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HAT ARE you doing this Saturday? If it’s procrastinating on studying for finals by watching a Honey Boo Boo marathon or creating a holiday home for your Sims, how about you skedaddle down to the Lowell garden and do something meaningful for the all-powerful, all-loving Mother Nature? The largest earthbench to date is being built on campus; the team needs all the volunteers they can get! Bring friends to help the infamous Brennan Bird. After a day of volunteering, see the new release of The Hobbit on the big screen, but remember after the lights come up to toss your soda bottle in the blue bin.
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Registry groups will replace RAPs for freshmen pick at Dec. 17 Arena By Elijah Alperin
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KARA SCHERER
A Lowell student narrowly misses the target at the dunk tank on Co-Curricular Day on Nov. 16. Student Body Council events coordinator senior Hiromi Fujita is in the hot seat.
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CROWD OF students laughed and shouted as the events coordinator was sent splashing into the cold water of a dunk tank below. The tank was one of a number of carnival activities that ran from Mods 6-17 on Nov. 16 during co-curricular day to celebrate the school for winning a prestigious national award. Although the clubs had to squeeze their booths under the roof of the courtyard to avoid the pouring rain, students‘ spirits were not dampened. During their free mods, students rolled
around in hamster balls, climbed up a wall in Velcro suits, wrestled in sumo costumes, threw balls — sending school leaders and faculty into the deep — and bounced in an inflatable boxing rink, playfully punching their classmates with giant gloves.  “It was really scary at first; I must have been dunked at least 30 times,� main target and SBC events coordinator senior Hiromi Fujita said.  “One of my friends called me a martyr, and I guess that’s what I am.� The celebration was a result of Lowell winning the Blue Ribbon Award, the highest See CO-CURRICULAR on Page 5
HE ADMINISTRATION has approved a new system for grouping students for entrance into Arena as a step towards two improvements — ensuring smooth processing with evenly-sized groups and decreasing the planning time of the self-scheduling process. The change will be implemented in the upcoming Dec. 17 Arena for this year’s freshmen, as well as all incoming classes in future Arenas. The Rotating Alphabetic Progressions system will continue to be used for the current sophomore, junior and senior classes until the class of ’15 graduates, at which point the entire school will be on the new system. Under the new system, the order of entering Arena (or pick) for ninth graders will be organized by registry, instead of by last name, according to math teacher Karl Hoffman, who designed the new plan. The 20 freshman registries will be assigned picks in numerical order according to the last two digits of each registry number. Registries will be paired off in alternating groups of two and one. For example, at the Dec. 17 Arena, Reg 1601 and Reg 1602 will have first pick, Reg 1603 will have second pick, and Reg 1604 and Reg 1605 will go third, according to the two-Reg-one-Reg pattern. To accommodate 20 registries using this system based on groupings of three, Reg 1607 will be the sole exception as the only freshman registry to have fifth pick, a spot that otherwise would be occupied by two registries. Registries will move up in pick order according to the same system of rotation that is currently in place for the RAP system. See ARENA on Page 5
3URSRVLWLRQ VDOYDJHV VFKRRO GD\V By Elijah Alperin
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HE SCHOOL community can let out a collective sigh of relief after the passage of a key fundraising measure preserved the education budget for the current school year. After the success of Proposition 30, the San Francisco Unified School District will continue with the budget scenario planned when the district and teachers’ union agreed to a new contract in August. Especially, the schools will be able to avoid up to 16.5 furlough days, part of a contingency plan — if Prop. 30 did not pass — that would
have impacted the very end of the partisan organization that provides school year, according to the United fiscal analysis. Eighty-nine percent Educators of San Francisco website of Prop 30 revenue will be allocated (www.uesf.org). Now, the dates to K-12 education, maintaining for Arena, finals school budgets and graduation at the base level in the spring seThe schools will of funding promester can be vided over the be able to avoid up last few years confirmed. The propoto 16.5 furlough and preventing sition is slated a further erosion days. to generate apof resources, but proximately $6.8 falling short of billion through an increase in sales and income tax increases, ac- funding. cording to the Legislative Analyst In order to avoid reformulating Office (www.lao.ca.gov), a non- the budget after the election, the
Honor society tips their hats to new rule
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district hedged its bets — or hopes — and planned for Proposition 30 to pass and therefore maintain funding, according to UESF member and science teacher Kathy Melvin. A provision in the contract stipulated that in the instance of the proposition failing — resulting in a deficit — the budget would be rebalanced solely by furlough days at the end of the year. With the success of the Prop 30 campaign, this strategy was successful, and the school will maintain consistency for the rest of the year according to the budget approved most recently by the School Site Council.
Appetizing architecture?
By Antonio Carmona and Joseph Kim
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VERYTHING EVENTUALLY changes, and Shield and Scroll is no exception. A new ballot committee was formed in September to decide on several issues regarding their current elections system, resulting in one change — to limit voting for new members to seniors. At the ballot committee’s final meeting on Nov. 7, a vote was held to decide if a new process was needed for applicants. Under discussion was whether the anonymity of S&S candidates was being given away due to the adjunct information on the student ballots for member selection. At the end of this vote, the committee unanimously agreed that no changes should be made to the current system. The only change made to the constitution by this committee See SHIELD AND SCROLL on Page 5
KARA SCHERER
Senior Bradley Monterola (left) plays with frosting while sophomore Sopiko Kharadze (middle) and senior Arlen Pan (right) add gumdrops to their gingerbread house at the annual Gingerbread House contest on Dec. 7.
December 14, 2012
2 NEWS
NEWSBRIEFS VICCI center redesigns website
JROTC snags second in quiz bowl The school’s Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps team received recognition from a high-level federal government official for their excellent performance in an annual worldwide competition. In an October letter to SFUSD superintendent Richard Carranza, the U.S. Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta commended the team for achieving second place in the 2011-2012 JROTC Leadership Symposium and Academic Bowl Championship, according to JROTC teacher Colonel Doug Bullard. The team was later invited to attend a SFUSD Board of Education meeting on Nov. 13 to receive a certificate of honor for their recognition in Panetta’s letter. The team consisted of captain senior Kegan Kawamura, senior Jordan Wong, junior Michael Desmond and sophomore Mitchell Wong. Starting in October 2011, Lowell competed against JROTC students from over 1,000 schools around the world in two rounds of an online multiple-choice quiz. They passed the first two rounds with ease, according to Kawamura said, and later qualified for the summer championship at George Mason University in Virginia. During the championship, the team competed head-to-head against randomly selected teams from 23 other schools with questions of increasing difficulty in core subjects. The team came in second place by two questions in the final round, according to Kawamura. “Our team won second for the past four years except last year when we lost in the quarter finals, so it is almost like a tradition now,” he jokingly said. — Eric Ye
Student poetry published in statewide anthology Sophomore poets read at local festival to reach peoples’ hearts By Eric Ye
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I tried to reflect that in my poem,” Chen said. “My poem HREE SOPHOMORES joined the ranks of Shel reflects myself because my history and where I come from Silverstein and E. E. Cummings after their poetry is a big part of me.” For Kaiser, receiving so much recognition is “gratifying was published in an annual statewide anthology that but also slightly embarrassing.” She wrote her poem for the came out this fall. Sophomores Zoe Kaiser, Anita Chen and Sharon Ma are “I Am” prompt that uses imagery and metaphor to portray published poets of Turning Into Stars, the California Poets in the writer’s self, but wanted to focus on how the world was the Schools 2012 Anthology. CPITS is a statewide non-profit so much bigger than her, rather than talking about herself. organization that has sent professional published poets and Most of the poem came out in a burst once she had her central writers into classrooms to guide students in writing original idea: awe in the immensity of the universe. The anthology editors commented on the sensitivity and poetry since 1964. Each poet teacher throughout the state is allowed to submit ten student poems to the editors of the skill in all three poems, according to Terence. Terence says CPITS anthology, so the poems may have been selected from she felt excited and happy that other adult writers thought over 800 entries, according to Susan Terence, who has been highly of these students’ poetry. “Their recognition is well deserved,” she said. “They are all teaching poetry at Lowell through stellar writers, and I hope all of this CPITS for over twelve years. encourages each of them Terence chose the strongest poI wanted people to look recognition to continue writing.” ems, which were written for various Kaiser and Chen won first and assignments, from each of the 9th at my poem in their third, respectively, in the Young at Grade English 1 classes to submit to own interpretation and Art Literary Art Contest, the editors of the CPITS anthology. “I annual citywide conlook for outstanding metaphors and their own view, whether an test sponsored by the San similes, in depth details, attention to craft — sounds of words,” she said. “I it applied to their own Francisco Unified School District. Chen’s winning listen for a student’s individual voice life or a life of a friend.” poem was “For the Love and style to arise. I look for very movof Beautiful Things that ing details. I listen for phrases I’ve SHARON MA, Grow on Sidewalks” for this comnever heard before and stories that sophomore petition. Both were invited to attransport me to new places — both tend the contest ceremony at the de geographically and emotionally.” Terence noted that some of the strongest students’ writings Young Museum auditorium in May. In October, all three students also read their poems at Litwere their family oral history poems and poems in which quake, a San Francisco festival for local authors that typically they examined their own place in the world. Ma said her parents’ divorce inspired her to write “Rough features only adult writers. “Hearing my own voice coming Life.” Having never formally written about it, she decided from the speakers felt really weird,” Chen said. “Afterwards, to express her feelings in the poem. “To me, it was almost I felt relieved and accomplished at the same time because it like scraping out the darkness and negativity in my heart was a new experience.” The 9th grade poetry sessions are funded by the Lowell so I could be clean,” she said. “Even though I wrote about something so personal and real, I wanted people to look at Alumni Association. During the weekly sessions, students my poem in their own interpretation and their own view, read poems from a diverse array of writers, like Langston Hughes, Carl Sandburg and Genny Lim. They wrote odes whether it applied to their own life or a life of a friend.” Chen drew inspiration from old stories her family had to gemstones modeling the odes of Chilean Pablo Neruda, passed down and her trips to her parents’ hometowns. Dur- poems inspired from paintings and photographs, and love ing her trips, she visited her great-great-grandfather’s church, poems or poems that examined their own feelings. The poets expressed surprise at their receiving so much and the rural landscape reminded her of her grandfather and his stories. “The church, the fields, the old houses — those attention. “I wrote it as a simple assignment, never imaginwere the places where part of my family grew up, loved, ing it being published in a book,” Ma said. “I feel very lucky and lived, and it felt like escaping into a time-machine, and and grateful.”
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As eager and anxious students search for summer programs and higher education possibilities, the school’s college center officials have recently revamped the center’s website in hope of better informing students of college and program opportunities. The website was redesigned by VICCI center volunteers and is intended to help students discover potential colleges. Students can learn more about a school’s academic and extra-curricular programs through easy access to the visits of representatives. “The new website better shows students the VICCI Center’s calendar of presenters,” VICCI Center volunteer Kathy Laderman said. “All college visits are drop in, and they are a great opportunity for students to discover potential schools for them.” This improvement comes on the heels of the counseling department’s Twitter page, which also aims to make school and colleges admissions information more accessible to students. Senior Julian Quilatan uses the website to help map out a timeline that will help him apply to college. “There is a PDF file on the website that specifically tells you what to do month-by-month starting in junior year,” Quilatan said. “It has helped me stay focused and not become overwhelmed by the masses of college events and dates.” — Samantha Wilcox
Lowell High School
Harmonizing the holiday spirit
Secrets of the sediment, revealed Heavy machinery has been dumping, then transforming broken concrete into large heaps of gravel behind the soccer field for the past several weeks. The dumping is part of a building project of San Francisco State University, according to Simon Lam, an SFSU construction manager. “The concrete is the product of the recent demolition of the structures on the former School of the Arts site on Font Boulevard,” Lam stated in a Nov. 14 email. The gravel will be used to create an outdoor student recreation field for SFSU. The site will be a sports facility, featuring a twocourt gym, a climbing wall and an indoor pool, among other amenities. Construction will begin in early 2014 and is set for completion in spring of 2016, according to SFSU’s website (www.sfsu.edu). However, it has not been determined it will be open to the public. Assistant principal of administration Margaret Peterson sent out an email to faculty and staff on Nov. 15 to notify them of the construction, noting that “we are advocating on behalf of our students,” and “we are asking that they (construction workers) keep the noise and dust to the minimum levels possible.” — Elazar Chertow F O R T H E C O M P L E T E V E R S I O N S OF STORIES, PLEASE VISIT
The Lowell on the Web www.thelowell.org
ALL PHOTOS BY HUIMIN ZHANG
(Right) Senior Laureen Zouai performed “Can’t Hurry Love,” originally by The Supremes, with senior Colette Aro (not pictured) at the choir concert on Dec. 8. (Top left) Senior Enders Ng rocks out to Jason Mraz’s “Lucky” with senior Sarah Ma (not pictured). (Bottom left) Senior Ariel Perez beams at the audience before advanced choir performs.
The Lowell
December 14, 2012
CAMPUS
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Ping pong club wins friendly tournament
By Samantha Wilcox
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S STUDENTS ENTER the science building lobby during the last mods of the day, they often have to duck to avoid flying ping pong balls. There’s a serious purpose behind them — think Forrest Gump. Lowell’s Ping Pong Club has decided to play competitively, and they are stronger than ever. On Nov. 9, the club stepped up to the table in their first tournament in recent years against
Sacred Heart Cathedral Preparatory. Consisting of 16 members, the club sent their top five — including nationally ranked sophomore Haolin Fang — to face off against the five best players of Sacred Heart. “We slaughtered SH in all five games,” club president junior James Ueijo said. Ping pong began as an after-dinner parlor game played by the upper class in the late 1800s in England, and has transitioned from
tions and ping pong knowledge to help expand the club’s ability to compete. At practices, the club focuses on honing their skills. “As a team, we all have played together for so long that we know each other’s strengths and weaknesses, however, we need to work on our mechanics,” Ueijo said. “Since we only have two tables, a lot of people don’t get much practice time.” The club purchased the tables with the money that they raised at last year’s Winterfaire. Their practices vary between shouts of victorious laughter and groans of defeat, and many of the members have experienced playing recreationally and competitively. Nationallyranked Fang brings the Lowell club to a whole different level. “Haolin is amazing,” Ueijo said. “She doesn’t come to our practices and meetings very often due to the fact that she trains for ping pong outside of school. She takes the sport very seriously.” Being among the top 20 girl ping pong players under the age of 18 in the United States, Fang has a very strict training regimen. “I train with my coaches once a week, since they are in San Jose,” Fang said. “However, I train every night with my dad, who is an amateur player.” The club practices on Mondays, Tuesdays and Thursdays on the first floor of the science building. Come put the ball lightly over the net!
