Issue 1 by The Scribe

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Vol. XV, Issue 1 Francis Parker School November 2012

toc COLOPHON Body Typeface: Minion Pro 10.5 pt Header Typeface: Century Gothic Folio Typeface: Century Gothic 12 pt Paper Stock: 100# Gloass Book Printed On: Xerox Docutech Printed By: IPS Publishing, San Diego, CA

1 2 3 4 5

CoverS by Cian Lavin and Soren Hansen TOC Staff Page Editor’s Note by Katie Kreitzer GBU by Claire Bryan

6 7 10 11 12

HOMETOWN HERO by Nishon Tyler A GENE for JUDGEMENT by Stanley Gambucci An Outdated Allegiance by Jacob Gardenswartz A Call OF Duty by Colin Grey Under the Age, Over the Influence by Sam Melville

ft 14 16 18 19 20 22

Serving Up Sustainability by Audrey Yang A Buddhaful Mind by Max Feye Take a Bow by Jake Siegler Going the Distance by Brianna Goldberg The Saturday Series: Mr. Paul Esch by Katie Kreitzer Advice from our Own by Kasey Hutcheson

24 25 26 28 29 30

Kpop Mania by Claire Kim Turning Over A New Leaf by Charlotte Dick-Godfrey and Caroline Merkin Picture Perfect by Olivia Fidler and Cian Lavin Liv’s Playlist by Olivia Fidler Filling Station by Dutra Brown and Matt Gluck The Scribe Explores: Point Loma by Sean Waters

32 33 34 35 36

Athletic XCellence by Michela Rodriguez Staying Strong? by Mark Klein Root for Recruitment by Charlotte Dick-Godfrey Smells Like School Spirit by Molly Morrison A Football Fantasy by Patrick Barba and Jack Benoit

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Mission: Delicious by Brianna Goldberg and Natalie Schmidt Hot/Not/Trendy by Dutra Brown and Stanley Gambucci Quadrants compiled by Jay Gardenswartz and Patrick Riley All Dolled Up by Dutra Brown and Stanley Gambucci Scribe Speaks: Cuba by Arielle Swedback

45 46 49 50 52 53 54 55

Editor’s Note by Raphie Cantor and Nishon Tyler Crossfire: Electoral College by Raphie Cantor, Nishon Tyler, and Sam Pryor Invisible Parties by Nishon Tyler A Costly Consequence by Claire Bryan Taking a Measure by Raphie Cantor and Max Feye Marijuana by Max Feye Calling for a Cause by Matt Gluck First Things First by Sabrina Deveraux

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STAFF Editors-in-Chief Claire Bryan Katie Kreitzer Design Chief Stanley Gambucci Managing Editor Kasey Hutcheson Layout Editor Dutra Brown Opinions Editors Raphie Cantor Arielle Swedback Features Editors Samantha Melville Michela Rodriguez Arts & Culture Editors Claire Kim Jake Siegler Sports Editors Jack Benoit Colin Grey Etcetera Editors Jay Gardenswartz Patrick Riley Web Editors SOREN HANSEN CIAN LAVIN Photo Editor OLIVIA FIDLER Staff Writers PATRICK BARBA CHARLOTTE DICK-GODFREY MAX FEYE MATT GLUCK BRIANNA GOLDBERG SOREN HANSEN MARK KLEIN CIAN LAVIn CAROLINE MERKIN Molly Morrison SAMANTHA PRYOR NATALIE SCHMIDT Nishon Tyler SEAN WATERS Audrey Yang

EDITOrIAL POLICY Serving as the official news magazine of Francis Parker School, The Scribe strives to report on the major news stories on campus, while providing the student body with a cutting-edge take on campus life and culture. All Scribe contributors are members of the Journalism class at Parker. The editorial staff oversees the editing and production aspects of the magazine. Members of the staff also volunteer a great deal of their after-school and weekend time to work on the magazine. The editors-in-chief assume all responsibility for the material published in The Scribe. For this reason, any errors or complaints should be reported to the editors-in-chief, not the authors of particular articles. Check out The Scribeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s new website, with online content- articles, videos, surveys, old issues, and more at www.fpsthescribe.com Share with us any questions, concerns, or comments you have about the magazine. Your opinions matter!

Adviser ANDREW HOLBROOK

Email us at fpscribe@gmail.com.

Consultant Michelle Adelman

Join our Facebook fanpage at www.facebook.com/fpscribe to stay updated with everything Scribe related.

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PHOTO BY KASEY HUTCHESON

They were stretching, pelvic-thrusting, giggling about the routine to come and the jaws their bright red short-shorts would send dropping low—even lower than the squats they attempted. They were amped, thrilled, far different from the coy freshman cheerleaders I had coached three years before. We had four hours to devise our final guys’ cheer routine, the five minutes we had been waiting for since the day our freshmen braved the field in purple boas and body paint, and we had nothing but ten chairs, one night, and an obnoxious mix of “Gangnam Style” to work with; the kicks and jumps of this anticipated moment were left to be pieced together in these final Friday hours. Those ten studs were absolute champions, prancing around the PAC with the kind of genuine confidence only a senior can have, sashaying from corner to corner, preparing their booty-shakes for the Parker public, but popular, humiliation. And between stomach-aching laughter and a good dose of playful banter, as the dance slowly pieced itself together, I began to let the current moment leave me; I began to think about how excited I was to relive it again next year. But there won’t be a next year for this vivacious bunch. This moment, this three-hour period of up-and-down moments, was our last chance to piece this silly tradition together, our last chance to pop out a chair dance and wonder at what point our administrators would pull the plug on our racy little spectacle. But, thankfully, we did it. Thankfully these ten boys, a tiny reflection of our entire school, took up to four Friday nights of their high school years to make complete fools out of themselves. Because, although they did end up with a trophy, a million racy Facebook pictures, and a video of pure blackmail, they also ended up with a hysterical hip-popping memory they will never forget.

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High school is all about these moments, the things you think will never get done, the things that are often considered embarrassing or foolish: the ASB events that aren’t cool enough to attend, the talent show stage you’re too afraid to step foot on. We hold back because we think we should, imagining our actions meticulously judged by a social sea of 400 peers, but, at the end of the day, or at the end of our little journey, we’ll regret it. Because while we sit at home to avoid being seen at winter formal or bypass the guys’ cheer sign-up list, we miss out on one high school memory that will never leave us. As underclassmen, we find it easy to say no. We find it easy to bypass certain opportunities because of their reputations or because we are uncomfortable branching out and trying something new. And that’s okay; it’s healthy, part of the high school process. But that will change. There will come a point when you sit and watch a team bond or a teacher speak or a group of magazine staffers hard at midnight work, and you’ll never want it to end. So, my cliché advice to all of you is, yes, soak it up. Soak it up the same way those emasculated cheerleaders soaked up their choreographed water-pouring moment. Because you’ll never regret publically busting loose to Gangnam style (“Kpop” page 24) or standing in a jam-packed, cheering crowd of vuvuzelas and Parker football fans (“Smells like School Spirit,” page 34). You won’t be sorry you got to know your teachers (“The Saturday Series: Mr. Paul Esch,” page 20), or that you dared to stand out in a sea of skorts and khaki (“All Dolled Up” page 42). And, as our staff learned in the first few weeks of this year, you’ll never regret forking out the extra effort and producing something far beyond what is expected of you (see The Scribe’s first-ever Election Section, starting on page 45). Someday we’ll all understand why our teachers, our mentors, and the posters plastered to every building tell us to take advantage of everything Parker has to offer: because the moments matter. Because we’ll never forget them.

KATIE KREITZER Editor-in-Chief

TH E GOOD asb bonfire:

b TH E BAD

global trips:

TH E U GLY skorts:

Freshman year, I stumbled over wet grass and purchased an over-priced ticket to my very first high school dance. The Luau, The Sweet Escape—they were all the same. Freshmen eyes were scarred and most seniors didn’t show up. The back-to-school dance may have once been a tradition, but, let’s be honest, no one is ready for such an event after just four short days of seeing friends in the hallways. However, more than 150 Parker students attended the ASB Back to School Beach Kickback this year. Kids kayaked, threw the football, and ate dinner and caught up with peers. Friends rolled each other down the grassy hill hurting with laughter and sat at Crown Point to watch the sunset. Kids put their toes in the water and watched the stars while laying out on the inflatable Twister. We gathered around the bonfire and roasted s’mores, and no one cared who was talking to whom. I even met three freshmen who introduced themselves to me and my friends as we searched for our shoes in the dark at the end of the night, something the social stigmas of my freshman-year Luau would have never produced.

The life-changing trips offered by our global studies prgram may have started out as a priviledge for adventure-driven students, but within the last few years, they have become the student norm. As a result, the trips are filling up faster, and this year some students were left in the dust because of the policy that if you have gone on a trip in the past, you lose priority to juniors or seniors who have not traveled before. While this may be fair, it has shut out some very passionate and disappointed upperclassmen. Because this policy was never an issue in the past, seniors are just now realizing the implications. In hindsight, they might have planned differently. The skort: it is the slimmer, edgier, and shorter version of our old skirts. You may not be able to cross your legs, sit criss-cross applesauce, or frolic through the quad as easily, but don’t worry: If you can survive the constant wedgie, you won’t have to hold your skirt down while walking up the stairs. Yes, it is nice to have the extra coverage, but with 18-year-old ladies ordering little girl sizes the skorts have gotten out of hand. They are short, tight, and I would think our administration would be calling Option B and asking for their pleats back. Ms. Southworth, come back!

PHOTO COURTESY OF FACT.CO.UK

THE BAROMETER LANDS’ END

The skorts may be uncomfortable, but the shirts are softer than ever, and between the sweater vests and pea coats, Parker students have never looked so classy.

NEW PATHWAY

Maintenance, you read our minds. Thanks for adapting to our inability to walk those extra 20 feet.

WAKE UP!

Although the campaign publicized better than any event in Parker’s history, the assembly was a bit of a letdown. Students participated and fought for gift cards, but left with little more than lots of scientific facts.

CENTENNIAL

The food trucks were a dream and the celebratory assembly was sweet, but the sunburns that came with it...

DOUBLES

. Art History, Social Justice, all trimester science classes and all upperclassmen’s English classes double this year, causing students to miss their electives and other academics weekly. Put away your paintbrushes; academics rule all.

THE CREEPY MAN IN THE LIBRARY

Who are you, what are you doing here, and why do you constantly show up in my nightmares?

CLAIRE BRYAN Editor-in-Chief

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the scribe 2012-13

OUR FASCINATION WITH SAVING THE WORLD AND FORGETTING OUR HOME

ARTICLE BY NISHON TYLER PHOTO BY JAY GARDENSWARTZ

Throughout the 19th century, missionary work was all the rage. Jane Eyre and Saint John spent pages teaching themselves “Hindustanee” so they could minister to the poor heathens in India. Scout Finch (To Kill a Mockingbird) recalled listening in on the Women’s Missionary meetings to discuss how to save the savages in Africa. The western fascination with foreign lands and the poor people in them has been well documented. Thankfully the days of the “White Man’s Burden” have mostly passed but still, we see signs every day about charities that raise money to end AIDS in Africa (the country not the continent) to promote literacy in Uzbekistan, or, most recently, to stop Joseph Kony from doing whatever it is that he does in that country that starts with a “U”. There is even a term for it, the “White Saviour Complex”. Here at Parker there are global trips to satisfy every hero fantasy. But we dedicate so much to these efforts afar, that it appears many have forgotten the problems at home. Herein lies the problem; many students place a higher value on the work they do in other countries than the work they do right here in San Diego. This does make some sense, in many ways being poor in America

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is a much better life than being middle class in other countries, especially when it comes to rights and general public safety. But poverty is still an issue here, one that is increasingly a source of frustration as the gap between rich and poor widens. Why do students prefer to go abroad? “Being abroad [is] like a new sensation of being yourself, seeing things without a parent telling you what decisions to make.” says Sr. Rene Caracoza who went to Colombia last year. Mr. Mark Byrne, who went to South Africa agrees, “Whatever gets kids out of the Parker bubble is a good thing.” It is no secret that Parker students live lives of privilege. We have a cafeteria that serves fresh fruit and salads from organic farms at every meal. We don’t have chocolate milk, but we do have fresh water, delivered by pipes accessible at the push of a button or the turn of a handle. We are lucky. Some accident of birth landed us where we are, and the realization that not everyone in the world enjoys such luxuries is one of the first steps on the road to becoming a better world citizen. But we, like Scout’s Women’s Missionary Society, often ignore the problems all around us in favor of leading crusades in lands that we have no connection with. Often we

hink that the government programs that we have in place protect our people from the kind of poverty that we see in other countries, but this is not true. The Federal Minimum wage is $7.25 (in California it is $8.00, but California is also one of the most expensive states in the Union); with the help of welfare this is possibly enough to live, but living like this one will never get out of debt. One will die in debt and one’s children will inherit it. This is also assuming that you are not shopping in nice stores, eating fresh fruit or vegetables, and sharing childcare with others to reduce the costs. One other problem facing the poor and transient is the issue of permanent housing. Other countries, as awful as it is, have slums where residents may build their own houses without worrying about rent that swallows more than half of their income. In America, these temporary homes are destroyed and the residents are kicked off of the property. People are forced into the streets while they await rooms in shelters and try to find someone who will hire a transient person. “People are able to see poor kids as real [people] for the first time [when they go abroad]” said Sr. Caracoza, however this is only true because the American poor are invisible until they tap on your window in traffic. Mr. Thomas Crowley, the head of the Global Education Initiative, says that service in the community is “first and foremost” and the main reason for the extensive work overseas is the power of the American dollar. He makes the excellent point that the money will go further in the Philippines than it ever could here at home. But I believe that there must be some kind of follow-up. After coming home, students should learn to see the similarities between their country and another, and they should feel the same imperative to help their neighbors that they felt to help strangers.

WHERE IS THE DNA IN LGBTQQIAP? ARTICLE AND ILLUSTRATION BY STANLEY GAMBUCCI

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It’s whispered among the tongues of worried parents, it’s boasted amongst the concrete jungle of downtown, it’s yelled across ignorant lunch tables, its black-ink eyes stare up from the ballot, slowly burning a hole in the subconscious of the unsure voter— gay. Living in San Diego and receiving an education only miles away from Hillcrest, it is no doubt that Parker knows about the word gay, but more recently the movement behind it has spread like wildfire across the nation; Obama’s recent support of gay rights, Frank Ocean’s coming out, even Glee has brought the LGBTQQIAP (see sidebar) community to the forefront of national thought and debate. But what is gay? Recent trends have pointed to a genetic definition, an end to all the debate, the discovery of the “gay gene”— but gay is not easily defined. 11th grade dean and math teacher Mr. Esch says “It’s more than just sexual preference, it’s more than genetics. It’s actually your family, it’s who you hang out with, it’s your social life, it starts to encompass a bunch of things, not just who you have sex with.” And just as the definition of gay is a multifaceted phenomenon, the search for the definitive gene is a complex journey. The outcome of that journey, whether it is in equality or ostracization, is wading amongst the dark unknown shadows of the future. Being gay, it seems only natural, and almost essential, that ever since my “coming out” I have been constantly barraged with arguments of homosexuality’s existence as choice or genetics. And just as naturally, I am sick of it. What induces the bitter, metallic taste in my mouth and the evenly spaced acid punches in my stomach is not simply the frequency with which this conversation is brought to my attention, but rather the fact that people have the gall to argue the validity of my existence and the general fibers of my being. What could I possibly say to someone who, by waving around one wretched word, choice, discredits my life, rips out my identity and spits his or her ignorant saliva on it in front

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of my face? All I have, just like the rest of the LGBTQ community, is the loud and glittered-filled story of my own experience, a beautiful chant that is lost under the rhythm-less chants of “choice, choice, choice.” I made no choice. Bottom line. I do not remember a moment when, I, my single digit self sat down and proconned the possibility of being gay— because it didn’t happen. Although being fabulous is a perk, in reality no sane person would choose to subject themselves to the horrors that come with living a gay lifestyle. Being told

“

I do not

remember a moment when I, my single digit self sat down and pro-conned the possibility of being gay—because it didn’t happen.

