04.23.13 by The Westlake Arrow

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VOLUME XXXV, ISSUE 7

\100 N. LAKEVIEW CANYON ROAD, WESTLAKE VILLAGE, CA 91362

Harry Chung Staff Writer

The Warrior Wing

A look inside the new executive board

PHOTO BY HARRY CHUNG

After weeks of intense campaigning, William Barrett ’14 has been elected ASG president. Barrett believes he won the election because he leads by example. Whether it was dressing up as a bunny for the ﬁrst rally or dancing vigorously at WHS’s Harlem Shake, he put himself out there and the students responded. Barrett hopes to apply this same energy and outgoing attitude to lead ASG in getting things done. The main issues that Barrett wants to improve as president are ﬁnding ways to make new students feel welcome, organizing major events such as Homecoming, improving school spirit, and increasing support for school activities from football games to fundraising. Barrett plans to achieve these goals by working closely with newly appointed ASG advisor Jeniffer Modolo, and listening to her advice. Barrett is also eager to implement ideas coming from the student body, recognizing that students have creative and innovative ideas to offer. He encourages students to speak up and participate more in ASG’s events and wants others to know that he is willing to give new suggestions a try. As president, Barrett wants to increase transparency. “It’s important that the entire school knows what we are doing, why we are doing it, and when it’s happening so that ASG events are successful,” said Barrett. By promoting clearer communication between students and ASG, Barrett hopes to cultivate more enthusiasm and appreciation for the activities and events that ASG puts together. Barrett plans to collaborate with newly elected vice president Sierra Newell ’14, treasurer Brooke Edell ’14, and secretary Katherine Sham ’15, to tackle upcoming ASG business and projects. “We have an experienced team, with

APRIL 23, 2013

LEAD ON: Brooke Edell, Katherine Sham, Will Barrett, and Sierra Newell were elected to lead the ASG Student Body.

a combined 18 semesters in the class. They are all dedicated ASG class members who work well together and will do their best to make it a successful year,” said Barrett.

Finally, Barrett wants to thank Diane Rudas, the soon-to-be retired ASG advisor for all the support that she has provided. He could not have gotten where he is

today without her help. He realizes that there are tough challenges ahead, but Barrett is willing to bear it all to become worthy of his title.

New WISE schedule receives approval Pranav Kaygee Ashwin Rangarajan Staff Writers WHS students, look out because a change is coming! The Westlake Intervention Support and Enrichment Program (WISE) takes effect next year. With 84% of the teachers voting to approve the implementation of the new schedule and program, a new 26-minute advisory period will be added before lunch Monday through Thursday. To make way for the new advisory period, each regular period will be shortened by two minutes. For students enrolled in the program, lunch periods will be shortened from 40 to 30 minutes. Students with a scholastic GPA of 2.3

or higher will not be required to enroll in the WISE Program, and can enjoy 56-minute long lunch periods Monday through Thursday. CPT will be held on Fridays instead of Wednesdays and will occur every week rather than every other week. Future sophomores, juniors, and seniors with a scholastic GPA of 2.3 or more will have additional free time to focus on academics, make appointments with counselors, or volunteer to be a WISE mentor. During the new schedule’s CPT days, Period 1 will begin at 7:05 a.m. and end at 7:59 a.m. CPT will be reduced to 40 minutes, so Period 2 will start at 8:46 a.m., rather than 9:07 a.m. Lunch period will also be shortened to 38 minutes as well. Even though the WISE Program has led to the restructure of the regular and CPT schedules, on rally days, WHS will stick

in this issue Page 6 Alumni

Page 14 Swim

with the original rally schedule. The WISE program was created by teachers, administration, and other school staff to help students who are struggling with their classes and provide opportunities for high-achieving students to enrich and connect with the incoming freshman class. “It was clearly evident from the student data that a percentage of our students need intervention and time to help them with their classes,” said WISE Coordinator Kristi Hronek. “Additionally we felt it was important to help ninth grade students acclimate to high school because we noticed many ninth grade students were struggling with the transition.” The goal of the WISE advisory program is to see ninth grade students adapt more quickly and more easily to the high school curriculum while helping students raise their GPA and better

Page 15 Volleyball

understand the material. “All ninth grade students are enrolled in the WISE Advisory period, for their ﬁrst year on campus,” said Hronek. During the WISE periods, the remaining students will have several choices to spend their time productively. “Sophomores, juniors, and seniors can take advantage of the WISE period to meet with teachers for ofﬁce hours, use the computer labs, receive essay assistance in the new Writing Center, or be encouraged to attend academic support on ‘as needed’ basis,” she added. “We expect student achievement to increase in all academic classes,” said Assistant Principal Nicole Judd. “We expect students to use the WISE time effectively and ask teachers questions as well as schedule activities during that time that normally would take away from class time.”

Page 16 Artists

NEWS

THE ARROW

APRIL 23, 2013

Aca Deca medals at State

Shakespeare company to present American classics

The California Shakespeare Company is presenting “Great American Classics,” acting out scenes and monologues from timeless stories such as To Kill a Mockingbird. A distinguished guest narrator will also be attending. There is one performance on May 18 at 2:00 p.m. at the Grant Brimhall Library. Admission is free.

Science Olympiad competed at Canyon High School in Anaheim on April 6, in hopes of placing for State competition. Four members brought back medals. Cynthia Yin ‘14 and Vasant Iyer ‘13 won second place in Thermodynamics, while Paul Kwon ‘13 and Bharath Mohan ‘14 won ﬁfth place in Chemistry Lab.

WHS Literary Chronicles to collect submissions

Literary Chronicles, the WHS student art and literature magazine, is collecting poetry, short stories, visual arts, and photography submissions. Students who would like to have their creative work considered for publication, can send a digital copy to litchron@gmail.com or see Margaret Schlehner in Room 42B.

Chorus earns Gold at Heritage WorldStrides Heritage hosted the Choral Music Department April 18-21 in San Francisco. Six choir groups spent the day on April 19 performing at the Cubberley Community Theatre in Palo Alto. Premiere scored gold, Treble Makers earned silver. Vocal Ensemble and Women’s Chorale both took gold. Freshman Chorus won a gold and Mixed Chorale claimed silver. The awards were given out at a ceremony on April 20 at Great America.

FBLA competes at State; 3 to attend Nationals Nearly 60 students attended the Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA) State Leadership Conference at the Santa Clara Hyatt Regency from April 18-21. Out of approximately 2,100 competitors, Jane Chen ‘13, John Michael Kazen ‘14, and Ryan Kurohara ‘15 each qualiﬁed for the FBLA National Leadership Conference to be held in June 21-24 in Anaheim, CA.

AP Testing Schedule Monday, May 6 7 a.m.– Chemistry, Library 7 a.m.– Environmental Science, Gym 12 p.m.– Psychology, Gym Tuesday, May 7 7 a.m.– Spanish Language, Gym 7 a.m.– Computer Science, Library 12 p.m.– Art History, Gym Wednesday, May 8 7 a.m.– Calculus, Gym 12 p.m.– Chinese Language, TBD Thursday, May 9 7 a.m.– English Literature, Gym Friday, May 10 7 a.m.– English Language, Gym 12 p.m.– Statistics, Gym AP Studio Art Portfolios Due Monday, May 13 7 a.m.– Biology, Gym 12 p.m.– Physics C, Gym 12 p.m.– Physics B, Library Tuesday, May 14 7 a.m.– AP US Gov’t, Gym 12 p.m.– French Language, Library Wednesday, May 15 7 a.m.– US History, Gym 12 p.m.– Euro History, Gym Friday, May 17 7 a.m.– Human Geography, Gym

News Editor

After defeating Oxnard High School at the county level, the WHS Academic Decathlon Team performed admirably at State ﬁnishing 31st out of the 62 teams present. The team scored 41,955 points out of 65,400 points in this year’s focus of study, Russia. “Competition was tough this year, but we did great,” said Coach Joe Nigro to the Ventura County Star. Only Team TEAM A poses with their studying materials before State. A attended the competition, which took place in individually, the entire thing is a team Sacramento March 14-17 and consisted experience,” said Caleb Stokols ‘13. Lily of interviews, speeches, tests, and the Chen ’13 agrees, “It was a great bonding Super Quiz, the trademark Academic competition.” Decathlon competition in which each Stokols had the overall highest score in team member answers 12 questions Division 3 and took home seven medals— encompassing multiple subject areas among them a gold in both economics and with seven seconds per question. math, a silver in music, and a bronze in art “Even though you compete and social science.

Nine individual team members attended the competition and brought home 17 medals altogether. Other standouts include Eric Kuecks ‘13, who brought home a gold in math and bronze in economics and science; Chen who won silver in math and bronze in economics; and Rei Vardi ‘14, who scored gold in interview and silver in speech. Also, Daniel Eaton ‘13, had the third highest overall score in Division 3 and silver in language and literature. “I am incredibly pleased. They put in a lot of work, and they did a great job of encouraging each other. I’m looking forward to our continued success in the future,” said Nigro. Currently, the Academic Decathlon team is recruiting people for next year and reading the novel for next year, The Sun Also Rises by Ernest Hemingway. COURTESY PHOTO

Science Olympiad members impress at State

Frances Ling

3 juniors shine at County Science Fair Heidi Chiu

News Editor Bharath Mohan, Cynthia Yin, and Amanda Shi participated in the 59th Ventura County Science Fair April 10, hoping to be one of the 46 people to qualify for the California State Science Fair. They were in competition with nearly 1000 other students from the county. The fair was held at the Ventura County Fairgrounds, and the State Science Fair was held at USC. At the County Fair, only ﬁrst and second places qualify to go, and the third placed contestant acts as an alternate. Mohan’s project focused on optimizing the functioning of quantum circuits in quantum computers. Mohan won 4th place in his category. “I believe that science fairs are one of the best ways to get students involved in science and engineering by showing them how fun it can be and how many awesome people they can meet in the process,” said

Mohan. Yin competed in the Human Biology category. Her project is called Optimal Drug Cocktails for Intervention in Triple Negative Breast Cancer Motility via Feedback System Control. She is treating triple-negative breast cancer (a specific type of breast cancer that has limited treatment options) with drugs that slow down cell growth and metastasis. Feedback System Control is an approach that can predict optimal drug cocktails (very effective treatments) without testing all possible combinations in order to reduce the time and resources needed to find the most effective treatment. Yin also won 4th place in her category. She was chosen as one of three finalists to attend the Intel International Science and Engineering Fair in Phoenix, Arizona from May 12-17. However, due to financial difficulties from the regional fair, finalists from the regional fair were disqualified. In her project, Shi worked on analyzing the effect of ammonium on

silver nanoparticle and silver ion induced inhibition of the ammonia-oxidizing bacteria N. europaea. Silver nanoparticles have been shown to inhibit the nitrite production rates of ammonia oxidizing bacteria. Her research provides a footing for understanding the effects of constituents in wastewater on the toxicity of Ag-NP and Ag+, as well as on the overall efficiency of wastewater treatment plants. Shi received first place at regionals and moved on to state. Even though Mohan was not able to compete in the State Fair, he has gained knowledge and experience from doing the County Fair. “The science fair not only offers us a chance to learn more principles of the natural world, both through our own research and through listening to other people’s presentations, but it also provides an opportunity for us to meet other like-minded, scientifically curious and motivated students,” said Mohan.

