The Broadview 12.14.10

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Irresponsible website turns real news media into gossip forum.

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Farmers markets offer healthier alternatives.

Street Vending acts as an artistic outlet for many locals.

December 14, 2010

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Convent of the Sacred Heart High School | San Francisco, California

Stealing the gr

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Volume 15, Issue 1

news in brief ▶ Alumni Noëls are tonight in the Flood Mansion at 6 p.m. and will honor Mary “Be” Mardel, RSCJ and Bill Miller (SHB ‘62). Tickets are $30 per person and all proceeds will benefit BASH’s scholarship fund. ▶ Winter Ball is planned for Jan. 7 in the Main Hall.

The attire is semi-formal.

Tickets price is TBD. ▶ A ski trip to Lake Tahoe is scheduled for the weekend of Jan. 21. Contact Mrs. Curran for more information. ▶ The Father-Daughter Dance is planned for the night of Friday Jan. 28 in the Main Hall. Ticket price is TBD.

photo illustration | KATY HALLOWELL

A recent Broadview survey of more than half the student body reports copying homework is common. The faculty Academic Council is reviewing the issue.

Pressure to succeed can lead to plagiarism Zoë Newcomb Editor-in-Chief Getting into a good college requires good grades, community service, club activities, a job, a sport and perfect test grades, according to Anna, a sophomore who asked her name be changed. With so much to balance, cheating is the only way Anna says she gets anything done.

“After seven hours at school and an exhausting sports practice, it is impossible to finish five hours of homework,” Anna said. “I don’t want

to cheat, but it’s a survival technique.

I’m smart, I work hard and I’ve given up a social life to do well in school, but it’s just not enough.”

Anna said she tries to just cheat on the little things — “the busywork,” but in the end she does what she needs to in order to get good grades.

“At first I felt horrible, but then I kept doing it and doing it and slowly it didn’t bother me as much,” Anna said.

“Either I get good grades and get into a good college, or I just fail at life.”

Any case of academic dishonesty at CSH can result in suspension or expulsion, but while Dean Rachel

Simpson stresses that cheating is a “serious offense,” ultimately catching each instance of academic dishonesty is less important than instilling integrity in students.

“The most important part is how much attention we pay to Goal 5 and the wise freedom that it gives students,” Simpson said. “It’s the inner compass that drives us all.”

After only one semester as dean at CSH after a three-year tenure at SHHS, Simpson said she has encountered very few incidents of plagiarism, but that she doesn’t want to come across as “naive” by saying that it doesn’t happen.

“In my heart of hearts I’d like to say it is less than that,” Simpson said, referencing studies that place national cheating rates at about 60 percent. “But it’s my job to know that cheating does happen. It’s not ideal, but it’s true.”

Simpson’s realism is confirmed in an Internet survey given by The Broadview to 97 CSH students, representing more than half the student body. Sixtysix percent of these students admitted to having cheated on a homework assignment.

However, only 38 percent of students admit to having cheated on

SEE SCHOOL PG. 2

▶ Members of Simple Gifts attended a shopping benefit for the Women’s Community Clinic held by Ralph Lauren on Wednesday Dec. 1. The Ralph Lauren store on Fillmore Street donated 15 percent of sales to the Clinic, which is tripling its space as it transitions from its Hayes Street location to a larger space in the Lower Fillmore.

The Clinic offers free reproductive healthcare, and the expansion will allow it to offer more services, according to Executive Director Carlina Hansen. Hansen introduced hosts Jennifer Siebel Newsom, Regina Kulik Scully, Katie Traina and Marissa Mayer.

Simple Gifts, a club dedicated to fundraising for women and children’s organizations in the Bay Area, donated over $5,000 from last year’s annual Simple Gifts Fashion Show to the Clinic.

Service trip repairs old hurricane damage Becky Lee Reporter Three students spent their Thanksgiving Break repairing hurricane-damaged homes in New Orleans with seven Stuart Hall High School students.

“We split up the first day and worked together for the second and third,” senior Pearl Plonsker, who worked with juniors Briana Wilvert and Dakota Chamberlin to fix the homes, said. “I’ve realized how lucky we are to

have what we have, but there’s still a lot more work to be done.”

Volunteers worked on two houses, chipping away old paint to prepare one home it for a new coat and painting the outside of the other.

Hurricane Katrina forced more than 800,000 citizens to evacuate their homes five years ago. A total of 213,147 occupied houses and apartments were accounted for in 2005, compared to a decrease to 167,587 in 2009, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.

The students volunteered through Operation Helping Hands, a branch of the Catholic Charities Archdiocese of New Orleans, whose stated goal is “to provide safe, secure and functional housing as efficiently and affordably as possible,” The charity relies on the assistance of volunteers to repair the dwellings of the elderly and disabled that were damaged in Hurricane Katrina. “[The trip] made me want to do more for the aftermath left by Katrina,”

SEE GROUP PG. 2

RAY O’CONNOR | special to the broadview

Junior Dakota Chamberlin paints the side of a house damaged by Hurricane Katrina. Students scraped and caulked the house the day before in preparation for painting.

Reindeer roaming on roof in GG Park

ADDRESS SERVICE REQUESTED ZOË NEWCOMB | the broadview

Reindeer are temporarily residing in the east garden and on the roof of The California Academy of Sciences during ’Tis the Season for Science. Windy (front) tries to get a closer look at the photographer while Yukon eats a branch of a fir tree. Other holiday specials include a inflatable igloo with Artic-themed presentations as well as “snow” falls every halfhour in the Academy lobby.

the broadview Convent of the Sacred Heart HS Schools of the Sacred Heart 2222 Broadway San Francisco, CA 94115

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December 14, 2010

Students build holiday houses

ANJALI SHRESTHA | the broadview

Senior Natalie Garnett licks frosting off of her fingers while building a gingerbread house during Breakfast Club on Thursday. The Junior Class held a gingerbread making workshop as a part of a Christmas spirit week at CSH. Kris Kringles, a “Secret Santa” tradition at CSH, were held a week earlier than usual due to semester exams.

Group spends break repairing houses ▶ CONTINUED FROM PG. 1 “I liked the painting because I know I was helping someone repair their house who lost everything.”

Students explored New Orleans during their free time, met students from the Academy of the Sacred Heart in Grand Coteau and took part in nightly reflections.

“It’s way different there — the culture and how people talk,” Plonsker said. “ People are joyous, have hope and they have neighbors who they talk to every night.”

“Everyone there is super friendly,” Wilvert said. “They all say hello, hey, hi and ask how are you doing.”

Students from the Academy of the Sacred Hear in Grand Coteau joined the volunteers at the Duschesne House for dinner after their first day of work.

“We are so similar no matter how far away the Sacred Heart school is,” Chamberlin said. “We made food the ‘Sixth Goal’ of the Sacred Heart.”

Reflecting upon their day’s work, volunteers shared their experience

about the service work with the girls from Grand Coteau.

“It was pretty normal for me because I’m Catholic,” Wilvert said. “The reflections weren’t overly religious but leaned to a more spiritual side.”

A blog (http://www.sacredsfservice.wordpress.com) was updated during the trip with videos, photos and reflections from the students.

“It’s really made me want to encourage other people to go and help,” Wilvert said. “They could use all of the volunteers they could get.”

Symphony holds music education benefit Students helped children with arts and crafts and handed out refreshments at Davies Symphony Hall last Sunday during Deck the Hall, a concert and benefit party for youth symphony programs providing music education to over 75,000 Bay Area children each year.

“I think it’s important to volunteer because you know that you made those little kids and their families feel joyful,” freshman Janet Kim, said. “You know that you made a difference in the world, no matter how small.”

“Deck the Hall elves go behind the scenes and do everything that needs ‘elves’ — face painting, carnival games, arts and crafts, setting up refreshments, serving cookies, mailing letters to Santa and running backstage errands.”

Maureen Kosewic, who works on the Elves Committee at the San Francisco Symphony, said.

“I was face painting during the first shift and during the second I dressed up as the Snow Queen and took pictures with little kids,” freshman Robin McGahey, who has volunteered for two years, said.

CSH students in past years have done various jobs from dressing up as Santa, to face painting to pretending to be Santa’s elves for children getting ready to sit on Santa’s lap.

“Last year I volunteered at the show for kids that would normally not get the opportunity to go to the symphony,” freshman Sophia Kelley said.

“We don’t realize how lucky we are to go to the symphony where for some people it is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.”

— Mika Esquivel-Varela

School, college pressure leads to student cheating ▶ CONTINUED FROM PG. 1 a test and even fewer, 29 percent, say they have stolen ideas off the Internet.

This nearly 30 percent gap between cheating on homework and on tests may have something to do with student’s understanding of plagiarism. The problem may not be that students are blatantly plagiarizing, but that the line between acceptable and unacceptable behavior has been blurred, according to a study by the University of Nebraska Lincoln.

“Of course I don’t cheat on tests or major papers or anything like that,” Haley, a junior who asked her named be changed, said. “I only copy homework and stuff like that. I know that I could do it on my own, but I just don’t have the time.”

Haley went on to explain the pressure of balancing after-school activities, AP classes and sports is just too much for her to handle.

“There is a temptation when you’re overwhelmed to try and survive,” science department chair Ray Cinti said. “I don’t think it’s a conscious decision for students to hurt themselves, because that is what they’re doing, but they’re put in a precarious spot.”

Because many of their classmates copy homework assignments or sneak a peak on a test, a student might become more inclined to cheat themselves, according to the study.

“Everyone does it,” Haley said. “I don’t think teachers realize that one and a half hours of homework for one class might not seem like a lot, but when you multiply that by four classes, it means I’m doing minimum six hours of homework every night. That doesn’t even include studying for tests or quizzes. It’s just not possible.”

Simpson describes this influence as a “herd mentality,” but emphasized that such a mindset does not validate any form of plagiarism.

“In one of my classes, everybody is doing badly and nobody knows what is going on, so we all just copy each other’s homework until we are able to get it finished,” Anna said.

In the study given to a high school classroom by the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, 87 percent of students confessed to having cheated during a test, a 49 percent higher rate than students surveyed at CSH. “It’s not fair to me when the rest of my class cheats on an assignment,” senior Katie Carlson said. “I work really hard and don’t cheat, but everyone else gets the same grade as me because they all

copy answers.”

