The Pen

the newspaper of Palos Verdes Peninsula High School 27118 Silver Spur Road, Rolling Hills Estates, CA 90274

www.pvphsnews.com

Vol. XXXIII Issue 3

7 Dec. 2012 SARAH ANDERSON/THE PEN

Workers attempt to wash spray paint from the stadium bleachers one day after students from Palos Verdes High School vandalized Peninsula’s campus overnight.

PEN NEWS WRITERS

PVPHS.COM/THE PEN

The Panther community took a hit as a direct result of vandals from Palos Verdes High School on Nov. 2. On the Monday of the rivalry week, Palos Verdes High School principal Nick Stephany

Beloved biology teacher Peggy Hescox passed away on Saturday after a battle with cancer.

Read more on page 2.

the two schools. However, any hopes of acheiving the goal were hindered when Peninsula was vandalized on the day of the game.

The track was spray-painted with the words “Eat me” on the bleachers and various PV High insignia was visible throughout the field. The vandalism has not only cost the school $10, 000, but the time and effort of Cress, students and staff. It also took around 20 hired workers to remove the paint before the football game.

After a thorough investigation eight students were arrested and charged. As a result, two students over 18 and six juveniles were charged with “serious vandalism”.

“Eight of our PVHS students have been arrested and will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of

the law for their participation in this crime,” Stephany said.

In order to lessen the tension, teachers and advisers chose students from each leadership team, ASB, Principal’s Advisory Council, and peer mentor programs, to represent Peninsula at a leadership summit hosted a few weeks ago. This summit will help mediate conflicts to create a tolerant enviornment for students.

“This summit enabled leaders of both schools to understand where each school is coming from and helped students to become more open-minded,” Peninsula Associated Student Body President Theo Wendorff said.

The meeting proved to be crucial in providing students an opportunity to learn more about each school’s history and

Just how hygenic are the restaurants on the hill?

Where should you eat, or should not eat? Read more on page 9.

BENSON LEUNG/THE PEN

By USWAH SHABBIR AND VALERIA PARK

sent out a principal’s update. In the email, he described the game as follows: “This is a team that can go all the way, there will be plenty of time to celebrate, but my hope is that we can save our celebration for a CIF title, and that we do not act like amateurs celebrating an inconsequential win over an inferior team.”

After realizing the negative connotation underlying his email, Stephany issued an apology to Peninsula Athletic Director Wendell Yoshida, Principal Mitzi Cress and the Peninsula student body.

“Upon rereading my comments my intentions were not accurately conveyed,” Stephany said. “I apologize for these remarks.”

Cress and Stephany are focused on eliminating the unhealthy rivalry between

MARIE LUM/THE PEN

PV and PEN rethink rivalry after vandalism

perspective and to engage themselves in discussions that focus on coming up with longterm solutions for this problem.

“It is important to note that the summit allowed everyone to honestly come together to share ideas and to work towards implementing long-term solutions that will encourage the two schools to work together as a community,” Chief Academic Officer Martin Griffin said.

Ultimately, however, the leaders stress the importance of all the students’ actions in the attempt to promoting a healthier rivalry.

“As leaders, we can provide the foundation for reducing this rivalry for our students, but it is up to them to truly bring about the changes that they want to see.” Wendorff said.

What excactly is wrong with Generation Y? Is it right to think that the people from that generation are snobbish and narcissistic? Read more on page 4.

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NEWS

Panthers bid farewell to beloved science teacher I looked up to,” junior Elana Blinder said. “I wish I could have said a last goodbye. I thank her for everything she ever did for me. She was someone who I will never forget.”

Hescox’s dedication and the love that she showered on Panthers will not be forgotten, and we offer our condolences to her family and friends, who want to keep Hescox’s legacy at Peninsula alive forever.

“The Hescox family is discussing the possibility of a student scholarship in Peggy’s name,” Cress said. “We will certainly honor Peggy during our Walk For Life.”

Hescox is survived by her husband Jim, and her son Jon.

AUDREY RYU/THE PEN

COURTESY OF KURT JUPINI/PVPHS.

Life Science teacher Peggy Hescox works with her second period class Feb. 4, 2011.

AUDREY RYU/THE PEN

Cornell University and a master’s degree from California State University, Dominguez Hills in biology.

Before coming to Peninsula, she worked at Miraleste Intermediate School as a science teacher and researched endocrinology at the Los Angeles Biomedical Institute for nearly 24 years.

Hescox started teaching at Peninsula in fall 2001. Since then, and until her illness, she

By ZOHAIR LALANI dedicated herself to a variety of PEN NEWS EDITOR activities apart from her science On Dec.1, the Peninsula High classes, including Solar Boat School family lost a long-time with her husband Jim, as well as science teacher forever. Peggy “She loved all of her students Hescox passed away after a and really cared for them, which is short-lived battle with a cancer. why she was a wonderful teacher “She was diagnosed with and human being.” cancer in September and has - Teacher Judy Adams-Smith been on medical leave while she went through treatments,” Principal Mitzi Cress said in Science Olympiad. an electronic message sent to Through her involvements, the entire Panther community she left a lasting impact on on Dec. 3. “We had hoped for a all Panthers, who will never positive outcome, but sadly this forget her for who she was: an did not happen.” individual who had a “heart of Administrators broke the gold”. news to teachers and staff at a “[Hescox] was a vital part of meeting at lunchtime on Monday. our science department because Counselors personally delivered she brought great ideas and a the message to students by warm heart with her,” teacher visiting each classroom on and Science Department Head campus during fifth period.

Judy Adams-Smith said. “She Reactions and responses from loved all of her students and the Peninsula community really cared for them, which is showed that everyone will miss why she was a wonderful teacher the valued educator who loved and human being.” our school the way she did.

