The Lowell Magazine —October 2014 by The Lowell

Lowell The

October 2014, Volume 222 No. 1

Lowell The

THE SAFETY SCOOP

October 2014

XC BACK

WHAT’S FOR LUNCH?

POLICE BODY CAMS

Bomb threat and Napa earthquake prompt school-wide drills.

A recap of cross country’s first invitational of the year.

Lunchbox favorites and their recipes.

How police body cameras promote security for all.

By Joseph Kim and Whitney C. Lim

By Rayming Liang

By Stephanie Li, Noreen Shaikh, Luming Yuan

By Tyler Perkins

Theatre department “splashes” with refreshing take on Ovid, pg. 9

Senior Adam Southwick plays Zeus in “Chaos” during dress rehearsal of Metamorphoses on Thurs., Oct. 23. Photo by Zoe Kaiser

Editors-in-Chief Sam Tick-Raker • Andrew Pearce Samantha Wilcox • Michelle Wong News Whitney C. Lim, Michelle Wong Sports Andrew Pearce, Sam Tick-Raker Features Luke Haubenstock Opinion Madelyn Chen. Samantha Wilcox Reporters Celena Chang, Ophir Cohen-Simayof, Danielle Flores, Luke Haubenstock, Joseph

Kim, Gisela Kottmeier, Cynthia Leung, Stephanie Li, Rayming Liang, Amber Ly, Tyler Perkins, Arthur Register, Rachael Schmidt, Noreen Shaikh, Emily Teng, Sam Tick-Raker, Luming Yuan Illustrators Camilia Kacimi, Christine Van, Stephan Xie Photo Editor Zoe Kaiser Photographers Karina Huft, Aida Irving, Zoe Kaiser, Amber Ly, Lily Young Multimedia Editor Ariel Yuan

Social Media Manager Michelle Wong Business Managers Jason Li, Carissa Ng, Gabe Schumm Web Manager Srinand Paruthiyil

v The Lowell October 2014

Advisers

Samuel Williams Samantha Yu

2014 NSPA Online Pacemaker 2012 NSPA Print Pacemaker 2011 NSPA All-American 2011 NSPA Online Pacemaker

2009 NSPA First Class Honors

2007 NSPA All-American 2007 NSPA Web Pacemaker 2007 CSPA Gold Crown

Published by the journalism classes of Lowell High School, Room S108, 1101 Eucalyptus Drive, San Francisco, CA 94132 Phone: (415) 759-2730 Internet: thelowellnews@gmail.com, thelowellads@ yahoo.com; http://www.thelowell.org. All contents copyright Lowell High School journalism classes. All rights reserved. Students, to join the lowell, email thelowellnews@gmail.com or sign up for Journalism 1 Block 7 or 8. 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.

Grades face off at first spirit rally of the year (TOP) Left: Dance Company whips their hair at the Fall Rally on Fri. Oct. 17. Right: Cheer flyers strike a pose. (MIDDLE) Left: Junior Joe Chan as Mario poses midair. Right: Senior bleachers show some Cardinal spirit. Special Guests: Spider-Man and Banana. (BOTTOM) Left: Sophomore dance committee performs their TV-show inspired dance. Right: Senior Luis Bautista and senior Daisy Urbina after a successful Senior Boat proposal. Photos by Zoe Kaiser.

The Lowell October 2014

v The Lowell October 2014

TECH IS HERE. District adopts Google applications for classrooms. By Ophir Simayof

Illustration by Stephen xie

he district has assigned new Google mail accounts to all teachers and students to comply with federal standards of privacy. As classrooms incorporate online technology more often, students and teachers had previously used personal gmail accounts to access educational apps, such as Google Drive and Google Docs. However, since personal accounts do not meet the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act’s (FERPA) and the Common Core’s standards of privacy, the district gave students and teachers district specific accounts. “This is so that teachers are not emailing out student grades or inadvertently emailing out private information,” Chair of Lowell Technology Committee and chemistry teacher Bryan Marten said. Since SFUSD controls every aspect of the account, the new Google Accounts are more secure than normal ones, according to SFUSD Supervisor of Educational Technology Michele Dawson. “The environment is secure, meaning that we can control on a centralized level what students can or cannot do,” Dawson said. “The agreement is that all of our privacy rights and data belongs and are the property of SFUSD.” SFUSD students from preschool to 12th grade can keep all their information and work in their new district accounts. “That is another thing that we are so excited about, because now you have this electronic portfolio that follows you through your time in SFUSD,” Dawson said. “You will never lose your documents or information.” Besides offering more security, the accounts offer Google Apps for Education, which includes Google Classroom, a new educational storage app that allows students access to their classroom materials and as-