“

you live a life of sin, not being able to identify with your religion because it does not identify you as a human being, being hurled into homelessness by the very people who gave you life, being told your love is not equal to the love of another, being put on suicide watch, experiencing the fear, self loathing, depression: this is the reality of gay men and women in America and around the world. With entire zip codes sharing my same story it makes me wonder why minimal legislation has been passed, why minimal efforts towards progress have been made by the opposing team, why I even have to write this article. The answer is simple: these stories, the testimonies, the bullying, the suicides, what the LGBT community knows to be true car-

ries no weight compared to what the people who condemn us claim they know. Their word is more important than mine. Today the members of the LGBT community exist as secondclass citizens in what’s supposed to be a classless nation. Over 50 years of social work behind us has resulted in only 6 states that recognize gay marriage. The fight has been grueling but hope is not lost for, just as the social movement has begun to explode, the search for the biological origins of homosexuality has just begun. Since the 1990s, science has feverishly attacked the possibility of an existing “gay gene” hoping to monopolize on the buzzword of our generation and the quick-fix to the quest for equality. With the outing of homosexuality as a genetic trait— unchangeable, like the color of one’s skin—any form of discrimination, both legal and social, could be deemed unfair. No longer will there be the dehumanizing Civil Unions. No longer will a partner be prohibited the basic spousal hospital rights of their significant other. There will be no adoption, military, job and health care discrimination and no more days where homosexuals live their lives as the second class. It seems that the next step towards official equality is evidence on a biological level in order to disprove the notion of “choice,” but in reality this solution to “easy bake” equality is not all it seems. In 1991, scientist Simon LeVay of the Salk Institute performed a study on the bodies of 35 dead men (gay and straight). After examining the brains of the gay men in comparison to the straight, LeVay observed an inconsistency in the size of INAH 3 neuron clusters in the area in the brain thought to control sexual behavior. He noted that that the size of the INAH 3 cluster in a gay male was much less than that of a straight male, and that it was more similar to the INAH 3 of a woman. In 1993, the world was shocked by a National Cancer Institute scientist who claimed discovery of, what

he believed to be, the gay gene: Xq28. Dean Hamer observed 40 gay men and their brothers, examining DNA in hopes of finding some correlation between sexual preference and genetics. In 33 of the brothers, he discovered 5 “markers” on the large arm of the mother’s X-chromosome in the section Xq28. He reported his data to Science magazine as a “99.5% certainty that there is a gene (or genes) in this area of the X chromosome that predisposes a male to become a heterosexual.” Hamer’s study also revealed an interesting correlation between gay siblings noting that, for the gay men in their study, 13.5% of their brothers were gay as well, while only 1% of the world’s population is homosexual. With the discovery of the alleged gay gene, people thought the quest for equality was close to complete. But this was not the case, for in 1995 Hamer’s experiment was disproven. More recently the search lately has taken an even greater blow in the face of the Human Genome project. In 2003 the Human Genome project was completed, identifying 25,000 genes in the DNA of a human— not one of them was the gay gene. In the wake of adversity I find myself asking: why? Why are we so eager to find this gay gene? Why are we so eager to define what we are and place ourselves in a box separate from everyone else? The movement’s fundamental idea has been to unite hetero and homosexuals as equals under the one universal banner of humanity, not wishing to biologically separate them. The discovery will only hinder the blooming social accomplishments by officially defining “gay” as a change in the genetic normalcy— a mutation. The gene will label homosexuals as anomalies in an age where trends and conformity are praised. Homosexuals will become mutants at the hand of science, and like any monster, people will either attempt to change them or discard them. Genetic proof cannot come alone, it needs to come in tandem with exceptional social change, it needs to come when the world and its people can

handle it— when they are ready to accept the news with open arms. The quest for gay rights has become the Civil Rights Movement of the modern era, and this time, we have the opportunity to do it better than our grandparents did. Like the Civil Rights Movements before, the battle will have to be fought without science and just like before America and the world will have to accept such change without genetic support. But maybe this time with a little more glitter. We have not been blessed with the fortune of genetic evidence, but we have been given free will to change the world on our own accord. Homosexuality might be “nature,” but bigotry is pure “nurture.” If we as a society make a collective decision to rise up above the hatred of our predecessors, and take our sons and daughters in our hands, we can write our history in the stars as one of acceptance. But with every “prop 8” that passes, every time someone says “faggot,” “dyke,” “that’s so gay,” “no homo,” every second American equality is not equal, we are risking the solidifying of another generation of ignorance. If we cannot change fast and mobilize our present into acceptance, we will have forged a new people of hate; and once the damage is done, the fight is out of our hands and our influence can no longer right the wrongs of our past. Drowning in our helplessness, all we can do is hope, like sinners: hope for absolution on the road to salvation, that our children are stronger and will change the world we could not.

LGBTQQIA L (lesbian)

A woman who loves women; gender specific

G (gay)

Any person who loves another of the same sex; does not only pertain to men

B (bisexual)

Any person who loves people of both sexes

T (transgender)

A person who does not identify with the sex they were born with

Q (questioning)

A person who is questioning any aspect of their sexuality or gender

Q (queer)

An umbrella term that is used to describe anybody in the LGBTQQIAP community

I (intersex)

A person who, with regards to gender, does not feel that he or she fits either definition. Often refers to hermaphrodites or people who are transitioning from one sex to anoter

A (asexual)

A person who is not attracted to any person of any sex, or the idea of sex itself

P (pansexual)

A person who is attracted to anybody regardless of gender. This differs from bisexuality for, where as bisexuals often have preferences or go through phases, pansexuals are “gender blind.” november 2012 THE SCRIBE

WHY “UNDER GOD” HAS NO PLACE IN OUR NATION’S PLEDGE

ARTICLE BY JAY GARDENSWARTZ ARTWORK BY STANLEY GAMBUCCI

It’s 11:45 on a Friday as I listen to the sound of my grumbling stomach while some 500 kids shuffle into the Field House. As I wonder if we’ll really be released with enough time to eat lunch and finish the homework due next period, Vice President Rosana Murphy struts up to the podium: “Please rise. Ready, begin.” The students stand up and begin in unison: “I pledge allegiance to the Flag of the United States of America, and to the Republic, for which it stands, one Nation...”—the number of voices drops off a bit and then picks up again—“...indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.” One may notice a significant number of students and faculty, myself included, have purposely left out two words: “under God.” Why leave them out? Because the United States of America is a nation founded upon the basis of the separation of church and state, a nation founded for the purpose of escaping a tyrannical government that once dictated exactly what its citizens could and could not believe in. It is therefore discriminatory and unfair for the our nation’s pledge to include a reference to religion. Originally written by the Baptist minister Francis Bellamy in 1892, the first Pledge had no reference to God. It read, “I pledge allegiance to my Flag and the Republic for which it stands, one nation indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.” It wasn’t until the mid 20th century that the phrase “under God” was incorporated into the Pledge of Allegiance. President Eisenhower, who signed the bill into law on Flag Day, June 14, 1954, stated, “We are reaf-

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firming the transcendence of religious faith in America’s heritage and future.” This is the main opposition to the removing of under God, says Assistant Head of the Upper School Mr. Marc Thiebach. “That’s what the nation was founded on—I don’t think religion is imposed on anybody by reciting the Pledge and that is what the Constitution prevents against.” But some do find the Pledge overbearing, and argue that “under God” does violate the 1st Amendment of the Constitution (“Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion”). In the Parker community, opinions are mixed. Of 145 students surveyed, more than one-third stated that they are in favor of removing the Pledge’s allusions to religion. One student who replied to the anonymous survey says, “Even though I believe in God, I do not like the idea of connecting that with our country. God is a personal issue, not a national one.” Math teacher and 11th grade dean Mr. Paul Esch agrees: “When I joined the Navy, I swore to support and defend the Constitution of the United States, and “under God” goes against that.” Spanish teacher Mr. René Caracoza points out how in his native, Mexico, there is no mention of religion or God in their pledge. So why does our Pledge contain the phrase? It seems there is little reason for it to be in the Pledge and several reasons for it to be out. Thiebach emphasizes the fact that there is no law forcing anyone to say those words—if you don’t want to say it, don’t. But the Pledge of Allegiance is taught in most

schools at a young age. Is it really fair to make kindergarten students contemplate their religious beliefs before nap time? How can this be our choice when we’ve been brought up to recite the Pledge a certain way since before we could read? The solution is simple —remove “under God” from the Pledge. Adding the phrase creates more problems than it solved. Though I come from a Jewish background and take no direct offense to the phrase itself, I sympathise with those who do. As someone who hasn’t completely made up my mind about the concept of God, I think it’s unfair to include a statement of religion in our nation’s Pledge; removing the phrase would benefit everyone. At the end of the day, Mr. Thiebach is right. Whatever your opinion is on the inclusion of “under God” in the pledge, no one is forcing you to say it. Many others may take offense to the phrase, but there is a simple solution: just leave it out. The likelihood of passing a bill altering the Pledge in the current political climate is slim to none, but we must not forget that change is not impossible. Social studies teacher Mr. Eric Taylor says, “Not everyone believes that there are gods. Not everyone believes that there is one God. Not everyone believes that the God referred to is the Judeo-Christian God. Not everyone thinks that we should have gods in government.” Our silent protests will continue until our country’s laws can catch up with its diverse population.

COULD ROTC BE FOR ME? ARTICLE BY COLIN GREY ILLUSTRATION BY STANLEY GAMBUCCI

Last January, I overheard a senior from a different school talking to friends about the ROTC (Reserve Officer Training Corps) scholarship he just received, but I wasn’t sure what ROTC was. I knew it was a way to join the military while going to college, but other than that, I was pretty clueless. Eavesdropping on the senior, I heard him speak of all the different training opportunities he was looking forward to, such as parachutist training, and I was intrigued. I had no knowledge of the financial benefits of an ROTC scholarship, but I knew that I was interested. When I googled “ROTC”, the first thing I learned was that there is not just one ROTC, but three separate programs for Army, Air Force, and Navy. I began researching the Air Force division because it was the division the coffee shop kid belonged to, and the website greeted me with far more than program details and recruitment options: it presented me with a scholarship opportunity. A big banner across the screen read: “Get Paid to go to College.” I clicked on it and started reading about the AFROTC scholarship, amazed; the scholarship was up to $180,000 dollars over four years. I could not understand how I had never heard about this before. Maybe it is because kids at Parker do not worry as much about how they are going to pay for college, but still I did not understand why people did not consider this an option very often. After deeply considering all three programs, I decided on the Navy because I thought the branch fit what

I wanted to do later in life the best. I filled out a simple application containing two essay prompts, and after I submitted the application I had an interview with an active duty Naval officer. Everything was easy up until that point. When I walked into the Naval ROTC office at Miramar, I was probably the most intimidated I had ever been.But by the end of that day, I had realized that the military is not only people who grew up wanting to join the military or the stereotypical hardcore military man, but rather normal, everyday people. When I decided to apply for an ROTC scholarship, it was not about the money. There is so much more to ROTC than just a free education in return for five years of military service. I applied for an ROTC scholarship because of the unique opportunities ROTC offers. I wanted to participate in something where I could lead people, and ROTC is one of the only college programs that teaches leadership. Also, since I was a little kid I have always wanted to be a fighter pilot, and I felt that the Navy gave me the best opportunity to fulfill that dream while still pursuing a college degree. I did not grow up wanting to join the military, and I would not consider myself overly patriotic; but something about ROTC just made sense. The Navy offers jobs that really interest me, such as flying, and I wanted to do it because I thought it would be a great starting place for a career after college. And though I found the program to be right for me, ROTC is by no means for everyone. When apply-

ing you are required to sign a document stating that you have no moral convictions against bearing arms. Also, there is the inherent danger of joining the military, and if you spend five or more years in the military you will more than likely be going to war or an armed conflict. If this is something that you are morally opposed to or afraid of, then the military is most definitely not for you. There are also many benefits to an ROTC scholarship during your college years, such as not having to pay tuition and receiving a decent stipend of up to $500 a month, but there are also many benefits once you graduate. After you complete your service with ROTC, you are guaranteed a job with a decent salary and you are guaranteed military housing. In this economy, college graduates often struggle to find jobs immediately after graduation. Also, military service, especially as an officer, looks great on an application, so once you leave the military, jobs may be easier to find. Ask any employer and they will tell you that they like to hire veterans, particularly officers, because they know exactly what they are getting: strong leadership and confidence. As long as you understand the implications of joining the military, an ROTC scholarship is definitely something to consider. Overall, although it may seem as though five years of military service would take five years of working away after college, in actuality you come out of the military much more prepared to work and with valuable experience.

november 2012 THE SCRIBE

WHY TWENTY-ONE IS TOO LATE

ARTICLE By Sam Melville ILLUSTRATION BY STANLEY GAMBUCCI

november 2012 THE SCRIBE

At the age of eighteen, a person is legally considered an adult and therefore mature enough to buy cigarettes, vote, risk money on the lottery, serve on a jury, get married, and even join the military. However, the right to drink alcohol has been deemed too much to handle. It’s not difficult to see why this is such a controversial issue; no one wants to stand up for teen drinking. But despite the minimum legal drinking age (MLDA) of 21, it’s no secret that teenagers still drink. MLDA21 is supposed to be keeping kids safe, and it obviously isn’t doing its job. Like during prohibition so many years ago, forbidding the consumption of alcohol until the age of 21 is doing little more than pushing teenagers to abuse it. Underage drinking doesn’t always seem to be much of a problem at Parker, where, when asked about their drinking habits in a recent anonymous survey, 71 of 140 students responded that they have never had an alcoholic drink. Though this probably isn’t an accurate representation of the entire student body, Parker students are hardly young alcoholics. However, it is a considerable issue in the rest of the country. In 2009, a national survey reported that 72% of 12th graders in the U.S had tried alcohol, and 44% of 12th graders drank in the past month. Clearly, the MLDA21 is not stopping underage drinking. If anything, it may even be contributing to it. UCLA professor Mark Kleiman, an ex-MLDA21 advocate, told PBS that he came around to the no-limits position when he saw a billboard that said, “If you’re not 21, it’s not Miller Time--yet.” Kleiman says that “age limits make drinking a badge of adulthood and builds in the minds of teens a romantic sense of the transgressive danger of alcohol. That’s what so often leads to the abuse of alcohol as a ritual of release from the authority of parents.” Declaring alcohol illegal makes it a forbidden fruit- the most effective way to make teens want it. So what is the MLDA21 doing? It’s pushing underage drinking into hiding, away from the eyes of authorities. In the 1920s, the United States rat-

ified the 18th amendment in order to enact a nationwide ban on alcohol, but by doing so only drove alcohol operations underground. Because drinking was illegal, experts have found that those who imbibed tended to do so too quickly and in unhealthy quantities- it isn’t surprising that teens react the same way. Prohibition didn’t work then, and today’s “Youth Prohibition” isn’t working now. While underage drinking can hardly be equated to Al Capone and the rum-runners of the 20s, illegal consumption of alcohol has been pushed into frat parties and often unstable environments that can put teens in danger. No one knows this better than college presidents and deans. As frequent witnesses to the hazards of underage drinking, many college presidents in the U.S have banded together to form the Amethyst Initiative, a group dedicated to generating “an informed and dispassionate public debate over the effects of the 21-year-old drinking age.” More than 135 college presidents and chancellors have now signed onto the statement, including those of Duke, Dartmouth, Johns Hopkins, Syracuse, Colgate, Pomona, and Tufts. The group states that lowering the MLDA will allow students to drink in a safe, open environment, especially because when they turn 18, most people are still living under adult supervision. While advocates of a lower drinking age are often criticized for being foolish, when looking at the rest of the world, their position might not seem so radical. Today, the United States is one of only four other countries with a drinking age of 21, along with Pakistan, Palau, and Sri Lanka. Every other country in the world has a lower drinking age, if one at all. And yes, teens in other countries do drink more. In a 2003 survey, 22% of American tenth graders said they’d had five or more consecutive drinks in the last 30 days. But in Denmark, where there’s no legal minimum age to drink, 60% of 16-year-olds said they’d had five or more drinks in a row within the last

month or so. This may seem extreme, but Denmark is considered one of Europe’s happiest countries and scores third in the UN’s 2007 ranking of child welfare. In the UN listing, the United States came in 20th out of 21 wealthy countries. Additionally, despite more relaxed drinking-age laws, the European Union averaged 95 fatalities per million inhabitants due to alcohol in the past decade while the U.S. experienced 150 fatalities per million. Additionally, groups in favor of MLDA21 often cite a decrease in fatalities and injuries due to drinking and driving as a key point in their argument. However, research compar-

“

If teens can be

trusted to make decisions for their whole country with their vote and their lives, why is choosing to drink any different?

