Issue 4 by The Pen Newspaper

the pen

Palos Verdes Peninsula High School

www.pvphsnews.com

Vol. XXXVII

Issue 4

DOG DAYS Therapy dog helps students relieve stress NEWS PAGE 3

COMING UP ROSES Local Girl Scouts participate in the Rose Parade STUDENT LIFE PAGE 8

EN GARDE Sophomore fencer succeeds at world competition SPORTS PAGE 10

How words help, hurt and influence us FOCUS PAGES 6-7

January 6, 2017

news

bay boys make

Waves riannE aguas In late Nov. 2016, one of Palos Verdes Estates’ (PVE) landmarks was demolished after a debate between local residents and the city council. The “landmark,” as it was called by residents, was located on the northwestern section of Lunada Bay Beach and was an illegally-built stone and wood beach fort belonging to the Lunada Bay Boys, a surf gang. The fort, a public safety hazard, was used as a place of alcohol consumption and drug use. After years of complaints from residents, the Palos Verdes Estates Planning Commission (PVEPC) decided to follow through with the $67,000 demolishment plan after a vote was held and confirmed in July. To prevent debris from leaving the location, the PVEPC had AMPCO Contracting Incorporated manually deconstruct the structure with jackhammers. According to the Los Angeles Times, the supporters of the Bay Boys scratched the paint of several trucks in a staging area, slashed fabric containers used to carry debris and set fire to equipment stored at the structure. The Lunada Bay Boys have one main goal: to prevent others from surfing Lunada Bay’s waves. The recent removal of the fort hopes to resolve some of these problems and maintain a pristine coastline. Several other lawsuits have been filed against the group as well. In Aug. 2016, a Malibu resident complained about the Bay Boys after they had allegedly threatened and doused the resident in beer. Another was filed that same month saying that they had violated the California Coastal Act due to restraining public access to the beach. A more personal suit was made by Shuja Oberoi, who reported he was attacked by the group near their famous fort in 2016. He claims he was specifically targeted since he is Muslim and the date was Sept. 11. Anton Dahlerbruch, PVE City Manager thinks that the safety of the people is the most important. He stated that if a person experiences any form of harassment, intimidation, assault or vandalism, he or she is strongly urged to immediately report the incident to the Palos Verdes Estates Police Department (PVEPD).

The PVEPD takes its mission of protecting and preserving public safety seriously, and monitors and enforces the laws in Lunada Bay along with the rest of the community. “Localism, or sometimes referred to as territorialism, is not tolerated in Palos Verdes Estates,” Dahlerbruch said. “The beaches, shoreline and surfing areas along the Palos Verdes Estates coastline are all open to the public, and the public should not be threatened to not use them.” Sophomore and surfer Minami Yamura is also familiar with the Bay Boys’ actions. According to Yamura, her father and a friend came into contact with the Bay Boys who threw rocks at them while trying to surf at Lunada Bay Beach. Because of this, Yamura disapproves of the Bay Boys’ intentions. She understands that they want to protect their place firmly, but believes they should not be violent. “I know that a lot of people come [to Lunada Bay Beach], which results in it being crowded, but I think that the Bay Boys should be less aggressive and try to talk out their problems instead of being violent,” Yamura said. Sophomore Casey Escobar, who also surfs, has also heard of the group before. He says that the Bay Boys’ actions only publicize themselves further and will probably make their surfing spot more popular. He thinks that it is scary that the group is willing to go to such drastic measures such as hurting other people and vandalizing property. Since the Bay Boys have been trying to keep their “part” of Lunada Bay Beach from outsiders for decades, Escobar thinks that their return is inevitable and does not see the fort removal as a permanent solution or guaranteed extinction of the Bay Boys. “I would not even consider surfing at Lunada Bay, which shows that the Bay Boys are doing a good job at keeping people away,” Escobar said. “[If I was in the Bay Boys], I would not bother [causing trouble] in the first place, since there are plenty of other spots to surf in Palos Verdes that can be just as fun, if not more fun, to surf than Lunada Bay.”

