Lancer Express May 2012
Carlsbad High School, 3557 Lancer Way, Carlsbad, CA
Volume 25, Issue 7
drugs, and ... prom? Sex, this issue
INSIDE
p. 10-11
p. 3 currents
Senior Sammie Duffy finds a prom dress for $o.o1
p. 7 opinions
Bathroom banter: Who’s got it worse, boys, or girls?
p. 8 sports
Dive team: why one of our smallest teams is one of the best
the students p. 13 #instafamous: who have made Instagram
a&e
their own
currents
photo highlight
S
enior Amy Singh performs with fellow members of the Polynesian Dance Club at lunch during the Polynesian Day Assembly on April 27. The club practices on Tuesday and Thursday nights from 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. The Polynesian Dance Club puts on several performances a year and learns dances from Polynesia and the South Pacific. Within the broad category of Polynesian dancing, there are two styles: Tahitian and Hawaiian. Hawaiian style uses slower and smoother body movements while Tahitian dancing is more intense and energetic. “It’s one of those dances that teach you culture,” junior Colleen Oh said. “You learn from it and get a true feel for Polynesian dancing.” The students in the performance wore “lava-lava” skirts in a mixture of florals and solid colors. The Polynesian Club will perform again on May 23 and 24, at the "Au Siva" show in the CAC.
Local
New Sage Creek principal determined
Cesar Morales, the previous principal of Valley Middle School in Carlsbad, will become Sage Creek High School’s new principal. Planners also propose that Sage Creek’s classes will focus on technology, as well as math and science. Anyone from Carlsbad Unified School District will be able to attend.
National
Obama supports same-sex marriage
In an interview with an ABC news correspondent, President Barack Obama recently affirmed his support for same-sex marriages to have the same legal rights and privileges as traditional marriages. He is now the first sitting president to support same-sex marriage. However, some speculate this will cause Obama to lose votes in southern swing states.
Calendar May
19 22 Prom
2
Dance I, II and III Tryouts
23& 24
Polynesian “Au Siva” Show @ CAC
International
Avengers breaks box office records
Marvel’s The Avengers smashed box office records in its opening weekend, beginning Friday, May 4. The movie made over $207 million domestically, blasting past record holder Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2, which made a mere $169 million last summer. Internationally, the movie has made over $700 million. Despite its success, Avengers is still only #47 on the list of highest grossing movies ever.
June
NEWS BRIEFS
1 5
Band Spring Concert
Senior Awards Night
currents
photo courtesy of joey sago
Student Snags OneCent Prom Dress HANNAH KIRSCH I staff writer
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JENNIFER KIM staff writers HANNAH KIRSCH
T
hough Obama just recently announced his support for gay marriage, Canvass for a Cause has always stood one step ahead of Obama, advocating equal protection for LGBT youth since 2009. Located in San Diego, Canvass for a Cause aims to persuade voters, recruit volunteers and actively canvas to protect LGBT rights legislation. Recently, they recruited GSA students to end the 63 percent of LGBT youth bullied across the nation. “I feel like that if I were to get involved with an organization like this when I was in high school, I would feel so much more powerful than I did when I was in high school,” said Joey Sago, field coordinator of Canvass for a Cause. “And to be able to
LGBT Brief Info. on Legislation
spread that message to kids—telling them that they’re not alone and there is something that you can do to fight this and stop this for yourself is so empowering.” Sago believes that every student holds the power to uphold LGBT equality. He feels that CHS is truly lucky to have a strong GSA alliance. When Canvass for a Cause visited a GSA meeting, the students initiated a stop-and-dial: a flooding of Congressmen’s phone lines to advocate the Student Nondiscrimination Act. This act would prohibit federal funding toward schools that do not fight LGBT bullying. By passing this legislation, LGBT youth would be ensured the protection they deserve in schools. “It’s important to have that supportive environment for all students regardless of their sexual orientation” Sago said. “It
doesn’t matter. People are human beings and they deserve to be treated as such, so keep spreading that message.” If passed, the Student Non-discrimination Act would prove a huge milestone for the LGBT community. Already, California has passed the FAIR Education Act, implementing LGBT history into schools’ history curriculum. However, those who fought against Prop 8 are now opposing the Fair Education Act. Canvass for a Cause plans to prevent these dissenters from hindering LGBT legislation. “And if schools opt, that’s one of the things that Canvass for Cause definitely makes sure that they don’t,” Sago said. “We’re going to make sure that every single high school in at least San Diego, if not across California, is implementing this because it’s literally saving lives.”
canvassforacause.org
Proposition 8
ballot proposiJuly • State-wide tion that eliminates right of same-sex couples to marry 2011 • Repealed in Feb. 2012 for unconstitutionality
FAIR Education Act
Nov. 2008
• California law which compels the inclusion of the historical contributions of LGBT people into textbooks and the social studies curricula in public schools
Student Non-discrimination Act
Yet • Federal bill that rids of pubfunding to schools that to be lic exclude LGBT students or passed ignore LGBT harassment • Yet to be passed by House
photo courtesy of joey sago
Above: LGBTQ workers protest in solidarity for equal pay, rights and benefits on May Day because in 29 states, being fired for being gay is legal. Top: Sago and a LGBT woman organize a "decline to sign" event where they show the lack of signatures against the Fair Education Act repeal.
t started off as another weekday for senior Sammie Duffy. Duffy, along with thousands of other girls across the country, spent yet another afternoon looking for her perfect prom dress. “I went to Bloomingdales in South Coast Plaza with my mom,” Duffy said. While sorting through the piles of fabric and finding a few nice dresses, Duffy stumbled upon her perfect prom dress. Although it did not have a tag, she tried it on anyway along with the other dresses she selected. After deciding that the dress without the tag was the worthiest for her senior prom, she went to purchase the dress. “I asked the cashier about it, and she said it was a penny,” Duffy said. “I was so confused!” In actuality, Duffy’s dress was not originally a penny. In fact, the BCBG Max Azira dress was originally 700 dollars. But how could such an expensive dress be sold at this dreamlike price? Two simple words: drop sale. “A drop sale means that something is not supposed to be out on the floor,” Duffy said. “If a customer finds a dress on drop sale, it’s a penny.” Drop sales, although rare, can obviously make a huge difference in any shopping trip. The cashier laughed at the situation. “She said someone made a 700 dollar mistake,” Duffy said. Apparently, a whole culture of drop sale shoppers scour multiple stores in search of these one-in-a-million deals. However, Sammie doesn’t think she’ll start that habit anytime soon. “I’m happy with my one-time miracle,” Duffy said. As of May 12, Duffy has found yet another one-cent drop sale; this time at Nordstrom Rack. Her shoes for prom, originally 190 dollars and on sale for 38 dollars, ended up costing her only a cent at the register. Like the dress, the Badgley Mishka twoinch heals were not supposed to be out on the floor. Totaling all her purchases, Duffy has saved an amazing 891 dollars this prom season. Duffy is truly the girl that everyone wishes they were right now, and it can be assumed that Bloomingdales and Nordstrom will see a sharp increase in Carlsbad shoppers. Maybe she’ll find a drop sale on her prom jewelry too? At this point, anything could happen.
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currents
Kardashian for mayor?
