home of the DELTA KINGS
05.11.12
VOL. 55 NO. 8 ON THE WEB
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Track and field
headline graphic by
ANNAMARIERODRIGUEZ
The girls put aside the make-up. The guys trade in the football for pom-poms. The “gender switch up,” known as the powder puff football game, is later today. Girls take on the role of football players and prepare to defeat the opposing team. So far the junior girls have practiced nearly three weeks, ready to take down the senior girls, but some still believe that seniors, with very little practice under their belt, will beat the juniors. “The seniors will dominate because they have the rawest and the most athletic girls,” said senior Xavier Melvin. The boys, however, have had several cheer practices and admit that cheer is not something someone can pick up after one day. Despite that, the boys were considered to have some type of second nature to the sport. “They caught on really fast,” said varsity coach Pauline Juarez. “This year’s squad is the best at stunting.” And although they are said to have a “short attention span” she treats them the same way as her varsity cheer team. At first, some boys originally thought that cheer was all about just lifting the fly-
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ANNOYING STATUSES: Student evaluates statuses on social networking site. JUSTJELLY: Song inspires teen to move past losses and work harder towards improvement. INSIDE THE ISSUE Stagg legacies
Victorious Gemma
ers and throwing them up, but that thought was soon discovered wrong. “It’s more difficult than I anticipated,” Melvin said. “If one person is off-count, the flyer will be off balance and someone can get hurt.” When everyone is on the same page this creates confidence in their team. “I love my team,” he said. He also chanted their team motto, “One band, one sound!” The junior girls also have confidence in their team. “We have smaller and quicker girls,” said junior Viviana Vasquez. She also explains that they have had more practices than the seniors. But the seniors disagree. The chemistry among the players is one of the qualities that they hope brings them a victory. “We are close, knowing each other from either classes or sports,” said senior Angelique Wilson. In the physical aspect, she explains that they have more speed and aggression. “We don’t want to get beat by 2013.” These opinions are soon to be tested at the powder puff game, which will be held in the stadium today after school. Let the battle between the juniors and seniors begin!
NEWS IN BRIEF Powder puff The powder puff game will be held today after school on the football field. Come out and show your support for your fellow classmates. It’s $4 for Stagg students and $5 for nonstudents. Kids 10 and under are free.
1621 Brookside Rd. Stockton, Calif. 95207
photo by Annamarie Rodriguez Joe Gatz stands at the first home game where he was put into the Stagg Football Hall of Fame. The football team will dedicate their next season to him.
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Stagg Line
An extended summer is coming and that means more free time. Here are some alternatives to just staying home.
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When it comes to helping Stagg, it would be a shorter list to ask what Joe Gatz didn’t do. He appeared to have a hand in everything that went on, even beyond his own department. As president of the Booster Club, Gatz’s role dealt primarily with athletics. And yet, it seems that a person in any given department could provide an instance in which Gatz did what he did best – go above and beyond to help his alma mater. Science teacher and coach Marcus Sherman recalled a time in which the Science Department was nearly $400 short for a field trip to Monterey Bay. Gatz had no problem assisting the club, making up the gap, regardless of the fact that there was no
athletic purpose to the trip.“He would just make it happen,” Sherman said. But with all the lives he touched at Stagg, it was perhaps the students he worked with that he affected the most. Senior Sarah McLaughlin and her family worked closely with Gatz and the Booster Club. With all the banquets and crab feeds Gatz helped organize, there’s one memory that McLaughlin doesn’t have. “I don’t think I ever saw him sit down and eat crab,” McLaughlin said. “You could tell that he was really tired at the events, but he would never stop working.” Ryan McLaughlin, sophomore, remembers Gatz’s dedication even in the face of health issues. “When he got out of the hospital, they told him to take it easy for a couple days,” he said. But the wrestling tournament was only a few days later, and, true to his hardworking character, he for days, arriving at 7 a.m. and not leaving until 8 at night. Beyond giving students volunteer positions at athletic events, Gatz also imparted upon his volunteers life lessons. “He’d quiz kids to make sure they knew how to calculate the correct change,” Sarah McLaughlin said. “He didn’t want them to be taken advantage of.” “He taught me a lot about respect,” said senior Samantha Wang, whose family was a friend to Gatz. From Gatz, Wang says she learned “to be generous. He always thought about Stagg students before he thought about himself.” And now, even in his passing, members of the Stagg community will always think of him. As the person who filled in the gaps, who worked hard and laughed even harder, and whose impact at Stagg will last forever.
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MIKEALAAXTON
Where are you Going?
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Girls soccer Varsity girls soccer, which made it to playoffs for the second consecutive year, lost in the first round Tuesday.
‘Worked hard, laughed harder’
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School schedule Graduation will be May 22 at six at UOP. The last day of school is May 23 and the first day back is Aug. 14.
Remembering Joe Gatz
Sto ckt
MESA The wind team won first place in the regional competition and today they’re headed to Santa Barbara. They’re hoping to win the state championship.
photos by Annamarie Rodriguez (Above) Vivian Vasquez, junior, looks to throw the ball during practice. (Right) Powder puff cheerleaders enjoy themselves while learning how to stunt.
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Dei Rossi and Halekakis win awards Erica Dei Rossi, English teacher, and Rosslyn Halekakis, physical education teacher, are honored for their outstanding teaching.
Seyma Tap and Victorious Gemma
Opinion the Stagg Line
2 EDITORIAL
05.11.12
LOOKING FORWARD TO NEXT YEAR
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school year is ending once again. And the discussions that are commonplace at the end of every school year have a tendency to come up again. “What programs are being cut?” “Is there a lack of funds?” “Will this class be here next year?” However, for every bad effect of class cuts, there are also good things to look forward to in the coming year. Despite the bad news, programs are still coming next year to offer a new perspective to the students and a viable interest for their future. Just this year the culinary arts program returned from a temporary hiatus. Next year, the program hopes to move into more of a career pathway with a handson component. The music department has also experienced growth this year. Next year, the department is planning to expand with upgrades in the piano and guitar classes that are already expected. In the past, the home economics and music departments have been frequently on the chopping block for cutbacks.
