The VOLUME XXXIII, ISSUE 5
A Look Inside
Westlake High School
Arrow
100 N. LAKEVIEW CANYON ROAD, WESTLAKE VILLAGE, CA 91362
February 11, 2011
AcaDeca Repeats As 2nd Place Champs Chang Takes Scholarship; Green Receives Most Awards
Celine Flores
Boucher ‘12. The SAGE Highest Individual Score Award recipients include Green, Lam, and Knowledge may be Richards. Academic Decathlon’s Chang received three own reward, but on Feb. individual awards: the 7, the team received Highest Individual Senior public acclamation as Score Scholarship Honor well, placing second out Division from Target, and of 12 competing teams from the County Schools at the Ventura County Federal Credit Union, Competition. the Highest Overall Wyatt Green ‘12 Individual Senior Score earned the most awards Award and the Highest of the night, including Individual Senior Score Gold in Math, Economics Scholarship Award Red and Speech. Conference. Ecstatic with his “We were only results, Green stated, “It’s 400 points behind [fi rst only my first year!” place winners Oxnard In addition to his GO FOR GOLD: Academic Decathlon team members pose with their individual awards and High School], a pretty many medals, Michael the plaque for their 2nd Place win. insignificant difference,“ Chang ‘11 was awarded said AcaDeca Coach Joe achievements. “What I enjoyed took home Silver, and Suslik the plaque for the Highest Overall Individual Senior Score, a most about the team was that it earned a Gold medal. In Art, Nigro. Proud of his students, recognition that also earned him a was cohesive and friendly,” said Lily Wang ‘13 and O’Neil placed Nigro stated, “Everyone pulled Bronze, and Josselyn Tsai ‘12 won their own weight.” Suslik. scholarship. WHS Team A won 2nd place In Speech Showcase, Aaron Gold. In the Super Quiz category, Chang was pleasantly rd in Mathematics, 1st place in surprised with the results and Demsetz ’12 took 3 place. In Lisle and Chang earned Bronze, Language & Literature, 2nd place Economics, Max Nutkiewicz ‘11, Richards placed in Silver, and La said he “did not expect to win” in st in Music, 1 place in Economics, Conor O’Neil ‘11, Gillian Eide- Fountaine and O’Neil won Gold. the listed categories. For the Highest Individual 1st place in Science/ Social Science, The two-day competition Ettaro ‘12, and Tiffany Esparza ‘12 nd nd took place at Pacifica High School earned Bronze, Seth Lisle ‘12, Ali Category Score by an Alternate 2 place in Art, 2 place in Super nd Ohringer ’11, Maegan Richards Decathlete, Alex Nutkiewicz ‘12 Quiz, and 2 Overall Best Team. in Oxnard on Jan. 8 and Feb. 5. nd The WHS team studied the ‘12, and Chang ‘11 earned Silver, was awarded in Economics and Team B won 2 place in the essay rd category, 3 in the Mathematics Great Depression extensively for and Luke La Fountaine ‘12 and Art, and Jada Webster ‘12 earned rd category, 3 place in Language Green earned Gold medals. the award for the Social Science the past several months, and feels In Science/Social Science, category. The WHS recipients & Literature, and 1st place in the gratified in their achievements. Becky Suslik ‘11 feels Wes Merrill ‘11, Inez Lam ‘12 of the Target Team Spirit Award Blue Conference. “Hopefully, next year we’ll confident in the group’s efforts and Green placed in Bronze, include Joacin Gurrola ’11, and is pleased with the team’s Nutkiewicz, Ohringer, and Chang Brandon Butler ‘11, and Erica come in first,” said Suslik. Entertainment Editor
PHOTO BY BRANDON BUTLER
Hannah Gray and Kevin Shi prepare for the Mock Trial competition. See Page 7
Maddie Lyon and the rest of the girls water polo team extend their season by placing 2nd in Marmonte League. See Page 16
Damon Laguna wins “AllAround” Gymnastics title at West Coast Challenge in Bakersfield. See Page 16
In This Issue: News 1-2 Opinion 3-4 Feature 5-12 Entertainment 13-14 Sports 15-16
Future Nights To Spotlight Graduation Requirements Michelle Noyes News Editor
To assist all students in establishing a master plan for their high school years, WHS administrators and counselors will implement Future Nights for all grade levels. This new concept begins with Future Senior Night to be held on Feb. 23 in the WHS Library. Members of the Class of 2012 and their parents are encouraged to attend. “We [administration and counseling staff] believe it is never too early or too late to start the college planning process. The Future Nights will help students and parents prepare for both high school and college,” said Assistant Principal of Instruction, Nicole Judd. Formerly, there was only Future Warrior Night for incoming freshmen primarily. Now each grade level has an evening where students can receive the information necessary to help with the important decisions for their high school careers. Counselors will explain
Zangle and describe the classes that fulfill graduation and college entrance requirements. “Students will be more prepared and have a better understanding of what they are suppose to be doing to graduate high school and apply to college,” said Judd. Counselors will be guiding students in “what they need to plan for each year, such as taking SAT tests, and their first AP class,” added Judd. Counselors Melissa Kukta and John Lisowski will handle the first presentation for future seniors. Future Junior Night will be held on March 15. College and Career Center’s Cassie Sandifer and counselor Moira FaganSimpson are responsible for the Future Junior Night for members of the Class of 2013. The Class of 2014 will have its meeting on March 30. Counselors Martha Aggazzotti and Susan Wilson will lead the Future Sophomore Night. Each Future Night will start at 5:30 p.m. and will be held in the WHS library.
School to Welcome Prospective Warriors Brooke Garcher Staff Writer
Future Warrior Night, a time when prospective students visit WHS to view the school’s offerings, will take place March 9 in the gym. Incoming freshmen can get a first-hand experience of the many facets of the school. Representatives from various co-curricular activities attend in order to showcase their classes. Attendees can explore the campus and talk to knowledgeable individuals about specific clubs and sports. Students can also converse with various teachers about classes available to them. Entertainment on this night includes Jazz Band, Spirit Cheer, Dance Team, and the Choral Music Department. “Incoming freshmen and their parents get a preview of what to expect at WHS and what their four years are going to look like,” said Dean of Activities, Brandy LaRue.
Representatives from each grade, will briefly speak about their experiences at WHS. This year, the four students speaking are William Barrett on behalf of the freshman class, Lauren DiazYi for the sophomore class, Lisa Battaglia for the junior class, and James Freymuth for the seniors. “I am honored to have been chosen as a speaker,” said DiazYi, “and am looking forward to speaking to the incoming students.” “With each passing year, we’re able to showcase all the great things that WHS has to offer,” said LaRue. Last year, construction on the theatre was not yet complete, so this year “more people will actually be able to see how gorgeous the campus is,” said LaRue. “Our students do fantastic things and Future Warrior Night gives us one more platform where we can turn the spotlight,” added LaRue.
NEWS
2
February 11, 2011 • THE ARROW
IN BRIEF
Golf Coach Retires After 18 Years
Battaglia Selected Girls State Delegate
Advanced Anatomy To Stage Talent Show To fundraise for their expenses, Advanced Anatomy will hold a talent show Feb. 11 at 7:30 in the Family Carpenter Theatre. Tickets are $10. All the Anatomy students will be performing entertaining acts. Even science teacher Nancy Bowman will perform a country song. Anatomy student Emily Beale ‘11 “promises the evening will be entertaining.”
PeBenito Competed at Poetry Out Loud Giuliana PeBenito ‘12 was chosen on Jan 12 to represent WHS for Poetry Out Loud, a school-wide competition that promotes poetry recitation. PeBenito recited “I am the People, the Mob” by Carl Sandberg and “To Fashion” by Elizabeth Moody and was named the first place winner by a panel of judges. PeBenito competed in county on Feb. 9. “It’s a fun competition. It opens up the opportunity to those who love poetry,” said PeBenito.
Sciences Classes Head to Long Beach Marine and Environmental Science classes will embark for Long Beach Aquarium on Feb. 15. The trip will be educational and fun and will include an excursion to the Lorikeet Forest, a “Fishing for Change” class, an “Aquacology” class, and a self-guided exploration of the aquarium.
FASFA Applications Due Feb. 28 Applications for FASFA scholarships are available in the College and Career Center. and on Naviance. All applications should be submitted to Cassie Sandifer by Feb. 28. Applications will not be accepted after this deadline.
Dashiell Young-Saver Managing Editor
CouRtesy Photo
Lisa Battaglia ‘12 will be the Girls State delegate for WHS this year. After an hourlong interview with four other nominees, three members from the American Legion Auxiliary, and last year’s delegate Hannah Barrett ‘11, the committee named Battaglia as the delegate, with Stephanie Barlev ‘12 as the runner-up. Battaglia will spend a week at Claremont McKenna College along with 500 other delegates from all over California to create a mock government. Battaglia credits her mock trial experiences, both at WHS and at the UCLA summer program, for helping her. “I am so excited to learn in depth about the government and politics at Girls State,” stated Battaglia. She will attend Claremont McKenna College from June 26 to July 2.
behind the scenes: Allen Li and Michael Chang work on a contraption in preparation for the competition.
Science Olympiad Team to Compete at Regionals Meini Cheng News Editor
WHS Science Olympiad team will compete in the Los Angeles Regional Science Olympiad on Feb. 26 at Occidental College. Comprised of 23 events, the competition includes subjects such as anatomy, biology, environmental science, physics, chemistry, engineering, and ornithology. Multiple events are scheduled to take place throughout the day. Each event is approximately one hour in length and includes either a written test or a hands-on activity, such as an observation center or lab. “The competition day is a time for students who have a knack for science to get together and have fun. Our goals for this year’s competition are to have fun and promote science as a way to both learn interesting subjects and to get to know others who are also interested,” said co-president Josselyn Tsai ‘12. Team members are selected based on academic performance,
test scores, and ability to work in a team environment. The team consists of 15 students who excel in math and science. “All of our team members are exceptional and great to work with. It’s hard to gauge new members since they haven’t competed yet, but many of our returning members have won medals at both state and regionals,” said Tsai. Although many of the senior team members graduated last year, “we gained a lot of new talent this year,” said co-president Allen Li ‘12. With the abilities of returning team members combined with the new talent, the team believes they will continue to perform well at the competition. As the competition date draws nearer, the team is preparing for the various categories in which they are participating in. “We study from college-level textbooks, that go deep into the fields that we are competing in,” explained Li. The team members work hard in familiarizing themselves with all the material for their individual events. “Every year
JSA to Attend Winter Congress Stephanie Kim Staff Writer
The Winter Congress, the second out of three conventions hosted by the Junior State of America, will take place on Feb. 19-20 at the Westin Hotel in Long Beach. The JSA Winter Congress consists of students creating a student-level legislation process, much like a “mock Congress,” in which bills are written, debated, defended, defeated, and passed by the students. “At other conventions, they prepare their debates, but those tend to be more informal. Having to write more formally for the bills at Winter Congress is the perfect way to merge writing skills with debating skills,” said JSA advisor, Alana Bond. Once the president of her high school’s JSA, Bond
said that through “chaperoning conferences, [she], in a sense, get[s] to re-live all that.” At the Winter Congress, students are surrounded by politics and dedicated participants from throughout the state.. “Congress is a great opportunity to really delve deeper into the political world and get a unique understanding of how real Congress works. It really conveys the message that ‘democracy is not a spectator sport,’” said JSA President, Lisa Peng ’11. “Winter Congress is beneficial for students because it allows them to be informed citizens and voters when they become adults,” said Sarah Gerlach ’11, JSA Vice President of Conventions. Hoping that the Winter Congress will open students up to being informed about politics, Peng encourages students to “get a taste of JSA at the state level,” and join JSA for their Spring State.
there’s a rush with putting people in their events because there are so many different events and so little time,” said Li. Since there are several team members who excel at building projects, the team expects to succeed in engineering events this year. The Westlake team has always done well in the anatomy, cellular biology, and ornithology categories. Because the competition has many building events that require contraptions built beforehand, the team is collaborating with the Physics Club. Michael Chang ‘11 is instrumental in the team’s building abilities. “Our scores have been getting better, so I hope we can beat or at least live up to last year’s scores and medals and make it to state,” said Tsai. The team is eager to display its abilities and achievements at the upcoming competition. “Though we’ve encountered some obstacles, I’m very excited for this year’s team and I have very high hopes for our placement at the regional and state competitions,” said Li.