”

alcohol any different?

ing traffic fatality rates in states before and after they changed their MLDA from 18 to 21 in 1984 has found that, while it can’t be denied that highway fatalities have dropped, it isn’t necessarily because we rose the drinking age. In fact, the downward trend actually began in the early 1970s, just as many states like Maine and Nebraska began lowering their drinking ages, in part to keep from prohibiting servicemen returning from Vietnam from enjoying a beer. Rather, this was the time when the accident avoidance and crash protection features of passenger cars became increasingly developed and efficient, a more likely explanation for the drop. MLDA21 supporters propose other arguments that are just as illogical or falsely portrayed. One major concern is the fear that with a lower

drinking age 18-year-olds will provide alcohol to even younger peers. However, while this may be true, 62% of 8th graders reported in a national survey in 2007 that it’s already “very easy” to get alcohol. They choose whether or not to use it. Others argue that the drinking age should be kept at 21 because the brain doesn’t finish maturing until around age 25, but in that case we should also raise the voting age and the military service age. If teens can be trusted to make decisions for their whole country with their vote and their lives, why is choosing to drink alcohol any different? While it seems clear that MLDA 21 isn’t the answer, simply lowering the MLDA to 18 won’t solve the problem either. The trick is regulating drinking, not restricting it. Some suggest a “drinking learner’s permit” of sorts that allows drinking at a younger age with a parent’s permission or only in bars or restaurants, with the ability to purchase alcohol coming later. Dr. Roderic B. Park, a long-time administrator at UC Berkeley, suggests that “With parental or guardian permission, a person under the age of 21 might apply for such a ‘license’ which allows limited use of alcohol under monitored conditions where the licensee is held accountable. Licensing would occur within the context of educational programs and parental or guardian supervision. Permit cards, similar to a student driving license, could be issued for the purchase of alcohol and, like a driving license, could serve as a social contract used to help monitor the holder’s conduct.” Despite logical arguments such as this one, many Americans still shut out the idea of a lower legal drinking age; in fact, 58% of Parker students don’t think the MLDA should be lowered at all. But that still leaves 42% of the Parker community- 59 out of 140 students that want a reevaluation of the MLDA. While it isn’t an influential issue in this year’s election, it is time for America to do some thinking.

november 2012 THE SCRIBE

the scribe 2012-13

HOW THE PARKER CAFE IS STACKING UP ARTICLE BY AUDREY YANG PHOTO BY KATIE KREITZER

When the clock reads fifteen minutes after eleven, our stomachs cry out for an all too familiar desire: food! Though weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re lucky to have it readily available here at Parker, a majority of the student body is unaware of what it takes for it to reach our stomachs. Massive amounts of time, energy and resources are used to grow, transport, and prepare our food. In an attempt to address this environmental issue, the Upper School has initiated the necessary steps towards reducing our carbon footprint in the environment. As of this year, a conscious effort has been made both on campus and in the cafeteria, in order to find a balance between lessening our consumption of resources and maintaining healthy diets.

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ft I T ’ S N O T EA S Y B EI N G GREE N Five thousand, two hundred and forty gallons. That much water can supply an average American family of four for about two weeks, according to a survey conducted by the United States Environmental ProtectionAgency. However, as of last year, the Linda Vista cafete ria used that much water every single day. Whether it was used to cook and make our lunch, or to wash our trays and dishes, it’s indisputable that we used a substantial amount. This extreme number caught the attention of administrators, and it was determined that our resource consumption had to be minimized. Both Head of Finances and Operations, Mr. Mike Rinehart, and Director of Food Services, Mr. Ed. Glunt are actively ivolved in finding ways to carry out the necessary actions. “Our primary goal is to be environmentally friendly, especially in the food services,” says Mr. Rinehart. Over the summer, Parker signed on to a program with the City of San Diego that incorporated increased recycling and composting procedures that would benefit both the community and the environment. First, our campus had to undergo a serious inspection to ensure that we would carry out the necessary steps towards “going green.” And after the installation of new recycling bins around campus, as well as composting bins placed in the cafeteria, Parker was officially inaugurated into the program, the first school in San Diego to do so. As a school, we are currently certified to recycle our pre-consumer waste, and compost about two tons of pre-consumer food waste a week. This includes waste that does not make it to consumers, such as fat trims from meats and peels from fruits and vegetables. After our kitchen food waste is composted at the Miramar landfill, it is converted into soil after a ten week process. However, administrators aim for our school to also be certified to

recycle post-consumer waste, or waste that has been used by consumers, in the future. Striving towards that goal, the Parker community has taken initial measures towards finding ways to recycle our eaten leftovers. After consulting city representatives, Parker decided abandon the use of washable trays and dishes and instead use recyclable dishes in order to reduce our carbon footprint. However, the plastic utensils we use cannot be recycled as they do not catch while going through the landfill sorter. Although many students have questioned whether this switch is in fact eco-friendly, it is currently our best option. Due to the unavailability of

“

Our primary goal is

to be environmentally friendly, especially in the food service

”

ensure quality taste. “We go through American Produce [Distributors] in the South Bay, who incorporate for us Suzie’s Farm in San Isidro, Blue Heron in Fallbrook, Valdivia Farms in Carlsbad, and Stehly Farms in Linda Vista,” says Mr. Glunt. From these local corporations, we receive the fresh fruit and vegetables we enjoy everyday, as well as whole grain and other organic foods. Multiple options are given at lunch daily to give students and faculty members a variety to select from, including a salad buffet (see page 25) yogurt bar, and drink machine. Vegetarian, vegan, and gluten-free alternatives are frequently available, allowing for many types of eating habits to be satisfied. “As a vegetarian, the vegetarian offerings have gotten a lot better. I feel that I’m able to get my protein, [and] I’m able to get my variety,” says Mr. Barsky, head of the Upper School. With new changes that have been made in the cafeteria, Parker is walking towards the future with a much smaller carbon footprint.

compostable dishes, using these black, recyclable dishes allows us to save large amounts of time, money, and above all, water. Though the upper school is actively involved in this rigorous program, the lower school has yet to be signed on as well. However, in order for the program to stay up and running, education of the student body is key. Sophomore Hannah Schauer says, “I really enjoy the new food changes in the cafeteria, but I find the new recycling program kind of confusing.” As Parker takes steps towards helping the environment, it is the responsiblility of the individual to apply these concepts outside of school.

CRUNCHING THE N U M B ER S :

T ODAY ’ S M E N U

90% of food served that is made

A major component of energy consumption comes from transportation. With that in mind, our school cafeteria has been purchasing produce at a local level, not only as a favor to the environment, but also to

$14,000 - $16,000 of savings a year

$4.60

spent one one student meal, including the cost of food, labor, and energy

$11,908

spent last year replacing lost dishes and silverware

200 to 250

pounds of leftover food donated to the San Diego Rescue Mission weekly

at school

10 weeks to convert our compost to soil

november 2012 THE SCRIBE

PARKER’S DELVE INTO MINDFULNESS

ARTICLE BY MAX FEYE PHOTOS BY MAX FEYE AND OLIVIA FIDLER ARTWORK BY STANLEY GAMBUCCI

The power of stress overcomes us as we start the first few months of the new school year. Everyone has their own way to escape it, whether through procrastination or proactivity. But those paths don’t seem to work for everyone, and finding a way to relax at school often seems impossible. That’s why Parker is implementing a new system of mindfulness, or the act of bringing one’s complete attention to the present moment (See sidebar). The concept may seem simple, but forgetting about tomorrow’s tests, all the work you didn’t do during Homecoming week, and those petty dramatic rumors floating around school is actually difficult to do. That is why these new programs focused on staying in the present moment are appearing at Parker, a place that forces students to constantly plan for the future and dwell on the past. Parker is trying to implement a new wave of meditation practices that aim to reduce stress and anxiety in workplaces, schools, and colleges. So how did mindfulness become a part of Parker? It was introduced right here at The Scribe, by Lorraine Hobbs, the mother of a graduated Scriber. Hobbs, a Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) teacher at the UCSD Center for Mindfulness, led individualized sessions with staff members to reduce the pressure and stress of publishing the magazine and meeting deadlines; her practices have spread throughout Parker in the years since. One such program is a six week MBSR program for freshmen during Health & Fitness class. The goal of this program is to teach not only mindfulness, but integrate higher brain function by training the mind to focus. The curriculum of this course aims at changing the mindset of students at Parker, which Hobbs calls the transition between “the think-

ing mind and the sensing mind”. The thinking mindset is what you are in most of the time, remembering the past and planning for the future. Mindfulness changes this, as it stimulates the brain to transition into the sensing mind. By using the core values of mindfulness, one uses their senses of touch, hearing, sight, and smell, to analyze the present moment. According to Hobbs, “The result is a more attentive, concentrated, and resilient student.” Sophomore David Bluhm, looking back at the freshmen program said, “I felt that the mindfulness program was a good concept, but it was hard to focus on the present moment.” Many people respond to the program this way, and Hobbs agrees that it takes lots of practice to be able to sit and not let your mind wander into the future or past. That is the goal of this program. Other mindfulness programs exist at Parker or are currently being planned for the future. Head of the Upper School Mr. Paul Barsky, an avid practitioner of mindfulness, has been working to develop these programs. “Movement is being made in the direction of teaching the younger students of the Lower and Middle Schools,” says Barsky. Weekly Tuesday sessions are offered at lunch to those seeking to benefit from Mrs. Hobb’s wisdom. Barsky has also planned to collaborate with the UCSD Center for Mindfulness to sponsor a stress reduction conference for teachers on our campus. Early ideas of a mindfulness retreat for Parker students interested in pursuing more meditation techniques are being talked about by administrators, too. These events mark the beginning of a more mindful school year and more years to come. But for now, just stay in the present, and you’ll be mindful enough.

W H A T EXA C T LY I S M I N DF U L N E S S ? Mindfulness is the practice of observing the present moment: observing describes the practice perfectly. You simply observe the here and now, wherever you are, whether pleasant or unpleasant, and feel at peace with it. An easy way to see it, as Vietnamese Buddhist Master Thich Nhat Hanh says, is to acknowledge that “Peace is present right here and now, in ourselves and in everything we do or see.” By being mindful, we can sit down, stop thinking about the sorrows of the past or the worries of the future, and enter the present moment. It is at the present moment that we can find happiness.

T W O W AY S T O E N J OY A M I N DF U L M O M E N T : Close your eyes, block out the chaos, and focus on nothing but breathing in and out. Close your eyes, and focus on counting the first 10 sounds you hear. (Barsky’s favorite)

november 2012 THE SCRIBE

take a bow A MAN WITH A MISSION AND A MELODY

A MAN WITH A MISSION AND A MELODY

ARTICLE BY JAKE SIEGLER PHOTO BY OLIVIA FIDLER

The aged halls are nearly empty. The floors are etched with wheelchair marks, a loose floorboard sticking out of the otherwise flat ground. The warm summer light shines into the bayfront Potiker Center in Downtown San Diego, as the bustling roar of traffic and chaos echoes outside. A door opens; a young man enters the building. Violin in hand, Jesus Jimenez walks slowly into a room filled with dozens of lowincome elderly residents. He sits down quietly on a wooden stool set for him in the center of a homemade stage. The murmurs cease, all eyes turn to face the musical prodigy.

november 2012 THE SCRIBE

“I’ve always played music. I used to think it was just for my enjoyment, but I now know it’s about making other people happy. ” says Jimenez. Realizing his gift at a young age, Jimenez chose to spend his summer sharing it with people around him, perhaps people who needed it the most. Jimenez’s summer project began after talking to Upper-School social studies teacher Philip Trotter late in his junior year regarding community service opportunities; the two settled on a project involving music for the elderly. Over this past summer, Jimenez played at several el-

derly homes, whose residents were a combination of disabled and retirees. The audiences, which included up to 100 seniors, were ecstatic to listen to Jimenez’s music. Since age five, the high school senior has immersed himself in the world of music; name an instrument and he can play it. “I’ve always thought Jesus was born with a violin in his hand. It’s crazy, I just sit back and let him do his thing. Every now and then I get to correct him,” says Lisa Roudebush, Jesus’s violin teacher. A few months ago, Jimenez picked up a mandolin for the first time and played it as if he had been practicing for years. His performance career started with weekly trips to the local library with his mother after hearing his first sample of classical music. While much of our generation grew up listening to vulgar pop hits, Jesus loved classical music. He has performed in events with the San Diego Symphony, but remains incredibly humble for such a talented 17 year-old. “It was so awesome,” he says of his summer project. “They would set up my own little stage in these small, crowded rooms. I felt so comfortable playing for them.” Asked about specific encounters with the residents that stuck in his mind, Jimenez says, “There was this old man who had just lost his wife. He asked me to play Amazing Grace with him. We sat there together just playing music. He told me this was the happiest he’d been in a while.” In a place like the Potiker Center, the residents live lives of routine. Each hour planned out, each meal pre-determined, there is little spontaneity, little surprise. But the sheer excitement of something such as a violin performance makes their week. Yes, the halls are still bare, the floors still stained and worn, but within the walls of a small room filled with dozens of residents, there is something beautiful. There is music, and the power that it holds.

TWO STUDENTS’ INTERNATIONAL COMMUTES ARTICLE BY BRIANNA GOLDBERG PHOTO BY CAROLINA MARTÍNEZ

How long does it take you to get to school in the morning? In a Scribe survey, 86 out of 139 students said they get to school in 15 minutes, but it takes Alfonso Morera and Carolina Martínez that time just to get to the Mexico-United States border. Sophomore Alfonso Morera started his first year at Parker in September. Morera travels from Tijuana to school every day. Departing his house at 6:15 a.m., Morera leaves his two siblings to study in a middle school in Mexico. Morera takes an hour and twenty minute drive to school, which involves stopping at the border checkpoint. Leaving Tijuana this early is imperative to ensure a traffic-free drive. Choosing to go to school in America was not a difficult decision for Morera and his family because private high school in Mexico is not cheap. Also, Morera remarks that schools in Mexico don’t have all the privileges that Parker or other schools in America have. Morera says, “This is a regular school. In Mexico, there is no lawn, computer lab, or air conditioning in the classrooms.” Morera is also considering attending college in the United States for soccer or kayaking, which he practices on the

Carolina Martínez took this picture when she was entering Tijuana on her way home.

weekends in Tijuana. Morera and other high school students have started the year off with hard work and lots of laughs. “Well, it’s been a sacrifice, but so far I think it has been worth it...I am happy,” Morera says. Crossing the border to get to school will be Morera’s daily routine for the remainder of his high school career. Although this sounds like the perfect alternative, there are some downsides to going to school in America for long-distance commuters. Sporting events, dances, and extra-curricular activities are a stretch for students who live extreme distances from school. Senior Carolina Martínez traveled from Tijuana to Parker every day from 8th grade to her junior year of high school. Martínez has lived in Tijuana her entire life, but now she and her family rent an apartment in San Diego so they can stay during weekdays. Martínez says, “My daily routine became a lot more rigorous when I began attending Francis Parker. Commuting from Tijuana to school was always a challenge, so the apartment has definitely helped a lot with my stress levels.” Martínez’s parents decided to send her to Francis Parker because the

“level of education at Parker is extraordinary.” She also describes the high schools in Mexico as high-level schools, but in Mexico, there are few choices for arts and electives. At Parker, students have more freedom to choose courses and different class levels. Martínez has gone through many hardships from arriving at school every day to the struggles of English being her second language. But now all the time and hard work have paid off because Martínez is in her last year of high school, the most rewarding and “challenging” year of all. Martínez plans on attending college next year in the U.S. and majoring in international business. Morera and Martínez have dedicated their mornings and afternoons to the long commutes across the border to and from Tijuana. While Martínez leaves school to go to her weekday residence, her real home still lingers in the back of her mind. For Morera, the only way to catch up on sleep after a long day at school is to sleep on the drive home. After completing homework late at night, he finally gets to go to sleep. And then early the next morning, the taxing cycle begins again.

november 2012 THE SCRIBE

MR. PAUL ESCH

ARTICLE AND PHOTOS BY KATIE KREITZER

It’s 9 a.m. on a should-besummer September morning, and two far-too-fabulous-for-a-soccerfield men are trudging through the dewy grass, Starbucks cups and dog leashes in hand. They set up their precisely folded lawn chairs and sit down among the audience of soccer moms and competitive dads, but they are neither: they are the supportive “uncles” of a six-year-old named Jake Danzo, son of English teacher and sophomore dean Ms. Nancy Anderson. Point Loma’s Robb Field is just a small part of their Saturday. Stanley Gambucci, Claire Bryan and I met up with AP Calculus teacher and eleventh-grade dean Mr. Paul

november 2012 THE SCRIBE

Esch and his husband, Mr. Pete Storniolo, towards the end of the riveting soccer match, equipped with a hearty delivery of drinks for the gang: two sugar-free cinnamon dolce lattes for the duo, a nonfat latte for Anderson, and an obscure blend for social studies teacher Mr. Eric Taylor, who also sat on the sidelines to watch his sons Bo and Dylan play. After fearless victories by the elementary school studs ensued, the Parker gang broke up, and we were left to spend the rest of the day with Esch, Storniolo, and the two more-to-love dogs at their feet, exploring the common curiosities that every student has about the secret double lives of their teachers.

