October 2009

Volume 58, Issue 2

Arcadia High School 180 Campus Drive, Arcadia, CA

October 2009

Racing to the Front

In this issue:

Photo courtesy of AUSTIN LUU

NEWS pg. 2 Make Music Foundation: Ashley Luu wows the crowd with her singing.

Photo courtesy of VIVIAN CHAN THE BEST AND GETTING BETTER Ammar Moussa, symbolic of cross country’s success this season, sprints to the fin-

ish line. The team is currently ranked as high as second in the state and in the top six nationally.

By ANDREW LIN Staff Writer Graphic courtesy ACCLAIMIMAGES.COM

FEATURES pg. 10 Halloween Pranks: Learn to execute some of the best (and funniest pranks on the 31st.

Graphic courtesy of MACIE DE CASTRO

STUDENT LIFE pg. 19 French Exchange Students: French exchange student Alex Bellefin is staying with host Macie De Castro

Lately, the Boys Varsity Cross Country team has been getting no shortage of press coverage and accolade—and for good reason. Since the opening of the season, the varsity team has snatched first place in every single one of its races save for two, and currently it is ranked second in the state and sixth in the nation—or in some polls, as high as second. But whatever the poll, all onlookers, both critics and trumpeters, can agree on one thing: the Apache varsity team will be a force to be reckoned with come State and National time.

Though it would be nice to cycle through this season’s many gold medals and recount the tales behind them, there is, unfortunately, time and space to examine only a few, starting with the Stanford Invitational on Sept. 26. The “yearly pilgrimage” to Stanford, as Coach Jim O’Brien calls it, was made by the team’s fourteen most accomplished runners and was undoubtedly one of the more competitive races of this season, with schools like Ferris High School of Spokane,

Washington, ranked number one in the nation, in attendance. The varsity team took first in the sweepstakes race.

The varsity team’s next race on Oct. 3, the Brea Invitational, ended on similar terms. The Apaches broke records like it was nobody’s business, with juniors Ammar Moussa and Allen Leung running the fastest times ever recorded on the course at 15:53 and 16:13, respectively.

They also set an all-time course record as a team, with a combined time of 82:50.

However, the most impressive part was not that the team broke a few course records—with all due respect, that happens all the time, for many a school record book has been rewritten in Apache ink—what’s impressive is the depth of skill and talent that exists on the team, as highlighted by this event in particular. Due to the format of the varsity heat, which raced the first and second man from each team in one race, the third, fourth, and fifth in another, and the sixth and seventh in yet another race, each individual member of the team was put to the test. The invite seemed designed to ask the question, “Does your team only have a couple of all-stars, or is it a real team with depth?” As it turned out, the team swept first in each race.

Junior Allen Leung provided a possible explanation when he said, “In the past it’s seemed like it was seven guys running for their own reasons. I think the team’s strength stems most importantly from the sense of team we share this year.”

Then came the Clovis Invitational, which was an important race because it was a run on the State Meet course in Fresno, and so was a bit of a gauge of the team’s prospects for State. Unfortunately, the varsity team placed second to the state champion from previous years, Royal High School. But as senior Gabriel Weil reflected, “Getting second to a strong Royal team was a very humbling experience that made us realize that we still have a lot of work to do.”

And so, with the State Meet only a couple months away, the Boys Varsity Cross Country team has been doing exactly that—getting to work. Though it placed first in six of the eight races it ran, the team perseveres and continues to knock out those miles one by one, without rest, and will continue to do so until it wins on every level, be it state, national, or otherwise. alin@theapachepowwow.com

NEWS

2

apachepowwow.com

October 2009

Hit the Books, Not the Beach: Shortened Summers

News

BRIEFS

October 30

- End of 1st Quarter

31

- Halloween

31

- Financial Aid Workshop 9:00 a.m.-11:00 am (N. Gym)

November 2

- Start of 2nd Quarter

7

- SAT Test Date

11

- Veteran’s Day (No School)

14

- PLAN Test Date

14

- Apache Preview Day 2:00 p.m.-4:00 p.m.

18

- WASC Late Start Day

26-29

- Thanksgiving Holiday

30

- Staff Development Day

It Takes One

To Know H1N1

By JASMINE WU Staff Writer

Swine flu. Those two words have been whispered all around school. Bob has it. Betty had it. Last you checked, Bob’s status on AIM said: “going to doctor”, and Betty was very much alive and well. What’s really happening with this flu?

The rumors that have been flying around for the past month about swine flu spreading uncontrollably have now been vanquished by the arrival of a nasal spray vaccine, also known as FluMist.

Approximately 400,000 vaccines arrived in California the second week of October. and 350,000 additional vaccines became available in the third week. This vaccine, however, has some parents nervous about the side effects and caused some to even strongly protesting against it; the worried parents say the vaccine is too new and not safe. Other parents, however, have disregarded this concern and chosen to get the nasal spray vaccine for their children. Junior Brandan Abbott said, “Parents should just go for it. There might be side effects, but I think being protected against swine flu outweighs any possible side effects.”

Still, a poll conducted by Harvard Opinion Research found that while 52% of parents are concerned that their family will get swine flu, only 40% will be taking their family to get the new vaccine. 41% said they would not, 11% said a tentative yes, and 6% said they didn’t know. jwu@apachepowwow.com

By ALEX ETHRIDGE Staff Writer

All students love the carefree summer days of tanning and vacationing: a time for sleeping in, voluntarily taking classes, and relishing the temporary release from the confines of the academic system—experiences enjoyed by all. So why would the Obama administration want to cut this wondrous haven short?

Obama believes America’s students spend too little time in school, presenting a disadvantage when compared to other students globally.

He endeavors to fill this chink in the armor of kids across the nation by increasing the time students spend in class, consequently decreasing summer vacation. “I know longer school days and years are not popular ideas,” President Obama said, “but the challenges of a new century demand more time in the classroom.”

Some schools in the United States have tested this idea with excellent results. Clarence R. Edwards Middle School in Boston, along with 24 other schools, participated in an experiment by adding 300 hours of school to the year. The students’ improvement is notable, and even those averse to

shorter summers have admitted that they have improved from more time in school.

Naturally, a large hindrance to this program is funding. In Massachusetts, tuition increased 12-15%, something few school districts can afford today. There are alternatives, however, for school districts that cannot afford a drastic increase in tuition. Regular schools are adding optional time to their school day, giving students who need the extra help for an English or science lesson. Additionally, several schools across the nation are shortening their summer breaks and lengthening other breaks in an attempt to balance the time spent out of school in proportion to the time spent in school.

Statistics advocating the program include how students in Japan or Singapore only spend an average of 1,000 hours in school per year and an average of 200 days, significantly different from the 180 day-1200 hour school year American students attend. Education Secretary Arne Duncan stated that the Obama administration “just wants to level the playing field,” and give America’s students equal schooling to foreign students’. This sounds like a fair argument, but hasn’t managed to quell numerous questions: Is this for every kid in the nation?

Will school hours conflict with dinnertime?

Will summer school be cut as well? And what about the consensus that children work too hard and need some time to relax?

When presented

Every Drop Counts: Arcadia’s Drought way we live yet, although that may be because

By JUSTIN PARK we live in such an affluent community.” On the Staff Writer other hand, senior Ailsa Chiu mentioned, “Yes, Have you noticed the choking restrictions I notice the drought, and in addition to the ecoon water usage so far this year? Well, California nomic crisis, I guess it’s increased the amount has been experiencing a drought for the third of people aware of the environmental problems today.” year in a row. Water conservation laws have Multiple cities around the area have been spurting up all over, limitset mandatory requirements on water ing water usage from waterusage and urged residents to conserve ing lawns to washing cars. every drop of water that they have This drought is undoubtedly in response to the drought. Amaza major factor in rising water ingly, many people aren’t affected and food prices and even unby this and some aren’t even aware employment. that California is experiencing a Local residents have been drought. Water runs perfectly, and advised to use less water and most can take a shower evgenerally conserve more reeryday. But little do sources. The city of Arcadia people know that evhas advocated that its residents ery shower and every adjust sprinkler timers, cover session of dish washing pools to avoid extensive evapfurther depletes the already deoration, and sweep and mop clining water sources. driveways instead of hosing them The state of California is down. The city council has recin a phase of severe drought ommended regulating everyday in which every drop really water usage such as brushing Graphic by Cherry Mo does count. The only way teeth, cooking, washing dishes, that the state can solidify a and using the toilet, bath, and ARCADIANS BEWARE shower. People living in Los The rapid water source deple- new foundation to gradually increase its water supply Angeles County’s jurisdic- tion throughout the city could again is when the people as tion are required to restrict possibly extend the California a whole decide to conserve watering their lawns to two drought. water in masses. Just think times a week and one day a week if the recent hot and dry weather intensi- about it—every gallon of water counts, because with every gallon people can water more crops; fies.

However, the general public’s view on with more crops, the government can help feed this matter of drought varies, as most see this more people. Without water, California will be matter from different perspectives. Senior Alex in a critical state that will affect not only its Wang said, “I do notice the drought and we do residents but relatively everyone in the United not go completely out of our way to conserve States. water, but we don’t waste any water either. I do jpark@apachepowwow.com not see any major effects of the drought on the

to students of AHS, the initial reaction was unanimous: “What?” sophomore Jason Ouyang exclaimed. Once students were more informed, however, their opinions changed. Many see consequences of the program targeting their mental health. Junior Erin O’Mara said, “I do think that our generation would benefit from it, but at AHS we are already pushed to the breaking point. I don’t know how I would handle an extra 20 days of school,” while senior BreeAnn Crofts said, “I think students would improve without that huge gap over the summer to forget everything you’ve learned, but it’s a conflict of what’s best and what the students want.”

Overall, the case for adding time to the school year is a solid one, supported by global examples of schools that have tried the experiment and produced positive results. Many are split over the issue, but the general sentiment of AHS students can be summarized in a statement by junior Ray Chao, “We’re now competing with [other nations] and we have to address this by investing in our education.” It appears that the Apaches are on board for whatever changes may come to their school, and if that happens to be a shorter summer, well, that’s just less time with boring daytime television and scorching sunburns. aethridge@apachepowwow.com Graphics courtesy of CLIPARTGUIDE.COM & PHOTOBUCKET.COM

Teen Truth Live

By ANDREW CHANG & EVAN DELGADO Staff Writers

On Sept. 28, AHS students attended a presentation in the North Gym regarding bullying in the teenage sphere. Teen Truth Live introduced a poignant look into the ramifications of bullying: both in the real world and online.

As the swarm of students crowded into the gym-turned-auditorium, people were struck by the image that hung above their heads: a figure holding a gun—illustrating clearly the serious face of bullying as opposed to the stereotypically (and expectedly) juvenile side of it. Delving into a variety of issues, the video touched upon issues such as speaking out, connections with other people, and violence and hate in schools every day.

“I went into the auditorium without high expectations, but by the end I was thoroughly moved,” remarked sophomore Farihah Chowdhury—and her disposition seems to be representative of the viewpoint of the school as a whole. Despite the seemingly frivolous topic of bullying, the end result was a very topical discussion of an issue poignant and relatable to each and every student at the school.

Teen Truth Live, as a whole, was an unexpectedly insightful look into the minds and hearts of bullies and the bullied and the impact on the students was undeniable.

Sophomore Wendy Huang put it best when she explained, “It made a huge impact on my life that I never expected to happen from a video.” achang@apachepowwow.com

apachepowwow.com

October 2009

NEWS

3

Make Music Foundation Plays a Cheerful TUNE Young, Vice President of MMF, said, “Over 300 people attended...The show featured plenty of local talent as well as YouTube stars such as A.J. Rafael, Jennifer Chung, and International Secret Agents Breakout Artist Clara

his friends, said, “We’re just a group of friends who aren’t really professional or Staff Writer anything, performing with well-known Living in Arcadia, most have had artists and such...but it was a great exthe opportunity to learn how perience to perform for everybody.” The to play an instrument, whether event was successful in more than just through taking private piano raising money for students without mulessons or marching in the sical educations. “The best part is seeing middle school band or even the kids discover their own potentials,” tooting on a recorder in fourth said Ms. Margaret Martin, founder of grade. However, there are stuthe Harmony Project, dents who cannot experience “because music speaks the joy of learning an instruto everyone.” ment for monetary reasons.

The TUNE fundLuckily, Make Music Founraiser was a huge tridation (MMF) is here to help umph for MMF in both with a cheerful TUNE. raising money and Photo courtesy of AUSTIN LUU MMF is a club led by AHS awareness for the Harstudents with backgrounds in SINGING A TUNE mony Project. Junior music formed in late spring YouTube singer A.J. Rafael Stephanie Youssef, an by a group of five friends. By showcased his talent at aspiring singer who raising money through con- MMF’s TUNE. performed Beyoncé’s certs such as the recent TUNE “Listen,” said, “Music Photo courtesy of EILEEN YOON is such an important event, MMF endeavors to give underChung.” Senior Eiprivileged kids the opportunity to have leen Yoon, MMF MUSICAL PHILANTHROPY aspect [in everybody’s musical educations.

Treasurer, said, “It (from left) MMF officers: Natalie life], and when it can On Oct. 24, MMF hosted an event was a big success... Chieng, Eileen Yoon, Christine be used to fulfill the Lo, Vincent Young, and Kristin called Talent Used to Nurture Expression we made $4,037.” ambitions of those less (TUNE) for the Harmony Project, a charMany of Ar- Kimura. fortunate, it takes on a ity that “brings quality music instruction cadia’s budding whole new meaning.” to children who otherwise would not have musicians turned out for the event, some access to it.” The event was a concert watching the performances and some aethridge@apachepwowwow.com that featured performances by many loactually performing. On playing in the Graphics courtesy of cal musicians and raised money through event, junior Alan Zhu, who plays in BLOSPOT.COM ticket sales and T-shirts. Senior Vincent the band The Narwhals with a group of & CLIPARTGUIDE.COM

By ALEX ETHRIDGE

Red Ribbon Week

By ANDREW LIN Staff Writer

We are all familiar with the red ribbon—it adorns our halls and school campuses every autumn as well as the trunks of our trees and lampposts. We all understand the red ribbon to represent the resolve to resist the traps and falls of drug abuse.

However, the origin of and story behind Red Ribbon Week, observed this year from Oct. 24 to Nov. 1, is seldom told.

Few realize that Red Ribbon Week is dedicated to the memory of Enrique Camarena, a devoted Drug Enforcement Administration agent who successfully infiltrated and assisted in the disbandment of several drug trafficking bands before being kidnapped and tortured to death by Mexican drug traffickers. It is in his honor that we don these red ribbons and in his cause’s spirit that we wear red on Oct. 28.

However, we must keep in mind that we are not only commemorating Camarena but also his work and dedication to halting the spread of illegal drugs. His example is a reminder that we, as responsible human beings, ought to keep ourselves as well as our loved ones drug free. alin@apachepowwow.com Graphic courtesy of WORDPRESS.COM

UC, IC: We All See the UC Protests Ms. Laurie McQuaid, AHS’ college counselor, said that AHS typically Staff Writer exceeds the UC system’s average admisWith factors such as higher stansions rate, making it one of the highest dards and more pressure to do well, the feeder schools. This doesn’t mean that rising costs of education do nothing to AHS students will be exempt from these reduce the hardships students must face newly developed obstacles. Ms. Mcin the college process. On Sept. 24, thouQuaid said, “We are expecting the adsands of students missions prospects at UC campuses to be very difficult across the state across the state. protested against The UCs [will] cut the relentlessly risadmissions.” ing costs of public Senior Linda education systems, Luo remains optiwhich will affect mistic. She said, “I students applying just have to hope to the UC system. for the best…As Factors stufor financial isdents are protestsues, there are ways ing against are the to get help.” This decreasing availstatement was reability of classes, inforced by Ms. decreasing quality McQuaid’s advice: of education, and a “Even if the UCs Photo courtesy of INDYMEDIA.ORG are making it hard32% rise in tuition.

