02.08.13

THE

ARROW

VOLUME XXXV, ISSUE 5

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

FEBRUARY 8, 2013

COURTESY PHOTO

TEAM REPEATS AS

Harry Chung Staff Writer

ACA DECA CHAMPS

After successfully winning second place in Sacramento at the State level last year, the WHS Academic Decathlon Team has a chance to compete in the state competition again this year.

The team members competed in the Ventura County competition on Jan. 12 and Feb. 2 at Pacifica High School, and learned of their first place victory at the awards ceremony on Feb. 4.

Due to the high number of competitors, Ventura County Aca Deca was split into two different conferences: a more competitive Red Conference for Team A and Blue Conference for Team B. Overall, WHS Team A won first place and Oxnard’s Team A won second.

In an upset victory, WHS Team B won third place overall, beating out Team As from rivals like Thousand Oaks and Oxnard.

There was a bit of suspense and uncertainty at the end of the Super Quiz portion of the competition (Oxnard High School was beating Westlake by one point in the unofficial results). After all the scores were tallied, WHS scored a victory beating out Oxnard High School.

Many competitors scored high individually. First-time decathlete Daniel Eaton

‘13 won the honor of being the highest scoring decathlete, accumulating the highest Honors score for both Red Conference and the whole competition.

Caleb Stokols ‘13 also achieved the highest overall Scholastic score. Lily Wang ‘13 scored highest for the Blue Conference.

Alternates, or competitors who are not on a specific team, performed strongly too. Kevin Shi ‘14 was the highest alternate scorer in four topics: interview, math, economics, and science. Sabrina Shenker ‘15 was the highest in three: speech, art, and literature. Vladimir Kremenetski ‘14 was the highest alternate scorer for music.

“I was happy for the opportunity to compete with such a wonderful team, and I owe any personal successes to my teammates,” said Eaton.

The members have been working hard for the past few months, intensively studying a range of Russia-related subjects, from Russian economics to Russian literature, and they attribute their success to their ability to work together.

“It’s exciting to know that all of our hard work this past year paid off! Personally, I’m

happy that all the hours of sleep thateat I lost didn’t go to waste, but it’s even better to know that everyone put in lots of effort for this, and that’s why we were able to do as well as we did,” said Team A competitor Lily Chen ‘13.

This recent victory is a testament to how much the team has developed. In past competitions, WHS was always runner-up to Oxnard High School. As last year and this year’s results show, however, WHS is more than capable of winning the Ventura competition and moving on to the State championship.

“I’m pleased to see the program grow over the years. We have recruited some excellent individuals,” said Aca Deca coach Joe Nigro.

The team may have won the Ventura County competition, but their journey is not over. They will compete in the state championship in Sacramento from March 14 -17.

Nigro has high expectations for his team and expects them to keep up with the good work.

“After State, I’m hoping for a three-peat,” said Nigro.

The team looks to beat last year’s state record by clinching a first place win this spring.

THE AWARDS -1st Place Math Red Conference -1st Place Language and Literature Red Conference -1st Place Economics Red Conference -1st Place Science Red Conference -1st Place Art Red Conference -1st Place Music Red Conference -2nd Place Social Science Red Conference -2nd Place Super Quiz Red Conference -3rd Place Essay Red Conference -2nd Place Math Blue Conference -2nd Place Art Blue Conference -3rd Place Super Quiz Blue Conference -3rd Place Language and Literature Blue Conference -3rd Place Economics Blue Conference -3rd Place Science Blue Conference -3rd Place Social Science Blue Conference

The following students won awards in individual categories: Gaby Breiter, Lily Chen, Justin Green, Jessie Guo, Alex Loh, Eric Kuecks, Paul Kwon, Maron Pettes, Vladimir Kremenetski, Conor Richards, Hannah Rios, Steve Robinson, Matt Schmidt, Sabrina Shenker, Kevin Shi, Caleb Stokols, Rei Vardi, Lily Wang, Alex Wolff

Snyder finishes season with Coach of the Year honor Brian Chang

Editor-in-chief

in this issue Page 2 Mock Trial

Page 5 Doppelgangers

Snyder, Gloria Rios, parents, our team and my wife Sheryl.”

“While Coach Snyder values winning, he puts character above all else,” said Scott. “He instills traits such as humility, respect, and honor.”

Snyder is also nominated for State Coach of the Year.

Results will be announced in spring.

COURTESY PHOTO

After leading arguably the most successful Cross Country team to state champions, Coach Joe Snyder was recently named the CIF-Southern Section’s Fall Coaches of the Year by the California Coaches’ Association.

Snyder has been the head coach of the Cross Country team for 17 years, leading the team to postseason competition in 11 seasons.

Principal Ron Lipari did not hesitate to praise Snyder’s recent award. “Coach

Snyder is a great role model for our students, and runs an excellent running program,” he said. “He and his coaching staff work tirelessly to provide the best possible Cross Country program for boys and girls.”

In November of last year, the boys Cross Country team won the state title at Fresno, the first time in team history. Its previous best finish was sixth place, in 2008.

Snyder had many to thank for his recognition. “This award [I have to thank] Mr. Lipari, Bennett Wutkee, Jim Benkert, Ellen Hellman, the coaching staff—Chad Scott, Troy Burns, Joey

JOE SNYDER, named this year’s Coach of the Year, holds his CIF Cross-Country trophy after his team’s victory at State.

Page 8-9 Valentine’s Day

Page 14 Wrestling

2

NEWS

THE ARROW

FEBRUARY 8, 2013

Mock Trial to argue hit-and-run case

Monday and Thursday night, and three hour practices every Saturday morning.

Pretty soon we’ll be moving to all day and all weekend practices as the competition date approaches,” stated Liu.

Ryan Cheng Staff Writer

ACT test day coming up

The next ACT test will be administered on Feb. 9. For those taking the test, make sure to bring the admission ticket and a photo ID to the designated test center by 8:00 a.m. on test day.

Also, be sure to bring several No. 2 pencils, an eraser, and a calculator for the math section.

Science Olympiad prepares for competition

New Club Interest Meeting approaching There will be a New Club Interest Meeting on Feb.12. If you are interested in starting a new club at WHS, make sure to attend this meeting in 31L at lunch to find out more information.

Science classes to visit Aquarium of the Pacific

National English Honor Society comes to WHS The National English Honor Society is coming to WHS. An organizational meeting was held on Feb. 7 at lunch in 42M. English teacher Lynne Kelsey is organizing the chapter.

Founded and sponsored by Sigma Tau Delta, NEHS is the only national organization exclusively for high school students who are interested in the field of English.

Senior chosen as Discus Awards finalist Ethan Reul ‘13 has been selected as a 2012-2013 Discus Awards finalist and will be eligible to win scholarships from Discus Awards partners.

The Discus Awards is a nation-wide high school recognition program that honors students who prove themselves unique by excelling in any three of ten categories, including academics, arts, athletics, government, service, and technology.

“I feel so honored to be recognized for this scholarship,” said Reul.

Despite losing many seniors who contributed positively to the team, the new members have done a good job of The Case filling their shoes.

This year’s “We’re happy case centers on that the new a hit-and-run members have accident in which MOCK TRIAL team scrimmaged against Riverside High School’s team to prepare for the Ventura adjusted to their Adrian Vega, the County competition to be held Feb. 25-26. roles in Mock Trial son of Hidden Valley’s mayor, hit bicyclist Cameron The officer, if this situation were presented, and we’re really happy to have them on the Douglas at the intersection of Skyline and would have needed to state Vega’s Miranda team,” said Liu. rights before he interrogated Vega.

Grand.

Hieronimus Loho ‘14, one of the new The prosecution will argue that Vega, members, has already become comfortable who was texting while driving, ignored The Preparation with adding Mock Trial to his busy a stop sign and injured the victim before Attorneys and witnesses have been schedule. fleeing. Witnesses testify that Vega was meticulously going over questions and “I expected Mock Trial to be similar wearing the same clothing and drove the cases, in anticipation of challenging to the trial scenes in “Law and Order.” same car as the perpetrator. questions.

However, that was not the case,” said Loho.

The defense will argue that it was, in “Obviously we would love to go to “Mock Trial is much more representative of fact, foreign exchange student Toni de Luca state like the team did two years ago, but how actual courts run and they abide by who struck Douglas. They claim that he as of right now, all we are focusing on is the the same routines and procedures. No one was wearing similar clothing and driving Ventura County competition,” said Nancy just yells out a random ‘Objection, your the same car; additionally, the victim had a Liu ‘13. honor!’” concussion, making him unfit to recognize Adviser Ashley Tomkins and attorney Another new member, Johnny the offender during the time of the accident. coaches Julia Snyder, Catherine Barrad, Samii ‘14, is also excited for the season.

The pretrial involves the Fifth and Mark Jessee commit two evenings each “I’m looking forward to the upcoming Amendment and the court case Miranda week to help the team practice and prepare competition against other schools; it’s v. Arizona and debates whether the for competition. a whole different experience when the circumstances required police interrogation.

“We have two hour practices every pressure is on,” he stated.

Donʼt let the flu get to you the best way to prevent disease from spreading. Make sure to wash your hands with warm water and soap for at least 20 Keep survival kits packed full of seconds for the anti-bacterial material in lozenges and hand sanitizer at the ready the soap to take effect. as the seasonal flu makes its rounds Another good way to avoid the flu throughout the school. Students are is getting the vaccine shot. It significantly already lining up in the office, each with reduces your chances of getting the flu a checkout slip in one hand and a box of by strengthening your immune system tissues in the other. against the flu.

The flu season typically starts in Both the common cold and the flu November and may end as late as April. are caused by viral infections.