JENNIFER KIM I staff writer
A
rmed with her five-inch stilettos, celebrity candidate Kim Kardashian plans to run for mayor in 2017, hoping to win over Glendale, Calif. with her smile. Famous for her short-lived marriage and friendship with Paris Hilton, Kardashian wishes to polish off her reputation by successfully entering the political arena. And her chances of winning seem more than possible. Along with her notable reputation, Kardashian’s Armenian heritage may win over the Glendale’s sizable Armenian population. With a population of 200,000 people, one out of every five people is Armenian. Though many might have underestimated Kardashian’s Armenian charm, people predict that Kardashian will fail to create changes for Glendale regardless of her popularity. “I think it’s ridiculous,” freshman Makenna Johnson said. “She doesn’t seem to know a lot about politics, but she’s definitely capable of doing the [ribbon-cuttings].” Not a famous city, Glendale never has had an opportunity to win such fame. In fact, it has never had a mayor. Kardashian sets her sight on becoming Glendale’s city manager. Already, two out the five members of the current city council—who are Armenian—support Kardashian’s campaign to win political office. “I would vote for her,” senior Sheila O’Neill said. “She’s incompetent, but who isn’t? At least she’d be entertaining.” However, Kardashian still has some obstacles to overcome before running the show. Becoming mayor requires the candidate to have residency in the city. Until now, Kardashian has lived about 30 miles from Glendale in Calabasas, Calif. However, Kardashian quickly resolved this dilemma by purchasing a house in Glendale this year. With this requirement set, Kardashian has an equal chance of running for political office. With the plan set in motion, CHS students question Kardashian’s motive for office. “Aren’t you famous enough, ma’am?” Johnson said. “I think she asked herself what else she can do to be in People Magazine and said, ‘I can run for mayor! It’s perfect!’” And perfect it is. Planned for success, Kardashian still has another five years before Glendale may achieve its newfound popularity. However, students believe that Kardashian’s run for mayor is just another popularity show. “People wouldn’t take her seriously,” junior Jessie Strazzeri said. “Politics isn’t an area she should get involved in but just because she’s a celebrity, she’ll just get it.”
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Kellyshooter s e n t e n c e d HANNAH KIRSCH I staff writer
O
n Friday, April 20, the man accused of committing the Kelly School shooting was sentenced to 189 years to life in prison. Brendan O’Rourke, 42, terrorized the Carlsbad community on Oct. 8, 2010 when he entered Kelly Elementary School’s campus and shot students during a lunch break. Seven bullets left his .357 Magnum revolver, equating to seven counts of premeditated attempted murder as well as assault with a firearm. On April 20, the 13-year anniversary of the Columbine High School shooting, the jury convicted O’Rourke for these crimes. The shooting affected many students, teachers and community members. “I remember during sixth period, people started saying there was a shooting at Kelly,” senior Kelsey Keller said. Keller’s younger brother, Joseph, was on the playground at the time of the shooting. “He and his friends were playing and they heard two bangs,” Keller said. “They started running when they saw everyone else running,” Students and staff rushed into classrooms and calmly followed lockdown procedures. At the same time, three construction workers intervened, “chasing the suspect over the fence, hitting him with a truck, tackling him, wresting the gun from him and—with the help of two Kelly noontime aides and two neighborhood residents—detaining him until the Carlsbad police arrived within minutes” (CUSD). Two girls were shot, both in the upper arm, but have recovered since then. Many speculated that O’Rourke may be innocent due to insanity. Eighteen
D o e s
bug you?
STEFAN COOPER I staff writer
T
hink to yourself—what is your favorite Starbucks drink? Now, would you ever knowingly consume bugs? Well if your favorite drink at Starbucks is red then this will really bug you. It was recently discovered that Starbucks has been using a beetle juice, cochineal extract, to dye its red drinks. This was followed by an outcry over the use of this extract. This extract is made from the dactylopius coccus, a small beetle often found on cacti in both Central and South America. The insect’s natural defense from other insects, called carminic acid, takes up almost a quarter of the insect’s
t o
months after the shooting, four doctors psychologically evaluated O’Rourke. In court, three doctors testified that he was insane during the attack. A fourth doctor said he was severely delusional but sane. Nevertheless, the jury found him sane while he was on the rampage. They believe that he knew what he was doing was wrong. Since the shooting, various changes have been made concerning the safety of Kelly School and other Carlsbad Unified School District campuses. “The District has utilized Prop P
p r i s o n
construction funds to shore up security at our campus and several other sites,” Kelly Principal Tressie Armstrong said in a written statement. “Here at Kelly and elsewhere, staff and families say they feel the campuses are much improved in terms of safety and security.” Many people in the Carlsbad community now feel relief from the closure of the sentencing. “We are thankful that the process is over and that justice has been served,” Armstrong said. “We are ready to turn the page and move forward.” photo courtesy of deanne goodman
Brendan O'Rourke stands in his trial for the shooting at Kelly Elementary School. O'Rourke was convicted and sentenced to 189 years in prison. Photo provided by carlsbad.patch.com.
S t a r b u c k s
body weight. The acid is then mixed with either aluminum or calcium salts to create the cochineal dye. This dye is used in both food coloring and cosmetic products. “I knew that [beetles] are used for lots of dyes or used in other foods, so it didn’t really matter to me,” senior Cat Langen said. Many people may feel the same as Langen and continue to drink the same drinks they always have. Though many vegans found a problem with this, many do not feel the same way. “I think it is ridiculous that they are getting upset over it because people need to look at what they are consuming,” sophomore Ally Mason said. Vegetarians and vegans shun foods made from animals. For them to find out that they had been deceived into drinking a beetle was a terrible realization. More
than 6,500 Starbucks customers signed a petition to convince the company to change the dye. Starbucks has agreed to remove the beetle extract from all of its products by June. The president of the company, Cliff Burrows, announced that the company would instead use a dye called lycopene, which is derived from tomatoes. “We fell short of your expectations,” Burrows said. “We are reformulating the affected products to assure the highest quality possible.” When other restaurants’ websites were checked out, it has been found that they do not list their specific ingredients. When a restaurant has a strawberry flavor drink, often the dye used in the syrup is not mentioned. So even if you are looking at the ingredients, know that the ingredient you are looking for may be hidden.
editorial
Revamp the st a ndard s editorial board
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P exams. The culmination of eightand-a-half months of torture (maybe more if there’s a summer assignment). And it all leads to four hours of complete and utter stress and torture and anxiety and emotional turmoil. Yes, we understand the tests are necessary. Colleges needs to have some way to measure your proficiency in the subject besides a teacher’s subjective grade when standards vary from school to school— even class to class within a school. But really, College Board? Really? Do we even need to list the grievances? The uncomfortable chairs in the desks, insane time limits, proctors who don’t always keep track of time and go off on power trips because they hold the fates of students on a razor thin line, spending an hour to fill out non-content related demographic information, having to pick the “most right” option out of five during multiple choice, several sections that you can’t possibly do all at one time at your own pace, seals that CANNOT be broken, instructions that are confusing, overly wordy and condescending all at the same time, teachers that go crazy with the practice tests every day, proctors that go
Nazi over the faintest hint of a cell phone or a label on your water bottle, and not to mention, the awkwardly horrible practice of making us sit at the end of folding table so your knees shove into the table legs and prevent you from sitting comfortably no matter what you try. And when you’re taking that test, you’re hungry. And if you forget to grab your snack out of your bag...tough luck because those proctors zealously guard the pile of bags. You have to sit there for hours, listening to your stomach growl and twist into little knots, just crying for a little itty-bitty morsel....no phone, no food and questions on Muslim calligraphy. It’s survival mode out there. The actual test isn’t the only horrible part about it, though. If an AP class is supposed to replace a college class, treat it like a college class! College classes are based on tests, papers and occasionally homework adds a teensy bit to your grade. So let’s structure AP classes along the same lines. If high school students want to take a college level class, make it something that is essentially a college class and don’t subject them to the pointless busy work many high school classes are. Furthermore, the credits aren’t counting towards general ed classes
at colleges anymore. Sure they count towards elective credit, something most majors need, but the whole reason we took APs in the first place was to get out of GE classes and enter college as a actual sophomore—not just having sophomore standing. To save money by passing over the GEs like English, Biology 101 or Spanish 101 and hopefully start major classes sooner. But now, we’ve paid $92.00 for an exam, stressed out all year,
wasted our time doing insane amounts of homework and it still doesn’t count for anything substantive? Not okay. At all. You’ve created a more grown-up version of the SAT—counts for nothing in real life but is apparently the most vital thing in the world to get into college. And we’re not okay with it. We’re humans, not robots. So please treat us like it.