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Junior Timothy Bricker puts the ball over the net at a Dec. 6 meeting of the ping pong club.
a game to a sport since its conception. Now it is an Olympic sport, and many countries compete in global competitions. Ueijo wants to bring the activity — often viewed as family camp fun — into the public eye at Lowell. “Having a Ping Pong Club at Lowell makes people take ping pong more seriously,” Ueijo said. “I want people to think of it more as a sport than a game.” Although they are currently a club, upping their status could be on the horizon. “I am currently checking the steps of becoming a team,” Ueijo said. “However, Sacred Heart is the only school that has a club we could play against, since there is no league.” Players who want to take their game to the next level can do so in college. The National Collegiate Table Tennis Association hosts annual championships where universities from across the country compete against one another. Promising athletes are sometimes eligible for a scholarship from the NCTAA. Fresh off their big win against SH, Lowell is not planning another competition quite yet. “Although we have not planned our next tournament, we are definitely excited to get a rematch in the works,” Ueijo said. “Maybe we’ll send some of the people that didn’t get a chance to play last time.” Fang has participated in many competitions across the country, including the Berkeley Western Open. She plans on using her connec-
Positive Facebook Students play candidates page compliments and voters in mock elections community, spreads T virtual love By Elena Bernick
By Deidre Foley
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OSTS ON A commendatory Facebook page range from plaudits to the general student population: “Together, WE are the city’s best and brightest;” to praise for teachers: “His love for his students can only be compared with his love for Paul McCartney;” to appreciation for the campus golf carts: “Keeping us safe from evil-doers everywhere.” Through the Lowell Compliments Facebook page, which was created on Nov. 27, students can message a compliment about people, staff or organizations in the Lowell community and it will be reviewed for anonymous publication on the page. “This page is where you can do something nice for anyone so we can all feel the love,” the page description states. “It’s important to tell each other how you feel and to be open. We’re here to help with that and make sure everyone realizes they’re loved.” The page was created by a student who was “sick of hearing kids complain about their lives” at this high-pressure school. “During my freshmen year, the Westboro Baptist Church came and protested at Lowell,” said the page administrator, who spoke to The Lowell on the condition of anonymity due to a desire that this project reflect the school community and not as an individual. “The love that Lowell showed was shocking and inspiring. I wanted to find that love and allow people to experience it every day.” The page received over 950 “likes” as of Dec. 6. “I started this thinking it wouldn’t receive much of a response, but I’m flabbergasted, to say the least,” the page creator said. “I have gotten so many submissions [over 300], so much advice, and so much love that I almost felt my heart explode.” Many students not only appreciate each other through posts, but the page as a whole. “It brightens up people’s days when they read it, even if the compliments aren’t about them,” junior Susan Li said. “And with all the stress that students probably have right now with finals coming up, it’s just a little thing that brings your mood up.” While the page has received much favorable feedback, some students believe its popularity will not last. “I think that whoever made the page has a brilliant idea in mind with great intentions, but I also think the hype is going to drop exponentially,” junior Kellen Liao said. “I think it might also have the effect of making people a bit sad and somewhat cynical if they don’t see anything about them on the page. I look through the posts and there are people who get several compliments about them, while there are many people who get none.” The page administrator will keep the page up as long as it does not receive any hate mail or an excess of rude “troll messages.” “I would just like to say thank you to the Lowell community for reacting so well, and for being so full of love,” the page administrator said. “This wouldn’t have happened without you guys.” The page administrator said the idea came from a friend who started a similar page at Foothill High School in Pleasanton. The idea started as a social experiment at Queen’s University in Canada in September of this year and has since been adopted by Columbia University, Yale University and the University of Pennsylvania, among other schools. A VERSION OF THIS STORY FIRST APPEARED ON WWW.THELOWELL.ORG
The journalists also had to take on an identity HE ELECTION may be over, but the cam- unique to the viewpoint of their publication. Dean paigning spirit is still alive and active in our assigned each journalist a different publication to represent, including The Christian Science Monitor, The hallways. As part of her American Democracy classes, his- Wall Street Journal and The Huffington Post. Then the tory and English teacher Sarah Dean instructed her journalists put out a short “newspaper” and distributed students to run their own presidential campaigns. it to the freshmen. The newspaper provided the journalists a way Dean split her classes into three groups of approximately twelve students and each group was assigned to convey important issues to their audience. “I was a political party to represent in a mock election. All thinking, ‘gear it towards our freshmen audience,’” groups were given two weeks and twenty dollars to journalist senior Cambria Chou-Freed, who wrote a produce a winning operation. The money was given to mock-Wall Street Journal, said. “I wrote about issues each group to make sure no team had a disadvantage. that would interest them. The big article was about The project was designed to push students to what the candidates said in their kick-off speech.” The Green Party received the most votes overall, dive headfirst into the world of politics. “The project but one party was able to claw was to allow students to its way up from the bottom. run a campaign and see “The class was skeptical that what that’s like,” Dean a conservative party could said. “They had to run the win at Lowell,” Dean said. campaign and solicit votes “However, the tea party tied from students outside of with the Green Party in one the class.” class, showing that a wellDean was careful in run campaign can make a choosing what political difference.” personalities the students The presidential candiwould represent. This date for one of the tea party meant the teams were assigned parties relatively DANIELLE DE BRUIN, groups was senior Heather unknown among young senior Weiss, who was just as surprised with the outcome of people, including the Libertarian, Green and tea parties. “San Francisco her election as Dean was. “I was a tea party candidate traditionally votes Democrat, so they were not al- in San Francisco, and I tied with the Green Party,” lowed to be Democrat or Republican, only third party said Weiss. “For me, it showed how much a campaign candidates,” said Dean. “They had to go out and really matters.” Senior Danielle de Bruin was a Green Party candilearn about other parties out there.” date, and like Weiss, was successful in her campaign The tea party is a relatively recent offshoot of the Republican Party that stands for lower taxes, less efforts. Her group prevailed “by a landslide,” and de government interference and strict observance of Bruin walked away from the election with more than the Constitution. An older establishment, the Green just a win. “Being a candidate was a really difficult Party, bases its platform on environmental policies and job,” de Bruin said. “I was the one interacting with the often emphasizes diversity and nonviolence. Lastly, the freshmen. It definitely helped me with public speaking Libertarian Party stands firmly for individual rights and people skills.” The seniors weren’t the only ones who benefited and minimal government. Every student in a group selected a specific job, from the assignment. The young voters tasked with ranging from speechwriters, debate coaches, campaign determining the fate of the candidates also found managers, promotional specialists and journalists. value in the exercise. “We got to experience what our Within each group, a primary was held to decide who parents are doing,” freshman Nati Phan said. “It gives would be the presidential candidate. History teacher us a chance to be our own person and learn to do this Charles Raznikov’s Mods 1-2 and 6-7 Modern World in the future.” Dean was inspired by the recent presidential elecclasses acted as the voters, and each team worked tion and decided to bring the action to her classroom. tirelessly to win over their votes. For Raznikov, the assignment was a fresh way to This was the first year she assigned the exercise to her give students the opportunity to interact with other classes, but she hopes it will not be her last. “I think I’d classes. “It was authentic,” Raznikov said. “I really liked like to do the assignment even if there isn’t an election,” Dean said. “I think it helped how real it was. It gave students bring the election unit to life.” a chance to be smart.”
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Student activists offer support to willing but bewildered users
PHOTO COURTESY OF AMY CHAR
By KT Kelly
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Students for Sustainability club member senior Heather Weiss sorts trash as part of a lesson on what can be recycled or composted in a reduced-waste effort.
OES A MILK CARTON go in the compost bin or the recycling bin? Well, ponder no longer; trash duty is here to save the day (By the way, lob that milk carton into the compost bin). Two teachers assigned students to stand by trash cans and help others sort through their waste in order to promote environmental friendliness and to support classroom projects. Science teachers Kathy Melvin, who is also the environmental liason, and Catherine Christensen have appointed their students to trash duty, where students help people dispose of their trash responsibly during Mods 1-20 in designated locations in the school, including the library, cafeteria and hallway near the attendance office.
“We need to increase the diversion rate, or the amount of trash diverted from landfill, at the school and organize anything that goes into recycling and compost,� Melvin said. “We also need soft plastic for the bottle brick bench.� There is a new trash can at each station for contribution of soft plastic, like candy wrappers. Trash duty shifts began on Nov. 13 and will last for the duration of the fall semester, according to Melvin, who suggested the trash duty to senior Nighttrain Schickele, one of her Advanced Placement Environmental Science students. He proposed an extra trash bin for soft plastic to Melvin, who then approved of the project as his field study. Students perform trash duty during their free mods once a week. “It was a little embarrassing at first,
just because I was standing by a trash can by myself,� Advanced Placement Environmental Science student junior Sophia Padilla said. “But after a while I sucked it up; I have to do my part for the environment.� Other students took their police work very seriously. “I yell ‘Stop!’ before people throw their trash in the bins,� Marine Science student senior Emma Beuerman said. “Most of the time I just tell people where to put different things, but one time someone asked me to throw it away myself. I thought he was really rude.� Melvin hopes that the trash police will influence the way the Lowell community thinks. “We’re trying to change school culture,� Melvin said. “If we have monitors there for a grading period, [environmental consciousness] will expand to the rest of the school.�
Class green bins rake in more than leaf litter By Gideon Fox
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E ARE THE PIONEERS of waste disposal,� district custodial supervisor Ulises Parada said of Lowell. Lowell was the first school in the district to have a compost system, composting paper towels. Now, with the support from the district, teachers and students, Lowell will continue this trend as new compost bins will soon be introduced to many classrooms. The project, which is being led by the janitorial staff and science teacher and environmental liaison Kathy Melvin, will begin with bins on the second floor. When all bins have successfully been put into place, a new system of waste removal will commence. Each
week, the janitors will bring the large com- money. According to Melvin, compostables post bins into the halls to stay there through often end up in the landfill bin because of poor Friday. At the end of each sorting by students and day, the teachers, with the faculty in the cafeteria or aid of some students, will Even when we because there are no comempty out the waste from post bins available in classdo our landfills rooms. Once the option of their smaller compost bins into the larger ones. This right, things go composting in classrooms system of daily waste disis available, those involved wrong.� posal prevents odors from hope that people will start the refuse and vermin and to be more careful about KATHY MELVIN, what goes where. flies gathering around any science teacher decaying material. Melvin also sees the new The project is being imbins a great way to reduce plemented for a variety of reasons. First of all, the school’s environmental impact. “Landfill the current Lowell school policy is wasting takes up space; this causes habitat disruption,
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loss of land for agriculture and other negative effects,� Melvin said. “Even when we do our landfills right, things go wrong. Toxic chemicals leach into the ground water supply; and methane comes out of the landfill and into the atmosphere.� According to Parada, at the beginning of the year, there was a 45 percent landfill diversion at Lowell, which is the amount of waste put into recycling or compost as opposed to the amount of waste put in landfill. Since one of the landfill dumpsters behind the cafeteria was converted to recycling, that number has moved up to 55 percent. However, this is still not ideal. In 2008, the school had a 75 percent landfill diversion.
Down-to-earth teens get dirty, help project progress By KT Kelly
So far, most of the biology, environmental science, health and learning resource classes are getting involved to create or ITH THE APPROACHING deadline for the completion of the outdoor classroom, students and beautify the school’s garden. Ceramics classes are making tiles staff members have amped up their effort to divert to look like scales for the dragon-shaped bench. A gazebo-style trash from the landfill to the new earthbench in the school’s roof made of redwood, that has not yet been made, will protect the bench. “Even though redwood is a more expensive wood, garden. Many classes are pitching in their support. The Peace on Earthbench Movement (P.O.E.M) founder, it’s a hard and durable wood,� Brennan Bird said. “We would Brennan Bird, is heading the earthbench movement at Lowell love to engage the students in it, but it might call for machinery (See “School community unites to create outdoor classrooms,� and other equipment that should be used by adults, for students’ safety measures.� The Lowell, Sept. 2012). Bird estimates Erin Bird hopes to include physithat Lowell has accumulated 1,300 bottle cal education classes to speed up the bricks instead of the intended 2,000, but With 1,300 bottle process, but also wants to thank people he still plans to complete the project by bricks, there could who have already supported the garden, the beginning of the spring semester, and the Leadership Team, a group expressed satisfaction about the diversion be over 500 pounds including of volunteer students that work closely on of plastics from landfill. “With 1,300 the earthbench. “The Leadership Team is of trash.� bottle bricks, there could be over 500 doing a lot of work,� Erin Bird said. “They pounds of trash,� Bird said. With the completion of the project BRENNAN BIRD, are the ones responsible for advertising due by the end of January, the earthbench earthbench movement leader about the work days and collecting and sorting bottles.� work force is moving into the final phases. If rainy weather persists, Erin Bird predicts that their dead“Our next step is having classes go out this week laying down bottles and covering it with cob,� biology teacher Erin Bird, lines might be pushed back. “If it rains, we can’t work on the Brennan Bird’s sister. Cob is a type of earthen cement made of cob because the cob needs a specific amount of water in it,� Erin Bird said. “If there is too much or too little, it won’t set.� sand, clay, water and straw.
