms promote themselves as being a free space to share ideas, then they should not take down controversial posts. These posts are merely an expression of the beliefs that exist in America and stand to spark conversation amongst people worldwide.

Whether it was demonetization, domain blocking or the lack of promotion, users of these platforms are being negatively impacted as their desired content cannot be published. Employees at Pinterest exposed the company after the account for Live Action, a large pro-life organization, was suspended. Pinterest taking a firm political stance breaks the neutral barrier that is appealing to many of its users. Many people use these platforms because their content

appeals to a variety of political beliefs and gives users the opportunity to explore different opinions.

According to the email between Pinterest and

“I don’t think it’s correct that they were censoring some of the ideas unless it was attacking someone else and making someone not feel comfortable with who they are,” said senior Stephanie Kraus. “I think it’s right that we are allowed to share out opinions on everything,

but I don’t think its right lke when people Mie tan Tris y start to shove b s n o ti stra their opinions down Illu your throat and force you to the Live believe what they believe.”

Action account, YouTube has also taken down Pinterest suspended posts from liberal media sources the account because it, “includes and influencers such as journalist, medical misinformation and conMax Blumenthal, who interspiracies that turn individuals and viewed author David Irving to facilities into targets for harassexpose him as a fascist. After the ment or violence.” However,when video was taken down, he tweetFacebook asked the fact-checking ed, “This purge had already gone site, Health Feedback, to review well beyond its stated aim. It is the “inaccurate” statement, two carpet- bombing style censorship.” people with major ties to aborLive Action photos and comtion advocacy movements were ments have also been placed on appointed, Daniel Grossman and the same domain blocking list as Robyn Schickler. This bias of cenmany pornographic sites by these sorship is where the issue resides. media platforms. This is only the Social media can never hold a true beginning of what may become unbiased censorship as algorithms the censoring of a wide variety of are programmed and people might controversial political views before hold unwavering beliefs. the upcoming 2020 presidential

election. The right to free speech does have its limitations. One cannot threaten to hurt another, either verbally or non-verbally or deceive someone, otherwise known as fraud. This right to free speech is being used as an opportunity to voice opinions and speak out against what one believes to be unjust. Censorship places limitations on these opportunities to speak up and diminishes the purpose of platforms that stand to provide a space for open discussions.

Conservative commentator Steven Crowder was de-monetized on his YouTube platform where he discusses daily news and political trends. The reason for his demon-

etization: a joke that Crowder made about another journalist.

Restrictions on Crowder’s platform prevent him from making any profit from his productions

and from being recommended to users.

“While we found language that was clearly hurtful, the videos as posted don’t violate our policies,” said YouTube regarding Crowder’s demonetization.

Many argue it’s the platform’s right to censor what they want because it is a private business, but much of the public has demanded equal representation on social media as well. If a platform prides itself on being neutral and providing a space for open conversation, then the platform should not step in and censor these political channels that exist across many forms of media.

“I think a free society is based on the right to voice your opinion,” said senior David Feng. “It’s based on having mechanisms that prevent censorship from happening. I think that censoring people on social media is definitely not a pro-democratic society.”

Controversial ideas should not be censored for the sole reason that they are controversial. If they are not evoking violence, they are evoking conversation. Conversations about controversial topics allow people to gain perspective and a deeper understanding of the world today. Censorship exposes the lack of transparency to the users of some of the most popular social media platforms.

Polite political conversation is not impossible Engaging in political discussion in the current political climate is crucial; having them properly is paramount.

By Kendrick Choi, Web Managing Editor Democracy: it is the very thing our nation is founded upon and the framework through which we govern. A necessary part of democracy is political discussion.

Yet in an increasingly polarized political climate, it is noticeably more difficult to have such conversations without them evolving into heated rants about a candidate and their policies. Younger generations are exposed to such conduct by adults, setting the negative precedent of narrowmindedness. Some proceed to develop stances they adamantly defend, regardless of how unfounded they might be. This only furthers the downward spiral of our nation’s political rhetoric, for people are less inclined to listen to other perspectives. Such narrow-mindedness undermines the open discussion which is paramount for a democratic society.

Political rhetoric is essential for our nation since it facilitates the dissemination of beliefs and varying political viewpoints. This ideological diversity leads to the advancement of the society we live in. Yet, the tainting of rhetoric in our nation further cripples democracy itself.

However, there are remedies that can mend the damage and prevent further harm. One solution is to facilitate open-mindedness in high school students.

Even though this may seem like

Illustration by Molly Roberts

a daunting task, the change does not have to be immediate. Any advancement in the field would exponentially benefit the community. The exposure to new ideas through information outlets such as CNN, The New York Times and National Public Radio (NPR) would coerce the individual into realizing that difference doesn’t equate to danger. This shift in attitude would change the closed, defensive mentality into one of positivity and openness. Thus, anyone who this person interacts with would be more receptive because each party would be willing to learn and grow from the other’s opinion.

English teacher Coleen Barry

shares the sentiment, emphasizing the importance of open-mindedness.

“Our nation’s greatest achievements have been the result of a willingness to listen to opposing views and compromise,” Barry said.

Another necessary remedy is ensuring high school students are politically well-informed. With the internet, and by extension social media, information is accessible to anyone and everyone who has a device with internet connection. Having all this information available at one’s fingertips is not necessarily a good thing. anyone can access the internet, and anyone can input information into

the internet, whether it is true or false. Thus, individuals must have the discernment to tell the factual from the fake. Yet for those who readily believe the internet and social media, the presence of such information is capable of impairing judgment. This is especially true for high school students who frequently use social media.

“Unfortunately, I think many people, adults and teens alike, allow themselves to be inordinately influenced by posts on social media platforms which rarely reflect the truth,” Barry said.

Students can solve this issue by seriously considering whether the story they read could truly have occurred. If they wish to ensure

the content is valid, cross-referencing the event throughout the internet to see whether or not multiple sources concur is highly recommended. Although reliance upon the very thing which can provide false information is potentially dangerous, that is the best method through which to check.

Another suggestion is to consider the source of the information to see whether it is trustworthy or not. Sources such as blogs and random, unknown websites are generally unreliable, while reputable news sources such as BBC, CBS and CNN, are usually more accurate and factual.

The benefits of political conversations include relative peace and innovation. There would be a decrease in arguments, thus leading to cooperation and developments contributing to the greater good. Even though this may seem extreme, the effects do not necessarily have to be global. They can be present in daily interactions with one another. As each person adds onto this air of tolerance, the result would expand into the greater community.

In order to curb this descent into political anarchy, the future generations must be aptly equipped with pertinent skills to discuss relevant issues.

Open-mindedness and discernment must not be ignored when entering into a political discussion.

6

Opinion

The Eagle Eye

Romanticized pedophilic relationships The film industry needs to re-evaluate its positive portrayal of pedophilia in teen television.

By Emily Freeborn, Opinion Editor

T

he word pedophilia should strike an unsettling chord in any person who hears it. After all, few things are more horrible to imagine than an adult preying on innocent children. Witnessing such a practice on television should stir up feelings of disgust. However, with a handsome lead actor in his late 20s and a mature featured actress to play his student and doting girlfriend, many television shows downplay the unsightly realities of pedophilia. By romanticizing instances of pedophilia in shows geared towards a young audience, the television industry normalizes pedophilia and possibly creates more willing victims.