Carlson said despite the pressure of college applications and Advanced Placement classes, cheating isn’t something she believes she needs to succeed.

“We get so much support at Convent,” Carlson said. “If I can’t handle it I just go to my teacher. Why would I need to cheat?”

The CSH Academic Council, made up of Department Heads, administrators and the College Counseling Department, have been looking recently at ways to “take away” the temptation to cheat, said Simpson. The council meets on a regular basis to assess pressure on students, and has recently been discussing revising the CSH academic policy with stronger language to make it more specific.

Haley does admit that while she is under an immense amount of pressure, sometime she cheats because she procrastinated on getting work done.

“I can’t just blame my teachers or the school, because it’s partially my fault,” Haley said. “Sometimes I spend hours on Facebook and Hulu, and by the time I start my homework it’s already 11 or 12.”

Cinti said students at CSH who cheat out of laziness are in the minority.

“There always are going to be a couple of self-afflicting or procrastinating students, but for the students who honestly work hard at school, do a sport and get home late, they’re put in a hard spot,” Cinti said.

Although students like Haley and Anna cheat in order to do well on assignments they say they could do on their own, other students like Amanda, a sophomore who asked her name be changed, copies homework and cheats on tests in order to appear smarter.

“They expect us to be perfect and I want to be perfect,” Amanda said. “So I do whatever I can to live up to that expectation.”

Simpson said she hopes after four years at CSH, students learn about honesty and integrity — and don’t feel the type of pressure that Amanda feels.

“If students haven’t learned what wise freedom means, then we aren’t doing our job,” Simpson said.

For many students, like Anna, Haley and Amanda, plagiarism is not something they enjoy, but something they continue out of what they say is necessity.

“Now I get amazing grades and my teachers think I’m really smart,” Amanda said. “What am I supposed to do?”

In Brief

KATY HALLOWELL | the broadview

KATY HALLOWELL | the broadview

Freshman Robin McGahey (above left), dressed as the Snow Queen, poses with two children at Deck the Hall, a symphony event for Bay Area children (above). The San Francisco Symphony has one of the largest youth benefit programs in the United States. Throughout the year, symphony members travel to schools throughout the Bay Area to provide music education to children who otherwise might not receive it. A young ballerina (left) waits to go on stage to perform at Deck the Hall. Several ballet schools from around the Bay Area performed Nutcracker scenes and other dances that incorporated holiday themes.

▶ Noëls, a four school-the tradition of singing Christmas carols in several languages, is scheduled for Tuesday of finals week “For decades, students have honored the Director of Schools by singing songs,” Head of School Andrea Shurley said.

Noëls are now held in the gym to accommodate the 1,060 students in the four schools, and songs are sung in Spanish, Latin, Japanese and Chinese.

This year Noëls will be on the second day of finals.

“I hope [finals] does not affect Noëls,” Shurley said.

Noëls are a unique tradition in San Francisco, but Christmas celebrations are common other Sacred Heart schools The celebration is planned to continue as usual with the Spanish students singing “Cascabel” and French students singing “Il Est Né le Divin Enfant” and concluding with the Senior Class singing “Noël de Notre Dame.”

▶ Marshmallows, gumdrops and candy canes littered tables in Shakespeare’s landing as high school students assisted children at the annual Gingerbread Workshop Sunday, Dec. 5.

Sponsored by Broadway Alumnae of the Sacred Heart, the tradition since 1996 had parents and students from both elementary schools decorating gingerbread houses in anticipation of the holidays.

“I was folding boxes, giving wipes to parents and putting frosting in bowls,” sophomore Gina Domergue, who volunteered at the event, said, “It struck me how happy all of the families were.”

Undecorated gingerbread houses and holiday aprons were for sale at the event and 1911 Pine Street with proceeds benefiting student scholarships.

“I used to do the workshops in elementary school,” Nicola Forbes (’12) said. “I used to decorate houses covered with candy all the time.”

— Julia Nemy

— Stephanie Gee

sacred heart

the broadview

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Four-School instrumentalists band together Emily Bloch Reporter

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he Four-School Orchestra and the SHHS/CSH Jazz Combo gave a winter concert last Thursday incorporating a Christmas Sing-A-Long and the girls elementary school’s ensemble.

The two instrumental groups performed together to avoid extracurricular conflicts, including sports.

“Some high school boys play in either the orchestra or the jazz combo and also play basketball, which has games throughout the week, so we combine the concerts into one night,” director Bonnie Fraenza said. “One year I almost cancelled our concert due to a game.”

Putting both concerts on the same night also attracts a wider audience.

“Having both the Four School Orchestra and the high school Jazz Combo play on the same night, invites audience from all four schools to hear what’s happening in instrumental music at SSH,” Fraenza said via e-mail.

The coed jazz group, which offers course credit, is offered to any high school musician who can play an instrument, read music and is willing to practice at home and participate in classes and rehearsals.

Sophomore Sarah Kelson plays the saxophone and is the only girl in the jazz combo.

“At my grade school [St. Theresa’s], everybody was forced to play an instrument,” Kelson said. “Ever since [fourth grade] I’ve had an interest in the saxophone so I’ve been playing in bands.”

The jazz band accompanied the CES eighth grade singers led by Marilyn Charm in “Fly Me to the Moon.”

The Four School Orchestra included students from grades three through 12 as well as and faculty and parents who play instruments.

EMMA HERLIHY | the broadview

The Four-School Orchestra and the SHHS/CSH Jazz Combo, led by director Bonnie Fraenza (standing), perform at the winter concert Thursday, Dec. 9. The two instrumental groups incorporate students, parents and teachers.

“The combination of different age groups and style makes the group truly unique and fun to direct/conduct,” Fraenza said. “It focuses on classical,

pop and jazz music.”

Auditions are not required to join the orchestra, the only requirements include having the ability to read

Yearbook to allow farewell messages Editor-in-chief Juliet Charnas (right) helps sophomore Lottie Crawford (left) lay out a page during a yearbook meeting after school. The yearbook staff is keeping this year’s theme a secret to surprise students when the book is released in May. Last year’s yearbook was designed to resemble a composition notebook belonging to “CSH Girl,” a theme that illustrated the traditions and quirks special to CSH.

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W

hile students head to sports practice or relax in the Center on Monday and Wednesday afternoons, a dozen girls in Room 301 work to chronicle the year.

It is the yearbook staff, and this year it aims to introduce a change to the school—the yearbook will be released before the year’s end.

“We moved up all the deadlines to release the yearbook in May rather than August,” Editor-in-Chief Juliet Charnas said. “I think it’s an important and fun part of the high school experience to sign yearbooks and read your friend’s messages years down the line.”

The staff is making organizational and technological changes to meet the

shorter deadlines.

“This year our program isn’t using Walsworth’s Online Design, a layout site from a yearbook company,” photo editor Lauren Choi said. “It’s on Adobe InDesign. InDesign allows us a lot more freedom with the pictures we place on the page.”

To tackle encroaching deadlines, the first of which is this week, editors formed new approaches to keeping the staff on schedule.

“In the past, we assigned a whole page to a person,” Charnas said. “But this time we’re assigning different tasks on separate pages, like doing a sidebar for one page, but adding photos to a different one. It makes it less overwhelming and more interesting for the people working on it.”

Despite the time shortage, staff

members intend to produce an improved, more complex yearbook than last year’s.

“We are trying to have a better, more planned sense of design to unify the yearbook with different graphics,” yearbook moderator Megan Storti said.

“I believe we can do it with our very dedicated staff this year.”

An insert packet of events occurring after the yearbook’s release, such as graduation, will be mailed out over the summer.The packets will have adhesive spines to stick into the back of the book.

“I’m excited for this year’s book,” Choi said. “Now the school gets to have the full- yearbook experience.

Seniors will get to write each other meaningful messages, and everyone can really personalize their books with fond memories and inside jokes.”

up to the students on which tunes they feel comfortable playing. It works really well and beginner students get better every week.”

Ethics day format changed Claire Fahy Asst. Sports Editor

ZOË NEWCOMB | the broadview

Aggie Kruse Reporter

music; even the most beginner players are welcome.

“Our music ranges from easy to challenging,” Fraenza said. “I leave it

he Junior Classes of CSH and SHHS came together Nov. 22 to reflect on how to understand oneself and one’s connections through the Internet after watching a showing of “The Social Network,” a movie about the founding of the social networking site Facebook.

The 6-year-old Ethics Forum, previously called Ethics in Action, takes place once in the fall and spring semesters.

“We [are] trying to look for ways to exchange ideas and speakers in an academic setting with the boys and the girls,” Director of Student Life Celine Curran said.

In previous years, students participated in activities such as a Hunger Banquet in which they were assigned to high income, medium-income and low-income meals. The low-income students received little food and water compared to the lavish meal prepared for high-income students. Fifty percent of students were assigned to the low-income group to reflect the 50 percent of the world’s population living in poverty.

Some students became upset over their income assignments and missed the point of the exercise, prompting junior theology teacher

Paul Pryor-Lorentz to change the program from “Action” to “Forum”— a more reflective and discussion-based activity.

“I hope that the students will get into the habit of asking reflective and critical questions about their cultural situation and work to shape it in a way that reflects the goals of our school,” PryorLorentz said.

In previous years, juniors participated in several activities — listening to a speaker, creating small group presentations and contributing to group discussions.

“We tried to fit too much into the day,” Pryor-Lorentz said. “We wanted to narrow but deepen the focus by having just one activity.”

Juniors participating in the Forum this year said that the new format is helpful in connecting their in-class discussions with real world experiences.

“It was interesting discussing something so seemingly simple and finding real life issues to talk about,” junior Meghan Helms said.

Pryor-Lorentz said the focus on social networking relates to inclass discussions about Aristotle’s virtue ethics.

“We are talking about how one understands herself in the context of social media tools and how do those tools end up shaping what we think of ourselves and our relationships with others,” PryorLorentz said.

