THE AZTEC VOLUME LXXVIII NUMBER VI
February 12, 2016
theaztecnews.com
IN THIS ISSUE
ACADEC participates in Los Angeles County match
VIEWPOINT PG 4, 10
Young voters needed for 2016 presidential election
ERIC TAM Asst. Viewpoint Editor
Keppel FBLA competitors with their awards after a competition at Six Flags Magic Mountain.
VALENTINE'S ADS PG 5-8
FBLA takes 4th in sweepstakes at Mission Valley Section Conference
SARAH McCORMICK News Editor
A&E/FEATURES PG 6, 9 Female gamers and game culture
SPORTS PG 11-12
Girls basketball defeats Schurr
Keppel's Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA) team participated in the 2016 Mission Valley Section Conference on Saturday, February 6, at Six Flags Magic Mountain. FBLA received 25 top ten awards in 15 different categories, and 15 of the students will be moving on to the state competition in April. Keppel also won 4th place in sweepstakes. Thirty-two Keppel students were involved in the competition against 20 other high schools and middle schools in the East Los Angeles area. Students compet-
ed in events on topics including impromptu speaking, accounting, personal finance, spreadsheet applications, and global business. Performance events, such as job interview, were held on January 30 at Gabrelino High School. Up to two students could represent Keppel in individual events, and up to three students could represent Keppel in group events. The California State Leadership Conference is a statewide competition held from April 14-17 in Ontario, CA. After the state competition, students will be able to move onto the national competition held in Atlanta, Georgia. Students were able to choose the event in which they wanted
to participate, but runoff tests were issued to determine the competing roster for categories with too many sign ups. In order to participate in the competition, students must be a paid member of the FBLA club and currently enrolled in a business class. To prepare for the competition, FBLA students studied from business textbooks provided by the school and from practice guides online. Business teachers also taught material to prepare students for the competition. FBLA President, senior Brianne Woo, said, "I am so proud of my chapter for all their achievements this competition and I want to thank everyone for their support."
Zero Robotics Club competes at MIT
Your calendar 2/15 School Holiday 2/16 School Site Council Meeting 1:45-2:45 pm in Aztec Conference Room 2/17 MKHS PTSA Meeting 7-9 pm in Cafeteria 2/24 Collaboration Schedule 2/24 MKHS Alliance Meeting 7-9 pm in Cafeteria 3/2 Collaboration Schedule 3/9 Collaboration Schedule 3/10 Drama Boosters Meeting in A114 7-8:30 pm 3/11 End of third quarter
COURTESY OF AMANDA CHIU
COURTEST OF DOUGLAS CHIN Junior Kevin Kuramoto, freshman Raymond Tran, and junior Douglas Chin during their competition at MIT.
WESLEY ZENG Asst. Business Manager Keppel’s Zero Robotics Club was invited to Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) on January 24 to compete in an international Zero Robotics com-
petition. Overall, the Zero Robotics Club received 9th place in division one among the ISS finalists. Three students, juniors Douglas Chin, Kevin Kuramoto, and freshman Raymond Tran were chosen from the Zero Robotics Club to participate.
Kuramoto said that the whole competition is a “...collaboration between NASA, ESA (European Space Agency), and many other countries." The main goal of the competition is to obtain pieces of a NASA satellite and to take pictures of the opponent and upload them to Earth, all of which earns points. The team with the most points wins the match. Chin, founder and president of the club, said, “ The competition takes place in multiple rounds, with eliminations after each one, culminating in the finalist rounds on the ISS.” He also added that before the students compete at MIT, “all the individual teams compete in the 3D round, then 3 team alliances are formed.” The teams compete against other international teams, then the top teams proceeds to the finals. Keppel’s Zero Robotics team scored first in both individual and alliance teams.
Keppel's Academic Decathlon (ACADEC) team competed in the Los Angeles County match on Saturday, January 30. ACADEC received fourth place overall in their competition. Keppel's team consisted of 10 out of the 35 total members of ACADEC, comprised of seniors Dachanaon Chaiswat, Patrick Chea, Jimmy Chong, Justin Ho, juniors Christina Tran, Phillip Tran, Rachel Wang, Stephen Yuan, freshman Grace Chang, and alternate member senior Kristy Wong. The remaining members spent their time practicing for future competitions. All members of Academic Decathlon participated in one “scrimmage” or practice match to help prepare for the real competition. On the first day of the tournament, competitors from across the Los Angeles County performed speeches, participated in interviews, and wrote essays. The theme of the competition was the country of India, which means that questions and speeches were focused on the country’s distinct culture and other trivia. On the days that led up to competitions, team members practiced during seventh period from 6 to 9 p.m. to ensure optimal preparedness during the week prior to competing. The most difficult aspect of ACADEC, along with the intensity of training, is finding the time to practice. "ACADEC is for those looking for a challenge," said ACADEC Secretary, junior Christina Tran. “Not everyone has time [to practice], especially those with AP classes.” The first and second county competitions took place at El Rancho High School in Pico Rivera, CA. The second county competition, which took place on February 6, consisted of arena testing and the “Super Quiz.” Keppel scored 63 out of 72 in the Super Quiz category. The awards banquet for competitors took place on February 11 at the Quiet Cannon banquet hall in Montebello during school hours.