ALEX GNIBUS I editor
Students secretly suffer from sleep deprivation W
henever a teacher yells at a student for falling asleep in class, I don’t know whether to laugh or cry. I mean, yes, it’s funny when someone gets caught snoozing during a lecture, but it always makes me wonder: does anyone ever try to figure out why that kid was asleep? Well, ladies and gentlemen, I have an answer. And guess
lancer express staff ...ap exam edition
what? It’s pretty obvious. Teenagers need around 9.5 hours of sleep per night. And we’re definitely not getting it. It’s the same old problem every year--school starts early, parking is horrendous and there’s always a boatload of homework to do the night before. If you’re a typical student, you’re driving to school around 7 a.m., staying at school until 2:30 p.m., going to a sports practice or extracurricular activity until around 5-6 p.m. and doing homework until the witching hours.
editor-in-chief ...college board kate jerman editors ...european history shannon casey alex gnibus kaili masamoto
staff writers ...english language and composition michelle chu katrina comaroto stefan cooper kathleen dooley allie gordon ramona gutierrez
In any case, for teenagers these days, getting the full required amount of sleep each night is utterly impossible. And waking up the next morning at ridiculous times just to get to class on time and get a parking spot that isn’t in the middle of nowhere definitely doesn’t help. So here’s what happens, and here’s why we students find ourselves dozing off in class. It’s a vicious cycle. On Monday, we wake up incredibly early to go to class. We get to bed around 11:30-12, sometimes even 1 or 2 a.m. (if we do all of our homework and study for everything). We wake up early the next morning. We go to bed that night late again. We wake up early the next morning. On and on and on we go, borrowing hours on limited sleep like a cell phone that’s running out of battery with only 30 minutes to recharge. It’s no wonder students find themselves drooling on their desks. How could we possibly stay awake during class if we never got the chance to reenergize? Teachers, don’t you want your students to be fully alert for class? Parents, don’t you want kids who aren’t cranky and less susceptible to getting sick? Administrators, you complain about low STAR test
chase heck jessica jenkins jennifer kim hannah kirsch kaylee pitts tilly rudolph garrett snyder robert sweeney
photographers ...psychology andrew daRe natasha menard gaby wagner artist ...studio art tina li
business ...economics dylan donn jalen lovato designers ...art history julia flickinger nic flores eric tarter
scores. Well, don’t you want students to be completely alive and conscious during testing so they don’t see standardized tests as another opportunity to sleep? Clearly everyone would benefit from students who sleep. Let’s fix this. Just for starters, schools can either delay their start times or offer an optional study period for the first period. This would allow a couple hours of precious sleep, and students would be bright and awake for their school day. Also, here’s a novel idea...teachers can schedule test days without assigning a landfill of homework to go with it. And maybe, just maybe, more teachers can allow more late passes. Sometimes we just can’t pull an all-nighter, and it’s better to turn in a late project with full effort than turn in a project on time that we completely screwed up. Yes, it’s rude to fall asleep in the middle of class. Yes, students need to devote their energy to their learning. But if we get no chance to sleep and we’re going to school on a dead battery, there’s no way we can possibly keep our eyes open.
adviser ...the proctor mrs. ryan
Editorial Policy As a public forum for student expression, Lancer Express welcomes letters to the editor, but reserves the right to the refuse inappropriate or anonymous letters. Letters must be directed to room 3104 or to the editor-in-chief. Lancer Express adheres to a strict policy regarding propriety of all photos and text. Controversial advertisements and opinion articles do not necessarily reflect the opinion of the entire staff. Both sides of any issue are welcome here. Letters, questions, or comments by emails to lancerexpress@gmail.com are welcome.
Front cover photo-illustration by Andrew DaRe
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opinions
No college acceptance letter, no problem E
MICHELLE CHU I staff writer
ntering high school, I strove to maintain straight A’s, because that’s how students got into college. Or so I thought... Without an older sibling to guide me, I didn’t really find out until the end of sophomore year that colleges want consistency. So I attended club meetings. Colleges want a well-rounded student. So I participated in sports. Colleges want high SAT scores. So I studied prep books. Then junior year arrived, and I remember a Berkeley admissions officer saying that colleges want people who do extraordinary activities. He gave examples. One student he knew had volunteered as a horse chiropractor. Another student had initiated Science Olympiad for elementary school students. I felt incompetent. Doomed. How would I get into college at this rate? I hadn’t done anything super amazing. But to be totally honest, I didn’t even know where I wanted to go. Or exactly what I wanted to do. I just knew, I had to go to college. So what gets you into college then? How did Sally work her butt off, and not get into the college she wanted? And how
did Billy get in instead? After the season of college acceptances started, word of who got in where, spread like wildfire. The college system seemed flawed, unfair. In conclusion, having the laundry list of qualifications to get into college doesn’t guarantee admission. True, there’s some standard, but there’s no secret formula or one specific activity which guarantees your acceptance 100%. However, I strongly believe, it all works out in the end. Wherever you go, you’re in control of your college experience. Mrs. Siciliano, my English teacher, always said you need to make the best of where you are, that how you live life depends on perspective. More importantly, if you put in the time and energy to study and work hard, what college you go to, and the name of the school, isn’t all that important. A student who goes to Palomar or UCLA could end up with the same career, and in most cases, end up with a lot less debt. Where one goes to college is a personal choice, specially individualized from person to person. And no matter where you attend, finding a job remains difficult. According to Northeastern University, Drexel University and the Economic Policy Institute, based on data from the Census Bureau’s Current Population Survey and the U.S. Department of Labor, “About 1.5 million, or 53.6 percent, of bachelor’s degree-holders under
the age of 25 last year were jobless or underemployed, the highest share in at least 11 years.” However, I am not saying to just give up and drop out, but that students shouldn’t stress out over college acceptances. Everything happens for a reason, and everyone will find their place in society. So underclassmen: yes, study for the SAT. Yes, volunteer and participate in extracurricular activities. Yes, take the
classes you need, but just know, you can only do so much. Enjoy high school, too. I frequently hear people say, “I hate high school.” But why have that mind set? You’re only making yourself more miserable, just waiting to escape. So, make your moments count. Think open minded. Enjoy your youth, because time seems to fly faster and faster every year, and I know I don’t want to look in the mirror when I’m 50 and have any regrets.
Photo illustration by Natasha Menard
Close-minded people and the government need a divorce I
SHANNON CASEY I editor
have 600 words to explain to you something that can not be put into words: love. And what happens when you love someone? Well, you put a ring on it and make it official. Unfortunately, approximately 10% of Americans will never see their wedding day. Approximately 10% of Americans are gay. So far, 30 states have made the controversial decision to ban samesex marriage by amending their state constitution. Most recently, North Carolina voters passed Amendment One, a “constitutional amendment to provide that marriage between one man and one woman is the only domestic legal union recognized” according to the ballot presented to voters on May 8. In plain English, this pretty much says “unless you are straight and have a ring on your left hand, you aren’t a couple and you have no rights or benefits.” 30 states refuse to give their residents the equal rights they deserve. 30 states
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refuse to even recognize the complexity of human sexuality. 30 states refuse to see people as more than their sexual orientation. Of the other 20 states, only seven have legalized gay marriage. Two, including California, recognize gay partnerships...but only conditionally. Basically, if a married, gay couple roadtripped across the United States, their rights and marital status would change each time they crossed a border. Do straight couples have to worry about that? No. But same-sex couples experience all the same trials and tribulations as heterosexual couples. Same-sex couples have anniversaries—just like heterosexual couples. Same-sex couples finish each other’s sentences—just like heterosexual couples. Same-sex couples do romantic things—just like heterosexual couples. Same-sex couples eat and drink and sleep and breathe and speak and bicker and everything—just like heterosexual couples. Same-sex couples love each other. Just. Like. Heterosexual. Couples. What makes the two different, then? What makes one okay and the other an abnormality? Over the years as the controversy surrounding gay rights has transformed
into a hot issue, the concept of neutrality has lost popularity as people take sides in this debate on human rights. A study performed by Pew Research Center’s Forum on Religion and Public Life finds that most religious participants have shifted towards favoring the legalization of samesex marriage. Last week, President Barack Obama made history as the first president in history to publicly support gay marriage. An interview with ABC on May 9 (the day after voters passed Amendment One in North Carolina) revealed Obama’s growing sentiments regarding gay marriage after an encounter with the same-sex parents of his daughters’ friends. As gay and lesbian couples gain more attention through the media, minds have had time to adjust to the idea of same-sex couples. However, this change cannot come fast enough. Long term trends favor the legalization of same-sex marriage. But, the future is cloudy and complicated when it comes to same-sex rights. In the meantime, gay and lesbian couples struggle to even be recognized by their state, let alone receive the same rights as their heterosexual counterparts. California’s Proposition 8 has fought its way through a series of courts and
jurisdictions. In the upcoming years, the case could make it all the way to the Supreme Court, hopefully, enabling everyone the right to marry, regardless of their sexual orientation. While people have grown more accepting of homosexuality over the past few years, the progress in opinion is hardly acknowledged at the polls. All of the 30 changes made to states’ constitutions have occurred in the past few decades. These changes aim to protect the institution of marriage, which have apparently been really effective considering that the census reports declining marriage rates nationwide in the past two decades. If anyone needs any reminding on the definition of marriage, it is the straight couples who take it for granted. Between an increase in single parents and divorces galore, marriage has lost the exclusiveness of a once-in-a-lifetime event. Just because two dresses (or two tuxes) stand at the altar, that does not make the commitment any less monumental. Banning same-sex marriage will not make your straight marriage any stronger. Banning same-sex marriage will not change the fact that some people are gay. All it achieves is telling one tenth of our population that their love is not valid. But it is and they are.
