January 2018

THE AZTEC VOLUME LXXX NUMBER V

VIEWPOINT PG 3 Trading morals for views

News in Brief Red cross hosts blood drive MKHS Red Cross will hold their blood drive on Wednesday, January 31st, from 8 am to 2 pm in the old gym.

Online class registration Students can request classes for the 2018-2019 school year through their Powerschool Account. Current juniors have until Tuesday, January 30. Registration for sophomores ends on February 5th.

Freshmen will have until February 13th to register.

World languages celebration week essay contest The World Languages Department is hosting an essay contest about how the Biliteracy Seal can enhance your future in education and career-wise. Essays (300 word maximum) are due on Tuesday, February 20th. See school bulletin for more information.

Your calendar 1/31- Collaboration Schedule; Alliance Meeting from 7-9 PM at the cafeteria 2/7- Collaboration Schedule 2/9- Pupil Free Day 2/12- Pupil Free Day

January 25, 2018

theaztecnews.com

FOCUS PG 4-5

Features PG. 6

SPORTS PG 7-8

Introducing the technology of 2018

Becoming a cultural ambassador

Girls basketball in a 5-0 winning streak

Zero Robotics team breaks Keppel record at MIT LINDSAY KUNG Staff Writer Keppel’s Zero Robotics team, named “The Mach Keppelerians,” competed at the Zero Robotics High School 2017 ISS Finals Event held at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) on January 11th. It is the fourth time the team has competed in this event in its history as a competitive team. After much dedication, they were able to achieve 4th place in the Alliance phase of the ZR competition, the highest Alliance rank they have reached in the event. Their code was subsequently flown on the International Space Station, where teams watched the live stream of the event from 3 international locations.

The Mach Keppelerians competed among a multitude of teams across the world in the International Synchronized Position Hold, Engage, Reorient Experimental Satellites (SPHERES) contest hosted by NASA and MIT. This year, each team was required to formulate algorithms that would command satellite modules to complete a game objective. Later in the competition, the Mach Keppelarians formed an “alliance” with 2 other teams from the UK and USA to complete a final code to be launched on the ISS. The team spent countless hours throughout the past semester of school until December perfecting their code. Junior Raymond Tran, president of ZR, commented on how nervewracking this year’s competition was, and

COURTESY OF MR. GOL Zero Robotics members Caitlyn Yang (11), Leanna Chin (11), Raymond Tran (11), Mohamad Elmoussawi (11), Matthieu Gol (9), Andrew Hom (11), Holman Lau (12), and Nicole Lee (9) meet with astronaut Steven Swanson.

how this experience has impacted his leadership. “With this year being my first year as president, I definitely felt the pressure to succeed. It didn't help that the competition this year was especially difficult... I'm just glad that it's over, and that we were able to finish in 4th place during the Alliance phase.”

Freshman Nicole Lee shared her thoughts on having flown out to MIT for the first time while being on the team to watch the ISS finals. Lee says, “I feel very privileged to be able to make the trip to MIT… it was a wonderful

and worthy experience for me to go deeper into Zero Robotics and bond with the team.”

Similarly, it was freshman Matthieu Gol’s first year to have gone to MIT to watch the finals.

Gol too reminisces on the surreal experience, and credits the success of the team to have “made [me] learn that if you dedicate enough time to anything, you can accomplish anything.” Despite not taking home the victory this year at ISS, the team remains optimistic and hopes that they will be able to invigorate others with their passion for Zero Robotics.

Women's March takes to the streets of LA JASLYNN DIEP Staff Writer The Women’s March has been the center of the public attention since their historic protest against Donald Trump’s presidency in Washington D.C. in 2017.

The Women’s March on Washington was inspired by Martin Luther King Jr.’s march on Washington in 1963. According to organizers of the march, it was meant to send a bold message to Trump’s administration and the world that “women’s rights are human rights.”

The purpose of the Women’s March is to advocate for legislation defending the rights of men and women, and to promote reform concerning immigration, health care, the environment, and racial divides. Their ultimate mission is to bring social change to the world by demolishing signs of oppression through nonviolent resistance, much like Martin Luther King Jr.’s fight for civil rights.

Junior Tiana Ha says, “The [Women’s March] has the potential to cause a big change because it brings a lot of people to-

gether to work for a common goal.”

In an interview with CNN, national cochair of the Women’s March Carmen Perez, says that, “We will resist Islamophobia, xenophobia, white supremacy, sexism, racism, misogyny, and ableism. We will be brave, intentional, and unapologetic in addressing the intersections of our identities.” As one of the leaders of the Women’s March, Perez does not hold back as she calls attention to the importance of maintaining equality in the country.

Senior Tiffany Hu states similar reasons of support for the Women’s March. “[A protest] brings the public’s attention on the issue of human rights so that [they] can make an effort to bring change. Not only does it brings awareness on equal rights, but it also sends a bold message to the public that women are as powerful as men.”

The most recent Women’s March occurred in Downtown Los Angeles on January 20th, featuring music, art, community booths, and speakers who discussed their principles about unity. The Women’s March has and continues to serve as an important foundation for reform in all aspects of life.

THE AZTEC/ VIVIAN LUK Demonstrators gathered in Downtown Los Angeles with protest posters.

Influenza A becomes a national health concern better to be wary and take vaccinate yourself instead of risking the disease. The CDC recommends certain age groups, specifically adults over the age of 65, children under five years, pregnant women, and people with chronic medical conditions, to take the vaccine.

Students have been affected by this flu season as well, with greater precaution being taken and sending students home to avoid the widespread of the flu. School nurse Sophie Wang says, “Our average health office visits are about 20 to 30 students daily. This number will increase during the flu season.”

A recent case of this would be senior Aditya Soedharto. Over the entire winter break, Soedharto felt sick and sluggish because of the flu. For him, accomplishing daily tasks were a handful. “I felt more tired than usual and headaches would occur constantly,” Soedharto says.

