The World Is Our Campus Volume 57, Issue 1
Arcadia High School 180 Campus Drive, Arcadia, CA
October 2007
Fives Lose Prestige: New AP Policy
on our web site:
theapachepowwow.com
OPINION
Photo by Gregory Zajac
Flaw in the System: What happened to the plans to add a Calculus DE class?
THEN
THEN NOW
Graphic by Kashia Bukowski CONCERNED STUDENT No longer can AHS students request grade changes based on their California Standardized Test or Advanced Placement Exam Scores as Department Chairs and Faculty agree on a policy against it.
By KYLE JACOBSEN & JANHVI JOSHI Editorial Staff Photo Courtesy of commonapp.com
OPINION
In 500 Words or Fewer: The many difficulties of presenting yourself in a college essay.
Photo by Gregory Zajac
NEWS
Campus Construction: Arcadia’s Work in Progress
“Yahoo!” you let loose late one spring morning after your proctor dismisses you from the Santa Anita Racetrack, probably the only time that you will ever visit the historic landmark in Arcadia, at least for another year. You just finished taking your AP Chemistry exam, and you are wholly confident that you completely pwned the free-response section of the test. You know that when you receive your score in late July, you will revisit that euphoric sensation you experienced after taking the test, because you will have earned a 5, the highest possible grade on the AP scale, demonstrating your mastery of the material. Not only will you have impressed your parents and your jealous peers, but you will also have amazed your cynical teacher, proving that you deserve an “A” in the class instead of the “B+” he or she so unfairly allotted to you. Reluctantly, your teacher will change your grade as promised, and you are one step closer to getting into the college of your dreams.
Unfortunately, as of last week, the faculty of Arcadia High School met and agreed to make it a district-wide policy, beginning this school year, not to change your grade in the class based on your performance on the AP exam. Stellar or unspeakable, your grade will no longer be altered in a positive or rescinding manner. Your grade in the class is final, and what you get on the AP Exam is of little importance. This policy also applies to CST scores. Often teachers who did not teach AP students, still promised students that they would change their grade if they scored advanced in the respective area of study. However, what was determined for the AP classes also applies to the college-prep and honors courses. According to Assistant Principal Catherine Merel, this policy “establishes equality for all students regardless of grade level or classes in which they are enrolled.” But, the students argue, isn’t the grade earned on the AP exam indicative of the knowledge of the student and the mastery of the material taught in the class? Senior Daniel Lee said, “This new policy is certainly going to screw many of us students over. It is our AP scores
that determine many of our grades.” He thinks that because students these days are so involved in extracurricular activities, it is extremely difficult to succeed in class. A member of Senior Men and Women and ASB, he only wishes that there were more hours in the day, and he depends on that final exam to get a decent grade. Assistant Principal Craig Wiblemo responded to students’ complaints, “If one test determines an entire year’s worth of work, there is something amiss. The department chairs approached all the teachers in school and decided together that implementing this policy would be the best solution.” Plus, he goes on to say, changing students’ grades undermines the grades of the other students who perform marvelously over the eight-month period that comprises a school year, but have an unfortunate day while taking the exam. In a subsequent argument, Wiblemo reported that colleges and universities understand an “A” in a class represents work ethic and attitude in addition to understanding the material. A 5 on the AP or an advanced score on the CST is not tantamount to the consistency and discipline of a conventionally earned “A” in school.
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NEWS
theapachepowwow.com
October 2007
Briefs
By JAY ZHANG
News Editor
Looking Ahead Homecoming
The Homecoming game will be held on Oct. 19 and the dance will be on the following day, Oct. 20. The theme this year is “Backstage Pass for Two.”
AIDS Walk
This year, AIDS Walk will take place on Oct. 21. The event will start at 8:30 a.m. and will end roughly seven hours later.
Fall Drama Production The Advanced Drama Department presents “Rumor” by Neil Simon. It is a present-day farce that will guarantee a night of constant laughter. Tickets can be purchased in advance for $5 or at the door for $7. The play runs from Oct. 23-27, 2007 at 7 p.m.
Pep Squad Haunted House Tickets have been on sale from Pep members and from H-4 since Oct. 1. The night will be full of carnival games, movies and yummy treats. Pre-sale tickets are $5 and normal tickets at the door are $7.
SCOC Halloween Costume Contest SCOC’s next event will be its annual Halloween Costume Contest. The event will take place on Oct. 31 during lunch at the Rally Court. Prizes will be awarded to the best costumes in a variety of categories.
ASVAB Test Juniors and seniors can sign up to take the ASVAB test on Oct. 23. The test will be conducted through periods 1-4.
Reflection Program The theme for this year’s Reflections Program is “I can make a difference by...” Entries are welcome in the following areas: Literature, Visual Arts, Photography, Music Composition, Dance Choreography, and Film/Video Production. Entry forms and rules are available in the Administration Office. All entries must be submitted by Nov. 6, 2007.
By JENNIFER CHANG, VERONICA LIM & EMILY RUETER
Staff Writer
As Arcadia High kicks off a new and exciting school year, we not only welcome the class of 2011, but a whole slew of new teachers as well. Among this eager batch of new educators are teachers dedicated to ELD, English, Math, Science, Social Science, World Language, and Special Education. No matter what department they are part of, all these teachers have one thing in common: they are happy to be at Arcadia High School. With about 4,000 talented and ambitious students, they feel they can really teach to their full potential. “They didn’t teach AP classes at the other high school I worked [at] and I wanted to teach AP,” said Mr. Shengyan Zhang, a new Biophysical Science and AP Physics B instructor who used to teach in China. Many other new teachers have similar opinions about Arcadia’s academic potential and strong desire to succeed. According to Mrs. Alicia Southorn, a UC Davis and University of Lavern graduate who now teaches Modern World History and Archaeology, the student body is composed of “motivated, collegebound, stellar students.” Mr. Kenneth Dee, a recent addition to our Math staff as an Algebra 1G and Algebra 2 teacher, added that Arcadia students are “really good compared to [those at] other schools.” Mrs. Maria Gaeta-Catano is not only impressed with “the school’s great reputation for academic excellence,” but she “could not have asked for better students” in her Spanish 1 and 2 classes. Mrs. Janet Baker, a new addition to the English department, could not agree more and has so far loved “meeting all [her] students on the first day of school.” Mrs. Baker is not new to AHS, however, as she has worked as a paraprofessional aide in AHS in 1991, though her new job as an English teacher is sure to be quite different. New to Arcadia’s Social Science division are Ms. Heather Brown and Ms. Chris-
Photo by Jennifer Hang
News Inside Scoop on the New Teachers
Showing off school spirit The new teachers from left to right: Marissa Gaeta-Catano, Sarah Lamantia, Christine Sardo, Monique Bonilla, Matthew Woodin, Heather Brown, Christopher Marston and Alicia Southorn tine Sardo. Ms. Brown teaches Modern World History in addition to Social Science (SDAIE) and joined our school because she heard of our great reputation. She has not been disappointed so far, and appreciates our “welcoming and nice teachers” and “pleasant kids.” Ms. Sardo has been a recipient of Arcadia’s “very friendly and willing to help out” staff as well and is thus far enjoying her Social Science (SDAIE) and Economics classes. Mr. Jeff Chang and Mrs. Sarah LaMantia have both joined AHS’s ELD department, the former because he “wanted to get back in touch with [his] Chinese roots” and the latter because she “heard so many wonderful things about AHS and the ELD department in particular.” Both agree that we have “smart and nice kids,” and Ms. LaMantia added that she has found her students to be “dedicated, determined and driven.”
After 10 years of teaching and obtaining his Master’s degree at Point Loma, Mr. Matthew Woodin began teaching English 11 and English 11 Intervention because “there are so many scholars” who he believes “will be deep thinkers of American literature.” Like Mr. Chang, who lives in Monterey Park, Mr. Christopher Marston arrived at AHS because he “was looking to be closer to [his] home.” Mr. Marston teaches U.S. History and believes that his students are “great” and “all the teachers and all the staff are very helpful.” Other additions to the Apache staff include Mr. Michael Feraco-Eberle and Miss Gazanian in the English department, and Michael Cockroft and Christine Klein in the Math department, who were unavailable for interviews.
New Additions to Counseling Staff By JENNIFER HANG Staff Writer
With the arrival of a new school year, six counselors—Kevin Darr, Kristina Glickstein, Laurie McQuaid, Jennifer Oku, Andrew Poon and Edith Wong—were welcomed into the AHS staff. Growing up in Pasadena, Mr. Kevin Darr, a bridge counselor for First Avenue Middle School, has always been familiar with Arcadia. After graduating from college and getting married in San Diego, he and his wife returned to Pasadena so that his wife could teach ELD and Spanish at Dana Middle School. Through his wife’s work, Mr. Darr was able to meet many great teachers in the district and hear that Arcadia’s counseling department has a reputation in the school counseling profession as being top notch. The two together led to Mr. Darr’s desire to be one of these “dedicated, experienced and innovative” counselors. In his few moments of free time because of his two daughters, one at two years and the other at six months, Mr. Darr enjoys golfing, watching baseball, playing guitar and swimming. Ms. Kristina Glickstein, an alternative learning counselor, began her work in Arcadia after hearing of the “great students and programs” on campus. She enjoys spending time outdoors, doing
activities such as hiking, fishing and camping. Ms. Glickstein feels that AHS “is just a good school.” After three years of being a dean on campus, Mrs. Laurie McQuaid, a college/career counselor, was “ready for a change and anxious to meet with kids as they make their plans for life after high school.” When not aiding students with potential opportunities, she enjoys playing sports, gardening, collecting antiques and dolls, being with loved ones and sewing. She is “looking forward to all the exciting things we [counselors and students] can work on together in the area of college and careers.” As a graduate school student, Ms. Jennifer Oku served as an intern for AHS and loved it, deciding to continue here as a freshmen counselor. She favors the work environment because “the faculty, students and parents are nice and welcoming.” In her spare time, Ms. Oku likes to play softball and basketball, spend time with her family and friends, watch television and movies and go shopping. She owns a pet beagle named Toby, which she rescued from an animal shelter in June. Ms. Oku looks forward to getting to know more students as the year goes on. After getting his Masters in Counseling, Mr. Andrew Poon, a bridge counselor for Dana Middle School, applied for jobs in several schools.
After his interview with Arcadia, Mr. Poon felt comfortable and after being told he would fit in nicely, joined the AHS counseling staff. His hobbies revolve mostly around sports. He is a season ticket holder to the Dodgers and UCLA Bruins Football. He watches ESPN “non-stop” and likes playing basketball. In his opinion, “TV shows on DVD are the greatest invention ever.” Mr. Poon would like to remind students that “it’s easy to worry about friends, tests and homework, but don’t forget to make time for yourselves.” Like Mr. Darr, Ms. Edith Wong, the ELD counselor, always had a familiarity of Arcadia, having lived here for 12 years. She recalls bringing her younger sister to school approximately 10 years ago. Ms. Wong decided to apply for a job here, keeping in mind that AHS’ students are “among the elite.” In her spare time, this churchgoer enjoys singing karaoke, watching movies, listening to music and playing the piano and guitar. She is “very excited to work with students in the coming year” and is “looking forward to being involved in student activities such as drama productions, sports games, band and orchestra.” These counselors can be found on various days in A-3.
October 2007
NEWS
theapachepowwow.com
Rod’s Grill v. Rusnak: The Big Debate By KATHLeeN KAO staff writer
Manny Romero, owner of Rod’s Grill, finally won the battle against Rusnak, a hulking Mercedes Benz dealership that tried to suck the humble, family run restaurant into its domain. Romero’s persistence to maintain the restaurant finally paid off when Rusnak, exasperated by the lengthy battle, decided to consider withdrawing its dealership from Arcadia. Good news and bad news spawned from this decision. Arcadia protected another chunk of its community from falling into the grappling claws of a greedy corporation. But if Rusnak moves, Arca-
dia will also experience a heart-stopping dip in their city revenue, because a great amount of our money comes from Rusnak. We saved a part of Arcadia, but is it worth the cost? Senior Matthew Chang said, “Yes...if we allow one company to take over, the trend might continue until Arcadia loses its sense of community and turns into an industrial city.” Indeed, opposition against Rusnak’s expansion centered mainly on this argument. Tearing down a longstanding, family-run business struck a sensitive chord in Arcadians, who were provoked into battling Rusnak because they see this as destroying a part of Arcadia and a part of the his-
Staff
toric Route 66. “Rusnak offered Rod’s Grill one million dollars to move,” said sophomore Linda Wang. Rod’s Grill “should have taken the money and relocated to another part of Arcadia.” Some people rejoiced over the outcome. Their crusade against the dealership had not been in vain. Rusnak’s potential withdrawal from Arcadia left others in dismay. Many questioned whether preserving a small sliver of Arcadia was worth losing millions of dollars. As of now, Rod’s Grill stands proudly, its sign glowing triumphantly next to a Mercedes dealership that might soon be just an empty lot.