signments wherever there is internet. Along with convenience and mobility, SFUSD hopes that Google Classrooms will bring new teamwork opportunities that allow for simultaneous, real-time writing and editing among multiple users. “The reason we got Google Apps for Education was because of the collaborative tools that allow students to interact together,” Dawson said. In August, SFUSD sent over 130 teachers from the district to media classroom events at Google to teach teachers how to operate Google Apps for Education. “We are trying to build capacity,” Dawson said. “We wanted teachers to become proficient with the tools, but it is not mandated that they use it.” Despite the new contract and its benefits, not all Lowell teachers use Google Classrooms. For some, Google Classrooms create issues with organization and efficiency, such as making it difficult to locate student rosters and assignments, according to Life science teacher Mark Wenning. “Google Classrooms is a time sink,” Wenning said. “It is harder to use Google Classroom, because the screen and settings are so spaced out. Whereas on regular Google Drive, it looks really nice as a compact display on your screen.” Though it does have its glitches, other teachers find Google Classroom useful. “Google Classrooms just came out, so it is not perfect,” English teacher Samantha Yu said. “But I always use it. I think the interface is really simple, and it is nice that it only a takes a click of a button to pass out digital assignment instantly.” SFUSD hopes that all teachers will take advantage of this new technology, as it is what the future of learning looks like. “This workflow is huge,” Dawson said. “It is revolutionary, and it is going to change the way schools operate.”

The Lowell October 2014

v The Lowell October 2014

The Lowell October 2014

v The Lowell October 2014

Juniors Maia Jones, Calvin Lee and Leah Ofman talk to a police officer during the Stage 2 bomb threat evacuation on Sept. 16. Photo by Amber Ly.

EVACUATIONS and PROCEDURES By Joseph Kim and Whitney C. Lim

T photo by amber ly

he school has received approval from the district for an updated public address system after two recent schoolwide evacuations. Since the earthquake drill on Aug. 29 and the anonymous bomb threat on Sept. 16, the school’s administration and Union Building Committee have agreed that emergency procedures and equipment require improvement, according to assistant principal of administration Michael Yi. The district has approved the school’s request for an updated PA system and the school is now planning specifics, according to Yi. After examining the current PA system, the school’s technician and administration found problems with the speaker’s low volume and incorrectly angled position toward the football field instead of the Ts.

The Lowell October 2014

BOMB THREAT PROMPTS SCHOOL-WIDE EVACUATION

olice are investigating the anonymous bomb threat on Sept. 16, according to School Resource Officer Richard Austria of Taraval Station. Police declined to comment on the situation, because of the ongoing investigation. At 1:05 p.m. on Sept. 16, an anonymous person called the school’s main office, claiming that a bomb was in the school building. Dean Ray Cordoba called Austria to alert SFPD, according to principal Andrew Ishibashi. Ishibashi announced a Stage 1 Evacuation over the PA system. While students and teachers exited classrooms and went outside, Yi, Cordoba, assistant principal of pupil services Margaret Peterson and construction manager Pam Welty helped the bomb squad and police check every backpack in every classroom for bombs, according to Ishibashi. They went in with the bomb squad to take note of anything that seemed unusual or out of place. After a thorough search of the campus, the search team did not find any suspicious objects or substances, according to Yi. Students and staff were very cooperative despite the confusion, according to assistant principal of curriculum Holly Giles, who stayed on the football field to relay updates from police and administration to staff, students and parents. A bomb threat phone call report form, which records information from the call-in, was not completed due to recent personnel changes and the staff ’s unfamiliarity with bomb threat procedures, according to Yi. “The form itself primarily serves as a clue for the SFPD to assist their investigation,” he said. “We did not fill it out afterwards because recalling the information could be inaccurate.” Nearby Lakeshore Elementary School was informed about the situation as soon as Lowell received the bomb threat call, according to Yi. “The students at the school were not required to evacuate since they’re a safe distance away from Lowell,” he said. By 2 p.m., SFPD had blocked off Eucalyptus Drive, according to Ishibashi.

Several police dogs helped officers with the investigation. Dogs from the San Francisco International Airport were also called in, because the campus is large and needed to be checked quickly and thoroughly, according to Yi. Students and staff stayed on the football field for over two and a half hours. For safety reasons, SFPD did not allow students or staff to leave the football field, according to Yi. Before the bell rang at 3:30 p.m., students could only leave campus if a parent picked them up. The “all-clear” was given and the building reopened at around 4:10 p.m. Although many resources like sunblock and food were lacking, students who needed to use the bathroom were teacher-escorted to the bathrooms in the Ts. The nurse was also prepared to handle situations like asthma attacks, according to Giles. Currently, emergency supplies, such as flashlights and bandages, are stored in trunks around the school and updated by the Lowell Emergency Response Team (LERT) each school year. They were not used in the Sept. 16 evacuation, according to Giles. The police asked the San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency to let students onto MUNI buses and trains for free that afternoon, since many had left their money and Clipper cards in classrooms, according to Giles. “We appreciate both SFPD and MUNI for that,” she said. Ishibashi showed pride in his staff and students. “Some of the parents were shocked how fast we could locate students,” he said. When they approached Ishibashi, he was able to check his master attendance list, radio security on the football field and find students through the registries. “The police also commended us on how fast over 2700 students exited the buildings and how well-behaved the students were,” he said.

