In this issue
Opinion
Feature
Eagle Eye responds to student’s racist social media post.
Dressember club wears dresses for December to spread awareness for human trafficking. Page 8
Page 3
A&E
Sports
Students prepare for the unconventional process of applying for arts colleges. Page 12
Campus welcomes new girls basketball head coach Chistina Wear-Marinacci. Page 16
Santa Margarita Catholic High School
EAGLE EYE
THE
December 2019
Chick-for-
Volume XXXIV, Issue 3
Chick-fil-a stops support for anti-LGBTQ+ organizations. By Roman Sergi, Sports Editor
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opular fast food restaurant Chick-fil-A announced its initiative to stop donating to The Salvation Army and Fellowship of Christian Athletes, organizations and charities that have expressed anti-LGBTQ sentiments in the past. Chick-Fil-A, founded by a devout Southern Baptist, has shown pride in its Christian roots on several occasions. Along with being closed every Sunday, all stores are also closed on Thanksgiving and Christmas, in honor of its Christian background. “While mixing religion with business is typically not a smart idea, I think that Chick-fil-a is an exception,” said senior Thomas McClure. “People have come to know and love the friendliness and the culture there, and that has helped them, not hurt them. By closing on Sundays, Chick-fil-A is able to stand out and increase demand.” Donations and support for The Salvation Army, Fellowship of Christian Athletes and similar organizations, have drawn anger from prominent political leaders and members of the LGBTQ community. In 2012, Boston Mayor Thomas Menino and Chicago Alderman Proc o
Moreno expressed desire to block the chain from their cities. In Oct. 2019, some LGBTQ protests broke out after the restaurant’s first location was opened in Great Britain. Some conservative critics, such as Ben Shapiro, were outspoken about this issue. Shapiro sees the backlash as detrimental to society and the expression of spiritual beliefs. “I certainly see how that kind of protest can [be interpreted] against Christianity related beliefs in some form,” said freshmen Kayla Preis. “LGBT can be frowned upon by some Christians and by the church, and it is easy for people to pick at Chick-Fil-A’s decision regarding their faith.” Others have been pleased by the recent announcement, seeing it as a step that parallels societal advancements made in the 21st century. Still, some Christians believe Chick-fil-A caved into societal pressure. “I think that Chick-Fil-A could have definitely been pressured by outside media into making their decision,” Preis said. “A [large] portion of the media and society have huge [opinions] regarding the LGBT community, in protecting and helping these people.” Amidst this growing optimism is concern over whether the company will follow through with the policy. It was previously reported to
news site Think Progress that the chain would decrease donations to such groups in 2016. “I think there will be many different reactions regarding LGBT and their religion,” Preis said. “The media might see Chick-Fil-A going back to donate to such organizations as an attempt to please Christian costumers.” The company had stated they would focus on donating to charities working on education, homelessness and hunger. However, the day after the initial announcement, President and COO Tim Tassopoulos told Vice that no specific charity would be excluded from donations, faith based or not. “I think that it was a smart move for them to switch their focus, however I think that the Salvation Army and FCA are still both good organizations,” McClure said. “They both have community outreach, and do lots of good for lots of people. They are not actively against gay people, but some have interpreted some comments or policies as such, and have made it seem like a much bigger deal.”
Photo by Jaime Svinth
Serving all- Chick-fil-a runs business as usual in Laguna Hills. Chick-fil-a plans to support more organizations that provide educational and youth outreach in 2020.
Check us out online!
@smchseagleeye
Photo by Julia Mortimer
Getting to know each other- Elizabeth Emanuel and Josh Homan share a wholesome conversation on their peer ministry date. Students were instructed to have the date last no longer than an hour.
Dating differently
Peer Ministry counters the hookup culture with one simple action: ask someone on a date.
By Julia Mortimer, Staff Writer “The world sucks at dating,” said Peer Ministry teacher Mr. Visconti. In many ways he’s right, and it was this exact notion that prompted him to give the Peer Ministers a very simple assignment: ask someone on a date. “The Dating Project” is a documentary that follows the lives of five single people as the navigate through today’s ideals of social media and “hookup culture.” Society has developed into one in which dating no longer means sharing meals or grabbing coffee, but much more confusing and unhealthy standards. Boston College Professor, Kerry Cronin spent years observing her students and the evolution of the dating culture on a college campus, as well as in the real world. Cronin was disappointed to see what dating has become. A custom that had once been romantic and exciting was now confusing and superficial. She tasked her college classes to ask someone on a date. A seemingly simple task twenty years ago has evolved into something nearly unheard of. The rules of the assignment were simple,
ask someone on a date, in person. Make a plan and stick to it, no touching, just talking. This concept was initially met with some hesitance, the idea of a “date” having become obsolete, but students followed their instructions and did as they were told. Cronin continued to teach a lost generation what dating is truly about. After watching the movie, Visconti and Engel decided this project was not only applicable on a college campus, but also at a high school level. Part of the Peer Ministry curriculum is vocations, which are what God is calling each of us to do. One of these vocations can be marriage, which requires dating. Visconti, similar to Cronin, witnessed “unhealthy dating habits” amongst his students. “This is a great way for us to teach our student leaders tangible tools to apply to their own lives and discernment process,” said Visconti. “We can show them how to identify red flags and figure out what they do and don’t want, as well as avoid dominant cultural norms about what dating is or isn’t.” Visconti and Engel showed their continued on page 9
Website: www.smchseagleeye.com
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News
The Eagle Eye
Ditching double-tap Instagram tests removing the number of visible likes on posts with the hope of improving mental health among users.
By Megan Plocher, Staff Writer
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nstagram announced that the company will begin removing the amount of likes on posts for U.S. users according to CEO Adam Mossseri. Insider.com reported that Instagram tested this in seven other countries including: Australia, Canada, Brazil, Ireland, Italy, Japan and New Zealand. The test started in September of 2019 and will gradually spread to other countries around the world. Instagram believes that removing the publicity of likes will influence positive mental health among users. “I would be very happy if Instagram removed the number of likes because I personally believe that likes should not determine someone’s status, self-worth or self-image,” said junior Alexis McCabe. “Someone’s dignity is found in greater ways than just a number on a screen. Likes are not necessary to one’s happiness and one’s selflove.” The test does not include all users, and the changes to accounts will most likely not be permanent. Users who are participating in the
experiment will not be able to see likes on other people’s posts, but will still be able to see their own likes. CEO Adam Mosseri believes that this will encourage users to post more candid photos of what they love because it will relieve the pressure of how many likes their post gets. Instagram launched this experiment in the US in early November of 2019. Mosseri did not specify how long the experiment will last but he plans to continue removing the likes from users posts in countries worldwide. “Removing the number of likes on social media allows users to post pictures in a different light, free of the burden on likes on social media,” McCabe said. Even if it hurts business, Mosseri stated that Instagram will go
through with this experiment if it will have a positive effect on users’ mental health. Creators found that removing likes from posts allows users to focus more on the content of their photos and not on how many likes they get.
Illustration by Tristen Mielke
C r i t ics have attacked the app for its negative effects on users mental health. Instagram has received a large amount of positive feedback from this experiment. Instagram is
using this test to gather feedback from the global community to enforce mental health changes. “Personally, I do believe that removing likes from social media could [have] an effect on the mental health of teens,” McCabe said. “Many teens idolize the number of likes they get on a post, which truly does affect their mental health. By removing the number of likes, teens will not spend their time obsessing over a number.” Many influencers are worried about how they will demonstrate engagement to businesses and their followers without likes. Instagram is taking this feedback to heart by working with its creators to develop ways to help influencers communicate to their followers. YouTube, Twitter and Instagram’s parent company, Facebook, has already tested removing engagement metrics from their platforms. These companies have found that removing these metrics makes it difficult to determine if a
user’s follower count is valid. “Influencers will still be able to see how many likes they got from their post and that will still provide them with relevant data,” said senior David Feng. “However, I am curious to see how hiding likes from followers will affect the trends and patterns of the numbers of likes on posts in general.” Aside from hiding likes on users posts, many people have complained that the problem of toxic comments remains to be dealt with. Even rapper Cardi B addresses how hurtful Instagram comments can be. “What makes you feel more insecure, getting no likes or people constantly giving opinions about you, your life and topics?” Cardi B said. Nonetheless, some users believe change is positive for Instagram and look forward to the impact it will have. “I think removing likes will help reduce the amount of stress and envy on the comparison made between someone else’s likes to your own likes,” said senior Killian McShane. “Either way you cannot please everyone, but I would really like for Instagram to remove likes from posts.”