FEATURE

THE ARROW

APRIL 23, 2013

Alumnus wins Rhodes Scholarship Hanyi Huang Feature Editor

It is likely that he will be called up to the Major League level and make his debut this season. The 23rd overall pick of the 2010 draft by the Miami Marlins, the outfielder hit .451 his senior year at WHS with nine home-runs and 25 RBIs. Yelich started off his professional career briefly with the Rookie League Marlins before being brought up to the Class-A Greensboro Grasshoppers at the end of 2010. In 2011, he spent the whole season with the Grasshoppers, batting .312 with 15 home-runs and 77 RBIs on his way to being named a Minor League All-Star, Player of the Month, and MiLB.com Organization All-Star. In 2012, Yelich spent the entire year in High-A with the Jupiter Hammerheads. He continued his success as he was named a Class A All-Star and AFL HIT IT HOME: Yelich hopes to play for the Major League this season. Rising Star and played in the Futures Game. Along with solid skills in the field and the basepaths, Yelich’s bat really sets him apart from other Christian Coates prospects. “He came back to the field to take batting Sports Editor practice and hit a couple on top of the basketball courts,” Christian Yelich ‘10, professional baseball player Tanner Kovach ‘13 recalls. Hitting for power and average and WHS alumnus, has made a strong impression at 2013 is going to help Yelich reach the Bigs sooner rather than Spring Training, hitting .364 with 5 home runs and 14 RBIs. later. COURTESY PHOTO

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The communication gap between patients and their doctors is being closed. Alumnus Jordan Michaels ‘05 is reinventing the medical field’s future through the creation of a new technology system. The system allows patients to contact their doctors for medical needs at any time of the day. Since he was young, Michaels wanted to become a cardiothoracic surgeon. He took Advanced Anatomy at WHS and went on to USC to pursue the pre-medical track. Instead of attending medical school right out of college, however, he decided to take a year off to research medical technology. Michaels then discovered the problems in the healthcare system and the difficulties in patient-doctor communication. In 2010, he found a solution: Ringadoc. With his childhood friend and former classmate, Micah Grossman ’05, the two cofounded Ringadoc, a San Fransisco-based company with a mission to ”improve lives and simplify healthcare by connecting patients and physicians,” according to the Thousand Oaks Acorn. The conveniences of Ringadoc make it a unique system that revolutionizes the way doctors interact with their patients. Grossman attended New York University, where he strayed from the pre-med track to study cinema and economics, acquiring knowledge that is useful for managing a company. To use Ringadoc, patients call their doctor to record a message. The doctor is then notified by phone, text, or email and can respond at his or her leisure or reply immediately, depending on the urgency of the issue. Patients who need immediate attention can be contacted by email, phone, or video conference. Doctors can also now enjoy their nights and weekends away from work without their phones ringing off the hook. “We’re delivering the world of tomorrow to doctors today by isolating one element which I think was the weakest link,” said Grossman to the Acorn. Last year, Michaels started working with an electronic medical records company, Practice Fusion. With the support from Practice Fusion, Ringadoc received its first investment of $500,000 from Founders Fund. Ringadoc has been internationally recognized over the past year, even featured in a Forbes article, written by Michaels. “Health care desperately needs technology. Doctors give care; patients receive care. Anything getting in the way is excess baggage,” wrote Michaels. While Ringadoc is still being perfected, it is being offered free for the first month. The creators want to receive feedback from doctors and patients before they start charging a monthly fee. Michaels added: “It was tough to give up on my dream of becoming a doctor and repairing hearts, but I’m confident in the power of entrepreneurs to change the healthcare system.”

Yelich on track for Major League

Pierce Arrow

Feature Editor

N West Lake Blvd.

Michelle Noyes

Pierce Arrow Ave.

Former med student changes career path to invent Ringadoc

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RING UP A DOC: Michaels seeks to improve communication between doctors and their patients.

WHS alumnus Benjamine Liu ‘08 has been named a 2013 Rhodes Scholar after graduating from Yale University at the top of his class. The scholarship will pave the way for Liu to get a doctorate degree in neuroscience from the University of Oxford. Liu is currently earning his master’s degree in computational biology at the University of Cambridge in England. The prestigious scholarship was created in 1902 and only allows applicants endorsed by their universities. The winners of the scholarship are selected based on their academic achievement, character, and ability to lead, as well as an in-depth interview during the final selection process. The interview dealt with topics ranging from neurological ON THE ROAD AGAIN: Liu at his Yale University graduation ceremony. development to scientific philosophy. According to the Ventura County Star, 838 students and plays the viola. He credits the WHS Advanced were endorsed this year, and 212 applicants made it to the Anatomy class for sparking his interest in medicine and final stage of the selection process for the scholarship; Liu the desire to help others. Liu’s high school counselor, Martha Aggazzotti, said, was one of them. Only 32 students were selected in the “[Liu] doesn’t do things because he thinks he should or United States as Rhodes Scholars of 2013. During his years at Yale, Liu had the opportunities to because he’s going to gain something. Everything he travel to foreign countries to further his studies. He worked touches is what he believes in and wants to do.” Liu hopes to become a doctor who can have impact on on a public health project in China and participated in an the health care policy, but his dream job is to become the anti-cholera campaign in the Dominican Republic. Not only was Liu a WHS prom king and valedictorian, director of the National Institutes of Health. Before Liu graduated from WHS he said, “Never but he is also a former Thousand Oaks Youth Commission member. He enjoys debating about health care finance and compromise your own values, and always maintain a is a loyal Lakers’ fan. Liu also speaks Spanish and Chinese curious disposition in life.”

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OPINION

THE ARROW

APRIL 23, 2013

Prescription for disaster? Easy access to Plan B pills may make teen pregnancy a thing of the past but at a significant moral cost. daughters, Malia and Sasha, as examples for young girls deciding to take the Shayna Kudler pill or not. Sports Editor Plan B pills are costly, about $50, so they are not A ruling earlier likely to be widely purthis month now alchased. lows any female According to planbonof reproductive estep.com, some of the posage to purchase sible side effects include the “morning-after changes in a girl’s cycle, pill.” U.S. District nausea, lower abdominal Court Judge Edpain, fatigue, headache, ward Korman overand dizziness. For some, turned a 2011 decithese risks are not worth sion that required taking but for others, the girls 16 and under risks may be minimal. to obtain a prescripIt is vague as to tion from a physiwhether Justice Departcian before they ment officials will revise could use the pill. PLAN A: Morning after pills, once banned for those under 16, can now be accessed by customers this decision, but this new First, some of any age. settlement will bring relief quick facts: the to young girls who feared asking for a pre“Plan B” pill is an emergency contraceptive alternative to having another teenage girl that can be taken after unprotected sex to join MTV’s “Teen Mom.” Statistics indicate scription. Having Plan B available to any age prevent unwanted pregnancy. It has a high- that fewer teenage girls are in need of this er dose of levonorgestrel, a hormone found pill. The Center for Disease Control reports will reduce the need for abortion and proin many birth control pills that healthcare that teen pregnancy rates for 2011 are at vide a safe way to prevent pregnancy. It is unsettling to imagine that girls professionals have been prescribing for a record low of 31.3 births for every 1000 several decades. Prior to the ruling, in or- girls aged 15-19 years of age. This is a drop too young to drive would find a need for der to purchase the pill, one had to be 17 of eight percent from 2010. The CDC report this pill; however, to alleviate fear as well years or older and present a valid ID, but attributes this decline to two possible fac- as unwanted pregnancies, young girls have anyone under the age of 17 who desired the tors: teens are less sexually active and more unlimited access to the pill to ward off popill needed a prescription. of those who are sexually active are using tential problems. Now, the pill is to be made available birth control. over the counter to girls of any age without Despite these statistics young girls a prescription. If the ruling is completely shouldn’t need this option, yet neither fulfilled, the pill could end up in any lo- should any responsible adult. cal drugstore, right next to other over-theWith this new law passed, victims of Editor-in-chief counter contraceptives. rape can eliminate the chance of an unWith this new ruling, any scared 13- wanted pregnancy with the Plan B. In such Brian Chang year-old could walk into a pharmacy and extreme cases, the pill becomes a viable opManaging Editor have access to the pill. It is disturbing tion. to imagine that girls at such a young age President Barack Obama hoped to Vivian Hu would even be in a position to need this keep the age-restriction for purchasing Layout Administrator pill. the “morning-after” pills in position, but Ethan Reul However, using the pill is a far better his opinion was overridden. He used his

Stacey Kane Staff Writer

What’s white, white, and labeled all over? Orly Greenberg Opinion Editor

COURTESY PHOTO

To everyone’s eternal surprise, I maintain that the hardest part of any standardized test presents itself before the actual exam begins. That little box asking for my ethnicity always seems to mock me. “Oh, you thought this was going to test your knowledge of U.S History?” the box asks derisively. “Try having an existential crisis about your identity instead. Have a great time focusing for the next three and a half hours.” To look at me, the obvious choice would be Caucasian. I’m white. Extremely white. The kind of white that’s translucent instead of opaque, that tans to a delicate pink (read: violent red), that was once blamed for blinding someone who settled their gaze on me just a moment too long, not unlike a solar eclipse (lawsuit pending). However, I have a hard time believing that my identity begins and ends with white. Maybe it’s my overwhelming vanity, but I’d like to think I’m more than just a color. For instance, I could just as easily refer to myself as Jewish as I do Caucasian. I’m Jewish as far back as you can trace me. In fact, before my family got kicked out of virtually every European country—officially, we blame antiSemitism; off the record, the Greenbergs were just hugely unpopular—my ancestors were settled somewhere in the Middle East, blissfully tan and herding sheep (I’ll admit, I’m envious). So, I associate just as strongly with my Polish ancestors wandering in the snow complaining about the cold as I do with my ancient Israeli relatives wandering in the desert complaining about the heat. Reasonably, I could trace my genealogy to Iran, Russia, Spain. On the other hand, I could say that I’m far more American than white. If the broad spectrum of “white” includes all people of that color, then I’ve been grouped with almost all Europeans, Australians, and Canadians, all of whom I have much less in common than with my American counterparts of any race. But why stop there? I don’t think I’m defined only by my race or citizenship; in fact, there are many more aspects of who I am that take precedence over what I look like. For instance, I am a frequent flier. I am the owner of a Yozen Frogurt punch card (two holes away from my free quart, thank you very much). I am a member of Stevenson’s Gym, albeit a non-active member. An individual, it seems, is composed of so much more than her immediate lineage. No one is just black, Asian, or white. We’re conglomerations— living, breathing harmonies of thousands of genes and millions of years and billions of chemical reactions and proteins and mutations. But out of consideration to the College Board, I’m Orly Greenberg, 17-year-old Caucasian female. Nice to meet you.

ARROW

THE

Oh, RealLY?

News Editors

Video gamesʼ

call of duty

Orly Greenberg Opinion Editor

Nick Ketterling Staff Writer

Run over a pedestrian, drive backwards on the freeway, and maybe fly a helicopter if the opportunity presents itself. All these seem to be daily occurrences in the world of Grand Theft Auto, a video game franchise that has sold around 125 million units as of November 2012. However, Grand Theft Auto is far from being the only video game that promotes an astonishing amount of violence. Call of Duty and Battlefield, for example, both present dangerously violent situations and offer equally violent response choices. A recent influx of brutal attacks—most notably the shooting at Aurora, the Sandy Hook Elementary Massacre, and now the bombing in Boston—has left Americans angry, confused, and looking for a culprit. And of all the violent influences offered to the impressible American youth, video games stand out as by far the most dominant force. Video game companies pride themselves on their attempts to protect the youth from suggestive images. However, these efforts do little beyond marking cases with small warnings, gently reminding parents of the intensely gory violence. Now more than ever, sobering research has emerged regarding the full ex-

tent of video games’ effects. The New York Times reports that “playing the games can and does stir hostile urges and mildly aggressive behavior in the short term… youngsters who develop a gaming habit can become slightly more aggressive.” The real danger of video games lies within the extreme empathy gradually accumulated in long time players. The value of a human life is degraded to faceless opponents, extinguished by a shower of bullets. In video games, death is a victory, not a tragedy. This ambivalence manifests itself in strange ways. For instance, an experiment conducted by psychologist Christopher Barlett at Iowa State University revealed that “students would behave more aggressively” after playing violent video games for a mere 15 minutes. This aggressiveness, it appears, can range from increased cruelty to full blown physical violence. Admittedly, video games are not the only source of inspiration for violent acts. Television shows, movies, and a society that glorifies weaponry and physical combat are all to blame. However, violent video games are easily accessed and highly influential, making them a highly dangerous force among an impressionable youth. Ultimately, parents, schools, and even video game companies must make a combined effort to combat violence influences.

