the
StaggLine
Testing out health myths — See pages 4-5
Cross street with caution
Take a look at the scene
Lack of crosswalk causes congestion on Rosemarie Lane BrianWalker
The streets of school zones are supposed to look distinguishably different from regular streets. Campus safety is a priority to cities in their planning of streets and roads. Schools are supposed to be covered with special speed signs, speed bumps and most importantly, crosswalks. Each morning more than 1,000 students flock to
school, leaving the three parking entrances to campus heavily congested. The traffic causes parents to sometimes disobey traffic laws and signs in a rush to get students dropped off. Also, the only street surrounding the campus with sufficient traffic signs is Brookside. On the streets McGaw and Rosemarie, there is one school zone speed limit sign that one can only see coming east on Rosemarie. There are
photos by
Brian Walker
(Above) Students make their way through traffic. (Top Right) As cars pull out of the parking lot, they are haulted by jaywalkers whose nearest crosswalk is blocks away.
WASC team to evaluate school CelineLopez Ever notice suited people sneak into your classroom during a lesson, not saying a thing, standing at the back of the class, watching? Wonder why your teachers write the standards and objectives on the board, and sometimes make you write them on your assignments? And how about the tons of posters all over campus explaining and emphasizing Stagg PRIDE? This is all implemented at school to meet the criteria of an organization called WASC, the Western Association of Schools and Colleges. The school is now in preparations for the assessment by a WASC team of seven that will visit April 6-9. The two WASC coordinators, Deborah Spector and Thongthip Duangsawat, along with five focus group leaders, have put together a report evaluating the school in terms of curriculum, instruction, and other areas. WASC officials visit the campus to validate what is in the report and give feedback and recommendations upon their study, then issue an accreditation of anywhere from one to six years. Reflecting on her first year collaborating on the WASC process of this scale, Duangsawat has found the work to be “overwhelming.” “I’m seeing the school from all angles, beyond the four walls of my classroom.” Despite the trials in ensuring the school gets accredited, Duangsawat sees the value in the process. “WASC is helpful because it gives us a chance to reflect on ourselves. Even if we’re doing ‘just swell,’ we want to do better.” The efforts of teachers, staff, and even students to make sure criteria are met may seem tedious, but it all has a purpose in trying to improve the school. The report highlights strengths but also focuses on aspects that can be improved. For example, according to the curriculum section of the report, elective textbooks are either “dated or nonexistent.” Span-
see WASC, page 8
Drought dealing with the
2013 was the driest year for California in more than a century, and 2014 hasn’t helped. The cause for the lack of rain in the Golden State is due to the high pressure system over the Pacific Ocean stopping most of the precipitation from falling into California. While the state and federal government are working on long-term changes to help citizens get through the drought, there are many simple ways to conserve water at home.
This affects more than just water supply Southern California. The California aqueducts pump water to the Los Angeles area, and when the central valley experiences a drought, Southern cities are also hurt by it. Shipping. The lack of rain makes the Delta more shallow. It may not be noticeable because the state government dredges water from other places and bring it here. The shallow waters make it harder for large ships to bring produce into the Central Valley.
graphic by
the
Amos Alonzo Stagg High School
1621 Brookside Rd. Stockton, CA 95207
Vol. 57 No. 6
According to City of Stockton Traffic Engineer Shirley Arnet, placing speed bumps or traffic signs is not really something the city just goes out and does. “They have to be requested, we just don’t go out and place them,” she said. “Most of the speed bumps you see on the streets were requested by the people in the neighborhoods they’re in.” The lack of direction and traffic regulation is being felt by the students. “I don’t feel comfortable walking to school,” Flax said. “I try to make it to school in the morning but cars don’t stop, even for little kids.” It is not only Stagg students who are being put in harm’s way, but elementary students from Lincoln Unified who catch the bus in the morning. “More crosswalks and speed bumps would make travel faster, easier and safe,” Flax said. According to Salama, the issue is being brought to Principal Andre Phillips and a request with the city is being worked on. “A really important part of being safe is crossing the street,” Flax said.
o conser t s ve ay W 1. Turn off the faucet while brushing your teeth. 2. Take shorter showers. Showers themselves save on average 30 to 40 more gallons than baths. 3. Water the lawn at night. This should be avoided as much as possible, but when the garden or lawn must be watered it’s better to do it at night. The water has more time to sink into the soil instead of evaporating into the air. 4. Avoid washing the car. They look great when clean but one car wash can easily waste 15 to 20 gallons. 5. Reuse towels. They can be washed less to save money and water by not using the washing machine as much.
Adrianna Owens and Devin Wickstrom
BottomLine 2.28.14
no crosswalks in the middle of the street, so students are dropped off and tend to jaywalk to the opposite side of the street. One reason for the lack of traffic direction could be because the student parking lot on Rosemarie is new. Before its construction, the now student parking lot was just an entrance where a couple of teachers could park. Now that it is a parking lot and is easier to access, more students are being dropped off on Rosemarie which leads to major traffic in the area. Also, the newly installed sidewalks on Brookside lack any indication of a school zone whatsoever. The thought of putting them in never came up in the planning of the new facilities. The construction plans made by the school did not extend to the streets according to Assistant Principal Gamal Salama. “The lack of signs and speed bumps are a city issue, not a school one,” Salama said. If a student were to be dropped off on Rosemarie, they would have to walk all the way to the corner before finding a crosswalk. This is unlike Brookside, where there is a crosswalk straight across the street from the main entrance. “Traffic is crazy in the morning,” said social studies teacher Tara Hayes, who commutes to work by way of Brookside Road. “Parents stop in the middle of the street just to drop off their children.” This may be because of the lack of traffic direction at the school. “The cars just keep going and going and don’t bother to stop for anybody,” senior Melvin Flax said. There is a staff member who is out in the morning, but their duty is to stay at the front entrance. So cars in the morning lack instruction and a driver’s only way of direction is from either a left turn or right turn only sign. This is more than what is on Brookside or McGaw.
Visit staggonline.net
MESA Day
FAFSA deadline
This Saturday, the MESA program will be represented by several teams at the University of the Pacific. The contests include the prosthetic arm and the mouse trap car.
The final day to turn in the FAFSA information is this Saturday, March 1. Missing the deadline will likely cost the student a chance at getting financial aid.
Inside the issue Addicting apps — See page 6
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Opinion
2.28.14
STAFF EDITORIAL
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ASB looks for leadership
he Associated Student Body, or ASB, has had three advisors over the past four years and we sympathize with them for that, but they’ve dealt with the challenges of filling in a new advisor before. The time for them to step up and prove they are leaders is now. ASB can be commended for some of the events they have executed in the past. Playing music and lunch time activities get students involved and prove to be a good time. Now they appear to be slacking because they do not have an advisor. It is easy to call yourself a leader, but you have to be able to deliver. Since they are the Leadership class they should take charge. There isn’t an advisor here who can help them like before. It is up to them to try and get things together. To do this, they would need a team they can count on. There are 54 people in ASB, so there is more than enough people who can help to execute events. In order for things to go smoothly, communication is key. They need to make sure the juniors and seniors are communicating with the freshmen and sophomores and vice versa. It is also important for them to communicate with the students as a whole. Sophomore Lexus Applon said that ASB is un-
organized and that people have been acting up. To prevent scenes of people acting out, we think that there should be a pre-screening process for potential ASB students.That way, teachers can determine which students are serious about wanting to help plan events
art by
Marleene Pheav
for the school and which ones are just looking for an easy A. Applon said that when former ASB teacher Michelle Canfield left, she had the paperwork needed to plan activities. When she left, the paperwork got disorganized and could no longer be used. Paperwork is needed to get things done and the substitute isn’t properly trained to work with it. Freshman Alexis Villagomez said “When Canfield left everything fell apart. Every time we plan something it doesn’t come out successfully. Our family fell apart.” When ASB does have events planned and needs to sell tickets, they need Corene Lugo here to handle the money. However, this is difficult because when Lugo isn’t here it’s hard for ASB to function. When teachers are out they have substitutes to fill in for them. Well, we suggest that there be another person on campus who is authorized to handle the money that ASB makes from selling tickets and what clubs make from fund raisers. So that way ASB can sell tickets or do whatever they need to do that involves money. By next year ASB will have a new advisor — the fourth in five years. They have pulled off events under an advisor before and it would be inspiring to see them do the same, but this time under their own leadership.
