FOCUS
LIFE&ART
“ Color TV: Minorities and the Media” p. 6-7
“El Niño Fashion” p. 9
SPORTS
“New Year’s health resolutions” p. 10
THE MATADOR
SAN GABRIEL HIGH/JANUARY 21, 2016/ VOLUME 61 / ISSUE 5
WWW.THEMATADORSGHS.COM/801 S. RAMONA ST., SAN GABRIEL CA 91776
Poets perform at San Gabriel Get Lit qualifiers, compete for position on school’s slam team
Photo by Sunny Chen
Freshman Shirley Fung recites her classic poem, “I Must Call Back That Part of Me.” Ka t h e ri n e H o o n g San Gabriel High School’s fourth annual Poetry Slam featured student poets who competed to earn a place on the school’s Get Lit poetry team. English teacher Cady Burkhart and her sister, Dottie Burkhart, introduced Get Lit, a national poetry competition, to Alhambra Unified School District schools such as Alhambra High School and Mark Keppel High School. The Get Lit program and curriculum have spread to almost all the English classes at San Gabriel High School and the San Gabriel Get Lit team has started making their way through competitions. Hosted by Paul Mabon and Alex Luu, the Poetry Slam was held on Jan. 19-20 in the auditorium. Around 650 students from 18 English classes competed in order to perform their poem on stage. However, there would only be a few chosen poets per class.
The poets were graded according to their accuracy, originality, emotion, story, and truth. Judging the performers were Georgia Daniels, Rhoda Dizon, Cady Burkhart, Dottie Burkhart, Jordan Volgo, Robert Huynh, and Jessica Sandercock. “There is so much competition this year and it keeps getting better and better. The decision will not be easy for the judges and me,” Burkhart said. During the event, the audience was able to vote for their favorite poet by texting a name to a given number. At the end of the performances, the voted top poets were senior Justine Salazar for the first day and senior Madelyn Areyan for the second day. A total of 41 students made it on stage but overall, only six poets will be chosen to join the Get Lit team where they will compete against other schools in April 28-30. The final roster of the official Get Lit team will be revealed in the future because the judges have yet to decide.
Students enter GOT GAME contest Lu Yue Wang San Gabriel High School’s Video Game Design class will have a chance to showcase their skills and creativity in the STEM Fuse “GOT GAME” competition after May of this year. As it is their first competition, the students are working hard to develop their very first game. Every participant has spent the last semester learning about game design and how to use the curriculum-standard design program, Construct 2. “I’m really excited, since this is a new experience for me,” senior Lillian Liu said. “I’m really excited to just show people that I can make video games that are fun.” All participants will design and build their own original, PG-rated game using Construct 2. After their game is ready for publication, participants will send in their files to the STEM Fuse Arcade Site where millions of users will be able to play the games and vote for their favorites. According to STEM Fuse Arcade, the games will be judged on creativity, originality, overall game design and quality, game complexity, enjoyment, and voting on its website. The first place winner and the People’s Choice Award winner will receive a “$100 dollar gift card or one Personal Version of Construct 2 ($130 value), and a free GAME:IT curriculum subscription.” The second place winner will receive a $50 gift card and third place winner will $25 gift card. “[This competition] definitely gives [the students] a chance to gain more experience and to express their creativity,” Qui Nguy, Video Game Design instructor, said. “I am intrigued to see what type of storyline they can create. Especially since a lot of gamers, hard gamers, say that they can create games, but we’ll test them and see if they can actually do it. And by having this competition, it gives the students a chance to compare their game to their peers’.” According to some students, the competition is a way to gain more experience and further their skills and knowledge of the video game design industry. They appreciate the chance to test out the field and gain an idea of what it is like to work as a team and put together one cohesive product. “I remember in the beginning of the year Mr. Nguy told us that video game design isn’t an individual ‘thing’ because you have to work with a lot of people,” senior Tiffany Vuong said. “And at first I thought ‘yeah of course,’ but I didn’t realize how much you really had to work with people until we actually started to work on the game. It’s been a really great experience.” Nguy is considering to have his class participate in this competition again next year. From what he has observed from his students so far, Nguy feels that the competition could stay as a part of the curriculum. “We’re going to try to make it grow, especially now that this is the first semester I get to see how the students work with this assignment and with the program, Construct 2,” Nguy said. “[It] is difficult for some students, but most of the time this is where all the students help each other out. I’m excited for them, we’ll see how it goes.” All games submitted by San Gabriel high school participants will be available to play after May 21. Anyone can vote for their favorites at the STEM Fuse Arcade website. Until then, these participants are hard at work constructing their projects.
Cha debuts at San Gabriel as new counselor Mari o Mand uj ano
Photo by Sunny Chen
Maritza Cha is the new addition to the school’s counseling staff following Jacqueline Herrera’s relocation to Oregon. Cha will be taking charge of students with last names starting with A-F. As a University of California, Los Angeles alumni, Cha acquired a bachelor’s degree in political science and a minor in education. Soon after, she attended California State University, Dominguez Hills where she graduated with a master ’s in education and counseling. Cha worked for the Los Angeles School District (LAUSD) as a teacher and college counselor for seven years at Garfield High. She then joined forces with a number of other educators and created a pilot school under LAUSD. Having undergone “a lot of work that required the sacrifice of many breaks” to start a pilot school and then witnessing her students graduate was an impactful triumph in her life for she
found joy in their success which ultimately resulted in her decision to become a school counselor. Before joining San Gabriel High School, she was working as a counselor in Northrop Elementary. As much as Cha loves her occupation, she also enjoys traveling and practicing photography. Her favorite parts of the world that she has traveled to were Cambridge and London, England. Cha is currently focused on accomplishing her set of new year goals, which include making sure students are on track to graduation and to college. “Everyone has so far been very lovely and supportive and I can tell that students are involved and that teachers genuinely care about what they do,” Cha said. As a counselor, she describes assisting students in assuring they graduate as fulfilling. “My policy is that my door is always open,” Cha said. “I try my best to attend to requests as soon as I could.” Counselors are a vital part of the journey toward graduation, and Cha approaches all tasks with dedication.