Caruso Project: The Shops at Santa Anita photo by roya falatoozadeh
By CeLesTe CHeUNG & CHrisTiNe XU staff writers
conStrUction plAnS the empty parking lot next to the race track transforms into the Shops at Santa Anita. ruso Project, they are worried that the project will desecrate Arcadia. A group called Arcadia First!, headed by Westfield and concerned citizens, openly expressed their disapproval by sending DVDs and letters to Arcadia homeowners, detailing the negative effects of The Shops if they were to be approved. Among those effects were that the shopping center would obstruct the view of the Santa Anita Racetrack, and that the heavy traf-
fic could ruin the small-town feel of Arcadia. Junior Abraham Chen said, “We don’t really have an [impending] need for another shopping mall. That would be nice, but we don’t need to have it. Politically, the people behind the project probably just want to make more money.” Construction of The Shops at Santa Anita will commence as soon as permits are issued, and the center is set to open in 2009.
photo courtesy of shopsatsantaanita.com
For over two years, there has been a buzz about the building of The Shops at Santa Anita, which has been recently approved by the City Council. Proposed by Caruso Affiliated, the general idea of The Shops at Santa Anita is to create an upscale but oldtown shopping center with trendy shops and unique restaurants that people of all ages will enjoy being at. The complex also features a community performing arts center, free for local organizations and Arcadians to use, as well as a cinema, lush promenades and possibly a lake. Feedback has been mixed—some Arcadia citizens are excited at the prospect of more upscale shops. Also, new offices for the school district are included with the project, which gives Arcadia High more room to add much needed classrooms and facilities. Freshman Stephanie Youssef said, “I’m really excited about the Caruso Project. Although it might cause a few problems, its positives outbalance its negatives.” As for opponents of the Ca-
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Editors-in-Chief News Editor Opinion Editors Entertainment Editor Student Life Editor Features Editor Sports Editor Academics Editor Front Page Editor Center Spread Editor Calendar Editor Campus Focus Editor Advertisement Editors Associate Editor Executive Copy Editor Photography/Graphics Editors Webmaster Fundraising Chair
Kyle Jacobsen and Hanan Kamal Jay Zhang Iris Jong and Gretl Lam Elisa Carino Mimi Kamal Lily Wong Laura Kelly Melissa Chen Janhvi Joshi Mitalee Khilnani Daphne Tan Elaine Chang Kayla Pang and Ivy Yang Hannah Gallaher Jacqueline Yue Roya Falatoonzadeh and Jennifer Hang Minda Wang Hannah Mathews-Ward
Staff Writers News Staff Opinion Staff Entertainment Staff Student Life Staff Features Staff Sports Staff
Academics Staff Calendar Staff Campus Focus Staff Copy Editing Staff Center Spread Fundraising Staff
Victoria Bian, Jennifer Chang, Celeste Cheung, Jennifer Hang, Ashley Johnson, Christine Xu, Allison Zheng Tiffany Chang, Aisha Elmasri, Arthur Huang, Kathleen Kao, Yan Man, Poonam Mantha Brianna Beckman, Roya Falatoonzadeh, Janhvi Joshi, Scott Lyou, Angela Meng Lisa Chang, Joanna Chuang, Michael Chen, Jenny Lin, Emily Rueter, Parvin Shakib, Angela Shen, David Sun Rachel Cheong, Kristen Murakami, Cora Ormseth, Christine Pao, Linda Wang, Erica Win, Chloe Yuan Hannah Gallaher, James Hernandez, Christine Howard, Mitalee Khilnani, Frank Lam, Hannah Mathews-Ward, Minda Wang, Gregory Zajac Kevin Kim, Grace Kwong, Tracy Lee, Daphne Tan, Jacqueline Yue Veronica Lim Sarah Lin Melissa Chen, Celeste Cheung, Cindy Huynh, Grace Kwong, Kristen Murakami, Tracy Lee, Christine Xu Chris Liang Briana Beckman, James Hernandez, Christine Howard, Ashley Johnson, Poonam Mantha, Akhila Rao
State Bans Teen Cell Phone Use While Driving By ALLisON ZHeNG & frANK LAM staff writers
In 2001, the United States Congress introduced a bill to ban the use of cellular phones while driving. States were given the option whether or not to enforce the law. New York and the District of Columbia are two such states that decided to enforce it. Statistics show that of the 4,600 accidents that occur annually, nearly 30% of those accidents occur because of cell phone distractions that can be prevented
by the passing of this law. Joseph Simitian, one of the two Democratic lawmakers who introduced the bill, claims that with the addition of this bill, the amount of teen driven accidents will be significantly reduced. The bill was passed in the California State Senate with a vote of 23 to 14 on Aug. 30, 2007, and Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger signed the bill on July 1, 2007 in Redwood City. The bill will take effect on July 1, 2008. With the passing of this bill, all teens between the ages of 16 and 18 will no longer be allowed to use cell phones
or any electronic devices while they are driving. That includes the use of hands-free devices with Bluetooth or any similar accessories. Adults will not be affected by this bill. Another bill previously signed and passed last year will also be taking effect on July 1. It states that adults will only be allowed to use their cell phones while driving if they use it concurrently with a hands-free device. Any person violating any of these new laws will be fined $20 for the first offense and $50 for any subsequent offense.
Adviser Mr. Johnny Lee
Publication Information: The Apache Pow Wow is a student publication distributed monthly throughout the school year. The paper has been continuously published since Arcadia High School opened in 1952. Unsigned articles appearing on the opinion page reflect the opinion of the Apache Pow Wow editorial board. All others represent those of their respective authors. Address letters to the editor to: AHS Apache Pow Wow, 180 W. Campus Drive, Arcadia, CA 91007. To place an advertisement in the newspaper, call (626) 821-8370. Advertisement rates vary from $30 for a business card advertisement to $360 for a full-page black and white advertisement, with quarter-page, half-page, and advertisement insert options available.
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Opinion
Student Health: Go Big or Go Home By AISHA ELMASRI
Staff Writer
A typical large serving of cheese fries: 389 calories with approximately 189 calories from fat. A Three Musketeers candy bar: 180 calories with about 45 calories from fat. Now you tell me—why should one of these foods be banned while the other is not? The vending machines, which sold various candy bars, from M&Ms, to Snickers, to Reese’s Pieces, have been banned from campus by the California Department of Education. Soda machines have been rid of “unhealthy” cans of Coke, Sprite and Pepsi and filled instead with various fruit juices. In fact, California schools can no longer sell foods that consist mainly of artificial flavors and sugar; yet, every day hundreds of kids continue to line up to buy globs of fries smothered in gooey cheese and chunky chili for lunch. Is this California’s idea of a nutritional lunch? Our government’s motivation behind forbidding candy sales is to decrease the dizzying number of obese children in California. If you stroll into the cafeteria to purchase a “healthy” lunch, however, you will witness repulsive-looking pieces of pizza, burnt cookies and mushy, sickly-colored muffins. If the California government were truly serious about promoting teenage health, it should have eliminated these foods as well, instead of banning only candy and soda sales. Go all-out or go home! I have a suggestion: Either get rid of all the junk in our cafeteria as well as the candy and soda, or don’t do anything at all. I believe a greater effort should be made to encourage healthy eating habits. More foods that are both delicious and nutritious should be offered, and our existing so-called healthy foods should be improved. California Department of Education: Rather than create a law that gets people off your back, create a law that actually benefits the students and encourages a healthy learning environment.
Graphic by GRETL LAM
BANISHED FROM LUNCH
Our government is arbitrarily banning foods of similar health value.
theapachepowwow.com
October 2007
Prep(are) to Waste Time in Class By JACQUELINE YUE Staff Writer
Coming home from an orientation meeting for parents, my mom was astonished to report that she had learned there are over 50 SAT Prep(aration) schools (also called academies, learning centers and other such euphemisms for “meaningless boot camp”) within a 5-mile radius of Arcadia High. I’m not directly criticizing anyone for spending thousands and thousands a year on these prep schools in hopes of raising an SAT score or boosting an AP class grade and thus earning the ticket to a good college. Honestly, I want to go to a great school just as much as anyone else. But with nearly all my friends attending one or more prep classes at a time, I start to wonder: Are they really worth it? Indeed, it is time consuming and utterly wearisome to take additional classes for APs, SATs and SAT Subject Tests, especially if the student has to balance Basketball, Key Club and other extracurricular activities on top of classes. Adding the rigid time commitment of a regular prep class can overwhelm anyone for various reasons other than time. Two years ago, I decided to attend a prep
class for math analysis because I had heard that PreCalc/Calc A was extremely difficult, and wanted to give myself some basic background on what I would be learning. I figured I’d have something to fall back on if I didn’t understand my high school teacher’s lessons. But before the program was half over, I dropped. I couldn’t stand it; the instructor—I am reluctant to call the man a “teacher” because that term connotes someone more human—flew through topics too quickly for me to understand, scolded me repeatedly when I tried to take notes (“Eyes on board. Don’t duck your head. All on handout”) and made me wince as I listened to his thick Chinese accent. Since the majority of our school seems to invest so much time and money into prep classes, I won’t even bother identifying the instructor or his institution—I’m quite sure you know by now. I think what bothered me the most about that class was the intense focus on grades. Students received absurd tests that required them to memorize, for example, 14 logarithmic equations in a short period of time, and every homework assignment and test was graded. If the student did badly, his parents were notified of their child’s miserable performance. I used to be extremely grade conscious, but I have long since found more interest in actu-
ally learning the subject and having a good grade come naturally with my interest in learning. This system of teaching, with emphasis placed strictly on grades and performance results rather than understanding concepts or thinking critically, drove me quite mad. As an alternative, why not self-study for the SATs or any other subject you’re worrying about? My blue The Official SAT Study Guide cost me about $12, and I’m quite sure it’s done me just as much good as a [insert four-digit figure]-course taught by a theoretically skilled teacher. Self-studying allows you to juggle your time according to your own needs, to cater specifically to the sections where you need extra practice or care. You can also learn in the manner that you find the most effective instead of being forced to work with whatever teaching method a prep school instructor employs. Furthermore, you will receive no dire punishment for missing a question or two—unless you are set on calling your parents and telling them seriously that you are faring poorly in class and are doomed to become a complete failure in life. All in all, I am strongly convinced that self-studying is a far better tactic than attending a prep class, which is not only expensive and frustrating, but a downright waste of time.
Belief in Us: The Inherent Tendency for Good By ARTHUR HUANG
Staff Writer
Christianity. Hinduism. Islam. Buddhism. Judaism. They are the immortal guides of mankind, religions to which billions of people belong, religions with the same fundamental principles of altruism and morality. Religions spawned from a need for guidance, for assurance of something greater than the mundane, the everyday; for an explanation of the inexplicable and the supernatural. And yet, at the same time, they are also forces at war, in a constant struggle to sway and convince others that their religion is superior, the “One and Only Way,” so to speak, for there could not possibly be another God, another Deity, that is just as omniscient and omnipotent! Because these devout, pious followers suppose that so many divine beings cannot coexist peacefully, the many diverse religious groups have many times gone to battle, in the name of God, in the name of Allah, Buddha, Zeus, in the fervent, arrogant conviction that only their religion is righteous, worthy and true, that all else is a creation of the lesser and nothing more than a pseudo-religion. And they leave behind rivers of bloodshed that greet trails of tears to mark the tragedy of the reality. But hey, no harm done, right? After all, these wars are “Holy.” They are “justified,” orders from the top brass. They are backed
by all-powerful, supernatural forces. So who cares if the very nature of such conflict is a contradiction to basic religious ideals, human morals and the original intent of religion? Such intolerance, such unnecessary strife! Do not the Ten Commandments state that Thou Shalt Not Kill; do not the Torah and the Koran discourage murder and demand a life fulfilled through the respect and love of fellow human beings? So then why the Crusades? Why the Reconquista, the French Wars of Religion in the middle-16th century? And why did devout, zealous believers hijack planes with the
end translated into 10 different languages and known globally. With a universal subconscious governing and connecting us all, it is with little wonder that so many religions are so similar. In short, regardless of our beliefs, regardless of our religion, we are all simply, only, humans in the end. And if we are really all the same, why the conflict? Why the fighting? Over what? A group, a name, an affiliation with a particular “rival” religion? Even within Christianity, the world’s largest religion, there are endless sects and branches. Differences between them are minute, and yet, there are still religious wars breaking out among them, and the bloodshed continues. We are humans after all, aren’t we. Humans that butcher, murder, dance in the bloodbath, the carnage, committing acts of monstrosity—repulsive, deplorable, horrid acts that turn man into something even below beasts. What’s the use of all this strife, this fighting? These atrocities are all so pointless and unnecessary, completely against the intent and teachings of all faiths. Have we not already the concepts of what’s right and wrong within ourselves? Strife over translations, fights over minute details of history, wars over which religion should be the one to dominate the land, strife, strife, strife, pointless, absurd, needless, avoidable, ridiculous, unwarranted, unnecessary. So, again, why? Live in peace, coexist in harmony, accept and respect each other’s opinions as human beings, as people, with beliefs just as strong, just as reasonable, and perhaps just as right.