Unfortunately, the flu is extremely The cold is less severe than the contagious and spreads very easily, and flu, only lasting around four days and someone who has it can unwittingly causing runny noses, sore throats, and a transmit the disease to a mild cough. During this person standing up to ten time, be sure to get rest ash your feet away. and avoid contact with hands a lot, School is the perfect people because the cold eat healthy setting for the virus to spreads easily. foods, get plenty of thrive. A classroom is often The flu infects rest, and exercise. jam-packed with students the respiratory system sitting close to each other. and causes high fever, -Annette Kessler, health clerk During a typical day coughing, headaches, and at school, students are sore muscles. involved with many social Because both of and physical interactions that put them in these viruses are spread by air-borne harm’s way of obtaining this unpleasant transmission, it is important to wash your sickness. If the flu is not treated properly, hands to get rid of these germs. it may become life-threatening, and a If you are currently sick, here are pandemic might break out. three helpful tips to speed up your WHS health clerk Annette Kessler recovery: eat zinc lozenges, consume offered advice for staying healthy during honey, and drink hot tea. the flu season: “Wash your hands a lot, Zinc lozenges have been proven eat healthy foods, get plenty of rest, and to reduce the duration of the common exercise.” cold. Meanwhile, the viscosity of honey Maintaining a balanced diet, getting will coat your sore throat and relieve the the healthy eight to nine hours of sleep pains. According to a study, sick people every night, and keeping physically who sip a hot beverage for at least ten active for at least an hour a day can go a minutes see a decrease in coughing, sore long way towards staying in good health. throat, runny nose, and sneezing.

The most essential and helpful So during this flu season, make sure habit, however, is washing your hands. It to keep in good health and if you miss significantly reduces the risk of catching school, be sure to make up any work you germs and bacteria, and it is by far had missed.

Danielle Cortes

PHOTO BY LAUREN CHIN

Marine Science and AP Environmental Science classes will visit the Aquarium of the Pacific in Long Beach on Feb. 12.

Those who attend will be given a hands-on approach to studying marine and coastal environments.

In addition to touring discovery labs in the galleries, such as Tropical Pacific, Northern Pacific, Baja California, Shark Lagoon, and Lorikeet Forest, the Marine Science students will participate in a class called Frozen. Meanwhile, Environmental Science students will participate in the Finding a Balance lab.

New Members

COURTESY PHOTO

WHS Science Olympiad will compete in the Division C Invitational tournament at Troy High School in Fullerton, CA on Feb. 9.

The Science Olympiad team, comprised of 15 members, has studied together on multiple occasions in the Thousand Oaks Library and is hard at work preparing for their competitions.

The individuals and teams compete in two to three of 23 different events.

The club will be competing at the regional competition on Feb. 23 at Occidental College, Pasadena. If the team does well, it will move on to the state competition on April 13 at Canyon High School in Anaheim.

In an attempt to duplicate the success they had in competition two years ago competing at the State level, the members of the WHS Mock Trial team are working hard to prepare for the annual Ventura County Mock Trial competition to be held from Feb. 25 to Mar. 1.

Staff Writer

W

RACHEL HOWE will represent WHS at Girls State over the summer

Howe to attend Girls State Vivian Hu

Managing Editor Rachel Howe ‘14 has been chosen as the WHS Girls State representative and will attend Girls State this summer from June 17-22.

Girls State, a summer program hosted at Claremont McKenna College, was founded in 1937 and focuses on giving participants an experience in the daily lives of legislators.

During the week-long program, girls learn about governmental processes and the duties, privileges, rights and responsibilities of citizenship in the United States.

In addition to learning about government policies and citizenship, attendees also have the chance to run for office and create a mini government among themselves.

“Rachel is such a talented, well-rounded, and accomplished individual. She has so many achievements to be proud of, yet she still possesses a rare humbleness and integrity of character that make her so perfect for Girls State,” said Grace Ng ‘13, last year’s Girls State representative.

Howe is excited to attend the session.

“I think it will be a really good experience for me to bring back to our leadership class at school,” she said.

OPINION

3

THE ARROW

FEBRUARY 8, 2013

Coming of age or

coming of praise?

Yangzong Guo Opinion Editor

Put off the touch-ups Michelle Noyes Feature Editor

We all know the warnings our parents drill into our heads before we start the car: "don’t text and drive," "no talking on the phone," or "turn down the music."

“Don’t apply makeup” is not a typical warning. But, girls, have you ever put on that extra swipe of lip gloss in the driver’s seat? Fixed your hair again? Checked to see if your eyeliner was even?

Makeup only takes three seconds to apply while behind the steering wheel, but that’s more than enough time for an accident to happen. The few seconds saved isn’t worth the risk of getting into an accident.

Applying makeup while driving is the same as texting while driving because

it takes your attention off the road. Your appearance can wait until you get to your destination safely.

A 2012 law for the state of California authorizes highway patrol to issue tickets for various distractions. The driver can be ticketed just by of changing the stereo or applying makeup and not paying attention to driving. This April is the third annual National Distracted Driving month. More officers will be patrolling the roads to hand out tickets to drivers.

Looking in the car mirror instead of the road is unnecessary and distracting. It may even result in a vehicle accident on an unlucky day.

Motor vehicle crashes are the leading ways teenagers are killed. According to KeeptheDrive.com, “an average of 11 teens die every day in preventable car crashes.”

Washington Post said that “the same three mistakes were at the root of 57% of crashes at least partially caused by teens in their first month of licensed driving [...]: failing to slow down, failing to yield and a lack of attention.”

About 3% of women have been involved in an auto accident while driving and applying makeup at the same time.

Of these, 75% of them are 26 years old and younger.

In addition to the safety issue, already expensive car insurance for teenagers can potentially go up $100 to $200 a year after only a single accident. To stay completely safe, do not try to multi-task while operating a car.

A simple, quick look into the mirror may be the last time you ever see your own reflection.

Time for state to see profits from legalization Christian Coates Staff Writer

COURTESY PHOTO

A recent analysis of the American Freshman survey, which has accumulated data for the past 47 years from nine million young adults, reveals that college students in this generation are more narcissistic than those of any other generation.

The survey reports that students are more likely than ever to call themselves gifted and hardworking, even though their test scores and time spent studying say otherwise.

“Our culture now emphasizes feeling good almost as much as actual success,” says Dr. Jean Twenge, a psychologist and author of the book Generation Me. According to research done by Twenge and her colleagues, the more confident students were on their writing abilities, the worse they did on the writing portion of the SAT. Despite a library’s worth of selfhelp books that claim that having confidence can solve all of life’s problems, there is little evidence that self-esteem produces positive, real-world results; quite the contrary, in fact.

We live amongst an educational culture that is increasingly reluctant to punish failure, while grade inflation, receiving higher grades for less effort, remains rampant across American schools.

“A third of high school students graduate with an A average, even though standardized test performance is unchanged or down and students actually study for fewer hours than they once did,” Twenge writes. “Students are getting better grades for less work, which is probably one reason why they feel so confident.”

However, youth narcissism is not only confined to academics; young people are becoming more narcissistic in their social lives as well.

Twenge warns that narcissists lack empathy, are overly sensitive to criticism, and favor themselves over others. As a result, they lead pretty miserable lives because they cannot build or maintain healthy relationships with others.

The tendency toward narcissism is increased mainly by media and technology. On Facebook, young people trick themselves into believing that they have hundreds of “friends.” They put up flattering pictures of themselves, delete unfriendly comments, and post what they deem to be clever statements in order to boost their selfesteem.

Even worse is the micro blogging website, Twitter. People believe that they are actually worth “following” and have real life fans. They constantly look to increase their following count and gain false fame.

Using computer games, people can pretend that they are world champion boxers or 15th century assassins.

This is partly the reason why most teenagers would rather stay in their dim rooms playing video games than go outside and enjoy real life.

Fortunately, narcissism may decrease with time. Even Arnold Schwarzenegger isn’t flashing the six pack abs he had in his prime.

But no study has shown that narcissism decreases with age yet—for that, you’d need a longitudinal study following people as they age. For now, we can only hope that life will be a good cure for narcissism.

OFF TO BATTLE: Many women are pleased to learn that they may now serve combat roles.

Females free to fight Ethan Reul

Layout Administrator In an ever-changing world, society is often forced to adapt to meet the demands of modern times. Recently, this change came in the form of a great leap forward for women’s rights: Defense Secretary Leon Panetta repealed the ban of women from combat roles in the military.

While there are concerns about this new development, as there often are when great change occurs, it is important to consider the societal impact this could have and the benefits this could lend to society as a whole.

Historically, women have often been placed in support roles in combat or prevented from participation entirely. In today’s world, despite the ban, women play a vital role in military procedure, to the point where Sgt. Jennifer Hunt claimed that our current view of women is far less prominent in combat as men is “a legal fiction.” Despite this, the way that combat has been portrayed in both the entertainment industry and our own newscasts has led to

sexist societal prejudice that women are not capable of the same strength or “heroism” as men.

Don’t believe me? Look at popular culture for a second opinion. With the exception of the occasional superhero movie, women are rarely placed in action movies for any other reason than to be a love interest. They are equally capable of anything men do in such movies, yet the protagonists are always men because men line up better with society’s view of what an “action hero” is.

But, finally, our society has a chance to change that idea. By allowing women into combat roles, we are paving the way to a more equal America, in which anyone (male or female) has the chance to fight for his or her country. We are fulfilling the ideals that this nation was founded on, a nation in which every person is given the same chance at an opportunity as the next.

By giving women an opportunity to serve their nation on the front lines, we are reassuring ourselves and the world that America is a progressive, forward thinking nation that fights to ensure equality for all.

In last year’s elections, the states of Colorado and Washington legalized marijuana. Despite its illegality, marijuana is still commonly grown in California. This means that the weed business continues to grow and flourish without California’s government reaping any of the tax money.

Should California follow this trend and legalize the substance?

Obviously, there is a huge moral debate over the topic. Do we legalize a drug that could harm our health in hopes of providing a boost to our state economy? Let’s be honest, laws forbidding possession and sale of marijuana have not really proved to be an effective deterrent. In the United States, Drugfree.org found that one in ten high schoolers smoke marijuana at least 20 times every month. Since 2008, the percent of teen smokers has risen 80%, and that is just the people who admit to smoking in a survey.

Evidently, making marijuana illegal for recreational use is not working at all.

Particularly in high school and college, weed is easily accessible.

