Van Nuys High School DECEMBER 15, 2016 Volume 102 Issue 2
THE MIRROR vnhsmirror.com
Actor. Director. Producer. Oscar Winner. Philanthropist. Van Nuys High Class of ’54. Presidental Medal of Freedom Recipient.
Robert Redford By Keshan Huang & Woo Han
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early every junior at Van Nuys High School and across the country has read or will read the novel, The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald, which tells the tale about a young, respected man named Jay Gatsby who rises to riches and fame. In the 1974 movie adaption, Jay Gatsby is played by Robert Redford, who graduated from Van Nuys High School in 1954. Growing up as the son of a milkman, Redford soon rose to riches and fame as he became an acclaimed actor, director, producer, businessman, environmentalist, and philanthropist. He is also the founder of the Sundance Film Festival. Among the numerous famous alumni who have walked through the halls of Van Nuys High School, such as Marilyn Monroe and Joseph Gordon Levitt, Robert Redford is by far our most distinguished alumnus. At 80 years old, he was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom by President Barack Obama in November. This honor is the highest civilian award of the United States and can only be given by the president. Its purpose is to recognize people who have made “an especially meritorious CONTINUED ON PAGE 2
THE NEW AMERICAN ORDER President Donald J. Trump What’s next for the country now that Trump and company are in charge?
A thin-skinned billionaire who gets in Twitter Wars is now the world’s most powerful man.
Chocolate Milk Could be Returning to an LAUSD Cafeteria Near You 3
Wait. It may not be as bad as you think. Give Trump a chance.
It’s on to New York for the Automotive Team after Win 4
One undocumented immigrant isn’t scared by Trump. It just means the struggle goes on.
Opinion
Pages 8-9
Roles Cast for Spring Musical Performance of “Beauty and the Beast” 13
2 | Van Nuys High School | THE MIRROR
COVER STORY
vnhsmirror.com | December 15, 2016
ABOVE: Robert Redford starred in the 1974 production of The Great Gatsby as Jay Gatsby, alongside Mia Farrow as Daisy Buchanan. RIGHT: President Barack Obama honors Redford in the White House with the Presidential Medal of Freedom.
Robert Redford CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1
contribution to the security or national interests of the United States, world peace, cultural or other significant public or private endeavors.” He was awarded among just 21 scientists, sports stars, architects, other exemplary citizens. However, more importantly, he is a former Van Nuys High School student. Redford’s many diverse and unique interests has made him the person he is today. When Redford was a student at Van Nuys High School, he was interested in sports and the arts. He considered himself to
be a “bad” student. Being interested in baseball in particular, he enrolled at the University of Colorado on a baseball scholarship. Back at Van Nuys High School, he was actually classmates with the former Los Angeles Dodger baseball pitcher, Don Drysdale. Redford was then able to save up enough money to move to Europe to study art, but he returned to the states to work as a theatrical designer in New York. As he transitioned to acting, he attended the American Academy of Dramatic Art. After making his stage debut in the movie “Tall Story” (1960), things quickly escalated for Redford as he was signed for the film “Barefoot in the Park” (1967). He won a Golden Globe for best new star for his role
in “Inside Daisy Clover” (1965) and became a major star when he starred in “Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid” (1969). The greatest hit of his career was a movie called “The Sting” (1973), for which he received an Academy Award nomination. Redford embraced a transition and began to direct films rather than act in them. The very first film that he directed was called “Ordinary People” (1980) and was a highly recognized film that won four oscars and Redford the Academy Award for Best Director in 1981. He continued to direct films including “A River Runs Through It” (1992) and “Quiz Show” (1994) for which he earned another best director nomination.
Redford was included in Time Magazine’s list of Most Influential People in the World in 2014. He was then awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom by President Obama. “Robert Redford has captivated audiences from both sides of the camera, through entertaining motion pictures that explore vital social, political and historical themes. His lifelong advocacy on preserving our environment will prove as an enduring legacy as his award winning films, as well as his pioneering support for independent filmmakers across america. His art and activism continue to shape our nation’s cultural heritage, inspiring millions to laugh, cry, think, and change,” said President Obama.
December 15, 2016 | vnhsmirror.com
BRIEFLY SPEAKING Winter Wonderland Rave Music blared from the speakers as the Class of 2017 lined up outside the entrance gate to the football field. Students were provided with live entertainment, Chinese food and churros, and various games. Seniors had the opportunity to participate in soda-pong, whip cream-eating competition, photo booth, or simply relaxation. Many seniors showed up for this exciting event. The DJ kept the audience entertained with upbeat songs throughout the event. A dance floor was designated for any students who wanted to dance along. The event would not have been complete without the hot craze, the Mannequin Challenge. Seniors froze while the DJ played “Black Beatles” by Rae Sremmurd. The Senior Board, led by President Harshita Kumar, organized the event with the help of Prom Committee, Junior Board members, and members of ASB. “It was very difficult organizing this event. I’m happy with the turnout, and I hope everyone gains memories from our senior year,” said Kumar.
Holiday Concert The Van Nuys High School performing arts will host their annual Holiday Concert on Dec. 16 at 7 pm in the Donna Hubbard Auditorium. The Instrument and Vocal Department will be collaborating together for the last show of the semester. Tickets cost $6 for presale and $8 at the door for students, and $8 for presale and $10 at the door for adults.
Helping Save Energy The Heart of Nature Club has partnered with the Alliance to Save Energy to promote their new project, PowerSave. The project aims to save energy on campus by encouraging teachers to turn off lights and air conditioning when leaving the room, and to shutdown computers at night. PowerSave also encourages students to turn off any electronics and before leaving the house and to urge teachers and friends to do so as well. “We’re making posters, having announcements, making pamphlets, and distributing letters to teachers to spread the word,” said Matthew Grzeskowiak, a member of Heart of Nature Club, who is also in charge of the PowerSave project. For those that want to be more involved with this project, Heart of Nature meets in Room 201 every Wednesday and Thursday after school and Thursdays during lunch. Ms. Lucy Garcia is the faculty advisor.
Skirball Field Trips The VNHS librarian Mrs. Suzanne Osman will be organizing two field trips to the Skirball Cultural Center early Spring semester. The first field trip on Jan. 24 will be centered on 1960’s pop artist Roy Lichtenstein’s comic book while the second will be themed the 1965 Watts Riots in Los Angeles. The goals of the field trips are to have students open up to cultural experiences and learn about the world around them. The field trip will occur from 8:15 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. and all students are welcome to join. The field trip slips will be in the library with Mrs. Osman.
News&Analysis Seeking to Strengthen Parent-Student Ties SHIIMLA RAHMAN / THE MIRROR
The Mirror | Van Nuys High School | 3
LAUSD Brings Back Chocolate and Strawberry Flavored Milks By Yerin Oh The Mirror Staff
C Mrs. Rose Avetisyan always has her door open for any parent that passes through Van Nuys High School.
The Parent Center works to strengthen family relationships, plus assist the school and local communities. By Tommy Chan & Ezra Kim The Mirror Staff
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uilding up the Van Nuys High School community behind the scenes is the Parent Center, run by family educator and community representative Mrs. Rose Avetisyan. Their main goal is to aid and strengthen family ties between parent and student in order to create productive citizens for our society. “The society that we will live in is very family oriented,” said Mrs. Avetisyan. “I believe that families are the cells of society and that we must start building up from the foundation in order to influence the whole.” When parents and students arrive at the Parent Center located in Room 423, they are greeted by an organized and comfortable environment that aims to put them at ease—just like their home. “I want to emphasize the fact that they will be welcomed here anytime; as the saying goes, ‘mi casa es tu casa’.” Mrs. Avetisyan believes that the connection between a child and his or her parents is of utmost importance, which she stresses through a series of activities aimed at improving this relationship. A family activity that is often done to strengthen their bonds is flower drawing, which delineates positive activities done with the child in the center of the flower and negative activities on the petals. Each drawing is unique and features varying amounts of positive and negative activities. “This activity is to teach the parents that the negative activities learned during their children’s youth is carried throughout their lives,” said Mrs. Avetisyan. “This is analogous with the water cycle. When a child is hurt, the hurt stays and is emitted into the environment. If we were to have positive experiences with them, we are raising productive citizens for our society.” Along with bonding activities, Mrs. Avetisyan holds Parenting and Parent Empowerment Workshops every Wednesday and Thursday at 9:00 a.m., as well as English classes at 8:15 a.m.