courtesy of ranger woodland

in the community

dog offers students therapy for ‘ruff’ times

connoR tumelty / The Pen

riannE aguas This year, a special guest has been visiting Peninsula during lunchtime to help students cope with their stress. She is a trained therapy dog, named Nia, who belongs to Felicia Gin-Lee, mother of senior Sabrina Lee. Nia and GinLee volunteer with Beach Animals Reading with Kids (BARK), which aims to provide high school and college students with an avenue to relieve stress and increase their confidence levels. The duo has been volunteering with the program since 2014, and now helps students on campus reduce stress. According to Gin-Lee, when petting a dog, the body releases the stress-relieving hormone oxytocin. This helps to prevent the formation of cortisol, a stress hormone in the body. In addition, dogs are approachable and easy to open up to. Gin-Lee says that bringing Nia to Peninsula has so far been a win-win situation, since the students benefit

from Nia and she enjoys meeting new people as well. “It is nice hearing comments from the students saying that Nia made their day,” Gin-Lee said. “I think she will help many students here at Peninsula, so it is well worth my time.” Nia has become a popular figure at Peninsula among students who took or are going to take the standardized tests. Sophomore Elleen Kim took the Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT) this year and thinks that visiting Nia during the testing period would have helped to relieve her stress from the test. According to Kim, dogs are known to help lower stress levels and make people happy, so she thinks that problems that come with stress can be fixed by having Nia come to school. After learning about Nia and the program, Kim considers volunteering with BARK with her own dog because she says that it would feel good to know that she helped someone in a small but impactful way.

“Knowing that BARK has helped hundreds of people makes me feel really happy and grateful that something as simple as having a dog come over to school makes such a difference in the world,” Kim said. “Having something to look forward to at lunch will really help with stress from the daily workloads we have in high school.” Junior Maansi Murty will also be taking the SAT this year. Murty said that since Nia is very calm, she helps decrease her stress and gives off positive vibes which helps her after taking rough exams. Besides visiting Nia because of schoolwork related stress, Murty would also visit her for personal issues, since Nia is comforting. “[Nia’s ability] to make others happy simply through her presence is a remarkable ability to have, and should be harnessed to spread positivity,” Murty said. “I completely forget what I am stressed about when I visit Nia, as she makes it hard to focus on [any distractions].”

ana willoughby On Nov. 14, students from the Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD) walked out of class to protest the result of the presidential election. They protested certain plans that President-elect Donald Trump wants to implement which will affect students everywhere. This rally spiked controversy throughout the district since the rally took place during school hours. Sophomore Hannah Speiser expressed her viewpoints about a recent experience from an anti-Trump rally in Washington, D.C. that took place one day after the election. “If you have something to say, you should stand up for what you believe in and make a change,” Speiser said. “I think I would do something like this again because I felt that the rally was making an impact and that we were being heard.” Speiser agreed that movements like these are influential and can be very beneficial. They can be used to educate the public about their cause and make people aware of their ideas. Rallies like the one she experienced can be useful in many different ways. In this case, the rally occurred to protest Trump’s victory. The protesters made signs and shirts, chanted phrases and used

megaphones and other devices to express their voices. According to National Broadcasting Company (NBC), around 150 students from Garfield High School in Los Angeles participated in the local election rally at Mariachi Plaza. With each student who misses a day of school, LAUSD loses money. Therefore, LAUSD lost a great quantity of money in that one day because of students’ absences. This is an example of a consequence that comes from having freedom of speech and the ability to participate in protests like these. Although the consequences do not always directly affect the students, they can nonetheless impact the district and the school. Advanced Placement (AP) History teacher Colette Dunn-Kottke described her thoughts on the consequences of walking in the rally. “I personally do not think [the students] should have walked out of class because the school is legally responsible for [them] when they are supposed to be in school during these hours,” Dunn-Kottke said. “That placed a legal burden on the school district because anything could have happened to any one of those kids. For that reason, I think protesting in the middle of a school day like that was not a well thought-

out idea.” Dunn-Kottke explained that protests are reasonable and can make a positive difference, but not at the expense of others. This specific protest and others like it have led people to believe the inefficiency of rallies and that they are not beneficial. According to The Slatest, on April 26, 2016, a confrontation involving the use of pepper spray took place in Anaheim between supporters and protesters of Trump’s presidency. In addition, on June 2, 2016, protesters of Trump attacked his supporters and threw eggs at them in San Jose. World History, AP European History, Economics and Government teacher Don Frazier gave his own opinion of protests. “Everybody has the right to [participate in] protests,” Frazier said. “[People have] freedom of speech, but there are consequences.” Junior Daniel Louie also stated his opinion on the protest by LAUSD students. “I think that the students had every right to [protest], but nothing will happen,” Louie said. “Honestly, Trump was legally and fairly voted in by the American people and therefore he will be president. Even though I did not want him and would have supported the protest, apparently the majority of America did.”