NEWS
THE MATADOR
THURSDAY, JANUARY 21, 2016
2
School district offers college-level courses to students B ri t n e y Ti ng The most pressing concerns for a typical high school student are careers and college. What courses should I take to prepare for college? How difficult is college going to be? What am I going to do in life? The Alhambra Unified School District is offering high school students the chance to enroll in free courses that simulate college-level classes and explore what career they want to pursue in the future in order to answer these questions. Classes are divided into two categories: Career Technical Education (CTE) and Community College Concurrent Enrollment Classes. CTE classes include Restaurant Service Management, Video Game Design, Retail Sales CC, International Foods, Auto Technology, Emergency Medical Technician, Heating, Ventilation, Air Conditioning, Medical Terminology, Web Page Design, and Wood Technology. These classes focus on specific skills that might be required in order to succeed in a certain career. For example, Web Page Design teaches students how to utilize Adobe CS3’s huge variety of tools to design web pages and create digital graphics. Some classes, such as Restaurant Service Management, provide opportunities for job training or internships in which you are placed in a real job site to work and receive experience. These classes are taught by high school teachers and will provide high school credit. Community College Concurrent Enrollment Classes classes include Auto Technology 107, Engineering 122, Administration of Justice, Communication Studies, Computer Application and Office Technology, Engineering General, and General Psychology. These classes are taught by college professors and are the equivalent of
Advanced Placement (AP) classes offered at school, except students are not required to take AP exams pertaining to these courses at the end of the year. Most of the courses offered are taught at one of the district’s three main high schools, San Gabriel, Alhambra, and Mark Keppel, for three hours after school from 3:15 p.m. to 6:15 p.m. Exceptions include Retail Sales CC and Emergency Medical Technician, which are taught at Century High School from 1:45 p.m. to 4:45 p.m. and at San Gabriel from 5:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Classes are taught either on Monday and Wednesday or on Tuesday and Thursday, so the maximum amount of classes a student is able to take is two. Classes have begun on Jan. 11, with the exception of classes that will be taught by East Los Angeles College (ELAC) professors, which will begin on Feb. 9. All courses end on May 19. These programs serve not only to help students gain insight to the intricacies of collegiate life, but also to help them focus on and narrow down their career preferences. “We have all these different things available, like Video Game Design and Web Page Design; so if that’s an area that you’re interested in, definitely take these classes and see if it’s really for you, because it might sound fun, but you never took a class [in high school to try it out],” CTE Advisor Elizabeth An said. “Then you actually take the class in college and realize ‘oh, it’s kind of not for me,’ and this is something you could have found out in high school since we offer the class, and you wouldn’t have wasted extra time in college. You would’ve maybe found something else that you love.” Whether a student decides to take one of these classes for college credits and be one step ahead of their peers or to discover what they would like to major in college,
ESSA will replace NCLB Lu Yue Wang The No Child Left Behind Act (NCLB) has ended and will be replaced by the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) by August 2016. In response to the nationwide request for NCLB reform, ESSA was devised to suit the demand for less emphasis on determining student achievement and teacher performance based on standardized test scores. The new act will also work to reform methods of stimulating student growth and subject proficiency. According to whitehouse.gov, the bill “rejects the overuse of standardized tests and one-size-fits-all mandates on our schools [and] ensures that our education system will prepare every child to graduate from high school ready for college and careers.” All new programs and regulations will be formulated and revised by state governments. Progress will be reported to the federal government with special interest in improvements seen in the state’s lowest performing schools. “States will still be required to file reports demonstrating progress,” according to EdSource. “The law requires states to identify their lowestperforming schools, those falling in the bottom 5 percent. However, it leaves it to states to decide how to define that and how to intervene if necessary.” San Gabriel High Achool supports the change and is now awaiting for further instruction by the state in implementing any new procedures developed to the new ESSA standards. “I am glad that the burden of testing has been alleviated from our students and teachers,” Principal Debbie Stone said. “It’s great now that we will not have the ‘cookie-cutter’ standards of the past, but instead the more personalized policies developed by the states that are geared towards helping our struggling students achieve success.” When the NCLB was first approved by President Bush in 2002, its goal was to bring equal opportunity for higher education to all students in America. Every school was held to the same high academic standards administered by the federal government and the collective goal was to reach 100 percent student proficiency in reading and math by 2014. This goal was not reached. “The law was scheduled for revision in 2007, and, over time, NCLB’s prescriptive requirements became increasingly unworkable for schools and educators,” the US Education Department stated. “Recognizing this fact, in 2010, the Obama administration joined a call from educators and families to create a better law that focused on the clear goal of fully preparing all students for success in college and careers.” The new act will grant more power to states rather than the federal government in devising more effective programs geared toward improving student performance and career readiness. California has already taken the initiative to gain a head start in implementing ESSA. According to EdSource, “California already has a jump start on the basic thrust of the new law, including devolving more power to local school districts and devising an accountability system based not just on test scores but on ‘multiple measures,’ such as high school graduation rates, levels of student engagement, and parent involvement.” ESSA is due to take place nationwide in the next school year, bringing more power over education to the states, and providing the initiative for student improvement to the nation.
these courses promise to be beneficial to all and provide a valuable learning experience. Students who wish to sign up should see An in the Career Center and obtain a flyer that contains more information about these classes.
Illustration by Lu Yue Wang
El Niño alters weather pattern, influences storms Tom Cheah Throughout early January, El Niño has brought major storms and altered the typical weather pattern by warming the temperatures of the Pacific Ocean. El Niño and its opposite, La Niña, are both parts of the El Niño Southern Oscillation cycle, which describes the variations in surface temperatures over the equatorial Pacific Ocean. Both are naturally occurring and do not follow a specific pattern. El Niño makes the sea surface temperatures warmer than average, while La Niña makes them cooler than average. Normally, El Niño and La Niña events, which last nine to 12 months, happen once every two to seven years. El Niño alters the climate patterns through warming up ocean temperatures and changing global atmospheric circulation. For southern California, El Niño events typically bring more rainfall and snow. “Our rainfall totals an average 15 inches a year,” environmental science teacher David Whitman said. “With El Niño, that number typically doubles at least.” The Climate Prediction Center at the National Weather Service predicts that precipitation will increase for southern areas of the United States and temperatures will
increase for western and northern states. “That [El Niño] will end the drought is the biggest misconception,” Whitman said. El Niño influenced storms will help California’s water supply, but will be unable to end the four-year long drought. The city of Los Angeles will be aiming to collect the rainwater from El Niño influenced storms. Over 3.2 billion gallons of water had been collected from the storms of early January. California will need multiple seasons of above average amounts of precipitation to reverse the drought’s effects. Though Pacific Ocean temperatures have peaked and shown signs of cooling, El Niño’s effects will continue onward through 2016.
Photo by Snowbird.com CC/BY
Weather graph depicts rainfall across the U.S.
DATE
February 23, 2016
LOCATION
Alhambra High School
TIME
2-5 pm
3
THE MATADOR
THURSDAY, JANUARY 21, 2016
Democratic Debate builds on past policies
Photo by WSJ CC/BY
Democratic candidates Hillary Clinton and Bernie Sanders appear on the fourth presidential debate held in Charleston, South Carolina on Jan. 17. A m y Yee In the fourth Democratic presidential debate before the Iowa caucus, candidates Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders, former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, and former Maryland Governor Martin O’Malley tackled future and current major issues such as gun control, healthcare, and foreign policies. The two-hour debate aired on NBC News and was sponsored by the Congressional Black Caucus Institute on Jan. 17, the eve of Martin Luther King Jr. Day, which many of the candidates used as an inspiration for their opening statements. “I remember well when my youth minister took me to hear Dr. King. His moral clarity, the message that he conveyed that evening really stayed with me and helped to set me on a path to service,” Clinton said in her opening statement. “And that is our fight still. We need a president who can do all aspects of the job.” Following the opening statements, the first topic of the debate was gun control, which was aimed towards Sanders, who responded that he has always “supported [an] instant background check to make certain that people who should
have guns do not have guns.” Clinton attacked Sanders’ record on gun control, stating that he had voted against various bills of gun control legislation, often siding with the National Rifle Association (NRA). “He has voted with the NRA, the gun lobby, numerous times,” Clinton said. “He voted for immunity from gunmakers and sellers.” Sanders defended himself, stating that he had a “D-minus voting record with the NRA” and announced his support for a bill repealing immunity for gun-makers and sellers, in which O’Malley criticized both Clinton and Sanders’ stances on the issue. “They’ve both been inconsistent on this issue,” O’Malley said. “I am the one person on this stage who has passed comprehensive gun legislation.” The next topic focused on healthcare, following up on Sander’s previously proposed universal health care plan, where individuals would pay a 2.2 percent income-based premium with companies that would pay an extra 6.2 percent of an employee’s income towards the plan in order to “stop forcing working Americans to choose between bargaining for higher wages or better health insurance.” Clinton criticized the plan stating that it would undermine Obamacare and the Affordable Care Act, to which Sanders refuted, saying that he help build on those acts. Other topics discussed foreign policy, where candidates voiced their support for President Obama’s opposition to sending ground troops to Syria and to the warming of diplomatic ties with Iran. Economic issues also arose, to which Sanders expressed his hopes to separate commercial and investment banking. “This debate was more focused on Bernie Sanders this time, because the previous debates were more focused on Hillary, like ‘what are you going to do as a female president?’” senior Ashley Hua said. “But overall, the candidates agreed on most major issues.” The next democratic debate will be held on Feb. 11, hosted by PBS in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
Wildlife Reserve occupied by militia J e s s i c a Tra n In protest of the apprehension of a pair of Oregon ranchers from the Hammond family who were charged with arson on federal property, two brothers from the Bundy family and an expanding militia have taken up arms and occupied the Malheur Wildlife Reserve Siege in Harney County in order to attract attention to the injustice of their sentence. The Reserve was produced in 1908 as an “Indian reservation” around the Malheur, Mud, and Harney lakes; this later became the “Malheur National Wildlife Refuge, without the Native Americans. The father-son unit, Dwight and Steven Hammond, burned down 139 acres, supposedly in an effort to cover the evidence of illegal poaching. They were charged with terrorism and sentenced five years in prison. However, they refused to show up in court, and Harney County residents held a rally to protest their arrest. The Bundy brothers, Ammon and Ryan, have infiltrated the rally, accompanied by several other armed civilians, and together they took over the reserve. After the siege started, the Hammonds peacefully turned themselves in, claiming to have no relations to
the Bundys, who held this siege in order to appeal to the Hammonds’ sentence as well as spread activism of the government’s abuse of power. As of now, the government has taken no action to end the siege. Junior Angela Gomez said that the government should not be tolerating the occupants taking advantage of them. “I think it is completely ridiculous because we are fighting for an adopted clause that the original ranch owners don’t care about.” Gomez said. “[The Hammonds are] going to jail by choice, and I especially think [the siege] is ridiculous because [the Bundy brothers] didn’t even plan it out right. They’re [just] waiting like sitting ducks.” In the meantime, federal law enforcement officials have kept their distance from the wildlife refuge, which is currently closed to visitors. “The [FBI] has assured me that those at the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge will at some point face charges,” Harney County Sheriff Dave Ward said to NBC News. The FBI is following U.S. policy guidelines instituted to avert bloody conflicts/ clashes such as those that occurred at Ruby Ridge, Idaho, and Waco, Texas, and is working with state and local law enforcement for a peaceful resolution.