Marijuana is a strong and growing industry. According to CNN, California law enforcement confiscated just over 3.9 million marijuana plants last year. Legally grown medical marijuana raised over $100 million in taxes.

Economists out there might be wondering, “If we legalized marijuana, how much would that help California get out of massive debt?” It is true, although it may be against our moral principles, that legalizing marijuana would be a huge boost to our state’s economy. Perhaps an extra billion dollars could be raised for the state.

Also, making the drug a legitimate industry would provide jobs for California’s massive population. The state reported a 9.8% unemployment rate in Nov. 2012. The establishment of a whole, huge new industry could potentially provide thousands of jobs for Californians.

4

OPINION

THE ARROW

FEBRUARY 8, 2013

The tough road ahead:

The world asked. He answered. Supporters were appalled. Lance Armstrong finally confessed. But what happens now?

Yangzong Guo Opinion Editor

Fleeing from the flea market Orly Greenberg Feature Editor

Anyone who says they enjoy flea markets is lying. Or is a schizophrenic who in fact sells goods at flea markets. Either way, the accumulation of several hundred people (questionably sane) fighting over antique lamps is the epitome of all that shakes my neurotic Jewish nerves to their very core.

I began my journey with such high hopes. It was mid-August, and school was just around the corner. I had it all planned out. I would strut into school, proudly displaying my new vintage earrings and various brooches.

“Oh these?” I’d say demurely, gesturing towards the finely crafted pins. “I just found them whilst at a flea market. You see, I’m not one for brands.” I would then explain how I came across my accessories; the imagined vendor a young bohemian type with flowing dreadlocks, looking to use his income to start a holistic medicine facility in Uganda.

And with my thrift fantasies in mind, I pulled up to the Rose Bowl Flea Market with a supreme aura of confidence. And at first, all signs pointed to a productive day. The parking lot was packed, assuring me that I was in good thrifting company.

However, finding an entrance proved to be an unexpected challenge. Nearly a quarter of an hour was passed pacing back and forth in front of the barbed wire that separated me from shoppers. In hindsight, I regret not being alarmed at barbed wire’s mere presence.

In my fifteen minutes searching, roughly the same number of workers redirected me to various entrances, none of which came to fruition. I should have taken it as a warning. I should have known. If the employees are trying this hard to keep you out, it’s probably a sign that whatever lies within is nothing short of the worst.

Still, my naïve optimism would not be quashed.

Upon entering, a grim reality settled upon me: flea markets are terrifying. The vendors are not bohemian chic. Their dreadlocks are not endearing. They are very old, very toothless, and very confused. And three-fourths of them were selling what appeared to be vast collections of antique dolls, all missing various limbs.

Those who shop at flea markets are sorted into two distinct breeds.

There are the understated pretty 20 somethings who Instagram their latest purchase—an antique typewriter or perhaps a delicately embroidered scarf. Then there are those who leave with four taxidermied animals, albums filled with pictures from a stranger’s childhood, and dozens of hat stands.

I left disheartened and completely empty handed, save for perhaps a touch of hepatitis. And as for thrifting? I’ve decided that wading through doll limbs just isn’t worth the bragging rights.

ARROW

THE

Oh, RealLY?

Lance Armstrong on January 17 admitted to doping for more than a decade during a cycling career that included seven Tour de France championships.

An estimated 28 million viewers around the world watched Oprah Winfrey’s high-profile interview with cyclist Lance Armstrong on television and online.

On the show, Armstrong answered “yes” to a series of questions by Winfrey about doping and admitted that he didn’t believe that it was “humanly possible” to win the Tour without using banned substances. He admittedly called himself a liar, bully, jerk and even humanitarian.

“I’m a flawed character,” Armstrong said. He said that he will spend the rest of his life trying to make amends and that his fans have every RIDING OFF COURSE: Lance Armstrong has a legacy of lies to make up for. right to feel betrayed.

Armstrong seems to be on the mark as of a Champion,’ ‘The Lance Armstrong people will be willing to forgive him. the debate on his confession begins.

Performance Program,’ and ‘Lance “Everybody has the ability within them to “He’s a liar, and it never stops,” said Armstrong: World’s Greatest Champion.’ rise again. What really matters in the world Kathy LeMond, whose husband Greg In addition, Armstrong claims that he is what kind of human being he chooses to won three Tour titles and later questioned does not think PEDs were responsible for be,” she said.

Armstrong’s success. “I don’t think he’s his cancer.

The future of the LIVESTRONG sorry.”

Jonathan Vaughters, a former foundation is uncertain, but the foundation Someone at a library located in the teammate of Lance Armstrong, testified in has certainly been tarnished by Armstrong’s suburb of Sydney, Australia, was so an affidavit that Armstrong had planned confession. We do not yet know whether outraged by Armstrong’s lie that the to use his cancer as a “card to play” if his Armstrong will remain a villain or become library vowed to move all books about him doping was ever revealed to the public. a hero in the eyes of his fans and the public. to the “fiction” section. The books that were Meanwhile, Oprah believes that One thing is for sure—Armstrong is going moved include ‘Lance Armstrong: Images Armstrong can be a hero again and that to face a tough road ahead.

Editor-in-chief

Brian Chang

Managing Editor Vivian Hu

Graphic Designer Ethan Reul

News Editor Frances Ling

Student frustration rises with increasing AP prices Chris Lam Effective this year, AP tests cost $100, up from $90 last year for WHS students.

While this may not seem like that much of an increase, consider the over-achievers taking five or more APs. That’s an increase of $50 or more, which one could probably use to buy gas, the latest videogame, or a pair of those ridiculously expensive boots.

The College Board, which is also responsible for managing the SAT I and SAT II exams, posted on its website that the price they charge for each exam is $89, with schools providing an $8 rebate per exam, making the current initial cost $81 to the College Board. In response to the College Board’s increased price, WHS also increased its price by $19 to cover proctors, custodial overtime for setting up and taking down the examination room, and other costs. However, on their website, the College Board says nothing about the price increase, giving no explanation or even notice of the fact.

“Personally, I think it has to do with security,” said Assistant Principal of Instruction Nicole Judd. According to her, the College Board hires people during AP testing weeks to scour social media sites and other online sites where cheating may be taking place. Security during the APs is

sensitive, where one student’s possession of a phone during testing threatens the scores of every other student in the room.

Last year, the LA Times reported that Chatsworth High School students were forced to retake some of their AP tests, even after their graduation, after the school came up short on a few test books after they collected the tests, leaving the possibility of cheaters. Similar occurrences happen across the country every year, making increased security a viable reason for increasing prices.

But is it worth it? “It’s ridiculous that we’re spending so much money, and I don’t know where it’s going,” says Baron Wilton ‘15.

AP Physics teacher Scott Holloway, whose senior students registered last week and whose junior students will register for their exams soon, admits the price is expensive, but “there’s the value of studying for an exam, learning how to learn, which will prepare them [the students] for how college will be. It’s a one lunch difference. Ask yourself if you can skip lunch to take an AP.” “If you pass it, and the college accepts the credit, it’s the cheapest college course you can take,” Judd says.

Chris Lam ‘13 is a contributing writer.

Opinion Editor Yangzong Guo

Entertainment Editor Samantha Doctrow

Feature Editors Woody Chung, Orly Greenberg, David Huang, Hanyi Huang, Stacey Kane, Liz Mossessian, Michelle Noyes, Julia Shi

Sports Editors Shayna Kudler, Tara Spencer

Advertising Managers Nicolette Blatt, Lauren Chin, Kelli DaRin

Staff Writers Ryan Cheng, Heidi Chiu, Michelle Choi, Harry Chung, Christian Coates, Danielle Cortes, Matt Donovan, Victoria Wang

Adviser Caron Battaglia The Arrow is written, designed and run by the students of the Advanced Journalism and Journalism 1CP classes at Westlake High School and is published monthly.

The opinions expressed in this publication are those of the writers and do not necessarily represent those of the Conejo Valley Unified School District, Westlake High School administration, faculty, or student body. We welcome feedback. Letters must be signed by the writer. Please send submissions to Mrs. Battaglia’s box in the main office or to Room 42E.

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CONTACT US! Scan the link to find us on Facebook, or email us at: westlakearrow@gmail.com

Feature

5

The Arrow

February 8, 2013

Double Take WHS students show off their celebrity doppelgangers.

All celebrity photos are courtesy photos. Student photos by Shayna Kudler.

Chord Overstreet featured in the television show Glee

Erik Neece ‘15

“In eighth grade a girl told me I looked like Chord Overstreet and I have received it ever since. It’s a pretty cool to look like a celebrity,” said Neece.

Chiara Wolff ‘13 Whitney Port from the reality show The Hills “It is weird that not only do I look like her, but we have the same birthday,” said Wolff.

Psy, known for his hit song “Gangnam Style”

Nathan Noh ‘13

“I don’t mind being compared to a guy who has millions of dollars and can call girls sexy ladies, while screaming at their butts without getting slapped in the face,” said Noh.

Olivia Wilde from the show House

Auria Williams ‘13

“A lot of people ask me if I know who Olivia Wilde is and tell me how I could be her twin,” said Williams.

Oliver Cooper from the movie Project X

Michael Safady ‘14

“Do I really look like the guy from Project X?” said Safady.

Julia Empey ‘15

Jamie-Lynn Spears played Zoey in the show Zoey 101

“I don’t know what people see that makes me comparable to JamieLynn Spears. I have been told a lot I look like her so I am used to it,” said Empey.

Students’ similar looks lead to mix up Shayna Kudler Sports Editor

PHOTOS BY SHAYNA KUDLER

With over 2,000 students enrolled at WHS there are bound to be look-a-likes roaming throughout the school.

Samantha Pryor ‘13 and Lindsay Leisure ‘13 have been questioned since their freshman years if they had a twin sister.

With their similar height, hair color, and facial structure, it is easy to see the resemblance.

