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VOLUME XXX, ISSUE 7
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Westlake High School
100 N. LAKEVIEW CANYON ROAD, WESTLAKE VILLAGE, CA 91362
APRIL 25, 2008
Lopez to Lead Through 2009 ALESSANDRA CATANESE NEWS EDITOR
Accent prom fashion with offbeat accessories and glamorous attitude. See PAGE 9
Boys golf contends for Marmonte League place. See PAGE 22
TEAM ASG: (clockwise from top left) Presidentelect Claudia Lopez ’09 with members of her board: Treasurer Logan Marshall ’09; Secretary Rory Platt ’09; VicePresident Meagan Norling-Christensen ’09 .
PHOTO BY ALESSANDRA CATANESE
With APs approaching, students struggle to cope with stress. See PAGE 14
With fewer than eight weeks left in this school year, only a few are already looking ahead to next year. Those few would include newly elected ASG board members who are full of fresh ideas as they begin to plan for 2008-09. Next year’s ASG Board President Claudia Lopez ’09 plans to make a some changes. “We all go to Westlake,” said Lopez, “and I hope we can all come together as a family.” Lopez also wants upperclassmen to make the freshmen feel welcome at WHS. She plans to adopt current ASG President Rachel Borowski’s ’08 friendly qualities. “People feel they can just come talk to Rachel whenever, and I hope they can feel that way about me too,” said Lopez. Meagan Norling-Christensen ’09, next year’s ASG Vice President, plans to make school rallies more spirited, and get more students involved. Wishing to create a memorable homecoming experience for all, Christensen wants to get everyone excited about homecoming week. Following Aaron Alpert ’08, Christensen will carry on his pride and spirit throughout next year. “I want to be viewed as a positive person,” said Christensen. New ASG Board Secretary, Rory Platt ’09, will not only take meeting notes next year, but believes that she will make next year’s homecoming game “better than ever.” Platt will be working closely with Christensen orchestrating next year’s homecoming events. “In my position, I hope to be viewed as a helpful person and keep our school plans organized,” said Platt. Logan Marshall ’09 will be brushing up on his math skills this summer to prepare for his new position as ASG Treasurer. Aside from handling all of WHS’ monetary needs, Marshall wants to tackle the prob-
lem of the unsuccessful turnout at the winter and spring dances. “This is the next step to the real world, and I want to make sure we can enjoy this coming year,” explained Marshall. Another way he plans to make next year pleasurable is by issuing a schoolwide survey to ask students what they would like to take part in during the school year. Marshall sees music as a common factor among students and plans to use it as a
way to bring the classes together. He plans to have more band performances and benefit shows, as well as lunch rallies. Although he will no longer be Club Commissioner next year, Marshall will still work with the clubs to make a new branch of community service. By joining the clubs’ community service sections together, he believes more of a difference can be made. “It really is a chain reaction when students get involved,” said Marshall.
Budget Cuts to Affect Education Locally SABRINA SAMEDI ADVERTISING MANAGER
Tennis strives to get out of second place tie with TOHS. See PAGE 23
NEWS..............................1-4 OPINION..........................5-6 FEATURE.......................7-19 ENTERTAINMENT.......20-21 SPORTS......................22-23
Education is facing a massive budget cut throughout the state. This tightening of the purse strings has reached the Conejo Valley Unified School District with a proposed cutback of $850,000 for Westlake, Thousand Oaks and Newbury Park High Schools, which is equivalent to 2% of the District’s total funding. Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger has initiated a 5.1% education budget cut across the board, which amounts to a loss of $8.1 million in funding for California’s K-12 schools. The school board has the final say in terms of deciding how the district will accommodate these financial limitations. The CVUSD budget cut will likely affect the personnel department of most high schools. Teachers, administrators, counselors, and even classified staff members are currently being notified of their employment status for next year. Most first-year and temporary teachers have been notified that the District cannot guarantee them a position for next year, since it has estab-
lished a freeze on hiring. “Budget cuts in education commonly happen every 10-15 years,” said WHS Principal Ron Lipari, “but this is the worst budget cut I have seen. Everything is on the table. The school board might decide to take on one less English teacher or one less history teacher. . . No one knows.” The WHS PTSA is helping to spread the word to parents about the importance of supporting public schools especially during a budget crisis. Westlake Warriors Wishes is a PTSAsponsored fundraiser, which gives parents the chance to support WHS with financial donations. In addition, when parents join the PTSA a good portion of the money goes back to the students. The PTSA also has an e-news alert system that keeps both students and parents informed of the school’s needs and various ways to contribute. Schools are constitutionally guaranteed 40% of the state budget under the guidelines of Proposition 98, but with this new decline in funding, the money has faded away, according to The Acorn. Measure B, the “Right to Vote on Traffic Congestion Initiative,” was created as
a reaction to a proposed Home Depot on Hampshire Road. A majority of the Unified Association of Conejo Teachers (UACT) voted to oppose Measure B, according to an article in the Ventura County Star. The union’s position is that the county should take advantage of every opportunity for increased revenue. This measure would demand large development proposals to be approved by both the Thousand Oaks City Council and city workers. The Do-It Center is financing much of the campaign expenses to approve Measure B. Revenue from new developments, such as the Home Depot, would go to support education. Although this project may bring the risk of increased traffic, UACT and other groups advocate that new sources for monies take precedence at this time. However, if the initiative passes and voters oppose any anticipated developments, the CVUSD could lose annual revenues, such as the one-time developer fee of $3,000,000.
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NEWS
April 25, 2008 • THE ARROW
IN BRIEF Reading Lists Updated with Recent Bestsellers
Choir Wins Gold in Seattle WHS choir received two first place awards and three second place awards at the National Choir Competition, held in Seattle, WA, from April 11-12. The group also earned four gold medals and one silver medal. Premiere was awarded with top honors by receiving an Adjudicator Award for scoring a 95.5% average. The total group also earned “The Spirit of Seattle” award which is given only to one school that “best represents its community and state at the 2008 Seattle Heritage Music Festival.”
College and Career Center Creates Myspace Profile The College and Career Center is launching its own Myspace site. The site will give updates on college admissions. It will also show an event calendar, college planning tips, and daily and weekly bulletins. See Carrie Urspringer in the career center to find out how to be added to the “friends” list.
STAR Testing Schedule Tuesday, April 29, 2008 Sr. Seminar in Gym @ 8:45 AM PTSA Sponsored Nutrition 7:30-8:09 STAR English Language Arts 8:15-11:30 Lunch (No off-campus) 11:30-12:10 STAR Science (EOC) Part I 12:15-1:15 Dismissal 1:15
Wednesday, April 30, 2008 Sr. Picnic in staff lot @ 8:30 AM PTSA Sponsorod Nutrition 7:30-8:09 STAR Science (EOC) Part II 8:15-9:15 STAR Mathematics Part I 9:15-10:45 Lunch (No off-campus) 10:45-11:25 STAR Mathematics Part II 11:31-1:15 Dismissal 1:15
Thursday, May 1, 2008 Period 1* 7:15-7:45 STAR History - 10th and 11th 8:00-10:00 Student Break 10:00-10:15 Period 2 10:20-10:50 Period 3 10:56-11:26 Period 4 11:32-12:02 Period 5 12:08-12:38 Lunch 12:38-1:18 Period 6 1:24-1:54 Period 7 2:00-2:30
Thursday, May 15, 2008 Regular Schedule for all 9th, 11th, and 12th graders Period 1 STAR Science - 10th (Gym) Student Break Period 2 Period 3 Nutrition Period 4 Period 5 Lunch Period 6 Period 7
7:00-7:45 8:00-10:00 10:00-10:15 8:00-8:54 9:01-9:55 9:55-10:02 10:08-11:02 11:09-12:07 12:07-12:47 12:53-1:47 1:54-2:48
* Seniors with Period 1 will be dismissed and return at 10:00 a.m. * Freshmen will report to the library
COURTESY PHOTO
While it usually takes a generation for a new book to be adopted by a school, WHS has already added The Kite Runner, by Khaled Hosseini, and Into the Wild, by Jack London, to the reading lists for the upcoming school year. English Dept. Chair Greg Coull hopes the novels will add “variety and modern literature” to the current classics that are already required. Lora Novak, who chose to refresh the 12AP reading with The Kite Runner, made this decision because the novel has appeared on previous AP recommended lists. Into the Wild, which will be an additional choice on the 11CP course, provides students with a “nonfiction work that fits in well with the transcendental theme of eleventh grade literature,” said Coull. CARNEGIE CALLS: Musicians in the Instrumental Music Program performed at Carnegie Hall over spring break.
Music Students Debut at Carnegie Hall
PAMELA GUO JENNY ZHOU STAFF WRITERS
Students from the WHS Instrumental Music program traveled to New York City over spring break, March 21-25. The students had a full itinerary, including a rehearsal schedule, sightseeing activities, and the highlight, a Carnegie Hall performance. During their stay, students visited popular tourist attractions such as Radio City Music Hall, Lincoln Center, Ground Zero, and Ellis Island. The band also had the opportunity to go to the “Top of the Rock” at Rockefeller Center, where they admired an expansive view of New York City. On Easter Sunday, students had the option of attending mass at St. Patrick’s Cathedral or visiting Grand Central Station. Those who went to St. Patrick’s Cathedral experienced the extravagant Easter street parade. “The parade was great—a lot of people just celebrating in the streets; it was crazy,” recalled Stefan Goehring ’08. Across town at Grand Central Station, the students examined the famous “Whispering Gallery,” where the architecturally intricate arches of the station’s ceiling allow clear conversations to be carried on across the floor, even in whispered tones. Additionally, students glimpsed Times Square, one of the nation’s busiest and most famous tourist attractions. The students ate dinner in the heart of Times Square at Ellen’s Famous Stardust Diner, where entrees including burgers, salads, chicken strips, and pasta were served by singing waiters and waitresses who doubled as the night’s entertainment. On the night before the Carnegie Hall performance, musicians boarded the “Spirit of New Jersey,” a cruise ship that
AP Testing Schedule MORNING ( 7:15 a.m.)
Monday, May 5 Government and Politics Tuesday, May 6 Spanish Lang, Comp Sci Wednesday, May 7 Calculus AB, BC Thursday, May 8 English Lit Friday, May 9 U.S. History Monday, May 12 Biology Tuesday, May 13 Enviro, Chemistry Wednesday, May 14 English Lang Friday, May 16 Spanish Lit
AFTERNOON (12:15 p.m.)
French Lang Statistics Chinese Lang
European Hist. Physics Psychology
traveled along the Hudson River. Food and drinks were provided, and students relaxed and enjoyed themselves on the dance floor as a DJ played song mixes. Aside from the sightseeing, there were only two scheduled rehearsals. However, Assistant Conductor Mike Gangemi was confident in the students’ abilities. “I actually wasn’t anxious at all. I knew we’d be fine,” he said. The first rehearsal took place at Secaucus High School in New Jersey. Students were divided into five performance groups: the Wind Ensemble, the Percussion Ensemble, the Jazz Band, the Wind Symphony (a combination of the wind symphony with the symphonic band) and the Orchestra, a combination of the string orchestra with the chamber orchestra.
Each group had a repertoire of pieces to perform, including the world premiere pieces that several well-known composers wrote specifically for those groups. On the day of the performance students practiced on stage in Carnegie for their final rehearsal. The show started later that night at 7:30 p.m. Audience members included family, fellow musicians, and composers. The first group to perform was the Percussion Ensemble, followed by the Jazz Band, the orchestra, the Wind Symphony and the Wind Ensemble. “Overall I was satisfied with the performance. Are there things that can be improved upon? Of course, but what defined my happiness was performing,” said Band Director Brian Peter.
NEWS
April 25, 2008 • THE ARROW
Ziccardi Places in the Robotics Competition
NIKKI FAY FEATURE EDITOR
Newborn babies have a way of captivating anyone who walks by them, whether they are playing with a toy, or simply staring off into space with a look of innocence on their faces. However, many people underestimate the amount of time and responsibility it takes to raise a child, the notable exception, however, is the students of Maria Scirone’s Human Development class, who are getting a taste of parenthood with the Real Care Baby II. As a part of their grade in the class, the juniors and seniors that make up Human Development have to carry around a life-like child and care FATHER AND DAUGHTER: Jimmy Munding ’08 takes care of for it as if it were their his baby, Margarita. own for an entire 24-hour period. “It was hard because the baby would “Sometimes the babies will wake start screaming really loud and I would students up at 3:00 or 4:00 a.m.,” said have to set everything down to figure out Scirone. “It’s hard for them because they what was wrong with it,” said Munding, get negative feedback when people see who cared for a girl baby. kids as young as them walking around The baby also has no significant clock with a child.” that tells them when to be hungry. His or Seeing young teenagers with children her caretaker has to know by instinct when often makes strangers, who think of this to feed it. situation as taboo, very uncomfortable. “It’s hard for teenagers to tune in to “A lot of people looked at me weird,” the baby’s needs,” explained Scirone. said Jimmy Munding ’08. “They were Without the experience of having a wondering why I had a baby.” real baby, the young students who have to The babies do not care how much care for their children struggle when they homework the student has on a given start to act up. night, or where he or she has to go. The The teenagers of Scirone’s class are babies will scream and cry on impulse, and getting a taste of reality to reinforce the the “parent” has to figure out on his or her immense responsibility it takes to have a own what is wrong with the child. baby.
PHOTO BY ALESSANDRA CATANESE
COURTESY PHOTO
tition was held at the Los Angeles Memorial Sports Arena, where over 2000 students from 52 teams participated in a “unique varsity sport of the mind” as FIRST terms it. Using robots they built themselves, students competed in a race-type game in which they remotely controlled their robots from the sidelines. Ziccardi, along with Conejo Valley Robotics (a.k.a. the Metalheads) had been building the robot since the season started on Jan. 1. “The Mighty Thor” was built with a go-cart like body and a robotic arm, and took six weeks to complete. Ziccardi and Auto Shop teacher Alan Grant represented WHS. Ziccardi has been with Conejo METALHEADS: Thomas Ziccardi ’10 and Alan Grant, the creators of Valley Robotics since “The Mighty Thor,” compete at FIRST robotics competition. its creation in his freshman year, but has been interested in ROBERT DILLON mechanical engineering since elementary STAFF WRITER school. Ziccardi and his team finished 29th When it comes to technology, Thomas Ziccardi ’10 knows his stuff. Among in the competition, not as successful as friends and family he essentially serves as last year. In 2007, the Metalheads were tech support and when it comes to Macs he awarded the Highest Rookie Seed and Rookie All-Star awards, allowing for them probably knows more than Steve Jobs. That is why it is no surprise that on to travel to Atlanta and compete in the Nathe weekend of March 21, Ziccardi was tional Championships. “The energy is incredible,” said Zicplaying with robots. The FIRST Robotics Regional Compe- cardi.