If an individual does happen to contract the flu, resting and staying hydrated are vital to recovery, according to the CDC. Medical Terminology teacher Ms. Mozell says that one important task that should be second nature to people is to wash their hands. This simple, yet effective procedure like many others could spare someone a trip to the doctors.

VINCENT BAGABALDO Asst. News Editor This year’s flu season is growing to be one of the worst since the 2014-2015 season, closely mirroring each other in terms of the predominant strain, which in this case is the H3N2 subtype of the influenza A virus. This particular strain is known to hospitalize youth and those over the age of 65 compared to those in the middle of the age spread. What is concerning about this strain is that it is harder to vaccinate against which means that it spreads more rapidly.

According to the US Centers for Disease Control (CDC), the vaccine that is supposed to fight the flu is not as effective as hoped. One of the vaccine’s major flaw is the decades-old method of producing these shots, which involves growing the influenza virus in chicken eggs over a period of four months. To get a head start, influenza experts around the world make their best guess about which strains of the virus will most likely appear during the season.

Sometimes, these experts get it right while other times, they don’t.

The rate in which these vaccines are effective is between 32% and 39%. Experts say that even though these rates are low, it is

Keppel takes talent to stage JASMINE MA Staff Writer Keppel will be holding its 5th annual talent show, Keppel’s Got Talent tomorrow, on January 26th at 7:00 p.m. in the auditorium. It is an event in which Keppel students and teachers are encouraged to showcase their talents.

There will be acts involving dancing, singing, music, and much more.

The show will consist of two acts, with a 15 minute intermission after the first act. Both acts will consist of about 10 to 15 performances. Each performance is limited to three minutes in order to meet the 2-hour program. The show will be judged by industry professionalists including comedian Jenny Yang, stand-up comedian Christine Wong, and an unconfirmed musician.

Prior to the show, all of the contestants have been working to improve and finalize their acts. Aside from mandatory tech rehearsals, perform-

ers have also been practicing during their own time. Two tech rehearsals were held before the show and the remaining time was left to the performers to prepare for the big performance.

Ticket sales started on January 22nd and are available for purchase at the door for $10. Profits from the show will be used towards the spring production, the 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee, funding for field trip transportation to see theatre, and replacing lights in the auditorium.

One performance in the show will be senior Nam Truong’s choreography of BTS’s song, “Not Today.” Truong says, “Keppel’s Got Talent is a fun experience. I haven’t had past experience with the talent show, but I can already tell it’s going to be wonderful.

Students don’t have to worry about their acts not being good enough, since auditions are held to make sure every act is school appropriate. The talent show isn’t about winning; it’s for everyone to have a good time.”

Students explore AP curricula and internship programs WILLIAM DANG-NGUYEN Staff Writer Students cruised through the AP Fair, in the auditorium and A Building’s main hall, and attended the Internship Program in the cafeteria on January 18. PTSA and NHS hosted this year’s Internship Fair, which was free to every interested student.

The AP Fair exhibited Keppel’s AP classes.

Each class hosted a booth with information on its AP course. Here, curious students could ask current AP students and teachers on opinionated and informative subjects.

Sophomore Aisha Tall says, “I learned a lot about what AP courses entail. Teachers and students were very helpful], and what [is] expected from students. I also learned of the importance of taking AP classes pertaining to what field you’re interested.”

At the Internship Program, students were exposed to different types of enrichment programs, and a variety of speakers shared their insight and experiences in

summer internships and college enrichment programs. “I would really want to see students do something that really helps them learn about themselves. Some of the students did really high-level research, [which] is far above what any student would do in high school, and that’s the kind of learning that makes life interesting.” PTSA Head Phillip Scott Hara says, “We [also] hear about the programs at top schools, [which inspires others] to apply next summer as well. I want students to get ideas from our [internship and enrichment program] and do stuff beyond that.”

Junior Lauren Jian, who enrolled in Stanford’s Summer Arts Institute Program, says, “One of [the benefits of internships and student enrichment programs] is definitely being able to explore the field you want to go into. Interning allows you to see what career would combine your passions and find what you want to do. My program definitely showed that there was a lot more to the art field than what I thought.”

THE AZTEC/ TIMOTHY CHUMAN AP Economics teacher Mr. Chin shows the AP Economics textbook to interested students.

THE AZTEC/ TIMOTHY CHUMAN [Top left to right:] Andy Lau (12), Natalie Foong (12), Nicole Hernandez (12), Lauren Jian (11), Dillon Garcia (12), Steven Torres (11), Jorge Corbos, Keoni Young. [Bottom left to right:] Maritsa Negrete, Sabrina Sy (11), Katherine Chen (11), Queenie Xu (11), Jamie Chau (12), Grecia Ramirez, Ashley Flores, Helen Kwok, and Phillip Scott Hara.

The Aztec 2017-2018 Timothy Chuman

Wesley Zeng

Vincent Bagabaldo

Maggie Luu

Sophie Wong

Tiffany Leung

Vivian Luk

Staff Writers

Editor-in-Chief

Editor-in-Chief/ News Editor

Angela Chen

Asst. Editor-in-Chief

Anny Jiang

Viewpoint Editor/Photographer

Aurora Zeng Focus Editor

Evan Cheng

A&E/Features Editor

Sports Editor/ Business Manager Web Editor

Callista Liu

Chief Photographer/Multimedia Editor

Kevin Liu

Copy Editor/Asst. Bus. Manager

Jamie Chau

Copy Editor/ Historian

Kody Woo Cartoonist

Asst. News Editor

Asst. Viewpoint Editor

Evan Woo

Asst. Focus Editor

Samantha Hernandez Asst. Sports Editor

Haoxian Hu Photographer

Alex Hua

Photographer

Photographer

Izabella Cofressi Jaslynn Diep

Lindsay Kung Christine Le Joyce Lee

Jasmine Ma

William Dang-Nguyen Sarena Scott

Babyruth Torres Hannah Won Wendy Yuan

The Aztec is published monthly by the journalism class of Mark Keppel High School and is 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 Mr. Yankowsky in room A236 or sent to theaztecsubmit@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.