Some of the topics that the Parenting and Parent Empowerment Workshops cover include Anger Management, Motivating your Teen, A-G Requirements, and Restorative Justice Discipline Policy. “This educational curriculum focuses on providing families with the knowledge, tools and inspiration to help their children succeed in school and in life.” Each lesson begins with an ice breaker to encourage teamwork and different perspectives. One such activity is the facial illusion of a young and old women; while some only see an elder women, others see a young lady. “This specific ice breaker is to help parents understand that each person sees life through different eyes and that we must respect each others’ opinions,” said Mrs. Avetisyan. The Parent Center aids and builds up the community in more ways than one. Parent Center also helps with collecting donations such as clothing for the needy and gathering the leftover Breakfast in Classroom (BIC) food. The Parent Center is also responsible for organizing a variety of programs that reward the hardworking personnel at Van Nuys High. The Angel of the Year Award honors those who display exemplary abilities and qualities that benefit the community. Principal Yolanda Gardea was awarded Angel of the Year in 2015 for her personality and attitude towards the community. The 101 Flowers event also offers respect to the principal for her service. Each year, parents collect flowers from their gardens to present to Ms. Gardea. The Van Nuys community benefits from Mrs. Avetisyan’s wide variety of experiences and her professionalism. As a California State Credentialed Family Educator, Mrs. Avetisyan has worked for LAUSD since 1993 and has been a part of the Van Nuys High School community for four years. The success of the Parent Center motivates her to continue her hard work. “When I see parents grow from the knowledge I built for many years, it is a big relief and satisfaction. Their success motivates me to help the community even more,” she said. The Parent Center is open Monday through Friday from 8 a.m to 3 p.m. Mrs. Avetisyan and other volunteers are available to help in any situation, offer valuable information, or just have a nice conversation.
hocolate and strawberry flavored milk was dropped from LAUSD menus in 2011 after the School Board voted against it 6 to 1. It may soon be served again in Los Angeles schools. In 2011, parents and advocates successfully argued that huge amounts of unnecessary sugar in flavored milk contributed to childhood obesity. However, School Board members have decided to reintroduce flavored milk at certain schools on a trial basis, to determine whether bringing back flavored milk will help reduce the current massive waste of unflavored milk. LAUSD’s own research shows that over 600 tons of organic waste per week, particularly milk, get sent to the dump. According to Rose Avetisyan, the community representative in the Parent Center, BIC (Breakfast In the Classroom) brings huge amounts of leftover milk to the parent center. The unopened milk cartons are donated to a local church, as does unspoiled leftover food. “We are so happy that instead of the food landing in the waste, we are donating it to a church, and goes to the families that are in need,” said Avetisyan. A 2014 Cornell University study in Oregon elementary schools indicated that after flavored milk was banned, students’ sugar intake did drop, but so did milk intake. The districts’ milk supplier offered to lower the amount of sugar added in flavored milk. Brent Walmsley, the founder of SugarWatch, a health advocate organization, supports banning flavored milk in schools. “I can’t think of anywhere else we would do this,” Walmsley said. “We wouldn’t serve caramel apples to increase apple consumption.” As the flavored milk news spreads throughout school, students and staff members are getting their hopes up that it will be reintroduced. “I think bringing back flavored milk will raise students’ participation,” said Maria Rodriguez, the Van Nuys High School Cafeteria Manager.
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vnhsmirror.com | December 15, 2016
News&Analysis
SHIMLA RAHMAN / THE MIRROR
LAUSD DAILY NEWS
Driven to Victory Auto Shop team achieves a record-setting score at regional competition, moving on to the NATC finals By Tyler Jung & Tommy Chan The Mirror Staff
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or the fourth consecutive year, Van Nuys High School will be represented in the National Automotive Technology Competition (NATC) by seniors Jaspal Dhillon and Ivan Reyes. Taking place next year on April 18 and 19 in New York City, the NATC will bring many students from various high schools in the nation to compete and show their skills in the new era of the highly-advanced vehicle industry. The semi-finals that took place on Dec. 3 at Cerritos College tested students on their skills, knowledge, and their ability
to diagnose and repair vehicles. The Van Nuys team came out victorious, beating 23 other Southern California high schools. During the contest, each team, which consisted of two students, had to diagnose and repair a variety of problems that can be found under the hood of the car. Earning a record-setting near perfect high score, competitors Dhillon and Reyes won $10,000 in prizes, a Chevrolet Tahoe SUV for the school automotive program, and an all expense-paid trip to the final competition located at the New York International Automobile Show in New York City. “It [the competition] taught me that certain skills and commitment will later lead you to succeed,” Dhillon said about the competition.
Preparation for the competition includes training with the school’s automotive instructor, Mr. Joseph Agruso, working with certified technicians at a local franchised automobile dealership, and taking a yearlong class in the Van Nuys High School Auto Shop.
ABOVE: Jaspal Dhillon and Ivan Reyes earned nearly perfect score that broke previous records in the National Automotive Technology Competition (NATC). They were awarded with $40,000 in scholarships, $25,000 in prizes, and a 2017 Chevrolet Tahoe LEFT: Mr. Agruso, the school’s automotive instructor, at home in the shop
“It’s definitely not an easy class,” says Dhillon, “but, if you put in hard work and dedication, it definitely pays off.” Pays off is certainly correct as Dhillon and Reyes will now have the opportunity to earn $40,000 in scholarships, $25,000 in prizes, and a brand new car at the NATC.
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December 15, 2016 | vnhsmirror.com
The Mirror | Van Nuys High School | 5
Features&Profiles
The Devil’s Advocates By Amanda Godfrey The Mirror Staff
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atan Clubs may soon be joining the variety of religious clubs operating on public school campuses. The Satanic Temple, headquartered in Salem, Massachusetts, is pushing for After School Satan Clubs (ASSC) to be established in public schools. The Satan Club claims that its objectives are to encourage science and to accept all religions. As their website states, “scientific rationalism” is “our best model for understanding the natural world.” The Satanic Temple insists that the clubs don’t worship a personal Satan or encourage evil, only that the establishment of the ASSC is a serious matter to the group. One advocate for this club and founder of the Satanic Temple of Seattle, Lillith Starr, is seeking a balance against Christian clubs in public grade schools, with the broader aim being to fight evangelism. “If religion is brought into public schools, we think it’s very important that there be more than one religious voice represented; otherwise it could seem like the school is giving special preference to one religion, which is unconstitutional,” Starr told The Van Nuys Mirror when she was asked about what she wishes to achieve. “We want to provide another option wherever the Good News child evangelism club is being offered. While the Good News Club scares and shames children into believing they are worthless sinners, we will provide another, more positive alternative, teaching children about science and rationalism and giving them skills needed for them to make their own choices.” Starr first joined the Satanic Temple in 2014 when she saw that the organization
was fighting for women’s reproductive rights, LGBT individual rights, and the rights of children to be free from abusive corporal punishment in schools. “I am proud to be part of a religious organization that actively fights to protect the rights of those hurt by the encroachment of religion on our laws and government. ” Starr succeeded in establishing her first club through court rulings. She continues to target other schools, mainly on the West Coast, to compete with Christian clubs such as the Good News Club. This movement has received much controversy from parents and church members
who oppose the idea of Satanism, including Van Nuys students and faculty. “Even though I’m Catholic, I’m fine with all religions, but not Satanic clubs,” said Maureen Bompat, a junior. “I accept all religions, but I don’t think Satan is the answer. I see the point of scientific evolution, but Satanism is wrong.” Although many individuals strongly oppose establishing Satan clubs, the U.S. Supreme Court has ruled that the government has no right to discriminate against religions and viewpoints when it comes down to a “limited public forum” such as an after-school club.
“As an individual, I don’t see a problem with any point of view, because you have the 1st Amendment right of expression and freedom of religion,” U.S History and Government teacher Robert Crosby stated. “But I would argue that they are using the word “Satan” to differentiate themselves from other groups.” However, the U.S. government cannot oppose the religion or viewpoints of any after school club. If the court were to rule against the establishment of an After School Satan Club, it would be interpreted as the closing of the Good News Club as well. Satanic Temple organizers in cities like Detroit, Washington, and Los Angeles have already approached school districts, requesting permission to begin after school Satan Clubs. The Los Angeles School District has directly denied the club’s application to establish a Satan club in Chase Elementary School in Panorama City. They put out a statement that said, “The proposed club does not meet the minimum requirement of having the school’s approval and, therefore, will not be offered at the school.” LAUSD states that the denial has nothing to do with the after school club itself but because the local satanists haven’t submitted the required permits. “If an organization does not meet the basic requirements, it will not be approved for permit or license at the school,” the district’s statement reads. Even with the hostility, satanists are continuing to respond by pushing the Satanic Club movement and spreading their ideals. “The Satanic Temple is prepared to take legal action if we are denied our constitutional right to establish these clubs in schools where the Good News Club is operating,” Starr states.
