Issue 5 by The Pen Newspaper

the pen

Palos Verdes Peninsula High School

www.pvphsnews.com

Vol. XXXVII

Issue 5

February 17, 2017

FINDING YOUR WAY

Students use change as an opportunity to discover themselves FOCUS PAGES 6-7

C FOR CALIFORNIA California receives a C minus on an evaluation on school conditions NEWS PAGE 3

WINTER WRAP UP Peninsula winter sports finish off the season successfully SPORTS PAGES 10-11

News

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Gov. jerry brown passes Suicide prevention bill

ANA WILLOUGHBY On Sept. 26, 2016, Gov. Jerry Brown approved Assembly Bill (AB) 2246, regarding student suicide prevention plans in California. The bill does not yet have specific policies or set lesson plans with which to educate the teachers; however, it does explain the general direction in which the state wants to go in order to help students’ mental health. According to California Legislative Information, local educational agencies will not only be adopting a policy on suicide prevention, but also focusing more on highrisk groups. These groups include, but are not limited to, students with disabilities, mental illnesses and substance abuse disorders, along with homeless and lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) youth and youth in foster care. This bill equips the teachers of seventh through 12th-grade students with the tools necessary for them to properly recognize and prevent suicidal thoughts and predictive behaviors. The bill officially takes full effect during the 2017-18 school year, although schools are currently beginning to incorporate it into their campuses. Freshman Amanda Kalaydjian explained why she thinks this bill specifically works

with seventh through 12th-grade students. “[Starting] from the later half of middle school and all [throughout] high school, people really begin to discover themselves,” Kalaydjian said. “These teenagers are making more friends and becoming more comfortable with who they are, and at the same time, more stress and pressure are [being] placed on them.” According to The Trevor Project, an American non-profit organization for suicide

“These teenagers are making more friends and becoming more comfortable with who they are, and at the same time, more stress and pressure is [being] placed on them.” -Freshman Amanda KalaydjIan prevention, suicide is the second leading cause of death in the age group 10 to 24 years old. In addition, the rate of suicide attempts for LGBT and questioning or queer youth is respectively four and two times more than heterosexual youth. The bill would focus on students of these grades because a person’s character and

identity develop greatly during this period. Safe Schools Counselor Christine Lopez discussed the benefits of having the teachers go through suicide prevention training, as it allows them to give the most accurate advice to help students with their problems. “At Peninsula, we educate our teachers on a lot of [different aspects], so I think that overall everybody does a really great job,” Lopez said. “We already have policies [regarding suicidal matters] in place, [such as] if there is a student that discloses something or there is a safety concern, the staff [will] immediately contact the counselor or contact me as the Safe Schools Counselor.” Lopez agrees that in order to be best prepared for future situations regarding suicidal students, it is best to be trained on how to handle the matter. Not all California schools currently have programs or the resources to help students with their problems. AB 2246 will now establish certain school policies to prevent suicidal actions and thoughts among teenagers through this new information. “Our teachers have access to these students all day,” Lopez said. “[Any] conversation that a student has with a teacher [is important] because I think that students trust a lot of their teachers and they have really open relationships with them.”

Authors promote new novels at peninsula RIANNE AGUAS This February, authors Jeff Giles, Leah Thomas and Len Vlahos came to Peninsula to talk about their newlyreleased young adult novels. Giles visited on Feb. 1 and Thomas and Vlahos visited together on Feb. 9. Each author gave students the chance to learn about his or her writing style and novel. Thomas talked about her first book “Because You’ll Never Meet Me” and its sequel, “Nowhere Near You.” The sequel is about a boy named Oliver, who is allergic to electricity, and his relationship with his penpal, Moritz. Thomas enjoyed writing about characters who understand each other because it gave the opportunity to teach the reader how to be empathetic. “I wanted to write a story that helps people see they are not alone,” Thomas said. “I started writing the sequel before I even sold the first copy since I got attached to the characters and wanted to write about what happens next.” Vlahos got inspiration for his novel, “Life in a Fishbowl,” from a listing of a man trying to sell his life on eBay. This encouraged him to write about a girl named Jackie and her dying father who sells his life to a reality TV show executive. “I was trying to write something that would be interesting, so when I saw the listing, I thought about Ana willoughby / The Pen