Heidi Chiu, Frances Ling

Opinion Editors Michelle Choi, Orly Greenberg

Entertainment Editor Samantha Doctrow

Feature Editors Woody Chung, Hanyi Huang, Liz Mossessian, Michelle Noyes, Victoria Wang Vivian Xu

Sports Editors Christian Coates, Shayna Kudler, Tara Spencer, Julia Shi

Advertising Managers Nicolette Blatt, Lauren Chin, Kelli DaRin

Staff Writers Sammy Bentivegna, Shane Bogan, Harry Chung, Danielle Cortes, Matt Donovan, Katelyn Eaton, Ariana Haider, Tatiana Hamlin, Leah Henry, Kallyn Hobmann, David Huang, Stacey Kane, Pranav Kaygee, Nick Ketterling, Simone Moscovitch, Ashwin Rangarajan, Melanie Rosen, Alex Shi, Erik Steinman, Vallia Yu, Alex Zhu

Adviser Caron Battaglia The Arrow is written, designed and run by the students of the Advanced Journalism and Journalism 1CP 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. Please send submissions to Mrs. Battaglia’s box in the main office or to Room 42E.

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OPINION APRIL 23, 2013

THE ARROW

Princeton grad sparks a cat ﬁght Victoria Wang Feature Editor

Susan Patton, Princeton alumna, published a letter in late March to Princeton University’s student newspaper. So many people scrambled to read the letter online that the newspaper’s website crashed. The criticism it sparked made headlines nationwide. The letter itself is fairly short. Addressed to Princeton girls, it explains that “smart women can’t (shouldn’t) marry men who aren’t at least their intellectual equal.” Patton blames her own failed marriage on her husband’s alma mater, which had “no name recognition,” and insists that if a woman wishes to secure a good marriage, the only men she should consider as potential husbands are older guys in her university. Okay, so Patton is clearly biased. But it is just a letter by a mother in her seventies whose advice to Princeton girls probably would not have been taken seriously, and she explicitly states that she’s all for women having careers—she was actually the President of the Princeton University Class of 1977, the ﬁrst year Princeton became coed. And she has a point: the college selection process, especially for the prestigious Ivy League schools, works like an extremely expensive and nitpicky match-making website. Only the “best and the brightest” are allowed entry. And when you put a bunch of girls and boys with similar ages, similar value systems, and similar intelligence in one campus, somebody is bound to ﬁnd his or her soul mate. But the letter also makes a couple of troubling suggestions—ones that have ignited a loud, angry conversation across America as the modern female generation

reacts to Patton’s words. One point is Patton’s almost snobbish pride in her alma mater. The letter reveals the egotistical way in which some Ivy League graduates view themselves. Using the standard of “intellectual equal,” she claims that “as Princeton women, we have almost priced ourselves out of the market… you will never again be surrounded by this concentration of men who are worthy of you.” As we average folk ought to know, there are plenty of incredible people who did not go to Princeton and plenty of places to meet them outside of college, and there are probably also many Princeton graduates who would make your life miserable. The world is large; Princeton is small. The majority of the American population was therefore understandably miffed. Maintaining a relationship is a lot more complicated than just having the same grades in high school. It takes maturity and, usually, a lot of time. I’ll avoid commentary on Patton’s own love life, but kids, let’s face it: you’re probably not going to marry the person you’re dating right now. Most importantly, though, Patton’s words imply that there is a fundamental difference between the roles and thought processes of men and women. Check this out: “I am the mother of two sons who are both Princetonians….My younger son is a junior and the universe of women he can marry is limitless. Men regularly marry women who are younger, less intelligent, less educated. It’s amazing how forgiving men can be about a woman’s lack of erudition, if she is exceptionally pretty. “Here is another truth that you [Princeton girls] know, but nobody is talking about. As freshman women, you have four classes of men to choose from... by the time you are a senior, you basically have only the men in your own class to

Lean in, and they will listen Ariana Haider Staff Writer

Women have always been treated differently from men, from lower pay to fewer rights, which ultimately lowers the self esteem of women. Sheryl Sandberg is here to change that. Sandberg, the Chief Operating Officer of Facebook with two degrees from Harvard University, recently published a New York Times and Amazon Bestseller book, Lean In: Women, Work, and the Will to Lead. Sandberg was prompted to write the book after seeing how women are being held back in corporate America. Only 14% of executive officers are women—a figure that hasn't changed in 10 years. "I’m worried about stagnation for women. It turns out men still run the world, and I’m not so sure that’s going so well,” Sandberg said. The point is clear: with gender biases all over the workplace, submission isn’t going to get women anywhere. Instead, women need to give it their all. Don't doubt your ability and assume that you can't combine work with family because, in the end, you may end up benefiting yourself and others more than you originally thought by taking charge. As Sandberg puts it, “lean in” and “don’t leave before you leave.” She encourages women to be confident and ambitious by asking, "What would you do if you weren't afraid?" Sandberg is also willing to draw the curtain on her own insecurities: "It is easier to be confident if you realize that your role models have plenty doubts of their own." Lean In is prompting debates around the country with many calling Sandberg's approach unrealistic. Critics say a multimillionaire with two degrees from Harvard University can't really understand the challenges of people with lesser accomplish-

ments. However, for Sandberg, writing the book was an example of her own "leaning in," an act of ambition in order to speak for women despite the criticism. Sandberg's main argument is that women are responsible for their own success and need to push forward a little in their lives, look up to their role models, increase their conﬁdence, and be more assertive because otherwise, "they are holding themselves back.”

choose from, and frankly, they now have four classes of women to choose from. Maybe you should have been a little nicer to these guys when you were freshmen?” Traditional restrictions on women’s rights have long been torn down, but for some, the perception of women as somehow subservient in relation to men persists to this day. According to Patton, women are supposed to marry guys who are older and smarter than them, while men are so “forgiving” that they don’t mind entertaining frivolous whims and airy remarks from an empty mind, so long as the container bats her pretty eyelashes and dresses nicely. This double standard,

while accepted in the past, now grates on the nerves of both males and females. Feminists in particular balk at the way Patton seems to imply that girls lose value as they grow older, setting a “time limit” on girls’ love lives but not on those of men. Some of what Patton says is still relevant to today—for prom, for instance, the guy is always the one who asks the girl out and buys her ﬂowers, while the girl is expected to wait to be asked. But the backlash against Patton’s letter indicates a marked shift in society’s perception of the modern woman: girls don’t stand for being told who to marry anymore. Ultimately, the new woman chooses her own role in society.

Women, work, and the will to lead Michelle Choi Opinion Editor

There has been an invisible glass ceiling serving as a discriminatory barrier prohibiting women from rising to higher positions in the work force. Women have been tagged as the “caretakers of society,” serving as stay at home mothers and house wives. Until 50 years ago, it was unthinkable that a woman would become a doctor, let alone the CEO

of a Fortune 500 company. Women such as Oprah Winfrey, Marissa Mayer, and J.K. Rowling are serving as the forefront in the fight for feminism. According to a study by the American Association of University Women, young women receive only 82% of what their male peers receive. This percentage decreases over time, as women take themselves out of work to be mothers. If a woman were to advocate herself, demanding the pay deserved, she would be seen upon as a “radical feminist” with no respect for her peers. On the contrary, if a man were to do the same, it would be waved off as no big deal. This double standard effects women everywhere and must be eliminated. Men and women both have the capability to produce the same quality of work. This gap isn’t intentional but merely “benevolent” sexism inscribed due to generations of tradition. It is the duty of both men and women to fight for equal opportunity, because America is the land of opportunity. Fortunately, women are now attaining more professional degrees to work in professional jobs instead of holding blue collar jobs consisting of secretarial or clerical work (Gatton Student Research Publication). The US Census has shown a significant increase of the movement of women into tertiary and quaternary positions and the decrease of primary and secondary occupations. The Women’s Bureau estimates that by 2014, there will be approximately 75.9 million women participating in the workforce, compared to 66 million in 2005. Until recently, the influence of women in society have been an ill-considered one. They have become leaders, revolutionaries and masterminds and the rise doesn’t seem to stop. We have the right to be seen upon as equals in all aspects and should not stop fighting until we do.

FEATURE

THE ARROW

APRIL 23, 2013

Infernal Devices: Steals your heart, leaves you begging for more Clockwork Princess Cassandra Clare

Michelle Choi Opinion Editor

The Infernal Devices is a prequel series to Cassandra Clare’s first series, The Mortal Instruments. The series is extremely addicting and better than Clare’s original franchise. For the last few months, Mortmain, the antagonist, has been plotting against the shapeshifter Tessa Gray and her fellow defenders of London, the Shadowhunters. When Tessa is captured, her fiancé William “Will” Herondale and his parabati, or blood brother, James “Jem” Carstairs must save her from Mortmain’s manipulative clutches. The love triangle between the three becomes increasingly tangled as the novel progresses, for good reason: Jem relies on the addictive and poisonous yinfen to keep his terminal illness at bay, but as Mortmain’s plans develop, yinfen begins to disappear. Having anticipated this book for a year, I’ve had my own slew of crackpot hypo-theories for Clockwork Princess. Many of them included Jem falling in love with Cecily Herondale, Will’s sister, because his death wouldn’t solve any problems. Additionally, Will would be too noble to marry his best friend’s fiance. Cecily has the same rapier wit and stubbornness as her brother, and brings a lighthearted note to the otherwise heart-wrenchingly dark tale. It’s also hard to remember that she is fifteen because she has impulsive, childlike idiosyncrasies. Cecily’s appearance allows for another layer of Will to be shown, a loving brotherly side to him sheltered through many years of being under the faux-curse. There are a lot of parts about this book that irk me, especially Tessa.

Tessa seems too perfect and balanced-alluring while remaining classy, adventurously wild while remaining collected. It’s difficult not to love Tessa, but her friendliness just makes me hate her even more. In addition, the love triangle that she incites becomes tiresome at times, though mostly because of Jem’s selfish selflessness. Clockwork Princess was a satisfying closure to The Infernal Devices, and the plot twists are enough to make your heart lurch and love Will and Jem even more than you already do.

Asher’s story lingers among readers Warm Bodies

13 Reasons Why Jay Asher

Victoria Wang Feature Editor

Hannah Baker has committed suicide. Clay Jensen doesn’t know why. For two weeks he wonders what could have driven this perfectly normal teenage

girl—a girl he sort of knows, a girl he’s had a crush on since they first met—to take her own life. Until he finds a package of cassette tapes on his front porch, addressed to him. Until he listens to the first recording, and then the next, and the next, all thirteen of them. Until he hears Hannah’s voice speaking to him. Clay’s harrowing journey through Hannah’s memories and her slow progression towards suicide shakes both him and the reader to the core. Part mystery, part trauma-novel, Jay Asher’s 2007 debut handles a very delicate and emotional topic with the unrelenting suspense of a classic thriller—and combines the elements to form an engaging read that has profoundly affected thousands of readers’ lives. Teenage suicide novels tend to be so overdramatized that they’re either annoying or downright depressing. But Asher’s approach is like none other: lengthy suicide notes on old-fashioned cassettes, each one focusing on Hannah’s interaction with one of the thirteen people she blames for her death, which are then sent to these thirteen accused. What makes this novel even more unique is that Hannah, whose words make up half of the

novel, is deceased for the entire narration. Asher creates her to be candid, lovable, and altogether irretrievable. If the reader has even a shred of sympathy, he or she will be begging Hannah from early on not to take that ﬁnal step that we all know she took. Despite the mundane setting of a normal high school, the sheer weight of the emotion contained in Hannah’s and Clay’s experiences is not for everyone. Light readers may actually be traumatized; after all, if Asher does his job right, readers will feel both the pain of planning a suicide and the pain of being the one left behind. However, Asher’s purpose is more uplifting: to promote better communication within schools and among teenagers. Hannah Baker is based on his close relative, who attempted suicide at around Hannah’s age but who recovered with the help of friends and family. After reading 13 Reasons Why, several previously suicidal teenagers were led to do what Hannah did not: explain their problems to others before committing suicide. Overall, the novel is a chilling, fascinating look at just how far seemingly harmless actions can go; and how important compassion, honesty, and simply speaking up can be.