Students and staff perform Hairspray
CRISTINA GONZALEZ Asst. A&E/Features Editor
Hairspray, the musical, is taking place at Keppel on February 26-28 and March 4-6 in the auditorium. Tickets will be sold presale for $12 and at the door for $15. The musical showtimes are at 7:30 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays, and at 3 p.m. on Sundays. There will also be a preview for Keppel staff and students on Thursday, February 25, at 4 p.m. The preview will cost $5. Hairspray is the story of Tracy Turnblad, a white Baltimore teenager, fighting for integration while joining the cast of a popular segregated dance television show. In order to prepare for this, co-lead Gabriel Vera, playing the role of Link Larkin, said that he has to attend all rehearsals and continuously tries to read over lines with fellow cast members. Junior Tatiana Garnett, who plays Little Inez in the musical, said, “This is the first time I’ve been considered a lead, and it’s one of my favorite musicals, so it’s fun to get to do all of this while still forming a stronger bond with returning actors and getting to know newcomers.” A major difference between this musical and Keppel’s past productions is the
The cast of Hairspray rehearses a scene from the musical.
setting. In comparison with former plays, Hairspray takes place in the 60’s, and the scene is very different. This play contains many more dance numbers than previous plays, and really addresses the social issues of racism and segregation that were a big part of the 60’s. She also added, “It’s [Hairspray] an interesting challenge because it’s very come-
Keppel welcomes new assistant princpal BRANDON CHUNG Historian/Copy Editor
Following Mr. Khevin DeVaughn’s transfer to San Gabriel High School, Mark Keppel welcomes Mrs. Allison Vann as the new Assistant Principal of Business & Activities. Prior to coming to Keppel, Mrs. Vann held a variety of teaching posts beginning in 2003: she taught third grade, sixth grade, P.E, and special education for a total of six years before moving up to an administrative position, serving as an Assistant Principal and Principal in Arizona for the last seven years. After moving back to California from Arizona with her family, Mrs. Vann applied for the position of a district coordinator as well as an athletic director within the Alhambra Unified School District. She was accepted for both positions, and was given the choice to choose which job she wanted more. She ultimately chose to work as a district coordinator because
dic while still addressing a serious topic.” Official rehearsals began in January and will continue until the premiere of the show. The play’s music will be performed by Mark Keppel’s orchestra, conducted by Dr. Carla Bartlett. Hairspray director and drama teacher Ms. Page Phillips said, “It [the musical] is absolutely a blast, the music is exciting and
THE AZTEC/VICTORIA RAMIREZ
inspiring. The music is extremely uplifting everyones going to want to get out of their seat and dance, or they’re going to want to sing along with it because it’s just so much fun... I think everyones going to love it.” Presale tickets can be purchased from drama students, cast members, or online at mkhs.myschoolcentral.com.
American Mathematics Competition held at Keppel
“that position [as coordinator in Arizona] made me realize how much I miss and belong on a school campus as an assistant principal, and I realized that was my calling.” Outside of school, Mrs. Vann is an avid sports fan. She and her husband serve as coaches for the sports teams of their five children, as well as board members for their sporting events. One thing that most people do not know about Mrs. Vann is that she actually married her high school sweetheart, whom she met in her sophomore year of high school. Overall, Mrs. Vann said, “Coming to MKHS has been great… I’ve been received with such positive vibes, and everyone’s been so great, so inviting...the best thing out of everything coming [here] is just being able to work with such a wonderful group of adults, and also to be able to help educate and be in the lives of such wonderful young students that we have here on campus.”
ANITA HUANG Asst. Web Editor Keppel, along with many other schools around the nation, participated in the American Mathematics Competition (AMC) on February 2. The competition, which began in 1950, has been held annually for over six decades. Sponsored by the New York Metropolitan Section of the Mathematics Association of America (MAA), the competition includes three levels: AMC 8, AMC 10, and AMC 12. Each year, roughly 350,000 students participate. Junior Jason Xian, who is currently taking Advanced Placement Calculus BC, said, “I’ve competed twice before because I’ve been in Math Team since freshman year. The AMC is very important and can open numerous doors to anyone interested in the STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) world.” Keppel students who choose to partici-
pate in the AMC are required to answer 25 multiple choice questions in 75 minutes. Competitors will receive six points for answering correctly, one and a half points for every question left unanswered, and zero points for answering question incorrectly. If a participant scores high enough, they are qualified to participate in the next round at the United States of America Mathematical Olympiad (USAMO) in April, or the American Invitational Mathematics Examination (AIME) in March. Keppel math teacher, Ms. Sylvia Leon, said, “It is a contest comparing the students’ math skills. On average, there are only about one to ten people from Keppel who move on to the next round. It really is a hard test.” However, Xian added, “The concepts are not as hard as the ones tested in school. To anyone taking the AMC, stay confident because it’s not too hard.”
The Aztec 2015-2016
Bonnie Wong Editor-in-Chief/ Asst. A&E/Features Editor Vivian To Editor-in-Chief/ Focus Editor Darwin Tse Asst. Editor-in-Chief/ Web Editor Sarah McCormick News Editor
Alexander Beaumont A&E/Features Editor Brian Yeo Viewpoint Editor Eric Lam Sports Editor Karli Cheng Business Manager Victoria Ramirez Chief Photographer Brandon Chung Historian/Copy Editor
Yang Lu Copy Editor/Business Manager Edlyn Wong Head Cartoonist Aurora Zeng Cartoonist Wesley Zeng Asst. Business Manager Kristin Chingburanakit Photographer
Rodolfo Arias Photographer Angela Chen Asst. Focus Editor Celeste Arambula Staff Writer Dianne Do Staff Writer Noelle Frasher Staff Writer Arodi Garcia Staff Writer
Cristina Gonzalez Asst. A&E/Features Editor Anita Huang Asst. Web Editor Anthony Jian Asst. Sports Editor Cole Kim Staff Writer Kevin Kuang Staff Writer Kenneth Liu Staff Writer
The Aztec is published monthly by the jourEric Tam Asst. Viewpoint Editor nalism class of Mark Keppel High School and is
Shanae To Staff Writer Babyruth Torres Staff Writer Sophie Wong Asst. News Editor
printed by News Publishers’ Press. Opinions expressed are those of the writers, not of the faculty or administration. Articles without bylines are staff editorials, and reflect the opinion of the staff. Letters to the editor are welcome and are subject to editing. Letters can be given to Ms. Bradley in room A225 or sent to theaztecstaff@gmail. com. All letters must be signed, but on request, names will be withheld. We do not acknowledge unsigned letters. All internet graphics on The Aztec newspaper are the properties of their respective owners.
