Stagg Line
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12.18.15 Vol. 59 No. 4
Amos Alonzo Stagg High School
1621 Brookside Rd. Stockton, CA 95207
Delta College opens doors wider Program helps facilitate students taking courses now and in the future RosaGarcia A new program has emerged that will make transitioning easier for high school students to go directly to San Joaquin Delta College. Stockton Unified School District has set up a new partnership with Delta reaching out to all high school students that are considering Delta. It allows students to get a head start registering, making it easier for students to pursue Delta. The first step would be applying for admission through Delta itself. Second step would be to take the Assessment COMPASS Evaluation test required for placement purposes. Third step would be to schedule an appointment with a counselor from Delta, and meet either on campus or on site. Then the counselor would help to create a personalized course track plan throughout the course of time the student decides to spend at Delta. Finally, students will register and the counselor will help and guide students pick classes, depending on assessment level. Many benefits come from applying to the SUSD partnership, especially for dedicated students that gain the simple advantage of first-come, first served basis. Students get to choose the classes they
Home of the Delta Kings
want without worrying about classes filling up fast. So students take the classes you need without the hassle of waiting for the next class to open. Not only that, but it also saves time for students who are serious about their education. In previous years students have taken college courses at Delta, but without the help of a program. Students before would GRAPHIC BY ROSA GARICA have to go out of their own way and do this on their own. Originally the SUSD partnership with Delta started so students could go through the process easier, get a better connection with college, and for students to go straight to college. Also the another program College Early Start is beneficial for high school students who want to get ahead academically. The first step would be meeting with a counselor to determine if qualifications are met for the program. Students are required to have a 3.0 gradepoint average, and a flexible schedule. Both the student’s counselor and principal’s approval are needed in order to participate in the program. The advantage of it would be students will earn college credit faster. Another advantage is students generally will experience the college life and get a overall head start for their future.
OUT OF PLACE
Finals Week: Jan. 11-15
Students will take finals during the week of Jan. 11-15. Guidance chairperson Chan Sam said, “(The change) is going to be hard for everyone.” Sam mentioned that the district-wide decision was made after a voting process with the Stockton Teachers Association. The week students come back from winter break will be for review. For students who require schedule changes, Sam said they must wait until grades are posted on Jan. 21.
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“(Since) the holidays are over, students will be focused. I like it better.”
Eugene Hubl
Social Studies teacher GRAPHIC BY LUCI TOMAS
Homeless population is difficult to ignore
Under the I-5 freeway near downtown, homeless people have set up their own community. There are tents, RVs and other stuff that create a “home” setting for these people. PHOTOS BY LOUIS FUENTEZ AND ARACELI VALENCIA
JoAnnSagaral
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UCKED AWAY IN FISSURES OF THE CITY are the urban nomads of Stockton. Under freeways and on levees, they are part of the scenery that the public walks past. They are part of a background that is assumed to be desolate, savage even. Almost every person resorts to avoiding contact with the homeless. People without homes are still human, though. They are humans who have adapted to a different way of living. Across from Stagg, among the peninsula and the river, drums are beaten vivaciously. Students may turn their head at the unseen origin of the noise with a sheepish curiosity. Living on those islands is a group of individuals who say they find it easier to live in isolation than in a conventional neighborhood. Coming out of county jail, James was introduced to the island by a colleague. He has lived on the island for two years, saying, “It’s like camping forever.” Drum ruckus that reverberates in the air comes from him. He pulled those discarded drums out of the river himself. While speaking about his passion for music, he enunciated his admiration of the jazz studies teacher at Delta College. College was something James’ grandparents told him to reject because “it isn’t good and full of drugs.” Yet James’ two children have graduated from California State University Long Beach and Santa Clara University. With a downcast look, he
expresses his regret of not pursuing music despite his grandparents’ condemnation. His wit and resourcefulness make one baffled as to why he is in the shape he is in. James has provided himself and five other dwellers on the island with solar power. Several rafts have been made with salvaged wood and plastic. At the time he was interviewed, he had just pulled an entire fiberglass rowboat out of the river. James has done all of this with two dislocated discs in his back. One of the other occupants, Mary, explains how she straightens out the island by disposing of the litter produced by passersby. When asked about how they cope with the incoming winter weather, she said, “We wear maybe three or four layers of jeans and T-shirts.” Her pitbull dog, Clyde, runs up to her side. “Clyde will get under the covers and lay with me.” Then she laughs. “He’s a big baby. He’s got
Bottom Line
a little bit of fleas, but I don’t mind so long as he keeps me warm.” Mary fears that the recent “homeless sweeps” being performed by the local police department will eventually reach the island. “Sweeps” manage the unsanitary and unsafe encampments that have spread around the city. Before the police inform the homeless occupants that they must vacate the premises, representatives from services such as mental health and county housing try to get people to accept help. Many of them reject the offers. Communication is a handicap for many unsheltered individuals. A recent report on the unsheltered homeless by the county reports that of the 541 individuals surveyed, 40 percent of them reported either mental illness, substance abuse, or both. Jon Mendelson, associate director at Central Valley Low Income Housing Corp, says that the population of the unsheltered is vastly underreported. Mendelson says that there are several reasons why individuals refuse to live in the city’s homeless shelter, one of them being inconvenience. People have to physically wait in line every morning in order to secure a spot, yet even that is not a guarantee. The shelter has a communal atmosphere that is also a deterrent for many individuals. Serenity Hudson, a sophomore, recalls the uneasy feeling she felt being surrounded by strangers
at the shelter. “There was one closed door between us and just complete strangers,” Hudson recalls. “It was pretty scary to stay with people I didn’t know.” She and her mother would huddle in the same bunk to preserve warmth. “Everyone really doesn’t give Stockton what it deserves,” Hudson said. Although she withstood a turbulent time at a young age, the shelter was a dependable resource for her family. Despite her situation, she was still able to go to school through the Transitional Learning Center located Downtown. When Hudson and her family needed food, St. Mary’s Dining Hall made sure they were fed. All of the funding for these social programs derives strictly from state and federal grants. Due to the property bubble and the following recession, donations are at an all-time low. According to the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, $3 trillion will be cut from federal social welfare programs in the next decade. Recently, Mayor Anthony Silva proposed creating several warehouses to act as homeless shelters. “Just talking to people, building relationships is the first step to getting these people help,” Mendelson said. “You can’t force them to live in a warehouse. That’s a temporary solution to the problem. They’re still homeless. You can’t throw money at a problem and expect it to go away.”
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Winter Fest royalty
ASB will be announcing Winter Fest prince and princess for junior, sophomore and freshman classes during the Jan. 15 boys basketball game.
Winter Fest dance
The dance will be held Saturday, Jan. 16, from 6 to 10 p.m. Early bird prices are $7/single and $10/couples. At the door, $10 and $15.