But apparently this isn’t the way Esch spends every Saturday: “We shouldn’t be awake right now. Love the kid, but this isn’t okay. I need my beauty rest.” According to him, he and his husband spend the majority of their precious weekend mornings vegetating in bed with their two dachshunds, Rosie and Ellie. But weekends aren’t the only time these two get to be together: Storniolo has recently joined the Parker family as a substitute teacher. “I love being on campus and I love the students I get to teach, but they’re so messy,” Storniolo says. “All the kids in ceramics this week told me I was borderline compulsive because I was making them

ft clean up after themselves. Their poor mothers! This one kid was like ‘Who cleans the sink?’ and I was like, ‘Exactly.’” When we pulled out our cameras to snap some photos of the duo we were abruptly reprimanded by Esch: “Have you been Instagramming me? I wanna get paid for that! I’m in the know. I’m hip to what you young kids are doing these days, you young whipper-snappers.” We chugged along until the 5 freeway until we reached their home, an impeccably decorated 1904 Craftsman house with almost as much character as its inhabitants. After observing everything from a pool and a jacuzzi to a soda machine and an overwhelming amount of posh, untouchable bedrooms, we were ready to stay forever. We were put on breakfast duty and, accompanied by the sound of Lana Del Rey through the stereo, helped Esch make his favorite oatmeal pancakes. The mathematical genius struggled slightly with his geometry skills in relation to the use of measuring cups but completed the culinary process with confidence: “I hope I did this right.” They shared their favorite breakfast with us: jam, agave greek yogurt, nectarines, and trendy maple syrup piled on fresh pancakes. And when the topic of their neighborhood came up, we asked about their neighbors. There wasn’t too much to say. “The people across the street seem nice,” Esch said. “But we still don’t invite them over.” However,

his husband raved about the trendy neighborhood: “There are a lot of younger hipster people around here. One time, we even had a huge block party with a bunch of DJ’s and stuff.” We assume they enjoyed the music, so long as the DJ left Taylor Swift out of the mix. According to Esch: “That’s not the country genre; that’s the whining genre.” After breakfast was over, we explored the home and discovered a woodshop downstairs. “I’ve been making Jewish caskets,” Storniolo said. “Our nephew works for a Jewish mortuary and he asked me to make them, so I made a few and the job kind of stuck.” We spent the majority of the afternoon by the pool watching Ellie the swimming dog play aquatic fetch, enjoying homemade “Red Bull” soda courtesy of Esch, and interrogating the man about his life: “First the earth cooled, then pterodactyls roamed the earth and then I was born... I graduated from college in 1984 went to flight school, graduated in ’85, was a pilot for seven years then got my teaching credential and taught at Uni for 13 years.” While at Uni, he received his master’s degree from UCSD and began teaching at Parker soon after. It was then that students received a teacher who would consistently laugh at all of our jokes: “Otherwise, why be a teacher?” But there is much more to Esch than a teacher and an eleventh-grade dean. As we piled in his Eurovan and took a trip to the War Memorial Building in Balboa Park, we learned about his connection to the site based

on his naval experiences in the air, on the water, and under the sea: “I spent around 45 days in a submarine... We went down to the Bahamas, and we ran tests in this range where airplanes would fly over us and try to get a kill. And we would try to dodge their torpedos. I was the driver. It’s just like flying an airplane but underwater. Before we went underwater, they would put a string from wall to wall and then when we went underwater, the string had slack in it because the water pressure compresses the walls! The submarine even had a screen door in it... kidding.” But we hadn’t traveled to the memorial to reminisce on old experiences; we ended up there after getting lost on our way to an LGBTQ barbeque Esch was asked to attend as the advisor of Parker’s Gay-Straight Alliance. On our way to the outing, Esch and Storniolo joked back and forth, sharing entertaining anecdotes about their lives with us. We pulled up to the barbeque, where Esch shook many hands, Stroniolo did some cartwheels, and a brisk escape was made. When three o’clock came around, we weren’t ready to go. It was a day of laughs, a day of one-liners, and a day we will not soon forget. But the Mr. Esch we spent our Saturday with is no different than the man at Francis Parker School. His classroom is filled with hysterical stories, ample sarcasm, and the same coziness found within the walls of his home. In need of calculus help, constructive criticism, or a good laugh? Mr. Esch is but a hallway away.

november 2012 THE SCRIBE

CLASS OF 2012 GRADS GIVE THEIR TAKE ON THE COLLEGE PROCESS

ARTICLE BY KASEY HUTCHESON

Ask a freshman what January 1st means to them, and they’ll probably mention New Year’s Day; ask a senior, and the dreaded deadline for college apps will be the only thing on his or her mind. As much as no one wants to talk about it, and as much as the words “college application” can strike fear into the hearts of those of us wishing to get into that dream school, every conversation during the fall of senior year somehow ends up being about who’s applying where early, who’s getting in, and who’s not. Regardless of how amazing Parker’s College Counseling Department is and how prepared Parker seniors are for the inevitable, the college application process is tedious and, at points, confusing. Unfortunately, it’s also necessary. Luckily for us, members of Parker’s outstanding Class of 2012 have advice for not only this year’s seniors, but anyone (meaning everyone) at Parker who is starting to think about the application process.

ON BEING OPTIMISTIC: N I C OLE A Q U I N O ( U C LA ) : “The college process is insane, but take it as an opportunity to learn about yourself. I cannot think of a better time for self-discovery than right before you embark on the crazy adventure known as college. Do your best on those applications and the rest will take care of itself.”

KARA J O N E S (SMU): “Don’t spend the first half of senior year being bitter and stressed out because honestly, senior year went by so fast. Remember that after graduation everything changes, so you might as well live it up. No matter how stressful classes might become and no matter how many applications are due, make time for them, because you’ll soon realize how important your friends and family actually are.”

SAM MOJABI ( S T . A N DRE W ’ S ) : “I did the typical Parker thing and applied to all the top schools, but I’m so thankful that I was rejected from some of them. It sounds ridiculous to say, but colleges know whether or not you would be happy there. Pick a school where you can live for four years—not just live, but make friends, and feel comfortable enough to be yourself. Also, try to see the school and stay overnight there if you can. Know what you are getting yourself into.”

november 2012 THE SCRIBE

ON CHOOSING A SCHOOL: FO S T ER C OLLI N S ( U N IVER S I T Y OF P E N N S YLVA N IA ) : “Just know that things will work out. As far as picking schools, it would be really hard to find a place where you will be miserable, and if that is going to be a problem with a certain school, you will know immediately. 90% of the schools that you visit will seem just fine and just like the rest, but when you get to the 10% that don’t work for you, you will find yourself making excuses for why you don’t like it as much as the others. Just cross it off the list! Chances are that there are better places for you, and you could do with one less app. When you are on campus, talk to both current students and other prospectives about their experiences with this school and other similar ones that you are interested in. As cheesy as it sounds, you want to meet other people who are excited to be at said school and who want to tell you how great it is. If all the people you talk to aren’t very talkative and excited about the school, you should be suspicious.”

ON BEING EFFICIENT: DA N N I GARD N ER ( RI C E U N IVER S I T Y ) : “Start your apps early and plan your time accordingly. Also, try to write essays that can fit under multiple topics so you don’t have to write a new essay for every application.”

DAVID LAR S O N (MIT): “Fully demonstrate interest in every place [to which] you apply, and start doing so early. If you start demonstrating interest after early decisions are out, it gives the impression that the schools are second choices. It’s extremely important to treat each school as if it were your top choice.” GLE N N O N W A T ER S ( VILLA N OVA ) : “The college application process is basically like taking another class; you need to do something with it every night. Honestly, apply to schools that fit you, that you want to attend, and that you can get into. And don’t lose yourself in your essays. Don’t make an essay about the one time you helped at a soup kitchen if you are an amazing basketball player. Have fun with it, you want your essay to stand out. Don’t sell yourself short, colleges are looking for all kinds of students. And please, don’t walk around saying you won’t get into college. People with far worse resumes and grades have gotten in, and you will be far less annoying to everyone.”

ON MAKING A COLLEGE LIST: D U N C A N T O M LI N ( YALE U N IVER S I T Y ) : “After visiting my first set of colleges on the East Coast, I bought a bunch of books analyzing those colleges and found other schools that might be similar to the ones I liked most. You should try and figure out what particular characteristics you like about each college and try to find new examples of other colleges that have those same characteristics. For example, I liked Williams’ distribution requirements, which pushed me to consider UChicago and Yale more seriously since they had similar academic programs. By looking at these books, and after visiting a few more schools, I had my list of schools to which I would apply.”

FINAL THOUGHTS: NICK BOSSE ( D U KE U N IVER S I T Y ) : “When applying to college, it’s not always about the name of the school. If you visit a school and something is not right about it, then don’t apply. Go somewhere that makes you happy. It really surprised me how hard college is; keep all of your notes and papers from high school because you will never know when you may need them again. Also, AP exams are important. Not only can they get you college credit, but they also force you to reflect on the material one last time before you use it in the fall.”

S LOA N C H RI S T O P H ER ( U VA ) : “There is a huge emphasis coming from Parker to go to the best school that you can get into, and to some extent, that isn’t such a bad thing. However, choosing a school solely because it has a great reputation is a bad thing. Pay attention to what each college is known for, as it’s likely that there will be a large population of this stereotype. Ask yourself if you want to be around those kind of people for the next four years; you should try and surround yourself with people you know you’ll get along with.”

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the scribe 2012-13

A LOOK INTO THE NEW CRAZE ARTICLE BY CLAIRE KIM

You’re sitting around and the boring, monotonous routine of day-to-day life has caught up with you. You open your browser to YouTube, praying that this website will save you from this never-ending abyss of a dull and colorless lunch period. Tired of cat videos, tired of children biting fingers, tired of kids coming back from the dentist, you are about to give up on your quest, when something catches your eye: “Gangnam Style” by Psy. In a recent Scribe survey, while only 57% of students claimed to know what K-pop was, a surprising 87% of students claimed to know “Gangnam Style.” This statistic shows the popularity of “Gangnam Style,” but does it indicate the growing knowledge of K-pop by the average American teen? This song has been ranked number 1 on iTunes in 30 countries and has ranked number 2 on the U.S. Billboard charts. For many students, their first encounter with the music video is similar to that of sophomore Pedro Gallardo, who decided to watch the video after seeing it on the iTunes charts, or to that of junior Claire Klein, who first watched a parody of this video on a different YouTuber’s account that

november 2012 THE SCRIBE

Photo courtesy of Youtube.com A scene of Psy in his music video, “Gangnam Style”

led her to the original. Whether it has deeply affected people or just given them a laugh, “Gangnam Style” is a viral video that spreads the notions of K-pop and is a perfect example of how powerful the Internet really is. Psy, through his outrageous video and signature dance moves, has made the once-unknown term K-pop a common part of daily conversation. Not only has his video reached over 330 million views on YouTube, but the overnight sensation has become a common face in American pop culture, making appearances on Ellen, the VMAs, NBC, and more. But the fans of K-pop know that Psy wasn’t the first Korean or Asian artist to perform and create a fan base abroad. Starting in the past decade Asian performers such as Rain, Wonder Girls, and Boa began to make appearances in America. As K-pop begins to create a larger and more dedicated fanbase abroad, there is also a population of people who are against the proliferation of this foreign music. Many people are immediately put off by the language that they can’t understand, the unfamiliar faces, or even the clothing and

gestures that are so different from their country’s norms. When asked about the permanence of K-pop in American pop culture, senior Ellie Molise says, “I think it is a combination of both being a one-hit wonder, and becoming a continuous trend. K-pop is definitely in mainstream media now, and I think it has a lot to do with Gangnam Style.” This spread of K-pop does more than let others have a listen to new music; it is a gateway to different cultures and is no different from the spread of cuisines, languages, and ideas. Especially in this new era of growing technology, one meme, photo, video, or piece of writing can spread across the world in an instant. Although people’s opinions as to whether this spread of new cultures through the Internet is good or bad differs significantly, this change is here to stay. And while this power grows to even more remote parts of the world, it is necessary to harness and use this to our advantage. The spread of cultures and ideas can positively affect media in America, and “Gangnam Style” might just be the tip of the iceberg.

The how-to on spicing up your favorite restaurant salads at school Article and photographs by charlotte dick-godfrey and caroline merkin

You walk into the Parker Café, check out the menu and, respectful of your pre-homecoming waistline, pass up the grilled cheese and head to the salad bar. But this choice shouldn’t just be a back-up plan; our cafeteria salads are just as delectable as you make them, and salads like those from Urbane, Tender Greens, and Zpizza aren’t so difficult to duplicate. “If they took a little inspiration from the other restaurant’s salads I would be so much happier and would be eating them every day,” says freshman Carlos Ezquerro, a true fanatic of the salad options at school. Take a look at how easy it is to make these salads in the Parker Café.

URBANE’s HOUSE SALAD

ZPIZZA’s APPLE FRESCO SALAD

T ender greens ’ M editerranean S alad

S C hoolified

This appetizing salad contains mixed greens, feta cheese, mandarin oranges, and balsamic dressing. Grab a plate, fill it with mixed greens, pick the ripest tangerine that you can find from the fruit bar, sprinkle some cheese of your choice on top, and drizzle your creation with some balsamic vinaigrette.

Even though zpizza is known for its superb pizza and sandwiches, its Apple Fresco Salad is worthy too. Ingredients include zesty mixed greens, tart dried cranberries, juicy apples, soft goat cheese, crunchy toasted almonds, and tangy balsamic vinaigrette. It’s a the perfect combination of sweet and sour!

A popular salad from Tender Greens is the Mediterranean Spinach Salad. The salad consists of spinach, though mixed greens can be used as a substitute, cucumber, olives, tomatoes, green peppers, lemon oregano dressing, and feta cheese, though cheddar cheese is a great alternative. If you’re a real feta fan, bring it in a to-go box to put on your salad.

november 2012 THE SCRIBE

HOW TELEVISION FAMILIES HAVE GROWN TO MIRROR THEIR AUDIENCE

ARTICLE BY CIAN LAVIN AND OLIVIA FIDLER ARTWORK BY KATIE KREITZER

Trudging through the doorway, you smell green-bean casserole and pecan pie wafting in from the kitchen- a long day at work is about to pay off. Your mouth waters and you slump into a chair at the dinner table, the sound of your wife’s voice echoes throughout the home, the soundwaves greeting your arrival. Tiny footsteps clamber down the stairs as twin girls zoom-in from their bedrooms and into your arms. Finally, your picturesque family sits down for a meal perfectly embodying the lifestyle of the typical 50’s American family. But fast forward 60 years and the entire situation is completely rearranged.

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Today, wives are lawyers, police officers, and firefighters, supporting their families and even their husbands. Additionally, today’s population for the most part has accepted,even embraced ethnically diverse families and families with two moms or dads, ideas once inconceivable. Much of this new open-minded nature is due to popular shows like Glee, Modern Family, and The New Normal. By helping to integrate different ethnicities and sexualities into many of today’s programs, modern pop-culture has helped our society embrace this idea of the nontraditional family.

THE 50’s: IN THE W H I T E DIRE C T IO N Stereotyping the all-white American family, this timespan in television represents an all-time high in America’s conservative culture. Characters like angel of the house, mother Lucy and supporter of the family, father Ricky Ricardo from I Love Lucy, were two of many 50’s television characters who represented the all-white standard of the American family. Gender roles in each of these shows rarely varied, loving stay-at-home wives hardly strayed from the kitchen and husbands were the sole providers of the family. However, American his-

tory teacher Mr. Eric Taylor, says that, in truth, this type of family may not have been the societal norm: “A lot of sitcoms in the 50s may have portrayed a world that may not have actually existed,” Taylor says. He explains how this type of family was actually fairly uncommon during a time where the majority of the population lived in inner-city areas away from suburban middle class life. During the Cold War period the U.S. may have stretched the truth of television to use it as a form of propaganda against Russia. “You’re going through this crazy time period when Russia is supposed to be everything that the United States isn’t,” Taylor says. “So if you produce happy, safe, affluent people on your television screen, then you show to the rest of the world what we’re hoping to reach in the United States.” For this reason, the culture became a way to psych-out U.S. opposition and present America as a nation for the powerful. But it wasn’t long until television finally began reflecting the truth of American society.

THE 60’s: A NEW M U L T I C OLOR After the 50’s came a period of reform and civil rights movements such as the feminist movement, the african-american rights movement, the LGBT movement, and several other pushes for national equality. The 70’s then marked the beginning of a new era with new opportunities for many walks of life, especially racial minorities. The 70’s provided a time where finally, television’s most beloved actors were not just the white and wealthy, and where ethnically diverse families finally gained more of a prominence in American culture. The first milestone of this decade of integration was the entrance of television’s first black family: it wasn’t until Good Times with little JJ Walker in 1974 that the first black family finally joined the American television world. Similar shows like What’s Happening and The Jeffersons helped show the inner workings of black families at that

time, something most middle-class whites had no real exposure to and often no interest in.

T H E 7 0 ’ s : GE T T I N G RA C Y This controversial period in American television also provided the surfacing of many argumentative ideas into popular culture. Striking themes such as poverty, rape, drinking and drugs, were finally exposed to viewers nationwide. All in the Family, a story about a white family in Queens, NY, integrated many extreme themes of society and forever changed the standard of the typical TV family. Rather than your average sitcom where the family’s only troubles are struggles at work or rebellious teenagers, All in the Family presented more striking situations such as the rape of daughter and college student, Gloria. A strong feminist, Gloria also presented viewers with new ideas for women’s rights, while the large generational gap between her conservative, racist father and young hippie husband showed the world how a more open minded and integrated age group was forming. The show also raised awareness about many controversies that still affect our modern world, such as women’s liberation and equal pay, rape, homosexuality, abortion, war, and racism.

