Stagg Line
the
10.09.15 Vol. 59 No. 2
Is there a
Amos Alonzo Stagg High School
difference?
With new policies in place, we take a look at numbers this year compared to last: tardies and number of students eating lunch.
New tardy policy 5000 4500 4000 3500 3000
4801
2500 2000
3385
1500 1000 500
2014
2015
Number of tardies through first seven weeks
Even though every student now eats for free, the amount of daily lunches distributed is the same in comparison to last year.
Home of the Delta Kings
1621 Brookside Rd. Stockton, CA 95207
Point Break opens eyes of many Sophomores unite to develop an emotional relationship, friendship SathinaFlores
Point Break is all about teens building a bond, breaking down walls, looking at other people differently, and helping students with problems in their lives. The program aims to empower students and to let them know that they are not alone in this. One-quarter of the sophomore class attended Point Break Friday, Oct 2. Judy Rauzi helped the foundation of the proThe current tardy policy build gram, working with Joel Wurhas helped the school gler, director. Karen Caligiuri, a see a significant decrease counselor, helps with coordinating logistics. There will be three in tardies from the first day of school to Sept. 22 additional sessions on upcoming Fridays. compared to the same Wurgler wants students to time period last year. connect with each other. He All students eat for free wants to help them realize they have more in common with other 1500 approximate number of students people than they think and they 1350 don’t need to go create violence. 1200 Alison Lockheed, English 1050 teacher, with a few other teachers, 900 helps supervise over Point Break. 750 They help reassure students that 600 there will always be someone they can to talk to when the need 450 arrives. “My favorite part about 700 700 300 Point Break is to reiterate to the 150 2014 2015 students that I will always be Avg number of lunches per day first there for them,” Lockheed said, seven weeks “no matter the circumstance.” GRAPHIC BY JULIA ROSETE Sophomore Gabriel CasAND BRENNON TURNER tillo said he came into the gym
PHOTO BY ARACELI VALENCIA
Sophomore Tyler Applon attended the first Point Break of the year on Oct. 2. This program is intended to bring students together.
“thinking everyone is going to cry” and that it will “put me in my feelings.” But instead, he said, “We had fun with other people.” Throughout the day, he said, they had to be open to others and “I didn’t want to open up but in the end I opened up.” Castillo described how Point Break taught him to look at people differently and how we shouldn’t just judge them because we don’t know what they’re going through. “If they’re going through things, don’t make it harder on them,” he said, because it doesn’t
help them out. His favorite part about the experience was when the students have to “cross a line,” allowing everyone to know their deepest secrets. He said it was brave of them to do that. Tressa Brown, another sophomore who attended, said she had “fun interacting with other people” she’s never seen or met around school before. In the process she made new friends. “(At) first it was hard to open up to strangers because you don’t know if you can trust them,” Brown said. “But then you know
WHO DO YOU WANT FOR PRESIDENT?
“My favorite part about Point Break is to reiterate to students that I will always be there for them.” Alison Lockheed English teacher people have other issues too and I just had to trust them.” Sophomore Chloe Auld said “(Point Break) made me think about other people and that they have more problems and I should be grateful.” She added, “I think it was easier and better that I didn’t know them. It gave me a sense that they didn’t have to judge me.” Richard Aguirre, a sophomore, said Point Break allowed him to express how he feels. “Now you know you have more in common,” Wurgler said. And that is the whole point.
Many candidates without any political background join the presidential race MatteoDanforth
As presidential elections draw closer, the question always arises: What are people looking for in their next president? Yet this upcoming election year, the question has a new context. Do people want someone who has been in politics for years or do they want a fresh set of eyes to take a look at America’s problem? Frontrunners among Republican candidates include former business moguls Donald Trump and Carly Fiorina and neurosurgeon Ben Carson. Despite having no political experience, these candidates have become extremely popular. Why is this? Past U.S. presidents like Dwight Eisenhower and George Washington were “outsiders” who had never served in office but served in the military. In fact, America has had several presidents who were war heroes that eventually took on the presidency. Even now, some presidential candidates have served in the military. Itzel Godinez, senior, attributes this to the fact that “generals know the country and its people better than anyone.” Junior Solomo Crossely thinks “military personnel have better ideas of foreign affairs” and would be able to negotiate and form alliances with countries the U.S. has had tense relations with. However, in the race for the Democratic and Republican nomi-
nation, there aren’t military generals to choose from. Seniors that are planning to vote, along with the rest of America, must decide if they’d want a doctor or a businessman/woman to be their next president as opposed to former senators, congressmen, and governors. Senior Cam Burnett has said that he would be more inclined to vote for an “outsider” because “politicians have a tendency to change their wording to appeal to the general public.” Burnett goes on to say that he favors Trump because “he isn’t afraid to speak his mind and he gives it straight.” Ebony Gonzalez, also a senior, finds these same traits in Democrat Bernie Sanders. A member of the Young Democrats of San Joaquin, Gonzalez says “the other candidates feel fake. They don’t speak their mind like Sanders does.” Even though students like Gonzalez have taken an interest in politics, for the most part, young people aren’t too concerned with this responsibility they take on as adults. According to the Pew Research Center, in 2008, there was a 38 percent difference between voters of ages 18-29 and 65 and overs. Eighteen year olds weren’t allowed to vote until March 1971 un-
PHOTO ILLUSTRATION BY JOANN SAGARAL
der the 26th Amendment. Before then, the voting age was 21 years. The change in the Constitution was made during the Vietnam War as young people protested the draft during the war. But the younger age groups haven’t been seen much in the polls since John. F. Kennedy was president. Band teacher Joseph Updegraff has also noticed this trend in young voters. “A majority of the time, Democrats are appealing to the young generation. Despite that, I haven’t seen a candidate that has been able to tap into this part of our country since JFK.” Updegraff goes on to say how Republicans continue to fight Planned Parenthood when many of the services they offer are used by 18 to 29 year olds, causing them to turn away from the party. If young voters continue to follow this trend of straying from politics, neither party will feel obligated or motivated to fight for issues that affect them.
Top Polling Presidential Candidates of 2015-2016
H i l a r y C l i nto n
B ernie Sander s
Jim Webb
Donal d Tr um p
Ben C ar s on
C ar l y F i or i na
Democrat Former Secretary of State
Democrat United States Senator
Democrat United States Senator
Republican Businessman/TV Personality
Republican Neurosurgeon
Republican Former Business Executive
“I want to invest in jobs and education for young people rather than jails.”
“...I’m not a career politician. I come from a family of ‘citizen soldiers.’”
“Free trade can be wonderful if you have smart people. But we have stupid people.”
“Too many women in too many countries speak the same language, of silence.”
Bottom Line
the
Movie night
ASB will be holding the first movie night on Friday, Nov. 6. The movie will be selected via Twitter. Food and tickets will be sold at the door.
CSU applications
California State University application period has opened and will be until Nov. 30. See College and Career Center of more.
“Obamacare is the worst thing that has happened in this nation since slavery.”
“Our most important issue is the debt that we’re piling on our children...”
GRAPHIC BY MARLEENE PHEAV / ALL IMAGES FROM CANDIDATES’ OFFICIAL WEBSITES
Red Ribbon Week
Oct. 26-30 is the week to pledge to be drug free. ASB will be holding lunch time activities each of those days.
Fall concerts
The music program is having a fall concert on Oct. 27. This concert is combined with Madison Elementary School. On Oct. 29, there will be another concert featuring only Stagg students. Both will be held in the theatre and tickets will be sold at the door.