“Why the fighting? Over what? A group, a name, an affiliation with a particular ‘rival’ religion?” intent of not just suicide, but mass murder, in the name of their holy deity, on that fateful day of Sept. 11, 2001? How hypocritical. How disappointing. How absolutely contemptible. Sigmund Freud found that the mind of every human being was connected through the subconscious; the people of present and the people of centuries past hold many of the same fundamental ideals: murder, theft and dishonesty and such are condemned, while altruism, love, forgiveness, etc. are upheld and encouraged. Joseph Campbell’s The Hero with a Thousand Faces testifies to this theory with an exploration of the archetypal hero, one that is present in myths and tales across the world, from a story passed down from mouth to mouth, generation to generation, in the most isolated tribe in the jungles of Brazil, to a leg-
October 2007
Opinion 5
theapachepowwow.com
Procrastinate? Sure, Go Ahead By IRIS JONG
Opinion Editor
When students seek advice from upperclassmen or when teachers assign new projects, a single phrase, by now ubiquitous in every academic classroom, reigns supreme over all others. You know what it is. The phrase has been repeated so often that it ought to be printed on the school-provided agendas. It’s not so difficult to imagine, emblazoned on
everyone’s assignment book, the omnipresent words “DON’T PROCRASTINATE.” We live in an age where procrastination is indeed a worthy and cunning adversary. Strengthened by its comrades in battlenamely the Internet (whose weapons include Facebook and MySpace), the iPod, and the Flat Screen TV, procrastination tempts us with offers of relaxation and freedom. Some manage to defeat it. The rest just let it take control.
Graphic by IRIS JONG
RAMPANT PROCRASTINATION Procrastinating teenagers usually
refuse to acknowledge their massive piles of work until the very last minute. So why ask them to change their ways?
Procrastination has become a culture for teenagers. Students often compare their marathon hours the day a report is due, boasting of having stayed up past seven in the morning, bragging about finishing a 10-page report in a mere four hours. They are, somehow, proud of their “superhuman” efforts. Apparently, all seasoned procrastinators build mental filters, designed specifically to keep out the phrase “Don’t procrastinate.” A teacher tells her senior students not to procrastinate and the classroom rings with echoes of her voice. Some procrastinators have concerned friends who voice their worries, year after year. Concerned Friend #1 asks, “You don’t want to stay up for two nights again, working on that history project, do you?” Procrastinator #1 stares at him blankly, and goes back to eating lunch, showing no signs of having heard anything at all. Teachers have made attempts to snuff out procrastination, checking the progress of reports periodically, setting earlier turnitin.com deadlines, reiterating advice in futile hopes of initiating change. Why do this, if procrastinators refuse to change? “I doubt I’ll stop procrastinating anytime soon,” admitted senior Ruby Wang, “It’s very addicting, and once you fall into the habit of doing it, you never want to stop.” We non-procrastinators have led a worthy, if futile, crusade. The anti-procrastination campaign is as strong as ever, yet most students continue to accept procrastination as a fact of life. It’s time to surrender. No amount of wheedling can convert those who love to plunge into work as midnight arrives, working until the sun begins to emerge. We non-procrastinators can only hope that our procrastinating peers will learn to manage their time eventually, if not sooner, then perhaps later…
America the Wholesome? By KATHLEEN KAO Staff Writer
Congress imagines hip-hop and rap lyrics chafing away at innocent, teenage minds. It imagines future generations degenerating into Eminem clones that advocate alcohol and drug abuse through oh-so aesthetically written rhyme schemes. Very soon, Congress fears, four rappers will tear through the White House in their flashy Ferraris, heralding the deterioration of America’s youth. To placate their paranoia, authorities have inflicted congressional criticism on rappers such as Kanye West and 50 Cent. Never mind the “freedom of expression” policy that America has upheld for so many years. The creative expression of artists must be sacrificed so that teenagers are forever sheltered from the realities of life. In order to create a clean-minded generation, unpolluted by dangerous images of rap music, Congress has taken the rash initiative of proposing censoring laws. But hey, why not take it a step further? I’ve seen plenty of teenagers, who are clearly underage, sneaking into R-rated movies, buying cigarettes, and reading lascivious magazines, among many other things. Since we can’t monitor every delinquent out there, the government should issue a law that eradi-
cates all negative influences. A beacon—fed by 50 Cent records and Huck Finn novels— should be lit in Washington DC, signifying the rise of a new era. Let’s purify America. Maybe later we can impress our beliefs onto other countries and purify the world. In a decade or so, if the government perpetuates my brilliant idea, we will live in a Spartan, monastery-esque society, where holding hands is taboo and casual kissing warrants incarceration. Citizens and armies will be unarmed, because we all know that any type of violence is bad violence. And if other countries come at us with AK-47s and hydrogen bombs? Oh well. But just in case we have rebels who actually want to preserve their rights to free speech, everyone needs to be watched carefully, because the government cannot trust its citizens to behave themselves. Ever heard of Orwell’s 1984? Oceania’s a good idea. After all, Congress has already considered jack hammering away at our freedom of expression. If Congress really feels the need to protect our generation, then it’s not doing much other than venting their wrath on the scapegoat. “Hiphop is sick because America is sick,” as Crump so rightfully puts it. Those four rappers fester only in the overactive imaginations of paranoid authorities, who believe the moral deterioration
Graphic by KATHLEEN KAO
INANE CENSORSHIP The government is becoming increasingly paranoid. Where will they draw the line?
of our generation spawns from rap and hip-hop rather than from crime-infested cities the government has either ignored or refused to help.
These Are the Clothes that Try Men’s Souls By TIFFANY CHANG Staff Writer
As you can see from my name brand clothing, I am not poor. I’m over here, by the way, with the green polo, the Abercrombie and Fitch polo— not that sweater one— no, that one is Hollister. If you’d just take a closer look at me, I mean really look at me, you’d be able to tell the difference between my shirt and that girl’s shirt, over there, or between, say, my shirt and their’s, or mine and the rest of the school’s for that matter. My Danielle Vintage Abercrombie Polo beats Hollister’s Point Vincente Polo. The evidence is manifested within the varied prices: $49.50 is greater than $24.50—two times greater, in fact. That means that my polo is two times greater than hers, and probably yours, too. That’s not even including tax. The name brand clothing I exhibit is very expensive. It reflects my person. That I do not hold a job, not even a minimum wage one, is no implication of my wealth, or lack thereof; my bank account could not possibly be the only source of income. Hello parentals. Besides, if I didn’t have money (or to put it more accurately, if my parent’s didn’t have money) to spare, I would never in a million years spend $300 for a pair of designer jeans, $100 for a mini skirt without nearly enough cloth to justify the price, or $25 for a pair of athletic socks with a miniscule CK imprinted on the bottom, which no one, not even I, will see. If I didn’t have that kind of money to burn, I’d need to hoard all my cash to help pay for food, the bill, or my college application fees. Luckily, thanks to my good fortune, I am nowhere near that situation. And everyone knows it just by looking at my name brand clothing. Everyone knows everything just by looking at the clothes you wear. The beauty of no uniform policy at this school is this creation of a feudalistic body of high school students, intentional or not. There are the populars, aspiring to be perfect reproductions of the mannequins in the shop windows of Beverly Hills, the jocks, sporting their letterman jackets, the preps, the regulars, the nerds, the goths— all that and more. Clothing just makes it so much easier to classify people without ever having to take the time to personally meet them. Hey, guy with nothing else to wear but his 8th grade graduation t-shirt, you must be weird and friendless; hello, girl with fishnets and high heels, who are you trying to please? And what about you… you with the same green Abercrombie and Fitch polo as me. You bandwagoner. Everyone knows it just by looking at your clothes. We welcome letters to the editor and any guest-written articles. Email your thoughts, concerns, and submissions to editors Gretl Lam at gretllam@yahoo.com or Iris Jong at solaeriis@gmail.com. All student letters must include the writer’s name and grade.
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entertainment
theapachepowwow.com
Echoes, Silence, Patience & Grace
By BRIANNA BECKMAN Staff Writer
Named after a secretive World War II force, the highly venerated Foo Fighters became a public sensation upon establishing a contract with Capitol Records. While acclaimed for being Nirvana’s original drummer, the band’s founder, David Grohl, spent many years mustering together his own home recordings. Although he did not receive any public release for his work, these solo recordings essentially served as the Foo Fighters’ earliest hits on their debut album, Foo Fighters, which was finally released on July 4, 1995. Aside from Grohl himself, the band’s original members consisted of bassist Nate Mendel, guitarist Pat Smear and drummer William Goldsmith. Today, the innovative Grohl and Mendel continue to remain two of the group’s imperative components, while drummer Taylor Hawkins and guitarist Chris Shiflett have replaced Smear and Goldsmith. Since their groundbreaking commencement, the Foo Fighters have been no strangers to exemplary recognition. In late 2002, the Foo Fighters were labeled #72 in VH1’s 100 Greatest Hard Rock Artists. They have had the honor of winning many Grammy Awards, including the album There is Nothing Left to Lose, the single “Learn to Fly,” the single “All My Life” and their albumn One By One. Their single “Learn to Fly” was labeled #20 in VH1’s 100 Greatest Videos. The Foo Fighters have hit #447 on the “Top Artists of the Past
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Foo Fighters
Grohl’s recording studios are named after his favorite number, 606. 25 Years” chart. Their second most-recent album, The Best of You, was certified double platinum. Echoes, Silence, Patience and Grace starts off with a brilliant five-song run establishing a comfortable equilibrium between the band’s original aggressive, driven sound that fans are used to, accompanied with an influence of softer, more melodious and subdued acoustic sounds. The album begins with “The Pretender,” a definite crowd pleaser and expedient for a high-energy performance. Following “The Pretender” are a few more tracks, including “Let it Die” and “Erase/Replace,” the hard-beat sound we are used to. However, it is evident through
Halo 3: The Fight is Finished By MICHAEL CHEN & SCOTT LYOU Staff Writers
After three years of waiting, eager fans can finally sink their teeth into Halo 3, the third installment in the overwhelmingly successful Halo series. The game has broken entertainment opening-day records, selling $170 million within 24 hours of hitting store shelves, but there is only one thing that really matters; does the game live up to the hype? Absolutely. Halo 3 starts off with the war between the human-Elite alliance and the Covenant Loyalists, a conquering race of zealous aliens. This confrontation resulted from the assassination of the Prophet of Regret, a member of the leadership caste in Covenant society. Halo 3 revolves around the struggle for the Ark, an ultimate weapon that could remotely activate the Halos and wipe out all sentient life. As a result of the escalating war, Halo 3 offers an impressive arsenal of weapons, vehicles, equipment and capabilities for players to enjoy. One example is the Brute Spiker, which fires merciless shrapnel to annihilate the enemy and also delivers a vicious melee attack. There is also the Brute Mauler, which is essentially a compact shotgun with a bladed underside. Players will also have the luxury of using heavy weapons such as flamethrowers and missile pods that will pull the camera out to a
third-person view. The game also introduces deployable equipment, allowing players to use items like bubble shields and turrets to gain an edge in combat. This wide array of new gear paves the way for a new spectrum of endless combat strategies. Halo 3’s campaign presents astounding graphics and a thrilling soundtrack to deliver an adrenaline rushing experience. However, it wouldn’t be fair to say that the campaign doesn’t suffer from its imperfections. For instance, it would not be wise to rely on the game’s artificial intelligence for transportation, which cannot even maneuver around a tree. The game also suffers from minor occasional slowdowns. In addition, the short amount of time required to beat the game could be a positive or negative aspect, but that depends on the gamer’s preference. Cooperative campaign mode is now available for up to four players either on networked Xbox 360s or through Xbox Live, Microsoft’s online service. Halo 3 also includes a type of meta game that enables players to earn points for kills and lose points for dying. As a result, a competitive mood is incorporated into the campaign, adding to the game’s replay value. In addition, players can also utilize the new Replay function to analyze their battles and determine new strategies. Without a doubt, Halo 3 is the game that fans have been waiting for. This video game phenomenon has vastly improved upon its predecessors.