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Aztec Singers place 3rd and 4th at competition BONNIE GRACE WONG Editor-in-Chief The Aztec Singers won 4th place on Friday, February 5 at Brea Olinda High School and 3rd place on Saturday, February 6 at Diamond Bar High School. 32 Aztec Singers performed their Spring Show Choir Set, consisting of nine different choreographed songs about a girl who is new to a school and is trying to fit in. Three judges critiqued their 17-minute performance both days. Senior Kelsey Kuan said, “I felt like we did better than we expected, but I know that we could’ve done so much more. I think many of the Aztec singers weren’t as experienced and
were new to everything, so they didn’t perform as well as they could’ve.” In addition to their fifth period and weekend practices, the Aztec Singers practiced approximately 10.5 hours after school a week since the end of December. Kuan said, “ I am proud of the Aztec singers who worked hard during practices. I know that we can improve our skills and make our show even more entertaining.” They are preparing to perform more in March and will host their annual Spring Choir Concert event. Senior Emily Castelazo said, “As we gain more experience as a group, I feel that we’ll be able to take our performances to a whole new level.” They will be competing this Saturday, February 13 at Arcadia High School.
TUTORING IN YOUR HOME Algebra 1 and 2, Geometry, Pre-Calculus, AP Calculus, AP Chemistry, SAT UC Berkeley Graduate Roy Wu (626) 818-2657
News-in-Brief Keppel students win at Skills USA Regional Competition. Congratulations to first place winners: Serina Zhou (Page Layout), Kelsey Su (Architectural Drafting), Emi Okuno (Intro Drafting A), Kyle Chuang (Technical Drafting), and other competitors who placed.
Science and Math teacher Ms. May Ng takes home the title of Chili Queen. She wins a Starbucks gift card and gets to keep the winner plaque for one year.
ASB will host their annual Sadie Hawkin’s dance on Friday, February 19 from 7-11 pm in Palm Court. This year’s theme is “Surfin Sadies.” Tickets are $12 with ASB and $14 without ASB.
The Zika virus is sweeping throughout Latin America, with cases in parts of the U.S. The virus has affected babies born from parents carrying the disease, causing shrunken heads.
Young voters needed in presidential election COLE KIM Staff Writer This year welcomes a major event that occurs every four years and it’s not the Olympics. That’s right, it’s time for elections, probably one of the most important of the century. Due to controversial issues such as immigration, war in the Middle East, and climate change, the decisions made by the next president will be incredibly important. The leading candidates include Republicans Donald Trump, Marco Rubio, and Ted Cruz and Democrats Hillary Clinton and Bernie Sanders. Even though the 58th Election Day is months away on November 8, the important thing is for everyone of age to put in their vote. Let’s first look at the Republican side, with the front runners being Donald Trump and Ted Cruz. Trump’s moneymaker status, fantastic hair, and questionable state-
ments have paid off. CNN states that “more than 4-in-10 Republican voters nationwide” are backing the billionaire. USA Today’s polls show that for Republicans, Donald Trump is leading with a 36.2%. Ted Cruz, the next Republican candidate on the polls with 19.3%, is a
senator from Texas. Cruz seems to be Trump’s Republican rival, calling the leading candidate out on citizenship, immigration, and even challenging Trump to a one-on-one debate. They both oppose same-sex marriage and support absolute rights to own guns. However, Trump places emphasis on lower taxes for the rich and avoiding other countries in foreign affairs, while Cruz supports higher taxes and stronger foreign relations. The Republicans aren’t the only ones in the election. Democrats
“F” it, allow cussing
If cursing were allowed, senior Cassidy Lam could cuss freely.
KEVIN KUANG & BRIAN YEO Staff Writer & Viewpoint Editor Should students and teachers be censored or should they be allowed to f---ing freely express themselves through swearing? Under the First Amendment, profanity is protected as long as the speech does not include “fighting words.” Fighting words are words that are aimed at attacking and breaking the peace. In the 1971 Supreme Court case Cohen v. California, a man was arrested for having the “F-word” on his jacket. However, the court overtrurned his arrest as the word was not directed at any individual person and had no intention of violence. Furthermore, in the 1986 case of Bethel School Dist. No. 403 v. Fraser, the Supreme Court ruled that schools are allowed to prohibit only the use of sexual) and offensive language. This decision added to the 1969 Tinker v. Des Moines decision that stated regulations could not be made
Hillary Clinton and Bernard “Bernie” Sanders have 52.5% and 37.2% of Democrat votes respectively. They both agree on having higher taxes on the rich and having a pathway to citizenship for illegal aliens. However, Sanders’ voters seem to be far younger than those of most other candidates. “Young people are by nature idealistic,” Sanders said in an interview with CNN. “They understand that something is wrong in this country...when they may end up with a lower standard of living than their parents. They want us to do something about it.” Right now, in this crucial election, the most important thing to do is to vote. About 83% of the senior class and a small fraction of the junior class will be eligible to vote by the Election Day, November 8. When people decide on the next leader of the nation, every vote counts. In 2012, about 19% of voters were in the age range of 18 to 29 nationwide, stated Eleanor Smeal of The Huffington Post.