Emergency supplies are stored in trunks around the school and updated by LERT each year.

v The Lowell October 2014

BEHIND THE SCENES: LERT

ERT has many responsibilities concerning emergency procedures on campus, including the earthquake drill on Aug. 29 and the evacuation on Sept. 16. Each school in SFUSD has plans with specifications like personnel and locations, according to Yi. The principal, assistant principals, administration and support

On the afternoon of Sept. 16, students waited on the football field for police officers and the canine unit to check the school campus after an anonymous bomb threat. Photos by Amber Ly and Michelle Wong.

staff make up Lowell’s team. LERT is also exploring other methods of communication, such as a text messaging system, to alert students and parents in the event of an emergency, according to Yi. “Ultimately, the final decision is in the hands of the district office,” he said. One logistic that remains unclear is whether students should take their belongings in an emergency or drill. “There are pros and cons to bringing your backpack,” Yi said. “We don’t want people to take bags that have seven books and weigh about thirty pounds, but we want people to remember their necessities and valuables.” Although LERT met on Sept. 17, protocol and procedures are still under revision, according to Yi. “It is important for us to be flexible, because procedures depend on the situation,” he said. LERT hopes to implement an evacuation drill on the first day of each school year, in an effort to inform everyone, especially all new teachers freshmen, of the school’s emergency procedures, according to Yi. Teachers are also currently being trained to prepare for the possibility of a future bomb threat. LERT continues to accumulate and sort through feedback from students, staff and particularly the parent community, concerning the bomb threat evacuation, according to Yi. “No matter what, the procedures are never going to be perfect, but we will keep improving,” he said. “Student and staff safety is our foremost concern any time.”

quired the school to change its procedures, according to Yi. “Nothing is set in stone, so you have to be able to make changes when things come up,” he said. In addition to the changes caused by the X-wing, teachers have suggested that attendance from particular classes be compared to the attendance tracked during the drill to ensure a more accurate student count. SFUSD schools were notified by the superintendent on Aug. 26, three days earlier, which gave teachers and staff little time to prepare and organize the drill. “Having the superintendent call a drill on such short notice was not the greatest idea because the most effective way to do drill is to have people practice drills in a routine manner,” science teacher and UBC representative Katherine Melvin said. “To make everybody do a drill because of an earthquake raises the fear level of students and teachers and I’m not sure that that is positive. However, the fact that our school was able to pull it off with such short notice goes to show how good our response system is.” Apart from the drill, the school has been preparing over the summer by undergoing earthquake retrofitting on the first floor. The earthquake and the drill also serve as powerful wake up calls for students and their families. “Everyone should be prepared with emergency procedures and emergency supplies to last at least three days,” Melvin said.

If a Stage 1 Evacuation is called, do not assume a Stage 2 Evacuation will also be called.

NAPA QUAKE CALLS FOR SURPRISE EVACUATION DRILL

740 students filled the football field on Aug. 29 in an earthquake drill prompted by the 6.0 earthquake that shook Napa Valley that previous weekend. For most earthquake drills, students only perform the drop, cover and hold in their classrooms, without doing a full-scale evacuation. However, the recent earthquake in Napa prompted all San Francisco Unified School District schools to carry out the entire process. The new X-wing, temporary bungalows set up on the basketball courts during construction, also created a structural barrier that re-

PROCEDURES TO KNOW: AN EMERGENCY EVACUATION Stage 1 Evacuation: Exit the building with your class and report to the basketball courts if on the west side of campus, soccer fields if in the middle of campus, or Rolph Nicol Park if on the east side of campus. Stage 2 Evacuation: Everybody go to the football field and line up by registry. However, if a Stage 1 Evacuation is called, do not assume a Stage 2 Evacuation will also be called. The Stage 2 evacuation location may also be changed according to needs. Depending on the nature of the emergency and its severity, SFUSD might send an update on a relocation site after the Stage 2 Evacuation, if required. v

The Lowell October 2014

v 10

Metamorphoses By Gabby Dolgonos

his year’s fall play, Metamorphoses, is set to be a unique production complete with a twist in structure and advances in set design. Rather than following a chronological narrative, Metamorphoses depicts eight individual myths from Ovid’s famous collection of love stories, also titled Metamorphoses. Though the myths are not tied together in a traditional story, they are still connected by the theme of change, which manifests itself not only through the physical metamorphoses that the characters experience, but also through the constant presence of water. “Water represents the transformations because it’s so fluid, and water itself is constantly changing,” director Teresa Bookwalter said. To emphasize the theme’s significance, the play is taking last year’s concept of on-stage water a step further. While the 2013 fall play Macbeth concluded with rain pouring down onto the actors, this year’s whole production centers around two pools of water in the middle of the stage, one of which is a eighteen inches deep. The pools were the most difficult part of the set to construct, according to set director Kyla Morris. “Everything had to be built around the water,” Morris said. “We had to figure out how to support hundreds of gallons of water and how not to rot the wooden stage.” To ensure their stability, the pools were built with a plywood frame and then supported by three layers of material: plastic, pond underlay and pond liner. Unlike some previous plays, Metamorphoses will also feature an ensemble cast with no lead roles and each actor having about the same