Find us on Facebook Search for “Stagg Line”
Follow us on Instagram @staggonline
Follow us on Twitter @staggonline
Keep updated at our website staggonline. net
2 Editorial
the
Stagg Line
Opinion
#DearFuturePres Stagg Line staff writes a letter to the future president, offering advice
T
here are so many things we wish we can tell you before you take your seat in office, but we both know we could talk your ear off for hours. So we’ll keep it brief. Listen to the kids. Think about who the legislation actually affects. focus on the issues that matter to that neglected majority who don’t vote, rather than the 1 percent who always does. Do something about guns, please. Honestly, President Obama has spoken 15 times to address a mass shooting. We hope that won’t be a record you’ll break. Another thing, make college more affordable. We come from a town where the brightest students don’t even believe higher education is an option because of the huge costs that plague graduates until they pay
off loans. And that will take decades. Where will you get that money, you ask? Tax the 1 percent. I know, I know — it’s selfish to take from their billions. But that won’t make as much of a difference as taxing someone who’s monthly paycheck determines whether they’d have a roof over their head the next month. Although one can claim that women are now equal to men, they still, on average, earn 77 cents — women of color make even less — to every man’s dollar for the same work. Congress almost went down in flames in their scramble to defund Planned Parenthood solely for its abortion services. A woman, just like a man, has the right to dictate what happens with her body. Let people make their own health choices as
@smcornel03
AlyssaMartinez @_MUNIEE
@Quallsky
Sooo college tuition is way too high. Invest in the country's future leaders.
Resolve issues thru diplomacy, not war. Give immigrants a path to citizenship . . .
long as they’re educated and informed through quality health classes in public school, including sex education and information about vaccinations. Help our veterans. They shouldn’t be dying from war related injuries and mental illnesses after risking their lives and futures to fight the wars past presidents have involved us in, foolishly or otherwise. I think it’s clear that our nation is already drowning in our own domestic issues; it’s unnecessary to involve us in foreign affairs that don’t pertain to us. It’s a valiant gesture to help other nations, but don’t add on to the mentality that America is the greatest nation in the world and that it’s our duty to help everyone else. We can’t be so paternalistic and fight other wars while neglecting the civil war that’s consuming us already. Tons of riots
Create new and better jobs for everyone.
have broken out all over the nation crying out that #BlackLivesMatter, reminding us of something we should already know. It’s incredible that this country is called a land of opportunities, a melting pot of diversity, yet there’s so many Americans who support a wall being built to block immigrants’ passage. Yes, we shouldn’t allow just any person in this nation to become a citizen. However, there has to be an easier path to citizenship so that immigrants aren’t stuck waiting on an empty promise. There are many students on this campus who will be punished and stripped of their citizenship if the Fourteenth Amendment is repealed. Please keep the name that America has worn proudly instead of falling to some hypocrisy.
P
S
DARKO VOJINOVIC/CREATIVE COMMONS/PUBLIC DOMAIN Migrant men help a fellow migrant man holding a boy as they are stuck between Macedonian riot police officers and migrants during a clash near the border train station of Idomeni, northern Greece, as they wait to be allowed by the Macedonian police to cross the border from Greece to Macedonia, Friday, Aug. 21.
AlexQualls
SamCornelison
Political parties matter less than values do
U.S. should open arms to Syrian refugees o many people are trying to escape the lives they’re living now, hoping they’ll make it to Europe for a better life. But what are we, the people of the U.S., doing for them? Refugees are looking for any way to start their lives over, and finally find happiness. Sooner or later, they are going to find their way to the United States, where we supposedly offer everyone a better life. Refugees from countries like Syria, Afghanistan, and throughout the Middle East are trying to escape their homelands and are being forced to leave their now uninhabitable homes because of war. Their rights are being taken away from them. We’re a country where we fought for
10.09.15
SaraAbdeltawab everyone’s rights many years ago, and now it feels like the past is catching up to our present. The Republicans in Congress are looking for war, instead of diplomacy, to solve all problems. Meanwhile, there are families out there in Syria who are losing their homes. In Hungary, an army has been keeping people trapped. Along with the new restrictions, fences have been barbed, and anyone who is seen trying to get past the border is automatically arrested. In a CNN report, Ivan Watson interviewed one Syrian refugee who said that they really have no choice in life. “If we stay we die, and if we leave we die.” Now what kind of nonsense is that? What life do these people have to live if they know no matter what they do they might die? Being a nation known for offering a multitude of opportunities, it’s pretty hypocritical that we aren’t giving any opportunities, especially to those willing to give anything and everything. Five to 10 years from now, we will be living in a nation where those who were once refugees are now sitting by us at school. People we may even be able to call our friends. So why not start now? Out of the four million Syrian refugees who have left their country, we the U.S. have only taken in 0.03 percent of them. We have so much room in the U.S. that we should be taking more in. The fear of having “terrorist” refugees sneak into the U.S. is what causes us to bring in so little people. All that shouldn’t matter. We should let everyone in, give everyone the chance to escape a bad life. We should give them the chance to press restart and live a better one.
olitical affairs not only affect how we live but also dictates history.We have the opportunity to voice our opinions about foreign, national and local affairs yet many decide not to partake in this system. We have the right to decide on topics ranging from gun regulations, Planned Parenthood, even how our local school district should be allocating their funds. Everyone has a voice and we are ultimately the ones to decide how far our voice reaches. Many don’t participate in politics mainly because they feel as if our political system is broken. Perhaps it is, but we as citizens can fix this. When we think about politics in general, we can usually visualize two parties arguing for or against an issue. In many cases this is the deal and we are forced to chose a side. Right? If we identify with a certain group of people, are we always inclined to agree on their beliefs? Even if we lean to the far left or right of the political spectrum, we might find ourselves not agreeing on every single topic. Yes, one can mainly agree with a single party during multiple instances. Yet if there’s a certain bill or proposition in which you find your party taking the wrong approach, look for another group that not only supports your beliefs but strives to protect them. When our time comes to go the polls or vote by absentee ballot, we should consider every single topic on that ballot. Don’t just look for a label that states
JeffersonLeiva
“Let’s not polarize topics only based on political preference. We should put our values forward, not our party. your party and vote for that side, but take the time to find your own perspective in regards of the topic. If we vote only for one side, then we could be contributing to the separation in our government.
Let’s not polarize topics only based on political preference. We should put our values forward, not our party. There are two major parties out there. We ask ourselves where we belong and whether our values match up with theirs. It’s understandable if you don’t fully agree with your own party. There are other parties out there that may not be as recognized but could hold values to what you may agree on or not. If we are informed in politics, our government would be better off than just having gridlock when it comes to parties debating on an issue. When a person decides to join a political party they need to be aware of who they are. Are they a tolerant person, not only to other religions but also to ethnicities or sexual preference. How do they feel about the environment, foreign affairs, such as ISIS and other militant groups and how should we as a country be handling these issues. Perhaps even local affairs such as our water hyacinth issues. Either we become blind enough to agree with the stance our party holds on every issue. Or we express our own opinions and let our voice reach far. Even if you can’t vote, your voice has the power to change how people view an issue or at least clarify your perspective. If we become 100 percent dedicated to our party and ignore what the rest of the population has to say, then we are the ones partitioning this nation.