After working as a coach and teacher at WHS since its opening in 1978, David Costley has decided to retire completely this year. For Costley, this year is the opportune time because he is leaving behind a talented golf team for the new coach, making the transition easier. Costley began at WHS as a social science teacher. Over the course of 25 years, he started the school’s AP European History program and taught U.S. History, World History, Regional Studies, and Economics. Costley also taught several math courses before retiring from teaching in 2003. “He was dedicated,” said social science teacher and Costley’s former Economics student Mike Lynch. “He really liked being with the students and the players.” Costley has coached boys’ golf at WHS since 1993 and girls’ golf since it was formed in 1998. His teams’ accomplishments—in the form of numerous banners—hang in the gym. With Costley as the head coach, the boys’ golf team has won 12 Marmonte League Championships; the girls golf team has won six. In 1996, the boys’ golf team won the SCGA (Southern California Golf Association) Championship and in 2009, placed third in the State Championships. “He provided energy for the team and a desire to do well,” said varsity golfer Brandon Shaw ‘12. “He always wanted us to try to do our best.” Costley has had many memorable moments at WHS as a teacher and as a coach. “I always felt a sense of accomplishment to see a student succeed who found school difficult,” stated Costley. After 32 years when asked what he will miss most about WHS, Costley responded, “everything.”
Elementary Schools Experience WHS Arts Michelle Noyes News Editor
As WHS students finished their period 6 and 7 finals on Jan. 21, 500 second graders visited the WHS campus as part of Focus on the Arts, a new program introduced this year in the Conejo Valley School District. Because of budget cuts in the District, elementary students will neither attend shows nor take a traditional field trip to the Civic Arts Plaza. Instead, these students will visit WHS to acquire a similar arts educational experience. “The goal of the program is to essentially show what opportunities there are in the school district,” said Dean of Activities Brandy LaRue. Westlake, Westlake Hills, Conejo, Glenwood, and Lang Ranch are the five elementary
schools that are participating in the Focus on the Arts program. Second graders from these schools enjoyed the Dance Team’s performances in the gym on their visit in January. Next, first graders will visit campus on March 7 and 14. They will enjoy a fairytale inspired play performed by the Drama Department. At the end of May, fourth graders will see the walk-through art show. They plan to take a tour of many of the art classes, such as ceramics, life drawing, and photography. To highlight activities that do not require extensive time outside of the school day, Becky Alderson’s 4th period Dance Class will perform on March 21. Fifth graders will also experience Dance class performances from the fourth period class.
OPINION
February 11, 2011 • THE ARROW
Arizona Violence Triggers Gun Debate Pro
Con
Zak Kukoff
Alexandra Biston
Entertainment Editor Over 100,000 people will be shot or killed by a gun this year. In fact, the Brady Campaign reports that 613 people were killed unintentionally by a gun. Comparatively, America has the highest number of gun deaths of any industrialized nation in the world per year. Finland, the world-leader in gun safety, has a record low of just 17 deaths a year. America, the industrialized nation with the highest number of gun deaths, has over 9,000 a year. In the wake of the recent shooting in Arizona, and other shootings such as the ones at Virginia Tech and Fort Hood, we as a nation need to stand together and ban gun ownership. Since the tragic events in Tucson, Arizona, Americans throughout the country have been reevaluating our gun laws. America, for example, is the only major industrialized nation to not ban high-capacity magazine clips—clips that can allow rapid firing of up to 100 bullets. Assuming for the moment that guns are necessary, why would anyone need the capacity to fire six bullets a second in an assault weapon? Unfortunately, the debate is never framed this clearly. The NRA and the congressmen they fund—who are the principal opponents of gun control legislation —argue that any gun regulation, no matter how deeply rooted in common sense, violates the Second Amendment—giving citizens the right to bear arms. That is just not true. In recent years, the highly-conservative United States Supreme Court has ruled that the Second Amendment only protects gun ownership (and usage) in very limited cases.
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Specifically, the Second Amendment was designed to give states the right to maintain militias, and give individuals the opportunity to participate in those militias. Protection of high-capacity magazine clips, and of assault weapons, is completely omitted from the Amendment. Unfortunately, opponents of gun-control legislation continue to spread misinformation. Many opponents of gun control argue that owning a gun is a disincentive for those who are looking to commit a crime. However, this is also untrue: according to the Brady Cam-
paign, owning a gun increases the likelihood of being shot by 450 percent. In fact, higher gun ownership, even if that gun is never used, has deadly consequences: the risk of homicide is three times higher in homes that own a gun, and rises substantially for each additional firearm. Why do we continue to put our families at risk? Why do we continue to risk our safety? Out of the 23 most industrialized nations, 80 percent of gun violence occurs in the United States. Let’s help protect our futures. Let’s help ensure that the future of our country is one where everyone can survive to adulthood.
The number of well-publicized shootings during the past few years, especially the latest tragedy in Tucson, Arizona, has recently re-ignited the movement to tighten gun control. Many Americans are persuaded that guns should be outlawed to all citizens regardless of their intent with the weapon. It is no doubt that this country’s history of shootings has been devastating, but should we abandon our Second Amendment right that insures the people’s right to keep and bear arms? President Obama issued a statement in 2008 that declared, "I believe in the second amendment. I believe in people's lawful right to bear arms. I will not take your shotgun away. I will not take your rifle away. ...There are some common-sense gun safety laws I believe in, but I am not going to take your guns away." Self-defense is a fundamental right. The Bill of Rights is the groundwork for this country and alternating this law would be unconstitutional. In addition, removing firearms from citizens could be more dangerous than many believe. Senior Research Scientist at the University of Maryland, John Lott, Ph.D., wrote in his book More Guns, Less Crime: Understanding Crime and Gun Control Laws, “Ordinary, law-abiding citizens who own handguns and carry licensed, concealed weapons rarely
use their guns except in matters of self-defense. Criminals and those who carry illegal and unlicensed firearms are typically those who commit violent crimes,” said Lott, “Tightening laws restricting the use and possession of firearms does not protect average lawabiding citizens; it only puts them at greater risk.” Many believe that if gun control is enforced, violent crimes will decline in number. Is this common argument substantial? According to a study conducted by the Gun Owners of America Foundation (GOAF), “concealed carry laws” have significantly reduced murder and crime rates in the states that have enacted them. States that passed concealed carry laws reduced their rate of murder by eight and a half percent, rape by five percent, aggravated assault by seven percent and robbery by three percent. California has strict gun carrying laws, prohibiting the manufacture or importation of handguns as per the Department of Justice in 2001. Other states like Nevada and Minnesota have a lax view on gun control, and allow individuals to carry a handgun in permitted legal areas of open carry. One would expect that in states with tightened gun control, crime rates are significantly lower than other states. However, Maryland and California have two of the highest crime rates in the country with 5,151 violent crimes per year, and 2,392 property crimes per year. Maryland mandates that an individual must have hard visual or audio proof of reason to carry a firearm, and California state law mandates that guns may not be manufacturing within the state. These states have some of the strictest gun control laws in the United States, yet their crime numbers continue to soar. It seems gun control is not the answer.
Sanitized Version of Huck Finn Offends Twain’s Classic Katrina Brewer Staff Writer
Jamie Mark
Feature Editor Mark Twain’s controversial use of the “N word” in The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn has presented a problem for its inclusion in the high school curriculum. A new edition of the novel theoretically removed the controversy by changing “n___” to “slave,” and made it more suitable for the classroom. This classic is argued by Daniel Jack Chasan of crosscut. com to be one of the most important novels in American literature. The dispute leaves schools caught between banning the novel based on its inappropriate language, keeping it in the curriculum by using the revised version (an act that some say would cause Mark Twain to turn in his grave), or leaving it in the original text. Knowledge of Mark Twain’s
values are limited only to what can be inferred from his writing: he is a man of great wit who tells it how it is. The only historic certainty is the stock Twain placed on truth and realism, a key argument in maintaining the original text. Twain’s supporters believe revision of his novel is ludicrous; misrepresenting the time period and the truth embedded in Twain’s work. They argue the uncensored blunt veracity of the novel makes it unique to American literature. WHS teachers expressed their disapproval of the alternate publication of Huck Finn. “In my classroom, I would either use the original text or not teach the novel. The integrity of the author’s intent is paramount and altering his words compromises it,” said 11AP Language and Composition instructor Peggy Schlehner. Colleague 11AP English Language and Composition
instructor Hilary Waldinger agreed: “I think it is silly. The change ruins the point- the text is realism and realism seeks to faithfully represent faiths and customs. Unfortunately, the n___ word was what was said. Twain utilized this word to express the ignorance of the character’s using it.” Critics respond that the word is offensive and does not belong in a learning environment, especially over 200 times. They say it exposes students to an unacceptable term which is outdated. Outdated seems a bit ridiculous since the novel was written 126 years ago. Critics believe a teenager is incapable of understanding cultural evolution, and rather than accepting Twain’s use of n___ as an accurate representation of the time period, will begin using the word for black members of his or her community. These critics fail to recognize
the word’s prevalence in daily life- through music, movies, reality shows, or any other form of crude media viewed, and absorbed, worldwide. Use of this word in Twain’s novel would seem the most harmless form of it considering it is appropriate to the time period and used to describe a character clearly portrayed as noble. “The whole point of the book is that Huck realizes Jim isn’t any less of a person than the white people who regard him as property,” reported Daniel Jack Chasan. Huck Finn and Jim’s mutual respect is apparent throughout the novel. Chasan continued, “[Jim] is one of the few characters in the book with any kind of integrity.” Schools are left with a pressing choice: use the original edition of the novel and risk offending readers, or use the revised publication and risk destroying the authenticity of a classic in American literature.
Blogosphere “The n-word speaks to a society that casually dehumanized black people. Slave was just a job description. And it’s not even accurate -- in the book Jim is no longer a slave, he ran away. Twain’s point is that he can’t run away from being a n___.” - Larry Wilmore “As long as the ‘N’ word doesn’t appear in the Cliff Notes, you’re okay...” - Stephen Colbert “The editors of this new version are trying to make the book more accessible they say, so it can be taught without making students in the classroom feel uncomfortable.” - Jon Stewart
OPINION
4
February 11, 2011 • THE ARROW
Advanced Placement Replacement: The College Board announced that major changes will be made to many of the current tests. Will the new changes benefit or harm students?
A Dash of Sanity: What’s in a name?
Dashiell Young-Saver Managing Editor
Do our names define us or do we define our names? Do our parents set our lives with an exotic “John Smith” or a more monotonous “Turquoise Dostoyevsky?” Take mine for instance: Dashiell Fellini Young-Saver. Wow. After reading that I need a Tylenol. The first name seems harmless but is still difficult to pronounce and appears to have no cultural origin. On the other hand, Fellini is completely Italian and can easily be put into a list of other clearly Italian words such as Fettuccini, Lamborghini, Martini, Tortellini, Linguine, Benito Mussolini and Mafia; however, it seems out of place smashed together between two names that do not end in vowels or roll off the tongue with the passion of a meatball in a Tuscan sunset. The last part seems simple enough, but my parents had to go on and add a Saver hyphenated with the Young just to spite the reader with confusion. Most now call me “Dash.” This has led to so many puns—including jokes about those grammatical “dashes” which separate subordinate clauses in such a vulgar manner—that continue to plague my life. One may think I am fast like “Dash the Flash” or the character Dash from The Incredibles, but, I probably could not even beat Stephen Hawking in a foot race. And when I inquired about the cultural origin of “Dashiell,” I found the worst possible answer: French. But, even with all its drawbacks, I love my first name. It is original, based on the great author Dashiell Hammett, and not too flashy. I find the same with Fellini. Even though I occasionally get calls recruiting me for the feared Westlake Village Mafia, I love the name’s Italian accent. Finally, even though it has destined me to become a pediatrician (so I could be Dr. Young-Saver), I am a fan of my last name as well. But am I similar to what my name would lead one to believe? If so, I should have the head of an author, the heart of an Italian, and the body of a youthful lifeguard. Sounds about right. So names do, at least in my case, seem to foreshadow one’s character. However, with the artist formally known as Prince, his name change had no effect on him. He still dresses in used purple toilet paper and produces annoying sounds that some consider “music.” Named Prince, his music is awful; named with a symbol his music is dreadful. It is like putting different lipstick on a pig who had his (or her in Prince’s case) tonsils removed. The name makes no difference. We also commonly accept terribly named objects. For instance Vanity Fair magazine when we know vanity is anything but fair. The New Jersey Nets’ name would make sense if their shots actually came close to the net. And I would not want to be seen in any town or country with a Chrysler Town and Country. I could go on but I do not want the “column” to be longer than a column. Bad names do not make a difference or bother anyone. So, a name is just a label. If you turn out to be as your name foreshadows, it is only by chance. Give yourself a good name by being the best person possible. Because when it comes to destiny, nothing is written, not even your name.