SoCal’s trafficking scare Sex trafficking threats overtake Orange County as police departments urge citizens to take safety precautions.
By Mckenna Andrew, Staff Writer and Jaime Svinth, Print Editor-in-Chief The past few months, social media buzzed over several “human trafficking incidents,” from Mission Viejo, Irvine and gated communities such as Coto de Caza. However, the reality of these incidents is far from human trafficking. During the week of November 11th, in Coto de Caza, residents reported a white van driving around. A male was reported exiting the van and hitting a woman on the buttocks. He then left the area. The woman was not taken and was unsure of the man’s intentions. On social media, Coto de Caza residents interpreted this as a human trafficking threat. The police department urges the community to take these events to them rather than the internet. “It’s vital that if a crime is occurring, you call 9-1-1 to have deputies respond as quickly as possible,” said the OCSD official Facebook. “Social media is not a place to report or speculate on criminal activity.” Another incident occurred in Mission Viejo around six p.m. on Nov. 21st. A woman reported to the mall security that her instincts told her something was not right and that she felt uncomfortable sitting on the patio at a mall restaurant. Mall security walked the woman to her car but when dispatch called her to take down more information she chose not to answer the phone.
Authorities commended the woman on social media for following her instincts. This incident was taken to Instagram and Snapchat, with a warning that people are attempting to be kidnapped in the Mission Viejo mall parking lot. Although scary incidents, what actually occurred is far from what is considered “human trafficking,” and only served to put speculative information in the hands of social media users. The real human trafficking issue in Orange County comes from consumerism. Orange County includes more influx of human trafficking victims than actual human trafficking within the area. According to a 2019 report by the Orange County Human Trafficking Task Force (OCHTTF), over 415 human trafficking victims have been rescued over the past two years . There is a reason for the prevalence of sex-trafficking in Orange County--the wealth. According to OCHTTF, 80 percent of human trafficking victims in Orange County come from other parts of the state or nation because of the high profitability. “This is due in part to Orange County’s tourist attractions, sports venues, beach cities and affluent population,” said OCHTTF in their 2019 Human Trafficking Victim Report. “Traffickers bring their victims expecting to have an abundance of customers and higher profits.” Although most victims are from other areas, OCHTTF advises everyone to take caution. It is best to be safe rather than sorry.
How to Stay Safe T I P S make sure if there's something on your car (honey, water bottles, ect.) ... get in and drive away
be vigilant of your surroundings avoid walking alone
use social media wisely
use your friends and family for help learn how to defend yourself
report any suspicious activity
REMEMBER
SPEAK UP STAND UP
allow at least 3 to pay or your closest friends or family attention members to track your so you can phone via GPS spot when AVOID something isn't right DISTRACTIONS Infographic by Mckenna Andrew
Stay safe- OCHTTF gives tips for how to decrease susceptibility to trafficking. According to dosomething.org, approximately 50,000 people are trafficked into the US per year.
Opinion
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 Illustrators Tristen Mielke Molly Roberts Olivia Pannell 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 Member of these organizations:
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The Eagle Eye
Time to change Staff Editorial
C
Our response to the racist Snapchat posted by a former SMCHS student.
aritas Christi may be the charism of our school, but recent events have demonstrated that there are some in our community who ignorantly choose to not to practice what is preached. After all, what other act can exemplify the love of Christ so wholly as to love one’s brother, no matter the color of their skin. An act of racism like this is not an isolated incident, and it is pertinent for each student, parent, and faculty member to examine how they are involved in what has occurred. A common response by students has been, “I’m not surprised.” It’s almost impossible to be shocked when we hear racial slurs and insensitive comments everyday from people around us. When we hear it so often, it loses its gravity. In an environment where unacceptable actions are normalized, the cycle is hard to break. Individuals are numb to what was once wrong, accepting it as the norm and going along with it. Even when things are taken too far, nothing will change and it would only progress from there. People follow the flock, aimlessly following them because they know no better and don’t see the
consequences of their actions. But all it takes is one person to make a change. The saying, “One person can make a difference” holds lots of truth in it. When an environment is toxic and full of negative energy, one person can change it. One person can make a change for the better. In an age of social justice and ‘cancelling’ people who are vocally insensitive, it is shocking that we have become so desensitized. But a part of this insensitivity can originate from the context comments are put in. When we let comments slide, rude remarks become normalized and unpunished. The lines become blurred. How do we know how far is too far when so many things are deemed “okay?” As Christians, we are called to a higher standard than that. Each and every one of us is privileged in a way that can ultimately lead to our self-destruction: we live in a bubble. Very few of us have a true sense of consequences, and sadly our shortsighted perspectives oftentimes allow us to forget the weight of our actions and words. Though this incident shines a poor light on the reputation of our school, the attention is fruitful in a way. Now we have to examine this
issue-- now we have to deal with it. We are given the opportunity to talk about it in our classrooms. We get to, as a whole, understand the factors that have contributed to this event and ensure it doesn’t happen again. To reshape a culture, it takes everyone. As a community, we must do better, and it starts with each individual person. If we hear a racial slur or derogatory comment, it is imperative that we speak up and hold each other accountable. Just as we held this student accountable, so too we should demand that others around us uphold the values that drive our school. We have the opportunity to change, a powerful privilege, and one that should be used to make ourselves and each other more aware and tolerant people. Even small comments must not be tolerated. No more “it was just a joke”. No more “it’s not that bad”. It is that bad. The community here on campus has always been one that embraces our school’s charism, Caritas Christi, or the love of Christ. We are supposed to be a community of love, acceptance and tolerance. Our decisions as humans and Christians to embrace one another despite differences and cultivate an atmosphere of acceptance and
love, is the call we all receive on the foundation of shared faith. We are called to serve, to love and to hold each other to high standards. Our community cannot be one that ignores or sighs at racial slurs or discrimination, but one that responds to these acts by spreading love and preaching unwavering acceptance. While the actions of the former SMCHS student may reflect flaws in our community, the actions of the 100+ students that reported the post and texted a tip reflect the true values of our community. The outrage of the SMCHS community is a far more accurate representation of our school and its teachings, and our actions moving forward will be the true indicator. Every single day, we are responsible for our actions and we hold each other accountable for the choices we make. The most crucial part of accountability is that we hold each other to high standards and expectations. With a foundation built on Jesus’ actions, we are asked to mirror his love in our everyday life. The way that many students refused to tolerate racial insensitivity indicates they way that the student body chooses to live out the love of Christ.
Galatians 3:28--There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.
New year same me A new year means new resolutions that are almost impossible for people to maintain.
By Giulia Henshaw, Copy Editor and Alex Vallone, Feature Editor As the clock strikes midnight on Jan. 1, many people have the mindset of “new year, new me.” However, with no clear goal in mind, and rather lofty exceptions of what a new “me” looks like, people fail to make their new year’s resolutions last. When people create their resolutions for the new year, it is often made according to social standards, not a goal that is self-driven. Popular resolutions such as a healthier lifestyles are displayed on social media play into the mentality of creating a “new me.” This culture of posting new year’s resolutions and new trendy lifestyles leads to unsuccessful resolutions. The motto “New year, new me” is people’s motivation to seek change in their life. However, being infatuated with this motto causes people to set unrealistic goals with no direct plan. Being swept up in New Year’s resolutions results in people asking too much of themselves in their resolutions. If goals are unrealistic, people are more likely to fail and then give up on their “new me.” In fact, U.S News and World Report conducted a study that revealed that 80 percent of New Year’s resolutions fail by February.