Staff & Policies the
Stagg Line
Amos Alonzo Stagg High School 1621 Brookside Rd. Stockton, CA 95207 The Stagg Line is a member of the National Scholastic Press Association, whose awards include the following: ff All-American: 21 years ff Hall of Fame ff First Place, Best of Show: five times ff National Newspaper Pacemaker: seven times Stagg Line journalists over the years have won many awards and scholarships, including California Journalist of the Year, National Story of the Year and National Photo of the Year.
The Stagg Line newspaper is published monthly and distributed free to students and staff members. Our website staggonline.net is updated regularly with online exclusives. The Stagg Line is a long-standing open forum for free student expression. That means, student editors and reporters make content and style decisions with the adviser offering guidance. The staff editorial, which appears at the top of this page, reflects the opinion of the entire staff and therefore is not signed. A personal column is signed and reflects the writer’s point of view. Readers are welcome to submit letters for publication regarding any story published or any school issue. We will make every effort to publish any letter that is not libelous, obscene or inflammatory. Letters longer than 250 words may be edited for length. Letters may be given to any staff member, delivered to A8 or emailed to dbott@stocktonusd.net.
REPORTERS SaraAbdeltawab GamelaBrice LouisFuentez RosaGarcia StephanieJimenez MatthewKimani JeffersonLeiva StephanieMatsumoto JuliaRosete JoAnnSagaral ArrianaSmith LuciTomas BrennonTurner
EDITORS CelineLopez, editor-in-chief AraceliValencia, news editor MatteoDanforth, opinion editor PhillicityUriarte-Jones, features editor EstefanyNunez, entertainment editor SathinaFlores, sports editor MarleenePheav, web editor My’KaylaMoore, photo editor AngelGonzalez, graphics editor DonBott, adviser Follow us on Facebook (Stagg Line) as well as Twitter and Instagram (@staggonline). Current and older issue PDFs are available at issuu.com/staggline
10.09.15
Opinion
the
3
Stagg Line
‘It’s breast cancer industry month’ W
hether it be a commercial, a store display, or billboard, at some point we have all been bombarded by the Breast Cancer Awareness campaign. Cause marketing has manifested into a huge industry more dedicated to benefiting the solicitors rather than the patients themselves. All of the donations that flow through the company go through a fine strainer, the bulk being given out to telemarketers and employees JoannSagaral of the charity. Only the remaining droplets of the donations go to direct aid, and these percentages rarely exceed double digits. According to the Tampa Bay Times, the Breast Cancer Relief Foundation racks up about $64 million annually, of which 2.2 percent is given to actual cancer patients. According to Dr. Otis Bradley of the American Cancer Society, treating cancer can cost up to $100,000 for an individual. From the amount that Breast Cancer Relief Foundation portions out for direct aid,10 people can be treated. The number of breast cancer victims in the United States peaks at around 2.9 million, as reported by the National Cancer Institute in 2012. What makes these faux charities so much more effective than their legitimate counterparts is their marketing skills. First, they adopt a name that is closely related to another well-known charity, such as Kids Wish Network or Children’s Wish Foundation International. They sound a lot like Make-A-Wish, but they are far different when it comes to how they gain donors. The doppelganger charities are adept in their entrepreneurial tactics; they intrude through telemarketing and harvest key customer data, such as whether they have a fixed income. Once that information has been gained, the donator will be put on a “warm” list in which these solicitors will continue to contact. Scripts of the charity telemarketers usually comprise of emotional rhetoric and at times, utter harassment. This is a lucrative tactic that is, in fact, not done by the genuine charities. Make-A-Wish has spent at least 60 percent of its donated $3.1 million on “wish granting” in 2012, while Kids Wish has only spent a miniscule 1 percent of its overall $18.6 million, as reported by The Tampa Bay Times. Their websites are attractive, their solicitors are persistent, and through these efforts, their chairman is able to have grandiose vacations. Forbes has investigated that Breast Cancer Society has provided numerous employees, most of whom were hired through nepotism, with new cars as well as the chairman James T. Reynolds II. In addition, though, Reynolds has received additional luxuries such as that of a gym membership, concert tickets, and college tuition for his family members. These businesses feed off benevolence and they do it because people are willing. “Pinkwashing” is all too common; it affects food, clothing,
ART BY JOANN SAGARAL
“You may not be a doctor — much less an oncologist — but you and I contain the potential to change a person’s life just the same. It is not done through buying ‘pink potpourri’ or ‘pink batteries’. It is achieved when you give to those your pure wholeheartedness.” hygiene products, pretty much anything with room on the label for that infamous pink ribbon (some of which contain carcinogens themselves). The NFL is notorious for their implementation of pink flags, socks, and anything that spares room for that ribbon. “Breast” is a provocative word on its own and maybe that is why it is appealing. This kind of marketing hype would not be as effective with say, brain tumors. Even with all that popularity, most of the profits go to the manufacturers and is never seen by those “millions of women” the companies claim to aid. Gina Ming, English and social studies teacher, has experienced first hand the recent loss of multiple people in her life to breast cancer. She confesses to buying the pink ribbon products and supporting the breast cancer walks, but when asked if it is enough to eliminate the need for charities to research cancer, she insists, “More needs to be done.” The cause has been downgraded to just that: a claim, a trademark, a mere label. It is Breast Cancer Industry Month because, in reality, awareness can only go so far. A “cure” will never be discovered under the
harrowing profit these charities are bringing in. Charity, in itself, has become a corporation so gargantuan. Why would they stop? It is a low risk operation in which all they have to do all day is to monger, pester, and enslave the altruistic individuals who decide to contribute to the company’s cause. It is becoming more and more apparent that the “race for a cure” does not have an established finishing line. And more money going to the wrong places will only prolong it. Money can be thrown in every which way possible at a problem such as terminal illness, but let us remember the humanity these patients still carry. When you purchase items with that awareness label, are you funding someone’s multimillion dollar vacation? Give to the patients what is incorruptible and intangible: your time. You can wear all the pink, red, rainbow you want, but so long as you are able-bodied, give the most you can besides “awareness.” Keep your wallet sheathed. You may not be a doctor — much less an oncologist — but you and I contain the potential to change a person’s life just the same. It is not done through buying “pink potpourri” or “pink batteries.” It is achieved when you give to those your pure wholeheartedness.
We don’t need to waste our Product testing money on latest technology should ALWAYS be cruelty-free Is the qualiJ ty of the new I product really une 29, 2007. That’s the date the first iPhone dropped and we’ve been obsessed ever since. Almost every year we get the new iPhone generation. When will it end? We spend $400, $500, or at times, even more. All that for a phone that, by next year, is out of style or “old.” Simple things such as checking the weather to messaging a friend from across the world, to telling Siri to set an alarm for the next morning, the world isn’t just at our fingertips anymore, it is at the will of our words. This is a major advancement, but nowadays people mostly buy phones and other items just to look cool, instead of to take advantage of the advancements. The iPhone is only one example of overspending. Think of all the money that could be saved by not buying the new ‘whatever’ as soon as it comes out. A laptop can be $1,600,
worth the extra money? Is it going to be life changing?