“Audiences can look to television and media to find out what’s normal or acceptable,” said film teacher Todd Naylor. “ If they see it presented in an acceptable manner, they may start to see it as appropriate behavior.”

Even if you didn’t realize it at the time, you’ve most likely viewed a television program that contains a pedophilic relationship, as they are present in many popular teen shows. These include “Pretty Little Liars," “The Carrie Diaries,” “Friends,” “Scream,” “Vampire Diaries,” “Gossip Girl,”

Illustration by Molly Roberts

“Glee,” “Gilmore Girls,” “Dawson’s Creek,” “Big Love” and “Riverdale.” The presence of pedophilic relationships in these programs cannot be rationalized, as the romantic light it is placed under prevents it from being excused as “spreading awareness.” Naylor attributes the cause of the inclusion of such relationships to publicity, explaining that such a controversial topic is guaranteed to get people talking.

“The benefit to the show or film is to gain attention,” Naylor said.

“If people are talking about it, audiences will watch. In that world, getting viewers is the goal.”

The television industry’s

capitalistic pursuit causes it to disregard the wide influence that it wields over its viewers. Manipulating the pedophilic relationships to seem romantic with attractive actors, sweet repertoire, beautiful lighting, and a violin filled score might draw in viewers but it also convinces their impressionable minds that such relationships are acceptable, blinding them to the moral and legal conflicts with that sentiment.

“Characters are created and developed to make audiences fall in love with them, enjoy them, respect them, even want to be like them,” Naylor said. “The decisions that those characters make

can have a strong effect on the audience.”

For example, 52.9 percent of viewers of the television program, “Pretty Little Liars,” expressed in a survey that they felt the relationship between a high school student and her teacher displayed in the show was romantic. This evidence indicates a dangerous growing acceptance of pedophilia in young viewers, preventing teens from listening to the natural instinct which would prevent them from becoming a pedophile’s next prey.

More worrisome, however, is the idea that pedophilia should fall within the “love who you want

to love” spectrum. One student expressed his support for this sentiment, claiming that, “everyone can like whoever they want even if it’s someone older or younger than them! We are allowed to be free.”

“Well, no normal individual… is going to be looking at a minor in any sort of sexual fashion. It just shouldn’t happen,” said psychologist Blake Oldfield. “If you are, there’s some sort of illness that’s going on there. This is not allowed and you should not be put in a situation like this and it isn’t just ‘love who you want to love.’”

Though as teenagers we don’t currently have the power to alter the workings of the television industry, there is something we can do. Take these romanticized relationships with a grain of salt and keep in mind that no victim of pedophilia ever got a happy ending with their perpetrator. Discuss this issue, because even though their duty is to prepare us for life as an adult, our educators and parents rarely choose to breach such touchy issues that can prepare and protect us in the future.

“We as educators have to spend more time discussing the things that happen in the real world, that happen outside our Orange County bubble and outside of our SMCHS bubble so that they understand that it's preying,” Oldfield said.

Late start expectation vs. reality

By Olivia Pannell, Staff Illustrator

Feature

7

The Eagle Eye

Flying above the rest Senior Izzy Reyes gets her pilot license and shares her goal of inspiring women in aviation.

By Julia Mortimer, Staff Writer

M

ost high school students dream of obtaining a driver’s license when they turn 16, but for senior Isabella Reyes, it did not end there.

Driving down PCH or the I-5 was not enough for Reyes. Her dream stretched much farther and higher.

Not only can Reyes drive her car to the beach when she wants, but she can also fly a plane to San Francisco for the day if that’s what she’s in the mood for. Her sky-high ambitions began in her childhood when her grandpa showed her planes in the sky. She was in awe of the concept of flying.

“I thought it was magic until he explained the science behind it,” said Reyes.

After discovering that the age requirement for a pilot’s license was 17, she asked her parents if she could pursue flight lessons. After a 30 minute discovery flight, she was hooked. Determined to obtain a pilot’s license, Reyes then discovered the dedication and training her goal would entail.

Becoming a licensed pilot is no easy task; it requires over 40 hours of training and numerous tests. Reyes attended Aviation Facilities Incorporated and received countless hours of instruction and training throughout the 19 months it took for her to complete the re-

Photo courtesy of Izzy Reyes

Soaring high- Reyes smiles as she takes her first solo flight without an instructor. Reyes completed 40 hours of testing.

quirements.

First, Reyes worked on perfecting her maneuvers, which include stalls and steep turns. Then she learned pattern work, which are take-offs and landings.

“To learn, you practice taking-off and landing over and over again and until you get it right, which took me a while,” Reyes said.

The next step in the process is navigating to other airports as well as the intricacies of airspace, which is all owned property and requires special access to fly in. Then she pursued her solo license, which allows a pilot to fly by themselves without an instructor,

Reyes was beyond excited when she finally achieved her goal and was given her license.

“After the examiner shook my hand and told me I passed, I could not believe it,” Reyes said. “I had been anxiously working towards that day of my check ride for the past two years. I knew that all of my hard work had finally paid off.”

Aviation is not just a hobby for Reyes, as she intends to turn it into her career. Reyes plans on becoming a flight instructor throughout college, which will help her collect the hours she needs to be granted a commercial pilot’s license.

“I am trying to make it to the

airlines soon as I can to become a commercial airline pilot,” Reyes said.

Being up in the sky is an unparalleled feeling for Reyes.

“You don’t realize how much you know until you’re the only one up there,” Reyes said. “I never realized how much I knew until I was flying solo for the first time. Whenever I feel the main wheels leave the pavement, I experience that feeling of floating right over the ground and I can’t stop smiling.”

Being a female pilot has also inspired her to create change.

“My explorer post had only one active female member when I joined, but I was able to help bring other girls into my flight school,”

Reyes said. “I want to bring more female representation into the aviation field.”

In addition to becoming her future, aviation has shaped Reyes as a person. She now soars through the skies, in total control of her plane and her future. Flying amongst Southwest 737s, and other large jets, Reyes is inspired knowing that she will be the pilot in those cockpits one day. She is looking forward to viewing the world from the air for years to come.

“I have become a much more confident and happier person with this license,” Reyes said. “Not only have I met my best friend and found who I am, I have found my future.”

Photo courtesy of Izzy Reyes

Ready to fly- After hours of training, Reyes is excited to take her personal plane for a spin with her new pilot license.

Teen trends cause change Popular fads, like using a Hydroflask and thift shopping, positively effect the environment.

By Alex Vallone, Feature Editor Shopping at thrift stores, using a reusable water bottle and being environmentally conscious might not sound like typical teen trends.

However in 2019, being “cool” means being environmentally conscious. In fact, the new “vsco girl” trend centers around a Hydroflask and metal straws, vintage T-shirts, scrunchies and Puka-shells.

From a 100 student survey, 80 percent of SMCHS students use a reusable water bottle most days. Thrift shopping is becoming increasingly popular; according to Wall Street Journal “33 percent of Generation Z will make second-hand purchases this year in the US.” While the majority of students still choose a chain store over a thrift store, 31 percent shop at thrift stores.

Sisters Natalia and Sophia VonGierke have reduced their everyday plastic usage. Both girls have stopped bringing plastic in their lunches, use a reusable water and metal straws.