Not only do unfeasible resolutions increase the likelihood of failure, but not implementing a direct plan on how to achieve the resolution does as well. A resolution without a set plan is just an idea, resulting in people not knowing how to attain their goal. This creates a roadblock for people in that they aren’t able to perceive how they are actually going to reach their desired goal. There are many methods that ensure viable resolutions. First and foremost is creating an achievable goal. If people have a long list of improvements to their life it becomes a daunting task, so making a few attainable goals will lead to a better chance of success. Creating small steps is vital to the overall success of the resolution. Starting out with a larger and maybe loftier end goal is not a bad thing, but there must also be small stepping stones of goals to create the path to that larger goal. One common hurdle that prevents people from achieving their long-term goals is the mindset of “it’s too much and I have so far to go.” This is why small goals are necessary-they make the goal not seem more attainable. An important way to ensure success in the new year is utilizing the support of friends and family. Whether it be partaking in the resolution together or simply offering help and encouragement, a support group offers the confidence one needs to achieve their
resolution. Feeling alone in their self- improvement decreases the determination and perseverance people need to continue to implement their goals. Therefore, the strength of a support group will help people attain their New Year’s resolutions. No matter the size of the accomplishments that come from implementing a resolution, it is crucial to reward oneself for progress. For each milestone in the process is a significant accomplishment in making the change permanent in life. Taking the time to celebrate the achievements
through the new year ensures the continuation of the resolution because it provides the self-confidence. Ultimately, there is never a bad time for people to start exercising change in their life, and no a catchy motto helps to make the change. New Years doesn’t have to be the one chance people have to initiate change. Sometimes, it’s not about the social media post or what others are doing to become a “new me,” but rather viewing every day as an opportunity to create a plan for improvement.
Photo by Giulia Henshaw
“My New Year’s Resolution is to not spend as much time on my phone and have more self-control with it because I think it will have a positive effect on my mental health, while also making me more productive.” - Kaylin Maddox
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The Eagle Eye
New schedule Blocking out schedule for the better block The block schedule
Block schedule creates a positive impact and will be a beneficial addition. By Hadley McCusker, Staff Writer The past few weeks have been filled with new experiences and trials, and all the talk is about the new block schedule. It has been vigorously debated between students and faculty on whether this new change really is beneficial for our school, and it most certainly is. From academic periods to longer classroom sessions, this change has most definitely had a positive impact. Academic periods are a complete lifesaver for busy students. They not only provide a chance to take a break from busy days at school, but they also give students a chance to review their notes for that one test they have the next period or to meet with a teacher for help. Academic periods can even give time to destress a bit, grab a snack and chat with a friend. There are numerous opportunities that a new schedule like this can hold for all students. Although people have labeled the new school days as “quite lengthy”, the teachers are able to go more in depth in their teaching and have more time to answer student’s questions. Only having four classes a day can greatly decrease high schooler’s constantly skyrocketing stress levels. Kids only having to focus on a couple subjects per day instead of five or six may seem like a small benefit, but it goes a long way. As teens, our schedules are filled to the brim with extracurriculars, and although we try, time does slip away.
This is why longer and less class periods per day are most nearly a necessity. Not to mention, all students having the same lunch is a benefit. The entire student body attending the same lunch not only gives more of a full school community feeling, but we also get delicious catered food. Students constantly worry about what lunch they have with their friends or not at all in some cases. You’ll never have to worry again about which lunch your next building has and or ending up accidentally going to the wrong lunch altogether. Extended class periods will also entail extended lunches as well. This gives time to get things done, socialize, and eat. The block schedule fever shines through many of our students, it simply promotes a better lifestyle for the stressed and hard-working high schoolers at SMCHS. It is obvious that our trial block schedule runs were a hit and gave students more time and less stress. This organization of our time and studies in school is a win for faculty and for the student body. The block schedule is the future of our school and can make us even more efficient then before. Making this switch will certainly not be a mistake and will be beneficial for mental health, giving more time for homework, and more opportunities for student and teacher interaction. It is time to make the change, and this will be a change for the better.
negatively affects the flow of the school day.
By Katie Eli and Mckenna Andrew, Staff Writers Although the block schedule trial lasted for two weeks, it felt as if it had gone on for a month. There have been several discussions among students after the trial, however, the block schedule is simply not needed. To accomodate the 75 minute class period, teachers had three teaching techniques. First, teachers would cram two lessons into one class period and talk the entire 75 minutes. causing tudents to zone out early into the class. On the other hand, the longer class period may have given teachers the opportunity to experiment with different teaching styles and incorporate new lessons, but many teachers were unable to fill this 75 minute period. This left excessive amounts of free time in class that is not needed. Lastly, teachers would teach a lesson and then do an activity that applied the lesson to a given situation. This last method was very helpful, but was only applicable in one class: science. Another complaint from the students is having an all period day on a Monday. On this day, students will have every single class and see every teacher, causing more stress than expected. Since we have all periods day on Mondays, all students must complete their work for every single class over the weekend. With the all periods day comes shortened 45 minute class periods.
Teachers have been told not to issue tests on this day, but as seen in the trial that rule had already been butchered by several teachers. In the trial, the school experimented with having one lunch period for the entire student body. The lunch shelter was in a state of chaos once the bell rang. Kids rushing from all buildings to try and secure a lunch before all the food runs out was not practical. Lunch services must be more equipped to feed the amounts of students that they fed. Moreover, the extra “academic period” was unproductive and unnecessary. Although having six classes a day seems stressful, it is what SMCHS students are used to and prepared for. We have been “trained” to work for 55 minutes and then move on to the next class. With this test period, transitioning into 75 minute classes was a much more difficult process than anticipated. Maybe this is just a personal problem, but my attention span is just simply not 75 minutes long because I have been programmed to focus for 55 minutes. Focusing becomes more difficult after the clock hits the 55 minute mark. Overall, from what the student body experienced during those two trial weeks, the new schedule does not seem to be the best fit. Although the purpose of the trial is to learn from these mistakes, the current schedule has a better flow for students.
Infographic by Katie Eli
Heated debate- The block schedule comes with both pros and cons. However, the majority of students are in support of the new schedule.
Opinion
Magic is real By Domi Drust, Web Managing Editor Waking up on Christmas morning and running downstairs to a Christmas tree is one of the most thrilling feelings. Filled with excitement, gifts are left under the tree and are decorated with festive wrapping paper. A common misconception is that our parents gift us with what we receive on Christmas morning. However, it is no one other than Santa Claus. Santa lives in the North Pole with his thousands of elves making toys and goodies for kids and grown ups. Those who are not truly invested in the Christmas spirit are the ones spreading the horrendous rumors that Santa is just a façade. Who do they think eats their cookies and drinks the milk laid out on Christmas Eve? Where do they think the letters written to Santa go? It is very disrespectful considering he spends 364 days out of the year reading our desires and trying his best to give us what we want. One thing that is true is that the Santa at the mall is not real. Some of Santa’s special elves are given the opportunity to dress up as Santa and sit in the malls across the world. This is so the elves can easily keep track of what children want, but this is only if they are not writing a letter to Santa already. Santa makes children’s toys and trinkets, but he also holds the Christmas spirit magic. Ever heard of a “Christmas miracle”? This is how Santa helps those who need relief from emotional distress or trauma. He knows that a gift will not solve their problems, he instead uses Christmas magic (which is produced by people’s belief in Santa) to make their holiday season merry. Just because people are not making the nice list does not mean they have to spoil the Christmas season with false accusations about Santa. That will certainly not change Santa’s mind on putting them on the nice list. As we grow older, the more we let people influence our beliefs and opinions with lies. It is imperative that we block out the Santa-haters. Never feel like you need to conform to others opinions just to fit in and perceived as “cooler.” In the end, they are the ones getting coal in their stockings. We need to make sure we keep Santa’s magic alive by believing in him. Without the magic, Santa’s sleigh cannot travel. In order to have easy transportation for Santa, remember to keep the magic alive and ignore the non-believers who kill the Christmas spirit.
Feature
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The Eagle Eye
Moms give back By Gracynn Crocker, Staff Writer Photo by Food Network
Ready to cook- Annabella Kumar poses with host Ted Allen, the judges and other contestants. Allen wrote “The Food You Want to Eat: 100 Smart, Simple Recipes”, and brings guest judges on the Food Network show every week.
Chopping the competition Annabella Kumar finds success in the kitchen of the show “Chopped Junior.”
