Issue 3 by The Pen Newspaper

the pen

Palos Verdes Peninsula High School

www.pvphsnews.com

Vol. XXXVII

Issue 3

November 18, 2016

lights on laramie Drama department’s The Laramie Project promotes renewed awareness of the LGBT community STUDENT LIFE PAGE 9

TRUMP TRIUMPHS

TEACHERS TALK POLITICS

MT. SAC SUCCESS

Students give their opinion on Trump’s presidential win

Teachers should be allowed to share political views in class

Girls’ cross country improves throughout season

NEWS PAGE 2

OPINION PAGE 5

SPORTS PAGE 11

290

61.5

percent of california voted for clinton

one man trumps them all Donald Trump becomes next president ANA willoughby On Nov. 8, viewers tuned in from all across the country to witness the 58th presidential election. The four declared presidential candidates were D-Hillary Clinton, R-Donald Trump, G-Jill Stein and L-Gary Johnson. In the end, Trump won 30 states and Clinton won 20 states as well as Washington, D.C. Trump received 290 and Clinton 232 electoral votes. Although Clinton received more popular votes than her opponents did, the candidate with the most electoral votes wins the presidency no matter the amount of popular votes; Trump thus won the presidential election. Senior and president of the Republican Club Josh Medina explained why he chose to support the Republican Party. “I grew up in a Republican household, but I have done my own research and I chose this party because I am for small government, non-government interference and equality for everyone,” Medina said. “I believe in giving people a hand and not a handout and that the economy is a

really big issue that we need to work on. Foreign policy and the Second Amendment are really big [issues as well].” On the other side, Democrats in favor of Clinton expressed concern for the following years. Senior Benjamin Kelly, president of the Democrats Club, explains how Trump’s plans will affect him. “Since we are going to have someone who is very regressive on climate policy, [the outcome] is going to affect my [future] children and everyone around me,” Kelly said. Kelly expressed his fears of Trump’s term as president. He believes problems such as global warming, funding for students entering into college and possible problems that arise for minorities, lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) and women will not be resolved during the term of Trump’s presidency. Senior Samal Senaratna, one of the two vice presidents of the Democrats Club, discussed how the election results will impact him as a minority and as a student. “I definitely think the election results will impact me as a student

going into college because I do not know what type of funding I will get or how the education structure will change,” Senaratna said. “I am Sri Lankan and my parents are immigrants [who] came here on the ideal of an American dream, and now it seems that that dream is tattered.” Senaratna believes Trump’s goals do not focus on solving the problems in society that Senaratna feels are just as important, like ensuring the safety of minorities and spending time to figure out ways to help students pay for college. However, according to The Daily Caller, Trump does make promises to put his energy into the cleanup of Washington, protection of American workers, building of the Southern border dividing wall, reversal of Obamacare, rebuilding of military bases and more. “I am afraid of what will happen to me, and whether I am going to be subjected to more discrimination and racial bias than I already am,” Senaratna said. “I am worried about what is going to happen to fellow students of color or those who are just outside the social norm, like LGBT individuals or immigrants.”

“I believe in giving people a hand and not a handout and that the economy is a really big issue that we need to work on.” - REPUBLICAN CLUB PRESIDENT JOSH MEDINA

“I am worried about what is going to happen to fellow students of color or those who are just outside the social norm, like LGBT individuals or immigrants.” - DEMOCRATS CLUB Vice president SAMAL SENARATNA

temishi onnekikami / The Pen

electoral votes obtained by Trump

photos courtesy of flickr

news

Computer science made top priority in schools On Sept. 27, 2016, Gov. Jerry Brown signed Assembly Bill (AB) 2329, a bill creating a three-year process planning to make computer science education a top priority in California. The bill will bring computer science curricula to public schools in the state, fixing the issue that only a quarter of California high schools offer computer science courses. AB 2329 will help students gain more knowledge of developing the analytical and coding skills to power our economy. It will also help satisfy the high demand of tens of thousands of jobs available in the information technology (IT) field, one of the fastest-growing job sectors in California. Also, computer science education is vital in careers unrelated to computer science such as medicine. According to the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics (USBLS), proficiency in computer science fields such as software development, cybersecurity and IT

is a critical component in more than 180 different types of job industries. The USBLS concluded that there will be about 531,000 job openings for new computer and mathematics-related jobs in the United States by 2024. Advanced Placement (AP) Computer Science teacher Hassan Twiet has been teaching computer science for 10 years. Twiet favors this bill because he thinks that people are currently surrounded by devices that require programming – from computers to refrigerators – and it is necessary for people to learn about these devices. “Computer science is a course [for] which you have to bring in skills and information from outside of the classroom,” Twiet said. “It teaches people how to work with others, how to share and [how to] work as a team. Computer science is a real-world experience in a classroom.” The AP Computer Science Principles course is geared towards educating students on the social aspect of computing, technological innovation and coding. Sophomore Justin Kim,

currently taking this class, supports AB 2329. Kim thinks the course will gain popularity over time as people begin to realize the opportunities available in the field of computer science. “I feel that many students miss out on taking this course,” Kim said. “I think it is unfair that only some schools have computer science courses available.” Senior Denise Yokoyama also takes AP Computer Science Principles. She thinks that exposing students to computer science at a young age is pivotal, considering this generation is growing up in the midst of a technological revolution. She believes that understanding the roots of technological innovation and being able to use it to one’s advantage is very valuable. “Everything is becoming digital and having [computer science] knowledge is very profitable in the workplace,” Yokoyama said. “Beyond code, being able to use a computer efficiently and utilizing the Internet is important in any career. Having coding knowledge and an understanding of the Internet will follow me into whatever profession I choose.”