“I use my Hydro because it keeps my water really cold, but also because it saves so much plastic that I would have been using for plastic bottles,” junior Natalia VonGierke said.

Metal straws have gained popularity because of the movement to “save the turtles.” According to Earth Day Network, Americans use 500 million straws every day, which is enough plastic to circle the Earth

2.5 times. The new metal straw trend helps reduce single-use plastics because plastic straws are used carelessly and often. Although some people claim that metal straws are difficult to clean and cold on the teeth, Sophia VonGierke still brings her reusable straw wherever she goes.

To remember to bring a metal straw into a restaurant, Natalia recommends putting a metal straw on a keychain or always having it in a bag. She also recommends using

a Starbucks cup the next day for another drink or using a Ziplock bag for the same snack that week.

“There are so many everyday single-use plastics that you don’t even realize that you are using,” Natalia said. “Every single person is using those small items all day long and it’s going straight to the ocean or a landfill.”

Another environmentally and socially-conscious hobby the two sisters have is thrifting. Thrifting has become significantly more

popular as the stigma fades around buying second-hand clothes. Senior Monica Hamra shops at thrift stores because it’s cheaper, and she wants to help reduce her ecological footprint.

“You can find something just as cute as something at a chain store or something that once was at a chain and it doesn’t feel as wasteful because I’m reusing clothes,” Hamra said.

Senior Remy Beauchamp and the VonGierke sisters started thrift-

Photo by Aidan Ocampo

Hydration nation- Resuable water bottles are widely used throughout campus. From a student survery, 80 percent of students use a HydroFlask everyday to most days.

ing because mainstream stores use child labor. Beauchamp made thrifting a hobby by finding unique clothes that fit her vintage style.

“I have an issue with stores like Forever 21 and H&M and their fast fashion because there a lot of problems with the way they get clothes and how they make the clothes,” Beauchamp said.

This issue is also what pushed Sophia VonGierke to shop at thrift stores. She stays away from brands that use child labor and hasn’t shopped in some of them in two years.

Although some thrift store clothing might not be high quality or have the widest selection, shopping at thrift stores is worth it. Teens can disengage in unethical business practices and lessen wasteful behavior.

Teens make small everyday lifestyle changes to help save the environment and reduce their ecological footprint. Besides using their Hydro’s and shopping at thrift stores, these teens have taken other action. Beauchamp stays away from red meats, Hamra carpools often and recycles and the VonGierke eliminates single-use plastic from their everyday life.

“All the small changes we can make in our daily lives can lead to big changes for the earth,” Natalia said.

Socialite or social-light A rising new social media platform, TikTok offers students a unique medium for content.

By Aidan Ocampo, Web Editor-in-chief

F

rom the ashes of the failed social media platform “Musical.ly”, a revolutionary, content-driven platform is on the rise: TikTok. Now with over 500 million users, the recent app is likely to be downloaded on the device of the person sitting next to you. Offering contrastingly different content, TikTok has effectively distinguished itself from other platforms that compete for screen time.

“It’s super intriguing to people w h o have a shorter attention span like I d o,” said senior Mara

Loughlin, a frequent user of the app. “TikTok has a time limit so it’s easy to get fast, quick content as opposed to long videos on other social media platforms.”

Another exceptional difference is its capacity to bring

significant popularity to simple, everyday users. Loughlin rapidly gained unexpected views after posting a TikTok to her page.

“It’s about a five second video,” Loughlin said. “Nothing special about it but it’s got around 60 thousand views. I guess people liked my hair.”

Loughlin’s abrupt rise in popularity isn’t a rare phenomenon. Senior Alexa Theodora, a less-than-frequent user of TikTok, saw a similar glimpse of stardom.

“It was just a joke, I captioned it ‘make this viral’,” said Theodora. “It got on the ‘for you page’ and it got around 400 thousand views.”

Similar to related platforms, TikTok utilizes an algorithm for promoting content to target users. This process allows incidental users to obtain a prominent, maybe unwanted, following. Demonstrated in Loughlin’s and Theodora’s experience, neither expected the imminent outbreak in views.

On the other hand, the algorithm allows for a more engaging user experience, complete with content targeted to their humor.

“My favorite part is being able to choose which videos you’re not interested in,” Loughlin said. “A lot of the content you’re scrolling through is fit for what you think is funny or intriguing; it just stays constantly interesting.”

Though this may seem like the perfect platform for teens, the app also leads more of their time to be consumed by endless streams of ideal con-

tent. According to Business of Apps, TikTok users spend an average of 52 minutes watching or creating content, but Loughlin warns of more extreme durations.

“You won’t realize it, but you’ll be on it for like three hours, maybe an hour, a day,” Loughlin said.

In a world increasingly devoured by screens, the app only contributes to t h e trend.

Y e t , there may not be need for concern as the app’s longevity could be at stake. Like past platforms of its kind, the app reached a peak audience then either was abruptly dissolved, or significantly lost users.

“It’s all just people from my age group,” said Theodora.

“So, once we’re older, no one is going to use it.”

Ultimately, there is no doubt that TikTok has established a substantial audience and a trail-blazing identity for content. The trending app has transformed the social media scene and given teens their claim to fame.

In a world where social media dominates, some students are unfazed by it.

By Giulia Henshaw, Copy Editor

Illustrations by Molly Roberts

With selfies and daily snaps, social media is more prominent than face to face conversation. Several students, despite being surrounded by social media, remain unfazed by the effect social media has on society.

In a student survey of 100 students, approximately 95 percent of students said that they use social media. The other five percent of students refrain from social media and are able to cope without social media in their lives. “[Social media] doesn’t really feel needed,” said freshman Izzy Dyer. “I can get through the day without it and it is kind of annoying to have all the dings go off, I mean, text messages are enough.”

Social media is commonly used to stay connected with people’s friends and family over any distance. Through apps like Snapchat and Instagram, people can talk to each other through their posts and stories.

However, Junior Jessica Shaw believes that not having social media doesn’t make it difficult for her to communicate with people. She is able to find alternative ways to interact with people.

“I stay connected through text, facetime, and phone call, “ said Shaw. “I don’t think not having social media makes a difference because people

snap each other to talk to people. Text is basically the same thing.”

Without cell phones, face to face interactions used to be the main form of communication. Dyer believes that social media is not a suitable replacement for talking in person.

“I know it’s weird, but there is thing called talking face to face. I like talking face to face because then you can see people’s expressions and tell if they are being sarcastic or not”.

A life free of social media benefits people’s physical and mental health. According to self.com, not having social media or, at least taking a break from it, allows a high probability of better sleep and a better appreciation for faceto-face interactions.

Senior Tom Kurstjens also acknowledges how social media is a platform where everything someone says or does will be viewed by many people.

“I feel that [having no social media] is beneficial because I don’t have to worry about doing things online that might hurt my reputation in the long run later in life, “ Kurstjens said.

According to the survey, students use social media on their phone an average of 4 hours per day. Olivia West, freshman, feels that time could be spent in more productive ways. Instead of spending hours on social media, West dedicates her time to her hobbies and extra-cur-

ricular activities.

“Most of the time I spend on my phone is to read. I get most of the books I read from online libraries,” West said.

Not having social media seems like a drastic change to people’s daily lives, but Shaw reveals her life isn’t changed by it. “[Not having social media] hasn’t really affected my life,” Shaw said. “The only thing is when people ask me for my Instagram I say ‘well, I don’t have it’, but it doesn’t really make a difference whether I have one or not.”