opinions Bathroom banter: which gender has it worse? JOSH LEE staff writers ANDREW DARE
I
n the hallowed halls of Carlsbad high, there are few places one wants to venture. For instance, the BOY’S bathrooms, which are strategically located throughout our wonderful campus, should ALWAYS be avoided. First, let me walk you through a scenario which faces most male students on an almost daily basis. A young male student, John Doe, is sitting in the middle of class when all of the sudden he feels the California burrito and horchata he consumed during lunch surge through his inner workings like a chocolate tsunami. After scurrying down the halls of the 3000 building, John rushes into the bathroom to witness a sight no man should see. After traipsing through a sea of an unknown fluid with a musky scent that smells like a crossover between body spray and fecal discharge, this valiant young hero finally reaches his destination: a bathroom stall reminiscent of a post apocalyptic wasteland. Disgusted by this horrific sight Mr. Doe flees to find refuge in the 4000 restrooms. Unfortunately as he finds out 20 minutes and two “floor surprises” later, the new bathrooms became unusable two weeks after their inception. But the problems don’t stop with urine soaked toilets. If a guy is lucky enough to find a clean stall then chances are it’s out of toilet paper and toilet seat covers, leaving that poor soul high and dry, literally. However, on the rare chance that you stumble upon a clean stall stocked with the bare necessities then you have yet to wash off the 99.99% of germs on your hands. While the girl bathrooms are decked out with automatic hand dryers, soap dispensers filled with soap, and sinks not plastered with gum; the boy bathrooms are not as fortunate. So when you shake hands with a boy whose hands are dripping wet, don’t be so quick to be grossed out. Remember that his poor hands haven’t known the warm, soothing comfort of a dry paper towel or hand dryer for quite some time. After all, guys are lucky just to have the paper towel dispenser still attached to the wall. And yes guys have to sit down too. Blood on a toilet seat is nothing compared to a toilet seat coated in urine soaked toilet paper. I appreciate the arts. But these failed attempts at “paper mache” are just uncomfortable to sit on, not to mention repulsive. Ladies, stop your complaining. While girls do have problems such as empty soap dispensers and a lack of paper towels, these issues are dwarfed by what guys see on a daily basis. And guys, seriously. How old are we? I thought we learned how to aim when we put on our big boy pants. Next time, put the seat up and remember your sharp-shooter training. Please.
The sad, the bad, and the rad
ALEX GNIBUS editors SHANNON CASEY
KAYLEE PITTS ALLIE GORDON
T
here’s a reason girls always go to the bathroom in pairs. The ladies’ bathroom contains horrors too unspeakable to face alone. It’s quite amusing, really, how guys think girls are so clean...so prim and proper. How girls must be so neat, so nice, so pristine that our bathroom floors must be sparkling from the pure perfection of
our personalities. Newsflash: We’re rough. We’re tough. And the guys’ bathrooms will never, ever come close to the unfortunate state of the girls’ bathroom. Guys think they have it so hard, with their cute little urinals and convenient urination abilities. They can aim, for goodness sake. At least they have a shot at getting it in the pot. Girls, on the other hand, do not have this luxury. We try to hit our targets, but sometimes conditions are not quite amenable to our intention. Of course, guys complain about pee all over the place and poo plastered on the ground. But guess what? Girls experience the same issues, plus three little words that strike fear into the hearts of the male population: Feminine. Hygiene. Products. Oh, yes. These very special contraptions, for those of you who skipped the last five years of science class, take care of an unwelcome monthly visitor that girls have to deal with. More often than appreciated, those used products often end up on the ground. And in the toilet. And in the sinks. And on the toilet paper. And with approximately 1500 menstruating girls on campus, “that time of the month” is all month. Blood. Blood (and tampons and pads) everywhere. The “gore scene” that guys complain about seeing in their bathrooms is a Disney movie compared to what girls see in their bathrooms. Because guess what? We have blood in ours. And what’s a gore scene without blood? Our bathrooms are straight out of some sick horror story where nothing works and everything refreshing about relieving yourself goes to die. The tampon/pad dispensers have not been restocked in YEARS. Maybe a hormonal rampage caused by lack of feminine products caused some girls to scratch the living bejeesus out of the mirrors, but now us ladies cannot even appreciate our own lovely faces. Depressed at the loss of our mirrors, we would wipe our tears, but the paper towel supply constantly falls subject to that one girl who needs about 40 paper towels to dry her hands. Instead, we shake and shake and shake our hands until our wrists threaten to cry carpal tunnel. Of course, we would have to shake more had there been soap to properly wash This does not even COMPARE to the crimes against humanity that await us in the stalls. We stand in lines long enough to make us nearly pee our pants, but when we finally arrive at the front, we can only use half of the stalls due to inconsistencies in...supplies. I mean, we would use all of them, but toilet paper might be nice every once in awhile. Or those nifty little seat covers. Or an operating flush. Or a lock. Or a toilet seat. Men, quit your whining. Something tells us you’ve never been in the girls’ bathroom, and you could never know
staff writers
As Carlsbad prepares for prom night, there are certain traditions we feel must be upheld. But when they verge on ridiculous, are all these customs really worth it? Dramatic proposals
For weeks leading up to prom, boys stress out over how to ask their favorite girl to prom. These proposals include not only flowers, but complex planning, from serenades to scavenger hunts to public announcements. Though usually super sweet, these gestures tend to go too far, and become an unnecessary source of worry or embarrassment for both the boy and girl.
Boys pay for “everything”
Because not everyone has a fairy godmother, guys are often left to pay for the fairy tale night girls dream of. This is a bummer for the guy and their wallet, when they have to pay for tickets, corsages, dinner, etc, adding up to an overwhelmingly high sum. However, girls have their own expenses too, not to mention it doesn’t hurt teenage boys to be a gentleman for one night. Every girl deserves a Prince Charming. Party buses
A recent trend for prom-goers, it seems that no prom experience today is complete without a ride on the infamous party bus. These buses can be fun, but also promote a lot of controversy among teens. Students who don’t go on a party bus end up feeling left out. Meanwhile on the bus, horror stories emerge year after year of drama, which can easily ruin your whole night. Dress restrictions
At Carlsbad, an unwritten rule exists which dictates that seniors only wear long dresses, while juniors wear short ones. This local tradition actually goes against the normal one of long, fancy gowns. Lots of girls look forward to these few nights they can feel like a princess, and deserve to wear whatever they want, no matter their grade.