may not seem like other elective classes being offered next year, the things they offer can benefit students just as well. The administrators, however, are not only planning for next year. In the wake of the new courses coming next year, the administration anticipates to improve their elective courses in the years to come. “Our main goal is to keep it fun, educational, and increase connections around the school,” Sam said. “It can be a place where you can relax your mind, try new things, and have fun at the same time.” As of now, these new elective classes are still in the planning stages. Negative news of budget cuts and classes being dropped have filled the air in a rough Art by Sophia Davidson economy. At times it can be hard to find the Now that they are beginning to move for- rive next year. best in picking electives among other core ward, the classes are expecting membership “These would count for elective credits,” classes. to go up as well. said Chan Sam, head counselor. “This is for But beyond the veil of negativity, there New elective classes are not the only the students who need the extra support and are always new things being offered, and things coming next year, as there are also the will give them the support their first year next year is no exception. Given the right serious classes that provide help for students especially.” The program could have an imknowledge, one can still find the best in the who need it. A major intervention program pact on remedial students as well as English coming school year. in both English and Math is planned to arlanguage learners; and while these classes
Self-motivation pushes student through struggles
As time went by, my two older brothers, mom, and I finally got a house of our own. Just when I thought things would get better, they never did. My brothers slowly changed into two different people. They began to stay out late at night, not come home at all, and were angry all the time. I could see the disappointment and hurt in my mom’s eyes from everything happening around her. Having an alcoholic dad coming in and out of our lives brought more stress to my mom. And there I was. Stuck in the middle. Confused. Not knowing what to do, except to make my mom happy. I went to school every day in hopes of earning the best grades and tried to be more help around the house, but it seemed like everything that I did was never good enough for my mom. I began to hate myself. I felt that every time my mom looked at me, she couldn’t stand who I was. I no longer felt close to anyone in my family because everyone
looked down on me and didn’t believe I would make it anywhere. I was teased at school for who I was by my so called “friends.” My hair was different. I dressed unlike most people at school, and I was interested in different genres of music. I was alone. And when high school came I was not ready at all. I knew going to a new school, knowing only one person at the time, was going to be horrible. The first few months I was judged; I had no friends, and all I ever wanted to do was cry. But I still went to school every day, trying to make something of myself. Eventually school was easier, but coming home to a place where I didn’t feel comfortable anymore began to get me involved with the wrong people. I disobeyed my mom more, came home late, lied to her, and just walked all over her. Our mother-daughter relationship became horrible. It was at the point where she would tell me hurtful things I would never have imagined her telling me and I would leave the house. What was the point of trying to succeed if I was never good enough for my mom? I began to lose interest in school, so whenever I had the chance, I made up excuses of “being sick” to stay home. The week I was home was one of my most craziest experiences. My mom
and I had gotten into a argument over my losing the house keys, and it led into one of our biggest fights. She began to call me hurtful names and made me feel like less of a person, so I just got up and left the house. I walked all the way to one my oldest friend’s house. We were both out until about 9:00 p.m. finding a place for me to stay the night. And apparently the police were out looking for me. The next day, I began roaming around the east side, thinking, and finally decided I would be better off at home, so I went back. After missing about two weeks of school, I suddenly decided it wasn’t an option anymore . I had to go to school. Doing nothing was never going to get me anywhere in life. I wanted to prove to everyone and my mom I would make something of myself. So I now get up every morning, even if I don’t want to, and I go to school to better myself because I learned it will get me somewhere in the long run. And when I get there, I will be successful, proving everyone who ever doubted me wrong. Life can be difficult, but you have to look on the bright side and actually make something of yourself. Everyone has obstacles, but no matter what, you can and will overcome them.
Nicole Lawrence
Reanna Rodriguez
Reporters
ALEXUSPLASCENCIA
E
verything all began when I was only a little girl in the third grade. I watched my mom and dad’s relationship slowly go downhill, had to live in my grandma’s two bedroom house with seven people, and then had to deal with a stressed out mom all the time.
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Life can be difficult, but you have to look on the bright side and actually make something of yourself. Everyone has obstacles, but no matter what, you can and will overcome them.” ALEXUS PLASCENICA sophomore
Graphic by Annamarie Cunninghm
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 18 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.
Annamarie Cunningham Editor-in-Chief
Editor-in-Chief
News Editor
Don Bott
Jessica Mangili
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
Gabriella Miller
Adviser
Opinion Editor
Features Editor
Adrianna Owens Entertainment Editor
Brian Walker Sports Editor
Fe Valencia
Graphics Editor
Annamarie Rodriguez Photo Editor
Chao Xiong
Web/Multimedia Editor
Damon Heine
Blog/Social Media Editor
Emily Cornelison Copy Editor
Vincente Arburua Michealla Foules Victorius Gemma Marcella Hawkins Shelby Hightower Jada Johnson Viena Palacio Alexus Plascencia Alyssa Rojas Devin Wickstrom Senior Staff Members
Kristin Acevedo Mikeala Axton Sophia Davidson Harmony Evangelisti Faith Harris Taylor Hurles Kentaley McCurdy Seyma Tap Mia Torres
05.11.12
the Stagg Line
Opinion
Adopting a Senior
In hopes of improving the graduation rate, teachers reached out to individual seniors who were not on track to graduate. The program consists of a teacher “adopting” or mentoring one or more seniors who are struggling to graduate. “She was sent to M-3, because of what she was wearing. She was blaming it on everyone else and I got mad and told her it’s your fault not anyone else’s. I feel like I’ve been a coach, mentor, teacher, and counselor to her.”
“My freshman year I messed around. I did everything backwards. I had to get 70 credits in one year. I was taking nine classes a day.”
-Linda Avitia
-Roberto Torres
“I had to call his mother in class because he was acting up and I put her on speaker phone and his mom told me to whoop him.”