By Bella Scarano, Staff Writer
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t four years old, Annabella Kumar found her love for cooking with her grandma. Together they would make boxed cupcakes. However, she had no idea where this love of a family tradition would take her. “When I was little my grandma would cook meals for our family and they were really good, and I wanted to follow that because I really liked her cooking,” said Kumar. She was watching Food Network when an ad for “Chopped Junior” appeared, and thought it would be an amazing opportunity to portray her cooking skills. She not only applied for “Chopped Junior” ,but also for “Master Chef
Junior” and “Kids Baking Championship.” In the end, “Chopped Junior” was interested in bringing her talents to the show. The night before the competition Kumar was amazed to have the opportunity to be there. She met her competitors, and like any other average 11-year-old, they had a great time taking pictures in the kitchen and around the studio. “We were like ‘wow, we are actually here, were actually at Food Network and we are going to be on TV’,” Kumar said. Going into the show, she expected it to be stressful and to have pressure on herself because it was timed, but in the end it was an enjoyable experience. “It was nerve-racking when we had to wait for the judge to make the final decision, but other than that it was just really fun,” Kumar
said. Being on their feet all day was difficult. Everything was recorded in one day, but she and the runner up were interviewed for two hours the next day. The judges were friendly and encouraging by giving her and the other competitors positive feedback. “My favorite part of being on the show was probably meeting all of the new people and the friendly atmosphere, camaraderie and kind of feeling that was developed,” Kumar said. At 11-years-old Kumar left the show with a winning of 10,000 dollars. Some of the money is being saved for her goal of opening her own restaurant one day and starting her own cooking show. 2,000 dollars of it went to the cerebral palsy foundation. “I read a book called ‘Out of my
Mind’ about a girl with cerebral palsy and I got really inspired by that book and I want to help find a cure for cerebral palsy,” Kumar said. Kumar set big goals for herself, the main goal being victorious on the show. Winning made her feel like she exceeded her capabilities. “If I didn’t win, then I wanted to give it my all and just enjoy the whole experience,” Kumar said. For Kumar, the experience has made her a more advanced chef. She had an amazing experience and the people she worked with inspired her to continue improving her cooking skills. “Winning isn’t about the money and the paparazzi,” Kumar said. “Winning is about giving it your all, and I think we are all winners because we gave it our all.”
Extending essays further Shaya Mohseni and Arshan Harizavi personalize the IB Extended Essays to delve into their culture and broaden their global perspectives.
By Jaime Svinth, Print Editor-in-Chief 4000 words and hours of extensive research may seem like a task fit for a college student. However, for IB students, writing their Extended Essays their senior year accomplishes just this. While for some this may just be another item on the to-do list of homework assignments, for others, like Shaya Mohseni and Arshan Harizavi, it means much more. Through the extended essay, students are challenged to develop a guiding research question based on their Standard Level (SL) or Higher Level (HL) IB classes, or pick a topic outside of their academic studies. Mohseni’s parents moved to the United States after the Iranian Revolution of 1979. He relished the opportunity to develop a greater understanding for not only his heritage, but his life. “I chose my topic because it’s personally very relevant to me,” said Mohseni. “I’ve always been interested in the Iranian Revolution because it drastically affected my parents lives, and ultimately my life as well.” Originally seeking to explore global politics, Mohseni shifted
his focus to examine the historical aspect of the Iranian Revolution instead. When challenged to develop a research question, he allowed his own curiosities about the revolution to guide him. “I have been frustrated and confused as to why Iran fails to succeed in global relations although they have many resources available to thrive as a dominant world power,” Mohseni said. “Iran has consistently been in the top five in world oil production, but the government has been known for keeping this oil money for their own benefits, causing distrust and turmoil.” Similar to Mohseni, Harizavi’s parents immigrated to the US after the Iranian war of 1979, and his father even fought in the Iraq-Iran war. With relatives still living in Iran, it was important to understand what influenced the relationship between the US and Iran. “As an Iranian American, it’s important, with media coverage being biased, to actually acknowledge why there’s this ingrained hatred between the two countries,” Harizavi said. “It’s important to find the underlying factors and why it happened in the first place.” When going about researching the shift in the socioeconomic and cultural values of the Iranian citizens, Mohseni delved into podcasts and JSTOR articles. Harizavi
Photo Courtesy of Arshan Harizavi
War zone- 16-year-old Amin Harizavi, father of Arshan Harizavi, defends his zone from an Iraq invasion. Amin left school at 14 to fight in the war.
turned to research under Stanford University Professor Dr. Abbas Milani. However, both went a step further. Mohseni interviewed his great uncle, who still lives in Iran, while Harizavi interviewed his father. Not only did this offer unique firsthand knowledge, but allowed them to strengthen relationships with their family. “I’ve always been open with my parents,” Harizavi said. “Whenever I see stuff going on in Iran, I feel bad because it’s like my second home and I have so much family there. They don’t always like
talking about [what’s going on in Iran] , but they’ve slowly acknowledged the fact that I just want to know more.” Ultimately, writing their EE’s has been an enriching experience. For Mohseni, exploring the situations of Iran and the effect on his relatives enabled him to more fully appreciate his privileges in the US. “It allowed me to gain a better of understanding of how I got here,” Mohseni said. “It gave me a new appreciation for the environment I live in and the opportunities I have and the rights I can exercise.”
Part of living our charism, Caritas Christi, means spreading the ideology to the surrounding community of people. The Mothers Club does just this-creating community behind the scenes with their events throughout the year. The Mothers Club has been a part of campus for over 30 years and is involved with many of the events that take place around school. Not only does it help out around campus, the club organizes events for the moms to form relationships. “I joined the mothers club as an easy way to get to know other moms,” said last year’s co-president, Sue Horvath. When her kids came to SMCHS from public school, she didn’t know many parents going into the school year. The Mothers Club allowed her to meet new people who had children that went to school with her kids. “It’s an easy way to go to some social events with other SMCHS moms or hear some good speakers at their coffees,” said Shannon Johnson. The club hosts coffee get togethers throughout the year where they have guest speakers come and talk to the moms. The speakers help the moms learn more about parts of their kids’ lives, like learning about the college admission process. During the holiday season, the mothers come together to spread Christmas cheer. “The Mothers’ Club offers a variety of fun events during the holidays,” Horvath said. “An example of this is that we host the Christmas Tea at the Montage every year, which is a fun way to kick off the holiday season”. As the events continue, they host some events that raise money for their grants. The Mothers’ Club raises money to give grants to students who need financial aid. The students use the money given to them for academic or spiritual reasons. “It allowed me to start off helping in a small way and going to some social events,” Horvath said. “Then it eventually led to me serving as co-president last year.” The involvement can lead to the moms helping with more events, like the senior fashion show in the spring. This fashion show is a big event for the Mothers’ Club and helps raise a lot of money for grants. The club not only offers a lot of ways to volunteer, but it also is a great way to meet new people creating a friendly environment around campus. The friendly environment spreads the spirit of SMCHS to the moms. “I think one of my favorite things about the Mothers’ Club events, is that you will always meet new women at each event,” Horvath said.
How Christmas is celebrated--SMCHS style.
Christmas is celebrated in many different ways, but nothing compares to Christmas with an SMCHS spin.
Photo by Aidan Ocampo
Playing the part- Raymond Dunne plays Scrooge in this year’s production. Dunne has played Scrooge every year of the “A Christmas Carol” production.