4 op-ed

December 14, 2010

Changes in diet can help to protect long-term health staff editorial

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itting at a table laden with glazed hams, buttery mashed potatoes and massive pumpkin pies can be a temptation too hard to resist and the food-centric culture of the holidays is certainly delicious — but also dangerously unhealthy. Alternatives to the calorie-filled holiday dishes can be safer for one’s health, while being equally as yummy.

Many dishes can have lower calo-

rie alternatives. Stuffing cooked outside the turkey or gravy made from a less fattening base lowers the amount of calories in these holiday dishes. Using low fat or nonfat alternative like light spread margarine or whipped butter is a better option then butter and sour cream to put on potatoes.

A healthier alternative that may not be a first choice is a vegan-based holiday meal. “Vegan-based” means having the majority of the diet made up of nondairy and nonanimal product.

One can still eat meat and dairy, but just not as a main component in their diet.

Eating entirely vegan doesn’t make one “healthy,” but a diet made up of plants and legumes is generally considered better for overall health and will lower

the caloric intake during holiday meals.

Meats are usually a very important centerpiece of each holiday meal, so

potatoes have high vitamin A content which promotes skin and bone health, as well as antioxidants and anti-inflammator y nutrients.

Cranberries may prevent Urinary Tract Even with the tie to tradition, Infe ctions, heart it’s sometimes better to try to disease and kidney stones. Chocolate think health wise when laying in moderation has out a meal. been shown to lower blood pressure and reduce cholesterol.

High-calorie dishes that cannot be the thought of eliminating them is not positively accepted. Choosing leaner replaced like pumpkin pie and glazed meats for a less fattening centerpiece ham can be eaten in moderation while would be the ideal alternative. still eating healthy. Many tend to think Some holiday foods actually have that eating healthy means forgoing a lot of hidden health benefits. Sweet desserts and all “unhealthy” food, but

just a thought Zoe Newcomb | Editor-in-Chief

Website ruins media integrity You won’t find any bigger proponent of First Amendment rights than me. At first glance, Wikileaks, a “news” organization, created to leak government documents, seems to be everything I stand for. But as the media seems to increasingly sensationalize the stories uncovered by the website, it’s grown difficult to know exactly where to draw the line.

To be honest, I was excited when I first learned about Wikileaks. Politics?

Journalism? Count me in. Historically, the whistleblower has played an important role in international politics. I firmly believe journalism — the fourth estate — is the foundation of a free society. But as the old adage goes — with great power comes great responsibility, a proverb the creators of Wikileaks seemingly missed.

Launched in 2006, Wikileaks is an international “media organization” that has published over a million government documents over the past four years with the help of anonymous government officials. Originally created as a user-editable site similar to Wikipedia, Wikileaks no longer accepts user comments or edits in order to maintain the integrity of the information published by the high profile site.

The concept behind Wikileaks is admirable — those in power should and must be held accountable for their actions. Clearly, however, international politics are not that black and white.

Wikileaks has the potential to promote candor within government, as well as shed light on horrific human rights issues that seem so often ignored by the mainstream news media. In 2009, Wikileaks published an internal report about toxic waste dumping in the Ivory Coast from international commodity trading company Trafigura. The report detailed the detrimental health effects the toxic dump could have on residents — chemicals could burn skin and eyes, cause vomiting and potentially lead to death.

The United Kingdom’s Guardian and other major news organizations had been threatened with legal action if they published the documents, but Wikileaks was a legal loophole that forced Trafigura to become publicly accountable for their actions.

More recently, when Wikileaks published documents about U.S. military action in Afghanistan, it failed to remove the names of Afghan civilians working as military informants. While the documents may have provided interesting gossip, it also put the lives of civilians at risk.

While Julian Assange, creator of Wikileaks, is off trying to hold governments responsible for their actions, there is no one to hold him accountable for carelessly endangering innocent lives.

Wikileaks used its high profile status in 2008 to publish e-mails hacked from then Republican vice-presidential candidate Sarah Palin. It’s not that the e-mails contained any important information — they were simply published because they came from Palin.

Not only is Wikileaks turning the serious news media into nothing more than a forum for gossip, but by publishing documents that were likely obtained illegally, the creator of Wikileaks exposes himself to serious repercussions.

Documents published last month uncovering new details about the United State’s relationship with foreign governments disclose details that seem about as important as the stories published by The Enquirer about Miley Cyrus’s latest photo drama.

It is Journalism 101 that you don’t run every quote you get or every scandalous bit of information — because after a while, the integrity of real stories is lost in the sensationalism.

There is a lot of corruption in the world that should be exposed. Citizens, particularly those in a democratic society like the United States, deserve to be informed about the actions of the government that represents them. But the general public does not have the ability to judge when a document should or should not remain confidential.

However idealized this may sound, we should be promoting honesty lawfully rather than through illegal back channels. It’s ironic that the ones promoting integrity resort to gossip and illicit actions to accomplish their goal.

Sure, scandals sell. But for Wikileaks to truly succeed it should be setting an example and promoting honest journalism, not joining the leagues of Star Magazine.

the broadview invites letters the broadview invites comments, additiona or corrections on stories in the paper. Letters to the Editor should be 400 words or fewer and must include the writer’s name and a method of verification. Submissions should be e-mailed to broadview@sacredsf.org and are subject to editing for clarity and space.

Can I copy that sheet tomorrow? I’m exhausted.

the key to healthy eating is portion size.

Eating a small slice of pie is the best of both worlds — good food and good health. The most unhealthy treats like Eggnog can easily be replaced by drinks like apple cider or hot chocolate.

Even with the tie to tradition, it’s sometimes better to try to think health wise when laying out a meal. Turkey with the mashed potatoes may be loved but meals like these can leave people feeling sick and in the long run create health issues such as coronary heart disease. Students need to start eating well at a young age. Picking alternatives to certain foods in a holiday meal can allow the enjoyment of consuming food with family while still keeping their caloric intake low.

Yeah, of course. It’s busy work anyway, so you’re not missing anything.

NATALIE GARNETT | the broadview

1. There are three mini Christmas trees in the Main Hall.

2. The east side of the Bay Bridge is set to open early.

3. A new drug to prevent HIV is being tested.

4. Julian Assange, the creator of Wikileaks, was arrested.

5. Willow Smith is going on tour with Justin Beiber.

the broadview Convent of theSacred Heart HighSchool 2222 Broadway San Francisco, CA 94115 broadview@sacredsf.org Zoë Newcomb Editor-in-Chief Sara Kloepfer Managing Editor Anjali Shrestha Feature Editor Emma Herlihy News Editor

1. Where is the large tree?

2. Early is still 2013.

3. Its high price may make it inaccessible for many of the people who need it most.

4. The harm is already done.

5. Too bad it is Justin Beiber.

Reporters Emily Bloch | Mika Esquivel-Varela | Stephanie Gee | Katy Hallowell | Aggie Kruse | Ava Martinez | Ta’lynn Mitchell | Julia Nemy Isabelle Pinard | Sophia Redfern Natalie Garnett Cartoonist Michaela Wilton Graphics Tracy Anne Sena, CJE Adviser

Claire Fahy Asst. Sports Editors Liz Smith Asst. Sports Editor

Unsigned pieces are the opinion of the editorial board. Reviews and personal columns are the opinions of the author. Letters to the broadview should be 400 words or less and are subject to editing for clarity and space.

op -ed

the broadview

5

Administration re-organizes semester exam schedule Pro

Con

Katy Hallowell Reporter

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tudents have traditionally spent past holiday breaks cramming for the final exams facing them upon return to school in the New Year, but this year’s new exam schedule will allow students to finally enjoy their hard earned break.

Semester exams are taking place this week before Christmas Break to align CSH and SHHS schedules, accommodating coed classes, but the benefits are more than just corresponding calendars. Students will no longer be put in the disadvantageous position of having to return from break and recall details from nearly a month before.

While some students complain the new schedule has taken away from Christmas cheer, the halls are still decorated with garlands and Christmas music still plays in the center.

Christmas Break this year will serve its purpose — it will be a “break” for students who have worked hard for a semester. The holidays will once again be a chance to spend time with families and relax before returning to the rigors of the second semester.

Seniors who are in the midst of applying to colleges will be able to focus their attention entirely on applications instead of balancing textbooks and Common Application supplements.

The New Year is the time to clean the slate. The new exam schedules will equip students to succeed by clearing stress and allowing them to start anew.

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NATALIE GARNETT | the broadview

School administrators made the decision to schedule semester exams during the last week of school in December, breaking this the tradition of semester exams a week after returning to school in January.

here’s the deal Sara Kloepfer|Managing Editor

New passes complicate Muni system

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hen I learned that the colorful Muni Youth passes were being replaced by the new blue Clipper card, I tried to purchase one as soon as possible. “Tried” being the operative word.

I attempted to purchase a Clipper card from Walgreens, only to be told that monthly youth passes had to be verified with ID at an official Muni office. That is how I found myself on a Saturday morning waiting for my number to be called at the Muni Customer Service Center.

While almost everyone else was called up to pay parking tickets, I waited impatiently with my passport in hand. Finally my number was called, my age verified and passport returned.

As I reached into my wallet to load money onto my new Clipper card, the woman behind the plastic screen told me, “Thank you, your Clipper card will arrive in six weeks.” I walked away wondering how was I supposed to ride the bus for the next month and a half.

The introduction of this all-purpose pass for Bay Area public transportation was intended to provide unified payment for five major transportation agencies — Muni, BART, AC Transit, Golden Gate Transit and Caltrain.

SamTrans and Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority plan to join. These seven agencies represent 90 percent of Bay Area transit riders. With such an extensive customer base, Clipper’s recent problems have a widespread effect.

The most notable issue is riders are using Clipper card to scam the system.

Cards are meant to be refilled with

It is hard to really get into the spirit of the holiday while focusing on doing well on finals and ending the semester as well as possible. alking into the Main Hall Christmas celebrations aside, to admire the Christmas having finals moved four weeks earlier decorations and hearing than normal means the same amount Christmas music drifting throughout of homework assignments and tests are the building is the highlight of the year being crammed into a shorter period for many students. However, this year of time. Students hoping to pull up students may their grades be too busy before finals or under too It is hard to really get now had less much stress time to do into the spirit of the to notice the so. Students decorations. holiday while focusing already are The under a lot on doing well on week before of stress and Christmas the last thing finals and ending the break has a stressedsemester as well as traditionally out student been filled needs is less possible. with holiday time. celebrations.