This proves that younger voters can certainly make a difference, as voters over 65 only made up 16% of the electorate. However, before voting, please make sure that you and every voter that you know stays informed. Taking advantage of the right to vote is important, but so too is voting responsibly. Each candidate’s political positions should be the deciding factors for voters’ choices. Voting is the power to make a difference, given by the nation to save the nation.
From top to bottom: (R) Jeb Bush, (R) Donald Trump, (D) Hillary Clinton, (R) Ted Cruz
COURTESY OF GOOGLE IMAGES
Removal of Teachers’ Assistants and free periods detrimental to students
THE AZTEC/ RODOLFO ARIAS
at school to restrict free speech if there was no constiutional basis. So, if the courts are to decide, cursing should be allowed at as long as it is not used in an insulting or manner. Profanity can actually be beneficial in class if used to express an opinion more openly. Cursing is a form of speech, and if profanity were permitted, students could share passion and intensity in their opinion. At the same time, swearing does show disobedience and a weak control of emotions. Some individuals may be offended by profanity, others may not. Senior Nevin Chow believes that “cursing shouldn’t be allowed because it doesn’t show respect.” Ultimately, the First Amendments permits us the freedom of speech, and profanity is speech. Although it may show adverse characteristics, it should be allowed. Students and teachers can choose whether or not to swear, whether it’s personal belief or out of respect for others.
CARTOON BY AURORA ZENG
KENNETH LIU Staff Writer Starting next school year, free first period, free sixth period, and teacher assistant (TA) period will no longer be available. Guidance Counselor Mrs. Matsuo said, “TA periods will no longer be available in order to promote higher education.” It is undecided if these options will be brought back. Having a TA is extremely beneficial to students as well as teachers. TAs offer needed assitance to teachers. Daily duties range from handing out papers to correcting homework. As a student, being a teacher assistant can help create a strong relationship with a teacher or even spark an interest to become a teacher.
Junior Kevin Fang Ojima is a teacher assistant for Ms. Koutsky, who teaches American Literature. He said, “I thought it was a great experience for me to bond with the teacher as well as the students. I think that it is unfortunate that students will be unable to sign up to be a teacher assistant.” For teachers, having teacher assistants improves time efficiency and allows the teacher to focus more on the students. US History teacher Mr. Wilcox has a teacher assistant for his first period and said, “I think having a TA is great because they perform tasks that take up my time. I hope they come back.” Additionally, although a free first or sixth period may seem to promote laziness, it may ac-
tually be the opposite. Students may use the extra time to study or finish homework, thereby giving the student time for extra activities. Senior Nevin Chow has finished all of his credits and currently has a free sixth period. He believes that having a free sixth period is beneficial because “having one less class to study and do homework for is a big stress reliever.” He also said that he uses the extra time to focus on his other five classes and extracurricular activities. Free periods allow students to rest and sleep. The National Sleep Foundation recommends eight hours of sleep for students, but few studends are able to meet this suggestion with a full academic schedule.
Hey, that Darwin guy is pretty cute. -Darwin Tse
“There is love enough in this world for everybody, if people will just look.” -Kurt Vonnegut (courtesy of Mrs. Flores)
A mi mejor amiga, Shoutout yo se que podemos to conventir a Adam Lambert. Girls Soccer
Su amiga
I love you, Vivian Pham & Jamie Huang I can’t stop smiling Hope you all have a Happy Valentine’s Day!!!
whenever I think of you.
YEARBOOK STAFF: You’ve “spear ti ”ed my heart away with your passion, dedication, and hard work. You amaze me. LOVE, MS. AP
Knowing An Injurious, Terrifying, Little in height, Yappy, Nag doesn’t seem so good...but I think it’s one of the best things that have happened to me in high school, and I’m liking it so far : ) -from anon
We want you “BRADLEY” Thank you to all participants in the Lunar New Year Basketball Tournament. Good Games! I <3 you all! -Ms. Bennett
FEMALE GAMERS AND GAME CULTURE BRIAN YEO Viewpoint Editor
THE AZTEC/ DARWIN TSE Female game and Keppel senior Vivian Soai
It’s Friday night and senior Vivian Soai logs into her Twitch stream where she will broadcast in front of her viewers. Tonight, she will be playing Blade and Soul, a popular Japanese MMORPG (Massively Multiplayer Online Role-Playing Game). Soai represents a demographic in gaming that is often underrepresented—girls. Video gaming is often seen as a malecentric pasttime, one that appeals to men through violence, action, and adventure. Overlooked, however, are the other side of “gamers”—the girls. Though females actually make up 44% of self-identified gamers in the U.S. according to a 2015 survey by the Entertainment Software Association, the overwhelming perception is that males make up almost all of the
videogaming demographic. Women are not just playing mobile games either. They constitute a large chunk of PC gamers and console players as well. However, many, like Soai and junior Caitlin Tieu, still elicit surprise when they speak into their microphones in online games. Tieu, who mainly plays League of Legends and Counterstrike: Global Offensive, said, “My brothers told me not to talk on the mic because it could be dangerous. Usually, the other players will react [to my being a girl] and say ‘OMG, it’s a girl’ or something like that.” Sometimes, the reaction is not positive. Soai said, “Some of the guys really hate girls that play video games or they’ll hit on you all the time.” Tieu also said that girls might also be unjustly blamed when the team loses. This is just part of a larger problem present in the videogaming com-
munity that many female gamers have noticed—male gamers are often not welcoming toward their female counterparts. Though many female video game players like Soai and Tieu—who have been playing video games since elementary school—have learned to ignore or not pay attention to the way male players react to them, they admit that sometimes there are less than positive comments. Soai commented that this might be a reason why many girls avoid video gaming or calling themselves gamers. “Many guys will say that I’m just playing for attention,” she said. “But I’m playing because I like to play.” Tonight, Soai is able to do just that. As her viewer count goes up to double digits, she interacts with them, chatting, and having fun. Soai passes the night by doing what she loves, gaming.
