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.