By Katie Eli, Staff Writer
V
aious Christmas traditions have developed over the years that students and teacher forward to each year, bringing Christmas spirit to life on campus. Traditions such as Christmas production, advent candles, and the school’s nativity scene have all been around for several years. Former principal, Ray Dunne, has been involved with the SM community for several years and has many memories of Christmas traditions from when they first started to what they have become today. The oldest being the Christmas production. “Many years before I became principal the school held a parent sponsored show that mainly focused on Christmas music, but when Mrs. Barth came to Santa Margarita in 2010 she began to make it a show that had a theme,” said Dunne. Themes such as Charlie Brown, A Christmas Carol, and last years 1940’s Christmas have all been put together by staff members and students that take the time to incorporate music, dances, and theater performance to bring the stories to life and display different aspects of the arts of the community at SM. Countless hours go into this production as the team makes sure each aspect of the show will tun smoothly. “We will get together in the gym and work on all the tech
work getting all the lights and music prepped for the show, and we will be here till 9 o’clock on some of these nights,” Dunne said. Dunne plays a lead role in this years production, and it’s not his first time playing Scrooge. The school has preformed A Christmas Carol a total of three times, and every year Dunne has played this lead role. “Mrs. Barth came to me when they first did the show in 2011 and wanted me to play scrooge, and I didn’t think the character resembled me very much, but that’s what theater is about; playing characters like that,” Dunne said. Another tradition that has gone on for about 10 years is the program called adopt a family. This program is one that closely resembles the Christmas spirt of giving. Families from Dale Junior High School are taken in by classes, clubs, and various sport teams. “At the school they are really below the poverty level so bringing a Christmas to families that would not have Christmas unless Santa Margarita stepped,” Dunne said, “It’s who we are as a school, and its Caritas Christi.” Caritas Christi is extremely important in Dunne’s life, so the adopt a family tradition is his favorite. Having the school come together as a whole to provide for these families bring so much joy during the Christmas season. “Bringing that love of Christ to the community around us is so important and I cant think of anything better at this time of year for us to bring that love of Christ to the world around us, and particularly a group here in orange county
that needs it,” Dunne said. Advent is the time of preparation leading up to Christmas, peer ministers tie purple ribbons on all the trees around campus. Advent candles and wreathes are also placed in classrooms, and is a tradition that has been done for many years. “Purple in the church is the color of penance or preparation. Unlike lent which is much more focused on confession your sins, advent is a time of preparation so the color of purple signifies that,” Dunne said, “The one pink candle signifies the third Sunday of advent and it is a time where we are almost there, or telling everyone that there is one more week to go so that’s what the pink candle signifies.” Along with some of the larger traditions around campus, there are simpler ones around the school. One of them being the Nativity scene. The nativity is the heart of Christmas as it helps us remember the true meaning of Christmas, and what we should be celebrating “The placement of the nativity scene right in front of the library is not as old, and it has only been seven years we’ve been doing that,” Dunne said. All of these traditions no matter how big or small have all been established to create the Christmas feeling on campus, and to bring the spirit to students. The traditions highlight that this season is truly about the true meaning of Christmas, celebrating advent, and creating traditions that will stay with students as t h e y move on from high school.
Photo by Jaime Svinth
The Pets Are Wonderful Support (PAWS) program brings joy to students before Christmas break. By Jaime Svinth, Print Editor-in-Chief Break time-- students anxiously run to the library. No, not to last-minute cram for an exam, but to make friends with the furry visitors inside. Tails wagging, tongues out, the PAWS therapy dogs are ready to relieve the stress of students during finals week. The dogs are part of a larger organization called Orange County Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (OCSPCA). The Pets Are Wonderful Support (PAWS) program serves the community through therapy dog support. However, the ability to travel to various functions to provide the service is the culmination of hours of training and certification. Along with advanced obedience training, the dogs and their owners receive hands-on training sessions designed to prepare them for any situations that could arise while providing support in the community. “It’s important that when we bring a dog into a facility that they’re not hateful or resentful,” said OCSPCA Executive Director Kevin Marlin. “For example, when you come into a rehab facility where they might have been rejected a portion of their life, and
then to have a dog be shy around them---that’s not something that we want.” After a six month “practice” period, the dogs can then be “vested” and serve with any organizations they want through PAWS. Along with stress relief at schools like SMCHS, the dogs help elementary students overcome their difficulties with reading and provide love to drug and alcohol rehabilitation patients. Some dogs even help prepare witnesses involved in sexual assault or domestic violence cases for their day in court. Whatever it may be, the dogs offer unmatched emotional support for the people they serve. “It’s almost an immeasurable service. What we find to typically be the case is that the dogs are non-judgmental,” said OCSPCA Executive Director Kevin Marlin. “One of the facilities we visit is a drug and alcohol facility and a lot of time the individuals have more or less burned bridges with society […]. The dogs don’t care about that. They have someone coming and visiting them who isn’t judging them for the past they have.” For students, the dogs might seem like just a way to bring happiness during a stressful day. However, the benefits of dog therapy go beyond this. “There are scientific studies that prove that the introduction of dogs increases cortisol levels, which is the chemical that reduces stress,” Marlin said. “When we bring in animals into schools, we see increased ability to focus in testing, and they tend to do better on those tests.”
Edgar
Pink and purple- Advent candles are located on the prayer shelves of every classroom. As each Sunday of Advent passes, another candle is lit. Photo by Jaime Svinth
ASB Christmas- Senior Tyler Hartigan dresses as Santa during the last day of spirit week. ASB came together to start the tradition of decorating the ASB room for Christmas.
Shiva
Photos by PAWS program Happy Howlidays - The puppies of the PAWS program pose for their close-ups. There are over 700 visits between all of the dogs.
Rascal Photo by Aidan Ocampo
Present day- Mary Katherine Riley plays the Ghost of Christmas Present in “A Christmas Carol.” She showed Scrooge, played by Dunne, around his town during the holiday season.
Photo by Aidan Ocampo
All decorated- Patrick Visconti, Caitlan Rangel, Carolyn Bien, Francis Cabildo and Gerardo Butalid pose in front of their decorations. Along with their Christmas tree, campus ministry wrapped their doors and strung lights, as well as giving the Pope cut-out a santa hat.
Photo by Aidan Ocampo
Lost love - Senior Lily Scannell passionately plays the role of Belle, Scrooge’s ex-wife. Belle divorces Scrooge in “A Christmas Carol” adding to his harsh and hostile nature.
Beau
8
The Eagle Eye
Feature
Celebrating campus culture Students lead culture clubs that celebrate diversity on campus.
Photo by Kambiz Shoaei
Stronger together- The newly formed SMCHS Dressember Club with members Katie Eli, Alex Oddo, Sophia VonGierke, Natalia VonGierke, Alex Vallone, Karen Bunnell, Sydney McMahon comes together for a meeting. In light of recent intendances, the club hopes to bring awareness to people in Orange County.
Power of a dress The Dressember movement brings awareness to the prevalent problem of human trafficking.
sember Club. She has inspired A donation of 25 dollars raises many people in the SMCHS com- enough money for an aftercare kit, munity, including junior Juliana which consists of the basic essentials to make a survivor feel loved or the entire 31 days of Soliman. “I decided to do Dressember be- and cared for. Last year, VonGierke Dressember, girls and alone raised over $1200 women come together cause my friend Natalia did it and which provides signififrom across the globe to reclaim I thought it was really cool that cant aid to the survivors the power of a dress. For centu- she was supporting such a great of human trafficking. ries upon centuries, dresses were a cause by wearing a dress every“I think it’s importsymbol of fragility and oppression, day, and I wanted to make that ant because a lot of but the Dressember movement same impact and help those people think that refashions the dress as a symbol in human trafficking,” said slavery doesn’t exof freedom and power. Using the Soliman. Wearing a dress in Deist anymore, but it dress as a uniform symbolizing does, and it’s more power, Dressember brings to light cember is not an easy task, common than we the horrors of human traffick- and that’s the point. The think it is,” Soliing still occurring in the modern reason why it’s a dress in December is to start man said. “Orange world. a conversation with County is one of The goal of Dressember someone who wonthe number one hubs is to start a conversation ders why you are of human trafficking, about human trafficking wearing a dress in so if more people are and to bring awareness to the winter. Even aware of what’s going the widespread problem just by explainon, they can protect that many people are ing the reathemselves and help unaware of or unedusoning for those around them.” cated on. According wearing Inspired by to Global Estimates the dress VonGierke and the of Modern Slavery, 40 h e l p s shocking discovmillion people are vicspread ery of human traftims of modern slavery. awareness. ficking prevalence After learning about hu“It is especially in Orange man trafficking, junior definiteCountry, Soliman has Natalia VonGierke knew ly hard set goals for herself she wanted to make an to wear and is pushing herimpact and join the dresses self to raise awareness Dressember movein Deby posting photos on ment. cemher social media of her “I didn’t realize that b e r wearing a dress. VonGihuman trafficking b e erke’s goal for the club is was still a prevalent cause to gain as much followissue, and once I i t s cold and ing as she can and hopes figured it out that some days to inspire others to join there are still 40 you just the movement. million slaves in the don’t want “My goal is to raise as world, that was a big to wear a dress. much awareness as I can shock to me and I But you have to think that about human trafficking knew that I wanted wearing a dress may not be and to make an impact in my to help bring awareideal in December but how community inspiring others ness and give back much worse is it to be stuck to join the movement,” Solito my community by in human man said. raising money,” said trafficking, so Everyone can VonGierke. Photo by Alex Vallone it’s definitely Standing out- Soliman poses in join the movement Now after doing worth it,” Soli- one of her favorite dresses on in their own way, Dressember for a year, Dressember day 1. By wearing whether it is wearman said. VonGierke wanted to Dressember a dress everyday, Soliman ing a dress for 31 make a greater impact also raises feels like she can contribute days or even being and get more people m o n e y to the fight against trafficking. a weekend warrior to join the fight for the and wearing dressagainst husurvies on the weekends, man traffickvors and like VonGierke and Soliman. No ing, matter the size of the contribution, Photo by Sophia VonGierke v i c t i m s so she hu- donating or wearing a dress supstart- Empowering others- VonGierke styles a dress a day of ed the in December. She was inspired to make an impact man traf- ports the cause that works to end f i c k i n g . human trafficking. Dres- after learning more about modern slavery.