FULL HOUSE GETS FULLER EDLYN WONG Head Cartoonist If you recognize the names DJ Tanner, Uncle Jesse, or Kimmy Gibbler, then “have mercy!” because popular American sitcom Full House will soon be debuting its revival spin-off, Fuller House, on Netflix. John Stamos ( Jesse Katsopolis) first revealed the announcement of Fuller House on Jimmy Kimmel Live back in April 2014. The new Netflix original series focuses on
DJ Tanner-Fuller, who is a recently widowed mother of three who asks her childhood best friend, Kimmy, and younger sister, Stephanie, to help her out. The storyline picks up from where the 90’s sitcom left off of, with most of the original cast of Full House starring on Fuller House, including Candace CameronBure, John Stamos, Lori Loughlin, Andrea Barber, Bob Saget, and Dave Coulier, with the exceptions of Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen who shared the role of Michelle
Tanner. On a featurette by Netflix, Jodie Sweetin (Stephanie Tanner) said that the show will still continue its family-oriented, comedic feel while bringing in new aspects to the series. “In the original Full House, it was three guys raising three little girls. It’s now three women raising three boys,” said Sweetin. According to People Magazine, “Both Stamos and [Bob] Saget (Danny Tanner) have both spoken about the importance of doing a reboot right and re-
specting the original series.” “What’s different about this show is that you will meet new characters such as Kimmy’s daughter and DJ’s three kids,” adds Chiu. The opening theme song, originally performed by Jesser Frederick, will be kept like the original series with a new performance by Carly Rae Jepsen. The first episode of Fuller House will be a one hour reunion special set to premiere on Netflix on Friday, February 26th.
A LEGEND-ARY BOOK REVIEW AURORA ZENG Cartoonist
THE AZTEC/ VICTORIA RAMIREZ Juniors Rakan Almomani, Ivan Lee, Bobbi Ho, and Katherine La embrace their single status as the “Single Pringles”.
SINGLE AWARENESS DAY KRISTIN CHINGBURANAKIT Photographer
Single’s Awareness Day (also known as S.A.D.) is an alternate Valentine’s Day for single people to celebrate not being in a romantic relationship. S.A.D. is said to be a humorous holiday, and according to singlesawareness.com, is officially celebrated the day after Valentine’s Day to give single people a chance to celebrate being single. Sophomore Bryan Ha thinks that this day seems like a depressing holiday. “It’s like single people need to have a holiday since they can’t celebrate Valentine’s Day,” he said. Likewise, Junior Tatiana Garnett said “it’s funny how the acronym is is literally S.A.D.” Being single or in a relationship on Valentine’s Day is celebrated in two different ways. Junior Joanna Huynh said, “Most people spend the day with their
partners if they’re in a relationship, [but] if you’re single you can celebrate it alone or with loved ones.” Many have began embracing their single life by hanging out with friends. Freshman Nathan Tran said that if he were to celebrate S.A.D., he would “hang out with his other single friends.” Many people have parties and exchange gifts with their other friends who are not in relationships. Another way people celebrate S.A.D. is by attending music festivals, such as KIIS FM’s “Tinder Ball” where single people are encouraged to meet someone. The music festival is influenced by the dating app Tinder, where one can meet people by swiping right to approve someone and swiping left to reject. So, if you’re single this Valentine’s Day, don’t worry because there are plenty of other people in the same boat as you.
Legend (2011) by Marie Lu is the firstbook in a young adult dystopian trilogy, followed by Prodigy (2013) and Champion (2014). Set in a futuristic United States called the “Republic” and centered in the streets of Los Angeles, readers follow the story of 15 year-old prodigy June Iparis as she accidentally falls in love with Day Wing, a teenage boy who she has been oredered to find and capture for being accused of killing June’s older brother. This novel is one of the first books I read that features two point of views: one from Day’s perspective and another from June’s perspective. Unlike other books with multiple point of views, both perspectives are easily distinguishable and action-packed, especially in the first half of the novel where readers see many of Day’s action on the streets. The way Lu writes through the mind of both characters clearly shows June’s intriguing, calculated views and Day’s desire for his family’s safety. Readers will fall in love with the way the plot moves. Fangirls, like me, will most definitely fall in love with Day. The relationships between the characters were written perfectly as well. I was rooting for the relationship between June and Day the entire novel. However, in my opinion, the next two books just don’t quite compare to the first. Personally, I prefer Legend because the storyline is the least tangled with the politics of the dystopian government. While Legend mainly revolves around the main characters’ personal conflicts, which I find more engaging, the rest of the trilogy ties more political conflicts into the plot. In
addition, an extremely complicated love “square” is introduced in Prodigy, which seems slightly unnecessary, but it personally intensified my strong preference for June and Day (“Dune”, as the Internet calls it) and made up for the lack of engagement caused by the introduction of political conflicts. Of course, if someone has different preferences, they would have different levels of enjoyment with Prodigy and Champion. Still, Lu manages to satisfy the high standards Legend has set for the rest of the series. All in all, I would definitely recommend this trilogy to anyone that loves a great dystopian book. Legend is one of those books that will suck the reader out of reality for a few hours straight and leave them craving more when they finish. It might not have a movie adaption (yet!) but it’s worth it to give this series a shot.