Just the Facts about the Legalization of Marijuana By Keshan Huang & Elissa Choi The Mirror Staff
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fter multiple failed attempts over the course of a century, Proposition 64, which legalizes the recreational use of marijuana, passed with a 56% vote in California on Nov. 9, 2016. Proposition 64 legalizes the recreational use of marijuana; anyone 21 and older can possess up to an ounce of marijuana and grow a maximum of six marijuana plants at home. The proposition can also potentially reduce sentences as well as clearing criminal records of prisoners that have been convicted of felonies related to the possession and consumption of marijuana. Although the proposition gives leeway to many marijuana-related offenses, people are worried of the consequences that come with its passage. Low-income people who use marijuana for medical purposes are uneasy about the 15% tax that comes tacked onto the purchase of cannabis. Others are expressing their agitation over a provision in the proposition that doesn’t offer the guarantee of school funding and public services with the collected tax. Conditions still apply to the passing of the proposition. For instance, the earliest date for the opening of recreational marijuana retail stores will be January of 2018. Growers and sellers will have to obtain licenses from the Department of Public Health and the Department of Food and Agriculture, further prolonging the availability of recreational marijuana. Marijuana must also be consumed
in the confinements of a private residence or in a licensed business property. Cities are able to regulate zoning laws to restrict where retailers are able to set up shop, and local committees hold the power to regulate and restrict the consumption of marijuana in community spaces. Restrictions may exist against the use of marijuana, but benefits come with the legalization of the it. Studies have shown that in states that have legalized marijuana, teen consumption of cannabis has been on a small decline. Legalization of cannabis also allows a safer transaction plan. The buyer is informed of how their marijuana is processed and where it came from. Schools are faced with a dilemma. Although the legal-
Anyone 21 and older can possess up to an ounce of marijuana. ization of marijuana has been known to decrease teenage consumption, concerns arise within parents and administrators. The most common concern is that the proposition presents a negative message to
students; the term “recreational” may encourage students to indulge in the under-age use of marijuana. Van Nuys High School has a no-tolerance drug policy. The school has a counseling program that is provided on and off campus for students who use alcohol, tobacco and other drugs. The school is also in partnership with the National Directory of Drug and Alcohol Abuse Treatment Programs. “While I am very displeased by the smell of marijuana, the legalization of marijuana might be proven to be a beneficial proposition for it betters the state’s economy through the taxes on marijuana while at the same time, weakening the drug cartels and the black market trade,” said Bryan Denq, a junior, who acknowledges the positive effects of legalization, but hopes that the school will not be too affected by it. ”I just hope that the bathrooms are not smoked out from marijuana. It is very difficult do your business with such a smell.” Min Kim, a junior, believes in using marijuana for medical means, but discourages the use of it recreationally. “I don’t understand why someone over 21 without any medical issues would need access to weed.” People hope that the legalization of recreational marijuana will work to fight against the stigma that surrounds the nature of consuming it. “I think legalizing the proposition is a step forwards towards creating a united front against the hate that surrounds the use of marijuana, medical or not,” commented Joseway Gomez. “I don’t see it as a step backwards, but a step forwards in our changing society.”
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vnhsmirror.com | December 15, 2016
Features&Profiles
How Race Plays a Role in College Admissions From elite private institutes of learning to public colleges and universities, students are categorized according to ethnicities. For many potential students this may create insurmountable problems. By Khrista Sayo & Elissa Choi The Mirror Staff
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range of factors from extracurricular activities to test scores come into play when a college’s admissions office evaluates a student’s application. Students aim to impress admissions officers with above-satisfactory grades and accolades from clubs, teams, or competitions. However, a component that does not often appear in one’s mind when told the word “college,” plays a significant role in an application—race. Universities around the nation are seeking to maintain a “racial quota” amongst the student population on their campuses. Racial quotas are implemented to admit a balanced number of students according to their ethnicity, all the while attempting to create representation for all. Although student demographics in many colleges and universities are very unbalanced, other schools strive to enrich their learning environments by admitting students of many different ethnic backgrounds. Students are also admitted to institutions based on geographics. For example, many schools in the South and Midwest are looking for more racial diversity, which allows for a wider acceptance rate of students from the North and East, where the schools are already more diverse due to a more diverse regional population. California’s population is already extremely diverse in terms of race. Still, state schools consider a student’s ethnic background, even though California schools tend to avoid using a student’s ethnicity as a primary deciding factor for admission. Even with California’s overall diversity, African-American and Latino representation is lacking in the state university system, which is comprised of the UCs and California State universities. “I know the UCs are aware of the fact that they have a very low African-American student body number/rep-
Racial Breakdown of Incoming Freshmen 2015
Other 17.3% AfricanAmerican 2.8%
resentation,” Ms. Mary Charlton, the College Counselor, pointed out. “They’re very conscious of recruiting a satisfactory African-American student, whereas if you were a satisfactory Asian-American student, you probably will not get accepted.” Asians are at a racial disadvantage because Asian students predominate at many UC schools. Up to 50% of some school populations at are Asian. At the University of California at Los Angeles, the largest racial group is Asian/Pacific Islanders, which make up about 40% of the student body. This year, the undergraduate programs admitted 9,917 Asians, or about 32.1% the largest group, compared with Whites, which make up 26.3%. UC San Diego’s student body is nearly 50% Asian. But does one’s racial background influence college acceptance chances? Not necessarily, according to Ms. Charlton. “Generally, I feel that the UCs are fair—they’re blind in that regard. But they’re also aware of who’s in their community because—let’s face it—they’re being subsidized by the taxpayers of California.” UCLA—and most UC schools in general—raise the standards for White and Asian pupils. But other minorities, such as AfricanAmericans, Latinos, and especially Native Americans, have a much likelier chance of getting into the school of their choice. According to statistics on the official University of California website, the number of African-American undergraduates in the entire system from 1994 to 2014 was only 3%. African-Americans, especially males, are drastically underrepresented, even though 7% of the California population is black according to the latest U.S. Census statistics. African-American students are underrepresented in schools throughout the country, excluding historically black colleges, such as Howard University, whose focus is to admit black students. However, African-American representation has neither increased or decreased. African-American representation is lacking, but Asians are admitted to colleges in disproportionate numbers. Many Asians feel the pressure when applying to state schools. The “Asian Penalty” is a concept where an Asian student has to “appear less Asian” to increase their chances
The “Asian Penalty” is a concept where an Asian student has to “appear less Asian” to increase their chances of getting accepted.
White 24.3%
religion instead. Brigham Young University is one such religious university operated by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. “You can definitely go even if you’re not Mormon, but they prefer a student with a Mormon background. Ethnicity will not even play into that,” said Ms. Charlton. Racial profiling—in this sense—is not necessarily discrimination because race isn’t specifically considered. Universities around the state and the country are merely aware of the ethnic ratios on their campuses. This would, in turn, affect how they consider one’s application that would pertain to their own racial quotas. Future seniors: consider this information when sending out an application, but do not necessarily be discouraged. College admissions offices still evaluate a student’s assets and look at whether the standard credentials fit for their school. Just remember, because a student is rejected by one school, there are still plenty of other college options available out there.
African-American 5.5% Other 4.6%
White 28.4%
Latino 23%
Latino 12.5%
UC Berkeley
of getting accepted. Some students have even resorted to hiring personal college counselors that steer them away from looking “too Asian” on the application. Universities are also keeping the Asian populations in check so they won’t look like “the Asian school.” Lawsuits were filed against Harvard and other Ivy League schools in 2016 because these institutions “use racial quotas to admit lesser qualified candidates over Asians,” according to the Boston Globe. Many will argue that Asians are not on the same playing field as other applicants. But that is not the case. The average Asian student that applies to an Ivy League institution, or any elite private school, is competing with other Asian applicants. Each student of any race is competing against their own to gain a spot in a school. Therefore, the playing field is leveled to match the competence of its applicants. Special institutions, such as religious private schools, usually do not take one’s ethnicity into consideration. They typically base their admissions on the student’s
Asian 43.1%
UCLA
Asian 38.4%
African-American 2% Other 9% Latino 16%
UC San Diego
White 21%
Asian 51%
December 15, 2016 | vnhsmirror.com
The Mirror | Van Nuys High School | 7
Features&Profiles
The Voices of Van Nuys CHANDLER BEON / THE MIRROR
Jacob Zelonky, left, and Cameron Kern, the guys whose voices are heard across campus.
How does it feel to have your voice heard around the whole school? Jacob Zelonky: At first it was really nerveracking knowing the entire school could hear me but I’ve definitely gotten used to it and learned to let loose. Cameron Kern: It was an unreal experience at first and still every morning we go on, I get little butterflies in my stomach. However, the more you do it the easier it gets. Going in my first day I wasn’t too nervous, speaking in front of an audience has never been a problem for me, but I’ve never spoken in front of so many people before. It’s really exciting. I think being able to speak to my peers and leave my mark on Van Nuys High School, is something I’m truly proud of. I’m honored to have earned this title. How did you get this position?
By Jenisa Chuayjarernsook The Mirror Staff
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ave you ever wondered who the people are behind those voices on the morning announcements? And did you know that chemistry between two voices makes a difference in conveying a message? It takes courage to announce your voice to the entire school. The Voices of Van Nuys, Jacob Zelonky and Cameron Kern, open up about their experiences and give some tips on public speaking.