Photo by UPI CC/BY
Two protestors from Harney C o u n t y , Oregon hold signs outside the Malheur N a t i o n a l Wildlife Siege in response to the g o v e r n m e n t ’s abuse of power in sentencing the unjust arrest of the Hammond family, charging them with t e r ro r i s m a n d five years in prison.
NEWS
Biometric technology adopted by border control Edward R iver a New biometric technology, such as facial scanning and iris photographing, has been initiated in the first phase of a beta test by the U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) as of Dec. 10. Although this trial is intended to better secure U.S. national borders starting with the Otay Mesa border crossing, port at the U.S. Mexico Border, it has aroused suspicion among commuters. The biometric scanning at Otay Mesa is limited to only non-U.S. citizens at entry ports, but will soon be applicable in a modified manner during a second phase to all departures regardless of citizenship. Whether pedestrian or vehicular, all non-U.S. citizens at entry until June 2016 will be required by the CBP to take facial photographs and iris images using two million dollar biometric capture technology (analysis of biological or a living specimen’s data) the CBP paid for. “For those people, their concerns about their data and stuff is something beyond what they really care about...they cross the border like they cross the street... for shopping...for work...if I’m delayed I’m not going to get to work on time,” AP Government tecaher Raymond Gin said. “It’s not highfalutin my civil rights in this case it’s my economic rights...I want to get to work on time so I don’t get fired I want to get home on time so I can have dinner with my kids.” The second phase is similar, but even more extensive. Beginning in the month of February, the range of security measures will encompass all U.S. and nonU.S. citizens during departures but narrow its focus to accumulating biographic data similar to flight routines, such as passengers providing travel documents [passports, passport card, or other Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) enabled travel documents]. In addition to this, certain non-U.S. citizens are required to “provide facial and iris biometrics to compare to their entry record,” but the method for choosing the individuals is currently deemed ambiguous, according to the Homeland Security News Wire. “The new technology is being tested to see if it is a solution to help CBP better match entry and exit records along the land border, and to help protect a traveler ’s identify against theft,” as stated by the Homeland Security News Wire. In other words, cataloguing foreigners’ records or referencing entry and exit records can assist in identifying overstays, verifying arrival and departures, identifying persons of interest, and accurately analyzing international visitors. “In a way we already have that...a lot of us are so tired after getting off a plane...not really thinking about it...life scan and facial recognition...is a way of combating terrorism,” Gin said. “Someone is always going to have a copy of it. Racial profiling is going to be a problem..but it’s going to be fought tooth and nail by the ACLU...because it’s a violation of our civil rights.” This very ideology, moreover, has led to a more extreme speculation, in which the technology database would be used to falsely correlate non-U.S. citizens to crime scenes simply based on similar facial features found in the photographs taken at entry ports. To ease conspiracy suspicions, the CBP has announced that the database would be discarded once the trial is completed. “Why collect it if you are just going to throw it away?What’s the endgame? If this is just for us to try out, what are we trying it out for?” Gin said.
OPINIONS High de”man”d
Manny Ibarra Knocking down the fortess Since elementary school, I was the talk of all my classmates. Everyone had something to say about me— something new, something that would scar me. Something I became known by that wasn’t even true. Shortly after, I was being called names that I didn’t even understand—names that, after a while, I wished could stay in the past. Unknowingly, I started to build a fortress to protect me from everyone, hoping that they would just pick on someone new and take away all the pain from all the things people said about me. Although people still called me names, I was so good at insults that I would quickly speak up. I would stand up for myself because I was not going to allow anyone to tease me. I would win arguments most of the time, and it gave me a sense of satisfaction knowing that I was able to defend myself with the fortress I created. However, I was not aware of what I was causing. Of course, less people would mess with me when I quickly told them off, but it also prevented me from what I had to deal with. That fortress of mine became an instinct and allowed me to quickly think of a comeback. I noticed that it wasn’t correct of me to talk to people the way they treated me. My personality was a lot like the character Dr. Temperance from Bones. It would get me into all sorts of trouble with people, but others liked my honesty. People would never be in between— either they liked me or they didn’t. However, I felt horrible because all the things I said just came out too strong or gave a different impression than what I meant. It gave me a reputation that I wasn’t very proud of. I tried changing my attitude countless times, but it yielded no good outcome. As I grew up, my fortress gradually lowered, but my instinct stayed the same, though it did change a bit. Instead of intentionally insulting others, I told it as a joke (well, most of the time). During freshman year, I was barely getting the hang of holding onto my tongue, which led to confrontations with many people. I don’t regret confronting them, but I do wish it happened differently. It was hard not to say what came to my mind, but what came to mind was too harsh. My freshman year was not the best time because I was a total jerk with no filter whatsoever. However, over the course of high school , I slowly learned to stop and just have fun but still keep my sassy personality at the same time. People began to know me for my sassiness, and it soon became a major part of my identity. Though I’m still very honest, I now know the difference between being honest and being plain rude. Aside from just being sassy and truthful, I’m a great friend who cares a lot about others. My personality has changed and now people can see the nice and easy-to-talk-to side of me. I’m able to tell the truth but also not hurt people’s feelings, which has been a major improvement and has made me very cheerful. I may not be as bold or as vigorous as I used to be, but that doesn’t mean I will not stand up for myself or others. I will defend what I care about, and all the pent up rudeness that I have been holding back will come out and roast you.