what would happen if people put their life [for sale online],” Vlahos said. Giles discussed his debut novel “The Edge of Everything,” a fantasy about the relationship between a girl named Zoe and a bounty hunter named X. Because of his interest in fantasy, Giles spent two years writing and finally published the novel. “Every year, I would write two pages for a novel, but I was not excited enough about the story to keep going,” Giles said. “When I had an idea for this book, it was enough for me to continue writing the story.” Giles hopes to plans to make a movie for “The Edge of Everything,” publish even more books and receive more opportunities. “I would see the movie because watching movies shows me what I could not visualize in the story,” junior Xander Wong said. Giles, whose writing has been featured in Rolling Stone and Newsweek, believes that his career is headed in the right direction. “I am interested in reading his book and I enjoy this genre,” English 1 Honors and English 4 teacher Kate Peters said. “He worked as a journalist for so long to get to the point where he is now and it is really inspiring.” Two Laurio / The Pe

California receives c minus on report card Alison Kim

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Every year, California receives an evaluation that reflects the state’s academic performance. A major aspect that indicates California’s proficiency is its K-12 education framework. The magazine Education Week, which reports nationwide education news, does its part by releasing annual editions of “Quality Counts,” a series of reports that rank each state’s educational aptitude. California received 69.9 out of 100 points, making its grade a C minus. California ranked 41st overall in the nation, 30th in school finance, 30th in achievement and 41st in conditions that help children succeed. Major factors implemented towards the “Quality Counts” include K-12 achievement, school finance and chance for success, earning a D plus, D plus and C respectively. Smaller states such as Massachusetts topped the charts, earning a B plus, followed by New Jersey, Vermont, New Hampshire, Maryland and Connecticut, which all earned Bs. “[The top-scoring states] are much smaller and [it is unclear] if the student population in those states is more homogeneous or diverse than the one of our state, so I do not know if [these rankings] are a fair comparison,” counselor Adam Wolven said. Education Week utilizes multiple aspects to determine the state’s educational proficiency. The magazine reviews 18 different measures, including Advanced Placement (AP) exam results, graduation rates, equity and achievement gaps and reading and math tests. According to Daily News, the justification for California’s substandard results may be because the state has not taken notable means to improve the status quo. These rankings do not only reflect the state’s educational status, but also society as a whole. Poverty,

low parental education levels and unemployment contributed negatively to the grade. For example, students of low-income families often cannot afford tutors or test preparation classes, leaving them at a disadvantage. However, several areas in California exceeded the national average, including school-finance equity. The state received a B plus in the category, while the nation averaged a C. According to Daily News, the proficiency was mainly due to the 2016 funding revision orchestrated by Governor Jerry Brown, which awarded more financial assistance towards schools that educate a considerable number of immigrants and poor students. “Resources are critical; there are a lot students [in California] that do not have access to some of the material that [Peninsula] would consider essential, including books and technology, and those are the [supplies] we take for granted,” AP English Literature and English 3 teacher Bruce Colin said. According to the Daily News, Robert Oakes, a representative of the State of Education Chief said the California Department of Education is investing more towards California’s budget to improve proficiency of the education system. Proposition 55, which was passed in November 2016, extends temporary income tax on earnings over $250,000 for 12 years to fund education and health care. The proposition is predicted to provide $4 billion to $9 billion annually, with half of its revenue allocated to public schools and community colleges. “The history of education spending in California has always demonstrated that we were a little bit lower funded than other states are,” Colin said. “Money is just one piece of a much larger puzzle, [and] there are lots of questions about how the money is spent and how the state chooses to allocate that money.”

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

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Pen

EDITORIAL protecting our freedom of speech Editorial staff In such a heated political climate, it is imperative to continue speaking up for what we believe is right. The administration of President Donald Trump has instituted a media blackout at the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and part of the U.S. Department of Agriculture, directing employees not to communicate with the press or the public. This kind of censorship is uncommon - if not downright illegal - in the United States. Thankfully, many scientists have spoken out against the order, as it limits their freedom of speech. Trump’s measures are questionably in violation of the First Amendment right to free speech and undoubtedly

an affront to the Freedom of Information Act. While the EPA, ordinary citizens and “rogue” national park accounts have lashed out criticisms through media such as Twitter - some posts of which were, frighteningly, later censored and taken down - it is our duty as Americans to be aware and our duty as students to do the research needed to make informed decisions. The EPA has also been commanded to freeze all grants and contracts - a comprehensive system including research funding and education. EPA staff have been ordered not to discuss this information with anyone outside the agency, and some EPA scientists have been barred from attending conferences to share their findings, thus evoking suspicion.