FAFSA
The online application for financial aid will open Jan. 1 through March 2. Check out each university’s website to find out the deadline.
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2 Editorial
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Stagg Line
Opinion
12.18.15
Delta is more than ‘a last resort’ I t’s a given that our society will continue to advance further into the future. One of the upsides, and sometimes a downside, of this is that the jobs available require more knowledgeable workers. A high school diploma is often no longer sufficient. Many employers now require a bachelor’s degrees or at least an associate’s. Now that going to college is almost as mandatory as going to high school, students start researching colleges right when they start their freshman year. For college-bound Stagg students, the most popular tend to be the UCs and CSUs. However, many tend to overlook the community college that is less than a mile away. Too many students see San Joaquin Delta College as a “last resort” or a mere “second option.” It’s seen as less than the educational establishment that it is. When the name is even mentioned, you can hear the scoffs and the disgust in the way others question “Delta?” But Delta is anything but a last resort. We feel that it does its job preparing students for a university. Aside from the academics and athletics programs offered, there are many advantages to going to a
Career choices should be realistic A
s a kid, like most, I dreamt big. I mimicked my favorite quarterback, Michael Vick, in my backyard. I scrambled up, down and side-to-side to avoid my ever-so-quick and instinctive German shepherd as I crashed onto an old beat-up couch that symbolized the end zone. I was on top of the world and I thought I was uncatchable. I thought I was a 10-year-old football phenom, but in reality, I was just young and naive. When I grew older and wiser, I realized that some dreams stay just that and they will not be achieved. Other dreams, though, can be fulfilled and are very possible to accomplish, but some people fail to realize the hard work required and they never put true effort into their so called “dream career.” Now, some students realize that their careers are only a couple of years away and for some, they do have in mind what they want to do. I’ve heard it all from being a cop to being a realtor, which are both good careers to pursue, but some do not understand the obstacles of those paths. For me, I choose to be on the path of an air traffic controller, which in many cases is not as easy to get and is listed as one of the “world’s most stressful jobs.” I do understand what I have to do to get there but for some students, they don’t know what major to pursue or as a police officer what academy to go through.
PHOTO BY MATTEO DANFORTH Delta’s partnership with Stagg in the College Early Start program gives any 9-12 grader the opportunity to take classes in the community college. Interested students should see their counselor.
two-year rather than a four-year. Community college is sometimes a more plausible option for students who don’t know what major they want to pursue. They are able to take their core classes that they would end up taking at a four-year college anyway without having to worry about classes required for their
Managers don’t deserve P.E. credit W LouisFuentez
“I realized that some dreams stay just that and they will not be achieved.”
I do understand that students are old enough to comprehend the chances of becoming the next all-star quarterback is slim to none, but they don’t realize the struggle of being in these careers. Being a realtor takes a lot of dedication and time because there are so many in just this city alone and being a cop takes more than just knowing how to put cuffs on people. Students need to realize that hard work is put into these jobs. It’s not just those two careers but in general, students are unaware at what is to come. I’m not saying people should not go into demanding jobs but should be able to understand the obstacles that they will come across. So before students choose their paths, they should do some research or even look up the requirements to take on the job. Although most of us will not be jumping into the endzone to get the game winning touchdown, but if we put our minds to it, we can be successful in any future careers.
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.
major. The most significant advantage that attending a community college entails is the inexpensive cost for tuition. Two-years cost around $4000 a year compared to $25,000 a year for a four-year, according to CollegeBoard.org. These numbers are not even including the living costs for
living on-campus. With a more cost effective tuition similar to this, students could avoid taking out more loans and will have less debt in the future. Similar benefits that are available at communities colleges like Delta are countless and are continuing to multiply. Since this generation is almost required to go to college, students are always looking to get the extra edge. The new College Early Start program that has been created at Delta now helps 9-12 graders who want to start obtaining credit for classes they aren’t able to take at their high school. Under another partnership with Delta, seniors no longer have to worry about being at the bottom of the waiting list if they plan attending. Pre-registration is now offered earlier and seniors can begin to sign up for classes early, saving them a sit in each class they choose. We think these new programs are extremely beneficial to high schoolers who are trying to get ahead and who want a guaranteed spot at a college close to home. We hope programs like these help create a better image in students’ heads of what community college is like.
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.
hat’s the differences between an athlete and a team manager? It seems obvious right? But let’s see. A manager watches the game and writes down the stats while an athlete makes the stats. A typical athlete runs, sweats and is there every day for practice. A manager shows up, sits and waits for a job to be given to them by the coach. However, somehow these team managers are sometimes able to receive the same five credits of physical education as an athlete. Not only is it inconsistent but it’s also a disturbing way students are able to slide by, by being “team managers” to get the P.E. credits needed to graduate. Many people find it easier to get the credit through managing a team than actually playing the sport itself. According to guidance chairperson Chan Sam, who gives the credit, being a “manager” means the person is technically a part of a team. In his definition, the person is not the star player but what some would call the “bench player”. This explanation of team manager means they would show up to practice, their name is on the roster and show up in the TEAM pictures.
AraceliValencia But, most of the time they are not on the roster or in team pictures. However, this isn’t the case for all team managers. Sometimes students do it for community service, which is acceptable, and other times they are doing it just because they have nothing else to do. Sports like football have managers that go under the label “hydration specialist.” These people ARE in the team picture but do not show up in the roster. So with this in mind, I decided to ask what the job involves. I wanted to know why do they get the credit. One such specialist said her job is to wash cups, fill up water jugs,
REPORTERS SaraAbdeltawab GamelaBrice LouisFuentez RosaGarcia StephanieJimenez MatthewKimani JeffersonLeiva StephanieMatsumoto JuliaRosete JoAnnSagaral ArrianaSmith LuciTomas BrennonTurner
stack them up, make sure there is always water, and then must clean up everything. This is what they do every practice. On game days, they have the same jobs but during the games they run on the field with bottles and make sure each player has had a drink of water. This job sounds pretty physical to me. However, the people labeled as “team managers” do the complete opposite. Most of their time they are responsible for writing in the books during games, keeping track of the scores and running the scoreboard. Those jobs listed only involve sitting and using hand muscles. In all my high school years, I have played three sports. One each season. Like all athletes I work hard in practice. I have earned my PHYSICAL education credit from all the sweat and challenge each sport gave me. So, others that find the loophole to get by and “earn” the credit for doing the not so physical work is frustrating. The title credits says it all, it’s physical education and if it is needed just take the class or play the sport. Those students don’t deserve it but manage to get by and that’s not right.