Let’s get metaphysical Why Does the World Exist? Jim Holt

David Huang Staff Writer

Why Does the World Exist? by Jim Holt poses one of the most enduring questions in philosophy and science: “Why does the world exist, and why is there something instead of nothing?” Holt proceeds to go on an odyssey to ﬁnd and speak with about a dozen of the leading physicists, professors, and philosophical thinkers of our day, including David Detusche, Steven Weinberg, Richard Swinburne, and Adolf Grunbaum, and explores several theories regarding the beginning of the world. Such an undertaking would be long

and dull if it weren’t for the sparkling and lightly humorous writing of the New York-based journalist. The book is written in short, vignette-like chapters, with interviews separated by “interludes”, or brief explanations of theories or concepts. The book begins with a history of philosophers and scientists (mostly dead) who have investigated this subject. Overall, the book is very captivating and absorbing and encourages the average reader to discover the texts of these philosophers on his or her own. However, I have a couple of warnings regarding this book. First, people who have not taken a basic course in French or Latin may be frustrated with this book. Holt seems to assume that everyone has done so, and he often uses short phrases of French or Latin for no particular reason,

except to seem more erudite. Sometimes, his writing may seem arrogant and James Joycean. Still, I found that the theoretical explanations were mostly clear and easy to understand. Second, the author often includes seemingly unnecessary details about him eating tea and biscuits or drinking wine with his interviewees. This may be because he is a journalist, and he is trying to add a more relatable perspective to the book, but it may be frustrating for those looking for a concise, no-nonsense story about modern philosophy. This book may not satisfy those who already have a basic knowledge of philosophy or quantum physics, but for those looking for a basic overview and introduction into the intriguing world of metaphysics, be sure to take a look.

warms hearts “He’s still dead but he’s getting warmer.” -Warm Bodies movie poster

Warm Bodies Isaac Marion

Melanie Rosen Staff Writer

Isaac Marion wrote a new supernatural hit in 2011 that gained more interest from the public eye when the movie was released in January. The storyline of Warm Bodies seems normal enough: a guy falls for a girl he can’t have because others disapprove of their relationship. But there is a catch: the male protagonist, R, is undead. Only a few small cities scattered across the globe remain of human civilization. During a raid by the living of a ruined city, R eats the brain of a man called Perry and falls in love with Perry’s girlfriend, Julie. Taking a risk, he helps Julie escape, eventually realizing that the living and the undead aren’t so different after all. Together, they embark on the task of uniting their two completely different worlds. The first few chapters of the book used such vivid imagery that I couldn’t put it down. As I continued reading, the storyline got a bit farfetched, though it was still engaging enough to complete. The last two chapters of the book, however, transition so quickly from a scene of chaos to a peaceful one that it’s exceedingly difficult to understand what’s going on. Despite the confusing ending, I did enjoy the book as a whole. The relationships developed between the characters throughout the story, especially R and Julie’s, were amusing and touching, though sometimes to the point of sappiness. The conflicts between the living and undead make the reader beg in his or her mind to find out how things end. Besides the final letdown, it has all the components that make a successful book: a creative idea, a suspenseful plot, and characters that bring the story to life.

THE ARROW 7 Advanced technology quickens the pace of life

FEATURE APRIL 23, 2013

Victoria Wang Feature Editor

GRAPHIC BY VALLIA YU

The tech landscape resembles some sort of Roman gladiator coliseum—with robots, and at the hyper-speed of a digital age. Products and companies are thrown into the pit and battle each other to the death. A single design defect, just one misstep, and it’s a nasty end for the fighter, either at the hands of a competitor or a newer product from its own maker. It’s survival of the fittest 2.0, and the remains are fed to the lions. Fierce and constant competition, according to the capitalistic model, should promote nothing but good. And benefits do include innovation, adaptability, and perpetual readiness. But capitalism was not created in an age when people could share information at the wave of a hand. SURVIVAL OF THE FITTEST: The unceasing competition in technology affects both devices and people. When technology consistently devours its own children at such a By the time a consumer has used younger and flexible are taking over the frenetic pace, there’s something wrong. Economically, the modern technology world scene, as the old wise men are left something for a year, a better, more advanced version of it comes out, and the industry is doing great; but culturally, the behind in the dust. The generation gap between middle consumer promptly buys this one and gets impact of technological cannibalism could be deep and unwelcome. Newspapers such and elementary school students is as wide rid of the old one. Technology is being as The Huffington Post report that stress as the Gulf of Mexico— it’s the difference antiquated in a matter of months, when levels in recent years are up, and increasing. between thinking the original iPhone a hundred years ago it would have taken Modern literature frequently explores is a luxury and having an iPad at your decades. Why is this bad, though? Surely the rate our fears of the tumultuous, unpredictable fingertips ever since you could remember. But perhaps the most significant impact of modern innovation is a boon – it signifies change around us, from the semi-realistic dystopian Super Sad True Love Story by is on consumer habits. Products, especially progress, and an unrelenting creative spirit. Gary Shteyngart, to the thrilling sci-fi Information Technology products, simply But the mere act of switching products so casually is cause for concern. The smallest Robopocalypse by Daniel H. Wilson. The don’t last.

convenience and media hype that the new offers is enough incentive to promote a mass exodus from old to new. The moment we feel something is too much trouble, or another product is more attractive and hip, we switch. We find it increasingly difficult to stay with one thing for very long. The younger generation is also starting to practice this switch-to-the-default mentality on assignments and commitments that cannot simply be discarded in favor of something more appealing. Attention spans are falling, and the more traditional folk, jaded and weary, are finding it very difficult not to fall behind. Change is good, usually. It’s the catalyst for all sorts of innovations and improvements; without it, society would be stagnating in the Dark Ages. We should take advantage of the vast opportunities the new era of technology has made available. But ever since the internet was introduced, change has become a snowball rolling down the hills, an uncontrollable monster; and rather than taking advantage of it, many are finding themselves struggling to keep up. The original iPod, all the rage only a little less than ten years ago, is now an antique. The iPhone will probably face the same end in five. It’s exciting while the gladiator battle lasts. But when the dust finally settles, will there be anything left standing?

Watch out for the iWatch

Yangzong Guo Staff Writer

Apple’s rumored iWatch may be unveiled sooner than previously reported. The company is seeking to introduce the device as soon as this year, according to Bloomberg News. The wire service previously reported that Apple had roughly 100 people working on the project. Understandably, people are excited about Apple’s rumored iWatch. It could potentially be a market-deﬁning product that revolutionizes the concept of wrist watches. “This can be a $6 billion opportunity for Apple, with plenty of opportunity for upside if they create something totally new like they did with the iPod, something consumers didn’t even know they needed,” said analyst Oliver Chen to the Bloomberg News. But apart from looking cool, how would the iWatch be better different from Timex or G-Shock? What function might it perform that would be of value for its customers? Not much has been revealed about what the iWatch would look like and do. But, there are some details and features that have been unveiled. One of the coolest features of the iWatch is that its glass will “curve” around your wrist. The company that supplies phone-makers with the tough Gorilla Glass for their screens is pioneering a new design: Willow Glass,

CARTOON BY MICHELLE CHOI

COURTESY PHOTO

which can bend and change shape. “We know that Willow glass is a new product,” said Paul Saffo, head of foresight at Discern Analytics. “Last time I checked, flexible glass had never existed before. As a new product it’s going to be full of wrinkles and surprises... It looks like a typical new technology story.” The iWatch might potentially resemble a slap bracelet. Such bracelets are equipped with bi-stable springs that allow them to conform to the user’s wrist. Apple has reportedly filed some 80 patent applications that include the word “wrist.” We can infer that the iWatch could easily be worn anywhere on your body: wrist, elbow, or even your ankle. There has been much speculation on what actually is under the hood of an iWatch. It is probably certain that the Apple iWatch would have long enough of a battery life for you to use it without having to charge it twice a day. There have even been rumors that Apple owns a patent for wireless charging. Both Bloomberg and The Verge report that the iWatch may run on a full version of iOS. The iWatch would be able to make calls, show caller ID, check map coordinates, count steps using a pedometer and monitor health-related data using sensors. The Verge also says that Apple has work to do in terms of building proper pathways for transmitting information and notifications between an iWatch and an iPhone. Some might contend that the era of wrist-watches is over, especially with the emergence of cellphones and iPhones. But having a wristsized companion as a way to access information, play music, make calls, or check your email is something that most people should want in their lives. However, some don’t see the need for a device that no one seems to need. “I just think it’s pointless, since there is already a band for the iPod,” said Janett Perez ‘13.

GRADER GADGETRY: Essay software may soon be widely used to grade essays.

Geared towards grading Harry Chung Staff Writer

Soon students might turn in their essays to the computer, not their teachers. In fact, these robot essay graders already exist. In 2012, the Educational Testing Service released software that can actually read students’ writing and determine how many points it deserves. This technology, known as automated essay scoring, exponentially more efﬁcient that human readers, can grade 16,000 essays in 20 seconds. According to research, they also work quite well; a study done by University of Akron’s Dean of the college of Education Mark Shermis and Kaggle data scientist Ben Hamner compared the scores given to these essays by automated readers to the scores given by human graders, and found that there was a high correlation of consistency. What these grading programs look for in essays are objective mechanics found in the essays, such as sentence structure, level of vocabulary, and subject-verb agreement. Of course this technology has some kinks to work out. It has a tough time grading critical thinking and accuracy

of facts. For example, it will have trouble determining whether the student accurately recognizes symbolism in the text or whether World War II started in 1867 or 1939. As of now, automated essay scoring has not found its way into the classroom. Instead, this technology is being used to grade essays written in standardized tests and placement exams. At first glance, robot essay graders seem outrageous. They stifle creativity, and prevent students from developing their writing voice. With robot graders, how will students be able to incorporate their critical thinking skills into writing? Students will find ways around these graders, rather than writing original, worthy works. Many students are comfortable with the thought of robots grading their essays. “As long as it’s effective and practical,” said Erik Martin ‘14. However, what opponents fail to recognize is the purpose of automated essay scoring. It teaches students how to write grammatically correct, effective sentences. It teaches them the essential fundamentals of writing. The meaty, creative writing skills can and should be taught in the classroom by humans.

FEAT

APRIL 23

t n i r p

e u l B

s s e c c u s for A

Michelle Noyes

s college acceptances roll out, denying entrance to more students than ever, seniors are facing the reality about where they will spend the next four years of their lives. his year, the four lowest college acceptance rates were from Stanford, Harvard, Yale, and Columbia University, averaging an acceptance rate of 6.27%, according to The Washington Post. ver wonder how the Third Little Pig would have built the foundation for his future in the 21st century’s global market? The Arrow sought the advice of four students, representing each grade level to help construct the base to build upon in the future. Here are some tools and advice to help you.

Feature Editor

The saying “College is what you make of it” explains itself. High school seniors are excited to start a new adventure although many will leave their

T E

STARTING MEDIAN PAY $53,800 MID-CAREER MEDIAN PAY $97,800 GROWTH IN PAY 82% PROJECTED JOB GROWTH 61.7%

STARTING MEDIAN PAY $41,700 MID-CAREER MEDIAN PAY $84,700 GROWTH IN PAY 103% PROJECTED JOB GROWTH 30.8%

STARTING MEDIAN PAY $56,600 MID-CAREER MEDIAN PAY $97,900 GROWTH IN PAY 73% PROJECTED JOB GROWTH 24.6%

COMPUTER SCIENCE

BIOCHEMISTRY

BIOMEDICAL ENGINEERING

With an ever changing job market, it is hard to say which majors students should pursue. Here are the top three majors from the 15 Most Valuable College Majors.