Alhambra, CA 91801

JANUARY 25, 2017 The AZtec President Trump- one year later

Viewpoint 3 Not clickbait: Logan Paul

HAOXIAN HU Photographer

TIMOTHY CHUMAN Editor-in-chief

President Donald Trump

Be a Maverick. For 22-year old YouTube star, +Logan Paul, this was more than just his marketing slogan; this is his guideline of how he lived his life. While his eccentric daily vlogs boosted him to YouTube stardom, his erratic lifestyle which entertained millions of viewers got him into trouble after he posted a controversial video over three weeks ago that has since been taken down.

After a brief trip to Japan over two years ago, Paul returned in the final days of 2017 to get the “full Japanese experience.”

Despite arriving in a foreign country that takes pride in its politeness, Paul carried his egregious actions over into Japan as he made every possible effort to produce comedy at the expense of the Japanese culture.

While throwing Pokeballs at police and Japanese citizens, taunting people with raw fish, pulling his pants down in public and making fun of the Japanese language are outrageously disrespectful, his actions in the Aokigahara forest revealed his true character in terms of how immature and insensible the star truly is.

Paul filmed himself journeying into the forest, which is also infamous as a suicide forest, and showed graphic footage of a man who committed suicide. Rather than turning off the camera and respecting the privacy of the man who took his life, Paul proceeded to laugh at the situation, brushing the situation off as “just a joke”.

The video has since been taken down because of its explicit content, but the criticism continues to rain down on Paul for his actions.

“As someone with as big of a platform as him, his video showed that he’s unaware of how much his actions can influence young children into doing the same things as him,” said junior Felicia Tani. “[Paul] represents the stereotypical image of arrogant Americans who think that they can get away with anything and as a result, people like [Paul] taint the image of America that many others are trying to fix.”

Read more at theaztecnews.com

President Donald Trump was inaugurated in office one year ago, as of January 20, 2017. With his controversial comments such as those on DACA, many leftists have disapproved of President Trump while many continue to defend his actions. Some say that he has done less than any previous president has in a year, signing the least amount of laws, while others say that he is protecting the country’s interests by defending jobs on the nation’s behalf.

According to National Public Radio, President Trump has consistently used Twitter during his campaign and administration.

Because President Trump writes an average of nine new tweets a day, this has allowed many Democrats to claim that the President is slacking in his duties and spending his time on social media instead of signing new legislation. There was also a government shutdown over the weekend, which is caused by the disagreements between senate Republicans and senate Democrats.

President Trump blamed the shutdown on the Democrats, but blamed former President Obama during the shutdown of 2013.

This is obviously hypocritical, because he blamed the president during the last shutdown, but isn’t blaming the president now.

Regarding North Korea, President Trump has used words such as “fire and fury” to force North Korea to back down. Sophomore Anson Ng says that “the President is taking a passive-aggressive stance on North Korea. He doesn’t want war, but he also doesn’t want other countries to view the United States as cowardly.”

President Trump’s harsh stance on immigration and sanctions against North Korea do prove to be helpful, even if they are creating an increasingly polarizing situation. However, Junior Dylan Djoenadi says, “Trump is handling the North Korea situation as if it was a big deal [when] we should be focusing more [on domestic issues].” Looking past President Trump’s racist com-

COURTESY OF CBS NEWS

ments, his view is justified. One such case is his belief that employers should prioritize hiring citizens first. Djoenadi believes that “Trump’s policy on China” is great and that “it isn’t too ambitious or hypocritical,” but that the “policy in place for protecting the environment [is hypocritical].”

The reason is that he appointed climate-change deniers to lead the program inciting justifiable backlash.

The actions of President Trump have been controversial since the beginning of his campaign. Even though he has passed less legislation compared to previous presidents in their respective first years, this quantitative comparison is not truly accurate. Beyond the poorer judgements of President Trump, there is still much to thank him for. There is more than enough time for President Trump to prove himself to the public; who knows what surprise he will bring to the U.S. in his second year of his presidency.

COURTESY OF YOUTUBE.COM

Female, male, or non-binary?

“New Year, New Me”

IZABELLA COFRESSI Staff Writer

BABYRUTH TORRES Staff Writer

A gender neutral option for driver’s licenses will be available to California drivers in September of 2018. Governor Jerry Brown signed off Senate Bill 179, which will give Californians an option to list their gender as non-binary, a term used for people who do not identify as male or female, on October 14, 2017. If this is the case, instead of the standard M for male or F for female typically shown on driver’s licenses, there will be an X in its place. The X option would also be available for birth certificates. This bill is the latest action the state of California took to address the lives of LGBT+ community members.

Sophomore Fiona Zeman feels conflicted about people identifying as non-binary. “I don’t have an opinion on this because this doesn’t apply to me, but I am happy that this will make life easier for [the affected] people,” Zeman says.

When asked about how she believes this reflects on the world, she says, “I think this really shows that the world is evolving and [is] definitely becoming more accepting, so that’s great.”

The Senate Bill 179, also known as

the Gender Recognition Act, has faced some resistance; the California Family Council were concerned about the need for non-binary sports teams at public schools, which would cause nearly 150 public colleges and universities, and all 10,453 public schools in California to provide non-binary facilities. Junior Andres Alvarez says, “I mean this is good for them [the LBGT+ community] since everyone deserves to have their [gender] match them completely, but I just feel like it’s not going to really affect how the world views or treats people who are different; it’s not going to do much.”