-Jim Marrone
“I’ve been asking her for weeks and weeks and she hadn’t done anything in APEX. And she only did about four percent. ”
-Marcus Sherman
“My mom pushes me, but he’s really the one that does. He knows my potential. He is a part of my family. ”
-Juan Gonzalez
“I was really slacking off and he kept on me and helped me get the classes I needed. ”
-Claudia Jauregui
Graphic by Jessica Mangili and Fe Valencia
Provocative ads corrupt values
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Media uses inappropriate imagery of unattainable perfection, damaging morality and self-perception
uick question – does We’ve gone so long without quesit bother anyone else tioning them that it has become acthat Carl’s Jr. commerceptable, even passé, each commercials are increasingly disturbcial attempting to out-hot the next ing forays into soft core porn? with women that are unrealistically Because the fact that a fast-food gorgeous and oozing sex. bag is the only thing separatThat said, I am a sex-positive ing a supermodel’s vagina from person. Two consenting adults with the camera is clearly no longer a predetermined set of boundaries advertising to peoples’ stomach: is fine, whatever. But when we have somewhere lower, perhaps. children who grow up in a world And it’s not only the nether where some fast food commercials regions that are being marketed might as well be competing with to; it’s the insidious attack on the porn industry, they grow up our minds that we need to be thinking that perfection is the MIKEALAAXTON worried about. We’ve allowed norm. Without being told that this our values to be shaped by the on-screen perfection is the work of assault of society – watch an hour of television and airbrushes and surgery. tally the number of commercials featuring women The instinct is to point to parents, tell them that scantily clad, lips parted suggestively, clearly made to they aren’t doing a good job of filtering the world look like a car/hamburger/stick of deodorant is the that their kids know as reality. But the parents are most erotic thing they’ve ever seen. These are images victims, too. Herein lies my real point; if the parents we’ve somehow come to accept as commonplace. can’t tell the difference between grossly inappropri-
Art by Mikeala Axtion
ate and acceptable (or, even worse, don’t care) then how do children have a fighting chance at growing up without being emotionally damaged? I cannot, or, rather, I refuse to believe that I am the only one whose fingers find themselves in fists when walking past Hollister. More precisely, walking past the Hollister models. What’s worse is that they don’t know that they’re pawns of a greater evil. They’re not selling clothing, hell, they don’t have on enough clothes to be advertising clothing. There comes a certain point when you have to realize that there’s something else afoot. It’s not mere advertising when two guys lounge around the Hollister storefront of the mall with their six pack abs on display. Wearing swim trunks. In the winter. They want you to believe that their store provides the image guys and girls alike have been raised by the media to covet: waif-like girls with perfect hair and their bronzed, ripped boyfriends. In 1979, there was a documentary exploring the media’s impact on women. It was called “Killing Us Softly.” In 2010, the “Killing Us Softly 4” was released, with many of the same criticisms and contemporary examples. This means that for 31 years, a point has been made that people must simply not be getting. It’s similar to the very point I’m making now. There shouldn’t even be a need for 30-plus years of the same series just trying to get itself heard. Children raised by the glow of the TV screen grow into the insecure teenager vying for that unattainable perfection. Teenagers turn into ignorant adults who allow their children to become the targets of billboards, magazines, music videos, etc. On goes the cycle. Please, for the love of god, just think. Question. Dare to spit out the gruel of Supermodels ‘n Sex Objects being poured down society’s throat. Statistics from National Institute of Mental Health have shown eating disorders affect more than 5 million Americans each year. According to the American Anorexia and Bulimia Association, approximately 1,000 women a year die because of an eating disorder. And still, still it’s alright to provide the world with the unattainable holy grail of perfection. This might sound like the bitter ranting of the ugly girl, sad she hasn’t found a mold to fit into. Maybe it is. But make no mistake, I don’t think people should look like me. I just think people should look more carefully at the standards they’re perpetuating, realizing that as we allow each generation to travel passively down the conveyer belt of media influence, they’re coming out the other side more damaged and insecure than the last.
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Famous author inspires student writer EMILYCORNELISON
T
here is nothing more powerful than the four word poem. No greater form of expression. This is what the wise old woman at the front of the room tells us after greeting the writers of all ages who have come to learn. As she rings the bell, its resounding chime is signaling us to meditate -- to write. Now we all write down our four words. Or even one word. As we take on the posture of a writer, completely relaxed and self-aware, we start. We compose lyrical fragments or state simple truths. And strangely enough, though I have not prepared myself for a poem or an essay, the words come. Any barriers in my mind dissolve and I just write as though an invisible force guides my hand. No more of the two dreaded words we are forbidden to say (writer’s block: It doesn’t count because I didn’t say it out loud). On Saturday April 14, I, along with a small group of Erica Dei Rossi’s junior and senior English students, had the opportunity to attend a writer’s workshop at Delta College. We didn’t know what to expect, but were pleasantly surprised to find that the workshop was a very rewarding experience. It featured the award-winning Maxine Hong Kingston, a Stockton native who wrote “The Woman Warrior: Memoirs of a Girlhood Among Ghosts,” a book widely read across college campuses. This workshop was more than just something to do on a Saturday. It shed a light on writing styles that I had not previously been exposed to. It awakened a desire that had lain dormant for a long time. At an early age, all I wanted to do was write a book; not to be published, just something for me. Yet as I got older, I felt incredible despair. There was an aching feeling that no matter what I did, a complete story would not come to me. I could never produce a great masterpiece because I had no significant experiences to write about and worse still, I was a nobody from Stockton. My work could never be good enough for my standards let alone someone else’s and I began to hate whatever I wrote. It did not matter if it was a poem, a short story or an essay, I felt that whatever I wrote was forced, or simply not good. Even though teachers would tell me throughout my schooling that I was a good writer, I did not believe it and I did not believe I could ever become a good writer. But listening to someone who had a successful career as a writer and had come from the same place that I thought was holding me back, just opened my eyes and made me realize my dream of writing something was not impossible. I still don’t feel the need to publish a book. But I feel the need to let my creativity run freely through my no longer blockaded mind. I know that the only thing holding me back is my attitude.
Photo courtesy of Erica Dei Rossi
Junior Emily Cornelison and seniors Seyma Tap and Samantha Wang went to a writing conference, where they met Maxine Hong Kingston.
Features the Stagg Line
4
‘IT’S IN THE FAMILY’ DEVINWICKSTROM
Students often feel pressure from their parents or older siblings when it comes to school and sports. They might feel that they have to live up to their previous generation’s success. But how different would it be if the student’s parents or siblings had once gone to the exact same school the student is attending now? This is the case for some students attending high school. Each student feels and handles the pressure differently and some don’t feel pressure at all. Sophomore Jaylen Shelton is a student-athlete who is currently on the track team. But unlike most
students, his father, Ray Shelton, is the head coach. Ray was also a student here and graduated in the Class of 1982. Even with his father coaching him during practices and meets, Jaylen doesn’t feel any pressure. “I feel more free,” Jaylen said. “And more comfortable.” Jaylen mostly runs the 400 and 800 during meets against other schools. “I treat him as any other kid,” Ray said. Jaylen was allowed to attend any high school he wanted, “but if he was going to play sports he was going to Stagg,” Ray said. He says that he didn’t push his son into doing any sport, “but no soccer,” he said with a chuckle. “We don’t
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05.11.12
Parents influence, without pressure, children to attend their alma mater
The whole thing (Stagg) is different. The only building that has stayed the same was the library.” RONDA GALVAN
do that here.” Freshman Selena Magallanes has family that has attended Stagg but unlike Jaylen, her sisters went to the same school, not her parents. Magallanes is the youngest of four girls in her family. The two oldest sisters graduated high
school already, but the third oldest sister, Katrina Magallanes, still attends as a senior. Selena and Katrina are playing varsity soccer together and since Selena is the only freshman on the varsity team, some might think that she feels pressured with not only competing with her older sister, but also being the youngest on the team. “Everyone knows the routine already,” Selena said, “and I’m just getting started.” She may feel pressured, but at the same time she has been training for a long time. “I’ve been playing since I was 5 years old,” she said. “My sisters always made me feel like I could beat them. Like I’m equal with them,” Selena said. She also ran on the JV team for cross country this school year. Sports is usuphoto by Fe Valencia ally a big influRonda Galvan and her son Justin, sophomore, take a walk around campus while she reminisces on what Stagg ence between was like when she graduated in 1982. She was particulary excited about the softball field because she played parents and when there was no home field for players.