Zelonky: Ms. Carr expressed interest in having me do the job after I applied to ASB. Even though ASB didn’t end up ultimately fitting into my schedule, I got to keep the job. Kern: It’s been a dream of mine to do the morning announcements since I started high school. When the opportunity approached me, I was at least going to take the chance. So I went and gave it a try. Ms. Carr seemed to like the friendship between me and Jacob that bled through the Performing Arts, and it’s been this way ever since.
How would people interested in this position, apply to be the voice of Van Nuys? Zelonky: There are usually auditions for the Voice of Van Nuys that happen after you apply to leadership. Kern: For the future voices of Van Nuys, if you want to get involved join ASB, use that stellar voice of yours and ask! Be persistent. If you show that you’re genuinely interested in obtaining the position, someone will give you a shot. What tips would you give to the next generation of speakers? Zelonky: With live public-speaking, I think it’s important to add your own flare to whatever it is you’re reading and sort of make it your own. Even though you can only hear my voice, I try to bring my personality across so I’m less of a robot and more of an actual human being. If I’m feeling nervous I usually just pretend I’m on the phone with a friend. And I’m lucky to get to work with Cameron, who I consider to be one of my closest friends in real life. Kern: Some advice though: do the announcements with someone you have chemistry with and someone you’re not afraid of being weird around. I’m so glad I’m able to perform with someone like Jacob because he brings a calming presence and has made the whole experience a pleasure.
A Good Year for a Good Graduation Rate SHIMLA RAHMAN / THE MIRROR
By Shayda Shevidi & Woo Han The Mirror Staff
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ith more than 500 seniors roaming the hallways in Van Nuys High School, it’s easy to get lost within all the graduation requirements. But no fear, the A-G Diploma Counselors are here! The Van Nuys A-G Diploma Program is run by Gregory Achen and Malissa Vanegas. They are both recent graduates: Achen from USC and Vanegas from UCLA. Despite the rivalry between their alma maters, they cohesively work together to implement a very valuable program for Van Nuys. The A-G Diploma Program is geared towards helping students graduate high school. This program was put into play by LAUSD in hopes of graduating every single high school student in the district. Currently, Van Nuys is well above 70%. Vanegas and Achen, who goes by Mr. Greg, work with the academic counselors and the Public Services and Attendance Counselor, Ms. Shirley Shamsi, in order to help the students. “Our job is to make sure that everyone has a plan and path for graduation. Sometimes students are missing their A-G requirements, sometimes they’re behind in credits, and it’s OUR job to help them solve the puzzle,” said Achen. They use a three-tier model in their approach. The first and universal part is their current promotion campaign in which they get the word out about their program - whether it be through recurring morning announcements or setting up a booth in the quad during lunch. The second targeted strategy aims to counsel individual students that are missing three or more A-G requirements. The final and intensive portion counsels students with more severe graduation disparities, meeting with them at least once a week and helping them get back to where they need to be. However, they stress that the method of helping students get back on track to graduate is an individual approach. Because every student is different, they have to modify the solutions and identify what works for each of the students. They identify the problems that the student
The A-G Counselors are here to help students graduate. Malissa Vanegas, left, and Gregory Achen.
may be facing—from peer conflicts to family matters—and offer the student resources to help with their studies. They partner with credit recovery programs at Van Nuys High School but also reach out to possible community programs as well. For example, if a student is far behind in their credits at Van Nuys, they have access to Will Rogers Continuation School. They arduously work to find the best particular fit for the student. One of the unique parts about their job is that they are authorized to go out into the community and do home
visits, often talking to the students and their families. They try to identify why the student may not be going to school and find solutions as to how they can help with getting the student back to school. “We’re the link between community and school,” added Vanegas. “A student’s grade and their attendance record tell a story. When we see a student who is missing a lot of classes, we know there’s a reason for that,” gushed Achen. “It’s not because they can’t do it, it’s because there’s something else going on in their life.” “It’s our job to help them resolve that issue as well. We want to make sure you’re safe and well-taken care of.” When they first started the program, they did an assessment to determine what Van Nuys might most need. Then, they found that Van Nuys is home to a vast population of immigrants. In addition to trying to catch up with their graduation requirements, many of the immigrants are learning a new language and a new culture. Achen and Vanegas have been very much aware, so they have been visiting all the ELD classes to help acclimate them to the school. Together, they inform the students on the available programs and the accessible help and assistants. “Many of them come periodically to the school, so it’s a little harder for them to be in class and to navigate with the actual school,” said Vanegas. They have reached success in their classroom visits. After these presentations, they hope to slowly ease these students into finishing the actual graduation requirements. Achen and Vanegas work well together and are excited to contribute to the ongoing success of their program. With their levels of charisma and expertise, they are set to help Van Nuys get closer to that 100% graduation rate.
8 | Van Nuys High School | The Mirror
Comment&
December 15, 2016 | v
A thin-skinned billionaire businessman with a penchant for Twitter wars is now the most powerful leader in the world
All Hail the
Hater-inChief BY KESHAN HUANG & ELISSA CHOI
D
onald J. Trump. A bigot. A racist. A misogynist. Now, the 45th “President” of the United States of America. This business mogul has shocked the world with his rhetoric, his remarks, and now, the reality of this election. In response to the public outcry over his victory, Trump embraced Secretary Hillary Clinton’s offer for help and called for America to “unite once again.” President Barack Obama has also expressed the obligation of Americans to give Trump the respect and opportunity to better America. He stressed unity for the supporters of both candidates and for the acceptance of Trump as he transitions into the Oval Office. Despite the calls for unity, parts of the country are still in denial. Several universities reacted to the new President-elect on the following day by cancelling classes for discussion and reflection. Protests popped up around the nation in several cities, including New York City, Chicago, San Francisco, Austin and Washington D.C., as well as on college campuses. Although most protests have been peaceful, some “antihate” and “anti-violence” supporters of Clinton have taken things to the extreme by making violent gestures and threatening secession. In New York City, anti-Trump protesters have gathered under the slogan of #NotMyPresident and surrounded Trump Tower where the President-elect is holed up. Using hateful language with plenty of swearing, some protesters have violently displayed their discontent with the new president. In other states, highways have been closed due to the protesting masses. Some protests became intensely “heated” as effigies of Trump and other Republican leaders were burned, as were American flags.
To add insult to injury for Democrats, Republicans have taken control of both the House and the Senate. This will allow Donald Trump a Republican-majority Congress to do his bidding. Unfilled seats in the Federal Courts are expected to be stacked with radical conservative appointees.These conservative judges will be in control of the Judicial branch for at least a generation, handing down anti-progressive rulings and turning back the legal clock. As someone who has degraded women, insulted veterans,
Van Nuys Safety Pin Movement
T
he Safety Pin Movement started after the passing of “Brexit,” the exit of Britain from the European Union, in order for people to show their solidarity to those who felt outcast in society by wearing a safety pin. Originally started to support refugees and immigrants, this program expanded to people targeted by xenophobia, homophobia, racism, sexism, homophobia, and ableism. Americans are attaching safety pins to their shirts to signify that they are linked and united, willing to stand up for those who need support. Ms. Patricia Waggoner, the ELD teacher, decided to implement this movement in the Van Nuys High School in light of the recent 2016 presidential election. “Van Nuys is an extremely diverse campus,” says Ms. Waggoner, “it is very important for kids to have support from their teachers and from each other. It’s about being a positive reinforcement for safe places.” —Tyler Jung
and slandered minorities, Donald Trump drives hate and negative messages. His stated mission is to overthrow the political establishment and to reign as an outsider who has never held public office nor served in the military. In addition, he will be the first billionaire president. He is the first of his kind. But there is no doubt that Trump has surprised us all. From improbably emerging as the Republican Party nominee by defeating 11 other candidates to bragging about grabbing women by their private parts and still getting the votes of a majority of American women, Trump seems to be bulletproof. His demagoguery appeals to the fear and dissatisfaction of the common people because he misleads the middle class into thinking that he will ease their suffering by bringing back jobs and reducing the size of the government. The concept of reduced government involvement, especially in the markets, attracted voters to Trump who think his presidency would mean a better economy for the United States. On the international front, the Russians have declared that they are now ready to establish peaceful relations with the United States. However, other countries have expressed their discontent and uneasiness with Trump. Markets worldwide fear that American trade deals will be abolished as Trump has promised. Trump may boast about his ability to make deals and his diplomatic prowess, but he certainly does not think about the consequences will surely arise. He recently spoke with the President of Taiwan, Tsai Ying-wen, which hasn’t happened in nearly 40 years since the U.S. severed relations and could lead to a serious dispute with China, a rising superpower. Donald Trump does not have the temperament or mental mindset to be president. As “Saturday Night Live” mocks Trump’s excessive use of Twitter, Trump tweets that the show is “unwatchable.” Donald Trump is so thin-skinned that he was offended by the Hamilton cast when Vice President-elect Mike Pence attended a show and the cast asked him to “work on the behalf of all Americans,” Trump took to Twitter, demanding the staff apologize because of the “harassment” that heaped onto the Vice President-elect the night before. Although Governor Pence took no offense, Trump continues to slander the musical cast. Come Jan. 20, 2017, Donald Trump will be sworn into office. The United States will be led by a man who has insulted people of disabilities, gold-star families, women and minorities, just for the sake of not being “politically correct.” The United States will be led by an unstable man with the temperament of a grade-schooler, who is too busy complaining about a rigged media on Twitter about everything and anything to make America great again. Keshan Huang is an Editor-in-Chief for The Mirror; Elissa Choi is a Staff Writer.