At the same time, another bill signed

by Governor Brown, will also make life easier for citizens to change their name and gender on their birth certificates, and allow people in prison to request courts for a name or gender change. However, Brown vetoed several bills that sought to expand rights of women at work and school. One bill would have guaranteed at least six weeks of full pay for teachers and other members of the education administration who need to take a maternity-leave.

“New Year, New Me” is a trend that has been going on for years because of the positive effects that come with the phrase. For some, this mindset represents a chance to start over in the new year because of bad past experiences. For others, however, it presents a chance to become a better person and have a better year than the previous one.

“New Year, New Me” can include having a new goal, such as exercising, eating healthy, or changing bad habits. Junior Alize Navarro says, “I do believe that people should do it because it can set their mind to a goal and they can work toward that goal. I think it’s a cool idea to do, but only if you’re serious about it.”

Having these new goals every year can promote positive change, but like Navarro emphasized, only if the motto is taken seriously. The new year does not necessarily mean a person should have to change

everything about themselves; it shouldn’t be a ‘new you’ but instead, a ‘better you.’

Navarro says, “I do ‘New Year, New Me’ because I like to better myself as a person.”

What makes “New Year, New Me” so popular? There are posts on social media and chats about the phrase throughout worldwide conversations. “I think it’s popular because a lot of people, [including] famous people do it,” says Navarro.

“New Year, New Me” may not be the motto for everyone, but many enjoyw the opportunity to receive a fresh start. One shouldn’t feel pressured to do this annual trend. Navarro says, “It should come naturally; you shouldn’t have to think hard about what you want to change about yourself, you should already know.” A person could make a common New Year’s Resolution and say they would apply it to their life, but it is better to just pick something important to them.

“It should come naturally; you shouldn’t have to think hard about what you want to change about yourself, you should already know.”

-Alize Navarro (11)

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NEW YEAR, NEW The Gadgets of 2017 Samsung Galaxy S8 Rival smartphone companies, Samsung and Apple, released their respective phones, the Galaxy S8 and iPhone X. Both were well received by the general public.

iPhone X Amazon Echo Dot Voice-activated home appliances, such as Google’s Home and Amazon’s Echo and Echo Dot, began a new revolution in the world of home electronics.

Google Home Nintendo Switch The gaming community celebrated Nintendo’s release of their new home and mobile console, the Nintendo Switch, which is the successor of the Wii U.

SpaceX Falcon Multistage Rocket Tested around March, the SpaceX Falcon is a multistage rocket that was successfully reused after its initial launch.

PHOTOS COURTESY OF GOOGLE

Artificial “SophiA”st Integrating robots into society was once just a science fiction fantasy. Now that it’s becoming reality, many have begun to question the ethical repercussions of artificial intelligence.

A Hong Kong-based company Hanson Robotics created the latest and most advanced robot, Sophia. She was activated on April 19, 2015 and made her first public appearance in March 2016 in Austin, Texas at the South by Southwest Festival. In October, Sophia made international headlines as she became a citizen of Saudi Arabia — the first robot in the world to achieve citizenship.

“To give a robot citizenship but not give humans citizenship in certain countries is sort of ironic, is it not?” asks junior Dylan Truong.

During the Future Investment Initiative Conference in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, Sophia commented that she was “very honored and proud” to be “the first robot in the world to be recognized with a citizenship.” This, however, has raised many concerns of what it would mean for a robot to be a citizen.

According to U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, Sophia is technically eligible for naturalization and U.S. citizenship due to her Saudi Arabian citizenship. If this occurrence were to come true, it would lead to questions about voting rights.

“The manufacturers could just want her to do but that would b dal,” argues junior Raymond Tra “As technology advances, qu ethical repercussions regarding bots into society arise. Sophia sh to vote at all since [her] vote can out anyone knowing,” adds Truo Spurred by accelerating advan gence, the question of how far grated into society has drawn ne “If you ever get to the point w a human, then why not?” says T dangerous, I don’t see why you w Freshman Nicole Lee would “They can aid in our daily lives b our place.”

Current research into artifi tempting to develop machines imitating or interacting with pe robot. Those like Sophia are tryi teraction. The potential outcom are debatable and indeterminate that robots will only continue to ticated.

Augmented Reality V EVAN WOO Asst. Focus Editor

After gaining popularity through a mobile game, augmented reality sees much potential in future developments.

Imagine the digital realm overlapping reality, altering one’s perspective of the world with the sway of their fingertips. That is the power of augmented reality, also known as AR. However, the technology was not readily available for everyone nor did it find much use to mainstream audiences, which resulted in AR products being set aside.

An example is Pokemon Go. It had incorporated AR to its gameplay, but the lack of precise motion-tracking technology disappointed players and caused them to turn off their cameras during gameplay.

Despite Pokemon Go’s technical limitations, it introduced AR to a new audience. Apple and Google responded by unveiling the development of their own products, the ARKit and ARCore, respectively.

ARKit and ARCore introduced motion-tracking technology, which allows virtual objects to stay in a position in relation to the real world, even if the device is moved, to nearly everyone’s mobile devices.This helped AR grow and many developers raced to develop apps to utilize it.

Various AR apps have already seen the light of day. Examples include Google Pixel’s AR Stickers, which enables people to look as if they are interacting with virtual objects; Night Sky 5, which augments the night sky to display constellations; and PLNAR, which can measure the length of an object.

Right now, AR’s future potential is still unclear. Currently, one of its uses is enhancing students’ education. “[AR] can enrich the experience around people and bring about things they normally aren’t excited about,” says Mrs. Fillpot, the video game design teacher. “For visual learners, [AR] lets them get the true experience [of learning].”

However, there are still those who doubt the capability of AR having a place in society. Its rival, Virtual Reality, also known as VR, made its debut in 2016, and its immersive environment arguably exceeds AR. “In VR, you get into a new world more easily. In AR, you’re still stuck in this world,” says junior Mohamad Elmoussawi.