Kurstjens, Shaw, West and Dyer all experience life u n p l u g ge d from social media, and encourage their fellow students to try a cleanse from social media, even for a few days.

“I would tell [students] to lose their streak for about a week and see how it goes, I mean you might end up prefering talking to people over text or in person [rather] than through social media apps,” Dyer said.

10

The Eagle Eye

Feature

Eagles over the years Alumni teachers describe the changes they have experienced first-hand.

By Hadley McCusker, Staff Writer

D

oes student perspective today vary from the perspective of alumnus from years before? The school has changed in large, physical ways, but alumni miss the small things.

According to Patrick Visconti (‘06), the school has changed since he was a student, but what he misses most are cookies.

“I think that what almost any SMCHS alumni will tell you is that they miss having three cookies for a dollar at lunch--it’s such a silly thing, but it’s something that reminds me of my time here [as a student],” Visconti said.

The school has kept up with the times and bettered its facilities in the process.

“In place of where the S building used to be there was a huge grass hill where everyone sat to eat and play frisbee during lunch,” Visconti said. “It was something that I really loved and brought us all together in a family like community.”

Most of the alumni have a list of memories they miss from being a student. They recall their teens as a period they long to return to.

“The pool wasn’t here when I was a student, the R building or athletic building wasn’t here. I mean the weight room was just two portable buildings,” said Visconti. “The S building wasn’t even a thought yet.”

Although there are many significant visible changes that current students recognize and reminisce about, seeing the school’s growth is surprising. Math teacher Doris Gatfield, who started with the

Photos by Patrick Visconti

Visconti poses for a photo then (left) and now (right). He met with his wife (right) in his senior year peer ministry class, the same course he teaches on campus now.

school in 1987, has seen all of them firsthand.

“I came here when the school opened and we started off as a class of 250 students, so obviously the number makes a huge difference,” Gatfield said. “The first class of freshmen were catered to for the first four years."

There are numerous memorable moments in seeing the school at its earliest. While school size faculty and staff change, so do the many different opinions and traditions on campus.

“We cannot do these types of things now, but back then we used to go on full school fields trips up to museums and exhibits, we all got on buses and went up together,” Gatfield said. “We did a lot more

spontaneous things, like when we won a football game, we would cancel school the next day.”

SMCHS has had its share of fun over the years expressing its school spirit, but the times do change along with the school and the way it’s run. The morals remain the same. Whether it be years ago or today, the school exemplifies what it feels like to be part of a community. Any current or alumni student would agree.

“My favorite part of SMCHS is how close everyone is and how it feels like a big family. Everyone is there for everyone; I love how much school spirit we have,” said junior Lauryn Biddle.

Gatfield and Visconti also agree that the close-knit, supportive

community has been passed downover the years. They encourage others to get involved to find that family feeling within the school.

“The school was so small, everyone knew everyone, but even as the school progressed, I think they did a good job in ensuring that feeling still stays with everyone,” Gatfield said.

Reflecting on high school years, alumni enjoy recollecting memories they made as young adults.

Among other things, they remember most especially what they were involved in, who their friends were and what made certain memories stick with them.

“Honestly one of my favorite experiences at school was the senior retreat, Kairos. I also enjoyed

playing baseball and cherished my relationships with my teachers and friends,” Visconti said.

The school constantly changes and creates a new set of memories for each successive class. Alumni look forward to seeing what is in store for the school and how they can grow to help the newest generation cherish the same experiences.

“I loved my time in high school, I met a lot of great people and friends, my faith life was deepened and after leaving SM I was inspired to come back and be like the teachers I had,” Visconti said. “It’s always been a big part of my heart and my life and I love to see the progress the school makes over the years to come.”

Feature

11

The Eagle Eye

Students make a change Seniors Jack O’keefe and David Feng use their organization to try to ban smoking in San Clemente.

By Julia Mortimer, Staff Writer, and Jaime Svinth, Print Editor-in-Chief

I

n a world faced with dozens of issues, many people want change, but few are courageous enough to pursue it. Seniors Jack O’Keefe and David Feng, however, identified the issues in their community and decided not to sit back and complain, but face them head on. These issues include public smoking, deforestation and various other social and environmental ailments within today’s society.

O’Keefe and Feng founded an organization called The Broad Acre, inspired by architect Frank Lloyd Wright, who designed a utopian society also called the Broad Acre which embodied his idea of a perfect community. Feng and O’Keefe hope to achieve something similar.

“We are a grass-roots political movement that started with a couple of high school kids, and we want to bring positive environmental and social change to the city in which we live,” said O’Keefe.

Both having grown up with asthma, Feng and O’Keefe have a special connection to the issue of public smoking and know firsthand of the negative impact it can have on a person’s health.

“Little kids and babies breathe

Photo Courtesy of Jack O’Keefe

Promoting Change- Jack O’keefe (left) and David Feng (right) meet with the mayor of San Clemente, Daniel Bane, to discuss smoking laws. this air, [and] we don’t want them developing lung ailments later in life, like those that we suffer from, for no fault of their own,” said Feng.

Public smoking has been a widely debated topic for numerous years, and many share the experience of walking down the street past someone smoking and having

to hold their breath.

“You do not want to have this unpleasant atmosphere in the city that you live in,” O’Keefe said.

“Just because one person wants to smoke doesn’t mean that anyone else wants to breathe that in.”

Feng and O’Keefe plan to approach many of the environmental

and social issues around them in the future, but at the moment have dedicated their efforts to banning smoking in public areas within San Clemente. They recently met with the mayor of San Clemente to propose the elimination of public smoking.

With the normalization of

smoking and vaping within society, Feng and O’Keefe hope to remediate this issue by removing smoking from public view.

“This starts with our mission which is ‘start where you are and do what you can’,” Feng said. “We recognize this problem as a problem we could solve and have an instant impact on the community.”

Their meeting having been successful, O’Keefe and Feng both spoke at the September 3rd city council meeting on the dangers of smoking. After the meeting they created a petition and met with the mayor again, who will propose a bill banning public smoking at the next meeting.

Their plans, however, do not end with San Clemente. If this is passed, men of The Broad Acre will next expand into other Orange County cities, which have received very poor ratings in terms of tobacco control. Since banning public smoking, Laguna Beach’s and Laguna Hills’ ratings of tobacco have improved greatly.

Feng and O’Keefe took notice of an issue in their community and decided to take action. They encourage all students to do the same.

“The real changes happen locally and in the city and that’s why we encourage others to focus on what they can do, start where they are and take action.”

Out-of-this-world experience Mr. Reyes inspires students with skills he learned when working at NASA.

By Katie Eli, Staff Writer, and Alex Vallone, Feature Editor Working for the National Aeronautics Space Administration (NASA) is not something many can say they’ve done before. Collaborating with scientists and astronauts at NASA on a day-to-day basis is something engineering students can only dream of accomplishing. However, for new chemistry and robotics teacher, Philip Reyes, working at NASA was just another day on the job.

After studying aerospace engineering in college, Reyes aspired to work at NASA. In college, Reyes achieved this goal and worked as intern for a semester. Once there, NASA felt like a college campus and offered a worker-friendly environment. His favorite part of the job was the people he met.