temishi onnekikami and isabelle wang / The Pen

Rianne Aguas

Propositions 51 and 58 approved in california As the whole country voted for its next president, California residents voted on important propositions ranging from legalization of recreational marijuana to increased bonds for the improvement and construction of school facilities. In propositions concerning education, the focus was mainly on Propositions 51 and 58. Both propositions passed, with Proposition 51 receiving a 54 percent approval and Proposition 58 receiving a 72 percent approval. According to Ballotpedia, Proposition 51 supports the state issuing $9 billion in bonds for the improvement and construction of new school facilities. It will also remodel school facilities to be more resistant to earthquakes, better accommodate those who are handicapped and remove asbestos, lead paint and pipes. In addition, this proposition will also decrease class sizes, benefiting students by giving them an opportunity to receive more individualized attention from teachers. With the additional funds that will become available through Proposition 51, Calculus teacher Brian Hults explained what improvements it can make on campus. “Our elevator is not the most reliable since it breaks down every day, but [in general] everything is safe,” Hults said. “We will take whatever improvements we can get, but I do not think that we are hurting for them. There are schools way worse off than ours, and they

should be the first priority of Proposition 51.” Proposition 58, designed to create a combined classroom of native and non-native English speaking students, will allow teachers to speak more than one language to their students. This will help students who do not understand English learn the material in their native language. During the course of the class, the spoken language will switch from English to the language that the foreign students share. The goal of this dualimmersion program is to have the students in the class gain proficient mastery in two languages and, therefore, become bilingual. This proposition will require the insight of both parents and guardians concerning all aspects of how the English Language Development (ELD) programs are handled. Students are not required to take part in the dual-language classes, so it is not a requirement for them to enroll in the class. Senior Mahiro Suzuki came from Japan at age 15 and could only speak very limited English. She accommodated by taking ELD courses and explained how she felt during that time. “On my first day at Peninsula, I could not understand what my ELD teacher was saying. I had to communicate with her through the Teacher’s Assistant,” Suzuki said. “I expected to understand what [my teacher] was saying since I had practiced English a little bit in Japan before I came here, but I could not. To think that future ELD students will have the opportunity to learn in a classroom where they can communicate with the teacher in their native language is comforting.”

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CIRO FIDALEO / The Pen

Nile Minn and ana willoughby

opinion 27118 Silver Spur Road, Rolling Hills Estates, CA 90274 EDITORS-IN-CHIEF Annie Benedict Marine Fujisawa MANAGING EDITOR Esther Chu DESIGN EDITOR Temishi Onnekikami NEWS EDITORS: Nina Li Nile Minn WRITERS: Rianne Aguas Alison Kim Ana Willoughby OPINION EDITOR: Chris Chien WRITERS: Anne Lee Asumi Shuda FOCUS EDITORS: Emily McGinn Zoe Willoughby WRITERS: Liana Korotzer Adrian Tai STUDENT LIFE EDITORS: Phoebe Borsum Jordan Chang WRITERS: Saffy Laurio Ailey Suzuki Effie Fang

EDITORIAL two sides of the story: Seeing different perspectives Editorial staff The dark mood last Wednesday hung over Peninsula like a thick fog – disappointment, anger, even fear. While there were happy faces, there was a majority view across campus: the result of the 2016 presidential election did not end in the way many Peninsula students had hoped. Some students wore all black in protest. Scornful questions were thrown around campus. What has America come to? How is everyone that racist, or sexist or homophobic? How could that many people vote for Donald Trump? In this aspect, Peninsula is a microcosm of much of the country. For five consecutive nights, major cities staged anti-Trump protests, some turning violent. Close to home, Los Angeles witnessed a protest in which 8,000 people participated, according

to CNN. Cries of “Not our president!” can be heard in the streets, are spray-painted on buildings and are trending on Twitter. However, no matter what the nation does, Donald Trump will be our next president. He will move into the White House on Inauguration Day on Jan. 20, 2017. He will run our nation for the next four years. Though he lost the popular vote, he won the electoral college, thus winning the election. No matter how much we may disagree with his policies, we must accept his victory. America has spoken, and we have to respect the democratic process. But in this, we must also recognize that there is no simple answer to the question of why he was elected. Many Peninsula students may see the outcome as a simple matter of black and white: those who respect minority rights voted