Nevertheless, AR will have an impact on society in the future.

POLL: Wha gadget want to s

Time Machin

Flying Cars

Holographic Projectors

X-Ray Gogg Jet Pack

274 STUDENTS WERE PO

POLL CONDUCTED BY KE ANGELA CHEN TIMELINES BY KODY WO CARTOON BY KODY WOO

January 25, 2018 5

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tication

MAGGIE LUU Photographer

t tell Sophia what [they] be its own political scanan. uestions concerning the g the integration of rohould not have the right n be manipulated withong. nces in artificial intellishould robots be inteew interest. where a robot can replace Tran. “As long as it’s not wouldn’t want that.” d beg to differ. Lee says, but they should not take

ficial intelligence is atto learn social skills by eople, depending on the ing to master human inmes of robot integration e. However, it is certain o become more sophis-

Samsung Galaxy S9 The Samsung S8 was a bang in the technology industry, so many have high hopes for the following model. With a 6.22 inch screen, the Samsung S9 will cost at least $100 more than the S8.

New iPhone SE COURTESY OF UNITED NATIONS NEWS CENTRE

To demonstrate her social capabilities, Sophia converses with UN Deputy Secretary-General Amina Mohammed at a UN event in October 2017.

EVAN CHENG A&E/Features Editor

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If your current iPhone SE is too small, here’s your chance to get your hands on a bigger one. It’s estimated to be around $359, the cheapest iPhone yet.

Apple Homepod

Versus virtual reality

at future do you see most?

What to expect in 2018

Virtual reality technology is quickly becoming the new fad. What exactly is its true capabilities?

Since Facebook, HTC & Valve, and Sony launched their virtual reality headsets in 2016, the question of its full potential has been on the minds of developers and players alike.

Fans of Ernest Cline’s Ready Player One or the anime Sword Art Online may see the future of VR as the setting for a second life. But as anyone who has been on a VR chatroom can testify, there is a long way to go before they can expect to fall in love with aVR swordswoman and spend the honeymoon at a virtual lakeside cottage.

“I only played around with the chatrooms for like twenty minutes or so,” says senior Gary Chen. “It was a bunch of grown men screaming [racial slurs].”

However, Chen still finds much to like about virtual reality.

“I can definitely say that VR is the future for entertainment. I can’t even watch YouTube or Game of Thrones on my monitor anymore after experiencing [them] in VR.” It’s important to understand the distinction between mobile VR and premium desktop VR: the $400 desktop headsets track the user’s position, whereas the $1 - $100 mobile headsets only track rotation with a phone’s gyroscope.

This means that mobile headsets are for stationary play or viewing video. “When you put the headset on [to watch something], you’re under the illusion that you’re watching the video on a 50-foot screen,” says Chen, who owns one. When a headset is used to watch a 360 degree video or play a VR game, the user is free to turn their head to look around, as if in real life.

With a position-tracking desktop VR headset, users are free to walk around to explore their virtual environment. If the user has motion controllers, then they may use their hands to interact with their environment.

Developers have expanded the limits of these features. Innovative games are constantly being developed, having players leaning for cover in firefights (Fallout 4 VR), craning their necks to find an escape in a locked room (A Chair in a Room: Greenwater), or just standing in sheer awe of the technology.

Despite diverse offerings, many players still pine for something more ambitious: a Virtual Massively Multiplayer Online Role-Playing Game. “When you’re in an MMORPG you kinda know it’s just a game,” says sophomore Vivian Tran, “but when you turn it into VR it’s right in front of you.”

Do you prefer Siri over Alexa? Well, the Homepod’s for you. It’ll bring together your media and smart home all into one Apple device for $350.

RED Hydrogen Phone RED is releasing its first smartphone this year. Little is known about the phone itself as it is still in the making, but it’s over $1,000.

Oculus GO VR headset It’s the third headset to come out, it doesn’t have to be plugged into a PC, and it looks pretty promising. The Oculus GO VR Headset will probably cost $199, but it’ll take you into another world!

6 features Streetwear for students, by students HANNAH WON Staff Writer Keppel students, whether they start or represent a clothing company, gain experience in entrepreneurship and artistic design. Companies like Serengetee offer this opportunity by recruiting students to spread the word about their fashion, while others students create the opportunity themselves by forming companies of their own, such as Rooftop and Synergy.

Junior Nathan Tran says, “I was recommended by one of my friends, who was a [Serengetee] representative.” The only requirement for the online application is that applicants must be in high school or college. Tran has been a representative for Serengetee for about six months and has already recruited about twenty students.

Meanwhile, sophomore Collin Lac has a company of his own. “The goal of [Synergy] is to just release clothing that people [like], [are] reasonably priced, along with expressing myself,” says Lac. Another company owner, sophomore Jason Ma, states, ”Balancing school and running a company can be difficult at times, but it gets easier once you create a schedule for socializing, work, and homework.”

Tran says, “It’s really fun to be part of a company that gives back.” Representatives also receive personal discounts and sets of assorted products known as rep packs as a bonus for their work.

THE AZTEC

january, 25 2018

Taiwanese-American princess on the runway ANGELA CHEN Asst. Editor-in-Chief For many girls, the idea of dressing up as a princess for a day is but a dream.

For senior Ailin Lin, this fantasy became her reality when she competed in the annual Miss Taiwanese American (MTA) Pageant hosted by the Taiwan Center of Greater Los Angeles at the San Gabriel Hilton on August 12th, 2017.

Initially reeled in by the prospect of participating in what was marketed as a oneyear community service project, Lin submitted an online application, a photo ID, and an essay in order to be considered for the competition. Although glamour certainly comes with the territory, pageants still require hard work and long-term commitment, as with any service project.