these songs, which don’t necessarily reinvent the typical Foo Fighters mixed-beat sounds, that Grohl isn’t prepared to take on a new mass of interesting sounds; nonetheless, he’s willing to accept and experiment with ideas foreign to the band’s original flavor. The album’s second track, “Let it Die,” remains within the boundaries of hard rock sound, while “Erase/Replace” reflects novelty as it crosses over from the band’s customary screaming vocals and heavy guitars to gentler, three-part harmonies, a string section and heavily processed guitars. The following song, “Long Road to Ruin,” definitely reflects the band’s innovative distinctiveness in sound, as it embodies a classic Foo Fighters air and chorus. The second half of the album is arguably slightly weaker than the first; however, it definitely doesn’t near the boundaries of mediocrity. Songs like “Cheer Up Boys, Your Makeup is Running” and “But, Honestly” propose new softer-sounding melodies, though they don’t completely dispose of the band’s signature hard-rock tune. The 10th track, “Statues,” is the first Foo Fighters song to use a piano as the main instrument. Exceptionally smooth and easy on the ears, the track’s harmonious sound and lyrics easily parallel with the original tunes of Paul McCartney and reflect a definite change in direction. Overall, the album reflects both new and innovative ideas while at the same time sticking with the band’s original hard-rock foundation. Echoes, Silence, Patience and Grace is definitely another solid and spectacular addition to the Foo Fighters’ legacy of excellence.
October 2007
Music Corner
By ELISA CARINO
Entertainment Editor
Oct. 21-22: Boys Like Girls @ The House of Blues Anaheim Oct. 23: Rihanna @ The House Of Blues Anaheim Oct. 24: Dir en grey Single Release: Dozing Green Oct. 27: KIIS FM Homecoming @ The Honda Civic Center Oct. 27: The Donnas @ The Roxy Oct. 29: Queens of the Stone Age @ The Nokia Theatre Oct. 30: Chris Brown CD Release: Exclusive Nov. 6: Angels & Airwaves CD Release: I-Empire Nov. 6: Jay-Z CD Release: American Gangster Nov. 6: Alicia Keys CD Release: As I Am Nov. 8: Maroon 5 @ The Staples Center Nov. 9: Paramore @ The Grove of Anaheim Nov. 14: Paramore @ The Wiltern
The Kingdom Does Not Reign Supreme group must complete their mission without becoming suspects of the US government and without losing their lives. Staff Writer This thriller of a movie will satisfy a person looking for action, action, and more The Kingdom is a poorly filmed action action. However, The Kingdom fails to promovie by Peter Berg, who vide other important asalso directed Friday Night pects that are crucial to a Lights, The Rundown, and successful movie. Very Bad Things. Not only At times the movie is it a waste of $10.50, it is is unrealistic, with poor also a misuse of time and dialogue and a tremenintellect. dously simple plot line. In the opening scenes The use of a hand-held of the movie, American camera gets tiring after oil company workers and the first 30 minutes of their families are attacked the movie, not to menby the Saudi Arabian tertion causing eyestrains rorists. The State Departto see some of the action. ment and attorney general Rather than trying to undo not initiate a thorough derstand Middle-Eastern investigation of the crime culture, the movie atscene in an attempt to tempts to mock and stukeep a good business repidify it. Despite these lationship with the Saupoor elements, the actors dis. However, the attack did superior jobs in porPhoto Courtesy of google.com becomes personal for traying their characters. four F.B.I. agents (Jamie The Kingdom Jamie makes an effort to prove Foxx, Chris Cooper, Ja- The Kingdom Foxx, Chris Cooper, Jason son Bateman and Jennifer it is not necessary to Garner) when they hear Bateman and Jennifer Garner speak the Saudi Arabian the news that one of their star in this actionfilm. language to defeat tercolleagues was killed. rorists from the region. The group organizes a secret five-day trip to Despite living in a post 9-11 era with high the area to uncover the murder and attempt to tensions in Iraq, the movie does not accept put the man behind bars. the challenge of trying to ease the pain of However, they soon realize that the creating good relations in the Middle East. Saudi authorities do not approve of American For anyone with some degree of intellect, foreigners on their soil. With time ticking, the The Kingdom will not satisfy their needs.
By ROYA FALATOONZADEH
October 2007
Features
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Halloween’s Haunted History By RACHEL CHEONG & KRISTEN MURAKAMI Staff Writers
Halloween is a traditional celebration that dates back to the ancient Celtic festival of Samhain. Originally called “All Hallows Eve,” Halloween is derived from the Catholic celebration called All Saint’s Day. The celebration of Halloween was introduced to America by the Celts in the 1840s during the Irish Potato Famine. The Celts, who lived 2,000 years ago, came from Ireland, the British Isles and parts of France. They celebrated their new year on Nov. 1, which represented the transition from the end of summer to the beginning of winter. The Celts believed that on the night of Oct. 31, the boundary between the living world and the dead world would open and the deceased souls would come alive. The Celts were superstitious of these evil spirits and thought they would harm their community by destroying crops and playing pranks. To avoid the supernatural, the Celts dressed up in costumes, made of animal heads and skins, paint-
Photo by LILY WONG
CANDY PILE The October holiday has evolved into a holiday full of decorative festivities and sweets.
ing their faces with soot. These traditions later evolved into our modern day custom of trickor-treating. The Celts also used jack-o-lanterns to repel evil spirits. Traditionally, the lantern was carved from a turnip, potato or beet and was lit with coal or a candle. These lanterns represented the souls of departed relatives and
were placed in windows or set on porches to serve as protection against malevolent spirits that were freed from the dead. Jack-o-lanterns are made of pumpkins today since turnips and gourds are not as common in the Americas. Such lanterns, which were initially made to commemorate loved ones, trasformed into popular decorations of Halloween. The Celts were influenced by the Roman Empire, which explains the many rituals of Roman origin throughout the Celtic community. Among them was the tradition of bobbing for apples. This started with the worship of Pomona, goddess of the harvest, who was often portrayed sitting on a basket of fruits and flowers. Halloween remains a very popular celebration in not only present day Ireland but also America. On Halloween night, both children and adults dress up in costumes of creatures of the underworld such as ghosts, zombies, and witches. Trick-or-treaters go and knock on neighbors’ doors collecting an assortment of sweets. America traditios are very similar to those in Ireland and the legend of Halloween continues on, year after year.
Dangers of Trick-or-Treating By CORA ORMSETH Staff Writer
Halloween is a holiday frightening enough in itself without having to worry about a “Pixy Stix Killer” loose in the neighborhood. Ronald Clark O’Bryan, the so-called Pixy Stix Killer, murdered his eight-year-old son by depositing cyanide in a Pixy Stix from his Halloween candy stash to receive $20,000 of life insurance in 1974. Five-year-old Kevin Toston struck terror into the hearts of parents when he died from candy supposedly tampered with heroin in 1970, but it turned out that he actually died of an overdose upon finding his uncle’s treasure trove of drugs. More recently in 2000, James Joseph Smith gave out candy embedded with needles to the trick-or-treaters in his neighborhood in
Minneapolis, and though no fatal harm occurred, one boy bit into his candy and injured his mouth. Such incidents have swept parents into a frenzy of paranoia. Terrified that their beloved children might encounter poisoned candy or sweets embedded with needles and razor blades, many parents proceed to throw out all suspicious candy, much to their kids’ despair. Some take even more drastic safety precautions and rush trick-or-treating loot to a nearby hospital or airport for X-rays. The fear of sadistic lunatics giving poisoned Halloween candy to innocent trick-ortreaters has been dismissed by many as an urban myth. The justification is that the few reported cases of candy poisoning involved carefully calculated and intentional harm di-
rected to a specific victim, as in the tragic instance of the aforementioned Pixy Stix Killer. Candy and apples stuffed with sharp objects remain a threat, since there are depraved people who randomly distribute such dangerous “treats,” often as malicious pranks. Older trick-or-treaters may have another concern, such as the 1964 case of Helen Pfeil. Opposed to teenagers trick-or-treating, she gave over-aged trick-or-treaters bags full of steel wool pads, dog biscuits, and ant poison. Come Oct. 31, trick-or-treaters do not need to worry about candy tampering as long as their stashes contain no suspiciously wrapped candy, home-made food by strangers, or anything looking remotely like dog biscuits, chances are, their precious Halloween candy is safe.
The Guide to Costume Fashion
By CHRISTINE PAO & LINDA WANG
Staff Writers
Tired of dressing up as a ghost with a white sheet as a costume? Want to have a unique costume this year that suits perfectly? Halloween is finally around the corner and students are on the lookout for the ideal disguises. But the searching process is much more complicated than simply taking a trip to the store and selecting a random costume. To make this year’s Halloween experience spectacular, there are many factors to be considered, such as where to shop, how to pick a costume, and what to keep in mind while choosing a disguise. Instead of just looking to the typical Pok-A-Dots and Party City for costumes every year, try the vast selections at Costco or Wal-Mart for great prices. Spencer’s at the Westfield Santa Anita Mall also carries a large
variety of realistic masks. Or, if making costumes sounds more appealing, visit Joann’s for materials, or perhaps even Tailor Town at the Westfield Santa Anita Mall for custom-made, form-fitting costumes. If difficulty arises finding inspiration for the perfect costume, there are different sources
“...don’t wear anything too revealing that will be an obvious distraction” that can be utilized in the search. Try looking into movies and TV shows for unique ideas that will complement any personality. Additionally, pair and group costumes are a creative alternative to the traditional couple costumes, while movie casts are sure to be a hit as well. Whether students are looking to follow the crowd or stand out this year, it will be
helpful to keep in mind that the most popular costumes this Halloween will be Pirates and Harry Potter characters. For students wearing a costume to school, be aware of the different factors that have the potential of making Halloween a disaster. First, know the school’s dress code: don’t wear anything too revealing that will be an obvious distraction. Second, check the weather report for Halloween to make sure a costume is appropriate for the temperature. Third, overthe-top costumes are always inconvenient at school and are not recommended. Squeezing through hallways, fitting into a seat or carrying a backpack may become troublesome. Finally, for athletes that play a sport during 6th period, it is a wise idea to remove any makeup or face paint so it will not crack or sweat into the eyes. Regardless of how Halloween is spent, taking a few extra precautions will certainly make this fun holiday even more enjoyable.