Pointless and unnecessary.
Fun, but risky and overrated. Very cute, but sometimes very creepy Chivalry really isn’t dead!
7
Leap into the unknown sports
KATE JERMAN I editor-in-chief ROBERT SWEENEY I staff writer
D
ive is not the most common sport in the world. Considering the fear most people face going off of that high dive for the first time as a child, who would ever want to be throwing themselves off that tower of terror on a regular basis? But for Carlsbad’s dive team, leaping off a 1-meter to 3-meter springboard and twisting their bodies into impossible shapes provide the adrenaline rush they crave. “Diving is a sport that not a lot of people know about, but once people give it a chance they realize it’s not like swimming but more like gymnastics,” junior Emma Rudolph said. Although included in the “swim” category of spots, dive shares more characteristics with gymnastics with its flips, spins and vaults. Many
gymnasts end up turning to dive as another way to practice or as an alternative to use the skills they learned as a gymnast. “I’ve always loved the water and I was in gymnastics, but I didn’t like gymnastics, so this was a good combination of the two,” sophomore Nicole Walker said. The dive team sets themselves apart in campus sports by being one of the smallest teams. Its numbers fluctuate year to year, but always remain below ten (This year, the team has 6 members, with only one senior). “It’s not something that’s very highly populated. The diving community itself is very small; there are only seven kids on the team, last year there were only three, the year before there was only one,” Walker said. The dive team also faces a challenge becauseit does not have an official coach. Although many divers
also dive on a club team coached by Marnie Young, they have found themselves without a coach at school. Senior Jessica Kane, who has been diving since a child, stepped up to help coach her fellow teammates. “The kids are very respectful and look up to me because I’ve been diving so long,” Kane said. “They’ve been doing really well. A lot of them just started and they already have the dives down.” Kane’s status as a teammate might cause problems for some other teams, but Carlsbad’s team has accepted Kane’s unofficial position with grace and support. Kane’s teammates have found her to be a tough coach, pushing them to their limits and creating a competitive atmosphere. “I’ve known Jess for about five or six years now, and she helps coach us, so as a teammate and a coach, she pushes us to our limit,” Walker said. Even more than a unique sport,
dive takes incredible time and skill to succeed. Members of the team practice five days a week, on conditioning “dryland” at Carlsbad. The dive practices are held at the Oceanside Pool and Palomar College because, without an official coach, the team cannot get pool time at the Carlsbad pool. The lack of coaching and away venues, along with a small budget, have hurt the publicity of the team. Many students do not know about the team, although it has won multiple meets this year. However, no one has an excuse to avoid watching the divers. “It’s not something on a daily basis,” Walker said. “It’s not just catching a football or hitting something. It takes a lot of skill and technique, not everybody can do it. It’s a sport designed only for certain people.”
left: Senior Jessica Kane twists off the 1-meter low dive during practice. As the unofficial coach of the dive team, Kane has been diving since she was a child. right: Kane practices her dives during practice. Divers go off either a 1-meter or 3-meter high board and many of their dives incorporate gymnastics moves. All photos by Andrew DaRe
8
“ The quality of education
at MiraCosta College is on a level higher than most other community colleges in California. The programs available to students are plentiful, the student activities are and pleasant, and the professors are .�
involving
top-notch
Carlos Sandoval
2011 psychology/communication graduate, transferred to UCLA
Cardiff / Oceanside / Online www.miracosta.edu
facebook.com/miracostacc
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the dark si F
or many upperclassmen, it’s the single greatest event of the year. juniors and seniors spend weeks, even months, anticipating prom, planning out the details of the perfect night: dresses and tuxes and buses and flowers and parties-- the list goes on and on. However, there is another side of prom, beyond the frills and fairytales: a side all students are familiar with, but many fear to mention. Drugs, alcohol and sex: the dark side of prom. As forbidden as these are for teenagers, high school often becomes the stage for introductions to obscene or even illegal behavior - ready to indulge any whim, any minute of the weekend. Influences, most strongly media or peer-pressure related, tend to expand the idea of a perfect prom, and many teenagers become blinded by the illusion of a glittery and glorious prom night. But this makes for choices which teenagers may not normally make: pushing the limits by saying “yes” to drinking, drugs and sex. Teenagers risk their health and safety for the idea these must be a part of their special night. While it may be easy to point a finger at the actual prom night as the cause for dangerous behavior, the roots of this ever-growing problem can be traced back to ...
the dark side of
prom
Coming spring 2012
Movies: No high school flick is complete without a cheesy prom scene. High School Musical, Twilight, even a Disney movie simply but appropriately entitled prom all feature cheerful descriptions of prom night. Many viewers come to expect and accept these stereotypes as the prom norm.
percentage of students who are aware of illegal activities commited by their peers on prom night
percentage of studentas going to prom on a bus
TIME What your kids really do at prom
13% yes
no
87%
54.8% yes
percentage of students who were of aware of the following things being present at prom (based on a survey of 100 Carlsbad High School Students)
58.5%
no
45.7%
alcohol 42.6%
45.2% drugs
student perception of drug and alcohol availability on prom night
TV: Like the movies, most teen-focused television shows have at least one episode focused on prom night. Shows like “90210” and even “Glee” notably feature alcohol use on prom night, as well as other similar prom stereotypes. Avid fans, used to watching such behavior from their favorite characters, try to emulate their actions on their own prom night.
Magazines: Popular culture is often dictated by the latest fashion magazine, and prom is no exception. Publications like “Seventeen” have entire issues dedicated to this one, allimportant night, full of everything from designer dresses to make-up tips. Teenagers (girls especially) spend hours pouring over these magazines, which contributes to the pressure to look exactly like the models they see and have the fairy-tale night described.
generally illegal behavior
51.6% 43% very
46.8% sex
37.2% haven’t been to prom
moderate
5.4%
not at all
what to do when…
Sometimes prom doesn’t go exactly as planned, whether it be peer pressure, illegal activity or general awkwardness. Here are a few tips to help you deal with the darker sides of prom.
... your date pushes physical interaction you are uncomfortable with: Try to avoid being alone with someone who seems to be pushing physical intimacy that you’re not ready for. Even if you’re date is someone you know, the potential consequenses of sex are just not worth it. Don’t be afraid to stick up for what you think is right, even if it is against the “perfect prom” stigma. It’s ok to say no and say it forcefully.
... a friend tells you the As fun as your friend m bringing illegal substanc to trouble. Try to remin for being caught, and th you’re sober. By making friends may follow suit. alcohol and drugs seem prom.
ide of
of
he
to ...
t
Prom Senior Advice:
Tips from veteran prom-goers on having a fun and safe night.
Mike Watson “Do what you want to do. You shouldn’t let others ruin it for you. Make it great for yourself.”
er
Kate Wooley
ng
“Go with what you feel comfortable with. If that’s going in a small group, having a dress long enough to dance in, wearing vans, or just going as friends. Let it be your night.”
hings
Evy Lopez “Enjoy prom for what it is. You don’t have to get all crazy for it to be fun.”
gh
.2%
en’t n to om
ls you they plan to bring alcohol/drugs: r friend may believe these things to be, al substances to a school dance can only lead y to remind your friend of the consequences ght, and that a good time can still be had when By making the right choices yourself, your ollow suit. Let them know that just because rugs seem cool, they are never a good idea for
... your bus gets busted for having alcohol: Stay calm. Even if you weren’t drinking on the bus, you can still be held accountable or be responsible for the actions of your friends. Don’t get angry or fight back, call your parents to pick you up. Try to find a safer, yet still fun, environment to be in the rest of the night. Informing your friends of the dangers of sneaking alcohol on a party bus beforehand would be the best solution; however, in all ways possible attempting to avoid being involved in this situation.