v The Lowell October 2014

amount of screen time. “It was a bit disappointing at first that there weren’t any lead roles, but now I really like that it’s an ensemble piece,” junior Akeylah Hernandez said. “It’s more of us coming together as a group and all of us making it a great show, which is something we don’t get to explore as often.” The cast consists of 36 roles and because of its size, will not make use of the usual double cast, in which actors switch lead roles on different show nights. Instead, most actors will play the same parts for every performance. The large cast size was one of the reasons Metamorphoses was chosen to be performed over other plays. “We try to give as many people a chance to participate as possible,” Bookwalter said. The adapted play version of Metamorphoses, originally written and directed by Mary Zimmerman, brings several of the classic myths into a modern context. Certain myths are more modernized than others, as evidenced by the costumes which range from the traditional bare feet to contemporary sunglasses. For example, King Midas is wearing a business suit, as opposed to a traditional toga, according to senior Avery Chung-Melino. Though the play is based on Ovid’s ancient myths, both its modern interpretation and its timeless themes will allow the audience to relate to its content. “It’s going to be a really fun show to watch,” Hernandez said. “I think people might even enjoy it more than Macbeth because the language is so much easier to understand.” Metamorphoses will be performed on four different days this week, showing on Thursday, Friday and Saturday at 7:30 p.m., and on Sunday at 2 p.m., with tickets costing $8 at the door. v

(Left page) Senior Ana Comesana and sophomore Sarah Magan as Pomona and Lucina. (Top) Senior Avery Chung-Melino plays a frozewn daughter of Midas. (Left) Seniors Ana Comesana and Izabel Jusino and and junior Lydia Jenkins-Sleczkowski play the Three Fates. (Bottom Left) Sophomore Ella Baker plays Hunger. (Bottom Right) Junior Lydia Jenkins-Sleczowksi crowns senior Danny Zander as Midas.

The Lowell October 2014

v 12

W H AT ’ S F O R L U N C H ? Four reporters share their favorite lunchbox essentials.

THE SWEET:

peanut butter and Nutella sandwiches

by Noreen Shaikh

fter a long hard morning of classes, a luscious, chocolaty, sweet-and-salty lunch is just what you need. Most Lowell students anticipate their lunch block more than any other period, but if you are amongst those who do not look forward to lunch, you will soon have a change of heart thanks to this delicious peanut butter and Nutella sandwich. Peanut butter and Nutella sandwiches are a fun way to power you through the day. Peanut butter is very filling, with protein and healthy fats that give you enough energy for the entire day. Adding some chopped nuts to the sandwich makes it even heartier and gives it that extra crunch. For a perfect combination and some extra protein, wash the sandwich down with a carton of milk from the cafeteria! First, throw two slices of buttermilk bread into the toaster and waiting for them to reach a toasty, golden brown color. Then, apply a thick layer of Nutella to one slice of bread with a butter knife. Smother the second slice with a decent amount of peanut butter —chunky or smooth is your choice! If you are allergic to peanut butter, or not a big fan of it in general, you can substitute for it almond butter, cashew butter or sun-

THE HEALTHY:

flower butter. For extra sweetness, you can add strawberries, bananas or any other sliced fruit of your choice. Finally, press the spread-covered sides of both slices of bread together to complete your mouthwatering creation. Now you are ready to take on the rest of the day at Lowell!

all photos by amber ly

egg salad pinwheels by Stephanie Li

andwiches are a universal staple lunch at school, but eating the same thing every day can get boring. A creative way to spice up a sandwich both visually and flavorfully is to make egg salad pinwheels, a type of wrap that uses flattened bread as tortilla. Not only are egg salad pinwheels delicious, but they may even help raise your test grades! Eggs provide choline, a B vitamin that enhances brain function and memory, according to a study published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition. Eating a few egg salad pinwheels before a big test could therefore boost brain power, enhancing test performance. The recipe starts out with two eggs chopped up finely. Squeeze in a tablespoon of mayonnaise and sprinkle

v The Lowell October 2014

in enough salt and pepper to season the egg salad. Adding a head of shredded lettuce is also an option if you are looking for a crunchier texture. Grab a couple of slices of bread — whole wheat to make the recipe even healthier — and cut off the crust. Flatten out the bread with a roller, and cut each slice in half. Spread mayonnaise sparingly onto each half-slice before dolloping a thin layer of egg salad on top. Then roll up the bread, much like you would do to make sushi. Make as many as needed to use up all of the egg salad. Either wrap the pinwheels in plastic wrap or stick a toothpick through the center to hold the shape. These pinwheels will keep overnight, so you can make them in advance — the recipe could provide a welcome break from studying!