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fiction Echoes from By ERICA WIN
the Past Staff Writer
And there it was. The last breath her grandmother took before leaving the woes and memories behind. Claire observed the departed for the very last time and walked away from where the cadaver lay towards the dark balcony. The 16year-old looked up at the starry sky and heard the grandfather clock chime as 2 a.m. struck. She observed the city and felt a breeze of cool air come upon her. Claire felt the urge to state the loss out in the open, but something refrained her from doing so. It can’t be true. Grandma really cannot be dead. Claire was surprised that her usually strong emotions had not caught up with the news yet. But even though she had known about her grandmother’s critical state long ago, she had always thought she would cry uncontrollably. Yet, no emotions were aroused by the death. The expected had sadly become a fact. Claire felt another gush of cold air as she announced to the world, “I no longer have a grandmother.” With some sort of self-satisfaction, Claire was about to turn her back to the darkness where her statement lingered when she felt a hand rest on one of her shoulders. It was her grandmother. (To be continued in the next edition)
Homecoming Hype By LILY WONG Features Editor
Arcadia High School’s 2007 Homecoming dance will officially be held at the Jim Henson’s Soundstage in the heart of Hollywood on Oct. 20, 2007. Originally built by Charlie Chaplin in 1917, this very venue has starred sensational singers such as Gwen Stefani. Contestants of American Idol are known to record some of the world’s greatest soundtracks here, as well. And in Hollywood, the nightlife is one of the many aspects that contribute to Apache students’ hype towards this year’s Homecoming. “Just the fact that so many celebrities have been to this same location to record legendary films and sountracks amazes me. I can’t wait until Homecoming,” said senior Danica Shei. As more than 1,000 students are expected to attend the dance, Arcadia’s Associated Student Body is proud to announce the Homecoming 2007 theme: Backstage Pass for Two. “We tried hard to create a unique and original theme that would also correspond to the dance’s location,” said ASB President Tim Sae Koo. For students without ASB, the school year’s first formal dance costs $55 per person; for lucky ASB cardholders, the dance will cost $45 per person. Priority sales began Oct 10, 2007; regular sales on Oct. 11- 16, 2007; and late sale started Oct. 17, 2007 with $60 per peron whether with or without the ASB discount.
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SPORTS
theapachepowwow.com
October 2007
Football Continues Undefeated in League By GREGORY ZAJAC Staff Writer
Victorious in all six of their past games this season, Arcadia Football is currently undefeated. Said head coach Jon Dimalante: “The players have been playing with fanatical effort. I couldn’t be prouder of them. They’re doing just what they’re coached to do.” The Apaches entered Salter Stadium on the night of Sept. 7 ready to make history and turn heads. With a positive attitude, Coach Dimalante said that the football team “can accomplish a lot if no one cares who gets the credit.” The team showed that strong commitment to one another, when they walked off the field with their first win against St. Francis since 2002. Coach Dimalante felt his team’s success was no accident. Following a training schedule with only seven weeks off a year, the players are left with the simple task of “putting it together for those 48 minutes every Friday night.” In their 48 minutes with St. Francis, Arcadia won with a score of 17-6, completing 13 of 18 passes and 31 rushes for a total of 391 yards. St. Francis completed a 55-yard touchdown pass early in the game, but by halftime, the Apaches captured a 10-6 lead with a 49-yard rush to the end-zone by quarterback Kevan Walker, who finished the game with a total of 300 offensive yards. The next two games saw similar success on the part of the Apaches. Coach Dimalante, expecting his players to outdo themselves every time they get on the field, said, “We don’t just stay the same. We strive to become the best team we’re capable of.” Arcadia tallied 42 points against Monrovia’s
Coach’s Corner By HANNAH MATHEWS-WARD Staff Writer
The Coach’s Corner is the newest and latest place for Apache Athletics coaches to get their chance to speak. Every issue, we will ask various in-season (and some outseason) coaches a question that will allow AHS students to get a birds eye view into their methodology. This issue, we asked: What are your expectations and hopes for the season? Here’s what we heard:
Photo by ROYA F.
Jon Dimalante: Football My expectations and hopes for the season are that, at the end, our players are proud of having played in our football program. It is important to me that they feel that all of the good things they had to sacrifice was for something better. Robert Greep: Boys Golf As my great Baseball coach John Meiers once quoted, “Those who fail to prepare, prepare to fail.” He stole that from Ben Franklin.
Photo by ROYA F.
Photo Courtesy of LLOYD FUJIWARA
FOOTBALL The Apaches Football team persists against the St. Francis Golden Knights, upholding their 16-7 lead. 20 and 33 against Lynwood’s 21. Arcadia faced Burbank High School on Sept. 28 in their first Pacific League contest. With the match dedicated to the deceased grandfather of tight end Todd Golper, the Burbank Bulldogs made a 48-yard touchdown run in the first quarter and held onto their lead for most of the game. Arcadia sophomore Dillion Short later scored two field goals later, but the Apaches were still losing 7-6 with 1 minute left in the fourth quarter.
The Bulldogs fumbled at the Arcadia 38-yard line, and the ball changed hands. Quarterback Kevan Walker picked up a first down on a 7-yard play that set up for a 48-yard touchdown pass to Todd Golper, which brought the game to 13-7 and an Arcadia win. Walker had an off night, completing only 12 of 28 passes, but gave the credit for the win to his teammates, who “really picked me up.” Arcadia went head-to-head against Herbert
Hoover High School the following week and won with a score of 35-14. Last Thursday Arcadia played the Glendale Nitros. Apache Eddie Park caught an interception and Troy Amhaz rushed 44-yards for a touchdown on Arcadia’s first offensive play. Arcadia maintained a consistent lead throughout the game, never allowing Glendale a single touchdown. After running out the clock at the end of the fourth quarter, the Arcadia Pep Squad lined up and repeated a triumphant chant of “6 and 0,” their team’s season record. The final score: 45-0. In a comparison of all players in the Pacific League provided by MaxPreps, an online high school sports database, Apache Troy Amhaz is the league leader in rushing with 728 yards. Kevan Walker is 4th in passing with a total of 665 yards. Todd Golper is 1st in both total tackles and sacks. Arness Ikner is 1st in receiving and 3rd in scoring. Brian Rambeu is first in interceptions. Casey Picard is 3rd in sacks. Eric Willm is 4th in scoring and 5th in receiving. Shaun Roos is 5th in sacks. Donnie Fields is 5th in sacks. Shelby Klien is 5th in tackles. Arcadia is currently the only undefeated team in the Pacific League. While recognizing that the league title will not come easily, Coach Dimalante believes this team has something that was not as strong in previous years, namely a “greater resolve—to win.” Believing that football is a sport that “takes everybody pulling on the same side of the rope” to win, he is confident that the members of this team “play hard for each other. They’re a real close-knit family. So when they’re blocking, they’re not blocking just to block, but blocking because they’re blocking for a teammate or a team.”
Boys Cross Country Sprints to Victory By MINDA WANG Staff Writer
The boys of Cross Country have been rocking out this season in style with huge showings at one of the nation’s post prestigious invitationals, Woodbridge. It might not ring a bell in your head, but in the running world, the Woodbridge Invitational is one of the most competitive invitationals out there. With hundreds of teams showing up and thousands of spectators, Woodbridge is cross country running at its best. The Boys Varsity team ran in the Sweepstakes Race again this year and came in a close 2nd place against some of California’s best teams, beating out last year’s state winner, Trabuco Hills, and losing to 1st place Murietta by a mere 21 seconds. Senior Kris Romero led the Arcadia pack with an awesome finish time of 14:40 (fastest time by an Arcadian) while junior Renaud Piozat followed close behind with 14:48. The rest of the Varsity team also performed well with Ryan Ernst (15:04), Will MacNeil (15:23), Andrew Thach (15:48), Daniel Yamane (15:57), and Jerry Zhou (16:14). With such a strong showing at Woodbridge, the boys are now ranked 6th in Nike Team Nationals and 2nd in the Southern California section, behind Murrietta. While the Boys Varsity took care of their competition, the newly recruited freshmen also showed their stuff, coming in 3rd place overall with freshman Ammar Moussa leading the pack and finishing 7th overall with a time of
Photo by MINDA WANG
BOYS CROSS COUNTRY Left: Junior Renaud Poizat stays ahead of the competition. Right: Senior Daniel Yamane and junior Matt Swanson fight off the challengers. 16:20. Bryant Chan led the sophomores with a time of 15:56, while junior Matt Swason headed his pack with 15:54. A few weeks ago, the boys also ran Pacific League Meet #1 and did not do as well as Coach O’Brien had hoped, but they nevetheless have vowed to rebound and reclaim what they say is rightfully theirs, the League Championship. The Boys Varsity ran sub-par and came in
a close 2nd, losing by only 7 points. Kris Romero finished 2nd overall and first from Arcadia with a time of 15:41. Renaud followed closely with 15:54 and the rest of Arcadia stormed in with Ryan Ernst (16:21), Will MacNeil(16:29), Daniel Yamane (16:55), Andrew Thach (17:00) and Matt Swanson (17:07). While the Boys Varsity struggled, the JV and Soph-Frosh took care of their opponents and soundly defeated them.
October 2007
SPORTS 9
theapachepowwow.com
Volleyball Sets Up for a Killer Season PROFILE ELISE IRVINE
By CHRISTINE HOWARD
Staff Writer
As the clock ticks off the final minutes before the start of their game, the Arcadia Girls Varsity Volleyball team steps onto the court and forms a circle, performing their traditional singing and dancing gigolo routine. The Apache team has been having a great season with an overall record of 10-2 and a league record of 7-1. They have participated in two tournaments, including the Arcadia Invitational Varsity Volleyball Tournament, which is hosted at Arcadia High, and the Royal Girls Volleyball Classic, which is hosted at Simi Valley High. The girls said they played “wonderfully excellent” and received 3rd place at the Arcadia Invitational, even though they were up against “beach teams with monstrously tall Amazon women.” Although they did not go as far at the Royal Classic, they still made it to the quarterfinals. They said, “We played more consistently, and the other coaches at the tournament said how great our defense was.” Senior Stephanie Stillman has become the
team’s star outside hitter, with her high kill count and explosive jump serve. In the game against Pasadena, she had 10 kills in the second game alone. She has been featured in the Pasadena Star News and is currently receiving scholarship offers. The girls said, “We’re doing really well this season. We have a stellar defense, and all of us connect really well. We have a lot of fun together.” They think that they definitely have a great chance at winning the Pacific League title and will hopefully go far in CIF. With the way the Lady Apaches have been performing and the number of high level teams they have been dominating, it appears that their season has a bright future. If they keep playing the way they have, they have a shot at the Pacific League title and a chance of going far in CIF.
By MITALEE KHILNANI
Staff Writer
Photo by CHRISTINE HOWARD
GIRLS
VOLLEYBALL
Junior Stephanie Lagace goes up for a kill after an assist from teammate junior Monica Shei in the Arcadia High School North Gym.
Boys Water Polo Plays to a First Place Ranking in CIF By ARTHUR HUANG Staff Writer
The 2007 season for our Boys Water Polo team has turned out to be an unexpected, but much anticipated, season of firsts. After an atrocious scrimmage against South Pasadena, a game that had Arcadia looking more like novice swimmers introduced to water polo for the first time than a rank-1 CIF team, the water polo studs have turned their team into just that- ranked #1 in the CIF polls. Following the scrimmage, the Apaches blazed their way through the Ayala tournament, through various opponents, on an 11-0 undefeated streak before finally falling to Brea Olinda. Along the way, this particular team made history for the Arcadia water polo franchise, becoming the first team under Coach Janice Clark’s lead to win a tournament, to upset the higher-ranked El Segundo, to emerge atop the apex of their division and to, hopefully, finally, capture the league title and perhaps even the CIF Championship ring, goals that look none too impossible for the 18-2 Apaches.
PROFILE LARS GUILLERMO By GREGORY ZAJAC Staff Writer
Photo by ROYA FALATOONZADEH
and Crescenta Valley (CV). Coach Clark is urging and strongly advocating everyone to attend and support the Apaches Boys Water Polo in this last league game, held at 3:15 p.m. on the Wednesday of Oct. 24, at the CV pool. Last year the boys lost by 1 in both their games against the Apache’s archrivals, once in a heated but disappointing overtime. This year, not only is CV ranked lower than Arcadia, but the boys have full confidence in seizing this elusive victory. Photo by ROYA F. But all of the triumph enjoyed by BOYS WATER POLO The Boys Water the Boys Water Polo team comes at a Polo team aims for a goal against Burbank. price. The players wake up before daybreak two days a week to attend practice On their conquest to bring home the Pacific at 6 AM, and every school day they practice from League Champions plaque, this team has already sixth period until 4:30 or 5 p.m. With the season aldefeated Burbank, Hoover, Glendale, and Bur- ready half over, the studs of the pool are ready to end roughs, winning each game by either a margin of 10 the season on a historically high note for Arcadia, points or twice as many points as their opponents. aiming even beyond the CIF Finals to the prestigious Upcoming league games include Muir, Pasadena CIF Masters Tournament.