photo by
Annamarie Rodriguez
Coach Ray Shelton prepares his son Jaylen for an upcoming track meet against Tokay. Before meets practice is more relaxed and Jaylen focuses on distance running. students and helps bridge a gap between generations. Justin Galvan’s family has been going to Stagg ever since his grandmother, Bonnie Morrison, first came to America from Russia. Bonnie then attended and graduated here in 1958, which was the first graduating class. The sophomore said that three of his family’s generations attended Stagg so far with his mother being the last one here before him. “I wanted to go here because it’s in the family,” he said. Justin plays golf and plans to be a sports medicine doctor when he grows up. “Sports is my thing,” he said. Justin will be the first one in his family to go to college. Some would think that he feels pressured sometimes, but he doesn’t. “I don’t really think about it,” he said. He gets two free years of school at Delta College, after that he
plans to attend University of the Pacific. Justin’s mother, Ronda Galvan, graduated with the class of 1982 and is happy that her son is attending here. “It’s gotten a lot better,” she said, enthusiastically. “It looks 100 percent cleaner.” Ronda played softball and ran track when she attended and with the school’s new sports fields, it’s a very different experience for her. When Ronda visits, she remembers how much the school changed since she attended. “The whole thing is different,” she said. “The only building that stayed the same was the library.” Stagg has changed its look many times since it opened in 1958 and there have been many different generations of students that have attended here. While some students have big shoes to fill, some students will set the success for the next generation to exceed.
What’s yourdefining moment? “This semester because I started
getting bad grades. I missed a lot of school because I was sick, but now that I’m better my grades are going back up.”
“Knowing that everything is going to be done in the next three years. It makes me feel old because once you get out of high school, what are you gonna do.”
-Marina Pacheco
-Amaré Allen
junior
“Playing soccer has made me want to do better in school. It taught me how to work together with other students and it has changed the way I view school.”
Ricky Chiprez Perezsophomore
freshman
“When I had to go look at colleges and I realized that everything I will do will cost me money. Having to make my own decisions gives me power to take control of my path I will take towards my future.”
Lizabeth Perezsenior
graphic by
Fe Valencia, Nicole lawrence, and Marcella Hawkins
05.11.12
the Stagg Line
Features
Alumnus visits seniors and shares inspiring life story
Balancing sports proves to be a challenge VINCENTEARBURUA
She wants to be different, wants to get recognized, and wants to try something not many people could handle. Junior Veasna Samol is taking on three spring sports: badminton, softball and track. “It was a challenge and I (thought) I could handle it,” she said. “Therefore, I took up the challenge.” Samol also plays volleyball and basketball during the fall and winter. Time management is a very important part in taking on so many sports at one time. “Doing all three sports is a struggle, but I have to manage my time for homework and sports,” Samol said. Doing all these things is very stressful and she needs to work hard to finish all of her school work. She knows sports are important but grades are important to her too. “Sports motivate me to keep my grades up.” “There are days I can’t attend
MICHEALLAFOULES
practice and there are days when I have two games on the same day,” she said. One example was when she had a track meet and at 4:45 p.m., she had to leave to go to a softball game and did not get to pick up her medals from the races she won. Samol’s parents had no impact on her motivation to attempt playing three sports, nor did her older sister. “Me and her are like two different people and, she is a girly girl and I am more of the tom-boy girl,” Samol said. Her motivation is different than the usual student. It is not from following in an older sibling’s footsteps or from her parents pushing her to do sports. “I want to get recognized in all these sports,” she said. She not only wants to be recognized by her peers, but wants to be noticed by
photo by
Annamarie Rodriguez
During softball practice, after warm-up laps, Samol works on throwing, catching, and hitting while bonding with teammates.
photo by
Harmony Evangelisti
Veasna Samol balances badminton and softball games along with track meets. Some days she goes straight from a softball practice to a badminton tournament before going home. colleges too. Samol’s peers respect her for taking on the challenge, and some students would like to do the same thing. “I want to do more than one sport and I like being like Veasna,” junior Vivian Vasquez said. Samol enjoys the challenge of participating in many sports at one time. However, the sport that is of most interest to her is basketball. “The sport is fun and something I want to improve on,” Samol said. The thought of her giving up is unthinkable for Samol. “I am not a giver-upper,” Samol said. Samol also believes she has a commitment to make. “I have to finish what I started, people depend on me,” she said. She doesn’t want to let anyone of her teammates or her coaches down. They all rely on her and depend on her since she is a very important player for all three sports. “She is a good player but she
could be better if she came more often,” said badminton coach Hung Nguyen. “But because she has other commitments we just try to get her out there as much as we can.” She is the reason why they’re so successful this year since the team is filled with inexperienced players, according to Nguyen. Although all three sports can be exhausting for Samol, she still takes all of them seriously, said Vasquez. Her commitment is not only important because of her ability to play, but also to cheer her teammates on even when they don’t want to play or when they have a personal problem. “She makes people laugh,” junior Catalina Taitague said. “She is a good teammate,” Vasquez said. Samol has shown that her athleticism has no limits. She’s been able to take on multiple sports and juggle her responsibilities.