This Kris Kringle gift bags were stuffed, change in schedule also has an impact Christmas music played in the Center, on teachers. Teachers now have the and the student body was in an excitchoice of spending their winter holiday ed buzz in anticipation for Christmas grading finals or enduring the inevitable and the upcoming vacation. pestering from students eager to know This year all of this changed. how they did on their exams via e-mail While there is still a palpable feeling of over the break or once classes resume. pre-Christmas excitement, the typical For years students have been comatmosphere of holiday cheer has been plaining about having finals after break replaced by the stress of finals. and many students have been begging To be fair, Christmas is not going for this change to happen. However, completely uncelebrated. Kris Kringles after battling the tests and work teachwere moved to last week, Christmas ers assigned at the last minute during decorations are starting to appear the weeks leading up to finals, it is clear around campus, and the sophomore why the finals schedule was the way it holiday celebration is still scheduled to was for so long. Shortening the semester take place this Friday. has added unnecessary stress and taken However, it still is not the same. away some much-needed celebration.

Ava Martinez Reporter

money like a credit card. Like a credit card, Clipper cards can “go negative,” meaning the card can register a negative balance yet still permit entrance to any service. This flaw in the design allows users to load the minimum $2 on a Clipper card, ride wherever they desire for as long as they want and never pay off the negative balance.

The Metropolitan Transportation Commission (MTC) programmed a negative balance into the card to help customers exit a transit system when there are not any fare machines or customer service personnel to help them add money to their cards. Most public transportation is based on an expectation of customers being honest, but Clipper makes it easier to cheat than ever before. As soon as the scam was revealed, over the Internet and through word of mouth, the average cases a day of cards going negative has nearly tripled, according to BART Executive Director Dorothy Dugger.

Another way to cheat the system lies in Muni’s new $30 million fare gates. The gates open automatically when passengers exit from paid zones in the downtown stations, so anyone can wave his or her hand over the gates’ motion sensors and slip through to ride the train for free. Of course fare inspectors are still in place, and fare evasion is a $75 citation, but unless every agency — BART and Muni especially — pay for the constant presence of fare inspectors, the number of rip-offs will continue to rise.

Besides scamming, Clipper card’s new policies are complicated at best and

inefficient at worst. Youths and seniors have to register at an official office, then wait up to six weeks for their cards to arrive. During this time period I have to pay 75 cents every bus ride, sometimes twice a day because transfers expire after 90 minutes. If a youth or senior travels to and from school or work every day for six weeks, the total cost will amount to $63. Since the usual $20 monthly passes are unavailable to make way for Clipper, this is the expensive alternative.

Public transportation is mainly aimed at those who cannot afford alternate means, such as a car. But the easiest way to add money to a Clipper card is online, leaving those without a computer or credit card to find a participating retailer or “Add Value” machine at a transit station. Instructions for Clipper cards are also only available either online or at a transit station.

By becoming less accessible and affordable, Clipper is essentially alienating a large portion of its clients. The announcements on Muni are now in Spanish and Mandarin in addition to English in order to accommodate San Francisco’s large immigrant population, but these same clients are likely to be the most confused by Clipper’s new rules.

The most puzzling part of all is why Clipper came about in the first place. I cannot speak for the transit systems outside San Francisco, but my last six years of riding Muni have been easy to maneuver and simple to pay for. As MTC realizes the problems arising from Clipper, they may also realize something essential about the previous system — If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.

How do you define cheating?

“People copying homework, usually not to cheat or because they do not want to be dishonest, but because they are under a lot of pressure and stress.”

—Sophia Kelley, freshman

“I define cheating as copying someone elses work or bringing notes on a test.”

— Tanya Mallya, freshman

“Cheating is being dishonest with your self and others about your work.”

—Sara Kelson, sophomore

“Cheating is using someone else’s work or answer without their knowledge or approval to benefit yourself.”

—Megan Helms, junior

“Cheating is taking someone else’s work and calling it your own.”

—Shannon Smith, senior

— Compiled by Julia Nemy

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December 14, 2010

Organic food is chemical-free option 4 days to Farmers Market

Market supports small local farmers within community Sara Kloepfer & Zoë Newcomb

T Day 4

he smell of hot from the oven bread and freshly cut persimmons wafts through the stalls at the Kaiser Permanente farmers market on a Wednesday morning. Kay Johnston meanders from booth to booth, chatting with the farmers as she loads bright orange carrots and crisp lettuce into her canvas shopping bag.

“I think the food is fresher, it tastes better,” Johnston said. “I try to buy all my produce from farmers markets.”

Certified Markets

Day 3

Farmers markets like this one are part of the Pacific Coast Farmers Market Association (PCFMA), a nonprofit that operates all Certified Farmers Markets in the Bay Area. This means all producers at the market are certified, and all produce is California-grown.

“California is unique in the U.S. because we have a designated program set aside for smaller farmers,” Dmitrius Spartos, manager of Kaiser Permanente Farmers Market, said. “Farmers markets are technically an experiment that the state of California started back in the 70s so that we have this additional forum to buy food that also allows small farmers to make a living.”

Organic Regulations

Day 2

The Agriculture and Land-Based Training Association (ALBA), which Spartos describes as an “amazing , revolutionary program,” works to create opportunities for small farms with limited resources while advocating sustainable and local farming. Small farms are at a disadvantage because they have to compete with corporate farms and wholesale retailers.

“Farmers markets are different than going to a grocery store, which imports food from bigger farms doing standard pack,” Spartos said. “Standard pack regulates how food is coming from a farm for a store to pack. Standard pack requires lots of work and lots of money, so if you’re a smaller farm it’s

harder to compete so that’s why farmers markets are important.”

Brenda Madrigal, a seller for Terry Farm in Denair, CA, drove for two hours that morning to sell her freshly picked fruit at the farmers market.

“We grow the fruit, pick it, pack it in boxes, load it in cars, drive up here and sell them,” Madrigal says as she passes out slices of bright orange persimmons to customers. “You are letting customers know what you grow.

It’s a better way of distributing.”

Economic Fragility

Terry Farms, which sells mainly stone fruit, depends on the weather.

“If it rains when cherries are out and they crack, you lose the crop,” Madrigal said.

The economic fragility of the small farms that sell at farmers markets cannot match large-scale grocers that draw from major farms hundreds or even thousands of miles away. Even so, many people turn to farmers markets because produce is fresh picked and local, rather than frozen and shipped from long distances away.

“My family buys fruits and vegetables from the farmers market every Sunday morning, there is one three blocks away from my house,” senior Elizabeth Leighton said. “We like supporting the locals, and they offer unique, delicious food that the grocery store does not have. All the food is organic which makes it even better.”

Sustainable Food

The words organic and sustainable are often used interchangeably, and inaccurately, to describe products sold at farmers markets.

“Just because it says it’s organic doesn’t mean it’s a sustainably produced product,” Spartos said. “A big difference between this farmers market and Safeway down the street is that here the food is brought in from an average of 90 miles away, while the American average for what it takes to get food to a home is 1500 miles.”

Standards for growing organic food are set by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) through the National Organic Pro-

gram, and the California Certified Organic Farmers (CCOF) provides certification to farms, processors, restaurants and retailers dealing with the over 1300 types of organic products within the state.

Certified programs “emphasize the use of renewable resources and the conservation of soil and water to enhance environmental quality for future generations.” Standards specify that products must be grown or raised without the use of conventional pesticides, fertilizers using synthetic ingredients, bioengineering, radiation, antibiotics or growth hormones.

“A lot of nutritionists argue that it makes nutrients more bio-available,” Spartos said. “The apples, the persimmons, especially those greens were picked yesterday maybe, today, this morning, and now they’re on a table to be sold. An apple is picked when it’s ripe rather than before so it ripens along the way as it travels or it is sprayed with a ripening chemical.”

Community

Nancy Nunez is a seller for Nunez Ortega Farms, a ten-acre family-run farm in Watsonville with 12 workers. The farm, which specializes in swiss chard, artichoke, broccoli and cauliflower, sends six of its workers to various farmers markets around the Bay Area. Nunez said she has developed relationships with the shoppers who frequent her stall and sellers from other farms.

“In addition to being great sources of farm-fresh fruits and vegetables, farmers’ markets are also community gathering places — places where neighbors can stroll, chat with one another, pick up some fresh fruits and vegetables, and feel connected to their community,” according to PCFMA. Spartos surveys the lively scene outside Kaiser as shoppers and even patients stroll around the market and a streetside musician plays his acoustic melodies and hands out flyers to passerby.

“It’s a different experience,” Spartos said. “We are pretty lucky in California.”

Kimberly Shocket who

Pre-pac

Isabelle Pin Reporter

W

hen the sun Singapore, t dors of “haw — food stalls with Asia food — arise with the so fryers, chattering pots an of smells that tickle the n this cuisine-loving cult young chef Nona Lim, wh knowledge of food and it healthy living to the Bay “I started Cook! SF of 2006 to bring fresh org whole grains and protein homes,” Lim said. “I mak able for those who have f kids or do not have the lu grocery shopping.”

Cook! SF consists which can be prepared i

Day 1 Day 7 Day 1

features

the broadview

11.5 percentage of fruits and vegetables sold in the United States that are organic

$3.39 price per pound of conventionally-farmed strawberries

$4.49 price per pound of organic strawberries

$24.8

billion organic food retail sales in the United States in 2009

35 million hectares of organic agricultural land world-wide

12 percentage of cropland in the United States that was certified organic in 2008

ANJALI SHRESTHA | the broadview

o has worked at Juicey Lucy’s for almost two years pours a vegetable mixture to be bottled at the Kaiser Farmers Market.

ckaged organic food offers quick meals

nard

goes down in the food venwker centers” an-style street ounds of eager nd a plethora nostrils. From ture emerged ho brought her ts potential of Area.

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of meal kits, in 20 minutes

7

and are separated into several categories to please a wide range of food lovers.

“I have a passion for eating good food,” Lim said. “When I came to the Bay Area I saw that it had amazingly fresh organic produce which was available to the public, but I also saw that even with the fresh produce people were still turning to fast food for their meals because it was efficient.”