Before Lars Guillermo began calling himself an Apache, football was to him “a good activity [he] thought [he]’d pick up,” but not something he knew much about until he “got into it, and then after that [he] loved it.” The senior now plays center and defensive end on a team entering league undefeated, with its first win against St. Francis since 2002. He is also a captain who “plays with fanatical effort, and leads the way of our guys in the trenches,” said Head Football Coach Jon Dimalante. Of the St. Francis game, Lars said, “That’s one of our biggest games of the season, and everyone was looking forward to that, and everything worked out the way we hoped,” wishing that “people will realize what Apache football is really about: winning.” When asked what this team had that those in the past did not, Lars said, “Brotherhood. Chemistry. We’ve all been working together a
lot, and have known each other probably four years, and those years working together finally meshed us together.” And Coach Dimalante agreed, calling this year’s football team the “ultimate team game.” Looking up to Arcadia alumni Bruce Matthews, Lars admires “the way his brotherhood was, and how good of a teammate he was” and Lars strives to be that kind of a leader. Recognizing that everyone from the Varsity quarterback to the Frosh-Soph lineman contributes to the success of the team on the field, especially when “it’s the whole team going against the other half of the team, [and so] pretty much the good guys versus the better guy” because “without that we wouldn’t even last during the game.” Of his style of leadership, he said he tries “to do what [he] can and try to just lead by example. Hard work—and pushing people to what I know they can do.”
Both talented and dedicated, Elise Irvine has a true passion for tennis and everything it entails. From the long practices to the exciting games, she canPhoto by LAURA KELLY not get enough of the competitive sport, since it is the “best sport out there.” Tennis is a challenging sport in which players are responsible for keeping in shape by running, performing drills and building upper-arm strength. In order to remain in the best condition possible throughout the season, Elise plays tennis every day and works out at a local gym three times a week. “This constant exercise strengthens my endurance and power during games,” said Elise Irvine. Tennis players can choose to play either one-on-one or in doubles. Elise Irvine prefers to play doubles because of the “tremendous amount of team work and camaraderie involved.” Though playing doubles with a partner “builds an unbreakable bond,” Elise has to work twice as hard to practice and coordinate strategies with her partner. The intensity and challenges of competition attract Elise to tennis even though synchronizing game plans can prove to be quite difficult at times. Elise Irvine has been on the Varsity Tennis team at Arcadia High School for the last two years and played on Junior Varsity during her freshman and sophomore years. Thus far this season, “the team has tons of chemistry and have been bonding very well.” Practices are held everyday and the team engages in matches against each other, which creates a “fun but competitive environment.” Not only does she play on the Arcadia High School Girls Varsity Tennis team, but she also trains with a private coach once a week for two hours. This type of training demands time and effort since practices are rigorous and “very tiring.” Besides being involved in tennis, Elise must also maintain her grades. Balancing school and tennis can be tough; however, Elise is driven and motivated to accomplish all of her goals. According to Elise, playing tennis and coping with the workload is “worth it” because she hopes to participate in tennis during college. Elise is interested in attending either USC, Cal Poly San Luis Obispo or UC-Santa Barbara. “I couldn’t imagine my life without tennis, which is a sport all about concentration, control and creativity,” said Elise Irvine, who is excited to continue her tennis career.
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Royalty
theapachepowwow.com
October 2007
Royal Dusty GIbbs
Eleni Christodulelis Semifinalist
Jessica Ching Semifinalist
“Trying out for Rose Court has been an amazing experience and I’m so thankful for being able to carry this through and still be here.” -Dusty Gibbs, Royal Court Princess-
Audrey Simes Semifinalist
Rahiwa Gebre Semifinalist By LILY WONG Staff Writer
In Pasadena, more than 1,200 local participants attended the annual Tournament of Roses Royal Court tryouts for the 119th year on Sept. 15, 2007—in which only seven young ladies are chosen to ride down the much-anticipated New Year’s Rose Parade. Although each tryout member is only given 15 seconds to explain his/her desire for a spot in the Royal Court in front of a panel of over seven judges, the selection committee is still able to narrow over 1,000 individuals to 250 girls, then to 75, then 33 and finally to seven lucky ladies. Of the 75 semifinalists, Arcadia
High School had five of its own students: Jessica Ching, Eleni Christodulelis, Rahiwa Gebre, Dusty Gibbs and Audrey Simes. “The experience was unforgettable and definitely worthwhile,” said senior Eleni Christodulelis. Advancing round by round, the selected girls receive a letter in their mailboxes on an expected date. However, only the final callbacks are announced in the grand room of the Tournament of Roses mansion. And this year on Oct. 1, 2007, 33 finalists anxiously awaited their names to be included on the list of seven. In the end, Zena Brown, 18 of Alverno High School; Chloe Ghoogassian, 17, and Katie Merrill, 17, of Pasadena High School; Dusty Gibbs, 17, of Arcadia High School; Kelsey
MacDougall, 17, of La Cañada High School; Courtney Rubin, 17 of San Marino High School; and Gaelen Stanford-Moore, 17, of South Pasadena High School were the chosen court. In recent years, AHS has hit a dry spell, not having even one princess from its campus; however, Dusty Gibbs, one of the leading players in AHS’s Girls Varsity Softball, has been selected to be one of seven girls on the leading 2008 Rose Parade float. When asked what the most difficult part throughout the entire process was by San Gabriel Valley Tribune, Dusty said, “Waiting is the most difficult. We wait in a big room for our numbers, our names to be called. We wait in lines and only have a minute
or so to express ourselves. So, it’s definitely a lot of build up with it ending over so fast. I’m so thankful to carry this through and still be here.” For the rest of the year and upcoming year, these seven princesses will roam throughout local hospitals, nursery homes and schools, making approximately 150 public appearances all over local spots. With weeks packed full of interviews and debuts, the girls will no longer have time to attend school for a certain number of days, and some will even have to sacrifice their former extracurricular activities to admit themselves to the huge commitment required to be dubbed one of the seven Royal Court princesses.
October 2007
Royalty
theapachepowwow.com
PRINCES
“I’m thankful to be a homecoming prince and since I won, I can get free homecoming tickets.” -Jon Ma-
AND
PRINCESSES Freshmen: Jon Ma Katherine Park Sophomore: Ashley Ethridge Kevin Sarreal
“I’m really excited to be part of homecoming royalty, it was a really big surprise but I’m so happy it happened!” -Ashley Ethridge-
Junior: Jasper Hsu Tawney Kim Senior: Jimmy Chang Dusty Gibbs Bianca Hillier Nick Lin Jessica Mao Kevan Walker
“We’re happy to be homecoming royalty together. We’re really good friends and it’s great to do this with someone you care about.” -Jasper Hsu & Tawney Kim-
“It’s a great honor that means a lot more than just a crown, pretty attire, a ride on a convertible and a dance with a handsome prince.” -Jessica Mao-
11
STUDENT LIFE
12
I Believe... By JASMINE CHAO Guest Writer
What do I believe? I believe that anything can happen. That a friend can cure a bad day. That God watches Photo by J. HANG over those who are faithful. I believe that dancing is a perfect alternative to express yourself. That my mother will always drive me crazy. I believe in food for comfort and printers that work. I believe in showing what you got. I believe in dancing like no one’s watching. I believe in love - puppy love, real love, and the kind of love that gives us butterflies. I believe in relationships that work, and cell phones that won’t die. I believe in Chinese prices and high quality, the perfect snow day, handwritten cards, haggling, huge pillows, and perfect hugs. I believe in teachers who change us, phenomenons that move us, and miracles that inspire us. I believe in friendships that last a lifetime, and therefore I also believe in silly handshakes and secret codes. I believe in families that love us when the world doesn’t. And that a girl doesn’t need makeup to impress the world. I believe that a bad grade won’t ruin my future, and that the love of my life is out there. I believe in songs that move you, and friends that comfort you. I believe in the good of man, and that he learns from his mistakes. I believe in challenges, hard work, and honesty. I believe in reality and that life isn’t always fair. And even if I don’t know you, talk to you, or see you, I believe most of all in you, because there are days when you just need something, someone to believe in. I will believe.
theapachepowwow.com
October 2007
The New Alternatives for Lunch
cheese burritos and chili. Carbonated beverages are going to be replaced with healthier options, such as Powerade and lemonade. Popular items such as chili Staff Writers cheese fries have become main dishes instead of a la carte items due to their high number of calories. Serving sizes are going to decrease, With a new goal in mind, the cafeteria especially those of Chinese food, and the size now offers an assortment of food to provide of cookies have been reduced to account for healthier options to students. In order to meet its high sugar and high calories. Snicker bars the demands of new state regulations, the cafesurpass the limit of 250 calories and have teria has implemented healthy changes, has been removed. added a better selection to its menu and Despite all of these changes, has increased the prices. AHS will continue to serve outside New rules regarding serving size, food from locations such as Subway number of calories, ingredient usage and KFC. El Pollo Loco will soon and percentage of fat have taken its be added to the list. Patricia Weaver toll on food options. AHS will be unsaid, “We want to offer food that der State Review this year and must kids will want to eat, but with varichange to meet the strict demands for ety comes higher prices.” healthier diets. Prices have been raised to $4.50 Major changes include a vegetarian to comply with state regulations. The food cart that has recently been established cafeteria is not required to make any profit as well as an Italian pasta bar and a fiesta cart. but instead has to break even. Due to last year’s The blue vegetarian cart, located next to the loss, AHS needs to raise prices to compensate Chinese food cart, is “a good option for those for the difference. Patricia Weaver said, “We who are conscious Z their health and want to Photo by LINDA WANG decided to raise prices to cover for the extra exeat healthy,” according to Cafeteria Manager, TATER TOTS Patricia Weaver. The vegetarian cart serves Sophomore Diane Tan buys a meal of penses in healthier food options. By doing this now, the price will be stable for the next couple flavorful dishes made of non-meat products tater tots for lunch. of years, creating a standard price.” and offers brown rice and rice noodles. Patricia Weaver said, “We recommend students to stop by the vegetarian cart and sample the food. It may be vegetarian, but it tastes good.” The Italian pasta bar serves spaghetti, the most popular lunch item, as well as a variety of other pastas. The fiesta cart offers Mexican style foods, such as bean and
By LINDA WANG & KRISTEN MURAKAMI
AIDS Walk By ANGELA SHEN Staff Writer
This year, a number of clubs and students will be attending the annual AIDS Walk, to be held on Sunday, Oct. 21, at West Hollywood Park. The walkathon consists of an opening ceremony with guest speakers and the 6.2-mile walk. Each year, the AIDS walk raises funds and rouses awareness for men, women and children with HIV or AIDS. Last year, walkers and dona-
tors amassed a record-breaking $3.7 million. The event holds two main positions open for participants: a walker raises money through sponsors and donations, and a monitor (volunteer) supervises the walkers on the course and cheers along the sidelines. “I’m expecting the event to be nice and sunny with lots of people attending,” said Sophia Chan, a volunteer at last year’s AIDS Walk. Clubs such as Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA), Key Club and Leo Club are arranging to start off the new school year with the AIDS Walk. However, there are also students attending as individuals. Junior Katherine Sun plans to volunteer with friends. “I think the AIDS walk is a very good idea because it raises
awareness about a very important issue in our society,” said Katherine. “I’m volunteering because the walkers are going to get thirsty!” Students going either as part of a team or with a club are arranging to be there at 9:30 a.m., when opening ceremonies begin. “This year, FBLA is attending the AIDS Walk because we believe in creating holistic members of society who are aware of the dilemmas facing their generation and actively participate in ameliorating these problems,” said senior Jenny Tu, FBLA President. The AIDS Walk not only provides an opportunity for many to address a problem in our society today, but it is also a cause that many Arcadia students will march for.
By MICHAEL CHEN 1 - Name five items on the In N Out “secret menu.”
2 - What color are Harry Potter’s eyes? 3 - What are the colors of the five fret buttons in Guitar Hero? Every month, four students will fight off random questions. They’ll each be graded
MICHELLE freshman ZHU
KATIE LEE sophomore
Staff Writer
X 1 - ...I don’t know any C 2 - Is it... green? C 3 - Red, Orange, Yellow, Blue, Green
Score: 2/3
X 1 - There’s a secret menu? C 2 - Green! X 3 - Green, blue, red... (Then someone yelled out the rest)
Score:1/3
and their answers will be published right here. Think you could handle these? Send an e-mail to apachepowwowads@gmail.com with the subject line “Three Lives” with your name and grade.
Key X = incorrect C = correct
JEFF PRASATARPORN junior
LEON seniorHO X 1- I don’t know! X2 - I don’t remember... brown? X 3 - Blue, green, yellow, red?