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
Opinion
12.18.15
Americans must unite on a class basis, not race R ace is an American national obsession. This obsession reaches into all spheres of national life and can appear in many forms, including the benign form of identification and the abhorrent form of racism. However, there is a form of racial obsession no less insidious than racism that is gaining ground in America: racialism. Racialism refers to an excessively narrow form of identification with one’s race. In America, this belief is most prominent in a discourse that defines “people of color” and whites as oppressed and oppressor, respectively. In this conception of the world, race is the decisive factor in American society. People of color, the argument goes, are uniquely oppressed, and whites benefit from “white privilege,” which they unconsciously use to oppress people of color. Proponents of this worldview often advocate action with symbolic, race-specific demands as the end goal. This is problematic for multiple reasons. First, the category people of color itself is, for reasons explained below, inapt. Second, and more importantly, wealth inequality, not racial inequality, is the defining feature of American life. First of all, lumping all non-whites under the umbrella of people of color does not do justice to the wide variety of socio-economic circumstances of the groups in question. For instance, according to census data from 2014, Asian-Americans had a median household income of $74,297 in 2014, and according to last year’s National ACT Profile Report, they averaged a 23.5 composite on the ACT, with fully 42 percent of them meeting college readiness benchmarks in all four subjects. In stark contrast, African-Americans had a median household income of $35,398 and averaged a 17.0 composite on the ACT in 2014, with only 5 percent of them meeting college readiness benchmarks in all four subjects. Given this state of affairs, how can one argue that Asians are subject to the same racial oppression that African-Americans, let alone Hispanics, are subject to? Moreover, by reducing their analysis of American society to racial factors, proponents of this view exclude the more salient factor of class. According to 2014 household income fig-
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MatthewKimani ures from the U.S. Census, the bottom 60 percent of all ethnic groups earned less than 30 percent of the aggregate income of their respective groups, and according to Federal Reserve figures quoted on inequality.org, the bottom 90 percent of American households possesses 25 percent of total household wealth, while the top 3 percent possesses 54 percent of total household wealth. There is an obvious racial hierarchy in all these figures, with blacks at the bottom and Asians at the top, but the level of economic inequality within races is the same across the board. This shows that the majority of the American population is in the same position, which brings me to my next point. Given that wealth inequality affects all ethnic groups equally, it does not make sense to confront it on a racial basis. The 10 percent of the population that owns 84.5 percent of financial assets might be mostly white, but so is the rest of the population. Americans should instead unite on a class basis and fight for their common interests as workers. Workers are people who do not own the means of production and must consequently earn their living by wage labor. They make up the overwhelming majority of the population in developed countries, like the United States. That naturally makes capitalists, as the owners of the means of production, the enemies of the working class. They are acutely aware of their interests and are able to mobilize immeasurably greater resources than any individual worker to defend them. Americans workers will only be able to defend their interests if they unite and fight for the welfare of all, irrespective of race, gender, or sexual orientation.
PHOTO BY MATTEO DANFORTH Music director Joseph Updegraff looks on at a band room filled with old chairs and stands (some of them broken) and a band smaller than in years past.
Performing arts doesn’t get attention it deserves
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lowly, across the country, performing arts programs are being cut from schools. In our own district, four elementary schools don’t offer any arts classes, also including band, orchestra, choir, dance, and drama. Several only offer music classes while others only have theater. Students must wait until they are in high school to learn how to play an instrument, sing or be involved in drama. That is unless their family can afford private lessons or special classes, which can cost hundreds, even thousands of dollars. JuliaRosete Here, we are fortunate enough to have music, drama and art programs. However, it has been seriously underfunded due to budget restrictions. According to music director Joseph Updegraff, the music department, not including drama, was only given $600 to split between the two teachers this year. When they noticed the huge difference in funding from previous years, they emailed the district and were given $4400 instead, after being told that the difference was a “glitch.” A “glitch” that almost cost the department $3800. For the past three years, Stagg’s music program has taken a walking tour, where the orchestra, advanced band, and show choir take their instruments and sheet music and walk to different elementary schools that feed into our high school. The objective of this trip is to get the younger students interested in music so they can start learning at their school, which will hopefully lead to them coming to
our school and continuing with music. According to TIME magazine, directors and others at Northwestern University studied what connections there were between music and brain development in adolescents. The study found that kids who actively paid attention and participated during music class showed a greater improvement in all different subjects in school. In other studies, according to the American Association of School Administrators, brain areas are developed at a young age when they learn songs and rhymes and create drawings and simple finger paintings. So why is it that supposedly highly-educated people are making the decision to discontinue something that could help students do better in all areas of school? Fremont Elementary, according to Cynthia Wildman, the Visual and Performing Arts Coordinator, is one of several schools across the country participating in Turnaround Arts, which encourages kids in low-income schools to become interested in the arts. Schools with this program are introduced to music, theater, dance, and art. For the past two years, the program has been used there to get the students more introduced to the arts. Wildman has also said that she would love to see arts classes become more mandatory, become a core class that students must take just like math, science, and English. It looks as though that just might be happening. In July, the Senate passed the Every Child Achieves Act, which is replacing No Child Left Behind. The new act makes it so music and arts education become more important for students by making them a core class. Just last week, President Obama signed papers ending No Child Left Behind and signed into law Every Child Achieves. It shows that lawmakers also understand the importance of arts in the lives of adolescents. The arts are a huge part of our world, and being able to play an instrument, sing, act, or be an artist should be greatly emphasized.
Trump’s antics aren’t praiseworthy P
DONALD TRUMP BY GAGE SKIDMORE (CC-BY-SA) Donald Trump speaking at the CPAC 2011 in Washington, D.C. . The conference included talks given by prominent conservatives who, in the future, ended up running to be the Repulican presidental candidate inlcuding Trump.