UC officials said er to be admitted, PROTESTERS UNITE Those that blame should against budget cutbacks and tuition there are ways to be directed to state hikes protested Sept. 24. get into your ideal lawmakers, who UC school, such as have reduced funding to close the budenrolling in a transfer program.” get deficit. For middle-class families that Nonetheless, it seems as if this is rely on the UC system to provide quality “just the way it is, [and] the UC system yet affordable education, the UCs seem is still one of the best,” according to seto be drifting away from their econominior Aaron Tse. Even during this time of cal reach. UC San Diego sophomore economic downfalls, all students can do Melanie Chan said, “Continuing this is look on the bright side. As senior Litrend of rising fees will put the working xue Chang said, “These are merely more middle-class and poor in a more perilobstacles for us to overcome as potential ous situation [because the] many people students of the UC system.” desperate for a higher education and better jobs [cannot] afford the tuition.” achi@apachepowwow.com

By ASHLEY CHI

s t a f f Editors Editors-in-Chief Managing Editor News Editors Opinion Editors Performing Arts Editors Student Life Editors Features Editors Sports Editors Academics Editors Center Spread Editor Calendar Editor Campus Focus Editor Advertisement Editors Executive Copy Editors Photography Editor Webmaster Fundraising Chairs

Jennifer Hang and Kayla Pang Joanna Chuang Michelle Chien and Christine Xu Eleana Chiang and Cora Ormseth Melissa Ma and Sammi Wong Velinda Liao and Kate Trinh Elaine Tsui and Emily Yang Kristie Tom and Victoria Tran Jenny Lin and Joe Tian Lauren Wong Melanie Yuen Alwyna Lau Michelle Mak and Bonnie Tam Debbie Jong and Joanna Shen Elliott Lee Carl Trigilio Emily Litvack and Laureen Ma

Writers News Staff Andrew Chang, Ashley Chi, Evan Delgado, Alex Ethridge, Andrew Lin, Raphael Lu, Justin Park, Jasmine Wu Opinion Staff Andrew Chang, Tiffany Gu, Derek Ha, Kaitlyn Jeong, Nuria Mathog Performing Arts Staff Katherine Bay, Eileen Chow, Pamela Huynh, Hana Rudolph, Christina Zhou Student Life Staff Debbie Jong, Lena Kalemkiarian, Esther Lin, Anna Naran, Jade Shao, Rhiannon Yee Features Staff Theresa Lee, Amy Leong, Jenny Li, Ryan Liu, Joanna Shen Sports Staff Katherine Bay, Alex Ethridge, Andrew Lin, Regina Liu, Rhiannon Yee Academics Staff Christopher Chen, Sally Chung, Derek Ha, Joanna Liao, Oishee Shemontee, Nancy Xiao Center Spread Staff Emily Litvack Calendar Staff Beverly Chen, Eileen Chow, Theresa Lee, Cherry Mo Campus Focus Staff Emily Litvack Advertisement Staff Theresa Lee, Kevin Liu, Shannon Ng, Kevin Yuan Photo Staff Maurice Ip Copy Editing Staff Ashley Chi, Lena Kalemkiarian, Regina Liu, Hana Rudolph, Oishee Shemontee, Nancy Xiao Fundraising Staff Katherine Bay, Beverly Chen, Sally Chung, Maurice Ip, Kaitlyn Jeong, Theresa Lee, Jenny Li, Regina Liu, Ryan Liu, Raphael Lu, Michelle Mak, Anna Naran, Shannon Ng, Oishee Shemontee, Nancy Xiao Web Staff Sally Chung, Alex Ethridge, Elliott Lee, Andrew Lin, Ryan Liu, Emily Litvack, Nuria Mathog, Sammi Wong 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. A student’s work does not represent the views of Arcadia High School or the Arcadia Unified School District. 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 ext. 1148. Advertisement rates vary from $30 for a business card advertisement to $300 for a full-page black and white advertisement, with quarter-page, half-page, and advertisement insert options available.

Graphic courtesy of CKSINFO.COM

4

OPINION

Don’t Wait, Medicate

apachepowwow.com

SOS! This RelationShip Is Sunk

By NURIA MATHOG

By ANDREW CHANG

Staff Writer Staff Writer

A CURE FOR EVERYTHING Impatience? There’s a pill for that, too.

O

Graphic by CHERRY MO

Then one evening, the unthinkable happens—instead of filling up with your nightly bombardment of text messages, your inbox remains mysteriously blank. You’re sure there must be some kind of mistake at first—your service is malfunctioning, perhaps, or else your clock is set to the wrong time zone. Yet you can’t quite shake the unsettling feeling that a more unwelcome force is in play. You lie awake well into the early hours of the morning, staring at the rectangular patch of cellphone light so intensely that the words “No New Messages” permanently burn themselves into your retinas. And gradually it dawns on you—it’s an undeniable sign that things aren’t Meant To Be. And sure enough, the next time you see each other, something has changed in a subtle yet perceptible way. The magnetic attraction is gone; the only real spark left between you is the occasional prick of static electricity. You feel a sense of impending doom, an approaching calamity of cataclysmic proportions. Three weeks and five words later, it’s over.

And suddenly, life really sucks. Your heart has been spit upon, stomped upon, shoved into a blender, and generally subjected to all manner of gross indignities. The days drag by listlessly, aimlessly, as though every ounce of happiness has been sucked out of the world. You spend your first post-breakup hours removing the “awww”-inspiring quotes from your Buddy Info and replacing them with the most depressing lyrics you can find, secretly hoping that a certain someone might yet be persuaded…

But in a few weeks, that’s all old news, for some worthier person has caught your eye, and a new conquest is yours for the making. So much to do, so little time.

ic by C H E R R YM

achang@apachepowwow.com

There’s nothing quite like singlehood to make you feel like a social pariah, no experience as fraught with self-pity as watching the endless sea of couples around you and secretly clamoring to join them (and, of course, longing to finally change your relationship status on Facebook). Friends and acquaintances saunter past your single, solitary self, significant others perpetually affixed to their arms, while your own limbs remain painfully, obviously bare. The perks of a relationship are just too great to ignore. Not only are you guaranteed a date to every major school dance, but you also have a person you can whip out at the appropriate opportunity, offering the world solid, undeniable proof that you are not a loner.

But first you have to find someone to be in a relationship with. And the instant you stop obsessively searching for potential relationship candidates, the very instant you’re inclined to throw in the towel altogether, the right person stumbles into your path at the right time. Before you know it, the two of you are walking around the hallways with your hands superglued together, hardly daring to believe your good fortune. You’re inseparable in every sense of the word, so closely connected that splitting you apart would probably cause an explosive nuclear reaction, so close that you’ve practically become a single entity.

And suddenly, life seems so wonderful.

How did you never notice that before? You wake up each day with a huge smile spread across your face and a million plans regarding the future.

You laugh at all the times you considered yourself in love before, knowing now, with all the wisdom of newfound experience, that

you were terribly mistaken. That was childish infatuation, little more than a series of meaningless crushes. This is something greater than that, something simultaneously genuine and bewildering and fascinating—something Real. The bonds you share simply cannot be broken—they’re so strong that they transcend

Graph

It seems we have once again forgotten the simple concept of prevention.

It’s not a particularly novel idea by any means. By stopping an undesirable event from happening before it occurs, we spare ourselves from its various detriments. That’s why we don’t let kids run around with scissors: because we would run the risk of unseemly accidents. That’s why we invented the vaccine: so we could prevent diseases from becoming epidemics. Prevention makes sense conceptually, and its implementation is not impossible either. So why have we in America yet again forgotten the importance of preventative measures with regards to the pharmaceutical industry?

Because sometimes we just don’t think ahead. Scratch that—sometimes we just don’t think at all. Government research has proven, time and time again, that people with mental health issues rarely get the specialized care and diagnosis they need. And yet an obscene amount of money is spent on the treatment of these diseases which we haven’t yet cared to identify. We shouldn’t be surprised that people get overmedicated; it’s only logical that it should happen when we choose to ignore disease prevention and subsequently find ourselves with an overwhelming necessity for medication. Writes Judith Warner in The New York Times: “The notion that American children and adults are being overmedicated for exaggerated disorders has now become one of the defining tropes of our era.”

And over-diagnosis has indeed become a definitive aspect of modern-day America—not only in medicine, but in the sociological sphere as well. The fact that Americans take prescription drugs all too readily may be a poignant indicator of our cultural disposition. Perhaps unthinkingly, we hurt ourselves, subconsciously thinking that we can patch it up later. And it’s not a stretch to say that this attitude has infested our society on every level possible. On the contextual level of high school students, for example, we can see a burgeoning affinity for coffee—assumedly not so much for the taste of the drink as for its voluntary sleep deprivation capabilities. But would it be such a radical idea to say that coffee, the mascot of the majority of our school’s junior population, should take a backseat to prudence and diligence? That we ought to prevent ourselves from needing this medication, so to speak, by simply doing our work earlier?

Or must we continue, students, doctors, and people in general, to bail water out of a sinking ship without thinking to plug the hole?

October 2009

I HEART U 4 EVER Today’s sweet is sorrow by tomorrow. the boundaries of mere emotion and enter the realm of powerful chemical attraction. What’s the term for that, anyway? Ionic? Covalent?

Whatever. You’re sure you’d know the answer if you actually paid attention in Chemistry, but lately, your mind has been preoccupied with other matters.

Time passes in a jolly sort of way, and life is good—better than ever before, in fact.

You’re confident that your current state of affairs will last forever.

nmathog@apachepowwow.com

A for F-ort? Competence Not Required STUDENT

DEREK HA

Success has always been defined by whether or not someone is...well, successful. At least, that is how the proverbial “real world” operates. People are judged based on what they actually achieve, based on what others can see, hear, and feel.

Then there is the world of school, where this basic concept of rewarding real success has been skewed beyond recognition. Some claim that in giving out grades, teachers should look beyond the end results and take into consideration the amount of effort students have invested.

Such an argument is at once flawed, if not downright invalid. Some students enjoy griping loudly about how they stayed up all night perfecting their essay. Others keep these details to themselves. Some students approach the teacher every day after school to ask for help. Others simply intensify their own efforts at home or in the library. It is impossible for teachers to objectively measure how hard each and every one of their students try.

Performance is the only accurate indicator of merit. If we assume that success is an automatic result of any attempt, it becomes easy to lose the motivation to truly excel. Sad-

TCID:

ly, this is precisely what is happening to many young adults who are currently in school. A recent study conducted by UC Irvine found that students expect to earn B’s just for attending lectures and completing the required reading—in other words, fulfilling absolute minimum requirements for any academic course. It appears we have forgotten the simple, natural fact that a high grade must reflect a high level of accomplishment, not the lowest passing standard.

We need to outgrow the belief that we will get rewarded just for trying. This sense of entitlement is naïve at best and dangerous at worst. What will happen if we start granting important or authoritative positions to anyone who puts forth a basic effort? Imagine if everyone who wants to drive can obtain a license just for trying, or if college degrees are handed out regardless of any concrete standards.

Are hazardous traffic and the devaluing of education not alarming enough? How about if every time a politician breaks a promise to his constituents, he simply excuses himself by saying that he tried his hardest? How much time, money, and lives will be needlessly sacrificed if effort becomes the sole criteria for hiring doctors, lawyers, astronauts,

soldiers, or pilots?

It is time we realized that by placing equal value on performance and effort, we are actually doing ourselves a great disservice. This mentality puts us at a big disadvantage in a society that is unequivocally results-oriented.

And no, I am not saying that effort should count for nothing in the grading system. It is important that we also encourage dedication and effort in students. What needs to happen is a shift in mindset, one which will finally bring us back into the realm of common sense and rationality. dha@apachepowwow.com

Graphic by CHERRY MO

OH WELL, AT LEAST I p , TRIED Practice makes perfect,

October 2009

OPINION

apachepowwow.com

5

Note to Self: A Letter to the Past Hello there, my relatively naïve, delightfully more innocent, and altogether younger self. I take it you’re doing moderately well—I should know. After all, I’ve been through it all before. As I’m sitting in front of my computer screen here, heavily afflicted with the everprevalent and notorious disease known commonly as “senioritis,” I’ve been thinking a lot more. Sometimes I’m thinking about important things, like the meaning of life. Other times I’m thinking of ways I can put off my homework even longer. But I sit here, typing up everything I’ve accomplished in the past four years, finding the list disappointingly and excruciatingly short. Feeling just a little bit on the lonely side, I think about all the things I could have done to be a little less disappointed right now. I think about all the things I only wish that you knew—that is, things I wish that I knew back when I was you. Does that makes any sense, grammatically?

I wish you knew more about grammar.

I wish you weren’t so terribly mean to your brother, because I’m pretty sure he resents me now. I want you to know that you’ll regret breaking all those promises. I wish you let Mom and Dad know that you appreciate them a bit more, because I think they’ll miss me when I leave. I wish you didn’t quit Colorguard. I wish you didn’t give up on what you loved. I wish you pursued your dreams and chased those windmills. I wish you knew that that haircut was not a good idea at all. I wish you didn’t wear flip-flops on that day your toenail flipped off. I wish you knew that backing up your computer files is a good idea. I wish you didn’t think your immune system was all that powerful. Eat more fruits and vegetables, please. I wish you would have thought twice before just blowing off the handle like that.

I wish you knew how to filter the kind of things that come out of your mouth. I wish you thought about the consequences of your actions, because some of them still affect our relationships with certain people to this very day.

I wish you didn’t just resign yourself to being bad at math; I wish you didn’t just give up and settle into a comfortable mediocrity because years later, it’s not comfortable at all. I wish you knew that sometimes, there is a limit to how much Internet access is truly necessary. I wish you knew that not doing homework would actually mess up your grade pretty badly. Heck, I wish I remembered this more often too. That’s one of our biggest mistakes. Underestimation. We underestimate the value of the mundane task until it piles up and becomes something unmanageable. We underestimate the value of a kind word every once in a while. We completely and terribly underestimate our own self worth. I wish you challenged yourself more. I wish you stopped seeking approval earlier, because that was quite a waste of time. I wish you got up from that chair that I’m sitting on more often, because frankly, it’s kind of sagging from being sat on so much. I wish you went out and saw the world. I wish you simply just tried harder.

Dear past me, as I’m writing this to you, I know that in these sentiments, these regrets, I’m not alone. I know that I’m not the only who wishes I could have told you all these things. And with this, I’m done turning my head and talking backwards and exercising my hindsight. Although I can’t change what I’ve done, what you’ve done, what I can do is pave the steps for my future me, a girl who is far superior in every way because she knows what I did not. So goodbye for now; I’m done looking back. I’m going to take lengthy strides into the golden embrace of my future. There’s nothing left to do but focus on the now and the later.

tgu@apachepowwow.com

The Alternate Ending: Good Guys Finish Last

By KAITLYN JEONG Staff Writer

I’ve often wondered what life would be like as a Disney movie with a song or musical number every five minutes, the good guys always coming out on top, and the villains getting crushed into oblivion. But when the cameras stop rolling, and reality hits, life is nothing like a Disney movie. The heroes are pushed aside and the bad guys get exactly what they want with no consequences at all.