Human Development Class Prepares Teens for Parenthood
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NEWS
PTSA Honors Parents, Faculty JULIANE SCHRAMM NEWS EDITOR
Passalacqua to Take Out-of-District Job tor—efficient, knowledgeable, helpful and flexible. He will be missed at Westlake High School. He is a pleasure to have on our staff,” said Principal Ron Lipari. Of all of WHS’s accomplishments, he is proudest of “our reputation in the Marmonte League. Last year, WHS won the Sportsmanship Award for the first time in ten years and we won it again this year,” said Passalacqua. The league gives the triannual award for exemplary courtesy and respect during each athletic season. Passalacqua, who also spent time as Dean at Colina Middle School, said that the community and staff have been great, but “I’ll definitely miss ON AND UP: Drew Passalacqua will become the principal the students the most. I’ve been of Granada Middle School next year. with some of these kids for seven years and you form special bonds over time.” ROBERT DILLON A replacement for his position has not STAFF WRITER yet been announced. Assistant Principal of Instruction “The school district makes that deciDrew Passalacqua will be leaving WHS sion and they haven’t registered my job this year to become principal at Granada as available so we really don’t know,” he Middle School. Passalacqua decided upon said. the move to bring his family together. Passalacqua recently added the Dr. to “My wife and I wanted our girls to be his name through a four-year program for closer to their grandparents,” said Passa- his educational doctorate. lacqua. “It was something I always wanted Granada Middle School is in the East to do,” said Passalacqua. “I learned about Whittier School District and located near leadership, education, and even how their home. school administrators are influenced by Passalacqua has served WHS for three their spouses.” years as Assistant Principal of both athletPassalacqua hopes his degree will ics and instruction. help him in his new job as principal, which “Dr. Passalacqua is a fine administra- he will begin on July 1. PHOTO BY ALESSANDRA CATANESE
WHS Parent Teacher Student Association (PTSA) honored involved parents, counselors and teachers’ contributions with the Honorary Service Awards 2008. Counselor Martha Aggazzotti received the Golden Oak Award for her caring, empathetic, and friendly attitude. Aggazzotti’s involvement in PTSA includes helping students with financial needs. “I was really pleased and surprised. I received an award for doing what I love to do, working and communicating with students,” said Aggazzotti. Counseling secretary Helene Franklin and parent volunteer Victoria Schloss were awarded the Continuing Service Award (CSA). According to representatives from the PTSA, Franklin is one of the hardest workers on the WHS secretarial staff. They describe her as helpful, enthusiastic, and extremely dedicated. “I feel excited and honored that I won this award,” said Franklin. “I love WHS and enjoy working here very much.” Schloss has spearheaded the Scholarship Foundation Scrip program for almost ten years. The foundation sold over a million dollars in Scrip, giving out over $50,000 in senior scholarships. The Honorary Service Award (HSA) went to Registrar Kathie Solare for her dedication to students, parents and staff. Other HSA winners are counselor John Lisowski, who recently became the sponsor of Equestrian Club, and Karen Meyer, the receptionist. Dean of Attendance Jim Marshall received a Very Special Person Award. English/ WIT teacher Elyse Watenmaker, Advanced Anatomy teacher Nancy Bowman, English teacher Lora Novak, and ASG advisor/ Spanish teacher Diane Blackburn also received this award. Marshall is efficient and dedicated to all WHS students and knows many of them by name. Watenmaker teaches English 10 and 12, and works with the ELL students, the WIT academy students, and the intervention programs. Bowman is energetic and committed to her students. She teaches Advanced Anatomy, Physiology and Forensics. Her nationally recognized Advanced Anatomy program is oneof-a-kind in the country. Novak is considered a leader in the English department, providing input in the writing process and effective teaching protocols. She has also sponsored a number of school clubs to motivate student interest. Blackburn is involved in numerous school activities, including ASG. HSA honored parents Roxanne Brown, Cristy Kaplan, Ingrid Orr, Susan Headley and Kathy Brehm. All of them are actively involved in the WHS program and committed to the students.
April 25, 2008 • THE ARROW
UC, CSU Reject High Number of Applicants GUIN CHAN STAFF WRITER
The results are in, and for many UC and Cal State college applicants, they are not happy ones. “Safety” schools are rejecting applicants who, by last year’s standards, would have been accepted. The competition for admission increases each year, but additional strain on the state’s budget has lowered the number of applicants they can accept. Further competition is partly because of a larger population of applicants who were born in 1990. The 1990 to 2000 population increase was the largest in American history, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. “College has become a requirement in the workforce,” said Carrie Urspringer of the College and Career Center. College graduates earn a substantially larger salary than those without a bachelor’s degree. A 2005 survey by the U.S. Census Bureau averages the income of a college graduate to be $51,206 and a high school graduate to be $27,915. The state budget for the education system has been cut dramatically enough to affect the number of incoming students. Grades K-12, community colleges, Cal State Universities, and UC schools will all feel the effects of a $4.8 billion budget cut. “We recognize this is a difficult budget year, but these cuts will impact student access to the California State University because we will not be able to admit all the students who are qualified,” said CSU Chancellor Charles B. Reed. It is estimated that UC schools will accept 5,000 fewer students; CSUs, 10,000 fewer.
Anatomy Visits Medical Center KIMBERLY HA STAFF WRITER
To introduce themselves to the various medical professions, the Advanced Anatomy students had the opportunity to visit the Ventura County Medical Center (VCMC) during an all-day field trip. “Students need to be aware of the quality and diversity of medicine that’s provided by the county system for all people,” said Advanced Anatomy teacher Nancy Bowman. The activity-filled day began early April 9 with a bus ride to the hospital for a meeting with the medical examiner at the Coroner’s Building. The students toured the VCMC, which features a unique residency program, one of the “most sought after in family medicine in the nation,” according to Bowman. VCMC also has the largest Neonatology Intensive Care Unit (NICU) in the county which attends to sick, pre-term and special-needs babies. “It was neat just seeing how small the babies are and what the doctors are doing to give them a chance,” said Aislinn Smalling ’08. Marietta King, a nurse practitioner at VCMC who lectures to the anatomy class every other Friday about bioethics, developed the day’s agenda by coordinating the heads of departments and by getting the approval of the chief administrator. “It was a very full, very enjoyable day,” Bowman said. Bowman described the heads as “thrilled to talk to students and explain the essentials of their department. They’re there to educate guests.” Additional stops on the itinerary included the emergency room, the clinical laboratories, and pathology department.
WAYNE HUANG STAFF WRITER
Save the Music for Your Own Ears
As growing adolescents, students often find much of their inspiration and guidance in music. As the saying goes, beauty truly is in the ears of the beholder. Many students try to live and act like their favorite artists, feeling that it is a good form of self-expression or a way to fit in and find others who are like themselves. But it’s not like this is news. Music has been influencing the youth and its actions for some time now, as far back as jazz in the beat movement and eeven earlier. More than ever, music today has an important effect on students. Jenna Maranga ’09, as both artist and admirer, feels that for her, music is “the only constant.” She believes that “it can save the world.” However, for the youth, especially at high school, Maranga is aware that “music brings people together, but also really separates them.” For Charles Wang ’09, and many others, “music really correlates to a vast range of emotions.” Throughout all the emotional struggles of life, “music is something” we all “can fall back on.” Cliques tend to form around students who share similar tastes in music, creating many social barriers. Shannon Luchs ’09 feels that “usually groups of friends share the
same tastes in music.” So although music is a great way to connect to people, it also has the potential to harshly divide the student body. But that isn’t the worst part. The problem arises when music influences the students to make destructive choices. As Wang said, “music can influence people to do all kinds of things.” The issue might be that students are following their idols too closely, trying too hard to imitate another person’s attitudes, fashion, and lifestyle. When the artists many students aspire to be are drug-addicted rock stars, “gangsta” rappers, and under-dressed pop stars, our culture suffers. The best way to counter all the negative influences that music can have on a developing adolescent is with a strong self-image. When students know who they are, they won’t need to act or dress like others to define themselves. As a student who loves many different kinds of music, it’s upsetting to see so many conflicts and social barriers result from divisions in taste. Our school needs to put aside its differences to get along more smoothly. In order to do that, we need to break down the music stereotypes and divisions first. Above all, we must remember that music is an art form meant to bring people together, not separate them.
The months of preparation, stress, and pressure are once again about to boil over. They will culminate in a single sitting on one day which could determine the next four years of our lives. Prospective seniors, juniors, and even eager sophomores all must commit themselves to this epidemic that is certainly inequitable because it could limit students’ potential college choices and their future. “The [College Board] needs to admit unambiguously that the SAT and its relative, the PSAT, have become an unhealthy obsession,” said Gary M. Lavergn, the director of admissions research at the University of Texas, Houston. Lavergn has a point. The SAT Reasoning Test controls the minds of teenagers who are planning to attend a four-year college or university. It is a make or break test that regularly overwhelms serious-minded teens across the country. “Because the college admissions process places such importance on the scores of tests, many of these students are prevented from attending more competitive schools for reasons far beyond their control,” said an anonymous writer at The Michigan Daily.
PCH Accident Serves as Warning JAMES JEE ELLEN WANG EDITORS-IN-CHIEF
With the pressure for “well-rounded” students and the acceptance rates of colleges continually decreasing, the higher the pressure builds to receive a good score. “The standard of standardized testing will never be fair and it doesn’t make any sense,” said Melanie McCorkle ’09. The ACT, which is a logic and knowledge based test, is another option, but for many students it is just as difficult as the SAT, if not more so. “The SAT tests basic skills that you either have or you don’t,” said McCorkle, who believes that “tutoring doesn’t help anyone.” Jenna Maranga ’09 agrees and also finds that the outcome of an individual’s test relies on much more than just the basic tutoring because outside factors can drastically affect someone’s test and that some simply are not good test takers. “I have had tutoring since November and my score went down. The thing is, I understood everything during the tutoring, but when it comes to the test taking, it’s a different story. It doesn’t take into account any other variables, like something personal or a death in the family or being sick or even a relationship crisis,” said Maranga. “We’re teenagers and we’re trying to act like we’re 20-year-olds taking a test.”
When applying to colleges, each student must send his or her score for every SAT test taken, increasing the pressure to do well because schools become suspicious when a student takes the test more than three times. However, there are students who believe the SAT is a fair way of giving students the opportunity to prove themselves because there must be a method to evaluate intelligence. “I like knowing that I’m on the same plane as every other student in the country taking a standardized test,” said Jackie Brousseau ’09. “But I do think it should be adjusted and more analytical and not straightforward multiple choice. Some of the most intelligent people I know can’t take multiple choice tests but can analyze things really well and they deserve the same chance to get into the schools they want as anyone else.” To add to the stress, many universities require two SAT subject tests for admissions, which could be the more reasonable way to go, because these test the knowledge learned in the classroom, not just a student’s intelligence. “It would be better to base admissions on SAT [subject tests] because they assess aptitude in certain subjects,” said McCorkle.
Sociologists say teenagers think that they are immortal. But most teenagers know they can get hurt. This reality is forced into their minds at an early age. “Always buckle your seat belt. Look both ways before crossing the street.” We know that we are vulnerable—just as much as the average person, if not more so. But sometimes, we forget how vulnerable we can be. We are young and healthy teenagers—not even in our prime. We should live our lives to the fullest but there always seems to be some danger lurking around the corner. At least once a year, almost like clockwork, the local newspapers report a teenage auto accident that resulted in one or more fatalities. Television and word-ofmouth allow news to travel at an amazing speed, but even more shocking to us is how fast a young life can be taken away. We mourn their and the community’s loss. After all they were friends, family, and classmates before they became victims. Our thoughts invariably consider how these unalterable tragedies could have been avoided. Just recently, the community was shocked by the death of a Newbury Park High School student. The group of friends was planning to attend a concert in Hollywood, but ended up drinking in Santa Monica before heading home. The NPHS junior lost control of his car on the Pacific Coast Highway, overturning it by running it into the mountainside. The single-car accident was still evident until Highway Patrol was able to open the road at 9 a.m. the following morning. One of his passengers suffered a major head injury and the other three remained conscious during the entire incident. Careless choices and irrational thinking are not just stages a teenager goes through. Adults have been known to cause accidents as well. We can only hope, we will grow out of our reckless behaviors and embrace the responsibilities that come with age. Finally, we stop and reevaluate our lives and the decisions we have made and the paths we have taken. But even then, we should know the difference between right and wrong, abiding by the laws and breaking the law. Shouldn’t we know by now? How many times has the imperative statement, “Don’t drink and drive” been said? Apparently not often enough. “Every 15 minutes,” one person dies in an automobile accident due to alcohol. We do know the difference between right and wrong. We cannot blindly behave as though our actions do not have repercussions. We can ensure that our senior year closes without another tragedy.
given the same number of points for a student who earned a 10% lower grade. “When giving out the A- or B+ to a student, the professor feels he or she is giving out an A- or B+ while the student feels he or she is receiving an A or B, since that is what appears on the transcript. In this way, the compromise position allows professors to skirt responsibility for students’ grades, albeit unintentionally,” said Naveen Sunkavally of The Tech. In factoring in pluses and minuses into GPA, many schools use the system: A+ = 4.0, A = 4.0, A- = 3.7, B+ = 3.3, B = 3.0, B- = 2.7, C+ = 2.3, C = 2.0, C- = 1.7, D+ = 1.3, D = 1.0, D- = .7, F = 0. This would be a more accurate reflection of differing levels of student achievement in a class.
Many top colleges across the nation award students for pluses and punish for minuses, including Yale, UC Berkeley, USC, UCLA, Northwestern, Princeton, and Columbia. Some that do not go by this grading system are Arizona State, University of Texas at Austin, and Brown. If this system were implemented, students in the middle of a letter grade range would find themselves with greater motivation to do end-of-the-year semester work. They could not simply shirk off a final if they have a “steady grade” because it could easily fall. Though the students who receive a surplus of B+s on their report card would greatly be in favor of this change, those who get A-s may not be as supportive.
“I think students should be rewarded or penalized because there’s a significant difference between an 80% and an 89.9%, especially in an honors or AP course. A student who gets a B- is on the edge of being disqualified from the course, while someone with a higher B is clearly doing excellent work,” said Michael Rigg ‘09. Student Matt Tobbe at the University of Louisville believes that he is benefiting from the current system. “The difference between a B- and a B+ is 10 points. The student with the B+ deserves that recognition.” CVUSD should join the other schools who have decided to start rewarding their students for their grades. It’s slowly hurting those who deserve the recognition.
e Dreaded SAT: An Unhealthy Obsession JESSICA KANE FEATURE EDITOR
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OPINION
April 25, 2008 • THE ARROW
+’s and -’s of an Untraditional Grading System
JESSICA KANE FEATURE EDITOR
At the end of a semester, students scramble to earn their last minute points, especially those whose grades are on the border line. Their goals: an 89.5%, 79.5%, or a 69.5%, just barely making it to the next grade. However, what happens to those students who do not make the cutoff, and are receiving a 3.0 on their transcript, the same as a student who just made the 79.5%? WHS, along with most schools in our area, does not give additional points on transcripts for pluses and minuses, hurting those who just cannot earn the extra points. Instead, they are penalized and
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OPINION
April 25, 2008 • THE ARROW
Campaign Funds Rival Federal Budget Deficit ALEXIS ROSENTHAL STAFF WRITER
CARTOON BY VIVIAN SHI
Almost $700,000,000—that is the total amount of money raised by this year’s presidential candidates. In February alone, Obama raised over $55 million and Clinton over $34 million. How can we as Americans allow millions of dollars to be spent on posters, pamphlets, bumper stickers, and private jet fuel? Ultimately, only one person benefits from these large sums of money—the same person campaigning, who already has wealth of his or her own. In comparison, those same dollars could buy 57,274 households with four people health care; 91,187 individual people health care; and 83,276 children education, so on, and so on. America is at a crossroads. How can we expect federal law to infringe upon a constitutional right? It is guaranteed in the First Amendment that “Congress shall make no law to petition the government for a redress in grievances,” and since private interest groups donate most campaign funding, it would be not only unconstitutional, but also undemocratic to legislate law which limits campaign funding. America lives and dies by the Constitution, so not surprisingly all opposition to the document is silenced. Should a document written over 230 years ago, in a different age, still be considered applicable in today’s modern society? The campaign frontrunners spend millions of dollars to get votes. Shouldn’t voters, not donors, decide on elections? Money that could be spent on education and health care is spent on private jets instead. What this country needs is inspiration for a new morality. If political parties were to have selfimplemented regulations setting a limit on campaign funding, candidates would still be able to get personal votes while at the same time not violating constitutional law. With a total national debt over nine trillion dollars, every little bit counts. The economy is in a fragile state, and squandering money on television commercials is certainly not the answer.