icture a man who is as wealthy as anybody wished to be, has corporations all over the country and simply says what he wants without thinking twice. This man is Donald Trump, a Republican candidate that wants to become our next president. Trump has said it all. He is mostly known for wanting to building a wall to keep out Mexicans, insulting Carly Fiorina’s face, questioning the citizenship of our current president, mimicking a disabled New York Times reporter and for wanting to prohibit Muslims from entering the country. At the moment, Trump is at the top of the polls among Republicans. Although he has said the worst things and caused controversy all over the country, surprisingly, Trump still has millions of supporters. According to “The Atlantic,” Trump is supported because of his success and wealth. To me, it seems that citizens are not fully aware of this man’s past reputation. His companies went bankrupt four times during the late 1900s and early 2000s. If he cannot handle his economic status when it comes to his corporations, why do people believe he is capable to direct a country? Trump is more of a TV figure. As I mentioned before, he says it all carelessly. That is an “act of bravery” to many citizens in this country. It is an “act of bravery” be-
StephanieJimenez cause he says what other candidates are “afraid” to say out loud in public. In other words, supporters believe that Trump is the citizens’ unheard voice. Trump is simply an entertainer. I do not think he can be in charge of an entire country. He has showed his immaturity in debates and has showed the country that he has no capacity to improve our country’s status. For example, in debates when Trump is asked a questions he does not provide a solid answer. Despite of his inappro-
priate acts as a politician, he has an impressive way communicating with the public and media. Trump may be an “entertainer” but it has absolutely benefited him since he started campaigning. Although Trump says whatever he pleases, he has an absolute right to do it. In short time, Trump has become the center of attention. That is what he is doing, appearing at rallies saying whatever he wants just to be a top story. He taps into people’s insecurities, fears and thoughts on racism. Trump is fully aware that he will be the talk all over America if he continues what he is doing. I’ve lost count how many times I’ve heard people say “I wonder what he is going to say next?” or “I can’t even keep up with Trump.” That is pretty upsetting for a presidential candidate. All he is offering is to this country is many speeches of how great he is. In reality what is he doing? He has managed to divide us in our different perspectives of him. Truthfully, Trump is not the ideal person to become our president. Trump may have millions of supporters, and be on top of the polls. But is he really going to create a positive impact in this country? He is going to create the opposite if he becomes president.
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Features
12.18.15
the
Adults value worldly experiences Moving CelineLopez
Wanderlust, to Pat Ma, is the best word to describe his affinity for travel. During his time at Stagg, he loved meeting people. His personality is still today a driving force when it comes to deciding on what place to visit next. “I want to see new things and meet more people,” Ma said. “It’s just a really interesting world.” Ma is among a few graduates who have taken advantage of every opportunity to travel and these graduates have advice for current students. When the economy crashed in 2008, Ma was laid off from his job. So instead of searching for another one, he went backpacking throughout Europe. “It would have cost me the same to travel Europe than stay at home,” the Class of 1998 graduate said. Ma said he wasn’t very interested in staying at home while waiting for jobs to open. He’d rather spend his time travelling. “I did the same things but in Europe,” he said. Ma has had about six different jobs in the last six to seven years, he said. During his free time between jobs, he likes to travel. It helps that he doesn’t have a house or family to worry about. “Maybe one day I’ll have that,” he said. “I don’t really have anything to hold me back.” What others perceive as a lack of stability is what Ana Laura Gonzalez-Coria defines as her comfort zone. Like Ma, Gonzalez-Coria doesn’t have a family or home she leaves behind when she goes on trips, making it easier to travel as often as she does. “For me, stability is change,” she said. “It’s always been like that.” Since graduating in 2008, Gonzalez-Coria now lives in Vitoria-Gasteiz, Spain and teaches high school English. When she went to University of the Pacific, she took advantage of many opportunities to study abroad, taking classes in Central America, South America and Italy during three different school terms. She uses her fingers to tally the countries she’s visited. Thirteen. “I would like to visit 30 countries by the time I’m 30,” she said. Although she says there’s no special reason, she later says that travelling allows people to continue learning. “There are people who travel to go on vacation,” she said, “and there are people who travel to learn.” Learning about the country, the people, and the culture is what gives Gonzalez-Coria satisfaction. The classroom walls decorated with various maps and inspirational quotes are well-known with students of Audrey Weir-Graham. She points to a banner that stretches across one side of her classroom,
“There are people who travel to go on vacation, and there are people who travel to learn” Ana Laura Gonzalez-Coria Class of 2008
PHOTO COURTESY OF ANA LAURA GONZALEZ -CORIA
In May, Gonzalez-Coria spent a weekend in Tangiers where she rode Sabrina the camel.
reading: Let learning take you around the world. “I’ve committed to the idea that we get the most when it’s experiential learning,” she said. Weir-Graham first had the opportunity to travel during her sophomore year in high school. As a member of the Spanish Club, she went on a mission trip to Mexico where she helped build a school. “That was life changing to me,” she said. “I was exposed to poverty.” Her religion teacher, whom she still keeps in contact with today, was perhaps the biggest influence in “opening the doors to travel” and “opening the doors to teaching,” she said. This is where her philosophy stems from. “When you’re a teacher you’re supposed to be a life-long learner,” she said. “We look at the world today — we have to bring a sense of understanding.” In her World History class, Weir-Graham shares her travel experiences as part of her lesson plans. She’s famous for straying away from the textbook, which she points out is Eurocentric. When students are learning about the colonization of Africa, Weir-Graham will play parts of the 1977 miniseries “Roots,” she said, “because your textbook left it out. You have to understand.” Before Gonzalez-Coria visited Guatemala, one of her first international destinations, she assumed the country would be similar to Mexico. “I was just so calm,” she said. Her family being from Mexico, she was used to visiting the country. “So I go there and bam! Huge culture shock.” She calls herself a “horrible person” and so “close-minded” to think that the countries would be the same. The Spanish spoken in Guatemala isn’t even the same as the Spanish she speaks, she said. While at Guatemala, she listened to indigenous women speak of their struggles, which she found inspiring and eye-opening. “I used to think, ‘I’m poor. I’m disadvantaged. I have no privileges,’” she said. “But at the end, I saw all the privileges I have.” Ma agrees that experiencing the living conditions of other countries “makes you really humble. It makes you really appreciative.” When he visited Greece, he saw first-hand the refugee crisis in Greece. “It’s one thing to read it in the paper,” he said, “but it’s another thing to be on the island and see them.” On the other hand, Gonzalez-Coria has battled with American stereotypes, telling her students she does not, in fact, own a gun, and arguing with a friend from Germany over free speech. “It’s very humbling to get out of (American society) and to see how others see you.”
One trip makes a lifelong difference
In many ways, our surroundings shape who we are. Depending on what happens around us, we become sensitive to different situations. We are subjected to different social stimuli, and we learn from them. We learn how other people live, and why, and sometimes we even learn how to live that way. From our experiences we are enlightened, and our enlightenment opens up many possibilities.
GRAPHIC BY ANGEL GONZALEZ
What I learned on my summer vacation A personal reflection
StephanieMatsumoto
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raveling is an experience that changes a person. It’s as if looking at the world through someone else’s eyes, foreign and otherworldly, and with that you get to explore, find adventure within it. That’s what happened to me and it left a mark on how I’d forever look at the world. During the summer, I was lucky enough to not only experience one country but two, South Korea and Japan, for my very first time outside the United States. Being foreign to their country, it was really kind of the people who lived in Tokyo and Seoul to not only be patient, but respectful as well. Whether it was a taxi driver or a salesperson, they were different from what one could expect as a foreigner in big name cities. For me, this trip also broke the stereotype of Asians being cold. Almost all the people I met were friendly and open. They were there to help and weren’t afraid to start a conversation. It was a very memorable experience to have the mayor of Seoul to warmly greet my family and me to his city, showing me how wrong that stereotype was. Not only were the people amazing, but the sights were too. The overall atmosphere was different from what I was used to. It was surreal in a sense, whether it was the architecture or the unfamiliarity of my surroundings, everything just seemed unique yet represented their culture as well. One of my favorite parts of the trip, and one that I could remember quite vividly was the look of Korea from above Seoul Tower. The view was one that could take someone’s breath away, watching the city from the point where I was at. I could have sat there all night,
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(Top) Sophomore Isis Rocha with her family in San Juan de Dios. Seniors Kendra Carter and Kimberly Hills and alum D’Gene Griffin huddle outside the Palace of Versailles, home of many French monarchs.