brian mo / The Pen

studentS protest election outcome

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

EDITORIAL on the way to wellness: prioritizing mental health Editorial staff For many teens, the weight of expectations is crushing. This is especially true at schools like Peninsula, where competition, academics and extracurricular activities are rigorous, and where we are constantly pressured by parents, peers and the media towards perfection. Here, we tend to constantly glorify other students and their nonstop achievements, whether they be in academics or other extracurricular activities. At Peninsula, a culture of competition seems to brew: students push themselves to their limits, hoping to get into their dream colleges amongst equally qualified peers. While some competition can be healthy and encourages students to strive

for excellence, too much competition can be prohibitive and distressing. Too dedicated to achieving success, many students fear facing failure. Unrealistic expectations placed upon students create an air of confusion, stress and ultimately intense disappointment when those expectations are not lived up to. Conversations about how little sleep one has gotten arise frequently, serving as almost a badge of honor in some circles. Often, these students place the importance of their grades and responsibilities over the importance of their own mental health. According to Business Insider, selective schools are significantly harder to get into now than in prior decades. Many students fill their schedules with difficult classes and time-consuming extracurricular activities. Across

the country, the consequences of this tendency come into alarming fruition: the rates of mental illness, notably anxiety disorders and depression, have skyrocketed in youth in recent decades. According to Mental Health America, as many as one in five teens suffers from clinical depression. Thankfully, schools are becoming more cognizant of this growing issue, and administration and volunteers have made efforts to promote the mental health of students. Recently, a therapy dog has been coming to campus, and the week of Jan. 9 has been designated “Yellow Ribbon Week,” dedicated to awareness of mental health, communication about mental illness and suicide prevention. Among the stress of high school academics and college

STUDENT LIFE EDITORS: Phoebe Borsum Jordan Chang WRITERS: Saffy Laurio Ailey Suzuki 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 © 2017 Cover Design by Connor Tumelty Cover Photo by Two Laurio Cover Model Alyna Santos

pressures, it is essential that we pay attention to our own health. We need to take the steps necessary to preserve our mental wellness, aiding us both now and in the long run. If we do feel that the weight on our shoulders is too great and that there is something we cannot solve by ourselves, we need to reach out for help, whether that be through family, friends, a counselor or therapist. We must strive to find the time to stop, relax and unwind. This might be difficult, as we do compare ourselves to many other high-achieving students on campus, who apparently fill their calendars to the maximum. Yet, we must understand the importance of down time to take care of ourselves, guiding us on the path back to a healthy body and mind. ciro fidaleo/ The Pen

THE PEN PALOS VERDES PENINSULA HIGH SCHOOL

CSU TUition hike causes student outrage Asumi Shuda Between a highly competitive job market and increasingly burdensome student loans, college students and graduates have plenty to worry about financially. On top of that, according to CBS News, college tuition has risen 5.4 percent since 2001. Following this worrying trend, there have been recent tuition raises at colleges in the California State University (CSU) system, causing many families to scramble for the necessary funds to make up the difference. An increase of $270 per student has been proposed to help cover the growing costs of maintaining colleges. Unfortunately, having to pay a more expensive tuition will inevitably cause families to run into financial issues even forcing some people to give up their dreams of pursuing higher education. Instead of making it more difficult to pay for college, CSU schools should look into

other ways to raise the money they need. According to CSU chancellor Timothy White, the decision to raise tuition prices was a hard one. However, legitimate reasons were put forth by

going to these colleges, so more professors and commodities will have to be implemented,” Associate Principal Lea Toombs said. However, instead of giving more financial aid, state support

“If [tuition hikes] become scheduled, families and students can have knowledge on when the funds are going up so they can properly prepare themselves both emotionally and financially.” -Editor-in-Chief of Panorama News Tom Combs officials who supported the policy of raising tuition costs. With the number of students enrolling in CSU schools increasing every year, basic maintenance costs are also growing. “We have more students

has substantially dwindled. According to California Colleges, CSU schools had an average enrollment rate of 25 percent for the 2015-16 school year, but financial support from the state government was reduced from 72 percent

to 41 percent in the last 15 years. Thus, due to the number of students enrolled and the increasing demand for funding, the CSU board had no choice but to implement periodic tuition hikes. “If [tuition hikes] become scheduled, families and students can have knowledge on when the funds are going up so they can properly prepare themselves both emotionally and financially,” Editor-inChief of Panorama News, Tom Combs, said. Regardless, there are other solutions to solve the CSU problem without causing more pressure for either the students or the institutions. Instead of asking students to pay extra, the state government should return to prior, more generous financial policies. Being a public university system funded by taxpayers, CSU schools should be getting the help they need without forcing those same taxpayers to contribute even more.