Students will also miss the Born in Minnesota, Hescox loving teacher who offered them obtained a bachelor’s degree advice and help like a mentor. in chemistry and biology from “She was an inspiration who

Life Science teacher Peggy Hescox answers a student’s question. She taught Life Science courses and Science Research at Peninsula.

PROPOSITION 30: What does

Teens found to be more rational, say scientists

By USWAH SHABBIR

By TUNIKA ONNEKIKAMI

it mean?

PEN NEWS WRITER

Leading up to the Nov. 6 election, students, parents and staff constantly questioned Proposition 30 and 38, both educationrelated propositions, and how they would affect the school district. In the end, Proposition 30, headed by Governor Jerry Brown, was passed while Proposition 38, headed by Molly Munger, failed. Now that the school budget has been finalized due the passing of Proposition 30, schools, families and the public want to know: What happens now?

Various budget cuts were made prior to the 2012-2013 school year. With the passing of Proposition 30, no additional cuts will have to be made this year. But according to Human Resources Director Bill Franchini, approximately $2 million of cuts will need to be made for next year. Had Prop.

30 not passed, the district would have had to make $5 million in cuts.

Even with the passage of the proposition, there will still be a

lack of money within the district.

“Many people believe that Proposition 30 provided millions of new dollars for public education in California,” the Peninsula Education Foundation newsletter explained. “The truth is Governor Brown’s tax measure saved our schools from drastic mid-year budget cuts, but it did not provide extra funding for our schools. Proposition 30 maintains the status quo.”

The passing of Proposition 30 may not be able to bring back the programs, sports and clubs that were cut during the 2012-2013 year, but will help to lessen layoffs and program cuts and maintian already existing programs for the 2013-2014 year.

The long- term effects of the proposition are apparent at the state level.

As estimated by the state budget, the taxes collected by the implementation of Proposition 30 may create a surplus of money for schools in following years. This, in turn, will benefit PVPUSD and other California school districts, especially providing much needed assistance and hope for various extracurricular clubs and athletic

programs in California high schools.

A board meeting was held on Nov. 29 to discuss Proposition 30. A draft of the first interim report, which shows the state where the district is financially, was created.

This draft included the reversal of any immediate cuts that would have taken place, had the proposition not passed.

The board and the Palos Verdes Faculty Association met again on Thursday, Dec. 6 in order to negotiate the school calendar. They decided how many furlough days will be implemented throughout the year. The information will be presented to the community on Dec. 13.

Despite the fiscal issues that still need to be resolved, many believe that this is a step in the right direction to increasing funding for education.

“Education in the State of California continues to be underfunded,” principal Mitzi Cress said. “Had Prop 30 not passed we would have seen tremendous teacher cuts and program elimination. Thank goodness it passed.”

PEN STUDEN LIFE WRITER

National Public Radio recently reported studies by the Society of Neuroscience, which found that teenagers are more rational than originally thought. This may come as a surprise, especially since past studies have implied that adolescents are prone to making bad decisions due to their still-developing brains.

Yet Vararat Chaiyont, a Peninsula AP Psychology teacher, said, “I don’t think teenagers are more ‘impulsive’ or more ‘rational.’ I believe it depends on the situation.”

A recent study by B.J. Weill of Cornell Medical College shows that, while the adolescent mind can be vulnerable during its developmental stage, the vulnerability gives teenagers the capability to make rational decisions. Weill’s study showed that teenagers are not only sensitive to criticism, but are also more likely to make better decisions when they know they are going to be rewarded for their actions.

“It feels like when you’re going to get something for yourself, it’s more important,” freshman Haruka Maehara said.

One could argue, however, that the opposite is true when students have a feeling that

their actions could result in consequences. For example, if students studied the night before and knew they might fail a test, they might cheat to avoid the bad grade. Chaiyont has seen this happen throughout her years of teaching, and calls it the biggest example of teenage irrationality. “[Teenagers] know it is wrong but they feel the pressure to perform so they cheat anyway,” Chaiyon said. “They are hoping that they can get away with it and be rewarded for something they did not earn.”

Additionally, the study by Erika Forbes of the University of Pennsylvania showed that adults who were depressed during childhood were less responsive to rewards in adulthood. If a teenager had an unhappy childhood, he or she is less likely to care about rewards, and may not think as hard when making decisions.

“As with everyone, not just adolescents, I believe their experiences will shape who they are and who they become” Chaiyont said. “Adolescents should be allowed to learn from their mistakes. That way, they will learn that they are not perfect, but at the same time, will have the trust that someone will be there to help them along the way.”

By VIVEKA KRISHNASWAMY PEN OPINION EDITOR

My winter break, on paper, is going to be fantastic. After what I anticipate will be a heartwarming Christmas with my family, I’m going to Hawaii with my friend where I will supposedly be tanning poolside, fruity drink in hand, for a straight week. If you read the fine print, however, you realize that in my other hand will be my math and government notes.

The winter holiday is meant to be a time filled with warmth and holiday cheer – a time when you can detach yourself from the stresses of your daily life and let your worries melt away by the fireside. With finals on Jan. 15, 16, 17, and 18, this does not happen. Instead, students are racing to memorize formulas and facts as their families look on sympathetically, their expressions translating to, “Isn’t this your break?”

The reason for this inconvenient split in the semester is that PVPUSD starts the school year in September as opposed to in August for various reasons; for example, the athletic season, as

well as to start school in the cooler months. This isn’t, however, an adequate justification. We all know that the academic dedication at our highly-ranked school is through the roof; isn’t it only right, then, that our time off should be spent relaxing? The whole point of a break is to take it easy so that when you return, your mind is fresh and your capabilities are renewed. I remember all-too-vividly the day after last year’s winter break ended.

Seeing just how much studying I had to do in those nine days before midterms, I thought to myself: This is too much. The holiday seemed to me a curse of sorts, existing only to impede my curricular progress.

Now I understand how unfair it was, the amount of stress I was handling.