Relationships can wait ‘til we are older Significant others shouldn’t dominate lifestyle or distort priorities
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e wait for what feels them for the rest of like forever to get your life? Do you to our teenage years love them, or just Alexus where we have this idea that they the idea of having Plascencia will be the best years of our lives. someone to call your Having freedom, going out with own? Really think friends, and meeting new people about it. — making memories along the Being teenagers, way. life should be about But once we get to high school, there are having an open mind, meeting new people, couples holding hands down hallways, even and just being yourself. Not worrying about sucking on each other’s faces. Online our if he tells all his friends about you, if she peers constantly post about their significant brings you around her parents, or if they others. have you in their Instagram bio. Our ideas shift to “needing” someone School comes first no matter what. But to call our own. Even if it means moping aside from that, having a boyfriend or girlaround until someone pities us or sticking friend? It can wait. around with the person we call our “forever” Life’s too short to waste it waiting for even though they’re obviously no good. Prince Charming to come sweep you off But we’ll sacrifice so much of our time your feet or for Belle to realize that behind just so we have that person we think we your imperfections there’s something to love. need. What we need to do is set our priori Being what we call “in love” is a beautities straight. So, ask yourself this: ful thing. I’m not saying it isn’t, nor that we Is this person really going to be there shouldn’t get involved in relationships. Havforever? Are you capable of putting up with ing someone to lean on, do things with, and
be all lovey dovey with is amazing —coming from someone who shared two years of being in love with someone. It can be a great feeling, but should we dedicate our time we have as teens doing nothing but searching for that one special person? Is it a necessity? We shouldn’t, and it’s not. What I’m trying to get across is that we shouldn’t moan and groan about not having someone to spend the holidays with, take the same cliche Tumblr pictures with, let alone be in love with. From experience, friendships last longer and are worth much more. Commitment shouldn’t be so much of a concern— at least not now. Relationships are lovely, and they are okay to have, but it’s far more beautiful letting them develop over time. Life’s too short to wait around on something that won’t get far or happen at all. Go out, make friends, cherish each moment as a kid because one day we’ll look back and regret the things we never got around to because we were so caught up looking for something we didn’t need.
art by
Marleene Pheav
Choosing classes wisely Raising minimum wage sets path for success encourages lazy society
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t’s about that time in the last several months of school, where we start to look ahead Michealla and plan for the next year. Foules Counselors call us in to help us choose a new set of classes. Though we don’t have a choice to get rid of math, history, or English from our lives — because of graduation requirements — there’s still a little freedom in picking electives. You also have a choice between taking regular classes, and if you’re feeling daring, honors or AP classes. Taking higher level classes can be a big step for some students. You might feel discouraged with all of the essays, reading, or worksheets you’ve heard other students stress over, but don’t let that change your mind. Something that will stay true is the intense workload that these honors and college level courses provide. While it seems that these courses are designed to ruin our lives, they are doing just the opposite — making our lives easier for the long run, and minds more enriched. With experience comes ease. Honors and AP classes are the gateways to college. Taking AP classes is the closest experience to work you have to do in college. These classes prepare you by improving work ethic and discipline.
We complain about the tons of work we’re assigned, but imagine what college work will be like. I’d rather be introduced to the hard work now than entering college unprepared and baffled. There are others who take these rigorous classes just to get the highest GPA possible. This isn’t the best motive, speaking from experience. It can cause you to choose classes that aren’t of your best interest or are too much for you to handle. Things go downhill from there —a lack of interest causing you to shut yourself out from focusing. Here’s a scenario: You have a choice between Pre-calculus and Honors Pre-calculus. With an honors class, letter grades are worth more credit (a B in a regular class is worth three points while a B is worth four points at an honors level). So, you decide on taking honors even though math isn’t your strongest subject. If you know you aren’t going to be capable of performing your best, or put enough focus and effort to get better in a class, don’t waste your time being in it. You just set yourself up for failure. Having an interest and aptitude for the subject makes the class, and learning experience more fun. The work doesn’t seem like torture anymore. You should take a class or subject that you are interested in because that will make the learning experience worthwhile.
complain “We about the tons
of work we’re assigned, but imagine what college work will be like. I’d rather be introduced to the hard work now...”
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here is a lot of talk about raising the minimum wage. The primary goal for doing so is to boost the economy and bridge the income gap. Minimum wage is currently $8 an hour in California and is supposed to be raised to $10 within the next few years. However, some companies are already taking action. Gap Inc. recently told their U.S. employees they can expect $9 an hour as a minimum hourly wage. President Obama applauded Gap for their actions. “In my State of the Union address, I asked more businesses to do what they can to raise their employees’ wages. Today I applaud Gap Inc. for announcing that they intend to raise wages for their employees.” The nation’s largest private sector employer Wal-Mart is also considering raising the minimum wage for their employees. Politician Jack Lew is also definitely going forward for this cause. “We are going to keep working on it,” he said. “It’s obviously not in our power to force Congress to act, but we can make the case for it.” Wal-Mart’s company spokesman David Tovar said, “That’s something we are looking at.
Esmeralda Mascorro
Whenever there’s debates, it’s not like we look once and make a decision. We look a few times from other angles.” So what does all this mean? When you raise wages assuming from $8 to $10 an hour, this will cause the company’s profit to drop a bit. To balance that, prices would have to go up on merchandise and consumer items, thus causing inflation. This can cause the cost of living to go up, theoretically. You have young adults, who are and will be the ones in line for these minimum wage jobs, that are excited to now be making a lot more. Raising the minimum wage isn’t a bad idea, but right now our economy is not at a level to do so. We have a high unemployment rate and many Democrats believe this is the jumpstart that we need to get our unemployment numbers down. Not surprisingly, this will
make competition for jobs increase. Assuming you are a company and you now have to pay your employees one or two dollars more, you might reconsider the amount of employees you really need to have. America is typically known as the land of opportunity. I am all for opportunities, but setting a higher minimum wage is not the answer to solve the problems of unemployment and income equality. I believe if we do this we will bring down the number of college graduates. Students out of high school will be gullible enough to think they are making good money, when in reality it isn’t enough to balance the cost of living expenses. Like Tovar said, all angles must be viewed. It seems like a good thing, but it can also cause young people to get stuck thinking they are making a lot of money. In the long run you can’t raise a family if you only make $8 or $10 an hour. The truth of the matter is to lower poverty rates we need to promote college degrees. However, politicians like Jack Lew are so eager to try and fix the economy’s problem that they forget to look at the long term effects of these proposals.