Meini Cheng
biology exam will “require students to read short passages, Many of today’s or look at graphs, high-schoolers are and pick the answers all too familiar with that explain why the College Board. something happened The 30 or so tests or that predict what cover a wide range will occur next.” The of subjects. Across goal is to foster more the nation, there are critical thinking and 1.8 million students less memorization signed up for 3.2 of specific pieces of million AP tests. information. AP is known “With biology, for offering students I think conceptual the opportunity to questions are better take an accelerated because then it’s more course. Students Heavy Workload: Even the brightest of students are crushed by the demanding AP exams. appreciating biology receive the chance The changes announced by College Board attempt to alleviate some of the students’ burdens. as a whole,” said to earn college credit Adam Augustyn ‘12. in high school. This year, a new The top students are given challenging, information, students will be tested in their curriculum will begin in German and interesting work. But even with these abilities to apply and truly understand the French language, two relatively small benefits, many of the courses are criticized material. programs. Significant changes to the “Understanding concepts helps physics, chemistry, European history, world for “overwhelming students with facts to memorize and then rushing through promote a deeper, more permanent history, and art history AP are predicted to important topics,” said The New York Times. knowledge about the subject,” said be ready for 2014 or 2015 exams. Amid the endless stream of homework, Harrison Han ‘12. A part of the National Academy of Unfortunately for current juniors and Sciences, a committee of the National exams, and research, the memorization of information is inevitably the most dreaded seniors, these alterations are set to begin in Research Council, criticized AP science the 2012-13 school year. part of AP classes. courses for forcing too much material on Trevor Packer, College Board’s vice the students and not allowing them to College Board, the nonprofit organization that administers the SAT and president for Advanced Placement, believes practice their own creative thinking skills. AP exams, is implementing a complete that the changes mark a new direction for Their report states that “more real learning redesign of the entire AP program. In place the Board, which has previously been more takes place if students spend more time of only supplying teachers with a set of dedicated to the tests than to the courses. going into greater depth on fewer topics, topics that will be covered on the exams, “We really believe that the New AP needs allowing them to experience problem the College Board plans to provide detailed to be anchored in a curriculum that focuses solving, controversies, and the subtleties of standards for each course and new, on what students need to be able to do with scholarly investigation.” improved exams that follow. College Board their knowledge,” explains Packer. College Board’s new mentality will A shift of focus from knowing facts benefit not only the hardworking students also aims to cut the amount of material covered on the exams, in order to allow and information to applying concepts but also the future society and economy. students to focus more on larger concepts and thinking critically is only possible if Analytic processing of information and and participate in analytic thinking the amount of course material is reduced. critical thinking skills are quintessential for English and math courses are thought to be high-achieving careers in modern-day life. processes. In short, the AP is being remodeled manageable and will not be considered for to test more conceptual understanding. revision until later. Biology and U.S. History are the two Students can finally cut back on the THE WESTLAKE HIGH SCHOOL hours spent memorizing course material. subjects receiving the most revisions. Instead of being required to recall data and According to the New York Times, the News Editor
ARROW
Marmonte League Faces Another Divide Officials finalize split into East and West Divisions Alex Farkas Staff Writer
Change once again? A saga continues for the Marmonte League as officials have handed down a decision that divides the league into two divisions. The Marmonte League has been in flux since the end of the 2009 football season when the league added Oaks Christian and St. Bonaventure. These two schools are private schools, meaning that they can “recruit” players from outside the area to play for their teams. The other eight teams are public schools and are not capable of recruiting players. On Feb. 8, the Marmonte League High Schools finalized the split into two divisions by a 6-4 vote. The Western Division will be comprised of Agoura, Calabasas, Moorpark, Oaks Christian, and Thousand Oaks. The Eastern Division will contain Newbury Park, Royal, Simi Valley, St. Bonaventure, and Westlake. The split will be enforced at the beginning of the 2012 football season. The teams in favor of the split are hoping for more wins in the season; however, those teams will have the same results.
This split will ultimately have no effect on the league’s outcome. Calabasas, Royal, and Simi Valley will still end up with one or two wins and Westlake and Oaks Christian will meat up again to battle for the Marmonte League Championship. Simi Valley Principal, Steve Pietrolungo believes that the split will help the struggling teams in the Marmonte League as stated in the Ventura County Star. “That, ultimately is good for a school’s morale because football sets the tone for the entire school year.” The schools have already discussed how the schedule would work. League play would begin the fifth week with each team playing games only against teams in their division. Week 10 would be a league championship game with the leaders of the East and West divisions squaring off. Westlake, along with Thousand Oaks, Oaks Christian, and Moorpark were still in favor of the 10-league division. This is a smart decision based on last season’s results. The split of the Marmonte League into two divisions for football in 2012 only adds more controversy and conflict to the league.
100 N. Lakeview Canyon Road Westlake Village, CA 91362 (805) 497-6711 ext. 4225 westlakearrow@yahoo.com EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Lisa Battaglia MANAGING EDITOR Dashiell Young-Saver NEWS EDITORS Meini Cheng, Michelle Noyes OPINION EDITOR Shannon Reiffen FEATURE EDITORS Brian Chang, Jamie Mark, Katelyn Masket, Julia Model, Julia Shi, Steven Paro, Christina Vasiliou ENTERTAINMENT EDITORS Celine Flores, Zak Kukoff SPORTS EDITORS Jacob Cavanah, Tucker Higgins ADVERTISING MANAGER Alexandra Biston CARTOONISTS Harry Bachrach, Kabir Nagarkatti ADVISOR Caron Battaglia STAFF WRITERS Katrina Brewer, Woody Chung, Brian Danziger, Alex Farkas, Anita Gao, Brooke Garcher, Hanna Hong, Vivian Hu, Monica Huskins, Stephanie Kim, Alexa Lucas, Alana Model, Ethan Reul, Victoria Wang, Vallia Yu
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, though names can be withheld by request in the publication. Please send submissions to Mrs. Battaglia’s box in the main office or to Room 42E. For The Arrow online, visit whswarriors.com and click on Activities menu.
FEATURE
February 11, 2011 • THE ARROW
5
CHRISTINA’S COLLEGE CORNER
Start Here
Quirks Finally Pay Off Christina Vasiliou Feature Editor
•
After all the chaos of applying to college, this time of year becomes somewhat of a break between sending in applications and receiving acceptances or the dreaded denials; in other words it’s the perfect time to begin applying for scholarships. Getting into college may seem like the hard part, but paying for college can be just as daunting. There are the usual scholarships awarded based on need, and the ones awarded to the geniuses of our generation, but what about the rest of us? Thankfully, there are thousands of scholarships available across the country, for almost all schools and for almost all people. Scholarships range from academic achievement, sports achievement, physical appearance, and everything in between.
Tall Clubs International Scholarship This organization offers club members a $1,000 scholarship simply for being tall. The Kae Sumner Einfeldt Scholarship is available to women under 21 years old and taller than 5’10” and men under 21 years old and taller than 6’2” who plan to attend college in the fall.
Duck Brand Duct Tape Stuck at Prom Contest This is open to students age 14 and older who will attend a high school prom. Entrants must apply as a couple and attend prom in an entire outfit, including accessories, constructed out of
duct tape. First place winners receive $3,000 and the school that hosts the prom receives a $3,000 cash prize. The couple submits a picture of their outfits at prom and the winner is selected based on originality, workmanship, amount of duct tape used, color use, and accessories.
Name Based Scholarships Some schools award scholarship money simply based on a last name. In fact, a Catholic person with the last name Zolp who attends or plans to attend Loyola University in Chicago can receive the Zolp Scholarship and receive full tuition for the full four years he or she attends.
•
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SILLY SCHOLARSHIPS: With so many scholarships available to incoming and current college students, social network scholarships such as this are not far from the truth.
Harvard also offers name based scholarships for those named Baxendale, Hudson, Thayer, Downer, and Bright.
Scholar Athlete Milk Mustache of the Year This award is open to graduating senior scholar athletes who have shown excellence in academics, athletics, leadership, and community service.
College Knowledge Alexa Lucas Staff Writer
At what point does practice become overkill? Thousands of dollars are constantly poured into college educations for a fouryear experience to maximize success. Recent studies have shown that students do not benefit from each year of their college education. Testing the critical thinking skills of several thousand students throughout their college journey, Social Science Research discovered that 45% of students showed minimal improvement after two years of college, and 36% of students did not improve after graduation from a fouryear college. Still, this research did not consider the knowledge acquired towards a specific major studied or increased experience, thus it might not be completely valid. “When it comes to critical thinking skills such as observation and interpretation, my skills have developed independently by meeting new people, learning to go to school, and living apart from my parents,” said alumna Meryl Press ‘09. According to The Wall Street Journal, there was no way to ensure that the freshman test-taker would also be the same senior to follow-up in the study. Catharine H. Beyer, a research scientist in the office of educational assessment at the University of Washington said that quantitative analysis of progress is not a dependable gauge of college success. In defense of their results, the researchers claimed that they retrieved students from 24 (unnamed) colleges, providing a broad range of results. The test was an open-ended written assessment as to asses more diverse abilities. Another argument invalidates this study. More than half of the students that produced these shocking results
did not have rigorous schedules that seem necessary to acquire an expanding knowledge. The Wall Street Journal posed the question, “What if the students today are entering college with sharper criticalthinking skills to begin with?” Constantly in competition with the rest of the world, our country continues to raise the standard of learning higher than previous years. Still, United States standards are lagging behind the rest of the world. The NDIA accredits this blemish to “globalization and the associated gains achieved by other nations.” The results of the critical-thinking test are still inconclusive. There are no hard numbers on the achievement of American students leaving a four-year college. The lack of data poses another question. Are colleges truly ranked on academic success or reputation? People consider college success by the SAT scores and GPAs of the students accepted rather than the achievement made at college. “Colleges should do more to show what they know about outcomes,” said Alexander C. McCormick, director of the National Survey of Student Engagement. College is important for more than just the knowledge acquired. A full college education exposes the student to experiences that enhance his or her future. “I think the networking you do in college is as important as the knowledge gained from the classroom. The classes are the gate keeper to all of the real-life experiences that help enhance learning,” said Melissa Kukta, WHS counselor. When considering colleges, students must consider what they can actually learn and gain from the educational systems available rather than from the college’s mere reputation. “Since college, my mind set has changed a lot and I have a better understanding of what I want when I’m out of college,” said Press.
Awards are up to $7,500 for regional winners. While these are some of the most unusual scholarships available and not everyone qualifies for them, an extensive search may turn up unexpected money. Until the economy turns around we all have to be committed to investigating all possible options that could offset college expenses.
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Check with your parents’ work for possible scholarship opportunities. Apply for the WHS Scholarship Foundation’s many possible awards. Check Naviance. Look for scholarships specific to your intended major either through the college or other institutions. Consider service organizations you are involved in. Be creative in your Google searches. Churches may offer financial aid if you have been an active member. Visit the College and Career Center.