THE UNIQUE:

p i t a nachos

by Stephanie Li

t is a real struggle when there is an open bag of pita chips laying around but there is no hummus in the fridge to dip them in. One delicious way to make use of those pita chips with minimal work is to serve pita nachos! Simply pull out some household essentials — 10 slices of any cheese of your choice, half a cup of milk, a quarter teaspoon of crushed red pepper — and throw them into a saucepan on mediumlow heat. As you for the mixture to melt, dice up some Italian sausage, tomatoes, and whatever other toppings you would enjoy. When the sauce is smooth, turn off the flame and let the sauce cool as you lay a layer of pita chips out on a plate. Pour

the melted cheese over the pitas chips and sprinkle your choice of toppings on top. Whether you love the spicy blend of tomatoes and onions or the warm comfort of pinto beans and chili, it is impossible to go wrong with these pita nachos. Thankfully, it is easy to bring this nutritious snack with you to school. All you need is a bag of pita chips and a small, leak proof container to carry the sauce and your choice of toppings in. If you’re worried about making a mess at school, you can just dip the chips rather than pouring the sauce over them. Because this snack is delicious both warm and cold, you don’t have to worry about lining up at the microwave to heat it up!

THE BEVERAGE:

green smoothies

by Luming Yuan

onsidering the busy lifestyle of a typical Lowell student, finding and making foods that are quick, easy to make and nutritious can be a long, tedious process. That is why green smoothies are the perfect option for any hardworking student. In case you have never heard of green smoothies, they are essentially just a beverage made by blending a variety of fresh fruits with a liquid base of your choice and of course, some leafy greens. Even if vegetables disgust you, rest assured that you can reap the rewards of vitamin, mineral and antioxidant-rich greens while tasting nothing but refreshing coconut water and sweet, juicy apples. The process of making a green smoothie is quite simple. Start by blending a cup of your liquid base — commonly used liquid bases include coconut milk, almond milk, or water — with a cup of greens, such as kale, spinach, romaine, collards or swiss chard, then add about one-and-a-half cups of fresh or frozen fruit and blend again. This recipe makes a hearty 16-ounce drink. Fruits like banana, mango, avocado, apple and peach are great choices to cancel out the bitterness from the leafy greens. The addition of ice cubes, cooling mint leaves, flax seeds or nut butters can

further personalize this open-ended, guilt-free treat. Protein powder and Greek yogurt are especially great additions for vegetarians who may have trouble getting all the protein they need. Essentially any combination will work, depending on what flavor combination you prefer. One tried-and-true combination is combining honeydew melon, coconut milk, mint, and ice cubes, according to the Life by DailyBurn (www.dailyburn.com/life). Their website features other delectable recipes that can be made in the morning in under five minutes and brought to school as an energizing breakfast or a quick snack before soccer practice. The nutrition of the leafy greens and fruits of a green smoothie boost your energy levels and immune system while promoting mental clarity, which is something that anyone can also appreciate. Drinking green smoothies can also help lower your chance of contracting diseases like cancer and heart disease, according to the Green Thickies website (www. greenthickies.com). Those are a lot of benefits packed into one quick and easy drink! So, if you ever want a break from the regular old salad but still need to get your veggies in, give green smoothies a whirl.

The Lowell October 2014 v

v The Lowell October 2014

RACING FOR THE WIN. By Rayming Liang

The Lowell October 2014

v 16

XC C

New runners prove strong assets to team

rowds of people wait by the finish line on the grassy field, looking up the hill expectantly. Suddenly, a flash of colors — the cross country runners have appeared, and the silence breaks as the crowd begins to cheer on the athletes. Another race comes to a close at the Lowell Invitational. On Saturday Sept. 20, the Lowell cross country team competed in their first meet of the season at Speedway Meadow in Golden Gate Park. Throughout the day, nearly eighty high school teams throughout the state took part in this meet, with runners of all shapes and sizes taking part in thirteen different races. The course was 2.13 miles for the frosh-soph races and 2.93 miles for the JV and varsity races, consisting of mostly of dirt paths and many hills. To prepare for the competition, the team had strong practices in the week leading up to the meet. “The long, slow distance runs on Mondays helped strengthen our legs, and the other days simulated a race pace,” junior Matthew Sam said. “Our Wednesdays are track practices, which get us working on race paces, and gets your lungs used to what it would feel like in a race.” Despite that head coach Chad Chiparo was not able to lead the team during the race day, the team was left in good hands. “It was a good thing that our veterans knew how the invite would run, so they were able to help the newcomers,” team manager junior Maggie He said. Out of the 6 races Lowell competed in, some students were successful, including sophomores Mikolaj Krajewski and Sierra Brill placing first in the Sophomore boy’s first race and Frosh-Soph girl’s second race, respectively. Junior Kristen Leung also placed second in the varsity girl’s first race. For Krajewski, this was his first cross country race, and his victory came to him as a surprise. “I wasn’t expecting to get first,” he said. “I just tried to apply my experiences from track.” As for Brill, who is racing in this meet for her second time, she felt confident of her race. “I started out the race cruising because I didn’t want to burn out at the end -- I started surging after the rolling hills, and kicked after the big tree,” she said. Despite such successes, Lowell was not quite as triumphant in the varsity boy’s race, where the Cardinals were unable to place

v The Lowell October 2014

higher than 20th. However, the results did not crush the athletes’ spirits. “I was a bit nervous at the start, but once the gun fired, the adrenaline got to me,” junior Marvin Luong said. “We all got tired towards the middle, but it was a good race overall.” In the end, the team left the race with confidence. “The final times from the race represent a good start to the season, since many runners were new and did not have a lot of cross country experience,” He said. With the next race quickly coming up, the team looks forward with a small goal in mind. “We hope that the runners will continue to work hard and develop their race pace,” He said. v

“The final times from the race represent a good start to the season, since many runners were new.”