THE AZTEC/ALEXANDER BEAUMONT Cover for Marie Lu’s Legend, published in 2011.
Barnes Park pool in dire need of expensive repairs ANTHONY JIAN Asst. Sports Editor The swimming pool in Barnes Park, which the Mark Keppel Swim & Dive Team uses as a home pool, is currently in a bad condition. Mr. Ismael Perez, who coaches the swim team, said, “The [pool’s] heater is broken, and the water is leaking out of the pool.” The leak would waste thousands of gallons of water in each day. The standard temperature of the water in the swimming pool is supposed to be 78 to 82 degrees Fahrenheit. The temperature of the water is currently 73 degrees Fahrenheit, which may cause health issues to swimmers. If the pool is fixed, the city would save thousands of gallons of water per day. A modern pool recirculates and filters the water. But at Barnes, water that flows into the gutter flows to the sewage, instead of being redirected back into the pool. According to Monterey Park Mayor Peter Chan, the city has approved to fix the two broken heaters, which costs $69,850. The two heaters will be fixed by mid-February. For the leak part of the pool, Peter Chan said “It’s impossible to fix it, the only possible solution is to replace [with] a new pool.” The pool has been used for over 50 years.
It will cost around 4 million dollars which includes installing the new pool, club house, the deck, hardware, plumbs, heaters, and all other facilities in the swimming pool section. For now the city has two new plans. The first one is to replace the same whole 50 meter long pool and redo the plumbing. The other plan is to have two separate swimming pools, one pool that is 25 meters by 25 yards, and the other pool that is 25 yards by 17 yards. It will take 2 to 3 years to install the pool and other facilities. According to coach Perez, the students in the aquatics program are currently practicing at George E. Elder Park starting at Mid-November, 2015. They will return back to swimming at the pool in Barnes in February 15. Senior Kyndall Ting said, “Everything’s the same but my parents have to drive farther to pick me up, compared to swimming at Barnes.” The city should replace the old pool with a new pool that has the same size as the original pool because there are many contests that takes place using the pool and not many places in Southern California have 50 meter pools. The pool should be repaired as soon as possible because since there are many areas of the pool that are leaking, it wastes many gallons of water each day. As the city said, “Save water.”
HISTORY AND CULTURE OF LION DANCING
School environment factor in stress of asking out to dances SOPHIE WONG Asst. News Editor Sweaty palms, trembling voices, quivering legs, and nervous expressions. The pressure of asking someone out in public is immense. While some think of the opportunities, others question the chances of rejection. Many people only think of the pressure for the person asking, but is it even more pressure for the person that is being asked? Out of all the possible ways of asking someone out, asking in public creates a very tense feeling that puts a huge amount of pressure on one’s shoulders. Although asking someone out in public involves a great deal of pressure, there are many advantages to it. Junior Anthony Gabrie states that when you ask in public, you have the support of spectators as well as a higher self-esteem. “The advantages only depend on how affected you are by peer pressure and the evaluation of yourself by others,” said Gabrie. The feelings of the person getting asked out, should be considered as well. For some, they may like the attention that it brings them. But for others, it gets harder to tell them “no.” As the crowd
watches the two people intensely, it makes it hard for the person being asked to meet the crowd’s expectation. Freshman Samantha Lai states that the pressure of saying “yes” is heightened because everyone is watching. “If I was in the position of the person being asked, I believe that more pressure would come from the person asking. The answer you give them can really change how your previous friendship with them was,” Lai said. Of course, when asking someone out, the real question is: will you get rejected? “In a sense, it may force the person to say yes because of the pressure,” Gabrie explained. Out of all the ways someone could be asked out, students seem to prefer asking in public more. Lai adds, “I think it’s the best way. I believe making a poster and going all out to impress the person is really sweet and a cute thing to do because they’ll know that you put in a lot of effort to get their approval.” Since high school only lasts for four years, make the best of it and ask someone out, even if you think the chances of rejection is high. Make high school worth it.
What to do in order to make the most out of your weekends BONNIE WONG Editor-in-Chief/ Asst. A&E/ Features Editor
A little inforgraphic on the difference between lion dancing and dragon dancing.
KARLI CHENG Business Manager Quite often when you see costumes on the streets during Lunar New Year you go “Look, a dragon!” There is a difference between a dragon and a lion. More often we see lions than we do dragons. Here’s a tip to help you tell the difference between the two, a lion consists of only two dancers under the costume and a dragon can range between seven or nine for the smaller trick and show dragons and more than 30 for a larger parade dragon. Lion dance was intended to scare away evil spirits and to spread luck. The culture of lion dancing came from Asia, told from three ancient folklore. The first story tells that when a village was continuously bothered by a monster which destroys the village. They created a replica of the monster putting a mirror on the forehead of the creature so that the monster can see itself. The brave villagers put on the costume and scared the monster away. From then on, the monster never came back to the village and the villagers continued that tradition every year to celebrate eliminating the creature.