3 Source: Forbes.com

Leveling the paying field

TURE 3, 2013

LAYING THE FOUNDATION

h r

comfort zone; they will leave their hometown, parents, and teen drama behind by embarking on a path that they hope will lead them to a successful career. Freshmen college experiences are dependent on individual choices and decisions. Attending a university opens up new opportunities and experiences, especially the freedom to do whatever, whenever. However, to succeed and not see a fouryear experience expand into six or seven years, college-bound seniors will need to choose a university based on the

programs, not just the name. “The bottom line for a student is to choose a campus where he/she will be comfortable and ﬁt in with everything it has to oﬀer,” said WHS counselor John Lisowski. “If a student chooses a campus and is miserable studying there, then his/her experience will be less than desired.” Although many students expect to attend a university, most have not yet determined what they want to study. In fact, not many teenagers even know what they want to be “when they grow up” and therefore cannot set up a plan in order to accomplish their goals.

“Eighty percent of college-bound students have yet to choose a major. But they are still expected to pick schools, apply to and start degree programs without knowing where they want to end up,” said Dr. Fritz Grupe, mymajors.com founder. The atmosphere of the school may play a role in deciding where to go, but seniors should not overlook choosing the right programs for their career choice. A degree is not easily handed out to everyone who enrolls in college. Picking the right major and spending hours studying to pass a class pay oﬀ in the future. “Unless you go to a top-

20 brand name school, what matters most to employers is your major,” said Katie Bardaro, an economist, to Forbes. According to scholarships.com the most popular majors are Business, Social Sciences/History, Health Sciences, and Education. Business is one of the four most popular majors, but Forbes.com does not place business in its bestpaying or most valuable college majors. In fact, six of the 10 bestpaying majors include engineering. Forbes included only math- and science-based majors as the 15 most valuable for 2013. “Not only are computer

scientists and computer engineers the most sought after candidates on the market but—ﬁttingly, understandably—they’re among the highest paid entry level hires,” according to The Forbes website. Nevertheless, advice to the college bound is to choose a major that interests them. A higher paycheck is not worth the unhappiness that can be caused by majoring in a ﬁeld for which you have no enthusiasm. There will still be a job for you. Find your passion.

Orly Greenberg

my next diatribe, I’m leaving myself frenzied notes and reminders on my phone, reminding myself to email yet another college counselor or register for yet another standardized test. Meanwhile, my inbox is ﬂooded with messages from schools I’ve never heard of, asking me to take their 150-question survey and assuring me that yes, I will be very happy at Texas Christian University (although I’m clearing that up right now—TCU, I thank you kindly, but I believe I might be slightly too Semitic for your taste). I’ve always thought of col-

lege as endgame. I get accepted to the perfect school, and then my future seamlessly settles into place. But what happens after? Does going to a name brand college actually make that much of a difference in my future? So I did a little investigation. Here’s the good news: it doesn’t matter all that much where I go to school. Forbes reports that students who attend the same school can have completely different experiences, report different levels of happiness on everything from diversity to support programs. Essentially, Forbes notes that “where you go to school is not

as important as what you bring to the school where you go.” So, I could just as easily spend four years applying myself and excelling at a small liberal arts college as I could at an Ivy League, sleeping through classes. The New York Times offers equally as comforting reports. Alexander C. McCormick, a former admissions officer, told the newspaper that “the quality of that biology major offered at School No. 50? It may exceed that at School No. 5.” Another reason not to place all hope in Ivy League dreams is a new study has emerged showing that “stu-

dents who are accepted into Ivy League and other top colleges tend to die young and live unhappy lives,” according to Campus Progress. As a staunch advocate of living, this certainly makes me rethink “the higher the ranking the better the school” mentality. While attending a top ﬁve school certainly gives a student bragging rights, it does not necessarily ensure the best education, the best campus, or the happiest students. That isn’t to say that highly ranked colleges oﬀer nothing but misery. However, I’m starting to realize that there is more beyond the Ivy illusion.

physical education, remember that this is the last year. 3. Go to College Meetings Many colleges send representatives to the school. It is awkward to go to these meetings as a sophomore because not many go, but know that they exist. 4. Look for Ways to Get Involved - Volunteer, join clubs, and branch out. Long-term involvement with extra-curriculars, community organizations, and clubs shows commitment. 5. Develop a Resume - Keep

track of all your recognitions, awards, activities, and volunteer time. Take advantage of the nationally used website Naviance to help guide you. 6. Read, Read, Read - Once upon a time there were these popular tools called books. Before video games, and social media took over, students learned by reading. Developing a broadly based interest in the world serves students well—not just for the acquisition of knowledge but also for help

to handle more reading and writing demands in junior and senior year. Reading is interesting, engaging, and is a better use of free time. 7. Research and Visit Colleges – Researching colleges can be lots of fun. Counselors encourage students to make a list of schools that fall into three categories: safety, guaranteed acceptance, and reach schools. Finding a “match” school saves you time and money and keeps your goals realistic. Visit any colleges within

a 50-mile radius. 8. Summer Activities - Most people spend their summer hours indoors on the computer or on the couch. These energies would be better spent working in a corporate internship or doing volunteer work 9. Choose classes carefully One must go for depth rather than breadth. Also, do not choose a class because everyone else is in it. 10. Study hard – Good grades are a true sign of intelligence, according to colleges.

a.m. sounds unpleasant, but upper classmen claim that you “get used to it.” Nevertheless, few freshmen are gullible enough to rise that early to start their days. This is the year to establish yourself as a member of the student body. Since colleges do look at your entire high school transcript, dabbling in many activities is not the best idea. Find extra-curricular activities that you enjoy and stick with them. You’re given free time to test out the waters before you dive. You can even begin earning college credit by

enrolling in AP Human Geography (if it interests you) and passing the AP exam. Doing so will be a helpful boost to your GPA. To be valedictorian, you need a 4.65 minimum. You’ll need that extra 5.0. Don’t procrastinate. The anti-procrastination mantra has been drilled into our heads since elementary school, but it is a common personality trait in students to put off until tomorrow everything that does not need to be done today. Time flies when you are on tumblr: what seems like five minutes will be five hours and

you’ll pull an all-nighter trying to ﬁnish that Of Mice and Men essay assigned two weeks ago. Your life shouldn’t revolve strictly around academics either. Apply for internships and volunteering positions. There are plenty of opportunities out there, like Paper Lantern Lit Trendsetter or library volunteering. All community involvement builds a list of contacts which may come in handy when you need recommendation letters and summer work. Be well rounded; colleges value students who are knowledgeable experts, multi-talent-

ed musicians, dedicated athletes, AND creative writers. Love what you do and diversify. As children taking the first steps into adult responsibility, you will be excited to try everything the world has to offer. As a freshman, you’re allowed to explore, but look for interests that inspire you. Not only will you achieve more because you have drive and self motivation, but also you will enjoy the journey. The increasing difficulty of the next three years of high school is not a myth.

Juniors

Opinion Editor

More and more, I ﬁnd myself writing about colleges. Not to colleges. These aren’t pieces that I would ever want a university to read, to acknowledge and then associate my rambling complaints with my eager application. No, it seems as though every article I’ve written this year centers on the absurd process, the stress-inducing requirements, the ever growing list of applicants and ever shrinking percentage of acceptances. And when I’m not sitting at my computer, frantically typing

Sophomores

David Huang

Freshmen

Seniors

Staﬀ Writer

1. Testing - Take the PSAT in October and if the experience is particularly challenging make an eﬀort to improve the score—take more practice tests, hire tutors, or enroll in SAT workshops. 2. Get Help When You Need It - If you’re struggling in math, science, Spanish or English, seek a tutor or a friend who is smarter than you. If you’re struggling in

Michelle Choi Opinion Editor

Freshman year is a one way ticket on the high school express—a four-year journey that waits for no one. You walk on campus the ﬁrst day of school, bleary eyed and naive: this year is supposed to be a walk in the park. Show up, ace exams, get an adequate amount of sleep. Seems simple enough; unfortunately, that’s not the case. Most freshmen take a six period day for the sake of minimal work. Waking up at 5:30

Page designed by Vivian Hu and Lauren Chin

APRIL 23, 2013

Weight of the nation

Is fast food the main cause of obesity?

Other: 23% Agree 53%

How often do you eat fast food?

Where do you eat fast food most often? Home: 5 % Subw Subw ay : 7 ay : 7 % %

FEATURE

THE ARROW

% Chick-ﬁl-A: 16

Disagree 47%

McD

: 11

ily:

ldʼs

ona

Monthly: 36%

Never

In-N-Out: 38%

Weekly: 51%

: 8%

168 WHS students were surveyed

Danielle Cortes Tatiana Hamlin Erik Steinman Staff Writers

Remember the saying “an apple a day keeps the doctor away”? Most do not take this recommendation seriously and as a result, Americans continue to confront an increasing obesity problem. Many children and teenagers are becoming obese due to the lack of nutritional value in their daily food consumption.

Constantly exposed to suggestive advertisements and media, adolescents are brainwashed with an unhealthy message: eating fast food is easier. High school students, who are often too busy to consider or prepare alternatives, choose restaurants, such as McDonald’s, Subway, and In-N-Out, for their preferred dining. After only a few years of such unhealthful habits, young children are at risk for diabetes and obesity, both of which can be serious health problems; neverthe-

less, children and parents do not deal with the potential problems correctly. Conversations about healthful eating and the negative effects of eating out would initiate communication between teens and their parents. Diets that are high in fat content and calories can lead to serious problems such as obesity, diabetes, high blood pressure, and ultimately death. It is recommended that people eat a proportional serving of carbohydrates, grains, fruits, vegetables, and proteins.

It is up to the individuals themselves to make the right choices. Blaming fast food companies for unhealthy habits is not the answer. “It is so much easier to make an unhealthy choice,” said Kristi Lima, the cafeteria manager. Ready availability is only one part to helping resolve the health problems. Because teens have access to unhealthy choices, it is difﬁcult for them to make the healthier choice. Replacing a bag of chips with an apple is just the beginning.

Keep eyes wide open; itʼs a jungle out there Erik Steinman Staff Writer

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“You are what you eat” is an American cliche. But if we really were what we ate, we would probably want to take a closer look at our food choices. Over the past decade, several fast food scandals have made their way into news headlines. Human body parts and chicken heads have somehow found their way into some people’s meals. But the question is: are these incidents real or merely urban legends? A woman in Newport reportedly found an entire chicken head in her McDonald’s chicken basket in 2000, according to ABC News. The chicken “had a beak and it had eyes,” said the victim Katherine Ortega. Ortega contacted the FDA about the issue. Many of the incidents can be avoided by a thorough inspection of one’s fast food meal prior to consumption. However, one hungry student, Lily Lockhart

OFF WITH YOUR HEAD: A McDonald’s customer found a fried chicken head inside her meal.

’15, said “I’m too hungry to do an inspection on my food. I just cram it all down my throat.” Those unable or unwilling to perform an inspection may end up with an unpleasant surprise. In 2009, another woman in San Jose claimed to find a human finger in her Wendy’s bowl of chili. Wendy’s employees were required to show their fingers to

investigators, but none of them were missing any digits according to CBS News. Estefania Gonzalez ’14, said, “If I found a human ﬁnger in my fast food meal, I would totally freak out! I would probably be scarred for life and would never eat fast food meals ever again!” These peculiar incidents raise countless questions regarding the production of the food served in

almost every restaurant. If a finger or a chicken head can slip into one’s Happy Meal, sanitary conditions and food inspections may not be as thorough as they once seemed to be. Following the release of Upton Sinclair’s novel, The Jungle, Theodore Roosevelt passed the Food and Drug Act in 1906 to ensure sanitary conditions and nutritional legitimacy in all food production factories. Food production made its way into the forefront of American society. Unfortunately, a second wake up call may be necessary to spring these companies into action. Selecting healthy and organic foods can help reduce unsanitary contact with your food before it reaches you. And, ultimately, a simple inspection of one’s food can significantly reduce the likelihood of a finger being in your chili. The mystery of how the finger ended up in the bowl of chili persists to this day, but a bigger question exists; whose finger is it anyway?