Traveling calls for time, money and effort. Because of this, some people do not have the opportunity to travel.So when people do have the opportunity to travel somewhere beyond their familiar circle, it usually becomes an experience they would probably never forget. Such is the case for senior Kendra Carter, who had the opportunity to travel with her best friend Kimberly Hills on a class trip to France with French teacher Deborah Berg. “It was all new,” Carter said. Being it was her first time flying on a airplane.Sure, a couple of hours in a car for a family trip is something almost everyone can relate to, but 11 hours just on a plane is something completely different. “It was tough,” she said, “But it was so worth it once we got there.” Hills, on the other hand, got sick on her first day abroad. “I was so tired. I wanted to sleep so bad.” Still, with seven days in Paris the girls soared out to explore the beautiful tourist sites and to experience the French culture for themselves. “We were put to work,” Carter said. In France, Berg challenged them to order for themselves in French, ask for retail help and even lead them back to the hotel via metro. For them, it was definitely a memorable experience. “It was pretty cool how we got the chance to use what we learned from school to actually try to talk in French,” Hills said. “Everyone was so nice,” Hills said. They were surprised to see so
PHOTOS COURTESY OF ISIS ROCHA (TOP) AND KENDRA CARTER
much diversity. For them, it was interesting to see other people in their everyday routine. “I loved Paris,” Carter said. “It’s really such a memorable experience that I’m going to remember for the rest of my life.” Now, she holds a deeper drive to travel the world more and wishes to take her family with her in the future. “I really want to go to Australia next,” she said. For sophomore Isis Rocha, going to Mexico recently became an annual tradition. While her home is in Stockton, the rest of her extended family lives in Mexico. She doesn’t have the privilege to see them whenever she wants. And for the Rochas, traveling costs more than money — months of planning. Before, they didn’t really make the effort to physically reach out to her family. They were just planning on visiting Mexico when they could. It wasn’t until her grandfather passed away in the midst of their plans that’s when they began to visit more often. Although her families were separated, they decided on having a consistent annual trip so they couldn’t miss any more possible moments with their loved ones. “I love Mexico,” the sophomore said. “It’s so lively. People on the streets are more social.” Rocha explained that while walking downtown of San Juan de Dios where the community gathers to look over the wide variety of displayed vendors, people don’t hesitate to flash a smile with a welcoming greeting. “It’s definitely different. It makes me want to see more, not just what’s in Stockton.”
SathinaFlores
As senior Oscar Gonzalez thinks of life in the next few years, he gets emotional. “I imagine myself with a briefcase waving goodbye to my family,” said Gonzalez.He is a Mormon. And as a Mormon you are encouraged by your church leaders “to invite people in.” Not only to bring people into their church from around their community but as a Mormon they have a mission to go out and travel the world voluntarily for two full years or more. Missionaries usually start serving in the field when they are 18 or 19 years old. They come from around the world and serve wherever the church calls. Gonzales will attend a program and train to become a missionary. Gonzalez will be the first in his family to go on a mission and all of his help will be from previous
MatthewKimani
Matsumoto spent time with her aunt and cousin shopping in South Korea.
watching the lights and cars flicker in the distance from up above. It was both mesmerizing and sad as I looked around the city I had become accustomed to for the past week. My descent from above the tower was hard as it signified my last time in Korea. It was a time I would always remember. A time that really made me think of how exciting traveling was. Whether it was looking at national landmarks or meeting people that were different from those back home, the trip really opened my eyes to the adventure of seeing new places and would be moments I would never forget.
around requires open mind JuliaRosete Junior Channapaphon Sam is one of many students who has moved to different places throughout her life. After moving to Texas in 2012, she lived out in the country with livestock and lots of open fields. After staying there for a year and a half, she was able to reflect on her perception of life. “I lived in the city most of my entire life,” Sam said. “At first I thought (living in the country) was terrible, but then I got used to the scenery and everything.” Coming from California, she had to make a few adjustments, especially when it came to her speech. “Living in California, I always used the word ‘hella,’ and when I use it over there, everybody thought I was weird.” Another student, freshman Morgana Scott, came from another country. Recently moved here from Liberia, she has had trouble adjusting to things like the weather that is very different in her home country. In Liberia, according to Weatherspark, the average temperature in December is 88 degrees whereas in Stockton, the average temperature is 52 degrees. “It’s cold here, and there it’s hot,” Scott said. “Six months rain, six months sun.” Her home was always very hot, and now that she’s here, the cold weather has become just another element to adjust to. Senior Jaspreet Singh moved here eight years ago from India. Coming here speaking minimal English, he had to quickly pick up the language. “I wasn’t really fluent, but it wasn’t really bad to the point that I didn’t know what kids were saying,” Singh said. He also had to deal with some adjustments. From his past experiences in India, school was very different. Singh said that the way they taught there was much more difficult than America. He also highlighted that India still enforced had corporal punishment. “Teachers can actually hit you.” Senior Kirstyn Simpkins lived in Detroit for about two years. While she was there, people always asked her questions about life on the West Coast. “They were like, ‘Oh did you see this person? Did you see that person?’” Simpkins said. “California is not a city where all the famous people who are there live. I’m not gonna see them every day on the street and at Walmart.”
PHOTO COURTESY OF CHANNAPAPHON SAM
Sam had a horse named Rockie when she lived in Texas. She has only fond memories of the animal, missing its playful and loving nature.
Religion creates young missionaries To stay or not to stay people in the church who have gone. While he’s out there traveling the world he said, “I’ll miss my family.” The idea of traveling to Gonzalez means “new life, new town, new people,” he said. “It’ll be different. Gonzalez has never been out of state so he’ll have to adapt to a new lifestyle, a new set of rules. Not only that wherever they send him he hopes that “maybe they’re (the people) nice, maybe they’re friendly.” “I’ve never lived without my family,” he said, “and now I’m going to live with some random dude.” To reflect back on a few people in his church that went, someone named Jose went to Brazil and did his mission there. While he was there he learned their culture and language. The former missionary finished his two years and came home. “If you don’t like it while you are out there you can return back home without finishing your two
years,” he said. He said there was a guy who came to Stagg a while back and he backed out because he didn’t feel it in his heart. He said the hardest part about being a missionary is being “rejected and turned down from the people you are trying to save” because then they (the
missionaries) decide to come home without finishing two years. “I feel like I’m going to be rejected a lot while I’m out there,” he said but he knows that through it all he should “be positive.”