“I think people mix us up most because of our eyebrows and hair,” said Leisure. Leisure and Pryor have encountered many funny moments in school due to their similar faces and hair. “Before I met Lindsay I was very confused who everyone was talking about. I’ll never forget when Andrew DeMello ‘13 thought I was in his math class the first day of school. Lindsay was in his class not me, so when he waved

TWIN 1 AND TWIN 2: Pryor (left) and Leisure (right) portray an uncanny resemblance.

to Lindsay thinking it was me she didn’t wave back. He was offended, but had not realized it wasn’t me. It was pretty funny telling him we didn’t have math class together and he had mixed up Lindsay and I,” said Pryor.

Leisure’s perspective of the story was just as funny because she had no idea that

Andrew DeMello thought she was Pryor.

“At the beginning of second semester, the person found out I actually wasn’t Samantha because a friend of mine called my name from down the hallway. DeMello looked at my friend questioning her calling me Lindsay,” said Leisure. Pryor and Leisure have had a few classes together and

one teacher had to move them because they had sat next to each other and the teacher would mix them up.

“Any time I hear the name Lindsay being yelled in my direction at school, it is just natural now for me to respond. People always tell me how they mix us up. Lindsay’s friends mistake me for her sometimes and Lindsay and I will always laugh about it later,” said Pryor.

Students tend to get embarrassed when they mistake Leisure for Pryor or Pryor for Leisure. “People walk into class and have full-on conversations with me, thinking I was Samantha. I have to say, ‘Sorry, but I’m not Samantha.’ I’ve tried to be really nice about it because people get really embarrassed,” said Leisure.

Leisure and Pryor are lighthearted about the situation. They enjoy having a look-a-like at school and laugh about it whenever someone mixes them up.

6

THE ARROW

FEATURE FEBRUARY 8, 2013

Kudos!

Seniors nominated for Presidential Scholar award

Keeping your head out of the clouds

Harry Chung Staff Writer

On a day to day basis, teenagers are inundated with technological distractions that decrease productivity. A recent Nielsen survey shows that the average teenage girl sends and receives nearly 4,000 text messages a month. According to MSNBC, 13-24-year-olds spent an average of 16.7 hours online each week. Thanks to smart phones, students have access to social media wherever they go.

It is no surprise that students have a hard time focusing on tasks. Deciding to watch one Youtube video leads to a whole day gone by. Suddenly, the hours that students planned to spend doing schoolwork turn into minutes, and the quality of the work and the understanding of the material rapidly decrease. Luckily, here are some ways to combat distractions: 1. Just try to Stay Focusd When browsing the internet on computers, students can download a free program known as StayFocusd. StayFocusd allows users to block distracting websites and create schedules in which these sites are available. StayFocusd lets the users get specific,

choosing which days and hours to block the sites. Even more, for those who know that such options are not enough and that they will just change settings whenever they want to access restricted material, there is the Nuclear Option, which permanently blocks the indicated websites.

2. Make your to-do list a want-to-do list Many students play role playing games such as Skyrim and World of Warcraft because there is a sense of pride and joy in developing characters in an exciting environment. Apps like EpicWin for iPhone and Task Hammer for Android bring this aspect into the real world by turning real life tasks into quests. Users can set any task as a quest and gain XP for their characters by completing them. For example, finishing math homework can raise ten intellect points. By levelling up their characters as they write their essays or finish their projects, students can become more invested in and focused on the work that they need to do.

3. Explore new environments Studying in the same environment can put students in a rut that triggers distracting behavior. During study breaks at home

teens can form the habit of whipping out the phone and playing Angry Birds. Distracted students can be inclined to watch a movie on Netflix when holed up in their rooms, alone. These bad habits can change when studying in a new environment, such as the library or a local Starbuck’s. For a change, students can study in groups because doing so creates a desire to conform to the rest of the group by focusing as well.

4. Embrace the inner Luddite Sometimes, there is no other option than to purge one’s world of technology. Having easy access to so many stimuli creates a need for instant gratification, and we forget the value of working hard and waiting for results. As technology erodes our self-control, we lose sight of the big picture and the importance of focusing on our tasks, not just academic. By focusing on our tasks, we get better grades. Better grades lead to better opportunities. Better opportunities lead to much more fulfillment than playing Angry Birds. Students who find themselves wasting hours on the internet should try shedding technology little by little when they study. By taking baby steps, they can see how much of a difference studying without distractions can make.

Seniors Harry Bachrach, Vasant Iyer, Nick Jelinek, Eric Kuecks and have been nominated to become one of the 141 Presidential Scholars who will have the opportunity to travel to Washington D.C. to receive one of the most prestigious awards in the nation.

In order to qualify for the program, seniors must score perfect on both the reading and math scores of the SAT. If chosen, these seniors will participate in seminars, cultural events, and workshops with elected officials and representatives.

Stellar athletes sign National Letters of Intent Seniors Lauren Diaz-Yi, Dashon Hunt, Tony Mekari, Arielle Ship, and Michael Wen signed their National Letters of Intent on Feb. 6. With the exception of Ivy League Schools and Military Academies, all other universities are offering scholarships for these spectacular student-athletes.

Diaz-Yi will play golf at the University of Virginia; Hunt will play football at Oregon State University; Tony Mekari will play football at University of California, Berkeley; Arielle Ship will play soccer at the University of California, Berkeley; Wen will swim at the University of Pennsylvania.

Students have until Feb. 20 to turn in their Letters of Intent.

“It is exciting to be committed to UVA on a full golf scholarship,” said Diaz-Yi.

FEATURE FEBRUARY 8, 2013

7

THE ARROW

Youm exhibits revolutionary flexibility Woody Chung Feature Editor

COURTESY PHOTO

Remember those old Nokia phones? Other than making calls and playing Snake, you couldn’t do much else on them. But with these simpler phones came simpler worries. For one matter, they were cheap. And for another, they were as indestructible as the technology could get.

Consider our phones now.

They’re weak. Fragile. In the past, if a salesman pushed for an insurance policy on our old phones, we would have rebuked his devious ploys for our money. But now, it’s the norm to consider the insurance before and expensive phone cases after we buy.

Back then, if our phones crashed onto the pavement, we would have laughed it off with a hearty chuckle, a carefree guffaw.

But now, it’s not rare for an entire FOLDABLE PHONE: Youm screens allow phones and TVs to bend and fold like never before. room to go solemnly silent at the sight of an iPhone free-falling onto a floor.

With normal smartphones, the inflex- with Youm, its new line of lightweight, Ironically, as the technology has sky- ibility of the screen makes it hard for the flexible screens. rocketed, we’ve become tethered by the phones to adapt to their environments.

The key to the Youm screens is OLED task of keeping our devices safe. As our Consequently, when phone meets ground, technology. While traditional LED screens inventions have become increasingly com- ground wins. require multiple layers of glass and plastic plex, it’s become unclear whether we conIn order to maintain flexibility without to emit light, OLED (Organic Light-Emittrol our devices or our devices control us. sacrificing the sleekness that most smart- ting Diodes) is a relatively new innovation Luckily, with the advent of Samsung’s phones are known to feature, a different that requires only a few layers of thin plasYoum screens, we may be able to soon sleep type of screen altogether would be neces- tic. soundly, knowing that our smartphones re- sary..

OLEDs create color through an unmain securely safe.

This is exactly what Samsung created precedented method: It runs electricity

through certain materials that make them glow red, green. and blue (the only colors necessary to create all the different hues of a picture). Because of this new process, OLED screens can function on its few layers of thin plastic, while LED and plasma screens often require multiple layers of heavy plastic and metal.

Furthermore, by no longer requiring a screen backlight to make the colors show up, OLEDs save a considerable amount of battery life.

The thinness and plasticity of the OLED gives Youm the ability to bend while still functioning. Coupled with its featherlike frame (it’s surprisingly only 0.3 mm thick), the adaptability of the screen makes it far sturdier and more protected than the other technologies on the current market.

“As an extreme klutz, I could use something like this,” said Derek Yu ’13, half-jokingly.

The application of these screens could bridge us to the futuristic world of advanced mobile technology.

Imagine being able to stretch and pull and iPhone until it expands to the size of an iPad. Consider the possible future where kneading your phone to the size of a pencil is an everyday practice.

These seemingly far-off possibilities may approach sooner than expected. Korean tech giant Samsung announced that it would develop a new line of Galaxy phones that feature the new Youm screens.

“It’s kind of amazing to see concepts from the likes of science fiction come to real life,” said Sherry Huang ‘13

Tobii or not Tobii

Frances Ling News Editor

The curious case of cryptic cursive Heidi Chiu Staff Writer

EYE SPY: Tobii’s Rex tracks the movements of the user’s eyes, providing another mode of input.

COURTESY PHOTO

What’s the most difficult part about the SAT? ”Writing the agreement in cursive,” joked Sam Hsu ‘13. These standardized tests require a person to copy and sign a sentence of confidentiality in cursive.

Others agree: “I literally spent 10 minutes writing that one sentence,” said John Sottile ‘14.

As the United States transitioned from wooden pencils and pens to computers and smartphones, many traditional practices like cursive started going extinct.

Because schools are becoming more and more digital, many people have not written in cursive since they learned it in elementary school. Children now live in a world where the once-prevalent writing style is considered unnecessary.

Back in colonial times, one’s handwriting showed one’s social class.

Now, people simply compare their iPhones or computer specifications.

Others are just not used to writing

cursive everyday,“ said Sophie Piao ‘15.

“I think it’s pretty! But more often than not, others find it illegible, and I’m more accustomed to printing rather than writing in cursive.”

There are also those who write messily, “My curls and loops don’t come out right,” said Cynthia Hsu ‘16.

The Common Core, a new set of school standards that has been adopted by 46 states, no longer requires cursive.

Some states like Indiana and Hawaii have stopped teaching cursive altogether. Even so, California voluntarily requires cursive for 3rd and 4th grade students.

Despite its loss in power, cursive remains special to some. “I use a modified style of cursive that gives my writing a unique flair. It’s convenient for writing fast, especially with timed essays,” said Jacquelyn Aguilera ‘15.

Even though cursive is fading, people still enjoy the beauty and elegance.

“Deftness in cursive [used to show] wisdom and intelligence, but now it only shows a person with too much time on their hands,” said Jacob Faltemier ‘14.