Senior deals with pregnancy JADAJOHNSON
Tragedies. They bind months of tears and years of coping with a lifetime of being surrounded by love and remembrance. Though they’re difficult to handle, they’re common in every life. For senior Jocelyn Santos, experiencing the toughest loss hit home when she was only 13. Her family had decided to have a routine barbecue in Louis Park. The outing was just being wrapped up when a group of gang members, who appeared to be holding firearms, forced them out
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of the park. Before the family could return home, gunshots were fired. Thirteen year old Aaron Kelly was shot in his chest and pronounced dead at Dameron Hospital. “He was my cousin. We were really close,” Santos said. “We would be graduating together.” The only bright side about tragedies is that sometimes they end in miracles. In Santos’ case, it’s her baby girl. She walks boldly. She is not ashamed of her round belly. But a judgmental glare shines the spotlight on Santos. “When
people look at me I’m just like ‘what are you looking at? There’s hecka pregnant girls here,’” she said. “I don’t really pay attention to them.” Although the love for her daughter is always growing, the seed that started that love didn’t exist at one point. “When I first found out I was pregnant, I was scared,” she said. Santos discovered she was pregnant when she was four months along. “I didn’t even have a choice.” Through the back pains, the morning sickness, losing friends,
photo by
Kentaley Mccurdy
Senior Jocelyn Santos sorts through the baby items she got on sale from the mall. Santos has been preparing for her daughter’s arrival for more than three months now.
and even having to miss about half of her senior year because of doctor’s appointments, Santos hates having to wait to hold her baby. “I just wish she’d hurry up and pop out,” she said. At seven months, she’s almost there. Even though Santos is excited to meet her daughter, the constant longing for her best friend is stronger than ever. “My mom and I were really close,” she said, “before I got pregnant.” Darrick Spencer is Santos’ boyfriend and the father of her child. His shoulder is the one she leans on when she misses her mom. When it comes to being responsible, he’s “amazing.” Ever since Santos became pregnant, not only does he work two jobs, but he also pays most of the bills that they share together. According to Santos, he shows his love for his daughter by shedding a tear when she comes to mind. All of the drama fades when the image of Leilanie Maree Spencer appears on screen. Santos shares these moments with Spencer. “Darrick’s always crying before we even see the sonogram,” she said. Determined to beat the sterotypical odds of teenage mothers, Santos plans on continuing her education by taking classes at Delta College for one year and then transferring to Sacramento State. “I got accepted and everything already,” she said. “It’s not all about me now,” Santos said. “Everything I do is about her.” The proud mother to be knows that her life will revolve around her baby girl. Santos has no problem with that.
They can’t emphasize it enough. Parents, grandparents, teachers, coaches, or any adult that wants the best for your future has given you those lectures and encouragements on how important school and education is. Especially in middle school and going into high school, you can’t hear it enough. For those rebellious teens, school is just a torture chamber, with monotonous lessons, and blabbering teachers who don’t know how to have fun. But then they have their good days, where confidence and the interest to learn sparks them up. On the evening of Wednesday, May 2, the seniors of Stagg High had a surprise visit at their Senior Awards Dessert Ceremony. A Stagg graduate from seven years ago, Christa Curtin, delivered a speech, sharing her story of her journey through high school and what it took to make it to where she is now. “It was really great coming back,” she said. “It’s funny coming back and seeing the teachers.” Curtin currently manages and organizes the advertisements that go on Pandora, an Internet radio site, since last year. It took hard work and dedication to get her the job that Curtin loves now. She went to college for five years, and double-majored in communications and art. She went on to study graphic design, newspaper, and advertising. Curtin explains how being on the yearbook staff in high school was beneficial and helpful to her in college. “Yearbook taught me to manage my time and meet deadlines,” Curtin said. “You’re learning how to prioritize and learn how much time to spend studying one thing or another.” Before Curtin got her job at Pandora, she worked as a nanny for her cousin who was less than a year old, for six months. Curtin also was an administrative assistant to a business woman in Berkeley, and also did account maintenance and management. Curtin gives the seniors a bit of meaningful advice, “don’t be afraid to put yourself out there and try new things.” One senior, Xiomara Urbina, took these words into consideration. “If it’s something that you really love, you’ll pursue it no matter
“
If it’s something that you really love, you’ll pursue it no matter what the price is.” XIOMARA URBINA senior
what the price is,” she said. Urbina agrees with Curtin in the idea of going all out and following your heart. “I think that it’s worth it,” she said. “My parents don’t support me on what I do, so I do it for myself.” Curtin knows how it is to be judged, especially in high school. She also advises to take classes in college you like and think are interesting. Urbina wasn’t the only senior who was affected by Curtin’s speech. Many of the 79 seniors being honored at the Senior Awards Dessert Ceremony felt that Curtin’s speech was interesting and powerful. The seniors being honored included co-valedictorians Natsumi Abellana and Sierra Brandt, and salutatorian Melissa Galindo. Teachers and administrators that presented awards at the event included Deborah Berg, Erica Dei Rossi, Don Bott, Chan Sam, Samantha Wirzberger, Pat Klopstock, Karen Caliguiri and principal Bill Parks. Seniors received awards and scholarships from these advisors and teachers, many who have mentored the students since their freshman year. Ultimately, between the awards, scholarships, and Curtin’s influential speech, the night concluded on a positive note for all. The seniors all left with smiles on their faces and words of encouragement for the future.
photo by
Annamarie Cunningham
Alumnus Christa Curtin spoke at the Senior Awards Dessert Ceremony about how her personal interest in art conflicted with what she knew to be a pragmatic career decision.