“I’d be a better person if I went on a mission (instead of) a job.”
Oscar Gonzalez senior
Unusual destinations shape minds PHOTO COURTESY OF STEPHANIE MATSUMOTO
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Travel is an opportunity to acquaint oneself with the culture of a foreign land. Travelers often return with a wealth of experience and an expanded view of the world. Seniors Usman Rehman and Solomo Crossley are no exception. “I feel grateful that I get to travel when I can,” Crossley said. “I get a bigger education of how they think and how they feel.” Crossley has been to Italy, France, Germany, Iceland, Mexico, Japan, and Greenland. Rehman has been to France, the United Arab Emirates, Pakistan,
and Afghanistan. Both returned with fresh perspectives on life abroad and in America. “You see how it’s not that bad, how people are living in peace,” Rehman said. “They won’t tell you to go home, or go back to your country. It’s fine over there.” Rehman’s trip to the UAE was a refreshing escape from what he described as xenophobia in the United States. Here, he has to “lay low a bit,” whereas people in the UAE “aren’t that racist.” “There’s racism all over the world,” Rehman said. “But over there, they want to get to
SOLOMO CROSSLEY
know you first.” His trip to Pakistan, one of his two ancestral homelands, was not so pleasant. “When you go there, they feel
like you’re an American, and when you come here, they feel like you’re an Arab,” Rehman said. “You don’t feel welcome in Pakistan or America.” His grandparents, fleeing from unrest in Afghanistan, sought refuge in Pakistan. Most of his family lives in Pakistan, but because of his American upbringing, he is unable to find acceptance from most Pakistanis. “The people that know you respect you, but the people who don’t know you don’t,” Rehman said. “People do think Americans are dumb.” Rehman does not exactly share their view, but he does believe that they have a
greater work ethic and more appreciation of what they have. “When people get their education there, they take it seriously,” Rehman said. “If the people from there got the education we have here, they would probably graduate in their junior year.” Crossley’s experiences in Italy mirrored Rehman’s in some ways. He felt that some Italians take their lives more seriously than Americans do.“One of my aunt’s sons, he would basically live how he wanted to,” Crossley said. “Most people here don’t even know what they want to do,
but he had his whole life planned out. He was more confident than most people.” This summer, he went on a solitary trip to Greenland, Italy, and France in order to escape problems at home and find independence and freedom. “They (Greenlanders) helped you more than an average person in America would,” Crossley said. Crossley and Rehman learned a great deal about both American and foreign cultures from their travels. “Well, it taught me to budget, for sure,” Crossley said. “It taught me to think for myself more than others.”
Post-high school plans include travel GamelaBrice
With attending college comes adulthood and freedom. By attending an out of state college, students are exposed to not only new experiences, but a new environment. This isolation from a student’s usual norm allows them to discover many things about others, as well as themselves. These students hope to gain independence and find comfort elsewhere. Senior Aryana Salvador would like to attend Hawaii University allowing her to be close to her family. However, seeing that she has always wanted to live out west, she has yet to decide which lifestyle would best suit her. “Moving to New York for college would be the ultimate change,” said Salvador. “I have always wanted to be apart of the city life. Being around so many people, whether it’s family or not, would make me comfortable.” However, some students are eager to learn more about their culture and or ethnicity. Historically Black Colleges/Universities are higher educational institutions that offer education specifically for African Americans. Out of the 160 HBCUs in the U.S., there are a decent amount of private as well as public schools. “I’m choosing to attend an HBCU because I want to learn more about my culture,” said senior Charmaigne Gresham. “There is just some kind of comfortability and security that comes with being around a ton of people that not only look like me, but have experienced some of the same things I have and share some of the same interests.” Not all students choose to do the usual. Some students decide to travel post graduation prior to attending college. But the questions that arise include: Why before college, what do you plan to accomplish on this journey, and where do you plan on going? Behind this decision must be a logical reason. “My dad felt is was important that I learn from experience,” said senior Adrian Harris. “I believe that it will be useful because it will give me a taste on the experience of the world. Also, seeing that I will be attending college afterwards, this will give me a larger variety of understanding on different groups of people.”
SOURCE: OPEN DOORS 2013 REPORT AND NAFSA
GRAPHIC BY PHILLICITY URIARTE-JONES
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Entertainment
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Fans of ‘Star Wars’ saga get hyped for ‘Episode VII’ advantage of the topic of conversation. Having a similar reaction, though perhaps a bit more subdued, or rather he tried to hide it more, is senior Giacomo Abdallah. Abdallah has also seen and enjoyed the movies as a child, but rather than a family member’s influence that made him finally watch it like the Brawley sisters experienced, it was the hype around the movies. For his favorite character he goes solo, Han Solo that is. Around five years ago he had given in and watched the movies for the first time and instantly recognized them as a classic. “I had always heard about them but I had never seen all the movies. Watching one made me want to watch all of them.” Music teacher Joseph Updegraff is notorious for having “Star Wars” memorabilia in his room, which is why it is understandable lately he has been seen around campus happier than normal. Because of this, he understands why students are so excited about this upcoming movie, but is distrustful of those who are around his age that have shown no previous interest in the movies. Updegraff’s friends have approached him and asked to borrow some of his “stuff” — as they call it — to go to the premiere in costume, to which he replies “No way.” However, unlike the students around campus who learned of “Star Wars” and had to go back and watch the movies, he was around for their debuts. He recognized it as the classic good vs. evil plot that he can reflect on as a child. “You root for the good guys. You like the bad guys because they look cool but you don’t want them to win.” This being the most recent film, it will be the first “Star Wars” movie whose initial release we experience firsthand. Updegraff may have experienced his “Star Wars” in 1983 but, “In a way this is ‘Star Wars’ for the next generation.”