The district needs to do something about this ridiculous academic calendar. While I am graduating this year and would not reap the benefits of this change, I hope that Pen kids will soon be able to put aside their textbooks and notebooks full of Biology notes for those two weeks and fully relish their eggnogs/cocoa/non-alcoholic pina coladas.

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4 OPINION Holiday homework

Editorial: What’s wrong with Generation Y?

By EDITORIAL STAFF Without a doubt, many of you are applying to public colleges under the assumption that a large portion of your tuition will be covered by the state, and even if you aren’t a senior, chances are you still feel entitled to something – for instance, that cherished practice of gift giving.

Why do we selfishly believe that we deserve everything: that A grade, those trendy clothes, that job, and of course, success?

Oftentimes, our generation, also known as Generation Y, is pegged as a bunch of overly-confident kids who expect everything to be hand-fed to them off a silver spoon.

Has anyone recently told you “you take everything for granted”? Because we have grown up in a relatively safe environment, surrounded by material comforts and an abundance of wealth, and unfortunately, this relative prosperity is too often assumed to be omnipresent in all of society.

In other words, the social stigmas that have marked us, invisibly tagging us since birth, sometimes cause adults to see us, and indeed all teenagers,

academic rigor, we have students researching diabetes, studying abroad, winning international tournaments, and overall acting in positions and fulfilling responsibilities hitherto reserved for adults.

Critics also have to take into consideration the burden that falls on Generation Y. We are responsible for solving the economy; we have to come up with ways to fix the deficit; we will have to confront the global issues currently muddling the state of foreign affairs. We set our bar so high for success, because we have so much to resolve, and the ironic part of this all is that the aforementioned problems are largely the fault of the generation before us. And on top of all that, we’ll be paying for their Medicare later – so don’t write us off just yet.

Maybe a better question would be “Why do we work so hard?” Or “Why do we do so much?” It is because, contrary to what others may see us as, we are a generation of students – of people – committed to carrying the world to greater heights. It just might not always seem that way.

Stop and smell the roses: Ginsberg addresses stress

PALOS VERDES PENINSULA HIGH SCHOOL

By FLORENCIA PARK PEN OPINION WRITER

27118 Silver Spur Road, Rolling Hills Estates, CA 90274 EDITORS-IN-CHIEF Jason Choe, Edwin Chu, Kendall Van Nort COPY/DESIGN EDITOR Samantha Neal WEB CHIEF Michael Yu NEWS Editors: Sunnie Kim, Zohair Lalani Writers: Jasmine Kim, Valeria Park, Uswah Shabbir OPINION Editors: Viveka Krishnaswamy, Izma Shabbir Writers: Amanda Katz, Florencia Park, Adam Whitman FOCUS Editors: Sehar Dedmari, Stephanie Minn Writers: Julian Choi, Jina Kim STUDENT LIFE Editor: Michelle Lin Writers: Fatima Siddiqui, Rachel Tosney, Tunika Onnekikami ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT Editors: Audrey Tsai, Wendy Wei Writers: Maerah Ahmed, Charles Kim, Lauren Lee SPORTS Editors: Bryan Lee, Jonathan Wu Writers: Sam Quon, Amy Valukonis WEB Web Editor: Robert Papa Social Media Manager: Caroline Park GRAPHICS Benson Leung Marie Lum BUSINESS TEAM Manager: Liliana Pond Assistant: Alisha Prasad ADVISER Katherine Crowley “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 Liliana Pond at (310) 377- 4888 ext.

652. The Pen editors appreciate Letters to the Editors, which may be accepted up to one week before publication. You may submit them to H52 or Katherine Crowley’s mailbox.

Copyright © 2012

as egotistical, unappreciative brats. Admittedly, it is difficult to fight against the “when I was a kid…” argument, but we can still overcome the boundaries that pen us into a veritable war of attrition – on one side, we have the adults who insist on seeing us for what we necessarily aren’t, and on the other side we have ourselves, rebellious teenagers seeking to escape the perpetual cycle of blame.

Instead of continuing to butt heads, it behooves us to calm down and temper our image – to show appreciation for what we have, and respect those who have given it to us, in order to erase the misperception that our generation is cursed with.

Also, look at a school like Peninsula, for example. This generation of students is arguably the hardest working one yet – don’t believe us?

Merely a generation ago, the thought of taking five or six college-level courses a year, let alone a single one during all of a student’s high school years, would have led to heart attacks and incessant ridicule.

These days, however, doing so almost seems like it is the norm. On top of the increasing

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Straight A’s, extracurricular activities, community service hours and standardized tests: throughout the years, these have only served to add to stress levels of Peninsula students. Our pupils are all-too-familiar with the daunting idea of looming college applications and acceptances, made even more pronounced by demanding parents. The accepted convention in our district has always centered around constant and endless academic toil.

On Nov. 14, Dr. Ken Ginsburg, a pediatrician and an Associate Professor of Pediatrics at the University of Pennsylvania, visited our campus with a different message. With the lecture revolving around balance, Ginsburg was able to capture the hearts of many at Peninsula with his presentation about “successful failures.”

Ginsburg’s vision that students should accept their failures as normal and move on with their lives was a refreshing message to those accustomed to heavy amounts of pressure.

Through his ideas, students learned about ways to conquer their problems. Stressed teenagers often want to rid themselves of dilemmas by abandoning them. Ginsburg, however, explained that in order to resolve issues, students must learn to address them effectively.

More often than not, at a competitive school such as ours, students disregard the

need for happiness and focus relentlessly on academic success and college admissions.

According to Ginsburg, many are under the false impression that acceptance to college is the only thing that matters. Students must understand, however, that there is more to life than simply getting into a top university.

As a result of our stressful environment, drugs have unfortunately become an option for artificially simulating happiness. The misconception that drugs can make things better needs to be eliminated; the only way to get rid of the problem is to face it head on, not to skirt around it.

“Negative strategies can be quick fixes,” Ginsburg said. “But they’re harmful because they can be dangerous and make stress worse in the long run.”