THE MATADOR
THURSDAY, JANUARY 21, 2016
4
Editorial
Publications policy inhibits students Policies differ depending on the subject that they are applied to. Sports teams, for example, are not subject to the same restrictions that academic extracurriculars or service clubs are, simply because of the nature of their activities. Likewise, publications classes do not possess the same policies that other school organizations do, as the function of publications is to serve as a source of information for the student body and as a forum for student opinions. Because of the prominence of publications on campus, naturally, a unique set of rules must be applied to its members; the Alhambra Unified School District approved a new publication code in Fall 2015 for all student publications to follow, even club newsletters. The code cemented that current students must be held to the standards of professional journalistic ethics and an academic level of English proficiency, in addition to several new regulations. One such regulation is that the publications staff is not allowed to stay on campus past the last bus, which departs at
5:15 p.m. Likewise, the school newspaper may not publish content on its website during the summer or over breaks. The policy also states that only current students can assist the newspaper staff. Some may argue that these are very reasonable restrictions. Why would a student or teacher want to stay on campus after school ended? Furthermore, if the staff were truly hardworking, then surely they would be able to complete their work without having to work long hours and compromise their health and safety. But that brings up a question: if the publications staff cannot stay after five, then why are sports teams and performance groups allowed to? For example, in the weeks before a play, cast members often stay until seven or eight in the evening to perfect their performance, and yet, there is no policy forbidding them from working on campus after school hours. What difference is there between theatre, publications, sports, and other extracurriculars that demand practice to achieve perfection?
If student safety and educational quality remain a priority to administration, then shouldn’t there be consistent standards in some aspects for all student activities across campus? In neglecting to provide uniform guidelines, or perhaps by not enforcing them, the district has limited the publication students’ productivity. Although these policies were implemented to “protect” publications, The Matador questions their timing and intentions. An online copy of the publications code can be found on thematadorsghs.us.
Illustration by Eva Fong
Graduation venue survey shows bias A nt hony Yang In regards to the graduation ceremony, seniors took a computer survey asking about the importance of parking space, transportation, and guests for our graduation. No big deal, except that most of the “facts” about each graduation site exemplified bias in the survey, favoring East Los Angeles College (ELAC) as the graduation venue, which anecdotally has been an unpopular choice among the senior class. In the beginning of the survey, information highlighted the potential change of graduation venues. It discussed the pros and cons of having the graduation at ELAC or San Gabriel High School; however, it highlighted the disadvantages of having the graduation ceremony at San Gabriel. It is as if the purpose of the survey was more about persuading students to support having the graduation ceremony at ELAC rather than clearly polling seniors on the location they wanted. The information noted that parking is free for both campuses. The bias revealed itself when it listed that parking is limited and the potential congestion that may result due to bottlenecking issues at San Gabriel, while the information about parking at ELAC emphasized the multiple parking spaces surrounding the stadium. The information only listed the problems of parking in San Gabriel, but conveniently left out solutions like opening the North Parking
Lots. If the intent of the survey was to encourage San Gabriel students on supporting ELAC as our new graduation venue, it was entirely futile. The survey asked how important parking and number of guests are to each senior, but the survey neglected to ask the most important question: where should the graduation be held at? Fortunately, senior Terri Tang polled 200 seniors before the computer survey was taken. The poll provided a choice between San Gabriel and ELAC and asked each recipient to provide a reason for their answer. Over 86 percent of seniors polled wanted the graduation ceremony to be held at San Gabriel, and the number one reason cited by the seniors was tradition. “Students who have large families were willing to invite less people if it means retaining [San Gabriel] as the graduation site,” Tang said. There is no point in using a heavily biased survey to change the minds of those wanting the ceremony to be held at San Gabriel for sentimental reasons. Simply conducting a biased survey gives the impression that the administrators have already made up their minds about the venue change. While most of the seniors will begrudgingly deal with the venue change, it does not help to fuel the fire with a survey that supports an anecdotally unpopular venue.
Illustration by Cassandra Chen
Political attacks take election to childish level K Im Ta Election year has arrived, and politics is looking heated. All I hear is bickering, accusing, and criticizing comments in this year’s election not only from voters but also candidates. After watching several presidential Democratic and Republican debates, the remaining Democrats, Bernie Sanders and Hillary Clinton, will take on each other at the Iowa cacuse on Feb. 1. Clinton and Sanders initiated a debate over gun control. This argument began back in the Oct. 13 Democratic debate where Sanders was praised for his thoughts on gun control. During an interview with CNN’s Alisyn Camerota, Clinton bashed Sanders on his plans for taxes, gun control, and topics that Sanders claimed to have a plan for, saying, “Well, if [Sanders] waits too long, nobody will have a chance to see them or analyze them. I am very clear about what I would do and how I would pay for it.” Sanders retaliated by calling out on Clinton about her plan for the remainder of the election. “I think a candidate who was originally thought to be the anointed candidate, the inevitable candidate, is now locked in a very difficult race here in Iowa and in New Hampshire,” Sanders said. “So obviously in that scenario, what people do is start attacking.” At first I was shocked to hear that politicians were attacking each other because I would assume that they are sophisticated adults, but they are
acting like teenagers, arguing, blaming, and accusing every little detail about one another. Polls show that Sanders is beating Clinton by a mere seven percent in the state of Iowa, where they have been rallying. While in the Republican party, Republican candidate Donald Trump has been attacking fellow Republican candidates Ben Carson and Ted Cruz. With the election fairly close, I wonder if the harsh words of both Republican and Democratic candidates will affect the results of the election.
5
THE MATADOR
THURSDAY, JANUARY 21, 2016
OPINIONS
Students lose connection with school I l e a n a P erez At the start of one’s education, 13 years of learning valuable skills and preparing for college seems doable. However, as time passes, 13 years of one’s school routine soon evolves into an eternal period of misery. As the years go by, school becomes less of a place students look forward to attend, and becomes more of a place they dread. The problem is not the staff nor the school curriculum; it is the way the school system functions that becomes a pain for students. Students are being overwhelmed by the constant tests and quizzes given and the pressure to excel in every subject. It feels as if the longer one spends in school, the more it turns into a memorization competition. It is a constant battle to see who has the best memory. Schools no longer focus on important life skills or college preparation for the benefit of their students. Instead, schools seem to focus on how well a student can remember the material. The more pressure students are under to memorize everything and succeed in every subject, the less rest students get. Eventually, the pressure to maintain good grades and retain their knowledge deprives students from sleeping. Sleepless nights, stressful weeks, and constant work are factors that make schools become places students dread. Considering the amount of time students spend at school, especially high school, school districts should make school feel like a second home. School is often referred to as a student’s second home, but no one ever feels comfortable at school. High school should be a place where students feel emotionally connected to. They should be able to reminisce about their high school experience far into
adulthood, and remember it as a time of enjoyment where they learned valuable lessons. Students should see high school as a home and not a prison they are trapped in for most of their day. School has not always been a place students did not feel emotionally connected to. There were times when students were not pressured to score highly on every exam and was bearable; therefore, schools should focus more on the well- being of the students instead of pressuring them to live their lives based on numbers. It is understood that there are rules that schools must follow and certain standards that students are required to learn and be tested on. However, the amount of pressure placed on students is unhealthy as is the ridiculous belief students have that their future is defined by numbers. The fact that students dread going to school everyday should be a call for change in the school system. Schools should provide a fun and open learning environment for students to effectively learn and develop their own interests. The competitive, stifling learning environment that students currently experience at school is by no means an effective strategy to achieving a schools’ number one goal: teaching and helping students become successful. Illustration by Eva Fong
Illustration by Lu Yue Wang
MATADOR
Editors-in-Chief
Managing Editors News Editors Opinions Editors Focus Editors Life and Art Editors Sports Editors Features Editors Copy Editors Photo Editor Artists Business Managers Website Editors Multimedia Editors Blogs Manager Adviser
Cassandra Chen Erin Truong Carolina Garcia Amy Yee Nathan Ta Sydney Trieu Carolina Garcia Amanda Molina Christy Deng Emmanuel Maresca Ileana Perez Kim Pham Frank Lieu Carolina Loaisiga Kelly Ho Amy Yee Ying Chow Eva Fong Chelsea Huynh Sunny Chen Eva Fong Kim Ta Lu Yue Wang Katherine Hoong Jessica Tran Stacy Chau Thomas Wang Tom Cheah Anthony Yang Katherine Hoong Jennifer Kim
Reporters: Hellgert Almontes, Shirley Dinh, Manny Ibarra, Susan Lam, Mario Mandujano, Edward Rivera, Uyen Sy, Britney Ting, Vivian Wong The Matador is published monthly by the journalism class of San Gabriel High School. 1,600 copies per issue are published at J. E. J Print Inc. The Matador is a public forum for student expression and highly encourages responses in reaction to issues discussed in the paper. The opinions expressed are those of the writers, not the faculty or administration. Articles without bylines are the opinion of the staff. Submit comments as a letter to the editor, signed (anonymity is guaranteed if requested), to H-2, or Ms. Kim’s mailbox.