Focus on Strengths time to improving. Avoid using the word “weakness” in response and instead view the topic as a way of sharing where one still College interviews are awkward has room to excel. The Journal detailed one man’s enough as it is, but giving the wrong answer to an important question can shift mistake when he said, “My true weakness a situation from uncomfortable to just is that I am a terrible cook.” This answer had little to do with the position he was plain dreadful. Thankfully common sense filters out applying for, so at his next interview he most answers that could put an interviewee explained that “he worked such long hours in dangerous territory. It is never wise to that he found it difficult to stay current go into detail about any run-ins with the with world events. So, he spent 30 minutes law, experimentation with questionable every evening catching up at home.” More substances, or cheating scandals, but important than his unfavorable quality sometimes the line between accepted and were the steps he took to correct it. The task of appearing confident while rejected gets a little blurry. simultaneously “What is recognizing weak your greatest points may be weakness?” reat it as a job interview and daunting, but with This question dress appropriately. It is important to preparation the throws many question becomes off guard, for act professional but let your personality more manageable. it seems to go shine through as well.” In order to avoid against the - Cassie Sandifer e m b a r r a s s i n g purpose of an situations, students interview to should have general speak lowly of oneself. So what is the best way to answers planned, but it is important to avoid sounding rehearsed. tackle this stressful question? Body language and posture can convey Do not, under any circumstance, answer with, “I am a perfectionist.” In invaluable information to interviewers, an interview with The Wall Street Journal, so a firm handshake, eye contact, and a vice president of Worldwide Panel smile portray a sense of calmness and LCC, Christopher Morrow, warned preparedness. College and Career counselor Cassie that “Candidates often respond ‘with something that is not a weakness. It is a Sandifer advises students to “treat it as a job interview and dress appropriately. It is deal breaker.’” The perfectionist response “‘will be important to act professional but let your used against you’ because you appear personality shine through as well.” After going on numerous college incapable of delegating,” said Joshua Ehrlich, dean of a master’s program interviews Lisa Peng ‘11 has learned that in executive coaching sponsored by the most important tip is to stay true to oneself. “Interviewers usually have a good BeamPines Inc. The purpose of this question is not sense whether a student is passionate simply to pinpoint people’s flaws but to about a topic or not, and you never want see how they work to better themselves to come across as fake. It is easier to speak in areas of weakness. For this reason about something you are truly interested, it is essential that students choose a and your dedication will come through in relevant fault which they have devoted your body language,” she said.
Katelyn Masket Feature Editor
“T
FEATURE
6
Companies Take Initiative to Prevent Allergies Julia Model
Feature Editor In the health-diet world, much confusion arises over health food, food allergies and how to still enjoy the same foods without sacrificing taste or allergic reactions. People are concerned about what is in their food, and what could be of potential harm to their health. Because of a wide range of food allergies existing today, such as celiac’s disease, lactose intolerance, and nut allergies, consumers have trouble finding food products their systems can tolerate. Eggs, milk, soy, wheat and peanuts account for more than 90 percent of allergic food reactions in children, according to the American Academy of Family Physicians. In adults, foods, such as shellfish, tree nuts, peanuts and fish, are the problems. Unable to eat these nutrient powerhouses, many are forced to search for other alternatives to ensure good health. According to the Mayo Clinic, celiac disease is one of the most commonly diagnosed. Celiac disease is a digestive condition which is triggered by consumption of the protein, gluten, primarily found in bread, pasta, cookies, pizza crust and many other foods containing wheat, barley or rye.
However, many restaurants, cafes, bakeries and food merchandise companies are reaching out to allergy-prone consumers by creating glutenfree and dairy-free products and listing ingredients on package labels and menus. The Food Allergen Labeling and Consumer Protection Act (FALCPA) requires manufacturers to label food products that contain an ingredient that is or contains protein from major food allergens according to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). F o o d corporations are now seeking ways to accommodate ” not only those with allergies, but those who follow specific diets, such as all organic, vegan, low calorie, lowcarb, diabetic—the list goes on. Pizza restaurants especially, offer organic, vegan, and/or glutenfree options. PizzaSalad, uses all organic ingredients and Fresh Brothers offers gluten-free as well as vegan options. Even fast food and big chain restaurants are developing gluten free menus. Among the most common chains include PF Chang’s, Outback Steakhouse, Chili’s and Olive Garden. With so much emphasis on the importance of adhering to consumer wants and needs, consumers can feel at ease knowing there are options for all different kinds of special diets.
“Eggs, milk, soy,
wheat and peanuts account for more than 90 percent of allergic food reactions in children.
February 11, 2011 • THE ARROW
Put Down That Chocolate! New studies prove fewer connections between food and mood Meini Cheng
5 Mood-Boosting Foods
News Editor
Do sugary foods make kids hyperactive? When studied from a scientific point of view, the truth may challenge this common belief. Psychologist Robin Kanarek, director of nutrition and behavior laboratory at Tufts University, states that in an authoritative analysis published by the Journal of the American Medical Association, researchers who examined the effect of sugar on the behavior of children found that sugar has nothing to do with how children behave. From the data of 16 published studies, neither kids nor adults knew who received real sugar and who received an artificial sweetener. Kanarek believes that a parent’s expectation that kids become hyperactive after consuming sugar fuels the false belief. When broken down to a chemical level, food is thought to influence moods, emotions, and feelings. Dopamine and norepinephrine are released by the brain in response to pleasure, whereas low levels of serotonin cause aggression and depression. Feelings of happiness and relaxation are direct results of high levels of serotonin in the brain. Recently, scientists have studied age-old beliefs about the effects of food on mood, and their conclusions contradict many of these traditional ideas. Carbohydrates do not cause feelings of calmness and happiness. Traditionally, the
Fish: helps with depression
Green Tea: boosts energ y an
d brain power
ce anxiety
Milk: ind
Oranges: redu
uces sleep
Whole Grain cereal and toast: create feelings of calmness
thought behind the belief was that carbohydrates increase serotonin, which makes one feel calm and relaxed. However, if any protein is consumed within 12 hours of a carbohydrate snack, the protein will prevent the brain from taking in serotonin, and therefore the carb snack will not produce its desired effect, says John Fernstrom, a professor of psychiatry and pharmacology at University of Pittsburgh. The notion that chocolate brings good feelings is false. “Whatever mood boost chocolate gives you is all in your head,” said Marcia Pelchat, a food researcher at Monell Chemical Senses Center who has been studying the effect of chocolate on mood for almost 20 years. Although it does contain chemicals with the capability of enhancing mood, the actual chemical effect is insignificant. Chocolate has small amounts of stimulants. The caffeine found in chocolate is not as high as the amount found in coffee, so coffee is a better solution for a caffeine craving.
Phenylethylamine, a chemical thought to produce feelings of love, is actually higher in many other foods, such as salami. Pelchat believes that chocolate is more of a “cultural phenomenon than a physical one. Anything we find delicious is part of a system that triggers the reward cascade in our brains. But what causes that cascade for one person doesn’t necessarily do it for another.” Another false notion: turkey does not cause sleepiness. Originally, many people believed that foods containing tryptophan, an amino acid found in turkey and milk, cause feelings of sleepiness. Tryptophan does have a soothing effect on the brain; however, turkey does not cause drowsiness. “Eating any big meal, especially if you also drink alcohol, is likely to make you feel sleepy,” explained Kanarek. With the results of these studies regarding food on a chemical level, scientists have disproved many traditional beliefs.
Snooze Foods:
Certain foods help students get the sleep they need Alana Model Staff Writer
Teenagers have a difficult time staying awake in school because of their hectic schedules. The reason could be that students just aren’t getting enough sleep. School, sports, and other after-school activities make sleep difficult to come by, causing sleep deprivation that can prevent students from engaging in efficient learning throughout the day. Factor in other unexpected challenges, such as family problems, friendship issues, an illness, or insomnia, and quality sleep may be even more elusive. However, by eating and drinking the right foods and liquids before bed, teens can have a restful night and be able to function at their best ability throughout the day. Knowing how food and drink affect the body can help students stay alert throughout the day and avoid the agony of sleeplessness at night. According to the National Sleep Foundation, proteins from the food that people eat are the building blocks of typtophan, an amino acid that causes sleepiness. The best bedtime snack is one that contains both a carbohydrate and a protein, such as cereal with milk, peanut butter on toast, or cheese and crackers. While the carbs induce the body to create serotonin, a neurochemical
that produces feelings of relaxation, the calcium from the milk and cheese help the brain manufacture melatonin, a naturally occurring hormone that regulates sleepiness. Other foods high in tryptophan are tofu, hummus, beans, rice, meat, poultry, eggs, and whole grains. Getting a good night’s sleep comes down to allowing the brain to get calmed down rather than revved up. Some foods contribute to a restful sleep, while others keep people awake and make it difficult to fall asleep at night. According the the National Sleep Foundation, caffeine is a stimulant that works by blocking the action of hormones in the brain that make people feel sleepy. It is best to consume small amounts of caffeine throughout the day, rather than before bedtime to get a good night’s sleep. “Yogurt is one of the best food sources of lysine; nuts pack tons of arginine. Because both contain alertness-inducing protein, [yogurt with mixed nuts] will reduce the residual stress people feel later in the evening, meaning they won’t replay the day over and over again in their heads while trying to fall asleep,” said David Zinczenko, author of Eat This Not That! Other sleep-better foods include nonfat popcorn, oatmeal with sliced banana, a handful of pretzels, cherry juice, and red bell peppers. Eat your way to a better sleep by eating these foods at least an hour before bed.
Time To Plan for College! Don’t wait until next fall when you will be pressed for time,
Call us today for a free No-Obligation Consultation Find out how we can help you get a jump On your College Planning now. Call for more information
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FEATURE
February 11, 2011 • THE ARROW
Mock Trial to Argue Assault Case
7
Team Anticipates County Competition
Josephine Strauss ‘13 Portraying Jesse Woodson “Mock Trial has been such a great learning experience. I am so excited to portray Jesse Woodson in the competition.”
No objection: (from left to right) Hannah Gray, Elizabeth Matusov, and Kelan Dammers perfect their examinations of expert witnesses.
2011 Mock Trial Team Coaches: Christina Harrison Julia Snyder Ashley Tomkins Prosecution Attorneys: Lisa Battaglia ‘12 Hannah Gray ‘11 Garrett Hardy ‘11 Defense Attorneys: Jordan Hobmann ‘12 Elizabeth Matusov ‘12 Dylan Walsh ‘11 Pre-Trial Attorneys: Brian Chang ‘13 Woody Chung ‘13 Witnesses: Lauren Greg ‘11 Sarah Gerlach ‘11 Kelan Dammers ‘11 Umbreen Lakhani ‘11 Josephine Strauss ‘13 Kevin Shi ‘14 Court Clerk and Bailiff: Tiffany Han ‘14
Shannon Reiffen Staff Writer
“This court will now come to order.” Soon enough, these words will ring once again in the ears of the Mock Trial team. The team will argue the case People v. Woodson addressing assault with a deadly weapon and a new antibullying and cyberbullying statute. U.S. history teachers Christina Harrison and Ashley Tomkins and District Attorney Julia Snyder are coaching the students to perfect lines, speeches, and overall presentation. The team meets four to six hours a week including the weekends to rehearse their speaking skills and review their knowledge of the law. “Each student has a unique quality to help us succeed in competition,” said Harrison. The Case: Jesse Woodson, played by Josephine Strauss ‘13, led a group of middle school students called the Pirates at Paul Laurence Dunbar Middle School. Jesse Woodson is 18 years old and is involved as an assistant to math and computer teacher Chris Draper, played by Sarah Gerlach ‘11. The Pirates constantly bullied Angel Sterling at school. Thirteen-year-old Angel, played by Kevin Shi ‘14, recently moved to Pikesville, California from a small town in Nebraska. Adjusting to Pikesville was difficult for Angel. Because he could not fit in with the other students he was bullied. On March 12, 2010 Detective Cooper, portrayed by Lauren Greg ‘11, found Angel Sterling laying face down in an alleyway with a bloody brick right near his head. With investigation, Detective Cooper arrested Woodson for assault with a deadly weapon. Woodson is being tried in this case for assault with a deadly weapon and violation of the Antibullying and Cyberbullying Act, or the ABC’s Act. The Prosecution: Led by team captain Lisa Battaglia ‘12, the prosecution will argue that only Jesse Woodson is guilty of assault with a deadly weapon. The prosecution will assert that Wood-
son made threatening comments to Angel using “FacePlace” and “Buddylink” making Angel Sterling sick and stressed. They will assert that Jesse Woodson was a leader of a gang at Dunbar Middle School called the Pirates. The prosecution alleges that Woodson followed Angel home and attacked him with a brick in a dark alleyway. “We’ve always had a really good team, but this year we just work together so well. It’s a really interesting case,” said prosecution attorney Hannah Gray ‘11. The Defense: Headed by team captain Dylan Walsh ‘11, the defense will argue that Woodson is a responsible citizen who cared for her sister Harriet. They will convey that Angel is overly sensitive and exaggerates about the drama at Dunbar. The defense expert witness, Dr. Brook Crane also played by Gerlach will assert that the dilapidated building had several loose bricks and one brick fell from the building and randomly struck Angel. Finally, the defense will argue that several other people had the means, motive, and opportunity to assault Angel, especially Madison Jackson, member of the Pirates, played by Umbreen Lakhani ‘11, who hated Angel and also made threats. The Pretrial: Pretrial attorneys will argue about a new, hypothetical anti-bullying and cyber-bullying statute, or an ABC’s act, and whether it violates the First Amendment that protects freedom of speech and expression. Attorney and Counselor at Law Mark Jessee coaches the pretrial attorneys to be informed about the First Amendment.. Defense pretrial attorney Brian Chang ‘13 will argue that the statute unlawfully prohibits protected speech. Prosecution pretrial attorney Woody Chung ‘13 will argue that the statute is constitutional and only prohibits speech if it falls within certain categories that are unprotected. The team competes for the first time Feb. 28, and then again March 1. If they make it to finals, they will compete March 3. The awards ceremony will be on March 4 at Cal Lutheran University.