Half of the world lives on less than two-dollars a day, according to GlobalWatch. With organic foods pricing higher, such as a rack of apples ranging from $30 to $35 while conventional apples sell for $29 to $30, more people are buying non-organic products according to USDA Economic Research Service.

The meal kits posses many types of eating preferences such as the carnivore, meat lovers meal, grassfed beef, salad lunch, herbivore’s choice, sustainable

seafood meal and the healthy comfort food meal.

“I liked that I had food that tasted good and it didn’t leave me feeling hungry like the way other food plans do,” Sonja Shin, wellness writer for the Examiner said in a phone interview.

“I remembered that Cook! SF gave me three meals a day, and made their dishes with ingredients that are primarily local and organic. It was delicious and I learned how to make fantastic new dishes.”

Meals range from $14.95 to $17.95 and each Meal includes seasoned, chopped or marinated entrées. The food is vacuum packed and partnered with virgin olive oil for cooking as well as instructions for the 20-minute preparation and nutritional information.

“We have had Cook! SF at our store for two years now,” Ray Azar,

who owns Mayflower Market and Deli on Filmore Street, said. “It was a little slow at first, but when Nona Lim and her other chefs started demonstrating in our store for their meals, our customers loved it.”

Lim offers families a chance to come home to pre-prepared ingredients from local markets such as Marin Sun Farms, Golden Gate Meat Company, Ports Seafood and Veritable Vegetables.

Meals can also be purchased at Cal-Mart, Faletti’s and Nature’s Best Food and Bayside Market.

“We now have customers who come in regularly for their Cook! SF meals,” Azar said. “They are doing very well so far and the customers who stop by from work appreciate the quick grab and go of Cook! SF knowing that they have a good meal when they go home.”

488.2

millions of pounds of organic apples grown in the United States in 2008

5,081 head of organic beef in California

— Complied by Isabelle Pinard — Source: Organic Farming Association

Day 28

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28 Days to a Grocery Store Day 21 ISABELLE PINARD & ANJALI SHRESTHA | the broadview

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features

December 14, 2010

Virtual socializing turns to vicious gossip Sara Kloepfer Managing Editor “Ask me anything.” The seemingly innocuous phrase graces every Formspring profile, inviting visitors to anonymously ask questions for others to publicly answer. Such a simple direction creates a complex problem as questions become statements and curiosity turns malicious.

Glancing at several student Formsprings reveals a range of “questions” — from “You’re ugly” and “No one likes you” to “When did you lose your virginity?” and “Were you drunk at the dance?” The most eyebrow-raising aspect is students actually answer these questions, rather than ignoring or reporting inappropriate posts.

“If someone answers something that they shouldn’t have answered, I do judge them,” sophomore Yun Ji Kim-Bertken said. “If they tell the world about things that are way too personal, I think that says something about them, maybe more than what their answer says.”

Kim-Bertken says she usually replies to inappropriate questions with “It’s none of your business.” Her Formspring account is less than a year old, and she has already deactivated it once due to cyberbullying.

“You can put super hurtful things on Formspring that you probably wouldn’t be able to say to their face, but you can to a screen,” Kim-Bertken said.

Cyberbullying has been a prevalent problem recently, Formspring is just the newest outlet in the viral grape vine. Unlike Facebook, which

requires users to be “friends” before viewing information, Formspring is a social media free-for-all — anyone who knows a user’s URL link can view all their questions and answers.

“My impression of Formspring is that what little privacy site like Facebook affords goes out the window,” Head of School Andrea Shurley said.

“I first heard of [Formspring] from another administrator and since then it has popped up in conversations with adults concerning things that have been posted on student’s pages.”

Although the Schools of the Sacred Heart’s Acceptable Use policy restricts students from using school computers or the network for illegal activity, Leonard Law, California Educ. Code Sec. 94367, prohibits private schools from “making or enforcing any rule that would subject a student to disciplinary action for engaging in expression, on or off campus, that would be protected by the First Amendment or the California Constitution’s free expression provision if it occurred off campus.”

“I’m concerned with students posting inappropriate and unfortunate content,” Shurley said. “They are exposing themselves and there’s nothing stopping not only another student but me or a parent from looking at their page.”

Although many faculty are concerned with the representation of members of the school community online, there is generally no monitoring of students’ online activity.

“None of us teachers has the spare time to browse Formspring accounts,” Shurley said. “Any time we look at it is

when something has been brought to our attention. Every time I am directed to students’ Formsprings, it’s always out of concern.”

Shurley considers any indication of harm to another student or references to any illegal activity as reason to take action.

“Rather than ‘punishment’ I prefer the word ‘consequences,’” Shurley said. “I view it as a strength that as a private school we are able to go down a different road with some of our students, but always with the hope of putting them back on the right track. It may feel intrusive but it’s our responsibility.”

Even Formspring’s Privacy Policy encourages users to use discretion when choosing what information to disclose on the site. Although the default setting is public, users can change their settings to private, meaning the user controls who can view their profile. Counselor Lucy Garcia agrees that students should think before they post.

“I don’t have to be your ‘friend’ and I can go into your life and know intimate details,” Garcia said. “You have to ask yourself, what are my boundaries? We are not talking about secrets here, but privacy. Who do you want inside those boundaries? From seventh grade, when most of this stuff starts, to senior year in high school, we’ve polished our boundaries.”

This perhaps explains why Formspring, which is only a year old, is primarily the domain of underclassmen.

“I think it’s more popular with underclassmen because it’s immature,” sophomore Cassidy Lewallen said.

“Upperclassmen probably have more

Organization helps women enter politics Zoë Newcomb Editor-in-Chief

Emerge America is a training program for Democratic women interested in running for political office that provides the resources and skills necessary to run a successful campaign for public office.

How did Emerge America get started?

In 2003 a group of women really wanted to see more women running for political office. They started with just four or five women in the San Francisco Bay Area to try and give women the tools to run a successful campaign and they called their project Emerge California. After a couple of years they expanded into surrounding states, and realized they needed to rename their project to encompass the entire Untied States, and that is how Emerge America was born in 2005.

When and how did you get involved with Emerge America?

I joined Emerge in September as president. I been in public office for a total of six years, and I started to look around for organizations that could use my skills. Emerge and I seemed like the perfect match.

What is the process for picking women to join your program?

We have a fairly rigorous application and interview process for potential candidates, looking for women who are ready to go directly in public office. We put together a class from those candidates and train them in seven main areas like media communications that will allow them to run a better campaign. Women go through the program in seven months.

important things to do.”

Senior Sophie De Lancie calls Formspring an “added distraction,” but also says she does not see the appeal.

“It creates an environment for hurtful messages, so to me it’s pointless because it does more harm than good,” De Lancie said.

Lewallen says despite the rude messages she sometimes receives, she does not take Formspring too seriously.

“I think some people who have a Formspring can’t handle it and take every question or comment personally,” Lewallen said. “People get a lot of mean comments so I think it can hurt someone’s self-esteem in that way. I guess I have been bullied on Formspring before. But it’s just some anonymous person who doesn’t like me so it doesn’t really bother me.”

Receiving anonymous questions on Formspring is optional. Formspring’s Privacy Policy states anonymity “can be useful if you’re feeling shy or think that the recipient would be more comfortable answering an anonymous question. Anonymity should never be used to ask questions that are mean or hurtful.” However, this is not the case.

“You can find a lot [of gossip on Formspring],” Lewallen said. “That’s really all it is. Half of it’s true and the other half is crazy rumors.”

Shurley says the way students handle these rumors is key. Answering with a joke, although clear to those who know the person, looks very different in black-and-white.

“If a student got in trouble for an inappropriate answer that was actually sarcasm, that scenario would be an unfortunately painful lesson,” Shurley

said. “The well-placed emoticon can save a lot of that ambiguity. It’s important to remember the winky face.”

When dealing with bullying, Shurley encourages students to approach an adult. Formspring’s Privacy Policy also suggests blocking the user.

Garcia says that any rebuttal will simply encourage the bully.

“When somebody’s coming at you there’s tremendous power in being able to let that pass by you,” Garcia said.

“Do not engage. Do not defend.”

Garcia continued to say that students would not be as susceptible to this bullying if they did not open themselves up on Formspring.

“If people don’t want to be made fun of, they shouldn’t have a Formspring,” freshman Alyssa Viscio said.

Garcia wonders why teenagers have Formsprings, and credits it in part to the social pressures of high school.

“We all like attention and being popular, and we all want to belong,” Garcia said.

The desire to fit in comes at a price. Not only is a reputation within school at stake, but a user’s personal information can be sold, and her website activity tracked, all through Formspring. The site can even report posts they consider to be “illegal, unethical, inappropriate or legally actionable.”

Once information is online, it is not easily deleted.

“Remember that nothing is truly private online,” Shurley said. “I would hope our students are doing a little self-reflection and asking themselves what they are getting out of it.”

Women in Politics Barbara Boxer, D-Calif.

Kamala Harris, D-Calif.

Karen Middleton, President of Emerge America Colorado State Legislatur with permission

Do you think it important to have women in politics?

Women just bring a really different perspective to problem solving. Women are also very good at multi-tasking. Also, the government should reflect the population. We make up 50 percent of society and reflect 54 percent of voters. We vote more than men, and yet women only make up 17 percent of congress.

What is the most difficult challenge facing women in politics?

The hardest part is sticking it out. Politics is highly combative and it is not very much fun. It can be extremely frustrating, especially when people begin to attack you at a personal level and criticize your personal values. Women sometimes forget to stand up for themselves.

Where do you foresee Emerge America going in the future?

Hopefully we will continue to expand the program into all 50 states and keep helping women get involved in politics. I believe that we will see equality in politics in the near future.

For more information visit http://www.emergeamerica.org.

Current senator, elected in 1993 after serving five terms in the U.S. House of Representatives.

Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif.

Current senator. Elected to full term in 1994. Previously served as San Francisco mayor and San Francisco Board of Supervisors president.

Sonia Sotomayor, D

Associate justice of the U.S. Supreme Court since 2009.

Sotamayor is the third woman and first Hispanic justice in U.S. history.