In a school as competitive as AHS, people have this mentality that in order to get far in life, you must do whatever it takes to get ahead. If impressing a teacher means taking credit for other people’s work, then so be it. If getting an instant invite into the popular crowd means spreading nasty rumors about someone, consider it done. When I saw Cady take down Regina in Mean Girls so that she could rule the school’s social scene, I thought it was extreme. In actuality, this type of drama takes place on a daily basis. People spread rumors and try to damage other people’s reputations so that they’ll end up where they want to be.

It’s all about the grades, reputation, and status.

Soon that becomes the only focus, and people stop caring whether or not others get hurt in the process.

I’ve also seen people ride on other people’s coattails to get what they want, and the fact that these people never suffer from severe rug burn or have super static-y hair afterward is quite puzzling and frustrating. When some-

TCID:

one doesn’t pull their weight in group projects, for example, everyone else is so afraid for their grades that they need to pick up the slack. I know I get extremely frustrated when faced with this type of situation; I can barely even carry the weight of my own backpack, let alone carry their weight as well. I now understand why I am vertically challenged: the whole “carrying weight” situation has happened way too many times. The slackers, on the other hand, have it made: when the project gets a good grade, they take all of the credit, and when it crashes and burns, they’re able to say they had nothing to do with it (literally).

Why don’t these people get what they really deserve? Is it too much to ask for good people to reach their goals and for bad people to have to buy Neosporin later on?

Perhaps these people can get away with pulling stunts like these because they know exactly what to say and do to confuse and convince others, making it so that the innocent (but confused) ones get the shorter end of the stick. These are the types of people who know just what to say to wrap others around their pinky fingers. They use their cunning and Weapons of Mass Manipulation in Disguise (W.O.M.M.I.D.) to force innocent bystanders into servitude. This is a serious issue. I don’t understand why when I try to report a W.O.M.M.I.D. to teachers I get a psychiatrist and a long talk from my parents. What the “professionals” don’t know is that a (poisonlaced) compliment, a (forced) smile, or (an explosion of) sweet talk can all be used to in-

fluence people. These scheming members of stepped all over. In fact, the terms “pushover” society possess a mind-controlling device (not and “doormat” have been long out of use; in yet patented!) that flies under the radar. Aptoday’s society, these people can be referred to parently the words “world domination” mean as “trampolines,” for not only are they stepped very little in the Department of Homeland Seon, but they also are used to launch “bad guys” curity. closer towards their goals.

These people do a great job covering up What do these villains get for treating their tracks and hiding their evil motives from people like inanimate objects? Good grades, a the rest of the world; they don’t wear camouseat in the popular crowd, the last chocolate flage clothing and lurk in the bushes (most of chip cookie; the list goes on and on. Isn’t this the time) or anything like that, they just put on the time when karma is supposed to kick into this act of innocence and unaware of the damgear and “reward” (punish) these people for age they’re causing. They’re so well-hidden their wrongdoings? Then again, maybe karma that we don’t realize that our school is teeming has already done its part: maybe in their next with them. What’s ironic about all of this is lives, these people will become tramthat the amount of work put into polines (hopefully) so people can leading people jump on them and use them for on and tricking a change. others into doHowever, whether or not ing the dirty they’ll turn into trampolines will work is not become clear right away. So probably equal in the meantime, when faced to, if not with a W.O.M.M.I.D.-carryingmore than, credit stealing-rumor-spreadthe work put ing-disguised-conniving perinto honson, all you need to do to in estly achieving order to keep them away from goals and earnyou is remind them that Neoing rewards. sporin is getting kind of pricey The good, hardnowadays. Ooh, [rug] burn. working people who truly dekjeong@apachepowwow.com Graphic by BEVERLY CHEN serve respect and repute to match are VILLAIN’S VICTORY Where’s the happily-ever-afbeing pushed aside and ter? The bad guys always seem to win.

6

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8

PERFORMING ARTS

Orchestra Fall Concert

By CHRISTINA ZHOU Staff Writer

On Monday, Oct. 26, AHS orchestral musicians and the budding talents from Arcadia’s middle schools entertained an audience of family and friends at the Pasadena High School Auditorium for this year’s Fall String Concert.

Those who regard classical music as boring and tedious are sadly mistaken. The Fall String Concert was exciting and fun for both the performers and the audience; the level of sheer talent and energy was astounding. Megan Choi, a freshman violinist said, “I still remember watching the high school orchestras in amazement last year.

I remember sitting at the end of my seat, straining my neck to hear [Orchestra 1, 2, and 3] play their songs. It was so exciting [this year], knowing that I was going to be at that level.”

Orchestra 1, composed entirely of the freshmen class, was confident in their performance. Brenda Gee, first chair violinist, recalled, “I was a bit nervous at first, when the curtains started to open. But once we started playing, the feeling disappeared as I began focusing on the music.” Orchestra 1 played with a strong passion, emphasizing their tone and creating a crisper, cleaner sound.

The Fall Concert is still a hot topic to the sophomores and upperclassmen of Orchestra 2. They played three challenging songs “Fantasy for Simple Gifts,” “Rhos Meydre,” and “Concerto Grosso.” According to sophomore violinist Leslie Ledeboer, “The concert went smoothly, which is a great start [to the year], considering that this was our first performance as a group. Everyone was at the top of their game, and it was really fun listening to the other orchestras play.”

At the concert, Orchestra 3 performed three songs, including one piece that the orchestra director Mr. England composed himself: “Fantasie.” “Symphonie Number 44: Trauer” composed by Hayden, was the second song, and the fast paced “Sinfoniettta in D-major,” composed by Mozart and arranged by James Brown, was the third.

The performers truly enjoyed the sensation of being on stage, which translated into passion as they played each song with more energy than the last. The concert was a unique showcase of our city’s orchestral talents, enjoyable for all. czhou@apachepowwow.com

Q: What is your fondest memory of when you

By EILEEN CHOW & PAMELA HUYNH

went to high school?

Staff Writers

Tom Landes Many of us just know of him as the tall, “hard-to-miss” band teacher. However, Mr. Tom Landes proves that he is more than just the “band teacher” as he tells his side of the story.

Q: First off, please tell us a little background information about yourself.

A: I graduated from Azusa High School, and got my BA at Azusa Pacific University and my Masters from Southern Oregon University. I taught 5 years at Azusa High, and 31 years at Arcadia High.

Q: Did you participate in band during high school?

different levels combine to perform for friends and family.

A: I remember a basketball game I played in.

During that game I scored over 20 points, had 8-9 rebounds, and blocked 3 shots.

Q: What inspired you to first teach band?

A: The Azusa High School had good teachers in public education and so I had a great high school experience in band. I felt that if it was so good for me, I should make band a good experience for others.

Q: What is your daily schedule?

A: I have Marching Band for first period, Band 2 Woodwinds for period 2, Band 3, the top band group, period 3, a conference period during fourth period, Band 2 Brass for period 5, and Band 1, the freshmen band, during sixth period.

A: I was a trumpet player

Q: How do you encourage your students to

in band. I loved being a member of band; [it] was my favorite.

A: We talk about what our best is, what it

Q: Did you have any extracurricular activities other than band?

A: My second most favorite activity in high school was sports. Basketball was a personal favorite; I made the basketball team in my sophomore year and played through high school and college.

Liza Tedford

Instructor of dance, perfectionist of ballet, muse of jazz, tap sensation: who could this be?

None other than Arcadia’s very own Ms. Liza Tedford. She is known around campus as the dance teacher as well as the adviser of Orchesis Dance Company. There is much more to her than what meets the eye and this interview may help to get to know the true, Ms. Tedford.

Q: When did you first start dancing?

A: I started my formal training at age 6 in a dance studio in Northern California. I took ballet, jazz, and tap. I also did a lot of musical theater.

Q: Did you always want to be a dancer?

A: I don’t remember a time that I

Q: What kind of dance do you like?

A: As a young girl, on ballet. I was in a region-

STRINGS The orchestras from

October 2009

The Leaders of the Arts Exposed

didn’t want to be a dancer. It has always been what I saw as the focus of my future. I need dancing like I need food.

Photo by MELISSA MA

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al ballet company for 9 years. As I got older I began to focus more on jazz. In college, I fell in love with modern. I don’t necessarily favor one over another. I love all forms of dance, some a little more than others and it changes over time and with exposure.

improve? takes to be the best, and view everything else against that image of what “best” is like.

When we do this, we make progress and improve.

Q: What do you feel about the relationship between you and your students?

A: I feel that we have a pretty good relationship. The students trust me to take them in the right direction. When people trust you, there’s a strong level of commitment. I try to use humor. I don’t want everything to be formalized.

Q: What animal do you think to best represents your personality?

A: A Saint Bernard dog, because it cares about people and is willing to put itself aside to rescue people who need help.

Q: What do you feel is the best part of teaching band?

A: Students are the very best part of band. Every class consists of a bunch of different people and personalities, all working together for common goal.

It is a unique experience, since there are few things more valuable than a team. A team can be the band, the family, or the church; there are all kinds of teams, but the impact and dynamics of all teams are unique and special.

Q: What is your favorite instrument and why?

A: Being a brass player, I like all brass instruments-from the brilliance of trumpets, heroism of French horns, power of low brass; they all produce unmistakable sounds.

Favorite Quote: “Do unto others as you will have others do unto you.”

Photos courtesy of LIZA TEDFORD and by SAMMI WONG

BAND DIRECTOR

Q: Where are some of the places that you have Q: After your students graduate, do you still performed; anywhere popular or with someone famous?

A: I have danced in a lot of dif-

keep in touch with them?

A: Yes! Lots of them email

me and update me on their lives. Many of them come ferent cities and countries. I reto the dance productions ally enjoyed my time dancing here at the high school. I with the NBA’s Los Angeles got lots of invites to come Clipper Girls. I met lots of watch them perform in colfamous people there, but they lege and beyond. I even got to weren’t what was so fun about see one of my dancers perform at it. It was the size and energy of the audience. My fellow dancers were Carnegie Hall in New York. I just went to the very good and became some of Britney Spears concert a couple weeks ago to my best friends. We worked see alumni Jia Huang, who was one of the back with the best choreographers up dancers. I love hearing from all of them. It warms my heart! around.

To be quite Q: Is there something Favorite Quote: honest, you constantly advise “Whoever says sunfame genyour students to do? erally turns shine brings happiness A: I think I ask them to people into has never danced in the just go for it. If you make unkind and disa mistake, it better be a rain!” missive twerps. It big one. Take the risk and was shocking how badfind out what you can do. ly they behaved and how little respect most of Mistakes are part of learning. You brush yourthem have for their fellow humans. Billy Crysself off, learn from your mistake, and move on. tal was at almost every game. He was always Now that’s learning. pleasant and nice, but most people just don’t Q : What is your favorite part of dancing? want to be bothered. Magic was super cool but he was definitely a “player.” Bill Walton, one of A: To me, dancing is when I feel the most free. the TV announcers at the time, was always kind I can be anyone, be anywhere, and do anything. and humble, which is amazing for a man with It feels uncomplicated. such a great athletic history. echow@apachepowwow.com phuynh@apachepowwow.com

DANCE INSTRUCTOR

Graphics courtesy of CLKER.COM, CNBC.COM, PHILIPMARTIN.COM

October 2009

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PERFORMING ARTS

A.D.D. Presents: Lights Out, Noises Off!

By HANA RUDOLPH Staff Writer

Lights, Camera, Noises [Off]! Advanced Drama Department (A.D.D.) is at it again, as they rigorously rehearse to showcase the first of this year’s theater production lineup: Noises Off. Written by the acclaimed Michael Frayn and directed by AHS’s Mr. Steven Volpe, this slapstick comedy is a guaranteed hit. Coming to the Little Theatre, Nov. 3-7.

To use theatre lingo, Noises Off is a farce, a subgenre of comedy. Originating from the Renaissance’s commedia dell’arte, farce on stage often translates to physical or situational comedy—slapstick humor with stock characters.

That is to say, Noises Off is all about outrageous scenarios, exaggerated reactions, and complicated relationships. Sound like a crazy version of the average high schooler’s life? Yes: “It’s very high school,” explained M r .

Vo l p e , “so students can relate.”

An appreciation of the arts is important, but who says that can’t be fun?

From an elegant and thematic set—a 16th

century Victorian-inspired two-story house with eight doors and several staircases—outrageous props, A.D.D. is definitely well equipped to entertain their audiences.

Little Shop of Horror fans will not be disappointed: some props to look forward to, to quote senior Drew McDaniels, are “sardines, fire axes, sardines, flowers by the bunch, and, of course, SARDINES.” Yes, that’s a fish.

As for the ac-

characters (Noises Off is about a bunch of actors who play a bunch of characters so many of the A.D.D. cast members basically have to act the part of multiple characters), they’ve even learned British accents to differentiate the characters!

All for the sake of their a u d i e n c e ’s ease of comprehension.

So definitely look Photos by ELLIOTT LEE forward to STARS IN THE MIX Cast mem- Noises Off. Pre-sale tickbers practice exaggerated scenes ets can be that are sure to generate laughs bought online tors them- (access the Drama department’s website from selves, they the school’s main page) or from A.D.D. memwill have bers at lunch. Tickets will also be available at been re- the door, but seats may run out quickly and the hearsing tickets are more expensive: $5 for pre-sale, $7 over three hours a day, five days a week for at the door. Show times are Nov. 3-7, 7:00 p.m. a month and half by opening night, early NoIn case you really can’t make it though, vember. Drew referred to the last week of Oc- don’t worry—A.D.D. will be showcasing more tober—which is ironically the week of Hallow- of their talent later in the year. But the genres een—as “hell week”: four hour practices, six vary, from improvisation to musical theatre to days a week. After all, this talented A.D.D. cast drama to Shakespeare; so try not to miss out on is determined to get every line and cue perfect in too much. order to provide the very best comical entertainment. As if it isn’t tough enough to play multiple hrudolph@apachepowwow.com

Marching Ghosts, Goblins, and Band Geeks?

By EILEEN CHOW Staff Writer

Leslie Ledeboer, “Costumes can be fun, but must be appropriate to march or dance in.”

Band will be performing their Egyptianthemed field show, entitled “Spice, Perfumes, and Toxins.” The music performed during the show is based off of a National Geographic feature on Egypt.

Leandro com-

Mummies, ghosts, and witches, oh my!

Seeing as Halloween is rolling around the corner, it is quite common to see many flaunting their scary/cute/original costumes. It is uncommon, however, to see them boasting their costumes while playing an instrument, marching in set routines, or tossing flags through the air while performing on a football field. This year’s annual Halloween Dressup Performance features all of this and more as our AHS Colorguard, Marching Band, and Varsity Percussion show off their perfected performances in mented that unique outfits. “The band “this year, our spends a lot of time focusfield perforing our creativity [on] the mance is of an musical arts, but it will be Egyptian theme Photos courtesy of COCO CHING awesome to see everyone’s so there’s a creativity when they show THE DRESS-UPS OF HALLOW- lot of Middle off their costumes,” sopho- EEN PAST The most noteworthy cos- Eastern sounds more band member Alex and sights with tumes from the percussion and guard.