Furthermore, any studies or data - many targeting scientific evidence of climate change and its link to manmade carbon emissions - from EPA scientists are now also subject to review by political appointees before being released to the public. These choices seem to point at Trump’s own disbelief in the importance of environmental science. The new requirements also directly challenge the EPA’s policy of scientific integrity, which, according to the EPA, “prohibits managers and other agency leadership from intimidating or coercing scientists to alter scientific data, findings or professional opinions or inappropriately influencing scientific advisory boards.” The purpose of scientific innovation and discovery, as we as students

know, is to nurture human curiosity and build a better future - a future that cannot be realized if sharing these discoveries is barred. Peninsula is a community that encourages creative thought and expression. We, as a school, celebrate scientific findings and achievements, as is apparent through our extensive Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics programs. An act of apparent suppression of our freedom of speech by the national government casts a dark shadow on the spirit of scientific inquiry and sharing our passions. We cannot silently condone imposing actions meant to be swept under the rug; we must defend our freedom of speech and continue to stay vigilant so our rights will be protected.

white house considers abolishing ed Anne Lee Following the heated presidential election and the inauguration of President Donald Trump, some controversial policy positions have been considered for implementation, including the abolishment of the U.S. Department of Education (ED). For better or for worse, the ED is responsible for maintaining and improving the public school system, and its actions have brought both positive and negative impacts to American education. Many Republican politicians, including Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos, argue that the ED has only been used for political purposes, and that control over schools belong to the states. Others believe that the ED has played an important role towards the improvement of education, and that without its aid, more severe consequences would occur. The debate has persisted for years and its abolishment remains in question. Although the ED has its faults, the U.S. public education system will suffer without it, as it has provided valuable support and could

prevent educational crises in the future. Originally, the ED was created as a political payoff by former president Jimmy Carter to the teachers’ unions for their endorsement in 1976. Thus, it can be easily misinterpreted as a political tool, rather than a branch of government dedicated to providing students with the best possible education. However, its role grew dramatically after former president George W. Bush implemented the No Child Left Behind Act in 2001. Since then, education provisions have fallen deeply into the hands of the federal government, which has greatly improved certain aspects of education, such as providing financial aid to schools, collecting educational data and identifying areas of improvement. “The ED creates equality across the board and we would lose federal funding without it, especially in a state like California that is facing several years of economic challenges in debt that could be detrimental to our education system,” English 2 and English 2 Honors teacher Maria McCloud said. “I am not always happy with the

choices they make, but I think holding all 50 states accountable for the same types of standards has its benefits.” Major consequences will occur if the ED is abolished, as its removal would cause all of its programs and government funding to disappear. The elimination of the ED would cause problems for public schools, as they would lose a major source of their budget. To make up for the loss, schools would be forced to cut extracurricular programs and reduce staff size, which ultimately hurts students. In addition to these negatives, states are currently unprepared to be held completely responsible for the education of all schools. The job of the ED would need to be taken on by the states, who would need to increase bureaucracy and raise taxes to compensate. Thus, giving states control over education does not necessarily mean they will be better than the ED. Fortunately, successful public schools that rely mainly on funding and support from their surrounding communities will not be affected by the abolishment of the ED. The

concern lies with schools that will be negatively impacted by a loss of government aid. Principal Mitzi Cress has worked with a variety of schools with different backgrounds such as Jordan High School, Starr King Elementary and Wilmington Park Elementary, schools that are not guaranteed the same resources as Peninsula, yet benefit greatly from the federal government. “[These schools] have greatly benefitted by the accountability that the ED has mandated,” Cress said. “They are schools in communities where parents are often unable to hold schools accountable because the parents do not have the means or knowledge of knowing what to demand.” Despite its flaws, the ED has successfully maintained an equal standard in education for all students, no matter their background, and Cress believes that is what is truly most important for schools. “All children deserve an excellent education and the ED, even with its politics and shortcomings, has made education accessible for all children, making a difference in millions of lives,” Cress said.