Opinion
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2.28.14
History more than just a month
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art by Jessica
Cervantes
Goth culture is a form of expression
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irly, you’re 17!” my older sister exclaims, holding Jessica up a pair of ripped Cervantes leggings to my face. “You’re growing up, girl! You need to look nice for your man and your job. You have to throw all this stuff away.” Wait. What? My worn out boots that help keep me moving? My black lipstick that comes around in my grasp once a year? My Bauhaus shirt that I hold deep in my heart? You want me to throw that away? Throughout my life, I have heard the same remarks. Satanic freak. Emo. The list grows by the day. With complete honesty when people spit these remarks to my face, it’s nothing to be bothered by. In a sense, I take it as a compliment (too many insults in one day is another story). I don’t need them to understand why I dress the way I do, but I want them to understand that a subculture is nothing to look down upon. The question is, what is goth? It is a strange and difficult concept to grasp. You have “swag” teens who are easily recognized with their Diamond-brand clothing. You have jocks with their letterman jackets. These people are simple to imagine in your head, in terms of fashion. But a goth? That’s tricky. There is no true definition. The goth look sounds simple, though. Black clothes. Dyed-black hair. Worn out boots. Simple, right? Wrong. The goth look remains surprisingly difficult to pin down. Contemporary goths put together a collage of styles drawn from a variety of influences. The first spark of this dark flame began in the late 70s in Great Britain as a post-punk scene. This scene did not last long, but some people wanted to hold on to this type of rebellion. Thus the goth subculture began, creating bands such as Bauhaus, Siouxsie and the Banshees, Skeletal Family, etc. As the years pass by, this genre of music shifted
speak “Iforcannot entire goth
community. My beliefs for what goth truly is can be completely different than what another would believe.”
Amos Alonzo Stagg High School 1621 Brookside Rd. Stockton, Calif. 95207 209.933.7445 ext. 8487 The Stagg Line newspaper is a member of the National Scholastic Press Association and the California Newspaper Publishers Association. Awards and recognition include the following: ºº 20 consecutive All-American rankings ºº NSPA Hall of Fame, 2005 ºº NSPA First Place Best of Show five times ºº NSPA National Newspaper Pacemaker seven times ºº JEA Impact Award, 2002 Stagg Line student journalists have won many awards and scholarships over the years, including California Journalist of the Year, National Story of the Year and National Photo of the Year. Keep up with us ºº Facebook: Search “Stagg Line” ºº Twitter: Follow us @staggonline ºº Web: Check out staggonline.net ºº PDFs: Go to issuu.com/staggline
dramatically to deathrock and industrial creating confusion in the goth community. In music terms, they all fall under the category of “dark.” Goth is not, and never has been, a fully unified and consistent subculture in terms of fashion or music. There are goths who favor elegant clothing and slow atmospheric music, called Victorian Goths. At the opposite end of the spectrum, there are goths who wear bizarre futuristic fashions and dance the night away to fastpaced electronic music, called Cyber Goths. In between, you may find a huge number of other styles. I cannot speak for the entire goth community. My beliefs for what goth truly is can be completely different than what another would
believe. But if there is anything that makes our inner demons tick, it is those that falsely accuse us of stereotypes. The goth subculture tends to have a poor reputation because so many people who choose to label themselves as such know nothing about the culture and involve themselves in juvenile behavior they feel as goth. The obvious example from the mainstream media is “South Park.” The show depicts these individuals as mopey, spending time by causing harm to others and themselves. But then again, the show is known to mock every group imaginable. Goth is not a label. It is a culture that expresses the beauty in darkness. We as goths are individuals, not a group of posers who do their best to stand out. It is what we wear that makes us feel comfortable, even if we tend to overdo the thicker eyeliner, black lipstick, and wacky hairstyles. Goths are not Satan worshippers, murderers, and angst-filled morons. It is a lifestyle. It is art. It is beauty. Goths have a way of recognizing the beauty of things that seem morbid and tragic to others. We are simply human beings surviving in this world, just as you are. Does that make me a bad person?
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f a race has no history, if it has no worthwhile tradition, it becomes a negligible Jada factor in the thought of the Johnson world, and it stands in danger of being exterminated.” The wise words of Carter G. Woodson grow in the fertile soil of Black History Month, a time of celebration that he founded. This year marks the 38th anniversary since heroes of African American ancestry began being recognized. Year after year, we read the bios of historical, legendary figures such as Martin Luther King Jr., Rosa Parks, Frederick Douglass, and the same people we’ve been learning, well hearing, about year after year after year. This throbbing repetition of “history” has long since passed its prime. Of course, the “I Have a Dream” speech and the story of Rosa Parks’ bus ride will forever be groundbreaking moments, but focusing mainly on the same familiar facts generation after generation hinders understanding the true significance of history. Understanding the the sequence of event in our country’s history is a challenge all in its own. How many believe that the Civil Rights Era is the same as the Civil War? Or believe Benjamin Franklin was a president? Or have no clue what rights are guaranteed in the First Amendment? Basic information about American history is sometimes not comprehended. Imagine how hard it is to learn black history when all that’s taught are trivial facts. In the 2014 semifinals of college “Jeopardy,” three white students avoided answering questions from the Black History Month category until there were no other options left. They were stumped when subjects like the Scottsboro boys and the 1st Rhode Island Regiment appeared. They answered three of the five questions correctly. The sad fact is, it’s not entirely their fault. How can we blame them for not knowing
such crucial information when in 2005, the only state that required African American history to be taught as a graduation requirement was Pennsylvania, “More than a Month,” a documentary on ending Black History Month, showed. The 2013 release of the movie unraveled a 38 year long struggle for equality in education and in society. “Get them! Get their black asses!” Educator and activist Walt Palmer relives the 1967 walkout in Philadelphia schools where he and his fellow student peers fought for black studies to be included in the curriculum. “I told them fight. Fight ‘em. Fight back.” They won the battle, but why so much almost 40 years later? The politics of history undermine equality. The textbooks we’re given cover only what the state wants. That translates into American, and even world, history being Eurocentric. Students are stripped of learning African American history as if it’s not a part of history at all. We never get the chance to recognize the contributions of African Americans as serious parts of American history. African American history is viewed as being separate from American history. It is viewed as less valuable, less worthy of learning. African American history is a footnote that is so minute that we must go out of our way to find information that we don’t already know. There should be no month dedicated to a race because all that means is it’s not considered to be important enough to be taught in all other months of the year. A man on the street in the documentary said it best, “We’re here 365 days a year and on leap year 366, so should our history.” History is history — white, black, or polka dotted. This struggle of races has lasted centuries. The fact that blacks have gone from being worthless to society, to having a president in the White House shows that there is no distinction in success. So why not allow the history to be taught?
Driving brings about fair weathered friends
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reshman year was probably one of the hardest years for my family and I. I was completely new to Stockton and didn’t know a soul. We moved here with only our furniture, clothes and other belongings. Eating out wasn’t an option. In fact, we hardly had any money to buy food at all. Therefore, Top Ramen was our breakfast, lunch and dinner for about a month. Once summer was over and I started high school, I went weeks without talking to anybody. I remember when I made my first friend. She told me that there were soccer tryouts and that she was going to play and so should I. I went out to play, but I didn’t really talk to any of the girls on the team. Eventually some of them became my closest friends. That’s when I met my best friend Adrianna Gimenez. I didn’t always have a ride home from practice, so my friends Jessica Casillas and Gimenez (and others) would give me rides when I needed them. Regardless of the situation these friends were always there for me. Since my freshman year, things have dramatically changed. I now live in a beautiful house and have my
EditorialPolicy The Stagg Line newspaper is published monthly and distributed free of charge to students and faculty. Our website is updated regularly with photo galleries, video and breaking news. Our newspaper is a long-standing open forum for free student expression. That means that it is student editors and reporters who make content and style decisions with the adviser offering the guidance. A staff editorial, which appears on the top left of the first opinion page, reflects the opinion of the entire staff and therefore is not signed. Opinion columns reflect the view of the writer. Readers are welcome to write letters to the editor in response to any story or to make a comment about an issue at school. We will make every effort to print any letter as long as it is not libelous. Letters longer than 250 may be edited. Unsigned letters will be printed only in unusual circumstances and only when we know who the writer is. Letters may be delivered to the Stagg Line newsroom, A-10. They may also be emailed to dbott@stockton.k12.ca.us
own car. Things changed in my social life as well. Ever since I got Rubi my car, many people want to act Rico like they’re my friend. People who never noticed me before, people who were rude to me, people who never even spoke to me just randomly tried to get close to me. I hear the questions, “Are you going off campus today?” and “Can I get a ride?” at least five times a day. I hate the fact that when certain people see me they ask me for a ride rather than greeting me. I don’t really know how they don’t feel bad using somebody, but I do know that they are not my real friends. My friends are the people who were there when I had basically nothing, the ones who gave me rides when I needed them or invited me over to their house all the time. Most importantly, they’re the ones who have been with me since day one. I am completely open to making new friends. However, the mentality of being used is always on the back of my mind. I enjoy making new friends, especially when they don’t know that I have a car or things like that. In the end no one can stop people from using others — I just hope that my friends actually want me for me and not for what I own.
