the Stagg Line Home of the Delta Kings
11.05.10
http://www.staggonline.net
VOL. 54 NO. 3 ON THE WEB staggline.com
John Legend gallery
GOING VIRAL
New website goes live today www.staggonline.net
ON THE BLOG
staggline.blogspot.com
INSIDE THE ISSUE Rocky Horror
NEWS IN BRIEF French Film Night French Honor Society is putting on a French foreign film night on Wednesday, Nov. 10, in B-2, as part of National French Week. Free admission to all students. Fall Athletic Banquet The sports fall banquet will be Monday, Nov. 15, starting at 6 p.m. in the cafeteria. Families of four can purchase tickets for $11. Individual tickets are $5. Fall athletes and coaches are free. No school There will be no school on Nov. 11-12 due to Veterans Day. Thanksgiving break will be Nov. 22-26 with school resuming on Nov. 29. Hispanic College Fair University of the Pacific will be holding a Hispanic College Fair Friday, Dec. 10. Sign-ups and information can be found in the Career Center. Football game The last game of the season has been moved to today at 5 p.m. for JV and 7: 30 p.m. for varsity. It will be held in Stagg’s stadium.
the Stagg Line NSPA Hall of Fame newspaper Amos Alonzo Stagg High School 1621 Brookside Rd. Stockton, Calif. 95207
Claire Scheffer Sam Pope has been working to get a web design class for many years. “It was sort of an accident,” the English teacher said. “About five years ago, Mr. Bott floated the idea of a bigger newspaper web presence. A couple of years went by and one year without asking for it was a web class…This year is the year we get it out there.” Pope is talking about the new Stagg website, premiering today. He and his first period web design class have been setting up the site since the end of September, getting it ready for student viewing. Senior Richard Estepp is one of those students creating Stagg Online. “Right now, I’m trying to create an interactive map using HTML formatting.” But an interactive map isn’t the only thing appearing on the website. According to Pope, the website will contain basic info, information about colleges and careers, things going on around campus, such as slide shows, photos, and a couple of opinion articles. “We have lots of pictures from homeSeniors Reuben Suchil and Richard Estepp decide photos to put on the news coming and a bunch of the first game, you know, the ribbon cutting.” section of Stagg’s brand new website. The photos are part of an interactive map Senior Lisa Lopez has been working on the sports page. of the school campus. She said that they would first put up information on the fall sports and then change it once the new season starts. “We’re also going to have pictures of the teams, coaches, and the games we have won and lost.” And while a lot is getting done to get ready for the grand opening, Estepp said last week that more still needs to be done. “I am trying to rally the troops. I can be the nicest guy, but sometimes you gotta be tough.” Estepp is the multimedia and news editor. Pope doesn’t expect perfection, though. “We’re in the crash course, getting kids used to doing interviews and doing research. You can’t just Google this stuff.” Estepp is one of a handful of students who took the course last year. The class is a part of the Multimedia small learning community. He was one of two students, senior Reuben Suchil being the other, to continue the course this year and he says that it has helped him. “I know how to create websites and HTML format.” This, he says, is getting him ready for his future career as a web page designer or computer programmer. “It’s fun to be able to create websites … If I have some boring job, then what’s the point of doing it?” This, he believes, will keep him relevant. He wants to come to his reunion and still see the Stagg Online. Pope agrees. “When people Google Stagg, we want to be No. 1, the most relevant thing.” He also wants the website Seniors Ana Villanueva and Sam Pope and his web design staff discuss the to have student voice on the web. Alejandra Rios review photos difficulties of learning to upload photos to an But Estepp believes only a certain type of student will of coaches. unfamiliar program. visit the site. “If you don’t have school spirit, you won’t care about the website. I have pride in Stagg.” Graphic by Michelle Pheav photos by Harmony Evangelisti
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THUMBS UP MICHY! comments on Bring Me the Horizon reaching No. 1 on the Australian charts. MIKEALA AXTOGRIND reviews My Chemical Romance’s catchy new single “Na Na Na.”
Honors students frustrated by tests Lissette Rodriguez On any other day, English teacher Valita Schut’s Junior Honors English class would be discussing the tragic hero characteristics of the ambitious Macbeth from William Shakespeare’s play. On this day, though, Macbeth needs to take a seat so that students can answer nine questions on a district test, a task that can take from 30 minutes to a whole class period. These tests are administered to every English class up to six times a semester, which includes two formative assessments per quarter, one quarter test, and one semester test. However, honors English teachers and students say these tests aren’t matching up with a curriculum that focuses on developing essay writing skills and analyzing literature. “Those tests evaluate very simplistic skills,” said Sophomore Honors English teacher Erica Dei Rossi. “We’re not endorsing the type of thinking that is required at the college level by
giving those tests.” Honors English students agree. Junior Lauren Harrison has been in the honors English classes since she entered high school. For both her freshman and sophomore years she, alongside with all honors English students, was exempt from having to take any English district because a majority of honors students received Proficient and Advanced scores on their California Standardized Tests. As of this year, though, all English classes, including honors, are required to take district tests that cover a variety of subjects that vary from reading comprehension and literary analysis to spelling and grammar. “It’s obvious we already know this stuff,” Harrison said. “It’s like taking a step back.” However, students find that these tests have more mistakes than they are being asked to correct. On a recent formative assessment that Schut administered to her honors class, students quickly spotted several mistakes within the questions. Schut had
her students mark the corrections on the tests for her to send them to the Professional Development Center. From the corrections the students made, two questions were removed. Secondary Curriculum Specialist for Stockton Unified School District Michele Williams says that students and teachers finding mistakes within the district tests can actually be beneficial. “That’s a great way to review the test,” Williams said. Being able to review tests in class, Williams said, helps students see the relationship between the test and the standards for the class. Another complaint that students make when taking these tests is that instructions before a passage are not always consistent with the multiple choice questions. While the instructions may inform a student that the passage might contain errors, the multiple choice question after the passage will ask what the tone of the passage is. Williams says that this can also help students in improve test taking
techniques. “Part of a test taking skill is to look at the questions beforehand and so while you’re reading the passage you know what you are looking for.” Dei Rossi, alongside with all four honors English teachers, agree that an alternative should be found to accurately measure honors students’ abilities. “Essays or projects would be more effective in the honors classroom,” Dei Rossi said. “These are enriching activities that they’ll receive in a higher education.” Preparing for a higher education is what Freshman Honors English teacher Thongthip Duangsawat says is the ultimate goal for every honors class. Especially considering that there is not a strict pacing guide for the honors curriculum. Duangsawat and all other honors English teachers are facing the challenge that some of their students don’t take the assessments seriously considering that the scores don’t have to be recorded in students’ grades. This leads Schut to question “then what is the point of these tests?”
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The whole point of honors classes is to learn different things, so why are we being tested on what’s being taught in a regular class?” Aaron Vega
JUNIOR
Beyond that, the formative tests present another issue. “We’re not really using our resources wisely,” Duangsawat said. For the test alone, paper, ink, toner, and class time are all being consumed to administer the exams. The last formative assessment exam for the sophomore class was four pages long, for a test that usually takes up to 10 minutes to complete. While sophomore Leonardo Rodriguez does think that the tests “are a waste of time,” other students and teachers argue that the tests’ format simply needs to be changed. “It’s not that we’re more special,” said Alex Owens, senior. “It’s just that we want to be challenged on a test.” Officials like Williams and Schut say that they are currently trying to find that challenge for students. Honors teachers are currently working on creating a separate honors district test that would require students to write a timed essay among other analytical questions about passages.