Photo by Zoe Kaiser Junior Matthew Sam races hard on September 20.

VARS VOLLEYBALL Three-peat champs? By Ariel Yuan The girls’ varsity volleyball team hopes to continue its streak of two consecutive Academic Athletic Association titles with new competition and a new assistant coach. As of this year, the AAA has divided participating girls’ varsity volleyball teams into two divisions to make the league more competitive. Lowell, Washington, Balboa, Galileo and Lincoln are the only schools in Division One, while the other schools such as Wallenburg, Mission and Marshall are in Division Two. The teams in each division will play each other three times. Lowell’s main competitors this season are Lincoln and last season’s runner-up, Balboa.

Junior Samantha Wong prepares for a spike in the Cardinals’ victory over Salesian High School on September 11. Photo by Amber Ly

The Lowell October 2014

v 18

RECLAMATION. By Danielle Flores

All photos by Karina Huft 19

v The Lowell October 2014

(Left) Senior midfielder Tim Eilers fights to defend the ball in the Cardinals’ 4-0 defeat of the San Francisco International Jaguars on September 29. (Above) Junior forward Parker Moxley battles Jaguars’ defense in persuit of the ball on September 29.

Boys’ soccer improves defense in quest for title

HE VARSITY BOYS’ SOCCER team took revenge on Monday Sept. 29 as it shut-out the San Francisco International Jaguars 4-0. The Cardinals have come back this season full throttle after their 3-2 loss in the semifinals last year to SFI. The game kicked off with immediate defensive pressure from SFI which kept the Cardinals on edge. The Jaguars are highly skilled compared to the other teams the Cardinals have faced this season, according to junior forward Parker Moxley. But the Cardinals’ new 4-2-3-1 (4 defenders, 2 defensive midfielders, 3 midfielders, 1 lone striker) formation ended the anxiety and after the first 10 minutes, the players looked to have shaken off their nerves. “The other team wasn’t really used to it,” Moxley said. “Last year we did the 3-4-3 formation. Now that we have more numbers in the middle, we can get the ball out to the wings and bring the ball to the forwards. And that’s what we did today.”

By strategizing swift counterattacks and opening up space to the striker, Moxley scored the first two goals for the Cardinals, who led 2-0 after the first half. In the second half, Lowell looked more at ease as the players moved quickly and precisely around SFI allowing for sophomore forward and midfielder Cian O’Dwyer to score two more goals. O’Dwyer credits the defense for the Cardinal’s success. “It’s all about our defensive shape,” he said. “I think it’s good that we’ve got one of our captains, Luis Bautista, on the back, making us all a unit. We’re going to win this season I’m sure.” Once the final whistle blew, the Cardinals won 4-0. Confidence is in the air for the varsity boys’ soccer with no-look passes, bicycle kick attempts and fancy footwork. “The team as a unit is playing well because they all understand what is expected from them within our system of play,” coach Juan Lopez said. “It allows them to be more relaxed and enjoy the game for what it is.” v

The Lowell October 2014

v 20

GIRLS’ TENNIS

Senior captain Sabrina On serves the ball in the Cardinals’ 6-1 victory over Lincoln on Sept. 10. Photo by Aida Irving

By Joseph Kim

ITH FRESH GUIDANCE from a new assistant coach, the girls’ varsity tennis team sets out to perfect its gameplay in preparation for another undefeated league season and a gold trophy at All-City. New assistant coach John Mohr wants to emphasize conditioning as well as the team’s previous practice methods. “Tennis can be very strenuous, so better conditioning will help us improve our consistency and alleviate much of the stress we feel,” Mohr said. “One aspect of our conditioning is foot movement, since tennis involves a lot of quick movement. We want the girls to stay on the balls of their feet rather than being flat footed.” According to Mohr, the team shows a unique level of play and dedication incomparable to that of other schools. “They are able to win because they work hard and work together on tactics and style of play,” he said. v 21

v The Lowell October 2014

“Better conditioning will help us improve our consistency and alleviate much of the stress we feel.”