NewspaperStaff AdriannaOwens & FeValencia Co Editors in Chief
WilliamAlexander
JadaJohnson // News Editor
JessicaCervantes
VeronicaVargo // Opinion Editor
AngelGonzalez
DevinWickstrom // Features Editor
MarcellaHawkins
AlexusPlascencia // Entertainment Editor
YesicaIbarra
JessicaMangili // Sports Editor DellaniraAlcauter // Photo Editor AlyssaRojas // Graphics Editor MicheallaFoules // Web Editor BrianWalker // Social Media Editor
MichaelBishop
CelineLopez EsmereldaMascorro BaylinMoran TrishaNewman MarleenePheav RubiRico
NuviaCervantes // Copy Editor
ArrianaSmith
DonBott // Adviser
AraceliValencia
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Features
the
StaggLine
sports drinks are good for you at any time of day TrishaNewman
es
it?
Some people use energy drinks as a booster or a kick to get their workout started. Many energy drink advertisements relay false perceptions of the effects of energy drinks. “Feeling tired, drink this. Having a down day, drink this. Instant energy to get through the day!” These drinks that people are purchasing include the substances guarana, taurine, B vitamins and glucuronolactone, which can cause serious side effects such as heart attacks and seizures when combined, according to science. howstuffworks.com. As a result of this, they can give you a jolt of energy for about an hour then a hard crash. In reality, the simpler, more natural beverages such as water, milk and green tea are better replacements that cost less, are better for your body, and can benefit you all around, according to John McBride.
When it comes to health, many rely on flawed sources for information. It is easy to believe the tips given by friends or read in magazines or online. The truth is, many of these tips are detrimental to one’s health. On these pages we take a look at several myths and research the information that lies behind them.
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For these stories we interviewed experts in the health field, Lyn Brock (left) and John and Nicole McBride. Brock is a registered dietician who works for the University of California Davis in the Nutritional Education program. John is a conditioning specialist who has trained Olympic athletes and Nicole is a personal trainer.
typography by
Dellanira Alcauter
fasting before a workout can help you lose weight
AlexusPlascencia
Fasting: a reduction of food and/or drink for a period of time. Some see it as a way of cleansing the body, or even to prevent weight gain. But doing it once a week, every week can be harmful for long-term health. Usually with an athlete’s sport season on its way, it’s all about developing muscle, strength, and staying fit. In hopes of gaining the muscle and strength that is needed to play the sport, some athletes will fast on a weekly basis. They believe it’ll improve their endurance and help develop muscles faster. But this is false. “Fasting constantly actually results in losing more muscle, strength, and size,” conditioning specialist John McBride said. If an athlete were to try
intermittent fasting, periods of fasting and non-fasting while running on just water, it could be beneficial. It helps with cleansing the body. Although intermittent fasting can be helpful, relying on it just as plain fasting could be harmful. Our bodies are in need of protein and carbohydrates. Consuming raw fruit and vegetables have a more positive affect than just running on water. Some people have the mentality that if you fast before you exercise, you’ll lose weight quicker. Truth is, if you’re not eating you won’t be able to function. “They don’t have enough strength because they haven’t eaten,” varsity football coach Don Norton said. “There’s nothing there for them to get energy needed to exercise.” If someone wanted to gain
muscle mass the healthy way, they’d need to consume sufficient calories and protein. Also, the proper training has a lot to do with it. For someone who wants to lose or maintain weight, it’s helpful to eat every meal. Skipping meals has no effect on weight but can damage the body. Eating healthy before a nice workout is key to staying in shape. In the end, fasting just deprives your body from the nutrients needed to function with. There are more cons than pros. A balanced diet and proper training is key to a healthy body. “Educate yourself,” Nicole McBride said. “Get someone who can help you. Your dreams and aspirations won’t mean anything if you don’t have your health.”
Fe Valencia
alternate weight lifting makes you bigger MicheallaFoules
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It’s your first time lifting the bar or dumbbells. If you’re hitting the curls, squats, or bench presses correctly, within the next couple of days your whole body will be sore. Though you will feel as if you can hardly walk, and your arms too heavy to grab a textbook, the only way to get used to the soreness is to continue through the pain. There is a misconception that once your whole body feels sore, taking a couple of days off will get you to recovery. The important thing is to “maintain strength,” conditionaling specialist John McBride says. If you do a lot of lifting in one day, then you should take a longer time to recover, he advises. On the other hand, the best way to do it is to do a little every day so recovery is quicker, with increased strength and less soreness. Another misconception that women in particular have is that lifting weights will lead them in becoming the female Incredible Hulk. In reality, having a buff, manly body is something a girl shouldn’t have to worry about. “The female body isn’t designed that way,” personal trainer Nicole McBride said. She would have to have a whole lot of testosterone to get super bulky.
Girls (and boys) who lift weights will actually form lean muscle, speeding up the metabolism—helping maintain weight by burning calories more efficiently, according to Livestrong.com. Without fuel that your body needs, it cannot properly function and heal. “You want to engineer performance,” John McBride said. It is important to consume the right amount of protein during your weight lifting regime. Muscles need protein to rebuild from the strain that they are put through. Some foods that are packed with protein are meats — beef, chicken, pork — eggs, beans, and peanut butter. Protein shakes and bars are also some alternatives to bring to your diet. John McBride advises people who are just starting to lift weights to first “educate yourself.” Begin with basic workouts, starting with weights that aren’t too heavy to lift. Gradually work your way up to the heavier weights, to keep it safe and minimize injuries. “Technique is always more important than speed.”
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Drinking water is always the best choice. It may sound bland, but you can add flavor to it by adding strawberry slices, cucumber, or anything that is enticing. Milk is also a great alternative. It has nine essential amino acids that help build healthy tissues, like muscle, and prevent unhealthy eating habits. Before a workout, it provides a simple carbohydrate in an easily digestible form. Milk is not only a great source of calcium but also has vitamin D. According to The Daily Meal, green tea is one of the best sources of the antioxidant ECGD. The herbal beverage has been shown to have weight loss benefits and has a great source of vitamin B that our body needs to run at its full potential. It also contains caffeine, which, unlike in coffee, benefits a workout because of the lack of sugars and other unhealthy substances.
illness prevention Get vaccinated. Everyone should get vaccinated for the flu every year. Steer clear. Keeping your distance from people who are sick and dodging one simple sneeze or a cough could spare you from illness.