By Alex Vallone, Feature Editor
F
Photo by Natalie Oien
FACC- Members pose for a yearbook photo with co-presidents Samantha Cruz, Sydney Oducado, and Amber Castor.
By Evelyn Driscoll, News Editor In a world full of diverse and unique people, a lack of education can create a divide. Through taking the effort to learn about one another, this distance can slowly close, leaving a celebration of differences. Student leaders have taken action into their own hands to close gaps like these on campus through culture clubs. Culture clubs spread cultural awareness and celebrate student identities on campus. Junior Amber Castor helped start the Filipino American Culture and Charity Club--FACC for short--her sophomore year, along with juniors Samantha Cruz and Sydney Oducado. “We try to educate people on the Filipino culture, and our goal is to help families in the Philippines that are less fortunate, whether that’s raising money for school supplies or home necessities [or] disaster relief,” said Castor. Last year, the FACC held a school drive to raise money to send school supplies to impoverished schools in the Philippines. Often times, these children must share simple school supplies like pencils. Working with Illu stra tio an organizanb yJ aim tion called the eS vin Black Pencil Project, th the club collected school supplies like pencils and crayons to send over. Along with the service aspect, Castor’s club aims to introduce Filipino culture on campus. Whether it’s teaching members where the Philippines is located, introducing customs and traditions, or bringing Filipino food to each meeting, the club celebrates Filipino heritage. “The three of us--me, Sam, and Sydney--all share a Filipino culture, so we realized that there
isn’t a club for that, and we understood all the need that’s based in the Philippines,” Castor said. “We thought it would be a great way to educate people, share a culture and help [the poverty in the Philippines as well.” As president of the Persian Culture Club, Junior Ryan Hamidzadeh organizes meetings and determines activities to do. “I thought of creating this club because I wanted more people to see how the Persian culture is like,” said Hamidzadeh. “[It’s] for people who are not familiar with Persian culture to understand it more [and] for members to enjoy Persian cuisine while discussing upcoming projects.” Not only can culture clubs educate its members, but it can also educate its founders. For Castor, a lot of her knowledge on poverty in the Philippines came from starting the club. “I knew it was an impoverished country, but I didn’t realize how drastic it was until we started the club, [and] we started educating ourselves more,” Castor said. Castor claims that a large misconception about FACC is that it’s only for Filipino students. Rather, she encourages all people to join and learn about Filipino culture. Hamidzadeh does the same, inviting anyone and everyone to join. The FACC and Persian Culture Club are only two of the many culture clubs on campus. For example, the International Club aims to create an accepting environment for all cultures. Whether it’s raising money for a service project, discussing traditions and customs, or eating good food, culture clubs bring light to diversity on campus and promote the inclusion of all people.
Feature
9
The Eagle Eye
#Saugusstrong Students come together to honor the recent shooting at Saugus High School.
Photo by SMCHS Communications
Too close to home- Students write cards after the prayer service. Campus ministry directors delivered the cards to the administration at SHS.
By Jaime Svinth, Print Editor-in-Chief
O
n Nov. 14, just 91 miles up the 5 freeway, Saugus High School was bombarded with the unthinkable-- a school shooting. As the hearts of their community ache with loss and pain, the hearts of SMCHS students ache with them. It is hard to imagine the destruction that ensues from an event like this. However, often, with these
horrible disasters comes an opportunity to grow in community and shared faith. In his address to the Hart District, Deputy Superintendent expressed the stinging emotions felt by those affected and the power of prayer to help heal. “Please join me in keeping these families in your hearts and prayers,” said Mike Kuhlman, Deputy Superintendent of the Hart District. “Today’s events took the life of their children; words are utterly inadequate when we think about their loss.”
Having worked alongside SHS before, ASB and Peer Ministry students came together to honor them through a prayer service. Seniors Elizabeth Bondy and Aidan Ocampo initiated the service to stand in solidarity with SHS through Catholic faith. “We feel that we have a personal connection to the victims of the shooting,” Bondy said. “Aidan and I collaborated with our activities directors and Mr. Visconti to honor Saugus in a hands-on way.” On Nov. 18, the prayer service featured a short prayer in the chapel at lunch followed by an opportunity to write handmade card for the victims and families. Every seat in the chapel was filled. “By writing them personal notes, we hope they know that people all over California and our country are keeping Saugus in our minds and in our hearts,” Bondy said. “The cards were also a great way to spread our faith and introduce the light of Christ to those who may not know Him.” We hope in a time of darkness, our small actions may give victims a sense of strength and hope. SHS, we stand with you. “Our hearts break for what breaks God’s heart,” Bondy said. “It’s our duty to serve those who are vulnerable. Ultimately, every good act glorifies God.”
Dating differently continued fom page 1 classes the documentary and gave their students the same assignment that Cronin gave her own. Many students were nervous when the assignment was given. “At first I was very hesitant because I was scared for the awkward or uncomfortable situations that we would have to be put in, but then I got to know the meaning behind the assignment and [I] thought it was a really relevant topic that more teenagers and young adults need to understand,” said senior Grace Kozak. The most daunting part of the idea for most was asking someone on a date in person, a custom that is almost never a practice in today’s culture, but most students found it to be fun and exciting. Students spent days thinking of someone to ask and anxiously discussing the project amongst friends, but once the moment came found it to be less intimidating than imagined. “Asking someone wasn’t nearly as hard as I thought,” Kozak said. “I just asked in a straight-forward and casual way.” The overall feedback of the assignment by Peer Ministry class was very positive. “I really enjoyed this assignment because it forced me to engage in meaningful conversation and understand the importance of establishing a strong foundation for a relationship. In today’s social culture, many people ignore the importance of an intellectual and emotional connection,” Kozak said. While the challenge was given only to the Peer Ministry class directly, it applies to everyone: Take a step outside the safety zone and take dating from behind a screen to real life. Challenge hookup culture and get to know someone.
THE DATING PROJECT RULES TRY IT YOURSELF!
1. ASK SOMEONE ON A DATE IN PERSON 2. PICK SOMEONE YOU HAVE ROMANTIC INTEREST IN 3. PICK SOMEONE YOU HAVE NOT DATED BEFORE 4. BE HONEST AND OPEN 5. KEEP THE TIME SHORT!
6. COME PREPARE D WITH A PLAN 7. YOU ASK, YOU PAY 8. KEEP IT CHEAP! UNDER $10 IS BEST 9. TELL SOME FRIENDS AND GET SUPPORT 10. GO ALONE! GROUP DATES DO NOT COUNT
Photo by Power Showcase
Out of the park- Logan Freeborn hits 53 home runs at the home run derby. 31 of those home runs came in the final round.
Hitting home runs 13-year-old Logan Freeborn wins the National Power Showcase after hitting 31 home runs.