Stevens said. the colorguard On Oct. 30, the performers for this year’s costumes.” Band members follow a rigorous Halloween Dress-up will display their cos- practice schedule to prep themselves for a suctumes and exhibitions during the half-time of cessful performance. Members of band must be our home football game. Different sections of ready to start at 7:40 a.m. and stay focused all groups may choose to dress up according to a throughout first period. Afterschool sectionals specific theme or create their own costumes. and Concert Band period are also spent towards For example, senior band member Leandro Al- endless band practices. cantara said that his “section is doing different Some of the most memorable costumes types of Berries [as a theme] because [they] are of the previous year’s Halloween Dress-up the BARI (baritone) saxophones, so [they are] were the Varsity Percussion’s snare drummers, working with a little play on words.” However, who donned pieces of fabrics onto their drums according to Colorguard member, sophomore to dress up as different sodas and drinks. Two

years ago, the snare drummers dressed their drums as Mario Karts with different characters on them. Alex also claimed that last year, there was a “male trombonist dressed up as Princess Peach.” Junior percussion member Daniel Zaki recalled how the “tenor section dressed up as rock, paper, and scissors” and the “bases were [outfitted] as mariachis.”

Because percussion is widely known for pulling off exceedingly creative costumes for this event, Daniel wants to “see if they can top [their costumes] this year.”

Since performers in costumes are not an everyday sight, many are enthusiastic about this event. Sophomore colorguard member Johanna Gunawan said that it is “a lot of fun to see what people dress up as.” Mandy Chan, senior band member, agreed and said, “this event is interesting in that it gives the band members more leeway since [we] get to use [our] creativity to design our own outfits.” Freshmen band member Davina Nguyen is “really excited for [the event]” because she feels that “it’s a fun way to express yourself without looking really stupid [since] a lot of people are dressed the same way.”

Other than being able to enjoy an epic game of football, the Halloween Dress-up performance will also give you the opportunity to see everybody’s creative Halloween costumes.

Who knows, you may even get to see Batman play the flute. echow@apachepowwow.com Graphics courtesy of CLIPART-FOR-FREE. BLOGSPOT.COM

9

Bop It to the Top

By KATHERINE BAY & CHRISTINA ZHOU Staff Writers

Photo by ELLIOTT LEE

’TIS THE SEASON Chanteurs prepares for their holiday performances in advance.

The fact that Chanteurs’ first competition won’t be coming up anytime soon doesn’t mean that the singing and dancing troupe is resting their feet and relaxing. The holidays are on their way and Chantuers is preparing for the upcoming performances and assemblies with excitement in the air.

Recently, Chanteurs was asked to participate in a few segments of Fox’s hit show “Glee,” but Mr. Rolland Maxson, the choral department’s director, politely turned them down. According to Vice President senior Tiffany Soga, “the show, [‘Glee’] is nothing like show choir. If anything, [Chanteurs] works ten times harder and doesn’t need solo singers. They focus on the blend of all voices and it’s the blend and sound quality that makes them one of the elite show choirs in Southern California.” In other words, the Glee club of the hit TV show may look good, but it’s real show choirs, like Chanteurs, that have to work harder.

During the winter, Chanteurs works on different Christmas pop songs such as “Happy Holidays,” “The Old Man’s Back in Town,” “Bring Them Home,” and “Now and Forever Christmas.” The group performs countless shows around the entire community, ranging from places like retirement homes to convalescent hospitals.

Later this year, Chantuer’s annual tour will take place in San Francisco and will last five days long along with their sister group New Spirit.

Chanteurs members are so passionate about singing and dancing that they practice to the point that they live and breathe to perform. The group competes against schools who put over $25,000 into their show, but despite the drastic differences in performance setup, Chanteurs still manages to reel in awards and trophies, easily placing in the top five of all the schools in Southern California. Singing quality is always their main focus and they believe that fancy gizmos and gadgets don’t prove the true meaning of performing.

All of Chanteurs is looking forward to another wonderful year filled with smiles and success. As of now, their main goal is to bring joy to everyone they visit this holiday season. Until then, they continue to sing and dance to their hearts’ content. Junior Annie Huang said, “We hope to become closer as a group and work together and live up to the title Chanteurs [has] always had.” kbay@apachepowwow.com czhou@apachepowwow.com

10

FEATURES

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October 2009

Your Food Unmasked A Romance for the Ages

pack sandwiches with deli meat such as turkey or ham. These packaged meats may seem Staff Writer to make the perfect lunch, but they’re not so great for your diet with the amount of sodium they provide. An intake of packaged turkey is This October, your food may be disone-third the maximum recommended daily guised for Halloween, but for the most part, it amount of sodium, so try to buy fresh meat or has actually been keeping secrets from you for turn to low-sodium options in order to mainyears. If you didn’t know, most of the food that tain a healthy diet. you eat is “camouflaged,” causing you to think Sushi with white rice and imitation crab that it’s good for you. However, if you look meat bought at convenience stores is also a bad closely at the ingredients, most of them are not idea. Sushi is not just a source of as healthy as you would think. carbohydrates; it also contains The chaos of calories high glycemics, and thus calbegins in the morning as ories. Glycemics refers to the you grab breakfast on high fructose sugars in white your way to school. That flour, which, if you want a ever-present yogurt, which disease-free future, you may supposedly ensures all the want to avoid. As for imitation ingredients needed for a crab meat, there is very little healthy day at school, acprotein and a whole lot of tually contains loads of sugar. For a healthier choice, corn syrup and sweetentry sushi with real salmon or ers. Yogurt with fruit at tuna. the bottom is even worse, Even soy products are generally having twice argued to be a possible cause the regular amount of of cancer. You may think sugar and calorie intake it’s healthy, but actually, soy as other yogurt. Nuts also has been linked to increased increase the amount of fat. amounts of estrogen in men So, while yogurt is betand breast cancer in women. ter than junk food, think Unfortunately, these products twice before grabbing it; can also be a source of hypoit has its problems too. thyroidism, thyroid cancer, Want another false and infertility. So rather than advertiser? Think graincrease your chance of disnola bars, another deli- FAT FREE? This yogurt ease, try high-protein foods, ciously misleading snack looks healthy, but it contains such as brown rice or whole supposedly filled with more sweeteners than you grains. fiber, whole grain nuts, Now that you know and dried fruits. While would realize. the “disguises” of these delicious but decepthey do contain small quantities of vitamins tive delectables, beware of the food that you and fiber, granola bars have high amounts of eat, because even the boxes marked “low fat!” both carbohydrates and artificial ingredients, or “includes vitamins!” can endanger your such as syrup and chocolate chips. “Healthy” health. Take the healthful route by carefully rice cakes also have high amounts of fat, not inspecting your ingredients. Even if your food to mention trans fats. Even though the boxes looks nutritious, it could just be playing tricks boast low cholesterol and whole grains, flaon you. vored rice cakes are full of fat, which we all know can add up quickly. aleong@apachepowwow.com As for lunch time, many of us often Photo courtesy of DAILYSPARK.COM

By AMY LEONG

By THERESA LEE

Staff Writer

In theaters this month: Where the Wild Things Are, Zombieland, and Capitalism: A Love Story. Wait, what?! Michael Moore declares his love for…American business?

In his newest documentary, Michael Moore, director of Sicko and Fahrenheit 9/11, reviews the romantic relationship between capitalism and the public of the United States.

But it’s more a love-hate situation; in fact, Moore concentrates on how some of the rich love to benefit from those less fortunate in the current state of the economy.

The opening scenes, a compilation of bank robberies, are symbolic of capitalism robbing America, which is Moore’s message.

Capitalism, as defined by different people in this film, is “a system of taking and giving… mostly taking” and also means to “take advantage of others’ misfortune.” Focusing on the flaws of the economic system, Moore shows examples of free enterprise ruining the lives of the working class. Kids are sent to a privately owned juvenile hall without a chance to explain, while the facility and judge make money off of the corporal exchange. Companies like Walmart make large sums of money as beneficiaries when their clients or employees die.

Moore successfully reveals to his audience how severely faulty the American economy is.

Yet his anger seems misguided; Moore argues that the current system is closer to a plutonomy, where the wealthy few control the growth

(or decline) of the country’s economic and social well being. He claims that “capitalism is an evil, and you can’t regulate evil,” warning that the original democratic intentions are becoming less apparent.

But politics play a much larger role than the economy in how business is run. Instead of focusing on restructuring the economic system, perhaps it is more reasonable to direct emotions and opinions towards the government.

His idea of bringing about change involves driving armored vehicles to company headquarters like AIG, demanding the companies return government supplements, threatening to make citizen’s arrests, and wrapping those buildings with crime scene tape. Without offering a probable solution to the flawed economics of our society, Moore fails to fully educate his audience, only identifying the problem.

But Moore does have a point. We are living with imperfect policies, and if we ever want to see changes made, we have to act. Soon.

Though a bit lengthy at two hours, this film brings a new perspective to the so-called free pursuit of happiness in capitalism. While his focus may be slightly off center, Moore still uncovers the hidden injustice present in today’s economy. So how exactly does this apply to our lives? We are only students, living in the shelter of Arcadia. Not many of us have to deal with foreclosures on our houses or unjust employment cuts. But our parents might. Prevention is the best cure, and in this case, prevention might be the only cure. It is extremely hard to make any dent in the current system.

We can, however, attempt to impact the future by preventing the government from causing further damage, taking initiative in our society by being well informed about who and what we vote for. Most of us cannot vote yet, but the time is coming. And we cannot allow policies to push us around. We must stand our ground with strikes and petitions. It’s our job to be prepared when that time comes. And we can start by watching informative documentaries. tlee@apachepowwow.com Graphic courtesy of BONCHERRY. COM

Seven Sweet Tips to Become a Top Ranked Prankster

By JENNY LI Staff Writer

As the classic “trick or treat” line suggests, Halloween is not only meant for tasty treats, but also for some playful tricks. But before I proceed, keep in mind that all scare tactics should be applied with good judgment.

Don’t go around scaring tiny trick-or-treaters; instead, save it for peers who generally want to encounter a good scare on Halloween night.

Also, funny or not, please carry out pranks that are not destructive to anyone’s property or well-being; it just isn’t cool. With all that said, ready to spook up your Halloween? Then here are some thrilling ideas for pranks that are sure to trigger some hilarious reactions!

1. Dress up as though you are Halloween decor for your lawn. The most important factor when it comes to spooking is the element of SURPRISE. Camouflaging as an inanimate decoration can really frighten people; just imagine their surprise when you suddenly spring to life! Scarecrows, zombies, Frankensteins, and trees are all excellent things to imitate.

2. Try reverse trick-or-treating; go around the block handing out candy rather than receiving it! Get dressed up, knock on a door, and when a person answers, put candy into his

or her bowl. This prank will be a great mind boggler, because since when do trick-or-treaters give treats?

3. A corpse in the candy casket will surely freak out unsuspecting victims. First take a full-sized coffin and fill it with candy.

Place the casket in the front yard by the door and post a sign that says, “Take One.” Find a full body costume or scary mask that could pass as a corpse and set it in the midst of the candy. For the best effect, have hands or body parts jut upwards so that people will see them.

Upon further investigation, the person will get a huge fright when he or she catches a glimpse of what might be underneath. Or if you’re really ambitious, get in the casket and pile the candy on top of yourself. Lie still until people reach in and then give them the shock of their lives!

4. Give away fake, plastic dung for treats.

Sure, it sounds gross at first, but both kids and adults alike will find this to be a real treat. It’s original, and everyone will get a good laugh out of it. Not to mention that it serves as a great memento so that they never forget your house.

5. On the night of Halloween when everyone is out asking for treats, get dressed up so that you are unrecognizable. Join a group of trick-or-treaters, preferably some that you

Graphic courtesy of ORIENTALTRADING.COM

CANDY OR PRANK? Could there be more than just candy hiding in here? know, and just keep trailing them. It will drive them insane not knowing who you are, and for the faint-hearted, it will cause them to start panicking.

6. Ghost stories always strike fear in people, and especially so on the night of Halloween. If you’re hosting a party, before guests arrive, have someone dress up and discretely

“haunt” the route your guests will take to get to your house. Later on, tell a “true” story about someone who died a horrific death around your neighborhood or house and how the ghost still haunts the vicinity to this day. When they realize that the specter that was haunting them before may have been a real ghost, the guests will be spooked to the core!

7. With the night swarming with people eager for candy, very few will be expecting a nasty surprise when they reach in the candy bowl for a tasty treat. So if you’re handing out treats or simply setting a candy bowl out for your party, put in fake spiders or insects near the bottom. As your unsuspecting victims reach in to grab those tasty treats, they’re bound for a frightening surprise!

Now that I have armed you with these pranks, you can rest assured that no one will call your tricks cliché or boring on Halloween night. Remember, though, they are sure to give a scare, so pick your victims wisely lest you wind up with some unhappy parents in front of you! With that in mind, go out there and start your planning; after all, what would Halloween be like without pranks? jli@apachepowwow.com Graphics courtesy of THESEATTLETRAVELER.COM

October 2009

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The Mythical, Misunderstood Holiday

By JOANNA SHEN Executive Copy Editor

The autumn wind howls invitingly as we fly through the doors, clad in spiffy costumes and masks that are either recycled from previous years or newly handcrafted to celebrate the night when candy reigns supreme. From door to door we knock fervently, hoping to be awarded with rare goodies that trick-or-treaters only dream of receiving. Jack-o-Lanterns with festive expressions on their faces smile or frown at us as we stroll through the streets.

Ah, Halloween.

S o m e anticipate the candy high that comes with the frenzy of dressing up in ridiculous attire while still being regarded as normal.

Others condemn the holiday as an occasion to celebrate the dead, preferring to sit in the comfort of their houses with “Out of Candy” signs plastered on their doors to dash the hopes of wanderers in capes and tights eager for treats. Despite the festivities of Halloween, this often misunderstood holiday is a playground for myths and false beliefs.

Myth #1: Halloween has demonic roots, hence the use of tombstones, ghosts and frightening images associated with the

holiday. Actually, Halloween did not originate from Satanic beliefs but is religious in nature.

The festivities of Halloween were once rituals prevalent in the Celtic faith of the Druids.

Though the Celts did believe in gods, monsters, and spirits, the association of Halloween with Satanic roots is a modern phenomenon. The most evil aspects of the Celtic religion were vicious fairies intent on permanently trapping men in fairy mounds.

Myth #2: Satanic cults use Halloween to perform horrific ritualistic crimes. On the contrary, encyclopedia analyst, J. Gordon Melton, proclaimed Satanism as the “world’s largest religion that does not exist.” Once existent cults such as the Church of Satan and the Temple of Set are now largely dormant. Studies show that cult-related crimes are nonexistent, and suspicions of cult activity are merely fueled by the media and teenage gossip. Hollywood is what continues to promote the existence of evil in Halloween with movies such as The Exorcist.

Myth #3: Children should be cautious of razor blades and poison found in treats handed out. Although cases have shown a need for precaution, there have only been two confirmed cases of children dying due to tampered treats. In both cases, their parents were

the culprits and had dosed their own children with an intent to murder. The most famous case documented was that of Texan Ronald Clark O’Bryan, who lined his son’s Pixie Stix with cyanide. In order to maintain safety each year and prevent events like the O’Bryan case from occurring, X-ray equipments are overloaded with Halloween-related items to scan for malicious material.