VeronicaVargo
Due to the added caramel colored syrup in dark sodas, such as colas or root beer, people naturally tend to the think it is worse than the lighter, clear lemon flavored sodas. The only real difference between the two is the amount of caffeine you would like to intake, which, according to Shape.com averages the same. Yes, darker sodas can discolor your teeth, but the main effect is through the caffeine intake. And like colored sugar sweetened beverages, the myth that diet sodas are “healthier” for you than a regular soda is found to be not true. According to John McBride, diet sodas contain artificial sugars that trick your brain into thinking that what you are drinking is real sugar when it really isn’t. Shape.com adds that this false appearance of sweetness releases calories to can slow your metabolism down and increase your appetite. There are also studies that show that diet soda can lead to diabetes,
Sleep well. Without a good night’s sleep your immune system will weaken and your body won’t have time to restore itself. The ideal amount of sleep for maximum effect is eight hours. Drink fluids. Drinking water is a great way to help your body stay hydrated, eliminate headaches and help fight off a cold. Avoid stress. When you’re stressed, your immune system weakens. If you don’t allow yourself to get stressed, you’re less likely to get a cold.
Wash hands. Not everyone washes their hands after sneezing or coughing. By washing them, you can kill most germs and bacteria. Araceli Valencia
YesicaIbarra
heart attacks, and strokes. “Diet soda may have fewer calories,” McBride said. “But soda in general is never really healthy for you.” However, Lyn Brock said that soda in general won’t hurt you tremendously when it is consumed sparingly. “But it doesn’t offer you anything nutritional.” She said. “It gives you calories, and that’s about it.” The artificial sweeteners in diet soda can make you want more of it, which can dehydrate you. Also, heart problems, like irregular beating, have been reported by heavy soda drinkers. It’s important to remember how extreme and fast you personally want to get healthy because if soda is a big part of your diet, then cutting down on your consumption of it is better than completely taking it out of the picture. And it’s especially important to recognize truth from myth. “Getting information off the internet is like drinking from a fire hydrant,” Brock said.
Coffee stunts your growth. Coffee shortens your lifespan. Coffee causes cancer. There are myths out there that people will believe. The Internet makes it hard to distinguish the truth from lies. “Sometimes nutrition information is right,” nutritionist Lyn Brock said. “Most of the time, flat out wrong.” You may feel sleepy after drinking a cup of coffee. Or it may make you feel alert and awake. “Caffeine does increase alertness level, but people react differently,” Brock said. Despite the different reactions, there are no studies that show real harmful effects. Coffee affects your nervous system but coffee is a plant food that’s meant to be good for consumers. It has antioxidants that are helpful for the skin, but according to Brock, “Don’t overdo it.” And energy drinks in general may cause alertness and make the consumer feel good, but it doesn’t
help your body. Athletes tend to drink energy drinks before a game or workout. One gets the misconception on what it’s really doing to your body. “It’s like leaving an engine running without the car moving,” said John McBride, conditioning specialist. “It irregulates your body’s metabolism.” It damages you in many ways. Energy drinks contain an acid that destroys tooth enamel, may cause insomnia, and changes heart rhythms. Studies don’t prove that energy drinks lead to substance abuse, but there’s a strong correlation. There are downfalls to drinking energy drinks, but it all depends on the consumer’s choice. “There is little reason to drink an energy drink,” Brock said. The only acceptable time to consume an energy drink, she added, would be when a professional athlete is going strong and nonstop — not high school athletes. While it may seem to improve performance, water should be drunk instead.
If I sleep less on weekdays, I can catch up on it on the weekends. False! It is unwise to cut sleep on school nights and try to pile them on weekend nights. Doing so can upset your body’s sleep-wake cycle. Sleeping in on the weekends ruins the sleep cycle for the upcoming school week. It forces the body to “reset” and start a new wake cycle that begins early in the morning.
This makes it harder for your body to obtain the adequate amount of daily rest it needs. Too little sleep on weeknights is unhealthy as it can impair academic performance and the ability to pay attention in class. You might feel sleepy during morning classes and fall asleep or start to daydream, leading you to ignore the teacher and the lesson that is being taught. If you have enough willpower to not let yourself sleep, you can
then feel the effects of drowsiness and laziness that can lead to unfinished work. For student drivers, driving performance may be negatively affected as well. The immune system is also susceptible to blows from lack of sleep, according to nutritionist Lyn Brock, making people sick easier and more frequently. The more time you spend coughing in bed means less time you are in school learning important material.
Donna Arand, Ph.D., a spokeswoman for the American Academy of Sleep Medicine, wrote in an article that the body loves consistency and it is best to rise at around the same time every day, even on the weekends. Of course, this does not necessarily mean that you need eight solid hours of sleep every night. Every body has their own sleep needs and demands different amounts of rest and relaxation.
smoking won’t hurt your athletic performance
gateway drugs won’t lead to more intense ones
Grey smoke slowly rolling off the tongue, maybe escaping the nose as it fogs the air, leaving behind the stench of stale musk. No worries, though. The smell might not be that great but it’s not like there are any downfalls to it! Heck I’ll probably even do better than I would without it. Some athletes have started the habit of smoking before practice or a game with the thought of it helping them to relax and perform better. However, Adriana Martinez, a sophomore at the University of the Pacific who is part of the Students in Prevention program, feels that it is not a good idea. An example let’s say a basketball player has a points per game average of 20 and after they smoke they then only have a 9 points per game scoring “Marijuana acts as a depressant and slows their body down and at the same time doesn’t allow it to function at a normal state.” How does it do this? Well, it harmfully effects the nervous system by slowing down the memory and movement of the persons brain and body. Martinez also believes that it could possibly make the athlete not aware of their surroundings and slow their reaction rate down so they wouldn’t work as efficiently as they would without smoking. Healthy alternatives can include listening to music, preparing before the game with the team, and breathing techniques.
The term “gateway drug” is used to describe any drug that a non drug-user might try out, obvious ones being marijuana, alcohol, and tobacco. Often a gateway drug is not perceived as harmful or addictive, giving the potential user the feeling that “it can’t hurt me.” Even with the use of these common drugs, painkillers fall into this category as well. Let’s say you take ibuprofen before a workout, thinking that if you take a small dosage, you will not feel any pain. However, conditioning specialist John McBride said that ibuprofen is meant to reduce the inflammation of muscles after a workout. “Even though they are good to use for that reason, taking painkillers before a workout does not offer any benefit and causes physical damage, mostly in the stomach.” Once a person is accustomed to taking a weak drug, they feel an urge to use a stronger one. Since gateway drugs lower inhibitions just like more powerful and addictive drugs, people turn to something else while they are in the middle of experimenting with them, in this case a stronger dosage of painkillers. The best way to not fall into this death trap is to be aware of the risks that will cause injury to your body, whether it be alcohol or even painkillers.
BaylinMoran
Stay active. At least 30 minutes a day, you should just move around, take a walk around the block or go out for a jog. As a result, you can reduce stress and stay fit.
caffeine will help you get through the entire day
you can catch up on sleep during the weekend NuviaCervantes
Eat right. Eating right will not only keep you healthy, but will help to strengthen your immune system.
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diet and dark soda is healthier than the regular kind
JessicaCervantes
2.28.14
Entertainment
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Apps Of The Past We all know that the fun, frustrating Flappy Bird has been taken down from Google Play and the App Store. Here are other titles that were short lived. These apps were great when they were popular and had their time in the spotlight. Candy Crush Saga is a game like Bejeweled but when you group up four or more candies you get a power up that clears a row of candy. Combining power ups gives you crazy powers like taking all of a color candy out or clearing out three rows of candy vertically and horizontally. Temple Run is a game that stars a man, similar to Indiana Jones, who takes a golden totem and has to run away from the dangerous creatures that guarded it. He has to run, jump, and tilt on the side of the path to collect coins and try to get away.
Jetpack Joyride is a side scroller that puts the player in the shoes of an escaping man that has to jump and collect power ups to stay alive.