The Mirror | Van Nuys High School | 9
&Opinion
vnhsmirror.com
COUNTERPOINT: Why Donald Trump will be beneficial for the nation
I
f you’re like me, you followed this BY JACK BECKMAN-SMITH ynist. All charges of election cycle very closely. Howsexual assault against ever, many of you may be disappointed or even scared him have been dropped and his slate is by the results. No, Trump is not Hitler, and no it is not relatively clean aside from a few comments the end of the world, and here’s why. he’s made. Many people may see him as a Months of demonization of Trump by sexist for calling Rosie O’donnell a “pig,” the media and entertainment industry but an attack on a single woman isn’t have created one of the largest straw men an attack on all women. He’s said much in history. The image of his vileness and worse to other men, but that doesn’t make pure evil has been blown up into propor- him a misandrist. tions rivalling Hitler. Just the utterance of Of course there’s the infamous remark his name without context would be a social Trump’s made about grabbing women by death sentence. the “p***y,” but I can only attribute that to But this man is surely far from Hitler, and far from being him being a warm blooded male trying to a crazed right-wing racist for that matter, too. In fact, as he jest and entertain with another friend. It comes into power, his views have shifted heavily to the left. may be crude, distasteful, and unpresidenFor instance, he is very considerate of LGBT individuals, tial, but Trump isn’t running based on his as he stated at the Republican National Committee, “As your grace and purity. president I will do everything in my power to protect the Donald Trump is a businessman and reality star that took rights of LGBT individuals.” This is very far from the gayour election cycle by storm. He defeated a multitude of hating Donald Trump everyone seems to imagine. well-backed and brilliant Republicans in the primary. After What about the racist Donald Trump everyone knows for defeating some of the world’s smartest men and women, certain exists? Well Donald Trump is simply very far from he went on to win the election for president of the United being racist. Donald Trump isn’t looking to deport Latinos States of America. or make America white again. He simply wishes to crack Donald Trump didn’t win off hatred or deceit. He won off down on the illegal immigration occurring at our southern populist policy, and by reaching out to the average working border. He doesn’t wish to target anyone for their race and class American. His interests lie in us, and he will do anyethnicity, but by their legality and nationality. thing for the American people and our great nation. If he isn’t racist, or anti-LGBT, is he a misogynist? Well Donald Trump is not a career politician, and isn’t looking there seems to be no proof of Donald Trump being a misog- to buy into the Republican or Democratic establishments.
YOURVIEW
Brian Nehoray
I don’t think much will change, he’s just one person. There’s a House [of Representatives], there’s still a Senate. Not everything he can do will go into power.
Lien Ly
This man is surely far from Hitler, and far from being a crazed right-wing racist for that matter, too. He doesn’t have many special interests and isn’t going to be puppeted by shadowy global elites. He’s looking for the best team to help America and it’s people, Americans. Whether you’re black white, young old, gay straight, male female or other, Donald Trump is on YOUR side. Jack Beckman-Smith is an Opinion Writer for The Mirror
What do you think will happen to the country now that Trump will be President?
I feel like domestically, not much is going to change, but internationally, a lot is going to change. He has the power to start war, so it’s kinda scary. But we’ll see. Maybe it won’t be that bad.
Laurence Geronilla I think it’s gonna suck, personally. We can all only wait, we don’t know what going to happen. Hopefully, we’ll be okay.
Liz Unanyan
I’m still keeping an open mind that he will bring some kind of help into our country because every country needs some improvement. There’s always room for improvement. I’m not too worried.
Trying to Make Sense of Trump’s Anti-Immigrant Rhetoric One Van Nuys High student who publicly identifies as an undocumented immigrant isn’t scared by the new political order. To her it just means the struggles will continue. With the political turmoil resulting from the 2016 election, many people are voicing their opinions about the results of this major political event, that came as a shock to many. Undocumented immigrants are expressing their feelings as well. A range of emotions from fear to desperation and sadness to determination exists among current immigrants, whether they are documented or undocumented. Guadalupe Perez is an undocumented immigrant student who is currently a senior at Van Nuys High School. She publicly identifies as being undocumented. After posting her status on Facebook, “When we lose we still play defense, we don’t give up. Perdimos la batalla pero seguimos en defensa, no nos damos por vencido. #proudundocumented,” Perez shared her opinions and beliefs about the election results. If President-elect Trump acts on the promises he made during his campaign, many immigrants like Perez will be affected and possibly may be deported. — Jeehyun Kim
I believe that neither Hillary Clinton nor Donald Trump was the
best candidate to be running for the next President of United States. Yet, they were the only option, so I was leaning towards Hillary Clinton. In my opinion, Clinton was not as bad as
Freddy Leon
I believe that there will be lots of division and that there will be riots, because they’re already doing riots. It depends, let’s see what Trump does. There will be riots either way, whether it be a good or bad decision.
Teresa Ayon
I really don’t feel like anything will change. He has all these plans about changing stuff, but he can’t be because he has to go through a lot of people. I’m just scared that he will offend a country and bring us into war.
Iran Tecun
Maybe there’s actually hope that he isn’t as bad as it seems and he’s probably going to restore the economy better than it is because he’s gonna play the politics in more of a business aspect which he’s obviously very intelligent in given he’s a billionaire.
Trump. Trump represents hate, and because of him, people who are racists feel more secure. American citizens now feel like they have the extra push to publicly express their racism, hatred, and negativity. But people spoke through their votes. One of the biggest weapons for us now is to pray for the new president to be more mature than when he was running for presidency. I expected Clinton to win. I was surprised that many more Hispanic people than I expected voted for him. I still can’t make sense of how they didn’t feel insulted by all those inappropriate comments and statements Trump made towards the Mexican immigrants. He called them rapists, drug runners, “Trump’s racism and and other criminals. hatred doesn’t scare I am a dreamer myself, an undocumented immigrant. For now, I know I won’t be changed or influenced by me. I will keep pursuhim winning the election, but the other undocumented ing the dreams that students after me will be greatly affected. America has allowed This country has given me the privilege to have an education along with many other opportunities for a better for the dreamers like future. Not only myself but many other people have had the myself.” same privilege. Generation after generation, my race—both documented and undocumented—has fought for this very freedom and chance. However, it seems as if those Hispanic citizens have forgotten the brotherhood and sense of community that existed at the time. They seem to have forgotten the struggles while fighting to be in a better position. Our ancestors went through a lot of struggles so that we could have the opportunities provided for us by this country. Trump’s racism and hatred doesn’t scare me. I will keep pursuing the dreams that America has allowed for the dreamers like myself. This election just means that as undocumented people we will play defense like the past generations have done it. — Guadalupe Perez
10 | Van Nuys High School | The Mirror
Comment&Opinion
The Continuing Christmas Coffee Cup Controversy BY SHIMLA RAHMAN
vnhsmirror.com | December 15, 2016
The M irror vnhsmirror.com Editors-in-Chief Keshan Huang Jeehyun Kim Shayda Shevidi
Layout Editor Elizabeth Ortiz
The largest coffee chain in the world brings its holiday cups back, along with consumer complaints.