Elected California Attorney General in 2010. First female district attorney in San Francisco.

Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif.

Current Speaker of the House.

First woman to serve as the Speaker of the House in 2007.

Represents California’s 8th District, Hillary Clinton, D-N.Y.

Current Secretary of State.

First woman to serve as a New York senator from 20012008.

Source: http://www.cawp.rutgers.edu Photos: House Press Gallery and Wikimedia Commons | with permission

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Students prepare for ‘Nutcracker’

A

Zoë Newcomb Editor-in-Chief

s Tchaikovsky’s Waltz of the Flowers floats through auditoriums and ballerinas gracefully leap across the stage, performances of the holiday classic “Nutcracker” seem to be effortless, but behind-the-scenes the process of pulling together a successful ballet takes more than just a few leaps and twirls.

At City Ballet School, the four annual performances of Nutcracker at Cowell Theater in the Marina are the product of months of careful training and preparation. In the weeks leading up to the weekend of performances backstage volunteers — generally parents of the cast — sew costumes and coordinate precise backstage schedules while dancers, who range from elementary-aged to pre-professional high school students, rehearse for hours.

“It’s hard when I have to study for a test or do homework,” senior Carrie Lebel, who will dance the roles of Snow Queen and Flower in the City Ballets performances of Nutcracker said.

Lebel, who has danced over ten different roles in various performances of Nutcracker over the years, leaves early from school most days to make ballet class and generally dances approximately 20 hours each week, not including the hours of rehearsals that it takes to learn each scene for the performance.

Like Lebel, Madeline Russell, a junior at School of the Arts who will dance the role of Snow Queen in alternating performances with Lebel, works to balance schoolwork and ballet.

“My priority right now is ballet so I find it very difficult to motivate myself to complete my school assignments,” Russell said. “A typical night starts with ballet and I don’t get home until 7:30, then I don’t usually finish homework

until at least midnight.”

For the older students who carry the lead roles in the performances, balancing school and rehearsals is often the most challenging part of Nutcracker season. However, for the people working backstage, Nutcracker poses a whole different set of challenges.

Costumes must be sized and altered to fit each dancer perfectly and must be organized precisely backstage to ensure that performers can find their costumes easily during quick changes.

Changing schedules, sizing charts and backstage protocol are carefully put together.

“It may seem easy to work backstage, but it’s a much more complex process than you would think,” senior Christina Perkins, a former City Ballet student who now works as a backstage volunteer for Nutcracker. “There are hours and hours put in to simply putting costumes in the proper locations.”

Volunteers backstage must also

Sara Kloepfer Managing Editor

Potter ends his wizard journey

O

just three years and aimed mainly at teenage girls, Harry Potter is beloved by children and adults of multiple generations. As of 2008, the book series has sold over 400 million copies and has been translated into 67 languages. The last four books have consecutively set records as the fastest-selling books in history, with bookstores opening at midnight to release the latest installment to hordes of anxious fans.

Rowling’s carefully crafted tale has unraveled perfectly ever since Harry “fell into her head” during a train ride from London in 1990. That same year she wrote the epilogue to the last book, knowing all along how the story would eventually end. This planning has allowed her to fill her 700-page tomes full of the brilliant magical details — play-by-plays of Quidditch games, intricate storefronts of Diagon Alley and secret passageways of Hogwarts castle — that make her stories such a rich escape.

Amidst the spells and wizardry, the reader can also relate to the first crushes, difficult classes and those friends who always have your back.

It seems fitting that the final installments of the Potter movies are released during the fall and summer of my final year of high school. It’s time for Harry to grow up, and so will I. But I will never move on. There will always be a place in my heart for the boy with the lightning-bolt scar.

What’s pumping in The City

Darren Criss | with permission

A

Sara Kloepfer Managing Editor

lthough he began his career as an actor and musician while attending Stuart Hall for Boys, Darren Criss’ rise to national fame came seemingly overnight. Criss’ first appearance on Fox’s hit TV show “Glee” on Nov. 9 led to his rendition of Katy Perry’s “Teenage Dream,” ranking on iTunes Top 10 Songs by the next morning.

“It was all very quick,” Criss said.

“I auditioned on a Monday, got a call on Friday and shot the episode the following week.”

Criss first auditioned for Glee over two years ago for the role of Finn, the male lead now played by Cory Monteith.

“Anytime you go in for ‘Glee’ you have to read pages and sing two songs, so I usually bring my guitar and sing something I like to sing, like something Disney or a Motown song,” Criss said.

“But auditioning for Blaine I went a little more clean-cut to fit the character.

I sang a Rogers and Hart classic, ‘Where or When.’”

Criss landed the role of Blaine, a student from a rival glee club at Dalton Academy. Not previously a “Gleek,” as fans of the show are called, Criss said he had only seen a few episodes before auditioning.

“Once I got the part I went out and bought season one and watched the whole thing,” Criss said. “I love what it stands for and it’s great what it does for young people. Even beyond young people, it just has a lot of positive messages for people tuning in.”

1.

PULSE

Winter Scarfs

KATY HAOWELL | thebroadview

Former SHB student finds role on ‘Glee’

General admission

ne train ride, two homemade house elf ears, three hours waiting in a movie theater, and countless bathroom breaks later, I was finally ready to see Part One of the seventh Harry Potter movie. I clutched my friends’ hands and counted down in unison with the other moviegoers as the clock ticked closer to midnight.

You may wonder why a senior in high school would spend a school night dressing up as a fictional character to see a movie about wizards. To me it was a no-brainer. My 7-year-old self would never forgive me if I hadn’t.

I am aware it is my teenage self that I answer to now, but after a decade of reading and re-reading the magical tales of Harry and his friends, I had to begin the final farewell to my fictional playmates.

I first picked up a Harry Potter book in elementary school, unaware of the love affair I was about to begin. My copies (the British version only, please) became worn after the 10-plus readings of each novel. I was entranced by the endlessly imaginative world J.K. Rowling wove, and cried bitterly when I did not receive my Hogwarts acceptance letter on my eleventh birthday.

It’s obsessed fans like me who drive the multi-billion dollar Harry Potter franchise. To follow a series for over a decade signifies much more than a fleeting trend. Unlike the “Twilight” series, released over

be trained to handle the specific issues that come with each role. For the Snow Queen costume, Lebel and Russell must be literally sewn into their tutus so the fabric does not slip and cause the male lead to drop the ballerina during lifts.

“Sewing people into costumes and making super quick alterations are all part of the mad rush going on backstage before and even during performances,” Perkins said. “We have to be prepared for anything at all times.

While pulling together Nutcracker takes hour of practice and work for those involved, Lebel said ultimately everything is all worth it.

“I love performing in Nutcracker, even as the music gets irritating after a while,” Lebel said.

— Anjali Shrestha contributed

Criss’ openly-gay character Blaine transferred to Dalton to escape bullying at his previous school. Blaine mentors Kurt, played by Chris Colfer, who is also bullied for his homosexuality.

“It’s high time for a character like Blaine on TV, especially in light of recent events, and I was very excited as an actor and as a fan of the show,” Criss said, referencing the stream of gay teenage suicides in the news lately. “I don’t think of it so much as playing a gay character, I think of it more as playing a cool character and a strong character.”

Many fans have speculated that Blaine will become a romantic interest for Kurt.

“I honestly have no idea,” Criss said of the rumors. “Chris and I are equally as curious to find out. The most important thing right now is that Kurt has a support system. He has a friend that he can finally relate to and someone he can talk to.”

Criss is also unsure of whether he will become a full time cast member.

“I’d love to stay around and I’m very happy, I think there’s a lot of potential for Blaine,” Criss said. “But I trust the writers to make the right decision about his character. I’m very thankful for the opportunity.”

Criss’ new-found fame has propelled his career to the next level, but Criss simply sees his recent success as another step on the path he has been taking his entire life.

“Music and acting are something I was always interested in,” Criss said. “I started very young.”

Criss began playing violin at age 5 and continued taking lessons well into high school. Throughout grade school he participated in professional musical theater productions at 42nd Street Moon Theatre Company, including “Fanny,” “Do I Hear a Waltz,” and “Babes in Arms.”

“I actually missed a lot of school at Stuart Hall because I was doing shows,” Criss said, laughing.

Criss also performed in shows put on by American Conservatory Theater while attending St. Ignatius College Pre-

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paratory. While Attending University of Michigan, he created “A Very Potter Musical” with his friends, contributing songs and playing Harry Potter himself.

“We did that just for fun, no one was supposed to see it,” Criss said.

Within weeks of posting the performance online, the musical quickly became a YouTube hit. Their online success prompted Criss and his friends to found StarKid productions, which has subsequently produced “A Very Potter Sequel.”

After graduating in 2009 with a BFA in Theater Performance, Criss moved to Los Angeles to focus on his career, appearing on the television show “Eastwick” and releasing his selfproduced EP “Human.”

“I’m still working on a studio album, it’s just a matter of time before that comes out,” Criss, who plays guitar, piano and drums, said. “To me, music and acting have always gone along with each other so it’s funny how ‘Glee’ brought the two together.”

Although Criss cannot reveal any of his upcoming “Glee” numbers, he did say he is excited about the songs coming up, especially a tune by one of his favorite artists. In the meantime, he is finishing writing songs and composing the score for another StarKid production titled “StarShip,” which Criss describes as a “space-adventure romance.” Criss will not be acting in the production, scheduled to premiere in February in Chicago, due to his commitment with “Glee.” “‘Glee’ takes precedence,” Criss said, describing his job as similar to a doctor on call.

On the phone during this interview following a long day of rehearsal, Criss says his new found fame is just a small step along the path he has been following his whole life.

“Honestly, at the end of the day it’s work,” Criss said when asked about his recent appearance on MTV. “Because it’s surreal I don’t really process it, I’m not like ‘Oh my god.’ But every now and then I stop and realize that this is much, much bigger than me.”

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10 health & fitness

December 14, 2010

Stress fractures common Liz Smith Asst. Sports Editor

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ophomore Maddy MacLeod noticed a pain in her lower leg during last year’s track season and thought it was a shin splint — an injury caused by stress on connective tissues of the tibia, best treated with rest or modified activity. After about three months of continued pain, MacLeod’s doctor diagnosed a stress fracture in her tibia.