Read it before you eat it Tatiana Hamlin Staff Writer

"Nutrition has the greatest impact in our health," said nutritionist Bernadette Lueck. Does that mean that a hamburger will make us fat? When at a fast food restaurant, 133 students out of 168 said they don't read nutritional information. A majority of restaurants don't show the calorie count, so customers have to ask for a side menu. Some fast food restaurants, however, do show the calorie count, but does that affect what people choose to eat? Most people don't even bother to care about what they eat; this generation is pushing the borders of "eating healthy." Obesity has tripled over the last 30 years because children and teenagers eat unhealthy ingredients hidden in our food. Most fast food is high in calories, sugars, and fats. "If the ingredients list is extensive, I caution clients," said Lueck. A well-balanced meal should include half fruit and vegetables, one fourth high fiber carbohydrates (beans or brown rice) and one fourth protein sources (chicken, salmon, tofu, or eggs). "The more vegetables, fruits, and fiber you eat the better you will feel," commented Lueck. Poor nutrients can affect both physical and mental health causing depression or worse. "Poor nutrition will most definitely harm us!" said Lueck.

Five tips

to lose the fast food weight gain 1. Exercise at least twice a week, for 30 minutes at a time. 2. Reduce your dependence on fast food. 3. Make sure to get at least eight hours of sleep every night. 4. Cut down on added sugars, such as soda and candy. 5. Eat more vegetables, fruit, and fiber to be healthier and more energized. Compiled by Tatiana Hamlin and Erik Steinman

Dining lessons: Measure a mealʼs value by quality not quantity Erik Steinman Staff Writer

Fast food seems like the perfect option for low-budget dining during a tough economic depression, but these quick meals may be more costly in other ways. Fast food restaurants can range drastically in their food pricing options, from cheap snack-sized portions to more

expensive menu entrées. For example, Chik-Fil-A, a higher price-range restaurant, charges $4.00 for a 12-piece chicken nugget meal, while McDonald’s offers a 20-piece chicken nugget meal for only a dollar more and the chicken nuggets are considerably larger. Are all chicken nuggets created equal though? Consumers must take into

account that the difference in prices may be directly related to the quality of the food. Those seeking a high-quality meal may prefer Chik-Fil-A chicken over the chicken offered at McDonald’s. “I would go to Chik-Fil-A even though it’s more money because I like the taste better,” said Estefania Gonzalez ‘14, Although consumers are

seeking more budget-friendly foods during the economic recession, fast food restaurants are following a recent trend of increasing the prices of their menu options. McDonald’s has recently removed its signature cheeseburger from the dollar menu, and placed it on the “value menu” with a 30% price increase. “I really don’t care about the

dollar menu changing. I didn’t even notice that it changed,” said Hallie Maxwell ‘15. Although this small change may seem insigniﬁcant at ﬁrst, an increase in fast food prices can increase the price of a full meal by $1.00 to $2.00. For families that purchase multiple menu items, these price increases can be especially important.

FEATURE

THE ARROW

APRIL 23, 2013

Food Passpor t

Healthy tips for

Take your taste buds on a trip to your local supermarket

Liz Mossessian Featurre Editor

It's never too late to change your diet; but right now is deﬁnitely the time to start. According to the Center for Disease Control (CDC), more than one-third of adults (35.7%) and approximately 17% (or 12.5 million) of children and adolescents aged 2-19 years are obese in the United States; about one in ﬁve teens face medical problems with abnormal cholesterol, whether it’s too low or too high; and, since 1980, obesity prevalence among children and adolescents has almost tripled. Such statistics should instill a sense of urgency in the public; yet the problem still does not seem to cause much panic. Unfortunately, statistics also show that

Ingredients

• 1 tbsp vegetable oil • 1 1/4 lb boneless skinless

there are clear racial and ethnic disparities in obesity prevalence among children and teens. What American corporations and families must focus on is reversing this trend— shaping the health of future generations by shaping the diet of our present youths. In order to reduce such trends, healthy food must become affordable. Easier said than done. While a cheeseburger from McDonald’s can be picked up easily passing by the drive through for only a few dollars, grocery shopping for a stalk of broccoli may take more time and more money. In his TedTalks presentation, chef and anti-obesity activist Jamie Oliver proposes including cooking classes in elementary school curriculum in order to inform children about the importance of eating right

Asian Tacos

Spicy Skillet Chicken

chicken breasts, cut into thin strips • 1 bag (1 lb) frozen broccoli, red peppers, onions and mushrooms (or other combination), thawed • 1/2 cup stir-fry sauce • 1 package (11 oz) ﬂour tortillas for burritos (8 tortillas, 8-inch)

Instructions

1. In a 10-inch skillet, heat oil over high heat. 2. Add chicken; cook and stir 3 to 4 minutes or until chicken is no longer pink in center. Remove from heat. 3. Cut vegetables into about 1/2-inch pieces; add to chicken in skillet. Cook and stir over medium-high heat about 2 minutes or until vegetables are crisp-tender; drain. 4. Add 1/2 cup stir-fry sauce. Cook and stir about 2 minutes or until hot. 5. Spread about 1/2 cup of the chicken mixture over half of each tortilla; fold tortillas in half.

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as well as teach them healthy, affordable home recipes that are simple to follow and easy to make at home. In his speech, Oliver mentions, "your child will live a life ten years younger than you because of the landscape of food that we've built." Oliver acknowledges that in the chaos of a busy week day it is hard for the average family to take the time to cook a meal from scratch with fresh ingredients bought at the supermarket; but there are solutions. Below are two recipes that are easy to make at home using fairly simple and affordable ingredients. Although the importance of eating healthy and being conscience about what you put into your body may not be visible until years to come, when you reach that time, it may be too late.

Ingredients

• 1/2 tsp chili powder • 1/2 tsp salt • 1/4 tsp pepper • 4 boneless skinless chicken breasts (about 1 1/4 lb)

• 1 tbsp vegetable oil • 1 can (15 oz) black

beans, drained, rinsed • 1 can (11 oz) whole kernel corn with red and green peppers, undrained • 1/3 cup salsa • 2 cups hot cooked rice

Instructions

1. In a small bowl, mix chili powder, salt and pepper. 2. Sprinkle evenly over both sides of chicken breasts. 3. In a 10-inch nonstick skillet, heat oil over medium heat. 4. Add chicken; cook 8 to 10 minutes, turning once, until juice of chicken is clear when center of thickest part is cut (170 °F). 5. Stir in beans, corn and salsa. 6. Heat to boiling. Reduce heat. Cover and simmer 3 to 5 minutes or until vegetables are hot. Serve with rice.

eating out Liz Mossessian Feature Editor

There are always nights when you want to go out to dinner with friends and could care less about the healthiness of your meal. The next morning, however, you may wish you did care. Here are ten tips to cutting quick calories on your meal.

1. Order steamed, grilled, or broiled

dishes as opposed to those that are fried or sautéed. 2. Try to start your meal with a salad packed with veggies or your favorite soup. This will help to control hunger so you can feel satisﬁed sooner. 3. When ordering a salad, don’t be afraid to ask for the salad dressing to be served on the side. Then you can use only as much as you want. 4. Choose main dishes that include vegetables, such as stir fries, kebobs, or pasta with a tomato sauce. 5. Avoid the “all-you-can-eat” buffet. Instead order an item from the menu. 6. Share a main dish and an appetizer with a friend. Now you can try more than just one dish. 7. Ask your server for whole-wheat bread in your sandwich. 8. Resign from the “clean your plate” mentality-when you’ve eaten enough, simply leave the rest alone. 9. Add little or no butter to your food to avoid unnecessary saturated fats. 10. When your server asks if you would like to start off with a plate of bread, just say no!

FEATURE APRIL 23, 2013

THE ARROW

Stacked: Food Well Built opens at The Oaks Mall Sammy Bentivegna Staff Writer

Amongst the vast new selections of burger restaurants in Thousand Oaks, Stacked seems to stack up against even the best burger places. Located in The Oaks Mall, Stacked has replaced the previous Buddha’s Belly this past March. Stacked introduces a new and innovative concept where technology is utilized. Instead of the traditional paper menu, the menu is displayed on the apple iPad where a numerous amount of combinations can be created. Whenever customers want to order another item form the menu, they simply input it into the iPad and the server will deliver it promptly. This takes away the an-

noyance of sitting around and waiting for the server. With its slogan “Food Well Built” being displayed everywhere, the essence of the restaurant is captured. The food choices are endless and can be stacked as high as desired, built to perfection. When ordering a hamburger, customers may stick with the pre-made, ordinary combinations or customize it to any speciﬁcations. It could be a simple bun and meat or could be loaded with a countless amount of toppings, including pretzel bread,onion strings, grilled shrimp, sun dried tomatoes, and garlic aioli. Not only does Stacked offer a wide range of hamburger choices, but the other menu options are just as extensive. Soups, salads, macaroni and cheeses, and pizzas are also available for customization with a

simple touch on the iPad. Stacked also offers a variety of dessert options. For any milkshake lovers, Stacked is most certainly the place to go. On the menu they feature a delicious Caramel Apple Pie milkshake made with actual apple pie blended with caramel and whipped cream. For customers who desire a different kind of dessert, Stacked’s ice cream sandwiches are also customizable. Cookie ﬂavors include oatmeal cranberry walnut, snicker doodle, and even gluten-free chocolate chip. Including the recently opened Thousand Oaks restaurant, the franchise now has four restaurant locations: Torrance, Cerritos, and San Diego. Stacked’s innovative way of ordering, via iPad, may be a glimpse of what may be seen everywhere in the near future.

Lora Novak visits Stacked and ﬂaunts the restaurant’s creative idea of ordering via iPad.

bella Mushroom Burger in which the beef patty is replaced with a large portabella mushroom and served with an assortment of vegetables on a multi-grain bun. Each beef patty can be substituted for either a chicken or a veggie patty, a very convenient option for vegetarians who still hope to enjoy an occasional fast food burger. On my ﬁrst visit to BurgerWerkz, I ordered the Classic Werkz Combo, which includes the Classic Werkz Burger, a side, and a drink. I found the price to be very reasonable, and the food was delicious. Many customers have commented on their appreciation for the perfectly salted french fries BurgerWerkz offers.

I also tried two of their sides, including the tater tots and sweet potato fries. Both were worthy competitors for your french fry loyalty. The restaurant features an order counter, in which you receive a buzzer that will alert you when your food is ready. The service was friendly, and the meal was delivered to my table quickly. Overall, BurgerWerkz is a great addition to the community and provides a nice place for people to grab a quick bite. With such a wide range of menu options and delicious food, it is highly recommend that students make the short trip to the restaurant and create his or her own customized Werkz burger.