students stump the trump train

[

]

white

8.8

9.8

asian

3.5

3.8

*According to LA Times

LAUSD students rightfully exercise their right to protest the controversial 2016 election

other

African American

73.7

Racial Makeup of LAUSD in percentages* Latino

Anne lee On the morning of Nov. 14, 2016, hundreds of students in the Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD) participated in a coordinated walk-out, expressing their feelings toward the recent presidential election. Donald Trump’s immigration plans and rhetoric played large roles in sparking the protest; according to the LA Times, out of approximately 500,000 students in the district, almost 75 percent are Latino. As passionate opponents of the Presidentelect’s border policy, many marched out to City Hall in support of their families and fellow students. The protesters expressed their reactions to the election, but also intended to spread a sense of inclusion and equality within the LAUSD community. Many supported the protests in principle, including LAUSD Superintendent Michelle King. However, the protests took place during school hours, putting the safety of the students at risk and causing a loss of money due to low attendance. Thus, concern develops as to whether students should be allowed to leave campus during classroom time in the first place. The rallies inevitably come with their disadvantages; nevertheless, students’ voices should not be held back. They should be able to carry out protests freely, as they are protected by the First Amendment. According to the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR), freedom of expression is the right of every individual to hold opinions without interference and to impart information and ideas through media, regardless of any arbitrarily-set boundaries. Since most participants are not old enough to vote, the only way to express their political opinions and exercise their rights is through protesting. In order for their viewpoints on issues such as immigration to be taken seriously, they felt that actions of resistance, such as walk-outs, were needed to garner attention. The

protests also brought a sense of inclusion and acceptance within LAUSD, as students stood together and fought for the same cause, regardless of ethnicity. Junior Ashley Hong witnessed an anti-Trump protest in Indianapolis. As a bystander, she shared the uniting atmosphere that the protest radiated, changing her views on such demonstrations. “We came upon this intersection where all the roads were blocked, cars were honking and everyone was chanting and carrying signs,” Hong said. “I have never seen anything like that before, anything that would stop traffic. I felt a connection with all these people that I did not even know, yet everyone united for believing in the same things.” Others who oppose student-led protests during school time argue that it is unsafe for a group of students to go off-campus without supervision. However, as long as students remain safe and orderly, these complications are fully avoidable. “Our main responsibility here before academics or anything else is to make sure that students are safe,” Associate Principal Micah Farrell said. “If there was an organized walk-out, we would [not] physically stop kids, but just make sure that no matter what students are doing or where they are, they are protected.” Protests channel strong beliefs and portray powerful emotions such as unity and freedom. Some may view protests differently, focusing on the chaotic, aggressive and negative aspects, but these student-led demonstrations are simply strong forms of expression. The walk-outs do not necessarily cause harm and students should be allowed to exercise their freedom of expression through these protests. “Even though there was a lot of negativity after this election and protests themselves can be negative, it was also positive and inspirational to see all those people banding together, speaking out and standing up for what they believe in,” Hong said.

“I have never seen anything like [the rally] before, anything that would stop traffic. I felt a connection with all these people that I did not even know, yet everyone united for believing in the same things.” -Junior Ashley Hong

(from left to right) Olivia Iacono, Mariya Nabarezhna, Sabrina Harnois Anna Chang / the pen

Focus

words can

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o / Th

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The explosion of social

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media and the issue of profanity bring teachers and students to explore the influence of words.

Students use SOCIAL MEDIA to share opinions Adrian tai Students and teachers alike utilize social media and its features to raise awareness about important issues, voice their opinions and educate others. Sophomore Rachel Meinzer believes that the use of social media allows for infinite possibilities. “I find that social media allows me to connect with a wider audience and discuss issues that matter to me such as feminism, LGBT rights and animal rights,” Meinzer said. “I use Tumblr the most out of any social media website because Tumblr posts can be entertaining and educating, so it is a good way to make my voice heard as well as hearing what others have to say.” With just one click, people can post a picture on Instagram, share a link on Facebook, post a tweet on Twitter or reblog a post on Tumblr. Social media can also act as a tool for people to become activists and advocate for causes they believe in, as junior Cathy Kim did when she promoted a screening for a movie called “Cowspiracy” as well as raising awareness about veganism and the Yaolin Dog Festival. “Cowpsiracy” is a film by Kip Andersen and Keegan