By Julia Furtado, A&E Editor At the fourth annual 12U Home Run Derby final, Logan Freeborn surpassed every other athlete at the event and ended the night with an astonishing 53 total home runs-his longest shot at 341 feet. However, this impressive feat was by no means beginner’s luck. Freeborn is no stranger to baseball. He joined the Santa Margarita Little League team when he was just five-years-old, and this past spring, he was named the homerun champion. Over the summer, he was selected to represent his Saddleback Cowboys Baseball travel team in the Cooperstown Home Run Derby where he won another title after hitting 15 home runs in the final round. His total home run count placed second out of over 500 teams. This victory led him to the National Power Showcase in Arizona where he finished with three more titles- Homerun Derby Champion, most total home runs and the longest home run streak. In order to achieve these titles, Freeborn has had to stay motivated and work hard to get to the place
where he is today. “I’ve always been on teams with really good players and I’ve had to work hard to compete with them,” said Freeborn. Despite the pressure to keep up with the other players, Freeborn appreciates being on a team where players can lift each other up and support one another. “My team is always there for me and cheers me on,” Freeborn said. “I feel more confident when I’m getting high fives from everybody.” Freeborn hopes to continue competing in home run derbies and play baseball at a higher level, even continuing his career at SMCHS for his high school years. “I want to be the best, I want to play higher level baseball, and I love the game. [My favorite part of the game is] the moment when I get my pitch and the ball hits the sweet spot on my bat and I watch it fly,” Freeborn said. Like every athlete, Freeborn has his bad days and his good days. On the bad ones, Freeborn remembers to never give up on his dream. “You fail more than you win,” Freeborn said. “[I try] not feel down on myself when I fail and stay positive that there will be another time to compete.”
Infographic by Julia Mortimer
Try it out- Peer Ministry students challenge the community to join them in their counter to the “hookup culture.” The subjects in the Boston College documentary all found a greater understanding of how to build a genuine connection on a date.
Photo by Power Showcase
Looking forward- Freeborn hopes to continue competing in home run derbies. This year he was named the Home run Derby Champion.
10
Sports
The Eagle Eye
Expression on the field Multiple athletic protests raise questions if politics have a place in sports.
By Roman Sergi, Sports Editor
C
ontroversy is almost always bred from the combination of politics and sports. In the age of social media, many athletes have a platform to share their beliefs, but some athletes have even taken steps further by protesting on the very field or court where their sport is played. This isn’t a new idea. While it seems more prevalent than ever, there have been many examples of forms of protests. Former National Basketball Association (NBA) player Mahmoud Abdul-Rauf refused to stand for the national anthem believing it was a symbol of longstanding tyranny and oppression. “Politics has always played a role in sports, in one way or another,” said Junior Colton Fulton. “There’s politics in high school sports, just the causes are more meaningful in professional leagues.” Recently in the NBA, Houston Rocket’s general manager Daryl Morey created a rift as he tweeted “Stand with Hong Kong,” regarding the China and Hong Kong independence conflict. The tweet fur-
ther escalated issues with United States and Chinese relations. However, Colin’s Kaepernick’s situation with the National Football League (NFL) has been the biggest controversy in the US in recent years. Some saw Kaepernick’s kneeling for the national anthem as a worthy cause, while others saw it as a stunt after losing his starting job. “I think he always cared, but I think the fact that he didn’t have the starting job gave him an incentive to start it,” said junior Tyler Whitman. “I don’t think it was just an action done out of nowhere. He definitely put thought behind it.” After a tumultuous season with the San Francisco 49ers, Kaepernick would opt out of his contract and remain unsigned. Kaepernick stated he felt blackballed by NFL owners. His protest caught the attention of President Donald Trump, who shared his contempt over the protest. He tweeted that if a player were to disrespect the national anthem, then they should be fired. Trump would later attack the NFL’s TV ratings, sharing his belief they were lower due to the protests.
Recently, the NFL held a tryout for the quarterback. Still, he has not been contacted according to his agent. “He plays the premier position in sports, quarterbacks are always getting more chances,” Whitman said. “He has talent, but he’s the most popular of anyone who protested and has been the most outspoken against the NFL. They had to do it to show they weren’t blackballing him.” Before the 2018 season the NFL worked to resolve these issues by introducing a policy that states all of its athletes and staff “shall stand and show respect for the flag and the anthem.” It stated that players could stay inside the locker room or will be subject to fines. Today, only three players, Eric Reid of the Carolina Panthers, Kenny Stills of the Houston Texans and Albert Wilson of the Miami Dolphins, continue to kneel for the anthem. The past issues, highlighted by the NFL anthem protests, have sparked mass debate over the influence and presentation of politics in sports. While most issues have been resolved, these actions are far
Techy training
Photo courtesy of USA Today
Taking a stand - Colin Kaepernick kneels during the national anthem. The controversial protest started in 2016.
from over. “Fans shouldn’t be forced to decide between the two,” Fulton said. “Some stuff and meaningful causes are worthy, but sports should be distanced from the bigger, more general issues.” Still, some believe athletes have every right to express their opinions, and they should be guaranteed their right to expression no matter what.
“You can’t get rid of it; that would be unfair to the players,” Whitman said. “I mean, it’s a business at the end of the day, and they can do what they want to protect their interests. […] It’s the really big stuff that divides us as fans, and that’s unfortunate when we can’t talk about stuff like that with respect anymore.”
Technology use rapidly increases in campus sports.
By Grace Caspino, Staff Writer Technology is present in every person’s life, but for an athlete, it’s become more crucial for perform-
ing at their peak. Sports such as football and softball have hopped on the trend of implementing technology. As other teams implement new technology, athletes gain a competitive edge. New technology gives a team an upper hand as it can increase the efficiency and productivity in practices. The softball team has implemented new technology in order to increase their success in the upcoming season. This year, they installed cameras on the field to be able to see the batters from the left, right and straight on. The cameras will be used to watch the players at bat and review their plays right after they bat. “We are going to be able to live stream each game, which is important to the players we are going to be able to look at each batter during a game while they are at bat,” said Head Softball Coach Fitzpatrick. “They will be able to go into the dugout and look at themselves at bat, and hopefully, if they don’t have the best-quality at bat, they can improve their next
turn up.” Watching an instant replay of the play is like nothing that has been implemented before and greatly benefits the athletes. It
gives the team a competitive edge against the other teams. “I think it’s going give each player an opportunity to make adjustments during the course of the game and it’s going to provide parents with the opportunity, if they can’t make the game, to see their student play live,” Fitzpatrick said. Similar to the softball program, the football team has incorporat-
of plays made per practice. “It definitely speeds practice time up because the scout team, or the players that are playing the opposite of the starters, just have to look at a card and run that play,” said senior football captain Tyler Hartigan. “It helps us to prepare for Friday nights game to see the players that are coming and it puts us one step ahead of the opponent.” Like the softball team, football also uses cameras during their practices and games to be able to watch their plays afterwards. They use the website “Hudl” to review their plays. “When I get off the field our head coach sits down on the bench with us while offense is on the field and we go through the entire series to help us correct what we did wrong,” said Hartigan. “It’s more challenging for the opposing team now that we can correct our mistakes on the sideline rather than having to wait. In the past, you were not able to see your film instantly because they did not have the technology until the day after the game.” Through both teams increasing technology, they have been able to be more successful and the players
Illusrations by Tristen Mielke
ed technology into their practices and games. New this season, they implemented scout cards to their practices. The “scout team” wears bands around their waist with phones in them which say their play. Through this new device, the team is able to be more efficient and able to maximize the amount
have found it to be greatly beneficial. Through the past years, both teams have greatly increased their technology in hopes that it will assist their success in the upcoming seasons.
Photo by SMCHS Athletics
Picture time- Wear-Marinacci poses for media day shots with the team. This preseason, girls came to school at 6:45 a.m. to do fitness.