T H E 9 0 ’ s : C LO S E T C H ARA C T ER S One of the most well known adultcartoon series of all time also turns out to be home to one of television’s most controversial secrets. Family Guy, possibly television’s most racy cartoon, has explored many controversies and featured some of television’s most offensive jokes; additionally this show debuted one of the first characters of a different sexuality. Though it is known to few, the creator’s of the hit show actually aimed to portray Stewie, the show’s intelligent infant, as a homosexual male. The show’s creator, Seth MacFarlane publicly stated, “We decided to keep it vague... [but] ulti-

mately Stewie will be gay or a very unhappy repressed heterosexual. It also explains why he’s so hellbent on killing his mother, Lois and taking over the world” Although the majority of viewers didn’t know, Family Guy creators actually set the foundation for the future integration of homosexuals into popular television.

T ODAY : T H E M ODER N FA M ILY Over time, each of these mentioned shows combined their contributions to the diversity of television to create the ethnically and sexually integrated hit ABC comedy Modern Family. The show features an assortment of characters from the family’s two gay uncles to their young Latina step-grandmother. The show helps viewers rediscover the variety found in today’s average American family and helps push our nation to accept this new household. The show is not only completely open about the diversity of its cast, but also proves to entertain all assortments of audiences. Even presidential candidate and open opposer of gay marriage Mitt Romney describes himself as a devoted fan of the show. Despite his family’s conservative, Mormon beliefs, both Romney and his wife and children embrace the show’s male couple by sitting down together on a weekly basis to enjoy the show. The show not only represents the full 180 degree change in family values over the past half-century but also proves to the world that all types of families can open their hearts to people of any sexual orientation or ethnic background. You are a stay at home dad, you are one of two dedicated fathers of two adopted African twin.Today, you are the city’s finest cop, mother of three, you provide for the family. You are anyone you want to be. The television turns on in the living room, a show unlike anything you’d seen fills the screen. Silently you watch, ready for the future that the screen holds, and the influence it will have in the future.

november 2012 THE SCRIBE

FALLIN’ INTO FALL WITH SOME HAND-PICKED GROOVES ARTICLE BY OLIVIA FIDLER

CheeR leader

Your Arms Around Me

I ’ m G e tt i n g Ready

T AKE M E OVER

Grizzly Bear

Jens Lekman

Michael Kiwanuka

1957

RUIN

Best Friend

same love

C o m e On D o wn i n th e V a l l e y E i l e e n

Cat Power

Dent May

Chan Marshall, or Cat Power, creates a mad mix of blues, pop, and punk in her unconventional album Sun. The song “Ruin” is mysterious and interesting, and her unique voice is hypnotic and keeps the whole song flowing.

As quirky and weird as Dent May is, his song “Best Friend” fuses physcadelic pop with funk and is perfect for any dance break after a Parker-load’s worth of homework. Check out his album Dent May and His Magnificent Ukelele for (a little more) conventional, folksy, and simple jams.

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Macklemore and Ryan Lewis We’ve all heard Macklemore’s party anthem, “And We Danced,” but most of us probably haven’t heard his serious side. Songs like “Same Love” and “Wings” portray real-world issues and dilemmas like gay rights, drug abuse, and consumerism. Check out this breathtaking ballad and you’ll definitey appreciate the music master who is Macklemore.

Milo Greene

Cut Copy

The Head And The Heart

Dexy’s Midnight Runners

The Head And The Heart are known for their cozy, natural, authentic, and charming melodies, and this song is definitely the epitome of that. “Down in the Valley” sends you back to tired, OldWestern times with a contemporary spin.

This throwback jam, featured in this September’s The Perks of Being a Wallflower film gets everybody going. Feel free to pull a John Hughes movie moment and sing your heart out with a hairbrush, because this song will definitely give you that urge.

A LOCAL FOOD TRUCK GATHERING AT SMITTY’S AUTO SHOP

STORY BY Dutra Brown and Matt Gluck Groggy’s Food Truck

On any average night, Smitty’s Auto Shop is your typical, run-of-the-mill automotive repair shop. However, every Tuesday night starting at 6:00 p.m., this auto shop comes alive as it plays host to Tasty Truck Tuesday’s, a gathering of many of the best food trucks in San Diego—even more than came to our school during the centennial celebration. One Tuesday night, The Scribe showed up to sample the delicious cuisine; we sat right down on the sidewalk, listened to a live band, and ate some incredible food prepared in everyday street trucks. What could possibly be a better way to spend a Tuesday night?

A S IA N P ER S U A S IO N With the Korean BBQ Burrito as their signature dish, the Asian Persuasion food truck gives a twist to traditional Korean food. The massive, hearty burrito was quite satisfying, filled with bulgogi beef, asian slaw, rice, and their secret sauce—what would any food truck be without a secret sauce? The burrito was well worth every penny. Another popular option is the Bangkok sliders served with another specialty, their homemade wonton chips.

website: asianpersuasionftc.com twitter: @asianfoodtruck

N E W YORK O N RYE Famous for their grilled Reuben sandwich on— you guessed it—rye bread, New York on Rye delivers a sandwich that one could expect to find in the heart of Times Square. Loaded with authentic mustard and served on the classic bread, the Reuben can be ordered with pastrami, corned beef, or turkey. This truck also offers a variety of other sandwiches, as well as authentic Coney Island Knishes that are to die for.

website: newyorkonrye.com twitter: @NewYorkonRye

B U RRI T O S , TACOS, GROGGY ’ S In addition to all these delectable options available every Tuesday night, there is also a fantastic food truck right near school. Labeled with the simple sign “Burritos, Tacos, Tortas,” this Mexican food truck serves all these standards and more. After a long morning at school, their carne asada tacos definitely hit the spot, and for only a buck fifty, they simply can’t be beat. Located in the parking lot of Joe’s 99¢ on Linda Vista Road, this truck is definitely worth a stop.

website: roaminghunger.com/groggys twitter: @FollowGroggys

Y T OR T A S Groggy’s bills itself as the official home of the Fat Sandwich, and after sampling one of their famous subs, The Scribe couldn’t agree more. Loaded with steak, chicken tenders, mozzarella sticks, french fries, and smothered in honey mustard, the Fat Batman was almost more sandwich than we could eat. Their signature Fat Sandwich is even fatter; the Ron Burgundy is filled with cheesesteak, mozzarella sticks, fries, lettuce, tomato, onions, and Groggy sauce, and is sure to make any hungry mouth water.

november 2012 THE SCRIBE

WHERE TO EAT, WHERE TO STUDY, WHAT TO DO ARTICLE AND PHOTOS BY SEAN WATERS

Point Loma has it all: beautiful views, incredible hikes, great restaurants, quaint places to study, and so much more. Discovered in 1542 by the Portuguese explorer Juan RodrĂguez Cabrillo, this rich cultural hotspot and port town is home to traditional events like the Festa Parade (May 25th-27th), but it is far more than just traditional; with breathtaking views of our modern skyline and trendy spots on every corner, Point Loma has become the perfect fusion of San Diegoâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s past and present. Check out our favorite PL finds with star ratings based on a Scribe survey of 93 students:

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THE LIVING ROOM

CON PANE

The Living Room, shown in pictures 3 and 4, is a relaxing, quirky place with beatup sofas and a homey setup perfect for a comfortable study situation. Its delicious housemade coffees and teas perfectly accompany any essay or paper that needs to be written. Study space is often limited, but when the sun shines through the trees and into the upstairs windows, nowhere could be a more perfect place to sit and think. 1018 Rosecrans Street 858-222-6852 Hours: Mon-Thu 11:30am-9pm Fri-Sat 11:30am-10pm Sun 10am-9pm

Con Pane, featured in picture 2, is a delicious bakery located in beautiful Liberty Station. Its outdoor dining and refined decor allow for a fun place to grab a coffee and choose from a wide variety of homemade breads, pastries, and sandwiches. The kitchen is visible to customers, which adds to the exciting hustle and bustle of the bakery. 2750 Dewey Rd, Ste 105, 619-224-4344 Hours: Mon-Tue, Thu-Fri 7 am - 6 pm Sat 8am - 6pm Sun 8am - 4pm

JIMMY’S FAMOUS

CABRILLO NAT. MONUMENT

THE PL LIBRARY

SUNSET CLIFFS

This perfectly-located new restaurant, shown in pictures 1 and 5, sits right on Shelter Island and blends incredible food with views of the bay. Known for their hearty, handcrafted burgers, Jimmy’s is a fun, relaxing place to take anyone, from family and friends to a date. Its trendy interior features raw wood, comfortable living room furniture, and neat light fixtures that will make this place your new favorite. 4990 North Harbor Drive, 619-226-2103 Hours: Mon-Fri 6am - 12 am Sat-Sun 7 am - 12 am

This cultural landmark, the location where Cabrillo first discovered San Diego, offers a lighthouse, stunning views, and trails to run or bike on. Shown in pictuere 6, it is a great place for those who are searching for a fun place to exercise and feel empowered while doing it. The views are picturesque, and for only $5 for admissions per car, you can take photos, see tide pools, and look out at Mexico, Coronado, and downtown all at once. Hours: Mon-Sun 9am–5pm

This nautical-themed library, shown in pictures 7 and 9, fits right in to the port town and features a huge telescope that looks out at the landscape. It also has study rooms, computer labs, free wifi, and nice desks to work at. It’s a great place to hunker down and get going on some tasks that need to be completed. And if you get tired and need a sweet treat, stop by Christy’s Donuts right across the street to reward yourself for a hard day’s work. 3701 Voltaire St. 619- 5311539 Hours: Tue-Wed 12:30pm - 8pm Thu-Fri 9:30am - 5:30pm Sat 9:30am - 2:30pm Sun 1pm - 5pm

At this beautiful setting, one can, legally, sit on a bench and look out at the rich ocean or, illegally, take part in jumping from the rocks into the deep blue. Shown in picture 8, Sunset Cliffs stretches on for blocks and is a great place to sit and watch the famous Point Loma fog roll in, have a picnic, or take photos before dances or for photo class. Hours: All day, every day

6 5

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the scribe 2012-13

INSIDE PARKER’S BIGGEST AND MOST UNDERRATED TEAM

The largest team on campus is not the football team. It’s not a sport played on a field or on a court, it doesn’t involve a ball, and there’s never been a pep rally held in its honor. Yet at 60 members, the cross country team is currently one of Parker’s most successful teams, although it wasn’t always this way. “Five years ago, we barely had enough runners to field a full-scoring varsity team,” says Parker coach of 16 years Mr. Matt Schellenberg. In 2009, the team had fewer than 20 members. Last year, the team was at 30 members. So how did cross country go from not even having a JV team to being a massive pack of people running up Via Las Cumbres? “It is not because everyone loves running,” Schellenberg explains. “Our growth is solely due to the caliber of kids that have been on the team over the past few years. Our 2011 team had great success and the team has talked up cross country this year. ” The 2011 team was indeed particularly outstanding with star runner Duncan Tomlin Class of 2012, who placed ninth in the state. It does seem that the outstanding performance of nine students at state last year attracted new members for the 2012 season, but doubling in size is still a considerably radical change. Mr. Kiernan Aiston, since 2009, attributes the growth to another factor. “The biggest reason is the group of kids that we draw,” Aiston explains. “That freshman class that I first started with has some of the nicest kids on cam-

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ARTICLE BY MICHELA RODRIGUEZ PHOTO BY MATT GLUCK

pus. That group, and the big junior group we have now, they’re smart and funny and well-liked and they got out there and told people, ‘Hey, you should run.’ That kind of started the groundswell.” The team has always prided itself on its closeness, and to keep this up, the team organized a summer retreat in Julian to integrate the new members with the old and to train in a fun and different environment. “At the retreat, we really got closer,” says senior Madison Gerace. Gerace is one of four captains this year and has been on the team since she was a freshman. “There were some freshmen who I’d never really talked to, and even some seniors, and now I say ‘hi’ to them in the halls.” There were certainly a lot of new freshmen to get to know. Of the 30 new members on the team, 16 of them are freshmen, the largest number the team has ever seen. “Something interesting is that there’s not that many freshmen boys who are doing football this year, and normally there’s a ton, but there’s a lot of freshmen boys, relative to years past, that are joining the cross country team,” points out junior Christina Clark. Clark is one of the seven varsity runners on the girls’ team and has been since her freshman year. “Right now over ten percent of the student population is on the team, which is incredible.” And the success isn’t slowing down. On October 20th, 2012, the varsity girls’ team placed second at the Mt.

Sac Invitational. The varsity boys’ team placed third. With bigger numbers and greater motivation, the team has set the bar much higher. “This year our goal is for both teams [boys’ and girls’] to go to state, for the girls to do some damage at state, and for the girls to win league,” says Clark. Despite their successes, however, some members of the team still feel unacknowledged by the Parker community. “No one really realizes how much we run unless you’re a close friend of a cross country runner. When we went to state last year, the school failed to recognize us,” says Gerace. Clark also agrees that there has been a lack of support from the student body for the sport, but remains optimistic: “I don’t know of any school where cross country is ‘the cool sport’ or the most popular,” she says. “I think if other teams had the record we had last year, or the record we’re trying to achieve this year, we would get more recognition, but I think we’re on our way toward that.” Coach Aiston is very candid when explaining the situation. “Let’s face it, it’s not the most exciting. I have a great time watching our runners run, but the reality is it’s not a contact sport. So the glory in it is a personal glory and I think that’s kind of how it should be,” he says. It makes runners a lot more introspective and they’re doing it for their own reasons rather than some external motive. I like it how it is, and I don’t know that it could get more recognition.”

PARKER OPINIONS ON THE LANCE ARMSTRONG SCANDAL

ARTICLE BY MARK KLEIN

All eyes are glued to the turning of wheels. Hundreds of contestants flood the streets of France, their bodies skimming against each other as they begin the final stretch onto the ChampsÉlysées. But amidst a sea of multi-colored synthetic jerseys, one stands out in the crowd. Lance Armstrong has been an international icon for years, gracing magazine covers and the wrists of youth since his public battle with testicular cancer. For many, he was hope after the storm, proof that nothing can or should stop you from achieving your dreams. But in August, Lance Armstrong was found guilty of blood doping, stripped of his titles, and banned from the sport of cycling forever. Blood doping is used to increase one’s red blood cell count, improving oxygen circulation throughout the athletes body and dramatically improving performance. After unrelenting drug tests, Armstrong gave in and stopped fighting the allegations, but did his behavior affect the way he was viewed by loyal fans? Here’s what some Parker students had to say about the matter:

G ? O N R L I V E S T

“ “ “ “ “ “ “ “ “ “

Yes, he still won. He was subjected to a number of tests which were all negative and he was convicted based on testimonies from other players. This isn’t fair for Lance Armstrong.” Sophomore Matt Goff I think that after this, he is not an inspiration. How could he be if all those fans look up to him and he was involved in a drug scandal?” Sophomore Michael Baddour He’s a massive inspiration. To see someone go through a struggle like that and come out victorious is amazing.’’ Junior Chris PapaTHEOFANIS Despite what happened, when he dies, he will still be remembered for the things that he did accomplish, not for what was taken away from him.” Senior Maria Duong It takes a lot of strength to fight back from cancer, even though some of that strength may not have been his.” Junior Jesse Brookins I think he was an inspiration before, but since he lost his titles, to me, he has become an example of downfall.” Junior Michaela Dews I don’t think he used enhancements to win his titles. I feel sorry for him because he stood a calm ground throughout the whole process. This didn’t change my perspective of him because he is still fighting for a good cause: testicular cancer.” Junior Nathan Ho The fact that he battled cancer is one of the main reasons for why people think so highly of him. He’s a hero, not only for winning so many titles, but for overcoming adversity and just getting back on the bike.” Senior Alex Clark He is an inspiration to the teen population.” Freshman Ashna Aggarwal Although he lost his titles, he’s still left his mark as one of the greatest icons in sports.” Junior Arturo Alemany

november 2012 THE SCRIBE

A NEW CLUB’S EFFORT TO BRING BACK PARKER PRIDE ARTICLE BY MOLLY MORRISON PHOTO BY MRS. CATHY MORRISON

Parker is a tight-knit community, one that is hugely dependent on the support of each other. In the last four years, especially in the Upper School, school spirit has been tumbling down and the stands have been emptying.“When I first came to Parker [in the 2010-2011 school year], I realized there was basically no school spirit, especially coming from a huge school like [Cathedral],” says senior and captain of the volleyball team Alexis Salmons. “But in my junior year, especially during the volleyball season, I noticed a difference in people at games and it had a huge impact on our games, especially once we got into playoffs.” This sudden turn around in attendance is long overdue and is due in part to a new club on campus, Rallycom. Rallycom is a new club in the Upper School, inspired by Berkley’s identically named student section, and its mission statement is simple: “To promote school spirit and unity by providing the students with a student section for the students by the students.” Senior Alex Clark and Scribe editor Raphie Cantor are coleading this club, which has bloomed into a core group of dedicated students committed to supporting and

november 2012 THE SCRIBE

attending Parker events. “We didn’t know how well it would work. We just thought the idea had potential,” Clark says. “We’ve given them [the students] the idea of Rallycom and they’re running with it.” Rallycom’s big opening was the varsity football game against Imperial on September 28th, debuting a student section dressed in all white, with megaphones and vuvuzelas. Taking up one-quarter of the bleachers, the student section was completely filled, and nothing but loud. Both students and players felt its impact simply in the atmosphere it created. Sophomore Quintin Chambers was in the stands during the football game, and he thought the student section brought an energy he had never seen in his time at Parker: “I definitely think we impacted the game.” Chambers isn’t the only one. Sophomore Khaleel Jenkins, a wide receiver for the football team, says, “It brought great energy to the team throughout the game.” Senior Jake Glasser, also on the football team, agrees with Jenkins: “It’s great to know that our peers support us, even if the outcome wasn’t what we wanted.” Junior Annie Sager, a varsity cheer captain, also talks about the positive effect Rallycom had on the

game, saying, “Cheering at that game was so much better. The constant buzz of Rallycom’s energy made the parents feel more comfortable in joining in and united the entire crowd.” Sager says she can see Rallycom being successful down the road, even at other events, like at the winter basketball games. “The only hard part about having them there was that we were doing conflicting cheers a few times,” she says, “but the overall effect they had on the players and the crowd was amazing.” Clark says he hopes to get Rallycom involved with every sport, making the student section a regular and popular place for Parker students to participate, and not just while he is here. As a senior, Clark says underclassmen have already voiced their enthusiasm and intentions of leading Rallycom and the student section in future years. With the spark of a student section, inspired by Rallycom, a newfound sense of school spirit seems to be contagious around campus. “Rallycom is, in essence, about being a team,” he says. “We are open to everyone and support everyone.”