AngelGonzalez
then almost as soon as you buy it, the price can drop $200 or more. It is crazy that something could be bought and used for a week, then it is spontaneously worth less. Is the quality of the new product really worth the extra money? Is it going to be life changing? Is there so much of a difference between models? Maybe besides a bigger screen or a slightly faster processor
there isn’t much to say about the changes between say the HP Pavilion or the HP Envy. What is so wrong with the one you have? Our devices can do a lot for us but it almost seems like students don’t use the new features that are so appealing in advertisements. The iPhone is always the easiest to refer to because of its popularity. Take the camera features for example. Many of these advancements go unnoticed because people take for
granted things like resolution or front facing cameras. The higher resolution in newer models greatly improves the quality of the images, and the front facing camera, though nowhere near as good the normal camera, is yet another feature that isn’t taken advantage of fully by students. Another feature less used is the iPhone tracking. Say that you constantly walk or drive to a specific destination, the iPhone is tracking how long it takes to do this. It is used for Google Maps for actual travel times. Don’t believe me, go to the Settings then Privacy, Location Services, System Services, then finally Frequent Locations and all the places that you frequently traveled to, are listed. Having something new is nice, but going overboard and always striving to get the latest isn’t necessary. Our society should take this into consideration: is the price of an update worth it for only one year? ART BY ROSA GARCIA
magine a rabbit. A little baby rabbit. Adorable, right? Not when makeup and other vanity products are being unnecessarily tested on them. Not so nice now, huh? There are over 100 million animals being crippled, poisoned, and abused in labs, in the U.S. alone, every year. Europe, the world’s largest cosmetic market, along with India and Israel, have all banned animal testing for cosmetics, and selling thereof. Unfortunately, China, the U.S., and many other countries apparently haven’t gotten the memo. It’s not just rabbits, though. Many mice, rats, guinea pigs, and yes, even dogs are being My’KaylaMoore put in labs for cosmetic testing. It may just seem like mice and rats aren’t as important as a cat or dog, but many people have these animals as pets. Just think if that was your family dog, or the cat you see waltzing down the street every day. How would you feel if they were the ones being locked up in labs, awaiting nothing but torture and a cruel death? People don’t really give the subject too much thought. When it’s brought up, more often than not, it goes one of two ways: either that person will agree with the thought that animal testing is wrong or they’ll have a mediocre response like“who really cares, anyway?” or “well, when you think about it, it’s really not that bad.” There’s nothing remotely beneficial from testing cosmetics on animals. The only difference is that animals are much more sensitive, which may make companies, like China, feel like animal testing is a good thing, because if it’s too strong for an animal, then of course it would be way too strong for humans to use, but that doesn’t mean it’s the right way to go about it. You can just test the products on people. It’s a way better alternative, because that’s who’s going to be wearing it, anyway. Next time you’re in the drugstore and want to stock up on L’Oreal, Maybelline, and others who are involved with animal testing companies, just refrain, and use brands like E.L.F or Wet N’ Wild. These are just a few of many brands that are cruelty free. Think about the animals.
4
10.09.15
Dress to
express
Features Becoming the character
Teenagers often want to “find themselves” — and for good reason. Sometimes it is difficult to identify with your peers because you aren’t very interested in what they like or like to do. Under these circumstances, drastic measures are taken in the quest to be unique. You have to be a bit daring and deviate from the social norms surrounding you. It can be difficult to openly like something that is so out of the ordinary because that could make you an outcast. But outside of the ordinary you find new friends. You find yourself. Often, it has to do with your outward appearance. Sometimes your best bet is to dress to express.
Cosplaying is a hobby to those with wide imaginations and an outlet to those who need an escape GamelaBrice Every individual has someone they look up to, whether it is a human being, cartoon character, or superhero; there can always be some sort of personal relations to these role models. In Anime Club there are many students that not only enjoy watching anime, but also enjoy drawing and dressing up as their favorite characters. “I think that we cosplay not just because we love the characters we are dressed up as, but because they have characteristics and traits that we can relate to,” said junior Celeste Castro. “It’s a mask that prevents someone from seeing the real me; yet still gives me the confidence to be myself.” Cosplaying, or dressing up as these characters, allows these students to go into their own world of fantasy and imagination; these costumes also allow them to become someone else. This not only giving them an outlet, but a boost of self esteem. Junior Julia Lupercio is no stranger to this world, often struggling with identifying with her peers. “Because I didn’t really fit in when I was younger, cosplaying was something that really helped me get through rough times.” Despite the unusual activity she chose, which may seem to further separate her from her peers, she is happy to identify with those that have similar interests. “Even though it wasn’t something that everyone else was doing, as I got older it made me more and more happy doing something I loved that made me excited.” However, Anime Club is not the only place that these students can go to talk about their similar interests. Every year in numerous cities of Califor-
nia, a gathering, also known as a “con,” is thrown at a local location for all cosplaying participants to meet, eat, socialize, and act out scenes from their favorite anime shows. This event usually last for about a week. These events also have souvenir booths, host fashion shows, and costume contests. “The best thing about cons is that they are filled with people that have the same interest that you do, and even if your costume isn’t the best they are still very accepting and open to having a conversation,” Lupercio said. H o w e v e r, preparing for these events is not as simple as it may seem. Whether it is the wig, the makeup, or the costume itself; putting it all together takes time, creativity, and junior effort. “It takes me about a month to get all my costumes and makeup ready,” said Lupercio. “It’s always a good idea to have everything planned out. Also it depends on how many days the con will last. If it is more than two days I usually bring more than one costume and have more than one makeup idea.” Cosplaying is more than just the costume; the real rush comes from taking on the persona of the character, and then adding a twist of your own personal self. The process begins with picking out your character; which leads to picking items to put together for your costume, then choosing the makeup to match the costume, and finally adding things that fit your personality. However, for this reason becoming the character truly has to do with how the character makes you feel rather than how “cool” or “trendy” they look; that’s just a bonus.
“I think we cosplay because we love the characters we are dressed up as, and because they have charcteristics and traits that we can relate to.”
GRAPHIC BY ROSA GARCIA AND JOANN SAGARRAL
Celeste Castro
Theatrical makeup fun Kawaii couture means ‘cute’ at Halloween, beyond RosaGarcia
Filicity Snguon creates gory special effects What she does is more than just using makeup; it is an art Makeup can alter someand takes creativity and paone’s appearance in many ways, tience. Like anything that is whether to enhance or to conworth waiting for, it has a certain ceal. It is not just an object of engratification when done, that she hancement or disguise though, described, “every time I finish a it’s also used for special effects in design that I actually like, I feel theatre. Makeup can be used to a sensation of accomplishment replicate and create many differthat is definitely worth the time ent things. it takes.” For example, instead of cov Theatre makeup is an escape ering up scars, it can be used to from one’s life and an adventure create them and many more efwith the face of another. So it is fects. The idea of adding blood, fitting that she does it on Halscars, or altering someone’s face loween, because it is a day that to resemble different creatures is people dress up to get away from very appealing to people, espetheir own lives. cially to teenagers. This can re Also significant is her age; she vive the holiday spirit for people is a senior and almost graduatwho as they grow older, have no ed, so this newfound “spin” gave inspiration to celebrate the holiher that Halloween spirit again. day known for costumes and efSince that first Halloween, she fects: Halloween. PHOTO COURTESY OF FILICITY SNGUON has continued with theatre Senior Filicity Snguon came Senior Filicity Snguon does not seek out expensive theatre makeup makeup, only using it on the day upon this form of art two years products to fulfill her gorey desires but rather uses the typical hallow- most suited for it. It revived her ago while trying to figure out her een makeup you can find in any costume store. Halloween spirit and made it a Halloween costume. “I wantday to look forward to again. ed something creative and unique,” Snguon said. The experience She also indicated the uniqueness of theatre makeup and emphabrought upon her a new identity, even if it was only for one night. sized how fun it makes Halloween, even as a teenager. It made her night fun again, as it gave her the feeling of being a kid As a senior, she might get criticism from someone who might again. think, “Isn’t she a little old for dress up?” She doesn’t think so, be Theatre makeup is used to give an actor the appearance of the cause it is an art and art is a timeless tradition participated in by a character they portray. In the case of Snguon, who isn’t an actor, it diverse amount of age groups. Whether the art form be music, paintgives her an opportunity to become anyone or anything, within her ing, or dancing, each one is timeless and is practiced throughout the ability, that she wants to. world by billions of people. Each one is also unique, pertaining to the The designs that she is able to replicate include, clown makeup, special interests of that person. scars, gashes, blood, dead skin and zombie makeup. Her personal So unlike just using makeup to cover up a blemish, she uses it favorite, though, is zombie makeup, because of the many designs for entertainment and an escape. She will forever use this newfound involved in creating it. She likes the result after the amount of effort skill to, hopefully, prevent her Halloween spirit from ever dying and put in, because to her the more elaborate the design, the more inter- more generally, keep her wonderment alive and thriving. esting it becomes.