Ginsburg also emphasized the necessity to seek aid when needed; getting help is not a sign of cowardice, but rather a sign of bravery and capacity.

“You are not alone,” Ginsburg said. “Strong people turn to others for support when they have too much to handle.”

College is not the determining factor for the rest of a student’s life. The amount of time that you spend in college pales in comparison to the amount of time that comes afterwards: career experiences, family and with friends. It is imperative to find a healthy balance between work and fun, and to not put such heavy weight on curricular accomplishments.

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PV-Pen rivalry needs to simmer down

By FLORENCIA PARK PEN OPINION WRITER

Stacks of letters from parents and students alike await Principal Mitzi Cress ever since the rivalry between Palos Verdes High and Peninsula High escalated. While school rivalries are supposed to encourage healthy competition, ours seems to have gone too far, and both schools have witnessed disastrous consequences. The fight between the two institutions has certainly gone overboard, with excessive profanity and acts of vandalism unnecessarily exchanged these past few weeks.

When the tension between PV and Pen snapped, both schools were supposed to be celebrating Spirit Week. Circumstances, however, soon spun horrifically out of hand. On the day of the annual football game between the schools, eight Palos Verdes students were reported to have caused $10,000 worth of damage to Peninsula’s football field. Two of the students were 18 and therefore charged as adults. For those two students, they will have permanent criminal records. Nothing good came of such a reprehensible act: The Peninsula campus was hurt, the futures of those vandals were compromised, and the unhealthy relationship between the two schools was fueled. While the tangible damage might have been reparable, the tarnished reputations and the anger created by their actions will take a long time to fade.

These attacks are not solely physical: Verbal attacks were also used. During a volleyball tournament on Oct. 25, Palos Verdes students sarcastically called Peninsula’s team members “Chinese.” Such inconsiderate remarks were highly inappropriate; school competitions should not result in hard-working, devoted athletes feeling emotionally hurt. Students must respect the hard work of others and appreciate the game with good sportsmanship.

Derogatory comments have even been put on the Internet. Posts from Yelp, dated a few years ago, show upsetting statements that cannot be rescinded due to online permanence. Emily C. from Peninsula High posted: “This school is ethnically diverse... PV High is NOT...

Don’t even consider the alternative.” Chelsea S. from Palos Verdes High posted: “The reason Peninsula scores are higher are not because of the teachers but because of the high population of Asian students. Really, Palos Verdes High School is the superior school.” One would hope that our community could transcend such blind bias and stereotyping, but this is evidently not the case. In addition, there have been posts and pages on Facebook that have heightened the rivalry such as one entitled “PV Memes.” The page perpetuates, in particular, offensive notions about Palos Verdes High School. Facebook posts are public, making it difficult for an audience to forget or disregard them.

Both schools equally represent the PVPUSD. Both have impressive academics, high rankings, and great API scores; yet both have exhibited impaired judgments. PV and Pen should be considered one collective group representing our district. The schools need to stop this rivalry chaos and act respectably.

MARIE LUM/PEN

Two-year vs. four-year: where should you go to college?

By AMANDA KATZ PEN OPINION WRITER

College, at this critical point in the year, is the first thing on many seniors’ minds at our high-achieving school. Many students hope to attend colleges like Stanford, USC, UCLA and Harvard among others. However, due to certain circumstances or preferences, colleges like El Camino or SMCC also become

There is also an opportunity cost in attending a community college.

At four-year colleges, especially top-ranked ones, students are given the chance to network. This is half the battle of going to college: while classes and degrees are important, the people you meet are arguably as crucial to your later success. Two-year schools, however,

“It is best to choose a four-year college not only so you have choices but also because two-year colleges have been impacted by the budget cuts. It can be hard to get all the classes you need to transfer to a four year college.”

- Counselor Katina Tzetzos viable options. Students must therefore ask themselves the question: Do the pros of going to a four-year college outweigh the pros of going to a 2-year?

Counselors are often sought to advise pupils on what would be the best choice post-high school.

Many that used to promote twoyear institutions are changing their tune.

According to the California Community Colleges Chancellor’s Office, funding for these schools has been cut by 12 percent, almost $809 million, since the 2008-2009 school year.

Though CSU budgets have been cut $650 million, the impact is far greater at community colleges.

“It is best to choose a fouryear college not only so you have choices but also because two-year colleges have been impacted by the budget cuts. It can be hard to get all the classes you need to transfer to a four year college,” counselor Katina Tzetzos said.

don’t necessarily offer the same chances.

Those who attend are more concerned with saving money or mending poor high school records, not with meeting fellow students or alumni who can help in the job market. This is the case with USC; if a USC graduate is hiring, priority is always given to the school’s graduates.

The types of degrees offered at four-year institutions are also more beneficial after college. While twoyear degrees are usually technical or vocational and don’t offer much wiggle room, four-year degrees are broad and can be applied to a variety of fields. This way, one can choose a major based on a general interest and still have many career paths to choose from.

Teens are always told to set high goals; aspiring to a four-year college is a good aim. Though they have their indubitable cons, MAR IE LU their benefits are more M/P EN significant.

many two-year college students commute to school from home.

Not only are two-year In high school, institutes economically the pursuit of higher education often becomes advantageous, but they also act as an opportunity for students the primary tool in boasting about educational to raise their GPAs. Due to community colleges’ open-door and intellectual excellence. admissions policy, all students Students often use their are accepted regardless of acceptance to highly-ranked academic history. By taking colleges as justification for their superiority; however, this is often community college courses, students can improve records misguided and misinformed.

By IZMA SHABBIR PEN OPINION EDITOR

“Class sizes are typically smaller at a two-year college...

The teachers are also there just to teach, while at many universities the professors are more involved in research.”