C 1- Animal burger, animal fries, protein burger, multiple patties, well done/raw fries X 2- Dark brown? X 3 - Blue, yellow, purple, red, orange, uh...purple is wrong isn’t it? Score:1/3
Score: 0/3
Photos by MICHAEL CHEN & HANNAH GALLAHER
Trivia Challenge Questions: Three Lives To Go
October 2007
theapachepowwow.com
STUDENT LIFE 13
Rumor has it: Drama is Back! rehearsing diligently everyday from 3-5 p.m. with the communal objective of perfecting Rumors, a playwright originally composed by Neil Simon. A comedybased production, Rumors portrays and essentially mocks upper-class society. The story focuses on a 10th-anniversary party, during which the servants and the hostess vanish. Host Charley Brock, who never appears on Photo by ANDRES DELGADO stage, is soon discovADVANCED DRAMA STUDENTS Practicing their ered having shot himplay, Rumors, from left to right, seniors Jake Melton, self directly through the earlobe. Brock Elizabeth Semerad and Brian Poladian. is also the revered deputy mayor of New York, and naturally, all By BRIANNA BECKMAN party guests are urged to remain quiet about the Staff Writer incident. Thus, the story unravels. Chief characters in the performance inBrilliantly combining their amazing tal- clude seniors Tovah Goodman as Chris Gorents and ingenious creativity, the members of man, Brian Poladian as Ken Gorman, Jake Advanced Drama Department (ADD) have Melton as Lenny Ganz, Kassandra Zamanis recently assembled together in order to craft a as Claire Ganz, Matt Burstyn as Glenn Cooluminous and highly animated performance for per, Nikki Caiello as Cassie Cooper, Elizabeth students here on campus. Only two weeks into Semerad as Cookie Cusack and junior Andres the new school year, ADD members have been Delgado as Ernie Cusack. There are addition-
ally a couple of minor characters, including two police officers played by juniors Jillian Engel and Shae Palic. Claire Ganz serves as a major fundamental aspect of the story, and according to Zamanis, “She’s a huge gossiper.” Zamanis continues to explain, “She loves to talk about other people and include herself in other people’s business. Her own husband describes her as a ‘pain in the rear,’ so that should give you a good idea about the kind of person she is.” Claire’s primary objective is to effectively keep the entire scandal under wraps, but as the story progresses, audiences will come to find that she fails miserably. Goodman, who performs as Chris Gorman, embodies a hysterical and obnoxious lawyer in her mid-30s who is frequently austerely ridiculed by her husband. Tovah says that the show’s best element is its “the comedic timing.” Goodman painted a vivid image: “Picture a bunch of crazy couples forced to spend an evening together and an accident causes all of them into hysteria.” From what the actors and actresses articulate, the play is expected to be an exceptionally animated and energizing performance, keeping the viewers entertained and anxious for the latest plot development. Each of the characters individually contributes his or her own unique and hilarious personality, embodying the memorandum and theme of Neil Simon’s work. Performances are scheduled to begin Tuesday, Oct. 23, at 7 p.m. and last for approximately two hours. The final showing is Saturday, Oct. 27, at 9 p.m., in the AHS Little Theater.
SCOC and Freshmen Scream Ice Cream By LISA CHANG Staff Writer
As another year launches off with a clean new start, the Student Council Orientation Commission (SCOC) hosted its annual Ice Cream Social on Oct. 1, giving the freshman class of 2011 an opportunity to meet and socialize with their fellow classmates. SCOC, a student organization on campus, holds events to help freshmen adapt to the high school environment. The council encourages freshmen to become involved with school functions and offers advice to those in need of support. As freshmen often experience difficulty
when entering new surroundings, SCOC helps release this tension. The Ice Cream Social was held at the front of the J-building for the freshmen as well as the Big Brothers and Big Sisters. The goal was for “freshmen to make new friends and to bond with each other while meeting other upperclassmen,” said Jay Zhang, a member of SCOC. Enjoying their treat under the hot sun, each freshman was provided with approximately one cone with one scoop of ice cream including: vanilla, mint, chocolate, strawberry, Rocky Road and cookies & cream. Such delicious flavors not only brought in many participants, but also brought out social benefits. As students gath-
ered around J-building during the lunch hour, old friends were reunited and new relationships were forever forged.
a creative way to bring attention to this major issue.” Haewon uses her dancing ability to inspire teenagers to make good decisions and empower them to use their talents to make a difference in the world. WAIT is a nationwide organization that encourages abstinence before
marriage and educates young people about Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome. Music used in their performances contains positive messages that are expressed through the lyrics. Multiple styles are incorporated into dance routines, ranging from hip-hop and break-dancing to contemporary and ballet. Besides dancing, team members also sing, perform skits and lecture students about AIDS. Through performing with the WAIT team, Haewon hopes to be a positive influence in the lives of high school students who are less fortunate. She wants to serve as a role model to those who desire a better life and want to fulfill their dreams. Haewon believes that the performing arts are an effective way to inspire students to make positive decisions that will ultimately determine the course of their lives.
PROFILE
HAEWON MACFARLANE By EMILY RUETER Staff Writer
Haewon Macfarlane may seem like an ordinary junior, but once the final bell rings, she becomes someone entirely different: a passionate dancer hip-hopping her way to the prevention of AIDS. As part of a dance team called WAIT, Haewon travels to schools all over LA County to perform and promote positive lifestyles. “Doing something I love for a good cause is awesome,” she said at the team practice on Tuesday. “AIDS is a growing problem in America and dancing is
Photo by E. RUETER
PROFILE MONIQUE SPATA
By JENNY LIN Staff Writer
In 480 BC, 300 Spartans battled a Persian army more than 10 times its size and ended up losing. In 2000, one girl battled cancer and won. That girl is Monique Spata. Monique was just Photo by JENNY LIN 7-years-old when her family found a Chordoma tumor near her brain stem. “I was scared because I didn’t want surgery,” said Monique. Her classmate at the time, Jodie Murakami, said, “She got a tumor behind her ear. She was out for two months and then she came back, but she had to wear a mask.” Even though it was scary in the beginning for Monique, she had the loving support of her family, friends and teachers. “My class was really supportive. They wore hats and masks along with me and my teacher visited me at the hospital a lot too,” said Monique. When asked how her experience with cancer affected her personally, Monique said, “Before, I didn’t really appreciate life. But now I have a full understanding because I’m older and more mature.” Today, Monique is a sophomore and is also part of the Girls Track and Field team. “She’s stronger than most of the boys on the Cross Country team,” said Mr. Schultz, who is the track coach. She also has dedicated much of her time to help people with cancer. Once, she grew her hair out just to cut it off and donate it to those with cancer. She’s known to be optimistic and is always greeting people with a smile. “I do feel good about life,” said Monique. Although the Ice Cream Social has ended, there will be many more opportunities for students to become involved in school activities. The next event held by the SCOC will be the annual Halloween Costume Contest on Halloween. Those who dress up will have a chance to be voted by the school as the scariest, funniest or best duo. The contest will be open to all students and teachers during lunchtime at the quad. Photo by BRIANNA BECKMAN
SCOC SERVES ICE CREAM
Full of smiles, from left to right, juniors Kristen Phillipi, Monica Shei and senior Jay Zhang scoop out ice cream. Among these critical decisions is whether or not to be abstinent. According to Haewon, “abstinence is a huge step towards the eradication of AIDS. It is also the easiest way young people can protect themselves.” She hopes that students will realize the harmful effects of Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome and refuse to give in to peer pressure. By educating students about AIDS, Haewon hopes that kids will grow up with a strong desire to make good choices and completely avoid the epidemic. Despite her already busy schedule, Haewon always makes the time to attend practices and perform at schools. She likes teaching kids about AIDS and genuinely feels that she is making a difference. According to her, “nothing is more satisfying than changing lives while doing something [she] truly enjoy[s].”
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STUDENT LIFE
theapachepowwow.com
October 2007
Freshman Council Elected for a Fresh Year By VICTORIA BIAN & JOANNA CHUANG
Staff Writers
Put a check next to the start of the 20072008 school year—the beginning of another meaningful school year. To some, this new
school year could mean brand-new friends and teachers, yet to others it could symbolize a time of sleep deprivation. However, to the freshmen, this school year represents the first high school student council election, filled with candidates of new faces and personalities. A couple of weeks ago, seven freshmen names
Treasurer
A.) I wanted to run for student council because I wanted to do my part for our high school. B.) I hope to really be able to contribute to Arcadia High School, whether planning new activities or just showing as much school spirit as humanly possible. C.) Percussion and Key Club. D.) I’m not sure what to say; I guess I just take advantage of life and whatever it throws in my way.
A.) It was a mix of various reasons... It was mainly a little push from a friend that got me going. Special thanks and kudos to this friend. B.) I’m looking forward to meeting/ working with new people... C.) Electric guitar lessons and teaching self-defense at a martial arts studio in Monrovia. D.) My favorite Pokemon is Snorlax.
Senator
Girls Relations
Boys Relations
A.) One of the reasons I ran for freshmen council was that I enjoy working with people. Also, I have experience from middle school. B.) I want to be able to communicate with other members of both Freshman Council and ASB successfully. C.) I play clarinet in intermezzo CYMO (Claremont Young Musican Orchestra) and basketball. D.) My lips get really big right when I wake up; they look like Angelina Jolie’s lips.
A.) I know it’s cliche, but I wanted to run to help the school, and I also enjoy being active in the school. B.) I want to gain leadership skills, meet new people, and be with my friends. C.) Marching Band, Go Flutes! D.) Something unique about me: I am very happy most of the time and I love smiling. Food makes me happy and sleeping is what I do best. Oh, and I love H.A.M.!
Patrick Han
A.) I ran for Vice President because I wanted to help make our school a better place for everyone. B.) My goals for this upcoming year are to increase school spirit, Apache pride and participation in school activities. C.) Speech & Debate and Quiz Bowl. D.) I’m a good jumproper!
Jon Ma
A.) Because my parents told me if I do not run for Freshman Council, no rice for a week (just kidding). The main reason I ran was that I wanted to make a difference and possibly do something for the school. B.) I am excited to be able to meet new people and to contribute to the school. C.) Speech & Debate and Frosh-Soph Basketball. D.) I do not like strawberries.
Michelle Kim
Erica Tang
Anne Wu
Photos by VICTORIA BIAN, JOANNA CHUANG & AUSTIN YOON
ALUMNUS uc iRVINE By PREEYA PATEL
Guest Writer
Tw e l v e o’clock one Saturday morning I packed all my boxes, bags and suitcases into my dad’s truck and left for Irvine with my family. An hour later we arrived on Photo by P. PATEL campus and began to unload my stuff into my dorm room. When I got to the room, my roommate had already unpacked all of her stuff but she wasn’t in the room. So I said my goodbyes to my family
B.) What are your expectations or goals for this upcoming year? C.) What extracurricular activities are you involved in? D.) What is one unique quality or aspect of yourself that you want to share with the student body?
Secretary
Vice President
President
were announced at the Rally Court as the new Freshman Council members. The Pow Wow conducted a survey of the freshmen officers and asked a few personal questions: A.) What is your main reason for running for Freshmen Council?
and then began to unpack, rearrange and turn my dorm room into my new home. By that evening, I had finished decorating and arranging all my stuff and I also got acquainted with my roommate. We talked for a few hours about our high school experiences and what we were hoping to get out of college, and then we went to bed excited for the week ahead of us. During “welcome week” (the first week of college, with absolutely no classes) I met new people and learned a lot more about on-campus organizations. My entire dorm hall became a family. We would stay up late nights, play games, watch movies and just get to know each other. It was great to bond with all of my hall mates because it made me feel more at home. I started to sign up for clubs that interested me and got information about teams to try out for. I knew that staying involved on campus would help me get to know more people. The week was fun: no worries, no studying, no waking up early for classes. It was the best experience ever, and then the second week came and things changed. My classes started and I had to start sleep-
ing early enough to be able to wake up. I got caught up in studying for my classes; it wasn’t like high school where the first week is a breeze. On average, I studied three hours per day per class just to keep up with the material. With the curve, I needed to try to be at the top of the class to get the grades I wanted. It seemed harder to stay involved on campus and hang out with friends. I tried to balance the two, which only led to more late nights. I was always tempted to ditch classes but it was only my first week. By Friday I got used to my schedule and I cut down on the extracurricular activities. I learned to hang out and study and still have time to sleep. So, by the end of week two, everything was setting in. I got used to the new city, the new environment, the new faces and the new classes. I was having fun, but also keeping on top of my work. It’s amazing how many close friends and good memories I have made in just two weeks. It makes me think about everything I’ll have to cherish after a year, and then after four.