Stress fractures develop through overuse of a muscle, which results in a crack in a bone after the over-worked muscle can no longer absorb shock from repeated exercise.

“I had the stress fracture until it got to the point where I probably shouldn’t have been doing any physical activities,” MacLeod said. “Stress fractures can form from something as simple as shin splints, which is how I got mine.”

Stress fractures form from constant pressure and overworking of leg muscles according to Dr. Richard Blake of the Center For Sports Medicine at Saint Francis Memorial Hospital.

“The bone fatigues with stress and cracks when the stress is too much to bear,” Blake, who prefers the term “fatigue fracture,” said.

Exercise can be good for the body, but too much of any one workout can cause injury.

Athletes with a high tolerance for

pain most likely won’t pick up on a fatigue fracture, according to the Journal of Musculoskeletal Medicine.

Stress fractures are common in athletics according to Blake, but athletes should wait until the body heals this injury before resuming activities.

“The body completely heals these fractures. In fact they heal them better than they were originally, called ‘double healing,’” Blake said. “The bone around a stress fracture is probably two times stronger than before it broke due to the remodelling process of the bone for at least five to ten years.”

Females are more likely to get more stress fractures than males, according to the American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons. The female athlete triad, the conditions that decrease women’s bone mass and increase the chance of getting a fracture like osteoporosis and amenorrhea — a condition where girls’ menstrual cycles are interrupted because of intense athleticism or eating disorders — is believed to be the cause of this.

MacLeod found herself in the workout room, away from most of the team doing cross training while her leg recovered. “[I did things] like stationary bikes, leg muscle strengthening and upper body strengthening — basically anything that would keep pressure from off of my leg,” MacLeod said. “I also had to go to physical therapy where they did really strange exercises with

yoga balls and rubber bands, as well as using ultrasound technology to help heal the bone.”

It is hard to determine in what sport athletes are most likely to get a fatigue fracture because sports often involve repetition of workouts and strength training drills to improve skills, according to Blake. But there are ways to avoid it.

“Smart coaches know a lot about preventing stress fractures by avoiding overuse situations and varying workouts,” Blake said. “Getting the recommended doses of 1500 milligrams of calcium per day during months of strenuous workouts, training during the off season to avoid the excessive loads [when it resumes] are all ways to minimize risk of getting a fracture.”

Resting also aids the healing process, allowing leg tissues to heal quicker as exercising with tired muscles puts more stress on the bones.

“An athlete should never work through pain or extreme fatigue,” Blake said.

Keeping in shape while avoiding overexertion on an injury is beneficial, especially in preparation for resuming sports “I do a large amount of strengthening exercises because the stronger the muscle surrounding the bone is, the less likely you are to get injured,” MacLeod said. “It’s important to keep in shape when trying to recover.”

Hop, skip and a jump Anjali Shrestha | Features Editor

Accessory may not impact performance Becoming a good athlete requires focus, passion, skill, hard work — and the proper accessories. The latest technological performance accessories — necklaces, bracelets and armbands — have become popular among professional basketball and baseball players as well as teenagers.

Power Balance — one of the several products on the market, claims its bracelets use technology that works with an individuals “natural energy field,” using a chip in the middle to “harmonize” the body. While athletes such as Shaquille O’Neal swear by the accessory sold for $29.95 at any sporting goods store, I was skeptical that a thin rubber bracelet could truly give players an extra edge.

To examine this claim, I tried out the tests advertised on the company’s website designed to demonstrate how this “revolutionary new product” works.

Without wearing a Power Band, I lifted my arm while standing on one leg and my partner put pressure on my arm, just as the tutorial instructed, and quickly fell over.

I repeated the tests two more times, and when I put on a Power Balance Band I was able to reach my arm back further.

At first I was surprised by the results, but I soon realized that I had practiced the drill twice before putting the bracelet on. Logically, it

made sense that I had better balance the second time, whether or not I was wearing a Power Band.

The bigger question, though, is how accurate a test posted on a website and conducted at home could be.

Results from different p e o p l e are certainly incom-

EMMA HERLIHY | the broadview

parable as the tests were taken under different conditions. It seems the “test” does not produce accurate results that can prove the quality of the product.

Power Balance is not alone in its claims to enhance the body through an accessory. Other companies like Phitan manufacture titanium accessories that are supposed to “regulate balance and flow of energy,” are popular among Major League Baseball players. The products claim to work using similar principles but are manufactured on a larger and pricier scale into necklaces and chains.

“So far there is no scientific evidence or research supporting improvement in balance or a reduction in stress,” physical therapist Paige Graziano said. “Marketing has played a big role in this. If they believe it works, then they feel better.”

A placebo effect might allow athletes to actually perform better and ease pain. A study led

by University Medical Center HamburgEppendorf in Germany in 2009 showed placebos activate the brain to naturally produce a substance that blocks transmission of pain signals.

While performance technology may cause some people to become better athletes, it appears it is no more effective than lucky socks or a favorite t-shirt. Yet high school athletes are not deterred from trying them.

“I wear it because I play tennis everyday,” senior Erin Minuth said, who bought her Power Band over a year ago. “When I first got it I was convinced it worked and made my pain go away. Now I like to believe it works, but if it does not, it still looks cool.”

Whether the placebo effect or a good luck charm, performance technology is in high demand, and Power Balance continues to release products. These accessories probably do not have any bearing on athletic

ZOË NEWCOMB | the broadview

Senior Ava Martinez maneuvers down the stairs to get to class. Martinez suffered a stress fracture, taking her out of a running for a spot on crosscountry’s NCS team.

How to Prevent stress fractures

 Vary workout routines to avoid overusing any particular muscle.  Get recommended dose of calcium (1300 milligrams) daily.  Wear padded shoes to eliminate extra pressure on bones.  Never work through pain or serious tiredness.

— Sources: Richard Blake, M.D., Baylor College of Medicine

Seasonal meals have healthier alternatives

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mericans gain about a pound during the winter holiday season — this extra weight can accumulate through the years and may be a major contributor to obesity later in life, according to the Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development. But, making a few changes in holiday choices can help to avoid post-holiday regret.

Skip this

Go for this

Prime rib

Roasted turkey breast

8 ounces 665 calories 38.5 grams fat

8 ounces 298 calories 3.5 grams fat

Mashed potatoes

Herb roasted potatoes

3.5 ounces 220 calories 12 grams fat

3.5 ounces 120 calories 5 grams fat

Pecan pie

1 slice 256 calories 11.6 grams fat 33.3 grams carbohydrate

Pumpkin pie

1 slice, 4.3 ounces 503 calories 21.7 grams fat 63.7 grams carbohydrates

Peanut brittle

3.5 ounces 485 calories 19 grams fat 71.2 grams carbohydrate

Starbucks: Venti Eggnog Latte with 2 percent milk Serving size: 20 ounces 610 calories 27 grams fat 69 grams carbohydrates

Fudge brownie

2 inch bar, 60 grams 243 calories 10.1 grams fat 39 grams carbohydrates

Starbucks: Venti Cappuccino with 2 percent milk Serving size: 20 ounces 150 calories 6 grams fat 15 grams carbohydrates

— Compiled by TaLynn Mitchell Sources: http://www.calorieking.com, hhttp://menshealth.com

11

sports

&

the broadview

Hoops Heart

Basketball remains popular, win or lose Ava Martinez Reporter Walking into a CSH basketball game is like walking into a parallel universe. Instead of the sparsely-filled seats typical of other sports, screaming students fill the stands with red and white paint streaked across their faces and hold glittery “Go Cubs” signs.

Although current students were still in elementary school when the varsity basketball team won the state championship trophy seven years ago, the enthusiasm for the sport still fills the halls.

“I remember hearing about how good the basketball team was even before I came to Convent,” sophomore Jane Stephens said. “Within my first few weeks here, I knew about the team winning state because I saw the newspaper articles about it displayed in the Center.”

Winning the state championship helped the team gain a local reputation, according to athletic director Elena DeSantis.

“Basketball was a popular sport even before winning states,” DeSantis said. “However, the win did make the

team better-known around the Bay Area.”

In recent years, varsity has made the North Coast Sectionals (NCS), the Bay Counties League (BCL) championships and won the league championship.

It is this continued success that keeps fans loyal to the basketball team, according to captain India Pearce.

“I think winning state may have helped basketball become popular at one time, but now I think the reason the team has remained so popular after all this time is because we have made it so far in recent years, like last year when we made it to NCS [North Coast Sectionals],” Pearce said.

“I come to basketball games and wear red and white on basketball Cub Days because of how successful the team is now, not how successful it was seven years ago,” Stephens said.

While the girls who brought the basketball team to a state win in 2003 had a lot of skill, it took more than that to take home the trophy, according to DeSantis.

“The talent on the team that won was one thing, but it was the heart and spirit of the team combined with

LIZ FRANCZAK | the broadview 2003

Caroline Curran (‘03), Justine Higueras (‘03), Jen Hum-Traverso (‘06), Stacey Fong (‘03) and Stephanie Lee (‘03) (left to right) celebrate their state championship win. The Cubs won the State title at Sacramento’s Arco Arena in 2003. strong leadership that led them to win,” DeSantis said. “The support of the fans was also very helpful, the team had more fan support then than it has had since.”

Out of the 10 players on the current squad, four are underclassmen, which is a change from earlier years when only one or two underclassmen made the team, according to Pearce.

“We definitely have a chance at winning our league, but I don’t really think we will be able to make it to state,

let alone win,” Pearce said. “Because we have a young team, a lot of the players’ heads aren’t really in it.”

Pearce says it is important to concentrate more on the future.

“Winning state is in the past and only happened once,” Pearce said.

“I think it is more important for our fans to focus on supporting our team now than it is for people to dwell on the past.”

Senior Frankie Incerty said bas-

Sports Roundup Freshman Shannan Lum goes in for a lay-up during JV practice.

JV’s first game of the season is scheduled for January 13 against Lick-Wilmerding.

JV Cubs are coached this year by Luther Cuffy and Andie Yamagami (‘03), starting center on the State Championship team and last year’s JV coach.