-Teacher Len Lyberger

to meet admission standards at Though Ivy Leagues and other four-year colleges. prestigious colleges have achieved Economics teacher Len an esteemed reputation, they do Lyberger approached college not guarantee students lifetime success. Four-year colleges are not through a two-year college necessarily better than two-year method, attending Kansas’s colleges; the stigma associated Coffeyville Community College with two-year institutions and then transferred to the is incorrectly perpetuated. University of Kansas. He later attended graduate school at Many do not realize that Northwestern University in the benefits of taking Illinois. this path outweigh its “Class sizes are typically purported flaws.

With the cost of college smaller at a two-year college because there are not as many tuition inflating every big lecture halls,” Lyberger said. year, the financial advantage of two-year “The teachers are also there institutions becomes just to teach, while at many universities the professors are increasingly clear. more involved in research and According to the not especially thrilled with the U.S. Department teaching aspect of their jobs.” of Education, the Despite the often blind need average yearly tuition at a four-year to receive an education from college in 2011 stood a four-year college, students should not overlook the obvious at $32,617. Two-year benefits of going through a college tuition, on the community college transfer other hand, was only program or obtaining a degree $23,871. To save money from a two-year institution. on room and board fees,

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Where is your

Participation donation inflation surfaces

By JINA KIM PEN FOCUS WRITER

Beyond academics, extra curricular activities are the heart of many Peninsula students’ high school careers.

Due to further budget cuts, Peninsula has less money to fund its extracurricular activities.

Instead, students are essentially the ones who fund the programs.

The PVPHS athletic packet states, “Donations are voluntary and students who choose not to make a participation donation or who make a donation in an amount different from that listed above will not be denied the right to participate or otherwise penalized in any way.” The donations are not required, so the students must decide for themselves whether or not to make a donation. “[The advisers] would not know who paid or how much they paid,” Student Store Accountant Pattie Ness said. “[The students] only pay what they can afford.”

Because some students are not able to contribute to their activities, the donations are completely confidential. It’s not required, so people pay however much they can and for that reason it’s kept confidential so to not single out any student who can’t afford to pay a lot.

“The donations go to the district and help pay for the coaches’ salaries and the buses,” Ness said.

Model United Nations, for example, contains 154 participants, but less than half have made a contribution to

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the club’s needed finances. In addition to the participation donations, students must pay a fee for each conference; many members feel overwhelmed at the amount of money the activity requires.

“The money from the transportation/participation donation is used mainly to provide bus transportation and stipends for our advisers,” said senior Somdeb Banerjee, the secretary-general of Model United Nations. “Without donations from the students, it will be difficult to keep the class from getting cut.”

Sports, as well, require money for equipment, coaches’ salary, and transportation fees.

“And if not enough people [participating in the sport or activity] pay, they won’t be in existence any longer,” Ness said.

“Say it’s football, and two people on the team pay—they’re going to cut it.”

Sophomore Andrew Dizon, a member of the football team, believes that participation donations are completely necessary in order to sustain the activity.

“I think that because football requires so much money for equipment, the team members really need to contribute the most they can for the good of the entire team,” Dizon said.

Ultimately these payments go back to the students, and thus they are encouraged contribute the most they can afford.

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money going?

Don’t shave, donate

By JINA KIM PEN FOCUS WRITER

During November, both students and teachers can be spotted sporting more facial hair than usual. This trend, however, has a deeper meaning rather than simply being an excuse to stop shaving for a month.

Nicknamed “Movember” and “No-Shave November,” November is the month for people, especially males, to attempt to raise awareness of male health problems, such as prostate and testicular cancer, and also to promote the wellbeing of men.

Teachers Tim Coleman, Kristian Engle, Mark Greenberg, Michael Spalding, and Seth Cohen have refrained from shaving for the month and held a competition to raise funds for the cause.

“It started up two years ago; we did it [as] a ‘gentlemen’s bet’—no real stakes,” Cohen said.

“At the end, we decided to turn it into a fundraiser. ASB worked with us and set up buckets in the amphitheatre with our faces on it... Kids just put money in the buckets for whomever they wanted to win.”

In addition to helping a cause that could change the lives of many, the event also provides a sense of unity and pride.

“I believe as men, and as

Students CAN make a difference

By JULIAN CHOI PEN FOCUS WRITER

As the holiday season arrives, the spirit of giving is not uncommon at Peninsula, which plans on hosting its annual canned food drive from Dec. 5 to 7. Students are encouraged to donate canned food for Early Head Start National Resource Center. According to its website, it is a “community based program for low-income families with infants and toddlers and pregnant women.”

This year, an increase of participation is likely, especially as more students are aware of the fundraiser this year.

“We’re lucky to be living in such a privileged area and as a community, we should be being more active in helping out the less fortunate,” junior Casey Harik said. “I’m going to drop off a couple of cans for the drive and I hope other people do too.”

According to the Commissioner of Community Service and Fundraising, senior Rachel Lipton, the drive will strive to collect as many cans as

possible to help those in need.

Any type of non-perishable canned food item is acceptable.

“It’s great that our school is participating in activities like this,” senior Shogo Komiyama said. “I feel like because we live in such an affluent community, drives like this should be held more often.”

Students are motivated by extra credit and community service hours. Prizes like Jamba Juice and bagels are offered to the second period class with the most cans. But many students have not forgotten the fundamental cause of donating canned food: helping others.

“I feel like sometimes, people just bring in cans for the prize but I think there should be more of an emphasis on the real cause,” senior Min Hong said.

“People should know where these donations are going and to what cause they are contributing to.”

According to Lipton, at the end of the canned food drive a large truck brought to school by

the district delivers the cans to the Early Head Start Program in Harbor City. The food is distributed to the area’s families in need.

“The Early Head Start Program is a national federally funded program designed to provide lower income families parental and child development education and early learning opportunities for preschool children,” Lipton said.

With the spirit of giving in the air, spending at Peninsula is directed to charitable causes and many students express their willingness to give towards a good cause.