Chief Financial Officer Lauren Yu
News Editor
S
ince its monumental rise in popularity in the 21st century, Starbucks has become one of the biggest trends on the planet, becoming a social subject and place in which everyone indulged. It provides a wide variety of food and drink choices, making it a suitable place for everyone. However, because of its annual tradition of making festive cups with Christmas inspired designs during the holiday season since 1997, many people feel that Starbucks isn’t a place for everyone. In 2014, the cups aroused controversy among consumers. People started to point out that not everyone celebrates the Christian holiday and many were offended by the religious symbols— reindeers, decorated tree, and ornaments—on the cups. Starbucks noted the complaints, and, in Nov. of 2015, released plain red cups to replace their pre-existing Christmas-oriented designs. Customers were encouraged to express their own Christmas stories by drawing on the cups. Users on social media claimed that Starbucks was destroying the Christmas cup tradition and that because they were called “Christmas cups,” they were essentially trying to eliminate Christ from Christmas—creating a “War on Christmas.” Others were confused about why a simple cup would cause so much outrage among the consumers. This made the #MerryChristmasStarbucks trend. Customers encouraged baristas to write “Merry Christmas” on the cups and to “wish” a “Merry Christmas” when customers were called for their orders. Finally in 2016, after renaming the cups “Holiday Red Cups,” Starbucks brings back the Christmas cup designs along with the controversy. Social media is exploding on this subject once again, with some people are stating that the company shouldn’t “force” the religious holiday on them, while others express their happiness about the revived cup tradition, and still others who assert that the whole matter is completely unimportant and does not deserve the large amount of attention it is receiving. Starbucks has repeatedly gone back and forth on the cup design and probably will continue to in the future because of the customer complaints. Those who claim that Starbucks is not appreciating other cul-
YOURVIEW
Ezra Kim
Features Editor Amanda Godfrey
Opinion Editor Mayra Macias
Entertainment Editor Jenisa Chuayjarernsook
Sports Editor Brian Clavio
Photo Editor
Shimla Rahman
Magnet Newsletter Editors Esther Choe and Brian Choi
Staff Writers/Photographers
tures by “forcing” religion on nonbelievers couldn’t be more wrong. Starbucks provides a wide range of ingredients for a wide variety of customer needs. For example, almond, soy milk, and coconut milk are options to those who choose not to consume dairy products because of religious, health, or personal reasons. This company serves many different options so that almost everyone can have their special drink and enjoy it too. Starbucks does not discriminate against different cultures or put one religious ideology before another. Shimla Rahman is the Photo Editor for The Mirror.
Should Starbucks serve their drinks in holiday cups?
Jackson Beckman-Smith Chandler Beon Tommy Chan Elissa Choi Brian Han Woo Han Margarita Hovespyan Antonio Ibarrola Tyler Jung Gina Kim Jason Linares Giselle Lopez Kevin Mo Christian Naves Theresa Nguyen Yerin Oh Jiyeong Park Ariana Rodriguez Khrista Sayo Lucas Shim Mhar Tenorio Stefanie Tyo Lauren Woolsey
Journalism Advisor Mr. Ron Goins
Mary Nuchit
I think that Starbucks should not serve their drinks in holiday cups because so much needless tension and drama could be avoided and the company wouldn’t have to back and forth and the design because there wouldn’t be one. And besides, it’s just a cup, we throw it away anyways.
Tyler Nguyen
I think that they should just because of festivity and joyful vibe it gives off. People should not look too deep into the controversy and should not overthink the purpose of the design. It’s just a cute way to send us into the holiday season.
Jacky Duong
I think that Starbucks should not continue to serve their drinks in holiday cups because with the high demand of red cups used that are non-recyclable, it will only eventually lead Starbucks being responsible for the millions of cups going into waste. Although it may seem in the short term, that many people are in favor of these holiday cups, in the long term, it will only harm our environment.
Devki Zala
I think that they should continue to serve their drinks in holiday cups because the change from the regular cups is nice and adds on to the seasonal festivity. I don’t see the point in the arguments because although it’s promoting a specific holiday it’s not as if it’s putting another holiday down. [For example], it’s not putting an X on Hanukkah, and it’s just cups.
Kayla Brown
I say that they should. I personally think that cups are really festive and appealing. A lot of people do celebrate Christmas so it makes sense that the cups are about Christmas. And [the cups] are not important-who cares if you’re drinking from a red Christmas cup or a white cup? You just want your coffee and end up throwing the cup out anyways.
The Mirror is the student newspaper of Van Nuys High School. It is published five times per year. Unsigned editorials represent the majority opinion of the seniors on the Editorial Board. Letters to the editor may be delivered to Room 112 or mailed to 6535 Cedros Ave, Van Nuys, CA 91411. Letters must be signed and may be edited for space and to conform to The Mirror style and format. Advertising questions may be directed to Lauren Yu at lyu0006@mymail.lausd.net. Publication of an advertisement does not imply endorsement of the product or service by the newspaper or the school. The opinions expressed in bylined commentary articles and columns represent the views of the individual writer and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Mirror or the Editorial Board.
December 15, 2016 | vnhsmirror.com
Comment&Opinion
The Mirror | Van Nuys High School | 11
Plant-based Diets: are they
Bad
for the
Environment? V
By MARGARITA HOVSEPYAN
eganism is on the rise. WHY do people become vegans? WHAT is the difference between being a vegan and a vegetarian? Both groups do not engage in the consumption of any animal meat or flesh. However, in addition to the cut of all animal meat from the diet, vegans also do not consume any other products derived from animals (eggs, dairy). There is no question that monitoring your diet properly is much more beneficial for the human body and brain. A healthier lifestyle is a huge driving factor for individuals changing into this lifestyle. People are also unhappy with the thought of innocent organisms being killed and hence uncomfortable with consuming their meat. In addition, most are attracted to the idea that a vegan/vegetarian lifestyle is more beneficial for the environment and its inhabitants. However, is a vegetarian or vegan lifestyle truly more beneficial for the environment? Findings from a Carnegie Mellon University (CMU) study suggest that the diet recommended in the Dietary Guidelines for Americans (consisting of more vegetables and less meat) has a larger impact on the environment than previously believed. Changing to the diet recommended by these guidelines, with the incorporation of more fruits, vegetables, dairy and seafood, would actually result in a thirtyeight percent increase in energy use per person, a ten percent increase in water use and a six percent increase in greenhouse gas emissions, according to the study. Professor Paul Fischbeck, a CMU researcher who authored the study states, “Lots of common vegetables require more resources per calorie than you would think. Eggplant, celery and cucumbers look particularly bad when compared to pork or chicken.” In other words, every food item has a different calorie intake per serving. Similar research only confuses the general public and leads people in a misleading direction because it is portraying the belief that the entire vegetable food group is not beneficial for the environment. The true findings of the study however were that certain food
items in the vegetable food group produce more greenhouse gas emissions than certain food items in the poultry family. Hence, CMU’s report is a total mischaracterization of what the actual findings of the study were. The study’s results are based on counting the impact of individual foods and their caloric value. For example, if an individual were to consume the same number of calories that are in a serving of poultry, he or she would have to consume an enormous quantity of lettuce to replace that caloric value. “If you stop eating beef, you can’t replace a kilogram of it, which has 2,280 calories, with a kilogram of broccoli, at 340 calories. You have to replace it with 6.7 kilograms of broccoli,” writes Tamar Haspel, a journalist at the Washington Post. So hypothetically consuming such a huge quantity of broccoli would result in greater greenhouse gas emissions and take a heavier toll on the environment. Realistically though, no vegetarian is going to depend on only a lettuce or broccoli in place of, say pork, because of how low of an energy content it contains. Every food in a particular food group does not have exactly the same environmental impact. So not every single plant product will be more environmentally friendly than a poultry product. In addition, food waste has a strong impact on the environment. Fischbeck discovered that more than 40 percent of fruit goes to waste, while only about 33 percent of meat goes to waste, further strengthening his position that veganism takes a heavier toll on the environment. However, it is also important to mention that even more vegetables are wasted than animal-based products. Furthermore, vegetables might have a bigger waste count but their overall, negative impact on the environment is still less than the one by animal-based products. This huge imprint of animal based-products can be seen through spoiled oceans, deforestation, global warming and the the waste of land resources.
CONSUMING a huge quantity of broccoli would result in greater greenhouse gas emissions and take a heavy toll on the environment.
Margarita Hovsepyan is an Opinion Writer for The Mirror.
12 | Van Nuys High School | The Mirror
Arts&Entertainment
vnhsmirror.com | December 15, 2016
Leading the
ARIANA RODRIGUEZ / THE MIRROR
Orchestra
Concertmasters are crucial for keeping the orchestra humming along By Christian Naves The Mirror Staff
Crystal Flores, Dove Renet, Joey Guzman, and Guillermo Mona
Musically Marching Together as Four By Lucas Shim The Mirror Staff
F
or the past four months, musicians have been marching and playing their instruments across the baseball field. The Van Nuys High School Marching Band and Drill Team is fighting their way into the upcoming annual 2016 All-City Championships on the 3rd of December at East Los Angeles College. The contributions of the captains’ leadership have supported the Marching Band and Drill Team into successfully executing each song performance. Joey Guzman is the Drumline Captain. Guillermo Mona is the Brass Captain. Crystal Flores is the Woodwind Captain, and Dove Renet is the Drill Team Captain. Why did you want to be marching band captain? Guzman: I wanted to be the Drumline Captain to take on the responsibility that this certain job has and to get experience for my future as both a musician and a person. The responsibility bar is very high, and there are a lot of high standards to meet which I like. Mona: Well, the job was offered to me by the director, Mr. Robert Eisenhart, and I always wanted to be a part of our student leadership ever since the beginning. I wasn’t really expecting a challenging job, but I still wanted to do it. Flores: Ever since my freshman year, I have always been inspired by the previous woodwind captains, and I felt like they themselves also encouraged me to take on the job, and when I took the job on, I was just like “wow,” it’s really great helping these people. Renet: When I was a freshman, and I saw the captain from two years ago, Sophia, when she was a senior, I thought she was like an amazing captain and that she was really cool like last year’s captain, Jazmin. It’s what I always wanted to be since my freshman year because it just seemed like it would be really cool to help out. What duties do you have to perform as a captain?