Opinion the Stagg Line
2 EDITORIALS
11.05.10
Dental clinic brings smiles
District tests testing patience of honors’ students
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tudents who may not be able to otherwise afford dental care now have the opportunity to get procedures like root canals and fillings. Someone messing with your teeth may sound like torture, but we assure you, it’s worth it. Students with Medi-Cal or Healthy Families should ask for more information in the Healthy Start office.
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ou know those students that come back from summer vacation with huge backpacks? You know those students that are clutching a novel and poster on the first day of
school? Those would be honors students. More specifically, those would be honors English students. With a curriculum occupied with novels and projects, you’d think they wouldn’t have to take the same tests as the regular English courses, given that there just isn’t enough time. Well, this year, the district decided that honors English students would also take the quarter and district tests. We think this is an absolute waste of time. The tests are sometimes so long that the honors English students devote an entire period to them, when they could be using that time for things like presentations and discussions. The district argues that they need to see where English classes struggle, but we don’t think that makes much sense. The students that are in honors have already gotten Proficient and Advanced CST scores, so why do they still have to prove themselves? If they are going to give honors students a curriculum centered around different aspects of literature, they shouldn’t have them take a test based on another syllabus.
Breaking barriers
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Art by Michelle Pheav
ullying, racism, and violence were only some of the topics talked about at the Point Break workshop held just before the fall break. Students partook in games, exercises, and talks in small groups to gain a better understanding of what leads to such violent acts. This workshop taught students the importance of respect, tolerance, and unity. It was great to get these students involved in such a rewarding experience where they could connect with their peers. The only disappointment would be, of course, those dreaded budget cuts. Because of lack of funds, only some freshmen went to this workshop. Other freshmen will be going throughout the year as well, but it would be a great thing for other years too.
Sanity tops fear in comedic rally Funny men make serious statement
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merica, the greatest country God ever gave man, was built on three bedrock principles: freedom, liberty, and fear.” No, these are not the words of a famous U.S. document or philosopher. Damon Heine They are the words of the so-called Rev. Sir Dr. Stephen T. Colbert, on the website that advertised his “March to keep fear alive.” At least it was until Colbert’s rally was merged with fellow Comedy Central political pundit Jon Stewart’s “Rally to restore sanity.” The two rallies were broadcast on October 30th as the “Rally to restore sanity and/or fear.” The ideas for the two rallies came from Glenn Beck’s tea party catering event “Restoring honor rally.” Led by Beck and with appearances by Sarah Palin and other tea party supporters, the event caused controversy because it was held on the anniversary of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr’s “I Have a Dream” speech. Stewart said his rally was for those who were too busy to go to rallies. “The Daily Show” host said that America has been taken over by the 15-20 percent minority of Americans who have dominated national news: Koran-burning pastors, tea party radicals, and people who draw Hitler moustaches on the president they despise. That these people are what’s making America look ridiculous. Colbert’s rally, on the other hand, was catered in agreement with the fear mongers that dominate the national news. Entering the stage from an “under-
ground bunker,” Colbert reenacted the Chilean miner rescue and acted like a personification of the country’s fear, and the enemy of Jon Stewart’s reason. This is not the first time both hosts have been in the spotlight. Most recently Colbert testified, in character, to Congress on migrant labor laws after his experience as a migrant farmer which was televised on his show. Let’s just say the senators were not pleased with him appearing as comedian Colbert. But the two hosts had never planned an event this size. Stewart and Colbert’s comedic take on political issues may have their critics not taking them seriously. But I think that their comedy is what made these work. The reason these rallies worked lies within how these two pundits use their comedic insight to attract people to their cause. Stewart and Colbert did not take their rallies as truly political. But ever since the rallies were first announced, they have inspired their loyal fan base to join their cause. Ever since both shows premiered they have both had people of a youthful age become interested in national issues (and how insane they can be). Combining the two rallies was the best thing for these two. By uniting, the rally looked to surpass any tea party sponsored rally. And with midterm elections just a few days later, it has the potential to affect voters who are torn between a radical pro conservative group and a president that has failed to get results that he promised when he was elected three years ago. Despite onstage antics and much political satire, there was a lot of serious meaning to the rally, especially on the behalf of Jon Stewart. After “defeating” Stephen Colbert’s fear puppet, with the help of “Daily Show” correspondent John Oliver in a Peter Pan costume, Stewart gave the speech that defined the rally. By saying that if “we amplify everything, we hear nothing,” he emphasized that America has spent the last year complaining about its problems instead of doing anything about them. And using
the Stagg Line Amos Alonzo Stagg High School 1621 Brookside Rd. Stockton, CA 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 recognitions include the following: XX 16 consecutive NSPA All-American rankings XX NSPA Hall of Fame, 2005 XX NSPA First-Place Best of Show five times XX 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.
Source: Comedy Central
the analogy of the American people as a traffic line, and even though the car ahead of you has an Obama bumper sticker or a NRA logo and you disagree with their views, you let them go ahead because it’s just common courtesy. Just because our political views differ doesn’t mean we have to put each other down.
Chelsea Collura Editor-in-Chief
Lissette Rodriguez Don Bott
Editor-in-Chief
Adviser
The Stagg Line newspaper is published monthly and distributed free of charge to students and faculty. Our newspaper is a long-standing open forum for free student expression. Student editors and reporters make content and style decisions with the adviser offering guidance. Editorials reflect the view of the entire editorial board and therefore are unsigned. Opinion columns reflect the view of the writer. Readers are welcomed to write letters to the editor. We will make every effort to print any letter as long as it is not libelous. Letters longer than 250 words may be edited. Unsigned letters will be printed only in unusual circumstances, and only when we know who the writer is. Letters may be brought to the newspaper room, A-8, or emailed to dbott@stockton.k12.ca.us
Everyone who saw the rally will have an opinion about it. But I can’t help but say that the Stewart/ Colbert rally did a much better job at speaking to the American people than Beck’s. The majority of the people I should say. Not the 15-20 percent minority of shouters that have captivated our attentions and T.V. screens.