Myth #4: Meeting a black cat on Halloween is an omen of bad luck. Although this myth is largely unfounded, it is derived from the many cases of animal abuse that involve black cats around Halloween. For example, the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals reported a case of a woman adopting a black cat within three days of Halloween, who later reported the cat’s death when called for a follow-up on the adoption of the animal. Since 2001, the Humane Society of the United States has taken precautions to protect these black creatures of the night by tightening the reins on background and security checks for animal adoptions.

Halloween has morphed from a religious festival to a celebration founded largely on thrill and fear. We model our front lawns after foreboding cemeteries and compete to find the most frightening costume. Horror movie marathons often accompany the arrival of this holiday. Although Halloween has strayed from its original purposes quite a bit, it still remains one of the most popular holidays in America today. jshen@apachepowwow.com Photo courtesy of WIKIMEDIA.ORG

Five Best Picks for Slick Clicks

By RYAN LIU Staff Writer

We use the Internet in a variety of ways. There are websites for entertainment, knowledge, and shopping. For every subject you’re interested in, there is a website for it. For every subject you need help in, there is a website created to help. There are even websites created that can be used to decide whether to watch 2012 or Saw VI. As you can see, the Internet is a great resource for any student. Here is a compiled list of useful websites we can all use no matter how different we are: Academicearth.com: Next time you miss a class, instead of desperately flipping through your textbook, visit Academicearth.com to listen to free university-level lectures. The lessons are organized by subject, university origin, and instructor. If you’re suffering in a class, you can always visit Academicearth.com to listen to lessons over and over.

Consumersearch.com: Before buying products, many people look for reviews. Consumersearch.com is a site that gathers the best reviews from around the Internet and ranks them by how much quality information is provided. The site offers reviews for the following categories: Electronics, Home & Garden, Kitchen & Food, Fitness & Sports, Computers & Internet, Family & Pets, Health & Beauty, and Automotives. So next time you need to buy a phone, make sure you check out Consumersearch.com to get the latest reviews.

Visuwords.com: Most of us use google.com or the dictionary to define words, but we often need to know other words associated with them.

Visuwords.com provides definitions, synonyms, and parts of speech for words you look up, all in one diagram. All of this is free and doesn’t even require membership, so you can use it anytime for an English project.

Worldwidetelescope.com: Imagine using Google Earth, except now you have the possibility to explore places far beyond our planet.

Worldwidetelescope.com offers a free program for download and gives you the ability to take a tour of the universe. In the tours, astronomers and educators guide you through space, and you can pause the tour and go off exploring on your own at any time. This program obtains the highest resolution picture possible for the area in space you wish to explore and stores it on your computer. If you ever take an astronomy class, this is the website you will want to check out.

Knowyourmeme.com: An internet meme is a catchphrase, usually an inside joke, that spreads quickly from person to person via the Internet.

Anyone remember the time when there were still pictures around with the caption reading “it’s OVER 9000”? Or more recently when images were Photoshopped to include Kanye West interrupting people in situations like he did to Taylor Swift? Knowyourmeme.com collects all the memes since the Internet began and explains them. Knowyourmeme.com has a graph showing when they were most in use and examples of the memes.

So next time you’re confused over an image you see online, log onto Knowyourmeme.com and see if it’s on the list.

The one thing all these websites have in common is that they are useful in one way or another. Some can be used to make you a more informed person; others can be used just for entertainment. Some can be used for homework, while others can be used to divert your attention from homework. They might be used for many different reasons, but some are just interesting to visit sometimes. It’s a fact that all students need to use the Internet from time to time, but knowing which website to visit can make all the difference. ryanliu@apachepowwow.com Graphic courtesy of CLKER.COM

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Enter the Caffeine Scene

By JOANNA SHEN Executive Copy Editor

Now that you’re well into the school year, the novelty of light homework during September and the slow transition into the intense workload of school has disappeared. As the pile of work steadily increases on your desk, so does the need for the glorified drinks of the heavens: coffee and tea. Caffeine serves as the late night friend that accompanies you while you slave over your desk. While many opt for the overpriced and overbought cappuccinos and teas from Starbucks or Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf, multiple stores around Arcadia serve coffee and tea of comparable quality without the commercial ranking. So before you shimmy on down to the nearest Starbucks, try a cup of coffee or tea from one of these local neighbors that offer ffer all al the t same pleasing rejuvenations.

Ten Ren Tea Time T Te Located at 846 W Duarte Rd., Ten Lo Loc Ren provides quick service and a pleasing atmosphere. The establishment lives up to its name, offering a variety of teas made from actual tea leaves, rather than unidentified powder packages. Although the prices are a bit high in comparison to those of other cafes, the sheer quality of their coffees and teas can lure any customer back for more. Rare items can be found on their menu, but Ten Ren is most famous for its boba milk tea. But those who do not have a sweet tooth can “get the less sweetened option of the milk tea to balance out the sweetness of the boba,” said senior Winston Chang. “Their tea is of the utmost quality.” uality.”

Roaster Family Coffee Roa This individually owned coffee establishment offers a wide selection of bli h refreshments and treats for customers to enjoy. Brewed with the old-fashioned method, using a vacuum brewer instead of the to-go brewers at Starbucks, the coffee at Roaster Family Coffee has a unique taste and quality. Nestled within the plaza next to IHOP, this quaint cafe is located at 713 W Duarte Rd #F. The Victorian-style furniture and comfortable ambiance make the perfect environment for a warm cup of coffee.

Coffee beans are also sold for cusoffee. e. Cof tomer convenience. omer mer conv Java Go Go Cafe/Wraps360 Go Go Cafe, also known as Java va G Wraps360 ffor its wide assortment of wraps and sandwiches, caters to those who want a light snack or quick meal. It offers coffees and teas to complement sandwiches.

Located on 127 W Foothill Blvd., Java Go Go Cafe has a drive-thru, suitable for the morning rush for coffee. “It’s a great place to go if you’re short on time and looking for a quick bite to eat,” said sophomore Amy Wang. While it is often difficult to get past the lines in large chain coffee shops, this cafe’s convenience makes life just a little easier with its speedy service.

Whether it is 2:00 a.m. and your Word document is still blank or 6:00 a.m and you just woke up in a frenzy after realizing you overslept, caffeine is your best friend. So brace yourself for the upcoming year; it’s not going to be a breeze, but your coffee and teas will make the road to success just a tad bit easier.

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October 2009

By ESTHER LIN Staff Writer

The night of Oct. 17 proved to be a memorable one for many who attended AHS’s “Steel and Glamour” at USC’s Wallis Annenberg Science Center. Despite obstacles along the way, ASB managed to pull off yet another successful school dance. Though students like junior Erik Krogen found the dance floor “overly cramped” and the music “random,” the venue was equipped with the promised botanical gardens, steel balcony, spiral staircase, and high ceilings, giving the dance an air of elegance. “The venue looked really high class and impressed my friends who don’t go to AHS,” said senior Jasmine Hwang. When attendees were tired of dancing, there was food available as well as a caricature artist. The upstairs garden layout was also a favorite of many who preferred a quieter scene.

At 10:30 p.m., the dance was interrupted when the homecoming royalty was revealed. King Carlos Ramos and Queen Leah Wong reigned over the senior court, which included senior Princes Leandro Alcantara and Carl Trigilio, and senior Princesses Alex Rousset and Rowena Tsai. For the juniors, there was Prince Jon Ma and Princess Winnie Hui. Gabriel Rousset and Orenda Duong were announced prince and princess of the sophomore class. Freshmen were represented by Prince Elliot Chu and Princess Aileen Ju. Promptly at 12:00 a.m., limos awaited the party-goers and whisked them back to their homes at the end of a glamorous night. To put it briefly as senior Vilcya Wirantana did, it was an “Amazing place. I had so much fun!” elin@apachepowwow.com

By EMILY LITVACK

Although Arcadia lost the Homecoming game on spectators and football players alike remained optimi Football team, commented, “We didn’t play too badly hurt us, and we had too many critical turnovers on offe touchdowns. [Co-captain] Rodney Arnett did really w confidence in the team was unwavering; he added, “W the Pep Squad members, who were busy working on t Indians cheered the football players on, performing ro the Black Eyed Peas. Senior Linda Luo said, “It didn’ was amazing, the fireworks were spectacular, and I got of it was worthwhile.”

October 2009

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come home 13

By EMILY LITVACK Fundraising Co-Chair

Fundraising Co-Chair

n Friday, Oct. 23, with a final score of 35 to 25, stic. Senior Garrett Tuck, captain of the Varsity y. They were driving on our defense a lot, which ense. Taylor Lagace did really well; he had three well…with one rushing touchdown.” Garrett’s We can compete with all these teams.” In place of their Haunted Hallways fundraiser, the Arcadia outines to songs such as “Boom Boom Pow” by ’t matter that we lost. The halftime performance t to see so many of my old friends. Every second elitvack@apachepowwow.com

On Friday, Oct. 23, the Homecoming assembly rounded out AHS’s first ever Super Week—with the class of 2010 coming out victorious—and showcased the talent (and spirit!) of ASB, Senior Men and Women, Orchesis, and Pep Squad. Students set aside their costumes inspired by classic superheroes and sat down to be dazzled by the elaborately choreographed dance routines and skits. Senior Tiffany Liu spoke of Orchesis’s extraterrestrial-themed performance, saying, “I’m really proud of my team because, in the end, everybody was able to pull it together to give a great first performance for our school.

For us, the Homecoming assembly routine is always very special because it is the first time during the school year that we get to show Arcadia what Orchesis Dance Company is all about.” Junior Erin O’Mara, fellow Orchesis dancer, added, “It was a lot of fun bringing it all together and getting into the earth intruders theme.”

The SMW dance, always a crowd favorite, performed an electrifying dance to a host of hip-hop and pop hit singles, including “Beat It” by Michael Jackson. Senior Sabrina Consiglio said, “It was a lot of work. We put in several hours, but after [the assembly] we shared a sense of pride. Our performance was fantastic, but the experience of getting there was extraordinary.” Cheer, Song, and Flags all performed their routines for the student body, with clever introductions by ASB. As always, captains of the fall sports teams discussed their impressive records, and most importantly, the Varsity Football team asked for everyone’s support at the Homecoming game against John Burroughs. elitvack@apachepowwow.com

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October 2009

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16 PROFILE JASON JONG

By SALLY CHUNG Staff Writer

Photo by SALLY CHUNG

CAPTAIN OF OSB Jason Jong dedicates much of his time to OSB.

The mere thought of analyzing a tricky math problem makes most students cringe, but for senior Jason Jong, calculating formulas is actually a main interest of his. This Physics Olympiad semifinalist is the captain of Ocean Science Bowl (OSB), a team for those who are willing to “sail the high seas in search of ocean knowledge.” Jason keeps them all on the same current by constantly pushing them to work harder, sacrificing afterschool on Fridays and weekends. Although all 11 members of OSB depend on Jason to lead them to the regional competition, he humbly stated, “OSB has fostered in me a newfound passion for the oceans that I never saw at first from a physicist’s perspective. It has also been an honor to work and lead some of the most interesting scientists on campus.” With the close connection that this team shares, Jason believes that they can propel themselves all the way to first place.

In addition to leading one of the most unique teams on campus, Jason is also a dedicated member of the Math Team, Science Bowl, as well as Science Olympiad.

When senioritis is slowly spreading across the campus to his peers, Jason is challenging himself with several AP courses, including AP Comparative Government and AP English Literature. While students watch TV or play Wii for relaxation, he takes science courses at Pasadena Community College “for fun.” He strives to be the best he can in all subjects and challenges himself.

His discipline expands well beyond academics. As a violinist in Orchestra 3 and a pianist, Jason not only excels academically, but also is very well-rounded. With all of these extracurricular activities consuming most of his time, Jason is still able to maintain a 4.0+ weighted grade point average.

This Apache uses his free time to focus on his own aspirations and future, since he plans to major in physics. Jason is driven to achieve his goals because “having a passion for physics motivates [him]. It drives [him] to be the best at what [he] likes the most.”

No matter how high his aspirations are, he works incredibly hard to achieve them. Jason spends countless hours studying, in order to earn his spot as a Physics Olympiad semifinalist, and he won’t stop there. Jason will continue to aim higher, and hopes to be a Physics Olympiad finalist this year, as well as a successful physicist in the future. schung@apachepowwow.com

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October 2009

Ring the Buzzer, Quiz Bowl is Here

By DEREK HA & OISHEE SHEMONTEE

for the knowledge they gain allows them to do well against Quiz Bowl teams from other schools.

Staff Writers On Saturday, Oct. 3, Quiz Bowl comIf you happen to walk by P-Hall on Tues- peted in its very first tournament of the school days after school, don’t be surprised to hear loud year at UCLA’s Tournament Without An banging noises emanating from within class- Interesting Name X (TWAIN X). Although rooms. No, it is not your overzealous chemistry the flu season had nearly deterred several teacher conducting a bizarre and hazardous ex- competitors from attending, there were still periment, nor is it the construction crew demol- enough members present for Quiz Bowl to ishing yet another row of buildings. What you divide into four teams rather than the usual hear is the AHS Quiz Bowl team practicing for two or three. The tournament gave the new an upcoming competition. Since team members Quiz Bowl members a tantalizing first taste Photo courtesy of JOSHUA MAN are required to possess a wide range of knowl- of competition. The main goal, however, edge in all subject areas, the best way for them was to qualify for the national competition TWAIN X After a day, Quiz Bowl and Mr. Schultz celebrated their victory. to practice is by playing rounds against each by placing within the top three.

AHS’s A Team (comprised of seniors Indeed, Arcadia’s B, C, and D teams postother. During actual tournaments, they compete with buzzers; but during weekly practices, they Alex Hu, Eddie Xue, Stanley Yuan and Tim ed strong results. All three came in with at least Zheng) did just that, two wins overall. This is especially impressettle for slapplacing second over- sive given that no one is protected from going ping tables all. They lost by the against the best teams (for example, a D team and clapping narrowest of mar- can very well compete against an A team). hands as acgins, going down Sophomore Chung Chan was unable to atceptable subto the Torrey Pines tend due to illness, but expressed optimism for stitutes.

A team in a final the remainder of the season nonetheless and It’s no tiebreaker round. commented, “Based on everyone’s performance secret that the Nevertheless, they at TWAIN, I would say that we have a great year members of secured the silver, ahead of us. I cannot wait to compete!”

Quiz Bowl an impressive feat The next competition for AHS’s Quiz Bowl are a dedicatby any standards. team is the ACF Fall Tournament, scheduled for ed bunch. AlThey also earned Oct. 31 at the California Institute of Technolthough they a spot in nationals, ogy. There, they will compete against college only meet which is to be held students. The questions will be significantly once a week Photo courtesy of ALEX WANG the Memorial harder, delving deeper into the subjects and as a team, QUIZ BOWL Seniors Tim Zheng and Joshua over Day weekend in touching upon more obscure topics than normal they practice Chicago. high school tournament questions do. f r e q u e n t l y Man pay close attention to the questions.

“Of course we are excited to qualify for We wish Quiz Bowl the best of luck at together on Internet Relay Chat (IRC) channels, constantly keep in touch through email, and Nationals,” said Quiz Bowl co-captain, Stanley ACF Fall as well as all their upcoming events! spend copious amounts of time independently Yuan, “but it was a good experience for everydha@apachepowwow.com researching about their favorite subjects. As one. The newcomers’ performance exceeded all oshemontee@apachepowwow.com competitions begin, their hard work pays off, of our expectations.”

It’s Time to Dress Smart

By SALLY CHUNG Staff Writer

The time has come again to parade around in costumes while indulging in sweet treats.