Tobii, a Swedish technology company that specializes in eye-tracking technology, has developed the Rex, a new eye-tracking hardware and software system that has the potential to one day replace the computer mouse.

The Rex is a computer accessory that attaches to any computer display via a USB stick. Once connected, the system begins with a ten-second calibration that examines the size of your pupils, the glint of your eyes, and the distance between you and the laptop.

With this information, sensors on the laptop create a 3D image of your eyes to help calculate the exact location of your gaze for a more accurate experience.

After the calibration, the eye-tracking begins. The pointer on the screen, however, does not move with your eyes. “The eyetracking only registers when you hit a function key on the keyboard that had been outfitted with a blue-sticker.

“Find an icon, stare at it, hit the blue button,” explained Becky Worley, a Yahoo! reporter that tried the Rex at the CES 2013.

The company has stated that with the Rex, one can zoom, open windows, scroll,

and more. For now, the Rex is designed to be used in conjunction with a keyboard or mouse. Tobii claimed that the system is a faster and more intuitive way to move the mouse pointer around the screen.

Along with speeding up normal computing tasks, the Rex has the potential to reduce several repetitive stress injuries.

“It’s fascinating technology, but I’m a bit reluctant to apotheosize it. Machines are really getting up close and personal, maybe even too close for comfort,” stated Sabrina Shenker ‘15.

Tobii’s eye-tracking technology was originally designed as a research tool and as a communication device for those with disabilities. Now, the company is broadening the applications for their products.

“If this technology can be potentially applied to assist kinetically-impaired individuals, it is entirely worth it, if for only that purpose,” said Shenker.

The developer edition is available for $995 and a slightly different consumer edition will be available for pre-order in the spring for a fall delivery. The developer edition can work on desktops and laptops whereas the consumer edition will only work on desktop PCs. Currently, the Rex can only attach to a Windows 8 machine.

8

FEAT

Every r FEBRUARY

Dating Disasters Teacher Edition

They lived through it. So can you.

I had this boyfriend in high school. We went out for about six months and then he broke up with me. Since he was younger, I could have asked him to prom when I was a senior. But since I wanted revenge, I asked his best friend instead. It was not a fun night.

Lisa Ryder

I dumped my high school girlfriend, Lisa Ryder, and then she asked my best friend to prom.

It was a non-fictitious night.

Saying “RIP” relationships Stacey Kane Feature Editor

Doug Freed

I am so perfect and wonderful, so I have never had a Valentine’s Day disaster. Just call me sweet.

Nancy Bowman

I went out on a first date with this guy to the Emmys.

We ran out of things to talk about before the awards even started and we got there three hours early. And I was really trying!

Ashley Tomkins

Dating is officially dead.

If two people want to get to know each other nowadays, they simply text one another, stalk each other’s Facebook page, or ask their friends to find out the scoop. Sadly, it is extremely rare for someone to walk up to another person and ask him or her to go out on a date. The few times we hear of a couple going out on a date, we applaud them for the romantic and abnormal gesture when in reality, they are doing something that was previously considered the norm.

But why build up the courage to ask someone out on a date, when the anonymous act of texting eliminates the humiliation of rejection? People can find out ahead of time if they like one another enough to continue with the relationship before any physical contact or even meeting.

Maybe high school stu-

dents are not interested in having a relationship. They only want to have fun for the four short years instead of make a commitment that could end badly.

“The people who actually want relationships will ask you out on a date.

Girls can’t expect a guy to ask them out on a date every time if they’re not acting like someone who wants a relationship,” said Erin Roughan ‘13.

What is considered a date though? Some people define a date as a boy picking up a girl at her house, going out to dinner and a movie, and then dropping her off at her house. Others think simply watching a movie at someone’s house is a date.

As Andrew Sherwood ‘14 said, “It’s not a date if the boy doesn’t pay.”

As social media expands, we are more apt to rely on the comfortable instead of take risks. We don’t want to waste our own precious time on someone who isn’t interesting enough, at-

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9

TURE 8, 2013

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Orly Greenberg Feature Editor

ve enough, or smart h. Decisions are made Out with the old and h the new has never more true. n this Valentine’s Day, students will separate wo groups: the takens he singles. or the most part, the students don’t know o truly appreciate their cant other. They have ed to catalog their inle day for the rest of peers on Twitter or Insm. he single students ot any better. Statuses asizing that they are doesn’t attract posittention, but instead es the reasons we all they are single. ltimately, dating tos warped. Physicalng out is obsolete, inreplaced with relationconducted completely gh technology. Though o-face conversation bea couple may be minthey may be in it for ng haul. After all, they cebook official.

go away

We all know the couple.

The one that fights, screams, cheats, hurls insults at each other, only to passionately make up a few moments later (leaned up against your locker, no less).

So with all the superficial, melodramatic feuds, why bother even engaging in a relationship in high school?

The anti-relationship case at WHS is admittedly a good one. They distract from school work. They are often short-lived, and the end of one almost guarantees the end of a friendship (or multiple ones--females in particular are ferociously loyal to freshly single friends).

And if they do last, the result is usually a social life made up entirely of one other person.

Tyler Williams ‘14 says, “you get isolated. A relationship can ruin friendships.”

High school, some may argue, is a place to mature.

Precarious teenage years are to be spent sorting through the future, passions, interests, personal development.

It’s hard to truly come into one’s own while maturing in relation to someone else.

And while unsuccess-

ful relationships provide for a wealth of uncomfortable encounters around campus, lasting couples ultimately face more difficult challenges. Graduation poses a single question to long term pairs: “what now?”

College is meant to be a hopeful new chapter in students’ lives, but the experience can be soured by a bitter high school split.

But then again, I’m a pessimist. So what if a freshman couple embracing in the middle of the hallway blocks traffic flow? Maybe the love they found at 14 is lasting. I mean, it’s not. But stay hopeful regardless.

My point is, there are plenty of reasons to date in high school. It’s fun.

You learn how relationships work, how you react in them, what you like in a partner.

As Rachel Howe ‘14 said, “A relationship is what you remember most about high school. Not staying up until 2:30 studying for chemistry.”

High school relationships need balance. Clingy duos? Not so successful.

However, a pair in which each participant has the free-

Bitter hearts:

dom to do school work, spend time with friends, and turn off his or her phone for the night without fearing their counterpart’s subsequent wrath are those that truly succeed.

Vanessa Cortes ‘14 sums up high school relationships nicely stating, “The people who have [relationships], it’s their own choice. But [the relationships] don’t last long and the people should focus on school more...also, people are kind of immature and don’t know what a meaningful relationship is.”

no cha nce

When Valentine’s Day sours

Orly Greenberg Stacey Kane Feature Editors

Ideally, Sweethearts candies are used on Valentine’s Day as a romantic gesture. In first grade, students were required to bring candy to everyone in their class.

The candy boxes were the great equalizers of elementary school--everyone was made to feel special and loved. From remembering

back up

the kid who sat quietly in the corner indulging in glue to the secret crush who received an extra box of candy, our introductory experiences with romance were a romantic haven.

Well, welcome to the world of high school, where sometimes romantic advances just are not welcome.

But rejecting someone on Valentine’s Day is a delicate process. It requires consideration, kindness, and just a

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little dash of sass.

So what better way is there to reject someone on the day of love than with candy?

That’s why The Arrow has graciously volunteered to help say “no” to your not-so-loved ones.

Suppose your valentine is a temporary solution to your singlehood. Together forever? Not quite. Together for now? Why not!

Or if you just haven’t

? really TRYING HIS HAND IN LOVE: Owen Neary ‘13 stars as cupid.

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met your perfect ten, console yourself with a two.

Hey, at least there’s a digit.

So if your suitors are getting out of hand, or an overzealous girlfriend needs some constructive criticism, give these sweet rejection treats a try.

Honesty is the best policy. And this Valentine’s Day, we urge you to trust your heart.

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10

FEATURE

THE ARROW

FEBRUARY 8, 2013

Food Passpor t Take your taste buds on a trip to Korea

Liz Mossessian Feature Editor

Although many Asian countries get grouped together and are treated as one without distinction, Korean cuisine compared to Chinese or Japanese cuisine has very unique features stemming from its own personal historical background.

Since the time of European conquest of the Americas, world-wide distribution of ingredients such as spices and herbs have paved new paths for Asian cuisine. Before such conquest, Korean culture and lifestyle

was dominated mostly by Chinese traditions, especially that of eating rice with every meal. After 1500 A.D., however, Korean cuisine changed drastically with the import of chili, brought to Korea by Portuguese and Spanish merchants. Chili paste is now used in nearly every main dish and adds strong flavor and spice to their many soups.

With a lot of native local foods, each region has adapted to its climate and created its own set of unique dishes. For instance, in the northeastern part of Korea, there are many diverse species of roots and

Kimchi

Procedure 1. Combine cabbage, carrots, and cauliflower in strainer and sprinkle.

with salt.

2. Toss lightly and set in sink for about one hour and allow to drain.

3. Rinse with cold water, drain well, and place in a medium-size bowl.

4. Add onions, garlic, red pepper, and ginger.

5. Mix thoroughly.

6. Cover and refrigerate for at least 2 days, stirring frequently to mix flavoring.

7. Allow kimchi to sit for 1 or 2 days to ferment. The longer it sits, the spicier it will become.

drink called Soo Jung Gwa, which is a sweet, boiled mixture of dates, honey, and ginger.

Considered to be a national dish, Kimchi is served with almost every meal in Korea and comes in a variety of flavors, varying form family to family. Kimchi’s main ingredients are cabbage and radish, which are ferments with red chilies, salt, and an array of other vegetables. Each year in the early winter, Koreans prepare for the upcoming cold season by making Kimchi, a traditional Korean custom known as Kimjang.