Angry Birds is an app that has players sling-shotting birds to take down fortresses. These fortresses were made by pigs to keep the stolen bird eggs away from them. As players move forward in the story, new birds have new powers like splitting into three birds, blowing up or dropping egg bombs. Words with Friends is a play off of the board game Scrabble. The reason people play this instead is that players can post words when they are nowhere near the person they are playing with.
Netflix binging creates closer bonds
WilliamAlexander The most awaited part of your day draws close. School, chores, and homework are done. Jump to the computer, pull up Netflix and watch a month’s worth of television in a single night. This is the beauty of binge watching. An entire series gorged upon in mere weeks and sometimes days. With Netflix, thousands of TV series are at the fingertips of 44 million subscribers worldwide. This started the phenomenon of binge watching. Binge watching is defined as “the practice of watching television for time spans longer than usual, usually of a single television show.” The average number of episodes is two to six in a single sitting, as defined by 73 percent of Netflix users. In a month, Netflix users watch over one billion hours of television. Binge watching has been around since the 1990s, but recently exploded into mainstream culture as Netflix began to release episodes of its exclusive series simultaneously. 61 percent of all Netflix users say they binge watch regularly. Some of the most commonly binge watched television shows are “House of Cards,” “Arrow,” “How I Met Your Mother,” “The Walking Dead,” “Helix,” and “Breaking Bad.” For Parker Spurlin, a sophomore, this activity represents family time. His father is an accountant at the University of Pacific, while his mother is a librarian. He plays sports almost year round, so he spends very little time with them. So when they eat dinner around their TV and watch Netflix, he gets the family time that he doesn’t get normally due to their absence. To him, Netflix is a tool for
Fun Run is a race between little animals that get all sorts of power ups and boosts. It’s strangely addictive because the only controls are using boosts and a jump button. The boosts range from a speed boost and shields to thunder that strikes all players and a saw blade that cuts players in half.
bonding. “Binge watching is fun and I’m glad it brings my family closer,” Spurlin said. “How I Met Your Mother” and “Breaking Bad” are two family favorites, along with many others like “Two and a Half Men.” Robert Tuckwood, sophomore, has a more casual use for Netflix. He binge watches for the sheer joy. He watches many shows with his friends on the weekends. Tuckwood and his friends head out to the store to buy snacks like potato chips and popcorn for their long viewing experience. “The Walking Dead” and “House of Cards” are favorites, though they endeavor to find more comical shows like “Psych.” “We’re always looking for a good time,” Tuckwood said. “We’re always looking for new and different experiences.” In my own experience, it is strangely wonderful to binge watch TV. Two seasons of “Lost” are devoured in a single weekend with a dozen episodes absorbed throughout the week. The previous weekend consisted of the first season of “Breaking Bad” with about three episodes a night during the week. The most binge-worthy show I have viewed on Netflix is “Breaking Bad.” It was riveting and had me glued to my seat, always hunting for more episodes. Binge watching is one of the best ways to spend quality time with friends and family. Hilarity ensues with episodes of “The Big Bang Theory” and “Community” in the queue. More serious shows like “The Walking Dead” bring dramatic and riveting scenes to life. In any case, all genres are worth a look, even though Sheldon is so funny in a socially awkward way. Binge-worthy TV is everywhere, you just have to look. “Penny, thump, thump, thump, Penny.”
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Marleene Pheav
4 Pics 1 Word is a puzzle game that shows the player four pictures that have something in common. The game gives the player letter tiles that they use to make a word that states the common idea or object in the pictures. Flappy Bird is a simple game that starred a bird that would flap throught small gaps through pipes. The difficulty of making it past the gaps makes it addictive and rewarding.
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Bubbly popstar Katy Perry ‘Roars’ with a new part of her ArrianaSmith
For years, Katy Perry has shocked her audience with revealing Candyland themed outfits and music videos, but that’s the old Perry. Her newest album “Prism” was released in the Fall and proves her music is growing with her. She has also taken a more mature fashion sense while preforming. Even if you didn’t care for Perry’s previous albums, you should give this one a chance. After all, it might surprise you. The album is titled “Prism” because she has come to realize that her previous albums were too focused on shocking her audience and trying to create a hit song, where now she’s showing more interest into letting the light in and showing the self reflection that appeared to be missing in all of her other music. “Prism” offers a variety of softer music stylings and includes songs with a fresh pop style that tell the story of Perry’s relationships, experiences and how she has grown as a singer/songwriter altogether. Even though her music has noticeably grown, she has kept some of her old self alive with lyrics like “You held me down but I got up,/ Get ready cuz I’ve had enough.” The first hit on her new album “Roar” can easily be compared to her 2012 hit “Part Of Me.” They both are empowering, which Perry is known for, and the songs have catchy tunes to match. They both share the same story of someone finally sticking up for herself. “Roar” was nominated for both song and video of the year at the Grammy’s, proving that her audience is staying loyal to her despite her change in sound. Some other well known songs on “Prism” include “Dark Horse,” which is performed with Rapper Juicy J. And while at first this seemed like a strange team they compliment one anothers’ voice and sound. This song has a gloomy tone and eerie sound. With lyrics like “So you want to play with magic,/ Boy you should know what you’re falling for,” she tells the story of her dark secrets and offers a warning to those involving themselves in her life. The lyrics “Are you ready for a perfect storm?” use figurative language to imply that she is the storm. “Unconditionally” has become another popular song, with poetic lyrics and a pop melody. This song will leave you wishing for the love Perry sings
of in this song. This may be one of the best songs on her album. “Unconditionally” is very similar to my personal favorite “Legendary Lovers.” The introduction starts with a mid-ballad tribal sound and then the sound smoothly flows into a hypnotizing indie tone. The song creates a relaxing mood and you will soon find yourself not only singing along but tapping your foot to the beat as well. Even though this song is not as well known as “Roar,” it has the potential of being her next hit. Over time Perry started to sound like a girlempowering broken record, but with her new album she shows a softer, more down-to-earth sound that offers more diversity to her listeners. This “I kissed a girl” singer has come a long way. She has stepped out of her comfort zone and is no longer relying on provocative costumes that seemed to do nothing but mask her talent. She tries out various styles on this album and shockingly they all seem to compliment her as a singer. It proves that the time she has put into this album is paying off. Perry has found her voice and it has honestly never sounded better.
Overall
Katy Perry has proved that while her voice is the same her sound is not. She is maturing within her music.