Whether we are carving pumpkins at a local pumpkin patch, running through Knott’s Scary Farm, or getting spooked by a horror movie, all of us share the same desire to wear outlandish costumes. Currently, the nerd look is a rising fad among teenagers. Yes, the dorky glasses and plaid tucked-in shirts have already been spotted around campus last Halloween, but don’t be mistaken—this idea is still in style. Get inspired with these innovative ways to reinvent the nerd look.

With ordinary, everyday clothes and this creative guide to lead you, the possibilities are endless.

School Nerd: What better way can you pay homage to Steve Urkel from Family Matters than to master his character for Halloween? Find a prim collared shirt and tuck it into a pair of pegged jeans. To add your own personal twist, wear colorful socks that express your personality. For the finishing touches, throw on bright-colored suspenders, a pair of oversized reading glasses, and adjust your backpack to a minimum fit. With your newfound excitement and haste to

get to school, don’t forget to throw on a cardigan to avoid catching a cold. However, Urkel’s mismatched preppy wardrobe is only a small part of him. Observe his spontaneous charisma such as the gangly way in which he walks or the enthusiasm in his nasally voice. To complete the impersonation, just mimic his actions on Halloween.

Science nerd: When you think of science nerds, you probably imagine the countless students excelling in AP sciences. Well, how can you be the one science geek to stand out this Halloween? One nerd who immediately comes to mind (whose vast knowledge of all things science correlates with his impressive apparel) is Bill Nye the Science Guy. Nye has a sophistication that you can obtain by donning a light blue lab coat over a white buttoned-down shirt. Wear a pair of lab goggles and gloves, and clip on a patterned bow tie to make your costume comical.

Business nerd: If you have a sarcastic sense of humor, the business nerd will suit you nicely. You might idolize Dwight Schrute from The Office or Napoleon in Napoleon Dynamite, so here’s how to recreate their ensembles. Ask your father

or brother to lend you a suit, (preferably in basic colors to achieve Shrute’s appearance, brown if you’re emulating Napoleon’s) and wear a pair of fake glasses with thick lenses. No matter how crazed of a fan you are, looking like Dwight (as charming as he is) is not worth damaging your eyesight. Napoleon would wear a “Vote for Pedro” shirt underneath, but a dress shirt would suffice. Girls can create the illusion of knobbly knees by pairing a knee-length skirt with mismatched socks.

Jock Nerd: Before claiming this to be an impossible-to-acheive oxymoron, read this guide, for it has found a way to mix the cool jock with the awkward nerd.

Try the basketball nerd this year for a more outrageous costume. Go against the norm of a typical jersey and basketball shorts, and try a tank top tucked into tight short shorts instead to give your outfit more nerd appeal. Accessorize with multiple neon sweatbands and a pair of bright tube socks. If you’re finding this hard to picture, refer to Jackie Moon in Semi-Pro. Of course, the afro isn’t necessary, but it would be a fun supplement. schung@apachepowwow.com Photos by SALLY CHUNG

October 2009

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ACADEMICS

Let’s Play a Game: Spot the Nerd!

By JOANNA LIAO Staff Writer

Hey, do you want to play Where’s Waldo?

Sorry, we don’t have that game here at Homecoming. How about playing Spot the Nerd?

Let’s start at the entrance. Most Homecoming couples come in fancy limos or cool cars. Well, then how do you find the nerds?

They certainly aren’t those cool cats slowly entering the premise. No—they’re the ones behind them on those dashing new scooters. That’s right; I’m talking about hot, twowheeled, super attractive vehicles. Only the nerdiest of nerds have them. These are the superfly nerds.

The next area where nerds tend to cluster is the dance floor. See that group over there doing cool flips and break dancing moves? If you guessed they were the nerds, you should rewire that peanut you call your brain because that’s incorrect! Well, do you see that group of terribly slouched, somewhat insecure boys wearing tuxes with rainbow-colored bow ties? No? I’m talking about the ones getting down, funky, and downright jiggy with it; the ones yelling “CAN YOU DIG IT?” Yup, right there. That small group is called the Don’t-You-Think-I-DanceLike-A-Rock-Star nerds.

Next is the semi-large group of grumbling, angry-looking nerds. Why are they so mad and red-faced? It’s because of the music of course. All they’re playing is pop, rock, hip-hop, and R&B. Enough of Akon, Chris Brown, Coldplay, and Relient K! From afar you can hear half the childish nerds screaming that they want Hannah Montana, The Jonas Brothers, and The Wiggles. The other half is screaming for the never-ending classical medley of Bach, Beethoven, and Chopin. A small

portion of nerds who are too confused in the situation are frantically shrieking, “Hannah Montana and Miley Cyrus! We want the best of both worlds!” Since the hip DJ is unable to satisfy their needs, the music-loving nerds are forced to sit on the sidelines and have the loud, meaningless music bash their eardrums.

Since you must be tired and hungry from all the nerd hunting, let’s move toward the food.

The long row of delightful snacks look absolutely delicious, and your sensitive ears can already hear people munching invitingly right?

Well, just look a little closer. *Gasp!* Half of the food is gone already? How can this be? This is most definitely an outrage! But this work, it seems familiar… the people who have committed this terrible act must be the infamous Let’sGo-Barbaric-For-The-Night-And-Eat-All-TheFood-And-Leave nerds! But where are they?

Take a look; they’re standing out in the open.

Right, they’re the ones huddled in the middle of the food, making their way down in their tight circle. If you stand a little closer you can hear a monotone of *munch munch munch.* Although the way they oafishly cram more yummy snacks in their already full-to-the-max mouths is a pretty darn good show to watch, I hope you realize that the food is gone! So tap the shoulder of that academic team captain and give him a good beating! Wait, hold on, don’t start the gory beat down yet! Grab some grub before it’s all gone. Well, I hope you haven’t drawn blood yet, because look over there! It’s a bird! No, it’s an airplane! No, it’s our savior bringing more food! You can let go of the poor crying nerd’s neck now (*cry snort* in the background) and go crazy with food.

Now that your scary craving for scrumptuous snacks is satisfied, we’ll move on to the dark, cramped, uncharted sections of the

Homecoming area. See any nerds? No? That’s because you’re not looking beyond the boys and girls delightfully sharing spit with each other. Still don’t see them? Well, stand on your tippie toes and look over the sickening and unpleasant couples and notice the laptop screens.

Yes, right there. Another group of nerds, hiding behind the secret make-out sessions at Homecoming, sneaking envious peeks at their wet, sloppy smooches. Why are they even at Homecoming, you ask? Well, the experience has been said to be pretty awesome, so they might as well go right? But just in case they got bored, they brought their laptops. A whole night contributed to playing Halo, Starcraft, and caring for their crops on the ever popular Facebook game—Farmville. This group is called the Yeah-I-Went-To-Homecoming-DoYou-Think-I’m-Cool-Now nerds.

The remaining portion of Spot the Nerd takes place throughout the venue. These nerds are scattered amongst the regular teens; can you spot them? No, not that kid staring at that girl’s butt—we call those perverts. There’s one right next to you, shaking your date’s hand, and now moving to the next attractive, yet utterly creeped, out lady. This is the miscellaneous set of nerds—so diverse, and still incredibly nerdy, that they have yet to earn their own nerdy group name.

That ends our game of Spot the Nerd.

I expect that this has helped you develop a watchful eye for the several types of nerds. For those of you who went to Homecoming, I am certain none of you experienced the faintest sign of recognition as you read this article. If you did, well... haha... jliao@apachepowwow.com Graphic courtesy of CKLR.COM

Speechies and Debaties Falling Up!

By NANCY XIAO & OISHEE SHEMONTEE

they had to debate against their opponents.

However, this was not the only option available. From Congress to Public Forum to Policy Staff Writers Debate, everyone happily argued away.

The Parli resolutions that night included Once again, Speech and Debate has hit the ground running, ready for another year! Now “This House believes that rain is good” and that all the members have had at least two com- “This House believes that when in conflict, the U.S. should petitions under their prioritize healthbelts, they’re precare over educapared to shine at the tion.”

Sophoreal competition. more Wendy Fall Debate, Huang came held at Alhambra across these High School on Oct. topics and said, 16-17, was the first “It was really “official” tournafun! My partner, ment of the year, and Amber Young, was open to both was so supportnovices and returnive. No matter ing members. Debatthe outcome, ing events vary from the more lightheartPhoto by NANCY XIAO we had a great Freshed Parliamentary de- PARLI DEBATE Grace Song went unde- time.” man Tiffany Wu, bate (Parli) to the infeated with her partner at Fall Debate. another Novice tense logical warfare Parli Debater, agreed with Wendy on how fun known as Lincoln-Douglas debate (LD).

Some may have noticed Speechies in for- the competition was and said, “Even though my mal attire in the halls on Oct. 16. This is because stomach hurt at the beginning, it turned out to Speech and Debate got busy right after school, be a blast at the end!” Sophomore Grace Song as the novices carpooled over to Alhambra admitted, “I was very nervous each time we reHigh, where they competed in various debates. ceived a resolution and I would just think ‘Oh Most first-timers paired up for Parli, in which no.’ My partner really helped me put our ideas they were given a topic twenty minutes before on paper, and the whole time I felt as if we were

masterminds plotting a bank robbery; the secrecy made me feel as if I was going into a battle every round.”

Night had fallen long before the novices finished their debates. On the next day, their more experienced counterparts took the stage in the same events – with significantly harder topics and against tougher opponents. Parli topics for varsity included “Should this House abolish the electoral college?” and “This House believes that when resolving world conflicts, the UN is better than NATO.” These mind-boggling topics, however, presented no problems for the seasoned veterans.

In order to win a trophy, a competitor must win every single round, 3 for Parli, 4 for Lincoln-Douglas, and get ranked in Congress. Arcadia did extremely well at Fall Debate and finished with 5 trophies: 3 in Parli, 1 in LD, and 1 in Congress. Freshman Mary Guyer also broke finals in Novice Congress but did not trophy.

Senior Isabella Urrea placed 5th in Varsity Parli with her partner, senior Jasmine Wong, and exclaimed, “I was really excited because I love Parli because of its spontaneity! When you arrive at the tournament, you have no idea what’s going to happen.”

Speech and Debate started the year off with a bang and we will definitely be hearing more from them!

17

College Profile: Haverford College

By DEREK HA Staff Writer

The name of the school is Haverford, not Harvard. Ha-ver-ford. Three syllables.

Located in the suburbs of Philadelphia, this private liberal arts college may be lesser known than its almost-homophonic friend from Cambridge; nevertheless, it boasts a rich history and superb academics.

Haverford College was founded in 1833 to provide an education oriented around Quaker ideals. While the institution has since shed its religious affiliation, students and faculty alike still abide by the Quaker philosophy of respect, concern for others, and academic honesty. The overarching honor code, which is open to amendments by the student body every year, allows students to take examinations at the time and place of their own choosing.

Within this remarkable atmosphere of scholarly trust and integrity, students at Haverford also receive a top-notch education. Haverford ranks #10 among liberal arts colleges in the U.S. News and World Report.

Its strongest departments include biology, English, political science, and economics.

Students can also take classes at Bryn Mawr College, Swarthmore College, and the University of Pennsylvania if they ever want to venture beyond Haverford’s offerings.

Students are generally quite pleased with Haverford’s close-knit and rigorous academic setting. Class sizes generally hover between 10 and 20 due to an enrollment of just over 1,100, and spirited intellectual discussions seem to be the norm. Professors are highly accessible because there are no graduate students at Haverford, meaning instructors are fully devoted to teaching.

Gaining admission to Haverford is a difficult task, and only a quarter of applicants end up receiving an acceptance letter.

The most important criteria are difficulty of high school courses, academic GPA, application essays, and letters of recommendation.

Like that of most private schools, Haverford’s tuition is high. Luckily, over 40% of students receive financial aid. Scholarships are handed out based on economic need only.

Admission Statistics: SAT Scores: Critical Reading: 650-740 Math: 640-740 Writing: 660-750 ACT Composite: N/A In-state tuition: $39,085 Out-of-state tuition: $39,085 Acceptance rate: 27.0% dha@apachepowwow.com

Photo courtesy of HAVERFORD.EDU

oshemontee@apachepowwow.com nxiao@apachepowwow.com

HAVERFORD The campus has beautiful scenery all year round.

18

STUDENT LIFE Halloween

By DEBBIE JONG

Executive Copy Editor

With Halloween right around the corner, impress your friends with your newfound knowledge of this fun-filled holiday! Wow them with your expanded vocabulary, knowledge of trivia, and witty jokes.

1. What does the word “Samhainophobia” mean?

An intense fear of Halloween.

2. What is the most popular Halloween chocolate bar candy?

Snickers.

3. Why didn’t the skeleton attend Homecoming?

Because he had no body to go with/no guts to go. djong@apachepowwow.com Mr. Smith, AP Statistics/AP Calculus AB teacher X 1. Fear of sandwiches.

X 2. Kit-Kat...just because John said Snickers.

X 3. I have no idea.

Score: 0/3 Janessa Lynn, Freshman X 1. Scared of a person named Sam. X 2. Reese’s.

C 3. Because he didn’t have the guts.

Score: 1/3

Amber Young, Sophomore C 1. Fear of...Halloween?

X 2. Hershey’s.

C 3. Because he didn’t have any body to go with.

Score: 2/3

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October 2009

June Ko: A Cut Above the Rest

By DEBBIE JONG

Executive Copy Editor

personality, and appearance.

During the selection process, one particular interview question stood out to June: “If you could have dinner with two people, who would they be?” A dedicated violinist of 12 years, June responded that she would love to meet Mozart and Beethoven. She thinks that “it would be incredible to meet famed composers who have influenced thousands [of] people with a shared passion for classical music.”

Undaunted by the challenge of balancing schoolwork, extracurricular activities, and Rose Court, June anticipates it “with excitement.”

June is the publicity secretary of Senior Men and Women, president of Leo Club, and an active member of Apache News. She is part of the Speech and Debate team and has been on the School Site Leadership Team for three years.

She hopes to attend New York University or the University of Southern California to study broadcast journalism. Her family’s “encouragement and shared joy” throughout the entire tryout process and experience has “meant the world to [her].”

As for her fellow Rose Court members, she “could not have asked for a friendlier group of individuals who have become my new sisters,” June said. Soon after the Court announcement, the seven girls were swept into “a whirlwind of interviews, media, speech and etiquette training, bonding experiences, and lots of amazing food.” In the following months, the Rose Court will attend more than 150 community service events as ambassadors of the Tournament and the City of Pasadena. June believes they were chosen to “give back to [their] communities and to encourage the youth to step up and be active volunteers.” The Court’s reign will culminate in the ride down Colorado Boulevard on New Year’s Day in the 121st Rose Parade themed “A Cut Above the Rest.” After the parade, the Court will preside over the 96th Rose Bowl Game.

As the first Korean Rose Court Princess, June has been approached by television, radio, and newspaper organizations for interviews, which is “kind of frightening because I’m new to this,” she admitted. However, June is adjusting to her newfound spotlight and is Photo courtesy of PASADENAINDEPENDENT.COM “honored to represent a community that PRINCESS 2010 June Ko will ride down does not often get much recognition.”

On the morning of Oct. 12, the 26 Rose Court finalists gathered on the front steps of the Tournament House and waited anxiously to hear who had made the 2010 Rose Court.