BrennonTurner
Dressing up is often mistaken to be cosplay, but for some it’s more than “dressing up”; it’s also a fashion statement. Latrisha Daniel, a senior, expresses herself through kawaii fashion, a distinct style that not many students know about or usually wear. Kawaii fashion is typically known to be popular for its cute anime style, “kawaii” meaning “cute” in Japanese. Daniel, however, defines kawaii as an everyday fashion style, considering it as “dressing as yourself with a type of anime feel.” This is different from cosplay where you dress up only occasionally as another person or character. Her hobbies include sewing and crafting, as well as making her own kawaii clothes. Daniel says, “I’ve been dressing this way since freshman year. I decided to break free from social norms.” From being a jeans and t-shirt girl she transitioned into dresses and doll-like features. She started by consulting YouTube videos to make clothes, but evolved from that. Now she’s into buying more complex outfits. The best part of dressing up she says, is going to a convention meetup and having people come up to her and ask about her clothing. Her clothing is mostly inspired by fairy kei and Lolita, a fairy and pop fashion style popular among Japanese street fashion. She also receives the satisfaction that comes from all her hard work and time spent into her outfits. Being proud of the effort she put into making an outfit,
choosing accesories or doing her makeup only sweetens the joy she gets from wearing it. Generally people react differently towards her kawaii fashion. People often around her age group tend to judge and question, unlike the older group who commonly appreciate the creativity. People who understand the fashion enjoy seeing others with common interests. She explains that conventions are like going into a whole new world, most of where the style is commonly seen and accepted. Dressing up in the way she does is different, and as she got older, her being different bothered her less. She realized she wanted to do things that made her happy rather than pleasing those that had little effect on her. “If you don,’t like me, I don’t care.” Because of how distinct the style may be, Daniel sees it as part of her self expression. She explains how people may think it is different, but to her it’s being herself. Kawaii fashion is just another way of expressing her passion for fashion. Demonstrating that her style reflects her personality and the way she is. One of her close friends, Hannah Swope said, “The way she dresses is fun and the way people look at her fills her need to dress.” Our interests and originality are what sets each one of us apart from one another. It expresses character in a person, defining who we are. Being yourself can be difficult, especially in your teenage years but it can also be extremely freeing.
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Instagram shows off cosplay creativity SathinaFlores Cosplay is merely costuming but also a unique form of fashion. It’s about expressing the things you love. Whether it’s the love of the character, enjoying the attention of portraying a character, wearing an elaborate costume, or the appreciation from your peers there are many reasons for one to show people their true identity. And combining cosplay with Instagram enhance that feeling of one’s self. Junior Jessica Eth was introduced to cosplay in the eighth grade and ever since then she has enjoyed dressing up as different characters. She said “you can actually look like the character and feel the character but also have your own reality.” Cosplay brought curiosity towards Eth and she would end up wondering “how it would feel to be a certain character,” she said. And when she cosplayed she felt as if she brought the character to life. So Eth started to post her cosplay on Instagram. “I wanted to feel like I can make friends,” Eth said. “I wanted to show that we can have some sort of connection.” “I wasn’t trying to hide myself though but to show who I really am to the world.” Julia Monet Lupercio another junior who also enjoys to cosplay. When she was younger she was bullied and never really fit, what you might say, the normal crowd. She had little friends and was alone. “I was weird and I liked different things than other people,” Lupercio said. She later got into cosplay and it made her feel awesome. She said, “I could be any character I wanted and any person I wanted to be.” Not only that but she said she got to go to conventions and “meet(ing) new people” she said, which
was exciting because the cosplay community is very accepting and very nice. Lupercio found friends with her interest and gave her a sense of self and well being within cosplay and that made her feel “incredible,” she said. “I could be anyone I wanted to be.” Lupercio later posted her cosplaying on Instagram. “I post things on Instagram because I have friends who are into cosplay,” she said. Through Instagram that’s how she finds people or friends to go to the conventions with but most of all she enjoys the famous selfies every once in awhile for cosplay. Senior Latrisha Daniel also cosplays. Daniel said “I cosplay because I want to.” She said it isn’t a self expression statement because “I’m being somebody else I’m not”; she said but it’s more of “I want other people to know like ‘Hey I do this.’” Daniel posts her cosplay on Instagram to share her views. Although Daniel doesn’t cosplay particularly but dresses in Lolita and Fairy Cue fashion and she just wants to show America what it is because “not a lot of people know,” Daniel said. “I just want to say, ‘Hey I’m weird.’” Celeste Castro, a junior, says cosplay is fun and that “in a way it’s kind of like a mask of some sort.” Cosplaying covers her real identity yet she is able to act like herself. “When I cosplay I have to pick a character to relate to,” she said. She picks these certain characters because in a way she is able to act like them and have gone through almost the same things they had to go through. When Castro decides to post her cosplay on Instagram she said, “It’s because I know my followers don’t judge me.”
PHOTOS BY STEPHANIE MATSOMOTO
Junior Jessica Eth frequently goes to cons with her sister (second from top). Eth is no stranger to spending months on a cosplay costume collecting the proper contacts or building proper props.
AMCC Club
Club unifies those with unique interests LuciTomas When some people think about anime the first thing that pops up in their mind are cartoon characters, art, and even the Japanese culture. The brand new Anime Manga Comic Cosplay Club (AMCC) has just started on campus. Junior Jessica Eth started the club along with help of friends and art teacher Chuzin Vang. The club is open to anyone interested in drawing, watching anime, or even dressing up as a certain character. Over the summer she had the idea of starting this unique club and was definitely going to consider it at the beginning of this school year. Eth emphasizes that this club is different from all the other clubs on campus because it brings everybody together with the same cultural interest. “There are some people you would have never known to like anime and later they join the club,” said Eth. She also mentions that students have joined because of their artistic ability, opportunity to attend conventions, passion for watching anime, or desire to dress up as a character. The reason Eth founded the club was because she had an ability and desire to draw since middle school and watched anime a lot on television. She remembers when she started to draw basic anime
While Daniel does enjoy and frequently makes her own clothing that pertains to her special interests, she indulges in decorative accesories and brightly colored wigs to complete her eccentric looks.