HOW OLD ARE YOU? Middle schoolers are maturing earlier and adopting a lifestyle similar to high schoolers.
Middle Schoolers Growing Up Too Fast CARINA WOLFF OPINION EDITOR
Middle school is the awkward bridge from young, innocent, elementary school childhood into pre-adulthood and experimental adolescence. But more recently, the differences between high school and middle school are becoming narrower. With controversy brewing over the distribution of birth control to middle school students in Portland, Maine, the country’s eyes opened up to the new concepts of middle school; preteens are beginning to grow up faster than ever before. “In high school, you hang out with older people, and by eighth grade, girls are already hanging out with freshman boys,” said Melinda Peters ‘09. The influence older teenagers have on the growing, younger kids in middle school plays a huge part in many of the decisions the middle schoolers make. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, in 2003, 7.4% of students had sexual intercourse before the age of 13. And in 2005, 14% of teenagers age 13-14 were sexually active, according to People Magazine. The number is not gigantic, but it reflects a growing trend of students beginning to enter adulthood a little sooner than expected. Being sexually active is not the only way middle schoolers are growing up too fast. According to Students Against Destructive Decisions (SADD), in 2005, 41% of middle school students had tried alcohol by the time they reached eighth grade. 25% of eight graders had tried cigarettes. “I heard stories of people doing things that kids were usually experimenting with
in high school,” said Michael Rigg ’09. The increase in communication through technology, such as instant messaging, social networks, and text messaging, allows middle school students to have as much access as high school students to an uncensored world. “A lot of my friends didn’t even have cell phones until the end of middle school, beginning of high school,” said Rigg. “But now it seems like kids are becoming acquainted with technology. It’s more prevalent that kids of a younger age now have cell phones and iPods.” Most middle schools also have a strict dress code for good reason. “Girls dress a lot more promiscuously than they do now. All of my friends dress much nicer now,” said Peters. Perhaps girls begin to dress inappropriately in middle school for male attention. This longing to be noticed may originate from the increase in middle school relationships that now occur. “My girlfriend was in my classes. We went to movies,” said Michael Sadighian ’09. “We went out for a month and a half, and that was a long time for middle school relationships.” Middle school students are not only dating, but they are participating in multiple relationships. “I knew a lot of people that had two to three boyfriends or girlfriends in middle school,” said Alex Biston ’11. The transition from play dates to going out is becoming quicker, and some middle schoolers find it appealing to hang out with the local high school kids. “In middle school, a lot of people went to Borderline dances, which were meant for high school kids,” said Jamie Jarett ‘11. “Middle school kids are being exposed more and more to high school
Losing Sleep Over T.O. Blvd. Parking CARINA WOLFF OPINION EDITOR
It’s 5:30 a.m. at WHS, and although the sun is barely up, cars begin to pull into the spaces on Thousand Oaks Boulevard and Via Merida. For those without a parking pass, getting to school requires planning, competition, and a good alarm clock. “I wake up at 4:50,” said Claudia Lopez ‘09. “I get here at 5:50 and there are usually one or two cars, but if you arrive even at 6:00, you are already behind the fire hydrant.” By this time of year, spots alongside the street are filling up by 6:45, requiring students to get up earlier just to get a parking spot. For those who start second period they have to come extra early or risk not getting a spot at all. This early agenda, however, can take
a toll on the students’ ability to function if they are missing sleep. “I wake up really early and I do not go to sleep until 11:30. Also, my day is really full because I have periods one through seven,” Lopez said. The average teenager needs eight to nine hours of sleep, but if a student needs to get up earlier just to get a ride to school, at least an hour of sleep is lost. “I do not sleep that much, and all I want is a parking spot,” Lopez said. “Last year I would get here at 6:40, so it is a big difference.” If students come just five minutes too late, where do they go? They can risk getting a ticket on Via Merida or Thousand Oaks Blvd., they can park in the Verizon parking lot and get towed, or they can go home and wait to come back until Lakeview Canyon opens up at nine. “As you know, we have a major parking problem at Westlake,” said
Principal Ron Lipari on the WHS PTSA website. “We spend an inordinate amount of security time attempting to enforce our parking regulations.” Enforcing parking rules helps curb illegal parkers, but it does not assist those who find themselves with no other options. For the juniors who have to enter the lottery, the school could even out the number of students who receive a pass by splitting them into semesters, allowing students who did not receive a pass first semester to get one the second. “It’s a complicated situation. Maybe they could give out parking passes based on attendance because a lot of people who have a parking pass are truant a lot,” said Lopez. A simple parking spot can affect a student’s whole day. “I’m just really happy that next year I get a parking pass,” said Lopez.
atmospheres,” said Rigg. This exposure has caused a dramatic change in the way middle school kids act and even the expectations parents and teachers have for the kids. Dating, going out on the weekends to parties, and dressing much older are generally accepted behaviors because adults see all these aspects in the age group above them. “You are starting to see kids in elementary school with things we didn’t used to get in middle school,” said Rigg. “Middle school is starting to become the new high school.” THE WESTLAKE HIGH SCHOOL
ARROW
100 N. Lakeview Canyon Road Westlake Village, CA 91362 (805) 497-6711 ext. 4225 westlakearrow@gmail.com EDITORS-IN-CHIEF James Jee, Ellen Wang MANAGING EDITOR Vicky Lou COPY EDITOR Wynn Burson NEWS EDITORS Alessandra Catanese, Juliane Schramm OPINION EDITORS Soumya Karlamangla, Carina Wolff FEATURE EDITORS Ally Ackourey, Christina Cipriani, Nikki Fay, Lucy Gao, Jamie Hendry, Jessica Kane, Katelyn Smith, Nora Sobczak, Rebecca Suslik, Brittany Weber, Roseann Zhong CENTER DESIGNED BY Tiffany Loh, Iris Yan ENTERTAINMENT EDITORS Elyse Kaplan, Jimmy Moore SPORTS EDITORS Stephanie Nieves, Spencer Schloss CARTOONIST Vivian Shi ADVERTISING MANAGER Sabrina Samedi ASSISTANT ADVERTISING MANAGER Rachel Bernstein ADVISOR Caron Battaglia STAFF WRITERS Max Avruch, Kelley Biggs, Alannah Bradley, Guin Chan, Robert Dillon, Ellie Fateh, Dena Gallucci, Pamela Guo, Chelsea Hertler, Wayne Huang, Jessica Kuecks, Stephanie Lervold, Sasha Lewis, Risa Middleton, Kayli Miletich, Laura Nutter, Philip Shao, Vivian Shen, Sofia Talarico, Jenny Zhou The Arrow is written, designed and run by the students
of the beginning and advanced journalism classes at Westlake High School and is published monthly. The opinions expressed in this publication are those of the writers and do not necessarily represent those of the Conejo Valley Unified School District, Westlake High School administration, faculty, or student body. We welcome feedback. Letters must be signed by the writer, though names can be withheld by request in the publication. Please send submissions to Mrs. Battaglia’s box in the main office or to Room 42E. ARROW WEBSITE www.whswarriors.com Click on Arrow Newspaper from the Activities menu.
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FEATURE
April 25, 2008 • THE ARROW
Robeks Opens Doors to Student Workers
PHOTO BY KELLEY BIGGS
Happy Endings for Our Town
JUICED: PJ Green ’08 mixesup some of Robeks’ refreshing new smoothies for some loyal new customers after school. KELLEY BIGGS STEPHANIE LERVOLD STAFF WRITERS
If looking for a delicious healthy treat on hot summer day, try Westlake Village’s newest juice and smoothie place, Robeks, located right next to Pinkberry. Robeks has become an active member of local communities across the country since 1996. Robeks has been the “Official Fruit Smoothie for the Los Angeles Marathon,” seven years running. They give out 30,000 cups of fresh orange juice to the runners during each race. In 2007, Robeks gave away
more than 60,000 daily-use packets of their sought-after nutritional boosts. They also contributed to the “Save the Children” programs by way of a $25,000 donation from sales of their popular orange ‘Live Healthy’ bracelets. Inside every Robeks store there is a bulletin board packed with photographs of guests, charity events, announcements for gym and yoga classes, and more. The owners and staff are energetically trained to seek out opportunities to be a part of the local community. Several WHS students have found employment at the new
location and become part of the working staff. Chris Biggs ’08, PJ Green ’08, Sarah Giron ’09, and Josh Diaz ’09 are all ready to serve up the famous drinks. The Hummingbird, Strawnana Berry and Big Wednesday, all are the most popular drinks. As a new addition to the Westlake shopping scene, Robeks gets hectic during common planning , lunch, and after school. “Since we just opened, we’ve been really busy, especially after school. Since it’s getting hotter we’re hoping to get even more customers,” Giron added.
WHS Students Find Work at Pinkberry KELLEY BIGGS STEPHANIE LERVOLD STAFF WRITERS
TYING THE KNOT: Seniors Alex Smith and Samantha Silver perform the wedding scene under the eye of junior Gracie Canaan, who played the stage manager. Our Town offered up a funny yet emotional play of growing up in a small town in the early 1900’s.
Pinkberry, a favorite frozen yogurt stop, has rapidly become one of the hottest spots in Westlake for many students. “My personal favorite is the green tea and the original with granola, strawberries, yogurt chips, rice cakes, and Captain Crunch,” said Cory Peters ’09. Not only does Pinkberry’s frozen yogurt taste delicious, but it’s healthy. Pinkberry is not cur-
rently developing more flavors, so green tea, coffee, and original will have to suffice. The healthy yogurt isn’t the only reason to go there—WHS students are finding that working at their favorite yogurt store is a hot after school job. This is the case for seniors Nicole Arentzoff, Taylor Barone, Adam Hughes, Christy Kim, Chanel Kouhanim, Keegan Martinez, Matt Nespor, Rachel Roth, Christine Smith, Vanessa Szeto, Janna Van Tamelen, and Kelly Zhou.
Hours: M-F 7am-9pm, Sat 8am-9pm, Sun 8am-8pm
The only downside to working at Pinkberry is the huge lines. “Sometimes the line extends out to the parking lot. I remember one night it was like a forty minute wait for your yogurt because our label machine broke,” recalled Peters. Unfortunately, there are no current plans in the workings for adding more Pinkberry locations in Ventura County. Besides this location, the closest location for this sweet treat is in the Topanga Mall in Canoga Park.
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FEATURE
April 25, 2008 • THE ARROW
The Road to Prom An Evening Under the Stars
PAGE COMPILED BY CHRISTINA CIPRIANI AND JAMIE HENDRY. GRAPHIC BY VIVIAN SHI
T
R STA
Use this map to make the road to prom a cruise in the fast-lane. Drive safely!
DRESS Ladies, start searching for that perfect prom dress. Choose a comfortable dress that you feel proud to wear. Plan to spend a considerable amount on your gown, for this is a once-in-alifetime experience. Prom is a formal event, and formal dresses can be pricey. A great looking dress is timeless.
BUDGET Before you spend a dime, figure out how much you expect to pay for prom essentials.
TUX Renting a tux will likely be your most costly expense, anywhere from $50 to $200.
LIMO
TICKETS Purchase prom tickets as early as possible for the cheapest price.
Start planning your limo or party bus before they become fully booked. Renting transportation with a group has always been a fabulous and traditional way to arrive at prom. However, driving in your own car is cheaper and always leaves you the option of leaving early. Do not procrastinate; it’s necessary to plan rides ahead.
PHOTOS
ARRIVAL FLOWERS For those who choose to wear corsages and boutonnieres, make sure to order them at least a week before prom. Match the ribbon and flowers with the part of your date’s dress or tux for a traditional look. Keep flowers refrigerated, so they don’t wilt.
BEAUTY
Schedule hair, make-up and nail appointments at least three weeks in advance if you plan on relying on a professional for your look. If you don’t want to spend money, do it yourself. Leave time for all appointments so you don’t have to rush.
Prom is May 31, 2008, at 7 p.m. with doors closing at 8 p.m. at the Skirball Center in Bel Air.
Meeting with friends before prom at a house or scenic location to take pictures is essential. Keep your camera by your side throughout the night to snap final fun-filled memories with as many friends as possible.
SKIRBALL
FINISH
&
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FASHION
April 25, 2008 • THE ARROW
Love
Luxury
ELECTRIFY your evening with ROMANTIC DRESSES, OFFBEAT ACCESSORIES, and an extravagantly GLAMOROUS ATTITUDE. Photographed by JOSEPH JACQUES, Styled by WYNN BURSON
ECLECTIC EVENING At right, seniors Courtney Remington and Jake Hartz. On Remington: Dress, vintage. Tshirt, American Apparel. Necklace from Saks Fifth Avenue. Shoes, Joan and David. Socks, DKNY. Wristlet, Coach. On Hartz: Blazer, Lanvin. Shirt, vintage. Pants, Banana Republic. Scarf, Hermes. Below, Seniors Casey Kell and Sugeera Eckley. On Kell: T-shirt, Urban Outfitters. Ruffle blouse, jacket, and sunglasses, vintage. Boxer shorts, Marc Jacobs. Necklace from Elyse Walker. On Eckley: Gown, Nicole Miller. Blazer, Gap. Sandals, Prada. Necklaces (from top), Eckley’s own, Ralph Lauren Collection, David Yurman, Faracci. Fashion Assistants: Jessica Kane and Carina Wolff. Special thanks to Ally Ackourey, Brooke Andersen, Erin Miller, and Dayna Stanley.