Upon acceptance, Lin underwent an extensive 7-week summer training program where she attended workshops on Taiwanese history and culture, social graces, poise, makeup and hair, dance, and public speaking techniques all in preparation for pageant night.

Lin thought the pageant was an enlightening experience and stated, “I got to meet a lot of [talented young ladies] in the Arcadia and Irvine region. I also learned more about Taiwanese culture and how it connects to American culture.”

Points were deducted docked based on how often each contestant was late or absent from the workshop. In fact, punctuality and participation was 15% of the overall score. Other portions contestants were scored on included the opening

Ailin Lin (12) is Contestant #3.

group dance on pageant night (5%), a personal interview (20%), a self-introduction (20%), a question-and-answer segment (20%), and a talent portion (20%).

As a member of Keppel’s color guard team for three years, Lin performed both tall and short flags for the talent portion of the competition. Despite the glitz and glamour of competing in the Miss Taiwanese American pageant, participation is definitely not without its costs.

“Because I was a beginner, [the organizers] provided places for me to shop for my pageant gear. I think I spent around $700 on two dresses. [Contestants needed] one dress for the question-and-answer portion and another for the catwalk. Other costumes like the one for the group dance were provided, and I wore my pep uniform

COURTESY OF AILIN LIN

for the talent portion,” said Lin. Out of the ten participating contestants, one is crowned queen, six are crowned princesses, and the bottom-ranking three are ambassadors. Lin placed sixth overall, making her one of six princesses.

Lin was able to volunteer at a mental health facility where she was able to learn more about pediatric psychiatry as a representative of the Taiwanese community.

Although Lin is not entirely certain on what she wishes to be as an adult, she is very interested in helping children and as such, she found the information invaluable. “[After doing the pageant,]” stated Lin, “I feel like I have more opportunities and doors to go through [that will eventually help me find out] what I want to do when I grow up.”

Themed desserts delight CHRISTINE LE Staff Writer

Rooftop rep. Nathan Vuong THE AZTEC/TIMOTHY C.

What would you expect from a place that does sweet latte art? Cute coffee art?

Custom-crafted marshmallows? The cafe Love to Go is the place to go to taste such delights.

At times, it seems as if the food’s appearance influences its value. And these uniquely designed foods, with their fancy art, draws in many people.

For many, it was their first encounter with the creative food items. Love to Go provides variety of 3D or 2D latte art and unique textures thanks to its creative use of marshmallows. Junior Celeste Toledo,

who visited the cafe, says, “I got the SpongeBob set which was pretty foam art lattes COURTESY OF CHUS’ LIFE awesome because not only did it your delight - as long as you put in a recome with a Spongebob latte but it also quest to the barista. came with a Spongebob-decorated marshHowever, others have different opinmallow.” ions to give about this cafe. “The prices are Another patron, senior Nicole Chan, overpriced and the quality doesn’t add up says, “the place gives a lot of options; it to my expectations,” said Lucy Tan. Her does remind me a little of the Hello Kitty alternative is Curry House in Atlantic Cafe in a way.”

Times Square. “Curry House would be a Even though it takes quite a while for good place because they offer the Sanrio’s the drinks to come out, the art is worth lazy egg on one of the menu items,” relany wait, however long. Filled with colors ishes Tan. and details, the lattes are customized to

Free keys to discovery: Museum Free-For-All Day VIVIAN LUK Asst. Viewpoint Editor Mark your calendars! Southern California’s Free-for-All Day has made its return. On Sunday, January 28, dozens of museums in Los Angeles and surrounding counties will open their doors to the public with free admission.

Among the participating museums is the California Science Center, which offers interactive exhibits that ignite an interest in the sciences. Sophomore Adrian Alcala recounts, “Once at the Science Center, I learned about spontaneous combustion [by] watching things explode. It was cool and [the information] helped me get an A on my science test.” The Touch Tank is the focal point of many visits. This activity station allows participants to touch rocky shore organisms such as starfish, sea urchins, and anemone as they thrive in a replica of their natural habitat.

Exquisite artwork coupled with lush botanic gardens and scenic views make the Getty Center a local favorite. The

The Getty Center in 1997

Center is located in the Brentwood neighborhood of Los Angeles and features an extensive art collection, includ-

ing works from Vincent van Gogh and Édouard Manet. Physiology teacher Ms. Dhala says, “I love the 18th-century Im-

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pressionist pieces. I love the detail and how the colors come together to make such beautiful pictures.”

Located in Beverly Hills, the Paley Center for Media is another hidden gem.

To those interested in film and media, the Paley Center offers insight into costume design, production, and the various insand-outs of the industry. In honor of the upcoming Olympic Games in Pyeongchang, the Center is currently hosting an exhibition of the U.S. Olympic Archive, chronicling the spirit of the Olympics with more than 13,000 hours of footage. “[SoCal Free-for-All Day] gives bored and broke people the chance to hang out and have new experiences to find out what they actually like,” says junior April Yeung. This event only lasts for one day, so take advantage of the opportunity!

January 25, 2018

Sports 7 the aztec Boys basketball pulls out win over unbeaten Schurr ALEX HUA Photographer

THE AZTEC/ TIMOTHY CHUMAN

Senior Josiah Ojiri (25), Junior Esteban Rodriguez (5), and Sophomores Ryan Lin (30) and Michael Granados (35) go after a loose ball.

Girls Soccer unfazed by loss WESLEY ZENG Sports Editor/ Business Manager The Lady Aztecs went against Schurr High School on Tuesday, losing the game 7-1.

Throughout the game, the girls had struggled to keep possession of the ball, allowing their opponents to intercept passes and steal the ball. However, whenever the team was able to connect passes, they were able to advance towards the goal for more chances to earn points.

Captain Nicole Hernandez explains how “coming into the game, we wanted to focus on communicating and passing throughout the game since this has been our main weakness this season.”