Dylan Walsh ‘11 Defense Attorney “Legally I’m not allowed to disclose anything about this case.”
Garrett Hardy ‘12 Prosecution Attorney “Mock Trial has taught me a lot this past year. We have a phenomenal group and should do very well this year.”
Lauren Greg ‘11 Portraying Sydney Campbell and Detective Frankie Cooper “This case is challenging and I’m so excited to take part in competition again this year.”
Photos by Brian Chang and Lisa Battaglia
8
FEAT
Viral Videos
Why Videos Go Viral: A look into the world of the popular and abs The WHS Arrow
8 issues
Results from a survey of 143 WHS students Top Video Websites 5 Youtube
Minutes spent watching online videos per day 25
5
20
21 Number of students
Hulu Other No Answer
15 10 5 0
112
Youtube is the most popular internet video site. Over 78 percent of WHS students use it as their primary site for video watching.
0-4 5-9 10- 15- 20- 25- 30- 40- 45- 50- 55- 60- 6514 19 24 29 34 44 49 54 59 64 Minutes
WHS students, on average, spend approximately 27 minutes daily watching internet videos. That is about three hours and nine minutes a week.
The School’s Favorite Viral Videos: 2
1
“Greg Jennings (Broken Leg) Scores on Saints”
3
“Bed Intruder” (original and remix)
4
“Greatest Freakout Ever”
“I’m a Snake”
368,511,1 The WHS Arrow
February 11, 2011
Likes 0 Dislikes
On the Polls: Most of the videos that students voted as their favorites were introduced on shows such as Tosh.O before they went viral.
Q&A With Pat Bishop: Pat Bishop is an editor at Funny or Die, Will Ferrell’s popular sketch comedy viral video company. (Interview by Zak Kukoff) The Arrow 35 days ago
Pat Bishop 35 days ago
The Arrow 35 days ago
Pat Bishop 35 days ago
The Arrow
What are the components of a successful viral video?
There’s a wide range of videos that go viral for completely different reasons. One category seems to be home video sort of things—like Char or David After Dentist, or videos of people getting hurt. Other categories would be TV or events gone wrong (like Worst Sportscaster), weird and stuff (Salad Fingers), video mash-ups, or celebrities embarrassing themselves. I think all of these have something universal about them—a core idea that can be explained in a sentence (which allows them to spread b mouth). Everybody wants to see a video of someone getting mildly injured and making a funny sound because it’s funny on a human level. Simi ing a celebrity in a video means people already know that person. One thing I’ve learned is that if you make a popular video, for the most part, people aren’t going to search out your other videos. It’s really h velop a fan base on the internet. You have to win people over with every video. What advice do you have for student video makers?
My advice is make a lot of stuff and try to find your voice. You have to be unique to stand-out among all the content that is being created these rise in quality and drop in cost of digital cameras means everybody’s making stuff now. You have to have your own identity. And if you don’t, point of making anything at all? There’s plenty of videos and shows out there for people to watch. If you’re just going to give them something so would, why waste your time? In terms of getting an audience on the internet, you gotta know how to get your video out there. Link sites like Reddit and Digg are a big way to But you have to become a member and over time build up friends and become a power-user of these sites before you can promote your own stuff then, it has to be something that people want to see. Also, some celebrities have popular blogs and if they post your video, that can be a huge boos
35 days ago
Anything else?
Pat Bishop
I guess I'd say that most people I know who make internet videos make a lot of them, and every now and then, one will hit big. You can't put all you one project or idea. You just got to keep working and producing stuff that you think is good. Also, there's no money in making internet videos. It's not rich-quick scheme. Funny or Die turned a profit for the first time in it's history the past six months--and that's mostly due to advertising deals with comp
35 days ago
9
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All photos courtesy of Youtube
surd videos that are taking over the internet and school conversations
142
Videos: The Only Virus Immune to Firewalls Dashiell Young-Saver Managing Editor
The existence of viruses can be described in three stages: formation, growth, and extinction. The virus forms and then spreads by infecting and using living tissue to spread itself even more. Once enough immunity is developed, however, the virus has nowhere to go and eventually dies. Viral videos work similarly. They are made by their presenters and spread rapidly throughout the internet via social networks and forums; however, unlike normal viruses, viral videos do not stop spreading. There is no immunity to a video about a “surprised chipmunk” or a skateboarder’s “nutshot” on a railing. Once a video “goes viral,” it just keeps infecting more and more people. Youtube.com, the world’s largest video sharing website, estimated that it has over two billion views every day. The website also estimates that 24 hours of video are uploaded to the website every minute. With such a strong viewer and producer base, videos are able to exceed hundreds of millions of views and continue to become more popular as they spread the world over. Internet videos now provide students with tension-relieving laughs, popular conversation points about “memes,” and relaxing time off from work. For some, internet videos have even replaced T.V. The average teenager, according to a study done by the British research group Cyber Sentinel, spends an average of 31 hours a week on the internet. Two of those hours are spent on Youtube, and even more hours are spent on social networking sites that can share videos posted on websites like Youtube. In addition, according to The Arrow’s survey, WHS students spend an average of 27 minutes watching internet videos daily. Social networking sites are the main contributors
to the viral trend in videos. When a video can be shared instantly and make vast connection on websites like MySpace and Facebook, view counts rise exponentially. Friends can share a video with even more friends, and then they share it with their friends, and so forth until forums and blogs begin chatting about it and, by the time the video is being sent around on mobile phones, it already has a remix. According to Dan Ackerman, cofounder and CEO of Sharethrough, a company which is paid to make videos go viral, the most important factor in increasing the popularity of a video is sharing it on social networking sites, blogs, and forums. The more a video is shared, the more people it can reach; and, since sharing is so easy on social internet sites, the virus can spread quickly and uncontrollably. However, for videos to spread, they need to be entertaining enough for people to put in the enormous amount of effort required to click the “share” button below the video. Bestselling author and journalist Malcolm Gladwell described in his book The Tipping Point the need for a viral video to have qualities that make it interesting enough to spread and become viral. It is a natural tendency for people to want to share laughter, so viral videos tend to be humorous. The top six favorite viral videos among WHS students are all meant to be humorous. Whether humorous on purpose or by accident, funny videos dominate the view counts all over the internet. Even some comedic television shows and internet sites such as Web Soup, Tosh.0, and =3, are based completely on reviewing and commenting on laughable viral videos. However, not all viral videos are humorous. They can entail heart-warming stories such as the homeless man Ted Williams who spoke in his “radio voice” in front of a camera and, because of the video, became an announcer for the Cleveland Cavaliers. Also, the videos can be serious and informative.
Gripping, violent videos of the crisis in Egypt from the past few weeks have earned the issue an entire section on the Youtube homepage. As a whole, viral videos seems to always have a relatable “wow” factor that is unexpected and interesting enough for viewers to want to watch and share. Whether with humor, catchy music, or graphic images, viral videos are always innovative enough to be shared. Although most believe that internet videos are time wasters, some videos, like the ones uploaded from Egypt, are powerful enough to encourage beneficial change. For instance, WHS allowed teachers access to Youtube for the first time this year. The school recognized the website’s power to educate and add diversity to class curriculums. In addition, the White House also recognized the power of internet videos and began a channel on Youtube to share its policies. The channel’s videos have garnered more than 41 million views and President Obama has participated in two live Youtube interviews, answering questions submitted on the White House’s Youtube page. Furthermore, the It Gets Better Campaign has used internet videos in its efforts to stop the increasing number of teenage, homosexual suicides caused by bullying. The campaign posted videos of people sharing their personal experiences of intolerance and their success beyond school. Some of the videos went viral and, according to their website, the project has received over $100,000 in contributions and input from many politicians and celebrities, including President Obama. Currently, the videos have received over 30 million hits. They have reached their target audience and helped reduce the suicide rate. The campaign came from humble beginnings, but with the power of the connections of the internet, made beneficial social change.
Related Viral Videos (some suggestions) Trololololololo...lol: Russian Singer Edward Khil performs a lyric-less combination of opera and yodeling to create this viral sensation.
A party that’s finger lickin’ good: Jimmy McMillan, seen here sporting a Colonel Sanders beard, argues archaic points in his “rent is too damn high” campaign.
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ur hopes into t a good getpanies.
His talents aren’t sagging: Former vet-
eran rapper Larry Platt subtly comments on the state of modern pants-sagging styles. Although he was not eligible to participate, he created one of the best moments of American Idol history.
Make it rain: In the wee hours of the morning, Paul Vasquez sees a DOUBLE RAINBOW and makes sure all his neighbors know by screaming in surprise.
Peek a’ cute: Possibly the cutest kitten ever throws up its arms in surprise every time a man stops tickling it. Scientists have confirmed that the level of cuteness is beyond the “making girls shriek” level and has moved into the “cry from cute” level.
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FEATURE
February 11, 2011 • THE ARROW
Happy Single Awareness Day
The Singles Guide for Valentine’s Day
W
First things first: get in the right mind set. Look at the downside of a relationship.
YSay goodbye to a social life; time with
friends will be drastically cut down due to spending every waking moment with or talking to your significant other.
humming drove you up the wall, or it ended in bitter betrayal, fill your heart with satisfying hatred. Finally: Take action.
YChannel your anger through a
COURTESY PHOTO
e’ve all been there...the cold winter months creep up from behind, the holidays pass in a blur of weight gain and loneliness, and finally, it hits home on February 14: it is Valentine’s Day and you are left utterly and completely alone. This year, however, is different. Girls, put down the chocolates and turn off The Notebook. Guys, turn off the Xbox console before your blind rage messes up your KDR (kill to death ratio). You are now equipped with a comprehensive guide to surviving Valentines Day...single.
Single students around campus share their thoughts on spending the 14th solo:
HEARTBREAKER: Jennifer Garner lets out her frustration on a heart-shaped piñata in the movie Valentine’s Day.
YContact with members of the opposite
boyfriend or girlfriend bonfire: dig out those old pictures and movie stubs and watch the flames lick around your bitter memories, fanning the hatred.
Nick Isham ‘11 “I guess for me I don’t really mind because I know I’ll find the right girl whenever I find her. I’m not in a rush or feel like I need a girlfriend on the holiday. I’ll probably just hang out with friends like any other night.”
YAssuming you remember them,
YInvite over your single friends and
Valerie Lee ‘12 “I plan on buying all of the chocolate and ice cream that I can get my hands on, and spending the fated night wallowing in self-pity and tears...basically an average Monday night.”
sex outside school situations comes to a screeching halt, and all mysterious texts must be screened and removed.
pressure to live up to expectations on holidays, birthdays, and of course Valentine’s Day, leaves you stressed and bankrupt. Next: build the anger.
YPonder back on past loves lost, and isolate all the negative parts of the relationship. Whether their incessant
exchange stories to determine who dated the worst person.
YHave a kickback: get the lonely people at your school to a house to socialize, forget their troubles, and maybe spark some new romances (You’ll need something to linger on with contempt for next year).