E
ccentric glamor should be about constant reinvention, rule-breaking, and being a fashion renegade. And how better to rebel than to break with tradition? Specifically with prom, a common thought is that archaic traditions limit personal style. Now, we spin our prom look for modernity—focusing on youthful romance. The easiest way to twist a classic is to mix-and-match: according to Harper’s Bazaar, “by mixing up your wardrobe, you avoid another egregious error: donning the same label from head to beautifully shod toe.” Mix Mastery It takes sharp fashion sense to be a mix master, and it is especially impressive to use that eye for style at Gucci and at the Gap. The “highlow” concept is key. Seen here on the brunette beauty Sugeera Eckley ‘08, we have paired a Nicole Miller evening gown with a blazer from Gap. Another fun way to revamp a dated prom look is to use unexpected accessories to your advantage: layer jewelry, and wear whimsical shoes. Go for the offbeat. The designer Alber Elbaz of Lanvin said, “why not wear a short dress to a black tie gathering?” The objective for a youthful, contemporary look is to appear effortlessly elegant. What Ralph Lauren finds particularly intriguing about dressing a woman is the idea that she has “somewhere else to be.” To keep the look from looking forced or overdone, skip the hair salon and do your hair yourself. A loosely assembled hairstyle is the perfect complement to polished eve-
ning clothes. Instead, spend the money on shoes. Bazaar says, “never buy cheap shoes. If they’re not constructed well, they will literally be a pain in your derriere, your back, your ankles, your everywhere.” An upscale pair will not only allow you to walk comfortably, but will elevate the presentation of your appearance. Also remember that heels are not a necessity. For fun and comfort, you will enjoy the evening much more in good shoes. Whimsical Extras At prom, some boys tend to look like they are wearing their father’s suits. Big, boxy jackets and baggy pants are overpowering to the figure, and will kill the look of the whole couple. Adding whimsical touches to a fitted suit will freshen the look. “Thanks to Alber, we all love the bow tie,” said former Elle stylist Isabel Dupre. Bigger bow ties in dark satin beautifully accent a fitted shirt. Thin ties are still in, but too skinny just gets obnoxious. Even silk scarves around the neck serve as an elegant alternative to a traditional tie. Pajama-style shirts with suits have emerged as an alternative to the Oxford, with bigger collars and buttons, and lower necklines. On Jake Hartz ‘08 we have matched a vintage silk pajama top with a Lanvin blazer. We hope Alber would approve. Straight pants with suits seem so young and rock ‘n’ roll. For a narrow silhouette, wear a more tailored jacket and pants. Prom is the one occasion for teenagers to get dressed up and have a truly glamorous evening—rationalize your extravagance with this once-in-a-lifetime event. Never be afraid to take a chance with fashion. If you wear something different, remember what former Vogue editor Diana Vreeland would say—it’s better than being boring. -Wynn Burson
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FEATURE
April 25, 2008 • THE ARROW
IT’S COLLEGE TIME CSUN’s Registration System Provides Early Benefits RISA MIDDLETON STAFF WRITER
The day before Thanksgiving, I hit the send button on my online application to California State University, Northridge. On Feb. 1, I got the highly anticipated acceptance packet for CSUN, not just a letter—a packet filled with information on my new life. After calling all the relatives, I read the packet over and over again, hardly believing it was real. I checked out the guide to registration: it said if I had scored less than 550 on either the math or reading portion of the SATs that I would have to sign up and take a placement test. All the test dates were weeks away and I wouldn’t receive
my results until just before June. Luckily, I scored a 580 on both sections, giving me the opportunity for early registration. I called my advisor (in college lingo that means a counselor but less involved) and made an appointment. On April 2, I drove the long road to CSUN, about 25 miles from my house. After getting lost in the parking lot, I had no choice but to ask someone for directions. Thankfully I found a student who pointed the way to parking lot B1. As I parked I realized something: in high school, you rarely see someone walking alone, but in college, you have to be self-sufficient. After getting lost again, but on campus this time, I walked into a classroom
and asked for directions. As the embarrassment subsided, I finally arrived at room 235 in Nordhoff Hall on the south side of campus. My advisor called me into his office and we started talking about required classes. In high school, we have to take math and English, but in college we get to choose what kind of English and what kind of math. I signed up for Freshman Composition 101 and Math Ideas 137. Then he told me about the GEs or general education requirements. I had to choose three more classes for a 15 unit semester. I chose Psychology 112, History of Rock and Roll 183, and Theater 106. Remember, these are required classes. I had the opportunity to choose from
a very long list of what was available because I qualified for early registration. I worked out the perfect schedule for myself because all the times were open. Although I will be attending classes five days a week, class only lasts from one to four hours each day. This is very different from the usual five to seven hour days and 5 days a week that high school students are used to. After this experience I realized that the SAT is worth doing well on. Because I scored well on the SAT, I already know that my college is going to be California State University, Northridge. I already know all the classes I am going to take and my plan for next year and I haven’t even graduated high school yet.
On the Cutting Edge of Fashion at FIDM SASHA LEWIS STAFF WRITER
When the words “fashion school” are heard, one school comes to mind almost immediately: FIDM. The Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising is well known for its numerous connections and job opportunities within the industry. FIDM currently has four campuses in California located in San Diego, San Francisco, Orange County, and the most commonly known campus in Downtown Los Angeles. The Los Angeles campus is best known for its convenient location next to the Fashion District and the Alley, perfect for the aspiring fashion student. The well-
known hallways and corridors of the Los Angeles campus are filled with window displays from previous students’ final projects displaying the beautiful diversity the school offers. FIDM’s broad range of majors include the following: Merchandise Marketing, Fashion Design, Footwear Design, Interior Design, Business Management, and Graphic Design. The school is also accredited by WASC (Western Association of Schools and Colleges) and NASAD (National Association of Schools of Art and Design). With these accreditations students are able to transfer to a UC school of their choice. Many private and public colleges focus 75% on general education and 25% on
the student major. FIDM believes in the opposite, students are immediately given an internship and job that relates to the major they have chosen. This allows students to get acclimated and acquainted to the lifestyle and career they may pursue. The Fashion Institute allows a student to choose to graduate after two years with an Associate of Arts Degree, or three years with an Associate of Arts Professional Designation Degree. For those students who would like to learn more about the business and economic aspect of their major, they can stay four years and earn a Bachelor of Science. Recently FIDM put on their annual Debut fashion show. This showcases a handful of talented graduating students
and the fashion lines they have made. The show contained a costume design line that was based on the Moulin Rouge and its associated bohemian and rebellious lifestyle. The student created four different captivating design themes for her portion of the show. Along with student’s wardrobe lines, there was a chair design and an Ensemble portion. Not only does FIDM have fashion events, they’ve also teamed up with Fender Guitar for their graphic design students to create a slight competitive feel to their classrooms. FIDM offers numerous opportunities for the creative mind and continues to support its reputation through the successful students enrolled there.
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FEATURE
April 25, 2008 • THE ARROW
STUDENTS LIVING OUTSIDE THE BOX Shockley Heads To Annapolis During Summer CHRISTINA CIPRIANI FEATURE EDITOR
WYNN BURSON COPY EDITOR
In Catch-22, Joseph Heller characterizes military officers as heartless, and inconsiderate. However, the “secret” anti-hero, Yossarian, discovers is to preserve his spirit and individuality. Seniors Anson Harvey and Krystin Shanklin clearly have the spirit essential to live a dignified life, as they have been accepted into the United States Air Force Academy. A very notable achievement, acceptance into the Academy is highly competitive. Shanklin, an accomplished student and soccer player at WHS, plans to study behavioral science and play soccer at the Academy in Colorado Springs, Colorado. Shanklin is up for the challenge. “I think that life is about what you experience and how you challenge yourself. The Academy is not only a great education, but also will prepare me for being an officer in the Air Force.” Positive and optimistic, she supports the country and its effects on her life—providing her with motivation to join the service. Harvey adds, “I have always wanted to do something for my country.” The rigorous academic and physical school schedule will ultimately lead them to dream jobs. “My hope after graduating from the Academy is to go to flight school and become a search and rescue helicopter pilot.” She hopes to fly search and rescue missions and medical evacuations. After speaking to experienced friends and family, Shanklin learned how she could travel the world and learn outside of the classroom. Positive that she wants to go overseas, she,
Kell Turns the Tables NORA SOBCZAK FEATURE EDITOR
It’s Friday night. For the average WHS student, a trip to the movies or a night out with friends occupies the time. Friday nights for Casey Kell ’08 are done differently than other teens. Kell works as a DJ for Time of Your Life, a company that provides event extensive entertainment all over Southern California. “We will do any kind of party, but mostly Bar and Bat Mitzvahs and middle school dances with a few weddings, corporate events, and house parties,” said Kell. Hired the summer after his sophomore year, Kell has worked his way up in the company, moving onto more important and interesting jobs. Kell started out as a “roadie,” or someone who sets up and tears down the equipment, and now is the Director of Operations and works in the office during the week. Working anywhere from once to five
times a week, Kell enjoys his job now, but doesn’t intend to pursue it as a future career. “This is a great weekend gig, but as far as a career, it would require starting my own business in order to be profitable. I intend to become an architect after college so this is just a hobby for now,” said Kell. When picking the music for the parties, Kell doesn’t necessarily play the music of his choice, but more of the type of music that people want to hear. “We do our signature songs that we always play but we are very adaptive to what the client wants,” said Kell. Kell believes that a good party is disregarding one’s own personal preference and delivering to the client’s need. And the next time you go to a local Bar or Bat Mitzvah, your parent’s company party, your friends Sweet 16, be sure to keep your eyes out for Casey Kell behind the DJ booth. To book events with Time of Your Life, and to have Kell as your DJ, call (805) 5574900 or email info@toyl.net.
MAY THE FORCE BE WITH YOU: Seniors Anson Harvey and Krystin Shanklin have both decided to attend the Air Force Academy next year.
PHOTO BY WYNN BURSON
While most seniors are enjoying their last summer at home tanning on the beach and spending every moment with friends, Cooper Shockley ’08 will be spending his summer differently. Leaving halfway through summer on July 2, Shockley plans to join the United States Naval Academy (USNA) in Annapolis, Maryland. Since moving from Texas his junior year, Shockley has had two highly successful seasons as a running back for the WHS football team. He was a key force this year leading the Warriors to a Marmonte League title and providing a good showing in CIF. Next year, Shockley will follow in the footsteps of his father who also attended the United States Naval Academy and was a part of the Navy approximately seven years. At USNA, Shockley plans to continue his football career while also training to become an aviator pilot. “I am both really excited and really nervous,” said Shockley. While the fact that our country is involved in the war lingers in others’ minds, it doesn’t seem to affect or frighten Shockley. He’s comfortable with his decision to attend USNA, and it won’t be changing anytime soon. Shockley will be attending the Naval Academy on a full scholarship for football, and said that “everyone who decides to attend USNA is offered a scholarship.”
Harvey, Shanklin Fly to the Air Force
along with Harvey, is intent on learning foreign cultures. “There is a lot to see in this world... too much I think.” Ready for an adjustment, Shanklin seems like she will adapt well from life in Southern California. Excited for new experiences and grateful for this opportunity, she maintains that “change is good.”
Harvey, a skilled water polo player, was recruited by the Academy and wants to gain experience in engineering. His father was an Air National Guard pilot, and Harvey hopes to pursue flying F-22 fighter jets at the Air Force base on Oahu. Both he and Shanklin were recommended to the Academy by Congressman Elton Gallegly.
Global Warming Dangers Escalate to New Heights IRIS YAN FEATURE EDITOR
High schoolers may not consider the environment’s cleanliness and stability of great importance. However, because of the many imminent problems of our planet, we cannot help but wonder how our generation will strike a balance between life’s burdens and the vast amount of environmental issues. Through researched reports and hard evidence, scientists have proven many times that global warming will be an even greater threat in our lives. Currently, global warming is showing its effects in the bleaching of coral reefs, mass extinction of various species such as 70 frog species and plankton (and other animals on the bottom of the food chain), and the migration and threat of extinction of 100200 arctic species because of the temperature increase. Some smaller threats may be the
disruption of the world’s wines caused by rising temperatures, stated by chairman of the French Oenologists Association Thierry Gasco. However, there are other issues that prove more hair-raising than some may think. With the bottom of the food chain dying out, especially evident in our oceans, the balance of the food chain will be disrupted. Besides these issues that do not seem to directly affect the human race, there are other problems of global warming that directly harm human beings such as the escalating increase of allergens, the spread of infectious diseases, and the increase of asthma attacks. Joe McConnell, a research professor and an expert on the world’s iced places, believes that if the current warming trend continues, the consequences are clear. “If Greenland melted, it would raise sea levels by twenty feet, and there goes most of the Mississippi embayment. There goes the islands in the South Pacific. Bangladesh is obliterated. Manhattan would have to put up dikes.” If our generation does not begin to realize the hazardous threats we pose on our environment and vice versa, the environment’s state will only worsen and prove to be harder to solve for later generations.
New Lifestyles Add to Growing Career Trends ELYSE KAPLAN ENTERTAINMENT EDITOR
The exciting way of life portrayed in the old Jetsons cartoon is still what many perceive as the next chapter in history. A place where robots, flying cars and sky malls are a common sight in everyday life, that world is considered a picture of total efficiency. It is no surprise that the careers of the future are moving toward high technology, as life becomes increasingly closer to the old cartoon stereotypes. What is surprising, however, is with all these technological advances, the job market is booming with careers focusing on the more basic and materialistic demands of society. For example, doctors who perform cosmetic surgery are pulling in more money than ever, as procedures such as face lifts or tummy tucks are becoming more mainstream. According to The Aesthetic Society, which has been collecting multi-specialty procedural statistics since 1997, the overall number of cosmetic procedures has increased 457% since collection of the statistics first began. Others are taking less drastic measures on a day to day basis to keep up with their image. The demand for hairdressers, nail technicians, makeup
artists and high-end retail stores is on the rise as people try to better themselves by improving their appearances. An added bonus of many of these jobs is the tip, which is often times money straight into their pockets. House cleaners, personal chefs, and gardeners are also finding work easier these days with many opting out of doing their own chores if they can pay someone else to do them. These careers are starting to lose the bad reputation that it takes little skill to perform them. But some people indulge a bit too much in this new lifestyle. While the population is reaching record ages, none of that matters if they are overdosing on drugs, drinking profusely, smoking daily or living under increased stress for long periods of time. In the future, these people could turn to their wellness coaches, a new spin on personal trainers that will help them to live with healthier habits. These better lifestyles are leading to older citizens, which in turn mean a need for growing health care programs and treatments for an older age group. Not only do they need people to take care of them but they also need more people in administrative jobs working to improve their quality of life. No matter what the future holds for career trends, in the end it is best to follow the old saying “do what you want and the money will follow.”
The 21st century will witness incre we as a society will set in
U.S. Economy to Rebound After Recession KIMBERLY HA OPINION EDITOR
As you dig through your wallet for spare dollars, having enough money to buy pizza for lunch might be your least concern. According to a recent survey conducted by the CNN/Opinion Research Corporation, the economy is the top issue for Americans. This attention is legitimate, considering that in the same poll almost three-quarters of the population responded that they thought the U.S. is in recession. What is the recession and why should we, as
citizens bound to enter the workforce, care? A recession is usually characterized by six consecutive months of a declining economy, with the last one occurring in 2001. Besides the effects of recession, our generation also has to deal with supporting the aging population, the baby boomers. On the other hand, the young and growing populations of China and India account for the rapidly growing economies of both countries, which are expected to surpass that of the United States within the next couple of decades, according to Business Week. TIME magazine projects that the Internet will play a major role in the economy as more people become dependent on it for entertainment, communication, information, and business needs. Several leading economists, including Harry
Impr Davis, chief economist for the N.C. Bankers Association, believe that although this recession will be shallow, lasting up to six months, anybody in charge of a grocery or gas bill can notice a difference in his or her spending power, limited by debt. “We are fighting against the wind,” Federal Reserve chairman Ben Bernanke said, “at least offsetting significantly the headwinds coming from these financial factors.” Some ways the Federal Reserve is combating the dropping financial market is by cutting interest rates and offering a $168 billion stimulus package of tax rebates for people and tax breaks for businesses. So as the government tries to battle this recession, the future of our economy is still unclear. But for now, you can just go buy that four-dollar pizza at the student store.
TIFFANY L FEATURE
from favo As to dulge in a being, ma ize the di With
The Future Philip Shao
I walked across the bridge To school one lovely April day. Accustomed to the northern lot, I somehow lost my way. And when I found myself again Some twenty years had passed. The world around me seemed so strange So grandiose and vast. I walked precisely on the ground Now paved in platinum. I ogled at the pricey place My world had just become. Instead of tar and gum, My feet were wading in a sea Of riches now that poverty Was distant history. A motherlode, some folks had found While mining on the moon, Had made resources plentiful As sand grains in a dune. And with this newfound wealth, they fought to save the atmosphere. They built a giant filter And the skies shone blue and clear. We saved the global habitat And ended all disease And war as well; now human beings Could mingle as they pleased.
edible social and scientific advancements, but with progress, motion problems in addition to the improvements.
roving Nutrition Today May Inspire Better Health Tomorrow
LOH E EDITOR
“If you have your health, you have everything” is a wellknown proverb. However, the upcoming generation’s health is looking far
orable. oday’s teenagers continue to inactivities detrimental to their wellany parents are beginning to realisastrous consequences. h new technology providing a
plethora of comforts and luxuries to our world, an increasingly dangerous trend toward unhealthy lifestyles is gradually emerging. Take eating habits for example. Even with the warning of the dangers of overeating, between 16% and 33% of children and adolescents are still obese, and the numbers are still rising, according to the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry. And this is only one concern among the hundreds of other problems plaguing our generation, such as growing rates of skin cancer, AIDS, and diabetes. Regardless of the reason for this disaster, many agree that teens are putting their health at risk with their careless
and unhealthy habits. As just a glimpse of what the future might hold, www.newsoffuture.com predicts that by 2020, the number of cases of cancer will exceed 16 million worldwide as a result of frequent tobacco usage and second-hand smoking. Another shocking example speculated that in 2030, more than 370 million people worldwide will suffer from diabetes. And this grim prediction is only the tip of the iceberg of the many ailments of our future world. So with new experiments searching for cures for diseases countered with our harmful lifestyles, it remains to be seen whether our generation will deteriorate or if we can preserve our well-being.