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Sports
2.28.14
Ultimate passion for unique sport
Senior finds his calling in ultimate frisbee
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great cutter.” JadaJohnson At first, the words are jumbled. Chants are heard from a Maes’ quick feet are beneficial to playing well as one of distance. But what do they mean? the two positions in the game, the other being thrower. Inching closer and closer, the aroma of fresh grass whisks These pickup games have been going on for about 15 years, its way into the nose. Light posts enclose the field. Bright according to Bates. However, this is the first year that the orange cones stretch out so far, they look like dots in the dis- private college has had an official team. The reason it took tance. The field is as long as a football field. The sun blinds so long to get a team going, according to Bates, is because of the eyes, but the ears can now hear the words. Lo and be- not being able to get players to try out. According to Bates, a hold, it’s a pickup game for ultimate, a game similar to fris- half to three-fourths of the pickup games have actual college bee. players participating and the rest are stragglers. “Up!” they yell. “Left. Left. Left.” “We have open practices for anyone who is During a drill, they warn each serious about the sport,” he said. “Tino other where the disc is. Then, can come if he’d like.” However, senior Valentino Maes the pick up games are makes his way to the more for fun “and to game. He fits in with learn if they want. NothThe game was introduced to the world the guys. His height ing is forced.” for the first time on July 4, 1970. is a factor, but his “They are friendly, skill is what hides very kind people,” The sport is an event at the World Games, the distinction. Maes said. His fabut it is not an Olympic event. “If he were to vorite thing about go to University the atmosphere is No referees are used during the game. of the Pacific, that he can just Players are supposed to be honest he’d be on the go out there and when a foul is committed. team,” Joshua have fun. UltiBates, assistant mate, a “competiThere is no official method to determining coach of the ultitive yet spirited” who has possession at the start of the game. mate team, said. sport, according to Although various methods are used, rock-paper- Bates, has intrigued His veins popping out, his hair at Maes so much that scissors has become one of the most popular. max height, his arm he plans on playing it extended full length, in college “if they have a There are both men’s and women’s his legs in stride and team,” he said. leagues, but it is common to have then in the air, the thrower “I (find) it amusing that co-ed leagues as well. makes a huck, similar to a it’s like football, and that’s Hail Mary. Maes reaches for my favorite sport.” Maes the disc. “Someone guard Tino,” a voice is found the ad online inviting all those who heard off in the distance. A swift move, and then want to attend the games played on Sunday at 3. “I Maes with the point. “I started playing in P.E.,” Maes said. found a love for it.” “Then I just started practicing with the team.” Unlike in the It’s not everyday that a high school student gets to pracgym, two steps are not allowed to be taken. Where the disc tice with a college team in any sport. is caught is where the disc is thrown. It’s more competitive When Maes is out on the field, he is excited because he playing with the team at UOP, he said. “It’s more organized knows he wants to make big plays. “I want to surprise them.” and fast-paced. It’s advanced.” “When you find something you’re really good at,” Maes Maes is able to keep up with the other players, despite be- said, “you want to keep doing it.” ing a beginner. “He has good hands,” Bates said. “He’d be a “Any college would be lucky to have him,” Bates said.
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Senior Valentino Maes makes a pass during his practice at the University of Pacific, where he plays with the UOP ultimate team every Sunday.
Flips and tricks Soccer opens door Passion for skating guides student to the future DellaniraAlcauter
JessicaMangili “He guides me through and always supports me She drives down the field effortlessly, her pony through everything.” tail swaying back and forth. The ball glides across Her father also pushed her to join a competithe turf, seamlessly moving between each foot. A tive soccer team, the Stockton Storm, to help slight smile crosses her face as she watches her further develop her skills. This provided shot soar through the air and into the back of her with contact with college scouts as the net. well, because scouts rarely attend high When she steps onto the field and school games anymore. plays, her stress melts away and she finds While training with her high herself. “It’s my passion,” senior Estela school team, she would set up private Rodriguez said. “I feel like a regular trainings with head coach Chris Viri person and when I step on the field and would attend various Crossfit I feel like I belong — I’m someprograms to help build her enthing more.” durance and her agility. Rodriguez is the sec “She started late, later than ond soccer player from most girls that get scholarboth the boys and girls ships do,” Viri said. “So it’s program in six years a tremendous credit to her to receive a scholarthat she has improved every ship to play in college. year she played the sport.” Although she received What makes the starting multiple emails from forward stand out among schools offering her aid, she other scholarship recipients settled on her first offer from is her aggressive playing William Jessup University locatstyle and ability to improve ed in Rocklin. her skills. For every year that she “She is a very intense plays, Rodriguez will receive player,” Viri said. “She $11,000. While this is brings an element of pace more than most studentand physicality to the game athletes receive, her that most girls don’t bring scholarship will cover because they are too afraid to less than half of the tube aggressive.” ition per year. Her ball handling ability is not The scholarship did not the only skill she brings to the come from talent alone, team. She also brings leadership. but countless hours of sharp “She is more of the mean teamening her skills. She started mate that tells it as it is,” senior and playing soccer at age 4 just like teammate Breeana Hernandez said. many other kids. But unlike “That’s needed on a team, because many others, something she isn’t afraid to say something when clicked for her. it needs to be said. She is the type of “Soccer is basically player you end up thanking later on.” my life,” Rodriguez Many members of both the varsity said. “If it wasn’t and JV team look up to Rodriguez and for soccer then I are inspired by her to improve their own wouldn’t be where skills. photo by Jessica Mangili I am in life. It’s not a “She’s amazing,” sophomore and JV part of me, it is me.” player Megan Jimenez said. “When she plays you She is quick to chalk up her success to her father. can tell that she is great. She puts in a lot of effort He was the one who started her in the sport and and makes me want to be a better player.” coached her. At times the two struggled to balance Rodriguez hopes to one day play pro and make between their relationship as father and daughter her family proud, but until then her focus is on just and as coach and player. getting through high school and being a key asset “It’s hard having him as my coach, because I in helping her team go to playoffs for the third year get attitude when I get frustrated,” Rodriguez said. in a row.
It’s a given that professional athletes spend hundreds of hours throughout their career practicing for their “next big game” or to sharpen their skills. They have coaches arduously training them. Although any athlete can choose to take this path, sophomore Javon Lane decided to go in the opposite direction. Having a coach, he said, “would make me nervous, it’s too much pressure. I can progress on my own time (when) there’s no rules, ongoing games, or training.” He doesn’t skate to prepare for a competition. He does it to enjoy himself. “It’s like I blank out (when I’m skating), I lose track of everything else. I’m lost, but I know I’m lost. It’s an amazing feeling.” Lane has been skating since he was little, but it wasn’t until two years ago that he realized he should be taking it seriously. His older brother skates and that is how he discovered it and began doing it, too. When his brother stopped skating, he realized, “I
couldn’t only skate to impress him, I had to be good on my own.” The version of skating Lane practices is not the formal, follow-the-rules type of sport. He does it more as a recreation, not a competition. “I acknowledge I’m not as good as everyone, but that motivates me (to be better),” Lane said. For Lane, it is easy to admit that he isn’t the best at skating. He says, “If you lie about it, it won’t take you further than an inch.” Unlike some athletes, he doesn’t envy those who are better than him. He likes to meet and skate with them because he learns from them. “It’s almost like their skills rub off on me,” Lane said. Lane feels that no one can teach you how to skate, which is another factor that distinguishes it from other sports. “When the coaches are pushing you, I don’t think that’s natural skill, it’s artificial. Someone’s taught you,” he said. “It’s like when your mom moves your legs to walk when you’re little, you’re moving but
you’re not mentally doing it. She’s doing it for you.” A lot of young athletes dream of going pro. They want to be on the National League for the sport they play, maybe even be in the Olympics. Lane, however, says he does not want to skate to be famous. “I don’t care about getting famous, I want to do it for fun.” Some of the people he skates with are ambitious and want to do things to be noticed. Others like to record themselves and post videos about it, but “it’s not all about showing off. All the famous people go out and look for talent, they don’t sit on YouTube and search for them.” “Let someone notice you, rather than you trying to get their attention,” he said. For him, it’s not about the publicity. He feels that the harder you try to be noticed and brag about yourself, the less likely it will happen. But it’s not about fame. It’s about what he loves to do. “If I happen to die, I want it to be from a skating accident, doing something I love.”
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Dellanira Alcauter
(Left) Sophomore Javon Lane completes a kick flip in a competition at the Stockton Skate park. (Right) Lane balances on his board before landing his trick. He is self motivated when it comes to the sport and is constantly practicing on his own.