Kuhn addressing the effects of cows and agribusiness on the environment and urges environmentalists to become vegans. “Last year, I used my social media accounts on Facebook and Instagram to promote my screening of ‘Cowspiracy,’ and I would also post pictures and captions advocating veganism,” Kim said. “I used my Facebook account to reach out to people who I thought would be interested in ‘Cowspiracy.’ Before ‘Cowspiracy,’ I would talk about important matters relating to veganism such as the controversy regarding the Yaolin Dog Festival in China.” While social media platforms allow for both the sharing and discussion of important matters, some people, such as senior Shannon Hearn prefer to use social media as a way to stay up-todate on current events, whether it be worldwide or school-related. “I only started using [social media] as a way to maintain contact with

friends after high school,” Hearn said. “However, I soon realized how beneficial having social media accounts was in keeping track of what was happening in my friends and family’s lives, in the community and in the rest of the world.” According to website Statista, as of September 2016, Facebook is the most used social networking site with Instagram, Twitter and Tumblr following close behind in the top 10. These are the most common forms of social media used by people globally to discuss international, national and communital affairs. “Social media has kept me updated about things happening at school or in the world,” Hearn said. “One example of news I found out through social media is the Dakota Access Pipeline which people were protesting online. The protests got the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to deny an easement needed for the completion of the pipeline, which

“Using social media is a great way for people of all ages, races, genders and nations to unite and discuss pertinent problems.” -sophomore rachel meinzer

I think shows the power of using our voices through social media.” Although using social media is a great way to get connected to people and problems around the world, it is also beneficial on the smaller scale in one’s own school or community. English 2 Honors and Advanced Placement English Literature teacher Rebecka Dibble prefers using social media on a smaller scale over the larger scale approach because her intended audience is her students. “I use my Twitter page professionally as a teacher to promote school events for Link Crew or cool things that are happening in my classroom so people know what is going on in P103 and I use my Instagram to take pictures of events that are occurring or will occur at school,” Dibble said. Social media has become an increasingly used platform to get people’s voices out and address important issues. “If I did not have access to any social media outlet, I would not be as strongminded, outspoken or well-informed as I am today,” Meinzer said. “Using social media is a great way for people of all ages, races, genders and nations to unite and discuss pertinent problems.”

make an impact the use of F@!$*#% profanity causes debate LIANA KOROTZER Teens at most high schools use inappropriate language on a daily basis. According to a study conducted by the Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts (MCLA), teens today curse more often and more casually compared to those from previous years, partially because words that may have been considered offensive in the past are now socially accepted. One study conducted in 2008 by Timothy Jay, a psychology professor at the MCLA, found that the average adolescent uses 80 to 90 swear words per day. The increase in the use of profanity is largely due to influences from peers, parents and teachers, whom students may view as examples. Advanced Placement (AP) Psychology and Sociology teacher John Wheeler believes that teachers should try to avoid profanity on a daily basis. “If you do not want students to do it, you should not model it,” Wheeler said. “[I believe] there are better ways to express yourself.”

However, certain material that is covered in school contains swear words or inappropriate topics. For example, many of the novels that are taught in English classes, such as “Of Mice and Men” and “Catcher in the Rye,” contain offensive words that would not normally be acceptable in the classroom. Wheeler believes that on occasions where profanity appears in the curriculum, it is acceptable to discuss it with students. “There are times when I use it, but [only] because it is actually related to the material,” Wheeler said. “It is not an impulsive thing; it is more planned and part of the curriculum.” Although there are often punishments for students who use curse words or discuss explicit topics in classrooms without teacher permission, most teens

continue their behavior. A different study conducted by Jay found that 94 percent of students who have been punished for swearing during school continue to swear. Junior Nikki Swearengin chooses not to use any profanity, but she has noticed that many Peninsula students curse in the classroom. “I think that people generally curse [at school] to act cool and fit in with social expectations, and to feel more [adult-like] when they are talking,” Swearengin said. “However, I personally feel like it is not necessary to curse.” A 2011 study conducted by the American Academy of Pediatrics in found that adolescents’ views towards profanity are largely influenced by their parents and teachers. Teens’ opinions