Soo Jung Gwa

COURTESY PHOTOS

COURTESY PHOTO

Ingredients - 1 cup medium chopped cabbage - 1 cup thinly sliced carrots - 1 cup cauliflower separated into small pieces - 2 tablespoons salt - 2 green onions thinly sliced - 3 garlic cloves thinly chopped - 1 teaspoon crushed red pepper - 1 teaspoon fresh ginger finely grated

ferns. On the other hand, the South is made up of vast grain and rice fields. As a result, they have created a dish called Bibimpap, a rice bowl with mixed vegetables, beef or chicken, and, of course, a spicy chili sauce all tossed together. Due to the tough guard the government of North Korea has put up, they do not welcome outsiders and, thus, do not reveal information about the food and cooking styles they have incorporated.

One of the main features of culinary tradition that Korea has not adopted from surrounding countries is heavy tea-drinking. Instead, Koreans make a tasty ginger

Ingredients - 1/2 pound ginger (not powdered) - 10 cups water - 3/4 pound dried jujubes or brown dates - 1 jar of honey - pine nuts - cinnamon

2. Slice ginger paper-thin.

3. Place ginger in large pot and add 10 cups cold water.

4. Bring to boil, lower heat, and simmer for 2 1/2 hours.

5. Scoop out all ginger with a slotted spoon and throw it away.

6. Heat ginger water to boiling again and add honey.

To Prepare Jujubes 7. Boil on high heat for 5 to 10 minutes 1. Wash under cold water. until honey is dissolved.

2. Place in 4 cups of water and bring 8. Let ginger water cool to drinking to a boil. temperature.

3. Cook for 30 minutes, and then allow 9. Place a jujube (or date) at bottom of them to cool in room temperature. each glass.

10. Add ginger water; top each glass Procedure with 2 pine nut and sprinkle with a 1. Wash, but do not peel the ginger. dash of powdered cinnamon.

Iron chefs of WHS share the ingredients to their love of cooking Liz Mossessian Feature Editor

This year Maria Scirone’s Culinary Arts class was infiltrated with cultural authenticity and hardworking chefs. Head chefs Jillian Stern ’15, Myles Chilling ’13, and Hugo Subtin ’14 all made huge contributions to the class with their strong taste buds and culinary creativity.

Every year, select high scoring students get the chance to take their ServSafe Test in order to obtain a manager’s certificate. This allows them to work in any California kitchen, opening a lot of doors for the students to work.

Stern has certainly taken advantage of the opportunity, currently working along side the owner of the local Justine’s cafe.

Stern works as an assistant and looks up to her boss as a mentor. Stern aspires to attend the Culinary Institute in New York and work either as a chef at an Italian restaurant or in the catering business for weddings and banquets.

Although Chilling is not planning on becoming a chef anytime soon, he is very appreciative of the time he has spent in Ms. Scirone’s class. Chilling has learned valuable life skills in the kitchen, most importantly, to be more patient when working with others.

Coming from France on a cultural exchange program, Subtin has had the great

opportunity to work among Americans in the kitchen, as well as the Italian Ms. Scirone. Although the language barrier has proven to be tough for Subtin when following recipes in the class, he has received a

“My parents can’t cook so it was either order pizza every night or learn how to cook. So I learned how to cook and began to make dinner for my family every night. After a while I just fell in love with it.”

-Jillian Stern ‘15

great deal of help from his partner chefs. A great learning experience for the other students, Subtin helps his fellow classmates with the pronunciation of French terminology, often found in recipes.

“In Europe we cook a lot at home for

our families so we don’t have to eat out as often as people do here. We all know how to cook the basics. With my grandma and my mom we enjoy cooking during the holidays.”

-Hugo Subtin ‘14

With both an Italian and French perspective present, this year’s cooking class at WHS has proven to be an amazing opportunity for students to learn the basics in cooking as well as important life skills.

“Ms. Scirone was the one who pushed

me to take the class last year. I ended up really enjoyed it and decided to take it again this year. Cooking is just an important life skill to have.”

-Myles Chilling ‘13

FEATURE Fantasy lives on in Stardust Stardust Neil Gaiman

Novel adds supernatural twist to conventional teenage story line Hanyi Huang

Staff Writer

Feature Editor

Fantasy is outdated. Fantasy is childish. Fantasy is for feeble-minded grannies who were born in the Medieval Ages.

But Stardust made me fall in love with fantasy all over again, for here is a world where the best paths are the ones you didn’t intend to take, and true love lights upon the earth like falling stars.

Neil Gaiman is an expert at weaving magic with a shade of horror. His 2008 young adult hit, The Graveyard Book, won the Newbery Medal and the Hugo Award for Best Novel, and his 2002 release, Coraline, was adapted into a blockbuster movie a few years ago. Stardust is a classic from 1999 that is still internationally popular, and it has less of the eeriness and more of the romance of Gaiman’s style.

The story follows a teenage boy named Tristran Thorn, a hopeless romantic who embarks on an impossible quest for a fallen star. On the way, he encounters a traveling merchant made of hair, a flying ship that fishes lightning, and a certain celestially beautiful Yvaine. However, Tristran is not the only one after the fallen star—he will have to battle all manner of dark forces in order to win his prize.

Stardust is technically a novel for adults. One of the earlier scenes describes rather luridly how Tristran’s parents come to have Tristran, and two action scenes (the only real violence in the book) end with a lot of blood. Still, the themes can be appreciated by most high schoolers as well as by adults. If you can understand coming of age, lust for youth, lust for power, and nobility of the heart, this book is awaiting your perusal.

Besides his masterful world-building and plot-crafting, Gaiman also has a refreshing sense of gentle humor. His quirky supporting characters, with the relatively normal Tristran in the middle of it all, share dialogue that never fails to bring a smile to the reader’s lips, at once amusing and endearing.

2013 new releases to read 1. The Last Runaway by Tracy Chevalier 2. Seven Deadly Sins: My Pursuit of Lance

Armstrong by Dave Walsh

3. Insane City by Dave Barry 4. A Tale for the Time Being by Ruth Ozeki

5. The Burgess Boys by Elizabeth Strout 6. Bolivar: American Liberator by Marie

Arana

7. The Interestings by Meg Wolitzer 8. Let’s Explore Diabetes with Owls by David Sedaris

9.

Cooked: A Natural History Transformation by Michael Pollan

Americanah Ngozi Adichie

Plum weaves macabre romance

Die For Me Amy Plum

Victoria Wang

10.

by

11

THE ARROW

FEBRUARY 8, 2013

of

Chimamanda

11.

And the Mountains Echoed by Khaled Hosseini

12. Simpler: The Future of Government

by Cass Sunstein

13. Joyland by Stephen King 14. Doctor Sleep by Stephen King Compiled by The Atlantic

Amy Plum takes a different approach to the undead in her Revenants trilogy.

The first book in her series, Die For Me, is a romantic yet mysterious story revolving around Kate Mercier and her journey to find love in France after her parents’ tragic death. While grieving for her parents’ deaths, Kate isolates herself from society and chooses to escape to the fictional worlds of her favorite novels.

At her lowest, she meets Vincent Delacroix, a gorgeous revenant, a “zombie” who has the urge to save human lives.

As a result, Kate not only finds love but also danger when she gets involved in the long feud between the revenants and their enemies, the somas.

Although Die For Me is of supernatural genre, it is more of a romance novel. The majority of the story focuses on Kate and Vincent’s love story. Kate also meets and

develops friendships with other revenants, including Jules Marchenoir, Ambrose Bates, and Charles and Charlotte Lorieux.

The best part of the book is reading about the revenants’ histories. Plum creates very interesting characters, each with their own unique backgrounds and personalities; no two characters are alike.

They each have their own stories of where they came from and how they died.

The characters also have an admirable yet skeptical quality of selflessness and perfection. Even the old revenants and the somas are described as flawless and beautiful creatures.

However, the plot of Die For Me is almost nonexistent. Plum focuses too much on Kate and Vincent’s developing relationship. Kate faces internal conflict over whether she should date someone who is unable to resist the urge to save other people’s lives at the cost of his own.

It is not until the very end of the story that a plot twist occurs and the main conflict finally arises.

The novel’s reoccurring motif of love and sacrifice makes one wonder: How much are people willing to sacrifice and

how many times are they willing to die to protect the ones they love?

The relatively happy ending was also very predictable, but overall, this book is an enjoyable read and a great way to pass the time. To all the romantics and fantasy lovers, this book is for you.

Riordan makes his mark

The Mark of Athena Rick Riordan

Ryan Cheng Staff Writer

The third book in the Heroes of Olympus series, Rick Riordan's The Mark of Athena chronicles the journey of seven Greek and Roman demigods and their quest to protect

their world from an ancient goddess who seeks to annihilate the gods.

The book begins with the long-awaited collision of two factions: the Roman and the Greek demigods. Despite having the same immortal parents, the Roman demigods were created by the Roman alter ego of the gods; as a result, the children of the same parents have different roles and personalities in each camp.

Inevitably, this results in disaster as a possessed Greek, Leo Valdez, fires upon the city of New Rome from the Greek ship.

Because of his actions, the Romans, unaware of the misunderstanding, declare war on the Greeks.

The seven demigods then proceed on their quest. Their group consists of Greeks Perseus (Percy) Jackson, Annabeth Chase, Piper McLean, and Leo Valdez and Romans Jason Grace, Hazel Levesque, and Frank Zhang.

The Mark of Athena is narrated from the multiple perspectives of four of the seven demigods. Although it adds more insight to their personalities and background stories, it also creates a disjointed plot, jumping from one location to another between chapters.

As the second part of a larger series, the story builds upon the previous set of books. Percy and Annabeth, the protago-

nists of both parts, have developed more complex personalities.

Additionally, Riordan specifically adds more romance to this novel overusing it occasionally and mentioning their relationship at unrelated times.

On top of that, six of the seven demigods are in relationships with each other, resulting in random sidetracked thoughts throughout the course of the book.

Rick Riordan uses the standard structure he uses in every book in the series: the protagonists are presented with a prophecy and endeavor to complete the quest. However, he manages to approach it differently each time, preserving the suspense in the novel.

During the extended fighting segments, the heroes often utilize their trademark sarcasm filled conversation to take advantage of an enemy's overly inflated ego and outsmart more powerful opponents.

Finally, The Mark of Athena is laden with Riordan's trademark cliff-hangers, especially towards the end of the novel. At every turn, there is a surprise waiting for both the protagonists and the readers.