Schools mandate ethnic studies classes

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Asumi Shuda California schools boast some of the most diverse student bodies in the United States. Because of these differences, however, minority students can find their traditions and values marginalized or outright ignored. In order to keep up with the growing diversity of our nation, students should know about the history and cultures of their fellow classmates. According to the University of

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California, Berkeley, ethnic studies is the study of race, ethnicity and sexuality. Classes in this field focus on the various minority races that make up the United States and their unique perspectives and experiences throughout history. Thus, students who participate will gain a greater understanding of the world. “Ethnic studies [classes] would provide a deeper appreciation of the differences we as a nation have, as well as similarities we share,” World History and Ethics teacher Mindy Webster said. “America is beautiful because of the various cultures and religion present.” For a long time, the public has been disputing the implementation of ethnic studies as a requirement in the school curriculum. Claims have been made that the studies would promote “ethnic chauvinism,” or the excessive and patriotic belief of racial superiority. On the other hand, many minority students who are currently taking history do not feel adequately represented, and mandating students to take ethnics studies could bring more understanding about traditions and customs, as well as increase awareness of the accomplishments of minority figures.

“I think what makes America special is the fact that it does not have a single ethnic group or religion that represents it,” Webster said. Despite it being modern times, many students of color still receive casual but noticeable comments, as well as a vague feeling of isolation as they go about their day. Ethnic studies classes could educate and students who are still ignorant to different cultural norms, and could help to reduce bullying and harassment in the future. “I went to an elementary school that had very few Asians, and I still remember being made fun of because of my appearance, my accent and even the lunches I brought to school,” senior Huy Nguyen said. “I hope to see people of different races treat each other equally in the future.” In modern society, some people still harbor hatred and remain ignorant towards races and cultures different from their own. Because racial stereotypes have been so thoroughly ingrained into society and culture, discriminatory statements may seem natural to many. Therefore, including ethnic studies as a part of a student’s education would not only help individuals understand the histories of prominent minority races, but also bring the American people together and work towards a future of more understanding and acceptance.

“Ethnic studies [classes] would provide a deeper appreciation of the differences we as a nation have, as well as similarities we share.” -World history and ethics teacher mindy webster

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gymnast finds love for pole vault adrian tai

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Being injured and unable to continue a sport is devastating, but senior Isabelle Beaudoin dealt with her situation as well as she could. Beaudoin faced many gymnastics-related injuries and had to leave her long-loved sport in search of something less risky. Beaudoin did gymnastics for about ten years, from the age of five to 15, so making this decision was very stressful. “Leaving gymnastics was one of the hardest things I have ever done,” Beaudoin said. “That was what my life had always revolved around and so it was hard adjusting to a life without gymnastics.” Although Beaudoin loved gymnastics, she was constantly injuring herself. During the last three years of her gymnastics career, she broke her knee, shattered her hand and was in a wheelchair because she broke both feet at the same time. Beaudoin’s parents grew increasingly concerned with her well-being and her mother Laura Beaudoin encouraged her to try something new. “We were a bit sad watching Isabelle leave the sport she had been in since a child because we enjoyed watching and supporting her throughout her gymnastics career,” Laura Beaudoin said. “However, we were overall relieved [with her decision] because she was continuing to severely injure herself and it was difficult as parents to see that.” Beaudoin’s situation only brought

about the beginning of pole vaulting, a new sport for her. “I joined pole vault at the end of my sophomore year when I was 15,” Beaudoin said. “Many factors played a part in my decision to become a pole vaulter, but the main reasons were encouragement from my parents, and the fact that some of the former gymnasts I trained with continued on to be successful pole vaulters.” In Beaudoin’s case, support and guidance from her parents was one of the main components driving her to try pole vault. “We were actually the ones who encouraged her to join pole vault, so we were very happy that she stuck with the sport,” Laura Beaudoin said. “She is a very athletic and competitive person, so we were happy that she found a safer sport with fewer injuries.” Subsequent to joining the team, Beaudoin quickly formed close bonds and friendships with the other pole vaulters, such as junior Alexa Sutter. “Although [it is saddening] that Isabelle was not able to [continue with] gymnastics due to her injuries, I am really glad that she chose to try pole vaulting because she is one of the best pole vaulters on our team,” Sutter said. Beaudoin was able to adapt quickly to pole vaulting and she saw that it was similar to gymnastics in multiple ways. “I really like [pole vaulting] because it is challenging and pretty similar to gymnastics,” Beaudoin said. “In pole vault, we run down a runway and jump,