2.28.14
News
INSTABILITY: VeronicaVargo
The Associated Student Body at every school is known to be the leaders of the campus. These leaders plan all the fun activities like prom and rallies and other campus bondings. The class here has had a hard time finding ways to lead. Just recently, the Sophomore Class had a “sweethearts” formal on schedule. They announced ticket sales on the bulletin and hung up big red posters on campus. But every time someone tried to purchase a ticket, the booth was closed. “Account clerk Corene Lugo was out,” said Sophomore Class President Gabrielle Wallace. “And nobody else had the keys.” In light of the constant rumors about why formal and rallies were cancelled, senior Tyron Blair said, “People think we don’t try, but we do. They just don’t know the full story.” Sophomore Leslei Lopez says, “(The sub) is not an advisor, just a place filler, and we feel like (the school) is starting to give up on us.” Over the past four years there have been three advisors. The most recent, Michelle Canfield, moved to another job in the middle of December, leaving the class with a series of substitutes. Senior Kalani Moreno says,
“It’s hard to get activities done without an advisor.” There are two combination ASB and Leadership classes that take place during fourth and fifth period. Fourth period contains freshmen and sophomores while the juniors and seniors are placed in the fifth period. The current sub is the link between the two. With the planning of school wide events, communication is a key trait that the two classes seem to lack without an advisor who knows the details. Plans get lost and things do not get done. ASB is designed to thrive on leadership, initiative, and the ability to work together. Yet part of the problem has to do with student placement. Sophomore Alexis Villagomez said, “I was not (interviewed). I was put in the class. Interviews would be helpful because they wouldn’t let regular (not leaders) in.” This leaves the real leaders of the class with no assistance because of the people who are in the class for the “easy A,” according to Blair. “If we had a set advisor as an adult figure and teacher, it would be easier,” Moreno said. “When we’re just kids, they don’t think we are mature and responsible enough. There are lots of people who don’t pull their own weight,
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ASB struggles with cancellations due to teacher turnover
InsidetheIssue Leadership class should act like leaders.
— See Editorial, page 2 but we try and try every day.” “ASB this year has been… challenging since Canfield left,” Blair said. “ASB was a group effort.” The only piece to the puzzle ASB seems to be missing is an advisor who is “into it,” according to Blair. He says, “If you really want to see a change and be a leader, be into it.” In the past, when there was an appointed advisor, the class held successful events such as winter formal in 2012 and the neon nights night rally. Without an advisor, the class is not able to hold lunchtime activities and many other events. Several students from the class say that ASB is plagued by many problems, including lack of organization, stability, and initiative. However, the most common phrase that ASB students seem to say is “hopefully we get an advisor soon.”
Senior class president Alex Rebultan has been a part of the Leadership class for four years. He has had three ASB advisors during this time along with several substitutes. photo by
Walter wins county award JessicaMangili
tion Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching award. To qualify for the award a teacher must be nominated by their principal and submit two letters of recommendation. Only one math teacher and one science teacher from each school can qualify. “I don’t know of any other schools that have had this many people win it, so that just says a lot for Stagg itself,” Walter said. “Where people always look down on Stagg, it’s kind of nice to know we have multiple teachers who are winning these awards.” He said the only downside is this award could easily be won by English and social studies teachers, but there is no award for it. While Walter finds it nice get to be recognized, he is most excited about the prize money, the $5,000 that will go to him and the $5,000 that will go toward buying equipment that will help the school. He just recently sat down with his MESA class and asked them to brainstorm ideas on where to spend the money. “We are looking at potentially buying laptops, 3D printers, and just things that would be on their wish list,” he said. “If I could have something that would make their education better then that is what I’m going to spend it on. To me it’s more about them having what they need than me, because I have enough toys and gadgets already.” Many of Walter’s student enjoy taking his class due to his humor photo by Dellanira Alcauter and how much he cares for his Senior Jannetha Thon gets help from math teacher students. Math teacher Andrew Walter walks from table to table answering questions. It doesn’t matter that he has already answered the question twice before. He calmly sits next to the puzzled student and answers his question for the third time, but in different way. His face lights up with excitement as he finally understands the material and Walter praises him for his effort to do so. “He’s the kind of teacher that pushes you towards the next level to succeed and is really caring towards his students’ education,” junior Gabriel Zuniga said. “He has this way of explaining (math) that is clearer than what the books says. He brings it down to our level.” Walter is the third Stagg teacher in three years to be awarded with the Cortopassi Family Founda-
Andrew Walter with antiderivatives in AP Calculus.
“He’s funny and he uses it when he teaches,” senior Anthony Nichols said. “It’s very amusing and it actually makes the material interesting and makes us want to learn.” They also appreciate how he is always willing to help even if it doesn’t pertain to his class. “I had trouble switching my classes because my counselor would not allow me to and he helped me get the class I need,” freshman Perla Gonzalez said. Fellow math teacher Kathy Sady not only finds Walter an excellent teacher, but a valued colleague. She finds him to be just an “all around good guy” and admires his ability to help people. “He’s knowledgable and it’s his life goal to share that knowledge,” she said. “He never makes me feel inferior when I go to him with my dumb questions. It’s really a good relationship to have with someone you work with.” Along with winning the Cortopassi Award, Walter is up for two other awards. The first is the Fishman Prize for Superlative Classroom Practices and the second is the Presidential Award for Math and Science. Winning awards for him is not about the cash prize but being ranked highly as an educator. “A lot of the awards aren’t like a normal job where you get an award and you get higher pay or promoted,” Walter said. “You just do it because it makes you know that you are pushing yourself to be the best you can possibly can.” The award process has also provided him with a chance to reflect on his teaching in order to become a stronger teacher. “When I first started teaching, people would ask what do I teach,” he said. “And I would say, ‘Well, I teach math.’ Now my response is, ‘I teach students, and then math is just my conduit.’ Math is just the only way I know how to teach them.”
Dellanira Alcauter
WASC
continued from page 1 ish teacher Julio Lopez has experience dealing with the outdated textbooks, saying that the taped-spine textbooks have been in use since the year 2000. “We’re still using textbooks that show cassettes and tape recorders.” Modern technology, such as tablets and notebooks, is nonexistent. Access is limited to the computer labs on campus, and the outdated computers can take a long time just to turn on. Victoria Marinelli misses having a library on campus but also wishes to have more access to the computer lab for Common Core and MAP testing, as well as for her English students to type essays. “The computers… need faster Internet and better programs. The programs are four to five years old and there’s no RAM.” She describes problems with the computer lab, saying, “Sometimes a computer will crash in the middle of testing. I usually move my student to a different computer if one’s available, but sometimes there isn’t one. It’s a big hassle.” Teachers have to work around missing tools in order to effectively provide for students’ overall education, while still meeting the new Common Core standards. The WASC report and inspections can help introduce these tools into the curriculum or refine what’s already available. The report concludes with a set of action plans that are goals for the future. Accreditation isn’t just a stamp of approval; it verifies that the school is doing what it’s supposed to do. On a larger scale, an accreditation determines whether the high school diploma is valid. Spector emphasizes this point as she tries to make the student body aware of the significance of a diploma from an accredited school. If a high school, college, or university fails to be accredited, students’ diplomas will be worthless. If the school is not accredited, Spector said, then “your diploma is just a piece of paper; you can throw it away and it wouldn’t matter.”
OLYMPICS FEEDBACK
Many entertaining and controversial events happened during the Sochi 2014 Winter Olympics. Here are some things students have noticed: “Seeing people work hard for the Olympics makes me realize how good it is to be dedicated and passionate towards goals.” - Estefany Nunez, freshman “I think it’s amazing how focused and dedicated they are to earn medals and to honor their country. The feeling to stand on a podium and accomplish something big.” - Ruth Garcia, sophomore
graphic by
Fe Valencia and Marleene Pheav
“I enjoy the unity between the countries because they put their differences aside and play sports they love to entertain the rest of the world.” - Raquel Magadan, junior “The figure skaters are more disciplined, more skilled, and have great techniques. They even start training at a young age and are flexible.” - Rebecca Galindo, freshman