Newest eagle
Head coach Christina Wear-Manacci envigorates girls basketball. and a McDonald’s All-American
By Madison Clark, Staff Writer and Jackie Paul, Staff Writer
With an impressive professional background and Orange County roots, SMCHS welcomes Coach Christina Wear-Marinacci as the new girls varsity basketball head coach. From playing and coaching overseas to receiving the Marks Foundation award, she is wellequipped with the knowledge to uphold the girls impressive record. “With Santa Margarita being a prestigious school, not just in athletics, but in academics, I think there is potential in turning this program into a really competitive program,” said Wear-Marinacci. Graduating from Foothill High School, Wear-Marinacci received a varsity letter during her four years as a dual-sport athlete in basketball and volleyball. Earning the title of an All-CIF first team member during her four years in high school, she is prepared to work alongside the other coaches and serve as a role model for the team. Having a notable record, she was named the Orange County and California State Player of the Year
her senior year. “I’m trying to teach them basketball and everything I learned in my experience to get me to the next level and what gave me success in high school,” Wear said. “ [I] also want to teach them things they are going to take off the court and in life.” After graduating from high school in 2009, Wear-Marinacci continued to pursue her academic and athletic career at the University of Southern California. Playing the position of forward and earning the title of captain, she brings her competitive spirit and leadership to campus. With a dedicated work ethic, Wear-Marinacci also excelled as a student-athlete and managed to stay on top of her studies during her rigorous training schedule. As a coach, she hopes to support the team in both their academic and athletic endeavors. “When you are a D1 athlete that is going to college for scholarship, basketball is your job, and basketball comes first; where as in high school, academics is first and then anything athletic or extra curricular comes second,” Wear-Marinacci said.
A&E
The Eagle Eye
Disney Plus is a must
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Disney brings the magic to the online service game.
By Devon Nguyen, Staff Writer The Walt Disney Company entered the streaming service industry in November with Disney Plus. The service offers access to Disney’s entire animated library, Marvel and Lucasfilm properties, as well as Pixar movies and National Geographic documentaries and shows. Proclaimed as the “future of the company” by Bob Iger, the CEO of the company, the streaming service has revealed itself to be a force to be reckoned with. The moment Disney Plus was announced, companies like Netflix, Amazon Prime and Apple Plus came out with a slew of new content in reply. Costing just seven dollars a month, Disney Plus costs half of what HBO Max costs and two dollars less than Netflix’s cheapest plan. For an extra six dollars, users have access to both Hulu and ESPN Plus. Verizon users were cut a special deal, giving customers an entire year of the streaming service for free. The enticing deal seemed to have worked, as over ten million people signed up on the launch day. While several users complained of glitches upon first logging in, the
company managed to fix this issue within a couple of hours. “I do think it had a very rough start but I don’t think there has been very many loading or server issues since them,” said avid Disney fan, Makena Tozzer. “Disney did a great job with Disney Plus.” With the acquiring Lucas-
f i l m in April of 2012 and merging of 21st Century Fox in March of 2019, Disney has over 25 companies and tv channels under its belt. This places other streaming services at a disadvantage as many Disney has revealed its plan for original shows and movies based
off their properties. Lucasfilm’s “The Mandalorian” has proven itself to be a hit, with its fast-paced action and copious amounts of Baby Yoda. Its automatic streaming eligibility on the site’s launch day has proven that Disney is ready to dive head first into the
streaming service Illustration by Tristen Mielke game. Unlike Netflix, episodes for their original series come out weekly instead of all at once. This brings back the weekly episode feel that shows have began to lose since streaming came became prominent. Disney Plus does however deal
a blow to the DVD industry, only further pushing people away from taking a trip to the store just to watch their favorite movie or show. Junior Emily Leavey has loved Disney Plus ever since she received her subscription. “I got Disney Plus because I’m such a huge Disney fan and I thought it would be fun to have a service that encompassed all my favorite shows and movies,” said Leavey. “It’s so easy to find what I’m looking for and there’s always something to watch. My favorite part of the program are the original programs they created for the service.” While some people might outgrow Disney when they’re older, the magic is still there for the rest. While junior Genalyn Norton doesn’t have Disney Plus, she understands why people love the platform already. “I think Disney Plus is a good idea because there are a lot of people who are fans of Disney and wanted to watch all of the movies or shows,” said Norton. “Instead of searching for movies and shows on illegal websites, Disney Plus is the app where you definitely will get all the movies and shows that you wanted to watch.”
Back in style By Giulia Henshaw, Copy Editor After coming out with his first solo album, “Sign of the Times,” in 2017, Harry Styles fans have been waiting in anticipation for the release of his new album, “Fine Line,” which was released on Dec. 13, 2019. To increase the excitement of this long-awaited album, Styles sporadically released songs from the album. He released three out of ten songs on the album: Lights Up, Watermelon Sugar and Adore You before the full album hit music platforms everywhere. In an album review by USA today, writer Patrick Ryan describes Watermelon Sugar as, “the album’s intoxicating standout, encapsulating the sultry, funky spirit of the project.” The new album has a wide range of music personality. From songs of melancholy to upbeat, energetic songs, all the music on Style’s album encompass his main message of self love and kindness. Not only is he coming out with a new album, Styles announced the Love on Tour world tour in 2020 with special guests, Jenny Lewis, Koffee and King Princess. The tickets went on sale on November 22.
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A&E
The Eagle Eye
Artsy applications Art and design students share their unique experiences with the college application process.
Photos by Sofia Muratalla
Creating - Muratalla proudly displays pieces from her portfolio. Muratalla spent countless hours bringing her creative ideas to life.
By Isabela Barrera, Managing Editor
T
he dreaded college applications. Most students wish they could just skip over the redundant essays, tedious activities list, and grueling Personal Statement. However, for students applying to unconventional schools and programs, the college application process can be very different. Typical college applications ask students to demonstrate talent when considering them for admission, but for art, design, or music programs, the expression may look a little bit different. Senior Sofia Muratalla hopes to pursue her passion for art during the next four years of her education. Whether its at an art-specific school, such as the Fashion Institute of Technology or the Savannah College of Art and Design, or a simply an art program at Texas Christian Univeristy, she knows that art is her focused area of study. Applying to art-specific schools and art programs is very different from the normal application process. Muratalla had to prepare portfolios with many different pieces, which also required their own essays. She believes this pro-
Merry Christmas from the Eagle Eye Staff!
Illustrations by Julia Mortimer
cess was more difficult than a typical application. “My portfolio consisted of 15 pieces so it was like 15 extra essays that I had to write,” Muratalla said. However, the application process varied from school to school. Various art programs did not require anything specific. “For the Cal States you didn’t require a portfolio or anything, you just picked your major,” Muratalla said. “[For other schools] you have to submit a portfolio and then you have to do write ups for each of your pieces, but it really just depended on what schools
r e quired a folio or However, art-speschools have
portnot.” cific
a very unique application process, not looking at the normal statistics of each student. “For [art-specific] schools they don’t really look at your GPA or your ACT score, [if] they do, you can be considered for merit money, but for them its more so the portfolio and if you’ve done art outside of school,” Muratalla said. Muratalla has pulled inspiration from her passion and her cousin, who also applied and attended art school. With a career in the arts, Muratalla will b e able to truly love her job. “I wanted t o do somet h i n g that encompassed a lot of my skills, and I ended up picking interior design,” Muratalla said. S e n i o r Taylor Gam-
ble’s application process was also very distinctive. Applying to Parson’s School of Design at The New School in New York was similar in using the well-known Common Application, but she also had to complete the Parson’s Challenge. This involves creating a new visual piece using a theme within a piece already created. Gamble also had to complete an essay describing her ideas. Knowing her passion for fashion and design, Gamble was very selective with the schools she applied to. “Instead of going to a traditional college, I wanted to go somewhere
that would prepare me well for the fashion industry,” Gamble said. Trade schools are unique in their curriculum, energy, and expectations. For an aspiring creative director, a fashion or design school offers more than just a program. “[Fashion and design] schools are funded by the fashion industry themselves which allows the curriculum to quickly change to the pace of the industry,” Gamble said. “Students start their major the first day of school, which allows you to really dive into your major.” Fashion and design schools also offer chances to get hands-on experience and learn from the experts. “[Trade schools] require you to get an internship in the industry as part of your credits, [because] being in the industry is the best way to learn about it,” Gamble said. Gamble aspires to be a creative director where she can combine her love of creativity with executive planning and organization. As the college application process comes to a close, students are encouraged to think about their plans going forward. There are many decisions to be made, but students like Muratalla and Gamble know one thing-- their passions will be their futures.
Photos by Taylor Gamble
Designing her future - Seniors Amelia Parker (left) and Natalie Mitchell (right) pose in Gamble’s original designs. Gamble’s application included the Parson’s Challenge, using a past piece to create something new.