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characters in her notepad and now she can draw even more complex characters. “My family loved it and (anime) became part of my childhood.” From her freshman year to now she notices herself being more involved in anime because she has the responsibility of running the club as president. “I want to keep (the club) going and make sure this club goes somewhere and does not die out,” said Eth. She said that at club rush there were about 60 students who signed up, which helps increase attendance. Freshman Serena Sieng, a new club member, added, “I like Akise comics and the cosplay part of anime.” It’s the first club she has joined as a freshman and looks forward to meetings, conventions, and participating in events. “It’s strong bonding and in the future I want to be a Disney artist animator,” said said. Junior Izaak Perez is also interested in anime. “I (like to be) interactive and watch Kirito and Kirigaya anime,” said Perez. What he likes most about watching anime is the story line or plot the show conveys. “I like Sword Art a lot because of the story behind it and the character is very independent,” said Perez. He hopes to pursue a career in animation and entertainment to continue to be involved with anime. Vang said, “It’s a good place to bond with each other and share ideas. I see great potential in this club.”
PHOTO COURTESY OF IZAAK PEREZ
Izaak Perez often spends his time doodling or drawing charcters he admires or enjoys. Shinya Kogami (above) is one of his favorite characters from his favorite anime shows: “Psycho-Pass.”
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10.09.15
Pokemon GO takes video ‘The Martian’ gamers to a new level captivates Movie review
EstefanyNunez
Pokémon: coming to a region near you
Remember being young and watching Saturday morning cartoons hoping to guess the correct Pokémon when the cheerful narrator asked “Who’s that Pokémon?” Growing up with fantasies about becoming the Pokémon master like Ash Ketchum was only a silly dream. Who knew that fantasy was to be fulfilled a few years later? Years later, the concept remains the same: fictional creatures, “Pokémon,” are captured by humans to befriend, train and battle for sport. The well known media franchise spans from trading cards, toys, animated films and shows, graphic novels. It all originated from a video game created in the early 1995. Nintendo, the Pokémon Company and Niantic are coming together to bring that fantasy world to reality for video gamers with Pokémon GO in 2016. It’s a game that takes place between Pokémon GO and Pokémon GO Plus. GO will be a free game application that will be available for iPhone and Android devices. It will have in app purchases. Plus is a wristwatch that uses bluetooth and GPS to notify gamers when a Pokemon is nearby with a vibration and an LED light. Using your smartphone, your screen will present to you the Pokémon that was in your local location. Just like in the show, gamers have the ability to capture, trade, train and battle Pokémon that appear in the real world. It was a smart choice to announce this project a couple of months prior to their launch. Fans have been in an excited frenzy for what seems like their childhood coming back to them. This new type of platform is influential. It could start a chain reaction for other video game creators to use this certain format as well. Sophomore Kalena Brinton, one of several fans who have loved Pokémon since childhood, says she’s excited for this. “It seems like it’ll be really cool. It’ll probably get more people to go outside more.” She said, “We’ll get to actually explore while playing the game and maybe get the chance to meet new people.” Others are more anxious to see the details of the game.
In Pokémon Go players have an adventure in everyday locations, by finding and catching new Pokémon and even battling people they pass in the street.
The watch syncs with your telephone to play the game. It is an extension to your GPS and allows you to track the Pokémon through the world through google maps. In everyday loctations the tracker will lead you to a place that Pokémon can be caught. The game is to be released in 2016 and already has many Pokémon fans anxious to play. Pokémon GO will take the series to a whole new level. In this sequel, instead of just playing as a trainer you are the trainer. Look for the link to the official release video for Pokémon GO at staggonline.net
MatteoDanforth
Since NASA has released evidence that there is liquid water on Mars, it’s only fitting that “The Martian” be released right after the news came out (what a strange coincidence). All jokes aside, Ridley Scott’s new science-fiction movie is a masterpiece. The plot, perfectly played out by an all-star cast, along with the fantastic cinematography, witty script, and awesome soundtrack are a recipe for an Oscar winner. The movie follows Ares III astronaut Mark Watney, played by Matt Damon, who is stranded on the red planet after being presumed dead. Miraculously, Damon’s character survives but must now live on a planet where anything and everything can go wrong while trying to come up with enough supplies to last until the crew of the Ares III can come back to get him. Now Matt Damon isn’t the only superstar to be a part of this epic cast. Jessica Chastain as Commander Melissa Lewis, leader of Ares III team, does an excellent job portraying this take-charge character. Even though a strong sense of tension and urgency is felt throughout the movie, Michael Peña as astronaut Rick Martinez and Donald Glover as the genius student Rich Purnell offer a very much needed comedic relief. “The Martian” has a great plot and a well chosen cast but how is Hollywood going to recreate Mars on Earth? Well CGI can only go so far before the entire set becomes a giant green screen like that of James Cameron’s “Avatar”. However, Scott does a fantastic job of recreating the planet, almost to the point where you believe the movie was filmed on the planet itself. The vast landscapes of Mars are so detailed and so rich, it seems very true to life. The fantastic set along with the smooth edits and camera work make this movie almost dream-like (especially if viewed in 3-D, which is highly recommended). Scott incorporates shots taken from action cameras set up on the astronauts as well as from cameras set up in the Mars vehicle and the base. All these different shots come together to create a sense of isolation in a place untouched by humanity. You can feel Watney’s loneliness and the intensity of the situations he finds himself in. The use of mission logs and personal entries also help to create a connection between the audience and Watney. Along with a plot that we could actually see happening in a decade or two, Scott’s new science fiction is more science than fiction. The science behind this movie stays up to par with all we now know about interplanetary travel and the vacuum of space. For those movie fanatics always searching for hidden Easter eggs, one of the biggest Easter eggs of the movie stays true to the Mars missions that have occurred in our recent history. Taking into consideration the fact that the genius that brought us the amazing sci-fi movies “Blade Runner,” “Aliens,” and “Prometheus” directed this film, there is no doubt that “The Martian” will win multiple awards. Scott’s new movie is nothing short of stunning and would be even more mind-blowing if viewed in an IMAX 3-D theater. Whether you’re the biggest science fiction nerd, a Ridley Scott movie lover, or just an average movie goer, this movie will amaze and will have you talking about it days after you saw it.
GRAPHIC BY ANGEL GONZALEZ
It’s safe to say that the children who are growing up with the advancements are pretty fortunate, it doesn’t mean that long time fans will not be just as ecstatic. There’s no doubt the launch will be great especially being it is Pokémon’s 20th anniversary.
What it takes to get a laugh Offensive speech becomes a trend with YouTuber body shaming and comedians making racist remarks CelineLopez At first, I thought the headline was just clickbait. “Dear Fat People,” really? Obviously, her goal was to be provocative but when I clicked the Facebook link to watch Nicole Arbour’s YouTube video, I wasn’t expecting what I watched. I expected her to anger viewers with the controversial headline then subdue them with a long speech about body posi-
tivity. But Nicole quickly started a whole rant that meant to take down the movement for body positivity. Disgusted by her ideas, and surprised I was actually able to sit through six minutes of obnoxious banter and editing, I checked the comments to see what the public was saying. Although some took it more politically in context, others just “LOL’d.” Celebrity comics have
made their mark with this style — controversial, provocative, offensive. They call it “edgy.” Last December, I wrote an online opinion piece on the controversy of the cancellation of screening “The Interview,” the Seth Rogen and James Franco movie that satirically portrays the leader of North Korea, Kim Jong-un. America was screaming over their right to free speech being infringed all because a stupid, racist movie about a dictator was pulled out of theaters. Banning edgy comedy will cause the same reaction, so I don’t intend to advocate for that. The Supreme Court has ruled many times on the definition of what kind of speech is really free, most notably in Texas v. Johnson, the dispute over someone’s protest involving the burning of the American flag. The general public has responded well to edgy comedians such as Amy Schumer and Lena Dunham, as well as others who are known to make fun of their own race like Kevin Hart and Gabriel Iglesias.