EMMA HERLIHY | the broadview

ZOË NEWCOMB | the broadview

EMMA HERLIHY | the broadview

Freshman Caroline Coulter catches a pass from JV head coach Luther Cuffy while freshman Dani Hogan watches. JV won the Friendship Bracket of the Burlingame Tournament at Burlingame High School on Dec. 3, defeating Wallenberg High School after losing to Pinewood and Homestead.

ZOË NEWCOMB | the broadview

ketball successes will continue to have a major impact on spirit and excitement amongst student for years into the future.

“Even though [the championship] has been several years, I don’t think it is going to be forgotten anytime soon,” Incerty said. “People will continue to talk about it and the ‘shrine’ to the win in the Center serves as a constant reminder to anyone who may not have been there to see them win.”

Check it out Chicks Play Sports Sophomore Izzy Borges drives to the hoop during varisty’s 41-28 loss to Branson Dec. 7. Varisty is scheduled to play in the Urban Holiday Tournament Dec. 16-18 where the Cubs will face opponents that they will come up against in this year’s regular season.

Junior Caroline Welsh looks for the open teammate while being defended by a Branson player. Varsity is lead by a new coaching staff of Phil Galvin, John Perez, Jack Keane, and Jen HumTaverso (‘06), the Cubs state championship team’s point guard.

Claire Fahy Asst. Sports Editor

G

irls play sports. Although it’s a simple concept, Lorrie Urbaniak found most sporting goods stores fail to cater to womens’ athletic needs and decided to create a website for girls to find sports equipment tailored to them.

Chicks Play Sports (CPS), the online store born from Urbaniak’s frustration of not being able to find her twin daughters an appropriate pair of basketball shoes, carries equipment and apparel for basketball, softball, soccer, lacrosse and volleyball.

“Ultimately, I would love to have an entire line of CPS clothes, and gear and become the Nike of women’s athletic wear,” said Urbaniak.

Urbaniak is not alone in her disappointment at the lack of girls’ sportswear. Sophomore Caite McGrath felt frustrated while trying to prepare for her soccer season last spring. After perusing the available women’s attire, McGarth resorted to buying menswear due to a lack of shorts that fit and were not bright pink.

“It bothered me that the girls’ section didn’t have what I needed and that they didn’t have a wider selection,” McGrath said. “The boys had better colors and sizes and so we had to settle for them.”

CPS assists girls on how they present themselves on the outside, but also strives to change how they feel on the inside.

“It is time in this world that girls celebrate who they are,” Urbaniak said. “They need to feel proud of who they are.”

Athletes who want to see what CPS has to offer can check out their stock at www.chicksplaysports.com.

12 city life

December 14, 2010

Street vendors offer unique, handmade creations Emma Herlihy News Editor

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tationed on Market Street outside of the Westfield Shopping Center sits a Vietnam veteran who calls himself “Albert,” hammering spoons to form bracelets and twisting twine for necklaces.

While many people just pass by the makeshift stands sitting on what are arguably the dirtiest and busiest streets of San Francisco, the intricate bracelets and sparking necklaces hand-made by street vendors are what Albert considers a hidden treasure.

“Not many people understand the hard work of street vendors,” Albert said. “People think we are crazy but we are making real art and not getting much money for it.”

When passing them on the street, many of the vendors can be spotted working on a new pieces to sell at their stands, taking influence from the thousands of people who pass by the stands each day.

“Much of my work comes from the colors and people around me,” Albert said. “If I see a cool pattern I’ll add

it into my designs. The people might ignore me, but they help me with my art just by accident.”

Although not what he considers a “traditional” job, Albert said he ignores the “rude comments and attacks from passerby” because selling his jewelry and handmade items on the street is an important creative outlet for him.

“I saw people [vending jewelry] and I thought it would be a good therapy for me,” Albert said. “I also meet some people who end up being returning customers and that really make me proud of my art. They enjoy it and that’s what I really like about doing all of this.”

Every city has its own predetermined cap of permits for street ISABELLE PINARD | the broadview vendors, and the need usually exceeds this cap, so some people opt to il- San Francisco’s downtown shopping areas are a popular destination for street vendors. Vendors sell handmade crafts such as jewelry from their stalls to passerby outside Westfield Shopping Center and Union Square. legally vend.

Having previously worked in the when I saw others doing this I thought interesting and that is unique among “I consider it a blessing that I found restaurant business, Ismael Morales I could do it.” what the other vendors are selling,” it and I don’t know where I would be picked up the skill of making beaded For Morales, street vending is Morales said. “I had to learn how to without it.” and string necklaces and bracelets from be more creative because it’s no use for more enjoyable than working at a resDespite the stigma attached to a friend. taurant because it allows him to try new me to make them if they are the same.” makeshift vendors selling on the street, “I lost my job and somebody The annual wage for street venthings and break away from the mold. both Morales and Albert stress that taught me how to make these things,” “I always try to create something dors is $26,320 with an hourly wage people should look beyond surface level Morales said. “I travel so much so of $12.50 according to the Bureau of to appreciate the art.

Labor Statistics.

“We all have a unique story to tell Many vendors like Morales and through our jewelry,” Albert said. “You Albert were unemployed before they could laugh at us or you can actually started vending, which has given them stop and look at our craft. If you just the level of universal structure, in all me,” Douke said. “As a young artist both a job and a hobby. pass by, you are missing out on our I was inspired by Marcel Duchamp, its beauty,” artist Tjalf Sparnaay said.

“Making jewelry gave me somebeautiful jewelry.”

“I call it the beauty of the contempoalong with Minimalism’s concept of thing to do with my life, ” Albert said. specific objects and a Pop art use of rary commonplace.”

Exhibit brings desserts from table to canvas Isabelle Pinard Reporter

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lair of tempting treats is no place for those whose stomachs are half empty. Hungry visitors might find themselves unable to keep their wandering fingers from going over the security lines in an attempt to touch the yellow-glazed tarts and crème brules hung on the walls of Sweet Tooth, an exhibit at the Scott Richards Contemporary Art Museum.

The exhibit engulfs the viewer’s senses in rich colors and textures of something not often admired — desserts. Viewers walk into the gallery lines with paintings of ice cream lazily dripping down the side of an impeccable glass bowl, experience the saccharine glaze of an éclair, and taste every morsel of sugar that is inside those Peach O’s which are lying nonchalantly on an unguarded table.

“My paintings in Sweet Tooth should allow the viewer to re-discover the essence of things that have become so ordinary from its DNA to

The exhibit gives a twist to everyday sweets, hosting Pop artists Wayne Thiebaud, and Mel Ramos, abstract commercial-good artists Alex Blau, Ben Schonzeit, Peter and Madaline Powell, and realistic painters Tjalf Sparnaay and Daniel Douke.

“The wonderful thing about painting as a human invention is that it has been able to anthologize a kind of human consciousness,” Thiebaud said. “All of our sides, from the most majestic ideas to the brute level of terror.”

Thiebaud’s “Study for Gumball Machines” appears simple, but the power is in the image itself, which makes the jaw move with muscle memory from childhood as the fingers reminisce about moments of touching the waxy coating of a welldeserved gumball from the doctor’s office or candy shop.

“Seeing the world as a realist, representational painting engaged

common imagery.”

Daniel Douke’s painting “Suspect” is both breathtaking and torturing. The orange custard flower seems to grow bigger with each second until viewers realizes they’re actually moving toward it.

“Painting can be a kind of miracle because it is a total unnatural act of making a three-dimension object on two-dimensional paper,” Thiebaud said. “It is a process and sometimes you are amused by things turning out the way they do. My restaurant-themed paintings come from experiences of working in restaurants, so in some sense most of my paintings are kind of like a diary of growing up.”

Sweet Tooth continues to display treats through Dec. 31, Tuesdays and Fridays from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Saturdays from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. at 251 Post street suite 425 between Grant and Stockton. Admission is free.

SCOTT RICHARDS | with permission

“Suspect” by Daniel Douke, an acrylic on canvas painting, is part of Sweet Tooth, an exhibit at the Scott Richards Contemporary Art Museum. Sweet Tooth includes contributions from multiple artists in various styles.

Upcoming museum exhibits de Young Olmec: Colossal Masterworks of Ancient Mexico Feb. 19 - May 8

Legion of Honor Pulp Fashion: The Art of Isabelle de Borchgrave Feb. 5 - June 5

San Francisco Museum of Modern Art Picturing Modernity Feb. 26 - June 7

Jewish Contemporary Museum Are We There Yet?: 5000 Years of Answering Questions with Questions March 31 - July

Website offers daily deals Katy Hallowell Reporter

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ost adventures within San Francisco aren’t cheap — they come with hefty price tags that inhibit a number of potential customers from actually partaking in them. With a plethora of activities to enjoy in San Francisco, the 2-yearold website, Groupon (http://www. groupon.com), offers users discounted admissions and products in dozens of U.S. cities and worldwide.

With no account activation fee, the site lists one new deal daily per participating city. The Deal of the Day is advertised once via e-mail with included suggestions for similar products, avoiding flooding users’ inboxes.

Merchandise continuously circulating on and off the website, with Featured Deal sale items available for 24 hours.

Older deals are archived and appear when users select goods of a similar variety.

Andrew Mason founded the company two years ago and has since turned it into a multi-billion dollar empire, with an approximate 35 million users. The company recently rejected a reported $6 billion offer that would

have given Google ownership of the company.

With the superfluous range of products available, users can filter Featured Deal notifications with personalization settings on their accounts. Deals range from treatments at hotel spas to indoor skydiving to flying lessons, with each Groupon deal averaging half of market value. An airplane flying lesson normally priced at $349 session can be up for grabs for as little as $179.

Globe-trotting users can easily update to their current location in dozens of cities, providing less expensive ways to discover a city. Tourists in San Francisco can take advantage deep discounts on renting Go Cars or buying double-decker tour bus tickets. The ever-changing stock of items can be as appealing to locals as well as tourists.

“I live outside of San Francisco, and didn’t really know anything fun besides basics like shopping to do when I came in,” senior Samantha Whittles said. “I joined Groupons without really knowing much about it, but I’ve found more interesting stuff to spend my time on in the city because of it.”

Members can receive a $10 credit on the site per invite for friends who then make a purchase within 72 hours.