similar to [the] vault in gymnastics. We also swing up and around the pole, similar to some skills we do on the uneven bars in gymnastics.” While Beaudoin will always remember her gymnastics days, she is able to see some positive outcome from her injuries, as it led to her discovery and newfound love for pole vaulting. “I do miss gymnastics, especially my team and being able to do all the crazy skills I used to do,” Beaudoin said. “I will always love and support the sport, but I am also grateful and appreciative that this [ending] gave me the opportunity to try something new.” As for her future in pole vaulting, Beaudoin is still undecided. She is currently being recruited by colleges, but has not decided whether she will continue to compete or not. Beaudoin is hesitant with her decision because she wants to wait and see what schools she gets into academically and whether or not she would want to participate in their pole vaulting team. She is also wary of committing to pole vaulting in college because she plans to major in biology and on a pre-med track, which will be very time-consuming. “Due to my interests, I do not think I will have enough time dedicated to pole vaulting in college,” Isabelle said. “However, regardless of my future [decisions], I am so happy I got to experience pole vaulting in high school and meet so many wonderful teammates and friends through [the] pole vault [program].”

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Peninsula families help save rescue animals adrian tai Day after day, lost animals residing in shelters search for love and companionship. With the help of people who adopt from or volunteer at shelters, these animals can finally find a family and receive the care they deserve. Animal lovers senior Ricky Negishi, junior Alisa Hathaway and sophomore Renée Yang all adopted their current pets from shelters. “When my family first decided to get a dog, we were going to buy from a breeder,” Negishi said. “In the end, we decided to rescue a dog from a shelter and visited several shelters. We decided to adopt [my dog] Austin from the San Pedro shelter.” Like Negishi, Hathaway also adopted from the Harbor Animal Care Center, but her family adopted two cats. “From the beginning, my family knew we wanted to adopt cats from a shelter,” Hathaway said. “We knew that many of the animals in shelters would be euthanized if they were not chosen, so

we wanted to make a difference in at least some of their lives.” Yang’s animal adoption experience was slightly different from Negishi’s and Hathaway’s, as it was at an adoption event organized by the volunteer

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whom I later named Freida,” Yang said. Yang adopted her dog in May 2010 and her love for animals drove her to inquire about volunteering at the shelter that was holding the adoption event. She subsequently became a volunteer for

“It makes me so happy seeing dogs get adopted and finding a family and home, and it brings me satisfaction knowing that my work is making a difference in these dogs’ lives.” -sophomore Renée Yang

organization called “Home For Every Living Pet” Rescue (H.E.L.P. Rescue) at Petco. “When I walked in the doors to adopt [my dog], there were around 15 other dogs there, but after much deliberation, [I] chose a terrier mix,

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H.E.L.P. Rescue at the age of nine. “The founder told me that they always need some extra hands around,” Yang said. “I have always had a love for dogs and animals, so everything at that moment just fell into place.” Her typical Saturday consists of going

to the San Pedro Petco and assisting in adoption events by dealing with adoption-related work. Yang also walks the dogs and rescue from the isolation ward of Harbor Shelter. Without their help, these canines would have no opportunity to be seen by the public and would most likely be euthanized. “I have spent a majority of my Saturdays volunteering from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and I would not have it any other way,” Yang said. “It makes me so happy seeing dogs get adopted and find a family and home, and it brings me satisfaction knowing that my work is making a difference in these dogs’ lives.” While adopting one animal may not save all homeless animals, it goes a long way in changing that particular animal’s life. “I am so glad my family decided to adopt a dog from a shelter because I was able to rescue Austin and give him a home,” Negishi said. “I encourage more people to adopt dogs from shelters and give these animals the chance they deserve.”