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KARA SCHERER
Marine Science student senior Eva Morgenstein and science teacher Kathy Melvin bond over a “creepy crawly� found in the garden on Dec. 7. Morgenstein, also an editor for The Lowell, described the insect as “a cool decomposer that burrows in leaf litter and looks like a long beetle.�
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Freshman Arena entry order changed to registrybased rotation system From ARENA on Page 1 Organization by registry will make the Arena system more equitable, because the number of students competing for classes during each rotation will not be subject to fluctuations in RAP size, according to Hoffman. Historically, as the distribution by alphabetical last names varies over the years, discrepancies in the size of RAPs can accumulate until the groups are so disproportionate that the system needs to be recalibrated. In the 2009 fall Arena, some RAPs had nearly 300 students, while others had barely 100. Hoffman recalibrated the RAPs for the first time in 2010 (See “School evens out next Arena lineups,� The Lowell, December 2010), but the numbers have changed since. At the Dec. 17 Arena, where the upper three classes will continue with the present system, RAP sizes will range from 99 to 172 students, with an average size of 124, according to Yi. Unlike the RAPs, the number of students in each registry remains relatively constant. The district randomly assigns new students to registries, which top out at around 30-35 students for any one grade level, depending on the size of each incoming class. Students cannot change registries, so the system will remain equitable.  The school will also be able to cut down on Arena planning time. Under the RAP system, each RAP is divided into smaller alphabetical groups of 20 students that line up before entering the auditorium, receiving course selection papers and being dismissed to Arena. “It’s a huge job for Shield and Scroll to divide all the green sheets into these groups a couple days before Arena,� Hoffman said. “Now the papers could be arranged in folders by registry.� When the whole school is on the registry system, the Spring Arena time could also be shortened by 25 percent, as the 20 senior registries do not pick
classes. “It just makes more sense; I don’t know why this wasn’t done years ago,� Hoffman said. Hoffman, who organizes each Arena as the advisor of Shield and Scroll, proposed the change at an Admin Council meeting on Wednesday Nov. 28, where it was approved by the administration and department heads, according to Yi. The registry system for freshmen is the main change planned for the Dec. 17 Arena. In addition to moving to the registry system for freshmen, the school has proposed and approved an additional change to Arena that will affect all grade levels – using stickers instead of handwritten information during class sign-ups, according to principal Andrew Ishibashi. The complete logistics are still being discussed, but the label system is under consideration for the Dec. 17 Arena, according to assistant principal of student support services Michael Yi. Students will be provided a sheet of pre-printed sticky labels to bring into Arena. As they sign up for a class, they will attach a label with their information to the class sign-up sheet and receive a confirmation label with the class information, to be attached to their course selection sheet, according to Yi. While inside Arena, the number of times students can change a class they have already signed up for in response to specific class block closures will be limited by the number of labels they are issued. In order to avoid students running out of labels and being unable to complete a schedule, which would result in filing incomplete, the number of labels each student will be issued is under discussion. This change was due to illegible handwriting on course-selection sheets, according to Yi. See Hoffman in Room 344 with any further questions. A VERSION OF THIS STORY FIRST APPEARED ON WWW.THELOWELL.ORG
KARA SCHERER
Students roam the gym in giant hamster balls, provided by principal Andrew Ishibashi and the Scholarship Fund for the Nov. 16 co-curricular day. The padded balls were one of several carnival activities offered in celebration.
From CO-CURRICULAR on Page 1 honor given to public and private pre-collegiate schools by the U.S. Department of Education to recognize academic achievement, as measured by standardized testing, according to the USDE website, (www2.ed.gov). Schools that consistently perform at a high level or show significant improvement in scores are eligible for the ribbon. Lowell’s overall scores, and especially those among specific student populations — English Language Learners, underrepresented ethnic groups, Learning Resource and lowincome students — have improved significantly over the last few years, according to Ishibashi. For winning the award, Lowell received a commemorative plaque and banner, which are hanging at the school’s front entrance. On Nov. 13, Ishibashi and science department head Dakotah Swett traveled to Washington D.C. to accept these awards, presented by Aba Kumi, director of the National Blue Ribbon Schools Program. Ishibashi came up with the idea to have a school-wide celebration of the award on an upcoming special activity
day. “I wanted to reward the students for their hard work, so I asked one student leader about what we could do to celebrate, and this is what we came up with,� Ishibashi said.  “The games cost a few thousand dollars, which came out of the Scholarship Fund, set aside for scholarships and student activities.  Four years ago, Lowell won the California Distinguished Award and I got in trouble for buying the whole school Krispy Kreme donuts, so I had to be careful with what I chose!� Instead of more sumo suits and Velcro walls, the school’s staff will be acknowledged for their contribution toward the accomplishment at the annual winter dinner party on Dec. 7, according to Ishibashi.  “I wanted to make the party bigger this year, so I asked the PTSA and LAA to help me fund the festivities,� Ishibashi said.  “We are going to have the party at a fancy restaurant, and staff members will have the opportunity to take pictures with the plaque and banner, to thank them for teaching, supporting, challenging, caring and believing.�  Prior to this year, Lowell has won the award in the 82-83, 94-96, and 2001-02 school years.
S&S constitution endures, voting process revised From SHIELD AND SCROLL on Page 1 was an amendment stating that only seniors will be able to vote on incoming candidates, according to S&S advisor and math teacher Karl Hoffman. According to Hoffman, the ballot committee was formed as a task force of members to discuss the election process, ascertain possible issues and improvements, and make changes to the constitution. This committee was comprised of 18 people — 15 members and three officers — and held seven meetings totaling about seven and a half hours to discuss potential changes. Several issues were discussed at the meetings. First, when a person applies for Shield and Scroll, their name is not available on the ballot to those voting, with the aim that voting will be based on the individual’s qualifications. However, a concern was raised that S&S members could still possibly
identify a student by viewing their extracurricular activities and services to the school. “It has been noted that the current elections process has some flaws, such as the possibility for S&S members to vote for ‘friends,’ not based on whether applicants are qualified and deserving,� former Shield and Scroll co-secretary senior Julie Lam said. To solve this problem, the committee proposed placing extracurricular activities into more general groups. For example, soccer and basketball would be put into a “sports� category. However, this measure was not passed. The committee decided that a better solution to the problem was to allow only seniors to vote on incoming candidates. Seniors would be less likely to identify incoming members by looking at their extra curricular activities when compared to juniors, as the candidates are not part of their immediate peer group, according to the Shield and Scroll executive vice president
senior Kristie Yu. This would decrease the possibility of bias when new members are selected. The voter discussion covered the issue that there is an inequality in the number of times junior members have access to voting, contributing to the solution that only seniors would be able to vote. For example, a junior member accepted in the fall semester would be able to vote for potential members one more time than a junior member accepted in the spring semester. “Though we have not had significant problems in the past, we are always trying to make the elections process as clear and fair for everyone as possible,� Yu said. A small change that does not affect the Constitution was also incorporated by the ballot committee. A list and description of the school’s clubs and organizations is now included with each ballot, as some student and faculty voters may not be familiar with clubs that are listed on the ballot.
6 NEWS
December 14, 2012
Lowell High School
)RUHLJQ ¿OP GLUHFWRU YLVLWV ,WDOLDQ FODVVHV By Brian Nguyen
“C
IAO!” THE Italian movie director said as he greeted students at school last month. The San Francisco Film Festival Youth Education Program invited Roan Johnson, a filmmaker from Italy, to speak to students about his recent movie, his first effort as a director. Although filmmakers from other countries have been to world language classes, this is a first for Italy. As part of the program, Branzburg’s Italian 7H students watched a special, pre-premiere viewing of Johnson’s first directed movie in Italian, I Primi della Lista, which roughly translates to The First on the List. The San Francisco Film Festival describes the movie as being set in Italy during the late 1960s, when the country was being torn apart politically by fascists and anarchists. The SFFS’s website (www.sffs.org) also said the movie “combines screwball comic flair underscored by political satire.” Branzburg used the film as a way to connect her students to contemporary Italian history and culture. “ It is a unique film that allows students to learn about modern Italian history,” she said. The film was well received by many students. “The movie was different from what we usually watch,” Italian 7H student senior Danielle de Bruin said. “Italian is a passionate language and culture, and because of this most of the movies we watched have been dramas.” Johnson was originally trained as a screenwriter at the National Film Academy in Italy. “The new director was very humble and nervous about his first directed movie when the class became his audience,” Branzburg said. Two weeks after the screening, curious and
excited students greeted the young director with a barrage of questions. Talking with a filmmaker proved to be inspirational to some students. “Talking with him about his humble beginnings made me believe that if you love something enough, then you can do it,” said Italian 7H student senior Train Schickele. The one-hour meeting proved to be insightful for both the students and the director from Italy. According to Keith Zwolfer, the Youth Education Manager at the SFFS, Johnson was amazed, telling Zwolfer in a recent email that “Just entering the building was a déjà vu because of the many movies set in an American high school I have watched.” Johnson had added that having twenty or thirty boys and girls talking about his movie and asking questions was an inspiring moment. Johnson also reflected upon the students he had met, reporting to Zwolfer in the email that he found them “curious, intelligent, with a ‘pure’ and uncontaminated look on things.” Johnson found inspiration for his movie in an era not too far from his own: 1960s Italy. The movie is based on the true story of three reckless left-wing students who become convinced that there will be a government coup in Italy. The three students eventually plan to seek political asylum in neighboring Austria. Unfortunately the hapless students are arrested and detained by Austrian border guards during their attempted escape. The SFFS has not only brought filmmakers to classrooms, but also students to movie theaters. According to Zwolfer, the SFFS’s mission is to spread awareness about films, so almost all of their events and programs are completely
free. Zwolfer said that, “When you start working with kids, you are able to get them excited about film as an art form and a way to get a new perspective on the world around them.” There is a possibility of many more visits from filmmakers to Lowell in the coming years. According to Zwolfer, the program will be looking into working with our foreign language teachers again. Though it was the first
for the Italian program, the Spanish program has had presentations by filmmakers from Uruguay before. To become involved in the program, teachers had to contact the staff at the program to express interest in participating in an event related to foreign cinema. Teachers who already expressed interest in having future guests include Branzburg and Spanish teacher Carole Cadoppi.
KARA SCHERER
Italian film director Roan Johnson enlivens Judith Branzburg’s Italian 7H class about his creative journey directing his first film, I Primi della Lisa, or The First on the List.
Salsa spices up Shakespeare David Salsa and DeLanna Studi from the Oregon Shakespeare Festival performed scenes from A Midsummer Night’s Dream, The Taming of the Shrew and Richard III, focusing on women and their power in Shakespeare’s works. (Left) Salsa, as the hunchback Richard, waits for Studi, as Anne, to kill him with his dagger — or accept his marriage proposal (Richard III). (Right) Salsa, as Demetrius, tries to shoo away Studi, as the amorous Helena, after she pursues him into the forest (A Midsummer Night’s Dream). English teacher Staci Carney organized the annual event. GAVIN LI
the crossword Across 3. Science Dept. Head 4. QB Will 6. Ceramics hotspot 7. The only reason you come to school on Dec. 21 8. Math test takers’ friend, for short 9. Fire and Ice 12. PE legend 13. Quiet place, in theory 14. Lumpia Vendors 16. School safe center 17. “Put that phone away!” 21. ___ Scientia 22. Yi, e.g. 23. “Squash ____!” chant 25. “Citrusy” famous alum? 28. Seasick costume bash 29. Official alibi 31. Paul before Andrew 32. Dancing department 35. “Simian” science?, for short 36. Patriotic junior req. 37. Drama e.g. 39. SAT alternative
By Elijah Alperin Down 1. The Chosen Club 2. la belle langue 3. Striped hat helpers 4. We missed this popular meeting spot 5. Noisome rodent tenant 10. forbidden lunch spot, in theory 11. Class congress, for short 15. 9:15 a.m. 18. college dreams 19. Sweaty Req. 20. Hello Kitty Connoisseur 22. Amphitheater of anguish or grounds of glory, depending on your pick 24. “Heavy” classes? 26. Headhunters for posterity? 27. Indian successor 28. Feathered rivalry, for short 30.Blocked by Blocks? 33. APUSH Music Man 34. Block 2 ½? 36. Senior time-drain 40. Dunk tank Hiro?
The Lowell
December 14, 2012
Imbalance of the Sexes
By Cooper Logan
S
ENIOR NICK Bourgault is one of two boys in English teacher Staci Carney’s 32-student Mods 6-7 AP Literature and Composition class, and the only boy in his 33-student intermediate dance class. Bourgault said that he mostly doesn’t mind the imbalance. “Women pop up a lot in discussion,” he said. “It can get a little weird.” The curriculum in many classes can connect with student and teacher anecdotes, a phenomenon that also reflects the gender differential. “Class discussions can get a little personal about female issues,” Bourgault said, referring to dating and other everyday obstacles, “but whatever.” Regardless, Bourgault said he did not feel that the gender imbalance is a definitive aspect of the classes. “It doesn’t make or break it,” he said. At Lowell, 60.2 percent of the student population is female, according to the San Francisco Unified School District website (www.sfusd.edu), which can contribute to imbalanced classes. Girls also notice the effects of the disparity on class atmosphere, but agree that the gender ratio occasionally impacts the curriculum. “There are times when we tend to go too far into the feminist realm,” senior Sophia Warren, who is also in Carney’s 6-7 class, said. “Guys can’t relate, and it can get hard for them to comment.” She added that the individual personalities of the quieter boys impact this phenomenon. “The guys in the class aren’t ‘I’m a big burly man and I have a strong opinion about being a big burly man’ type of people.” Warren suggested that a different population of boys would “refute some of the feminists when they start going too far.” The statistic of the Lowell gender distribution is often overshadowed by statistics regarding race. The school district does not report data on gender in School Accountability Report Cards, though comparisons between the percentages of racial groups abound. The SFUSD policy does not take gender into consideration when assigning students to schools, from elementary to high school, which can contribute to a male/female imbalance in classes. “The school assignment process is gender neutral,” executive director of the SFUSD Educational Placement Center Darlene Lim said, adding that “the way students are assigned to classrooms is at the discretion of the school.” This classroom assignment policy does
not play a role in gender balancing at Lowell because students self-schedule, according to assistant principal of student support services Michael Yi. The school’s self-scheduling system can lead to a higher ratio of one sex, depending on who signs up for a class. Administrators do not interfere with class sign-up or how many sections of a course are offered on the basis of gender. “Usually, courses are not affected by gender,” Yi said. “If no one requests a course, it isn’t offered.” No district schools, including elementary and middle schools, are balanced by sex by the district, but Lim said that in her experience most complaints on the subject of gender imbalance arise when there is a majority of boys in a class at the elementary school level. This assertion is confirmed by a May 31, 2010 New York Times article, “Gender Gap for the Gifted in City Schools,” which notes the developmental lag of boys at the elementary school level. “For some of the boys, ‘their social and emotional development is not at the same level as their intellectual development,’ said Donna Taylor, the principal of the Brooklyn School of Inquiry. She estimated that she spent about half her day helping her kindergarten and firstgrade boys as they ran into trouble with issues like collaboration, self-control and sharing.” However, the article also notes that in New York City, the trend is flipped in academic high schools, where boys are overrepresented in all eight of the public schools that have an entrance exam for admission. In San Francisco, Lowell is the only school to have an entrance exam, yet the demographics favor girls. Although the overall sex ratio does exacerbate the frequency of female-dominated classes, Yi distinguished between an imbalance in overall signup for a course and an imbalance because students of one gender tended to sign up for a certain period of the course by coincidence. Because of this, the gender imbalance of classes can fall either way: some courses are female-dominated, while others have more males. Certain courses are particularly affected by this phenomenon. Dance and AP Literature and Composition, two of Bourgault’s classes, serve as prime examples. On the other hand, there are 23 boys and six girls in one section of AP Physics C, and 15 boys and five girls in another. More females in dance and certain AP English courses and more males in physics and certain other science classes is a trend repeated from year to year, according to Yi.