The ending leaves much to contemplate before the release of the next book, The House of Hades, which is set to be released in early October.

Six new YA novels to enjoy Dark Eyes

Out of the Easy

Revel

A beautiful, wealthy, 16-year-old rebel, Wally Stoneman must find her birth mother before her revenge-seeking father does. The first book of its series, William Richter’s intriguing tale is The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo for teens and will be released Feb. 21.

In this upcoming thriller, due to be published Feb. 12, Josie Moraine’s loyalty to her mother, to her conscience, and to the madame on Conti Street is tested when a mysterious death occurs in the French Quarter of New Orleans. The book is written by Ruta Sepetys.

Set on an unknown island off the coast of Maine, Revel is written by Maurissa Guibord. This novel tells the story of a girl’s journey to find her family and her search for answers to her numerous questions.

This mysterious tale will be available on Feb. 12.

Where It Began Gabby Gardiner’s world turns upsidedown when she wakes up in the hospital with retrograde amnesia after apparently crashing her boyfriend’s BMW. Ann Stampler creates a captivating story of one girl’s fight to keep her power and privilege in Bel Air. The book will be published on Feb. 19.

The Different Girl Gordon Dahlquist’s timeless story tells of four nearly identical girls whose lives are devoted to learning. They begin to question their lives when the lone survivor of a shipwreck arrives on the island. The Different Girl is a mix of contemporary and science fiction and will be published on Feb. 21.

Dance of Shadows Dance runs in Vanessa Alder’s family.

Her grandmother, mother, and older sister are all prima ballerinas, until her sister mysteriously disappears. Now Vanessa must fulfill her sister’s destiny while facing the dangers that roams in her dancing school. The book is written by Yelena Back and set to come out Feb. 12.

Compiled by Hanyi Huang

12

ENTERTAINMENT Oscars 2013: Preview of Hollywood’s big night

THE ARROW

FEBRUARY 8, 2013

Your Ballot

Predictions Samantha Doctrow Entertainment Editor

OSCAR BALLOT

COURTESY PHOTOS

The Academy Awards is Hollywood’s biggest night. According to the Huffington Post, this year’s Oscar race for Best Picture is among Lincoln, Argo, Les Miserables, and Silver Linings Playbook.

Based on the award-winning book, Silver Linings Playbook follows Pat (Bradley Cooper) as he moves back with his parents after a stint in a mental institution. While Pat’s caring mother (Jacki Weaver) just wants him back on his feet, his superstitious, Philadelphia Eagles obsessed father (Robert di Niro) urges Pat to devote his life to the team as well. Pat soon meets the enigmatic Tiffany (Jennifer Lawrence), a young widow with problems of her own.

The couple embark on a love/hate relationship that ultimately ends with a silver lining. Along with being nominated for Best Picture, Silver Linings Playbook is the first movie in 31 years to be nominated in every acting category, capturing eight nominations in total.

The tragic musical, Les Miserables, takes place during the 19th century French Revolution. Newly released prisoner Jean Valjean (Hugh Jackman) breaks parole to create a new life for himself as mayor while evading the grip of the persistent Inspector Javert (Russell Crowe). Meanwhile, singlemother Fantine (Anne Hathaway) struggles to support her illegitimate daughter, Cosette (Amanda Seyfreid). Valjean eventually promises the ill-fated Fantine to take care of the child, a decision that changes his life forever. Les Mis, almost fully sung, follows the characters’ love and loss during the Revolution. The musical drama won three Golden Globes, including Best Musical or Comedy, and is nominated for a total of nine Academy Awards.

The thriller-drama Argo follows the 1980 Iranian invasion of the American embassy and hostage of several Americans..

With few options, CIA agent Tony Mendez

(Ben Affleck) devises a daring plan: to create a phony film project looking to shoot in Iran and smuggle the Americans out as its production crew. Director Affleck was famously and surprisingly snubbed a Best Director Oscar nomination, but won the Best Directing award at the Golden Globes, along with Best Drama. In an additional ironic twist, the Director’s Guild Award (considered a precursor for the Oscar for Best Director) honored Affleck as well. This will be only the seventh time in the 64-year history of the Guild awards that the winner has failed to also receive the Oscar. The heart-pounding drama is currently nominated for seven Oscars.

The political drama Lincoln follows the infamous president at the height of the Civil War. With continuing carnage on the battlefield, Lincoln (Daniel Day-Lewis) faces his own crisis of conscience—end slavery or end the war. The movie provides an up-close look of the American legend, as he fights with many inside his own cabinet on the decision to emancipate the slaves and fights to remain a good father and husband. While Day-Lewis won Best Actor at the Golden Globes, former president Bill Clinton made an appearance at the awards show to explain the film’s everlasting importance to modern society. Lincoln leads with the most nominations, thirteen, including Best Picture, Actor, Actress, and Best Director.

The awards for acting are somewhat easier to predict than Best Picture. The award for Best Actor is expected to go to Lincoln’s Daniel Day Lewis for his portrayal of the titular president, while Best Actress will likely go to Silver Lining Playbook’s Jennifer Lawrence. Oscars will go to either Lincoln’s Tommy Lee Jones or Django Unchained’s Christoph Waltz and Les Miserables Anne Hathaway for Best Supporting Actor and Actress, respectively.

The awards are announced on Sunday, Feb. 24, in a ceremony hosted by Family Guy creator Seth MacFarlane on NBC.

Graphics by Ethan Reul

individual songs and four medleys in only three days,” said Wood.

Several quick costumes changes took place backstage during the show. Each set of songs had a different costume to go along.

Guest performers from Los Cerritos Middle School’s choir “Encore” surprised the audience. The middle schoolers sang four songs solo, as well as a few numbers with ACA. Opening the second half of the show, Jonathan Ely ‘14, David Livingston ‘14, Chase Rosenberg ‘14, Kyle Van Dyke ‘14, and Andres Winokur ‘14 dressed as “The Beatles” and sang Fab Four songs.

The medley of songs was accompanied by a yellow submarine traveling across the

stage. The stage was set with a drum set, guitars, and microphones for each of the singers. Screaming Los Cerritos girls surrounded the ACA singers, mirroring The Beatles famous die-hard followers.

ACA spent countless hours practicing their songs and dances to put together this show.

“We had rehearsals everyday after finals and every weekend for the last month, plus class time and lunches too,” said Lawton.

Despite all of the rehearsals, ACA singers nonetheless love performing.

“The ACA show was an amazing experience! I am so glad that I got to be a part of such a great production,” commented Stemper.

THE FAB FOUR RETURNS: Singers impersonate The Beatles, complete with classic 60’s hairdo.

Michelle Noyes Feature Editor

As the red curtains opened Choral Music Department’s A Class Act (ACA) sang “Great Balls of Fire.” A professional band filled the whole theatre with music three nights in a row Jan. 31, Feb. 1 and 2. The first set of songs including “Streets Afire,” and “Earth, Wind, and Fire,” were exciting and upbeat and kicked off the two hour show.

ACA’s show featured 11 of WHSCMD’s talented singers. Four girls made the

highest choir group in their senior year at WHS: Meagan Chew ‘13, Lauren Harris ‘13, Anica Stemper ‘13 and Jordan Wood ‘13. Valerie Lawton ‘14 and Ashley Sardonia ‘14 will be the only returning girls next year.

ACA singers choreographed the entire show themselves. The choreographers did an outstanding job staging everyone, despite the time commitment.

“It usually takes us around three hours to choreograph one song. ACA goes on retreat for three days to learn all of our dances together. This year, we learned eight

Westlake Blvd.

A Class Act revisits past in ‘Great Balls of Fire’

ei

ENTERTAINMENT FEBRUARY 8, 2013

13

THE ARROW

WHS actress Juliette Goglia cast in new NBC comedy

COURTESY PHOTO

Juliette Goglia ‘13 is currently juggling an acting career with her role as an honors student. Here she talks about how she manages to stay on top of it all.

Q: What is the pilot about and what character will you be playing?

A: This pilot stars Michael J. Fox who plays a former news anchor who is forced to retire due to being diagnosed with Parkinson’s. In the first episode of the series, it’s been five years since his retirement, and because medications have improved so incredibly, Michael is ready to go back to work. It mirrors his own life and struggles.

I’m playing his daughter, Eve. She’s really smart; she just doesn’t apply herself in school, so she’s different than I am in the sense that she’s a total slacker and a conartist in training. She’s extremely quirky and marches to the beat of her own drum.

Q: Where does the show tape?

A: The show films in New York City, which

is where Michael J. Fox lives. So, starting in May I’m going to be temporarily moving to NYC for half of the year. I’m in the middle of shooting the pilot right now, and it is absolutely freezing here and we’re filming a ton of outside shots on the streets of New York. It’s ridiculous because we’re all spoiled living in California with perfect weather, so this will definitely be something to which I’ll have to adjust.

Q: Are you planning on leaving high school for this role?

A: I’m in the process of figuring out how I am going to handle the remainder of high school. I will most likely change into independent study for the final semester of my senior year and finish all my schoolwork before I move to New York in May. Things like this truly shake up life and change things up, but it’s all part of the journey, so I’m just taking it step by step.

Q: Does this role affect your enrollment in a college?

A: I’m in the process of figuring out how college is going to fit into my schedule.

The pilot has been picked up for 22 episodes which affects the months I would be entering college. I got into my top choice, USC, but I am probably going to have to defer my acceptance until I get on a more predictable schedule. I’ll probably get my GE’s out of the way before going into college. Hopefully, whatever school I choose will be flexible and willing to work with my schedule.

Q: Have you found it difficult to transition from a child actress into a more mature adult actress?

A: I was working very steadily in TV and movies from the time I was seven to 15 and last year, I started trying out to act as characters in my age range, 16 and 17-year-olds.

But 16-year-olds are generally played by 26 year olds, and I’m too old to play a 14-yearold. So now at my age, I don’t really exist because I don’t fit a specific age the TV and movie casting directors are looking for.