students find new lives at pen Liana korotzer Many students who attend Peninsula have moved from different areas around the country and around the world. They had to adjust to a new school environment, including new friends and new teachers. Senior Himari Shimizu, sophomore Brianna Li and sophomore Gia Morelli moved to Palos Verdes during high school and acclimated smoothly to Peninsula. Shimizu moved to California from Saitama Prefecture, a district in Japan, when she was 13 years old. She had to learn English, which was overwhelming for her at times. “At first I was really confused in a new environment and did not understand [anything],” Shimizu said. “Gradually, I started catching some easy words from class discussions or people’s conversations.” Shimizu also struggled to adapt to the cultural differences between Japan and the United States. She was confused by certain slang terms and phrases that she heard high school students use. However, she eventually adjusted to the differences in society after spending time with other teens her age at school. “For example, in Japan, we do not ask teachers questions during class because [it is a sign of disrespect] but people always talk with the teacher in class BriAN MO / The Pen

here,” Shimizu said. “I tried my best to break through my comfort zone and talk to new people at school to improve my speaking skills.” Li was also faced with the challenges of adapting to a new school after moving across the country from Mandeville, Louisiana for her freshman year. She was initially upset about the move, but was impressed by the academics and

“It was super nerve-wracking to go to a new school and not know anybody. Luckily, the Link Crew program introduced me to other transfers, which was really helpful for me.” -sophomore Gia Morelli extracurriculars offered at Peninsula, such as Advanced Placement courses and dance programs. “The most difficult part of moving to a new state for me was leaving behind my family and friends,” Li said. Although she misses her home in Mandeville, Li is thankful to live in Palos Verdes and attend Peninsula. Morelli moved to Palos Verdes from

Spokane, Washington in late August 2016. She was born in Los Angeles, but relocated to Spokane when she was young. She noticed that high school life in Palos Verdes was similar to Spokane, including food, clothing and other popular trends. “There is a lot more racial diversity here than there was in Spokane, but slang and [other trends] are the same,” Morelli said. Morelli originally felt anxious about leaving her old school behind, but she became accustomed to Peninsula quickly. “It was super nerve-wracking to go to a new school and to not know anybody,” Morelli said. “Luckily, the Link Crew program introduced me to other transfers, which was really helpful for me.” The Link Crew program helps introduce incoming freshmen and transfer students to the Peninsula community. Link Crew members lead tours of the school, host events for freshmen, such as Freshfest, and assist new students with any problems they experience on campus. “[I think that] Peninsula is a great school, and the students and teachers in my classes are all very welcoming,” Morelli said.

student life 8

A walk tO remember Peninsula students march for rights Saffy Laurio

courtesy of Sophia Goodin

because our candidate lost; we are scared for our rights and for our friends’ and families’ rights. I went to march because I have a mom On Jan. 22 and 23, approximately 4.8 and friends who are girls, and I just do not million people from 50 states, 55 different countries and seven continents participated in think it is appropriate to treat anybody less than anybody else.” the Women’s March in reaction to President Senior Sophia Goodin also participated Donald Trump’s inauguration. Protesters in the Women’s March in Redondo Beach. hoped to raise awareness about marginalized Although it was much smaller than the LA groups such as women, immigrants and the march, Goodin had a positive experience lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) similar to Jones’s. community. “Everyone at the march was really The largest of these protests was held in friendly, and there was a very close feel in Los Angeles (LA) with an estimated 750,000 the community,” Goodin said. “Everyone was attendees. Among the marchers was junior there to support each other and to show that and president of Peninsula’s Female Advocacy love trumps hate. I felt like it was a part of Movement (FAM) Club, Alexa Jones. history in the making.” “I was really interested in [attending In addition to feeling welcomed by the kind the march] because in our current political atmosphere of the protest, Goodin was both climate there is a lot of hate going on and a surprised and delighted by the diversity of lot of arguably misogynistic attitudes in our environment,” Jones said. “I think it is good to those marching. “I saw people of all ages there,” Goodin support [this] - not necessarily a call to arms, said. “There were little kids and babies whose but a call to reaction in response to this kind of rhetoric.” moms were pushing them in strollers. There Jones created FAM to both educate those were elderly men and women who could have who attach negative stereotypes to feminism been protesting in the sixties. It was crazy to and to empower teen girls to make changes in think that they were here in this protest too.” their lives. Violent protests against Trump have “Feminism in its purest form is that become more common since his inauguration. believing women and men and anyone are While some believe that peaceful protests do equal to each other,” Jones said. “It is not not incite much change, Jones believes that it saying women are better than men; it is saying is the physically aggressive protests that have we want to be equal.” little effect. Junior Elise Hall, who participated, also felt “If someone punches someone else in the strongly about attending the Women’s March. face, yes, there is a change to that person’s Hall’s biggest motivation to go protest was her face, but it is not necessarily changing that family. person’s viewpoint,” Jones said. “If we go into “Growing up raised by a single mother, something and say that everyone is an idiot, I was taught and shown how strong and that is not going to do anything. Negative important women are and how we should be actions give the opposite side a reason to hate treated equally and fairly,” Hall said. “I want us more. Peaceful protests show that we are my future daughter to grow up knowing she here only for a positive change.” deserves to be treated like an equal citizen in The majority of the protests across the this country.” country remained amicable, and many big cities had no reported arrests. Goodin believes Freshman Aidan Jasanis, who also attended showing people that they are not alone is the the LA march, feels that it was important for most important part of these marches. people to attend, even if the person is not “I feel like knowing that there are this many directly affected. Many of Jasanis’s loved ones’ people out there wanting to make a change to lives would be changed by the policies of the increase equality for all people, it really just Trump administration, which greatly troubled creates hope,” Goodin said. “With all these him. people getting themselves out there and saying “I would say 90 percent of my friends and that this is not what the people want, it is family could be affected by some of the stuff Trump is saying,” Jasanis said. “We are not mad really impactful to society as a whole.”