The number of girls at Lowell slightly affects the gender balance at other schools in the district. The schools with more males than females may also be affected by the fact that females make up a 48.3 percent minority district wide, according to the California Longitudinal Pupil Achievement Data System. According to Lim, the district has not looked at the gender imbalance at Lowell or in other parts of the district. As a result, she could not definitively explain the trend. “It might be that there are more girls applying or that more girls are accepted,” she said. “It is not something we are required to monitor, and we haven’t made the decision to try to monitor it.”
NEWS
MONICA CASTRO
Yi said the trend cannot be explained without a district investigation. “We don’t know,” Yi said. “This is research the district has to do. They are not doing such analysis because some schools with certain gender might appear to be more academically challenged than others, which would seem like a gender bias.” This trend of women being more successful academically is reflected beyond the SFUSD, and is generally seen as indicative of the ongoing increase of women pursuing higher-level careers. According to a citation in a Feb. 5, 2010 New York Times article, “The New Math on Campus,” at least 57 percent of college enrollments since 2000 were by women.
The Lowell community weighs in on the issue of gender imbalance and what should be done about it.
“I think it’s a trend in education these days. For example, there are more girls at UC Berkeley, so it’s not just Lowell. There are especially more females completing high school and going on to college. The question we have to ask is: are schools serving everyone’s needs equally?” — Alison Shepard, librarian
“Consider the Peer Mentoring program. On one hand, girls can mentor boys and boys can mentor girls. At the same time, it would be good to have more male mentors, so they could be role models for younger male students.” — Peer Resources Coordinator Adee Horn
“I’ve noticed it when we’re performing plays and there are a lot of guy parts, like A Midsummer Night’s Dream.” — freshman Olivia Whitfield
“It makes it harder to form groups balanced by gender. Sometimes boys get stuck by themselves with groups of girls and they might feel slightly uncomfortable, shyer or less likely to participate.” — William Steele, social studies teacher
Female percentage by school *Source: 08/09 school profile data
INFOGRAPHIC BY MONICA CASTRO
“If they started trying to even out ratios, the school would run into a lot of controversy over discriminating.” — sophomore Julian Greenhill
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“Girls are just smarter.”
— freshman Mina Choe
December 14, 2012
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December 14, 2012
PROFILES
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Music maniac mixes genres Radio personality rocks to sound waves with multi-themed show By Samantha Wilcox
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HEN THE “ON AIR” light begins to flash, this is the time when radio personalities come to life. Lowell class of 2010 alum and current San Diego State University KCR radio DJ Claudio Castro views his hosting duties for his radio show, 25th Hour, as a fun way to share his love of music with his friends and the rest of the community. Currently, 25th Hour features mostly music. “Although the show is centered around music, I want to head toward a more journalistic aspect once I gain more listeners and begin to improve,” Castro said. A current business management major, Castro jumped at the opportunity to join his college’s radio station. “I wanted to get involved with the college radio down here and anybody can join, so I decided to go for it,” Castro said. Castro finds ways to relate business management with radio. “Promoting oneself and different aspects of running a business can apply to DJ’ing,” Castro said. “Learning what’s in the market and what’s in demand can translate into what’s new in music and the popular music to play.” All students can join the radio station as either a DJ, producer, host, or reporter. The majority of students currently involved have no prior experience. “I do and don’t regret not having any radio experience,” Castro said. “It would have been nice being at a radio station before and learning the ins and outs, but having a blank slate and learning on the go is fun, too.” Playing music for a living is a draw to the world of radio, according to Castro. “I mostly play music that I like,” Castro said. “It’s usually a ‘theme’ for the show. For example, I’ll play the ‘best of ’ of an artist one
show or a certain genre for another show.” Although he is new to the DJ scene, Castro has long admired those who do the same work. “I’ve always been inspired by various DJs that get to play music for a living, although I have no specific inspiration,” Castro said. “I hope to learn from this experience and improve my radio and DJ skills to maybe something in the future.” As a college student, gaining real world experience is important. “I’ve learned to not expect much early on, and to not take it personally when you don’t have many listeners,” Castro said. “There were times when I had two listeners for my show, and the most I’ve had is seven. If I take it show by show, I will
By Elena Bernick
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ON-GENRE discriminating stuff to get on with your life. Confused? This isn’t just a mash-up of words, it’s the tagline of Nicola Householder’s radio show “Nick’s Picks,” a two-hour music program on Barnard College’s radio station WBAR. Householder hosts the show and chooses the music to play, sharing information about artists in between songs. Householder, a Lowell class of ‘11 alum, was as active in high school communication media as she is in college today. Her voice rang through hallways during registry every week, as she was a broadcaster on Radio Lowell for her junior and senior years. Householder was also a staff member of The Lowell from sophomore to senior year.
PHOTO ILLUSTRATION COURTESY OF KT KELLY
improve myself and gain listeners.” Castro has not blocked out the possibility of continuing with his passion. “Continuing with radio is definitely an option,” Castro said. “If a job presents itself, I would take it. But it’s not my ideal job – something for fun on the side.” Lowell students can listen to Castro live or through podcasts on the KCR website, or through the TuneIn Radio app that is available for most smart phones.
Determined to get her voice out on the airwaves, Householder applied as a freshmen to be on her Barnard’s radio station after seeing flyers around the campus. She’s been broadcasting for a year and a half now, and doesn’t seem to want to stop any time soon. The experience Householder gained at Lowell was a helpful stepping-stone to college radio. “[Radio Lowell] definitely helped spark my interest,” Householder said. “I knew going into college the one thing I wanted to do was radio.”
One key difference from Radio Lowell is the freedom allowed on-air. “You can say more of what you want,” Householder said. “You don’t have teachers standing over your shoulder. Technically we can swear on the radio.” As a self-described music enthusiast, Householder uses the program as an outlet for her creativity. “I love music,” Householder said. “I had a music blog for a while, so being on a radio show seemed to be the perfect route for me.” While being the sole host of her own show gives Householder the chance to share her favorite jams, she doesn’t let her own taste monopolize the airwaves. A devoted fan of indie, folk and progressive rock, Householder has used the show as a way of discovering new artists and genres. “I want [the show] to be blind to genre,” Householder said. “Whatever I think sounds good, that’s what I’m playing. It’s a major component of my show to bring back the stuff I find online and branch out.” One way Householder keeps her program interesting is through weekly themes. “Every week I do a different theme to center around the songs,” Householder said. “A couple weeks ago I did a baseball theme because the Giants had just won the World Series.” The theme she picks also serves as an optimal way to explore the vast music landscape. “Since every week I do a very periodic theme, it forces me out of my iTunes playlist,” Householder said. “My theme last week was friends, and I found songs that I would have not listen to otherwise.” Householder’s gig also gives her the opportunity to get a close up look at the music scene and then artists who are a part of it. She will be hosting her first in-studio soon, where a band comes will come in and perform live on the air. “It’s a band called Cheap Blue Yonder Come On,” Householder said. “They just released an album. I’m really excited about it. Just by having this radio show, I was able to reach out to them.” As for after college, Householder is keeping an open mind about the future. “Radio is definitely an option,” Householder said. “I want to be involved in music somehow. My dream would be to work at a small record company.” The show airs every Friday from 6-8 p.m., and you can listen in by logging onto the WBAR website. (www.wbar.org)
Intrepid journalist checks in to novel career By Sam Tick-Raker
pictures of refugees’ first nights in hotels across America. “I met HEN MOST HIGH SCHOOL graduates receive the photographer, Gabriele Stabile, at a meeting in Greenpoint, their diplomas, they are unsure of what they want while I was working at the Greenpoint Gazette. We were initially to do in the world. But a former reporter for The going to do a project about Newtown Creek, a superfund site in Greenpoint,” Linderman said. “But as we Lowell and current journalist was determined became friends, we decided to collaborate on to follow her passion and bring awareness to a Refugee Hotel instead.” subject many Americans are not knowledgeAs they worked together, she began to feel able about. more passionate about the topic. “The project Juliet Linderman, class of ’04, has continued was so unique and personal. I thought it was her love of journalism in her post-high school a wonderful project already,” Linderman said. life. After graduating from Lowell, Linderman “But what really struck me was how much majored in geography and literature at the Gallwe could do with it — the idea of following atin School of Individualized Study, a college up with these refugees and recording their within NYU. When she graduated, Linderman stories about what it’s like moving to a brand moved from Manhattan and became the editor new and totally unfamiliar country, and tryof The Greenpoint Gazette, a neighborhood ing to make sense of a whole new world.” She weekly paper located in Brooklyn. “Since it PHOTO COURTESY OF JULIET LINDERMAN began travelling to the different cities where was a neighborhood paper, I got to know the the refugees ended up and interviewing them. community,” Linderman said. “As editor I got to influence the The excitement of the project led to Linderman’s decision to way it was reflected.” She took what she learned from that experience to her newly write a book with the collections of the oral histories of the refufound job, freelancing for The New York Times Metro section. gees. “We used clues that lead us to tracing two dozen people When there was a shooting or a murder, the paper would call from places such as Somalia, Bhutan, Ethiopia and Burma, in six different cities,” Linderman said. on Linderman and ask her to report to the scene. The book is called Refugee Hotel, and is being published by While still working in the city that never sleeps, Linderman met a photographer that travelled across the country, taking Voice of Witness, a branch of McSweeney’s. It is available for
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sale on their website (store.mcsweeneys.net). Linderman interviewed a wide variety of people, ranging from three brothers who grew up in a Thai refugee camp to a Sudanese man who lost his passport, increasing the difficulty of his journey to America. Before the project she had only travelled to a handful of states, after the experience Linderman had more appreciation for the rest of the country. “We wanted to give a glimpse of communities you would never think of. Who knew there was a Chin (Burmese) population in Amarillo, Texas, or a lot of Burundian and Congolese in Mobile, Alabama?” she said. “America is a country built on immigrants and refugees. By nature, understanding them influenced the way that I understand it.” Well-versed in the topic of refugees, she travelled once again to another part of the country: the Big Easy. She just started her new job as a staff reporter for The New Orleans Times-Picayune. Now that the book is coming out, Linderman is as ecstatic as she was when she first began talking to the refugees. “It does not feel real. I am excited, but also nervous because I love the project so much,” she said. Linderman’s journalistic career has come a long way; she began by interviewing students at Lowell and now she has spoken to refugees about their lives in America. “The book is about how people come to this country, what they leave, what they bring, what they pass on to their children, and what it means for the future of this country,” Linderman said.
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ILLLUSTRATIONS BY HOI LEUNG AND KIMBERLY LI
THE LOWELL
SPOTLIGHT DECEMBER 14 2012
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Reporters profile Lowell alumni on athletics in college
Lowell High School December 14, 2012
Page 11
Vars V-ball takes 1st after 3-year drought By Kai Matsumoto-Hines
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Senior right side hitter Karin Yamazaki (center) and junior middle hitter Jaela Caston (right) rise up to reject an attack from an Eagles’ player in the championship game on Nov. 8. The girls’ varsity volleyball team defeated Washington 3-1, advancing to state.
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ASHING PAST THE TREES in Golden Gate Park’s Polo Fields, cross country runners endure any pain necessary as they strive to edge out their opponents and claim the Academic Athletic Association crown. This year the team swept the league, taking all four team titles: boys’ varsity, girls’ varsity, boys’ frosh-soph champions and girls’ frosh-soph. Despite not taking any individual medals on Nov. 14, the boys’ varsity team did take places fourth through tenth in the All City Championships 5k race, claiming first place with a total See CROSS-COUNTRY on Page 14
PHOTO COURTESY OF LINDA MEDINA-SAM
Senior varsity runner Chris Chow charges forward during the first minutes of the AAA All-City race at Golden Gate Park on Nov. 14. Chow took sixth place with a time of 18:17.