Claire Scheffer
Annamarie Cunningham
Mikeala Axton
Harmony Evangelisti
News Editor
Opinion Editor
Missy Rae Magdalera
Faith Harris
Features Editor
Damon Heine
Alisya Mora
Nicole Lawrence
Taylor Hurles
Jera Machuca
Entertainment Editor Sports Editor
Michelle Pheav Graphics Editor
Erica Trevino
Gabriella Miller Tiffany Pech
Photo Editor
Annamarie Rodriguez
Xe Xiong
Reanna Rodriguez
Kristin Acevedo
Seyma Tap
Web/Multimedia Editor Copy Editor
Jeremy Dela Cruz Blog Editor
Mia Torres
11.05.10
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in
Opinion
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zombie apocalypse
of e s ca
the Stagg Line
our chest pulls desperately in and out as you suck in breath, trying not to lose your footing. Falling means death. Stopping means death. Behind you the smell of rotting flesh is hunting you down, accompanied by ravenous hordes of the undead. You glance over your shoulder, terrified to look and stupid not to. You hit a dead end, and the zombies are quick on your heels. They’re closing in, hands with missing fingers groping the air in front of them, lurching towards your (for now) warm flesh. They grab at your clothes, and you scream—
Don’t be scared. “Michy’s (Probably) Full-Proof Guide to Surviving the Zombie Apocalypse” is here to save you when the inevitable zombie apocalypse does happen (which will be sooner than you think)! 1: Know your zombies! What type of the undead will you be dealing with here? Slow moving zombies are no problem; you’ll be able to walk around them in circles while the sluggish zombies dumbly follow you like dogs chasing their tails. However, running zombies are scary. One word: cardio. Think fast! Also, what are they craving? If it’s your brain they want, you might want to wear a helmet to protect that rather large cranium. Just kidding. If they’re craving flesh however, then you’re pretty much screwed. Wear long sleeves and leather (like that’ll help). 2: Stick together. You DO NOT want to be alone in this. That’s like asking for a zombie to go ahead and maul your arm off. But make sure you’re with people who won’t argue and take control. Because, hint hint, they’re the ones who usually die first (and they’ll probably take you with them). 3: What is love? Relationships are a no-no. Don’t involve yourself with your significant other, because when they die, you’ll die. If Ashley gets bitten and joins the horde of the undead, don’t try and save her. Your so called everlasting love will not survive the zombie apocalypse. 4: Stock up on weapons/ammo. You honestly never want to run out of ammunition. Because what’s left? That dagger of yours can’t handle the massive horde of the undead trailing right behind you. Unless of course you’re going to be having a face-off with knives. Then that’s cool too. 5: BOOM, HEADSHOT. Aim down your sights. Go for their head. It’s a one shot, one kill. You go ahead and grab that sniper rifle. Take them out one by one, inconspicuously or not. Zombies aren’t the most intelligent beings to grace the planet, so
Michelle Pheav
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it shouldn’t be hard if you’ve got the super duper amazing skills. Show ‘em who’s boss. 6: Double tap! Although you might have taken its head off with that sniper rifle of yours, the rest of its body could most likely be crawling on the floor with its still-moving arms and legs. Creepy, I know. Make sure to shoot it again. Or, you can just run over and give it a kick or two. That should do the trick. 7: You can’t run but you can hide! Find a barricade or shelter. Somewhere where it’s safe and quiet, possibly underground. It’s important that the zombies don’t know of your whereabouts. But don’t stay in one place for too long. If they can hear you shout profanities as you accidently blast your foot off with a gun, then that isn’t good. Better start packing! 8: Forget hiding, let’s move. Don’t get too comfortable in that barricade of yours. It’s always good to keep moving, especially when there are zombies lurking about. Learn how to push those smelly, rotting zombies out of the way and to not get bitten at the same time. Or possibly, go Grand Theft Auto on this sucker and find the nearest possible car. Start the engine and go crazy. Don’t you love the sound of crunching zombie bones? 9: Unleash your inner zombie. This should be a last resort to get from place to place, but, if you run out of ammo or cannot easily transport to where you want to be, do it. Pretend to be a zombie, be one of them. It shouldn’t be that hard to make unintelligible noises and limp like
Curse words becoming commonplace among teens
t’s just another school day and I’m just your average teen. I come to school with a smile on my face, but that smile quickly disappears when I hear — My ears are greeted with vulgar language. The kind I hear every day as I walk the halls. The kind that makes me turn my head indignantly whenever I hear it. The kind that teens all over the nation have added to their everyday vocabulary. “It’s part of my vocabulary Reanna Rodriguez and if you don’t hear me cuss, then I’m not being myself,” said Veasna Samol, sophomore. She said she knows cussing is bad, but she grew up doing it and it has become a habit. “If you really knew me, you would know that I cuss,” she said. She went on to explain that she doesn’t care if people judge her for it, because that’s just who she is. Sarah McLaughlin, junior, has a different opinion. “When you hear people cussing, you don’t really respect them,” she said. She said that it’s understandable if you’re angry or in some serious pain, but it’s become a “social norm.” McLaughlin said that her mother raised her not to cuss and that lesson has helped shape her into the young women she is today. But not all cases are like that. Samol’s parents don’t agree with her language choice and when she slips up, she is forced to correct herself. Her teachers don’t approve of her vulgar language either and have given her three detentions this year. As I walk down the hallway I hear so many scenarios where vulgar language comes into play. There is the typical argument, where two teens are battling it out with their words. The infamous gossip that goes down when teens don’t like one of their peers. And even the exchange between two friends who get a laugh out of calling each other something dirty and hurtful. All of these scenarios involve some type of curse word and I can’t help but wonder why. Why must people be so lazy that they can’t come up with something better than the common curse word? Why has cussing become so popular, when all it amounts to is a sloppy remark? These are questions I ask myself every day. The First Amendment gives citizens of the United States the right to freedom of speech, but there is difference between having the right to say anything you want and actually saying it. It’s one thing to privately curse to yourself, but to shout it across the hall is something entirely different. Cursing at a high volume in a public place is a similar situation to smoking on an airplane or driving while intoxicated. It isn’t just about you anymore. You’re not alone and you have to take into consideration the people around you. We need to know when we’ve just said too much. I’m not going to say I haven’t cursed, because that would be a lie. There are times when I slip up
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and just let my words fly, but I hate the feeling I get afterwards. I can’t help but think of my family and just what they would say if they heard me speaking lke that. Then again, it’s one thing to slip up, but something else entirely to build my vocabulary around curse words, which I would never allow myself to do. Teenagers walk the halls and cuss like it means nothing, when it actually means a lot. As a student body we need to respect the people around us and keep cussing private. But as people we really need to look ahead into the future and decide just who we are and what we stand for. Because once something is said, there is no taking it back. It’s time for us, as people, to take that long look in the mirror and decide what we want to be remembered for. I don’t know about you, but I want to be remembered by my peers for something great, not my vulgar vocabulary.
Why must people be so lazy that they can’t come up with something better than the common curse word?”
Art by Tiffany Pech
you’ve got swagger. If T-Pain can do it, you can too! Plus, if you can stand that distinct, fleshy stench of the undead while pretending to be one of them, it’s a success. 10: ALWAYS have a Plan B, because if Plan A doesn’t work out, you’re screwed. Self-explanatory. “Michy’s (Probably) Full-Proof Guide to Surviving the Zombie Apocalypse” should be your Plan A. You think I’m going to give you a Plan B? Look how I ended up! You can figure that out on your own.
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3-D movies, 1-D plots
verpriced tickets, headaches, and loss of faith in the movie industry. This is what 3-D really means. It is no longer a cool hand reaching into your face or a pickaxe coming out of the screen. It’s disappointment wrapped in anger. Yet, even with known health risks, idiotic plots and unreal special effects, Hollywood keeps churning out second rate 3-D films to serve to the masses. Claire Scheffer A prime example of this kind of blatant abuse of the trend is James Cameron’s new 3-D version of “Titanic.” According to a Newsweek column, Cameron has confirmed that Titanic 3-D will be in theaters in 2012, just in time for the centennial of the devastating sinking. What possible reason could Cameron have to remake this movie in 3-D if it isn’t money? It was fine in 2-D, Academy Award winning in fact, so what could 3-D possibly add that would make Cameron want to release it a second time? But Cameron is not alone in this phenomenon. Tim Burton, creator of such classics as “Edward Scissorhands” and “Corpse Bride,” rereleased “Nightmare Before Christmas” in 3-D. I have seen it and I have to say that it was no better than the 2-D version and that just made me mad the whole time I watched it. I had traveled two hours and spent an extra $5 to have a scene barely pop out at me. But what could I expect? It wasn’t made for that. Yet the funny thing is that some of these movies that claim to be 3-D aren’t made for it either. The remake “Clash of the Titans” was not shot in 3-D, which was added later as a way to add that $5-$7.50 per ticket. The added extra dimension is the reason that sometimes 3-D movies don’t really look so 3-D. They still look flat, just a closer flat. And with the way Hollywood likes to exploit trends (need I mention vampires?) there will be more 3-D movies, real or not, coming to theaters. But this scares me. It is as if movies that have 3-D no longer have to have a plot. “Clash of the Titans” was awful and “Alice in Wonderland” was so not worth a sequel. I can’t imagine the great movies that I love being in 3-D, and it’s because they didn’t need it. Norman Bates’s knife didn’t need to go into the screen for me to be scared when watching “Psycho,” Rick and Ilsa’s kiss was still magical in “Casablanca” in 2-D, and the explosions in “The Hurt Locker” still shook me to my core without having to see the shrapnel flying at me. I have never walked out the theater saying that a movie was the best I had ever seen because of the special effects and I fear for the day when that is all it takes to make it “great.” And the sad thing is that movies that should not be made in 3-D are. What is the point of having “Jackass” in 3-D? The way I remember 3-D was a paddle ball being pushed in your face or piranhas flying to your doom, not inappropriate body parts thrown into the audience. Not cool. And don’t get me started on a 3-D dance movie. Dance! What dance could I possibly need to see in 3-D? Oh yeah, can’t wait to see that foot coming off the screen. Yet, I can’t say that I will never watch a 3-D movie again, but I do know that when Titanic 3-D comes out, I won’t be seeing it. Because what’s the point, and for that matter what is the point of any 3-D film? I just don’t know anymore.