Music to my ears

Sophomore Matthew Barri releases extended play saffy laurio People may have heard about Cynocy’s extended play (EP) from an Eye of the Panther cameo or various Instagram posts from Peninsula students, but most know it as the work of sophomore Matthew Barri. As Cynocy, Barri works as a producer, songwriter and disk jockey (DJ). On Jan. 27, Barri released his first EP, titled “You’re the Reason for this EP.” Barri has been immersed in music from a very young age. He began playing the violin at the age of four and then went on to learn the guitar, drums and bass. In addition to many popular DJs and producers, Barri finds inspiration from family members who were also involved with the music industry. “My grandfather, Steve Barri, was a big music producer who recorded with some pretty amazing acts like the Mamas and Papas, Steppenwolf and Steely Dan,” Barri said. “[Being related to him] is like that feeling when you get a famous person’s autograph.” Barri has taken many music courses at a number of colleges. Some of Barri’s most memorable classes include a contemporary jazz camp at the University of Oregon, a course at Coast Music Conservatory and a course at the University of the Pacific, where he won producer of the year. This year, Barri is taking Advanced Placement (AP) Music Theory at Peninsula. Choir director and AP Music Theory teacher Dan Doctor notes Barri’s enthusiasm and dedication to music. “I think [Barri] is a great student,” Doctor said. “I know he is passionate about making music and is genuinely interested in learning as much as he can about the fundamentals of

music theory. I am sure he would love to have a career performing his music.” Work on “You’re the Reason for this EP” began last July. Barri’s EP contains four songs all that fall under the electronic dance music (EDM) genre. Barri’s music includes many of the subcategories of EDM such as dubstep and chill. He has trouble categorizing his music, as his style is still developing. Barri had originally intended his stage name to be Cyno, referring to the fictional Pokemon city Sinnoh, but he later decided on the name Cynocy after realizing the Instagram username Cyno was already taken. Determined to promote his EP, Barri enlisted his friends to promote him, under the name Cynocy, on social media. Additionally, he has been holding giveaways, offering sweatshirts and T-shirts with his logo to those who post for him. “I have been bombarding all of social media and making people post with the hashtag Cynocy,” Barri said. “There is also just word of mouth. I hear that people are talking about my music.” In preparations for a future music career, Barri has been sending out demos to record labels as producing his own music is a timeconsuming and somewhat stressful process. Barri also hopes to be able to work as a DJ more; specifically, he hopes to be hired to play on Teen Night at the Palos Verdes Fair. Barri’s friend and past bandmate sophomore Orion Askinosie is impressed with Barri’s accomplishments. “I think it is pretty amazing that a sophomore in high school has an EP out,” Askinosie said. “It is pretty cool to see your friend is doing something that makes him happy. [I hope he is] happy [with] whatever he pursues in his music career.”