Entertaiinment the Stagg Line
6
05.11.12
Backto the
‘
90s
Britney Spears was topping the Movies chart with cheesy bubblegum pop. 1) “Home Alone”: Everyone has fantasized about being left home alone The definition of “cool” was wearfor weeks as a child at one point or another, but no real-life scenario ing denim, and Bedazzled anything. or daydream can measure up to the greatest 90’s movie that is “Home Boy bands with over gelled hair with Alone.” A movie about being left alone without your dysfunctional frosted tips (yes, we’re looking at family around and fighting against two burglars and wreaking havoc you, Nsync) was every girl’s dream in your own home? A child’s dream come true (or at least it was for boyfriend. It was worth waking up some.) It’s a movie that any 90’s kid would watch over and over again early on Saturdays to watch your on VHS until the VHS tape starts to skip. favorite cartoons on TV. Kids went 2) “Jumanji” to McDonalds just for the toy in their 3) “Toy Story” Happy Meal. Ever miss the days back 4) “The Addams Family” 5) “Forrest Gump” when the biggest disputes could be solved by a simple game of Rock, Paper, Scissors? Here’s a handful of 90’s nostalgia to help you relive Toys good memories from a not-so distant 1) HitClips: These days we have hundreds of songs on our iPods constantly at our immediate disposal, past. but once upon a time a pocket-sized boombox was a real novelty. While today we may brush off a
Music
1) Britney Spears : “Baby, One More Time”: Britney Jean Spears. She was pretty much every boy’s first crush and every girl’s biggest idol. She made her debut at the age of 17 with her song “Baby, One More Time.” Britney wasn’t exactly the Shakespeare of song lyrics, but she still managed to rise up the music charts, even breaking sales records and her songs becoming international number-one hits. Every radio station blared her nasal, bubblegum pop voice. She was exploitable teen material. Spears had a plethora of band merchandise and sold-out concerts everywhere. Oh Britney, how we miss the days back when you weren’t running around bald, desperately trying to make a big comeback. 2) The Spice Girls: “Wannabe” 3) Los Del Rios: “Macarena” 4) No Doubt: “It’s My Life” 5) Nsync: “Bye Bye Bye”
Food
1) Wonder Balls: Oh I wonder, wonder what’s in a Wonder Ball? Who knows what surprises, a Wonder Ball may hide? Yummy Nestle chocolate with candy shapes inside. Oh I wonder, wonder what’s in a Wonder Ball! I’ll spare all of you who actually read this. Sorry, the theme song is just too catchy. Anyways, Wonder Balls were the epitome of 90’s candies. They were fun, hollowed chocolate spheres filled with candy and a sticker or temporary tattoo. Unfortunately, they don’t make them anymore due to the choking hazard of the candy inside of it. 2)Fruit Stripe Gum 3) Baby Bottle Pop 4) Warheads 5) Lunchables
music player if it fails to achieve HD audio, at the peak of HitClips popularity we were intrigued by one minute clips of pop songs. At about $9.99, HitClips were relatively cheap compared to other more expensive stereos, and it was portable and durable enough for a kid to own. We did have to pay at least $3 for one “clip” that plays only one minute of a song, but back then it was so different and new compared to everything out there. Now if you excuse me, I’m going to listen to “I Want Candy” by Aaron Carter on my HitClip. It’s just that good. 2) Skip It! 3) Beanie Babies 4) Video Now 5) Sock’em Boppers
TV Shows
1) “Rugrats”: “Rugrats” took the question “What do babies do when their parents aren’t around” and turned into a clever series of humorous episodes. It was a show that was 95 percent imagination, and 5 percent realism. We enjoyed watching babies eating dog food, searching for a lost ragged doll, fearing the bath drain, and venturing through a forest. The show’s theme gave us a sense of authority over adults, that we were the ones running the show and they were simply just background characters. 2) “Lizzie McGuire” 3) “Doug” 4) “The Powerpuff Girls” 5) “The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air”
Graphic by Adrianna Owens & Information Compiled by Viena Palacio
4 videos that will make you want to...
P R E S S P L AY
Art by Mikeala Axton
Johnny Cash – “Hurt” In a cover that puts original artist Nine Inch Nails to shame, Cash’s video is quietly mournful, featuring clips of Cash as a younger man, making it appear almost as a goodbye to his legacy. Made all the more intense by his passing only a few years after the video, it is a profound exploration of both life and death and the time spent in between.
Radiohead – “Lotus Flower” - In the post-“Thriller” music video world, it seems like of the most dangerous thing you could do is be simple. And yet, Radiohead (who, after 20 years of masterful videos, seem to have only themselves to top) manages to make the idea of minimalism not seem like a hipster buzzword used on art no one really gets. The video gives credit to a choreographer, but it’s hard to imagine the frenzied, seizure-esque movements of singer Thom Yorke were given any sort of direction. As one astute Youtuber commented, “I didn’t know it was possible to have your soul choreographed by Wayne McGregor.” Yorke is the only person featured in the video, dancing in what seems to be an empty warehouse. Shot in black and white, it manages to be artful and intense, creating a raw feel that gives a purpose to the lack of color other than “it looked cool.”
Beastie Boys – “Sabotage” It might be that it’s directed by Spike Jonze (“Where the Wild Things Are”). It might be that it’s a ridiculous, big-budget parody of old school cop shows. But the thing that (probably) really makes this video is the fake mustaches galore. A highenergy video for a highenergy song, “Sabotage” is a highlight among decades of great videos in Beastie history.
Manchester Orchestra – “Simple Math” As if the song weren’t quietly brilliant enough, the video is beautifully shot and a gem that goes unfairly unnoticed beside the flashy-trashy pop videos of today. Simple details make the video amazing; water in a glass that slowly slants upwards illuminates the message of the song/video. “What if all we thought was right/Was wrong?” The video does not readily supply an answer but does a spectacular job of pondering the question.
Graphic by Alyssa Rojas & Information Compiled by Mikeala Axton
‘Avengers’ satisfies comic fans, newcomers DAMONHEINE
Ever since the scene with Nick Fury talking to Tony Stark about the “Avengers Initiative” was shown at the end of 2008’s “Iron Man,” it set in motion a series of movies that culminated in the blockbuster hit that we are talking about today. “The Avengers,” in a nutshell, is everything that a comic book movie should be and more. The movie satisfies both longtime fans of the comic and people who are just looking for escapist cinema. Marvel Studios has seemed to make these movies a labor of love for the fans. Ever since “Iron Man,” they have created a universe where other heroes have heard or interacted with each other, and it’s the first time I have seen this successfully been done on the big screen. The team contains the usual suspects. Captain America (Chris Evans) is the boy scout that takes any order. While Cap is portrayed as the archetypal leader, his character is probably the least interesting in the film. I find myself wanting more explanation on his adjustment to 21st century earth and hopefully it will be addressed in Captain America’s second solo film. Thor (Chris Hemsworth) is the wise all-powerful being, yet he shares some of the same problematic attributes as Cap. Not much explanation is given on his return to earth after being rendered so that he would never be able to return in the “Thor.” Tom Hiddleston has a better turnout as the main villain Loki and his character is even more despicable than he was in “Thor.” But the scene stealers in the flick are Robert Downey Jr. as Tony Stark/Iron Man, and Mark Ruffalo as Bruce Banner/the Hulk. Downey Jr.’s wisecracking Stark provides much of the comedic banter with the other heroes and also bridges a lot of the film’s story elements together. Ruffalo’s Hulk is much more relatable to the comic book version and is the best Hulk portrayal since the Bixby/ Ferrigno days. Others never realized that Banner and the Hulk are the same person, yet here you can tell that the Hulk has a little bit of Banner still in him, despite his savage tendencies. Another surprising turn is Clark Gregg as S.H.I.E.L.D Agent Phil Coulson. The character who has appeared in many of the movies leading up to this film has his best performance in this film. Coulson is essentially the characterization of the fan that has stuck by these heroes from day one, and in turn, he is more relatable than any other person in this movie. The story is an easy to follow and action packed romp that does justice to the comic. The overarching plot of Loki trying to help an evil alien race called the Chitauri take over earth is creative, but does not take center stage until the final act, but I think that helps the flow of the movie. If the plot relied solely on the Chitauri threat then it would have had more of a chance to confuse the audience and distract from the characters. Good: Character develop Overall, the film’s strongest asset is its character ment and special effects development. While some characters are more insatisfies audience. teresting than others, when they interact with each Bad: Some characters are other, you get the feeling that they are a team and can work together to save the earth. There’s a reason more interesting than other why the build-up to the movie was nearly five years characters. in the making. And “The Avengers” was well worth Rating: 4 out of 5 stars the wait. “Dark Knight Rises,” you have a lot to compete with.