By Spencer Thirtyacre
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HE BOYS’ VARSITY soccer team was stifled by the Mission Bears during the championship game on Nov. 3, emerging as co-champions in a 1-1 tie. The Cardinals dominated the first half, controlling possession, and keeping the ball on Mission’s side for the majority of the half. Around the 30-minute mark, Lowell took the lead following a goal off a header by senior midfielder Zach Weisenburger, from a corner kick by senior defender Peter Harrington. Shortly after Weisenburger’s goal, there was a head-on collision between sophomore goalkeeper Abdul Monim and Mission junior forward Mario Mejia, forcing Monim out of the game. Lowell was forced to put in their backup goalkeeper, sophomore Aiden Powers-Riggs, who had played infrequently throughout the regular season. It was a very physical match between the top two seeded teams, and Lowell came into the second half of the game with mixed feelings; they had a 1-0 lead, but that could be lost in seconds. They also had lost their starting goalie; however Powers-Riggs proved he was up for the challenge by making several spectacular saves, keeping Lowell’s lead intact for as long as possible. There were some questionable shoves that came from both sides, yet few of them were actually called as fouls. In addition to Monim, junior forward Aaron Moye and junior midfielder Antonio Torres were injured in the second half, and were taken out. With only four minutes left in the game, the Cards had forced the Bears to kick a ball out of play. Lowell was set up for a goal kick, and was feeling fairly confident, going into the last minutes. They were en route for their third straight city title — or so they thought. The ball was kicked into noman’s-land, and the Bears pounced on it. Mission senior forward Marco Caballero recovered the ball and passed it up the middle to Mejia, who scored when Powers-Riggs finally let one past him, tying the game 1-1. Regulation time quickly came to an end, and overtime procedures were announced. To the sur-
prise of many players and fans watching from the stands, the California Interscholastic Federation does not allow penalty kicks to break a tie, even in the championships. This meant that if neither team scored in the two five minute sudden death round, following a 20-minute overtime, both teams would be crowned champions. Throughout overtime, Mission frustrated the Cardinals, maintaining pressure by keeping the ball on the Cardinals’ side. Mission looked fresher than the Cardinals, constantly subbing out their players and in turn beating the Cards to the ball. Still, Powers-Riggs managed to keep Mission from scoring with several seemingly miraculous saves. Neither team could break the tie, and as the final sudden death round came to an end, both teams were announced as winners, much to the disappointment of fans and players on both sides, who demanded a single champion. Surprisingly, the Cardinals went into the championship as underdogs. The Bears had defeated Lowell 4-2 on Oct. 18, ending the Cards’ 48-game undefeated streak, just two days after the Lincoln Mustangs ended their win streak with a 1-1 tie. The last year the championship game resulted in co-champs was 1964, when Mission tied Washington. Mission has now been a part of all five co-championships. Mission head coach Scott Kennedy brought up the issue of dual winners at the coaches’ meeting on Monday, Nov. 5, and is hoping to put an end to the current system by installing penalty kicks. RN
By Ashley Louie
Boys’ varsity soccer ties 1-1 with Mission in championship
ST E
XC sends vars teams to state
CA TE
HE GIRLS’ VARSITY volleyball team soared above the competition this season and snatched the championship trophy after a four-year drought. The Cardinals (12-0) defeated the Washington Eagles (10-2) 3-1 on Thursday, Nov. 8 with set scores of 25-6, 25-16, 16-25 and 25-12. “We worked really hard this season to make sure we didn’t have a repeat of last season,” junior co-captain and setter Gianna Braganza said. In a game, Lowell has a tendency to gain the lead, fall back, but still take the win, a trademark style which has earned itself the name of the “Lowell lull.” “In that third set, we lost sight of the team we always strive to be and it felt like we needed that wake-up call to realize that we needed to get back to playing the way we know we can,” senior outside/rightside hitter and co-captain Emily Lim said. “We really cut down on our amount of errors and we didn’t let our mistakes get to us like we did in the third set. We started to have fun again and once we pulled ourselves together, we became the team we know we can be.” Team members know where they made mistakes. “I personally need to work on consistency and communication,” junior outside hitter Katie Hwang said. “Whether it be passing, hitting, or serving, I think I need to try and focus on staying consistent while still making sure I’m loud on the court. Being loud in volleyball is a must!” Now that the season is finally over, players rejoice and think about the past season. “My favorite moment was definitely the overnight trip,” Hwang said. “It was so much fun because we had a tournament the whole day, then got dressed up, went to dinner, and basically had a humongous sleepover.” The team competed in the Concord Tournament on Sept. 29 against Deer Valley, Granada, Foothill, Sonoma and Las Lomas high schools. To see a complete list of scores, visit the Lowell Athletics website (www.lowellathletics.com).
12 SPORTS
Lowell High School
December 14, 2012
Reporter disappointed with championship draw
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By Dylan Anderson UE TO AN old-fashioned technicality, the boys’ varsity soccer championship game between the Lowell Cardinals and Mission Bears finished in a 1-1 draw on Nov. 3, making it the first tie in a final in over 40 years. However the rule that permitted this occurrence to take place is outdated and improper. It should be altered so that one team is guaranteed to receive the ultimate satisfaction that every team dreams of at the beginning of the season — a true championship all for themselves. The Bears and Cardinals were crowned co-champions by the Academic Athletic Association, a body that governs inter-school athletics in the San Francisco section of the California Interscholastic Federation. Interscholastic athletic competitions in the San Francisco section are governed by a nearly 200 page long constitution and by laws, is
available online (www.cifsf.org). Section 9 in Part XII of this document discusses the rules and regulations specifically pertaining to soccer. Paragraph F in this section states, “Should playoff games be tied at the end of regulation, the NFHS Tie Game procedure shall be used... However, for the championship game, co-champions shall be declared if a tie exists at the end of the second five-minute sudden victory overtime period set out in the NFHS Tie Game procedure.” The rule directly states that in the case of a tie at the end of the championship game, the competitors will be declared “co-champions.” How can neither team win? And if neither team wins, then don’t both teams lose? All of the players took the field on that sunny Saturday afternoon with the goal of defeating their opponent, and every single player on both teams failed to do that. The result of the final game left the players in an unusual position:
KIMBERLY LI
they had failed to accomplish their primary goal, yet they were still league champions. Senior defender Peter Harrington said, “When the game ended I felt dissatisfied. I felt like the 110 minutes of nonstop effort seemed to be worth less than it should’ve been.” This rule to determine the outcome of a tie game is problematic because it allows for more failures rather than more successes. The rule isn’t necessarily unfair, but as we all know, life isn’t fair either. “Technically speaking, I don’t think it could be more fair,” Harrington said. “However, I don’t think it takes into account the principle of competition that drives all sports.” The Bears and Cardinals were rewarded equally for a performance of equal ability, but they were deprived of an opportunity to prove that they were the best team in the league. The rule also declares that in the event of a tie in an ordinary playoff game, the game will follow the tie game procedures set out by the National Federation of State High School Associations. Clause 3 on Page 85 of the NFHS (www.ciysa.com) soccer rule book states that, “If the score still remains tied, the head referee shall choose the goal at which all of the kicks from the penalty mark shall be taken. Each coach will select any five players, including the goalkeeper, on or off the field (except those who may have been disqualified) to take the kicks. Teams will alternate kickers. There is no follow-up on the kick. Following five kicks for each team, the team scoring on the greatest number of these kicks shall be declared the winner. Add one goal to the winning team score and credit the team with a victory.” Should a winner not be determined
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during the first set of penalty kicks, the teams will choose five more kickers and repeat the process until one team eventually wins. The penalty kick tiebreaker is used in elimination games by the world’s elite soccer organizations, such as the International Federation of Association Football (FIFA) and the Union Européenne de Football Association Union Européenne de Football Association (UEFA) Champions League. Some of the most important games in the history of sports have been won in a penalty kick tiebreak, such as the 2006 World Cup final in which Italy prevailed over France. Many players and coaches also support the penalty kick tiebreaker for use in championship games. “If I could amend it, I definitely would [change it] to penalty kicks,” senior defender Avery Fisher said. “It’s always the way we’ve done it in the leagues I’ve been in growing up. Ending a championship in a tie is just not right. Nobody is happy.” The AAA should extend the NFHS Tie Game procedure to apply to the championship game as well. “Since the tie in the soccer finals, the soccer coaches’ committee has recommended using tiebreaker penalty kicks instead of declaring co-champions if a game is tied at the end of the overtime periods,” said AAA Commissioner of Athletics Donald Collins. “This recommendation will move forward through our governance structure, ultimately being voted on by our Board of Managers.” The AAA is taking the appropriate steps to solve the problem, and hopefully the Board of Managers will vote the change into law.
How can neither team win? and if neither team wins, then don’t both teams lose?
SPORTS
December 14, 2012
The Lowell
FALL SPORTS MVPS
Boys’ Varsity Soccer By Spencer Thirtyacre
He shoots, he scores! The varsity soccer team tied Mission in the championship this year to bring home the trophy for the third consecutive year. However one thing they will not be celebrating is the loss of several key seniors, including The Lowell’s choice for Most Valuable Player, senior defender Avery Fisher. Fisher has served as a role model for the younger Cardinals to emulate. “It would be impossible for any underclassmen not to be impacted by the play, leadership and passion of Avery,” head coach Marcos Estebez said. “He will be remembered and held up as an example of what a leader looks like.” During his four years on varsity Fisher has helped the Cardinals to the championship three years in a row and has developed into an intelligent player as well as a strong athlete. “Avery arrived as a good player, but now he’s a smarter player,” Estebez said. “His understanding of the field initially only went as far as his position. Now his view is much more global, he can process more information which allows him to anticipate events before they are realized.” Fisher encourages the team to continue to strive for success long after he is gone. “Continue to play hard and keep the Lowell tradition of winning as a team and doing things the right way,” Fisher advises his teammates.
FS Volleyball By Dylan Anderson and Sam Tick-Raker
After leading her team to an undefeated championship season, freshman middle blocker Kris Hui has been selected by The Lowell as the Most Valuable Player on the FS Girls’ Volleyball team. Despite this being her first season as a Cardinal, her spirit, skill and work ethic have allowed her to become one of the most feared players in the league. Hui stands at five feet eight inches tall, well above average for girls her age. “Her height is a good intimidation factor,” defensive specialist Kiersten Cheung said. But Hui doesn’t only look like an outstanding athlete, she plays like one too. “She’s one of our offensive weapons,” Cheung said. “We can always count on her to get that important kill or make her serve over.” Hui said she feels ecstatic that she has contributed to the team in such a big way. “With the amazing help of our defense in the back row and our precise setter Brandi Wong, it all helps for a good attack, which is where I finish it off,” she said. Hui cannot wait for next season to begin. “This last season was such a great experience with all the players in the program and our amazing coaches and managers,” she said. “Everyone made it so much more enjoyable so that pretty much gets me pumped to do it all again next year!”
JV Football By Pasha Stone
For his consistent leadership and strong overall performance, The Lowell has selected sophomore quarterback Johann Leffler as junior varsity football’s Most Valuable Player. Leffler was planning to lead the defense as a safety along with sophomore corner and defensive captain Abdul Alaudi. However, during summer conditioning sophomore quarterback Zach Toy went down with a leg injury, which sidelined him for most of the season. Though Leffler had never played quarterback before, the coaches trusted him to fill the position for the year. “Last year the coaching staff and I saw the potential Johan had, but he was out due to a concussion,” head coach Ronald Ng said. “Luckily this year he stayed healthy and stepped up and lead the offense for us. He’s a great kid, knows what to do and just does it.” Before moving up to varsity, Leffler was the captain the JV team needed to lead them through thick and thin. “Johan did everything we knew he could do and more,” Ng said. Johan will look to this offseason training to help his team make another playoff run, and next season continue his success on the varsity level.
Varsity Volleyball By Kai Matsumoto-Hines
Good things come in threes! The Lowell’s choices for Most Valuable Player for girls’ varsity volleyball are Gianna Braganza, Emily Lim and Melissa See. The three co-captains fought tough competition to bring home the AAA championship trophy. The captains not only saw their hard work pay off, but also appreciated their co-captains efforts to make a better team. “I am inexpressibly proud of Emily and Gianna,” senior defensive specialist Melissa See said. “Gianna has the hardest job on the court because she has to dig, hit, set, and block, but she just makes it look so effortless. I’ve been playing volleyball with Emily for a long time now, and I honestly don’t know anyone who works as hard as she does. She is so incredibly consistent in all areas of her game, but more importantly she provides amazing leadership both on and off the court whether we are losing or winning. I’m truly honored to have Emily and Gianna as captains.” Winning the championship victory after a long dry streak fulfilled the players’ goals. “I’m honored to have received this recognition and I’m just really happy that we finally ended the three-year varsity title drought,” Lim said. “It was a great way to end my Lowell Volleyball career.”
Varsity Football By Ian James
The Lowell’s choice for varsity football’s Most Valuable Player is senior defensive back Micheal McCarthy. McCarthy’s determination on the field is an inspiration for the players around him. “He’s a great leader,” senior offensive lineman Hiromi Fujita said. “When he’s in, he will make that crucial play every time. The team looks up to him because he puts in his best every play. ” This year’s team has benefited from the understanding between two of their biggest offensive weapons, senior quarterback Will Frankel and McCarthy. “Coming into this year, we were able to develop a big connection” Frankel said. “We were able to have that ‘big play’ ability Lowell teams have missed in the past.” One example of this teamwork was Lowell’s sole touchdown in their playoff game against the Mustangs, a 17-yard pass from Frankel to McCarthy. Head coach Danny Chan is full of praise for his graduating senior. “There are some kids I want to clone, kids who I want to keep for a long time and Mikey is one of those kids,” Chan said. “He can do anything on the field — he can kick, he can run, he can catch. It’s been eight or nine years since I’ve had a player who can catch like that. He will go down as a legend in
Cross-Country By Ashley Louie
The Lowell’s pick for Most Valuable Player of the cross country season is senior co-captain Max Niehaus. Niehaus currently holds the fastest time in the 2012 league meet races, clocking in at 17:33 for the 5k, according to the California Interscholastic Foundation’s San Francisco Section cross country standings (www.cifsf. org). On Nov.14, despite tackling a sore throat and slight fever — which resulted in Niehaus taking fourth place with a time of 18:09 — he managed to lead the boys’ varsity team to first overall with 30 points. Still fighting a fever and sore throat, Niehaus ran the 5K at the state championships on Nov. 24 in Fresno with a time of 17:53. This season, Niehaus was an exemplary leader as one of the season’s male co-captains. “He always gave us high-fives and asked us how we felt after every race — which parts of the race we felt good on or which ones we felt like we needed to work on,” freshman runner Luke Haubenstock said. Prutz also noticed Niehaus’ leadership growing over his four years on the team. “He has contributed his maturity and experience as a runner,” Prutz said. “He cares deeply for the team and the other runners on the team.” In college, Niehaus plans to continue competing — both indoors and outdoors.