This BurgerWerkz for me! Erik Steinman Staff Writer

Burgers have always been a staple of the average American diet, yet a recent dining revolution has introduced the production of higher quality, gourmet ground beef patties. For those cheeseburger aﬁcionados, the goal is always to ﬁnd the holy grail of hamburgers. Luckily, the local BurgerWerkz, located on the corner of Thousand Oaks Blvd. and Lindero Canyon Rd. in Westlake Village, is a perfect candidate. What sets BurgerWerkz apart from its competitors is that they allow a great amount of customization. They also of-

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fer a wide selection of menu items, all set at a very reasonable price, and even serve smaller “Slider” portions, giving customers a chance to try more than one burger. Most importantly, BurgerWerkz guarantees all natural beef made without hormones and without antibiotics. Think of the restaurant as an upscale Five Guys. While burgers remain the prime entree, they are available in a variety of interesting ﬂavors and combinations. A #8 Seared Ahi Burger is one of their most interesting dishes. The ahi tuna patty is topped with nicely cut, fresh tomatoes, red onions, and an extremely tasty wasabi mayo. Another unique entree is the #7 Porta-

ENTERTAINMENT

THE ARROW

APRIL 23, 2013

ringing back the Brits:

The ʻBritish Invasionʼ returns

Leah Henry Staﬀ Writer

Nowadays, popular television shows and music in the United States constantly include the works of British performers. Entertainers just have to put on a British accent and Americans will fall in love with them. “Downton Abbey” ﬁrst appeared on PBS in America in 2010. Since then, it has been named the “Highest-Rated Drama in PBS History” and its season three ﬁnale had 8.2 million viewers, according to tvbythenumbers.com. The popular show also won an Emmy for “Outstanding Miniseries or Made for

Television Movie” in 2011, and Maggie Smith received an Emmy for “Best Supporting Actress in a Drama Series” in 2012. Besides the success of “Downton Abbey,” the United Kingdom has brought other shows across the pond as well. The television channel BBC America was created in 1998 and it now features British shows such as “Doctor Who”, “Kitchen Nightmares” and “Law and Order: UK.” This channel additionally adapted its own television shows and broadcasts World News programs. Not only do the Brits have an inﬂuence on American television, but music too. Singing groups like One Direction and Little Mix are making their way to America

and gaining many dedicated fans. Both groups got their starts on the British version of the televised singing competition, The X-Factor. Since then, their success has been exponential. One Direction has won three MTV Video Music Awards, including “Best New Artist” and “Best Pop Video” for “What Makes You Beautiful.” Their ﬁrst album, “Up All Night,” topped the charts in 16 countries and sold over 4.5 million copies worldwide by December of 2012. Their second studio album, “Take Me Home,” was released on Nov. 9, 2012 and went number one in 37 countries. The album’s number one debut on the US Billboard “Top 200” chart made One Direction the ﬁrst group to

have both of their albums to debut at number one. Although Little Mix is not as renowned as One Direction, they are gaining much popularity in America. The girl group recently ended their US tour, with some shows sold out. Their new album, “DNA”, is set to release in the United States on May 28, 2013. With all the inﬂuences on our entertainment back in Europe, we start to wonder: When will America discover the “next big thing”? “I think it’s an entertainment choice for the better. I personally prefer what the European performers have to oﬀer, so it’s a good change,” said Sophie Bachmann ‘16.

Guess whoʼs bac k? Doctor Who returns Katelyn Eaton Staﬀ Writer

COURTESY PHOTO

WHO’S THERE?: The Doctor (Smith) and his companion Amy (Gillian) travel through time to battle evil extraterrestrials.

“Doctor Who,” the long-running sci-fi series, finally returned to television for its 33rd season on March 30. The series, first aired in 1963 and revamped in 2005, has grown to be a cult phenomenon in both the United Kingdom and America. The show follows a time-traveling alien called The Doctor (currently played by Matt Smith) that appears human, but differs by having two hearts and being extraordinarily smart. Traveling in his time machine, the TARDIS, The Doctor and his human companion Amy (played by Karen Gil-

lian) join him in his quest to save the world from extraterrestrial enemies. Throughout their lives, Time Lords, like The Doctor, can willingly cheat death by transforming into a whole new person when they are about to die, maintaining a new physical form with the same personality. The series is hugely popular, watched by over 80 million viewers in 206 countries. It has been honored by Guinness World Records as both the longest running and most successful science-ﬁction series in the world. “Doctor Who” has featured Christopher Eccleston, David Tennant, and most recently Matt Smith as the 9th, 10th,

and 11th Doctors in the series, respectively. Accompanying The Doctor on his journeys has been Billie Piper, Freema Agyeman, Catherine Tate, Karen Gillan, and Jenna-Louise Coleman as his human companions. This fall will be the 50th anniversary of the first episode of the series. A big episode is currently in the works, complete with appearances from past Doctors and companions. While Eccelston officially rejected the rumor he will be making an appearance, both Tennant and Piper confirmed they will have cameos. New episodes premier every Saturday on BBC America 8:00 p.m.

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SPORTS

THE ARROW

APRIL 23, 2013

Oh, snap!

Swim dominates in League

Shayna Kudler Sports Editor

best and hopefully qualify for CIF,” said Captain Julia Farfan ‘13. Though the girls team lost many outstanding swimmers who graduated last year, a few girls are stepping up in their place. Along with Farfan, Lacey Anderson ‘14, Lauren Clark ‘16, and Annie Kutt ‘15 are swimmers to keep an eye on this season. Both girls and boys varsity have defeated Agoura, Thousand Oaks, Malibu, Newbury Park, and ﬁnally,

PHOTO BY KALLYN HOBMANN

This year WHS’s varsity swim teams are fiercely fighting to advance closer to their goal. Sweeping all league and non-league teams so far, the WHS boys and girls varsity teams hope to keep their undefeated streak alive. All levels attended their first meet of the season, the Spartan Relays at Rio Mesa High School against nine league and non-league teams. WHS earned first place and defended their champion title for another consecutive year. The Warriors swim FULL SPEED AHEAD: Parker Jadwin tries to out-touch the competition. against a non-league team, Crescenta Valley, who won the Division and holds high expectations for this year. Royal High Schools. With the season coming close to the II CIF last year. Girls varsity lost, but boys At CIF last year, boys varsity placed eighth, varsity earned a win for WHS keeping the motivating them to improve on their pre- end, WHS will swim against Calabasas at vious record and hold on to their current home on April 24 for their last league meet boys streak alive. of the season. “Our goal is to defend our league winning streak. Girls varsity is on the road to win not After, varsity will attend League Pretitle, which we are expected to do. Also, we hope to do well at CIF,” said Captain just league, but to accomplish more success lims, League Finals, CIF Prelims, and CIF Finals, hopefully qualifying and exceeding Michael Wen ‘13. Wen won third place in at CIF. “The goal for our team is to do our their own expectations by winning. the 200 Individual Medley at CIF last year

Baseballʼs boys in blue start the season strong

Alex Zhu

Staff Writer

PHOTO BY RACHEL FINEGOLD

The six-time Marmonte League baseball champions are looking for their seventh title to ink into the school’s history. As of April 18, the team has a 5-4-0 record in league-play and 10-10-0 overall. In league standings, they are fifth behind AHS, TOHS, MHS, and SVS— still in playoff picture. The team has experienced many changes in the program this year, including the arrival of new head coach, Billy Ashley. Before becoming the head coach of the program, Ashley was the assistant coach of the WHS Junior Varsity softball team. Ashley has 35 years of experience as a player including two years as a high school coach. He was a former Major League Baseball outfielder for the Los Angeles Dodgers from 1992-1997 and for the Boston Red Sox in 1998. Ashley feels being a player prepared him for coaching because “playing for and with different coaches prepare for my coaching.” Ashley does not see much difference between coaching baseball and softball. “It’s still the same game, but the dimensions are different; still, you teach the same thing,” said Ashley. He also said the mentality is quite different. He stated that the goal of this team is to win Marmonte League. “There’s too much talent on the field that people shouldn’t overlook us,” said Ashley. When asked what the team is doing to prevent defeat, Ashley said, “We don’t have that mentality; we don’t think about defeat.” As Ashley said, practice needs to be

BASE KNOCKS: Brandon Cavanah turns on a pitch from a Moorpark High School pitcher.

done perfectly, but it is hard to make sure. “It is still good to have that mentality,” said Ashley. “I want to work with young men, give them life’s wisdom for baseball terms, and see what they can do with them. I want to also get back into baseball,” he replied after being asked why he wanted to be the head coach of WHS Baseball. WHS is ﬁlled with many talented players. Strong and speedy slugger Luke Dykstra ‘14 leads the team’s offensive attack. According to Maxpreps.com, Dykstra is batting .395, with a .544 on-base percentage, 10 runs batted in, 15 runs scored, and seven

stolen bases. Tyler Flores ‘16 has also had a successful start, batting .380. Zak Daniels ’13 leads the pitching staff for WHS. He is 5-1 with an ERA of 1.48, 23 strikeouts, and keeps batters off balance with a .181 batting average over 42.2 innings pitched. WHS will face 13th-ranked Agoura this week before taking on Newbury Park High School next week. They will also be competing in the Chatsworth Classic Tournament, which began on April 13 and ends on April 27. There will be one game for the tournament every Saturday.

said Joanne Cook, President of the WHS Lacrosse Booster Club. Everyone helps each other in lacrosse, even if you’re a new player. “They play in off-season leagues together and are very supportive of one another,” said Cook. “They work hard but have fun at the same time.” Additional coaches are Assistant Head Coach/Defensive Coordinator Tony Mekari; Assistant Coach/Offensive Coordinator Mario Waibel, , and WHS Lacrosse Team Alum and Tim Farrell. Coaches for JV are T.C. Badalato, and Tony Mekari, Jr.

JV team’s record is 6-2 so far this year. Two of the Marmonte schools (Calabasas High School and Simi Valley High School) do not have JV teams. Main players for varsity are Luke Kuchta ‘13, who is committed to the University of Oregon and Carlo Castenada ‘14, both offensive players. As of now, varsity’s record is 10-2, only losing to Palos Verdes and Newbury Park, and beating Calabasas, Agoura, Royal, Thousand Oaks, Simi Valley, and Oak Park. The team plays their last league games away against Newbury Park on April 22 and Simi Valley on April 24.

Defending lacrosse champs look to protect turf

Heidi Chiu

News Editor Coached by Dennis Ray, boys lacrosse has grown and matured. Four years in the making, the team has already established a reputation by winning league championships last year. The goal for the team is to become the ﬁrst returning League Champions. The boys are acquiring not only skills buy also learning teamwork. “The lacrosse team is very close, like a family, especially since lacrosse is still relatively new in Conejo Valley District,”

Serious injuries haunt athletes

Christian Coates Sports Editor

Currently, the commissioners of sports associations such as the NFL, NBA, MLB, and NCAA are trying to crack down on safety and the protection of their players. Although total body counts have gone down, the seriousness of the injuries have been increasingly gruesome. No one will ever forget the recent appalling leg injury of Louisville basketball player, Kevin Ware, which brought back disturbing memories of Joe Theismann. Ware jumped and came down awkwardly. Due to previous small stress fractures in his leg, Ware’s entire tibia was snapped into two. His teammates watched in horror, some in tears, and others vomiting on the court. Ware’s Cardinal brothers played an inspired second half and ousted Duke 85-63. Another frightening play in the college ranks occurred on the gridiron. University of South Carolina star runningback Marcus Lattimore had torn his ACL in his left knee last season. He had come back from surgery ready for a breakout season to put the Gamecocks on top. Against Tennessee, Lattimore took a handoff, made a few cuts, and was taken down by his legs. While, he was laying on the ground, instant replay showed that his right knee had been twisted and then had given out. The unfortunate star was informed by doctors later that he had torn three ligaments in his right knee, and that his season was cut short for the second straight year. Two years ago, the San Francisco Giants’ season was effectively ended when all-star catcher Buster Posey was lost for the year. The Giants were knotted up with the Florida Marlins in the 12th inning when rookie Scott Cousins rounded third base. The throw came into Posey at home, when he set up for the tag to extend the game. Cousins lowered his shoulder and barreled into the young superstar, trying to jar the ball loose. Posey’s cleat caught in the dirt and his ankle crumpled under the weight. San Francisco lost that game and lost their leader for the remainder of the season. In the heat of the Super Bowl hunt, the Washington Redskins’ gamechanging rookie quarterback, Robert Griffin III, looked over his offensive line at the Seattle Seahawk defense. Down a touchdown, Griffin was hoping to make some magic and give his team a chance to win the game. A bad snap squirted away from Griffin, who spun around and chased after it. As he reached down and dove on top, his right knee twisted grotesquely. The Seahawks ended up recovering the ball and moving on to the next round of the playoffs, but Griffin was dealt the biggest loss. He had already torn his ACL in that knee before, and was again going to be sidelined for the offseason and possibly for the beginning of the 2013 season. These kinds of injuries are becoming increasingly rare. Many sports, such as football, are doing extensive amounts of research on injuries, such as concussions. Concussions, therefore, have not only gone down in numbers, but are being prevented with today’s new technology. Protective padding is also being updated, preventing more broken bones as well. With leagues taking more and more precautions, athletes are becoming less and less subjected to injuries that affect their long-term health.