“They are very kind people, they’re very intelligent and overall just really nice people,” Reyes said.

Reyes worked in the space sector with the Orion Capsule, which is a modern-day space capsule used for the Apollo Missions. His main job there was to work on the structural components inside the capsule.

Within the capsule, the astronauts have the ability to practice likely scenarios that they would encounter in space. This project sparked Reyes’ interest in astronauts and their intense training.

One of his most memorable astronaut experiences was visiting the Neutral Buoyancy Lab (NBL), where they train the astronauts in water tanks. This allows the astronauts to simulate the zero-gravity feeling that one would experience in space. While astronauts have unique jobs, Reyes notes that astronauts are just regular people with optimistic outlooks on their profession.

“I liked the hands -on experience and the guidance but also the opportunity to work on stuff on my own and to see that come to life,” said Reyes.

One memorable experience for Reyes, was talking with the head of NASA about what he had been working on within the capsule during the semester. Even having accomplished a variety of projects, Reyes became fascinated with other branches of NASA that he never had the chance to explore.

“I was really fascinated with the astronauts, and I was especially fascinated with the space suits,” Reyes said. “They had the different types of space suits that they work on over there, so that would’ve been something I would’ve enjoyed getting more hands on experience with.”

Although working at NASA was a task that Reyes loved doing everyday and wishes he could have done for longer, he feels his true calling is teaching. After finishing the internship at NASA, Reyes re-

turned to school to get his masters degree and pursue his passion for teaching.

“Then it lead me to SMCHS because I love the engineering part, but I also love giving back, so I’m teaching chemistry and working with the robotics,” Reyes said.

Reyes is the new head of the robotics team, and with that title comes a lot of responsibility. Reyes has applied many of the skills he has learned at NASA to robotics.

“A lot of it is how you make a drawing and how you communicate with people on your team about how to complete a task,” Reyes said. “ Learning how to use a machine shop, use a drill press, use 3D printer and how to build something and assemble it are all skills that I learned at NASA.” To Reyes, working at NASA and teaching at SM have similar working environments both feeling like a friendly campus. Going from NASA to teaching as been an easy transition because his students are driven and bring an enthusiastic attitude toward learning.

“I think the students are great and very smart, so it makes it easier,” Reyes said.

Reyes loved the resources and the all the facilities that NASA had to offer, but he loves teaching and inspiring youth even more. Like his encouraging teachers and coaches that lead him to work at NASA, he wants to impact and ignite passion within his own students.

Photo by Alex Vallone

Motivated- Mr. Reyes is ready to take on the school year. Their newest robot stands tall beside him.

“I love giving back and inspiring new students to reach for the stars

and to do the best that they can,” Reyes said.

12

Feature

Following his faith The Eagle Eye

New priest Father Tim brings his powerful background and a drive to inspire to campus ministry. er, he quickly realized he was made for a life of service.

“I was good at the school part but I did not find any peace,” Donahue said. “I found my peace teaching confirmation at my parish, which is a weird place to find your peace.”

After prayer and contemplation, he left his life at UCI and became

“ Jesus walked up to me with sandals. And I tried them on and walked with him.

Photo by Aidan Ocampo

Call to Action- Father Tim Donahue poses in his new office in campus ministry. After years as a youth minister, Donahue pursued his calling as a priest.

By Madison Clark, Staff Writer

F

ather Tim Donahue’s passion might presently include leading masses, giving homilies and assisting on retreats, but as a teenager, his pursuit of priesthood wasn’t even a consideration. Following after

Father Mark as the new priest on campus, students are getting to know Donahue and his powerful lessons.

Before coming to Santa Margarita, Donahue was a priest at Saint Bonaventure in Huntington Beach where he spent the first two years of his priesthood. No stranger to working with young children and

young adults, Donahue worked with the parish elementary school and large youth ministry program.

Donahue’s initial dream of being a pastry chef slowly turned into a passion for math and chemistry.

He followed in his family’s footsteps and became a chemical engineering student at the University of California, Irvine (UCI). Howev-

-Father Tim “ the youth minister at San Antonio Parish in Anaheim Hills. The decision was not popular among his family, but Donahue decided that pursuing his love for his faith was something powerful and important to him. From attending World Youth Day in Australia to visiting

the Franciscan Friars Headquarters in New York, Donohue realized that his peace came from serving others and the Lord.

The ultimate message that changed Donahue’s trajectory came through a parishioner with an unusual vision for him.

“It was me standing behind all these different shoes,” Donahue said. “I went through and tried them all on but none of them were fitting. I was frustrated but then Jesus walked up to me with sandals.

And I tried them on and walked with him.”

Taking this as a sign, Donahue entered the Diocesan priesthood, where he studied for seven years, and officially became ordained in 2017.

He hopes that students will understand and feel God’s love, and that he makes a lasting impression on the community he serves.

Connecting to the student body on a daily basis, he shows the love of Christ through his actions. Donahue believes that people are hungry to be known.

“We are only really sharing the things that we think people want to know about us,” Donahue said.

“The real peace in the human life is about having someone know the things we don’t want them to know and still love us.”

This is the God Donahue serves and that students can know: who sees what is hidden and loves in spite of it.

“We have a God that sees you, who knows you and loves you,” Donahue said.

A&E

13

The Eagle Eye

Back in business Amanda Duncan reintroduces the AP Music Theory class.

By Julia Furtado, A&E Editor and Jaclyn Paul, Staff Writer

Snapshot reviews this summer’s box office hits.

S

ome people play instruments and read music, but few people are able to hear music and identify each note. In AP Music Theory, students learn these skills through various learning techniques.

The AP Music Theory class returns after being absent for several years. In previous years, only one or two students have expressed interest in taking the class. This year, there are 20 students enrolled in the class.

“It’s showing good signs for the arts community here on campus that there are more people who are interested in music and music theory,” said senior Brendan Reeves.

For Reeves, music is an essential component in his life, and it’s what drove him to the AP Music Theory class.

“It’s just what I love to do. I think for a lot of people, [why] they take the class is because music is part of who they are and it’s a way to learn about it in a formal way,” Reeves said.

Junior Emily Horn is another student who’s passion for music drove her to the AP Music Theory class.

“I just wanted a better understanding of music because it’s a big part of my life, so I think if I had more of an in-depth understanding of it, it would be easier [and] I could understand it more” Horn said.

The class is full of musicians, so the teacher, Amanda Duncan, runs the class differently than most AP courses. She begins class with a vo-

By Emily Freeborn, Opinon Editor Photo by Aidan Ocampo

On a high note- The class prepares to start their eighth period after school. Students take the class three days per week.

cal warm-up.

“Not everyone is a singer, but that’s okay [because] everyone has a voice,” Duncan said.

Since the class is full of musicians, it is a different learning experience for the students.

“It feels different in a great way to be in a class full of musicians and vocalists who care about music and are fascinated by the theory behind the music,” said senior Angela Zhang.

Junior Alex Lynd appreciates the excitement the class brings because the learning environment is so different and dynamic.

“Even though [the class is] at the end of the school day, this is the only class I haven’t fallen asleep in,” Lynd said.

After the singing exercises, Duncan continues class by going over what will be on the upcoming quiz: different octaves, musical

notes, simple versus compound meter, time signatures and syncopation, based on the format of the AP exam. The free-response portion of the quiz is about the aural and non-aural skills.