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Vars Girl’s Golf By Andrew Pearce and Joey Wong
With two years of commitment to the sport, senior captain Paulina Kang has been awarded The Lowell’s choice for Most Valuable Player. Kang took second place in the San Francisco Section girls’ title this year, where she lost by 14 strokes to Lincoln senior Kristi Wong, with a final score of 69-83 on a par 60 course. Kang is a critical part of the team during matches. “She’s the backbone of our girls’ varsity team,” coach Robert Ray said. “There isn’t a time where she doesn’t perform at a high level.” Although not achieving her pre-season goal of taking first in the individual competition, Kang’s work ethic has pushed her to continually look for ways to elevate her skills. “I try to make sure I work hard and commit myself,” Kang said. “I practice every Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday with the team. I also take golf lessons on Saturdays and sometimes Sundays at Lake Merced Golf Club to improve my golf game.” The team respects and appreciates her, and they hope that someone equally committed will step up and fill her shoes next year. “She’s a great captain because she’s very organized and she’s a great motivator,” sophomore golfer Rachael No said. “She plans all of our practices and other stuff as well, like playing together for fun and the team dinner.” Kang is currently excited to play golf recreationally in college.
Girls’ Tennis By Ray Lang
Serve, return, smash. She delivers the killing shot into the opponent’s court, securing another win for the girl’s varsity tennis team. But more than an outstanding player, senior girls’ varsity tennis player Nancy Hong is just as much a role model off the court as she is on which is why she is The Lowell’s choice for Most Valuable Player. A co-captain along with fellow senior Kitty Kwan, Hong has assumed a leadership position this season. She holds the team together, πmaking sure everyone knows everyone, and that no player is left on the sideline. “She’s always been a captain to all of us, we automatically look up to her,” sophomore Sydney Lee said. “She’s really responsible and does everything on time.” Hong’s teammates never hesitate in coming to her with their problems. Hong’s experience often suffices, but she also plays a crucial role in collaborating with coach Bryan Lee. “The players come to me and tell me what’s wrong and I’ll tell the coach,” Hong said. Her abilities as captain are backed by her prowess on the court. Hong’s strong hits and serves make her a force to be reckoned with and are reflected in her perfect league season. This season Hong and Kwan took the All-City doubles championship.
December 14, 2012
14 SPORTS
Lowell High School
Athlete of the Month:
Kristen Leung By Ashley Louie
While some freshmen cross country runners make it onto the varsity team, not all of them make it to the top of the varsity division. Freshman Kristen Leung, however, is currently the fastest female cross country runner in the San Francisco Academic Athletic Association division. Her personal record in the AAA 5k course is 21:02 — 35 seconds faster than last year’s girls’ varsity division champion. Head cross country coach Michael Prutz was surprised by her performance because of her inexperience. “After Kristen ran her first race at the Lowell Invitational, she broke out of the crowd of new runners,” Prutz said. Leung said that she ran the most she ever had at her first cross country practice. “In the beginning, I never knew I was good at running,” Leung said. “Most people at my middle school were sprinters and my coach discouraged me from running distance.” She ran the 400m race in middle school. She is one of the very few runners that has come in as a freshman and led the city’s girls’ division, according to Prutz. “She has a lot of potential and natural ability,” Prutz said. According to Prutz, the last female runner to show promise so early was Lowell alumnus Anna Li, class of ’06. Besides Leung’s exceptional performance on the course, she is comical and contributes a lightheartedness to boost the spirits of the cross country team, according to Prutz. With her cheerful contribution, people are not envious, but happy for her. “What’s really nice about having someone like that on the team is that she brings the whole level of competition up,” Prutz said. “We’ve been having faster times this year with everybody playing catch-up with her.” Leung won the All-City girls’ 5k varsity championship with a time of 21:33, sending her to the 5k state championship where she ran a 19:52. PHOTO COURTESY OF LINDA MEDINA-SAM
XC sweeps AAA team titles PHOTO COURTESY OF SYDNEY GUTIERREZ
Top row (from left to right): members of the boys’ varsity team: junior Brian Nguyen (18:43, tenth place), senior cocaptain Ray Lang (18:40, ninth place), senior Chris Chow (18:17, sixth place), junior John Hogan (18:18, seventh place), senior co-captain Max Niehaus (18:09, fourth place), junior Calvin Li (18:38, eighth place) and junior Donald Chen (18:16, fifth place). Bottom row (from left to right): members of the girls’ varsity team: junior Kathleen Kanaley (23:37, tenth place), senior co-captain Sabrina Quinonez (22:09, second place), senior Susan Li (22:55, fifth place), senior co-captain Emma Keenan-Grice (22:42, fourth place), freshamn Kristen Leung (21:53, first place), sophomore Sydney Gutierrez (23:04, seventh place). Also on the girls’ team but not pictured was senior Cecilia Fang (23:03, sixth place).
From CROSS COUNTRY on page 11 of 30 points. This earned them a spot in the state championships in Fresno on Nov. 24. The girls’ varsity team won with a total of 18 points. Freshman Kristen Leung and senior co-captain Sabrina Quinonez snatched first and second of the girls’ varsity 5k race respectively. Leung and Quinonez, along with six other Lowell runners, were within the top ten runners in the girls’ varsity division. Leung made cross country history by being the first freshman runner since Lowell alumnus Anna Li, class of ’06, to take the gold in the girls’ varsity division. The boys’ frosh-soph team also won its division title with 35 points. Sophomore Isaiah Abeyta medaled with second
place in the race. In addition to the girls’ frosh-soph win, Cardinal runners snatched all three medals for the race. Sophomore Michelle Wong, who is a reporter for The Lowell, freshman Annie Zhou and sophomore Serina Leung won first, second and third place respectively. This year, head coach Michael Prutz continued to put more emphasis on speed — a trend that he implemented a few years back. “We did a hill and a track sprint workout each week at the expense of more distance training,” Prutz said. Overall, Prutz thought that the team performed very well this year and sees good prospects for the future. “We have a really young team and I look forward to coming years,” he said.
Vars football goes to playoffs, builds over season
By Ian James
tential for an even more successful season. “I HE VARSITY FOOTBALL team’s roll- really wish we had pushed as hard in the first ercoaster ride of a season pulled into week as we did in the last,” senior offensive linethe station for the final time after a cruel man Hiromi Fujita said. Varsity football coach Danny Chan is proud 26-6 semi-final defeat to the Lincoln Mustangs of the advancements his team has made. “The on Nov. 15. Finishing the regular season with a 3-3 whole team has gotten a lot better over the course of the year,” record, the Cards Chan said. “The ofwent into their line grew well final game as unWe really clicked as a team fensive together, the leaderderdogs, having and took over the game. ship of Hiromi Fujita lost to the MusJacky Tang was tangs 54-14 in The running game worked and key. Will Frankel imtheir last game of the regular seaout well early on, which proved each game and so did the defense. s on. “We were is important because our They were finally getweary because of the earlier game, team relies heavily on its ting what Lowell football is about.” but we made a lot running game.” Still, the varsity of adjustments team has much to be and played a good Will Frankel, proud of and much g a m e ,” s e n i o r senior quarterback to look forward to. “I quarterback Will have lots of trust in Frankel said. “It was a close game but in the end the team who our younger players. I saw a lot of potential in Ray Pheps and Dillon Easterling, Dillon played made the fewer mistakes won.” This season also held several highlights for really well in the play-offs,” senior offensive the team’s efforts, including a memorable 44-14 lineman Will Kim said. These young players are looking to make victory over Washington in the Battle of the Birds on Oct. 26. “We really clicked as a team their senior years as succesful as possible. “Lots and took over the game,” Frankel said. “The of juniors started this year and the varsity experunning game worked well early on, which is rience should be great for their development,” important because our team relies heavily on Frankel said. “Next year they should have a huge impact on the field, once they are able to relax its running game.” Many players believe that they had the po- on the field.”
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BOTH PHOTOS BY KARA SCHERER
Top: senior offensive lineman Micheal McCarthy evades the Lincoln defense while moving the ball upfield. Bottom: senior wingback William Kim bursts through the Lincoln line. The Cardinals lost their playoff game 26-6 to the Mustangs on Nov. 15.
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December 14, 2012
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Cardinal athletes compete in
COLLEGE Katie Ann Tam: Ex-Lowell softballer continues to bat By Patricia Nguy
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VEN WITH a place on a sports team, a job and a full schedule of classes, Katie Ann Tam is still a spirited and considerate alumnus, cheerfully sharing information on college sports. She plays on the Bulldogs softball team at the College of San Mateo as the only member from the Lowell softball team carrying on the spirit at San Mateo’s field. During her four softball seasons at this high school, Tam, class of ’11, led her team to three championships, making it onto the Academic Athletic Association Second Team twice and the AAA First Team once. “To me, these honors mean more than being an outstanding athlete,” Tam stated in an email on Nov. 25. “It means being a scholar athlete that represents and contributes to the history of the league.” Lowell softball coach Sascha Taylor-Ray remembers Tam as a player who grew into a great athlete from freshman to senior year. “She was starting shortstop for her senior year,” said TaylorRay. “She could bunt and hit, but her specialty was fielding and throwing. She could ground and throw a ball faster than anyone
I’ve ever seen.” Tam credits her success in the AAA to her dedica- tion to the sport. “I have not gone a year without playing softball since elementary school,” Tam stated in the email. Prior to Lowell softball, she played fastpitch softball for the San Francisco Little League and San Bruno Girl’s Softball League. Her consistent effort partly comes from her aspiration to be more like her older sister and younger brother, with her brother being a former Lowell baseball player. “Both of them are hard workers and have earned everything they’ve accomplished,” Tam stated in the email. “I think earning something, rather than having it handed to you, builds character and competitiveness.” Her will to play softball for “one of the top community college teams in the state” led her to CSM. “We have an intense rivalry with Ohlone College,” Tam said in an email on Dec. 2. “The two games we have each season, we play for more than a win. Sometimes the other team is out for blood. Literally.” CSM’s art and digital media programs helped her adjust to the new atmosphere, because she considered art as break from softball. “They’re two separate things,” Tam said. “Whenever I ’m s t r e s s e d from softball
Jessica Peng: UC SC volleyballer provides a plethora of life advice By Elena Bernick
and she hasn’t lost her touch. “ThroughESSICA PENG, a class of ’10 alum, out my career, I’ve been going back and played for the Lowell girls’ volleyball forth between setting and playing libero, team for four years, and she has not and I still do the same in college,” Peng lost her love for the game. She currently said. “I fill in the holes where my team attends UC Santa Cruz, playing for their needs me the most.” After years of playing at all grade girls’ volleyball team. Volleyball first spiked Peng’s interests levels, Peng has important advice to in the third grade, when she would see share with future and current players. her sister — a fellow Lowell alum — jump “Always have a positive attitude, treat to the net; she soon followed in her foot- your coaches and teammates with respect so they can take steps. “My sister, you seriously who’s four years and respect older than me, had been playing volThe rivalry always you as a player and individual, leyball for a few brought so much and never give years and I always up on a play,” wanted to be like energy, fight and Peng said. “Alher,” Peng said. “I friendly hostility and ways strive to think that was my do your best for main inspiration.” competition.” you and your As any Lowell team.” athlete knows, the Jessica Peng, The recent Battle of the Bird volleyball player at UCSC championship games are among win for the the most anticipated of the season, and Peng recalls them Lowell girls’ volleyball team has Peng with enthusiasm. “My most memorable stressing the importance of balance. games in high school would have to be “There’s always a lot of pressure for Lowell the Battle of the Birds games against to be at the top in both academics and Washington,” Peng said. “The rivalry sports, it’s part of what you go through always brought so much energy, fight, being a student or athlete,” Peng said. “In and friendly hostility and competition.” this case, it seems it was a collaborative Though Lowell taught her the value of effort of both the coaches and team to hard work, volleyball taught Peng impor- work hard throughout the season to be tant social skills. “In terms of volleyball, at the top of their division.” Peng has fond memories of her old being at Lowell taught me patience, perseverance and the value of teamwork team. “What I miss the most about playing in high school is the friends that I’ve in any given game situation,” Peng said. When Peng graduated, she carried her made and the experiences,” Peng said. “I dynamic style with her. As a Cardinal, got to enjoy being part of such an amazPeng was able to play multiple positions, ing legacy.”