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arts & entertainment
Instagram makes artsy instant
Pictures and social networking instantaneously collide
SHANNON CASEY I editor
W
hen Kevin Systrom and Mike Krieger conceived the idea for a new social networking app, they knew they wanted something instant and found themselves captivated with all things old-fashioned, from filters to telegrams. And with that, Instagram was born. The two Stanford alumns placed their app in the Apple App Store on Oct. 6, 2010, and within 24 hours, Instagram climbed to the number one download in the App Store. With a plethora of filters to add a sense of professionalism to mobile phone pictures, people fell in love with the immediacy of the app, which holds the record of fastest app to reach one million downloads. With a series of taps, users can edit, caption, tag and upload their pictures to a series of social networks, including Facebook, Twitter and Tumblr. The sensational new app enables even teenagers to embrace photography in this new, technological age.
t ip s o n b e c o m i ng #instafamous
A b ig ail So ler photos courtesy of
@abigailsoler
Lancer Express: What are your general thoughts about instagram? Abigail Soler: I love instagram! I think it is an artsy outlet for people stay in touch with their crave for social media without the annoying status updates. You can actually visually see what people are doing and not just read about it. LE: How did you discover Instagram? AS: My cousin from Australia forced me to get one last summer. LE: How many followers do you have? AS: 530 LE: How did you gain your followers? AS: I used to #hashtag #every #picture LE: What advice would you give those new to Instagram? AS: Don’t post something unless you know it will get at least 11 likes. Having the ‘likers’ listed is a no go. LE: Who are some of your favorite Instagrammers in general? From CHS? AS: In general, @kinax and from CHS; @shybaby13 and @ sarasuleiman for sure. LE: Do you have any tips or suggestions for gaining followers? AS: #hashtagoverkill
S o p h i e E i t h e l Zlotnicki K r a u s s
photos courtesy of
@sophiezlotnicki Lancer Express: What are your general thoughts about Instagram? Sophie Zlotnicki: Instagram is a great way to freely share daily life pictures and get artsy with the filters and edits they have. LE: How did you discover Instagram? SZ: One of my friends had the app last year and she really got popular really fast, so I got it when it eventually came out for the android and began my Insta-life. LE: How many followers do you have? How did you gain your followers? SZ: I currently have 423 followers. I’ve mostly liked a bunch of random peoples pictures that I search through hashtags and minutes later they like and follow me. LE: Do you take photos outside of Instagram? What sort of camera do you use? SZ: I do. I recently bought my first digital SLR camera, which is a Nikon D5100. LE: How do you edit your photos? SZ: Besides Instagram, I have never edited my photos before. Which I should probably start getting into, I’ve just never really found the reason to edit. Probably because I think it takes too much time, or I’m too lazy to even begin. LE: What bothers you the most about Instagram? SZ: What bothers me the most about Instagram #is #when #people #hashtag #every #single #word. It’s pointless and gets annoying. LE: What advice would you give those new to instagram? SZ: Have fun with it! Follow cool people with cool photos and get inspired! It’s a fun app for where ever you go. LE: Who are some of your favorite instagrammers in general? SZ: One of my favorite feeds is actually from a senior who graduated here last year, my good friend Makena Kollar. She’s got like 4000 followers and incredible pictures because of it. Also Nick LaBounty. He’s so Insta-wicked. If you don’t already follow him you have no life. LE: Would you say you have a passion for photography? If yes, why? SZ: Most definitely. It’s one of my obsessions. I want to eventually go to an art school and pursue my dreams of becoming a travel photographer.
photos courtesy of @krauss___ Lancer Express: What are your general thoughts about Instagram? Eithel Krauss: I think that Instagram is a very fun app where you can share your pictures so other people can admire them. LE: How did you discover Instagram? EK: I recently bought my iPhone; all my friends had an Instagram account so I decided to create one also. LE: How many followers do you have? How did you gain your followers? EK: 123. I followed people and they followed me back. LE: Do you take photos outside of Instagram? What sort of camera do you use? EK: Yes, I do. And I use a film camera. LE: Would you say you have a passion for photography? If yes, why? EK: Yes, taking pictures has been one of my favorite hobbies since I was in 6th grade. Taking pictures has just become part of my life. LE: How do you edit your photos? EK: I use an editor online. LE: What bothers you the most about Instagram? EK: I think nothing bothers me at all, but there are some pictures you just don’t want to see. LE: What advice would you give those new to Instagram? EK: Take awesome pictures, but don’t post a lot. LE: Who are some of your favorite Instagrammers in general? EK: I really enjoy all friends’ pictures. LE: Would you say you have a passion for photography? If yes, why? EK: Yes, taking pictures has been one of my favorite hobbies since I was in 6th grade, taking pictures has just become part of my life.
13
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arts & entertainment
Behind the curtains
GARRETT SNYDER I staff writer
What goes into a stage production like “Phantom of the Opera”
A
lthough musicals gain fame through what the audience sees on the stage, the effort put into a production far exceeds the short time the audience views the production. This year, the school’s theater program took on the task of enacting “Phantom of the Opera” as the spring musical, and while the cast gains acclaim from the audience, many components of a musical are constantly overlooked.
Set Design S
cene changes cause the greatest scares for any director, but when productions also involve line systems for elevating an actor into midair, or simulating the crash of a chandelier, nerves run much higher for all cast and crew members. “We have to move props in under a minute in order to keep the audience’s attention,” said junior Amanda Daugherty, who is a lighting crew member. In the production, scene changes provide a large margin for error; however, this challenge must be overcome as rapidly moving the props is a distinct reality for the Phantom crew. The musical utilizes immense props and set pieces, including an elephant, crypt and balcony, which—along with the first ever use of the lines system—creates concern for the cast’s safety. The use of the extravagant chandelier has introduced a new aspect to illustrate the intricacies of the musical. “It took over three weeks to prepare the chandelier, sent to the school from Las Vegas,” said senior Shireen Ayazi, who is a member of the ensemble. This year, the main priority for the crew of “Phantom of the Opera” is professionalism despite all of the possible errors that could occur during the production. Attempting to incorporate so many extremities into a high school performance may have never been done at CHS before, but the dedication of the set crew has made it possible and made “Phantom of the Opera” a show to remember.
Costume Design C
onstructing and gathering costumes for one of the most outrageous plays ever created proved to be no easy task for the costume crew of “Phantom of the Opera”. Although most school musicals utilize previouslyused costumes thrown together in different combinations, this year’s musical required a more diligent effort and a larger workforce. “Things had to be flamboyant because costumes were so important in this play,” said senior Sydney Stevens, who is a member of the costumes and makeup crew. With over 100 costumes and numerous costume changes, the eight costumes and makeup crew members—with the help of some mothers of the cast—sewed and selected apparel for each character, attempting to keep the musical as close to the original as possible. Taking two weeks to create each original costume, the crew realized Phantom would be the most intricate musical the high school has ever put on. Despite the possible difficulties of the musical, the costume and makeup crew was able to maintain accuracy. “We try to keep the musical as close to the original as possible,” Stevens said. However challenging, the creation of costumes only skims the surface of the backstage commotion because throughout the musical, more obstacles appear as actors and actresses frantically switch scenes by visiting makeup artists and changing costumes.
O
ne of the most critical, yet overlooked parts of “Phantom of the Opera,” or any musical for that matter, is the orchestra. Andrew Lloyd Webber’s music provides a challenge for even professional musicians, so it is a true achievement that 33 of our school’s talented student musicians have successfully performed the multiple selections. Since the beginning of April, the pit orchestra, under the direction of Elan McMahan with the help of Greg Anderson and Marina Hall, has been practicing and perfecting the 20 pieces constituting the nearly two and a half hour musical. With the professional leadership of McMahan who is musical director at Moonlight Amphitheater and the Old Globe, the musicians must be ready to follow direction, due to the fact that the show can change from night to night depending on what happens on stage. Despite the tremendous efforts of the pit, the applause of the audience tends to recognize merely the cast on stage, taking little notice of what goes on underneath the stage. The Pit receives recognition during curtain call but this year’s musicians deserve much more recognition for their hard work and dedication as they rose and conquered the intricacies of “Phantom of the Opera.”