The Lowell October 2014

v 22

ice bucket

challenged

By rachael Schmidt 23

v The Lowell October 2014

Charitable Video Goes Viral During One of the Worst Droughts on Record

s you browse the hundreds of videos on YouTube or the clips of Vine, you are sure to find countless “challenges” which people do for viral fame. However, the popular Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis Association Ice Bucket Challenge advertises a more charitable goal based around gaining donations to find a cure for ALS. But, since it wastes water in midst of a statewide drought, is it worth it? This summer, the challenge spiked in popularity, and through the attention and “follows” that the ALSA has gained through all mediums of social media, it has received approximately $31.5 million in donations since Aug. 20, a considerably higher amount compared to the $1.9 million raised last year at the same time, according to the ALS Association’s website. While such activities are for charity with good publicity to raise positive awareness for the association, the challenge encourages wasting water during a shortage. San Francisco is running dry with barely one inch of rainfall from July 1 to Oct. 1 of this year, according to the Department of Water Resources. Although residents of San Francisco are not yet under mandatory water rationing, they are strongly urged to reduce use by 10 percent, according to an article by SFGate. Thankfully, some people are already taking this as a wake-up call to minimize their water usage. “I was nominated, but I decided not to do it,” sophomore David Lara said. “We are in a drought, and [doing the challenge] would have made the situation worse.” There are also people who reused their water for other purposes, so it is not a complete waste. “I did [my challenge] outside in a tree well, an area for sidewalk landscaping,” senior Sabina

Wildman said. “I tried not to dump my water totally on the cement. I was trying to dump it into the soil so the roots could absorb it in a time when people are not watering their young street trees due to the drought.” With very little rainfall to supplement our needs, California does not need gallons of precious water being dumped onto sidewalks to get a few “Likes” on social media. The ALSA has already put out a notice on their website encouraging challenge-doers to reuse the water dumped. But even so, the amount already wasted cannot be taken back. Dumping ice water also does not help the victims that suffer from the disease. If challenge enthusiasts really wish to help the needy and overcome feats at the same time, they should rethink the challenge activity itself. A good example of this is the Rice Bucket Challenge. Members of The Rotaract Club of Vadodara in India set out to needy neighborhoods around them, and have given almost 300 kilograms of rice directly to the hungry, according to The Times of India. The group does not waste useful resources, yet they use a method similar to the Ice Bucket Challenge’s, where the partaker gives the rice to someone in need, posts a picture of the completed challenge, and then nominates four others to donate. As different groups take on other objectives that do not dump out resources, there are still others who continue the waterwasting cycle of the Ice Bucket Challenge even today. While it is unsure how greatly it agitates California’s drought, it is definitely a contributor. People should either donate directly, or skip the challenge altogether. v

“California does not need gallons of precious water being dumped onto sidewalks to get a few ‘likes’ on social media.”

The Lowell October 2014

v 24

25 v The Lowell

October 2014

Smile — You’re On Camera By Tyler Perkins

n July, a driver captured footage of an altercation between a woman and a California Highway Patrol officer on the side of a Los Angeles highway. The video showed the officer punching the woman several times in the head as she lay on the ground. In September the woman was awarded a $1.5 million settlement for her injuries and the officer was fired.It is a good thing someone filmed the incident because otherwise it could have ended up like many other instances of police brutality, with not enough evidence to understand what happened. Equipping police officers with body mounted cameras — a trend that has spread to many cities across the country and will soon make its way to San Francisco — is a necessary measure that brings clarity to confusing situations, acts as a check on police behavior and protects officers and victims from inaccurate claims. San Francisco Supervisor John Avalos is a big proponent of police body cameras. “I think when used effectively they can help build trust between police and the community,” he said. “The police officers can be a little more circumspect about how they initiate force and the public can see that there has been a real effort by police officers to act in more transparent ways.” The San Francisco Police Department recently received a $250,000 grant from the Department of Justice to start a pilot program with the cameras, according to Avalos’s Legislative Aide Jeremy Pollock. The initial program will equip some officers with body cameras and the hope is to expand the program in the near future. Every year there are incidents in which police officers are accused of handling situations poorly and without video footage it is difficult to find the truth. Earlier this year, City College of San Francisco student Alejandro Nieto, 28, was shot by police. Nieto did have a taser, but without video evidence it is difficult to know exactly what hapillustration by stephen xie

pened. If the police had been wearing cameras when the incident occurred, it would be easier to understand the chain of events that led to his death. The pilot program would potentially lead to to every San Francisco police officer wearing a camera, but there are still some financial obstacles, according to Avalos. Equipping every officer with a camera could cost up to $3 million and the city has to find space in the budget. The cameras may save the city money by preventing unnecessary lawsuits, which could lessen the financial burden. A study at Cambridge University found that complaints against police in Rialto, California decreased by 85 percent after the implementation of body cameras. Some police officers are in favor of having cameras because they will protect them from incorrect accusations. “Police officers generally do a really good job and sometimes have to make life or death decisions,” San Francisco Police Department Sergeant Douglas Farmer said in an interview. “I think that having the cameras on them is actually a good thing because it will show their actions as being correct, or at least reasonable based on the situation.” In addition to providing clarity to murky situations, the cameras may also help prevent police brutality. Officers will be less likely to behave poorly if they know their actions are being recorded. The Cambridge study saw a 59 percent drop in the use of force in Rialto after police officers began wearing cameras. Though this is a small sample size, equipping cops with body cameras would make officers think before they act, thus preventing situations of misconduct. Though the details of San Francisco’s pilot program are still unclear, this is the first step in the city conforming to the positive trend that is changing the future of law enforcement technology. The cameras will clear up situations with conflicting reports, prevent police officers from being inaccurately accused and prevent officers from using force in situations that do not call for it. v