IMAGE COURTESY OF TUMBLR
The second story says that the lion came from the heaven and he was a pranker. In heaven, the lion played a joke on the Jade Emperor and he was not pleased with the prank. It resulted in the Jade Emperor beheaded the lion and threw his head down to Earth to perish. The Goddess of Mercy, Kwan Yin, felt sympathetic about the lion and used a red ribbon to bound his body and head back together. Soon as the powers of the lion was restored, he learned his lesson and was allowed back in heaven. The last legend is that the lion came from the Tang Dynasty. One night the emperor had a strange dream and a mystical creature saved him. The next day he told his ministers and described how it looked. One minister told him that the creature was called a “lion” and that it only existed in the western countries. Because of the emperor’s dream, the lion was deemed good luck, good fortune, and prosperity. In the recent years, the art of lion dancing has been used for more than just spreading good luck in the beginning of the Lunar New Year, but also for weddings, grand openings, and many other celebrations. It also has many different styles of dance and the look of the lion itself.
Let’s be real: when Friday rolls around it’s time to toss our backpacks on the floor and not touch it until 11 pm on Sunday. So what do Mark Keppel students do on their weekends other than homework? 1. Sleep In classrooms, it’s not uncommon to see drooping heads and complaints of “only averaging four hours of sleep a night.” Weekends are for sleeping in late and catching up on much-needed ZZZ’s, so sleep tight and don’t let the bedbugs bite. 2. Video Games Many may resolve to finish homework first but soon find themselves two hours later playing League of Legends. Video games are stimulating, exciting, and offer a social component that allows one to interact with others without actually speaking to anyone. 3. Hiking A great way to get exercise is to take a popular hiking trail such as one of the fifteen Griffith Park trails ranging from easy, moderate, and strenuous levels. Home to the famous Hollywood sign, hiking in Griffith Park will give you a rewarding view of Los Angeles as well as motivate you to keep up your New Year’s Resolution of staying fit.
4. Cafés and Restaurants If you’re in search of an aesthetic Instagram feed, head to a nearby cafe or restaurant to grab a tasty bite and snap some colorful photos. A popular brunch spot is Urth Caffé in Pasadena. Here you’ll find savory sandwiches, creative coffee art, and a casual spot to relax and catch up with some friends. 5. Museums In continuing with achieving an “aesthetic” life, art museums are a popular way of passing the time on weekends. The Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA) is home to the popular Urban Lights tourist spot. Another popular museum is The Broad, known for its contemporary and thought-provoking artwork. 6. Beach With El Niño coupled with climate change, the days are getting hotter and many people can’t wait for Spring Break or Summer vacation to head to the beach. The beach is an inexpensive, fun way to stay stress-free on weekends while soaking up Vitamin D. 7. Netflix Whether you’re watching “Gossip Girl” reruns or catching up on the new season of “House of Cards,” Netflix is always an option for a chill night in.
The team (seniors Matthew Tan #5, Bryant Chow #1, Todd Kitagawa #23, Kenneth Zhang #35, Nelson Muronaka #21) scrambles to defend against the Spartans.
THE AZTEC/NOELLE FRASHER
Boys basketball wins close game against Spartans NOELLE FRASHER Staff Writer The boys basketball team played against the Schurr Spartans on February 9, winning the close game with a score of 64-61. In the first quarter the Aztecs were trailing with a score of 11-19 due to a strong showing of Spartan offense. The Spartans however gave the Aztecs a lot of free throws, allowing the Aztecs to score a few additional points. The Aztecs were able to strengthen their defense and offense from the start of the second quarter,
looking to gain a lead. The Spartan defense began to falter, and the Aztecs were able to close the distance, ending the second quarter with a score of 32-36. The Aztecs picked it up momentum from the later half of the game. Despite the Spartan’s efforts to play a tighter defense, the Aztec offense was able to break through and tie the quarter at 46-46. When the final quarter began, both the Aztecs and the Spartans played aggressively in an attempt to close out the game. The game was back and forth as each team traded leads and tied with each other. Ultimately, what led to the Aztec’s victory was a foul on Hamaguchi, re-
sulting in two extra points from free throws and putting the final score at 64-61. With this victory, the team now has a league record of 7-2. Senior Kenneth Zhang (#35) stated, “We had a slow start, but [in the end] had a great win.” Senior Brandon Hamaguchi (#12) spoke similarly of the match and said, “We dug ourselves in a hole, but we worked together and got out of it.” Both players also stressed the importance of this game - if they had lost the game, they would not able to come out first in league. Zhang also spoke highly of his alternate, Hamaguchi, stating, “Brandon really stepped up for us.”
Junior Sharon Taing (1) prepares to put the ball in play.
The team (senior Sophia Song #21, sophomore Jocelyn Song #25, freshman Vanessa Aguirre #1, senior Serena Chen #33) rushes toward the opposing Spartan as senior Vanessa Freeman #55 attemps to block the shot.
THE AZTEC/BABYRUTH TORRES
Girls basketball defeats Schurr BABYRUTH TORRES Staff Writer
The girls basketball team played against the Schurr Lady Spartans at an away game on February 9. They won the game with a score of 67-53, putting their overall league record at 19-7. In the first quarter the Aztecs were actually trailing the Spartans for a brief moment with a score of 7-5. The Aztecs then took the lead for the rest of the game - a mixture of both relatively strong defense and offense helped create a sizeable lead. The Spartans were unable to keep up with the lady Aztecs, resulting in an overall score of 43-21 in the first half of the game. The Aztecs lost a bit of their momentum in the start of the second half,
with both teams scoring a total of 12 points in the third quarter. Schurr began to pick up their offense and tried to catch up to the lady Aztecs. However, the Keppel defense proved too strong for the Spartans, and ended the quarter trailing by 18 points with a third quarter score of 53-35. As the final quarter rolled in, the Aztecs were determined to close out the game, but the Spartans were just as determined to make a huge comeback. Despite the Spartans scoring more points in the final quarter than the lady Aztecs did (14-18), the final score was 67-53 with an Aztecs victory. Senior Chalisa Philboolsook #23 said, “We get pumped in the locker room to set in the winning mood, I feel we played hard and it was a good team win.”