The Pit
15
student life KAILI MASAMOTO I editor JESSICA JENKINS I staff writer
Fun in the sun or money in the bank? T
is the season to be sunny! Grab your swimsuit and sunscreen because school is coming to a close and summer is right around the corner. We all know what that means: concerts, traveling, shopping, road trips and movie-watching! However, all these things come at a cost. A little extra cash fuels a summer of fun, so students should begin seeking jobs now. Prospective employees beware: most employers plan on finishing the majority of their summer hiring by the end of May. This means jobs will be harder to find as time passes, so students on the search should get on their feet and be quick when looking for a place to work. The thought of a job and extra cash seems ideal. In reality, it may take many applications and some rejection to land a job this summer but remember, no hard work goes unrewarded.
Where to Work
Do you want a job requiring special skills/talents, or do you want a regular job that could work for a typical teenager? Special skills
Internship: Whether you’re part of the Academy Intern program or looking to get job experience, internships are an excellent option. While it’s easier to secure an unpaid internship, the experience gained may be worth more than extra cash.
Lancer Express interviewed Anna Huizar, an HR Associate at Legoland, California, to get inside info on the interview process.
Regular job
Do you want a professional environment, or are you more of a free spirit? Professional
Getting the Job
Amusement parks: Must enjoy working in a high-energy atmosphere and being outside.
Could you serve customers?
Independent Do you enjoy teaching others, or would you rather just work alone? Teaching others
Tutoring/private lessons: Fantastic artist?
Work alone
Retail stores: The ideal job for a person with an interest in fashion, good people skills and a desire for awesome employee discounts! Restaurants: For the person who likes sampling food, can handle an often hectic environment and deal with a variety of customers. Tips are a bonus.
Self-employment: Creating and managing
Help aspiring artists sharpen their skills. Enjoy dancing? Make money assisting dance classes. Good at school subjects like English, math or science? Tutor! The possibilities are endless.
your own business is perfect for the independent spirit or someone with a busy schedule. You get the opportunity to be your own boss and these jobs can pay more than minimum wage.
No job? Ways to save: •Alternative transportation: Gas prices are constantly going up so consider taking a bus or train, carpooling or biking. •Quit the summer gym membership: Instead of sweating away in the gym, consider quitting your gym membership and go biking/running by the beach instead. Beach yoga anyone? •Clothes swap: If you are dying for a new summer wardrobe but don’t have the cash on hand, consider hosting a clothes swap. Invite friends with a similar style to bring old clothes that they don’t wear anymore. •Cook food: Eating out can get expensive. Cook dinner with friends and make fun memories while knowing you have saved yourself some cash.
“I enjoy teaching piano, helping children learn and watching them grow and mature.”
Chris Melnychuk, 12 Trex Enterprises Corp., Piano teacher
“I’m excited for the money to give me the ability to do what I want over summer, so I won’t have to rely on my parents.”
Tanner Tucker, 11 Nordstroms
“Knockout is CHS friendly. The best thing about working there is the tips, especially at night. Closing and cleaning up is the worst part.”
Derek Doszkocs, 11 Knockout Pizzeria
Lancer Express: What qualities/ accomplishments impress employers the most when reviewing high school applicants? Anna Huizar: Both academic and athletic achievements are impressive. If a candidate has no prior work experience, we look at these types of achievements as indicators of motivation and drive to do well. They should create a resume that highlights their academics, athletics, and other extracurricular activities; we appreciate the extra effort. LE: What are the worst things high school students can do when applying for a job? AH: The number one mistake an applicant can make is not following instructions. The inability to follow instructions during the application process can be an indicator that the applicant will have difficulty following directions while on the job. LE: How does the hiring process work for Legoland? AH: All applications must be submitted through our website, legoland.com/jobs. We review applications as we receive them, so the earlier an applicant submits their application, the more likely it is that it will be reviewed before the position is filled. We then e-mail candidates we are interested in to invite them for an interview. LE: How many students do you expect to hire for summer positions? By what date? AH: We expect to hire approximately 200 students for summer positions by July 1st. LE: How has the current economy affected summer job openings at Legoland? AH: Thanks to great business planning and our unique target market, we have fared well through this economy, even experiencing growth. We have experienced a greater need for more employees. However, we have seen an influx of applications, making it more competitive for job seekers and allowing us to be more selective about whom we hire.
17
espacio latino
soapbox
may 2012
¿Qué opinas de la candidata presidencial de México Josefina Vázquez Mota?
“Es un gran orgullo para las mujeres mexicanas porque es un país machista, aparte de ser político.”
Corriendo para la presidencia: Josefina Vázquez Mota es la primera candidata feminina para presidente RAMONA GUTIERREZ I staff writer
melissa gonzalez grado 9
griselda alcala grado 10
Pienso que va traer nuevas ideas para la republica de México, no solo porque es mujer, pero también
Yo creo que será buena candidata para México.
ernesto solano grado 10
“Yo pienso que Josefina es algo diferente que México necesita para que haya cambio en México.” grado 12
Por primera vez en la historia de México, una mujer va estar en la elección presidencial en el año 2012. A la mejor han escuchado comerciales de ella sobre la radio y quiere dejar su marca en los votantes. Josefina Vázquez Mota es una mexicana de convicciones firmes y trato cercano con la gente. Una mujer que ha recorrido el país con la firme seguridad de que siempre se puede aprender de los demás. “Ella ha estado promocionándose mucho y creo que va a ganar porque mexico necesita intentar algo diferente y josefina es la respuesta,” dijo Maria Moreno del grado 12. “Ojala que ella gane la presidencia para México.” Parte del partido del PAN, Josefina Vázquez Mota cuenta con una carrera experimentada en varios ámbitos. Antes de llegar a la política hace once años, recorrió varios países dando conferencias sobre economía, materia en la cual se graduó en la Universidad Iberoamericana. En la década de los noventa incursionó en el periodismo. Publicó sobre temas económicos en los periódicos Novedades, El Financiero y El Economista, y desarrolló una carrera en la radio. “Pienso que ella llevara a Mexico a un mejor estado económica mente y socialmente porque tiene la experiencia con manejando dinero y con el publico general,” dijo Monica Melendez del grado 12. “Como está ahora México, yo creo que sería lo mejor que fuera presidente de Mexico.” Ejerció también como asesora empresarial en organismos como la Confederación de Cámaras Nacionales de Comercio, Servicios y Turismo (Concanaco) y la Con- federación Patronal de la República Mexicana (Coparmex). En 1999 publicó su primer libro con el provocador título de Dios mío, hazme viuda por favor, un llamado a las mujeres para
Y
roberto osuna grado 9
18
superar sus propios temores y tomar las riendas de su vida con autonomía y libertad, del que se han vendido más de medio millón de ejemplares. “Mis padres están bien informados sobre lo que esta pasando en México y han escuchado buenas cosas sobre los libros que ha escrito Josefina Vázquez Mota,” dijo Javier Lopez del grado 11. “Si pudiera votar por ella lo hiciera.” Josefina Vázquez Mota ha comentado a los medios de comunicación y un gran grupo y muy representativa del PAN, su intención de buscar la nominación para la Presidencia de la República, por el Partido Acción Nacional en las elecciones presidenciales de 2012. Luego corrió en la primaria, que se celebró el 5 de febrero de 2012 y ganó. Vázquez Mota lideró con cincuentaicinco porciento a Ernesto Cordero. Josefina alentó acuerdos políticos para construir leyes y reformas estructurales en materia económica, política y social que buscan impulsar un mayor desarrollo económico, justicia y equidad social.
En septiembre del 2011 pidió licencia a su diputación para recorrer México y escuchar a los ciudadanos en su aspiración por convertirse en la primera candidata del Partido Acción Nacional para la Presidencia de México. Los otros candidatos de la carrera son Gabriel Quadri de la Torre del Partido Nueva Alianza(PNA), Enrique Peña Nieto del Partido Revolucionario Institucional (PRI) y Andrés Manuel López Obrador del Partido de la Revolución Democrática(PRD). Todos son de diferentes partidos políticos y se sabrán los resultaos en el primero de julio este verano Con esto, Mota piensa conquistar México porque ella piensa que su país de México necesita un cambio que un hombre no puede hacer. Los problemas sociales y económicos de México dice que van a tomar tiempo para que se resuelven pero ella hará lo mas posible para que llegue cerca de su meta para su país de México.