Guzman: I have to make sure everyone’s grades are good in order to participate in the show because without attendance, it can be a big issue. I do need to make sure that everybody is learning their music as they should, and I also have to write the music this year because there is no coach. Mona: The main part is to communicate and to have the information sent from my division, the brass, to the executive officers and the director. I also have to maintain the brass musicians’ health and try to keep them happy and safe. Flores: I have to make sure that everyone has everything that they need like reeds, supplies, and that all of their instruments are in shape. I also need to make sure that they know their music and that they are using powerful technique. Renet: Well this year, I have to help choreograph our show, and I have to get other returning members to choreograph it as well. I have to help teach the newbies to spin rifles and flags. My main job is communication between Mr. Eisenhart, the Drum Major, and the Drill Team. What further improvements need to be made?
I
t takes a lot to keep an orchestra humming along. Just ask one of the concertmasters for the Van Nuys High School Student Orchestra. Concertmasters hold the highest position in an orchestra, leading the musicians that make up the group. They have a critical role in managing the music program. The two concertmasters are in charge of communicating between the members of the orchestra and their advisor, Mr. Robert Eisenhart. They report to Mr. Eisenhart any changes, news, and progress that occurs within the tightly-knit group. The first chairs of each instrumental group, who are responsible for approximately 10 musicians in their section, report directly to the concertmasters. The Van Nuys High School Orchestra musicians are preparing for their upcoming Holiday Concert on Dec. 16 in the Donna Hubbard Auditorium, featuring performances by the Vocal Department. In order to have a successful show, they must have a leader to guide the musicians through each piece. The roles of each member of an orchestra are crucial in maintaining order and making progress within themselves and their sections. Van Nuys orchestra’s concertmaster titles have been held by two people so far this year: Zoe Rodriguez and Sean Loveland. As concertmasters and first chairs of violin, both shared their experiences and responsibilities as leaders of Van Nuys High School’s orchestra.
How long have you been in orchestra? Zoe Rodriguez: I’ve been in orchestra for nine years now, since i was six. Sean Loveland: I’ve been playing music for seven years now. CHRISTIAN NAVES / THE MIRROR
How do you feel about your position and progress as first chair and concertmaster, and how do you feel about the progress you’ve made in your section? Rodriguez: I’m really excited to help the orchestra grow and improve over the years. As first chair of violin, I’m in charge of keeping track of music copies and running sectionals and coaching anyone who needs help with the music. Concertmasters are the leaders of the entire orchestra. Loveland: First chair is definitely a challenging position, not only in your playing but also in your leadership skills. As a section leader and concertmaster, I’m responsible for my section. I make sure they have their music, are able to play their music, and must assist them in building confidence. What made you want to pick up the instrument you play now? Rodriguez: I decided to play violin because my elementary school was offering it. Who knew it would become such an important role in my life? Loveland: When I was a little boy, I went to watch a concert, and Itzhak Perlman was playing Brahms’s Violin Concerto. Ever since that concert, I’ve always wanted to play the violin. What motivates you to continue taking part in orchestra? Rodriguez: My love for music and the violin keep me in orchestra. The challenge of learning music and working with new people is the reason I keep playing violin. Loveland: The thrill of performing keeps me motivated. Being able to work hard and collaborate with a range of musicians is something that is irreplaceable. Then, sharing it with an audience is mesmerizing. CHRISTIAN NAVES / THE MIRROR
Guzman: Playing together as one, listening in to the Pit along with the Drum Major, making sure we are on constant tempo all the time, supplying all the demands of the hornline, and making sure that we are all playing together. Mona: It really just comes to discipline and getting the show done. Right now, it is the worst time to lay back because of competition season. We are adding new compositions left to right, new drill, new music, and that is really important. Flores: After that competition, all of them just really need to work on the counts of the moves, their music, memorization, and basically, their technique and excellence. Renet: I think that during practice, if we keep everything more focused, and we don’t go off topic that much or talk, I think that would help a lot in moving forward.
Concertmaster Sean Loveland
Concertmaster Zoe Rodriguez
December 15, 2016 | vnhsmirror.com
Arts&Entertainment
The Mirror | Van Nuys High School | 13
Roles Cast for Spring Musical Performance Actors in Action begins rehearsals for the 2017 production
SHIMLA RAHMAN / THE MIRROR
By Jenisa Chuayjarernsook & Lucas Shim The Mirror Staff
A
classic and beloved animated Disney film, “Beauty and the Beast,” is being brought to our very own stage by Mr. Randy Olea and the Actors in Action. Voluntary auditions took place in the Hubbard Auditorium for the upcoming spring musical. The auditions ran for over three days, each featuring a particular element: acting, singing, and dancing. Participants were required to attend all three auditions to get a chance at being casted. During the acting audition, students did cold reading—reading aloud from a script with no prior rehearsal. They also did an improv—acting on what is only at hand. The second day, students sang a thirtysecond to one minute acapella song, preferably from Broadway. The last audition was dancing. It required students to follow a routine the dance directors gave. Each student is chosen by a consensus
LEFT: Students interested in participating in the production line up for their auditions
from the vocal, dance, and acting directors. The cast was carefully selected from participants who showed good stage energy as well as talent in more than one area: singing, dancing, or acting. On Dec. 5, after thorough analysis of each participant who auditioned by Mr. Olea and other Performing Arts faculty members, the cast of “Beauty and the Beast” was complete.
The 45-student cast of the “Beauty and the Beast”, directed by Mr. Olea, will be rehearsing until March 2017. The musical performance is based on the 1991 animated Disney film version of “Beauty and the Beast,” originally directed by Gary Trousdale and Kirk Wise. The story of “Beauty and the Beast” is set in France, where a young village girl named Belle, who will be played by Olivia
“It’s more fantastical. It’s a fantasy, and the beast will actually look like the beast,” said Mr. Olea.
Rodriguez, must rescue her imprisoned father, who will be played by Jakob Molder, from the castle of a mysterious beast. Beast, who will be portrayed by Ian Foster, used to be a young prince named Adam until he was struck by a witch’s spell that put a devastating curse on both him and his servants. The only way to end Beast’s misery is for him to learn to love again. The musical will be performed in March. “It’s more fantastical. It’s a fantasy, and the beast will actually look like the beast,” said Mr. Olea.
14 | Van Nuys High School | The Mirror
vnhsmirror.com | December 15, 2016
Features&Profiles
“I believe in success, and I want to carry that out over the coming years,” said ASB President Ahmad Daaboul.
ASB Powerhouse Duo:
Ahmad Daaboul and Wahid Khan By Lucas Shim & Kevin Mo
What are some challenges you face?
The Mirror Staff
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hat is it like to be the Associated Student Body President of Van Nuys Senior High and lead the events and affairs for more than two thousand students? The role of ASB President is not just about paperwork and contributing ideas. It requires responsibilities, time management, and a strong sense of duty. ASB President Ahmad Daaboul and ASB Vice President Wahid Khan discussed in depth their leadership roles and challenges, teamwork, and their past experiences in leadership. Why did you want to be ASB President? Ahmad Daaboul: I believe that I can make a great difference in the school, both academically and socially. Van Nuys High School has always been a great school to begin with, and I just believe that I can take that extra step forward. I believe in success, and I want to carry it out in the coming year. What is it like being Vice President? Wahid Khan: Being an ASB Vice President is such an honor, and I’m so thankful for those who supported me. Sometimes, the role of Vice President is somewhat stressful, but at the end of the day, it’s all worth it because I get to live up to the expectations of those who believed in me.
Daaboul: There are honestly a lot of challenges because you have to lead the ASB class, which is a team of 46 people. The challenge is definitely getting everyone to work together. Once everyone starts working together, we can achieve great things. Khan: A difficulty I come across being Student Body Vice President is having to spend more time for ASB rather than my studies. An example of this would be the Homecoming Dance. It takes so much work, but I have my ASB family with me working as hard as I am, so it takes out the stress from the work and makes me happy to be able to fulfill my duties along with my family. What are some goals that you would want to achieve throughout the year? Daaboul: I want to get a lot of things done as much as possible in Student Body, like I said, both academically and socially. I want everyone to enjoy their time here at Van Nuys High School and increase the amount of events and performances as well, but it’s not all just about fun really. It’s really about getting everyone to that high standard that Van Nuys High School really keeps. Khan: This year, one of my goals is involving as many people in school activities as possible. I will do this by organizing events that interest both the magnet population and develop a method to unify Van Nuys as a whole, not by their position as residential students or magnet students but by their position as Van Nuys students.