Democrat and those who are prejudicial voted Republican. In reality, however, things are not so simple. Various aspects such as the economy, foreign policy and social issues come into play, and the true reason for his election falls in shades of gray. At Peninsula, we consider ourselves open-minded and accepting. Many of us may hold the view above, as the election has held a moral priority for us. Nonetheless, we must recognize that we tend to overlook other factors in a strange twist of closed-mindedness. We assume that all other people have, or should have, the same priorities. But that, simply, is not true. This election has brought out the worst in people, shining light on the ugly side of America: there has been a surge in hate crimes from Trump supporters with racist, sexist, xenophobic, homophobic and other prejudicial motives. This is unacceptable. However, there

have been hate crimes from overzealous Clinton supporters, too. Both sides can benefit from listening to one another: there were innumerable factors contributing to the outcome of this election, and we have to understand that. We must open our minds to the other side, keeping in mind our own priorities, and make an effort to understand its views. We cannot dismiss the other side simply because it is the other side; if we condemn, we should do so because we understand their lives and views and genuinely disagree. This year’s presidential election has polarized the American public, and many of us feel very passionately about it one way or another. However, we cannot protest against a view of which we have limited understanding. It is essential we educate ourselves on all the issues and hear both sides to the story.

temishi onnekikami / The Pen

THE PEN PALOS VERDES PENINSULA HIGH SCHOOL

SPORTS EDITOR: Stella Yoo WRITERS: Haris Rao Zain Riaz GRAPHICS Ciro Fidaleo Two Laurio Brian Mo Connor Tumelty BUSINESS & ADVERTISING Isabelle Wang Sung Gyung Lee ADVISER Jaymee Johnson “The Pen” is the student newspaper produced by the advanced journalism students of Palos Verdes Peninsula High School. It is published eight times per year. Advertising inquiries may be directed to Advertising Manager Isabelle Wang at (310) 377- 4888 ext. 652. The Pen editors appreciate Letters to the Editor, which are accepted up to one week before publication. You may submit them to H52 or to Jaymee Johnson’s mailbox. Copyright © 2016 COVER DESIGN Two Laurio Temishi Onnekikami COVER PHOTO Two Laurio COVER MODELS Gabriella Campbell Courtlyn Foster

Prop 58 introduces multilingual school programs asumi shuda Whether it be to gain a better education, attend a world-famous college or pursue better job opportunities, the number of foreign students immigrating to the United States has been steadily growing. One of the greatest obstacles that these students have to face is becoming proficient in English. To combat this, Proposition 58 introduces a solution that helps international students smoothly and comfortably assimilate into their new educational and social environments. Proposition 58 mandates schools to accommodate

students who are not proficient in English by hiring teachers who speak their native language. Currently, there are no such protections for foreign students, and as a result they face difficulties in their classes. Therefore, this proposition will change the lives of foreign students for the better. According to U.S. News, the number of immigrant children in the United States grew by 51 percent from 1995 and 2014, and many of these prospective students do not speak English proficiently. Unfortunately, they may find themselves overwhelmed as they settle into their new surroundings,

adjust to a new culture and learn a completely new language. Thus, Proposition 58 would be instrumental in smoothing out the transition for international students. Having a native language-speaking teacher could be a comforting presence for them and could help guide them through the obstacles they have to overcome. “If Prop 58 had been passed when I first moved to the United States, it would have helped my family and me a lot,” freshman Nao Norizuki said. “Since the U.S. school system and the Japanese school system are so different, I had to learn a lot of new things like where I was

supposed to eat lunch or where the bus stop was located. There was no one who could help me, so I had to figure everything out on my own.” It is imperative that the needs of every student are met, and Proposition 58 represents a huge step forward in that regard. The U.S. population is becoming increasingly diverse, and its schools now need to embrace that diversity. Through native language-speaking teachers, foreign students will become more involved in their school communities, ensuring that they will get the most out of their educational experience in the United States.

Connor Tumelty / The Pen

no views barred Students benefit from teachers sharing political views Anne Lee The political landscape in the United States is currently experiencing its most divisive and hostile period in years, and as a result, tensions are running high among citizens. This controversy carries over to school campuses, specifically in regards to teachers. Teachers hold their own political views, but they often keep those views to themselves in fear of repercussions. Additionally, many parents oppose the idea of teachers sharing their political views. However, instead of avoiding any sort of political discussion in the classroom, teachers should be encouraged to share their political views to their students. As long as students are comfortable and aware of their teachers’ biases, having political discussions in class only serves to educate students and help them form well-informed opinions. Furthermore, teachers should be free to exercise their First Amendment rights to speech and expression. “[Teachers] should be allowed to [share political views] as long as they are not trying to influence anyone to a particular side,” senior Audrey Choi said. Sharing political views can be beneficial because some staff members may have unique opinions. For example, Algebra 1 Honors,

Advanced Calculus and Advanced Placement (AP) Calculus BC teacher Christian Kim finds himself standing out from the majority of his peers. “I am one of the few teachers who is considered conservative,” Kim said. “Students find this intriguing and ask me about my opinion and position on topics such as the election and the legalization of marijuana.” By listening to various teachers with unique perspectives, students who hold a certain view on an issue could be exposed to another angle, which only helps them gain a better understanding of the issue. Beyond that, students stand to benefit from hearing what more seasoned and experienced adults have to say about the world. If never exposed to different viewpoints, students would never receive all the necessary information that could positively influence them in making good judgments. Aside from the benefits to students, teachers have the same constitutional rights as every American, and they should be encouraged to exercise them whenever possible. The First Amendment guarantees freedom of expression by prohibiting Congress from restricting the press or individuals to speak freely. This applies to everyone in the United States, including teachers. It would be unjust to prohibit them