This was seen during the game, as Schurr was able to control the game with accurate passes and beating Keppel to the ball, which gave them more opportunities to score.

Despite the loss, the girls are unphased by their lost as they look toward working harder for their upcoming game against Bell Gardens today.

The team prepared for the game with practices focused on maintaining control of the ball, with passing drills and set plays. “Last time… we had a lot of chances near the goal that we didn’t capitalize on so if we try to be cleaner and finish near the goal I think we can beat them,” says Hernandez.

The girls’ main focus on today’s game other than better control of the ball is to slow the game down and focus on being first to the ball. They also believe that the team members need to calm down when the ball gets to their feet, as well as to work on their first touch.

The Girls Soccer game will take place at Bell Gardens.

The Boys’ Basketball team played Schurr High school on January 23, winning with the score of 60-53, ending Schurr’s undefeated record in the Almont League.

In the first quarter, both the teams started off explosively on offense, with almost every player on Keppel’s starting lineup scoring at least one point during this quarter. The Aztecs ended the quarter with the score 19-17 with the help of the eight points gathered by sophomore Laird Anderson as well as additional three pointers shot by teammates.

The boys started off their second quarter slow, allowing Schurr to catch up. Despite Schurr closing into their lead, the Aztecs began to warm up as Junior Esteban Rodriguez and many

other players continued to make shots. With this, the team was able to recover their lead and ended the second quarter 29-25.

Similar to last quarter, Keppel began the quarter without much haste, allowing Schurr to go on an 8-0 run.

They then began to go on a run themselves, scoring to catch up with their opponents. This quarter, unlike the others, showed more defense than offense. Sophomore Diego Bustillos’ defensive efforts as well as blocks and steals from Senior Josiah Ojiri kept the team from falling behind, as they kept the lead and ended the quarter 42-41.

In the final quarter of the game, Schurr started off on another scoring run, taking the lead in the game. But as the quarter played on, Keppel was able to make their shots, get rebounds,

and began to get stops and turnovers.

This momentum progressed as Sophomore Michael Granados and Anderson continued scoring multiple shots and free throws. The team’s ability to get stops on defense, rebounds, and score, ultimately allowed Keppel to defeat the undefeated Spartans.

Anderson, ending the game with a high of 27 points, says, “we played well as a team and made shots when we needed to and locked up on defense.”

As their fourth win in the league and fifth game overall, Keppel’s Boys Basketball team is now tied with Schurr for first in Almont League. Anderson believes that “[we are] peaking as a team and playing together really well.”

The connection, coaching, and players’ skills has allowed the boys to play well both offensively and defensively in their games.

Gymnasts bring justice to renowned Olympic physician TIMOTHY CHUMAN & JAMIE CHAU

Editor-in-Chief & Copy Editor

Over 140 female athletes have held their silence about being sexually harassed for over 20 years, but their perpetrator is finally being put to justice.

Former USA Gymnastics and sports medicine physician, Larry Nassar, was a celebrated and reputable figure that many turned to for medical advice and help. Now, he is facing more than 175 years in prison for child pornography charges and criminal sexual conduct.

“He has a place of power, he has a stranglehold on other people,” says Gateway Counselor Mr. Wang.

“Someone of that mindset seems like he is seeking power and satisfaction.

He knows how they think and that’s the spectrum he went through.”

Nassar was indeed aware of the influence he had, and he violated it.

He was cunning as he was corrupthe showered his victims with gifts, praises, and support, anything that could help him maintain his control

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over them.

But, the athletes, including famous Olympic champions like Simone Biles and Aly Raisman, could no longer live their lives in silence.

For all the years that Nassar instilled fear and despair into his victims, the females finally found their voices to fight back as the women have rallied to bring down the monster that is Nassar. “If they were voluntarily there [to testify], they wanted some kind of resolution,” Mr. Wang said.

The actions of Nassar not only reflect poorly on him and the USA gymnastics organization, but on the entire profession of sports therapy as well. While the actions of Nassar are clearly not indicative of the entire profession being evil, there are plen-

ty of precautions that trainers should take to prevent such abuse from occurring.

“The main thing for [trainers] is to make sure to not put yourself in these types of situations where you know you are doing something wrong,” said Athletic Trainer Cassandra Garcia.

“We just want to ensure that they are comfortable with what we have to do to get the job done.”

In the end, no matter what precautions are taken, situations like these are still sickening, and it is only right to see Nassar being put to justice after all this time. “[His crimes] are really horrible and that’s all that can really be said,” said Garcia.

Winter Olympics taking place in Pyeongchang WENDY YUAN Staff Writer The Winter Olympics is an international athletic competition for sports practiced on ice and snow. 2018 marks the 23rd Winter Olympics, which will take place from Friday, February 9 until Sunday, February 25 at Pyeongchang, South Korea.

This will be the second time Korea has hosted the Olympics.

The opening and closing ceremonies will be housed at Pyeongchang Olympic Stadium.

Fans in the United States will be able to watch the Olympics on NBC TV or online.

This Winter Olympics holds

many surprises as there are new events added by the International Committee such as Big-Air Snowboarding (men’s and women’s), Freestyle Skiing, Mass Start Speed Skating (men’s and women’s), and Mixed Doubles Curling.

With the new events added,the total number of gold medal events will increase to 102; the most ever contested for in the Olympics.

Sophomore Jessica Tieu says, “[I participate in] figure skating and dance. I am looking forward to seeing these great skaters taking on the ice with their program [and] all their amazing jumps, spins, and choreography.”

The government has been ap-

pointing highly influential individuals to act as honorary ambassadors for this upcoming Olympic Games. Some of the honorary ambassadors include gold medalists Yuna Kim and Tae-bum Mo in figure skating and speed skating, respectively, and professional baseball players Hyun-jin Ryu and Shin-soo Choo.