THE AZTEC/DARWIN TSE
Girls water polo plays last game of the season DARWIN TSE Asst. Editor-in-Cheif / Web Editor
The varsity girls water polo team lost against Alhambra High School, 1-8, on Tuesday, February 8. Despite the loss, the entire team, seniors especially, were proud of their last game of the season and the season as a whole. “I think we had a lot going for us,” said junior Vienna Tan. “I think it was because it was the last game and we really wanted to make it count.” The Lady Aztecs started off the first quarter slowly, losing 4 goals to the Moors. However, as the game progressed, the Lady Aztecs stepped up their defense and prevented easy shots for the Moors. Nevertheless, the Lady Aztecs could not recover from their shaky start, finishing the game with a score of 1-8. “I thought we were more aware on our defense and got a lot more steals,” said
senior and captain Caitlyn Gonzales. “I think we improved every game.” Despite the multiple setbacks this season, the water polo team persevered through every obstacle. Senior Jessenia Barbarena references another change in coaching staff and the broken heater at the Barnes Park pool, forcing the team to hold practices at Elder Park. “We got bombarded with negativity,” said Barbarena. “Even with all of that, we still managed to get our season done and we learned a lot, and that’s what counts.” Overall, new coach Wendy Centeno was proud of her team for a great season despite coming last in league. “It is our first year coaching this team [so] we knew we had a lot of bridges to cross because they’ve had such inconsistent coaching,” said Centeno. ”[But] I think they had a really great season and I’m definitely coming back next year, and it’s gonna be a whole different story.”
Athlete’s Profile: Caitlyn Gonzales
THE AZTEC/VICTORIA RAMIREZ
ARODI GARCIA Staff Writer To Gonzales, water polo is life. “I will always love water polo and that will never change. We all have such a special bond together because of this team and the bus rides to and from games are always the best, whether we are all singing songs or playing heads up.” Gonzales describes herself as a hardworking, and passionate player. When she is not at practice she is weight training at 6 a.m. or at home thinking of ways to improve herself and the team. “Every game I go into I have this mentality that this could be my last game and I need to play that way,” said Gonzales. She decided to join swim her freshmen year because her sister was on the team. Gonzales said, “that was one of the best decisions I made in high school. I love both sports and am so happy and honored to be captain for both teams.” Her motivation comes from her coaches , Wendy Centeno and Ameyali Martinez, her teammates, and most of all her parents. “My mom and dad go to almost every game and [are always] proud of me.” Outside of water polo and swim, Gonzales listens to music, watches Netflix, and spends time with family and friends. She would like to give shout outs to her OG swim girls, giirrrl, the b’s, the water polo teams, and the Brightwood squad.
Sophomore Stephanie Robles (22) looks on as Tatiana Garnett (17) prepares to make a play.
Girls soccer plays last home game of the season RODOLFO ARIAS Photographer Keppel high school girls varsity soccer team played their last home game against the Schurr Spartans on Tuesday, February 9. The first half was very back-andforth as both teams made many attempts to score a goal. Neither side was successful as both teams had a really strong defense. Captains Kara Chuang, senior and Tatiana Garnett, junior, said this was probably one of the hardest games in the league because Schurr is undefeated and Keppel is consid-
The team (freshman Quan Ly #4, sophomoreShuon Olowu #7, sophomore A.J. Valenzuela #3, junior Kavian Jalili #11, sophomore Kenneth Herrera #9) works together to get the ball away from the Lancers.
THE AZTEC/YANG LU
Boys faces off against Lancers in final league game YANG LU Copy Editor & Business Manager The Aztecs boys soccer team lost their final league game on February 11, against Bell Gardens Lancers with a score of 0-4. Coach Gerson Justiniano is ultimately proud of the team’s improvements emphasized communication between team members. The Aztecs had a rough start after Bell Gardens scored two consecutive goals. As the game progressed, the Aztecs tightened up defenses and ended the first half at 0-3. Goalkeeper Joshua “Joe” Chang prevented several goal attempts from Bell Gardens, but another
THE AZTEC/RODOLFO ARIAS
goal slipped through during the second half. Chang stated that two of the goals were rookie mistakes. He had only been playing and adjusting to being in soccer for three months. Chang wants to say, “Dear future goalie, even if you don’t play soccer, just join. If you think it’s interesting, just join. That’s what I did, and I ended up getting in varsity.” Coach Justiniano appreciates his players from other sports such as track and cross country. Coach Justiniano is thankful for the support of Mr. Hong Trieu, who introduced Coach Justiniano to Keppel and looks forward to the next season.
ered an underdog. As the game progressed Schurr became more for aggressive allowing them to score before the end of the first half. Following the second half, the Spartans began to score more frequently and ended the match with a score of 0-2. The Spartans continue their reputation of being undefeated in league. As soccer season draws to an end the team reflects how the season turned out. “The greatest accomplishment as a team was getting as far as possible, bonding together, and getting
close,” said Garnett, “ I’m also very fortunate to have made two goals in one game, thanks to my wonderful teammates.” Alina Shahin, sophomore, said “I’m going to miss the seniors after this season. The bond we have now is too great and the chemistry is really amazing.” “Our plans for next season will probably be to continue to grow the program and become a first in the league,” finished junior Karina Rodrigrez. The girls varsity team will have a final game away at Bell Gardens February 11.