“We need to behave as ideal adults do. The classroom should only include polite and respectful language.” -algebra teacher Linda Kurt

on profanity are also impacted by media. Teachers at Peninsula try to enforce boundaries on the vocabulary that can be used in their classroom. Algebra teacher Linda Kurt, who has been teaching at Peninsula for over 20 years, found that students have been consistently polite and respectful in her class, but she believes that consequences would be necessary if students use profanity in her classroom. “There are [certain] words that I believe, if they are said during class, [that] there should be a punishment for right away,” Kurt said. “There are other words that are definitely not acceptable, but I would give a warning first before enforcing punishment.” Overall, Kurt believes that unless they specifically pertain to the material being taught in class, inappropriate language and explicit topics should be avoided by both students and teachers. “We need to behave as ideal adults do,” Kurt said. “The classroom should only include polite and respectful language.”

teachers coin phrases to entertain students LIANA KOROTZER Many of the teachers at Peninsula High School are well known for their token sayings that can make classes entertaining and relatable for the students. For example, Biology Honors and Advanced Placement (AP) Environmental Science teacher Ben Smith has numerous phrases that amuse students as well. Some of his best known quotations are “Today’s test will be a walk in a national park,” and “Grab the yak by the Achilles tendon.” Junior Andrew Bauer is currently taking AP Environmental Science and feels that Smith’s comments make the class enjoyable. “I love that after [difficult tests and assignments] end, he starts saying his weird, funny catch phrases to help lighten the mood,” Bauer said.

Biology teacher Judy Adams-Smith entertains her students through her energetic personality and her catch phrase, “Zesty.” Sophomore Jacqueline Lara took biology last year with Adams-Smith. She feels that the class was more interesting and that Adams-Smith’s sayings kept students paying attention to the lectures. “Sometimes it was hard to stay focused during class,” Lara said. “However, her catchphrases and personality made every day positive and fun.” Some of Drama and Broadcast Journalism teacher Seth Cohen’s catch phrases include “Eat vegetables, stay in school, don’t do drugs,” “Go team,” and “Majoring in theater is an awful life choice.” “[These] make the class entertaining because he attempts [to use] teenage slang,” freshman Aina Williams said.

“Boomtown.” -Biology and chemistry teacher Rob Snodgrass

“can you feel it?” -algebra and calculus teacher christian kim

“Riddle me this, bat class.” -chemistry teacher Peter Starodub “That’s money.” -physics teacher mike spalding

“Slow down, Stamper.” -physics and chemistry teacher Jonathan Stamper

student life 8

Girl scouts participate in rose parade Ailey Suzuki Every year, kids and adults alike are eager to watch the Rose Parade in Pasadena, California on television or live. Although the parade is normally held on Jan. 1, the parade took place on Jan. 2 this year to avoid falling on a Sunday. This event began as a promotional effort by Pasadena’s distinguished Valley Hunt Club in the winter of 1890, and club members would participate in activities such as chariot races, jousting and polo. The festival has expanded to include marching bands and motorized floats and is now under supervision by the Tournament of Roses Association. The Rose Parade’s elaborate floats now feature hightech computerized animation and exotic natural materials from around the world. Although some floats are still built exclusively by volunteers from their sponsoring communities, most are built by professional float building companies and take nearly a year to construct. The combined efforts of many pay off, as millions of viewers around the world enjoy the Rose Parade. More than 80,000 hours of labor are supplied by volunteer members of the Tournament of Roses Association. Each volunteer is assigned to one of 31 committees, with responsibilities ranging from selecting parade participants to directing visitors on New Year’s Day, serving food to band members to decorating and marching alongside floats. Among the countless number of volunteers are a handful of students from Peninsula: juniors Gigi Wargin and Kaitlyn Tang from Girl Scout Troop 11705, and seniors Annie Benedict, Keilyn Yuzuki and Sabrina Lee from troop 12345. The five girls are part of the Tournament Troop, a large group of Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts from southern California. To be in the Tournament Troop, Boy Scouts must have earned their Eagle