“I think the can drive is a great way to pitch in a little bit and give some support to those people in need. They should be able to celebrate and enjoy the holidays just like us,” sophomore Yuri Sakakibara said. “If everyone was willing to spend a couple dollars and a few minutes of time, it would make a huge difference in people’s lives.”

people, we all have [awesome] burning inside of us,” Greenberg said. “My beard is an outward extension of my inner awesome, and I want to show the world what I have to offer.”

Some male students, such as sophomore Andrew Hong, decided that the movement not only benefited their health but also provided justification for not shaving for a month.

“I did No-Shave November because it saved me time in the morning and I’d have an excuse if people said I had stubble on my chin,” Hong said. “If it raises awareness toward a good cause; I think that’s a win-win situation.”

Sophomore Sabine Hansen, whose brother is participating in the Movember fundraiser, believes that although the situation does not affect females, it is important to show support for the matter.

“The little things add up to become such a big, influential movement,” Hansen said. “I feel like prostate cancer awareness is not as supported as, say, breast cancer awareness, so the rise of this trend is a great opportunity.”

By growing facial hair or supporting those who do, Panthers have united to benefit hundreds of thousands of victims.

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graphic by benson leung /PEN

From music videos to movies, Marching Band is often portrayed as the geeky group of misfits. A quick trip around campus reveals that much of what students know about these “band geeks” comes from those videos and movies, and a common perception is that all band members are “strange and weird, yet talented.”

Although members of Marching Band themselves acknowledge the stereotype, they do not let it bother them.

“Honestly, I don’t care,” junior Mitsumasa Kawano said. “[Marching Band members] are some of the nicest people in school.”

Neither are they deterred by the lack of attention.

“We’re never supposed to get attention – we’re the marching band,” freshman Reed Schrier said. “Nobody even knows we exist.”

But while they are often overshadowed at football games by the zoo or the cheerleaders, the band has shined at regional competitions. It took first place at Ayala High School, The Mission Viejo Band competition, and the Riverside Big Orange Classic and second at Trabuco Hills. In addition to placing second at the Western Band Association (WBA) Championships on Nov. 17, they took home awards for Best Music and Percussion. While the grand championship part of the competitions was rained out, members still expressed great pride in their accomplishments.

“Personally, I feel that

the marching band performed the best that we could have,” junior Sydney Ropella said. “We were as prepared as we could be, under the time constraints we had. I am very proud of how far we have come.”

Their success is based on hours of practice and dedication.

“When I joined marching band, I thought it was going to be simple and easier,” Schrier said. “ I really did not expect us to have put in one hundred hours by the first two weeks of school.”

Fifty-two of those hours came from a week-long, intensive band camp, where members spent time learning music and drill for the introduction to their show “Life as We Know It.” During the school year, the band practices every day of the school week, excluding Friday in which they instead perform at the halftime show of football games, and every Saturday, except on competition days which last even longer.

“Competition days are really long days because we have to arrive as early as six in the morning, and we can get back as late as 10 at night,” senior Holden Saunders said.

Despite the long hours, marching band remains an enthusiastic, positive group as a whole.

“We’re a bunch of fun people that don’t take anything seriously,” Shrier said.

graphic by marie lum /PEN

By Fatima Siddiqui Pen Student L ife Writer

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8 STUDENT LIFE

photo provided by dina lauro

Making new connections

By Michelle Lin Pen Student L ife Writer

graphic by michael yu/PEN

For the past two months, seniors Nick Entin and Albert Khalbourji have been working on a school related app called PenConnect. The app will allow students and parents to access school data from their iOS devices. Features include the Daily Bulletin, “Eye of the Panther News” videos as well as Principal’s Updates, info about sporting events, and a calendar of events.

“We are working on making a feature that will notify [students]

Screen shots from Pen Connect and its logo. Features of the app include Principal’s Updates, school news and a calendar of events.

the day before there is a latestart as well, so [they] will know the schedule,” Khalbourji said.

Entin and Khalbourji first thought of the idea at an Apple Developer club meeting.

After a few more sessions of conceptualizing the layout and discussing features as a pair, Entin and Khalbourji began devoting more attention to the application. Since then, Entin has spent three to four nights a week developing the app while Khalbourji worked on marketing and design.

“I am the person with the vision of how the app will look and feel in the hands of the users,” Kahlbourji said. “The app is supposed to be convenient to use.”

Entin and Khalbourji will be promoting the app through various social networks and hope

graphic by marie lum /PEN

the app will eventually connect all the students and faculty with what is happening at the school.

The will be free on the app store when it is released in late December.

PenConnect is Khalbourji’s fourth app. Khalbourji released his first game, Catch!!!, when he was fourteen- years-old. Since then he has made about two hundred dollars, but all of his apps are currently free on the app store.

“I’m not in it for the money, I just want my name to get out there,” Khalbourji said.

Entin has released one other app, Emergency Beacon, which is designed to help victims of natural disasters and other emergencies.

pen Reading the fine print behind restaurant grades

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Kendall’s Korner

By KENDALL VAN NORT PEN EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

This past summer, (much to my mother’s dismay), I read “Fifty Shades of Grey.” I brought the book along on a weekend trip to Palm Springs after hearing rave reviews from many of my friends. Imagine my surprise, while happily sitting poolside, when I stumbled upon my first explicit sex scene. My broad-brimmed sunhat did little to hide my flushed cheeks, as I immediately tucked the book back into my bag. What did the young family sitting next to me think? Did the lifeguard across the pool think I was interested in this erotic nonsense? And then bigger concerns crept into my mind: Why did so many of my friends think of this fictional relationship as an ideal romance?

A mousy literature student stumbles into the office of a hot, young billionaire CEO, and the CEO ends up falling for her.