And children everywhere can be Whatever they so choose. With education lighting up "Imagination's fuse.Ó But though no child now Would want to fall asleep in class I find myself quite drowsy And my mind begins to pass. And coming to, I lift my head And stare up from the ground. Around me I can only find Familiar sight and sound. I step onto the asphalt and massage My aching head. The world I’ve seen is gone, But not the future we will tread.
GRAPHICS BY VIVIAN SHI
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FEATURE
April 25, 2008 • THE ARROW
Digging My Way Out PHILIP SHAO STAFF WRITER
PHOTO BY ELLIE FATEH
CRACKING DOWN: Lindsay Meade ’10 crams for her upcoming AP exam.
Struggling with Stress
REBECCA SUSLIK FEATURE EDITOR
April showers bring May flowers— and AP exams, decisions and paperwork regarding colleges, and skyrocketing levels of stress. The stress response, also known as the flight or fight response, is a series of reactions which temporarily enhance a person’s abilities and prepare him or her to respond to an emergency situation. Sweat, dilated pupils, increased breathing and heart rates, and heightened blood pressure are all symptoms of the reaction. A milder response can also be triggered prior to a less stressful situation, such as an exam or a dance recital. While a little stress keeps people on their toes, too much can often be the result of long-lasting events and can negatively
How to Limit Stress Compiled by Max Avruch.
When You Have Time... v Set aside relaxation time. v Connect with others. v Do something you enjoy every day. v Take a long bath. v Play with a pet. v Curl up with a good book. v Listen to music. v Watch a comedy. v Eat a healthy diet. v Reduce caffeine and sugar. v Get enough sleep. Exercise and Get Outdoors... v Go for a walk. (Take your dog!) v Exercise regularly. v Work in your garden. v Take a yoga class. v Get a massage. v Immerse yourself in nature. *According to stressdoc.com
lege—but they can’t kill us.” High stress levels associated with large workloads pose dangers, like driving to school on two to three hours of sleep and risking falling asleep at the wheel or driving erratically. According to CNN.com, “If you have been up for more than 20 hours, your reflexes are roughly comparable to someone…considered to be legally drunk [in most states].” As many students also know, stress-induced hyper-alertness and sleep-deprivation do little to improve concentration levels or test performance. Every student has a unique approach to dealing with stress. Thomas Wong ‘09 sets aside time to “sit down, set aside a period of time to just organize your thoughts. If you know what you’re going to do, how you’re going to do it… everything becomes a lot more manageable.”
Counting Sheep...At School DENA GALLUCCI STAFF WRITER
Straggling into first period, chugging down a venti latte from Starbucks, and snoozing during class are all common side effects of sleep deprivation. As homework piles up and sports and other extracurriculars consume more time, the amount of sleep that students receive continues to fall far below the minimum requirement. The National Sleep Foundation (NSF) suggests that teenagers get eight to nine hours of sleep each night, but studies show that only one in five teens does. To compensate for the lack of Z’s, NSF advises 20-30 minute naps to improve mood, alertness, and performance without interfering with night time sleep. Some parents will suggest no eating after dinner and a consistent bedtime to promote sleep, but the problem is not that students have difficulty falling asleep; it’s that they don’t have time. Students today, especially those with strenuous schedules, stay awake as they catch up on homework, study for AP tests, check their Myspace, and text message friends who are doing the exact same thing. According to a 2006 NSF survey, 56% of students wake up stressed or anxious and a majority of them will spend their school day finishing any assignments they were unable to do the night before. Harvard-Westlake, a private school in Los Angeles, has recognized the stress of its over-worked students and plans to have
CARTOON BY VIVIAN SHI
Immediate Control... v Keep your sense of humor. v Express your feelings instead of bottling them up. v Be willing to compromise. v Manage your time better. v Create a balanced schedule. v Don’t try to control the uncontrollable. v Look at the upside. v Share your feelings. v Learn to forgive. v Look at the big picture.
affect the body by weakening the immune system and draining reserves. School-related activities are a major source of stress for students. Copious amounts of homework paired with procrastination spell long nights filled with frantic studying for those who put off work. “Procrastinating…[is] where most stress comes from,” said Jennifer Fang ’09. Danaka Reaney ’10 agreed, saying that it is essential “to separate work time from play time!” Are schools responsible for helping keep students’ stress levels low? The amount of work students are faced with often varies depending on their teachers, according to Fang. Jonathan Kotzin ’08 said administrators face a double-edged sword. “[Schools] have to prepares us for the next step—col-
a “Sleep Week” beginning May 2. Class is scheduled to start later and a large lounge will be filled with cots so students can nap before class. The idea, which originated in the athletic department, aims to restore lost hours of sleep and hopefully encourage better sleeping habits among students. An NSF study revealed that one in five students falls asleep during class, and this does not include those who sit in class with their eyes closed, fighting to keep their head up. High school students need sleep. Attempting to balance schoolwork, a job, family responsibilities, and extracurricular activities, students need the energy that sleep provides.
I’ve dug my way into this hole and must admit the fault is wholly mine for falling in this deep. But I don’t know how I can keep on digging when the dirt refrains from being moved; it gives me pains to watch my efforts go to waste when down does fall this muddy paste. The progress I have thus put in seems futile when the careless wind might, in an instant, blow away the product of my labor’s day. My hole of dirt is drowned with stress, and there are times I can’t repress the fear that all the things I do will not be done in time. For you the day to come knows start and end, but every day for me does tend to stray to cold infinity. At times the sun does fail to set, and sometimes moons refuse to let the morning prove the day is done, or prove another has begun. When I am trapped as I am now, it seems each day’s forgotten how to pass the torch on to the next. Like me, tomorrow is perplexed. Procrastination rules down here. It never fails to place a smear of shame upon my tired cheek, and spreading, turns my vision bleak. The viscous sludge that covers me grows faster than I can remove; it will not to the lesser move, defying all my labor’s hours. Please teach me how to take these towers of labors and to make them none, if even one by sluggish one. Well through the earth, I’ll thrust my spade if thrust, by decades, dirt might fade. Oh, break my stubborn stagnancy, and I will dig until the sea of hope adorns my earthen rent, with glistening acknowledgement; until my impotence concedes to progress, how my stressful deeds accumulate prodigiously. So what to do? I’m caged in here; my fortune’s run awry, I fear! I need to find a guiding light to let me turn my crumbling sight into a view as unconfined as thought within a fertile mind. My dear, good friend, please lend me help for lost and helpless, I do yelp! Oh please do teach, I beg of thee! Please show me how to pack this dirt securely that I might convert the landslide, pending, to a ledge of solid ground to rest my dredge. Reveal to me the keen techniques to pass me through these countless weeks of drudgery and lack of sleep. Your crop of secrets I will reap: refreshment in a quarter hour, I’ll learn to take these “naps of power”; and specks of gold within the mud will tend the fire in my blood. Please teach me watchful vigilance to catch each passing chance to mince the hopeless task before my eye into a thousand I might try, and teach an inch that I might prove, the dirt each now and then did move. The only thing you need not teach, which lies within determined reach, is strength of mind and strength of soul. I’ll labor ever toward my goal: to free my mind, to free my soul, to free me from this wretched hole. I’ll take your wise and helping hand. I will escape this viscous sand. With your assistance, night gives way to day. Each sunlit summer day attests that hole that once encased that stress of mine will be erased.
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FEATURE
April 25, 2008 • THE ARROW
Evaluating the Educators Merit Pay Offers Unsatisfactory Solution VIVIAN SHEN STAFF WRITER
CARTOON BY VIVIAN SHI
For all the effort teachers put into their jobs—hours and hours of grading papers, writing lesson plans, and nurturing the brains of pupils—they are notoriously underpaid. Teachers get paid an average annual salary of $60,306, according to the California Department of Education. Currently, a teacher is paid based on years of experience teaching. Governments are trying to increase teachers’ salaries for the work they do, but their solution—merit pay—isn’t working so well. Merit pay determines salary based on teacher performance, or how good he or she is. Most merit pay plans so far have not been successful because they have been implemented without teacher input. The drawback is that paying according to “good” teaching is unfair because everyone defines “good” teaching differently. Certain states have already begun their efforts towards merit pay. In Colorado, part of a teacher’s pay is based on helping students meet individual learning targets. In Florida, the old plan of Special Teachers Are Rewarded (STAR) failed because most teachers strongly opposed the system being based on test scores. In
2007, STAR was replaced by Merit Award Program (MAP), which had districts look at improvement rates, but bonuses had to be based on complicated tables that a state contractor developed. Another problem arises with merit pay for teachers; they could get competitive and the relationship of helping each other will be severed. Teachers are furious that there’s a possibility that they could be pitted against one another for money. Some people argue that instead of paying only some teachers more, districts should just increase all teachers’ salaries. New York City created a proposal program that doesn’t replace the current salary program; instead it just adds bonuses. Schools can qualify if 55% of the union members and the principal vote in favor. The bonus would go to an entire school, not individual teachers. This avoids competition between teachers for more pay rewards. The prospect that more money would increase motivation to get better testing results is insulting to a teacher’s moral values. Math teacher Eve-Marie Williams said, “[Awards] don’t motivate me to work harder to be a good teacher, but rather [encourage me to continue] doing what I’ve been doing.” Even if merit pay were to
BAD TEACHER: Does this low pay properly influence a “bad teacher”? Would something like this actually motivate a teacher to “work harder?”
proceed, what would happen to the schools that have fewer qualified teachers? Parents want the best teachers for their children, as can be seen with frequent visits to counselors to switch into a different class. If a school only has a few adequate teachers, that school could get closed down because no one would go, and student attendance would drop.
The Good, The Bad, and the Teacher VIVIAN SHI STAFF WRITER
Many students wake up groggy-eyed and tousle-haired to try and cram their brains full with complicated school curriculum. Unfortunately, much of that information will begin to fade away as the day progresses. However, the students who do remember mostly owe it to the teachers that successfully hammer it in. There are always rumors of certain teachers whose names trigger groans from the students. Then there are those teachers whom students greet with vigorous enthusiasm. Both types of teachers make up every school faculty, and students seem to have their own ways of differentiating between the two. Students and teachers have characteristics that they look for in teachers. “[Teachers] must teach leadership and discipline, and at the same time be fun and laid back” said Carlos Orellana ‘10. “They should be motivating and inspiring, teaching the students to move forward.” “And you know, there are teachers who are really strict, but just because they’re hard doesn’t mean that they aren’t good teachers,” Orellana added. “Teachers [need to know how to] insert a little humor. They shouldn’t be stuck up or talk too slow, and when you ask a question they should listen and actu-
ally try to help you,” said Nicole Scholey ‘11. “Teachers should be people who can relate to their students and can admit that they are wrong,” said Cryschelle Jeffery ‘10. “Some teachers are too smart and expect their students to understand the material the first time around. Teachers have to have patience to ensure each and every student understands. That makes an ideal teacher. A teacher who is someone that leaves questions unanswered, who can’t control their class, is definitely a bad teacher.” “I believe in general, teachers should have years of experience, like Patenaude. They have to ‘force’ students to learn. Without enough experience or exposure to the language of their subject, it’s almost impossible,” Michael Jee ‘11 said. “I think I would be a good teacher,” said Alvin Sun ‘09, “I would try to make class interesting to students, like Baldwin. He yells stuff like ‘Brown versus Board! This is HUGE!’ He just makes it really interesting. You just remember the loud and boisterous stuff and it helps leave an impression.” “I don’t like teachers who are too routine. Worksheet after worksheet. There needs to be interaction between a teacher and his or her students. They learn better that way,” said Sun. In teachers’ eyes, the characteristics that determine the qual-
ity of a teacher are relatively similar. “[Teachers] need a sense of humor, a knowledge of the subject, and it also helps to enjoy working with students. Sometimes you get someone who is brilliant but he or she can’t translate complex ideas into a simpler form. That’s no good,” said chemistry teacher Henry Rollins. Teachers need “care and compassion, some organizational skills, a strong sense of humor, a strong sense of his or her own self worth, and a very supportive spouse,” said physical education teacher Richard Fong with a smile. “You can’t let little things get to you.” With regards to his own teaching, Fong said “I’m always trying to improve my classes. I take classes myself and I’m always reading up on the subjects that I teach. I talk to other teachers in the same area and get their advice. By doing this, I’m not only trying to increase my knowledge of the subject, but also trying to increase my skills as a teacher.” “I think a [good teacher] is someone who can explain things in a clear and interesting way. Another important characteristic is having respect for students. Unfortunately, the characteristics that make a good teacher are so hard to measure. That is the difficulty with merit pay: often the thing that can be measured doesn’t really measure the teacher’s worth,” math teacher Janice Prezzano said.
The National Education Association (NEA) has set up three things to avoid: pay based on student test scores, more pay for hard-to-fill subjects, and pay based on subjective evaluation by students. Merit pay based on test scores isn’t accurate enough to reflect “good teaching” because a student’s scores are affected by
several surrounding influences such as family income, state test quality, and school quality. More pay for hard-to-fill subjects might give some people the idea that some subjects are more important that others, and NEA doesn’t want to encourage that. The NEA believes that student evaluation should help improve learning, not pay.
Teacher Assessments Encourage Effective Instruction
KIMBERLY HA STAFF WRITER
an evaluation year, which is every two years, one from an ad“Teacher, you gave me a B+ ministrator and another from the again!” you might say after your department chair. The evaluator teacher passes back the tests. “I spends 20-35 minutes observing don’t get his grading system.” in the classroom and then meets However, students aren’t the with the teacher to review the lesonly ones who are graded. Under son. state law, teachers are “graded,” “It’s more of a meeting, an or evaluated during formal ob- opportunity to point out ‘Oh, this servations by their superiors, was effective,’” said Passalacqua. which at WHS are the adminisIn addition to theses quality tration and department chairs. checks, teachers are required to Principal Ron Lipari and the complete a number of hours (apdeans look proximately for the teachsix to 12) per ing qualities “I also want to see year in staff as outlined in development the Standards what [the teacher] does or conferencfor Teaching as part of when [the students] es Profession. their contract. S o m e don’t learn; the adjust- This requireof the points ment can be are “engag- ing.” fulfilled by Drew Passalacqua a t t e n d i n g ing and supporting all Assistant Principal teachers’ constudents in ferences and learning,” district-wide “understanding, and organizing staff development days. subject matter for student learnNewer teachers also undering,” and “assessing student go the Beginning Teachers’ Suplearning,” so the primary goal is port and Assessment (BTSA), a student learning. state program run by the district “I look for questioning and where each teacher receives supchecking for understanding,” port provided by a mentor—an said Drew Passalacqua, Assis- experienced teacher. tant Principal of Instruction. “I The BTSA lasts for two years, also want to see what [the teach- after which the teacher must pass er] does when [the students] to get his or her teacher credendon’t learn; the adjusting.” Other tial. criteria are “a good agenda and “Research shows that teachpacing of lesson.” ers working together leads to The district requires teachers more effective instruction,” said to have two observations during Lipari. “Collaboration is key.”