PhillicityUriate-Jones Hype is a simplistic way of catching someone’s attention. It is one of the few commercial tactics that can make those who were initially against the subject become intrigued. Hype can also just be used to drive those already interested to giddy happiness and feel as if they are on the verge of obsession. This has been the case for the new “Star Wars” movie coming out. This is the case for the Brawley sisters. Seniors Amanda and Emily both have been greatly influenced by the well-known “Star Wars” movies thanks to their father — not dark father — an avid lover of the films himself. Amanda even recalls a time around the time she was 8 or so where they had stayed up together until 3 a.m. watching the films. Reflecting on it fondly, she knows that the movies play a larger role than any of her other favorites. With Disney purchasing the rights to “Star Wars,” some key elements have been changed. Princess Leia will no longer be forced to wear the iconic white bikini by Jabba the Hutt. Emily recognizes that it is relatively inappropriate, considering Disney caters to children almost exclusively, but the movies will not be the same to me. Some changes, however, are eagerly welcomed, such as the increased diversity in the cast. For those who don’t know, someone is now black who wasn’t black before. The merchandise is also a plus, particularly the life size storm troopers and Darth Vader that excite Emily immensely. “Everytime I see them, I can’t resist the urge to go and play with them.” Their favorite character is Darth Vader. An advantage of such a large and thriving company owning the rights to anything is that you can be positive there will never be a shortage of toys, trinkets, clothing, and games to choose from. They’ll produce everything conveniently before you realize you want it. Not surprisingly, the new movies as well as the merchandise surrounding them has people in a giddy state. Mentioning the title itself brightens their eyes, smiles playing at their lips and when they begin talking about it they’re excited, eager to take
PHOTO COURTESY OF AMANDA BRAWLEY
Amanda Brawley poses with “Star Wars” Stormtrooper cosplayers at StocktonCon 2015.
Go to staggonline.net to read a review for the new film, “Star Wars: The Force Awakens.”
Whirlow’s invigorates Miracle Mile JoannSagaral
It is a place where you do not have to depend on canned background music or flat screen televisions for entertainment. Before you resort to ungenuine small talk, the band shuts you up. Dining out is no longer on autopilot once that PA system is on. Performers will interrupt your conversation with their startling sound. Stockton’s own Whirlow’s Tossed and Grilled is the escape that performers and consumers seek alike. Before his act began, acoustic guitar player, vocalist, and father Anthony Keesee said he performed at the restaurant because “it’s an easy gig with good food that’s not high pressure.” Keesee has performed at
multiple places in Stockton and still does to this day at places such as El Toro Loco and the Brick House Restaurant and Lounge. “It keeps the blood pressure down,” Keesee said. He describes the Miracle Mile as a “place that’s always been dead.” He recalls downtown Stockton as being lively back in its heyday. Back when it was safer for people to wander the streets. Back when crime was less of a concern and people could truly let their cares free. Keesee says, “Whirlow’s gives people my age a place to come to, to feel safe.” It is also a place where he can scope for musicians to perform in his own band. Just about every day of the week at Whirlow’s is an event. Karaoke on Tuesdays, jazz nights on Fri-
days, and live local bands every Saturday. On Thursday evenings, the restaurant holds free jam sessions that attract people of every age. A trend that Keesee has seen is an increasing amount of students coming in from Delta College and the University of the Pacific. It pleases him to see students spending their own time to come to these free jams because it gives them “experience with performing, which usually freezes people up.” Here, they are put into a situation where they do not have a piece of sheet music to fall on. Improvisation is a skill on its own that must be learned on its own time. Student performers also gain access to the aid of elder musicians. Business cards also might get swapped if they’re
especially impressive. Keesee playfully laments: “If only I would’ve known places like this existed in high school!” Lisa and Mike Whirlow, owners of the restaurant, provide support for musicians as well as the entire community. Just recently, they collaborated with the Delta College music program for a fundraiser aiding the Stockton Animal Shelter. They also hold events monthly for the non-profit organization West Coast Songwriters. For how much this restaurant does for its community, to say they are “proactive” is an understatement. In a city where the night brings about feelings of insecurity, this place is a haven. Whirlow’s is proof that you do not have be afraid of your own community. You ought
to be able to revel in the night instead of hiding away from it. Stocktonians, whether they
decide to perform or dine, are guaranteed a night of unity and mellowness at Whirlow’s.
PHOTO BY JOANN SAGARAL
Whirlow’s Tossed and Grilled is located on Miracle Mile at 1926 Pacific Ave, Stockton, CA 95204. They’re open Monday through Saturday from 11:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. and Sundays from noon to 4:00 p.m.
Sports
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Boxers slip off the gloves, tell their knockout stories ArianaSmith
Senior Jesus Garcia mentally focuses himself for every fight. He wants to see how far boxing will take him in hopes to someday compete professionally. Mistakes he makes during a match only fuel his determination more. Garcia, who started boxing a little over a year ago, has competed in four family night competitions at his boxing gym. While he did very well in three of those matches, he realizes that success is not always guaranteed. “One time (during a family night match) I was missing my hits and slipping my punches,” Garcia said. “I felt like an embarrassment to my gym.” This affected him mentally. “I just realized I didn’t want to give up,” Garcia said. “I wanted to instead redeem my reputation.” When junior Madaya Valencia enters the ring, she feels the pressure to succeed. Her family has dedicated themselves to the sport. One of her cousins even boxed professionally, but what ultimately ignited her drive for boxing was losing her brother. Her expression changes when she beings to describe how after the death of her brother she took a wrong path. In an attempt the deflect the influence of her friends, her mother recommended she start boxing. Since the brother she lost loved the sport, she began to box not only for herself but for him as well. “He’s with me when I’m in the ring,” Valencia said. Valencia started boxing at Cal Street Boxing gym three years ago, and has not stopped since. In that time she has ranked fourth in the state as an amature boxer. Holding a record of 10-2. She also has recently started working out with a personal trainer. “There were so many new students enrolling,” she said. “I wasn’t getting the one on one I wanted.” Even now with her trainer out due to recent surgery, she continues to work out. “I run every day I can at a park near my house,” Valencia said, whose workout also includes a variety of leg exercises. Never having boxed conventionally, sophomore Nicholas Baza mainly does it as a workout. He is however interested in pursuing in competitively someday, hoping that it would show his growth as a boxer. Baza is mentored by a retired boxer and even trains with him in his home. Senior Luci Gomez boxes for self defense. Gomez finds herself mainly at the boxing gym in the spring and summer. “I feel like the sweat is better when the weather is warmer,”Gomez said. “I work out harder when the sun is shining.”Garcia’s eyes light up as he describes the feeling of being in the ring. “I feel free,” Garcia said. “Like nothing and nobody could ever stop me.”