The Matador Bullring How connected do you feel to San Gabriel? *Responses from Georgia Daniels’ SEI 5/6
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San Gabriel helps me with my education and it’s a place for me to quietly do homework.” -Joe Kyam, 9th grade*
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San Gabriel helps me learn more and gives me knowledge to help me go to college. I go to the school’s tutoring program every week.” -Chen (Patrick) Miao, 10th grade*
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I feel connected. I don’t think being in an SEI class makes me less than other people. I think people have to accept us because we came here to learn and not be judged.” -Julissa Garcia Duarte, 11th grade*
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I really like pep rallys and our teachers make me feel more connected to the school. “ -Elizabeth Benitez, 12th grade
Photos by Sunny Chen
“Kat”ching up
Katherine Hoong Catching my breath I have always hated running. I hated every single aspect of running with a passion. From the feeling of being out of breath, to the stench of kids who didn’t know that deodorant existed, running was truly not my f o r t e . I ro n i c a l l y, e v e n t h o u g h I hated it, I have been running my whole life. Whenever I had conflicts, re s p o n s i b i l i t i e s , o r c o m p l i c a t e d feelings, I would choose to ignore them and run for my life, hoping that those troublesome things would magically disappear. But worst of all, I would run away from the fact that I had an abusive father. When my family moved to the U.S., my parents faced countless adversities. The lack of money was probably the biggest problem. My mom and dad worked day in and day out in order to make sure my siblings and I had a comfortable environment to live in. With the work and stress weighing down on his shoulders, my dad started having explosions of anger and violence that were sometimes directed toward me. Throughout my life, I avoided topics regarding my dad because I thought that I could just run away from the fact that he was abusive and pretend that the issue didn’t exist. Inside, I was seething with emotions that I did not know how to deal with because I was always constantly running. Being unable to understand or express myself, I locked myself away in my room. As my distress and resentment built up, I became the angstiest teenager alive. I was irritated at everything and anything, which eventually left me with no friends. By the time I realized it, I was facing my laptop more than I faced people. As an artist, putting my emotions onto a canvas was a way to cope with my emotions, but I did not know how to express myself to my family or my closest friends. I was unable to expose what was underneath the surface - my vulnerabilities, my weaknesses, and my scars. The emotions weighing down on my shoulders finally dissipated once I started talking to my dad again. Just like me, my father had a void inside that only love could fill. I was too busy running away from the person I deemed a monster, but in reality, he was just a human who needed someone to talk to. After my realization, I started talking to my dad more frequently, and to my surprise, he was a loving person. Although my dad and I had a rough start, we are still patching up our relationship and I can say that he means the world to me. Running away from your problems is a race you will never win. I learned that instead of running away from the problems in our lives, we should just deal with them head on. Running away, of course, is the easier option, but as you run, you will eventually stumble and crash, and your problem with catch up to you. After being out of breath my entire life, I realized that running away is tiring and now I have learned to stroll through life, ready to face any problems that come my way.
LIFE & ART The Matador Muse
THE MATADOR
THURSDAY, JANUARY 21, 2016
8
Grease revived for live audiences
“To My Gloves” From the moment my eyes met you, my heart sank, feeling the rush of emotions of all those precious to me who have fell of the might of your hand. But even in that moment I found happiness, knowing that one day I would be one of the few to conquer you on the battlefield because within my left hand I held a shield and my right a sword. You trained me yourself on how to beat you and others like me. The anger inside released through simple, fast, fierce yet elegant moves which at first seemed impossible. Showing me the danger of this life is what kept me alive, and keeping me in when mother nature scorched the outside. You taught me that in order to live, you must first survive. By saving me from the purge of the earth you managed to gain a friend instead of a foe. Like a caring nurse, I used you when your body could no longer walk this road with me. You gave me purpose. - Chris Anderson, senior
Museums in Los Angeles offer free admission Uyen Sy As part of the annual Museum Free-For-All Day, 30 diverse museums in Los Angeles, displaying extraordinary art, cultural heritage, natural history, and science, will offer free general admission to the public on Jan. 30. This creates a great opportunity for local residents to explore some of their city’s most iconic museums and to connect with the culture of their city at no cost. For over a decade, an association of marketing and communications professionals from the finest museums throughout Southern California come together to arrange a special day once a year to benefit the general public. Their main goal is to serve the public through their collection, exhibition, and interpretation of compelling works of art from an expansive range of cultures and historical times and translate these masterpieces into meaningful, educational, and cultural experiences. Participating museums of this year include popular locations which already offer free admission with a reserved ticket via online, such as the Broad and the Getty Center. The Broad contains thousands of contemporary art from the 1950s, whereas the Getty Center contains outstanding quality and historical importance of works from the arts and cultures of ancient Greece, Rome, and Etruria. In addition, museums that usually charge general admission for up to the price of $25 will not charge their visitors on this special day. Ranging from a variety of topics, people should take advantage of locations like the Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA), the Museum of Contemporary Art, Los Angeles (MOCA), and the Natural History Museum. LACMA commits to collecting works of art that span both history and geog-
raphy, ranging from pre-Columbian masterpieces to works by leading modern and contemporary artists. MOCA presents, collects, and interprets the art of present time, adapting to the constant changes of art. The Natural History Museum protects over 35 million specimens dating back 4.5 billion years ago and also tracks the earth’s biodiversity to help conserve. Some museums, like the Museum of Tolerance, the Skirball Cultural Center, and the Zimmer Children’s Museum, are typically closed on Saturdays; therefore, they will be participating on Jan. 31. The Museum of Tolerance is dedicated to the Holocaust in both historic and contemporary contexts, confronting all forms of prejudice and dis c riminatio n today. The Skirball Cultural Center features the connections between 4,000 years of Jewish heritage and the vitality of AmeriPhoto by Christy Deng can democratic ideals. The Zimmer Children’s Museum teaches people about global citizenship, community responsibility, and cultural sensitivity by including hands-on exhibits for children to explore big ideas in creative and inspiring settings. Because finding a ride and paying for parking can become an issue, the museums have resolved this by partnering with Metro to encourage residents to explore them without hesitation, many of which are only a short walking distance away from the Metro bus or rail. The Museum Free-ForAll Day allows friends and families the chance to spend some quality time together and to appreciate the wonders of Los Angeles.