Gabe Harrington practices his spiral. Photo by Mrs. Cathy Morrison

AN INSIDE LOOK OF THE PARKER RECRUITING PROCESS

ARTICLE BY CHARLOTTE DICK-GODFREY

Bryce Fitzner takes down an opponent. Photo by Mrs. Cathy Morrison

Christine Buckley at the SDRC Boathouce. Photo by Mrs. Beth Buckley

It only happens once in a while: when a high school senior visits a certain college and feels that immediate inner excitement. Senior Christine Buckley is one of those few people who has experienced this. “As I walked onto the UCLA campus I knew I felt at home,” she says, “but then, I was shown the gym facilities, and I stood in awe as I watched all of these Olympians and extreme athletes training around me. I pictured myself in their shoes, and I immediately knew this was the college for me.” The first step that athletes must take in the process is narrowing down their options and determining where can they play. Senior Bryce Fitzner needed to decide if he even wanted to play football in college. When he was first presented with the idea of being recruited, he was “eager to start the process. It’s an opportunity to play at the college level.” Although he sounds very confident now, he says he was a little intimidated in the beginning. “Over the summers I would go to college camps, and it was very nerve-racking. Everyone that’s there is trying to get noticed and receive a scholarship,” says Fitzner. Senior Gabe Harrington, the varsity quarterback, has been tackling the recruitment process as well. Although he has been playing a little longer than Fitzner, Harrington also didn’t always have college football in mind. However, when the idea of being recruited crossed his path, he was “definitely excited about the process because playing college football would be a challenging but great experience.” Instead of keeping the recruitment process too formal, Harrington took a friendly approach. “Most athletes go through college camps to meet the coaches, but there are a lot of other athletes there, too, from all over the country, just like you, and it’s cool to meet them,” he says.

The process’s most important step is working with the coaches. Harrington describes what this step was like for him in detail: “College coaches kind of string you along and say whatever they want. They tell you that you are their number-one prospect, but you can never be sure of the validity of what they are saying.” Forming new relationships, going through the recruitment process, and being “number one” is easier said than done, and there are more students than just Gabe Harrington who have to go through the same uncertain process. For other sports, recruiting is completely different. “Instead of having the coaches show interest in you, you have to show interest in them first,” Buckley explained of rowing. “You have to email them telling them your rowing times and level of competitiveness. If you stand out, they will email you back. If you don’t, don’t expect a response. But, after that first encounter with the coaches and first gathering with the other athletes, it was a lot more relaxed because the coaches know exactly what they want.” According to college counseling, “athletes are selected by college coaches based on what they bring to the table.” In short, it’s not only the coaches’ job to select the athletes, the athletes need to take a risk and show colleges what they have to offer. This risk may be scary, but college counselor Mrs. Alex Santiago says, “Although college athletics is a big responsibility, for everything it takes, I think there are a lot of great rewards that come with it.” Buckley explains her reward of finding the perfect school for her: “When I got my first tour of UCLA, they took me through the athletic facilities and I saw all of the other athletes working so hard, I felt so at home,” she says. “I immediately knew this was the school for me.” november 2012 THE SCRIBE

FROM DRAFT DAY TO BRAGGING RIGHTS ARTICLE BY PATRICK BARBA AND JACK BENOIT PHOTO BY OLIVIA FIDLER

november 2012 THE SCRIBE

It’s a late Friday night in August and you approach your friend’s door with a laptop in one hand and Cheetos in the other. As your friend opens the door, you greet him with a faint smile knowing that in mere minutes you will be enemies. At 9 p.m. sharp everyone claims a spot on the couch, eyes glued to the computer screen; the smack talk begins immediately: “I was about to take him!” “Why would you do that!?” An hour later, after the draft ends, everyone breathes a sigh of relief because their seemingly perfect team is set. Week 1 could not come any faster. Fantasy football is a virtual competition in which a person drafts a mock football team made up of real NFL players. This is no Internet video game; you get points from how the players do in their respective games every Sunday. There can be anywhere from 4 to 20 teams in one league, and a league can consist of friends, peers, family, colleagues, or a group of random people. Each league has a manager who regulates all of the settings including the roster, draft settings, trades, and points. For each league, the manager selects a roster containing a specific number of quarterbacks, running backs, wide receivers, tight ends, kickers, defensive/special teams units (e.g., Chargers D/ST), and in some leagues, defensive players. But just like in any competition, the main purpose is to win. In order to clobber your opponent and claim bragging rights for an entire year, you must draft a successful team.

T H E S ELE C T IO N The draft is where teams are assembled and champions are made.

Whether it is an autopick draft, where the computer selects the players for each team, or a snake draft, where each person is present to make their desired selections, this is the most vital component to the fantasy football process. To make it fair, the snake draft goes from beginning to end and then back down from end to beginning. This assures that every player has an equal chance in fielding a stellar team. Participants choose players based on preference and projected points in order to get that championship team. There are two types of players in every draft. There are the fantasy “studs,” the players who consistently put up solid numbers and “put the team on their back.” On the other hand, there are the fantasy “sleepers.” These are the players who fly under the radar of most people but have potential to have a breakout year. Should you make the sure pick on the “best” player this season, or take a gamble on an unproven rookie? Draft day is a fantasy footballer’s favorite day of the year, almost like a second Christmas.

T H E S O C IAL A S P E C T Fantasy football is often considered the Facebook for sports fans. It allows people who don’t commonly interact on a personal basis to do so electronically. “It provides a template for us to lightly chide each other and engage in a kind of spirited trash talk that is funny,” said English department chair Mr. Chris Harrington. Mr. Harrington is the manager of a faculty league here at Parker. Each league has a designated section for trash talk, which can sometimes get heated: “In my college league the trash talk is much more profane and

people say ridiculous things because we’re all the same age and we can talk like a bunch of guys,” says Harrington. But the face-to-face connection is where it gets really interesting; fantasy football lets conversation go further than a simple hello. Whenever fellow league members see each other, common questions are asked like: How’d you do this week? Who’d you play? and Could you be any worse? “It’s a really enjoyable way to have social connection with the other faculty members, and I also enjoy it because of the smack talk,” said Social Studies department chair Mr. Crowley. New friends are gained through fantasy football, and that is the real essence of this unreal hobby. Whether it’s your soccer team, a group of old friends from middle school, or a group like Harrington’s graying college roommates, fantasy football brings people together. The extreme competitiveness remains hectic, from the rambunctious atmosphere of the preseason draft to the end-of-the-year gathering when champions are crowned: “A few years ago we would have a dinner at Boll Weevil, so we called the prize the Weevil Boll. Also, like any other competition with friends, bragging rights are always the most valuable prize,” says Crowley. Some leagues play for money and prizes while others are solely about bragging rights, but in either case, making friends and having fun is what fantasy football is all about.

november 2012 THE SCRIBE

+ op

the scribe 2012-13

starters AN EXPEDITION TO FIND FREE SAMPLES STORY BY NATALIE SCHMIDT AND BRIANNA GOLDBERG

Mission Level: Top Secret. Mission profiles: Classified. Our Location: Fashion Valley Food Court, Costco, and Fiji Yogurt. Our Objective: To find stores close to campus with delicious free samples in which we can fill our stomachs. The Scribe went on an undercover investigation to see how many free samples could be scrounge up from various eateries around town. Use this guide to create your own threecourse meal from the free samples we found. This guide also includes a helpful scale from one to five rating how many samples you can get from each store. Now you can go on your very own investigation to find the best free samples in town. Do you accept the challenge?

november 2012 THE SCRIBE

W E T ZEL ’ s P RE T ZEL

Sample Distributor: Mattique The first store we inspected was Wetzel’s Pretzels. Here, you can always find samples of their best selling product, Sinful Cinnamon, a cinnamon and sugar soft pretzel that is perfect for an after schoolsnack. This store is a favorite among the sample detectives because distributors, like Mattique, will give you endless samples of pretzel bits that will make your mouth water. Mattique said, “It’s easier for me when people come back for more because I can’t go inside until the samples are gone.” So help out the employees of Wetzel’s Pretzels and indulge in the cinnamony goodness waiting for you at the Fashion Valley food court. Food-o-Meter: 4: You can get unlimited amounts of “Sinful Cinnamon” in one day, but really how much sweetened bread can you eat? It’s a nice, light snack or appetizer that starts your investigation off pleasantly.

main course S ARK U J A P A N Sample Distributor: Leo

Next, we investigated Sarku Japan in the Fashion Valley food court, where teriyaki chicken is handed out to Asian-food lovers. The samples from Sarku Japan melt on your tongue as you munch on teriyaki chicken. Unlike Mattique, distributors like Leo are in no rush to leave the storefront with a platter full of chicken. Customers are only allowed two samples maximum. Food-o-Meter: 2 Though Sarku Japan’s chicken is to die for, the limit is two samples, ranking Sarku Japan low on our food-o-meter. If you have the courage, try changing your outfit each time you pass by Sarku Japan to see if the distributors notice; you will leave Sarku Japan repleted and amused.

desserts COSTCO

General Manager for Club Demonstration Services (CDS): Don Dohanyos Costco is the sample sleuth’s dream! With free samples around every turn, Costco is the place to go if you’re hungry and low on cash. From garlic bread to pita chips and orange juice to smoothies, Costco has samples of all different types of lip-smacking food. Dohanyos said, “Costco wants its members to be able to try new and different products so they are more inclined to buy the bulk packages Costco sells.” The only downside is that you have to have a membership. But after eating all of their great samples, it’s definitely worth it. Freshman Athena Zander says she can often make a whole meal out of samples from Costco. “I like going because I get to try new things and they have literally everything there!” Zander says. Food-o-Meter: 5 You can find multiple choices and endless sample items to make a meal out of.

FIGI YOG U R T

Cashier: Chris

Fiji Yogurt is right down the street from Parker, making it the closest shop with samples. Here you can sample any one of their delicious frozen yogurt flavors, including special flavors from their new gelato machine. Although there is no official limit to the number of samples you can get, cashier Chris says that he will stop people if he sees them getting more than six samples. A sign in the shop does say that samples are for customers only, but after you try a bit of their frozen yogurt, it will be hard not to buy your own dish. Senior Alex Clark says, “Yeah, I sample every flavor and that’s my free fro-yo. Why pay for a cup?” When asked if he has heard about the new policy at Fiji Yogurt, which says customers must buy yogurt to get free samples, Clark says, “No, probably as a result of my froyo behavior, we can’t get free samples anymore.”

Häagan Dazs Sample Distributor: Andrew

Next stop, Häagan Dazs. Although they are known for their ice cream, the samples of the day will often surprise even the most professional sample sleuth. It’s up to the employee distributing the sample to decide what product they want to give out. Sample distributer Andrew says that he prefers to make the mango smoothie, so whenever he hands out samples, it’s always the mango smoothie. He doesn’t care if you come back for more; he’s just glad if you like it. Food-o- Meter: 3 Does the mango smoothie taste different to you than the mango smoothie that you can purchase? It’s because it is; Andrew and other workers make the samples different than the menu item to taste better. This might be good for cheap eaters, but is Häagan Dazs cheating paying customers?

Food-o-Meter: 1 At Fiji Yogurt, you cannot get free samples without purchasing yogurt. Even though the location is convenient for Parker students, “free” samples don’t come cheap.

november 2012 THE SCRIBE

’s

S tu d d e d L e a th e r

Whether on boots, bags, or booties, we heart the hardwear. Users take caution: this is not us giving you permission to dust off that BeDazzler.

The Nineties

Who doesn’t love to sit down and reminisce on the days of Friends, The Amanda Show, and Full House. Let’s relive the days of our childhood and relish the in the glory days.

Café Madelman

The hot spot on campus—scratch that—the only spot on campus. It has become so popular that Glenisha now has to stand outside to turn away hordes of Parker students trying to get into the most happening location north of the Viterbi.

ARTICLE BY DUTRA BROWN

november 2012 THE SCRIBE

“malarkey”

S w e a ts a n d B o x e r s

We’ve all had those dress-down days where we just “phone it in” and bust out our sweats, but that is no excuse for letting it all hang loose. Boys, we’re talking to you. There’s a time for boxers and a time for briefs, and we’re lacking in the latter. Keep everything nice and tucked in to save yourself all the embarrassment.

S o c k s w i th S a n d a l s

Check page 42. Go on, I’ll wait. Do you see sandals with socks on there? Didn’t think so. If your feet are cold, put shoes on. Sorry, President Gomez, but our campus needs to be lead by a lancer, not a Zoni.

Malarkey

No better way to show off your smarts than by throwing around some election jargon. Try fitting terms like “malarkey” and “binders full of women” into your everyday conversation and you’ll practically radiate political genius. Start thinking about your campaign... you’ve got four years to prep.

Alternative Bands

I’m tired of listening to the same three songs play on the radio every day. Introduce others to some indie bands and help people venture away from the place where music goes to die: the iTunes Top 10. True slaves to fashion will replace the radio in their car for a cassette player.

Underwear Lines

Please ladies, nobody wants to play peek-a-boo with your personals. The image of you in your granny panties is a buzzkill. Rumors are spreading, and you don’t want to be known as the kid who wore Depends.

Burglar Stripes

You’re under arrest... for looking too sexy. Take off those handcuffs and hold your hoops, cause you ain’t going to jail tonight.

How would you kill your Thanksgiving turkey?

Hadley DeBello

In peace and harmony. It's a tempting thought when you are stuck eating Tofurkey. #vegetarian

Love, happiness, prosperity, friends, laughter, food, muffin sales, the list goes on.

Who let the dogs out?

The 90's. It was classic denial.

That this quadrant only has seven questions.

Michael Vick

My rockin’ bod, and AP classes.

The Communists.

Feed it all eight of Claire Kim’s homecoming cakes.

My free centennial t-shirt.

Mark Klein asking Molly Mo to Homecoming.

By ordering it to organize the move to Lands’ End.

Scribe, obv.

Prescription drug abuse.

Zak B r o wn l i e

Thomas M a r sh a l l

What are you most thankful for?

I’d pardon it, like the prez, then stab it in the back— like a certain presidential candidate.

Kevin Eve

Woof, woof, woofwoof.

Trick or treat, smell my...

Skorts are...

Andres Gomez for President of the US?

a weird hybrid meant to give the Parker girls something to complain about in their gossip circles.

I would really prefer Ellen Degeneres; all she tries to do is make a happier world.

Like a fat man... when you sit down, clothing is less effective. [paraphrased]

Yes. (I can’t say “no” because he’s my boss.)

‘Merica.

professional and sexy... They are Prosexonal.

Better than Romney...

chloroform.

so in right now, rock that outside of Parker to catch this trend.

Lets be real, Obama has more swag.

You do not want to be smelling anything.

Next question!

TOMS. Gross. SO much better. ...no comment.

Mrs. Erin A i st o n november 2012 THE SCRIBE

put your face here. cu to ut

cu to ut

put your face here.