“If [teachers] are asked a question concerning politics, within the First Amendment right, we should be allowed to answer however we want to.” - Math teacher Christian Kim

from sharing their views. “If [teachers] are asked a question concerning politics, within the First Amendment right, we should be allowed to answer however we want to,” Kim said. However, some fear that teachers would push their views as more than just an opinion and end up hurting, confusing, judging or pressuring students. As long as teachers share their views in the interest of students and keep in mind their limitations, these obstacles can be avoided. “I do not think teachers should push their political views on their students,” AP Psychology teacher John Wheeler said. “I think they should try to create a balanced discussion of political issues and create an environment where both sides on an issue would be comfortable with expressing their opinions. If teachers do have opinions I think they should make it clear that they are their opinions and that they may be biased on whatever the topic was.” As with any other individual on the campus, teachers should be allowed to exercise their right to speak their minds, especially since students could gain a lot from their opinions. Eventually, these students will become active participants in politics through their votes, and they deserve to be educated as such.

“If teachers do have opinions I think they should make it clear that they are their opinions and that they may be biased on whatever the topic was.” - AP Psychology teacher John Wheeler

Focus

Technology

Grows

marin ihara / The Pen

Katherine Haig

on campus

teacher grants help update classroom technology Liana korotzer This year, four Peninsula teachers won Chuck Miller Grants, which are awarded to Palos Verdes Peninsula Unified School District teachers through the Peninsula Education Foundation (PEF) and fund for teachers to explore new and unique ways to learn. Former Rancho Vista Elementary School principal Chuck Miller and his wife, Betsy Miller, help provide the funding. Any teacher who is part of the district can apply for a grant to receive up to $1,500. The Peninsula teachers who received grants were officially honored by the PEF on Nov. 17. Biology and chemistry teacher Robert Snodgrass received the Chuck Miller Grant for “Incorporating Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) with Microscopy.” Snodgrass decided to apply for the grant when he noticed that many students had trouble understanding what they were looking at with their microscopes during labs. He proposed to use new cameras to allow the students and teachers to view the images from the microscope clearly. The cameras attach to the LabQuests, which allow students to make graphs and data tables and run experiment trials during labs. “Now, I can see, and [the students]

can see, what [we are] looking at more easily,” Snodgrass said. “They can also take photos of the image or save it on a [flash drive].” Snodgrass believes that the new cameras will make labs more efficient. He hopes that students will further understand their labs and be open to new interactive ways of learning. “The benefit is that I do not have to adjust anything to see what [the students] are seeing,” Snodgrass said. “It is all on one clear screen.” The Chuck Miller Grant for “Circular Motion Lab Equipment for Physics Program” was awarded to physics teacher Mike Spalding. The grant allows Spalding to purchase three additional Centripetal Force Apparatuses, each costing approximately $500. The devices measure the forces exerted on an object as it is in circular motion. Although Peninsula already owns six apparatuses,

Spalding believes that purchasing three more will greatly benefit the students and improve their ability to learn. “Having more of the Centripetal Force Apparatuses will allow for smaller groups, so the kids will get the hands-on experience of doing the lab,” Spalding said. “The more the kids are able to touch the equipment, the more they learn [and understand] circular motion. It makes an abstract idea a lot more tangible.” The apparatuses can connect to a Photogate, which determines the velocity of a passing object, as well as a force sensor, which measures the centripetal force exerted on a mass as it moves in a circle. Students can also measure an object’s angular velocity with the devices. The measurements help them see the connection between centripetal force and angular velocity. Spalding is excited to receive additional equipment and hopes to continue using more in the future. Biology teacher Judy Adams-Smith also received a Chuck Miller Grant for

“[The funding from Chuck Miller Grants] benefits students by allowing them to have a handson experience to help them learn [the material].” -physics teacher mike spalding

“(Science + Math) x Inquiry = Success.” “The idea behind the grant is to give students more opportunities to use math to solve problems in science,” AdamsSmith said. She believes that incorporating more math into science labs will help students see the connection between the two subjects, rather than viewing them as separate ones. There are currently six biology labs planned that will incorporate the new math techniques. For example, during a lab on heart rate, students will calculate distances on an echocardiogram and solve other problems. In another lab on genetics, students will use math to calculate probability. “We have a lot of labs that involve having to figure out numbers and having to come up with your own data, and then coming up with solutions based on [the data],” Adams-Smith said. Adams-Smith and the other Chuck Miller Grant recipients hope to make learning experiences more unique for students and would like to continue creating entertaining ways for students to learn. “[The funding from Chuck Miller Grants] benefits students by allowing them to have a hands-on experience to help them learn [the material],” Spalding said.