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It is as if movies that have 3-D no longer have to have a plot.”
Art by Tiffany Pech
Features the Stagg Line
4
Chain reaction:
Link Crew leaders create bonds with freshmen
Missy Rae Magdalera
photo by Chelsea Collura Sophomore Chelsea Byers (right) gathers her assigned freshmen, including Fe Valencia, to play the game“who’s looking at you?” which all 50 link crew leaders played with their groups near the end of the assembly.
Junior Amy Kitchens prepares her poster for placement in the R-Wing which lists the names of her group of freshmen.
Hundreds of students from the Freshman Academy lined up in front of the gym on Friday, Oct. 29, curiously awaiting an assembly led by the school’s newly founded Link Crew. The crowd quieted down as soon as Ty Pafford, Link Crew coordinator, stepped up to the microphone to welcome the Class of 2014. “We’re going to make Stagg a community,” he said, the gym erupting in applause. He says that freshmen “need to see that people like them have been successful” and this club aims to help students realize this potential. Link Crew is a club that offers credits to upperclassmen who are interested in being mentors for students during their first year in high school. Senior Arthur Apcar, club president, was very excited to become one of the many mentors to about 10 students in the Freshman Academy. He admits that he “didn’t have that guidance” during his freshman year and wants to extend a helping hand to those in need of it. “Freshmen need that wake-up call.”
photo by Chelsea Collura Senior Berlin Hunziker speaks with freshman Angelina Ellsworth about the Link Crew club, and her expectations for her leader during the year.
photo by Erica Trevino
11.05.10
Alison Lockheed, one of the three teachers in charge of Link Crew, said that this guidance will offer a variety of help to those in need of social, academic, and personal guidance. “It’s important to have somebody older than you that you can trust,” she said. To Lockheed, this trust is definitely a key factor in Link Crew’s success. Though these mentors communicated with their mentees through phone or other sources, the assembly was the first face-toface meeting for both the freshmen and their older companions. In the club, each upperclassmen participating is grouped with about 10 freshmen. There are approximately 50 leaders, just enough to supply an estimated 500 freshmen with mentors. Pafford agrees that the hardest part in starting the club was “making sure (they) could find enough link leaders to dedicate time.” During the assembly, however, there was no hint of uneasiness, but instead, a sense of excitement, especially from the link leaders. “I’m glad I can finally meet the (freshmen),” one of the many Link Crew leaders Jessica Rhoten, sophomore, said. Mentoring isn’t limited to academics. The social aspect of high
school is included. Rhoten said, “I would have loved to have someone to talk to (about high school).” Link Crew plans on inviting freshmen to movie nights, basketball games, and other events specifically for freshmen and their link leaders. This is meant to help bond the younger students with their mentors. But the main goal of Link Crew, she said, is to encourage freshmen to succeed in both their education and their lives. “We’re here to help them know that the work is important,” she said. According to a 2009 Record article, Stockton Unified School District’s dropout rate dropped to 17.7 percent compared to 54.2 percent in 2008. This club is only more fuel to keep these rates decreasing. “Freshman year is pretty scary,” freshman Nicole George said. “It’s cool that (upperclassmen are helping) freshmen so they’re not scared.” Those involved in Link Crew encourage others to join the club and take advantage of a selfless opportunity like this. “Our main goal … is that they can come to us with any problems they have,” Apcar said. “Didn’t you want that help as a freshman?”
Freshman Academy teacher Ty Pafford speaks briefly with the students about the agenda for the assembly. photo by Chelsea Collura
Study of graphology brings teacher better understanding of students Faith Harris Cross the “T’s” and dot the “I’s.” Oh, and please make sure the lowercase letters don’t pass the dotted line. Forget those directions from the kindergarten teacher. Just forget them. When it comes to the subject of graphology, any writing is acceptable, and, in fact, individualism is highly encouraged. What exactly is graphology? Overall, it’s an analysis of handwriting that can reveal things about a person such as their personality and what their daily fears and lives are like. For math teacher Terry Vanderhoofven, graphology is a way to connect with his students. He got interested in graphology a few years ago when he noticed something peculiar. “I had this student who would write in two different styles depending on his mood,” he said. “I started looking into graphology after that.” When asked if having two different styles of writing was common, Vanderhoofven said “it’s very abnormal.” He has read many books on graphology and even owns handwriting cards that keep the skill fresh in his mind. He has worked hard to become good at it, and as a result, students say he is almost completely accurate when he analyzes their handwriting. Sophomore Stephanie Nguyen, who had her handwriting analyzed, was particularly shocked. “He knew me (very) well,” she said. “I thought it was sort of crazy.” She laughed as he called her talkative and described her as one that bottles up her emotions. “Oh my gosh,” she screamed. “That is so me.” Vanderhoofven takes a modest approach by saying
anyone can grab one of the books and learn, but students are definitely impressed. “I feel like that’s his special talent,” Nyguen said. Talent or not, Vanderhoofven enjoys it. “I must have analyzed the handwriting of at least 125 students here at Stagg,” he said. Unlike most who keep talents like this to themselves, Vanderhoofven constantly shares his little secrets. In fact, when he’s analyzing handwriting, he tells the students what letters point out certain aspects of their personality. “Crossing your ‘T’s’ low suggests low self esteem, crossing them high displays a great deal of confidence, and crossing them almost directly in the middle shows that one is content with who they are.” He also said that “I’s” are especially revealing. When one forgets to dot them, they are, ironically, forgetful. When analyzing the word “it,” Vanderhoofven finds that students often will dot their “I” and cross their “T” with the same stroke. He says this shows an urge to get stuff done quickly and efficiently. One thing Vanderhoofven has yet to discover is how people adopt their writing styles. “It’s really almost completely subconscious,” he said. However, he does have another theory. “We’re taught to write a certain way when we’re young,” he said. “But once we learn the letters we make it our own.” “As students reach adolescence, they begin to be rebellious.” According to him, this “rebellion” is reflected in everyday writing, therefore revealing more about a person than is wished. Those interested in having their handwriting analyzed are encouraged by Vanderhoofven to go to room B-4.
photo by Kristin Acevedo Math teacher Terry Vanderhoofven speaks to sophomore Stephanie Nguyen about her handwriting. According to Vanderhoofven, Nguyen “lives for today” and leads a care free lifestyle, which she says is surprisingly true.