Racist, misogynist and “edgy” comedy simply is not funny, no matter how many laughs it gets from a crowd. A comedian who relies on these tactics isn’t funny but rather uses offensive stereotypes to induce a few forced chuckles. I prefer comedy that is genuine, hysterical and inventive, and I hate to see offensive speech categorized as comedy. Of course, comedians are entitled to their free speech — whether it’s politically correct or not — but I wonder whether they realize the effects of their words being considered funny rather than offensive. When you have a large platform and audience, your speech especially has significance in pop culture, politics, and other aspects of society. Racism, misogyny and body shaming has become so normalized that society views it simply as comedy, and comedians are just fueling the normativity by embracing their so-called edgy labels. Offensive speech is a trend I can’t keep up with it.
This movie is truly emersive and will hold your attention until the credits role. Matt Damon portrays his roles excellently and the film is well put together by master mind Ridley Scott.
Read ‘The Martian’ book review and other entertainment reviews at staggonline.net
Sports League begins tonight KINGS THINKING BIG 10.09.15
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PHOTO BY SARA ABDELTAWAB
Varsity football runs out on the field at the beginning of the game, sporting their Under Armor gear. The league opens tonight at home against Edison.
Players work together to tackle the opposing team in order for an interception preventing Foothill High from scoring another point. JV has ended 5-0 in preseason.
AraceliValencia It’s that time again. Friday night lights and stands filled up with people to watch one team. Points go up on the scoreboard and with each minute the team pushes. It comes down to the end and the team loses. The players shrug it off, because the real challenge has yet to come. Varsity football finished preseason 1-4. They lost to Lincoln, Modesto, Foothills, and McClymonds, but beat Lodi. The team had one of the most competitive preseason schedules in the league. Some of the opponents, McClymonds and Foothills, are ranked in the top 100 in California. “We were excited to have played a team that won a state title and excited to see how many points we get on the board,” junior Joel Castillo, slot receiver, said. Their head coach Don Norton purposely made it that way, because the main goal is to prepare them for league, and with each game it is a “learning experience.” Senior Lavante Bushnell, quarterback, describes the games as “good competition.” “The whole preseason is different, it’s 10 times harder,” Castillo said. “This year isn’t about winning preseason. It’s about league.” To get ready for league, the team practices every day, as well as in the summer. They do weights and condition. “Football becomes your summer,”
senior James Green, linebacker, said. “You have no social life.” Yet they have taken a lot of criticism because of the team’s past successes. Last year, the team made it to playoffs. The year before that, they beat St. Mary’s, making them league champions. “You don’t know the stuff we put into it,” Green said. “You won’t know unless you put the pads on to see that we work so hard.” However, like Green, other players and coaches don’t listen to the criticism because it’s “easier said than done.” Playing with these teams has helped them with each opponent every week. “I think Foothill got us ready for Lodi,” said Norton. To maintain a positive attitude, Norton reminds them that “they’re a championship team.” Bushnell “encourages” them, while senior Kevin Johnson, receiver, says that everyone takes responsibility. “Last year we would argue,” said Johnson. “This year everyone is picking each other up. We’re a family.” Every Saturday, the team has practice to talk about each game and stretch. They watch films as they go over the offensive runs, zones, and plays. “Saturday practice brings us together,” Castillo said. Tonight, the team will kick off league with Edison at home.
StephanieJimenez The hard work has finally paid off. Last year the freshman football team had an unsuccessful season, but now as the JV football team, they have accomplished much more than expected. “By losing every game last year it made us want to win even more this year,” Steven Higareda, a sophomore, said. “We weren’t a team. We all wanted to be the No. 1 player but it doesn’t work that way,” said sophomore Johnny Brown-Lee about last year’s freshman team. Even though they had no victories last year, it hasn’t put down their spirit to become a better team this year. “Our worry was Lincoln,” Brown-Lee said. Last year the freshmen lost to Lincoln, 61-0. “That day I was so sad because we were all focused on beating Lincoln,” he said. This year, the JV football team reached their goal of beating Lincoln, 13-6. “We worked all summer,” Higareda said. The JV football players had long, exhausting practices over the summer and has proved what they’re capable of on the field. “We came from a losing team and now look at us,” he said. Although the JV football team has won every preseason game, what they haven’t won is the rec-
MatthewKimani Seniors have traditionally dominated the golf scene, but this year freshman Camilla Kendall has risen to prominence on the team. Most freshmen who play golf “have never touched a golf ball,” golf coach Dannie Offield said. “But she has experience … (she) has been exposed to the game.” Kendall started learning golf at the age of 9 through First Tee, a program that “reaches young people ... through golf instruction and life skills lessons,” but it was her sister who introduced her to the game. “She kind of brought me into it,” Kendall said. “I would sometimes pick up her clubs and hit a few balls, and I really enjoyed that.”
The results of this preliminary training are evident in her playing today. “Her swing — it’s very developed,” Martha Valencia, a teammate and a senior, said. “She’s got a smooth swing,” Offield said. “Her swing is pleasing to the eye.” “She’s played in all the matches this year,” said Offield, and “I normally don’t have freshmen do that.” Kendall is one of the top three starters on the team and a candidate for MVP. “She has a chance to be an excellent golfer,” Offield said. “Golf is a never-ending improvement thing.” “She’s a really good asset to our team,” Valencia said.
Varsity seeks out victory
PHOTO BY MY’KAYLA MOORE
Freshman Camilla Kendall constantly practices proper form and posture.
JV aims for success
ognition of their school peers, the players say. Higareda said the JV team is less cared about. “When we wear our jerseys nobody says anything to us.” Another player Lizzet Ramos, a sophomore, thinks otherwise. “JV should be recognized but of course varsity will matter more because it’s varsity. It’s always been that way.” Ramos added that this year the coaches are studying the other team’s techniques to improve theirs. Sophomore Nathaniel Bones agrees with his teammate. “This year we have chemistry,” Bones said. This year the JV football team has created the bond they’ve been needing. The JV team is 5-0 in preseason and hopes to stay undefeated the entire season. “Varsity knows we’re 5-0,” Charles Muñoz, JV football coach. He says this is the best he has worked with and all he is doing is preparing these players for the varsity level. “I notice JV isn’t that much recognized but that’s okay.” “This team is dedicated and full of confidence. That’s how a team is supposed to be,” said Barbaro Perez, head coach. “That’s why they’ve been successful,” he said. The JV team has proved all the hard work has paid off on the field. “I hope they keep being the team they are when they go on to varsity,” Perez said.
Kendall drives her way to the top Personality contributes to Kendall’s skill just as much as experience. “She’s really quiet and golf is about being quiet and keeping your game,” Esther Bautista, a senior, said. Her natural calmness and focus give her an advantage out on the field. Golf is not the only big thing in her life. Kendall also focuses on her school work. She has “almost straight As,” according to Offield, but the demands of golf are starting to take their toll. “I feel like I’ve been missing assignments,” she said. “There’s a lot of work to be done,” Offield said. “As a freshman, she’s got a great opportunity. The ball is in her court.”
Five soccer players forced to hang up cleats LouisFuentez The call. You dont understand what exactly is about to happen but you know that it can’t be good for you. The coach sits down and explains that you’re off the team and may return, but not as a player. For some of the varsity soccer players, that nightmare became a reality. Five players were let go because they play on a travel team while playing for the school, a restriction all student-athletes consent to when they sign the con-
“...looking pretty mad but also disappointed in us...he just looked at us and said it: ‘You’re off the team,’ and then walked off.”