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FEATURE
April 25, 2008 • THE ARROW
Living the Life Of Luxury
spend on their phones costs their parents more money. Whether Clothes, cell phones, iPods, it be text messaging, making a cars—“Daddy, I need more mon- phone call, or surfing the internet, ey!” Here at WHS, many students it is bound to cost money. Cars have gained a great are privileged enough to have luxuries that they have not had level of importance with those who attend WHS, even with the to pay for. As new technology emerges youngest students. In all three grade levels, the in society, it takes a financial toll on teens. Some items once seen as number of students that pay for modern luxuries are now viewed gas are outnumbered by those whose paras everyday neents take care cessities because Several students who of the cost. of high teen demand. attend WHS have the What these students are At WHS unaware of students have privilege of living been brain- luxuriously without is the cost of gas is washed to beclimbing at lieve that they lifting a finger. increasing need all the latrates. With est gadgets. The expenses for all these so-called every approaching week no one necessities can create a moment can be sure what the price of gas will be, and we will not be seeing of reckoning, especially when A recent poll of sophomores, a decrease any time soon. Many students have the juniors, and seniors discovered that while most students have mindset that cars are a necessity the cell phone staple, the larger and therefore they expect to own items, such as the car, arrive after one. Like those who appear on the popular show on MTV, My a couple of years. According to the poll, most Super Sweet 16, spoiled teenagstudents do not pay for their own ers expect anything and everyphone bill and what they do not thing they want. Unfortunately realize is that every minute they this show appeals to the teen age
The Material Life
SOFIA TALARICO STAFF WRITER
Percent who own cell phones
Percent who have a car
Percent who paid for their car
Percent who pay for gas
Percent who have a paying job
Sophomores
92%
30%
1%
46%
23%
Juniors
98%
72%
1%
37%
36%
Seniors
94%
85%
11%
40%
61%
In total, 92 sophomores, 53 juniors, and 67 seniors participated in the poll.
group, 12-18. From watching these shows featuring overly privileged children, most teens have higher expectations. Several students who attend WHS have the privilege of living well without assuming responsibility for the costs of their
Students Search for Summer Jobs JESSICA KANE FEATURE EDITOR
As students count down the days until summer vacation, many are already looking for summer jobs to refill and supplement their wallets. For everyday expenses, many teenagers will need a substantial amount just to get by. With gas prices rising, more teens driving, and the constant need for entertainment, the more money an individual needs. Some students get a monthly allowance to learn money management and how to prioritize their every day
Clothing:
necessities. Others have a job to earn extra pocket money in a world where we are spending more money than ever before. It is understandable when a student does not wish to keep a job during the school year to manage their grades, but summer is an excellent opportunity to meet new people and earn some extra cash. The average high school student spends $104 dollars every week during the school year for gas, food, and weekend activities, but with summer approaching, that number increases dramatically. How can some students manage to pay for
everything they purchase? Many resort to finding a summer job, and our community has plentiful opportunities for high school students. A job can also give someone a set schedule for summer, and something to make them wake up each day. There are many options, but individuals must know what would interest them, whether it be clothes, entertainment, food, or something else. Some WHS students shared where they work and other details to aid others in finding a summer job.
Where Do You Work?
Marina Gavryushkina ‘09 works at T.J. Maxx: “It’s very challenging but it’s worth it because you’re able to work a lot of hours a week and it’s good work experience.” Aria DiGiovanni ‘09 has been working at M. Fredric Baby for two months for $8/hour: “I work a lot, so it’s a good job if you are willing to spend a lot of time there. I also work with a friend which makes it easier to get a shift change.” Office Work: Johanna Lacoste ‘09 manages to keep two jobs. She is a receptionist for BMW, earning $10/hour, and at Artagraphix, a local art gallery, where she earns $8/hour plus commission: “Working closely with the artists is interesting to get their views on their pieces and relate their views to the customers.” Annelyse Bansbach ‘10, works at an orthopedic surgeon’s office where she earns $10/hour. She enjoys it, “but it’s a lot of hours.” Food: Leo Hei ‘09 is currently working at Pinkberry for $8/hour: “It’s a great summer job because you get to see people you know all the time, and of course, you get free Pinkberry.” Ryan Porush ‘08 has been working at Starbucks for a year and a half and now makes approximately $9/hour. “It’s hard at first, but I get almost $2/hour in tips, so it’s worth it.” Other: Jordan Webber ‘09 has worked at Anza Animal Clinic. For animal lovers, it is a great opportunity: “I like it, and I like dealing with the animals.” She earns $8/hour to work in an environment she loves.
expenses. Students are not aware that the time will come when they must work for what they want and that the things they are most used to owning cost money. Often the starting salary of first jobs are insufficient to cover basic expenses.
Juniors and seniors are the most likely to find jobs. Students who assume the responsibility of paying for some of their expenses—even if on a small scale at first—recognize that their parents will not be willing or able to take care of every little desire forever.
Colleges Increase Merit-based Financial Aid LAURA NUTTER STAFF WRITER
Finishing four hard years of high school can be one of the most rewarding experiences in life. But when it is time to go to college and pay tuition, the reality of college expenses sets in. Students are overly stressed when it comes to the high school and college workload. Paying college tuition can be a challenge for both parents and students. As college tuition continually rises, colleges become more willing to help students pay the monstrous costs. Many colleges started new programs this fall that have them freezing tuition and providing more grants and fewer loans. Colleges are also figuring out a solution to reduce the amount families pay for college, known as the expected family contribution. In the past, colleges tended to help low-income families with financial needs, but now colleges offer assistance to wealthier families as well. Huge endowments and investment gains are responsible for the increased generosity. The
universities can afford to provide more assistance than they have in the past. The range of expected costs for colleges, including tuition, living expenses, and room and board, is approximately $45,000 for private schools and $23,000 for public schools. Many colleges attract students based on their financial aid programs. Emory University in Georgia started a new program called Emory Advantage that is giving out grants offering federal need-base loans for families with annual incomes up to $100,000. If a student does not get a scholarship, he or she could try to negotiate with the financial aid office. Student loans, scholarships by other means, and home equity lines of credit can also be other possibilities. Other colleges that expanded their programs to help ease student financial burdens are Harvard University in Massachusetts, Yale University in Connecticut, Davidson College in North Carolina, Stanford University in California, and University of Texas at Dallas. Stanford University tops the list as the most expensive.
Reminder for Seniors Return your completed green senior questionnaire to Room 42E by Friday, May 2.
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FEATURE
April 25, 2008 • THE ARROW
Teens “Juice Up” with Steroids CHELSEA HERTLER JESSICA KUECKS STAFF WRITERS
GRAPHIC BY VIVIAN SHI
Prostate cancer, baldness, stunted growth—with all the negative effects of steroid use, it is a wonder that anyone would resort to using the drug. So why is there a rise in teenage steroid use? The answer is outside pressure. According to Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research, the reasons for steroid use include frustration, curiosity, psychological effects, peer pressure, and approval. Students overall are not satisfied with their body image. Therefore, they resort to unnatural means to stay competitive and to feel confident in one’s appearance. “These students cling to the Neanderthal ideal that their selfworth is tied to their body image. The steroid use is motivated by the feelings of inadequacy. Luckily they won’t pass this mindset onto their children because steroids make you sterile,” said Morgan Mathias ‘08. Annals of Internal Medicine recently published the results of a study, citing “those taking the hormone gained some muscle mass but showed no increase in strength or athletic performance.” The risks of using the drugs outweigh the benefits. Teens, especially athletes, looking for a quick performance edge often overlook the harmful effects of steroids and their illegal status. Steroid use is worse in teens who have not reached full growth than in adults. The use of steroids affects one’s personality as well as physical health, but teens who use the drugs think bulking up will help them excel in sports. “Most women are encouraged to be pretty or thin, but men are expected to be masculine, strong, and physically fit,” observed Mike Westerdal of www.CriticalBench.com. The numerous celebrity athletes who admit to drug use are influencing teenagers. These role models make teenagers believe enhancers are safe and acceptable. In reality, they are anything but safe. These sport professionals have a duty to set good examples for the young players that look up to them for guidance. When a person’s role model has achieved colossal success from using steroids, it is hard to convince oneself that the drugs are detrimental to the body. Jose Canseco describes his experiences with steroids in Juiced: Wild Times, Rampant ‘Roids, Smash Hits, and How Baseball Got Big. “Testing is an unrealistic option for California because of the cost and the number of athletes,” said CIF Assistant Executive Director Roger Blake in 2005. There are 1,400 high schools in California and to develop an effective test would be too costly. And given the current budget cut in Sacramento, it just doesn’t seem feasible at this time. Florida, Illinois, New Jersey, and Texas have mandated drug testing policies in high schools for steroids, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures. But are these policies enough? The way to end the use of steroids in high schools is through education, to eliminate it in the professional world, and to get the idea through to the teenagers that “bigger is not better.”
MODESTY REVELATION: Risque clothing styles might not be the next big thing if modesty groups around the country have a say.
Bringing Some Modesty Back KATELYN SMITH FEATURE EDITOR
Although it has been years since women were given the right to vote, young girls are regressing. What has become of the liberated women in today’s society? In our generation today “you start to believe that as a girl, it’s your sexual power—not your talent, brains, or ambition—that counts most,” said Marina Khidekel of Cosmo Girl. Why do young girls need to feel “sexy” in high school? It could possibly be linked to our overly sexualized generation that is filled with artists claiming to bring “sexy back.” But mainly, our society is to blame, since we have changed our views on sexuality, especially in the case of teenage girls. Parents and teachers of today’s teenagers do not seem to have a problem with low-cut tops and low-rise jeans that show off assets young girls
should be covering. “Girls who strive to achieve this narrow version of ‘sexy’ risk defining themselves only by their appeal to guys, while their interests and talents and desires go unexplored and unnoticed,” said Lyn Mikel Brown, the co-author of Packaging Girlhood: Rescuing Our Daughters from Marketers’ Schemes. WHS’ school dress code states that “attire which is revealing, skin-tight, or which distracts from the educational mission of the school [is not allowed].” These rules against dressing in a “sexy” manner prove that fashions and attitudes young girls display with their bodies are the exact opposite of modest. “Experts say that seeing your body as a sexual object not only affects how you dress, but how you act,” said Khidekel. Stores like Abercrombie & Fitch and Hollister Co. seem to create clothing lines that barely cover a girl’s body, yet our local population of girls cannot seem
to get enough of these clothes. To make things worse, Abercrombie Kids recently opened beside the Abercrombie & Fitch store in the Oaks Mall. This store sells to younger girls, between the ages 7-14, yet the clothing is very similar as the store for older teenagers. “Women are responsible for keeping men pure of thought by dressing in a way that doesn’t excite,” said Shelley Morrissette, a Pure Fashion spokesperson. What do these clothes and new attitudes cause young girls to do, do they only tease or are they willing to go all the way before their sweet sixteen? “This distorted view of sexiness suggests to boys that girls should be up for anything sexually,” said Brown. Does dressing in a sexy manner mean a girl is ready to go far with a guy, or do girls understand what they wear can affect people’s perceptions of them? “Getting dressed with the intention to be pure is different than getting dressed with the intention to lure,” says Brenda Sherman, the National Pure Fashion director. Can we blame young girls for dressing in a certain manner, if society agrees with it being the fashion trend of this generation? First there were poodle skirts, hippie-wear, and leg warmers. Is this just a fashion trend for the moment, or are we going to permanently mess up our generation? Maybe our culture needs to wake up out of the daze that it seems to be in and realize “there’s always going to be someone hotter than you” and “you’re missing out on [being yourself] by focusing on being sexy instead of finding more interesting things about yourself,” said Cooper Lawrence, a teen therapist and host of radio’s The Cooper Lawrence Show. Although our culture seems accepting of teenagers being overly sexual, there are people who want to see a change among young girls in our society. Websites like modestyzone.com are popping up everywhere, trying to reinforce the idea that being modest is okay and girls that do not want to show it all off can survive in our world. “When exhibitionism becomes the norm, the fact is, it gets boring,” said Wendy Shalit, who wrote 2007’s Girl’s Gone Mild. Clothing companies such as Pure Fashion, are taking on low-cut outfits and creating clothes that make a demure look the next be big thing. Higher necklines and waistlines are ready to outsell teenage stores that focus mainly on selling out a teen’s body. What we need is a nation of teen girls ready to take back their modesty, and dress and act in a way women fought for a hundred years ago. “I think what’s happening is that we’ve reached the limit of the ‘if you got it, flaunt it’ philosophy and we’re seeing the power of a little mystery and glamour,” said Shalit. Is our society ready for a modesty revolution? Can modest teens take back the power of the media, and all the teenage girls who follow this trend?
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BESTSELLERS GO CELLULAR ALESSANDRA CATANESE NEWS EDITOR
April 25, 2008 • THE ARROW
Looking at Literature
One Woman’s Journey Capivates Readers ROSEANN ZHONG FEATURE EDITOR
A reflection of love in its many forms, Eat, Pray, Love is one woman’s journey across two continents to find unconditional love in God, herself, and (yes!) even a transcendent slice of Italian pizza. Snazzy and candid, Elizabeth Gilbert takes readers along on her exotic one-year journey to self-revelation following a divorce, a passionate yet heartbreaking relationship with a man she loves, and a bout of overwhelming depression. Although she provides readers with a frank summary of her lack of traveling skills (tall and blonde, Gilbert declares that she does not physically blend in most places), she remarks that she could “probably make friends with a four-foot-tall pile of Sheetrock” if all else fails. Thus stated,
bert then sets out on a quest for emotional balance in India, under the instruction of priests and her “Guru” at the Ashram. For four months, Gilbert meditates and chants prayers in efforts to leave the physical world and escape into a type of spiritual oblivion. She, more intricately wired to emotion and suffering from a previous “metaphysical crisis,” finally obtains freedom from earthly worries and feelings and breaks the chains binding her to the sufferings of her divorce. Gilbert’s last stretch of her year-long expedition brings her to Indonesia, more specifically Bali. Here her expectations consisted of finding worldly enjoyments and visiting an Indonesian medicine man, Ketut, whom she met years ago. The Indonesian utopia and culture immediately capture Gilbert’s interest and affection. She writes that Bali “feels, at least for now, like a nourishing climate” to find an equilibrium between worldly pleasure and spiritual devotion. Now much happier and her mind serene, Gilbert develops close friendships with a former American inhabitant, Yudhi, Wayan, and Felipe, an alluring, older Brazilian man who has the potential of playing “a very Casanova.” At the end of her journey, Gilbert reemerges as the vivacious and witty woman who composed this unforgettable memoir. Stealing the attention of her readers with her chatty and conspiratorial tone, Gilbert is indeed a witty, insightful, and “likable pilgrim on a hero’s journey.”
readers easily grow accustomed to the outrageously eccentric and colorful people Gilbert befriends during her spiritual travelogue. In Italy, the first out of three stops on her agenda, Gilbert finds pleasure in pasta, Lazio vs. Roma soccer matches, and the beauty (and sometimes vulgarity) of the Italian language (“Vaffanculo! Figlio di mignotta! Stronzo!”). Finding a sexy duo of Italian men to practice the language with and amicable companions to roam Rome’s streets, Gilbert is reacquainted with her foes Loneliness and Depression. Shaking them off her shoulders, however, and throwing aside her mood-altering medications, Gilbert embarks on a journey with her friend Sophie to discover and experience the world’s “greatest pizza.” Newly born into the world, raw and vulnerable without her medication, GilCOURTESY PHOTO
Burroughs Shocks Again in Latest Biography ning with Scissors, his memoir about growing up in an extremely dysfunctional family, readers didn’t know whether to drop their jaws in horror or hold their stomachs from laughing. Side Effects shows Augusten’s obsessive compulsive tendencies to write down every random thought that comes into his head. Burroughs’ gift for exposing all things stranger than fiction has made him a bestselling author.