(Clockwise from top left) Senior Jesus Garcia starts off his practice with footwork, jabs, and hooks. He then does some bagwork, warming up before he gets into the ring. PHOTO BY ANGEL GONZALEZ
Top varsity boys basketball players
Kings lay down court strategies
GRAPHIC BY JEFFERSON LEIVA
Burnett makes a home on the ice rink SaraAbdeltawab
“Hockey — it makes me feel like I’m at home. It’s where I’m supposed to be.” Cam Burnett senior
Baseball got boring, soccer is for little kids, and football not so much. But if there was one sport that hit the spot for senior Cam Burnett. It was hockey. Hockey is not a sport that interests everyone, or a sport that is not brought up as much as others, and not an everyday sport that comes to mind, but for some it’s their life. Burnett started hockey when he was 3 years old and he feels that nothing suited him better than being on the ice. He said his dad was the one that got him into playing hockey. From there, Burnett’s dad coached him step by step. But, no matter who helped him start the sport he says “Miracle On Ice,” which was when the U.S beat the Soviet Union national hockey team in the Olympics, is what inspired him to never give up on the sport. And so he continues to play to this day. Besides running, hockey has been the second
hardest sport for Burnett. He went on to say that it was something he has done and is still doing as much as he can. Being an outside school sport, to be able to play, his coaches still want him to keep his grades up. Switching from player three to goalie, Burnett’s favorite position is left wing. Having the chance at every game to stop the center from taking the puck, it gives him a sense of relief. When asked, why hockey was his favorite sport, Burnett says it is a different environment with different people, which is a good experience. Waking up either really early or getting home too late, hockey to Burnett is a sport worth taking risks for. Even if it’s getting crushed, or not knowing if you’ll make a goal or not. “It all depends on who you’re on the ice with,” Burnett said. During the game against their rival team, Santa Rosa, in 2014, Burnett grabbed a stick that was too
big for him and he accidently made a goal. For the first time he felt proud of the sport he was playing. “I didn’t expect to make it, I went crazy on the ice,” he said. He said if you have a close connection with the people on the ice, it feels more normal and comfortable to play — like home. “Not so much the old cliche we are a family, but we are very close at times,” he said. “On and off the ice.” Going on to say that his 2014 team was the, best team he has ever been apart of. It was a close bond to him. Even though Burnett can’t continue to play for Skatetown Roosevelt, because he can’t afford the membership, he still enjoys watching and talking about it. He went on to mention that besides his family the only other person who he can really talk hockey with is his teacher, Marcus Sherman. “Hockey,” said Burnett, “it makes me feel like I’m at home, it’s where I’m supposed to be.”
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PERFORMING ARTS KEEP BUSY Drumline joins the arts program StephanieMatsumoto
From crashes of cymbals to banging of drums, noise could be heard from the band room after school with no reason more than to just play around. Yet, that noise could become something more. It had potential to be in sync, to be more than rhythmless pounding, to have meaning. And so, the idea to start a drumline was set into motion. Music director Joseph Updegraff runs drumline in the band room after school on Mondays and Thursdays. Due to a lack of students in the jazz band, the program was dropped. However, Updegraff came up with an idea after noticing groups of students come into the band room after school and play percussion instruments. Ernesto Harwell, junior, was one of those students. Now, while he plays the double bass in school for orchestra, he plays the bass drum after school. Harwell says the drumline is not only fun but that they could also go far in competitions as well. “We had a vote on how far we wanted to push toward and decided to maybe do competitions in the future,”Harwell said. “But we’re also doing it for the fun aspect because music is fun.” While Updegraff admits that they aren’t ready for competitions yet, he says the drumline has a lot of potential to make great changes for the music program.
“My hope is that if we work hard, get out there, and perform, then we can put a stamp on Stagg and show that we’ve got some pretty cool stuff here,” Updegraff said. He sees the possibility of drumline bringing many positives. Activities such as the walking tour could also extend to drumline, catching the attention of future students. However, Updegraff also says it’s great for music students right now. “It’s amazing because I’ve got violin players, I’ve got trombone players, I’ve got non-percussion players wanting to play percussion and that’s great because if I can get them to do this, I can get them into band and convince kids to play different instruments.” Gabby Khan, senior, enjoys being in drumline. Having been involved in the music program for some time, she says that it’s a good thing for people who really care about playing instruments. “We’ve had people that aren’t in music classes during school come in and play with us because it’s after school and completely voluntary,” she In all, while Updegraff thinks it’s great to have drumline for students who hang out in his room after school, he sees it bringing a brighter future for the music program. “The potential is here on campus,” Updegraff said. “People just have to want it and come to do it.”
PHOTO BY MY’KAYLA MOORE
Andrew Cardwell, a University of the Pacfic student, volunteers his time to assist with the after school drumline program.
Choir, music perform at their annual walking tour Many music and choir students walked to Madison, Commodore and Tyler elementary schools to play and sing a couple of songs with the students at the school. This all-day event took place on Dec 1. PHOTOS BY JULIA ROSETE
UC Davis trip inspires students BrennonTurner
Drama departments usually put on productions like “The Breakfast Club,” but the Globe Theatre has a program that is focusing its efforts on bringing more Shakespearean plays to the high school level. Drama teacher Marc Glassberg participated in this program, providing his students with a unique opportunity. They were invited to participate with 11 other schools that focused on a specific act from a Shakespeare play. On Nov. 17 the students’ rehearsals and efforts was evident as they performed in a professional setting at the University of California, Davis campus. Deans from many UC’s attended the performance. “I was approached by a couple deans,” junior Mariposa Guerrero said, “and they told me to include this experience on my college applications.” She also added that this experience will strengthen her application and possibly increase chances of acceptance. Senior Parker Spurlin, who is a second-year drama student, is
one of the 12 students selected to perform. “The language we used was a major step up from our regular productions and made improv very difficult,” he said. Spurlin also spoke about how Shakespeare’s iambic pentameter, which is the rhythm scheme, forced them to put forth a stronger effort than normal when trying to get a beat on the character and especially when trying to improvise using Shakespearean language and vocabulary. The program allowed the students to attend a couple seminars, which intensely dove into the way Shakespeare speaks and writes. “We learned a whole lot of vocab, rhetoric and diction that we didn’t know before,” Guerrero said. “Within each syllable holds so much emotion,” Glassberg comments. Freshman Nadia Dutra came into this year wanting to act because of her experience with performing skits on Youtube. “When I’m on stage it feels cool because all eyes are on me,” Dutra said. Initially she was shy, but as she played different roles she became more comfortable. “Each role I have had, I’ve
PHOTO BY ROSA GARCIA
Freshman Nadia Dutra and senor Parker Spurlin rehearse a scene from “As You Like It,” a play written by Shakespeare, at UC Davis.
connected it to my life,” Dutra said, “and I have been able to express myself through the character.” “This is just the beginning for the drama program, because
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we got our foot in the door and we are ready to take off,” Spurlin said. “We are excited to participate in things like this for the future, because it is a whole other level of acting.”
In memory of Steve Franco III
Check our website for galleries spotlighting breakfast time, boys basketball, auto shop and Circle of Friends.
“It felt like his main goal was to make everyone laugh every day. His smile just lighted everyone’s day.” Selena Rivas
Senior
To see more visit staggonline.net