Compiled by Katrina Brewer
Luke Haga ‘12 “At the moment I’m taking a relaxed stand on my love life. If something happens, it happens. There are plenty of really sweet attractive girls out there, so I will always keep my eye out for that special someone.” Emily Randall ‘12 “For me, I feel like it’s just another day. My friends and I will probably just joke around and buy each other funny gifts.” Will Saksa ‘13 “Like all other holidays, I enjoy decorating my house accordingly. I plan on buying scented candles...possibly orchid or lavender scented. I’ll proceed to watch Grey’s Anatomy and get in three to five cries before bed. I’ve come to realize the only woman for me is my mother because she has never shattered my heart into a million pieces.” Alisa Hansen ‘12 “I think every girl would love to be in a relationship on Valentine’s Day; sometimes it feels like people are getting into relationships left and right. But most of my friends and I don’t really mind living the single life...I’m probably going to have a bunch of single people come over on Valentine’s Day, because...what else are we going to do?”
Forever and Always? Maybe...
Monica Huskins Staff Writer
V
alentine’s Day is approaching, the sun is
shining and the flowers have never smelled so sweet. But for those of you who have just experienced a painful breakup, it may be a time of remorse. Luckily, many people have familiarity with humiliating and even downright unforgettable break- ups. Even those like Taylor Swift have very public breakups. She writes her songs from the heart and scrawled on every album is a song describing her break-ups, such as her newly released “Dear John,” as well as “Picture to Burn,” “Forever and Always,” and “You’re Not Sorry.” Swift’s music is her revenge in a sense and her own encrypted code, so, if you mess with Taylor the world will know it. John Mayer and Joe Jonas have both been featured in one of her songs and it will not be a surprise to see a new song about her very recent break-up with Jake Gyllenhaal. Jonas was faced with the lyrics from “Forever and Always,” “You didn’t mean it, baby, when you said forever and always” and Mayer fans were astonished when Swift wrote “Dear John,” “Dear John, I see it all now it was wrong, don’t you think nineteen’s too young to be played with?” Four survivors share their most unforgettable past break-ups.
Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y
What Was Your Most Memorable Break-up? Kari Ballard:
“In 6th grade this boy named Marshall had his friend ask me to go to the Marky Mark concert with him on Valentine’s Day. He had the friend give me a box of chocolates and a butterfly pin. I went into the bathroom, ate the chocolate, kept the pin and told my friend to go tell him ‘I’d rather die than go with him to the concert, but thanks for the chocolate.’ He ended up going with another girl.”
Scott Holloway: “In college, I dated a girl for three weeks, but we weren’t intellectual equals, so I chose to break it off early. She started stalking me, and anytime I saw her she would burst into tears. A couple months later, she started dating someone else and I thought that we could be friends again. However, I saw her at a restaurant and she came up to me and started crying and begging me to take her back.” Alana Bond:
“My senior year, I was dating this really geeky guy simply because he was helping me with calculus. After a week I couldn’t take it anymore and broke up with him via email. It was right around Valentine’s Day, and he ended up sending me anonymous flowers. Luckily, I got a 5 on the AP. We are still friends today, and he always teases me about our week long relationship.”
Michael Lynch: “My freshman year at WHS, I started going out with this girl, Kim. After I asked her out and she said yes, we never spoke again. So technically, we are still going out to this day.”
FEATURE
February 11, 2011 • THE ARROW
11
iPadding The Educational System Woody Chung Staff Writer
Rosyln High School was just one of dozens of schools to provide daily iPad integration into the school curriculum last year. Using the iPad to write, turn in assignments, paint, and research, students of Rosyln High School quickly discovered the advantages of using iPads in school. And rightly so. There is no doubt that the iPad is a talented gadget. But as schools continue to integrate iPads in school, they continue to ignore the electronic elephant in the room: will the iPad prove to be the revolutionary educational tool of the decade or will it simply backfire?
iPads could be the next best thing The switch to the iPad is not an ordinary renewal of technology. For years, technology in many public schools has always been generalized. For many schools, the iPad changes the concept of technology from
a supplement of education to a personal learning device configured to each student’s needs. “The iPad isn’t something you pass around. It’s not really designed to be a ‘resource’ that many people take advantage of,” said computing teacher Fraser Speirs, the overseer of the iPad integration at Cedars School of Excellence. “It’s designed to be owned, configured to your taste, invested in and curated.” Several factors allow the iPad to personalize education. As nearly every person on earth knows, the aspect of the iPad that allows it to stand out from any ordinary technology is the versatile App store. To illustrate, Alex Curtis, the headmaster of the Morris-Town Beard School in New Jersey uses ColorSplash to lecture the importance of color in Baroque paintings. On the other side of the Atlantic Ocean and for students who are interested in the opposite end of the education spectrum, the Cedar School of Excellence employs Math Pro to cater high level mathematics to interested students. By appealing to a wide spectrum of education,
the App store personalizes education for each student. Perhaps more crucial to the heavy dependence on this technology, the iPad eliminates the need and availability of paper, thus forcing the student to increasingly use the iPad as a personal device and allowing the school to save money. With the growing number of companies (McGraw Hill and Houghton Mifflin Harcourt naming a few) using a service called Scrollmotion to transfer entire textbooks to mobile devices, the need for heavy text books becomes obsolete. Further innovations such as the virtual keyboard, the internet access, and the iPad to VGA cable allow students to easily turn in assignments, research, and present information at their own leisure and pleasure while reducing the need for paper. The iPad then becomes the primary tool to convey information. Not to mention, the reduced weight from textbooks appeals to students while the reduced reliance on costly paper appeals to school administrators (the estimated savings per year for the
Can You Hear Me Now? Why It Might Not Be Worth the Switch
Steven Paro
Feature Editor After being AT&T’s bread and butter for the last five years, the iPhone 4 is taking its talents to Verizon. Early in January, Verizon announced its decision to carry the iPhone 4 starting February 10, 2011. But is it worth making the switch? AT&T is infamous for its terrible phone service, with many major urban areas receiving little or no service. Switching to America’s most popular wireless carrier, Verizon, might create the first iPhone where you can honestly say, “I can hear you now.” But Verizon isn’t perfect either. Verizon will not have the iPhone 4 compatible with its
much hyped about 4G network, LTE. It is rumored that Verizon’s next rendition of the iPhone will work with LTE. Another drawback is that you can’t multitask or use data while on the phone. So those commercials of calling up your friends and finding the next available movie time aren’t going to happen. Verizon will also place a cap limit on its data plan for excessive users. It has yet to be determined who is an “excessive user,” but Verizon has disclosed it will only be five percent of customers. Verizon, however, did fix the antenna problem AT&T had. With AT&T, if you held your iPhone in a certain way and blocked the antenna, your call would drop. In order to beat out Android, Verizon has introduced the tethering feature, allowing
users to have a WiFi hotspot for up to five devices, a feature found standard on Android phones. Other than these changes, the phone is basically unchanged. You have your music, apps, email and more on the go. Verizon will have a 16 GB for $200 and a 32 GB version for $300, both with a two year contract. Unless you desperately want to get rid of AT&T and want a reliable network, sticking with your current iPhone is good enough. Making the switch isn’t necessary now and can wait till the iPhone 5 comes to Verizon, providing the LTE network. If you don’t possess one, it would be a good time to get one, that is, if you are lucky enough to get one.
Rosyln High School is $3600 per classroom). This reduced need for paper acts as a never-ending circle which inevitably leads to a heavy dependence on the iPad.
The iPad is iBad for education Even with all the feaures of the iPad, however, some critics believe the iPad to be too good to be true. They raise valid points. A gaping hole in the iPad plan is the cost. This rings especially true for the Conejo Valley School District. “We have had our funding cut by the state by approximately 25 million ongoing dollars in the last three years,” said current school board president Peggy Buckles. “That leaves us with nothing to direct toward technology even though we would like to be a more cutting edge district in that field.” With the iPad costing $750 apiece, even with the ten percent school discount, it would be impossible to provide the iPad to even one classroom in CVUSD. Providing iPads for students cost
the Rosyln district over $55,000, and this was only for 75 lucky students. The CVUSD, along with other districts, simply do not have the funds to make this iPad dream a reality. While students may be quick to embrace the iPad with open arms, some critics fear that teachers may not do the same. “Technology is and can be useful in our schools only to the extent that we can train teachers to use it,” Buckles further remarked. “Not all teachers are comfortable with technology and we have had to cut back on training teachers due to the budget crisis.” Lastly, critics further claim that the money used to provide iPads for students could be better spent to train teachers. “iPads are marvelous tools to engage kids, but then the novelty wears off and you get into hard-core issues of teaching and learning,” said Larry Cuban, education professor at Stanford University. Though the iPad could possibly usher in a new era of technology centered education, critics believe that educators must tread into this era with caution.
Popular iPhone Apps
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ENTERTAINMENT
February 11, 2011 • THE ARROW
Oscars 2011 Preview: Winners, Losers and More Predictions
Steven Paro
Feature Editor Recently, the Academy Awards announced Oscar Nominations for 2011. Besides the expected fan favorites, many critically acclaimed films were nominated as well. Critics predict either Black Swan, The Fighter, The King’s Speech, The Social Network, or True Grit to take home best movie at the end of the night. The backstory of the creation of our generation’s biggest time waster, Facebook, and its founder, Mark Zuckerberg, was brought to the screen this year in David Fincher’s The Social Network. Much like Inception, The Social Network was snubbed in a much expected nomination for Supporting Actor, Andrew Garfield (who will be returning to the screen in the next Spiderman reboot). The psychological thriller Black Swan is nominated for 5 golden men this year, including Best Actress (Natalie Portman). Expect Portman to walk away with the award, but have Black Swan falling short of Best Picture. Mark Wahlberg and Christian Bale team up as a boxer-brother duo in the drama, The Fighter. The Fighter is expected to walk away
You Decide
with at least a few awards that night -- specifically, Amy Adams for Best Actress in a Supporting Role. Success is nothing new to the Cohen brothers, directors of True Grit. They previously have been nominated twice for Best Picture, for directing No Country for Old Men and Fargo. In True Grit, after the murder of a young girl’s father, Mattie (Hailee Steinfield) seeks help from a US Marshall (Bridges) and a Texas Ranger (Damon). Local 14-yearold actress Hailee Steinfeld is nominated for Supporting Actress and the movie itself is nominated for 10 Oscars. According to Rottentomatoes, The King’s Speech was the highest overall rated movie in 2010. King George VI gets a speech therapist to work with him to eliminate his speech impediment. The King’s Speech was the most nominated movie, receiving 12 nominations. Having already won the Golden Globe and the SAG, Melissa Leo is expected to also take the Oscar for Supporting Actress, Natalie Portman for Best Actress, Christan Bale for Supporting Actor, and Colin Firth for Best Actor and The King’s Speech for Best Picture on Feb. 27.
Class Act Hits the Jackpot with “Viva Las Vegas” Ethan Reul Staff Writer
Studio Jazz ensemble and A Class Act under the direction of Alan Rose recently came together for the annual ACA Show in the Carpenter Family Theatre. For those unfamiliar with the show, the Choral and Instrumental music programs join forces once a year to put on a performance filled with song and dance from the A Class Act ensemble and Studio Jazz. There is usually a general, overlying
theme with various rotating subthemes present throughout the show, such as last year’s Disney selections. The Studio ensemble also plays a few pieces on their own, usually with several soloists from throughout the band. Following a spectacular performance last year with Celebration, the bar was high for this year’s show, Viva Las Vegas. The atmosphere of the show was set from the very beginning; outside the theater in the cafeteria, several Las Vegas-style games, such as Poker and Roulette, were
set up. Winners received “Rose Bucks,” fake $100 bills imprinted with Rose’s face instead of Franklin’s. On the way into the theatre, audience members received a commemorative poker chip celebrating the event. Finally, after the preliminary festivities outside, the audience entered the theatre for the show. ACA started it off with a medley, “Las Vegas Revue,” which included such classics as “Jailhouse Rock,” “Candy Man,” and of course, “Viva Las Vegas.” The show continued
with various songs, with such standouts as “SpongeBob SquarePants,” in which the male members of the ensemble dressed in yellow bodysuits and massive cardboard boxes made out to look like SpongeBob’s pants and sang the show’s theme song. They concluded the show with several patriotic songs, after which confetti cannons scattered around the theater spewed red, white, and blue paper in a grandiose final moment. Finally, they led out with bows and a reprise of “Viva Las Vegas.”
The Jazz Ensemble also played a few songs alone over the course of the evening. The selections, which included “F.M.,” “Dos Mucho!,” “Yes or No,” and “Rhapsody in Blue.” Each included several soloists and covered all forms of Jazz, from Latin to classic Blues. Overall, the show captured the fun and exhilarating energy ACA manages to bring to each performance. For anyone that didn’t get to attend this year’s show, make time for next year’s.