Austin Yoon
Jon Kim
A.) My main reason for running is because I felt like it. B.) I’m just excited to have new experiences this year. LOL! C.) I really, really, really, really, really want to make volleyball. D.) I talk way too much, more than I should. I love dogs and rainbows. Also, my tongue rips when I eat pineapples. I love my sister, Crispitos, hugs and candy.
Pow Wow
Web Site Relaunched By PARVIN SHAKIB Staff Writer
The start of this academic year brings many changes to the school newspaper The Apache Pow Wow, one of which includes the addition of a new Web site that students and teachers alike can access at theapachepowwow.com. The Web site is designed as a means for news to get out to the student body and public more often without the added expense of printing the paper. All the articles printed in the newspaper will also be posted on the Web site. “People can post articles and vote and rate. It can be our feedback machine and it can also fill in the gaps where there is that dead period where the Pow Wow is not printed. In one way you can sort of imagine the site as something of a go between if you want your school news,” said Minda Wang, the site’s webmaster.
theapachepowwow.com
October 2007
ACADEMICS
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Quiz Bowl Takes Fourth at Twain VIII By TRACY LEE Staff Writer
On Sunday, Oct. 7, Arcadia Quiz Bowl participated in its first tournament of the year—UCLA’s Twain VIII: The Reunion invitational—and took 4th place out of a total 22 teams. Just two weeks after finalizing this year’s roster, Arcadia took three teams and placed, just under longtime competitors Santa Monica, Rancho Bernardo and Torrey Pines, who placed 1st, 2nd and 3rd respectively. A-team, composed of co-captain senior Neiman Tan and juniors Sean Maroongroge, Derek Sun and Jacqueline Yue, swept most of the round-robin competition with only one very close loss to Torrey Pines. Neiman Tan said, “Our final placing, while decent, is somewhat disappointing given our rather stellar performance statistically. We made several mistakes at the most inopportune moments, but we will seek to consolidate our standing as one of the top teams in our region at the next tournament.” As for the two other teams, B-team, composed of mostly old members, and C-team, made up of primarily new members, faced
Photo Courtesy of google.com
MAP OF HUMAN KNOWLEDGE Quiz Bowl members have to demonstrate superior knowledge in answering thought-provoking questions.
few hurdles in the start to a good season. niors Calvin Hsiao and Sunil Pedapudi, juWhile they did not place highly, both teams niors Justin Chu, George Dewey and Tracy competed well and ranked in the middle. Se- Lee, and sophomore Alex Wang comprised
Benefits of Taking the PSAT By DAPHNE TAN
nalists are filtered out, 8,200 students will be announced as Finalists. The possible rewards Staff Writer include a National Merit $2,500 Scholarship, On Oct. 20. 2007, Arcadia High School corporate-sponsored scholarship and collegewill be administering the Preliminary SAT/ sponsored scholarship. National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test Lastly, for students thinking of attend(PSAT/NMSQT) for freshmen, sophomores ing college, PSAT results give students an opand juniors. portunity to see how their performance on an What are the advantages of the PSAT? admissions test compare to that of others apFirst, students benefit from taking the PSAT plying to college. By checking “yes” to Student by gaining the experience of test taking. By Search Service, students receive brochures and taking the test, students become familiar with information from colleges. the kinds of questions and the exact directions “It feels nice to be a Semifinalist and on the SAT. Though the PSAT is considered useful because you get to finish your counselor easier than the SAT, counselor Winnie Chin recommendation interviews earlier,” said sesaid it “gives students a firsthand experience nior Jarita Ta, a current Semifinalist. Fellow Semifinalist Jessica Lee claimed that being a Semifinalist gives her “a lot more college junk mail,” but “(she is) glad that after taking the PSAT for the third time, something finally came out of it.” Jarita also recommended students to remember to not “stress out for the PSAT and put an honest effort out” in order to get the best results. English teacher Mr. Johnny Lee tells juniors to “take the PSAT seriously because you have nothing to lose.” As for freshmen and sophomores, Mr. Lee said to “take the PSAT anyway to practice because you get the answers to the test afterwards.” This year’s senior class has 19 National Merit Scholarship Semifinalists and 50 Commended Students. The 19 Semifinalists are Bonnie Cao, Bryan Chen, Richard Chen, Catherine Cheng, Vivian Cheng, Erik Cheung, Janet Chu, Laure Flapan, Angelina Huang, Photo by JAMES HERNANDEZ Pengsu Jiang, Chun Fung Kwok, Gretl Lam, Lee, Timothy Liu, Danica Shei, Jarita NATIONAL MERIT SCHOLARSHIP SEMIFINALISTS enjoy the ben- Jessica Ta, Raymond Wu, Anthony Yoon and Eric Yu. efits of scoring high on last year’s PSAT.
TCID:BW
of what to expect on the actual SAT exam.” When students receive their test scores, they can “then receive feedback on their strengths and weaknesses on the various sections of the test as well as tips on how to improve their performance.” Second, juniors whose test scores meet a certain cut off score qualify for the Semifinals of the National Achievement Scholarship Program and may earn scholarship money for their dream education. Only about 16,000 students, or approximately one-third of the 50,000 high scorers, will be able to qualify. Semifinalists will then receive applications to submit for scholarship awards. After half of the Semifi-
B-team, and as five returning members with one new addition, were relatively balanced. B-team gave a solid performance and finished in the top of the second of three brackets. C-team, guided by Jeffrey Kwok and cocaptain Jarita Ta, fared well, considering its lack of experience. Junior Cliff Wu, sophomores Stanley Yuan and Timothy Zheng, and freshman Patrick Han are all new members on Arcadia Quiz Bowl, but they scored well and their team placed in the middle bracket. Tim said that his first tournament was “a struggle with [his] personal score, but helping the team in bonuses was really fun.” Jarita Ta said, “I think that our teams are starting out well and will only become better as the season goes on.” In placing 4th, the team has qualified one team for Nationals, which will be held later on this school year in late May. Returning member Jacqueline Yue said, “I think we did pretty well, considering it was our first tourney. The members of our individual teams are still learning to cooperate with each other; with study divisions and more practice, we’ll be ready.” Quiz Bowl’s next tournament is Nov. 10 at UC Irvine, so there will be further opportunity to qualify a second team.
SO Tryouts
By KEVIN KIM
Staff Writer
Photo by KEVIN KIM
SCIENCE OLYMPIAD Captains
encourage all students to tryout. Science Olympiad (SO), a highly rigorous team that involves extensive scientific knowledge, is holding tryouts this week during lunch in E-8 from Oct. 15-19. Tryouts consists of 19 test-taking events. Each participant is required to select three to five events they wish to test for to get onto the team. As for the five building events, all students are welcomed to be part of the building team, as long that they show commitment. Advised by Ms. Chreyl Vorak, this year’s team is led by co-captains senior Solomon Wang and junior Sean Maroongroge. The SO team will consist of 20 students, not including the building team, 15 of whom will compete in the competitions. The selection process involves a two-page application and will take account into the applicant’s participation in past team activities and performance during the testing tryouts. Co-captain Sean Maroongroge is optimistic about the upcoming year: “The team’s future is bright because we have a dedicated group of returning members and a strong selection of newcomers.”
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CALENDAR
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October 2007
Spirit Shirt? $5 School Spirit? $25 plus Tax By DANIEL HSU
The Descent of Man By VICTORIA BIAN
Sudoku: Use your brain See theapachepowwow.com for answers
Confessions of a Teenage Glutton By VERONICA LIM Staff Writer
Frozen yogurt: the new fast food of our nation. Stands have popped up all over Southern California… and why not? It’s delicious, nutritious and good for your colon. Three major chains have popped up in our little corner of Los Angeles, including Pinkberry and 21 Choices.Pinkberry is by far one of the most popular chains in the frozen yogurt world, and for good reason. Pinkberry has 28 locations total in the Greater Los Angeles area, Las Vegas and New York. Rather than the creamy, sweet flavor you’d imagine, Pinkberry has an icy tartness that is balanced out by the fresh fruit toppings you can order for an additional cost. They’re also the most expensive of the bunch, starting at $2.50 plus an additional 95 cents per topping. They serve two flavors—original and green tea—and they offer a
variety of toppings from fruit to cereal to cookies. Part of the appeal in Pinkberry is the funky, futuristic, yet retro interior of the store. Plastic chairs and chrome furnishings add to the atmosphere, as do plastic wall fixtures. But, if you’re thinking about going sometime soon, be prepared for a wait. A little w a y s a w a y from Old To w n Pasadena, Pinkberry attracts tourists and locals alike. Then Photo Courtesy of Pinkberry there’s 21 Choices. Located in the heart of Old Town Pasadena, a mere 200 feet away from Pinkberry, 21 Choices offers five different flavors
of the day, which, as the name suggests, change every day. With off-the-wall flavors such as “Circus Animal Cookies” and “Tahitian Vanilla,” 21 Choices definitely offers the largest variety of choices. A sweeter and more ice cream-like flavor than that of Pinkberry, 21 Choices is also slightly cheaper. Also the host of a plethora of add-ins, they even offer unconventional toppings like Twinkies and toffees. And, as a bonus for all the environmentally aware, 21 Choices uses mostly organic fruit, as well as decomposable cups and spoons. If you’re thinking of ordering from here as well, be aware: 21 Choices usually has a line of starving college students and Pasadena tourists going out the door. Either way you choose, frozen yougurt is a tasty, healthy alternative to ice cream. It has many healthful benefits, and best of all, it tastes delicious. So, please enjoy!
October 2007
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October 2007
New Murals for the New School Year
By SARAH LIN
Staff Writer
A blur of color greets your eyes as you rush from class to class, and you slow to a steady shuffle as you pause to soak in the images splashed across the wall. A much admired part of Arcadia High, murals are a part of our school’s history that not many people are aware of. Nearly two decades ago, a former Arcadia High School art teacher received approval to adorn the empty hallway walls with an array of studentpainted murals. Displaying student creativity in mural form has since then become an annual tradition, a privilege extended only to Art Honors students. The subjects of each mural are always highly individual and characteristic of the artists who design them, ranging from comic superheroes to landscapes. This year the inspirations for murals are also widely varied, from the Garden of Eden to the Dig Me Out art exhibition. Despite the artists’ common goal of designing a mural, they all have different reasons for wishing to do so. Seniors Mai Wen Liu and Susan Yin both agree that as seniors, they “want to leave something for the school,” while seniors Vicky Kang and Francine Budiman are motivated by the “fame and glory” that come with the task.
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Although the opportunity to paint a mural is highly sought after, the artists face numerous difficulties that hinder them from completing their task. The sheer size of each wall is daunting in itself, and a mural may take anywhere from one month to several months to complete, an extremely time-consuming project which may be extended because of harsh weather. Vandalism, however, is the most dreaded problem for artists who work hours on their murals, only to discover that they have been heartlessly destroyed. Mrs. Georgette Tuttle, the sole Art Honors instructor, laments over how “disheartening [it is] for the students to work very hard on their murals and then have someone come along and destroy it.” It becomes especially difficult for the artists because they must repair it and therefore waste valuable time. Despite the common negative reaction among the artists to vandalism, junior Jackie Treadwell said, “We can take it on!” Of the many murals submitted yearly, only six are given the prestige of being painted. With the combined efforts of the artists and the annual judges, the murals at Arcadia High are sure to prove once again to be as impressive and innovative as before.
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(1) Left to Right: Juniors Sophia Wu, Tamara Go, Yllana Antenor; (2) Top to Bottom: Seniors Vicky Kang, Francisca Budiman; (3) Clockwise: Seniors Annie Chao, Jennifer Tsai, Maiwen Liu, Susan Win; (4) Clockwise: Seniors Cynthia Chen, Emily Lin, Megan Liu, Sara Troung
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5 (5) L-R: Juniors Amanda Chandra, Jennifer Radzwill, Chihiro Ito, Jackie Treadwell; (6) Clockwise: Senior Ming Yu Yang, Juniors Moses Kim, Ricky Lei, Vincent Liang
Interested in getting your artwork published? Email it to campusfocus. powwow@gmail.com
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All of
photos Christine
courtesy Howard.