Adrian tai For the first time, Peninsula has created two VEX Robotics teams, which design and build robots to compete at competitions. The Peninsula VEX teams were introduced by sophomores Saahil Parikh, Robert Peltekov and RJ Wakefield-Carl. “I started doing VEX Robotics as a sixth grader at Miraleste [Intermediate School], and I wanted to continue it in high school,” Peltekov said. “Towards the end of the last school year, we started recruiting people by asking all the engineering classes to join, and when we got enough students to form a team, we started to have meetings.” There are currently two teams: 3050A, comprised of sophomores, and 3050B, which consists of freshmen. Sophomore Lauren Kong is on Team 3050A, and although she joined with no previous experience, she has learned many skills in just a couple of months. “Everything was completely new to me,” Kong said. “However, with the help of my teammates and our adviser, I was able to learn a lot about engineering, programming and robotics.” Engineering teacher and adviser of the VEX teams Hassan Twiet has spent

his summer, after-school hours and weekends helping the students. “We started training and building the robots the students would take to competition during the summer around July,” Twiet said. Students build their robots based on the competition, or “game,” topic. This year’s topic is called Starstruck, and the

“For the first year and first competition, I feel that we did really well, and that we have a lot more in store for the future.” -Sophomore Robert Peltekov objective of the game is to use a robot to launch stars and cubes into their designated zones for a certain number of points. In a match, there are 24 stars and four cubes available which must be launched into either the near zone or the far zone. A star catapulted into the near zone earns one point while a cube earns two. In the far zone, stars score two points while cubes score four. The higher the number of points, the higher

that team is ranked. “To prepare for the competition, our team builds and prepares a robot that will play the year’s chosen game given by the host company VEX,” Peltekov said. “We have been working on the robots ever since the game topic came out in July and have continued working on them every week since then.” Building and programming robots is a long and difficult process, but the VEX teams believe seeing the rewards of their hard work is worthwhile. “We meet on Thursdays during lunchtime and Saturdays for about five to six hours to work on building, programming and improving our team’s robot,” Kong said. “Although it is very time-consuming, making sure everything is functioning right helps us be more prepared for our competitions.” On Oct. 29, Peninsula’s two teams took their robots to the North San Diego Regional competition and won first place for design and second place overall. “For the first year and first competition, I feel that we did really well and that we have a lot more in store for the future,” Peltekov said. “Our next competition is on Nov. 19 and I am really looking forward to it.”

Two Laurio / The Pen

students participate in new VEX Program

20 percent

of districts fail to have policies for their use of cloud services*

california publishes data privacy guide adrian tai With a generation that is so accustomed to using technology for educational purposes, maintaining privacy has become increasingly difficult. California Attorney General Kamala D. Harris recently published a guide with recommendations to protect the privacy of students and student data, but it lacked legally binding laws to enforce them. Harris’s guide addresses the topic of student privacy regarding use of Ed Tech, which is any educational technology that facilitates learning, improves education and enhances the teaching and learning process in a systematic way by collecting student information. PreCalculus and Geometry teacher Henry Chou and junior Nisha Nirmal recognize and value the importance of using Ed Tech to learn, but also acknowledge how difficult it is to utilize technology for educational purposes and still maintain complete privacy. “Privacy and technology are very interconnected topics, and you cannot expect individualized learning if you are not willing to sacrifice some privacy in order for sites or companies to find the best ways to personalize the way you learn and the topics you learn,” Nirmal said. “Most of the time, these services only take the information absolutely

necessary to help the student and nothing more.” Harris stated that her November guide is intended to offer recommendations for ensuring privacy protection for students while making the most of technological advancements. The guide includes six ways in which the Ed Tech industry can better protect the privacy of students. These recommendations include minimizing data collection and retention, keeping data purely educational, making data protection a priority, respecting user rights, implementing reasonable safeguards and providing a clear privacy policy. “Many of the most commonlyused educational websites have good reputations and do not collect any more information than they need to, so they are reliable and trustworthy,” said Chou. “Khan Academy is one such website that assists students in learning about a variety of topics more thoroughly and in-depth, which greatly benefits and enhances their education and understanding.” Gathering student data helps sites garner as much information as possible about a student, so they are able to personalize the education each student receives and provide recommendations or services most suitable for each specific student.

“I believe this is better than everyone being taught the same way, especially since most students have differing learning styles,” Nirmal said. While some believe that sacrificing privacy for a more fitting education is needed, others believe that technology should not be trusted with sensitive information until the safety and security of the site is assured. Sometimes, private information is collected without the user’s consent or knowledge. Without a clear privacy policy, it is difficult to determine exactly what information the site is collecting and for what purpose. “Harris’s guide has excellent recommendations and precautionary tactics, but I think they will be difficult to enforce due to the lack of a clear definition of what violates student rights and how much or what kind of information is too much,” senior Ricky Negishi said. “Finding the line between what is necessary and unnecessary information is difficult, and there must be some clarification on that before student privacy can be properly established.” Students have yet to see the results of Harris’s November guide, but they remain optimistic that their privacy will soon be assured. “I am hopeful that one day we can be sure that our information is safe and not have to worry or that it will be taken or used for negative purposes,” Negishi said.

300

over companies have signed a student privacy pledge to protect student data from Ed Tech*

$8.38 billion

was spent in 2015 in the united states on pre K-12 education technology* *According to the Recommendations for the Ed Tech Industry to Protect the Privacy of Student Data

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student life 8

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Senior Isabella Palacios poses next to a restored vintage car as a young girl. Her father’s job as a shop manager inspired her to work with vintage cars.

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Senior Isabella Palacios works on restoring a car. The first car that she ever started restoring was a 1964.5 Mustang.