Photo courtesy of FOX
Sunny Chen FOX is introducing Rydell High to an entirely new generation with Grease: Live, a one-night musical production of the massively popular musical Grease. Featuring a young ensemble cast, Grease: Live will recreate some of the movie’s most memorable moments, classic songs, and timeless love story, all in front of a live audience. One of the most significant differences the modern day adaptation entails is that the musical event will be staged in front of a studio audience, as a further attempt to bring the immediacy of theater to television. Director Thomas Kail and set designer David Korins, who also collaborated on this year’s widely successful Broadway show, Hamilton, confirmed that an audience “in the multiple hundreds” will populate Rydell High and other locations featured in the 1950s-set musical, which will be broadcasted live from the Warner Bros. backlot and air on Jan. 31 on FOX. “There’s an energy and an undeniable vitality that real humans give back to real humans that are performing that we wanted to try to capture and exploit,” Korins said. “There are several other opportunities in the show where we’re going to use real live audience members, but for some of those, you’re going to have to tune in January 31st to see where and how we’re going to use them.” Director Kail revealed that the show will be a combined version of the original stage musical, first produced in Chicago in 1971, and the perennial 1978 film that starred John Travolta and Olivia Newton-John. It will include songs added for the movie — “Hopelessly Devoted to You,” “You’re the One That I Want” and the title track — as well as songs from the original show that did not make it onto the screen version. “Our intention is to take the best of the film, draw a little bit up on the stage production, and emerge with our own refreshed, but true Grease,” Kail said. “The feel of our production is going to be alive; it’s going to be contemporary, even though it will still be true to the ‘50s. There’s nothing quite like a live event. It’s right there in the moment, taking advantage of lots of surprises we have in store on how to make the experience feel like you’re living the story of Danny and Sandy.” The cast for Grease: Live is headed by Julianne Hough as Sandy, Rydell High’s most talked-about newcomer, and Aaron Tveit as Danny, leader of the T-Birds. Other stars include Vanessa Hudgens as Rizzo, Carlos PenaVega as Kenickie, Carly Rae Jepsen as Frenchy, and Keke Palmer as Marty. Fans of all generations will be pleased to know that there will also be familiar faces from the original Grease cast involved in the live performance. Didi Conn, who played the role of the bubblegum-haired Frenchy in the original film, will be starring as Vi, the waitress at the local malt shop who interacts with Frenchy. Barry Pool, who played Doody, will also make an appearance. Although original film stars John Travolta and Olivia Newton-John will not take part in the revival, executive producer Marc Platt revealed he has been in touch with both. According to Hollywood Reporter, executive producer Marc Platt stated that both Travolta and Newton-John have been enormously supportive and sent a lot of love. “They’re very excited because for them, Grease is such an iconic part of each of their careers,” Platt said. “They’re very excited about it and I know they’ll both be watching [the musical].”
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THE MATADOR
THURSDAY, JANUARY 21, 2016
LIFE & ART
El Niño winds and storms creates dilemma in fashion K i m P h a m a n d C h ri s t y De n g WOMEN’S FASHION Are you annoyed of thin jackets that serve no purpose in retaining warmth? Sick of hearing that it is “not even that cold” from our friends over in the East Coast? Tired of showing up to first period half frozen from standing outside for too long? If the answer to any of these questions is yes, then congratulations! You are one in 38.8 million weak Californians who are shivering to death in the anticipated rainy and stormy season of El Niño which has already set a recordbreaking rainfall in the drought-ridden state. California seems to be sunny nearly year-round, so it almost always feels a bit traumatic when some rain or wind hits. Although 60 degrees would elicit response such as “Gee, it sure is starting to heat up here!” in New York or Boston, it is positively arctic here in the Golden State. As soon as we see signs of a dreaded cold front, we panic; our wardrobes just are not equipped. The standard West Coast uniform of a hoodie, t-shirt, and jeans will no longer suffice in times like these. We forget any sense of style and fashion that has ever been graced upon and resort to bringing blankets to class. However, there is still hope for donning cute outfits in the cold. Junior Valeria Duran has suggestions for those adjusting to the weather. “I usually don’t like wearing heavy jackets or coats so I go for long sleeves. You’ll [also] most likely see me wearing boots since around this time is the only time I get to,” Duran said. “Just layer up and try to wear a camisole underneath your long sleeve!” But in all honesty, you can still look good without having to look like a snowman. Staple pieces for cold weather here in California are the popular green army style jackets and black boots, but there are many different acces-
sories and layers that can be added to these pieces. Since it is still a tropical climate, you can still get away with wearing suede skirts or sweater dresses if you pair them with knee high socks or tights. Trends for this season also include bomber jackets, turtleneck sweaters, sleeveless vests, and thick cardigans.
Junior Valeria Duran models a waterproof jacket, sweater, black riding boots, jeans, and an umbrella for the rainy weather. Senior Ulysses Ng dons a mustard beanie, windbreaker, button up shirt, jeans, and sneakers to keep warm. Photos by Sunny Chen
Dressing to keep warm does not have to compromise style There is nothing wrong with wearing a plain sweater and rocking a pair of sweatpants to stay warm in school. As the winter season hits the streets of For example, junior Mina Lam’s opinCalifornia, students at San Gabriel High ion on sweats is that there is nothing School are changing their old wardrobes better than looking at a warm person in response to the dropping temperatures. and feeling warm yourself. There are two major types of styles that “I’ve never really seen anything can be seen during this season. There wrong with are people who w e a r i n g d re s s v e r y sweats… I fashionably mean, evand do not eryone settle for l o o k s just being cute in warm, anything and there they wear. are also Might as o t h e r well be kinds of comfortable people who with it,” Lam just do not said. care how they Everyone has look anymore their own opinions on difbecause all they want to ferent fashion styles. There do is to stay as warm as posare some people who go all sible during the chilly days. out to look good and feel conWhether there are rainy fident despite the weather. days or not, some stuThere are also some who dents do not mind going just worry about staythrough a bit of cold ing warm during this just to look fashionable. freezing weather. People For example, junior Ninfa Ces- Illustration by Eva Fong should be allowed to pedes’s advice on how to look feel confident in their fashionable for the cold weather is to clothes, and it should not matter what easily switch and modify the basic winter they wear because people can still clothes. Switching out sweatpants for leg- look dazzling in sweats. There’s a gings or simply adding on a jean jacket stereotype relating laziness to people can help one’s outfit stand out. who prefer sweatpants and hoodies, “I feel like [sweatpants and sweaters] Students should just wear what makes are too basic for my style…[my style] just them feel comfortable; after all, there is makes me feel confident,” Cespedes said. no shame in looking good for school. M a n n y I b a rra
MEN’S FASHION At this time of year, California is usually graced with bright blue skies and the sun shining down; comfortable weather that is not deemed too hot or too cold. However, this past winter, we have been experiencing rare cold weather. Almost every day, the skies are filled with gray clouds and unfamiliar rain falls down upon us, perhaps enough rain to cure the drought we have been suffering through. This phenomenon is called El Niño, which is an occurring series of climatic changes affecting the Pacific. Due to this, we have switched out our t-shirts and tank tops for warmer clothes. The regular hoodie and jeans are still a frequent outfit we all wear, but at San Gabriel High School, many people have been expanding their wardrobe. With each day at around 60 degrees Fahrenheit, people have been bringing out their different jackets and sweaters to warm themselves up. There is no need to pile on five layers of clothing to stay warm; a sweater and jacket should be enough. Bomber jackets, leather jackets, and windbreakers are popular outerwear in SGHS, with the occasional beanie and scarf to go with it as extra protection from the cold. Underneath, sweaters of varying types of fabric such as cotton or wool are worn to keep us snug and cozy. Layering is a must during the winter. Senior Ulysses Ng is an advocate for layering and knows how to keep warm, dress nice, and stay comfortable. “I wear something long and keeps me warm, like a windbreaker or a sweater,”Ng said. “If I’m cold, I’ll layer it.” Comfort is important, so dress in attire that is relaxing and exudes positivity. “Wear something that appeals to you and shows how you want to be perceived,” Ng said. “Especially wear something that makes you feel comfortable.” Curate your winter wardrobe with various types of coats, cardigans, and jumpers, as well as beanies and scarves for added warmth. Of course, the easiest trick in the book to conquering your El Niño fashion crisis is to simply layer. Start from thin to thick; leggings underneath sweatpants, longsleeves underneath knit sweaters, or even thin coats underneath thicker coats.