“And from the city of Arcadia…” the announcer proclaimed into the microphone, “Number 427, June Ko!” Shocked and delighted, June stepped out from line and descended the steps. “It was overwhelming!” June later recalled. “I was surprised and almost didn’t believe it when they called my name.” AHS alumna Courtney Lee, the 2009 Rose Queen, emerged and gave June a congratulatory hug and a bouquet of red roses. Glowing with happiness, June took her place on the platform alongside the other princesses, facing eager photographers.

The other Rose Court members are Ashley Thaxton, 17, of John Marshall Fundamental; Michelle Van Wyk, 17, of La Canada High School; Katherine Hernandez, 18, of Flintridge Sacred Heart Academy; Kinsey Stuart, 18, of Pasadena City College; Natalie Innocenzi, 16, of Flintridge Sacred Heart Academy; and Lauren Rogers, 17, of Blair High School. On Oct. 20, the Tournament of Roses revealed Natalie Innocenzi as the 2010 Rose Queen.

Over 1,100 girls participated in the initial interview sessions of the Rose Court tryouts last month, from which approximately 250 contestants received invitations to advance to the next round.

About 75 hopefuls were invited back to the semi-finals, and from this group, 26 girls were selected as finalists. The final seven were selected based on a variety ROSE of qualities such as academic achieve- Colorado Boulevard on New Year’s Day in the 121st ment, poise, public speaking ability, Rose Parade along with the rest of the Rose Court.

djong@apachepowwow.com

What are YOU Doing on Halloween?

By RHIANNON YEE Staff Writer

Jessica Sunkamaneevongse, Junior X 1. Fear of a person named Sam. C 2. Snickers.

X 3. Because he didn’t want to buy flowers?

Score: 1/3

William Zhang, Senior X 1. Scared of Sam? I don’t know.

C 2. Snickers.

X 3. Because he didn’t want to come out of the closet?

Score: 1/3 Photos by DEBBIE JONG

Halloween is right around the corner and this year it falls on a Saturday, so any concerns about tests and homework won’t stand in the way of staying up late and eating too much candy. Many people will be sure to eat as much candy as they can get, and since the day after is Sunday, everybody will have plenty of time to recuperate from an extreme sugar hangover.

Senior John Bartolome is “really excited to go to the Halloween Haunt at Six Flags with [his] friends because it’s cool to try new things,” while junior Mindy Yuan prefers to go to Universal Studios. Some people will remain kids at heart and continue to dress up and trick-or-treat until their own children make them stay at home. Sophomore Kaitlyn Forell agreed heartily, declaring, “You’re never too old to go trick-or-treating.” Others believe that dressing up is for little kids and left that childish tradition behind when they made the transition to high school. Most people attend costume parties with their friends or stay home, watching scary movies and giving out candy. Still, there are always the select few

who refrain from making jack-o-lanterns and eating candy corn; instead, they get a head start on their homework for the upcoming week.

Since Halloween rarely falls on a the weekend, what are Apaches planning to do for the spookiest night of the year? ryee@apachepowwow.com

300 AHS students were polled

October 2009

STUDENT LIFE 19

apachepowwow.com

PROFILE I Go to School With Hermione Granger SPANISH CLUB

By SEAN MAROONGROGE

Guest Writer

“Sorry, but Emma Watson’s dad is sitting there already. You can sit over there though.”

Twenty-four hours after move-in officially began, I found myself sitting at a lunch table in the main cafeteria with Emma Watson and some friends, laughing about what the chances were that I’d so much as see the international star. Between that and the reported sightings of Ashton Kutcher, Demi Moore, and Bruce Willis roaming the Brown Bookstore during Parent’s Weekend, I figured that maybe college wasn’t going to be so bad afterall. Especially not at a school where I could take every class pass/fail.

That’s right. How many top institutions offer that sweet deal, as well as complete control over all of your class options? Only one comes to mind: Brown University.

Do complex integrals frequent your nightmares? Then never study them again. Tired of analyzing Shakespeare’s colorful phrasing?

Don’t register for any English courses and never hear another word about it. Picture your “fouryear plan” from all those counseling sessions.

Now picture it without the 3.5 years already filled out for you by adults who think they know what you should be studying. That’s Brown.

Here, the power to shape your academic career is all yours (with ample guidance in faculty and student advisors to help you along the way, if you need it). The only course requirements you might face are those required for your concentration (the Brown term for “major”) but hopefully you’ll concentrate on something you

Photo courtesy of SEAN MAROONGROGE

BROWN UNIVERSITY Alumnus Sean Maroongroge meets his new peers at Brown’s orientation day. like anyway.

Brown’s “New Curriculum,” which by now is many decades old, can be considered progressive to this day—no other top institution allows as much flexibility with course selection and grading options. Designed for students who wish to learn as much as possible and explore interests they might not otherwise have time or energy to study, the New Curriculum forces no general education requirements upon students.

Because they aren’t forced to waste their pre-

cious time and energy on courses they aren’t interested in, students can instead focus on art, dance, computer science, cultural studies, applied mathematics or whatever else tickles their fancy.

The best part is that any class can be taken pass/fail. Any class. Some students go through their entire four years without having to worry about the difference between a C and an A. While most are sure to take at least their most important classes for a grade, this option is open so that students can explore subjects in which they have no prior knowledge. Also keep in mind that you can drop courses as late as the last day of classes. Not ready for the final? Then put it off for a semester or two.

As for rankings, Brown simply can’t be beaten. As Princeton Review’s #1 Happiest College in America (as you can probably tell from the lack of pressure on students who want to enjoy learning) and GQ’s #1 Douchiest College in America (as you can probably tell from…okay, honestly, I don’t know what they meant by that either), Brown’s got quite the reputation to uphold. Sure its funding isn’t the best for research (compared to some in, say, Cambridge), but you have to ask yourself what matters at the end of the day. Four years is a long time to be miserable at an overly competitive institution. Brown has laidback students who enjoy what they do and do it well.

As a final note, no matter how much other kids think that their school is like Hogwarts because of its house system, gothic architecture, and creepy old professors, Brown has Hermione Granger. QED.

Au Revoir France, Hello Arcadia

By JADE SHAO Staff Writer

Photos by JADE SHAO and courtesy of ALEX BELLEFIN

BONJOUR Welcome Bernard To

(top), Hazel Limfat (middle), and Alex Bellefin (bottom right, with a friend).

Can you imagine moving from one end of the globe to the other? Three very courageous people, junior Hazel Limfat and seniors Bernard To and Alex Bellefin, have braved the journey and come to AHS. They have all moved to Arcadia from either France or a “pays de francophone” (French-speaking country). According to French teacher Madame Vaughan, “the schools in France are completely different from ours. A typical French student will have classes with the same group of people the entire year studying 12 subjects, whereas at Arcadia, you guys see different people everyday and you have the same six periods all of first and second semester.” Hazel’s first impression of AHS was sheer shock at the massive number of students milling through the halls. She had previously gone to a school on the small French-speaking island of Mauritius off the coast of Africa, where she was much more accustomed to the education system and small environment of only 250 students.

Madame Vaughan also notes that “their schedules are organized differently, more like a university where they have longer class hours but not the same classes everyday. For example, they may have four hours of chemistry and seven hours of math, but not have English that day. Also, French students typically have random holes in their schedule where they have no class at all. It’s just totally different.” Bernard, who lived in Paris, feels that our rigid class schedules make it easier to work on a regular basis because “the days in between my sched-

ule, when I didn’t have math class set me in a state of mind in which I didn’t feel like doing math after three days without taking the class.”

Bernard exclaims, “I’m always glad to experience new things and meet new people. Moving here wasn’t an opportunity to miss.”

Another interesting fact about the French education system is its grading scale, which is based on a point system out of 20. In order to pass a grade level, students need to get a 10, the equivalent of a C, which means you will never have to see the dreaded 89.99% again. However, don’t pack your bags to move to France just yet.

You will also never get a chance to play Varsity Tennis, march in a field show, compete in a Speech and Debate tournament or participate in a Model UN conference because French schools don’t have any extracurricular activities.

Our last French guest is Alex Bellefin, who is extremely excited to be introduced to all of our school’s different events this year.

Alex notes, “In France, recreational activities are only available outside of school. We go to clubs, concerts and movies when we want a break from all our classes.” However, upon his arrival to the United States, Alex recently experienced the vastly different Californian life after going to Manhattan Beach and seeing the Pacific Ocean for the first time, tasting his first In-and-Out Burger and attending his first Miley Cyrus concert. Alex comments that, “California is definitely the most beautiful state in America that I’ve seen and I look forward to seeing and experiencing all the different things it has to offer.” jshao@apachepowwow.com

By ANNA NARAN Staff Writer

Spanish-inspired fun for all can be found every Wednesday during lunch in room F-5.

Games, Spanish snacks, occasional potlucks, and guest speakers are all part of the agenda for the ‘09-’10 Spanish Club. There are no prerequisites for joining the club; students taking Spanish 1 to AP Spanish and even students not taking a Spanish course are welcome to join.

The president of the club, senior Lauren Hanna, explained that the club’s meetings are not conducted in Spanish, although they “will try using Spanish every now and then; [however] some of the officers do not even take Spanish.” Snacks like chips and salsa are served at every meeting and once a month there will be a potluck featuring a cultural meal from a Spanish-speaking country. Games that incorporate the Spanish language, such as Scrabble and hangman, are played during club meetings. Occasionally, student or adult speakers are invited to talk to the club about Spanish culture.

The Spanish Club also participates in on-campus and off-campus activities. Lauren announced that there will be two upcoming events held on campus: El Dia de los Muertos and Las Posadas. El Dia de los Muertos is a Spanish Halloween-like celebration that will take place in the cafeteria, while Las Posadas is a Christmas event celebrated in all of FHall. Each room in the hall is dedicated to a certain activity, such as dancing or singing.

Off-campus activities are also planned for the year. The club plans to watch a Spanish film and go out to dinner in a restaurant nearby that has a mariachi show.

One of the club members, freshman Sue Wang, shares, “I’m interested in the club because I take Spanish. I joined to learn more about the culture.” Likewise, sophomore Tayler Novotny also joined for the same reason; however, she also stated that the club helps her learn Spanish. Senior Aisha Elmasri, vice president, enthusiastically expressed, “Spanish Club is legit!”

With the help of Spanish Club advisor Señor Brown and a group of senior student officers, the club is able to run successfully.

Currently, there are about 30 students involved in the Spanish Club. Joining is a great way to meet other people interested in the culture and language of the Spanish world or even just to eat, play games, and have some fun. anaran@apachepowwow.com

Photo by ANNA NARAN

SPANISH CLUB The members converse in Spanish while enjoying a delicious lunch of free burritos.

SPORTS Arcadia’s Redeem Team

20 PROFILE

Mitchell Pratt

By ANDREW LIN Staff Writer

Photo by ELLIOTT LEE

True, at a cursory glance freshman Mitchell Pratt may seem like any other ninth grader—awkward, young, and still a little goofylooking as teenagers go. In fact, at a cursory glance the undiscerning may even dismiss him as safe. However, make no mistake—his appearances belie the truth: that he is a vicious, fast runner.

For one, he’s medaled in every single race he’s run so far, a feat often unreachable for most freshmen. Just this past weekend on Oct. 24 at the Mt. Sac Invitational, considered the largest cross country meet in the nation, he nabbed the much-coveted second place with an unheard of three-mile time of 17:01.

However, these numbers do an injustice, as most statistics do, because they gloss over the work and heart that goes into running. Other statements, such as that he is currently the fastest freshman on the Arcadia cross country team, are similarly meaningless out of context.

Assistant coach Alex Fan, who’s seen and coached a great many decorated runners, admitted, “To be honest with you, the first thing I noticed about him was his ridiculous running form. He is definitely not one of the smoothest runners out there,” however, he added, “I think he is so successful because of the sheer will he possesses and high pain tolerance. I didn’t quite know how good he would get but the first time I ran with him I told him those two qualities could take him a long way in cross country.”

Mitchell himself unknowingly revealed those same two qualities when he reflected, “What XC really comes down to is one question: How much do you want it?” When asked what motivated him to participate in such a grueling and gut-busting sport, in which the rewards come far and in-between, his response was simple but emphatic: the promise of growth and victory. He responded, “If our team’s finest aren’t better every year, then what are we really worth? I’m aiming to beat the Arcadia freshman record, Renaud Poizat’s 15:52. That was four years ago, so I feel the need to break the standstill.”

But Mitchell isn’t the only one with high expectations—his peers, as well as his superiors in age and experience, hold him in high esteem. Senior Patrick Wrobel expressed disbelief and respect when he said, “I would have never thought from a first impression that he was capable of running a 17:01 at Mt. Sac Invite. He can only get better.”

And, as everyone familiar with him is quick to emphasize, Mitchell has a great personality and sense of humor. According to coach Fan, “every day with Mitchell Pratt is an experience. The kid is a goofball with a great attitude.” Or as senior Gabriel Weil put it, “I love that kid!” alin@apachepowwow.com

By ANDREW LIN

Staff Writer

It seems the theme of this year’s varsity football team is redemption. Though its campaign has been riddled with iniquities and plagued by misfortune, the Apache football team has managed in a number of brief, glorious moments to transcend their losses. With a now 1-5 overall record with one tie, and with the last win four games ago, perhaps the most pressing question is “Can they pick themselves up again?”

It’s true the season began with a 13-27 loss against Monrovia and a heart-rending 0-40 against St. Francis, but the team has remained stalwart. In fact, each member has become even more committed to his teammates, as demonstrated by senior Philip He, who said, “the aspirations I have for myself is to help the team achieve more wins and get into the playoffs...

For the underclassmen I want to help them gain experience and become better as players on the field and as strong individuals off the field.”

In fact, it is that camaraderie and sense of obligation to fellow teammates that binds the team together as a single cohesive unit. Senior Garrett Tuck explained that “our greatest strength is our team chemistry. We’re close and

preside over the few hours or so allotted for the game—but no more. According to coach Dimalante, “They just told me it wasn’t a league game and we weren’t going to do overtime. They just decided that they weren’t…In the end they said, ‘If you guys want to play, go ahead and play.

We’re leaving.’”

And because of how competitive and valiant the game was, with both teams trading leads numerous times throughout the evening, it would be insufficient to say that people were disappointed. The ensuing firestorm stretched into the following weeks. What began as an immediate, visceral reaction of booing and hissing on the part of that night’s spectators soon took another shape in the next day’s deluge of phone calls to the San Gabriel Valley Football Officials Association’s offices. The search for who was to be held accountable was on, ending only when a special meeting convened to discuss the outcome of the game. There the referees acknowledged that what they did was wrong and not by the rulebook, beginning the long process of rectification.

Then on Oct. 1, the team finally got the win they deserved. The Apaches dynamited the Glendale Nitros with a final score of 34-16. According to Philip’s observations, the team beat

apachepowwow.com

October 2009

Girls Tennis

By KATHERINE BAY Staff Writer

Undefeated.

Indomitable.

Invincible.

They’re no Justice League, but these words are understatements when describing the Girls Varsity Tennis team. From the beginning of the season, the girls proved to be such fantastic players by consistently continuing their winning streak, and making it seem effortless.

The match against Upland was “just an ordinary match,” according to sophomore Caroline Young, and the team won with a score of 17-1. At first, Arcadia was worried about competing against Glendale because Glendale was labeled as one of their tougher competitors in league last year; however, Arcadia soon found them to be easy-to-beat competitors. With the drive to win it all, seniors Amy Qiu and Nicole Gandasutisna were able to beat their doubles team while freshman Francis Dean and sophomore Nadia Pacheco dePhoto courtesy of THE ARCADIAN

GIRLS VARSITY TENNIS Senior Amy Qiu serves and begins a new set in her match against La Salle.