11.05.10
the Stagg Line
Features
Student assimilates to West Coast lifestyle Jeremy Dela Cruz After living on a tropical archipelago all her life, she marveled at the snow, at its touch, at its appearance. The enchanting frost blanketed the world in white, embracing buildings and showing everyone its icy countenance. The little girl wondered at the swirling spectacle, a testament of how her own life was changing randomly. Four years ago, it was the frigid snow of Buffalo, NY, that welcomed junior Natsumi Abellana to the United States. From the humid Philippine islands and the busy Buffalo skyline, Abellana has made her way to Stockton, a journey that began when she was young. Abellana recalls that the snow, however, was not the most hospitable host. She and her mom arrived in Buffalo during a snowstorm. Temperatures were below zero and the strong winds caused several power outages. The only benefit from the cold climate was that the schools were closed for almost two weeks due to the snow. Soon, Abellana conformed to East Coast life and “learned to love the cold and the usual 2 to 4 feet of snow in the winter.” Before America, Abellana grew up with her grandmother and her aunts in Cebu, Philippines. There she went to a Catholic private school with cousins who were like siblings to her. She lived in the country and “was used to the quiet.” Like many Filipinos, Abellana’s mother worked overseas in Japan. “I didn’t personally see her until I was 12,” Abellana said. “We just kept in contact through phone
calls.” As for her dad, all she knew was that she had one and he was Japanese. All of a sudden, Abellana’s life in the Pearl of the Orient Sea began to change. “My mom came back to the Philippines and told me that she was marrying someone,” she said. “We left when I was 12.” After they moved to Buffalo, she had to adopt new habits. Abellana started middle school, an aspect of American education that was strange to her since the Philippines doesn’t have grades 7 or 8 but has students go directly to high school after sixth grade. “I had to deal with learning to live with my mom and my new father figure; I also had to change my whole lifestyle in school, with friends, my younger stepbrother (who’s also half Japanese), the very cold weather, and the large city.” As Abellana progressed in her studies, she garnered more friendships and enhanced her artistic abilities. She entered local art shows and won several awards for her work. She even composed a water color painting that was donated to a hospital in Buffalo. Though she never developed a particular taste for lacrosse like her friends, Abella-
na was a co-editor of the Amherst Central High School yearbook and participated in Spanish Club. “Everything was fine except I couldn’t handle living with my stepdad,” Abellana said. “I just didn’t really learn to adapt to his personality.” Her real father figure, an uncle who lived in Stockton, had left the Philippines when she was 6 partly to get away from her stepdad and partly because he wanted to attend a University of California. Abellana set her eyes west and decided to move here. Now she had to learn to adopt the easygoing West Coast lifestyle. The first aspect of California life, Abellana noticed, was the fast speech. “The people talk differently, it’s the first time I heard ‘hella’ and ‘hecka.’” Abellana says that she sometimes cannot understand the quick conversations of Californians. “It’s almost like they’re eating their words.” Abellana notes that Stockton is also more diverse than Buffalo, where “the majority is almost white and black,” most of her class in Buffalo was mixed-European. As charming as West Coast life is, Abellana misses some staples of her old city, especially buffalo wings, say-
ing that “you’ve never really tasted wings until you go to Buffalo.” “I loved the cold weather and this will be my first time not having a white Christmas, which is really unfortunate,” Abellana said. “It’s ironic how people in Buffalo want to escape the winter into a sunny place like California, and many people in Stockton would want to have snow.” Abellana used to love taking trips to Canada, a convenience made possible by Buffalo being 15 minutes away from the border. Contrary to what many wide-eyed Stocktonians believe, she hardly ever went to New York City because it was an eight hour drive. Instead, she enjoyed gazing at the mighty Niagara Falls. “It’s so beautiful that I don’t ever get bored seeing it over and over again,” Abellana said. “I was lucky to have Niagara Falls in my backyard and go to two different countries without even flying.” Though she has her uncle, grandmother (who immigrated when Abellana was 10, and other relatives comforting her, what Abellana misses most is her time spent with her mom. “Being far away from her is difficult since we were only together while I was in Buffalo and now I’m apart from her again.” “She gave up being with me just so she can work in Japan to give me a good future and help o u t the family in the Philippines,” Abellana said. “She showed me a strong, independent woman who can tackle anything for the sake of her daughter and family.”
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5
Peer workshop influences change in bullying behavior Annamarie Rodriguez What’s someone’s breaking and family life without letting on. point? Is it when peer pressure Students who face these problems becomes too much and you give were welcomed by the comfort of in? Is it when someone crosses the the workshop. “This workshop line of right and wrong? For Har- gives them a support group,” old Brown and Alison Lockheed’s Klopstock said. freshman English classes, point Some students in attendance break was a workshop held on have been the bully, or have been Sept. 23 to discuss difficult issues bullied themselves. The thing most teens are facing bullies don’t today. understand is Topics inwhat they say cluded peer can affect a perpressure, bulson so much lying, acceptemotionally to ing differences, the point where sexual harassthey are willment, child ing to commit abuse, and famsuicide. “Some ily issues. Due kids don’t think to budget cuts about the conXavier Lopez this workshop sequences of was held only for freshmen. The what they say,” Brown said. “They workshop was held to bring the just think about here and now.” students closer together and create One exercise that they held was a sense of security. “cross the line” where everyone “We are trying to lower campus stands behind the line and whenviolence and show compassion to- ever they hear something that apwards one another,” counselor Pat plies to them, they cross the line. Klopstock said. When asked if they, at any point, What for some was an excuse contemplated suicide, several of to get out of class turned out be- Lopez’s peers stepped forward. “It ing more than just fun and games. made me not want to talk about “When we got people because there we were I don’t know all laughing, what they go then it got serithrough,” Loous,” freshman pez said. Xavier Lopez Both teachsaid. ers and students Students did not expect having to sit the impact of with people the experience they didn’t to be as drastic know was a as it turned out. rather uncomMany students Andrew Cha fortable expefelt as though rience at first, but senior Andrew they were alone, like no one had Cha, a facilitator of the workshop, gone through the experience that soon warmed up to the situation. they have. However, having gone “At first it was awkward but we got through this emotional rollerto know each other through games coaster seems to have changed and it became a better scene for their perspective. everyone.” “It helped us open up and see Looks can be deceiving, as that we have things in common,” many teens struggle with adjust- Stephanie Perez, freshman, said. ing to changes at school, friends,
Bullying
I had to deal with learning to live with my mom and my new father figure. I also had to change my whole lifestyle in school, with friends, my younger stepbrother (who’s also half Japanese), the very cold weather, and the large city. ”
Why
Students Bully
-Need for power
-Students are satisfied with causing injury and suffering for other students
Effects
on the victim Observer feels
Natsumi Abellana JUNIOR
Art by Seyma Tap
Info compiled by Xe Xiong Graphic by Mia Torres Source: www.olweus.org
-Depression -Low self-esteem -Health problems -Poor grades -Suicidal thoughts
-fearful -powerless to act -guilty for not acting -drawn to participate
Senior leaves Ecuador in pursuit of education Chelsea Collura The Ecuadorian flag hangs from the wall above her bed, and photographs frame her computer screen reminding her of being “back home.” But even though she misses being in Cayambe, Ecuador, she has realized that furthering her education is her main priority. Senior Sheily Piedra came to America to expand her education because in Ecuador “college is really hard to get into.” Her hopes were to study astrophysics or something involving computers. There are public schools and private schools and even military schools like the one that Piedra attended, where she took English classes and studied just like any typical student. In Ecuador, not many students get into college. “If I want to get into college I have to graduate high school,” Piedra said. “Graduating from America means that I learned English.”
Being bilingual will offer her various jobs even if she wants to go back. Ecuador is a coastal country in South America, about the size of Nevada. Compared to the United States, that’s a small area of land where many children either can’t afford to further their educations or simply don’t want to continue schooling. In California it is a requirement that students go to school up to the 12th grade, but in Cayambe, the students can choose to either stop or continue schooling after middle school. Despite her high ambitions to graduate high school she has a creative side that runs in her family. Her brother is a singer and songwriter and her father has played guitar for many years. Like her brother, Piedra’s father has influenced her to take music classes to really learn music by taking private classes. However, her desire to finish school and the need to become educated overlooks all other aspects
of her life because to Piedra, it’s “important for everyone to have an education.” Though she was able to continue schooling in Ecuador, she “just didn’t want to be (there) anymore,” she said. This meant leaving her mother and friends behind while she started her new life in America. “Sometimes I miss my mom,” Piedra said. “I want to be here when she comes.” Her parents are divorced and her father moved here nearly 11 years ago, leaving Piedra and her siblings in Cayambe. Piedra is not the first of her family to come to America to better herself. Her sister has lived in America for three years and her brother, a student at the University of California, Davis, has lived here for six years. However, even coming to America to accomplish something doesn’t mean that there won’t be obstacles to overcome. For Piedra, America has its advantages and disadvantages.