SPORTS
THE MATADOR
THURSDAY, JANUARY 21, 2016
10
2015-16 Winter Sports Scoreboard GIRLS SOCCER
BOYS BASKETBALL
GIRLS BASKETBALL
VARSITY 1/12 vs. Alhambra 1/15 vs. Mark Keppel 1/19 @ Schurr
47-37 67-39 64-51
L L L
VARSITY 1/12 vs. Alhambra 1/15 vs. Mark Keppel 1/19 @ Schurr
53-23 73-21 57-53
W L W
VARSITY 1/12 @ Schurr 1/14 vs. Bell Gardens 1/19 @ Mark Keppel
6-0 1-1 2-0
L T L
VARSITY 1/12 vs. Schurr 1/14 @ Bell Gardens 1/19 vs. Mark Keppel
8-1 L 21-0 L 3-1 L
JV 1/12 vs. Alhambra 1/15 vs. Mark Keppel 1/19 @ Schurr
52-33 52-50 63-50
L L L
JV 1/12 vs. Alhambra 1/14 vs. Mark Keppel 1/19 @ Schurr
42-17 51-12 44-35
W L L
JV 1/12 @ Schurr 1/14 vs. Bell Gardens 1/19 @ Mark Keppel
5-0 3-0 0-0
L L T
JV 1/12 vs. Schurr 1/14 @ Bell Gardens 1/19 vs. Mark Keppel
5-0 W 18-0 L 3-0 W
N e w Ye a r ’s h e a l t h r e s o l u t i o n s U yen S y
Kanow earns Coach of the Year Carolina Loaisiga
When it comes to the fresh start of a new year, many people have New Year’s resolutions along the lines of eating healthier or losing weight. As time goes on, however, most eventually give up and go back to their old, unhealthy habits. People would much rather spend their time eating at a fast-food restaurant than working out at a gym. Committing to a healthy and active lifestyle may seem exhausting and arduous, but there are several methods to make maintaining one through the year easier. As difficult as it may sound for most people, reducing the amount of junk food consumed makes a great contribution to a healthier lifestyle. Swapping out junk food that are full of preservatives and unhealthy fats for other tasty snacks like fruits and vegetables will help satisfy sugar cravings and reduce unwanted calories. Making these changes on a gradual, everyday basis will soon become habitual, resulting in the loss of cravings for junk food. With the help of the media, take advantage of online fitness blogs, workout routines on Pinterest, and workout videos on YouTube. For example, Blogilates, a wellknown YouTube channel ran by a certified fitness instructor, provides motivating, effective workouts for every part of the body that viewers can simply follow along at home. The instructor runs through the workouts thoroughly step by step, as if she were a personal trainer. Skipping a workout because of overwhelming amounts of homework, not being able to avoid eating unhealthy foods because of events like birthday parties, or simply being unable resist eating unhealthy foods does not mean giving up. Every workout finished is a stepping stone towards improving fitness goals. Change may be discomforting but eventually, hard work will pay off.
Photo by Sunny Chen
Senior Stacy Chau holds up a gallon of water, a bag of carrots, and an apple to demonstrate the importance of eating and drinking healthier for the new upcoming year.
BOYS SOCCER
Photo by Stacy Chau
Larry Kanow, head volleyball coach and Advanced Placement Physics and Chemistry Honors teacher, won the Coach of the Year award by the Pasadena Star-News.
With an eighth consecutive Almont League win title and a trip to the California Interscholastic Federation (CIF) volleyball quarterfinal, it is no wonder volleyball head coach Larry Kanow had the honor of being named Coach of the Year by the Pasadena StarNews. “I feel the same, I feel like this award belongs to all the great coaches around me,” Kanow said. The Lady Matadors had another impressive league record of 10 wins and no losses under the 36 year coaching experience Kanow has, and they also finished with 27 wins and only four losses throughout this whole preseason and season. “This season was all thanks to my coaching staff, coaches Ryan Wong, Chris Kwan, assistant coaches Tiffany Ha and Justin Delgado. The season would not have been as succesful as it [was] if it wasn’t for all the great coaches on the team,” Kanow said. Kanow won Coach of the Year in the San Gabriel Valley, beating out numerous coaches around the area including Mark Keppel Aztecs coach and Alhambra Moor coaches as well. Kanow was awarded this honor due to his impressive 189 win and 58 loss record in the last ten years. Senior Gabriela Gonzalez, a three year varsity member, appreciates Kanow’s coaching. “He’s helped me with everything. I’ve learned so much from him. He has strengthened my mentality on and off the court,” Gonzalez said.
Workout of the Month: ‘Mountain Climbers’
Step One Start off in a standard plank position and place your weight on your hands and toes. Note: The plank position itself already tightly contracts the abdominals, and if preferred, can be held for a small period of time before starting the workout.
Step Two While keeping both arms straight, bring one leg up until the knee is nearly under the hip; this is the position in which the workout will begin. This step is a crunch-like movement which continues to work on the abdominals as it begins to exercise the quadriceps.
Step Three Repeat the previous step with the other leg, extending the first leg until it is straight and supported by the toe and bringing the other foot up with your hip and knee flexed. Briefs compiled by Mario Mandujano Photos by Mario Mandujano
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THE MATADOR
Tell Me
what’s the
WORD. Famous Hallway quotes, Volume Seventy-three
“Isn’t El Nino the drug dealer?” -Student quoting her older sister. “I want to be the alpha female.” -Student reading fanfiction with a friend.
“Coffee candy is just a painkiller for my suffering.”
THURSDAY, JANUARY 21, 2016
Salazar shares experiences through spoken word Eva Fong Dozens of eyes were fixed on senior Justine Salazar as she stood in the spotlight and shared her heartfelt story through poetry. Poetry is a major part of Salazar’s life, and it holds great significance to her emotionally. “[Spoken word is one approach to] telling your story, a way to connect to audience and other poets,” Salazar said. Salazar was introduced to the world of spoken word through a friend who brought her to San Gabriel High School’s Young Adult Writing Project (YAWP) club and has been part of the club ever since her junior year. She enjoys the time she spends with the people in YAWP. “Being in YAWP is empowering. I can express myself among people who can relate and won’t judge me,” Salazar said. As a member of YAWP, Salazar was able to participate in the Get Lit Poetry Slam on May 2, 2015. Get Lit is a competition that provides an opportunity for young poets to simultaneously share their personal stories and compete against one another. The competition also provided an emotional outlet for Salazar to express the powerful feelings she holds
-Student protecting friend’s salad from the rain. “Why can’t I date the dog?” -Student complaining about video game. “Come children, gather around.”
-Student joking with a friend. “What’s the password to your Wi-Fiiiiii?” -Student singing to the tune of “Hello” by Adele.
All quotes overheard by The Matador Staff.
Photo by Sunny Chen
Ying Chow
“Get your hand out my salad!”
“I have better things to do than follow you around. Like math homework.”
regarding her autistic brother. “It was intense. I was shaking when I was in front of my class, but letting them know what [my brother goes through] was amazing,” Salazar said. She expressed that her poem, titled “For My Brother,” is really close to her heart because it tells of how his autism affects her as well. “It showed others how it felt to be the outsider,” Salazar said. Competing seemed daunting for Salazar in the beginning, but it provided a sense of excitement as well. “When I’m onstage, it’s scary because everyone is watching your every move but at the same, it’s so exhilarating,” Salazar said. The San Gabriel High School team made it to semifinals in 2015, but unfortunately lost by one point, narrowly missing first place at regionals. Although the team’s overall loss was frustrating for Salazar, she managed to become a finalist in the Shorty competition, a round that is judged separately from the main Get Lit competition. Salazar plans to keep poetry in her life by joining a poetry club in college, and if one is unavailable, hopes to start one herself.