The aural components are the elements that are heard, such as hearing a melody or listening to an orchestra. In the class, the aural part is usually dictation; they listen to an orchestra or a band then analyze what they heard by writing it down.

Then there is the non-aural part, which does not include singing or listening to anything; it is anything that can be read or written, like sheet music.

In addition to preparing the students for the AP exam, the course teaches detailed information about notes and how music functions.

“The AP Music Theory class is about how music works [on] many

different levels, [from] a very basic level, the notes of a scale to the very complex, the harmonies and how music works on a bigger picture,” said Duncan.

The material students learn in class allows them to apply a deeper understanding of music to their musical endeavors outside the classroom.

“It not only sets a strong foundation in knowledge regarding both the context and the content of a piece of music but also helps me learn to interpret structures of musical compositions a lot better,” said senior Shelly Zhao.

The class helps students find a new understanding of music.

“It helps you take your music understanding to a new level, “ Reeves said.

Singing through Europe Choir students expand their worldview as they perform pieces across Europe.

Encore- Chambers choir stand proudly after giving a performance in Bruges.

By Bella Scarano, Staff Writer As junior Madison Vacca stepped onto the plane on her way to Europe, she wasn’t sure what to expect. Weeks later, Vacca knows she will never leave behind her growing passion for choir.

Singers in chambers choir have exceptional singing skills, allow-

Summer Movie Lineup

ing them the opportunity to travel to the Netherlands to perform for various audiences. The choir performed in churches in the Zutphen, Netherlands, and Bruges, Belgium. In Bruges, the group sang in a beautiful church.

“People came up after we were done singing and would say it was the highlight of the trip,” Vacca said. “To see how we positively affected someone was inspiring.”

Photo by Chris Winn

Along with singing, the students tried new foods such as cheese tasting in the Netherlands or Vacca’s favorite, the Belgium waffles from Bruges. They developed a new lifestyle of biking everywhere instead of driving, traveled to a clog-making factory and ventured inside a windmill in Zutphen.

Choir director Mr. Winn has been on this trip before but always experiences a new adventure. Not

only does the location change the experience, but the students do.

Every year, new memories are created.

“It’s amazing to see new places, but it’s also amazing to see it through the eyes of our students and choirs,” Winn said.

The students performed at several different churches, in squares and also received the opportunity to sing with Dutch choirs. Winn especially cherished the moments where he listened to the students sing.

“It’s an experience of growth to see that they are singing as an ensemble and that they are working together as a group [producing] amazing new things,” Winn said.

Traveling and participating in a new setting was a learning experience for Vacca. Coming back to school this trip has cultivated her love for choir.

“I will be able to sing more freely, and it has helped me meet more people and grow closer with choir community, as well as helping me grow in my understanding of varios cultural values,” Vacca said.

Over the summer, screens across America were blessed with several fantastic box office smash hits. If you didn’t get a chance to visit the theater this summer, here’s a list of some of the must-see movies of summer 2019.

“Rocketman”: This captivating tale of Elton John’s life is not just a film, but a magical experience fit for a stage. Lead actor Taron Egerton transforms from the meek dreamer Reginald Dwight to the rock and roll sensation Elton John. Egerton exposes John’s hidden desire to escape the chains of fame in a manner capable of making anyone a little misty eyed. An absolute treat for Elton fans new and old, “Rocketman” will have you singing “Crocodile Rock” for weeks.

“Aladdin”: I can now say that fans’ initial reaction to ‘Will Smith: blueberry edition’ was a bit overdramatic. The cerulean shade of the Fresh Prince did little to deter this film from being an excellent adaptation of the Disney classic. Get back in touch with your childhood self and come sing along to “Friend Like Me,” because this film is definitely worth the watch.

“Spider Man Far From Home”: By far the best film of the franchise thus far, though with Sony and Marvel back on speaking terms and Tom Holland continuing to play my favorite portrayal of Peter Parker, I expect that the next one will be just as great. The film blesses us with Jake Gyllenhaal’s appearance as “Mysterio,” and the heartwarming relationship between Spidey and the fishbowl-donning superhero will almost allow you to forget that Tony’s dead (but not for long). Even if you’re unfortunate enough to not be a Marvel fan, you’re sure to enjoy this leg of the Spiderman franchise.

“Booksmart”: Seeing this movie at the beginning of the summer restored my faith in the film industry (and humanity in general). Kaitlyn Dever and Beanie Feldstein are some of the most hilariously relatable friends I’ve seen on screen. This lovable coming-of-age story comes the closest of all the films I’ve seen to what being an American teenager is really like. Grab your best friends, some candy, call your Uber (hopefully one who’s not your principal) and go enjoy this unforgettable film.

14

A&E

The Eagle Eye

Finding the magic Disney draws mixed opinions as remakes change the plots of classic movies.

By Domi Drust, Web Managing Editor and Gracy Crocker, Staff Writer

T

he previews shine, then the screen goes dark. The nostalgia hits. 25 years later, “The Lion King” is back on the big screen. Walt Disney’s classics are coming back to life to entertain a new generation.

Movies like the “Lion King” and “Aladdin” have been recreated in the last year, and movies like “Mulan” and “The Little Mermaid” are coming out in the upcoming years.

Junior Emelin Conboy, a Disney enthusiast, is an advocate for the Disney classic remakes.

“I think it is really cool that they are expanding on the old movies and add a new art form to them,” Conboy said.

There is, however, controversy on whether Disney should be rewriting the classic stories for a new generation or if they should take a new perspective on the classic movie.

“Disney is spending more time making live action movie remakes than creating new content,” Conboy says. “I don’t think people

should be shaming Disney for recreating classics. I can see both sides and I think it’s cool Disney adds some new content to the originals.”

When Disney tries to speak with social statements, they don’t always get the right idea across. Some Disney fans think they are taking the magic away from the movies, so they are no longer an escape from reality.

The Disney recreation of

“A l a d din” was

taken in many different ways, one being that the new version had gone in a direction that was not accepted

by Disney fans.

Disney added new parts to the movie, like music, while also trying to keep the storyline of the classic.

In the New York Post’s review of “Aladdin,” writer A.O. Scott points out that when “Aladdin” added musical numbers and slight changes to the plot, the transitions made the movie choppy and Illustration by Tristen it lost its Mielke spark.

“Given that the rest of the movie is so devoted to replicating the story beats, musical numbers and visual cues of the

1992 film, these incongruous additions just stick out sorely,” Scott said.

In contrast, Disney receives praise over acclamations of the remakes that maintain the same

“ I only hope that we never lose sight of one thing--that it was all started by a mouse.

- Walt Disney ”

plot while adding positive changes. The changes do not affect the plot, but how the plot is presented. In “Maleficent,” the same story is taken with a new perspective.

In the movie, the story of Disney’s 1959 “Sleeping Beauty”, is retold through of the villain Maleficent’s point of view.

Senior Garrett Webb believes that Disney’s “Maleficent” is a way to revise a Disney classic by not replicating the exact movie, while giving it a creative and interesting angle.

“Maleficent portrays the right way to redo Disney movies because it doesn’t change the way characters behave in the original,” Webb said. “Most redo’s make the changes in the behaviors of the characters.”

Since 1937, Disney created movies that inspire and provide fantasy and joy in our lives. With the redemption of Disney classics in the 21st century, they have received mixed reviews.