Ahmad Daaboul, above, and Wahid Khan
Keeping the Campus Safe, Sound and Secure By Shayda Shevidi & Woo Han The Mirror Staff
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any California school districts offer their staff little or no guidance to when police should be called to control student behavior,” said the LA Times in a striking article about school safety. The article claimed that “most districts have memorandums of understanding with local law enforcement, but many of these documents contain ‘deficient, vague, or even non-existent policies’.” But things are a bit different at Van Nuys High School. The school police work closely with the administration to ensure that all students are safe. “I feel that the safety surrounding Van Nuys High School is in really good hands,” said School Police Officer M. Estevez. “We have administrators, staff, and deans that work well together with law enforcement including myself and my partner Officer M. Caruso to make sure that you guys are safe.” He also says that because the administration handles problems so efficiently, the school police are rarely called. All issues are quickly resolved by the administration, and school police only intervene in low-level offenses, which can be defined as any sort of infraction or crimes that require citations. Ms. Dora Lopez is a part of the school ad-
ministration as well as one of the two Deans on campus. Before becoming an administrator, she worked in education for almost 17 years as a history teacher. She provided some insight on how the administration works
within the school to maintain safety. By conducting daily random safety searches in classes and lockers, the Dean’s Office ensures that no student has weapons or any objects that could potentially harm
other students. A random search involves using a metal detector to scan the randomly selected students as well as their backpacks. If the detector goes off, the backpack is thoroughly inspected. Although the searches in many schools were criticized in the LA Times’s article for being conducted by the school police, the searches at Van Nuys High School are conducted by the Dean’s Office, under the authority of the school administration. Random checks serve primarily as a deterrent, making potential offenders aware that they could be checked and eventually caught if they bring weapons or illegal drugs to school. Due to the frequent checks, Dean Lopez, along with Dean Doug Cloutier and other security staff, have reduced campus crime to a minimum. It isn’t just up to the administration to do all the work, however. Students are also responsible for maintaining a safe campus by reporting any issues they are aware of to the administration. “School safety is peace of mind, that a student knows that they can come here and they don’t have to worry about being harmed, and I think that’s important,” said Principal Ms. Yolanda Gardea. Officer M. Estevez patrols the school on a daily basis to make sure that our campus is safe.
December 15, 2016 | vnhsmirror.com
Sports
The Mirror | Van Nuys High School | 15
SHIMLA RAHMAN / THE MIRROR
PLAYER PROFILE
overwhelming obstacles. “I just let it go and look forward because having a positive attitude leads to positivity and success in your life.” He has high expectations for his team. He thinks the team is very solid and is composed of really good players who are extremely talented and hardworking. Because the team has deep chemistry, Quiambao believes that they have an exceptional chance on winning the championship. He hopes to pursue basketball as a career in the future. Quiambao and the basketball team are ready for a successful season and VNHS better not miss it! He has high expectations for his team. He thinks the team is very solid and is composed of really good players who are extremely talented and hardworking. Because the team has deep chemistry, Quiambao believes that they have an exceptional chance on winning the championship. He hopes to pursue basketball as a career in the future. Quiambao and the basketball team are ready for a successful season and VNHS better not miss it!
Ethan Quiamboa By Brian Choi, Brian Han & Brian Clavio The Mirror Staff
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s only a junior, Ethan Quiambao was chosen as captain of the Van Nuys Varsity Basketball team because of his deep passion for basketball and his excellence on and off the courts. “Being captain has its ups and downs, but overall it’s great. Being a leader teaches you a lot of lessons in life such as responsibility.” To be a student athlete requires major time management. To juggle the workload and motivate himself, he uses the idea that “if he can’t keep his grades up, he can’t play basketball.” He has wanted to play basketball since the age of three. Coming from a basketball obsessed family, Quiambao is driven to continue this tradition. The main reason he enjoys basketball is because of its diversity. “I like the fact that basketball is very diverse. Many cultures play it and I guess it brings people together. It’s also very exciting seeing different plays and moves happen in a game.” He shows his determination to become a better player and leader by practicing 10-13 hours with his team every week. He enjoys these practices because he is able to learn from his mistakes through Coach Evan Porter’s criticism and refine his individual skills. His optimistic outlook allows him to pick himself up after falling to
Shooting for the Stars The VNHS Basketball team starts their season with Coach Evan Porter and their team captain, Ethan Quiambao. They enter the season as the 9th-ranked team in Division 3. Their first game is an away game on Dec. 12 against Reseda. The boy’s basketball season continues until Feb. 10, 2017. The team will be facing off against Reseda, Kennedy, Panorama, Sylmar, San Fernando, and Canoga Park. “We’re really excited for the upcoming basketball season,” said Varsity Basketball Head Coach Evan Porter. “We have a diverse and athletic group of guys that work hard and are ready to compete for a league championship and a division championship.” —Antonio Ibarrola & Brian Clavio
Wrestlers Wrangle Their Way into the New Season
SHIMLA RAHMAN / THE MIRROR
By Brian Clavio and Antonio Ibarrola The Mirror Staff
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oy’s Wrestling has been practicing throughout the year, even during the hot summer break months. There is no such thing as “off season” for them. Their first match will be an away game against the Sylmar Spartans on Dec. 14. They are also looking ahead to competing against San Fernando, Polytechnic, Monroe, and Reseda during the upcoming season. “We hold high standards for our wrestlers and this year will be no different,” said Head Wrestling Coach Ramon Tovar. “We have several boys and girls who have the ability to make it to a state and national level and are working hard to make that a possibility. Our goal as a team is to win our division again,” said Coach Tovar.
“We hold high standards for our wrestlers and this year will be no different. Our goal as a team is to win our division again.”
Coach Ramon Tovar looks forward to many sucessesful wins and to a continuation of the Boy’s Wrestling team’s unyielding work ethic.
16 | Van Nuys High School | The Mirror
Sports
PLAYER PROFILE
vnhsmirror.com | December 15, 2016
He shows true ardor for the sport and hopes to improve his skills to compete at the collegiate level for UC Irvine, whose teams compete in 18 different sports in the NCAA Division 1 as members of the Big West Conference and Mountain Pacific Sports Federation. When Linares is not defending our team as the goalie, he goes up front as the striker. Linares brings an emotional fire that ignites the team, whether it’s for soccer or football. His natural leadership bonds the team together. Despite the challenges faced by the team (1-3 preseason record), Linares is optimistic about the Wolves and their future games. “As a captain/goalie of this team, I am the anchor to the team’s success,” said Linares. “If my team falls, it is my duty to motivate them to success.” His attitude is his weakness, as well as his strength. The fierceness that he brings to the field energizes and motivates his teammates to strive for their best each and every game. However, his emotional outlook of the game sometimes brings down the team. When Linares struggles during games, he is easily affected by it and falls into a funk. But ultimately, as the defensive anchor of the team, he is able to overcome the personal struggle and persevere through his passion for the game.
Jason Linares By Brian Choi, Brian Han & Brian Clavio The Mirror Staff
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tanding at the intimidating height of six feet two inches, Jason Linares can be easily spotted on the green soccer field as the Varsity Captain of the Van Nuys Soccer team. With such an imposing figure, he is easily mistaken as a football player; however, Jason has been playing soccer since the age of eight. His passion for the sport was ignited when he first saw Iker Casillas, a goalie for Real Madrid playing a game on television. The way Casillas was able to control the game by blocking most of the strikers’ shots really inspired him. Casillas became Linares’s role model. He knew that if he wanted to be a successful goalie, he would have to follow in his steps. A passionate player, Linares practices two to three hours everyday at school and even more outside of school.
SHAYDA SHEVIDI / THE MIRROR
ARIANA RODRIGUEZ / THE MIRROR
2017 Soccer Season About to Kick off
A Van Nuys player jostles for the ball with a Granada Hills player near centerfield.
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ith winter coming on full blast, the boy’s soccer team is ready to begin their 2017 season. The Van Nuys High School Varsity Soccer team enters the season under the guidance of Head Coach Jose Castro and alongside the trifecta of captains, Jason Linares, Ovideo Luna, and Gerson Guzman. They start the season ranked 16th in Division 2. The soccer team launches onto the field with a home game against Reseda High School on Monday, Dec. 12—the first regular play. Throughout the 2017 season, they will be playing Reseda, Kennedy, Panorama, Sylmar, and Canoga Park. —Antonio Ibarrola & Brian Clavio LAUREN WOOLSEY / THE MIRROR
The Van Nuys Wolves defend their goal against the Granada Hills Highlanders in a pre-season game.