Ranking and Girl Scouts must have earned their Gold Award, the highest achievements in these organizations, and must pass an application and interview process. Tang was excited to take part in the internationally acclaimed event. “I have watched [the Rose Parade] ever since I was young,” Tang said. “I really enjoy looking at all of the fantastically inventive floats.” Tang was excited to meet new people and make friends within the Rose Parade community during the event as it is a big part of Los Angeles’ culture. She, along with the rest of the Tournament Troop, marched in the parade while holding banners in front of the floats that won awards. Wargin has been in Girl Scouts for 11 years and has volunteered to decorate floats since fifth grade, a task undertaken by Scouts and volunteers each year. Although the shifts can be long and tiresome, Wargin explains that the work is worth it when she is able to see her handiwork on floats in the parade. She recounts the experience as very unique and, after the Tournament Troop’s long preparation process, was eager to finally be able to participate in the parade. “It was such an exciting experience to see all of the floats and devoted people who camped out,” Wargin said. “Even though it was incredibly cold, it was definitely worthwhile.” Troop 11705 Leader and Girl Scout alumna Annemarie Wargin hoped that this experience taught the girls to appreciate being part of a 127year old tradition that is recognized internationally. Wargin anticipated that this year would be just as memorable as the previous years thanks to the decorative floats. “My favorite part of the Rose Parade is the creativity in the use of the flowers,” Wargin said. “It is more than a parade in that sense; it is an artistic marvel.”

“It was such an exciting experience to see all of the floats and devoted people who camped out. Even though it was incredibly cold, it was definitely worthwhile.” - Junior Gigi Wargin

Juniors gigi wargin and kaitlin tang work on making the float for the rose parade. They also marched in the Parade on Jan. 2.

The finished waves of hope float appears in the Rose parade. many peninsula students worked on this particular float.

courtesy of gigi wargin and annie benedict connor tumelty / the pen

featuring...

Taking the art world by storm Senior Gene Whang competes in national art competition

continue exploring... Saffy laurio Many children are drawn to and develop a love for the arts. Senior Gene Whang’s first exposure to art happened in elementary school. A teacher would provide him and his friends with art supplies, and allow them to spend hours drawing and painting. As a high school student, Whang continues his passion for art by taking art classes at the Seoul Arts Academy, an art studio in Torrance that is popular with Korean students in the South Bay area. “It was in these classes that I began to learn about art and become creative,” Whang said. On Oct. 5, 2016, Whang submitted a portfolio of his art to the National YoungArts Foundation, a group that holds a competition every year, allowing students to be honored

for their work in the arts. Over a month later on Nov. 16, Whang was informed that he had received the Merit Award from the foundation. “It felt good, but winning the Merit Award was surprising,” Whang said. “I never expected to win, so I was just as shocked as I was happy.” Whang’s mother, Minsoo Whang, was thrilled with her son’s success in a competition with so many talented people. “I was really surprised,” Minsoo said. “It is a very tough competition so I did not think he would win, but of course I was also very happy and proud.” Minsoo feels as though she influenced Whang’s interest in art by igniting his ambition. “I read him a lot of dinosaur books and drew dinosaurs for him [when he

was a kid],” Minsoo said. “Back then, I drew better than he did and this made him really mad so he practiced drawing a lot. Now he is really talented.” Much of Whang’s art takes inspiration from physics concepts. His favorite piece in the portfolio is one loosely based on the relativity of theory. To show time moving slower in different situations, Whang created a 3-D work with many clocks in the shapes of gears. Each gear is a different size that would spin in different directions and rates. “The theories show strange aspects of the universe that are hard to believe,” Whang said. “I wanted to see how I could represent that in an artwork.” Two of Whang’s most prominent works in the portfolio include

a detailed dinosaur fossil and a landscape with man-made creations infecting the land. “I thought drawing a dinosaur fossil would be fun because when I was a kid, I was obsessed with dinosaurs, and all I would draw were dinosaurs,” Whang said. “I also drew pollution and nature coexisting. The topic was along the lines of how to make the world a better place.” Despite his talent and passion for art, Whang does not wish to pursue an art career in the future, but rather go into fields involving physics and math. However, Whang utilizes art as an excellent relief from the stress and pressure of school work. “[With art,] I get to do whatever I want because there is nothing important I need to worry about,” Whang said.

other works...