BRITTANY WEBER FEATURE EDITOR
Drug abuse, crude humor, and unusual relations make Augusten Burroughs’s Possible Side Effects a shocking yet entertaining read. This collection of short essays chronicles his offbeat life, and drag the reader into an anything-but-ordinary world. Burroughs is known for his flamboyant ideas, which often border insanity. The book carries a dishonesty disclaimer that says, in part, “Some of the events described happened as related; others were expanded and changed.” It is understandable why Augusten, whose hilarious, wildly fanciful reminiscences made his autobiography Running with Scissors a controversial best seller, would want to shock the world yet again. “Possible Side Effects is slight in subject matter and shaky in chronology,” commented Janet Maslin, writer for the New York Times. “It jumps back and forth through time.” Burroughs is able to get away with stunts that would never be accepted from most writers. He dares to analyze things such as the personalities of fast-food restaurants, in ways that would sound completely racist if he did not draw the conclusion himself.
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Last year the number one bestselling novel in Japan was Love Sky by Mika Naito. This romantic novel sold millions of copies before it became a major film in Japan. It doesn’t seem too out of the ordinary, a book becoming a major motion picture, but this isn’t just any book, nor is it just any author. Written in text message form, Mika’s “Love Sky” was first typed on her cell phone a part of the new popular trend called “cell phone novels.” The cell phone novel craze boomed about three years ago but was originally created about eight years ago by a Japanese man named Maho no i-rando in 2000. The first actual cell phone novel was written in 2001 by fiction writer, Yoshi. Like many of the mobile phone novelists, Yoshi decided to remain anonymous. A typical cell phone novel contains between 200 and 500 pages, each page holding about 500 Japanese characters. Authors type their novels in text message form on their cell phones and then upload them to websites such as Magic iLand. The characteristics of text novels involve little to no plot or character development, and some are even written with emoticons, like smiley faces. Magic iLand began a community portal where users customize their homepages from their cell phones. Readers can also download, read, and comment on each completed novel as well as novels in the making, directly from their cell phones. Last summer, Magic iLand debuted brand new software that allows novelists to integrate sound and images into their stories, creating more of a dramatic effect. Novelists have agreed that the new software has enhanced the popularity in the romance genre the most. The majority of the 2400 entries are romance novels by younger women, but other genres such as horror, sci-fi, and fantasy are becoming extremely popular. Surprisingly, most readers had never even read a novel before the cell phone novel was invented. “A mobile phone boom is definitely in place; and these are people who hardly ever read novels before, never mind written one,” said Magic iLand spokesman Toshiaki Itou. The sudden boom in text novels occurred after cell phone companies such as NTT DoCoMo and D2 Communications decided to offer unlimited transmission of packet data as a part of flat monthly rates. Chaiki Ishihara, an expert in Japanese Literature at Waseda University explained, “…in the course of exchanging email, this tool called the cell phone instilled in [people] the desire to write.” Although cell phone novels are now dominating Japan’s literature mainstream, holding the top three spots of the top ten best-seller list, critics prefer cell phone novels be classified with comic books, believing that is where they are derived from. Japanese critics are warning of the downfall of Japanese literature, with the cell phone novels contributing to the problem.
FEATURE
“I come from a family of Southerners,” he said. “Racism is as much a part of my heritage as grits and incest.” Although this book is provocative, it is much milder than others Burroughs has written. When Burroughs released 2002’s Run-
April 25, 2008 • THE ARROW
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ENTERTAINMENT
April 25, 2008 • THE ARROW
A Fan’s Quest to See the Ultimate Show
Jesse Money Fails to Cash In
JIMMY MOORE ENTERTAINMENT EDITOR
JAMIE HENDRY FEATURE EDITOR
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Upcoming Coldplay Album Surprises Devoted Followers ences, and even incorporating past lovers’ names through their albums, the quartet has been able to produce beautiful ensembles that large scale audiences can relate to. This past winter, word arose concerning the production of the group’s fourth upcoming album, due in mid-June. This came as a relief for many fans who feared TICKING CLOCKS: Many are looking foward to the release of Coldplay’s anX&Y (2005) ticipated album after three years of anticipation. would be their final CD. The ELLIE FATEH buzz was finally extinguished in an inSTAFF WRITER terview with Rollingstone this spring. The band was far from done. Wistful melodies, hand in hand with “We felt like the first three albums romantic rhymes, have turned Coldplay were a trilogy,” said guitarist Jonny Buckinto a one of the most powerful pop culture land. “We wanted to do something differphenomenons of the generation. ent.” By wailing their most painful experiIn attempt to defy expectations, lead COURTESY PHOTO
W.A.S.T.E.—the name of the official fansite for Radiohead. How ironic. An organization directly associated with the members themselves, W.A.S.T.E. generously offered the legions of rabid and devoted Radiohead fans “first dibs” on tickets to the second leg of their North American tour on April 9. However, from a band that has been known to sell out entire venues in only minutes, any seasoned Radiohead fanatic knew that this charitable offer would be far from an easy ticket to the hottest show in town. I like to think of myself as one of those “seasoned Radiohead fanatics.” On April 8 I was frantically making plans regarding the presale, which was basically announced to begin sometime between 7:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m. in America. Faced with this huge time window, I did what any devoted fan would do. I took a brief nap, choked down some coffee, and settled into my computer chair, vowing not to move until those tickets went on sale. The evening dragged on. As the hours passed, my eyes became dry and sore as I alternated between conversing with a friend (and fellow Radiohead devotee) who was also braving the all-night quest, and obsessively refreshing the W.A.S.T.E. ticket website, hoping that the page would soon load with a link showing me the way to triumph and glory. Despite my unwavering optimism and determination, my mood became worse and worse as the “late night” began to turn into the “early morning.” There were moments when I questioned whether a simple concert was worth all my pain and misery. Of course it was. This was not, after all, just any concert. This was Radiohead. The morning grew later and later. The clock struck six. Cute. I could have gotten a peaceful night’s sleep and still have awakened before the sale. As the time for my beforeschool preparations approached, I slowly lost hope. Enter the aforementioned fellow Radiohead fan. I got a hysterical phone call nine minutes past six in the morning. She was yelling incoherently, with her mouth too close to the receiver, but I knew what was happening. I refreshed the ticket site. Right in front of me, gleaming like a beacon of hope, was a link to buy tickets to any concert announced for the North American tour. After a short-lived, credit cardrelated crisis, I had four tickets safely in my online “basket.” Or so I thought. My order began to process—the loading bar was reaching that glorious dead end that would signal the fruits of my labor. It stopped. Not only did it stop; it stopped forever. My greatest fear had become a reality. Due to the traffic caused by several thousands of fans not unlike myself fretfully attempting to secure a spot at the venue of their choice, the site had crashed. My tickets were thrust mercilessly into the gaping black hole of cyberspace, never to be seen again. Defeat. I had been defeated in the most relentless way possible. I had been robbed of sleep and, more importantly, the one thing that would have completed me: tickets to the concert of a lifetime. W.A.S.T.E., indeed.
the show. Only on the second episode of the show, Money was unexpectedly eliminated. Chloe Lattanzi and Jesse Money awaited their fate as the final two, only WHS Alum Jesse Money ’06 rocked one of them would have the chance to out of the cradle on MTV’s newest hit sing. Lattanzi, who had one of the lowest show. Even as the first singer to get the scores and believed to be “one boot, Money made her of the least talented,“ somefather, Eddie Money, how made it to the next round proud. over Money. Jesse decided to folOn Rock the Cradle, low his musical style: which premiered April 3, the “Once I graduated, I children of nine big-name mustarted touring with my sicians compete against one father. He’s been pushanother to determine who has ing me and himself and what it takes to be the next big helping me out with rock star. my career. He gives me Each rock star kid perso much advice all the forms in front of a panel of time,” Money said, as judges and live audience. posted on her MTV web While the judges share their site bibliography. opinions after each perforThroughout her life, mance, the viewers will ultiMoney has watched her mately decide who stays and father perform, which who goes. in turn taught her the Along side Money, Rock business and helped her the Cradle superstar offvoice to develop. Even spring contestants include: though the father-daugh- CHA-CHING: Jesse Money ’06 fails to cash in on reality show success on hit Chloe Rose Lattanzi (daughter pair is close, Money MTV show Rock the Cradle. ter of Olivia Newton-John), says that her dad is her Lucy Walsh (daughter of Joe harshest critic. “There are a lot of mood swings on the Walsh of The Eagles), Lil B. Sure (son of “My dad pushed me to audition. I didn’t know what it was for until the sec- road. When we perform, we’re constantly Al B. Sure), Jesse Blaze Snider (son of Dee ond audition.” He didn’t tell her “because I fighting for the stage. We’re very involved Snider), Lara Johnston (daughter of Tom think he didn’t want to make me nervous,” with the crowd. I learned from Dad that Jonhston of the Doobie Brothers), Akeiba Burrell Hammer (daughter of MC Hamyou have to make it about the audience.” said Money. Eddie Money isn’t the only person mer), and Landon Brown (son of Bobby Her father, Eddie Money achieved huge success in the ’70s and ’80s, with a she has performed with; she has split the Brown). Even though Money was eliminated, slew of top 40 hits and platinum albums. spotlight with Loverboy’s Mike Reno and she has enough potential to go as far, or As daddy’s little girl, Jesse Money was others. Money’s rendition of 3 Doors Down’s further than her father’s career. Being a brought up on rock’n’roll. She had the privilege of meeting the world’s most fa- “When I’m Gone” showed off her strong part of Rock the Cradle gave Money the mous stars and touring with her father, vis- vocals, but was her final performance on kick start she needed to emerge from her famous father’s shadow, and step into her iting every state in the country. As a toddler, Money would walk on stage to bring water to her father while he was performing. Money found her calling, and now the duo tours together and even shares the stage.
vocalist Chris Martin decided to experiment with the likes of technology and create a more modern, contemporary sound. “Everyone might not like it,” he said. Launching the track list on the web, the group further surprised their fans by titling the album Viva la Vida or Death and All His Friends, named after a painting by Mexican artist Frida Kahlo, and decided to release only ten songs on the record, a total of only 43 minutes. This new album features tempos ranging from those of the southern blues, stretching out towards a heavy guitar ballad, and finally, gracefully climaxing with an electronic concoction. “Whether or not it’s good, we certainly started to use more colors,” said the singer. Viva la Vida, produced by Brian Eno of U2 and Markus Dravs of Arcade Fire, seems to possess a sense of mystery and secrecy. “We want to preserve this,” said Martin. The musicians chose to prevent any ideas of pre-releasing songs on the net, which seems to be customary within this tech-savvy decade. There is no sign of catching the band in the United States anytime soon. They are, however, scheduled to make an appearance in Japan just after headlining the Pemberton Music Festival in British Colombia. For now, familiar to Coldplay’s platinum track-record, June 17, the album’s release date, remains a monumental day for the quartet.
April 25, 2008 • THE ARROW
PHOTO BY ELLIE FATEH
IN IT FOR THE MUSIC: Ari Kaplan ’08, who refuses to put a price on his music, insists that fans download it for free through his personal webpage.
Ari Kaplan to Take Talent to Indiana University ELLIE FATEH STAFF WRITER
Some people say he sounds like Elliott Smith, others say his music is like nothing else out there. He admits his inspiration for his blunt, humorous vibes comes from comedian Mitch Hedberg, but when it comes down to defining himself, Ari Ka-
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ENTERTAINMENT
plan ‘08 attempts to “create something that’s never been heard before.” His talent is a product of his undeniable drive since childhood. As a young boy, Kaplan found himself fed up with the violin, and exchanged his bow for a sleek guitar pick. He then learned a few tabs, saved up for recording, and began a
journey towards musical success. “I want to make something that I want to listen to,” Kaplan said. “Not just because I believe other people want to hear it, although I would want them to like it [too].” He strives to incorporate many of the same elements used by The Beatles, and admires the group, claiming the quartet “never made the same album twice.” Kaplan’s performances can be compared to those of legendary singer-songwriter Elliott Smith. He possesses a whisper of a voice, but, unlike Smith, annotates happiness rather than despair through his angelic lyrics. Lately, Kaplan has been collaborating with friends to create innocent and melodic songs. Even in a recent school project, he has attributed his musical ear to form an album of children’s melodies titled Liu’s Blues, a tribute to his musical comrade Ben Liu ‘08. At April’s Senior Showcase, Kaplan performed the fan-favorite “Silhouette,” with fellow seniors Adriane Lim, a delicate pianist, and Eric Lan, a mesmerizing violinist. The trio performed Kaplan’s original composition in a symphonic, melodic fashion. Recently, the performer released a 6song EP, charmingly titled Trail Mix, available on Sendspace.com or Myspace.com/ mrarikaps. “They’re free, yes,” he said, “Really, who am I to charge?” Plans following the infantile world of high school include a scholarship to Indiana University for his recording plans. “I was surprised to find myself even going to college,” Kaplan said, “I just want to be an artist, in the scheme of things.” Although somewhat anxious about this newfound independence, Kaplan feels fortunate for the opportunity to carry his music across the thousand some miles to Indiana. His determination is admirable, juggling a demanding AP course list with regular band practice, recording, and frequent concerts while still trying to enjoy the remainder of his time at home in Southern California. Kaplan, however, remains an optimist. “The moment I consider a ‘Plan B’ is the moment I’ve lost my mind,” he said, “There’s really nothing that can stop me from taking [my music] wherever I want it to go.”
Waltz Reprise Continues Climb to Success JIMMY MOORE ENTERTAINMENT EDITOR
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High school band, the term conjures images of a group of teenagers in a stuffy garage, hacking away at their respective instruments, untidily recreating a punk rock classic or two. Waltz Reprise, which, in the last year, has attracted a devoted fanbase through frequent local (and sometimes not-solocal) concerts, an EP entitled Be Still and Know..., and an upcoming three-song demo called Numbers, is clearly not your average high school band. The band, including WHS students Jenna Maranga ‘09 and Juan Uribe ‘09, along with friends Ray Libby and Travis Meador Newbury Park High School and Agoura High School, respectively, and Josh Jeffers, who has graduated, played its first concert at last year’s Collision benefit show, and since then has been steadily gaining steam, performing at venues such as The Whiskey in Hollywood, The Dome in Bakersfield, and The Ventura Theater. Be Still and Know..., Waltz Reprise’s EP, was released in Dec. 2007, and includes fan-favorites such as “Transparent,” and “Philia.” The EP can be purchased at concerts or online digitally at www.waltzreprise.com. “My favorite part about Waltz Reprise is definitely their live shows. They have really good energy and involve the crowd a lot,” said Meryl Press ‘09. During concerts, Waltz Reprise
GAINING STEAM: Waltz Reprise recently took its energetic live show to the WHS quad, and will be touring the West Coast throughout the summer.
performs with refreshing enthusiasm, constantly moving, jumping, and passing the microphone off to groups of fans, who, in the band’s relatively short life, have managed to learn every word to every song. In an effort to spread their music beyond local areas, the members of Waltz Reprise will embark on a small tour this summer, making stops up and down the West Coast. The band will also participate in a Warped Tour Battle of the Bands, hopefully scoring a spot in the popular summer music festival. When asked to assign a genre her
band’s music, Maranga said, “Listen and decide for yourself. We pull from so many things, we can’t label ourselves.” “It’s hard to say what our plans for the future are, but we would like to go on tour eventually, and be on a label,” said Uribe, the guitarist, when asked about the band’s direction. Waltz Reprise will be playing various local shows throughout May, including a benefit concert at Rock City Studios in Camarillo. Natalya Sivashov also contributed to this article.