Midseason Replacements: Networks Start to Bring in New Shows Shannon Reiffen Opinion Editor
It would not really be the New Year without a few new television shows to either soar to the top of the ratings or crash and burn. Here’s the inside scoop on some of this season’s newest shows. The Cape (NBC Monday at 9): This looks like a clear leader in recently-released ratings. Honest detective Vince Faraday (David Lyons) is framed for a murder by his own partner, Marty Voyt, and employer Peter Fleming. Unbeknownst to the public, Fleming is the serial murderer known as “Chess,” but frames Faraday for the crimes. Faraday is then forced into a train full of explosives, and thought to be dead. He is taken in by a circus turned bank robbery crew, and with their help, turns himself into “The Cape,” a superhero come to clear his name and save his city.
Although a slightly clichéd story line, the actors play their parts well and the action is intense. For those Superman and Spiderman fans, this may be the show for you.
language and portrays the natives as people with sappy, wet-eyed gratitude. The only redeeming quality this show has is the absolutely gorgeous location— Hawaii.
Off the Map (ABC Wednesday at 10): Ladies, if you were a fan of McSteamy, this is your kind of show. From the producer of Grey’s Anatomy and Private Practice, Off the Map takes the boring, reused doctor show to a new level—both physically and emotionally. Older veteran doctors and eager young ones all pack their bags and head off to South America to practice medicine. Of course, you cannot just have a show about doctors treating patients. There has to be love triangles, party boys and beautiful men taking their shirts off. Unfortunately, in the show’s first episode, it sets a pattern of superiority toward the native peoples, as the characters show an ignorance of the Spanish
Traffic Light (Fox Tuesday at 9:30): Based on an Israeli series called Ramzor, this replacement follows the lives of three best friends: Ethan, the guy who is always single; Adam, who is just making the crucial step of moving in with his girlfriend; and Mike, who is already tied down with a wife and son. The sitcom follows the friendship of these three men and how they handle the different demands of their relationships. Although we have seen through shows like Skins and Life on Mars that foreign concepts do not always translate well to the United States, this could be more like The Office—successful. Harry’s Law (NBC Monday at 10): Lastly, Harry’s Law is
shaping up to be a hit. It stars Oscar winner Kathy Bates as Harriet, a patent attorney who just got fired from her cushy job. She meets two men, Malcolm and Matthew, who are reaching a crossroads in their lives, and the three decide to join and form a law practice in a rundown show store. It may seem like this is your average law show, but with Bates playing a tough-as-nails lawyer
with no tolerance for shams and a cynical and sarcastic outlook on crime, and with the creator, David Kelley, already having experience in the legal area, expect this to be a hit. All of these new shows have already premiered, but you can still find past episodes. Hulu, YouTube, and iTunes have episodes from this season usually 48 hours after they air.
ENTERTAINMENT
February 11, 2011 • THE ARROW
PHOTO BY KEVIN SHI
LIVE TO DANCE: Mark McCleese choreographs a hip-hop routine for members of the Fame cast.
Fame Lives On in Drama’s Latest Production Anita Gao
Staff Writer Dancers, musicians, actors— all who attend the School of Performing Arts in New York City are in search of success and Fame. The WHS Drama Department, under the direction of DeDe Burke, will stage a version of Fame that will be performed in the Carpenter Family Theatre on March 31 and April 1, 2, 7, 8, and 9. Though not an entire musical production, this will be Burke’s first collaboration of music and
theatre at WHS. While at Colina Middle School, she directed the musical Grease. Burke’s production of Fame will allow WHS students to showcase their many creative talents. She recently held open auditions for dance, instrumental music, singing, and acting. About 75 students signed up for auditions. Dancers were asked to prepare a one minute routine; instrument players as well as aspiring singers were asked to perform a portion of a song of their choice. Actors presented a one minute monologue,
demonstrating their skill at getting into character simply through facial expressions, body language, and voice. Actors also did a cold read, acting out an unfamiliar script. “People have come out in leaps and bounds at the auditions, and I am glad to see so many former students there,” Burke stated. According to Burke, the decision to perform Fame, rather than Pride and Prejudice, was made mostly from her drama students’ input. The Drama class read a few scenes from Fame’s script and developed an immediate fondness. “We’re all so happy she chose Fame,” said Dylan Wakelin, ’12. Burke anticipates her greatest obstacle will be lighting and sound. She expects very professional sound and extra sophisticated lighting, which will take her and her students quite an effort to achieve. Another challenge will be creating multiple set designs, since scenes take place in diverse locations. Burke, who enjoys directing Shakespeare plays, aspires to expand the Drama Department. “I want to make the drama department grow—grow by leaps and bounds, grow a great reputation seen as a formidable presence in our community, and grow into a desirous place for the community and kids. I want my students to have pride in being in drama,” she said. She tips off eager audiences: “Expect a great show, lots of laughter, tears, and the pure joy of watching very talented, young people act like professionals.” Burke hopes Fame will be a fruitful experience for her young entertainers as well. “I want kids to walk away thinking, ‘Gee, I wish I could still be there.’”
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Has American Idol Lost its “Wow” Factor? Alana Model Staff Writer
Sometimes, people resist change while others embrace it. On Jan. 19, the premiere of American Idol Season Ten was viewed for the first time with many new changes. In previous y e a r s , people from all over the country and even from around the world would not be able to stop talking about the hit show. However, this year is different, and so are the judges. After word got out that Simon Cowell was leaving the show once Season Nine ended, viewers became disappointed and realized that Idol would not be the same without him. Despite his departure, the three-judge format will remain as the show will bring in Jennifer Lopez, Steven Tyler, and veteran Randy Jackson. “The new judges bring exciting energy to the show. I epecially love watching the auditons, and I find the judges’ comments all very entertaining,” member of the WHS Choir, Elise Bass 12’ said. It is because of these new additions that some viewers are hopeful, but most are skeptical as to whether or not the show is really worth watching.
According to the New York Times, the singing competition, with its altered lineup of judges, remained slightly down from its performance last year, but the falloff was diminished in the s e c o n d w e e k . Last year, the show averaged about 26.4 m i l l i o n viewers and this year, it averaged 25.2 million viewers. There are several other changes to the hit TV show. According to Idol’s official website, executive producer Nigel Lythgoe is doing away with the Top 24 this season after finding them dull in past seasons. In other words, he has eliminated the round that shrinks the contestants from a group of 24 to 12 people, instead going straight to the top 12.”I didn’t think [the top 24] were very good, I was bored with them by the time they got there,” Lythgoe said of previous Idol seasons. Season Ten of Idol is also said to be proposing new challenges to the contestants. According to the official website, the singers will have to create music videos and even develop an awards show -like performance. Only time will tell whether all of these alterations will turn viewers on to the show, or off.
FEATURE
14
February 11, 2011 • THE ARROW
Meno Creates A Prodigy Gone Wrong Vallia Yu
Staff Writer Heartbreaking doesn’t even start to cover it. Neither does cryptic, haunting, or beautiful. The Boy Detective Fails is a refreshing breath from the hard edged paragraphs and straight forward plots of typical novels. The author (Joe Meno) writes in his own unusual style, switching between past and present, happy and sad. Twisting words and emotions with ease, Meno creates a story that reflects the utter joy of an innocent childhood and the harshness of suddenly growing up and being thrown headfirst straight into the real world. Interesting books can be difficult to find for picky readers, who occasionally criticize “unsophisticated” literature and those who enjoy reading it. Though some may be skeptical at first glance at such a seemingly childish book, The Boy Detective Fails quickly proves readers wrong. As the book starts, we are swallowed into a whimsical world where nothing seems to follow one simple line of thought. The first thing we notice is this: the beginning of the book is Chapter 31. But wait. Was there a prequel; a missing volume that was overlooked, you think? The simple answer to that question is, no, but the storyline continues along as if there was, as if the readers were already
“Wait. Wasn’t this supposed to be a familiar with the ‘series.’ To complete the feel of a sequel book, charming story?” you ask. However, soon the unthinkable Meno skillfully brings up vignettes of main character Billy Argo’s past and weaves happens: boy genius Billy is sent to St. Vitus them into the present. And his past is not Institute for the Infirmed and Mentally Ill, his parents deciding that “it would be a pretty one. Born as a prodigy that excelled at the best if the boy detective was temporarily art of finding the truth (a natural born hospitalized.” 10 years will pass until we return to detective, if you will), he solved crimes with ease and captured criminals as a child. the life of Billy Argo, age 30, and read on People loved him; mayors were humiliated. of his struggles to discover his own place Followed by his little sister, Caroline, in the world. Although the and their stylistic writing neighborhood of Meno flows friend Fenton, quite smoothly, they traveled he author writes in his own o b s e s s i v e the town of style, switching between past and presc o m p u l s i v e Gotham to grammar freaks discover the ent, happy and sad... Twisting words may want to steer unknown. and emotions with ease.” clear. But then In the novel, they grow sentences can up and Billy run on for long leaves for college, leaving poor Caroline behind, paragraphs, and Meno bends the rules of and his sister is already feeling the pain of English itself to convey the mood of a scene. Sometimes the story will go off on letting go of her past. Dragged deeper into despair, Caroline tangents, spiraling into the world of Billy’s attempts suicide twice, the second time a detailed subconsciousness, leaving the success due to her parent’s absence at an reader wondering, “What in the world was award ceremony for Truly Above-Average the point of that?” While some believe that this writing Parenting. Billy, distraught and filled with style is used to enhance the surreal mood grief, soon attempts suicide as well. The of the novel, others may find it tedious, parents call the ambulance, already well as readers end up absorbing useless accustomed to the tell tale thump of a body information from sentences that are better off left simple and clean. falling to the floor.
“T
Reaper Man Alters Perceptions of Reality
Pratchett’s book reaps praise for its unique portrayal of life, death, and everything in between. Victoria Wang Staff Writer
In your mind, picture Death. No, really—a moving skeleton wearing robes of absolute darkness? Wields a scythe, leads the dead to…well, death? Now picture him wearing a straw hat and overalls and harvesting a field of corn. Reaper Man, by Terry Pratchett, is a beautifully satirical fantasy that begins with Death being fired by his no-nonsense bosses for “becoming a personality.” Finally able to spend some time of his own, he becomes an old woman’s live-in farmhand and learns to reap things other than souls. Things are less than perfect, though. With the dead not dying, chaos and confusion abound, causing general unrest, particularly for people like Windle Poons, a crotchety old wizard who finally had something to look forward to after 130 years—dying. But death without Death was even drabber, so the wizard becomes a zombie. Reincarnation was proving to be different from his expectations. In order to get the fresh start he’s been waiting for, Poons sets out with a band of other assorted undeads to get to the bottom of the mystery. Meanwhile, Death gears up to face his replacement employee—the New Death. Reaper Man is, as Kirkus Reviews said, “philosophical humor of the highest order.” The flow and organization of plot are neat and seamless despite the jumping from character to character, which is worth remarking for a satire. Also, each additional reading adds insight and understanding. A clever writing style, hilarious circumstances, and adorable characters conceal light-hearted satire; and light-hearted satire conceals deep contemplation of nearly everything that makes us human. These many tiers of understanding are what have made Terry Pratchett’s books loved worldwide. As the reader comes to see, Reaper Man is a book of contrasts. It can make people
laugh and cry at the same time. Bitterness is intermingled with sweetness. Through the experiences of the dead and Death himself, Pratchett tells a powerful story about Life. The main point of the book seems to be that death is merely another form of life. And there can’t be life without the other life—death. Personality or not. Like most of Terry Pratchett’s books, Reaper Man takes place on Discworld, a parallel world which is flat and supported on the backs of four elephants that stand on the shell of a giant turtle. The Discworld series can be read in any order, but recurring elements and characters are woven into the books to add depth to the dimension. Discworld has won Terry Pratchett numerous awards and a knighthood from the British Empire. He has been compared to Geoffrey Chaucer, J. R. R. Tolkien, and Mark Twain. With a sly sense of humor, a wondrous imagination, and an iron grip on human nature, Pratchett breathes life into his world of magic and adventure, mirroring Earth in order to provide a fresh look at ourselves.