Sports the Stagg Line
05.11.12
7
AIMING TO KEEP THE TRADITION RUNNING
Undefeated track and field team is commited to keep the winning streak going two years straight ANNAMARIECUNNINGHAM
The athletes’ faces are etched with dedication. And practice has just started. There are the throwers, flexing their muscles in anticipation of the work to come. There are the pole-vaulters, preparing their individual poles for practice. There are the runners, the most numerous of the team, all in various acts of getting ready. Some are stretching, other setting up blocks and hurdles, and some are tying the laces of their spikes. This is the image one would see at every track and field practice leading up to their final meet. The league championships for track and field, which concluded yesterday, was what the team meticulously prepared for throughout the entire season. At practice, senior Brian Hamilton, a discus and shot putter, holds the 1.6 pound discus in his hand. “I practice from 2:25, right when school gets out,
Junior Deante Chambliss runs in the 4-4 in a dual meet against Tokay. The team would go on to place first in the event.
until 5:30,” Hamilton said. And so does the rest of the team. Andre Lindsey, junior, boasts about the team’s “undefeated season.” “We haven’t lost this year, and we didn’t lose last year,” Lindsey said. And no one on the team wants to tarnish that undefeated record. Each person on the track and field team knows what they have to do; they know what they specifically need to work on. And they’re working hard. There are others, the pole vaulters, the long distance runners, and the hurdle runners. Junior Kevin Tran is a pole vaulter. He has been pole vaulting for two months and plans to continue next year. “There are three steps to pole vaulting,” he says. “Running with it, planting for takeoff, and getting your feet up. I’m best at planting my feet and getting my feet up.” He explains that each of the pole vaulters is good at different steps, saying that being the best means being able to perform all three steps. It’s the same with all the other events as well. Long distance running means knowing how to properly pace yourself and when to force yourself to go faster. Running hurdles means knowing the exact amount of steps between each hurdle and which foot to use to propel yourself up and over the hurdle. Despite the obvious differences between the 16 different events that make up track and field, there is one goal to unite them all. Winning. The members of the track and field team respect each other. They recognize that it takes an incredible amount of time and training to perfect their individual event. The mantra of the team is “be the first one on the field, and the last one off.” Each team member was determined to give their sport their all. And that determination paid off. It paid off with two years of undefeated glory. It paid off when each team member supported the others in their attempts to beat their own personal records. And it paid off when the team as a whole grew to be better.
photos by
Field athletes and pole vaulters are focused in a dual meet against West. (Clockwise from top) Senior Brian Hamilton warms up for his qualifying throw. Senior Marissa Munoz bends over the bar after a successful vault. Freshman Michael Albinto runs up before a vault.
Getting up to speed Under a new coach, baseball looks to end season on a good note
BRIANWALKER
Speed. It can be a person’s greatest weapon and an enemy’s greatest fear. Speed. It is also what separates the varsity baseball team from that other schools. Stagg’s speed can be described as above average. The problem is learning to use that speed. The baseball season got off to a rocky start. Partly because of the arrival of a new head coach, Henry Sanchez. “We all started with the same goal, to make the playoffs,” said
Shawn Quiruz, junior. “My goal was to just teach the game and go hard from start to finish,” Sanchez said. “And of course you would like to go undefeated but that doesn’t always happen.” Practices at the beginning of the season were intense. They would start at 3:00 p.m. and not end until 7:00 p.m. They were six days a week and included a lot of conditioning. “I had to work with them and teach the fundamentals. Most of the things that they should have learned in little league.” “Our record could have been
photo by
Annamarie Rodriguez
First year varsity head coach Henry Sanchez gives his team a peptalk during their game against Beyer.
better,” Quiruz said . “We demonstrated a lot of improvement from the first half of the season.” The season has been one weighed with heavy losses with a record of 3-7 in league and 7-13 overall. “It’s hard when you only have 10 kids from the home school,” Sanchez said, referring to the few players from different schools. At one point the season looked like it would have been a winless one. They started the season with a three-game losing streak. The team was not working to its full potential, but then the coach made a change. “He introduced several drills that really helped us,” Quiruz said. “Our offense and defense improved significantly.” These new skill practices helped mold the team’s tremendous speed and form it into a solid defense. “We always had the speed on the team, he just showed us how to use it.” Practices were also cut to a less stressful two hours a day. The strength of the team is their fast defense that can make plays in vital game situations. “We came a long way,” Sanchez said. “Put us out of 10 schools at the beginning of the season and we’re at he bottom two or three. Looking at us now i would consider us above average.”
Annamarie Rodriguez
Defeated on the court but not in the heart
CHAOXIONG
For senior Raul Dominguez tennis is “just a second sport.” Dominguez and many of the tennis players this season are dedicated to soccer and are only playing tennis for the fun of it.“We had nothing to do after soccer so we wanted to try something new,” said junior Yasmani Bravo. “At first, we were just having fun, but then we became more serious,” Bravo said. But even though they became more serious they didn’t take it as seriously as they did soccer. “We grew up with soccer so tennis is just for fun,” said Senior Carlos Barajas. They described soccer as “a spouse that they’re married to” and tennis as “the girlfriend on the side”. The boys tennis team has not won a single match this season. A reason for this is that the players didn’t take tennis too seriously, but another reason would be their inexperience in playing tennis. “For not having anyone with over two years of experience in tennis we did pretty well,” said Roger Esparza, tennis coach. The only players with even one year of experience are Dominguez and Senior Alfredo Aguirre. Other than these two the rest of the players are new to the sport. And although they’ve played during their free time they were playing without the knowledge of the rules. “I started from the basics,” Esparza said. “I started from how to keep score, to how to hold the racket.” And with little experience it was hard for them to go against players from other schools that have been playing for years. But in a proud voice Dominguez said, “They were more experienced and were better than us, but we were able to give them a challenge.” He boasted about a sliced return that he did that helped him gain a point in the game. Even though they have not won any of their
matches this season they are fine with it since they had fun playing. But that doesn’t mean that that they’re fine with losing. “This experience will help them improve for next year and they’ll do much better,” said Senior Omar Alvarez. But next year many of the players will be leaving.Seven out of the 11 players on the team are graduating seniors which leave only three juniors and one sophomore left. But this fact doesn’t discourage the players at all. “Although some of our best players are leaving this year we will still find a way to thrive and prosper for success,” said Alvarez.
photo by
Annamarie Rodriguez
Senior Raul Dominguez at the last boys practice before their tournament to qualify for the Tri-City Athletic League championships.