Making friends, in some respects, has been difficult because her new friends don’t always understand her, or sometimes it’s she who doesn’t always feel like she fits in. But regardless of not feeling like fitting in, she “likes her new friends.” Living in a city where the population is nearly nine times that of Cayambe, becoming familiar with all of the people in the town becomes impossible. “When you live in a small town like I did, you know everyone,” she said. “Now I barely know my neighbor.” No matter the obstacle, Piedra is doing exactly what she came here to do. After graduation she plans to move to Davis, a whole new surrounding, where she hopes to attend a junior college before attending UC Davis. In the face of a language barrier or getting used to her surroundings, Piedra is determined to make America the place where she is going to obtain and accomplish her dreams.
photo by Chelsea Collura Senior Sheily Piedra reflects on her accomplishments from military school. She hopes to eventually attend UC Davis where she will study computer science.
Entertainment the Stagg Line
6
11.05.10
‘Glee’ kills ‘Rocky Horror’ Mikeala Axton
Annamarie Cunningham
B
owie-esque music, sexy costumes, and ever so flamboyant characters. Yes, ladies and gentlemen, “The Rocky Horror Picture Show” bombed its first showings. From its early stages in 1975, the transvestites, homosexuals, and fishnet stockings were more shocking then they would be today. But at last, it was its sheer audacity that caused it to eventually become a world-wide sensation. Sit back, relax, and enjoy a strange journey to the world of “The Rocky Horror Picture Show.” The ‘Perfect’ Soundtrack To quote the “The Rocky Horror Picture Show” trailer, “The songs are super!” That’s right, they are super. And if you just happen to be a fan of David Bowie’s “Diamond Dogs” album, I promise you’ll like them even more. In fact, Bowie tried out for the part of Dr. Frank, as well as Mick Jagger, but both were beat out by Tim Curry. The songs, especially “Science Fiction/Double Feature,” are rich with tacky Sci-Fi movie references, and works great as an introduction to the movie. The masterful Meatloaf makes an appearance as Eddie, a rock and rolling ex-delivery boy who busts through a wall singing the so-catchy “Hot Patootie,” a fun-loving ditty about nostalgia and tunage. Then there is the age transcending hit “Time Warp.” This song is easily the most popular tune from the movie if only because it is the one that will be persistently gnawing at your brain and sticking in your head. “Nothing will ever be the same” after you hear this soundtrack.
The ‘Perfect’ Cast Even now in its 35th year, all the… ahem, memorable characters from “Rocky Horror” continue to provide the audience with enough eccentricities to last a lifetime. First of all, one of the main characters, Dr. Frank-NFurter (Tim Curry), is a transvestite scientist. From Transylvania. Transsexual Transylvania. The other two main characters, Brad Majors (Barry Bostwick) and Janet Weiss (Susan Sarandon), are just a normal clean-cut couple, appalling and frighteningly normal (but not for long). There are others, Riff Raff (Richard O’Brien), Magenta (Patricia Quinn), and Columbia (Nell Campbell), the closest subordinates of Dr. Frank. Last but not least the movie wouldn’t be complete without Eddie, an ex-delivery boy and Dr. Frank’s most amazing creation, Rocky Horror (Peter Hinwood). Rocky is a mute creation most of the time, but he sings occasionally. He was built as a…type of play toy for Dr. Frank. Altogether, the cast is completely crazy but they definitely provide plenty of laughs.
The ‘Perfect’ Cult Classic Since its making, all sorts of traditions have risen up to keep all “Rocky Horror’s” glorious absurdity alive. At midnight showings across the globe, people dress up and bring props, such as flashlights to shine them for the “There’s a light” verse of “Over at the Frankenstein Place.” There is toilet paper (preferably Scott’s brand) to be thrown when Dr. Scott comes crashing through a wall, and a piece of toast, some believe it has to be buttered, to toss when Dr. Frank proposes, get this, an honorable toast at dinner. But “Rocky Horror” showings aren’t all about throwing food and toilet paper. As mentioned in the “Glee” episode of “Rocky Horror” it’s not for the envelope-pushers but for the outcasts. For years it has brought loners, outsiders, and everyone without mainstream interests together. It has become a way to unite people, even if it is only for a couple of hours after midnight every Halloween.
Art by Tiffany Pech
After tackling Madonna and the infamous Lady GaGa, what else was left for the “Glee” kids but to (attempt) to take on the (far) left-ofcenter cult-classic musical “The Rocky Horror Picture Show.” But as the appearances of original RHPS cast members Barry Bostwick (Brad) and Meatloaf (Eddie) remind us, some things are better left to the professionals. However, it may not be the fault of the actual members of the Glee Club. While the title of the episode is “The Rocky Horror Glee Show,” a better title would have been “The Will Schuester Has a Sad and Desperate One-Sided Romance with the in-a-Committed-Relationship Emma (and does some “Rocky Horror” on the Side) Show!” It seems that if the episode had truly been about the 1975 musical, it would have actually worked. Sadly, the RHPS was a side story to Schuester’s (Matthew Morrison) clumsy attempts at romance. Something as fantastic and challenging as “Rocky Horror” demands more attention than what this episode of “Glee” gave it. But just as they sing in “Rocky Horror,” there is a light, in that there were some enjoyable renditions in the episode. Rachel and Finn, (Lea Michele and Cory Monteith) cast as Brad and Janet, together delivering a respectable performance of “Over at the Frankenstein Place.” Their take on the lovable “Dammit, Janet” was also well-done, but mainly because it wasn’t their take at all. Down to the awkward breaths and lovesick sighs, the performance was mimicked exactly from the movie. On the other hand, the rendition of a personal favorite, “Sweet Transvestite,” was morphed just within the point of being unrecognizable. However, Mercedes (Amber Riley) did issue a warning that she was going to “reinterpret the number a little bit, make it more modern…” I suppose she may have missed the memo, but retro is in. Mercedes’ voice does soar like the original Dr. Frank-N-Furter’s (Tim Curry), but not necessarily in the right ways. It sounds pitchy and overworked, perhaps evidence of trying too hard to “reinterpret” the song. It’s so far a departure from the original that the number loses its substance and pizzazz. But to hand it to “Glee’s” writers, they did address many concerns that had been raised based upon clips of the show on the internet, prior to its airing. Mercedes as Dr. Frank-N-Furter is simply strange, for at least visually (if you are familiar with the Sweet Transvestite’s “risqué” wardrobe) obvious reasons. Kurt (Chris Colfer), the seemingly likely choice for the Doctor, instead assumes the role of Riff Raff the handyman, which works incredibly well for him. His vocal delivery of Riff Raff’s parts are superb, making it all the more disappointing that he doesn’t even get an entire song to himself, despite “The Time Warp” being written as such (more on this in a bit.) But if the casting appears topsy-turvy, it only fits in with the overall theme of the episode. Throughout the episode, the topic of body image issues is brought up over and over (take one look at the movie’s costumes and see why), but, here’s the twist -- in males. And, no, not with the gay character. We see what appears to be male anorexia via offhand comments from Sam-as-Rocky (“Sure, if I miss a workout or eat a hotdog I hate myself for a few days, but…”). Not that any of the shirtless males had anything to worry about as the episode was abtastic. Not only that, but the always-touchy topic of gender roles is brought up in Mercedes assuming Frank-N-Furter’s role, and Kurt fighting against the assumption that surely he, the homosexual, would want to play the Sweet Transvestite. They also touch on the topic of sexism/sexual degradation of men by women, and how internet porn makes girls have unrealistic expectations of guys (and they say “Rocky Horror” is too lewd for school.) Most performances of RHPS in “Glee” in the absence of the challenging and unconventional sexiness of the movie “Glee” pushes the envelope by doing the opposite of what was expected of them, with mixed results. One of these results being the slightly disappointing sharing of vocal roles in what were originally solos. That said, the revolving door of singers that was the popular “Time Warp” served an important point, as Schuester so rightfully says, “Rocky Horror” was not really made for the “envelope-pushers” but more for the outcasts, as a way to bring people on the fringes together. That’s precisely what RHPS has been doing for generations, in the same way that “Glee” pulls hoards of “Gleeks” together.