McCluskey Ltd. has been restoring cars for over years

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important making parts is in order to get a clean line.” As she has gotten older, school has prevented her from spending as much time at the shop as she would like. However, whenever she has free time, she spends it working on cars. “I basically grew up at the shop,” Palacios said. “When I was younger, I always went to car shows and races. As I have gotten older and school has become more demanding, I have not been able to go there as much. When I do, it reminds me of when I was little and running around all the cars or helping my dad.” Other members of the Palacios family also assist in the shop, making the work a family activity. Freshman Natalia Palacios helps with the same jobs as her sister, though not as frequently. “Because [my family] is so busy all the time, it is nice to have something that we can all do together,” Natalia Palacios said. While being interested in cars is a common stereotype of boys, this was not apparent to Palacios. When Palacios became aware of the stereotype, it came as a surprise. “Since I grew up with [cars] from a young age, I never really knew that girls were not supposed to be interested in cars,” Palacios said. “As I got older, I noticed that none of my girl friends were interested in cars, but my guy friends were. I never cared about it though because it is something that interested me, so I was not going to let a stereotype keep me from it.”

“As I got older, I noticed that none of my girl friends were interested in cars, but my guy friends were. I never cared about it though because it is something that interested me, so I was not going to let a stereotype keep me from it.” - Senior Isabella Palacios

The oldest working restored car in the world is years old **

Y OF T ES R U O

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Many high school students are excited by the newfound freedom driving brings, and even more excited when they get their own car. However, unlike senior Isabella Palacios, most students do not have to fully restore their cars. In 2008, Palacios’ father brought home a 1964.5 Mustang and told her that she could have it if she fixed it up. Having spent the majority of her life working with cars, she eagerly took on the challenge. “My dad has been working with cars since before I was even born, so they have always been a part of my life,” Palacios said. “I tend to forget that most people have never heard about Cobra race cars or Carroll Shelby, the guy that invented the Shelby Cobra.” Palacios’ 1964.5 Mustang from 2008 is still not complete. When she first began working on the car, its entire interior, including the seats and the carpet, were torn out, leaving only the shell of the car. To remove all the paint, Palacios sanded the car down to the metal. She then prepped and primed the Mustang for paint. Currently, work on the car has been put on hiatus because the engine is being repaired at another shop. In the meantime, Palacios has been handpicking paint and interior pieces for the assembly of the car. Palacios frequently assists her father with cars at McCluskey Ltd., a vintage car restoration company in Torrance where he is the shop manager and head painter. Her main job is prepping the cars for paint jobs, which involves cleaning car parts or taping them up. She also cleans paint guns and other tools around the shop. Through these tasks, Palacios has learned a lot about vintage cars and how to work with them. “The majority of cars that come through the shop are either vintage or rare, so a lot of people who ask me about my work have never even heard of them,” Palacios said. “I have learned about technical things, color matching, how to operate sanding tools and how

It takes over hours to restore a car *

*According to autoweek **according to ibtimes

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ciro fidaleo / The pen

On Oct. 6, 1998, Matthew Shepard, a gay student of the University of Wyoming, was beaten, tortured and left for dead on the outskirts of Laramie, WY. Shepard was left tied to a fence in freezing temperatures for 18 hours. Once found, he was taken to a Fort Collins hospital; he remained in a comatose state until he died on Oct. 12. Shepard’s murderers pled “gay panic” as a defense, making this felony one of the most influential hate crimes against the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) community. Over the course of the year following Shepard’s death, members of the Tectonic Theater Project traveled to Laramie to conduct interviews with members of the small town and document the events that followed Shepard’s murder. The interviews were then edited together to form the play The Laramie Project . The play has been performed many times across the country, has been adapted into a movie and has a sequel, Laramie: Ten Years Later. The Laramie Project has now come to Peninsula and will be performed in December. The show deals with many issues such as LGBT acceptance, hate crimes and the death penalty, a fate threatened upon the accused. Despite the dark subjects of the show, drama teacher and director of the production Seth Cohen felt passionate about having The Laramie Project performed. He hopes to spread awareness about the ongoing prejudice against people of the LGBT community. “This play is an important show with an important story that needs to be shared. Though our society has made great advancements, the LGBT community is still probably one of the most underserved minorities no matter where you go in the world,” Cohen said. “It is one of the first times a minority has been persecuted throughout history regardless of skin color or religion.” Sophomore and assistant director Matthew Barri agrees that the show needs to be told especially because he feels Shepard’s death was unjust. “There is no difference between gay people and straight people. [Gay people] get hated and ridiculed for no reason,” Barri said. “I really want people to realize that Shepard was a genuinely great human being who was loved. He had a family and friends who just adored him. There was nothing bad about this guy. He was such a pure human being, but the only difference was that he was gay