Osvaldo Nuno junior
tract with their parents as well. According to the contract that they all sign in the beginning of the season, playing for a nonschool sponsored team makes
them ineligible for the school’s team. “We walked into the class with him looking pretty mad but also disappointed in us as well,”
said junior Osvaldo Nuno, one of the players kicked off. “He just looked at us and said it: ‘You’re off the team,’ and then walked off.”
Last year the soccer team won the league championship and were looking for another win this year, especially senior Avel Chavez. “I was really looking forward to winning and I knew that we were a huge favorite to win this year, but I guess we’ll never know.” “Some of the teams in the league allow their players to play on other teams and they don’t really care about it,” Nuno said. But in sophomore Daniel Herrera’s eyes, he thinks it was a time to learn. “The thing is that
it is a learning experience because I believe that he was looking out for us because he did not want us to get hurt.” However, many of the players do want to play again for the team because they had extreme dedication. Head coach Jim Marrone and Athletic Director both declined to comment on the situation when asked. Some feel that they will return next year with a better attitude and even more dedication as Nuno says, “I guess that we will have to wait until next year.”
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10.09.15
SEASON OF TESTING BEGINS
Students prepare for the new SAT StephanieMatsumoto
From the present three hours and 45 minutes given, the test Word such as peccadillo, mendacious, olfactowill now be shortened to just ry are the types you should’ve known for the soonthree hours, not including time to-be-changed SAT. Don’t know what they mean? for the optional essay. Despite Now you won’t have to worry. that, students will no longer have The complex vocabulary some students hate to worry about cramming in to study for the SAT won’t be a problem anymore time to memorize complicated starting this spring. vocabulary words and complete For the last 11 years, the Scholastic Assessment their sentences, but comprehend Test has been stuck with the same format. Now, more familiar words used more adjustments are being made that will drastically oftenly today. change how the test is being taken. Because the test Common Core traits are also won’t take effect until the spring of 2016, current appearing in the test. Questions seniors will be taking the current SAT. in the reading and writing sec Following the new SAT, the Preliminary Schotions will require evidence from lastic Assessment Test has been revised to prepare the text proving why their anstudents for when they take the new version their swer choice is correct. There senior or junior year. The new PSAT will be introwill be more questions involving duced Oct. 28. social studies, science, and ca This year, all sophomores and 34 juniors will be reer-related problems. taking the PSAT on Oct. 29. While all sophomores Janneth Magaña, a junior, is get to take the PSAT for free, out of the 34 interenthusiastic for the new SAT, ested juniors, 28 of them got a fee waiver, meaning believing the changes to be an they too will not have to pay. improvement. Jalend Dinwiddie, a junior, thinks this alter “It’s going to be easier,” she said PHOTO BY JULIA ROSETE ation will be a drastic change from what he has been “You won’t have all those weird Junior Christian-John Salmasan signs-up for the learning before. vocabulary terms and from what “We’re like guinea pigs,” Dinwiddie said. “We’ve PSAT that will be in October. I’ve been told, you won’t get points always been preparing for the old SAT in the past.” removed for incorrect answers.” While he doesn’t know much about it yet, he still plans on study- Ready to face the new version, she already knows what she will do ing ahead of time by going on Khan Academy for practice tests. to prepare for it and gives advice to those taking in soon. “Teachers aren’t hitting on the new SAT right now, so it’s more “Have study days where you can ask other teachers and students like an on your own study thing,” Dinwiddie said. for help and don’t wait till last minute to get focused.”
Seniors wonder about SBAC results ArrianaSmith
Seniors should have received a paper in the mail regarding the Common Core test that was taken last year. The first year it was known as the pilot test. The next year was known as the field test. Last year was known to the district as the baseline test. All of these trials lead up to where we are now, the baseline. The difference between the test juniors will take this year and the ones taken before is that from now the test will affect the class you are placed into. “Ultimately the goal of this test is to properly place students into classes of their level,” said Assistant Principal Felicia Bailey-Carr. Within that process the school was able to evaluate where the students are and how effective the Common Core teaching
is. Many students may have felt uninformed about what their score meant and how it was going to affect their futures. “The teacher made it seem like we were the guinea pigs for the Common Core test,” said senior Ruth Garcia-Espino. Garcia-Espino said her teacher told the class to try their best even though the test wasn’t going to affect their grades. “Students were able to figure out the steps and walk through the procedure of a problem,” Bailey-Carr said. “But most were
unable to apply what they had figured out.” The test will be taken in the spring and like the previous years students will be in one class the entire day with designated breaks. The English and math portions will be completed over a period of two days. The scores are always mailed out in the fall. Bailey-Carr said that before Common Core, schools were simply teaching students to just pick an answer. She felt what schools should
PHOTO BY ARACELI VALENCIA
Seniors have received their Common Core scores and a guide describing how to read it. These scores will not affect students at all.
have been teaching all along, that Common Core has since incorporated into curriculum is helping students to fully understand the process of how they get the answers they do. “Common Core is putting students on the path to STEM careers,” said Bailey-Carr. “That’s why writing is being incorporated into math, science and history classes.” As the test will be taken officially in the upcoming years, the district will be able to see where each school ranks in academic achievement. This will allow students and teachers to be held accountable for the progress their scores show. Knowing now that these scores won’t affect their transcript or college admission in anyway, seniors and all students can continue to focus on their current grades.
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CASHEE ends for all students EstefanyNunez
Gov. Jerry Brown recently signed legislation to suspend the California High School Exit Exam. Senate Bill 172 was proposed earlier this year. The CAHSEE for more than 10 years has been a requirement for high school graduation taken at the beginning of a student’s sophomore year. Two tests were taken, one in English and one in math. Now, those tests no longer line up with the Common Core curriculum. Although this may not affect students who haven’t taken the test or those who passed both exams, it’ll definitely affect students who are currently enrolled in CAHSEE preparatory classes. The CAHSEE no longer will prevent students from getting their high school diploma. “I do believe they should have those basic skills in order to graduate,” said math teacher Julie Backster. She said Common Core involves deeper comprehension and retention. “That’s just not going to happen for some people,” she said. While the CAHSEE covers basic math and English needed to graduate, Common Core focuses more on applying knowledge, comprehension, and consistency that aligns with college and career expectations. “We’ve gone to Common Core and we’re basing it more on critical thinking skills,” Backster said.
CAHSEE math preparatory teacher Annie McDonald believes they are going to bring back the high school exam but with a different name. She said, “I would like to see them do something to ensure that kids have a basic ability to learn what to apply. They have to be tested some way. I wish they could make something more conducive to their learning styles.” Students who are enrolled in CAHSEE preparatory classes this quarter now have the opportunity to switch out from those former mandatory classes. That’s a whole period that can be taken up for another elective or other a-g course. Senior Destiny Guzman was one of those students. “My junior year, I came really close and missed both of them by one which is what happened my sophomore year,” she said. “Even though you miss them by one and have all your credits, you still don’t graduate. It’s sad.” Guzman has taken both the English and math CAHSEE preparatory classes since junior year. “I study and I know everything but when the test is put in front of me, I forget it all,” she explained. She’s been worried ever since her sophomore year, wondering if she was even going to graduate. She says it’s been haunting her whole high school year Now she says she’s happy she gets to graduate.
PHOTO BY MY’KAYLA MOORE
Junior Jarrie Yang works on a worksheet in the English CASHEE class.