Disney cannot please all of the fans, but their ultimate goal is to provide entertainment and joy for families, children and adults. Trial and error only allows for more success in the future. The direction Disney innovates old content with technology and imagination.

Ultimately, the Disney classics may be different from their original, but they don’t take away the magic within them.

Directing her own story Junior Katie Redd furthers her passion for TV production on the set of the Netflix show “Alexa and Katie”.

By Jaime Svinth, Print Editor-in-Chief

F

or some, the thrill of cinema comes from sitting in velvet seats in front of a 65-by-30-foot screen. For others, it’s the challenge of acting like their assigned character. But for junior Katie Redd, it’s the process of sculpting a final product from behind a camera that has shaped her love of video.

The interest sparked freshman year in Paul Higgins’ TV production class. Although the class explored basic concepts, she wanted to evolve her talents even more and joined the ETV class. However, it wasn’t enough-- she was constantly hungry to learn and grow her skills outside of the school.

“I’m very independent. Even if I don’t like being on camera, I like filming others and editing it myself,” Redd said. “I’ve learned a lot of skills through figuring it out myself.”

Eager to pursue this interest as a possible career path, Redd toured film schools at USC, Chapman and LMU. The tours allowed her to visualize herself in the same environment in a few years and inspired her to take a professional initiative on filmmaking.

When she learned that her dad’s college friend, Trevor Kirschner, owns his own TV production company, Lions and Tigers Productions, she knew she had to take advantage of the connection.

“When I found out that my dad had friends from college that

worked in different industries, I reached out to them, told them my experience and what videos I’ve done,” Redd said. “I sent him some of my work, and he was really impressed.”

Walking into Sunset Studios for her first day, Redd expected to be tasked with small duties to help the staff. Knowing Kirschner had directed other shows like “Raven’s Home,” “Thundermans” and “Nicky Ricky Dicky, and Dawn,” Redd was excited yet humbled by the opportunity. However, her nerves were immediately calmed when the staff welcomed her into a collaborative environment.

“I expected it to be a lot more strict like ‘you have to go do this, you have to go do that,’ but it was more just like ‘come over here, watch what I’m doing, take notes if you want, ask questions,’” Redd said. “Everyone was super nice and welcoming, which made me want to do this even more.”

On her first day, Redd observed a production meeting, where she Photo by Trevor Kirschner learned about each member’s On set- Redd poses with cast member Isabel May. May played the role of Katie Cooper on role in the production process. “Alexa and Katie.”

Although just a rehearsal day, she when perfecting even the smallest tion business. She values the reRedd plans to implement the immediately acclimated to the of details. al-world experience that allowed skills she learned into her own ETV cast, crew and script of the scene.

“He had to do maybe 30 laugh her to solidify her desire to develproductions, especially as it perThe next few days were filled with checks before he found the right op a career from her passion for tains to screen writing and editing. production meetings, rehearsals one,” Redd said. “It just shows how filmmaking.

As the only high school intern on and script revisions. From the edI need to take my time to pick ex“It makes me happy that I know set, the experience was truly unreiting to the live show, Redd shadactly what needs to go in [a video], what I want to do and am not goplaceable. owed the script supervisor, acting or even what font I want for my ti- ing in blind,” Redd said. “I have an “It was a really cool experience coach, camera coordinator and the tle.” idea of what the industry is really and something I’ll never get to do director.

While refining her production like so when I get in there, I don’t again,” Redd said. “A lot of people Most of all, she noticed the high strategy, Redd also gained clarity end up hating it and having to don’t get that opportunity, so I was standard the crew held for their for her future in the TV-produc- switch.” really thankful.” work and how attentive they were

Sports

15

The Eagle Eye

New country new family Two football players arrive on campus and walk a new path.

By Roman Sergi, Sports Editor

T

rinity League football is filled with a plethora of transfers each year, but not many travel 6,061 miles to play at a new school.

Both Brisin Lima and Rimoni Aiafi transferred from Samoa, to play football for the Eagles on the offensive line. The juniors have little to no football experience, but both played rugby for years.

“I had no football experience before coming here to SM, but I was a rugby player,” said Lima. No pads, no helmets, no knee braces, just a jersey. I’m not going to lie, I miss the bruises after the games and the rush of adrenaline as I get pummeled to the ground. Every game was a war and every win was a victory.”

However, more than football led them to leave behind their home and embark on a new stage in their lives. Lima personally felt that this is what where he needed to be in order to succeed in life, that he had a greater purpose in the states.

“I felt as if this was Gods calling for me,” Lima said. It also helped that I have a drive to be the best me that I can be and knowing the endless opportunity that America has is what led me to transfer to SM. My home country is still a developing country so my dream is to live my life and give back to the communities and especially my family.

Hopefully through my life here in SM I can serve under God and give him back the Glory and praise.”

Photo by Myrlin Rebuldela-Kama

Home- Brison Lima and Rimoni Aiafi with their hosts Keanu Rebuldela-Kama and Gregory Doyle. Celebrating their new coach.

Likewise, Aiafi, saw the school as a place he could grow and become the person he wanted to be.

It also provided him many academic opportunities not available for him before.

“The school has a high successful rate in both academic and sports,” said Aiafi. “It also provides support programs which helps students with their aspects of their lives. I also noticed that the school has various types of courses therefore it gives me an opportunity to pick whatever course within my individual strengths. But I most likely like the school because it is a church school; this could very well improve my spiritual beliefs. I know very well it was hard for me

to leave my family, but this is an opportunity that no one can miss. I also strongly believe very well that this is my path from Jesus.”

Even though they have entered into a new culture in America, the lifestyle has benefitted them, making adjustment easier than expected.

“Well I’ve been to many other places which is similar to America’s culture,” said Aiafi. “The only difference is that culture is overwhelming in US, but life here is easy. In the meanwhile I had to cope or adapt to the culture and my new home.”

Both of them have quickly formed relationships with their new teammates, being incorporat-

ed into the football family. With their teammates help, the transition into the American lifestyle has been made easier.

“They’ve helped me a lot,” Lima said. “Always answering my questions with a friendly aura when I’m clueless about things. One of the Captains [of the football team] personally showed me around school for a couple of days which was greatly appreciated.”

Each of them is staying with a host family, Lima with junior cornerback Keanu Rebuldela-Kama, and Aiafi with senior linebacker Gregory Doyle.

“Living away from family is not new to me. I spent two years of boarding school in New Zealand,”

Lima said. All I can say is, you have think of the reason why they sent you here. Use it as motivation to keep grinding. Living with a host family has been a great experience so far. I’ve made new family members whom I care about especially Mama Kama.”

While, Aiafi cannot play this season due to a knee injury, both he and Lima hope to accomplish a lot during their time at the school and set themselves up for success in the future.

“I hope to leave SM with a graduation diploma and a college scholarship,” Lima said. “God willingly!”

Tackle football takes a hit Recent studies show tackle football sign-ups declining rapidly.

By Isabela Barrera, Managing Editor, Megan Plocher, Staff Writer Football- whether you cringe at the mention of the often-times dangerous sport, or you excitedly engage in the fantasy league, it’s a classic, defining factor of what makes the United States of America what it is today. While the game is full of thrills and engaging plays, it requires complete commitment, both physically and mentally, to compete. As more athletes realize this, a decrease in signups thwarts the prominence of football as a national sport.