and that got him killed. It is really horrifying.” Many aspects of The Laramie Project distinguish it from other shows that have been performed at Peninsula. “[ The Laramie Project] has one of the most intense subject matters I have performed in,” senior and cast member Austin Kelly said. “The way the play is written and staged is different than an orthodox play. It is based on a system called moment work where instead of scenes it is just moments broken down in the script. You cannot really tell when one moment is explicitly stated in the script, but you can feel it very naturally.” The show has approximately 70 different characters throughout the entire show, allowing Cohen to have a larger cast of 25 students. The large number of auditionees for The Laramie Project motivated Kelly. “[The interest in The Laramie Project] shows that even in spite of everything that has happened in the past that people still care,” Kelly said. “It is really important that people still care, or else people like [Shepard] are going to be forgotten. Once they are forgotten, that is when they are discriminated against.” This show gives all who are involved a reminder that an occurrence such as Shepard’s is still a possibility. Senior and cast member Ashley Zoeckler, who identifies as bisexual, explains why The Laramie Project is so much more than a show to her. “In another place, another time, myself and everyone in the LGBT community could have been [Shepard],” Zoeckler said. “By being in [ The Laramie Project], I get an opportunity to stand with my community and basically just tell everyone we will not stand for [hate] anymore. This story is so important and people need to hear it, and by being in the show, I can make sure that happens.” Peninsula’s LGBT United club has had discussions with the drama department about issues covered in The Laramie Project . LGBT United also has begun to invite other gay straight alliance clubs from neighboring high schools to come see the performance. Sophomore and LGBT United member Tia Fidaleo is thankful for the drama department’s support. “It is nice to have representation,” Fidaleo said. “For stories like [ The Laramie Project] to come out is nice because [some think] everything must be good in [the LGBT] community now. Even though it is getting better, this does happen still. [This production] opens people’s eyes.”

two laurio/ the pen

saffy laurio

austin kelly

drama department takes on the laramie project

national ARt honor Society Contributes to city mural Ailey suzuki Palos Verdes recently received an artistic upgrade at Ernie Howlett Park. The park offers facilities for a variety of outdoor activities including horseback riding, baseball and tennis. Due to the popularity of the park, Peninsula alumna Marianna DeSalles asked the city council for permission to paint a mural on a blank 20-by-40-foot concrete wall facing the park’s entrance. DeSalles offered aspiring artists at Peninsula, who are interested in broadening their talents, to be involved in the project. DeSalles wanted to bring focus to the importance of art in her childhood home and believed it was not celebrated nor explored enough. She was studying artistic collaboration with the children

at Rolling Hills Country Day School and became inspired to create a largescale art project with the help of high school students. DeSalles was in high school when she chose art as her career path, so she thought giving students the opportunity to try something new would be beneficial. Senior Ivory MacrackenSanders praises DeSalles for offering students the chance to experience new forms of art. “This project really sparked my interest in mural painting, something I did not know I enjoyed beforehand,” Macracken-Sanders said. “Knowing I was having fun for a good cause was worthwhile as well.” The mural features a mandala design on which a horse is jumping in the foreground while a baseball player

prepares to bat in the lower right corner. On the opposite end, soccer players hands shake hands while others showcase their jerseys. “I chose a mandala as the template to include the sports because it represents unity and the importance of smaller parts creating a whole,” DeSalles said. “This relates to being part of a team. Sports activities are also known for bringing communities together.” Sophomore Sara Fang believes this mural will have a considerably positive impact on the community. “I believe the community, especially the people who go to the park, will feel even more connected with everyone here on the Peninsula,” Fang said. “They will be proud to have the mural to symbolize and represent us as a whole.”

Although the mural is nearly finished, there are some final touches that need to be added. Macracken-Sanders is hoping that by the end of November, the mural will be completely finished. She is thankful to have been a part of the project and believes that the mural truly defines Palos Verdes Peninsula and captures the essence of the community. “I think Palos Verdes, while geographically picturesque, really needed some artistic display, and this mural really artistically beautifies the naturally gorgeous landscape,” Macracken-Sanders said. “From now on, the first thing visitors will see when they enter the park will be this impressive mural showcasing Peninsula students’ unique talent and creativity.”

sports

Girls’ golf players advance to regionals

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k u r t j up in

zain riaz

suppelsa hits a driver shot off the tee at palos verdes golf course on sept. 13. Suppelsa averages 260 yards on her drive.

ciro fidaleo / the pen

“I am thrilled that i have gotten the chance to compete for peninsula and i am glad that i was able to set some records along the way.” -senior nicole suppelsa

suppelsa and syal record their scores from the previous hole before they tee off. Suppelsa has been playing golf for four years.

Senior Nicole Suppelsa and freshman Casey Syal qualified for the Southern Calif. Regionals at Arrowhead Country Club on Nov. 10. Both players placed in the top 28 of players who competed in a series of three playoff rounds in order to qualify. Syal was one of the four freshmen who competed for a spot in the finals. Although she did not qualify for the Southern Section Finals, she is looking forward to improve this offseason. “Things did not really go according to plan, but I was excited to compete at this level and I learned a lot,” Syal said. “I have set my mind on being more consistent and hitting more greens. My short game has improved so that when I miss greens I’m better at saving par.” Syal says that she has gotten comfortable playing high school golf, and she is optimistic about next year. “Next year I would like to come in with a fresh attitude and try to build off of my knowledge of my course and my experience playing in matches to really make a scoring difference,” Syal said. Head coach Glenn Van Enk hopes Syal makes it into the state championship next year and is amazed by what she has done so far.