The Lowell October 2014

v 26

v 27 The Lowell October 2014

Illustration by steven xie

EDITORIAL CARTOON

LETTER TO THE EDITOR

Dear The Lowell, Every year following the Fall Play/Spring Musical, The Lowell plainly slaps a hodgepodge of pictures onto a big page and calls it a good day’s work. These pictures tell us about the same amount of information as someone who didn’t attend the performance. Perhaps my biggest pet peeve are the captions, which are few and far between with limited context to the accompanying picture. Combined, they are about as useful as Lowell’s security guards. My suggestion is that The Lowell write reviews of these productions to not only to recap the performance, but provide editorials and opinions of the play or musical. Reviews would provide constructive criticism to the production team and diagnose what went right or wrong and address them the next time the play or musical rolls around. Also, those who missed it could see if it was smart to save the ever-climbing admission fee and spend it on another AP prep book. ($10 is preposterous, but that’s an

argument for another day) The argument could be made that a “scathing” review would “hurt the actor’s feelings.” Well I’m sorry to be the first one to do it, but welcome to the real world, folks! If you can’t handle constructive criticism then take on your toughest role yet and at least act like you can. The Lowell is for the most part outstanding, but if they want to further their legitimacy as an award-winning newspaper they need to stop with the scrapbooking and put more time, effort and substance into their coverage of the Performing Arts. If all you take away from this is an irritable grouch who has too much free time his hands griping on such a minute ‘issue’, then I apologize for wasting your valuable time. But at least remember this nugget of advice from a wise, seasoned senior: Sometimes, a word is worth 1,000 pictures. Jack Hinson, Reg 1511

The Lowell October 2014

v 28

Dancing Through the Ages

{

Throughout the ages, dancing has reflected the culture and music of the time. The influences of each decade have made music and dance what they are today. From the ’70s “Bump” to what we know as the “Twerk” today, dancing has progressively become more provocative.

’70s:

“Bump” and “Hustle”

nder the disco ball and the colorful lights of the ’70s, hippies started their own dancing trends, like the “Bump” and the “Hustle.” The “Hustle” dance was performed as either a partner or line dance involving various steps and turns. At the time, dancers performed this combination of swing and Latin dance to the famous song “Do the Hustle” by Van McCoy. Another dance that was popular during the time was the “Bump” dance, where dancers lightly bumped bodies as they moved to the rhythm. all photos by Michelle Wong

}

by Stephanie Li and Danielle Flores

v The Lowell October 2014

’80s: “Cabbage

Patch,” “The Worm,” “The Moonwalk”

uring the ‘80s, dances like the “Moonwalk,” the “Worm,” and the “Cabbage Patch” took over the dance floor. After Michael Jackson coined the “Moonwalk” dance in his 1983 during his performance of “Billie Jean” on the television special of Motown 25: Yesterday, Today, Forever, people from all over have tried to master this move, which involves dancers acting like they are walking forward as they glide back. The “Worm” dance, which involves imitating a worm’s wave-like motion on the floor, was created in the ‘70s but was not yet popularized until the ‘80s during its growing punk rock and pop period. Another very common dance during this period was the “Cabbage Patch” dance, which involved dancers clasping their hands together out in front of them while moving their hips in a circular motion.

’90s: “Tootsie Roll,”

“Rump Shaker,” “Da Dip”

he ’90s were the turning point for provocative dancing with the spread of the “Rump Shaker,” “Da Dip” and “Tootsee Roll” dances. Suburban Legends’ “Rump Shaker,” released in 1992, started off the decade with erotic lyrics such as “booties of the cuties steady shakin’ but relaxin’.” The song emphasized rigorous rear movement. Following that was the upbeat 1994 single “Tootsie Roll,” a song by 69 Boyz which directed participants to move right, left, front and back throughout the verses, and to roll their hips during the chorus. Finally, when Freak Nasty’s “Da Dip” came out in 1996 with the lyrics “I put my hand up on your hip. When I dip, you dip, we dip,” dancing took on its 21st century form. The “Da Dip” became an example for modern dances like the twerk, dougie, grind, yike and dip.

Now:

ccording to the Oxford Dictionary’s definition, “twerking” describes a popular dance that involves thrusting hip movements and a low, squatting stance.” From Miley Cyrus’s 2013 Video Music Awards to this year’s Nicki Minaj “Anaconda” performance, the world of twerking has only heightened and will continue to. But looking back, the ‘70s bump and hustle, the ‘80s “Worm” and “Cabbage Patch” and the ‘90s “Rump Shaker”, “Tootsie Roll” and “Da Dip” all led to the 21st century’s generation of squatting and hip-thrusting.

“Twerk”

The Lowell October 2014

v 30