The storyline, or lack thereof, is a hectic ride between the subplots of Billy’s life, switching from villains with vials of acid to phone operators selling Mammoth’s LifeLike Mustaches. Though not as clear of a plot as most would probably like, it clearly projects the mood of feeling lost, feeling alone, and the feeling of searching for your place in the world. In the small and fragile world of Billy, The Boy Detective Fails will change your view of the unknown and let you reach out to the bitterness of life. Joe Meno is also the author of Hairstyles of the Damned and Demons in the Spring.
SPORTS
February 11, 2011 • THE ARROW
15
Mixing It Up With the Boys
3 Seniors Sign Letters of Intent
Brian Danziger
Jacob Cavanah Tucker Higgins
Staff Writer
Sports Editors
Three star offensive players took part in the National Signing Day held Feb. 3. Nelson Spruce ‘11 chose the University of Colorado at Boulder. “After talking to Coach Embree about the new staff and what he was going to bring to Colorado, I knew I wanted to be a part of it. Also, it was my goal to play in the Pac-12, and with the CU joining next year, it was the opportunity I was looking for,” Spruce explained. “I’m excited about starting the next step in my football career. It has always been my dream to play Division I football, and now that it is finally here, it is a great feeling,” said Spruce. Once he has started to practice with the team, Spruce will have to adapt to a new system and level of play. Even though he is going to have to make some adjustments to his new playing environment, Spruce is looking forward to the next chapter. Spruce—with his great assets, such as, “great hands, tremendous work ethic, outstanding athletic ability—is humble, willing to compete, and intelligent,” said Coach Jim Benkert. After two outstanding seasons as the Warriors’ starting quarterback, Nick Isham ’11 recently committed to Louisiana Tech University. When asked what the deciding factor was in choosing Louisiana Tech over other competitive colleges, Isham said, “I took everything into consideration when making my decision. One of the deciding factors is my potential for playing early at LTU.” In addition to the appeal of Louisiana Tech’s football program, the school’s campus seemed to give Isham a welcoming feel, he said. “The players and coaches, the people around the area, and the location were sides of LTU that I truly liked,” said Isham. Isham is looking forward to taking his skills as an athlete and a leader to the next level next season as a Bulldog. Lastly, running back Tavior Mowry ‘11 elected to attend University of California Davis. “I chose Davis because of everything. It’s the complete package, best in education you can get, and competitive football. I’m going to a school that can actually take me somewhere in both aspects,” explained Mowry about his decision. The fact that the university is in California is also a positive factor that affected Mowry’s decision. What Mowry is excited for is to be utilized more while he is playing. He wants to be a more dynamic player, rather than just a one-dimensional running back. These three playmakers are highly anticipating the chance to succeed in football at the next level.
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photos by steven paro
DRIBBLE AND DRIVE: Adrian Powditch works to get around a T.O. defender.
Boys Unable
to
Bounce Back
Donahue will petition to participate in the playoffs.
Jacob Cavanah Sports Editor
Unable to secure a spot in post-season play, boys basketball will petition to play in CIF playoffs. The team had physical advantages to build on this year, but also aspects they needed to work on. “We were very tall, so we tried to get it inside quite a bit, and we had some pretty good TRIBE LOYALTY: Taylor Tattersall is greeted by fellow junior, Casey Ryan, after he was introc h e m i s t r y , ” duced in the starting line up in the home game against T.O. said Coach Tom Donahue. Still Donahue notes, “We Against Agoura on Feb. 3, Coyotes. could have shot better. We had an the Warriors’ starting point guard At halftime, the Warriors inability to score points.” Brennan Walker ‘11 suffered a were up against a 20 plus deficit, For players who have knee to the head and a concussion. and then rallied in the second shined this season, Adrian He has two broken bones in his half. Powditch ‘11 said, “I feel Blake face, an injury that caused him to Even though they were able Reed ’11 has stepped up on the miss the remainder of the games. to cut down the Coyotes lead to offensive end, adding a lot of In the following game, only nine points, they were not strength and scoring.” This is Michael Topper ’11 took on the able to get the game under their Reed’s first year on the Warriors responsibility of the starting point control, and ended up losing. basketball team, since moving guard position. The Warriors will have to from Northern California. His In that game, which was the wait to see if the season will be size and athleticism has proven to last home game of the season extended. be valuable for the Warriors this and senior night, the Warriors “One never knows what the season. were defeated by the Calabasas tide will bring,” said Donahue.
In the News Wrestling Shane Laguna: Marmonte League Champion Nathan Kidd: Marmonte League Champion
Girls’ Tennis Sivan Krems: All-County girls’ tennis team, Marmonte League MVP, & The Star’s Girls’ Tennis Player of the Year Award
Girls’ Golf
Lauren Diaz-Yi: All County girls golf team & The Star’s girls golfer of the year
Boys’ Water Polo
Nick Doder: Team MVP & All-League first team
Most of society thinks of wrestling as a male dominated sport, but that did not stop Elisa Hernandez ‘12 and Catherine February 11,from 2011making • THE Athe RROW Soltero ‘12 team and competing with the guys. Both girls agree that it takes hard work and determination to wrestle at a high level. Wrestling is a very physical and strenuous sport; it takes a lot of courage to get involved in it. Hernandez had the initial idea of wrestling with the boys and then she convinced Soltero to join the team as well. As the only two girls on the wrestling team, they must work harder and have a strong will to win. They both have a passion for wrestling but have different views about the sport. “I get injured a lot, but it’s just part of the game,” Soltero said. Hernandez believes that you do not get injured that often. Even though they have differing opinions it takes a lot of guts to go out for the wrestling team among all boys. Hernandez at one point considered soccer but in the end decided that wrestling was the right sport for her. Most girls can’t take the grind of the sport but Hernandez is different. Coach Cuccia stated, “They either love it or hate it; most end up leaving.” Hernandez is one of the few who stuck with it and despite having to work harder than the others, Hernandez is treated like just another determined wrestler. The reason Hernandez pursued wrestling was to try her best to play in college. Hernandez believes there are positive and negatives for being a girl on the wrestling team. For example, Hernandez said, “I get more attention if I win but other teams don’t really care and respect us when we step on the mat.” Hernandez and Soltero work as hard as they possibly can but “sometimes comes up short on strength, so they have to work harder on their technique,” said Cuccia. Despite the strength disadvantage both Soltero and Hernandez square off with each other for spots on JV and varsity and give all they have.
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SPORTS
16
February 11, 2011 • THE ARROW
Girls Water Polo Places 2nd, Earns CIF Playoff Spot Stephanie Kim Staff Writer
PHOTO BY STEVEN PARO
Girls’ varsity water polo won 5-4 against Newbury Park on Feb. 8, earning second place in Marmonte League with 9-3 in league, the highest rank a WHS polo team has ever received. With this achievement the girls advance to CIF. WHS girls’ polo ranks in the top five teams of Ventura County by the The Star. The Daily News ranks the WHS girls water polo team in the top ten teams in the greater area of Los Angeles. The new season brought in various changes in the varsity team, with a new coach, Marty Matthies, teaming up with Coach Farhad Ghaemi to lead the girls into higher-scoring victories and greater expectations this season. “Our new coach Marty is really helping us. He has challenged us in many ways, from swim sets to plays we run in games. He offers a different point of view from our coach, Farhad,” said varsity set guard and driver, Stephanie Barlev ‘12. Additionally, the varsity team has an influx of talented underclassmen this year. The team consists of only four seniors and three juniors, the other half consisting of sophomores and one freshman. Katie Wetherwax ‘11 leads varsity as co-captain. Initially, the girls were hesitant to believe in the potential of the relatively young team, since last year’s standout seniors Amy LeFevre ‘10 and Jeanette Pasche ‘10 graduated and since co-captain
Flick of the Wrist: Bri Johnson slings one at the goal during the team’s win against T.O.
Savannah Miller ‘12 injured her shoulder, but the victories in games and tournaments proved them wrong. The Mistletoe Classic on Dec. 3-4 also proved this season’s strength as they surpassed the bar set by last year’s team. The girls came in second place for
the varsity team, exceeding all previous rankings of the WHS water polo girls. With double the support and guidance, the varsity girls now head into post-league play and remain confident in their goals, aiming to accomplish what previous teams have not.
Varsity’s set and youngest player, Katie Lang ’14 describes how closely knit the team is, with Ghaemi focusing on teamwork and Marty drilling the girls in skill rather than aggression. “Farhad is big on teams. Even when punished, we take it as a team,” said Lang about Ghaemi’s discipline and goal of creating a tightly integrated team of 14 different players. Known for aggression and bruises, girls water polo is focusing on talent rather than brute strength this season with Matthies’ direction. An additional strength the team has this year is the bonding the girls have had, allowing them to play with comfort and encouragement. “This year’s team is really close, closer than any other team we have had. In the water, we critique each other, offer advice, and even beat each other up without anyone getting offended. The team bonding we have done this year has really helped the team’s vibe,” said Barlev. The 2011 season’s team has surpassed every barrier presented to them this winter season. “What I love about this team is that every bar that I have set for them this season they have met and have forced me to set my bars higher and higher,” said Ghaemi. “As a coach it is exciting to have a group of girls that strive to be the best they can be day in and day out. I hope to maintain or better our standing in league and surpass the bar set by last year’s team in the playoffs.”
Girls Soccer to Play in Post-Season Stephanie Kim Staff Writer
Courtesy Photo
By finishing in the top three of the Marmonte League, the girls’ soccer team has earned a playoff spot and will continue its season in CIF competition. Despite varsity’s loss against Calabasas, 2-1 on Feb. 8, the team played a notable final game last night. The last game of the season took place at Moorpark High on Feb.10. The outcome of the game played yesterday determined the champions of Marmonte League. The home game against Agoura High last week, Feb. 3, gained a victory for WHS as the varsity girls won 1-0. Agoura was pushed down to second in league as WHS placed first.
Coach Frank Marino led the players to a notable successful season. Preparing the girls for “the most crucial games,” Marino “pushes and motivates [the team] to accept nothing less than the best,” said center defense player, Sarah Duffy ’12. Chloe Wheeler ’11, varsity center back since freshman year, scored her first goal in high school soccer during the game against T.O. on Jan. 28. Always a defense player on high school teams, Wheeler never had the opportunity to score. “I just remember the moment the ball hit the net so clearly because I have really never been that overjoyed on the field,” said Wheeler. “It felt good to have my teammates cheering for me and congratulating me because they understood how bad I have wanted to score since freshman year.”
Balancing Act: Damon Laguna completes his circle routine on the pommel horse.
Laguna Earns 1st for Victory Team Maxwell Avruch Freelance Writer
PHOTO BY STEVEN PARO
Front Runner: Arielle Ship attacks Agoura’s defense, leading WHS to victory.
Damon Laguna ’13 won the first place “All-Around” Gymnastics title at the West Coast Team Challenge in Bakersfield, representing the Individual Victory Gymnastics Boys team. Along with the other members from Laguna’s Victory Gymnastics Academy, a total of 223 gymnasts from 15 gyms in California and Nevada competed at the West Coast Team Challenge competition on Jan. 13. The boys’ team defended its title as Optional Team Champions, which included skill levels 8 to 10, the highestlevel gymnasts. Through their sweep of all six events— floor exercise, pommel horse, rings, vault, parallel bars and high bar—the Individual Victory Gymnastics team became the first time a single gym won all six events in challenge history. “I practice 20 hours each week, I do an hour per week private lesson with my coach, and I train an hour and a half four days per week with my strength and conditioning coach, Coach Ronny Camacho,” said Laguna. Ever since Laguna was in kindergarten
he has been practicing gymnastics. Following in his brother Shane Laguna’s ‘11 footsteps, Laguna “hopes to compete at the Junior Olympic National Championships, and again at the Olympic Training Center.” “My coach is my biggest inspiration. Coach Ray Jiang was on the Chinese National Team. He’s a great coach, who’s nationally renowned and like family to me,” said Laguna. Laguna credits his successful performance in the “All-Around” category at the West Coach challenge to his coach. Laguna said that he would love to obtain a gymnastics scholarship to a university. “My favorite parts are training with my teammates and traveling to competitions. I have been to competitions all over California, Nevada and Arizona. I’ve also been to Ohio, Hawaii and Colorado. A highlight was competing last summer at the U.S. Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs. I competed against former and current Olympians. My least favorite parts have been the inevitable injuries and rehab to get back to training,” said Laguna. Laguna’s next competition will take place in Las Vegas along with his teammates from the Victory Gymnastics Academy.