Unfortunately, the handsome rich guy has an obsession with sadistic sexual practices and tries to get his latest prey to agree to a contract-binding “dominant-submissive” relationship. Under any circumstance, if this was a proposition given to any girl, who in their right mind would be conflicted over whether to say yes or no? Welcome to “Fifty Shades of Grey.”

The health inspector arrives for his quarterly inspection to check for sanitation and cleanliness only to find a cockroach infestation, a major violation that threatens customers’ safety and health.

By WENDY WEI & AUDREY TSAI PEN A&E EDITORS

While an “A” on a restaurant door gives customers a sense of security and a “B” can drive away a loyal customer, what do these grades actually mean?

Public records reveal that fast-food restaurants, such as Taco Bell in the Peninsula Center, consistently receive grades in the high A’s.

“Health inspectors say it’s like a hospital in here,” Taco Bell General Manager Marcia Flacy said.

A few more formal restaurants in the Palos Verdes area received A’s in the lower range, according to the L.A. Department of Health Facility Rating Database. Their violations included cooling and storage problems. These

seemingly harmless details can lead to major problems. For example, bacteria such as E. coli can easily fester if a worker neglected to follow cooling standards. In order to prevent this, restaurants follow stringent procedures to avoid risk.

“If you see us wiping our baskets it’s because even if one small drop of water touches the paper bacteria can begin to grow,” Ruby’s Manager Shannon Lupien said.

Venture further from Palos Verdes, and B restaurant grades start emerging. Restaurants popular with Peninsula families in Torrance have been cited for major violations such as cockroach infestations.

The database also provides a list of restaurants that have been

closed in between inspections.

Even though some restaurants routinely maintain A’s, they have had to close down temporarily this year due to vermin infestations and major sewage problems.

Different health inspectors come unannounced every three months. Following a five-part factor list, health inspectors count the number of violations to determine the total grade.

Inspectors check for visible aspects, such as temperature and cleanliness of counters.

Taco Bell has a checklist of tasks including monitoring the temperature of 25 items.

“I eat here with my family, so I want to make sure my customers eat food with the same cleanliness,” Flacy said.

Students reveal the stories behind their ink

By LAUREN LEE

JASON TRAN/PEN

PEN A&E WRITER

Tattoos often hold meaningful messages and painful histories. A tattoo, for some, represents who they are and what they stand for.

Junior Sydnee Blueitt was twelve years old when her dad was diagnosed with leukemia, as well as multiple myeloma, a cancer of the plasma cells.

“Finding out that he was diagnosed with cancer hurt the most,” Blueitt said. “There was just this fear that ran through me the moment that I found out.”

To recognize her father’s strength as a survivor, Blueitt decided to get a tattoo of the word “faith” under her right ribcage. The ordeal caused a whirlwind of emotions, but in all Blueitt remained strong.

“I was depressed and the more I thought about it, the less I would eat, drink, and sleep,” Blueitt said. “I was scared, angry, and numb about the unwanted

changes that cancer was about to bring to me and my family’s life.”

Blueitt received the tattoo to constantly remind herself to remain strong through her own obstacles in life.

Sophomore Rusbeh Valetstani received his tattoo out of pure interest for the style of art.

“Ever since I was a little kid I was interested in Samoan art,” Valestani said.

The tattoo is on his left arm and covers the full upper half of it, with nature images to represent the elements of nature.

For each person, a tattoo is a permanent symbolic reminder.

From strength to pride and from pride to nature, each tattoo constantly reminds us of something of value.

“Every time I look at my tattoo, it reminds me to take everything that I have been through and embrace that situation to make me a better individual,” Blueitt said.

The book is revered across America. I see copies of it everywhere, and every time I do, I wonder why. The writing style is fairly elementary, the plot line is somewhat generic and the characters remain pretty stagnant. Author E.L. James has given young girls everywhere an unrealistic idea of what relationships really should be like—an abusive imitation of “true love.”

I don’t think it is okay for girls to undervalue their self worth, to think that to fit in to today’s society they have to alter their moral values in order to impress a cute guy, as “Fifty Shades of Grey” would indicate. The main character’s first time having sex, her first time having a serious relationship, her first time even getting drunk—all of these instances in the book are glossed over, almost made to seem idyllic and inviting. Young women need to realize that nothing is as storybook as “Fifty Shades” is. Call me a cynic, but first everythings are meant to be awkward and unfamiliar. James forgets this, and makes me wonder if she has ever experienced any of these firsts.

I won’t warn you against reading the book. If anything, I’ve probably encouraged it. (And if you are as curious as I am, you’re going to want to know). I will just tell you it’s a waste of time. I am so ready to say “Laters Baby” via raunchy email to Christian Grey myself. Don’t judge me if you see me at Regal Cinemas watching the film—or outside picketing, I haven’t decided yet.

Discover PV: an overlooked garden

By CHARLES KIM PEN A&E WRITER

It’s easy to take a place like Palos Verdes for granted.

While Peninsula students spend their free time traversing the malls and restaurants, they sometimes forget the natural wonders right at their doorstep.

1. Terranea Resort: This luxurious eco-resort located nearby the ocean is adjacent to many unique attractions. Easy-to-hike trials lead up to a man-made beach and a giant sea cave that is open to adventure during low tides. The five-star restuarant Catalina Kitchen sits on top of a shore that provides a perfect view of the setting sun.

2. Abalone Cove: Located nearby the coast, hiking trials through this natural reserve lead to the ocean shoreline where sea urchins, shellfish and crabs among other animals are found in interactive tide pools. The Palos Verdes Interpretive Center offers free guided tours every month. The cove is the ideal place for picnics to enjoy the serene landscape of a beach.

3. Portuguese Bend: This reserve makes up the largest part of the Palos Verdes Nature Preserve, complete with trails. It offers the ultimate arena for various sports activities including hiking and biking. This bend is made up of canyons, rocks, and native plants like the coastal sage.