The downward trend in tackle-football participation is not going away. Fewer athletes are signing up for tackle football at all ages due to cost, brain injury concerns and the time-consuming, year-round commitment. In 2008, tackle-football signups reached its peak in sign-ups. The downward trend in participation results in smaller teams and weaker competition.

“People are becoming more aware of the negative effects of the sport,” said senior left guard Jason Schillig. “It is physically demanding and time consuming.”

On a regular school day, Schilling gets to school at 6:30 to lift at 7:00, shower at school, have meet-

Photo by David Schilling

Collision- Mitch Messier delivers a blow to a Mayfair runningback. Jaylon Jones adds on to take the player down.

ings at lunch, practice after school, and then physical therapy for his back. He doesn’t get home until 8:00 pm--12 hours just from football alone.

Football, specifically in high school, has become a year-round sport, preventing multi-sport athletes from participating. The student athletes devote many days to practices, weightlifting and physical therapy just to keep up with the high intensity of the sport. Players

find it hard to balance both their grades and football, causing them to struggle to excel in both.

Despite the recent decline in players joining teams in the NFL and other high schools, varsity football is gaining more attraction.

The school’s new highly qualified NFL trained football coaches are working hard to get the team Trinity-league ready.

“There has actually been an increase in freshman football sing-

ups this year,” said senior varsity football captain Tyler Hartigan.

“This is the most sign-ups we’ve had in a long time. Our varsity team has about 78 players right now.”

Hartigan credits the new coaching staff for the increase in freshmen signups. The prestige of NFL coaches has freshmen considering SM and that makes a significant difference in the season.

Still, concussions and brain in-

juries are the number one reason why football players may decide not to play. Many former players deal with traumatic brain injuries and concussions that affect them for the rest of their lives.

“A few years ago [doctors] came out with all this information on how football is affecting the brains of people later on in their lives to the point where it drove people insane,” Schillig said.

New helmets and shoulder pads should decrease the risk of serious injury and increase participation in football. With better technology and fewer injuries, parents and athletes might be more willing to sign-up for football.

“They came out with new pads that will decrease shoulder and chest injury. The new helmets are decreasing concussions,” Hartigan said.

According to the NFL, the number of concussions in football has decreased 29% since 2018. NFL confirmed that they did more negative concussion screenings then they have ever done in the past. The league is confident that the new helmets and protective equipment has contributed to this decrease.

Hartigan agrees. “I think parents will be more willing to sign their kids up for football knowing their kids are more secure.”

Sports

16

The Eagle Eye

Global Showcase Two Eagles display their talent on the national stage.

By Roman Sergi, Sports Editor and Grace Caspino, Staff Writer

E

ntrance to the club is exclusive, reserved for the elite of the elite. But two teenage athletes have managed to knock the door down and sit among the best in their respective fields.

Seniors Anicka Delgado and Milan Tolentino have spent this past summer with their respective national teams. Delgado competed for the Ecuadorian swim team in the 100 meter freestyle at the 2019 World Aquatics Championships, Milan , a member of the United States 18U team.

Delgado, who became the California state champion in the 50yard freestyle last year, gained firsthand experience in what it means to be a world-class athlete.

“Competing for the national team has allowed me to attend international meets giving me so much experience at such high end competitions,” Delgado said. “[Competing] against world-class athletes, I’ve seen what makes them the people they are and what they do [differently] than average athletes, which is what makes them so great.”

For Delgado, the experience to swim internationally has not only made her a better athlete, but has also expanded her knowledge on different cultures and experiences.

Anicka, having competed against countries like Turkey, Slovakia and Puerto Rico, has formed lasting relationships with the other athletes she meets around the world. “”I have been able to surround myself in different cultures and learn how people live outside of

Orange County,” Delgado said.

“This not only affected my perspective on the life me and my friends at SMCHS live, but my character and what reality is like for many other people.”

Tolentino, the reigning Trinity League MVP and CIF-SS Division 2 player of the year, has played in South Korea this summer and has been enamored with the respect others countries have for United States’ athletics.

“Being a part of the team has put into perspective how the country is looked at [by other countries],” Tolentino said. “The other countries look at the United States of America as the best in the world. It gives me a high appreciation every time I hear the national anthem.”

Delgado sees being a member of the Ecuadorian swim team as an advantage when preparing for the next level--creating opportunities and teaching her about the challenges college has in store.

“Representing Ecuador [has] helped me out [with] recruiting because many coaches saw it as an opportunity to have an “international athlete” on [their] team or someone that has competed internationally,” Delgado said.

Competing with Ecuador has also helped her prepare for college by allowing her to race against college athletes. Both athletes describe competing abroad as the experience of a lifetime, filled with honor and grace.

“The overall experience was amazing, it was one of the best things I have done in my life,” Tolentino said. It was a true honor and blessing to represent the United States.”

Photo by Redaccion Fanatico

Diving In- Anicka Delgado (middle) dives into the water while representing Ecuador.

Photo by Emily Fedewa

Batter up- Tolentino proudly wears his uniform while representing the United States 18U baseball team. He played shortstop during his time on the team.

Applying what they know

Students gain an in-depth view into the sports medicine field through the sports medicine elective.

By Madison Clark, Staff Writer

Whether it’s football or any of the fifteen plus sports offered on campus, the sports medicine elective prepares students for certain emergency situations that may arise. This two-year course allows students to dive deeper into the world of sports medicine and find ways to apply their knowledge to activities.

From learning CPR to basic first -aid procedures, this elective has become a popular selection. Students in Sports Medicine 1 and 2 are able to not only learn about sports injuries, but nutrition and the human body. Many students have found it valuable to learn how to do basic tasks, like wrapping ankles and wrists.

“Being able to apply what I learn from school to what I do outside of school is interesting and valuable in my opinion,” said junior Amanda Chavez. “I want to learn how to properly wrap my ankle at practice.”

Along with the medical side of sports medicine, students learn about legal aspects and liabilities.

“Learning about liabilities shows me the difficulties of being an ath-

letic trainer. I find this aspect highly valuable for those wanting to enter a field pertaining to this subject,” said senior Sydney Issa.

No matter if a student is looking to enter sports medicine or not, this class has a lot of resources and information to offer.

“I want to be a physical therapist,” Issa said. “From this class I am getting a background of the different careers and possibilities that comes from sports medicine.”

For off-campus sports, the skills student learn are still applicable and highly valuable. They have also found that this class is typically a low-stress class considering how engaging and applicable the information is.

“Going in I expected to not only expand my knowledge about sports medicine, but learn more sports injuries and how common they are.

I wanted to learn more about another part of the sports world and relate to a topic since I play a sport,” Chavez said.

The athletic programs have a highly trained team of professionals to help athletes. This team includes certified athletic trainers, a licensed physician, coaches and more, all ensuring the health and safety of athletes.

Photo by Roman Sergi

Students have different reasons for taking this course including knowing about both legal and medical aspects to sports medicine.

“I decided to take this class because it is a science credit that

relates to what I do outside of school,” Chavez said. “I hope to dive deeper into what goes on behind the scenes of the sports medicine world.”

Finding a beat- Sports Medicine students practice CPR on dummies. Students also learn about the legal liabilities in saving someone’s life.