courtesy of Gene Whang

sports

Sophomore doherty takes a lunge at the fencing world ZAIN RIAZ

DOHERTY PLACED

1924

WOMEN’S FENCING

OFFICIALLY BECOMES

AT THE 2016 CADET

AN OLYMPIC SPORT

WORLD CUP IN POLAND

THE ORIGINS OF FENCING CAN BE TRACED BACK TO GERMANY AND ITALY

YOUNGEST FENCER IN THE UNITED STATES TO RECEIVE AN

Salle D’ Asaro RANKED ONE OF THE BEST FENCING CLUBS BY THE

POINTS NEEDED TO

NATIONAL FENCING CLUBS

WIN A FENCING BOUT

RANKINGS

ciro fidaleo / the pen

RATING IN 2014

Sophomore Maverick Doherty was 11 years old when her neighbor introduced her to the Salle D’Asaro Fencing Club in Torrance, where she learned to love fencing. “My neighbor asked me if I wanted to come check out the club because her son recently got into the sport,” Doherty said. “As soon as the head coach there saw me walk in, he offered a free introductory lesson. I was essentially hooked on the sport after that.” Now 15 years old, Doherty competes in Cadet, a division consisting of fencers ages 13-17, in national and international fencing competitions where she represents Southern Calif. At her first National Championships in 2012, she placed third in her age category. “I have always been an athletic kid, but fencing is a sport that takes a long time to get good at,” Doherty said. “There are signs of a prodigious fencer and one of those is the passion to learn more, which I had.” Doherty says that she has really enjoyed the commitments she has made as a fencer since she first took up the sport. “I participated in fencing camps which were about eight hours a day for a week,” Doherty said. “I jumped at every opportunity to compete at the local level.” Doherty’s coach, Michael D’Asaro, Jr.,

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has been captivated by Doherty’s work ethic. “The biggest growth I have seen in Maverick is her maturity both as a fencer and as a person,” D’Asaro said. “I treat her as one of my top competitors and I talk to her as I would to my Olympians.” She was the youngest fencer in the country to have an A rating in 2014 and earned A ratings again in 2015 and 2016 after taking third in Division 1A at the 2016 National Championships in Dallas. On Sept. 25, she placed ninth at a Cadet World Cup in Konin, Poland and had the opportunity to work with the Women’s Olympic Sabre Team’s head coach, Ed Korfanty. “As parents, we could not be more proud of her,” Maverick’s mother Melissa Doherty said. “To watch her progress to her current level, I think, is every parent’s dream of a talented athlete. It has been a growth process,and at times had been difficult to watch her struggle, but she works through the challenges and keeps progressing.” Currently, Doherty is ranked No. 15 among other Cadet fencers in the nation. She states that her goal is to make one of the four spots of the national Cadet team, which will be assembled in the spring of 2017. She is expected to be ranked fifth on the national Cadet Team points list, which compiles points earned by fencers every year, in February.

tumbling towards Success

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Haris Rao Throughout the Azarian Training Center, Shannon Sklow has made a name for herself as a gymnast. Her love for the sport developed 12 years ago. “When I was 5 years old, my mother came and told me that my gym instructor had moved me from recreational classes to a competitive team,” Sklow said. “This was the signal of my gymnastics career. That was the first step toward a lifetime commitment that will stay with me forever.” Sklow has picked up multiple wins as a Level 10 gymnast. Sklow was the 2015 Level 9 regional bar champion and Level 9 Western National Qualifier. In 2016 Sklow qualified for nationals as a Level 10 gymnast. But such success has not come without a price. Sklow faces the realities of training in such a risky sport daily, and is met with inherent dangers every time she steps on an apparatus. “Gymnastics is an incredibly risky sport to begin with,” Sklow said. “For example, I currently have a five inch crescent shaped, multicolored welt on the back of my thigh from being slightly off center on the balance beam while practicing two consecutive back flips. Instead of looking at the bruise with disgust and fear, I think of it as a badge

of courage. This mentality just helps me push through the fear and continue to love the sport.” According to the United States Gymnastics Association, the average level 10 gymnast only spends 18 hours a week in the gym. However, Sklow works overtime, spending over five hours in the gym, five days a week. Sklow has been practicing the same 45-minute rotations made up of the beam, floor vault and conditioning for over 10 years. “To be successful with my busy schedule I must stay determined, focused and extremely organized,” said Sklow. Sklow has trained under many people such as Eduard Azarian, a former gymnastics world champion and Olympic Gold Medalist. Azarian has lead his competitive team toward many wins including three regional championships, two national championships and four state championships. Sklow’s parents have been very supportive of her dedication to the sport and have been helpful

“the gym is where I learned true determination and focus. It taught me what it meant to be an athlete.” -Junior Shannon Sklow

courtesy of shannon sklow and wikimedia commons

Junior Shannon Sklow makes a name for herself in competitive gymnastics

in keeping Sklow grounded. “My parents have pumped me up, calmed me down, given me reality checks and loved the journey of riding the world with me. Words cannot express how thankful I am towards my parents,” Sklow said. Sklow will soon be competing in more competitions, including National Trials in January and she looks forward to further perfecting her art. “The gym is where I learned true determination and focus,” Sklow said. “It taught me what it meant to be an athlete.”