Siendo la única mujer de pie, Josefina Vázquez Mota fue a una conferencia con otros granes oficiales de otros países de América Latina y los Estados Unidos de América. photo courtesy whitehouse.gov
Continuando el estudio RAMONA GUTIERREZ I staff writer
“Yo coleccionaría fotos porque son recuerdos que uno puede ver en el futuro.”
volume 25, issue 7
a llego el fin del año y eso significa que ya es tiempo de donde mucho saben lo que quieren hacer después de este año escolar. Muchos piensan en seguir estudiando después de que se gradúen de Carlsbad High. “Yo voy a ir a California State University Dominguez Hills porque el ambiente que tiene y es una universidad buena para mi,” dijo Arendy Gómez del grado 12. “Ya sé que me va a gustar el nuevo capitulo de vida en la California State University Dominguez Hills aunque también voy a extrañar mi tiempo en Carlsbad High.”
Todo el trabajo que los estudiantes hacen a veces no se da todo el respecto que se merece. Muchos hacen todo lo posible para que saquen las mejores calificaciones y hasta más con otras actividades después de escuela para que se miren hasta mejor en las aplicaciones. “Para mi, yo desde chica estaba involucrada en actividades en la comunidad porque siempre me gustaba estar ayudando en algo,” dijo Reina Castro del grado 12. “Al haciéndome parte de la comunidad me ha ayudado agarrar becas.” “Estando en programas en la escuela me ha ayudado en la escuela porque Cali-
fornia State University Fullerton prefiere tener estudiantes que estén involucrados en muchas actividades y tengan buenas calificaciones,” dijo Monica Melendez del grado 12. “Se me hace algo muy útil para cuando uno aplica a una universidad tener muchas horas de servicios comunitarios.” Después de todo el esfuerzo hecho por los estudiantes todo este año escolar, ahora es tiempo de relajar y pensar en en lo que sigue en el futuro. Sabiendo que van a seguir estudiando es algo de ser orgulloso y da motivación para seguir adelante.
profile
Everyone has a story KATHLEEN DOOLEY I staff writer KAYLEE PITTS I
The faces behind the desk
T
housands of students go into their classes each school day and talk to tons of “friends,” while never really knowing anything about their friends’ lives or learning their stories. Not only do people not know much about the life of the shy girl or the extroverted boy next to them in their class, people do not tend to share much about themselves with others. Some students feel blended into the crowd and think they have nothing unique or extraordinary to tell, when in truth, our school is made up of students from all different backgrounds of ethnicity, class, family, religion and many other defining factors. No matter how each person feels about his/her life story, everyone has a story to tell. Recognizing this, Lancer Express selected a desk at random to unravel the stories of the students who sat at that same desk during different class periods. Just like these three students, Corinne DeShon, Julius Koch and Kendall Wilks, each student has his own unique past, present and future. We are all different, and we all have our stories — ones which deserve to be shared.
KENDALL WILKS
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ou can catch her listening to the Stones, flipping through the couture cultured pages of Vogue and Glamour. She’s a fashion girl, and it shows through the confidence and poise she has gained in her first year of high school. When freshman Kendall Wilks enrolled in art this year, she figured she would just embrace the inevitability of fulfilling her fine arts credit, and get the class over with. Much to her surprise, however, the class was exactly what she needed to start on the path toward her future and express herself as a seemingly shy ninth grade girl. To her classmates, she may be the quiet, studious girl, but to her friends and family, she is loving and talkative, providing a shoulder to lean on or a friend to laugh with. Wilks’ dad inspired her classic interest in music. They have a close relationship for which she feels blessed to have. Although her father is only home from business a few weeks out of the month, the relationship between Wilks and her mother compensates for his absence. “I feel really lucky,” Wilks said with a smile, talking about her family. “I can really relate with my mom. She is pretty young, and has gone through a lot, so she gives great advice.” She and her mother hold many similarities, the biggest—according to Wilks—being their kindness. Often, she admits, their congeniality blinds their judgment, allowing others to take advantage of their good hearts. This love shines through the easy smile that often spread across Wilks’ effortlessly made-up face. Wilks explains that she yearns for challenges in life, and often pushes herself out of her comfort zone in order to experience new things. With this handson attitude, she will surely go far as the next three years of her high school experience unfold.
JULIUS KOCH
H
e voices a desire to have more confidence, but his worldly perspective on life and Merriam-Webster vernacular prove he already embodies the outward confidence only life experience can give. Sure, he may simply be a high school student, but the life of sophomore Julius Koch has molded him into a well-spoken, charming individual. Born and raised in Frankfurt, Germany, Koch grew up speaking both English and German: one to his mother, and the other to his father, respectively. His father worked for Legoland in Germany, but when Julius was ten years old, was moved by Legoland to our very own Carlsbad, Calif. Because of this, Julius calls two very differing places home: Germany—pleasant and green, with an abundance of historical influence and California—vibrant and new with spectacular weather, location and beaches. The transition, as any ten-year-old would agree, was a challenge with a new school, new friends and new life. However, not having to overcome a language barrier made it easy for Julius to assimilate into the Californian lifestyle. Julius began to try his hand at many of the new opportunities he found in California. The first? Learning how to surf. He felt inspired to try since, in his mind, the beaches and surfing defined California as a state. Now, Julius’ repertoire of interesting talents and hobbies is not limited to solely surfing. He shares his love for cooking—his specialty being Italian food—as well as his musical side, modestly explaining that he is “okay” on the piano. Each of these attributes differentiates Julius from the typical tenth grader. His life in Europe has instilled in him a yearning for exploration, and most likely a orinne DeShon: junior, aspiring artist, tennis player and Tae Kwon Do expert. DeShon was born future full of traveling. in Washington, moved to Atlanta and later came to the golden state of California for her mom’s job. “I want to travel—explore the “It was tough moving here because I left all my friends in Georgia who I’ve known since second grade. It world,” Koch said. “Go around was a really big change,” DeShon said. and experience different people As anyone knows, moving can be extremely difficult. Not only did DeShon leave her friends, but she had to and different cultures.” adjust to a new lifestyle. However, DeShon decided to make the best of the situation. As Julius reveals more “ I’ve been playing tennis since I was seven, so when I came I wanted to joined the tennis team and I was able to about himself, his passion make friends from that,” DeShon said. for making the most out Because of her love and dedication for the sport, DeShon played on the varsity tennis team this year. She also of his life whilst being no has developed a passion for art and some of her art pieces have been shown in art exhibits. one but himself shows “ I really like art because it is really fun. I drew this spider robot thing and I drew Adam Levine, and they both true maturity. He is were in art shows,” DeShon said. In addition to her love of art and tennis, DeShon also enjoys kicking butt in Tae Kwon Do. She began in surprisingly cultured for sixth grade and achieved a black belt in eighth grade. someone his age, and this Despite her many hobbies, DeShon desires to take her career in a different direction. Since sixth grade, makes him someone to she has wanted to become a teacher. strive to get to know and “ I like the idea of teaching kids. I want to be the teacher that actually makes learning fun,” befriend. DeShon said.
C
CORINNE DeSHON
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photojournalism
Senior Alec Beretz, the Phantom, sings to senior Sammie Duffy, Christine, during "Music of the Night."
THE PHANTOM OF
THE OPERA GABY WAGNER I photographer
Senior Sheila O'Neill, as confidante, sings as part of a scene in the opera performed in the musical.
Senior Tate Chu trills an aria as Carlotta, the prima donna of the Opera Populaire in Paris. Seniors Sean Geisterfer and Justin Feinman, as the managers of the Opera Populaire, look on.
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The ballet ensemble performs during a scene.