Two LAurio / The Pen

Academic Decathlon team wins 41 medals at tournament AiLEy Suzuki and Phoebe borsum During a two-day Academic Decathlon tournament that convened on Jan. 24 and Feb. 4 at El Rancho High School, the Peninsula team placed second out of all Division II schools and won 41 medals. The tournament was split into two days, with speeches, interviews and essays on the first day, and testing and the Super Quiz on the second day. A total of 15 Peninsula students competed, with nine members in the primary team and six members in the junior team. Due to the combined team’s success, Peninsula has moved up

from 19th place to 16th place out of all competing schools. “[After winning so many awards this year], the students have gotten a taste of [victory and are motivated to work harder],” advisor Anne-Marie Voegtlin said. “Our goal for next year is to move up to the 10th slot because [it increases our chances] of going to the state competition.” According to senior and captain Anna Farias, the competition required a year’s worth of preparation. Because the competition is so multifaceted, the students were expected to do a variety of things to prepare. For example, the

team practiced both prepared and impromptu speeches and took tests and studied in groups to familiarize themselves with the material. “The kids who competed last year understood what it was going to take to win a lot of awards this time around,” Voegtlin said. “They knew that it was going to take a lot more hours of studying at home in addition to the studying they did in the classroom.” When the tournament was approximately a month away, team members study for at least two hours every day excluding Friday and Saturday. If they want to perform well, they are

expected to study more at home in addition to the two hours at school. Farias believes that it was this hard work that allowed them to win so many medals. “I do not think it was that surprising [to win],” Farias said. “Although I was very happy with the outcome, I think that we worked really hard and it paid off. We have been progressing, so our team has been following the tradition of doing better each year. I know that the team that will be competing next year will do a lot better and I believe that each year, we will be getting more medals and climbing the ranks.”

sports

Boys' Basketball

Girls' basketball

Surfing

Wrestling

Peninsula varsity boys’ basketball placed fourth in preseason, but the team rebounded in time for the main season. “When we actually started to put our head in the game and play like a team, we actually won games,” sophomore Dominic Blanco said. The team ended their season with an overall score of 7-3 and will move on to California Interscholastic Federation (CIF).

Peninsula varsity girls’ basketball went into their main season after placing third in their preseason game, the Redondo Battle at the Beach. “At our first tournament the entire team did not know each other that well, but once we started to build a team chemistry our passing average and possession improve,” junior Katie Hsu said. The girls’ basketball team season ended with a 12-14 record.

The surfing season started in early December. Although Peninsula lost against PVHS on Feb. 20 in the overall competition, the Peninsula girls placed first and third in the longboarding competition,. “We may not always win our contests, but I think we have the most fun together,” freshman Colin Macleod said. The Peninsula surfing season will end in spring.

The varsity wrestling season started with the Warrior Invite tournament, in which the Panthers placed 7th with 144 points. With a large amount of freshman students, divded their players equally throughout their weight divisions. “We all try to help each other to progress forward,” freshman Shingo Saido said. The team will compete in the Varsity Open after their offseason.

girls' Water polo

Boys' Soccer

Girls' Soccer

Girls’ varsity water polo had a strong season with a six-game win streak. Senior goalkeeper Kiersten Hazard caught twenty saves, and senior Lily Hopkins netted the winning goal with a minute left to play to give Peninsula a 5-4 victory in a Bay League game at Santa Monica High School (SMHS) on Dec. 3. “It was a total team effort. I knew we had the potential, we just had to execute,” said Hazard.

The varsity boys’ soccer season started off with a six-game win streak. “We are proud of our wins, and none of them came without hard work and effort,” senior Hunter Walsh said. The Panthers ended their final season with six wins in Bay League and 14 wins throughout their entire season. The boys will also be advancing to play through CIF.

The varsity girls’ soccer team ended their season with a 4-8 record. The team fought against PVHS on Jan. 24. “The team shows so much spirit and heart, which was present throughout the game against PVHS, especially in our double overtime against them,” senior Mackenzie Christie said. “Even though we lost 2-1, we worked hard, never gave up and never gave up on each other.”

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1. A peninsula wrestler goes against an opponent at sMHS on jan. 12. peninsula won the match by 8 points. 2. senior arvine esteva prepares for a corner kick during a game against redondo union on jan. 17. The panthers won the match 2-1. 3. senior meghan mahoney passes the ball during a game against long beach polytechnic on jan. 9. 4. senior erin kawakami dribbles the ball during a game against redondo union. 5. freshman colin macleod catches a wave at torrance beach on jan. 26. 6. sophomore Kristin hanaoka dribbles the ball during the jan. 25 game against pv. 7. senior tyler hazard dribbles past a pv athlete on jan. 25.

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Winter sports wrap-up

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