“As a freshman to go as far as she did, it is really rare,” Van Enk said. “She had one of the best [9 hole] averages in the league.” Suppelsa, who won Bay League Player of the Year on Oct. 18, played in the Southern Section Regionals and qualified for the Southern Section Finals last year, which was the farthest any Panther has gotten since 2009. Suppelsa was not able to qualify for the Southern Section Finals this year. “I did not play as well as I could have and I definitely left a lot of shots out there, but I birdied (a score of oneunder par) my last hole as a Panther which was awesome,” Suppelsa said. Although she could not replicate the same success seen in last year’s CIF playoffs last Thursday, she looks forward to playing golf in college. On Nov. 7, Suppelsa signed a National Letter of Intent for Women’s Golf at Boise State University in Idaho. She will be the first Panther in five years to go on to play Women’s Division 1 golf. Suppelsa is thankful for the opportunity she has had the last four years playing for Peninsula. “I am thrilled that I have gotten the chance to compete for Peninsula and I am glad that I was able to set some records along the way,” Suppelsa said. “I love golf and ultimately I hope that my success will help our program as a whole.”

Girls’ tennis doubles advance to CIF individuals haris rao and stella yoo Although the girls’ tennis team’s CIF run ended on Nov. 7, seniors Katelyn Parker and Tia Elpusan have advanced to CIF Individuals as a doubles team. Parker’s partner was Tia Elpusan, who was a change from her usual doubles partner senior Sarina Liu. The modification was challenging, but the continuous positive chemistry in the varsity team helped Parker adjust to a new partner quickly. Both sides were able to influence one another with varying but effective strategies. “The chemistry came pretty easily,” Parker

said. “We have been on the team together for four years plus hanging out outside of tennis made us close on and off the court. I think playing with a different partner no matter what changes how I play. Tia is more aggressive, so I find myself playing more aggressive whereas when I play with Sarina, we play more reserved until we find an opportunity to attack.” Parker was able to take the high pressure at the competition and use it to her advantage. “Competing at a high level puts a lot more pressure on each win and loss, but the reward of winning is an amazing experience I do not think I would get if the competition level was lower,” Parker said. The doubles team will be playing at CIF Individuals on Nov. 21.

courtesty of katelyn parker

“competing at a high level puts a lot more pressure on each win and loss, but the reward of winning is an amazing experience i do not think i would get if the competition level was lower.” -senior katelyn parker

elpusan high-fives parker as they take a break on the courts at the jack kramer club oct. 27. Elpusan and Parker have both been on varsity since freshman year.

off to the races

Girls’ cross country makes strides with outstanding performances zain riaz Senior Kiley Atwood and junior Jessica Nye had standout performances to end the 2016 girls’ cross country season. On Oct. 22, at the Mt. San Antonio College (SAC) invitational meet, the largest annual high school cross country meet in the world, Atwood placed 9th overall in the 5K event. Atwood had a new personal record and placed 9th overall in the girls’ division. Atwood finished the race with a time of 19:40, which was an improvement from her time last year by four seconds. Initially, Atwood felt uncertain as to how she would perform due to unexpected weather conditions brought on by the late start time of her race. “I think I did really well considering the circumstances,” Atwood said. “I was proud of my time and, compared to other schools, I was more prepared to run because Coach Foster did an amazing job in our training. This was the first race I ran with a strategy so I think that helped me as well.” Cross country coach Chris Foster says that Atwood has improved greatly this year. “Kylie’s progress this year has been incredible,” Foster said. “She has seen an improvement over the last year by probably three or four seconds every single race. Her race at Mt. SAC was kind of the icing on the cake for her because it was such good competition and such a difficult course and she really performed well.” Mirroring Atwood’s success, Nye finished the 5K with a time of 19:19, which was an improvement from her time at last year’s Mt. SAC race by 25 seconds and placed 7th place overall.

At Bay League Finals on Nov. 3, Nye ran a personal record of 17:58 in the three mile event and qualified for CIF-Southern Section Division Preliminaries on Nov. 11, where she ran a 19:04 in the three-mile event. “It was a little overwhelming because I felt like all the hard work had paid off,” Nye said. “Even though I did not put together the race I would have liked to at Prelims, I am still very grateful to have had the opportunity to race there in Riverside and have my teammates come out and support me.” Nye owes much of her improved focus to Foster, who helped her strengthen her mental approach to running. “My coach tries to help me get past the mental aspect during each race because I usually psych myself out,” Nye said. “Whenever the course has hills he is always at the hills because he knows that is my weakness and he tries to get me to forget about the hills and just not mentally destroy myself.” Foster says that Nye has made big strides due to her active training and preparation. “Her tactics, her strategy, her mental toughness, all of that has been something she has been working on and I think it is starting to pay off with that big race at Bay League Finals and that good finish at Mt. SAC,” Foster said. Nye is optimistic about her final season next year and hopes to advance to further rounds of CIF. “Considering how I have made gradual improvement through the years, next year I am hoping I can build off the progress I have made this year and improve my times more,” Nye said. “This year was a step in the right direction because this was the first time I have ever qualified for CIF Prelims, and next year I hope I can qualify for Finals.”

a 4 second improvement from last year’s mt. sac race for atwood

a 25 second improvement from last year’s mt. sac race for nye

connor tumelty and brian mo / the pen

“[Atwood’s] race at Mt. SAC was kind of the icing on the cake for her because it was such a good competition and such a difficult course and she really performed well.” -Coach Chris Foster

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