OPINIONS
“Bus fee should not be implented, undermines students” pg. 4
FOCUS
“How does social media affect your selfesteem?” pg. 6-7
SPORTS
“San Gabriel girls volleyball takes toll on Mark Keppel” pg. 9
THE MATADOR
SAN GABRIEL HIGH/OCTOBER 12, 2016/ VOLUME 62 / ISSUE 2
WWW.THEMATADORSGHS.US/801 S. RAMONA ST., SAN GABRIEL CA 91776
Former Office Manager Presidential debate reveals candidates’ motives Villagra passes away
Photo courtesy of Newser
Photo courtesy of Newser
Kim Ta
Photo courtesy of Chelsea Li
This picture of former Office Manager of Instruction Maria Villagra now hangs in the office in her memory and time she spent at San Gabriel.
Kim Pham Maria Villagra, the former Office Manager of Instruction at San Gabriel High School, passed away on Oct. 7 in the care of her family. Villagra worked a total of 18 years with Alhambra Unified School District—first as an aide at Granada Elementary School and then as a Guidance Technician at San Gabriel. Villagra was known for her work in easing the everyday routine for teachers. She was in charge of creating the master schedule each year and handling the copiers and paperwork. Villagra went out of her way to do the little things, such as providing coffee to the teachers every morning. Chemistry teacher Ryan Wong recalls an encounter he had with Villagra as a freshman at San Gabriel that left a lasting impression. “The first time I met her was actually during the summer before my freshman year at SGHS,” Wong said. “I had no clue how registration worked, and I remember not getting any answers about where to go or what to do. She was the one who guided me through the whole day, even though she didn’t even work at the guidance office. Just that first impression made me a little more comfortable entering a school with hundreds of freshman after graduating from a middle school with a class of just 20 students.” Villagra was described as a caring and selfless person. Her “presence made the Office of Instruction feel more like home,” as computer technician Daniel Lopez said, because she always put her own work aside just to be able to assist others. “I will never forget how wonderfully she baked. I recall having sampled Maria’s cakes in the past, and for this I was nervous about asking her to bake a cake for my fiance’s birthday. Needless to say it was the best cake my fiance and I have ever eaten. It was truly a labor of love,” Lopez said. “I was fortunate enough to be able to work with Ms. Villagra for about eight years, and in that time I developed a profound respect for her.” Villagra was born in Cuba and came to the U.S. in her teens as an unaccompanied minor. She reunited with her parents and worked hard to earn money for her parents to come to the U.S. She was a proud mother of three and grandmother of four. Her son graduated from Columbia University of Law and became the Executive Director of the ACLU of Southern California. School community coordinator Bea Macias remembers Villagra to be helpful, especially toward students from different countries. “She understood their challenges. She would encourage them and offer whatever she could give. While she was ill, one former student would travel by bus over an hour to visit her,” Macias said. “She was a pillar and stronghold at San Gabriel. Someone you could depend on during good times and difficult ones. She was a grand lady. I am very grateful because it was a true blessing having known her and worked with her.”
With 26 days left in the presidential race, Democratic candidate Hillary Clinton and Republican candidate Donald Trump have begun to discuss issues affecting the future of the United States in a series of three presidential debates. And according to a poll made by NBC News and Wall Street Journal on Oct. 7, Clinton as a lead of 14 percent from Trump. The first debate between the two candidates was moderated by Lester Holt on Sept. 26. Later, in the second debate on Oct. 9, Martha Raddatz and Anderson Cooper moderated. Structured as a town hall meeting, the candidates received questions through social media as well as from audience members who were undecided voters in attendance.
continued on pg. 2
Mock election stimulates voting experience
(only 89 out of over 120 surveys were considered because of inappropriate answers)
Graphic done by Kevin Contreras Survey done by Carlos Carillo and Kevin Contreras
Shirley Dinh With the presidential election coming up on Nov. 8, San Gabriel will hold its own mock election prior to the election. Since 2004, there has been a tradition at San Gabriel to hold mock elections before the actual elections. Students Advocates for Voter Empowerment (S.A.V.E.) will be hosting the mock election. According to history teacher and S.A.V.E. adviser Eric Hendrickson, the purpose of the mock election is to “give students a realistic voting experience.” “S.A.V.E. would like to promote more young people to vote,” Hendrickson said. “It’s a great way to promote people’s civic duty to vote, [and it’s] good practice.” Senior Tam Ngo, who recently turned 18 and is now eligible to vote, shared her thoughts on the upcoming
mock election. “It’s my first time voting, so I’m really excited. Since I’m still a student, most of us wouldn’t go out of our ways to go vote or even care about the election,” Ngo said. “I think the mock election will help us get a lot [of information]. It’ll give me an idea of how voting will be like, and I guess help prepare us for the future elections.” To make students feel like they are actually voting, there will be voting booths with ballots. The topics on the voting ballots include elections of the president, senators, and passing four of the 18 propositions that have yet to be chosen by S.A.V.E.. All social science classes will be participating in the mock elections, and freshman English classes may partake in voting as well. The mock election will be held in the Multi-Purpose Room on Nov. 3.