Theater, on the other hand, casts more to your age so that is why I’ve been acting in a lot of plays lately.

Q: Is it challenging for you to maintain schoolwork, while acting?

A: I’ve learned to self-teach myself. In 10th grade, I passed the CHSPE (California High School Proficiency Exam), which is the equivalence of a high school diploma.

When I go on sets now, I work like a legal 18 year old because technically I am a high school graduate. I work literally all day and have no time for schoolwork. I have to balance keeping up with school and working as an actress full time. It’s very difficult but I’m very lucky because the teachers at WHS have been very patient and lenient towards me when getting my work done.

It’s a huge balancing act and very stressful, but in the end, rewarding.

Q: Are you planning to be an actress your entire life or would you like to do something else?

A: I’m really committed to acting; it’s always been my own choice and I’ve never been forced into it. If I were lucky enough to make a living as an actress, then acting is definitely my first choice. I want to do film and TV more than anything.

Q: Do you favor starring in television shows or movies?

A: For the moment, I really love working in television. Every week it’s a new story and it has endless possibilities so it really keeps me on my toes. I would definitely like to work in film when I get older. But as of right now, I couldn’t be happier with my current situation on television. So, we’ll see what kind of adventures I go on in this show!

Q: What is your ultimate goal as an actress?

A: A lot of actors want to act for the fame and get intense exposure, but they lose their personal life, which I do not want. My goal would be to be respected in the industry as well as to make a living as an actress.

Ideally, I would want to maintain a personal life as well as be well known within the industry.

Q: What is your favorite movie, television show or play you acted in?

A: My favorite movie I’ve ever acted in is Fired Up, a cheerleading movie because I got to hang out with some beautiful men, do some cheerleading, and do improv. My favorite TV show is CSI because I played a 10 year-old genius/murderer and I got to kill all these adult characters.

Q: What do you like to do in your free time?

A: I have very little free time, but I love going up to Santa Barbara, playing songs on the guitar, and watching classic movies. I also like to write songs every now and then.

Compiled by Samantha Doctrow

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14

SPORTS

THE ARROW

FEBRUARY 8, 2013

Boys basketball shoots for championship Christian Coates

the lead. From that point, both teams went back and forth before Thousand Oaks raced out All season the WHS boys to a 12-point lead. basketball team (21-4, 11-2) But the Warriors still had has pushed its way to the top, some fight left in them, and cut securing a piece of the Marthe lead to two at the end of monte League championship. the fourth quarter. A string of Tuesday’s 75-69 win three pointers from Brooks and against Royal tightened the Lozoya brought WHS close, team’s hold even more; howbut Lachina’s late free throws ever, the game against Calabaiced the game for TOHS, who sas on Feb. 7 is a winner take got the 58-56 victory. all showdown.

Until Tuesday, WHS was To slip past a tough Royin a four-way tie with Royal, al squad, Grant Lozoya ‘13 Calabasas, and Thousand grabbed the momentum with Oaks. a 3-pointer at the end of the WHS’s final game is third quarter. against Calabasas. With a win Ranked 33rd in the state or a loss, the team is headed

by MaxPreps.com, this year’s into the playoffs. With this squad has erased memories of game, the WHS Boys Basketlast year’s up and down camball team could win Marmonte paign.

League outright with victory Going into the game against Calabasas. against Thousand Oaks last “We’re in a good posiweek, the Warriors had won tion,” said coach Rob Bloom six of their last seven games after the Royal game to the A match-up with rival ThouVentura County Star. “We consand Oaks High School (20-4, trol our own destiny. That’s 9-2) would be the test. where we want to be.”

After taking a big With Thousand Oaks 18-point lead early in the going down in a close loss game, WHS started to lose a against Calabasas, both the grip on the Lancers. Thousand Coyotes and WHS stand atop Oaks chipped at the deficit, DRIVE: Josh Brooks has been instrumental in the team’s success. the league standings with a cutting the lead down to less 11-2 record. Having already than seven points right before lost at Calabasas 68-60 earlier half-time. Both teams headed back to the Jacob Lachina ‘13 led the charge for in the year, the Warriors will enter the filocker room with the score at 31-22, after TOHS out of the break, scoring seven of nals as slight underdogs. Both teams look an Isaiah Brooks ‘15 layup. the Lancers’ 10 unanswered points to take to earn the league trophy.

Staff Writer

PHOTO BY LIZ MOSSESSIAN

Hassan successfully defends title Castro and Schultz also earn their first league champion titles.

Vivian Hu

Managing Editor Amir Hassan ‘13 earned MVP at Marmonte League wrestling league individual championships on Feb. 2 at Moorpark High School.

Competing against Royal’s Tom Castillo, Hassan also won his match in the 152 weight class with a 17-7 score, aggressively going after his opponent.

“I wanted to be confident, but not too confident,” said Hassan, speaking to the Ventura County Star. “I had to stay focused because anybody can beat you if you don’t play your game.” The WHS senior faced

Castillo last year as well in the 138 final and won by injury default. He was one of the only two previous league winners that was able to defend his title; Max Quiroz of Newbury Park High School also won in his sophomore year.

“It felt gratifying to know that my hard work paid off,” stated Hassan. “After four years, I not only won league as a senior again, but was also voted as the MVP of all the upperweight champions.”

Along with Hassan, teammates Glen Castro ‘13 won in the 182 final and Austin Schultz ‘13 won the 132 final. Castro was the No. 1 seed in last year’s Marmonte finals, but he finished fourth.

“It made me get better for this year,” stated Castro. “I feel I can get first in league this year. I have come a long way since last season.”

The boys will go onto the next round, CIF Tournament, on Feb. 15.

“My season is not over yet—it has just begun. In the upcoming weeks, I plan on training to improve my skills even further,” stated Hassan. “I have to stay focused and confident to achieve my true goals: winning CIF and then winning Masters and State. What I’ve been doing so far has clearly worked; I just have to keep it going.

“Nothing can stop me.”

COURTESY PHOTO

COURTESY PHOTO

AMIR HASSAN holds down an opponent from Moorpark High School in a Marmonte League match.

MADISON OLANDT poses with her awards after the dance competition at Valencia High.

Olandt takes 1st place in solo at competition Liz Mossessian Feature Editor

On Jan. 19 Madison Olandt ‘13 made one of the greatest achievements in her dancing career, taking 1st place at the Valencia High School regional dance competition. Winning the title as Regional Dancer of the Year 2013, Olandt placed first among over 100 soloists competing.

Winning the regional competition allows Olandt to move higher up to a national level. The national competition will be an incredible challenge for the dancer, as she will be a competitor among the top five dancers in the nation.

Olandt is extremely thankful to have the opportunity to compete at such a high level, but is even more grateful for the ability to evoke emotion and inspiration in the audience, a great pleasure for the top dancer.

Olandt was also awarded champion of Improv at the regional competition, a style of dance in which the competitors were given a song at random and then expected to improvise to the song for one minute. Judges then scored based on the dancer’s musicality, creativity, and variety of movement. Olandt blew the judges away when she was given the song Skyfall by Adele.

As captain of the WHS dance team, Olandt puts in a great deal of time into choreographing various dances for school rallies and football halftime shows. She has greatly contributed to WHS, improving its reputation as a high achieving school. In the recent competition, the WHS dance team qualified three of out of its six dances in just the first competition.

When asked if she plans on pursuing dance as a career, Olandt replied that she hopes to use the valuable leadership skills gained from working as team captain and implementing them in the career she decides to take on. Her goal is to attend UCLA, major in the dance program, and then possibly open her own dance studio and teach regular classes to high level dancers.

As a member of MSA Talent Agency, Olandt also plans on auditioning for dance-related jobs on commercials and television shows or working as a back up dancer on tour for well-known pop artists.

“Like every performer,” Olandt said, “I feel the usual nerves and the fear of falling out of a turn, or not hitting a move exactly the way I want to. However, once the music surrounds the room, my body takes charge and my mind forgets any negative thoughts. The melody of the music is my guide and I get lost in the lyrics.”

16 Coffeehouse blues

FASHION

THE ARROW

FEBRUARY 8, 2013

Michelle Noyes Feature Editor

Clockwise from top: Vanessa Cortes ‘14 mixes hard and soft silhouettes with a coral peplum mini. In a simple 3/4 sleeve tucked into a pleather skirt, the turquoise necklace and bracelet accentuate and complement. In the third photo, Vanessa wears a simple blue dress that can be layered with a cardigan. This outfit segues gracefully from winter to spring, to accompany the occasional weather nuances we encounter in sunny California.

Clothes from Nordstrom.

Styling by David Huang.

PHOTOS BY: DAVID HUANG

Spring 2013 is all about bold colors and a structured fit.

The shade, pacific blue, is the “it” color of the season.

Any shade of blue already hanging in your closet can transition into spring perfectly. Pair last season’s shirt or sweater with a fitted skirt for an updated look.

Lace is a classic spring material used often for sundresses. White lace dresses transition well to the next season. For late winter wear the dress with boots, tights, and coat. In spring the dress can be matched with sandals or ballet flats.

Black and white striped dresses are working their way into 2013.

There is no need to rush out and buy a new dress for only one season.

Color block a simple white shirt and a classic black skirt. This combination is an easy way to get the same look stores are showing. Louis Vuitton’s spring collection showcased prints with two colors—one bright and the other a more subtle shade.

One must-have item to buy for spring is a navy military coat. Throw it on over any outfit to keep warm in the chilly, early mornings. It will work with colors for this spring as well as future seasons.

Stay away from flowing skirts or dresses. Structured skirts and dresses have taken over. The style makes outfits look more organized and put together.

Staying trendy is not only for clothes; make up colors change from season to season too. Paris Fashion Week Spring 2013 promoted elegant, red lips. The bold shade makes a statement and draws attention to the lips. Also shown on the runway was dark, black eyeliner, which can be used on the top and bottom of eyes for a full effect. Blue and green eye make-up is making a statement this spring. Instead of going all out on the ocean colors, try a thin line of dark blue or green eyeliner on the upper eyelid with your normal eye shadow and mascara.

Always wear a smile—it never goes out of style.