4. Palos Verdes Stables: With four public stables, three private clubs and eleven horse facilities, this place offers private lessons and scenic rides through trails in Portuguese Bend on 500 acres. The stables offer a summer pony camp for all ages, providing professional coaching from trainers. Rolling Hills Estates offers more than 20 miles of these scenic horse trails.

KENTARO CROCKETT/PEN

MARIE LUM/PEN

“Author E.L. James has given young girls everywhere an unrealistic idea of what relationships really should be like-- an abusive imitation of ‘true love.’”

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SPORTS

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Were you there?

11/20 Girls Waterpolo vs Millikan 23-7 W 11/28 Boys Basketball vs Oaks Christian 56-47 W

JON MEGEFF

11/30 Girls Basketball vs Centennial 48-47 W 11/30 Boys Basketball vs Torrance 53-44 W

Hinsch starts out his race with a slightly faster pace to distinguish himself from the pack. He ultimately finished first for Peninsula during CIF Preliminaries.

Hinsch Outruns Death

12/4 Boys Soccer vs Lakewood 2-1 W

By SAM QUON

PEN SPORTS WRITER

In the summer of 2009, the boys cross country team was running the six mile course from PVIS to Terranea and back. Freshman Hayden Hinsch, pacing along with the upperclassmen, was expected to be one of the team’s fastest in the upcoming 2009 season.

Little did he know, this day would change his life.

Getting home from practice, Hinsch began to feel a sharp pain in his chest and had trouble breathing. His parents rushed him to the hospital.

At first, doctors informed Hinsch that his lung had collapsed but could not determine the cause. An MRI would later show that a tumor attached to Hinsch’s heart and lung was causing the pain.

Doctors said that the only solution would be to surgically remove the tumor.

“I was shocked because

MICHAEL TAKEDA/PEN

*12/14 Providence Hall 5 P.M.

*12/17 Torrance 7:30 P.M.

*12/17 Torrance High 6 P.M.

*1/8 Redondo Union 7:30 P.M.

*1/8 Redondo Union 6 P.M.

1/15 @ Palos Verdes 7:30 P.M.

*12/12 Torrance High 3 P.M.

*12/11 Lakewood High 3 P.M.

*1/11 Leuzinger High 3P.M.

*12/14 Bishop Mont.

*1/15 Palos Verdes 3 P.M.

*1/8

Redondo Union 3 P.M.

1/15

@Palos Verdes

3 P.M.

3 P.M.

PEN SPORTS WRITER

MICHAEL TAKEDA/PEN

12/11 @ Bishop Mont. 7:30 P.M

CHRIS MICHEL/PEN

By SAM QUON

12/11 @Bishop Mont. 6 P.M.

* home game

Hinsch said. “I’m just working to be the best that I can be.”

Hinsch’s story has become an inspiration to his teammates and co-captains.

“The past years, Hayden really pushed himself,” senior captain Stephen Sansom said. “We can all tell that his experience motivates him everyday.”

During his junior year, he placed top five at every meet he competed in, and he placed first in the 800 and 1600 meter races.

This year, Hinsch, one of five cross country captains, boasts personal best times of 16:04 in the 5K and 16:10 in the 3 mile, and at the Nike Pre-Nationals in Oregon, he finished fifth out of 500 runners in the 5,000 meter race.

Despite the shocks of that simple summer day and the subsequent weeks of surgery, he ends his cross country career on a high note and anticipates a victorious track season.

Courtside With Ian Baxter: Overcoming Anxiety

MICHAEL TAKEDA/PEN

MICHAEL TAKEDA/PEN

Are you going to be there?

I never thought something like that could happen to me,” Hinsch said. “I was scared of not being able to run for a long time, but moreso for my own life. Thankfully, the surgery was successful.”

Hinsch began to recover in September 2009. After being sidelined for nearly three months, he had to work even harder to get back into shape.

Unsurprisingly, Hinsch’s running freshman year was affected by his absence from the summer workouts.

“Those two months after the surgery, I really couldn’t do anything,” Hinsch said. “Once I got back, I was so slow.”

Over the course of the next two years, he began training with the captains at the time, Alex Megeff and Reo Lavertu.

Using his past experience as motivation, Hinsch progressively improved.

“I know that I can’t take anything for granted anymore,”

Senior Ian Baxter drives to the basket for a lay-up against Garden Grobe in CIF Playoffs.

Senior captain Ian Baxter glances at the shot clock ticking down. Staring down the defending Oaks Christian guard, he dribbles hard to his right, crosses back and smoothly lets the ball fly. The net swishes right as the shot clock sounds.

As a freshman, Baxter played limited minutes on the frosh/soph basketball team.

“Freshman year was a tough time for me,” Baxter said. “I knew I could make an impact if I could just play longer.”

Baxter then began to play with a new mindset, diving for loose balls and eagerly volunteering for drills. He played with effort each scrimmage, knowing that he had nothing to lose.

“I really gained a new tenacity, which I still have today, to always push myself,” Baxter said.

Baxter’s hard work paid off, earning himself a place on Junior Varsity; however, Baxter’s fears still persisted.

“I wouldn’t shoot a shot unless I was wide open,” Baxter said. “In practices, I went all out, but in games I was scared.”

When Junior Varsity coach Tom Scott noticed Baxter’s tendencies, he counseled him and offered advice, which helped

alleviate Baxter’s fears.

“Coach Scott told me that I shouldn’t be afraid to mess up that I can learn from mistakes,” Baxter said. “That really helped me not only then, but even now. I know that I can go 100 percent every play and not worry about missing a shot.”

Baxter continues to push himself on the court, earning a spot on Varsity, but Baxter continued to receive limited play time.

“Last year, I really learned from Sam [Borst-Smith] about how to run a team and to be a leader,” Baxter said. “I feel confident about leading my team now.”

With all the lessons he has learned, the mature captain certainly looks ready to lead the team towards an impressive season.

“I will do my best to bring home another Bay League Championship,” Baxter said.

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OPINION

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