SPORTS APRIL 23, 2013

THE ARROW

Volleyball vies for victory

Editor-in-chief

GOING UP!

PHOTO BY SIMONE MOSCOVITCH

Pijuan vaults towards his future Simone Moscovitch Staff Writer

According to relief carvings, pole vaulting originated in Egypt approximately 2500 B.C. The ﬁrst recorded pole vault competition took place during the Irish Talitteann Games, which dates back to 1829 B.C. Thousands of years later, student Paris Pijuan ‘13 has taken an interest in pole vaulting. “It’s funny, since I was actually afraid of heights before I started to vault, but I took an interest [in vaulting] because I wanted to try something that would give me a thrill,” Pijuan said. The biggest obstacle he had to overcome during his years of vaulting was being mentally and physically prepared for his meets. “I had to convince myself that my next jump would be just as easy as my previous one,” said Pijuan.

Paris plans to continue to pole vault during his college career. He got a partial scholarship to California State University Fullerton because he has reached such great heights, but he is still deciding where to attend. Right now, Paris is working on receiving his Filipino citizenship to open pole vault opportunities in the future. Recent recognitions Pijuan has received include the Senior Record Holder, as well as the Filipino Junior National Record Holder. “I might have a chance in the Youth Olympics taking place in China if I am able to get my Filipino Citizenship. That would be really cool,” said Pijuan. Pole vaulting has become an inﬂuential part of this senior’s life, and he encourages others to look into it. “Never give up. My hard work continues to surprise me everyday,” said Pijuan.

JACKSON HOLLISTER soars above the net.

Swinging for the Olympics Shane Bogan Staff Writer Sean Crocker ‘14 has qualified for the Olympic Trials. If all goes well, he will be representing South Africa at the 2016 Olympics in Rio de Janeiro as a golfer. The year will mark golfing’s first year as an Olympic sport since 1904. According to International Olympic Committee President Jacques Rogge, the time was right for golfing’s return to the competition because of the recognition stars like Tiger Woods and Rory McIlroy garner. The International Golf Federation has proposed 72-hole stroke play tournaments, with a three-hole playoff in the event of a tie for both men and women’s events. Crocker came to America from South Africa when he was six years old, and has been playing golf since he was four. Since then, he has been making headlines around the world. A recent March issue of Zimbabwean Sunday newspaper, The Standard, describes him as a “teenage golf sensation” and mentions that many, including the legendary golfer Nick Price, believe he is a future star in the sport. Crocker has been a standout player on the WHS golf team, which last year won the CIF Northern Championship. He started on varsity his freshman year, when he qualified for one of the top eight spots at

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Boys volleyball is ready to take a Marmonte League title home this year. After a strong start in league, and with only one loss so far, the team is currently thriving. The team doesn’t feature one “star” athlete, but is comprised of a team with both experience and chemistry—factors varsity player Miraj Patel ‘13 attribute to winning teams. “Our ultimate goal is to win league and make it far in playoffs,” said Patel. “But to do that we can’t lose focus.” Patel, joined by starters Ean Silbar ‘13, Colby Magorien ‘13,

Jackson Hollister ‘14, and Ryan Yamashita ‘13, have been playing for the team since freshman year, and thus have a chemistry that has only improved with time. The team, as noted by Patel, still has a long way to go before they reach its ﬁnal goal. Boys volleyball recently triumphed over Calabasas and Royal High Schools. It suffered its ﬁrst loss 3-0 loss against Thousand Oaks High School but has bounced back and is prepared for the rest of the season. “We lost several talented seniors who graduated last year,” said Kevin Ye ‘14. “However, we’re still working hard and trying to play smart.”

PHOTO BY LAUREN CHIN

Brian Chang

SEAN CROCKER competed in Zimbabwe for the Olympic qualiﬁers on April 9.

the CIF championship. Outside of school Crocker has excelled as well. He is a member of the prestigious Rolex Junior All-Americans. In 2012, he placed second at both the Golfweek West Coast Series Temecula for boys 16-18 and at the AJGA Cleveland Junior. More recently, he placed fifth at the AJGA Winn Grips Heather Farr Classic. Perhaps most impressively of all, he finished 16th out of 200 at the Junior World Golf Championships in San Diego. Crocker flew to Zimbabwe for the Olympic qualifiers on April 9. His coach Rick Naranjo stated that Crocker seemed “very excited” prior to his departure. The tournament that will determine whether or not he will be selected for the team will be held at the Olympic Trials beginning the third week of April.

SPORTS Girls Soccer

Kicking off the WHS Girls Soccer team is Arielle Ship ’13, the league MVP, and Nicole Molen ’14, who won the defensive MVP award. Making All League First Team are Kaitlin Pitcher ‘14, Amanda Apelian ’13, McKenna Masters ’14, and Charlotte Bishop ’14. On the Second Team are Sarah Ishikawa ’14, Katelyn Kimball ’13, Kelsey Kimball ’15, and Jamie Park ’15.

Boys Basketball

Grant Lozoya ’13 has earned Player of the Year on the All League First Team. Right next to him are Joshua Brooks ’13 and Larry Bush ’14. Marcos Soto ’14 leads WHS on the Second Team, while Isaiah Brooks ’15 has placed on the Third Team. To top it off, Rob Bloom has earned the Coach of the Year award.

Girls Basketball

Representing WHS Girls Basketball is Brooke Steaman ’13, who placed on the All League Third Team.

Boys Soccer

Leading WHS on the All League First Team is Ryan Buckingham ’13. On the Second Team are Colin Hall ’14 and Andrew Rizeq ’15.

Girls Water Polo

Taking a shot on the girls water polo All League First Team are Whitney Alderman ’13, Emily Kerchner ’13, and Lacey Anderson ’14. Featured on the Second Team are Anne Kutt ’15, Canelle Irmas ’13, and Veronica Weiss ’13. The players making up the Third Team include Scarlett Lund-Sidi ’13 and Carsen Horvatich ’16.

Compiled by Alex Shi

16 CAMPUS BEAT Rwanda

His own tune Vallia Yu

Staff Writer Musical prodigy Andrew Hill ’13 has long had a interest in the auditory. After being accepted into Manhattan, New School, USC Thornton, Berklee, and Cal State Northidge, Hill will soon be able to seriously follow his dream. Hill is no dilettante; he encourages other students to hone in on their goals and seek out vocational schools, such as art, ﬁlm, or music schools, if they think

attending such programs will bring them closer to their visions. “Go to whatever makes you happy,” he said. As he aspires to become a “talented, employable musician in the L.A. area,” Hill looks forward to a future career that will utilize his musical expertise. “Find a profession that will make you happy and [which will] stay with you your whole life. People change but music will not,” said Hill.

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reach out to

APRIL 23, 2013

PHOTO BY MICHELLE CHOI

Art students

FEATURE

THE ARROW

(DON’T) DROP THE BASS: Andrew Hill sharpens his skills on his upright bass.

Future in focus Vivian Xu

Feature Editor

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PORTRAIT PERFECT: Seniors Emily Guerra and Cheryl Lee display their hand-drawn portraits, which were sent to Rwanda at the end of January.

Vallia Yu

Staff Writer

Q: What is your ultimate goal; why are you studying film? A: To me, film is perfect. It is my greatest passion. Ever since I was little, imagination and creation have been very important to me. I have always loved to get lost in imaginary worlds....This need to create was also coupled with a huge curiosity and love for the world around me. Film presented itself as a hugely epic and beautifully intimate way to tell great stories for the whole world to see that are also very personal. Q: Do you think it’s better for students to focus on one subject, such as film making, or to be well rounded? A: I think students should definitely be well-rounded but not be afraid to pursue what they really love. If you love film, do film. If you love painting, paint. But don’t get so lost in that world that you forget there is still a hugely fascinating and important world outside

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The Memory Project has become somewhat of a tradition in the WHS AP Studio Art class. For the last two years Art Department Chair John Farmer has participated in the program to help lift the spirits of orphans and children from around the world. “We got to choose a picture for a portrait, which we could do using any media we wanted. When we’re ﬁnished, we send it to them so they know there are people in other countries who know…and care about them,” said Kyleigh Fontenot ‘14. This year, pictures arrived from Rwanda, a country in central Africa situated next to Uganda and Tanzania.

While most of the orphans already have basic needs provided for them, the Memory Project hopes to help their lives through art and “go beyond the basic needs,” according to the web site. “By drawing portraits for them, we can let them know that they aren’t just another number in the billions of people in the world...These portraits make them feel important,” said Lily Wang ‘13. The program has received much support since its inception. In 2004, 500 art students participated; currently, it receives over 50,000 portraits that are sent out to 34 countries around the world. If you would like to create a portrait and help the cause, look up memoryproject.org to receive more information.

Aspiring ﬁlmmaker Jacob Walker ‘13 has dreamed of ﬁlmmaking for years. After getting accepted into Chapman, Loyola Marymount, UC Davis, and UC Santa Barbara, he decided to attend Chapman to pursue his passion.

of that. If you forget that, you can lose genius, Guillermo del Toro’s work in touch, as well as forget what inspired Pan’s Labyrinth is an absolute imagiyou to be an artist in the first place. native masterpiece, and Spielberg’s So anyway, back to the question. charm, epic story-telling, and unique I think it’s good to get a well-rounded variety of films are incredibly influeneducation, and I intend to minor or tial. maybe double major in screenwriting and psychology. But I also believe that Q: Do you have any advice for students one should follow their passions, and who want to pursue film? that’s why I love Chapman: you have A: My biggest advice for other students an amazing opportunity [to do] both. interested in studying film is first of all, WATCH AS MANY MOVIES AS Q: Are there any specific works, directors, POSSIBLE. Learn what you like and or styles that inspire you? don’t like, watch a variety by different A: This question I could go on [about] film-makers [and] countries... Immerse for days. I am influenced by so many yourself in it. great films, as well as books and video Also, get involved in volunteer games. places, go meet people, take online For filmmaking, I love psychoclasses; there are so many ways to get logical thrillers, and my favorite diinvolved, but also don’t just be set on rectors would have to be Christopher being a director. Explore screen writNolan (My favorite, he directed The ing, cinematography, acting, set deDark Knight, Inception, Momento), Stesign, editing, whatever... ven Spielberg, Terrence Malick, Charlie This is also the most important: Kaufman, and Guillermo del Toro. go MAKE MOVIES. There is no better My favorite films of all time are way to learn. Make anything, try and The Dark Knight, Eternal Sunshine of the try again. But also at the root of it, enSpotless Mind, Pan’s Labyrinth, and Fight joy yourself. Club. And pieces of all of these have inIf you stay up all night editing, fluenced me. I love Terrence Malick’s or sit in your bed and dream of using poetic and hauntingly beautiful cama Red Epic camera on a magic arm rig, era work. Christopher Nolan’s non-linor think about your characters’ motivaear brilliant blockbusters are the types tions when they are thrust into imposof films I would like to make. Charlie sible circumstances, then film is right Kaufman’s screenplays are works of for you.

MOVE OVER, SPIELBERG: Jacob Walker reviews his next work while at Chapman University.