High School Confidential Gives Raw View of Life CARINA WOLFF OPINION EDITOR
Shows like The OC, Gossip Girl, and One Tree Hill epitomize the drama-filled recklessness of high school life. These shows differ from High School Confidential because this show is 100% real. There are no scripts, no fancy theme parties, and no red carpet walks for these girls. The show focuses on 12 girls through all four years of their high school experiences, thriving on their transitions, hardships, and potential futures. Mainly addressing the girls’ transformation, the documentary series shows that many of its “stars” appear naive on the subject of drugs, alcohol, sex, and other teenage problems. But by the time most of them reach their junior or senior year, their eyes open. Cappie is a prime example. She represents each of us at our start, the common freshman who does not know what to expect in the mysterious high school world she is about to enter. Cappie begins with the idea that she won’t ever succumb to the peer pressures that may possibly be presented to her. Unfortunately, as a sophomore and junior, she becomes the “party girl” on campus after she transforms her looks and personality. But as senior year progresses, Cappie realizes her image has been altered, and she finds the balance between motivation through her schoolwork and popularity without drinking. While Cappie may present us with the average teenage experience, girls like Lauren (who suffers with a brain tumor), Jessi (who struggles through depression), and Allyson (who goes through an abortion and her dad’s death), present us with how the teenage mind deals with these struggles that permanently affect a person’s life. It is interesting to watch the girls change from interview to interview, but the extra perk is the homemade footage shot by the girls themselves at parties and other social events. It shows that this program is real, that the girls are vulnerable, and that we can connect to them. High School Confidential gets repetitive at times, featuring numerous pregnancies and typical wild teenagers, but there are a few episodes that accurately reflect the high school experience. They are not experiences that are glamorized on television or distorted in books or tabloids, but the real life rollercoaster of emotions that teenagers experience every day. Watching this show is like watching all your worst high school nightmares come true. Unplanned pregnancies, alcohol abuse, disagreements with parents, and social drama are all covered on the show. However, seeing how each girl turns out in the end gives hope to every teenage girl who has struggled in her life.
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SPORTS
April 25, 2008 • THE ARROW
WHS Golf Team Seeks Marmonte League Title NORA SOBCZAK FEATURE EDITOR
major contributors to the team and have both shown steady improvements throughout the season. With as much depth from No. 1 to No. 10 golfers, D.J. Frees ’08, Brian Wu ’08, Michael Frees ’10, Cole Seeger ’09, or Tanner Holland ’10 could be asked to fill the WHS roster at anytime. As to how the rest of the season will end up, the boys golf team is going to take it a game at a time, focusing on each opponent before looking forward onto bigger things. The team started league tournament this week, Hagy and Katz were standouts in the first day of the tournament. WHS and RHS are in a close race for the championship as it comes down towards the last couple rounds of play.
HOLE IN ONE: WHS golfer Brandon Hagy ’09 has led WHS to key victories this year. The team is currently tied for the lead in Marmonte League.
PHOTO BY JUSTIN EDWARDS
As the season comes to a close, the WHS boys golf team is in position to have a shot at winning the Marmonte League title. With an overall record of 203 and 13-1 in league, the only loss has come from rival Royal High School. WHS and RHS are tied for first in the Marmonte League. “Our goal in the beginning of the year was to win Marmonte League, and with the talent that we have, we should be able to do that,” said Brandon Hagy ‘09. Though inconsistency has been present in the Warriors’ play, the team has been able to string together wins and become one of the top competitors in the Marmonte League. Among the top players for
WHS is Marshall Colby ’09, who has been able to drive the ball consistently and chip and putt very well. “Colby has been a really consistent player all year for us. He has been a huge asset for our team’s success,” said Hagy. With so many dimensions to his game, Colby has been able to stand out from his competitors. Alongside Colby, Hagy has secured the No. 2 spot with his ability to do well in the clutch. Hagy has earned a sport in the American Junior Gold Association and a place on the Future Collegians World Tour because of his first place finish at the Future Collegians World Tour Invitational. In addition, Scott Patterson ’08 and sophomores Jake Katz and Chris Doyle have also been
Softball Keeps Hopes High in Season’s Final Games SPENCER SCHLOSS SPORTS EDITOR
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Track team athletes are competing in Ventura County Finals today. Approximately, 45 athletes qualified for the event at Moorpark High School. One of the top five ranking freshmen on the varsity team, Mary Case ’11, has high marks in the Girls Open Pole Vault, Long Jump, and Triple Jump. She received the top scores in all three of these events at the WHS vs. Thousand Oaks vs. Royal meet on April 3. On March 19, against Simi Valley and Calabasas High Schools, varsity sophomore, Molly Norling-Christensen, had the top marks in the Girls Open 1600m Run and the Girls Open 3200m Run. “Our team has a great spirited bond,” said Christensen. Coach Joe Snyder agrees that the team is doing very well this season and is looking forward to
more wins. Snyder recognized Bradley Cicotti ’08 and Tommy Doupe ’08 for their outstanding efforts. One of the five seniors with top marks on the varsity team, Cicotti dominated the Boys Open 100m and 200m Dash at the April 3 meet vs. Thousand Oaks and Royal High Schools. Doupe was the top scorGO FOR THE GOLD: Victoria Smith ’08 has been one er for the Boys senior leader this year as the track team has had many Open Shot Put underclassmen excel this year. Smith is a four-year varin the April 3 sity runner and holds many records at WHS. meet, and the Boys Open Discus on April 10 Garret Drogosch ‘09 clocked 9: meet against Moorpark. 12.98 for the Boys Open 3000m Also at the Pasadena Games, Run, scoring first place.
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ALESSANDRA CATANESE NEWS EDITOR
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Track Ready for County Finals After Fast Start to Season
and the girls still have a desire to make CIF playoffs. The Warriors still have games key games remaining.
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Inconsistent pitching and hitting have hindered the team, but getting many key players back has helped WHS. Against Calabasas, WHS won 6-0 to win their second league game and again Becerra had an impressive performance with a complete game, one-hit shutout. Justine Rodriguez ’09 went two for four with an RBI. Against Royal High School, Rodriguez went an impressive three for three with an RBI in a close loss 2-1. Preish, WHS’s right fielder, leads the team with 10 RBI’s. “The team is doing better. We have been plagued with many injuries this year, but our captains Nora and Jenna have pulled us together,” said Preish. The seniors have kept the team positive the whole year and made the team yearn to get to playoffs. WHS has worked very hard
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Despite the recent struggles of the WHS girls softball team, the Warriors remain optimistic. WHS has started off the season 8-9 overall and 2-7 in Marmonte League. In the team’s first league win against Moorpark, Jenna Becerra ’08 pitched a complete game winning 9-3. Stanford-bound, she, early in the season, broke her finger, an injury which sidelined her for the first half of the season. WHS has suffered injuries that have caused several underclassmen to step up and play. “The team has had a lot of injuries this year, but we’re doing fine and hoping to finish off the season strong,” said Caylin Campbell ’10. “The injuries were a setback at first and some felt it was impossible to win with the people we lost, but we have come together as a team and made up
for the injuries sustained,” said Nora Sobczak ’08. Sobczak, a four-year varsity starter, leads the team in hits, runs scored, at bats, and slugging percentage and has been a leader on the field this year. “We just have to want to win,” said Sobczak. “I know we have it in us; we just need the motivation our coaches are giving us.” WHS has worked hard all off-season and now is putting all the right pieces together. “Nora has led us in many games this year and has been a true leader,” said Campbell. As the season closes, WHS currently is in 7th place, but still hopes to build some momentum to finish the season. In the upcoming weeks, WHS will play key games against powerhouses Agoura and Simi Valley High Schools. “Every year we’ve always been able to beat one of the top teams, so this year we’re hoping it’s going to be the same way,” said Melissa Preish ’09.
IN ACTION: Top: Amanda Ackourey ’10 looks to get a base-hit. Bottom: Playing second-base Caylin Campbell ’10 fields a ground ball.
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SPORTS
April 25, 2008 • THE ARROW
Baseball Looks to Overcome Recent Losses STEPHANIE NIEVES SPORTS EDITOR
the rest of the game. Christian Yelich ’10 hit his fifth homerun of the season while Hagy had three stolen bases, adding to his team high of 13. On April 2, the Warriors faced off against Agoura High School, dominating the game for a final score of 21-5. The cold weather and early lead by the other team was no match for WHS’s fielding and hitting. Despite four runs scored in the first inning, visiting Agoura rival only managed one more run for the duration of the game. Eric Wagenaar ’09 pitched the first inning followed by Ryan DeJesus ’08, Danny Nieves ’10, Goldberg, Gallucci, Johnson, and Alex Gillingham ’08.
the team had a combined total of three homeruns by Dykstra, Conlin, and Kroker. Their second league loss came on April 9 against Moorpark. Though the team started the game winning 3-0, they were unable to score anymore runs for the duration of the game and ended with a score of 8-3. Conlin’s tie-breaking two-run homerun against Calabasas pushed the Warriors to a win and a score of 7-5. A homerun by Gray and three hits by Yelich also contributed to the win. In the field, Nieves pitched three innings, preventing Calabasas from scoring any additional runs. Saturday, April 12 the Warriors played St. Bonaventure. Though they lost, the team was in close grasp of a victory. They scored twice in the top of the seventh to pull within a run before Kroker was tagged out at home to end the game with a score of 5-4. In the game against Royal HS on April 16, WHS scored one run in the first inning but did not manage to get any other At bat, Josh Gray ’08 went two runs. for two with a two-run homeWith impressive run over center field in the secpitching by Johnson, ond inning and a double. Derek ON BASE: Cutter Dykstra ’08 (left) catches a pop fly in center. Steve Hagy Nieves, and Gallucci, the Ring ’08 had a double to bring in ’09 (above) steals third against San Pedro. errors in the field allowed Dykstra as well as three RBIs, and Royal to gain an advanThe team was able to rotate through Shane Kroker ’08, committed to Wake Fortage and eventually a win of 7-1. the line up more than once in a single inest, went 3 for 4. Despite a second loss against rival With Dykstra playing center and Kro- ning, allowing for several runs. There were ker playing shortstop, Nick Correlli ’09 also homeruns by Dykstra, Ring, and Tim TOHS, WHS was able to put two runs on and Tyler Yuckert ’10 rotated at third base. Wise ’10, and a grand slam by Ben Con- the board for a score of 4-2. In the second The score after the seventh inning was 11- lin ’09. inning with two outs, Yelich had a double Coming off of a winning streak, the that brought in Dykstra and Nieves. 1. The score in the final game of the tour- team played Simi Valley. With both teams Against La Miranda High School, the nament, and a win over Notre Dame High undefeated, it was a crucial game for the Warriors scored a four run lead with KroSchool, was 12-2. Even with a loss the first Warriors even though they lost 10-2. ker’s contributing three-run homerun that Outside of league, WHS continued time against Notre Dame, the game started allowed Dykstra and Yelich to score. In the off smoothly with an instant three outs in with Saturday games in the Redondo tourthe first inning, setting the momentum for nament. With a win of 14-4 over San Pedro, end, WHS lost 11-7 to La Miranda HS. COURTESY PHOTOS
Skill, determination, and passion, along with a new coaching staff, have all contributed to the ongoing success of the WHS varsity baseball team. With four league losses to Simi Valley, Moorpark, Royal, and Thousand Oaks High Schools, the boys have stepped up from previous years to prove their team morale and demonstrate their drive to be champions. Starting the year off with intense practices, long hours of conditioning, and countless miles, Head Coach Zack Miller and Assistant Coaches Manny Fierro and Kenny Carroll prepared the team for whatever they may face on the field, and all their hard work has paid off. The Warriors, with a record of 5-4-0 and overall record of 12-9-0, are currently ranked third in the Marmonte League just behind TOHS As of April 14, the Los Angeles Times ranked WHS as No. 14 behind No. 7 Simi Valley and above No. 18 St. Bonaventure and No. 24 Thousand Oaks. Varsity, along with JV and Freshman teams, took part in the St. Paul Easter tournament over spring break. During the first game on March 22, WHS defeated Oxnard for a final score of 5-4. Steve Hagy ’09 had a hit in the seventh inning to tie the game, a huge play for the team. Winning pitcher Graham Johnson ’08, who is currently committed to Fresno State University, walked with the bases loaded to bring home the winning run. WHS struggled to put runs on the board with a final score of 4-3 against St. Paul High School on March 24. In the bottom of the seventh, WHS’s last at bat, Cutter Dykstra ’08 hit a three-run homerun to right field to give the Warriors their first runs of the game. With Johnson and Taylor Kahanowitch ’10 already on base from a single and double to left field, the inning was the most exciting of the game. Continuing with the Easter Tournament on March 25 the team won against
Port Hueneme High School. Miller rotated in Jordan Mannisto ’08, Anthony Gallucci ’08, Matt Goldberg ’08, and Johnson, who gave up a combined total of one run.
Boys Tennis to Vie for CIF Playoffs
PHOTO BY ELYSE KAPLAN
ed showdown. Although it was a close race, WHS’s boys junior varsity and varsity lost. Coach Todd Irmas said that “the boys are young and it’s a tough battle.” In an article dated April 4, the Thousand Oaks Acorn predicted the TOHS girls swim team to win the meet last Friday. However, WHS’s girls came out on top. “Our girls did a great job. Everyone else thought that SINK OR SWIM: Sam Hong ’08 and David Cao ’10 compete during Thousand Oaks would practice in preparation for their next meet. win, but we didn’t believe that.” ROSEANN ZHONG As league finals draw nearer “there’s FEATURE EDITOR a lot of pressure to win,” said JV swimmer When the foam clears in the lanes, it is Juyea Hoo ’11. However, with hopes to win the difficult to determine the winner. Anxious fans of WHS’s swimmers turn their heads league and CIF title for the second year towards the timer board and cheer for the in a row, all swimmers are striving to do their best. victors. “I feel very confident that we can reAfter a series of meets with Thousand Oaks, Newbury Park, and Clovis West peat our success for the second time this High Schools, WHS swimmers proved year at league finals,” Irmas said. Working hard and putting forth extra themselves worthy of competing in the effort, both the boys and girls swim teams Marmonte League finals. With strong efforts by all WHS swim- are determined to repeat the successes they mers, the girls junior varsity and varsity experienced last year, especially the girls teams beat TOHS in a highly anticipat- who reign as 2007 CIF champs. PHOTO BY ROSEANN ZHONG
Coach Connie Flanderka. This year, Thousand Oaks and Calabasas High Schools have been the greatest rivals for the WarAs the last ball bounced over the net, riors. Although both schools have intenthe WHS boys varsity tennis team trium- sified the race for CIF, the Warriors have phantly ended shown their their successcompetitive ful season with spirit when a stunning win playing against against Royal them. High School. Standing at Led by conumber two in captains Domthe league with inic Insogna a score of 11-4, ’08 and Jonathe boys have than Kotzin ’08, undoubtedly the team has proved their retrained vigorsilience and deously to secure termination. win after win. “The top “It was a three teams in long and hard the Marmonte season,” said League have Cole Greg ’10. been very com“Sometimes petitive,” said things got Flanderka. rough, but we Even with kept our heads these challengin it.” es, the WHS With this tennis playfinal win over ers are confiRHS, the boys dent about their are extremeroad to CIF. ly enthusiasWith the tic about their POWERFUL PLAYER: Zach Drost ’10 smashes a upcoming forehand. game and have matches for the high hopes for playoffs, the the CIF playoffs. boys tennis team will undoubtedly strive “It’s been a hard-working group,” said well to achieve their goal. TIFFANY LOH FEATURE EDITOR
Swim Strokes Way to Top