Student aide Roxanne Ramirez pursues Ph.D., seeks to motivate
-Student complaining about sleep deprivation.
-Teacher beginning motivational speech.
FEATURES
Photo by Sunny Chen
Ramirez assists junior Justin Jauregui in math class.
When she is not commuting long distance to college or volunteering, Roxanne Ramirez, a special education collaboration aide, can be seen hunched over students’ desks, helping them with classwork assignments. Ramirez did not anticipate working with high school students, saying that even though she had wanted to research and work with adolescents in college, she never really had the opportunity to do so until now. Before she came to San Gabriel High School, Ramirez attended Pepperdine University for two years, where she specialized in substance abuse, prevention, intervention, and treatments among adolescents. After six years of vigorous studying, she obtained both a bachelor’s and a master’s degree in psychology and is now working toward earning a Ph.D. in the field. “I also volunteered in health care centers, where I taught computer skills and art to the patients there, in between working at San Gabriel and attending classes at Pepperdine,” Ramirez said. “I loved [the schedule] because I knew that [what I was doing] was purposeful; it was fulfilling, and I was doing something great with my time.” Ramirez seized the opportunity to work at San Gabriel High School to see how well she can work with teenagers before furthering her studies in adolescent substance abuse. Through her connection with the students, Ramirez is able to better understand them and assist them in any way she can. As a student herself, she understands the pressure and obstacles that students constantly face. “I am so grateful for my job, for my role here at San Gabriel,” Ramirez said. “I can show students that they can be who they are and do something that is bigger than them. [Right now], I’m working with students who really need help and really need to know that somebody cares about their progress.” After Ramirez earns her Ph.D., she hopes to work in a community health care center, such as a hospital, or aid adolescents through therapy. She would also like to revamp the goals of Drug Abuse Resistance Education (D.A.R.E.), a community program for preventing substance use and promoting drug awareness. “My idea is to create and research what can help students in their health education,” Ramirez said. Ramirez is currently applying to several graduate schools–some of which include University of Alabama Birmingham and University of Southern California–to earn her Ph.D.
Chang prepares for career in army, enlists in Future Soldier Program C hri st y Deng The transition from a normal life to one on an army base can be difficult and a lot to take in. For senior Daniel Chang, he applied for the Future Soldier Program, which helps potential recruits transition into the Army lifestyle. Chang decided to join the U.S. Army because of the benefits the program offered, such as healthcare insurance and education. “If I go to college after I graduate, I wouldn’t be able to work and study at the same time because of stress,” Chang said. “I did research, and in the Army, you could get an education and receive college credits. I would also have a place to stay.” In the Future Soldier Program, which is sponsored by the U.S. Army, Chang has been doing exercises such as running and push-ups with other recruits and his recruitment officer to prepare for the basic training and the physical check that all soldiers have to go through after enlistment. “I’m trying to get more muscular too,” Chang said. “I’ve been trying to eat more. I have a lot to work on.” As senior year passes by, Chang is working to keep his grades up and getting fit at the
same time. The option of community college was available to him; however, he decided that enlisting in the Army was a better choice. His father encouraged him, telling him that he was free to make his own choice, although his stepmother expressed some concern, since he would be experiencing strenuous training and learning various combat skills. “I am nervous, but my recruiter told me that if I pass the basic training, I should be alright,” Chang said. Being in the program helps soldiers learn basic combat training skills, such as first aid, weapons usage, and war tactics such as guerilla warfare. The training is divided into three phases; each phase consists of certain exercises that will help guide one in becoming a better soldier. Joining the Army is not a termination of their education skills, but more like an extension of them. The Army also offers scholarships and other unique opportunities, such as music and language programs. After graduation in May, Chang will make his way to train in the army. Throughout the months of vigorous workouts, strict lifestyle, and tackling college education, Chang plans to live a successful life after the army and hopefully gain some new insight from being on base.
Photo by Sunny Chen
FEATURES
THE MATADOR
THURSDAY, JANUARY 21, 2016
12
Villegas explores career in law enforcement Mari o Mand uj ano
Photo courtesy of Omar Villegas
Senior Omar Villegas recalls a time when he felt resentment toward police officers for the anxiety and fear they ignited in his parents, who are of undocumented immigrant status. He later decided to join the San Gabriel Police Explorers at the age of 14 after his older brother motivated and encouraged him to do so. By being in the program, he quickly learned that the group of people he had once thought of as mean-spirited were actually, for the most part, normal people and decided he wanted to be one of them. “The reason I joined [the Explorers] was because I knew that the career path I wanted had to do with law enforcement,” Villegas said. “I also knew that the Explorers would equip me with crucial skills such as integrity and a set of morals I had not before thought about.” The skills he acquired were put to practice during a ride-along—an arranged activity where a civilian is allowed to ride as passenger in an emergency vehicle to observe the workday of a police officer, paramedic, or firefighter—when he witnessed a case of domestic
violence that ultimately resulted in a bloody, bruised face. Villegas was the first one to show empathy and support for the victim, and at that moment, he realized that being a police explorer on ride-alongs meant more than being an assistant—it meant building a connection with the community. Villegas graduated from the 85th San Gabriel Valley Police Explorers Academy class where he received a number of medals for his achievement, such as first place in physical training and the Randy Phillip’s Memorial Award, which is given to the explorer with most honor and leadership to carry the platoon. “I’m grateful I am going to be the first in my family to pursue a career in law enforcement,” Villegas said. “I’m glad to know my parents are proud of me, and I’m thankful they raised me with discipline and respect. I know that with the help of family and friends, I’ll be able to accomplish many things.” Since his graduation, he has been promoted continuously from being a cadre to holding the unofficial position of his post’s active sergeant. Villegas looks forward to a career in law enforcement after completing the Explorers program at the age of 21.
Lo’s life experience shaped by father in military, overcomes family obstacles Vi vi an Wong Having a family member serve in the military can be tough, but senior May Lo acknowledges all the sacrifices her parents had to make and treasures every moment. Since her father served in the military for many years, she lost a lot of quality time with him. “I’m really close with my mom,” Lo said. “I’m close with my dad [too], but it’s kind of because I don’t really know my dad that well. He was deployed twice in Iraq so I didn’t get to see him often.” Lo’s father began his journey as an officer 20 years ago when he enlisted in a Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (ROTC) program. ROTC trains men and women to succeed in any competitive environment. He then became a major in the army and worked as a military policeman. “Once you graduate, the branch you are training with picks you out,” Lo said. “My dad and another person out of his whole class got picked.” Her father knew the risks of his occupation, but that did not stop him. “In his last tour, his base was bombed, but thankfully he got away with a brain injury,” Lo said. “He received a Purple Heart from that.” Although Lo did not spend as much time as she wanted
with her father during his deployments, she was grateful for when she could. “I remember when he came back from some deployments, we’d have a fatherdaughter kind of thing and always went ice skating,” Lo said. Throughout her father’s military service, Lo never had a stable environment because she moved every two to three years from one home to another. Eventually, her parents realized how much this affected her and allowed her to stay in California because of the relationships and connections she made with her friends. “I appreciate my dad for his job and trying to support me throughout school by coming to as many school and sport events as he could,” Lo said. “I also appreciate my mom because she gave up working to move around with my dad and take care of me and my siblings.” Lo enjoyed residing in different places, despite all the inconvenient changes. “I lived in Germany for three years and I absolutely loved the experience,” Lo said. “My friends and I would go on bike rides and explore the base. My parents also made sure we traveled around Europe every chance that we got, so my siblings and I were able to visit a lot of really cool and historic places.” Since her father’s recent retirement, Lo hopes to reconnect and bond more with her father.
Photo courtesy of May Lo
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