Ominous ‘Paranormal’ plot delivers Missy Rae Magdalera Thought the nightmare was over? Think again. The eerie silences, haunting screams, and surprising scares are back, and with a vengeance. Katie Featherston and Micah Sloat, along with their family members, crawl back into theaters with “Paranormal Activity 2” which was released Friday, Oct. 22. Although the movie doesn’t teach a dog new tricks, it instead sticks to the familiar yet heartpounding effects from the first film, adding double the trick and double the trauma. The general question from many people who have watched the first film, however, is this: Why create a sequel to a stand-alone film? The answer lies within the first installment, which excludes information concerning why a happy couple such as Featherston and Sloat begin to experience the unexpected paranormal activity in their home. Of course, viewers will have to watch the second film to find out, but as a small spoiler, it’s definitely not their fault. “Paranormal Activity 2” begins in a fast-paced
manner, getting down to the nitty gritty of what viewers really come to experience – fear. Under Paramount Pictures, mainstream movie mogul, people assume they will see more complaining about this noise or that shadow, like other horror flicks of today. The director, however, wastes no time in sappy scenes that last for almost half an hour. The movie conveys the same, if not scarier, raw intensity of the first film, and also builds an actual foundation as to why these freaks come out at night, further expanding on the noise or the shadow – certainly more than the low-budget “Paranormal Activity.” The film begins with clips of home video recordings which the family tapes during the birth of Allie’s half-brother Hunter, both of whom are soon regarded as Katie and Micah’s niece and nephew. The director then speeds through several months of Hunter’s life, all of which occur three months before Featherston and Sloat begin to experience the paranormal phenomenon in their home. Most of the activity seems to center around
Hunter’s birth, arousing suspicion as to why a mere baby could attract the attention of a potential demon. After what is assumed to be a burglary occurs in the house, security cameras are installed on both the first and second floor of the home, merely to provide a sense of ease for both the family and their minds. Chrissy, Katie’s sister, feels these strange and ominous occurrences relate back to an unhappy childhood in which the Featherston sisters experienced traumatic events at the claws of unknown forces – forces that take the entire family down memory lane. But in like any other horror film, acknowledging such nonsense is supposedly unwise and dumb; thus, the cast ignores the paranormal phenomenon further digging them into a deeper hole than necessary. But is this film necessary? With its clarity that adds to the first film, and new twists on old tricks, “Paranormal Activity 2” calls for one of your Friday night screams. Scarier? Yes. Cheesy? No. Worth it? Definitely.
Good: Spooky special effects, includes original cast, answers questions from first film Bad: Storyline moves a bit too quickly. Rating: 3/5
Sports the Stagg Line
11.5.10
7
Injuries cripple soccer season Varsity team suffers an exhausting fall with fewer players Nicole Lawrence
Top scorers
A torn ACL, a dislocated finger, and a broken collar bone are only a few of the injuries that have occurred this year within this year’s plagued varsity soccer team. The season has already come to an end, but the returning players are planning on being better adjusted to the turf for next year since the season is over. Senior Benny Jaime tore his ACL, which is the anterior cruciate ligament, one of the main ligaments in the knee, causing him to miss the rest of the season. “I was running down the line and I cut back and got stuck in the turf,” Jaime said. He says it “sucks” because he can’t practice with his team anymore. Junior Luis Arango also experienced not being able to play for some of the season, he fell on his left arm and broke his collar bone. Even though he was injured, he still went to the practices and games and stayed on the bench to support his team. “I felt bad watching my teammates on the field when I couldn’t play,” Arango said. But unlike Jaime, Arango was able to play after a few months of recovery. But these injuries scared some of the players, according to varsity captain Ivan Contreras, senior. “I personally think Luis was one our best players,” Contreras said. “He wasn’t the same Luis after he got hurt.” He also said that after Arango got injured, he was a bit hesitant when going to the ball because he didn’t want to get injured again. However, most of the injuries have been caused by the transition onto the turf, varsity soccer coach Jim Marrone said. “Adjusting to the new field is hard, the ball moves a lot quicker.” Last year, varsity soccer’s season was 10-6-4. This year, their score was 5-11-4. The cleats on the turf are like “socks on carpet,” as sophomore David Stewart describes. This is because both the cleats and the turf are made of plastic, so it’s slippery. Stewart has had a hip pointer, or a bruised hip. He has also a dislocated finger, which was caused because of his glove getting stuck in the turf and
Varsity soccer team (top) takes a breath after running half field sprints to prepare for their last few soccer games. Goalie DeVanté Harris, senior, stretches before performing exercises at practice. photos by Erica Trevino
Team conflicts complicate football, soccer practices Field of Differences Erica Trevino
The new football field is surely a significant piece for rising school spirit; however, the field also creates new obstacles for teams. “There are always difficulties when multiple teams practice on one field,” soccer coach Jim Marrone said. “Both teams (football and soccer) didn’t get their full practices.” Soccer had many different practice locations, which created difficult obstacles. On Mondays and Tuesdays the turf field would be divided between both varsity and junior varsity teams. Thursdays practice would be held at John Tyler Elementary School. More problems arose halfway through the season when, according to Marrone, four junior varsity players were mugged while walking to practice. “Administration told us JV could no longer practice at Tyler because it was unsafe,” Marrone said. Instead of putting players in danger, JV would spend the rest of Thursday practices sharing the field behind the P-wing with the freshman and junior varsity foot-
ball teams. “Who wants to share a field with another team?” Ivan Contreras, senior, said. “It just doesn’t feel like yours.” Though having one field caused conflicts with practice times, compromises had to be made. “It’s funny,” assistant soccer coach Kyle Dei Rossi said. “We spent all this money to build a new field and we still have to make accommodations.” However, head varsity football coach Don Norton said “We shared a field with soccer, and it worked out okay.” It seems that these constant adjustments during the fall season greatly affected both teams. “When you don’t have consistency you always end up having issues,” Marrone said. Though the season consisted of numerous obstacles Marrone doesn’t feel the challenges are to blame for the result of their season. While the soccer team saw these challenges as distractions for players and affected the team negatively, the football team wasn’t finding it as hard to adjust to the complications they faced. “We all knew that this was
going to happen,” assistant varsity coach Roger Esparza said. “It didn’t take us long to adjust.” In fact, some football players saw a change that influenced motivation in their teammates. “During the summer we had to move to night practices and I think we had more energy because it was cooler,” one of the varsity captains Francisco Ortigoza, senior, said. Though this year was full of
“
Even though we lost we still had fun and improved as a whole team” Megan Gaitan JUNIOR
SOURCE: MAXPREPS.COM AND COACH JIM MARRONE
caused his finger to pop out of joint. “It’s hard going from grass to turf,” Stewart said. “It would be nice to have a grass field to practice on of our own.” But with all the construction going on already, this isn’t planned on happening soon. Due to field complications, Soccer has lost some players this year, but Stewart says he doesn’t miss the lost players that much because “they (weren’t) committed to the game.” Contreras also agrees that some players were not committed to the team. “As soon as we lost, it all came down, we could’ve done better,” Contreras said. “But it was a team thing; nobody wanted to try.” Since Stewart is preparing to be captain next year, he is already brainstorming on how to help his teammates better adjust to the field. He thinks that getting turf shoes instead of soccer cleats will help shorten the number of injuries because they are made of a different material that would ease the sliding problem for the players. “I think the turf shoes will make it easier to play,” Stewart said. But Contreras has a different view; he said that they need to “want this.” Contreras said that other schools wanted it more, and had a stronger drive for the game this year. “Last year we were a family,” Contreras said. “This year we are just a regular team.” He also said that last year the players had a big heart for the game, and that’s the attitude they need to bring next year.