DRESS FOR SUCCESS ON CAMPUS STORY AND PHOTOS BY DUTRA BROWN

With the new Lands’ End gear, it can be pretty hard to tell Parker Lancers apart. Students are lost in a sea of khaki and it’s been hard to find the few kids who have managed to squeeze some kind of originality into their daily look. We do sympathize; however, just because we wear a uniform doesn’t mean we need to walk around like a bunch of clones. Long story short, you need our help. For those of you who cower when someone says “color blocking” or “layering,” have no fear–we have made this extremely simple. Play around with the different pieces by cutting them out and trying them on your doll. Start adding sweaters, scarves, and accessories to begin uncovering your style.

november 2012 THE SCRIBE

c l a ss y l a ss i e s :

D a sh i n g g e nts :

november 2012 THE SCRIBE

ARIELLE ON CUBA The Havana Skyline

ARTICLE AND PHOTO BY ARIELLE SWEDBACK

Havana, Cuba, would be a great place to shoot a post-zombie-apocalypse movie. Locals call their capital “The City of Columns” in celebration of once-breathtaking colonial architecture, but it is now more reminiscent of a post-Chernobyl zone complete with food-ration centers and city-wide electricity cuts. When I visited Cuba this September, it took me a few days to realize that this eerie shanty-town of corroding baroque architecture was the Havana I had read so much about. People who were far below the poverty line were living in crumbling mansions. I didn’t board my Cubana Air flight with the expectation of a piña colada–filled week on dazzling white sand beaches, but the sentimentalist in me did hope to encounter some of the allure that so captivated Ernest Hemingway. In some ways, my nostalgic yearnings were satisfied: the 1957 Chevys crowding the streets and the wizened faces of guayabera-clad men puffing cigars on every street corner made it easy to romanticize that Havana stopped in time after the midcentury Cuban Revolution. When Fidel Castro established his Communist government during the Cold War, the United States responded by enacting an economic and cultural embargo. Because of this isolation, I anticipated a country untainted by the worst of globalization, where a unique culture thrived without the pressure to Americanize. The first night we spent in Havana, we were scammed, and not in a way that Lonely Planet could have warned us about. While en route to a small restaurant described to us as “a good first-night place” by the hotel concierge, we befriended a local couple also meandering the sooty, post-

november 2012 THE SCRIBE

dusk streets. Somewhere in between recommendations for local hangouts and heated discussions of Castro conspiracy theories, a round of expensive mojitos had been ordered and paid for with our crisp, new bills of Cuban CUCS. It was only after a decent night’s sleep that we realized we had been charged twice the normal amount for our drinks—our “friends” must have pocketed the extra half. Only 12 hours into our visit to Cuba we had already learned our first lesson: In a country where doctors and lawyers make the same meager salary as factory workers, everyone is looking for alternative methods of survival. My mom remembers this type of lifestyle manifesting itself in similarly during her childhood in the Soviet Union. But I’ve also seen firsthand the innovativeness and creativity that comes with that type of existence. I spent my childhood in awe of my mom’s ability to think on her feet and come up with the most creative solutions to any problem, or my grandfather’s way of salvaging worthless items to construct things I thought could be only bought in stores. I noticed this quiet brilliance everywhere I went in Cuba, but most of all in the living spaces people created for themselves. After the Communist revolution in 1959, most Cuban aristocrats fled their downtown mansions to immigrate to Miami. The new socialist government turned these spaces into “apartments,” each housing dozens of families. At first glance, it seems as though half a century of negligence has turned these mansions into slums where laundry dries from shattered chandeliers and crumbling grand staircases become playgrounds for young occupants. However, with a closer look, seemingly chaotic sur-

roundings become intricate, makeshift piping systems and complex pulleys that enable residents to move objects from floor to floor. Our liberal-arts education emphasizes the cliché that we are learning how to think “outside the box,” but I don’t think any formal education could rival the inventiveness forced by circumstance I saw in Cuba. It was details like these that reminded me that, despite the limited lifestyles of Cuba’s inhabitants, the country is still a colorful place. From the figuratively colorful musicians who occupy empty rooms and street corners all over the city to the mustard yellow and deep crimson school uniforms that put our Lands’ End to shame—the Cuban people are vibrant. It was my intention to travel to Cuba untainted by American prejudices; I was thrilled to experience a country that had never seen a venti vanilla Frappuccino or heard of a Big Mac. But sitting in a dark hotel room after the electricity had, once again, shorted out in the entire hotel, I couldn’t glorify the country anymore. Like any isolated ecosystem, Communist Cuba has evolved separately from the rest of the world. But Fidel Castro, who managed to survive 638 assassination attempts by the American CIA, can’t escape his own mortality forever. As my plane lifted off the dirt runway at the José Martí International Airport, I realized how different everything would be the next time I touched down onto Cuban soil. I envisioned my middle-aged self exploring a thriving new nation and telling my kids, “I got to see the ‘old’ Cuba.” But Cuban history is a testament to human survival, and I don’t think that developers will be able to suppress the vibrancy of the Cuban people.

the scribe 2012-13

Every four years the citizens of the United States make a few tough descisions. Every day in this election cycle, we have been bombarded by advertisments telling us how to think and what to think about. As an unfortunate result we have 24-hour news networks and the Internet at our disposal, but there are still those out there who don’t know what voter fraud or a stimulus package is. The goal of this section is to break this cycle. We, the students of Francis Parker, have a voice, regardless of age or voting status; a voice at school, at home, and in the community. Our goal is to inform you well enough so that you can make a conscious choice about your future and the future of the nation. First and foremost, this section is meant to serve as a guide to the issues. Locally, there are several prominent California propositions which are featured on this November’s ballot (page 52) along with a strong push for marijuana legalization in Washington and Colorado (page 53). The “unknown” parties of the political landscape

RAPHIE CANTOR

Election Section Editor

(page 49) offer different options for those who are disillusioned by the Democrats and Republicans. Secondly, this section offers different views on the issues. The electoral college, which has come under scrutiny for its structure, has its loyal proponents and intense critics (pages 45-47). The death penalty, another controversial institution, faces repeal this November in California. A critical analysis of the death penalty (pages 50-51) displays the benefits of a criminal system that doesn’t kill its convicts. Sabrina Devereaux makes a guest appearance in (page 54) and explores the weight a President’s personality has on his campaign. Finally, Matt Gluck shares his story of working for the Obama campaign (page 55) and how it changed his perception of politics. As much as it goes in and out of our ears, we are the future. But that doesn’t mean we should be bystanders to the present. By informing ourselves now, we become the voices for today and plant the seeds of change for tomorrow. Cheers.

NISHON TYLER

Election Section Editor

november 2012 THE SCRIBE

ELECTORAL COLLEGE

ARTICLE BY SAM PRYOR

The Founding Fathers established the Electoral College in 1787 at the Constitutional Convention to create a compromise for how Presidents would be selected, as well as to establish a democracy that protected the rights of political minorities. The Electoral College represents the 538 presidential electors who come together every four years to cast their official votes as to who should become the President and Vice-President of the United States. In order to win the Electoral College, a candidate must obtain a sum of 270 electoral votes. Once the popular vote is cast, the electoral votes go to whichever candidate received a higher percentage of popular votes within that state. Although rare, it is possible for a presidential candidate to win the election with fewer popular votes, but more electoral votes: examples of these cases occurred in 1824, 1876, 1888, and 2000. When a candidate does not get the number of necessary electoral votes to win, it is in the power of the House of Representatives to elect the President and the power of the Senate to elect the VicePresident. In theory, the Electoral College gives more power to political minorities, such as farm workers, manufacturing workers, and ethnic minorities. Their votes can be crucial in tilting the electoral votes of their state, thus forcing the presidential candidates to fight for their votes. A larger state, California often seems to be left out as it is a â&#x20AC;&#x153;solid blue state.â&#x20AC;? The candidates target swing states like Colorado, because unlike large states like California, the vote is more likely to sway from one party to the other. The framers of our Constitution established a compromise known as the Electoral College. Has this compromise worked well? Or has it compromised the election process? The following pieces consider both sides of the issue.

november 2012 THE SCRIBE

ARTICLE BY RAPHIE CANTOR

The Electoral College is a system with roots grounded in this country’s founding. While some Founding Fathers encouraged a direct popular vote, most, as part of the land-owning elite, feared too much power in the hands of the people. John Adams was famous for referencing the “tyranny of the majority” while garnering support for the Constitution in 1788. This phrase has held true today in the form of the Electoral College. This process allows for minority groups, be themethnic minorities, unions, or political factions, to be represented more fully than in a direct popular vote, where minority voices would be diluted by the vast American public. During this year’s election, states such as Ohio, North Carolina, and Iowa have been hotspots for political activity. Meanwhile, states like California and Texas have been largely neglected. Why is this? The Electoral College generally runs on a “winner take all” system. If one candidate wins a state, he/she gets said state’s electoral votes. Thus, liberal hotbeds like California are typically regarded as sure votes for the Democratic candidate, while Texas has traditionally voted Republican. However, in battleground states, the outcome is unclear, and thus the two presidential candidates will battle for the important votes that will separate the otherwise predictable race. This places power in the hands of citizens who typically are politically overshadowed by big states. This forces a distribution of popularity to form across the country. President Obama cannot win solely through support on the coasts, while challenger Senator Mitt Romney cannot win solely with support from the Midwest. There must be some form

of cohesion in order to win the presidency. With this distribution, the voices of smaller minority groups become prevalent throughout the election. For example, if President Obama came out tomorrow in sweeping support of ethanol, a corn-based alternative fuel source to traditional gasoline, the result could throw the election. States that grow large amounts of corn, such as Iowa, Illinois, and Nebraska could

“

As a part of these

United States, we should strive to perserve institutions like the Electoral College to ensure the states are united

”

lean towards President Obama, giving him those states’ electoral votes and possibly the election. However unlikely, this situation demonstrates how the Electoral College takes into account the voices of all groups, not just the majority. While the voices of minorities are protected, the Electoral College also protects the most uniquely American political philosophy: the two-party system. Because a majority of electoral votes is needed to win the presidency, a three-party election in which all sides receive somewhat equal support is unheard of. While the two-party system has its flaws, it always guar-

antees that around half the American people will support whichever president is elected. Notable exceptions to this include Bill Clinton’s election in 1992, when third-party candidate Ross Perot took enough votes away from George H.W. Bush to secure Clinton the presidency. By eliminating third-party candidates, the two major parties absorb these smaller movements, thus creating more diversity within the two major parties. Should a multi-party system be formed, it has the potential to create many minor parties divided not only on political ideologies, but religious and regional ideologies, creating more and more division among the American public. Finally, the Electoral College maintains the spirit of states having political powers reserved for them to check the federal government. The Senate exists to serve as a counter to the House of Representatives, which gives the states representatives based on their respective populations. The Electoral College exists to serve as a counter to the direct popular vote. While still essentially maintaining a popular election, the Electoral College turns the presidential election from one which represents the country as a whole to one which represents all 50 states individually. Should the Electoral College be replaced by a direct popular vote, politics would be dominated by heavily populated states, like New York and California, rather than having evenly distributed power throughout the country. As a part of these United States, we should strive to preserve institutions like the Electoral College that ensure the states are united.

november 2012 THE SCRIBE

ARTICLE BY NISHON TYLER

When the Electoral College was founded in 1787, it was the first of its kind. Here was a body that could protect and represent the distinct and far-flung citizens of each state. States could have as many electoral votes as they had seats in the House and Senate and every state legislature could choose how to appoint its electors. Alexander Hamilton wrote, “If the manner of it be not perfect, it is at least excellent.” The founding fathers were well educated and well read. Most Americans were not. This initial disparity of representation was perhaps necessary to found the county, but they were also members of the elite. Their dedication to their class had profound impact on the government they created. The founders did not believe in the good sense of the common uneducated man and so they tied up the power and put it in the hands of the State Legislature. The Founding Fathers intended to create a government that incorporated their mistrust of monarchy, but with the failed Greek democracy and the abrupt end of the Roman republic, they struggled to find a government that gave some rights to people without lapsing into anarchy or totalitarianism. They did better than any government had done to that date, but the world has moved on. There are countries with superior governments that we would do well to emulate. There are few stable nations that approach the size of the U.S., but even with this in mind, a country as diverse as the United States deserves to have every voice heard and no state should be counted more important than any other, unless the population of the

november 2012 THE SCRIBE

state demands it. There is no reason why Iowa, with a population just north of 3 million should be considered more important than California (pop. 37,691,912). We, the people, have no constitutional right to vote for the President of the United States. We can tell an Elector, who was appointed by the state legislature according to the constitution, “Each State shall appoint, in such Manner as the Legislature thereof may direct, a Number of Electors,

“

A country as diverse

as the United States deserves to have every voice heard

”

equal to the whole Number of Senators and Representatives to which the State may be entitled in the Congress” who we would like them to vote for, but because they are elected by officials, they are not beholden to us. They answer to themselves and to the people who appointed them. This has been a problem in the past. The Constitution allows for Congress to elect the president if no candidate has a definite majority in the initial election. This has lead the way to several presidents (among them Lincoln and Bush) “stealing” the election, or winning without the majority of the popular vote. If the job of government is to ensure that a nation “of the people, for the people, and by the people shall not perish from this

Earth”, our government is doing a sorry job. Most of European countries have parliamentary governments, where they vote for the party that best represents their beliefs. Each party is assigned seats based on the proportion of the vote that they gain, a system that would greatly help smaller American parties that appeal to demographics rather than regions of the country. In this system, all five of the main parties would gain seats in Congress, and for the first time in a century Americans would see powerful and effective parties that are not polar opposites. A parliamentary election system has the potential to revolutionize election season. The process would no longer be a matter of choosing the candidate the voter hates the least, but rather an opportunity to pick the party whose platform best represents the voter’s best interest. Elections could be about pointing out the benefits in the party’s beliefs rather than tearing down the opponents and their base. The nature of partisanship ensures that candidates are abusive toward each other. It breeds an environment of division, and although that may be the natural state of politics, we can do better. The Electoral College is an infringement on the civil right of an American citizen’s vote to be counted towards the candidate they choose. The world has seen the benefits of a parliamentary system and America has seen the injustice of an Electoral College. It is time to choose the better option.

invisible parties THE OBSCURE OPPONENTS OF THE 2012 ELECTION

ARTICLE BY NISHON TYLER ILLUSTRATION BY STANLEY GAMBUCCI

1 3

With the rise (and fall) of Ron Paul, the Libertarians have been hovering right around mainstream. This begs the question, what other parties have we been neglecting? Here are the three major political parties (on the ballot in at least 25 states) the media likes to ignore.

1 . T he G reen P arty A more radical kind of liberal. They believe in grassroots elections. In this system, people would vote for local representatives to govern local affairs. A larger central government would protect the rights of citizens. Listed among these rights are housing, food and education. They, unlike the Libertarians, believe that a government invested in the wellbeing of its citizens is the best way to protect these rights. They believe in the legalization of marijuana and the rehabilitation of drug offenders as opposed to imprisonment.

FROM THE PLATFORM “We will pursue legislation against all forms of hate crimes, including those directed against people who identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, queer, transgender, and intersex. Offenders must pay compensation to the LGBTIQ people who have suffered violence and injustice.” “A universal, federally funded childcare program for pre-school and young schoolchildren should be developed.” “We advocate that all persons convicted of felonies shall regain full citizenship rights upon completion of their sentence, including the right to vote and to run for elected office.”

2. The Libertarians Halfway between liberals and conservatives. They are socially liberal while being economically conservative. The theory (personal liberty, free markets, small government, no taxes) has been around for over one hundred years and adherents include Emma Goldman, Ayn Rand, and Henry David Thoreau. The basic ideas come from the writings of anarchists of the early portion of the 20th century. Libertarians endorse the idea of a small, almost nonexistent government, a laissez-faire economy, and personal liberty in matters such as marriage and reproductive laws. It is the perfect fit for the socially liberal fiscal conservative.

FROM THE PLATFORM “Consenting adults should be free to choose their own sexual practices and personal relationships.” “All persons are entitled to keep the thelabor. Platform fruitsFrom of their We call for the repeal of the income tax, the abolishment of the Internal Revenue Service and all federal programs and services not required under the U.S. Constitution.” “We seek to divest government of all functions that can be provided by nongovernmental organizations or private individuals. ”

3 . T he C onstitution P arty The consummate Constitutionalists. They believe that the United States government should return to its 1787 roots. They argue that the founders had a clear vision for the United States and it is the people of America’s responsibility to live up to that ideal. They believe that the United States was a nation founded on the belief of God who gave his blessing to the nation. A party for people who don’t think the Republican Party is conservative enough.