News the Stagg Line
8
05.11.12
GETTING INVOLVED IN EARTH DAY
Key Club and Science Club band together to clean up campus and bond with one another
Environmental activist Annie Leonard comes to UOP to speak about recycling habits
SHELBYHIGHTOWER
ADRIANNAOWENS
Students gather together on a hot early afternoon in G-6. They don thick fabric gloves and as the sun beats down on the backs of their necks they set out together on a mission. That mission is to clean the school. In celebration of Earth Day, Stagg had its own “Earth Week” during which there were organized spirit days. At the end of the week, on April 27, students gathered together in G-6 to partake in the campus cleanup, organized by Debbie Lebanik. All of the participants have different reasons for being there on that hot Friday afternoon.
Some volunteer for the extra credit, some to fulfill their community service requirements, and some just to make a difference. Among those who want to make a difference is junior Jessica Rhoten. “Cleaning up the school’s campus makes it look better for students, teachers, and parents,” Rhoten said. “I want to be able to be proud of my school.” As she and many other volunteering students march off across the campus, they realize just how much there is to clean. They pick up anything from plastic sporks, to entire lunches abandoned by students. Each team of two fills their bag and returns to the classroom. In the end, 10-15 bags were filled with trash and recyclables. They sorted through the trash they collected, separating recyclables,
and once all of the participants were back in G-6 they brought out pizza and let all who helped out that day eat and take part in activities. This included tie-dying and planting flowers to take home. It was a small reward from Lebanik to all of the students who helped to clean up this school. The students laughed as they sprayed each other with dye of all colors. Lebanik, like many others, wants to take time to do her part and believes others should too. “My purpose for doing this was to bring awareness of our environment to students and to empower teenagers to make a difference in the world.” Perhaps this will inspire students to do their part in keeping the school clean as well as the environment.
Annamarie Rodriguez (Above): Junior Amira Nand and senior Diamond Hart pick up trash. (Left): Reaksa Tap, sophomore, finds fun in cleaning. photo by
Earth Week may have come and gone, but speaker Annie Leonard feels that people shouldn’t disregard their recycling bins and compost heaps. Leonard presented at the University of the Pacific on April 21 after a “green” fashion show in which models were draped in shredded newspaper. She kicked off her presentation with a short film entitled “The Story of Stuff.” The video focused on how things are made and where they go after they get thrown out. Some items, for instance, are shipped to Third World countries, while others are burned and buried, which contributes to pollution. Leonard brought up that 99 percent of the stuff that people buy gets thrown out in six months. She said that what makes it worse, is that most of the time we don’t need to throw away the items. Demonstrating how small the replacement part for a computer is with her fingers, she said, “we chuck the whole (computer) and then buy a new one.” She brought up the point that a lot of people upgrade their electronics, but don’t take the time to think of where their old item will end up. She also said that people think that they will be considered cool if they are up to date on all electronics. “You’re not cool if you have the newest thing,” Leonard said. “You’re cool if you have the oldest and you take care of it.” Another point she made, is that the national happiness rate is slowly decreasing, while the spending rate is going up. “We have less time for things that make us happy,” she said. She said that relationships cheer us up, while material things merely make us content. Leonard calls it the work-watch-spend theory. She said that people work and come home exhausted, so they turn on the TV and watch ads that make them go to the store and spend money that they don’t have. Then they have to go back to work to get more money, and the never-ending cycle continues.
photo by Adrianna Owens Annie Leonard, an environmental activist, spoke to people at UOP on April 21. She spoke about the importance of recycling and where materials end up.
She has a strong opinion on the use of ads in our world today. “What’s the point of an ad other than to make us feel unhappy with what we have?” Leonard asked. Some of these ads promote unhealthy lifestyles, and lead to people putting toxins in their bodies. “We take chemicals that are known to cause cancer, and we put them in our mouths!” she said. Leonard said that in an umbilical cord of a newborn baby, there were 256 chemicals. Because of this, she believes that recycling alone isn’t going to be enough to pull together the planet. She said that the solution lies in the students of today. “When students get together, they are unstoppable,” she said.
First Circle of Friends dance sparks tradition
NICOLELAWRENCE
photos by Adrianna Owens Seniors Juan Vega and Amanda Geahry teach Taylor how to do the Cha-Cha Slide.
For Stagg students, going to Wonderland isn’t as far as it seems. Walk down the flower garden, fall into the big dirt hole, and smile at the Cheshire Cat sitting in the tree. Step onto the dance floor, stroll under the balloon arches, and take photos with the Queen of Heart’s guards. In this place, it doesn’t matter what kind of education you are getting, because in Wonderland, everyone is the same. This Wonderland is better known as the Circle of Friends’ dance that took place April 21. This was first time Stagg has had a dance like this. “It was a heartwarming experience and it felt great,” said senior Treyvon Manning. Manning was one of the volunteers that helped make this dance possible. From setting up at 9 a.m. until tearing down at 7 p.m., many volunteers contributed their whole day to make this happen. “I didn’t know what to expect
“
It didn’t matter if you were general ed or special ed. It brought us together.” ALEX CORDOVA autism teacher
because this was the first (Circle of Friends) dance,” said senior Amanda Geahry. “But I wanted to be involved as much as possible.” After the dance, junior Johana Nuno said she enjoyed dancing with everyone and being able to volunteer. Another volunteer that was highly involved was special day class and autism teacher Alex Cordova. “Whatever they needed I was willing to help,” he said. Cordova also asked his nephew Keith Williams to perform a few songs at the dance.
“His music was like a bridge,” Cordova said. “It didn’t matter if you were general ed or special ed. It brought us together and helped them cross that bridge.” Williams took a six-hour drive from his hometown Long Beach, to sing only a few songs at the dance. “It was a cool opportunity to give back,” Williams said. “Special education doesn’t get a lot of attention.” He feels that the long trip was definitely worth it. “It was more than I expected,” Williams said. He is planning on coming back for next year. By the end of the night, all differences were put aside. Everyone was smiling with cold beverages in hand. And if you didn’t know about this beforehand, you would think this was just another dance. But for these students, it was much more. When they left this Wonderland, they followed the balloon arch, waved to the Cheshire Cat, and jumped out of the hole. They walked down the flower garden, and everything was still the same.