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Leo Harrington: Stand out runner races at Oberlin By Melinda Leung and Michelle Wong
petitions, the cross-country team runs three miles, EAVING HIS COMPETITORS in the dust with instead of five. During the track seasons at Oberlin, a 5:07 mile pace, Leo Harrington, sophomore at Harrington also runs the 3000 meters, the mile, the Oberlin College in Ohio and Lowell alumnus 1500 meters and the 5000 meters for the track and gives it his all for the last few meters of the 8K (4.97 field team. His motivation stems from his love of competimile) cross country race. Harrington, class of ’11, runs year-round with the tion. “I’ll always be a runner,” Harrington said. “The Yeoman cross country and track teams. “Though I’m competition is the best part of the sport for me, but it’s only a DIII athlete, college sports are on a different also something I just love doing. One of my favorite level,” Harrington said. “The training and competi- moments in running is when, in the middle of a diftion are more intense, but Lowell prepared me well ficult workout or race, I break through a mental wall of fatigue and discover I actually have more to give.” for that.” A major change in college At Lowell, he played as a forsports is the level of competiward for the soccer team during “People tend to be more the fall and ran long distance So far though, I just tion. competitive here,” Harrington track in the spring. During his senior year on the love it too much to said. “In high school, competitiveness alone may set soccer team, the team was undebring myself to quit.” you apart from others but at feated with a 16-0 record, claimthe collegiate level everyone ing the AAA championship title Leo Harrington, is pretty competitive. You still against Balboa 3-1. Harrington runner at Oberlin College need that fire to race well, but was a top scorer in the league, at the end of the day the winnetting 20 goals that season. Harrington also achieved impressive times on the ner is usually whoever is in the best shape.” Harrington’s training schedules throughout the track team. Harrington’s high school PRs were 2:03 for the 800 meter run, 4:27 for the 1600 and 9:46 for week contribute to his strong work ethic. Compared the 3200. His personal best for the 1600 meter run to high school cross country runners who run about was — at the time — accomplished by only six other 30 miles a week, Harrington averages around 60 miles Lowell runners in the last 40 years. It has now been a week, which can range from outdoor hill practices to indoor track practices due to snowy Ohio weather. accomplished by two more runners. Spending 2-3 hours of practice every day has This season, he was the second fastest runner on the Oberlin Cross Country team, achieving a new strengthened Harrington’s academic management personal best of 25:30 for 8K. In high school com- skill. “I have to eat right, sleep well, and be prepared
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for my practices,” he said. “In the end, the benefits make the time commitment worthwhile.” Harrington has developed special friendships. “As runners, there is a special bond that develops after running all those miles together.” In addition to running, Harrington has also taken an interest in classical orchestral music. He has played the trumpet for almost ten years, and is part of a double-degree program at Oberlin where he is pursuing a Bachelor of Music degree from the Conservatory, majoring in trumpet performance, and a Bachelor of Arts from the College, majoring in History. One of the many reasons why he loves his trumpet is because of its versatility.“I wanted to go to a college where I could have a strong music and strong academic experience,” Harrington said. “It can be very hard to balance things out. I put 100 percent into what I’m doing but at times I can spread myself rather thin over the three areas; within the next few seasons I’ll probably have to stop running competitively to focus on music and academics. So far though, I just love it too much to bring myself to quit.” PHOTO COURTESY OF LEO HARRINGTON
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December 14, 2012
Lowell High School
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Snackaholic learns to say goodbye to Micky D By Dylan Anderson
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style, the choice felt necessary. I had been aware of the detrimental effects of diabetes and obesity on many of my relatives in addition to millions of my fellow Americans, and I wanted to stay as far away from those as possible. As we flipped to the final year of the Mayan calendar, I formally pledged to abstain from eating at fast food restaurants until 2013, or until the world ends, whichever comes first. Eliminating fast food from my diet enabled me to accomplish something that I failed to do in 2011: earn a spot on the Lowell tennis team.
Getting cut at tryouts in 2011 certainly had Taco that Taco Bell offered to everyone in the fueled my desire to become thinner and country when Angel Pagan stole second base faster, and partially inspired my decision in game two of the World Series. I refused to say goodbye to McChicken sandwiches to order as much as even a soda on that and Crunchwrap May afternoon at Supremes. Not In-N-Out Burger. only did I make But perhaps the it on the team in My doctor was concerned most significant 2012, but I won of all my changthe O-word could poten- es has been my all eight of the official matches that to go to tially show up in the future refusal I played in, inthe Ocean Avcluding a doubles enue KFC/Taco if the trend remained. match in SacraBell with my best mento. friend from midWh e n I re dle school, a five solved to quit one of my favorite habits, I year tradition that has ended because of my did not decide to stop eating every type of resolution. unhealthy food. I still enjoyed chicken strips After seeing my doctor in a follow-up at Giants games and burgers with brats on the this fall, I discovered that I had lost thirteen Fourth of July. But I have resisted the urge to pounds of fat since my last checkup. I am now try out the free promotional Doritos Locos six feet tall, and weigh 150 pounds. My BMI stands at 20, and allows me a lot of breathing room to remain in the healthy region of the spectrum. I am proud of my resolution, and I believe I can now offer valuable advice to others: the best and easiest way to improve your health is not to attempt fad diets or complete lifestyle changes, but to simply remove just one unhealthy habit from your life at a time.
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FTER BATTLING through the 95 degree heat at a state playoff tennis match in Sacramento, nothing seemed more appropriate than a stop at In-N-Out Burger for some juicy burgers, crispy fries and frosty drinks, especially when coach was buying. This experience truly tested my desire to keep my 2012 New Year’s Resolution: abstaining from fast food. But the potential temporary pleasure I could have gained by joining my teammates in that feast has failed to exceed the long term positive effects on my health that are a result of keeping the promise to myself. When I saw my doctor in November of 2011, she prescribed one year of not gaining any more weight. I was by no means unhealthy or overweight. But I had gained more than 30 pounds of fat and muscle over the previous year while growing only an inch in height, and my body mass index stood at 23. My doctor was concerned that the ‘O-word’ could potentially show up in the future if the trend remained. I then faced a challenge that most Americans find familiar: to avoid gaining weight. Ultimately, I decided that it would be worthwhile to discontinue my semi-weekly visits to McDonald’s and its various competitors in the fast food market. While these fat factories added flavor and fun to my life-
ILLUSTRATION COURTESY OF KT KELLY
Zealous zoologist learns the bare necessities of life By Kai Matsumoto-Hines
ners, picking greens and flowers for the tortoises, setting up HEN MY FRIENDS ASK me what I do at the Hawk Hill or other more mundane cleaning tasks. Then we zoo, they never believe me when I say I do more start the fun part of the job. We get to pick our section for than just sweep up poop. When I was promoted the day on a first-come-first-pick basis, but once we finish to Junior Zoologist status last September at the San Francisco our assigned tasks we have free time for animal bonding. Although working there requires a lot of work, I do Zoo, I was under the impression that cleaning would be a big part of my day. The truth is, the majority of my nine to not mind cleaning because I am learning my responsibilfive shifts at the zoo are spent loving animals, exercising and ity to care for other living creatures. All of my hard work paid off in the end when I was promoted last September. socializing with them. I worked my way up to Junior I started volunteering at the SF Zoologist status after three years Zoo four years ago mainly because the Nature Trail program, a I connect with animals, but also The truth is, the majority on summer teen volunteer program because my family has a history of working with animals. My animal care of my 9-5 shifts at the zoo where the youth educate the public about native and nonbegan in middle school when I went are spent loving animals, native animals, such as their to Thousand Oaks to visit my aunt, habitats, and conservation who happened to be the operations taking them on walks diets, status. Of course, being a part of supervisor of a local zoo. Moorpark College in Moorpark, California, and playing with them. the zoo’s workforce entitles us to some benefits, one of which is about a 20-minute drive from Thoubeing able to bring in a couple of sand Oaks, has a medium-sized zoo friends for free and giving them that gives college students a taste of both zoo-keeping life and they also offer a summer zoo a behind-the-scene tour of the ARC. Throughout the day, we might clean the laundry room, camp. That was the first time I really got to learn about how to care for animals and understand their behaviors. I spent be trained to handle new animals, or be tested on an ania week at zoo camp while my aunt was still working, then mal we have been trained on. I am currently being trained the rest of the trip hiking, camping and fishing. Although on the American Alligator, having recently passed a test PHOTO COURTESY OF NATALIE GREER it was only one week long, attending the camp showed me showing that I can properly harness, hold and pack them The junior zoologist socializes a three-week-old baby penguin that working with animals requires patience and the ability up in the Green Iguana carriers. When we have handled as a perk for excellent effort. an animal enough times, our supervisors test us by asking to endure smelly odors. A typical day at the SF zoo begins when I show my badge us questions relating to the animal to see if we learned our skills, all of which can take time to develop. I could have to pass through security before the zoo opens to the public. facts and can properly handle them. I regret not starting earlier because I feel like I missed out moved up the animal training ladder faster, possibly to a paid Once inside the Animal Resource Center, a building in the children’s zoo, my co-workers and I begin the various morn- on valuable work time, as your animals will not listen to you internship. Finding my passion has made me consider going ing routines, like collecting leftovers from the animals’ din- unless have both the right chemistry and communication into a career working with animals.
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New era of Super-PACs has sabotaged our modern political system, reporter argues By Henry Hammel
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HE CREATION of the â&#x20AC;&#x153;superPACâ&#x20AC;? allowed large corporations and wealthy individuals to wield more power in the 2012 election than they should have. It also gave money even more importance in the election â&#x20AC;&#x201D; something that is fundamentally wrong. Elections should be about electing the best candidate. Money should have nothing to do with it. In the now infamous 2010 Supreme Court case Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission, the Supreme Court ruled that organizations independent of candidates were allowed to spend without restriction, indirectly leading to the creation of the SuperPAC, allowing for even more intervention in politics by outside companies and wealthier individuals. It is still illegal for corporations and unions to contribute directly to a candidate, but now the same corporations and unions can contribute indirectly via a Super-PAC. But corporations and unions as well as wealthy individuals should not have unlimited influence in elections. The fact that they are contributing through a SuperPAC is irrelevant, they are still affecting the election, which they should not be able to do â&#x20AC;&#x201D; they are not more important than the average person, so they should not be allowed to affect the election more than the average person. To fix this imbalance, the U.S. government must place a check on the amount of money going to each candidate or organizations supporting either candidate, by limiting the total amount of money from a single donor spent to support a candidate. Super-PACs are huge political juggernauts controlling overwhelmingly large amounts of money with way too much influence in politics. According to the Federal Election Commission website (www.fec.gov), the two
largest Super-PACs, Romney Victory Inc. PAC and the Obama Victory Fund, raised $436,580,066.33 and $454,131,442.64 respectively. These numbers are disturbing â&#x20AC;&#x201D; we have organizations walking around with almost half a billion dollars each at their disposal trying to manipulate the American people. Not only do these outside organizations have too much power, they also allow wealthy companies and individuals to reach in and affect the political game â&#x20AC;&#x201D; making candidates accountable to them and not the well being of the country â&#x20AC;&#x201D; lessening the need for politicians to appeal and be accountable to the people. Sheldon G. Adelsonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Las Vegas Sands Casino is a prime example of this unwanted meddling in national politics. The Las Vegas Sands Casino was the largest donor in the election, giving $30,556,320 to Republican interests, according to an Open Secrets web page on the largest donors of the campaign (www.opensecrets.org). Adelson first gave money to former house speaker Newt Gingrich but later threw his support behind Romney when Romney became the nominee. The party that he is affiliated with is irrelevant;Â Adelson should not have been allowed to influence the election any more than the average American because of the amount of money he possesses.
PHOTO ILLUSTRATION BY MONICA CASTRO
The Las Vegas Sands Casino was able to do this via Super-PACs â&#x20AC;&#x201D; out of the $30,556,320 that the Las Vegas Sands Casino donated, $29,786,770 went to Super-PACs. Super-PACs are not a positive thing â&#x20AC;&#x201D; they allow companies and more privileged people to pour seemingly endless amounts of money into elections, furthering the corruption in the federal government. Adelson did not give this sum of money for
nothing â&#x20AC;&#x201D; his opinions surrounding the Isreali-Middle East conflict clearly â&#x20AC;&#x153;rubbed off â&#x20AC;? on Romney. Super-PACs shift the focus of raising money during campaigns from appealing to the masses and getting reasonable donations from them to appealing to a select group of people and receiving a handful of gigantic donations. The amount of money spent in support of a candidate should be based on the number of people that support him, not on the wealth of certain influential people. The presidential campaigns in 2012 were the most costly in American history, partially because SuperPACs cause candidates to raise even more money to counteract negative advertisements attacking them that were sponsored by an opposed Super PAC. According to the 2012 election finance page on the New York Times website (www.nytimes.com), President Barack Obama, along with the Democratic Party and the Priorities USA Action Super-PAC raised $934 million. In addition, presidential hopeful Mitt Romney along with the Republican Party and Restore Our Future Super-PAC raised $881.8 million, totaling a number just shy of $2 billion. And after all this money was spent, very little in Washington changed. The Republicans lost two Senate seats with one going democratic and one going independent, and the Democrats gained eight seats in the House, but are still a minority. This amount of money could have done so much more for the country and yet more than two billion dollars later, Washington is still deadlocked.
Football player frustrated by arbitrary fitness-test standards, demands varsity athlete exemption By Pasha Stone
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F YOUâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;RE AN upperclassman, you remember the supposedly easy physical fitness test of our freshman year â&#x20AC;&#x201D; anyone could pass five out of the six tests and avoid being assigned a third or fourth year of P.E. Even a chubby lineman on the football team like myself could squeeze out a sub 9:30 mile (passing time for most freshmen), so a special exemption from P.E.5 to P.E.8 was not necessary. However, after the 2010-2011 school year, California changed its physical fitness standards to the Fitnessgram standards, drastically affecting the passing and failing of many students and student athletes, with the application of the VO2 max to the mile test. Now, more varsity student athletes are being forced to take extra years of P.E. However, athletes should not be burdened by two daily fitness regimens. We always hear about ways to cut our budget, but furlough days or underpaying teachers is not the way to go. We have hundreds of thousands of student athletes in California, and they take anywhere from two to four years of physical education, which, in my opinion, is unnecessary. If these athletes spend time after school doing physical activity in their sport, the purpose of P.E. is negated. Some schools are even going to the extreme by cutting whole sports and electives, while the truly unnecessary cost of having athletes take P.E. class remains. The California graduation requirement for physical education is two years of P.E., but at any high school, if you donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t pass the Physical Fitness Tests, you are required to take P.E. until you pass. The standards are implemented by the state, even though the state does not require you to pass them. The newly implemented standard for the mile run is no longer a flat time for every student, which varied only with age. Each student must now pass the VO2max, which is a measurement of how efficiently your muscles use oxygen. This may
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Now, more varsity athletes are being forced to take P.E.
sound like you have to run on a treadmill and have several machines hooked up to you in a lab to get a accurate measurement, but VO2max can be calculated based on a simple equation with Body Mass Index, age, gender, and mile runtime. In my case, a 6 foot, 195 pound 15-year-old male (with exercise-induced asthma) failed the test with his 7:58 mile by 23 seconds. In case you arenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t familiar with the VO2max equation, if you have a high BMI, you have to run a faster mile to pass. Some might say, â&#x20AC;&#x153;Why donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t you just work to pass the fitness tests?â&#x20AC;? Thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a reasonable solution in a lot of cases, but not mine. I am a lineman for the varsity football team, and each offseason players can gain anywhere from 10-40 pounds of weight, most of it muscle. If I want to honor the commitment I have made to my team, and become the best football player I can be, I canâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t lose weight. Right now I am 195 pounds. I would have to lose 26 pounds to â&#x20AC;&#x153;passâ&#x20AC;? BMI, which means my body mass index must meet a certain range based on my age. However, any doctor will tell you that there are some healthy youth above and below the passing BMI standard. So all this effort from the P.E.5 curriculum to â&#x20AC;&#x153;help me pass the BMI testâ&#x20AC;? is going against years of my efforts to be the best football player I can be. So which is more important: the narrowly interpreted P.E. standard, or a sport you live, play and love? My choice is clear, but it is not one I should be forced to make. I spend two and a half hours every day performing an intensive workout during football practice, but I
still have to go to P.E. class every morning. So according to the Lowell P.E. rules, my 150 minutes of football practice arenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t enough, and I should do an additional 30 minutes of a workout curriculum designed for sedentary people. After all the work I do at practice, I need time for my body to recover so I wonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t be sore. This renders morning exercise harmful and unnecessary. Even during the offseason, my coaches organize voluntary weight lifting and have told us this is all the exercise we need for their program. The bottom line, is that if P.E. does not recognize the needs of athletes, but instead costs the school money â&#x20AC;&#x201D; no one wins. It is time that Lowell patches up its poorly made rules on physical education by exempting all upperclassmen on a school sports team from a third and fourth year of physical â&#x20AC;&#x153;education.â&#x20AC;? Another modification that should be considered is the KIMBERLEY LI state of California exempting all student athletes from any P.E. class, allowing them to forgo the two-year requirement if they remain on a team. This will encourage students to join a sports team, which will build a far better foundation for a healthier life than 45 minutes P.E. ever will. With our state experiencing the biggest budget crisis ever, reducing P.E. classes where they are not needed is a must.