Senior Andrew Ly says, “[I enjoy] watching many sports and [I] take part in track and field and use to play in league. It is very interesting that many nations are joining together to participate in fun competitive sports.”

The next Winter Olympics will be held in Beijing, China in 2022.

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8 sports

January 25, 2018

the aztec

Girls basketball stays undefeated in league SARENA SCOTT Staff Writer Heading into a matchup against the Schurr Lady Spartans, expectations were high for the unbeaten Lady Aztecs as they looked to improve to a 5-0 start in Almont league play.

The Spartans put up a valiant effort, but the Lady Aztecs did not disappoint as they cruised to a 58-39 victory.

The Lady Aztecs took an early lead and never looked back, but with the benefit of a lot of foul calls in their favor, the Lady Spartans were able claw back into the game. The Lady Aztecs were able to fend off any Schurr runs by coming up with a lot of steals, and this helped give Keppel the cushion they needed to pull off the 19 point victory.

Junior Vanessa Aguirre, who led the Lady Aztecs in scoring, was motivated to not be too content with the victory as the team prepares for their contest against Bell

THE AZTEC/ CALLISTA LIU

Junior Vanessa Aguirre stares down her opponent on defense.

Gardens on Friday.

“We will have to continue to work hard no matter how much we are winning by and stay focused on that game.”

Despite the double-digit victory, Coach Jose Herrera said, “Today wasn’t one of our better games. We’ve played much better in past games and we usually do well, but once halftime hit, we decided not to show up. It was just little things that are correct-

Keppel’s soccer team advances forward to their goal to attempt to shoot in another point in the second half.

THE AZTEC/ TIMOTHY CHUMAN

able, but we will be good in the long run.”

Team captain Sally Smith showed modesty and said, “I really don’t want to call us the best because I know at anytime it can be taken away and anything can happen.”

One thing is for sure; The Lady Aztecs have maintained their mindset of taking care of things one game at a time, and this was on full display in their victory over the Lady Spartans.

THE AZTEC/ TIMOTHY CHUMAN

Back to back wins giving boys soccer new life SAMANTHA HERNANDEZ Asst. Sports Editor After two halves of competitive play, Varsity Boys Soccer ended the game with a win against Schurr High School on Tuesday. The ending score was 2-0, with Strikers sophomore Jesus Garcia, and senior Ryan Mittwer each scoring a point.

The team had exceptional defense in the game, which helped result in their win.

Junior Centerback Roy Vargas, says, “As a team, we’re hopeful for this season. We know how to communicate with each other, which really helps us on the field.”

Their communication was one of the key factors in the game against Schurr. By communicating with each other, the boys were able to make clean plays and passes clear.

Overall, the team has a league record of 2-3 and are still hopeful in making CIF.

In order to do so, junior Jose Gonzalez, says the team has to make more aggressive plays. Gonzalez says, “at the game yesterday [against Schurr], I feel like we could have all been more aggressive and not so afraid to make plays.”

Gaining momentum from their win, the boys are still looking to improve and continue to practice for upcoming games.

Athlete’s Profile: Josiah Ojiri SAMANTHA HERNANDEZ Asst. Sports Editor With a passion for athletics since a young age, it is no surprise that senior Josiah Ojiri has been involved in multiple sports throughout his high school career.

Ojiri had played both volleyball and basketball as a freshman, but only continued with basketball as he joined the Varsity Basketball team in his sophomore year and wanted basketball to be a priority. He explains how he “has been playing [basketball] since [he] was five and in kindergarten.”

Ojiri mentions the influence his father has had on his basketball career. “My dad introduced me to basketball. He used to play when he was younger and wanted me to play too.” While his father was his initial motivation to join basketball, Ojiri says that he felt playing basketball would be a good experience.

Ojiri’s position on the court is point guard, whose main role is to initiate offensive plays. However, he has other responsibilities such as passing and handling the ball and making sure his teammates are in the right spots during games.

“They’re always supporting [me] and work just as hard, if not harder, which motivates me to work hard even when they don’t get as much playing time,” says Ojiri.

Ojiri admits that basketball takes up most of his spare time. However, when he isn’t on the court, Ojiri is either watching Youtube videos or movies. He prefers action and sci-fi movies and the Youtube videos he watches depends mostly on his mood.

Nearing the end of his high school career, Ojiri has plans for post-secondary education. “I’m planning on attending Cal State Long Beach or San Diego State.”

The two universities have a good program in the major he has chosen: kinesiology. Ojiri is interested in working in physical therapy after receiving his degree.

Read more at theaztecnews.com

SPORTS CALENDAR Boys’ Basketball

Boys’ Soccer

On 1/26 versus Bell Gardens at Mark Keppel On 1/30 versus Montebello at Mark Keppel On 2/2 versus San Gabriel at Mark Keppel On 2/6 versus Alhambra at Alhambra On 2/9 versus Schurr at Schurr

On 1/30 versus Alhambra at Alhambra On 2/1 versus Montebello at Mark Keppel On 2/6 versus San Gabriel at Mark Keppel On 2/8 versus Schurr at Schurr

Girls’ Soccer On 1/30 versus Alhambra at Mark Keppel On 2/1 versus Montebello at Montebello On 2/6 versus San Gabriel at San Gabriel On 2/8 versus Schurr at Mark Keppel

Girls’ Basketball On 1/26 versus Bell Gardens at Mar Keppel On 1/30 versus Montebello at Mark Keppel On 2/2 versus San Gabriel at Mark Keppel On 2/3 Rio Hondo College Showcase On 2/6 versus Alhambra at Alhambra On 2/9 versus Schurr at Schurr

Girls’ Water Polo On 1/25 versus Paramount at Paramount On 1/30 versus Schurr at Schurr On 2/7 versus Bell Gardens at Bell Gardens