Glendale primarily because of “our offensive line being able to block for Rodney and Everett all game long while protecting Myles our quarterback.”

However, on Oct. 9 the Apaches lost to Pasadena a narrow 14 to 19. Though the team’s defense did well, the offense just could not capitalize on all the opportunities it was presented.

Phillip lamented, “We were upset by Pasadena since we have not lost to them in 12 or 13 years.”

Game play improved slightly a week later with Muir, but not enough to knock off a win.

“The team played really well. We were driving on them the whole time but had too many turnovers,” as Garrett admitted. And the week after that, the team came short 35-25 at the Homecoming game with Burroughs.

However, the season has yet to end, and the Apaches remain ever vigilant. The raw materials for a team are all there—devoted team, strong individuals—but the finished product is still a work in progress.

feated their singles matches. All in all, the team had a great match that ended with 14-4.

When traveling to John Burroughs on Oct. 1, the team realized that they were going to have a fairly windy match, but they beat the Burroughs team with no difficulties, ending the game with a score of 18-0. Their home game against La Salle was an easy match for the team, also with an end score of 18-0. La Cañada was quite difficult to beat because their coach paired their two best players on one doubles team, creating a power house duo. With Arcadia’s talent, the team was able to pull it together and beat them with a score of 14-4.

The team had beat on Crescenta Valley the first time around at CV’s courts and had to play them again for a second time at home. This is always the toughest and most intense match of the season, because CV has defeated the team and taken the League Champion titles for the past two years in a row. After a long day, the team was still able to prevail, beating CV 13-5, securing their claim to the League Champion titles if they stay focused the rest of the season. On Oct. 12, the team played against South Pasadena and beat them 13-5. When they played against Burbank, many were worried because the score was so close. Luckily they performed full out and were able to serve some epic singles sets, which ended the game 10-8. The team dominated Pasadena 15-3 and beat Hoover 17-3.

On Oct. 27, the Apaches won 17-1 against Burroughs in an easy match, making them 19-0 overall. Junior Michelle Zhu said, “Every member of our team is important to us, from our wise coach to our reliable subs, and playing tennis is so much more enjoyable because we all enjoy being in each other’s company.”

alin@apachepowwow.com

kbay@apachepowwow.com

Photo by ELLIOTT LEE

VARSITY FOOTBALL The Apache offensive line squares off against John Burroughs High School during Arcadia’s Homecoming game on Oct. 23.

that helps us a lot.” However, he also admitted that the team’s greatest “weakness is that we are inexperienced and don’t have much depth.” He then went on to cite the lack of school interest and participation in football as a possible explanation for the team’s current depth, adding that “our school has 4,000 people and only 30 are on the varsity team.”

And so armed with the lessons they gained from the previous two games, the Apaches faced off against the long-time rival Temple City on Sept. 25. Having taken the stinging hits two weeks before with St. Francis and the week before that with Monrovia, the team was eager to redeem itself and crush the next challenger. And that their opponent was Temple City, historically known to hate on us Arcadians, only made their blood boil hotter. Thus, it came as no surprise that Arcadians and Temple City-ers alike were outraged when the match ended in a 28-28 tie.

Though football games these days almost never end in ties, this particular one did due to the whims of a small, select group of men: the referees. The men refused to umpire an overtime period, insisting that they were paid only to

SPORTS

21 Running Strides Ahead of Competition PROFILE

October 2009

apachepowwow.com

By RUODI DUAN, JOYCE LIAO, & ALEX ETHRIDGE

Guest & Staff Writers

It’s 6 in the morning on a Tuesday, and while our half of the world is asleep, the Arcadia High School Girls Cross Country team is already in the high school pool for yet another morning workout before school starts.

Although tired, groggy, and desperately longing to return to their warm, comfortable beds, they brave the freezing waters for some extra training before a race. Through rain, cold, and even the roasting heat that seems to be staying in Arcadia even after the end of summer, the Arcadia girls train to improve, compete, and win.

This season the Apaches are consistently led by solid efforts from stateranked junior and athletic superstar Catrina McAlister, who placed 6th at the prestigious Woodbridge Invitational with a stellar time of 16:50 for the three mile course, and followed the meet with a successive string of impressive victories.

With teamwork, spirit, and dedication, the varsity girls defeated long time rival Crescenta

Girls Cross Country team, led by senior Alex Dreves, continued its reign of victory in the Pacific League with another triumphant win.

With the JV seasons almost over, junior Nancy Lam represents the team’s sentiments, saying, “This season we were really strong overall, but we don’t measure our season by wins or losses – the hours together rooting for each other and the Saturdays where we suffer through workouts together are what really make our sport worth it.”

On Nov. 5, the varsity girls will return to Griffith Park for League Finals in hopes of redeeming themselves with a victory. A week afterwards at CIF Preliminaries, the girls will attempt a berth at CIF Finals for the first time in 51 years. Ranked 15th in the Southern Section Division I, the 2009 Arcadia Girls Cross Country team is arguable the strongest it has ever been in school history, giving it a good chance at making CIF. Veronica proudly boasted, “All our varsity runners Photo courtesy of VIVIAN CHAN have run times in from Veronica, who took 6th, and sophomore the 19’s for races, and we’re all running really Iris Wang who placed 14th behind another win well. Basically, it’s all or nothing.”

by Catrina, the team suffered an unexpected aethridge@apachepowwow.com defeat with 22-33. On a brighter note, the JV

Valley for the first time in eight years. This victory can be attributed to inspired performances from seniors Veronica Yee and Casandra Llamas, first year runners freshman Glindyll Mancia and sophomore Alejandra Quintero, and an exceedingly improved sophomore Naomi Wilcox, for whom a summer of dedication has paid off. After all of their time and hard work invested in their sport, the girls have something to show for it.

At the second league meet, which took place on Oct. 15, the girls ran against an energized CV team on the CV home course. Their rivals were determined to avenge their previous loss and gave an outstanding performance.

Despite admirable efforts

Girls Volleyball Sets Up For a Great Season around and finished strong.”

In their most intense game of the season thus far, the volleyball team beat Burroughs, one of Arcadia’s most formidable rivals. They won the first game against Burroughs by at least ten points, but in the second game, Burroughs fought back and won. The third and fourth games consisted of many rallies, and they were definitely a challenge because the rowdy Burroughs fans

were able to work together and play as a team.

Two days later, the team played a game against Staff Writer Pasadena and also beat them with a score of 3-0, winning with a strong defense and smart offense.

When the team went up against Crescenta Valley, “Winning isn’t everything, but the will to the score was extremely close, to the point where win is.” The Girls Varsity Volleyball team has risthe team could’ve lost their undefeated streak. en to the occasion to prove to everyone that they Fortunately, the team ended the game strong and can be the best volleyball team AHS has ever beat CV 3-1. When sophomore Brittney Lee deseen. With a record of 9-0 for league, the team scribed the game, she said, is going down the right path “We definitely had the win toward success, which fulfrom the start.” fills coach Charles Freberg’s The team then beat expectation for the season of Burbank 3-0 and Hoover “remaining undefeated.”

2-0. Overall, their record The Royal Tourney at is currently 17-2, including San Luis Obispo was a breeze all of their scrimmages, but for Arcadia because they were they remain undefeated in well prepared. They won league, a feat that deserves the first round of their pool much recognition. playing and won all of their The team maintained matches, 2-0. Later that afa sense of consistency ternoon, the team competed compared to the previous in the Royal Tournament at years. Michelle also said, Granada Hills. Unfortunately, “Our expectations for this their luck ran out as they took season are to, of course, their second loss of the season Photos by ELLIOTT LEE win league and get into at when Granada Hills beat them 2-1.

GIRLS VARSITY VOLLEYBALL Junior Jennifer Estrada prepares least the third round of CIF playoffs. We have a really However, their losses to serve the ball across the net to Muir High School. good team this year and proved to be learning experiwere partially successful in their attempts to we are working really hard to accomplish this.” ences, and a fast recovery was made, just in time for their next game against Glendale. When the break Arcadia’s concentration. Regardless, they Overall, they’re heading toward their ultimate team thought all hope was lost, they prevailed were able to win both games with a final score goal of winning league, then CIF. With the right amount of hard work and dedication, the Girls and crushed Glendale, beating them with a score of 3-1.

On Oct. 6, the team played against Muir Varsity Volleyball team certainly has a shot at beof 3-0. Junior Michelle Kha said, “It was a fairly easy game [for us]. Our offense and defense and easily beat them with a score of 3-0. Their coming champions if they set their minds to it. were great but our serving was just alright, and all-around play was well executed and the match kbay@apachepowwow.com we could definitely improve. We played well all- was fairly quick and easy to win, because they

By KATHERINE BAY

Chi Chi Min

By REGINA LIU Staff Writer

Photo by ELLIOTT LEE

Here at AHS, every sports team has a handful of noteworthy athletes. Junior Chi Chi (Mya) Min definitely qualifies as one such individual.

Currently a second year Girls Varsity Golf team member, Chi Chi has already made a strong impression on Coach Robert Greep, and has earned a name for herself among her teammates. “[She] has a very positive attitude about golf, she has continued to put in countless hours improving her overall game,” Greep stated. “One of the best things about her is she has an amazing work ethic, she’s very competitive yet she remains grounded with her personality…[She] treats everyone equally and is a wonderful role model for our younger athletes.”

Twin sister junior Mya Maw—who shares not only her DNA but also her love for the sport—said, “[She] is a great athlete and also a great teammate...She is also easy to get along with and quick with encouragements and smiles for everyone.”

Golf became a healthy fixation in Chi Chi’s life when she’d enrolled in the Arcadia Par 3 Golf Academy. “I started from the lowest level and slowly worked my way up and eventually started liking the sport. As of now, it is quite important because I take this sport very seriously… Practicing everyday is a big part of my everyday life,” she stated.

However, Chi Chi believes it’s not just practice that makes a golf player. “A golf player requires the patience, the love for the sport, the seriousness, and the calmness to play this sport. So far we are first in league. We won most of our matches…I am very confident we will win league again this year,” Chi Chi said.

Her long-term goals are no less ambitious. “As of now, I have plans to become a pro instructor in golf. It’d be a very hard path since an instructor needs to be very skilled at golf.”

In her spare time, she volunteers at Arcadia Par 3 Golf Academy, working toward her dream. Chi Chi said, “I’ve been helping out with the junior golf academy. I feel I will gain more knowledge about being an instructor by observing the instructors teach the kids.”

Chi Chi has come full circle by returning as a volunteer to Arcadia Par 3 Golf Academy: the place where it all began. rliu@apachepowwow.com

22

CALENDAR

Why the Chicken Crossed the Road

apachepowwow.com

Pache’mon Adventures–Episode 2

By BEVERLY CHEN

By GLUTTON GIRL Staff Writer As the school year begins to pick up speed, we all get sucked back into the stressful tornado of sleepless nights, last minute cram sessions, and homework headaches. But what better way to relax those nerves than to spend an afternoon at our very own Santa Anita Mall?

Cruising around the mall, my stomach was rumbling, and I couldn’t ignore it. I strolled to the food court. Among the many restaurants located in the food court at Westfield, Chicken Now is the newest installment, located right next to Johnny Rockets. Although relatively new, Chicken Now is accompanied with the usual hustle and bustle of customers.

Walking by the restaurant, I am immediately called out by a cashier giving out free chicken samples. “SAMPLES! Free chicken tenders, better than hamburger, better than McDonalds!” he called out over and over again to the passersbys. And then, I heard something unfamiliar and unrecognizable which sounded like “ta gee.” It took me a few minutes to finally realize that he was speaking a different language. He was saying “chicken” in Chinese. His calls lured me closer to the counter and the next thing you know, I was standing in front of the shop.

I quickly scanned through the menu to see the variety of dishes they offered. Items range from chicken tenders to chicken sandwiches and from BLT wraps to Southwest Salads, all of which, I assumed, include some form of chicken. Prices averaged around $5, while side dishes and combos go for a couple bucks more. The chicken sandwich seemed to be whispering my name so I ordered the regular chicken sandwich combo. Unfortunately, the wait time dragged on longer than I expected and they gave me my entrée about ten minutes later than expected. The service may have been flawed, but the scrumptious meal made up for it entirely. Sandwiched between two perfectly chewy buns (not too puffy, but not too condensed) were two strips of crispy chicken, crunchy on the outside and moist and tender on the inside. This perfect “100% all white meat chicken fried in 100% soybean oil in-house” infused with the tangy spring of barbecue with fresh lettuce and tomato exploded into a cuckoo crazy goodness in my mouth. The slightly salted fries complimented the holistic taste of my meal, though they were not anything out of the blue from a fast food restaurant.

Although the service could have been quicker, the quality of the food worthwhile. And if you still wonder: why did the chicken cross the road? To get some Chicken Now! XOXO, Glutton Girl Photo by Glutton Girl

TASTES LIKE CHICKEN Tender and crispy, the chicken sandwich makes for an ideal lunchtime meal.

gluttongirl@ apachepowwow. com

Courtesy of WEBSUDOKU.COM

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Just Another Halloween Night

By BEVERLY CHEN

October 2009

October 2009

CALENDAR

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23

Don’t Let This Be You...

The True Winner of Superweek

By CHERRY MO

By CHERRY MO

What?! Progress Reports are Out?!

By BEVERLY CHEN

24

CAMPUS FOCUS

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October 2009

Haunted House Hallways

By EMILY LITVACK Fundraising Co-Chair

Last Friday and Saturday night, Oct. 23-24, the Pep Squad hosted Haunted House Hallways—its biggest fundraiser of the school year—from 8 to 11 p.m. at AHS. Pep Squad advisor, Ms. Tamra Erickson, enlisted the help of AHS student volunteers to act as monsters during the event. The preparation for the event was intensive for these monsters; they attended informational meetings at lunch for weeks beforehand, arrived hours early on both nights for costumes and makeup preparation, and stayed past 11 p.m.—all to put on an unforgettable show. Senior Michael Malcom was one of these student volunteers. He said, “Haunted House Hallways has carnival games and food too, so it’s just all around fun. It’s been one of the most entertaining events of my senior year thus far.” Pep Squad captain, senior Hannah Warner, agreed with Michael, “We work with the community outside our school and provide a fun event for all ages.”

Hannah’s favorite part of the event was setting up because they can “take the school everyone goes to every day and change it into something different.” The hallways were transformed into a collection of scenes from classic horror films and worst nightmares, with a clown room, a macabre dining room, a scarecrow hallway and a Grudge room were all part of the elaborate set-up. But even with the help of the Pep Squad and dedicated volunteers, Ms. Erickson hired professionals to make this design a reality. Everyone’s hard work, however, did not go ignored, because the line to enter Haunted House Hallways was exceptionally long on both nights. Another school year brought another wildly successful Haunted House Hallways event for the Pep Squad and a perfect celebration of Halloween. elitvack@apachepowwow.com Photos by ELLIOTT LEE and ALWYNA LAU Photos courtesy of PLUSHRUGS.COM, THEDAILYPLANNER.COM, ANTIQUEHELPER.RFCSYSYSTEMS.COM ARCHIVE.LIVEAUCTIONEERS.COM, and FRAME-EXPRESS.COM