FROM THE PLATFORM “We are opposed to ‘hate crime’ legislation and to enhanced penalties for so called hate crimes.” “We propose legislation to abolish the Internal Revenue Service, and will veto any authorization, appropriation, or continuing resolution which contains any funding whatsoever for that illicit and unconstitutional agency.” “Nothing in the Constitution, writings of the Founders, or in logic, can imagine a God-given right to earn a specific wage or buy at a specific price.” “The law of our Creator defines marriage as the union between one man and one woman.”

november 2012 THE SCRIBE

a costly consequence WHY the death penalty should be abolished ARTICLE BY CLAIRE BRYAN

ILLUSTRATION BY STANLEY GAMBUCCI

Most of us can remember when 17-year-old Chelsea King was raped and murdered in 2010. Chelseaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s name flashed over our Facebook pages, echoed in our classrooms, and was the topic of many dinner table conversations. Someone knew someone who knew Chelseaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s family because this victim was from Poway, California. She was taken by John Gardner, who later pled guilty to the rape and murder of Amber Dubois, another young girl from Escondido, California. He raped and murdered, and raped and murdered again. He took the lives of two, tortured the lives of hundreds, scared the minds of thousands, and most anyone in San Diego would want this man dead. But capital punishment is not black and white, and defeating Proposition 34 might take a greater toll on society than abolishing the death penalty for good.

november 2012 THE SCRIBE

In the upcoming election, citizens of California will be voting on Proposition 34, the End of the Death Penalty Initiative, which would replace death sentences with life in prison without the possibility of parole. Men like Gardner would live their lives in prison, devastated by their choices. Out of the 100 Parker students polled, 47 percent answered that they were for the death penalty, and 53 percent answered against it, all for different reasons. Senior Maya Jackson believes that “it is worse punishment to be in prison for the rest of one’s life, thinking about the crime.” However senior Amy Irving asks, “Why waste so much time and money on someone who doesn’t even deserve to live?” It is hard to think of sentencing someone to death as moral. His or her mistakes are obviously devastating, but will killing one more person really help? Some may argue yes, as it brings peace of mind to the victims’ families. One student who responded to the anonymous survey suggests that “the family of the victim should be able to decide what happens to the murderer.” This may be a viable solution to some, but doesn’t this just put the weight of someone’s life in a devastated family’s hands? We are only human and putting this sort of responsibility on a small group of individuals’ shoulders, just like a similar group of jurors who currently make this type of decision, seems unjust. Why should the action of a criminal result in our society committing more crime? Initiating the death penalty seems to truly condemn our society to a morbid cycle. Sister Helen Prejean, the Catholic nun who wrote Dead Man Walking, spoke at The First United Methodist Church here in Mission Valley. She argues that the government should not be allowed to take away the basic human rights granted in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. “Everyone has the right to life, liberty and security of person,” states Article 3, and this right is essential. Prejean has spent her life getting to know six different men on death row, most of whom were guilty. She has become

each of their personal spiritual advisors and as they sit in the death house she tells them to look at her. “I’ll be the face of love,” she says. “There is no room for lone rangers,” Prejean believes. Human society is linked as a community and must not punish other members of society through unjust punishment. An individual can not live their life thinking that the world is about you and me, it is about us. “We don’t work out of that type of duality,” says Prejean. The death penalty is a long and costly process. One criminal’s life imprisonment will on average cost the government about $1.5 million. Though that cost is no small sum, the death penalty and court processes that

“

Statistically we have

absolutely killed innocent people

”

-Dr. Rai Wilson come along with sentencing a man to death cost much more. According to the 2011 California Cost Study done by Judge Alarcon and Professor Michell at the Death Penalty Information Center, the total cost of what our government has spent on sentencing people to death since 1978 is 4 billion dollars. The breakdown looks like this: $1.94 billion for the pretrial and trial costs. $925 million in automatic appeals, $775 million in federal habeas corpus appeals, and $1 billion for the costs of incarceration. When the offender is sentenced to death, he or she is automatically entitled to government-funded lawyers and four separate appeal opportunities. This means years of paying lawyers, court judges, and everyone else that is takes to run a courtroom. Troy Anthony Davis, convicted of murdering a police officer, was sentenced to death in August of 1991 but was not executed until September of 2011. According to Prejean, it takes twenty years on average, to be sentenced to death on death row and one is more likely to die of natural causes

before you are given the lethal injection. If Proposition 34 is passed, part of the money saved will go towards finishing unsolved cases and helping put other families at peace. The other part of the funds will contribute to the general state fund and can help aid other community needs. The death penalty is not only costly for our government but also for the morals of our society. Police chiefs say that the death penalty has not resulted in any sort of drop in violent crime rates since being initiated in California. The threat of being killed by the law does not seem to be halting violent crimes; in fact, according to The New York Times, states without the death penalty have lower homicide rates than those that do. “Violence comes from poverty and the racism that still exists within poverty. Until you deal with poverty you are not dealing with violence,” argues Prejean. Again, it takes a community effort. Also, the death penalty is not always accurate. According to Amnesty International, over 130 people have been released from death row since 1973. DNA evidence was used to prove these individuals innocent, but DNA evidence is currently used for less than 10 percent of serious crime cases. “Statistically we have absolutely killed innocent people,” says AP Government teacher Dr. Rai Wilson. Whether the death penalty is immoral or not is a question that can always be argued and one that may never be clear. But what is clear are the facts: The current process of sentencing someone to death in today’s world is more expensive than the alternative of life imprisonment. And this expensive appeal process is necessary so there are not further mistakes on death row. The death penalty does not prevent crime and inspires no one. It doesn’t solve problems, just leaves our society with one less human being. And shouldn’t we dream of a better world where our punishment isn’t just more death? It’s not about vengeance; it’s about, as Sister Prejean says, supporting our community for the better.

november 2012 THE SCRIBE

THE SCRIBE’S GUIDE TO CALIFORNIA’S 2012 PROPOSITIONS

AND MAYORAL ELECTION

ARTICLE BY RAPHIE CANTOR

Our attention towards the national stage can’t diminish our care for the California community. This election, there are several key measures which can change the course of our state from now on, such as repealing the death penalty and noticeably increasing in taxes. Both of these propositions also offer the opportunity to gauge our state politically, and whether we are taking a turn towards the left or the right. Either way, these issues will have great effects, both in San Diego and throughout our state.

a LREADY VO T ED O N Prop 28 (approved)

This proposition was passed overwhelmingly on June 5 and limits the amount of time a politician can serve collectively in the State Legislature at 12 years.

Prop 29 (defeated) This prop would have placed an additional $1.00 tax on a pack of cigarettes and the revenue generated from this tax would have gone directly to cancer research. In the closest vote of the June 5 primary, the measure was defeated by .6%, or less than 30,000 votes.

november 2012 THE SCRIBE

O N T H E B ALLO T T H I S N OVE M B ER : PROP 30

Commonly known as Jerry Brown’s Tax Increase, raises the state sales tax from 7.25% to 7.5% for four years. Also, the measure creates four new tax brackets in the upper income range, with notable increases on those who make over $250,000 a year. The measure looks to be headed towards approval, with strong support from the lower and middle classes. Most Recent Polls: For: 54% Against: 37% Undecided: 9%

PROP 34

Called “End the Death Penalty,” this measure will effectively end all death sentences in the state of California and change them to life imprisonment without the possibility of parole, even for convicts who are on death row. The proposition also requires these convicts to get jobs within the prison system. The earnings from these jobs will go directly to programs for crime victims. Most Recent Polls: For: 38% Against 49% Undecided 11%

PROP 35

This prop will increase the prison terms of sex traffickers and require them to register as a sex offenders. The convicted sex traffickers will also be heavily fined, and these fines will go to victims of the illegal sex industry. Most Recent Polls: For: 78% Against: 14% Undecided: 8%

PROP 36

This proposition repeals the current “three strikes” law, which sends felons to prison for life upon being convicted of their third felony. This proposition would restrict this life imprisonment to those who are convicted of “serious, violent crimes.” Most Recent Polls: For: 66% Against: 20% Undecided: 14%

M AYORAL RA C E

The race for mayor pits two politically polar opposite candidates against one another. Bob Filner, the current Democratic member of congress from the 53rd district is running a campaign which vies for the middle class in a struggling economy. He opposes government-funded growth of the private sector, but instead wants to try and invest in the public sector by expanding the Port of San Diego and offering the Chargers funding for a new stadium in exchange for a public share of the team. His opponent, the Republican Carl DeMaio, is running his campaign on pension reform, a problem which has plagued the city for years. He also supports the plan for a new stadium, but instead in a package to build a new sports and entertainment district downtown. Most Recent Polls: Filner: 50% DeMaio: 38% Undecided: 12%

HOW GOING GREEN COULD MEAN SOMETHING ELSE THIS NOVEMBER

ARTICLE BY RAPHIE CANTOR AND MAX FEYE GRAPHIC BY STANLEY GAMBUCCI

Marijuana and its legalization have been controversial topics for the past century. When hemp, the plant which that produces marijuana, was found to be a much cheaper and more efficient source of things like paper, rope, and clothes, it had many very rich men worrying. These men owned the resources which hemp threatened to devalue. One of these men, William Randolph Hearst, was a newspaper mogul who owned much of North America’s timber. When hemp threatened to make his timber worthless, he heavily lobbied and paid off congressmen to make the plant illegal. The result was the Marihuana Tax Act of 1937, an act which placed a heavy tax on all those who grew or sold hemp, and a heavy fine and imprisonment on those who disobeyed the new tax; this discouraged many from becoming involved with hemp. This act was left largely untouched until the Vietnam War divided the country. The act was left largely untouched until the Vietnam War divided the country. Many of the anti-war protesters also smoked marijuana. President Nixon, a supporter of the war, pushed Congress to pass the Controlled Substances Act in 1970. This federally outlawed marijuana and placed it in Schedule 1, a category for drugs with the highest potential for abuse and no medical benefit, the most dangerous level of substances recognized by the federal government. This placed marijuana in the same category as heroin, LSD, and Ecstasy. The outlawing of marijuana gave Nixon an easy way to detain antiwar protesters. Marijuana remains in Schedule 1 federally, but many states have recognized that marijuana is an effective

medication for treating pain, anxiety and insomnia, as well as inducing appetite in cancer patients. In fact, the National Institute of Health recently released details of two new studies. The first showed that cannabinoids, active ingredients in marijuana, have been found in human breast milk to induce appetite in infants. The second showed that CBD, a type of cannabinoid in marijuana, has been shown to effectively stop the growth of the highly invasive MDA-MB-231 human breast cancer cells. Today, 17 states and the District of Columbia have medical marijuana laws, though they remains illegal under federal law. Come this November, it could be a whole new ballgame. Currently two states, Colorado and Washington, have measures on the ballot which would decriminalize marijuana for recreational use, effectively legalizing the drug much in the same way tobacco and alcohol are regulated. This isn’t the first time a state has tried to legalize marijuana. In fact, Proposition 19 in California was defeated just two years ago. But this time, the ballot measures in both states are likely to pass, with leads of over ten points in both states. Amendment 64, Colorado’s initiative, is estimated to generate $60 million annually in taxes and savings, $24 million of which would go directly to building and remodeling schools. Perhaps most interesting is that as voters get older, the more likely they,become to vote against legalization. This indicates that even if marijuana legalization is defeated twice this election, it is likely to be passed in years to come.

PRos:

Mexican cartels will lose their demand for illegal drugs, potentially taking billions of dollars out of their pocket, and saving lives on the drug war. Nearly one-eighth of inmates in the U.S are behind bars for marijuana-related crimes, according to the Bureau of Justice Statistics. Decriminalizing will free this jail space for other, more violent inmates. Sales will be regulated and taxed, with approximately one-third of tax money going toward education.

CONS:

Marijuana will become less natural, and possibly more unhealthy, as corporations take over the market, much like tobacco. Even if Washington and Colorado decriminalize marijuana, it would clash with federal law, which prohibits sale, consumption, or possession of any amount of marijuana because of its placement as a Schedule 1 drug. Some worry that teen drug abuse will persist as an issue. These opponents point to underage drinking as an example of a regulated substance which is still abused by minors.

november 2012 THE SCRIBE

Amid the intense, swirling anger fueled by attack ads, false promises, and political doublespeak that has come to make up modern U.S. politics, it can be easy to lose sight of the true objective. Politics is not meant to be about Obama beating Romney or the Republicans beating the Democrats; in fact, the word “winning” should not be associated with it at all. The next President of the United States should be the person whose ideas for the country’s direction the people like more, not who they think loves America the most. Even as a kid who has always been interested in politics and policy, these common objections to what has seemingly become a very distasteful part of American life have served to dampen my natural enthusiasm for the subject. That’s why I was somewhat wary of accepting an internship with the Obama campaign this summer. I was worried I would spend the entire summer working to manipulate voters by spreading false rumors and publicizing absurdly irrelevant news stories about how Mitt Romney transported his dog on a vacation in 1983. I was worried I would spend the summer calling every man and woman who had ever thought about voting for a Democrat and asking them to write us a check. But most of all, I was worried that I would no longer be able to deny the fact that modern voters are more swayed by negative television ads and biased pundits than by the real issues. As I sat in our Los Angeles headquarters preparing to make my first campaign phone calls, I had a pit in my stomach. We were calling unregistered potential voters in

november 2012 THE SCRIBE

DISCOVERING TRUTH ON THE CAMPAIGN TRAIL

ARTICLE AND PHOTOS BY MATT GLUCK

Colorado, many of whom had been called many times already, trying to convince them to vote to reelect the President. I looked at my call sheet and saw that my first call was to a person who had most recently voted for a Republican candidate. Thinking he would probably not be particularly happy to receive my call, I braced myself for the worst, closed my eyes, and dialed. “Hi, my name is Matt, I’m a volunteer with Organizing for America, President Obama’s reelection campaign, how are you doing today?”

“

My faith in politics and

the campaign process had been restored.

”

Surprisingly, the response I got was not one of anger, not one of annoyance, not even one of mild displeasure. I found myself talking to a man who was genuinely unsure of whom he wanted to vote for, and was authentically eager to discuss the topic with someone whom he assumed was a knowledgeable source of information. In turn, I presented him with information that was not biased, not campaign propaganda, and was 100-percent truthful and factual. He told me that he took issue with the Democratic idea of asking wealthy people to pay a higher percentage in taxes than everyone else; if he and a friend are buying a pizza together, he said, wouldn’t it make sense for them to split the cost evenly? I told him that if I’m eating pizza with someone who makes ten times the salary I do, he

better be picking up the check! And with that, Mike–that was his name, Mike–laughed and told me I had given him something interesting to consider. We went on to discuss several other issues that he had with the Democratic platform, and with each issue I worked to assuage his doubts and hopefully have an effect on who he’ll cast his ballot for in November. This one phone call had a massive effect on me as well; no longer did I look at phone calling as a way of hassling voters, but rather as a genuine method of informing people and changing minds. In the space of a ten-minute phone call, my faith in politics and the campaign process had been restored. That’s the main thing I took away from this experience: while political campaigns can appear to be all about lies, rumors, and misdirection, there is still truth at the heart of them. It is my sincere hope that the rest of the country can come to appreciate this the same way I did this summer. Maybe if we can all put a little more faith in the political process, we, the people, can begin taking back the power and control over the direction of this country. If you have something you believe in, fight for it. You’ll never know the effect one person, one group, or one organization can have until you try. Before this summer, I would have said that the local volunteers of national campaigns have no power whatsoever. But that couldn’t be more wrong. A small group of people can have a profound effect on this country. In fact, they’re the only people who ever have.

first things first

THE ECONOMY SHOULD MATTER MORE THAN PERSONALITY

ARTICLE BY SABRINA DEVEREAUX

The current presidential campaigns have laid out their goals for the next four years. Candidates for both sides promise to cut taxes on the middle class, revamp America’s foreign policy, and reform healthcare. There are many opinions to consider before casting a vote, but I find that too many of young people today are basing their political opinion solely on one issue: social politics.

The word “social” covers a wide range of issues. It is a general nickname for a variety of topics. Ranging from environmental protection to abortion, from gay marriage to immigration, social issues have a personal impact on a very broad base. There is no universal right or wrong, so the opinions of the individual are extremely important. Cases of gay marriage and abortion are often brought up in debates in order to understand that candidate’s personal opinions. However, one worries that a President’s answers to these hard-hitting social questions have been given too much weight. The presidency is the one branch of government where an individual is elected as a representation of a majority of the people. Ideally, the actions of the President reflect what is best for

the people. In this ideal presidency, the personal views of the candidate would mean little. But this is not an ideal world. Our government was created in such a way that even if the executive branch tried to act alone, nothing could happen. Bills suggested by the President must first be approved by Congress, yet another representation of the people’s will. And much of the power over these decisions lies in the hands of the states. It is the state governments, and not the federal government, that ultimately controls marriage laws. The President cannot do anything so radical and far-reaching as ban or legalize marriage equality, as this would have to go through Congress, and probably the Supreme Court. In fact, when former President Bill Clinton signed

the “Defense of Marriage Act,” which defined marriage exclusively between a man and a woman, the act had little effect. The state governments simply passed their own laws. In the cases of social issues, the executive branch wields far less power than the American public. In the case of abortion, the Supreme Court ruling on Roe v. Wade creates a barrier to any presidential action on abortion. Even in the face of presidential disapproval, individual states would still be able decide for themselves. Social issues ultimately evolve from the states and the people. We are in the midst of a “great recession.” If we are ever going to revive our economy, we need to get our priorities straight. Social issues can wait. Our country currently has an unemployment rate of 7.8% and a $16 trillion deficit. The country is certainly not in a place for widespread reform. Political actions with consequences like these require time and resources. The country just isn’t stable enough to assess these social topics properly. While I am completely in favor of social reform, I believe that there is a time and place for everything. I am pro-marriage equality and neutral towards abortion; but we should not waste time and money rushing through decisions that will affect nearly every American. Such far-reaching reform needs to be done right. The executive branch should not be focused on these looming social issues until there is a broad public consensus. The President needs to devote his energy to stabilizing the economy. It is only with a truly revived economy and controlled deficit spending that any meaningful resources can be devoted to social reform. Social change requires financial stability, and for four years we have been spending excessively and seen the gradual erosion of our productivity. We need a new direction; we need to elect a candidate who can bring our government back to fiscal responsibility and create a stable base off of which to build social reform. november 2012 THE SCRIBE