Golf provides a world remote from stress for players
Kristin Acevedo This year is the furthest Stagg’s women’s golf team has ever gotten in the competition due to sophomore Pa Her qualifying for the subsections. But in the end, Her seemed to “already know (she) wasn’t going to win.” With this attitude in mind, the question of why even make an attempt? arises. The answer to this question, according to Her and many other players a part of Stagg Women’s Golf team, goes much further than their longest drive. “Getting out of reality and kind of into your own fairy tale,” Her said. Emily Cornelison, sophomore, who hadn’t even been able to participate in any matches during the season because it was her first year, said “being out there on the course … it’s nice, real nice.” For many of the girls, after a bad day, golf practice isn’t merely going out to Swenson Golf Course to start hitting a ball with a club or drive; it’s hitting all the elements of that bad day far out of range. Golf is when all anger and stress is channeled into spheres that are 1.62 inches in diameter. Golf is when one can get rid of those channeled components graphic by Mia Torres with the club in hand. conflicts and confusion, coaches “It doesn’t matter to me, whether I’m out on the range or on the saw this as a situation in which course,” junior Tiffany Gutierrez said. “Both of them just give me a that they had to encounter. relief.” “This was the first year we have The amount of focus golf requires, according to Gutierrez, helps let the stadium,” Esparza said. “Next go of the stress that’s in the world outside of the sport. “It, like, pushes year the construction will be done everything else out of mind.” and there will be enough room for “It’s so calming,” senior Paola Areeveryone.” valo said. After the completion of the In this “fairy tale,” as Her refers parking lot and baseball fields the to the remote world that’s on the practice areas will be worked on to course, is a place where the focus ensure that every sport has enough of the player is only on his or her room. own game. Distance, surface, stance, alignment, speed, direction, and even the competition itself are all found to go back to that player alone. As a team, the women’s golf mance at the league competition players have a bond of encouragethat she “played good against each ment and help, but, at the same player besides St. Marys.” time, they’re initially trying to Sophomore Wang Xiong, with beat their teammate’s score, along a 3-7 league record, said that she’s with their own, to better themnot one of the best players but one selves. of the better. Xiong says that the “You’re helping the person you reseason was fun and she learned ally want to beat,” Gutierrez said. a lot by playing different team Cornelison joined the team mates. Despite the losses the team finphoto by Mia Torres her freshman year, but quit in the middle of the season. But because ished with 2-8 league record. New Sophomore Pa Her practices she was “known for being a quitplayers have gained valuable expe- for the league tournament. The rience for next season. ter,” she decided to give it another women’s varsity golf team is curtry this year. rently 3-7.
Despite losses, girls tennis pulls through The girls varsity tennis season, although not the best, was a learning experience for the players. The team made major improvements. The practices lasted about one hour and 45 minutes during which they worked on consistent hits and side shots. According to junior Megan Gaitan, who has a 4-6 league record, throughout the league competition the team was able to keep up with the rest of the other teams, however, their end result was a loss. Gaitan also says in regards to her personal perfor-
Top scorers of the fall soccer season were... Ivan Contreras - 2 goals Jose Zermeno - 2 goals Team total - 9 goals
News the Stagg Line
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11.05.10
Campaign inspires student involvement Kristin Acevedo During the 2010 congressional race between Democratic candidate Jerry McNerney and Republican candidate David Harmer, campaigning was fierce as this year it was truly a close call. Radio commercials, flyers, door hangers, TV ads, billboards, and supporters going door-to-door asking or informing residents about their vote for congressman – it’s all a part of the race. Every two years the heat is on to vote for a new California congressman, and this year, Stagg students had the opportunity to help fan the flame. Trevor Dilling, campaign manager for congressional candidate Jerry McNerney, came to government classes on Oct. 11. Dilling informed students about an opportunity to go deeper into politics by volunteering for McNerney’s campaign. In return for their work and time, those who participated were to be given a letter of recommendation signed by regional field organizer Meghan Mullen. Students who chose to sign up became interns. They were immediately put to work. Senior DeVante Harris recalls not even 10 minutes in the
“
I started to look up the props and measures that specifically pertained to me.” DeVante Harris
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office on his first day before being handed a box filled with a couple hundred door hangers that needed to be dispersed into the community. In the beginning, students, such as Harris and senior Darlina Serrano, admit that taking on these parts of McNerney’s campaign was solely about receiving the letters of recommendation, which would look great on college applications. But as they went further behind the scenes of politics, it became a true learning experience. “I picked up a lot of job skills,” Serrano said. As the interns made phone calls, and went door to door, which is referred to as canvassing, they learned how to, senior Erica Heyne said, “sell the candidate and advertise.” The interns found that for being a country operating on the people’s choice, it should be necessary for the coming-of-age generations of America to be politically aware. Harris mentioned how “(teens) shouldn’t be ignorant” when it comes to the government decisions and actions, “especially high school seniors because some are soon to be 18 and able to vote.” Although Heyne and Harris do not necessarily identify as California Democratic Party supporters, they note the experience to be “an excellent chance to get involved and see behind the scenes of politics.” The interns’ perceptions of the congressional race had widened as their understanding of each candidate’s ideals and decisions became clearer and the effects of each proposition and measure became more of an impact on their future in California. “I got to experience the independent voice of Democrats,” Heyne said. As for Harris, he said, “I started photo by Erica Trevino to look up the props and meaTrevor Dilling, a representative from Jerry McNerney’s re-election cam- sures that specifically pertained to me.” paign, speaks to a government class about volunteer opportunities.
If so, come to Healthy Start (E-2) for additional information or to pick up your permission slip! Big Smiles Dental Clinic will come to campus if at least 60 students sign up. Cost is FREE for students with Medi-Cal or Healthy Families Insurance. Students without these insurances can apply but may not be eligible. The clinic will be offering procedures such as:
Exams
X-rays
Cleanings
Fillings and crowns Healthy Start is still in need of students, so come sign up today!
Graphic by Xe Xiong
Senior to do list Tests All tests required for fall semester of next year must be taken no later than December Test dates: SAT sign-up by Nov. 5 for Dec. 4, ACT sign-up by Nov. 5 for Dec. 11 College applications CSU application at www.csumentor.edu Oct. 1–Nov. 30 UC application at www.universityofcalifornia.edu Nov. 1–Nov. 30 Private colleges and universities at www.commonapp.org For private schools, submit early action/early decision applications by Nov. 15 and regular application by Jan. 15. When applying, remember to have the following: School CEEB Code: 053442 Lo 8473 School phone and counselor extension (209) 933-7445 ext. Sam 8471 Wirzberger 8477 Financial Aid Sign up for FAFSA pin at www.fafsa.ed.gov. Filing period ends March 1 Turn in FAFSA and send in GPA verification for CAL Grant at www.calgrants.org by March 2 Information provided by Xe Xiong
Graphic by Harmony Evangelisti