December 14, 2012
The Lowell
EDITORIAL AND OPINION
EDITORIAL School must cut back on wasteful spending, promote better habits
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THE LOL
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MAGINE PAYING TAXES that you think are going towards useful spending, but are actually being thrown away by the people the money is supposed to support. You would most likely be very angry with the government. Citizens in our nation are required to pay taxes, which are used to fund schools and government projects. This situation occurs every year when schools receive funds, but expend the money wastefully. Upon closer inspection, the district and our school throw away valuable money each year due to unnecessary spending on power, water and garbage that could easily be cut down by tweaking a few habits. For example, “Powering down computers is one of the number one things Lowell could do to cut back on spending, especially when going into long weekends,” science teacher and environmental liason Kathy Melvin said. In addition, Melvin is getting her own students involved to help with the school’s waste management. “We are trying to make all three bins (garbage, compost, recycle) available around the school,” Melvin said. “My students will help monitor bins in the last grading period of this semester to make sure students properly sort their waste. Our custodian supervisor already ordered the new bins and they are on the way.” Sorting the trash into recyclable and non-recyclable will cut down on the cost of trash. In addition, new plastic bottle benches serve as another outlet for school waste. Science teachers, such as Erin Bird, are attempting to create an outdoor classroom, where students will sit on benches made of plastic bottles stuffed with soft plastics that cannot be recycled or composted, such as candy wrappers. (See “School community unites to create outdoor classrooms,” The Lowell Sept. 2012) “We are adding a fourth bin to help with the plastic bottle bench project,” Melvin said. Due to the large scale of wasteful spending, the San Francisco Unified School District created a program called Shared Savings to give incentives to the schools to economize on utilities. “One of the reasons the district started Shared Savings, is because they are trying to cut down on costs,” Melvin said. “It allows schools to keep the money they saved from cutting down on water, gas, electricity and garbage.” It not only saves money for the district, but also gives money directly to the schools and helps them become more environmentally friendly. There is clear evidence provided by the district that shows Lowell is taking positive steps forward in waste reduction. District data show an increase in cost savings over time. According to the SFUSD’s Utility Cost and Usage Savings Report, courtesy of Melvin, Lowell saved $20,702 on waste management in 15 months last year (Sept. 1, 2010 to Nov. 30, 2011). The school saw a total savings of $18,629 in eight months of the next report (Aug. 1, 2011 to March 31, 2012). This is beneficial to the school since more money can be put back into classrooms. Still, Lowell needs to get everyone involved in the projects to fully cut back on spending. Teachers and librarians should power off the computers in their rooms at the end of each day, all members of the Lowell community should turn off lights whenever leaving a room unattended and the school gardener can also help by changing the grass sprinkler schedule. Right now the sprinklers are on in the middle of the day when it is hot. Instead, they should be on early in the morning or later in the evening, so that the sun does not dry up the water as quickly. The school should create incentives to reward students for conserving energy such as rewarding those who stay after school to turn off computers and lights with extra credit. To be able to put more money back into our education, all members of the school community must unite. “It’s just changing small habits,” Melvin said. “If everybody helps, the dividend for the school is large.”
HOI LEUNG HOI LEUNG
LETTER TO THE EDITOR Dear Editor: We believe it is time America stops being the world’s biggest aggressor and instead begins working toward a cause that will benefit everyone. According to the official United States Federal Budget Analyst, the United States spent an estimated $902.2 billion dollars on our defense budget for this year. That is more than the 17 next biggest spenders combined, according to The Economist. Not only is $902.2 billion a number humans cannot physically imagine, $902.2 billion does not even account for the 40 percent of the defense budget that is “black,” which includes the hidden expenditures protected from the American public by the government. More information and graphics on the specifics of our country’s military spending can be found at our website, www.cleanpowernotgunpowder.tumblr.com. With our wars winding down after the extermination of Osama bin Laden; we believe that these numbers need to change. We should de-
crease our military spending and instead invest in green technology, a field that eliminates the need to fight over foreign oil and promotes a cleaner and safer future. By eliminating our reliance on foreign countries to provide the U.S. military, and the United States in general, with oil, the $20 billion used to plan, transport and purchase oil could be eliminated altogether, according to Candace Lombardi of CNET News. The cost of alternative energy sources would induce price stability, unlike the price of oil and gas, which fluctuates frequently. Green technology could provide better national stability and more jobs. As the most powerful country in the world, America has a responsibility to demonstrate democracy and justice. If we as a nation wish to promote safety and stability across the globe, we must first focus on our economy in order to set that example. - Seniors Michelle Chang, Eva Duboff, Jenna Rose Fiorello, Quinn Francis, Sandy Li and Aaron Tan from Richard Girling’s Economics class.
Business Managers Martin Costa, Rachel Hsu, Gabe Schumm, Sophie Solomon
Red Cathy Innis Cardinal Sharn Matusek
Editors-in-Chief Cooper Logan s Eva Morgenstein Amy Char s Adriana Millar News Amy Char, Deidre Foley, Cooper Logan Sports Henry Hammel, Ian James Features Kai Matsumoto-Hines, Eva Morgenstein &ROXPQV 3URÀOHV KT Kelly, Adriana Millar Opinion Elazar Chertow, Spencer Thirtyacre Reporters Dylan Anderson, Elijah Alperin, Elena Bernick, Antonio
Carmona, Celena Chang, Gideon Fox, Campbell Gee, Zoe Kaiser, KT Kelly, Joseph Kim, Raymond Lang, Rayming Liang, Mellinda Leung, Whitney C. Lim, Cooper Logan, Ashley Louie, Eva Morgenstein, Patricia Nguy, Brian Nguyen, Andrew Pearce, Tyler Perkins, Pasha Stone, Sam Tick-Raker, Samantha Wilcox, Joey Wong, Michelle Wong, Luming Yuan, Sheyda Zebarjadian Art Editor Hoi Leung Illustrator Kimberly Li Photo Editor Huimin Zhang Photographers Gavin Li, Sally Ma, Kara Scherer, Cate Stern, Multimedia Editor Monica Castro Web Content Editor Eli Alperin Web Content Staff Henry Hammel Web Master Gavin Li
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Published every four weeks by the journalism classes of Lowell High School, Room S108, 1101 Eucalyptus Drive, San Francisco, CA 94132 Phone: (415) 759-2730 Internet: thelowellads@yahoo.com; http://www.thelowell. org. All contents copyright Lowell High School journalism classes. All rights reserved. The Lowell and The Lowell on the Web strive to inform the public and to use their opinion sections as open forums for debate. All unsigned editorials are the opinions of the staff. The Lowell welcomes comments on school-related issues from students, faculty and community members. Send letters to lowellopinion@gmail.com. Letters must be signed. Names will be withheld upon request. We reserve the right to edit letters before publication. 2012 NSPA Print Pacemaker 2011 NSPA All-American 2011 NSPA Online Pacemaker 2009 NSPA First Class Honors
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Reporter criticizes punitive policy on Giants’ parade By Tyler Perkins
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Richard Carranza, telling parents to send their children to school. “We notified the students that attendance was mandatory,” assistant principal of student services Michael Yi said. “If they failed to come to school we marked it as a cut and reported it to the district.” The school did, however, give students the opportunity to watch the parade in the auditorium during their free blocks, according to Yi. Although many students “coincidentally” got sick on the day of the parade, others were forced by their parents to attend school. “I wanted to go to the parade really bad, but my parents were against me going,” sophomore Bob Wu said. “They are really concerned with my education and don’t want me to fall behind.” Also, a number of teachers made sure to schedule tests and assignments on the special day, negatively affecting the cutting students’ grades. “I was planning on going to the parade, but my math teacher scheduled a test for that day,” said sophomore Jasmine Waland. “We were told if we missed the test we would be given the Accel version for the retake.” Science teacher Shawn Laureyns added in an email that “I gave a short five point assignment that could not be made up,” stated that “It was practice for the lab exam coming up, and if students were doing well in my class, missing it had no significant impact on their grades.” Because of the parade, the normally easy Halloween day was filled with tests and work. Some students were unable to attend the parade because
they chose to postpone a test schedule before the Giants won it all. “My students wanted to move a test from the previous Friday to that Wednesday before the parade date was set so we did,” said math teacher Thomas Chambers in an email. “A few of my students were absent during their assigned class that day, but they came in an earlier block to take the test. Later they submitted readmits for the period they missed.” Granted, the parade did cost the school a lot of money, which could have been much more if Lowell had not taken these steps to prevent cutting. According to The San Francisco Chronicle’s website (sfgate.com), 23 percent of all high schoolers in SFUSD were marked absent, costing the district $38.27 each, and almost $160,000 in total. This is a lot of money, but not compared to the over $1,870,000 that the district receives from attendance on a regular day. $38.27 can get you a ticket to a Giants game and is a fair cost for the school to absorb per student absence. Ironically, the day after the parade, the sign in front of Lowell flashed “Go Giants!”, further mocking the students who were forced to miss the parade. As Tony Bennett sang his “I Left My Heart In San Francisco,” he was accompanied by the mass of orange and black, celebrating as one city. This was a priceless moment in San Francisco history that may never be repeated and, unfortunately many students were cheated out of it.
OPINION
S THE GIANTS RODE DOWN Mission Street in convertibles on Halloween, celebrating their second World Series championship in three years, thousands of students sat in classrooms of the district, dreaming about the parade they were missing. However, it seems that the San Francisco Unified School District and the Lowell faculty and administration took steps to prevent students from enjoying themselves at the parade, an event that capped off a magical season. Although their actions were understandable because the school loses money when students are not in class, they should have been more forgiving of the students who chose to cut. Winning the World Series is a huge deal because 30 major league teams compete for the title. The Giants may never win it again in our lifetimes. You would think with all the extra hours students put in doing schoolwork, they should be able to have one nice day enjoying a victory for their city. The school made it clear that if students decided to miss school and the “important” Halloween rally to attend a perhaps twice-in-a-lifetime event, they would be marked as having cut. On Oct. 30, parents received an email saying: “Classes at Lowell High School on Oct. 31, 2012 will be as they are scheduled. Student attendance is required.” The email included an attachment explaining the valid reasons for an excused absence and a letter from superintendent
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SURV IVING T HE
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By Ashley Louie
Second only to the worry of a bad license picture (check out tips on thelowell.org) is the nefarious test. Before you start studying for your permit or drivers license exam or even pick up a driving manual, make an appointment at the Daly City Department of Motor Vehicles. In late July, the earliest appointment I could make at the San Francisco DMV was not for another month or so, while the earliest spot at the Daly City DMV was only a couple of weeks away. With an appointment in hand, you can avoid the notoriously long three-hour long line that surrounds the building, and instead wait in a line of five to ten people who are as smart as you—smart enough to make an appointment. After filling out general information that includes your social security number (do not forget it; I did and missed my appointment while my dad drove back home to get it), taking a simple eye exam and taking a picture for either your permit or drivers license, you may have to take the written exam. If you are at the DMV with a pal, have him/her stand in the test correction line to give you a head start in line after finishing your exam. You probably do not want to spend any more time than you have to at DMV. Finally, study — yes, study! — for the written exam and use common sense to answer questions you are unsure about. Otherwise, you will have to spend another hour taking the exam and lining up again — another visit to the not-so-happiest place on earth.
DMV H ORROR STORY
AUTOMATIC OR MANUAL?
See h ow o ur reporters fared w ith stick. Columns a nd v ideo on t helowell.org
NEW ROADS E XPLORED THROUGH DRIVER’S LICENSES
ILLUSTRATIONS BY HOI LEUNG AND KIMBERLY LI
By Elazar Chertow
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T h e W a r y W a l r k r e ’ T s i u mp h
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There I was, sandwiched between two other jittery young people waiting to take their dreaded permit test at the DMV. The place stinks, it’s as loud as a war zone, and I’m tripping out about what the speed limit in an alley is. I look up from my appointment card, #5217, and immediately see a tall man with long black hair all the way down to his waist. His fist is held back, getting ready to punch a dainty woman, wearing a pale yellow dress, three feet away from my seat. Thankfully, he keeps his cool, but instead of winding up to hurl a blow, he starts yelling and cursing at her. He said some things even I wouldn’t dare utter. Everyone in the room was watching — only a couple of dignified older people urged him to stop, but they couldn’t have stopped him no matter how much they yelled from their creaky chairs. By divine intervention, the loudspeaker blurted “Number 5217, 5217 please.” I jumped up as fast as I possibly could, ran to a desk, and took the test in a flurry of adrenaline from witnessing the fight. I don’t know what they were fighting about — a failed test, pricey insurance, or maybe even a bad I.D. picture. Regardless, I do know one thing: I bombed the test, and I haven’t been back to the DMV since. So much for driving.